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Once on the streets of Nal Hutta, Chewbacca had embraced Han in a bone-crushing hug, reiterating all his claims of life debt and brotherhood. Han had squirmed and tried to convince the Wookiee to take off and enjoy his freedom, but he remained tenaciously at Solo's side, growling a lifetime of allegiance.

Inside the Princess' ship, an unremarkable personal freighter that he assumed was chosen for just that reason, Han admitted to his newfound friend that he had struck a bargain with the Princess.

There had been a moment in the Jablogian's chamber when he had declared that the price for the Wookiee would be one hundred fifty thousand credits. The young woman had argued but he remained firm, stating that a Wookiee's strength made him worth more than a human. Han had begun to sweat, worrying that she would change her mind. But, true to her word, she purchased Chewbacca.

He had watched her during this transaction, curious about this tiny, commanding woman who held her head high and showed no fear in such a potentially dangerous situation.

What kind of Princess put herself in such a position? And for the Rebellion against the Empire, no less. Was she crazy?

And now, here he was, stuck with a Wookiee who refused to leave and an unwanted career with the Rebellion for the next three years. That admission had only increased Chewbacca's fervor about the life debt. It seemed the Princess had gotten herself a package deal.

Sitting in the main hold with Chewbacca, contemplating his fate, he looked up at the sound of footsteps and saw the Princess enter. His brow rose slightly at the sight of her. She was now wearing a long, white dress that was not nearly as tight as the black jumpsuit, yet flowed nicely along her curves. The collar was slightly raised, the sleeves were short, and the front was closed all the way down with tiny, white hooks. She was stunning and it took Han a moment to gather his wits and think.

"Welcome to the Alliance," she said quietly.

Chewbacca bellowed softly but Han had forgotten him altogether.

"Who are you?" he asked, frustrated that he still had no idea.

"I'm Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan."

Alderaan? Thoughts skittered through his mind as he tried to assemble this information. "You're from Alderaan and you're fighting with the Rebellion? I thought Alderaanians didn't fight."

Something hardened behind her eyes. "Sometimes we are left with no choice."

"What business did you have on Nar Shada?"

"My business was in this system, not on Nar Shada. I was to receive a very important transmission. But, now I missed it. Thanks to the slavers taking my ship in."

"What kinda transmission?"

Her lips pursed thoughtfully, as if she were trying to decide how much to reveal to them. With a small sigh, she came forward and sat down delicately at the table with them. "The Empire has built a new space station. One capable of destroying entire planets."

Chewbacca roared from beside him and Han agreed with his sentiment.

"That's impossible."

"I wish that were true." She paused. "Now that you're with the Rebellion, you will see the true horror of the atrocities the Empire commits."

He felt his jaw grow taut. "I'm not with the Rebellion. This is just a business deal. I don't care about this cause." He was aware his tone had become hostile but he didn't care. He would do what he had to for the next three years, but this was not his fight.

Her expression grew cold and pinched. "Don't you care about the injustices in this galaxy?"

"Princess, you don't know half of the bad shit that goes down in this galaxy. It's not just the Empire. Look at where we just came from."

"That's exactly what I mean. Before the Empire, slavery was outlawed."

He grinned sardonically. "Just cause something's illegal doesn't mean it's not happening all over the place."

The Wookiee roared agreement as the Princess' eyes took them both in.

Han leaned in closer and sharpened his tone to a sneer. "Things might have been all sunshine and starlight where you come from before the Empire took over. But on the Outer Rim, galactic law don't matter. Everyone struggled the same under the Republic as under the Empire."

The Wookiee barked a suggestion to Han that he soften his tone but he just tossed him a dirty look.

"It doesn't have to be that way," she insisted softly. "We can change the galaxy for everyone."

Her words were completely against Han's personal philosophy. "I don't care about anyone else. I just take care of one person: me."

Sitting up straighter, all softness left her expression. "Really?" she asked harshly. "Well, what about him?" She pointed very deliberately to the Wookiee sitting beside him.

For a moment, Han wasn't sure how to answer. Chewbacca was an anomaly. They were both watching him expectantly.

"These were special circumstances," he grumbled, eyes on the table top between them.

An uncomfortable silence fell loudly in place. He didn't look up until the Princess spoke again.

"What is it that you normally do? When you're not being sold as a slave."

With a self-conscious shrug of his shoulders, he replied, "I'm a smuggler."

Eyes still hard, she stared at him. "Do you have a ship?"

He glowered. "No. Not yet."

She nodded thoughtfully. "How do I know I can trust you?"

He glared at her, resentful. "Cause you could blow us up anytime you wanted!"

Her eyes lowered in seeming embarrassment. "I'm not looking to own you. Or anyone."

"Well, you kinda do."

She returned her gaze to his, suddenly defensive. "This arrangement was your idea."

"I know. That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."

Something sparked quickly between them, a tendril that was both hostile and electric. Then, the Princess' face grew impassive.

"Very well. No one is happy." She rose and strode defiantly from the hold.

Not far from his ear, a string of growls and barks informed Han that he should probably be more respectful to the woman who had saved both their hides.

