Archive of Our Own

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"I believe any dream that I want to
That ain't the only way of keeping hope alive
And if by chance I give birth to my visions
Life is so fantastic it will come as no surprise
'Cause every day is adventures in paradise
Woven well through the fabrics of time"
— Minnie Riperton 
Year — 37 ABY
Embassy Row was one of the finest areas in Hanna City, the capital of Chandrila, and there were many amazing residential complexes where most, if not all, senators and ambassadors from other worlds lived while the Republic Senate was in session. World leaders were frequent guests at any number of these abodes, at any given time during the occasional party, where galactic policies were discussed and political favors were cashed in alongside fine wines and canapés. All these lofty apartments and grand estates were less homes to be lived in and more often a revolving door for the Who's Who of the Republic. Whether it was the Old Republic, the Empire, the New Republic or just this renewed Republic, politics always remained the same. It was always who you knew and how much money or influence you had.One such apartment on Embassy Row had belonged to Leia Organa Solo and her husband Han Solo. It was where they'd lived when their son, Ben, was born and while the New Republic Senate took place on Chandrila. Even after the location of the Senate moved to a new world several years later, Leia had always kept the apartment, though it eventually sat empty for a great, long while. Once in a blue moon, she would return to it, if she had to go to Chandrila for any reason, but she usually ended up taking residence either on the Millennium Falcon, whatever new apartment she'd purchased on the next planet housing the Senate, and sometimes Sera's villa on Naboo had been one of the lovelier way stations.Leia, Han and Ben were gone now.But the apartment still remained, and ownership of it had passed to Leia's niece, Crisara Dameron, formerly Kenobi.It was a lovely apartment, but Crisara didn't necessarily need it. Though, she was fortunate to have it at the moment. She didn't have to worry about booking a suite in a hotel while she and Poe would be in Hanna City for a few days. It had only been two months since her vision had come to pass and not much had changed in such little time, except for two recent developments that had given Crisara and Poe cause to leave Naboo for a short while.The lesser thing was a potential student had been put on Crisara's radar by Chewbacca. There was a seven-year-old Wookiee female from Rwookrrorro, the inland tree city where Chewbacca had been born and raised, and where he maintained his own home with his wife and son, when not gallivanting around the galaxy. Because of his connection to those strong in the Force, like Luke, Leia, Crisara and Ben, the elders in his community had approached when this girl in question began to display uncanny abilities that she was having trouble controlling. The community was aware of who Crisara was, and the school she'd been developing, and even though they understood it could be a perfect fit for the girl, they had concerns, because she wasn't an orphan like the others under Crisara's care and tutelage. She had parents, siblings and an extended family that didn't necessarily want to let her go. They needed a little bit of convincing, so Chewbacca asked Crisara to come, whenever she was able, since he knew she was due to give birth very soon. It didn't have to be right away. She could wait until after the birth, but Crisara found it difficult to just wait around.Why put off tomorrow what she could do today?So, the trip had been planned, and Poe would take her there. Being so close to her due date, he wasn't about to let her out of his sight anytime soon. But, then the greater of the two new developments sprung up at the last possible moment.They had been aware that the trial of Armitage Hux had begun, taking place in the High Court of Hanna City. The trial was nearing its end and the Prosecution had reached out to Crisara, to speak out as someone who had lost loved ones to the Hosnian Cataclysm, as well as someone who had fought against Hux, more or less, during the war. She would be the Prosecution's final witness and they felt strongly that her presence would give them a resounding victory. Of course, the general consensus was that Hux would be found guilty of most, if not all, charges brought against him. However, both the Prosecution and the Defense knew that whatever Crisara said could sway judgment over his sentencing. He would likely either be sentenced to death or life in prison with no chance of parole.Poe didn't want her to go, initially. He worried it might make her upset to speak at the trial and rehash her loss yet again. But Crisara was adamant. She insisted she needed to be there, to put that part of her life to bed or else she'd never get over it. In the book of her life, she needed to turn the page and start the next chapter already. So, Poe conceded. He knew all too well that when her mind was made up, there wasn't much changing it. She was stubborn and she was resilient; just a few qualities he loved about her.The trial was more pressing, so to Chandrila they went first. They arrived to Hanna City aboard the Millennium Falcon and had brought both C-3PO and BB-8 with them. Rey was due to return to Naboo in the next few days, after having been away for the last five months; traveling the galaxy to search out old Jedi temples and research more about the ways of the Force, much in the way Luke had done thirty-odd years earlier before he finally set up his Jedi Temple on Ossus. If she managed to return to Naboo before Poe and Crisara, then Crisara felt even more comfortable being away a little longer than usual. It meant Caro, Tem and the rest of the padawans would be safe in both Finn's and Rey's hands.When Poe and Crisara arrived to Leia's old apartment on Embassy Row, they woke up the cleaning droids to rid the place of dust. Furniture had been covered in sheets, so the sheets were gathered up and stored away for the time being. They then looked around, getting a sense of the layout; denoting the place was spacious, with two living rooms, a kitchen, large dining room capable of hosting banquets and dinner parties, a den which likely worked as Leia's home office once upon a time, and three large bedrooms, all with their own bathroom. There was also a fourth bathroom, with only a toilet and a sink, for guests that weren't staying the night could use. Once they settled in for the evening, Poe sent out for takeaway; their dinner arriving within the hour from a nearby restaurant.The food was warm, delicious and filling, and they enjoyed every last bit of it. Afterward, they sat together on the sofa, watching the sun setting outside the floor-to-ceiling paned windows while a fire roared away in the crisp, white hearth. In fact, everything about the apartment was very crisp and white, as was the typical design style in Chandrila; for the wealthy, anyway. The floors, walls and ceilings were white, with minor gold accents here and there. The living spaces were separated by white, latticed panels, and there were several empty vases that more than likely were meant for brandishing potted plants or flowers. Since the apartment had sat empty for so long, any plants would've either withered and died or been removed. Despite the starkness of it all, which was in such sharp contrast to what they were used to back home, it still felt somewhat homey to Poe and Crisara. It gave them a reason to consider keeping the place after this jaunt, as Crisara had considered selling it."Maybe one of the kids will want it someday," had been one of her thoughts, in favor of not selling. "Maybe we hold onto it until they're grown, and pass it to one of them when the time comes."That night, they went to bed in the larger of the three bedrooms and immediately missed their own bed at home. Nothing could compare to that bed. At least they were comfortable, even though their minds kept them from getting a proper night's sleep. They couldn't help thinking about the next day, and the trial, and having to face Hux again. But, hopefully, it would be for the last time.The next morning, they got up, showered and dressed, but couldn't manage to eat anything. Their innards were twisting with anxiousness. Crisara was able to channel it away from her, though, through mediation. Poe didn't have that luxury. He couldn't meditate like she could and let the Force give him a sense of peace. So, Crisara — sensing his anxiety — spread her calm to him, like she'd been able a few times during the war. He'd smiled, thanked her and let out a sigh of relief. It had been like he was standing in a sweltering desert and she'd just tossed a bucket of cold water on him. The feeling might not last too long, but it did the trick for the time being.When they arrived to the High Court building, it was a media circus. All the talking heads were there to cover the trial, but were disallowed from entering inside due to the high profile nature of trial. Poe and Crisara had dodged reporters by being ushered into a secure, back entrance and were then ushered into a room where the Prosecution counsel greeted them both and began to coach Crisara on things that may be asked of her, and then they advised her on how she might want to answer, but Crisara informed them that she already knew what she wanted to say once she saw Hux.When court was officially in session, and the trial was continuing inside the courtroom, Crisara and Poe had remained outside until she was needed. When the doors opened, and she was beckoned forward, Crisara took a steadying breath and looked at Poe."You got this," he insisted, taking her hand in his and lifting it to his lips to kiss her knuckles. "I'll be in the gallery. Just look at me if you need to; if you feel out of sorts.""I will," she assured with an appreciative nod.Side by side they initially walked into the courtroom. Many heads turned to see, but the couple kept their eyes forward. Poe squeezed her hand once before moving to take a seat in one of the rows behind the Prosecution's desk, and then Crisara continued forward with a court officer who led her up toward witness box. There, she was able to sit down upon a stool and finally have a proper view of the entire courtroom.At her right, seated higher up was the Judge. Straight ahead was the Prosecution counsel, representing the Republic. To her immediate left was the jury box, with thirteen jurors of varying species, genders and ages. To the right, across the aisle from the Prosecution, was the counsel for the defense, which was a small team of three litigators, comparing and contrasting notes. But there, directly across the room from the jurors, forced to stand while handcuffed in a blast-proof glass box, was Armitage Hux.Crisara's eyes drifted immediately toward him and noted how terrible he looked. He looked paler than normal. He had a patchy beard growing in, but his hair was immaculately slicked back as usual. There were dark circles around his eyes, alluding to prominent and ongoing exhaustion. He looked gaunt, as if he barely ate, or he'd been malnourished during his incarceration while awaiting trial. He also looked despondent; as if he was hoping for a death penalty just so he could finally get some rest or know peace.Something twisted in Crisara's stomach, and it wasn't her twins.The lead litigator for the Prosecution stood up and gestured to Crisara; snapping out of her own daydream. "I would like to present our final witness to the Court. Jedi Master, and former Resistance General, Crisara Dameron."Out the corner of her eye, Crisara noticed Hux lifting his head and peering in her direction. He seemed genuinely surprised that she was there; as if he had somehow not been made aware who this final witness would be. She could feel him dying a bit inside; knowing her testimony would be the nail in his proverbial coffin before he received a literal coffin."Master Dameron — may I call you Master Dameron?"Crisara shrugged, then nodded. "It is my formal title and name. So, yes, you may.""At the official start of the war against the First Order, you lost a great deal. Would you tell the Court what — or rather, who — it was that you lost? And be as specific as you can, please."Crisara swallowed a lump in her throat, but channeled the Force to be with her in this moment; to offer her peace and calm. "I lost my daughter, Adera Canda. She was only six-years-old. She was with her father at the time, my ex-husband Alfic Canda, who was an advisor on Chancellor Villecham's staff. He perished alongside our daughter, his pregnant wife Isabara Dowbas-Canda, and my former in-laws. With the exception of our son, Caro, my entire former family was wiped from existence. No more Candas exist anymore except for Caro. But I didn't just lose my daughter. My son lost an entire side of his family in the blink of his eye. He lost his big sister. They'll never grow up together. He lost his father and will never know him. Because he was only four at the time, eventually, he may forget them entirely.""Can you describe what that loss has felt like?""How does any loss feel? It was like a sharp, rusty dagger through my heart, twisting over and over, without end." Tears began to brim her eyes, but she blinked them away. She didn't want to give Hux the pleasure of seeing her cry. Though, she supposed, if she let herself openly grieve again, it could work in swaying the jury against him, if they weren't already. "It's been three years since I lost my daughter, and some days it feels like it was three minutes ago. That pain will never go away. It will always be there; in my heart, in my mind, in the depths of my soul. I only take comfort in knowing my daughter's death was quick and that she wouldn't have felt any pain. And I believe she is at peace. But, that doesn't change the fact that I can't hold my little girl in my arms anymore. That I can't see her grow up.""Do you know who was responsible for the death of your daughter and approximately one hundred and fifty billion other lives?" the lead prosecuting litigator questioned; their eyes flitting briefly in Hux's direction."Yes.""Do you believe they are in this courtroom?"Crisara sighed. For a moment, she looked beyond the Prosecution to Poe behind them in the gallery. He offered a supportive smile and a nod; wordlessly telling her that he was there for her and that she was strong enough to speak her piece. "No," she finally replied, much to some great surprise among both the Defense and Prosecution counsels, the jury and the gallery."I'm sorry," the lead prosecuting litigator muttered; a bit dumbfounded and trying to backpedal. "If you don't believe the person responsible is in this room, who do you believe is responsible?""The 'who' that gave the order to destroy the Hosnian System was Supreme Leader Snoke of the First Order. The accused, Armitage Hux," Crisara continued, lifting a hand to gesture toward him, "only carried out that order, as was his duty as a General in the First Order." She looked forward, maintaining her gaze upon the litigator, who seemed displeased with her answer, but was managing to keep it cool. "If he hadn't carried out the order, someone else would've. The Hosnian Cataclysm was going to happen either way. But he still carried it out. He chose to obey those orders. He chose to facilitate the murder of over one hundred and fifty billion lives, including my daughter," she amended. "He carried out many atrocities during the war, and even after the war, all of which I'm sure have already been laid here before the Court. He is not innocent by any means."The lead prosecuting litigator appeared gratefully relieved to have Crisara's testimony back on track. "In your opinion, what sort of punishment befits the accused's many crimes?""In all honestly, I've wished him dead since I realized who he was and what he was responsible for. But thinking that way has only created a dark spot on my soul." For a moment, she glanced back toward Poe, but then she shifted her gaze directly at Hux, who was avoiding her eye contact. "You took part of my soul. You took my firstborn, my precious little girl from me. You took everything from so many people. Even after the First Order lost, after you came out of hiding, you made a choice to give orders to take more lives from people. All for what? Power? Power corrupts." Crisara furrowed her brow and shook her head slightly. "But your death won't bring any of those people back. I believe you should live with what you've done. I believe you should be reminded, day after day, of your crimes. Your atrocities. You should be locked away, never to know the warmth of a sun or another living being ever again. I don't want your life taken from you. I want your freedom taken from you — your peace of mind. I want you truly repentant, and every day you're given spent in finding ways to make amends to the Republic and the galaxy as a whole. I want you locked up, yes, but also productive. I want you to find a way, in your solitude, to somehow give back when all you've done was take." When Crisara looked away from him, she glanced over at the jury. "Giving him a death sentence would make him a martyr in the eyes of any of those that still remain loyal to the First Order and their beliefs. Let him live and let his name be forgotten to history. Let him live with his guilt and only wish he were dead."Crisara's shoulders slumped as she placed one hand under her stomach and the other against the small of her back. She inhaled a quiet, calming breath and returned her focus forward; toward the Prosecution, toward Poe.When it was evident she had said her piece, the Judge cleared their throat and looked toward the Defense counsel. "Would the Defense like to question the witness?"The lead defending litigator stood up, then shook their head. "No, your Honor."Crisara could see it in their minds. They were happy with the outcome of what she'd said. They knew their client — Hux — was guilty and would be found as such. The best option they could hope for was in his sentencing; to see him receive life in prison instead of death.The Judge glanced over to the Prosecution. "Have you anything else you would like to ask your witness?"The lead prosecuting litigator shook their head. "The Prosecution rests, your Honor."Looking down at Crisara, the Judge gestured to her. "You may step down. The Court thanks you for your testimony and offers its condolences for your loss."Nodding appreciatively, Crisara slowly stood up and began to sway as she stepped down out of the witness box. When the court officer led her back through to the gallery, she watched as Poe stood up to join her. She knew they had the option to remain. However, there was no more testimony to be given on either side. The jury would be sent away to deliberate on Hux's guilt or innocence, which could take either minutes, hours or days. Though, the latter was very unlikely. There would only be waiting around for the jury to come back with a decision and then it would be up to the Judge to pass the sentence.Crisara didn't want to be there for it. The moment she and Poe walked out of the courtroom, she wanted to wash her hands of all this."You were amazing," he whispered; slipping his hand into hers once more as he walked side by side with her out of the courtroom. "But I was surprised by your plea for a lesser sentence."Once they were free of the courtroom, she waddled over to a bench and sat down, and Poe followed; sitting beside her. "I don't think it's a lesser sentence," she countered, gesturing toward the closed courtroom doors. "Did you see him in there? He looked like death warmed over. He looked like death would be a welcomed kindness; a quick way out to not have to answer for his crimes. He could have another fifty years in him. And he should spend those next fifty years in a small, windowless cell; possibly going mad. Wishing to die and never being allowed until death arrives naturally. When he apologized to me, back in that underground cell on Canto Bight, I didn't believe he truly meant it. He only said it because he was terrified of what I could do to him. I want him to be actually sorry. I want to visit him, fifty years from now, and feel his honest to goodness remorse.""And in that moment, kill him?" Poe teased.Despite the severity of the topic, Crisara smirked. "Maybe." Then, more thoughtful, she added, "Or maybe I'll walk away and be able to finally forgive him. At this point in time, I can't. I'd like to, so it's not some blight on my heart and soul any longer."With a smile, Poe studied her profile; completely in awe of her. "I hope that day comes for you. I hope you can find some peace in whatever happens or doesn't happen to him." Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her against his and then kissed the top of her head. "'Cause you, my wife, are beyond amazing and deserve only amazing things."Placing her hands against the underside of her stomach, Crisara closed her eyes for a moment and took comfort in his embrace. She tried looking ahead, on the days to come, and not on what the outcome of this trial would be. If he was sentenced to death, then so be it. She'd offered her opinion, but it wasn't for her to decide.  That evening, Crisara sat at the dining table in the apartment, picking at the food on her plate and moving it around aimlessly while lost in a daydream. Poe, seated across from her, was shoveling his food into his mouth with the fork in his right hand while engrossed with the datapad in his left hand. It was relatively quiet, aside from the clinking and subtle scraping of their utensils upon their plates, but it was a pleasant quiet.Poe frowned after a moment; setting the datapad down and swiping at something that popped up on the screen. Biting down on the tines of his fork to free up his right hand, he began tapping away at a virtual keyboard the popped up and then pressed at a button so the screen could change back to the newsfeed he'd been perusing. Removing his fork from his mouth, he shifted his gaze to his plate and stabbed at a glazed vegetable, while lifting his gaze over toward Crisara and noticed her almost trance-like appearance."You okay?" he asked, before continuing to take a bite of his food.Crisara blinked and found her attention slowly drifting over toward her husband. When his face came into focus, she smiled softly. "Just lost in thoughts.""The trial?" He gestured toward the datapad with his fork. "I'm still checking for any updates. Jury is still deliberating apparently. No idea why it's taking so long." He huffed out a frustrated breath as his brown eyes wandered back down to the screen. "Any longer and they're likely call it a night and resume with deliberation tomorrow. But something like this; jurors will be sequestered so no one can get to them and influence their decision…""No," she replied with a shake of her head. "I'm not thinking about the trial. Just regular life stuff."Not entirely convinced by her response, Poe's gaze narrowed; shifting downward to her plate. "You haven't touched your food. Actually, you haven't really eaten much of anything lately." His features softened. "Are you sure you're okay, babe?"A small chuckle escaped her lips. "I'm bursting at the seams here," she jested, leaning back and gesturing to her stomach with her free hand. "There's barely any room left in here for the twins, let alone food.""Well, you can't not eat. It isn't good for your or them.""I do eat. I'm not developing some sort of condition. I just nibble here and there. Trust me — they're fine, and so am I." She sighed, setting her fork down and deciding to just push her plate out of the way. "I was the same way when I was pregnant with Adera and Caro. At the end of each pregnancy, I didn't have much of an appetite."Poe was unconvinced by this response, too, but he wasn't about to force food down her throat because he had doubts about her lack of appetite. And he also didn't want to create some sort of unnecessary argument between them, so he decided to just change the subject. "Chancellor Casterfo invited us to a party tomorrow evening," he remarked, leaning forward against the edge of the table with his forearms. Noting her immediate aloofness, he quickly added, "But I declined.""Thank you."He grinned. "I sent him our regards and appreciation for the invite, but told him we had other matters to attend to, and with your due date — honestly — overdue, it just wasn't the right time for either of us to be partying.""I'm not overdue."Poe raised an eyebrow at her. "I've read up on pregnancies regarding twins. Birth of multiples in human women barely makes it to nine months. We're at nine months now."Tipping her head forward, she shot him a withering look. "With how frequent we were rutting around, we don't know when exactly I conceived."Despite the justified modicum of concern he had for her, the memories of all those countless, intimate moments flooded his mind and brought a smile to his face which, in turn, made him feel playful. "If you get any bigger I'll need get sturdier shocks for the Falcon's landing gear."Her mouth dropped open in mock offense, but she knew he was only teasing and not trying to insult her. Picking up a piece of the steak off her plate, Crisara chose to chuck it at his head in some sort of equally playful retaliation. "Ass."Poe dodged the meat, which flew over his shoulder and landed to the floor. He chuckled through his teeth as he grinned again. "I concede," he muttered; throwing his hands up as if in surrender, and just in case she threw her fork at him next. He continued to look playfully at her as he decided to change the subject again. "Well, if you're not hungry, I read about other things that could help bring a due date closer."Watching the way he wiggled his eyebrows at her, Crisara rolled her eyes. "Yeah, no. I'm too tired. And I'm achy."His smile faded and his concern returned. "See, you say stuff like that and it makes me worry and think you're not really okay.""But I am," she insisted. "It's only an ache, nothing more. It's not labor pains and I don't want to induce them. We still have to go to Kashyyyk. This is just ," she waved at her stomach, "typical end of pregnancy stuff. Loss of appetite, aches and pains, heartburn, swollen feet and ankles, sore breasts…""I'm certain I could help with the latter," he commented without missing a beat."I'm sure you could."As they stared at each other from across the table, Poe's impish expression switched back to seriousness. "We should really wait until after the babies are born to go to Kashyyyk. That girl isn't going anywhere.""She brought down a two ton tree and destroyed a landing pad because she got angry, because she doesn't know how to control what she can do. Another outburst could end up destroying someone's home, hurting someone or worse. If I can meet her, and assess her situation firsthand, and convince her parents to bring her back with us so I can train her: the sooner, the better.""Then why not have Chewie bring her to us?""Because I still have to meet her parents.""So, then," Poe fumbled, "he can bring her parents, too. And then they can see the school for themselves and where their daughter will be with their own eyes. They can see the other kids and how well everything is."Crisara sighed and sat back in her chair, which was getting more uncomfortable to sit in. She furrowed her brow and pinched the bridge of her nose. "We're closer to Kashyyyk than Naboo right now. And they already know we'll be there tomorrow. We might as well continue on our planned trajectory." Feeling a bit more achy, she pushed away from the table and slowly stood up. With tired eyes, she gestured lamely at the table. "I can't eat, I'm physically and emotionally exhausted after today, and I'm sore. I'm going to go lay down in bed and probably turn in early."Poe didn't say anything as she began to waddle away from the table. But, before she was clear of the dining room, an alert popped up on his datapad that immediately caught his attention. "Huh."Crisara paused, and then turned to look over her shoulder at him. "What?"Slowly looking up at her, he seemed both disappointed but also amused. "The jury came back."Pursing her lips in a manner than reminded Poe of Leia, when Leia had been impatient and wanted information direct and fast, she sighed through her nostrils. "And?""Guilty on all charges. No surprise there. And the Judge passed sentence," he continued, looking back down at the datapad and skimming through the information staring back at him. A hearty laugh burst from his lips. "Wow. That Judge is pettier than I would've been."Placing one hand on her hip and the other under her stomach, Crisara shifted her weight from one leg to the other while looking expectantly at Poe. Somehow, she reminded him even more of Leia in that instance. "And?"Aware of her growing impatience, he replied, "One hundred and fifty-five consecutive life sentences. One for each approximate billion lives lost. Yeah." Poe snickered. "He's gonna rot and die in jail."Good, a small voice in her head said. She didn't want to give fuel to that voice's fire, though. It would drag her down a bitter and angry path and she just wanted to put this all behind her. After a moment of Crisara chewing the inside her lip, she nodded. "Right, well, I'm going to bed." Turning back around without another word, she continued out of the room and made a beeline for their bedroom.Poe's eyes followed after her and he frowned. C-3PO, who he'd forgotten was in the apartment, suddenly appeared in the doorway and just about gave Poe a heart attack. "Kriff's sake. We gotta stick a bell around your neck."
"Oh. Terribly sorry to have given you a fright, Master Dameron."
Pushing his own plate aside alongside his now discarded fork, Poe gripped the edge of the table and just stared at the protocol droid. "We've had this conversation, Threepio. I'm not Master Dameron. Master Dameron is Crisara."
"Correct, but only when she is at the Kenobi Academy, training her padawans. She has advised me not to refer to her as such when at home or elsewhere. I may refer to her as just Crisara, which I find too informal for my tastes, so she agreed that Mistress Crisara will also continue to suffice. Since Mistress denotes a female and you are, in fact, male—"
"I'm Master Dameron," Poe concluded. "Yeah, I get it. But you can call me Poe instead, as that is my name."C-3PO nodded. "Master Poe, it is."Poe's shoulder slumped. He wasn't gonna argue with the droid. "Right." Standing up from the table, he reached for his plate and then leaned further across to grab Crisara's.
"Oh, there is no need for that, Master Poe. I will instruct the cleaning droids to do that for you."
"I'm plenty capable," Poe insisted.
"Then why have cleaning droids, sir? They are here for your benefit. It is their purpose."
Looking from the plates in his hand and then to the golden droid. "Alright, fine."As Poe set the plates back down on the table, C-3PO cocked his head to the side; inspecting the human's demeanor. "Is everything alright, sir?" he asked in a kind albeit curious tone."It's just…" Poe sighed, just as BB-8 came rolling into the dining room. "It's been a day." Stepping away from the table, he sauntered around it and made his way to leave the room, but not before patting C-3PO on his metal shoulder. "Thanks for the help, buddy.""Oh. Oh, you are quite welcome, sir. Quite welcome indeed." As he watched Poe retreat, C-3PO turned his golden body and watched after. Straightening his already stiff posture just a bit more, he glanced briefly down at the roly-poly astromech at his feet. "Did you hear that, Beebee-Ate? Master Poe called me 'buddy.' He's never done that before."BB-8 began chirping a response."Well, I like to think it does mean we are friends."  In the early hours of the morning, Crisara awoke. Actually, she'd been awake for a while but had been fighting against it; wanting to hold on to the last vestiges of sleep because she honestly was tired. When she realized there would be no fighting it, she sighed and rolled onto her back from her side; gently kicking free the pillow that had been pressed between her legs. She grabbed the other pillow that she'd been resting her stomach against and shoved it behind her head with the one she'd already been resting on while staring up at the ceiling. When there was nothing of interest to look at above her, she shifted her gaze to the right, toward the tall, wide window that offered a remarkable view of the Silver Sea. However, lying down as she was, she couldn't see it right now, but she could see the faint twinkle of stars in the dark sky. Were she further away from the bright lights of the capital city, those stars would be more pronounced, but also enormously different than those she would normally be able to view from back home on Naboo. This was an entirely different star system, after all.Clenching her jaw together from discomfort, Crisara focused her breathing and tried to sate the ache in her lower back and groin by channeling the Force. Her mind was starting to reel, though, and her focus went out the metaphorical window. Emitting a sigh of frustration, she turned her head to the left and looked upon Poe beside her; lying on his stomach with his face turned toward her and his hands shoved under his pillow. His eyes were closed but, although it was dark in the bedroom, her eyes were adjusted enough to it so see his beautiful eyelashes. She listened to his snoring, which wasn't as obnoxious as it had been during the war. Probably because he slept better now and wasn't always running ragged. She also felt a pang of jealously; wishing she could sleep so easily and comfortably right now.Crisara also couldn't help but just smile at how beautiful he was to her.Maker's sake, he took her breath away.Shifting her gaze back toward the ceiling, she placed her hands to her stomach. Lifting the bottom of her nightdress, she began to gently rub the underside of her belly while grimacing. "Poe," she muttered, dropping her hands back to the mattress. She reached her left hand out and tapped his upper arm to wake him up. "Poe."With a yawn and a groan, Poe stirred and slowly lifted his head. Blinking away the sleep from his eyes, he peered at her through the darkness. "Whassup?" he slurred sleepily."We need to go now." With as much energy as she could muster, she managed to sit up straight and swing her legs over the edge to her side of the bed."Go where?""Kashyyyk."Poe furrowed his brow in confusion; looking around the room and making sure he wasn't still dreaming. "It's the middle of the night.""Technically, it's morning.""The sun hasn't risen, so it's night." Slowly pushing himself, he ran a hand through his hair and began to pick at the crust at the corners of his eyes. "But, yeah, sure. It's morning somewhere on this planet." When he readjusted his gaze back upon her, he watched as she waddled over to her luggage that was set upon a chair in the corner. He watched as she opened it up and began to pull out a clean pair of clothes, and then how she flung her leggings across to the bed. Instinctually, he grabbed for them."I'll need your help getting those on."Poe snickered. He knew the routine. Ever since her stomach got too big for her to see what the hell she was doing anymore, it was up to him to help her pull on any pants she wore as well as her shoes. Anything below the waist had been diverted to him as his responsibility, and he was happy to oblige. It was the least he could do since she was the one who had to do the heavy lifting, so to speak, throughout this pregnancy.Holding onto the leggings, Poe climbed off the bed and padded around to where she was. "Why do we need to go now?""A feeling."He knew not to question that either. He knew Jedi or Force users liker her just knew things regular schmucks like him never could. If she had a feeling about something, he trusted it. He trusted her."Alright," he muttered; waiting as she pulled on a knitted top with a slight, cowl neckline. When she turned to him, he crouched down and she placed a hand on his shoulder while she stepped into one of the pant legs he made ready for her. "You know, I might just continue to help you get dressed like this after the babies get here." He lifted his gaze up toward her with a smile. "I think I rather enjoy it.""Thought you preferred when I was the one down on my knees."Poe chuckled as she slipped her foot through the second pant leg. "Oh, I definitely do," he assured. "But I like the view from down here, too. Plus, I dunno, I guess I just love the fact that, as amazing as you are, you can't do everything on your own and I get to be the hero, even if it's just me helping you pull your pants on so you're not walking around bare-assed.""You'd like that, too, though.""I would. I don't deny that," he smirked as he stood back up. "But only when it's you and me, alone."Placing a hand against his bare waist, Crisara angled her face up toward his. "You don't need to help me get dressed to be a hero. And you're amazing, too." Leaning in, she kissed him; softly at first, and then a bit deeper. "Only the best for me."Poe grinned against her lips; dropping his hands to her stomach. "You always know just what to say to make a boy like me blush," he jested. As she stepped away from him, to close her luggage back up, he waved at her. "Don't. I'll do that. Go grab some tea from the kitchen; wake yourself up a bit more. I'll get our shit together and call for an air taxi to take us to the Falcon at the spaceport.""I can call for the air taxi.""No. You're my beautiful bride who's busy gestating. You're busy enough with that," he insisted, making a shooing gesture at her. "Go. Move that cute ass."With a small giggle, Crisara left him alone in the bedroom.  After an hour, Poe and Crisara had made it to the spaceport and had boarded the Millennium Falcon with C-3PO and BB-8 in tow. Their small bit of luggage was abandoned in the main hold where the droids remained while the couple made their way to the cockpit. Slipping into the pilot's chair, Poe sat down and began all the pre-flight checks while Crisara was a bit slower. When she finally managed to sink down in the co-pilot's chair, she expelled a tired breath from her lips and yawned heartily."I can fly this without a co-pilot," Poe remarked, stealing a glance at her. "Go lay down on one of the bunks. You look exhausted.""I feel exhausted, but I couldn't sleep if I wanted to.""'Cause of your feeling?""Something like that," she retorted, reaching to flick a few switches on the wall panel beside her.With a frown, Poe shook his head and then looked forward at the navicomputer. "Where on Kashyyyk are we going, again?""Rwookrrorro," she answered with a pristine Shyriiwook accent."Show-off," he teased. Noting her smirk out the corner of his eye, he sighed as he sat back; waiting for the all-clear from the spaceport to lift off. "Wanna message Chewie and let him know we'll be there sooner than initially planned?""Already ahead of you," she informed.Crisara had recorded a holo that she sent ahead to the Wookiee. A few minutes later, a message came through, but it was from someone at the spaceport, giving them the go ahead to take off. As the Millennium Falcon lifted up into the air, it arched at more of an angle to clear the spaceport and then Poe darted them forward. When they broke free of Chandrila's atmosphere, they could see the sunlight creeping along the curve of the planet; making its way toward Hanna City. Ahead of them, though, was just the usual continued darkness of space, aside from the countless number of stars sparkling and twinkling back at them.Passing the larger of Chandrila's two moons, Chandra, Poe began to enter in the calculations so they could make the jump to hyperspace. All the while, Crisara was leaning back in her chair as far as she could with her back arching slightly in continued discomfort."Something's wrong," she muttered."With the ship? What else is new?""No."Poe glanced at her. A wave of unease passed over him as he watched the way she was furrowing her brow; trying to decipher through the Force whatever it was that was bothering her."Babe, what is it?""I think someone is following us," she replied. "I sense…ill intent.""Against us?"Crisara nodded. "Coordinates all set?""Yeah."Without missing a beat, Crisara grabbed for the hyperdrive initiation lever and pushed it forward. In seconds, the ship jolted and the stars before them began to streak by them as they were pulled through a hyperspace tunnel.For a moment, Poe seemed relieved. Whatever or whoever was supposedly following them wouldn't be following them anymore. He assumed it had to have been someone on Chandrila. Maybe they were First Order sympathizers, pissed off by Hux's sentence and believing Poe and Crisara were responsible. But, now they were in hyperspace on the way to Kashyyyk. Surely, they were fine…"Fuck." Poe immediately leaned forward when he noticed a concerning blip on one of the screens. "Oh, come on, you've got to be kidding me!" he growled out, fumbling with a few buttons on the dashboard and on the wall panel on his left. "You're right, babe. We are being followed.""How?" They were in hyperspace. Crisara was confused; though she knew it was happening regardless. She could feel a presence encroaching upon them, even now at light-speed."Uh, well, remember when I returned from the Sinta Glacier Colony and the Falcon was, you know, sorta on fire?"Crisara didn't like the sound of what he was alluding to. "Yes, I remember.""It's 'cause we were being tracked through hyperspace by TIEs and I had to light-speed skip to get us away," he rattled off. Glancing over his shoulder, he called out, "Beebee!"The small astromech rolled halfway into the cockpit access corridor, beeping in binary; wondering what was needed of him."Hey, bud, I need you to run a scan of the ships systems and see if you can locate a possible tracker." As his droid chirped obediently and rolled further into the cockpit to dock with a wall panel that was level with him, Poe shot a look at Crisara; noting the way she was breathing more heavily. "Hyperspace tracking was only supposed to be on First Order ships; like their Star Destroyers, Dreadnoughts and TIE fighters. All those were destroyed by the end of the war, or decommissioned, with that technology being dismantled so it didn't fall into the wrong hands.""Mmhmm," Crisara nonverbally acknowledged what he said; her focus…elsewhere."So, if whoever is locked onto us and following us doesn't have those full capabilities, they'd need some sort of added tracker to be able to know where we're headed and come after us.""Yes, I know how trackers work, Poe."Poe was growing concerned, but not necessarily because of whoever was following them. "Cris, what's wrong?""Nothing. Don't worry about me. Focus on flying.""I can do both."Slowly, Crisara pushed herself up to stand and began to just as slowly slip out from around her chair. As she held onto the back of it, she took a few steadying steps forward, but her knees began to buckle, so she grabbed for the back of Poe's chair as well."Woman, what's wrong?""Just fly!" she barked."What do you think I'm doing? Knitting a sweater?" he barked right back. With an aggravated grunt of breath, Poe put the ship on autopilot and stood up, just as BB-8 unhooked a dataport and chirped upward at the pair. "So there is a tracker." Grimacing, he looked from the droid to Crisara; placing a hand upon the small of her back. "Cris, please. You're making me anxious."With a sigh, she tipped her head down and slowly turned to face him. "My water broke," she brusquely admitted; but her tone was more directed at herself than him. It was as if she was somehow disappointed in herself. As if she'd failed at something.Poe leaned back and glanced down, under her stomach and between her thighs where there was a very noticeable wet stain pooling there and streaking downward. "Oh. Oh, shit.""Yeah.""That's why you've been so damn sore. It was labor pains." He kept his hand on the small of her back but then ran his other down his face. "I knew you were overdue.""Shut up about it already," she groaned through gritted teeth."What do we do?""I…I don't know."Poe frowned. "Okay, um…" he looked helplessly around. "Can you make it to a bunk? Do that. I'll, uh, send a message out for help. If we leave hyperspace, whoever's tracking us will catch up; likely faster than we can say the word 'hyperspace'. So, we have two options.""I'm all ears," she muttered, ambling forward."We keep going to Kashyyyk and warn Chewie and the others we might be coming in hot with company on our tail, or…""Or.""Or we I light-speed skip again; throw them off our trail a bit longer until we figure a way to detach that tracker." He couldn't tell if the scowl on her face was because of that latter suggestion or the beginning of contractions. "I mean, either way, they're both dangerous options." As she led the way to the main hold, he shifted his free hand to her right arm to keep her from buckling from any pain she was feeling. "But, I'll figure it out. I'll get us to Kashyyyk in one piece. I promise." At the moment he was trying to maintain calm, for her and himself, but it was difficult. On the inside he was panicking. "Threepio. I need you to help Crisara get comfortable in a bunk and stay with her. Whatever she needs you to do, you do.""Of course," the droid agreed, shuffling forward. "Is everything alright?""No," Poe replied as Crisara emitted a low groan and hunched forward. "The babies are coming. But not right this moment."
"Oh, dear!"
"We can't panic. Cooler heads prevail.""Poe," Crisara whined. "I'll be okay. Just do whatever you have to. Get us to Kashyyyk."Walking a few steps ahead of her, Poe turned and faced her. With a warm, assuring smile he cupped the sides of her face and pulled her in for a kiss. "You're the strongest person I know. You will be okay. And, whatever you do, try not to push unless you absolutely have to."Despite everything, Crisara smirked. "This isn't the first time I've been in labor during an absolute shit show," she muttered. "I told you about what happened when I had Adera.""And you came out of it just fine, right?""Physically."Poe sighed. It was better than nothing, he supposed. Kissing her again, he was quickly distracted by a proximity alert sensor. "What the fuck?" he barked, turning away. "How can anyone be gaining on us?""Go," Crisara urged.Hating to leave her, Poe did believe she would be okay at the moment, and with C-3PO at her side. Without another word, he darted away; running out into the main corridor and up the access corridor to the cockpit. In the space of seconds he had slipped back into the pilot's chair. "Hey, Beeb, plug yourself back in to that dataport. I might need you to take on some co-piloting duties."The astromech ejected his arc welder. The little blue flame that appeared looking like a thumbs up. As his domed head spun around, the arc welder retreated back inside of him and his utility interface arm popped out and inserted back into the dataport. He beeped and chirped his compliance as Poe moved around the controls on dashboard in a frenzy."They're following us in hyperspace. Shit," Poe lamented. "Shit, shit, shit. I'm gonna have to light-speed skip, buddy." Off BB-8's concerned beeps, the seasoned pilot sighed. "Trust me. I've done it before."Checking the coordinates in regard to whereabouts in the galaxy they currently were, he let out a shaky sigh and reached over to the hyperdrive initiation lever and pulled it backward. The swirling of stars automatically stilled as they left light-speed travel. Fortunately, they were only in empty space at the moment and hadn't come out into an asteroid field or anything like that. But it was still possible, going forward. Entering in new coordinates as quick as he could, Poe's leg began to bob anxiously as he waited for the calculations to square up, so to speak. If the wait time wasn't stressful enough, paired with knowing his wife was in labor, he could see on the monitors that there were four ships coming out of hyperspace directly behind them. They weren't big ships; minor transports, maybe. But, still four of them to one Millennium Falcon with an impossibly limited crew of two humans and two droids, and one of those humans about to give birth to another two humans."Come on!" Poe growled. Just as the four ships behind the Millennium Falcon popped out of hyperspace, Poe was able to punch it again. "Hold on to something!" he shouted over his shoulder for Crisara's and C-3PO's benefit as he shoved the lever back forward.The ship darted forward into hyperspace again, but there those damn ships were again; hot on their tail. "Beebee, can you send a transmission?" Off the droid's chirp, Poe continued, "Contact Chewie. Tell him we're light-speed skipping again because we got four bogies on our tail and we can't shake 'em. They're tracking us through hyperspace. Tell him we're gonna need reinforcements when we arrive to Kashyyyk and we'll probably be coming in hot." He paused. "Got all that?"As BB-8 beeped in confirmation, Poe yanked the lever back again. His eyes immediately went wide when he saw where they'd dropped out of hyperspace to. It was some molten world, spewing steam and thick, fiery lava a few feet up into the air."Whoa!" Poe grabbed the control yoke and pulled it backward toward him to lift the ship higher and away from the rivers of lava. When BB-8 beeped incessantly behind him, Poe knitted his brow together. "What do you mean there are six of them now?" Whipping his head forward, checking one of the monitors, Poe grimaced. "There's six of them now! How the fuck—"Crisara threw her arm upward a moment later when she felt the Millennium Falcon jumping again. She gripped onto the bottom of the overhead locker above her to keep from sliding off the bunk she was trying to lay on while C-3PO skidded sideways and slammed into the closed door to the latrine."Oh, Mistress Crisara, I do believe we might not make it. This is absolutely chaotic," the golden protocol droid bemoaned. "What a tragedy!""Your pessimism has been noted, Threepio," she groaned; her head rolling back against the bunk's lame excuse for a pillow. "We'll be fine. Don't think of this as a tragedy, 'cause it's not. Just think of this as an—" A small, sharp pain shot upward from her groin to the small of her back, causing a hiss to escape her lips. "Think of it as an adventure."The droid finally managed to right himself as the ship began to rumble as they appeared to be leaving hyperspace again. "Your idea of an adventure greatly varies from my idea of an adventure."When a sharper, deeper pain weighed heavily within Crisara, she rolled to her side and reached out for C-3PO. "Help me up. I can't lay here. I'll just fall out. Bring me back to the main hold."
"But, Mistress—"
"Just do it, Threepio," she demanded as he offered a golden hand to her. "Did you know that labor with Caro lasted only thirty minutes? With Adera it took a few hours. With Caro," she muttered; pausing mid-step when another searing pain ripped through her. She gasped at the way it took her breath away for a moment. When she began to walk again with C-3PO's assistance, she continued with what she was saying. "With Caro, I basically just had to cough and out he came." She tried laughing it off. "I think it's gonna happen again like that. These two aren't going to wait any longer."
"Oh, dear."
"Exactly," Crisara agreed as they exited the port-side corridor and stepped into the main hold as the ship began to lurch again. She could hear Poe spewing a string of expletives under his breath; his voice wafting from the cockpit. As she and C-3PO both teetered to the right, she lunged forward and gripped the edge of the engineering station near her. "Grab a blanket, Threepio. Lay it on the ground. And…and…and get clean towels from the latrine. And, uh, water. Fill some canteens with water if you can't find a bucket."
"Are you sure this will be sanitary?"
"We don't have much of a choice right now," she groaned; slowly lowering herself to her knees and crawling to the center of the room. Tipping her chin to her chest, she whispered, "Come on, sweeties, can you just hold on a bit longer?" She closed her eyes and focused upon the Force around her, within her and within her twins. Tears stung at her eyes from the pain and the stress. Because of her mother's vision from before she was born, she believed whatever happened, she would still survive and live that long life her mother saw. But her mother's vision nor her own had shown anything about the fates of any of her children.Would her twins survive? What if something went wrong?Oh, it would be all her fault.Poe was right. They should've stayed back on Naboo. Kashyyyk could've waited. Or had they kept to their original schedule to head to Kashyyyk, she'd be going into labor and delivering safely on Chandrila instead."Don't focus too much on the negative," a familiar voice called out to her.Crisara lifted her head and smiled affectionately when she saw Leia standing there in spirit form, beside the curved lounge seat. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you. I can't do this alone."
"You're not alone."
"I know. But Poe's busy and Threepio's, well…Threepio."
"Maybe, but we're here for you."
Crisara followed her aunt's gaze and found the Force ghost of her mother across the main hold, standing in front of the engineering station. "Mom.""The two of us were together when I brought you into this life," Ada remarked. "We will be here when you bring your new, little ones into this life, too."Tears fell from Crisara's eyes as she repositioned herself into a sitting position. "Thank you."C-3PO reappeared with a blanket in one hand and two towels stacked on top of one another in his other hand. Dropping the towels near her on the floor, he moved around her and began to splay out upon the blanket in front of her."I hope this will suffice," he muttered. "I will be right back with as much water as possible, Mistress."As he shuffled off, Leia smirked. "A little tightly wound but always helpful, that one.""You'll need to get out of your pants, little bean," Ada advised, her spirit crouching beside her daughter.With a languid sigh and trying not to focus on the pain, Crisara rolled onto her back and lifted her waist up. Hooking her thumbs into the waistband of her leggings she began to shimmy them down off her hips as best as she could; expelling a frustrated breath from how awkward it was. "Maker's sake, this is ridiculous."Both Leia and Ada's Force ghosts chuckled."There's nothing glamorous or easy about childbirth," Leia mused."I'm the pro here," Crisara countered. "Both of you only did it once. This is my third time. I know how unglamorous and difficult it is.""You're strong, you're accomplished, you're loved," Ada recited soothingly. "Ignore the pain. You know you can. Focus on the life within you.""Focus on those twins," Leia added with a gentle smile. "Focus on giving birth to the future and the joy they will bring you and Poe. Think about seeing their little faces and holding them in your arms."Their words really were helping. Crisara listened raptly and the incessant, agonizing pain seemed to ebb away a little; but not entirely. It was…manageable. Pleasant words were all well and good, though, but she still needed physical help."These damn leggings," Crisara griped. "I should've put on a dress or a skirt."Ada's gaze shifted upward toward the port-side corridor. "Threepio's coming. He can help.""Here you go," the droid announced setting two canteens down beside the towels and cocked his head to the side. "What else can I do for you?""Pull my leggings the rest of the way off for me."
"Very well."
As the droid moved to do as she advised, the ship lurched again and seemed to slow down; denoting another jump out of hyperspace. But it also caused C-3PO to skid and tumble backward. Fortunately, he only landed down upon the curved lounge seat. His golden, left hand whacked against the gaming table; accidentally turning it on. Several holographic creatures suddenly appeared, which distracted C-3PO for a moment. When he leaned back up and stood, he sputtered and shuffled forward. Leaning down at a ninety degree angle, he reached for the waist of her leggings which sat mid-thigh on her and he began yanking them down over her knees.Poe chose that very moment to dart free of the cockpit and into the main hold. The sight before him caused him to skid to a stop. "What the hell? Threepio, you have a lot of nerve, putting the moves on my wife.""Sir, I am doing nothing of the sort," C-3PO insisted; believing Poe was honestly upset about the scenario. "I am merely assisting her. You asked me to do whatever she told me to do and she needed her leggings off."Poe held a hand up. "Relax. I'm messing with you, Threep." He dropped to his knees; unaware he was kneeling beside the spectral form of his dead mother-in-law. Grabbing her right hand in both of his, he frowned. "We've reached Kashyyyk's outer orbit. I have the Falcon on autopilot again for the moment and our shields are up. But I needed to check on you." He brushed a hand over her sweaty forehead. "How you holding up?""I'm about to give birth on the floor of the Falcon. I figure that tracks with our life," Crisara managed to quip.Poe smirked. "Okay. Just, uh, cross your legs and keep those babies in a bit longer if you can. I'm gonna bring us down." Kissing her knuckles, Poe released her hand from his and stood back up. "Threepio, if she has to start pushing," he spoke, looking sternly at the droid, "take care of all of them."
"I will do my best, Master Poe."
"I want better than your best." Poe pointed at Crisara. "That's my precious cargo."After he mouthed 'I love you' to his wife, Poe slipped back out of the main hold and sprinted back toward the cockpit, leaving Crisara alone with the protocol droid and spirits of her mother and aunt. When the ship suddenly jolted and rumbled and then began to careen from side to side, she grew concerned."Trust in Poe to get you safely to ground," Leia advised. "He's the best pilot in the galaxy, after all."Ada smirked. "And quite handsome. You have great taste."Crisara couldn't help it. She tossed her head back and laughed. "This is the oddest conversation at the oddest, possible time."C-3PO, confused as to what she was talking about, cocked head to the side again. "I haven't said anything.""I wasn't referring to you." As the ship jerked and the unmistakable sound and rumblings of blasts filled Crisara's ears, it made sense now why Poe mentioned having the shields up. They were being fired upon. "Oh, fantastic.""Sorry! Hold on, babe!" Poe shouted from the cockpit."Ungh…" Crisara groaned as the worst contraction yet ripped through her; taking her breath away again. Leaning upward, she planted her left hand upon the floor and began to scoot forward so that she was on the blanket. Reaching her right hand over her stomach, she pressed her hand between her legs and her eyes widened. "Is that—?"Leia looked down between Crisara's bent legs and nodded. "That's a head, yes.""Oh no, no, no…" Crisara whimpered. Of all the things she'd managed to do as a Jedi, all the amazing feats and shows of strength and power, and this was something that made her question her abilities. But not as a Jedi, as just a human. She couldn't stay the imminent birth of her babies. "Please, not yet."
"Little ones are coming whether you're ready or not, little bean. So push."
Grimacing, Crisara listened to her mother and pushed. She let out a strained cry of pain, but soldiered on. "Poe! Hurry up!""I'm trying!" he called back at the ship took another hit.Bending stiffly at the knees, C-3PO crouched down between Crisara's legs and waited awkwardly for advisement. "I have never done this before, Mistress Crisara. I have knowledge about human birth in my databank, but it is all secondhand. What do you want me to do now?"Crisara tipped her head back. "Oh, stars above."  Chewbacca was standing at the edge of a landing pad of the spaceport at the edge of his city; one of the few structures where metal was used more than wood. To his back were the impossibly tall wroshyr trees, but before him was bright blue sky. Lifting a pair of quadnocs to his eyes, he peered through them and spotted the Millennium Falcon darting down and fast. He'd received the transmission a short while ago and alerted the chieftains that a fight might be coming their way and that his 'honor family' needed their help.As the Millennium Falcon slowed its descent, it missed the landing platform where Chewbacca stood, skimmed a few treetops and came in for a rough landing in the wooded field near the edge of the city. Chewbacca ran toward the edge of the platform and bellowed to his friends, family and comrades; asking for them to seek his 'honor family' in the ship and help them, just as six average-sized transport ships appeared in the sky.Horns began to blow, alerting the city to impending attack.It would not be the Wookiees' first time defending their home. They'd survived enslavement during the Imperial years. They could withstand a fight against a few random transport ships.Several dozen Wookiees aimed bowcasters, and a few began to man a variety of rocket and missile launchers.Chewbacca climbed up from the landing platform, scaling a metal stairwell that curved around the great wroshyr tree at the base of the platform. It led to a minor platform, made of wood, and then he continued upward across a wooden suspension bridge in a hurry to another wooden platform where an empty, dual missile turret sat. Stepping behind it, he guided it in the direction of the ships and aimed. Growling and grunting at his people to hold and wait, he then took half a step back and pressed at his wrist comm, and spoke into it in his native Shyriiwook.He paused, waiting and anxious.Then, the device crackled. "Hey, buddy," Poe replied. "We're okay. Just…rough landing. You know how it is."Chewbacca groaned back in agreement."Crisara's in active labor. I don't know who's after us. Haven't had time for a 'how do you do.' I — shit. Oh shit, Chewie! I gotta go. Crisara just had one of the twins!"Momentarily stunned silent, Chewbacca suddenly got angry. Not because Poe had ceased communication so abruptly or anything like that. He was angry that six unknown ships had chased his friends from Chandrila to Kashyyyk and might very well be the cause for sending Crisara into labor. Something like that could put mother and both babies at risk. They could've all crashed and burned and died upon impact, which terrified Chewbacca. He couldn't lose another of his 'honor family.' He'd lost too many of them as it was.Bellowing loudly across the air to his fellow Wookiees, he took it upon himself to give the order and fire right at the same moment those in the transport ships must've had the same idea. As laser fire from those ships began to rain down upon Rwookrrorro, Chewbacca and the others fired back with missiles and rockets, and powerful blast from their bowcasters.  "I got it from here, Threepio."Poe practically skidded on his knees when he dropped down to the floor of the main hold. He ushered the golden protocol droid out of the way and took over as he was suddenly handed the first of his newborn twins who was wrapped haphazardly in a towel. As C-3PO made his way up to his feet, Poe sat back on the heels of his and just stared down at this tiny little person in his hands. He was struck completely dumb with such awe and such overwhelming love."Cris, it's girl," he muttered."I know," Crisara side, laying back upon the floor; the pain of childbirth temporarily subsided until the next twin made its way through the birthing canal. "Leia told me."Poe furrowed his brow and looked over at his wife. "Leia's here?""And my mother," she replied. "Both have been here, helping me through this."Smiling appreciatively, Poe looked around the main hold, as if expecting to see either ghostly female, and desperately wishing he really could see Leia. Having lost his own mother when he was just a boy, Leia had filled that void, in a way, after he'd joined the Resistance. And, she was technically his family now, even though she'd died. She was Crisara's aunt, his children's great-aunt, and therefore his aunt-in-law. "Thank you, ladies."Leia, standing beside Poe, placed a spectral hand to his shoulder, but he wasn't able to feel it. Crisara was able to see it, though. "We go where we're needed," Leia muttered.The unmistakable sounds of explosions in the distance seemed to vibrate through the ship, causing both Crisara and Poe to turn toward the entrance to the main corridor; as if a ball of fire was going to appear and consume them."Who was following us?""I don't know," Poe replied, bringing his gaze back down to his daughter.Oh, how strange but wonderful that sounded!His daughter.BB-8 rolled forward to the main hold and began to beep."They're trying to make contact? They could've done that first instead of chase us across star systems and now attack our Wookiee brethren," C-3PO muttered.Crisara turned her head to the right and looked upward at the protocol droid. "Threepio, can you patch the transmission through from the engineering station, please?"C-3PO bowed his head respectfully. "Of course, Mistress Crisara."As he shuffled toward the engineering station, new pain began to take hold of Crisara as the contractions resumed. "Ugh," she groaned. "Here comes the other one."Poe suddenly felt like he was floundering as he looked around for someplace to set his daughter down to assist with the birth of his next child. Holding his daughter securely in one arm, Poe reached for a random crate and pulled it toward him. With one hand he undid the latch and lifted the lid. With reckless abandon, he tossed everything inside of it onto the floor and then gently laid his child down inside."Sorry, sweetie. It's the best I can do for now."In response, his daughter's dark eyes began to open up and she just silently stared up at him as if trying to convey everything was alright.With a sigh, Poe looked away and grabbed one of the canteens and doused his hands a bit and then wiped them on a clean spot of the blanket off to the side while Crisara was already in the throes of pushing. Placing his hands on her knees, he was stunned to already see a head poking out and it threw him for a loop for a moment. He'd read up on what to expect during live birth, and he'd seen animals giving birth before, but this was…there was no describing it. He was completely amazed by it all."The transmission is ready," C-3PO advised."Play it," Crisara grunted as she pushed.
"This is Captain Linc Umplorr of the Shett gang—"
Poe scowled. "Pirates.""—and all we want is the Millennium Falcon. Just surrender the ship to us and no one has to get hurt. For every minute you make us wait, that's just one extra Wookiee we'll blow to smithereens.""I know that voice," Crisara muttered as she strained to push the second twin out.Poe raised an eyebrow as he placed his hands gently and carefully around his other child's protruding head. "You do?" Off her guttural groan of pain, as she struggled with their child's shoulders pushing through, Poe spoke encouragingly, "Almost there, baby. Keep at it.""After Chaaktil, after Han brought us to D'Qar and I stayed with him and Chewie for a couple weeks," she panted; needing just a small moment to catch her breath. "Han's freighter was attacked and boarded by pirates. Han lost most of his crew, but a lot of those pirates died, too. That voice belongs to the same Captain we dealt with." After another push, she added, "Guess my recommendation to do something…unnngh…better with their lives wore…wore off and they resumed their…" She pushed harder. "Old ways."Suddenly, there was release.As newborn cries echoed through the ship again, Crisara's sight began to blur. A montage of images played out quickly within her mind as if she was watching a holofilm at triple the speed, but also as if she was experiencing a memories. Memories of things yet to come to pass, though.Poe pulled the second twin upward toward his chest and smiled over at Crisara. "Another girl," he announced, cutting the umbilical cord with the pocket knife he had on him."I know.""Did Leia tell you that, too?" Poe wondered, wrapping the child in the second towel."No." She held her hands up and Poe handed their second daughter to her; laying the infant upon her mother's chest. "I think I just had a vision of their future."An explosion hit awfully close to the Millennium Falcon, causing more of a rumble than the earlier one and causing both adults to wince slightly, as if expecting the ship to cave in on them."They're going to grow up into two, beautiful young women. Strong, independent, stubborn…""Like their mother," Poe teased, reaching back into the crate for their first twin and cradling her against his chest."Maybe," Crisara began. "They'll look like more like you, though. Dark hair, dark eyes. Actually, I've seen a couple holos of your mother." She eyed him with a gentle, but tired smile. "They'll look quite a bit like her."That seemed to touch Poe a great deal; the idea of seeing some semblance of his mother again, but in double. "I wish I could see what you just saw.""You will, someday. They'll grow up happy and loved. They'll both become mothers, but one will be stronger in the Force than the other. The other will forge a different, but equally noble path." Crisara's eyes saddened a hair when another explosion echoed outside, causing dust from the ceiling pipes to shake free and cascade down around them. "One of them will be deeply betrayed by someone she loves dearly. I could…I could feel her pain. Pain that hasn't happened yet." Sitting up as best as she could, Crisara tipped her chin forward and kissed he top of her second twin's head.When a more distant explosion drew their attention away from thoughts of their daughters, Poe sighed. "I can't let Chewie and his people fight this alone. We brought the trouble here."A banging against the ship came. Someone was trying to get inside.Poe tensed, but Crisara seemed calm about it. "It's Wookiees. They're here to help us.""I'd ask how you know, but…" Poe nodded at her. "You're you."Crisara smirked back at him. "Threepio — let our friends in, will you?""Very well, Mistress Crisara. If you're certain they're friends and not those pirates.""I'm certain."As the droid shuffled away, Crisara sank back against the floor again. She could feel more pain coming, but not to the extent giving birth. This was different. It wasn't a hidden triplet or anything like that. It was simply the afterbirth. A few moments later, two Wookiees lumbered through the main corridor and appeared in the entryway to the main hold, grunting their concerns at the couple."Twins," Crisara replied. "Both alive and well, just needing a bit of a clean-up."The two Wookiees introduced themselves. Both were female, both were doulas; named Wranbayyck and Hwromi.Hwromi, who was more grey than the usual brown, stepped forward and held her furry arms out to Poe; offering to take and clean the twin in his hands, while Wranbayyck crouched down to Crisara's level to take the second twin. When both Wookiees had appeared, they were carrying satchels filled with some sort of supplies they thought they may need. As it turns out, it was food for Poe and Crisara, as well as clean blankets and the Wookiee equivalent of medical supplies, which were made from more natural ingredients than was usually used around the galaxy.Sensing the restlessness in her husband, Crisara glanced at Poe. "Go help our friends," she urged with a small smile; despite the ache and pain paired with the afterbirth that was coming. "We'll be fine."Leaning forward on his hands and knees, Poe kissed her forehead, her cheek and finally landed softly upon her lips. "You are beyond amazing," he whispered. "I love you.""Go," she smiled brighter. "And I love you, too."Without hesitation, Poe had jumped up to his feet and darted out of the main hold. She didn't see where he'd gone; if he went to retrieve a blaster or was hoping one of the Wookiees could spare one of their bowcasters.After Crisara had expelled the afterbirth, and after both her twin daughters were cleaned up and being looked after by the Wookiee doulas, Crisara managed to get to her feet. Wranbayyck was quick to wrap a blanket around Crisara's waist so she didn't have to walk around half-naked; not that Crisara really cared. Wranbayyck also helped her to the latrine, where Crisara completely undressed and took a quick shower; and tried to ignore the continued ache from having just given birth to two babies instead of one. Afterward, she found some spare clothes and slipped them on. Needing a moment to sit down on one of the bunks to gather herself, Crisara smiled appreciatively as Wranbayyck began to brush through her hair for her and then pushed it back over her shoulders."Thank you. It means a great deal."Wranbayyck warbled back at her; insisting she was welcome and that it was the least they could do for — as Wranbayyck called her — a legacy. She elaborated; aware that Crisara's grandfather was Obi-Wan Kenobi and remembering him from the Clone Wars, from before the Wookiees were enslaved. She knew the stories of Chewbacca's friends, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, and Han's wife and son, Leia and Ben. Wranbayyck knew Crisara was family to those friends — Chewbacca's 'honor family.'Crisara smiled. "Chewie has always been like family to me, too."And Crisara couldn't let her family fight alone, either.However, one of the twins began to cry; as if sensing her mother was about to go off to fight and leave her alone. Taking the twin from Hwromi, Crisara cradled her in her arms and carried her with her out of the main hold and into the main corridor. Considering what she was going to do next might be construed as careless, Crisara stepped down the boarding ramp with her child and took in the sight of ships overhead.Just two of them.She looked forward and saw rockets being fired from somewhere within the large wroshyr trees and then spotted Poe firing a blaster at a small invasion of armed pirates that had taken to ground. She saw smoke in the distance and noticed two of the pirate ships had crashed into a mountainside. A third had crashed near to the Millennium Falcon, which told her that had to have been the louder of the explosions she and Poe had heard and felt from within their ship. The fourth ship she wasn't sure on, but the fifth and sixth were hovering above the trees.Glancing down at her newborn daughter, she sensed strength in her. She sensed the Force; the untapped potential that would grow and expand in the years and decades to come. "Want to help mommy kick some ass?" she questioned with a smile. "Don't tell daddy."Mustering her strength, Crisara held her newborn firmly and securely in one arm and raised the other up toward the sky. She focused her gaze upon the two ships firing down on Rwookrrorro, and channeled the Force."You're still not alone," she heard her mother in her ear."We are in the Force, and the Force is within you," Leia voice whispered. "Show 'em who's boss."Crisara could hear the impish grin in her aunt's voice and it made her grin as well.As both ships suddenly stopped firing, they also began to sway dangerously close to one another; as if drawn together like moths to a flame.Poe stopped firing at the pirates. The pirates on the ground did the same. As did the Wookiees.All looked upward toward the ships in the sky and watched as they began to collide with one another. They watched as they were pushed by some unseen force and went crashing down into a hillside far enough away from Rwookrrorro as not to cause damage to the city or their immediate territory. The Wookiees began to cheer and resumed their fight; not fully understanding or caring why the ships crashed. All that mattered was that this enemy had lost all of their ships and therefore had no way to escape Kashyyyk.Poe understood what had happened, though.Narrowing his gaze while the pirates surrendered to the Wookiees, Poe spotted Crisara through the smoke and haze; standing near the base of the Millennium Falcon's boarding ramp. If he squinted real hard, he could see her holding one of the twins.He smiled."That's my badass wife," he grinned, shaking his head with wonder and admiration.What an amazing adventure his life was going to be with her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"And the voices that implore, 'You should be doing more'
To you, I can admit that I'm just too soft for all of it"
— Taylor Swift When Poe landed the Millennium Falcon on the outskirts of Rwookrrorro, it had been what he referred to as a 'gentle crash landing.' The ship hadn't fallen apart and would fly again, and no one inside the ship was hurt, but repairs would be needed before it could get airborne again. Nothing could keep it down for long. The Millennium Falcon sure knew how to take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.In the meantime, Chewbacca had invited Poe and Crisara, their newborn twin daughters, and their droids to stay with him and his family in their home that sat high in the colossal wroshyr trees. The couple appreciated the offer, but having to make the climb via ladder to get in and out of the home with two babies just wasn't ideal. And with C-3PO and BB-8 it just wasn't completely conducive, so they chose to remain on their ship while repairs were made.There was, thankfully, some wooden buildings on the ground where it was easier for them to gather with their Wookiee friends, and where they were offered their first meal of the day, since they hadn't eaten since the evening before on Chandrila. Most Wookiee food wasn't fit for human consumption, being naturally spicy enough to cause damage to a human's gullet, so Poe and Crisara had to be careful as to what they ate; gravitating mostly toward dishes of the vegetable variety. As Poe had never been to Kashyyyk before, nor dined with Wookiees (not including Chewbacca), he differed to Crisara and followed her lead. When she gravitated toward chyntuck, an onion-like vegetable that was served in the form of rings, he did the same and found it to taste great. When some Cortyg brandy was offered to them, Crisara turned it down, as she would be nursing the twins, but Poe was hesitant."As long as it's the tamer variant of Cortyg, you'll be fine," Crisara assured with a smile; wearing one of the twins strapped to her chest in a sling that Hwromi had fashioned for her. Crisara then glanced across the long, wooden table at Chewbacca. "Is that the hard or the tame stuff?"Chewbacca grunted to the latter."You'll be fine," Crisara repeated to her husband."As long as you're sure.""I am."Poe nodded appreciatively at the Wookiee pouring a cup for him. When he brought it to his lips, taking an initial whiff of it, he looked over the rim and noticed the way Chewbacca was just staring at him as if this was all a prank. "Stop staring. You're making me nervous." When Chewbacca shifted his gaze toward Crisara, so did Poe. He looked over the rim of his cup at his wife and sighed. Bottoms up, he thought to himself as he knocked back a hearty sip, and then immediately regretted it. Poe sputtered; most of the liquid going back into the cup but enough of it dribbled down his chin as if that had been the first time he'd ever imbibed anything alcoholic before. It was bitter and it was strong, even if it did leave a pleasantly fruity aftertaste. "Stars! That's the tame stuff?"Chewbacca and several others were suddenly and literally howling with laughter.Poe glared with mock derision at Crisara, who was smirking. "My own wife. I've never been so betrayed," he muttered, wiping at his mouth on his sleeve as he set the cup down."I said it was tamer. I didn't say how tame it was for humans.""We just had twins," he accused; glancing down at their second twin who was sleeping in a basket between them, which was woven with handles. "Are you already trying to wine and dine me to get you pregnant again? It's hasn't even been eight hours. Shouldn't we wait?"Crisara rolled her eyes, just as the twin in her sling began to fuss. Using the Force, she attuned herself to her daughter's needs and sensed hunger. Shoving a hand into the sling, Crisara shifted the infant around and lifted her shirt up to nurse right then and there.Poe, having never witnessed such a thing, found himself quite enthralled by the sight, but then was quite aware that there were several dozen Wookiees sitting around the table with them. However, he soon realized no one but him was fazed by Crisara whipping it out, so to speak — least alone Crisara. If she wasn't bothered, then he wasn't bothered. Placing a hand into the woven basket, he touched his hand down upon their other daughter's stomach and just held it there as he watched his wife nurse and found yet another thing about her to be amazed by."You're like a goddess," he blurted in a whisper.Crisara lifted her head and smiled softly back at him. "Shut up," she whispered back; finding such a compliment made her blush like a teenager being flirted at by her crush.The way he looked at her was almost seductive, and yet pure in intention. He wasn't staring at what she was doing and thinking anything sexual. She just found the way he looked at her, at any given moment, to be amorous.Later on, Poe and Crisara had returned to the Millennium Falcon, where they sent holos to their friends and family, to let them know all of what had gone down. They didn't bother with details to the trial, as the verdict and sentencing had already made the HoloNews. Mostly, they told them about the pirates, and going into labor on the ship and the firefight on Kashyyyk, and how they were waiting on Republic Security Forces to arrive and officially arrest the surviving pirates, who were being detained in cages and guarded by several Wookiees nearby. Rey, who was nearest to them at the moment, sent a message back, insisting she was on her way. When Poe and Crisara assured her everything was alright now, Rey countered. She wasn't coming to help keep the pirates under lock and key, or to help the Republic Security Forces. She was coming to help repair the Millennium Falcon and 'see those beautiful babies.'And those babies still didn't have names.Well, their parents had ideas in their heads but hadn't really had a moment to settle on anything final.With the news that Rey was headed their way, Chewbacca grunted happily at the impending arrival of his other friend. While the twins were sleeping and Crisara had nodded off on one of the bunks, the Wookiee sat with Poe in the cockpit, helping with some of the repairs, while both droids did what they could, as well.With a hydrospanner clenched between his teeth while twisting at some wiring below the dashboard, Poe glanced over at Chewbacca when the Wookiee grunted a question at him. Sitting up straight, Poe pulled the tool from his mouth and shrugged. "We haven't actually talked about names because we didn't know if we were gonna have two girls or two boys or one of each. We figured we'd wait until they were born to decide and, well, you saw how today went for us."The Wookiee warbled and grunted a bit more in his native tongue.Poe smirked. "That's really kind of you, Chewie," he replied. "Yeah, that would be nice. And with Rey coming, maybe the two of you can stand in as Guardians. I know Crisara would insist upon it." As Chewbacca nodded and growled at the honor, Poe reached out and patted his friend's hairy arm. "Then that's settled. We'll have a naming dedication tonight where we'll finally name the girls and officially present them to our friends."Chewbacca growled out another question, which caused a small laugh out of Poe."As far as I can tell they're identical twins, so it's gonna be difficult to tell them apart. Fortunately, one of them has a birthmark on the inside of her right wrist," Poe replied in regard to knowing which twin was which. "That would be the second one. We've just been calling them One and Two for now."No more than an hour later, Rey had arrived and she boarded the Millennium Falcon with a lot of gusto. She darted around the main corridor and into the cockpit; appearing like a breath of fresh air, as it had been quite a while since either Poe or Chewbacca had seen her. Crisara had woken up by then when one of the twins was hungry again, and she had been made abreast of the naming dedication, of which she also thought was a good idea, as well as Rey and Chewbacca stepping up as Guardians for their girls."Hi!" Rey greeted Poe and Chewbacca with a bright smile.BB-8 chirped up at her.Rey glanced and waved down at the small astromech. "Hi, Beebee."Poe smiled, stood up, and pulled her in for an overdue hug. "Long time no see, vagabond.""Yeah, well, there's lots to see and seek, out there in the galaxy, when one wants to learn the deeper nuances of the Force."Poe shrugged, as Chewbacca grabbed his hug next. "Yeah, well — I wouldn't know anything about that.""Obvious recent insanity aside, how have you both been and can those answers wait until I see the twins? Are they awake?" Rey rapid-fire questioned."They might be.""How amazing are they?" Rey was already retreating back down the cockpit access corridor; barely waiting for an answer.Poe was just as quickly following after her; abandoning repairs for the time being. "Very amazing."As the two of them appeared together in the main hold, they found Crisara seated on the floor; looking down at both babies, swaddled side by side in the woven basket from earlier. Both babies were very much awake and staring up at their mother with wide eyes — completely enthralled."Oh my stars," Rey cooed, moving to kneel down beside Crisara. She threw an arm around her honorary sister and the other half of their dyad in the Force, since Ben was gone and they were no longer a triad. "Congratulations."Crisara smiled, reciprocating the side hug. "Thank you.""You've got to be exhausted.""I've been through worse.""Oh, look at them," Rey muttered, hovering over the basket and watching as both little girls shifted their gaze toward her. She stuck her hands in and slipped a finger into each of their grasps. "Oh, they're so tiny and adorable and — holy happabore." She turned her gaze back to Crisara in amazement. "The Force is already strong in them." She then looked back at the twins; her focus gravitating toward one more than the other. The one on the right, she pointed to. "Her, especially.""Two, yes.""Two?" Rey knitted her brow in confusion.Poe chuckled, leaning against the engineering station as he looked down at all four females. "We haven't named 'em yet. One was born first. Two was born second," he explained. "They're identical so we can only tell them apart because Two has a birthmark on the inside of her right wrist."Curious, Rey peered down into the basket. "Can I pick her up?" she wondered."Go ahead," Crisara replied.Slowly and carefully, Rey scooped the swaddled 'Two' up into her arms and cradled her against her chest. "She barely weighs anything.""Twins usually weigh slightly less than if they'd just been the one baby," Crisara remarked, but then chuckled. "Give it a couple of months and plenty of feedings. Both of them will fatten up real quick."With further curiosity, Rey slipped the infant's right hand out of her swaddling and peered down at the small birthmark, which was currently no bigger than the size of Rey's thumbnail but would like expand in size as the girl grew. "Is it just me or does this look like—?""Yeah," Crisara replied vaguely."What does it look like?" Poe wondered, furrowing his brow and stepping closer.Not about to lie to her husband, since this was his child, too, and therefore had every right to know, Crisara sighed. "Don't think anything into it. I'm not," she prefaced. "But it looks a bit like a Sith holocron." Off his immediate frown, she added, "It's just uncanny, is all. Triangular, with freckles at each point.""So, are you saying it's some unholy sign she's gonna follow in her great-grandfather's and cousin's footsteps someday and fall to the dark side?""No," Crisara insisted with a small smile."You said one of the twins will be stronger than the other, and the other will follow a different path.""A different and noble path," Crisara clarified. "And I didn't say I saw darkness in their future."Poe felt uncertain about her aloofness on the matter. He felt that maybe she should be more concerned. "But you also said one of them would be betrayed by someone they love. What if one twin falls to the dark side and that's the betrayal that breaks the other's heart?""Poe," Crisara muttered calmly and evenly. "Both girls will never fall to the dark side. Of that, I am completely and irrevocably certain."Rey glanced at the blonde beside her with a knitted brow. "You had another vision?""As I was delivering Two, which makes me think it mostly pertained to her."Feeling a bit agitated by all this talk, Poe unfolded his arms and shook them out; as if trying to get spider webs off of him. "Okay. How about we talk about more present-day things, like the naming dedication.""What naming dedication?" Rey question, lifting her face upward toward him.  At dusk, countless lanterns containing candles surrounded the base of one of the great wroshyr trees, which didn't exactly seem safe, what with all the wood. But it was a beautiful sight with so many Wookiees present. Secured to and hanging from the bark of the tree's trunk were two Life Day orbs, which were crystalline ornaments that glowed blue in color, and placed there specifically for the twins. Each was held by either their mother or their father. For extra light, and for added significance to the Force within them, Rey held her lightsaber upward with the golden blade activated, while Chewbacca did the same with Crisara's lightsaber. They stood immediately behind Poe and Crisara, who were facing one of the community's Chieftains. Behind the Wookiee and the Jedi knight, C-3PO and BB-8 looked on with R2-D2, who had taken to traveling the galaxy with Rey in Luke's old X-wing.As the Chieftain growled and grunted a speech about the joys of new life and looking to the future but not without forgetting the past, Poe and Crisara looked at one another and smiled. It seemed they were in silent agreement that this ceremony felt even more special than their own wedding. They just wished the rest of their friends and family were present.When the Chieftain looked directly at the couple, he asked Crisara to 'offer up the name' of the infant she was holding, which was their firstborn twin, and then asked for Crisara to give a reason to her choice.Looking from the Wookiee, to Poe, and then down toward 'One', Crisara smiled warmly. "Shara Dameron," she announced. Lifting her gaze back up at her husband, she noticed the immediate emotion in his dark eyes. He was biting his lips together and fighting off tears. "She is named for her grandmother, Shara Bey Dameron, who was taken from this life too soon and is missed every day by her husband and son."A small sob became lodged in Poe's throat and he coughed to play it off as him not getting too emotional about it. "Thank you," he muttered to his wife.She merely smiled in response.When the Chieftain turned more directly to Poe, he asked of him the same thing he asked of Crisara; to 'offer up the name' of the child he was holding and the reason for the name.Poe's brown eyes fell upon their second-born twin and he smiled lovingly at her. There was only one name and one other female who had meant a lot to both Crisara and him, who deserved to be honored the same way as his mother. Looking over at his Crisara, he announced, "Leia Dameron: named after her great-aunt and this galaxy's greatest Rebel, who also left us too soon."Crisara beamed happily at his decision. He was holding the twin who she felt the greater Force signature from. It felt like a perfect fit.The Chieftain began to speak again, for the benefit of the parents, their witnesses and all the other Wookiees present. He repeated the names of the twins, holding his arms out wide and declaring the sisters, Shara and Leia Dameron, to forever be friends and honor family of the Wookiees of Rwookrrorro. He declared they would always have a home with the Wookiees, and their descendants would also be considered as honor family, as were their parents, Poe and Crisara, and any other siblings. The Chieftain placed his hands over each of the infants' foreheads, warbled out a few lines to some age-old tune, which the other Wookiees repeated back; causing Poe to raise an amused eyebrow over at his wife. Afterward, the Chieftain turned around, removed the two Life Day orbs from the tree and handed them to each parent, as a gift for the twins' first day of life and something to cherish for the rest of their lives.When the Chieftain grunted at Poe and Crisara to turn around and present their daughters, the grateful parents obliged the Wookiee and turned to face everyone and then held the twins up a bit higher so everyone could get a better glimpse. The gesture resulted in howling cheers from the Wookiees as they began to beat their chests the way anyone else might clap.Poe and Crisara shifted their gazes back toward one another as they lowered the girls back down and cradled them gently against their chests."Whoever breaks their hearts," Poe muttered, nodding between their daughters, "will have to answer to me and my blaster."Crisara snickered. "They'll have to get in line," she replied, nodding at all the Wookiees. "The girls will have an entire city of Wookiees at their beck and call. Not to mention a few Jedi."With a soft smile, Poe stepped closer to Crisara, leaned in and kissed her. "Seriously," he whispered against her lips. "Thank you. For being so strong and delivering our girls like an absolute goddess, and for my passing down my mother's name. That meant everything to me.""And thank you for giving me our girls, and for Leia's name," she countered, holding his gaze and falling even more in love with him.  The following morning, the Republic Security Forces finally arrived; having taken their good ol' time, because apparently arresting pirates wasn't exactly a pressing undertaking for them. The repairs to the Millennium Falcon had been completed just before the RSF showed up, so Poe and Chewbacca were both able to meet with the officers and give them the lowdown on everything that had transpired.Meanwhile, Crisara and Rey had headed into the heart of Rwookrrorro, to another of the community buildings where Crisara was finally going to meet the seven-year-old, Force-sensitive Wookiee girl and her parents. The girl was named Liachildaa, or Lia for short, and right away Crisara and Rey could both see she was especially shy. She was tall, as Wookiees generally were, but she was even more so for a Wookiee her age. Crisara and Rey, both carrying the twins strapped to them in slings, sat down and Crisara began to ask Lia and her parents about some of the things that had happened recently, and then Crisara discussed in detail what could be expected at the Kenobi Academy. She explained there were already several other children of varying ages and species and skill. Each padawan was learning and training at a pace that worked for them. Crisara wanted to make it clear that no padawan, or even Jedi, were alike.When Crisara talked about the school and how it was next to her home and the serenity of being on the lake, Lia's parents couldn't deny it sounded lovely, but they were concerned about letting their little girl go. Crisara had pointed out that Lia, since she wasn't an orphan like the others, would have a similar education and training experience that Crisara had. For Lia, the Kenobi Academy would be more of a boarding school than a group home. She would spend a large portion of the year at the school; living, learning and training there. But she would have the freedom to come home for holidays or celebrations, wedding or funerals, or just to simply be with her family. Crisara didn't necessarily want to groom any of the children to become Jedi Knights, like they were some religious order from the days of old. She just wanted these children to learn how to master their abilities, to thrive within the light side of the Force, and grow into well-rounded adults. They could take what they learned and become whatever they wanted. They could become Jedi Knights or eventually Masters, or they could find careers in politics, public works, law, or architecture, the military, medicine, or arts and sciences. They could choose to devote themselves to finding love and building a family of their own someday. Or do a little bit of everything. There was no limit to what they could do, so long as they didn't abuse their abilities and it didn't hurt anyone.Rey had spoken up, and hoped she wasn't stepping on Crisara's toes, when she suggested that Lia's parents could come and see the school for themselves. They could visit from time to time, or be the ones who brought their daughter back and forth to the school so they could spend extra time with her. After the end of the conversation, Crisara had turned to Lia and held out a small rock to her; asking of her the same thing she'd asked of Tem when she first met him. She asked Lia to focus on the rock and, without touching it, to lift it. She asked Lia to concentrate and ignore everything else around her; to focus on what she could feel within herself. To close her eyes and picture the rock lifting up into the air.When Lia did all that, after a moment, her parents began to warble softly. It wasn't necessarily in surprise, because they'd seen their daughter already do quite a bit. But now she had someone to gently talk her through what she was capable of; to guide her. When Lia opened her eyes and saw she had successfully levitated the rock, Crisara could sense how Lia was very pleased at what she'd done and that it was met with admiration instead of frustration. Seeing their daughter so happy made the parents even more so.It was with heavy hearts that they agreed to let Lia go, but wanted to bring her to Naboo themselves; so they could have a proper send-off. Crisara and Rey both respected that decision, and Crisara said she looked forward seeing Lia join and thrive at the Kenobi Academy.While all that was going on, Poe wasn't too far away. He was watching the RSF rounding up each and every last pirate; leading them from the cages the Wookiees had put them in, to the RSF transports that would then ferry them into orbit to the awaiting starship."General Dameron," one of the RSF officers greeted; holding a datapad in his hand and checking off boxes with each shackled pirate that ambled by, under guard. "It's an honor to finally meet you. I'm Captain Obian Dhanzina."When the officer held his hand out, Poe shook it politely. "Nice to meet you, Captain.""I've read your file, and all the reports from your time with the Resistance, especially during the war," Dhanzina remarked. "Impressive stuff."Poe smirked sheepishly. "Yeah, well, I was surrounded by a lot of impressive people. Made me look more impressive than I really was, or am.""You've always been where the action is, right in the thick of it, and now, even after the war, it seems action still finds you. Either you're in the right place at the right time, and just lucky, or you will it to happen.""I wouldn't call it any of that.""Well, if it were anyone else, I don't know if the threats you've dealt with would've been neutralized so quickly."Poe shrugged. "I always had help. I didn't do any of it alone."Dhanzina shook his head; not buying the humble façade. "I think it has a lot to do with you, sir. You're a war hero. You led the Resistance to the Battle of Exegol and won. You oversaw the end of the First Order. You collared Armitage Hux."Poe soured a tad at the mention of the sniveling ginger. "My wife was there for most of those things. She's the greater hero.""Yeah, but she's a Jedi, isn't she? So she already has a leg up. You've done it all without any magic powers or some fancy laser sword. That makes you more remarkable in my book, General.""I'm not a General anymore," Poe countered; watching as a pirate tried to make a run for it, only for him to be stunned by the blaster of one of the RSF officers. Where did that pirate honestly think he was gonna go? "I'm just a husband, and a father, making my way in a post-war galaxy.""You're more than that. I mean, what do you do now?""I, uh, well…" Poe didn't really do anything specific. "I help my wife run her school. I teach the kids how to work on ships, show them how to fly a bit. And now I have newborns, so I'll probably be more of a stay-at-home dad for a while so Crisara can return to training the next generation, which includes our kids."Dhanzina snickered. "I dunno. You're wasting your talents in your retirement, if you ask me.""I'm not…" Poe frowned, looking sideways at the Captain. "I'm not retired. I mean, I'm just not fighting in a war anymore. That was the point of it all. Fighting against the First Order so we could all have normal lives to live. To have families and watch them grow, or focus on our passions or new career paths without some tyrannical oppressor dictating what we can or can't do. I only ever wanted to have a normal life, just like my parents wanted for themselves after the previous war. And I have that now.""Yes, you do," Dhanzina agreed. "But it doesn't have to be all there is. After all, eventually kids grow up and leave home. Besides your wife, what else will you have that's just yours? She'll have that school of hers that's gaining traction, but it's not really your thing, is it?" The RSF Captain nudged Poe in the arm with his elbow. "We could always use someone like you in the Security Forces. You probably wouldn't have to start at the bottom. With your record, you'd jump right to the top on day one. You could be Director."Those possibilities floated briefly around Poe's head, but the RSF just didn't feel like his particular cup of tea. "I'm enjoying my quieter life," Poe insisted.Dhanzina chuckled. "Except when it's not," he gestured to the last of the pirates being loaded into the transport, "a quieter life." Checking off the last box on his datapad, he turned to Poe. "Well, General, like I said: it really was an honor to meet you. Hopefully we meet again someday.""For the sake of my retirement, I hope not." Poe had said that with a light, joking tone, but he heartily meant it. He found Captain Dhanzina to be considerably annoying.The seriousness of Poe's response going over his head, Dhanzina chuckled some more and patted Poe on the arm before taking his leave to oversee the boarding of his own officers onto the transport. Left there alone for the moment in the field just outside Rwookrrorro, Poe watched as the ship lifted up; blowing dirt and bits of tall grass away from the stern when the engines roared. There were some singe marks left behind from the turbines, along with a bit of smoke, but at least the tall grass hadn't been set on fire.Standing there with his hands on his hips, Poe sighed. After a few minutes, he spotted someone approaching out the corner of his eye. Turning, his gaze fell upon Crisara, who was carrying the swaddled Shara in her sling. "Where's Leia?" he wondered."With Rey," Crisara replied. "Did they cart the pirates away?""Yeah.""Did they offer any idea as to why they chased us through hyperspace or how they had hyperspace tracking abilities?""One of the officers mentioned those pirates probably found some junked First Order TIEs that hadn't been properly stripped by the Republic, and then fashioned the tech to their own ships. Another officer said they probably spotted the Falcon in the spaceport in Hanna City but, thanks to my security measures preventing anyone from boarding, they simply slapped a tracker onto it and waited for us to leave.""But I don't recall anyone following us when we were leaving the spaceport.""They might've been in orbit already, maybe hiding near the moons."Crisara shook her head and smirked. "What did they think they were going to do with our ship? It's too well-known after all these years. They wouldn't be able to just fly it around the galaxy without raising a few alarms. Were they planning to strip it for parts?""Nah. Probably had some rich asshole who wanted it as a trophy; to stick in some private hangar somewhere.""Well, that's a little concerning, if that's the actual reason," she muttered, gently brushing a hand atop Shara's head. "Means there might be someone out there who might try to find a way to steal it at a later date.""That would be the only way to get it from us." Poe turned and looked down at his daughter. Leaning forward, he kissed the top of her head and inhaled her natural scent at the same time; reveling in how intoxicating it was. "We wouldn't bother ever selling it, because we sure as shit don't need the money."As Poe straightened back up, Crisara noticed a distant look in his eyes. "You okay?" She could feel tinges of discontent from him, like static, but she wasn't going to pry any further. She'd promised years ago, during the war, she would never root around his mind unless he gave her express permission. "You seem…distracted.""Just," he sighed, "a conversation I had with the RSF Captain.""What was it about?"Knowing they'd promised to always be honest with each other, he was berating himself over his decision to be vague with his response. "Just talking about the war and how everything's different."Crisara wasn't convinced at all that that had been the full extent of the conversation, but they had a lot on their plate at the moment, and she was tired, so she wasn't going to press the matter any further. At least not now. "I overheard an officer saying an extraction crew was headed here, to start removal of the crashed pirate ships. They'll be taken to the junkyards on Corellia, most likely.""They better strip them of the hyperspace tracking first. We don't need the tech falling into the wrong hands," he remarked, as they both stared forward. "Again.""Well, if we hang around, we can oversee that, but I'm sure they've been made aware by now to not make the same mistakes this time around." Looking up at her husband again, she stepped closer to him and placed her hands on his hips when she noticed the way he was just staring off into the distance at nothing in particular. "But I'd rather we headed home."Poe blinked and cast his gaze downward at her. A soft smile slowly appeared. "Yes, please." Kissing her forehead, he slipped an arm around her back and then cupped the back of Shara's head. "Let's bring our girls home to meet their brothers and their grandpa."More or less spinning them both around, they began to walk off together toward the inland tree city where they could see Chewbacca directing some of his fellow Wookiees in gathering up clean-up crews of their own. There would be repairs to a few things on the outskirts that had been damaged during the firefight and explosions, and the couple felt terrible they'd brought it to them, but they hadn't really a choice in the matter. Too much had been going on and they had to get somewhere as quickly and as safely as possible since Crisara had been in labor. But, at least Rwookrrorro had only taken on minimal damage. It was the hillsides, fields and those pirate ships that were primarily wrecked. Hillsides and fields could heal, though, and those ships would be gone soon. And possibly sooner than the extraction crews could deal with the latter, because it seemed the Wookiees were already heading to those ships to pick them apart for anything they might be able to use.Poe and Crisara wanted to thank Chewbacca and the rest of the Wookiees again for their hospitality and their help in a very chaotic moment in their lives. Then they wanted to board the Millennium Falcon with their daughters and their droids, and they wanted to go home and not have to go anywhere else for a while.

