He had tried to dress the best he could with what he had. A clean white shirt with a dark vest, dark pants and his typical, everyday black boots. Or, to put it simpler, he'd cleaned his clothes and worn them again. Sabé had started in on him again, shaking her head like he was some hopeless student and called Valden back. "Here are some credits," she'd said, handing the chauffeur a handful of white bills. "Please. Go help him."

Now, Han was impeccably dressed in non-Corellian clothes that didn't scream Alderaanian department store either. It fit him well enough. But a smuggler had to draw the line somewhere and Valden had agreed to let Han keep the boots. After Han had gone to get them cleaned and polished, of course.

As though it actually mattered, she was absolutely gorgeous. The truth of the matter was that she held a certain natural beauty that could never be diminished no matter what, but Han much preferred less makeup and fancy garments over more of them. Her hair hung straight down her back with only a headdress of thin, light blue, intersecting, beaded lines that wrapped around her head more like a headband. Her dress matched her headband, exaggerating the color scheme of light blues and a faint gray. The dress's top almost looked like its own jacket whose was somewhere between a dark blue and a deep purple, covered with a pattern of blue and gray beaded ovals and circles and waves until the beads extended to the edge of the "jacket" live the tentacles of a sea gigantic creature. The skirt came out from every point where the jacket was sewed to a finish, first colored in a plain, bright white, but fading to a light fray, then finally to a bright, gentle, and light blue. The perimeter of the bottom of the skirt was an easy gold tipped with a darker blue and hemmed up there. The long sleeves to the top were much the same as the skirt. Tiny sparkles were sprinkled around the skirt, accentuating its brightness and color, finishing off the simple, but dazzling look. Han beamed at her and Leia blushed, turning away for a second. When she looked back to him, he realized she was wearing the earrings he'd bought her.

"You look amazing," he gasped, drawing a bright smile from the princess. "And you look dashing as well, flyboy," she responded back. "Are you going to tell me what's going on or will I be left to wonder forever?"

"I wouldn't call it forever."

"Are you going to tell me?"

"I'm not telling you where we're going, no. But I will tell you this. I promised you I'd take you out to have a better birthday. I intend to stay god on my word. Happy birthday, Princess."

The second speeder stopped in the middle of the grassy lot that was used for parking. Inside this one were Sabé, Ducchi, and Memily, all three squeezed together in the front seat, cred coins and bills a mess in their laps. "Let's just trade him a fifty," the Nabooan one decided. "We're going to be very thankful for this DJ in the future." She counted out several of her bills, then turned to see if Ducchi and Memily had their share ready. "Do you guys have enough?"

"I have a ten," Memily offered, raising it to show Sabé.

Ducchi added his own count to the main pile and counted it up for Sabé. "I've got a few fives."

"Are you kidding? We all work directly for the royal family. How can none of us have a fifty on us? Alright, it'll have to do." She crawled over Memily's lap and got out of the speeder, looking back to be sure Valden hadn't yet arrived with their lovebirds. She hurried into the dance house, creeped to the back where the DJ was stationed and told him, "Excuse me, DJ. There's going to be a young lady here. Really short with a guy who's about a foot taller than her. Both dark-haired. She's wearing a blue dress. They'll be here for a couple hours. Until eleven. Before they leave," she flipped out the thirty she'd obtained from Memily and Ducchi and her own stash. "Set them up real nice. Something slow, really romantic. That's how their night needs to end. Got it? If they kiss after they leave, I'll pay you extra tomorrow. Thank you for your services."

"Are you ready?" Han asked her. Leia laughed and smiled very enthusiastically, vigorously nodding her head. "Take me to my party, flyboy."

They both got out of the speeder, thanking Valden before he drove off. Leia raised her gaze to see a big, red and rustic barn with wide, open doors. Inside, Leia could already make out lights and small lanterns strung across the ceiling. "The Rustic Alderaan dance house," she muttered, amazed. "IT's been so long since I've last been here." She looked back to Han and smiled her gratefulness as Han came back to her side. He dropped his arms and reached to take her hand in his. Leia nearly jumped in surprise, but all too willingly gave him her hand and they strode inside together. Hand in hand.