"Who asked you?" he grunted back.

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Strapped into the navigator's chair in the cockpit of the freighter that operated under the alias of Chalker's Dream, Leia waited patiently as they entered Alderaan's atmosphere. She stared at the back of Captain Antilles' head without seeing it. Instead, in her mind's eye, she saw that smuggler, Solo.

She didn't know what to think of him. He had done this unbelievably selfless thing. He had chased after her, practically begging her to free his friend, had traded away three years of his life. It had impressed her tremendously. She had felt inspired, as if he must be the type of man who would fight against the tyranny of the Empire.

Now, he declared that he didn't care about anyone. She couldn't reconcile these two sides of him in her mind.

At first sight, she had been a bit taken aback by his looks. He was very handsome, in a rugged, masculine way. Her thoughts had gone no farther until his offer. The gesture had touched her profoundly and she found herself drawn to him.

Attracted, she admitted to herself reluctantly. I was attracted to him.

Leia rarely found herself attracted to men. She had met many men that she deemed handsome, but she had only felt that spark a very small number of times. Her agenda did not include romantic endeavors. When could she possibly find the time?

So, attraction sparked and quickly faded as she continued her efforts as a senator and a spy for the Rebel Alliance. But, this time, the attraction had more than sparked. It had flamed with a brilliant intensity she had never felt before. Each time their eyes met and held, her heart had pounded more fiercely than when she had been waiting to be boarded by the slavers.

Now, her feelings had become completely muddled. Looking at him in the ship's main hold, the attraction remained but her heart had sunk with each of his cynical declarations. Clearly, he was not the man she had thought he was.

Not that it should matter. She wasn't looking to pursue anything with him or anyone else. Yet, she still felt a profound sense of disappointment.

Chalker's Dream docked in an area of the spaceport that secretly housed the few ships used for Alliance purposes. At the bottom of the ramp, Leia ran into Solo and Chewbacca. The Wookiee roared what sounded like a friendly greeting. She and Solo eyed each other warily.

"So, what now?" His hands were on his hips and he looked tense.

"You will be serving under Captain Antilles."

He made a sour face.

"For now," she added. "When the time comes, you will be asked to fly."

His eyes lit up. "What'll I be flying?"

"Probably an X-Wing. Possibly a Y-Wing."

He grinned. "When you think that'll be?"

The sudden, crooked grin took her off guard and she felt her pulse speed up. She cursed herself for having such a reaction. "I don't know yet. I hope it will be soon."

The sides of his lips lowered to a more neutral expression. "Me, too."

"It will be dangerous."

"I can handle it." He didn't look even remotely concerned.

Leia nodded and realized she had no reason to linger, despite the fact that she found herself looking for one.

"Where you goin' now?" he asked, as if reading her thoughts.

"Home."

"Where's that? A palace?"

She nodded with a slight stiffening of her spine. Why did he make her feel defensive?

They just looked at each other and she felt her face grow warm as a pleasant, albeit unnerving, buzz ran through her.

"Will I see you again?" His expression revealed nothing.

"Yes. As part of Captain Antilles' team, you will be accompanying me on all missions."

"Good."

The heat in her face intensified and a spike of pleasure shot through her.

"Cause you have our remotes," he added then quickly turned and headed back up the ramp, Wookiee trailing him.

She felt the hot blush creep up her neck and cursed herself silently, feeling suddenly embarrassed and foolish. The hovercar was waiting for her nearby and she held her head high as she walked over, greeted the driver and security officer, and climbed aboard. The top closed to conceal their departure. As she was whisked away, she couldn't take her mind off Solo.

It bothered her that she had gotten so excited at the thought that he wanted to see her again. What was wrong with her? Why did he have such an effect on her?

She knew nothing about him. She couldn't even be sure he was as good a pilot as he claimed.

How was she going to explain this situation to her father? Not only had she missed the transmission, she had purchased two slaves. Granted, she did not consider them slaves in any way, but the mission had turned into a disaster.

But, she had managed to get them safely away from the slavers. She would consider that a success. She had proven to Antilles and his crew that she was capable.

And what might Solo think of her? The thought sent her stomach into turmoil. It shouldn't matter.

Yet, it did. For some reason, she wanted him to be impressed with how she had handled the situation. He certainly hadn't seem impressed or intimidated by her status as a Princess. He spoke to her in a way that no one ever had during her adult life; plainly, as if she were any random woman, not royalty at all.

Most of her interactions with others fell into one of two categories: respectful or formal. Those who did not know her well and were not of royal lineage were always careful to be respectful. Those who were also royalty generally spoke in a formal manner.

But Solo…Han…she rather liked that name. It was strong and confident and it suited him.

Han spoke to her as if there were nothing special or different about her. And she found it appealing.

Perhaps that was why she was attracted to him. He was so different from anyone she had ever known.

And what he had done for his Wookiee companion…it melted her every time she thought about it.

Sitting up straighter, she reluctantly tore herself away from her thoughts. As the hovercar touched down on the main landing pad at the Palace, she readied herself to fill her father in on what had transpired, both the good and the bad.