CHAPTER 20:
"Sorry, Pal," Han grimaced. "Didn't mean to wake you up."
"Hiccup!"
Chewbacca's arms flailed around as he reprimanded his three friends. Han, being the only one who fully understood what the Wookie was ranting on about, folded his arms and rolled his eyes. This only infuriated Chewie, and his gestures increased in size and frequency. Both Luke and Leia took a few steps back and looked to Han for some answers.
"Yeah, well, we were just having a disagreement!" Han rebuked. It was Chewie's turn to roll his eyes. Han threw his hands up, "Okay, so it was a very loud disagreement!"
But that didn't satisfy Chewie. Han blew air out of his mouth and turned away as Chewie let him have it, "We were having a good time until," Han jerked his thumb at Luke, "Jedi boy interrupted us."
"Hey!"
"And (hiccup) not that kind of a good time!" Leia pushed her wet, sudsy self between Han and Chewie to make her correction heard loud and clear.
"A better time than the rest of us trying to sleep!" someone hollered.
Luke, Han, and Leia exchanged guilty looks. Were they really that loud? Chewbacca folded his arms over his chest and focused his piercing blue eyes on Han. Han's eyes widened and retracted with irritation. He nudged Leia forward. "Come on," he sighed. "Let's find you some dry clothes and a place to sleep."
Leia lifted her chin and jerked out of his reach, "I (hiccup) can take care of myself."
"We know!" another voice yelled out from one of the bunks.
"Well, then take care of yourself quietly," Han leaned into her ear and nudged her forward again. "'Night, Luke. Chewie."
"Good night all. Hiccup!"
"Maybe I should go with you two," Luke followed them.
Han looked over his shoulder, "Haven't you caused enough trouble tonight, Kid?"
"Me?" Luke's nasally tone caused Han and Chewie to cringe.
Chewbacca steered the young man back to the cabin he was using. Then the Wookie followed the two inebriated humans to Han's cabin. Han pushed Leia through the doorway, but with Chewbacca looming behind them, her only response was a hiccup.
"Get her somethin' for those hiccups, will ya', Pal?" Han opened his drawer. "She's driving me crazy!"
"Everything (hiccup) about you drives me crazy!" Leia retorted.
"Does it?" Han waggled his eyebrows at her.
"Oh! Hiccup!"
Chewbacca mumbled something and left the room.
"Good thinkin'," Han called after his best friend and then turned to the girl. He held out a pile of clothes, "Here. You can wear these."
"Hiccup!" Leia roughly grabbed the clothes from Han's hands and headed to the 'fresher.
"You're welcome, Your Most Highest Holiness!" Han scowled at the closed 'fresher door. He then turned to find some dry clothes for himself. He slowly changed his clothing, hoping that the irritating little princess would open that 'fresher door in the middle of his task. But she didn't. Han plopped down on the bed and waited for her. And waited…and waited…
Aw!" Han pushed himself to his feet and started toward the 'fresher door.
But the door slid open and Leia stepped out, "Hiccup."
"Can't you say anything else?" Han rested his hands on his hips and stared down at the girl.
Leia looked Han up and down, "Don't you own any clothes with variety?"
He smiled at her, "What? You don't like my selection?"
Leia held out her hands. The long sleeves of the shirt flapped around, "What selection? Hiccup! I look exactly like you!"
"Well," Han raised an eyebrow, "not exactly like me. I'm definitely much better looking." But she just stared at him with eyebrows drawn low. Han sighed, "At least I don't have to think about what to wear each day."
Leia rolled her eyes and muttered, "You're so weird."
"What?"
Chewbacca entered the room carrying two glasses of water and a bottle of pills, and Han forgot about Leia's comment. Chewie glanced at Han and then at Leia, and he howled with hysteria. Leia hiccupped and pulled up on Han's blood striped pants that kept slipping off of her tiny waist.
