Sorry for posting this chapter so late. I've been writing this earlier today when I was stuck in hospital after I fell during snowboarding. Well after hours of waiting and writing this chapter, doctors finally made some rentgen shot of my spine and neck. Luckily I didn't break anything, but the muscles in my neck were "torn", so I got neck splint for the next few days (oh who am I kidding its 2 weeks) and I look like giraffe right now. Ha Lord Vader, try to break my neck while I'm wearing this. So yeah, this chapter might resemble some of my feelings about doctors, hospitals and other medical stuff.

As always thanks for reading and thanks for all reviews and comments.

In this year I wish you all have loyal friends as Chewie, I wish you to find/keep someone who will love you as Han loves Leia and as Leia loves Han, I also hope you find the droids you're looking for and last but not least may the Force be with you.

Disclaimer: Yes you guessed it, I'm neither George Lucas nor Mickey Mouse for that matter, so I don't own Star Wars.

Chapter 14 – Many meetings

"This is Leia Organa speaking" said Leia through the intercom. "Asking for permission to land."

"Permission granted" came the voice through the communication channel.

Falcon landed softly and Leia barely felt when it touched the ground. She glanced at Han who was dealing with controls completely relaxed as she admired his piloting skills. The engines turned off leaving Han and Leia in silence. They both remained seated, observing X-wings that were landing all around them.

"What now?" asked Han and awoke Leia from her thoughts. Somehow she didn't want to leave the Falcon, but she wasn't really sure why. It seemed as if she wanted to say something, but she closed her mouth without speaking. Then she saw through a cockpit window a couple of people coming in Falcon's direction.

"Now we deal with the real world" she sighed and Han though he was puzzled didn't ask what she meant. "Would you lower the ramp, while I'll go and get Fion."

Few seconds later all three of them were standing on top of the ramp. "What?" asked Han, seeing Leia's hesitation.

"Nothing" Leia replied quickly. "Just let me do the talking." She didn't wait for Han to reply but was still able to hear his muffled response "What's that supposed to mean?"as she walked down the ramp. She spotted a large group of people cheering and gathering around X-wing nearby, but her attention was drawn by two figures standing in front of the Falcon. The closest of the pair was a woman with short brownish-red hair all dressed up in white.

"Chief of State" spoke Leia.

"Leia" greeted the woman and took Leia's hand in her own.

Then Leia saw an older man behind Mothma and smiled. "General…" she started.

"What is the meaning of this?" asked Mon Mothma shocked when she saw Han and Fion coming down the ramp. She measured them both from head to toe, her eye stopping on Imperial insignia Han wore.

Leia turned around slightly. "This is Fion" she spoke confidently even though she knew how absurd two former imperial soldiers looked in the Rebel base. "And allow me to introduce you Captain Han Solo". Han nodded.

Mon Mothma of course wasn't pleased with the greeting she received, but that wasn't the only thing that bothered her. "May I have a word with you Leia" she spoke.

"Yes of course," responded Leia and then spoke again. "Right after Fion gets medical assistance he needs." Then she walked right pass Mothma. "Excuse me" she said to technician who was heading in direction everyone else was. "Would you please take this young man to medical center?"

"Yes, Your Highness" replied the man.

"Fion" said Leia and turned to him. "Go with this man, answer to any question the medical service asks you and Han and I will be with you shortly."

Fion looked at Han uncertainly and Han said softly: "Go ahead Kid"

Fion accompanied by technician headed away and Leia finally turned back to Mon Mothma. "You wanted to speak with me" she said.

"I hoped we could discuss this in private" spoke Mothma and eyed Han with distrust.

Leia considered her words for a moment. "I see no need for that" she spoke slowly. "I trust C-Captain Solo completely."

Han gulped. He knew where this was heading and he didn't like it. He glanced at the old general behind the Chief of state and judging by the look on his face, neither did he. General saw that Han was watching him and he smiled sadly. There was something familiar about him.

Mon Mothma was staring at Leia with an expression that Han couldn't quite decide whether it was disbelief or disappointment. Probably a bit of both.

"But Leia, he's an Imperial" spoke Mothma her anger well hidden behind mask of diplomacy. "They're both Imperials" she added pointing in direction Fion left.

"Fion is just a boy" objected Leia.

"Imperials don't care if somebody they kill is just a boy or not."

"So we shouldn't be any better than them?" asked Leia hiding her anger not nearly as good as Mothma did.

"That's not what I said"

"But it's what you meant" proclaimed Leia and to Han it seemed she crossed the line.

Mon Mothma's lips were a thin line before she spoke again. "And what can you say about Commander Solo? Yes I can read Imperial insignias just fine, Leia" she said when Leia was about to say something. "There's no need to call him a Captain."

