CHAPTER 17:
The hair on the back of Luke's neck stood on end. His eyes flew open as his breath caught in his throat. He rolled onto his back and turned his head toward Leia. Her features were strained, and her breathing was rapid. Luke frowned, reached out a hand, and lightly touched her hair with the back of his hand, but Leia still appeared distressed. He raised his head and glanced at Han who slept on his side beside her. Luke let out a small sigh and rolled onto his side facing away from Leia.
Leia was trapped inside her head as her mind blasted her with disjointed images of the atrocities performed on her at Vader's hands, loved ones who died because of her, nameless rebels, Alderaan, the usual nightmares that constantly plagued her. But then it was not her but Luke and Han who Vader tortured. It was Chewie who died because of her. It was a chaotic mess within her head that she could neither stop nor clearly make sense of. All she could comprehend was her paralyzing fear.
But then something warm pressed against the bare skin of her stomach that caused the rest of her skin to prickle and the nightmarish visions to fade away. Her eyes slowly opened to the dark, and her respiration slowed. She glanced down at her midsection to find it exposed and Han's strong hand resting upon her belly. She pulled her bottom lip through her teeth as she took in this comforting sensation. The warmth his hand generated spread throughout her body, and her eyes fluttered closed under the overwhelming pleasure she felt. Then her eyes flew open and narrowed, and she turned her head toward Han, fully expecting him to be leering at her. Instead, he was asleep, and from the way his mouth hung slightly open, it was a deep sleep at that. Leia's eyes dropped back to his hand upon her stomach. Slowly, tentatively, she slipped her hand over his. Then with the greatest of care so that she wouldn't wake him, she rolled onto her side, holding his hand firmly against her stomach. Leia closed her eyes and quickly drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Han's eyes popped open as a twinge of pain pierced his arm. He blinked away the sleep as he tried to remember where he was and who was next to him. Leia? Was he still asleep? He lifted his head and glanced beyond her to find Luke sleeping beside her as well. He dropped his head back onto the cushion. It definitely wasn't a dream; Luke wouldn't be anywhere in his subconscious if he was dreaming about the princess. Then Han cringed. He must've wrapped his arm around her waist in his sleep. If she woke up…
But something wasn't right about that senario. It was Leia's arm that held his in place, her small fingers that were spread over his hand. Had she in her sleep sought out his touch? He pressed his lips together. He couldn't move, didn't want to move, fearing he might wake her. His shoulder throbbed with a dull ache, but her touch incited a pleasurable tingling that zipped up and down his spine, distracting him from anything painful. Han fought the growing urge to pull her against him and curl his body around hers. That might be pushing his luck. And with Luke lying two meters away…This was torture. Han expelled a frustrated sigh and then rested his forehead against the back of her head, inhaling the sweet smell of her hair. He closed his eyes and smiled to himself. No, this definitely wasn't torture. No, this moment was better than any dream he ever dreamt about her.
Luke twisted his head before he allowed himself to roll onto his back. He gazed upon the content and peaceful expression on Leia's face as she slept. His eyes drifted to her arm lying over Han's. He lifted his head just enough to steal a glance at Han. He seemed just as relaxed as Leia. At least, they'll get the restful sleep they both needed. Luke sighed and then readjusted the blanket so that all three of them were cocooned in its warmth. He moved around until he found a more comfortable position and tried to lose himself into the sleep that eluded him.