If you didn't read my last one, Aftermath, er..how come? Okay, it was long and wordy and maybe you started but didn't like it. That's all right, I'll recap here.

Following the death of his good friend and co-pilot, Chewbacca, Han Solo spiralled into depression and did the unthinkable – he assaulted his wife. Long story short, after a period of separation and a near-fatal attack on Leia by the Yuuzhan Vong, the couple are now working towards a full reconciliation.

By full, I mean, resuming a healthy sex life.

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It had been a long eight months since Leia had been discharged from the Medical Centre and into her husband's care.

Her daily physical therapy regime had been exhausting for them both initially, but over time they had fallen into a less punishing routine.

As the weeks went by and the time spent in therapy lessened, they had found time for each other again.

To talk about their past.

To examine their present.

To consider their future.

They had even, much to Han's amusement, attended counselling sessions preparing them for the next logical step in their reconciliation.

"A sex therapist!" Han had scoffed. "Seriously?"

"A relationship counsellor, Han." Leia had corrected. "To assist us in becoming intimate again."

"I aint never needed any assistance in that area sweetheart!" He had laughed.

"If you're not going to take this seriously..." She had shaken her head.

"I am taking this seriously." He'd argued. "But a counsellor? To tell us how to make love?"

"No. To teach me to trust you again." She had held her head firm. "And to teach you to be tolerant."

It had taken him a while to understand, but eventually he had.

That was how, this evening, they had found themselves for the second time in a month on the very edge of the precipice.

Their evening had been planned, just as their counsellor had advised.

Dinner.

Conversation.

Music they both appreciated.

Then they had retired to the sofa, Han in a soft shirt and pants, Leia wearing a shimmering full length gown of blue.

His kiss was soft, just as he had been instructed. His fingertips orchestrating minute shivvers of pleasure as they trailed over her neck, pushing beyond the single shoulder strap holding her gown in place, purposefully across her arm until he entwined his fingers with hers.

He broke the kiss in order to breathe.

"You're sure you've secured the door?" Leia gasped.

"Positive." He breathed, his lips brushing the velvety smooth curve of her throat.

"Only..." Her breath caught as she leaned her head back into the sofa cushions. "You remember what happened last time we got this far?"

"Luke's not going to interrupt us sweetheart. So relax." He told her, moving to nuzzle her earlobe.

"You're supposed to use my name remember." She sighed, her fingers flexing in his with anticipation.

"Sweetheart is a term of endearment, not a form of sarcasm." He whispered.

"Oh. Only sometimes it's hard to tell the difference." She gently pushed him away, her eyes glinting fire. "Maybe we should take this some place else."

Han's eyes met hers, his gaze matching her fervour.

"Help me up?" She asked.

For the most part, Leia could be self sufficient after her months of rehabilitation. She could shower and dress herself with only minimal support and was able to move from room to room using a crutch, more for confidence than by necessity, though she still needed some assistance in rising from low chairs, or from their bathtub, or from their bed.

Han helped her to her feet and led her slowly through to the bedroom.

The last time they had attempted this, their evening had been cut short by Luke dropping by to check on his sister's progress. He and Mara had been on Coruscant arranging for the usual vaccinations for their three week old son, Ben. And whilst Mara settled the babe following their journey, Luke had taken the time to visit without first ensuring that he would be welcome. It had been as much about Luke being a proud father as it had about him wanting to know how Leia was doing.

The new father was full of tales of Ben's first gurgle, first sneeze, first anything. Han had pointedly explained, he and Leia had experienced parenthood already.

When Luke had left, the mood had been broken. Something their counsellor had suggested they try to avoid next time.

So Han had made a point of choosing this evening carefully, knowing that there wouldn't be any distractions.

Once in their bedroom, he pulled his shirt over his shoulders and let it fall to the floor where he stood. He watched with increasing arousal as Leia propped her crutch in it's accustomed place and turned to face him.

"Han!" She exclaimed, tutting.

"What?" He shrugged.

"This is supposed to be romantic. The counsellor said..." She started.

"Are you gonna let some sex therapist tell us how to do this?" He interrupted.

"The counsellor said I had to learn to trust you again." She continued. "And you have to learn to be patient."

"Fine!" He sulked. "I'll put the shirt back on."

"No need." She smiled, coyly. "I always kind of liked looking at your chest."

"Yeah. I noticed." He grinned back.

Leia leaned into him, her arms circling his back, and pressed her face to one pectoral, feeling him tense it into firm muscle. His arms held her in place, one hand seeking the thicket of hair at the nape of her neck.

