Epilogue

Princess Leia paced the width of the room as she impatiently waited for Han to return. He had gone to check on how the repairs on the Falcon were doing, and he had been gone for quite some time. She had a bad feeling about Cloud City since the beginning, and she just simply couldn't shake the feeling. And she didn't trust Lando. Not one bit.

The princess turned at the sound of the door sliding open from behind her. Han swaggered in, his usual cocky smile on his face. "The ship's almost done; two or three more things and we're in great shape,"

Leia walked briskly up to him, concern and worry evident in her expression. "The sooner the better. Something's wrong here! No one has seen or heard anything about Threepio and he's been gone too long to have gotten lost-"

He cut her off with a gentle kiss on her forehead. Her expression softened slightly, and her shoulders relaxed under his touch. "Relax," He cupped her cheek. "I'll talk to Lando, see what I can find out,"

"I don't trust Lando!" The Alderaanian protested, taking a seat on the couch.

"Well I don't trust him, either," The smuggler countered, sitting next to Leia. "But he is my friend," He stared intensely into her beautiful brown eyes. "Besides," He added, lowering his voice, "We'll soon be gone,"

She cocked her head, giving him a small, ironic smile. "Then you're as good as gone, aren't you?" Solo looked down, refusing to meet the princess' accusing gaze. He reluctantly looked up, her eyes still on him. She saw the apology in his eyes. I'm sorry, Princess. You know I have to.

I know, Han. Just remember that I love you.

So do I, Princess. So do I.

Chewie walked in a few minutes later, interrupting Han and Leia's silent conversation. He roared sadly, carrying a box containing bits and pieces of the golden protocol droid. "What happened?" Leia gasped, jumping off the couch and running to Chewbacca's side. He kneeled down and placed the box on the kaffe table, a piece of Threepio in each paw. He growled quietly.

"Where?" Han's eyebrows furrowed, his jaw dropping. Chewbacca rumbled something Leia had trouble understanding. "You found him in a junk pile?" Solo repeated in disbelief.

"Oh, what a mess," The princess sighed. "Chewie, you think you can repair him?" He shrugged his massive shoulders and let out a loud howl.

"Lando's got people who can fix him," Han stated, resting his chin on his hand.

"No thanks," She replied coolly, fixing him with an icy stare.

Calrissian sauntered into their temporary residence. Speak of the devil, Leia thought bitterly. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything?" He asked politely.

"Not really," Organa responded, pulling her thin shimmersilk robe tighter around her body.

He grinned widely at the princess. "You look absolutely beautiful," She inwardly grimaced at the look of desire she caught in his dark eyes. "You truly belong here with us among the clouds,"

"Thank you," Leia said half-heartedly, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. Sparing Han a look, she noticed his evident disgust.

"Care to join us for refreshments?" Lando took a few steps toward the girl, extending his hand. As a second thought, he added, "Everyone's invited, of course,"

Han took it as his cue to put Lando in his place. Walking up beside his girl, he offered her his arm. She gladly accepted, feeling grateful for the reassurance.

"Having trouble with your droid?" Calrissian asked casually, glancing down at the box.

"No, no trouble at all," Han replied, perhaps too quickly. "Why?" He snapped, before walking off, with his princess in tow.

Leia watched in horror as the Imperials strapped Han to the scan grid. "Stop!" She yelled, but the Stormtroopers held her back. "Please, stop!" She cried as one trooper covered her mouth with his hand, pulling her towards his armoured chest. "Take me instead!" Tears streamed down her face, her mouth ajar against the trooper's gloved palm as she watched the Imps lower Han towards the grid. He screamed in pain, evoking sobs from the young princess. "Stop it!" She cried weakly, falling to the ground. Landing on her knees, she held her chest and cried for him. Silently praying to the gods, she sobbed, the Imperials seemingly oblivious to the echoing cries.

The Stormtroopers dragged the princess to the prison cell, roughly shoving her through the door. Chewbacca looked up at her with his big blue eyes and howled, gesturing to Han, who was lying on the hard cot. She recovered immediately from her shock, kneeling beside her lover. Stroking his shaggy hair, she murmured, "Why are they doing this?" His shallow breaths unnerved the young woman.

