Leia opened her eyes to see a sight she never tired of.
"Mornin', Princess."
She smiled and snuggled closer to him.
"Hello."
"We'll be dropping out of hyperspace in about an hour. You might wanna start getting ready."
He climbed over her and padded across the floor.
"What do you think?" he asked, turning to face her, arms splayed.
She looked him up and down. He never failed to amaze her, even though she knew exactly what he looked like. A naked Han Solo! He was so damned handsome, so well defined, all muscle, no fat, lean, strong, and damned wantable. What did she think?
Where were the words?
"Think I should get dressed?" he asked.
"Much as I hate to say it, I do. You'd make an interesting impression on Senator Algara if you meet him like that though."
"Yeah, but he'd be able to see I have nothing to hide."
"Nothing to hide or nowhere to hide it?"
"Princess, if had to I could hide it."
She winced.
"Sounds painful."
He shrugged and changed the subject.
"What do you want me to put on?"
She considered that for a moment.
"Did you bring your dress uniform? The black one with the silver braid?"
He sighed.
"Yeah, I did. And I just knew you'd make me wear it."
"But you look so good in it."
That seemed to placate him and Leia went to shower while Han dressed.
When she had emerged from the 'fresher and gotten herself dressed, she walked back into the cockpit. She sat down and received a stare from Han. She was wearing a long red gown – she knew what red did to Corellians – and her hair was done into such an elaborately complicated style that Han was convinced she'd smuggled an aide on board. She had done something to her eyelashes, she must have, for they swept across her high cheekbones each time she blinked, and her lips were just as red as the dress. Two long gloves sheathed her arms. "Well? What do you think?"
Han had to try very hard to answer.
"I..Uh, I…It's…Wow!"
She smiled.
"Good. We want to make an impact today."
"You certainly will looking like that," he grinned.
She walked her fingers up his shoulders and smiled.
"You brush up pretty nicely, you know, General."
"Thanks, Sweetheart," he replied. "Anything for you."
"Ooh," she murmured, "I'll have to remember that!"
He half-smiled and then set about bringing the ship out of hyperspace.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yep," she replied.
"Okay, Princess. In ten…nine…"
The small convoy dropped out of hyperspace together which was a little unusual for the Falcon. Han had informed the rest of the ships that where they landed would be 'base' and then grinned at Leia and told her his ship could still come through when she was needed. Leia had grinned back and told him that was much like her pilot. The landing went without trouble, but something still bit angrily at the back of Han's mind, however much he tried to suppress it.
When they disembarked, Han was first off any of the ships.
By the time Leia had descended the boarding ramp of the Millennium Falcon, Han had already introduced himself as Consort to her Royal Highness and the Princess' temporary Head of Security, and had introduced Her Highness, Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, as well as the NR Security Squad and stretched out his hand to Senator Algara in a gesture of welcome as he approached, but the Senator seemed reluctant to take it and raised an eyebrow.
"Han Solo?" Senator Algara asked. "You are the Han Solo?"
A Trianii, the senator was slim but built strongly, with a similar physique to Han's except that Han did not have a meter long tail and was slightly taller.
Han's smile faltered. Uh oh, his mind said, how does he know who you are? What did you do to him, Solo? His mind raced.
"I, uh…Yes, Senator."
Without warning, the Trianii senator suddenly flung his sinuous arms around Han and embraced him like a brother.
"Solo–General, it is an honour to meet you. My brother has told me much of you."
"Y-Your brother?" Han stammered as the Trianii stepped back again and shook his hand vigorously.
"Yes! I am Algara, brother of KeeHeen, mate of Atuarre and Father of Pakka. You rescued them from Star's End."
Realisation dawned on the Corellian. Many years ago Han had indeed saved the lives of all three Trianii, rescuing them from certain death.
"Right!" Han nodded. "Right! How are they?"
"They are as well as they can be Solo–General. We will board the land shuttle which will take us to my home, Solo-General. I trust that will be to your satisfaction?"
"Yes, thank you, Senator, although I will have to view the grounds myself."
"That is quite understandable. Your Highness," said Algara, bowing before kissing Leia's hand.
"I am unworthy of your presence."
Leia beamed at him.
"Not at all, Senator. I wish to thank you in advance for your most gracious invitation and I am extremely happy that the New Republic can be of service."
"You are quite welcome. Your Consort is quite the hero."
"Mmm," Leia smiled. "He can be."
The land shuttle journey took a mere five minutes and Han spent all of it staring at Leia.
"What?" she asked self-consciously.
"You," he said, quite seriously. "I don't like this."
"The Senator-"
"Is not what I mean, Leia. He seems to be a perfect gentleman. And I got nothin' against that, but, Sweetheart, somethin' ain't right, I'm tellin' you now."
