Author's Note: I'm going out of town soon, and I'd like to get a large majority of this story posted before I leave. To that end, here's a nice long chapter for you. Enjoy!
An outside observer might assume that it was business as usual for the rebels on Hoth. Generals were discussing strategy and quibbling about supply procurement, pilots were bragging about their latest exploits, and techs were spinning a web of wires with their greasy fingers, capturing and harnessing energy for machines held together by recycled parts. A closer inspection, however, would reveal anxious glances toward the hangar doors, a med team organizing its equipment, and a diminutive figure in white keeping a silent vigil in a remote corner of the room.
For these men and women, death and injury were a part of their daily experience. Their stunning destruction of the Empire's prized Death Star had helped ease the pain, allowing them to believe that they might actually achieve defeat the enemy. However, recent events had caused morale to plummet. They had been defeated in several battles and forced to retreat to this desolate ice cube. With the threat of Imperial activity in the sector, all pilots had been grounded and shipments of key supplies had been halted.
Now, they were faced with the possibility of losing two of their heroes, men who were more than just leaders or symbols of their greatest victory. Han was their buddy, the storyteller, the card player, the rogue. Luke was the idealist, the fresh faced young man with mystical powers, a strong sense of loyalty, and a naïve confidence. The members of the Rebellion needed some sign of hope, some good news to help them continue the struggle—they needed to know that Solo and Skywalker had somehow survived against the odds. If these men could manage the impossible, perhaps the Rebellion could as well.
Leia stood uncharacteristically still, her eyes fixed upon the entrance to the hangar. She had received a brief report from the speeder pilots indicating that Han and Luke had been located. The troublesome communications array had failed soon after, however, leaving her little information about the condition of the men she had come to love.
Her stare was intense, her entire being focused on willing them to safety, hurrying the return of the speeders. She was so completely absorbed in her thoughts that she was able to ignore the tiredness of her muscles and the aching stiffness in her joints resulting from her workout and her effort to repair the speeders. Such physical exhaustion combined with sleep deprivation left her on the verge of collapse, and yet she stood resolutely, hoping desperately for some good news. She had managed to delay further examination of her feelings for Luke and Han…there would be time for that later, she reasoned.
The roar of engines signaled the end of the unknown. She began moving without a conscious thought, her hopes propelling her forward and her fears limiting the speed of her progress. She reached the med team just as they had placed Luke on a stretcher. His body was bloodied and blue-tinged, and he was mumbling incoherent words. "Luke," she cried out, taking his frozen hand in hers. Her voice grounded him, bringing clarity through the pain. "Leia," he said raggedly, the fear evident in his voice.
"Princess," the medic said kindly. "We have to move him to the med bay now."
"Of course," she said quickly, attempting to disengage her hand from Luke's so that the medics could proceed. In response, Luke tightened his grip, making it clear that her presence was needed.
Without another thought, she accompanied Luke to sick bay, Han temporarily forgotten. A med tech escorted her to the hallway after Luke had been sedated. She watched through the window in agony as the droids and medics worked in concert, the diagnostic machines and monitoring equipment providing an eerie soundtrack to her dear friend's life and death struggle. The medical staff nearly lost him a couple of times in their attempts to stabilize his condition enough for bacta treatment.
As tears began to roll down her cheeks, she placed her hand against the window. "Don't die on me, Luke," she said softly, willing him to hear her thoughts. "I need you."
Her mind flashed back to the time she had first seen him on the Death Star—the short "stormtrooper" who had so enthusiastically announced his intent to rescue her. In many ways, he had rescued her through his easy companionship and his unwavering idealism. His schoolboy crush notwithstanding, she knew that she could completely trust him and the friendship they had built.
That stability was in direct contrast to the volatile relationship she had developed with her other rescuer that day. Han! Her heart seized in fear and guilt, as she realized that she knew nothing of his fate. She raced to the communication module, placing an urgent call to the officer on duty in the hangar bay.
"Lieutenant, this is Princess Leia," she said, willing the panic out of her voice. "Has Captain Solo been brought in yet?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied. "Last I saw him, he was heading to the med bay."
"He's not injured is he?" she asked hopefully.
"He was walking under his own power, so he must not be severely injured. You'd have to ask the medic for more information."
"Thank you, Lieutenant," she said quickly, her spirit soaring. Anxious to find Han, she bolted from the med bay. She wanted to hug him, to touch him, to tell him…what exactly? At this point, she didn't know or care…she just wanted the nightmare to be over.