"He isn't Commander anymore… not since he refused to obey his orders to help the Rebellion" said Leia even though she knew this wasn't completely true, he never did anything to help the Rebellion. "And he" she continued, "he is the one that enabled X-wing pilot to make a successful shot in the Death Star's reactor. He saved the whole operation."

"Is this true?" asked Mothma finally turning to Han.

"Well… Yeah, I suppose" replied Han shrugging. He was a bit annoyed that they were speaking about him as if he wasn't even there, but he was smart enough to don't get involved in this verbal clash.

"It's true" interfered Dodonna, who Leia almost forgot was there. "Pilots are speaking of Millennium Falcon and if I'm not mistaken, this is this ship" he added and patted Falcon's hull.

"Alright" said Mothma not able to object to what General said. "I must admit you've made your point, but I'm not entirely convinced. I don't want to discuss this matter here, so we will talk about it later."

Now matter how she turned her words, Han didn't miss the message. It was only naturally she didn't trust him, but what really bothered him was the way she pretended he was underdeveloped lowlife.

Mon Mothma gave Leia a serious look, nodded to General and left pretending Han wasn't even there. The trio left by the Falcon remained silent until the woman disappeared around the corner.

"I'll talk with her about this later" said General Dodonna. "Maybe I can soften her a bit."

"Thank you, Jan" spoke Leia.

"Oh Leia, I 'm just so glad that you're alive. After that conversation with Tarkin, I feared the worst."

Leia wanted to ask him to define what ´the worst´ was, but instead forced a smile and said: "I'm very happy to see you General. Allow me to introduce you Captain Han Solo."

Han who had recognized General as the man Tarkin spoke with on the Death Star. He stepped closer and shook older man's hand. "Nice to meet you, sir" he said.

"Pleasure is all mine Captain Solo" spoke General with a sincere smile on his face. "I must say your flying out there is becoming quite legendary." Then he turned to Leia once again, his cheerful look quickly becoming one of sadness and concern."I'm grateful to have you back Leia and I am so, so very sorry about your loss." He stepped closer and hugged her gently.

Han thought he saw Leia stiffen, but the moment passed so quickly he just couldn't be really sure.

"Is she always this grumpy?" asked Han as they walked to the medical bay.

"She is not grumpy" said Leia and gave him a hard look, but then her face softened and she added with a smile:
"…and yes. But you heard Dodonna, he'll try to soften her"

"Well, that's a long shot" spoke Han and Leia laughed.

"You're probably right, but still you shouldn't think so badly of her" she said feeling slightly guilty about her conversation with Mon Mothma earlier. "She is… was a great friend of my father" she corrected herself "and they were two of founding members of the Rebellion. Moreover, she used to tutor me in political and diplomatic affairs, which I must say, came pretty handy at few occasions."

"Like that one time you spit at Vader?" asked Han trying to remain serious.

"Wait, what? How do you know about that, you weren't even there?"

"Rumors" replied Han casually. "But you just proved them."

"Well yes, I suppose. But no that was completely authentic and only a product of current inspiration."

Han only laughed at her choice of words. They were walking for quite some time already and he had no idea where he was. Leia, on the other hand, knew her way around really well. They passed for what seemed to be hundredth group of cheering pilots, technicians and officers, when Han asked: "How did you end up with this bunch of idealists anyway?"

"Well as I said my father was one of the founding members" spoke Leia and even though she tried to hide it Han spotted a glimpse of grief and sadness in her eyes. "I participated the meeting on Corellia where idea of establishing the Rebel Alliance was discussed, but only via hologram. That meeting was raided by Vader and his stormtroopers, but since I wasn't really there, nobody knew about my involvement with the Alliance."

"Until you were caught receiving those plans" added Han.

"Yes" nodded Leia. "My father didn't want me to join though, you know once the Alliance to restore the Repubilc was officially created. He actually forbade me to, because I was supposedly too young and it was too dangerous."

Han had to agree with this thought. "But…" he encouraged her to continue.

"But I did it anyway"

"Of course you did" spoke Han laughingly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Leia slightly irritated. That man truly acted as if he knew everything.

""Oh nothing, it's just…" said Han trying to sound casual. "If somebody tells you don't do this, you'll do it just to define him. Or if somebody says something you don't like, you'll try to contradict him"

"That's not true" she objected.

"See" said Han and smiled.

Leia turned away angrily realizing that he was in fact right.

They walked in silence for a couple of seconds. "What now? Gonna ignore me till I'm cold and dead?"

"That might be a lot sooner than you think" she spoke under her breath, just loud enough for Han to hear her.

"Come on Leia, I promise I won't interrupt again."

