This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Lucasfilm, Ltd.  No money is being made and no infringement is intended.

To cheer up Stacy Galler...

Feels Like Home
By Susan Gater



	The skiff was truly on its last legs by the time they reached the Falcon. 
Seven figures disembarked and tiredly made their way to the old freighter.
	Out of the suns, under cover of the Falcon's hull, Luke bid farewell.  He
took Artoo and made his way to his X-Wing.  The remaining five made their
way up the entrance ramp.
	As she entered the rounded corridor, Leia felt like she was coming home
again.  The feel, the look, the smell--they were so familiar and
comforting.  Whenever she made it back to this old ship it meant that they
had won.  Small victories, mostly, but it meant that they were safe for the
moment, still one step ahead of their would-be captors.
	She stumbled to the lounge and sat down.  She took a long, slow breath and
smiled, still lost in thought.  In the background she could hear Han
arguing with and overprotective Chewbacca over the state of Han's eyesight
and general health.  Her smile widened.  Han was back.  They had made it.
	Leia remained where she was, tired but happy, and listened as Han,
Chewbacca, and Lando warmed up the Falcon, occasionally battling over the
controls.  The ship lifted off, the engines a soothing lullaby for an
exhausted princess.
	A hand on her bare shoulder startled Leia out of her nap.  She looked up
to find hazel eyes staring down at her, happy, but concerned.
	"Are you all right?"  Han took a seat beside her.
	"Just tired.  I'm fine.  The question is, are *you*--"
	Han stopped her abruptly.  "No."  He gestured to her costume.  "Are you
all right?"  He emphasized each word and looked at her intensely.
	She smiled warmly and said, slowly and succinctly, "I'm fine."  She toyed
with the sheer fabric of her skirt.  "I think he was saving me for dessert,
actually."  She laughed a little, more to put Han at ease than because she
found the idea funny.  She didn't.
	Han grinned.  "Yeah, gettin' blown up like that prob'ly spoiled his
appitite."
	Leia elbowed him lightly.  Then she looked back up at him.  "He didn't die
in that blast, you know."
	Han's grin abruptly faded.  "What do you mean?"
	It was her turn to grin.  "I killed him," she said simply.
	A look of startled pride spread across his features.  "How'd you manage
that?"
	She took the few remaining links of chain that hung from her collar in her
hand.  "I strangled him."  
	Han reached out, took the chain from her grasp into his own.  Gently, he
tugged her toward him and kissed her lightly on the forehead.  "I'm gonna
have to watch my step around you, aren't I?"  He teased.  He slid an arm
around her, and she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder.  He
spoke again, softly, into her hair.  "It's a few hours to Sullust, you
should get some sleep.  Who knows when you'll get the chance once we
rendezvous."
	"Hmmm?"  Her eyes were already closed.
	Han kissed the top of her head, pulled away from her, and attempted to
help her to her feet.  She acquiesced sleepily.
	He led her down the corridor to his cabin.  He palmed the door open and
watched as Leia walked into the room.  "Change into some of my stuff if you
want."  He eyed her from head to toe and smiled wickedly.  "You're an
eyeful in that thing, but it *can't* be comfortable."  
	Leia shot a cross glance at him, then smiled.  She pirouetted gracefully. 
"Not for the war room, eh?"
	Han raised an eyebrow as a hundred answers to that question came to mind. 
He decided not to say any of them.  Instead he went to her, gathered her in
his arms, feeling the bare flesh of her back, and kissed her.   It was a
sweet kiss, warm and joyful but not urgent, not asking for more.  
	When their lips parted, Han put a finger under her chin.  "Goodnight, my
princess.  Sleep well"  He kissed her again softly, and left her in the
cabin, alone.
	Leia stood still for a moment more, again relishing the thought of having
him back.  Then she went to his small closet.  She found the dark blue
dress shirt that she had worn before, and swiftly changed into it.  
	She stood over the bunk, looking down at the costume she had just removed.
 Then she looked at the door Han had just exited through.  
	She picked up the pile of metal and sheer cloth, opened the closet, and
carefully tucked it into the farthest corner.  
	Leia climbed into the bunk and pulled the blankets over her, quickly
falling asleep with a small, coy smile on her lips.