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Love never fades. Love never alters. Hearts may get broken, love endures

The rest of the week panned out for them like they planned it. Luke and Mara stayed in their room, still under the weather. That left Han and Leia to fend for themselves, which they had no trouble doing. They sat on the beach, took out the boat, and took long walks together. They took day trips where Han showed her his favorite places on Corellia.

Most of the time, they simply talked. They talked about everything. Small details of their lives, their personalities, their work, ambitions, politics, and their memories. They had dinner together and spent most of the night dancing in each other's arms, heads resting against each other. They would always part, reluctantly, before sleeping in their own beds. Saying goodnight was always the hardest part. It would have been so easy to simply give and just be one together. But after a few kisses under the moon, they parted.

On the final evening of their vacation, they walked together along the beach, their arms around each other with the setting sun as their backdrop, a striking metaphor for the end of their paradise. They carried their shoes in their free hand and felt the sand scratch beneath their feet. Both tried to forget it was their last evening by talking about more humorous topics.

"What must you have thought of me?" Leia was laughing as she recalled the time she threw a mug at him during a game of cards.

"I thought you were the reincarnation of my mother. She was also very competitive and hated to lose." He laughed along with her. He remembered that day. He purposefully cheated so she would notice and she was in a state.

Leia's laughter subsided. "I can't believe I did that! I never feuded with anybody until you." She sighed and asked in all seriousness, "What changed in the past week?"

Han linked his fingers through hers as they walked on. "Don't know." He shrugged, his voice sounding nonchalant and direct at the same time. "Maybe deep down all those mixed up feelings of hatred hid our undeniable attraction."

She snorted. "Listen to you, Mr. Philosopher. That is quite the analysis."

He smiled at her. "Plus you could never accept the fact that I have a better sense of humor than you."

She opened her mouth to counter and disentangled their arms. She wound up and smacked his shoulder. He laughed at her defense and held her arms down. She surrendered quickly when he brought his lips to her cheek and then to her temple. She turned to him and brought her arms around his neck. Their lips met and exchanged a deep kiss of devotion and longing.

He moved his mouth to the side and rested his forehead against hers. "There's not much point in pretending it hasn't happened."

She felt threatening tears in her eyes. "No, I guess not."

"Question is, wha'do we do about it?" He asked the question while unconsciously grasping her tighter. Hoping for an answer that didn't involve either of them walking away this time.

The practical side of her took over. "I'm not sure there's anything we can do about it. Here in this moment I can touch you all I want." She put words into action as she cupped his face with her palms, feeling his kiss as she moves over his mouth. "I can say that I want you, that I am in love with you. But…" She whispered with resignation, "We're married Han, I am married and you are married. It is only unfortunate that we are married to other people."

He pulled his head back and copied her movements, cradling her face in his palms. "Leia, there is something we can do about it."

She squinted her eyes, surprised at his desperate tone. She expected him to be resigned, but his voice was calm and serious.

"Qi'ra and I…" he paused. "I've asked Qi'ra for a divorce."

Leia never heard anything about this before, from either of them. "Han, when was this? Why didn't either of you tell me?"

He brought his hands to her upper arms. "I only brought it up once a few months ago. We have been putting it off for a while, learning to put up with each other." He swallowed. "I've been takin' more jobs, getting away more."

She tried to let the information sink in. "How did Qi'ra take it?"

Han sighed, not wishing to return to that previous conversation. "She was alright. Her main concern was, of course…"

"The boys," Leia answered for him.

"Exactly," Han continued. "She knows we were never right for each other…" Han paused, "We got back together from childhood nostalgia and one unplanned pregnancy."

Leia let out a sad sigh. "Gods this is a mess."

Han brought her eyes back to his. He needed to know that she heard him fully. "Sweetheart, I'm telling you this because I love you and there is another way to go." He sighed. "It's okay if it is not what you want, but Qi'ra and I are done. I don't want to go back to a nomadic life."

She sighed heavily. She was overwhelmed. "Han, I… I could file for a divorce. But… gods what a mess that will create. How will the public react?" She noticed she was talking in the future tense, not the conditional.

