Clandestine Moments------

II. An Unsuspecting Doorstop

Behind the closed door a concerned man sat hunched over in his favorite chair, his face buried in his hands. He was a sad thing, dressed up in his suit with places to be and people to see, but no one that really cared that he didn't care to be going out. Especially not in prim and proper military attire that he thought he'd given up years before with his official military career. He was a smuggler, not a general.

He sighed deeply with the resignation of someone doomed to an eternal existence in the fiery pits of wardrobe hell.

From the closet came a frustrated roar that could only be described using words in languages that Han didn't speak. It brought a marginal feeling of satisfaction to know that his wife wasn't having a much better time than himself. At least he could wallow in his sorrows on time. She was wallowing in her sorrows while pulling dresses and things over her head.

"Han, have you seen my white shoes?"

Looking at the closet door, he wondered how she could possibly expect him to give an accurate answer. The woman owned at least thirty pairs of shoes, half of which were white.

"Which white ones?"

"The ones with the straps on the side!" she yelled.

A pained expression crossed Han's face. His patience was already being tested with the suit and the very idea of being put on display for everyone to see. He'd had this discussion with Leia the previous night to no avail. She insisted that he make an appearance because she wasn't going down there alone. There would be too many people talking if she didn't have her escort. She'd gone as far as threatening a night or four on the couch if he didn't attend.

Through the gaps in his fingers Han could see a white strap peeking out from underneath his chair. Reaching down he grabbed hold of the exact shoe that Leia was on the hunt for in the closet.

"Hey sweetheart," he called while walking over to the closet to take her the shoes, "I've found your shoes."

"Oh really, where-"

The heavy door opened swiftly and caught Han in the face, promptly knocking him unconscious as he fell to the floor.

"Oh no," Leia gasped, dropping the jewelry in her hands as she knelt by her husband's side. "Han wake up, wake up."

She slapped him repeatedly in the face in an attempt to revive him. Deciding that a cold washcloth would help, she ran to the bathroom to get just that. As she came out she saw his eyes flutter and legs begin to move. Rushing back to his side she held him onto the floor with the help of the Force.

"Stay still, you may have a head injury," she cautioned.

"What the hell happened?" he asked while reaching up to touch his face.

"The door hit you," she explained. "I opened it while you were walking over. How do you feel?"

"Like I'm gonna be late for the party," he remarked.

"Can you stand? Let me help you up."

Together they reached the bed with little incident, though the dizziness and nausea of a possible concussion were beginning to affect Han's head and stomach. He laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes, hoping that the throbbing pain of his headache would quickly go away.

"Oh god I feel terrible," Leia groaned.

"How do you think I feel?" Han retorted.

"I'm so sorry for hitting you in the face with the door. You just came walking over and I didn't know-"

Han held up his hand to silence her fast words.

"Don't talk," he commanded. "Just… don't talk."

The room was silent as ordered while Han tried to suffer through the pain of his injury. His forehead was already bruised and a trickle of blood had dried near his hairline.

"You're going to be late," he warned, taking a quick glance at the bedside clock.

"I'm not going," she said while scooting closer to his body. She lay down beside him with her head propped on her hand. Looking down at his face and the injuries she'd caused with her recklessness she felt the guilt come rushing back full force. If she hadn't been so commanding then he never would have gotten hurt.

"What do you mean you're not going? I thought this was important to you."

"You're more important than some social gathering of the most pompous people in inter-galactic politics," she replied.

"You're in that social elite yourself, princess," he reminded.

"Shut up or I'll give you another head wound."

"I'm not entirely sure that's a bad idea given the state of things right now," he grinned. "I get to miss the formal entrance of every planet's most notorious lawmakers to spend time in bed with a great lookin' woman. Not too shabby if you ask me."

"Hans to yourself, Solo, hands to yourself."

"Don't' worry, I'm in too much pain to talk you out of your clothes tonight. Now tomorrow could be a different story…"

a/n: Wooo, the beginning of this one tore me up. The ending surprised me since this wasn't what I set out to write. Consider it a back to school present for most of you. More to definitely come soon. Maybe. Whenever I get to it, really.

Check out my other Star Wars stories while you're bored and reading this filthy romance trash. Get to it!

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