Ha! I did NOT forget it was Friday. Apparently, 14-15 years later, just before I was about to post, I decided I needed to rewrite the beginning of this chapter. I think it's a bit more fun now & extra long. I like it better at any rate. I hope you agree. I love hearing from you about this fic. It's really mind-blowing to me that people think it's worth saying anything at all. As you know, I make a point to answer all reviews and PM's because I really do enjoy chatting about Han/Leia.

Chapter 12: Captain Gorgeous

Captain Solo escorted Queen Leia back down the aisle sporting an uncontrollable ridiculously cheerful grin. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was congratulating himself for making Leia genuinely smile like that. It was a rare occurrence, but it was unmistakable and had always made his heart beat with a mind of its own. Not that he tried all that often to make it happen, but his priorities were definitely changed now.

Having been ushered into a small side room adjoining another large hall, they waited in silence. Leia awkwardly refused to meet his eyes. Even as a trained orator, she had no idea what she could possibly say in that moment. The standard phrases regarding being in love and happy that commonly occurred during this time were not about to be admitted aloud or otherwise.

If she could just keep her eyes off of him, she was sure she could hold herself together and not blurt out something stupid. He was heartbreakingly handsome standing there and her emotions were running higher than ever before. She couldn't help remembering her earlier dream. It had felt so real and so had the ceremony just now.

Thankfully, several attendants suddenly surrounded them breaking the spell. They removed the Queen's ceremonial crown and replaced it with the original tiara. While he was irritated with person trying to touch up his hair, he found himself admiring the way Leia looked in her tiara. It struck a chord with one of his past underlying fantasies of her. He had teased her about the idea before, but now he had actual ammunition and fully planned on never letting her live it down. As much as he enjoyed seeing her this way, it was just too enticing a tease to pass up. To achieve the full effect of the pink flush of enraged passion on her cheeks, the timing had to be right. Now was not that time.

The Queen surreptitiously watched the dutifully brave attendant making a concerted effort to comb Han's hair much to his displeasure. His annoyed face and demeanor dripping with dire warnings elicited a knowing smirk from Leia. She mused that it was a good thing he wasn't wearing his blaster or he may have been more than a little tempted to use it.

The head attendant in charge of the ceremony stepped in front of them. He bowed to the Queen before speaking, "Your Highness, the guests have assembled in the Throne Room and await your arrival with Captain Solo."

While Leia nodded her assent, Han took the opportunity to once again reach for her hand and squeeze it gently before lifting it to the crook of his arm. Solo literally had to stop himself from raising her hand to his mouth first to kiss her fingers, jerking his head back to straighten up instead of completing the movement that initially felt so natural. Now he amazed himself at how deeply he had fallen for this woman.

Han gestured to the door as he finally broke the silence between them, "Well, Your Most Royal Immenseness, here's where the fun begins."

Leia closed her eyes in exasperation at his flippancy, but smiled nonetheless. She resolved that no matter what situation Han found himself in, Solo would always be Solo. Her next thought that snuck in on the heels of the first and without her permission was that she liked that about him.

Albeit slightly smaller than the grand wedding hall, the Throne Room was decorated lavishly, befitting the new Queen's status. There were huge carved support columns arranged in two rows along the spacious room. Each one was completely ensconced in beautiful flowers and lush greenery, creating a picturesque utopian atmosphere. Leia recognized at least a third of the flowers as being native only to Alderaan and it lent another bittersweet twinge to her already emotional day.

The royal announcement of their entrance was met with applause and fanfare. They stood for a moment before walking toward their table as per prior instruction. Once there the music would take over, signaling the beginning of the festivities. Han spied the bandleader and, on a whim because that was how he did his best thinking, he signaled for the band to start playing just as they reached the middle of the room.

Leia's eyes widened. "What are you doing?" She said trying not to move her lips knowing that all eyes were on Han and her.

Han turned her to face him and bowed slightly in a gentlemanly fashion, "May I have this dance?"

For a moment, Leia was dumbstruck and somewhat flustered, but kept her control. "Solo, this is not what is supposed to happen."

"You're the Queen, Sweetheart," Solo reminded her while trying to appear as charming as possible. "You get to decide what's supposed to happen."

"Making things up as I go along is not what I had in mind," she pointed out while keeping the now fake smile plastered on her face. She stole a look over Han's shoulder to the now former King. His smile was genuine and he gave her a knowing nod of encouragement.

"What's wrong?" Han smiled winningly. "Don't you want to dance with your new bondmate?"

She knew she was sunk and Solo had won. They had been standing there too long and if they didn't dance now, it wouldn't look right. Keeping her smile firmly in place, she nodded her assent, but her whispered response flat-lined with sarcasm, "Of course I do."

As he took her into his arms, maintaining a respectful distance in light of the circumstances and also unsure if she would try to purposed jab him in the foot in retribution for his stunt, he again signaled for the other guests to join in. Thankfully, they were all too happy to share in their royal couple's jubilant spin around the dance floor.

