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Leia Organa knew sewing, knitting, embroidery and other needle-crafts. Having grown up as royalty, it was a skill instilled in her from a very young age. Her aunts said it was something every young princess should know. When she was very little, she hated it. She thought it was so boring. She would have rather been looking at ships.
But as Leia grew older, she actually came to really love it. She found that working with her a needle and thread and concentrating on creating something immensely helped calm her down after a really busy or frustrating day. This proved to be especially true during her years serving in the Junior Legislature, and later when she went off to University. Then she joined the Imperial Senate, while secretly helping out her parents, Bail and Breha Organa, in the Rebel Alliance. And she became too busy for crafts.
When the Death Star destroyed Alderaan, Leia decided that she would no longer knit or sew. The hobbies reminded her too much of her homeworld, and the memories of its’ demise were just too strong. Little did she know that her love of needlework would be reignited by a most unexpected source.
It was the six-month anniversary of both the Death Star and Alderaan being destroyed. People were generally happy and celebratory of the planet-killing space station meeting its’ end, but were more somber in their remembrances of the lost planet. Leia was especially conflicted. She praised Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, the heroes of the Rebellion, whom Leia had befriended since meeting them on the Death Star. But at the same time, she mourned for her parents and the countless other lives that had been lost on Alderaan.
When she returned to her quarters after the ceremony was over, Leia found a stitch-work on her pillow. It displayed the royal crest of Alderaan. The words “Never Forget” were stitched underneath it. That phrase has become associated with tributes to Alderaan over the past six months. The piece was beautiful. Whoever made it had obviously worked very hard on it. Leia loved it. She began wondering about where it had come from. Clearly, the person who made it knew about Leia’s love of needlepoint, and shared her pain of the over the loss of Alderaan. The first person who came to mind was Evaan Verlane. She was a fellow survivor of Alderaan, and after going on a mission together shortly after the Battle of Yavin, she and Leia had become good friends.
“Hello, Evaan,” Leia said when she found the other woman.
“Oh, hey, Leia,” said Evaan. “What’s up?”
“Hello, Evaan,” said Leia. “I found this in my room.” She held up the stitching. “It’s lovely. I wanted to thank you for making it.”
“It sure is beautiful, Your Highness,” Evaan agreed. “And I was just as affected as you were by what happened to own homeworld. But...uh...I didn’t make this.”
“Oh,” said Leia, her face falling. “I just thought...since you’re also from Alderaan…that maybe...you had made it.”
“I know my way around a needle,” said Evaan. “But even I’m not this good.”
“Yeah, the quality is really impressive,” Leia concurred. “Well, thanks anyway. I’ll see you later.”
Leia asked around the Alliance to see if anyone else knew who had made the knitting. But they were just as confused as she was. While she was walking back to her quarters, Leia quite literally walked into Han Solo. The captain of the Millennium Falcon was, as always, followed by his Wookiee copilot, Chewbacca.
“Captain Solo,” said Leia.
“Your Worship,” said Han. It was a nickname that he given her on the Death Star. And, much to Leia’s chagrin, it still stuck all these months later.
“How many times must I ask you to call me “Leia?”” asked Leia.
“Only if you call me “Han,”” said Han.
“Fine...Han,” said Leia.
“Ok...Leia,” said Han. “So, what do you have there?”
“This,” Leia replied, showing the cross-stitch to Han. “That’s the royal crest of Alderaan, for your information.”
“I know what it is,” said Han. “I’ve seen it enough times over the months I’ve been here. And besides, it was already a well-known symbol.”
“I’ve been going around trying to figure out who made it,” said Leia. “Do you have any ideas as to who it could be?”
*Actually, it was...*Chewie began.
“Nope! I have no idea who it could have been!” Han exclaimed, interrupting the Wookiee.”But...uh...whoever they were obviously knew how sad you were when Alderaan was destroyed. And they just wanted to cheer you up.”
“Well, it worked,” said Leia. “I just wish I could thank this person.”
“You don’t need to do that,” said Han. “Your happiness is enough of a reward.”
“You really think so?” asked Leia.
“Yeah, sure,” Han replied.
“Well, I’ll see you later then,” said Leia.
“Ok, bye.” said Han.
