I think there are 2 chapters after this. Thank you for sticking with this story :)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dressed again in her snowsuit, Leia stumbled through the corridor on shaky legs. The Stormtroopers accompanying her marched at a brisk pace, forcing her to struggle to match them. Weakened and heartsick, her own torture had been minor in comparison to Han's shrieks of agony. At the first scream, she hadn't recognized it as Han, had thought it some other, poor soul who had fallen into Vader's clutches.

As realization set in, she was barely aware of her own pain, had been mired in his. What were they doing to him? Han rarely ever reacted to pain. What could be so horrible that it brought forth such howls of agony?

The screams had abruptly ended and she feared the worst. Was this what her dreams were trying to tell her? That Han would be murdered at Vader's behest on Cloud City?

They came to a narrow door and one Trooper entered a code then gave her a mild shove through the doorway.

Han!

Relief surged through her at the sight of him lying on a platform jutting from the wall. She was vaguely aware of Chewie's roar at the sight of her. Staggering to Han's side, she dropped to her knees beside him, fingers instantly stroking his brow.

His eyes seemed to open with effort. He was pale, with dark circles under his eyes, and appeared wearier than she had ever seen him.

But he was alive.

"Why are they doing this?" she asked, voice almost cracking.

His haggard expression held as much confusion as she felt. "They never even asked me any questions," he said slowly, as if it were hard to push the words from his throat.

A flush of protectiveness caused her eyes to shut and she leaned close to softly kiss his forehead. She lowered her cheek to him as the door swished open behind her. Rage ran through her at the sight of Lando and his two guards. Chewie snarled viciously.

"Lando," she warned, low near Han's ear. He struggled to sit up and Leia gave him a boost, her hand remaining vigilantly on his shoulder.

"Get out of here, Lando!" Han sneered.

"Shut up and listen," the traitorous man ordered. "Vader has agreed to turn Leia and Chewie over to me."

Warning alarms exploded in Leia's brain.

Quickly, Han sat up a bit more. "Over to you?"

"They'll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe," Lando continued.

"What about Han?" Leia demanded, a knot of fear freezing her stomach.

"Vader's giving him to the bounty hunter."

"Vader wants us all dead," she said, voice stronger than she felt.

"He doesn't want you at all. He's after someone called, uh, Skywalker."

"Luke?" Han asked, surprised.

A cold fear trickled down Leia's spine and the pieces jolted quickly into place.

"Lord Vader has set a trap for him."

"And we're the bait!" Leia finished with venom.

"Well, he's on his way," Lando finished.

This was a nightmare, all the way around. This was what the warning meant.

"Perfect," Han growled. "You fixed us all pretty good, didn't you? My friend!" he spat.

Before Leia knew what was happening, Han was on his feet and had punched Lando hard in the jaw. In his weakened state, it only took one blow from the butt of the guard's blaster to knock Han to the floor. His blaster spun and aimed at Han and, without a thought for her own safety, Leia instantly slid to his side on the floor, shielding him with her own body as she heard Chewbacca's rage echo deafeningly.

"Don't shoot! Stop!" Lando shouted to his men.

Leia's eyes rose to the guard's, almost daring him to go through her. Her eyes were drawn to where Lando was reattaching his cape.

"I've done all I can," he said tersely. "I'm sorry I couldn't do better, but I have my own problems."

Leia just glared at him.

"Yeah, you're a real hero," Han spat viscously, propping himself up on an arm.

As Lando and the guards strode through the door, Leia returned to Han, running a comforting hand across his arm. She began helping him sit up and Chewie came near, growling concern and lending a hand.

"No, no," Han protested against the pain of moving. Chewie snatched his furry hands away and Leia froze. His face was contorted with pain.

Seeking to lighten the moment, Leia gave him a small, sardonic smile and a slight shake of her head. "You certainly have a way with people," she chided.

Chagrined, his returning smile was pained. Chewie and she returned to carefully lift him from the floor. He emitted a few grunts of pain, squeezing Leia's heart. Gingerly, they laid him on the hard slab. Chewie roared a soft question.

"Yeah," Han drawled, his breathing returning to normal. "I'll be fine."

Leia kneeled at his side, aware that Chewie barked one last time before moving to the other side of the cell to give them some privacy.

"Are you okay?" Han asked with weary urgency.

She nodded then paused with hesitation. "This is what my dreams were trying to tell me."

"Don't be ridiculous. They were just bad dreams."

She bit her lip and silenced herself, knowing that arguing the point would do them no good.

"I'm sorry I got you into this," Han said quietly.

Her gaze flew to his averted eyes. "Han, it's not your fault."

His mouth scrunched dubiously. "My ship malfunctioned. I brought us here."

"What other choice did you have? We had nowhere else to go, no other options."

He didn't respond and his gaze remained on the ceiling.

"Han, look at me," she demanded.

His eyes turned reluctantly to hers.

She smiled with genuine emotion. "If not for you, Vader would have captured me on Hoth."

"Great," he muttered. "I prolonged the inevitable."

"Don't you know what you gave me?" she asked softly.

He looked at her as if she were crazy.