"Fine" said Leia and continued her story: "At first my membership in the Alliance was mostly a formality, but when I became a senator almost two years ago, it turned out there was a lot I could do to help. My diplomatic immunity enabled me to travel without interruptions and under cover of going to mercy missions, I would bring fresh supplies and weapons to Rebellion or even persuade systems to join the fight."

"No wonder Emperor dissolved the Senate" said Han, but when he saw the way Leia glared at him, he quickly added "Just kidding"

Very soon after they arrived to medical bay which was, despite Fion's occupied bed, completely empty. It wasn't like space battles left many injured soldiers. Leia stiffened as fear ran through every cell of her body. That scent, the one that you could smell in most of medical facilities, the smell of medicine… and drugs.

Immediately a droid came closer and spoke to Leia: "Hello, I am Two-Onebee. How can I be at your service, Your Highness?"

"We're here to see Fion" he said loudly before Leia could speak which caused a frown and puzzled expression on princess' face.

"Follow me" said droid and unnecessarily led them another three or four steps that remained to reach Fion's bed.

"How are you doing Kid?" asked Han cheerfully trying to hide that he was actually concerned.

"He had a…" started droid, only to be harshly stopped by Han.

"I wasn't talking to you" he said unkindly.

"I'm fine" finally spoke Fion. "Can we leave now?" he asked and looked at Han hopefully.

"I'm afraid…" started the Two-Onebee, but Han interrupted him again.

"Can I speak with someone organic?" he asked.

"I can call medical technician if you want, sir" suggested the droid.

"Yes, do that."

"You should be nicer to that droid" spoke Leia reproachingly as Two-Onebee walked away.

A man joined them in less than a minute. "How can I help you, Your Highness?"

Han was again starting to get really annoyed by the fact that nobody actually spoke to him, or acknowledged his presence in any way. He followed Leia around, true, but that didn't make him her pet. He wouldn't allow it.

"For a start, tell us how serious his health condition is" said Han and pointed at Fion.

"He has a concussion and has suffered a severe shock, but I can assure you, it is nothing serious" spoke doctor.

"Is there anything you can do?" asked Han.

"No, nothing. All he needs is a rest, but I would like to keep him under observation for the night. You know, just in case."

Han nodded.

"However" continued doctor "It would be of great help to me if I could have Fion's medical files."

"No can do" replied Han "Unless you can hack into Imperial medical database or something."

"We have some connections there, so it can be done, but it will take at least a day to get the files."

"I understand" said Han.

Doctor nodded and offered Fion two pills and a glass of water.

"What is this?" asked Fion suspiciously.

"These will help you sleep" answered the doctor and finally Fion took the offered pills and swallowed them.

Han sat down on the side of his bed. "We'll wait until you fall asleep" he told him.

After some rebel officer Leia never met before told her that she was needed in command center, she and Han headed there straight away.

"Are you alright?" asked Han as they walked towards it."You look pale"

"What? No I'm fine" replied Leia. She was determined that she won't tell Han how much the visit of medical center effected her.

They entered the command center and Leia received numerous nods, smiles and even congratulations for victory.

"Princess Leia" said Dodonna as she came closer.

"You wanted to see me"

"Yes. May I introduce you to the pilot who managed a shot into Death star's reactor"spoke Dodonna. At that point a man who was standing not far away stepped closer. "Leia, this is Luke Skywalker" he said. "Luke, meet Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan."

Leia felt a sting in her heart at the mention of Alderaan, but it faded away when she took a better look at Luke.

Luke was someone that Han would definitely call a Kid. He was no more than a boy, probably somewhere around Leia's age, with hair that Leia couldn't quite decide whether it was blond or light brown.

Luke bowed awkwardly. "I'm honored to meet you, Your Highness" he stuttered to the floor and when he lifted his face, Han saw he blushed. He suppressed a laugh and saw that Leia was as amused as he was.

At Luke's surprise Leia offered him a hand and he shook it nervously. "Nice to meet you Luke. Please call me Leia. Just Leia" she said. "You must be new in the Alliance, because I don't remember seeing you before."

"Yeah, I joined right after I delivered the droids to Alliance" replied Luke.

"Then I suppose I should thank you twice" said Leia and smiled sweetly.

Wait what? Thought Han. Luke said something, but he couldn't hear him anymore. She smiled. She smiled sweetly? Why didn't she ever smile at him this way? Not that he cared though... still...

Han was still thinking of how he should teach Luke where his place was, when Leia wasn't even looking at the boy anymore. Even during their conversation she had casted some glances at the older man behind him, but now she didn't try to hide that he had her full attention. Man was observing her from the moment she entered, which is the reason she noticed him in the first place. It was almost like she could feel his stare.

"There is someone else, I would like you to meet, Princess" spoke Dodonna.

"Oh will these meetings never end?" whined Han quietly.

Dodonna pretended he didn't hear that and he said loudly: "This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi"

As always thanks for reading.