"The counsellor said it was important for me to know that you'd stop if I wanted you to." She said.

"Is the counsellor going to be in the bedroom with us the whole night?" Han queried. "'Cos I gotta tell ya, she's really screwing with my mojo!"

"Are you going to stop if I want you to?" She asked, large brown eyes appealing up at him.

"Sweetheart when I start, you are not gonna want me to stop!" He grinned.

Her disapproving glare turned his grin into a grimace.

"Of course I'll stop." He assured her, one hand moving to stroke her cheek tenderly. "I was drunk that night Leia. Too drunk to even know my own name. Now I know that sex therapist has filled your head with her psycho-babble about trust and patience and learning to be all touchy-feely with one another again, but have I ever, ever, given you cause to doubt me?" He glanced briefly skyward. "Apart from that one night, obviously."

"Maybe..." She planted a soft kiss on his chest. "It's not you I doubt."

"Now what's that supposed to mean?" Han asked, puzzled.

"Just that...oh it's nothing." She shook her head.

"That trust she spoke of, cuts both ways sweetheart." He admonished her.

"It's just that we haven't, you know, been 'together' since that night." She blushed. "I don't know how I'll react."

"Well I was kinda hoping for the usual reaction. Curled toes; eyes rolled back in your head; lots of thrashing, moaning and screaming yes, yes, yes, 'til the neighbours bang on the walls." He laughed, snapping his fingers. "Oh wait, they moved. So that's all right then."

"Can't you ever take anything seriously!" She scowled and pushed him away.

"I am. Seriously. I am taking this whole thing seriously." He laughed again. "But don't you see the absurdity of it? We're going to be making love, not solving the food shortage on Stellag V."

He closed the gap between them again and cupped her cheeks in his warm hands.

"I get to take my clothes off, you get to take your clothes off, we get to be all jiggy with each other and if you say stop I'll stop." He caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, adding. "Though I'm still kinda hoping for the toes, eyes and thrashing scenario."

"You're incorrigible!" She said, stifling her own laugh.

"You like me because I'm incorrigible." He tilted her face up to his and leaned down to kiss her, gently at first until he felt her soften then he deepened the kiss slinking his arms around her and tipping her ever so slightly back.

Her arms encircled him again, one hand flat against his back whilst the other squeezed and fondled a buttock.

"Han Solo!" She gasped when he broke their kiss. "Are you wearing jocks?"

"And what would you know about jocks?" He teased.

"Oh, I keep my ears to the ground." She boasted.

"Well, they are a lot closer to ground level than most people's." He smirked, adding. "All the guys are wearing them. Stars knows why, they pinch real bad around the crotch."

"Well, we can't have that." Leia chewed her bottom lip as she undid his belt buckle and then his pants, pushing them over his hips and letting them slip downward.

"I should maybe have removed my boots first." Han quipped, looking down at his pants rumpled around his knees.

"I guess it has been a while. I forgot about those." Leia giggled. "Cute jocks though."

"Flatterer!" He winked at her.

"Should I...?" Her fingers flirted with the fabric of his underwear.

"You just hold that thought right there sweetheart." He wiggled the tip of her nose lightly with his forefinger before kicking one boot off and hopping on his bare foot as he struggled to remove the other. "Goddammit! Why'd they make these things so damn difficult to get off!"

He danced around in a circle until the boot finally gave in to his tugs and flew across the bedroom, swiftly followed by his pants. Twirling to face her, he held his arms wide. "I'm all yours."

Leia laughed. "I've missed you."

"Missed you more." He told her, earnestly.

"I doubt that." She said.

"See, there you go again with the doubts." He guided her hands back to the waistband of his undershorts. "Now, where were we?"

"I feel so nervous." Leia stared up into his face. "Stupid, huh?"

"Let me show you the way." He spoke quietly.

His hands covered hers and together they lowered the shorts past his abdomen and down his thighs, Han simultaneously ducking his head to once again seek out her lips with his. Her hands rested against his hipbones.

"Ahhhh..." He sighed and grinned at her. "That feels sooo much better."

He studied her.

"So, what do you think? Am I as good as you remember?" He jested, hands on his hips. "Or are you just checking out my goosebumps?"

"I'm going to take my dress off now." She said, ignoring his comments. "And I want you to hang it, not just let it get all wrinkled like your..."

"Stop, you're making me blush!" He interrupted, covering his genitals.

"I was going to say like your clothes!" She said, pointing at his discarded clothing.

"I know honey." He grinned.

Leia ignored him and reached up, slipping loose the bow of the single shoulder strap holding her dress in place.

