One chapter to go after this one. But, I have a new fic all ready to post. It's called Dark Matters and it is an AU that is...well, dark lol. Thanks again for reading!
###In the midst of the jubilation in the Ewok village celebration, Han suddenly leaned down close to Leia's ear. "I still want to know how Luke is your brother." He kept his tone light, knowing that there was something to this that was deeply upsetting to Leia.
She looked up at him and nodded glumly. She raised his hand to her lips and kissed it, probably to soften the moment, Han imagined. But he could see that a darkness shadowed the celebration, in spite of her attempt to hide it.
They spent the next hour reveling in triumph with their comrades, shaking hands, slapping backs, and hugging those whom they normally would not. Han and Leia sipped at the Ewok berry wine but did not indulge as freely as most others.
After some time, Leia tugged gently at Han's hand. They slipped away from the merriment and wound their way through the wooden walkways of the village. Leia led him back to the bridge where he had found her and Luke last night and had jumped to the worst of conclusions. He realized now that he should have known better. But, jealousy and insecurity had gotten the best of him.
Leia turned to him, eyes troubled and averted. The moonlight glowed on her pale skin, illuminating her beauty. Her lips parted and her brow furrowed but she remained still and silent.
Han took both her hands in his and her eyes rose to meet his patient gaze. "Sweetheart," he murmured lovingly. "You can tell me anything. You know that." He sat on the stump of the upright log that helped hold the bridge together, lowering himself closer to her height.
"I hope so," she said quietly, the wrinkles of her brow growing more pronounced.
He took her face in his hands and his voice was tender. "Don't question me. You can tell me anything."
She nodded slowly, eyes on his, her expression still doubtful. "I love you, Han. Please know that."
His smile was typical and crooked. "You know that I know. I love you, too." It now seemed the most natural thing to fall from his lips.
She smiled the tiniest of smiles and then her expression grew serious again. "I hope what I have to tell you won't change that."
Han's encouraging expression never faltered but, inside he wondered what could possibly be so terrible. He felt a slight nervousness sour his stomach. Was she going to tell him that she'd made a mistake while he'd been frozen? Had there been someone else? And what did that have to do with Luke being her brother?
"Leia, just tell me. It'll be okay." No matter his worries, she needed to feel safe with him.
Her gaze drifted over his shoulder into the distance and a slight sheen of tears glazed her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was barely audible and Han had to lean closer to hear her words.
"Before Luke told me…that he's my brother…" She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She looked back at Han and her voice and gaze were steadier in that instance. "Which I never doubted for a moment." She paused. "Luke is my brother, I know that."
Han nodded. The news had been surprising, but he had accepted it quickly. It made sense.
She bit her lip and avoided Han's stare again. He was still holding both her hands and he felt a tremor throughout her body. He pulled her close and enveloped her in his strong embrace, trying to convey without words that, whatever the problem, they were strong together.
"He told me…" she began to cry again and it wrenched Han's heart. He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.
"It's okay," he whispered.
Her laugh was strangled by tears. "I'm not sure it will ever be okay again."
"It will," he said soothingly. "I'm right here. We'll make it okay. Together."
She pulled back suddenly to look at him and her tears glittered in the moonlight. "Even if what I have to tell you is truly horrible? Even if it changes who I am?"
Han shook his head slowly. "Nothing could change who you are."
Her smile was bitter. "Luke and I," she began, her voice now strong. She turned her gaze to the heavens and shook her head in disbelief. "Our father," she whispered to the stars.
A tingling sense of foreboding shot through Han and his stomach dropped out. Whatever was coming…he had a bad feeling about it.
Now, Leia's eyes were on his and the teardrops on her lashes were huge pools that she tried to contain. "Darth Vader," she spat without explanation.
Uncomprehending, Han stared back. Slowly, her words penetrated, but he thought surely he had misunderstood. His mouth fell open in an unspoken question and he found he had no words. Han Solo had been rendered speechless.
And then she crumpled before him and began to sob and he pushed aside his own shock and confusion. He stood and wrapped her tightly in his arms.
"I love you, Leia," he assured her. He knew she needed to hear it. "Nothing could change that. Nothing." He continued to whisper words of love and reassurance until she quieted.
In the back of his mind, Han was stunned. Leia and Luke were the children of Darth Vader? How was this possible?!
Leia stepped back but remained loosely in the circle of his arms. "You can come out," she called out into the shadows, and Han was even more confused. He turned to look and Luke stepped out to join them on the bridge.
"I'm sorry." His cheeks held a tinge of color and his eyes were downcast. "I didn't mean to intrude. But, I felt that Leia was upset and came looking for her."
Felt? Han thought.
"It's all right," Leia said quietly. Han wasn't quite certain he agreed.
"You wanna explain all this?" Han's voice was hostile, but he couldn't control it. He needed someone to blame for Leia's misery and who was there besides Luke? He dropped his arms from around Leia and took her hand firmly in his.
Leia placed a hand on his arm. "Han, please. It's not Luke's fault."
Han dropped his aggression down a few notches, for Leia's sake. It occurred to him suddenly that Leia must have this Force that Luke went on about. This was all so overwhelming.
"It's all right, Leia," Luke said calmly. "It's a lot for Han to take in."
Han's lips firmed to a thin line. "It's a lot for Leia to take in, too."
"Yes, it is," Luke agreed.
They stared at each other, and Han found it difficult to hold onto his anger in the face of Luke's Jedi-calm.
"Okay, you two," Leia said, calmer now that she was focusing on someone other than herself. She sounded in control again. "That's enough of that."
Han put an arm around Leia's shoulders and spoke to Luke in a more congenial tone. "So, tell me."
"There's not a lot to tell. At Cloud City, Vader told me he was my father. I didn't want to believe it…" His eyes clouded over. "But Master Yoda told me it was true."
Han digested this quietly. "And Leia?" he finally asked.
Luke was quiet for a moment and Han felt as if his thoughts were being scrutinized. He hoped he was being paranoid.
"I found out Leia was my twin."
Han glanced down at Leia. She was still in control but he could see the sorrow beneath. Her words from earlier echoed in his head.
'Even if it changes who I am?'
He turned to her, dismissing Luke entirely. He took her by the shoulders and bent down to meet her dark eyes. "This doesn't change who you are."
She nodded without looking at him.
Brusquely, he grabbed her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. He half expected her to fight him but she did not.
"Leia, you're still the bravest, strongest, most stubborn woman—no, being! I've ever met." Her eyes began to slowly soften. "And you have the biggest, most caring heart…you wanna take care of the whole galaxy." His voice grew softer. "I've never known anyone like you, who gives so much of themselves and always fights for what's right. And where you came from before you can remember doesn't make you who you are."
Her eyes shone with gratitude and Han thought that for a scoundrel who wasn't good with words, for once he had done pretty well.
He smiled tenderly. "You are who you were raised to be. By the man you knew as your father."
She fell into his arms and he held her. He realized he had forgotten Luke and looked around for him, but he was gone.
Leia turned her face up to Han, placed a hand behind his head and pulled him into a kiss, her mouth alive and hungry under his. When her lips left his, she stared into his eyes.
"Take me back to the Falcon," she whispered. "I want to be alone with you."
That lopsided grin swept his features. "No arguments here. I've had enough partying for one night."
Arms around each other, they disappeared into the night.