Star Wars Celebration

March 27th

Seattle WA

Applewood Apartments

Hughes Residence

Leah Hughes' fingers flew across her phone screen, her eyes wide with genuine excitement. "Oh my God," she yelled, "they just announced that Kristi Brantley will be there... Are you absolutely sure we can't go?"

Her husband Victor was sprawled on the couch, focused solely on just how badly the latest NCAA tournament upset was going to break his bracket. He didn't even need to look up to know what "there" meant.

Another Star Wars Celebration, this time conveniently (or inconveniently, in his opinion) located in Los Angeles. He'd endured the Chicago convention with Leah last year, and the memory still felt like a dull ache of boredom somewhere behind his eyes. Hours upon hours spent amidst a sea of cosplay enthusiasts, deciphering made up languages he couldn't pronounce, and feigning interest in discussions about hyperspace lanes.

March 27th

Seattle WA

Fisher Subdivision

Olsen Residence

Across town, in their own comfortably cluttered living room, Peter Olson leaned back on the sofa, idly flipping through channels. His wife, Allie, was in the kitchen, humming softly while she cooked yet another vegan meal for dinner, two habits that Peter secretly wished she'd lose.

His phone buzzed with a text from his best friend Victor.

"How did I ever end up with a Star Wars uber fan?" the message read. Peter chuckled. He'd received this text from Victor more than once. "She is begging me to go to Star Wars Celebration again. FML..."

Peter chuckled as he texted back. "How did I end up with a health nut? It's vegan tacos for dinner tonight. FML..."

Allie emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Everything alright?" she asked, noticing Peter's amusement. "Just Victor lamenting Leah's latest Star Wars related request," Peter replied.

"Is she trying to refinance their house to buy The Empire Strikes Back on Laserdisc?"

"No, she just wants to empty their savings account to go to Star Wars Celebration again."

"I see. I'm sure Vic's going to be super excited to talk more Star Wars when we visit tomorrow night," Allie said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Leah's passion for a galaxy far, far away was legendary, a defining characteristic that both endeared her and bewildered everyone who knew her.

Peter remembered overhearing Leah recounting her dating history to Allie prior to meeting Victor. It was a series of well-meaning but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to connect with fellow Star Wars nerds. Apparently, shared encyclopedic knowledge of the expanded universe didn't automatically translate to romantic chemistry.

"But unlike all those in the fandom, at least Victor never asked me to put on the slave Leia bikini," Leah had confided to Allie, a shudder running down her spine at the very thought. That was one awkward fan fantasy she was eternally grateful Victor almost certainly would never harbor.

March 28th

Seattle WA

Applewood Apartments

Hughes Residence

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Hughes' front door as Peter and Allie arrived. Leah greeted them with a forced smile, her eyes reflecting a sadness she couldn't quite mask. She let them inside. Victor, anxious in his favorite armchair, looked up with a weary sigh.

"Hey guys," Victor said, "Thanks for coming over."

"Everything alright?" Allie asked, her gaze lingering on Victor's before shifting to Leah.

Victor ran a hand through his hair. "It's this Star Wars Celebration thing. Leah's desperate to go, but..." He hesitated, glancing at Leah, dressed in her usual baggy hoodie and jeans.

"The budget's just not there for both of us this year. Convention tickets, travel, hotel - it's astronomical."

Leah's forced smile faltered. "It's not just the money, Victor," she interjected, her voice tight. "It's like you don't even want me to go. You never support my passions."

Victor sighed again, a hint of defensiveness entering his tone. "That's not fair, Leah. I just... it's not my thing. You know that. I went last year, remember? I spent the whole time feeling like an outsider."

Peter started to think up a believable excuse so he and Allie could leave.

Allie stepped in, a little too quickly, her voice bright and decisive. "Well, that's easily solved! Pete should go with you, Leah!"

Both Peter and Leah blinked in surprise. Allie continued, her tone almost dismissive of any objections. "Unlike me and Victor, Pete actually enjoys Star Wars. You two can share expenses, have a blast playing with laser swords or whatever... it's perfect!" A subtle smirk played on Allie's lips as she glanced at Victor.

Peter was caught off guard. His Lucasarts fandom was tepid at best, he grew up watching the movies as a kid, but hadn't even bothered with any of the latest offerings. Plus, the idea of a weekend in LA, alone with Leah, his best friend's wife was... complicated.

