Chapter 38

            AN: Sorry about how long it has taken me to update.  Stuff happens but here ya go!

Han came sauntering into the cockpit again with a sigh.  "Well here we go,"  he announced, pulling the ship into real space.  One of the first things the group saw was a mass of asteroids.  Around this grouping, however, the fleet was quickly assembling. 

"Looks like everyone made it out alright, Your Worshipfulness,"  Han remarked. 

Leia just sighed and rolled her eyes as the comm. console crackled to life.  

"Welcome Millennium Falcon.  Captain Solo.  I am almost surprised to see you here, but pleased."  the voice of General Dodonna announced.

"Well, I am just dropping off a group of the Rebellion's finest,"  he answered with half a grin.

"It seems we have done well in terms of evacuation,"  Leia remarked

"Most of the fleet here?"  Han asked.

"Yes…I am surprised you are concerned,"  Leia looked over at him.

"I'm not…" he answered dryly as coordinates were sent to where he could land with the Falcon.

Han guided the Falcon to the directed coordinates and docked within a larger transport.

As the ship touched down and the afterburners cooled, Leia hurried to the ramp and lowered it, leading the way to a group that was clearly waiting for them, General Dodonna was one of them.

"I am glad you are alright," he smiled at the Princess.

"I am fine. How are our losses?" she asked, clearly concerned.

"We lost three fighters, though there were no pilots in them," he answered.
        Ari raised an eyebrow. "Did my Y-Wing make it?" She had started to get along with R4, and she hoped the droid was alright.
         "Yes, there were only X-wings that got hit. And Luke, your fighter was hit, but it is just a carbon burn. Your R2 unit is fine."
            "Thanks," Luke smiled. General Dodonna nodded and then turned to Leia once more.
        "Master Luke, may I go rejoin my counterpart?" See-Threepio asked.
        "Sure, Threepio. Just check in soon since will probably be leaving again soon."
            Threepio paused for a moment then nodded. "You wouldn't leave without us, would you, Master Luke?"
        "Of course not," Luke assured the droid, smiling at how worried the golden droid seemed.
        "I'll make sure he waits," Ari assured Threepio with a small laugh. "Can you check on R4 for me?"
        "Of course, Mistress Arianna," the droid nodded then left the hanger bay making his way down a hall and out of sight.
        "Why does he call me, Mistress?" Ari shook her head slightly.
        "I told him that since we were close it was like we were family," Luke told her. Ari's smile faded for a moment, thinking back to the loss of her family.
         Luke kicked himself mentally seeing how sad she was. "You are around to keep me on my toes, aren't you?" he teased, putting an arm around her shoulders.
        "Of course," Ari's smile came back though it didn't completely reach her eyes. For just that moment, however, it seemed as if they were back on Tatooine about to race Fixer, Windy and the others.
          The pair looked at each other and a small uncomfortable moment of silence came over them, much like the one they had experienced just a few hours before on Yavin.
         "Ari..." Luke started, looking a bit nervous. Ari looked up at him, her blue eyes meeting his.
         "Well, why not Luke?" Dodonna's voice tore them from their moment.
            "What?" Luke asked and dropped his arm from Ari's shoulders.
         "We were contacted by the leaders of Circarpous. They might be willing to help the Rebellion. In secret, of course," Leia explained noticing that Luke had not been paying attention when she and Dodonna had been talking.
         "And Princess Leia has agreed to go. Her diplomatic skills could be vital for this alliance," Dodonna added.

"And they feel that an escort would be helpful," Leia glanced over at Dodonna before looking at Luke.
         "Me?" Luke asked, a slight color coming to his cheeks, his ears turning a few shades redder.
        "Would that be alight with you?" Leia asked
        "Oh yeah. When do we leave?" he questioned, a small smile on his face.
       "Less than half a standard day. Get a nap and a meal," Dodonna advised them. "We will rendezvous in six hours," he added over his shoulder as he turned to leave.
         Luke and Leia glanced at each other for a moment as the General left.
        "I should go too. Make sure you get some rest," Leia told Luke with a soft smile, that carried over to Ari when she glanced in the other girl's direction. Ari had to force herself to smile back in return, though inside she didn't feel the happiness she was trying to show.
        Then Leia's eyes reached Han, who was leaning against the wall casually. "I guess this is it, flyboy," she remarked.
        "I guess so your Worshipfulness."
        Leia sighed. "You won't think of staying?"
        Han hesitated, then Luke spoke up. "Yeah, come on Han. You're a hero," Luke reminded him, teasing evident in his voice.
         "I told you. I am not for heroics," Han muttered then paused. "Well yeah, maybe I'll stick around a little," he shrugged glancing over at Chewie, who just nodded.

"The Falcon got a bit shot up."
        "I am sure we have some technicians who-" Leia started.
        "Nah, Chewie and I can handle it," Han answered.
            "Well...then..." Leia trailed off.
        "I'll see you around, Princess," Han told her, a half cocky grin on his face.
         Leia's dark eyes narrowed slightly but nodded, turning to go. "I'll meet you back here soon," she told Luke over her shoulder.
Ari glanced over at Luke, whose eyes were still transfixed on the retreating figure of Leia. Sighing, the blonde haired girl turned and her eyes fell on Han, who was looking between her and Luke.
            Something in his gaze made Ari feel defensive. "What?" she asked, one hand on her hip.
            "Nothing, nothing at all," he smirked. "Hey Luke, Luke," he called to get the younger man's attention.

"Huh?  What?"  Luke asked, turning to look at him, no longer lost in thought.

"If you stare at her any longer…."  Han teased, trailing off as Luke went red with embarrassment.

"I wasn't staring,"  he muttered.

"Sure kid, sure," Han laughed then turned to Chewie.  "Let's go get some food, I am sure they have something you'd like somewhere on board."  The pair started  down the corridor, Han shaking his head with a slight laugh.

Luke turned to Ari, who wasn't looking at him and he frowned slightly.  "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Ari shrugged, tilting her head toward him still not looking at him.

"I know you better than that," he pointed out, still looking at her.  "What's wrong?"

"You're leaving," she sighed, finally turning to him.  "You going and leaving me behind again."

Luke looked at her, a bit surprised.  "Ari," he started, then sighed.  "It won't be for long."

"You'd do anything for her though," Ari muttered then slapped her hand over her should, having not thought before speaking. 

Luke's eyes widened ever so slightly at this. 

"I just….I don't want to lose you,"  Ari told him.  "But you keep leaving, and I have to stay behind…"

"You won't lose me," Luke put his hands on her shoulders.  "I promise.  I will only be gone a few days.  Besides, someone has to look after the Rebellion while we are gone."

Ari just shook her head with a sigh.

"Please Ari, don't be like this…."

Finally, Ari let out a deep breath.  "You better come back," she told him, forcing a small smile.

"I will," he smiled back.

"Good.  Now come on, if you are supposed to eat and sleep, let's not waste any free time we have,"  she told him firmly, taking his arm and leading him to the cafeteria.

AN:  Please R&R