Thanks for reading and feel free to leave me a note on your thoughts and what you might like to see during their vacation!
It slips into your thoughts. It infiltrates your soul. It takes you by surprise, then seizes full control.
The next morning Han awoke fresh, ready to start their vacation. He was glad that fishing was on the top of their to-do list as he very much enjoyed the sport. He wore another light button-up shirt with lighter pants, his pants tucked into his fishing boots. They hired a boat the previous evening for 7:00 am. Han walked out of his room at 6:45 and walked over to Luke and Mara's. He knocked on their door and waited. He knocked again and finally Luke opened it.
He was still in his robe and pajamas. His face was almost white and he looked very fragile.
"Sorry Han, but Mara and I will not be going fishing with you this morning," he only just managed to rasp out.
Han immediately saw the symptoms of food poisoning. "Have you called a medic?"
Luke shook his head. "I am not sure I would want to be seen by a foreign doctor right now. We will be okay in a few hours, I'm sure."
Han nodded. "Can the Force do anything to…" He didn't even know what he was asking.
Luke managed to look incredulous through his greenness. "No, Han. That's not how the Force works."
Han saw there was nothing to be done. "Is there anything I can get for you? Some breakfast? Maybe an egg and…"
Luke's cheeks puffed. "Stop right there." He turned back into their room and shut the door behind him.
Han furrowed his brow at the situation. Just him and Leia. Well, he was going fishing one way or another.
He walked over to her door and knocked.
"Just a minute." She called from inside.
She came out a moment later in gray capris and a blue and white striped shirt. She wore her hair in a single braid and her sun hat on her head. "Oh, it's you. Good morning. Is there anything else I should bring?"
"No, I think you are all set. But there is one change of plans." She looked at him, intrigued. "Luke and Mara both have food poisoning and are stuck in their room."
"What?" she exclaimed with worry. "Oh gods, I'll go see if they are alright." She turned to their room.
"Hold on!" He stopped her with a hand on her arm. "I was already in there and it was not a pretty sight. Luke said they're fine and told us to have a good time."
Leia turned to him, unsure of how the rest of the afternoon was to go.
"We'll spend the morning and early afternoon out fishing and then check up on them. Maybe they will feel alright for dinner or a walk later on."
Leia rolled her eyes and sighed. The gods must have it in for her. She followed him to the front desk to get their fishing things. They each carried a pole and tackle box down to the boats. Han also carried a packed lunch the resort provided for them.
Han turned to Leia as they walked. "I'm surprised you still came out with me. I thought only my presence all day would be too much for you."
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "I may surprise you. Besides, there's no comm service and all the holo stations are in Corellian."
He chuckled at her remark and she tried to hold back a smile.
Their boat was a decent size with a strong motor. Han helped her in the boat, even though she gave him a certain look. He steered the boat out of the harbor and into the blue sea. It went much faster than she was expecting. She sat tightly in the seat and held onto her hat.
Han settled on a nice calm spot with the shore only just still in their view. There were no other boats in sight.
"Have you ever baited a hook before?" Han walked to the back of the boat where she sat on a chair lounging.
"No, I have not. But I am sure I will have more slugs at the end of the day than fish."
Han chuckled. "That's probably true. Although," He cocked his head towards her. "Last year when I went out with Isolder and Luke, I caught a 9 pounder."
Leia stood up from her chair and went to work on her line. "Only 9 pounds," she teased.
He chuckled under his breath. "Only 9 pounds… You think you can do better?"
"Ooooh yea!" she said confidently with a hand on her hip and turning to face him fully.
He licked his lips, reveling in her confidence. "Care to make it interesting?"
She shrugged, waiting for his offer.
"Alright, whoever catches the biggest fish. The loser has to…" He thought.
A Cheshire cat grin came over her face. "Has to skinny dip in the ocean tonight."
His eyebrows popped off his forehead and his jaw slackened.
She delighted in catching him off guard. "Are you scared?" she challenged.
Coming back from his shock his eyes lowered into a stealthy gaze. "You are on, your worship."
Han showed her how to bait the hook and she followed his directions, only making a minimal amount of disgusted faces. They cast their lines into the water and waited. The boat had pockets built-in for their rods, so they could relax in their chairs and wait for a fish to bite.
Leia removed her hat and tilted her face back, soaking up the sun. Han settled back in his chair and looked over at Leia.
"I wonder what Isolder and Qi'ra are doing right now?"
