A/N: Sorry for the sloppy chapter!

Leia had responded back. What on Coruscant? She'd responded back. And just what exactly did she think she was doing? Leia understood that Han found this whole skit of his hilarious, but with so many things on her plate already, it only made Leia's mood worse. Gram had been calling her all day, Isolder had sent her a bouquet of Gallinore rainbow gems and exotic Ithorian flowers while she'd been at a meeting with Mothma, her father, and other people who were already breathing down her neck. She didn't need this!

Leia was so frustrated with it all, she was taking her anger out on her walking pace, her heels stomping loudly against the floor as she stormed down the hall, quickly brushing past Mothma before the older senator could make some stupid comment that was sure to annoy Leia. Muttering nonsense phrases of her pure, raw anger, she hurried from her father's meeting room and to the comm station, just to get all the messages over with. But when she got to the communications room, on the counter sat Isolder, grinning at Leia and he slowly rose to meet her. Silently cursing the vilest phrases she'd heard Han ever utter, Leia slowly, unconsciously, took a step back out the door and swallowed.

"Leia."

"Isolder. I didn't expect to see you here. I was sure you and your mother would be heading back for Hapes by now. Truly, I appreciate the courtesy, but you've both stayed long enough-"

"But not long enough. It's alright, my dear. I just thought I'd give you your time. We'll be staying on Alderaan until you reach a decision on your marriage proposals. I guess I hope it's me you'll then be going home with."

"Staying?" Leia swallowed on a dry throat. "Until then? Well, Isolder. That's just wonderful. And good to know. I didn't expect to see you here, either, if I haven't said so already. In my home's comm station, I mean."

"Oh. Yes. Well, I know you always make a stop here before heading back to your own bed chamber. I was hoping I'd be able to catch you before then. It doesn't seem like I get to see you enough. That or my hunger can never be fed enough of your incomparable beauty."

"Right. Look, Isolder, I get what you mean, but I am . . . so tired and I really could use some rest. So, if you'll excuse me-"

Isolder stopped her there. Not with words. No! The prince was at least smart enough to realize that wasn't going to work. He took her by her chin and firmly held it between his fingers while he hurried to press an urgent kiss to her dry lips. Leia had had enough already in this young day and the second his fingers were on her, Leia was preparing to react and instinctively slapped the man across his face.

Then, there was silence. A horrible feeling sunk in Leia's gut and she internally gasped as she realized what she'd just done. Kriff, kriff, kriff, Leia silently swore. I just slapped the Hapan prince! She considered sputtering out an apology, but wasn't sure it would make a difference. Still, the dramatic mama's boy hadn't responded with words much less movement. Slowly, he looked back to Leia, holding his face where Leia caught a glimpse of bright pink skin. She considered her choices again and almost laughed aloud when she thought about it. Apologize? Who was she kidding? She stood straighter and brought her arms up to cross them. Isolder glared at her. "Thanks, but I'm good," she said instead and quickly walked off.

"Hey," Han stood to meet Leia as she approached him in the busy market square. "You said we needed to talk?" Simple yet fashionable, Leia was dressed in a dark wrap that she kept pulled around her shoulders and over her head, shades hiding her eyes as she hurried to where he was at a small table in front of a cafe.

"Someone on my staff found out you're here," she cut straight to the chase, taking off her sunglasses, worry in her dark eyes. She looked so tired to Han, he tried to imagine how much stress she'd been under the past few months, but something told Han her anxiety was due to more than just her suitors.

"Did you tell me off?"

"No! Well, actually, I did, but I trust this person."

"Then, why are you so worried? What's wrong?"

Leia sighed, shook her head. "Nothing," she insisted. "I'm just tired. It's a close servant of my family's that knows. She's really nice and I trust she won't tell anyone else. She . . . thinks she's funny. Trust me, she won't tell my parents. Or anyone else for that matter."

Watching her as she spoke, Han couldn't help but note the dark bags around her eyes and the tired way she carried herself, weary and weakly. Of course, this being Leia, she tried not to show how tired she really was. The effort was failing miserably, but Han could tell how hard she was trying. He reached out to gently touch her shoulder and nod towards the cafe's door. "You look like bantha fodder. Why don't we get a little something to eat?"