That one stitch-work was only just the beginning. Leia received one every year on the anniversary of Alderaan’s destruction. And on top of that, she got similar presents on both her birthday and Life Day. Leia shared her birthday with Luke, and they were both the same age, so he also got a present on that day. All these things touched Leia, but the mystery of who made them only continued to grow.
“Looks like you’ve got an oh-sew-secret admirer,” Luke told Leia one day. “And that’s sew spelled S-E-W. Get it? Get it?” He laughed.
“Ha-ha. Very funny.” Leia deadpanned. “Remember, Luke, you also get presents like this on your birthday-which is also mine-plus Life Day. Don’t you wonder who makes them?”
“Well, yeah, sure I do,” said Luke. “But the presents themselves are their own reward.” Leia couldn’t help noticing that what Luke had just said echoed what Han had told her about her own happiness being a reward within itself when she showed him that first gift.
“And ever since the deaths of my Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, plus Ben Kenobi, I’ve learned to appreciate the little things in life,” Luke continued. “Plus, I’m sure that whoever is making these things has a good reason to stay anonymous. But maybe they’ll reveal themselves eventually.”
“I guess you’re right,” said Leia. Before she knew it, three years had passed since the loss of Alderaan and the Battle of Yavin. As usual, Leia had gotten another commemorative stitch-work. She had long ago stopped publicly asking about the mysterious maker, even though she still wondered who it could be. She wouldn’t have to wait much longer to get her answer.
The Rebel Alliance had been stationed on the ice planet Hoth for several weeks. It was just the latest planet the Rebels had used since Luke destroyed the Death Star. They moved every few months, as a way to keep one step ahead of the Empire. And it had always worked thus far. Of course, luck like that never lasted forever.
After three years, the Empire had finally tracked down the Rebels. Hoth was no longer safe. The Rebels had mounted a counter-attack against the invaders, while also mounting an evacuation of Echo Base. Leia was in the command center, overseeing the operation. The current situation was just the latest in what had been a very eventful time for Leia.
It all began yesterday when Han had announced that he and Chewie were leaving the Rebellion after three years. Han had a lot of old debts he had to pay off to the gangster Jabba the Hutt on Tattooine. Leia was surprised by this turn of events. Han had become a valuable asset to the Rebellion. He’d actually left once before, just prior to the Battle of Yavin. But he’d returned at the last minute to help set Luke up for the shot that had destroyed the Death Star. And while he’d never formally become a member of the Alliance, he’d proved his mettle over the past three years. Leia had even said as much, calling him a natural leader, and pointing out that he had always chosen to say. He told her that he’d changed his mind after a run-in with a bounty hunter on Ord Mantell. That incident had occurred shortly before the Rebels settled on Hoth. Han further alleged that Leia only wanted him to stay because of the way she felt about him. It was true that the Princess and the scoundrel had become friends. She did care very deeply for him, as well as Luke. Leia sometimes wondered if her feelings for Han could ever go further than friendship, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.
Leia’s frustration over Han’s surprise announcement and their confrontation gave way to fear and worry later that evening. Luke had never returned from the joint patrol he and Han had done earlier in the day. Han took a Tauntaun out to look for Luke. The planet Hoth was perpetually covered in ice and snow, but that night was to be especially freezing. People were even saying that a blizzard could hit. No matter what kinds of disagreements Leia may have had with Han, he and Luke were still both her friends. And she wanted them to be alright.
After a night spent worrying, Leia was relieved the following morning when a pilot named Zev, call-sign Rouge 2, was sent out to search for Luke and Han. Soon enough, he contacted the base to say that he had find them. When they were brought back, both men were immediately rushed to Echo Base’s med-center. Luke had been badly attacked by a creature native to Hoth called a Wampa. His injuries were so severe, that he’d had to spend several hours recuperating in a Bacta tank. Han, meanwhile, was exhausted. He’d spent much of the previous night watching over Luke, meaning that he’d gotten very little sleep himself. He’d also gotten some mild frostbite as a result of being out in the cold for so long. Luckily, he was fine after a bit of rest and a chance to warm up.