She stroked his face gently.
"It's alright, Han."
"No it isn't. But it will be. I promise."
They alighted from the shuttle and Han's first action was to survey the lie of the land.
"Would you like to see the grounds now?" asked Algara.
Han nodded.
"If it's of no inconvenience to you, Senator."
"Not at all. Please, follow me."
Leia smiled as they walked off together and Han left two young squad members to keep her out of harm. He could talk like a diplomat if he wanted, or like a Security Guard if the occasion arose, or even like a smuggler if she asked very nicely. And for all the protesting he did, he was actually quite good at it.
"…And that's when I realized Star's End wasn't going to get into orbit…"
Han and Senator Algara were returning and both were, it seemed, in good spirits. Han's anxieties had been eased somewhat by the excellent security conditions of the site and by the fact that security personnel would be permitted onto and around the stage and grounds. He was eternally grateful to Luke for agreeing to come along and was waiting for an opportunity to talk to him.
Luke had remained in his ship with a few others to monitor the grounds. The personnel Han had positioned were capable enough. Besides, what could happen?
"That really is a most interesting tale, Solo-General. It was extremely entertaining and I look forward to hearing more of your…adventures…at dinner this evening. But for now I must prepare for this afternoon's speech."
"Of course," Han said, inclining his head as a show of respect.
The Senator walked briskly away from him and disappeared amongst the trees.
Leia walked toward Han and smiled. Han smiled back at her briefly and then looked toward the giant marble stage at one end of the grounds.
"That stage is where you'll be. I'll be standing at the side of it and there'll be guys all around it. I got men posted at all the exits and I got men covering the ridge that's hanging over there."
He gestured to the ridge that overlooked the stage and then smiled properly.
"Alright? I also have men behind the stage in case someone tries that way. The paths that go back to the house are covered too, don't worry, and those marble pillars should make great cover-"
Leia kissed him. When she pulled away he looked a little stunned.
"Han, calm down. It's just a speech. Then I give Algara the information and we eat. Think you can deal with that?"
"The speech I can deal with. It's the trouble I'm worried about."
"Is she up?" asked Luke's voice through the comm.
"She's on her way," said another voice.
"I got visual on her," said Han, feeling half the weight slide off his chest.
"What?" came Luke's voice.
Damned thing had been on the blink for weeks. He held it up to his mouth and said very loudly and very clearly,
"I said, 'I got visual on her.' "
"Alright," Luke answered. "I'm going to check the surveillance inside the house.See what the monitors are showing me."
As Leia rounded the corner, she winked at Han. Han shook his head. Had they switched personalities or something?
"She's on the stage now," said a different voice. "The audience loves her!"
"The audience ain't the only one," Han whispered to himself, but he could not help but feel immense pride as Senator Algara introduced her and the entire audience got to their feet.
"Today we embark on a new era. We will have peace and equality…"
Han watched her speaking. She was so beautiful. How did someone like her ever fall for a guy like him? All he knew was he was damned lucky.
"…Together we can build a better future for ourselves and our descendants…"
'Descendants.' What would their children look like? Would she ever get over her fear of having them? He wished she would. There was an odd paternal yearning that had never been there before.
"…And I ask of you only that you aid us in our quest for…"
So beautiful. And that voice. You couldn't help but listen to that. He remembered how it sounded after they made love, or during, and smiled to himself. He loved to hear her sing, something she did not do often, for her melodies were clear and deep as water and had often soothed his sometimes volatile temper.
"…This is why we must complete our…"
He glanced away. The air was clear here. Birds sang. Insects hummed. Flowers of every shape and colour were blooming, scenting the air. The sun shone on the white marble of the stage, and the podium, and the grass beneath his feet was lush and cool.
There were vines that climbed up the rock to the ridge and twined about the…
"No…" he whispered. "Gods, no…"
There, on the ridge, were several men. Not his own.
"Luke! Luke!"
Frantically he shook the comm.
"Luke! Skywalker!"
Blasted thing! Fine time for it to die on him.
He tried to attract attention by yelling but Leia had just reached a high point and the audience stood, cheering and applauding.
Several of the men were raising blaster rifles.
He ran without thinking, without caring, knowing only that something had to come between her and that blaster bolt and had to do it now.
The sight of him running towards her with such determination and obvious intention was enough warning to the security squad. They drew their weapons immediately and, with a shriek from the crowd, prepared to shoot, but they did not know where to fire.
He mounted the podium and, with one flying leap, brought her down just as shots began to fly through the air.