38 ABY — Four months later

It came as no surprise that the place where the twins slept the soundest was on the bed in the master bedroom. Most days, while they napped, they were laid out on the bed, surrounded by pillows so they didn't somehow roll around and fall off. Initially, they slept in separate bassinets, on either side of the bed, and whichever twin woke up during the night, the parent on that particular side got up with them. Though, more often than not, one twin waking up crying woke the other, so then both Poe and Crisara were up, too. During the day, when either parent had to actively be doing something, sometimes they just each took a twin and walked around with that particular twin strapped against their chest in a sling.Crisara was back in full swing with training the padawans next door. Lia had joined the Kenobi Academy two weeks after the twins had been born and the young, female Wookiee seemed to be coming out of her shell. Surrounded by others like her, in ability, she was finally more comfortable in her own fur. With Twesh Vahn, the Rodian boy who originally hadn't been able to speak any Galactic Basic Standard, and therefore had to rely on C-3PO to translate for him and the others, Lia relied on the droid to translate what she was saying in Shyriiwook, but was at least able to understand everyone else. However, Crisara had made it a point that her padawans learn Shyriiwook, the same as she had insisted they learn Rodian, and Twesh learn Basic. She had expressed that, as they got older and began to traverse the galaxy, they would be expected to interact with different people and cultures from time to time and it was polite to be able to communicate with those people and cultures on their home turf, unless they had a droid like C-3PO to do it for them.A lot of the time lately, Poe didn't have a lot to do other than take care of the twins during the day when Crisara was engrossed in training. His father visited most days, as he'd expected would happen; the elder Dameron not being able to get enough cuddles with his little granddaughters. And, oh — how Kes had been over the moon when he found out one of them had been named after his late wife. However, when it was just Poe and the twins, he had been terrified in the beginning. He'd been so worried he was doing everything wrong or that he'd step away for a few minutes to use the bathroom and somehow one of the twins, or both, would choke on some clump of dust or something else ridiculous and just flat out die. He hovered incessantly, but not just out of worry, but also because he was so enraptured by them. He could sit there and stare at them all day while they napped.A lot of times he did.A lot of times, although they slept the best on his and Crisara's bed, he preferred lying upon the bed and taking turns with letting one of them nap on his chest. Or sometimes both together. Sometimes he would just stare down at their little faces; their cheeks smushed against his shirt. He would listen to their itty bitty breaths and stick his finger into the surprisingly strong grip of their itty bitty hands and just melt into a puddle of goo. Sometimes he would wind up falling asleep with them.Sleep when baby sleeps and all that.On this particular day, only a few weeks into the new year, both twins were wide awake; lying upon the bed in front of their father as he sat there, cross-legged, staring down at them. Poe was smiling at them, making stupid faces and silly noises, which in turn brought out excitable coos and happy smiles. And sometimes gas. Which sometimes led to something more than gas, and that was something else Poe had not been prepared for in the beginning.How could two little things shit so fucking much?And the blowouts.Oh, stars above, don't get him started on the blowouts.Poe wasn't ashamed to admit that, in the beginning, one or two of those moments had made him throw up, much to Crisara's amusement.In this, the twins' fourth month of life, Poe considered himself to be a seasoned veteran in that department. His stomach had hardened, and he was almost nose blind to the smell by now. It didn't really bother him as much as it originally did. He'd found his rhythm and he was immensely enjoying being a father from the infant stage and onward. It was definitely different than coming in to a situation where he had 'ready-made' sons, born not of his genetic material that could already talk back.That was getting interesting.Caro was going on eight, Tem was about to be thirteen. Both had their moody moments which was…so fun. Poe had had his first real experience with disciplining the boys, on separate occasions and for different reasons, and he hadn't liked it. He didn't like being the bad guy. Crisara had soothed his nerves afterward and assured him it was just part of being a parent. They weren't meant to be their children's best friends. They were parents. They were there to love, guide and support. And, sometimes, lay down the law when the kids did something wrong or were just acting like little assholes.Leaning over the twins, Poe grabbed Leia's right foot and Shara's left foot and took turns blowing raspberries against them, and then pretending like he was gobbling up their toes. When they began to giggle, he leaned back and filled his cheeks with air, and then blew it out, which didn't garner much of a reaction out of them. So, he began tickling their sides, which brought the giggles back out, and then he leaned further down and began smothering their pudgy cheeks and into the crooks of their necks with kisses, which brought out hearty chuckles from their lips. The sound made his heart swell.When the bedroom door opened and Crisara walked in, he barely noticed her at first."I don't know how you do it, but somehow you look sexier making silly faces while covered in drool."Poe looked up at his wife through his eyebrows and smirked. "Most of it's mine," he joked.Crisara, too, chuckled at him. Sauntering over to the bed, she slowly laid sideways down on the mattress so that she was hovering above the girls' heads. Immediately, they sensed her presence and tried desperately to crane their necks for a better look at her; wanting to see their mommy. When Crisara leaned forward and kissed each of their foreheads, she leaned a bit further over them and waited until Poe kissed her lips. "How have they been?" she asked with a sated smile when she leaned back.Poe glanced at both girls and, in a typical baby talk voice, replied, "They've been silly little girls, yes they have." He gave them a bit of a tickle again, causing further giggles, and then finally sat up a bit straighter as he looked properly at his wife. He found her staring back at him with a slight raise of her eyebrow. "This is why I need you to pop back into the house in-between training sessions during the day. I forget how to talk like an adult. I love the girls, but there's only so much gibberish — theirs and mine — I can handle before my brain goes to mush."Crisara snickered, reaching a hand out and brushing it against Shara's cheek for a moment. "Sorry," she muttered. "I do try. Especially when these girls," she gestured to her breasts, "start to get too full and sometimes leak.""How are those girls now?" It was Poe's turn to raise an eyebrow at her. "I can put the twins in their bassinets, or in their cribs in the nursery, and massage any aches and pains away.""I'm fine for now, but I appreciate the offer."With a sigh, he shrugged. "Well, it's an open-ended offer that can be redeemed at any time."Smiling brightly at him, Crisara pulled herself up into a sitting position and scooped Shara up into her arms. "I just wanted to cuddle my babies for a little bit," she informed; planting a few kisses upon the firstborn twin's cheeks. "Why does their skin gotta smell so good? I wanna eat 'em. And their thighs at this stage? Getting so chunky. So meaty." As if to prove her point, she gave one of Shara's thighs a few gentle squeezes, as if it would squeak like a chew toy."Babe, that's cannibalism and it's frowned upon in most cultures," Poe teased.Holding Shara out to him, she grinned. "Oh, come on. Take a little bite."With a laugh, Poe accepted Shara into his arms, held her up and gummed one of her thighs before setting her back down and cradling her in one arm while watching Crisara lift Leia. Watching his wife and their other twin, and then looking down at Shara, Poe felt…almost complete."You suddenly seem worlds away," Crisara remarked, tilting her head slightly to one side. "Where did you go just then?"Poe shrugged. "I'm not sure.""I know I leave you alone with the girls quite a bit. I'll try to do better. I'll figure out how to structure my time better so it gives me more with you and the girls. Caro and Tem get enough of me; before training in the morning, during training, at the end of the day. They're probably sick of seeing my face. They probably see it in their dreams.""They should count themselves lucky."Crisara narrowed her gaze. She wasn't sure if he meant what he'd just said in regard to simply dreaming of her, because he was trying to be sweet and romantic, or if it was a sadder nod to having lost his mom at the age Caro was now, and wishing he (Poe) could see his mother morning, noon and night. "Well, one thing's for sure: I am very lucky." Shoving a finger into Leia's grasp, she leaned in again toward Poe. "I scored a mind-blowingly sexy husband, who's even sexier in dad mode."Poe began to grin. "Got time for a quickie?" he asked, closing the gap between them and kissing her again.Hesitating to answer while she considered it, the sound of gas rumbling from Leia ruined the potential mood. "Ugh, thwarted." Almost instantly, Crisara scrunched her noise from the smell that began to waft upward. A moment later, the rumbles continued and began to sound wet.Poe almost gagged. "Blowout," he muttered.  A few weeks had passed and Poe was feeling a little lost. And maybe even a little bored.He loved his wife, he loved his children, he loved their home and he loved his life, but something was missing from it.He also hadn't been sleeping well.Maybe it was the fact that the twins weren't quite sleeping through the night just yet and he was just exhausted, but he and Crisara had soon realized it was something else.One particular night, he had been tossing and turning in his sleep, and then he began muttering incoherently, which was when Crisara had begun to wake up. She was sensing trouble in Poe's mind. She hadn't been looking into his mind on purpose. When she was asleep, her own mind became like a sponge; absorbing the swells of emotions from those around her. Poe's thoughts and emotions began to feel like someone had turned on several radio frequencies at the same time. As she grew more aware of what was going on within her own mind, she was able to glimpse into his and she felt fear and pain."No," Poe mumbled. "Fuck away from me." He thrashed his head from side to side; panting.As Crisara sat up and stared down at him, she had to yank her head back quickly because his arm shot up, as if he were trying to punch someone that wasn't there. "Poe." She grabbed at his shoulder and gave him a shake. "You're dreaming."He began whimpering; his face contorted in a grimace of pain, but it was only the lingering memory of pain. "Fucking stop. Stop! Stop!" When a deep, breathy sob escaped his lips, he rolled over and began kicking and shoving at Crisara, but without realizing who he was kicking and shoving against.Fraught with concern, Crisara curled an arm around his chest and held his arms down and then pressed her face into the side of his neck opposite from her. She was half-laying on him and holding firmly to him and trying to offer him a sense of calm from the Force within her. "Poe, you're having a nightmare," she clarified against the skin of his neck; close to his ear. "It's not really happening. Wake up."Slowly, Poe began to ease up with the thrashing. When the sound of her voice slipped into his consciousness, his teary eyes fluttered open and he began to rapidly blink away the images that had been plaguing him. When he realized Crisara was wrapping herself around him like a security blanket, he brought his arms up and encircled them around her back. His hand clung to her for dear life and he leaned his face against hers. Though the nightmare had ended, the anguish that went along with it lingered and so did his sobbing.Crisara could feel him shaking underneath her, so she held him closer. "It's okay. I'm here. It's over," she lulled. Tears of her own stung her eyes; wishing she could take away those nightmares forever. It had been quite some time since his last row with them and she was just beginning to think they were gone for good. "Take some deep breaths," she urged. "Just listen to my voice and feel me against you."As his breathing began to still and as he blinked away the tears, he focused his eyes on the darkness in their bedroom. He did listen to her voice and he did feel her against him, and it did wonders. It calmed him down and it made every annoying detail from his nightmare scurry back into the dark corners of his mind; to haunt him again at a later date. "Thank you," he whispered into her hair.Slowly lifting her head so she could stare properly at him, she offered him a soft gaze. "Do you want to talk about it?"Poe shook his head very adamantly. "You know what it was about. I don't want to focus on it if I don't have to.""Eventually, you should. I know you told me about what happened to you — what the First Order and Ben did. It was traumatic and that kind of trauma doesn't just go away because you don't want to focus on it. But, someday, you should focus on it. I hope you can find a way to make peace with what happened.""I wish I could. I really do." He sighed, lifting a hand to wipe at his eyes. "I thought I was past it. It's been almost a year since I dreamt about it. I don't know why it keeps coming back."Shifting off of him bit so she was more so curled against his side, Crisara propped her head up in her hand and stared at his profile. "Maybe because during the war, and shortly after it, we were all so busy. You didn't have the time to let your mind focus on much of anything else. But now, as our lives have sort of slowed down, your mind has begun to process everything that happened, and not just what was done to you. Everything you experienced. The war, as a whole. The friends you lost. You have more downtime now." Crisara shrugged. "Maybe if you had something more to do, to keep yourself occupied with, besides the twins or the Falcon…"Poe slowly nodded. "I was thinking about that, too. But I don't know what else to do with my life anymore besides just being a husband and a dad," he admitted, shyly glancing at her. "You have your purpose. You're a Jedi Master, training the next generation of future Jedi, like your father before you, but you'll do better and not make his mistakes or the mistakes of the previous generations.""Oh, I'll definitely make mistakes," she assured with a small smile. "I'm probably already making them, but I don't have that hindsight yet.""Before you, before the kids, all I had was the Resistance and the fight. The war. It gave me purpose. It gave me something to do that meant something and was bigger than myself. I was doing my part to save the galaxy from tyranny and pure evil." Poe lifted a hand and wiped it down his face before letting it drop over her arm which was still draped over his chest. "I was the best pilot in the galaxy, or so I liked to boast.""You still are the best pilot in the galaxy," she contended.Poe frowned. "The fight was my purpose. Flying was my passion. But…""But what?""I don't think I want to fly anymore. Well, not as often, anyway.""How come?" Crisara wondered, knitting her brow together."My mom." Turning his face toward hers, he could see her confusion. "My mom was a great pilot. She was always flying everywhere; before, during and after the Galactic Civil War. She flew constantly, and she got sick. She got bloodburn, and it typically appears in pilots and happens as a result of space travel." He swallowed back a lump in his throat. "What if I keep flying and I get it, too? What if it kills me like it killed my mom?""Oh, Poe," Crisara cooed. She slipped her arm from out underneath his hand and cupped the side of his face; thumbing his cheekbone. "You won't get it.""But you don't know. You haven't had any visions of how long I'll live. I could come down with it tomorrow and be dead by next week or in a couple years." Poe furrowed his brow and began to get emotional again; fueled by the lingering fear his nightmare left behind. "I don't want to leave you and the kids behind.""You won't.""But you don't know.""I don't know, but I have a pretty good feeling, and my feelings about certain things have yet to fail me." Crisara exhaled a deep, steadying breath. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his; offering him a soft, comforting kiss. "Plus, bloodburn is common in younger pilots. You're almost thirty-six. You're not as young anymore as you think you are, Dameron.""Rude, but okay." A ghost of a smile finally began to appear on his lips and upon his face. But then, it quickly faded. "But what if my mother already had the disease in her when she conceived me, and it only claimed her after incubating for years? And what if she somehow passed it to me and it's incubating in me right now? What if—"Crisara cut him off with another kiss. She sat up and grabbed both sides of his face in her hands and urged him to just keep kissing her. With little nudging, she was able to get him to roll onto his side and then pull him on top of her. "Shh," she hushed; trying to silence his fears with a more pleasant distraction, and with words that had been told to her by the Force ghost of Qui-Gon Jinn some sixteen years earlier before her knighting ceremony. "Don't center on your anxieties. Keep your concentration on the present, not on the future." Then she added, "Keep your concentration on me. On how I can make you feel."Appreciating her mode of distraction, Poe shifted on top of her so that he was lying between her legs, and began to leave a trail of kisses down her neck. But, before they took this distraction anywhere else, he paused and looked her in the eye. The darkness of the room made her usual blue eyes look darker, but that could also be lust and arousal from the way his hips ground against hers. "I love you for many reasons, but I really love you for making me feel safe, when I feel like it should be the other way around. I feel like I should be the one taking care of you." He kissed her jaw. "I should be protecting you." He kissed her cheek. "I should be doing more to pull my weight around here." Poe leaned his face back from hers and frowned. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I feel lost in my life. I love you, I love the kids. I love everything about the life we live, but I think I've been struggling for a while now to figure out my place in this galaxy without a war to fight."Gently, Crisara snaked her fingers into Poe's hair, pushing some of his soft, dark curls off his forehead as she smiled knowingly back up at him. "You need something other than us to fight for."Poe nodded. "I do.""Well, there are other ways to make a difference. There are other ways to fight that don't require being a hotshot pilot and firing a blaster.""I'm open to suggestions."Crisara smirked. "And I'll be more than glad to offer some…in the morning. But tonight…"A grin pulled happily at the corners of Poe's mouth. "Yeah," he whispered into her mouth when he kissed her again. "I know what to do tonight."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine"
— Taylor Swift 
38 ABY — 2 months later
As if the fates were listening, Poe didn't have to wait very long for opportunity to come knocking where a purpose, besides his family, was concerned. It arrived one evening when he and Crisara had gone into Theed, to the Banqueting Rotunda; a squat building with stately columns and an adjacent tower. It was the go-to banqueting hall in the capital city which was located off of Palace Plaza and within walking distance of the Royal Palace. It was primarily used by those of more than modest means for their personal, social events as any official banquets or soirees involving the sitting monarch were always held at the Palace, mainly for security reasons. On this fateful night, it was being used for the wedding reception of Crisara's second cousin Nevara Connix.Two years earlier, Nevara had met and fallen rather quickly for Dazra "Daz" Rordi of Lothal. He had been a Captain in the Resistance who had come up in the ranks rather quickly and, out of necessity from lack of personnel after Crait, and had obviously survived the Battle of Exegol. Crisara and Poe hadn't had many one-on-one interactions with him during war time, but had gotten to know him a bit more since Nevara had taken up with him, and found him to be a lovely guy. He was kind, funny, incredibly bright, and sociable. The exact opposite of her father; which negated the idea that girls fell for guys that reminded them of their father.The wedding ceremony had taken place in the afternoon at Broadberry Meadow, a secluded cliff and riverside garden located across a branch in the river from the Rotunda, and could only be reached by boat. The ceremony didn't take place outside, though, but instead inside the small hexagonal building with beige walls and a domed green roof built amongst the grass and trees of the meadow. It was lavishly decorated with countless millaflowers intertwined with sprigs of Treeman's herb. Despite it being midday, it was shadowy inside the small building so each wall had extra light provided by lanterns hanging from each of the six walls and a crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the tall ceiling, which Crisara soon recognized as one of her great-grandmother Lokmé's simpler lighting creations.Poe and Crisara had arrived, dressed impeccably, which was a considerable change from their more casual attire. Poe was usually in his tried-and-true cargo pants, shirts that had seen better days and sometimes his leather jacket with the worn Rebel patch that had once belonged on a jacket his mother used to wear during the Galactic Civil War. Crisara was usually in some variation of leggings that either reached her ankles or to mid-calf, and paired it with some tunic or over-sized shirt; both of the latter she kept cinched around her waist with a belt that she kept her lightsaber hooked to. She also usually had her hair pulled back and off her face in some lazy ponytail.This wedding called for greater effort, so Crisara dug through their wardrobe, picking through old dresses that belonged to either of her grandmothers, as well as a few fancier clothing items she'd inherited from Leia; settling on a simple, lightweight yellow dress made of some sort of gauzy material she wasn't fashionable enough to name. Rey was away again, doing who knows what, who knows where, so she wasn't available for the menial task of doing Crisara's hair for her, as she had for Poe's and Crisara's wedding. So, Crisara hired a stylist for the morning. As it was a warm day, she wanted her hair up and off her neck and she wanted it to look as simple as possible. She didn't need anything over-the-top that would take any attention away from the bride on her big day. Poe looked effortlessly handsome no matter if he was covered in grease or freshly-showered and freshly-shaven. For the wedding, he was the latter two.The entire ride into Theed, Crisara couldn't take her eyes off of him. Realizing the color of dress she was wearing, he purposely ran into the capital the day before, purchased a dress shirt in a similar color, and paired it with a crisp, brown linen high-collared dinner jacket, which was apparently the current fad, and matching slacks. The material of the jacket and pants reminded her of the outfit he'd wore their first time to Canto Bight, and then it got her thinking about how that trip to Canto Bight had ended with them ravishing each other all night long. When he'd noticed her staring, Poe reciprocated the gesture; purposely looking her up and down as if he were going to throw her down to the ground and split her in two. He even kept it up once they'd arrived to the ceremony, while they were waiting their turn for a boat to ferry them across the river."Can you not look at me like that right now?" she asked, biting her bottom lip and hoping the blush appearing at her cheeks was obscured by the sunlight and the little bit of makeup she was wearing on her face."Like what?"Turning, she looked pointedly at him. "Like you're undressing me with your eyes."As the gondolier offered their hand to her, so she could step down into the boat, Poe grinned. "I am undressing you with my eyes."Crisara shook her head with a smile and carefully sat down, while Poe managed to climb into the boat and sit down without assistance. When he sank down beside her, he slipped an arm around her waist, holding her close, and then nuzzled her bare shoulder. They'd both caught the gondolier's subtle smirk in regard to the couple blatantly flirting with each other; but it was clear the gondolier thought they were simply adorable and loving with each other, and not being annoying with overt displays of public affection."You smell good," Poe continued, whispering near her ear. "I could eat you up." He leaned back slightly, staring at her profile, and clacked his teeth together like he was taking a bite.Turning to face him, Crisara slipped a hand to his thigh and gave a playful squeeze as the boat pushed off from the shore and carefully floated against the current toward the opposite shore. "Don't tempt me with a good time," she whispered back.Crisara was lucky that gondolier was there and that there were wedding guests on either shore that could see them. If it were just the two of them, Poe would've ripped that dress off of her before she could blink, and made her see stars right then and there. And, honestly, she would've let him.In no time at all, they made it across to Broadberry Meadow. They climbed out of the boat, this time with Poe assisting her out of it, and then met up with Taya and her husband Zoh; mother and father of the bride. Kaydel Ko Connix was there, as she was the bride's first cousin. Crisara always remembered their mutual connection but Poe often forgot that Kaydel's father and Taya's husband Zoh were brothers.Small galaxy.What made it even smaller was Daz Rordi's own familial connection.Ransolm Casterfo; former Centrist Senator from Riosa, who had forged a partnership with Leia and even became friends with her. However, he had been manipulated by one of his Centrist colleagues, and was the one responsible for revealing the truth that Leia was the daughter of Darth Vader, which had subsequently ended her political career. He had felt horrible for doing it, and had been able to make amends with her; regaining Leia's trust and friendship. Unfortunately for him, that Centrist colleague of his disliked dissension among the Centrists and framed him as the mastermind behind the infamous Napkin Bombing, the Amaxines, and the assassination of Senator Tai-Lin Garr. He was arrested, spending six years in prison doing hard labor. He had just been transferred by the First Order to Corellia for more prison labor when the Resistance had shown up, just days after the Battle of Crait. A team led by Wedge Antilles rescued him and several others, and Leia was able to recruit him into their growing rebellion. Because of the part he played within the Resistance, his history in politics and the fact that his innocence had been proven, he had become a top contender for the position of Chancellor of the Republic. It hadn't necessarily been a landslide vote, but he did get most of them.Before he ever entered politics, though, he'd had a rough childhood where his parents had been conscripted to work on the Death Star, and later died. He was then adopted by a wealthy offworld couple from Lothal, who had an older, biological daughter. That daughter was newly married by the time of his adoption, and his adoption was probably because the wealthy couple were feeling the stings of empty nest syndrome. That daughter, Ransolm's adoptive sister, was Daz's mother. So, Daz was, therefore, Ransolm's nephew.Seriously — a small galaxy.The ceremony was simple, beautiful and it was thankfully not a long-winded affair. The officiant cut to the chase, as that was apparently how both Nevara and Daz wanted it. The couple had stood in the center of the hexagonal building with their officiant, surrounded by their immediate family and friends. When it was declared they were officially husband and wife, all the guests tossed millaflower petals into the air, which they had all been given small pouches of beforehand. After cheers and congratulations — as well as hugs and kisses — were shared, all guests had to make the same trek by boat back across the river to the main bank.They made their way along a wide path into the Rotunda where tables were set up around the interior's curved walls. There were instrumentalists performing from a small mezzanine overhead and dancing would take place in the center of the Rotunda after the meal was served. Poe and Crisara sat together at a table with Kaydel and her parents; enjoying the food that was served and the drinks that were plentiful. The desserts were small pastry cakes, lathered with icing and topped with either candied pieces of fruit or the millaflower petals, which were edible. Toasts were made to the new couple by each father, and something that, for those that knew Zoh Connix or at least knew of him, was a surprise because his words directed toward his daughter were so moving and impassioned.Where had this facet of him been all these years?Afterward, dancing commenced; the bride and the groom christening the floor before anyone else took to it. Poe was one of the first to stand, to join the newlyweds. He pulled Crisara up to her feet and led her away from their table, and doing so without breaking his gaze from hers. As soon as they were on the dance floor, he took her right hand into his left and then slipped his right arm around her waist; pulling her close against him as they danced their first dance together.Poe closed his eyes and tipped his face down, as if he were trying to count the steps, but he was merely taking in the moment. He was listening to the music — the rhythm, the pace. He leaned his face closer to hers so that his forehead brushed against hers, and then slowly looked upward to brush his nose against hers next. With a small smile upon his lips, he kissed her and let it linger for as long as possible without drawing too much attention.With her free hand initially upon his shoulder, she began to slide it around the back of his neck to curl around to the other shoulder and then pressed her face against his when the kiss ended. "You're a fine dancer, Dameron," she muttered. "Have I told you that before?""Possibly, but you can always say it again, just to be sure," he teased."You're a mighty fine dancer."Poe grinned and began nuzzling the side of her face. "I know this night is far from over, but I kinda want to get out of here already.""I'm sure you do." She knew where his mind was at. Hers was in the same place. But, as he said, the night was far from over and she didn't want them to dip out too early on Nevara and her new husband. "We don't have to stay all night, but we should stay for at least a couple hours.""So, two hours. No more, no less, and then I can abscond with you?"Crisara chuckled. "Sure." She leaned back, looking him in the eye. "Stars, I love you.""I love you, too," he replied; quickly stealing another kiss from her.As the song ended, a more upbeat song began. Poe began to twirl her around, swayed his hips from side to side while making flirty faces at her, and had her completely in his thrall. She didn't have two left feet by any means, but the way with which he could move to music was far superior to any moves she had and should be considered illegal. He could make her feel easily aroused one moment and laughing with amusement the next from just making ridiculous faces at her, similar to the ones he made at their twins. Honestly, as much as she enjoyed any and all moments they had to make love, she was also just enjoying this night; dancing with him and partying with him. They never got to do stuff like this.After a few dances together, they got a bit winded and took a moment to step aside and accept some drinks offered to them by the hired waitstaff, and then Poe stole Nevara from Daz for a dance, and Daz took Crisara for a spin. Kaydel, who had been sitting at their table, nursing her own drink while watching everyone flit around the dance floor, like the flower petals that had fallen down around Nevara after the ceremony, was thoroughly surprised when Poe yanked her up to her feet."No sitting on the sidelines, Lieutenant. It's all hands on deck," he jested, causing her to chuckle."Yes, General," she mock saluted him while handing her drink off to Crisara; some of which spilled out of the glass and landed on Crisara's hand in the process.While Crisara looked on with a smile, she set the glass down and grabbed up a napkin to wipe off her hand when she felt someone approach her from the left."It's a marvelous wedding, isn't it? One of the nicest I've ever been to."Crisara turned and flashed Ransolm Casterfo a smile. "Chancellor," she muttered, nodding her greeting to him. Then, she added in regard to his comment, "Yes, it is. Though, I may be biased. I still prefer mine."As she stared forward at Poe making Kaydel snort with laughter, Ransolm stared at Crisara's profile. "I would've liked to have been there. I heard wonderful things about it," he remarked. "I heard you shined brighter and more beautiful than any star in the known universe."Knitting her brow together, she could sense a hint of longing from him. Boldly prying into his thoughts, but without looking back at him, Crisara could see he was attracted to her, and considerably jealous of Poe's good luck. Thankfully, she could also see that Ransolm was a gentleman, and wouldn't dare to try to steal another man's wife, whether she was willing or not. Crisara wouldn't deny he was a handsome man. He was incredibly handsome.Ransolm was tall and slender, though muscled. Probably from his years of hard labor in prison. He had sandy blonde hair, blue eyes and cheekbones that could cut glass. His looks were definitely masculine, but in a pretty sort of way. And he had a lovely speaking voice; eloquent, deep but not too deep, and a bit of a colorful lilt to it. When Crisara finally turned and looked at him, she saw he was already looking at her and she could see a touch of sadness in his eyes, but it wasn't from anything recent. It was old horrors and heartbreak that would never fully go away.She was familiar with the look.She saw it in many people who had survived the First Order-Resistance War. She also saw it in the eyes of those who had also survived the previous war. People who were happy to have made it out the other side, but would always be haunted by what they saw or had to do to make it out the other side."You remind me of your aunt a great deal. Not necessarily in looks, but in the way you carry yourself and how you interact with others." He smirked; letting out a small sigh and then looking down at the drink he held in his hands. "If you didn't have that school, and were you not bringing up a new generation of Jedi, I think you could do well in politics. You have a level head for it.""But I don't have the stomach for it," she countered, looking out toward the dance floor again. "I prefer the life I'm leading. I am enjoying being a teacher. I had my doubts about it when I was younger. It took walking away from that path to realize it was a path I was always meant to be on. But I had to make it my own first. In order to walk the path, I had to walk it the way I wanted to." She watched Ransolm, out the corner of her eye, knock back the rest of his drink. "I have everything I want. I have the school and my padawans. I have a home I never want to leave. I have four children I love and would give my life for. Well, technically I have five children, but one is gone now. Though, if I could bring her back, I'd trade my life for hers, without question or hesitation." Crisara's blue eyes wandered over toward Poe and Kaydel again. "And I have a husband that takes my breath away, every day, and who deserves to have the same full purpose in life that I do."Ransolm furrowed his brow and followed her gaze over toward Poe. "Is he not as incandescently happy with his life as you are?""With our home life; yes, he's absolutely content. But Poe…he's a man of action. He hates to sit still for too long." With a slight tilt of her head. "I'm not sure he realizes it, but he was one of Leia's protégés. She was grooming him, in the end, to lead. To be the leader she knew he was. To fight for what's right, for the good of the galaxy. To inspire hope in the hopeless, even when all seemed lost. And, during the war, he was a great leader. And he fought like hell at any given moment to save this galaxy. He was ready to die if it meant the Resistance could live to fight another day, and win. A man like that, like Poe, can't just quietly bow out after helping lead us all to victory. A man like Poe needs to maintain the fight, to see it through."Considering this, Ransolm turned and abandoned his glass on the table behind him and then folded his arms across his chest. "I think I have an idea of what he could do, to get his feet wet into a, uh, new fight. A way to test the waters before possibly jumping in the deep end, so to speak." Ransolm looked at Crisara with a knowing smirk. "How familiar are you with Naboo's current governor, Brosa Senn?""I've met him once or twice in the last few years. Both times, merely by chance.""Has your husband ever met him?""Not that I'm aware of."Ransolm nodded, his gaze suggesting the wheels in his head were turning. "I make it a point to know what all those in seats of power within the Republic are up to at any given moment. I listen to the ambassadors on Chandrila. I pay attention. Senn, from what I've heard, has ideas for Naboo's defense, which has always been practically non-existent." He turned more fully to face Crisara, and went as far as to reach a hand out and touch it to her arm, but only in a friendly manner; despite the thoughts in the back of his mind she was somewhat privy to. "Senn can't get an idea off the ground or put a plan into motion to save his life. But with Poe's help, navigating those waters…progress could be made here.""What are you suggesting?" Crisara asked with a narrowed gaze."Senn's formed a committee to oversee building up Naboo's Royal Security Forces. With Poe, a famed war General and natural leader…" Ransolm's blue eyes wandered over toward her husband, who was no longer dancing with Kaydel, but was now slow dancing with a flattered Taya. Kaydel was off talking with other guests near the dessert table. "I'll have my people get in contact with Senn's people. Poe will receive an invitation to meet with Senn within the week and, if Senn is smart, he'll invite Poe to sit on his committee." Smirking politely, the forty-year-old Chancellor looked back upon Crisara. "A man like your husband deserves to go places. And Naboo surely wouldn't be lacking for putting his leadership skills to use."With an appreciative smile, Crisara nodded up at Ransolm. "Thank you. Your faith in him means a lot to me. And I'm sure it would mean a lot to him as well."Boldly, Ransolm leaned down a bit. "I'm not doing it for him."Without another word, he walked away, leaving Crisara a bit befuddled. Shaking the thoughts and feelings that had suddenly radiated off the Chancellor, she instead turned her attention back to her husband. Slowly, she walked out onto the dance floor and tapped Taya on the shoulder."Mind if I interrupt and steal my husband away?" she asked with a playful grin.Taya stepped out of Poe's arms, but not without squeezing his biceps for a moment. "Ooh, this boy can dance," she muttered to Crisara; clearly already a bit sloshed. Swaying as she turned to face her younger cousin, Taya winked. "He's got those bedroom eyes. I'd be careful. He might get you pregnant again tonight." Laughing at her own comment, Taya patted Crisara's shoulder and then wandered away toward her own husband, who was quietly seated at a table; just watching everyone enjoying themselves."She's very handsy after a few drinks," Poe quipped, happy to pull his wife back into his arms again.Crisara chuckled; happy to be in his arms again. "Well, lucky for you, I can be just as handsy, if not more so, and I don't even need any drinks in me." As he raised a knowing eyebrow at her, she stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, "Let's get out of here so I can have you in me."Poe practically yanked his head back; a devilish smile upon his face. "You don't have to tell me twice."Slipping a hand into hers, he began to walk off the dance floor with her. Neither even bothered to say goodbye to anyone. The only ones they probably would've bothered bidding adieu to was Nevara and Daz, but those two only had eyes for each other at the moment and were likely preparing to take off together as well.Slinking quietly out of the Rotunda and into the night air, Poe paused for a moment; pulling Crisara back into his arms. He encircled his arms around her, his hands clinging to her back as he brought his lips flush against hers; enjoying the taste of alcohol and sugary desserts that still lingered in her mouth. "Not sure I can wait to get you home.""Your dad is with the kids tonight at the villa," Crisara muttered against his lips as their kisses got hotter and heavier. "His apartment is in walking distance and we have access to it."Dropping his mouth to the side of her neck, Poe smiled. "I love the way your mind works."  Halfway through the following week, Poe had been into Theed earlier in the day and already returned home by mid-afternoon. He'd headed inside the villa, looked around for Crisara and the twins, and found neither, so then he made the quiet trek along the stone pathway to the school next door. He ducked a few of the branches from the trees and the shrubs that were starting to get a little overgrown and needed to be trimmed back; keeping his eyes downward while his mind played back his morning. There was a small smile upon his lips, he was feeling filled with renewed eagerness for the future, and wanted to share this news with his wife.Poe stepped through, appearing near the front of the school's west wing where he knew the kitchen and dining facilities were; opting to head inside through the side entrance since it was closer than the front door. He passed into the hallway off the kitchen, stopping to grab a piece of shuura fruit from a bowl on the counter and then slipped back into the hallway. Walking along, he passed the fruit back and forth between his hands in an absentminded manner while keeping an eye out for any of the padawans or Crisara that might cross his path. He reached the entrance foyer, craning his head upward toward the upper level, as if expecting to see someone up there looking down. But then he heard some voices from the sitting room, and spotted the two, oldest padawans. The eldest was seventeen-year-old Meleri Evo; the ginger-haired human girl abandoned by her parents at the GOFOY group home on Coruscant when she was only four. The other was fifteen-year-old Anila Khallan; the Mirialan girl who had apparently been left at the GOFOY group home by her father after her mother had died giving birth to her, because he couldn't afford to care for her on his own."Hello, Mister Poe," Meleri practically beamed when she saw him in the archway. She was seated on a simple lounge seat, looking over a book with Anila."Hiya, um…" He knew her name. It was at the tip of his tongue."Meleri.""Mel. Right." He gestured lamely at her. "Sorry. I have a lot on my mind at the moment. Uh…have you seen my wife — I mean, Master Dameron?" He had to keep reminding himself to refer to Crisara more formally when around her padawans."She's meditating."Poe nodded and began to turn away, but then abruptly turned back, holding a finger up as another question popped into his head. "Are our twins with her?""I believe so."He smiled appreciatively back at Meleri and then gave a slight wave to both girls before stepping further backward into the entrance foyer and then headed toward the hallway leading to the right wing. He passed doors on his left leading into meditation rooms and saw all were empty by the small green lights on the pads beside the doors, which indicated they were vacant and available for use. On his right was another archway into the sitting room, and caught Meleri still smiling at him; and looking somewhat flustered when he smiled back at her again. There was a door further up on the right which he knew led into a training room, but the door was open and all he saw was Caro and Zeda practicing some parrying with long wooden staffs.Happy to see his stepson, he braced one hand on the doorframe and poked his head in. "Hey," he greeted."Hey, dad," Caro replied; keenly aware of the swell of happiness that rolled off his stepfather like waves at the moniker. But it was who Poe was to him now. He'd had his biological father for the first four years of his life, and now he'd had Poe for the past four years. And, eventually, he'd have Poe for many decades to come. Of that Caro was certain. "Mom's in the Council Chamber."Poe was amused by how Caro knew exactly why he was there. "Thanks, buddy." He then nodded to the pretty petite thing that was Zeda Urli, the Umbaran girl that Crisara had been tempted to legally adopt after they'd brought her back to Naboo. "How's training going?""Very well," the girl replied with a small, lilty voice.Leaning back, Poe patted the side of the door and left the pair to get back to it. Turning to face forward down the remainder of the hall, he stared at the sealed door in front of him. For a few feet, he resumed swapping the shuura fruit back and forth between his hands before pausing outside the door. He glanced briefly at the pad beside it, where he knew it required Facial Recognition to get in, and only Crisara and — now — Rey had access. There was even a sign in Aurebesh that stated 'No Students Admitted Beyond This Point'. But, as Rey was mostly offworld, it was only really ever Crisara that utilized the space; usually just for meditation.There was, however, a button anyone could press, alerting anyone inside that there was someone outside the room, and a second button for communication. Poe pressed the first button, waited a moment, and then leaned forward as he pressed the second."Cris, it's me."Mere seconds later the door slid open; the only door in the entire building that did so. Crisara was considering the installation of sliding doors for the exterior doors, training room, bunkrooms and bathrooms, though, for added privacy and security. She would keep the antique, wooden doors for the meditation rooms and kitchen, and the antique, wooden double doors to the training theater, for aesthetics mostly.Poe stepped inside and found Crisara sitting cross-legged on an overstuffed chair. Below her, on the floor, were the twins. They were surrounded by soft, plush toys that were colorful to help stimulate their developing vision, but also quiet so Crisara could focus on communing with the Force. Except, at the moment, Crisara was now focused on her husband as he casually stepped inside of the room."You're back earlier than I thought," she muttered with a soft smile; gesturing for him to take a seat beside her."Why would you think I would've been gone longer?"Crisara shrugged. "Just did.""If you want me to stay away, just say so," he joked."Never."Poe was more than content with that answer as he stepped carefully around their daughters and sat down; expressing a bit of surprise in his face when he hadn't expected the chair to be so soft and for him to sink as low. He jerked forward out of instinct, as if he thought he might fall backward, and then he waited a moment to make sure he still didn't."How are you able to meditate in here with them jabbering away?" Poe wondered gesturing to the girls as he finally took a bite of the shuura fruit."It's mostly Shara. She's the talker." Crisara smiled at their eldest twin. Sure as shit, the almost seven-month-old was sitting upright with her little, chubby hands patting the floor in front of her even chubbier bent legs, while brightly spewing a bunch of gibberish. There was also a good deal of drool dripping from her lips and onto her little pants; creating saliva stains. "She talks enough for the two of them. Whatever she's saying, she barely lets Leia get a word in edgewise. In that way, she's a lot like you."Poe chuckled, looking from Shara and then to Leia, who was up on her hands and knees and rocking back and forth. "If Shara's the talker, then Leia will be the walker." He nodded at their second-born twin. "She's rearing to crawl. Shara hasn't really bothered with that yet."Crisara smiled again, and then closed her eyes; glimpsing tendrils of the Force prickling at her. "They each have their strengths and weaknesses. They'll meet the necessary milestones in their own time."Looking sideways at his wife's profile, he took another bite of the shuura fruit and raised an eyebrow at her. "How very Jedi Master of you," Poe teased. Turning back to look at the twins, he found Leia had sunk down onto her butt and twisted at the waist so that she could look up at him. Both girls were identical, there was no doubt about it, but something about Leia reminded him of himself. She began to smile up at him, as if just now realizing he was there and began to pant excitedly as she resumed the position of being on her hands and knees, and then began to crawl toward him. "Babe, babe…she's doing it."Crisara opened her eyes, but mostly because of how Poe had reached over and was patting her arm with his free hand. With a happy grin, she watched Leia crawling rather quickly over to her daddy and then stopped when she reached his feet and began to pat her chubby hand against his boot. "She's definitely a daddy's girl.""Definitely," he agreed as he tossed the rest of the fruit to the chair on the other side of him and hunched forward to lift Leia up. Setting her down, she refused to sit; instead pushing against his knees with her feet in an futile attempt to stand which merely resulted in her bobbing up and down and then quietly squealing with glee. "You happy to see daddy, Ley-Ley? I'm happy to see you."As if understanding his question, she leaned her head forward and stretched her arms out; managing to pat the sides of his face.Poe grinned and leaned forward as well, but to kiss both sides of her chubby cheeks. "Nom-nom-nom-nom-nom," he mumbled as he pretended to gobble her up, which caused her to emit a series of infectious giggles, and for her chocolate brown eyes to practically sparkle.After a few moments of that, Crisara watched as Shara realized she was being left out, so Crisara got to her feet and picked their other daughter up and sat back down with her. "How was your meeting with Governor Senn?""Oh. Oh, yeah," Poe muttered; remembering why he'd showed up at the school. He couldn't help being so easily distracted when he was surrounded by his three favorite girls. "It was…" he trailed, looking for the right word. "Unexpected.""How so?""Because I wasn't expecting him to contact me yesterday and ask to meet with me this morning.""How was the meeting?""Pretty interesting.""What was the meeting in regard to?" Crisara wondered, even though she secretly already knew.Poe furrowed his brow, but seemed pleasantly amused by something. "He's formed this committee for helping bolster Naboo's defense system, which is pretty much just for show. The Royal Naboo Security Forces are mostly on a volunteer basis, even though they've received considerable training, but it's all surface-level. They're largely unfamiliar with true danger, especially since there hasn't been any major attack to the planet since, well, the day your mother died." Poe frowned a bit. "While Naboo was lucky to not be attacked by the First Order during the war, there was a minor occupation by First Order troops in both Theed and Keren. The planet was being monitored for Resistance operatives and sympathizers. Thankfully your grandmother and Taya's family remained off their radar." Letting out a small sigh, he finally got Leia to sit down on his lap, but scooted her closer, and then reveled in the way she leaned her entire upper body against his chest and clung to him. Wrapping an arm around her, Poe leaned back a bit in the chair so Leia could rest better against him. "Senn wants Naboo to be prepared to properly fight back in the event of another invasion, of any sort. He wants the RNSF to receive actual military training and to acquire the weaponry to defend an attack from above. But, there are those on the committee who are afraid that, if other worlds get wind that we're packing heat and prepared for a fight at any moment, it might send the wrong message or some bantha fodder.""Did he ask for your opinion on the matter or…? What exactly did he want from you?""I told him acquiring weapons could be done in secret if you know the right people. Naboo is known for being rather docile and unassuming. They should use that to their advantage," Poe replied. Then, glancing back at his wife, he added, "And he asked me to join his committee.""Oh?""He said I was a citizen of Naboo now and that I had every reason to want to see it protected. And, with my history with the Resistance, as a pilot and Commander, and then General, that I could be instrumental for making necessary changes." Poe smirked a bit shyly as he pressed his lips momentarily to the top of Leia's head; inhaling the scent of her dusting of dark brown hair. "He said people followed me into battle on countless occasions. That people would follow me again."Crisara's heart swelled for him. This was the other thing he needed in his life. He needed that reminder that he still had more to offer besides just raising children and being a loving husband and son. He didn't just have to occasionally help teach the padawans about ship maintenance and maybe how to fly. He could do other things. He could be the leader that the former Leia had been guiding him to become."Did you give him an answer right then and there or tell him you had to think on it?" she wondered."I told him yes."Crisara turned to face her husband a bit more; twisting slightly at the waist and holding Shara tight. "I hope you said yes because it's what you want to do, and not just because it's something to pass the time or that you felt guilted into it.""No, I think I really want to do this," he insisted with a nod.Mirroring Poe, Crisara pressed her lips to Shara's head and then rested her cheek against it as she kept her focus on her husband. "Who knew a Rebel pilot would turn to a life of politics," she remarked with a playful smile.Poe frowned. "It's not really politics. I'm just going to be a random member of a random committee chaired by the Governor.""A committee chaired by the planet's lead political figure, after the sitting monarch. A committee to oversee the increased security and defense of this planet. A committee where decisions will be made for the betterment of all of Naboo's people," Crisara rattled. "Sounds like politics to me." When he glanced up at her, she winked at him. "And you won't be some random member. I know you, Dameron. You'll take charge before long and make a difference. You'll make waves, but good ones."Twisting his lips in thought, Poe shrugged and sank back even further into the chair; slightly aware that Leia was falling asleep on him, and more than alright with it. "Do you really think so?" he whispered; an air of doubt in his voice.Crisara tipped her head toward him and whispered back, "I know so."  
Five months later
Poe didn't just join Governor Senn's committee — he hit the ground running and began to make those waves Crisara said he'd make and, in no time at all, was chairing his own sub-committee. All work was done at the Royal Palace, with Senn's committee meeting only once a week, in Senn's office. Poe, being a pilot by nature, felt there was merit in enhancing the Royal Naboo Starfighter Corps branch of the Royal Naboo Security Forces. They would, could and should be the first line of defense against any possible, incoming threat. The pilots could defend from the planet's outer orbit or in the skies, to either prevent or put off any sort of ground invasion, or stall until the Republic Naval Forces could arrive and lend greater assistance.Poe's sub-committee met mid-week, and it was done so in a spare assembly room. His talking points and his ideas were sprinkled with speeches that inspired; calling on the same motivation he spoke with before any given battle during the war. He would talk, and the other committee or sub-committee members would just sit and listen. Sometimes he got so into what he was saying and they were so focused on listening that everyone forgot how much time had gone by. Hours passed in the blink of an eye, resulting in a couple meals being taken together in the offices or assembly rooms. Poe had even made some new friends; chief among them was Daz, Nevara's husband, who Poe had invited to be part of his sub-committee. Daz knew what it was like to fight in the war, and no one said Poe couldn't invite anyone outside the typical political scene in Theed.Despite Senn's committee and Poe's sub-committee each only meeting one day a week, somehow Poe was still finding himself spending more time in Theed during the day. It wasn't all in-person, boardroom-style meetings. Some days he was one-on-one meetings with just the Governor, or the head of Palace Guard, or the head of the Security Guard. Sometimes he was in talks with the Starfighter pilots about reworking their uniforms, which had long been too flowy and ceremonial and not at all conducive for any sort of combat. All that excess of material could get caught on something at the wrong moment. So, then there were meetings for uniform redesigns, and since the Starfighter pilots would get new uniforms, then the other Forces deserved upgrades as well, and most wanted Poe's input on that.Poe was becoming so busy that he came home so tired by the end of the day, and began feeling so guilty about not being home as often as before to help with the girls, which resulted in the need for him and Crisara to acquire outside help. They didn't want to put it all on his father's shoulders, as he wasn't exactly a young man anymore. And it wasn't fair to Finn; to pass the buck on to him in regard to looking after the padawans so Crisara could pick up the slack with the twins, especially since Finn was still only in training, too. Then there was the matter of how he'd expressed to Crisara that he wanted to join Rey and train alongside her, out there in the galaxy, for a little while. Crisara wasn't going to force him to stay. She insisted it was his life and his path. However he wanted to follow it was up to him and, whenever he did decide to leave, he always had a home with her and Poe back on Naboo.For the moment, Finn still remained, but the nanny droid had been acquired to help look after the twins. No new padawans had been discovered or joined the Kenobi Academy, so Crisara's workload, so to speak, had remained the same. Just, now…it was a little lonelier.She didn't have Poe around as often anymore when she had downtime between training or meditation or time with the twins.She was happy he had found this new vocation, and she was happy he was feeling more fulfilled, but she didn't expect how much she would miss him.So, when special events came up, now that Poe's position in local politics had begun to put him on the theoretical map, she looked forward to it so much. It meant a designated amount of hours where it would be just the two of them, getting some time away from their responsibilities; to enjoy themselves and each other and feel like normal people partaking in the finer things Naboo's high society had to offer.One such special event was an honest-to-goodness ball that was hosted by King Horu Thurvello; Naboo's first king in more than a century, and who happened to only be seventeen-years-old. That, alone, blew Poe's mind. He still didn't understand the allure of believing a child could rule over an entire planet just because they weren't "jaded" or that they had some "childlike wisdom that the adults lacked." Poe found it unsettling and more than once expressed to Crisara, in the privacy of their home, that no amount of "childlike wisdom" could compare to wisdom attained by years of experience, and knowing how the galaxy really worked.Crisara didn't disagree.Her own grandmother, Padmé Amidala, had been one such monarch, nearly seventy years earlier, and from everything she'd learned about the person her paternal grandmother had been, Crisara couldn't deny Padmé had been a much beloved Queen and an overall remarkable woman. But Crisara also believed Padmé's own childlike wisdom had given way to naïve, unrealistic hope paired with her natural relentlessness and stubbornness. Perhaps it was being placed in a position of power at so young an age and basically being given free rein to do as she pleased, within reason, but from many accounts — namely those of her other grandmother, Sera — Padme didn't often listen to or heed the advice of others, and it created many issues and placed her into many dangerous situations that could've been avoided. From that alone, Crisara could see how many of her father's and aunt's personality traits were inherited instead of developed over time by those that raised them."Why do you have to constantly take my breath away?" came Poe's question as she had been walking down the left staircase into the grand foyer at home. He was staring up at her while standing almost directly in front of the door. "You know I need air to live, right?"Crisara rolled her eyes; moving one hand in front of her to smooth down the material of her dress, which was midnight blue and covered in tiny crystals, in no specific pattern, to give the appearance of stars in the night sky. The dress was also long-sleeved, with a high waist, and the skirt belled outward; hiding her feet and giving the impression she was gliding as she walked. As she neared the base of the stairs, Poe's dark eyes seemed even darker as he settled his gaze upon the deep V neckline and the necklace she was wearing."Nice necklace," he smirked. "Did you get it from some good-looking guy?"Maintaining her own gaze on him, Crisara merely smirked back at him and touched her fingertips to it. "This old thing?" Stepping up in front of him, she leaned her face upward and welcomed the kiss he planted upon her lips. "I love it, by the way."It was a thin leather cord with a narrowed piece of wood hanging off of it, but coated in some sort of lacquer to keep the wood from chipping or crumbling over time. During one of Poe's recent days, where he wasn't busy in Theed, he was puttering in Crisara's old art studio, which barely saw the light of day anymore. She'd been curious as to where he'd gotten off to and, when she found him, he shooed her away; insisting he was working on something. When she asked what, he said it was a surprise. Then, later that night, when they were getting ready for bed, he approached with his hands behind his back, distracted her with a kiss — which wasn't too hard to do — and then slipped the necklace into her hand.Turns out the piece of wood came from one of the wroshyr trees on Kashyyyk and everything else he'd found in her studio. It had recently been Crisara's thirty-fifth birthday, and then the girls had celebrated their first birthday two weeks after that, so he had insisted it was a gift for her (Crisara) but also something to commemorate their daughters' eventful birth and the anniversary of their naming ceremony with their Wookiee friends.Crisara had absolutely loved it and, for the first time in twenty-five years, removed the necklace her father had given her and set it aside in favor of this new necklace.That alone let Poe know she was being honest about her love for the necklace.That and how she thanked him in bed shortly after."You look beautiful, but then you always do," Poe remarked after their kiss had ended.She wore her hair down. She hadn't bothered with hiring anyone to come do it for her again, so she merely brushed it while it was wet after her shower and let it air dry so it took on a natural wave. She knew she could go days without bathing and be covered in dung and he would still tell her she was beautiful, but she appreciated his compliment either way; that her minimal efforts were still worthwhile. She had make-up on, more than she'd worn to Nevara's wedding at the beginning of the year, but at least that was something she felt more capable of doing on her own."Ready to go, handsome?" she countered, linking her arm through his."I dunno." He dragged his eyes up and down her body. "We're going to an official party at the Palace. A lot of important political figures are going to be there, like King Horu, Governor Senn and Chancellor Casterfo. There could be attacks." Poe stepped directly in front of her, slipping his hand to her hip. "Are you armed?"Raising an eyebrow upward at him, Crisara shoved her right hand into the side of her dress, revealing her dress had hidden pockets and withdrew her lightsaber; wiggling it before him. "You know it," she replied. "Are you?""Why do I have to be armed? I have you." He chuckled, stole a kiss from her cheek and then nodded as someone began to approach from the dining room.It was Padawan Meleri Evo.Their nanny droid was receiving repairs, so Crisara had asked Meleri to do her and Poe this favor for the night, in watching the twins while C-3PO and Padawan Anila Khallan were keeping an eye on the other padawans, including Tem and Caro. Finn was also invited to the party, which had surprised him, but Poe had insisted it was because Finn had also been a General in the war and, as Finn had also become a citizen of Naboo and was a Jedi Knight in the making, he was on the radar of several others in positions of power. Rey had been invited, as well, but she had claimed she wouldn't make it, and it really wasn't her scene at the moment."You both look lovely," Meleri admired.It wasn't lost on Crisara that the seventeen-year-old's gaze was focused mostly upon Poe. The girl was twirling the ends of fiery red hair around her finger and subtly biting her lip. Crisara could feel the attraction the girl was trying to fight. Tilting her head and looking pointedly at her, Crisara cleared her throat. "Mind your thoughts, Meleri. They betray you," she whispered, just as the front door opened and Finn stepped inside, distracting Poe.Meleri's cheeks almost immediately turned a shade similar to her hair when she looked upward at Crisara. "Sorry, Master. I'll try.""See that you do," Crisara smirked. "Maybe meditate on it later, after the girls have been put to bed."At the moment, she knew the twins were currently corralled in a playpen in the formal sitting room because they were already very mobile and often wandering away. Leia had taken her first steps at eleven months, and was already walking, but Shara still only preferred to crawl, though she was attempting those first steps, too."Lookin' good," Poe grinned at Finn, who gave a twirl to show off his fancy duds."And I feel good, too." The twenty-seven-year-old padawan smirked as he flicked his hand over his shoulder as if tossing back thick, luscious locks, instead of the loks he wore at the base of his neck that were tied with a leather band. "You don't look half bad yourself."Poe chuckled. "Well, Cris makes me look better just by standing next to me, so it's all her."Finn winked at Crisara. "You're right, it's her, not you," he teased, resulting in Poe shaking his head and playfully smacking him against the chest. "We ready to go?" Finn acknowledged Meleri with a nod. "You need to hug or kiss the twins goodbye? I could get the ship ready.""We hugged and kissed them earlier so they wouldn't have meltdowns while we were trying to leave," Crisara remarked."Smart thinking.""Alright," Poe muttered, spinning around to look at Meleri. "You know where we'll be. If you need us, don't hesitate. We have our comms.""Try not to need us," Finn teased.Crisara rolled her eyes and placed a gentle hand to Meleri's shoulder. "You are capable of a great many things," she assured. "Looking after the girls for an evening will be a practice in protection." She sensed hints of insecurity from the teen. Meleri had been put in a position to keep an eye on the other padawans before, but never the twins, so this was new territory for the girl, but Crisara knew everything would be okay. "You'll be fine."Without much else said, the three adults left the villa and made their way to the landing zone together. Normally, they would've taken one of the smaller transports into Theed, as it wasn't too far away, but it was a hoity-toity stately affair, and they were three revered Generals from the First Order-Resistance War, so it was Poe who had insisted the Millennium Falcon approaching and landing in the Theed Hangar would be a bit impressive."You two ready for one hell of a party?" Finn asked with a grin as he reached up and hit the security codes to open up the boarding ramp.Poe grinned and slipped his hand into Crisara's as they followed behind their friend.  Like something out of a fairytale, Poe led Crisara by the hand up a grand, marble staircase toward the entrance of an even grander ballroom in the Royal Palace of Theed. It wasn't that it was either of their first time at the Palace, but it was for this type of function, and it got Crisara's mind reeling to all the events her grandmother Padmé would've hosted as Queen, and that her other grandmother Sera would've also been present for during her brief time as a handmaiden, and likely even afterward as Padmé's dear cousin and best friend. She tried imagining all the people back then, in fantastical gowns and suits; flaunting their wealth and status, as well as representing their own people, if they were guests from other worlds. But then Crisara soured a bit when she realized Palpatine would've been at many events here; mostly before the rise of the Empire, before he'd been physically deformed, but perhaps a few times after the rise of the Empire as well.Music was wafting through the halls from the ballroom, and large bouquets of exotic flowers, not just native to Naboo, adorned every possible vase and tabletop. There were countless sparkling lights overhead, paired with several large chandeliers. There were also candles scattered here and there within ornate candelabras and lanterns affixed to the walls. In the distance, beyond the tall windows that reached the high ceilings, fireworks were going off.Yes, King Horu Thurvello was the first king in over a century, but he had also only just been elected to the throne within the last month, so this was his first major event since his Day of Ascendancy, which was more of a parade for the people, leading up to the Palace and then was more of a public affair. This was a private, invite-only event for other world leaders to come celebrate the new Monarch, who seemed to have a greater touch for flair than any of the previous monarchs; before, during and after the rise of the Empire. Poe and Crisara both agreed Horu was likely just playing up the fact that he was the first King in so long and wanted kick off his reign with a bang, whether or not he served one term or two."Now I've seen it all," Finn mumbled, entering into the ballroom behind the couple, when he noticed fire-eaters on stilts in one corner."Definitely a little over the top," Crisara muttered over her shoulder."So, what should we do first? Finger foods, grab some drinks, dance, or mingle?" Poe wondered; slipping his hand from hers, to instead snake it around her waist and bring it to rest upon the top of her ass when she turned to face him a bit."Drinks are good.""I'm gonna go get some of those little cakes I see," Finn announced, rubbing his hands together as if up to no good. "I'll catch you two later."Off Crisara's chuckle, she watched as he made his way through the throngs of guests, but then was prevented from reaching the desserts when he was cut off by someone who must've recognized him and chose to engage him in conversation. She'd seen Finn's shoulders slump slightly, but then squared them again and folded his arms when he must've found himself to be considerably interested in whatever the person had to say. In the meantime, Poe had waved over a member of the waitstaff who was carrying a tray of drinks and accepted two of them; one for Crisara and one for himself."Have you seen His Highness?" Poe wondered as he brought his glass to his lips and took an initial sip. "I figure we should greet him first, get that out of the way, and then enjoy the rest of the night, either dancing or avoiding all the stuffed shirts."Crisara smirked. "You're a man dipping his toes into many facets of local politics, my dear," she remarked; taking her own sip and then tipping her head slightly to the side. "You can't not mingle with others that are also in politics tonight; which is mostly everyone here. You made your bed, now you must lie in it.""Ugh," he grimaced. "Why must you be so beautiful, but so logical?""Good genetics?" she offered up with a teasing shrug.When Poe leaned in to steal a kiss from her, he also stole a look over her shoulder and then broke away from her rather abruptly. "There he is. His Teenage Pompousness." Poe gestured toward King Horu with his drink. "Let's get this tedious task over with and then see what other tedious shit we can avoid for as long as possible."Giggling, Crisara let him practically drag her forward through the crowd; bypassing any other guests that tried to get their attention. When they reached the young monarch, they bowed, greeted him politely, and actually had a pleasant but thankfully brief conversation with him. Afterward, they retreated to try a bit of the finger foods, so they didn't go the entire night on empty stomachs and only liquor. They didn't need to get drunk and make fools of themselves. Poe was trying to build a new career, and Crisara was representing her new Jedi Academy. They had to maintain a certain degree of decorum, and not just because they were in the Royal Palace, at an official soiree hosted by Naboo's new king.It was Poe, though, who ended up pulled away the most by other guests; most seemingly picking his brain about certain policies that either affected Naboo or the Republic as a whole. While he gave his opinions, as carefully worded as possible, as not to step on any toes, Crisara hung back a bit with Finn, but then even Finn found himself being pulled away. A lot of guests were intrigued by him: a former Stormtrooper who abandoned the First Order, became a General with the Resistance and was now a Jedi Padawan. It was a whirlwind story that had those guests on the edge of their literal or metaphorical seats as they asked him about different moments of his life, but mostly his time during the war.Crisara walked around the room, always content to just watch others and be alone with her thoughts. She didn't feel as awkward as she thought she might be, though she would've loved to have her Aunt Leia there beside her; either alive, in spirit form or as a disembodied voice, and giving her a few pointers. Her aunt had been raised as a princess and spent her entire life in the throes of either politics or war; both of which typically went hand in hand. Hell, she wished there was some way either of her grandmothers could make themselves known to her, too. They'd understand how to socialize in events like this just the same.Maybe if she hadn't spent the bulk of her youth on Ossus with her father, living more simply and training to be a Jedi, she would feel more comfortable in this sort of life. Even though it hadn't been her forte when she was married to Alfic, and she found it to still feel strange to her now, she would learn to enjoy it, for Poe's sake. It helped a lot of politicians' careers to have some sort of life partner at their sides as a show of support or as a united front. She was determined to be that for Poe until the very end."You look absolutely stunning as usual, Madam Dameron."Looking over her shoulder, she noticed the Chancellor approaching with two drinks in his hand. As he sidled up beside her, he offered her one of them and she politely accepted. "Thank you, for both the compliment and the drink.""I hear your husband is the talk of the town, so to speak," Ransolm continued. "Good for him.""Thank you for that, too. For speaking to Governor Senn and putting Poe's name forward. It really was just what he needed." He let her eyes scan the crowd; finally spotting her husband again. "To go from leading a squadron of fighter pilots during a cold war, to leading as a Commander and then General in a full-out war, to suddenly peace time…" She sighed. "He's always been a man of action. He needs to keep moving or he'll petrify."Casting an eye down at her, Ransolm smirked. "Makes me wonder how the two of you found your way to each other. He, someone who thrives in chaos, and you, who thrives in repose. A fighter, and a peacekeeper.""Oftentimes they go hand in hand," Crisara countered; still not taking a sip of her drink. "You can't appreciate one without the other. It's about finding the balance between it all." She turned and gazed upward at the Chancellor. "And we have a lot more in common than you might realize, from an outsider's perspective." Looking back toward Poe, she smirked. "We have a lifelong history. Our parents fought together in the previous war. We first met as toddlers, and then rediscovered each other at the right moment. He saw me once, about fifteen years ago, and said he was instantly smitten. It was almost ten years later when we finally, actually met as adults, by either luck or fate. And, since then, but looking back now in hindsight, I can see that it was always supposed to be him. He was, is and always will be the one for me. We just…complement each other so well.""So, what you're saying is I would never stand a chance," Ransolm remarked rather boldly.Choosing to ignore the seriousness of his tone, Crisara smirked as if his words had been said in jest. "What I'm saying is no one would ever stand a chance, besides Poe." She turned to face him more directly and almost stared him down. Finally taking a sip of her drink, she appreciated the warmth of the liquor as it spilled down her throat. It was fruity and spicy and definitely expensive. She also studied Ransolm for a moment. Like at Nevara's wedding, she could appreciate what an absolutely handsome man he was and, were Poe not in her life, she might've entertained the idea of Ransolm in her life instead. But Poe was in her life. Poe was her life, and so were their children. "I can't deny that I'm not flattered by your attention. And I also appreciate that you do so without making it weird; that you're polite about it.""Well, you can't blame a guy for trying, but I'm not about to push myself onto someone if they're not into it. One-sided affection is too awkward to bear," he replied; his own blue eyes wandering briefly in Poe's direction. "So, perhaps friends is what we can be.""One can never have too many friends."Ransolm tipped his glass to her in agreement. "Here, here." Clinking his glass to hers, he knocked the rest of his back and then held a hand out to her. "May I at least have one dance with you?" he inquired. "I promise to be a gentleman."Pursing her lips in thought, she opted to not finish her drink and instead handed the rest of it off to passing waitstaff. "Very well."With a pleased smile, the Chancellor held his hand out to Crisara, which she accepted, and then he led her out onto the dance floor, where the two of them began to move gracefully together; intertwining with the other guests that were swaying and twirling to the rhythm of the music.Poe, at that moment, had already had a few drinks and not enough to eat, so he was starting to feel the effects of all the alcohol he'd imbibed, but not to the point of being obviously drunk. He was a man who knew how to hold his liquor, but there was a slight glassy look to his chocolate brown eyes that hadn't been there before, and maybe the hint of slurring starting to take shape. It definitely began to lower his inhibitions, but it also helped him feel more comfortable with mingling and being his usual charming and flirty self, which scored him some political points.When he had a break from talking to any given ambassador or senator, or any other form of politician or wealthy industrialist, Poe's eyes searched for where Crisara was. He spotted Finn, politely laughing with the ambassador from Eriadu, but it took a few extra moments before he found his wife.And then he saw her.She was dancing with Chancellor Ransolm Casterfo; that tall, handsome drink of water that had plenty of politicians from any species and gender swooning quite easily. And Ransolm's gaze seemed rather affixed on Crisara to the point that it was suddenly making Poe feel some kind of way, and it wasn't a good way.Poe's brow furrowed, his eyes darkened and his gaze hardened. The drink in his hand that he'd been nursing, he finished off and set it aside on some small table. As he began to walk forward, he nodded and smiled politely at anyone who acknowledged him as he passed them by, but then kept his focus forward. When he reached Ransolm and Crisara, he tapped the former on his upper arm and flashed another polite smile, but with an air of territoriality to it."Chancellor," Poe greeted with a somewhat clenched jaw. "Mind if I cut in?"Ransolm smiled back, sensing the big dog energy Poe was exuding, despite being considerably shorter. Not that he believed Poe viewed Crisara as a possession, but he felt he was encroaching on Poe's territory now. "Of course," he replied politely; stepping away from Crisara and gesturing to her as well. "Your wife and I were just talking about you, as it were.""Oh?""Yes," Ransolm nodded. "I'm glad Governor Senn followed my advice and reached out to you, and brought you on to his committee for bettering Naboo's defense. He was seriously floundering before he brought you on board."Without another word, the Chancellor tipped his head toward the couple and then bowed out; to turn around and head off to mingle with any number of other guests.Crisara closed her eyes for a moment; preparing for the question she could feel Poe was about to ask her. And she was trying to ignore the fact that Ransolm had brought any of that up in front of Poe on purpose, because Poe had believed he had gotten that interview with Senn on his own merits and not because anyone else had been pulling any strings.Slipping a hand upon Crisara's waist, Poe leaned a bit closer to her. "What did he mean by that? He's the reason Senn wanted me for the committee? Was I not on Senn's radar before then?"Looking back at her husband, she tried to appease him with a gentle smile. "He was trying to help," she replied. "When we spoke at Nevara's wedding—""Wait." Poe held a hand up to her. "So…it was your idea?" He knitted his brow together and began to turn slightly from her. He was clearly trying to piece all these factors together. "When I told you about the meeting months ago, you asked me what it was about. You played dumb. What happened to honesty and transparency between us?"Crisara leaned in and placed a hand against his chest. "Can we have this conversation later, or at least not in the center of the dance floor?"Pursing his lips together and trying not to scowl, Poe nodded and slipped his hand into hers out if instinct as he began to walk off. As she trailed alongside him, she kept her focus on his profile and not on any passing gazes. Once they'd slipped free of the ballroom, they continued quite a ways down the long, grand hall where they eventually came to stand next to a large window and were partly obscured by a large pedestal mounted with an ornate, decorative vase."Why would you go behind my back like that? Why would you pretend to be oblivious to what was going on?" he immediately questioned once they had some privacy."I wasn't going behind your back. I was having a conversation with the Chancellor of the Republic at Nevara's wedding, and we were talking about life after the war, and finding our purpose after it, and I mentioned that you were trying to find something more to do. Casterfo brought up Senn and his committee. He said Senn couldn't get an idea off the ground to save his life but that someone like you could make more of a difference, and I heartily agreed," Crisara contended; folding her arms across her chest; leaning her upper back somewhat against the stone windowsill behind her. "I believed Senn's committee was the perfect stepping stone for you to get wherever else you needed to go, and I 'played dumb' because I didn't want you thinking it was some favor or handout. Your name was put forward by the Chancellor, yes. But that only got you the meeting, Poe. You got yourself the job. You formed that sub-committee. It's you who everyone here has been wanting the ear of tonight. You, you, you. Not me, not Casterfo, not Senn or even the King. You."Poe was chewing the inside of his bottom lip while maintaining her gaze. Slowly, he blew some air out of his nostrils as he calmed himself down without requiring her to do the same by way of the Force, as she had done for him in the past. Closing his eyes, he leaned his face forward and pressed his forehead to hers."I'm sorry," he muttered."Why?"Pulling his head back from her, he raised an eyebrow. "Why?" he repeated. "For jumping down your throat and acting like an ungrateful ass."Crisara reached out and placed her hands upon his hips. "We all have our moments.""Can you…can you not be so easily forgiving for one moment? I'm attempting to grovel here."She smirked. "You don't need to grovel. You were a bit justified in your reaction." She then leaned in and added, "A bit."Poe sighed. "I just…I wasn't even really upset about you playing a part in me getting on this new path. You did it for me.""It's not like I was pushing to get you a job you weren't qualified for or undeserving of. It wasn't like I was using any sway or my familial connections. I didn't want something that you were worthy of. I wanted something that was worthy of you, because Senn and anyone else is lucky to have you — not even someone like you.""And I understand that now," he assured. "I think part of my reaction was mostly because I saw Casterfo and you dancing together, and the two of you looked…I don't know…beautiful together. And he was looking at you like he wanted to…" Poe cleared his throat and tipped his head down; staring toward his feet. "I didn't like it."Crisara began to grin; letting her hands slide up from his waist to his chest. "Feeling possessive, huh?"He wouldn't look her in the eye, but he did nod. "A little bit.""Just a little?""Okay," he relented. "Maybe more than just a little bit. I just don't like seeing someone, who clearly has eyes for you, with their hands anywhere near you." Poe pressed his fingertips to her hips and began to bunch up the material of the skirt of her gown. "Only my hands belong here.""Oh yeah?"Poe lifted his eyes and stared directly into hers. "Yeah." Licking his lips briefly, he leaned in and kissed her."Where else do your hands belong, Dameron?"He began to grin almost wickedly as he dragged his lips from hers to her jaw, and then to her neck. "Where do you want them, woman?"Crisara felt her skin become flush with warmth as she bit her lips together with all the possibilities floating around her head. "I'll leave that up to you."Stepping back from her, Poe leaned out from around the pedestal and vase and glanced both ways down the hall. When he saw they were still very much alone, he turned his gaze back to her and raised an eyebrow devilishly at her. "Try to be quiet," he urged.Confused for a moment, Crisara was suddenly caught off guard when he dropped to his knees and lifted the bottom of her dress up. In one fell swoop, he slipped underneath until he was completely hidden by the skirt. She covered her mouth to muffle the laugh that escaped and then grabbed for the windowsill behind her when she felt one of his hands gripping her thigh, another hand yanking her underwear aside and his tongue dragging lazily between her folds."Poe," she muttered. She was a bit stunned; not by what he was doing, but where he was doing it. "What if we get caught?""Jedi mind trick 'em," she heard his muffled reply, which brought a small chuckle out of her.When his tongue began to flick and swirl around her clitoris, her knees buckled slightly, so she had to grip both ends of the windowsill behind her. She almost felt it was rather fitting that fireworks were still occasionally being set off, a short distance away from the Palace, since Poe was about to make her see a different kind of fireworks. She had felt him pulling her underwear completely off of her and then grabbing onto both her thighs to part her legs a bit wider so he could press his mouth more fully against her mound. Crisara bit down on her bottom lip and closed her eyes when he began to suck on her sensitive bud and eat her out like he was finally presented with a meal after a week-long hunger strike. When her knees began to feel like jelly, her entire body began to stiffen.However, just as she was about to come, Poe stopped everything.Crisara's eyes popped open and she instinctively whimpered at the abrupt loss of pleasure. She looked around and saw there was still no one in the grand hallway except for them, so it's not like he would've gotten spooked or anything like that. When he reappeared from underneath her dress a moment later, he was still on his knees, his hair was considerably disheveled, and he was looking up at her through his eyebrows as if she were a small animal about to be devoured by a beast, and she'd never felt so aroused."Why did you stop?" she managed to squeak out.Standing up, he leaned in and kissed her. "Because I wanna come when you do."Smirking, she looked down as he began to undo his pants and push them slightly down off his hips, right there in the open; for anyone to potentially see. "This could be career suicide for you if we're caught.""Worth it," he muttered as he next began to lift the bottom of her dress up."Where's my underwear?""Never you mind about that." Bending slightly at the knees, he grabbed her hips and hoisted her up. When she intuitively wrapped her legs around his waist, he guided the tip of his cock to her slick entrance and then began to fully lower her down upon his stiff length. "Kriffing hell, you feel so good," he groaned. "You always feel so good."Without hesitation, Poe began thrusting upward inside of her. He thrust deeply with such a hypnotic rhythm that was somehow rough and gentle at the same time. While he held her up with one hand under her ass and his other arm wrapped around her waist, Crisara had snaked her arms upwards against his back; letting her nails dig into the material of his dress jacket. He rolled his hips against hers, eliciting a wanton moan from her lips that she was forced to muffle by shoving her face down into his shoulder. The small of her back was shoved up against the windowsill, but it didn't exactly hurt. If anything it just added to the risqué and crude display of love and passion they had for each other.Eventually it was Poe's turn to press his face into her shoulder to muffle his low, guttural grunts and groans, and Crisara splayed one arm out along the windowsill as she tipped her head back. When his thrusts and plunges within her became more fervent, the back of her head began to smack against the window panes, so she had to lean her head forward."Come on, baby," he muttered as he began to tense; that familiar tingle beginning to build at the base of his spine and in his groin. "Come with me."Clamping her hands on either side of his face, Crisara forced him to look him in the eye; which just added fuel to both of their fires. As little sparks began to appear in her vision, she began to sense the rising crescendo of her orgasm and claimed his lips with hers in her moment of release. With their voices muffled again, Poe let go of any restraint he had left in him and emptied himself within her warm, pulsating core.As they took deeper, steadying breaths, and as their heartbeats evened out, Poe's grip on her slackened. He suddenly felt like melted butter. "I'm, uh…" he began to say; trying to remember how to string words together. "Wondering…""Wondering what?""How do we, uh, rejoin the party after something like this?" he questioned; leaning in to steal a languid but hungry kiss from her. "I imagine at least a few will realize what we've been up to. So, do we just leave?""Finn came here with us. We can't just leave him to find his own way home.""Can't we?"Crisara chuckled, kissing him again. "No.""So, how do we do it? How do we go back into that ballroom after such an amazing fuck?"Holding his chin between her thumb and index finger, she smirked. "With our heads held high, and our arms linked," she answered; kissing him once more as he slowly slipped out of her. "A united front."Using the inside layers of her dress, he wiped himself off and then helped her do the same, which caused her to twitch against the gesture because that particular spot between her thighs was still so raw and sensitive from everything that had just transpired. When she took over doing it, he began to stuff himself back into his pants and pulled them back up."I would really like to do that some more, instead of mingling any further," he remarked."So would I, but we should at least make one last sweep around the party and maybe see if we can talk to Finn about getting his own ride home. He could crash at your father's tonight, if he can't get an air taxi or some other transport."Poe began to nod. "Yeah, let's do that. And then, instead of going right home, we head into the Falcon and I fuck you some more on every possible surface." He grinned and shrugged at her; gauging her reaction to his suggestion.With a smile and a giggle, she nodded. "Yes, please. I'd like that very much."Feeling cocky, no pun intended, Poe leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Can't imagine His Excellency, Chancellor Casterfo, could ever leave you wanting more. Wanna know why?""Why's that?" she dared ask as he slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her against him again."Because you're mine," he replied, biting gently against her lobe. "And I'm yours."Crisara was sure she shivered at the sound of his voice; so deep and sultry. And then there was his gaze and overall presence, which just dripped with shameless desire. "You keep looking at me like that and I just might let you bend me over a table in that ballroom, with everyone present."For a moment, Poe just stared at her. He was chewing against his bottom lip, and she could sense his thoughts were all over the place; trying to focus on the here and now. "Woman," he eventually muttered in a playfully, cautionary tone. "Don't put thoughts like that into my head or we, for sure, won't make it back to the Falcon."With a small giggle, Crisara reciprocated the gesture of slipping her arm around his waist as well. "How's my hair? It doesn't look like we just had sex, does it? My make-up okay, too?""You look perfect."He wasn't really looking at anything that may be off about her appearance. He was just looking her in the eye when he complimented her. "You're no help," she sighed with a roll of her eyes; the two of them walking side by side back toward the ballroom.  
