She smiled - still a rare thing, but not as rare as it once was - winked, and whispered "I suppose it had to do with her reluctance to use that 'Wet Floor' sign behind the desk."
"Cmon, I haven't drooled that much since I was Ben's age," he replied and then burst out in laughter.
By the time a pinging on the console brought them out of the biggest laughing fit either of them had experienced in many months, Jacen was on the cocpit floor, and Tenel Ka almost halfway out of the gunnery seat. Jacen hauled himself back into the pilot's seat and swore.
"What is it" Tenel Ka asked, once again all business.
"Grav reading is in the yellow!" he grumbled, reaching for the reversion lever.
His hand never made it there. Tenel Ka grabbed it with her prosthetic, reaching across her body to reatrain his wrist with viselike force. "Do not! Let the cutoffs bring us in if need be. We are probably only skirting the edge of the field if we have not been Brought out already. There, it is dropping off."
She changed the topic to one she had thought much about of late, "Why do you pine over Danni? The perfect woman is within reach."
"What in the . . . " his voice trailed off as her words sunk in. "Sithspit How long have you . . . uh . . . felt for me?
"Since the day we met on Yavin"
"I never realized! For all these years I thought you were far above me." He grinned what the infamous Solo grin, "Better late than never" he muttered, then kissed her.
She returned it, fiercely, all the years of each thinking the other disinterested melted away like a warm spring day melts ice. Stang she thought his kisses are more intoxicating than any wine.
It was almost a full minute before they broke for air. "I love you" each said to the other in unison, and kissed again.
"I think we can safely log Objective 'B' as completed." Tenel Ka half-teased as Jacen emerged from the galley with dinner: nerf primerib.
She's smiled and laughed more in the last six hours than in last six years Jacen mused, delighted. "That is a fact" he teased back as he placed the roast on the formally set table for two, and began to place pre-cut slices on their plates.
She giggled at his use of what she'd long since considered her catchphrase, and kissed his cheek. At that moment the ship's audio system came to life, seemingly on it's own - playing a very romantic orchestra piece. She started at the sudden sound, but the music, combined with his grin told her exactly what happened - he'd pushed the "play" button with the Force.
She recognized the piece, "Across the Stars" as being the pinnacle of late Old Republic romantic symphony. "Where did you pick up a taste for WylYams? Your mother?" She hazarded an educated guess.
He laughed and whispered "Both my parents," the grin on his face broadened, "Shall we dance? Don't worry about dinner, the table has sustainers in it."
"Of course, that would be enchanting." She breathed. He led her onto the impromptu dance floor of the main cargo hold. The electric pleasure of the physical contact topped their first passionate kiss, and from that moment, both knew their destiny lay together.
A/N: I've based much on the premise that Tenel Ka's "Ice Princess" attitude is a facade that is only let down in the presence of those she trusts implicitly. If she seems out of character, it is because she is "letting her hair down" so to speak.