Thank you to all the faithful readers who are along for this ride :) Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dread centering in her chest, Leia looked up when the door to the crew quarters slid open. She was relieved to find Luke entering, carrying a plate of food. She was not up to another round of verbal sparring with the intolerable Captain.

He smiled with compassion as he handed her the plate. "I don't blame you for staying in here. Han's still in a terrible mood. Don't take it personally."

She hated the idea of being perceived as hiding from Han, even though that was exactly what she was doing. With her back against the wall behind the bunk, she carefully placed the plate aside as Luke sat on the bunk opposite hers. He folded his legs together, looking like a young boy, and Leia suddenly pictured the innocent, dreamy child he must have been on Tatooine. She wished suddenly that, somehow, she had known him then.

"Thank you, Luke."

"You should eat." He gestured towards the plate with an incline of his head.

A glance at the food roiled her stomach. It didn't look particularly unappetizing but she simply had no inclination towards it. "I will eat later," she insisted.

He gave her a disapproving look but said nothing.

"What has Solo in such an irritable mood?" she asked in a clipped tone.

"I have no idea," Luke answered with a shake of his head. "But, like I said, don't take it personally."

Her chin rose defiantly. "I would hardly take to heart anything that man says," she lied convincingly.

He smiled encouragingly. "Do you like the snow?"

She smiled fondly, childhood memories taking hold. "I loved it as a child. I still find it nice at times, although I haven't been around snow in a while." Tightness strained her throat, deeply suppressed sorrow beginning to surface. It was so much easier to forge ahead and not think about her losses. They were too massive to contemplate and she sometimes worried that if she allowed them to overwhelm her she might never recover.

Luke stared wistfully at nothing. "The first time someone told me about snow I thought they were making it up. I didn't think it could possibly be real."

She smiled, unable to imagine living on Tattoine, not knowing that snow existed.

"There's so much beauty in the galaxy that I never knew existed." He smiled softly and Leia thought of Alderaan again, the beauty that no longer was.

"And trees," he continued. "I'd heard of trees but when we got to Yavin…I couldn't believe all that green, as far as I could see. So beautiful."

From what she knew of Hoth, she expected it to be white as far a s they could see. And not quite so temperate. Even Tatooine sounded better.

"What was it like growing up on Tatooine?" she asked with a sudden urge to know him better.

He met her eyes, surprised and thoughtful. "Well…boring. There was never much to do. Other than working on the farm, which was no fun at all."

"What did you do for fun?"

"Went to see my friends. We managed to make fun." He smiled, gaze turning inward. "When I was old enough and started flying the Skyhopper…that was what made me the happiest."

Leia admired the look of pure pleasure that entered his eyes at the thought. "The Rebellion is lucky you spent that time learning to fly."

His eyes turned to her and his smile grew slightly abashed. "Whenever I could get away from Uncle Owen, I wanted to fly."

She felt this sudden urge to connect on a deeper level, all the while uncertain where the feeling stemmed from. "Can I share something with you?"

"Of course," Luke replied eagerly.

"I'm also adopted."

His eyes widened. "Really?"

She nodded, amused by his wonder.

"Wow. That's so strange that we're both adopted."

"I know. And we're the same age." She grinned. "What are the odds?"

"I don't know," Luke said, a smile tugging tightly at his lips. "Just don't ask Threepio that cause he'll tell us."

She couldn't help but laugh and realized that Luke had buoyed her spirits.

His expression shifted from wonder to deep curiosity. "Do you know anything about your real parents?"

Leia tried to keep the resentment from her voice. "My real parents were Bail and Breha Organa." One eyebrow rose defensively before stoic grief forced it back down and she felt suddenly battered.

Luke's face fell. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by that. It's just…well, since I always called them aunt and uncle, I never considered them my parents. And I always wondered about them."

She forced a kind smile. "It's okay, Luke. I know. It just seems disrespectful to me to refer to anyone else as my 'real parents.' They gave me everything." She realized how it sounded and quickly backtracked. "And I don't mean material things, because I was a princess. I mean, they loved me unconditionally, instilled great values in me, and taught me that I can do anything. Those are the things they gave me that truly matter."

He nodded with sad eyes and Leia wondered if she had misspoken.

"What do you know about your parents?" she asked gently.