"They never even asked me any questions," He breathed, shifting on the cot, cringing in pain. She mimicked him from earlier and placed a soft kiss on his forehead, his muscles relaxing.

The door slid open, surprising the three of them. In walked Calrissian, closely followed by two guards. "Lando," Leia informed Solo softly, helping him sit up.

Chewie growled angrily at the man, Solo's lips twisting into a scowl. "Get outta here, Lando," He snarled.

"Shut up and listen," Lando commanded. "Vader's agreed to turn Leia and Chewie over to me. They'll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe,"

"What about Han?" Leia asked shakily, rubbing her lover's shoulders.

"Vader's given him to the bounty hunter,"

"Vader wants us all dead-"

"He doesn't want you at all!" Calrissian shouted. "He's after somebody called, uh, Skywalker!"

"Luke," Han breathed, his anger instantly replaced with worry.

"Lord Vader's set a trap for him!"

"And we're the bait!" Leia realized, her eyes widening.

"Yeah, well, he's on his way," Lando declared.

"Perfect," Han deadpanned, slowly getting up off the cot. "You fixed us up real good, didn't you?" Lando avoided Solo's death stare. "My friend-" The pilot broke off his sentence as his fist interlocked with Calrissian's nose. A cracking sound followed, the guards immediately pushing Han to the ground.

"Stop!" Lando demanded as the guards were about to hit the Corellian. Leia rushed to his side, checking his exposed skin for any cuts or bruises. Chewbacca howled loudly, making the humans' ears ring. "I've done all I can," The businessman declared, throwing his cape over his broad shoulders. "Sorry I couldn't have done better, but I got my own problems,"

"Yeah," Han's breaths came in short gasps. Leaning on his elbow, he grumbled, "You're a real hero," Lando and the guards exited the room, leaving Han, Leia and Chewbacca alone once again.

A faint smile graced Leia's pretty face. Shaking her head, she chuckled, "You certainly have a way with people." Circling to the other side of the smuggler, her and Chewbacca helped him up, and silently hoped things would work out.

"If only you'd attached my legs, I wouldn't be in this ridiculous position!" Threepio complained, waving his metallic arms. Attached to the Wookie's back, it was a sight to be seen. Leia would have laughed and enjoyed it, if they weren't in their current predicament.

"What's goin' on…buddy?" Han spat bitterly in Lando's ear.

"You're being put into carbon freeze," Lando replied emotionlessly.

"What if he doesn't survive?" Boba Fett's metallic voice demanded from across the room. "He's worth a lot to me,"

"The Empire will compensate you if he dies," Vader assured him. Gesturing to the carbon freeze, he yelled the three words Leia wished she couldn't hear; "Put him in!" Chewbacca howled in protest as Stormtroopers came from behind him. He easily slapped them away, sending them into the pit below.

"Chewie!" Han barked. "Chewie, stop, stop!" Chewbacca pretended to ignore his best friend's shouts. "Hey, hey! Listen to me, Chewie," Solo's hazel eyes got misty. "Chewie, this won't help me!" The Wookie growled in response as the Stormtrooper's hooked his paws behind him. "Save your strength; there will be another time," He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "The princess…you have to take care of her. You hear me?" The two friends stared each other in the eyes for a long moment. Chewbacca quietly roared in acknowledgement.

Han and Leia turned to look at each other. A thousand thoughts passed through the lovers in one short moment, all the memories of the past month flying through their minds.

Han, be strong.

You, too.

I'll try.

Leia, you're the strongest woman I know. It's why I fell in love with you.

Han, don't do this to me. Not now. Like you said…there will be another time.

He crushed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. They savoured it, knowing it could quite possibly be their last moment together. The Stormtroopers cut the kiss short, tugging Han to the carbon freezing platform. Leia desperately look into Han's eyes, a cold feeling settling in the pit of her stomach.

"I love you!" She declared, her heart and soul pouring out in those mere three words. She would always be in love with him, she knew. Forever and always.

"I know."

And that sole time, she accepted his response. For she knew he loved her, too, and that he would never replace her.

THE END