"I'll need to hold onto you to step out of it." She said quietly, fingers still holding her strap firmly.

He nodded his understanding and waited for her to place first one hand, then the other on his shoulders. The dress fluttered to her feet where he scooped it carefully over an arm and, once she was steady, laid it over it's hanger and retied it's bow.

Crossing the darkened bedroom to stand before his naked wife, Han Solo smiled.

"You okay?" He asked, his hands squeezing her shoulders.

"It feels like the first time." She said, trembling in his arms. "Remember the first time?"

"Yours or mine?" He asked with a grin.

Leia looked up at him from beneath onyx eyelashes.

"I'm scared Han." She breathed.

"No need to be." He smiled softly. "I'm here."

Strong arms lifted her and laid her gracefully on the bed, then he laid himself on her other side.

"No underwear huh?" He arched an eyebrow.

"Hey, you're not the only one who can add a little spice to the relationship." She replied.

"Did that sex therapist suggest this to you?" He circled her tummy button with a forefinger.

"She's a relationship counsellor Han." She corrected him again.

"Did she make any other suggestions?" His finger drew in ever increasing circles.

"No. She had questions mostly." She responded.

"Like?" His finger brushed a particularly sensitive area of her abdomen and he felt her flinch at his touch.

"Like who reads the signals correctly, who initiates sexual contact, who's the dominant lover." She answered.

"You know, if I asked those questions I'd be labelled a pervert!" He scoffed.

"She doesn't accept labels." Leia said and slid an arm beneath her pillow.

"I can think of at least one at fifteen hundred credits an hour, try sheister!" He growled.

"She thinks we're making progress." Leia sighed, closing her eyes.

Han's mouth connected with her neck, nuzzling the flesh with his lips and tongue, teeth lightly nibbling, twisting his body to partly cover hers.

Leia moaned and sank her fingers into his hair.

"Of course, tonight might be a setback." She murmured.

"Huh? How come?" He asked, raising a puzzled face above hers.

"Just checking you were actually listening to me." She smirked.

"Oh I'm listening sister." He smirked back. "I hear your little moans of gratitude. And I don't need no sex therapist to tell me I'm heading in the right direction."

"And what direction would that be flyboy?" Leia licked her luscious lips seductively.

"All the way to Heaven!" He cooed and sought her mouth in a passionate kiss, tongue chasing tongue.

One hand held her tightly to him, whilst the other roamed her soft creamy flesh seeking and then finding the swell of her breast.

He felt her arch toward him, her fingers digging into the back of his neck.

Deftly his fingertips caressed the soft underside of her breast and, feeling her gasp for air, he broke their kiss to move first to her throat then lower still to capture the hard ruby of her erect nipple. Tongue lapping, teeth nipping, mouth covering and lavishing the bud with all of his attention.

His hand slipped lower over the small plump belly, the result of carrying his three children, to cup the mound between her thighs.

Slowly, cautiously, his fingers began their tender exploration of her folds. Stroking back and forth, back and forth. Listening to her increasing sighs and moans. Fondling. Daring to probe a little deeper, pausing in anticipation of the blanch that didn't come. Caressing. Feeling her response to his touch.

Leia slid her leg along Han's, hooking it over his hip.

"Han!" She pleaded. "Make love to me!"

Han smiled to himself.

Of course, it was all mumbo-jumbo that sex therapist trotted out Han had told himself. Experience had taught him what Leia liked. What turned her on. What didn't. But during one of their joint sessions, she had insisted that it be Leia to initiate first contact. Leia who was to guide proceedings to their natural conclusion.

Make love to me!

Her words.

Signalling that proceedings could indeed progress to their natural conclusion.

Han moved stealthily, covering her body with his own, strong arms lifting him over her as his abdomen moved into position for a slow, solicitous and ultimately undeniably and excruciatingly gratifying penetration.

He hovered, letting them both adjust, sensing the merest hint of trepidation from her before her hands impacted with his chest, her legs wrapping around his hips, her back arching to meet him.

"One word, and I stop." He whispered.

She nodded both her understanding and her acceptance and leaned forward to plant kisses on his chest and throat and chin, her fingers tantalising against his nipples.

A younger Han Solo would have been unable to control his urges any further, but this mature version of himself paused a moment longer.

"Han?" Leia queried, her voice little more than a moan.

Their doorchime interrupted them.

Both froze.

And the chime sounded again.

"Ignore it. They'll go away." Leia said, her voice tremulous.

Another chime.

Followed by another.

And another.