After Luke had been released from the Bacta tank, Leia, Han, Chewie, C-3PO and R2-D2 went to visit him in the recovery room. There, Han and Leia had had a spat in which she called him a “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerfhearder.” Leia also kissed Luke-on the lips-something that took him, Han, Chewie and the droids by surprise. Shortly thereafter, Han and Chewie went out to investigate something that had been spotted near Echo Base. Han shot the thing, which turned out to be an Imperial probe droid. That’s when the evacuations began.
“Are you alright?” Leia stopped dwelling on the events of the previous days when she heard Han’s voice. He had come into the command center.
“Why are you still here?!” Leia asked Han.
“I heard the command center’s been hit,” said Han.
“You got your clearance to leave,” said Leia.
“Don’t worry-I’ll leave,” Han told her. “But first I gotta get you to your ship.”
“Your Highness, we must take this last transport,” said C-3PO. “It’s our only hope.” Leia knew Han and the droid were right. She was so important to the Rebellion that it wouldn’t do any good if she perished on Hoth. But on the other hand, she had been trained all her life to never back down from a fight. A jarring tremor shook the command center. It was all Leia could do to keep on her feet. Han caught her arm.
“That’s it,” he said, settling the matter. They had to evacuate. With a final order to remaining Rebel personnel to protect the fighters, Leia, Han and 3-PO fled through the crumbling corridors of the base. At one point, part of the roof caved in. Han shielded Leia from any falling debris. Even though it was freezing cold around them, warmth flooded Leia’s body when her skin made contact with Han’s.
They were unharmed, but their way to the final Rebellion transport hand been blocked off. Han used his commlink to tell the Rebellion leaders that he would get Leia out on the Falcon. They ran back the way they’d come, because it was the quickest way to reach the hanger where the Millennium Falcon was kept. Chewie was already there. The group escaped from Hoth just in the nick of time.
However, that didn’t necessarily mean they were safe. Upon reaching space, the Falcon encountered Imperial Star Destroyers and TIE fighters. Han attempted to go to Lightspeed, but 3-PO informed him that the Falcon’s Hyperdrive was damaged. Han then got the idea to evade the Imperials by flying through an asteroid field. Leia and 3-PO thought he was nuts for this, but it worked. Han then decided to hide inside one of the lager asteroids.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Leia said as the darkness of the asteroid fell upon them.
“Yeah, me too,” said Han. He set the ship down. “That was a close one.”
“You’re telling me,” said Leia. “I know I snapped at you in the command center, and again during our escape, but I’m actually really glad you came back for me and got us off of Hoth.”
“You’re welcome,” said Han. “Hey, I spent all of last night keeping Luke safe. You’re my friend as much as he is. And despite what you might think, I do actually care for my friends.”
“Oh, I know that,” said Leia. “It’s one of the things I admire most about you.”
“I knew you liked me, Princess,” said Han. “So, uh, hey, Chewie, did you get the stuff I asked you find?”
*Sure did, Han,* said Chewie.
“What things?” asked Leia.
*These,* replied Chewie. He reached into his satchel and pulled out several stitch-works. These included all the ones which were made to commemorate the destruction of Alderaan. Leia also saw some of those that were given to her for Life Day.
“When I went to get you from the command center, I told Chewie to go to your chambers and get as many as these as he could,” said Han.
*I’m sorry I couldn’t get them all* said Chewie.
“Chewbacca expresses his regret that he was not able to save all the pieces,” C-3PO translated.
“That’s alright, Chewie,” said Leia. “You did what you could, given the circumstances of what what happening on the base. But these are more than enough. Than you so much.”
*You’re very welcome, Little Princess,* said Chewbacca. This time, Leia didn’t need C-3PO to translate for the Wookiee. She had spent enough time with Chewie in the past three years to recognize is “Little Princess” nickname for her.
“You should be thanking me, too,” said Han. “I know how much those things mean to you. And even though we couldn’t save Echo Base, I figured I could at least do something to cheer you up.”
“Thank you, Han,” said Leia. “But now I’m afraid that I’ll never find out who made these.”
“Oh, it was me,” Han said causally.
“Wait? What? YOU?!” Leia exclaimed in wonder.
“You shouldn’t be that surprised,” said Han. “As you well know, I am a man of many talents.”
“That is true,” said Leia. “I just wasn’t expecting this.”
