Han dropped into place at the holochess table as Chewie plonked down a tankard of some kind of alcohol down in front of him. Han picked it up, without bothering to ask what it was, and took a fair swig.

Chewie roared at him.

“What?” he asked. “What’ve I done?”

“[Your dress uniform. Did you get it laundered?]”

“What?” Han asked. “Why?”

Chewie rolled his eyes.

“[Because, Little One, it is the Little Princess’ birthday celebrations soon. I assume you are going.]”

The smile he received left him a little nonplussed for a moment. Han had not grinned as such and the expression he was wearing seemed to be almost sad.

“I ain’t got an invite, Chewie.”

It took a moment for that to sink in.

“[What!? Who has made such a decision?]”

“Does it matter?”

Chewie stood so quickly his chair fell over.

“[Of course it matters! This is the height of underhandedness.]”

“That’s funny. That’s pretty much what they said about me.”

He ran his finger around the rim of his tankard.

“Chewie, just take a look at that thing. Read what it says: High Command. Madine warned me off her just today. Face it, Chewie.”

He looked down into his ale once he realized Chewie’s gaze was not going to falter.

“Nobody wants a Pirate at a Princess’ ball.”

~~~~~

“Hi!” a voice intruded into Leia’s thoughts, and a chair scraped into place beside her own.

Sitting in the mess hall, staring into her kaff, she must’ve been a million parsecs away.

“Hello, Di,” she sighed. “What’ve you been up to?”

“Nothin’ much,” she replied. “Got my gown for your do. I love it, Leia, it’s gorgeous. Y’oughta see it!”

Leia nodded, smiling slightly.

“Hey!” Di protested. “What’s got you down?”

“Oh, I…”

Leia stared hard at her.

“Can you keep a secret?”

Di grinned.

“No. I’m a good listener, though.”

Leia paused.

“Just don’t tell Han, okay?”

Di nodded.

“I think I can manage that.”

“Well…I don’t have anyone to go to this thing with. I mean it’d be nice if my father were here for it but…And I just…Well, Luke’s goin’ with you.”

“Sorry. Did you want him to take you?”

“No, I…No, the man I wanted to take me isn’t going.”

“Solo, huh?”

Leia looked startled.

“What?”

“Well it’s a little obvious. The entire base is bettin’ on when you two are gonna see the light. Besides. ‘Don’t tell Han’ ain’t the most inconspicuous thing you ever said.”

“Hmm,” Leia mused. “I guess not. Look, you won’t tell Han, will you?”

“Nope. On my honor as a Rogue.”

“And that’s meant to reassure me?” Leia laughed.

Di laughed too.

After Leia had finished lunch, she excused herself with the explanation that, although she enjoyed the company, she had an awfully daunting amount of work to complete.

Di lifted her tray and went to join Wedge who had just seated himself at a nearby table.

“Hi Wedge!”

Wedge looked up and grinned.

“Hey! What’s new?”

“Well…” Di began.

There was no harm in telling Wedge. It was Han she’d promised not to tell. And Han had to find out from someone.

~~~~~

Han twisted the hydrospanner once more and then pulled himself out from under the console.

“Give it a try now!” he yelled.

There was a roar from Chewbacca, a moment’s pause, and then a shower of coolant rained down on his head.

He spluttered and held his hands up, trying in vain to stem the flow.

“Chewie!” He managed before a mouthful of the fluid forced him to revert to silence.

After a few more seconds of coolant on his head, the rush of liquid stopped and he stood, panting, staring up at the console.

“Well, I guess I better try again.”

There came an answering roar from Chewbacca that almost drowned out another voice.

“Hey! Hey, Solo!”

Han held up a hand.

“Wait a minute, Chewie, wait a minute!”

There was a short pause.

“You up there, Solo?”

“Wedge?” Han called. “That you?”

“Yeah! You got a minute?”

Han looked over at Chewie, shrugged, and jumped down from the Falcon walking toward Wedge, who had turned up with the rest of Rogue squadron, while wiping his face with a rag, smearing more grease across it but removing some of the coolant at least.

“What can I do for ya?” he grinned.

Wedge shook his head.

“Ah, no, Solo, it’s what we can do for you.”

Han narrowed his eyes.

“How much is it gonna cost me?”

Rogue Squadron laughed.

“It’s a credit’s worth of free advice, Solo. Take the Princess to the ball.”

Han shook his head and turned away.

“Thanks, Wedge. Thanks.”

“No, I’m serious. She wants you to take her.”

“Oh yeah? Says who?”

“Says the Princess.”

Han stopped walking away and turned to face them once more.

“What?”

“Yeah!” Wedge nodded. “She was havin’ lunch today with Di-”

“Di Procter?”

“-Yeah and she told Di that she wanted you to take her. And then she told Di not to tell you. But Di thought you oughta know, so she told me to tell you.”

~~~~~