His brow furrowed then lay flat again and his gaze was vacant. "My father was a great pilot and a powerful Jedi Knight." He paused and met her eyes. "Uncle Owen never told me that my father was a Jedi. Ben said it was because he was afraid I'd want to follow in his footsteps, but I don't know." He grimaced. "And I never got the chance to ask him."

He had lost almost as much as her. She rose from her bunk, turned to sit beside him, and took his hand in hers. He squeezed her hand gratefully and something in his eyes softened as he stared into hers.

"Leia, I feel such a strong connection to you," he whispered, passion plain in his voice.

A plethora of uncomfortable emotions churned rapidly in her chest. There was more than simple friendship in his eyes, something she had thought banished before now. She deftly extricated her hand from his and patted his before whisking back to her bunk. Eyes averted, she spoke a bit too quickly.

"I do, too. You're like a brother to me. What do you know about your mother?" Her heart was pounding and she couldn't seem to meet his gaze. Discomfort seemed to blanket them like a heavy fog.

He didn't answer right away and Leia pulled her knees up and hugged her arms around them.

"I don't know anything about my mother," he finally replied in a tight voice. "My aunt and uncle never knew her." He cleared his throat and stood. Leia finally forced herself to look at him but he wasn't looking back. "Make sure you eat something." His eyes flitted to her briefly and he forced a strained smile. "See you later."

"Thank you, I will." She watched as he turned and left. When the door closed behind him, Leia let out a long breath.

Gods, why did things have to be so complicated with both men on this ship? If it wasn't one, it was the other.

Things would be so simple if her attraction was to Luke. But, it just wasn't there. She didn't see him in that way.

She didn't want to see Han in that way, but her brain and her physical urges were not in sync. But, that was a hopeless situation and she was best off dismissing it entirely. Han Solo would be nothing but a bad decision.

It wasn't even a decision for her to make, since he somehow seemed to have this sudden anger towards her, the origin of which she did not know. It was for the best. He was hardly the type of man she should get involved with. A self-proclaimed mercenary, he would be leaving soon enough, could pick up and take off tomorrow.

Now, she just had to convince her heart to stop racing at the sight of him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

His mood had been somewhat dark lately, ever since Founding Day. But it had blackened further the moment he had seen the Princess on his ship, bound for Hoth.

He didn't want to be around her. How was he supposed to dampen this attraction when every time he saw her, his body reacted and his mouth went dry?

He ached to get her out of his system, to spend just one night with her and batter her defenses, make her his, if only once. Maybe, just maybe, he would do that before he left.

Then, again, if he told her he was leaving, would she be willing? If he didn't tell her, it seemed dishonest.

Since when had that mattered?

Since setting my eyes on her at the medal ceremony, his mind whispered to him.

He hated to admit it, but it was true. However, he refused to consider the implications.

All of this was assuming she would even be willing to go to bed with him. Somehow, he got the sense that she would be…if he played it just right. But, what would she expect afterwards?

That was the tricky part. And the part that filled him with dread. He was fairly certain she must be a virgin, and virgins were always trouble. A woman's first time seemed to be seen as special…and Han never wanted to be 'special.' And the way she had looked at him on Founding Day…the awe and vulnerability…it was too much. Too much for a vagabond smuggler.

With an ornery grunt, he pushed himself up from his pilot's seat and bounded into the corridor with heavy footsteps. When he arrived at the refresher door, he found it locked. With a soft snort of annoyance, he pushed his back against the wall and waited, arms crossed. He hoped it was Chewie in there.

Several exasperating minutes later, the door slid aside to reveal the Princess. She stopped halfway through the door at the sight of him. Her eyes went stony.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said stiffly.

Han remained in place, eyes roaming over her form, much softer and more appealing in a tightly cinched, white robe. She noticed his prolonged scrutiny and blushed a light pink. It sent a furious rush through him. Something wicked sparked inside him.

"No problem, Princess," he drawled. "Next time, let me know if you need any help in there." He winked with a roguish grin.

Her mouth hardened and light pink darkened to bright red. She spun on her heel and stalked towards the crew quarters.

His grin quickly faded as he watched her go, a confusing mixture of satisfaction and anger stirred up inside him. This woman made a mockery of his feelings, whether she meant to or not.

OOOOOOOOOOO

The boarding ramp had clamped shut behind them, but the sub-zero temperature followed them inside, making the air in the Falcon frigid. As Leia swiped the snow from her parka with gloved hands, she was extremely reluctant to remove her heavy snow gear. She pulled up her goggles then wrapped her arms around herself, shivering.