For Han Solo, time was moving at a maddeningly slow pace. He had helped Luke into the first speeder to get him the fastest medical attention possible. He had then stayed to help load the rebel equipment into another speeder before catching the long-awaited ride back to base. Even with the heater turned on at full blast, Han still couldn't stop shivering. He wasn't worried about his own condition, however—he was worried about Luke. The young pilot had survived the night, but both his injuries and the harsh weather had taken their toll. Han needed to know that his young friend would pull through this ordeal.
He was also desperate to see Leia again. Memories of the princess had sustained him through the cold night—her smile, her touch, her wit, her fighting spirit. His latest brush with death had convinced him to tell her the truth. She needed to know that he loved her, that they had finally admitted their feelings for each other on Ord Mantell. He couldn't wait for the speeder to get to base so that he could find her, talk to her. Maybe, if I'm lucky, she'll be there waiting for me.
He imagined taking her in his arms, holding her close to him. He could hurry her off to a secluded place where they wouldn't be interrupted…probably the Falcon. Once they were alone together, he would take her hands in his, lose himself in her exquisite brown eyes, and tell her that he loved her, tell her that she was the reason he had survived the night.
He would kiss her then, finding warmth in her lips, heat in her touch. He would share his memories about Ord Mantell—how they had fought, how they had danced, how they had kissed for the first time. He would explain why he hadn't told her the truth, how his first priority had been to keep her safe, to give her the chance to have a happy future.
Yet, a cold fear in the back of his soul caused him to hesitate. How would she react to the news that he had essentially played deity with her life? Though he had the best of intentions, he had robbed her of part of her history, keeping her from making her own decisions. He wasn't sure the headstrong princess would forgive him for that, even if she did recover her feelings for him. To make matters worse, the threat of separation still cast a shadow over their relationship. He would still have to leave her and his return was not guaranteed.
It was in this conflicted state that Han Solo returned to the Hoth Base. He wasn't sure what to do—he was only sure that he needed to see her. Grateful to be alive, he unfastened his harness and jumped out of his seat at the first opportunity. He was immediately surrounded by well-wishers and medical personnel, but his eyes sought out only one person.
A flash of white caught his eye and his vision focused on the princess. She was moving away from him, holding Luke's hand as the medics rushed him to treatment. She seemed so afraid for him, so sad. Han moved to follow them, but was restrained by medical personnel intent on assessing his condition.
"Captain Solo, we need to take a look at you, sir."
Han was amazed by the weakness in his limbs, the lingering numbness, and the chills he couldn't shake. However, the physical pain was nothing compared to the sinking feeling in his heart as he saw Leia and Luke together. "I'm fine," he replied gruffly, moving in the direction of the med bay.
"But, sir…," the medic argued, only to be cut off mid sentence by Solo.
"I tell ya', I'm fine. I'm going to the med bay to check on Luke." With that, he strode from the hangar, moving toward an increasingly uncertain future.
Han entered the medical facility quietly, intent on finding Luke and Leia. He ignored the various personnel at the entrance to the facility and headed for the intensive care wing of the unit. As he entered the hall, the vision of the grieving princess brought him to a dead halt. Her hand was pressed against the observation window, her tortured voice was begging Luke not to die.
At the sight of the tears he saw reflected in the window, Han felt an overwhelming desire to gather her in his arms and reassure her that Luke would be fine. However, to his horror, he realized that he wasn't the one that she wanted or needed…Luke was.
When did she fall for Luke? They had always been close, connecting on some level from day one. However, Han had believed Leia when she insisted that she felt only friendship for Luke. What had changed? Luke had been to visit her several times in the hospital--maybe their feelings of friendship had developed into something more during her recovery.
Suddenly, Han couldn't stand to be in the same room with her. He left the med bay at a rapid pace, trying to outdistance the pain that threatened to engulf him. In protecting Leia, he had pushed her into the arms of another man. He should have been there when she awakened, holding her hand and telling her everything would be fine, letting her know that she was loved. Instead, Luke was the one to take care of her, to guide her back to health.
He silently cursed Jabba the Hutt, his smuggling career, and every foolish decision he had made in his lifetime. He realized that the mistakes of his past now required him to forfeit his future, and he only had himself to blame. He had been the one to hide the truth from her, knowing that he had little chance of returning from Jabba's. Still, somewhere in his mind, he truly believed that he and Leia would beat the odds—that somehow they would find a way to be together.