Six weeks later
It was late in the evening and Crisara was turning off any lights in the villa that didn't need to be on. She had just finished looking in on the padawans next door, who had been advised to grab showers to clean off the day and get ready to turn in for the night. Caro and Tem had already been ushered to their bedrooms for the night, here in the villa. C-3PO, BB-8 and BD-80 were milling about in the formal sitting room, while the nanny droid, designated as WA-4N but simply referred to as Nanny, sat in a chair in the twins' nursery; ready to provide assistance if either of the girls needed it.Aside from the chittering beeps from the smaller droids in the formal sitting room, it was relatively quiet. Crisara used the Force to dim the light to the multi-colored crystal chandelier in the grand foyer, but didn't turn it off completely. She left it on in the event that any of the padawans needed to come into the villa to get her, and so there was enough light for them. Leaving the light on, even if just a bit, was like a beacon to let them know she was there for them at any given moment.Instead of heading to her and Poe's room, where she knew he wasn't, she turned in the opposite direction, near the other end of the house; past the boys' bedrooms and her old bedroom that she and Poe had initially shared before becoming husband and wife, to instead stop just outside her old studio. She didn't bother knocking, she walked right in and spotted Poe seated at the workbench in the center of the room, tweaking something with a pair of pliers."What are you working on now?""A gift.""For me, or—?"Poe lifted his gaze and smirked over at her. "Sorry, wife. Not for you this time."Stepping forward, she leaned against the workbench with her forearms. "What is it and who is it for then? Or is it a surprise?"Finishing whatever it was he had been making, Poe set the pliers down and shoved two items across the workbench's surface toward her. "It's for the twins. When they get older."Staring down, Crisara saw it was two, nearly identical necklaces. They had similar, thin leather cords like the necklace he'd made for her and that she still wore, but these ones for the girls reminded her a bit of the necklace her father had given her when she was ten, but only in shape. They were each somewhat flat pieces of amber, oval-shaped and smooth to the touch. The amber was opaque but she could clearly see a shard of something within both stones. "What's inside?" she wondered.Poe gestured to her necklace. "Same thing. A piece of wroshyr bark. I had a jeweler in Theed encase the shards in the amber, then shape, smooth and shine it up. I didn't make the pendant myself like I did with yours. I just drilled the hole and made the necklace and clasp. When they get older, I'll give it to them," he explained, reaching across the workbench to pick one of the necklaces up. "Maybe I'll give it to them for their tenth birthday like Luke gave you that necklace you used to wear for your tenth birthday."Crisara smirked. "These literally just had me thinking of that." Smiling up at him, she slid the other necklace back to him. "We can keep them in my jewelry box for safe keeping until then, if you want."He nodded slowly. "Sounds good.""It's an amazing gift.""They're just necklaces," he downplayed."Yes, but it's the meaning behind them, the significance of the shards of bark, that make them more than 'just necklaces'." She touched a hand to her own. "Mine is possibly my most favorite gift I've ever been given, besides the kids, of course." She watched as he smiled and played absentmindedly with the necklace in his hand. Studying him, she began to smile as well, but for another reason. "I have a gift for you, too."Dragging his gaze back up to her, he raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Oh yeah?"Slowly, Crisara pushed off the workbench and began to saunter around it to where he was seated. When he swiveled on the stool he was sitting upon, his legs parted so she could step between them. She didn't say anything right away. She simply placed her hands upon his shoulders, leaned in and kissed him."That it?" he teased, when she pulled back. "Just a kiss? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love your kisses, but that was just a bit anticlimactic."Crisara chuckled. "No, that wasn't the gift." Reaching down she grabbed one of his hands and placed it upon her stomach. "This is."It took a moment for what she'd said to register in his brain, and then his eyes widened. "Again?"She nodded with a big grin. "Again.""How far along this time?" he asked; placing his other hand to her stomach and staring down at it."A little over a month."When he looked up and held her gaze, he snickered. "Oh. So, the night of the party at the Palace, huh?""Yeah, that's what I'm thinking."With an incredulous shake of his head, Poe let out a happy breath of air and then slipped his hands around her waist, pulled her against him and wrapped her up in his arms. "Thank you," he muttered, resting the side of his face against her chest, "for giving me even better homemade gifts.""Yeah, mine are much better than yours," she joked, hugging him back."They're ours," he corrected.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Lookin' over
The mountain's crown
The water roars
And tumbles down
Like you and me
And the road ahead"
— Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers 
40 ABY — Two years later
Poe must've done something really right during that ball at the Royal Palace because, two months later, just after he learned Crisara was pregnant again, King Horu Thurvello had asked for a private meeting with just Poe and no one else. Despite the former Resistance pilot's aversion to the idea of a child being in any seat of power, he found himself to be feeling quite nervous. He had no idea why the King wanted to see him. He didn't know if it would be good news or bad news he'd be receiving. He even admitted to Crisara that he was worried someone had actually seen them getting it on in that grand hallway outside the ballroom and turned him in for indecency. He was mentally preparing himself to get sacked off Governor Senn's committee, forced out of his own sub-committee and asked to just step away from anything involving local government and just resume the life he'd been living at the villa with Crisara, their kids and the Jedi Academy.Crisara was sure it was nothing of the sort, and then he asked if she wasn't just saying that because she actually already knew the reason, like how she'd known about the meeting he was originally given with Senn. She insisted that this was not like that. She simply had a good feeling.Trusting her feelings as if they were his own, Poe felt better — more calm and collected.Poe went to Theed. He arrived to the Royal Palace and was immediately greeted by the head of the King's Royal Guard, Captain Bralen Emba. After brief how-do-you-dos, Poe was ushered through the vast, cavernous corridors to the throne room, where King Horu was seated on his throne, behind the same desk that all monarchs had used for the last century. Even Padmé Amidala had sat there at that desk, once upon a time.Standing in front of the desk, Poe immediately clicked his heels together and bowed his head with respect to the teenage monarch and then sat down in one of the chairs across from the desk that King Horu offered. He sat there with his hands folded on his lap, wondering who should speak first.Much like every previous monarch before him, King Horu wore full face make-up that was near identical to how the queens of the last century wore it, including the scar of remembrance; the vertical, red stripe of makeup in the center of the lower lip that symbolized the suffering endured by the Naboo people before the Great Time of Peace. The only difference for him was that his royal regalia wasn't as flowy and feminine. It was more fitted and masculine. His headgear didn't involve large, fake coiffures, but he did wear a tall crown of golden spires that resembled rays of light.The King had spoken first; greeting Poe pleasantly and going on to compliment him for his progressive ideas that he'd expressed for the betterment of the many factions of Naboo's defense and even day to day operations, as well as actual decisions he'd flat-out made within the committees he was involved in. He thanked Poe for making quite the mark with the rest of the guests at the ball two months prior and how he'd enjoyed his presence, and that he wished for more of it.Poe had been curious as to where this was all going, and then the King laid it out bare. He wanted Poe on his Royal Advisory Council, of which Governor Senn was the chairperson of.Poe was struck dumb.The Naboo Royal Advisory Council was the governing body of the entire planet. A position on the council was no small thing. But it also confused Poe because positions were usually only given to about five or six people, which were councilmen and councilwomen, masters of music, art and science, lead architects, advisors in education or economics, or ministers of culture and internal affairs. Poe wasn't any of those things, and he'd expressed as much. King Horu thought differently. There was the position of Security Chief that was still vacant which also surprised Poe, since typically someone like Captain Emba would've assumed that role, but apparently such was not the case.King Horu wanted Poe in that position instead. He wanted the war hero, known throughout the galaxy, with ties to famed General Leia Organa Solo, and whose own wife was the granddaughter of both Padmé Amidala and Sera Dotolo. It was partly a status symbol, to have Poe as part of the Advisory Council, but also because of the considerable waves Poe was already making and great ideas he believed Poe had. King Horu asked Poe outright to be his Security Chief, and then told him to take as long as he needed to respond, but the only thing on Poe's mind was to say yes, so he did.He blurted it, actually, which brought a laugh out of the teen monarch, who accepted Poe's decision."Do we shake on it, do I bow again? Do I sign something? What happens now?" Poe had wondered, a bit flustered."Nothing needs to be done. The council meets twice a week, but you should be prepared for the chance of emergency meetings at any given moment," King Horu replied. "We understand you travel occasionally with your wife, Master Crisara Dameron, so if you can, try not to go too far for at least the next two years. Aside from that, you understand that, as Security Chief, you now oversee the Royal Naboo Security Forces. That includes the Palace Guard, Security Guard, Security Officers, Fighter Pilots, our Honor Guard, Grenadiers, Royal Navy, and the Engineers. We understand it may seem daunting, but you were made a General in the Resistance by Leia Organa Solo for a reason. You are familiar with being in charge, making hard decisions and fighting to keep the galaxy safe from the spread of tyranny. If anything, by comparison, this promotion will be less stressful. Naboo has always been a peaceful place, even during tense times in the past. You might not have as much to do as you did during the war."Poe somehow doubted that. "I am very honored by this, M'Lord," he expressed, choosing to stand up when he felt their meeting was drawing to a natural close. "I hope to do this position justice and keep Naboo safe; not just for you and its people, but also specifically for my family.""We are confident you will make all of us proud," the King insisted; continuing to use the royal 'we' as he spoke.Poe had left the throne room shortly after that and could've swore Captain Emba had been scowling when he walked past him. Poe figured the Captain was aware of what Poe had been offered; likely assuming he would've been named as Security Chief instead, and was now somehow holding it against Poe. Poe remained polite, but he felt a continuing sense of awkwardness when Emba had directed Poe to his very own office space in the Royal Palace, as well as a personal apartment he would be able to utilize when not at home in the Lake Country. He had a feeling this was something else Emba thought he'd get, but Emba hadn't received the promotion. Poe did. So Poe wasn't gonna just stand there and be looked down on or given slighted gazes when the promotion had been the King's decision.Poe was the Security Chief now, which meant he ranked above Captain Emba. After the King and Governor Senn, Poe was Emba's boss. So Poe squared up, held his head high and dismissed Emba; insisting he didn't require any further escort around the Royal Palace or back to the Theed Hangar. Then, maybe to be a little bit petty, he assured Emba he would be seeing him around later, with a knowing gaze.When Poe finally returned home, he gave Crisara the news and he felt quite excited by it, and she was happy for him as well. But neither understood just how much time he would be spending away from home.During most of her pregnancy, he was in Theed, and when he was back at the villa, he was mentally exhausted. They barely ate meals together, though he tried to set aside as much time as possible for the kids and Crisara. On the days when Poe didn't have to be in Theed at all, and could just be with his family and do stuff with only her and their kids, Crisara felt bad about not also including the padawans. And that created some tension, because he felt that if he had to find a way to balance work and home, so did she. She was the one who wanted it all; to be a Jedi Master, a wife and a mother. She had to be able to set aside time for Poe and their children, and learn to let the padawans look after themselves for a little while. After all, even though Poe understood the padawans were like family, they were still just students; whether or not Crisara agreed with that estimation. Also, it wasn't as if they were irresponsible children. They had older counterparts in Meleri and Anila, as well as C-3PO to keep an eye out, and they all had been given comms. They would've had Finn, too, but he had gone off with Rey sooner than any of them expected; just three months after the soiree at the Palace.Poe and Crisara had agreed to set aside at least one day a week where he would not be doing any work in Theed or at their home office and she would give the padawans a 'free day' where she could be with her family, and it worked. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing.Then, a few days shy of nine months after that soiree, Crisara had no choice but to take time off from her duties as a Jedi Master, and Poe had to take time away from work at the Palace.It had been the earlier hours of the morning and still dark out when Crisara's contractions began. Considering this was her fourth pregnancy, she knew it wouldn't take long. She'd woken Poe up and they got ready as quickly as they could. Fortunately for them, Poe's father had come to stay with them since they knew Crisara would be due in no time at all, so he was there for the boys and the twins. The padawans were alerted and, while the couple was making their way to Crisara's good ol' G-1A transport, Rey began to send a message via comlink. Poe had insisted they couldn't talk right now, but Rey shut him up by insisting she wasn't calling to chitchat. She had felt Crisara's pain and simply understood what was happening because of both females' connection as a dyad. Rey had insisted she and Finn would be headed to Naboo, and they would take over any training duties while Crisara was out of commission, for however long they were needed.Then, six hours after leaving the villa and being checked into the hospital in Theed, Poe and Crisara had become parents again, this time to a son.Their son was born with a head of dark hair but his eyes were lighter; not exactly brown like Poe, but also not blue like Crisara. It would be a waiting game to see if the color changed. All they knew was that their little boy was so impossibly cute and somehow even chubbier than the twins had been, regardless of the fact that he had been the only child Crisara was carrying.Poe was over the moon.While Crisara was getting some rest in her private recovery room, he was holding their little boy, swaddled in his arms and staring out the window at the view of the Solleu River nearby."You have brothers that I'm a father to," Poe had whispered, staring at the better view in his arms. "But you're my firstborn son, and I can't deny there isn't something special about that." He leaned down and kissed his son's forehead. "I know you'll probably be strong in the Force like your siblings and your mom, but I hope there's something you get from me. Maybe you can be a pilot like I was, or like your Grandma Shara, or even your Grandpa Luke. Apparently he was a great pilot, too. He destroyed the First Death Star and your Grandma Ada apparently fired the shot that destroyed the second one. You'll hear about those stories when you get older." Poe smirked. "You have a very wild family history, but don't think you have to live up to any of it. Follow your own path when you grow up. Whatever dreams and hopes you have, fight for them.""I think I should hire help."Poe had turned around and found Crisara awake and sitting up in her bed. "We have the nanny droid and my dad right now," he replied, slowly walking over toward her."Not for the kids. For the padawans." She sighed, still a bit tired; and for good reason. She'd just birthed new life, after all. "I don't think I can do it by myself anymore. Even my father hired someone; a Twi'lek woman named Enyo. She was skilled at combat, with swords and staffs, so she was able to help when it came to lightsaber training. And it was just smart to have at least one other adult there from time to time, especially when he had to take off for any amount of time; sometimes with me, sometimes with Ben, but usually by himself. I should do the same thing.""Yeah, I think you should. And not just for an extra adult around, but for your own peace of mind. You deserve to sit back and relax every once in a while." Poe had sat down toward the end of the bed, near her calves. "We know people who can offer a helping hand. We have plenty of friends from the war who were skilled in different kinds of combat, and some who I know are still trying to figuring out what to do with their lives."Crisara slowly nodded. "What about Beaumont? He could teach any multitude of subjects. He was so well-versed on both Jedi and Sith lore, without even being Force-sensitive. I know he resumed working as a professor at the Lerct Historical Institute, but we both know he's more interested in all things Force-related.""We should definitely ask him. Worst that could happen is he says no." When he looked down at their son, Poe noticed the familiar scrunched up face and the 'O' shape he was making with his mouth; denoting he was hungry. So, he handed their son over to his mother. "I was also thinking Wol Kessix.""I don't think I'm familiar with who that is.""He was an agent for the Resistance before and after the Hosnian Cataclysm. He was sent to investigate some planet in the Unknown Regions, but he crash-landed and was imprisoned by the First Order. He was rescued shortly after," Poe explained, watching Crisara start to nurse their still-unnamed son. "He spent a lot of his down time on any of our bases, sparring with leather bags filled with either sand or dirt, but then he noticed Rey and her staff, and I think he was intrigued by that kind of weapon instead of having to rely on blasters.""Oh," Crisara muttered; suddenly recalling something as she cupped her son's head. "He had that scar under his eye. And, yeah, I remember him briefly on Haven, before we had to flee."Poe nodded. "Yeah, he engaged Rey in some staff-to-staff combat, but his was literally just a long stick he found on the ground somewhere. Eventually he made his own, sturdier staff. He reinforced it with some spare parts from around the base on Ajan Kloss that would've just been otherwise scrapped." He smirked when Crisara winced. Their boy was hungry and already gumming her nipple a bit too hard for her liking. "Easy there, sweetie," he urged the infant with a laugh. Then, with a sigh, he refocused on their conversation. "But yeah, last time I talked to him he was just doing data entry on…Coruscant, I think. A waste of his skills.""Then let's reach out to both Beaumont and Wol.""Sounds like a plan, but…a plan for later. Maybe, like, a week or so from now?" he suggested. "How about we name our kid."Crisara smirked. "I have been playing around with names. I feel like keeping with the tradition of naming my kids after others who have gone before that I — and we — cared about," she prefaced. "I would like to honor my father somewhat.""So, Luke? We already have a Leia." Poe chuckled."No. I thought maybe combine Luke with another name, like I did with Adera. She was after my mother Adamé and my grandmother Sera. What if our son was after my father Luke and my grandfather Obi-Wan?""Luke-Wan? Lobi-Wan? Lubi-Wan? Oke? If so, hard pass…on all of the above."After a brief chuckle of her own, she shook her head. "Not Obi-Wan, but his nickname of Ben. It's what my grandmother preferred to call him. It's how my father initially knew him and where Leia got the name for her son," she elucidated. "No, I was thinking Luke and Ben. Len.""Len," Poe repeated; letting the name roll around in his head. "Len Dameron.""Plus," Crisara continued, "it also keeps in the tradition of your father and you having three-letter first names. Kes, Poe, and Len.""Now you're just reaching. Should've just kept with the excuse of combining your dad's and grandpa's names," he retorted, teasingly. But then he reached forward and brushed his thumb across their son's cheek. "Len. Yeah. He's a Len."Crisara smiled and took hold of Poe's hand, and then his gaze. "Thank you for that stolen moment in the Palace. We wouldn't have him otherwise."Poe shrugged. "Well, if he wasn't conceived in that hallway, he was conceived on the Falcon or later on at home," he added. "We were really active that night.""We really were," she agreed with a raise of an eyebrow and a devilish twinkle in her eye.Scooting closer on the hospital bed, Poe smiled decadently and leaned in to give his wife a proper kiss. "You were amazing today. As always." He nuzzled her nose and then tipped his face downward to watch as their son — Len — continued to nurse. "I swear…all you did was, like, cough and out he came.""Fifth time's a charm."Poe leaned back and raised an eyebrow in confusion. "This was only your fourth pregnancy, though.""Four pregnancies. Five births. Remember our twins? Remember Kashyyyk?""Right. I'm, uh…blaming lack of sleep on lack of cognizance." Looking her in the eye, he sighed. "I'm gonna take time off, too, while you're convalescing." He gestured between the two of them. "It's you and me in this. Together. Until our last breath, remember? So, if you're scaling back for the next few weeks or months, then so am I.""But you just started your cushy new position of Security Chief only about seven months ago. Can you afford to scale back?"Poe snickered. "There's nothing cushy about my job." With a sigh, he then shrugged. "His Teenaged Magnificence can either accept it, or give the position to someone else. My priority is you and our kids, first and foremost."Crisara had smiled appreciatively at that, but then shook her head at him. "You really need to give him more credit. His political career greatly mirrors my grandmother Padmé's. Like her, he joined the Apprentice Legislature before the age of ten, attended the Royal Academy where he trained to become a public leader, and participated in the Legislative Youth Program. And, he completed a two-year mandate as supervisor of Theed, just like she did. All of that before he began his campaign to become Monarch. All by the age of seventeen." She looked pointedly at her husband, and teasingly asked, "What were you doing at seventeen? What had you accomplished by then?""I, uh…I flew my mom's A-wing in space, and was kinda chased by Yavin IV's Civilian Defense Force. They shot me down and took me to a jail cell. When I woke up, I found out I'd crashed my mom's ship beyond repair. Got into an argument with my dad at the police station about being reckless and how I was always getting in trouble for going on joyrides. Stormed off, walked into a cantina, and that was when I met Zorii and how I started down my illustrious career path as a spice runner. That's what I was doing just before I turned seventeen." Titling his head to the side, he smirked. "What were you doing?""Living a simple life as a Jedi padawan. Rather boring by your standards."With a knowing smile, Poe placed his lips upon their son's temple to give him a small kiss while he continued to feed. He then leaned back upward, looked his wife in the eye and replied, "Babe, nothing about your life has ever and will ever be boring."  In the following year, five years since the end of the war, Len had just celebrated his first birthday by taking his first steps, right to the very day. Where the twins — who were now almost three — looked mostly like their father, Len was more of a perfect blend between both parents. While Len had dark hair like Poe, his eyes — which were hazel, and therefore a different color entirely from both his mother and father — were more intense like Crisara's. He was only one, but he was already an old soul who looked like he could see straight into your heart, and into your mind. He was as pudgy and as adorable as ever. His rolls had rolls. There was so much to smooch, and he was the happiest child his parents had ever seen. He was also a rather quiet child. He didn't babble as much. Not that he was showing signs of underdevelopment. He was just a very keen observer.He reminded Crisara of her grandmother, his great-grandmother, Sera in that sense.Since Liachildaa, more commonly referred to as Lia, joined the Kenobi Academy from Kashyyyk three years earlier, there hadn't been a single new student. There hadn't been too much change except that Crisara's eldest padawan, Meleri, who was now nineteen, had been given more responsibilities, to help with overseeing the younger students, just as Crisara had once done years ago during her time on Ossus as a not-yet-knighted padawan. Despite the girl's age, she had not yet been made a Jedi Knight, as Crisara still believed the girl had a ways to go, but she had been given more freedom; to come and go whenever she wanted to, as long as she was present for allotted training times. And there was also a method to the madness, so to speak, for Crisara.Meleri's obvious crush on Poe hadn't really diminished any over the last couple of years, and so Crisara felt if the teen, who was now of age, could get out there and meet other people her own age that it would be beneficial for everyone. Crisara never touted the ways of old, about attachments being forbidden. She had asserted the belief that attachments could be beneficial. From more old texts and long-forgotten records Rey had been able to discover, many Jedi from even before the official formation of the Jedi Order had families of their own and were able to maintain a balance. It was the organization of the Jedi into a central Order that began the mantra of old, that attachments were forbidden and yada, yada, yada. For so long, it was all generation upon generation of Jedi were taught and known; for centuries upon centuries, if not millennia. But it had not always been that way, and Crisara didn't want it to be that way. So, if Meleri found love, or at least formed a crush on someone more age appropriate who wasn't her Master's husband, then all the better. She didn't need to have to form a relationship with anyone; she just needed something else to focus on, since training clearly wasn't holding her full attention.On a slightly different front, there had been news of a boy on Batuu who had been abandoned years earlier at the Black Spire Outpost, and had been showing signs of being "special" more and more frequently of late. After a few instances, one in which saw a local getting seriously and permanently maimed, the child had taken off rather than face any consequences, or more likely because he was simply scared. A former spy for the Resistance, Vi Moradi, was the one who had contacted Crisara to let her know about the child; knowing Crisara had the means to take him in and show him how to harness what he could do better than any of the Black Spire Outpost locals could.The only thing would be locating the boy. Search parties had been sent out, but Batuu wasn't completely serene. It was a beautiful world, for sure, but there were plenty of places that were just as treacherous as could be found on any other world, especially in the Batuu Wilds, which Moradi had suspected that was the direction the boy had gone in. Drones had been sent out looking for him, but neither drones nor the search parties could find him. They'd noticed signs of him having been in certain areas — tracks and the like — but not him. Moradi was of the belief that Crisara could sense his location with the Force, if she could make it to Batuu.Knowing this child could be in danger, regardless of his untrained skills as a Force user, Crisara couldn't just sit on her hands."Are you absolutely sure you don't need me to come along?"Crisara was carrying a small bag filled with spare clothes and a few toiletries along the tiled patio from the front of the villa, with Rey walking alongside her. She smiled appreciatively at her pseudo-sister. "I can handle this. And it's been so long since I got away for something of this caliber. I need you here more right now, and I'm thankful you could spare the time away from your own, many adventures." She tipped her head knowingly.Rey, walking with her hands clasped behind her back, nodded. "It is nice to come back here from time to time. I know I don't visit as much anymore. There's just so much…" She removed one of her hands and gestured lamely toward the sky."I get it. You're still discovering your place in the greater galaxy. Trying to figure out exactly where you need to be and what you need to be doing." Crisara snickered. "I've been there, done that. You're in a period of self-discovery, and I'm certain, in no time at all, you'll lay down some roots. I have an idea of where you'll find yourself, theoretically, but the physical where is a whole other thing.""Could you enlighten me? Some insight into the future would be lovely." Rey followed Crisara to her G-1A transport; both stopping near the small lowered ramp."I haven't seen your future, as in a vision or anything. It's just a feeling," Crisara remarked, tossing her bag inside the ship. "And no, I won't enlighten you. Your future is for you to meet in your own time. My feelings and theories are not set in stone, and I don't intend on influencing you one way or the other. It's your path, not mine."The younger female frowned. "Well, since we're talking about feelings, I should let you know that I didn't feel comfortable with you going off alone. I don't care how lethal or majestic you can be." Rey couldn't help but smile a little guiltily. "And I know Poe would be very upset with you if something happened and he wasn't there.""Poe's busy with the Advisory Council. King Horu is running for re-election, and this is crunch time, and the numbers aren't looking good." Crisara sighed. "It's really no fault of his — the King, that is. He's done a wonderful job. It's just, historically, Naboo has preferred Queens to Kings. And Poe has really come 'round to Horu and wants to see him succeed in getting a second term. Two years really isn't enough time to make a big enough impact. There are proposals being brought forth on increasing single term limits to at least three or four years. Hell, my grandmother Padmé Amidala made such a mark in just her two terms as Queen, and the people had grown so fond of her, that a faction tried to amend the constitution to allow her another term, but she declined. But, as I was saying, Poe is busy with all that right now. He can't just take off on a whim to accompany me to look for some child who ran off into the Batuu Wilds.""Actually, he can," Rey retorted. "And he is."As if on cue, the Millennium Falcon appeared, veering along a curve in the lakeshore; practically skimming the still waters as it careened upward and then hovered upward above the landing zone. Crisara's shoulders slumped as she sighed, but not because she was disappointed. She was rather amused at Rey going behind her back."If you weren't going to let me come with you, I had to press upon Poe to do it. And trust me, I didn't have to press very hard." The brunette folded her arms across her chest and squinted as the thrusters from the ship kicked up a bit of dust and debris from the ground. "He's always ready and willing to go anywhere with you and for you."Crisara smiled."You're possibly the luckiest woman in the known galaxy," Rey continued."I can't disagree," Crisara muttered as she watched the ship's docking ramp lowered.A moment later, Poe appeared; standing at the top of the ramp with his hands on his hips and looking as handsome as ever, if not a bit peeved because Crisara had intended to go off alone. Since he'd been so busy with the Advisory Council recently, he'd been more or less forced to spend most nights in his official apartment within the Royal Palace. It had been the first time that he and Crisara had spent more than one night apart since before they got married. They'd communicated their displeasure about it through holos; both so used to sharing the same bed and finding it cold and awkward to go to sleep and wake up alone. And it was odd how, despite only being apart for a few days, it felt like an eternity since they'd last seen each other. Holo messages only did so much. Now Crisara could see, in person with her own eyes, how Poe must've recently had a haircut, and was also recently clean-shaven with barely a hint of stubble. The clothes he was wearing were also very…polished."Woman," he began as a greeting, causing both his wife and Rey to chuckle at his lame attempt at ire. "Where do you think you're going?""What's it to you, stranger?" Crisara called back to him as she stepped away from her transport to approach the Millennium Falcon instead. "I hope you're not planning on flirting with me. I'm a happily married woman, I'll have you know."Poe sniffed. "Is your husband handsome?"Crisara shrugged. "He's alright."All teasing suddenly set aside, his face became serious again. "Were you really just going to go to Batuu by yourself?""I am plenty capable.""Not refuting that. Just don't think you should go alone. It's you and me, remember," he reiterated their conversation from the hospital, just after Len was born the year before."It's a new decade. Five years since the war. There are no active threats anymore.""That we know of," Rey interjected. "There are always other threats."Poe pointed appreciatively to their friend. "Exactly."With another sigh, Crisara unclipped her lightsaber from her belt and activated it all in one swift move. The notable hum from the pale blue plasma blade seemed to reverberate between the three adults, and the mere appearance of it, paired with Crisara's assertive gaze, was always a bit impressive; mainly for Poe. "You've seen the things I can do. I've forced TIE fighters to crash and explode mid-air. I gave birth to Shara as the Falcon was mid-crash, and then gave birth to Leia during the subsequent firefight. I helped fight the Emperor and lived to tell the tale."
"Your hubris is showing."
Crisara whipped her head to the left; having heard the voice of someone she hadn't spoken to since the war. Blinking the comment away, she looked over at Rey; wondering if she heard the voice, too, but Rey seemed oblivious. "The point is, I can hold my own and don't need anyone to join me." Stepping forward, she deactivated her lightsaber and began to ascend the boarding ramp; staring up at her husband. "But I won't say no to you joining me," she smiled. "I'd never say no."Poe's gaze softened and a small smile appeared on his face. Leaning forward, he placed a hand on the side of her face and kissed her. "Can't resist me, huh?" he muttered against her lips."Just don't tell my husband," she teased. "He gets jealous when other good-looking men give me the slightest bit of attention.""That was just the one time," Poe insisted, as both recalled Chancellor Ransolm Casterfo's flirtation with her almost two years earlier during the soiree at the Royal Palace.Stepping backward down the ramp, Crisara made a face. "There have been other times." As he scoffed at her response, she turned her gaze over to Rey. "Thank you again — for staying here and keeping an eye out on the padawans. We won't have to bother you with this sort of thing when Beaumont finally joins the school in a couple months.""My pleasure," Rey replied. "It gives me time to be Auntie Rey, as well, and cuddle especially with Len." She made grabbing gestures with her hands. "He's so squishy."Poe chuckled. "Yeah, he's a chunk.""It's only because he's short and squat like his daddy, and his internal organs have nowhere else to go right now, so his stomach sticks out. It happens with all kids in the beginning," Crisara attempted to clarify."He was ten pounds at birth, babe," Poe countered, ignoring the playful dig at his height, or lack thereof. "He could've split you in two."Crisara merely rolled her eyes. "He was nine pounds, seven ounces. And no he wouldn't have." Stepping further away from the Millennium Falcon, she began to migrate back over toward her transport. "Are we going to take the Falcon? If so, I need to get my bag from the G-1A."Poe nodded. "Might as well," he replied. Thumbing over his shoulder, he added, "More room in here for lost, random kids than on that transport."Rey stepped back. "I'll check in with you both regularly, regardless if there are issues or not.""Thank you," Poe remarked, walking down the docking ramp and away from the ship, as Crisara and Rey both watched after him."Where are you going?" Crisara wondered."I've been away from home for four days. I'm going to say hi to our kids, and give them hugs and kisses."He was already off the tarmac when Crisara turned toward Rey with a smile. "He's the best dad," she muttered. "Seriously, I am the luckiest woman in the galaxy."Rey smirked. "Told you."  
Less than twelve hours later
"Remind me again why we're going on foot and didn't just rent a speeder of some sort?" Poe huffed as he shot a look over at his wife who was only a few paces in front of him. A few feet in front of them both was their male, Ugnaught guide, Bern Sudu. "And why do we need a guide?""Because Zirc was my responsibility," Bern grumbled over his shoulder, clearly having overheard Poe's mumbled questions. "When his parents left him at the clinic three years ago, a group of us took turns looking out for him, but it mostly fell upon my shoulders when the others in our group began to come and go, for different opportunities off-world. I was the one who remained. I should've done better.""It's not your fault," Crisara insisted. "An unfortunate accident happened and he got scared. It was a natural reaction for a seven-year-old boy when a scary thing happened. Everyone has a fight or flight response. For children, it's more often than not all flight."Bern's shoulders were slumped and his face tipped downward despite also looking forward as the three of them traipsed along the marshy tall grass in an area that was already a two hour walk from the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. He sighed heavily; not entirely convinced. "I should've been there to assure him it was only an accident, but I was at work.""Also not your fault. You have to make a living." Crisara cast a brief look over her shoulder at Poe and frowned. "Parents and guardians can't be everywhere at once. We have a world on our shoulders at all times. When we think we're succeeding at one thing, we're failing at another. When we think we're failing, we're doing something else right. There's no way to be on top of everything without a little help.""Well, I didn't have the help anymore.""I understand. Maybe—""I have spoken," Bern blurted gruffly, ending the conversation, as was typical for Ugnaughts.Crisara clamped her mouth shut and turned to look as Poe sidled up beside her. He reached a hand out and slipped his into hers. She didn't say anything to him; just offered a thin-lipped, strained smile and a shrug that said, 'what are you gonna do?'"The search parties," Poe began to say. "How far did they get?""Further than this," Bern answered as he trudged forward, shoving a branch from a short tree out of his face."Why did they stop looking?""After three days and the trail going cold, most gave up and believed Zirc met a tragic end in the Wilds."Crisara tilted her head slightly to the side and narrowed her gaze toward the back of Bern's head as she gauged his feelings. "But you didn't give up. You believe he's still alive — that he's lost and possibly hurt.""The boy is resilient. I refuse to believe he's anything but alive," Bern confirmed. "As you said, he's scared. Wherever he is, he's either scared of what awaits him if he were to return to the Outpost, or he's scared of what's out there." He gestured ahead of them at the landscape that was becoming more and more dense and overgrown with a large amount of plant life, scraggly rock formations and who knows how many potentially dangerous types of wildlife. "Something other than himself could be hindering his return." Bern stopped and turned around to look upward at the two humans. "Vi saw my continued concern when no one else seemed to. She had heard of your group home for children that are different, like Zirc. She knew of you." He eyed Crisara specifically. "She heard the stories of some of the things you did during the war. You and your friend, the girl from Jakku.""My sister, Rey Skywalker," Crisara offered, without hesitation.Bern waved a hand at her; obviously not caring for any particulars. "Vi knew you or your sister would have the wherewithal to understand what he can do and give him better opportunities to understand what he can do.""And Vi would be right," Poe remarked, still holding Crisara's hand but gesturing to her with his free one. "My wife is a Jedi Master, and she comes from a line of strong Force users on both sides of her family. She is the most capable person I know and Zirc will be in the best hands with her around."Crisara smirked appreciatively as she squeezed her husband's hand in thanks. "I try," she muttered modestly."Then I am certain we will find Zirc together in no time, but you will need me to navigate the Wilds," Bern continued, turning back forward. "I have lived on Batuu for nearly twenty-five years now. You will need my knowledge of how treacherous the different terrains can be.""We're grateful for your assistance."Bern nodded with resolve. "No more chatter. We continue forward," he asserted. "I have spoken."  When night fell, they had to climb a gnarly tree and set up hammocks to sleep in as far up as they could manage because there were several species of animals that roamed the Wilds, particularly at night, that were very dangerous. There were also nightsnakes that could scale up the trees, but their hammocks were like cocoons they could zip themselves into until first light when the first of Batuu's three suns rose over the horizon. It was not the most comfortable night's sleep but they managed a few hours, and somehow it was harder to get out of the hammocks and climb down with their supplies than it had been to go up.When they made their way down, they noticed tracks that weren't their own that had been made at some point during the night. Although Crisara knew she could've handled her own against any dangerous, wild animals, she hadn't wanted to risk Poe or Bern, and knew it had been the more responsible decision to remain in the tree. As with the day before, they set out further into the Wilds, which seemed endless. It began to feel as if they were walking around an uninhabited planet with no civilized settlements anywhere. It was almost like Haven in that sense, but with a more temperate and lush terrain instead of cold and desolate.They stopped briefly to eat and sip from the canteens filled with water they'd brought with them, and then kept moving. Neither were exactly trackers, but Bern was at least familiar enough with the landscape and Crisara had a good sense about threats of potential danger by way of the Force. Anyone could spot a child's footprints, which they each kept a lookout for, as well as any plants that could've been trampled by a pair of feet or even blood, which would hint to Zirc or something else being possibly wounded.By midday they reached the more notable area of the Wilds, which had rugged, rocky canyons and low vegetation, as well as giant spires, which were merely the petrified remains of ancient trees that towered over the planet as a result of some ancient cataclysm. It was when they approached a cluster of cabbage-like plants that they stopped, but simply because they noticed questionable tracks."These look small, like a child, right?" Poe questioned. "But they're…it looks like whoever made them was running in zigs and zags, like someone avoiding blaster fire from above.""Well, there aren't any signs of singe from blaster bolts, and there's been no mention of a firefight recently. Right, Bern?" Crisara assured."Correct," the Ugnaught confirmed."Is that plant alive?" Poe wondered; pointing at one of the cabbage-like plants. They were roughly the size of the average human's head and it was covered in several layers of leaves. Something within seemed to be causing it to…throb?"I've never seen anything like it before," Bern commented, picking up a long, random stick. "I've lived on Batuu long enough, but not long enough to have seen it all."Stepping forward, he poked at the plant and both males took a cautious step backward in case something jumped out at them. Crisara just remained as she was, more curious than cautious, as she knew she could handle a threat with a swift grab and activation of her lightsaber.At first, nothing happened.Then, slowly, the large leaves began to unfurl to reveal something that looked like a yellow, yolk-like sack. And, yes, it was pulsing."I don't like the look of that," Poe grimaced. "Is something about to hatch?"Bern whipped around; almost accusatorily. "I just said I've never seen something like this before. I don't know what it is or what it's doing.""There is no sentient life inside of it," Crisara clarified. "It's just a plant.""A plant that's just casually expanding and contracting," Poe muttered; not too keen to be anywhere near whatever it was. He turned and looked at his wife for a moment and then was caught off guard by another plant unfurling its leaves to reveal another pulsating, yolky sack. "It's pretty disgusting, if I'm being honest."Bern, who was more curious, stepped closer to the first plant. It was pulsing a bit stronger as he leaned forward to get a better look. "There's some sort of liquid inside. It's swirling around," he described. "I think it's rather beautiful.""To each his own," Poe mumbled as he and Crisara both noted a few more plants unfurling their leaves. "I have a bad feeling about this."Crisara was starting to feel a change in the Force, as if something or someone was trying to convey there was immediate danger. "I think we should head a different way. There are too many of these plants around us and I think there's more to them than meets the eye.""It's probably just collected rainwater, stuck inside whatever this yellow membrane is made of," Bern insisted, as he promptly jabbed at the sack with the end of his stick.As if on cue, the sack burst and the liquid inside, which was golden in color, sprayed upward. It splashed Bern on the hands, arms, chest and all over his face, and his scream of pain was instant. As he stumbled backward, he turned to face Crisara and Poe, but there suddenly wasn't much left to his face. The liquid he'd been sprayed with was melting the skin off both his hands and his face."Kriffing hell!" Poe shouted as he instinctively grabbed at Crisara and began to walk backward with her; the couple both wearing horrified looks upon their faces."Oh, it burns! It…burns!" came Bern's — unfortunate choice of name, now — garbled, languishing voice; which seemed to be dying away as the molten liquid began to dissolve the skin from his neck and destroy his vocal chords within."It's not rainwater. It's acid," Crisara deduced."Gee, you think?" Poe retorted.Another plant, nearer to Bern, burst; splashing him again with its deadly, acerbic goo. The second coating began to burn through his clothing, only to cause further agony for him once it reached his skin underneath. As the acid on his face seeped deeper, leaving him looking half-decayed and nearly skeletal, he dropped to his knees and toppled sideways onto the third plant, causing it to burst and immediately saturate every bit of his body that was lying on top of the plant."He's dead," Crisara remarked, and then glared at Poe. "Don't," she warned when she felt another sarcastic comment prepared to roll of his tongue.A bit further away, a fourth and a fifth plant had unfurled their leaves, and the fourth burst; startling the couple. Poe whipped around in the direction they'd come from, just as he realized a plant beside his legs had already unfurled its leaves and was pulsing."Shit," he grumbled."Why are you standing around? Run!" the same voice Crisara had heard from the day before spoke to her."Go!" she urged her husband, just as the plant beside him burst.It sprayed upward, but all it managed to get was the sleeve of his jacket, and was already starting to burn straight through the leather material."Shit, shit, shit…"As they ran, Poe fumbled with removing his jacket. He had to toss the satchel he'd brought with him off from around his shoulder and then begin to yank himself free. When he flung his jacket away from him, he skidded to a halt, as they were clear of the acid plant patch, and dropped to his knees. He quickly threw some loose soil onto the spot on his arm that had already started to burn from residual acid, which had begun to seep through the jacket's material."Ow," he groaned.Lowering to her knees beside him, Crisara reached for his arm and pulled it toward her. She ripped his shirt sleeve and peeled the material off in case any acidic remnants. "Let me see," she muttered as she stared down at the slight burn mark.Holding her hand over the small wound, she concentrated. She focused on the Force within her and harnessed a fraction of it. She channeled it through her hand, which she touched down upon his arm, and felt a wonderful sense of calm as she transferred a small bit of her life force into him. With a rueful smile, she sank back on the heels of her feet and looked him in the face, but he was looking down at her hand and his arm. Slowly, she removed her hand. She didn't need to bother looking to know the small burn wound was gone, but Poe still looked; always amazed by what she could do. But he was also aware of what transferring any amount of her life force could do. It could tire her out and weaken her, and if these acid plants were just the beginning of their troubles, she didn't need to be risking her own life to heal any of his wounds, or to even safe his life."Thank you," he whispered. Why he whispered, he didn't know. It wasn't like there was anyone else around, seemingly, for miles. Maybe it was out of respect for the recently deceased Bern Sudu. "You shouldn't waste your gifts on me. We don't know what else these Wilds have in store for us.""It was just a little transference," she insisted."But if you keep doing it, a little adds up to a lot, and we can't risk you putting yourself in a weakened position."She smiled appreciatively at his concern, and then looked off in the direction of the acid plants, which still seemed to be bursting, but they were far enough away now. Both of them could still also see Bern's rapidly decaying corpse from where they were, and from that distance, their Ugnaught guide looked as if he'd been lying there — dead — for weeks instead of minutes.But there was something so strange about it all now. Slowly, Crisara stood back up and just stared at the remains of the burst plants and saw flowers that were casually unfurling, as the large leaves had been, and were now standing tall to take in the nutrients from the bountiful sunlight."How strange, when something so beautiful is born of something so terrible and ghastly," she remarked; her hands on her hips.Poe was standing up now as well, and looking onward toward the plants. The very last of the sacks burst just then, causing him to wince, even though they weren't anywhere near it. "You know, this planet has flying creatures called — believe it or not — acid-spitters." He sighed, rubbing his healed small burn wound; which was healed but still left a small, faint scar. So, Crisara had used even less of her own life force than he'd suspected, which made him feel a little better about it. "I wonder if they're related somehow," he muttered, slowly approaching his jacket where he'd abandoned it. "Like, do those creatures get their acid from feeding on the plants or do they pollinate the plants with their acid?"Crisara shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."Picking up his jacket, Poe dusted it off and then checked the sleeve which had burn holes in it from where the acid had gone through and through the material, even after he'd taken the jacket off. On further inspection, he could see the acid residue had already coagulated and dried but he wasn't going to risk touching it to make sure it wasn't still hazardous. Preferring to think of the jacket as a lost cause, he grabbed for the weathered Rebel patch on the shoulder that had belonged to his mother, and ripped it off and shoved it into one of the pockets in his pants. With one last look back at Bern's body, Poe shook his head with sadness for the fallen Ugnaught's untimely and horrible death.Eyeing his wife, he frowned. "This kid better be worth the trouble.""Zirc is a child," Crisara countered. "He's worth the risk."She had spoken too soon. It was as if what she'd said was a jinx, because the ground under their feet began to rumble; as if there was a slight underground tremor or minor groundquake beginning. The soil beneath them began to crack and they suddenly felt unsteady.Poe looked down and then back up at Crisara; practically glowering as the ground opened up and they fell through some newly-formed sinkhole. "Fuck!" he managed to shout as they dropped into the chasm.Fortunately, they didn't have a far drop.They landed, initially, upon their asses and then began sliding further downward through winding tunnels that were slickened by what they hoped was just gathered rainwater. It was dark. Impossibly dark. They couldn't see where they were going. Poe, weighing more than Crisara, slid faster and was therefore ahead of her; that is, until the tunnel split into two. Poe whacked his ankles against the wedged bit of calcified soil at the head of the two separate tunnels, causing his body to spin and fall backward down the tunnel on the right while Crisara slipped down the tunnel to the left.All Crisara could hear was Poe shouting for her, and his voice growing more distant the further away from each other they got. Scrambling for the lightsaber on her hip, she unclipped it from her belt and pointed it down and away from her face as she laid back. Igniting the plasma blade, the entire tunnel, which kept angling downward and winding about, lit up blue and gave her an idea of where she was going, despite not knowing where Poe had been sent or where she was headed.The journey came to an end soon enough, thankfully, with a rather exhilarating expulsion from the tunnels. She saw daylight at the end of the tunnel and deactivated her blade but she hadn't expected where it was sending her. Or how far she would fall.Please don't be jagged rocks, please don't be jagged rocks, she thought to herself.Unceremoniously she was flung out of the tunnel; somersaulting backwards in a free fall. Despite her strengths and abilities, and everything she'd done as a Jedi in her life — this gave her a bit of a fright. She'd jumped from higher heights in the midst of a raging battle, surrounded by Star Destroyers, starships and explosions, but that had been a controlled event. Something she'd had power over. This…this she was out of sorts with. Fortunately, during her free fall, she spotted a river of green water below, and just hoped it wasn't shallow.When she hit the water, she was instantly submerged and lost her grip on her lightsaber for a moment. Realizing as much, she opened her eyes, but the water was so murky, so she had to lean on the Force to guide her to her weapon before it sank too far away from her. Holding a hand out, she called it back to her, and — more slowly than it would in air — it returned to her grasp. Holding tightly to it, she swam upward until she broke the surface; sputtering the water from her mouth and blinking rapidly as she sloshed her arms around to keep herself afloat while looking for Poe."Poe!" she shouted for him. "Poe!""Cris!"Down the river a ways, Crisara spotted her husband. The current was moving them along, even with their mutual thrashing and sloshing. As he was further downstream from her, he began to swim against the current toward her, and she began to swim to join him; meeting him halfway.Crisara smiled with relief at the sight of him; all his dark curls matted and slicked backward. "Are you okay?" she asked when his hands reached out for hers."I slid backward through a rocky tunnel with way too many bumps and fell a bajillion feet into a questionably murky river. Yeah, I'm okay." Spitting some water from his mouth he pulled her closer to him as they began to wade in the center of the river together, which was pulling them further downstream and at a quicker pace the further along they went. "You okay?"She nodded. "All things considered, that was kind of fun."Borrowing a page from her book, Poe rolled his eyes at her while trying to keep his head above water. Literally. "Your definition of fun and my definition of fun seem to be very different." Regardless of his feelings on this particular matter, his was just as relieved she was okay as she had been about him. Slipping an arm around her waist, he kissed her briefly. "Where do you think this river leads?""A big, ol' waterfall."Poe began to snicker, thinking she was just being funny, but then he turned and looked in the direction they were floating toward.He saw the the water was getting choppier, that there was an imminent drop off, and he could hear the increasingly thunderous roar of falling water. "Not again.""Could be worse.""Oh, could it?" he questioned with a glare as he leaned his face away from her."At least we'll fall together this time.""Not falling at all would be better," he countered as the watery cliff got closer. He looked on either side of the river's shore, but noticed there wasn't a shore at all. The river was sandwiched within a rocky canyon. He sighed. "I hate this planet.""Hold my hand," she urged, while managing to clip her lightsaber securely to the belt she was wearing, and doing it while floating faster within the water and having to merely feel around for where the clip was.Holding tight to her hand that hadn't been preoccupied with her weapon, Poe tensed up as the edge approached. "Did I ever tell you that I have a small fear of heights?""Galaxy's best pilot? Afraid of heights?""Different when I'm in a ship. This is…not my idea of a good time, babe.""It'll pass. Just don't let go of my hand."He winced either way; not wanting to deal with another fall, but preparing for it regardless. When they were just feet away, Poe gripped her hand even tighter. "Oh, shit — no, no, no, no—"Then they fell, and it was in a way that felt like they had been standing and someone pulled a rug out from underneath them. They both shouted out of instinct, but kept holding hands; so at least that helped sate some of the fear they might've been feeling. Or what mostly Poe had been feeling. Thankfully, despite the drop, it was a shorter one down the waterfall than from the rocky tunnels they'd fallen out of.Thick mist from the bottom of the waterfall hid any boulders that might've been protruding from the base of the waterfall, so Crisara jutted them forward a bit with the Force to avoid the possibility of striking something hard and jagged. Once again they were submerged by the water, and the tumbling nature of it churning up from the falling water meeting the base forced their hands apart. Their bodies somersaulted a few times before they managed to get their bearings and figure out which direction was up. Crisara appeared first; her head breaking the surface and then Poe appeared a moment or two later; coughing up a good deal of water."I swear, this kid better be worth it," he repeated as he clung for Crisara again.Eventually, the current slowed down and they were able to scramble for shore. They scaled a mushy embankment on their hands and knees, and sat down upon a fallen tree trunk; to finally catch their breaths and take stock of what they had on them.Crisara still had her lightsaber, but Poe's blaster had gone missing during either the drop into the river or following the drop from the waterfall. His satchel with some of their supplies had been left with his abandoned jacket, when he'd been sprayed with a minor dropping of that acid. Crisara's own bag was gone as well, so they had no supplies. They did, however, both have their wrist comms and they just hoped they weren't too waterlogged or broken. Once they found the boy, if they found the boy — either way, they would need to call for help. They would need a way back to the Black Spire Outpost because they had no idea where they were or how to get back without the necessary supplies.After a short while, they agreed to continue moving on; assuming they were too far off the trail from where Bern believed Zirc had gone."Could really use some help here," Crisara muttered to herself."Hmm?" Poe looked over at her."Nothing."
"Follow the water about a mile."
Crisara sighed and smirked. "Thanks.""What?" Poe questioned."No — I was just…I was talking to…""A ghost," he correctly figured.It was which ghost, though, she was glad he didn't inquire into. He might not have been as receptive to it. "We need to follow the water for about a mile," she passed the advice along."Then what?""We'll either figure it out when we get there or I'll receive more insight from the great beyond.""Is it your dad?"Okay, so he was going to inquire."No.""Leia?"Crisara sighed. "No."Poe paused and looked at her as she, too, stopped walking. He noted how she wouldn't look directly at him and was trying to keep her focus forward. And then he understood. "Kylo Ren.""Ben Solo," she corrected, almost a little indignantly. "He would've never been able to join the other side and become one with the Force in death if he'd still been Kylo Ren, the same as Anakin Skywalker and not Darth Vader was able to do the same. Both returned to the light side in the end. Both renounced the dark.""Yet, it still doesn't erase the horrible shit they put the galaxy through," Poe replied through gritted teeth. "What he put me through."Poe turned and glared at his wife, but only for a moment. It was an instinctual reaction for him — anything involving her cousin. He would always be grateful for the part the slightly younger man had played at the end of the war; in helping to defeat the Emperor, in bringing Rey back to life and even helping to save Crisara. But Poe still couldn't forgive Ben Solo for everything else. It didn't matter what name he went by — Ren or Ben. All the atrocities had been done by the same person, regardless of whether or not he decided to listen to his conscious again before he died. He was the reason Poe still had recurring nightmares and experienced strong moments of fear and anxiousness when unwanted memories from his time aboard the Finalizer randomly reappeared in his head."Sorry," Poe mumbled. "I know he meant something to you. That he was your best friend as a child, and he was your cousin, and you loved him. But he's none of that to me.""Why do you think I avoid talking about him? I only ever talk about him to Rey, and even then it's rare these days because she's gone so often and for so long." She threw her hands up, as if tired; but only mentally, not necessarily physically. "I've only just started to hear him, for the first time in five years, and I've missed him. I won't deny that. I've missed who he was long before he died, before the war. So, to have a little bit of who he was back — it means a lot to me.""I understand that and I'm happy for you to have that, just as long as you can also understand my aversion."Crisara stared at her husband. "You know I understand," she insisted. "How many nights have I been there when you've been thrashing around, fighting off an invisible assailant; crying and shouting for it to stop? I've lost count. I can never understand what you went through from your perspective, but I understand because I can feel the pain and fear when you recall it. I've seen fractured moments from your memories; not because I was prying, but because what you're feeling when you're in the midst of those nightmares is like I'm being pulled into your head, like the vacuum of space. It's loud and it's heartbreaking and unavoidable. And I'm sorry for what he did to you and I hate him for doing it, but I can't hate all of him. I still love him and always will. That doesn't just go away, no matter how much I wished it could in the past."Poe clenched his jaw and looked down at the ground.Behind them was the slight roar of the waterfall and somewhere, nearby, on either side of the river, which was narrowing more into a wide stream, there was the chittering of small animals deep within the brush of the jungle-esque terrain."We should keep moving," he suggested; not wanting to harp any longer on the subject of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. "Make the most of daylight."Crisara sighed and nodded. "Okay," she replied simply.And so they did — continue moving.After about thirty minutes, Crisara paused. The stream was branching in several directions and Crisara could sense one of the directions led toward a larger body of water, from the teeming of aquatic life she felt underneath the surface, heading that way. She figured it was either a large lake or maybe an ocean. She'd seen as much in the distance, from the Three Suns Overlook, just before their approach toward the acid plants patch.
"Left."
The branched stream on the right headed for the larger body of water. The left narrowed even more and into thicker vegetation, complete with rocky walls covered in moss and low-hanging vines. Instead of telling Poe where Ben's spirit had advised them to go, she merely began to walk that way and Poe knew enough to just follow her lead without questioning how she knew.
"Leave the shoreline."
Crisara's blue eyes panned away from the water and noticed an opening in a rocky wall, partially obscured by a lot of vines. "In there?" she asked aloud.Poe followed her gaze but tried his best to ignore who she was talking to.
"Yes. Walk through, but be quiet about it."
"Well, that's not ominous at all," she replied sarcastically.With a sigh, she led the way forward toward the vine-covered entrance. As Poe followed wordlessly behind her, she unhooked her lightsaber and ignited it so she could chop away at some of the obstructing vines, as well as us it for a light source when they stepped into the obviously awaiting darkness. When they were eventually consumed by the darkness, despite the light from her blade, Poe chose to walk closer to her, while keeping his eyes trained on the ground in case of anything wanting to jump upward or cause them harm, or both.It was clear they were maneuvering some ancient cavern; one that people probably hadn't been through in at least a century or two. Despite being in a very natural setting, the air had a stale quality to it. Animals likely passed through these rocky passageways, sure; but nothing bipedal or remotely humanoid. Poe didn't notice any footprints on the ground ahead of them from what little bit he could see from the lightsaber's blue glow."Is this cavern supposed to lead somewhere specific?" Poe wondered.Crisara shrugged. "Not sure. But he wouldn't lead me astray," she assured; trying her best to be mindful of not using either of her cousin's names, for Poe's sake. It was just easier that way, to keep it vague; as if by saying 'he' that it could mean her father or either of her grandfathers. Though, she knew getting advice from Anakin Skywalker wasn't exactly ideal from Poe's perspective, either. "We keep going forward until something presents itself or I'm alerted otherwise."Poe simply nodded.After a few more minutes, there was a noticeable screeching that was getting closer and closer. It sounded like a herd of creatures communicating with one another. The nearer Crisara and Poe got, the more aware they were that something was overhead. Swallowing back any fear or worry, they craned their heads upward as Crisara raised her lightsaber to literally shine a light on whatever it was."I have a bad feeling about this," she reiterated his sentiment from earlier, when they'd been dealing with the imminently rupturing acid plants.Hanging upside down where fairly large, winged creatures that looked to be purple and teal in color and were starting to stir from the light shining in their direction.Poe's eyes widened. "Babe…those are acid-spitters," he warned as he touched a hand to her arm and tried to guide it downward; to lower the lightsaber blade so darkness would be cast once more over the creatures."Well, shit."It was too late.The acid-spitters had already been alerted and realized the pair were there."Run," Crisara ordered; not needing Ben to tell her as much.Keeping her lightsaber activated so they could see where they were going, Crisara led the way and Poe followed closely behind. From behind them they could hear several of the creatures dropping down from the cavern ceiling and flapping their wings in pursuit of the two humans. Their squeaking gave way to hissing, and the sounds of something spitting something wet that missed Crisara and Poe, and hit the stone walls."Ow!" Crisara yelped as something wet burned at the back of her left calf. She tried to ignore the pain, and whipped a hand behind her to propel the creatures away with a Force push. It put some extra space between them and the creatures, but it didn't deter the creatures, who kept gunning for the pair.Poe squinted. "There. Turn off your lightsaber and duck behind that rock sticking out. I think they're attracted to the light."As he moved to dip behind the jagged rock formation protruding up from the ground, Crisara sensed something different and paused. She kept the lightsaber lit and pointed upward. Because of it glowing upon her face, Poe was able to see her. He watched with concern as she held a finger to her lips, silently urging him to be quiet, and then she just stood there, unmoving, as the acid-spitters approached.Poe felt such a strong urge to call out to her; to vehemently insist she join him behind the rock until they could figure their next move, but he could see she had something else up her metaphoric sleeve.She always did.Despite his concern, he smirked. She was always amazing to him, with all the things she could do and that he could only dream about being able to do.All at once, the acid-spitters seemed to surround and envelope her. But Crisara remained still and silent. Her eyes were closed and she slowly held her free hand outward. Poe's own eyes widened with further concern as he watched the acid-spitters swirling around her, but not touching her nor spitting any of their acid at her. Then, their numbers seemed to dilute and most seemed to be retreating. With a curious furrowing of his brow, Poe looked on as one of those creatures slowly approached Crisara's outstretched hand and landed; curling its sharp talons gently around her wrist. He watched the way Crisara turned her head toward the creature, but still remained silent and kept her eyes closed.The acid-spitter leaned its head toward her and squeaked a bit, but not in an aggressive way. For a few moments it appeared to be communicating with her.Then, without warning, it lifted up. Flapping its wings, it took off the way it came and the rest of acid-spitters that had been hanging back followed suit. Slowly, Crisara lowered both her arms and turned to look in Poe's direction; finally opening her eyes."It's okay now," she assured, quietly."Are, uh…you sure?"Crisara nodded. "They were scared. They get aggressive when their territory feels threatened. They were defending their home against us — intruders. I used the Force to calm them down and made them understand we meant no harm; that we're lost, looking for a way out, and looking for a lost child," she explained. "No longer feeling a threat from us, they chose to leave us alone.""Did they communicate to you if they've seen the boy?""No, but I agree with Bern's theory: that Zirc is just scared, and that he's injured or lost, or both."
"Continue forward."
Crisara smirked. "Time to keep going."Poe just stared at her for a moment. He let out a huff of breath, stood up straight and shook his head in wonderment. "Okay, then." He gestured lamely at her. "Lead the way."Pointing her lightsaber forward toward a turn in the tunnel neither of them had noticed before, Crisara walked ahead first and Poe stepped quietly behind her. Neither said anything for a few minutes until, eventually, rays of sunlight seemed to be streaming into the darkness. Walking forward, Crisara reached out with her lightsaber at what was clearly more vines, and cut them down to create a greater opening for the two of them to walk through. As the vine trimmings fell to the ground, they found themselves stepping out into a cenote. Before them was a large, freshwater pool at the bottom of a fifty foot sinkhole that was surrounded on all sides by vines and large roots sticking out from old, ancient trees above ground that had fossilized over the millennia."More water," Poe muttered."At least we're at the bottom and don't have to fall into it this time," Crisara remarked with a smirk over her shoulder at him as he stepped up beside her. "We just need to figure our way out.""Ask your ghostly helper. He's guided us this far."Crisara narrowed her gaze and concentrated. "I think he's helped as much as he can for now," she presumed. "I don't sense him anymore.""Small blessings," Poe whispered to himself."We should use our comms and get a hold of Vi Moradi; see if we can send her our location from here and get us a ride," she suggested as she focused her eyes forward."What about the boy?" Poe questioned, placing his hands on his hips. "Did we really just go through all of this and see Bern die for nothing?"Turning, Crisara grinned knowingly at her husband and then pointed across the pool of clear blue, pristine water. Following her gaze, Poe found himself staring at the huddled figure of a young Devaronian boy, looking back at them with a renewed sense of hope."Found him," Crisara chuckled and releasing a sigh; as if a weight had been physically lifted off her shoulders.Poe smacked his lips and shook his head. "Dumb fucking luck.""Him or us?""Both."  "…and then we were lifted out of the hole and brought back to Black Spire Outpost, where we had to pass along the sad news about our guide, Bern, who lost his life," Crisara was in the middle of saying to Rey, approximately another twelve hours later. She was seated at the small table on the tiled patio in front of the villa, nursing a cup of ginberry tea, which brought back warm memories of her Gram. "A lot of the locals were upset, but mostly with themselves. Bern was apparently much beloved in the community. One of the good ones, who didn't just look the other way when something unscrupulous went down. He was the one who rose to the occasion. Apparently he even made care packages for those in the temporary Resistance encampment in the Black Spire Ruins.""But he poked a questionable plant that was pulsing. Good man he might have been, but a bit dense," Poe remarked, walking out of the front door as he caught the tail end of Crisara's recount of their little adventure. Sitting down in one of the empty chairs, he raised an eyebrow. "That's survival 101. Don't poke weird things with sticks. They might explode all over you and melt the flesh off your bones till you're dead."Rey smirked, nursing her own cup of tea that Crisara had made for her after the couple's return home. "How was the boy on the trip back here? He seems very quiet and closed off," she remarked. "He's naturally talented at blocking out unwanted prying into his mind. I know, 'cause I tried."With a small smile, Crisara set her cup aside. "He was glad we found him. He'd fallen through into the cenote, outrunning a Braga bear. A vine got caught around his ankle, which kept him dangling above the water, but also sprained his ankle in the process. When he got free, he fell into the water and eventually pulled himself onto a small embankment. He hadn't had anything to eat in a few days, but he had plenty of fresh water to drink. Physically, he will be fine. But he was close to Bern, and immediately blamed himself for his death."Poe frowned. "Said it was his fault because if he hadn't taken off then Bern would still be alive.""But Bern made the choice to come looking for him, and he could've led us in a different path, where those acid plants weren't, or," Crisara spoke, gesturing to her husband, "he could've not poked the questionable plant that was pulsing." She mirrored Poe's frown. It had been an unfortunate and quite gruesome incident. Yet, they'd experienced worse during the war. "I explained to Zirc that it's all about choices. Bern made a series of choices, which led to his death. His death wasn't Zirc's fault. He's a child, who was scared about what he'd done on accident, and who ran away because of his fear. It was natural.""All kids run away at some point," Poe agreed. "Hell, I remember getting mad at my parents once, when I was about four or five. Wanted to go outside and play, but I think they wanted me to clean my room first, and in my brain that translated to them being cruel dictators, so I said I was running away. My mom said, 'fine, do it' and I threw my favorite toy X-wing, a pair of clothes and my stuffed toy Bantha into a knapsack, and then I camped out in the corner of the kitchen for about forty minutes. That was as far as I got. Thought I was really showing them."Rey and Crisara both chuckled."That's incredibly adorable," Rey commented; somehow also picturing him do the same thing now, which made her chuckle a bit more.Crisara nodded and then grabbed for her tea cup again. "Zirc will be fine. I told him there was a place where he could learn how to control his abilities, and I would be the one to teach him. He would be with other children and young adults just like him. That he would have a home here with us." She looked across at Poe and smiled as he winked at her."And the two of you clearly survived your journey into the Batuu Wilds.""Barely," Poe quipped, drumming the fingers of his right hand onto the tabletop.After a few moments of quiet fell between the three adults, light footsteps began to approach from the direction of the school next door. Meleri appeared with the three-year-old twins, Shara and Leia, scurrying behind her and with their hair worn in matching looped braids that hung down from a braided bun on the back of their heads. It reminded Crisara of the many styles her Aunt Leia had worn her hair throughout the years."Mama!" her daughter Leia squealed, bouncing as she ran forward upon noticing her mother, but then stopped and ran to Poe instead when she realized he was there, too. "Daddy!"Crisara jokingly scoffed. "I see how it is." As Poe reached down and scooped Leia up into his lap, Shara walked over to her mother and helped herself into climbing up into her lap. "Were you two good for Aunt Rey while we were gone?""She did our hair pwitty," Shara muttered, leaning against her mother's chest."Yes, she did. It's very pretty," Crisara agreed."Is Zirc our new brudder?" Leia wondered.Poe chuckled. The twins had been newborns when Lia joined the Kenobi Academy, and their actual brother was born only a year ago. They had only ever known all of the current padawans, and weren't yet able to understand the difference between their parents' children and their mother's padawans. Honestly, it was fine line, especially since their brothers Tem and Caro were padawans, but Tem had been a padawan first and then legally adopted."No, Zirc is mama's new padawan. He's going to learn about the Force and maybe become a Jedi someday like the others.""I wan' be a Jedi," Leia informed, very matter-of-factly."Then that's what you'll be, if you want it."Meleri cleared her throat as she bit down on her bottom lip and rocked slightly back and forth on the heels and balls of her feet. "Um, can I get you some tea, Mister Poe? I see Masters Dameron and Skywalker each have a cup. Since you're stuck where you are with Leia, I could do that for you. Or if you want something to eat. I'd be happy to get you something."Crisara shot Poe a look and he looked back at her; only now finally understanding what she had mentioned to him some time ago, about Meleri's crush on him and to not fan any flames."Uh, no, but thank you, Mel. I'm fine.""Alright. You're welcome."The three seated adults looked among each other when Meleri remained."Would you be so kind as to escort the padawans into the school's back garden for some group mediation," Crisara suggested. "I sense a considerable amount of restlessness."Meleri bowed her head to Crisara. "Of course, Master Dameron. I'll get right on that." Stealing one last look at Poe, the nineteen-year-old turned and headed toward the stone path, which led between the two properties.Cupping a hand behind Shara's head and kissing the top of it, Crisara sighed and looked over at Rey. "I need to ask another favor," she remarked, sharing a knowing gaze with her pseudo-sister.Rey, understanding, nodded. "Consider it done."Confused by what just transpired between both women, Poe knitted his brow while keeping one of his arms snaked around Leia's waist so she didn't slip off his lap. "Wait — what did I miss?"Crisara shifted her gaze over toward him. "It's time for Meleri to spread her wings and see some of the galaxy. Rey will oversee that now," she stated. "Meleri isn't a child anymore. Granted, she's only been here for about four years, but she should get some—""Field training," Rey offered up as she took a sip from her tea cup; looking over the rim toward Crisara."Exactly."Setting her cup back down, Rey began to smirk as she looked over at Poe, too. "And if she's not around making moon eyes at you every chance she gets, she won't be so preoccupied with daydreams of kissing on you, and instead on focusing her abilities more productively.""Can you blame the girl for having good taste?" Poe joked.Crisara grimaced. "Don't make it weird, Dameron."Rey chuckled.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"And I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
Oh, you're my best friend"
— Queen 
42 ABY — Another two years later
Poe didn't think it was possible to have flown the Millennium Falcon any faster without traveling at light-speed. His brow was furrowed in continuous fear and concern as countless worst case scenarios played on a loop in his mind as he sat silently at the controls of the pilot's chair. Behind him, to his right, BB-8 rolled slightly from side to side each time Poe shifted direction, causing a series of concerned chirps and beeps to explode out of him."Sorry, buddy," Poe muttered through gritted teeth, "but also not sorry."It had taken him no time at all to flee the Theed Hangar and reach the Lake Country, and then make his final approach to the landing zone beside the villa. He didn't bother pulling the Millennium Falcon into his hangar at home. He landed, he powered down and he scrambled to get out of his chair before running out of the cockpit. He slapped the button to lower the docking ramp and didn't hesitate to continue running out of the ship while BB-8 beeped and opted to follow just as quickly behind his human."Cris!" Poe shouted as he approached the front of the villa. "Boys!" He paused briefly when he reached the tiled patio and saw the front door was wide open; his heart immediately jumping up into his throat as his worst fears began to plague him. "No…" Continuing forward at a more tenuous pace, he could feel tears burning at his eyes. "Girls?" he called out; preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.Slowly, he entered the house; stepping into the grand foyer and pausing in front of the antique, circular wooden table in the center of the room. He looked around from his left to his right and saw nothing out of order. There were no signs of distress, no signs of a scuffle. There were also no signs of life. It was like a ghost town. No lights were on, everything was oddly quiet. Almost too quiet."Maybe they're…"BB-8 finally joined him, stopping at his feet and chirped a suggestion."The school. Yeah," Poe nodded. "I was just thinking that." He turned around and looked back out the front door, while clenching his fists. "Maybe that's where everyone is…I hope."The subtlest of noises caught Poe's attention. It sounded something akin to a voice, or a cough…something…"Hello?" he called out, turning to look toward the formal sitting room. When he stepped through the archway, he stood there with his hands on his hips and looked around, but saw no one. With an anxious sigh, he moved to turn out of the room again, but then—"Surprise!"A cacophony of voices shouted at him all at once, understandably startling him. Poe's dark eyes began to dart all around, up and down, as kids of all ages jumped out from behind sofas and chairs in the formal sitting room, from around the back hallway behind the stairs to the left and from either hallway upstairs. The multi-colored crystal chandelier lit up and the kids threw handfuls of confetti in his direction and then began to cheer or clap. Holding his hands up, as if in surrender but simply in confusion, he did feel considerably less scared and worried.Beaumont Kin and a few of Crisara's padawans that were standing behind the balustrade along the breezeway dropped a handmade banner they were holding in their hands. Poe knitted his brow and read what it said.
HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY!
It was the tenth day of the fifth month of the forty-second year since the Battle of Yavin. But it was exactly forty years since he'd been born. It was his birthday and yet, somehow, he'd forgotten.Crisara stepped out from the back hallway with their kids, and then so did his father, Finn and Rey, and the rest of their droids, C-3PO and R2-D2 and BD-80. All were smiling at him while he was still processing what was happening; that nothing was wrong with his loved ones. They had simply lured him home under false pretenses to throw him a surprise party and celebrate his forty years of life so far.Before he could get a word out, his nearly five-year-old twin daughters came running forward; each throwing their arms around one of his legs."Daddy!" Leia squealed happily first."Happy birthday, Daddy!" Shara announced."Lean down," Leia urged. "We gotta give you a birthday kiss."Poe's chest swelled, and tears that were happy instead of sad stung at his eyes. "Hold on, hold on," he muttered, patting the tops of their heads. Briefly he looked down at them and then back upward at Crisara who was stalking forward with their three sons beside her. "Mommy gets the first kiss." When the girls pouted, he snickered. "You wouldn't be here without Mommy. So, Mommy first." Casting his gaze toward his wife, he nodded at her. "Woman."Crisara smiled as the girls pulled back from their father and stepped aside so their mother could approach. "Dameron."Clenching his jaw to keep from smiling like an idiot, and instead give the impression of being peeved, Poe shook his head at her as he closed the gap between them. "Really? Really?" he questioned."Really," she nodded. Lifting her arms up, she draped them over his shoulders and tipped her face upward to kiss him. "Happy birthday," she muttered against his lips. "Surprised?""You could say that," he mumbled as he returned her kiss; slipping a hand down to her waist. "You could've also not scared the shit out of me to get me here.""Sorry, but you've been so distracted and busy lately. I figured only a fire lit under your ass would do the trick."Poe frowned. "Well, it worked." Looking past her to their friends and her padawans, he sighed. "You could've just wished me a 'Happy Birthday' when I left for Theed this morning. I didn't need a party.""You were gone before I woke up," she countered."Oh. Right." He looked around at the kids and the mess of confetti over the floor and began to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. "Thank you." Catching her eye, he smirked. "For scaring the shit out of me to get me home. But, uh…don't do it again for my fiftieth, 'kay?""I make no promises," Crisara replied as she watched Poe crouch down to lift both twins into each of his arms at the same time, but with some strained effort. The girls weren't light as a feather anymore. "Gotta keep you on your toes."Poe merely grinned as he placed a kiss upon each of their daughters' cheeks, and then continued his grin when the boys walked up to surround him in a group hug. Poe released a happy breath of air. Even BB-8 brushed against his leg as if attempting to hug him. Those most important to him were surrounding him with love. "Best birthday ever," he whispered.  Later that night, after a proper party that included a variety of sweet treats that had been delivered from Theed, Beaumont ushered the padawans back to the Kenobi Academy next door while family remained at the house. After the Dameron children were sent up to bed, the adults remained downstairs; sitting around the dining table, nursing cups of tea or something a little harder. They chatted, smiled, laughed, and caught up on what everyone was doing.After two years away with Rey and Finn, Meleri had returned and her demeanor had changed — for the better. Gone was her girlish infatuation with Poe and in its place was a resolve to be the best Jedi Knight she could be. She had been through quite a bit during her time away from Naboo, and a few terrible things that forced her to grow up, so to speak, and consider what she wanted out of her life. She wanted to be able to defend the downtrodden she'd come across throughout the galaxy and she wanted to help the next generations find their purpose within the Force. She wanted to return to the Academy and help teach, to be a mentor, but she understood she might not be ready to be knighted. She was twenty-one now, with only about six years of training under her belt. Then again, Rey only had a little over a year of training when Crisara knighted her, so there was no identical path to knighthood.Crisara, Rey and Finn had agreed they would, the following day, gather in the Council Chamber room at the school to further discuss when exactly Meleri's knighthood should take place. Finn, himself, was a Jedi Knight now, having finally been knighted the year before after a series of adventures where Rey had believed he'd proved himself exceptionally worthy. Crisara and Poe had traveled to where Rey, Finn and Meleri had been at the time — Ajan Kloss, as it had meaning to them all — and then Crisara had declined when Rey tried to differ to her to spearhead the knighting ceremony."You knight him," Crisara had insisted. "This will be your final step to becoming a Master."After the adults had gone to bed, with Meleri returning to her former bunk room with Anila, and with Rey and Finn doing the same at the school, Kes had opted to return home to his apartment in Theed. Meanwhile, Poe and Crisara retreated to their bedroom as the cleaning droids were dispatched to rid the floors of all the discarded confetti."I wish every day was my birthday," Poe remarked; lying horizontally across the bed with his hands linked underneath his head."Yeah? Why's that?" Crisara asked, lying on her side next to him. With her left arm bent at the elbow, she propped her head up in her hand and had her other hand resting upon his bare chest. In fact, everything about them both was bare at the moment. "Was it all the dessert? I'm sure that was the kids' favorite part."Poe smirked, slipping one of his hands out from behind his head and cupped it over her hand. "No," he refuted. "I wish it was my birthday every day because I don't get you on your knees as often as I used to."Crisara rolled her eyes at him, yanked her hand away and fell backward on the mattress. "I could say the same about you.""That's fair."Turning her head to look back at him, she smiled. "Did you have a good day, though? Honestly?""I honestly did," he assured. "But now I have to find a way to top it for your fortieth next year. Wanna give me some hints? Painted jesters? You want those horrifying things to bring you some birthday joy?" Off Crisara's giggles, he continued. "We can pay them extra to juggle some colorful balls. Maybe they can do a choreographed dance.""Please no."Rolling over onto his side to face her, Poe slid an arm around her waist and pulled her toward him. "What's that?" he teasingly asked, as if he'd misheard her."No. No painted jesters.""Then tell me what you want.""Well," she muttered quietly, "are we still talking about my fortieth next year or right now?"Poe grinned knowingly and casually began to shift so that he was partly hovering over her. "Now is probably better," he remarked, leaning down to place a kiss upon the side of her neck. "Best to live in the moment anyway."Snaking her hands up to the sides of his body, she began to drag her fingers upward along the skin of his shoulder blades and pull him more fully on top of her. "Just as the Jedi of old would've preferred it."With a chuckle, Poe lifted his head back up and raised a single eyebrow at her. "I'm fairly certain this is not what they meant.""Well, it's what this Jedi wants."  
