Han tried to be quiet as he walked in the front door, hoping not to disturb Leia if she was still sleeping.
"How'd it go?"
Leia's voice caused him to jump. He hadn't even noticed her sitting sideways on the couch with her feet up. "Hey, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"I feel a lot better, actually." She paused and took in his appearance as her brow furrowed in confusion. "Are you wearing pajamas? That's not what you had on when you left, is it?"
"Uh, no, actually. It's not." Han moved to sit next to her on the couch. She stretched her legs to rest on his lap, and he took the invitation to massage one of her chilled feet within his warm hands.
"So why are you wearing that now? Did you get shy when she asked you what you wore to bed and you decided to model more modest evening attire?"
"Well, my other clothes got a little wet."
"You were meeting her on the Falcon and not a water park, right? Is there a swim test involved in being the sexiest man alive?"
"You know as well as I do that just about anything can happen on that freighter."
"That's an understatement."
"Yeah, well, I sort of accidentally broke the connection on one of the water pipes and got a bit drenched, so I had to change my clothes."
"Were they there to see it?"
"No, I changed in my cabin."
"You know what I mean, Han."
"Of course they were. I'm pretty sure she's not going to mention that little incident in the article though."
"What about the other stuff though? Did you talk to her about that?"
"Yeah, I don't think she'll be printing that, either."
"You're sure?"
"Pretty sure," Han replied, trying to avert her eyes and hoping that the relief at not having certain things printed would be enough for her not to question him any further. He felt the tenseness in her feet subside as she laid her head back and shut her eyes.
"So, when do I get to read this shameless raving about your manliness?"
"You don't have to wait for that. You can rave about my manliness anytime you want."
"I think I raved enough this morning."
Han shrugged. "A couple of days, I guess. I don't know, I didn't ask for any specifics."
"Does that mean I'm going to have to compete with hundreds of other women who are going to be unable to keep themselves from fawning all over you?"
"I can fight them off."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Well, if I can't, you sure as hell can. Come on, how often are articles published about you and how noble and beautiful you are? I've seen men looking at you, sweetheart, but so far they've at least been able to keep their hands to themselves. Am I right about that?"
"That's what you think. I'm just good at keeping all of my illicit affairs a secret." A wicked smile crossed her lips.
He was glad to see that she seemed to have regained her willingness to tease about such things. "Let me give you a reminder of why you don't need anyone else." He pressed his palm against her cheek, leaning in and gently brushing his lips against hers.
She opened her eyes to look at him as he slowly pulled away, his hand still resting against her skin. "Do you think that's enough to satisfy me?"
"No, that was just a little preview," he replied. "You don't seem quite ready for the really good stuff yet."
"Who says I'd let you even if I was ready?"
"I don't know, Leia. What was the word you used this morning? Amazing, was it? How can you possibly resist the sexiest man alive?"
"The more you open your mouth, the easier it's becoming."
Three days later…
Things had returned to normal in the Solo household. So normal, in fact, that they had actually completely forgotten that the article was due to be released. Han was reminded when Rena sent him a quick message mentioning its release as well as an apology for the little incident on the Falcon.
Han had agreed to wait for Leia to come home so that they could read the article together, and she was anxious to see how it turned out; mostly so that she could see if Rena had kept her word and left out much of what Leia had told her.
Entering the front door, she found Han sitting on the couch with a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table in front of him.
"I thought it might be a good idea if we had a little something to drink before we look at the article to help keep our sense of humor," Han said.
She walked to the couch and flopped down next to her husband, accepting the glass he held out to her. "You mean you just hope that I keep my sense of humor in case I see something I don't like, don't you?"
He filled her glass a bit more than was customary. "Something like that. How was your day?"
"Fine. Now quit stalling."
"Hey, shouldn't you be grateful that you get to spend a quiet evening with the galaxy's sexiest man alive?"
"Oh, you think I'm the one who's supposed to be grateful in this scenario? You're just a low-life smuggler who somehow wound up with a princess. If anything it's you who should be grateful, flyboy."
He draped an arm over her shoulder. "I am. Every day. You know I'm only kidding."
"All right," she continued. "Let's get this over with."
The article was published electronically, and Han pulled it up on his data pad, positioning the screen so that he and Leia could both read. She was seated upright on the couch while Han was slouched next to her with his feet up, his head resting against the pillows at her shoulder level. "So how do you want to do this?" Leia said.
"Why don't you read it out loud," Han replied. "I'd love to hear how it sounds coming from you."
Leia sighed, but relented and began reading the article.
"Gifted pilot, talented military man, rebel hero and devoted husband. These are just some of the many titles that could be used to describe this year's selection for the sexiest man alive: Han Solo."
"So far I like it," Han said."
"Shut up," Leia replied before continuing. "I first met up with this legendary Alliance general at one of his favorite restaurants. The former smuggler still apparently feels most at home in a less-than-elegant setting, opting for a local dive with good old fashioned Corellian food. Acting the gentleman, he pulled my chair out for me and ordered our food.