"Need some help warming up, Your Highnessness?"

Her eyes flew automatically to Han where he stood in his own dark parka, grinning brashly. She heard Luke sigh behind her.

She scowled. "I'd rather roll myself in broken transparisteel to warm up."

"I'll help you pick out the shards." He didn't miss a beat.

She raised her brow and inclined her head. "Do women actually ever take you up on your absurd offers?" she asked dryly.

He grinned, unabashed. "Plenty." In one quick move, he pushed back his hood and shook his head, as if to clear it, then unzipped his parka and shrugged it from his shoulders.

Still cold, Leia only removed her headgear. Her two, long braids had come untangled beneath and spilled past her shoulders. Behind her came the stomping sounds of both men's boots.

"So, what'd ya think of the snow, Kid?" Han boomed.

Leia turned, curious. Luke, too, was shivering and had not removed any of his cold weather gear either. His lips were tinged blue.

"It was pretty at first. But…" He rubbed gloved hands up and down his arms. "I could live without it."

Han chuckled loudly, parka shoved beneath his arm. "You guys are so cold blooded. I mean, I already knew the Princess was, but…"

She shot him a death glare, cold still seeping into her bones. When she looked away, she could feel his eyes still on her.

"You're saying you weren't cold?" Luke asked, clearly dumbfounded.

"Of course I was cold," Han admitted. "But, we're inside now. It's not cold in here." He paused and threw Leia a meaningful look. "Or maybe I'm just real hot-blooded."

She rolled her eyes and ignored him. The chill was beginning to leave her and, as she wandered to the main hold, she unzipped her white parka. Removing her gloves, she shoved them into her pockets and dropped her head gear on the game table. She rubbed her hands together and blew hot breath between them.

"Hey," Han's deep voice startled her and she jumped slightly.

The resulting warm rush chased away remnants of the chill.

He snickered, deep and low. "Didn't mean to startle you, Your Worship."

Her jaw tightened automatically. "Something I can do for you?" she snapped.

Something lit in his eyes and she could almost see the gears turning in his head. "You could do plenty for me. But, I just wanted to suggest a hot shower to warm you up." His lashes lowered. "Of course, if you want some company…"

Leia grew both angry and heated. It surprised her when she felt the heat between her legs and it caused her to blush crimson.

He grinned, smugness seeping from his pores. "That's a lovely shade of red you're wearing. It's good to know I have that effect on you."

"I'm sure you've had the effect of violent anger on many women," she quipped, proud of her rapid-fire response.

He took a step closer to her and lowered his voice to a deep timbre. "I think the word you're looking for is passion."

She felt her blush darken as his voice rumbled through her. The warmth threatened to overtake her defenses and her mind seemed to be buzzing out of control. She struggled for a comeback and found one just a moment too late. "I think the word you're looking for is pity."

His grin didn't waver and he took another step towards her, too close now. "You gonna take pity on me, Sweetheart?"

She was sweating in the parka, lost for words now. Her mouth opened but no sound came out.

With a bark and a roar, Chewbacca was suddenly there and Han backed away from her just slightly. The Wookiee seemed oblivious to the tension.

"Yeah," Han answered, hands on hips, face contorted in apparent annoyance. His eyes were on the deck. "Sensors are placed. Tomorrow we travel south."

She could still feel her face burning and she looked up to find Chewie watching her. She smiled weakly. After a moment, he grumbled something about the sensors and left.

"Great," Han called after him. He looked back to Leia for a long moment, eyes cloudy with some emotion she couldn't recognize. Without a word, he stalked past her and was gone.

The Princess took a slow, deep breath, trying to calm herself. Her hands were shaking ever-so-slightly and she didn't know why.

Or, at least, she wouldn't admit to herself why.

OOOOOOOOOO

Something hit Leia square in the back and her first instinct was to blame Han. When she whirled around, it was Luke standing there laughing, breath puffing out steam in front of him. She couldn't keep from smiling.

"I thought you didn't like the snow," she called. She was relieved that the tension between them had quickly dissipated.

"It's not so bad when it stops snowing and it's not windy!"

Sensor in hand, she bent down, turned it on, and programmed it. Once finished, she stood and returned to Luke.

"Is that a vote for Hoth as our new base?"

Luke laughed. "Not so sure about that."

