Thank you everyone :)
OOOOOOOO
Princess Leia paced the crew lounge, unable to sit still. Chewbacca was in the cockpit, watching for Solo's arrival.
She wasn't sure what to think about Solo. One minute, he acted like an arrogant, thick-headed, dolt. The next, he was selflessly risking himself in the most foolish manner to ensure her safety. He was a most vexing puzzle.
She paused to yank off the wig and antennapalps and tossed them on the game table. It had been a brilliant disguise. He certainly had his moments. Too bad he had even more contrary moments.
Her black jumpsuit was sleeveless and without realizing she felt cold, she hugged her arms around herself. Gaining Commenor's support was a great success for the Rebellion. Leia was proud that she had accomplished it, in spite of the obstacles. She hoped that success would not be marred by the loss of the Falcon's Captain. He was often barely tolerable, but he was not entirely without good qualities. She forced herself not to dwell on some of his more aesthetic good qualities. She had to banish those types of thoughts from her mind.
Leia would never grow accustomed to the loss of life that came with war. She did not want to be responsible for another. She already had enough blood on her hands to keep her up at night.
She took a step towards the access corridor then stopped herself. Watching for Solo from the cockpit viewport would only make the wait seem longer.
For some reason, her mind flashed back to the Death Star battle. Watching and listening to the battle and waiting to die had been grueling. The last five minutes had been endless. It was actually easier to put be a part of the warfare than it was to observe and wait.
What was taking Solo so long? Leia was starting to worry he had been captured. The Wookiee would never forgive her. Their bond seemed surprisingly strong, considering the Corellian trusted no one else. If she had the opportunity in the future, she would ask Han how they had met.
Leia glanced at the chrono and was disappointed to find only five standard time parts had passed since she had last checked it; she then congratulated herself on waiting an entire five standard time parts to again check the chrono. Why did time seem to stop when you were anxious?
The low hum of the boarding ramp caused the floor beneath Leia's feet to vibrate and her pulse quickened. Relief flooded her and she hurried to meet him at the top of the ramp.
That ever present lopsided grin greeted her.
"You made it!" she breathed, unable to keep a smile from her face.
His grin widened. "Were you worried about me, Sweetheart?"
She was too relieved to allow his cocky attitude to affect her. "That was a crazy stunt you pulled."
He shrugged. "Hey, it worked, didn't it?"
"It did," she acknowledged.
The cockiness left his visage and he seemed genuinely pleased. He nodded in the direction of the cockpit. "C'mon, Princess, let's get outta here."
She followed Solo through the access corridor into the cockpit, where Chewie greeted him with an enthusiastic howl. Leia saw Han clap him affectionately on the shoulder before dropping into his Captain's seat.
"Did you ever doubt me?" Han asked, his familiar arrogance returning.
Chewbacca barked a reply that Leia couldn't decipher.
"Fire 'er up, Chewie."
Leia strapped into the navigator's chair. She felt a sudden, odd sense of camaraderie with these two beings. She had last felt this way immediately after the destruction of the Death Star, when they, plus Luke, had all fallen into each other's arms, whooping with joy. It felt good and momentarily assuaged her loneliness. All the strife of the last few days was forgotten and Leia decided that Solo wasn't so bad after all.
The Princess felt better than she had in a long while. She sat back, savoring this feeling she had thought she might never experience again. As pilot and copilot engaged in the necessary tasks to lift off Commenor, Leia asked what she could do to help. Han tossed her a condescending glance.
"It only takes two to ready her," he responded.
She let his comment roll over her; she wouldn't let his attitude ruin her mood.
Chewie left the cockpit, leaving her alone with Han. He was busy checking readouts.
"You and Chewbacca have an interesting relationship," Leia observed.
"We do?" Han replied, distracted with the controls before him.
"You do. Where did you meet him?"
"Picked him up along the way," he answered without looking at her.
"Where?"
"Someplace."
Leia sighed mentally. "Could you be more specific?"
Han swiveled his chair in her direction. "What is this? An interrogation?" He looked irritated.
His sudden attack chafed her and she quieted. So much for getting to know him, she thought wryly.
He turned his chair back and Chewie returned, growling softly to Han. They engaged the engines and began to lift off.
Leia knew from Luke that he and the Corellian pilot had struck up a bit of a friendship. She found this interesting, as they were the study of complete opposites. While Luke was sweet and idealistic, Han was abrasive and cynical. The one thing they had in common was courage.
Luke had led a sheltered life on a backwater planet, which accounted for his naiveté. She knew nothing of the smuggler's past and apparently he was not about to share. There had to be a reason Solo was this way. If he hung around the Alliance, perhaps she would find out one day. She refused to examine the motive behind her curiosity.
