Chapter Text
ABY 35
She was sitting at the bar, with a few workmen and some potential investors. The aurora's blazed bright on the vid screens. She was laughing. His shirt was too big on her and she'd belted it around the waist. She wasn't as young as the first time she broke his heart, but the lines on her face fit when she smiled. She was gorgeous. He ached from his sternum to his spine at the sight of her. He hung back and watched.
"Sorry," she said to a roughneck leaning on the bar next to her. "I'm waiting for my date."
"You know I heard you say that last night, and I don't think I believe it," replied the roughneck.
"I've heard her say it at least a dozen times," said the bartender. "She's too polite to tell you to go to hell."
"I can't believe you think I'm too polite for that!" Leia threw a napkin at the bartender. "I thought we were becoming friends."
The bartender laughed.
The roughneck missed the point. He had a broad chested machismo. He was using all of it. "It's not really safe for a woman like you to be traveling with a Wookie."
"Really?" Leia blinked at him wide-eyed and naive. Looking for all the world like Jania, whose flirting was not a Jedi mind trick.
"Wookies'll turn on you."
She put a hand on her heart in mock terror. "What would you suggest?"
She sounded sugar coated. Han wondered why the roughneck couldn't see how false it was. Was he the only person in the universe who like women more savory than sweet?
Leia clearly had the roughneck in hand, so Han scanned the room for Chewie. He was playing chess in a corner, and starting to growl in frustrated cadences. Han walked over, put his hand on Chewie's shoulder, and leaned across the table.
"He says you don't have to let him win just because he's a Wookie, but I wouldn't believe him."
Chewie gave a surprised chirp, and wrapped him in a bear hug without leaving his chair. Han shushed him quickly and tilted his head toward a still distracted Leia. Chewie's chest rumbled with a purring laughter.
After untangling from the Wookie, Han sidled up to the bar, getting as close as he could without tipping her off.
"Oh I've had all kinds," the roughneck bragged. "I brought in those three fat cats last night. I'll be taking them out again in few days, might be able to rustle up a berth for you too. Something really nice," he was leering, "certainly nicer than being trapped with a walking hair ball."
"Hmm," Leia pressed her lips together, "I don't think so. Like I said, I'm waiting for my date."
"Listen lady, I don't think you get how good this offer is."
"I must not."
The bar tender had smartly started clearing the glass wear from the counter. He also quickly covered the drink condiments, snapping lids on the containers. Leia's hand was inching toward the blaster she kept in her boot. She preferred intimidation to open fights, but she'd shoot first if she thought it was needful. Han felt a smile twitch at the edges of his mouth. Maybe this reunion was going to go well after all.
The roughneck oozed disdain. "It's not like some prince charming is gonna waltz in a sweep you off your feet. I can be good to you. I can be a real nice man."
"Well that's the problem with your pitch right there," Han cut in. "The lady doesn't like nice men. She goes for scoundrels."
Leia's attention snapped to him. She smiled, tried to pull it back by biting her lower lip, and then just relaxed into a wide grin.
"He's got me there."
"Hey buddy," the roughneck said. "This is a private conversation."
"Not anymore."
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
Han pulled out his blaster and set it on the bar, pointed in the general direction of the roughneck.
"I'm her date."
Chewie was behind him now. That was always a nice touch.
"By the way, Your Highness," Han turned his attention to Leia. "Congratulations on winning your bet."
She squealed and jumped from her seat and into his arms. She stood up on her tip-toes to kiss him. A big, wet, hard kiss that went all the way to his heels. She took up so much room in his life, he could forget how small she actually was. Even on her tip toes he had to hunch over to meet her lips. No wonder she was so easy to loose track of.
The roughneck grumbled, so Chewie loomed a little. He went away, quietly after that.
"Your Highness?" the bartender repeated shocked.
"You talked Luke into it?" Leia looked up at him happily.
"I guess I did."
She smiled a sly little smile.
"Not a bad bit of politicking I set up, was it?"
He snorted. They called him the gambler. He smoother her hair and put a hand on her cheek. They kissed again. Slower and softer.
The bartender was pacing and muttering to himself, "Leia. Your Highness, Leia. I can't believe-- I didn't think-- Its so obvious! She said she would pay for the damage, but they all-- Oh my. Oh. My."
"Miss me?" Han murmured into her hair.
"More than you could know. Thank goodness you found me, I was afraid I would be lost forever."
"No such luck." He had a sly smile of his own.
"Well, we could be lost for a little while longer, right?"
"Absolutely. As long as you want. Though Jania might actually become a Wookie, and we've really left Jacen alone with Luke for too long."
"They can sort it out." She nibbled at the underside of his jaw.
"Yes," he agreed. "Yes, they can."
He hadn't picked her up in years, but without thinking about it he swept her up. They needed some time alone. Right now. He wasn't going to give her any chance to run away. She giggled like an eager teenager.
"Hey fly-boy," she said, her eyes twinkling, "You know?"
He smiled back at her, squeezing her shoulders into his chest.
"Yea. I know."