It was a relief that the temperature was not quite as frigid as the previous two days. The lack of strong winds and the momentary reprieve from gusting snowfall made it almost tolerable. Still, it was far from a pleasant environment. It was no wonder that it remained uninhabited. Which made it a great location for a hidden base,

"You think Han will really leave if we set up base here?" Luke asked suddenly.

Her stomach lurched. "I don't know." She hoped her voice didn't betray her reaction.

"I don't think he will. But, that doesn't mean I want us to relocate here!" He was grinning, cheeks red and bright from the cold.

Leia secretly hoped Luke was right.

"So, what happens now?" Luke asked as they began to trudge back to the Falcon.

She expelled a deep sigh. "When we return, High Command will debate endlessly about where to build the base."

"What if everyone agrees?"

Leia laughed as it were the funniest thing she had heard in a long time. "That never happens."

"What's your recommendation?"

Eyes on the endless white beneath her feet, one side of her mouth crooked upwards. "Here, in this frozen wasteland."

He sighed loudly. "I was afraid you were going to say that."

"It's very remote and, unless the sensors show something unexpected, uninhabited by sentients. And the only known danger is the temperature."

"Great." His sarcasm almost matched Han's.

She smiled up at him. "I was thinking an underground base."

His lips twisted to a grimace. "That doesn't really make me feel any better." His mouth straightened out and his gaze grew curious. "You're not choosing this location just to get Han to leave, are you?"

Abruptly, she stopped walking. Luke continued for a few paces, realized she was not beside him, and turned back.

"Do you really think me so affected by Solo that I would make a decision so vital to the Rebellion just to get rid of him?" If only Luke knew how deeply she wanted him to stay. That secret would die with her.

He shrugged, now embarrassed. "I hadn't thought of it that way."

"Besides, the Rebellion needs him. He's good at what he does and his ship is the fastest we have." She gave him a wry smile. "But, don't you ever dare tell him I said that." Her own feelings aside, she couldn't deny Solo's skills. Except to him.

He laughed lightly. "My lips are sealed."

They travelled in silence for a time, breath steaming ahead of them, Leia's thoughts on the stubborn Corellian.

He had been coming on very strong during this trip and, as always, she wondered how much of what he said to her was teasing and how much of it he might actually mean. His outrageous flirtations were just absurd enough to be played off as a joke. But, was there some truth beneath the baiting?

It didn't seem possible that he could expect her to respond positively to his advances. Why did he enjoy teasing her so damned much?

"How long do you think it'll take to build a base here?" Luke asked suddenly.

Jolted from the intensity of her thoughts, she spent an extra moment processing his question. "Here?" She smiled wryly. "A lifetime."

He was smiling when she glanced up at him. "Seriously."

"Seriously?" Looking at their surroundings, she tried to contemplate the length of time necessary to blast underground tunnels, a hangar, command center, barracks…. "A year. Maybe close to two."

"Wow." Luke let out a low whistle. "That's a long time." He paused a moment. "Well, look on the bright side. Han won't be leaving any time soon."

Although the thought brightened her, she forced an eye roll and a groan of exasperation. Luke laughed lightly as they boarded the Falcon.

After a hot shower, Leia changed into a casual white shirt with gray pants. It felt strange to be out of uniform. But, there really was no reason to wear one on board the ship.

In the crew quarters, she brushed out her long hair, another luxury she rarely had time for. As she ran the brush through her long locks, a sudden nostalgia came over her.

It had been a nightly ritual, untangling her massive braids and brushing the silky tresses past her shoulders. Such a simple thing, one she had taken for granted. It had made her feel feminine, something she did not always take pride in. More often than not, she was inundated with an abundance of responsibilities, things far more important than hairstyles and dresses. Attention to those was reserved for important functions when she needed to make an impression as a proper princess.

Her seventeenth birthday celebration came to mind, and she smiled in memory of her father announcing her engagement to Benny. She had taken more care in her appearance than usual, knowing it was expected. Benny's jaw had dropped at the sight of her and it was quite possibly the first time she had truly realized the power that a woman could have over a man. She had never thought about it before that night.

Immediately before her entrance, her father had taken her aside.

"Leia, I just want you to know how happy I am for you." His smile had beamed brightly.

"Thank you, Father," Leia had replied matter-of-factly.

His strong hands had landed on her shoulders and gently turned her to face him. "Leia, listen to me."

