This is my version of what happens immediately after the Battle of Endor. Sometimes, I follow my own story line, so it may be a little AU at times. This is my first submitted fanfic, so please go easy on me this time.

I do not own any of these characters or anything. I am just using them to amuse others and myself. So, if someone wants to sue me, then go right ahead. I am a poor college student with about $60 in my bank account.

Never the Same Again: Part One

By Jessika Solo

They all stood on the ramp to the Falcon. Lando had come down to Endor to pick up Han, Leia, Chewie, Luke, and the droids. No one knew what to say or what to do; a strange feeling filled the air. Han looked at Leia, and she smiled a small, secretive smile at him and he raised his eyebrows.

"So, fellas," Han began, shoving his large hands into his pants pockets, "What now?" Luke smiled and said, "Well, I was thinking of taking some time off. You know, vacation." Everyone murmured in agreement and began to discuss possible destinations.

Promising to meet on Tatooine, the group split. Luke and R2 went off in his X-wing, and the rest boarded the Falcon to meet with the Rebel fleet still orbiting the small forest moon of Endor. "Nice to see ya, guys," a technician said to them as he allowed the ship to dock on the underside of the giant Mon Calamari ship. "Well, it is good to be alive," the Princess said, her tone of voice causing everyone to look at her. She sighed and sat down beside C3PO.

Lando and Chewie saw to the repairs of the ship as Han talked to General Rikeen. "General Solo, we all hope that you will be staying with us. We have triumphed over the Empire, and now we must rebuild the galaxy under the principles of good. You would be an asset to any government agency," General Rikeen said to him as they walked to the bridge. Han smiled slightly and said, "Well General, I can't give you an answer yet. I have to check on some other things first." Rikeen smiled at the young man; he knew what Han was waiting on.

"Mistress Leia, you should get your arm examined," C3PO said to her as he followed her down the corridor of the large ship. "Can it 3PO, I'm fine. Do you know where Han is?" the Princess said, abruptly stopping in the middle of her brisk walk. A startled C3PO said, "General Rikeen wanted to talk with him." Sighing, Leia walked quickly back to the Falcon to relax until she could talk to him.

What am I going to say? Leia thought to herself as she paced around in the small crew quarters that she had slept in many times. He and I are not alike. We could never be together! she thought, sitting down in an uncomfortable chair and rubbing her tired eyes. Her arm throbbed from the blaster shot she had received the previous day. It had been quite a day. The Empire was defeated, her real father had died, Han had finally said the words she longed to hear all those years, and her life had changed dramatically. Two years I've waited to hear him say "I love you," and now I am scared out of my mind! I am in a big mess, Leia lamented.

"Chewie, I don't care! Just fix it!" Han said angrily to his Wookie friend. Lando laughed quietly as Han stomped off. Chewie growled at Han as he almost ran from the Falcon and the Wookie. "Chewie, he has a lot of stuff to sort out right now. He's just nervous about the Princess," Lando said, throwing Chewie a hydro spanner from the toolbox.

Looking for Leia, Han literally ran into C3PO. "Watch it Goldenrod!" he said. "Sir, the Princess is looking for you," C3PO said, ignoring Han's rudeness. "Where is she?" Han asked frantically, grabbing the droid and shaking him. "On the Millennium Falcon, I believe, sir," C3PO said trying to back out of Han's grasp. Han let go and spun on his heels to run back to his crippled ship. Oh Gods, what am I going to do? What am I going to say? He asked himself, his body filled with anxiety. The second he found out that Luke and Leia were siblings, he almost passed out from sheer joy. Now, the joy had turned to reality, and Han was having a hard time dealing with the fact that they were two totally different people brought together by chance to save the Rebellion. Calm down, Solo. She told you she loved you, and you told her too. Just go in there and tell her how you feel, Han told himself as he stood on the ramp to the Falcon. Chewie and Lando stared at him, amused at his sudden flow of emotion.

"Leia?" Han called throughout his eclectic ship. "I'm in here," she replied from the crew quarters. He stopped at the sound of her voice as his heart skipped a beat. Her eyes met his as he slowly walked into the room. He could see a trail that had been left on her cheek from a single tear that had rolled from her eye. "We need to talk," she said softly, knowing full well that what she was about to say would break Han's heart. She had been thinking about it ever since they had kissed the day before, and she knew that is just wasn't practical. A princess and a smuggler.