“Oh, no Princess,” Han grumbled. “Don’t you go spewing some shit about how sewing isn’t “manly.””
“I wouldn’t dream of doing that,” said Leia. “I know all about having hobbies and interests that people think are “nontraditional” for your gender. I mean, I’ve had a life-long interest in ships. When I was a girl, I would spend hours watching ships as they passed overhead.”
“Yeah, you’ve told me that a few times,” said Han. “And I’ve always thought that was so cool. It was also your dad who insisted that you be trained in weapons and hand-to-hand combat, too, right?”
“Yes,” said Leia replied. “He wanted me to know self-defense from a young age. Flying, too. And my mother agreed. It was my aunts who got me into needle-crafts. Because that would more becoming of a Princess. I didn’t much like it when I was very small, but it grew on me. Anyway, did you learn to sew when you were at the Imperial Academy? Because I know they make all cadets mend their own clothes.”
“That’s true,” said Han. “But for me, my interest in sewing goes back much further.”
“To your childhood?” asked Leia.
“You got it,” answered Han. “You already know that I spent most of my youth on Corellia as a member of Lady Proxima’s White Worms gang of Scrumrats. New clothes were very hard to come by. Many of my clothes where hand-me-downs from kids that had already outgrown them. And you always had to maintain these. I wasn’t very good at sewing when I first joined the White Worms. There was a time when a girl around my own age named Qi’ra, who was my...friend, had to help me.” Leia noticed the way Han had hesitated when referring to Qi’ra as his friend. He had mentioned her before, and Leia had often wondered if there was more to their relationship than the bits and pieces that Han had already divulged. But Leia knew that now was not the time to question him further about it.
“I eventually got the hang of it,” Han continued. “Like I just said, I don’t think sewing and knitting makes me any less of a man. Especially, since, given the circumstances of my childhood, it was a means of survival. But there was this one boy in the White Worms, named Rebolt, who would tease me, calling me things like “sissy boy.” He was always an asshole, though. His clothes were constantly getting rips and tears. I used to ask Rebolt if he ever wanted me to fix his clothes, but he always refused. He insisted that the holes and tears were like a badge of honor. Most of the other kids in the gang loved me and my skills, though. In addition to fixing clothes, I would make and repair toys and dolls for the really little kids.”
“That’s so sweet,” Leia gushed.
“Well, the way I saw it, I was doing my part to try and give those kids a taste of a normal childhood,” said Han. “Not that I’d actually know what one of those looked like. More recently, you may have noticed that a lot of my clothes have stitches in them.”
“I did notice that,” said Leia. “But I always thought you had gotten your clothes mended professionally.”
“Once I started finding steady smuggling work and made enough money, I could sometimes afford to do that,” said Han. “But for the most part, I preferred to to do it on my own. I see sewing in the same way that I see working on ships. There’s just something so satisfying about creating something with your own hands.”
“That’s how I feel, too,” said Leia. “Now I have another question. You hinted that you started making this stuff for me to cheer me up. How did you even know I was in to needle-crafts?”
“After what happened to Alderaan, I got the idea to make something to raise your spirits,” said Han. “I asked around to see what kinds of things you liked. Generals Riekaan and Dodonna both mentioned that you had a talent for sewing. And because that was one of my own talents, even if no one else knew it, I figured it was something you would appreciate.”
“Of course you would get that information from Riekaan and Dodonna,” said Leia. Both Generals were also survivors of Alderaan. They’d been friends with Bail and Breha Organa. And Leia remembered making things for them anytime they came to visit when Leia had been younger. “And you were right. I do appreciate all you’ve made for me. But I just realized something. If you made the stitch-works for me, that means you also made Luke’s, as well.”
“I did,” Han confirmed.
*I think Luke kept his stuff in his own quarters on the base,* said Chewie. *And sadly, I didn’t have enough time to go get them after I had found Leia’s,*
“Chewie says there wasn’t enough time to get both yours and Luke’s stuff,” Han explained. Secretly, unlike 3-PO, he knew that Leia understood Chewie more than anyone suspected. But he still translated his Wookiee friend’s speech for the Princess out of habit for having to do that for other people.
