Ok, time to check in on our favorite couple and see what's going on. Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 24: Wanna Bet?

The next morning was not as physically unpleasant as Han initially thought it would be. Thankfully, he never did end up drinking much more than usual, so his nagging headache was just that and not a full blown hangover.

Still needing something to keep his mind off Leia and Luke's dinner date from the previous evening, Han headed toward the hanger base intent on finding Chewbacca so they could get to work on the Falcon's touchy navicomputer. Stopping at the entrance to the cavernous space housing the various ships of the Alliance, his eyes drifted toward the grouping of X-Wings and Y-Wings where the pilots of Rogue Squadron would most likely be found, including one Commander Skywalker. Knowing that Chewie liked to hang around Luke and the other pilots, he figured his best bet would be to check there first. Even if he didn't find the Wookiee, Solo wouldn't mind stopping by and saying hello.

Sure as Tatooine had two suns, he found a small gaggle of pilots -minus Luke or Chewie - hanging around with their sleeves rolled up trying to give the impression they were there to fine tune their fighters to their own personal specs. Though, it wouldn't take a second glance to see what they were really doing was shooting the breeze. Ah, now this was something that Solo understood. Pilots usually had the best base scuttlebutt regarding Alliance activities and what could best be classified as 'everything else.'

"Hey Solo! About time we see you back on base. What happened? Did you finally get the Princess to agree to some sort of honeymoon?" Hobbie said.

"C'mon, Solo doesn't need a honeymoon to get her into bed, but he would need an ice-pick," Dack laughed.

Solo's insides churned with furious anger, but he held back. His mind raced trying to decide if they were just using the word 'honeymoon' as a euphemism or they actually somehow knew about the bonding.

"What do you say, guys? Anyone interested in betting on Solo 'breaking the ice' with the Princess?" Janson challenged, looking around to the other pilots.

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Leia who had been on her own search for Luke was within earshot of the group. Luckily, she hadn't been spotted and quickly ducked behind a rear landing strut of a nearby X-Wing and positioned herself so the body of the ship nearest them would obscure their line of sight.

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A dangerous light glinted in Solo's eyes. "Watch it, that's my lif-" he snarled, catching his choice of titles at the last possible second, "friend you're talkin' about."

The pilots' faces paled as they saw Solo's deadly glare land on the culprit. Some of the shock was true surprise. Solo had been famous in times past for his boasting of how he could have any woman he wanted – including the Princess. In fact, this wasn't even the worst the subject had ever degraded.

Hoping to smooth things out, Wedge was the first one to speak. "Let's take it easy here. We know she's your friend. He didn't really mean anything by it."

"She's also the friend of your CO. How do think Luke would like you talking about her like that, huh?" Solo didn't know why he had just defended the Princess's honor with such vehemence, especially since he was guilty of making comments akin to that himself at times - right to her face no less. But this is different, he argued to himself. She's not here to defend herself and these pilots work for the Rebellion. They should show some respect.

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While Han's line of thinking was new and interesting, even more interesting was the shocked expression on Leia's face. She heard Han's warning very clearly. He was only a few meters from her and he had spoken loudly. Normally, the way Han had aggressively come to her defense would be enough to surprise her, but for the entire galaxy she swore he had used the word 'lifemate.' Leia would have bet her life on it. However, had he actually used that particular title, the group would not had recovered by assuring Solo that the Princess was indeed her friend.

She shook her head clear and put the whole synaptic slipup down to one of those disturbing-type of thoughts. The kind no one ever admits to aloud for fear of being seen as somehow deranged.

All interest in the pilots' conversation was instantly forgotten as a large furry hand landed squarely on her shoulder. Leia nearly shrieked as she spun around. "Chewie," she said in a loud whisper of relief. "You startled me."

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The pilots' talk had turned to a more innocent nature, but still centered on the favorite subject of the base.