Chewie put the glasses of water down and addressed Leia. "Try rolling them," Han translated. Leia did as she was told and then Chewie helped her roll the sleeves. Then Leia bent down and rolled up the legs of the pants and tucked them into the borrowed socks. At least now she wouldn't trip.
Chewbacca handed both Han and Leia a glass of water and then administered the pills. Leia hiccupped, took the pill, and downed the glass of water. And then Han followed suit.
"So where am I supposed to sleep?" Leia jutted out a hip and folded her arms. Then she inhaled a few times. "Hey, I think my hiccups are gone."
"Finally!" Han sighed. He moved over to the bed, "Here." He pulled back the covers.
"I told you," Leia's eyes narrowed on him, "I am not sharing a bed with you!"
"Are you certain?" Han sneered. "Cos I thought I heard you say earlier—"
Chewbacca roared and covered his ears. Han grunted, "Fine." Chewbacca shook his head and left the room. Han then turned the princess and deeply bowed, "Here, Your Most Irritating Highness. You're bed is ready."
With arms still folded over her chest, Leia marched over to the bed and climbed under the covers that Han held up for her. She began settling in, but she didn't lie down.
"What now?" Han rolled his eyes.
"I'm not a child," she whispered, sounding very much like a child. Her large brown eyes caught his and his impatience faded away. Gone was the anger. Instead, her eyes held an air of fear and vulnerability. He couldn't look away.
"Sure you're not," Han whispered back.
Leia reached up and gently pulled his face down until he was just centimeters away from her. She was quivering, and Han wondered if the room was too cold. He was certain he had an extra blanket….
Then the girl brushed her lips against his, and Han's brain froze. He leaned further into the kiss, holding her head in his hands. He sucked in his breath to breathe her in, and he felt her dissolve into the sensation. His mouth had a mind of its own, and it worked itself over her lips, down her neck…
Han pulled away and released his hold on her. She was intoxicated and not just by that kiss. She wasn't thinking in her right mind, and even though he was very into the way things were going, it wasn't the same as if she made that decision with a clear head. And he highly doubted that she would have initiated this encounter had she had a clear head. He gazed upon her, and Leia looked up at him with hurt and confused eyes. Han expelled a long, longing sigh and lightly smiled.
"Come on," he held the covers up higher so she could climb completely underneath them. "It's late. We both need some sleep."
Leia paused for a moment, not sure how she felt about what had just transpired. Did Han Solo who spent the last three weeks leering and hitting on her just turn her down? What was wrong with her? She laid her head on the pillow, closed her eyes, and felt the room spin. Leia's eyes flew open. Maybe it was best Han put a stop to what she started. She wasn't sure why she started it in the first place. Was she just trying to prove she was older than her age in years? Or was it something she really wanted? She didn't want to contemplate that issue too much. Han Solo scared her and made her feel safe all at the same time, and she had no idea what to make of these two contradicting emotions.
Han waited for her to completely settle and then pulled the covers over her shoulder, "Pleasant dreams, Sweetheart."
"Good night, Captain Solo." The girl yawned, favored him with a short, rather sad smile, and then closed her eyes again. Han forced himself to look away. He deactivated the lights and headed for the door.
"Leave the door open!" Leia's called out in panic.
"Huh?"
"Leave the door open," she quietly repeated, a hint of shame in her voice. "Please."
"Sure," Han nodded, confused, but he did as she asked.
He turned to leave, but something made him turn back. Han paused at the door for a moment and just looked at the girl curled up in his bed. Despite all her protests, or maybe in spite of them, she looked more like a child to him than at any other time. How did she do that? One minute she was regal and dignified, her eyes reflecting wisdom well beyond her years. The next moment she was fierce, and her eyes held a burning anger that seemed to fuel her determination. And then there were times like this, where she was so small and young, her eyes so innocent and unsure. He wondered if anyone around her noticed this trichotomy in her. Probably not. Everyone she spent time with was too busy playing soldier. Even she played along, the rebel princess, always strong and in charge.
