Leia had ceased brushing her hair with any real purpose at least fifteen standard minutes earlier, though to Han's entertainment she continued to sweep a relentless path through her tresses.
They had spent the remainder of their weekend trying to coax Jorj away from the subject of where babies came from until Leia had finally explained that it was Papa who placed magic baby dust in Mama's tummy which then grew into a baby.
Fortunately that was enough for Jorj at this stage in his development. The process of child birth therefore would wait for another day.
Having packed the boy off to school for another week, Jacen had announced he wanted to return to his own apartment and to undertake some research into his tapcafe business.
Thus, Han and Leia had returned to their bedroom to indulge in what had become their weekly routine of physical rediscovery.
"Keep that up Princess and you're gonna develop a bald patch." Han told her around a snigger.
"Hmm?" Leia asked, startled from her reverie.
"C'mere." Han turned the covers back and patted the bed beside him.
Leia sighed and tidied her hair essentials away before distractedly joining Han.
"Of course if it's too much trouble..." He grumbled.
"Aren't you even a little concerned?" Leia queried. "And don't tell me I'm coddling him again."
"He's entitled to make his own mistakes Ley." Han said
"He's just so eager to give his heart!" She moaned, then narrowed her eyes. "And what's that look for?"
"Must have inherited that trait from you." Han slid an arm around Leia's shoulders, pulling her down to his chest. "Listen, Jacen's done a lot of thinking over the past six months. You know, it took a lot of courage for him to tell me he didn't want to run the business any more."
"Precisely my point." Leia persisted, pushing back from Han. "Since when did he have an interest in tapcafes? Other than occasionally drinking in them I mean. Tilly turns up and suddenly he's an expert barista!"
"You sure you're not just jealous?" Han queried with a laugh.
"He's my Son, I love him and I want the best for him. I won't apologise for that." She argued angrily.
"Who's to say Tilly's not what's best for him?" Han countered.
"I'm not saying she isn't." Leia replied, scowling.
"Then where's the problem?" He chuckled. "Okay, so in the short-term I guess I'm gonna have to pick up most of the runs myself."
"Han!" Leia complained, her head dipping to one side. It wasn't just that she'd miss their time together. They were both increasingly aware that the years ahead were going to be shorter than the one's behind and had resolved to make the very best of those they had together.
"Short-term." Han repeated pointedly.
"And long-term?" Leia asked.
"Been thinking about that." He said, edging close enough to be able to slide her down beneath him. "Truth is, the Falcon's more patchwork now than original. Not that I'd ever retire her. I mean, it'd be like trading you in for a younger model."
"Younger model huh?" She said, hiding her smile behind an arched eyebrow.
"Yeah." He grinned lasciviously, a hand coasting the length of her thigh to pause against her hip. "I know all her little ways. How she likes to be handled. How she likes me to handle her."
"So, if you're not about to put her out to pasture, what are you thinking of doing with her?" Leia breathed.
"There's this guy I know other side of the outer rim. Kind of an expert when it comes to Why Tee Thirteen Hundreds." He held her gaze while the pad of his thumb skimmed across her abdomen. It made her shiver, and Han liked that. "He has a way with her too. Not as skilful as me but, in his own way, not bad."
"You'd let another man ride the love of your life?" She asked.
"Ride her? Hell no!" She wasn't wearing panties! Han loved how Leia could make such a small, seemingly insignificant gesture feel exciting. "But she's in need of a thorough overhaul. I figured we could ride out there together and while he strips her down to the bare essentials we could maybe, you know, try that out too. On each other."
"Do you wish I'd had more experience when we met?" Leia queried.
"Where in the Force did that come from?" Han laughed.
"I don't know. I guess it's something I've often wondered but only just got around to asking you about." Leia answered honestly.
"You know, that innocence was one of your most endearing qualities. Most of the women I'd been with previously either knew exactly what they expected from me or didn't give a damn so long as the credits exceeded their efforts. But you..." He exhaled and smiled. "You were a breath of fresh air. I could just never fathom why it took you so long to admit your feelings for me."
"I'd have thought that was obvious!" She stated, slipping a hand into his sleep shirt to caress a nipple the way he liked. "I'd lost everyone. Family, friends, colleagues, my whole world."
He shifted, the warmth of her hand alighting a fire within.