The seriousness of his tone caught her rapt attention and she met his serious gaze.

"I've always worried about your future, Leia."

Shocked, her brow furrowed and a deep defensiveness welled in her chest. She opened her mouth, ready with an angry retort, but he cut her off.

"Not about your future in politics, or what you can and will accomplish." His smile was tender. "I know that you will set the galaxy on fire and do everything you set your mind to."

She straightened, pride restored.

"But, you are so focused on becoming a senator, on the fight against the Empire, on righting every wrong. And I am so very proud of you for that. It always left me concerned that you would never take the time to find someone to share your life with. And I wanted you to know that joy, of falling in love and having a family."

His words caused a slight sinking in Leia's heart. Was she in love with Benny? Had she ever felt as if she were falling in love?

She couldn't deny that the answer was no. However, her father's words reinforced her idea that this was the right decision. Now, he never again had to worry that she might end up alone. This truly was the best thing she could have done.

"Thank you, Father." She had melted into his embrace, feeling so very lucky and loved.

Blinking back rarely shed tears, she tried to stave off the sudden, sharp emptiness in her chest. Now, she felt as if she had not known just how lucky she truly was in her former life. That she should have appreciated it more at the time. If only she had known how swiftly and cruelly it could be taken from her.

She ached to tell both her parents that she loved them, just one more time.

Stop, she told herself harshly. Stop being a damned fool. It doesn't change anything. And it just makes you weak.

And she couldn't afford to be weak at a time like this. She shook her head briskly and swiped the tears from her lashes.

Forge ahead. Don't let anyone see you fall.

She tightened her jaw, raised her chin, and swept through the door. All that time outdoors in the cold had caused her to work up quite an appetite. And she had the time to eat. These two things rarely occurred at the same time.

She paused in the entryway of the galley when she saw Han leaning back against the counter, eating pooka chips. The bag was in one hand and he was just tossing a chip in his mouth with the other.

He spotted her and his eyes widened as he chewed noisily. She found the response curious but quickly recalled her casual dress and the fact that her hair was hanging to her waist.

He stared at her just long enough to make her uncomfortable, eyes lingering on her hair. Then he thrust the bag between them.

"Wanna chip?" he asked around a mouthful.

She noticed he wore a sleeveless, gray shirt that accented his broad shoulders and muscular arms. She forced her eyes to the bag.

"Thank you, but I was hoping for something a bit more substantial." Why had her voice come out so soft and demure?

He pulled the bag back towards his chest and his face elongated to an odd expression of thought. "Hm. Help yourself, Princess." He shoved another chip into his mouth.

Surprised by his affability, she blinked for a prolonged moment. Then she crossed the tiny room and opened the cooling unit.

There wasn't much inside that appealed to her but she finally decided on some sort of meat sandwich that looked acceptable. As she pulled the package open, Han spoke.

"You ever had that before?" His tone continued to be amicable.

"No."

He nodded and she placed it in the heating unit then threw the package in the trash bin. She was surprised when he wordlessly handed her a plate.

"Thank you." Perhaps the cold had addled his brain and sent him into some unusually calm state.

He was silent while she moved to sit at the counter, moving aside to allow her access. He planted himself on the farthest stool, leaving one between them.

Leia bit into her sandwich and her mouth was instantly afire, burning a sharp heat into her nose and stinging her eyes. Watery eyes widened instantly and she struggled to quickly chew and swallow the fiery mouthful.

Han was shaking with laughter. He disappeared from her side and reappeared with a tall glass of water, still chuckling drolly. Desperately, Leia grabbed the glass and downed the water as quickly as possible, mouth still bursting with flames.

"Why did you let me eat that?" she sputtered, blowing cool, soothing air in and out of her mouth.

He laughed again and handed her a few chips. "Here, eat these, it'll help."

She shoved the chips crudely between her lips, heedless of how she appeared. She chewed quickly and the heat began to subside, albeit slowly. Han grabbed her glass and returned with more water. She gulped it greedily.

Almost back to normal, she glared at him. "Why didn't you tell me that was so spicy?"

He shrugged with a half-grin. "How was I supposed to know you couldn't handle it?"

As she continued to cast him a dirty look, he took her plate and placed it in front of himself. "I'll eat this. Lemme get you something a little more your speed." His tone was uncharacteristically kind.

