A/N: Quick a.n. if you don't mind! Today, I woke up to 19 reviews from you guys on a bunch of chapters! I read them and nearly started crying. Then, I had that moment of . . . when your readers are taking more meaning out of moments in your story than you do . . . But that's wonderful! It's amazing! Some great points were brought up that I've begun considering and turning in my head, so please keep it up with the comments because they mean so much and help me out a lot. Honestly, I can't even begin to explain how much all the comments mean! THANK YOU!
"You're taking her out?"
"Well, our latest sessions have been slow. I thought a change in scenery might help things."
"How far?"
"Just outside the court. You mustn't worry so, Bail. There'll be a guard with us. Two if it makes you feel any better."
Bail Organa considered and Sabé could only stand there and wait, her chest swelling with hope. Her hands folded nicely just below her belt line, she waited for a response, maintaining a look of patience and honesty. No, Bail, she thought with a wicked smile. You needn't worry about my plans for the day. Just . . . worry about yourself. Please.
Bail crossed his arms and returned his dark-eyed gaze to her. "Two guards," he held up two fingers and Sabé nodded. "Of course, viceroy. I understand how close the Hapans are getting. We'll take two. Maybe even an extra third. But really, do you not trust me with the princess?" Then, just as she always seemed to be doing these days whenever she ended a conversation with the Alderaanian queen or viceroy, she hurried off before Bail could fit in another word. Yes, she had big plans for the day. If Leia's own parents were to not know of this secret suitor, Sabé could promise she'd take care of the captain if he wasn't the right guy for her niece.
Instead of being dressed in her usual skirts in this young morning, Sabé was already wearing her training gear, plain olive-colored pants, a navy blue shirt, and a thin black vest. Hurrying up the staircase to Leia's room, she snapped her gloves from the loop where they hung on her belt and started pulling them on, using her elbow to harshly knock on Leia's door. "Leia Organa! I was expecting you downstairs five minutes ago! Get out here right now!"
After she'd pulled on her thranta-riding gloves, she snatched her comm from her belt and keyed in a brief sequence. "Olin, we're getting ready to leave. Where are you?"
"Just outside the palace walls," came her answer. "The bench beside the entry way."
"But it's so early!" the princess whined, opening the door to reveal herself dressed in her own training outfit with her hair still hanging down her back. "As much as I'm excited to visit him, must you come along?"
Sabé sighed at the sight of an unready Leia and practically yanked her out the door. She gathered up Leia's hair and started making it into a single thick, simple braid. "Sweetheart, I already know your father would never approve of him and I've been encouraging this for several months now. I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"Stop that. Yes, I do. Since Mama and Papa don't know about him, you're going to play protective father and make sure daddy's little princess doesn't get hurt."
"Oh, look at you! You know me so well. Leia, you're like a niece to me. If we're keeping this from your parents, I'm going to take matters into my own hands. If he ever hurts you, I'll slit his throat and-"
"Sabé, I am well aware you used to be a Nabooan handmaiden, among the most trusted of Naboo's security forces. I don't need to know the details of what'll happen if Han upsets you."
"That's right, my girl. You don't want to know. I'll have him dead within the hour!"
"And that's why you're my aunt!"
"That's right, Princess. Now, come. Let's get going. I'm not sure I can wait much longer to meet this prince of yours. And let's sneak out quickly before your father realizes I only intend on taking one guard."
This was the second time Leia had visited the Millennium Falcon, the second time she'd visited Han here. Although, Han had brought her here the first time. That first time . . . Leia had been so taken aback by the notion of getting to see Han's "place". It had made her nervous because, somehow she'd known what it meant, that it had meant her and Han weren't just friends. Though the two were no more than friends, it didn't discomfort Leia anymore. She felt fine, almost welcome in a way. As for their relationship status, Leia had taken to explaining it as 'stuck at that awkward stage where you're no longer friends, but not a couple'. Lengthy, sure, but she had no better words for that was exactly what they were. This was only to be confirmed when Chewbacca came out of the crew quarters with welcoming arms and nearly strangled Leia in a huge hug while Han came out slowly, watching her with a nervous glance like he didn't know what to say now that she was here. But who was she kidding? Leia was sure she looked just as nervous and awkward to Sabé as Han did to her. Feeling the same, Leia dismissed her observation and looked upon Han as an equal in all ways in this moment.
Stepping farther into the ship, she had to notice it was cleaner than the last time she'd visited, the small hallways tidied up, no ration packs laid out across the floor for inventory. Knowing Han, shed\'d assumed it would still be messy, but now had to wonder of he'd gotten busy cleaning in preparation for her and Sabé's visit.
Han gathered some courage and approached Leia and Sabé with an easy smile that more reflected the Han Leia was getting to know. It brought a smile to her own face which, in turn, brightened Han's. Leia almost had to laugh at the chain reaction between them before she realized that it would only strengthen the very same thought. She shook her head and accepted a hug as Han offered one. Letting go, she caught of glimpse of Sabé from the corner of her eye, amusedly smiling with a quick roll of her eyes. "Captain Solo," she said, the first to start on proper greetings. Leia could imagine the scowl she might have wanted to flash her way at her childish behavior. "I believe your name is, yes?"
"Yeah," Han stuck out a hand and shook Sabé's. "Solo. Han Solo. And you're . . .?"
"Han, this is Sabé, my tutor," Leia said.
"Welcome, Miss Sabé."
"And thank you for the invitation, Captain Solo. It's a pleasure to finally meet after hearing so much about you. Leia here," she flashed a light, brief scowl, almost joking. Maybe, she was. "Is always telling me stories about the visits you two share. I figured that if this is just going to stay between the three of us-"
Chewie roared in protest.