"I get that. But none of those people, your family especially, would have wanted you to mourn them forever. And be honest, I was one helluva distraction!" He grinned.
"There was also Luke to consider. His feelings for me were kind of obvious, even without the unknown twin connection." She pointed out.
"Yeah...you and the kid." He scoffed. "That was never going to happen."
"I kissed him." She reminded him.
"To make me jealous." He reminded her.
"I still had to reconcile my feelings." She said defensively. "Ironically, it was Luke who helped me do that."
"You never did tell me what you two got upto while I was hanging on Jabba's wall." Han said, feeling foolish for his jealousy.
He had a childish, possessive, jealous streak where Leia was concerned. It had caused issues between them in the past but she was not about to let it do the same to their future.
In a fluid motion, she swung herself up to straddle his stomach, her fingers deftly un-slipping the ties on his sleep shirt.
"Luke was pretty messed up during that time too. Mentally and physically." She explained, parting his shirt to expose his chest to her. "Mentally, he'd just found out Vader was his father and I think you can imagine how much of a shock that must have been. And physically, he'd just lost his hand to the beast calling himself his father. Imagine how that must have affected him also."
Han appeared to consider the revelation anew.
"First thing they did when we got back to the fleet was stabilise his wound." Her thumbs were on his nipples again, teasing them erect. "I knew enough triage to be able to dress the original injury but not enough to assess nerve or tendon damage." His hands had returned to her thighs, travelling slowly north toward her ribcage. "I insisted I stay with him. I knew they'd want to examine me, assure themselves that I hadn't been physically abused." Leia remembered the angry exchange between herself and Mon Mothma.
….. "Isn't my word enough?" Leia angrily snapped.
"Under these circumstances, no it isn't. Because if I may say so, you're behaving very erratically." Mon Mothma retorted.
"Look at Luke! Just look at him!" Leia threw an arm toward a clearly confused Luke. "He's lucky it was only his hand!"
"Oh yes!" C3PO less than helpfully added. "And poor Captain Solo, given away to that dreadful bounty hunter."
Leia's reaction to Han's name peaked Mon Mothma's interest.
"You were missing a very long time." The older woman observed, her tone softening. "Did he hurt you my child? Take advantage of you? Force himself upon you?"
"No!" Leia cried. "No, of course not! Han's not like that. He's kind and he's gentle and he's..."
Leia realised where her thoughts and her words were taking her. It was somewhere her commitment to duty could not allow her to go at the present time.
Mon Mothma could also see more clearly the path her unofficial ward's heart hoped to follow.
"Well something happened out there." Mon Mothma declared. "And you have a duty to report it."
Mon Mothma swept out of the medical bay, leaving Leia to close her eyes and force the anger she felt to subside along with the tears she refused to shed.
It was Luke who broke the silence.
"You're in love with him." Luke stated quietly.
He'd been watching her throughout her exchange with Mon Mothma, had heard the quickening beat of her heart at Han's name, had felt her deep sense of outrage...and of loss...and of love.
"No!" Leia turned to him, desperately trying to deny the painfully obvious. She faltered, realising she couldn't lie, not to Luke and not to herself. Not any more. "I didn't mean to fall in love. Not with anyone, but especially not with Han."
"It's okay." Luke assured her with a soft smile. "Han's a great guy. A really great guy. And he's always looking out for you, even when you don't realise he is."
"But..." She started, not really sure what she was going to say next.
"Hey! Han's got a lot of friends in the Alliance. Why I bet there's a half dozen petitions to rescue him on Rieekan's desk already." Luke's soft smile had warmed Leia's heart. "I still hope to complete my training some day, but I'd be in on any rescue mission too. You know that, right?"
He was giving her his 'out'. They could remain friends, but his path lay along a different one to hers. It always would. Though not, perhaps, for the reasons Leia had at that time thought. …..
"I didn't know then what he must have been thinking. That the son of Darth Vader could never presume to be more than at best a 'friend' to a Leader in the Alliance to Restore the Republic." She was leaning into Han's chest. That way, he couldn't see how distressed she had been at Mon Mothma's assumptions.
He stroked her hair, kissed the top of her head, knowing how painful that time must have been for her.
"You know, we haven't had Luke or Ben over for dinner in months." He said, trying to recall the last time they all sat down together. "Not since..."
