Thanks for reading! The title of this story comes from the song Love Never Dies from the musical of the same name. The lyrics will pop up from here on out.
Who knows when love begins. Who knows what makes it start. One day it's simply there, alive inside your heart.
The rest of the ride went quickly. As they were landing, Leia kept her eyes fixated on the ground below and the shores on Corellia. Gods she needed a rest.
"Look! You can see the beach." Leia pointed out, glancing over Han's shoulder.
He nodded, looking at all the beautiful trees that covered the coast.
Once they docked, Mara led them through the Falcon halls to their luggage. Leia moved to grab her bag, but Han reached it first, slinging it over his back.
"I am perfectly capable of carrying my own luggage, thank you very much!" she commented with an overt amount of pride.
"Leia, I was only trying to help. Don't be so defensive," he argued right back. Pulling his own bag into his other hand.
Leia backed down, maybe he was just being nice for once.
"Alright then, let's go!" Mara led them down the ramp and found them a ride. Han quickly spoke with the docking agent and settled arrangements for the Falcon to park there for the week. He joined them back at the speeder as they all piled in, all their luggage barely fitting in the boot. Han sat upfront with the driver while the other three were squished in the back.
Luckily, it was a short drive to their resort which was situated right along the coast. It was a very small, secluded area with limited rooms. Leia chose and booked the place thinking it was perfect for them and gave them the privacy they rarely received in the capital city.
Han was enamored with the place as soon as he saw it. Being back on his home planet in such luxury was giving him such warm feelings. He knew Leia booked the place and he had to congratulate her. It was beautiful, nontouristy, and had a real charm about it. "Well, I never thought I would say this but Leia, you chose well."
She rolled her eyes at him and didn't dignify his comment with a response.
Leia found the front desk to check-in.
The woman found her reservation. "Yes, I have a room for two for Isolder and Leia and I see your husband has a bag too." Leia turned to see the woman gesturing at Han.
She was quick to correct. "No, no, no! This is not my husband. You see, my husband is. … well anyway… It's just me."
The woman continued on with her plastered smile. "Of course miss."
Han just smirked haughtily. Leia glared.
There was a rather large courtyard in the center of the resort with rooms on three sides. Each of their rooms were a distance away from each other. They decided to dress for dinner at the resort bar and meet back in the center.
Leia palmed her door and swung it open. The single room was tastefully decorated with sea green walls that had a warmth to it, clean white tiled floors, and soft lighting in the ceiling. There was a large bed placed directly in the center of the room with fluffy white bedding that looked like a cloud. There was a rather large chaise chair by the front window that looked out on the ocean. The entire room was decorated in soft cream colors and the dim lights created a romantic mood. Leia threw down her case and sat on the bed, alone.
Han walked into the same sights. He was especially impressed by the large bed and excited to be able to stretch out comfortably for once. He removed his shoes and laid down on the comforter. He rolled and stretched until he was sure he would have the best night's sleep he had in ages.
The four of them met an hour later in the courtyard dressed for dinner, at least some of them changed. Han wore a clean pair of his striped pants with a button-up shirt and a navy jacket. Leia wore a simple dark blue dress that crisscrossed her chest and flowed down from her hips. It was evident that she left most of her makeup back on Coruscant. She wasn't out to impress anyone here. This was for her.
They proceeded to the bar and found a table for four. Luke pulled out a chair for Mara as she sat. Han saw Luke's move and rolled his eyes as he felt the pressure to pull out a chair for Leia. He would think twice about doing this next time, for the glare he received this time was not worth repeating.
"What would you like, my dear?" Luke asked.
"Definitely something with fish. We are by the sea, time to indulge in the seafood!"
Han interrupted Mara's exclamation. "I am not sure that is such a good idea. As a native Corellian, I know that the fish here often makes the tourists sick."
Mara spoke up. "Well, wherever you heard, I am sure it's not true. Besides, I have tried fish all over the galaxy and haven't been sick once."
"Suit yourself." A warning was the best he could do. He turned to Leia. "And what are you havin'?"
She grunted a slight laugh and twisted her mouth. "I will have the Colo Claw Fish."
Han laughed out loud and she joined in with light giggles.
They focus on the menu. Han's eyes lightened when he saw a particular dish. "Look, Leia," Han leaned towards her and titled his menu. "They have meiloorun fruit."
Luke scanned the menu. "What's a meiloorun?"
Leia found them on the menu and her mouth started to water. "You would love it Luke. It's like an orange fruit and has the ideal balance of sweet and sour taste."
"And you've both tried it before?" Luke looked between Han and Leia. "Where?"
"Oh," he pretended to think, but in reality he knew exactly when he last shared a meiloorun. "It must have been during the war sometime. I really can't remember."
"Yea," Leia turned her attention back to the menu. "It's been a while for me too… I think I'll try something new tonight."
