Thank you all so much! This chapter is short, but important, as the dynamic is about to change!

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Lying in the bunk, she could hear Luke's soft breathing from the other side of the crew quarters. She was still deeply agitated by her earlier encounter with Han. He had called her out on her attraction and, although he infuriated her, it had been difficult to deny it with any true conviction. He had been standing all too close and had taken her so off guard. Luke's arrival had been a Godsend.

Turning on her side, Leia wondered how she was going to handle Han from here forward. Normally, she had a stinging retort ready for rapid fire, but this time she had come up empty, and stubborn denial hadn't been effective.

A tiny blaze burst in the back of her mind, something coy and cunning that she wasn't certain she could go through with. It flickered and glowed then lit up, brilliant and incandescent. A small smile tugged at her lips. A possible means to slam his arrogant mouth shut.

What if she turned it back on him and treated him just as flippantly as he treated her? If she could make this work, surely he would be unable to detect that he had such an effect on her. It would require some preparation and resolve on her part. But if there was one thing she had learned in politics it was to play whatever role necessary to achieve the desired outcome. If she could just play it cool, she might be able to maintain her dignity.

Feeling a bit more positive about the situation, she settled down for a decent night's sleep.

###

Han punched in the approach vector to dock on the cruiser Home One. There hadn't been one aspect about the trip to Hoth that had been enjoyable and he was glad to put it behind him. He fervently hoped that would not be the location of the Rebel base. Of course, it would be a decision the Princess would support. She was almost as frigid as that ball of snow and ice.

He had almost gotten to her, had seen it in her eyes the night before, in the galley, the way he had ruffled that cold exterior. Her staunch denial had angered him and fueled his desire to batter her defenses. He wondered what might have happened had Luke not arrived when he had.

It was a foolish thought and he knew it. The decision had been made to let things lie where they were, yet somehow, in the moment, Han had been driven to exploit what he saw in her eyes and body language.

Why was this woman so difficult to resist?!

He wondered what she was doing right now. Probably hanging out with Luke. They were like two rasticoars from the same nest. The thought soured his mood further.

He was not a man who normally felt jealousy, but he couldn't deny the sliver of envy that flared towards the bond they seemed to share. Had he ever been so close to another individual? His bond with Chewie came closest.

As they approached Home One's hangar, he wrenched his thoughts away from the Princess. Switching over to manual, he guided his beloved freighter to dock inside. Seated beside him, Chewbacca adjusted the power settings.

They touched down smoothly and Chewie began the process of switching over. Han had some sick compulsion to see the Princess off. He wandered to the controls for the boarding ramp, lowered it, and disembarked. Walking around the landing struts, he made a show of examining nothing for quite some time.

At last, he heard Leia and Luke engaged in casual conversation as they strode down the ramp together. When he looked up, he saw that Luke was shouldering both of their travelpacks while the Princess smiled up in response to something he had said.

Their rapport often made him feel like an outsider, something he resented. "Well, Kids, it's been fun!" he called.

They looked at him, Luke's expression affable, Leia's unreadable.

He came closer to them and lowered his voice to a teasing timber. "Hey, Your Worshipfulness, if you miss me later, feel free to come visit. I always have room in my bunk for one extra." He leered in her direction, knowing he was being bolder than usual, unable to stop himself.

After a beat or two, she raised one brow and her gaze grew sharp and meaningful. "You couldn't handle it, Hotshot." She spun on her heel and strode away, head held high, the sway of her hips catching Han's attention.

Both men stood with their mouths hanging open, stupefied. Something white-hot sparked in Han, raising the hair on the back of his neck.