Luke probably looked up to Han for his few admirable qualities. He was a damned good pilot and a quick, accurate shot. And perhaps Luke wished to acquire the Captain's confidence.
Luke was just plain likeable. Almost like the little brother everyone wished they had. Plus, she was sure that Solo enjoyed Luke's almost hero-like worship.
Chewie roared over the sounds of the subspace systems, and although Leia could not understand him, she recognized urgency in his tone.
"Yeah, I see 'em," Han replied grimly.
Leia looked over his shoulder at the scope and saw them too: two Star Destroyers flanking their path. Her good mood dissipated quickly.
"Let's just keep moving like we've got nothing to worry about," Han directed. But Leia could detect the tension in his tone.
The only sound in the cockpit was the hum of the engines as the Millennium Falcon cruised towards the stars. The three passengers waited, expectant, hoping to remain unmolested.
Static crackled from the ship's comm. "Unidentified freighter," came an official sounding voice. "Please transmit your ID tag."
Chewie howled softly and Han hit the comm. "Transmission commencing." He hit buttons on the control panel. Leia could see the tension in his form as he waited for a reply.
The wait seemed eternal. When the response finally came, it did nothing to dispel their nervousness. "Starlight Dream, hold your position."
Leia assumed that was the fake ID tag Han was running. She glanced at Chewie. He looked tense but determined.
Han's low voice rumbled through the cockpit. "Better get ready to beat it outta here."
Static from the comm startled them. "Starlight Dream, prepare to be engaged by tractor beam."
Goosebumps spread over Leia's skin as Han muttered, "Screw that." The Falcon fell into a sharp nosedive and she sprawled forward into the back of Han's seat, her cheek pressed into the hard metal. The ship corkscrewed to the right and Leia was pushed back into her chair and held on tightly. When they evened out, she grabbed the restraints and strapped herself in.
Chewie roared and Leia looked to Han.
"Yeah, I know!" he yelled.
"What?" Leia called urgently.
"TIES. Lots of 'em," Han replied.
Laser fire poured in their direction and Han was quick to take evasive action. They needed to get far enough away from the planet's atmosphere to make the jump to lightspeed. The ship shot upwards but was met with a barrage of laser fire. Han had to do another sharp nosedive, moving them farther away from where they needed to be.
"Chewie, angle the rear deflector shields. I'm taking us out of the Star Destroyer's range." He shot the ship straight across, TIES on his tail.
More fighters rained down towards them, gunning for them from the other direction.
"Chewie," Han said urgently. "Take the controls. Your Worship, how good are you with a quad laser?"
She could shoot better than she could fly. And she wasn't a bad pilot. To Han, she said, "I can hold my own."
He jumped from his seat. "C'mon!"
She detached her crash webbing and followed him at a run to the gun well. He vaulted upwards and Leia climbed down to the bottom as quickly as she could.
"You in?" came his tinny voice over the headset as she lowered it to her ear.
"I'm in." She quickly appraised the controls.
"Get ready. Coming in at…0900. Go!" Han shouted.
Leia swung at the ready, shooting as her targeting computer closed in fast on the incoming TIE. It flashed by too quickly and she swore softly.
"Language, Princess," Solo's voice said in her ear, somewhat amused in spite of the danger. "Don't worry, I got 'im."
She swiveled to meet an oncoming fighter, unable to think about what he was doing topside. She thrust the quad up and the TIE shattered in an explosion so bright Leia had to close her eyes briefly.
"Ha! Great shot, Sweetheart!"
A brief moment of pride and two fighters were swooping in her direction. She concentrated on the coordinates of the targeter, waiting for the first one to get in range, made a quick miss but took out the second one. The top gun dealt a swift blow to the one she had missed. She heard Han whoop with joy.
Chewie roared loudly in her ear and almost broke her concentration. Alarms started to blare as she took out another TIE. She blocked them out through sheer will and saw nothing but the incoming TIE fighters. She no longer knew in which direction they were flying, but that did not matter. All that mattered was taking out those fighters.
"Missed one!" Han called. "It's coming in fast at 0200!"
She rotated sharply to the left, blasting as she went and there was another burst of hot, white light.
"Almost there," Han said. "You all right, Princess?"
"Never better," she replied with calm determination.
"That's my girl," Solo answered. "Watch yourself!"
Bright light exploded against the transparisteel bubble before her, blinding her momentarily. Suddenly, everything around her seemed to spin at once and she felt disoriented before hearing an ear shattering Wookiee roar in her ear…the stars before her streaked into starlines.
