Han emerged from the shower, a towel around his waist, his upper body glistening. Leia's breath caught in her throat.

"Shower's yours if you want it."

"Okay." Leia crawled out from the bed. Suddenly shy, she didn't want to be naked in front of him. She dashed to the shower.

Flicking on the water, Leia was reluctant to wash Han's scent from her body. She stood under the hot steam, playing the events of that day over in her mind. It had been a terrible, frightening day…yet it had been the best day of her life.

Han had already left the bedroom by the time Leia emerged feeling fresh and clean. She took her time, deciding to dress up a little by putting on an elegant red gown. She sat at the end of the bed, leisurely braiding her hair until she had made two loops.

Standing up, she watched herself in the mirror with a critical eye. She hoped Han would like what he saw. Oh, stop it Leia she chided herself. Smoothing out her gown, she entered the main room. Han was pacing back and forth.

Leia sighed. Her heart ached for him. She still didn't know if he really felt the same way about her. Did he love her? Was Han even capable of love?

He noticed her as she appeared through the doorway. "You look beautiful," he said, almost in wonder. She blushed. "You should wear girls clothes more often." The blush almost became an angry glare. But not quite.

"The ship is almost finished," he said. "Two or three more things and we're in great shape."

"The sooner the better," said Leia, her tone serious. "Something's wrong here. No one has seen or knows anything about Threepio. He's been gone too long to have gotten lost."

Han took Leia by the shoulders and gently kissed her forehead.

"Relax. I'll talk to Lando and see what I can find out," he assured her.

"I don't trust Lando." There was something about him, a sense she couldn't put her finger on.

"Well, I don't trust him, either. But he is my friend. Besides, we'll soon be gone."

"And then you're as good as gone, aren't you?" she challenged him. She was testing, waiting for him to tell her everything would be alright, that he loved her and would never leave her.

But he didn't respond. He simply looked at her.

There was a buzz and the door slid open, revealing Lando.

"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting anything?" His smile suggested that he knew exactly what they had been doing.

"Not really," Leia replied casually.

"You look absolutely beautiful," Lando complimented her. "You truly belong here with us among the clouds."

Leia looked at him coolly. "Thank you."

"Will you join me for a little refreshment?"

Han looked at Lando suspiciously, but Chewie barked at the mention of food and licked his lips.

"Everyone's invited, of course," smiled Lando, looking around at Han.

Leia took Lando's proffered arm, and turned to go. Han however, was quick to grab Leia's other arm and pull her toward him. She noticed and smiled to herself. She kind of liked this whole jealousy thing.

Leia walked between the two men as Lando explained more about his mining colony. She pretended to listen and posed some polite questions, not terribly interested as her thoughts were occupied with Han.

The group walked into another corridor and headed for a huge doorway at the far end.

"Aren't you afraid the Empire's going to find out about this little operation and shut you down?" asked Han.

"That's always been a danger looming like a shadow over everything we've built here," explained Lando. "But things have developed that will insure security. I've just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever."

Something about his tone set up warning alarms in Leia's mind.

The mighty doors to the dining room slid open and the group entered the dining room.

Suddenly Leia was face to face with the man she despised more than anything in the universe. Her father.

Darth Vader was at the end of a huge banquet table with the bounty hunter Boba Fett. Faster than the wink of an eye, Han drew his blaster and shot directly at Vader. The Dark Lord merely raise his hand, deflecting the bolts into one of the side walls, where they exploded harmlessly. Just as quickly, Han's weapon flew into Vader's hand. The evil presence calmly placed the gun on the table in front of him.

"We would be honored if you would join us," boomed Vader.

Han shot Lando a vicious look.

"I had no choice. They arrived right before you did. I'm sorry," said Lando defensively.

"I'm sorry, too," said Han coldly.

Leia heard Han's screams from the other room as they tortured him. Her father walked around her menacingly. She eyed him warily, her eyes filled with pure hatred.

"So Princess. We meet again."

"You disgust me," she spat. My darling Father. How could I have come from something as evil as this monster?

"You'll do well to keep a civil tongue in your head, Princess."

I HATE YOU. After what you did to my mother… "What are you doing to Han?" she hissed, full of venom.

"It is of no consequence to you."

I HATE YOU! "Let me exchange with him. Torture me instead," demanded Leia.

Vader stroked her cheek. "Oh, we'll get to that in time, Princess."

"LET HIM GO!"

"I don't think so. He's enjoying it too much."

Leia exploded. She burst forth, attacking Vader with a fury.

Suddenly she could not breath. Something was constricting her throat. She dropped to her knees, gasping and gurgling. Vader stood above her, fingers in a pinching motion.

He laughed. "Impressive display of temper, Princess. You would make a fine apprentice."

"Never," she choked, her eyes fixed on him in wild rage.

"Very well." Her airway constricted again. She clutched her throat, twisting and fighting against the invisible force that bound her.

"I hate you," she hissed with the little breath she had left. Vader merely laughed.

"Your hatred makes me stronger." Leia's hands and lips were turning blue. She fell to the floor, writhing.

First my mother, now me. Your own daughter.

With no warning, he let go. Leia closed her eyes, gasping, still conscious but barely.

One day, I'll make you pay for this, Father of mine.

She passed out.