Han Solo had taken a shower, dressed in pair of black slacks and a white tunic, his hair was combed, even the grease from underneath his fingernails had been removed. He sighed deeply; he really had too much to do to have dinner with Padmé's family. Han prayed that Anakin wouldn't be angry with him for not finishing all the speeders, technically he only had one of the nine left to complete. But now since Anakin was returning, maybe he could help. He sighed again and left his room to join Padmé in the foyer.
"You clean up nicely, Han."
"Thank you milady; I just hope that the old man won't be angry with me."
"Why?"
"He told me to have all 9 speeders have to be completed before he returned and I only have 8 of them done."
"Yes, but did Anakin really expect you to work 14-hour days, skip meals, and even work on your assigned day off? Come on Han, I know Anakin isn't heartless, that would make him a slave driver and if there's anything he can't abide by its slavery."
Han smiled weakly and prayed she was right. Padmé and Han drove to her parents' house and Ryoo and Pooja were there. Han still felt slightly awkward around the young girls, especially Pooja, she seemed to follow him around. After the greetings were exchanged, Han went to the gazebo and sat.
"Hello." Ryoo greeted.
Han stood up slightly startled.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to spook you, Han."
"It's all right. So how's it going?"
"Fine, you seem a little preoccupied."
"Yea, just thinking." Han replied.
"Do you like working with Uncle Anakin?"
"Its alright I suppose." Han shrugged.
"He's tough isn't he?" Ryoo inquired.
"That's the understatement of the year." Han replied. Ryoo laughed.
"What's so funny?" Han asked irritated.
"Nothing, Han; whatever you do, don't get him angry."
"Been there done that. I swear he's part Sith or something."
Ryoo crossed her arms and glared at him, "Does he do this?"
"Yes, I have formally dubbed it the Sith Lord Stance. I especially hate it when he has his hood pulled over his head."
"He used to scare me when I was smaller; sometimes Pooja still runs and hides when he comes over."
"Hmm, me too." Han laughed.
Ryoo sat beside Han and they talked until the call for dinner came.
"Han, what are you doing next Friday night?"
"Working; why?"
"There's a dance at my school, I was wondering if you would like to escort me to the dance."
"Mm, I'll have to ask the tyrant, maybe. But don't be disappointed if it doesn't happen."
"I won't."
"He's very protective of you and Pooja."
"Yea don't I know it; he makes my father look relaxed."
"Darred?" Han incredulously asked, like most fathers he was incredibly protective.
"Yea; I know."
After dinner, Han and Ryoo took a walk. Han answered his comlink when it beeped.
"Solo here."
"Greetings from Coruscant!" Anakin happily replied.
"It's good to see you, sir."
"Good we are about thirty minutes away from our docking bay, meet us there."
"Sure."
Han clicked off the comlink. "Well, milady, it appears that our walk has been cut short."
"That's okay."
Han and Ryoo returned; Padmé was ready to go, Han helped her into the speeder and left.
"Did you have a nice time with Ryoo?"
"Yes, she's very sweet. She asked me to the dance next Friday night."
"That's wonderful!"
"Mm, we will see what Anakin will think about it milady, he may not be as pleased."
"Why wouldn't he be?"
"Because I'm a guy right and I'm taking his 16-year old niece out to the dance, he will have something to say and it may not be all roses."
"You are a pessimist, Han Solo."
"No, ma'am, I'm a realist." Han corrected.
Padmé smiled. As soon as Anakin landed, he and Mara bounded down the ramp to hug Han and Padmé. "Welcome home, we've missed you." Padmé whispered in Anakin's ear as he spun her around.
"Solo, it is good to see you again."
"Likewise Jade, did you enjoy your time at the temple?"
"Yes."
"How's the kid and Leia?"
"They are just fine."
"Solo, did you finish those speeders?"
Han was waiting for the question and he hated it the minute it tumbled out Anakin's mouth. Of course he knew it was useless to lie, if there was one thing that Han knew about Anakin was his absolute hatred of lies. Besides the truth would be better all around, "Eight of the nine have been completed, sir." Han sighed; waiting for an immediate rebuke.
"Wow, really?"
"Anakin, you really need to stop pushing Han so hard, he's been working long days, skipping meals, and even on his day off." Padmé sadly remarked.
"Is this true, Solo?" Anakin asked sounding slightly disappointed.
"Yes sir it is. I didn't want to disappoint you."
"There is such a thing as working too hard, Solo. You need to take care of yourself and eat proper meals and get plenty of rest."
"Why don't you give him the week off, Anakin? He does deserve it you know."
Before Han could begin to protest, Anakin agreed. "Yes, you deserve it."
"Thanks a lot my lady." Han sarcastically replied as he rolled his eyes.
"What's the problem now, Han?" Anakin asked.
"Nothing." Han sulked.
"Ryoo asked him to go to the dance next Friday."
"She did?"
"Yes, sir, I don't want to go, dancing ain't my thing."
"Dancing Solo?" Mara Jade laughed and couldn't stop until Anakin glared at her. She immediately gulped and looked at her feet.
"Padmé could teach you. She's wonderful."
Anakin kissed her again, receiving moaning and sighs from both Han and Mara.