"His past is mysterious and he doesn't hint at how he became the man he is today. But the former general seems the most comfortable when discussing his famous ship The Millennium Falcon. His hazel eyes sparkled whenever it came up in conversation, and you get the feeling that there is nothing he treasures more. That is, until the discussion turns to his even more-famous wife, Princess Leia."
Leia looked up at him. "Oh good, I'm glad to know that you mentioned me at some point."
"Of course I did, what did you expect?"
Leia decided she needed another sip of wine before continuing. "In one of the most famous weddings in a generation, the union of these two just over a year ago was seen across the galaxy, prompting many to wonder how the decidedly non-regal pilot had managed to convince royalty to marry him."
"I often wonder that, myself," Leia said.
"I can think of a few reasons," Han winked at her.
"Sitting in his presence makes it much easier to understand. While anything but a pretty-boy, even sporting a scar on his chin, his strong features and lopsided grin compose an unwaveringly handsome face. He seems uncomfortable with this kind of attention, but make no mistake: Han Solo is the sexiest man alive. He just isn't willing to admit it."
Leia laughed. "That's amusing, because lately you seem to love bringing it up at every opportunity."
"Hey, I've just finally accepted the truth."
Leia took a rather large gulp from her wine glass. While she didn't necessarily disagree with what was written, she didn't think that Han needed to know that.
"When discussing his relationship with his wife, he doesn't give away much, but it is clear by the look on his face that he loves her dearly. 'It's no secret it took her a while to warm up to me,' he says, referring to their first few years in the Rebellion, before they became a couple. 'We had some pretty legendary fights. We're just much better at making up afterward now.'"
Leia slapped Han's arm with the back of her hand. "You sure about that?" She asked.
"I guess we'll find out in a little bit, won't we?"
"I had the opportunity to see the home that they share together and hear from the woman herself. The two first met when the princess was being held prisoner on the first Death Star. Solo, along with his Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca and the famous Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, courageously rescued her mere hours before her scheduled execution.
"Although, according to his wife, it was a miracle that any of them made it out alive. '…He quite obviously never thought things through. I didn't think he'd live long enough to get us out of there considering some of the idiotic things he did while trying to rescue me."
Han leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You're welcome."
"But, she was also quick to point out that in spite of his brash behavior, she was instantly attracted to him, and although he didn't say it outright, I'd say the feeling was mutual."
"Well, now she's just making stuff up. Maybe if you hadn't spent the first few minutes of our meeting yelling at me I might've noticed how pretty you were."
"You know you loved it."
"Still do," he replied, giving her knee a gentle squeeze.
"Although she claims he doesn't go out of his way to be romantic, she did say that he could be charming when he wants to be, and it is quite obvious that the princess thinks highly of her husband.
"Equally unwilling to give away too much, Solo simply stated that they love each other and enjoy their lives together, and just being in their presence is enough to show how strong their bond is."
"Well," Leia said. "I'm glad to know that it shows so clearly.
"Yeah."
Han's response didn't seem quite as convincing, but Leia continued. "Their relationship blossomed in the midst of the war in which the two were instrumental in the defeat of the Empire. We owe the pair a huge debt of gratitude for the freedom that we experience today.
"I was also given the opportunity to go inside the infamous Millennium Falcon. Although the Corellian YT-1300 freighter isn't much to look at on the outside, you can tell that the ship is the Captain's pride and joy. A look of contentment sets over him as he sits in his pilot's chair and you can almost hear the echoes of the historical events that have transpired from that cockpit."
"I hope she wasn't hearing echoes in there of all of those times that you and I..."
Leia interrupted him, "Not now, Han."
Looking at him, she saw a wide grin spread across his face at the memory. "Hey look," he said as she scrolled down, "the first picture."
On the screen was a still image of Han sitting in his pilot's chair, hands on the controls and giving the slightest hint of a smile.
"Not bad, Han. Maybe you should get your picture taken more often."
"Nah, I'm best in person."
"You're probably right about that. His genuine sense of pride radiates from him as he discusses the vehicle and all of the work he has done to keep it in top condition. It might also explain his embarrassment at the slight mishap that occurred when a water pipe leaked while I was visiting."
"Damn it, she said she was going to leave that out!" Han said.
"Han, of all of the things she might leave in, I'd say that was the least of your worries."
"Maybe, but still."
"But always the quick thinker, Solo was able to ingeniously fix the problem in no time, giving us an opportunity to see the lean, muscular body usually so hidden underneath his spacer's uniform."
Leia scrolled down, and the next image in the article appeared. "Um, Han?" She looked at her husband next to her, whose face had started to turn red with embarrassment before he brought a hand up to cover his eyes.
Han was speaking more to himself than to Leia. "I knew they had to have taken some pictures then. Why didn't I ask them?"