But Han had seen her differently over the last few days they spent together. She showed him a side of herself, willingly or unwillingly, that she didn't show anyone else as far as Han knew. Not even Luke. Han wasn't sure he liked the fact that she let her guard down around him. It just made things more difficult for him.
What was he going to do about her? Nothing tonight, he resolved and went to find a place to sleep. Han glanced into the other cabins but found not a single bunk empty.
"Can't believe I can't find a place to sleep on my own ship!" he muttered. Then he found his way to Chewbacca's cabin. He activated the lights and walked over to the hammock in which Chewie chose to sleep. Han hated that hammock, but it was much better than the floor. He poked the snoring Wookie. Chewbacca just rolled onto his side.
"Hey, buddy," Han nudged his friend again. "Get up! You've had enough sleep."
But Chewbacca didn't respond to him. Han's eyes rolled up to the ceiling and then headed to the cockpit. How long was it until they reached the rebels' base?
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Han rested his left foot on the console and leaned back in his pilot's chair. His hazel eyes followed the flurried movements of the small figure dressed in fatigues. He had been sitting here for some time now just watching her comings and goings, and he wondered where she got her energy.
But then he already knew. The busier the girl was, the less time she had to deal with her demons. And she definitely had too many demons to deal with. Since their return several days ago, Leia had been running ragged around the base, attending to errands, giving orders, taking inventory, and organizing meetings for the generals and Alliance leaders that didn't lift a finger for her when she was kidnapped.
Well, that wasn't completely true. General Reeiken risked his position when he gave Han the information that helped him find the princess. He was an okay guy, in Han's opinion. Han quietly chuckled as he remembered the day they returned. General Reeiken was waiting at the bottom of the ramp like Han had expected. The general's eyes lit up when he saw Leia follow Han down the ramp. But then he got a good look at her new attire. Much to Leia's dismay, the general burst out laughing.
I was afraid with the amount of time you two spent together that Captain Solo would rub off on you, General Reeiken said as he took the princess in his arms.
Leia had tightly hugged the older man but shot a dirty look over his shoulder at Han. He rolled his eyes. Han had laundered her dress, but she didn't want it. Maybe it reminded her of things she'd rather forget. But Han liked to think she just wanted to wear his clothes. So she disembarked from the Falcon still wearing Han's shirt, pants, and socks. Leia had attracted a lot of stares, but she walked right through the hangar and to her quarters with her head held high, looking more regal than she did in the dress the Doni gave her.
So Han was left with the freshly laundered dress. He had carefully folded the dress and shoved it way back in the corner of his closet. He wasn't certain why he kept it. Maybe because of what it reminded him. Maybe he just wanted it because it was hers, however brief, and he wanted to have something to remember her by when he and Chewie went on their way. Han shook his head. This hard-as-nails princess was making him soft.
Han focused his attention the girl as she spoke to a small group of soldiers. Her eyes held the familiar determination Han had grown accustomed to as she gave out orders. And then there it was, the moment for which he had waited. The rebels the princess was addressing nodded and walked away, and the action continued around her, but no one was paying attention to her. He saw her diplomatic smile fade away and the sadness in her eyes return. She was a lonely island in a sea of frantic activity. The girl tucked some errant strands of hair behind her ear, and her gaze fell upon the Falcon. Han could swear he could see a longing in her large eyes. Maybe it was his wishful thinking, a wish he didn't know why he made but knew he shouldn't be making. But then that moment of vulnerability faded. Leia's diplomatic smile returned and she rushed away to perform some other duty.
Since their return Han had done exactly this, sitting in the cockpit of the Falcon when he had nothing to do and watched her. It had been several days now. Maybe it was longer. He and Leia hadn't spoken since their return which was a little over a standard week ago, and he also hadn't seen the kid around. As far as he knew, Leia was avoiding Luke, too. Han didn't know for certain since he had been avoiding both of them. But the few times Luke and Leia passed each other in the hangar, neither even looked in the other's direction. As far as her interaction with the pilots of the Rogue Squadron, well, Han got great pleasure from the blush they incited when Leia crossed their paths.
