They were seated across from Mon and Jan in the small conference room. They had been scheduled to debrief only with Mon, but Jan had arrived and assumed the empty chair next to her. The two Alliance leaders sat placidly, hands folded in front of them, like trusted anchors ready to update their audience on the latest news from around the galaxy. Live from Coruscant, The Mon and Jan Show.

"Leia," Mon began. "Can you summarize what happened on Jutra?"

Leia proceeded to fill them in on the failed endeavor, focusing on the surge of Imperial forces throughout the city and her suspicions about the current whereabouts of their contact. Han added his usual color commentary as well as insights on how, in his opinion, Imperial procedures around border security had strategically evolved over the past few months.

After they finished, Leia fielded a few follow-up questions and promised to keep in touch with the underground cell in case there were future opportunities for information exchange.

And all the while they were discussing the mission, Leia was thinking back to her and Han's kiss and what action, after much deliberation, she was determined to take.

Because, after all, action was necessary. What happened between them couldn't simply be swept under the rug. If left unacknowledged and unaddressed… well, she didn't want to contemplate the consequences of that.

And so her plan was to do it here, now, in this public-private space as soon as the briefing was complete.

She heard Han clear his throat next to her and pulled herself back to the discussion at hand.

"I was wondering," Han asked casually, "if it's worth taking another shot at going back to Jutra."

"Another shot?" Mon was skeptical. "Even with the Imperial presence there?"

"Yeah," Han nodded. "We'll know what to expect this time. It won't take us by surprise. Not saying that we need to retrace our exact movements or anything like that," and Leia could feel his eyes on her, "but maybe we can try something new. A different strategy."

"Perhaps we should consider it," Jan mused. "It doesn't hurt to develop a plan in case we get another opportunity."

"My thoughts exactly," said Han.

Jan nodded. "It certainly seems sound. Princess, I assume you'll be monitoring the chatter over the next few days. Let us know if anything you hear tips the scales for a possible return mission."

"I will," Leia promised, keeping her focus straight ahead. She tried not to flush under Han's scrutiny. There was no doubt in her mind that he was wearing a smugger-than-normal expression on his face.

Well, she thought, two can play at that game.

As Mon and Jan departed the room, Leia rose and employed her crispest diction. "A word, Captain?"

Han stood, his face unreadable. He must know what's coming, Leia thought. How could he not?

She took a breath, recalling the lines she had rehearsed in her quarters.

"Thank you for staying," she began. "I'm sure you're busy." She ignored the furrow that sprouted in the middle of his forehead and plowed on ahead. "I want you to know that I've given this a lot of thought. I know we both –"

"Wanna have dinner on the Falcon tonight?" Han interrupted.

Leia blinked. "Dinner?"

"Yeah. Dinner. You know, the meal people eat at the end of the day."

Leia frowned. "I know what dinner is."

"So you'll come?"

She glared at him. "I was speaking just now. To you. And you interrupted me."

"I know," he agreed. "But it's the only defense I've got."

"Defense?"

"Yeah. Against your arguments. Arguments that are probably smart and carefully prepared and all that."

Probably smart? She was offended.

"You don't even know what I was going to say," she challenged.

"Sure I do."

"Fine. Please let me say it anyway." She took another fortifying breath. "Look, I know we both value our friendship with each other. And because of that –"

The hatch slid open and she froze mid-sentence. Commander Ryland and two lieutenants entered the room before skidding to a halt at the sight of the Princess and her – well, Leia could see the wheels turning in the Commander's head as he tried to recall the latest rumors circling about the Princess and the smuggler.

"Your Highness," Ryland began. "I apologize for interrupting, but we reserved this room for a strategy session."

Leia composed herself, grateful that she and Han were separated by a safe distance. "Yes. Of course. We – Captain Solo and I – were just leaving."

Tossing the intruders a parting nod, she led Han into the corridor. Now they were in a public-public space and subject to all manner of interruptions and eavesdropping. It would be too risky to pursue her strategy here. She would have to regroup and come up with Plan B.

While she was considering this, Han folded his arms and regarded her cheerfully. "So. Dinner?"

She considered his offer. Maybe the Falcon really would be the best place to do what she had set out to do. After all, it was separated from others on the base but still an easy ramp-walk back to safety if things didn't go as planned. And unlike the conference room, there was no chance of them being kicked off his ship.

"Fine. Yes." She tried to appear suitably reluctant. "Nineteen-hundred?"

"Works for me." With a wink and a salute, Han turned heel and sauntered off. Even after he rounded the corner she could still make out the faint sound of his whistling.