I'll do replies with the next post (seems I usually get to them every other post!)...I just wanted to get this up!
It took only a few minutes for the small communicator to go off. Winter sent him the room number and Han was on his way up.
Han knew Winter from the various "supply runs" he made for the Alliance. Always observant, very smart. She never questioned it when "asked off the record" by General Carlist Rieekan to provide Han with certain locations and operation information of some of the Imperial supply bases. Her photographic memory and knowledge of Imperial Personnel had proven to be very invaluable to the Rebellion. Winter's assistance to Leia during her tenure on the Imperial Senate was often spent researching files and accompanying Leia on mercy missions that would conveniently give Winter the opportunity to learn the layout of the Imperial Bases they were docked at. Winter was integral part of Leia's double life before the destruction of Alderaan.
Winter moved from base to base frequently and Han always tried to make time to see her if his mission plans didn't already include a meeting. Both Han and Winter knew this was because of Leia. The fact that Winter was a large part of Leia's life, her old life, was fascinating to Han. She knew Leia before… Talking to Winter was, in the beginning, the only way Han had of getting to know Leia at all. Han tried to be casual in the beginning, making comments about "that haughty Princess that drove him crazy" and asking if she was always like that… Of course most of the time, he couldn't help but mentally kick himself for being so obvious. It wasn't just coincidence when Han planned a special dinner and it was something that Leia just loved. The fact that, in spite of Leia's occasional accusations of insensitivity and crassness, he would amaze her with his awareness of certain Alderaanian customs and holidays and act accordingly could all be attributed to Winter's input. Winter even shared the few old pictures she had of Leia. In one taken shortly before her capture, the girl in the holo was different than the Leia he knew. Subtle, but there was a difference. The sparkle in her dark eyes that he only saw occasionally was much brighter. She was happy… Winter gave him that one.
Han's conversations with Winter gave him the means that let him make those first small connections with Leia. Sometimes when he did something for Leia, it was behind Luke's back. They were good friends, they each would give their life to save the other if came to it, but they never spoke of the one thing that could potentially, but hadn't yet come between them. Leia. And Han hoped it never would. Han knew he couldn't stay if Luke and Leia were together. He'd never get in the middle of something Leia wanted. He just wanted to be sure she knew what or who that was first. For all this time, Luke and Leia hadn't taken any steps, he was aware of, to be more than friends. Luke even seemed to be letting go of his infatuation, even hinting for Han's benefit that he was backing off. But he knew they were still close. And that was something he envied. And in a small way, this was Han's only way of knowing a part of Leia that Luke didn't, and he kept it for himself; this was just for him. And Winter was good at keeping secrets.
The turbo lift stopped on the 59th floor and Han approached suite 5907. He rang the chime on the access panel and waited. Kyle Katarn was the face that greeted him.
"Solo." He extended his arm toward Han.
"Kyle." Han nodded and shook Kyle hand. "Where's the Princess?"
"She's on the terrace. Go ahead." Kyle pointed toward the glass doors and as Han was crossing the room added, "I've already scanned the suite for listening devices and holo recorders, Captain."
"Good." Still, Han trusted no one with Leia's safety but himself.
On the terrace, Winter and Leia stood overlooking a large lake of crystal clear water shimmering in the sunlight. Leia turned as Han walked though the door.
"Well, I've been out of your sight for a whole ten minutes and I seem to be surviving just fine." She smiled at him briefly and turned herself back to the view.
Han moved to stand beside her. "Well, here I am at beautiful resort, surrounded by beautiful, no doubt easy to please women, and I had to come give you the first chance."
"They'd have to be easy to please if you were enough." Here they were Leia thought, on the verge of escalating something harmless into a big deal if one of them didn't tone it down fast. Most of their confrontations started harmless and ended badly.
"Uncomplicated simple, easy-to-please can be a lot of fun. Sweetheart, you're so complicated you scare the hell out of most men. You should be thankful I'm not one of them."
Leia just shook her head incredulously. Han reached over and slung his arm around her shoulder. "Hey. Princess, I'm just kidding."
Leia nodded. "I know." She smiled back at him to let him know it was okay. For once, Leia thought, he did the right thing to diffuse the situation…
Winter cleared her throat. Han and Leia seemed to have forgotten she was right there. So this is what people were talking about. Winter had never before seen one of their exchanges, she sure had heard about them though. It couldn't be anymore apparent they cared for each other she observed. The look in each of their eyes was unmistakable.
Leia noticed Winter's attempt to remind them of her presence. She turned to Winter, and Han moved with her keeping his arm around her. "Winter, this is Captain Solo. I'm sure you remember him from the ceremony on Yavin."
"I do. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Captain."
Han offered his other hand, not willing to let go of Leia with his other. "I'm pleased to meet you also." And he gently grasped Winter's hand and bent down to softly kiss the back of it.
Charming, Solo…just charming. Leia never even realized, with Hans arm still around her that she swayed backward just enough to break it off. And if someone had pointed it out to her, she would have denied it. But Han noticed. He stepped back and headed inside before Leia could see the grin on his face.
Leia and Winter were left standing there on the terrace. The look Winter gave Leia made her blush.
"Milady, I think the Captain is fond of you. I'd say the feeling is mutual." The more regal and formal Winter sounded, the more Leia wanted to crawl in a hole.
Leia fell back into a lounge chair. "He has his moments."
Winter knew she wouldn't say more. Not yet, anyway.
Inside the suite, Han checked over the equipment that Kyle brought. He hoped the portable protection shield would be enough to protect all the windows while running at frequency low enough not to be detected by authorities. Tourists don't usually carry such devices. They couldn't afford to attract attention. Especially, Han thought, if he wasn't going to be there. Han made sure the motion detectors were in working order and then he re-scanned the suite anyway. It wasn't that he didn't trust Kyle. He was by all accounts a valuable member of the Rebellion. His reputation was one of professionalism and reliability. Mon Mothma herself was rather fond of him; Kyle was one of her "pet" agents. He was just a couple of years younger than Han and also attended the Academy for a time before dropping out and eventually joining the rebels. Of course, there had to be more to the story but that's all Han knew. Han resigned himself to the fact that Kyle had to be better than another fresh faced kid from the ranks.
He stepped back outside when he was finished. Winter saw him coming and took it as her cue to give them a moment alone.
"Sweetheart, I'm finished. I'm heading out for now. I better help Chewie lock down the ship before we go to any of those unsavory places a princess wouldn't dare venture."
"I'll be fine, you know." Leia got up and placed her hands on his arms and reached to give him one of those ever-so polite kisses on his cheek.
He wanted to reach for more, but this wasn't the time or place. Then again, he feared if something happened, would he ever have another chance?
She moved away quickly and Han followed Leia back inside.
"Call me on the comm. to check in from time to time. Let me know how the meeting goes. Maybe, I'll get you to take me up on that offer we talked about."
"You never know." Then as an afterthought, Leia added, "Good luck with your little card game."
By the door Han stopped, and looked at Kyle. "I don't have to tell you what will happen to you if anything happens to her," Han said as he tilted his head in Leia's direction.
"Solo. I'm quite sure I can handle it." Kyle tone was just as serious as Han's and he looked back at him squarely in the eye. As much as he respected Solo, he didn't take kindly towards such vocal doubts of his ability.
With that, Han left.
Leia watched the door slide shut and wondered just how stupid Han thought she must be if he really thought she believed he was going to play cards for the next several days…she intended to find out what he was doing.