They were safe. Leia sagged in relief and let out a long, slow breath. She removed her headset and realized she was sweating and all her muscles were taut.
She heard footsteps on the stairs above her head and looked up to see Han grinning down at her.
"Where'd you learn to shoot like that?" he called down to her, obviously impressed.
She grinned back at his upside down form. "Charm school."
He held a hand out to her and she released her safety belt. She climbed up the ladder, raised her hand and allowed him to help her from the gun well.
She was startled when he lifted her up by the waist, spun her around then quickly lowered her to the floor again. The intimate gesture caused a warm flush throughout her body and although she deemed it inappropriate, she found that she had no words to chastise him with. His grin was so genuine and unguarded as he placed his hands on her shoulders. They were solid and warm on her bare skin and Leia found herself feeling suddenly flustered as her face suffused with heat.
He held her for a beat too long and seemed to abruptly realize it. His hands fell away from her and he took a quick step back, eyes drifting to the floor.
Leia's breath became harsh in her throat, her heartbeat a rapid flutter that seemed to thrum through her entire being. She watched Han run a quick hand through his hair as his eyes returned to hers. A few scruffy looking strands remained standing rebelliously.
"That was some great shooting," he said in an unexpectedly subdued tone.
"Thank you," she replied simply, noticing that when he was serious his hazel eyes reflected flecks of gold rather than green.
His hand moved to hover near her cheek. "What happened?" His eyes sharpened with concern.
Puzzled, Leia touched her cheek and felt the dim beginnings of a bruise. "Oh. I didn't strap in right away so I hit the back of your chair when you went into that dive."
He winced slightly. "Better put an ice pack on it."
"I'm okay," she insisted.
"C'mon." He gestured her to follow him. "I can't bring you back looking like I left you to the hell-cats."
A bit unwilling, Leia followed down the corridor to the med bay. She couldn't seem to breathe properly. He paused and hit the comm.
"Everything good up there, Chewie?"
An assuring growl answered.
"Great. Gimme a few, I'll be right there." Chewie gave a terse reply and Han opened a cabinet above the medical bunk. He grabbed an ice pack, activated it, and turned back to Leia. He placed it against her cheek more gently than she would have expected then placed his other hand on her opposite shoulder.
Leia brought her hand up to hold the ice pack but he didn't let go and she found her hand pressing next to his. His warmth was a glaring contrast to the cold of the ice pack and it sparked a warmth that emanated from her belly and flowed out to her limbs. She averted her eyes, trying to steady her respiration. When she was able to return to look at him, she found his serious gaze unsettling.
"I've got it," she said, needing suddenly to put some distance between them.
He hesitated briefly then let go of the ice pack and took a step back. "You're okay?" He looked uncertain. Of what, Leia could not imagine.
"Of course." It was just a bruise; she had suffered far worse in the past.
He nodded and scratched his cheek. "All right. I'm gonna go check the coordinates on the navicomputer."
"Okay."
He lingered a moment longer and Leia felt the need to say something.
"Thank you for the ice pack."
"Sure." He turned slowly and headed out the door.
Han's nearness and touch had sent her into a tizzy. Never before had she felt anything like it and she didn't know how to handle it. It was beyond her experience. Feelings like this were the musings of fairytale and fantasy. Or, at least, that was what she had always believed…
She leaned back against the med bunk and took several deep breaths, trying to stabilize her rampant pulse. After several minutes, she was aware of her heartrate and respiration abating, approaching normal.
What was she going to do? She could barely handle being near him. Could he see what his proximity did to her?
No, he most likely did not. Otherwise, knowing him, he would tease her mercilessly. And, most likely, try to get her into bed.
The thought made her knees slightly weak. Would that be such a bad thing? her mind whispered.
Yes! she shouted back silently.
There were so many reasons why it was a terrible idea. He could easily make her the talk of the Alliance, spreading the news throughout the ranks. And that was the last thing she needed.
Plus, he was too cocky and flippant. There was no reason to add to his egoism. She had already heard talk of him being a womanizer, and that certainly was not the type of man she wanted to associate with in an intimate way. No, this wouldn't be a good decision. She needed to get it out of her mind.
But he was a truly gifted pilot, courageous to a fault, and a quick thinker. He was an asset to the Alliance and had done all he could to protect her and her mission. Perhaps she had been hasty to ban him from any future missions.
After all, he was the only pilot who wasn't intimidated by her.
###
Han walked down the boarding ramp of the Millennium Falcon, the Princess beside him. He wasn't actually going anywhere, but was reluctant to see her go just yet. At the bottom, she turned to face him. There was an awkward moment of silence.