A few months later
Poe was sitting behind his desk in his office in the Royal Palace, looking over updated security reports on a datapad before him while an hours-old, cold cup of caf went forgotten a few inches away. He was tired, he was stressed and yet he felt fulfilled in what he was doing. He loved having this sense of purpose and to feel appreciated and respected in something separate from his role as a husband and father. It filled the void in his life that had been left behind by his time as a pilot before and during the war. It more than occupied his days, but with more consistency, instead of the days where he was a Captain turned Commander, demoted back to Captain, returned to rank of Commander, and then promoted to General. He'd worn a lot of hats, professionally, and the current hat as Security Chief was pretty nice. For starters, he had a swanky office in an actual palace that was all his, as well as a private apartment, which didn't get as much use because he always strove to be home for dinner and to sleep in his own bed beside his wife of six years.Six years.Hell, how time flew.In the last two years alone so much had changed in his professional life, unlike his personal life, which had stayed pleasantly uneventful.After that whole business with finding and retrieving the Devaronian boy, Zirc D'vandt, two other children had been discovered shortly after, but they were much younger, barely out of their toddler years, though still taken in by Crisara at the Kenobi Academy. They were too young to be considered padawans, and were merely younglings, but would be taught a few things. Because of their age, Crisara had hired a Matron from the GOFOY group home on Ryloth, which had been going through restructuring issues, since the group home didn't have as many orphans as it once did and therefore didn't need as many caregivers on premises. Mika Olo came highly recommended by Crisara's old boyfriend, Radu Lammu, who was still head of the Rylothian GOFOY office, and therefore oversaw the day to day operations of the group home, which included the caregivers and orphans.The two younglings taken in, at the time, had been only two and three years old. The three-year-old was a male Togruta from Shili named Kelda Jinilli, and the two-year-old was a female Mon Calamari from Mon Cala named Vra Alkai. Both had been sensed by Crisara while she and Poe had been on each planet, and Vra was the only one of the two that wasn't an orphan. She was one of a dozen children spawned from a set of parents who weren't too brokenhearted to let her go. Since, for the Mon Calamari, not all spawns were expected to come of age, they felt loss less keenly than humans, who reproduced comparatively rarely and fewer. At least this one child survived and would thrive with others that had abilities near identical to hers.That was mostly what Crisara had been dealing with over the last two years.Poe, on the other hand, had been dealing with a bit more drama, but somehow he enjoyed it.King Horu had, by the skin of his teeth, been reelected to a second term, but that second term had ended and a new monarch, once more a queen, had been chosen by the people. She was fifteen, even younger than Horu had been, and had chosen to use her actual name of Sessani Lell as her regnal name; forgoing tradition. Queen Sessani Lell had met with the current Advisory Council and the only two she kept on was Governor Senn and Poe, as Security Chief. Now, several months later, she had mentioned to Poe in private that she wished she could remove Governor Senn from the Council, as something about him had rubbed her the wrong way, but the Governor of Naboo was a mandated position to keep on the Council. So, she was stuck with Senn, much to her chagrin.One of her friends from the Royal Academy, who had her sights on eventually running as the next monarch, shared the same sentiments about the Governor, which Queen Sessani also admitted to Poe. He had become her closest political confidant; often going to him for advice on matters of state instead of Senn, which had been slowly creating some bad blood between those involved. Senn became more resentful and often missed meetings with the Advisory Council, as well as any committee meetings that involved Poe. Captain Emba understandably sided with the Governor, because Emba already had his issues with Poe having become Security Chief over him, and then going on to keep the position with the new monarch. Also, since typically the Security Chief on Naboo held the military rank of Captain, but Poe had achieved the rank of General in the war, he was still referred to as General Dameron, as being referred to as Captain Dameron would've been considered a devaluation. That, in itself, had Emba feeling even more resentful of being outranked by Poe.It was all so juvenile, and what was amusing about it all was that it was two grown men, Senn and Emba, who were acting as such. The actual juvenile, the fifteen-year-old Queen, was more mature than they were, and was what finally got Poe to alter his feelings about the young age of the planet's monarchs. They really were wiser than their adult counterparts. After all, they'd been training, since they could read and write, to be potential leaders.Leaning back in his chair, Poe swiveled around and stared out of the large windows that had been at his back.It was raining, which it did maybe once a week on Naboo, and even then it wasn't always an all-day thing. But, today, the ground was getting a proper drenching. It had started at sunrise, and looked as if it would continue until sundown, and maybe a little bit into the night before the rain clouds either moved away from Theed or dissipated altogether.Poe stood up and approached the windows until he placed his forehead and the tip of nose against one of the windowpanes. The rain splattering against the glass obscured his view only slightly, but he could still make out enough of the scenery below. Because of the rain, there was next to no people bustling around outside. Most had taken cover. The grey clouds darkened the streets and made it feel later in the day than it actually was, and also made it feel a bit depressing.Flexing his shoulders backward, Poe sighed with relief when he felt the wonderful cracking and popping which relieved a considerable amount of pressure along his back from sitting in the same position for so long. He turned and looked back down at his desk. He noted the cup of caf and contemplated taking a sip, but decided not to. He could always get a fresher cup. He had an actual assistant outside his office that could do that for him. Stuff like that still boggled his mind. His gaze migrated to the datapad. There wasn't much else to do. He'd gone over the recent reports twice, to be thorough, and signed off on several matters that needed immediate handling. A diplomatic banquet was coming up in a few weeks, wherein Chancellor Casterfo would be in attendance, and it would be the first time Poe was seeing him again since the soiree four years earlier. Poe had to sign off on the guest list and see to background checks, for the safety of the Queen and others in attendance. Seating arrangements had to be very specific, as not to place any foreign dignitary too near to another foreign dignitary their people were on outs with or had extreme differences of opinion with.Poe usually worked six out of seven days a week. He was gone most of the day until around dinner time for the first five days, but would only work a few hours on the occasional sixth day. The rest of the sixth and all of the seventh day, Poe was able to be at home with his family, and he looked forward to every moment. He also received time away for personal leave, like vacations or for personal emergencies. His birthday had been a personal emergency, which he had to explain had all been a ruse, the following day, to the Queen. But, as it turns out, she had been in on the surprise. Apparently, Crisara had contacted Queen Sessani the day before about it all, and the teenage monarch was all too happy to play along, since Poe was her favorite advisor, and already so much like a second father to her. And, since she was the about the same age as his adopted son Tem, he was able to easily view her as another daughter, which was why he was so meticulous about the security measures for the coming banquet.He didn't want anything at all to go wrong for her sake. He didn't want to keep her safe just because it was his job and it was the right thing to do, but also because he honestly cared about her. But, considering his work life was about to get even busier in the weeks ahead, now was the time for him to take a vacation; something he'd already squared away with Her Highness and the rest of the Advisory Council. Emba would, happily, be picking up the slack while Poe was away, and Poe just hoped the Captain didn't undo any of the security measures he had put in place.As it had been years since Poe and Crisara had had any proper time away together, that was the goal this time. During his previous weeks off, he spent them at home, surrounded by the kids, swimming in the lake and just enjoying the solitude of the Lake Country, despite the countless children buzzing around between both estates at any given moment.This time, it was just a vacation for husband and wife. It was also a belated anniversary trip. They never did get around to returning to Canto Bight for their first anniversary, or the following anniversaries. He supposed they were overdue for that as well, so he'd reached out and contacted the Master Codebreaker — Emcee — and inquired about spending a couple days at the Crescent Royale. Emcee was thrilled and assured Poe he was already setting aside one of the best suites for the couple. The rest of the time, Poe and Crisara would do some traveling and possibly spend a night at the old Dameron homestead, which his father occasionally returned to; merely to maintain the property so it didn't fall into disrepair, as well as to maintain the upkeep of his wife's — Poe's mother's — grave.Going over the rest of his work for a third time, just to be on the safe side, Poe eventually called it a day. He packed away his datapad into a drawer in his desk which only he had the security code to, and then he was off to the Advisory Council meeting, which was the last thing he had to do before heading home to pack and start his vacation.On his way to the Meeting Hall, he was joined by Governor Senn, who was actually going to attend. Both men nodded politely to each other and exchanged brief pleasantries, but that was basically it. The rest of the walk was relatively silent. During the meeting, Poe gave his final details on the security measures for the upcoming banquet as well as a few other issues regarding a recent, and quite scandalous, bank robbery in the city of Moenia. The criminals had been caught, but the money stolen had not been found with them. A search was ongoing, which a team based out of Moenia was overseeing and would be providing updates in due course.When it was the rest of the Council's turn to give their updates to the Queen on their respective matters at hand, Poe listened with rapt attention. Queen Sessani noted this, and respected it. Most of the Advisory Council tended to zone out and daydream when someone other than themselves, with the exception of the Queen, was talking. But Poe gave everyone his attention because he was always curious to know if anything they had to say might pertain to his branch of the Royal House of Naboo, the military branch, or if it pertained to the safety of the Queen and her people.When the meeting drew to a close, Queen Sessani graciously dismissed her advisors, but asked for Poe to stay behind, which wasn't unusual. It was actually quite commonplace."You have become my greatest friend during this venture of mine as Queen, General Dameron. I cannot begin to thank you for your patience and your guidance so far, and I look forward to it continuing for as long as I remain," the Queen remarked, having stood and was now standing walking side by side with him while four handmaidens followed behind them, like shadows.Poe had known Crisara's grandmother for a brief couple of years. He knew of her history and that she had been a handmaiden during her cousin, Queen Amidala's first term. Seeing these handmaidens now, he could almost imagine what both women — both of Crisara's grandmothers — had been like in those days, three quarters of a century earlier. His own connection to that past, as Crisara's husband and the father of her children, who were now also blood relatives of those grandmothers, made it all feel more special and personal to him, to be in this position beside the planet's current Queen and her handmaidens."A little surprised you're speaking as yourself and not as the Queen," he remarked with a small smile."What do you mean?""You're saying 'my' and 'I' instead of the royal 'our' and 'we'."Queen Sessani shrugged. "It is a tiring exercise, I must admit. But I know you don't judge me any differently for dropping those haughty pretenses."Poe paused, clasping his hands together in front of him. "I would never judge you," he smiled more warmly. "You're the first Monarch I actually voted for."This genuinely surprised her. "You didn't even vote for King Horu's second term?""He was a decent king, a good kid, and because of him I was given the opportunity to be Security Chief, but he was a bit too flashy for my personal tastes. He preferred the pageantry of the job a bit more than the actual job itself." As they continued to walk, he looked forward as they exited the Meeting Hall together. "When you began your campaign, you immediately reminded me of someone else.""May I ask who?""My wife's aunt, and my mentor, General Leia Organa Solo," he replied. "She was a natural born leader, just as you were meant to be, and I hope your reign is looked back upon as fondly by the people as the people of the galaxy still think fondly of her."Queen Sessani was trying very hard to retain her composure from such a compliment. It was one of the highest she could've ever been honored to receive. "Thank you. That means a lot.""Was there, uh, anything in particular you wanted to talk to me about, M'Lady? I understand we usually carry on some conversation after these meetings, just the two of us, and I appreciate you placing such confidence in me, but I'm afraid I did have somewhere I needed to be.""Your holiday away with your wife. Yes, I am aware, and I'm sorry to keep you.""It's alright," he assured."I was just hoping that, well, after your return from your time away, if I might press upon you to form a new committee.""Oh? What kind of committee?""A sort of…" she hesitated to respond; pausing once more and glancing around for any eavesdropping passers-by that weren't her handmaidens or Poe. "A secret committee.""I'm already intrigued," he smirked, unclasping his hands and instead folding his arms across his chest as he waited for further elaboration. "Should this be discussed out in the open or should we return back into the Meeting Hall, or take it to my office?""It is a matter that can be discussed at a later date," Queen Sessani insisted. "It is not something that needs immediate attention. Another week or two will not hurt. Or so I hope."A small frown took place on Poe's face. "Well, now I'm concerned." With a sigh, he glanced briefly at the handmaidens, who kept their eyes somewhat downward toward the floor, but he knew they were trained to be simultaneously attentive to everything surrounding the Queen. "I can postpone my vacation with my wife, if you need me to. She'll understand.""General, when was the last time you and your wife had any extended time away that didn't involve any official palace duties for you or the acquiring of new students for her Academy?"A slight chuckle escaped Poe's lips. "Our honeymoon, six years ago.""Has your wife been looking forward to this time away?""She has, as have I.""Then, no, she will not understand," Queen Sessani quipped; making the first move to continue their walk forward, as her gowns swept behind her and gave the impression that she was floating across the marble floor. "I also do not wish to draw the wrath of a skilled Jedi Master for keeping her husband any longer than needed, or be responsible for creating resentment in you for having to put off this retreat from your everyday life. I would be very upset with myself."Poe smiled. "My wife is an amazing woman, and it would take a lot more than a postponed vacation to send her over the edge." Growing a bit more serious, he lowered his voice; mostly for the Queen's ears only, and not her handmaidens. "She lost her daughter eight years ago, when the Hosnian System was destroyed, and had every reason to go off the deep end and turn to the dark side. Her anger and grief could've been a justified catalyst for making her into a monster worse than Kylo Ren, Darth Vader and the Emperor combined. But she has reason on her side and a good head on her shoulders. She's a strong woman with a big heart. So, believe me when I say she would be fine if I'd had to cancel our trip for now."  "Bantha shit," Crisara muttered.Poe sighed. "Don't make me a liar. I told her you would've been cool with it.""I would've accepted it, yes. Doesn't mean I wouldn't be pissed and hold a grudge against you for a few weeks and make you sleep in our old room."Watching his wife pack a small bag of toiletries into a large piece of luggage, which laid upon their bed, he sank down upon the small stool at her vanity table. "Would you have really? I mean, if the Queen had commanded it, and I had no choice, would you have really tossed me out of our bed?"Squaring up and raising an impish eyebrow at him, Crisara stepped aside from the finishing touches to her last-minute packing and stalked over to her husband. As she came to stand directly before him, he sat up a bit straighter and his hands instinctively braced against the side of her thighs as he looked upward at her. Placing her hands on her hips, she stared down at him. "Am I not your Queen, too?"Slowly, Poe began to smile. "You're my everything," he answered."Did you not say to me, just a couple years ago, that the kids and I come first before any king or queen?"He nodded, cautiously. "I did."Moving her hands from her hips to the sides of his face, her gaze warmed. She rubbed her thumbs along his cheekbones and couldn't help feeling a little overwhelmed by how impossibly handsome he was. Even when she was trying to pretend she was upset, like she was now, she couldn't keep up the façade for long. He made her feel too weak in the knees. "I wouldn't have tossed you out," she relented. "You're my everything, too.""So you wouldn't have been mad?" he asked for further reassurance."I would've been momentarily disappointed, but I couldn't hold your gallantry against you," Crisara insisted. "You're a good man with a big heart, who just wants to do the right thing whenever possible, and sometimes doing the right thing makes other people a bit annoyed when it inconveniences them. But, lucky for you that you have such an understanding wife who would've acquiesced." Leaning down she planted a kiss upon his awaiting lips, and smiled when his hands slipped upward to grab at her ass. "I'm just glad you didn't cancel on me, though. I've really been looking forward to our very long, overdue first anniversary trip."Poe chuckled against her lips. "Fifth anniversary of the first anniversary trip we never had, or something like that." When she leaned upward and slightly away from him, he kept his hands on her. "You realize we haven't actually been able to truly celebrate any of our anniversaries. You were pregnant with the twins during our first. You were exhausted and we barely managed to get through dinner together without you yawning every other minute," he teased. "Second anniversary we'd already had the twins, and they had us both exhausted. Third was…""We'd just had Len three weeks earlier.""Right, so, even more exhausted.""Are we going to manage to actually do anything this week or are we just going to spend it catching up on sleep?" Crisara joked; but there was an air of seriousness about it."Are you kidding?" He grabbed her ass a bit firmer in his hands and looked devilishly up at her. "We're gonna spend every waking moment in bed, just not sleeping," he assured. "I'm gonna knock you up with triplets this time."Crisara laughed quite heartily. "Please don't.""What — don't you want any more kids?" He was being teasing, but he was also quite curious."I would not be adverse to the idea of getting pregnant again, despite our advancing years.""You make it sound like we're approaching senility here.""But, we do have a full house as it is. Two full houses, actually, if you consider all the kids next door, and not just our own," she contended. "Don't get me wrong; we have five amazing kids, three of which we made together, and having another one of you and me to cuddle and watch grow would be wonderful, but it's also not something I'm actively hoping for, and I hope that doesn't upset you.""It doesn't," he claimed."I'm happy with the kids we have, and if we had another one — or triplets, Maker help me — then I would love that child or those children with every fiber of my being. I mean, I haven't been taking any measures to prevent a pregnancy, but no pregnancies have happened on their own since Len was born." Crisara shrugged, stepping out of his grasp. "Maybe our bodies have called it quits, or maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised further down the line. Whatever happens, happens."Poe nodded. "I can live with that.""Plus, we can always adopt more, if that was something you're interested in."This time Poe shook his head. "Tem was the only one I cared to adopt. He felt like ours from the moment we returned home from our honeymoon and we got to know him. If we wanted anymore kids that neither of us had any part in creating, all we have to do is look next door to your younglings and your padawans and your Jedi Knights." With a sigh and a slap to her ass, Poe nodded gestured toward her luggage. "Go finish packing, you damn procrastinator." Off her giggle, he watched her turn from him and smirked. "You've had how many days to do this and you wait until we're, what — an hour from leaving?""Apparently I work best under pressure.""I'll give you some work under pressure," he retorted with a lick to his lips. When she grabbed up a pair of her boots and tossed them at him, Poe laughed. "What?"  The first two days of their vacation, Poe and Crisara had opted to go to Yavin IV first. It was quiet there, and someplace they could initially decompress, and it was wonderful. They needed a few supplies from Wetyin's Colony, namely just food, but also purchased some seed packets. On their return to the Dameron homestead, they planted those seed packets around his mother's grave and immediately watered the area. And, in due course, a variety of beautiful wildflowers would sprout and bloom, and make the grave a little less sad to look at. That first night, they made dinner together and it went a hell of a lot better than the first time they'd tried cooking in that kitchen together during their honeymoon. They didn't burn any of the food, it was wonderfully edible and they didn't destroy the table this time by forgoing their meal to make love on it because his father Kes had apparently bought a new table that was fully metal and nearly impossible of collapsing under the weight of two people.They knew firsthand because they did end up making love on the new table, and it was as sturdy as ever. They stayed in bed the second day, only getting up to shower or make something to eat, which was done in bed. But they didn't make love every waking minute. They lounged around, talking and laughing, occasionally reading or napping or watching some random holomovie or holoshow. By the end of the night, they were making love again and it was a wonderful end to their time there.The next morning, they were up with the sun and off on the Millennium Falcon to Canto Bight. There, they were almost immediately greeted by Emcee and his oddly-coiffed female companion, Lovey. He escorted them personally to the suite he had set aside for them and asked them to join him and Lovey that evening for dinner.Once they were alone in the suite, which had an amazing view of the Sea of Cantonica, they discovered a set of clothes laid out on the bed; a ritzy suit for Poe and a glittery, emerald-colored dress for Crisara that was a bit more revealing than she was used to, but Poe was all for it. After settling in and christening that big ol' bed, they shared a shower to save time but then got dressed in separate rooms; Crisara in the spacious bathroom and Poe in the bedroom. When Crisara stepped out of the bathroom, Poe stood there dumbfounded, and feeling a strong urge to rip that dress off her and fuck her over and over against any and all surfaces in that suite.The dress had two slits on either side that went up to mid-thigh. It was also backless and the front had a very low neckline that extended well past Crisara's navel. She was wearing heeled shoes that were surprisingly comfortable, despite their severe-looking angle, and the only jewelry she wore was the necklace Poe had made for her and her wedding ring."I feel ridiculous," she blurted as she adjusted the material covering her breasts; thankful for the double-sided sticky tape that had been provided with the dress so that her breasts didn't slipped right out."You look…delicious."Crisara raised an eyebrow at him for his word choice. Then she sighed as a frown took over on her face. "Do you think people will be staring?""If they have any sense, yes, but only because they're going to either be admiring you, wishing they were you, or wishing they were me because I get to be with you." Poe grinned as he stepped up to her and stared straight into her eyes because those heels made her eye-level with him now, which wasn't too difficult to do. He slipped an arm around her waist and dipped his hand inside the back of her dress and let his fingers brush against the skin of her lower back, just above her ass. "I would really like to have my way with you right now."She watched the way his gaze shifted down to her lips and then down to the bare valley between her covered breasts. He was biting his bottom lip and trying very hard to maintain his composure, but she could feel his deep arousal washing off him like waves. "Careful now, you'll bust out of those nice, new pants," she teased.Returning his gaze back upward, it was Poe's turn to raise a single eyebrow at her. "Oh, I'm about to bust something alright."Picking nonexistent lint off his suit coat, Crisara smiled. "It'll make us late for dinner," she remarked; clearly not shooting him down."We're basically guests of honor to him. We can be fashionably late.""You sure you're not just trying to impregnate me with triplets?" she jested."Babe," he prefaced; slowly backing her up against the nearest wall. "If we don't fuck right now, I'm gonna have to go into the bathroom and impregnate a washcloth."Crisara just about lost her shit with laughter. She tipped her head back and began to cackle at the image he'd just created in her mind. "Well," she mumbled; catching her breath. "I'm not about to compete with that." Letting him push her against the wall, she let him do the work in parting her legs while he dropped his pants. "I will fight a washcloth for you.""I would hope you'd fight more than that for me," he remarked; lifting up the front of her dress, which was easier to do than normal thanks to the slits on either side. "Can you…"She understood what he was getting at, and shimmied out of her underwear. Letting them fall, she kicked them off and then waited as he hoisted her up against the wall so he could guide himself inside of her. When she began to sink downward on him, she wrapped her legs around his waist as he slipped one arm around her waist, and his free hand held onto her thigh to keep her from slipping down the wall. Keeping her pinned, Poe thrust upward, burying his face into the bare valley between her breasts.With each slamming thrust, Crisara's breath felt like it was escaping her; as if she couldn't catch her breath because he kept taking it away. Their movements together were so vigorous and all-consuming that this wasn't making love. Despite how much they were completely in love with each other, this was just basic, primal fucking. When he groaned, she moaned. When he cried out from how amazing she felt, clamped down around his throbbing erection, she howled in pleasure when she felt her orgasm already fast approaching.Poe began to mutter against the skin of her neck; urging her to come as he gripped her waist and her thigh harder as his own orgasm began building. Once they'd both peaked, his legs buckled and they collapsed unceremoniously together onto the floor in a heap of limbs and fancy clothes.For a few moments, they just laid like that, entangled together and trying to catch their breaths. After a while they turned to look at each other, and at how ridiculous they must look, and began to laugh."Pretty certain you just impregnated me with quints," Crisara joked."Well, when I do a job," he sighed, "I do it right."She continued to chuckle and sighed as well, but with a feeling of warm contentment. "Speaking of washcloths, would you be a dear and get us a few damp ones so we can clean ourselves up?""Or we could just ask Emcee if we can do dinner tomorrow night.""Or you can just get the damn washcloths."Poe forced himself up into a sitting position and harrumphed. "Fine."While he had gotten up and disappeared into the bathroom for a few moments, Crisara had managed to stand and straighten up her dress. When he reappeared, his pants were pulled up and he was offering her a fresh washcloth. He stepped away, out of the bedroom, to let her clean herself up while he checked his reflection in the floor-length mirror in the sitting room; making sure he didn't look like he'd just fucked his wife. When Crisara joined him, she was looking quite put together again, and smiling at him."You look like you're up to no good," he remarked; eyeing her up and down. "What's behind your back?"She was hiding both her hands, but she readily held out her left hand and shoved a bit of material into one of the inner pockets of his suitcoat."What was that?" Poe wondered, patting whatever it was down from the outside."Something for safe keeping," she replied with a smirk. "A souvenir, if you will."When he pulled his suit coat outward, he stuck his hand into the inner pocket and laughed when he realized it was her underwear. "You didn't put them back on?" Gesturing to her dress, he knitted his brow curiously at her. "If you're not careful, those slits might give people a show.""A risk I'm gonna have to take.""There are very short statured species that stand no higher than our knees, babe." He jutted a hand out and flicked at the front material of her dress between the slits. "One wrong step and they're getting an eyeful.""Maybe."Poe's eyes darkened. "Woman, do you want to make it out of this hotel suite?""I do, actually. I'm quite hungry."He sighed and slipped a hand to her waist. "Yeah. Me, too, but not exactly for food."Removing her right hand, she revealed a small bottle of golden liquid and spritzed him twice with it. He coughed and waved the fragrant mist that had billowed slightly upward toward his face. "What was that for?""You didn't bring any cologne with you," she replied; spritzing herself a twice as well, before stepping away from him to set the bottle down on a small table. "Had to use my perfume so we don't go down to dinner smelling like a pair of wild animals in heat.""I mean," he tilted his head and shrugged slightly, "I'm pretty sure they know that's what we're doing up here. Whether we're late to join Emcee and Lovey or not, they'll know we were having sex," Poe countered. "We're not up here knitting sweaters.""Plausible deniability, my love." Moving back toward him, she squished the sides of his face between his hands and kissed him. "Plausible. Deniability.""That…that's not…" Poe sighed, kissed her back, and simply couldn't help but smiling back at her. "Okay, babe."  After two days and two nights at the Crescent Royale as special guests of the Master Codebreaker, where they were wined and dined by their suave host and several of his fancy, influential friends, Poe and Crisara had had some fun gambling, dancing and having a few too many drinks, all of which were on the house. After their brief sojourn on Cantonica, they bid Emcee and Lovey farewell; promising to return again eventually, but not exactly committing to a specific time frame, because they never knew where their lives were going to take them.They'd returned to the Millennium Falcon, and decided to head to Akiva, where they spent most of the day and an overnight at the home of Wedge Antilles and his wife Norra Wexley, Snap's stepfather and mother. They had hoped Snap's widow, Karé Kun, would be there, but she was unfortunately back living on her homeworld of Sarq 22. She'd stayed with her in-laws shortly after the war, but soon found it difficult being surrounded by so many things that reminded her of the man she'd loved and lost. Poe and Crisara still enjoyed their short stay with their older comrades; actively choosing to keep any and all conversation to their respective lives post-war.The following day, their sixth day, Poe and Crisara had decided to have no specific destination in mind, and to just aimlessly travel in their ship. They ate simple meals from whatever was onboard, played a few rounds of dejarik and sabacc, all of which Poe lost to Crisara, and they returned to making love instead of raucous fucking. Amidst the quiet hum of the Millennium Falcon, they were languid and attentive with each other's bodies. There was lots of cuddling, curled tightly on a single bunk together, or just sitting beside each other in the cockpit, staring out at the stars as they talked about anything and everything.That night, Crisara was awoken by concerning images in her mind. She'd jolted upward and instinct called her lightsaber to her with the Force. She didn't activate the blade, but she sat there, staring forward and feeling tense. Poe had been startled by the abruptness with how she had woken up and fumbled to climb out of his bunk. Sitting down beside her, he rubbed her shoulder and asked if she was okay; knowing, for someone like her, she might've been sensing something wrong, many star systems away with their children or other loved ones."I'm not sure if it was just a nightmare, or if I just had a vision of something that hasn't happened yet," she muttered; throwing her legs over the side of the bunk."Wanna talk about it?"Slowly, she shook her head. "Not right now. I'm still trying to process it.""Okay." Poe moved his hand down from her shoulder to the small of her back and then leaned his face down to place a kiss to her shoulder. "Well, I'm here when you're done processing."Crisara smiled and turned her face toward him. "Thank you.""Don't mention it."She accepted a kiss from him and watched as he got up and stepped back to his own bunk and sat back down. After a moment of watching him lay back and get comfortable, all while still looking in her direction, she offered a small smile. "I'm gonna go sit in the cockpit for a while," she offered up. "I think staring at the stars for a little bit will help.""Okay." As he watched her shove her blanket aside, he propped his head up in his hand. "You sure you don't want to talk about it?""I'm sure, but if I do I know where you are."Standing, she stepped over toward him and ran a hand along the side of his face. When he turned into the gesture, he kissed the inside of her palm and then laid his head down onto his pillow. Without another word, Crisara exited the bunk room and meandered through the port-side corridor until she exited out into the main hold. Cracking her neck from side to side, she padded forward; listening to the faint hum of the ship while it coasted gently through space. With not presently traveling through hyperspace, they were in the middle of nowhere, quite literally. She knew they were somewhere in the vicinity of Hutt Space, but not quite, which was why they had extra sensors set up while they slept in case of any ne'er-do-wells that might cross their path. Still, though, they were millions of miles from anything of interest. All there was were the stars and them at the moment, and it was awfully nice.Once she was seated in the pilot's chair in the cockpit, she placed her lightsaber down on the ledge to her left and then checked the time in front of her on the control panel. It was set to where they lived on Naboo, and she could see it was already mid-morning there, despite it being the middle of the night for them. Or, at least, internally it was. In the darkness of space, without a nearby sun, it could be any time you wanted. Knowing their kids would be up, and would be expecting them home within the next twenty-six hours, since there were twenty-six hours in a day on Naboo, Crisara recorded a holo for them, to update them on whereabouts their father and her were and how they missed them and couldn't wait to see them, and how she hoped they were behaving for Grandpa Kes, Professor Kin (which was Beaumont's official title at the Kenobi Academy, since the title of Master would conflict with the title of Jedi Master), as well as newly-knighted former padawan Jedi Knight Meleri Evo.After signing off with love and kisses, Crisara sat back with her arms wrapped around her; as she tried to ignore the cooler temperature within the ship when it wasn't darting all over creation, and instead more or less drifting. They didn't burn as much fuel this way, which meant they didn't use as much power, which in turn meant the interior of the ship didn't run as warm. In a sense it was good for the Millennium Falcon. When it began to run hot, things began to malfunction quicker. The downside, of course, was feeling chilled.She frowned.She should've brought her blanket with her.But it was alright. She'd dealt with worse, more frigid temperatures before. Haven came to mind.
"Does it sound pedestrian if I say I'm proud of you?"
Crisara turned to her right and found the Force ghost of her cousin Ben sitting beside her in the co-pilot seat, and it suddenly brought back so many memories of when they were young children, pretending to fly the Millennium Falcon while the adults convened in the main hold. Of course, they hadn't dared touch any of the controls back then, because Han had claimed Chewbacca would swallow them hole if they did, and somehow they believed him.While it had only been two years since she'd heard his voice again, for the first time since he'd died, this was the first time she'd seen him in seven years, and he looked the same. Forever thirty-years-old, never having to worry about going gray or getting wrinkly. It was both a pro and a con of being dead, she supposed. The clothes he wore resembled his old padawan tunics, but darker. He didn't appear in what he'd been wearing when he'd died, but as he felt he should've looked. She figured it was the same reason their grandfather Anakin wasn't dressed as Darth Vader, but as he had last looked as a young Jedi Knight at the end of the Clone Wars. For both men, it was how they had last looked while they'd still adhered to the light side of the Force, just before being tempted away by the dark side."It doesn't sound pedestrian," she finally responded. "But what exactly are you proud of me for?""For having the life you always wanted to live. For finding the balance our family seemed to struggle with achieving, and that the old Jedi Order believed was impossible. You've proved it isn't impossible."Crisara shrugged. "Some days it feels like I'm falling behind, like they were right." She sighed before smiling sadly at him. "I feel like I should be doing more, but also that I'm spreading myself too thin.""Not that I will ever know what it's like to be a parent or responsible for raising any children, but I'm pretty sure that's what every parent or guardian feels," Ben quipped. "I'm one hundred percent sure it was how my parents felt about me; that they wished they could have it all — family and career — but were filled with worry about failing me." He frowned and looked forward. "In the end, I was the one who failed them." Tipping his chin down, he looked as if he was sighing, despite not requiring breath anymore. "I failed you, too — my best friend.""And cousin."Ben waved her off. "Cousin is a bond we're stuck with because of blood. Best friend is a chosen bond.""Good point."
"Believe it or not, I'm full of plenty of them."
After a few moments, she turned her gaze toward the stars. "You know I've forgiven you," she began to say, and could see his spectral head nod slowly out the corner of her eye."I remember. It was after my mother died, when I returned to the light and forsook the darkness." His hazel eyes stared at her profile. "I promised I would fight to the death beside you to keep your forgiveness.""Which you did. Literally."
"I sense a 'but' coming."
"I forgave you for all you did because I couldn't hold on to any of the hate and anger. I couldn't let it twist me up inside and corrupt my soul the way it had with yours." Crisara turned again and met his gaze. "And I still miss and love you. I miss my best friend. I miss the person you were and could've continued to be again had you lived."
"If I'd lived, I wouldn't have had much of a life. I would've been tossed into a prison cell or shot dead on sight for my crimes because, let's be honest, what prison cell could've held me?"
"I'd had the same thoughts."
"I had to die. But at least my death served a purpose, by giving life back to Rey."
She nodded in agreement. "Yes, it did. And we're all thankful for that sacrifice…"
"But."
"But…as Kylo Ren you broke something in the man I love. You forced your way — painfully — into his mind and, to this day, it still haunts him. I wish I could take away that fear and pain you left him with, but I can't. I can't forgive you that, on his behalf and as his wife." Crisara shook her head and looked down at her hand; not realizing till then that she'd been digging her fingernails into side of the seat of her chair. "You hurt me by hurting him.""I'm sorry," Ben apologized, and he sounded completely genuine about it. "I'd ask you to convey that to him for me, but I'm sure he doesn't care to hear it. I know what I did to him and I know he hates me, and has every reason to.""I won't tell him that, because he can barely stand to hear the mention of your name, which has made it a little awkward for me, concerning our son Len."Ben furrowed his brow. "How so?""He's named for my father Luke and my grandfather Obi-Wan's nickname of Ben; the latter of which is how you got your name," she prefaced. "But I never told Poe that the mixing of Luke and Ben was also for you. You were only Kylo Ren for the last seven of your thirty years. Before that you were Ben Solo and that's how I will always choose to remember you, and it's how you come to me now. Rey and I both lost you that day, while the rest of the galaxy rejoiced your death. I suppose, when Len was born, I saw a chance to keep you alive."Looking upon her with an appreciative smile, he reached out a hand to her across the control console between both seats. Crisara looked at it and hesitated to react. Curious, she slowly lifted her hand and held it out to him. She could feel a shift in the air between them, as if something was being pulled from her to him, like a magnet being drawn to an unavoidably large piece of metal. She was vaguely aware that he was drawing on her link with the Force as a living soul to acquire temporary solidity. So, when she reached her hand out, he was able to hold onto it for a few moments, and it brought tears to her eyes."I'm sorry for everything I did to you, and to Poe. I'm sorry for what he suffers and the grief it still causes for both of you," he muttered. "If I could go back and change everything, I would. If I could go back with what I know now, I would've helped him escape and turned my back on the dark side. Hell, I'd go back further and never turn away from the light and be so easily manipulated by Snoke or, rather, the Emperor. I was weak." He squeezed her hand tightly but then it suddenly passed through her when his connection to the Force within her faded away. "You were always the stronger one. And you still are."Crisara pulled her hand back and rubbed it with her other hand; as if trying to figure out if he'd actually been able to hold her hand or if she'd just imagined it. "We all have a variety of regrets; of things we wish we could've done differently."
"But you have your whole life ahead of you. And you'll make mistakes. But you'll also succeed at much more. I've seen it."
"Have you?" she asked with a raise of an eyebrow."Funny thing about being dead and joining the Force. It really is true that you suddenly get to see everything: past, present and future.""Any details you want to divulge?""I want to, but I can't. You have a path to walk and I can't interfere. Certain things must happen for the sake of the balance within the Force. Tipping those scales — it's not a risk that any of us, alive and dead, should ever take." Seeing the doubt on her face, he continued. "I know you still have your concerns about the life you lead. I know you're worried you're not doing enough, but you're on the path, I promise. Every day, you do a little more and you get a little further.""I know there's more Force-sensitives out there in the galaxy. I can sense them. I don't know if they're adults or children, but I know they exist." Crisara leaned back in her chair and looked mindlessly at the control panel in front of her. "I just wish I knew where they were; that I could find them and help them. But it's hard to leave and go out searching when I should be at home with my family and the padawans I currently have…""You're just one person, Cris. You're not a god," Ben contended. "You're human and prone to err because nothing and none of us are perfect. You have a lot of responsibilities, as a wife and a mother, as a Jedi Master with a new generation of Force users looking up to you for guidance, but you'll get there. You will help countless generations find their strength while finding yours at the same time. Even after you're gone one day, you will still manage to help the generations, and I don't mean as a spirit in the Force like I'm appearing to you now. Stories of your life will be shared and spread around the galaxy, inspiring those who haven't been born yet — whose great-grandparents haven't even been born yet. But one day, when this life comes to an end for you, I'll be there waiting for you, and I'll show you everything you've ever wanted to know or see.""Hopefully that day is still a long ways away.""It is," he admitted. "Your mother's vision wasn't incorrect. You will live a long life.""Will it be a good life?"
"It will be what you make it."
And then Ben faded away, and was gone, leaving Crisara alone in the cockpit with the weight of his final words weighing heavily upon her. Fortunately, she wasn't left alone with those words or her thoughts for too long. After a couple of minutes, she heard plodding footsteps coming from beyond the cockpit, and soon enough those footsteps came echoing through the cockpit's access corridor until, all at once, Poe stepped up behind her.As she looked up over her shoulder at him, he was draping her blanket around her shoulders with a warm smile and then he was slipping into the co-pilot's chair where Ben had just been seated."Thank you," she muttered, pulling the blanket a bit tighter around her. "Couldn't sleep either?"Poe shook his head as he leaned forward, glancing at a few of the screens; checking their current coordinates. "Nah." Leaning back into the chair, he pulled his own blanket, which he had been wearing haphazardly draped around his shoulders, more tightly around him and got comfortable."Not tired?""Oh, I'm tired," he assured. "Just couldn't sleep." Casually, he glanced toward her. "I don't like sleeping apart from you, even if you're only here in the cockpit of the Falcon while I'm in a bunk." Flashing her a sleepy smile, winked at her. "Speaking of which, I think we should make some updates to the ship. I mean, there's barely enough room to put our kids. There aren't enough bunks for them and us. Thinking of maybe redoing the bunk room to add more beds in and maybe we can turn the rear cargo hold into a bedroom suite for us."Crisara nodded; already imagining that. "Sounds nice, and I'm sure Han would've approved of those changes if he were here."As silence fell between them, they both stared forward at the field of glittering stars set against the blackness of space. The ship continued to hum quietly. Occasionally there was a faint clinking or rattling noise, but the ship was old. It was a little over a hundred years old, having been built somewhere around 60 BBY. It had gone through countless updates and changes, but it was overdue for some new and major overhauls to its inner mechanics so it could keep running for another hundred years."Poe.""Hmm?""Thank you for not just being my husband, but also my best friend."Poe looked back at Crisara. Pursing his lips as a few thoughts and emotions began to roll around in his head, he held his left hand out toward her. With a smile, she held her right out, mirroring what she'd done with Ben's Force ghost, and grabbed hold of Poe's hand across the center control console."Thank you for being mine," he replied, giving her hand a squeeze and not immediately letting go.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I will run to you
Down whatever road you choose
I will follow you down
I will run to you"
— Stevie Nicks A small sigh escaped from Poe's lips as he looked at the control panel in front of him from where he sat in the pilot's chair of the Millennium Falcon. He frowned, but it wasn't as if he was upset or angry about anything. He was just a little put off at the realization that the journey home to Naboo would now have a slight detour to contend with. He checked the navicomputer and the starmap of nearby systems to where they currently were; preferring very much to avoid venturing into Hutt Space if possible. He was hoping the ship could make it a little farther to anyplace else."What's wrong? I can sense your frustration like a blazing fire." Crisara was fresh-faced and freshly showered, wearing a simple blouse and comfortable leggings paired with a rough pair of boots that had seen better days. Her hair was still damp, and it was pushed back over her shoulders. She looked well-rested despite barely getting anymore sleep after Poe had joined her in the cockpit after her spectral tête-à-tête with her cousin, barely seven hours ago. "Anything I can help you with?""Fuel reserves are low," he huffed; casting a casual glance over his shoulder at her simply standing there at his side. "I think we might have a leak. I mean, I just fueled up not that long ago. Before we left on this trip.""Well, we have been doing a lot of traveling in the last seven days," she countered; reaching her left hand up to brush her fingers gently through his hair, which she knew was a gesture he enjoyed a great deal. "Maybe it's not a leak, and the Falcon has something else that's faulty with its inner mechanics. This ship has been through a lot in it's century of existence."Poe leaned back in his chair and slouched, as if in defeat. "I know. It's just…I feel like I fix one thing and two things break. I still want to revamp her," he muttered, continuing the tried and true tradition as referring to the ship in the feminine. "But sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be better to just put her into retirement and get us something newer, with all the bells and whistles."Crisara removed her hand from his hair and slapped him against the shoulder. "Put those ideas out of your head," she insisted. "Were Han here, he'd sic Chewie on you." Off Poe's slight chuckle, she set aside the teasing tone and became slightly more serious. "This ship deserves to see our grandchildren discovering the galaxy in it, so if we need to replace every remaining original part to do it, then that's what we'll do. This ship is family. We don't put family out to pasture.""Alright, alright. It was just a thought, not a definite plan." He sighed and looked back upon the navicomputer. "Well, we're officially in Hutt Space now, so it's just a matter of deciding where to go for fuel. Now, if you ask me, I'd say nowhere is ideal. But the lesser of several evils is probably our safest bet.""And where do you suggest that is?""Nar Shaddaa," he replied. "It's no better than any other criminal underworld, but at least I, uh, sorta know a guy. Whether or not he'd be happy to see me, if he gets wind of our arrival, is another story."With a smirk, Crisara leaned down; slipping her left arm around his back to drape over his left shoulder while wrapping her right arm around his chest so she could clasp her hands together. She pressed her forehead against his temple for a moment and then kissed his cheek. "Is this 'guy' from your spice running days?"Poe reached a hand up to curl it around her right arm and leaned into the kiss while smiling at her somewhat rhetorical question. "Believe it or not, no." Dropping his hand down, he reached it outward and around her so he could slap at the side of her hip. "Okay, stop distracting me so I can set our coordinates. Sit your fine ass down and make yourself useful by being my navigator."As a few giggles escaped her lips, Crisara unlatched herself from him and slipped into the co-pilot's chair. "Yes, sir."Poe immediately looked at her, giving her a come hither stare. "Don't start with that shit. You call me 'sir' and then I get ideas, and those ideas lead to distractions, and then it just gets us both laid and, unfortunately, we don't have time for that."Crisara continued with her lighthearted and gentle laughter. "Of course you'd make it sexual."He leaned to the side, nearer to her, and waited until she finally turned to look him in the eye. "Have you met me? I've made it sexual with you since day one.""You did try to get into my pants at that cantina in Chaako City."Poe nodded and leaned back up as he went about tapping in the coordinates for Nar Shaddaa and checking a few other scanners at the same time. "Well, it might not have happened that night, but I eventually wore you down."Crisara's gaze had lingered upon her husband's profile for a few moments longer before returning it forward at the console in front of her. A small, knowing smile appeared on her lips. "Wanna know a secret?""Always.""I very briefly entertained the idea of having my way with you that night."Poe's attention immediately shifted back to her. "Seriously? We could've had sex? You could've had," he gestured to his entire body, "all of this, and you decided against it?""I was going through some shit, if you recall," she countered. "Cheating first husbands and villainous cousins, and whatnot.""Yeah, I know. But, still." He made the same gesture to himself again. "Come on."A short laugh billowed out of her mouth. "I considered it a few more times after that night, while we were on the Eravana with Han and Chewie. I mean, you were easy on the eyes. Still are, of course," she quickly amended, before turning and then smirking at him. Then she continued with, "And you smelled really good. It was as if you were giving off intense pheromones purely for the purpose of luring me in to defile me.""I mean…" Poe shrugged, with a tawdry grin hanging from his lips. Sitting back, he reached for the hyperdrive initiation lever. "Eventually, it was a mutual defiling.""You certainly made going to Alfic's wedding worthwhile.""Yeah, well…" He pushed the lever pushed forward and the Millennium Falcon slowly, and then all at once, sped forward at light-speed. "I aim to please."  There was such an oppressive feeling in the air of Hutta Town, the capital of Nar Shaddaa. It was a combination of several things. There was the brown, polluted air that obscured the top halves of the countless towers and other tall structures, which filled every space between them with teetering shanty towns known as skyslums. There were also the garbage barges that moved between the different buildings, collecting the waste, which were often overflowing with dianoga-infested waste that usually fell over the sides and back down onto the streets or the unsuspecting citizens below. There were the countless modes of transports that filled the sky that weren't restricted by any sort of engine emissions control, adding to the pollution as well as the noise. And the noise. There was so much of it. So many nightclubs or gambling dens, lighting up the dirty streets with their neon signs and pumping out such cacophonous music from within.It wasn't just the pollution or the noise that made this place feel oppressive. It was the people; their collective emotions and feelings. There was an incredibly high volume of negativity wafting along the air as well. Anger and aggression. Fear and despair. Cruelty and greed. Despondence and apathy.For someone like Crisara, she was feeling everything at once, which made it a bit difficult to sort through both the literal and figurative noise. When she and Poe initially arrived to one of the many refueling stations, they were put upon by some scammer who tried to get them to pay some ridiculous fee to make sure their ship was "protected" while they were in Hutta Town, even after Poe said they'd be staying with the ship while they refueled. When the scammer attempted another angle, Poe looked to his wife. Crisara stepped up, already feeling frustrated by how clouded her mind was feeling. She couldn't bother with a mind trick because of it and opted to lift the scammer up with the Force and then turn him upside down. As he hung there, with the blood rushing to his head and all his worldly possessions falling out of his pockets to the ground, he began to whimper and plead to be let down."We don't need protection," she insisted. "We're our own protection." Unceremoniously, she dropped him.As he fell, landing firstly upon his upper shoulders and then tipping over, he quickly whipped his head upward and scurried backward from the pair while also trying to grab up his wide variety of Hutt currency; wupiupi, truguts and peggats. Even some regular Republic credits, as well as what looked to be jewelry that had likely been picked from a few pockets that weren't his. Fortunately for him, Crisara was feeling too foggy to convince him to return his stolen wares, so she wasn't able to make it her concern.Poe glanced at her, noticing something was off and stepped up as he nodded at the scammer. "You should probably leave now. You don't want to know what else she's capable of doing," he warned. As the scammer skedaddled, not needing to be told twice, Poe slid up beside his wife and touched a hand to her arm. "You okay? You look like you want to either sleep for the next fifty years, throw up, or both.""No, it's nothing like that. It's just…this place." She waved her hand about at Hutta Town as a whole. "It's not like I haven't been to places like this before, but this city is just…too much of everything. I'm feeling everything and everyone all at once and I'm trying to sort through it all.""Would it be better on the ship?" Poe suggested, gesturing over his shoulder at the boarding ramp to the Millennium Falcon. "Quieter, maybe. I can close the ramp; seal you in with the some cleaner air to breathe. Play some soft nature sounds instead of music and clear your head with some meditation. I mean, this will take a while." He was referring to the refueling of the ship, and the possible repairs he might need to undertake while they were docked. "We should send word back home that we might be delayed.""Already did."Poe smirked. "Sneaky.""Not really," she replied, reaching a hand out to hold onto the one of the landing gears. "You were taking care of the docking fee and negotiating the cost of the fuel cell recharge.""And once we're done fueling up with gas for this baby, we'll be in the red."Crisara rolled her eyes. "You and I both know we'll never live long enough to see our finances go down the drains. Gram saw to that long before she died." She sighed, thinking thoughtfully upon her grandmother who had been gone seven years now and would've been ninety-two. "Anyway," she continued; changing the subject slightly. "As disgusting and obnoxious as this place is, I don't feel like being cooped up inside the ship right now."Poe stood there, staring at her profile while picking up a small case of tools he'd previously removed from the ship. Part of what he wanted to attempt to fix couldn't be accessed from within the Millennium Falcon. "You sure you're okay?"There was something…out there. Crisara's gaze was set forward and narrowed upon the exit of the fueling station that led out to the edge of Hutta Town. It felt like something was calling out to her. Not a voice, but a soul. She'd felt this feeling several times before over the last several years when she'd manage to discover children strong in the Force that she had brought back to the Kenobi Academy. But something about this feeling felt even stronger. This soul, out there in the heart of Hutta Town, was stronger. She wasn't sure if it was another child or an adult, but the Force within them was wide awake, but felt raw and definitely untrained. Someone like that could be a terrible force to be reckoned with, no pun intended, if they went formally untrained and wound up in the wrong hands. Manipulated and misguided Force users usually went in the way of Darth Vader and Kylo Ren.This galaxy didn't need another.Whether it was her own hubris or simply the desire to do the right thing, Crisara needed to find this person. She didn't believe it was luck, either good or bad, that brought her and Poe here. It was fate — the Force — and it was always working in mysterious ways."I…" She stepped away from the landing gear and out from the shadow the ship created. "I need to see the city.""You've seen one shithole, you've see 'em all, babe," Poe countered; using a quarkdriver to gesture toward the exit. He removed a pair of welding goggles from the tool case and simply held them in his free hand. "What do you need to see?""You said you know a guy. Maybe I want to go meet this guy.""Trust me, you don't.""Who is it?""Not exactly a good guy," he replied with sigh."Well, then maybe I want to sample the local cuisine—""Do you want food poisoning? That's how you get food poisoning.""—or maybe I want to buy some fun, little souvenirs to bring home for the kids.""Like tetanus?"Crisara shot Poe a withering look. "Can you not find anything positive about this place?"Yanking the goggles onto his head and pulling them down over his eyes, he stared back at her. "I'm positive you'll either get food poisoning or tetanus."Crisara frowned. "I need to go, either way," she insisted. If he wasn't going to go into details about the mysterious, not-so-good person he knew in Hutta Town, she wasn't going to be specific on why she was going to venture into Hutta Town. They'd always promised not to keep secrets, so it looked like they both were going to, at least just this once. Then again, if he just asked her, she would tell him, but he was clearly preoccupied with the ship's issues and just wanting to get them home. "I have my comm on me, if you need me." She held up her left arm and revealed the wrist comm she was wearing. "Do you have yours?"Poe slapped at the pocket near his right hip. "Yep." After a moment, he pulled the goggles back up to rest upon his forehead. "If you're really going to go window-shopping or whatever, at least grab your lightsaber and throw on a poncho or that ratty old cloak you keep stored on the ship. You look too clean for this place. You'll be an easy target by the local scum.""You really don't think I can handle myself?" She arched an eyebrow as she appeased him anyway; approaching and slowly ascending the boarding ramp. "Do you remember who you married, Dameron?"Smirking and sliding the goggles back down, Poe puckered his lips and blew her a kiss. "How could I forget? I'm reminded of my good fortune every time I set my eyes on you, woman."Crisara smiled and rolled her eyes.  Hutta Town wasn't as terrible as it was made out to be, at least not on the surface. Sure, it smelled and was dirty, but Crisara was able to look past a lot of that to see some of the beauty. She saw parents holding their children in their arms, there was laughter, there were smiles, there was a young Pantoran male serenading what appeared to be his Cerean sweetheart, and the old Snivvian couple looking on fondly while remembering what it was like to be young and in love. There was a human female, struggling to carry a bunch of small containers of varying width and height, and dropping a few of them, only for a passing Bothan male to stop and pick them up for her. There was kindness, and gentleness. There was calm within the chaos. There were positives with the negatives. There was light to contrast with the dark, and somehow it all flowed together like organized chaos.It was like the Force."Looking for anything special, lady?" a voice called out to her.She turned her head slightly, noting an overweight Klatooinian, sitting on a stool beside a cart of wares. "You could say that," she replied with a smirk. "But it's nothing that can be bought.""Oh, something priceless, eh?""Definitely. And I know I'll find it here, in Hutta Town.""Is it an 'it'? Or is it a who?" he questioned, perceptively.Crisara smirked; her blue eyes casually skimming the items he was selling. There were pieces of cheap jewelry, small toy gadgets meant to keep fidgeting hands busy, and a few bottles of perfume and cologne that were probably toxic to most living creatures. "I am looking for someone," she confirmed, briefly touching one of the little toys and finding it to somehow be greasy. Keeping a straight face to avoid looking disgusted, she subtly pulled her hand back and wiped her fingers upon her hip. "I don't know who it is yet that I'm looking for, but I will know them when I see them."The Klatooinian nodded and pointed at her. "Bounty hunter, aren't ya? Good luck. Ya got a helluva lot of competition in a place like this.""No, not a bounty hunter.""What are you, then?"Crisara turned her gaze toward him and flashed him a small grin. "I'm a lot of things.""Is cryptic one of them?"She couldn't help but chuckle. "You live here full time, I assume," she remarked, rhetorically. No one was really a native of Nar Shaddaa. Most seemed to end up on a moon like this for some reason or another and end up without much of a way out. The luckier ones find ways to make enough money to get gone. The unlucky ones were those who were kept downtrodden till the day they died, just dreaming of beautiful places where there were trees and flowers and fresh water, and where the sun wasn't hindered by smog day in and day out. "If you live here or are from here, you know this place well, so you should know most people are going to be cryptic. Wearing your heart on your sleeve or showing all your cards can get you killed in a place like this, correct?"He nodded. "That's for damn sure.""So you can't expect me to reveal my motives or intentions." She tipped her head toward him. "Can I ask you a question, though? You don't have to answer, if you don't want to." Because I can always just use telepathy to get it out of you if I absolutely need to, she thought to herself."Depends on what it is, I guess.""Which is fair," she quipped. Placing a hand on the corner of his cart, she eyed him intently; preparing to simultaneously sense if he lied when he gave his answer, and if she'd need to dig into his mind for the truth. "Sitting here, possibly day after day, you likely see a lot of people pass by," Crisara prefaced as she watched him stiffen already. "Have you ever seen anyone with any strange abilities? Adult or child? Someone who can, maybe, move things through mid-air by some sort of magic?"The Klatooinian furrowed his already naturally furrowed brow. "Can't say that I have."Crisara maintained her gaze; glimpsing his surface-level thoughts. He was telling the truth. Leaning back, she nodded appreciatively. Casting a glance back over at his wares, she let out a small sigh. "Well, you've been kind of enough to be honest with me, and I've held you up with conversation when you could be making a sale, so I suppose it's only fair I buy something from you." He perked up at that. "These little toys. Do you have any that aren't…""Slimy?"She let out a small chuckle. "I didn't want to say anything.""This Falleen kid comes by here a few days a week, trying to make some dough. His mom lost both her legs in a smelting accident at a nearby factory months ago, so he tries to make ends meet however he can for the both of 'em. I throw him a few truguts every now and then to help me put my stall together some mornings. His hands are almost always dirty, but that's what you get for cheap labor."Crisara frowned. Her own bleeding heart suddenly wanted to seek out this kid and his mother and help them out. And maybe this Falleen kid was the Force user she was looking for. If that was the case, she would offer him a place at the Kenobi Academy, but she couldn't bring herself to leave his mother behind. She knew the stories of Anakin being taken in by the Jedi Order and having to leave his enslaved mother behind. Lot of good that did either of them. Though her great-grandmother had eventually been freed, she still led a hard life on Tatooine and wound up captured by Tusken Raiders, and then died after a month of torture and brutalization at their hands. Anakin could never stop thinking about his mother, and his inability to see her or even free her during his years as a padawan, and then his inability to save her life in time, cast an already darkening shadow upon his soul. Crisara wouldn't want a repeat of that part of her own family history.The galaxy really didn't need another Darth Vader or Kylo Ren.It needed more Anakin Skywalkers and Ben Solos."I actually live here," the Klatooinian gestured at the building behind him. "Basement flat. Not much but at least I have my own bathroom. A lot of tenements around here have separate flats sharing the same bathroom on the same floor as them." He grimaced. "Can you imagine having to share a bathroom with every disgusting walk of life in this hellscape?" Off Crisara's slight smirk, he continued. "I have some extra toys that Jabex didn't get his hands on yet that won't feel like they're covered in a Hutt's saliva. Gimme a moment. I'll be right back."He was off his stool and disappeared into his building before she could get a word in edgewise. "He's really going to just leave his goods unattended with a stranger, in Hutta Town?" she questioned to herself. "I could rob him blind."Tapping her fingers along the edge of the cart, she avoided letting her mind idly wander and instead tried to place some focus into it. She turned slightly, looking more outward upon the street. She began listening once more to all the cacophonous noise all around her; the variety of transports in the air, the voices of people talking or shouting at one another, the diverse range of music wafting from any number of businesses or homes. She began to drown it out, reaching out for the Force around her and using it as a guide to help her seek out what she was looking for, but it wasn't as easy as it normally would be because of all the noise.When a garbage barge passed overhead, the smell hit her like a brick wall and she felt like vomiting. To make matters worse, a container of waste fell from the barge. Her senses were suddenly on high alert when she felt approaching danger. In a matter of seconds, she could look up to see the falling container and then look down to see it would land upon that elderly Snivvian couple she'd noticed earlier. Raising a hand, she slowed the fall of the container with the Force and then shoved it back upward onto the barge. She'd just managed it. For a moment it teetered, and she was sure it might fall again, but then it leaned back into the rest of the garbage.As everyone on the street was so wrapped up in their own lives, no one seemed to realize what she'd done, especially the elderly Snivvian couple, who were likely too senile to even know where they were at any given moment. In her moment of benevolence, her old cloak had lifted up and revealed the shiny hilt of her lightsaber that was clipped to her left hip. But the citizens were a little too self-involved to have noticed the weapon of a Jedi or to have possibly understood that's what it was.There was that feeling, though.Crisara felt it again, much stronger now. Nearer."Alright, here we are," the Klatooinian announced as he walked back out of his tenement building with a flat crate filled with cheaply-made gadgets and gizmos to keep any child occupied for hours. Or minutes, depending on the attention span. "Take your pick. I'll even give you a deal. Buy two, get one half off."Crisara snickered. "Quite the deal." She looked around the crate, but was a bit too distracted by that feeling nagging at her to make a decision. "I'll, uh, tell you what. I have five children; so, by the logic of your deal, if I pick five, the fifth is free."The Klatooinian began to do the mental gymnastics in his head to figure out that math. "Yeah, that makes sense to me.""So, I'll take five, pay you for four. But you pick them out for me because I can't choose.""You haven't even asked how much they cost or bothered to haggle," he remarked with a shake of his head. "You won't survive in this town very long like that."Attempting to give him her full focus, Crisara asked, "How much for four toys?"As he set the crate down on top of his cart, he began to count on his fingers. "Three truguts."Crisara smirked. Dipping her hand into one of her pants pockets, she pulled out a coin purse. Shoving her fingers inside, she felt around at the coins inside and could tell by size which ones they were. The fact that she and Poe kept a variety of different currencies aboard the Millennium Falcon sure as hell came in handy at times like this. "Well, I don't have three truguts, but I have a peggat," she muttered, holding out a single peggat. "Four truguts are worth one peggat, right? So, take the peggat and keep the change."The Klatooinian was confused. "Then what was the point in getting the fifth toy free?""Consider it a tip for remarkable service," she replied as her gaze wandered toward the street again. As she shoved her coin purse back into her pocket, she looked back at him again. "Why are you questioning extra money?""Good point," he muttered, happily accepting the peggat and quickly going about picking out five of the toys for her, and then shoving them into a flimsy, plastic bag he had attached to his cart.It all happened so fast.The feeling returned, full force — no pun intended. The Force user Crisara was in search of was upon her. She could feel them as closely as she could feel the Klatooinian's breath every time he spoke. The hairs on her arms and at the back of her neck stood on end and she whipped her head around to the right; sensing the person was approaching from that direction, only to be caught off guard by a short figure darting between her and the cart and then quickly run off.It was very clearly a child. A human male by the looks of the child's retreating form. But not quite a young child. Someone close to Caro's age, she assumed. As he darted away, the feeling of connection in the Force began to retreat with him and she realized it was him. And then she realized something else.Patting herself down, she realized her lightsaber was gone.That little bastard swiped it."Hey!" she shouted after him. Realizing he might not understand Galactic Standard and perhaps Huttese, what with living on a Hutt-controlled moon, she called out, "Chuba! Peedunkee!" which translated to you 'Hey you! Boy!' When he didn't slow down, she turned and told the Klatooinian, "I'll be right back."Running off after the boy, she wove around several pedestrians and ducked a few low-passing speeders. When she lost sight of him with her eyes, she used the Force to latch on to his presence and could tell he must've ducked down an alley somewhere. Nearing one that felt right, she turned into that particular alley and spotted him near the other end of it already, about to slip out onto another road."Oh, no you don't," she muttered, mostly to herself. Holding her right hand out, she molded the Force around the boy to immobilize him. She watched the way he immediately stopped moving and continued to stand there. As she took her time to approach him, she made a twirling gesture with her hand and his stilled body turned to face her with a look of surprise as well as some fear in his eyes. "I'll be taking that back, thank you." With a yanking gesture of her other hand, her lightsaber flew out of his and back into hers. She caught it — easily — and clipped it back to her belt, underneath her cloak. "Pickpocket, huh? You have a name, young man?" Seeing he was trying to respond, but couldn't because of the hold she had on him, she lessened it so he could open his mouth to speak."Nik," he answered."Just Nik? No family name?""I don't have a family." He then rolled his eyes at her. With a bit of sass in his tone, he added, "But I have a last name, if that's what you mean."Crisara raised an eyebrow at him. "So, you're a pickpocket and a smartass. Good to know." She sighed; looking him over. He looked to be no more than ten, but he was tall, which gave the false appearance of him being older. His face told the truth of his youth. His hair was dark, curly, and greasy. He wore it long and hanging in his face like he was some mangy mutt. His clothes were dirty and too small for his frame. Likely he hadn't had new clothes in a while, and a growing boy like him would be going through continuous growth spurts. What saddened her the most wasn't the fact that he wore no shoes on his feet — it was the scars on his hands and along his neck. "Who hurt you?" she asked; instinctively ready to defend him at all costs, despite his minor crime against her."What's it to you?""Because I'm someone who wants to help you."Nik scoffed. "Why would you help me? I just stole your shiny thing.""My shiny thing?" She chuckled a bit, stepping closer to him. The untapped power in him was like a drug. It was practically vibrating within and around him. She knew she could help train him; to use those powers for good. She could sense he was a bit of a loose cannon and someone like that with such strength in him could be dangerous; not just for others, but for himself. He could get himself into a situation he couldn't get out of, regardless of how strong in the Force he was. "Do you not know what this is?" She lifted her cloak to reveal her weapon. "What made you want to steal this when I have a pocketful of money?" She lessened her hold on him a bit more and waited for his answer."I dunno.""Lie," she replied without missing a beat. "Why did you go for this instead of the money?""Because…" He hesitated to answer. His eyes, hazel in color like her son Len's, but with a touch more green in a way that reminded her of daughter Adera's, migrated to her lightsaber. "I'm not sure."Crisara narrowed her gaze. "Yes, you are," she insisted. "Think carefully. Focus on the why."Nik took a few steadying breaths; either to truly focus or to reel in a temper that he wanted to lose on her. "It sang.""It sang?" Crisara repeated; curious on his wording. "How do you mean?"He shrugged; somewhat, anyway. He was still immobilized by her. "I dunno," he replied with a bit of preteen-esque attitude. "It was like…a voice calling to me. Like it was something I was supposed to have." He frowned and shook his head. "Not like it would've been worth anything. Looks old and useless. Papa wouldn't have given me anything for it.""Papa? I thought you said you didn't have family?""He's not family." Nik practically blanched at the notion. The word 'family' dripped off his tongue as if it were poison. "It's what he tells us to call him. Says it sounds nicer than 'boss', but he's not actually nice."Crisara peered into his mind, seeing some of the hardships he'd witnessed at the hands of this Papa guy. However, when she got too near to some of the more traumatizing moments, he shoved her out of his mind, as easily as if he'd swatted a small bug away; a definite natural in the Force, clearly."What was that?" he demanded; scowling. "Were you in my head?""It's something I can do. Something you can learn to do, too…if you want." She stepped even closer and smiled gently at him. "Papa isn't a nice guy, is he?" she asked rhetorically. "He's positively horrible." Watching as Nik slowly nodded, she frowned. "My name is Crisara Dameron. I'm a Jedi Master, and I have a school for kids like you.""What do you mean? Pickpockets?" he asked, throwing her valuation of him back at her."No. Children who are strong in the Force, and can — with the right training — grow up to be Jedi Knights, if not Jedi Masters," she replied. "Have you ever heard of the Jedi or anything about the Force?""Just little things. Bedtime stories.""They're not stories. They're real." She smirked. "How do you think I've managed to stop you and keep you in place, and how I pulled my weapon back to me?""Wait — that metal, piece of junk is a weapon?""This is a lightsaber. It's the most sophisticated weapon in the entire galaxy." With her smirk continuing, Crisara unclipped her lightsaber, held it upward and activated it. As soon as the light blue plasma blade appeared, Nik's eyes went wide and his mouth fell agape. She gave it a few swishes for show, so he could hear the resonate hum and feel the pulsing heat of it, and then she turned it off and returned it to its clip on her belt. "Convinced it's not junk now?"Nik nodded. "Do all Jedi get one of those?""Jedi, yes. Padawans — that would be you — start out training with sticks before proving they're ready and worthy of the responsibility of such a weapon. And there's a process. You don't just get one. You build it yourself.""You built that?""Well, not this one, no. This belonged to my mother, and it was built for her by her father, my grandfather, because she wasn't able to receive conventional training. I built my own when I was about your age and I had it for about twenty years before it was destroyed in a fight. But I'd inherited my mother's as well as my grandfather's blades, so I had a back-up.""Why not just build a new one?""I haven't needed to, but I still might someday." Giving him another once over, she sighed. "If I release you, will you take off on me?""No.""I don't want you to run off. I really do want to help you," she insisted; moving to sit down on a dilapidated crate alongside the outer wall of one of the buildings the alley was smushed between. "I want to give you a better life — a chance at a better future. With me, you'll be able to make friends with about a dozen other children just like you. Plus, you'll get to live somewhere beautiful." She watched the way his eyes drifted down toward the ground, but she could tell he was listening to what she was saying. "The school is set on a large lake on the planet of Naboo. Have you ever heard about Naboo?"Nik shook his head."It's possibly the prettiest planet in the entire galaxy, and I'm not just saying that because it's my homeworld. My husband isn't from there, but he agrees, and was happy to make it his home, too.""You're married?""And we have five children together, on top of all of my students. We're all sort of one big, happy family. We're either family by blood, by marriage, or by choice. I would fight to the death for every last one." Crisara leaned forward, resting her arms upon her knees and clasping her hands together as she stared earnestly up at him. "I would die for you, too, if you gave me the chance. I'd die for you either way, because you're a child and you deserve that level of commitment. Obviously, I wouldn't want to die, but I would."Nik looked to be struggling with what he wanted. What he wanted to say or feel or do. His brow furrowed and he was trying not to look her in the eye; to somehow prove he didn't need her or anybody. It seemed more like he was trying to convince himself of such things. "I can't leave," he eventually mumbled."Why's that?""Papa wouldn't let me go. Whenever we try running away, he always catches us. Or his Grabbers find us and bring us back. And then we get twenty lashes and three days without food as punishment." He looked positively terrified at the notion; but as if it had already happened to him before and wanted to avoid it happening again at all costs. "Some never come back at all, but I know it's not because they got away."Crisara grit her teeth at what Nik was alluding to. That his fellow orphaned pickpockets, in the 'employ' of the man named Papa, had been disappeared; which was just a kinder way of saying they'd been killed and their bodies dumped somewhere, never to be found. "My grandmother founded an organization about sixty years ago. It's sort of a network of group homes across the galaxy, working together to provide orphans, or children whose parents simply can't take care of them, with someplace to live, receive an education and medical care, all until they're adopted by good families. Unfortunately, not all are adopted, but those children are still given every opportunity. They're given access to continued education or apprenticeships, when they age out of the homes, and they're allowed to stay on at the group homes until they can get on their feet." She was telling him about this for a reason. "I want to bring you back with me, but I'd like to help your friends, too.""They're not really my friends.""Well, regardless — even if you don't necessarily consider them friends, then the 'other children' in the same predicament as you. I can help them. I have friends in high places, in a few different governments. I even know the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. I can call in a few favors, get your friends or not friends out of here and placed in any of the group homes around the galaxy that were built by my grandmother's foundation." She smiled hopefully at him. "Does that sound okay to you?"Slowly, he nodded. "Yeah."Sensing he was genuine about it, Crisara made a subtle waving gesture with her index and middle fingers from her right hand and her hold on him ceased. Nik immediately loosened and could freely move, but he remained where he was and remained true to his word by not running off. Even if he barely knew Crisara, he wasn't stupid. When it came to choosing between the life he'd been living and the life she was offering, it was no contest. He'd never gone to school and now he could live in one? And it was next to a lake on a beautiful planet? Obviously, he could only take her word for it and, for all he knew, she was just telling him pretty lies to entrap him and sell him off to some slaver. But, somehow, he knew she was being honest. He could feel it deep down in his bones she was the genuine article."If I go with you," he broached, rocking on the heels of his bare feet, "I need to get some things first.""Alright.""I might be an orphan, but I wasn't always. I got some stuff that belonged to my parents I can't leave here. If I go without it, Papa will burn it and it's all I have left of my mom and dad."Crisara smiled supportively. "Well, then, we can't let that happen." Standing up, she offered him her hand. "I'll come with you, and if anything goes wrong, I can protect you."Nik smiled and, suddenly, gone was the defensive little shit. His genuine smile was big and lovely and it gave Crisara a glimpse into the real boy beneath the tough exterior he'd had to build for himself, as well as a glimpse at the happy, well-rounded young man he could grow up to be."Okay," Nik agreed, slipping his hand into hers.With a wink down at him, Crisara nodded forward. "Lead the way, then."  The place where Nik called home was in no way a home at all. The building in question had clearly been a factory, once upon a time, but shut down its operation at some point after the Galactic Civil War. The sign out front announcing whatever it used to be had been ripped off its hinges and blacked out to make the outer edifice appear as unassuming as possible. Upon their arrival, Crisara was not led in through the front entrance by Nik. He showed her around to a back entrance, through another of Hutta Town's many, disgusting alleys. They had to step around beggars and other vagrants in the process, who had set up makeshift homes in tents and under tarps draped over rope that had been strung from one side of the alley to the other. Metal barrels held burning fires, but they were meager fires, what with the lack of anything of use to burn for warmth. Everyone was dirty, smelled, emaciated and burdened with forlorn looks in their eyes.Crisara didn't know the specific reasons for how each of them ended up as they were now, but she wanted to help them all. She felt their eyes on her as she'd gone past them with Nik; wondering who this clean, nicely-dressed woman was. She could feel their questions. Where had she come from? Where was she going? Why was she with the scruffy orphan? Did she have money to spare? How much could I get if I killed her and sold her body?Crisara scowled and whipped her head around for that question.What the actual kriff?Shaking it away, she returned her gaze forward and continued to hold onto Nik's hand as they came out of the alley and into what looked to be an old loading zone; where former factory workers would have loaded up transports filled with finished goods produced in the factory and that would be delivered elsewhere. Now it was just a derelict allusion to days gone by. It didn't look like it was being used for anything anymore other than a subtle back entrance to whatever this place was being used for now.Nik turned to Crisara and held a finger up to his lips. "We gotta be quiet so we don't wake up Barg.""Who's Barg?""The doorman. He keeps an eye out on who comes and who goes, but he's always falling asleep on the job," the boy replied. "Also, hold your breath when we go in.""Why?"Nik scrunched up his nose as they stepped closer to the door. "Barg smells," he replied; shivering in disgust. "He farts a lot in his sleep. And when he's awake."Crisara smiled inwardly, and simply nodded.After Nik inputted a code into the keypad beside the door, the door slid open for them. He had slipped his other hand free from Crisara's as he stepped in front of her and led the way inside, where they were almost immediately greeted by the sight of the morbidly obese Jablogian, seated in a chair that was tipped backward against the wall on their left. Crisara could determine that this was Barg from the stench alone. Nik hadn't been wrong there. Barg's eyes were closed, with his head tipped down toward his chest and snoring loudly. Nik stole a look over his shoulder and upward at Crisara as if to tell her 'I told ya so.' He didn't hesitate with any such verbal commentary and just beckoned her to continue following him down the hall, which came to an abrupt end.Crisara found herself looking up at an old factory floor, covered in decades of dust, soot and rodent droppings. There was scaffolding all around, leading up to upper levels; a sign that, at one time, construction work had been taking place, but was never completed. On the second level, to their right, which faced the front of the building, there was a window that overlooked the factory floor. Inside whatever room was on the other side of the window, a dim light was on. Nik noticed Crisara looking upward at it."That's Papa's office. If the light's on, he's inside," he quietly informed.With a nod, she made a forward gesture with her hand. "Well, let's avoid disturbing him, shall we?" As he nodded in agreement, she added the question, "Where do you sleep?"Nik pointed upward. "Third level."Crisara's eyes wandered up toward the scaffolding on their left, which looked rickety, and that was describing it nicely. She was also able to determine that, once they reached the second level of the scaffolding, they would have a decent view into Papa's office and, if he were staring out his office window, he might very well have the same decent view of them. But Crisara had some ol' Jedi tricks up her sleeve. One in particular she hadn't used since that day she'd wandered around the Finalizer, after fleeing Kijimi to get Chewbacca back from the First Order. She hadn't needed to use it until now.Focusing her energy on both Nik and herself, Crisara pushed the Force from within her, outward. She wrapped it around them both like a blanket — a cloak. Specifically, it was a Force Cloak. It's not as if she had made them invisible. It was simply a talent within the Force that involved the manipulation of light and sound waves to render the practitioner virtually invisible to the naked eye. It would take more effort this time, though, because she wasn't just cloaking herself, but also Nik, and she knew it might take some time to recoup her energy after the task at hand, so she hoped they could get in and out without issue. If not, she had means to defend them both.Slowly up the scaffolding they went; the steps creaking and groaning as they went. Going up quickly could possibly mean getting in and out without issue, but it would definitely create more noise and draw unwanted attention. Slow and steady would let them ascend under the radar, with or without Crisara's help in the Force. At the second level, as they turned to make their way up toward the third, Crisara stole a look toward the office, but noticed something different.The light was off.She felt a tingling at the base of her neck.Something didn't feel right. She was sensing a threat. "Go quicker," she whispered urgently to Nik."But it'll be too noisy," he contended, whispering back at her."That doesn't matter now. Just go."As she watched him dart the rest of the way up the scaffolding to the third level and then duck off to the side, Crisara gripped the railing with her left hand and slowly turned to face the direction they'd just come from. She could barely make out movement in the shadows, which could've easily been misconstrued as her eyes merely seeing things, or her mind playing tricks on her, but she was keenly aware of several individuals approaching the base of the scaffolding from all side. Their presence felt menacing."You think I didn't see you sneak in with some fancy lady, Nikky-boy?" a gruff, boisterous voice announced. From out of the shadows, from a hidden stairwell that must've led down from the second-level office, a tall and muscular Besalisk male stepped forward. His two, lower arms hovered over the blasters strapped to his waist while his two, upper arms were folded across his broad chest. The others in the shadows, that were slowly making themselves known, seemed to either be Zabraks, humans or Trandoshans. "What are you up to? Steal something good and think you can keep it from me? You know that's not how that works, you little shitstain."Crisara let go; releasing the Force cloak from around Nik and her. For the Besalisk who was obviously Papa, as well as the rest of his thugs, they seemed rather startled. For them, it looked as if Crisara had just magically appeared out of thin air."You'll want to watch how you talk to him," she warned, eyeing Papa down. "He's a child."Papa began to grin, but very languidly. "He's a waste. Of. Space," he succinctly replied, stepping a bit closer toward the scaffolding. "Should've tossed him into an incinerator after his parents kicked it. Would've saved myself some trouble.""You're deplorable.""No, I'm Papa."Crisara glared. "You should pick a different moniker. The current one doesn't suit you.""Oh? And what would you suggest, lady?"She tilted her head to the side, appearing almost thoughtful. "Nerf Herder comes to mind."Papa bellowed an abrupt chuckle. "Who are you and what are you doing with Nikky-boy? Are you some bleeding heart, thinking she can waltz into my place of business and steal my property?"Crisara immediately understood that he was referring to Nik being his property; no more than a child slave, to be bought and sold. That just wouldn't do. Straightening her posture, she took a single step down the stairs. "So, you're a businessman, huh?""Yes, I am.""And what, may I ask, is your business?""None of yours," Papa answered curtly. "Now, I'm gonna to ask you to leave now so I can have a little chat with Nikky-boy." He tilted his head upward, gazing upon Nik, who was cowering at the railing along the third level walkway that looked down at the center of the old factory floor. "Come on down. Receive your punishment like a man.""He's a child," Crisara reiterated."And he'll be punished like a man." Papa's gaze returned to her, and now he was glaring at her the same way she was at him."How much is he worth to you?" she inquired, taking another step down."He's worthless.""Come now, everyone has a price: how much they want to pay for something, how much they're willing to be paid for goods, or services rendered," she continued to say. "What's your price…Papa?"He began to sneer at her. She was shaping up to be a considerable nuisance for him. "More than you have," he responded; trying to make jest of the situation."Try me.""A million credits." He grinned and his thugs laughed; finding the amount ridiculously absurd. Surely no one in their right mind would stoop to pay such a staggering amount for one, worthless orphan, let alone have that much. No one with that kind of money wandered around these parts of Hutta Town. "Nah," Papa shook his head. "Make that two million.""Done," Crisara agreed without missing a beat.Papa raised his brow at her. She was smartly dressed, despite the ratty cloak she was wearing. She just looked too clean to not be someone with means. "Just like that?""Think about how much soap you could buy with all that money. You could clean at least one of the layers of stench off you and your goons. It would be a start." Crisara knew it wasn't exactly smart to taunt the man or his hired guns, but she was a Skywalker. Historically, they could be a little reckless and end up fucking shit up; either in a negative way or a badass way. "Or, there's the other option."Papa narrowed his gaze curiously at her. "I'll bite," he replied. "What's the other option?""I just leave her with Nik, and all the other children you have under your thumb here, that you treat worse than vermin underfoot." She focused her mind upon his; pushing into the depths where he kept his dirty secrets hidden. She could see the terrible things he'd done. She could see the deaths he was responsible for, especially those children that Nik had mentioned that sometimes 'disappeared.' She could feel anger building within her, but she wasn't going to let it cloud her judgment or twist her soul away from the light side of the Force. "You are truly one of the worst organisms in this galaxy, and I've fought against plenty of villainous scum to know one when I see one. I've seen what you've done. I know where you've been. I've seen the darkness of your soul and it is wanting." Tears burned at her eyes; wishing she could unsee the images from his mind of countless beaten and broken, dead children being tossed into furnaces. It hurt her soul, as a mother and as a sane person with a heart. "I rescind my offer of payment for Nik. I will be walking out of here with him, and any other child that wishes to leave with us." That last part she'd said with a raised voice, so that any children that were being kept or that somehow chose to stay could easily hear her, if they weren't already eavesdropping. She could sense enough of them present to know some had to be listening in. "And you will let us leave."Papa cackled. "You're funny.""I'm serious.""No deal.""Exactly. The deal's off the table," she agreed; in turn focusing on his mind again, but to manipulate it. "This is just how things are going to go. You will let us leave, you will not follow. If you harm a hair on any more children, and I find out about it, I will destroy you." Somehow, saying those words, she felt like she was channeling her grandfather Anakin Skywalker on the precipice of becoming Darth Vader. She knew such a mindset was dangerous territory for her to traipse into, but she meant it. She would strike Papa down in a heartbeat and she wouldn't feel bad about it. Looking upward toward the third level, she beckoned Nik forward. "Come on, Nik. Do you have your things?"Tepidly, he poked his head out and nodded. "Yeah," he managed to answer in a small voice.She waited as he began to meander down from the third level onto the scaffolding; walking down the stairs toward her, with wary eyes set upon Papa and the thugs. When he reached her, a small lumpy satchel in his right hand, he ducked slightly behind her and grabbed onto the back of her cloak with his left hand. For a moment, she focused on Papa again. "You will let us leave and you will not follow."Papa nodded. "You can leave. We won't follow.""You will release all the children here from your servitude. Now."Looking upward and around the upper levels, Papa bellowed, "All you kids can go. You're free. Go now."Almost instantaneously, a few dozen children of varying ages and species began to step out of the shadows, but they seemed worried this was a test of their 'loyalty'; that if one of them was bold enough to just start heading out, they would be shot dead in the back without hesitation."It's alright," Crisara called out. "He means it." She then gazed back at Papa. "You mean it. They can leave.""Of course I mean it. Of course they can leave," he replied, like a puppet on a string. He then repeated, "We will not follow."Crisara curled her hand at all the kids, beckoning them down from where they stood or still hid. "It's now or never," she insisted. "I have the means to get you away from here, to help find you a better place to live, where you can go to school, have food in your stomachs and clean clothes to wear. I can take you someplace where you could find a family to love you and care for you. I'll take you anywhere in the galaxy you want to go."And she meant that, too.If they'd always dreamed about living near large, wondrous oceans, she would take them to the group home on Niamos. If they longed to see lush grasslands, she would take them to the group home on Dantooine. If they wanted something similar to Nar Shaddaa, but obviously nicer, she would take them to the group home on Eufornis Major.After a moment, the children began to descend; either from the other scaffolds, ladders, or ropes they could slide down. There was no way Crisara could count all of them right yet, but her guesstimation of at least three dozen seemed pretty damn accurate, give or take a few. They all seemed to pause once they reached the factory floor. They looked up at her for what to do next. Should they wait for her to leave first, or just go? And where were they going?"Head out to the courtyard," she suggested; referring to the old factory's former loading zone. She assumed they could understand that's what she meant. After some hesitation, she nodded with a smile; that it was okay for them to leave. When they finally did, filing out two by two, she began to slowly descend the rest of the scaffolding with Nik trailing behind her. When they reached the first landing, between the second level and the factory floor, she turned her gaze back upon Papa. "When we leave, you'll lock yourselves in your office for the next…twelve hours. Discuss with each other what punishments you should receive for your terrible crimes against innocent children.""We'll lock ourselves in my office. Won't come out for twelve hours till we decide our punishment," Papa replied like an obedient pet.As she took Nik by the hand, they made it off the scaffolding and began to pass by Papa and then stepped between his thugs, who were standing there just as obediently. She'd managed to manipulate ten adults at once. She was rather impressed with herself. The most she'd managed before this were those two sets of two Stormtroopers on the Finalizer."Why is he listening to you?" Nik asked in a whisper. "Why is he letting us go?""Because I told him to.""I don't understand."Crisara smirked as they stepped through the hallway where they'd both initially entered the old factory together. "I'll teach you how I did it someday."Once outside, the dozens of children seemed to gather around her as if they were about to hear an amazing tale. One of the older children, a gray-skinned Neimoidian male, who seemed to be in his late teens, stepped forward. "Where do we go now?" he asked; his large, red-orange eyes staring curiously back at her.With a small, assuring smile, Crisara lifted her right arm and pulled back her cloaked sleeve to reveal her wrist comm. Pressing a feature on the side, she was able to project a holographic bust of Poe. "This is my husband, Poe Dameron. He's at the fueling station just outside town, attached to the spaceport. If any of you get separated on the way there, this is who you need to find. If you get separated from me, tell him I sent you.""But who are you?" another child asked. It was a Selonian female who looked to be no older than Nik. Because her species had naturally light-sensitive eyes, she was wearing a pair of glareshades. They looked old and broken, as if she'd either found them or pickpocketed them at some point."I'm Crisara Dameron, Jedi Master. And I hope you can consider me a friend.""You're a Jedi?" a third kid muttered. "I've only ever heard stories…"Crisara wasn't sure which kid had just spoken. "They're not just stories. They're real. The Jedi were and are real people." She smiled and held a hand out and placed it down upon Nik's shoulder. "Nik, here, is strong in the Force and, with training, can become a great Jedi, and maybe one day you'll hear stories about him that can be passed down through the generations."Nik seemed to swell happily at the idea.  Meanwhile, back inside the factory, Papa began to gesture his thugs forward. They were still following Crisara's mind trick suggestion to head up into his office and lock themselves in. But then, from the rear depths of the factory, a Toydarian female fluttered forward with a confused look on her face."Where are you going?" she demanded. Then, noticing it was unnaturally quiet, she raised a brow as Papa and the thugs turned toward her. "How come I don't hear the sniveling of those mangy womprats?""We let them go and we're not following," Papa replied, rather robotically.The Toydarian grimaced. "What's gotten into you? Why did you let the kids go?""She told us to," one of the Zabrak thugs offered up.Fluttering even further forward, the unnamed Toydarian eyed up the Zabrak in question and then followed in the direction he was pointing. Quickly, she flew down the hallway to her right and peered through the window to the outer door and saw the blonde, human woman ushering every last child forward through the alley that led out of the old loading zone. The Toydarian scrunched up her face in a scowl when she recognized the human woman."You idiots!" the Toydarian shouted. Flying over toward Papa, she slapped him across the face. "She's a Jedi. Don't you watch the kriffing HoloNews? Don't you know who that kriffing woman is? For kriff's sake!" Her voice continued to bellow as she flew around and slapped every last one of them; to literally knock some sense into them. "Ever heard of Crisara Kenobi? Well, Crisara Dameron now, last time I checked. She's the kriffing daughter of Luke kriffing Skywalker! Does his name wring a kriffing bell?""You're so vulgar," one of the Trandoshan thugs mumbled.Wide-eyed with anger and frustration, she turned to glower at him and reached for the blaster attached to her hip. Without missing a beat, she shot in him in the head. Looking back at Papa, she holstered her weapon and got in his face; her long snout practically striking him across the face as roughly as her hand did. "I have not let you be the face of this operation for the last ten years just for you to let our property go just because you're a weak-minded fool." She threw her hands up in aggravation. "Of all the people to come in here and ruin everything — it had to be a kriffing Jedi." Pointing at Papa, she continued. "You can still salvage this. Go get those kids back or don't bother coming back yourself." Getting even closer into his face, she added, "And disappear that kriffing Jedi. I want no body left behind. We don't need any of her friends coming to look for her and figuring out who was behind it. Understood?"Papa, the supposed badass boss, gulped and nodded. "Yes, Mama."Slapping him once more across the back of the head for good measure, she barked, "Then get your asses moving!"  Crisara was walking behind the legion of orphans she'd freed from the factory and was wondering how she was going to warn Poe about it before they all approached the fueling station. It would be a tight fit, but she knew they could fit every last one of the children on board the Millennium Falcon. She also knew he would be due back to work in Theed in the next day or two. He was in charge of the Royal Naboo Security Forces and did have that diplomatic banquet that was coming up, which he was also in charge of overseeing the security measures for. He was an important man with an important job. Plus, she had her school to return to. She couldn't be away from it too long. And, of course, there were their children who took precedence above all others that they wanted to get home to. As amazing as it was to get away and act like a pair of newlyweds again, they both longed for their full, crazy house. They missed their kids, they missed their home, and then missed sleeping in their own bed.Lifting her wrist comm up, she pressed a button to open communication with him. After a moment, his voice came through."Hey. Where did you get off to?" Poe wondered."Um, don't be mad," she began with a slight laugh in her voice.She could hear him sigh on his end. "What?""So, I kind of just freed a bunch of indentured children from the servitude of a child abuser and killer."Poe sighed again. "Well, when you phrase it like that I'm obviously not going to be mad." Then, he asked, "Did anyone get hurt? Are you okay?""There have been no injuries or casualties, but I was very tempted to raze the factory I purged the kids from, and then slaughter the monsters that ran the place," she replied, as Nik turned and looked upward at her. "Still might."
"But you're better than that. You rise above that kind of shit."
"Careful with the language, Dameron. I have upwards of thirty-six children in front of me, heading back to you."
"Thirty-what now? Babe."
"They'll fit. They're children."
"You and that big, beautiful, bleeding heart."
"You love my big, beautiful, bleeding heart." Crisara smiled, keeping her eyes forward to make sure the kids didn't deviate, while ignoring the curious gazes of passersby."I love a lot of big, beautiful things about you," he replied with definite innuendo laced in. "But, I swear, that big, beautiful heart is what's gonna get you killed someday.""Not according to my mother's vision. I'm dying an old lady in my bed, with you beside me."
"I didn't realize it was that detailed — the vision, I mean."
She smirked. "It wasn't. I'm just assuming the part with the bed, and you. Or, rather, hoping.""Alright, well…" he trailed for a moment. "How long till you get back? The Falcon's done fueling up, and I'm almost finished with the repairs. But, once we get back home, I'm definitely going to have to order a few new parts."The hairs on Crisara's neck began to stand on end again. She was sensing danger. Immediate danger. "Poe? I gotta go. Something's about to happen."Obviously, that didn't sit well with him. "What? No. What does that mean? Cris—"She cut him off before he could finish.Halting any movement, she stood in place and watched as the children continued to walk ahead of her. Subtly she slid her right hand across her abdomen and grabbed for her lightsaber on her left hip. Unclipping it, she carefully tucked it up inside her right sleeve and steadied her breath.While the other children kept going, completely oblivious, Nik turned and stopped. He looked upward at Crisara again. "Something's wrong, isn't it?" he questioned, very astutely.Crisara nodded. With her left hand, she removed her wrist comm and tossed it to him. When he caught it, looking rather confused, she nodded again at him. "You saw what my husband looks like. Remember: his name is Poe Dameron. He's at the fueling station attached to the spaceport outside the city. We're not too far now. Go. If you need to contact him, use my wrist comm," she advised. "If I'm not back within the half hour, tell him I might need help.""No. I'll stay with you, whatever happens. You said I'm strong in the Force. I can help.""Not strong enough for what's going to happen," she countered. "I said go. Lead the others." The sensation of looming danger had increased. "Go, dammit."Frowning, and nervous about leaving her, Nik finally decided to obey. Without another word, he turned around and darted forward; moving toward the front of the rest of the kids. Crisara could hear him shouting to the others, telling them they had to run now. A few kids looked back, but most followed Nik without hesitation. Those that looked back were able to see Crisara had turned around and was facing the direction they'd all just come from. By the time the children had turned a corner, most of Papa's thugs had appeared at the top of the road, and many of those passersby from before seemed to realize some sort of fight was going to happen, and they all skedaddled. It was like a showdown, with the thugs on one end and Crisara on the other.Inhaling a steadying breath and finding peace in the Force, as if she were being enveloped in a warm, fragrant bath, Crisara watched as Papa appeared; pushing between his goons to stand front and center."Nice trick you played back there, Jedi!" he shouted out to her."I'm surprised you were clever enough to figure it out," she shouted back. She stepped more into the center of the street while a few low-flying transports passed over them every now and then; kicking up dirt and the overall stench of Hutta Town that clung to the ground. "Despite the horrible things you've done, I'm still willing to give you this one chance to turn around and leave. This will be your only chance." To send the message home, she dropped her lightsaber out of her sleeve and caught it before it could fall. In the same beat, she activated the blade, but kept it pointed downward. "I will do what I must."Somewhere, within the Force, where the spirits of Jedi existed and could watch the living, Anakin Skywalker groaned and Obi-Wan Kenobi smirked."Ugh," Anakin grimaced. "She said the thing, didn't she? Did you write that in your journals? Is that where she picked it up from?""That's our girl," Obi-Wan remarked with a small smile.
"She has too much of both of us in her. It's an unpredictable juxtaposition."