"I can't answer that for you. But.." He lowered his head and found his hands trailing up and down her arms. "Do what you want to do. Not for the republic… or even for me."

She knew how much he loved her, freeing her from his pressure and allowing her to make her own decision. She loved him for it, and wanted to show him just how much.

With her hand snaking up to the nape of his neck she lowered his head to meet hers, his forehead gently smoothing over hers. Eyes closed, heart rate accelerating, she whispered her plea into his lips. "Don't leave me tonight."

A sudden blot of adrenaline and anxiety shot through him as her warm breath met his chilled face. He rubbed his hands firmly against the expanse of her back. "I won't leave you."

And he didn't.

He walked her back to her room, but the closing door didn't separate them. Once they were through that barrier, he scooped her up in his arms and she pulled his mouth to hers. Luckily he had been to her room before and knew where to proceed to her bed without having to think. He set her down gently at the foot and continued his exploration of her mouth. Their shoes fell to the floor as they maneuvered themselves onto the bed. She sat up and used her arms to back slowly to the center. He followed straddling and crawling over her body so their kiss never had the means to break.

When she was settled in the center, she leaned her head back against the plush pillows and hooked her arms under his and up to his shoulders. His entire body rolled down hers, settling on top. With a deep moan, he turned them to the side and her leg immediately wrapped around his hips. She let out breathless whimpers as his mouth left hers, only to travel directly over her chin and down her neck. His path turned left, but was obstructed by her shirt covering her skin.

He moved it to the side and simply continued his assault.

The thought of spending this time reviving their lovemaking crossed both their minds, but both decided against it. For now, being together was enough. After their kisses deescalated from hard and demanding to soft and comforting, they found themselves comfortably cuddled together. Her head on his shoulder, his cheek against her hair.

"I want you to stay," she said into his chest.

He rubbed his chin against her temple. I will, he silently communicated.

She disentangled and went into the 'fresher to changed into her nightshirt and re-plait her hair. When she came out, he was in only his shorts under the covers. He pulled down her side of the sheets and gave her a small smile. She climbed into the large bed on her hands and knees and leaned over to give him a loving kiss. She broke away quickly and curled on her side facing away from him. He shifted comfortably into his place behind her. His arm naturally fell around her waist and his other arm snaked under her head and pillow. She laced her hand with his and snuggled deeper. He placed a kiss on her shoulder before he fell asleep. This… this was enough.

The next morning, they climbed out of their luxurious bed and shared a few kisses before Han went to his room to pack.

They met a still queasy Luke and Mara at the check-out desk. Their green tropical outfits matched their still nauseated feelings. All were very quiet through the ride back to the Falcon. Han and Leia were quiet because of their newfound understanding. Luke and Mara were quiet because they were afraid they would dispense of their light breakfast if they opened their mouths too much.

They were given plenty of time to be alone through the trip back. Luke and Mara had opted to rest in the bunk area while Leia sat in as copilot.

As the ship jumped into hyperspace, Leia reached for Han's hand. He gladly let her have it and didn't let go.

The first half of the flight they were mostly silent. They moved to the main area and sat on the bench seating. They took a nap, leaning against the other's head. When they were half an hour away, they knew they had to talk.

"Wha'do you wanna do?" He squeezed her hand.

She had been thinking about this decision more and moreover the past day and she thought she had everything straight in her mind. "I think I need some time, honey. I need at least a few weeks to plan how this should be handled. For us and for the public."

"Okay." He understood. This was a big decision in her life that had massive implications for the entire republic. He didn't want her to end up with a grudge against him because they cause the collapse of a key alliance.

"However, when I have everything in place." Even talking about this was seeming more and more overwhelming for her. "Will you be here to hold my hand and help me through it?" She desperately needed some security, something she could count on to be there for her.

He raised his eyebrows, almost surprised she had to ask. "Of course, Sweetheart. I'm with you." He gave her a reassuring smolder and raised his arm to pull her into his embrace. "Couldn't leave you again if I tried."