That belief had made it much easier for him to engineer an alternate path for her life, confident that she would never have to follow it. The reality of her future without him, however, made him sick to his stomach. It killed him to think of Leia and Luke together, and he pounded his hand against the icy wall of the corridor out of sheer frustration.
The pain of the blow brought him back to his senses. He could not run away from his mistakes, he realized. Leia and Luke were his friends—no, they were more than that, they were his family. He wouldn't abandon them now, no matter how agonizing it was to see them together. With his resolve firmly in place, he began the long trek back to the med center.
Leia's search for Han was a short one. She had just emerged from the med bay when she ran straight into Han, almost knocking him down.
"Easy there, Princess," he said softly, capturing her in his arms and steadying them both.
He's alive, she thought, relief and joy flooding through her. In response, she hugged him tightly, resting her head against his chest. After the horrible night she had just endured, she was comforted by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and by the rumble of his voice as he spoke once more.
"Where were you off to in such a hurry?" he asked, knowing this might be the last time he would hold her.
She looked up at him then, unnerved by the strange sound of distance in his voice. "I was coming to find you. I…," she said, losing her confidence and dropping her gaze to the floor.
She can't even look at me, he thought, releasing her from the embrace. "How's the kid doing?" he asked aloud, his eyes focusing on the entrance to the med bay.
"He's not in good shape, Han. I don't know what I would do if he..."
Gods, she really does love him. He tried to give her hope even though his own heart was breaking. "Don't worry about that, Princess. Luke is strong…he'll fight through this."
She wanted to draw strength from his words, yet, that disconnectedness she heard in his voice gave her cause to doubt. She looked at him, then, searching for some reason for his unusual behavior. Studying him carefully, she noticed his unsteady stance and the tiny tremors wracking his body.
"You're shivering, Han," she said, concern evident in her voice. "You need medical attention."
"I'm fine, Your Worship. I'm just a little cold, that's all."
"You're not fine, Han. Go sit down in the examining room…I'll be right back."
"There's no need to fuss, Princess. I'm not injured, and I'm not sick."
"Han, you will go in there," she said in a tone that brooked no argument. "I didn't stay up all night worrying about you to lose you to hypothermia now."
She hadn't even realized what she said, so intent she was on restoring Han to health. She escorted Han to the examining room without another word, her efficient mind focusing on the problem at hand. Having a practical task to accomplish gave her a respite from the emotional turbulence of the past few hours…finally, she was in control of something. However, her departure left a very confused Han Solo to deal with his own emotional turmoil.
Han stared at the door of the examining room, wondering if his hearing had been affected by the cold. Had she really said that she had stayed up all night worrying about him? Had he misinterpreted her feelings for Luke?
He didn't have much time to ponder those questions, as Chewie burst into the room.
Capturing Han in a bear hug, the Wookie pulled his friend up from his seat. "It's great to see you alive, Cub."
"It's great to see you too, pal, but you're crushing me."
Sheepishly, Chewbacca released his friend, asking how he was feeling.
"I'm fine, Chewie--just a little cold."
"You're not fine, Han. What's wrong?"
"Luke's not doing too well, and Leia…," he said, trailing off at the end.
"You didn't tell her, did you?"
"She's in love with Luke, Chewie. There's nuthin' to tell her."
"You're imagining things, Han."
"You didn't see her in the hallway. He's the one that she wants."
"And you did not see her after those shield doors closed."
"Luke was out there, too. That's probably why she was upset."
"If it's easier for you to think that, there's nothing I can do to change your mind."
"What do you mean easier? It's killing me."
"It's easier for you to believe she's in love with someone else than to face your feelings for her."
"I know what my feelings are, Chewie."
"Yes, but you do not know what to do with those feelings."
Han wanted to reply, to tell Chewbacca that he knew exactly what he wanted to do about those feelings. He wanted to love Leia, to make love with her, and to spend the rest of his life with her. He just didn't see how that would be possible. All of the words he had prepared vanished from his mind, however, as Leia appeared before him once more.
Knowing that they both needed an update on Luke's condition, Leia headed to the intensive care ward. She paused at the observation window, thankful to see Luke resting peacefully. She hoped it was a good sign.
Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Excuse me, Princess Leia."
Turning, she replied, "How's Luke, Doctor Savofid?"