"She also has much of Sera and Padmé in her. And Ada and Luke," Obi-Wan countered. "She has the best of all of us. None of the worst.""You think your laser sword scares us, girl?" one of the human thugs questioned — a human who was barely out of his twenties, mind you."Girl?" She chuckled. "I was just getting knighted as a Jedi Knight while you were still in nappies, boy!"Anakin's spirit, on the other side of the veil, snorted. "Okay, yeah; definitely the best of us."Crisara raised her lightsaber. "If you were smart, this is where you'd run."She suddenly didn't feel alone, as if she wasn't the only one there to face down these thugs. She could sense a few presences in the Force and it added to her sense of calm, but it also helped boost her ego. She recalled what she and Rey had said in response to the Emperor, when he declared he was all of the Sith. They were all of the Jedi. The Jedi were in her. All of them, at any given moment. She had them with her, within her, surrounding her. They had been there before, to offer advice and in other moments of dire need. And, when she eventually took her last breath, they would be there to greet her on the other side.Papa and his thugs began to advance."But you're not smart, are you?" she continued, aiming the tip of her lightsaber in their direction."And you're not that special," Papa declared with a sneer, unholstering both of his blasters, but not yet aiming or firing. "You're just a human with a sword made of light. I think you're all talk and no action," he goaded; finally taking aim. "I think you're weak!"Crisara sighed. "And I think you underestimate my power," she replied; somewhat to herself, as it wasn't quite loud enough for him and his lackeys to hear.Anakin's Force ghost punched Obi-Wan's Force ghost in the arm. "She said my thing. Do we worry now?"Two more Force ghosts joined them."Have more faith in our daughter, will you?" Adamé urged.Obi-Wan turned to look between Anakin and himself, watching as his daughter stood there while Luke stepped up slightly behind her. "Oh, I do," Obi-Wan insisted."She has more strength in her little finger," Luke added. "And after all the bantha fodder she's been through, and all that we know she will still yet go through, we will never have to worry about her."The firefight commenced on the street.Papa and his thugs opened fire at Crisara, but she twirled her lightsaber around, and from side to side; deflecting each blast or ricocheting it back at them. As she parried a few blasts, holding her weapon in her right hand, she raised her left hand and Force pushed a few of the thugs backward. One hit his head against the side of a building and crumpled, either unconscious or dead on impact, to the ground. She wasn't too focused on those specifics at the moment. Instead, she took a more defensive approach and stalked forward. One of the thugs, the young human male, more or less said 'fuck this' with his body language and turned tail in the other direction while the rest remained.Another thug, one of the Trandoshans, she hoisted upward into the air and flung upward; only to be struck by a passing garbage barge, tumble over the front of it and be carted off to a junkyard for disposal along with the rest of the gathered waste. A third thug, another Trandoshan, she began to Force choke while simultaneously slicing at the mid-sections of two thugs attempting to surround her from the right. They dropped, bleeding out or attempting to shove their innards back in as they slowly died on the street, while the thug she was Force choking she ran through the abdomen with her lightsaber. It wasn't necessarily a fatal stabbing. If they ran off now and sought medical attention, they stood a very good chance of surviving. However, it seemed they'd opted to just sink to the ground and pity their lot in life.Jumping up, with surprising nimbleness for the remaining thugs, she somersaulted over them. When she landed on her feet, she whipped quickly around, dropped low and sliced her blade across all their ankles; severing their feet from their legs. Each last one of them fell to the ground — Papa included. They were immediately wailing in pain; staring at horror at their lobbed off appendages and wounds that had been instantly cauterized by the plasma blade.In one last attempt to come out of this on top, Papa reached upward with both his blasters, to take at least one more shot at her, but Crisara sensed the movement before he could pull either trigger. She sliced upward, severing both his left arms and then brought her lightsaber back down and severed both his right arms.Papa landed backward onto the ground; screeching in pain and staring up at the sky as another garbage barge came hovering by, overhead. He managed to look up at it just as some piece of dilapidated metal equipment, which was meant for a junkyard, toppled over the edge and fell. In too much agony and unable to move, Papa couldn't prevent the hunk of literal junk from landing directly upon his head; flattening it and killing him instantly.Crisara staggered backward and grimaced, but only from how she must've imagined that must've felt. She didn't feel bad that it happened at all, because of everything Papa had done to countless, innocent children. She believed he deserved what he got. His thugs, who obeyed him and did the same to all those disappeared children, deserved the same.Those that lived, after their altercation, she didn't believe any Hutts in charge would do anything about. But, Hutt-controlled space or not, the long arm of the Republic had greater reach and more muscle. She supposed Poe and her could contact a few friends within the Republic Security Forces to come take the surviving offenders into custody.Looking upon the dead, dying or permanently wounded thugs, Crisara did feel slight unease at how lethal she could be. It didn't scare her or anything like that because, again, these monsters deserved it. She would hold to that belief until her dying day. But it did unsettle her in the sense that she could see how easily the dark side could creep up. Not that she'd felt tempted by it, but she could imagine how doing what she just did would otherwise feel wonderful; therapeutic, even. She never wanted to feel complacent about taking lives, but she wouldn't feel bad about doing it to defend herself or others, or to prevent the likelihood of harm to herself and others against terrible beings like Papa and his thugs.With a sigh, she shook off any vestiges of wrath she may have been feeling and latched more strongly onto the calm the Force could bring her. She steadied her breathing and soothed her rapidly-firing nerve-endings. She let the Force wrap tightly around her and seep further into her very being; holding her and bringing her peace while she sorted through everything. She wondered if there would be some sort of magistrate she would have to answer to or give an account of what had happened to. She had friends in high places. Hell, she was a person in a high place, to an extent. These had been despicable fiends, guilty of some unforgiveable crimes. She wouldn't even get a slap on the wrist, especially not in a place like Hutta Town, on Nar Shaddaa. Not in Hutt Space. The punishment she'd exacted was definitely befitting the crimes the thugs had committed.Sure of herself, she stepped over toward the side of the road and finally deactivated her lightsaber. For a moment, she cast her blue eyes downward and noticed some blood splatter had found its way to the legs of her pants, which caused her to grimace."Cris!"In the distance, she heard Poe's voice calling out to her.Glancing up, Crisara spotted him all the way down the other end of the road, hopping out of a speeder along with Nik. She sighed; wishing her husband wouldn't have brought her new padawan back here with him. She didn't want the boy to see the carnage. But, she also figured he may have already seen terrible things like this in his very few years of life. Then again, why should he be subjected to more of it? Maybe Poe hadn't wanted to bring Nik? Maybe Nik came with, to show Poe where to go. That was very likely.With a rueful smile, she raised a hand toward Poe and waved; silently alluding that she was okay. From the great distance between them, she could see he was considerably relieved, which made her feel better; knowing he wasn't plagued with worry anymore."Ow."Crisara grimaced; feeling a small but sharp pain in her lower abdomen. Looking downward, she spotted some sort of dart sticking out of her stomach. Yanking it out, she lifted it up and peered intently at it, just as she heard a female cackling. Turning her gaze upward, she spotted a Toydarian female flapping her wings wildly, and holding a dart gun in her hands."What the…"Suddenly not feeling right, Crisara dropped to her knees."You don't take from Mama!" the Toydarian announced.Angry and frightened about what might very well be happening to her, Crisara glanced down at her abdomen but then back upward at 'Mama', who was still just fluttering in place and laughing in some sort of perceived victory. Letting her anger win out, just this once, Crisara lazily lifted her right hand upward and immobilized Mama, who immediately clammed up when she realized something was happening. With her left hand, Crisara began to Force choke the literal life out of Mama. While Mama dropped her dart gun, and began to cough and gasp for breath, new searing pain began to burn deeply within Crisara's abdomen. In pain and in rage, she made one, swift yanking gesture and literally ripped Mama in half with the Force; from the side of Mama's neck to down between her legs. As her very much dead body plummeted into two, bloody halves on the ground, Crisara fell over to her side. As she clutched at her stomach, she could hear Poe scream."No!"Crisara just stared upward at the brown, smog-filled sky and the countless modes of transports flying by; wondering if a garbage barge was going to hover past and drop something on her; to finish her off the same way that Papa had been finished off.As Poe's voice got closer, realization began to hit her."Your vision was full of shit, mom," Crisara muttered.Then, Poe was at her side. He was kneeling beside her, cupping the back of her head and placing a hand to her abdomen. Lifting her shirt up, he tried to determine what had happened. He looked so terribly worried and frightened. So lost and confused. She had never seen him so scared before; not even when he was in the midst of his nightmares about his torture at the hands of Kylo Ren that still plagued his mind, from time to time, while he slept."Hey…hey, hang on. It's alright. I'm here," he assured, leaning forward and kissing her forehead. "What happened? Wh-where are y-you hurt? I-I-I…I don't see any wounds…" he stuttered; fraught with increasing fear. "Where…""She shot me with a dart. I'm pretty sure it was poisoned," Crisara whispered, feeling very heavy and tired. She tried to smirk; to somehow make light of the situation. "What a bitch." The pain she'd been feeling began to subside, but she could still feel other things. Tears stung slightly at her eyes. "Poe…I think I'm dying.""What — no. No. Don't even joke. It's not possible. Your mom had a vision. You're supposed to live a long life.""Well, compared to the twenty-two years she got, my thirty-nine years is a long life."Poe adamantly shook his head; appearing angry to mask his fear. "No. No, no, no. No. You don't get to die yet. We're supposed to have decades together. At least five decades, remember? I'm not losing you yet." Carefully, he began to hoist her up into his arms. His knees wobbled for a moment and then he was able to continue forward. When a sudden wave of new fear washed over him, at the idea of losing the love of his life like this, his legs buckled underneath him. Doing his best not to drop her, Poe brought her over to the side of the road, just inside the closest, dark alley and propped her up against a building. "You're gonna be fine," he insisted, possibly for his own benefit. He cupped the sides of her face in his hands, gently brushing his thumbs along her cheeks, while Nik finally approached; his shorter legs making him slower than Poe. When Nik began to hover, Poe turned around and snapped at him. "Kid, get out of my way.""Be nice to him," Crisara mumbled. "He's been through a lot in his young life." After a moment, she felt an embarrassingly odd sensation between her legs. "Oh…""What?""I think I just peed.""It's okay. Shit and piss happens. I've pissed myself countless times." He grimaced, leaning in to press his lips to her forehead, but not necessarily to kiss her. He was feeling for a temperature; to see if she was heating up or cooling off. Poe tensed, feeling the latter. "No, no, no…""I pissed myself because my organs are shutting down, Poe," she remarked. She couldn't even lift her arms to touch him or take a hold of either of his hands, to squeeze them and let him know he would be fine. She felt numb. "I can feel it. That dart was definitely poisoned.""I'm gonna get you medical help," Poe insisted. Once more, he looked over at Nik. "Where's the nearest hospital or clinic?"Nik shrugged. "I don't know," he cried; anxiously gripping the bottom of his too small shirt with his dirty hands. The boy dropped down to his knees beside Poe. "Don't die, Crisara. Who's gonna teach me to be strong like you?""Her name is Rey. She's my sister. She'll…" Crisara sighed. Her eyes began drooping. "Poe will take you home. Rey will come. She'll train you."Poe was feeling flustered and useless. He didn't know what to do. His mind was somehow going blank on him. This wasn't the end! This wasn't how their story was supposed to end! "Don't leave me, baby," he pleaded. "Not yet." Tears were pouring down his face. Through his fear and his preemptive grief, he tried to get a better hold of himself, and leaned back on the heels of his feet. "Okay. I know. Just…stay here. I'll, uh…I'll find help. I'll find a doctor or someone who can help." He turned and gripped Nik tightly upon the shoulder. "You stay with her and you wait with her. You keep her talking. Understand me?"Nik began to blubber and hesitated in giving an answer."Understand me?!" Poe raised his voice."Poe — don't," Crisara chastised; her chest feeling heavy."Okay," Nik quickly replied, crying harder. "I understand."Leaning forward, Poe grabbed the sides of Crisara's face again; this time kissing her on the lips, in case it was the last time he got to. "I'm sorry," he apologized, in regard to his burst of temper. "I'll be right back. Don't go."Jumping up to his feet, Poe ran out of the alley. He ran hard. He looked down at his wrist comm and turned it on; reaching out to the one person he knew of in this godforsaken shithole that owed him a favor."It's Poe. Poe Dameron," he announced into the device, once he reached the speeder he'd 'borrowed' from the fueling station, and hopped in. "I helped your sorry ass once upon a time and now you need to return the favor, or so help me I will rip your eyes out of your blubberous skull and force feed them to you."Crisara remained as she was, leaning against the wall. "Don't feel sad or scared," she spoke to Nik. "Death is not the end for people like you and me. Rey will teach you about that someday. I won't be gone completely. But I need you to do me a favor, okay?""Okay," Nik whimpered, wiping at his eyes with the backs of his hands."Be strong. Never give in to your anger or your hate. Those are paths to the dark side and the dark side only brings unhappiness."
"Hey, Little Bean. Be strong."
Crisara shifted her gaze a few feet away and saw the Force ghost of her mother, and her breath hitched in her throat. "Is it time? Am I done?"Adamé looked back at her daughter as if she was sighing. "No. Not quite."Despite that answer, Crisara snickered. "I beg to differ."Slowly, she felt a strange, warm feeling wash over her, which was spreading out in every direction from her abdomen. Her eyes drooped, her head dipped downward to her chest and Crisara let the void swallow her whole as if she was being wrapped up in a big, black blanket.  Across the cosmos, Rey was hovering in the air, cross-legged, and deep in meditation. That meditation was cut short, though. A sharp ache in her abdomen startled her so much that she plummeted those few feet back down to the ground; landing on her back as she coughed at the air that was knocked out of her chest. Quickly, she flipped herself forward and upright onto her feet; as lithe as a Loth-cat. For a moment she just stood there, staring straight ahead.Initially, all she saw were the trees in front of her.Then she saw Crisara, sitting on the forest floor, leaning against one of those trees, but she knew Crisara wasn't actually there, leaning against a tree. She was somewhere else, leaning against something else."Cris," she muttered; feeling something terribly off about the situation.Her pseudo-sister looked horrifically pallid and way too still for her liking. Panicked by what she was seeing and what she was feeling, Rey ran forward and practically skidded to a stop when she dropped to her knees in front of Crisara. Looking her over, she didn't understand what was happening, but at the same time she did, and she wasn't having it. Leaning forward, she reached out, through their connection — their dyad — and managed to touch her hands upon Crisara's shoulders, much in the way she'd been able to touch fingertips with Ben when she was on Ahch-To years ago.Somehow able to grip harder onto Crisara's shoulders, Rey closed her eyes and concentrated through the Force while tears stung at her eyes. Quietly, but urgently, she whispered, "Wake up."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Won't you stay with me, stay with me?
Spend just one more day with me
'Cause I can't bear to see it end this way"
— Teddy Pendergrass Poe had only been gone five minutes, tops.He'd run back to the topless speeder he'd 'borrowed' and contacted his 'friend' and brought the speeder to the alley where Crisara lay; wilting like a flower without sun, soil and water. He parked at the entrance to the alley and was already jumping out of it in a terrible hurry, as panicked as the day is long. The boy Nik was sat beside Crisara, with his knees pulled up to his chest and his face in his hands, whimpering and sniffling. Poe understood that Nik had only just met his wife, but his wife had probably been the first person to show Nik any kindness in a long time, or for the first time ever. So, Poe could understand that the boy would be a mess right now.Poe was a mess right now.He had made a living as a spice runner once upon a time. He had lived through a galactic war against a tyrannical superpower, which had seen to him being physically and mentally tortured. He'd led an uphill battle against that tyrannical superpower, and won. He had been placed in a seat of power, to oversee the overall safety of the Monarch of Naboo, but primarily the entire planet of Naboo. He had fathered children and was responsible for making sure they survived and thrived. He knew stress, he knew fear, and he knew hopelessness.This, though…The very real possibility of walking through the remainder of his life without Crisara beside him…As he approached her, with hands shaking, he was terrified she was already gone. She was so very pale and so very still. Poe's chin quivered and tears burned at his eyes as he reached those shaky hands up to the sides of her face. She felt cold, but not too cold."Please don't go," he whispered — pleading. "I can't do this without you."As he blinked the tears out of his eyes, they fell down his face instead and he simply let them drop without a care. When he slid his hands down to her shoulders, Crisara let out a small gasp of air, which gave Poe such an overwhelming sense of relief.There was still hope. She wasn't gone yet."Rey," she whispered, her eyes still closed; as if she was talking in her sleep."No, babe, it's Poe. But I'll take what I can get at this point." Shifting around, he scooped her up in his arms; letting her face roll against his shoulder as limply as a rag doll, which did little for those fears and worries of his. Sighing, he nodded at Nik. "Come on, kid. She risked her life for you, so I'm not leaving you behind." As the boy scrambled up to his feet, he followed behind Poe as Poe carried Crisara over to the speeder. "Hop into the back seat. I'm gonna need your help."Nik didn't hesitate. He climbed into the back of the hovering vehicle and sat down."Scoot over to the other side," Poe advised. When the boy did as he said, Poe hoisted Crisara over the side and laid her down across the back seat; letting her head rest gently down upon Nik's lap. "Hold onto her so she doesn't go anywhere. I'm not about to fly this thing slowly." Rushing around to the driver's seat, Poe hopped in and immediately started the speeder back up. "Hold on, kid."Nik placed one hand on the back of Crisara's head and, the moment the speeder blasted forward, upward into the air and narrowly bypassing a few other reckless transports, he clamped his free arm around her chest to hold her to him so she didn't roll around. The fact that she made a slight groaning noise was actually music to both male's ears; another sign that she was still holding on.Taking the speeder up higher and higher, Poe navigated the main traffic lanes with remarkable ease. He wasn't the galaxy's greatest pilot for nothing. He was grace under fire; working best in the worst situations. And this was definitely the worst situation for him so far in his life. He would suffer mental and physical torture at the hands of Stormtroopers and Kylo Ren again, every day for the next fifty years, if it meant getting a redo on how this day had turned out.Despite the gravitas of the situation, Nik was considerably in awe. In his measly nine years of life, he'd never been in any sort of transport before. He'd never traveled anywhere that wasn't by foot. "Mister Crisara?" he called out; forgetting Poe's name.Were his mind not preoccupied, Poe might've smirked or laughed at that. "What? Is she okay?" He attempted to look over his shoulder to see for himself."She's okay," Nik assured, hugging his arm a bit tighter around her, just in case. "If she gets better, and she gets to train me, will I get to learn to fly, too?""When she gets better," Poe amended, and rather brusquely at that. "I won't be bothered with 'ifs', understand?""Yes, sir."The boy's submissive reply made Poe feel a bit bad. Nik was just a kid; an orphan who'd apparently been abused for quite a while. Crisara had alluded to as much when she'd contacted him via comm, and Poe hadn't been blind to the old, healed scars along the boy's arms and neck. It made his blood boil at the thought of someone so young being treated so horribly, and he could understand why his wife had made it her personal mission to free all those kids, Nik included, and fight with those jackholes to the death. He just hoped it wouldn't end with hers, as well."You don't have to call me 'sir'. It's Poe. Or, well, the rest of my wife's padawans call me Mister Poe.""What's a padawan?""It's what her students are called. Kids like you in training to become Jedi someday.""Will I be a Jedi someday?" Nik wondered.Poe didn't answer. He was too busy gritting his teeth when he had to yank the speeder a little too hard to the right to avoid some other numbskull colliding with them.Though, to be fair, Poe was traveling in the wrong direction.But he didn't care.He had precious cargo on board and time was of the essence.  Rey was flustered; blinking rapidly as she tried processing what she'd felt and seen and done to help her former Master-turned-unofficial sister. She was in her bedroom, in the place she was calling home these days, throwing a few spare clothes and toiletries into a rucksack and then snapping it closed before hoisting it over one shoulder. With a huff, she blew some hair out of her face and whipped around to bustle out of the room."What exactly happened?"Rey barely heard Finn's question as she picked up the pace and as he'd followed her outside. She stopped briefly only after his words finally registered with her brain after a moment. "Crisara's been badly hurt. Or she's sick. I'm not sure," she replied, understandably distracted. She tossed her rucksack into Luke's old X-wing, which she had since repaired and made almost as good as new. In the droid socket there was R2-D2, waiting for her to take them wherever they were going. "I saw her sitting there, looking half-dead, barely breathing. I could feel her pain. I could feel how much she was struggling to breathe. I can feel it now. And I can feel her slipping away." Rey turned and looked Finn in the eye. She looked positively nervous. "I have to go to her. I have to do something more.""More?""I was able to touch her, to hold onto her. I transferred a bit of Force energy into her, and woke her up, but it wasn't enough to heal whatever is killing her.""Wait…" Finn was a bit more worried now. "Killing her? You didn't say she's dying. That's it. I'm coming, too." He gestured to the X-wing. "It'll be a real tight squeeze, but you're petite. We can both fit in there." He winced, then shrugged. "Maybe.""No," Rey insisted. "I need you here to keep an eye on things.""How can I when our sister is dying?" Since taking the Kenobi surname, he also considered Crisara to be his sister from a different mister, just as much as he considered Poe to be his brother from another mother."Because…because I said so?""Rey.""Finn. Please. I need to go to her, and I need to help her. But this place is important, too, and…" she sighed. "I mean this as nicely as possible, but you would be in the way." Before he could contend her reasoning, she added, "If anything happens, good or bad, I'll contact you. Just…wait for my call. For now, stay here."Slowly, Finn nodded. He understood that if something had happened with Crisara, it meant Poe wouldn't be far away, and he'd be seeing to her getting medical treatment. He understood that Rey meant he'd be in the way because too many people around could interfere with the medical professionals. He also understood that Rey had a connection to Crisara that no one else could understand except for Crisara. Even though he knew how to transfer his own life force energy into another living being now, that ability was nowhere near as strong or capable as Rey's. She could be of more use. He understood that.It didn't make him any less anxious about it all, though.Rey climbed up into the X-wing and pulled on her helmet. Looking down at Finn, she offered him a small, rueful smile. "I'll keep you posted when I get there.""Where is there?"She shrugged. "I, uh, don't actually know. But I'll find out."Finn frowned while R2-D2 beeped and booped; stating that preliminary flight checks were all set and they were ready to go. "Rey…""Yeah?" she asked."May the Force be with you," he remarked. "And with Crisara."She simply nodded and lowered the cockpit canopy.  The Palace of Grakkus the Hutt was immensely foreboding, poorly lit, and terribly dreary. It was the complete opposite of the Theed Royal Palace, which had an ethereal beauty to it and was just, all in all, one of a kind. The Palace of Grakkus the Hutt was also oddly reminiscent of the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, just on a smaller scale. There was nothing about it that screamed 'all are welcome here'. It wasn't exactly the first place anyone of sound mind would think of when in need of medical assistance and respite, but that's exactly what Poe needed it for. It was the one place in all of Hutta Town where he knew anything that was needed could be easily required, either for the right price or by threat of death.Poe was prepared to use either to get what he needed for Crisara.He had access to ridiculous wealth that his wife had inherited, but he was more willing to rely on less than noble tactics if need be. He'd been a spice runner. He'd witnessed and done a few rather abysmal things in his youth that he wasn't proud of. For Crisara, he would do worse — tenfold.The speeder that he — let's be honest — stole was given immediate clearance when he reached the Palace. Before he had even finished bringing it in for a landing inside the private hangar of the Huttese crime lord, medical droids were hastily approaching with a repulsorlift stretcher, which was enormously wide and likely meant for someone of Grakkus the Hutt's, uh, stature."She's in the back," Poe alerted as he climbed over the front seat and into the backseat to lift Crisara up. As Nik scooted out of the way, Poe held his wife in his arms and waited for the stretcher to be raised higher so he could gently lay her down while the medical droids assisted. "Be careful with her," he pleaded, as the droids quickly took over. "Her injuries are internal, but I don't know to what extent.""We have it all under control," one of the medical droids insisted, as it strapped Crisara to the stretcher so she didn't accidentally slide around, or worse — off.Gesturing Nik out of the speeder, Poe hopped out but didn't wait for the boy to follow. He was immediately tailing the stretcher as it was being led forward out of the hangar. The immense doors lifted upward, looking like teeth at the bottom, while the entire thing looked as if it were clearly made to withstand powerful blasts. The entire time, Nik was very wide-eyed; taking it all in as he scurried after Poe, as they all stepped more fully into the Palace. They appeared firstly into a tall, wide corridor of sorts, which looked like the bowels of any prison, anywhere in the known galaxy. The random chains with attached hooks hanging from the ceiling did little to help alleviate that first impression.At the end of the corridor, another set of doors opened. These doors were only slightly smaller and parted sideways, revealing a great chamber that looked to be some sort of atrium with a great many other corridors branched off of it. There was a bay of lifts for ascending and descending to the many different levels of the Palace. There was even a wide set of stairs which led to a secondary level above the level they were currently on, which had an equally wide balcony that offered a view to those below.And that's exactly where Grakkus the Hutt appeared."Poe Dameron," Grakkus greeted. He seemed to skitter forward toward the stairs, like a run-of-the-mill insect. Anyone looking between the balustrades of the balcony could see the slight glint created by the nominal light from above. It shined off his twelve cybernetic legs, which allowed him to move around more easily instead of slowly slithering or relying on repulsorlift technology to cart him around like many other Hutts did. "Not that I ever cared to see you again, but I would've hoped it would be under better circumstances.""Likewise," Poe replied, watching as Grakkus continued to skitter closer to the top of the stairwell. "And I don't have time for feigned pleasantries. Years ago I helped break you out of Megalox, and provided you with the hyperspace calculations so you could get away safely. You owe me.""If I recall, my end of the deal was to give you information on the worlds Lor San Tekka had visited, and I followed through with it.."Poe shifted his gaze briefly toward Crisara, who was lying still upon the stretcher. Even though he could see she still had breath in her body, from the faint rise and fall of her chest, he was still a bundle of nerves and worry. "Information that took a few years to reap the full benefits of, while you benefited immediately," Poe retorted, narrowing his gaze back upward at the Hutt. "You got away. You returned to your home, here. You reclaimed your place as top dog, as if you were only gone a day instead of decades.""And I also leant you a ship after the Battle of Crait. I didn't have to, but I did. I'd say we're more than even."Poe stepped forward and gripped tightly upon the railing on his left. Suddenly, the desire to threaten Grakkus' life fell by the wayside, and his fear and desperation began to win over. "Please, Grak. Can you just — I need your help." He turned; looking over his shoulder toward Crisara. "My wife needs your help.""Why not take her home, to an actual hospital?""I would in a heartbeat," Poe replied. "But I don't think she'll make it in time. And if I lose her because you stalled when you could help, I will make the rest of your life miserable." Okay, so maybe he still had some threats left in him. "I will burn everything you care about to the ground. I will burn you to the ground and dance on your grave if I have to put her in one."Grakkus didn't respond right away. He just stared for a few moments, which made Poe all the more anxious as well as angry for the hesitation. Then, slowly, the Hutt began to descend the stairwell. As he reached the bottom, Poe stepped backward and the medical droids did the same with Crisara on the stretcher, to give Grakkus a wider berth. All the while, Nik watched curiously from the metaphorical and somewhat literal shadows. This atrium wasn't exactly well lit, after all.The Hutt dragged his eyes away from Poe and over to Crisara. "What happened to her?"Poe sighed and stepped over to the stretcher. A pair of medical droids parted for him; allowing him to encircle his hand around hers, which fell upsettingly cold to the touch, but at least he could still feel her pulse, even if it was faint. "She was shot by a poisoned dart. She said she could feel her organs shutting down," he replied, and then quickly whipped his head back toward Grakkus to add, with a raised voice, "which is why she needs immediate medical attention! So stop fucking hesitating!" Poe barked; tears once again burning at his eyes as his chin quivered. His resolve weakened. "Help me."Grakkus could see he had the upper hand, to an extent. Or, at least, the immediate upper hand. He also knew Poe had a respected reputation across the galaxy, and no doubt many important friends who would rise up in his defense at a moment's notice if he asked for it. Grakkus Jahibakti Tingi might be a Hutt kingpin in control of an extensive network of bounty hunters, spice smugglers, and thieves, but he was aware that Poe's influence, since the war against the First Order, had grown wider and greater. Hell, Grakkus had even heard bits and pieces of gossip here and there about how a few factions within the reborn Republic had hoped he would've run for and taken up the mantle of Supreme Chancellor after the war.The Hutt considered all this in the expanse of seconds, and then his large, yellow eyes drifted to Crisara, where he noticed the lightsaber clipped to a belt that was peeking out from under the weathered cloak she was wearing. "I've heard stories," he spoke, gesturing to Crisara, "of your wife.""That's nice. Will you help us or do I have to plan two funerals — hers and yours?""She's a Jedi, isn't she?""Yes." Poe didn't see how that was necessarily relevant to getting her the medical help she desperately needed right now."One of my passions has been collecting artifacts and relics of the old Jedi Order. Most of it was confiscated after the Empire imprisoned me. I always admired what the Jedi could do and, to a degree, what they stood for." The Hutt sighed, thinking briefly on days gone by. "I miss my things. I've spent the last several years trying to recoup what I lost, to little avail."Poe followed Grakkus' gaze toward the lightsaber. "You want my wife's lightsaber?" he accused."No," Grakkus insisted. "But I will take it and hold onto it. For, uh…safekeeping." Off Poe's frown, he added, "If she lives, I'll return it. No harm, no foul. But, If she dies, I keep it. Deal?"Poe really wasn't in a position to argue any further. He'd give away the estate that was Crisara's beloved Jedi academy to the Hutt if it meant saving her. When Grakkus held out his hand, Poe begrudgingly accepted it. "Deal," he agreed.Grakkus quickly retracted his hand and snapped his fingers at the medical droids. "Go on, go. Take her to the medcenter."As they began to lead Crisara in the complete opposite direction, Poe's shoulders slumped with slight relief, though a good deal of his tension still remained. "Thank you, Grak.""Don't thank me yet." Grakkus snapped his fingers again at the droids. "Ah, ah, ah. Lightsaber!" When one of the droids reached forward, unclipped the weapon from Crisara's side and tossed it over, the Hutt caught it and beamed happily. "That's more like it."Poe frowned, watching the way Grakkus activated the blade and seemed enthralled by it. Poe couldn't think too much on it, though. He had more important things to worry about. Crisara, namely. But he also knew he would have to reach out to their family and their friends, and let them know what was going on and, worse yet: for them to prepare for things to not end well.As he turned to follow the stretcher and the medical droids flanking it, Poe reached a hand out and ushered Nik over to him. When the boy slipped alongside him, Poe placed a hand on the boy's opposite shoulder and sighed deeply."Will she be okay now?" Nik wondered, quietly; all while Grakkus remained where he was at the base of the stairwell, giving Crisara's lightsaber a few swishes and flicks, and looking like a kid in a candy store with it. "Will the droids help her?""I can only hope so, kid."  Everything was dark, and it felt like she was floating for a while.Crisara felt weightless, as if she was drifting within the abyss of space.However, unlike space, it wasn't a vacuum of silence. Wherever she was, there was a vast array of voices; some familiar, some not. Most seemed to be overlapping each other, as if there were several conversations going on at the same time. It wasn't too loud or deafening, but it was enough to feel increasingly like a nuisance as she became more and more aware of the noise.As she opened her eyes, she found herself staring upward at what appeared to be a night sky. It was black and littered with stars, but it didn't feel like she was lying upon any sort of ground and, for a few moments, she worried she was floating around in space, and she was also acutely aware she wasn't protected by any sort of EVA suit.In a flash of panic, she bolted upright.Glancing forward, she saw she wasn't floating. She was sitting upon would looked to be a transparent walkway that meandered through somewhere resembling space. There were no nearby suns, no planets, moons, nebulas or asteroid fields that she could see. There was nothing to determine exactly where she might be, and she tried to remember where she had been. But, for whatever reason, that was lost on her at the moment."You shouldn't be here."That voice was familiar to Crisara, and it brought an immediate scowl to her face. "Where is here?" Slowly, she turned around to find herself looking upward at her paternal grandfather, Anakin Skywalker. As usual, he looked as he did, just before becoming Darth Vader, though slightly older with a few more age lines around his face. However, there was something much more different about him this time. He wasn't transparent with that bluish glow to him in the way that Force ghosts always looked. He just looked like any other person, standing there a few feet away from her, as if he was very much alive. She suddenly felt very troubled. "Where am I?""You're stuck, is my guess," he replied; folding his arms across his chest as he stared down at her. "Stuck in the in-between. Stuck between life and what comes next."Crisara could feel her heart racing at the thought of what he'd just said. "Am I dead?""No, not yet. But you might soon be."She frowned. "But, my mother's vision…" Crisara sighed. "She was wrong, wasn't she?""No. She wasn't wrong," Anakin insisted. "What your mother, Ada, saw was your future. But, only if you choose to stay the course." Slowly, and purposefully, he stepped closer and offered her a hand to help her up to her feet. "Aren't you a champion of the belief that everything we do is a choice, that not everything is fated?"Lifting a hand up, she begrudgingly accepted his; which felt so strange. She was actually touching him. Understandably concerned, she yanked her hand back and narrowed eyes at him. Curious, Crisara moved closer to him, shoved a hand against his chest and almost shuddered when her hand didn't just pass right through him. "This isn't a dream I'm having?""It's not a dream, but you're also not actually here. Not physically, anyway.""But I touched you," she contended. "I should be able to stick my hand through you. You're a spirit in the Force.""Not here, I'm not.""And where is here?" she reiterated her previous question; mimicking him by crossing her arms over her chest."You never cracked open one of those crusty, old journals Luke kept watch over on Ahch-To, that Rey took, did you?" Off her hesitance to answer, he smirked. "Yeah, I was never a fan of reading those old things either." When she looked more impatiently at him, he added, "This is the World Between Worlds, my dear granddaughter, and I'm guessing you've got some stuff to work through before you can return fully to the land of the living. That is, if you choose to return.""Why wouldn't I choose to?"Anakin shrugged. "You tell me."Somewhere, in the distance, there was a small voice she hadn't heard in nearly a decade; a voice she missed hearing every day.
"Mama! I'm scared!"
Crisara gasped. "Adera."  With the help of R2-D2, Rey had been able to bypass the security measures surrounding the Palace of Grakkus the Hutt; helping herself to landing within the private hangar. When Luke's — now her — X-wing slipped inside and landed, she raised the cockpit canopy and whipped off her helmet."Great work getting around that firewall, Artoo," she applauded. "Remind me to get you the good oil for your wheels next time I go for supplies."The blue and white astromech beeped a cheery 'thank you' back at her in binary as he began to lower himself out of the droid socket.As she climbed out of the X-wing, she was greeted by the door to the hangar opening up; revealing a few droid sentinels, which were very obviously refurbished battle droids from the Clone Wars era. There were only four of them, and they were holding blasters aimed in her direction."Halt! Don't move!" one of them commanded, in a gravelly robotic voice."I'm here to see Poe Dameron. I was told he's here as a guest of Grakkus the Hutt," Rey informed as the droids looked at each other, as if trying to silently corroborate her claim. "My sister is being given medical treatment here. She's in surgery. Crisara Dameron. Does that ring a bell at all?""Uh…" another droid wavered; apparently unsure.Rey sighed. "Right. Well, I don't have time for this." Lifting a hand, she raised it toward the droids and concentrated. After a moment, sparks began to fly from their neck sockets and each of their metal heads fell off. As their bodies crumbled to the ground in a resounding clatter, which echoed around the hangar, R2-D2 trilled a few nervous beeps and boops. "Sorry, Artoo. I know it's disconcerting to see other droids taken apart like that, even if they are former battle droids, but desperate times and all that."As she continued forward, quickly stepping around the damaged battle droids, the astromech bleeped a brief reply; understanding the droids were in the way, and could be repaired. He then added a more succinct addendum about how reaching Crisara and her health being more important anyway.With great ease, Rey followed her instincts, which led her through the Palace; through its many corridors and chambers, where she came upon a smaller, narrower corridor that brought her and R2-D2 to an antechamber. There they both spotted a young boy crouched on the floor, against a wall, with his arms crossed over the tops of his knees, while Poe was pacing around with his fists clenched tightly beside him."Poe," Rey called out.Poe immediately turned at the sound of her voice and ran forward. As the pair embraced, he seemed to turn to goo in her arms. "I'm glad you made it.""I'm glad you contacted me," she retorted; pulling back to look him properly in the face. "I was literally moments away from contacting you." He looked positively miserable. "When I saw her, through our connection in the Force, I could feel she wasn't well. I knew I had to reach her and help, no matter what.""I appreciate it." Poe ran a hand down over his face. "She said your name before she fell completely unconscious. She wouldn't wake up after that. She hasn't…she hasn't woken up…" He looked over his shoulder, down the hall a bit toward a set of doors. "They took her in for surgery a few hours ago, but there was too much damage done." As he began to turn back around to face Rey, it was very obvious he was about to break down. His face was contorted in pain and tears were already willfully slipping down his face. His nostrils flared, his chin quivered, and his brow was knitting together as he tried to process everything happening. "Her organs failed. They had her on, um, life support equipment. I had to give them permission, as her next of kin, to send for a cyberneticist. He…he just arrived a little bit ago."Rey furrowed her brow with deep concern. She could still feel Crisara's life force, so she knew the older female was still holding on, so there was still hope things would turn out well. "What did she lose?" Rey wondered. "What's being replaced?""A lot." He sighed and covered a hand over his mouth before backing up against a wall. Tilting his head up toward the ceiling, he closed his eyes and sighed. After a moment, recounting what he'd been told, he dropped his hand and he tipped his chin to his chest to stare at a random spot on the floor. With a brief hand gesture toward his abdomen, he rattled, "Her stomach, pancreas, half of her liver, gallbladder, both kidneys, part of her small intestines, bladder and her uterus. I think that's it.""That's it?" Rey repeated; dumbfounded. It was a staggering amount of organs to lose.Even R2-D2 seemed to be in shock, and whined accordingly."If she could've gotten into surgery sooner, the med droids could've saved more, I'm sure. I got her here as fast as I could, but Grakkus kept stalling instead of just giving the go-ahead. She wouldn't have needed the cybernetic replacements, or at least not as many. She could still be closer to whole.""This will keep her alive, though." Rey frowned. "That's what matters." Watching the way Poe seemed to recoil into himself, she reached a hand out and gripped his upper arm. "She'll pull through. She'll just need a good deal of time to heal afterward, and we'll all be there for her."Poe hunched forward, placing his hands on his upper thighs. "If she pulls through.""You can't think like that, Poe. You have to have hope.""I can't…"A sob escaped his lips and his entire upper body shook in the same moment. The sound seemed to echo throughout the corridor. It sounded painful and it brought forth tears to Rey's eyes, as well as the boy on the floor's eyes; the boy Rey hadn't yet been introduced to. In reaction to the sound and the ache reverberating from Poe, the boy pulled his legs closer to his chest and buried his face between his knees, and seemed to be trying to mentally block the sounds and feelings out. Rey, meanwhile, was feeling the same fear and sadness that Poe was feeling, but she was able to get better control of it so that it didn't control her. Her years of training, firstly under Leia's and Crisara's tutelage, and then on her own, had led her to this point in her abilities. Plus, it didn't help any if they both broke down. Someone had to be the strong one right now, and Poe had every right to be the one allowed to wallow.The threat of losing the woman he loved was very real."I can't lose her," Poe cried. "I can't do any of this without her.""You can if you had to, but you won't," Rey maintained. "She's Crisara. She's stronger than either of us. She's survived too much to go out like this." Reaching back out, she once again pulled him into her arms, and held onto him; letting him cry it out for as long as he needed. "She's destined for a long life. Her mother prophesized as much, didn't she?""What if she was wrong?" Poe whimpered. "What if Cris dies?" Reaching his hands up behind Rey's back, he dug his fingers into her shoulder. "I need her.""She's still alive, Poe. I can feel her life force." She could also feel him easing up. Her words and assurances were helping slightly, so she didn't bother to elaborate that Crisara's life force felt weak. "She'll pull through, and when she does she'll want you to be the first face sees. So, if you need to cry or scream, get it all out now. Because you'll need to be strong for her when she wakes up." Rey leaned her head against his. "I was there when the two of you got married, remember? I heard your vows. I heard you pledge your life to each other. And so you have to keep that vow. You have to keep being there for her, through every hurdle.""Till our last breath," he added, with a tinge of bitterness. "That was the last part of the vow, and she might take that last breath before the day's over." Poe released his grip from her and stepped back; covering his face with his hands and wiping at his tears. "And what do I do then, Rey? What do I do? If she doesn't make it, how to I go home and tell our kids that their mother's dead? Actually, I won't have to tell them. They'll feel it, won't they? 'Cause they're like her, and like you." He gestured toward the boy. "Like Nik."Rey followed his gaze toward Nik, the boy. So that was his name. Crisara had found a new padawan and gotten near-fatally injured in the process. She sighed as she returned her gaze upon Poe. "Tell me what I can do." She was beyond the point of being able to help Crisara, physically. What had been killing her, was already being seen to by medical droids and a cyberneticist. Had she arrived sooner, Rey could've given enough of her own life force to Crisara and healed her failing organs, but now she would only be in the way. By this point, those organs would've been removed, or were in the process of removal, and were being replaced by cybernetics, so there was nothing for Rey to attempt to heal. "How can I help right now?"Poe once more leaned back against the wall; folding his arms over his chest as he stared forward at the opposite wall. He paused for a moment, trying to think. "I, uh…left the Falcon at a fueling station at the spaceport outside the city. I left, like, three dozen kids with it." He groaned. "Shit. I forgot all about them.""Did you leave them inside the ship or outside?""Outside, but I tossed them a few credits to get some food until I came back," he answered. Slowly, he shifted his sad, brown eyes back toward Rey. "I thought we'd be right back. I didn't think Cris would…""It's okay," Rey interrupted; not wanting him to get too overwhelmed again. Rubbing a hand against his shoulder, she offered a sympathetic smile. "How about I go back there and check on those kids, and the Falcon? I can make sure they're all still in one piece.""Yeah. Yeah, okay.""How did you get here, if you left the Falcon behind?"Poe cleared his throat. "Stole a speeder."Despite everything, Rey smirked. "Alright. Is it here? Is it in the hangar?" Off Poe's sullen nod, she turned and looked over at the boy, Nik. When he looked up, sensing her looking at him, she beckoned him forward. "Would you like to come with me? You can show me exactly how to get to this spaceport. And I assume you know the rest of these kids.""Yeah," Nik replied, tepidly climbing up to his feet. "Are you Crisara's sister, Rey?"Rey smiled and nodded. "Yes.""She said you would train me to become a Jedi if she didn't make it."Rey's smile slipped a little. "And she will still train you, because she's going to be just fine." She gestured him closer. "Come on. Let's give Poe some space right now while you help me with your friends.""They're not really my friends," Nik mumbled; looking downward as Rey slid a hand around his shoulders. "They're just kids I was stuck with.""Well, either way…"Without another word toward Poe, Rey began to lead the boy away, while R2-D2 began to follow, but she paused and looked back at the droid. "No, Artoo. Stay here with him."The astromech beeped in an almost cooing manner; readily agreeing to her request without argument.Before she and Nik could disappear down the corridor, Poe called out to her. "Call Taya, Crisara's cousin. She can help with the kids — get them someplace better. It's what she does, after all."Rey looked over her shoulder and nodded. "I will."  "That was my daughter," Crisara remarked, stepping around Anakin. "Where is she?" Her eyes scanned the vastness of space, which was apparently some limbo in the Force, but she couldn't see anything of importance. She couldn't see Adera anywhere.
"So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause."
"Who was that?" Crisara inquired, turning around to look back at him.Anakin turned, dropping his arms to his sides, and gestured toward a path that veered off the main one they were currently on. Ahead of them was a circular doorway of sorts. "Take a look, but nothing more," he advised.With an unsure raise of her eyebrow, Crisara stepped off the main walkway they were on and stood in front of the doorway. It rippled slightly, appearing like water at first, but then images appeared and she could see what looked to be some sort of arena that was lined with over a thousand repulsorpods, filled with countless walks of life. But the image was focusing in on a singular pod. Within it were two people, a man and a woman, that Crisara had never personally known, as they had died before she'd been born."That's Bail Organa," Crisara remarked, gesturing to the man. "Leia's father."Anakin cleared his throat. "Adoptive, but yes."Crisara rolled her eyes but then focused on the beautiful young woman with the dark hair, dark eyes and lovely little beauty mark upon her cheek. "That's…""My wife, your grandmother," Anakin finished that sentence. "Padmé." He sighed. "This was about a day or so before…" His voice trailed off; deep, painful regret obvious in his tone."Before she died.""Yes.""She really was beautiful, wasn't she?""She was an angel."Crisara turned and looked at him; seeing the grief in his eyes that unsettled her. It was so bizarre to see him and speak with him, not looking like a Force ghost, and appear so normal. The fact that he still seemed to be grieving the loss of his wife, after all these decades, didn't help. "It was unfortunate for everyone that she died.""Had she lived, I would've found my way back to the light a lot sooner. Or, well, I like to think I would've." He sighed and folded his arms again when the image of Padmé and Bail faded away to the sound of thousands of voices cheering and clapping in what had once been the Galactic Senate Chamber on Coruscant. "The reason I gave myself so fully to the dark side was because I'd lost her, along with the child I still thought she carried. I didn't know she'd given birth beforehand, and to twins, no less.""And what would you have done, if you learned of my father's and Leia's existence, even if Padmé still died?""I like to think my anger and grief would've shifted to love for them. I like to think it would've been what I needed to pull me back. I wish I could've been stronger and defeated the Emperor earlier. I had so many opportunities. I wish I could've known then what I know now." He gestured toward the doorway again.A new scene began to appear. It showed a celebration and it looked like Naboo. Padmé was left of center. Off to the side was Obi-Wan Kenobi, looking awfully young, with one of those braids padawans used to wear during the time of the old Jedi Order. Beside him, was a young boy; dressed identically and with an identical haircut."That boy next to Grandpa Obi-Wan is you, isn't it?" Crisara deduced.Anakin nodded. He lifted a hand and gestured toward a female standing between but also a pace behind Obi-Wan and little Anakin, in a handmaiden's robe with the hood pulled up. "That's Sera," he pointed out. "All four of your grandparents, together, during happier but still uncertain times." He looked rather rueful for a moment before his gaze turned more serious. There was a large Gungan on Padmé's left, but Anakin was pointing to the older, human man on the Gungan's left. "That's the Emperor. Sheev Palpatine. He had only just been named Supreme Chancellor then. If I could go back to that point and kill him, I would." He turned and looked at Crisara's profile. "If I were alive, I could.""He's already dead. Again.""If I were alive," he repeated; gesturing to the celebration playing out before them. "I could walk through this portal. I could come out on the other side, to this moment." When Crisara furrowed her brow in confusion, he added clarification. "This isn't a memory I'm showing you. This is happening in real time, Crisara." He gestured wide, at the World Between Worlds as a whole. "All of the past, present and future is happening right now, at the same time. Here, we can see it all happening; any given moment, at any given time. This place serves as a collection of doors and pathways which exist between time and space, linking all moments in time together. And if I was alive, I could travel through and change what happened, but at what greater cost?""No Palpatine, for one.""No you.""We've had this conversation before. After Crait.""And maybe you need to be reminded of it," he retorted. "I'm not alive, so I can't change the past, the present or the future. I can only watch. And, since you're not physically here, you can't change anything either. You can only witness. You can't change anything. What's done is done.""Then why am I here, in whatever capacity?""My guess? The physical pain and trauma your body is currently going through was too much for your mind, so your mind found a way to escape in the interim. You're afraid of the finality of death; not of your own, but of leaving behind those you love or those you love leaving you behind. You can't let go. And, perhaps, until you can make amends with the loss of those already gone, you won't be able to find your way back. You're likely stuck here for now.""How do you know?""Leave. Wake up." He raised a hand and snapped his fingers in front of her face. When she didn't budge or go anywhere, he smirked. "You're still here.""How do I leave? Is there a special door I can walk through to return to where my body is?""If you were ready to return, I'm sure you'd be there already."
"Mama! I'm scared!"
Crisara looked wildly around; again hearing Adera's voice. "Derry!" she shouted. Feeling an onslaught of emotions, Crisara turned back to Anakin and grabbed hold of his dark tunics and glared up at him. "If you know this place so damned well, show me where my daughter is.""She's your daughter." Anakin curled his hand around hers and pried it off of him. "Follow her voice."  Rey had returned to the Palace with the Millennium Falcon; leaving behind the speeder Poe had stolen and apologizing on his behalf to the poor guy Poe had stolen it from. She maintained it had been an emergency — a literal life or death situation — and that it the speeder had been returned in the condition it had been taken in. But, to mollify the guy further, she tossed him a few credits, which seemed to do the trick. She shouldn't have been surprised that money could usually solve a lot of problems; especially in a place like this. And, ever since Crisara had transferred a ton of funds into a bank account for her, Rey had the means to throw money around, but she kept it squirreled away most of the time. She only every touched it when necessary.When she had arrived to the ship, and after dealing with the disgruntled owner of the speeder, Rey had realized there were no three dozen kids left behind as Poe had claimed. If there were ten, that was a lot. As it turned out, the majority took off after being left to wait around. Where they'd gotten off to was unknown. Those kids that remained hadn't a clue, or they didn't feel like talking. Rey was, after all, another stranger further claiming they could have a better life away from Nar Shaddaa. They weren't sure they could one hundred percent believe her but, unlike the kids that had run off, these kids were willing to risk it and stay. So, Rey loaded them up into the ship, with Nik there to quell any unease. He was one of their own.Getting the kids settled in, and showing them how to work the dejarik table to keep them occupied, and then warning them to behave, she contacted Taya back on Naboo and let her know about the situation. The older female, who was now well into her sixties and looking ahead at the idea of retiring, was thoroughly shocked about the news regarding Crisara and insisted she was going to drop everything to make sure those kids were picked up and taken somewhere better. She promised she would see to it personally that the children were placed in any one of the group homes in GOFOY's network. She also made it a point that she would contact Kes, on Poe's behalf, and let him know what was happening with Crisara. From there, Kes could inform his grandchildren about the situation their parents — particularly their mother — found themselves in.When the kids seemed like they were getting antsy and starting to argue with each other, and possibly cause some damage inside the ship, Rey had to collectively subdue them with a Jedi mind trick; asking them to quietly sit with each other, and so they did.The Millennium Falcon was flown into the private hangar at the Palace with no issue. The only issue was that she wasn't sure about leaving about ten kids alone on the ship without her, so she opted to put her faith in Nik; to oversee them while she went to look in on Poe for updates on Crisara and how her surgery was going. Thankfully, she felt like she could trust the dirty, dark-haired boy; though there was something about him that she felt slightly unnerved by. Looking into his mind, she could feel him pushing her back out, but she had glimpsed enough of his memories to see the trauma he had endured in his short life, but she had seen something else. It was like a feeling or a notion of something that wouldn't come to pass for a long time, and he would be at the center of it. Whether it would be something good or something bad, she couldn't place her finger on it just yet.Poe, meanwhile, was sitting on the floor in the corridor where Rey had left him. His legs were spread wide and stretched out before him while his hands rested upon his lower abdomen with his fingers interlocked. His head was tipped back and his eyes were closed, and he seemed as if he were sleeping, from the subtle rise and fall of his chest. R2-D2 was off to the side of the doors that led into the surgical theater, and he immediately chirped a hello to her when he noticed her approaching."Poe," she spoke quietly.Immediately, he lifted his head, blinked and looked up at her. "Hey," he muttered back; his tone void of emotion, as was his face. "Did you, uh, get the kids?""Most of them took off. There were only about ten left, not including Nik."Poe sighed and looked down at the floor between his thighs. "That's my fault.""No, it's not." Slowly, Rey stepped closer and sank down beside him, but sitting cross-legged instead. "It sounds a little callous, but you don't know them or owe them anything. You're not their father. You told them to stay put and gave them money for food because they are children and because of what Crisara did for them and what they'd been through. But you had Crisara's well-being to tend to, first and foremost. She was your priority. Had you not gone to her when you did, she would definitely be dead now. Because of you she's getting the medical care she needs to survive."Nodding his head, Poe let out a deflated sigh. His gaze shifted toward the wall across from them and fresh tears began to form in his eyes. "I keep playing it over and over in my head.""What?""Watching her fall to the ground. Two seconds before, she was waving to me and I could just barely see her smiling back. I was relieved to see she was okay." He gestured upward and nothing in particular. "And then she wasn't." He sighed again; moving his hand to his face in an attempt to wipe the tears away as they fell again. "She ripped that Toydarian in half." Poe found himself chuckling at that. "It was disgusting and it was…hardcore." A small, distant smile attempted to pull upward at the corners of his lips. "I married a goddess."Rey smiled softly; reaching her hand out and taking hold of his. "Aren't gods and goddesses supposed to be immortal?" When he didn't answer right away, she added, "Then that's further assurance that you don't have to worry about her dying today." She squeezed his hand for comfort. Whether it for his or her own, she wasn't sure. "A poisoned dart and the loss of a few imperative, internal organs is a walk in the park for someone so transcendent. She has that Skywalker-Kenobi blood pulsing through her veins. This is…" Rey frowned. She could still feel Crisara's life force, but it felt a bit further away now, and she found herself suddenly feeling uncertain. "This is just a bump in the road."Poe looked at Rey's profile and saw the way that even she was beginning to falter and possibly have her doubts.If Rey was losing hope, what hope was there?  "These doorways…how do they work, exactly?" Crisara was walking along the interconnecting pathways, looking from left to right. When she received no immediate answer from Anakin, she whipped her head around and scowled at him. "Well?"He smirked."I don't find any of this funny," she continued."You just…remind me of her.""Who?""Padmé," he replied. "Storming off on a mission with your heart on your sleeve, with little thought to your own well-being. Doing the right things and wrong things, but only ever for the right reasons." He sighed. "She really would've loved to know you."Crisara let out a huff of breath and let go of a good deal of her own frustration for the moment. "I would've loved to have known her, too." Then, she looked more pointedly up at him. "Now, the doorways."A cacophony of voices arose again. And, once more, she recognized a few while others she didn't.
"A great leap forward often requires first taking two steps back."

"Are you allowed to love? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi."

"If what you've told me is true, you will have gained my trust."

"Maybe. But I have to sort this out on my own. Without the Council...and without you."
"I've learned this place listens. It hears you and it knows what you want to hear or see." Anakin gestured to the closest one. "You're hearing and seeing moments from my past, even if they aren't moments I was there for, because it's what I want to hear or see. In a sense, it brings me comfort. You," he gestured to Crisara, "want to see your daughter again, which is completely understandable. So, look for her. Really look for her. Call her name.""You said I can only witness.""For the most part, yes. You can't cross the threshold into those moments, either in the past, present or future, but your voice can travel great distances. How do you think all those Jedi who had already come and gone managed to speak to you and Rey on Exegol? Not all have learned to master the ability to become spirits in the Force like Obi-Wan or I have, or as your parents, Yoda or Qui-Gon have.""Or Leia and Ben."Anakin nodded. "Most have just gone on to be one with the Force. Some are just voices, unable to cross into living world.""Is Adera…" Crisara pouted, looking toward the circular doorway on her left. "Is she just a voice?" She'd heard her, years ago, after she died. But she'd never seen her. All she knew was that she was supposedly at peace in the Force with her parents, but her parents were capable of being Force ghosts."Call to her. See what happens."Crisara bit down on her bottom lip and faced the doorway more fully. After taking a steadying breath, she called out, "Adera!" She closed her eyes and concentrated; picturing her eldest child's beautiful face. "Adera, it's mama."Anakin reached a hand upward and placed it upon her shoulder. "Look."Opening her eyes, Crisara looked through the doorway and noticed the faint ripple as colors and shapes began to form a moment in time she had never been party to. "It's the penthouse, back on Hosnian Prime, where I lived with Alfic and the kids," she deduced. But something was different. "The furniture and decorations are different from when I lived there." She realized what it meant. "This was after he married Isabara. I remember that chair." Crisara pointed to a tacky, purple armchair. She recalled Alfic telling her how it had been a wedding gift from one of Isabara's aunts and neither he nor her had found a kind enough way to get rid of it without hurting that aunt's feelings. "When was this?""Just wait. And watch."Suddenly there was movement. A small figure came running down the stairs into the living room; panicked and clutching a doll with white hair and a green dress."Adera," Crisara muttered; attempting to step forward, but Anakin reined her back."Mama! I'm scared!" Adera shouted as she approached the floor-to-ceiling windows.Looking in the same direction as her daughter, she could see the dark, night skies outside the windows growing brighter. "No! I don't want to see this!" Crisara cried out."Mama?" Adera turned around, confused. "Mama…""Did she just hear me?""You know what happens," Anakin remarked. "Let her last moments be that of her mother's voice, telling her it's going to be okay.""You said I could only witness," she repeated. "You said I can't change anything.""And you won't be. Adera dies. It's horrible, but it's fact. She's been gone eight years, Cris. You can't change that. You can't pull her through to prevent it because you're not physically here. Neither can I, because I'm not alive. But you can talk to her — call out to her. Give her peace of mind."Seeing the way the skies were growing more orange, from the light of the superweapon that had been deployed from Starkiller Base, Crisara knew time was of the essence. "Adera! It's mama! I'm here, baby! I'm here with you!" A sob lodged in her throat, and she covered her hands over her mouth."Mama!" Adera was smiling, running away from the windows and looking around for where he mother's voice was coming from."Duck down behind the sofa, baby. Curl up into a ball and hug Mitsy." Crisara suddenly remembered that doll's name. "I'm right here with you." Watching Adera do as her mother instructed, she smiled through the tears that burned at her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "I won't leave you. I'm here, and you're going to be okay. You're going to be safe.""I'm scared," came Adera's muffled whimper."It's okay to be scared, but I'm here.""Mama!" Adera's face shot upward. "It's so warm! Mama!"Crisara could feel Anakin's hand clamping onto her shoulder, but not as if he was trying to continue to rein her in. It felt as if he was tensing up; having to witness this moment as well. This was the death of his great-granddaughter, after all."I love you, Adera! I'm right here with you," Crisara called out, one more time as the orange light in the sky suddenly enveloped everything, and it all went white. Then, it was just the darkness of space, but not from the destruction of the Hosnian system. The doorway had ceased showing that moment in time. Having to have experienced her daughter's death yet again, and in this new way, Crisara dropped to her knees. "Why did it have to be that moment?" she blubbered. "Why did I have to go through this again?""Because it wasn't about you. It was for her," Anakin quietly insisted. "She was scared, yes, but you gave her comfort in those last moments. Her death was brutal but quick. She didn't feel a thing because it happened too fast. She died hearing her mother's voice. Eight years ago, when you were feeling her life force disappear, along with billions of others, your future self — this astral projection from your present body — was speaking to her at the same time. The Force…it works in mysterious ways."Crisara had been looking down at her hands, wallowing, when she noticed Anakin's gloved hand reaching out to her. With a dejected sigh, she accepted it and let him help her back up to her feet. "It feels like losing her all over. It feels fresh again.""Losing those we love is possibly the worst pain." He wasn't about to sugarcoat it. "You're stronger than I was, and with a larger support system, and that's why you were able to move on without losing yourself.""But have I moved on from it, if I'm apparently stuck here?"He shrugged, and smiled a little, as if he knew something she didn't. "Maybe there's more that you need to see."Crisara looked up at him and frowned. "Like what?"The doorway rippled again, causing both her and Anakin to turn and look toward it. This time, she was watching a slightly younger version of herself stepping through the main hold of the Millennium Falcon, with a slightly younger Poe following behind her. It was the night on D'Qar, after the Resistance had destroyed Starkiller Base, when she was giving Poe a tour of the ship. It was like having an out of body experience; witnessing her past without it being in holographic form.Despite her renewed grief, Crisara began to smile as her gaze drifted primarily to Poe. "He looks practically baby-faced compared to now," she mused. "Not a wrinkle or a grey hair.""War, and everything that comes with it, will eventually do that to you," Anakin retorted."Is this what I'm supposed to see?" She gestured to the doorway. "I was there. What else could I—""Mama."The hairs on the back of Crisara's neck stood up; on both her past and 'not physically here' present self.Turning around, she found her gaze drifting down to a figure beside Anakin."Adera," she whispered; her chest swelling with joy and her eyes filling with happy tears instead of sad..Her daughter, forever six-years-old, was smiling back up at her. "Hi mama.""Did you hear that?" her past self was asking, on the other side of the doorway."Hear what?" Past Poe wondered.Crisara dropped back down to her knees, but this time it was so she was level with her daughter. With a bright smile, she held her arms out and let out a comforted gasp when Adera stepped into her embrace without hesitation. She curled her arms around her child, for the first time in a long time. She could feel her, she could smell her skin and her hair. She was right there with her, in the flesh.Well, sort of."My beautiful girl, oh my stars…oh…" Crisara held on tighter and rocked them slightly from side to side. She managed to glimpse her grandfather staring down at them with a smile on his face. She could feel the happiness he felt for mother and daughter to be reunited, even if it was in this world between worlds. "I can't believe it's you." She then pulled her daughter back to get a better look at her. "It is really you, isn't it?"Adera smiled. "Yes, mama. It's me." Reaching a hand up, she brushed her small fingers through her mother's hair. "Will you stay with me for a little while?"Crisara sighed and continued to smile through the happy tears, while actively ignoring the appearance of a concerned frown upon Anakin's face.  A few more hours had passed and now Rey was tinkering with R2-D2, to give herself something to do. Someone from the Chalactan GOFOY office had speedily arrived to the Palace of Grakkus the Hutt, met with Rey on Poe's behalf, and then Rey saw the head of the Chalactan GOFOY office off with the orphans that had been dutifully waiting aboard the Millennium Falcon. Nik had then joined Rey as she returned to the corridor where Poe still sat; quietly waiting for any and all updates on his wife. Family and friends had begun to get wind; word spreading like wildfire through the metaphorical grapevine. Poe couldn't be bothered to answer any of those calls, so Rey answered them. But there wasn't much to say in the way of updates, because the cyberneticist hadn't given any.Crisara was going through a very labor-intensive and delicate surgery. The cyberneticist couldn't afford to step away. He needed to maintain his focus so that everything was done correctly, without error. Sometimes, no news was good news, but Poe was growing increasingly more stressed and worried the more time went on without word as to how she was doing. The longer it took, the more he thought something was going wrong and the cyberneticist and med droids were just trying to buy time before having to give him the bad news.Rey could sense Poe's continuous anxiety, fears and sadness. It was rather potent. She'd tried to sate his emotions with the Force, but he'd gotten angry at her for doing it; asking her to let him feel what he needed to feel and that she had no right to interfere. She'd quickly apologized; that she had just wanted to help. Then he'd felt bad for snapping at her and apologized right back, only to start crying again.Rey had always known Poe was a guy who was passionate and had strong feelings about things, but he'd also always been so clever at keeping a lot of it to himself, especially during the war when she was first getting to know him. Seeing him like this now was a bit disquieting, and it made her heart break even more for him.The doors to the surgical theater abruptly opened and the cyberneticist stepped out.Poe was the first to scramble up to his feet, followed by Rey and then Nik. Even R2-D2 was suddenly more alert."Is she okay? How did it go?" Poe asked, grabbing onto the cyberneticist's arm. "Did she, uh…is she…"The cyberneticist sighed and frowned. "She's alive."Poe let go and backed up; emitting a relieved a chuckle. "Thank the stars," he murmured. Without warning, he hugged the guy, who was a bit surprised by that. When he stepped back he found the cyberneticist still frowning. "What?" Worry began to pass over Poe's eyes again and across his heart. "What aren't you saying?"Rey stepped closer and peered directly into the cyberneticist's mind for what he was hesitating to say. "Physically, she's alright," she remarked, knowingly.The cyberneticist nodded. "That's correct. Physically, she is right as rain. There was not one hiccup. It took quite a while, but her body was receptive to the implants and cybernetics installed. I added synthflesh over it as a sort of barrier between the synthetic and cybernetic organs and her own, organic muscle and skin, which had to be cut and pulled back to gain access to remove the damaged organs and install the replacements. The synthflesh with eventually fuse with her muscle and skin and still maintain a safe barrier so no internal damage is done as she continues to heal," he rattled off; shoving his hands into the pockets of his lab coat; which was coated in a flew unmistakable splashes of blood, which was likely Crisara's. "There may be slight scarring from the incisions made, but she's had her entire abdomen covered in a bacta wrap. So, in time, it might be barely noticeable, except for the faint glow and blinking of the cybernetic components at work within."Poe began to grow more serious, and a little angry. "What aren't you saying?" he repeated."Physically she's alright, but...""But what dammit?""Mentally, she's dead."Poe blanched. "No.""I'm sorry. The monitors are showing next to no brain activity.""Next to no. That's not zero.""It's damn close enough."Conflicted with too many emotions, Poe lashed out and shoved the cyberneticist backwards into the wall and got in his face. "No, it's not. It's not close! You go back in there and you try something else."Pushing Poe away from him, the guy scowled. "I'm a cyberneticist, not a miracle worker. And I did this for free, because Grakkus offered to shave off half my debt. What you do from here on out, is up to you. Take her to a proper hospital, get a second or third opinion from an actual medical doctor. This is fucking Nar Shaddaa. You get what you get." Then, sighing heavily, as he watched Poe begin to crumple to the floor, he cleared his throat. "Listen, I'm sorry this happened, okay? I did everything I could for her, but I can only do so much. Maybe she'll wake up, but I'm not holding my breath. Either way, prepare for the worst. That way, if she does wake up, you'll be pleasantly surprised."As Poe glared upward at him, Rey stepped forward and gestured for the cyberneticist to walk away. "If you don't want to be the one needing a miracle worker, you should probably just leave," she advised."Wait…" Poe spoke, standing up a bit straighter. Catching the gaze of the retreating cyberneticist, he asked, "Can I go in and see her now?"The cyberneticist nodded. "Yeah."Without another word, he walked off down the corridor and disappeared around a corner. Moments later, the muffled but boisterous sound of Grakkus the Hutt could be heard; possibly in conversation with the cyberneticist about how things went. The foursome left behind in the corridor — which included the droid — just stood there oddly quiet for a moment as they processed what had been said about Crisara's condition."Go in and be with her," Rey suggested, placing a hand upon Poe's back. "We'll be out here waiting if and when you need us."With a nod of his head, Poe flexed his shoulders backward and sucked in a few steadying breaths. Lifting both his hands, he wiped at his eyes and tried to project a calm, less anxious expression; as if expecting Crisara to be awake and not wanting her to see how fearful he had been and still was. He was putting on a brave face.Chewing momentarily on his bottom lip, Poe stepped in front of the doors and walked inside the room.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand?
Oh, won't you stay with me?
'Cause you're all I need"
— Sam Smith It was actually quite impressive how this area of Grakkus the Hutt's palace was; to have a state of the art medical wing. Then again, there was an arena where fights to the death between two or more combatants had been known to take place in the past, but with substantially less frequency since the Hutt had been freed from imprisonment about a decade earlier. Those who survived those fights, or beast wranglers, or even the occasional guest of Grakkus, likely saw some injury that needed tending to. This type of space was probably there for him. He'd have no need to leave his own home to seek medical attention for illness or injury if he had it on residence.When Poe slipped through the doors into the surgical theater, he didn't see Crisara anywhere. He did see the empty bed where she would've had surgery upon. He did see the blood on the floor that was being removed by cleaning droids, and which made him blanche a bit at a sight; realizing that, despite how well the cyberneticist said the surgery had gone, clearly Crisara had lost a good deal of blood in the process."Where's my wife?" he demanded of the med droids that were hanging around; checking data at a few monitors and consoles off to the side."Through the door on your left. Then first room on your right," one of them offered up.With a frown, Poe trudged over to the door in question. When it slid open for him, he found himself in another corridor, but this one seemed smaller and more private. He could safely assume this was meant as a recovery ward for the injured and convalescent. There were seven doors off this hallway. Three on his left, three on his right and one straight ahead. Taking a few steps forward, he paused in front of the door on his right and pressed the button beside it. When the door slid open with a hiss, he stepped inside and found the room to be dark but sensors, alerted to someone entering, brought the lights up a hair. The room had no windows to help add any light to the situation, but that wouldn't have helped. Though it was hard to tell with all the smog and artificial light around Hutta Town, it was already nighttime now. Before he turned his gaze more fully upon his wife, Poe looked toward a wall panel beside the door and manually increased the lighting a bit more. Only then did he finally drag his gaze over toward Crisara.There she was, asleep upon a freshly made bed and breathing without the need of any sort of outside help, so that was a small blessing. Poe stepped closer and looked down at her right hand which was closest to him and immediately covered it with his own. Compared to when he'd first brought her to the Palace, her hands felt warmer. Another blessing. He watched the rise and fall of her chest from underneath the clean but flimsy surgical gown she must've been placed in after surgery. She was draped with a thin blanket from the waist down to her feet while a set of monitors on the other side of the bed beeped or dinged quietly.Poe hadn't spent a lot of time in hospitals before but, from the last time, when Len had been born, he knew one of those monitors observed her heart, which seemed to be beating normally. Yet another blessing. The monitor above the heart monitor was similar and, because of what the cyberneticist told him, he assumed it was monitoring her brain, because the lines were barely showing any signs of life, just as the cyberneticist had also said.That was what caused Poe's face to scrunch up with such a terrible ache in his heart. His brow knitted tightly together and the pout he wore was deep-set. Tears, for the umpteenth time, fell from his eyes as he let an aggrieved breath escape his lips. Stepping away for only a moment, he grabbed for a chair in the corner and dragged it over to the side of the bed. He wiped at his eyes and sank down into the chair, only to resume holding her right hand in his."Cris," he whispered, "are you in there? Can you wake up and come back to me?"He brushed his thumb over her knuckles almost absentmindedly as his sad, brown eyes focused upon her face. He suddenly thought about how there were so many worlds out there in the galaxy, over the centuries and millennia, that all seemed to have similar stories that were told to children, about fair maidens who fell into some deep slumber, and how their beloved white knight fought to reach them; dangers untold and hardships unnumbered. At the end of those stories, the white knight kissed the fair maiden to wake her up and rejoin the land of the living, so they could live happily ever after. He wished true love's kiss was all it would take to wake her up. He wished all this had been just a simple work of fiction and not actually happening.Poe sighed deeply when she didn't stir one iota. He bit down on his bottom lip and swallowed back a lump in his throat. His chin began to quiver as he considered what would happened if she didn't wake up. Physically she was alive and well, but mentally she was gone, so the cyberneticist claimed; but he didn't want to believe that. He wanted to believe there was still a chance his fair maiden would be okay. But, without brain function or at least diminished function, slowly those organic organs would begin to fail and then the inorganic and cybernetic organs would no longer be serving a purpose. She would die."You can't leave," he spoke again. "We have responsibilities. We're parents. We have our children who need both of us, not just me. You have your younglings and your padawans who need you." He tried reasoning with her, hoping she could hear him on some level. "I need you. I love you."Still nothing.Sensing the sobs returning, rumbling in his chest, Poe pulled her hand toward him and pressed his forehead against it. Letting those sobs free, his entire body shook with each one. "Don't leave me, Cris," he pleaded. "Stay with me." Closing his eyes, he rested his face sideways on the bed and briefly grazed his lips against her knuckles; now encapsulating her hand with both of his instead of just one. "Stay with me a little while longer. Please. Please, stay. Please come back."  Along the transparent pathway, lined with vibrant white light, Crisara held tightly onto her daughter's hand as they walked side by side. She was very aware that her grandfather, Anakin, was following a few paces behind; like a chaperone or prison warden. Crisara opted to ignore him, though, and place all her focus upon her little girl. With a smile, she squeezed her hand around the much smaller one in her grasp."I've missed you so much, Derry."Adera turned and looked upward at her mother and smiled back. "I missed you, too, mama. But I didn't really go anywhere," she asserted. "I'm always here."Crisara paused and turned to face Adera more fully. "I wish I was able to see you or feel you nearby like I can some of the others. It's been harder to accept the lack of you in my life.""I was too young when I died," Adera shrugged. "I hadn't trained long enough."Hearing her daughter mention the fact that she was dead was unsettling. Tears lined her eyes, but didn't fall. "I wish I had listened to you more about that bad dream you kept having. I wished I had realized it wasn't a dream, but a vision. I wish I'd listened." She sighed. "I failed you.""No, mama, you didn't. It was meant to be.""It didn't have to be.""Yes it did," Adera maintained. She might've died at the age of six, but she'd had another eight on the other side to mature, at least mentally. The way she spoke felt older and wiser. "Everything happens for a reason and we don't always understand those reasons at the time. Only in hindsight do they usually make sense."Crisara let slip a small chuckle. "You sound so…grown up. It's so strange. You look the same, but you sound…""Older.""Yes.""I am older. Just because I died at six doesn't mean I'm not also fourteen now."Slowly, Crisara crouched down to be more eye level with her daughter again. She let go of Adera's hand and placed her hands on Adera's shoulders, brushing at nonexistent dust or lint on the shirt she wore. "I've wondered, all these years, what you would look like now, if you'd been able to grow up and actually be fourteen." She smiled sadly. "You always looked like your father. I remember seeing the holos of him as a teenager at Grandpa and Grandma Canda's house in Darropolis, so I pictured him with long hair and more feminine. But also with a bit of me."Briefly, Adera's appearance flickered.For a moment, she wasn't six-year-old with a baby face, standing at only one hundred and ten centimeters. For a moment, she looked like a youthful teenager, standing taller at about one hundred and sixty centimeters. She looked exactly as Crisara imagined she would've, and it took Crisara's breath away.Off her small smile, Adera's appearance shifted back to her original self. "Like that?"Trying her best not to cry, Crisara nodded. "Yes. Exactly like that.""Did it help? To make it easier?"Reaching her hands up, Crisara cupped the sides of her daughter's face. "Yes."Actually it did and it didn't. It was nice to see what Adera could've looked like by now, but it was bittersweet, too; knowing she wouldn't ever look like that. It was like a tease; a dream or a hope, dangled in front of Crisara, which would never come true.A few feet away from the pair, Anakin cleared his throat. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "This can't linger."When Crisara turned, she glared at him. "I haven't seen my daughter in almost a decade. I can't have a few more minutes?" She narrowed her gaze at him. "What's the rush?""It's been more than a few minutes in the living world, Crisara," he countered with a rueful sigh. "It's been hours. Many hours. Haven't you gleamed enough about this place — that time passes differently here, as in it doesn't? Time in the living world still trudges on. The longer you're here, the longer you fail to make peace with what's been lost, the worse off you'll be. Your mother's vision won't save you."Confused, Crisara stood back up. She resumed holding Adera's hand as she faced Anakin. "Save me?" she questioned. "From what?""From death." He took a step forward. "It's not your time to go, Cris. Staying here will upset the balance. Your existence in the living world remains important to many things yet to come. If you're not there for any of them…""Mama," Adera spoke, pulling at her mother's hand. "You have to let me go."Crisara frowned and began to shake her head. "I don't want to.""You have to," Anakin interjected."You—" she pointed and glared at him, "—shut up.""Mama." Adera squeezed her mother's hand; bringing her mother's attention back toward her. "I was too young when I died and I hadn't trained long enough," she repeated what she'd said earlier. "I was shown a little more afterward but, even now, I'm not strong enough. I will never be strong enough." She frowned, staring upward at her mother. "I wish I was. I wish I could be, but I won't ever be. This is hard enough, to be here for you now."Crisara's brow knitted together with concern. "What do you mean?""What strength I have left, I'm using it up," Adera remarked, "to say goodbye.""No.""Yes, mama." Slowly, the girl smiled. "I didn't get a lot of years, but that's okay. You made them the best years. I had a great life, and I left my life with your voice telling me it would be okay. And it was okay." Taking her hand out of her mother's, Adera stepped forward and wrapped her short arms around her mother's hips to hug her. "I stopped feeling scared, and I didn't feel any pain. I felt warm, but it was from love and from the Force. And now it's time for me to move on — to join the others in the Force for good."Crisara's chest ached. "So…I'll never hear or see you again?"Adera shook her head. "No. But we'll be together again, someday. A long, long time from now."Wiping at her falling tears, Crisara stole a brief glance at Anakin, who looked hopelessly empathetic. Looking back down at her daughter, she watched as Adera stepped back and smiled up at her. "I'm gonna miss you so much until then.""No one's ever truly gone." Adera pointed at the center of her chest. "I'll be in here."Placing a hand to her own chest, Crisara nodded in agreement. "Yes, you will. But I just wish…I wish things had been different. I wish I hadn't lost you. I had so many hopes for the life you would've led; however you would've chosen to live it."Adera shrugged. "You have to put those hopes into my brothers and sisters instead, mama. They need you. I don't."That stung."I tell them about you quite often," Crisara informed. "Caro misses you, and the others all wish they could've known you." With a soft, wistful smile, she added, "Poe misses you, too, even though he didn't get to know you very long."A brighter smile appeared on Adera's lips, and she nodded. "He's good a dad," she stated. "I would've loved to have him as my stepdad. My brothers and sisters are lucky to have him, and I'm happy he makes you happy.""He really is a good dad. He's the best," Crisara agreed; her mind suddenly wandering to a few jumbled memories of instances where Poe shined as a father. "We're all lucky to have him. Even you, though you're gone." Swallowing a lump in her throat, she offered up, "Even gone, he considers you one of his children, too. One of his favorite memories was teaching you and Caro to fly.""It was one of mine, too."As if on cue, another doorway wavered, and a moment from their mutual past appeared; showing them Adera seated upon Poe's lap in the G-1A transport. Without a lever for hyperspace travel, there was only a button, and in this particular memory, Poe had Adera press the button after showing her the proper and correction calculations for their continued trip back to Naboo from Hosnian Prime, following Alfic's wedding to Isabara. Poe had Adera press the button, and her immediate onslaught of giggling as the starship shot forward through the stars at light-speed brought a laughter out of him as well.Almost as quickly as the memory began, it ended, and the doorway showed nothing again except the appearance of star-littered space around them."I love you forever, mama," Adera muttered, reaching forward and hugging her mother once more."I love you forever, too, Derry."Listening to the sound of Anakin's faint sigh, she drew her attention over toward him. She found him looking down toward his feet and still looking quite empathetic to her situation. When she looked back down to Adera, Adera was gone.A small sob escaped Crisara's lips. "Goodbye, baby."Anakin took another step forward, reaching out and placing his hand upon her shoulder, and attempting to give it a comforting squeeze. Much to his surprise, she didn't shrug him off or recoil. "I'm sorry," he apologized, as if he were specifically responsible for Adera leaving her mother's life for a second time. "She was always going to slip away; to become fully one with the Force, like your grandmothers, like her father. And even like my own mother. Adera was only able to exist in this in-between stage, even with what little training she received on the subject from your mother, because — as she said — she was too young when she died, and hadn't trained long enough. What kind of afterlife would she have had? To develop a mind of an adult as the years or decades or centuries passed, but only to be perpetually stuck as a child? You couldn't have wanted that for her. This way, she truly is at peace now. And you got to be there for her, one more time, and you got to say goodbye."Crisara couldn't deny that everything he said made perfect sense. It didn't change the fact that it still hurt her heart, though. "And I'm glad I was there for her, at the end. And I'm glad I got to say goodbye." She sighed deeply; lifting her hands up to her face to wipe away her tears and brush some of her hair off of her face. "What now?" Dropping her hands back down, she gazed at Anakin. "I can feel she's gone, but that she exists still, on some level. I'm okay with that. I truly am. I am happy she's at peace and that she never felt the pain of death. I'm happy she was ready to move on. I will always love and miss her, and I am looking forward to being with her again in the Force, a long time from now." As her grandfather's hand finally slipped from her shoulder, she placed one of hers to her chest. "How do I leave this place and return home? Losing Adera doesn't weigh as heavily now. It's not holding me back, so why am I still here?""Because she's not the only one you need to make peace with," a new, but familiar voice, spoke.Anakin stepped aside, revealing Adamé, who was slowly approaching, and also looked nothing like a Force ghost."Mom," Crisara muttered. Her brow furrowed. This somehow felt even stranger to her than seeing Anakin looking as if he were still alive instead of spectral."Hello, Little Bean," Adamé smiled.Letting out a surprised but happy breath of air from between her lips, Crisara stalked forward and was immediately and readily accepted into her mother's arm, and it felt magnificent. "Mom," she repeated; pressing her face into Adamé's shoulder and reveling in the way she was tightly embraced. "I always wished for this."As new tears began to drip from Crisara's eyes, Adamé rubbed a hand soothingly along her daughter's back. "I know, I know," she comforted. "I've wished for it, too. But not like this."Crisara pulled abruptly away. "What do you mean?""You're not supposed to be here," Adamé repeated Anakin's initial comment, from when Crisara awoke in the World Between Worlds. "This place isn't meant for you. Not yet. You have so much more life to live. You can't linger here. You need to stop focusing on the past, and what has been lost. The past cannot be undone. What is gone, is gone. Adera is gone. I am gone. The only difference is I will be there always watching. I was young when I died, yes. But I wasn't nearly as young as Adera. And I had thirteen years of training; unconventional it may have been. I'm strong enough to hold on and linger here, or in the living world as a spirit; to quietly walk beside you through anything and everything life still has left to throw your way. And, someday, a long time from now, when it's truly your time, I will be there, too. I will take you by the hand and lead you through the veil." She lifted a hand and wiped the tears slowly dribbling down Crisara's face. "But now isn't that time."With her opposite hand, Adamé gestured to the same doorway where Crisara had seen the memory of Poe teaching Adera to fly. The space within the doorway rippled to slowly reveal something that was very obviously not a memory. Curious as well as concerned, Crisara turned to face it."What is this? What am I seeing?""Focus," Anakin urged. "The longer you stay here like this, the harder it is to hold on to what you're at risk of leaving behind.""Remember what happened. Remember what brought you here," Adamé added, slipping her hand down to the small of her daughter's back.Crisara narrowed her blue eyes and slowly began to feel as if she'd been slapped but was only now noticing the sting. "I was hurt." She stepped a little closer to the doorway. She saw herself, asleep in a bed, in a place that looked like a hospital room, but not exactly in a hospital. More importantly, she saw Poe. He was hunched forward, with his face resting upon the edge of the mattress; holding her hand. He looked to be asleep as well. "Is this now? Is this the present?""Yes.""I want to go back. I want my husband." She began to gesture wildly at the doorway. "I want my children. I want my life." She turned away and faced her mother and her grandfather. "I want to leave here, so why am I still here?" Crisara looked imploringly at her mother. "You're not who is holding me back," she stated; becoming acutely aware of that fact. "I'm okay that you're gone. I know you're there for me. I love you and I know you love me. I understand you died for a reason. You sacrificed yourself for others and there is no nobler a death. I'm proud to be your daughter." She lifted her hands and placed them on her mother's upper arms. "I'm glad to have this moment here with you. To actually touch you, to hug you. But you're not holding me back from fully living my life. I have no hang-ups where you're concerned."Adamé smiled happily and brushed some hair backward off Crisara's shoulder. "Keep focusing," she insisted. "I love you, and I'll be seeing you, Little Bean." With a slight nod of her head, she stepped back and faded away, just like the images did in the doorways.A soft sigh escaped Crisara's mouth. Her mother leaving didn't feel final like Adera's departure did. She knew and understood her mother would still exist to her as a Force ghost; occasionally appearing to her or just speaking to her from time to time as the years continued on. But, unless she could return her mind back into her body, what good was any of that?"I want to go back," she implored.Her gaze shifted once more to Anakin, who still remained with her.  Rey stood in the recovery room, staring at the figure of Poe slumped forward upon Crisara's recovery bed; both very much asleep, but Crisara decidedly more so. It had been over an hour since Poe had come to see his wife, and never came back out. As her concern grew, Rey had made her way into the surgical theater, with Nik and R2-D2 following after; neither wanting to stay behind. However, she did make them wait out in the recovery wing's hallway so she could enter in alone.Stepping forward, she reached for Poe's shoulder, but hesitated. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She wasn't necessarily feeling a presence in the room with her, but she did somehow feel as if she was being watched, and not in a security monitored sort of way. She couldn't completely understand it. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the presence, and felt familiarity with it. She felt an odd yearning from it; as if it or they were trying to reach out unsuccessfully to her. Rey knew this presence. But she was feeling it differently than she had in the past. This wasn't the normal experience for her.Her eyes popped open and her gaze immediately darted over toward Crisara's sleeping face. "Cris," she whispered.Poe sniffed; slowly lifting his head. As his eyes began to open, he blinked a few times as he realized where he was as whatever he'd been dreaming faded away. Sitting up a bit straighter, he realized someone was standing behind him, so he turned. When he noticed Rey there, he frowned, as he didn't have it in him to offer a smile of gratitude for her presence there with him. He was feeling too dejected."I fell asleep," he stated the obvious. "How long was I out? How long have you been here?""You've only been in here an hour, but I don't know how long you've been asleep. I only just walked in the room a couple minutes ago." She gestured over her shoulder. "Artoo and Nik are waiting out in the hall."Poe nodded; listening to what she said. "I've been pleading with her to wake up. I've been talking to her. But — nothing. No change. I don't…I don't know what to do. I don't want to entertain the thought of what happens next if she doesn't wake up."
"I want to go back."
Rey wavered where she stood and let out a small, almost indiscernible gasp. "Cris."As Poe turned more fully to stared up at her with a mix of concern and confusion, he then watched the way she quickly walked over to the second chair in the room, on the other side of the bed from where Poe was seated. He watched her drag the chair up to the bed and sit down in it. "What's wrong?""Nothing." Her gaze was focused on Crisara's face as she mirrored him by taking hold of Crisara's other left hand. "Don't ask me how I know, but I think there might be a way I can get through to her." She briefly glanced at Poe, who was perking up at that possibility. "She and I — we're connected.""Yeah, I know. You were a triad with Kylo Ren, but then became just a duo when he died.""A dyad, yes." She looked down at Crisara's hand that she was holding. "She and I can connect our minds. We can see and speak to each other, no matter where in the galaxy we are; no matter the distance." She began to nod at herself; working out the idea of this unexplored territory, so to speak, in her head. "The cyberneticist said her mind was gone. But where has it gone?" The question had been mostly rhetorical. As she looked across Crisara's sleeping body toward Poe, she wore a hopeful expression upon her face. "It has to have gone somewhere. And if I can connect my mind with her in the waking world, why can't I connect my mind to her, elsewhere?"Poe knitted his brow together, trying follow Rey's train of thought. "Okay," he muttered, with piqued interest. "Well, if you can do something, then do it."Rey frowned at him. "I will," she retorted. "But this isn't something I've ever done before. I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing, so if you could just…be quiet so I can focus." Holding tighter onto Crisara's left hand with her right, she set her own left hand down upon Crisara's left leg and closed her eyes. "Here goes nothing."Poe shut up and continued to just stare at Rey. He watched as she took a few steadying breaths, as if she was trying to enter a state of deep meditation. And, he supposed, that's very well what she was doing. After a few moments, which turned to minutes, she was silent as the grave and unmoving, but he could see the faint movement of her eyes under her closed eyelids; darting back and forth as if she was searching the darkness behind them. Just before he was about to finally shift his gaze away and back over toward Crisara, he watched how the twenty-seven-year-old brunette suddenly seemed…different.Rey began to teeter; her head tipping backward until she slouched lazily against the chair in a way that suggested she was in the midst of a deep slumber."Rey?" Poe spoke.But Rey didn't budge.For a moment, he feared she'd somehow transferred all of her life force into Crisara and died on him, but he could see the steady rise and fall from her chest, so those worries were sated. With a concerned sigh of breath from his lips, he tightened his own grip around his wife's other hand while shifting his dark gaze between both women; wondering if Rey's journey would prove fruitful or if he'd somehow lose both of them in the process.  With a slow, steady breath, Rey exhaled and opened her eyes.She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting to see but it wasn't something akin to the vastness of space with winding, transparent pathways here and there.Looking down at herself, she saw she was sitting cross-legged on one of those pathways, which she could see straight through. If it weren't for the vibrant, white light that was lining the pathways, she would've assumed she was floating. But, it felt somewhat solid underneath her and, yet, not. Apprehensively, Rey got to her feet and stood there; looking around for anything of interest that would point her in the right direction. In almost every direction, as sort of offshoots to the pathways, there were large, white circles framed within different shapes; triangles, arches, other circles, or lines that curved above and below, to name a few. Most, from what she could see, had markings or engravings to further make each one more unique than the last. She had a sense they were portals of some sort.If she was in Crisara's mind, were they portals into her different memories? Was Crisara lost inside one of them? Was she — Rey — supposed to go through one of them to find Crisara?Just as she was beginning to get her bearings, there were suddenly many voices calling out from across this strange cosmos; speaking all at once, like hundreds of conversations echoing around an auditorium. If she paid close enough attention, she could recognize some of the voices. Some of them called out to her on Exegol, when she was lying, beaten on the ground, asking the Jedi to be with her. But she sensed not all of these voices belonged to the Jedi.
