OK, this is it! Thanks for sticking with me and I'd like to take a minute to thank everyone who reviewed, your feedback and encouragement were much appreciated.

Also, a special thanks to my Beta Reader: Zyra M. This chapter, in particular, would not have been the same without your thoughtful insights and feedback. As Yoda would say: The best, you are. ;-)

OK, here you have it:

It was a small meeting of the High Council for the purpose of updating everyone on current issues and missions. General Solo was invited to report on his recent Sullust-Mon Calamari mission. It was during these meetings that Han and Leia had the unique experience of sitting across the table from one another in a professional setting. Since moving from The Rebellion to The New Republic, their paths rarely crossed in formal meetings and conferences.

Han and Leia had been two of the first people to arrive and had chosen seats about as far away from each other as possible. Leia sat near the head of the table on the left and Han chose a seat near the foot of the table on the right. As the room began to fill with the remaining members, the seats next to the volatile couple were the last to be occupied. All eyes travelled back and forth between the pair. Han and Leia balanced the arduous task of not wanting to look at each other but not wanting it to look like they were trying not look at each other. Mon Mothma was the last to enter the room and took her place at the head of the table between Leia and Borsk Fey'lya. As the Chief of State lowered herself into her chair, all conversations halted and a hush fell over the room.

The first half of the meeting was spent discussing trade route disputes and the status of pending petitions from worlds wanting to join the New Republic. Then Han gave a thorough account of his dealings on Sullust and the success of his mission to Mon Calamari. Han and Leia's eyes met only once, when Leia asked Han a question about his mission and he answered her succinctly.

The rest of the meeting continued with other New Republic business until the last topic was broached by Mon Mothma's question to Leia, "And, Councilor Organa, what is the status of the treaty between the New Republic and the Hapes Consortium?"

Leia had been looking at her datapad and upon being addressed by the Chief of State she raised her head slowly. For the briefest of moments her eyes shot to Han and then quickly rested on Mon Mothma as she replied, "The negotiations have reached a stalemate, I don't think there is anything further I can do to close the deal."

Borsk Fey'lya was the first one to speak as he scoffed, "The Queen Mother will not close the deal as long as the last item of the treaty remains unresolved. And you, Councilor Organa, are the only person in the New Republic than can do something further on that matter." While Leia had been dealing with Isolder, Borsk had been handling The Queen Mother.

Mon Mothma broke in sternly, "Senator Fey'lya, we do not recognize the type of demands that the Hapans are stipulating. Not to further any deal or treaty, not for anything, no matter how seemingly important it may be. If the Queen Mother will not bend on that request, then I concur with Councilor Organa that we are at an impasse."

"Well I can tell you that as long as there is an available member of one of the Royal Houses holding a position with the New Republic then the Hapans will insist on a union. That is just their way." This came from the Senator representing Naboo.

"Just because it is their way does not mean we should entertain it. We do not recognize every tradition from every single world that joins us. We respect them and allow them to practice their own customs, but we do not always agree or participate. Why should a concession like this be made for the Hapans?" another Senator spoke up.

"Concessions should be made in this case because this is something that has been understood and anticipated for quite some time now. This is a tradition that is recognized by both members' home planets." Borsk Fey'lya glared at Leia as he spoke.

"Just what are you trying to say, Councilor Fey'lya? That I belong to the Hapans in some way? Marriages between the Royal Houses were encouraged by the House of Organa, but forced or arranged marriages were never part of our customs." Leia's voice was firm and angry.

"Your father woul-"

Leia cut Borsk off before he could continue, "My father would never have sold me off to the highest bidder like you are trying to do right now. My father would have respected my wishes and would have wanted my happiness, first and foremost." Her voice choked only slightly as the discussion got personal.

Borsk turned to Mon Mothma and spat out, "As long as she remains obstinate on this issue then the Hapans will treat the contract as breached. They have made an offer, she is available to fulfill it and until that status quo changes then I guess I will have to agree that we are at an impasse."

Leia let the conversation sink into her skull, the last few days and Borsk Fey'lya's words spinning around in her head.

As long as she is available.

Her fight with Han. His empty apartment. Her dissipated reasons for delaying their marriage four years ago.

Until the status quo changes.

Her conversations with Chewie and Luke.

My father would have wanted my happiness.

She felt all eyes on her as she re-focused hers on the person across and down the table. He was looking at her, like everyone else. His eyes were soft and troubled. His expression was one of pity, not anger. He didn't like that she was being berated by the High Council. She could tell he was trying to booster her confidence with his look, willing his support through his gaze. She felt safe in his eyes, as if his gaze alone enveloped her like a blanket.

She saw the path before her and decided to take it.

