Ok, my fellow fanficcers, we may have been teased by certain group of our friends today, but I'm no tease...

Chapter 13: Bribery Gets You Everywhere

Han woke up as Leia emerged from the fresher wearing her robe and with her hair wound up in a towel. He could see another larger towel wrapped around her body underneath the robe from the night before. Solo grinned widely, "Good mornin', Your Immenseness. How ya feelin'?"

Leia grabbed her head, issuing a small noise that was a cross between a groan of pain and dissatisfaction, "Do you have to be so loud?"

"I guess the Queen got up on the wrong side of the royal throne this mornin'," Han crowed even more cheerfully.

If Leia had been within arm's reach of a blaster, she may have stunned him for that remark - or worse. Lacking the desired blaster, she settled for the best scowl she could manage through her pounding head. She walked over to the closet where the servants most likely would have stored their clothes. Selecting the basic outfit she wore when they first arrived, she wished she'd had the wherewithal to bring them into the fresher with her in the first place. At the time, just getting into the fresher seemed like a monumental task in and of itself. So, she had left it to chance whether or not Solo would be awake when she came out to retrieve them.

After Leia disappeared back into the fresher, Han got up and stretched, trying to relieve his cramped muscles from sleeping in a contorted position all night. He sauntered into the other room and headed for the small cooling unit there. He raked his hand through his hair as he studied the selection. Choosing one of the more innocuous looking drinks, he broke the seal and sniffed the contents. It smelled inoffensive enough, so he took a swig. The cool liquid felt good washing down his throat.

Walking over to the nearby chair, he flopped down. The hard part was over, now all they had to do was say their goodbyes to the King and blast out of there. For once, Han couldn't wait to get back to the Alliance base. Then Solo remembered he had to file for the dissolution. The dissolution, Han grimaced to himself watching Leia walk in and head directly to the cooling unit. She was back to looking more like herself, hair braided up and wearing her traveling clothes.

"I saw somethin' in there that should help your hangover, Sweetheart," Han offered, gesturing to the unit that Leia was standing in front of.

Not acknowledging him, Leia moved a couple of the containers around. She spied one that promised soothing energy in the labeling. Reading the contents, she saw that it was formulated to rehydrate the body and contained anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea properties. Closing the unit, she broke the seal on the container and sipped cautiously.

Leia was hesitant to turn around. While in the fresher getting dressed, her memory of the night before had come back to her in bits and pieces until she thought she remembered everything that happened. She had shut her eyes, reproaching herself for being stupid enough to let herself get out of control like that. As far as she could tell, Han had swept her out of the reception before she had done any damage there. But as for after that… She couldn't believe the way she had acted and the things she had said to Han.

Taking another small sip from the container she held, she tried to glance behind her. She would have to face this sooner or later. It might as well be sooner. Mustering up her dignity, she said quietly, "Thanks for getting me out of there last night."

"Captain Gorgeous, at your service, Your Most Highest Worshipfulness," Han intoned sarcastically from where he sat, spreading his arms out to his sides with his hands splayed at a natural angle.

Closing her eyes against the embarrassment, she cringed. Of course, Han wasn't going to let it slide. Why would he with enough perfect ammunition to make her life a living nightmare of endless torment? She faced him and took a few steps forward, trying to keep her poise.

"Look, I don't entirely remember what I did or said last night," she began. Actually, now standing in the same spot, she remembered quite clearly how she wanted him to kiss her more than anything.

Seeing a blush creeping over her face, Han knew she was probably remembering much more than she was letting on. He smiled mischievously, "I'd be happy to fill you in on the missin' parts."

She almost glared at him, but caught herself. She needed to be in his good graces for this. She flared her hands slightly away from her sides as she pleaded in as dignified way as possible, "Actually, I was hoping to forget about it entirely… and I was hoping you would do the same."

"I dunno- it'd make a great story. I'm sure Chewie and Luke would get a real kick out of it," Han' drawled as his eyebrows reached towards his hairline and he contemplating his drink. "Now Chewie? You probably don't have to worry about him saying anything, but Luke, well… you know how he can be."

Sure he would relent soon, but he might as well have a little fun in the meantime. He knew she was holding back her natural reactions to his goading. In fact, Leia probably wanted to choke him right about now.

Leia's eyes widened in horror, "You wouldn't!" Seeing his unrelenting expression, she squeezed her eyes shut and balled her fists at her sides. "Of course you would," she realized, again silently berating herself for allowing the whole thing to happen.

Knowing he had won this battle, Han got up and walked over to where she stood. Aching to touch her, he almost reached out and slid his hands down Leia's arms. Unfortunately, Han had no excuse that he could think of to do so. Affecting his best sabacc face so she wouldn't see any trace of how he really felt, he fought to sound indifferent, "Relax, Sweetheart. Everyone's been there at least once. Even you're entitled to a night like that."

"Then what's it going to take to keep you quiet about it?" Leia demanded.