"If we can make it to the ground, we'll take the next chance. And the next. On and on until we win…"

"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck."

"Why, you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder."
Rey found herself smirking. "Leia?" She turned her head around; somehow hoping her former co-Master, as it were, would be there. But there was no one. It was just the voices, and the conversations. They weren't calling out to her now. This was something…different. "Crisara?" she called out. "Your mind is a very odd place.""Probably because this isn't her mind."Rey whipped around in the other direction and felt a pleasant somersault of emotion in the pit of her stomach. Standing a few feet away from her, with his hands clasped behind his back, was Ben Solo."Ben," she smiled."Hey." He looked the same as when she'd last seen him alive, but he was dressed in tunics that were similar to something he probably would've worn as a padawan in Luke's Jedi Order. "Long time, no see.""Yeah," she agreed. "You could say that." Looking around at where they were, she knitted her brow and then gestured between them. "If this isn't Crisara's mind, where am I? And…are you really here?""This is the World Between Worlds—"Rey's face lit up. "Oh, I've read about this place. It's written about in the Jedi texts I took from Luke before…" She sighed, thinking on old memories. "Before Snoke's ship. Before Crait."Ben nodded. "Yeah. And yes, I'm really here." As if to prove his point, he walked right up to her, reached a hand out, and then flicked her arm with his thumb and index finger."Ow," she grimaced. "That stung.""Would you rather I pinched you to prove I wasn't just a figment of your imagination?"With a withering sigh, she stared up at him and, slowly, began to smile. "I've missed you. I've missed our connection," she admitted. "But I'm also a bit cross with you.""I've been dead seven years. What could I have possibly done now?""You've never spoken to me or appeared to me. I know you've done so with Cris. She's told me," she replied. "Why not me?"Ben frowned and clasped his hands behind his back again. "I figured it was better this way. For now, anyway.""But why?""You're still getting your footing; making your way in the galaxy to become a great Jedi Master, overseeing her own Jedi Order. I didn't want to interfere. I didn't want to be a distraction.""Oh, so you think I could be so easily distracted by you?" She smirked playfully up at him. "Still awfully full of yourself, I see."He stared right back down at her, taking a step closer. "You don't think I could distract you?"Rey could feel warmth reaching her cheeks. Lifting her right hand, she held her thumb and index finger about a centimeter apart. "Maybe a little bit."Ben flashed a lopsided, half-smile at her. "I've missed you, too. But I've never really been that far away," he informed with a sigh. "I'm always watching out for you, just as I watch out for Cris. The two of you — you're the only two people, in the living world, that I still give a damn about."The living world.Right, Rey remembered.That was why she was here, apparently in the World Between Worlds — to bring Crisara back to the living world.So, maybe Ben was right. He could definitely distract her."Crisara," she muttered. "I need to find her. I need to pull her away from…wherever she is.""I know."Ben turned and gestured upward. As Rey followed where he was pointing, she saw the pathway they were on, but then she saw another, hundreds of feet above them, and she could just barely make out two people standing there, facing each other. Narrowing her eyes, she concentrated on what and who she saw."Is that Cris and…?""Our grandfather. Anakin Skywalker."Rey grimaced. "Why would she be talking to him? I didn't think she cared to give him the time of day, grandfather or not. Force ghost or not.""No different than you talking to me right now," Ben countered. "He and I both did terrible things in the name of the dark side. We killed a lot of people. Good people.""You'd been manipulated by the Emperor…""So had he. The only difference was he thought he lost everything he'd cared about, so he stayed with the darkness a lot longer. His grief and his rage swallowed him up. He only had Luke to help bring him back to the light. I was fortunate to have more people I loved, who believed I could come back. His path to redemption, though he returned to the light as I did, is still a long one; longer than mine will ever be, I think. I mean, I hope mine doesn't go on as long or, worse, forever. That would get tiresome after a while, what with an eternity before me."Suddenly a tear fell from Rey's eye. "Is it terribly lonely for you?""No," he replied; offering a soft, reassuring smile. "I have my mother, my grandfather. And, oddly, the two of them somehow get along on this side of things now. It's pretty weird.""What about Luke and the other Jedi?"Ben shrugged. "Yeah. Luke, too. The others? I'm not too invested in them. I mostly like watching how the living world keeps turning. I like watching you…" Suddenly he grimaced. "That…that sounded a lot less creepy in my head."Rey chuckled. "It's alright. I understood what you meant."With a sigh, he held his hands out toward her and placed them upon her upper arms as he held her gaze. "I really wish things could've been different. I wish I'd never let myself be so stupidly manipulated to the point that the dark side seemed like a better option. I wish I had stayed with the light and we could've eventually met under different, better circumstances." He smiled sadly at her. "I would've liked to have seen how our paths could've led."Slowly, she nodded. "I would've liked that, too.""I also don't wish for those what ifs to hold you back," he continued. "We had a brief, unrealized moment in time. A lot of woulda, coulda, shoulda. But you have a future that deserves your undivided attention. You have your own Jedi Order to continue to grow and, maybe, you'll even find love and have children someday. Either way, I just want you to have a happy life. But…""But what?""When that life comes to its eventual and natural end, in the far, far distant future, I hope you'll finally give me a chance when you make your way to the other side of the veil."Rey smirked; wiping a few more tears away. "I would like that very much.""That's all I ask.""Can I ask something of you?""Anything.""Don't be a stranger," she asserted. "Don't avoid speaking to me or appearing to me as you do with Crisara." Boldly, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed the side of her face against his chest. "I can focus on my future and enjoy your company from time to time, too. You'd be amazed how good I am at multitasking."With a grin, Ben wrapped his arms around her back and rested his chin gently atop her head. "If that's what you want.""It is." With a small, regretful sigh, Rey began to step backward out of their embrace, and looked up at him again. "But now, what I want is to bring Crisara back. We can't lose her. There's next to no brain activity in her, and without brain activity, the rest of her body will begin to fail; even with the new synthetic organs and cybernetic replacements. Without her mind, she's just an empty shell." She began to frown more deeply. "She has children and a husband who need her. And I need her, too. We're not ready to let her go.""Then what are you doing, lingering here with me?" he asked, with a teasing smirk."Being easily distracted, obviously.""Told you so."Rey smiled. "Goodbye, Ben," she nodded at him; holding his gaze while starting to step around him. "I'll see you around.""Not if I see you first," he countered.After only jogging a few feet away, Rey turned back to smile once more at him, but found he was gone; making her question if he'd actually been there or not. But, somehow, deep in her heart, she was positive he hadn't been a figment of her imagination.  "You may want to go back," Anakin was in the midst of saying, "but yet you're still here."Crisara glowered and pointed at him. "And you're frustrating." Shifting both of her hands onto her hips, she huffed. "I don't understand. I want to go back. I don't want to stay here. But…" She was trying to work through this situation in which she'd found herself to be in. "Something is keeping me here. Something else…that I need to work through…" She narrowed her gaze downward; concentrating. "Something I don't realize has been holding me back. Something…something…""Sometimes what we're looking for is right in front of us."She nodded; agreeing to the sentiment. But then it started to make a different kind of sense. Knitting her brow together, she lifted her eyes back up toward him. "It's you."Anakin half-shrugged, half-nodded. "Why do you think I'm the one who appeared to you first? Not your parents. Not Leia, Obi-Wan or Ben. Not even Adera. Me," Anakin remarked, pointing to himself."You," she repeated."And why do you think that is?"She frowned, as if admonishing herself for not figuring it out faster. "Because you're my biggest hang-up.""Had you never learned the truth about Luke being your father, you would've never known I was your grandfather. The dark cloud that is who I was wouldn't be hanging over your head.""But I don't care that your my grandfather. I barely give you a second thought.""Liar." Off her scowl, he snickered. "I may not be actively on your mind, but I'm there. Like a harbinger. You worry that when you have to go to extremes, to protect yourself or others, or when you react in anger, to any degree, that somehow the dark side will creep up on you and try to blacken your heart, little by little, over time…until one day it consumes you. You think, somehow, there could be a chance that you'll one day fall to the dark side like I did, or like Ben did. But you're stronger than we ever could be. Most of the time, you're aware of that. But, sometimes, you have doubts." Anakin tilted his head slightly to the side. "To make matters worse — at least in your eyes, because you look like your father and he looks like me — you look like me. You see me in the mirror every day. You can't avoid seeing me in yourself, and sometimes it frightens you. You know your strength. You know how powerful you can be. You know what you're capable of; what you can do and you've already done." He gestured his hand toward the doorway, which rippled and then showed the recent memory of her ripping that Toydarian in half after being shot by that poisoned dart. "You were in pain and reacted in kind. You didn't have to kill her, and so brutally at that, but you did. Despite your pain and your anger, as well as your fear about the possibility of facing your very real death, you acted on instinct. And you think that, what? Just because you're a Jedi Master, a champion for the light side of the Force, that you're not allowed to slip up and be, well, brutal?"Crisara had already looked away from both him and the doorway. Now that she wasn't in the throes of that pain, anger and fear, she felt shame and guilt."You did what you had to do. That winged devil who called herself Mama was the real ringleader of that gang you freed those kids from. Did you know that?" When Crisara hesitated to lift her gaze toward him, to acknowledge what he'd said, Anakin frowned. "She was the one who gave the word to have countless children killed when they were no longer worth anything to her anymore. She and her thugs lured countless, innocent children off the street under false pretenses, indentured them, brutalized them, exploited them. Murdered them." Snapping his fingers in front of her face, Anakin finally succeeded in drawing her attention back up at him. "Doing what you did doesn't make you a monster. You're not a villain, Crisara. You're not me."Crisara felt fresh tears lining her eyes. "I don't like how I feel when I have to be…brutal.""Because you're a good person." His gaze softened. "Take me out of the equation and look at all the others you came from. Amazing, good people. My mother Shmi was wholesome, kind and humble. I see that in you. Obi-Wan was wise, honorable and level-headed. That's you. Sera was clever, dedicated and benevolent. Also you. Padmé was courageous, hopeful and intelligent. Actually I could go on a bit more about Padmé, but you get my meaning. She was amazing. And so are you. The four of us, created three equally amazing people; two of which you were born from. Ada was resolute, charming and brave. You, again. And Luke, my son…he was loyal, hopeful and heroic. And guess what?""So am I?""Bingo." With a slight sigh, he took half a step closer to her. "You think too much on the past, for someone who insists to everyone else that the past is past and nothing can be changed. You need to take a page from your own book. You need to stop looking backward. Let it all go. Focus on the present, look to the future. And in that future you're gonna need to be even stronger, because there will come a day when you'll have to be brutal again and you can't be doubting yourself or your motives. Your motives will always be noble and true, because that's who you are. And, you want to know what else you are?""What?" Crisara asked, apprehensively."You're the best of me," he replied. "You might be able to do things like I did, by way of the Force, but you will never be the worst of me.""And what good traits did I inherit from pre-Vader you?""Well, not to toot my own horn," he began with a somewhat impish smile, "but I'd say you're loving, sassy and, well, since you do also resemble me, attractive."Despite herself, Crisara chuckled and shook her head at him."Want to know a few more things about what you are?""Might as well," she responded; folding her arms across her chest.Out the corner of their eyes, they both noticed the doorway ripple. Turning to face it a bit more, the two of them found themselves staring at something that wasn't a memory at all. It wasn't something that happened in either of their pasts that was also happening in real time. This moment was real time. This was Crisara's present, back in the living world. They were once again staring at Crisara, asleep in her recovery bed, with Poe still holding onto her hand. The only difference now was that Poe was awake and staring at her, calling out to her and asking her to—"Stay with me, woman. I need you. Our kids need you. But, selfishly, I need you more." He was lifting her hand and kissing her knuckles, and then setting her hand back down. "One day our kids will be grown, and they'll have their own lives, and likely their own families. But what will I have without you beside me? Lonely. Miserable. Hollow."Crisara frowned; lifting a hand to her lips as she watched her husband heartbreakingly yearning for her, and clearly so terrified to lose her. She noticed Rey there, too, asleep in a chair on the other side of the bed, but something about seeing Rey there felt different. The brunette felt…closer."This is what you are," Anakin finally spoke again. "You're loved, you're needed." Then, with a small smile, he added, "You're irreplaceable."As the scene within the doorway faded, Crisara felt a yearning of her own. She wanted so badly to reach out for Poe, to run to him, but she weirdly still felt like she was stuck in place. All these nice things Anakin had been saying about her, to describe her. All the things she'd seen or heard — none of it seemed to be the specific reason why she couldn't return to the living world and wake up."Cris!"Furrowing her brow in confusion, Crisara leaned to the side to peer around Anakin, who turned to look in the same direction. Both spotted the young brunette standing there, tens of feet away, and looking so very pleased to see Crisara."Rey?" Crisara questioned. "How?"Rey smirked and continued forward; gesturing between the two of them. "Dyad, remember? We're bonded in ways we clearly haven't fleshed out yet." As her hazel eyes shifted toward the tall man between her and Crisara, Rey nodded a greeting. "You're Anakin Skywalker, aren't you?""And you're Rey Skywalker," he acknowledged with a knowing smile."Uh, yeah.""Since the two of you are basically as sisters, and you've taken my family name as your own, does that make you my granddaughter?" He turned and looked at Crisara. "How does this work?""Well, if she had to pick between you and the Emperor, you would be the lesser of two evils.""I didn't become a Skywalker because of you — no offense, but also full offense." Rey shrugged. "I became a Skywalker because of Crisara, and Luke, and Leia…and Ben.""Understandable. I was absolutely horrible for longer than any of us liked."Crisara stepped around her grandfather and grabbed hold of Rey's hands. "Why are you here? Are you stuck, too?""No," Rey replied, shaking her head and looking her in the eye. "I came looking for you, to bring you back. You were badly hurt. Badly. A cyberneticist was called in—""Oh, I know what that's like," Anakin quipped.Rey ignored him and kept her gaze on Crisara. "Your body is fine now, with its new parts. It's healing, but without your mind…all will be lost. We will all be lost. So, you have to come back. You can't stay here. We still need you in our lives."A small, appreciative smile spread across Crisara's lips as she moved to pull Rey into a hug. As the younger female readily reciprocated the gesture, both just stood there like that for a few moments. "Thank you," Crisara muttered. "But you don't need to linger here." Pulling back, she held Rey at arm's length. "I think I know what I need to do in order to come back, but I have to do it by myself.""I'll wait for you. We'll leave here together," Rey insisted.Crisara shook her head. "I kind of need to do this without any, uh…spectators." She smiled a bit sheepishly. "I really do appreciate you making your way here for me. But you can go." When Rey seemed hesitant to literally and figuratively let go, Crisara slipped her hands back down to Rey's and gave them a reassuring squeeze. "I'll be right behind you."Slowly, Rey stepped backward, out of Crisara's grasp. With a sigh, she looked from Crisara, to Anakin, and then back to Crisara. "Alright," she caved, albeit a bit begrudgingly. "But don't take too long. Remember, your body's at risk back in the living world.""I know."Steeling herself, Rey closed her eyes and concentrated on where she was and where she needed to be.A moment later, she faded away.Turning back toward his granddaughter, Anakin raised an eyebrow at her. "So, you've had an epiphany?"Crisara shrugged, looking back upward at him. "You could say that."  Poe's face was tipped downward. He was staring down at Crisara's fingers but thinking of so many things all at once, when a gentle gasp of breath escaped Rey's lips. Lifting his face upward, Poe stared across his wife's body at his friend and the closest thing he had to a sister-in-law. Rey's eyes fluttered open and she bolted upright; removing her hands from around Crisara's left and gripping onto the armrests of the chair she was sitting in."What happened?" Poe questioned. "What did you see? Did you find Crisara in her mind? Were you able to get her back?"Taking a few steadying breaths, Rey shifted her gaze over toward him. "She's not lost and she's not in her mind."That didn't sit well with him. "What does that even mean?""She's alright. Or, at least, she seemed alright," Rey placated when his voice raised a tinge. "She was in a different place. She said she would be right behind me, but she had something to do first.""And how long is that going to take?" Poe's gaze drifted toward Crisara's closed eyelids. "Damnit, woman," he implored her. Lifting her hand back up, he kept it there as he pressed his lips once more to her knuckles. "Thank you for trying, Rey," he muttered; doubtful her attempt to reach out to Crisara would prove fruitful in the long run. He was beginning to feel this really was it. His shoulders slumped; misery casually returning."She's going to wake up, Poe. You have to have to trust in her; that she knows what she's doing." Slowly, she stood up and walked around the foot of the bed. When she came to stand just behind Poe, she placed her hands on his shoulders and gave him a platonic kiss to the back of his head and gave his dark hair a slight ruffle. "I'll be out in the hallway with Artoo and Nik, if you need me. Okay?"Poe nodded. "Yeah. Okay." As Rey wordlessly exited the recovery room, Poe returned his full focus upon his wife and squeezed her hand a bit tighter. "Hurry up with whatever you're doing and come back to me, babe. You can't stay wherever you are. You have to stay with me."  "Are you going to elaborate on what your epiphany is or do I have to figure it out within three guesses?" Anakin teased, crossing his arms over his chest and staring his firstborn grandchild down.Rolling her eyes up at him, she gestured lightly at her sides. "Before you went on that longwinded tirade about how great I am and what a champion for the light side I am, and blah-blah-blah," she began to say, which caused him to smirk back at her with amusement, "you said that 'sometimes what we're looking for is right in front of us.' And then I realized you meant you were referring to yourself. But I wasn't looking for you. It was the knowledge of what I needed to make amends with the most. Not that I'm descended from you. I mean, I meant what I said before about you being the lesser of two evils. Better to be descended from you than him." She was, of course, referring to the Emperor."Thanks?""The point is, where I come from doesn't matter as much as where I am and where I'm going. I really, truly believe that. I do," she insisted. "I hate the fact that you were Darth Vader. But I don't hate the fact that one of my grandfathers was — is — Anakin Skywalker. Anakin was possibly the strongest Jedi to ever exist. Anakin loved deeply. Anakin was funny, protective, and occasionally reckless, but the best of us usually are. And, in the end, you made the right decision to return to the light. You saved your son, killed everyone's greatest enemy, and sacrificed your own life without a second thought in the process." Crisara stared him directly in the eye and noticed the slight falter in his unwavering gaze. In his eyes she saw the boy, yearning for love and appreciation, behind the tough and teasing veneer. "By recognizing that, by seeing the good that came before and after the bad, I can see that I am just like you. I am nothing and will never be anything like Darth Vader, but I am and will always be like Anakin Skywalker, just as I am and will always be like Obi-Wan, Sera, Padmé, Adamé and Luke. And my children…all of them…we'll be like you, too. The good parts. Not the bad. Never the bad. Never again."For a brief moment, Anakin chewed on his bottom lip and blinked rapidly to dispel any tears in his eyes that might've fallen. He wasn't sure about what to say to any of that, so he chose to change the subject, but only slightly. "That revelation aside, you're still here.""I know I am, but I feel the pull now…back to the living world. I can leave if I wanted to.""And…you don't want to?" He knitted his brow together; a little confused."I just wanted to see something else before I go." With a mischievous smirk she stepped around him and approached the doorway they'd been near. "Earlier, you said that this place listens to you; that it hears you and it knows what you want to hear or see." Staring through the doorway, she concentrated on a particular moment in time. "Then it knows of a specific time I want to see — something from my past, almost twenty years ago, but from a different perspective."Slowly, the doorway began to ripple.Then there was loud, thumping music coming from it.Crisara and Anakin were both looking upon an obvious nightclub scene. The entire place was bathed in red light and there were countless people dancing together, in groups or in pairs. Along the walls, there were curved booths where a few club-goers were seated; enjoying drinks or attempting to have conversations by shouting at each other over the din of music. Anakin turned, looking away from the doorway long enough to gaze upon Crisara's profile. He watched the way she was scanning the many different faces; clearly searching for someone in particular. Then, he watched as her face lit up. Turning his eyes back toward the club scene, he understood what had brought such a happy smile to her face.Seated in one of those booths, sardined by a few people on either side of him, was a considerably younger Poe, barely into his twenties. He was leaning back with one arm stretched outward along the back of the booth while his free hand nursed some sort of alcoholic drink on the table in front of him. The people blocking him into the booth, likely his friends, were busy with several of those shouting conversations with each other, but he just looked positively bored. Occasionally he turned and smiled at whatever one of his friends were saying, but he was mostly just staring forward; looking aimlessly around at the bodies on the dance floor, having a great night.As Poe brought his drink to his lips and took an initial sip, he paused; staring over the rim. He suddenly looked like someone seeing sunlight and feeling its warmth for the first time after a very long winter. Placing his drink down, he began to twist in the booth to shove at his friends that were on his left."Hey — I need to get out!" he shouted."What?" one of his friends shouted back."Move your ass out of my way!" Poe made a shooing motion and the friends on his left began to scoot over and slip out of the booth, one by one.Crisara chuckled at that."Where are you going?" another friend of his asked.Poe had sighed, leaning forward on the table once he was out of the booth. "I'm pretty sure I just saw the love of my life."His friends smiled or chuckled. Some looked as if they were wishing him luck by the way they lifted their own drinks toward him. Brushing a hand down his chest to smooth down his shirt and then run it through his hair, he seemed to be talking himself up before he moved forward toward the crowd of dancers. But, he paused at the edge of the dance floor; letting his eyes scan the faces. His brow knitted together as he began to push forward through the bodies while simultaneously glancing around his immediate vicinity."No, no, no," he was grumbling. "Shit."Crisara watched as Poe slipped back off the dance floor and then jumped up onto the edge of a seat to another booth, all so he could get a better view of the area from a higher angle."Fuck," he grimaced.Jumping down, he paused; considering something. Then, he darted forward toward an elevator. He seemed antsy inside of it; waiting anxiously to reach his next destination. Once free of the elevator, he darted around another floor of this nightclub, which was quieter and more subdued. It was also not as packed, which made it easier for him to scan for faces, but something about his expression, after a couple of minutes, said he wasn't finding what he was looking for. Running back toward the elevator, he had to duck a waiter delivering drinks to a curtained-off alcove filled with possible VIPs and jump over a plush, velvety ottoman.Crisara smirked; knowing Poe would never be able to pull off those nimble feats of strength anymore. Not unless he had some soothing bacta gel to rub on his limbs and joints the next day.Once more he practically threw himself back into the elevator and hit a button for the next stop, eventually coming out onto yet another floor. This one had some sort of tropical theme to it, with multi-colored changing lights pulsing to the beat of the music. It also had a balcony that looked down at what was possibly the ground floor of the club, where there was an even greater dance floor than the one he was currently on or the two previous floors. Poe reached the balcony, gripped the ledge and looked around him. Coming up short once more of what he was after, he dropped his attention downward. But, after a short amount of time, his shoulders slumped and his entire face and body reeked of disappointment."No," he groaned; sighing deeply. He looked positively despondent. "Fuck."Slowly, this particular moment faded away; and it left Crisara feeling all warm and fuzzy inside."Care to enlighten me?" Anakin asked. "What was all that about?""That was Poe, my husband.""I know that."Crisara turned and looked at her grandfather. "You said you've watched me all my life, and you don't know what that was about?""I watched you, but not every waking moment. And that was all about Poe, not you," Anakin countered."It had everything to do with me." She smirked, knowingly, and gestured to the now-empty doorway. "That was the night Poe first laid eyes on me," she explained. "Well, since that brief time when we were toddlers that neither of us have any memory of." She smiled more, looking toward the doorway and thinking on all she'd just seen. "He saw me, but I never saw him. I was on that dance floor, the one where it was all red. He said he saw me dancing, smiling and laughing with my friends. He said I sparkled." She was remembering her first conversation with Poe, in that cantina in Chaako City, when they were sitting across the same booth from one another and he was telling her about how he'd recognized her. "I wish I had stayed a little longer on that dance floor and not headed out so soon with my friends. I would've met Poe sooner, and I'm sure I would've fallen in love with right then and there.""But the past is the past," Anakin reiterated. "And you were both meant to meet again, at a different point in your lives, and eventually fall in love regardless."Crisara nodded in agreement. "And I really do love him.""Which is why you need to go now, and return to him, and your children.""I know." Stepping away from the doorway a bit more, she ran the palms of her hands down upon her hips and sighed. Slowly, she looked up at Anakin and smiled a bit at him. "Just one more thing I need to do."Anakin huffed. "Seriously. You are the definition of a procrastinator.""I am not procrastinating. I just have one more thing to do," she insisted. As she gazed up at him, she seemed to be making a very specific decision about something. After a hesitant moment, Crisara stepped forward and slipped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his chest.Having not expected to be hugged, Anakin wasn't sure what to do with his own hands right away. But, after a few seconds, when she wasn't immediately letting go, he returned the gesture and held her tightly against him. His heart, were it still pumping blood, would've been thundering and swelling up to three times its normal size."I forgive you," she whispered.Before he could say anything, to merely thank her, she was gone.Anakin was left standing there, with his arms encircled in front of him, where she'd been standing. With a contented sigh, he dropped his arms. When someone else approached from behind him, he didn't need to look to see who it was. He knew."Don't tell Ben, but she's my favorite grandchild."Obi-Wan snickered. "Well, as she's my only one, I quite agree."  The subtle, occasional beeping from the monitors at Crisara's bedside had become nothing more than white noise to Poe by now. He barely noticed it. He was too focused on holding onto her hand; keeping his fingertips close to her wrist to feel her pulse for himself instead of having to rely on the medical equipment. Occasionally he let his eyes drift toward her chest, to make sure she was still breathing; when he wasn't staring at her face, and silently or verbally willing her to open her eyes.At the moment, his head was resting upon the edge of her recovery bed; his gaze facing down toward her feet because resting it in the other direction for too long was giving him a painful crick in the neck. His eyes were open, but he could feel his exhaustion trying to drag him down into a deep slumber. However, he was afraid to fall asleep again.What if, while he was a sleep, Crisara died?Poe sighed.His eyelids were becoming so annoyingly heavy, but he'd fought through greater sleep deprivation before. He could do it again.For her.Anything for her.While lulled by the white noise of the machine, while mentally fighting with himself to stay awake, he began to smile when he felt fingers in his hair; gently massaging his scalp. It felt so nice, so soothing.But then his eyes widened, and his head lifted abruptly. Whipping his face to the left, Poe found Crisara awake and dropping her left hand down upon her chest. With such a great gasp of relief, he jumped to his feet, which sent the chair he'd been sitting in skidding backward a few inches. He was positive he could've done a dance right then and there."Cris," he blurted. "Baby." Knitting his brow together, he watched the way she was smiling tiredly up at him and reaching her left hand upward toward his face. "You're back. You came back to me." Poe grabbed her left hand in his right, and used his left hand to cup the side of her face. Leaning forward over her, he placed a kiss to her forehead and then to her lips."Nothing," her voice croaked; her throat and mouth dry from not speaking for a while."It's okay. Take your time."Clearing her throat and moving her tongue around her mouth to coat it with some saliva, she let out a soft, languid breath from between her chapped lips. "Nothing," she continued again, "could keep me…away from you." She grinned sleepily up at him. "I'd like to see…anyone try."Poe chuckled. Removing his right hand from her left, he brought it up to the other side of her face and then kissed her once more. As he stared her in the eye afterward, tears began to appear and quickly roll down his face as if a faucet had just been turned on. Such an overpowering wave of emotion took him over. His face scrunched up and his chin began to quiver again, just before a sob escaped his lips.Yes, she was alive and awake. Yes, he was beyond happy and relieved about it. But he had been so, so scared of losing her. He had wanted to be strong for her, for if and when she woke up, but he couldn't contain the multitudes of feelings that were swirling around in his heart and his mind. Resting his face gently upon her shoulder, he began to cry. As his upper body shook from those heart-wracking sobs, Crisara slowly lifted her hands up to brace against the sides of his chest."I was so scared I was going to lose you," he whimpered against her neck."I'm sorry I scared you," she whispered. "I didn't mean to. I just…got a little distracted.""It's not your fault. Your body went through a terrible trauma. Your mind had to cope somehow." Slowly, he lifted his head back up. Wiping away the tears from his face, he began to sit up more straight and sink down to sit upon the edge of her recovery bed. Poe dropped his left hand back down and took her right one into his. He stared down at it and rubbed his thumb softly against her knuckles. He was reveling in how much warmer her skin felt now. There was such a heavy weight lifting off his shoulders and off of his heart. "I wish I could've gotten you help sooner. I wish I could've—"Crisara cut him off; bringing her left hand up, crossing it over her chest and pressing a finger against his lips. "Stop," she urged. "None of this was your fault either. What happened, happened. Life is…sometimes…or, rather…always a mystery. We can't know what's going to happen tomorrow, let alone five minutes from now. All we have is now. And, right now…" she trailed for a moment; smiling up at him. "I have you beside me. The love of my life."Poe began to smile happily back at her. "You've been mine for almost twenty years. I just didn't fully realize it until after Alfic's wedding. But I think I always knew. Maybe I knew forever and a day ago, when we were toddlers. Maybe I always knew I loved you; that you were meant for me, and I was meant for you. We just had to take a few detours first. But, at least since—""The Quad Club," she finished his sentence for him.He nodded. "Yeah.""I know. I saw it."Poe raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh? Is that so?""What do you think I was doing while you were here, keeping vigil?" she teased. "I had the opportunity to put to rest a few things that had apparently been bothering me for some time. Things I didn't realize must've been really bothering me. Things that I had been pushing too deeply down and avoiding." She removed her right hand from his grasp and brought it up to the side of his face; brushing her thumb against his cheek and finding comfort in the coarseness of his stubble. "I had the opportunity to see any point in time; past, present and future. And I saw you, here beside me. Always beside me. Always loving me. Never leaving, always staying.""Always."With a sigh, she glanced down toward her abdomen, but she wasn't sure she wanted to see the aftermath of what had been done just yet. She was thankful that, at the moment, it was all covered by a thin blanket that hid it all. "You look exhausted."Poe smirked. "So do you.""Well, I was actively dying. What's your excuse?"Off her teasing smile, he smiled wider, too. He let his eyes linger upon hers; so happy to see them looking back at him again. "I love you," he whispered."I love you, too," she replied. Then, glancing to her left, she gripped the edge of the bed and began the arduous task of trying to scoot over."What are you doing?" he questioned in a rather admonishing tone. "You need to take it slow and easy.""If moving a few inches to the left on a mattress is too much for me to handle then maybe I'm not worthy of being alive."He didn't want to hear any of that kind of talk. Frowning at her, Poe sighed. "Don't even joke about that. I'm pretty sure I already had a few too many heart attacks in the last twelve hours."Crisara paused. "Has it really been that long?""Give or take." For a moment, his gaze drifted back down to her right hand. He watched the way it lifted up and gripped the bottom of his shirt. "What are you trying to do, anyway? Trying to get away from me? If so, I won't let you."She chuckled. "We just discussed this, Dameron. Nothing could keep me away from you, remember?" She released her grip from his shirt and patted the space beside her, which was more empty now. "You're tired. I'm tired. We've both been through a lot in the apparently…twelve hours." Crisara patted the mattress again. "Lay down beside me.""I don't want to go to sleep," he remarked; hesitating to move an inch. "I still have this worry in me that you'll just…fade away.""Then we don't have to sleep," she amended. "We'll just lay here together, side by side, and talk."Slowly, Poe nodded. "Yeah, okay."Twisting at the waist, he gripped the edge of the right side of the bed with his right hand and lifted both his legs up, one at a time. He didn't have a lot of room beside her, but it wasn't the first time they'd shared a small bed together. In fact, they'd shared smaller. Those bunks on the Millennium Falcon, for starters. Twisting once more at the waist, he shifted his upper body toward her until he was able to lay down on his side, facing her. As she moved her head aside on the pillow, it gave him someplace to rest his head.With a soft smile, Crisara turned to look at him. Shoving her hand down between their bodies, she sought out either of his hands and found comfort in the way he readily began to interlock his fingers with hers.Instead of talking, though, they just laid there and studied each other's face. It was like they were committing them to their memory — just in case.Despite not wanting to fall asleep, that's exactly what happened to Poe. Understanding her body needed all the rest it could get, Crisara didn't bother to fight off her exhaustion, either. She just hoped that, as slumber began to consume her, she only drifted into dreams and didn't find herself stuck in the World Between Worlds again. She wanted to stay here with Poe, and go nowhere else.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"So keep your calm and carry on
The whole world's sitting on a ticking bomb
And it's about to explode"
— Aloe Blacc A week after Crisara's surgery, she was sitting upright in her and Poe's bed back home on Naboo, and he was finally returning back to work at the Palace. The Queen had been more than understanding when she had learned about what had happened and had been the one to suggest he take at least two more weeks off, but it was Crisara who had insisted she would survive without him after one. She knew he had that important, diplomatic banquet coming up at the Palace and, as Security Chief, there was still so much he had to do. And with the event only a week away now, Crisara also knew he didn't want to leave that responsibility completely in Captain Emba's hands. If Poe had stayed home two weeks longer, he'd be returning to his job without one day to spare for the event.Crisara stressed she would have his father, Rey, Taya, Nevara, their children, Beaumont, Meleri, and the padawans there for her at any given moment. And that was just the sentient life. There were also the droids. However, not fully at ease, Poe had hired a nurse droid; somehow, perhaps by luck, acquiring V-T5 — or Veetee — who had been her grandmother's nurse droid in her last few years of life. Hell, even Chewbacca made his way to Naboo to see for himself that Crisara was okay, and then just decided to stay a while longer without having to be asked.So, now Poe had no excuse other than just not wanting to leave Crisara. After the scare he'd been put through, though, it was understandable.With amused eyes, Crisara was currently following him around as he went back and forth from their bathroom to the walk-in closet. "You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep that up," she quipped. Beside her sat a datapad atop a book. The datapad was for planning out lessons for her padawans, which Rey, Beaumont and Meleri were going to oversee for a little while longer. The book was just to have something to read while she convalesced and didn't feel like watching any holoshows or holofilms. She had to keep her mind active if she wasn't keeping her body active, after all.She could see how her grandmother had gone a bit stir crazy in those last few years; stuck in the very same room, in the very same bed, due to her health and weakened condition.Jedi Master or not, she was still only human and her body was still adjusting to the new…hardware.Poe suddenly paused outside of the bathroom. He'd only been wearing a towel around his waist from the shower he'd taken, but his hair was already dry because he'd been taking so long going back and forth from the bathroom to the closet in trying to figure out what he was wearing. But Crisara could also sense he was just very distracted, and not just because of Crisara's well-being. The night before, on his request (which was technically more of a command, what with basically being the boss), he'd had Captain Emba send him any and all updated security details and tweaked adjustments for the diplomatic banquet. Poe had become immediately frustrated because Emba had more or less changed everything Poe had set into place. He was frustrated, he was stressed, he was angry, and he was ready to head to the Palace and shoot Emba in the dick.With a sigh, Poe glanced down and adjusted the towel around his waist as it began to slip. "Sorry," he muttered, turning and heading back into the closet. "I need something that screams 'I am not to be trifled with and now you will know my wrath'. But, you know, in a subtle way."Crisara chuckled. "Then go for something darker. Dark grey or black is always imposing. Not that I'm suggesting this be an all-the-time thing, but just this once I'll allow you to channel Darth Vader. Throw on some black slacks, a black suit coat, and throw on a cape."Poe poked his head out of the closet. "I'd rather not.""Well, it was a suggestion," she remarked with a shrug. "But if you don't make a decision soon, you'll be late."Glancing down at the chrono on his left wrist, Poe groaned. "Shit."Once again he dipped back into the closet."Just pick something. Anything. I promise, whatever you choose, you'll cut a fine figure, my love," Crisara declared, lovingly. "It's not the clothes that make the man. You make the clothes. It's not your wardrobe that got you the job in the first place. It was your reputation and your experience."Now wearing a pair of black pants and a grey dress shirt he was hastily trying to tuck into said paints, Poe stepped back out of the closet and smiled appreciatively over at his wife. "Stop trying to make me feel confident when I'm trying to be frustrated," he said with a slight chuckle. The tenseness in his shoulders seemed to have eased off considerably as he disappeared once more into the closet. "If I feel all loved and appreciated I'm not gonna be able to verbally kick Emba's ass because I'll be thinking about you.""And my ass?"Walking more fully out of the closet, and holding a long, black suit coat in his hands, Poe raised an eyebrow at Crisara and smirked. "Down, girl." He pointed at her with his right index finger. "You're still healing."Crisara's face fell and she rolled her eyes. "I'm not some fragile piece of glass, Poe. I'm not going to shatter. If anything I'll be stronger than before because now most of my new innards are either titanium or chromium. Those kinds of metals are made to withstand better than meager, organic organs. I'm not going to start falling apart.""It's still early days. Your body could still reject those parts.""Then I'll get new parts." She sighed. "We may have had a scare, where my life was concerned, but I have a lot of life still left to live, so we don't have to worry about that.""It's not so much the length of that life that concerns me as much anymore," Poe contented, stepping closer to the bed, "it's the quality of that life. I don't want you to end up full-on cyborg on me.""Full-on? So, suddenly I'm less than human? Just part machine now?""That…that's not what I meant. And you know some of my best friends are droids. Look at Beebee-Ate." He gestured toward the bedroom door, as if his roly-poly astromech would suddenly appear on cue. "I just want you to take it easy. That's all. I know you don't like being stuck in bed, and it won't be like this for much longer. That doctor we brought here after we returned agreed that you should take at least a month before you return to any strenuous activity. That's only three more weeks. She'll come back here, reassess how you're doing, and either sign off on ending the bed rest or recommend a bit longer stay." Tossing the suit coat on, Poe stepped up to the bed and knelt with one knee upon the edge of the mattress. "Please just deal with it a little while longer. Don't risk some sort of relapse." Poe leaned forward and planted both hands on the mattress, closer to her. "I don't want to have to go through what happened last week again, ever again. I don't want to sit by your bedside, day in and day out, wondering if and when you'll wake up. I can't." He sighed again. "But I will. Because I love you."With a small smile, Crisara rolled her eyes. Lifting her left hand, she curled her index finger toward her; beckoning him to come closer. When he slowly smiled at her, he scooted closer on both hands, and now also both knees, as he leaned in and puckered his lips. Meeting him halfway, Crisara gripped his stubbly chin in her hand and kissed him. "I love you, too. And, since I love you so damn much, and vice versa, I'll be a good girl. But I'll have you know—""What?" he wondered, cutting her off as he sat back beside her."When that doctor says I'm right as rain and can resume full physical activity," she continued, "I'm gonna show you how much of a bad girl I can be."Poe's already dark eyes immediately darkened even further. "Don't tempt me with a good time. Especially not now." Slowly, he backed off the bed and stood up. "I can't be tearing into Emba's ass if I'm imagining tearing into your ass." He wiggled his eyebrows knowingly at her and began to do up the front of his suit coat.Crisara studied the movements of his fingers and then looked him up and down; admiring how great he looked. He really could wear anything and make it work. "Kylo Ren," she muttered.Poe frowned. "What?""Kylo. Ren," she repeated, succinctly. "I know you hated him, and you always will, but maybe that'll help distract you away from me and be better for funneling your frustrations upon Emba. But, just don't funnel the same frustration. Emba isn't Ren. Don't pull out a blaster and shoot the dolt. Not unless he shoots first, of course."Letting his eyes drifted downward toward the floor, Poe began to sort through his thoughts and, sure a as shit, the mere mention of her cousin's dark side persona seemed to do the trick. He was no longer thinking about how much he'd love to bury himself inside her, in any and all possible positions. He was envisioning Emba's face and going over his decision to speak with the Queen about getting Emba either demoted or fired for the on-going insubordination. This recent issue with the security measures really was the final straw for Poe."Thank you," he remarked. "I'll do my best not to commit murder on my first day back."Crisara chuckled. "Good boy."Narrowing his eyes at her, Poe snickered. "Bad girl," he replied with a grin that began to spread over his lips.  A week later, the diplomatic banquet at the Palace had arrived, and Poe was simultaneously stressed and relieved at the same time.He was stressed because there was so much on his plate, professionally. He'd been Security Chief for four years and had overseen so many different issues in that timespan, but Captain Emba had given him the biggest headache. It was so obvious Emba was working against Poe, to make sure things weren't going right and thereby make Poe look bad; possibly so the Queen would blame Poe for it all and Emba would then, in turn, get the promotion he believed he so richly deserved. Well, the joke was on him. He got his just rewards. For someone who believed he should've been the Security Chief all along, Emba had forgotten about basic security feeds that captured any major issues, down to the smallest discrepancy. Poe had spent an overnight with a small team in the Palace's surveillance office, when he knew Emba would be gone for the night and not walk in to see what was going on. Poe and his small team combed over the security feeds of the last three weeks; the week Poe was on vacation with Crisara, the following week when Poe remained at home to be with Crisara during the start of her convalescence, and the current week they were in. They looked for anything and everything pertaining to Emba, and zoomed in on his dealings when he thought no one was watching.But someone was always watching.They caught him, red-handed, breaking into the drawer in Poe's office where he kept his datapad with all the security details for the Palace as a whole. But Emba was accessing Poe's secure files in regard to the banquet, and purposely deleting important details or doing away with certain security measures that were necessary for the banquet to run smoothly, considering how many diplomats from so many worlds would be in attendance. When Poe casually asked Emba if anyone had been in his office or around his desk, because he 'noticed some things had been moved around' on his desk, Emba flat out lied and said 'no'; that he hadn't seen anyone coming or going from Poe's office, but he would look into it for Poe, if he wanted.Poe had smiled and assured him it wouldn't be necessary.Taking these findings to the Queen, as well as his concerns and desire to see Emba sacked, the Queen had sighed, but not because she was feeling bothered by such matters. She had admitted she didn't really like the business of having to fire anyone, but she couldn't deny Emba was now a problem. He was Captain of the Queen's Royal Guard, so the things he'd done couldn't be overlooked. He was actively putting the Queen, everyone who worked and lived in the Palace, and those who would be in attendance at the banquet at great risk. Even then, she still didn't feel it was her place to can the man. Instead, she had insisted that, as Security Chief, Poe was more than capable of taking care of those matters, and to handle it however he saw fit.With an appreciative smile and bow of respect, Poe had thanked her.He hadn't wanted her to do the firing, anyway. He just wanted permission to see Emba let go. And when he fired Emba — oh, Poe was practically dancing on the inside. The way the Captain began to snivel and get hot under the collar somehow reminded Poe of Armitage Hux, which made it even more satisfying. Because of his growing distaste for the Captain, he enjoyed watching him squirm and try to talk himself out of the corner he'd backed himself into."You would willingly endanger hundreds, if not thousands, of lives just to make me look bad; to thrust yourself into the spotlight as being worthy of my job?" Poe had growled when he'd had Emba come to his office, where other guards were waiting to escort Emba out of the Palace afterward. Poe was standing behind his desk, hands planted upon the surface, and leaning forward as he glared at Emba, who sat in a chair on the other side. "You're gonna sit here and deny any wrongdoing when I've seen the irrefutable proof? You don't think I don't have security cameras in my own office? The team in the surveillance office and I combed through weeks of footage and found you in here. We were able to zoom in and see every little thing you did. We saved the footage. I showed Queen Sessani everything and she's agreed with the next course of action."Emba scowled. "Which is?"With a knowing smirk, Poe stared him dead in the eye. "You're fired. Effective immediately.""You can't fire me!""But I just did." Poe shrugged. Looking past Emba to one of the other guards, a woman by the name of Lieutenant Teshené Betal, Poe nodded at her. "Maybe he didn't hear me. Did I mumble at all?""No, sir," she replied with a smirk.Emba turned around and glared at her. "Traitor.""Only one traitor in this office that I can see, Captain," Betal insisted; staring back at him.Whipping back around, Emba huffed. Standing up abruptly, he caused the chair he'd been sitting in to go skidding backward about a foot. "You think you're so great, don't you? Real high and mighty; waltzing into this position, just because you know people in high places." He gestured at lamely at Poe and the desk. "Well, I know people, too." He began pointing at Poe, right in the face. "And I promise you, you'll live to rue this day."Having had enough of Emba, and just his overall, personal and profession stress of the last month, give or take, Poe swiftly grabbed Emba's hand and yanked Emba forward. In the same breath, he slapped Emba on the shoulder and slammed him down onto the top of the desk, maybe a bit rougher than was necessary. "You're seriously threatening me?" Poe questioned leaning in toward Emba's ear, while Emba struggled to get back up. "I got where I am because I was already someone in a high place. I fought a war. I was a General. No — I am a General. I led a small but mighty Resistance fleet and helped bring down over a thousand Star Destroyers in the Sith Eternal fleet during the Battle of Exegol, where I lost a lot of good friends. But we won, because we worked together. I got this job because of what I had already proved myself capable of and because I know how to work as part of a team."Emba continuing to struggle, but Poe maintained his grasp. "Let me go," he grumbled.With a sigh, Poe released his grip on Emba's hand, and then shoved him off the desk. As Emba stumbled backward and began to right himself, the guards stood at greater attention, in case he tried anything."I don't do this job because it's lucrative or for my own benefit. I mean — fuck. This job is tiring and stressful and it keeps me away from my wife and my children, where I'd much rather be," Poe contended. "I do this job because I know I can keep people safe. I can keep the people of Naboo safe; especially my wife and my children. I do this for them. Not for me." He gestured at Emba. "You. You're only out for yourself. You don't know how to do anything that doesn't benefit you. You're first and last thought of every day is about yourself. My first and last thought is about the people I love. I love my wife, I love my kids, and I love the people of this planet.""You're not even from here!" Emba barked."I wasn't born here. I wasn't raised here. That's true. But this is my home. I live here and I plan to die here. Hopefully several more decades from now, in bed, in my wife's arms." Poe inhaled a steadying breath and exhaled deeply. With a nod toward Betal and the other guards, he pointed to Emba. "Please escort Mister Emba away from Palace grounds and see that all his clearances and privileges are removed. I'll send out a memo that he is no longer permitted through these hallowed halls. He's also hereby stripped of his rank.""Yes, sir," most of the guards complied; verbally, that is."Betal.""Yes?" she paused while her fellow guards began to grab at Emba and lead him, grumbling angrily, out of Poe's office.Waiting until it was just the two of them, Poe beckoned her forward. When she came to stand directly in front of him, across the desk from him, he stood a little straighter and smiled appreciatively at her. "Thank you for your help. I actually thought it would go worse than that.""This wasn't worse? He threatened you. We should've locked him in the brig for a few days before we let him go."Poe shook his head. "And just fuel his animosity even more? Nah." There was a small pause, wherein he sighed and sorted through a few of his thoughts. "Place a security detail on him over the next few weeks. If he says he 'knows people, too', well, let's play the game of wait-and-see. If he 'knows' anyone and tries anything in the weeks, or even months, that follow, I want eyes on him and I want his personal lines of communication tapped and recorded until we can prove he's just all talk or if tries to, I dunno…plot anything."Betal nodded. "Of course." Staring down at the desk, and then back up at him, she cleared her throat when he hadn't said anything further. "Is that all, sir?""Uh, no." He gestured at her. "I'm promoting you. So, uh, congratulations Captain Betal. You're the new Head of the Queen's Royal Guard."Betal's mouth practically dropped. "Oh, uh. Thank you!" She beamed; positively surprised as well as happy about this. She then emitted a small chuckle when something amusing popped into her mind. "Oh, my parents are going to be so chuffed about this. My mother, especially. She's gonna love to have this to lord over her friends during her weekly Sabacc Club."Poe chuckled as well. "I'm positive you'll do just fine.""I promise to not let you down, General." Clicking her heels together, she saluted him.Without anything else to say on the matter, he saluted her back and added softly, "You're dismissed, Captain."That had all been the day before the banquet.Now it was the day of and all that stress he'd been feeling was being channeled into making sure the last minute touches to event were combed over two or three times, with no stone left unturned in regard to any possible threats.But, as aforementioned, he was also feeling a bit of relief, too.The event was finally here, so he knew that after it came and went, he could breathe a little easier. Or, at least, until the next, great event. Plus, without the demand of the banquet looming over him, he could go back to spending a bit more time at home during the week.However, while he was breathing a little easier, Crisara was feeling considerably more downhearted.Before their vacation together, and obviously before her irreversible injury, Crisara had been invited to the banquet as her husband's guest. But, since she was still supposed to be convalescing, she was expected to remain at home on continued bed rest. But she was adamantly insisting she was fine and that she was capable of meandering around a ballroom for a few hours; mingling with people. Poe, however, was adamantly keeping his foot down on the matter, only for her to counter with the fact that, if she got tired, she could always sit down somewhere, or go home earlier. But Poe knew her too well. He knew she would push herself to the limit and run herself ragged, merely to be there as someone to help him avoid the boring conversations he loathed having with other political types or, at the very least, be there as his moral support. But Poe didn't need moral support. He needed his wife to continue healing.When they were discussing it, that morning of the banquet, he was growing aggravated and momentarily lost his cool.He'd snapped at her, and immediately regretted it."I don't need you there! Fucking stay in one fucking place for once in your life! You don't need to go everywhere and do everything and be everything for me or anyone else! Stay fucking put!"The moment that tirade of words had flew out of his mouth, he clammed up and then slipped into their bathroom; slamming the door shut behind him, but not necessarily in anger toward her. He was angry with himself.Crisara had just sat there, staring after him with tears stinging her eyes. She bit down on the inside of her bottom lip and turned to look away from the bathroom door, to the windows facing the front of villa. Slowly, she'd placed a hand to her abdomen and could feel the strange but faint vibrations of the cybernetic parts inside of her, toiling away to make sure the rest of her body continued to function, and the tears began to fall.She hated this. She hated being like this.Of course she was grateful to be alive, by any means necessary, but she also hated feeling useless and unneeded.When Poe retreated from the bathroom, he leaned in the doorway with his arms folded over his chest. "I'm sorry," he apologized. Pushing off the door frame, he walked forward and sank down beside her on the bed. "I know you're miserable, being here like this. But it's not forever. Just another week or two."Crisara, still feeling hurt, refused to look at him."Babe." He reached out and placed a hand to her arm. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I just…I've been so stressed and angry and frustrated by so many things lately. I didn't mean to funnel any of it at you like that.""I know you need to get to the Palace early, before the banquet," she finally spoke, but still not looking at him, as she tried to subtly wipe a fallen tear away. "You should probably go get ready."Tipping his head down, Poe dropped his hand from her arm and simply nodded. "Okay."Without another word, he got back up and silently walked into their closet, to retrieve whatever he was going to wear, and then headed into the bathroom with those clothes so he could take a shower. Once he was inside the bathroom, Crisara rolled over onto her side, still facing the windows and still holding a hand to her abdomen; all while a few more tears continued to fall.  That afternoon, after Poe had already left, her seventeen-year-old son Temiri knocked on her bedroom door and helped himself to walking right in without waiting for her to give him the verbal go-ahead to enter. He found her sitting upright in bed, cushioned with a few fluffy pillows behind her back, pouring over notes of some kind on her datapad."Hey, mom," he greeted.Despite her continued somber mood, she looked up at him and smiled. "Hey, honey." Setting the datapad aside, she narrowed her gaze. "What's up?""What makes you think I want anything?"Crisara raised her eyebrow at him. "Two reasons. Firstly, I'm your mother.""Adoptive," he interjected with a teasing grin."Don't play with me, boy. I'm not in the mood."With very little grace, he plopped down upon the end of the bed; lying upon his left side as he stared back at her with his dark hair falling in his eyes. "What's the second reason?" he asked, bringing them back on subject."Uh," she pointed at herself, "Jedi Master.""I mean, are you, though? You sure aren't acting like it.""Excuse you?"Temiri held up a hand to her. "I don't mean offense, mom. I just mean…you're in here, day in and day out, wallowing. We can all feel it. It gets stronger every day, as if the lake was overflowing and about to drown us all." All teasing aside, his expression grew serious. "I don't like seeing you sad. It makes the rest of us sad."She wasn't sure who 'us' fully entailed, but she could assume, at the very least, he meant him and the rest of her kids. But he was probably referring to the entirety of the Force users between both properties at any given time; which currently included Rey, who still remained since the return from Nar Shaddaa. "I'm sorry I've been so downcast.""It's not your fault.""Isn't it? I went off to free those kids from that gang without a second thought. I got into a fight with them and then got poisoned by another of them because my ego got the better of me. Suppose I was starting to think I was somehow invincible and, because of that, I nearly died. And now here I am, no better than an invalid," she lamented."That's bantha shit.""Language.""Well, it is. Mom, seriously, you're the strongest person I know, and not just because of the Force.""Apparently I'm not. I mean, apparently I'm not even strong enough to stand around at a banquet for a few hours."Temiri frowned, sat up and scooted closer to his mother. "This is about dad not taking you to that political party thing?" Without waiting for her to respond, he shook his head. "I get the doctor's recommendation for bed rest, to make sure you heal properly, but that recommendation is for a normal person. You're not normal. We're not normal. We heal quicker because we can heal ourselves.""To an extent.""Either way, that recommendation didn't take into account that you have different capabilities. A normal person might need a month of rest after such extensive surgery, but not you. Didn't your grandfather, Anakin Skywalker lose, like, both legs and arms and have his entire body burnt to a crisp, and was then walking and talking the next day as Darth Vader in that weird suit of his?""To be fair, that suit is what was keeping him alive." Crisara shrugged. "But, I don't know really how long it took for his recovery. I never asked.""It's more or less documented. Darth Vader was spotted days after the disappearance and presumed death of Anakin Skywalker." Temiri smirked when she raised a curious eyebrow at him. "I pay attention during Professor Kin's history lessons.""I suppose if anyone would know such random information like that, it would be Beaumont.""Anyway." Temiri waved his hand, once more steering the conversation back on subject. "I don't see why you couldn't go to this pretentious party, at least for an hour or two. Healing also isn't just about the physical. It's mental, too. And you feeling all sad and miserable isn't helping any. You need something to boost your spirits." Slowly, he began to smile playfully. "And I think I know just the thing.""Oh?""Yeah," he replied."And what's that?" Crisara inquired; wondering if she should've even bothered asking. She could see those wheels turning in his head, noted his cherky smile, and knew he was up to no good, but not in a bad way. Not exactly, anyway."Ever crash a party before?""No." Then, narrowing her gaze at him, she asked, "Have you?"Temiri chuckled. "No." He then gestured between them. "But you and I are about to, if you can handle getting dressed in something fancy without, you know, falling apart and dying or whatever."With a smirk and a shake of her head, Crisara reached behind her. Grabbing one of the bed pillows, she chucked it at him, but he caught it. Though, he caught it with his face. As they both laughed, which felt amazing to do for her, she let out a sigh and slowly shook her head. "You know your father is gonna be really pissed.""Then we better not get caught.""He's Security Chief, Tem. His team will have eyes and ears everywhere."Leaning forward, Temiri patted her blanket-covered knee. "Live a little, will ya?"Crisara bit down on her bottom lip; considering this proposal to be a little mischievous. Possibly downright reckless and stupid. "Well, I mean, I was invited to the banquet before my injury."Temiri jumped up and slapped his hands together. "Now we're talking!"  By the time Crisara and Temiri had made it to the Palace, she was second-guessing this whole adventure, if you will. They walked side by side into the Grand Entrance and were greeted by security guards who scanned Crisara's face and credentials; finding her on their list of guests because Poe had never taken her off of it. When the guards scanned Temiri's face and asked for his credentials, only to find him not on the list, Crisara had insisted he was her son and escort for the evening since her husband, General Poe Dameron, who was Security Chief, was already here and busy with his job. The guards knew her, though, and trusted she wasn't about to blow the place up, so they let them continue onward.With a small smile, Crisara let Temiri slip his arm through hers as they approached the grand staircase and gingerly ascended it. The entire way up, she only occasionally glanced down at her feet, because the dress she wore was a bit too long for her liking. It was one of Leia's old gowns, as Crisara barely ever bothered to update her wardrobe with new dresses for events like this. Why, when she had Leia's and both of her grandmothers' clothes that had been left behind for her? This gown, in particular, was primarily light blue and pale yellow ombre. It was off the shoulder and quite comfortable. She hadn't wanted anything too form-fitting or tight that would bother her mid-section, just in case. For her hair, she wore it down but pulled off her face and clipped with a decorative, diamond barrette at the back of her head. She wanted to look as simple and unassuming as possible so that few to no eyes would be on her.Temiri looked completely enthralled when they reached the top of the grand staircase. Dressed in one of Poe's nicer suits, he had felt awkward at first; having never worn something so fancy before, but found he soon enjoyed the luxury."I think I could get used to this," Temiri remarked, smiling at his mother's profile. "Don't get me wrong. My goal is still to become a Jedi Knight, and one day a Master, and take over running the Academy when you see fit to pass the torch, but this…" He gestured to the splendor of the Palace's interior and how it was decorated for the banquet, as well as how fancy the other guests looked. "This is pretty nice, too."Crisara wore a thoughtful smile upon her face. "It's alright," she shrugged. "I prefer our everyday life at home much better, though.""Yeah, of course. But, once in a while," he gestured at everything, "this is a fun way to break up the monotony."Turning to look at her son, she frowned. "Do you find your life to be too boring?""No. No, it's just…""You're growing up and need some excitement," she deduced. "You have growing pains."Temiri nodded sheepishly. "Something like that.""How about this," Crisara began to say as they made their way closer to the ballroom. Pausing, she slipped her arm from his and faced him more fully. "Next year, when you turn eighteen, your father and I will take you on a special birthday voyage, anywhere in the galaxy, for one whole week. We'll go anywhere, do anything…within reason, of course.""Seriously anywhere?""Yes. But, within reason. We're not going to go traipsing along the lava seas of Mustafar.""What about Cantonica?""Really?" she questioned with a raise of an eyebrow."Yeah, it might be interesting to go back as no longer a dirty and hungry, indentured kid and instead as one of the glittering masses at the casinos."Crisara chuckled. "You want to gamble, is that it?""No, not necessarily. I know there's more than just that there. There are fancy restaurants and nightclubs, and shopping. There are a lot of entertainment options. And, it might be nice to attend the fathier races as a vacationer instead of watching from the sidelines, waiting to wrangle them up and shovel their shit.""Language."Temiri just tilted his head and stared back at her. "Seriously?"With another small smile, as well as a small shake of her head, Crisara slipped her arm back through his. "Well, we do have a standing reservation at the Crescent Royale because of our friendship with Emcee." She considered his suggestion; knowing she and Poe would be fine going there with Temiri. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. But, until your eighteenth, I suppose I wouldn't be adverse to you coming into Theed on your own to occasionally get away from the villa or the Academy for a bit. Grandpa Kes lives here in the city. Taya and Nevara work here, and live on the outskirts. Your father works — literally — right here. If you needed help, there would likely always be family nearby. Plus, because of your father's job, and my own standing, you could come here to the Palace for help if need be. Also, you're a decent pilot because you've had the best teacher, so I know you won't crash before or after landing."Temiri rolled his eyes; a gesture Crisara caught and suddenly realized how Poe must feel every time she did it to him.Small talk between mother and son faded when they stepped just inside the ballroom. As they had arrived after the meal portion of the banquet, they hadn't gone to the banquet hall. Crisara knew enough from Poe that dancing, drinks and mingling was to take place after. There was music wafting around, several of the diplomatic guests were either dancing or deep in conversation, all while waitstaff was weaving around the bodies with trays of drinks or small desserts; either serving or cleaning as they went. Surrounding the perimeter of the ballroom were guards; most notable among them the Queen's Royal Guard, who had their sights on her at all times, but also on any potential threats in her immediate vicinity.Temiri glanced at his mother again; seeing a tinge of doubt in her face. "Are you okay? This isn't feeling like too much too soon, is it?"With her free hand, she reached across and gently patted his chest; grateful for his concern. "I'm fine," she assured. "Actually feeling pretty great. Physically, anyway. No pains or aches.""Let me know the second you feel off.""I will," she replied a with an appreciative smirk. As a member of waitstaff stopped in front of Temiri and her, offering them something alcoholic to drink, Crisara declined and then swatted Temiri's hand when he attempted to grab one for himself. "No," she admonished, quietly in that unmistakable 'mom voice.' As he frowned and turned his sights elsewhere, hoping one of those trays of desserts made their way toward them, Crisara felt Poe's presence nearby and suddenly resumed second-guessing herself for being there. "Poe's near," she muttered."Yeah, I sense him, too." Looking at his mother, he tipped his head toward her. "Don't be nervous.""I'm not nervous. I just don't want him to be overly upset about me coming here, and with our underage son, no less.""He was stealing ships and running away to be a spice runner when he was younger than me. He has nothing to worry about where I'm concerned," Temiri quipped; his eyes widening with glee when another member of waitstaff finally approached with a tray of tiny, colorful cakes. "Don't mind if I do." Helping himself to three little cakes, he immediately shoved one into his mouth and smiled. "Ugh, so good."Across the room, Poe stood beside Governor Senn, while wishing he were anywhere but. To the right of both men, the Queen sat upon a simple throne where she could comfortably take a break from mingling, but it was mostly because she was frustrated and needed to decompress while her guests flitted around the floor like lovely butterflies. The banquet had gone quite well, but there had been underlying tension from within her own house, so to speak, boiling beneath the surface.Before the first guest had even arrived, Governor Senn had sought an audience with her to complain about Captain Emba's stripping of rank and subsequent sacking by Poe, despite the evidence against the man for his misdeeds. Where once Senn had been happy to have Poe come on as one of the members of one of his committees, now Poe was one of his least favorite people. He had complained that Poe was getting to 'big for his britches' and didn't understand the way things were done, or the pecking order in their government because he was a foreigner. The Queen had to swallow her feelings and reply as calmly but sternly as possible that Poe was one of them now, and that he had every right to demote and dismiss Emba because Poe was still very much the Head of Security. It was literally Poe's job to oversee any and all members of Naboo's military and security forces. The only person Poe truly had to answer to was the Queen, and she had given her blessing about Emba's sacking so, if Senn had a problem with it, then he had a problem with her.That had shut him up for the time being, but a few of his comments made during the banquet dinner, that were subtle but considerably negative, hadn't gone unnoticed by Her Highness. It was obvious to her, as well as to Poe, that those comments were supposed to be digs at Poe. And now Poe and Senn were expected to stand beside each other with their Queen, as the other two top tier members of Naboo's government, and pretend all was fine; simply to save face in front of the many guests from other worlds.Clenching and unclenching his jaw, at the sound of Senn's voice when he attempted small talk with the Queen, or just the sound of the older man's exaggerated breathing to subtly denote he would rather be anywhere else at the moment, Poe was feeling like he wanted to risk it all and sock the ass in the jaw. A night in a brig for knocking the Governor of Naboo flat on his ass, despite being Security Chief, would be worth it. If it cost him his job, so be it. But, he didn't want to do that to the Queen, and especially not during this event. Nor did he want to invite any negativity toward him that would somehow reflect back on his family.But, damn — Poe felt like he was gonna give himself an ulcer if he didn't step away soon.His opportunity to do so came a moment later, and it was both a blessing and an exasperation. Staring across the crowd of guests, he spotted two figures when a gap in bodies opened up. Releasing a tired breath from his lips, Poe looked upward toward the tall ceiling and did everything in his power to keep it cool. Stepping behind Senn, he leaned over toward Queen Sessani. "Will you excuse me, M'Lady? It seems my wife and eldest son are here.""I thought she couldn't make it because she was on bed rest?" the Queen questioned; her curiosity piqued."So did I."As the Queen nodded her head at him, silently telling him to go to his wife and son, Poe breathed a little easier to be away from Senn; who he was still envisioning flat on the floor with a busted lip. However, he was now clenching his jaw for other reasons.Weaving between and around guests, Poe came to eventually stand in front of Crisara, who was already staring back at him with a soft, apologetic expression upon her face. "You're supposed to be at home, in bed." He was fighting very hard to keep calm, but he had so much frustration building up in him lately and he just hoped that, when he blew his top, it wouldn't be something he couldn't come back from. Glancing at Temiri, he narrowed his gaze. "You her accomplice?""More like she's mine," Temiri replied with a mouthful of tiny cakes. "I convinced her to come, because it's good for her mental health.""Yeah?" Poe questioned sternly, leaning closer to his son. "And what about her physical health?""Her physical health is fine, and she is standing right here, so you can direct your comments to me instead of our seventeen-year-old," Crisara retorted; curling her fingers around Poe's wrist.When he looked back at her, he was practically glaring. "Tem, go help yourself to more desserts and grab something to wash it all down with so you don't choke," he remarked without taking his eyes off Crisara, who was holding his gaze. "Non-alcoholic."Temiri glanced between his parents, and hesitated. He could feel the tension building between them. It was so thick he'd need his lightsaber to cut through it. "Are you sure?""Yes, sweetie," Crisara assured. "Go ahead. Have a bit of fun — within reason."Slipping his hand out of Crisara's gentle grasp, Poe in turn took hold of her hand and began to lead her away. "Your mom and I will be right back," he announced over his shoulder at the boy.As the couple walked toward the entrance to the ballroom, Poe nodded to Captain Betal and gave her a condensed directive to keep an eye on things while he and his wife stepped away for a little while. The entire way, out into the grand hallway, the pair remained silent, but Crisara could feel his anger and frustration boiling over. She continued to say nothing, and neither did he as they walked side by side. The entire time, she didn't even bother to ask where they were going. She could easily surmise he was going somewhere private and out of the way, where they could talk without eavesdroppers.When they approached a set of doors, Crisara realized it was to his office. Stepping inside, he ushered her in ahead of him. Once the doors closed behind them, she glanced briefly at his secretary's desk and a small station where caf or tea could be prepared, as well as a sitting area for anyone possibly waiting to meet with him in his office. As he stepped around her, he inputted a code into a panel beside another set of doors. When they opened, he walked ahead of her this time and into his actual office space, where very large windows behind his desk looked out toward the city below. Crisara didn't need prompting to follow him in. Stepping beyond the doorway, she watched him with pursed lips as he approached his desk; tapping the surface a few times with his fingertips."What was your plan tonight?" he finally broke through the silence. "Did you have something to prove?" Slowly, he turned around; casually sitting upon the edge of the desk and also gripping the edge while he stared back at her. "Did you need to prove the doctor was wrong, that her years of medical training meant nothing and she doesn't know what she's talking about?"Crisara inhaled a steadying breath and chose her words carefully. She didn't want to fight with her husband. They weren't the type to really argue with each other. Sure, they had disagreements, but they could always talk it out and work through any issues like the loving partners in a marriage that they were. "It actually wasn't my idea to come. It was Tem's. Not that I'm making excuses or trying to use our own son as a scapegoat. He came into our bedroom, to see how I was doing. He saw how miserable I was and made several good points; points that I agree with and that you should, too.""Oh yeah?" Poe's jaw began to clench and unclench again. "What points?""The doctor is a great doctor. She knows her stuff. I was never doubting or refuting that. But her recommendation for how my recovery should go is just that: a recommendation. It's also based on the physiology of the average human." Stepping a bit closer, Crisara clamped her hands in front of her. "How many Force users do you think she's tended to in her career? My guess is I'm her first. The cyberneticist that took care of me on Nar Shaddaa did a great job, but Rey told me about the things he'd told you; how you should basically plan for the worst because without active brain function everything else would just shut down and I would die. But I wasn't brain dead, Poe. I was literally having an out-of-body experience in a place between this world and the next. It was literally called a World Between Worlds. It's a documented location in the Jedi texts and lore. And that's where I was. But I was always coming back. I was just…" She sighed. "While my body was beginning to heal, I was also healing my soul. I was making peace with things I couldn't change; parts of me that were holding me back from living an unburdened life.""Yeah, well, I wasn't. I was mentally present and fighting with myself to not give up hope, and that was a battle I was beginning to lose." Lifting one hand off of the desk, he pointed at her in a jabbing motion. "For all I knew you were really going to die and leave me for good. You were having a lovely little vacation from your mind and I was living in hell." His face scrunched up with resumed grief, as he went over in his head those many long hours at her bedside at the Palace of Grakkus the Hutt."You think it was a vacation for me? I had to relive Adera's death.""I understand that, and I know how horrible that must've felt, but you also said you got to talk to her and hold her one more time. You were able to make peace with her passing. You got to hug your mother, you even forgave Anakin Skywalker for being the galaxy's second-tier asshole. Good for you," he snipped, dropping his hand back down and once more gripping the edge of his desk. "All that aside, your body was devastated by that poison. It worked too quickly and I couldn't get you help fast enough to save a lot the important parts inside of you.""That wasn't your fault.""I know that. Regardless, you were irreparably damaged and there was nothing I could do. I sat, and I waited, and I cried. I…" Poe huffed. "I sobbed until my tear ducts ran dry and my chest burned. The thought of losing you…"Crisara moved forward to close the gap between them. She covered his hands with hers and just stared at his chest. "But you didn't. And you won't. I'm going to live a long life."Poe jerked his hands out from under hers and leaned back. His frustrations were growing. "Excuse me for not having complete faith in the vision my long-dead mother-in-law had before you were born. Visions aren't written in fucking stone!" he shouted. "Yes — they come true, but sometimes they're vague and open to interpretation. You've said that before. They're not always literal or one hundred percent accurate, right?" When she didn't answer right away, he stepped along the front of his desk, away from her. "For Maker's sake, you had a vision about us, which — yes — came to be, but even you weren't certain it would happen just as you saw it. You had your doubts. I've seen you do amazing things and I've seen the Force in action, but I don't believe the Force is this be-all and end-all that gives us zero choice in how our lives turn out. I don't think everything is fated. I think we make choices, and those choices effect what happens next. Things can go one way, or they can go another. We have choices. We're not puppets the Force gets to play with. And you don't get to make choices that can affect the rest of us without talking to me first.""And you don't get to tell me what I can and can't do as if I'm your child instead of your wife," she threw back at him. "I understand you're concerned for my well-being, but you need to understand that I know my own damn body. I feel fine. I feel better than fine. I don't have several of my original organs, yes. But if the replacements parts inside of me were going to fail someone like me, they would've failed already. The doctor is an intelligent person, but her recommendation didn't take into account who I am and what I am capable of." Crisara moved to step closer to where he'd shuffled over toward and grabbed at his hand. "I've brought down TIE fighters. I've healed you. I've jumped hundreds of feet, off several Star Destroyers, while an active battle was raging, and landed on my feet. Sort of. I actually skidded and landed on my stomach — but I survived without a scratch. I faced down against the Emperor, who attempted to drain the life force from me and then tried to kill me, only for me to be able to join Rey in killing him…for good. I don't just have the Force flowing through me, I am a force to be reckoned with, even if I'm still only human, and even if I can still get badly injured. I'm not immune to injury. It's just more rare, and only when I let my guard down; for example, when I'm momentarily distracted.""You were shot by that dart when you saw me." Poe stared back at her, lifting his chin and working through some thoughts. "So, it was my fault. I distracted you, and because of it, you got injured.""Stars above, Poe." Crisara rolled her eyes at him. "No. It was not your fault. It was just shit bad luck. And it was a good reminder for me that I may be a force to be reckoned with, but I'm not invincible.""So then why couldn't you just stay home and rest? You act like it's a punishment. I just want you to take it fucking easy!" he barked, leaning in toward her."Maybe don't shout in my face!" she barked right back at him. "That would be a good place to start if you want me to take it fucking easy." She gestured widely with her arms. "I can meditate whenever I need for peace of mind and taking it easy. We live in the most beautiful, most tranquil place in the entire galaxy. Our kids are healthy, we have a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs and clothes on your backs. Financially, we will never want for anything. I don't need to worry about taking it easy, Poe. I need to worry about my husband not having faith that I'm okay and I'm going to be okay, and he doesn't have to baby me like some doll made of glass." She was starting to feel herself getting very aggravated. Turning, she backed up against his desk, staring at the doors that had shut behind them after they entered his personal office. She began reiterating what she'd said to him a week before, when he was getting ready to return here to the Palace for work. "I am flesh and bone, but now also titanium and chromium. I am harder to break now, and the fact that my own husband can't understand that, or doubts it, hurts."Poe had shifted to standing in front of her; facing the windows behind his desk. But his eyes had drifted toward objects on his desk as well as around the office that were suddenly beginning to levitate. Noting the way she was scowling and growing flustered, he knew it was happening because of her."Where is the faith, the trust, Poe?" As if to make a point, she slapped at her stomach. Part of her expected it might hurt so she had braced herself for any and all pain, but she felt nothing. She felt fine. "See? Right as rain.""Cris."The objects were raising higher, and beginning to twirl.Poe realized that, if he didn't diffuse her growing temper, a lot of shit might go sideways. Making a decision, he reached out and clamped his hands upon the sides of her face and kissed her to shut her up. For the first, few moments, neither moved or reacted further. But then, slowly, she began to melt into his kiss, and he found himself to be appreciating his own gesture as well. As he dropped a hand to her waist and pulled her against him, her hands lifted upward to his shoulders. While their kiss deepened, all the levitating objects, which could've turned into dangerous projectiles, set back down.After a few more moments, Crisara pulled back from him and stared him deeply in the eye. When he looked back, he could see she looked a different sort of flustered now, but also the same amount of arousal that he felt. However, nothing further transpired."You have a job to do here, and I'm keeping you from it," she muttered quietly; her tone unreadable. "I'm the distraction this time."Pushing off the desk, without a word, Crisara exited both his personal office and the anterior office space.For a moment, Poe remained unmoved.Placing a hand to his desk with one hand, he lifted the other and brushed at the corners of his mouth with the pad of his thumb. He was thinking about this argument, and thinking about the things they'd both said, and he supposed she was right. She wasn't average. He just didn't want to risk any chance of losing her or risk her living a long, healthy life. With everything her body had suffered, he just thought she deserved the extra time to kick back and relax. He didn't realize how dispiriting it must've made her feel. He was seeing that she was probably feeling useless and lonely. He knew she liked keeping busy; she was a lot like her Aunt Leia like that. He understood that there were only so many books and holoshows or holofilms she could watch before her brain felt like rotting. And, with him here at the Palace and the kids spending the better part of their days next door at the Academy, in lessons or in training, there was probably not many she had to talk to. Droids, excluded.Had he been unreasonable?Sinking down upon the edge of his desk once more, Poe clasped his hands against his lap and sighed.  After their row in his office, Crisara had returned to the ballroom and collected Temiri; who was having a pleasant conversation with Queen Sessani, and who Crisara could sense was suddenly very attracted to her son. The Queen and Temiri were pretty much the same age and, despite their respective training to appear calm and neutral, it was obvious their hormones were active enough. After a pleasant greeting and respectable bow of her head to the teenage monarch, Crisara apologized for not being able to stay much longer; giving the excuse that she had wanted to venture out and test how she was feeling, and that her son had been so very kind to escort her, but now she was feeling tired.The entire journey home, Temiri didn't bother to ask what had been said or happened between his parents. Mother and son remained virtually silent. He had attempted some conversation; remarking on the delicious desserts he had been able to try and how lovely he found the Queen to be. He'd met her briefly once before, during her Coronation celebration, but they hadn't had the chance to actually have a conversation. He felt a bit smitten, but he could sense his mother was worlds away in her own thoughts.As soon as Crisara and Temiri were through the front door to the villa, they were greeted by Rey, who hadn't even realized the pair had gone anywhere. But that was because mother and son had slipped out of her bedroom, and then headed through the door that led down the secret stairwell to her office. From there, after she'd temporarily powered down Veetee, they had slipped out the back of the house toward the landing zone, so no one would deter them from their little adventure. Rey had been able to surmise where they'd gone based on what the two were wearing and, from the glum and withdrawn expression on Crisara's face, she didn't attempt any further chit chat, and Temiri didn't offer to elaborate. While Crisara went up to bed, Temiri disappeared in the opposite direction upstairs; to retreat to his bedroom, which had once been his parents' before they were married and then Grandpa Kes' before the elder Dameron moved to his apartment in Theed. Now, the secondary master suite was Temiri's, by default, because he was the oldest child.While Caro still maintained the same bedroom, the twins shared and Len had his own on the same end of the house as Crisara's and Poe's master suite, so she popped her head inside to check on them. It wasn't late, but they were still young, so they had earlier bedtimes than the others. Finding them asleep in their beds, she found comfort in how peaceful they all looked, and her heart swelled with her love for them. Once in her own room, she began to yank the dress down off her body; letting it pool around her feet and then just left it there on the ground. She unclipped the barrette from her hair, set it down on her bedside table and stepped into the walk-in closet to grab up the nightgown she'd been wearing for the last day and a half.Before she put it on, she found herself staring at her reflection in a full-length mirror. Her eyes drifted down to the long scars around her abdomen, from where her skin had been pulled back so the cyberneticist could operate on her and install all her fun, new hardware. It was only two weeks on, but the scars were already fading; partly from continued used of bacta compresses and her body's natural healing capabilities. Though, underneath her skin and the layer of synthflesh underneath her skin, there was the faint but unmistakable glow of light that was orange in color. On a sunny day, were she walking around with her abdomen bare, it would be barely noticeable. But, in the dim lighting of the closet or just in complete darkness, the light was obvious.Crisara touched a hand briefly over it and avoided looking herself in the eye as tears began to fall down her face.  Late into the night, Poe arrived home and made his way quietly up the curved staircase to the right. Like Crisara, he wanted to look in on the kids; to see that they were okay and asleep. He didn't worry so much with Temiri, but he looked in on Caro, who was asleep with a datapad on his chest. Making his way across the breezeway afterward, Poe checked on the twins and found them curled up beside one another on Shara's bed. Even five years removed from the womb and they still felt the need to remain physically close to one another. He smiled, hoping they would always remain close, and backed out of their room and turned to look in on Len. He found his little boy spread out on his bed, snoring up a storm just like Poe was occasionally guilty of; according to Crisara and any number of their friends from the war, who had survived the war. Stepping further inside the room, Poe picked up the blanket, which was half on the floor. He gently moved Len's legs away from the edge of the bed, so he didn't fall off, and then tucked his three-year-old son back in. With a smile, Poe brushed a hand through Len's floppy, dark brown hair and kissed his forehead."Goodnight, my boy," he whispered.When Poe finally stepped inside his and Crisara's bedroom, it was dark, but that was to be expected. It was late and he knew she'd be asleep by now. Or, at least, he assumed she was asleep.Without bothering to get completely undressed, Poe removed everything but his pants; letting it all fall to the floor beside where he found her abandoned dress. For a moment, he just stood there; his eyes adjusting to the darkness and settling upon his wife's beautiful form under the covers. Slowly, he padded forward and carefully climbed into bed behind her, as not to disturb her. As he got comfortable and pulled the covers up over him, he scooted closer to her and placed a hand upon her hip. After a solid minute, of just lying like that and staring at the back of her head, as well as finding comfort in the fruity scent coming from her hair, Poe slipped his hand further down to rest upon her stomach.It was odd, but he could feel a faint vibration under the surface of her skin. He understood it was the cybernetics doing their job at keeping her alive, and it saddened him that this was to be her lot in life, for the rest of her life. He wished it would've happened to him instead of her.With a sigh, Poe kissed her shoulder. When her arm closest to him moved, and her hand covered his, he had a feeling she might be stirring awake, so he boldly whispered to her. "I don't want to go to bed angry. I don't want things left unsaid that will just fester between us. I love you too much." Nuzzling her shoulder, he shifted his hand that she was holding and spread his fingers so that hers could interlock with his. "I'm sorry for being an asshole and not seeing things from your point of view. If you believe you're fine, I won't argue against it. I'm sorry." He kissed her shoulder again."I'm sorry, too," she mumbled back. Rolling around so that she could face him, Crisara opened her eyes and held his gaze in the dark as best as she could. "I know you were just concerned and looking out for me." She lifted a hand and brushed her fingertips along the side of his stubbly cheek. "I didn't mean to be so ungrateful and childish.""You weren't," he insisted. "You were entitled to those emotions. You more than earned them.""So did you." After a moment, she shifted her body more flush against his; pressing her face against his chest and holding her hands against her own chest while he curled his arm around her back to hold her there. "I love you, too, Poe."Content that they had gotten past this hurdle, at least for the time being, Poe breathed a sigh of relief and kissed the top of her head. "Goodnight, beautiful," he whispered."Goodnight."

