Actions Speak Louder Than Words

All right, we ran out of Speedo challenges and after over a week of daily posts we seem to have stopped so let's get some conversation going again, shall we?  One of the things I love about the Han and Leia pairing is that so much of their love story is conveyed through actions instead of words.  Compare that to the long, ridiculously mushy tirades of Anakin and Padme about being oh-so-in-love and blinded by beauty and whatever and it's easy to see which one is more believable.

Just take the above scene, for example.  Watch it again sometime, even though I'm sure you have it just as memorized as I do, and just pay attention to how they look at each other and how much is conveyed without any words.  She says three words in that scene.  He says two (well, to her, since he does tell Chewie to take care of Leia).  If the same scenario were done with Anakin and Padme she would've been screaming and crying in protest and going off on some long monologue about how she can't live without him and her heart will die with him and Anakin would've also said similar, vomit-inducing things and referred to her as "my love" or something equally cringe-worthy.  Seriously, think about that.

The subtlety is so much more powerful.  In the scene where he first kisses her, it's not so much what they are saying to each other as the body language.  They move closer together, he takes her hand and leans in... he never just blabbers on about how gorgeous she is or any crap like that.

This is certainly something we need to remember as writers of these two.  Now, surely they would say sweet things to each other from time to time, but it would be very hard to believe that either one would suddenly break down going on and on about how much they love the other one.  Honestly, I think I was guilty of this when I first started writing.  I try to be much more conscious of it now.

I don't know where I'm going with this other than needing to post something and wanting to get some conversation going on how to write the characters.  Always keep in mind that showing how much they love each other through their actions within the story goes a lot further than having several lines of dialogue of one of them saying it to the other.

And keep in mind what their favorite way to show their love for one another is ;)

Joint Story: The Sequel - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

"Leia?"  Han rapped his knuckles against the durasteel door at the same time he began pressing in his override code.  When the door to his cabin swished open, Leia was standing directly in front of him. 

"What is it?"  She asked, her tone clipped.

Han chose not to reply, hoping his expression said it all.

She turned away, walking further into his quarters.  "I don't want to talk about this, Han."

He stepped into the room, feeling as if he was breaking some seal or bubble of protection that she might have felt by retreating in there.  "Well, I do."  He was very cognizant of the fact that they were now in his bedroom together, it weaved a more intimate feel into the conversation.

Her back remained facing him as she said, "We're supposed to be trying to get a divorce here, Han.  How is it that you keep forgetting that?"

It was a good question.  One he had pondered on himself and was glad to share his insights with her now.  "I guess I'm just a man of opportunity at heart.  You never allow me the opportunity to discuss these things with you.  In there," he said, pointing toward the lounge where they had been with Ava, "you said things that I think were honest assessments of your feelings.  I get no other opportunity to respond to those with you.  Like here.  With your back to me.  With your back turned on all of this."

She threw her head back in frustration and then turned around to face him, her face hardened as she said, "There is no this."

"No," he replied hastily, pointing his finger at her.  "Not this time.  I'm not playing along with you anymore."

"I'm not playing.  This isn't a game," she said her voice rising.

"Then what is it?  Please enlighten me.  Because from where I'm standing you can't seem to keep the rules straight, either."

Her expression changed, softening but still maintaining its steely resolve.  "I've made mistakes."

Han scoffed.  "Sweet-" he started but she interrupted.

"I've allowed my...mixed emotions to derail me from my objectives."

"Could you explain that in Basic, please.  Because I don't know-"

"It doesn't matter!"

Han's posture tensed at the sudden rise in her voice.

"Can't you just..."

Han watched her fingers curl into fists and then release.  He couldn't recall ever seeing her so...frustrated.  And that was saying alot. 

"It doesn't matter how I feel about you.  What I've said," she continued.  "This can never happen.  I have too many people counting on me.  My actions affect so many.  I answer to something greater than just myself.."

He nodded his head slowly, feeling as if he had just been punched in the gut.  "I see," he said.

"I'm sorry.  I really do-"

"Don't," he cut her off while holding his hand up to her.  "You've made yourself perfectly clear."