Han pressed his lips together in consideration. He was about to tell her that he wouldn't say anything and not to worry about it, but if she was willing to offer him something…

"How about a bottle of that liquor the King keeps in his office?"

"How fitting," Leia said dryly. Then before he could make a smart remark, she followed with, "Deal." The Princess wanted to talk to him about not speaking of any of the bonding or the coronation either. However, she thought it best not to push her luck right now. She would find a better time before they arrived back at the Alliance base.

"Good. So are you about ready to get goin'? I wanna to takeoff before midday," Solo announced as he headed toward the fresher.

"Fine. I'll go contact my uncle, so he'll be expecting us," Leia said.

Han and Leia met King Antropo in his private quarters to say their farewells. To give them a few minutes alone, Solo meandered out onto the balcony overlooking a garden of small connecting pools and fountains. They were not as ornate or large as what he had seen at the Garden Palace, but impressive all the same. The warm breeze relaxed him as his thoughts centered on events of the last few days.

Mostly, he thought about Leia.

It was no longer any wonder to him that he loved her. Han acknowledged that he had been thinking quite a bit about her during the last standard year or so. Even Chewie had noticed his absorption and teased him mercilessly while they were working on the Falcon or playing a round of sabacc. Solo had brushed it all off, putting it down to one thing or another. No longer. He loved Leia. The only problem that now remained was what he was going to do about it - if anything.

To say the least, Han was unhappy about the fact that he had to leave to pay off Jabba. Leia felt the same way. She had made those feelings very clear the night he had agreed to bond with her. There was no choice though, sooner or later, he would have to leave. Han had a feeling that 'sooner' was already past and 'later' was coming to an end.

Sure, he didn't have to go right away, but what about Leia? If he tried to win her over, got her to face her feelings, and then had to leave… He sighed. Would that be fair?

Han told her he would come back for the right reason and he still believed he would. He questioned whether she would be willing to give him that reason. While here, Leia had been the most open about her feelings that Han had ever seen. He wasn't sure that would hold once they left.

More than likely, she would be back to business by the time they made planetfall. Maybe that was for the best, after all. She was right, a relationship would just open up a whole new set of problems. Han sighed again trying to clear his cluttered mind. In the end though, he didn't think he would mind trading in one set of problems for another.

Han was thinking so intently, he barely noticed the King join him. "Relaxing, isn't it?" King Antropo asked, gesturing to the scenery below.

"I guess. Is Leia ready to go?" Han wasn't much in the mood for small talk.

"She's saying goodbye to a few people," the King dismissed with a backward wave. From his pocket, he pulled out a datacard and handed it to Solo. "I wanted to give you this."

Han turned it over in his hand in examination, "What is it?"

"It's the dissolution decree. I drew it up myself and Leia has already put her approval on it. All you need to do is add your approval to it and drop it off to the Minister of Records on the way to your ship. I told him personally to expect you this morning. See that you give it directly to him yourself. He'll know how to handle it."

"When did Leia approve this?" Han asked, tapping the edge of the datacard with a finger.

"Yesterday, when I pulled her aside after the first couple toasts," the King said in a tone that obviously expected Han to remember.

Solo did remember the King taking Leia aside for a quick moment in between toasts, but he didn't remember anything else about it until now. Looking back, Han could now recall that she had seemed upset somehow afterwards. Maybe upset wasn't quite the right word. Whatever the word was, it now made sense. Bonded, crowned, and dissolved all in a matter of hours. If Han had been Leia, he would've have probably done a whole lot more that just take a sip at each of the toasts.

Hiding his grimace, Han put the datacard into the pocket of his flight jacket. He was angry. How could King Antropo have been so heartless regarding his niece? Then he realized that this had been the deal from the beginning. It was just business at the least and helping out a friend at the most.

After all, that's what both Leia and Solo had insisted to the King. It's not Antropo's fault that Han had realized his feelings of love for her even if that ridiculous elixir had something to do with it. In fact, if Han was right about Leia's strong reaction to the dissolution decree that was another point in his favor that Leia indeed had romantic feelings for him, too - maybe even the love he hoped for in return.

King Antropo seized the moment to catch Han's glance as he looked up. "Thank you for your help, Captain Solo," he stated in his most sincere royal tones.

Han shook his head slightly. "I didn't do it for you," he answered almost gruffly.

The King glanced back towards the room where Leia was now finishing up, "Indeed." Then he returned his glance back to Solo. "Nonetheless, we are in your debt." The King held out his hand in a gesture of goodwill and thanks.

Solo shook the King's hand quickly, but firmly. "I'll remember that," Han said, allowing a bit of his mercenary tendencies to seep into his voice. If the King wanted to owe him one, then why not? After all, you never know when a favor from a former King might come in handy. "I'm gonna see if Leia's ready."

Han strode into the other room to collect the Princess. The King watched him go, a wry grin creeping across his face. He had a strong feeling he would see Solo again. No doubt about it, he thought, shaking his head and chuckling to himself.