"His condition is stable, Your Highness. We should be able to begin bacta treatments in a couple of hours if his condition remains the same. With a little luck, he should be good as new within a couple of days."
"That's terrific news, Doctor. Thank you."
"Certainly. Is there anything else I can do to help you?"
"Actually, Doctor, I'm concerned about Captain Solo. It's my understanding that he refused medical treatment when he arrived, but he's still shivering uncontrollably."
Dr. Savofid was about to answer when his pager alerted him to a cave-in on base. "I'm sorry, Princess, but my staff and I need to check on this cave-in. It's supposedly minor, but we'll need to be there just in case. Captain Solo sounds like he's in pretty good shape, but I'll be happy to send a nurse to bring him warming blankets and check on his condition."
"There's no need to send a nurse, Doctor," she said, subconsciously unwilling to let another woman examine Han. "I'll make sure he has the blankets he needs. Still, I'd like to be able to page you if his condition worsens."
"Of course, Princess. I'll be sure to send a medic within an hour, regardless."
"Thank you again, Doctor," she said, hurrying to complete the task before her.
When Leia returned to the room, her arms were loaded with self-heating blankets. Noticing the Wookie's presence, Leia smiled warmly and said, "Chewbacca, I'm glad to see you found Han. Have you been keeping him out of trouble?"
"No one can do that, Princess." Chewie growled affectionately, humor evident in his delivery.
Han shot his partner a dirty look, but said nothing in response.
"I thought you'd both like to know—Luke is in stable condition and should be well enough for bacta treatment in a couple of hours."
"That is very good news, Princess," Chewie whuffed, hoping his meaning was clear.
"That's great," Han said, thrilled for his friend, but fearful of his own future.
Chewbacca, sensing his presence was no longer needed, made excuses for a quick getaway. "Talk to her," Han, he urged, before seeing himself out of the room.
Left alone with Han once more, Leia placed her load on the table next to Han. Picking up one of the blankets, she switched the heating mechanism to the "on" position, and placed the blanket gently around his shoulders. Realizing that she had not placed it correctly, she moved in close to him and ran her hands slowly down his chest to adjust the position of the blanket.
Reveling in the sensation of her touch, Han reached for her then, capturing her hands in his own. Startled, Leia turned her face to his, their eyes locking in a powerful gaze. She was pulled in by some unseen magnetic force, closing the distance between them until her lips were almost upon his.
She had dreamed of this moment, wondering how it would feel to kiss him, to be kissed by him. She could hardly believe that was here in front of her, safe after the horrible ordeal of the previous night. She could feel the closeness of his body, and she shivered at the thought of his lips capturing her own, his hands caressing her. Yet, as much as she wanted to surrender to these sensations, something seemed horribly wrong. She was having difficulty forming coherent thoughts, her logical mind drowning in the strong current of emotions.
Sensing her confusion, Han reached out to cup her cheek with his hand. His touch sparked a powerful reaction, causing her stomach to tighten and her heart to pound in her chest. Through the fuzzy haze of her arousal, however, she finally realized why she had been so concerned—his hands were cold, unnaturally so. Hypothermia. Panic began to set in—she couldn't lose him, not again, not ever. She pulled away from him and began vigorously rubbing his hands to generate heat.
"Your hands are frozen," she said, fear strangling her voice. "We've got to get you warmed up."
"I can think of better ways to do that, Sweetheart."
Under normal circumstances, that remark would have engendered a sharp retort from the princess. Instead, she disengaged her hands from his and rushed to leave. "I'm going to find the medic. He should have been here by now."
Seemingly summoned by the sheer force of Leia's concern, the medic chose that moment to enter the room. "How are you feeling, Captain Solo?"
"Like I keep telling everyone, I'm fine."
"He's not fine," Leia interjected. "He's shivering and his hands are frozen."
"I see. Let me have a look, Captain."
As the medic began the examination, Leia took the opportunity to slip out of the room. She needed a break from the fear, from the powerful emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She had almost kissed him in there, and her whole being had been thrown into turmoil by the mere thought of losing him. She began pacing back and forth, trying to sort out her confused feelings for Han.
"Princess Leia," the young medic said gently, the examination completed.
"How is he?" she said, worry evident in her voice.
"He's in good shape, Princess. He just needs some rest and some warmth. I don't know how he survived that weather, but he shows no signs of frostbite whatsoever."
"Thank you," she said with relief and gratitude.
"No problem," the medic said. "You can go and see him now if you like."