"Please, Han," she said taking a step towards him.  "You've got to understand."

"Oh, I understand," he replied, his voice steely.  "I understand that I gave you way too much credit.  Here I thought you were battling your feelings for me to protect yourself.  That I could deal with.  That I could understand, respect.  But this," he said, his finger pointing at her accusingly.  "This pretentious, political nonsense that you claim controls you?"  He stopped, shaking his head at her.  "I don't want any part of it anyway."

"Han-"

"I'll take care of everything," he said, interrupting her again.  Her expression had softened, her eyes had turn liquidy, but he held on to his resolve.  "You won't have to worry about me sullying your reputation anymore."  With that he turned and left his cabin, slapping the door controls closed as he left.

***

Leia was left standing there feeling small and petty.  The tears, the emotions, the frustrations all threatened to surface but she fought them.  It had to be done.  For years she had trained for this.  All her life she had been taught that her life would always have to serve a bigger purpose.  Sacrifice was no stranger to her.  She swallowed, heard the pounding and clanking of Han elsewhere on the ship.  Had she lost another friend to her duties?  It would not be the first time and Han was more than a friend.  She missed him already, everywhere, unable to pinpoint the ache to any one place in her body.  Her heart, her stomache, her lungs, arms, legs and head - they all throbbed with the pain of that conversation.  She shrugged off her robe and climbed into his bunk.  Sleep would not come easily on this night...

She awoke feeling as if she had just shut her eyes but the chrono above her head told her that it was morning.  She dressed, her movements mechanical.  When she exited the Captain's quarters she walked around the corridor slowly, unsure of how awkward their first interaction would be.  A few trips between the galley, the cockpit and the holds and she realized that she was alone.  Han had left.  Her heart sank at the realization.  She was on his ship so she was sure that he hadn't left her literally, but figuratively he had.  Figuratively, she knew, he had left her last night in the midst of their conversation and she only had herself to blame.  It was what she wanted, what she had asked him to do.  Han always did, in some strange way, do as she asked of him.  She drew in a deep breath and blew it out.  Perhaps he would be waiting for her at the counseling session?  A part of her did not want to leave the Falcon, thinking (hoping) that he might return.  As the hour of their appointment drew near however, she gave up hope, locked up the ship and headed to the meeting.

The Speedo Challenge - Submission #9

(this story was submitted by StatsGrandma)

(this story may or may not actually contain a Speedo.  Also, sexy time warning...)

NO TAN LINES

Han and Leia were celebrating their second anniversary by taking a few days on Haariden in the Inner Rim.  Leia had been there to conduct negotiations with the governors, and was delighted by both the people and the planet itself, which had beautiful forests, meadows, waterways and beaches in addition to clean and prosperous cities.  It had been one of the easier negotiations; they had a positive image of the New Republic and while they hadn't suffered as horribly as some worlds did under the Empire, they were savvy enough to know that the corruption of the Empire would not serve them well in the long run.

So when it came time to decide upon a place to celebrate their second anniversary, Haariden immediately came to Leia's mind, and Han had no problems agreeing to it.

They were leaving tomorrow, and Leia had a mountain of work to complete before their departure.  She was writing up trade agreements between three previously warring systems, which had been everything that the Haariden proposals weren't.  It had been exhausting work and the agreements were fragile.  There had been too many meetings, videocomms, back and forth shouting matches, and every other sort of inelegant behavior, but Leia, as always, applied herself to the task and there were, finally, agreements being hammered out.

Adding to her exhaustion was the fact that she was five months pregnant.  Twins, a boy and a girl.  They were as energetic as she was lethargic.  "If you kids loved me, you'd finish this work,"  she said to them, laying a hand on top of her increasingly large belly.  She figured this would take her at least another hour, and she still had some brief reports to file after that. 

She still had to pack, a task she despised, mostly because she could never make up her mind what to bring.  The apartment was a lot less tidy than she would have liked; she'd been putting in long hours, not simply preparing for the trip, but for the time when the twins would be born.  Leia was not going to look like a slacker simply because she was expecting, and that worried Han incessantly. 

