Thank you all for reading and reviewing! :) This chapter is short but I will update soon since I am off this week...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The Millennium Falcon was prepared to eject from hyperspace and arrive at Hoth. Leia, on the other hand, felt less-than-prepared.

Between the new threat from the Empire and Han's dangerous situation, she felt on edge. The two balanced, suspended in cold fear inside her heart. Her thoughts drifted ominously from one to the other then back again until she felt as if she might be sick.

She heard the cockpit door swish open and Han dropped into his seat beside her.

"Good to go?" he asked.

She nodded, hiding her fears beneath a business-like façade. After double checking the coordinates, she gave Han the signal and he pushed the lever to propel them back to subspace.

The white and gray marble that was Hoth popped into view.

"I was really hoping never to see that ice ball again," he muttered.

Leia's smile was forced and slightly askew. "Are you still glad you stayed with the Alliance?"

The look he gave her was equally sardonic. "A little cold won't scare me off that easily."

A small smile pulled at her and this time it was genuine. After they entered Hoth's atmosphere, Han received clearance for them to land in the main hangar.

The controller's voice returned over the comm system. "Princess Leia, Mon Mothma will meet you when you debark."

Her eyes puzzled downwards and she glanced at Han. "That's unusual."

"Acknowledged," Han barked into the comm. His head turned towards her, a question in his eyes.

"I didn't know Mon was scheduled to be here."

"Is it a big deal?"

She frowned. "No, just unusual." She felt his eyes on her.

"You worried?"

For some reason, she was. But she brushed it off. "No. I'm going to put on my cold gear. I suggest you do the same." When she stood and moved to turn past him, he grabbed her by the waist and held her fast. Smiling roguishly up at her, he was able to momentarily make her forget the gravity of her thoughts. A responding smile sprung to her lips involuntarily and she ran her hands through his unruly hair.

"Back to work," he said lightly, a gleam in his eye. "But nights are for play." He winked and it sent a flutter through her chest.

Lowering her lips to his, she lost herself to the slow, deep movements of his expert tongue. The kiss grew steamy and a slow burn diffused throughout her body. She forced her mouth from his, albeit unwillingly.

"Nights are definitely for play," she breathed. A playful smack on her bottom startled her and she gave him a bright, teasing smile before gliding away, eyes on him until she was out the door. His gaze remained on her as well, and then she turned to travel down the corridor and retrieve her snowsuit.

As she pulled the heavy, white suit around her, she recalled the low temperatures of Hoth and silently grimaced. She had teased Han, but truly, she was no more looking forward to occupying the base than he was. But decisions needed to be made for strategic reasons, not for reasons of comfort or convenience. Hoth made perfect sense.

Upon return to the cockpit, Leia saw that he was guiding the Falcon into the huge hangar that had been carved out of solid ice. The white cavern gave the illusion of going on forever.

They touched down and Han began to shut down the ship's systems.

"I've got this," Leia said. "Go get your Parka."

He gave her a sour look that managed to convey all his contempt for the planet then was gone. After shutting down all systems, she looked up to see Mon through the viewport, trailed by several others. With a sigh, she went to the ramp and lowered it. The frigid air instantly billowed inside and Leia shivered.

She strode down, Han's sudden, heavy footsteps behind her. Her eyes remained on Mon, who was beaming at her.

"Leia," she called in her soft-spoken manner. "I have the most wonderful surprise."

She was truly puzzled and glanced at her entourage, just as the older woman stepped aside. Leia's eyes landed on the man who had been standing directly behind her and her stomach jolted as she felt her blood run cold, which had nothing to do with the low temperature.

"Leia!" Bennington Palacio called in a tone of desperation. He sprung forward and clutched her in a tight embrace that she could barely feel.

Automatically, her hands rose lightly to his back. Was this really happening? Why was he here?

He pulled back, hands grabbing her by the forearms, eyes examining her as if he couldn't believe she were real.

"I've been searching for you for years," he confessed, eyes dark and earnest. His hair was a bit shorter, but he looked otherwise the same.

Speechless, she allowed him to ramble about his endless efforts to track her down. It was all too much to process, she was in shock. When she remembered Han behind her, she felt ill.

"What are you doing here?" she finally interjected in a stilted tone.

Benny gave a soft laugh. "I wasn't going to let you go quite so easily. I was shocked to discover your ties to the Rebellion. Then I realized how much sense it made." His gaze softened. "Leia, we are all so sorry about Alderaan. And your mother and father…"

This remnant of her past suddenly became very real. It was too much to take.

"I appreciate that, Benny," she said dismissively, her regal upbringing taking hold. "But I still don't understand. Do you wish to join the Alliance?"

He smiled and took her hands. "Leia, I wish for my brother to lend all possible support to the Alliance. And of course, I still intend to marry you."

The hangar seemed to swim around her and she almost thought she might pass out for a moment, as a brief flicker of blackness fell behind her eyes. It was quickly gone.

"What wonderful news," Mon gushed. Leia had forgotten she was even standing there. "Wonderful that you two are reunited and wonderful for the Alliance. Your fiancé went to great lengths to find you."

That word…please no.

"This is a day of celebration," Mon declared. "Spend some time alone together and tonight we shall have a small gala in your honor."

Leia realized how quickly she was breathing. "I have to debrief High Command. There are urgent matters—"

"Yes." Mon cut her off. "I am aware. And we will get to that. For now, let's revel in more positive events. We will deal with debriefing in the morning." She signaled to her entourage and they filed away.

Leia turned to the Falcon's ramp, heart practically bounding from her chest.

Han was gone.