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Once it has spoken, Love is yours.

Pelting raindrops drowned out the music playing from her speeder speakers. The damp and stinging drops seemed to seep through the roof and into her skin, yet she felt nothing. She wanted to cry, laugh, and run in the opposite direction all at the same time.

But no, not here. Not in the middle of the parking area of her divorce attorney's offices. She would wait until she returned home and this day, filled with mixed emotions, was behind her.

Readying her umbrella, she stepped out of the speeder and moved towards the door as quickly as her heels would take her.

This was her second meeting with their attorney, and also their friend, and she expected it to be much different than the first.

It had been a month since Leia filed for divorce from her husband. It took him until the previous week to file a response, agreeing to the divorce. She let out the largest sigh of relief when he didn't challenge it. She had serious fears of him retaliating. This was the day they were to meet with their joint lawyer to cover their assets and divide their property.

This was the day Leia had dreaded most. She hadn't even clapped eyes on her husband since the day he left their house claiming his ability to 'fill his needs elsewhere.' She hadn't heard one word from him directly, although she knew from Luke that he had been back in town for some time. She was surprised he was able to be in town for this meeting, due to his busy schedule.

She shook out her umbrella once inside the doors and dropped it by the umbrella stand. With a glance at her watch, she could see she was early. Making the most of her time, she ran to the 'fresher and reapplied her lipstick and ran a hand over her hair to smooth her braids. She stood in front of the reflector that morning and went back into her old makeup routine; heavy on the eyeshadow and mascara.

Satisfied, she walked into the lobby and found a chair.

It seemed natural for both of them to use the same lawyer, Laad Kolbe, a friend Leia had known for years. And that should have made her feel better, but it didn't.

Frankly, she was scared as hell. She never thought divorce would be in her future. Her 5 years of marriage was not a path lined with roses, but she managed. She managed until recent events showed her what she was missing.

It was a few minutes before Laad came into the lobby and greeted her.

"Leia, how are you?" He took her hand.

"I am well, Laad," she spoke with confidence. Outwardly, she was the picture of self-assurance in her shapely skirt and blouse. "I am ready for today to be over, but up until this point I can't complain."

"That's good to hear." He released her hand. "We will try to make today as simple and convenient as possible."

She knew he was just spewing words. He could make no promises. It all depended on Isolder.

He led her into the small conference room. There was a large oval table and five chairs. The walls held a few unimportant images and two large windows faced the outside. She removed her overcoat and placed it over the back of the chair closest to the door. She set her oversized purse on the table and removed her holopad to take notes and bring up her own copy of the documents. She wasn't going into this process blind. Her years of writing laws prepared her for this, but she was on the other side of the table now, letting the processes she set in place work in her favor.

She knew Laad would not want to begin any discussions without Isolder, so she inquired about his family. He had three children, 2 boys and one girl, all in their teens. The oldest son was looking at the academy for the next year. The second oldest son was captain of his school smashball team. His daughter was the youngest and still the apple of her father's eye. He showed her some pictures.

She listened and commented appropriately, but only comprehended half of what he said. She kept glancing out the windows, waiting to catch a glimpse of her current husband. How awkward would this be? Would he be civil? Would he confront her?

At this point, she just wanted out. She was already moved out and willing to give him the rest of their household goods. She hoped to receive some money from their apartment and joint assets, though she knew there could be some complications that would work against her. And she still had her own salary and a good pot of savings from her Alderaanian trust.

There they sat for half an hour. Leia felt her stomach rise into her chest when she saw Isolder's speeder finally pull into the lot. She had been preparing for this for days, but was still not ready.

Isolder confidently strolled passed the window to the front door. His chest and shoulders were held high and he dressed in a smart draping robe. His face, neatly shaved, showed neither anger or sadness. He didn't bother with an umbrella as the rain was only a light drizzle.

Leia held her breath during those moments before he walked into the conference room.

"Laad! Nice to see you again. Our next meeting will be under better circumstances, I'm sure." He shook the lawyer's hand and gave him an indifferent smile, one that countered the implication of his words.

"Princess," he acknowledged her with the nod of his head, eyeing her in a way that made her uncomfortable.

"Isolder." She took his lead, her back held straight against the back of her chair and her mask of confidence on full display.

He assertively sat himself at the head of the table, a seat away from his wife. "Shall we begin, Laad? I'm afraid I have a transport to catch this evening back to Hapes."

Leia rolled her eyes away from his gaze. For all the times she'd heard that line…

"We will be efficient," Laad assured him sitting on Isolder's other side. "And the length of this depends on many different factors." He glanced between the couple.

Two other paralegals from the law firm entered with more holopads and sat down.

The meeting began. They reviewed their joint assets, mainly a few stocks and bonds. When the matter of the apartment came up, Isolder had more than a few things to say.

"If you will look at the ownership deed, mine is the only name mentioned."

There was some shuffling of paper before Laad nodded his head. "That seems to be the case." He looked over at Leia.