*And I’ve been trying for years to tell you that Han made the stuff,* said Chewie. *But Han always interrupted me.*
“That’s because none of those other times felt like the right moment to tell her,” said Han.
“So, why are you telling me now?” asked Leia.
“Better late than never, I guess,” answered Han.
“And Chewie, it’s alright that you couldn’t get Luke’s stuff,” Leia reassured the Wookiee. “I’m sure Han can make something new for him.”
“Wait...really?” asked Han.
“Yeah, why not?” Leia responded. “He really likes those gifts. And I think he’d appreciate them more knowing you made them. You are one of his best friends, after all.”
“Well...sure..but...I’ve hidden this talent from everyone else in the Rebellion for three years,” Han sputtered. “And I don’t intend to start letting people know now.”
“If you’re afraid of people questioning your manhood, I don’t think you have to worry about Luke doing that,” Leia reassured Han. “I mean, you’ve never given him grief about how he’s a rather good cook.”
“It surprised me at first,” Han admitted. “Because I wasn’t expecting that from the kid. But when Luke told me that his aunt had taught him to cook when he was a little boy, I thought that was nice. He says that cooking is a way to still feel connected to his aunt, all these years after her death. And I certainly wouldn’t want to dishonor the memory of Beru Lars. Also, the way I see it, cooking, like sewing is an important life skill for anyone to know, regardless of their gender.”
One of the things Han had just said gave Leia pause. Luke still cooked even after his aunt’s death as a way to keep her memory alive. Meanwhile, Leia had sworn off sewing or knitting when her parents died in Alderaan’s destruction, because she didn’t want to face memories that were still so painful. She was starting to wonder if that had been such a good idea.
“Hey, if Wedge, Jansen, Hobbie or any of those other guys wanna give you crap for your hobbies, they’ll have me and Luke to answer to,” said Leia.
*Don’t forget me, Cub,* said Chewie.
“Thanks, guys,” said Han. “But before I can tell the other Rebels about how good I am at sewing, we have to find them first.”
That proved to easier said than done. First off, the Falcon was having trouble contacting the Rebel fleet. That meant they didn’t know where the rendezvous point was. Then there was the matter of the Falcon’s busted Hyperdrive. Han, Leia, Chewie and 3-PO had attempted to make repairs while the Falcon was hidden in the asteroid. But their refuge ended up being the stomach of a giant space slug. They nearly escaped being digested by the creature. And then after making out of the asteroid field, they had to escape from more Imperials. They did. Now they needed a place to go. Han decided on the planet of Besipin, where his old friend, Lando Calrissian, ran a mining colony. Though it was a long distance from their current location, they could have made the journey rather quickly, if they’d had a functioning Hyperdrive. But they didn’t, so trip would take several weeks, at least.
The Millennium Falcon was well on its’ way to Bespin. Leia, Han, Chewie and 3-PO had all fallen into a routine of sorts. Prior to deciding on Bespin as their destination, Leia had switched off 3-PO, because both she and Han had become tired of his jabbering. But he was reactivated once the journey began, because both Leia and Han realized that he could come in handy. Upon waking, the two humans and the Wookiee would have breakfast. Then they worked at repairing the Falcon as best they could before pausing for lunch. When lunch was over, they’d continue working until dinnertime. After dinner, there was a free period. Han, Leia and Chewie would wind down by watching holo-shows or telling stories. Leia really liked these moments. Han was an amazing storyteller. The tales he regaled her with always left her breathless. She, in turn, told him stories about her childhood on Alderaan and her parents. After avoiding talking about Bail and Breha Organa for so long, Leia found that discussing them was a way for her to both process and come to terms with their deaths, while also keeping their memories alive.
When the stories or holo-shows were over, it was time for bed. Early on in the trip, Leia had slept on the couch behind the Holochess table in the lounge. After about a week of this, Han invited Leia into his bed. He assured her that he had no ulterior, sexual motives behind it. He just simply believed that his bed would be more comfortable than the couch. Leia agreed. She had Han were both adults who were perfectly capable of sharing a bed without sex being involved. Some nights, they would end up cuddling, something they both enjoyed, even when it was the result of Han comforting Leia when she awoke from a nightmare, something he knew she’d struggled with for years in the aftermath of Alderaan’s destruction. But that’s as far as it ever went. That being said, a larger degree of intimacy had begun to enter Han and Leia’s relationship. During the Falcon’s time hiding in the asteroid, Han and Leia had kissed. It was their first time doing so. Despite telling Han that she’d sooner kiss a Wookiee back on Hoth, she’d wanted to kiss Han for a while. And when it finally happened, she was elated. Since then, they had kissed many more times, but only on each other’s cheeks or foreheads. They’d had yet to kiss on the lips again.