43 ABY — A little over a year later

Sitting at the head of the dining table, with her back to the archway leading out to the grand foyer, Crisara was smiling wistfully at her loved ones. At the opposite end, Poe was laughing at something Finn was saying; both men sitting kitty-corner to one another. Rey was next to Finn, and then Chewbacca next to her, and then the twins. Crisara couldn't help but look at her daughters, Shara and Leia, and think about how they were the age now that Adera had been when she died. She also thought about how funny it was that, despite being half-sisters, the twins and Adera didn't look much alike. Adera had looked so much like Alfic, and the twins looked so much like Poe. Considering Crisara looked so much like her own father, perhaps that was the something she passed onto her daughters: daughters looking like their fathers. When she looked to the other side of the table, four-year-old Len sat upon her immediate left, across from his sisters. After him was Temiri, then Caro, Kes, and finally Taya; the latter also kitty-corner to Poe, just on his other side.Everyone was there, basking in the aftermath of a good meal and dessert, to celebrate Crisara's fortieth birthday. She hadn't wanted a big fuss, unlike the one she'd made more than a year earlier for Poe's fortieth. She'd wanted this; a small gathering of family, regardless of blood. And it was a perfect birthday. Everyone was full and happy…well, almost everyone.Taya was a bit miserable, but she was putting on a brave face for everyone else. Crisara had been made privy to the exact reason a few weeks prior and had promised to not say anything to anyone, except for Poe, who she couldn't and wouldn't keep secrets from, which Taya respected and was more than fine with. As it turned out, Taya had her husband Zoh had recently decided to divorce. It wasn't official yet. They'd apparently been sleeping in separate bedrooms for a couple years now and he had only just — two weeks ago, to be exact — moved out into his own apartment in Theed. Taya had remarked that she knew how ridiculous it must be, to bother divorcing now, after thirty-eight years of marriage, and what with her being sixty-three now and him being sixty-one. Why not just stick it out?"I would, I swear I would," Taya had insisted, a week earlier. "But it's taken me this long to realize we have nothing in common anymore, and he absolutely bores me. Don't get me wrong, I'll always love him and I will never regret marrying him, but I sort of wish I would've come to this realization a lot sooner. I don't want to spend however many years or decades I may have left not being completely happy with my life.""Do you think you'll find love again or do you feel that ship has sailed?" Crisara had wondered."Oh, no…I'm sure love isn't done with me yet."Taya had said that so mischievously, and Crisara had desperately wanted to peer into her cousin's thoughts, but opted to be respectful and let Taya's secrets remain Taya's secrets.But now Crisara watched her family, smiling and chattering away, and she found her gaze hovering over toward Poe; hoping with every fiber of her being that they never got bored of each other, and that their marriage wouldn't somehow fall apart in another twenty or thirty years. She still very much wanted forever and a day with him. Judging by the way he smiled back at her, when he felt her gaze, she knew he still wanted the same.After letting her eyes linger on his, she looked back around the table at her kids; focusing mostly upon Len, who needed a booster seat to reach the table better. He was holding his fork in his hand and making engine noises; pretending the utensil was some sort of starfighter, most likely. She smiled so lovingly at him and reached her left hand out to brush some of his hair out of his face. He was going to need another haircut soon. Like both of his parents, Len's hair grew fast. Like his father, his hair was dark as sin, but not as thick nor was it curly. That last bit he had inherited from Crisara. She was wondering what he would look like the older he got. She was wondering what all of her children would look like as they got older, in the next decade or two, at least.And then, she felt a huge swell of emotion in the pit of her chest when a sad thought appeared in her head. It wasn't the first time she'd thought about it but, perhaps now, turning forty had brought it back to the foreground.As tears began to sting at her eyes, but not wanting anyone to see, she stood up rather abruptly and quietly excused herself from the table.Leaving the dining room, she walked through the grand foyer and out the back doors to the back garden where the fresh air from an evening breeze hit her like much needed dousing of rain after a long drought. She exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding and slowly meandered over toward a retaining wall that backed up to the hillside the back garden was built into and sat down. Clasping her hands between her thighs, she hunched forward slightly and tried to calm herself down with some small, steadying breaths, and welcoming the Force to help center her mind and rid herself of her anxieties. With her eyes closed, she listened to the noise of the breeze within the tree branches, and the faint chittering of small animals in the brush and the song of a few birds flying by.It was typically moments like these that one of her dead relatives might've appeared to offer her some sage advice, but she hadn't heard nor seen any of them since her time within the World Between Worlds, and that had been fine with her. She couldn't rely on them always popping in and out of her life every time she had some sort of crisis of faith or minor inconvenience. They had lived their lives, and they deserved to enjoy some peace of mind in their afterlives.Instead of the likes of her parents, grandfathers, aunt or cousin, it was someone of the living variety that came to her."You okay, babe?"With a small smile, Crisara lifted her head and looked up at Poe, who was gingerly approaching her. "I'm fine. Or I will be," she replied. "Just needed a moment."Walking over, he sat down beside her. Without hesitation, he grabbed one of her hands in his and pulled it over onto his lap. "Tell me what's wrong."Sensing he wouldn't head back inside until she did, Crisara sighed and leaned her head down on his shoulder. "We're lucky to have the children we have," she prefaced. "But looking around at all of them, I was reminded of how we'll never have any more of our own together." She could feel his empathy rolling off him like a fine fragrance. "Sure, we can adopt, but with all the younglings and padawans next door, they're basically adopted children, but it's also not the same. Tem is the only one we legally adopted and he's the only one I want to legally adopt…"Poe squeezed her hand. "I thought you said you didn't care if we had any other children together?""I know I did. But it would've been nice to still have the choice." Removing her head from his shoulder, she sat up straighter. Pulling her hand that he was still holding hers over toward her lap, she then lifted and placed both upon her stomach. "This took that choice away. My uterus was one of the things I lost. I just…I wish we'd been able to have at least one more.""If you'd gotten pregnant during our vacation last year, you would've lost that child when you were poisoned. Your organs would've still shut down the same. You'd still be in the same boat, just with the added grief of losing a child," he spoke, gently; turning to lean in and kiss her temple. "We were meant to have the children we have; no more, no less. And, I mean, would you really want to be pregnant right now? At forty? You're basically ancient now."A hearty chuckle escaped her lips. "Then what does that make you? You're older.""I'm weathered but aging like a fine wine."Crisara smiled and turned to look at him; loving the way he stared back at her with such adoration. "Yeah, I suppose you're still pretty handsome. Even with all those greys that keep seeping into your hair. It makes you actually look respectable.""Woman," he playfully growled. Slipping his hand from hers, her wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her back against him. "I wanna take you somewhere tomorrow.""Oh? Where?""Nothing major. Just, I dunno, to lunch or an early dinner. Your choice.""Lunch would be nice. I like us being here with the kids for dinner. And I don't usually get to enjoy time away during the day. Not saying I look forward to getting away from this place. I love our home, and I love my work next door with the younglings and the padawans.""I know," he assured. With a nod, he squeezed her opposite arm, and added, "Okay. Lunch it is.""Was there a special reason for lunch away?""Well, it's your birthday.""Today is my birthday.""It's your birthday week, then," Poe amended. "And, honestly, do I need a reason to spend time away with my favorite person?"Crisara smiled. Twisting at the waist, she lifted her hands up and clamped them down on either side of his face. "You never need a reason." Leaning in, she continued to smile as he met her halfway and joined her in a kiss.  The following day, the pair were sitting at a small table together, on the outdoor patio of a quaint restaurant in Theed, along the Solleu River. They were enjoying their light meal, and a simple, midday cocktail. They were also enjoying conversation as well as flirting with each other; no differently than when they'd first started making moon eyes at each other during the cold war. Crisara listened intently when he quietly admitted to her, so no one around them eavesdropped, that Queen Sessani had no intention of running for reelection in the following year, even though she had every right to run for a second term. She had realized that the burdens of being Queen and with all the stress that had come with dealing with inner drama within the Palace — specifically with Governor Senn — made her feel as if she was aging well beyond her sixteen years and she worried it would leave her bitter in the end. But she was championing for a friend of hers to run as the next monarch, but no official announcement would be made until the new year. When Crisara asked how things were going with Senn, Poe shrugged it off; not wanting to really be bothered with anything like that at the moment. He'd rather focus on Crisara. And, as he said that, he stole some food from her plate, making her laugh. As he smiled back at her, with a mouthful of food, she grabbed his shoulder and yanked him over toward her so they could kiss like a pair of a teenagers."Stars, I love you," she mumbled against his lips; tasting the sauce that had been drizzled over one of the fritzle fries he'd swiped from her plate."I love you, too."As they began to lean back from one another, a sudden tingle went up Crisara's back and she began to sit pretty rigidly; feeling as if someone had just walked over her grave. "Something's wrong," she blurted.Poe furrowed his brow. "What is it?""I'm…I'm not sure.""You need to get home," the voice of her father spoke to her. "Now.""We need to go home," she insisted; her face seemingly draining of blood."Cris…" Poe didn't know what else to say. He was starting to feel too anxious to form any further thought, but he knew something was serious and not in the good way, if there was a good way, by the look on her face. "I'll pay the bill."As they abruptly stood up from their table, abandoning the rest of their meal, they began to move back inside of the restaurant to seek out a member of the waitstaff. Before they got too far, Captain Betal appeared; being pointed in Poe's and Crisara's direction by a human waitress. With a somber expression on her face, Betal approached the couple."General Dameron," she greeted Poe. Shifting her gaze toward Crisara, she nodded respectively, "Master Dameron.""Something's wrong." Poe already knew as much. Crisara's feeling and Betal's random appearance where he and his wife just so happened to be dining wasn't a coincidence. "What is it?""There's been an explosion," Betal answered, warily but forthright."Where?" Crisara asked, but somehow she already knew."Your home."Poe staggered backward; his face paling. "When?""Fifteen minutes ago, tops. The only reason I was able get to you this quick was because Lieutenant Spurro said he spotted the Falcon entering the Hangar, and that you mentioned to another guard, in passing, where you were headed.""What's the damage?" Poe demanded, cutting to the chase."Not fully sure yet, sir. But significant.""Are there…" Crisara didn't sense it, but she needed to ask regardless, "Are there causalities?""Not sure on those details just yet, either, ma'am. I'm sorry. But emergency services have already been dispatched. An emergency firespeeder, local law enforcement. A bomb squad."Crisara gripped Poe's arm. "A bomb squad?" she repeated. "Poe — we need to go."He was fumbling over himself, feeling lost and unsure what to even think or say next. "We didn't pay our bill," he mumbled; his mind reeling."I'll handle that, sir. Just go home," Betal insisted. "And I'll follow after you with a team of Security Officers."Poe nodded as Crisara already began dragging him away. "Okay. Yeah, uh…thank you…"As husband and wife left the restaurant, they were merely walking at first, but then began to break out into a run.  The short trip home had been quiet and foreboding. Before they even approached, they could see the smoke billowing upward into the sky from the direction of the villa. They were hoping for the best but preparing themselves for the worst. As the Millennium Falcon touched down on the landing zone, they could see the firespeeder that was hovering over the villa, dousing a section with water.Poe and Crisara couldn't disembark fast enough.As they ran from the landing zone and approached the house, Rescue Ops stood in their way even though they were aware of who Poe and Crisara were, and that this was their home."The structure isn't safe just yet," a Rescue Ops member advised."We live here!" Poe shouted."We know, sir. But it's hazardous.""Was anyone inside?""An initial sweep of life signs confirms negative.""That can mean either no one is inside the house, or no one living is inside the house," Crisara countered. "We have children. Five children. I have students from the school next door that come and go between both properties on the regular. I need you to get someone on the ball to give us a better answer." Shoving him aside, Crisara stalked forward and Poe followed behind her. "Caro! Tem!"Mirroring her, Poe began called out as well for their kids, "Girls! Len!""Kids!" Crisara continued, screaming at the top of her lungs as tears stung at her eyes. As she looked nervously around, she stopped at the front of the villa; mindful of the other Rescue Ops and wanting them to be able to do their job and not interfere; lest it hindered the rescue of anyone injured or dying. But she was suddenly very aware of the damage to the villa. "Oh. Oh, look at it."Poe stopped as well; his dark eyes frantically roaming the destroyed right side. "Fucking hell."The entire section containing the sitting and family rooms downstairs, as well as Caro's bedroom, Temiri's bedroom, two other guest bedrooms, bathrooms and Crisara's long-unused art studio was gone. All that remained was charred pieces of wood, steel framing, a couple sections of wall jutting upward out of the rubble and, obviously, a lot of smoke as any remaining fires were being suppressed."What happened? Does anyone know what caused the explosion?" Poe questioned any of the Rescue Ops team on the ground."From what we can tell so far, it wasn't a gas leak or anything like that," a captain in the Rescue Ops, informed, sidling up beside the beleaguered pair. "This was intentional. A bomb squad will be making their way in soon, to make a more thorough assessment." The man sighed sympathetically. "For what it's worth, I'm very sorry."Poe didn't care about the house. And, honestly, neither didn't Crisara. Not when their children were still unaccounted for. "Cris…" he whined. "Where are the kids?" He looked like he'd just been ripped in half. He was sure he wouldn't be strong enough to handle losing a child. "What do we do?"Crisara felt a little less anxious than him. "I didn't feel any of them go," she remarked, turning to look at him. "If they'd died, I would've felt it. And I didn't feel it."This greatly appeased him. "Thank the Maker.""We got a body!" a Rescue Ops member shouted from near the demolished right side of the villa."For fuck's sake!" Poe cried out."False alarm! Just a droid!"Crisara and Poe looked at each other again and both declared, at the same time, "Threepio.""Mama!"All worry suddenly washed away. Turning toward the direction of the school next door, Crisara spotted Leia running forward, with Caro and Temiri quickly following. Directly behind that trio, Rey and Finn were approaching; the latter, carrying Len in his arms. As both parents ran forward, Crisara crouched down and swept her second-born twin daughter up into her arms and spun her around while planting kisses along her face. Poe immediately grabbed at their older two sons, pulling them into a group hug."Thank the stars," Poe mumbled; relief evident by the slumping of his shoulders. But then he realized someone was missing. "Where's Shara?""Next door," Rey announced; looking grievously between the couple. "She was a bit rattled by the explosion. Meleri is sitting with her, keeping her calm.""Do you know what happened?" Crisara asked as Poe reached out to take Leia from her, and as she in turn took Len from out of Finn's arms. "Is anyone hurt next door? Is the school in one piece?""I don't think another superweapon could tear that school down," Finn quipped. He then grimaced, realizing that was probably not the best thing to say at a time like this."When the two of you left for lunch, everyone was next door, except for Threepio and Beebee-Ate," Rey informed, folding her arms over her chest. "Something felt…off. But I didn't think much on it. Then, a few minutes later, the explosion.""It was really loud," Caro spoke; looking a little shaken, but mostly resolute. "A lot of us screamed.""You, especially," Temiri blandly teased. However, his frown suggested he wasn't fully invested in finding any humor in the situation. He seemed just as shaken up.Another Rescue Ops member stepped forward, carrying BB-8. The roly-poly astromech was a bit charred in places, but somehow seemed intact. "Found this guy," the Rescue Ops. "Says he knows what happened."As BB-8 was set down, everyone gathered around him."You okay, there, buddy?" Poe questioned.The small droid chirped; stating he was fine and then confirmed what the Rescue Ops member had stated."Tell us what you know, Beebee," Crisara urged.Chirping and beeping at rapid fire speed, BB-8 began to roll around in a circle and zigzag around everyone's feet, before coming to a stop and abruptly projecting a hologram of a figure.Poe blanched at first, and then all he was seeing was red. "That motherfucker," he growled. Turning his gaze toward his wife, he was practically foaming at the mouth with rage. "I'm going to kill him. I'm going to hunt him down and cut him into a million pieces and them dump his remains into a Sarlacc pit.""Who is that?" Rey inquired.Crisara hugged her baby boy close as her eyes focused on the image of the man responsible for destroying half of their home."His name is Bralen Emba. Former Captain of the Royal Guard, who I sacked last year," Poe answered. "And I'm going to murder him.""No, you're not," Crisara remarked; with a cooler, calmer head. "You're going to put out an APB on him. You're going to let the official channels handle the manhunt, but we'll also offer up a cash reward to anyone who provides us with information to his whereabouts that leads to an arrest. And then he'll see his day in court, no differently than Hux got his.""But he—""We are not judge, jury and executioner, Poe. He destroyed half of our house, but half still stands. We can rebuild. Maker knows we have the funds to do it. We don't know if his intent was just to destroy the villa or to kill any one of us. We can't know until we find him and he can be questioned. And, when that happens, I'll do the questioning, because we both know I can get the truth out of his mind."Slowly, Poe nodded in agreement. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but do to him what Kylo Ren did to me. Do it, and enjoy it for me.""I won't enjoy it.""If I can be there and see him squirm under any and all duress you can put him through, I'll enjoy it." Holding Leia tightly, he leaned in and kissed Len on the head and then muttered, audibly for all, but mostly for Crisara's benefit, "Nobody fucks with my family and my home, and walks away unscathed."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I got skin in the game
I got a household name
I got news for you, baby
You're looking at the man"
— The Killers When the villa had been partially destroyed, the Damerons had a few options on where they could go until they could rebuild. There was the school next door, which was already a bit crowded with the younglings, padawans, Jedi Knight Meleri Evo, soon-to-be knighted Anila Khallan, and Professor Beaumont Kin. There was Taya's home, but there weren't enough bedrooms. It would've been alright for a few weeks, maybe months, but not any longer than that before the Damerons outstayed their welcome. There was the option of renting a house anywhere else, either in the Lake Country, or in Theed. Either of the latter two options would've meant Crisara would be the one commuting, and not just by herself. She'd be lugging her and Poe's kids back and forth with her while Poe remained in Theed, working at the Palace.However, with their home being attacked, it left them feeling too open and vulnerable, and they didn't want to live that separated from the school. After all, what if another attack occurred, and this time against the school and they weren't there. Poe had immediately seen to enhanced security measures for the Kenobi Academy. All ways in and out were upgraded and reinforced. Facial recognition software was added to keep out unwanted interlopers. In the first few weeks, he even dispatched a few Security Officers from the Palace to maintain the school's perimeter at any given hour of the day. He wasn't taking any chances. But that was wearing everyone thin; mostly emotionally. Poe and Crisara were stressed because of everything that had happened and with everything that came next with the manhunt for Bralen Emba. Getting the villa cleaned up, and then preparing to soon rebuild was a whole other beast of burden. A few times they wondered if it wasn't just better to demolish and rebuild from the ground up, or just sell off the property and buy something new, elsewhere, but that thought quickly fled their minds. The villa was and always would be home, no matter what. Those at the school were feeling the strain as well; feeling as if they were prisoners under lock and key, even if it was just preemptive to make sure they were safe.Initially, they did stay with Taya and her family for the first week; the Damerons gathered together, sleeping on sofas or layers of blankets upon the floor of the sitting room. After a conversation with Queen Sessani, wherein Poe allowed himself to let down the façade of the strong father figure she had come to know so well, he revealed to her the worried, angry and saddened man underneath. He sat with her in the Throne Room, with her Handmaidens briefly dismissed on her orders, so he could speak more freely. He'd talked to her about his fears and his anger, and he even cried. Hating to see him in such a way, after the torment he'd gone through the year prior when he thought he might lose his wife, Queen Sessani assured him that all would be alright and she would see to it that his family would have a safe roof over their head before long.After that first week at Taya's, the Queen's words had come true.Poe and Crisara were welcomed to bring their children to the Palace to stay for as long as it took for them to rebuild their home. Poe already had an apartment he rarely if ever used, but now he was given a larger apartment, with three bedrooms; one for Crisara and him, one for their sons to share and another for their twins to share. To take things one step further, knowing the couple was concerned about the children at the Kenobi Academy, all of Crisara's younglings and padawans, as well as Meleri and Anila, were given sets of dorms to stay in. Because Poe's initial apartment within the Palace still remained unused, he asked the Queen if it would be alright for Beaumont to use it, and she insisted it was up to Poe, not her. He was the Security Chief, after all. As long as he could vouch for the "Professor of Jedi Studies", then all was fine with her. With the weather so consistently mild and lovely, the students could learn or practice in any number of courtyards in and around the Palace, or in the ballroom, which only ever got used during large functions, which weren't too often. And, even then, those functions took place in the evening, not during the day when lessons were given.It seemed, on the personal front, life would be okay for the foreseeable future. But that had still left the matter of finding Emba. There had been no signs that he had fled the planet, which would've been the smart choice for him, but he clearly wasn't too bright if he thought personally attacking Poe's and Crisara's home was the thing to do. The initial thought was that he'd obviously gone into hiding, and no stone was being left unturned, but sweeps of Theed's streets and any intel that was continually being gathered suggested he wasn't in Theed. So, then the investigation spread. Considering he'd bombed the villa, which was in the Lake Country, they'd checked the homes in the immediate area of the villa, drones were sent around to scan the water and the forests, and even the caves behind a few of the waterfalls.Again, nothing.Then, after six very taxing months, Emba had been spotted.Arashell, the red-haired girl who had been one of the indentured children working alongside Temiri in the fathier stables in Canto Bight, had been adopted by an older couple a short time after being brought to Naboo. She had formerly been named Arashell Sar but, upon her adoption, she became Arashell Pallattin. She and her adoptive parents lived in the city of Keren, where she had grown up into a lovely young woman. As a nineteen-year-old in her first year as a university student, she found herself spending her free time, when not studying, frequenting the most obscure teahouse where she could sit quietly and enjoy a good book while leisurely sipping any variety of teas she found enjoyment in trying. It was during one of these random days when she had looked up so see a man in his late thirties or early forties, wearing a heavy coat with the hood up, which she found particularly odd since it was a bright and sunny day as well as rather warm out. After he paid for his own cup of tea to go, with his head down the entire time, he happened to spare the briefest of glances in Arashell's direction, and that had been his mistake.You see, Arashell had resumed contact with Temiri months before she started at the University of Keren, just before the explosion at the villa. So, when Temiri had spoken to her about the ordeal, he had sent her a copy of the holo that BB-8 had managed to record of Emba, which meant Arashell knew what Emba looked like. He had kept her apprised of everything his family was going through, just as she kept him as equally up-to-date on how her life was going and how her adoptive parents were doing (quite well, thanks for asking). The second Emba had left the teahouse, Arashell dug through the bag she had with her and pulled out her comlink to immediately contact Temiri. As soon as he answered, she told him who she'd just seen and, within the hour, Temiri had told his father, who had in turn gathered up a team of Security Officers and dispatched them to Keren. Temiri had insisted on coming, as both his parents were going as well.Because of Arashell's quick reaction time, Emba wouldn't have had anytime to change hideouts, even if he'd realized what was about to happen. He was found after a quick sweep of the immediate vicinity of the teahouse, which hadn't necessarily been a small feat. Despite Theed being the capital city of Naboo, Keren was the largest city. However, further eyewitness corroborations and surveillance feeds along the city streets proved Emba hadn't gone far.As it turns out, he had been holed up, all that time, in a safehouse of sorts; in a small apartment above a tailor's shop, a mere three city blocks from the teahouse. When he was arrested, Poe and Crisara were waiting outside as he was dragged out in stuncuffs, and Poe wore the biggest, smuggest smile upon his face. As thanks for her help, Crisara had asked Arashell to return to Theed with them, for at least a day or two. They wanted to thank her properly, but had the pressing matter of getting Emba back to Theed. After they all returned to the Capital, and after Emba was temporarily thrown into a prison cell to await trial, Arashell was brought forth to the Throne Room in the Palace where she got to meet the Queen. For her help in seeing justice served, Queen Sessani bestowed her with a red, Ribbon of Loyalty. Crisara and Poe, keeping their own promise to offer a cash reward for any tips or clues that successfully led to Emba's arrest, didn't want to just hand her a bag of credits, because that would've just seemed too crass, especially since they knew her. But they did let her know, as thanks, they would deposit the reward sum promised directly into her bank account.When she awoke the next morning, she received an alert that a one-time payment of two hundred thousand credits had been deposited into her bank account. She was in shock, because it was double the amount Temiri's parents had said would be offered up. She was eternally grateful, and wasn't going to be reckless with this windfall. Her parents had already taken care of her finances for schooling, so she would save these funds, and eventually use them as a nest egg for when she went on to start her life after university.In the weeks after Emba's arrest, he refused to give up any information on how he'd managed to stay hidden for so long, or who might've helped him evade capture. Someone had to be bankrolling him because Emba hadn't touched any money in his own bank accounts. Not that he would've been able to. Those accounts had been frozen after it was discovered he was responsible for the explosion. But someone else was holding the purse strings. When he failed to break, Crisara was brought in.Poe watched from a separate room, by way of a live holofeed. He watched as Crisara asked him a few questions, and as Emba refused to verbally answer. Cool as a cucumber, she just stood there, staring him down. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But then Poe noticed the telltale signs that something was happening. He began to realize that Emba was looking how he must've looked, struggling against Kylo Ren's mind probing. After only a minute or two, the former Captain slumped in his chair; looking as if he'd just run a marathon without any preparation. Crisara turned and looked in the direction of the camera overhead and nodded with a smile.She got the information needed. She knew who had been bankrolling Emba.The only thing was that Poe couldn't see to an arrest being made until they had more physical proof. Crisara's word only went so far.While Emba's trial eventually began, a new investigation was underway to smoke out the mysterious accomplice. Poe had the name of the person in question, as did the Queen and Captain Betal, but no one else was in the know besides them, so the person in question didn't run. Though, Poe had a feeling it was only a matter of time before that person got suspicious. Their financial records were looked into, as well as any and all properties they owned. And, sure as shit, the exact amount that Emba had been receiving in a dummy account was the same amount leaving the accomplice's own account every month, like clockwork.To make matters worse (or better, depending on how you looked at it), upon looking even further into this person's banking records, there was a mysterious amount being deposited here and there from some random shell company. Those funds arriving into the account of the shell company had to be coming from somewhere and, on even further investigation, Poe and a team of financial investigators discovered the money was being deposited from a charity that didn't actually exist. The amounts, when totaled up, eventually matched up with funds that had been going missing from the Royal coffers, in such random increments, that no one had noticed until now that fraud was being committed right under the nose of the Royal House of Naboo. And, somehow, Poe and the financial investigators were able to trace some of this activity back to the large bank robbery in Moenia a few years earlier, where the criminals had been caught but the money was never recovered. That money, in time, found its way into that shell company's account as well, which of course wound up in the accomplice's account. And now, since Poe already knew who this accomplice was and, better yet, had the paper trail to prove their guilt, action could finally be taken.Emba had been found guilty and sentenced to only (unfortunately) twenty-five years of hard labor in a prison facility on Onoam, one of Naboo's three moons, where he would be forced to mine for medicinal spice. A month after his prison sentence began, during an Advisory Council meeting with the new monarch and Queen Sessani's good friend, Queen Nuva, the doors to the Throne Room opened and the Queen's Royal Guard, led by Captain Betal, entered in. Poe stood up, moving over to stand beside the eighteen-year-old monarch, and smirked inwardly while the others on the Council became startled.As the Queen had already been informed of the findings and what was about to happen, she yielded to Poe for this."Governor Senn," Poe spoke as Betal and another of the Guard approached the older man. "You are hereby under arrest for crimes of embezzlement, money laundering, defrauding the government, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and — you know what — just being an all-around dick." He turned and looked briefly at the Queen. "My apologies, M'Lady." Off her shrug that she took no offense to his colorful insult, he turned his attention back toward the disgraced Governor."What? No. This is absurd!" Senn exclaimed; sputtering and fumbling over himself. "Your Highness! I implore you!"The shade of red reaching his cheeks was enough of a telltale sign that he was embarrassed to have been caught. Were he innocent, he would just be plain indignant and not so flustered. Poe hadn't been born yesterday. He spent enough time during his days as a spice runner, during the cold war and then during all-out war to notice when someone was either being dishonest or trying to deflect blame to avoid giving away secrets."I have committed no such crimes!" the Governor continued."We have the trail of your financial records. You've been stealing money from the Royal coffers for years. Since almost as long as you've been Governor," Poe retorted, stepping closer to the man. "You funneled that money into a charity that doesn't exist, transferred it into the account for a shell company, which then made its way to your bank account. Because you're top dog, the Governor, who would dare to look into your finances, right? You probably could've kept it going for much longer and retired a very wealthy man. I remember, once, you mentioned wanting to buy a second home on Onoam. But, you had to align yourself with Bralen Emba, and help him. Now you'll get to live on Onoam after all, but as a prisoner, right alongside your buddy, the former Captain of the Queen's Royal Guard."Senn glared at Poe. "I should've never listened to Casterfo. I should've never invited you to be on that damn committee!" the older man bellowed."Yeah, you're probably right," Poe quipped, gesturing for the stuncuffs to be placed on Senn."This is madness!""You know what's madness? That I've managed to keep my cool all these years and not punch you in the face when I've wanted to so many times." With a sigh, he looked at the Queen. "Permission to punch him, just this once?"Clearing her throat, she just looked at him and then gestured to her Handmaidens to follow her lead and turn around and join her at the window. "My, would you look at how beautiful the sky is today."Poe grinned. He realized what she was doing. If she didn't see an assault happen in her presence, then clearly no assault had happened. "Thank you, M'Lady." In one swift movement, Poe pulled his right arm back and struck Senn in the jaw with his balled up fist. Giving his hand a shake, not expecting the older man's jaw to be so damn sturdy, he stepped back and watched the way Senn slumped in Betal's and the other guard's arms. "That felt good," he quipped."What felt good, sir?" Betal questioned; following the Queen's lead of 'not having seen anything.'Sure, that sort of thing could lead to corruption at the highest level. But, this was a long time coming and much deserved. A punch to the face was the least of Senn's worries right now, considering he helped another man either before, during and after the attack on Poe's family by way of the villa. During Emba's trial, it had come out that he had intended to kill Crisara as a way of hurting Poe. He'd known their kids would be next door, but hadn't expected Poe would've come into Theed with his wife for lunch. As Senn's trial would eventually happen, information as to whether or not he had anything more direct to do with the explosion would no doubt come out. If so, if he was somehow the mastermind behind the plot to kill Crisara by blowing up the villa, Poe didn't think he would wait for an official sentencing. He'd want to walk right into Senn's cell and shoot him in the head, point blank.Alas, in the end, he knew he wouldn't actually do any of that.Crisara was right.They couldn't be judge, jury and executioner.Whatever Senn's official sentence ended up being, Poe knew the man would likely die in prison. Senn was nearly seventy, after all. With his amount of crimes piled up, it could be a life sentence, but at his age that life sentence might only last another ten or twenty years. Less if he was forced to do hard labor like Emba. And, as fate would have it, life in prison is exactly what Senn received, after waiting months to even see a trial, while his lawyers and the lawyers representing the Royal House of Naboo built their respective cases.Senn would never be a free man, whereas Emba would. But Poe was prepared to make Emba's life a living hell when his day of release came. As long as he disappeared into a life of obscurity and made no waves and bothered no one, Poe supposed he could live with Emba eventually being free. But, that day was still two and a half decades away. A lot could happen in that time.  
45 ABY — Two years after the explosion
In the stillness of the early hours before sunrise, the Royal Palace was so virtually silent that you could hear a pin drop. This was a time when most were sleeping, except those guards or surveillance officers with an overnight shift to further ensure the safety of the monarch and anyone else currently in residence. Despite best efforts, sometimes there was the occasional rodent that found its way inside, usually seeking out food in the kitchens and then getting lost amid the vast, sweeping corridors. They could be heard chittering or scraping at walls or, sometimes, climbing the drapery. But droids were dispatched for that sort of thing, to catch and release them beyond the Palace grounds.But now, in this moment, there was something else going bump in the night.Lying flat on his back in bed, Poe was staring upward at the sight of his lovely wife in the midst of riding him at a pleasant gallop. Her head was tipped back and her eyes screwed shut in concentration while her fingers scraped gently against is chest. Poe, with his hands gripping tightly at her hips while his own bucked upward with every movement she made, was biting down on his bottom lip and trying his best to hold out a little bit longer. As that beautiful pressure began to build at the base of his spine, he crossed his legs at the ankles and tensed up. A guttural moan seeped from his mouth as that pressure released; like a fissure in the ground releasing a build-up of steam. Except the only thing he released was something else, almost equally as warm, deep inside of her. While she continued to work toward her own orgasm, riding through his, Crisara leaned forward; her hair falling over her shoulders and down around his face like soft, feathery curtains.The aftershocks reverberating through his body eventually began to ebb away, but she was still leaving him out of breath and with little chance to recover as she kept going. However, he could tell by the way she was beginning to clench around him that she wouldn't last much longer. Snaking her arms around his neck, she buried her face into the pillow his head was lying upon; muffling her cries of pleasure when her body finally went rigid and then shook. It was before dawn. She didn't want to wake the Palace.After a moment, she fully collapsed on top of him and his arms wrapped around her back to hold her close. With a satiated smile, he turned and nuzzled his nose against the side of her face; enjoying the way he could still feel her heart racing, what with both of their chests being pressed so firmly together. It was practically music to his ears."Amazing, as always," he cooed; kissing that spot just behind her ear that made her shiver with delight.Crisara sighed happily, and then slowly began to push herself back up to stare back at him. Sliding her arms out from around his neck and placing her hands once more upon his chest, she smiled down at him as she just sat there; quite content to still feel him buried within her. She really enjoyed the continued connection, even when they weren't actively making love or just flat-out fucking. This particular romp had landed somewhere in the middle of the two and, even though they'd gone to sleep late the night before and should go back to bed so they weren't exhausted when their day had to finally begin, she already knew they would end up going again for another round.In the last few months, she'd been feeling particularly frisky around him whenever they finally got to be alone. No offense to Alfic, but Poe would always be more attractive and a better lover to her. She could stare at Poe for hours, day in and day out, and discover something new about him that she found beautiful. She could listen to him talk and talk and talk, and never get bored. And, boy — he did enjoy talking. She loved his hair. She loved the soft, thickness of it. She loved running her hands through his dark curls, which were getting more and more grey and silver thrown in with each passing day. She could look him in the eye and never feel that eventual, embarrassed need to look away that most people got. At forty-three, he was still quite fit, but he wasn't rough and rigid like some muscled, bodybuilder. He was muscled, but soft and — stars above — he always smelled so fucking amazing. She knew it was a mix of his natural scent as well as his favorite cologne, which she made sure he never ran out of, because she loved it, too.But now, looking at him, she was sure a lot of the recent friskiness came from the fact that he'd finally stopped shaving his face and had grown a beautifully, thick beard. It actually amazed her how quickly it had come in once he'd quit shaving. He had near full growth after only a week. She sensed he felt a good deal of relief in the decision to do away with his razor and shaving cream. He had to keep up with it every day or at least every other day to maintain a smooth face, or something akin to smooth. It was a tiring, personal chore for him. And then, one day, he remembered Crisara had once asked him if he'd ever grown a beard before or if he would ever consider growing one. He figured, he was now a man of a certain age, and beards on human men seemed to make them look wise and mature. And, considering the changing tides in the Royal House, it seemed like the best time to finally give the beard a go."You're staring," he remarked with a teasing smirk."I'll stop when you start being ugly."Poe chuckled; dragging his hands back to her hips and then slowly reaching around to grip more of her ass. "Seriously, though. It's like you're burning holes into my eyes. You're pretty intense right now, babe.""I can't help it," she mock-whined, placing her hands on either side of his face and casually stroking his beard. "You're just so kriffing beautiful."With a sigh, he gave her a taste of her own medicine and rolled his eyes at her. "Had I known having a beard would get you so wet, I would've done it years ago. Is…is having a beard my version of the Force?" He snickered; slowly pushing himself up to sit and quickly slipping an arm around her waist so she didn't tip backward off of him. Staring up at the underside of her chin, he began to brush his own, whiskered chin against her chest while his nose gently grazed her neck. With his hot breath, he whispered, "With this beard, I could make you do anything at this point, couldn't I?"Smiling at the tickle of his beard, Crisara happily slid her arms around his shoulders and hummed her initial response. Then, after a moment, she whispered back, "Tell me what you want, and I'll do it."Leaning back from her, this time Poe was the one to stare her directly in the eye with intensity. Slowly, he brought his hands up to her face and claimed her mouth in a deeply erotic kiss. His tongue slipped between her lips, pushed past her teeth and grazed against her welcoming tongue in a sort of dual for dominance. When they finally came up for air, they could both feel him twitching and stiffening back up inside of her. "I want to claim every inch of you before the sun rises," he growled.Flustered by his tone and with the way he was staring her down like a Loth-wolf staring down a fat calf, she practically came again right there. "If that's what my man wants, that's what my man gets," she remarked with a playful grin.With little warning, Poe wrapped one arm back around her waist, twisted them around and unceremoniously dropped her down onto the mattress beneath him; somehow without sliding out of her. Call it luck or skill. "That's right," he muttered; pinning her beneath him as he began to grind his hips against hers, which drew a lovely little mewl from her lips. "I'm your man and you're my woman.""Stop talking and fuck me until the sun comes up already."  A few days later, Crisara was still feeling the aftereffects of that early morning romp in bed. She was pretty sure she had beard burn between her thighs from when his face had been buried there, making her see stars with his tongue and calloused fingers. She knew she had been walking funny that same day afterward, and on more than one occasion over the course of that same day, when the two of them crossed paths in the Palace, he smirked knowingly at her. Seeing the way she got visibly flustered and distracted, he smiled and laughed before continuing on his way.He'd so badly wanted to steal some time during any of the days that had followed, to fuck her again, good and properly, but they were both too busy with their respective professional careers. She was in the courtyards with her younglings, or in the ballroom with the padawans, depending on who Beaumont wasn't in regular lessons with or when she wasn't meditating.He was busy, too, though.Since Senn's arrest, and then his subsequent trial and sentencing to life imprisonment at the Onoam prison facility, there hadn't been another Governor. There hadn't even been an interim Governor. Queen Nuva and Poe and the rest of the Advisory Council had more or less been sharing the duties Senn had previously been responsible for, but it was beginning to be too much, on top of their already full plates. An election would need to be held to find a new Governor, as it couldn't just be appointed by the Queen like any sitting monarch could appoint a senator to the Republic Senate. But, before there could be an election, there needed to be candidates.At one point, before Queen Sessani had stepped down at the end of her first and only term, she had asked Poe if he would consider being Naboo's new Senator, as the current was planning to step down, the same as she was, but for different, personal reasons. She asserted the fact that he was a natural-born leader and commanded respect, and that he could get people to listen to what he had to say for the betterment of all, but he knew accepting such a position would take him away from Naboo and keep him from his wife and children too long, and he knew Crisara couldn't just pick their family up and move with him to Mirial, the current seat of the Republic Senate. For one, the distance between Mirial and Naboo wasn't exactly short and secondly, their home was on Naboo and it was where her students were.So, Poe had turned the offer down; only telling Crisara after the fact. She'd been grateful of his decision, but she had also insisted they could've made it work, if that was a career he wanted to pursue. But it wasn't the career he wanted. And, Naboo was home. Being anywhere else most of the time now would just feel too weird to him.But now there a power vacuum that couldn't be avoided any longer, and Poe wasn't expecting it when Queen Nuva approached him with a better offer than her friend and predecessor had made."You want me to what?" Poe inquired, staring at the Queen who had just recently celebrated her nineteenth birthday with a splendid party."It was former Chancellor Casterfo's suggestion, actually, when he was here last month for our birthday celebration," Queen Nuva muttered, using the royal 'we' that Queen Sessani loathed using. Standing before Poe with her hands clasped in front of her, her own set of Handmaidens stood quietly behind her and on either side of her; their gazes set downward at the ground to give the illusion of privacy between the monarch and the Security Chief. "He was the one who recommended you to Senn years ago, and it had been a smart decision for Senn to have agreed to bring you into the fold, as it were. While he was foolish in regard to himself, he wasn't in unknowingly putting you on the path to the current position you've held these last five years. You have made great advances in security for our people, and you have mentored those below you, and given opportunities to those most deserving. You have shouldered great responsibility while dealing with your own, personal trials and tribulations. All the while, coming out on top, much wiser and even more respected than you already were. You are the person Naboo needs now, General Dameron." The Queen stared imploringly at him. "If we were allowed to hand you the position, we would. But, it must be decided upon by the people. There must be a campaign and then a vote, and…we understand we are asking a lot of you."Poe stared off toward the window and sighed. He blinked a few times, while his mind processed everything she was saying and not saying. "You want me to be Governor," he clarified. "You're the Head of State, but you want me to be the Head of Government." He waved his hand around; still a bit dazed by all this. "Like, the entire thing."Queen Nuva smirked. "Yes."Swallowing back a lump in his throat, Poe suddenly felt a bit warm at the daunting prospect. "I'll, uh, need to discuss this with my wife.""Of course," she agreed with a nod. "But don't take too long to come back with a decision, one way or the other. An announcement will need to be made by the end of the week, in order to give any interested parties enough time to throw their hats into the ring, so to speak, and build campaigns to run for office. We would like to see the position of Governor filled before the year's end. We think you can agree none of us can continue the way we have been, sharing the duties of Governor on top of our other responsibilities.""No, uh, yeah…we can't. You're correct about that." It was his turn to feel flustered, but not for the reasons he had Crisara flustered. "And, uh…I will definitely give you a response, with whatever decision my wife and I both agree on, as soon as possible.""That is all we ask, General Dameron."  A short while later, Poe was ascending a flight of stairs up to the Turret Room. On the way, he heard the familiar metal footsteps of a bipedal droid and stopped when C-3PO slowly shuffled around the curve in the stone staircase. He immediately smiled at the sight of the protocol droid that used to give him the biggest headache during the war, but now he considered family and was grateful hadn't been destroyed beyond repair after the explosion at the villa."Threepio," he greeted simply.
"Oh — Master Poe. It is very good to see you. It has been a few days, has it not?"
"It has.""You are a busy man. It is understandable.""I am," Poe agreed. He then gestured at the droid, who seemed even more gold with the evening sun shining through the windows and bathing them both. "You're looking especially shiny."C-3PO glanced down at his chestplate and then at either of his perpetually angled arms before turning his photoreceptors back toward Poe. "Why, yes I am. I only just this morning received the greatest of polishes from the kindest droidsmith the Palace has to offer. She was very thorough."Poe raised an eyebrow. "Was she now?""Yes, indeed." The innuendo had gone straight over the golden droid's shiny head. "It reminded me of my years in the service of General Organa's parents, Queen Breha and Senator Bail Organa. They were very kind people. Some of my fondest memories were from that time.""You served alongside Leia's biological mother, too. I imagine a former queen who went on to become a senator would've kept you quite shiny and regularly oiled.""Unfortunately, I wouldn't know. After the Galactic Civil War, Mistress Sera had informed me that my memory had been wiped before I was taken in by the royal Alderaanian household, so that no one could access my memory banks and learn the truth of Master Luke and Princess Leia's birth; so that it could remain a secret and their whereabouts hidden," the droid remarked. "I wish I could have those memories again. From everything I know about the Clone Wars, I imagine I was privy to quite a few, fantastical adventures.""And I'm sure you were thrilled and not at all anxious about those adventures."The sarcasm seemed lost on C-3PO. "I wouldn't go that far. We both know how I am in those situations.""Yeah, we both do." Letting out a gentle sigh, he pointed in the direction the droid had been coming from. "Is my wife up there?""Mistress Crisara is in private meditation," C-3PO answered with a nod."Why were you up there with her, if it was private?"
"She wanted to dictate to me notes she had on the progress of several of the younglings, while listening to the lessons I have planned for the padawans for the next week ahead. She also said she wanted to pick my brain about a matter regarding my future. She is quite the multitasker."
"Yeah," Poe agreed with a smile; finally moving to head up the stairs again. "That she is." Then, mentally backtracking, he furrowed his brow as he looked over his shoulder at C-3PO, as he'd finally passed him. "What about your future?"
"It is not for me to say, sir. I was sworn to secrecy."
Poe let slip a small huff. Without another word or even a 'see ya later', he continued around the curve in the staircase and finally approached the tall, double doors leading into the Turret Room. As soon as he stepped inside, he found Crisara levitating, cross-legged, a few feet above the floor in the center of the room with her back to him. By her posture he could surmise her hands were folded in her lap or draped across her stomach and, from his years of knowing her and seeing her in meditation plenty of times before, he knew her eyes were closed as it helped block everything else out so that she could concentrate. Though it was rare to find her levitating when he walked in on her meditating, so it did take him a bit by surprise."I can sense you need to talk to me about something; something that will affect our family," she muttered knowingly.Walking forward, he moved to stand in front of her, but then he grabbed for one of the small chairs near a set of the tall windows and sat down instead. "Of course you can," he quipped. Looking up at her, he watched the way she still hovered there with her eyes closed, as if she were merely talking to him in the midst of dreaming. "And yes, I do. But, before I tell you, what did Threepio mean about you picking his brain about his future? Does he have some sort of droid cancer? Was the Palace droidsmith unable to successfully restore him after the explosion and he's only functioning on borrowed time?""You talk too much.""Usually when I'm anxious.""You don't feel anxious right now," she countered, finally opening her eyes and staring back at him. "Just uncertain.""Is there that much of a difference?"Crisara focused her gaze more pointedly at him. "What you're here to talk to me about: you've already made a decision."Poe frowned. Leaning forward, he clasped his hands between his knees and glanced at the marble floor. "Maybe." He shrugged. "But I still need your input. And I need to know how you feel about it first. If you're against it, I won't do it.""Do you think I would be against it?" she asked, slowly unfurling her legs. She was still a few inches above the ground, but in a standing position. A moment later, her feet touched the floor and she continued to step forward without missing a beat. "That I would be against something you want?"Sitting up straighter, Poe narrowed his dark eyes up at her. "Do you already know what I was coming here to talk to you about? I didn't feel you pushing into my head."Grinning, Crisara held out a hand and waited until he accepted it. "I met with the Queen this morning. She said she was going to keep you a little while longer after the Advisory Council meeting." She shrugged nonchalantly. "She may have let me know what her intentions were; to test the waters, so to speak."Poe shook his head and chuckled. Leaning back into the chair, he pulled her closer toward him in the process. "So, then you know she asked me to be Governor? Or, rather, she asked me to run for the position of Governor. She can't hand the position to me on a silver plate." Off his wife's soft nod, he reached for her other hand and pulled her the rest of the way toward him until she had no choice but to climb up and sit down in his lap, facing him. With a thoughtful expression upon his face, he moved his hands to her hips. "You know I'm interested in the job, then," he continued. "But just because I'm interested doesn't mean I'll take on this task. There's a lot to consider. The Queen wants to see the vote and installation of a new Governor take place by the end of the year, which is barely five months away, so that would give me only five months to somehow build a campaign and then actually campaign, and I've never done anything like that before…""Haven't you?" When he looked up from her thighs to her face, she smirked. "What did you say Leia's motto to you was before and during the war?"A look of recollection appeared in his eyes. "Always be recruiting.""Which you did. Everywhere you went, you charmed the pants off people; appealing to their better angels. You were able to convince those who were on the fence to do the right thing; if not to fight alongside us, then to help us in any way they could." Crisara curled her fingers along the lapels of the military-style tunic he was wearing and pressed her forehead against his. "Don't worry about the campaign. We can hire people for that. All you need to do is show up, talk to people from the heart and be yourself. They'll fall in love with you, just as I have, and they'll vote for you."Pulling away from her face, Poe raised an eyebrow at her; part of his lip curling upward in a half-smirk. "So, you won't be bothered by any of this? You don't think I'd be taking on too much? What about our life, our kids, the villa…?""None of that is going anywhere, Poe," she assured, cupping a hand against his bearded face and grazing his cheekbone with the pad of her thumb. "Our home is almost finished, but it'll just become one of our homes. If — no — when you win, when you become Governor, your official residence will be in the Governor's Mansion here in Theed, and that's where our family will live with you.""And the school? The Kenobi Academy?""It'll be my turn to commute.""You really want to spend the next twenty-five years commuting?" Off her quizzical gaze, he chuckled. "You realize that a single term as Governor is five years on Naboo, and there is a five term limit. If I run and win five, consecutive terms, which is the maximum allotted amount of terms, that's twenty-five years. I'll be sixty-eight, you sixty-seven."There was a different look on her face now. More thoughtful. "Sounds like typical retirement age to me," she replied with a shrug. "I imagine I will have handed off majority control of the school to Tem or Caro by then. Or the girls. Or Len. All of them. Twenty-five years from now — who knows what will have transpired? Who knows what changes our lives will have seen by then? Maybe all of our kids decided they don't want to run the school, but still be Jedi. Or maybe they won't even want to be Jedi. Maybe they'll all follow in your footsteps instead. The school can go to Finn, or any of the other students. It's not just something I own. It's not just mine. It's for any child and young adult with Force abilities, who need the training and the direction. What they do once they're of age is their decision." Crisara dropped her hands down to his stomach and sank a bit further into his lap; her shoulders slouching in the process. "Take Meleri, for example. I sent her off with Rey when she was nineteen. She didn't have to go. Nor did she have to come back. But she did. She made a choice. She could've taken what she'd learned and gone anywhere in the galaxy to make a new life for herself, but she chose to be here and help with the younglings and the padawans; to help teach the generations after her. She could be the one to take over someday. Either way, we don't know what tomorrow brings. And, eventually, those twenty-five years will have gone by and we'll look back wondering where all the time went.""Hopefully, by then, our lives will have slowed down," he remarked. "I don't want to retire and only get a couple of years to relax before I croak. I want us to be able to enjoy our golden years; to still be able to go and do things together, once the kids are grown and not needing us for their immediate survival like they do now." Off her chuckle, Poe pulled her back to him and brushed his nose against her chin, which led her to bring her lips against his. Their kiss was brief and chaste, but both enjoyed it nevertheless. "I would also like to be able to still fuck you without worrying about breaking my hip."Crisara playfully slapped at his chest. "I'll just heal it with my fancy Jedi powers and you'll be able to go all night without further issue.""Sounds like a retirement plan I can get behind." Sliding his hands around her waist, he cupped her ass and reached in for another kiss, which she readily gave him. "Right now, though, I'd like to get behind your behind.""Not here in this room, you aren't.""Well, then, let's go somewhere else."With a sigh and a roll of her lips, Crisara climbed off his lap. "How about you go back to the Queen and tell her you accept her nomination." With a nod of her head, she smiled. "You know, with the sitting monarch in your corner, and with the recommendation first being made by the former Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, the position of Governor is as good as yours, right?"Poe just continued to sit there; resting his hands on his thighs as he looked back at her. "Only one position in my mind right now.""For the love of — Poe. Get your head out of the gutter for, like, five seconds," she admonished with a laugh; which did little to deter him from his thought pattern.There was a knowing, lascivious grin dangling from his lips as he stared upward at her through his eyebrows; like a predator ready to pounce. She didn't need to read his thoughts or probe his mind to know what he was thinking or about to come out with next. She was already rolling her eyes and walking away."I know where I'd rather have my head," he finally retorted, pushing his hands against the armrests of the chair and standing up. "And it would be for longer than five seconds."Whipping around to face him by the Turret Room's double doors, she practically glared at him, but playfully. She looked like she was daring him keep talking, lest he get a fist to the face. "You gotta catch me first."Poe hadn't been expecting that response.He loved how she still kept him on his toes.Without warning, she turned tail and slipped out of the room, and took off in a run down the staircase."Hey! No fair!" he called after her, without waiting a second. "No using Jedi tricks to get the upper hand either, you hear?"As they both ran down the curved staircase, mindful to not trip over their own two feet and break their necks (though, let's be real, he was the only one that needed to worry about doing something like that), their laughter began to echo off the stairwell's marbled walls. At the base of the stairs, they were met with a few guards, wearing curious gazes. Crisara, who was several feet ahead of Poe, slowed down and nodded politely to the guards, and then continued to run. Poe, also, slowed down and nodded at the guards."Evening," he greeted, lamely. "As…uh, as you were."As they saluted him, they watched the way their respected Chief of Security ran off down one of the grand corridors after his wife; the pair of them laughing like a pair of teenagers. The guards looked at each other, shrugged and smiled.  
Three months later
Campaigning on Naboo had been a unique experience for Poe. Taya, who had recently stepped down as head of GOFOY, passing the torch to her thirty-six-year-old daughter Nevara, had only been a few months into her retirement and was already bored. When she found out about Poe's decision to run for Governor of Naboo, she was the first person to jump at the chance to help; effectively becoming his campaign manager. Knowing it would only be a commitment of a few months, she figured it would be an easier commitment from her lifelong career to the mysterious abyss that was whatever came next. Poe's father Kes was also there to lend a hand wherever he could. He'd helped lead the Pathfinders under Han Solo's command forty years prior. He knew how to rally campaign workers and give directives.Other friends of theirs helped whenever and however they could. Chief among them, which helped place Poe to the forefront above the other contenders, was Ransolm Casterfo, who had completed his second and final four-year term as Supreme Chancellor the year before. He, like Taya, was in that grace period of trying to figure out what came next for him; though, for him, it was professionally, as he was only forty-seven and still figuratively young enough. Granted, he had a family of his own now to keep him occupied. He had gotten married shortly after his second term had begun and now was the father of two boys whom he adored. But, also like Taya, this gave him something to do until the next thing presented itself. Whatever Casterfo's future entailed, he hoped it involved having Poe, who he considered a friend, installed as Naboo's next Governor.Speeches weren't necessarily stressful things for Poe to make. He'd had plenty of experience rallying troops. Talking to the masses didn't bother him. His fellow contenders, however, were career politicians; many of whom had gone to school with previous monarchs and eventually found political work as mayors, or on school boards, or zoning committees. Really, it was hard to compare to someone like Poe, but he wasn't about to rest on his laurels. If he knew anything, it was everyone loved an underdog story; a nobody rising up to become a somebody. He might not have had a background in politics like the others did, but he knew enough. He had been a General in the war, and he'd been Security Chief for the last five years. Those merits alone didn't guarantee a win. He knew his character would be brought into question, by way of propaganda or during the two debates that were scheduled in advance of the vote.Poe knew parts of his past would once again see the light of day once they were uncovered by the opposition, so he knew he had to get ahead of it. To offer up those details and own those unsavory truths instead of having them thrown in his face by anyone else. During one of the propaganda holos he'd recorded, he got in front of his past. He'd mentioned his start in life as the only child of two Rebels, and how he'd lost his mother to bloodburn; how it sent him into a downward spiral of rebelliousness in his youth and the many stupid decisions he'd made because of it. He opened up about his brief tenure as a spice runner at the age of sixteen but also how it got him to turn his life around; to grow up and make better decisions.He talked about how he eventually joined the New Republic Defense Fleet and how, upon entering the New Republic's service, he was trained by the late and great Rebel veteran and pilot, Wedge Antilles. Poe talked about how he rose through the ranks, spending years proving his worth. He touched upon how he'd seen and experienced the horrors of war, the friends lost, the many injuries sustained, and what an honor it had been to have someone like General Leia Organa as a mentor. He also admitted to being a bit reckless and making decisions that got good people killed in battle, how it cost him a demotion and also lifelong regret. But, on the other side of that, he was able to earn back respect through action, perseverance and a hope to be and do better.He talked about his lows and his highs. He talked about anything he believed the people of Naboo should know; that they deserved to know. He understood that he wasn't a native son of the planet, but it was his home. The same as he'd told Bralen Emba, when he'd been firing the bastard, he expressed that Naboo was where he wanted to spend the rest of his life and how it was where he wanted to die. It was where he and his wife — who was a native daughter of Naboo — were raising their children and building their lives, and so he wanted the best for his home and his adoptive people. He wanted to see them continue to thrive alongside them, and to continue to keep them safe.Crisara was so proud, watching him throughout the campaign. She admired him so greatly for how he spoke from the heart, and that he wasn't just making promises for the sake of wanting the vote. If he won or if he lost, he would fight for Naboo, its people, its traditions and its culture, just as he would always fight for his wife, his children and his friends. He would lay down his life for any of them, and she knew he meant that. She just hoped that wasn't a promise he would ever have to see through.She wanted him at her side until they were at least one hundred years old.Due to the demands of campaigning, he had to take a leave of absence from his work as Security Chief; temporarily passing the reigns to Captain Betal. If he lost, he would resume the work he'd been doing. If he won — well, his plan was to recommend to the Queen that Betal take over officially as Security Chief anyway. There was no one else he believed could do the job as thoroughly as he had.Their villa's rebuild had been completed during this time and was much grander than before. The entire right side of the home had been put back together, but the layout had changed considerably. The grand foyer no longer had two curved staircases leading up to the breezeway on the second level. There was just the staircase on the left, though the size of the grand foyer had remained the same. The multi-colored crystal chandelier had been destroyed, but Crisara had managed to salvage most of the crystals and remade the chandelier, and it was even bigger than the original. It now rivaled the one in the Taya's estate that Lokmé Naberrie Dotolo had also made forever ago. There was no longer a sitting room with an attached family room downstairs, both with access out to the back garden. Now, the area that had been the sitting room was a much larger family room. The section that had once been the original family room would now be Crisara's art studio. It was something she wanted to get back into during any of her downtime.In regard to the upstairs, it was no longer just the second level, and that was it. The area that had once been Adera's bedroom had been turned into another staircase leading up to a brand new third level, which was only on the right side of the house. The rest of the bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor had been rebuilt to more or less the same size and design, but now more bedrooms had been added to the third level. The idea was that, in the future, when Poe and Crisara eventually became grandparents, there would be more than enough room for however many grandchildren they might have. They wanted that same, full house her grandmother had always envisioned for the villa.The back garden had taken on considerable damage. Most of the fruit bushes and flowers had been wiped out, as well as the memorial pedestals for Crisara's deceased family members who didn't have a grave somewhere that she could visit. So, Crisara commissioned new pedestals with new, looping holograms from recordings she'd found. One of the staples of the garden she'd also made sure was put back, was the ginberry bushes, and she doubled the amount.The tiles to the front patio were recreated to match the rest that hadn't been ruined. All windows were reinforced to be blast-proof. The hardest thing to do was to remove the outer, wooden doors that had been virtually antique but so beautiful. Poe and her just didn't want to risk any unwanted outsider being able to get inside again, so they had to go with blast-proof sliding doors, but at least they were able to get them made to look like the originals. As for the originals, they were currently laying against a wall in Crisara's new art studio until she could figure out what to do with them. New and improved security systems were installed inside the villa and around the property. Minor details on the left side of the house were updated, too; anything that might have seen some damaged from the destroyed right side. Beyond that, nothing changed to the left side.Well, almost nothing.The open-air turret had been removed, but only because Poe and Crisara felt it went largely unused and it got in the way of them wanting to vault the ceiling to their bedroom. And, not just any old vaulting. The vaulted section was directly above their bed and it was done with stained glass made to look like star systems. Each panel represented systems that held meaning. There was the Naboo system, obviously, but also the Yavin system where Poe was from, the Hosnian system where the Candas were from and where Adera died. There was the longer-since destroyed Alderaan system where Leia was raised, and the Tatoo system where a lot of Crisara's family's stories began or expanded on Tatooine. There was the Cademimu sector, which housed the final rebel base on Ajan Kloss, the jungle moon of Ajara, and where Poe had casually proposed to Crisara. There was also the Cantonica system, where Poe and Crisara had gotten married aboard the RNS Organa, and which led them to their son Temiri. Lastly, there was the Kashyyyk system, where their twins were born and where they were considered honor family of the Wookiees.Poe and Crisara loved it. It was that final touch to the villa that the villa needed, and Crisara was certain her grandmother would've loved all the updates. Or, at least, she hoped she would've.With the villa complete, it quickly became the hub of the campaign, and it allowed Crisara to bring the younglings and the padawans back to the school next door for the time being. She knew her plans were to eventually commute if and when Poe won the election, but she was also considering looking for a new location in Theed to remodel and outfit as a new location for the school. In the years to follow, she assumed the amount of students would grow and those numbers might outgrow the current location. Maybe not in her lifetime, but maybe after, and she wanted to get a jumpstart on that possibility. However, that was a matter for another time.The other part of the campaign trail that Poe felt was simultaneously tedious and interesting, was traveling the planet and visiting the other cities and townships; to really get out there and see the people and hear about their questions and concerns. Naboo wasn't just the capital of Theed and the Lake Country. There was Keren, obviously. It was Naboo's largest city. There was the pastoral farming community of Dee'ja Peak in the Gallo Mountains. The Gungan capital city of Otoh Gunga had been an interesting stop, what with being under the water of Lake Paonga. The Gungan city of Jan-gwa had been more easily accessible, what with only being located behind a waterfall. There was the city of Moenia, which was where that bank robbery disgraced Governor Senn had been the mastermind of had taken place, and the major city of Spinnaker, which...well…it was an interesting experience that Poe and Crisara would never forget.  
Two months later — Or, two weeks before the vote
Every candidate for Governor was invited to a special event at a grand building in Spinnaker called the Palladium. It was the equivalent of the city's town hall that doubled as a mixed use event space. With a press of a button, the floor could retract, revealing a sub-floor where seating was revealed, and a stage would fold out from the far end if need be. More often than not, the main floor remained in place and the stage was tucked away and it was just a great, big room with giant windows lining the sides. However, on this night, while the main floor stayed where it was, the stage was out because there was a band performing.The event in question was for all the candidates to mingle with the power makers in Spinnaker and get to know them. At least, that was what they were told. Crisara was able to get a sense that there was an ulterior motive. The event organizer, the mayor, wanted to test the mettle of the candidates; to see who was truly worthy and who would be easily swayed to give in to luxury and pleasure.The evening had begun with cocktails, then followed by a full, sit-down meal, which had been phenomenal. Both Poe and Crisara agreed it had probably been the best food either of them had ever had. Then, there were desserts passed around, a la carte, more cocktails, and after some further time to mingle, the dancing began. First it was kicked off by a troupe of dancers, who were dressed from head to toe in feathery frocks. Then, as the music progressed, the beat changed and the entire mood changed. The lights dimmed, the music became slightly more suggestive, and then those feathered layers began to peel away from the dancers one by one until they were left wearing nothing but their lower undergarments. The male and female dancers alike were virtually nude, but done deceptively with fans strategically placed. When the lights came back up, but only by a hair, those dancers began to grab at the candidates and lure them onto the dance floor.Crisara watched as a particularly fetching young woman in her early to mid-twenties took Poe by the hand and began to back her behind up against his crotch. She also watched as he seemed to freeze up and seek out Crisara, who found it a little amusing at first. Poe had no idea what he should be doing or what to do with his hands, but he knew he wasn't going to engage. While the other candidates seemed to revel in this merry-making, Crisara quickly took pity on her husband and walked out onto the dance floor."He's mine," she whispered to the overtly touchy dancer. Flashing a smile that suggested Crisara wasn't to be trifled with, she turned her gaze back to a very grateful Poe as the dancer went on to trip the light fantastic elsewhere. "You okay?" she questioned with a laugh.His hands dropped almost immediately to her hips and he pressed his forehead against hers. "That was so kriffing awkward," he lamented. "I mean, don't get me wrong. It's not like she wasn't pretty. And, if I were younger and not so happily married to the most beautiful woman—""Good save.""—I'd have been much more receptive to whatever the fuck that was." Sliding his hands down to her ass, he pulled her rather abruptly and more fully against him. "But I only want this.""I swear, lately," she began, "despite not having a uterus anymore, I'm positive you could've found a way to impregnate me again." Crisara slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders; tipping her face down to inhale the scent of his cologne that was clinging to his clothes. Stars above, it was intoxicating. She'd have to take a better look into its ingredients to see why the hell it made her feel especially more feral around him. Or, maybe it was just that she was a woman of forty-two now and very much in her prime. "I mean, I know you can't, but we could always thank our Spinnakerian hosts for such a fantastic time, call it a night and, instead of going to sleep, we could pretend I'm still fertile." She looked up at him, finding him already looking down at her. They were swaying together, to the beat of the music, as not to appear oddly out of place among everyone else on the dance floor, but she could see in the way he looked at her that it was as if it was just the two of them there. "In fact, I want you to take me to bed right now and make it so I lose the function in my legs for the next month."Poe's already dark eyes somehow became three times darker. They were practically an abyss containing only the look of unending love tangled with carnal lust. "Woman," he whispered; his breath tinged with the smell of the few cocktails he'd already imbibed that evening. "As if I need to be convinced."Crisara grinned at him and patted his chest with both of her hands. "You find the Mayor and thank her for a fantastic evening. I'll find us a ride back to the hotel."She turned away from him then but, before she could walk away, Poe had grabbed at her hand and pulled her back. "Wait," he mumbled. Without missing a beat, he clamped his hands upon the sides of her face and planted a deep, salacious kiss upon her lips. When they finally came up for air, he was smirking at her. "Okay, now you can go."  Their clothes had fallen away slowly. Crisara had turned on some music once they'd made it back to their hotel suite; finding something that sounded similar to what had been playing in the Palladium when those dancers began to do their striptease. She felt it was a fitting mood to set for what they were going to do. They weren't even naked yet and neither of them could keep their hands off of each other. They didn't even bother with going to the suite's bedroom. At least not yet. Because they'd left the party early, the night was young and they had plenty of time to make use of that really nice bed in the other room.After Poe had helped Crisara out of her dress and after he'd removed only his jacket and shirt, she began to stalk around him; brushing her lips against his chest, his upper arms, his back and then around to his front again. He followed her with his gaze; waiting until she stood before him so that he could plant his hands to either side of her waist and back her up toward the sofa that backed up to the floor-length windows. Turning her around, so that her back was pressed against his chest, he slid his right hand down across her stomach and then dipped his fingers inside of her underwear and began to roll them around her clit. Instinctively, she leaned her backside against his crotch, much in the way the dancer had earlier, and could feel how hard he was for her already. Poe held her to him with his left hand draped across her chest and kept her like that even after her shins hit the edge of the sofa and she had no choice but kneel upon its cushions. Her hands shot out, grabbing for the back of the sofa to brace herself and then felt how the cushions sank lower when he knelt behind her. The entire time he kept rubbing her or pinching her; creating the sexiest of squeaks from her lips that he ever did hear. It was better music to his ears than the stuff she had turned on.When he slipped a finger inside of her, he groaned at how slick she already was for him. It made it easier to slide in a second finger and spread her wider. As he pumped his fingers in and out of her, and while he used the pad of his thumb to maintain attention upon her clit, her back began to arch and her breath became increasingly ragged. "Come for me, baby. Come on," he urged; leaning his head over her shoulder to whisper into her ear. "Or…maybe I should just stop."Without warning, he slid his fingers out, which caused an aggravated grunt to escape her throat. "What — no. Don't," she whined. "I was so close.""I know," he chuckled. He planted a kiss beside her ear and whispered huskily, "But I wanna taste you." As she began to twist around to face him as best as she could, he held up the two fingers that had been inside her but then shook his head. "Straight from the tap."Off her laugh, he leaned off the sofa and dropped down to his knees. When she sank down to sit upon the sofa in front of him, he reached forward and began to shimmy her underwear off her hips and down her legs. Once they were all the way off, he balled them up and tossed them aside. For a moment he just stared at her, fully naked and parting her legs for him, while he shoved his hand down his pants. Stroking his erection with her juices, he watched the way she bit down on her bottom lip and watched him in return; lust in both of their eyes."What are you waiting for?" she taunted. With a raise of an eyebrow, Crisara lifted her right leg and shoved her foot against his shoulder.He caught it with his free hand and turned his face to kiss her ankle and then leaned in to drag those kisses up her sides of her shin. Removing his hand from his pants, he set her leg back down and grabbed her knees to spread both of her legs even farther apart. Hunching forward, he shifted his hands around to the backs of her thighs and pulled her body closer to the edge of the sofa while staring up at her. "You know, for a Jedi Master, you still have a lot to learn in regard to patience.""Shut up and put your money where your mouth is.""Considering you look like a billion credits, don't mind if I do," he quipped.Leaning down, Poe pressed his face against her mound and immediately dragged his tongue between her wet folds. When her hands quickly found their way into his hair, she began to buck against his mouth when he suctioned his lips around her clit like a vacuum. With each suck and nibble, interspersed with every stroke and twirl of his tongue, Crisara began to unravel. The way his beard scraped her inner thighs, tickling her and caressing her with every movement his jaw made, she grabbed tighter around his curls. The final straw had been when he looked up at her, and they locked eyes. When that welcomed, white hot fire spread through her body, causing her to tense up and shake against his lips, he held firm and licked away every bit that dripped out of her. As the shakes and quakes began to subside, he finished her off with a final flick of his tongue against her overstimulated bud and then sat back on the heels of his feet. He watched the way her breathing steadied, but was mostly interested in the erectness of her nipples and the fullness of her breasts; wanting very much to have them in his mouth next."Stand up," she said, when she eventually found her voice. When he obliged her, she sat up a bit straighter and leaned back against the sofa, but kept her legs spread. "Come closer."When she patted the spot between her legs, he knelt there with only one leg; wondering what was on her mind. With a mischievous smile, she reached up and began to tug his pants down off his hips. She stopped for a moment, cupping her hands around his ample ass and giving it a playful squeeze before continuing with the task at hand. When his pants pooled about mid-thigh, his cock sprang upward; practically staring her in the face like a throbbing arrow in desperate need to be sheathed anywhere. Watching the way she licked her lips, Poe didn't need to guess at what would happen next. With her left hand, she gripped his hip. With her right hand, she wrapped her fingers around the base of his manhood and leaned forward. She was practically salivating; looking like a starving woman eyeing a feast, and that was one of the biggest turn-ons of his life right there.The moment her tongue darted out and licked away the precum from his tip, he shuddered. He couldn't remain kneeling with just one leg. He'd fall over before long, so he knelt between her legs with both of his and braced one hand on the back of the sofa while the other grabbed for her hair and held it away from her face. He wanted to see the way she took him into her mouth. Staring down at her, he watched the way her tongue swirled around and around the head of his cock and then how she held him upward and licked along the underside, which sent a shiver up his back and caused a moan to escape from the back of his throat. The moment she suctioned her lips around the tip, he bit his own lips together with further anticipation. As she began to slide her mouth further down around him, taking him inch by inch until she was deep-throating him, he groaned deeply and almost saw stars simply from the humming noise she was making, which seemed to vibrate up his body to his eyes.After a moment, she pulled her mouth back and then slid forward again; coating his rigid length with her saliva. She began to bob her head a bit faster, while pumping his base with one hand and massaging his balls with the other. The gentle twists and tugs here and there caused him to start bucking into her mouth. The slight gagging, gurgling and slurping noises were enough to spur him on. When he came, hot and fast into her mouth, there was little warning for him to give her. She choked for a moment, but then remembered to breathe through her nose as she took what she could down her throat, that wasn't dribbling down her chin. When she sank back, wiping the rest of it away with her hand, Poe twisted at the waist and collapsed down beside her."Best blowjob to date," he sighed, dropping a hand down across her upper thigh and giving it an appreciative pat."Likewise.""Give me a minute and I'll be able to go again.""Or…I can just do this."Lifting her hand across to his lap, she touched her hand to his cock and began to stroke it again, but this time it felt different. He wasn't sure if it was what she was doing, but he could've swore she was using the Force to get the blood pulsing again. Leaning in, she placed a kiss to his shoulder, which caused him to turn and look at her again with lust-filled eyes."How do you want me, Governor?" she asked, lasciviously."Oh, don't start with that or I'll never let you leave this suite and then I'll miss the election.""Sounds like a plan." Nuzzling his shoulder, she asked again, "Seriously, how do you want me?"Meeting her face halfway, he kissed her and whispered against her lips. "Get on your hands and knees."With a grin, Crisara sat back up and then climbed off the sofa. As she backed up from it, she curled a finger at him. "Toss those throw pillows over here."Poe reached for the pillows on either side of the sofa and threw them to the floor at her feet, and then watched how she crouched to stack them, one on top of the other. As she knelt onto the floor, his eyes followed the way she leaned forward and then laid down over the pillows, but doing so in a way that both cushioned her stomach and propped up her ass in his direction. Biting down on his bottom lip, he began to stroke himself again as she gave her ass a wiggle on purpose.Without saying anything, Poe got off the sofa and moved to kneel behind her. Placing his left hand upon the small of her back, he began to massage it for a few moments before dragging his hand down to her ass and slapping once, then twice. When she mewled at the delectable sting, he grinned and began to languidly graze the tip of his cock between her cheeks. Not needing to drag anything out, Poe pushed the tip into her anxiously awaiting womanhood, grabbed her hips with both hands and slid the rest of himself all the way in. He paused for a moment and watched the way she leaned down further onto her forearms, and the way she angled her ass a bit higher toward him. Digging his hands a bit firmer into her hips, he slid out halfway and then all the way back in. After a few, leisurely strokes like that, he listened to the way she sighed. Each sound from her lips, after each thrust, made her sound so perfectly gorged, and it made him smirk."Stars, I love you, woman," he moaned when she began to clench around him and push back into him. In response, he let his hands roam; to knead the soft flesh of her lovely posterior, and continue to plunge deeper and harder into her."Poe…Poe…I need…""What do you need?""Faster. Go faster."His knees were already aching, so he moved one hand to the small of her back; silently urging her to lay down a bit. When she placed most of her weight down upon the floor and the pillows, which still kept her propped up enough at a delicious angle for him, he crouched down over her. Placing his hands flat on the ground on either side of her torso, he began to slam in and out of her a bit easier, and at the speed that was favorable to them both.He was grunting wildly and could feel his next orgasm building, but he wanted to see her face, despite how much this position was a favorite of theirs. He wanted to look her in the eyes when he came, and he wanted to see the face she made when she came as well. "Hold on a sec," he mumbled. "Bear with me, 'kay?" Sliding out of her, he heard her exasperated grumble. With a gentle slap to her ass, he told her, "Lay down. On your back."With a huff, she rolled over; one of the throw pillows tumbling away in the process. Crisara stared up at him, with her legs bent at the knees and parted for him; as if she was the runway and he was an approaching starship coming in for a landing. With a come hither smirk, she curled a finger and beckoned him forward. "Hurry up, already. I was almost there again, dammit."Poe smiled and let out a brief chuckle. "Yeah, well, so was I. Forgive me for wanting to look at you."With a mock pout, she reached her hands up toward his face when he leaned back down over her. "This is supposed to be a good, ol' fashioned, torrid fucking, Dameron. Peppering in random saccharine sweetness it throwing the vibe off," she teased; snaking her fingers through the curls at the back of his head."Sorry," he snickered; pressing himself back into her and kissing down upon her clavicle and then up the side of her neck. "I promise to make up for it by bending you over the side of the sofa and sticking it in your ass later while making you see nebulas that don't even exist yet."Her laugh was cut short when he thrust so deeply inside of her she forgot to breathe for a moment. Both grunted at the same time, and then it was a cacophonous melody of further grunts, groans, moans and whimpers from both of their lips. He rested his weight upon his forearms while her legs began to wrap around his waist, pulling him more deeply inside of her. Pressing their foreheads together, they looked each other in the eye, just as he'd wanted, and Poe felt so pleasantly lost in those blue orbs of hers. He wanted to live in her eyes. They were like two, beautiful oceans. And, for Crisara, she felt so complete when he stared at her like that; like she was his entire world. His beginning, his middle and his end.Suddenly, somewhere in the midst of what was supposed to be a "good, ol' fashioned, torrid fucking", it became emotional, affectionate and positively gentle. They leaned in to kiss each other at the same time, as if they shared the same brain. And, when she came first, he smiled as he watched the way she bit down on her bottom lip and tipped her head back, all while emitting a delicate cry of pleasure. When he came, he buried his face in the crook of her neck while his body shook and collapsed on top of her, all while emitting a deep, guttural moan of complete satiation. When he lifted his head to look at her again, they were both smiling."That's always better than just fucking," he remarked, placing a kiss to the side of her mouth, before kissing her lips fully."Always," she agreed; catching her breath. "But, sometimes…""Oh, yeah." He nodded adamantly. "Simply fucking is always fun, too." He nuzzled the side of her face, causing her to giggle and shy away slightly from how his beard tickled. "But, making love is my favorite.""I wasn't refuting that."After a few more kisses and affectionate nuzzling of each other's faces, Poe slid out of her and rolled over to lie beside her on the floor. Both were staring upward at the ceiling when he reached for her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips so he could kiss them, too.He sighed, but it had nothing to do with the aftermath of what had just transpired."What is it?" she wondered; sensing something more was on his mind."I just realized something.""Oh?" Crisara turned to look at the side of his face."I'm gonna win," he replied, simply; as if he was almost startled by it. "It's not just me being hopeful, either. I just…""You just know."Poe nodded. "Yeah." Turning to look at her also, he raised an eyebrow. "Do you think that means I'm finally Force-sensitive now?"With a roll of her eyes, Crisara smirked. Shifting onto her side, she draped an arm across his chest and laid her head against his shoulder. "Maybe by injection. Maybe I transferred a touch of it to you during sex and it lingers for a few minutes afterward. Who knows? The Force does work in mysterious ways.""Then we need to have sex more frequently," he quipped, "because I'd like to lift boulders with my mind and hover a few feet off the ground. It looks like fun."With a playful slap to the chest, she curled more against him as he welcomed her there by slipping his arms around her. "This is more fun," she countered, placing a chaste kiss to his sweat-glistened chest."Yeah," he nodded in agreement. "This is the best."  