She needed this trip, in the worst possible way, if for no other reason than to get some sleep.  The nausea of early pregnancy was gone, but the weariness lingered. 

She could have gotten through her reports far more easily without being interrupted roughly every seven minutes, by her calculations.  After the tenth person stepped into her office, she locked up her office, grabbed her datapad, and hustled out of the building, trying to avoid anyone who might see her. 

Han wasn't home when she got there; he had flight trainees earlier in the day, and then he and Chewie had to get the Falcon prepared for the journey the next day. 

Leia needed to get her work done, but weariness overtook her.  Just for a few minutes, she told herself, lying down on the bed she and Han shared. After that I'll get up and pack and get something ordered in for dinner...

***

As it turned out, Leia slept the entire night.

"Why didn't you wake me up last night?"  She asked Han irritably.  "I needed to finish my work and then pack!" 

"Don't worry, sweetheart, you looked tired.  Besides, I packed for you."

Leia loved Han more than life, but she murmured to herself, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"Bags are already on the Falcon," Han told her.  "Let's get going, honey. We've got an anniversary to celebrate!" 

"I need to finish these reports,"  Leia said, grabbing her datapad. "Either that, or I'll worry the entire time."

"Trip's going to take a while,"  Han remarked.  "You can do it there. And then,"  Han said, his most impish smile crossing his lips, "get ready." 

Han got the Falcon airborne.  "I need to brush my teeth,"  she informed Han.  "And I could use a shower."

"You know where the 'fresher is, sweetheart. I'd join you, but someone's gotta drive." 

Leia headed for the 'fresher.  She debated for a few moments as to whether she should take a hot shower or a sonic one.  Without Han, the water shower wouldn't be as much fun, so she decided to take a sonic one. 

I'm getting huge, she observed, looking down at her swollen belly and breasts.  I hope Han packed something comfortable to wear.

Her duffle was in the captain's quarters. She went to grab her toothbrush and clothing.  The bag felt way too light.  She opened it and screamed.

"I thought you said you packed for me!"  Leia shouted over the comm.  "There's nothing in my bag but my bikinis and my personal care things!"  He had thought to include lingerie, but it was her prettiest and most feminine ones, ones that she could barely fit into.

"We won't need clothes, sweetheart,"  Han assured her, his tone calm and steady, but Leia swore he was grinning as he maneuvered the ship. "You missed one important thing about where we're staying."

"And that is?"  she snapped loudly.

"Our villa has a private beach, and the beach is clothing optional."  Leia could hear his smugness over the comm. 

"We're not on the beach!"

"Listen, sweetheart, if you wanna have an argument, come on up to the bridge."  Han was chuckling. 

Leia grabbed Han's duffel and opened it.  She grabbed one of his soft T shirts and a pair of sleep pants.  If this was his idea of packing for her, she'd just wear his things.

She noticed that not included in his duffel was her favorite swimsuit of his.  She had specifically requested that he bring it. 

She was going to kill him.

Now dressed, more or less, she stomped to the bridge. 

Han grinned at her.  She glared at him.

"This is all I could find that fit!" Leia snapped.  Han just laughed.

"Calm down, Princess," he said as he laughed.

"Why should I calm down!  You could have woken me up and I could have packed..."  She thought quickly.  What could she have packed?  What still fit?  All of her maternity clothes were for work.  She'd meant to buy some for relaxing but she'd been so busy. 

This did not appease her anger.  "I can't go to dinner dressed like this!"

"I think you look great in everything,"  Han said, his grin mischievous as ever. 

It was taking all of Leia's self restraint not to smack him upside his very thick head.

"You look adorable," Han assured her, but Leia was not about to be mollified. 

"I'm five months pregnant and wearing your clothes! How is that adorable?" 

Han stopped laughing.  "Okay, I wasn't gonna say anything about this, but Winter and me, we think you're working too hard, and you didn't have time to shop, so we got you some clothes.  They're gonna be at our villa.  If you wanna see what we picked out, look at my datapad."