Nodding, Leia moved swiftly back into the room.
"I told ya' I was fine," Han said, basking in his correctness.
"I'm glad to hear it," she said quietly, unsure of what to do next.
Becoming more serious, he leveled his gaze at her and said, "Princess, we need to talk."
"No, you need your rest. We can talk tomorrow."
Han was about to argue with the princess, when a voice over the loudspeaker cut him off: "Princess Leia, please report to the command center."
"I'm sorry, Han," she said quickly, relieved at having the excuse to leave. "I've got to go, but I'll be back to check on you later."
"Wait," Han said, but she was already gone. He hoped it wasn't a sign that he was destined to lose her forever.
"Kreth, I sound like that crazy old wizard spouting nonsense about the Force," Han said aloud, berating himself for his negativity. "I make my own destiny."
Jumping out of his chair, he ran out of the med center and into the south passage. His gait was slower than normal, but he was determined to find her. Within seconds, he spotted a blur of white just ahead.
"Wait a minute, Princess," he called.
Turning to face him, she asked, "Why are you following me? You should be resting."
"I want to know why you were worried."
"What?"
"Why did you stay up all night worrying about me?" he asked, closing the distance between them.
"Why do you think? You risked your life to save Luke." Her voice wavering slightly, she added, "You could have died out there."
Hurt by the mention of Luke, he replied gruffly, "Save the hero speech, Your Highnessness. I only did what anyone would do for a friend."
"No, you didn't," she said, passionately. "There's not a single person on base who would have gone after Luke like that. We've become too accustomed to accepting losses—it's a part of our everyday existence. But you wouldn't let that happen, not to Luke. It was brave, and stupid, and honorable, and I can't thank you enough, Han." Moving to him and hugging him tightly, she added, "I'm so glad you're both safe."
Surprised by her uncharacteristic outpouring of emotion and praise, Han spoke without thinking, even as he tightened his arms around her. "Why, Your Worship, I'd almost believe that you cared about me."
"I can't believe that you would say that to me," she said, pulling away from his embrace in disgust. "Why is it so hard for you to believe that I care?" Searching his eyes, she had a sudden revelation. "Oh, I get it…you've bought into the Ice Princess idea, just like everyone else. What...will you win some kind of bet for getting me to admit I have feelings?"
"No, I…," he stammered, struggling to find a way to explain.
"Listen, you're the one with the problem," she said angrily. "You can't stand the idea that everyone doesn't love you as much as you love yourself. I'm sorry to inform you, Captain, but the universe does not revolve around you. Good day."
Since his argument with Leia, Han had been keeping watch over Luke in the med center. The bacta treatment seemed to be going well, though the kid had been thrashing about quite a bit. As he recalled from his own experience, that reaction was quite common. It still didn't make him feel any better about seeing Luke suffering like that.
As he waited for news, Han wondered absently if there was a bacta treatment for his stupid mouth. At this point, he'd be willing go through a little suffering if he could fix things with Leia. Why had he found it necessary to counter her sincerity with sarcasm? He suspected it was because she kept mentioning Luke. She had thanked him for saving Luke's life. She was happy that both of them were alive. If he could just be sure that Leia had feelings for him, he would tell her everything. Now that Luke was in the picture, he didn't know what to do.
He didn't get to ponder the problem further, though, because Leia suddenly entered the room. She glanced at him briefly, pain evident in her eyes, and then turned her attention to Luke.
Han kept hoping she would turn around, but she kept her eyes glued to the tank. He thought about talking to her, but decided against it. Enough had been said today, and their words had only made the situation worse. He wouldn't leave, though. As much as it pained him to watch her ignoring him and grieving over Luke, he wanted her to know that he was here for her, for both of them.
Leia, meanwhile, was struggling to keep her composure. It took all of her strength to ignore Han and remain focused on Luke. She was angry with Han, to be sure, but mostly she was embarrassed. She had finally gained the courage to admit that she cared, and he had mocked her in return. She wished that he would go away, but she knew that he cared for Luke as much as she did. He had every right to be here, even if his proximity was killing her.
Fortunately, the unbearable tension between the two would-be lovers was soon broken by the removal of Luke from the bacta tank. After a brief examination, Dr. Savofid came to deliver the good news to Han and Leia. "Luke will probably sleep until the next morning, but his wounds are healing nicely. He should be ready for visitors by tomorrow, and will be back on his feet soon thereafter."
"Thank you doctor," Leia said gratefully, smiling with relief.