However, when he glanced at Leah; her eyes held a flicker of hope mixed with uncertainty. He found it impossible to say no to that look.

"I suppose I could go."

Leah's face transformed, her earlier gloom replaced by a radiant smile. She bounced on the balls of her feet, her energy returning in a rush. "Oh my god, that would be amazing! Pete, would you really do that for me?"

"Of course."

Leah excitedly began to scroll through hotel options on her phone. Victor, ever the pragmatist was already calculating the cost of the trip on his tablet.

"Seriously?" Leah exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. "Celebration must have driven the prices through the roof! Even the most basic hotel is charging three times its normal rate."

Victor looked up from his phone, a grimace on his face. "She's not wrong. These hotels know they have a captive audience." He tapped the screen. "We're looking at a small fortune for two rooms for the weekend."

Allie, looking over Victor's shoulder at the numbers, sighed. "Well, we definitely can't swing that." She glanced at Victor, then at Leah.

Leah was crushed. But Allie had another idea.

"Maybe you two could... share?" The suggestion hung in the air, a seemingly practical solution that nonetheless caused a subtle shift in the atmosphere.

"Share?" Leah repeated, a slight blush creeping up her neck. "I mean, if it's the only way..."

Peter, who had been quietly observing, jumped in. "Yeah, no big deal. We're adults, right Leah? As long as we get a room with separate beds, I'm still in."

Victor simply nodded in agreement. "Makes the most financial sense. She can go."

"Oh my God! Thank you!" Leah said, wrapping her arms around her husband.

April 23rd

Los Angeles CA

Omni Hotel

Room 1021

Leah and Peter's hotel room was on the tenth floor. Opening the door, they were both pleasantly surprised. Two queen-sized beds, separated by a nightstand, faced a large flat-screen TV. The décor was simple but clean, with a decent-sized window offering a view of the city below.

"This is... much nicer than I expected," Leah admitted, dropping her backpack onto one of the beds, claiming it. Their delayed flight had left her feeling drained.

Peter tossed his suitcase onto the other bed. "Yeah, definitely a step up from the last place Allie and I stayed at in Dallas." His memory flashing to the countless passive aggressive comments he got from his wife for his budget conscious booking.

A comfortable silence settled between them as they both took a moment to survey their shared space. Despite the separate beds, there was an undeniable intimacy in being in this room together with their spouses hundreds of miles away.

Leah sank onto the edge of her bed, kicking off her sneakers. She looked over at Peter, a genuine warmth in her eyes. "Seriously, Pete, thank you for coming. I know this isn't exactly your idea of a dream vacation."

Peter leaned against the window, his arms crossed. "Hey, someone had to make sure you didn't get abducted by a rogue Jawa." He winked, trying to keep the tone light and showing the uber fan that he possessed some amount of Star Wars knowledge.

The next hour was filled with silent phone scrolling, broken up with two brief, uneventful phone calls to their respective spouses.

"It's going to be an early night for me," Leah announced. "Big day tomorrow!"

"Sounds wise. I'm actually pretty beat too. We can head off to bed now, if you'd like."

"Yeah, that'd be great."

Peter headed to the bathroom first and changed into his sleep attire, which was simply swapping out his jeans for grey sweatpants.

When Leah returned from her turn in the bathroom, she was wearing modest pajamas that covered her skin, but did little to conceal her generous figure. The fabric stretched across her large breasts. The prominent peaks of her nipples, now free from her bra, clearly defined beneath. Her brunette hair was in a long braid that swung gently as she moved.

Peter, who was on his bed, looked up. The sight of her, relaxed, was striking.

After looking her up and down, Leah's eyes met his. Peter felt embarrassed, but Leah seemed unbothered, just giving him a soft smile.

A small wave of guilt washed over Peter. Allie trusted him, and he had no right to be checking out Leah.

"Goodnight, Peter," said Leah, as she turned off the light.

"Goodnight, Leah."

"Thanks again," she whispered into the darkness.

"No problem," he whispered back.

April 24th

Los Angeles CA

Omni Hotel

Room 1021

Sunlight sliced through the gap in the curtains, painting a stripe across the hotel floor as Peter awoke. He yawned. The bathroom light was on, but it was quiet; Leah must have already finished showering.

A moment later, the door swung open, and she emerged, a towel cinched around her body, another expertly twisted in her damp hair.

She nervously smiled at Pete. "Sorry! I figured you'd still be asleep," she said, excusing her appearance. "I'm glad you're awake though, we have a busy day. You should start getting ready!"

