Secrets of Endor - DISCONTINUED

III

A year was a long time for a human. Even for other celestial beings, it was a good hunk of life. Too much had happened to catch up completely, but it would be a start.

Being locked inside the carbonite was a hell of its own. Han as not awake, yet not asleep. He was frozen in time, position, and life.

Leia had tried to catch Solo up on the whereabouts of the Rebel Alliance since their last great adventure over the next hour. Thankfully, she hadn't much to tell. They were finalizing a plan to annihilate the rest of the Empire, but she wasn't told the details. She had none to pass on.

"They've left 'em alone for the past year, huh?" Solo asked.

It seemed as though to entire Alliance had postponed its missions in order to rescue him. Once again, he didn't feel so alone anymore.

Leia corrected him. "Not really alone. Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar have been tracking Vader's transport."

He leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. "Well I'm here now. Tell 'em we're ready to go out and get those Imperial scum bags!" It was obvious that courage, or something like it, had never left the smuggler.

Leia smiled, appreciative. "They'll fill us in once we board," she promised.

"What about Luke?" Han asked. He had become very fond of the kid since their previous battles. Now, he felt like he owed him something for saving him.

"He'll rejoin us at base."

"Good." Solo paused. "Hey, you and the kid aren't..."

"No, of course not!" Leia burst out. For a second, she felt insulted. Then, she let it blow over. "Don't be so hostile all the time."

"Hostile?" Solo repeated. "More like—" Jealous. His mind wouldn't let him say it.

"Like what?" Now, Leia was intrigued.

"Nothing," he muttered.

Leia didn't believe him, but didn't press the matter. She didn't want to ruin any moment with Han. For once, she felt better about their relationship thus far. She had gotten him back, hadn't she? There was no saving Alderaan, but she beat the Empire this time. Maybe everything she loved wasn't lost forever.

"He's been training with a Jedi Master, you know," Leia told the Corellian.

"Huh."

"The Alliance could use his tricks to our advantage," the Princess thought out loud. Then, even though she knew Han didn't believe in the Jedi tricks, she felt it was time to tell him about everything going on between the two of them. It would make her decision easier for her, depending on his reaction. "He's been teaching me a little, too."

Han looked Leia over for a moment, judging by her face that she was being serious. He took a moment to figure out what to say back, and then, "Has he?" That was all.

Leia picked up the hint of disgust in his voice that he was trying to mask. "It's not all bad, Han."

"Just a little bit of delusion," he agreed sarcastically. "Yeah, nothing bad." Then, Solo sat back in his lone chair and relaxed, trying to look as untouched by the topic as he could.

"It works," she insisted.

"If you say so, Princess."

Leia was quiet. Solo wasn't mean to her about the Force, but he wasn't as understanding as she had hoped he would be, either. She should have assumed as much.

Han was about to open his mouth to apologize so she knew he wasn't trying to be the low life, sarcastic scoundrel she used to know, but they were soon interrupted by the footsteps of another human being coming down the corridors from the cockpit.