Chapter 5:

Han Solo stalked into the mess hall, hoping to find Princess Leia Organa there. It had been three days since she moved out of the Falcon and into her quarters. Chewbacca had fixed the lock on her door, upgrading it by adding a hidden compartment that required a small brass key. Chewie had attached the key to a chat, and she wore it around her neck tucked inside her uniform.

Chewie gurrfed and gawed.

"I didn't expect her to stay here indefinitely. But with that assassin out there, she's not safe."

Chewie reeveered.

"She wasn't a prisoner."

Chewie grayyeed.

"I know, I just don't like using her for bait. Besides, she's a target wherever she goes on Home One. And most likely an attack will take place at night when parts of the ship are deserted."

The Wookie harrued.

"Luke's an idiot. You didn't have to fix her lock."

Chewie grumbled.

"Whatever!"

After that conversation, Han refused to speak to his best friend for a couple of days. And since his argument with Leia in the mess hall, he hadn't spoken to her either. Or she wasn't speaking to him. After their arguments, he could never tell.

Han stood akimbo at the entrance of the mess hall and scanned the room. He scowled when he spotted her sitting at the table with Colonel Liston (Liston! Would he test her food for poison?). She wore a smile that was warm, open. Not like the smiles she gave him. No, she gave him smug or sarcastic smiles. Rarely did Han inspire a smile like the one she wore for Liston. Han frowned. Maybe he should be a little nicer to her, but she made it so difficult sometimes.

Leia looked over in Han's direction; her smile slipped and she narrowed her large brown eyes at him. Liston must have said something because she looked back, shook her head, and smiled at him again. Han grunted and stormed out of the mess hall. Oatmeal was sounding much better than the pancakes and porcine bacon that was being served.

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Han hadn't seen Leia the rest of the day when he saw her walking down the corridor in his direction. His mood darkened more than it already was. All he wanted to do is reach the hangar and have Corellian ale on the Falcon before he turned in for the night. And now he had to face this pint-sized obstacle. He was certain she'd have nothing nice to say to him; she rarely did. Han thought about changing direction, but there were no adjacent corridors, and if he turned around now…well, that was out of the question. He would not give her the satisfaction. He continued on his path.

As soon as Leia saw him, she folded her arms across her chest. There was that scowl again. As they closed the gap between them, Han braced himself for another blow out. A great way to end the day, Han thought. However, it'd be satisfying to release some of his pent-up anger and put her in her place.

Or maybe she wouldn't give him the chance. She could just walk right past him as if he wasn't there. That would mean she won. No, Han wasn't going to let that happen. He made sure to walk in the middle of the corridor so that she'd be forced to confront him. As soon as they were standing a couple of feet in front of each other, they came to a stop. Han rested his hands on his hips; he was going to force her to make the first move.

Leia stood there in front of him and looked into Han's eyes. Her expression softened. Then she closed the gap between them, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her cheek against his chest.

Han froze. He held out his arms, unsure what to do. Leia's embrace tightened, and Han found himself wrapping his arms around her. His touch was gentle, delicate; he was too afraid to tighten his hold on her in fear that she would turn on him. When his shock faded, he opened himself up to the sensation of this unexpected embrace.

Leia had hugged him before, but usually when they triumphed in a battle or after a narrow escape. Those hugs didn't last long, and theirs was always a distance between their bodies. Now, here she was, her body pressed against his as if this was a natural state for them. The smell of Indigo jasmine filled his nostrils. Leia was so soft, so warm that his stomach heated up in response. He marveled over how small she was and how she fit just right in his embrace. Her head reached just under his chin, and Han resisted the urge to rest his head upon hers. He controlled his respiration, but he couldn't control the ever-increasing beat of his heart. Could she hear it? With her ear against his chest, there was no doubt that she could.

I don't want you to leave.

Leia relaxed her hold on him, and Han held out his arms to release her. Without looking up at him, she crossed her arms over her chest and side-stepped him. Han found that he couldn't move. He turned his head over his shoulder and watched her walk away.

She didn't look back or stop. She just gave him a stern order: "Tell the walking carpet to stop following me!"

Han said nothing. He turned back to the direction where he was headed (Where was he headed?). He touched his chest where her cheek had rested; still warm. Or was that his own heat he was feeling?

A hand on his back brought him out of the moment.

"Hey, Han. I was just headed to the Falcon," Luke said. "You up for a game of holochest?"

Han looked back; Leia was gone. How long had he been standing there?

"You okay?"

"Sure. Just...I'm not feelin' up for a game tonight. Chewie might be, though."

Luke's brow furrowed. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"No reason."

"Oh! I got to tell you about the maneuver drills we did today. You wouldn't believe it!" Luke said as they walked towards the hangar.

Luke's voice was full of excitement, but Han couldn't follow his words. Instead, his mind was on Leia.