Chapter 62

Luke made his way through the crowded corridors of Cloud City with a sense of urgency. It was no secret that his father had little use for Han Solo. Now, however, Anakin seemed to be planning on replacing the young pilot as Leia's suitor, and that didn't sit well with Luke. Yes, Han Solo was arrogant, and pig headed, and cocky; but he was also brave, and good hearted, and loved Leia more than he was willing to admit. And Leia loves him too, Luke reflected, and that was the true reason he felt compelled to seek out the Corellian pilot before it was too late. True to form, Luke found Han in one of the many pubs of Cloud City.

"Hey kid," Han said upon seeing Luke. "Come and join me."

Luke took a seat beside Han, seeing at once that he'd had more than a few.

"Something happened between you and Leia earlier didn't it?" Luke asked.

Han frowned. "What makes you think that? No, wait, I know; dear old Dad told you, right?"

"My father told me nothing," Luke replied. "I just know when my sister is upset, and usually why. What happened?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," Han grumbled, taking a swig of his ale.

Luke looked at him and shook his head. "You just don't get it, do you Han?"

"What?"

"You may not want to admit it, even to yourself, but I know you're nuts about Leia," Luke replied. Han was about to retort, but Luke cut him off. "What's more, I also know that you and my father can't stand one another."

"Not gonna argue with that," Han remarked sourly. "So what?"

"So what?" Luke repeated, starting to get annoyed with Han's attitude. "If you really want to be with Leia, you need a serious attitude adjustment."

Han scowled. "I don't need this crap," he snapped. "You're just like your father, Luke. The whole lot of you are all alike. And here I thought you and me were friends," he grumbled, raising his glass to take another swig of his ale, only to have it snatched from him by an invisible hand.
"Will you just shut up?" Luke asked in exasperation. "Just for once? And listen for a change? I'm trying to help you, whether or not you believe it. Do you want to be with my sister, yes or no? 'Cause if the answer is no, I'll leave you alone right now and stop wasting my time."

Luke stood up, as Han watched him warily, seeing if the young man was bluffing. When Luke turned to walk away, Han realized that he wasn't, and called him back.

"Shit Luke," Han grumbled. "When did you get all confrontational?"

Luke turned back and smiled. "You sort of bring it out when you're acting like a jackass."

"Oh, nice," Han muttered. "Sit down."

"So am I to assume that you care about my sister?" Luke asked before he sat down.

"You know damn well that I do," Han grumbled. "You and your Jedi powers."

Luke's smile grew as he took his seat. "It doesn't take a Jedi to see the way you look at one another, Han. But if you don't do something to fix the mess you made, you're going to lose her."

"Leia loves me, kid," Han replied confidently. "She told me so herself. She's not going anywhere."

"Would you listen to yourself?" Luke replied. "It's that cocky arrogant attitude that will cause you to lose her if you're not careful. I suggest you join my family for supper tonight if you don't believe me."

Han frowned, not liking what he was hearing. "What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"You'll have to come and see for yourself," Luke replied, standing up again. "We're having dinner in one hour. Be there Han; if you care at all about Leia, you need to be there."

A cold sense of fear was worming its way through Han's alcoholic haze. He did love Leia, even if he wasn't ready to admit it to even himself. The thought that she may walk out of his life was not one that he wanted to entertain, no matter how unlikely he considered that possibility to be.

Anakin had made arrangements for dinner in one of the private dining rooms in one of the most exclusive restaurants in Cloud City. It was his sincere hope that something would grow from the initial attraction he sensed between his daughter and the young imperial lieutenant. Keller was everything Han Solo was not, Anakin reasoned. And that is why he is perfect for Leia, he thought as he buttoned up his tunic.

"Don't think I don't know what is going through that mind of yours, Ani," Padmé said as she entered the bedroom. She sat down at the dressing table to touch up her make up.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Anakin replied, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"Please," she said, shaking her head. "You forget how well I know you, Anakin Skywalker," she told him. "I saw the way you looked at that young lieutenant. You are hoping he'll catch Leia's eye."

"I think he already has," Anakin replied, smiling at his own reflection.

She looked up at him. "Leia loves Han Solo," she reminded him, "even if she finds this young man attractive, for he certainly is that."

Anakin raised his eyebrows and looked at his wife. "Oh?? You think so, do you?"

Padmé smiled. "Well, I may be married but I'm not blind," she teased him.