"Well, Your Highness," he began, uncertain what he might say next.
She gazed at him expectantly.
"It's been fun," he finally concluded, aware of how lame it sounded.
Her brow rose. "I'm not sure 'fun' is the word I would use to describe it," she said dryly. Her tone turned serious. "Thank you for what you did."
"What did I do?" Han asked, surprised.
Her smile was slight but her eyes teased him. "You did that crazy thing and ran off so I could make it to the ship."
"Oh, that." He shrugged diffidently. "All in a day's work." He winked. He was pleased when her smile widened. He was never sure if she would take something as a joke or become angry. He struggled for something else to say, just to hold her there a little longer. "Sorry you had to leave all your stuff on Commenor."
She waved the comment away. "That's the least of my concerns."
It occurred to Han that she had already lost everything she cared about on Alderaan. What did a few meager belongings matter? He nodded in acknowledgement. "Well…see you around, Princess." He took a step backwards and angled to leave.
"Will you be staying on with the Alliance?" she asked suddenly.
Han turned back. Would she care if he said no? "Sure, for a bit," he answered slowly, gauging her reaction.
Her expression remained neutral. "Good, I'm pleased to hear that."
Han felt a small tug on one side of his mouth.
The Princess continued, "You're an asset to the Alliance."
The corner of his mouth lowered. "Yeah, well, the pay is pretty good," he replied gruffly.
"You should consider a commission. You're a natural leader."
He snorted. "That's not my thing. And this isn't my fight."
Her expression hardened. "You obviously don't support the Empire."
"Just 'cause I think the Empire's corrupt, doesn't mean I wanna dedicate my life to fighting it," he countered defensively.
"Only out for number one, Solo?" she asked with softly worded judgment.
Torn, it took a moment for him to answer. "If I don't look out for myself, no one's gonna." He felt an odd sense of discomfort repeating words that were so well worn.
She nodded, a cold look in her eyes. "All right, then. The Rebellion needs all the help it can get. Good day, Captain." She spun on her heel and was gone.
Han watched her go, so lost in thought that he forgot to watch the enticing rhythm of her hips. What was it about this woman? Why did he even care what she thought?
Yes, she was beautiful. And he was impressed by her sharp wit and relentless fortitude. But, it was unlike him to be so preoccupied with a female.
Yet, the more he saw of her, the more she peaked his interest. Her abilities at the quad laser had amazed him. Was there anything this woman couldn't do?
Cook, he recalled, a slow, sudden smile teasing his lips. He glanced around, hoping no one saw him smiling to himself like a fool. The surrounding beings apparently had more to worry about than the doings of Han Solo. He turned and headed back up the ramp.
He met Chewbacca on his way to the cockpit.
Han gave him a sour look. "No, I didn't kiss her goodbye," he answered sardonically.
Chewie gave a sharp bark of laughter and auspicious words that surprised Han.
"Why do you say that?"
The Wookiee replied at length.
Han was torn between doubt and a longing he refused to admit. "Whadda you know about human women?"
Chewie shrugged, stood, howled a reply, and ambled down the corridor.
Leaving Han alone with his thoughts. Hands on his hips, he mulled over his best friend's words of encouragement.
Chewbacca thought the Princess looked at Han the same way he looked at her. He was not about to ask for elaboration. He didn't want to know how he looked at her.
The thought was ridiculous. The Princess was not the type of woman who would have a meaningless fling. Considering her age and responsibilities, she had probably never had any type of fling. And he only had meaningless flings. So, that was that.
But, he still found her at the center of his thoughts. Slowly, he walked to his cabin, palmed the door open, and sat on the bunk. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together.
He recalled her reaction when he had taken her in his arms in the casino. He saw that same unnerved discomfort when he spun her around after their escape from the TIES. He wondered what she felt in those moments. It was difficult to tell.
Perhaps time would tell. They had left off on a decent note. At least, he thought they had.
What the hell is wrong with me? He suddenly caught himself. Why would I want to get involved with a woman like her anyway?"
Surely, she would be nothing but trouble. Even if she were to give him the time of day, she was the type who would want a commitment. To her, and to her precious Rebellion. And Han Solo didn't do commitment of any kind.
It was better to just forget about her. All right, if he was assigned to accompany her on a mission, he would. But, he had to push the attraction aside. It was a ridiculous thought. Besides, in a few months he would leave the Rebel Alliance behind. He couldn't waste too much time here. He didn't like to stay in one place for too long. And then, he would glide off into the stars and forget Her Highness even existed.
His destiny ran along a far different path than hers…