Solo stood, stretched his arms to the ceiling, and shook his legs to regenerate circulation. It was obvious that it was time he and Chewie leave the rebels and take care of that pesky debt hanging over their heads. Han knew Chewbacca preferred to stay, but what had staying gotten them? Nothing but entanglements. The longer they stayed the more entangled those entanglements were going to get. Things had already gotten complicated. He had only known Luke for maybe a day before he and Chewie made the decision to help him out when Luke blew up the Death Star. And then he and Chewie once again rushed off to rescue a girl he'd only known for three weeks, three very long weeks, but weeks nonetheless.
Han sighed and exited the cockpit. Maybe the ordeal on the Death Star bonded the three of them together. Maybe it was something like the life debt Chewie had to Han. That life debt caused Chewie nothing but grief. And those two kids had already caused Chewie and Han more grief than they needed. Attachments to living beings were nothing but trouble, especially for a smuggler, and even more trouble for those whom which a smuggler was attached. Sargoza with Leia came to mind. If Han wasn't involved…
Han rubbed his hand through his hair and headed toward the galley. If Han didn't go after Leia, no one would have. And she would now be a prisoner of the Empire, if not dead. Han shuddered at the memory of the paralysis drug he had the unfortunate pleasure of experiencing. It angered him to think that Leia endured such treatment days on end as a prisoner on the Death Star. It disgusted him even more to know that she had a taste of such torture at the young age of thirteen.
I'm not a child!
Solo opened up the pantry and peered in. He wasn't certain what to think about the young princess. She didn't act like a child, but in reality she was. That was a small fact Han kept forgetting. Han scratched the back of his head. Maybe he didn't want to remember that. Nevertheless, he felt a tinge of sadness as he thought about the lack of childhood she had. But why would he feel sorry for her? He himself didn't have much of a childhood. He turned out okay…well, he survived. Maybe he felt for her because she was so much closer to youth than he was now. Maybe he wanted to believe it wasn't too late for her, but wasn't it?
Han slammed the pantry door shut without finding anything to satisfy his hunger. Luke was the lucky one. Luke may have hated growing up on a moisture farm, but he was allowed to be a kid. Unfortunately, the fact the kid had a childhood of sorts made him vulnerable to idealism, and the inexperienced idealists were the first to get killed in a war. Han cursed that old wizard that pulled Luke into this galactic mess in the first place. If only Luke was allowed to live his life out on the farm…
Han walked down the ramp and looked around for Chewie. According to Luke, the Imperials killed his aunt and uncle when they were searching for the droids. Then Luke would have been dead, too. Luke was in a no win situation, in Han's opinion. Leia's future looked dim, too. The Empire stretched too far and was too powerful. Sure, the rebels managed to blow up the Death Star. But did that make much of a difference? The Emperor couldn't destroy planets on a whim, but he was just as powerful as before. And the little band of rebels was greatly outnumbered. What could he do? Stick around and make sure that Luke and Leia weren't killed? He had his own problems, mainly Jabba the Hutt.
Solo spotted Chewbacca and casually made his way over to his best friend. Chewie was busy rummaging through a large box.
"Whaddya looking for, Pal?"
The Wookie looked up and growled.
"Fishing?" Han leaned over and glanced into the box.
Chewbacca grabbed a couple of long rods and howled in pleasure. He rose to his full height and posed a question to Han.
"I dunno," he answered. "The Falcon needs alotta work still."
Chewie rolled his eyes, the tone of his voice insistent. Han sighed, "Sure. Why not? I've got nothin' better to do."
The Wookie handed the rods to his friend and headed toward the Falcon as he barked orders over his shoulder.
"Just don't be long!" Han called after him.