Once the major attention of the crowd was focused elsewhere, Han began staring pointedly at her with those irresistible, expressive hazel eyes of his as he ushered them around the dance floor. His hand felt sure around her waist as they danced. With every turn, Leia ended up a little closer in Han's embrace. He tried to regain some of their previous progress.

"C'mon, Sweetheart, you can't blame a guy for wanting to dance with the most beautiful woman here, can you?" He smiled down at her in the way he knew she found irresistible and her expression softened a bit, but she didn't answer him.

Confusion reigned in the new Queen. First, Han barely kissed her during the ceremony and now he was edging her closer and closer as he was staring meaningfully into her eyes. So meaningfully, that Leia found it harder and harder to believe it was an act. Eventually, she put her confusion down to stress. Leia had to admit that it had been one of the more stressful days she had been through in a long time. Considering her time with the Rebellion, that was no small thing.

During the seemingly endless celebration, there were many toasts to the new queen and her lifemate. Of course, Leia was compelled to drink to them all. She tried to restrict herself to small sips during each and even faked more than a few, but it was to no avail. Ultimately, she found herself feeling a little tipsy. Perhaps she shouldn't have surreptitiously downed that glass of strong clear liquor that she swiped from a waiter as he passed by just after affirming the divorce decree. Or that second glass either. Definitely, not the third.

A short time after Leia returned from a quick private conversation off to the side with King Antropo, Han picked up on her intoxicated state and cursed under breath. Knowing he had to act fast before another well-wisher made their way over to them, Solo grasped Leia's upper arm, intent on leaving.

"C'mon, Your Worship. Party's over," he said in no uncertain terms.

Leia gazed up at him and was having obvious trouble retaining her clear focus. "We really should stay," she said after a long second, slurring the last two words a bit.

"That's it. I gotta get you outta here," Han insisted and quickly led them out through a side door before anyone could stop them. There might be some talk of them leaving without saying goodbye, but Solo knew it could be much worse if Leia had to interact with anyone right now. She was in no condition. Besides, who would really fault them on their 'bonding night'?

As he walked a slightly wobbly Princess, now Queen, back to their appointed bonding suite, Han kicked himself for not keeping a closer eye on her. This wasn't like her.

Normally, Leia held her liquor well for such a petite woman. He knew she had been heavily stressed the whole day and considered maybe that had something to do with it. Add in a ton of new pressures on top of the Rebellion and anyone was bound to overdo it without realizing, Solo rationalized.

At the door, Han put her between the wall and himself for support while he punched in the code. "How're you doin', Sweetheart?"

Leia smiled brightly, "I'm fine, Sweetheart. How're you?"

Han smirked incredulously. Her Immenseness was looped. Solo had seen her slightly intoxicated once in a rare while over the last few years, but never quite this far gone. He almost wished he could record this.

The door hissed open and Leia seemed pleased. He could swear that her expression had the distinct appearance of… anticipation. Shaking the feeling off, Solo led her inside, and locked the door behind them. Standing Leia in the middle of the outer room, Han held her shoulders to steady her. He leaned down parallel to her face to assess her, studiously peering into her eyes.

"You sure you're okay?"

"I just said I was fine. You're the one who didn't answer the question," she reminded him rather lucidly.

"Okay, then why don't you get changed and then we'll get some sleep?" Han suggested, convinced for the moment that she could handle it by herself without falling down and getting hurt.

Leia stared at him, slightly disoriented. "What are you talking about? You're not sleeping with me!" She just about shouted, shaking her head and pointing her unsteady finger in his general direction.

Han sighed, reminding himself that he needed to be as patient as possible. "Of course I'm not sleeping with you. I meant that we'll both go to sleep, that's all. Now I want you to go and get changed. Call me when you're done."

Without questioning why Han wanted her to call him after she changed, she complied with her dress swishing unregally about her as she trundled into the bedroom. A moment later, she reappeared with a bashful glow on her face.

"I, uh, need some help with the fasteners in the back," she mumbled, speaking to the floor. She seemed to realize that most women would want their new lifemates to help them out of their dress on their bonding night...but she wasn't most women and this wasn't most bonding nights.

Han moved to walk behind her and the flush on Leia's face that he had originally put down to the effects of alcohol, noticeably reddened even more. He stopped and stepped in front of her instead.

Leia looked puzzled. "What're you doing?"

Han reached around her back, hiding his hands underneath her cascading veil of dark hair which was now devoid of her tiara.

"I'm undoin' the fasteners," he said tenderly, as he gently manipulated the catches. Leia felt herself sway again and she naturally reached out for support, her hands landing firmly on Han's chest.

When she left them there, Han searched her gaze for an explanation. A significant part of him wished that this could happen while she was sober. Solo tried to concentrate on his task instead of the way her body felt seductively soft and warm underneath his hands or the encouraging way she was staring at him.