Leia liked the pace of how things were going. She wasn’t in any particular rush to take it any further. But there were times when she longed to feel Han’s lips against hers again. And as for the possibility of advancing things in the bedroom, only time would tell. But if they ever did reach that level, it would just be a friends with benefits deal. Because that’s all Han and Leia were-friends.
At some point after the escape from Hoth, Leia realized that the only clothes she had were what she’d left the snow-covered planet with. In her and Han’s rush to evacuate Echo Base, there hadn’t been time to pack any more clothes. Luckily, Han had some shirts and pants on the Falcon that fit Leia. He also kept the ship well-stocked with medical supplies, including suppressants to help lessen the most painful symptoms of Leia’s monthly cycles. It also didn’t escape her notice that these medications had another use, as contraceptives. Of course, she and Han still weren’t actually having sex. Either way, Leia was nevertheless touched to see Han making an effort to be accommodating of her needs.
As the journey went on, Leia began to notice that the clothes she’d had since Hoth were starting to become worn. She thought it’s be a good idea to fix them up as best she could before they got to Bespin. Whoever this Lando Calrissian person was, she wanted to make a good first impression on him.
“Han do you have any needles and thread I can use to patch these up?” Leia asked one day.
“Yes, I have sewing supplies,” said Han. “But why don’t you let me do it? Now that you know I can and all. I mean, I’m already in the middle of making something for Luke, like you suggested I should.”
“That’s sweet of you to offer,” said Leia. “And I know you can. But your story inspired me to try again. It’s been way too long. Besides, I only need some white thread. That way, you can use the rest of the colors for whatever it is that you’re making for Luke.”
“Okay,” said Han. He brought some needles and a couple of spools of white thread to Leia. Then she got to work. It came to her much easier than she thought it would. She supposed it was like riding a speeder-bike, in that you never forgot. When she finished, she was very proud of her work. She ran to show Han.
“Look what I made,” she announced happily, holding up the jacket and pants for Han to see.
“Wow! That looks great!” Han marveled. “Check out what I’ve been making.” He held out a quilt showing a pair of circles set against a purple background.”
“It’s a blanket,” said Leia.
“Yeah, it is,” said Han. “It’s a depiction of Tattooine’s famous twin sunsets. Luke often tells me about how he’d spent his evenings watching the suns go down when he lived there. And I’ve seen a fair number of them myself in all the times I’ve been on Tatooine. I don’t usually have many nice things to say about that planet, but those sunsets really are something.”
“Since I’ve never been to Tattooine myself, I only have Luke’s and your words to go on,” said Leia. “But this is beautiful. Well done, Han! I’m sure Luke will love it!”
“I’m not expecting the kid to show up on Bespin when we arrive,” said Han. “No one in the Rebellion knows that’s where we’re going, much less him. But when we all do see each other again, I hope he likes it. And I’ve been thinking. We should celebrate our artistic endeavors with a kiss.”
“Where?” asked Leia.
“On the lips,” Han replied.
“We haven’t done that since, well, you know, that kiss in the circulatory bay,” Leia pointed out.
“I know, but this is a special occasion,” said Han. “One that deserves a reward.”
“Well, alright, then,” said Leia. “Kiss me.” Their lips met. Han and Leia’s second full kiss was somehow even better than their first. They were both grinning widely when they broke apart.
“Thank you,” said Leia.
“For what?” asked Han.
“For sharing your gifts,” answered Leia. “Because it helped me rediscovered my own passion.”
“You’re welcome, Princess,” said Han.
Han Solo had helped Leia Organa fall back in love with needlework. And she finally realized that she did in fact love him. She felt that now still wasn’t the right time to tell him. But she had a feeling that moment would come eventually. For now, it was enough to know that a piece of Leia’s heart had been stitched back together.