"Yeah, thanks doc," Han added. "It's great to hear the kid will be up and whining soon."
"Han," Leia admonished, just as General Rieekan walked in.
"How is Luke doing?" the general asked.
"The doctor assures us that he will recover fully with some rest," said Leia.
"That's wonderful news. We were very worried about that young man."
Turning to Han, Rieekan added, "We were also worried about you, Solo. That was a brave thing that you did, and I'm going to see to it that you earn a commendation."
Rieekan's praise made Han very uncomfortable. In an annoyed tone, he responded, "Thank you, General, but I was just tryin' to help out a friend. I don't need another medal."
"I'll respect your wishes, then," Rieekan replied, the room descending once more into silence.
The general took note of the tension in the air and the haggard appearances of both Solo and the princess. Before the silence became oppressive, Rieekan decided to take matters into his own hands. "Now that Luke is on the mend, it's time for you two to go to bed," he said suggestively.
Both Han and Leia turned shocked faces toward the general, betraying their thoughts.
Rieekan had to struggle to maintain a straight face, explaining, "Neither of you has had any sleep for a couple of days. You need to go and rest."
"I'm fine, General," they both replied at the same time.
"You aren't fine. You're both dead on your feet. Do I need to call the medic and have him admit you to this facility? I hear they have a fine selection of sedatives to ensure your cooperation."
"No, Sir," they both said quickly, surprised by his threat.
"Good. I'll expect to see you back to work tomorrow afternoon, Leia. That should give you plenty of time to catch up on your sleep."
"Yes, General."
"Solo, I'd like to meet with you tomorrow afternoon as well."
"No problem."
"Great, now get going before I call that medic," Rieekan said, hurrying Han and Leia off to their quarters.
He was secretly hoping they would follow his advice and go to bed together, but he knew they were both too stubborn. They clearly hadn't talked since their return, though he was willing to bet that they had argued. Someone needed to talk some sense into them before they permanently ruined their budding relationship. Smiling, Rieekan thought to himself, I know just the man for the job.
Both Han and Leia reached their separate quarters in a state of emotional upheaval. Normally, such a condition would have led to hours of tossing and turning, the restless mind holding the body hostage in a war of competing thoughts and rehashed events. Mercifully, however, sheer exhaustion allowed sleep to claim them, turning their problems over to the realm of the subconscious.
This night, both Han and Leia dreamed in a rare state of lucidity. Fears were stripped away, transforming miscommunication into truth. Motives suddenly became decipherable, and actions made sense of words. In this realm, almost kisses became real kisses, alive with passion, sweetness and promise. Relieved of uncertainty, love was allowed to flourish, causing opposites to attract rather than repel.
Upon awakening, however, the certainty of the dream world was replaced with the volatility of an uneasy reality. Both Han and Leia awakened with a vague sense of hope about the future, but the clarity of the subconscious mind eluded them.
Han decided to return to what had worked the first time. Banter, teasing and innuendo had been the staples of a game they both had ultimately won. Perhaps he had been putting too much pressure on Leia. If he could reestablish the old set of laws, he might be able to win her back when he returned from Jabba's.
Leia, too, thought a change was in order, but, uncharacteristically, no new strategy came to mind. For the life of her, she couldn't understand why her diplomatic skills were so utterly useless in her dealings with Han Solo. She knew that he cared about her, at least, but no one could hurt her the way he could. Tired of thinking, Leia decided to visit Luke. She wanted to make sure that he was healing well, but she also wanted to enjoy some certainty, if only for a little while.
"Luke!" she said as she entered the med center. "I'm so glad to see that the bacta treatment lived up to its reputation. You had us worried."
"I was worried myself. How did you guys find me?"
"You don't know? Han rode out in the storm to find you."
"He did what?" Luke asked incredulously.
"You know Han," she said, a mixture of pride and exasperation in her voice. "He doesn't take no for an answer, and he always finds a way to do the impossible. He really cares about you, Luke."
"He cares about you too, Leia."
Blushing, Leia looked away. "In his own way, I suppose," she said sadly, quickly changing the subject. "You don't remember anything about the rescue?"
"I remember being attacked by the ice creature and escaping, but nothing after that. I thought the snowstorm would kill me for sure."
"We thought we'd lose both of you," she said, her voice betraying her pain. "Somehow Han managed to keep both of you alive until the speeders arrived."
