It looks like, for once, Leia is taking Han's advice...let's see where it leads her ;)

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She didn't care for the way he had said it, but Leia had given it thought and finally taken Han's words to heart. After waffling back and forth for a time, she decided to attend Rogue Squadron's party.

The Rogues' parties were infamous. Leia had heard some of the raucous stories here and there, dismissing them as exaggerations. But, they were attended by most of the base and she decided that perhaps some 'fun' might be called for. And it would be nice, for one evening, to feel as if she were 'one of them.'

It didn't hurt that she knew Han would be there. And Luke, as well.

As she approached the pilots' barracks, the loud chatter and laughter combined with music to echo and bounce down the corridor. From the entrance, she spied what had to be almost everyone on base. She hesitated a moment, feeling suddenly awkward and out-of-place. Then, she caught sight of Luke, a drink in hand, chatting with Hobby, another of the Rogues. His presence was comforting and encouraging, and she swept through the door in a rush, before she could change her mind.

The room was big and crowded, and as Leia made her way towards Luke, she was aware of heads turning her way in surprise. As a member of High Command, her presence was unexpected.

Luke was drinking from a cup when his eyes rose and landed on Leia. Bright blue widened at the sight of her and he lowered his cup as she approached. Hobby stood up straighter.

"Leia, what are you doing here?" Luke asked.

She gave a slight smile, feeling more self-conscious at Luke's tone.

"Princess," Hobby said formally.

"Hello, Hobby." She smiled politely. Returning her attention to Luke, she raised her head to appear more confident. "Should I not be here, Luke? Is the party invitation not extended to everyone?"

He grimaced, abashed. "No, no, of course. I'm just surprised because you…well, you don't usually come to our parties."

From the corner of her eye, she saw Hobby slinking quietly away. "Well, I thought that perhaps I should have some fun for once. Would you mind getting me a drink?"

"Oh. Sure. Of course. I'll be right back." He placed his cup on the ledge behind him and scampered off towards the long table that was set up as a make-shift bar.

Left alone, she examined her surroundings. Beings were scattered everywhere in small groups or pairs, chatting and laughing with drinks in hand. Awkwardness returned and she was reminded of just how little she fit in with the troops. She was the Princess…they were not comfortable socializing with her, she did not belong, was not one of them.

She was relieved when Luke returned and handed her an ale. Just having something to hold in her hand made her less self-conscious. She watched Luke grab his cup and take a sip.

There was something so endearing about Luke. The openness of his smile, the trusting look in his eyes…he was the sweetest man she had ever encountered.

"So," she said suddenly. "This is what I've been missing out on all this time."

Luke grinned at her. "Yeah. It's fun. I'm not sure it's your type of fun, though." There was a shyness to the way his lashes lowered as he looked at her, as if he were embarrassed to tell her this.

His words made her feel even less welcome. "Well, just because it's not my normal routine, that doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself."

He nodded at his cup then took a small sip. His gaze wandered around the room.

"Where's Han?" she asked casually.

Luke's eyes returned to her. "Oh, last I saw, Han was back there playing sabaac." He jerked a thumb in the direction of the crowd behind them.

Leia followed his gesture. Behind a large group of beings, she spotted a few scattered tables of card players, but did not see Han. She searched the room but he was nowhere to be found. She did see Chewbacca in a corner, conversing with several pilots that had been contracted by the Rebellion.

Luke stood alongside her, head swiveling as he took in the goings-on of the other beings present. He was quiet and, after a few minutes, Leia realized that he must want to socialize and join in the fun, yet remained dutifully at her side.

Feeling both guilty and embarrassed, she turned to Luke. "You know, you don't have to stand here with me."

"Huh?"

"This is a party. You should go mingle." Suddenly, she felt like a burden. And Luke was so sweet, sacrificing his good time for her.

"I am mingling. With you," he replied, smiling sweetly.

She smiled back, but retained the sense that he remained with her out of obligation. Leia looked around, noting that everyone seemed to be having a genuinely good time. Wedge was dancing with one of the few females on base and Leia wondered at how everyone could be so happy and carefree with all that was going on.

Maybe Han was right. Maybe I do need to learn to have fun.