"Mara." Leia answered for him. She pushed herself upright to kneel beside him. "Not since before Mara and the baby died. He's been...I don't know...different since then."
"Yeah. Losing her sure hit him hard." Han sighed.
"Losing someone you love can do that to you." Leia guided his face to look at hers. "Don't ever leave me. Promise me when it's your time, we'll go together."
Han chuckled softly and pushed himself upright.
"I aint going nowhere! So you can get that thought outta that pretty little head of yours." He winked at her.
"We haven't made love." She smiled. "But I like that we've talked. Sometimes, I feel like we don't share enough of each other. In a non-physical way I mean."
"I'm going for a pee." He leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. "And when I get back, I'm gonna discuss the merits of physical versus non-physical communication."
Leia laughed as she watched his hips sway to the 'fresher.
Hearing the splash of water, she decided she'd put in a call to Yavin IV. She didn't expect Luke to answer, but it would be good to let him know they were thinking of him. She was surprised therefore when he received her call immediately. He looked tired, gaunt, not that she could tell him that. They chatted amicably while Leia listened to the cycle of the sanitation unit and the splash of water as Han washed his hands.
"Hey kid!" Han called over Leia's shoulder, his lips curling into his usual smile. "Howya doin'?"
"Good." Luke replied, unconvincingly. "Pretty good."
"Great. Come to dinner. Come soon. 'Cos you look like you need a good feed insida ya!" Han told him, kissing Leia's cheek as their door announcer indicated a visitor. "I'll go get that."
"Han shouldn't have said that." Leia smiled as she shook her head. "Although the dinner invitation stands."
Luke promised to check his schedule while Han, stood at the apartment door, and planted his hands on his hips.
"Why Officer Chote, this is an unexpected pleasure." Han said, sounding less than pleased.
"There was a reporter outside. Moved him on." Chote intoned. "Wanted me to be sure to give you this though. Suggested you contact him with any comment."
Han accepted the globe, thumbed it on to a headline grainy picture of Leia that morning at the mini mart appearing to select a hair colourant.
"So my wife went shopping. Must be a slow news day." Han thumbed the globe back off.
"Your wife home?" Chote queried, peering into the apartment.
Han side-stepped, blocking his view. "Maybe."
"You think maybe we could have a word?" Chote asked, pointedly.
Han had a deep disrespect for all things legal and when a representative of the constabulary turned up on his doorstep he immediately suspected it meant trouble, specifically for him.
"We were kind of in the middle of something." Han said, hitching his thumbs into the rear of his pants.
"I'm afraid, I really must insist." Chote didn't wait for the offer, shouldering his way past Han, a young female officer following in his wake.
"Hon!" Han shouted. "Think you need to get out here!"
After a few minutes, Leia appeared dressed in a light shirt and pants. Her eyes flitted between the two seated officers.
"Leia, this is Officer Chote." Han indicated the man before turning to his colleague. "And this is Venda. She's from Family Liaison."
Everyone knew why a family liaison officer attended alongside regular law enforcement. They were there to prepare a family for every eventuality. And for comfort should the eventuality prove too painful to bear alone. The title itself was enough to force Leia to sink onto the edge of a sofa, Han sitting beside her.
"Is this regarding an ongoing investigation?" Leia asked.
"No Ma'am, I'm sorry, this isn't about the attacks on your daughter or your son-in-law." Officer Chote reported.
"Something new then." Leia commented, the words sounding as hollow as they felt.
"There's no easy way to say this." Chote began. "You have a young Son I understand."
"Jorj." Leia breathed.
"He attends a residential school here on Coruscant?" Chote asked rhetorically.
"He's home weekends." Leia said weakly. "Please. Just tell us what's happened."
"We're still establishing the full facts." Chote told them. "From an investigatory point of view, this is still in it's infancy."
"Officer!" Han growled menacingly.
"Your Son seems to have disappeared." Venda offered. "His class was given leave to break. He and his friends had gone into the grounds to play when it would seem Jorj just walked out of the school gates."
"No. You're mistaken." Leia insisted. "Jorj loves that school. He wouldn't just up and walk out of it."
Officer Chote pulled a small handheld padd from his jacket, programmed the appropriate recording and handed it to the couple.
