A/N: I know, it's been ages since my last post. I've been busy with other stories lately but don't worry; I haven't forgotten about pre-ESB Han and Leia patiently waiting for me on Ord Mantell! I must apologize for the length of this chapter, think of it is as a sort of Chapter 6- Part 1. I meant for this chapter to be a lot longer but time waits for no fan girl. Thanks to all for your reviews and continued support. And don't worry, Star Wars still belongs to George Lucas and I am still making no money from this. All is right in the world.

Chapter 5- Destination Unknown

"That," Leia stormed as Han shut their hotel room door, "was the most useless conversation I have ever had with Nynaeve Grayza! And given the amount that woman talks, that's saying a lot."

Han had known the princess was angry the moment they left Nynaeve's suite and, in all honesty, was glad to know he was not the cause. "If that's all you're pissed about Sweetheart then I guess I was right in assuming got that bug planted…"

"Of course I planted the Shadow Plug," Leia snapped. "But that was only half of our mission, less then ha-"

"Oh! I thought we were all done!" Han cut her off sarcastically.

"May I finish?" the princess said sharply and Solo had the grace to look slightly ashamed. "Nynaeve said in her communication that she has information "vital to the survival of the Rebellion". None of what she said this afternoon could even remotely be considered that."

Han hated to admit it, even to himself, but he knew she was right. The Alliance needed medical supplies and personnel, the sooner they got this apparently vital info the better. Better for then Rebellion, he mentally reminded himself. He was only in it for the money.

"I don't know," Han said honestly. Maybe she wants to let us get familiar with the organization first. Maybe Auuel was listening in and she wanted him to think were here on a social visit. Maybe…stang, I wish we could know who the bad guys are and just shoot 'em. I've said it before, I much prefer a straight fight to all this sneakin' around with no idea who's on our side and who's out to get us."

Leia noticed, and couldn't help but like hearing Han's use of the word us. Maybe he was thinking about staying…In any case she agreed. Despite an upbringing of pacifism Leia had long since admitted that pulling a blaster was much easier then negotiating.

Han scanned the room, making sure all was right, and noticed something odd. "Sweetheart, look at this." On the low table in front of the couch sat a lone data chip.

Leia picked it up. "It's not one of ours," she said, studying it. The princess pulled her data pad out of a pocket and inserted the chip. Leia quickly read the contents and silently handed the pad to Han.

My dear Leila, it said. I apologize for the complete lack of substance in our conversation. And before you go mental wondering how I got in, let's just say living with Nygel has its benefits. And so to business, there is a fraction here that supports the organization you belong to, some more so then others. While not everyone agrees, we are a group devoted to healing and helping; therefore there is a strong base of support. You will be sat, tonight, at dinner with a few of these people. While I do not advise you to take them into your confidence, yet, you will learn much, and can possibly gain quite a lot, from them. Included on this chip is the itinerary of the meetings you will be attending over the next five days. Particularly important is the Benevolence Committee meeting, the purpose of which you can most likely guess. Best wishes.

Han looked tersely at the princess. "It could be a trap," he reasoned.

"It's not."

"How do you know that," Han demanded.

Leia sighed, pain filling her now blue eyes, "Lelila was a childhood nickname. All the people who now of it, except for Winter and Nynaeve, are dead."

"Oh," was all Han could say.

Suddenly exhausted, Leia sat heavily down on the silvery couch, undoing the top button of her far too warm, high-necked dress.

Han froze where he stood, transfixed by the few centims of newly exposed skin. He mentally shook himself, telling his body that he had seen quite a bit more skin in her low-cut gown at the Yavin medal ceremony. It was, he belatedly realized, not the skin but the sight of Leia undressing that caused him to react so.

Feeling his stare, Leia became conscious of Han watching her. Meeting his gaze, she boldly undid the next button. Solo swallowed hard and took a step towards her.

Leia was suddenly gripped with an unreasonable fear. What was she thinking, starting something she could not finish? Leia realized she had gone far beyond innocently joking around with Han the moment she consciously undid that button for him. Why had it felt so natural to do…? Averting her eyes, the princess spoke. "I…I need to get changed for dinner." Saying nothing more Leia picked up her case, and rushed out of the living area into the bedroom.

