2. Day 1

The day had been very long and very tiresome. Yet Princess Leia Organa felt she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

There had been a battle and an evacuation this day. A pursuit and hiding. An unheard of maneuver. And a kiss.

All of that had happened in less than a standard day.

The battle had not been fought to win, something the Alliance leaders knew to be impossible, but to delay the invasion. Thanks to the sacrifice of many, the evacuation of the base in Hoth had been as successful as hoped. Of course, her own part of the drill had been a typical Solo barely-by-a-millimeter escape. Not only had the Falcon refused to jump into hyperspace, but they had to hide in the stomach of a space slug! They have pulled through that by sheer luck. Oh, well, the run through the asteroid field had been impressive, but it was his last move that had really surprised her. She thought he had gone mad for a moment, but he had been damn right. There was a blind spot in the Star Destroyers.

His kiss had also surprised her. One moment, she wanted to kill him and then... He'd been so charming, his voice and his eyes so mesmerizing that she'd found herself unable to resist him. She had started to tremble when he took her hand and hadn't really stopped yet. But the most shocking part of it was that she had really, really enjoyed that kiss. It was everything he had half-promised, half-menaced for years and something else too. For a brief moment, all the smugness, all the banter was gone and she had felt a real connection to the man behind the mercenary. She had felt alive.

Of course, there were too many variables to ponder around this matter. The dashing scoundrel and a girl like her? Not possible. They were simply not compatible. Not a chance. No future.

Not that anybody had much of a future these days. But him... He was so full of life, even if he had nothing other than the Falcon and Chewie to rely on. As for her, her future had died the day Alderaan was blown. There was nothing she wished for herself since that day. Fighting the Empire was the only thing she really cared about. She should find a way to explain that to him. And the sooner the better.

After the Imperial fleet had left, Chewie had started running tests on every system and she had tried to help him, but the language barrier made it very difficult. Meanwhile, Han worked madly with the navicomputer. She had joined him in the cockpit with a plate of sandwiches and two glasses of juice. He broke the news. "Eleven weeks. Seventy six and a half days to Bespin, that's the best I can do." He had to save some fuel for emergency maneuvering. The provisions and the air supply would do, barely. "I guess I must be glad Rieekan was short on cash," he said wryly. The general had completed his payment in ration bars and assorted supplies. "Or that you are not the size of Chewie," he winked at Leia.

Afterwards, she had sought some quietness. She had so many things to think on. But in the small freighter, there weren't many places to be alone, except for the cargo bay, which was rather unattractive and cold. The only two cabins were obviously off-limits. She finally squeezed into one of the gunner turrets. She curled in the darkened glass bubble, under the gun, watching the stars.

Some time later, Han Solo climbed up the ladder. "Your cabin is ready, Leia," he announced. She looked at him without understanding. He went on. "You'll stay in my cabin. I've already put fresh bedlinen." She stared at him, arching a brow. What was he thinking? One kiss and... "I'm staying in the cargo bay," he added, without sarcasm.

They had traveled together many times along the years, but she had always brought her own equipment. Tent, military collapsible cot and all, she used to install her bunker in a corner of the cargo bay. This time that kind of arrangement was not available.

"Oh, thank you." She blushed.

He didn't go away. He just looked at her, expectantly. At last, she understood.

"Come," she said, making some space for him in the bubble.

He crawled and finally sat by her, folding his long legs in a position that would be rather uncomfortable after a while.

She had intended to keep some distance between them and have her programmed conversation with him. But after a bit of struggle and several false starts, she found herself leaning against him, her back on his chest. Han slipped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. The warm of his body next to her made Leia suddenly aware of how cold she had been.

Damn. It felt so good. It felt... right. Even if it was wrong.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Barely," she half joked, half confessed. What to say next? They had a very long way ahead. And tonight, she felt too tired and too drained to have an argument with him. Besides, something had changed between them, she wasn't sure exactly what... aside the fact that they were touching each other, the physical barriers down. She'd never allowed someone to be so close to her since... But better not to think of that now. She turned to a safe subject. "Do you think Luke and the Rogues are alright?"

"The kid?" Did she always have to bring up Luke? What was it with the kid? Did something else happen between them after that kiss in the medic ward? He was almost sure nothing happened. Almost. However, this was not the moment to explore that issue. "Sure," he answered, "no wampa creatures in deep space."

They both giggled. At the sound of her laugh, Han felt a sudden urge to kiss her. Would she run away afterwards, again? There was only a way to find out.

He sensed again the faint tremble in her limbs as he turned her slightly and slowly kissed her. She didn't escape this time. In fact, as soon as they parted, she reached for his lips one more time, drawing him even closer. Then she made herself comfortable in his embrace and turned her gaze again to the stars. Now he was the one shaking all over.

Han's legs had stopped aching a long time ago. They were presently numb. He was about to shift his position when a sudden sound startled him. He waited for a few seconds, wondering if it would be repeated. Yeah, there it was again. A lopsided grin rushed to his face.

Sure, the smuggler thought, she'd been quiet for a while and he had felt her body slowly relax.

"I win, Kid," he mumbled, "Princesses do snore."