Leia imagined the worst as she took Han's datapad and opened it up. 

"It's under maternity clothes,"  Han told her.

Leia feared the worst.  She opened the file, and her jaw dropped.  But not in the way she thought it would: the clothes and lingerie that Han and Winter had purchased for her were absolutely beautiful.  Comfy, soft pants and T shirts, sundresses, everything she would need for their vacation, and after they got home.

"I'm...amazed.  These are beautiful," she said to Han.

He smiled.  "Thought you might like 'em."

"I did notice that you forgot to pack my favorite swimsuit."

"You mean the one that shows off my extra stomach rolls and requires a team of experts to get on?  I hate that thing. Besides, did you see the tan lines I got from wearing it?"

"At least you tan.  Han, there's no way I'm going to fit into my bikinis. Why did you pack them?"

"Couldn't think of anything else in your closet to pack."  He winked at her.

"I can't wear them.  My breasts are bursting out of the tops!"

"I like that."  He licked his lips salaciously.

"And I'll be lucky if I can even get the bottoms to tie at the sides!"

"As I mentioned, our beach is clothing optional.  And I intend to exercise that option."

"I didn't see any sun cream in my duffel."

"That's at the villa, too.  Don't worry, there'll be plenty.  Besides, I love putting it on you.  Oh, and by the way?  You're gorgeous."

"Oh, please," she said.  "And I've still got four months to go!"

Han looked at her and grinned wickedly.  "You, sweetheart, are the cutest, sexiest pregnant woman I've ever seen."

"I don't feel particularly sexy at the moment."

"In case you haven't noticed, you're glowing."

"I'm WHAT?!

"You look so happy." 

"Han, I like to be flattered as much as the next woman, but really, you're exaggerating."

"I am not. You should know by now that I don't flatter.  I just say what I know is true."

Leia silently conceded the point.

"Go look in the mirror in the 'fresher.  Tell me what you see."

"I do not need the mirror to tell me that my dark circles have dark circles and I'm the color of paste."  She grabbed her datapad and began working on the items she failed to complete the previous night. 

***

The trip had been an overnighter; Leia had piloted for a few hours so that Han wouldn't be overly tired when they landed.

"Looks like we're close,"  she said to Han, who had taken care of the controls after a nap and a shower.

"Very.  I'm going to start the landing cycle in a few minutes."

Leia had slept a fair bit of the flight and had completed her work.  Now that those were out of the way, she was eagerly anticipating the vacation.

"So what do you want to do first?" she asked excitedly as they picked up a land transport. 

"Oh, honey, it's me.  You know what I want to do first." Leia leaned in close to Han and giggled, and they kissed.  They were sharing the transport with nearly a dozen other people.  Neither cared what anyone else thought.

One of the couples on the transport was clearly elderly, and they held hands and looked at each other as if they were on their honeymoon.

"You see that?"  Han smiled at Leia.  "We're gonna be just like them someday."

The way he said it made Leia feel warm all over.  "I hope we're going to get to the villa soon."

"Not soon enough," Han said, winking at her. 

Leia remembered the first time he winked at her, at the awards ceremony after the Battle of Yavin.  She almost turned into liquefied goo when he did it. It still had the same effect on her. 

The transport stopped.  "We're here,"  Han said happily, grabbing their bags.  They follwed a stone pathway through thick greenery and flowering plants to the villa.  The villa had a stone exterior, the stones varying in size, shape and brilliance.

"This is beautiful,"  Leia breathed. 

"You do know how to pick 'em,"  Han said happily.  He was eyeing her in the way that he did...well, that. 

Han set their bags down.  Leia could see that hanging in the villa's closet were many new items of clothing. 

Han saw her looking at it, and winked at her again.  "They'll be there later for you try 'em on.  But right now, I've got other plans." He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her baby bump.  She let herself lean into him, enjoying his presence.  One of the things that had attracted her to Han was the fact that he had what all the pretty boys she'd ever met lacked: Han overpowered her senses with his masculinity.  He was a man, not one of the princes, hangers on, playboys and other species of rich, silly boys she'd met growing up.  Han was raw energy and pure sexuality and he didn't have to try to exude it; it was just there.