Anakin did not know what to say to such a statement, and his masculine ego was more than a little threatened by it. "Well, I suppose if you like that pretty boy look," he said, turning away.

"Oh come on now," she said. "Don't sulk. You know exactly the sort of man that I am attracted to."

"Well, I thought I did," he replied in an excessively injured tone. "But maybe I was wrong."

Padmé stood up and walked over to him. "You are such a baby sometimes," she said, reaching up and kissing his cheek.

Anakin couldn't help but laugh. "I can't get away with anything around you, can I?"

"Not a chance," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Besides, I think I made it quite clear the depth of my attraction to you last night, didn't I?"

Anakin grinned. "Several times in fact," he added.

Padmé laughed. "Yes, that's true. Come on," she said, releasing him and taking his hand. "Let's get going. Promise me you'll behave yourself tonight."

"You mean at dinner, or later?" he asked her with a grin.

"At dinner of course," she replied. "Once we're alone you can be as naughty as you like," she told him with a smile.

"Don't say things like that to me as we're going out the door," he told her. "Now I'm all distracted."

"Good," she said. "Then my strategy worked."

Anakin shook his head. "Politicians," he muttered as he and his wife left their quarters. Padmé only laughed.

Leia met her parents in the dining room, having taken the time to change into a simple outfit of a white skirt and tunic with matching boots. She had done her best to put Han Solo out of her mind, and was determined to enjoy the evening. The fact that a handsome young man from her home world would be present this evening made the prospect of doing so even greater. I only wish Han would be there to witness this, she thought. He had hurt her deeply with his callous attitude, and she wanted to hurt him back. Given the opportunity to make him jealous, she would gladly do so. Too bad he won't be there to see the way I flirt with Lieutenant Keller, she thought. That would serve him right.

"Good evening, Princess."
Leia looked over to see none other than Lieutenant Keller in the door way, looking even more dashing than she had remembered. She smiled. "Hello Lieutenant," she replied. "It was nice that you were able to join us. Where is Admiral Piett?"

"He'll be along shortly," Keller replied. "Shall we sit down? I see your parents are already here."

Leia nodded. "Yes, let's join them, shall we?"
Anakin greeted the young man warmly, shaking hands with him. He noted how Keller pulled out Leia's chair for her, and how he knew just what to say to both the ladies present. Class, that's something Solo has none of, class, Anakin reflected, pleased that his plans were going so well.

Piett soon joined them, Obi-Wan and Luke shortly thereafter. The atmosphere was pleasant, cordial and relaxed as all present enjoyed the ambiance and the fine appetizers served with the utmost of taste. And then Han Solo walked in the door.

"Hey everybody," he said as he sat down in the eighth and only empty chair at the table. Luke smiled to himself, happy that Han had taken his advice to heart. Anakin, however, was less than pleased to see the young man, and did not even try to hide it.

"Solo," he said, staring daggers at Han. "I don't recall inviting you tonight," Anakin said, keeping his voice low so as not to alarm his wife.

"Luke here did," Han said, jerking a thumb in Luke's direction. "Good thing too, 'cause I'm hungry enough to eat a gundark!"

Luke knew that his father was staring at him, that he was furious with him, and he carefully avoided eye contact with him. Instead he looked at Leia, whose face was a mixture of emotions. She looked back at him, questioningly. Was this a mistake? He asked her silently. No, she replied. I'm glad he's here. This is perfect. She smiled, and Luke began to think that there was more to his sister's calm demeanor that met the eye.

"I hope that's okay," Luke said at last.

"Of course it is," Padmé spoke up, not giving Anakin a chance to voice his most decided opinion on the subject. "Han is always welcome at our table."

Anakin turned and looked at his wife, and then at his daughter, and then finally at his son. I am not happy about this, he told Luke silently.

Luke smiled. "I thought so," he told his mother. "Looks great," he said, helping himself to the plate of appetizers in front of him.

Han relaxed a little, but only a very little. He could feel Anakin's eyes upon him, and it took all of his considerable self-confidence to remain undaunted. He finally looked at Leia, smiling at her. She, however, was not looking at him. No, her attention was focused completely on the young man seated beside her, a very handsome young man wearing an imperial uniform. Leia seemed to be completely enchanted by him, for she had seemingly not even noticed Han's presence.

"You look great, Leia," Han said, trying to steer her attention in his direction. "Is that a new outfit?" he asked lamely.

Leia turned to him, her dark eyes devoid of emotion. "Yes," she replied, and turned her attention back to Keller.