"Are you kiddin' me? None of you moon jockeys would even rate a first glance from her. She definitely goes for the handsome-type like me," Solo assured them with renewed confidence while pointing out his puffed chest.

"Sure, Solo. Whatever you say," Wedge rejoined, rolling his eyes and elbowing Zev. Seeing that Solo had regained his temper, Zev felt safe in a laugh that came out as a snort.

Han made a face at the two of them and continued to gloat. "Haven't you seen the way she looks at me? There's not a woman alive immune to my irresistible Solo charm."

"She seems to resist you pretty well while she's screaming at you all over base," Wedge mentioned, drawing a few more smirks.

"She loves me, I tell ya," Solo insisted more stubbornly, not about to back down.

"Care to make a bet about that?" Wedge goaded, jutting his chin out and leaning towards Solo in classic schoolyard challenge fashion.

Solo smirked and held out his hand, "You're on. Who else?"

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Chewie pointed to Han and the rest of the small group, whuffling a soft inquiry. Leia wasn't proficient in the language, but she and Chewie seemed to communicate well enough when needed.

"I, uh, was just looking for Luke. I thought I would find him here somewhere." She knew he had caught her spying, but hoped he wouldn't mention of it.

Chewie pointed to the row of X-Wings behind him and down to the left. Leia peered in that direction and could just catch Luke deep in conversation with an engine tech several ships away from where they stood.

The Wookiee's eyes were expressive enough in their own right for Leia to feel the weight of his accusing stare. Yet, with a soft barking chuckle, Chewie obviously wasn't about to hold her feet to the fire over this. In fact, he looked pretty amused.

"You caught me, Chewie," Leia shrugged, silently cursing that she had not heard much past Han threatening Janson and Hobbie. Briefly, turning back toward the pilots, she could only tell their conversation now appeared to continue on a more usual level of banter. Leia shook her head, "I can't believe the way they won't let go of the idea of some imaginary relationship. They were trying to place bets, for crying out loud."

Leia hoped Chewie hadn't heard the lurid bet the pilots suggested before Han put a stop to it.

Tilting his head, Chewie gave her his best mischievous Wookiee grin and gestured to the group meaningfully.

"Are you saying that I should place a bet of my own?"

Chewie nodded affirmatively.

"So you think there is something going on with Han and me, too? Why?" Leia told herself that she asked because she wanted to see if Han had kept quiet about Uluruan. Not so deep down, she knew that Chewie would give her zero indication if he did know. He would never sell out Han. So, truth be told, she really wanted to know if it were somehow obvious on her part if people could see her deeply private feelings. Plus, what did Chewie know about Han's feelings for her? Did Han have any feelings for her that were beyond wanting a casual sexual escapade?

Chewie growled something that Leia couldn't hope to understand and for once made her wish Threepio was within earshot.

"Hey, Solo, if you leave the Rebellion, all bets are off," one of the pilots stated loudly enough to catch her attention again.

Leia sighed and looked up at the tower of fur in front of her, "There's nothing there, Chewie. Believe me, I know."

Patting the huge forearm as she walked past Chewbacca, Leia wouldn't look him in the eye. She hurriedly started towards Luke, but suddenly changed direction and headed out of the hangar altogether.

Chewbacca wasn't buying it, though. He had noticed a difference in his Captain since their return. A definite softening could be detected in Solo's behavior towards the Princess and vice versa, for that matter. They continued to trade jibes as usual, but there was a distinct new underlying tone to it all. It was no longer just about sharp insults. Now, the banter had become more relationship-oriented in nature. Solo was flirting more directly and openly than ever before in the never-ending battle of wills. For her part, Leia continued to do an admirable job of putting him in his place, but as a keen observer of behavior, Chewie could see she was more affected than she once had been. Something had happened between Han Solo and the Princess and it wasn't something either one of them could easily brush off no matter how hard they were trying.

Chewie whuffed in a soft mournful manner for a moment watching after her. Once she left, he joined Han and the pilots.