She turned to face him, and he put his mouth to hers. His voice was low, husky, and to Leia, irresistible.  She put up no resistance as he removed his shirt from her body, letting it drop to the floor, his hands roaming all over her back.  Leia was not going to let him get away with it; she began unfastening the buttons to his shirt, putting her head against his chest as more skin became visible, breathing lightly on each nipple, feeling him shudder with pleasure.  She felt him swelling below his waist as his shirt hit the floor and decided that he should get rid of anything binding it.  He was ministering to her very swollen breasts, and if she had been capable of thought at that moment, she'd wonder if they'd make it as far as the bed.

Han pulled her hand as he flopped on his back on to the bed, taking Leia with him, breathing ragged, eyes dark and hooded, sweat glistening on both.  Their tongues darted about each other's, one of Han's hands touching her slick, already wet folds.  "Should we try out the bed?" Leia said, her breath catching in her throat.

Han's breath was harsh.  "I was...more thinking I'd grab the sun cream and take advantage of the beach."  Neither had a stitch of clothing on by now.  Han had placed the container of sun cream nearby, grabbed it, and the two kissed as they exited the villa, rather awkwardly.

Pure golden, soft sand welcomed their bodies as they settled down into it, feeling its warmth from below, brilliant sunlight above in a cyan sky. The fragrance of various tropical flowers perfumed the air, the crystal turquoise ocean lapping the edge of the sand gently.

"I think we found paradise,"  Leia murmured. 

"Let's just make sure paradise doesn't bake you,"  Han said, his voice the combination of silk and gravel that never failed to turn her on. He took the container of sun cream and began to massage the white, delicately scented cream into every area of Leia's body.  This was a ministration that Leia knew she'd never tire of.

"You make me so happy I burn,"  Leia said to him, her voice soft and husky.

"All part of the service."  Han could take it no longer; once the last of the cream had been rubbed into her, he laid back on the ground and rolled Leia on top of him, which made it more comfortable for her.

"I think we woke the kids up,"  Han said, pulling Leia closer so that he could kiss her, hard. 

The kisses led to their hands exploring each other's bodies, concentrating on the places that stimulated each the most.  Han placed a gentle kiss on the sensitive spot of her collarbone as she she sought the space a few inches east of each nipple on him, massaging him gently with her tiny hands, kissing him at the tender spot on his neck that drove him wild. 

"Your skin, it's always so soft,"  Han rasped.  "I could touch it forever."

"I hope you will,"  Leia said, her eyes closed, expression blissful.  She moved so that she could kiss him from his neck all the way down to his abdomen, following the treasure trail down to his most excellent parts. He was gasping as she ran her lips and fingertips over him.

"Gods, I love you, Leia," he said as he gently rolled Leia over so that he was facing her.  He'd made no secret of the fact that he was very much enjoying her growing breasts.  Not that he had any complaints about the ones she had normally, but being pregnant had made them more sensitive than ever, and Han was determined to take full advantage of the situation. 

He touched his lips gently to one nipple, causing her to arch her back and moan with pleasure.  "You are unbelievably sexy right now."

"Even with the bump?"  she asked.

"Oh, especially with the bump."  Han continued to kiss each number, making Leia climax with a soft cry.  He ran his hands gently over her belly.  "It's so amazing...we created life, together." 

Leia gave him the tenderest of smiles, her hand touching his cheek.  He had informed her that he had no plans to shave during the trip.  He'd done so this morning, so all that was there wasn't much stubble to speak of.  "To be honest, I never even thought about motherhood until I met you.  And then, I knew you were the man I wanted to share my life and my soul and my body with, and that I wanted your child more than anything."

Han moved to spoon her, leaning into her, and the feel of his body against hers made her gasp with pleasure. She had never thought that he would consider pregnancy such a sensual experience, but she was not having any issues with that fact.

"I love you so much, Han,"  Leia whispered to him. 

"Oh, honey, I hope you know how much I love you, especially now."