But, she didn't think that forcing herself into this situation was the way to go. It only made her feel uncomfortable, like more of an outsider than she normally felt.

"Luke!" someone called from across the room.

Leia looked up and saw one of Chewie's companions waving him over. Luke gestured for him to wait.

"C'mon, Skywalker!" the man yelled over the din. "I wanna hear about what happened at Fallinor!"

She placed a hand on Luke's arm. "Go ahead, Luke. I'm fine."

Eyes filled with uncertainty, he looked at her. "No, that's okay, I would rather spend time with you."

Such a gallant young man. "We can spend time together another evening. Now, go." She smiled encouragingly and gave him a playful shove in the other direction.

His expression shifted as he allowed his eagerness to take over. "Well…if you're sure…"

"I'm sure. Bye, see you later." She waved him away and, with a grin, he squeezed her arm in an affectionate gesture as he ambled over to Chewbacca's group.

Leaving Leia alone with her bottle of ale. She took a long sip and wondered how to slip away unnoticed. Looking around, the few people that met her eyes smiled but their discomfort was clear.

She hated to admit it, but she had been hoping to see Han. Eyes on the floor, she wondered what it was about that man that always lured her in his direction. No matter how angry he made her, no matter how much they argued, she still felt compelled to seek him out. And every time she thought he had exasperated her to the point of no return, she found that once those feelings had faded, she was right back where she had started.

A quiet grumble at her side yanked her away from her thoughts and she looked up to find Chewie standing before her. He smiled, all sharp teeth and big blue eyes. He growled softly and settled in to lean back on the wall beside her.

Leia thought she understood his offer of company and realized that he sensed her discomfort, standing there, solitary in a room full of people. And he was offering her comfort so that she was not so alone. She gave him a grateful smile and he just shrugged in return.

It touched her that Chewie had come over to ease her discomfort. She glanced around and noticed that Wedge now had the woman he had been dancing with pressed up against a wall and was kissing her fervently.

She had seen such public displays before, but somehow, as a commanding officer, it added to her discomfort.

A sudden, loud cheer went up, and when Leia looked to the source, she saw that one of the male soldiers had fallen over as his comrades looked on, laughing. He stumbled drunkenly to his feet as Chewie leaned close to her and growled a comment in her ear.

Unable translate his words, she looked up to find him chuckling, eyes closed, lower jaw moving up and down rhythmically. She wasn't sure what was so funny, but his laughter was contagious and she chuckled along with him.

He leaned low beside her and complimented her on the completion of the new base.

"It was a lot of work. Thank you."

With a string of barks, he added that he hoped they would remain there a while.

She smiled up at him. "You like it here that much?"

With a short, arfing laugh, he shook his shaggy head then growled a reply.

Unable to translate, her brow furrowed. "What was that?"

Chewie repeated his sentiment more slowly, but Leia was still unable to catch it.

A deep voice boomed from her other side, giving her a small, excited little jolt. "He said these last minute departures are a pain in the ass."

Her head snapped up to find Han standing on her other side, looking slightly disheveled. His white shirt was unbuttoned lower than normal and his hair was a bit scruffier, as if someone had deliberately mussed it in an affectionate gesture.

It was a messy look, but, somehow, she found it endearing. "Hi," she said quietly.

"Hey. I'm surprised to see you here." His voice sounded oddly thick.

She inclined her head to one side and raised her brow. "Well…someone told me I should try having fun."

"Really?" One side of his mouth rose slightly in a whisper of his sardonic grin. "Must've been someone real smart."

One side of her mouth screwed up in answer, but she said nothing. Over her shoulder, she heard Chewbacca mutter something about 'leaving you two— some word or phrase she couldn't quite catch—alone.' She saw Han toss him a sharp glare. His expression faded back to casual indifference as he returned his attention to her.

"So, Your Highness. What's the verdict on the party?"

A small, whimsical smile tugged at her lips. "It's…interesting. I don't think it's quite my type of fun."

"Too low-class for you?" he asked snidely.

She swallowed a burst of anger mixed with embarrassment. "No," she replied in a quick, testy tone. "It's not that."