Without comment, she sat back and spun her chair to follow his path to the cooling unit. She was unused to seeing him wearing something that showed off his physique so well and it was difficult to tear her eyes away.

He turned back to her with a small container in his hand. "How 'bout tzatzicto soup?"

"Is it spicy?" she asked suspiciously.

The grin flared at full force. "No."

"All right. I'll try it." She remained distrustful.

After heating it up and placing it before her, she took the proffered spoon he held out to her. Tentatively, she pooled a small amount of soup on the spoon. With one last, skeptical glance at Han, she sipped the soup. It had a strange mixture of spices she had never tasted before, but it was palatable.

"Not bad," she admitted.

His responding smile was roguish and it sped up her heart rate a bit. He returned to his stool and continued eating his chips while she sipped at her soup.

"Are you really that warm?" She gestured to his sleeveless shirt.

He sat up a bit straighter, a wicked gleam in his eyes, and Leia instantly knew the question had been a mistake.

"Like what you see?" He winked at her, sending her stomach into an unbidden dive.

Leia rolled her eyes, wishing she had never asked. She ate her soup in silence while he crunched loudly on his chips .

"You're not really thinkin' of setting up a base here, are you?" he asked suddenly.

"I think it would be a perfect location."

"Yeah, perfect for freezing to death."

"Well, since you said you're leaving, I guess it shouldn't matter to you," she replied in a caustic tone. He didn't answer and when she allowed herself a glance in his direction he looked pensive.

"Tryin' to get rid of me, Princess?" he finally murmured.

Was this the question of the day? She arched an eyebrow in his direction, found him looking at her with a serious expression, eyes intense, lips slightly parted.

"Why would I want to get rid of you?" she asked rhetorically.

A sudden sparkle lit his eyes as his brow rose questioningly.

"You're quite valuable to the Rebellion," she added.

The brief glimmer faded and now she saw that all too familiar challenging look in his eye.

"Oh, I think it's more than that, Sweetheart," he sneered. "You're just not willing to admit it."

The harsh seriousness in his voice threw her off balance and she just opened her mouth for a moment, unable to find words. He took advantage of the moment and pounced, pointing a finger at her.

"See? You can't even deny it." He crossed his arms with a smug smile.

She pulled herself together with a haughty raise of her chin. "You're insane."

"You're not the first to call me that and I'm sure you won't be the last. Doesn't change the fact that I call 'em as I see 'em."

"And what do you see?" Leia was growing angry now, could feel the heat suffusing her cheeks.

He slid from his seat and stepped closer, towering over her even while she sat on the stool. "I see a scared little girl." His eyes were hard and challenging.

"You think I'm scared of you? You couldn't be more wrong!"

"Not of me. Of what I represent."

Her head tipped curiously to one side. "A mercenary? Someone who doesn't care about anyone or anything?"

"No." He moved even closer now and a bolt of panic flared through her. "I represent your baser instincts."

"Excuse me?" The unmitigated nerve of this man! Fury pounded through her now, erasing any trace of vulnerability.

"When you look at me, all you see is a man. And that makes you feel something you're not comfortable with. Cause I'm not the type of man you would expect to want."

"I could think of some choice words for what I see when I look at you!"

He grinned and it was almost disarming. "But I don't hear you denying that you want me."

Leia fumbled for a response. "You're sadly mistaken," she sputtered with a derisive glance up and down his form.

He inched closer. "I make you uncomfortable cause I'm so different from you or anyone else you've ever known."

Her entire body was rigid with outrage.

"If I was just a little bit more like you, it'd be easier to accept how I make you feel."

She was flushed from head to toe.

"But, I'm not like anyone you've known before," he continued, lowering his voice in the small space between them. "And that bugs you like crazy but it excites you, too."

As she shook her head wordlessly, a voice came from the doorway.

"What's going on?"

Luke spoke into the palpable tension, affording Leia with a way out of the agonizing situation she had found herself in.

It broke the spell, like an unexpected thunder on a silent, hazy night. Leia realized she had been holding her breath and she released it around a lump in her throat. How had she let him affect her so?

"Nothing," Han finally answered, voice tight and strained.

Leia kept her eyes on the deck, unable to form a response. Before she knew it, Han had fled the galley and Luke was beside her.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded and forced herself to meet his eyes, stomach twisted in knots. She tried to answer him, found her voice a croak, and cleared it delicately. "I'm fine." She pivoted smoothly and retreated to the crew quarters.