Leia mentally let out a string of swear words. She didn't remember that his name was the only one on the document until she was forced to look it up a few weeks ago. She hoped he wouldn't have made that discovery himself. "Isolder, we were legally married. What's yours is mine and vice versa. I've lived there for 5 years. Surly I deserve some portion."

Isolder didn't budge, his lip twitching.

She looked at Ladd's lips drawn together. "You could fight it."

But she didn't want a fight. She wanted out. With a sharp nod at Laad and Isolder, she gave up her claim to her apartment.

A brief pause took place while Laad made a few notes. "There are a few stocks and bonds are in both your names," he confirmed.

"Half and half," Isolder spoke directly to Laad.

Leia nodded and made a note.

"The majority of your investments went into Isolder's business ventures on Hapes and he is the only one named on those."

"He can have them," Leia relented before Isolder could even formulate an argument.

They took more notes. As it turned out, Isolder's speeder was in his name but Leia's speeder was in both their names. Isolder decided she could have it and pay him back his half.

She wasn't having it. "Isolder, my money has gone into the maintenance of the…" She stopped as she noticed his eyes widen. He wanted this. He wanted to make this as challenging for her as possible and bleed her dry for all she is worth. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of raising her ire. She nodded and made a note to pay him back for half her speeder.

During the meeting, Isolder was even more prepared than she had ever thought. Leia knew he was good at his role in the Hapes government, but this was more personal, calculated. He was outwardly calm, cool, and convincing.

"On the subject of alimony," Isolder began, sitting back in his chair. "We have no children to support and we both have incomes, so I don't see the need to discuss it any further."

She didn't want his money. "Fine with me."

As the meeting came to a close everyone packed up their papers. Laad and his employees exchanged a few words and organized some things on their documents. In a few weeks, they would have the final contracts drawn up and she would be free. Laad gave his staff some directions and they left. Isolder was also quick to exit.

Leia was absolutely exhausted and breathed a sigh of relief. She knew she was getting the short end of the stick and not fighting for what was rightfully hers, but she was eager for these proceedings to terminate as quickly as possible.

"Leia." Laad and her were the last two in the room. "Do you want to join my family for dinner? We planned on getting some take-out and eating in."

She gave him a genuine smile. It felt good to know there were friends looking out for her. "Thank you Laad, but no. I have dinner plans with my… a friend tonight. I can't keep them waiting."

She turned quickly and jumped when she found Isolder standing directly behind her. "Dinner with Qi'ra?" He asked making an assumption. "Say hello for me."

Leia kept quiet.

Isolder turned to their lawyer. "Laad, could you give us a moment?"

The lawyer looked for Leia's head nod before he gave them the room.

She stepped away from him, giving herself space, and folded her arms across her chest. "What?"

He took a second to just stare at her, perching himself against the conference table, his face almost jovial. "You got what you wanted."

That is not how she would have summarized the last two hours.

"Are you happy now?"

His tone showed that he wasn't looking for a genuine answer. "More so than before," she answered vaguely.

He shook his head at her. "It was called an arranged marriage, Princess. You weren't supposed to be happy."

"Maybe not, but I wanted happiness in my future." She straightened her shoulders. "I saw a different path forward and decided to take it."

His face twisted, the jovial smirk was gone and replaced with vile contempt. "You ruined my life, my career…" He momentarily digressed. "Do you think I'll have near as much respect now that I'm not attached to you?"

"So that's it," she countered. "You need me to give you legitimacy? You can't earn that on your own?"

He stood and pointed a sharp finger. "I bought that legitimacy when I got you! And now…" He slapped his hands against his thighs. "I hope you're happy now."

She rolled her head. "Isolder…"

He broke in. "I hope you're happy now because you won't be for long."

A threat. "What's that supposed to mean?" She questioned without showing any concern for his words.

He calmed down, sat against the table again, his eyes lifting with a new spark. "You're running again."

She was hesitant. "Possibly."

He nodded, standing and pacing confidently towards the exit. He turned over his shoulder to deliver his last words. "Good luck."

Leia started the motor and began her journey. She pressed all thoughts from her mind and focused on driving and the tune of the song playing. She tapped her fingers to the beat and sang along. It was at least 40 minutes before she reached the restaurant where they were to meet. It was already 6:30 and she was ready for a meal. She skipped lunch due to the sick feeling in her stomach.

She pulled into the parking area, parked close to the entrance, and made her way into the restaurant.

"How many?" the front droid asked.

"I'm actually meeting someone and I believe he is already…"

"Leia."

She turned over her right shoulder to meet the adoring gaze of her dinner partner. He wore his work stained pants, shirt, and vest. His shirt buttons were undone to his lower sternum, a sure sign that he had worked up a sweat doing his repairs today. He offered her his hand and a reassuring smile.

She took his hand without any thought.

He led her to a back table where his coat already hung over a chair and two glasses of scotch stood at the ready. His hands moved to her shoulders as she shrugged off her jacket. He slipped it over her chair.