He twisted to break her fall and then twisted again to shield her with his body. The squad had taken cover and was retaliating with incredible accuracy, but to no avail. He heard raised voices shouting as to why their shots were making no difference
"BODY ARMOUR! AIM HIGH!" he shouted over the screaming of blasters.
Beneath him, she shook, ducking each time a bolt tore into the marble around them.
"IT'S NOT WORKING!" a voice shouted.
He chanced a fleeting look at the ridge, barely turning back in time to avoid being fried by a bolt. But he had seen all he needed to.
"AIM TO YOUR RIGHT! THEY HAVE A SHIELD GENERATOR!"
He turned back and shoved her under the marble lip of the podium as he kissed her forehead.
"If you love me," he whispered close to her ear, "then stay down!"
And with that he was gone.
He dropped into place beside the squad leader but refused the rifle he was offered.
"NO," he shouted, "I'M GONNA TRY AND GET HER OUT OF HERE, BUT LISTEN! IF I GO DOWN THEN YOU TAKE OVER. IF YOU GO DOWN YOUR S.I.C TAKES OVER, GOT IT? START TO EVACUATE BUT REMEMBER: NO ONE GOES BACK FOR ANYONE ELSE! IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT NOW! YOUR FIRST PRIORITY IS THE PRINCESS. "
He staggered away through the smoke again.
She felt a rough pair of hands grab her shoulders and haul her to her feet. It took a moment to realise who it was.
She tried to turn to see him but his hands turned her forwards and she felt the warmth of his body pressed to hers.
"Just keep going," he said, "it'll be alright, just keep going."
His voice was hoarse and strained even as he pushed her toward the land shuttle, more strained than it usually was during a blaster fight. The blaster fire did not cease but the smoke was thick enough to provide them with cover.
Suddenly, a young voice shouted,
"DEFLECTOR SHIELD HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT, GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT!"
The order was obeyed without question but after a few moments of silence from the enemy, blaster fire broke out again, more heavily this time and she cried out equally without warning and dropped onto the floor.
He might have been her shadow for all the speed he completed his action with, shielding her, all the way to the ground, from any further attack. Then he dragged her behind the nearest pillar and crouched there with her.
"You're hit!" he whispered, holding her close.
"It's not bad. It's my shoulder, it just caught it."
"It doesn't matter how bad it is. You're hit."
She felt a hand, warm and moist grab hold of her wrist and he wrapped his arms around her, completely obscuring her from the ridge with a groan of pain. She twisted her neck to look at him and noticed that the moisture on the wrist he was holding was blood, and not because she had cut herself.
"So are you!" she said suddenly, trying to turn to help him but he held her fast.
"No, don't move."
"Where are you hit?" she almost shouted at him.
"My…ah, my side…" he managed.
She felt him sway and closed her hand around one of his strong forearms. She breathed in deeply, for some reason wanting to hold him forever, enjoy the smell of his skin, be lost in his voice, in his arms, but why now?
He held her firmly where she was, resting his head on hers, feeling her hair on his skin.
Why now? Because there wouldn't be another chance.
"I'm sorry, Princess."
She felt his hold slacken.
"What? Are you leaving?"
She felt his chest shudder against her back as he struggled to breathe and a small laugh escaped him as his voice quavered in his reply.
"No, Princess," he breathed. "I'm…I'm not…leaving…"
He turned his head away from her.
"THE PRINCESS IS…IS HIT AND I'M…DOWN..! GET HER OUTTA HERE!" he yelled.
Before she had time to question what he was doing, he had spun her around in his arms and kissed her, long, deep, for the last time.
"You are."
"What?"
"I love you," he whispered, locking his arms about her for one final embrace.
And then another pair of hands grabbed hold of her from behind her and wrenched her from his arms.
"NO!" she screamed. "NO, GO BACK FOR HIM!"
But they kept moving.
"GO BACK FOR HIM!"
Still they did not, hauling her further and further from the man she loved, his eyes following her, a tired smile on his face. In desperation she screamed and kicked the man holding her.
"I ORDER YOU TO GO BACK FOR HIM!"
But her orders counted for nothing; they were not obedient to her, they were obedient to him.
She was bundled into the shuttle and the doors sealed with a low hiss. She was still pounding on the window with clenched fists, tears streaming down her face and he slid off the pillar and lay unmoving on the floor, his lower abdomen drenched in blood.
"NO, NO, PLEASE!"
Beside her, the man who had taken her spoke into his comm.
"The Princess is safe! I repeat, the Princess is safe! We're returning to base."
"Losses?" came Luke's reply.
She slumped down in her seat and wept bitterly, not caring that they watched her, not caring that she was not supposed to cry.
The man swallowed hard and, with a voice that broke as he replied, he whispered,
"Solo."