Han glanced down at the rods in his hands. It had been a long time since he fished. In the early days he knew Chewie, they'd often go fishing when they were on a planet with a good stream or river. It was one of Chewbacca's favorite pastimes, maybe not Han's, but Han enjoyed hanging out with his best friend. Things had gotten hectic over the years as they honed their skills as smugglers, and there hadn't been a lot of time left for fishing.
Solo strolled out of the hangar and into the warm sun. It definitely was a nice day to fish. He hoped Chewie remembered to bring some cold ale along with the snacks. Han walked through the tall grass until he found the small path forged by the rebels searching for some leisure. The tall trees lined the stream, and their willowy branches provided the perfect amount of shade from the afternoon sun.
He slowed his pace as he neared the spot Chewbacca designated. There was someone already there. The girl sat with her legs folded before her, and she leaned back on her hands. Her head was tipped up, and Han surmised that she was watching the large white birds circling overhead. Now what?
Before he could back track, Leia looked over her shoulder. She looked just as surprised to see him as he was to see her.
"Captain Solo," Leia greeted him as she climbed to her feet.
"Your Worship," he nodded, noting the irritated pout that briefly marred her face. "No need to get up."
"I was…" she sucked at her bottom lip as she mulled over what she should do. "Chewie asked me to meet him here."
"Chewie asked you?"
"Well, yes, by way of Threepio," she looked down at the ground. "What are you doing here?"
"Me?" The question irked Han since Chewie was his best friend. "Chewie and me are gonna fish."
The princess nodded, "Yes, that's what he invited me to do."
"You've fished before?" Han asked as he dropped the rods to the ground and plopped himself down next to them.
"No," she shook her head. "Chewie said he'd teach me." Leia paused and looked down at Han who was making himself more comfortable. "I should let you two enjoy yourselves." She started to leave.
"You're already here," Han shrugged. "You might as well stay."
"I don't want to intrude."
"You were invited. How is that intruding?"
With one leg crossed over the other and her hands behind her back, Leia pondered Han's words, "I suppose." She didn't say anything for a moment, drawing in Han's attention. She inhaled, "You don't mind, do you?"
"Why would I mind?"
"I don't know," the princess mumbled but then took a seat next to the man. Han had started digging in the mud near the edge of the water. "What are you doing?"
"Diggin' for bait," Han smiled up at her.
"Bait?"
"Yeah," Han smiled as he pulled a long, wiggly creature from the earth. He held it up to the princess, hoping to get a squealing reaction from her. "Fish like these here worms."
But Leia didn't respond how Han anticipated. She took it from his hand, "I take it, you impale it on the hook at the end of the string."
Solo's lop-sided smile beamed. He found her lack of squeamishness even more attractive. "Line," he corrected. "You're pretty smart for a girl."
"Thanks," she rolled her eyes. She handed Han the wiggling worm, "You do the honors."
Han baited the rod and demonstrated how to cast it out. She imitated him with the other rod that she baited herself. Although her casting skills were nowhere near the agility of Han's, she didn't do too terrible for her first time.
They sat there enduring an uncomfortable silence. It felt awkward and wrong to Han after all they went through together. But then, maybe that was the reason for the uneasy silence.
Han cleared his throat, "So…how are you?"
The princess stared out at the water, "Fine."
"Really," Han pressed. "How are you?"
Leia turned her large brown eyes on him, "I…I don't know."
"That's fair," he shrugged.
"What about you?" she tilted her head.
He pressed his lips together and smiled at her, "I'm not sure."
They both laughed, and some of the tension between them eased away.
"So what happens next?"
The question threw Han for a loop. What did happen next? Was she asking him if he was staying around or leaving? Was she asking what would happen next between them? What did he want to happen next? "Huh?"
"After you cast out your string, I mean line," Leia's brow knitted together as she observed the confusion on Han's face. "What happens next?"
Han's body relaxed, "You just wait and see what happens." And that seemed to answer all his questions perfectly.