She made to sit down, but he placed a hand under her chin and raised it to meet his lips.

"Han, we're in public." She was only partially serious.

"We're over an hour outside the city in a mainly secluded diner and, frankly, I don't care." She knew he did care.

She gave him a loving smile before finally settling in her seat. She picked up her scotch and swirled it around before taking a sip.

Han sat across from her and took his own glass in hand. He held it with a bit more force than usual and took a much bigger swig than his normal, swirling it in his mouth to enjoy the flavor. She could tell he was conflicted. He wanted to know everything that happened at her meeting, yet he was trying desperately hard to give her space.

She decided to lay the most humorous bit out first. "Isolder said to say hello to Qi'ra."

Han looked confused from across the table. "Qi'ra? Why?"

She looked up at him with a wry smile. "He heard me say I was meeting a friend for dinner. He assumed Qi'ra."

Han immediately saw the irony. "Oh, was he wrong."

While Isolder had been elusive through the past month, Qi'ra had been anything but. Han heard from her at least every day. Their conversations were short and extremely one-sided, always ending in Qi'ra asking him for more money, which he handed over. Han tried to bring up their sons, Fernik and Vinn, to find out how they were doing, but Qi'ra had a way of pushing things off as not a part of his responsibility.

Qi'ra had reached out to Leia for some support, they had been good friends for years, but Leia tried to politely brush her off. Mara became Qi'ra's biggest female supporter.

"Yes, he was." Leia reached for Han's hand across the table. "Would you mind terribly if we just ordered some appetizers and then headed home? I'm drained."

"Sure, Sweetheart. Whatever you need."

They ate quickly and walked together to Leia's speeder. Han took a taxi to the restaurant, so he rode with Leia on the way home. She headed for the passenger's seat, leaving Han to drive.

They did not need deep conversation between them on the ride home. Leia hummed lightly to the music and Han tapped his hand on her knee. They had become very comfortable with each other.

Han parked along their street. Leia managed to lug her body out of the speeder and up the turbolift into their apartment. Han trudged behind, unsure what to do next.

Leia palmed the door open and flipped the switch to bring light into their corner of the world. Everything was neat and tidy, just how she left it that morning.

She unloaded herself of her purse, coat, and shoes. Han helped with her coat, but was then clueless about what to do next.

Leia guided him. "Bath and then bed I think."

"Alright. Let me make you some tea." He felt better with a task and plan.

"Thank you." She patted his arm and went through their bedroom and into the 'fresher. "Peach please."

He took a moment to himself while fixing their teas. It was a long emotional day for her. He knew her sour feelings about divorce in general, the aggressive role Isolder was likely to play, and he knew this would not be easy for her.

With two steaming mugs in hand, he entered the 'fresher. She was already soaking in a mass of lavender-scented bubbles. Her eyes were closed, seeping in the comfort.

"Here you are." He handed her a full cup and brought the other to his own lips.

"Thank you." She took a few sips before handing her mug back to him. "Care to pull up a stool?" she asked with a smirk.

He returned her smile, glad to see her playful side. "Don't have a stool, Sweetheart." He lowered himself to sit on the floor beside the tub so he was facing her. "May never be able to get up again and I'll have you to blame."

She giggled. "Oh, what I make you do for me. You poor man."

Han played up the pitiful part.

Once he was settled, the mood turned serious again. Leia began. "Isolder was over half an hour late, as I suspected."

"Huh-uh, you guessed he wouldn't show up. I guessed he would be half an hour late."

"Alright Mr. I'm sleeping on the couch tonight." Their humor kept the growing atmosphere from manifesting.

"Okay, Sweetheart, I'll never doubt you again." Han set the cups of tea on the edge of the tub.

"Well that's better." She focused again on her day. "It was odd. He was very calm and wore his usual commanding presence. After being married for so many years, I would have expected some sort of emotion from him. Some crack in his formidable structure, but no. It was all business and politics."

She took a pause to swirl some bubbles. "He got the apartment, his speeder, half of my speeder. Everything that he can legally get."

"He knew about his name on the apartment?"

She nodded.

"S'not fair. You've been married for 5 years." He was surprised she backed out so easily. Leia was usually more of a fighter. "Qi'ra's gettin' what she needs from my paycheck for the boys…"

"But this is Isolder we're talking about." Her voice raised. "Conceited, pompous man that he is will not give me anything other than what the law requires. He even threatened my upcoming political campaign. He will fight it if he has to."

"Let him fight it. You deserve better."

She sat up. "Han, I don't want better." She rephrased her words. "That is I don't want to fight it. I'm through with him. I want out, for good. And if this is how it has to be, so be it. I will be fine."

He knew she would be. She was the strongest person he ever met.

Her point was made and she lowered her defenses. "I want this divorce over with so we can move forward, together. And not hide in this apartment and eat dinner an hour away in fear of hurting someone's feelings or the press getting a photo."

He was ready for that too. He had no other answer for her, except to take her hand in his and bring it lovingly to his lips.