"Well, thanks for the compliment."

"I'm serious. Let's get something to eat and you can talk to me all about how obnoxious and selfish Isolder, Gram, and Raal are."

Leia stopped, stood there a moment to consider Han's proposal. She turned her glance to his pockets and asked with a small smirk, "Do you even have money?"

Han flashed her that horrible lopsided grin as one hand quickly came out of a pocket to show her a few bills. "Got my first pay from Ducchi today."

"Oh! Congratulations. And you're going to spend it all right away?"

"Not all of it. Just enough to make you happy. Come on. What will it take to get you to participate in some lively banter? A cup of caf? Some wine? A muffin?"

"I don't know, Han. A muffin sounds really good right now, but you're being too kind, I might have reason to worry you're going to poison me."

"Uh . . . I don't have enough money for that, yet."

"Bummer."

Han brought Leia in and the two found a quiet spot in the back of the cafe where no one was sure to see them. Han left his coat on the chair, pulled a few credits from his pocket and asked her again, "Just a muffin? I'll get you some caf? Princess, what do you want?"

"I want to go home."

Still holding up the credits, Han looked away and nodded in disappointment. He took his jacket back and lowered his hand. "Okay," he said. "Okay. Then, I'll see you later."

"Han."

"Yes?"

"My father is letting me train with arms now. I don't need you to teach me anymore."

"Oh. I see. So, now you're trying to get me to leave my flat out telling me I'm no longer needed?"

"What were you hoping for? The deal was only so I wouldn't report you. I still won't, but I want you to leave."

"Well, then maybe I'll see you around, Princess." Then, the two went their separate ways.

So, Han thought as he turned without a second look. This is how she wants it to end. Me leaving willingly, not turning back for a 'one last look'. Ha! Like I could just leave this all.

Then, Han turned back to the counter and laid his credits down; enough for a picnic for two.

More than pleased with herself, Leia hurried home, feeling a little better about life. Still angry though, she hurried back to the palace and swept past her aunts before they could stop her to bother her with dresses, date plans, decoration preferences. She ran to her bedroom and locked herself in, falling into a heap on her bed. Simply overwhelmed, angry, and feeling so alone, she tried to hold all her anger in as she always had, as she always could, but Leia starved for someone to listen to her screams of deprivation, of helplessness, frustration. Leia was 19, nearly 20 and she'd never wanted to throw a tantrum so badly before.

On her dresser beside her bed sat all the rings she'd been offered, a dozen bouquets, hundreds of insults staring right at her. "Nobody loves me," Leia muttered, staring at all the insults through tears. "I'm just a thing to them, a slight convenience. I mean nothing to them. I'm just a thing they can use. I don't want to be part of this kriffing war."

Sometime later, Leia woke up to a massive headache. She didn't even want to get up, wasn't even sure what had woken her. She only knew that she wanted to go back to sleep and stay that way for a few good . . . hours, perhaps? Slowly waking up, she finally realized what had woken her. There was tapping on her window. "No," Leia muttered, shaking her head before she could even draw the blinds and look out. "No. No way. You're kidding. Please don't be him, please don't be him!" She got out of bed and pulled the curtains back to see Han sitting outside the bay window. Sighing heavily, Leia took a seat and opened the window. "What are you doing here, Han? I thought we were done with these visits."

"You might be, but I'm not." He held up a basket and told her, "I got you muffins."

"You're kidding."

"Come out here. Talk to me. What did Isolder do today? Or was it Gram?"

Reluctantly, Leia crawled out the window to join him, figuring he wouldn't leave until he got what he wanted. Stubborn. Yes, Solo was far too stubborn for Leia's likes. Leia's feet met the ground to find that Han had spread a thin, warm blanket on the patio. Leia rolled her eyes at the Corellian's efforts. "It was Isolder. Mostly. I guess it started with that, but adding on to it all the little things is just driving me over the edge."

"What did Isolder do?"