Leia nodded and returned her attention to the serene scene before her. Using his peripheral vision to the best of his advantage, Han stole glances at her. She looked thinner, if that was possible, and worn, but she was still beautiful to his eyes.
"Hey!" Han and Leia looked over their shoulders and saw Luke waving at them, "What are you two doing out here?"
Han held up a rod, "Fishing." He put the rod back down. Han had been so focused on Leia that he hadn't realized Chewie had handed him three rods. Chewie obviously hadn't intended to use a rod to fish, or he wasn't coming. He shook his head, "What brings you out here?"
"Chewie told me something about fishing. Thought I'd join him. I've never been fishing before."
"Figures," Han muttered. He waved the kid over, "Chewie told you?"
"Well, Threepio translated," Luke shrugged.
"That droid's been doin' a lot of talkin'," Han mumbled.
"Huh?"
Han handed the kid a rod, "Nothin'."
Luke inspected the stick in his hands, "How does it work?" He sat down next to Leia.
Han went to dig out another worm, but the girl had already extracted one from the earth. She held it out for Luke, "Here."
Luke shrank back, "Ugh! What do you do with that?"
"It's bait," Leia stated matter-of-factly, and Han had to laugh. He took the rod from Luke and impaled the worm at the end of the hook. With a little help, a somewhat-green Luke managed to cast out his line.
And then there was that uncomfortable silence again. Han lounged back on his elbows and Leia continued looking out over the water. Luke looked at his two friends, wondering if he was interrupting something…
No, he wasn't. Whatever had transpired between them, Luke sensed had passed. He stretched his legs out in front of him and bit his lower lip. "I'm really sorry about that night," Luke started, his blue eyes focused on the grass growing beneath him. "I was just so worried about you two."
Leia reached her hand out to him, and Luke took it, "I'm sorry, too."
Han rolled his eyes, "No one has nothin' to be sorry about." Luke and Leia looked at him, "We all were under alotta stress. It's natural to get a little snappy."
Leia looked at Luke, "Han's sorry, too."
Han's mouth dropped open, "Did I say that?"
Leia smugly smiled and nodded her head, "That's what I heard." She looked at her young friend, "Luke?"
"Huh? Oh, sure. That's what I heard, too," he smiled at Leia.
Han groaned. Obviously he wasn't going to win this one. Fortunately, the conversation of contrition was interrupted by a very excited Wookie. He held in his hands a basket of sorts containing some food and drinks. He greeted his friends with an enthusiastic roar and sat himself down next to Han.
"Nice of you to finally show up, Pal," Han shot Chewie a dirty look.
Chewie grumbled and growled as he passed out the provisions to Luke and Leia. Han's head tipped to the side, and he looked up at the sky as Chewbacca continued his lecture. Leia and Luke watched as they took bites of the sandwiches Chewie prepared for them.
Han's eyes fell onto his young friends, and Leia could swear she saw a hint of concern in his hazel eyes. But then Han returned his attention to Chewbacca, and he deeply exhaled, "So is there a sandwich in there for me, or did you conveniently forget to make me one."
Luke glanced into the basket and pulled one out for his friend, "Here." Han grunted and took the sandwich, but Luke didn't seem to notice his older friend's dark mood. Or maybe he had just grown accustomed to it. Luke smiled up at Chewie, "Do you want to use my rod?"
Han answered for Chewie, "Nah, he has his own style."
Chewbacca roared and waded into the water carrying a large stick carved into a point. Luke and Leia froze as their eyes focused on the Wookie who carefully watch the movement of the water. And faster than anyone would think a being his size could move, Chewbacca stabbed the water and pulled up a good-sized fish that flapped around at the end of the stick.
"That's very effective," Leia commented. She looked at Han, "So why didn't you teach us to fish that way?"
"Cos you're not a Wookie," he smiled at her, and to his delight, she returned the smile.