"I'm so sorry, Leia," he said, responding to her evident distress. "I know that must have been terrible for you."
She nodded, "When they closed the shield doors, it felt like a death sentence for my heart. You and Han kept me going after Alderaan was destroyed. You are my family now—I don't know what I would have done if you both hadn't come back."
"But we did make it back," he said earnestly, trying to cheer her up. When greeted by her smile, he asked softly, "Have you told Han?"
"Told him what?" she asked quizzically.
"Have you told him that you…?" He didn't get to finish his question, however, because the droids chose that moment to enter the room and inquire about his health. Chewie and Han soon followed.
"How are you feeling, kid?" Han asked, thrilled to see Luke so healthy. "You don't look so bad to me. In fact, you look strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark."
"Thanks to you," Luke said gratefully.
"That's two you owe me, junior," Han replied playfully, holding up two fingers to emphasize his point.
Play it cool, Han, he reminded himself as he turned toward the princess. "Well your Worship, looks like you managed to keep me around for a little while longer."
The nerve of that man! "I had nothing to do with it," she replied, matter-of-factly. "General Rieekan thinks it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we've activated the energy shield."
"That's a good story," he said, goading her. "I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight."
"I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain," she countered smoothly.
Laughingly, Chewie remarked, "She's got you pegged, partner."
Annoyed by the combination of his partner's betrayal and Leia's sharp tongue, Han shot back: "Laugh it up, fuzzball. But you didn't see us alone in the south passage."
Moving toward Leia, Han put his arm around her and crowed, "She expressed her true feelings for me."
He's going to embarrass me again in public. Flustered, Leia resorted to name-calling. "My...! Why, you stuck up,... half-witted... scruffy-looking ...nerf-herder!"
"Who's scruffy-looking?" he replied neatly, taking the sting out of her remark. Then adding insult to injury, he addressed Luke. "I must have hit pretty close to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh, kid?"
Momentarily vulnerable, Leia's indignant expression confirmed his argument. However, she quickly regained her composure and hatched a plan of her own—it was time she stopped letting Captain Solo run the show. "Why, I guess you don't know everything about women yet," she said, marching purposefully to Luke's bedside and kissing him firmly on the mouth.
Shocked by her actions, Han could only gape as Luke smiled with satisfaction and put his hands behind his head. Luke hoped his smirk would provoke Han into action.
Behind him, Han heard Chewie remark snidely, "You should have told her, Cub. Next thing you know, she'll be kissing me."
Han stood there for a moment in shock, unable to process what had just happened. It had been one thing to think about her loving Luke in the abstract, but it was quite another to see her express those feelings in front of him. Yet, something about that kiss seemed wrong. She should be kissing me! The announcement over the loudspeaker brought him abruptly back to reality. He addressed Luke with a quick, "Take it easy," and then left the med center to find Leia.
"Hold up, Your Worship."
"What is it, Han? I've got to report to the command center."
"What were you doing in there?"
"What did it look like I was doing? I was kissing Luke."
"You told me you didn't feel that way about him," he said urgently. "Was it a lie?"
"When did I tell you that?" she asked, genuinely perplexed. It was true that she didn't have romantic feelings for Luke, but she certainly didn't remember discussing it with Han.
"On the way to Ord Mantell, you…," Han said, trailing off with realization.
"Well, since I don't remember anything from that trip, I can hardly be responsible for what I said, now can I?" she asked, her voice filled with an unspoken accusation.
"So, you're interested in him," he pressed, determined to learn the truth.
"Why do you care who I'm interested in?" she asked challengingly.
"I don't care. I just don't want you stringing Luke along."
"I don't think this has anything to do with you looking out for Luke's welfare," she said, gaining her courage. "You're jealous."
"Of you and Luke? Hardly," he protested, trying to be convincing. "I can have any woman I want. Why would I care about a short, holier-than-thou, ice princess?"
"I don't know," she said softly, refusing to be baited. "Why would you care?"
Silence descended upon them then, making way for other means of expression. Words had failed them so often in the past few years that neither one of them was willing to venture further. The air surrounding them became thick with emotion, pulsing with the escalating rhythm of their heartbeats.
The spell was broken, however, as C-3PO, master of misunderstanding human relations, addressed the princess. "Mistress Leia, if you and Captain Solo are finished with your discussion, we should proceed to the command center. I believe your presence is required."
Embarrassed and confused, both Leia and Han followed the droid to the command center, each unable to look at the other.