,THE ART OF LOVE

Chapter 9

Han was down in the hydraulics bay. This time it wasn't a stabilizer, a sensor, or any other hardware critical to the functioning of the Falcon. This time, the water shower was nonfunctional. He and Leia had been ready to get cleaned up, as they were only approximately eight hours out from Bespin's orbit. Of all the mechanical problems they'd encountered, this was the one that irritated him most. Han had turned on some music to keep him going and to keep Leia and Chewie from hearing him swear in all of the eleven languages he was fluent in. As loud as the music was, it didn't drown him out completely.

Leia was in the cockpit with Chewie. "Maybe I should give Han some help," Leia said to Chewie.

{Are you sure you want to do that? He's in a really bad mood}.

"I think I can handle it," Leia assured him, and headed for the hydraulic controls bay.

Han was lying on the ground, trying to remove a latch that was clearly getting the better of him.

"Anything I can do to help?" Leia shouted above the music.

"What?" Han called out irritably.

"I asked if I can help you!"

Han turned over to look at her. He paused his portable music player and looked up at Leia. "Please tell me we're not about to run into a gas giant, because it's not a good time."

"I came down to see if you needed a hand," Leia said evenly.

"I don't know, but you're welcome to try," Han said to her. "I'm not getting anywhere." He tossed a wrench to the floor, and it hit with a clang. "Stick your hand down here," he said, showing Leia the location.

Her hands were smaller than Han's and slid into the space easily. "Now what?" She asked him.

"There's a rod there that needs to be pulled out," Han told her. "It's thin, and it breaks easily, so be careful."

"I think I have it," Leia said.

"Okay, take it out, easy," Han said to her. "Go slow."

"It's jammed in here pretty tight," Leia told him. "But I think I can get it."

As she worked, Han took his portable music player and pressed several buttons.

"I know you like dirty rude boy music," Leia told him, "but I'm not going to be able to hear you if you crank it up."

"I like other types as well," Han told her. "I've always loved music. What about you?"

"I was exposed to a lot of music," Leia said to him, gently drawing on the recalcitrant rod. "I haven't listened in a long time, though."

"I actually have some Alderaanian music," he told her.

"Not today," Leia said, finally extracting the rod. "I'm not in the mood to start crying."

"I can find something you like," Han said to her. He thumbed the controls and finally came to something far removed from what he'd been listening to before.

To Leia's surprise, the selection he'd chosen was a romantic one. It wasn't Alderaanian, but it was one she'd liked for many years. It was at its peak of popularity the summer before she became a member of the Imperial Senate.

"So what do you need me to do now?" Leia asked Han. Han took the rod from her, set it on the ground, and took her hand, bringing her to her feet. "How about this?" He took her hands in his. "And I know you can dance." The two began to move about the bay, their feet in harmony, and smiled at each other, Han singing the lyrics softly as he smiled at Leia. For each, it was an unexpected moment of intimacy, and Han's sexy voice caused Leia to shiver in appreciation, her smile having the same effect on him.

Neither would forget this moment, as long as they lived.

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The dance had led the couple to abandon the idea of fixing the water and to more amorous thoughts. Chewie didn't mind that he had to pilot alone for a time, but Threepio was driving him insane. At least the droid could be turned off if necessary.

Han and Leia went straight to the captain's quarters. There wasn't a lot of time, but they felt an urgency in their need to join and become one. Neither would say it, but if things went wrong...they didn't want to go there. They gently undressed each other, and Han picked Leia up and set her gently on to the mattress, and joined her, taking her in his arms and being wrapped in hers. Their lips met, tenderly at first, kisses increasing in intensity and then covering each other's bodies, moving into spots that they knew were likely to produce intense pleasure. They'd learned much about each other on this trip, and pleasuring each other was one facet; they were learning that the art of love existed in everything they did. Love was behavior, love was courage, love was shared experience.

They took their time with each other, touching each centimeter of skin and hair, gazing into each other's eyes and realizing that they'd been born anew on this trip. They'd discovered want and need, almost surprising themselves with how deeply it ran.

Their lovemaking ended in a shuddering climax, leaving both simultaneously drained and fulfilled.

For a while, both were quiet, embracing each other softly, lingering in the afterglow.

Han broke the lovely silence. "What're you thinking?" he asked Leia.

She raised herself on one elbow. "How glad I am that I couldn't get to my transport." Her cheeks were flushed with happiness.

Han gave her a radiant smile. "You're not the only one."

"It's too bad we don't have infinite supplies," she said wistfully.

"What, you wanna spend your life flying all over the galaxy dodging Imperials and dealing with hazards?" Han teased her, but his voice was soft.

"If we could do it together, I'd be fine with it." And Han could tell she meant it.

They relaxed again for a time, but time was now running out.

"Honey, I think we need to get ready," he said, disappointment in his voice.

"And here I was ready to step off the ship completely naked," Leia joked gently.

"You can't do that. Any guy who sees you like that would try to sweep you off your feet."

"Won't happen. I've already been swept off my feet."

Both felt complete snuggling with each other, enjoying a moment of comfort and safety. But the time arrived, and both reluctantly got out of the bunk, dressed, and headed back to the cockpit.

The shower still wasn't working, but they'd leave it to the mechanics on Bespin. Leia and Han both had their misgivings about their destination, but neither was going to voice them.

"I hope they'll at least let us get cleaned up," Leia said of their soon-to-be hosts. That was, however, the least of her worries. I've got a bad feeling about this. But she would keep her thoughts to herself. Despite what Han had said, she could feel his anxiety.

"I'm sure Lando can help us out with that," Han said, with an assurance he didn't feel. At this point, though, they were committed. They had no other options left to them. They were nearly out of supplies and the Falcon was

The beautifully colored clouds were coming into view. Maybe, each thought, it would be all right. After all, what could go wrong in such a beautiful place?