Leia kept her face towards the sun. "Knowing Qi'ra, she hasn't left Vinn's room all day and Isolder is walking the streets of Hapes. Neither prospect near as exciting as what we are doing right now."
"Touché, but when was the last time you were surrounded by this view?"
Leia looked around their little boat. There was only sea on all sides of them. If one squinted, you could see the shore in the distance, but it was mostly all sea. "Your right, Han. I will be content."
He was happy to sit in silence for a time before looking at his fishing partner. She looked happy to just sit out and soak in the experience. "Do you enjoy fishing, Leia? Really. Please tell me the truth."
She tilted her head to the center and looked at him. The plea for honesty in his question was interesting. "I do, truly. I enjoy the back and forth movements of the boat, the sun beating down on us, and, as you mentioned, where else can you find this view? I don't even mind waiting hours for a fish or even care if we catch any."
He smiled, pleased with her answer. "I agree. It's the experience, not success or failure." He breathed in the sea air and leaned back in his chair.
They sat for hours enjoying pleasant conversations, talking about their reading interests, their favorite breakfast foods, what they loathed about politics, and Han shared a few memories from the Corellia he used to know.
"I have another proposition for you," Leia said.
Han listened, anxious to hear what would come out of her mouth now.
"No matter who wins the bet, we will celebrate our day with your famous Corellian wine tonight."
Han smiled at her. "Ah, decided to come over to my side have ya now?"
Leia scrunched her nose up at him. "I will only say this once so listen carefully. I was wrong. I made my mind up too soon and I promise to be more open-minded in the future." She wiped her hands on each other. "There, done."
"That was very big of you, Sweetheart." That last name slipped out unintentionally. Han stared at her waiting to bear her wrath. Instead, she held her breath for a second and gave him a brief tug of her lips to show she was not bothered by it.
He was relieved and turned to their picnic basket. It was high noon and both were hungry.
He handed Leia a bar. "Gelfruit is your favorite, right?"
She nodded her head. "I'm surprised you remembered that."
He dug into his own bar. "Oh, you'd be surprised at the number of things I still remember."
The statement was left in the air as they ate their lunch. They decided to wait a couple more hours before they called it a day. During those hours, Leia sat off the edge of the boat with her feet in the water and Han took a nap. Every once in a while she would hear him let out a snore and that made her chuckle.
Leia kicked her legs in the water and saw how far the splash went. On her third kick, she heard her rod catch.
"Han, I think I caught something!" She jumped back in the boat and grabbed the rod. Whatever was on the other end almost pulled her right out of the boat.
"What do I do?" She yelled.
Han jumped up from his nap and ran to help her. "First of all, calm down! Play 'em a little." He held the other side of the rod and helped her keep control. "Kriff! I think ya got a big one!" Han moved his hands up the rod so she had room to pull the line in.
"Oh Han, I've never caught anything in my life!" The excitement of pulling in the prize was a thrill for both of them. Every muscle in their bodies was tense and working to pull in that fish.
"He's got some strength to him. Let him tire himself out a bit and then he will be easier to pull in."
Following Han's instructions, Leia eventually felt the fish's strength dwindle. She reeled him in and finally saw him flapping on top of the water.
"Leia! He's a beaut!" Han kept a firm hand on the rod.
"Guess what we're having with our wine tonight, Han?" she exclaimed through her laughter.
They finally brought him into the boat. He wiggled around on the deck which made Leia shriek and jump up on the chair behind Han. She held his shoulders for support.
"Do something! Get him in the box!" Han picked him up by the mouth and brought it towards Leia.
"Han Solo, don't you dare! Get that thing away from me!"
He laughed hysterically as he placed him in the fish cooler. The fish was about as long as Han's forearm.
Leia jumped down and stood above the fish. She was still exhilarated from the pursuit.
"We did it!" She raised both arms above her head and turned to him. It was the easiest thing in the world to wrap her arms around his neck and crash her lips into his. She tilted her head and felt his top lip between her own. She almost swore she felt him push his lips back onto hers.
She pulled back a second later upon realizing what she just did, letting her arms fall back to her side. She stared blankly at him and he stared blankly back. Neither could say or describe what had happened or why it had happened. It just happened.
"We should get back to shore," Han said, never breaking eye contact.
"Yes we should." She turned her gaze towards the beach. "Maybe Luke and Mara need something from us. I should check on them."
He raised the anchor and steered the ship back to safer ground.