"Waiting"--a companion piece to "His Hands," 
this one all from Han's point of 
view.  Just imagine that you are Leia and see 
how you feel at the end...

by Michelle Slaughter
Copyright February 14, 1998

The usual disclaimer: these characters 
belong to Lucasfilm, Ltd., and I am not 
making any money off of the story.  No 
infringement is intentional.

Please feel free to send any questions or 
comments to kitana85@hotmail.com

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Waiting

	I've been waiting for you... waiting 
for you to walk in the door so I can wrap my 
arms around you while you lean into them, 
exhausted from another day of making the 
galaxy "a better place for all living beings."  
I know, I know.  You think I'm mocking 
you.  Not true, sweetheart.  I admire you for 
having the courage and the strength to go on 
day after day doing just that.  

	Now come on over here and sit down 
beside me.  Do you want some tea?  No?  
How 'bout a strong Corellian whiskey?  
Have I ever told you how adorable you look 
to me when you give me that mock frown 
when you try to be upset with me?  I thought 
I had.  Several times, you say?  Nah... not 
me.  I don't need to repeat myself.  People 
always pay close attention to what I say and 
remember it, so they don't need me to say it 
again.  

	Not buyin' it, huh?  Well, you always 
have been a discriminating shopper.

	I love it when you smile, hon.  
You're gorgeous, you know.  Oh, you do 
know, huh?  Well, excuse me.  I suppose all 
those diplomats tell you that all the time, 
huh?  What?  I tell you all the time?  Well, 
come to think of it...

	It's good to see you laugh.  Here, turn 
around a little.  Let me rub your shoulders 
for you.  You're always so tense when you 
come home.  I hate to see that.  I want to see 
you relaxed and enjoying life a little.  Do I 
need to tell you that you work too hard?  Or 
have I already said it three times this week?  
Four?  Well, how about that... I've exceeded 
my weekly quota already and there are still 
two days left in the week.  Am I good, or am 
I good?  What would you do without me?

	I hope you never have to find out, 
either, sweetheart.  Come here.  Lean on me 
for a little while.  That's better.  I want to put 
my arms around you, just like this... hold on 
to you for a little while.  Seems like the 
whole galaxy conspires to keep you away 
from me so much...  Have I told you lately 
that I love you?  I do, you know.  Shall I 
whisper it in your ear?  I love you.  I think I 
always have.  I know I always will.

	What do you mean, that tickles?  I'm 
being romantic and all you can say is that 
I'm tickling your ear?  Okay, okay.  I can't 
help smiling about it either.  Now come 
back here.  I tell you I want to hold you for a 
while and you start squirming...

	Should I say, "Ow," sweetheart, and 
make you think that slap at my chest did you 
any good?  Nah, I didn't think you'd 
appreciate the question.  

	This is nice.  The kids are with their 
uncle for the rest of the day, Chewie's gone 
home for a while, and I've threatened to melt 
down any droid who disturbs us.  So it's just 
you and me for a while.  That's so rare...  I 
like it, though.  And I'm glad to see you 
relax for a little while.  

	No, let me do that, sweetheart.  I like 
taking down your hair, anyway.  What's 
that?  No, I doubt I've turned it into an 
art form...  All right, so maybe I have.  But I 
love your hair.  I love how thick it is, how it 
shines.  And you know, of course, that I love 
to run my fingers through it.  Mmm.  Feels 
like silk.  Gorgeous.  Absolutely gorgeous.  
You know what I love the most about it?  
I'm the only one who sees you like this.  
This look, this beautiful, free way you look 
right now, that's just for me.  Why do you 
think I've never asked you to wear your hair 
down more often?  You think I want anyone 
else to see what I do?  Do you have the 
slightest idea how soft you look with your 
hair down, how much more beautiful it 
makes you?  As if you needed help...  No.  
Every man on Coruscant would fall madly 
in love with you then, and I don't want the 
competition.

	There wouldn't be competition, you
say?  Sure.  Not now.  But when I start 
getting old... get a lot of gray hair and 
wrinkles...  

	Doesn't matter.  I won't let you get 
away.  I love you too much.  I need you too 
much.  

	I have an idea.  We've got a couple 
of days left to the week.  Let's use them.  
Let's get away for a while, just the two of us.  
Sure, I think Luke would keep the kids for a 
couple of days.  What did I have in mind?  
Oh, I don't know.  Maybe a trip to the 
Manarai Mountains.  We can cuddle up 
together in some secluded cabin and watch 
it snow.  Or we could go to Illafian Point 
and curl up on the beach.  Or we could even 
get out of the system for a while... go to 
Corellia or Galaysha, or maybe Dahnash.  
Just some place where there's no people 
anywhere, of any species.  Nothing but open 
fields and trees and grazers.  Where we can 
lie back and relax... make love in the grass...  
You sound like you like that idea, 
sweetheart.  Yes. I know leaving the system  
won't give us much time if we only take two 
days.  So how about a week?  No?  You sure 
about that?  Here, let me try to convince 
you...

	Okay, I'll listen to your idea.  Lock 
the front door, turn off the comm...  Hey, 
that's not talking, sweetheart.  Oh, all right.  
Just this once.

	I love you, too, sweetheart.  Let me 
show you just how much...

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