"Why, exactly were you half-naked while they were there?" She spoke the words calmly, betraying the irritation she was feeling.
He looked up at her, defensively. "Sweetheart, you have to believe me when I tell you that I didn't know they took those. The whole thing happened so fast."
Leia looked down at the image again. Han was standing in a corridor of the Falcon shirtless, with his arms raised over his head and his muscles flexed as though he was posing. Water dripped down his body from the pipe overhead and caused his skin to glisten. For some reason his belt had been removed, and his pants, which were also wet and clinging to his skin, had slipped down just enough to reveal the waist line of his briefs. Had she seen this sort of image under almost any other circumstances, she simply would've enjoyed it. But she was not happy that it was in the article for all to see.
"What, exactly, required the removal of both your shirt and your belt?"
"I had to slow down the water flow so it didn't flood the circuits before I went to shut the valve off. The shirt was the first line of defense and the belt kept it in place."
"Why didn't you just send Rena or Korst to shut off the valve?"
"Who knows how long that would've taken? Besides, weren't you the one who suggested they get some shirtless photos? Well, there you go. You got what you wanted."
"Oh, sure, make it seem like it was my idea. You couldn't keep your shirt on for maybe an hour? You were probably just waiting for a good excuse."
"No way. I was never planning on that. I mean, especially after later on, when she – " Han cut himself off suddenly, obviously realizing he was about to say something he shouldn't.
"When she what, Han?"
He wouldn't look her in the eye. "Nothing. I forgot what I was going to say."
"You expect me to believe that? Out with it, Solo. You know you're going to have to tell me eventually anyway, so you might as well get it over with."
"Okay, okay." Breathing a heavy sigh, Han sat up but still refused to meet her stern gaze. "Well, after the whole water pipe thing I went into my cabin to change, like I told you. And when I came out, Korst was already gone since he went to submit his photos for the article."
"So Rena was there alone?"
"Yep, just sitting there waiting for me to come out."
"Why do I not like the sound of this?"
Han looked up and gave her an incredibly half-hearted smirk before the scowl returned to his face and his voice got quiet. "Yeah, well, then maybe she sort of… came onto me a little bit."
"What, exactly does 'a little bit' mean?"
Han hesitated. "Well, maybe she first told me that it was her idea to pick me."
"That's not a surprise."
"And then she, um, leaned in like she was going to kiss me."
Feeling the jealousy rising within her, Leia took a moment to let the information seep in before she responded, quietly. "What did you do?"
"I told her we'd have to be real careful since my wife has a mean temper."
Leia did not appreciate his attempt at humor - a fact he sensed right away.
"What do you think I did? I told her I'm not that kind of guy. I only want you, Leia."
The statement did little to ease the irritation Leia was feeling. "So, how did she react?"
"She was mostly just embarrassed. And kind of disappointed."
Leia looked down at her feet. The whole situation had started to make her feel like a fool, and it annoyed her to no end to feel that way. "You should've told me," she said quietly.
"Why? I didn't do anything wrong. Would you tell me any time some guy hit on you? Because I'm willing to bet that's happened a few times."
Looking at him then, she could see him getting defensive. "That's beside the point. The point is that you lied to me."
"I never lied about this. I just didn't tell you everything that happened."
"I don't see that there's much of a difference."
"There's a big difference. Do you always tell me every little detail of everything? I just didn't think that there was any reason to make you mad about something that was over and done with. You trust me, right?"
In her heart, she knew she trusted him completely. But it seemed too soon to relent on her argument. "Maybe. I'm just not very happy with you right now."
"Look, I don't blame you for being upset. I'd be upset if I heard about some guy coming onto you. Except I'd be mad at him not you."
"Oh, I'm certainly mad at her. And if she were here right now I'd surely give her a good reason never to come near us again. But we're not talking about what she did to you right now."
For once, Han didn't seem to want to fight back anymore. He leaned his head back in defeat and simply said, "Do you want to just finish the article?"
"I suppose." Leia had completely lost interest in what else Rena had to say about Han, but she continued anyway. "He claims his lean frame is simply the result of good old fashioned hard labor. However it was achieved, his body is just another reason for women to swoon over him."
Leia looked at Han. "Swoon, huh?"
"Apparently. Do I still make you swoon, sweetheart?"
"I have never swooned."
"Liar."
"It's only unfortunate for the rest of us that the tall Corellian is already taken. And rest assured, their vows are not to be broken. As for what he feels for her, 'She's an incredible woman,' Solo states simply.
"And you, Captain Solo, are an incredible man."
The article finished with one last photo of Han in profile leaning against the railing of their balcony and looking out over the city.
"I hope you're happy," Leia said.
"I thought maybe you, of all people, would've enjoyed this."
"Oh, sure, you did this all for my benefit. I don't need some stupid article to make you seem appealing to me, Han. However, at the moment, I think the sexiest man alive needs to spend some time by himself."
Handing him the data pad, she stood and went to the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