"He's past having patience with me. He's pulling every string he can think of, trying to get me to answer the proposals faster. And answer yes to his." She curled up her legs and rested against the window as Han began to set out the treats he'd bought. He pulled out a few muffins, icing, and other small treats along with two cups of steaming dark caf for the both of them. It made a struggle for Leia not to smile as she watched. "Wow. You really went out of your way for a small picnic, flyboy."

"I figured you deserved it. I got everything from fruit-filled-"

"Oh! I mustn't look any further. That sounds perfect. What are they?"

"Berries. In the muffins. With this sauce that smelled really good. If I remember correctly, the baker called it . . . Ald-rén? I don't know. It was pronounced funny."

With an amused smile at Han's try, the princess corrected him in her thickest Alderaanian accent, "Aldámpé-ren. It's a thick, white sauce that's usually used for muffins or thin cakes. It goes really great with fruit and cake batter recipes."

"Like these muffins."

"Exactly." She chose one of the biggest, fattest muffins, smeared a dollop of the icing over it and bit into it, trying not to appear so pleased. "Thank you, Han. It's really good."

"It was no problem." He grabbed his own treat and watched her carefully for a few seconds, his dark, hazel eyes keeping a careful watch. "Are you okay?"

"Why do you ask? Do I look horrible?"

"No. You just look . . . very down, defeated. I don't like it. The look doesn't suit you."

"Was that supposed to be a smooth compliment? A flirt?"

"Maybe. Was that supposed to be a smooth cover up for how uncomfortable I make you?"

"Maybe. And maybe the only reason why I even talk to you is-"

"Because I'm the only one who listens. I know. You've told me. Leia," he told her gently. The use of her actual name, not some dumb nickname, caught Leia off balance and she almost stopped listening after that. He hadn't called her 'Princess' or 'sweetheart' or 'Your Worshipfulness'. Just . . . Leia. And it stirred an odd feeling within her. "Leia, I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable, flirt with you, try and make some stupid move on you. Besides, I know it wouldn't work, anyway. I'm just here to listen. That's all. I mean, that's all you need, right?"

Holding her plastic caf cup between her two hands, she nodded, not meeting his hazel-eyed gaze. "I guess so," she agreed.

"Good. Then, that's all I am. Is there anything else you need to say at tonight's meeting?"

Leia gave a chuckle at his joke and considered whether she should stay or not. It was night. Her parents, aunts, the palace's whole staff were all asleep. It was just her and Han up and Leia couldn't think of anyone else she'd even be willing to talk about life with. She turned back to their late night feast and reached for another muffin. "I need a friend," she began and settled back to spend most of the night just talking to Han Solo.

"Again! Quicker! Faster! Come on, let's get going! Quicker! Quicker!" Sabé ran the length of the training gym, watching Leia as she went through the drill. The older woman had the princess running the length if the gym over and over, firing a different blaster each time she reached an end of the gym. Leia would have to fill its power pack, fire and hit a target's center from across the gym, and unload the rest of the power pack before going on. "DL next! Come on, Leia! Come on! Faster! Faster! Faster!"

Leia reached the end of the gym again, quickly snatched the blaster and power pack from the floor and loaded her seventeenth blaster of the day, the sweat beading on her forehead and dripping down her face. With practiced speed, she recalled all the steps as Han had shown her, dropped the pack into its place and practiced her own quick-draw, bringing the blaster up to fire from where she was kneeling. It hit its target spot on and she jumped back to her feet, already racing for the other end of the gym. There, Sabé now had lying a T-21 light repeating blaster. Leia hoisted its butt against her chest, her other arm making the stretch to hold the blaster's end. She steadied her hold, made the shot, and missed. She let out a light sigh before trying again, keeping her patience, taking measured breaths, staying cool. Finally, she got the shot and sped for the other end of the gym again.

"Good! Keep going! Keep going, Leia!"

