Leia opened her door and made as if to enter but Han didn’t let her go immediately.

She turned and looked at him. He ran the back of his fingers across her cheek.

“If you need me, Princess, you know where you can find me.”

“Thanks, Han. I appreciate it,” she said and walked into her chamber.

“Clear Skies. Hey, Leia?”

She looked at him again.

“Do you wanna go for dinner some time?”

“Maybe.”

He stopped the door from closing with one massive hand.

“Hey! Don’t I get a better answer than that?”

She smiled coyly.

“Did you ever think that maybe I just don’t like you?”

Han pointed his thumb at himself, letting go of the door.

“Me?” he asked as it swooshed into place. “Nah!”

~~~~~

Leia looked at herself in her mirror, wondering if they could tell. A twenty year old virgin, soon to be twenty-one. She was sure they could see it.

She caught sight of the dress she was going to wear for the ball and imagined herself in it, dancing with Madine, just as High Command wanted, a diplomatic smile on her face as she waited for the music to finish.

“Ugh,” she whispered to herself.

But then, instead of getting up, she sat back and narrowed her eyes. She thought about how she would really look in that dress.

Long, red, flowing, beautiful. She’d look good in that dress. Very good.

She began to imagine just what she wanted to happen at that ball. And she could see it now.

The room would be packed full of all of her friends, and even some she had never met before. And the hall would be massive. There would be tables and a band and the lighting would be superb.

And she would sit at the foremost table with Luke and Di.

“So where’s your date?” Di would ask with a grin.

“Oh,” Leia would answer, blushing but enjoying the feeling nonetheless. “He’s just getting me a drink.”

“Correction,” a voice behind her would say. “I’m done getting you a drink. Want to dance?”

Leia would look at Luke and Di.

“Go on,” Di would say. “You look so good together.”

“Well…”

“Go on!”

So Leia would give her a smile and stand, taking the hand that was offered to her. She would lean against the strong arm that would be entwined with hers, finding that, even though he was taller than her, he was moving slowly enough that she didn’t have to run to keep up.

When they reached the dance floor, she would rest against his chest as they danced, smiling as his arms closed about her.

She would allow her hands to roam his back and he would kiss the top of her head.

“You havin’ fun?” his deep voice would ask as it reverberated through his warm chest.

And she would look up, past the sharp collarbones, wide shoulders, to the handsome features, sparkling brown eyes and lopsided grin-

Lopsided grin?

Sparkling brown eyes?

Handsome?

Wait…

Han!?

~~~~~

Han walked across to Madine’s office, up to the man’s desk and raised his eyebrows expectantly, hands in pockets.

“You said you wanted to see me.”

Madine continued studying the datapad he held for a moment or two before speaking, much to Han’s annoyance. And, Han realized, that was probably the reason he did it.

“Yes, Captain Solo.”

There was a long silence. Han frowned.

“Well, what do you want?”

“Hmm?” Madine said, looking up with an irritated expression, as though he had forgotten Han was there. “Oh, ah, yes.”

He went back to his datapad and continued in an infuriatingly offhand manner.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, it is the Princess’ birthday soon. High Command has arranged for a Ball to be held in her honor.”

Han nodded.

“Yeah, so? What’s it gotta do with me?”

“You’re aware it’s by invitation only?”

“Uh-huh, and?”

“I’m afraid there were a limited amount of places available at said event. We couldn’t fit you in.”

“Fine, anything else?” Han sighed.

“Yes. We would like the Princess to enjoy her celebrations and would rather you didn’t upset her. We wouldn’t want to have to forcibly remove you. Nor would we want you causing a stir on such a special occasion, would we?”

Han went puce. He honestly had not expected an invitation. Why should he? And it was no great loss to him, he assured himself. But how dare Madine?

“What?”

But Madine was already leaving.

“Make sure the door closes on your way out, Captain. It’s been sticking recently.”

And with that he was gone.

~~~~~