Title: Dreaming (of You)
Author: R.Solo56
Category: Romance
Rating: PG
Date (date posted): 8/3/00

It's months after Bespin and Leia tries to cope. It ends right after the battle at Jabba's palace.

The alarm on Leia's chronometer sounded at 0700. Her eyes flew open and she bolted upright, persperation clinging to her skin. Oh, godess, she thought. What a horrible nightmare. Then, in a rush, reality hit with such a force, the breath fled her lungs, leaving her dizzy and shaken. It wasn't just a dream. She and Han did go to Cloud City. She and Han were tortured by Darth Vader. And Han was put into carbonite and taken by Boba Fett to who-knows-where. Fresh tears sprung in her eyes; she couldn't take the suffering any longer. I don't have to... she thought.

With a sudden burst of energy, she jumped out of her bed, and changed out of her night shift into slightly oversized cargo pants, hiking boots, and one of Han's dark blue dress shirts that she had snuck out of the Millenium Falcon before Lando and Chewie had left. It was the same shirt her dear Han had christened with his passionate kisses and maddening caresses when he made love to her for the first time on the way to Bespin. Leia breathed in the slight musky scent still remaining on the collar.

Without bothering to brush or plate her hair, she ran top speed out of her apartment and to where the speeder bikes were parked. Leia chose one, hopped on it and started it. She set the coordinates toward the woods, slow at first, but soon the bike was up to full speed.

Leia loved it. The stinging cold of the wind in her face, like the carbonite her love was encased in. The suspence of flying neumorous feet above the ground, oblivious to the world around her, like Han trapped aboard Boba Fett's ship. And having her life at stake, unaware of what might happen within the next second, just like her scoundrel. Her eyes, filled with wild agony, spotted a huge tree at least fifty four feet ahead of her.

Abruptly, she felt a strong force surrounding her, and the speeder slowed. Within seconds, the bike stopped completely. It lowered to the forest floor, and Leia sat, frozen, her tear filled eyes fixed on her desired destination was, at that point, merely five feet away.

Luke stepped up behind her and pulled her off the speeder bike. He took her by the shoulders and shook her. "What the hell do you think you were doing?" he shouted. "You could have killed yourself!" When he saw the expression on her face, he gasped. That was exactly what she had intended. "Oh, Leia," he breathed quietly.

"Why did you do that?" came her haunted voice, small and shaking. Then, completely beyond control, she beat her fists against his chest, screaming the inquiry repeatedly.

Before her sobs took charge, she whispered, "Why did he do that?" Luke knew all too well who she meant: Vader. Leia collapsed into his arms, crying bitterly. She wept for some time while he held her tightly, and stroked her hair, for it seemed to calm her. Finally, her terrible grieving ceased. "I want to die," she mumbled brokenly.

"That won't make Han very happy when we find him," Luke told her matter-of-factly.

Leia looked up at him. "But, what if we don't find him? What if he's already--?"

Luke placed a finger to her lips, preventing her from saying that horribly dreaded word. "You just have to have faith, Leia. You said that he was alive and in perfect hibornation when Lando checked him, right?" She nodded solemnly from the safety of her friend's embrace. "Well, I bet he's dreaming of you. Your sparkling eyes, your smile, your strong spirit.... Make that dream come true. For Han."

For Han, Leia repeated silently. As long as she didn't let herself feel grief or pain, ad long as she remained strong, and long as she didn't lose control, Han would be okay. They would find him. "Thank you, Luke," she said in a small voice, managing a little smile.

Luke grinned gently down at her. "Remember, I'm always here for you," He informed her softly. Leia hugged him, burrowed her head in his shoulder.

The next few months were pure torture for Leia Organa; each day seemed like a century. The others were noticing that she was becoming more drawn each day. She slept little, thanks to the nightmares she couldn't control, and she ate next to nothing.

Leia hung on. Hung on to those two cherished words: for Han, until finally, that unforgettable, ecstatic day her love was found.

She had desguised herself as a bounty hunter and entered Jabba The Hutt's palace, with Chewbacca as her "prisoner." She freed Han from the coffin of carbonite; seeing his slightly disoriented, yet handsome face all the same, made her want to break down again. That time, from overwhelming joy and relief. Unfortunately, they were both captured by that fat, perverted, sadistic slug. Leia spent the night being taunted and touched by the slimy leach, all the while wondering if Han was alright, if he could survive the long, cold night. But then Luke came to their rescue, and together they rid the world of Jabba The Hutt and all evidence that he ever existed.

They were all safe now, aboard the Falcon, on their way to Sullest, the location of the rebel base. Leia had changed out of the rather uncomfortable, (to say the least,) slave girl outfit, and into one of Han's oversized shirts. She sat in the lounge pit, completely exhausted, but unable to sleep unless Han, who was getting drops put into his eyes to clear his vision, was with her.

Suddenly, she heard heavy, familiar footsteps, and large, gentle hands rested upon her shoulders. "You're a sight for sore eyes," a deep voice rumbled softly in her ear. Han sat beside her in the pit and looked her over closely. "You okay?"

Leia nodded. She streached lazily and yawned. As she did so, Han noticed a wide red mark circling her throat. "What's this?" he asked, and ever so gently touched the raw skin.

"Nothing," she said quietly. His expression suddenly turned to anger.

"It's something, Leia," came his voice, gradually growing louder. "He chained you, didn't he?"

She sighed, wishing he would keep his voice down, for she felt a migrain approaching. But more than that, she didn't want to fight with him; she only wanted to curl up in his arms and sleep for a week. Finally honesty won out. "Yes," she whispered.

Han scowled. "Did he do anything else?" She hesitated. "Tell me, Leia."

"Please, Hanm" she begged in a tiny voice. "I don't want to talk about it right now. I'm exhausted, and I don't want our first conversation to escelate into a fight." Leia looked up into his eyes and touched his arm genly. "Please, understand."

Seeing the hurt, frustrated expression on her beautiful face, his eyes softened. "I'm sorry," he appologized sincerely. He then leaned closer to her and lightly kissed the angry flesh on her neck. Leia sighed and closed her eyes. "I missed you, Han," she whispered, but said no more, not trusting her voice as she felt a lump forming in her throat.

"I love you, princess," he answered in a murmur as his lips met hers. No teasing this time. No wise cracks or nick names. Not now. "Come here," he ordered in a thick whisper, spreading his arms. "Let me hold you."

Leia complied without hesitation. She snuggled as deep as she could into his embrace, closing her eyes once more, knowing with Han holding her, the nightmares would let her be. Running her fingertips along the Corellian Blood Stripe along his trousers, she let another yawn escape her lips. "I dreamed of you, sweetheart," she heard Han say softly as he began to slowly stroke her hair.

"I know," she whispered as she drifted into peaceful sleep. Han soon followed.

For the longest time, Leia had dreaded sleep and the terrifying nightmares that haunted her sub conscious. But now, she and Han were both safe, with each other. They would dream again that night, but this time they would as one. One heart; one soul. In that dream, they vowed never to be separated again.

This, along with Proposal and The Truth Told are all MY original works. Although, on other sites, the name may vary from R.Solo to R.Solo56 to R_Solo56, and my OLD e-mail addresses still pop up, I assure you, they came from ME.