And here we are , at the very end! Thank you one more time to the amazing GCFB, my wonderful betas, and every one of you who've reviewed. This has been a fun ride, and I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have!

Chapter 21

Bum Wrists and Black Eyes

Leia made CP sit facing the door with the rifle across his knees, for all the good it would do them if someone came back. Leia made coffee and paced the floor, hoping her mother would forgive her for succumbing to such an urge-as if her pacing would be what her mother would worry about as Leia paraded around wearing no petticoats and a man's shirt, her hair all a mess and with one blackened eye.

Horses rode into the barnyard and CP jumped, almost dropping the shotgun.

Leia flung the door open, and was immediately gathered into an exuberant hug from Luke.

"We got 'em! Right outside of Tarkin's land. The Sheriff and his deputies rounded 'em up and are takin' them to jail," Luke exclaimed, pulling Leia out into the barnyard with him.

Han looked dusty and exhausted, but overjoyed.

"Showed 'em, Sweetheart. Tarkin escaped, the slippery varmint, but someone'll get 'im before long, mark my words."

Leia smiled.

"I've got coffee on. Wash up and come inside."

Luke, Han, and Chewie were still rehashing the battle five minutes later as they drank coffee cup after cup.

"What about the cattle?" CP asked when it finally quieted. Han's expression darkened a bit.

"Didn't find 'em right off. I wanted to search Tarkin's property, but Rieekan insisted on bein' the one to do it. Hopefully we'll hear soon, one way or the other."

"Rieekan'll find em," Chewie promised. A wave of exhaustion fell over the group and they fell into sleepy silence.

"You still willing to wrap this?" Han asked, carefully presenting his wrist to Leia. It looked red and a bit swollen.

"Of course. Roll up your sleeve," she directed, taking a strip of cloth from her trunk. She positioned his hand carefully, her delicate fingers smoothing over his rough skin. Leia realized this was the first time she'd ever touched him. His hands felt much nicer than she expected, the rough skin of his palms presenting a pleasant contrast to hers. Swallowing hard, Leia forced her mind to return to her work.

Leia looked around the room in a desperate effort to find something to look at besides Han's muscular arm as she wound the bandage. Luke snored loudly from across table. Chewie was tipped back in his chair, almost asleep. CP's eyes were drooping slowly, lower and lower. Leia glanced back down at her husband's arm and threaded the cloth carefully around his thumb a few times.

"That black eye's quite becomin'. You'll make a ranch wife yet," Han teased.

"I shot at Tarkin. I missed by...a distance. And you were correct in instructing me not to fire that gun," she admitted, not meeting his eye.

"Quite the kick. We'll learn you up real good on it, though. You can miss on purpose next time." He winked at her.

Leia smiled and winced as her eye throbbed. She tied the bandage off and checked to make sure it was secure.

"There. That should hold for the day," she promised.

"Much obliged. Now you sit. I got somethin' that'll fix that eye right up." He stood and Leia slowly took his place, unsure of what he was up to.

He rummaged around in the storage corner for a moment before returning with a small, raw potato. Pulling out his knife, he peeled the skin off, cutting the potato up into tiny pieces.

"Oh, Cowboy, how nice of you to make breakfast. Is that supposed to help my eye, a good meal?" she teased, giving him a smile.

"Hey. I can fry up a mean pan 'a potatoes," he promised, returning her playful smile. "I've had plenty of black eyes, and this'll do the trick, I promise," he assured her, a light smile coming over his face.

"Don't tell me I have to eat that," she said, looking at the starchy pulp in his palm.

"No, you just put it on your eye for a few minutes. Lean your head back."

Leia looked at him for a moment, trying to decide if he was fooling her. She finally decided he was on the level, and Leia did as he asked, laying her head back and closing her eyes. The potato dropped onto her eye, and Leia flinched. His nearness, even with her eyes closed, made her shiver.

"There. Just let that sit for a few minutes and it'll feel heaps better."

"If you say so," she replied warily.

"Where did you learn to shoot?" Han asked curiously, wiping his hands and knife on his pant leg to clean the potato from them.

"My father always had grand hopes about bringing me along to the hunts. He taught me to shoot clay pigeons," Leia explained, squinching up the muscles in her face to keep the mash in place. "My mother ended it very quickly."

"I can bet. Ain't what you want your little princess doin' after school every day," he teased.

"Precisely. I can't believe this is supposed to work," she muttered, running the back of her palm over her damp cheek.

"Is that feelin' better?" he asked, tapping her cheek gently with his finger. Leia grit her teeth against the shiver that was working down her spine.

"Yes," Leia replied, shocked to find that her response was true. He helped her wipe the potato from her face and then dabbed at the wound with a cloth dipped in cool water. It was strange to experience this new side of Han, a man who was normally so rough and commanding being gentle and careful. The chill of the cloth on his cheek combined with his warm breath on her chin as he dabbed away the last of the starchy residue made it impossible to hold back the shiver.

"Better?" he asked, his face even and close to hers.

"Much. Thank you," she breathed, shivering again.

"You cold? I always thought that flannel was real warm," Han commented.

"I'm fine. It is quite warm. It kept me cozy on the ridge," she murmured. Han rubbed her arms briskly for a moment and Leia leaned toward him, craving the warm, intimate contact.

The noise started out as a faint rumbling sound.

"What in tarnation…" Chewie began, snuffling and sitting up suddenly.

It grew nearer and suddenly Han heard it too, a look of faint hope on his face. They all hurried to the door.

In the first touches of morning light, they could see a herd of cattle approaching, corralled by several men on horseback. Han stepped slowly toward them, looking on in wonderment as they paraded past. Leia blew out a disbelieving breath as she came up to Han's side. The cattle all bore Han's brand. One man rode up to them.

"You missin' some cattle?" Rieekan called, giving a grand smile. Han let out a wild yell and swung Leia around in a strong hug. He kept her tucked against his side as the cattle herded past.

"I can't believe it," he murmured. Luke clapped Han on the back and pulled them both into a tight embrace, laughing happily.

"Found 'em right where you said, just on the other side of the ridge," Rieekan explained.

"Let's get 'em into the pasture," Chewie called, heading toward the barn to saddle up. Luke and CP followed closely behind.

"Would you like to walk the property with me this morning? Haven't had a chance to show you around like I been meanin' to," Han offered.

"Thank you. I'd like that," Leia replied. Han nodded with happy finality, firmly placing his Stetson hat on his head and walking proudly toward the barn.

There's hope for us yet.

AN: And that's a wrap! Coming soon: "The Empire Gang Strikes Back," and a little bit of Pre-ESB fluffiness if you ask nicely ;)