"And the wookiee," Sabé continued. "I guess I'll have to play protective parent instead."
"Yeah. And Leia's told me about you as well. She says you're really nice."
"Of course. As long as nobody upsets me." Sabé folded her hands beneath the hem of her vest and gave Han a smile that was hard as durasteel and made him want to run away. But he didn't. He smiled again to Leia and waved them to the main hold. He gestured to the holochess board and everyone sat down on the bench, Sabé and Leia across from Han and Chewie.
"So," Sabé glanced around, playing critic. "Leia tells me you're a smuggler on the run? A job went sour?"
"Yeah. I had to dump a load before Imperials could catch me."
"Glitterstim?"
Han nodded.
"Do you have any on board?"
"O-kay!" Leia quickly interrupted, her face going bright red as she quickly realized the intentions in her mentor's eyes. Glitterstim was a spice produced by energy spiders that, when used, had a pleasure-boosting effect and could heighten one's mental state. More often than not, its illegal buyers used it during intercourse. Other times, it was athletes using it in hopes of breaking some record. It did have its medical benefits, but use was strictly for med-centers and hospitals only. Any other use was non-permitted and highly illegal, valuable on the black market.
"No," Han answered with a shake of his head, trying not to let Sabé get to him. "No, I haven't been smuggling anything since I came here. My ship is clean, I swear."
"Good. You'd be an idiot to bring spice here. To Alderaan, I mean. But now you're working for Ducchi, correct?"
Han nodded.
"Do you like it here?"
"The shop or Alderaan?"
Sabé shrugged.
"I like Alderaan a lot. It's really nice, quiet, and calm. A lot different from Corellia, that's for sure! And I like working for Ducchi, too. He's fair, offering me a lot I don't deserve especially considering he knows I smuggled before this. Everyone's nice here, nicer than I expected. Especially Leia. I don't deserve the friendship she's given me, but she's there anyway."
"I thought I was the one getting therapy sessions."
"Trust me, Princess. You're working me wonders."
About an hour later and well into their conversation (or Sabé's interrogation of Han), Leia excused herself to use the 'fresher leaving Sabé room to have an honest and open discussion with the smuggler. She turned a narrow-eyed gaze to the Corellian and it was just enough to take Han by surprise. She leaned towards him, narrowed her eyes to slits, and told him in a dark voice, "I don't know where you've been before you came here and I don't know exactly what you were doing. But I do know this and I will tell you: I've been watching over Leia since her parents brought her into their home. I have been caring for her and practically raising her and I love her like a niece. Now that you're here, she's falling for you. That's fine. But if you ever hurt her, if you ever so much as make her shed a single tear, Han Solo, I swear I'll bring you straight back to your home planet, beat you to a pulp and leave your mangled body to rot before your own people. I will tell her father exactly what you've done to his precious daughter and your little debt to Jabba won't matter anymore. You'll have much, much bigger problems."
She backed away, smiling pleasantly as Leia rejoined them. Han could only stare, couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from the supreme mother bear figure and Leia took notice. "Hey," she smiled lightly, waving a hand in front of his face. "Are you okay?" Han blinked. He nodded and told her, "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. I just realized, though, that it's been an hour already. You might want to hurry back before your father becomes suspicious."
"He's right," Sabé sighed, grabbing her vest and rising to leave with the princess. "Come on. We'd better go now. I think your aunts will be waiting."
"Which is all the more reason for us to stay."
Sabé rolled her eyes. "Why don't you go grab your jacket and we'll go." Again, Leia left and Han shrunk back in his seat. Turning back to Han, she asked, "Do we understand eachother?"
"Crystal clear. Good. I got my point across, now you say yours."
"Who said I had one?"
"Han, I have no desire to dance around subjects all night. You have a look on your face. Now, speak your mind before I tell her father."
Han released a breath he hadn't noticed he'd been holding and nodded. Approaching Sabé more closely, he began. "I assume Leia told you about our talk on the night of her birthday?"
"Yes, she did. You gave her her first kiss."
"Yeah." Han smiled at the recent memory. "Well, she'd told me about the day's events and I feel bad for her. I want to make it up to her-"
"May I stop you right there? The night of her birthday, you kissed her. Her first kiss. And you both said you love eachother. You have no making up to do."
"Well, I just wanted to let her redo the day as my own gift to her. . . ." Han's mouth and mind fumbled for the words though he knew what he wanted to say. He took a breath and told Sabé, "I want to take Leia out."
"Like on a date?"
" . . . Yes?"
"Look, before I set out the guidelines, just remember that I'm on your side, Solo. I know about this and I approve. I. Am. Your. Friend. You should trust me. I'll help you figure this out, come up with an excuse for her father and aunts, whatever you need help with. I'm on it. But. Whatever I do I need you to trust me. I need you to remember that I'm on your side and I'll never do anything that I think has the smallest chance of jeopardizing this relationship. Again. I am your friend. And you don't have too many of them right now."
"Right. Thank you, Sabé."
"I'll call you tomorrow to talk. Is this going to be a surprise for Leia?"
"For now."
"Alright. Tomorrow and we'll talk again."
Stepping outside, Sabé couldn't hide her smile. Before Leia could join her again, she picked up her comm and keyed in a brief frequency. "Ilee here," a voice spoke.
"Olin, relax. It's me," Sabé responded. "Listen, I need your help. It's important."
A.N.: Sorry for the short chapter! Next one will be better, I promise!