They came in to see the crowd caught up in house party music, bodies jumping and waving to the rhythmic sounds of instruments joined together in their own celebration of sound. "This is party music?" Han asked, amazed. "This actually sounds good. I can't stand the usual throbbing, pounding and screaming all the other core worlds call music."

Leia laughed, pulling his further inside with one arm. "Well, then, flyboy. Your ears are in for a treat today. Welcome to Alderaan. We practically invented music. Listen." She gave his arm a great yank and he was standing right in front of her. "Half of the time you spend at a dance house on Alderaan, a DJ isn't even playing. Alderaan is all about keeping things live and natural. Live music. Real flowers for decorations."

"So I've noticed," Han smiled. "I really admire that about Alderaan."

Leia smiled at him. Again. A twist in her lips combined with that way she tosses her hair back without even realizing she's doing it. That natural joy tat overtook her when she lost herself. It wasn't completely there quite yet, but Han was getting her there. He nodded towards the dance floor and suggested, "Why don't we go dance?"

"Do you know how to dance, Solo?" She caught herself in the same sway everyone else was moving in. Han joined her, catching her by her waist. Leia's breath caught, but she went with it, enjoying the feel of Han's hands holding on tightly to her. Then, the song changed into something even more livelily. A small band of four or five men and women had come to the stage, and had started plucking and playing away on fiddles and some other stringed instrument. Everyone in the barn joined together, hurrying into a few organized lines as the music started up and quickly got into the traditional steps and moves of the old, Alderaanian country song. Han swung his head around, frazzled by the way everyone else knew what they were doing. Leia tilted her head back and laughed at him, taking his arm and throwing herself into the country dance. "Just watch and follow everyone else," she told him. "It's really easy."

Pulling up her skirt, Leia revealed a pair of brown, sharp-toed boots on her feet. She held her skirt an appropriate length above the floor, keeping her hands hoisted to her waist and dipped her shoulder to the side, quickly bringing her hip into the motion. She clicked her heel against the floor with everyone else and spun around, taking Han with her. She bounced back and forth on her heels, crossing her legs and twirling herself so she was facing the other side of the barn. Han spun with her and started trying to match the quick steps.

Starting to pick up on the pattern, Han jumped back in just as Leia brought her shoulder back down to dip and back up, clicking their heels again. While she danced, Leia watched Han and laughed. She didn't laugh because he was bad, though his steps were rather a bit clumsy. For her, it was a sight to see the smuggler dance with a room full of Alderaanians, visibly enjoying it as a smile began to cross his lips.

The dancing part of the music stopped and the instruments halted their progress while an entertainer continued with the solo lyrics. Meanwhile, the crowd clapped, tapping one foot until the last note of the solo dragged itself out and the dancers immediately went back to going through every step. Leia clapped her boot, spun and caught Han's arm, the instruments now enjoying their own solo and the crowd found their own pairs, dancing arm in arm. Leia guided Han through the new steps and it made him feel just a tiny bit smaller. He couldn't wait until the music slowed and he could show her what he learned, that he wasn't entirely horrible at this dancing thing. Maybe, he would be able to impress her, guide her through each step. But this was fun, too. Lively and energetic, this was right up his alley and Han enjoyed watching Leia partake in it, too. To see her so happy and carefree, unbound and let loose to move on her own free will . . . somehow, it made her look even more beautiful. And Han hadn't thought it would be possible. Now, he had to ask himself how beautiful she could become. What all did he have to do, what did he have to free her from to peel back her layers and find all that there was to Leia Organa? Perhaps, Han considered, it would take him peeling back all of his layers.

Sadly, the song ended and the crowd clapped at their performance. Some stood and waited for the next song, but Leia pointed to the tables and asked Han, "Can we sit down? I haven't done that in too long."