His eyes concentrated on her for a moment, a hard edge in his expression. Then he seemed to shrug it off and looked down at the empty bottle in her hand. "You want another drink?"

She contemplated the offer for a moment. Why not? "Sure."

He took the bottle from her hand without a word and swaggered across the room. She watched him toss the empty bottle, pour himself a drink in a cup, and grab an ale for her. Making a point to redirect her gaze before he turned around to come back, she watched as Wedge and his female companion stumbled out the door together, arms around each other's waists.

As Han neared, he followed her gaze and gave a halting laugh. "Looks like Wedge is having a good time."

Leia took her ale without looking at him, saw he had opened it, and took a small sip. He leaned against the wall and took a long swallow of his drink.

"So, why don't you like the party?"

Turning to face him, she grimaced and kept her voice low. "I just…don't feel comfortable. I feel like an outsider. I'm command, so I don't belong here. And everyone is aware of it."

He studied her for a long moment, seemingly pensive. She waited for him to make a flippant remark, to make her regret confiding in him, but he surprised her.

"That must suck."

She blinked at him for a moment before realizing he was attempting to show empathy. Dazedly, she nodded, uncertain of what to say. Before she formed a response, he ruined it.

"Course, it'd help if you took a step down from that throne of yours."

Startled at the abrupt shift, her mind went blank for a moment. When she fully processed his statement, she found herself staring at him with dumbfounded wonder. "My what?" she whispered harshly, disbelieving.

"Your throne," he said, plainly serious. "You know, down here with us commoners. I'm sure it would help you fit in."

She gaped then spoke in a crisp, precise tone. "I do not see myself as sitting on some throne above everyone."

He downed the last of his drink in one quick shot. "You might not see yourself that way. But that's how everyone else see you."

"Maybe that's just how you see me."

He placed his cup on the ledge behind him and when he looked back at her, she saw that his eyes were slightly glazed and she realized that he was half-drunk. He studied her a moment before speaking.

"No, Princess. I don't see you that way. Then again, I know you. And I see who you really are."

A sudden vulnerability came over her, an unnerving rush that took her off-guard. His eyes were somber as they gazed into hers, seeming to penetrate the defenses she tried so hard to maintain against him. Before she could think of a response, he continued.

"But, the rest of the troops only see what you show them."

The earnestness of his gaze seemed to be drawing her in and her voice was a low whisper that caused him to move closer to her to hear.

"And what am I supposed to show them? I fight right alongside them. Isn't that enough?"

"Show 'em you're human. Not just some leader they follow blindly."

Leia looked around the room at everyone enjoying themselves, now paying her no mind. She suddenly felt even more disconnected than before and now only wanted to leave the party behind. She placed her bottle on the ledge beside Han's abandoned cup.

"I think I'm going to retire for the evening," she said without looking at him.

"Hey, I didn't mean to make you leave."

Her eyes returned to his and she forced a smile. "You didn't. I'm tired and it's time to call it a night."

Their eyes remained locked on each other and there was something thoughtful and questioning in his gaze.

"All right," he said. "I'll walk you to your quarters."

"That won't be necessary."

He shrugged. "I need to walk off some of this brandy. Besides, it's getting too loud in here. I could use some quiet."

After a moment's hesitation, she nodded shortly and he gestured for her to precede him towards the exit. Leia headed to the door, feeling emotionally fragile all of a sudden.

As they moved down the corridor, the commotion from the party began to fade and eventually, the only sound was that of their footsteps. A glance at Han showed his eyes on the floor beneath their feet. Something fluttered lightly in her chest and she had a strange intuition that something unknown and unexpected was about to happen.

At her quarters, she hit the controls and the door slid open.

"You don't lock it?" Han asked with raised eyebrows.

"I lock it when I'm in there. But otherwise, what would anyone take? My cot? Or my locker of uniforms?" She smiled at the thought.

He shrugged, leaned in the doorway, and peered inside. "So, this is what members of High Command get."

She nodded, stepped carefully past him into the room, and turned to face him. She wanted to invite him in yet was too uncertain to do so. Standing in the middle of the tiny room, she stared back at where he lingered in the doorway. He looked at her for an extended moment then stepped inside with seeming resignation. The sound of the door swishing shut behind him seemed loud and final in the silence.