"In me,"  Leia begged him breathlessly.

"I could, but not quite yet. I love seeing you get off." His hand moved down from the curve of her belly to her wet folds. She felt like heaven to him, and he was taking her there.

"Han, I want you I want you I want you."

"Do you want me inside you?"  Han said, his voice low and soft and sexy, helping to situate her so that she could experience orgasm as much as possible, sliding her down on him gently.  "Leia...Leia...I..." Han could no longer hold out, and he shuddered, releasing himself into Leia, whose own climax followed on the heels of his.  She rolled to his side, staying close.  He kissed her temple, laying his hand on her belly.  There was no sound except for their heartbeats and breathing, accompanied by songbirds and the gentle motion of the water.

It was as if time had stopped moving forward, leaving them to bask in their private universe.

"I was thinking that later, I'd try on the beautiful things you and Winter selected."

"Sweetheart, you have all the time in the world to wear them once we get home."

"We might have to eat and drink at some point,"  Leia advised him, laughing softly.

"True."

The two embraced and watched as the sky turned to gold.  In a few days, they'd be flying home to Coruscant, where the realities of work and bill paying and laundry and all the other nuisances of daily life would resume, but for now, they were in their own paradise, with no chance of tan lines to follow them home.

Speedo Challenge #8 (followup to Submission #3)

(Submitted by Push)

(This is a followup to my earlier submission.  I'm grasping at straws here for more pics, so since my story happens later, perhaps you can envision Han looking like this during it...  ~Push)

Speedo Challenge #8

The Millennium Falcon, somewhere in deep space shortly after the Battle of Endor

"Hey, what's this?"

Leia turned to face Han, the pair had been cleaning his quarters, making room for her things as she had become a near permanent resident on his ship as of late.  They were so comfortable together now, having nothing left to hide between them both literally and figuratively, that she couldn't quite imagine what had piqued his curiosity so. She eyed him quizzically as he stood there, holding an old shirt of hers that had somehow worked its way into the bins beneath his bunk and something else pinched between two fingers.   Then she recognized it and memories of her last cleaning efforts came rushing back quickly to the surface.  He had been in Carbonite, she had been missing him terribly and then she had found that, that photo that he now held in his hands.  

"Is this what you used to stay away from me for so long?"  He asked, a triumphant mirth dancing across his features as he waved the photo in the air accusingly. 

Leia shook her head and blushed deeply, something she hadn't done in quite awhile because of him.

Han tossed her old blouse aside and studied the holo once more, flipping the flimsiplast with his fingers.  "Looks mighty worn, too.  Huh, Princess?"

He waggled his eyebrows and his grin was overly mocking, his wink slow and deliberate and his tone more goading than usual - all of which immediately got her ire up.  "I think that has more to do with the age of the subject matter than with anything that I could've possibly done to it," she said haughtily.  In the meantime, she was waging an internal war between her aggravation with him and the emotional memories that the discovery of the flimsi had brought up.  She suddenly more than anything just wanted the photo, along with its memories, back, and she didn't want Han sullying up those memories with his lewd comments and lascivious grin.  She took a step towards him.  "Give it back," she warned as she stuck her hand out.

"Give it back?"  Han asked as he pulled the photo closer to his chest and his smile widened.  "Sweetheart, you don't need this substitute anymore.  You've got the real thing."

"Han," she scowled, not the least bit amused as she pounced toward him grabbing for the holo.  He was too quick, however, and exasperatingly too tall as he merely held the photo up in the air and easily out of her reach.  In that same motion, he had scooped her up against him with his other hand, looking down at her with amusement and delight.

"This isn't funny," she said, her voice more whiny than she had intended.

"You're right," he replied, sounding at least somewhat contrite as he lowered the hand that held the holo and placed it on top of his other on her lower back.  She relaxed slightly and settled into his embrace, relieved that the teasing and the worse of it was probably over and now she could go about concentrating on getting the holo back.  Then she felt his breath at her ear.  "It's downright erotic."  She heard him whisper, drawing her out of her thoughts as she looked up to him.  "C'mon, you can tell me," he teased.  "How long did you walk around with that holo secreted away next to your heart?"