"Borsk is right." She said absently as she turned towards Mon Mothma.

A hush fell over the room as Mon Mothma replied, "Leia? What are you talking about, you can't possibly-"

"No, he's right. As long as I'm available or until the status quo changes, then this will always be an issue." She wasn't just talking about the Hapans and at least one other person at that table knew that.

The room was silent and all eyes were on the Councilor from Alderaan. Baited breath and anticipation pushed through the air until everyone in the room felt pressed against the backs of their chairs, frozen in their seats.

She looked over to Han, and just seeing his face at that moment made her wonder why she had wasted so much time and energy fighting this. In reality, choosing Han should've been the easiest decision she'd ever had to make in her life. It was. Everything she ever needed was sitting right at the end of the table, and she let the tiniest of smiles cross her lips as she said, "General Solo?"

"Yes, Councilor Organa?" he sat up and straightened his relaxed posture, surprised that she was addressing him.

She wondered if he had any idea what she was about to ask, but she suspected that they would both remember this moment for the rest of their lives. "Will you marry me?"

The silence in the room exploded like a missile under water; you could see the effect but no one made a sound. The two sets of eyes stared at each other while all other eyes stared at them. It seemed like an eternity had passed since the words had left her mouth, shooting across to him like an arrow to its target, heads turning and watching them float across the room like a shooting star streaking across the sky.

He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time, as if any doubts, fears or anxieties he had ever harbored had just been obliterated by her question, exploding like the Death Star above them. "Yes, Leia." He replied with a lop-sided grin as he relaxed back into his chair, his expression changing to one of pride and delight.

She held his gaze as Borsk spat out, "This is a ridiculous show of disrespect. The Hapans will not be placated by some last minute subterfuge-"

As if just realizing that they weren't the only two people in the universe, much less in this room, Leia's eyes slowly left Han's as she straightened herself up and looked at Borsk, "This is hardly subterfuge, Councilor Fey'lya. General Solo and I have been in a relationship for over four years now. The entire galaxy is aware of that."

"But the timing alone will raise suspicion. Why now, Councilor Organa?"

She stopped at the words for a second and then replied, "Why not now?" She smirked and turned her eyes back to Han, repeating his words from the day before. She could feel the blush warming her cheeks. She wondered if she had ever felt more complete.

Mon Mothma spoke up trying to regain control of the meeting, "Well, Councilors Organa and Fey'lya-"

"When's the wedding?" It was Han's voice. He straightened in his chair again and leaned forward on the table. His eyes left Leia's and focused on the Chief of State.

"Excuse me, General Solo?" Mon questioned.

"When's the wedding? I'm sure the Hapans are going to ask, to make sure this isn't some half-baked scheme to wiggle out of their demands." Han looked at Leia as he finished.

She watched him, knowing what he was doing, as visions of a ten-year engagement danced above his head like little Ewoks. He was pushing her, testing her and putting her on the spot in front of everyone that was anyone whose opinions mattered to her, save Luke.

Leia laughed to herself as images of just what she was willing to do with him and to him, in this room, right now, flashed through her mind. And getting married was just one of them…

She met his eyes and then turned to Fey'lya and steely replied, "You can tell the Queen Mother that we'll be married within six months." She glanced back at him to catch his reaction, he had not expected it, she could tell. Gotcha flyboy, what do you have to say now?

Fey'lya's fur rippled as he scorned this entire display. It was Mon Mothma who tried once again to take control of the meeting, "Well, Councilors Organa and Fey'lya…" she paused waiting to ensure she would not be interrupted this time, "I think that you have some new information to bring to the Hapans. Please keep me abreast of any developments. In the meantime, I call this meeting adjourned." As everyone began to shuffle in their seats, Mon added, "Before we depart, I think some congratulations are in order…"

Most of the High Council members took their turns with each of the famous duo, offering their congratulations. General Rieekan spoke with Han first and then waited his turn to speak to the Princess.

As the last senator bid her well wishes and left the room, Leia turned to General Rieekan, her voice almost a whisper as her emotions began to swell, "Carlist."

"Lelila." He stepped to her and pulled her into an embrace, "Congratulations, Lelila. Bail would be very, very happy for you both."

Her reaction overwhelmed her as she felt her eyes become moist, closing them and tightening her arms around the General, she said, "Thank you, Carlist. Thank you for everything." General Rieekan had been like a father to her since the loss of Alderaan and her own father. He had also been an unwavering supporter of Han, both as a person and as her companion.

When their embrace loosened, Leia looked up to find that she, Han and Rieekan were the only ones left in the room. As the general released her he spoke to both of them, "I always knew you two belonged together. I'm glad to see you are finally making it official."

