From a Certain Point of View

Han Solo set the Millennium Falcon down on Coruscant for the first time in over a decade. The traditional galactic capital had now been under the control of the New Republic for six short months. Han glanced at Chewie as the two looked out over the busy hangar floor, the absence of white uniforms their first hint that the Empire had really and truly fallen from power.

Even with every holonews broadcast touting the fall of the Empire and chronicling the rise of the fledgling New Republic, Han still found it hard to believe. He and Chewie had had a brief stint with the ragtag group of rebels that at that time were known as "The Alliance to Reinstate the Republic". They had briefly played the role of heroes in the galactic game of holochess when they flew into the heart of the fight over the Imperial Death Star and helped Luke Skywalker deliver the crushing blow that took the juggernaut down.

The thought of Luke caused a painful twist to knot inside of Han's stomach. Having left after the award ceremony on Yavin, Han had heard the kid died on the ice planet of Hoth over a year ago.

He and Chewie had left to pay off his debt to Jabba the Hutt and then they had been making a living skirting just this side of legal to stay out of trouble and just enough illegal to make some decent credits. That is until over a year ago, the duo had fallen in with an up-and-coming businessman with a galactic shipping company that was comfortably legitimate.

Chewie and Han used their contacts to negotiate contracts and, working as recruiters and schedulers, the pair had become top executives in what was quickly becoming the largest shipping company in the galaxy. Reporting to the capital city to bid for a government contract, he and Chewie had a meeting with a representative from the New Republic in a few standard hours.

Thinking of representatives of the New Republic brought Han's mind to one Princess Leia of Alderaan, who, according to those holonews reporters, was practically Chief of State Mon Mothma's right hand. As the thought of running into her in the halls of the galactic capital spun through his mind, the knots inside of Han's stomach did a nauseating flip. Shaking his head, he stood up and followed Chewie out of the cockpit.

The last time he saw Princess Leia was on the busy hangar floor as the Alliance prepared to evacuate Yavin's fourth moon. The heated conversation between the two was one that had repeatedly played in his mind these past three years. Luke's solemn nod and wish of good luck sometimes sliced him deeper than Leia's sharp words, however, with the knowledge of Luke's fate adding a raw edge to the memory.

He certainly had his own reasons to hate the Empire and he hadn't left the Rebellion because he didn't believe in their cause. No, he left because he had a debt to pay and a life to get on track and that's what he had done. His path had often crossed with members of the Alliance over these past three years and he had even lent them a hand a time or two, always in exchange for any information the Rebels might have. That's how he had learned of Luke's fate, off the lips of a bright-eyed, naïve new recruit.

'Skywalker? Yeah, he died on Hoth, right before we evacuated.'

Han dragged his hand over his face and followed Chewie down the gangway of the Falcon. Locking the ship up, they headed to the capital building to make their initial meeting. If only he had stayed around, he couldn't help think that Luke's fate might have turned out differently. But he couldn't go back and change anything and it was a bit egotistical to think that he could prevent anyone from dying.

Han and Chewie made their rounds through the capital building, being shuffled from conference room to conference room and from one representative to another. It seemed the bidding process for this contract might take up to one standard week and when the pair returned to the Falcon, they contacted their employer on Corellia for an update and then turned in for the night.

Four days into his stay on Coruscant, Han had begun to make his way about the busy town with ease. Learning all the top places to grab a bite or a drink and where all the best games of Sabacc were being played. He had also figured out where Princess Leia lived and had walked past her building about a million times trying to stage a happenstance run-in with the New Republic VIP. It turned out that Han was much luckier at the Sabacc table than at the game of happenstance.

On the fifth day, Han hung around outside of Leia's apartment building to the point of loitering, being asked one or two times if he needed help by the building's burly doorman. Then he saw her walking towards him. Han shuffled nervously on his feet as he looked down at his clothes. Han had on some casual slacks and a dark, long-sleeved shirt. He ran his fingers through his hair very quickly as she approached him.

"Hey," he spoke to her as soon as her eyes showed a sign of recognition and although still at least a head taller than Leia, Han felt short for some reason.

"Captain Solo. I heard you were on planet," she spoke warmly to him and her voice sounded deeper and throatier than he remembered. Her hair was pulled back into a lone ponytail that hung over her shoulder in a long braid. She wore a knee length skirt and a white, button-down blouse with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her skin looked just a shade darker.

"Wow, you've…grown up." He regretted the words as soon as he said them and he finished with a weak smile.

"Thank you, I think."

They stood there in an awkward silence as passerby's continued to flood in and out of the apartment building doors.

Leia was the first to speak when she said, "You know…Luke…"

"Yeah, I know," Han replied as he swallowed the lump in his throat.

They fell into a silence again and Han watched as Leia's eyes looked around him and then she questioned, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm bidding on-"

"No. I mean, why are you here…outside of my building? Are you meeting someone?"

"No, I wanted to see you," Han replied before he could think of something less embarrassing to say. "It's been a long time."

A quick wave of panic washed over Leia's face and then he watched some creases on her forehead appear and she lifted her hands in front of her, baring her open palms to him as she said, "So…you've seen me," her mood shifting noticeably to the defensive.

Having only known the Princess in the protected environment of the Alliance underground, Han hadn't thought of how his impromptu meeting might look to Leia. Suddenly he felt amongst the millions of zealous sentients in the galaxy that might try to stage just such a meeting with the famous Princess.