Leah was already bubbling with excitement, perhaps a little too much as the white towel providing her modesty slipped when she reached for her backpack. The end result was that she was suddenly flashing her naked breasts to her husband's best friend.

Peter's eyes went wide. Leah had larger globes than he expected, the skin was porcelain smooth, leading to big areolas of the palest pink. They were absolutely magnificent, so different from Allie's average (at best) sized breasts on her more athletic frame.

Leah quickly adjusted the towel, covering herself back up. As she turned to check if Peter had caught a glimpse, he looked away, pretending he had his eyes on his phone the whole time. It didn't work.

"I wasn't quick enough, was I?"

Peter smiled. "No, I'm afraid not. No big deal though. Believe it or not, I have seen boobs before."

"Please don't tell Victor..." she dropped her head in embarrassment, but with a wry smirk. "...or Allie."

"Hey, as far as I'm concerned, this hotel room is like Vegas. What happens in room 1021 stays in 1021," he announced, trying his best to joke past the awkwardness.

"Fair enough," she said, her voice carrying a hint of relief. "Well, you better get moving. We've got a whole galaxy waiting for us out there." She gestured towards the door, her eyes twinkling.

"Right," he said, his voice a little rough. "Celebration awaits!" He grabbed his toiletries bag and headed towards the bathroom.

After his shower, Peter got dressed and then stepped out of the bathroom. Leah was standing at the full length mirror, applying the finishing touches to her makeup. Peter was shocked, Leah was dressed far differently from her typical look.

Instead of her usual frumpy, comfortable clothes, she transformed herself into the perfect blend of nerdy chic and overt sensuality.

The skimpy black spaghetti-strap top she was wearing was a size too small. It strained to contain her generous breasts. The yellow Star Wars logo stretched and distorted across their curves.

Her khaki shorts clung tightly to her backside, short enough that her ass cleavage hung out of them. A pair of black sexy Darth Vader knee high socks covered her shins and knees, ending at her lower thighs.

The look was completed with her glasses. Thick, black-framed, and undeniably nerdy, they perched on her nose, a stark but perfect contrast to the revealing outfit.

It was a combination that sent a fresh wave of guilty lust crashing over Peter.

"Ready to conquer the galaxy?" she asked, her voice playful.

"Yeah," he managed.

While he more than appreciated her sexy look, he felt some unease about all the male eyes she might attract.

"Leah," he began, trying to keep his tone neutral. "About the way you're dressed... are you sure you're going to be comfortable with all the... attention?"

Leah turned, a bright smile on her face. "Absolutely! I love dressing up for these conventions. It's part of the fun, getting into character, even if my character is 'hot Star Wars fan with questionable judgment in tops'." She chuckled.

"But what about guys hitting on you?" Peter pressed. "Isn't that going to be annoying?" Leah waved a dismissive hand, her wedding ring glinting. "Oh, that's where you come in, my dear Peter." She winked. "My brilliant plan is to simply introduce you as my husband."

Peter blinked, surprised. "Me? Your husband?"

"Exactly!" she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We both have rings on. It's the perfect deterrent. An instant 'not available' signal. This worked perfectly last year with Victor."

She stepped closer, looping her arm through his. "Think of it as our little role-playing game for the weekend. You get to be the possessive husband warding off unwanted advances, and I get to enjoy the wandering eyes without any actual hassle."

Peter still felt a little awkward about the idea, but he had to admit, there was a certain logic to her plan. And the thought of playing her husband, even in jest, stirred an excitement within him.

April 24th

Los Angeles Convention Center

Star Wars Celebration

The convention floor was a whirlwind of sights, sounds, and energy. Peter, initially overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the event, found himself drawn into Leah's infectious joy. He watched her animatedly discuss obscure Star Wars lore with fellow fans, her passion igniting a spark within him.

He'd always known Leah was a fan, but he'd never witnessed this level of pure, unadulterated excitement from her. There was a captivating woman hidden beneath the familiar facade of his friend's wife.

Leah moved through the crowd with confidence, a seasoned vet, seemingly unfazed by the admiring glances she received. And true to her word, whenever a fan got a little too bold with his advances, she would casually loop her arm through Peter's and introduce him as her husband.

Each time she did this, Peter felt a strange surge of pride and a small, unexpected thrill. A thrill he immediately tamped down with a wave of shame. It was just a game, a practical solution.