"School recording devices tracked him as he left." Chote said.
"No." Leia shook her head despite the proof before her. "This can't be right."
"We have to ask, was everything all right with your Son before school this morning?" Chote asked.
"Everything was fine." Leia thrust the padd back at the Officer.
"No...arguments? Disagreements? Nothing out of the ordinary?" He queried.
"We took him to school ourselves." Han intervened. "And everything was just fine."
Chote nodded. "Then I must also ask, is there anyone who might hold a grudge?"
"Oh my..." The rest of Leia's sentence was lost in Han's chest where she buried her head in anguish.
"I appreciate these are difficult considerations." Officer Chote elaborated. "But we will need a full list of all your associates. Business as well as personal."
"You know who we are...who we were..." Han raised his eyes skyward. "Our circle of friends is small as much by necessity as by choice. We trust each and every one of them with our lives. The lives of our children also."
"That's commendable. But even the closest of friends can be corrupted, using the right leverage." Venda said.
"That list would be a good place to start. If only to eliminate the innocent." Chote persisted.
"On the subject of 'elimination', access to Jorj's medical records would be a help too." Venda suggested. "DNA profile, specifically."
Han tightened his embrace around Leia's shoulders.
"I can sign for that." He agreed.
"He's only been missing a couple of hours." Leia stated, straightening as she calculated the time between them dropping Jorj at school, first period end and now. "How far could he have gotten?"
"On foot, a few blocks." Chote confirmed. "But, we can't be sure he's on foot."
"You think someone has our Son." Leia could sense it as strongly as if the man had said the same.
Chote glanced at Venda, then leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Recordings are made all over this District; all over Coruscant. They don't follow a person's every step but the margin between recordings is minimal. We have a team interviewing staff and students at your Son's school, while another is sifting through the recordings made around the school gates. We have him in school grounds and immediately outside of the gates. Then nothing."
"It may simply be that the appropriate recording hasn't yet been retrieved." Venda assured them.
"Or it could be that someone was waiting, in a blindspot, for the boy to appear." Chote continued.
"As you said, Captain Solo, we know who you both once were. We can't rule out abduction for financial gain any more than we can assume the boy simply decided to go walkabout on a sunny day." Venda added.
"I'll get you that list." Han offered, squeezed Leia's shoulders and rose to fetch his business accounts.
"Perhaps, Ma'am, you and I could gather some of Jorj's things." Venda smiled, reassuringly. "A favourite toy, holorecordings with the family. Some things which, if used in an appeal, might tug at the heartstrings."
"He has special needs." Leia said, superficially.
"We are aware of his circumstances." Chote responded.
"He'll be scared." Leia added, choking back her emotions. "He's very wary of strangers."
"All the more reason to find him. And soon." Chote's smile was marginally less encouraging than Venda's.
"I'll get his stuff." Leia rose unsteadily, her gaze falling on Venda. "May I ask, what is your success rate?"
"Above average." Venda replied, rising also. "I'll come with you."
Leia led the way to Jorj's small, but functional bedroom, feeling the need to apologise for it's simplicity.
"We hadn't expected to have any more children." She said. "Jorj was a bit of a shock to say the least. A pleasant one, but a shock just the same."
Her hands roamed over his pile of books, collection of stuffed toys, his rocks. All had a special meaning to Jorj which neither she nor Han could completely comprehend. Then she looked to his bed, made as though he had never even slept in it. Jorj straightened the corners to the nth degree. Careful not to dislodge his arrangement, she plucked a furry Wookiee placed with love and tenderness beneath the covers.
"This is his favourite." Leia smiled and breathed in the plaything's scent. "He said he could smell his father on it, and you can. If you know what to look for. Han's co-pilot was a Wookiee, though he died before Jorj was even conceived." She fingered the homemade bandolier that so resembled Chewbacca's. "I suspect my husband might have been overly fond of the toy too. He was very close to Chewie."
"Chewie? Oh, the co-pilot." Venda guessed.
"How long do we have?" Leia asked.
"However long you need to take." Venda replied softly.
"No. I mean...before..." Leia prompted.
"Oh! I see." Venda understood. "It's not an exact science, but generally runaways are located within the first twenty-four hours. Usually, in fact, the first two to three would be considered the norm."