And then the continuous drone of a finger held permanently to the buzzer.

Han hung his head, then spewed forth a string of violent Corellian curses whilst climbing off the bed.

"So help me Leia..." Han spat, pulling on a pair of sleep pants. "Unless that baby nephew of yours has learnt to dance the Corellian Tango, your brother is gonna die by his own lightsaber!"

"He's our nephew Han!" Leia called as her husband stormed from the bedroom. "And Luke's in retreat, it's not going to be him at the door."

Leia pulled herself upright and debated whether to stay put or get dressed. With a sigh, she accepted that the mood had very likely once again passed and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

At the door to their apartment, Han Solo angrily palmed the door open.

"You better have a damn good reason to be here kid..." He growled, his mouth dropping open.

"Is wanting to see my parents a good enough reason Dad?" Jaina beamed.

"Jaina!" He exclaimed. "What...Why didn't you comm first?"

"Guess I didn't figure on having to make an appointment to see my folks is all." She said. "So, can I come in?"

"Sorry." He stepped aside before sliding an arm around her shoulders pulling her into his embrace.

"Whoa. Dad!" She stepped back, glancing down at his sleep pants and grinning. "Didn't mean to interrupt a work out!"

"Excuse me?" He blurted.

"It's Rogue-speak Dad, for the horizontal happy dance. Though I gotta say, it isn't usually used in connection with someone your age." She told him, moving into the living area. "Oooh! You cooked nerf! And is this your famous home-made-hot-diggity-dog-sauce?"

Han frowned in annoyance.

"Did you drop by just to eat leftovers?" He asked as she helped herself to a cold nerfsteak and smothered it in sauce.

"I just finished a six month tour of duty." She told him between chews. "And I gotta see the nerds in Counselling Services tomorrow for a de-brief."

"So, in the meantime, you figured you'd raid your old man's refrigeration unit!" He accused.

"Han?" Leia called. "Who is it? Who's there?"

"Don't mind me, I don't want to stop you getting it on with Mom!" Jaina grinned, sauce adhered to her teeth, lips and chin.

"Guess!" Han shouted back.

Leia's hand curled round the wall as she dragged herself into the dining area.

"You know I hate guessing games. And I nearly tripped over your boot struggling to get up on my own...Jaina!" Her squeal was ear-splitting.

"Hey Mom." Jaina's lips squelched with sauce. "Looking good."

"Did you know...?" Leia looked up suspiciously at her husband.

"Not until I opened the door." He replied.

"Just telling Dad." Jaina explained, licking her lips. "I just got off a six month tour so I gotta go see some counsellor tomorrow to make sure I haven't been...you know...'affected' by it."

"She couldn't comm first!" Han grumbled.

"I didn't know you two would be at it." She smiled sweetly.

"Oh we weren't doing anything that couldn't wait." Leia smiled back with a light flush.

"Yes. We were!" Han growled in his wife's ear.

"I can go. I still have a cot at the base." Jaina said, rising.

"Nonsense!" Leia exclaimed. "This is your home. You're always welcome here. Isn't she Han?"

"Humph!" Han's response was part affirmation, part belch.

"Where are your things?" Leia asked, crossing to hug her daughter.

"Dad left them in the hall." Jaina replied, keeping her sticky hands away from her mother's robe.

"I left..." Han sighed, exasperated. "I'll go get them."

"Sorry about interrupting you and Dad." Jaina said to her mother after Han had slumped off to fetch her things. "How long have you two been shaking the space slug?"

"I realise that's how the Rogues talk, but please, not in front of your father." Leia admonished.

Jaina wiped her hands on a napkin and hugged her mother again.

"I'm just glad you two are yourselves again." Jaina smiled a genuine smile of affection. "The Galaxy feels a more peaceful place when your parents are in love with each other. Not everyone I know gets to say that."

"I'm sure." Leia nodded and they both headed into the living area to sit.

"You look well Mom." Jaina said. And she did.

"Your father's been taking real good care of me." Leia answered.

"And you're, you know, okay...with each other...in the, you know, the bedroom department?" Jaina asked.

"Jaina!" Leia blushed.

"It's important Mom!" Jaina said. "You two always managed to find time for each other, no matter how much work there was, or how badly the Galaxy needed you, or how much of a pain in the ass we kids were being. And now that you're retired..."

"Who's retired? I got my own freight haulage business to run." Han said, heading past them with a bag in each hand, two over one shoulder and another hanging from his neck.

Both females laughed.

"It's good to have you home sweetheart." Leia smiled.

"It's good to be home." Jaina smiled back.