Despite his best attempts, he caught himself stealing glances at her cleavage and her ass throughout the day. And when he wasn't looking at her body, his mind replayed the image of her naked breasts from that morning.

Around noon, Leah stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes widening behind her thick-rimmed glasses. "Oh my god," she breathed, her voice filled with awe. "It's her."

There was an unassuming woman sitting at a table signing autographs. She was surrounded by a small crowd of eager, female fans.

"Who is it?" Peter asked, curious.

Leah practically vibrated with excitement. "Kristi Brantley! She writes the most amazing Reylo fanfic."

Peter blinked, slightly bewildered. "Rey and... Kylo Ren? I thought you said the Disney era sucked?"

Leah rolled her eyes playfully. "It does, but the exploration of Reylo's complicated relationship is the best thing that came out of those regrettable disappointments. In the right hands, their connection can be... intense."

She practically dragged Peter over to the table, her excitement bubbling over. Kristi Brantley was younger than Peter had expected, with a warm smile and a surprisingly unassuming demeanor. But the intensity in her eyes when she talked about the characters was undeniable.

Leah practically bounced as she purchased a signed copy of Kristi's latest work. She was more than a little starstruck, and gushed to Kristi about being a long-time fan.

"No one writes Reylo like you, Kristi. It's so hot. Like, burn-the-pages hot."

Kristi just nodded and said "Thank you." Based on the fact that Peter had heard the previous two women ahead of Leah in line tell Kristi essentially the same thing, Peter guessed it was at least the hundredth time Kristi had been told that today.

After Leah's enthusiastic encounter with Kristi Brantley, her signed book clutched possessively in her hand, they wandered into a slightly less crowded area of the convention floor.

Peter's eyes lit up as he spotted a small collection of vintage Star Wars arcade games tucked away in a corner. There, amidst the flashing lights and various explosion sounds, stood the iconic Atari Star Wars cockpit game, circa 1983. It's iconic Darth Vader exterior and vector graphics instantly transporting him back to his childhood.

"Oh man," Peter breathed, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "I haven't seen one of these in ages! My dad loves this game, he got me hooked... I have to play it!"

Leah, still buzzing from her author encounter, watched with amusement as Peter practically bee-lined for the machine. He slid onto the low seat, his hands gripping the familiar flight yoke controller. The whine of the X-wing engines filled the air as the game flickered to life.

Pew-pew sounds erupted from the speakers as he fired his proton torpedoes, occasionally letting out a frustrated groan when he was shot down by a TIE fighter.

Leah leaned against the side of the machine, watching him with a fond smile. He was so focused, so completely absorbed in the game. This was a side of Peter she rarely saw, a nostalgic enthusiasm that was surprisingly endearing.

"You know," she teased after he crashed his X-wing for the third time in as many minutes, "for someone who claims to not be a huge Star Wars fan, you're certainly committed to blowing up that Death Star."

Peter laughed, not taking his eyes off the screen. "Hey, it's harder than it looks!" He grimaced as another TIE fighter locked onto his tail. "Okay, one more try. I almost had it that time."

Leah chuckled, shaking her head. "You're terrible at this," she said affectionately. "But you're having so much fun, you're actually kind of cute." She leaned closer, resting her hand briefly on his shoulder.

Although the TIE fighter shot him down again, Peter smiled. 'Leah thinks I am cute.'

Later that afternoon, they were about ready to head back to the hotel, when they found a small vendor selling unique Star Wars-themed apparel.

For Leah, it was an absolute treasure trove. First, she found an oversized vintage Star Wars shirt from the 80s. "This will make the perfect nightshirt! I was so hot last night in those frumpy pajamas."

Then, Leah's eyes lit up when she spotted a display of underwear. A collection of cute, white cotton panties, each adorned with a different Star Wars character or phrase.

She picked up a pair with R2-D2 printed on the front and the phrase "Beep Boop Boop" across the rear. They were almost childlike (although clearly intended for adults). Peter thought they were kind of sexy and utterly unlike anything he could ever imagine Allie wearing.

"Oh, I have to get these!" Leah exclaimed, holding them up with a giggle.

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Really? For Victor?"

Leah's smile faltered slightly. "Actually... no." She hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly. "Victor... he's not really into the whole Star Wars thing in the bedroom. I've tried to incorporate it, you know, as a bit of fun, but he just... rolls his eyes."