Chapter Five

Han slowly walked up the ramp, replaying his whole interaction with Leia. She looked so beautiful but yet so different. The way she held herself was new and very cold and stiff. She definitely wasn't the Leia he knew and loved, but he hoped to change that. Han had to do something, he had to plan something. Here he was in a world where Leia was alive and well, he had to get her back. He just needed to figure out how to fix the past mistakes this Han had made. Stepping up and into the ship, Chewie about ran him over and quickly asked him how it had gone.

"It was ok." Han said. "She says hello."

"She talked to you? You actually saw her?" Chewie asked.

"I did, she saw me and we went to lunch."

"What!" Chewie said shocked and confused.

"Don't look so surprised."

"You were pretty horrible to her back then, I'm just shocked."

"Yeah well, I'm not that guy anymore."

"As of a few days ago?" Chewie asked.

"I …I guess so."

"You gonna tell me what brought Leia up again. You hadn't mentioned her in years, then one day you wake up and she's all you can talk about. And we're flying off planet to go see her and you're having lunch with her. It's all very weird."

"It's complicated."

"It seems like it." Chewie nodded. "Maybe you're just in the holiday spirit? The one that got away?" He suggested and Han nodded softly. Yeah maybe it was something like that. A holiday miracle that brought him to this very different world.

"I'm going to head in the back, I just need some time to think."

"How is she?" Chewie asked, honestly interested in how the Princess was doing.

"She's good, I think."

"Let me know if you need something." Chewie offered, While he wasn't sure what Han was going through, he still wanted to be there for his friend.

'Thanks buddy." Han nodded, before making his way back to the cabin. Han laid himself back against the bunk and closed his eyes. All he saw was her face, her eyes, her lips, anything and everything that had to do with her.

****"Han!" She called as she walked through their new apartment. Everything was coming together nicely. Leia was so pleased everything had gone smoothly and that their new home was almost ready. Turning around she smiled as Han walked into the room.

"What!" He asked, lifting a heavy box into the space.

"We're almost done." She said with a bright smile, walking over and into his arms. Han quickly tossed the box aside and pulled her tightly into his arms. Leia's hands linked up and around his neck, pulling his face down to meet hers.

"Welcome home Princess." He whispered against her lips. She let out a small moan and kissed him once more. Their lips danced in a familiar rhythm, both feeling at home and content for the first time in years. Maybe it was the new apartment, or finally having a real place to call home, but they both knew deep down it was because they had each other.

"I love you Han Solo." She mumbled against his jawline.

"I love you to Leia Organa." He told her, lifting her hand up and kissing over her engagement ring.

"Soon to be Organa Solo." She reminded him, as if he would ever forget. They were a few months away from their wedding. The day when Leia would become his forever, and they could fully start their life together.

"Of course…" He smiled. Looking down at her ring Han grinned. "You like it?" Han asked.

"You know I do, you could have given me a piece of string and I would have loved it." she whispered to him, kissing across the scar on his chin.

"It looks beautiful on you."

"It's beautiful Han. I'm never taking it off." She smiled.

"I sure hope so, you're stuck with me sweetheart."

"How will I survive?' She teased with a warm giggle as she tried to move from Han's arms. His hold on her tightened and he pulled her back to his chest. He leaned over and kissed her neck softly.

"How about we break this new place in?' He whispered against the side of her ear.

"Sounds heavenly." She moaned, leaning back and kissing him once more. Slowly she pulled back and smirked. "But we have a lot of boxes to move in…" She reminded him.

"Do it later…" He suggested, his fingers moving up to unbutton her shirt. She smiled down as his fingers expertly moved across her chest and opened up the thin shirt. Feeling the cold air against her exposed skin, Leia shivered. Moving closer to her, Han pressed his body to her's blocking her skin from the air around them. Leia smiled up at him.

"Maybe the boxes can wait…" She nodded in agreement.

"They sure can." He smirked, leaning down and pressing his lips to her neck. Her finger tips dug into his shoulders. She sighed into his touch and closed her eyes, allowing herself to memorize the feel of his lips against her skin.

"Han…" she sighed, her voice coming out as a whisper.

"Princess?"

"What are you waiting for?" She asked him with a slight laugh. Laughing along with her, Han quickly lifted her up and into his arms moving her quickly down the hallway to what was now their bedroom.******

Han was pulled out of his memories at the sound of something moving within the cabin. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes he was met with the dark cloaked man. Han just stared forward at him, should he be mad at this man, this thing? He had brought him to a world where Leia was alive, that was something, but in this world she also hated Han.

"Hello." It said to Han. Han only nodded, not knowing what to say. "I am pleased you have found your Princess."

"She's hardly mine in this world." Han said with a roll of his eyes.

"I'm sorry if the changes have been hard for you."

"Hard for me? My wife isn't my wife, she doesn't even…she doesn't care about me here."

"This may be true, but you agreed to any version of yourself and your Princess."