"Alright," he replied not sure exactly what someone could say when they had been caught "stalking".

He watched as her mouth dropped open but no words came out and then her skin turned as pale as he remembered it. She shook her head and said, "I've got to go."

He grabbed her arm before he knew what he was doing and said, "Leia." As she tugged her arm away from him he could feel the mechanics working under his fingertips and he looked down at her hand.

"What makes you think that you're still on a first name basis with me, Captain?" she spat out as she tugged her shirt sleeve down.

"Is everything alright, Your Highness?"

Han turned to see the doorman standing just behind him, eying the Princess cautiously. Everything about this meeting swirling out of his control, Han felt his stomach tighten.

Leia looked at Han and then back at the doorman as she said, "Yes, Jarvin. Thank you."

As the doorman walked slowly away, Han said, "I guess I'd better get going."

"Yes, I guess so," she replied as she held one hand in the other. "Good luck on your contract, Captain."

"Thank you," he replied as he watched her walk past him, enter her building and disappear.

Over two weeks had passed since Han had seen Princess Leia. His company had been awarded the New Republic contract and now he and Chewie were stationed on Coruscant indefinitely. The longer he stayed, the more and more people he ran across from his short stint with the Alliance all those years ago. Mostly pilots and members of the Rogue Squadron, but happy, familiar faces were always a welcome sight to a couple of strangers in a big city.

Han and Chewie had both done some gentle probing into what might have happened to Leia's arm. They found out that Leia had been captured on the second Death Star, but if anyone knew the specifics of what had happened to her, no one was talking.

His run-in with the Princess had weighed heavily on Han's mind, but he had not attempted to loiter outside of her building for any more happenstance meetings. Bearing in mind how their last encounter had fared, Han had thought better of looking her up in the first place.

Walking down the hallway of the sixtieth floor of the New Republic Capitol Building on his way to yet another meeting, Han's thoughts were on work. He and Chewie had decided to try a 'divide and conquer' technique and were tackling the logistical meetings separately in an effort to speed the bureaucratic process along. The pair were itching to get the Falcon back up in the skies.

Han's breath caught in his throat when he caught sight of Leia walking towards him, accompanied by a man of medium build wearing a sharp suit. Han thought that every piece of bureaucratic bullshit ever written was mostly probably written by a man wearing just that kind of suit.

As they neared each other in the narrow corridor, Han waited for Leia's lead on whether or not they would acknowledge one another. He watched her grab the arm of her companion, slowing his quick stride down as they stopped in front of Han and she immediately said, "Roman, this is Captain Han Solo. You might remember his name from the Battle of Yavin."

Han, having come to a stop in front of the couple, gave the man a friendly nod and stuck out his hand.

Leia's companion grabbed Han's hand and gave it a firm shake as he said, "An honor to meet you, Captain Solo."

Leia continued, "Han, this is Roman Barreca. He's a comptroller for the New Republic." Leia eyed Han for a moment as the two men looked at her, introductions and their handshake complete. Leia then turned to Roman and said, "Go on ahead, I'll catch up."

"Are you sure, hon? We don't want to be late."

Squeezing him on the arm, she replied, "When am I ever late? Don't worry, I'll be right there."

Han watched Roman turn and walk away and as soon as he turned his attention back to Leia, she said, "So, I hear congratulations are in order, Captain."

"Yes, we got the contract. Thanks. And, you know I don't mind if you call me Han."

Han watched as her eyes darted down the hallway behind him. Turning her gaze back to him, she said, "I'm sorry about the other day. Many people seek me out just to see if the rumors are true."

Han hadn't heard any rumors regarding how Leia might have lost her hand, even when he had blatantly sought them out. Her comment renewed his resolve to probe further, however, when he got back to the hangar that evening. It also explained why she had seemed so spooked the other day.

He heard Leia break into his silence when she said, "So, what will this mean for you? I mean, do you still run shipments? It seemed you might be more…administrative might not be the right word."

"No, I guess that's about right. Me and Chewie work more on contracts and scheduling now and do a lot less flying then we used to."

"You must miss it. The flying, I mean."

"I do, but everything's gotta move forward, you know?"

"Yes, I do."

She looked past him again and he studied her face while she wasn't looking. It was much thinner than it had been and her eyes didn't seem as wide and innocent anymore. He wondered just what they had witnessed since the last time he looked into them. When she turned her attention back to him, he said, "Hey, I told Chewie I ran into you and he said to tell you hello, you know, if I saw you again."

Her smile brightened and she replied, "Please tell him I said the same."

"We thought you might like to have dinner with us. Chewie and me." He watched for her reaction and she didn't seem totally shut off to the idea, so he added, "You can bring that Roman guy, too."

He watched her swallow and then she fumbled in her carryall and handed him a card. "You can contact my secretary to have something setup."

He took the card from her without even looking at it. Was this the high-society way of brushing someone off? He wondered. But in response, he only mumbled, "Thanks. I guess I'll be seeing you then."

"You're welcome," she said as she smiled at him. Giving him a nod, she moved to walk past him, but she hadn't gotten very far when she turned back and said, "Oh, and Captain?"

Spinning around to face her, he replied, "Uh-huh?"

"Chewbacca had better be there." And then she turned and walked away before he could respond.

Maybe not a total brush off after all, Han smiled as he watched her walk away.