"You gave me these weeks with you. And I treasure them."

His sardonic expression faded to something softer, indefinable. He smiled back half-heartedly and his typical attitude seemed to return. "Well, don't worry. I'm still working on a way out of this mess."

That was the Han Solo she knew and loved. The rogue optimist who always searched for a way out and never gave up.

She bit her lip. "If anything, I got you into this mess. So, essentially, it's my fault"

"How so?" His brow puzzled together.

"If you hadn't rescued me on Hoth, you wouldn't be here."

His eyes turned back to the ceiling. "It's not your fault. I couldn't leave you there."

"I know," she said, her voice coming out as shaky as she felt inside. "That's why it's my fault." She took his hand in hers and stared down at their interwoven fingers.

"I say we blame Luke," he said in a significantly lighter tone.

She couldn't help but smile and her eyes met his as he smiled back. After a moment, she sobered again. "I wonder why Vader wants Luke."

"Maybe cause he blew up the Death Star."

She shook her head in genuine disbelief. "No. That's not like Vader. There has to be more to it than that." She wracked her brain but came up empty. Refocusing on Han, she brought his hand to her lips and kissed it lingeringly. "Han," she said carefully. "Whatever happens…" He looked at her and Leia stared soulfully into his eyes. "I love you," she whispered with feeling, needing to be sure he truly knew.

"Hey," he replied sharply. "Don't do that. Don't act like this is the end."

Their gazes clasped tightly, hers soft, his gruff. But when she looked deeper, she saw it. He loved her too. He didn't need to say it, his actions had always said it for him. She simply hadn't been listening before.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Led through the gleaming, white corridors of Cloud City, Han and Leia glanced at each other, wondering what was in store for them now. It concerned her that Han was the only one whose hands were bound. Behind her, Chewie had the partially assembled Threepio in a net on his back. The droid had been chattering incessantly since he had been switched back on, but was now thankfully silent.

The Stormtroopers brought them to a door that slid open, revealing starkly contrasting darkness inside. They trooped through and Leia's eyes adjusted to the low light. The softly glowing, orange panels that lined the floor below cast a surreal feeling around them. The feeling was bolstered by the sight of Stormtroopers and Cloud City guards all around. Small Ugnaught workers were preparing something in the middle of the chamber.

It was some sort of manufacturing facility. Heavy equipment surrounded them and hoses hung from the ceiling, billowing steam.

Leia strode in front of Han, as if she might protect him. As they travelled down the ramp, Leia suddenly noticed the lightly swirling fog. A bad feeling pervaded her…whatever was coming, it was going to be horrible. She could feel it.

Giant tongs emerged from a pit at the circular center of the facility and rose to the high, dim ceiling. At the bottom of a short set of steps, they came up behind Calrissian standing near the dark pit.

"If only you had attached my legs," Threepio began nattering at Chewie again. "I wouldn't be in this ridiculous position. Now, remember Chewbacca, you have a responsibility to me, so don't do anything foolish."

A shadow emerged from atop the steps opposite them, and Leia's eyes were quickly drawn to a dark, towering figure marching down towards them. Pure evil, that's what he was. A shadow fell over her as she watched him. It was easy to imagine there was no human man beneath the mask, simple to believe there was truth to the rumors he was a cyborg.

Her eyes couldn't tear away from Vader, but she heard Han speak low to Lando beside her.

"What's going on…Buddy?" His voice was hard and accusatory.

"You're being put into carbon freeze," Lando replied in a muffled tone.

Leia's mind was reeling with questions before she heard the bounty hunter, Fett, speaking to Vader.

"What if he doesn't survive? He's worth a lot to me."

Suddenly unable to breathe, she turned to Han only to find his eyes were already on her. Gripped by terror, she couldn't process what was happening. They were putting him in carbon freeze? He might not survive?

Han gazed back at her and flashed a small, reassuring smile that did not match the fear and resignation in his eyes. Leia couldn't move. Vader's hissing words barely penetrated her awareness.

"The Empire will compensate you if he dies. Put him in!"

Chaos and confusion broke out suddenly, as Chewie roared in outrage. What was happening?

A Stormtrooper was hurled into the pit, another went flying, victims to the Wookiee's brute strength and fury at what was being done to his friend. Threepio was chattering excitedly in the background. Leia's mind whirled in a disbelieving frenzy.

Han was shouting at Chewbacca, voice commanding. "Stop, Chewie, stop! Stop, stop!" The Wookiee continued wailing and shaking his fists. "Hey! Hey! Listen to me, Chewie. Chewie, this won't help me!"

Leia understood Chewbacca. She felt the same, wanted to scream to the heavens at how unfair this was. For Han, for her, for all of them. She wanted to rip the Imperials apart with her bare hands.

"Hey!" Han continued as his friend's roars began to die down. "Save your strength. There'll be another time." Stormtroopers were putting binders on Chewie and he had now stopped struggling.

Seething yet terrified, Leia's gaze found Vader as she slowly made her way to Han's side. This monster had taken everything from her. And now he was taking it all again.

