It was evening when they returned. The scent of an imminent rainstorm flooded Han's nostrils, mixing with the dirt to create a sweet smell. However, the darkened clouds were still off in the distance, gathering in the horizon.

"While we have rain where I'm from, it doesn't quite smell like this," Leia commented, sniffing the air.

"What does it smell like?" Han asked, heading for the front door.

"Nothing really," she answered with a shrug of her shoulders. "I never knew rain could have such a pleasant smell. It's one of the things I like about Earth."

Han could hear a tinge of sadness in her voice as he inserted the key into the lock. He quickly turned around, seeing that she was looking to the sky longingly.

Pulling away from the door, Han trudged up to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong now?"

She shifted her gaze from the sky. "I'm just feeling homesick all of a sudden. It's nothing to worry about."

She removed herself from his hold. "Come on, let's go inside."

Han's shoulders slumped. So much for trying to show a little bit of sympathy.

He stuck the key back in, turning the doorknob as Leia waited to the side. He let Chewie run inside first, then allowing Leia to go since she was so impatient. Still struggling with taking the key out of the lock, Han did not notice Leia immediately pause after taking just a few steps.

"Something's wrong," She whispered into the darkness.

Han yanked the key out, nearly running into Leia as he stepped forward. "What-"

At the same moment, Chewie pulled back his canines with a snarl, growling into the pitch-black hallway.

"Chewie, what's wrong?" Han asked as he moved past Leia.

"Han..." Leia started to say, glancing around the den.

"Chewie, nobody's here. It's just us." He hovered over the dog, trying to see what in the world he was growling at. He had never seen Chewie so upset before nor had he heard him growl this much. "Quit it!"

The sudden hum of a lightsaber echoed through the shadows as a red glow washed over the two of them. Han barely had time to process the black figure standing in front of him in the hallway before a rush of footsteps sounded through the house. In a matter of seconds, white figures wearing full-on armor surrounded the den. In their hands, were black guns and they were each pointed at either him or Leia.

"What the-" Han couldn't even finish his thought. His mind was racing as it took in the sight. These things couldn't possibly be more bounty hunters, could they? They didn't look as raggedy. No, these people looked more orderly.

More official.

Having only a loose grip on Chewie, the dog was able to pounce towards the nearest figure in white, tackling him to the ground instantly.

This was enough to send Han into action. Knowing these people had guns, he grabbed the nearest one, trying to wrestle it from his grasp. Even punching the 'soldier' several times didn't do anything since he was wearing a helmet. The most that happened was Han bruising his own knuckles.

"Chewie! A little help here!" He called amidst the chaos. The dog ran over, knocking the soldier down and allowing Han to take the blaster.

"Thanks. Now stand back." He aimed the blaster at the other soldiers, prepared to shoot them. But upon seeing them in the same position as before, not firing their weapons, Han lowered the blaster.

He couldn't understand it. Why were they just standing there? Why weren't they fighting back?!

It was only when the sound of two lightsabers clanging together did Han realize why the soldiers were standing back. They were watching the duel between Leia and the figure in black.

Because while Han was playing tug-of-war with the Stormtrooper, Leia had ignited her lightsaber and charged at the figure known as Darth Vader.

They were moving at a speed Han knew wasn't humanly possible. Leia was the faster of the two, doing stunts that would have taken the most skilled acrobat years to master. She leaped onto the coffee table from the ground with ease, using the higher ground to launch a series of offensive attacks.

It was at that moment Han realized how much Leia was holding back with Luke.

They spoke no words to one another, they had no need to. Their language was communicated through their movements. Leia did not need to speak to convey her intense anger, it could be clearly understood through her aggressive swings.

She backflipped onto the couch, taking another swing at the man. He blocked it, pushing his lightsaber forward against Leia's. She grunted as her lightsaber was pushed towards her face, having to bend backward to avoid being impaled.

Leia was forced to duck as the red lightsaber burned into the couch. She rolled onto the floor, losing her lightsaber in the process.

"Obi-Wan taught you well," He finally spoke, looming over her with his lightsaber. His voice was unusually deep, making him all the more threatening. "But he didn't teach you everything."

Han hadn't realized it before, but the man was breathing heavily. He couldn't chalk it up to exertion because he had breathing like that even before the fight.

Leia scowled up at the man as she rose to her feet. "How dare you speak his name. You have no right to!"

"Your defiance has gone on long enough," He said, sheathing his lightsaber. "You will be coming with me."

"No, I don't think she is," Han called out. Both Vader and Leia turned at the sound of his voice, seeing the blaster was pointed at the man.

"Han. Don't." Leia begged. "It won't work."

Han ignored her, keeping his eyes trained on Vader. "Let her go."

"Han," Leia said, forcing him to look at her. Her voice had grown calm, no longer pleading with him. "You know what you have to do."

Han's fingers trembled; his blood had gone cold. "What?"

"You made a promise. You have to do it." Her eyes bored into his, never once leaving them. "Please, there is no other way."

Furrowing his brow to keep the gathering tears from spilling out, Han slowly moved the blaster towards Leia and fired.

But the shot never reached her. It remained frozen in mid-air to Han's surprise, illuminating the room in a blue glow. He glanced towards Leia for a possible answer when a sudden grip tightened around his throat. It was like a vice, seizing his neck and squeezing it. He clawed at the at his neck, coughing desperately as he struggled to breathe.

"Han!" Leia gasped, turning her concerned gaze from him to her father. "Release him! He means nothing to you."

"But I know he means something to you. I can sense your feelings for the Earthling." Vader flung the blaster shot into the wall behind Han, barely missing him by an inch.

Leia glared back; her eyes starting to glow again. "I said, release him. He is not a part of this!"

"His fate rests in your hands," He answered, clenching his fingers even tighter. "Either you return with me willingly or the Earthling dies."

She glanced at Han, seeing that his movements had slowed into a feeble pawing. He was barely moving at all now. His eyes were taking on a glassy stare while the skin around them started turning purple.

It did not take a second later for her to decide.

"I will go with you," She murmured, lowering her head.

Vader's hand dropped with a wave, throwing Han back into the wall. His body hit it with a rough thud before sliding down onto the carpet.

He was not moving.

"Han!!" Leia cried, her eyes burning with hot tears. She rushed forward, only for Vader to grab her wrist and pull her back.

"No! Let go of me, you monster!" She struggled against him as the Stormtroopers closed in around her.

From above the ground, Han's finger twitched. The screams were distant, barely even audible. But he heard them. From the black void he was trapped in, swimming to get out of, he heard Leia's desperate cries.

And then there was silence.

The void had engulfed him once more.