That flutter in her chest chimed anew. "I'm surprised you ended your evening so early." She arched an eyebrow. "I always assumed you would be the life of the party."

He flashed her a half-grin, strutted across the room, and sat down casually on her cot, eyes roaming the nothingness of the room.

Mixed emotions railed through her; indignance at his presumptuousness, a shiver of a thrill to have him in her quarters, and nervousness at the possibilities. When his eyes again landed on her, they looked darker and hooded, and she wondered how much he had drank tonight. After several moments of gathering her nerve, her resolve surged and she forced heavy feet to lumber forward. With a quiet sigh, she sat next to him on the thin mattress, close enough for her thigh to press against his.

He angled his head towards her and she saw his eyes widen slightly before his lashes lowered and his lips parted. Gazing up at him, her breath caught when she realized his eyes were focused on her lips. Time ceased to creep forward.

His eyes slowly rose to hers and stayed. What she saw in those depths of hazel mystified and mesmerized her. Unwittingly, her head tipped a bit closer and before she knew what was happening, his lips were pressed against hers, warm and soft, a sweet hint of brandy on his breath.

The slow, tender movements of his mouth felt beautiful and erotic all at once and a sweeping heat spread furiously through her. Her fingers wound into the silky hair at the back of his neck and his arms enveloped her, hands sliding across her back. Senses reeling, he pressed her closer to him, and she realized her entire body was trembling against his.

A sharp thrill shot through her when his tongue nipped at her upper lip then slid sensuously inside to caress her own. Their surroundings slowed to a stop as they clung to each other, lost in the blissful sensations of each other's mouths and bodies.

Han kissed the skin beside her lips, trailed hot kisses along her jaw then lowered his mouth to the soft skin of her throat. Leia gasped with a quick intake of breath, shocked and exhilarated by the intense pleasure that shot through her core, sending an exquisite throb between her thighs.

As his teeth and lips sucked gently at her neck, he slowly leaned her back onto the cot. He placed his body on top of hers and the weight and warmth of him urged a low moan from the back of her throat. Mouth returning to hers, he shifted and pressed tightly against her. The sudden, straining hardness of him at the apex of her thighs startled her with a mixture of desire and surprise, followed by a trickle of unease that battled for her attention. Before she could truly acknowledge it, he moved off her, mouths still clinging in a deep, sumptuous caress, and laid beside her.

His hand slid up and down her arm then stroked the side of her face with the backs of his fingers, so softly and gently that it elicited an intense rush of emotion in her. When his palm grazed the tip of her breast through her shirt, her body started at the burst of pleasure he teased to the surface. She cried out, her voice deep and throaty, his mouth swallowing the sound.

When his hand slipped into the waistband of her pants, a surge of alarm and confusion intruded, and her body went rigid. As she pulled her mouth from Han's, his hand retreated at the same time as the protest fell from her lips.

"Wait! Don't." Heart thundering, thoughts swirling chaotically, she placed her hands on his shoulders without actually pushing him back.

He moved away from her as if slapped, eyes dark with passion, brow furrowed in confusion. Sitting up, he ran a quick hand across his face. Leia remained lying down, cheeks flushed with mortification.

"Sorry," he grunted in a hoarse voice.

She took a deep breath and sat up beside him, wishing the cot would swallow her whole. "It's okay. I just…" Unable to find the words to explain that she had never been with a man, her sentence trailed off to nothingness.

Abruptly, he stood, strode to the door, and stomped from her quarters.

Shocked, Leia's jaw dropped open and it took a long moment to process that he had walked out without a word or a backwards glance.

How could he just leave? Her body flushed from head to toe as she was filled with a deep embarrassment.

What had just happened? Leia had never been so confused. She could only assume he was angry at her for stopping him. But, she had never implied they would sleep together.

Elbows on her knees, she buried her face in her hands, mind screaming at this turn of events.

How could he just walk out? What was she supposed to say to him the next time she saw him? Could she even look him in the eye?

Hands lowered, she closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She wished she had another, stronger drink. Preferably, one that would erase tonight from her memory.