Here's something I hope you all find interesting. :D

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Chapter 13: What Are You Looking At?

General Rieekan approached the Princess who was deep in thought at her computer screen in the Command Center.

"Princess?"

Leia shook with a slight start not realizing anyone had come up behind her. Her thoughts had wandered onto her overnight stay with Solo the other night. "Yes, General?"

"I was just checking over your upcoming mission to Ord Mantell. Is Captain Solo still slated to be part of the mission?"

"As far as I'm aware, yes. Is there a problem?"

"A scheduling one, perhaps. He's on the patrol roster for that timeframe. He volunteered to fill the gap after we lost Cpl. Deniton a couple of weeks ago."

Leia looked surprised because she was. "I wasn't aware Captain Solo hadn't offered his services for that."

"Volunteered, actually. With our people split up trying to set up the base on Hoth, it hasn't left us with anyone extra. If he hadn't stepped in, we would've been forced to have extended the patrol times for the others."

She nodded knowingly and sighed. "They're already pushed to the limit as it is." She secretly thanked Han for being there for them and for her - again. "He's been a great help to us, hasn't he, General?"

"Indeed. He has a habit of doing that, Princess."

Leia ignored that last bit as he mind raced for solutions. "Perhaps Chewbacca would be willing to cover for Han during the mission."

"That would work. Can Chewbacca be spared from the mission? And do you think would he be willing to take Solo's place?"

"I'm sure something can be arranged."

"I'll contact the Deck Officer about the possible change."

"I'll handle it, General. You have enough on your plate. Our patrols aren't the only ones overworked around here."

"I could say the same of you, Princess." He said meaningfully.

"We must not let up in our pressure to defeat the Empire."

"It's okay to take a breath here and there, Princess. Recharge."

"Once we're at full strength on Hoth, we'll all have a bit more time to take a breath." She left the Command Center with Rieekan's advice to recharge and take a breath on her mind. It was rather serendipitous considering her the night she spent with Han just a couple of days ago.

He had made a major impression on her. He had done nothing except hold her. Nothing. She showed up late and was prepared for whatever he would throw at her and all he did was curl up with her in his bunk, kiss her goodnight, and go to sleep.

A bad dream had shaken her awake. It woke him as well. Han had groggily wrapped his arm around her and pull her back down into his embrace with a murmured reassurance that he had her and she was safe. Indeed, she had felt safe… and warm. In fact, she had felt completely cozy. Cozy was a rare occurrence in her world in the last few years. Cozy felt nice. She didn't remember falling back asleep, but she did remember waking up the next morning.

Solo had addressed the lack of sexual interaction the night before and encouraged her to initiate if the mood struck her. He flashed her that infamous smirk that sometimes hid his deep insecurities and cracked, "You know, just 'cause I won the bet, doesn't mean you can't take advantage of me if you had the urge to, Sweetheart."

The Princess had never considered herself timid in any sense of the word. In fact, it was a source of pride to her. Yet, that morning, she realized that as adventurous as she had been sexually with Han, she had never really been the instigator except perhaps that very first time a couple of years ago. And that time, Han had taken over pretty quickly.

Now that she had decided to truly let go over the remaining time of the bet, she thought he might actually be right. Until then, he had always been the one to decide when, where and even how. Maybe she should take full advantage of him at some point before the bet was over. He was obviously looking for her to make a move.

Still, even knowing he would welcome her advance, it was new territory for her. Admonishing that as a nonsensical reason for her not doing it, she resolved to be open to the opportunity should the whim strike her, at least for the duration of the bet.

She had never been a wilting damsel waiting for a man to court her. While she had been to systems where that held true, it wasn't that way on Alderaan. Right now, she was thanking the Force or more likely, the ruling ancestors of Alderaan for that. Alderaan was not a close-minded strict society. It had been a galaxy leader in the arts and sciences for as long as anyone could remember. It revered peace and equality for all beings and all cultures. It was precisely why she had flourished by such a young age. There was no way she could've accomplished what she had in her life otherwise. Bail and Breha had encouraged her at every turn reminding her that as the leading family, they all should strive to be the embodiment of Alderaan's ideals showing every citizen and off-worlder alike the true heart of Alderaan.

Leia chuckled to herself. She never thought how she would be applying those tenets to her private life as an adult, but it was a natural extension of what she had been taught.

