AN: Thanks so much for the comments and favs! I'm enjoying writing this and I hope it's reading ok. Also sorry this one's quite short.

"So the Falcon?" Leia said as she began to tuck into her meal. Han raised his eyebrow at her questioningly.

"What about it?"

"Well and I mean this in the kindest way possible…" Leia said leaning forward with a teasing smile. "You don't really seem the type to own an animal shelter."

She was nervous that he might take what she said the wrong way but he laughed loudly and nodded in agreement.

"Yeah well it was left to me you see."

He took a large bite of his food and Leia watched him, waiting for him to elaborate. She was curious about Han, she felt as if she knew him already but actually knew very little about him at all. He swallowed and continued.

"My Dad owned the Falcon and it was always his intention for my brother, Frank, to take over one day."

Leia raised her eyebrows in surprise. She'd been under the impression that Han had been an only child, so it was a shock to her that there was another Solo brother.

"I didn't know you had a brother!"

"Yeah." He answered with a sheepish grin, forgetting he hadn't mentioned that fact. He'd tried to avoid the subject, as Frank wasn't exactly his favorite person in the world.

"Is he as charming as you are?" Leia joked and Han broke into a huge grin. He was enjoying her mood today; she seemed to be in good form. Although his personal life wasn't something he would usually talk about on a first date, he didn't mind sharing with Leia.

"Not a chance. We don't talk much he's a couple years older. Married, got a few kids." A few was an understatement, in the three years since he'd last seen his brother they'd spawned two kids in addition to their other three, and his sister in law was expecting another! The two of them were practically a baby-making factory. The kids were cute enough from the photo's he'd received but they must've been a handful, Han wasn't sure he'd be able to cope with one kid let alone five.

"So you're an uncle too? I'm learning so much about you today Mr. Solo." Leia tittered and Han smiled at her. She was so beautiful when she laughed, well she was always beautiful but there was something about the way her smile lit up her face like the galaxy was shining behind her eyes. He sighed and took her hand from across the table, she squeezed it lightly and his heart fluttered.

"So about the Falcon?" She prompted and he sighed. The rest of the story was painful to recall.

"When Pap died I was in my final year at high school." He still remembered the day he was called to the principal's office and told the news. His parents had been involved in a traffic collision that'd made the news; there had been no survivors. He'd tried to be strong but he'd broken down in front of everyone. But Frank had acted as if nothing had happened. "I wanted to train to be an engineer but Frank refused to take over the business so I guess I felt I had no choice." Han's voice cracked then and Leia suddenly felt guilty for questioning him and brought his hand to her lips.

"You don't have to talk about this Han." She said tenderly and his face softened.

"No it's alright sweetheart. It just hurts sometimes." He admitted.

That was a bit of an understatement. There were many aspects of the situation that upset Han; giving up his chance at an education, not working in the field he wanted to. But his parents never knowing that their favorite son had betrayed them… The fact they had died loving Frank more, when Han had saved their beloved business…that was what kept him up at night. He met Leia's eyes and she smiled, the same way she had when he'd told her about his parents and he felt warmth spread through his chest. He knew he was falling hard for this girl.

"You're a nice man Han." She said suddenly and he raised his eyebrows in surprise. He didn't think ANYONE had ever referred to him as nice before, ruffian, scoundrel, heartless, thug, a great number of expletives but never nice.

"Well that's a first your highness." He teased and watched her gleefully as she rolled her eyes at him. She was so hot when she was pissed at him.

"Oh stop with the royalty jokes! I hate them. I'm not royal."

"Tell that to goldenrod over there." He snickered, gesturing to Threepio. Leia playfully pretended to slap him and Han was grateful that they'd strayed from his sob story. He wasn't usually one to mope. For years he'd covered up his scars with a mask of cynicism and sarcasm. Though he wasn't so sure he wanted to hide his vulnerable side from Leia. It was nice for once to have someone that listened.

"Seriously though. Enough with the nicknames." She stared at him deadpan and he sighed.

"Sure pri- sorry I mean Leia." He almost forgot what he was agreeing to and smiled apologetically but Leia wasn't annoyed.

"I don't- I don't mind that one so much…" Leia blurted not meeting Han's eyes.

"You don't mind what?"

"When you uh… call me princess." Leia's face turned a dark shade of red and Han thrived on her confession.

"You're into that huh, princess?" He drew out the nickname and winked at her in a way that made her insides twist and Leia looked down embarrassed.

"Shut up and eat your chicken nerfherder."