They successfully landed the Falcon back into her hanger and gathered up their belongings. They said goodbye to Luke and Mara promising to look in on them soon and to go somewhere without fish next year. Leia couldn't help but wonder where she would be in a year's time, how different her life would be.

Leia hung back and watched as Han puttered around the Falcon, making sure the ship was secure for the time being. She was unashamed of the way she found her eyes raking up and down his lithe body as he whisked here and there.

Of course he took notice. "Like what you see?" He was bent over tinkering with some open compartment.

She tilted her head. "Nothing I haven't seen before…" She thought before adding. "And will hopefully be seeing again sometime soon."

She caught his slight twitch as he stretched to full height. "Don't do this to me Leia." He turned to walk towards her. "I have to drop you off to your husband in a few minutes."

She kept her wicked stare focused on him. "And here I am getting you worked up and then sending you home to your wife."

He held his breath for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. He held her at arm's length and leaned over to kiss her forehead.

Leia leaned into him. "Soon, honey."

When the Falcon was safely locked down, Han drove to Leia's house in silence. Isolder's speeder was in its spot when they arrived. She didn't think she could say goodbye to Han without making a scene or attracting unwanted attention, so she just gave him a half-smile. He pulled her case out of the back and watched her walk into the building. She still wore her sun hat. He thought it suited her.

"Isolder, I'm back," she called through the flat.

"I'm in here, Leia," a voice called back.

Leia moved into the living area, towards the voice. "How was Hapes?" she asked nonchalantly. This is what she would normally do after all. He was sitting with his legs crossed on the sofa reading something from the holo in front of him. He lowered it to watch her walk in.

"Very productive! You would be surprised what clever negotiations one can accomplish in person." Isolder was always very proud of his negotiating abilities. Leia thought he had more to learn.

She decided to stroke his ego. "I am sure you accomplished plenty."

He raised his chin at the compliment and went back to his holo. "There's a full story on me one of the tabloids wrote about my trip." He grinned with self-pride. "Wonderfully written."

She nodded. Of course he was reading about himself. "I had a lovely time too," she added.

He looked up at her briefly. "That's right, how was Hosnian?"

"Corellia," she corrected.

"Yes, that's right, one of those core planets." He chuckled and returned to his reading.

Leia sat in the chair adjacent to him. "It was lovely, Corellia. The waters were so clear and the beaches were gorgeous…" She went on for a time and noticed that he eventually tuned her out.

She was almost positive he wasn't listening. "The hotel had such a fabulous view… Han and I spent quite a lot of time together…" Nothing from her husband. "Luke and Mara got food poisoning, so they were sick all week. Han and I had to fish alone. We caught a fish as big as my arm, and we named it Rogue."

Still no response.

She was starting to get frustrated. She kept her voice casual. "We were alone together for six days… Alone… Together…"

Nothing.

Finally, she stood in front of him and pushed the holo aside. "Isolder have you been listening to anything I'm saying?"

He looked at her, "Don't' do that!" Frustrated that she interrupted him. "Of course I'm listening, Leia! You said you enjoyed yourself. And I am glad."

She wasn't even mad anymore, just utterly disappointed. She turned and lugged her case to her room.

Han was greeted by his two sons at the door, asking what he brought home for them. He pulled out a little Corellian designed spacecraft he bought.

"True Corellian made," Han's excitement practically radiated off of him. "Always wanted one when I was a boy. You should see the process it takes to make these." He started to explain it to them before he heard Qi'ra call them and rush in.

She hurried to them already out of breath. "Han! I forgot you were back today. What a wonderful surprise for the boys." She reached up to give him a quick peck on the cheek before grabbing her purse and shuffling the kids out the door. "Fernik has a Odupiendo riding lesson, so we are off. See you later."

Per usual. He thought to himself. He would have a talk with Qi'ra later that night. She would, of course, want full custody of the kids. Even then, he would still have visiting rights. He would probably spend more time with them than he did now.

He wondered how Leia was adjusting.

Leia settled in her small office on the top floor of their building. She started up her holo pad and opened her messaging account. Over 600 messages. She spaced out for a moment, thinking about her interaction with Isolder. Then she thought about Han. She opened another tab and typed divorce proceedings.