Han felt embarrassed by her slight, and shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

Anakin noticed the exchange, and relaxed. Leia knows exactly what she's doing, he realized. Solo has no idea what he's in for. He looked at Padmé and took her hand. "Of course," he said to her. "Solo is most welcome here tonight," he said.

Padmé narrowed her eyes, knowing her Ani well enough to see that there was more to his words than he said. Poor Han, she thought, looking over at him as he tried to get comfortable. He won't know what hit him.

"Lieutenant Keller was just telling me about his experiences at the Academy," Leia said. "Quite a remarkable student from the sound of it. I'm very impressed."

Keller, who was quite unaware of the role he had inadvertently stumbled into, merely smiled, his cheeks coloring slightly under her praise. "Well, your highness, the Imperial navy does have rather high standards," he said simply.

"Don't be so modest, Keller," Piett spoke up. "He was the youngest ever to make lieutenant, isn't that right, Danison?"

"Is that right?" Leia asked, her enthusiasm positively gushing forth. "I was the youngest ever to be named senator! Imagine that!"

Anakin had to cover his mouth to hide his smirk, and coughed in order to cover his chuckle. Leia was certainly having fun with this situation. Serves you right, you slimy bastard, he thought, enjoying the look on Han's face. You don't play with my daughter's emotions and get away with it.

As for Luke, a sinking feeling had started to grow within him, a feeling that he had made a terrible mistake in inviting Han to this dinner party. He had truly believed that he was acting in Han's best interest; being young and naïve in the ways of the heart, he had no idea that Leia was using the opportunity to make him jealous. And she's doing an excellent job, Luke reflected as he glanced at his friend.

"So tomorrow is the big day," Piett said. "We will rendezvous with the Rebel fleet at the coordinates provided by Princess Leia," he said, looking at Leia. "And you, Luke, will be the first person they see," he added, turning to Luke. "I think that is the best plan, considering they are bound to be rather shocked to see an Imperial ship in their midst."

"Not just any Imperial ship," Anakin pointed out. "The flagship of the fleet. I'd give anything to see the looks on their faces," he added with a smile.

The rest of the meal carried on in much the same vein as they ironed out the plans for the merger with the Rebel Fleet the next day. Han, try as he may, was not able to divert Leia's attention from the dashing young officer; and as the evening progressed, his mood became more and more sullen. The fact that he had imbibed rather heavily earlier did nothing to keep his spirits aloft.

Leia knew that he was hurting and upset with her. She didn't need to be Force sensitive to see it; it was obvious to all. Part of her felt badly for putting him through the wringer this way, but another part of her felt perfectly justified in doing so. He's had it way too easy, she realized. I've been like a silly school girl when it comes to him. Well no more; if he wants me, then he's going to have to work a lot harder than he has been up until now.

The evening ended early, as all realized that the next morning held a great deal in store for all. Luke followed Han out of the room, anxious to have a word with him in private.

"Han, wait," Luke said as Han started walking away.

Han turned and looked at Luke, the anger plain in his eyes. "Thanks a lot, Luke," he said bitterly. "I hope you and your family enjoyed that."

"Han, I had no idea what was going on," Luke replied. "I swear it! I had no idea that Leia was going to do that to you."

Han scowled, knowing Luke was just naïve enough to be sincere in his ignorance. "So who is this …this Keller chump, anyway?" he grumbled.

"He's the Imperial liaison who's going to be working with us," Luke explained.

"Oh, great," Han replied with a shake of his head. "Leia will get to spend all kinds of time with him then. Just perfect."

Luke couldn't help but smile. "You really do love her, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Han retorted hotly. "You think I'd put up with all this bullshit if I didn't?"

Luke's smile only grew.

"I'm goin' to bed," Han grumbled as he turned away.

"You know what you have to do now, don't you?" Luke called after him.

Han stopped in his tracks. "What?" he asked without turning around.

"You have to fight for her," Luke replied. "You need to show her that you love her, Han. She's not going to sit around and wait for you if you don't, no matter how she feels about you."

Han considered Luke's words. For a farm boy he's pretty smart, he reflected. "Yeah, I know," he admitted at last. "I just hope this pretty boy hasn't caught her attention."

Luke smiled. "She is crazy about you, Han," Luke told him. "Trust me on that. She just wants you to appreciate her, that's all."

"How'd you get so smart all of a sudden?" Han asked.

Luke laughed. "Guess I'm growing up," he said. "Come on, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."