"Oh," she groaned, rolling her eyes and moving to get out his embrace.

"C'mon.  Did you have it on Hoth?"

"Pfft," she replied incredulously.  Oh the man had an ego!

"Yavin?" He howled back, just as incredulously, his mischievous grin giving way quickly to fits of laughter.

"You are such a bantha head," she scowled, pushing against his chest to get free.

He let her go finally and he was laughing now, a full-bellied laugh and all at her expense.  Did he realize how tormented she had been when she found that photo?  She knew that he did not and that it wasn't his fault but that didn't mean that she didn't want to knock him down a few pegs anyway.  Never one to be derailed very easily, she first took advantage of his lowered defenses by reaching toward him, grabbing the contested holo out of his hand and turning to run.  "Oh, no you don't," Han yelped as he followed her quickly and wrapped her up in his arms again, this time with her back to his chest.  

She looked down at the photo, ignoring the man behind her.  She hadn't seen it in quite some time and regardless of when and where it had been taken - it would always remind of her of one certain period in her life.  She felt Han craning his neck around her head and looking down at the photo with her, feeling him readying his next volley she cut him off before he had a chance to speak, "Who took this?"  She asked, her voice low.

Han blew out a long breath, she could feel the amusement shedding off of him as his body tensed just a little, but he still held her in his arms.  "Somebody," he said, "some time, a long time ago."

"Nice bathing trunks," she said cheekily, changing the subject.  She had no real interest in finding out the specific details of the photo, but she did feel like Han deserved some needling.

"Not my idea," he replied sternly, nearly all the amusement gone from his voice.

Suddenly Leia wondered just what kind of person, what kind of woman, would have held so much control of Han Solo.  She wondered if she held that much control over him now.  As she thought about it more, it didn't matter because she would never exercise it and she felt sad in some way that someone had.  She turned around in his arms and wrapped her hands behind his neck, all amusement gone from within her as well.  "I found this while your were in Carbonite and..."  She stopped.  How could she describe what it had meant to her?

Dawning spread over Han's features and he nodded knowingly as he bent down and kissed her forehead.  "I'm sorry I poked fun."

"It's alright," she replied, smiling up at him.  "But I would like to keep it.  That is, if it doesn't bother you."

"Nah," he replied.  "Ancient history."

In their time together she had begun to learn about his past, she wondered how much more there was left to discover.  But there would be time for that later.  "Do you still have that suit?" She asked, smirking.

Han relaxed and pulled her closer.  "If I did, it might just fit you.  That body's ancient history, too, Princess.  I hope you weren't too disappointed the first time you peeled my shirt away."

"Han Solo, I have felt many things when I undress you and disappointment has never been one of them."

"Is that right?"  He replied, lowering his head down to hers.

"Absolutely," Leia whispered right before he dipped his head a little lower and captured her lips with his.

Their kiss quickly deepened and Han began to lead her towards their bunk.  As his mouth tickled its way over her ear lobe and down her neck, she let the flimsi fall to the decking, momentarily forgotten once again.

Speedo Challenge - Submission #7

(submitted by AmaraZ)

(I'm running out of speedo pics!  Didn't think you guys would mind a repeat...)

Speedo Challenge - Submission #7 by AmaraZ

“Han, where are you?”

Han cringed. He knew that tone. That “you are in so much trouble, better duck for cover, and apologize now” tone. It made him want to dive under the control dash. He didn’t hear it that often anymore and not nearly as much as the early days of their friendship. And things certainly had improved since he and Leia had become a couple. But every now and again Leia would get on a tear about something. He considered briefly pretending he hadn’t heard her, but knew it would only make matters worse. Bracing himself mentally to be as polite as he could be, he turned to face the cockpit door and put a smile on his face.

“I’m in the cockpit,” he said as nonchalantly as possible.

Leia appeared in the doorway of the cockpit shortly after, her small feet barely making a sound on the decking. She looked relaxed and casual in plain clothes and her hair in a simple braid, but her face was anything but. Her expression was full of barely hid confusion and bordering on thunderous. Pursing her lips, she walked in, stopping right in front of him. He noticed she had a suspicious looking piece of flimsi in her hand.