It would be so easy to lean down and taste her enticing mouth, her lips having parted seemingly expectantly. His entire being was demanding he kiss her. That small peck during the ceremony hardly counted. He wanted – no, needed a real kiss and began to lean down already anticipating where he would let his hands wander as he kissed her.

At the last second, he pulled up. His conscience stopped him and surprised him. Absently, he wondered when his conscience started making decisions for him. He pushed it aside for a more palatable reason: Leia might go for it now, but when she sobered up, Han was pretty sure her reaction wouldn't be as positive. She would accuse him of taking advantage of her. Then, she would lose any trust in him that he might have going.

Han didn't need nor want that. So, he forced himself to hold back as difficult as it was. Solo thought he must be getting old and mellow. There was a time when a lot less opportunity than this would have made him go for broke.

All too soon for Han, he was finished with the fasteners. Slowly brushing his fingers down the open 'V' of the gown to supposedly to check for any missed fasteners, he pronounced, "All done, Sweetheart." He didn't miss the little shiver from her as his fingers had trailed along the exposed skin of her back.

"Are you sure that's all?" Leia asked quietly, without moving away from him. Her hazy brown eyes searched his hopefully.

"Yeah." Regretfully, Han stepped back. Leia hands slid from his chest to fall at her sides.

Visibly upset, Leia drew her hands behind her back, doing her best to hold the gown closed and turned to go. "I don't think you know what you want," she mumbled almost incoherently, making her way into the bedroom.

Han plundered a hand through his hair and sighed forcefully. His stubborn mane had been combed neatly at the beginning of the day, but now it had fallen back into its naturally scruffy disarray. He took off the jacket and other regalia he had been wearing and tossed them onto a nearby chair. Sitting down, he struggled to kick off his boots. Han wasn't sure what exactly was going on, but this was turning out to be one hell of a day.

"Ok, I'm ready," Leia called out from the other room. Han got up and walked in, hoping she would have managed all right.

The first thing he saw was the dress in a pile on the floor just inside of the doorway. Stepping around it, he looked up to see Leia wearing a long, flowing white gauzy negligee peeking out from beneath a more conservative robe. The robe sufficiently covered and blocked out the main bodice of the see-through slip underneath. Han guessed the bonding assistants had picked out the garments because he wouldn't believe it was Leia's doing. Han was surprised that Leia seemed comfortable wearing the attire in front of him, but then again, alcohol does a good job of lowering one's inhibitions, he reasoned.

"Are you blushing?" Leia asked incredulously, her eyes wide and eyebrows raised.

Of course he wasn't, but it was pointless to argue with her in this condition. "I guess I'm just the shy type," Han answered, pulling back the covers of the bed and sitting Leia down on the edge before swinging her feet up.

"Since when?" With a sudden burst of bravery. "And what about that kiss during the ceremony?" Had she not had too much to drink, the question never would have made it past her lips.

"What about it?" Han asked, hoping to appease her quickly, but also interested in hearing this. He may never get another chance at hearing the answer again. With one hand, he yanked the covers up over her loosely, while coaxing her to relax and lie down with the other.

"That's how you kiss your lifemate at your bonding? Aren't you supposed to be 'Han Solo, Master of Corellian Charm?'" Leia accused with a slight edge.

"I thought that's what you wanted, Sweetheart," Han said defensively and honestly, his patience again being tested.

"Ha! Shows how little you know," she balked, sounding disappointed. "When all of those women you boast about get wind of this, Captain Gorgeous, you're going to have a hard time convincing any of them to spend time with you," Leia finished, wagging a finger at him in an overly wide arc triumphantly.

Han captured the waving hand and kissed it gently, unable to help himself. "Then I guess I'll just spend that extra time taking care of you when you've had too much to drink. You're gonna have one helluva hangover in the mornin', Sweetheart," he smirked.

Presumably appeased, Leia smiled, but her eyes were fighting to stay open. "But you'll be there for me, won't you, Han? You're always there for me…" She finally had to allow her eyes to close. "… because you're a nice man," she whispered, dropping off to sleep.

Solo stood next to the bed for a long moment and studied her. Leia was so beautiful, especially with her hair down. He had never seen it all the way down before today and it had enchanted him the second he saw it. Han longed to entwine his fingers in the long tresses and give Leia the kiss she evidently had been expecting. A kiss that she would never forget, one that she could carry with her when he had to eventually leave to pay off his debts. He wondered if he would ever get the opportunity. Chances were that when she woke up in the morning, she wouldn't remember much about their conversation. If she did, Han doubted she would admit it anyway.

Grimacing, he walked over to the couch on the other side of the bedroom. Most likely, Leia would have insisted on him sleeping in the outer room had she been more sober. The very reason that she wasn't sober made Han anxious to keep an eye on her from in here, in case she needed him during the night. Tossing a few troublesome times, he found a comfortable position to sleep in. With one long sigh to dispel the day, he closed his eyes and drifted off.