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[She sighs and gives him an exasperated stare at that response. Because hitting people that aren't imperials isn't going to solve your problems, Han. Especially not when you already have an arrest record here.]

Why does it bother you so much? I told you before, you have nothing to worry about.

[You're stuck with her, sorry Han. There's no renegotiating that.]

It ain't like I expected you to tell him yes or anything, sheesh.

[he looks offended at the notion, which is particularly ironic considering his stance the last time they talked about other dudes being into leia.]

He just shouldn't be buggin' you in the first place. I mean, askin' where everybody can hear, that's pretty...presumptuous.

[he hesitates before the last word, like he was going to say something else but changed his mind at the last second.]

[Her eyebrows go up at Han's response. On one hand, yes, it's awkward that Larry did that in front of the entire population, in a way. But on the other hand, it's not her that's really embarrassed by it. And it's indeed a big shift from the last time Han felt threatened by another man.]

Presumptuous, maybe. But if anything, it's more embarrassing for him to broadcast that to the entire population.

Yeah, yeah, he's an embarrassment.

[he mutters it grumpily as he puts his arm around leia and leans into her, you know, casual-like. she invited him to the couch so this is just a natural conclusion. natural and casual.]

With his stupid drawings. I could draw if I wanted to.

[Uh huh. Totally natural and casual. Not that she's going to stop him from leaning into her, because she truly doesn't mind it. And if cuddling can eventually get him to open up on what's bothering him, even better.]

I'm sure. Is that what's actually bothering you?

I could!

[ooh, that was nearly a whine. it was definitely a little higher-pitched than he probably intended it to be.]

And, what, I can't be bothered by some kind of wannabe artist hitting on you?

[despite his grumblings, he has only settled further into his new position, so he's not very likely to move even if she continues to nag him.]

[That was a much whinier response than she expected, and it causes Leia to raise her eyebrows in response.]

That's not what I'm saying.

[Because she would be just as bothered if their positions were reversed, probably, as much as she wouldn't admit to that.]

We were trying to be more open with each other, weren't we?

Yeah...

[he admits it grudgingly, before abruptly (though not really,) changing the subject. he even sounds a little guarded about it.]

Ben told your artist pal we're married.

[She's noticeably surprised by that. Not because of Ben saying her and Han are married, more because of Ben actually talking to someone about his family in the first place. It's not something she would've expected out of him, and it's something worth thinking on later. For now, it's what's bothering Han that's more important.]

And that bothers you?

No!

[he says, quick and annoyed. if anything he was pleased, that ben's gone from not wanting anyone to know they were related to admitting it to total strangers.]

I mean, unless it bothers you, then...

[She shakes her head, smiling. Because it doesn't bother her at all, she's perfectly fine with Han being referred to as her husband, even if the both of them had agreed to consider themselves engaged.]

It doesn't. Neither part of that bothers me.

[The husband thing, or Ben telling other people she and Han are married.]

Oh.

[and there it is, the gentle realization. maybe he's been more nervous about the nature of their relationship this whole time than he's been letting on.]

Uh, good. [he shifts around until he's half-lying on the couch, so he can semi-comfortably put his head on her shoulder. it puts the arm that's around her at a slightly awkward angle, but whatever. he'll live with it.] Nice change for Ben, huh? I've been givin' him some space since...y'know. Maybe it's helping.

[She shifts a bit, as well, to make it more comfortable for the both of them. One of her arms snakes around him, partially to be closer with him and partially because it's more comfortable that way, too.]

I think it might be.

[Not that she likes this distance from Ben, but if it helps him acknowledge his family, maybe it's not that bad.]

But, what do you mean "Oh."?

Like, "oh, okay"?

[he's not sure why she's dwelling on that. he was so clear, after all!!]

You sounded hesitant.

[Because even though he had brought it up and had said it didn't bother him that Ben referred to them as being married, she wasn't entirely sure if her easy acceptance of that worried him. After all, he wasn't exactly known for jumping headlong into long-term commitments.]

I wasn't, I just, wanted to make sure you were okay with that. The being married thing.

[since they had agreed to be engaged and all. not that he's stumbling over the issue or anything.]

Of course I am. That we're married in the future is one of the few things I don't want to change.

[Because marriage is something she never really gave much thought to thanks to the rebellion. She had other priorities and was fine with not even bothering, until all this with Han happened. Now, it just seems natural to her, and it makes her happy to think about it.]

Okay, great.

[HAN COULD YOU BE ANY MORE AWKWARD ABOUT THIS.]

You know, we're...we're pretty much married now, right? [he picks up a little bit of speed in his speech, like he's trying to get through the whole list before she can stop him.] We got a house together, and we both got jobs, and we sleep in the same bed, and we got a kid to argue with. That's married, right?

It is.

[Because there's no denying that their life here is much closer to "married" than just dating or engaged, especially with the issues they knew existed in the future and were trying to work through now. Focusing on strengthening their relationship, along with living together and having a kid and all the rest of that, certainly seemed more like married, and it gives Leia somewhat of an idea where he might be going with this.]

Do you want me to refer to you as my husband?

[for some reason, he had expected her to object to this. maybe because there hasn't been a ring or a ceremony or anything like that involved.]

If you want to?

[and as a result, he feels a little off-balance about it. there was no argument where he expected one, what should he do?]

And you'll always be my old lady but it'd be nice to be able to call you my wife, too.

[She smiles brightly, the rest of their surroundings growing more vibrant and colorful as she does so. A ring and a ceremony would be nice, but even with that, she wouldn't want a particularly large ceremony. Only something small, only with people they both care about there. Anything larger than that would remind her too much of what she lost and would never be able to have. Because surely if Alderaan were still around, they would've had no choice to have anything but the most extravagant wedding ceremony.]

I'd like that. I think it's easier to explain than "future husband," as well.

[he actually flushes at how pleased she seems to be--the emotional effects around here make it easier to read other people's emotions, so of course right as his grin widens a familiar, loud sound is heard from the kitchen. yep, the stovepipe. yep, again. han groans, burying his face in leia's neck so he doesn't have to see her reaction to that. no doubt it'll be embarrassing.]

Okay, so, wives aren't supposed to laugh at their husbands, remember that.

[Oh, it's embarrassing alright. Her initial surprise at the loud bang coming from the kitchen fades and Leia laughs, a genuine happy laugh, glad to see Han is as pleased about this as she is. Her other arm comes around to hold him closer to her as he buries his face in her neck.]

I don't think that's a rule anyone follows, Hotshot.

[he grumbles a bit before pressing a kiss to her neck and giving up on the hiding part. glancing up at her, he can't quite hide his smile, even if he is complaining.]

Laugh it up, Princess, laugh it up. You just be grateful you just gotta deal with stuff glowing, alright?

[Her laughter eventually dies down, but her eyes are still brimming with amusement as he lifts his head to look up at her.]

Hopefully the stove isn't actually broken.

[But really, at least this time, she doesn't mind it. Since there's no way he could've played that off as anything other than his own genuine happiness about their new arrangement. And even with as good as she's gotten at reading him, the emotional effects help confirm she's right.]

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