A strong breeze swept across the surface of the water, blowing through the Wookie's hair as he waited for the next fish to get too close. This gust of wind disrupted the blossoms on the tree under which the three friends relaxed, and a flurry of white petals fell upon them like snow. Leia turned up her face and held out her hands, and Luke shook his head in an attempt to remove them from his hair.
Han paid no attention to the falling blooms. Instead, his eyes stayed focused on the two young people enjoying the moment. Luke looked ridiculous as he swatted away the delicate petals and tried to manage his fishing rod at the same time. He gripped that pole as if he was afraid it would fly out of his hand. Han highly doubted it would since he didn't think there were any fish that big in the stream.
Leia, on the other hand, had set her pole up against a few rocks and didn't pay it much mind. The soft white petals brushed her face, and some came to rest in her open hands. She closed her eyes and inhaled the sweet fragrance that was swept around her by the blast of wind. Han inhaled deeply in an attempt to experience the same sensation that brought such delight to the girl, but he gave up, deciding he got more pleasure from watching her.
Han glanced over at Chewbacca who had tired of fishing Wookie style and was reclining against the blossom-covered tree. Chewie's blue eyes pierced Han's, and he slid his hairy hands slowly behind his head. Han rolled his eyes, and Chewie smiled a satisfied-Wookie smile.
As much as Han hated to admit it, he had become attached to Luke and Leia. How did he and Chewie end up here? Was it an evil twist of fate? The Force, as Luke would say? Han didn't even know if he believed in fate. He definitely didn't believe in the Force. But here he was with a princess and a farm boy, both innocent and alone in different ways, but innocent and alone nonetheless.
Leia's large brown eyes fell on Han, and she flashed him a radiant smile. He couldn't help but smile back. She dropped the petals from her hands and leaned over toward him. Han was mesmerized by her laughing eyes and now-coy smile. Her hand reached for the top of his head. Leia giggled as she ruffled his hair, and the petals that had collected upon his head came raining down. Han chuckled and brushed the petals from his lap.
"Help!" Luke yelled.
The aspiring Jedi struggled to hang on to his rod as his line reached its fullest capacity. Leia reached over and grabbed the rod above Luke's hands, and the two struggled together. Han watched them for a moment as they fumbled about, fighting to keep their balance and laughing the whole time. Then he sighed, pushed himself off of the ground, and sauntered over to the comical pair. He stood behind the girl and reached his arms around her as he grasped the rod. If he was going to help, he thought he might as well have a little fun.
Leia was too engrossed in the task of keeping hold of the rod to notice Han's arms around her. Or she chose not to notice, as Han liked to think. But even with the three of them fighting against whatever held the other end of the line, they were fighting a losing battle. Chewbacca roared and howled and rolled around on the ground with laughter as his three friends were pulled into the shallow bank of the stream.
"Luke, let go!" Leia yelled. She and Han had already given up, but Luke hung on and was dragged further into the water.
Han grabbed Luke's belt, "Give it up, kid!"
Luke finally let go and the three sat in the shallow water gaping at each other. Luke pushed his hair back out of his eyes, "So this is fishing."
Still chortling, Chewbacca walked over to his sodden friends and handed each of them a bottle of Corellian ale. Han opened Leia's and then his own, and Chewie planted himself on the dry ground near his friends.
"A toast?" Han held up his bottle.
Leia's large brown eyes met his, and she smiled at him, "To old friends."
Leia and Han touched their bottles together and held them there until Luke and Chewbacca joined them.
"Old friends?" Luke asked.
Han looked down at the grass for a moment and then smiled at his young friend, "Yeah."
And then there was another stretched out moment of silence, but this time it wasn't at all uncomfortable.
"What happens next?" Luke asked after several gulps of ale.
So what did happen next? Han looked at the princess whose eyes once again looked out upon the water. She seemed content even though she was sitting in waist-deep water. His eyes then met Luke who looked at Han as if the older man had all the answers in the world. Han smirked. It was obvious it was Chewie who had all of the answers.
Han and Chewbacca exchanged looks, "We just wait and see what happens."
THE END