Now that Leia had some kind of basic training with blasters, Sabé had seized the opportunity to turn Leia into a war machine, amping up her physical training and combining it with her marksman training which Leia was becoming a pro with. Sabé had turned their lessons into two hour hard-core sessions that also always came with a lot of girl-talk time. Although, most of that time was spent by Sabé teasing Leia about Han. Like there's anything to tease, Leia thought, slightly annoyed.

Leia came to finishing the last leg of the drill, seeing the Nabooan blaster Sabé had just set there. Easy. She skidded to a stop and quickly picked up the weapon, loading it and firing a quick shot across the gym. Sabé jumped in surprise at Leia's speed and laughed as she watched the target fall. "Yes! Yes! My, Leia, you're a machine!"

"Please tell me we're done, now," Leia panted, standing against the wall.

"We're done. But you're not leaving until you talk to me."

"Sabé, we talk all the time."

"I mean about Han. Come on. What's the latest scoop?"

"Han? Ha!" But she suddenly stopped, took a quick drink and sat next to her confidant. "Here's the thing. He's nice-"

"Nice, huh? Just nice?"

"Well, he's nice enough that I don't want to hurt his feelings. I mean, I want him to leave already so I don't get in trouble, but . . . Sabé . . . I think he likes me. And not like- like he has a crush on me. Sabé, I think he legitimately likes me. He has . . ." Leia's eyes wandered around her head aimlessly as her mind boggled for the right words. "He has . . ."

"That he has feelings for you?"

"Yes!"

As soon as Sabé gasped, Leia only shook her head, turning away. "And how about you?"

"Sabé! I could hardly look at him like that. He's an unlawful mam-"

"But you don't wish to hurt his feelings. Obviously, you don't hate him. You haven't told your father or any of the rest of the staff. You haven't told anyone you think would get him in trouble. If you don't need him, why don't you just tell Bail already?"

Sabé had Leia there and she knew it. Smiling, she patted the floor beside her and insisted. "Now, come back here. Talk to me. It isn't wrong to not hate people, you know."

"It's not that-"

"I know it's not that. But is there really anything wrong in having a secret friend? You have to admit, he's a good man for being there, listening to you."

"Okay, but there is no relationship between us. Sure, he's nice, but if Father knew I was even ever around him-"

"I understand, but he doesn't need to know. He hasn't found out yet. Honey, at least let him stay. Something tells me his company is the only thing keeping you sane right now. Promise me, Leiá. Promise me you'll give him that much."

"All for what? Sabé, I'm telling you he's serious. Before, this all was just some joke, but it's not a joke for him anymore. It really isn't."

"Then, let him be. He means no harm. He ought to be a better suitor than the lot of them, though. Huh?"

"How are you?"

"Fine. Getting along. How about you?"

"Probably better than you."

"Good for you, then. Hey, where are we going, anyway?" Leia asked as she continued walking alongside Han out of the main city.

"I thought I'd show you my place. Chewie wants to meet you."

Oh, dear heavens! He's taking me to see the equivalent of his home and family! "Your ship?"

"Uh-huh. YT Corellian make, 1300. A really beauty, but don't worry. You have nothing to be jealous of."

"Oh, good."

"Okay. I'm sorry, One-Who-Mustn't-Be-Flirted-With."

"Is that my new name?"

"Yes. Yes, it is."

"You know, I think I like it more than Your Worshipfulness."

"Oh! But that's my favorite one!"

"Of course it is. You just love annoying me."

"What else would I do all day? Better question. What would you do all day? With noone to yell at?"

"I honestly don't know. Well, that would give my aunts more time to bother me which would probably mean I'd just pull all my hair out."

"See! You do need me! And we most certainly wouldn't want you pulling out all that beautiful hair of yours."

Oh, my goodness. If he's staring at my hair . . . Leia let the thought trail off as she subconsciously ran a hand over her hair. Han took a turn for Ducchi's shop and guided Leia to the back of the mechanics facility. A whir of buzzing and appliances in use floated around the shop. The place came with a stink of grease and oil, but Leia could imagine it as something Han rather enjoyed if this really was his place of expertise. He seemed to be comfortable here, like he knew what everything here was, where it belonged, how it all worked. It intrigued Leia to see him in his "place of skill", to see that he had an actual skill!