"And abductees?" Leia queried.
"Less than three days would be considered a result." Venda answered. "But a more protracted investigation is generally expected."
"Three days!" Leia exclaimed. "He'll be terrified!"
"Leia." Han interrupted from the doorway, indicating she should follow him into the hallway.
"What is it?" Leia's big eyes blinked up at him.
"Chote's heard from the school." He told her. "Turns out a couple of the boys were teasing Jorj over Lei. They told him because we'd got a 'perfect' new baby, we wouldn't want our 'imperfect' child any more."
Leia closed her eyes and exhaled.
"Why would they do that! Why would they tease him that way?" She pleaded.
"Because they're kids and they don't know the power their words can have." He said. "Chote's confident we're looking at a runaway. He's also confident that narrows the search area."
Leia slipped into Han's waiting arms, feeling at least some of her tension subside.
"He'll be home by dinner." Han assured her, hugging tightly.
Venda observed them from the bedroom doorway, her eyes warned to exercise caution. Han caught the look but made no comment. His concern was for his wife.
He had chosen not to mention Chote's notion that runaways were notoriously difficult to track. Nor that at least a kidnapping for ransom meant their child's life was in no immediate danger. As it was, Jorj was just another street statistic and Han knew from bitter experience how very hard life on the streets would be. No matter how temporary the situation.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Officer Chote had left Venda in her role as Family Liaison while he continued to investigate the disappearance of six year old Jorj Bailey Solo.
Venda took her job seriously, vetting every call to the residence and only grudgingly allowing entry to Jaina and Jacen who stayed as long as they could and left only following an assurance that they would be kept fully informed.
Venda was less inclined to allow access to a further visitor until Han had angrily barked. "For Kriff Sake, they've known each other all of their lives!"
Winter Celchu hugged Leia warmly, whispering. "Who's the Stormtrooper?"
"Family Liaison." Leia replied.
"Ah." Winter rolled her eyes. "Makes sense now."
They sat, Han with his arm around Leia's shoulders, Winter in a self-conforming chair close by. Venda a discreet distance, glancing their way periodically. Afternoon had turned to dusk, dusk to night and still Jorj was not home.
"They've recommended we observe a media blackout. So we've no idea what's being reported out there." Leia said.
"Very wise." Winter agreed.
"What Leia means is, what is being reported out there?" Han prompted.
Venda glared in Winter's direction.
"Nonsense mostly. A publicity stunt to get you back in the public eye and anything in between. Those who know you, know it's just the media frenzy. And those who don't will speculate anyway." Winter replied.
"I'd caution against listening to idle gossip." Venda announced.
"You'd caution against breathing too deeply." Han growled back.
"Han wanted to go out looking but we..." Leia glanced furtively at Venda. "...we were advised it might not be a good idea."
"Feels like I'm under house arrest for something I aint even done!" He grumbled.
"Excuse me, I need to take this." Venda pointed to her comlink and headed into the kitchen.
"Good riddance!" Han hissed.
"As you can see, Han's attitude toward authority figures hasn't changed." Leia commented.
"She's been quizzing us off an' on for hours!" He hooked a thumb in Venda's direction. "Every damn thing from who potty-trained him to who administers discipline. I'm telling you sweetheart, she thinks one of us abuses him. Probably me!"
"She's just doing her job Han." Leia sighed and curled her legs beneath her.
"I suppose they have to look at every angle." Winter added.
"Not that one they don't!" Han barked.
Leia squeezed Han's thigh reassuringly.
"I just want him home." She said quietly.
Han slid his hand around her cheek, the pad of his thumb caressing softly and, not for the first time, pressed his lips to the top of her head.
"How about some stim tea?" Winter asked, brightly. Not waiting for an answer, she pushed to her feet and made her way into the kitchen.
A frown creased Venda's brow and she ended her call promising to speak again shortly. Winter pointed toward a mug but Venda shook her head.
"They're good people, the Solo's." Winter said as she began preparing the tea things.
"Captain Solo has been bleating again about my line of questioning." Venda noted. "Some may think that a guilty conscience."
"Perhaps it's simply a little too close to home." Winter turned her back on Venda as she brewed the tea. "I have on more than one occasion heard him refer to his own father as a tyrant."
"Interesting." Venda commented. "Many believe we learn by example."