Han carefully sat down in the chair across from her. The table was totally covered in a deck of sabacc cards from a game that Chewie and Lando must have been playing, and Han absentmindedly shuffled the cards over and over as he waited for Leia to speak first. "Han," she croaked, covering her eyes so she wouldn't have to see him. "Yeah," he said in a high, strained voice. "I can't go with you to Tatooine, or anywhere for that matter. My place is with my cause. You and I both know that we are not meant to be together. Maybe the Force has not willed it to be so. I know this will be hard, but when you leave, I must stay behind," she said, her voice cracking as she struggled to find the words. Her eyes were still covered, but she heard a choked sob escape from Han. She looked up to see tears flowing from his eyes, a sight that she had never seen. "If that is what you want, Your Highness," Han said, getting up and walking to his own quarters on the Falcon. Leia sat in the room for a few more moments, shocked by what had just happened. She had not imagined that she would see him cry like that, the masculine guy that he was. She was taken aback.

A few hours later, a forlorn Han emerged to find that Chewie and Lando had finished the repairs. "We will be leaving to meet Luke in a few minutes," Lando said, feeling sorry for the guy. Han sensed his friend's pity and simply walked off the ship without saying a word.

"General," Han said as he stood in front of the door to Rikeen's quarters, "I won't be coming back. This gig is just not for me." Rikeen nodded and said, "You will be missed by all. You are welcome back at anytime, and your rank will be retained." Han nodded, unable to speak anymore, and turned to leave. "Han," Rikeen called after him. Han stopped and turned to look at the older man. "If it is meant to be, the Force will make it so. Give her time. She will come to you when she realizes that you and Luke are all she has," the General said to Han. Han stared at him in shock; General Rikeen never ceased to surprise him. Han sighed in sadness and waved goodbye.

Leia stood in a corner, away from everyone's view. She couldn't be with him, but she couldn't bear to let Han go either. Force knows what will happen now, she thought to herself, sighing loudly. Han slowly walked past her, and sensing her presence, he turned around. His hazel eyes were filled with anger and sorrow, and he did not talk to her. He did not need to, for his face said it all. Leia looked down to avoid his intense stare, and when she looked up again, he was walking up the ramp of the Millennium Falcon. As she walked away, she heard the engines fire up, and tears stung her eyes.

Han angrily slammed his fist against the interior hull of the ship and went to find Lando. Chewie was navigating the ship so that Han could hide from everyone. "Hey, Lando," Han called. "Han old buddy!" Lando called from around the corner. Han turned the corner and stopped to see Lando straightening up from the last of the repairs to the hyper drive and shields. Han stared at him, embarrassed at himself for crying like a girl in front of his friends. "Don't worry, old buddy, you can still take me in a fight," Lando said, laughing at Han's concerned look. Despite all his sadness, Han smiled.

Han looked out the window to see the stars blur by as they traveled through hyperspace. A sigh escaped him as he thought about Leia. I gave over three years of my life to her and The Rebellion, and this is how she repays me. Filled with so much anger that he couldn't think clearly, Han went to the refresher to take a shower to clear his mind of Leia. Forget princesses, Han snorted to himself and turned on the water.

Meanwhile, Leia relaxed in her temporary quarters on the Mon Calamari ship, Freedom. General Rikeen called for her on the comm., so she dried her eyes as she left to speak with him on the bridge. "Princess, " the older man greeted her with a handshake and a hug, "Mon Mothma requests that you accompany her to Couriscant to begin the rebuilding process. The transport will leave in a few hours, and you will be staying with a few friends of The Rebellion." "Yes General, I will gather my things," Leia said, turning to leave. "Oh, and Leia," the General called after her, surprising her with his lack of formality, "Are you sure? It is not too late, you know." She silently shook her head and went to gather her very few belongings. The General smiled a small smile to himself and thought, Soon she'll see.

Nearing Tatooine, Han walked up to assist Chewie with the landing. "Hey guys!" Han heard Luke's voice say over the comm. "Hey kid," Han replied with a tone of sadness in his voice. Luke, always using his Jedi tricks and traits, knew exactly what had happened. "Why don't you three meet me in the Mos Eiesly Cantina," Luke said with a smile in his voice. "Sure, kid," Han said, "I could use a distraction."

To be continued if you guys want…