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Princess Leia strode into the hanger and noticed a distinct change in the humidity. The air was so thick that everything metal had a cold sweat to it. She immediately found the Deck Officer on duty and was talking to him about a possible change in the duty roster where Solo was concerned when over the Deck Officer's shoulder, she spied the Captain walking over the top hull of the Falcon carrying a toolbox. He wore his usual Bloodstriped trousers and boots, but had only a sweat-soaked t-shirt on top instead of his usual long-sleeved shirt and jacket.

"Why is it extra humid in here?" She asked without fully taking her attention off of Solo, but trying to still appear focused on the person in front of her. Leia watched covertly as Solo wiped his brow with his forearm and took a drink from a bottle of what she presumed was water.

"The air control units for the entire hanger went out this morning and we're having trouble getting them back to their usual operation levels. We expect to have it normalized by tomorrow morning."

"I guess we'll have to sweat it out until then. Thank the Force that the rest of the base wasn't affect…-ed." Leia nearly lost her focus entirely as Solo put the bottle down and proceeded to lift his shirt up and over his head before wiping his face with it before tossing it aside. She actually fought to keep her mouth from dropping open at the sight of his glistening torso outlined by his strong shoulders and defined midsection. His arms were distracting enough in the t-shirt, but now she wasn't thinking with her head. She was thinking of finding a way to work in some private time in her continual effort to pay her debt to him. Maybe Rieekan was right about taking a breath to recharge.

"I'll have the changes sent to you when it's confirmed," she said bringing her full attention including her eyes back to the Deck Officer momentarily. "Thank you, Major."

Leia strode over to the Falcon with her best business demeanor. It wouldn't do if she were the one to break the complete discretion rule she had imposed in the first place. Once she reached the edge of the hull closest to where he was bent over on his hands and knees working, she only took a quick moment to admire his behind. Just long enough to put it into her memory banks, but not so long as to be thought of as staring by anyone.

"Captain Solo!" She yelled up to him, but there was no response. Leia looked around for Chewie. She didn't like drawing attention to herself like this, but without the Wookiee to call to Solo, she had no choice. He was probably irritated with her formality of address. It was all fine and good when they were having sex, but she knew it irked him at other times. "Han!"

Finally, she saw him stop and straighten up. At least she had an excuse to watch the play of his muscles in his bare back and the sheen of sweat along his hairline dampening it the same way as their sexual antics did.

He turned in her direction with his crooked grin already in place and his voice a full lilting Corellian tease. "Somethin' I can do for ya', Sweetheart?"

Leia's irritation level was beginning to rise and it wasn't just the high humidity making her uncomfortable. He obviously knew the likely effect he was having on her and he was calling her on it right here out in the open just to be difficult. He knew she wouldn't dare respond positively to it, but it was a challenge nonetheless.

"Is Chewie here? I need to speak with him." Two can play at this game. She knew she could throw as much cold on the heat he was throwing as need be. She had to do it. They were in public.

"He's inside getting a cold drink. The humidity is taking a toll on him."

"I'm sure. It's taking a toll on everyone in here."

Solo acrobatically jumped down next to her and grinned mischievously again. Only somewhat more subdued, his voice was still invitingly loud enough to encourage eavesdropping adding to her annoyance, "My guess is some more than others. Right, Princess?"

She rolled her eyes with a huff at his pointed leer and turned away to head for the ramp when she noticed Han following her. She could parry to this thrust just as well and he knew it. She stopped in mid-stride and raised her voice to the same level his had been. "Where do you think you're going?"

"It's my ship, Your Worship!" He pointed to his torso with his thumb. "I don't need a reason to go aboard it."

"If you don't mind, Captain. I should like to speak to Chewbacca alone," she insisted self-righteously. That ought to throw him for a turn. She told herself he deserved it for leering at her like that in public. For all she knew, he had been fully aware that she had been looking over at him and had pulled off his shirt in that particular way just to entice her. It had to be all his fault. It usually was when certain female body parts in her lower region jolted like that.

Han made a show of swinging around to check out their immediate area. "I don't see that Shiny Gold Metal Shadow of yours. You're gonna need me to translate." He leveled his gaze with hers. "Unless you've suddenly significantly increased your understanding of Shyriiwook?"

"Fine. I suppose you could be useful." She began walking up the ramp.

"'Useful?' Is that all I am to you? Like a droid?" He followed her not letting up one bit.

She stopped at the doorway of the hatch to turn around and flashed him a smile. "More like a tool."

A few more steps and they were safely inside the confines of the Falcon. Han leaned down to quietly whisper in her ear as he passed her. "I'll be happy to let you use my tool anytime, Sweetheart." Then called out, "Chewie?! Her Most Royalness wants to talk to you!"

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