"Captain Solo is not one to follow convention." Winter suggested.
"His concerns are unfounded." Venda shook her head. "I find nothing here to indicate the Solo's are anything but a strong and loving family."
"Then why do you persist in interrogating him?" Winter queried, preparing to leave, her tray laden with drinks.
"Would you believe, I'm just making conversation?" Venda replied, smiling at the tray. "You know, I might have a half cup if there's enough."
Winter considered denying there was, but poured her a cup anyway.
Venda retrieved her comlink and flicked the switch.
"I need to call base." She said, adding. "Before you ask, it's another case I'm involved with. One without a happy ending."
Winter couldn't hear Han's words of soothing reassurance as she crossed back to the living area, but his tender caresses caught her eye and she couldn't help smile to herself. She had been so wrong about the brash scoundrel who had won her friend's heart. Maybe now was a good time to confess. Then again, she considered, no need to give him a big head!
"Here we are. Tea." Winter placed the tray on a low table and handed Han a glass. "Two fingers I think is your preferred measure."
Han accepted the Corellian Whiskey, it's pungent aroma tickling his nostrils. He held the glass up to the light. "You trying to get me drunk?"
"Call it a celebration." Winter sat, pouring two teas. "I've been talking to Venda and you're in the clear."
"Like I'd care what that..." He started.
"Han!" Leia admonished with a scowl and a shake of her head.
"Thanks." Han turned his smile on Winter.
"Stim tea Your Highness." Winter pressed a cup to Leia's hand. "Your favourite, sweet ginger."
Leia accepted the cup with a sad smile. "Winter, won't you please call me Leia? I haven't been 'your highness' for years."
"Some might see you that way but to me you will always be Royalty." Winter sat back with her own cup of stim tea and added with a wry smile. "Your Highness."
Leia laughed and sipped her tea, the sweet ginger warming her insides.
Han continued to hold her close and nuzzle her hair.
Winter continued to watch them, comfortable in one another's company and embrace.
"Do you remember bringing him home?" Winter asked.
"Jorj?" Leia queried, looking up at Winter. "I remember how tiny he still was."
"Four months wasn't it? And he still looked like he shoulda been inside your belly." Han smiled.
"Preemies are always a little on the small side." Leia quoted, closed her eyes and inhaled the rich scent of her tea. "He fought so hard for life."
"Hey! He's gonna be just fine. We talked to him a thousand times about not getting overly friendly with strangers." He reminded her.
"But you and I both know all it would take is a kindly face or a small furry animal and all of those warnings will be forgotten." She argued, eyes blinking up at him. "He's wary at first but he can still trust too easily."
"Sure doesn't get that from you." He chided with a wink.
"I just don't understand!" Leia said, taking another sip of tea. "How it is that one of those pointless tabloid drones can track me around the mini mart looking at hair colourants and sanitary products, but they can't trace a small boy's movements after leaving school!"
"Remember when we took him to visit Lando and Tendra?" Han asked, settling back into the sofa.
"We went sailing over to that little island." Leia smiled at the memory. "I don't think I've ever seen his eyes so wide!"
"You shoulda been with him on the Falcon when he was puking, his eyes were pretty wide then too!" Han chuckled.
"You remember the camp we set up?" She queried. "He was so excited to be sleeping outdoors. And when he thought he'd discovered fairies?"
Han laughed.
"What were they?" Winter asked.
"Fireflies." Han and Leia answered at the same time.
They looked at one another, realising they were talking about him as if he was dead.
"You know something? We should do that again. Soon." Han said.
"Yes. We should." Leia agreed.
They fell silent, both enjoying their own thoughts as well as their drinks.
Her cup empty, Leia placed it on the tray and curled herself against her husband.
"Venda's been gone a while." She noted, yawning.
"Something to do with another case she's involved with." Winter explained.
"Oh." Leia yawned again.
Han adjusted his position to better hold his wife.
"You always did have the best shoulder to lie on." She mumbled, her head growing heavy against Han's chest. "Might have another cup of tea in a minute."
"I think you've had enough, Your Highness." Winter laid her own untouched tea on the tray.
Han kissed Leia's forehead and looked over at Winter.
"You drugged her tea." He stated.
"Her Highness needed some rest." Winter replied, arching an eyebrow at him.