As soon as they made it home, Han grabbed his fishing pole and bait to go fishing. He enjoyed sitting next to the large tree and just listen to a cool light breeze blow through the trees, he felt at peace out here. Especially since most of the time he was either working or sleeping.
The week that followed, Padmé taught Han how to slow dance as well as how fast dance. Mara was teasing Han almost relentlessly, until she was assigned extra Jedi exercises. Padmé also purchased some new clothes for Han and the night of the dance came far too quickly for him. He was a nervous wreck. "You'll be just fine, Solo; Treat her like a lady and be courteous. I'm sure you don't want me to find out otherwise." Anakin mischievously grinned.
"No, sir; if there is one thing I've learned is to not disappoint you as you so quaintly put it."
"Good. Don't forget this." Han was handed a corsage.
Mara had just finished meditating when she saw Han all dressed up, "Good luck, Han. Have fun tonight."
"Are you being sincere?"
"Yes! I was just teasing earlier; I really didn't mean it."
"Thanks, then."
Han left the house, he drove up to the Naberrie house and Ryoo was having final touches done to her hair. Darred welcomed Han into the house and smiled at him.
"You clean up well, Han."
"Thank you, sir."
After Ryoo was handed her corsage, Han took her to the dance.
Suddenly Ryoo was nervous, "Han, let's go somewhere else."
"Why?"
Han saw the panicked look on Ryoo's face. "Do you see that boy over there?"
"The one standing by the column?"
"Yes, he's nothing but trouble."
"Hmm, well if he dares to bother us; he'll get more than he bargained for believe me." Han protectively put his arm around Ryoo and escorted her inside the school.
"Nice to see you don't mind slumming, Ryoo. My father is the town mayor we could have had more fun if you had just said yes."
"Shut up and leave us alone!"
All it took was one false move for Han to get between the boy and Ryoo.
"Now, you really don't want to fight do you? Why don't you try to be more civilized?"
"Civilized? Did I hear you right?"
"Yes."
The boy raised his fist and threw the first punch. Han jumped him and began pummeling him with his much larger fists. The crowd was cheering as the bully was getting his proper comeuppance. Unfortunately for Han the police didn't realize this and arrested both boys for fighting and disturbance of the peace. Han sat in the empty cell nervously biting his fingernails and when he wasn't doing that he was pacing.
The police officer came into the detention area and saw how anxious the young man was, while noting his pacing.
"Who are you guardians?"
"Do I have to tell you?" Han asked.
"I suppose not; but I'm sure you don't want to remain here do you?"
"Yes, I do." Han nervously replied.
The officer laughed, "Come on son. Just tell us, no harm will come to you."
"Can you really promise me that? I don't think so; I'll just sit here for the next hundred years."
"You are being ridiculous; I know you are scared; but in a few years you will be able to sit back and laugh about this with your father."
"No. You have no idea who my guardian is and believe me you don't want to know."
"You act like you guardian is like that evil Sith Lord that Jedi killed a long time ago."
"Mister you don't know the half of it."
Meanwhile, Anakin was fuming but then a most evil grin came across his features as he remembered a certain pair of special contacts.
"Mara Jade?"
"Yes, master?"
"Do you still have those special eye contacts?"
"Yes, but I haven't used them since! I promise."
"I believe you." Anakin smiled.
"What are you up to?" Mara asked already suspicious.
"I need your help, go get those contacts."
Han sat in the cell and sipped on a cup of water. Mara Jade came running towards him with the key to the cell.
"Mara, what are you doing here? Shit, does Anakin know?"
"Yes, he's coming for you! I've got to get you out of here, its finally happened. Our worse nightmare has come true!"
"What!"
"He's turned to the dark side; you really made him so angry by getting arrested. I've got to save you."
Han dropped the cup and the water left a small puddle on the floor, he saw a tall dark figure moving quickly down the hall.
"Hurry! Hurry!" Mara opened the door and grabbed Han's hand and pulled him out of the cell, but it was too late. Han was being pulled towards the large phantom with the hood over his head and the lightsaber not activated but held tightly in his right hand with his finger hovering over the activation button.
"You have failed me for the last time, Solo. I'm greatly displeased."
"Sorry, I was just defending your niece. I swear!"
"Mara Jade, I'll deal with you later."
Han was lifted and when he saw the evil yellow red eyes, he lost it.
"Oh, please. Don't kill me, just leave me in here. I'll never bother you or your family again. I swear."
"So pathetic; join me and you will live as my personal mechanic." Anakin smiled as he gently lowered Han to his feet; hooked his lightsaber to his belt; "Huh?" Han was scared but soon realized it was prank; especially when Anakin removed the Sith contacts.
The mayor didn't press charges against Han because he realized that his son was the instigator of the entire fight. The mayor's boy would soon be going to military school, this was his son's last chance to make good on his promise to stay out of trouble. Han though was petrified at the sight of Anakin and in particular his eyes, he knew that he wasn't going to be punished further. The prank was that good; Mara and Han laughed about it on the way home.
Author's Note:Okay, first just because Han goes out on a date with Ryoo, doesn't mean that he won't eventually hook up with Leia. Second, thank you for all your generous reviews. I apologize that this chapter is somewhat short. Thanks again to all of my dedicated readers out there—DarthGladiator45