Han laughed and walked with Leia to a table near the buffet line. He sat her down. "I'll go get some food, alright?"

Leia nodded. "Okay."

Was it bad, Han wondered, that he was, whole filling a couple cups with juice, preparing himself for when he had to slow dance with Leia? And the kiss? Han was done with lying to himself. He knew now that he was in over his head and helplessly in love with Leia Organa. He couldn't try and forget it anymore. He hadn't entirely realized before the night of Leia's birthday, but the kiss- oh, what her kiss had done to him- had sealed his desires and dreams. He, Han Solo, was in love with Alderaan's princess. And there was no pulling him out.

Leia was all kinds of wonderful, a joy Han didn't deserve and would never take for granted. The more he learned about her, the more he loved her and it scared him only because he this wouldn't last forever. It couldn't. She was a princess and he a scoundrel. The odds stacked against him with no hope and the way Sabé was helping him keep it now was only temporary.

Han quickly slammed down those thoughts, forced them out, and banished them from his mind. Temporary it was, but it was. She was here with him and she was happy and she wanted to be here with him. He wanted to be here with her. Though it may be temporary, they were here tonight and Han knew he had to enjoy this while it lasted. Enjoy it now, feel the hurt later.

Han piled food onto two plates, put the cups on the plates, grabbed a handful of napkins, and carried the meals to the table he'd left Leia at. Leia helped him set the food down and chose a plate and a couple napkins. "Thank you," she said.

"Well, it's no problem, Your Worshipfulness."

"And I don't just mean for getting me the food. I mean for taking me out and giving me another birthday. A better birthday."

"You told me you like dancing and I asked Sabé if there was a good place around here. She, Memily, and Ducchi all helped me set this up. I owe them a lot. But when Sabé told me about this place, she said you used to come here with your father."

"Again, childhood memories tarnished by their broken tradition. We used to come here all the time. When I was little and first learning to dance, Daddy would always have me stand on his toes and he'd do the dance with me, show me how it went. But then I grew up and I learned about politics and now I can help him lead Alderaan. And now I'm expected to lead Alderaan. With a suitor."

Han picked her chin up and shook his head. "Hey, Princess," he said gently, catching her gaze. "No tears tonight. Please. I brought you here to make you feel better. If a therapy session is what you need, we;ll do that tomorrow, but I want you to be happy and enjoy yourself tonight. Sabé told me you used to smile and dance like you just were to that song. I want to see nothing but that over and over while we're here. Got it. We only have a couple hours here. Let's make the most of it."

Leia nodded, her hand taking Han's off her chin and gripping it instead. "You're right, Han. Thank you for all for this. You have no idea how much it does for me when you do these things for me-"

"I think I have some idea. Though I do love the fierce and sassy princess and senator who lives in the palace . . . I love the girl who dances even more."

"Well, then," Leia pushed her plate aside and got up from her seat. "In that case, I think we should keep dancing."

Han looked up at her. She held a hand out and he finally took it. "I agree."

They danced for so long, Han lost track of the time. He realized they had less than an hour left before Valden would come back to pick them up. He insisted to Leia that they eat quickly and he would have one more dance with her. Reluctantly, Leia agreed, ate as quickly as she could, and jumped back up to have another dance. Another lively song was playing and Leia hurriedly dragged Han to the dance floor to lead him in it, when the music suddenly stopped and the DJ took the microphone. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen," he spoke in a soft voice. "It's getting late and I think it's high time we settle down. So, here's one for all our lovebirds out there. Good night, everyone." He whispered something to the band's lead singer and the woman nodded, getting up and approaching the microphone. "Hello again, everyone. I guess I'll be singing another tune. Again, to all the lovebirds in here, tonight. So, grab your special someone and relax."

When Han and Leia looked back to eachother, they both were flushing. Meant as a joke, Leia took both of his arms, arched a brow, and asked, "Do I need to teach you another dance, flyboy?"

