"impala64" > Title: Dreaming of You Author: R.Solo56 Category: R, M Date: 4/18/99 A short story describing just how important a role Han plays in Leia's life. Set 5 months after ESB. The alarm on Leia's chronometer sounded at 0700. She bolted upright, gasping and sweating. Oh godesses, she thought what a horrible nightmare. Than, in a rush, reality hit. It wasn't just a dream. She and Han did go to Bespin. She and Han were tortured by Darth Vader. And Han was put into carbonite and taken by Boba Fett. Suddenly restless, her jumbled thoughts came all at once with dizzying effects. Leia could take this suffering no longer; she would simply end it. Leia jumped out of her bed and changed out of her night shift, into slightly oversized cargo pants, hiking boots, and Han's dark blue dress shirt that she had managed to get off the Falcon before Lando went searching for his 'friend'. It was the same loose shirt that her dear Han had christened with his loving caresses and fiery kisses when he made love to her for the first time on the way to Cloud City. His sweet, masculine sent was still present on the collar. Without bothering to brush or plate her hair, Leia exited her room and ran full speed to where the speeder bikes were parked. She hopped on one of them and started it. Directing it toward the woods, she flew slow at first, but soon the bike was up to top speed. She loved it. The stinging cold of the wind in her face, much like the carbonite her love was encased in, the suspense of flying numerous feet above the ground, oblivious to the worlds around her, like Han, and having her life at stake, unaware of what could occur within the next minute. A huge tree standing forty feet directly in front of her caught her attention, but she made no attempt to reset her course. Abruptly, Leia felt a powerful force surrounding her. It slowed the speeder and within seconds, stopped it completely. The bike lowered to the forest floor. She sat, frozen, staring at her desired destination that was, at that point, only seven feet away. Luke stepped up behind her and pulled her off. He took her by the shoulders and shook her. "What the hell do you think you were doing?! You could have killed yourself!" When he saw the clinical, slightly disoriented expression on her face, her gasped. That was exactly what she had intended. "Oh, Leia," he whispered. "Why did you do that?" she asked, her voice haunted, and husky. Than completely beyond control, she beat her fists against his chest, screaming the question repeatedly. Before her sobs took over, she inquired the unanswerable in a choked whisper, "Why did he do that?" Luke knew exactly who Leia meant: Vader. Leia collapsed into his arms, weeping horribly. She cried for some time while Luke held her tightly, stroking her hair for it seemed to comfort her. Finally, she calmed down. "I want to die," she mumbled brokenly. "That won't make Han very happy when we find him," he replied coolly. She pulled back from his chest, slightly. "But, what if we don't find him? What if he's already-?" Luke placed a gentle finger to her lips, preventing her from saying that terribly dreaded word. "You have to have faith, Leia. You said that he was alive and in perfect hibernation when Lando checked him, right?" She nodded solemnly from the safety of her friend's arms. "Well, I bet he's dreaming of you. Your beautiful eyes, your smile.... Make that dream come true. For Han." For Han. Leia repeated mentally. As long as she didn't feel grief or fear, as long as she remained strong, as long as she didn't loose control, her love would be okay. They would find him. "Thank you, Luke," she said, managing a little smile. Luke grinned softy down at her. "Remember, I'm always here for you." He kissed her brow. Leia hugged him, burrowing her head in his shoulder. The next couple months were pure torture for the princess; each day was a century. She got less and less sleep and the rest of the council was very concerned. She buried herself in her work, spoke little, and ate next to nothing. She hung on. Clinging to those two cherished words: for Han, until, finally, that long awaited, ecstatic day they found him. Leia had disguised herself as a bounty hunter and entered Jabba's palace with Chewbacca as her "prisoner". She freed Han from his coffin of carbon; seeing his disoriented, yet still handsome, face almost made her break down again. This time from overwhelming happiness and relief. Unfortunately, they were captured by that fat, sadistic slug, and she spent the night worrying for Han's safety and health. Luke came to their rescue, and together they rid the universe of Jabba the Hutt and all evidence that he ever existed. They were safe now, on their way to Sullist, on the Falcon. Leia had changed out of the rather uncomfortable, (to say the least,) slave girl outfit that slimy, pervert had forced her to wear, and into one of Han's oversized shirts. She sat, exsahausted, in the lounge pit of the ship while Lando put drops in Han's eyes to clear his vision. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her and large, gentle hands rested on her shoulders. "You're a sight for sore eyes," a deep and sorely missed voice rumbled softly in her ear. Han sat down close beside her. "You okay?" he inquired, worriedly. Leia nodded, than stretched. As she did so, he noticed a wide red mark circling her throat. "What's this?" he asked and ever so gently touched the raw skin. She wouldn't meet his eyes. "He chained you," he said in a hushed voice. It wasn't a question. She nodded again. Han leaned over and kissed the angry flesh. Leia sighed and closed her eyes, a lump formed in her throat. "I missed you so much, Han," she told him in a strained whisper. "I love you," he answered in a murmur, as his lips met hers. No teasing this time. No wise cracks; not now. "Come here," he said softly, spreading his arms. "Let me hold you." The slightest bit of desperation could be detected in his voice. Leia complied without hesitation. She snuggled as deep as she could into him, closing her eyes once more. Han wrapped his arms around her protectively, as though he were afraid to let her go. She had forgotten how good and safe she felt within his strong yet gentle embrace. "I dreamed of you, Sweetheart," she heard him murmur into her hair. "I know," she whispered as she drifted into a badly needed, sound sleep. Soon, Han slept as well. For the longest time, Leia had dreaded sleep and the terrifying nightmares. But now they were safe, with each other. They would dream again, but this time they would as one. One heart, on soul. I that dream, they vowed never to be separated again.