I stared at the clock- I'd probably been doing it for hours come to think of it, but I didn't care.

It wasn't until I heard footsteps enter the room that I actually looked over from the invisible hole I had burned through the wall.

"Hey kid, you okay?"

Han. Why was he asking me? He's the one who didn't care about anything or anybody except himself, so why did he care anyways? I didn't say it though, of course.

"Sure, I'm alright." But he'd see right through that. I rubbed my thumb against the marbled table awkwardly.

He looked exasperated. "Look, Luke, it isn't your fault. You couldn't be watchin' his skin and savin' the princess at the same time."

I shook my head- "I could have saved him. He didn't have to die like that." I paused bitterly, thoughts and possibilities filling my head. "I should've gone with him."

-
"I don't think you boys can help. I must go alone."

"Whatever you say. I've done more that I bargained for on this trip already."

" -I want to go with you." I want to go...I want to help! You can't leave me like this, Ben!

Han could watch. One man was enough for the job. "But he can..."

"They must be delivered safely or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan. Your destiny lies along a different path than mine. The Force will be with you...always!"

There was no arguing there. I could only watch as Ben stepped out of the room, the door shifting closed behind him- that was the last conversation we would have while he was alive. If I had known that I would have gone anyways...I would have gone after him and left Han to save Leia. It could have worked...it could've...

Han's voice broke my thoughts. He had taken a seat beside me, leaning forward and looking at me.

"Look, Luke. There's a lot of things you could have done. If you hadda gone and saved the guy, what would've happened to the princess?"

I looked up.

"They would've executed her. She'd be dead right now if it weren't for you. So how about giving yourself a little more credit, huh kid?" His voice was softer than before, I noticed.

Just then Chewie's voice echoed urgently through the ship's corridor.

"Alright Chewie, I'm comin!"

I felt a firm hand grip my shoulder and I looked up to meet eyes with Han.

I could see he cared- I could see the concern- mildly, but it was there. Sympathy for someone other than himself.

Before I had thought he ws just some cold hearted smuggler from Corellian, but now...

"Take it easy kid."

I watched him stride out of the room urgently to meet up with Chewie. Minutes later his voice rang throughout the ship, scolding Chewie for something he did to the hyper-drive. I couldn't help but smile.

Maybe Han Solo wasn't such a bad guy after all.