To Leia's surprise, Han shook his head, brought one hand to her hip and the other to take her hand. "No," he gathered all the courage he had and told her. "I think I got this one." Surprised and, honestly, a little lost, Leia showed her confusion and Han only smiled, taking her to the middle of the dance floor and leading her through the slow, swaying steps. Leia swallowed down her surprise and turned her focus tot eh steps as she took them, as Han took them. "I didn't know you could dance, flyboy."

"I didn't either. I figured I couldn't take you dancing while I can't even bust a move. So . . ."

"Let me guess. Sabé helped you."

"And she enlisted Memily for the job as well. Yes. I, Han Solo, had to get help. But it was all for you, sweetheart. All for tonight."

Leia looked up into his eyes flashed him another easy smile. "Ohh. And I love you for it."

"I know." He rocked her back and forth through every beat, holding her tightly and close to his own body. He could feel Leia's heart beating in time with his, both of them perfectly in sync. He felt her steadied breaths against the skin of his neck when she looked up at him. Han squeezed her hand, stroked his thumb along the soft skin. Staring at it, he brought the hand to his mouth and kissed it, holding it there at the height of Leia's shoulder. "Can I tell you something?" he asked her.

Startled, Leia looked back up into his hazel eyes, her mouth hanging open as she nodded. Her brows knit, she waited for what he had to say.

"We didn't get even a minute after we kissed to talk about it," he started. "And when I left, I could hardly think straight. Leia, I didn't know what to do. I already missed you and I needed to talk to you about it, figure out what happened. Most of all, though, I needed to tell you that I love you, too. A lot. I know this is hard, this whole secrecy thing, but it's completely worth it if I still get to visit you. As hard as I've tried not to, I couldn't help it. Leia, I fell in love with you. That night, I knew it was true. I'm in love with you, Leia. And I don't ever want this to end."

"I know," Leia managed in response, tears starting to spill from her eyes. "I love you, too. When I said it that night, I didn't understand what was going on, either. I wasn't really thinking. I didn't realize what I was doing until after it all happened. But I can promise you that I don't regret a single second of it. The same as you said goes for me. I tried to ignore you and get you out of my head, but I couldn't and before I knew it, I'd fallen in love with you. I don't know what to do, Han. All I know to do is keep going. I'm kind of scared, Han. I'm scared of this falling apart or ending, but I trust you. I love you and I don't want this to end, either. I love you, Han."

Even while she had just left him stunned, Han didn't miss the beat that the music began to crescendo. He took advantage of it and spun Leia out if his arms and back in. He heard the whimper, when her breath caught and she landed back in his arms, her body pressed to his. Trembling, she looked back up into his eyes. "Han."

"Hm?"

"I love it when you kiss me."

"We've only ever kissed twice."

"Yeah. Not nearly enough."

Han smiled at her, leaned down as low as he could and caught her lips in his. Leia rose on her toes to meet him and join the effort, her hands snaking up over his shoulders, around his neck. Han pulled her off her feet so their heads were level and Han could kiss her deeper, longer, more passionately. Leia didn't bother to count the seconds, only stood there and enjoyed every moment of it. When it finally, slowly broke, Leia caught a quick breath and muttered, "Three."

Han laughed, quickly kissing her lips a fourth time. "Happy birthday, Princess. I love you."

"I know, flyboy."

Sabé let them have their time. She saw them, embraced in eachother's arms till dancing to the song when she entered the barn. A smile graced her face and she watched them, let them have the rest of the song before they left. When it was over, she, with a heavy heart, approached them and tapped Leia's shoulder. "Sweetie, it's time to go."

Understanding, Leia nodded, took Han's hand, and the two walked out together. Meanwhile, Sabé had some of her own business to do. She crossed the dance floor to where the DJ was stationed and asked, "Well? How did it go?"

"Twenty-two seconds," the DJ beamed. "I counted. Now, you better pay me well."