"The Princess," Han was saying urgently. "You have to take care of her." Chewie whined broken-hearted agreement. "Ya hear me? Huh?" The Wookiee let out a quiet, mournful wail and Leia craned her neck to meet his sorrowful gaze.

She turned to Han, fear and despair choking her. In a heartbeat, they were kissing fervently and she held onto him as if her grip would keep him safe from harm. Lips locked, it was all too soon before he was torn away and she watched as he was pulled backwards to his doom. Dread and regret were etched so deeply in his features. She had never seen him like this, wished she didn't have to see it now.

Two Stormtroopers were positioning him in place and it hit Leia in a flash that this was it, the origin of her dream. Orange surrounding them, steam swirling…Gods, it had been this all along. And they had walked right into it.

"I love you," Han called out, his voice both strong and uncertain at once.

Tears beat a dull throb behind her eyes. "I know," she said simply, reassuring him that he hadn't needed to say the words, and sounding far more composed than she felt.

Two Ugnaughts rushed to him and removed his binders. Han remained with a forlorn, desperate expression. He glanced down as the small beings left him. Immediately, the floor beneath him began to lower and no, no, not yet, I'm not ready. I need more time…

But they had no more time and Chewie was howling beside her, releasing his sorrow and anguish. Leia was unable to make a sound, her breath had been stolen by the Empire.

She gripped the Wookiee's arm and watched with horror as Han receded into the machinery below. A strong arm wound around her shoulder and he continued to roar in agony.

Han's eyes never left her as he lowered further and further into the pit and she stared back, feeling her composure beginning to slip. The moment seemed endless, she felt trapped. The tears were brimming now, she could just barely hold them back.

A rush of steam flew upwards and Han's head bent back, her last sight of him. Leia buried her face into Chewie's fur as he roared louder, arms tightening protectively. It was too much, her throat was tight, eyes damp, the pressure pounding at her chest.

He has to survive…he has to…

Threepio's voice again, but it mattered not at all. A mechanical sound and she looked back to find the giant tong lowering into the pit. Chewie whined loudly and the claw was lifting something from below, a dark slab. As it rose, Leia was horrified…a frozen tomb, it showed the shape of Han protruding, face twisted in agony.

Let him be alive…Gods, what had that felt like? To be frozen like that…his expression, such suffering…

Chewie's hands were on her shoulders but she barely felt him. The platform was raised to the top now and the tomb was still…was he alive? She gripped onto the one companion she had left, the one who loved Han as much as she did.

An Ugnaught approached and pushed the slab backwards. Leia's heart dropped as it banged hard to the floor, the sound echoing throughout the chamber.

Don't do that! Leia wanted to scream. She gripped Chewie more tightly, defeated and devastated. Please, let him be alive. I'll do anything…

His face…lips twisted in agony, eyes seared shut, hands raised in defense…the sight was tearing her apart, but she couldn't look away. She swallowed against her tears.

The traitorous Calrissian knelt beside Han and examined something.

Dimly, Threepio's voice filtered through. "Ohh, they've encased him in carbonite. He should be quite well protected. If he survived the freezing process, that is."

"Well, Calrissian. Did he survive?" Vader's voice boomed through the chamber.

"Yes, he's alive," Calrissian announced. "And in perfect hibernation."

She should have felt relief, but Leia still felt only horror. Vader was telling Fett he could take Han.

"Reset the chamber for Skywalker."

Vader's words broke through her shock. Through teary eyes, Leia gazed up at Chewie. His huge, blue eyes returned her sorrow. Vader was going to do this to Luke too. She turned her gaze on him, hating him more than ever before. The orchestrator of her nightmares, thief of everything that mattered.

Looking back to Han's entombed form, her mind rejected it. This wasn't really happening…it couldn't be. Han… Was he suffering? Was he aware that, for him, time had stopped? She hoped desperately that this was like sleeping for him.

Lando was suddenly at her side, taking her arm, and she jerked away in fury, refused to let this man touch her. Chewie growled a low warning, arms still cradling her shoulders.

"Calrissian, take the Princess and the Wookiee to my ship," Vader ordered.

Eyes still on Han, she heard Calrissian arguing with Vader. The fool…he had expected a being so evil to keep his word? Of course, Vader wanted them. They would make an excellent gift for his Emperor. The Princess who had escaped them three years ago and eluded them on Hoth, the Wookiee co-pilot who helped her escape.

Han, I'm so sorry. I let this happen. I should have listened to my dreams, had you take us anywhere else…

His gray, frozen features seemed to be calling out to her for help, begging her to free him. She was going to be sick, couldn't stand seeing him like this yet couldn't look away.

And the bounty hunter was going to take him…out of her reach.

Shock rattled her again. That was really Han, in that carbonite slab. How was this happening? This wasn't just another dream, Gods, the nightmare had become reality.

The orange mist swirled, seeming to tease and taunt her.

'I warned you…' it seemed to say. 'I gave you a chance to avoid this but you didn't listen.'

I love you, Han, she thought as loudly as she could. She hoped he knew, in spite of everything, that she loved him endlessly.

Why did you have to come for me on Hoth? You should have just left. Things would be no different for me, but you would be free, safe.

Oh, Han…I'm so sorry.