"Remind me never to piss you off." Han said.
"What makes you think you haven't?" Winter smiled. "I didn't drug your drink."
"You should be ashamed." Han chided, with no real conviction to his voice.
"I have no regrets." Winter claimed. "Except perhaps for your Family Liaison. She initially declined a drink then changed her mind. I imagine she'll be asleep on your counter-top by now."
"Well I won't tell her if you don't." Han slipped his free arm beneath Leia's knees. "I'm gonna get her into bed. Don't go poisoning the fish tank while I'm gone."
Han carried Leia through to their bed, lying her gently against her pillow and covering her with a blanket.
Her eyes fluttered and Han soothed her until she was settled, then he returned to the living area to find his glass had been freshened. He looked at it suspiciously.
"Your family liaison's out cold." Winter reported. "Still, I'm sure a couple of hours won't do her any more harm than it will your wife."
"I saw Leia go seventy-two hours straight during the Rebellion." Han said, taking a long swig from his glass.
"I saw her go eight-four, but she was barely functioning by the end." Winter countered.
"I hate this planet." Han leaned forward, swirling the glass between both hands. "I hate how claustrophobic it makes me feel. How stifling."
"Why don't you get away for a while?" Winter suggested to Han's amused stare. "After all this is over I mean. When Jorj is home and safe and once the dust has settled."
"Don't think I haven't been considering it." He replied. "We made Coruscant our home because Leia's work necessitated it. She knew I'd hate it here. Even asked if this was what I really wanted. Waited until the very morning of our Wedding to ask it too!"
"I know. I was there helping her dress." Winter smiled. "Not many women would have borne the humiliation of being jilted on her Wedding Day as she would have done, had you decided not to go ahead with the ceremony."
"I didn't go ahead with it to spare her blushes!" Han pointed out. "I married her because I love her. And sometimes, love means giving up on your own dreams for somebody else's."
"Must have been a sad day for you, being forced to turn legit." Winter's wry smile teased Han.
"You think I wanted to be smuggler all my life?" He asked light-heartedly. "I got dreams, same as any regular guy."
"What? Like making love to two beautiful women at the same time?" She goaded.
Han laughed, hard.
"Been there. Done that." He grinned broadly. "An' it's a lot harder 'n you'd think!"
"I'll take your word for it." She said
"Nah! I wanted to be a racer." He confessed.
"Seriously?" Winter queried, amazed. "What happened after you hit puberty?"
Her jibe about childish pursuits was ignored.
"The speed. The adrenaline. The sheer Force of Nature!" Han then sighed. "The freedom."
"I'm sure Her Highness would have supported you." Winter offered.
"She had enough to contend with having the fate of the Galaxy resting in her tiny palms, without worrying about me splattering myself on an asteroid some place." Han shook his head. "Then the twins came along, and Anakin and we both had our hands full. But if things had been different. If I hadn't fallen in love with Leia...well, who knows?"
"You could become a Sponsor." Winter suggested, suppressing a grin. "The Han Solo Corellian Cup."
Han's eyes sparkled. "The Han Solo Kessel Challenge Cup." He grinned.
"You should follow your dream. Who knows what riches it might bring you." Winter said.
The possibilities were forming in Han's mind faster than he could process them.
He sat back, exhausted, and sighed. "I couldn't do it to her. Leia'd wanna stick around for Jaina and the baby. And Jacen needs us just as much right now. Then there's Jorj's schooling to consider. Not to mention the Falcon, man!, she needs a massive overhaul and that aint gonna be cheap."
"You're making excuses." Winter told him.
"I'm being realistic." He countered.
"You're making a mistake." She argued. "You're doing what you think is the right thing, the honourable thing, for your wife. But trust me, she would never want you to do that. She'd want you to fulfil your ambitions."
Han swirled the remaining liquor in his glass.
"You know I'm right." Winter added, rising. "But I promised to be home when Tycho and Jarik got back."
"How's the kid doing?" Han asked, rising also.
"He's a complete joy." Winter smiled. "I can't tell you the pleasure he's brought us."
"I'm glad. You both deserve a half decent break." He escorted Winter to the door.
"Think about what I said Captain." Winter leaned up and kissed Han's cheek.
It was the first time, Han thought, she had ever shown him any affection.