From where they came approaching, Leia caught sight of a great wookiee standing on top of a smaller ship in the very back of the shop. Sparks went off from where the wookiee stood and Han hurried towards the small freighter. "Hey, there, Chewie! Just hang on. I'm coming up!"

"This is your ship?" Leia laughed.

"Yeah. What were you expecting?"

"I guess I was waiting for something a little bit bigger. This- this is a piece of garbage!"

Han turned a disapproving scowl on her and he put a hand to the ship's hull, patting it affectionately. "She didn't mean it, baby."

"Are you one of those guys whose ship is practically their girlfriend?"

"Her name is the Falcon. Millennium Falcon to you."

"Well, tell her I'm so sorry."

"Consider yourself lucky. She says she accepts your apology."

"Oh, thank you!"

"Come on."

Leia followed Han into his ship, the Falcon. Though it was small, Leia had to admit it wasn't that bad. It was pretty nice, clean enough. But it didn't quite have that homey feel. The hallways were cramped and most of the space was consisted of smuggling compartments and containers of parts. "This is where you sleep every night?" she asked, squeezing her way through as she followed Han to the main hold.

"Yeah. It's usually cleaner, but Chewie and I have been really busy with repairs lately."

"I thought you said you were done with repairs."

Just then, the wookiee, Chewbacca, squeezed past the princess, snickering in shyriiwook, "Grawggh mlhaf!"

"What did he say?"

Han's face flushed and Ducchi entered the ship to translate. "This is what he does when he needs to think."

"Hi, Ducchi."

"Good afternoon, Princess." The mechanic bowed, tipping his dusty hat. "And thanks for the extra worker. It's been nice having an extra hand around here. Han's not too bad working with the babies." He flashed Han a wink.

Before Leia could continue any conversation, her comm rang in her pocket and she swore under her breath, fishing it from her pocket. "Hello?"

"Leia Organa! Where are you? We've been waiting forever for you! We don't have all day!"

"Aunt Rouge?"

"Leia! Where are you! Prince Raal is here and he's waiting to talk to you! He keeps saying it can't wait!"

"Alright. Fine, I'll be there soon. Just give me half an hour." She quickly hung up before her aunt could really tart screaming and she turned to Han to tell him, "I need to get going. I'm afraid my aunts have me going on another date with Raal."

"Oh, yeah," Han nodded, looking rather disappointed. "That stinks. Chewie was just starting to like you."

"Already?"

"Doesn't take much. Anyway, I'll walk you home."

Han was walking Leia around the back of the palace to her bedroom, taking the same route he did when he visited her at night for their talks. They took their time as if stalling so Leia wouldn't have to go so quickly. This was the struggle for Han, knowing that Leia was far above and beyond what Han could ever hope for in a woman for himself. Leia was busy with her suitors and Han watched her from the corner, wishing he could be one of them, that he could be there for her more than he could now. That he could mean more to her than he did now. But he knew he couldn't dwell on it. He cared for Leia in a way so deeply, he didn't focus on all he could only wish for. Leia was a Princess and he her protector and friend when noone was looking. He did as much as he could for her before he had to let her go back to the real princes who didn't care half as much as he did. Again, as she always said, at least he listened.

They stopped directly under Leia's bedroom window. She looked to him and smirked. "How do you get up there?"

Smiling back, Han reached into the shrubs sitting against the palace wall and pulled out a ladder. "Climb up partway," he answered. "Then, squeeze through the bars on the patio's railing."

"Okay." He and Leia scurried up the ladder and easily fit through the patio's railing. They both went through the window and Leia was nearly running to the refresher. She stopped to smile one last time at Han and told him, "Thank you for helping me get back."

"It's no problem. Wait. Hang on." He took a cloth from the sink and dampened it, reaching out to wipe oil and grease off of Leia's face and arms. "Personally, I like that look, a little rust and grime. It suits you a lot better than these dresses do."

"Good luck," Han smirked, using the cloth to wipe grease off her nose.