"Thank you Carlist, that means a lot to me. To us." Leia replied as she left his embrace and entered into Han's.

"Yeah, me too. Now maybe I can finally collect my winnings from that betting pool on Hoth." Carlist joked.

"Speaking of that, where is Wedge?" Han chimed in as he squeezed Leia around her shoulders.

Leia shook her head and rolled her eyes, what did she expect? Scoundrels…

After General Rieekan left, Leia and Han found themselves alone in the room.

She turned in his arms and looked up at him, "I'm sorry."

"For proposing?" he smirked.

"For being bull-headed and insensitive." And for waiting four years to do what I did today.

"Well maybe I was being a little too sensitive…"

"No, you had every right, Han. I didn't realize how much I was taking you for granted."

"Really, sweetheart, it's OK. We were both happy. It's hard to think about changing something that's workin' so well."

"Until it's not working anymore." She paused. Straightening herself up, she added seriously, "I want you to get rid of that apartment."

"My apartment? What made you think of that?"

"Just promise me you'll get rid of it."

"Alright, OK. Consider it gone." He pulled her in an embrace, her head resting on his chest. "Six months, huh?"

"Well, I need time to plan a wedding, or I would have said six hours."

"What's to plan? Me, you, the Falcon and the nearest planet that offers quickie weddings. We could be married by nightfall." She began to pull away from him but he held her and said, "Relax, sweetheart. I'm only joking. You can have whatever kind of wedding you want."

"What about what you want?"

"Everything I want is right here."

She pulled away from him again, just enough to enable herself to look into his eyes. She smiled up at him as she got lost in that perfect mixture of molten gold and green. She inhaled a quick, short breath and separated her lips in preparation to speak to him, but he seized that opportunity to kiss her, hard and deep. Forming thoughts into words was immediately beyond her ability. Remembering where she was, who she was or why it mattered, escaped her.

Taking their cue from Han's arousing kiss, their hands began to explore each other's bodies and the ability to differentiate his body from hers, his touch from her touch, what her hands were doing from what his were doing, was impossible. His lips left hers and began to trail down her neck following their familiar path to their most frequent destination, that spot right behind her ear. In the briefest moment of clarity, Leia stilled her hands on his chest and applied the gentlest amount of pressure as she gasped, "Han."

"Leia." He responded, not as if in reply to her, but as if accepting permission to continue when he knew she wanted him to stop.

I wonder if that door lock is trustworthy… "We're in the High Council chambers." She increased the pressure of her hands against his chest and bent her head down to stall his progress.

"Are you telling me you want to relocate, your highness?" His lips nudged their way up to her ear and his hot breath tickled her.

She giggled as she responded, "Yes, please." Her eyes glanced around the room for security cameras. But as soon as Han straightened up and began to relent, she added, "Oh! But we need to tell Luke and Chewie."

"Oh, no you don't." He responded by grabbing her and assaulting her neck again while she screeched and screamed his name, he said, "Chewie. And Luke. Can Wai-"

"Ahem." The sound of someone clearing his throat immediately separated the couple to a respectable distance. It was a Rogue Squadron pilot; the couple recognized him but did not know his name. "I'm sorry, but we have a de-briefing scheduled for this room."

"No problem. We were just leaving." Leia thanked the gods that Han had the ability to speak and had responded to the pilot.

"Thank you and congratulations." The pilot grinned at the embarrassed couple.

Han grabbed Leia's hand and led her out of the room, while they walked toward the lift Han capitulated, "Well, I guess if the krethin' Rogue Squadron knows then we should tell Chewie and Luke."

As they exited the building and walked towards the hangar, Leia comm'ed Luke through their personal signal.

"Yes, Leia." Leia swore she could hear his smile through the comm signal.

"Luke, can you meet me at the Millineum Falcon?" Leia's voice was breathless through a combination of excitement and having to walk quickly to keep up pace with her long-legged fiancée.

"Leia, I don't want to be involved in any hijacking sche-" This time Leia could hear him sniggering at her.

She interrupted her brother with, "Can you or not?" The lightness fading from her tone quickly being replaced by exasperation.

"Yes, alright. I'll be right over." Luke answered her, managing to sound teasing and apologetic at the same time, and ended the comm connection.

When they reached the hangar, Han grabbed Leia and pulled her behind some cargo boxes. His height allowing him to watch the boarding ramp of the Falcon while he resumed where they had left off in the conference room. Finding that their new status as an affianced couple unleashed an even bolder version of his sensual princess, Han took complete advantage of the revelation. Almost embarrassed at where his hands were when he caught sight of Luke climbing aboard the Falcon, Han was nearly unable to convince Leia to defer their activities for just a while longer…

Han and Leia boarded the Falcon and walked hand-in-hand into the lounge area, finding the Jedi and the Wookiee waiting patiently for them.

