So sorry about the delay for this chapter. I am off from work this week and will update again later in the week to make up for it!

To the guest reviewer whose mom passed away: I am so sorry for your loss :( And I am happy to brighten your day a little bit. Sorry this update took so long. Hang in there.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Luke stumbled into the circuitry bay looking bleary-eyed.

"Why didn't you wake me up? I missed my shift."

Han looked up from the wires he was reconnecting, lips compressed to a hard line. "I don't know your schedule," he grumbled. He watched as Luke rubbed one eye with a fist then returned his attention to the wires.

"Did anything interesting happen after I fell asleep?"

He sulked, eyes steadfast on his work. "No." He felt the kid's eyes on him but said nothing more.

Luke was silent for a long moment. "Why are you in such a bad mood?"

"Cause it's not my job to babysit you." He knew he was being irrational, that there was no reason to take things out on his friend, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. There was just too much anger and resentment to contain.

"Sorry," Luke said defensively. "Next time I won't drink so much."

When Han didn't answer, he turned and ambled down the corridor without another word.

Jaw taut, Han grunted, frustrated with the fraying wire. He left the circuitry bay in search of the wire cutter. His tool box wasn't in the main hold where he had left it. With a frustrated grunt, he sought out his first mate.

"Chewie!" he bellowed. When there was no reply, he yelled louder. An answering bark sounded from the main corridor and Han made his way there quickly. "Hey!" he called, once his co-pilot was in sight. "Where's my tool box?"

The Wookiee shrugged with a terse growl.

"Well, I left it in the main hold and it's gone. No one else coulda taken it."

He barked more extensively, arms splayed.

"Why would it be in the forward hold?" Hands on hips, he bent forward with a menacing scowl.

Uttering a gruff sigh, Chewie snarled a lengthy reminder of the work Han had last done on the bolts in the forward hold.

Han's lips twisted in sheepish response. "Forgot about that," he muttered before turning about and heading back in the direction he had come from.

He spotted the tool box on the floor as soon as he entered. Picking it up, he trudged back to the circuitry bay, aggravated with pretty much everything.

His thoughts kept straying to the night before, alternating between before and after.

In bed, Leia had entranced him. Sex had never so captivated him, so enthralled him. He had plenty of experience with many women, of a number of species. Some had been around the space lanes more than a few times. But none had elicited the response from his body that Leia had.

What was it about her?

He would probably never know, since he would never take her to bed again.

The longing that swept through him at the thought only added fuel to his fire. He was equal parts angered and aroused at the thought of her.

What would make you think I would want any type of commitment from you?

What would make him think that? After all, she was a princess and he was no one.

He could still hear her voice saying the words. And, he could still feel the heat and intensity of being inside her. The memory rocked him, deep down, instilling something beyond lust that he refused to acknowledge.

Chewie's footsteps pounded towards him and Han plucked the wire cutter from the box and made himself busy. Peripherally, he could see that the Wookiee was watching him but he gave no acknowledgement.

After several moments of silence, he growled a soft question.

Without looking up, Han replied, surly and defensive. "Went for a walk."

Chewie asked if he had been walking with the princess.

A bitter smirk skewed his mouth to one side. "No." He cut off the ends of the wires, aware of those blue eyes still on him.

Now, he asked what had happened with the princess, and Han lowered the cutter and turned to him with strained patience.

"What makes you think anything happened with Her Royalness?"

With complete sincerity, Chewie observed that Han's particularly bad moods always had something to do with her.

Han threw the cutter into the box with a loud, metal clang. "Are you kidding me?"

He was not.

Han turned back to the wires and began twisting them together. "Listen, we need to get this ship in tip-top shape. I wanna be outta here in a week."

Silence was the only response to his words. After a moment, Chewie lumbered away.

Han grimaced to himself. It had been an instant decision, but he knew it was the right one. Why was he even still hanging around with the Rebels anyway?