Han took his menu back in his hands and took another look. He was no longer hungry for meiloorun.
Their dinner was spectacular. Luke and Mara praised their Ceviche dish, but both Han and Leia refused to try a bite. Han ordered the house meat dish and Leia ordered the vegetable meal with extra spice. All fell into comfortable, lively conversations. Luke and Han raved about their favorite speed racers jubilant success this season and Leia and Mara got excited about their sightseeing plans for the week.
Han's laughter rang through the restaurant as Luke brought up a story about one of the racers that was fairly dirty. He had another sip of his Corellian wine, still smiling and relaxing into the evening. He was glad he decided to go. He needed this break and time with friends.
After eating, the live band started some music. Mara and Luke were the first couple on the floor. Han and Leia watched their friends dancing with gusto. Though not very talented, they made up for it with enthusiasm.
"Are you gonna get out there?" Han asked, sliding his chair around so he could watch the dancers on the floor.
Leia sat back. "Not tonight, I'm tired from the flight. Besides, nobody has asked me."
"Nobody asked you?" Han chided. "That never stopped you before."
"Han…" she didn't want to start with him.
He turned back to watch the couple just as Luke busted out a move he had never seen another being attempt before. "I hope he doesn't pull anything. We're all supposed to go fishing tomorrow mornin'."
Leia smiled at her brother. "Gods I wish I could record this."
Han was delighted with the thought. "We should!" He turned to her, eyes giddy. "We'll have blackmail over him for life!"
She smiled even brighter at his own delight with this thought. "As much as I want to remember this sight, I don't believe holding blackmail over a master Jedi is in our best interest."
Han twisted his mouth and shook his head. "Damn, you're right. Why does your family have to be so successful." He asked rhetorically.
She shrugged. "Well, your reputation speaks for itself and…" she thought about what she wanted to say and then just said it. "Qi'ra was a legendary smuggler, isn't that right? The republic is always in need of pilots or escorts or carriers."
"I thought the same thing," he said remembering back to when he found Qi'ra again after they were grown. "She could have had a successful career, but she never had that dream for herself."
Leia looked down at her glass of wine. "I guess she dreamed more about falling in love, getting married, and caring for a family."
"More like caring for children." Han corrected with more than a hint of bitterness.
Leia looked up at him. He suddenly felt awkward and sipped his drink. "Never mind," he dismissed. "I shouldn't be talkin' 'bout my issues to you."
"I wish you would," she encouraged. "Ever since your children were born I sensed a change in Qi'ra, like she had a new purpose or drive in her life. I thought it was wonderful at the time and I was happy for her of course. But I was never as close to her after that."
He took a moment to comprehend what Leia admitted. He looked into his glass and sighed. "Yea, me neither."
Leia stared at his eyebrows settling down over his eyes. He still hadn't looked up from his drink. He swirled it in the glass. It had been years since she had seen him so vulnerable or heard him admit something so personal.
She forced a smile into her eye and her voice. "I am sure she still loves you as much, if not more than the day you married her."
He looked up at her. "Well I am glad someone thinks so."
There was nothing else to say at the moment, so both turned back to watch Luke and Mara on the dance floor. A question bubbled on Han's lips and he asked it before his mind could process whether it was a bad idea or not.
"What about Isolder?"
Leia wasn't outright hostile upon hearing him bring up the man who was not present, but she was not comfortable with it either as she didn't look at Han when she answered. "What about him?
Han could not understand her. He thought she was happy with Isolder. She married the man for gods sake, but she had no understanding at all when it came to his role as Prince of Hapes and she was outwardly hostile about his traveling. He thought about his next question. "Why do you do it to him?"
"Do what?" Leia asked.
"Why are you always so hard on him when he has to go away? I bet he wishes he could stay at home, but his job takes priority sometimes." With that last statement, Han felt like he was reflecting something back on himself.
Leia forgot to take a breath before her reproach. "Han, you have no idea what you are saying so please just stop right there! Isolder does not sometimes go away he always goes away. Even if he is not on a trip, he stays at his office until late in the evening, yet has no understanding when it comes to the demands of MY Senatorial position. He constantly ignores me and I am sure that he does NOT wish he could stay at home…"
Her rant was interrupted by a coughing fit. Han handed her a glass and she took a drink after her cough subsided. Han placed the glass back on the table.
There was more silence. Leia could not believe she just ranted on about her marriage to Han. Han Solo, who only yesterday was her sworn enemy. She was so embarrassed she wished she could just climb into that comfortable bed and sleep all these memories away.
Han sensed the atmosphere that descended. He turned to the table and a smile came on his face.
"How was the drink?"
She was brought back from her musings. "What?"
"The drink. You just drank some of my Corellian wine."
Her eyes widened at his admission and the smile on his face. She had two choices in that moment. She could yell at him for tricking her and storm out or she could laugh along and stay in his company.
She chose the latter.