"I know I did…But she hates me here!" Han sighed. "She thinks I hate her! She…This version of me judged her, for something she had no control over. I never cared about Vader or who he was to Luke and Leia, why is this version of me so different?!" Han pleaded to know.

"I'm afraid this world is vastly different from your own. It is unfortunate, but something you must now live with."

"I want her back…I need her back."

"Your love seems different, unlike love I've seen before."

"We are different, we've always been different."

"Love is an interesting thing." He said, and Han nodded. Their love had always been different, he wasn't sure he had heard of other couples that started off with bickering and fighting. Most had romantic love stories, Han and Leia's love story was created during a war, in between blaster fire.

"I would have never treated her different, I loved her. I still love her so much." Han said shaking his head, he was so upset with himself. With this version of himself that he had never known and never wanted to know.

"This version of you…did treat her differently." He reminded Han.

"She's so cold and distant…." Han said shaking his head back and fourth. Still wrapping his mind around all of it. Which was worse, losing her completely or knowing she was right there in front of him but he couldn't do anything about it.

"The Princess has been through a lot." The cloaked figure noted. Han turned and glared at him, his pain was quickly turning to anger and he didn't know how to properly express it.

"Why do you care so much about me, or Leia?" Han bit out.

At first the cloaked figure stayed silent. There was an odd tension within the small cabin. Han was about to stand when the voice spoke once more.

"Neither one of you deserved her fate…It was right to fix it." He answered slowly.

"But why do you care?"

"I have my reasons."

"What reasons are those!? You have to explain why…." Han started.

"I'm afraid I have to leave for now." He said interrupting Han. Han clenched his jaw tight, truly not knowing if he should be angry with this miracle he was given or grateful. Looking back to his side Han watched as the cloaked figure slowly disappeared before Han's eyes.

Han through his head back against the bunk once more. His frustration coming to a boiling point. He didn't know what to do or to say. How was he meant to see and speak to Leia again? How was he meant to show her he was a different man? He didn't have the answers to any of this and that hurt even more. Looking to his side he found his data pad an quickly swiped it on.

The screen lit up and Han quickly scrolled through his past searches. The images of Leia flashed on his screen and his gaze stopped to stare at her. Looking over the words about her and the images made him miss her even more. Looking forward he quickly clicked on what looked to be a holo link.

The holo started and looked like footage from the press. The date from the file was dated for a few years prior, it was old news now, but could be very new to Han. Watching as people passed by the screen, Han caught sight of Leia. Her hair was still in it's long braids and she looked much like he remembered her. This couldn't be long after Endor, Han thought to himself. Which worried him, he still didn't have all the pieces to the puzzle. Were they still together at this point? Where they happy and in love?

"Princess!" They all screamed at her as she walked closer to where they were filming. "Princess look this way! Right here Princess." Leia nodded towards them and stepped forward.

"Good evening." she offered with a tight smile.

"How are you this evening Princess?"They all asked.

"I am well, thank you."

"Have you come alone Princess?'

"I'm afraid this occasion was last minute and I was unable to find an escort. But you'll find I can take care of myself." Leia offered with a small smile, earning a laugh from the people around her.

"What about General Solo?" Someone called from the back. Leia's eyes briefly moved past the screen, and a flash of hurt played across her face. Han's heart constricted as he watched the pain wash over her. He knew it then, they were already done and whatever had happened between them had hurt Leia deeply.

"I believe General Solo is on a mission." She answered politely.

"There have been rumors of the two of you, That you two are in a relationship? Any truth to it?"

Han watched as Leia paused and gathered her words.

"Han Solo is a close friend to myself and my brother Luke Skywalker. Friendship is our only relationship."

"Princess are you sure there isn't more to it?'

"I don't believe I'm General Solo's type." She said, earning yet another laugh as she tried to distract the press from their personal questions. "I need to be getting inside." Leia said with a small wave to everyone.

The video stopped but Han continued to stare at the black screen. She looked heart broken, but staying strong as always, Leia was always so much stronger then him. The screen lit up as news broke about Ambassador Organa. Clicking across the data pad, Han found the alert and slowly swiped it open. Photos and video started to appear, it looked to be a holiday announcement.

"Happy Holidays!" The voice said as the page fully loaded and Han read over the event details. "We are happy to announce tickets for this years Holiday Gala have just opened up. We are pleased to spend this time with you all and look forward to hosting this gathering. Ambassador Organa and Chancellor Mothma have planned a gorgeous event and we wish you all the happiness and holiday spirit. Tickets are being sold across the galaxy so please hurry. Please buy your tickets now."

Han smirked and looked down at the screen. It was in a few days time and anyone could buy tickets. A holiday event sounded nice, a reason to see Leia sounded even better. Quickly he scanned down and clicked on the tickets. Happy Holiday's indeed.


There we are =) Once again thank you all for reading and reviewing! More coming soon!