“What’s up, sweetheart?” he asked cautiously.

“Care to explain this?” she asked and thrust the slip at him.

He eyed it carefully before taking it from her, confused as to what it could be. Did he forget to pay a bill somewhere? Was it a news report of him coming out of his occasional late night game of sabacc? He couldn’t think of anything he had done, lately, that would put her on edge.

Han relaxed when he saw it was just a holo of him. And an old one at that. It showed him a bit younger than he was now, sitting cross-legged next to a pool of water, in his swimsuit, and taking in the sun. “Huh. Where did you find it? Hadn’t seen it in a while.”

“I was cleaning out the cabinets in the bunkroom when I found it. Does it matter?”

“Nah, just curious.”

Leia was about to start tapping her foot if she didn’t get the answers she wanted and drew a deep breath before continuing. “So do you care to explain?”

He shrugged. “It’s just a holo of me. No big deal.”

The expression on her face quickly turned to surprise, her mouth falling open. “Just a holo of you? Han, you’re practically naked in it.”

“I am not. I have my swim trunks on.”

“Those are hardly trunks,” she scoffed. “I had to check the holo three times before I spotted them.”

The corner of Han’s mouth quirked up and he swallowed hard to keep from laughing. “Oh, I’m sure that’s why you had to look at it so many times.”

Leia flushed pink at his accusation and rolled her eyes at him. Stepping even closer, she poked a finger at the picture, pointing at the thin scrap of material that was the suit and the goodies underneath that were clearly on display. “See? It barely covers anything.”

Han let out a long breath. He knew his princess well enough that there was more to this than she was letting on. “So, what’s wrong? Worried that this will get out and ruin my reputation?”

Leia let her hand drop. “No.”

“Yours?”

She looked away for a moment before shaking her head.

He smirked. “Jealous?”

Her eyes snapped back to his. “No.”

His eyebrows knitted together as he considered her standing there, unsure of what else might be troubling her. “Then what is it?”

Her eyes dropped to the floor before she proceeded. “I just don’t like you on display like that,” she said quietly and shrugged her shoulder. “You barely will sit still for a holo now. I guess I wonder what kind of girl….woman…was able to do it and while you were partially clothed.”

Han let out a breath. This had been more like he was expecting and he knew she deserved the truth. Especially if they were going to keep building a life together. “An ex-girlfriend of mine took it a long time ago,” he explained. “We were on a trip, ended up by this secluded pool, and she took it. Not sure why. She must have left it behind when things were over.” He shrugged as if the whole matter was of no consequence to him anymore. “It was one of the few good memories I had at the time and I didn’t have the heart to throw it out.”

Leia thought about his words quietly for a few moments, taking in how much it might have bothered him to share with her what he did. “Thank you for telling me.”

He shrugged. “It’s the least I could do.” He held out his hand to her and she accepted it, letting him pull her to sit in his lap. He put an arm around her and brushed his hand across her hairline, staring at the face he loved. “You know you don’t have anything to worry about, right?”

“I know,” she replied, her eyes not meeting his.

“And you knew before we got involved that I have a past,” he continued and tipped her chin so that she had to look at him.

She nodded. “I did. And I wouldn’t ask you to change.”

Satisfied that the worst was finally over, he gave her his famous crooked grin. He tucked the pic carefully into her hand. “I guess this is yours now.”

Leia smiled back. “Like you?”

His grin widened. “Like me,” he replied with a laugh and kissed her soundly on the forehead. Wrapping her in his arms, he held her close for several moments. “I’m not going to apologize for something that’s in my past,” he said. “I hope you’re ok with that.”

Leia pulled back, her look mysteriously challenging. “I will be on one condition.”

He gave her a quizzical look. “What’s that?”

“You still have that little bathing suit so that I can see what it looks like for myself? It was pretty darn hot.”

Han laughed and pulled her into a giant hug. “Anything for you, Princess.”