Watching her go, Han took a steadying breath. Although having so strong a physical reaction to Leia Organa was nothing new to him, Han was not used to have nothing to blame that reaction on but less then five centims of skin.

But what if it was more than physical? What if… The only way Han could tolerate the thought of having genuine feelings for the princess was to get very, very drunk. Luckily the formal dinner promised to offer plenty of booze.

In the bedroom, meanwhile, Leia was fairing no better. The large canopy bed, although it looked far more comfortable than the standard-issue Rebel cots, only served to remind her of the situation she and Han would have to face after dinner.

Sighing, Leia dumped her case on the bed and took off the heavy blue dress. Slipping into a dark green dressing gown and undoing her braided hair, she headed for the 'fresher.

Two hours later Han was starting to get worried. Her Worship was definitely not one to take so much time getting dressed. Could she have slipped in the 'fresher? Been overcome by grief for Alderaan? Or worse still, what if the bounty hunters, or the Imperials had gotten her?

Han sprinted across the hotel suite and knocked on the bedroom door. No answer. Resigning himself to the worst, he opened the door, walked in and was surprised to find Leia Organa curled up on the huge bed, fast asleep.

On the dressing table beside her was an array of hair styling products and a flowing gown that matched her new eye colour hung near by. Solo turned his attention to the princess herself. It seemed Leia had been about to get dressed when she lay down for a nap. A well-deserved nap too, Han decided. She looked so serene in sleep, something rarely seen in her, that Solo could not bare to wake her up, despite the time. Instead he sat down on the bed beside her, yielding to the longing to touch her smooth cheek, caress her soft hair…. Han closed his eyes, savoring the quiet peace, the sent her perfumed cleanser. Looking on her once more, he listened for the sigh of her breath and his eyes focused on her half-open lips. And it was there again, the desire to kiss her, the desire to make her his. And it would be so easy.

Leia rolled towards him, her sudden movement startling Han out of his thoughts. Furious with himself for even thinking of Leia, the princess for Sith's sake, like that he jumped of the bed and started towards the door.

Han's nervous movements, however, jarred Leia from sleep. Sitting up, she blearily called after him, "Han… What time is it? How long was I asleep?"

Turning to her, trying to ignore the captivating image of the Alderaani princess sitting in bed, Han answered. "Don't know. An hour, more or less." Her eyes were brown again he noticed. She must have taken the contacts out for her shower.

"Oh."

There was an awkward pause, until Han said, "I'll…uh... leave you to it. 'kay?"

If Han had entertained any hope that the dinner would be enjoyable it was brutally quashed the instant he saw Leia. Han realized very quickly that her outfit was definitely the most deliberately sexy he'd ever seen on her. The princess's neck and shoulders were bared and more than a hint of cleavage was displayed. Her red-dyed hair was loose. Waves of gauzy blue-green material flowed against her body in a way that was classy, yet provocative.

Leia noticed Han stare and blushed, absurdly pleased, despite her embarrassment that the Corellian approved. Determined not to let the familiar awkward silence set in, Leia tried to think of something safe to say.

Han, luckily, beat her to it. Sort of. "You look beautiful," he said.

Surprised by the unexpected compliment, Leia did not know how she should react. She had never been called beautiful before. It least not in that way, not so sincerely that it made her feel truly deserving of the praise. She smiled shyly and spoke. "There bedroom and 'fresher are free. Just let me get some stuff and I can do my hair out here."

"Leave it down," he said. "They'll never guess you're not Naboo that way."

Leia thought for a moment and then grinned. "Okay. I'll just get the curler, some pins and ribbon."

To be continued….

A/N: I know, I know, it's quite a bit less then I promised. Well, I can safely say that I will have Chapter 6, which will include the formal dinner and sharing a bed, up by April 1st. I have almost all of it written, but not yet typed, and as I am going to Mexico for the next week will not be able to post until after I get back. Thanks so much for your patience and have an awesome March Break! Please review!