Leia watched as both Chewie and Luke glanced down at the couple's hands and then up at their flushed excited faces and waited for one of them to speak.

"Well, you two. We wanted you to be the first to hear that Leia has finally decided to make an honest man out of me." Han grinned wildly as he squeezed Leia's hand and brought it up to his mouth in a gentle kiss as he turned to look from Luke and Chewie and back to his fiancée.

Leia blushed as her eyes left Chewie and Luke's and landed on Han's, as she watched him kiss her hand she smiled in spite of herself and screeched in indignation, "Han! Why did you get to tell them?"

He quickly stole a kiss from her, causing her blush to rage again as he said, "Because you got to do the proposin'."

"You proposed! When?" Luke was grinning as he questioned his twin sister.

[I told you she wasn't thinking straight.] This came from one very happy Wookiee.

"In front of the High Council." Han answered Luke and shot Chewie a smart look. Leia couldn't help but study the Corellian's face as he announced their news. She could not recall him ever looking so genuinely happy and content. Of all the powers in all of the universe that I may have yet to discover, this is beyond comparison. If I have the power to make this man feel this way, the way I feel right now, it is truly beyond comprehension. I guess I must look the same in his eyes. I hope I do. I know I must.

He found her looking at him and joined her gaze. Everything disappeared around her. From the galley and the circuitry bay to the Jedi and the Wookiee, there was nothing, but him, and he was looking at her. She squeezed his hand as he lifted his free hand and trailed the back of his knuckles along her jaw line. Snaking it around her neck he began to massage her with his fingers and as he moved his thumb back and forth across her jaw and over her lips, he said, "She made me the luckiest man in the galaxy today."

She thought she had entered hyperspace as her soul poured into his gaze. Green and flecks of gold streamed past in her vision as his eyes seemingly swallowed her whole. How can he think I've done anything for him, when he has done everything for me? I'll never be able to retrace the steps of my life to pinpoint exactly what decision, what word, what act brought him to me. But I will be eternally grateful for it, 'til the end of times.

She turned toward him slightly and using her free hand she took his hand from her neck and brought his palm up to her mouth and kissed it lightly, as she lowered it she turned her head to Luke and then landed on Chewie as she said, "I did what I should've done a long time ago." She looked back at Han and smiled at him. They stood facing each other and holding hands.

Luke glanced at Chewie and smiled as he asked, "So, when's the big day?"

Without abandoning their mutual gaze, Han and Leia answered almost simultaneously, "In six months."

Both receiving the signal in their own way, Chewie and Luke realized that they were not going to get any further information out of the couple until some of their, uh, pent up energy was released. Not wanting to bear witness to that particular ceremony, Chewie looked at Luke, tilted his head towards the holochess table and howled, [Unless you want to see a reprisal of the Corellian's table dance, I think we should leave.]

Piquing her interest and quickly awaking from her stupor Leia turned to Chewie and queried, "Table dance? What table dance?"

Han started walking backwards and gently pulling Leia not-so-subtly towards his cabin. She watched Han shoot Chewie a look as he responded, "Don't pay any attention to him, honey, he's just jealous. Um, Chewie, Luke, it's been real fun, but could you close the ramp on your way out?" He turned her around to face the Wookiee and the Jedi and pulled her back against him as they continued to disappear walking backwards together down the corridor. He began to nibble on her neck as he tightened his embrace, eliciting a stream of giggles and a heat from her flushing face that he could have sworn might actually burn him.

"Han! Luke, Chewie, I'm so sorry." She was giggling and fighting off a determined Corellian as the Wookiee and the Jedi disappeared from her view. More embarrassed than really angry, Leia spun around to Han and mocked her best upset face and tone when she said, "Han! Really, you are incorrigible!"

Han once again grinned wickedly at her and then assaulted her neck with his mouth and her body with his hands. In between nips, and licks and gropes and kisses, he countered smartly, "Not incorrigible, your highness. Insatiable, is the word you were looking for, I think."

As she heard the door to his cabin cycle open she no longer cared what word she was searching for or what the Jedi and the Wookiee were thinking of her behavior. She only cared about reprising her role as this smuggler's lover on this infamous ship. A role she was ready to relish and cherish for the rest of her life…

The Jedi and the Wookiee watched as the boarding ramp rose and quietly sealed shut. Before parting ways they exchanged a knowing glance and as they each let a small grin creep across their faces, they turned and walked away from each other, silently sharing in the knowledge that they had just witnessed the start of something fairly substantial for the future of the universe. And as they walked further and further away from that famous couple and that legendary ship, they both knew for that moment, everything was right in the galaxy.