Leia smiled, just let him finish his work. When he was done, she took the cloth, rinsed it off and hung it from its spot. "Good luck with what? Raal or surviving?"

"I suppose the two go hand in hand."

This drew a laugh from the ice princess and pulled her hair up, rolling her eyes at him. "I'd better get going. See you tomorrow night, right? I'm going to need you. You know, so I don't pull my hair out."

"Right. Tomorrow night. See you then."

Leia gave him one last smile before turning to leave. After all, after this next night with Raal, she would need a friend . . . Leia figured.

Leia hurried down the staircase to the palace's foyer where stood Prince Raal, waiting for her. He looked so anxious, so eager and impatient, almost worried in a way. Leia took all this in as she prepared to speak with him. From the way he appeared and was acting so nervously, Leia mentally prepared herself for another proposal, another attempt at rushing her decision.

"Raal," she greeted, curtsying.

"Princess Leia," the prince bowed back to her, practicing formalities in the presence of the Organa family.

"Raal said he has come to speak personally with you!" Celly smiled, pushing Leia forward. She was surprised to see that the Panteer prince looked uncomfortable by the notion as well.

Just behind her stood Bail and he guided his sisters and wife out, suggesting, "I think it best we leave the two alone for now."

Raal waited until they were long gone before he approached Leia again and quickly told her in a burst of speech, "Leia, please listen to me! I know you don't want to see me and I understand, but I have something to say that I think you'll want to hear."

Seeing her childhood friend so shaken, Leia dropped her anger and frustration for the moment and gently asked him, "Is everything alright? You seem so worried, so shaken. What's wrong, Raal."

"Leia," he took her hands and them tightly. "Leia, I just came to tell you that . . . I finally understand why you've been so upset with me since this started. I'm sorry."

"Raal, you have nothing to be sorry for. You're just-"

"Doing everything like everyone else. Leia, shortly before it started, I kept feeling this pressure form everyone to propose to you, to compete for your hand. Everyone knew it was going to be this huge mess, all these nobles fighting to win your hand. And my family and yours always expected em to be a part of it. My parents have always expected me to win your hand since we've always been good friends. I guess that's the thing. We've always been good friends. We were good friends . . . until this started. Then, we couldn't be friends anymore."

"No, Raal," she shook her head, crossing he arms "We can't be friends. It's either . . . "

"Husband and wife or nothing. And I don't like it. Leia, I'm sorry I hurt you like this. I don't like things between us like this. I don't like competing for your hand, trying to impress you. I know you aren't that shallow, but what else am I supposed to do to win? And then I figured it out."

"Raal, I don't want anything more," Leia quickly interrupted, fearing the worst of where this was going. "I don't want more money and riches and weapons. I don't want-"

"I know you don't." Raal stepped back, held his arms open for Leia and told her, "I ought to know you better than that, Leia. You were my best friend. Princess Leia of the House of Organa, I hereby take back my marriage proposal. I miss having a good friend to talk to."

Leia dropped her arms, slowly turning to really look at Raal and be sure she had heard right. Her mouth hanging open, she neared him, looking into his eyes, really studying him. "Did you really just say that? Are you really withdrawing your proposal?"

Raal smiled, nodding towards the staircase. "Why don't you give me that ring back. I can't imagine you wearing it anymore. Besides, I've been looking for a friend this whole time, someone who can understand how I feel. And I'm embarrassed to realize that she was right under my nose this whole time."

Smiling back at him, Leia was sure she couldn't feel happier. Suddenly, she grabbed him by his arm and rushed back up the stairs with Raal in tow, racing down the halls until they got to her bedroom. Leia's hands flew around her dresser, searching for the opalescent ring. When she did find it, she showed it to Raal and the two beamed at each other for a long moment before Raal could no longer contain his relief and he swept Leia into his arms, laughing and crying with her.

Outside, left alone in the dark on the patio where Leia had left him forgotten, Han watched the scene play out between the two, watched them cry together, caught in a tight embrace, Leia still holding the ring. Han watched it all and it made him feel stupid. "Chewie was right," he whispered to the princess. "I'm an idiot."