Two weeks later
Voices carried, talking over one another as a good many people, all loved ones, sat or stood around the newly rebuilt and renovated family room in the villa. On the large, overstuffed sofa, Poe sat directly in the center with his six-year-old son, Len, one his left knee. His nerves caused his leg to bob up and down, which brought giggles out of Len; who was pretending he was flying the Millennium Falcon, while eight-year-old Leia sat on the floor below him sticking her tongue out at her little brother. On Poe's right, Crisara sat; her left hand rubbing soothing circles against the small of his back. Between them was Shara who was sitting quietly with a book in her lap. On Crisara's right, was fifteen-year-old Caro, holding onto his mother's other hand. On Poe's left, sat twenty-year-old Temiri, who was hunched forward.Around the rest of the room, in chairs or on ottomans, on the floor or standing around, was Rey and Finn, Rose Tico and Kaydel Ko Connix, Snap Wexley's widow Karé Kun and her new husband, Chewbacca and his wife and son, as well as Nevara and her husband Daz Riordi and their toddlers, four-year-old daughter Saya and two-year-old son Dain. If that wasn't enough, there was also Ransolm Casterfo, his wife and children, as well as Beaumont Kin, Meleri, Anila and the rest of the padawans and younglings. It was literally a packed house, but there were still two others present. Last but not least, Poe's father Kes was standing behind the sofa with one hand upon his son's shoulder, while the other was holding onto Taya's hand.Yeah, with everything else going on, that was the latest development in their lives.At some point in the last year, after Taya's divorce to her ex-husband Zoh had been finalized, Kes and Taya had begun spending time with each other. Prior to her retirement, they'd meet up for lunch at the occasional restaurant or café, since she worked in Theed, and his apartment was there. It then progressed to him inviting her to dinner a few nights after she finished working; cooking her some homemade meals which she found so amazingly delicious. It was all in the spices, he had claimed. And then, over a few glasses of wine, some flirting began. And flirting led to little touches and longing gazes. And then, since they were adults of an advanced age, with nothing left to lose, they hopped into bed with each other the first chance they got and decided to give it a go.For each of them, they'd found a second chance at love with someone who brought a certain vibrancy back into their lives that they'd both been missing for a long time.When Poe and Crisara found out, it was a little weird at first, but they were also just so happy for the two. Then there was the fact that, if Kes and Taya decided to get married, Kes would be both Poe's father as well as his cousin-in-law. Poe joked that he'd finally have a confusing family dynamic like Crisara, where her parents were also third cousins. She'd grimaced at that. It would always be slightly weird when laid so plainly like that.But, that wasn't the important thing right now.Everyone present was gathered around for Poe.They were watching the local HoloNews feed, awaiting the final tally of votes for Naboo's next Governor.Poe's arms gripped a bit tighter around his youngest son's waist; pulling the boy closer against him while stealing a brief glance at his wife. "This is it," he remarked."Whatever the outcome, you're the winner in my book."Flashing her a withering look. "Seriously?"Crisara smirked and shrugged. "Too mushy?""Shush!" Finn muttered, snapping his fingers and pointing to the holovision display. "It's time!"All eyes went forward in the same direction."And the final tallies are in," the presenter announced. A datapad was handed to them, and they were shown clicking on it, and then smiling. "Well, Naboo, we have our next Governor."Poe tensed; trying to act as if he didn't care one way or the other, but he'd be lying. "Just spit it out already," he grumbled."My fellow citizens, with a resounding seventy-nine percent of the vote, our new Governor is Security Chief, General Poe Dameron! Stay tuned as we wait to hear from the man himself, who is no doubt celebrating with his family and friends."Poe's breath got stuck in his throat.He was vaguely aware his family and friends were whooping and cheering, patting him on the back and talking to him. But he was in a bit of a daze. He'd led an entire Resistance fleet in battle several times. He'd survived so much, but somehow this felt the most daunting. It felt like there was a sudden weight on his chest. It felt so heavy. There was quite literally an entire world upon his shoulders. When he found his breath again, it came quick and fast, over and over. It felt like he was having a heart attack. He could feel his entire body vibrating.But then a calming wave washed over him.At first, he assumed it was Crisara, but then he looked down between them at Shara, who was looking proudly up at her father. "Don't be nervous, daddy," she whispered. "You're the strongest man around."A few tears — happy ones — began to sting at his eyes. Sliding an arm around his first-born twin's back, he pulled her against him and leaned sideways to kiss the top of her head. "Thank you, Breezy." Breezy had been his nickname for her since she was about one, when a breeze off the lake had rustled up her hair in a particularly cute way. For whatever reason, the nickname had become a thing and stuck. "You make me stronger." Smiling over the top of Shara's head, he caught Crisara smiling lovingly at him. With a sigh, he smiled back at her with a look of uncertainty. "Can I really do this?"Crisara nodded. "You can do anything," she insisted. "We can do anything, as long as we're together."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be"
— Brad Paisley 
55 ABY — Ten years later
There was a steady rain falling outside as a handsome young man, recently entered into his thirtieth year of life, climbed out of his transport. Not having much time to throw the hood of his cloak up, he darted quickly forward toward the large, two-story portico at the front of the estate before him. Two guards stood on either side of the front doors, nodding at him with polite recognition, and he nodded back at them as the doors opened up for him. Stepping inside, he gave a shake of his head to rid a bit of the rain from his mop of brown hair, much like an animal would, and then straightened his posture as he looked upward at the lighting above him, which was simple and unassuming, despite the marbled grandeur of this home. Realizing he had dripped a considerable amount of water onto the equally marbled floor of the entrance hall, the young man winced and hoped no one slipped.Further within the bowels of the estate, he could feel the buzz of life; of all the people who worked in this household to keep things safe and running smoothly. However, focusing on their collective life force was merely a momentary distraction. To his left, a set of large, paneled doors were closed but there was a familiar voice coming from within, albeit muffled. With a smirk, he walked over to those doors and raised his right hand. With a subtle wave, the security panel beside the doors flashed a small, green light and the doors opened up for him. Clasping his hands behind his back, he walked into the room with a knowing grin as he was greeted by an older man seated behind the desk, and another man in his late thirties or early forties standing beside him, holding a datapad. Both looked up and over at the newly arrived, younger man; clearly not expecting such an interruption. But, then the older man immediately smiled and stood up."There he is: the fruit of someone else's loins," Governor Poe Dameron joked; beaming at the sight of his eldest son, Temiri.Poe was dressed smartly in a hip-length tailored coat with a short, unfolded collar in a light brown color, and matching slacks. The coat was open, revealing a simple dress shirt underneath that was only buttoned up halfway; the entire outfit in such a stark contrast to that of the flowy robes typical of many past governors. He just couldn't be bothered with all that fuss and pomp most of the time, and preferred the streamlined look. Of course, during official functions at the Palace, he usually went with what was traditional, as it was what the people expected. This morning, as with most days, Poe opted for simplicity and, apparently, a bit of dishevelment. His half-buttoned shirt did little to hide the two red marks at the side and crook of his neck, which caused Temiri to raise a knowing eyebrow at his father."Wasn't expecting you this early. I would've thought you'd be sleeping in. It had to have been a late night." Poe wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Did it go the way you thought it would? I hope it did. If she's smart, and I know she is—"Temiri laughed and held up a hand to shut his father up. "Take a breath, dad."The other man present, Varga Dolom, who was Poe's assistant, smiled at Temiri as politely and just as blandly as the guards outside. "Good morning, Tem." Looking between father and son, he casually began to bow out. "We can discuss the rest of your day's schedule in a little while."As Varga began to leave Poe's office in the Governor's Mansion, Poe merely waved the guy off. "Yeah. Yeah, sure." When Varga was out of sight, he beckoned Temiri over to sit down in one of the chairs on the other side of the desk, and then Poe walked around to sit in the other seat beside him. "Okay, well, tell me everything. I wanna know how you did it. I mean, she's a former queen, so I hope you pulled out all the stops. Where did you do it?"Temiri widened his eyes as he sat down. "How much caf have you had this morning?""Only two cups. But I have been up a long while." Poe sighed, gripping the armrests of the chair he'd just sat in. "Bad, uh…bad dreams again.""Still?" Temiri raised an eyebrow. "After all this time? It's been twenty years since the war.""Sometimes it feels like it was only twenty days ago." Poe's weathered hands rubbed the armrests and then he dropped them down into his lap; a distant look falling upon his face. "There's no time frame for trauma," he added, as if repeating a mantra. Lifting his head, he shook his head as if trying to literally shake the negative thoughts away. Plastering a smile back onto his lips, he changed his demeanor back to excitable. "So, we were talking about you, not me."Temiri smirked, taking to heart his father's desire to focus on him before himself, and then twisted at the waist to face the fifty-three-year-old Governor. "Well, I made dinner for her last night."Poe immediately grimaced. "Do you even know how to cook? How did that go?""I'll have you know I have learned a great many things over the years, and they weren't just the ways of the Force from mom," the Jedi Knight playfully scoffed. "I have traveled this galaxy, and lived amongst many different cultures where I was expected to carry my own weight, and fend for myself and do for myself or I'd starve, or die." With a continued smile, Temiri absentmindedly picked at his own armrest. "So I made dinner for her and it was…okay."Poe chuckled. "Was it at least edible?""Oh, yeah, it was totally edible. Not as delicious as I'd hoped, but it was…well, put it this way: neither of us got sick.""So, it could've gone worse. That's a win." Poe gestured for his son to continue. "Okay, then what?""Well, we ate, and she was decidedly kind about her reaction to the food. She didn't blatantly say it sucked, so that was nice. But at least dessert was great. I mean, fruit salad is very hard to screw up. I just went into the garden, picked a bunch of fruits, tossed them into a bowl, or chopped them up and added sugar and some candied nuts. I'd seen mom do it before countless times, so that was easy. And I tapped into the wine collection, so the next time you and mom come back to the villa and notice a few bottles missing," he pointed to himself, "it was me."With a roll of his eyes, Poe let out a short laugh as he leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, let's be real. Most of any missing bottles are probably a result of your brother.""Which one?"Poe just stared directly at Temiri with a look of slight exasperation. "Who do you think?"Temiri snickered. "Oh, come on. Len's not that bad.""He's almost exactly like me when I was his age, which frightens me.""He's sixteen. He's going through growing pains and acting out. It comes with the territory.""You didn't act out at sixteen," Poe countered."No, but I did spend most of the first decade of my life in indentured servitude and then suddenly I was gifted this amazing new life with amazing new parents." Temiri shrugged, looking away. "I suppose part of me thought that if I acted up, you and mom would send me back."Poe immediately furrowed his brow. Reaching a hand out, he clamped it down around his son's wrist. "You were our son before we adopted you. We would've never sent you anywhere except to your room to think about what you did had you misbehaved."A small, appreciative smile slowly spread across Temiri's lips. After a moment, he sighed and decided to return them both to the main topic they'd been discussing. "Anyway," he began, "we had some wine.""Yes, yes, the wine. Yes. Always a good way to lower inhibitions." Poe winced at how that came out. "That, uh, didn't sound as debased in my head."Temiri smirked, regardless; understanding what the older Dameron meant. "We took our glasses of wine down to the pier. We sat there with our toes skimming the water, watching a few birds flying by overhead and some fireflies appearing and disappearing in that way they do, and it was all pretty romantic. We just talked about a lot of different things. She talked about her ambassadorial work on Chandrila, and I told her about my padawan, Uwin, and how that's been…interesting.""So your mother has been telling me.""So, there we were — just talking and I, uh, did that thing where you casually push some hair behind their ear for them." He watched his father nod with approval. "And then I told her that I loved her and that she made my life more complete by just existing, and then I asked her if she would consider a life with me as my wife."Poe just stared, waiting for further elaboration. "And? Did she say yes?"Slowly, Temiri grinned. "Would I have come here in such a good mood if she turned me down?"All at once, Poe jumped to his feet and whooped. Tossing his fists into the air, as if doing a victory dance, he then crouched and grabbed onto his son's shoulders to urge him up to his feet. Once Temiri was also standing, Poe pulled him into a tight hug. "Oh! That's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" Leaning back slightly, he planted his hands on either side of Temiri's face and kissed both of his cheeks and then smiled even more. "Did you tell your mom yet?""No," Temiri chuckled. "You're the first one I've told. Well, technically Beebee-Ate knew first, since he was there after it happened."Poe smirked ruefully. "How is my lil' buddy? It's been a while since I've seen him. I mean, don't get me wrong, I've appreciated Threepio's help a great deal this last decade, but sometimes…""Yeah, he can be a bit much.""Right?" Poe dropped his hands to his hips and just sighed. A bright smile reappeared on his lips. "You need to tell your mom. She's gonna be over the moons.""Is she even awake? It is pretty early.""She got up with me this morning," the elder Dameron replied, slapping his son on the back. "She usually does.""Eww.""Not like that. Though, okay, sometimes like that." A small, devilish glint appeared in Poe's eyes, but then he shifted mental gears. "Usually she gets up when I do because the bed is just…not as comfortable as at home. The slightest, significant shift on this mattress and the other feels it. But, no — this time it was just, you know…the nightmare. She woke because of me." With a regrettable sigh, he shrugged. "It happens." Poe began to lead Temiri out of the office and back out into the entrance hall. "But, uh, Cris should be upstairs, getting ready by now. You'll probably find her in her dressing room."Temiri paused and raised an eyebrow at Poe. "I can wait until she's done dressing.""No, no," Poe chuckled. "She sits on the floor meditating in there most mornings, before she officially starts her day.""In her dressing room?""It's bigger here than at the villa, and she doesn't own enough clothes to fill the space so it's got good acoustics, and it's private, 'cause it's right off our bedroom, so I think it's just a logistical thing." Catching Varga's eye, he frowned. "I'd go up and join you, to see her reaction, but I have a lot on my plate right now." He sighed and beckoned Varga forward while simultaneously shooing his son. "Victory Day celebrations are coming up. You know how crazy it gets with the parades, fireworks displays, airshows and other festivities. And then I have to give that fucking speech."Temiri laughed. "But you're good at speeches.""Being good at something and enjoying it are two different things."With a shake of his head, Temiri took his leave. Wandering further ahead a few feet, he turned to ascend the staircase on his left; winding up to the first landing and pausing when he heard his father and Varga resuming conversation, and as their voices disappeared, presumably, back into the office. Continuing the rest of the way up, Temiri came out onto the marbled floor of the upstairs hall, which was just as wide and grand as the one downstairs. Straight ahead of him was the other staircase. To his right was a massive floor-to-ceiling window that looked out at the mansion's forecourt where he'd left his transport, and on either side of those windows were entrances into two separate bedrooms that he and Caro had once occupied for the first few years after their father's inauguration as Governor, for the first time. Now those rooms were mainly used for the occasional, personal or diplomatic guest.Turning left, he passed under an archway and then the hall narrowed considerably. On his right, there was a small staircase that led up to the attic of the estate, which was mostly just for storage now, but had once been where live-in servants would've slept. Beside that staircase, there was a tiny corridor leading into the room that was still currently Len's, but he knew Len wasn't there at the moment. The youngest Dameron was back at the Kenobi Academy, likely giving Professor Kin even more grey hair. On Temiri's left was another corridor, but not as small as the one leading to Len's room, because there was no added staircase to narrow it. This one led to the two bedrooms Shara and Leia occupied, but wouldn't for much longer. The twins were eighteen now, and had a sort of rite of passage ahead of them that they would be undertaking for the next two years. It would mean leaving home and Temiri wondered how they were feeling about that. Temiri and Caro had done it, and both had enjoyed it. He had a feeling Leia would thrive with it, but Shara would be another story. She was a homebody. She didn't like traveling or being away from their parents for too long. Adventure wasn't necessarily in her blood as it was with him and the others.Straight ahead, the hall narrowed into a third corridor, which hosted a tall set of white, paneled doors at the end that led into the Governor's Suite. It contained the bedroom, bathroom, dressing rooms, a private library, and even a private dining room where Poe and Crisara could enjoy meals together, just the two of them. Even though Poe had assured his eldest that Crisara would be in meditation in her dressing room, Temiri didn't feel it would be appropriate to just walk right into the suite — just in case.Caro had made that mistake years ago, long before the move to the Governor's Mansion or before their brief tenure at the Palace, while the villa was being rebuilt and renovated. One morning, bright and early, Caro had needed their parents for something and heard their voices, so he knew they were awake. Being young and naïve, and not thinking anything of it, he walked right into the master bedroom at the villa and got an eyeful of his stepfather's bare ass while he was on top of his mother, doing what couple's usually did in the privacy of their bedroom when they don't think their kids will just walk right the fuck in without warning.Caro had yelped and run out of that room so fast, not even bothering to close the door behind him, and ran into Temiri. When he asked what was wrong, his blonde brother had rambled so quickly and the only thing he had clearly heard was along the lines of "old man balls". Quickly figuring out what had happened, Temiri had never laughed so hard in his life. To make it better, or more awkward, depending on your point of view, Poe suddenly appeared with a thin bedsheet precariously wrapped around his waist, yelling at Caro to "knock first next time!"Ah, memories.So, learning from his brother's old mistake, Temiri knocked and then waited. Hearing no response, he gingerly entered into the suite. Looking around the bedroom, he noticed the bed was disheveled, and he grimaced. Temiri was thirty years old. He wasn't a child anymore, or even a teenager. He was a man, newly engaged to be married. He hadn't been a virgin in years, so he knew the difference between a bed that had been slept in and a bed that had recently been fucked in. His parents' bed was the latter, and now those red welts on his father's neck made even more sense.They were "love bites".He grimaced yet again, because no child, no matter their age, wanted to imagine what their parents got up to behind closed doors. It was just one of those unspoken things in life. It would be naïve to think parents didn't continue to have sex lives beyond conceiving their children, but it didn't mean those sex lives had to be acknowledged in any way.Shaking any of those awkward images out of his mind, he turned to look at one of the closed doors on his left. "Mom?" he called out. "It's your favorite child."Crisara's muffled laugh was just barely audible. A moment later, the door to the dressing room slid open, and the beautifully aging Master Crisara Dameron stood there with her arms folded across her chest. She was dressed in a light, dusty blue tunic, with matching tabards and obi. The belt around her waist was brown leather, and already held her lightsaber clipped to it. Underneath it all, she was in a pair of black leggings that only reached mid-calf, and she was currently barefoot. Her slightly graying hair was pulled up into a braided crown along the back of her head, similar to how her Aunt Leia had worn it decades ago. Crisara had, after all these years, finally managed to learn how to do her own hair.Better late than never, as it were."Favorite because I didn't have to suffer the pains of giving birth to you?" she questioned, teasingly."Exactly," he replied. As she stepped forward, he met her halfway in a hug. "Hey, mom."When they pulled back from each other, Crisara lifted a hand and brushed his floppy hair out of his eyes. "You need a haircut," she remarked, in such a motherly way. When her eyes settled on his, she looked knowingly up at him. "I'm so happy for you, you know." Standing on tiptoe, as he was taller than her now, and had been since he was about eighteen, she kissed his cheek and then brushed against it with the pad of her thumb. "Sessani is a fantastic, young woman. You're both very lucky to have one another."Temiri was mildly confused. "You know she said yes?"Stepping away, Crisara wandered over toward the chaise lounge at the base of the bed and threw a dismissive look back at her son. "Of course I know.""Did you see it in my mind or have a vison?""No." Crisara patted a spot on the chaise beside her. "If I'd gone looking in your mind, you'd have sensed me. So, no, it wasn't that. You just look positively incandescent, so that was a dead giveaway." When Temiri obliged her and sat down, she smirked. "Also, Sessani may have called a short while ago; presumably while you were on your way here." Smirking, she slipped an arm through Temiri's and pulled him closer against her side. "You know how she lost her own mother a few years ago, so she said I was the next thing she had to a mother now, and wanted to share the good news with family that wasn't just her father." Crisara sighed and rested her head down against his shoulder. "Seriously. I'm so happy for you. And so proud, too. You made it very romantic.""She told you how I did it, too?""Of course."Temiri looked over her head, toward the large bedroom windows, at the morning rain pelting the blast-proof window panes. "I'm glad the rain held off until this morning. It would've put a damper on things last night.""No." Crisara sat upright again and shook her head. "Getting proposed to in the pouring rain, by the handsome man she loves? I imagine that might've been even more romantic." With a chuckle, she asked, "Have you ever seen a holodrama? Getting caught in the rain or in the midst of the chaos leading up to a major battle — the when and how the proposal happens isn't as important as who is proposing. As long as we're in love and prepared to spend the rest of our lives with someone, anything can be romantic.""Well, it was properly romantic. I'll give myself that. I know I did good." Temiri scratched at the side of his face and then hunched forward. "It's probably been the least stressful thing in my life lately."Crisara turned and looked at his profile. "Uwin, still?""Yeah. I mean, when I decided I wanted to take on a solitary padawan, like the Jedi of old, for proper master-and-apprentice bonding and teaching, I didn't realize how hard it would be. I mean, it's of no fault of Uwin's. He's been used to being around a lot of other kids, more or less his age, and now it's basically just me and him. The one-on-one has been a learning curve for us both.""You'll be fine," Crisara assured, slipping her arm out from his and patting his leg. "Take what you learned from me, and from Rey and Finn, and even Beaumont and Threepio. Use what we taught you, but make it your own. That's the only way you'll make a success of it. To be a mentor, you have to do what feels right for you, but you need to be able to adapt it to Uwin's needs, too. No one youngling or padawan is the same. They all come from different backgrounds and they all have different needs, wants, hopes and dreams, and plenty of opinions. What's good for one isn't good for another. Before getting too far in your head about how you're going to teach him, focus more on getting to know him."Looking thoughtfully, she stood up and walked around the bed toward the opposite side of the room from where the dressing rooms and bathroom were. She beckoned for him to follow and when he did, he knew he was walking into the private library. There was a small desk in the center of the narrow room, but nowhere near as stately in Poe's desk downstairs, but it was just enough for Crisara to utilize here in the Mansion when she didn't have access to the home office back at the villa. There were books everywhere, on all four walls; most, Temiri was aware, came with the estate, and that it was customary for each governor to add a book to the collection at that start of each term. So far, Poe had added two. If the upcoming election at the end of the year proved similar results, and he won a third term, he would be adding another book soon."What are we in here for?" Temiri wondered; hovering in the doorway, while he watched his mother open a drawer in the desk."Something I think you can use right now." She retrieved a journal that had seen better days, and was something he'd seen her flipping through plenty of times in the past. He and his siblings had gone through it a few times, but he wasn't sure what inside it she wanted him to see this time. "My grandfather Obi-Wan had written and left a journal for my mother, father and my Aunt Leia. My mother had intended to pass hers to me, and for it to continue down through the generations." She gave the journal in her hand a slight shake. "This is my grandfather Obi-Wan's journal to my father."Crisara held the journal out to Temiri. He accepted the journal and immediately opened it up. As he skimmed through the first few pages, he made sure he still gave her his undivided attention while she continued to speak."Years ago, before the end of the war, Rey realized that one of the books she'd taken from Ahch-To, where my father had exiled himself to, was the journal that my grandfather had left for him. She returned it to me, understanding it was more personal and not a regular, old Jedi text. Then, after my Aunt Leia's death, and after her will reading, one of the things I inherited from her was the third journal my grandfather had written, specifically for her. She'd kept it in a bank vault in Chandrila. Each journal has a few of the same themes and mantras, but with stories and anecdotes that pertained to each; my parents and my aunt. But, in my father's journal, there was more about the Jedi of old, because Obi-Wan saw the Jedi path as being more my father's path than the others." She pointed to the journal and watched as Temiri gently closed it. "Inside that journal Obi-Wan wrote about what it's like to be responsible for the training of a padawan, from the perspective of someone who had done it, even if it didn't go well in the end. I think you should read this, and take the advice meant for my father to heart, because it's helped me through the years when I've had my own doubts."Temiri nodded obediently. "I will. I'll read it. And I'll make sure to not lose it, either." He smirked. "I know what these journals mean to you."Crisara smiled a distant smile. It had been at least seven years since she'd seen or heard any of her deceased loved ones. The older she got, and the more time passed, she got used to leaning on Poe for advice instead of the sage words of those who were already gone, which is how it should be anyway. But, sometimes, in the quiet moments, she missed them all so terribly and spoke to them, regardless if she got a reply, which she obviously hadn't. So, rereading the journals brought her a little closer to them."I appreciate the forethought."Sensing a change in subject was due, Temiri gestured at her; in regard to how formal, in her Jedi attire, she was dressed. "Are you heading to the Lake Country today or are you staying local?"Shutting the desk drawer, Crisara sighed. "Local," she answered. "I'm taking several of the padawans at the Theed branch of the Academy to Ossus.""Ah," Temiri muttered knowingly. "Time to find their kyber crystals and construct their lightsabers." He smiled fondly at a memory. Pushing aside the left side of his cloak, he revealed his own lightsaber and gently patted the silver hilt. "I was so excited when I got to make mine. I also recall I was much older than the padawans are now.""Well, in the beginning, there were a lot of things that were done differently. I was still figuring out how to do it all, and primarily by myself, and then I was gaining younglings and padawans of such varying ages, and you were all basically starting your training at the same time. Now, at least, there seems to be some method to the madness," she quipped. With her hands on her hips, she furrowed her brow. "I'd say it all runs like a more well-oiled machine now, right?""As long as we avoid acknowledging the drama of five years ago." Temiri flashed a teasing smile his mother's way.She rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that bad. It was just…an interesting time. Rey had her hands full and, well…yeah…""At least it was less chaotic here.""Well, for the most part anyway. But Naboo is always less chaotic than most anywhere else, so…"The pair nodded at the same time; a lull in the conversation falling over them. The small window in the private library allowed them both the opportunity to see that the rain outside was slowing down and the sun was trying its best to peak through the clouds."Are you taking the padawans alone? I could come with you."Crisara shook her head at her son's offer. "No. I already have Caro coming with me. And you need to go back to the villa, read that journal and then get started on your future as a Master to an Apprentice. And, while you're at it, you're newly engaged! Go be with your fiancée and talk through some preliminary wedding plans," she insisted, stepping around him and leading the way back into the bedroom. "As someone who has been through the planning of two weddings, let me offer you one, simple word of advice.""Which is?""Elope."Temiri laughed. "Really? You want to miss out on the fun of seeing your eldest get hitched?""It's not about what I want. I'm just thinking of your sanity," she countered with a grin. Stepping around to stand in front of him, she patted the side of his face. "But in all seriousness, obviously yes, I want to see you get married. This is a brand new chapter in my story, too. I'm no longer the young one starting out on a new journey. I'm the old one, watching the next generation take their place in the greater galaxy and it's a really weird position to find myself in now." With a sigh, she dropped her hand but kept her smile going. "And, also, while I'm away—""Get a haircut?""For the love of — yes. Or, at the very least, use your hairbrush more often." Crisara shook her head and began to step away from him. "You'd think I found you in a stable somewhere.""Ha ha," he muttered sarcastically.  At twenty-five, Caro had been all over the galaxy. There had been countless worlds — planets and moons — he had visited and found some sort of wonderment in. He always tried to find the beauty in each place he went, or at least take away a positive experience even if the landscape wasn't necessarily to his liking. His mother often told him that, between all her children, he was the most optimistic; always hoping for the best, trying to see the good in each person he met. But something felt different lately. He felt a change in the air. There was something disheartening on the metaphorical horizon that he couldn't put into words.The literal horizon, however, was pristine and beautiful.Pulling his cloak tighter around his body, his blue eyes stared ahead at the slightly hilly terrain of Ossus, where once his grandfather's Jedi Temple stood; destroyed just two years before he'd been born. There were signs of where buildings and huts once stood, by the way the snow coating the ground clung to rocky mounds of old rubble. He was aware that there was a section, near where he was currently standing, that was a graveyard for the padawans and younglings that had been killed when the Temple had been razed. Crisara hadn't been there when the burials had taken place and had never known what had happened to all the bodies until she'd finally returned many years later, with her first wave of padawans, to acquire their kyber crystals.Caro had been with her then, though he knew the ritual of getting a kyber crystal and constructing his own lightsaber wouldn't be part of his path because he would be inheriting his great-grandfather's once Finn had successfully built his own lightsaber. When that day came, when Finn passed it back to Crisara, she had taken Caro aside, just the two of them in the back garden of the villa, and stood in front of Obi-Wan's memorial pedestal. She explained to him the same as all Masters to their apprentices, but in this case, as just a mother to her son, the importance of a Jedi's lightsaber and to treat it as an extension of one's own life. He had been waiting for that moment for some time, and to finally hold the lightsaber in his hand, as his own, had actually made him cry. At first Crisara had thought her son upset, but soon realized he'd just become so overwhelmed by how happy he was, and it brought tears to her own eyes for how happy she was for him. To make it the perfect moment, Obi-Wan had made an increasingly rare physical appearance for his great-grandson's sake.
"Be proud of these first steps you are taking along this path, armed with that blade. It is not a toy. It is an elegant weapon for a more civilized age, so you must rise to its standard, but I have faith you will."
When he'd ignited the blade that first time, he'd been even more overcome by the beauty of the light and the weight of responsibility. His great-grandfather had built this weapon many decades before, and it had seen many battles, and even killed. It was the same blade used to in battle against his other great-grandfather Anakin; apparently, on more than one occasion.And now it was his.He was also aware of the physical weight of it, on his hip, when not in use. Someday he wondered what would come of it when he passed from this life. If he had children someday, would they take ownership of it or pass it to their own children? Would it be placed on display, retired from service for good? It was a strange thing, thinking of the end of one's life, especially when it was nearly impossible to know when it would come. Caro could only hope, for himself and all of his loved ones, that it happened when they were very old, and peacefully in bed. However, no matter how optimistic he was, he knew it wouldn't be the case for everyone. And that was why he had a strange feeling weighing down upon him now. It felt like a vibration in the distance and the more time that passed, the stronger it got. They were all heading toward something terrible.Pain. Loss.He wondered which of them wouldn't make it out alive over the next decade or so."You look so far away."Caro blinked and turned to look at his mother, who had sidled up beside him; wrapped in her own heavy cloak to stave off the cold air around them."Lost in thought, is all.""I can sense your anxiety about something. It's been plaguing you for a few weeks now." Crisara lifted a hand and placed it down upon the small of his back. "I'm always here to talk to you about whatever you need to get off your chest.""I know," he smiled reassuringly. Closing his eyes for a moment, he focused on clearing his mind. He could feel the Force around them both and it felt more like a warm blanket keeping the cold from seeping into his bones, and then there was a welcomed calmness in his soul. Releasing a steady breath through his nostrils, he opened his eyes and gazed at his mother again, who was looking up at him with concern. "I'm fine, though. I'm not exactly sure what I've been feeling lately. But, when I figure out, if I can't talk to you about it, then I'll talk to dad about it. I know either one of you will be there when I need it.""Always and forever."With a pat to his back she looked off in the direction he'd been staring in earlier, toward where the snow-covered graves were. It was always bittersweet returning here. It was the one place she knew of where kyber crystals still formed naturally in the caves within the Eocho Mountains in the distance, so it was a necessary trip and was, at least, familiar territory. It was where she'd been partially raised, and where she'd been trained to be a Jedi. There had been many happy memories here during her youth, until it became the site of utter death and destruction. Fire, everywhere she looked. Pain, sadness. And then, this was also where her daughter Adera had been born. Born amongst fire, died consumed by it. If it wasn't still so heart-wrenching, it would seem beautiful."Now who's far away?" Caro teased.Crisara rolled her eyes. "Suddenly just thinking about Adera." Glancing at her son again, she smirked. "You're the age I was when I was here, giving birth to her. To think she would've been twenty-seven now is a little strange.""I miss her.""So do I.""Well, obviously you do. You're her mother. You went through the pain of birthing her and then losing her. I was only four when she died. My memories of her now are harder to recall, just as it's hard to remember my father." Caro sighed. "The memorial pedestals in the garden at home help. The holos you have saved, so I can hear their voices, have helped even more. Makes it easier to keep their memory alive.""Do you often think about them?""Adera, more so, because she'd been so young. Not getting the chance to grow up alongside me always felt unfair. Sometimes I think about what it would've been like if she'd stayed at home a few days longer with me and not gone back with our father to Hosnian Prime, or if I'd gone with them instead. How different all our lives would've been. I mean, obviously, if I'd gone with them, I would be dead now, too. But, on one end of the spectrum, you would've had both your children, alive and well. On the other, you could've lost both of us. Losing just the one — it must've felt like walking an unsettling tightrope of what-ifs. I've tried, for years, to imagine what it must have been like for you, and how it still is." Stepping backward, Caro moved over toward a snow-covered log and sat down. He watched the way his mother kept staring forward, toward the mountains. "I don't know that I would have the strength you had to find a way to move forward if I lost my own child."Turning around, Crisara raised an eyebrow at her him. "Are you trying to tell me something?" she questioned. "I know you and Zeda have grown closer. Has it gotten very close? Do I need to learn how to knit?""Knit?""Baby booties."Caro laughed. "No. No, we're not that close. The only baby booties you'll need anytime soon will be for Tem and Sessani, I'm sure."Unconvinced, Crisara smirked and stepped over to sit down upon the log beside him. "You may not be that close with Zeda now, but I have a feeling it's only a matter of time." She nudged his cloaked arm with her cloaked elbow. "She looks at you like you're the sun." Seeing the bashful way her son began to smile, it made her smile even more. "And you look at her like she's the moon.""She's more than that," he sighed; his blue eyes — his mother's blue eyes — drifting down toward the snowy ground. "She's everything right with the galaxy. She's perfection."Inhaling a steadying breath, Crisara brought a hand up to her face and wiped away an errant tear that fell as her smiling continued.Sensing the swell of emotion from her, Caro turned his gaze upward at her. "What's wrong?""Absolutely nothing," she chuckled. "I'm so happy, is all. To see not one but two of my children so completely in love with two remarkable people, it makes me want to, I don't know…dance and sing?"Caro laughed. "Well, don't get ahead of yourself. We haven't even kissed yet."Nudging him again, she playfully added, "So you've thought about it, huh?""Mom.""What?"Rolling his eyes, so very much like her in almost every way, Caro sighed. "Maybe let's change the subject.""To what then?""Oh, maybe the half dozen padawans making their way back here through a snowy and potentially dangerous landscape by themselves, from the mountains.""They have Beebee-Ate with them," Crisara asserted. "You didn't get to collect a kyber crystal, but you still made the same trek and survived, once upon a time. No one died. No one has ever died, at least not since my father initially rebuilt the Jedi Order.""Never say never.""Don't stray from your lovely optimism, my dear. It doesn't suit you.""You once said that you had never wanted to do this particular rite of passage with your own Jedi Order, so why the change of heart? Why make your padawans walk alone through the forests, especially now when it's so cold and snowy?""With age comes wisdom, and hindsight becomes more clear. When I decided I didn't want to follow in these particular footsteps of my father, I was more of an idealist. But, as time went on, I began to understand the deeper reason for the trek," she replied with a simple shrug. "It was necessary. It was meant to bond us all together because, as we grow in the Force and in our lives, there will come times where we need to rely on each other in the most difficult of circumstances, and not just on ourselves or our enhanced abilities. Basic survival skills are important. When you get older and you get stranded, can you find materials to build a fire without a lightsaber as the initial heat source? Can you defend yourselves and others without your blade? Critical thinking, common sense…it can't always be taught. It has to be learned. Does that make any sense?"Caro slowly nodded. "Yes."Crisara snickered. "I can almost picture my father now, smiling smugly; that I've finally seen the method to his madness." Looking down at her hands, at the way the veins had become more prominent with age, she thought back on that argument with her father, about the things she wanted to change and how much of a stick in the mud she'd thought him to be. "I had been so intent on shaking things up when I was younger, and how I thought my ideas for how the future of the Jedi were somehow so very innovative. But, I mean, the fact that he wasn't able to get behind them at the time sort of proved my point then. And I have followed through with a lot of those ideas now, but I've also fallen back on the tried and true methods that have stood the test of time."Watching the way his mother's eyes filled with rumination, he reached a hand out from within his cloak and grabbed onto hers; giving it a squeeze. "You miss your own father, too." It was so obvious to him. She only really ever mentioned his grandfather or any other loved ones in passing these days, or if it somehow pertained to some important lesson she was trying to convey. She didn't really just talk about any of them anymore. "How long has it been since you've seen or heard any of the others?""Seven years, give or take. I stopped keeping track. And yes, I do miss him. The last time I saw him alive, there had been something so final about it, but I didn't think he'd die so soon afterward. I was hopeful I could go back to him and convince him to come out of exile. Or, at least, I thought I'd get a chance to return to him one day, on his deathbed, and say a proper goodbye." She looked up at Caro and smiled ruefully. "I wanted the two of you to get to know each other, properly, as grandpa and grandson. You, better than anyone, would've been able to crack through the gruff exterior he'd built up after this place fell." She nodded toward the snow-covered ruins of the Jedi Temple. "This place meant so much to him. Its destruction destroyed so much in him. But when I found him again and we finally got to talk, and when all that truth came out about who he really was to me, I really hoped things would get better, especially since I was still just trying to process losing Adera and Han." She looked at Caro. "And, Alfic, too. He and I might've been divorced and building separate lives, but I still loved him in my own way and it hurt to lose him. Just…""Not as much."She nodded sadly. "So many what-ifs.""Definitely," Caro agreed. "But, we can't live in the past.""Too true. Accept the past for what it is: the past. Enjoy the present and make the most of it, and hope for a wonderful future.""One where the padawans make it back here alive," he added, teasingly.Playfully, Crisara shoved at her son. "Oh, shut up already."With a bright smile, Caro began to laugh.  Less than two days after Crisara and Caro had left with the padawans for Ossus, they were already back. They arrived to the Theed branch of the Kenobi Academy, which was smaller than the estate on the lake beside the villa, but at least it was nearer to the Governor's Mansion in the capital city. Upon their return, Crisara had ushered the kids inside the school and led them to a basement-level room equipped with all the materials and tools they would need for building their lightsabers and where she would oversee the process.Caro had offered to take her place, and instruct the padawans here and there so that she could go home to the Governor's Mansion and greet Poe, but she assured him she would return there that evening. She wanted to make sure the padawans got this done first; to keep this rite of passage continuous. Since he wasn't needed at the moment, he left the school and instead went back to the Mansion in her place. He knew his stepfather was a busy man and it was likely he was in some sort of meeting or not even at home, and instead at the Palace, but he wanted to see the man either way. If he had to wait, then so be it.Taking the time, he opted to walk, and BB-8 followed alongside him. He was enjoying the warmth and the fragrant quality to the air that had been lacking on Ossus, which had been in the throes of winter; something Naboo never experienced. The closest his homeworld got to winter was something akin to what other planets would refer to as autumn, but even that was short-lived.The moment Caro and BB-8 reached the Governor's Mansion, and made their way inside, they were greeted by a flurry of activity. Several people were wandering in and out of Poe's office, or darting away to likely head downstairs where the offices for the Governor's staff worked. The mood in the air didn't necessarily feel tense, as if something bad had happened and this was everyone in the process of putting out political fires, but it did feel a little concerning. With a curious raise of his brow, Caro stepped forward and poked his head into Poe's office, but didn't see him right away. There were several people surrounding the desk, which was a little bit alarming for Caro."Is everything alright?" he called out from the open doorway.Most faces turned to look in his direction, including C-3PO's."Master Caro!" the golden droid greeted, as BB-8 darted around Caro's feet and rolled forward into the office, chirping away. "My apologies, Beebee-Ate. I didn't see you down there. Hello to you, too."The bodies cleared a bit, revealing Poe behind his desk and glancing down at the floor at his side. "Hi, buddy," he muttered to his beloved astromech, but was too distracted to give BB-8 his full attention. Lifting his face back upward, he glared up at one of the people surrounding the desk, showing him something on a datapad. "No, not that one. For fuck's sake. This is a celebration, not a fucking funeral." Poe immediately placed his elbows on his desk and planted his face in his hands. "It's been twenty years since the war ended. We're celebrating continued peace in the galaxy, not mourning what we lost. No one needs to be constantly reminded of what was lost. It's something we live with every day. So, for one fucking week, we can instead focus on something that will help distract from the reality. We can focus on the happy." The entire time, his voice had been muffled by his hands but he had still managed to speak loudly and clearly enough. "Stars above, this isn't the first time Naboo has been through these celebrations. Fuck!" Slamming his hands on the desk, he abruptly stood up and only then did he finally realize Caro was there and, suddenly, he seemed less stressed, and not because of anything his stepson had done with the Force. He was just thankful so see the face of someone he loved. "My boy," he sighed, regretfully. "Sorry.""It's alright," Caro muttered with a small smile.Poe looked around at his assistants, advisors and then some. "This is a good enough time for everyone to take a lunch." Eyeing C-3PO, he beckoned the protocol droid closer. "Tell the chef to throw together something extra. Caro's here, and we'll take lunch upstairs."C-3PO nodded. "Of course, Master Poe." As the droid shuffled away and approached the office door, he paused briefly beside Caro. "It is good to have you home, Master Caro.""This isn't home," Poe grumbled; only faintly aware that his stepson was eyeing him rather pointedly. As soon as everyone aside from Poe and Caro had cleared out of the office, Poe finally let out a labored sigh of relief and let his shoulders slump. "I'm sorry for all that. It's just been a stressful day.""Want to talk about it?""Not particularly.""I'm a great listener," Caro insisted. "I was once told by a courtesan on Ord Mantell that I had lovely ears. Though, come to think of it, I don't think he was alluding to my ability to be a soundboard."That had done the trick. Caro's words had brought a smile out of Poe, who also chuckled slightly. "Isn't Ord Mantell where you broke your arm in a fight with spice runners?""No, that was Ord Cantrell. Ord Mantell is where I almost lost my virginity. Twice."Poe laughter increased. "I didn't realize you were a late bloomer," he teased; his gaze still a bit distracted by all the datapads and paperwork on his desk. "You were about twenty when all that happened, right?""Twenty-two, actually."Lifting his head to look at his stepson, Poe furrowed his brow. "You were still a virgin then?"It was just the two of them. Well, BB-8 was there, too. This sort of topic was considerably less awkward now with no one else to eavesdrop."I, uh, still am," Caro admitted.Poe seemed dumbfounded. "Seriously? What about…you know…""What?""Nothing, nothing," the older man insisted. Stepping around his desk, leaving his work behind for at least the next hour, he approached his stepson and clamped a hand down upon his arm. "Out of curiosity, how come it hasn't happened yet? No judgment, of course."Caro shrugged. "I guess I've just been waiting for the right person," he answered; his mind subconsciously drifting to the image of Zeda. "I don't want it to be with just anyone. And, I've been focused on my path as a Jedi.""You can do both things. Your mother is the greatest proof of that.""Being a Jedi and having a sex life?" Caro questioned with a laugh."Well, no, not just a sex life. A balance of being a Jedi along with having a family, love and yes, okay, sex."They had moved out of the office by this point and there were a few stragglers from Poe's staff. Both men tensed up; neither wanting any interlopers to listen in on what they were talking about. Shutting up, Poe beckoned for Caro to follow him further along the ground floor toward a private elevator that went between the three main levels: the basement, ground floor and second floor. As BB-8 rolled alongside them, they walked under two archways and past the grand staircases on either side that lead up to the second floor. Cutting across the ballroom that spanned the entire width of the estate, they continued forward into the massive dining room. To their immediate left was a door leading into a butler's pantry and to the right was another door. Poe led them there. On the other side of the door, the elevator was revealed; tucked away. The kitchen droids primarily used it for bringing food up from the basement kitchen to either the ground or second floors, wherever meals were being served.The only reason both men were taking the elevator wasn't for privacy. It was simply so BB-8 could join them because he wasn't exactly made for stairs, and neither father nor son were going to carry the droid the entire way.When they reached the second floor, they stepped out, or rolled in BB-8's case, and found themselves directly outside the Governor's Suite. Heading inside, they passed through the bedroom, walking around the freshly-made bed with fresh linens, and continued into the private dining room. Gesturing at one of the two chairs at the small table, Poe waited until his stepson sat first, and then he took the other seat."Sorry," he muttered, catching Caro's quizzical eye. "I didn't mean to go into a conversation about your sex life, more or less, out in the open like that.""More like lack of a sex life, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness, even if it was afterthought."Poe sighed. "Yeah, well, I'm blaming it on being distracted by my work life." Then, he added, "I'd rather be focused on my own sex life. Sorry." He immediately grimaced, but then laughed at himself. "You definitely don't need to have those images in your head. You've already been traumatized once and once is enough."Caro nodded. "It was certainly something burned into my brain."Poe's grimace grew deeper. "Shit. Now I'm really sorry." With a shrug, he gestured at himself. "Though, to be fair, you should've knocked.""Yes, I know. And I learned that the hard way.""At least it happened when you were younger."Caro scoffed. "How does that make it any better?""I was younger then, too. My ass looked better — firmer," Poe replied with a smirk. "Would you rather walk in and see my ass now?" Leaning forward with a shit-eating grin, he was just being plain, ol' rascally now. "Imagine all the cellulite and wrinkles I must have. The age spots that are slowly creeping up on my skin.""Oh, come on. I haven't even eaten yet, and I've already lost my lunch."Poe cackled. "Okay, okay. Sorry.""Are you though?""That remains to be seen, doesn't it?" As Poe wiggled his eyebrows, he sat back and properly looked his stepson over; changing gears. "So, what about Zeda?""Huh?" Caro was properly caught off guard."The two of you have been the best of friends since you were practically knee-high. How come nothing has happened between the two of you yet? You're both so well suited to each other. And you're always staring at her.""No I'm not," Caro asserted, a bit too quickly."Yes you are. Your mother and I talk, you know. About all five of you," Poe remarked. "It's what parents talk about most of the time. We get married, have children, and then you ankle-biters quickly become this all-consuming factor in our lives. But, you wanna know a secret?""What?"With a soft smile and a shake of his head, Poe reached across the table and patted his stepson's hand. "We wouldn't want it any other way. All of you are the best part of our lives," he insisted and watched the way Caro looked down at both of their hands; one weathered, one still smooth. "You, your brothers and your sisters, you're our greatest achievements. No matter what we do in our lives, where careers are concerned, or even in regard to what we achieved during the war to ensure peace, nothing matters as much as seeing you lot grow up healthy, happy and loved. If your mother and I had never been able to have children together, if the twins and Len had never come to be, and if we'd never found Tem or, at least, adopted him, the same would've gone for just you. Since the day I met you, since I held you on my lap and showed you how to fly on that trip back from your dad's wedding, all I ever wanted was for you to be happy. I've loved you since day one, as if you were my own flesh and blood.""My father's wedding," Caro mumbled."Yeah, that's what I said.""No, you said my dad's wedding."Poe shrugged. "Same thing.""No." Caro shook his head. "Alfic was my father, but I only had him in my life for a few years and, even then, he was often busy with work. I never had a relationship with him. I know he was a good man. Made mistakes. Cheating on mom was one of them, but that's water under the bridge. But he was still a good man. A kind man. I know that." He sighed, holding Poe's gaze and feeling a swell of emotion beginning to sweep out from his stepfather. "But I barely remember him anymore. He's not the one who raised me. He was my father," Caro repeated. "You and only you will ever be my dad."Poe's chin immediately quivered and tears began to line his eyes. He fought to maintain his resolve, but the moment he blinked, the tears fell down his face. Smiling through them, he stood up and beckoned for Caro to do the same. When the younger man obliged him, Poe hugged him tightly and kissed the side of his face. "I love you so much, you know. With every fiber of my being," Poe whispered while BB-8 chirped accordingly at the touching scene he was witnessing from the floor. "I would do anything for you, you know."Tears began to sting at Caro's eyes, too, but he felt the need to hold it in; to let Poe have this moment. "I love you, too, dad."Poe chuckled slightly, while still holding Caro. "I love hearing that, too. I love that you call me 'dad'.""It's who you are. Blood does not a father make."Finally pulling back, Poe wiped at his eyes with one hand and then patted Caro on the shoulder with the other. "Now I feel bad for teasing you about seeing my ass."Caro chuckled. "If it helps any, I forgive you.""Thank you," Poe nodded. Sniffing back the rest of his tears, he then cleared his throat and gestured for them both to sit back down."You didn't have to be the man you have been. Even before you married mom, you were there for me." Sitting back down across from his stepfather, he began to absentmindedly drag his right index finger along the table's surface. "That's the sign of not just a good man, but the best kind.""I'll always be here for you.""I know." With a gentle smile, Caro sighed and sat back a little bit. "And, when the day comes when I finally lose my virginity, you'll be the first person I tell."An amused cackle spilled out of Poe's lips. "Alright. I'll hold you to that.""And," Caro continued, "if I someday have the privilege of being a dad, or even a stepdad, if I can be half the dad you've been, then I know I'll be great.""How many tears are you trying to get me to cry today?" Poe asked teasingly, as tears began to fall from his eyes again."This is the last time, I swear."Poe shrugged. "It's all good," he remarked; wiping said tears away again. After a few moments of silence between them, they both suddenly looked toward the door as a service droid entered into the room with a tray of food for them; startling only Poe, who hadn't sensed the approach as Caro had. "Well, about time." The gruff way he had spoken was only an act. Poe was in too much of a good mood now to actually be bothered by the delay in lunch. Looking from the food between them and then upward at Caro, he smiled. "Let's eat."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes"
— Dixie Chicks "I can do this…I can do this…I can do this…I can do this…"A girl, not yet eighteen, stood in front of a floor-length mirror, staring at her reflection while trying to work up a bit of courage. As her warm, brown eyes stared back at her, she could see the doubt in them. Her brow furrowed, her lips shifted into a frown and the sigh she emitted was that of frustration."I can't do this."All but crumpling under the weight of her lack of confidence, she sank to the floor to sit cross-legged with shoulders slumped. Still staring at her reflection, she studied her appearance; pristine as always. Her hair was soft and silky, thick and dark, and brushed neatly as it fell below her shoulders. She wore no make-up, but she'd never needed it. She was, as she was often told, a natural beauty. Really, there was no need for a mirror half the time when she had an identical sister. If she ever needed reminding of how she looked, she'd just look at her twin. Though, identical they may be in looks, it was easy to tell them apart.Shara Dameron enjoyed elegance and efficiency. Both sisters were graceful in the way they moved when it came to the Force, but Shara exuded grace in all aspects of her life. Between the pair, she had been the one to speak first, but had taken her first steps second. Once she'd begun to talk as a baby, apparently it was all she ever did. Her parents frequently reminisced on how cute her constant babbling had been. But then, as the twins grew older, Leia's personality became more dominant and Shara began to fade into the background, so to speak. She became more of an observer; quiet and introspective. She watched people. She enjoyed seeing what made them tick without them realizing she was doing it. As she got older, her mother said she'd inherited this trait from her great-grandmother Sera Dotolo Kenobi and her natural ability for diplomacy from her great-grandmother, the famed senator and former Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala. Both women had died before she'd been born; the former just two years prior whereas the latter had been deceased over fifty years by that point.She wished she had known both. She'd researched them, listened to stories about them from her mother and dreamed about what it would be like if she could have just one afternoon to talk to them and pick their brains. Though her sister was named after their great-aunt Leia Organa Solo, from what they knew of the elder Leia, Shara was also more like her. She often thought maybe her and her sister were named after the wrong women. Maybe they should've swapped names, as she was named for her grandmother Shara Bey Dameron, but it was apparently her sister who was more like her. Though, apparently, both sisters looked so much like her.Their father remarked on that quite often.And their father — Governor Poe Dameron — was someone Shara was also not much alike in personality. Aside from being a natural leader, her father was also impulsive, decisive, stubborn, and great at improvising, and seemed to thrive in a more face-paced environment, even if he often complained about it. In quiet moments, Shara usually noticed the way his leg would bob up and down, or his fingers would tap whatever surface they were resting upon. When he got too much into his head, his anxiety would increase considerably. She had also long since noticed how much of a calming affect her mother had on him, and it didn't even require the use of the Force; though, sometimes that helped, too. Despite not being so much like him, Shara admired her father and wished she could be more like him.Between both of her parents, she felt she was more like her mother. Not that her mother was the exact opposite of her father, but their differences were noticeable, just as the differences between the twins were. Jedi Master Crisara Dameron was a natural leader in her own right, but was more thoughtful and had a way of sort of stepping outside any situation to understand the bigger picture before throwing herself into action. She considered all options and made the best decision that benefited the majority with little thought to how it might affect her. Case in point: how Crisara Dameron ended up with cybernetic organs. Her altruism had almost nearly been her downfall. She had been terribly close to death, all because of the heart she wore on her sleeve. Shara's mother was strong in her convictions, a protector. She wasn't someone who enjoyed a lot of loud noise and chaos. She enjoyed peace and solitude; the quiet moments.When she thought of both of her parents together — not like that though, eww — she was filled with such deep admiration. She had always watched the way they were with each other. They'd been married nineteen years and in love a good deal longer than that. One would think, because of Poe's more extroverted personality, that he was the sun and Crisara the planet that revolved around him, but it was the exact opposite. Wherever Crisara moved, Poe moved. Whenever Crisara exhaled, Poe inhaled. It was like watching an age-old dance, beautifully choreographed. Sometimes it was just little touches, or little looks. There was an effervescent air between them, and Shara wished for someone to love her as much as her parents loved each other.All these musings aside, it did little to distract Shara from the heaviness in her chest.Sensing a familiar presence, she turned when her bedroom door opened; glancing over her shoulder but not making eye contact."It's polite to knock first," she muttered; turning her gaze back at her reflection, but then glancing upward to stare at her twin sister's reflection.Leia raised an eyebrow at her. "You knew it was me approaching.""It's still polite.""Whatever." Flopping onto Shara's bed, Leia grabbed at a fuzzy, purple and blue, stuffed tooka-cat that was much older than the twins and had seen much better days. They were both aware it had once belonged to their older sister Adera, who died a few years before they were born. The toy had been passed to their older, half-brother Caro and then among the younger Dameron siblings. But, as they got older and began to put away childish things, Shara had still held onto it. "Why do you still have this?" Leia turned her head and looked at her twin; holding the stuffed animal outward and giving it a slight shake. "It's missing an eye."Shara glanced briefly at the toy and shrugged. "I like it," she answered simply. "Plus, it's a way to feel close to Adera.""We never knew her and she's never been able to reach out to us because she'd been too young. Mom said she made the choice to just become fully one with the Force instead of continuing to learn the ways at coming back from the netherworld. We've heard enough stories about what she was like, and we know what she looked like. Is that not enough?"Shara practically scowled. "No." Reaching a hand out, she yanked the stuffed tooka-cat out of her sister's hands and pulled it into her lap. "How would you like it if the roles were reversed? If you were dead and Adera didn't give a shit because it happened before she was born?""Uh, I'd be dead and at peace, so I probably wouldn't care." Sitting upright and dangling her legs over the edge of the bed, Leia smirked. "And look at you, swearing. Will wonders never cease?""Shut up," Shara mumbled with a roll of her eyes.Narrowing her identical brown eyes, Leia pushed off the bed and slipped down to the floor; mirroring her twin by also sitting cross-legged. "You seem oddly agitated. You're usually cool as a dead star," she remarked. Reaching a hand out, she put aside her teasing manner and clamped her fingers around Shara's wrist. "What's wrong?""Nothing's wrong, per se." Shara sighed. She shifted her eyes in the direction of the mirror again, but instead down at the floor. "I've just got a lot on my mind.""About…?""The future, I guess.""About going to Aunt Rey?" Leia deduced."Sort of.""It'll be great. You don't need to be so worried about it.""I'm not worried," Shara contended. "I just…""What?"Another sigh slipped out of Shara's lips as she let her body fall backward to lie upon the floor and stare upward at the ceiling. "I don't want to go."Leia was somewhat confused by this. "We leave tomorrow. Suddenly now you don't want to go? It's, like, a rite of passage. It's become a thing we do, just like going to get our kyber crystals and building our lightsabers. Tem and Caro loved it. They said going to Aunt Rey, spending two years training with her, were some of the best times of their lives. Plus, it gets us away from Naboo for a while.""Maybe I don't feel the need to get away.""It's not like we're going to be gone the full two years. We'll come back from time to time for holidays and important events. I mean, Tem's engaged. So, there'll be a wedding — I'm assuming — within these next two years. He's thirty and Sesaani's twenty-eight. I don't see either wanting to drag out an engagement for too long…""Maybe I don't want to go, Leia!" Shara abruptly shouted, causing a few books on a shelf to tumble down and a swell of air in the room to pulse outward, like a shock wave."For kriff's sake!" Leia scrambled to get up to her feet. "How can you not want to go, after all this time? This was always the plan, Shar. You and me, together on this adventure.""We're almost eighteen. We're not little girls who have to do everything together. Maybe I want something that's different, that's just my own." Shara sat back up and focused on the ground in front of her again; trying not to focus on the frustration building in her twin. "We're identical twins, but that doesn't mean we're the same person. We don't have to want or do the same things." When she finally managed to lift her gaze, she spotted the hurt look upon her sister's face in the mirror. "Sorry, but that's how I feel."Chewing the inside of her bottom lip, Leia was trying hard to keep her cool. "Fine," she huffed. "Whatever."Turning around, she exited Shara's bedroom without another word. As the door shut behind her, it left Shara alone in her room again; frowning at her reflection.One of the things Leia had said, that had been very accurate, was that Shara was usually cool as a dead star. She was usually very calm and collected, like their mother. She never swore. Well, rarely, anyway. But only one word seemed to do justice in this moment, in regard to this recent interaction with her sister and just her feelings in general."Fuck."  Lying upon her left side, Crisara inhaled a deep breath and took in the comforting scent from the skin of the man she had loved for over two decades; something of which he would counter with as having loved her even longer, for at least three decades, when he first saw her at the Quad Club on Hosnian Prime. Sliding her right arm around his waist, she scooted closer and began to nuzzle her face into his upper back, between his shoulder blades. After a moment, she felt his own right arm move and then grab onto her hand with his and pull it up against his chest, but not before kissing the palm of her hand first.She loved these kinds of mornings, when neither had to get up for anything right away. She looked forward to this one day a week where Poe didn't have to do any work; where nothing was expected of him as Governor. Sometimes, there was the rare political fire he was expected to rise to the occasion for and put out, but Naboo was a peaceful world and there wasn't often a lot of drama, either between its people or within government. In those few years leading up to his first win as Governor, yeah — there had been plenty of governmental drama.Brosa Senn, who had been Governor before him, came to mind. The older man had died eight years ago, only two years into his life sentence in prison on Onoam, after a brief illness. After being made aware that the diagnosis was terminal, and that Senn maybe had a couple of months left, Poe was left with a decision. Either he could look the other way and let the man die in prison, or commute his sentence and let him die at home with his family. Either way, he would die. With the latter, it would give his family some peace of mind. The wife, children and grandchildren of Brosa Senn had committed no crimes, but his admitted guilt, during his trial, and subsequent sentencing had been a sentence for them, too.After consulting with Crisara on the matter, he'd then consulted with Queen Nuva, who had been in the midst of her second and final term as monarch. In the end, he chose to be the bigger person. He didn't pardon Senn, but he did make the formal announcement that Senn's sentence had been commuted and would be sent home to die, in his own bed, surrounded by his loved ones. In the grander scheme of things, it was a kind thing to do. But it was also politically smart. Poe was aware there was a faction that had believed Senn should've been pardoned from the get-go, or that he wasn't guilty at all, even though he'd admitted to it. This would hopefully lure some Senn loyalists back to his side of things. And, to a degree, it had worked.Bralen Emba — that motherfucker — was still in prison, though. There was no scenario in Poe's mind where the former Captain of the Queen's Royal Guard would ever receive clemency. Especially since he only had nine years left on his twenty-five year sentence."Morning, beautiful," Poe mumbled.Crisara smiled and pressed her lips against his back. "Morning, handsome," she replied; following it up with a small kiss. She listened to the way he sighed with contentment and enjoyed the feel of his heart beating after he'd placed her hand against his chest. With how snuggled up she was to him, making him the little spoon to her big spoon, she was sure he could feel internal vibrations from her, as well; though, hers were mechanical. "Any plans for the day?""Is lying here doing nothing not a plan?"She chuckled. "It's revolutionary."Lifting his head, he strained to look over his shoulder at her. "How so?""We're both so often on the move. Even when we're both here at home. You're in your office, getting pulled in every possible direction. Any number of padawans are seeking me out for guidance if I'm not at either of the schools. Sometimes, even when we have this one day, there's something going on."Poe sighed right at the same moment they both heard the increasingly raised voices of their twin daughters out in the hallway beyond the Governor's Suite. "Like that?" he questioned. "Are they arguing? They never argue.""Well, Leia likes to get a rise out of Shara sometimes. Maybe Shara's finally snapped." As Poe began to shift on the bed, Crisara sat up and moved back a bit to give him room. Once he was lying flat on his back and staring up at her, she grinned down at him. "If they kill each other, it'll be quiet.""If they kill each other they'll probably bring this entire place down around us."Crisara sighed. "Well, you have always said you wanted to die in bed beside me, so…""Not this soon," he snickered. Reaching his left hand up, he reached for the side of her face and brushed some hair away from her eyes. He was going to say something further but one of the twins could be heard shouting again; cutting into his train of thought."I don't care! Do whatever you want! Be alone with yourself then! I hope you have a grand ol' time!""Think we should get involved and play mediator or let them work it out?" Poe asked; secretly hoping for the latter.Patting him on the chest, Crisara frowned. "You stay put. You don't get enough opportunities to sleep in as I do. This is your day off more than mine."Poe puckered his lips. "You're too good for me, woman.""That's one hundred percent accurate," she quipped as she tossed her legs over her side of the bed and climbed out of it; revealing how very naked she currently was.Pushing himself up to sit, he hugged the blanket a bit further up over his waist as he watched her reach for her robe that was draped over one of the two armchairs in the corner. "When you're done reprimanding them or whatever, bring that fine ass back here." He grinned devilishly at her. When she pulled her robe on and tied the belt around her waist, he grinned even wider when she raised an eyebrow at him. "How about I run a bath for us? Been a while since we had bathtub sex."Stepping around the bed, she crouched briefly to pick up a throw pillow and tossed it over at him. "Sounds like a plan.""Want me to use those oils you like, too?" he asked, catching the pillow easily enough and then setting it beside him."The amber musk one, though. Not the lavender one. That one gave you hives last time.""Yeah, that wasn't a good time. Started out good. Ended with an itch on my ass that wouldn't quit."As Crisara chuckled. "Wasn't too bad, though. You got me to rub bacta gel on it."When the girls' voices got louder again, both parents sighed. "Can we rub bacta gel on them? Would that help?""It's worth a try."Without another word, Crisara slipped out of their room and through the small corridor away from the Governor's Suite. Turning right, she came to stop at the top of the short hallway that led to both of the girls' rooms. The moment she appeared, it was Shara who noticed their mother first. She was standing alone in the hallway with tears staining her face."What the hell is going on?" Crisara demanded. "You realize this is the one day a week your father gets to get some rest and the two of you are caterwauling like a pair of gundarks. What is the issue?"Leia popped her head out of her room and pointed directly at her sister. "Ask her," she retorted. "I'm busy packing, since that's what we're supposed to be doing!"As the doors slid shut, the second-born twin didn't have the luxury of slamming her bedroom door for added affect. Shara, having always been a bit more sensitive and empathetic, winced and began to cry more openly. No matter how old her children got, seeing them upset like this, for whatever the reason, Crisara still saw them as being little and the overwhelming urge to cuddle them until the bad feelings went away became quite strong. With a frustrated sigh, the elder female walked forward and beckoned her firstborn twin forward with her left hand while banging her fist on Leia's door."We don't end arguments without resolution in this family, young lady!" she called out. "You never know what could happen and you don't want any final words to be said in anger.""Neither of us are about to die anytime soon," came Leia's muffled retort."And you know that because — what? Did you have a vision?""Talk to the traitor! It's not my future that's in question!"Crisara scowled. "There is absolutely no reason for that kind of talk!" she shouted back, but then grimaced; not wanting to bother Poe with any of this if she could resolve it. Getting a strong sense that Leia was not going to interact any further at the moment, Crisara turned and pulled Shara into her arms. "Come here. Tell me what's wrong."As Shara welcomed her mother's embrace, she laid her face down against her shoulder and hugged her back. "I'm sorry."Confused, Crisara leaned her face back. "For arguing? You're sisters. I'm honestly surprised this sort of blowout hasn't happened sooner." Brushing her daughter's hair out of her face, she placed a kiss to her cheek. "Come on. Let's go talk about it somewhere more quiet." There was some unmistakable hesitation in the girl that didn't go unnoticed by her mother. "Where would you prefer? Your room? Your dad's office? Do you want to talk about whatever it is with dad or just dad?"Shara shook her head. "Just you is okay," she answered in a small voice; lifting a hand to wipe her tears away. "Can we go outside in the garden?"Crisara nodded. "Of course. Just let me change," she insisted, patting her daughter on the back and leading them forward. "Why don't you go outside and wait for me. I'll be right there.""Okay."As she watched Shara step away and make her way toward one of the staircases, Crisara sighed and turned to head back into the Governor's Suite where she found Poe sitting on the edge of the bed rather expectantly."What's up?" he immediately wondered; concern written on his face."Not sure yet." Dipping into her dressing room, she began to peel off her robe and let it drop to the floor before pulling drawers open to find some undergarments to put on. Sensing Poe following behind her, she threw him a gaze. "It's serious enough, though. Leia called Shara a 'traitor' and alluded to their spat having something to do with Shara's future." As she pulled some underwear on, Crisara reached into another draw for some leggings.Poe frowned and grabbed a simple tunic for her. Tossing it to his wife, he watched as she grabbed it and began to pull it on over her head, but then he became even more concerned when she paused and grabbed for the edge of her wardrobe for balance. "Cris…" He stepped forward and grabbed for her hand. "You okay?""Just a bit winded.""Winded? Just from getting dressed?""I don't mean that I'm out of breath." She glanced up at him and grimaced slightly. Touching a hand to her stomach, she shrugged. "I've just been feeling sluggish lately. But I'm fine." With a reassuring smile, she brought her free hand up and brushed her fingers at the underside of his gloriously thick beard. "I'll be fine," she added. "But right now I'm more concerned with our daughters. Shara wanted to talk in the garden about whatever is going on, so I'm gonna join her there.""Are you sure?" He clearly wasn't convinced."Yes.""Well, take it easy at least." He pulled her forward and kissed her. "Let's tag team this then. You talk to Shara, I'll talk to Leia."Crisara nodded. "Deal," she replied; kissing him back. When he failed to move away from her, and instead slipped his arms around her to hold her to him, she smiled and melted a little against him. She could feel his concern as if he was shouting in her ear. "I'm okay." Leaning her face back, she slipped her hands onto both sides of his face and forced him to look her in the eye. "We'll talk later, during our bath."Still unconvinced, he nevertheless relented. "Fine." Kissing her once more, he let go. "But don't word it like that. 'We'll talk later' does little to make me feel better.""I'll make you feel better in the bath when we talk later? How's that?"Poe just stared at her. "Just go talk to Shara." Reaching a hand around her, he slapped her ass. "Let's be parents, then we can be lovers."  Sitting in the morning sunlight in the garden behind the Governor's Mansion, Shara looked up the moment she sensed her mother approaching, and then offered a strained smile; as if trying to assure her mother she was fine, everything was fine. But that spat between the twins had been anything but fine."So," Crisara sighed, walking over toward her daughter and taking a seat beside her at the small patio table that had been a housewarming gift for Poe and Crisara, from his father Kes, after Poe's first win as Governor. "What was all that drama with Leia? Why would she call you a traitor? I can't even begin to understand that.""I don't want you to be upset," Shara prefaced."Have you killed someone? Have you sold Naboo's secrets to another planet's government?""Of course not.""Have you stolen anything?""No.""Then I don't see how I could be upset, nor do I understand how you could possibly be a traitor," Crisara remarked with a shrug. She chuckled and placed a hand to her abdomen as she let a steadying breath slip past her lips. "You know, your dad and I promised each other long ago to not keep secrets from each other; to always be open and honest. It's something I would hope our children would adhere to as well. It's never really good to keep things locked inside. It just eats at you, and festers, and turns your heart. So," she gestured to Shara, "better out than in, my love."Shara frowned and sighed. "I'm not a traitor," she muttered. "I just…want different things from Leia, and she doesn't understand. Or won't. I hope you can understand, and dad. And Aunt Rey.""Aunt Rey? What about her?""I know that tomorrow Leia and I are supposed to go to stay with Aunt Rey for the next two years, to further our training…"Crisara narrowed her gaze; watching the way her daughter's gaze became nervous and distant. She could feel the girl's perceived guilt and uncertainty. "You're too far into your head, darling." Reaching a hand out, she clasped it around Shara's and held tight. "Let go of those anxieties. Don't center on them. Find the calm and, when you're ready, be out with it."She wouldn't rush her daughter.Everything in its own time.Shara closed her eyes and searched deep within herself. She listened to the rustle of tree branches from the slight breeze and, with her steadying breaths, she welcomed the fragrant scent of the flowers around the garden that many of the pollinating insects loved as much as she did. Flowers, in both appearance and scent, always made her happy. So much so she covered her bedroom walls with several paper versions and always kept a small vase with at least one flower near her windowsill, drinking up the sunlight that shined through.Sensing the return of calm in her daughter, Crisara smiled and released her grip around Shara's wrist. "There you go." Then, she added, "When you're ready. There's no rush.""But there is, to an extent." Shara shrugged and lifted her gaze to look back at her mother. "I'm not going tomorrow," she finally admitted. "Or any day after."Furrowing her brow in confusion, Crisara felt a bit confused. "What do you mean?""I mean, I don't want to go. I want to stay here."Thinking she understood what her daughter was getting at, Crisara slowly nodded. "Okay. Then we can continue your training here instead. It's not mandatory to go Aunt Rey. It's just, sort of, become a thing over the years. A new tradition, if you will." She smiled softly, but noticed that wasn't quite what her daughter meant. She was beginning to realize something then and her smile became more rueful. "You don't want to continue your training at all."New tears began to well in Shara's eyes. The guilt was returning. "I'm sorry.""Why?""Because I just don't feel it's the path I want to be on.""No — why are you sorry?" Crisara kept her own gaze upon the girl; studying every bit of her expression and zeroing in on her emotions and mindset. "That I'll be upset for you wanting to follow a different path?" she easily deduced. "Why would you think I'd be upset?""You saw how upset Leia was." Shara gestured toward the back of the mansion, as if somehow her twin would magically appear.Crisara nodded and shrugged. "Yeah, well, sometimes your sister can be a little dramatic. That's the Skywalker blood in her."Despite how uneasy she'd been feeling about dropping this metaphorical bomb, or what she perceived to be a metaphorical bomb, Shara laughed a little. "Yeah, she can be.""If anyone understands wanting to follow their own path, to go their own way that's different than what their parent or parents had planned, it's me." Crisara reached under the small table and patted Shara's thigh, and then leaned forward. "You know the story, of how I wanted to revolutionize my father's Jedi Order and when we couldn't seem to see eye to eye, because I also wanted more out of my life than just the life of a Jedi and to merely lead that Order beside him and then to take it over one day, I left. I struck out on my own, came back here to Naboo and I toiled for quite a while until I figured out my next steps. And that's when I discovered a passion for making art. Even though that career didn't last long, it led me down the path I would eventually find myself on now.""So you're saying I can walk away from it all, but I'll come back to the life of a Jedi someday no matter what, just like you?""No. I'm saying whatever you want to do, whatever you set out to do now, is not going to be a direct path. Life will throw a lot of twists and turns at you. You never know where you'll end up," Crisara insisted. She lifted her hand back up and placed it upon her chest. "I don't even know where my path will lead. I don't know where my future will take me. I don't know what ups and downs I have to look forward to, but that's part of the adventure. People like us, sometimes, get visions. We can get little glimpses into our futures, but we only see moments. We don't get to see the big picture. We don't get to know everything and that's what makes it wonderful. Every day is something new. Every day is a surprise. Every day is the adventure." Shifting in her seat, she moved both her hands to cup the sides of her daughter's face. "And, just like you and your siblings, every day is a gift. Cherish every moment. Make the most of everything you're given. Do you what makes you happy. I don't want any of you to live a life of regret. I don't want you doing what you think I want if it doesn't fulfill you or give you purpose. It's not my life to live. It's yours. So, the choices you make have to be for you — what's best for you."As her mother leaned in, she stood up slightly and kissed her daughter's forehead. Once she sat back down, Shara wiped the tears from her eyes and began to feel so much better. She didn't understand why she had been so scared to be honest and open to her mother. Of course her mother would understand. Both of her parents had always been so supportive of their children.Her mother had been right.She had been getting too far into her head."So," Crisara continued, "what is it you do want to do? I get a sense that you have a plan."Shara nodded slowly. "I've submitted an application into Theed University, and it was accepted.""Oh? And what are you planning to study?""Political science," Shara replied; smiling sheepishly. "I know I've always been more like you, but everything I've learned about the women in your side of the family — my great-grandmothers and Aunt Leia — fascinates me. They were such amazing women who did amazing things for, not just the people of Naboo, but for the galaxy. And I see the things dad does, and how he's helped make Naboo even better." She looked off toward a random section of the flower gardens; looking almost dreamy. "I want to be more like him."Crisara chuckled a bit. "I think your dad is going to be over the moons that — finally — one of you wants to follow in his footsteps. He'll want to get you an internship alongside him before long. I can already see it now.""I thought about that, too. I'd like that.""As would he.""I also thought, between semesters, I could intern at GOFOY for Nevara. I'd like to try a few things to see what I might be best suited for."With pride, Crisara let out a pleased sigh. "You seem to have things pretty figured out, but I'm not surprised. You've always had a good head on your shoulders. You're smart, polite, charming and clever. You'll go far on whatever path you walk; be it politics, charitable works, or anything else." She leaned in with a teasing smirk. "Or if you decide to swing back around to where your siblings seem to all be headed." As she watched her daughter smile and let go a sigh of relief, Crisara stared more pointedly at her daughter. "Just promise me one thing.""Anything.""Don't abandon the Jedi teachings completely. Even when I was off discovering myself and figuring out my life when I was younger, I still kept up with things like meditation and the forms of lightsaber combat. Meditation always helps, no matter what, but you never know when you might need to defend yourself or others. Don't let those skills get rusty. Also, for a Jedi or any Force user, I've always told you and your siblings and the other padawans that the lightsaber is an extension of yourself, but it isn't all you are. There is more to you than your weapon. You can be the weapon. And, since you're clever, I know you'd find other creative ways to defend yourself or others." Patting her daughter's arm, she smiled a bit more. "That being said, even though you don't have to break out your lightsaber at any possible threat you may face, just…keep it near. Just in case. I'd rather you be safe than sorry."Shara nodded. "I will." As her gaze fell away from her mother, she glanced upward toward the back of the Mansion and frowned once more. "How can I make Leia understand? She thinks I'm abandoning her.""Your father's talking to her right now," Crisara informed. "I'm sure he'll make her see sense.""Will he though?""It wasn't just his good looks that won me over, you know. He exudes charm like it's a natural resource. He could sell gallons of water to a Mon Calamari." Crisara smiled at the memory of a younger Poe; particularly from the first moment she saw him leaning against that bar in the cantina on Chaaktil. The way he'd been staring at her over the rim up the cup he'd been drinking out of had been a little thrilling, as was every look he'd given her since. An uncomfortable movement in her abdomen pulled her out of reverie and forced her to grimace."You okay, mom?""Indigestion," she lied."Do you get indigestion anymore?""Of course I do. It's just different." Then, Crisara added, more adamantly, "I'm fine."Perceptive like both her parents, Shara wasn't entirely convinced, but she wasn't about to question her mother. "I'm not sure that I'll want to dorm at the university or live at home yet," she continued, returning back to the matter of her future. "I thought, maybe, for the first semester, I'd stay home; to see how I like things. Once I get to meet new people and make new friends, I assume I might be more inclined to dorm then, to be near them and be more readily available for study groups or, um…"Crisara smirked. "Dates?"Shara shrugged nervously. "Maybe. I've never dated anyone, so I don't know.""You're beautiful, smart, kind…all the good words to describe a person. Your fellow students will be falling over themselves to either be your friends or date you." Crisara's smirk became more of grin. "You have your father's eyes. You'll leave a trail of admirers in your wake."With a shy smile, Shara nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, mom, for being…well, you.""It's all I can be, darling."  Less than an hour later, Poe was partially submerged in a large, marble bathtub. His legs were bent at the knees slightly so that Crisara's could use them as armrests as she sat between them with her back against his chest. The water was lukewarm and smelled positively luxurious because of that bath oil she loved; the one that didn't give him a rash on his ass.It was once again quiet and peaceful.Crisara had spoken to Shara, Poe had spoken to Leia, and both parents had managed to get to the bottom of the drama and then convince the twins to sit down and talk to each other like the adults they were becoming. They would talk on the matter further that evening if need be but, for now, the girls had to learn to handle their own shit. Also, Poe and Crisara just really wanted to relax or once."So, Shara wants to follow in her old man's footsteps, huh?" he remarked; lifting a sponge up and running it down along his wife's shoulder. With her head tipped back against his left clavicle, he turned his face and brought his lips down against her temple; his beard causing her to giggle slightly from the tickle it gave her. "About damn time one of them wanted to be like me.""I told her you'd be happy about it, too.""Honestly didn't peg her for being the one, though." Poe sighed. "The only one who seems the most like me is Len, and that's not necessarily a good thing. He's me when I was younger, and it honestly terrifies me. Every day I worry he's gonna do something stupid, get himself hurt or worse.""He'll be fine," Crisara assured, folding her hands together over her abdomen. "He has a lot of good role models around him at any given time.""I think he should train here in Theed more often than at home at the lake. I think he'd be better off under your watchful eye. Beaumont isn't equipped enough to handle my sixteen-year-old doppelgänger."Crisara giggled at that. "He's just going through a phase. He'll grow out of it.""That's what Tem said a few weeks ago.""Tem's a smart boy.""Tem is a thirty-year-old man," Poe countered."You shut your mouth with that nonsense."It was Poe's turn to laugh. "What? Does it make you feel old to have a thirty-year-old son?""What will make me feel old is when he makes us grandparents, which will probably be sooner than we think. If they get married next year, and then get pregnant almost immediately, Tem and Sessani could give us a grandchild in under two years."Poe considered that. "It'll be a cute grandkid. Too bad it won't look anything like us. I mean, we're such a good-looking pair. It's a shame we gotta wait for either of the twins or Len to eventually have kids of their own to see our combined genetics continue." He grimaced. "Why is it that everything I've said lately sounds better in my head? That just made me sound like I'm don't care about a grandchild or grandchildren either Tem or Caro would have. I do, I swear."Crisara slid her right hand down and patted the side of Poe's right leg, causing a bit of water to slosh. "I knew what you meant."Leaning the side of his face against hers, he let the sponge finally drop beside him and then he curled his arms around her chest. "What did you want to talk to me about earlier, that you seemed to be avoiding? You said you've been feeling sluggish. What does that mean?"A sigh escaped her lips. "Don't freak out.""She says, knowing it would make him freak out," Poe countered with a deep frown."I think some of my gears are breaking down." Crisara moved her hand from his leg and gestured to her abdomen. "I haven't been able to eat much. What little I do, I've been throwing up. I haven't been able to go to the bathroom and it's just been making me feel a little lightheaded here and there. And tired." She could automatically feel the anxiety starting to build within him, so she shifted to drape both of her arms around his, as if to force him to keep holding onto her. "It's been thirteen years since I had all this hardware installed, and it was done on Nar Shaddaa. It might not have been the longest lasting quality parts I could've received, but they've done their job.""Until now apparently."She nodded; not disputing that. "I think I need to make an appointment with a cyberneticist. But, one from a Core World, where the medical facilities are more…""Above board?"Crisara snickered. "Yeah," she agreed.Poe hugged his arms around her; tighter but not too tight. "How long have you been feeling this way?""Only about two weeks or so, off and on. But the last couple of days it's gotten more noticeable. More uncomfortable."Shifting, Poe sat upright; causing her to do the same. "Then we shouldn't wait to make an appointment. We'll just go. I'll tell Varga to push aside any meetings for the next couple of days, or let Threepio or any of the other advisors handle some of my workload. It wouldn't be the first time. We've gone on vacations over the last ten years. And I'll tell Queen Tenerra I'll be missing this week's Advisory Council meeting. She'll understand." He gripped the side of the tub with his left hand but maintained his right upon her chest, only to slide it gently down upon her abdomen. "Let's dry off, get dressed and I'll get Threepio to make an appointment. We'll go to Chandrila. The medical facility in Hanna City is top notch. You can get the medical attention you need there, and then we can stay at the penthouse on Embassy Row where you can convalesce, because I know you can't stand hospitals. Plus, Tem and Sessani reside there now, with his padawan Uwin, since Sessani's work as Naboo's ambassador to Chandrila has her living there. We'll have family near."Crisara listened to Poe ramble. He did that when he got nervous.As she pushed up to stand, he watched the way the scented water rolled off her body and then as she turned to face him. He tilted his head back to stare upward at her face; wearing an expression of great concern. Then, when she began to lower herself back down into the tub, she nudged at his knees with hers, which got him to lower his legs down. When she sat down in his lap, it wasn't for anything sexual. She just wanted to sit in his lap, facing him, so she could look at him. Poe's hands readily slipped around her waist as they simply stared at each other for a few moments in silence.With a soft, assuring smile Crisara slid her hands from his slickened chest to wrap her arms around his neck. Leaning forward, she rested her head down on his shoulder, nuzzling his neck with her nose and welcomed the way his arms slid around her waist and up her back. She knew that nothing she said to convince him she would be fine would truly sate his nerves, so she would appease him."Can we wait until tomorrow, until after Leia leaves with Rey?" she asked. "I don't want to distract her when she's been looking forward to this next step in her training. And I just want to enjoy our bath a little longer and have the rest of this day to be lazy before you make too much of a fuss over me. Can we do that, please?"Poe sighed heavily.She felt him nod his head. "Thank you.""We should bring Shara with us," he suggested quietly; rubbing soothing circles against her back. "She may not want to go with Leia and she may want to follow a different path, but the girls have never been apart a day in their lives. She's going to be going through separation anxiety and I don't think adding this health scare of yours to the mix will help any if we leave her behind.""I agree.""What about the others, though? Caro and Len.""We'll tell Caro where we're going, and to keep an eye on things, at both branches of the school, and on Len."Poe smirked. "Especially on Len.""You really need to give our little boy some more credit. He's not about to steal a ship and crash it the second we go away.""I mean…"Crisara chuckled. "He's not just you, you know. He's me, too." Slowly, she lifted her head and raised an eyebrow at her husband. "If anything we should worry he'll do somersaults from impossible heights and hopefully land in one piece and not become a human flatcake.""Why would you put that image in my head?"She shrugged. "To distract you from worrying too much about me?""And instead worry even more about our son?""Worrying about our children is part of the job as parents. Worrying about each other is just extra and unnecessary."With a frown, Poe brought his hands up from her back and placed them on the sides of her face. "Smart thinking. Worrying about you is extra stressful.""Well, I am a smart lady."He nodded; his worried brown eyes staring deeply into hers. "A smart lady who has given me most of my grey hairs.""Have not."Softly, he smiled through that worry, and kissed her long and deep. "Have too," he mumbled against her lips.  Barely two days later, Shara was sitting in the dining room of the penthouse apartment in Hanna City, Chandrila's capital. It was the apartment that had once belonged to her great aunt, Leia Organa Solo and her husband Han, and where they'd lived in the early years of their marriage with their son Ben. Shara's mother had inherited it upon the elder Leia's death, and it had been where her parents had been staying shortly before Shara and her twin sister had been born, hours later, aboard the Millennium Falcon on Kashyyyk.At the moment, Shara had a book to occupy her mind with, but that wasn't going so well. She was too distracted with worry about her mother. She wasn't alone. She had BB-8 to keep her company but the small droid wasn't enough to distract her either. She had gotten word that her mother's surgery had gone well; better than expected, actually. Now she was just waiting on her mother and father to return to the apartment. The surgery had taken place at the local medical center, in a specialized wing for patients with cybernetics and had to be kept overnight for observation, just to play it safe, as that was the medical center's policy. But then, Crisara was allowed to return home, so long as she maintained strict bed rest for at least a week, and then no strenuous physical activity for at least a month. Crisara would convalesce at the apartment in Hanna City, but after that week of bed rest, they would return home to Naboo, where she promised to take it easy.Eventually, Poe and Crisara returned to the apartment, with Poe literally carrying his bride over the threshold, the same as he did on their wedding night. She was giggling the entire time, insisting she could walk, but he refused to put her down; though, the task wasn't as easy to do as it once was. There was a considerable difference in a man's body when he was thirty-four and then at fifty-three. The knees weren't what they used to be and he said as much afterward, once he had Crisara lying in bed, so then she'd joked that maybe he could use some cybernetic enhancements so that she wouldn't feel like the odd one out anymore. Of course he countered with having been the odd one out in their family for twenty years, what with being the only one in their household unable to utilize the Force.After taking some meds prescribed to her, Crisara had easily drifted off to sleep and then Poe had joined his eldest twin in the dining room; suddenly caught off guard when she started to cry.Immediately concerned, Poe pulled Shara into his arms. "Hey now, none of that," he lulled. "What's with the waterworks?""I was just worried about mom."Poe frowned and kissed the top of her head. "I told you she came out of it alright, though.""I know," Shara mumbled into her dad's chest. "Doesn't mean it didn't still worry me though.""I'm gonna take a page from your mom's book of adages, and tell you to stop focusing on your anxieties. It won't help you any.""You should follow that advice, too."Snickering, Poe stepped back from his daughter and gestured her over to the living room, to sit beside him on the sofa. "Your mom told me that you wanted to be more like me," he remarked. "Seems you already are in more ways than you realize." When she sat down next to him, he lifted a hand and pushed some of her hair off her shoulder and smiled warmly. "Usually, you're pretty quiet and introspective like your mom, but you and I both get a bit wrapped up in our heads, and we get very chatty when we're nervous or stressed. It's like our brains are short-circuiting to overcompensate for everything we're trying to process all at once." He smirked, studying Shara more fully. "From what I remember of my mother, she was the same way. Considering you and Leia look just like her, it's like I get to see my mom again.""Do you remember your grandparents? You don't talk about them."Poe sighed, tucking one leg up underneath him as he leaned back against the sofa. "Just my Grandpa Bey, my mom's dad. My mom's mom and my dad's parents were all dead before I was born. Grandpa Bey was pretty great.""Am I at all like him?""Yeah, a little bit." Poe smiled. "He was the strong, silent type, but in a gentle and caring way. He was funny. He could always make me laugh, and he told good stories." The reminiscent look upon his face was infectious. It made Shara smile, too. "You and your siblings would've liked him."After a moment of silence passed between father and daughter, she cleared her throat. "Mom told you I want to study political science at Theed University, and possibly follow in your footsteps." It wasn't a question, merely a statement, but in a way that gave the impression she was making sure he was fully aware of her intention, mostly for her benefit. "I was hoping I could intern with you, when I don't have classes. Maybe a couple days a week."He nodded. "Definitely," he confirmed. "I think having you there beside me, showing you how things work in our government, could be kinda fun. It'll definitely make my days more enjoyable. Though, I know you're not the biggest fan of traveling, but I do, on occasion, go off-world for my work. And with the campaign for my third term ramping up, It'll help you in the long run to come along for a lot of that."Shara smiled. "I'd like that." She stared back at her father and suddenly felt so much better. Her mind felt less chaotic as she felt the swell of pride rolling off of him. Scooting closer, she swiveled her legs and tossed them over his lap and then curled into his side like she used to when she was little. "I love you, dad."Lifting his head, so that he could rest his beard chin atop her head, Poe blinked away some tears that stung at his eyes. "I love you, too, Breezy. So damn much." He wrapped an arm around her and held her close while patting her knees with his free hand. "Wanna join me in the kitchen and cook something for dinner? Your mom will probably be real hungry when she wakes up. Cyberneticist said her new stomach would mean her appetite would finally return. We'll make enough for ourselves and set something aside for her.""Okay," Shara agreed, sitting up and tossing her legs back down over the edge of the sofa. "Can we make homemade ice cream, too?"Poe chuckled. "Obviously. What else are we gonna have for dessert?" With a grin, he slapped at her legs and then stood up. Offering a hand to her, he watched as she accepted it and then continued to smile as he watched her practically skip off toward the direction of the kitchen.  That night, after dinner had been consumed by all of them, and after Shara had gone to bed, Poe had contacted Temiri, who was staying at the Naboo Embassy down the road with Uwin. They normally would've stayed at the apartment, but this allowed Poe, Crisara and Shara more space. Plus, Temiri was engaged to Sessani, the former queen turned ambassador, so it wasn't odd for him to stay with his fiancée. It was a new thing, having Uwin with them. But, as long as Uwin remained Temiri's padawan and graduated to that of a Jedi Knight someday, if that was the path the twelve-year-old wanted to continue down once he was older, then Temiri and Sessani would have to make room in their eventual married lives for the boy.After the call to Temiri, letting him know about his mother's surgery and how she was already feeling afterward, he'd contacted Rey, to pass along the same info, so she could pass it along to Leia. He then made the same call to Caro, to do the same for Len and the others back on Naboo. When those calls were done, he turned off the lights in the apartment, said goodnight to BB-8, who went to dock himself into a power-charging port for the evening, and retired into his and Crisara's room.Inside the bedroom, the lights were dim but not off, and she was sitting up in bed, watching some holodrama on the projector across the room."This is something I don't see every day," he teased. "You taking a doctor's advice and clearly very enraptured by some terribly acted piece of crap."Crisara giggled. "It's not horrible. I enjoy it."Taking a bottle of medication from the bedside table, Poe uncapped it and tipped the container toward his palm. After two capsules fell into his hand he reached over and handed them both to her, recapped the bottle and handed off a cup of water to her since it was time for her next dosage. "What's it called?" he asked, in regard to the holodrama. Sitting down beside her, he reached behind him and propped a pillow up behind his back and crossed his legs at the ankles."Love and Thieves," she replied. "This is one of the longest-running holodramas out there. I started watching it as a kid with my Gram. It was her guilty pleasure." Crisara smiled with amusement, as an actor in the show grabbed a woman he was arguing with and then pinned her against a wall to kiss her."You used to watch this kind of stuff as a kid?""To be fair, most of it went over my head back then. I got back into it after I left my father's Jedi Order, when I returned home to Naboo. Gram and I would watch it every week."Taking the cup of water from her, Poe set it down on the bedside table with her meds and then snuggled closer. Focusing on the images playing out on the projector, he raised an eyebrow. "Lead actress is pretty hot," he quipped. "Can't act to save her life, but hot."Crisara rolled her eyes. "Let me enjoy this in peace."Poe chuckled. "How long has this aired for?""Started sometime after I was born.""That long? Same actors?""Some have been on the show since the beginning, but most come and go over the years. Some get recast when actors want to leave for other projects but losing the characters doesn't make sense for the show's plots," Crisara began to explain. "It all takes place in a fictional city on Corellia, with a few high-powered families. Lots of romance and betrayals, faked deaths, and the occasional evil twin."Poe made a face that suggested he was a bit intrigued now. "Who are the couple about to fuck?""Kara Binni and Jorn Kalo. They used to be married to other people on the show, and they've always sort of hated each other, but now it's becoming an enemies-to-lovers situation.""Huh.""Jokes on them, though. He's a clone of her dead dad, but she doesn't know that because he had reconstructive surgery, and he doesn't know because, well, he doesn't know he's a clone and also he's had amnesia for about the last six years."Poe immediately turned and looked at Crisara. "Okay, no." He grabbed for the remote and turned the projector off. "No, no, no. That's enough of that.""It sounds worse than it is.""Babe, no. I'm setting my foot down. Get your own guilty pleasure, just not that one."Crisara sighed. "But I'm not well enough for my actual guilty pleasure right now."Flashing an impish look at her, Poe shook his head. "Don't tempt me, woman. You need to heal.""No shit. So let me have this." She snatched the remote back and turned the projector back on. "In one week, once we're home and I can officially come off bed rest, I'll show you what my guilty pleasure is.""Is it strenuous? 'Cause you can't be doing any of that for at least a month. And this time you're gonna listen to the docs and me.""I only had my stomach and bladder updated. I'll bounce back faster this time." With a roll of her eyes, she turned the projector off, set the remote aside and then turned to look up at Poe with a bit of a flirty gaze. "Dinner was wonderful earlier. I forgot to compliment you.""Shara helped," he informed, rolling onto his side and snuggling more against his wife. "I'm really going to love having her intern for me, when she's ready. And I really think her going to university fits her better. Don't get me wrong, I've seen her in action, wielding the both the Force and her lightsaber, but she never really flourished with it like Leia. I mean, she's a natural, but it seemed more like a chore for her." Poe's gaze grew a bit distant but thoughtful as he absentmindedly picked at the material of Crisara's nightgown. "While we were cooking, I was listening to her talk about going to university and some of the courses she's looking forward to taking and how she wants to look into joining a few on-campus clubs to make friends. She lit up. She suddenly looked so grown-up and happy. Not that she wasn't happy before, but…more satisfied now, I guess? It took everything in me to not bawl like a baby over how happy I am for her."Crisara smiled; clamping a hand down over his. "This does suit her more. Plus, she's always been more of a homebody, so we know at least one of our kids won't ever be too far away.""I don't see Caro going far.""Well, I mean in the immediate future, because of the university being local to us in Theed. Caro will go back and forth between the Capital and the villa; basically wherever I need him to be. Tem is here for the foreseeable future. He'll go wherever Sessani's work takes her. Leia and Len are the ones to watch. They'll be our adventure seekers; traversing the galaxy, making great discoveries or getting up to no good."Poe laughed. "Yeah, that sounds about right."Running her hand up and down Poe's arm, Crisara turned to face him a bit more. "You know something I can do, while on bed rest, that isn't strenuous for me?" She shifted her hand toward his chest and, with the palm of her hand began to work her way down toward his lap.As his already dark gaze darkened further, Poe smirked. "I'll allow it." Leaning his face toward hers, he brushed his nose against hers and then claimed her lips with his. "There's also things I can do, too, that won't require any exertion on your part.""Mmm…" she hummed against his mouth as he stole another kiss from her. "Let me take care of you tonight. A thank you for a delicious meal and being my nursemaid."Poe nodded. "Okay, deal."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"But nobody knows what's gonna happen tomorrow
We try not to show how frightened we are
If you let me, I'll protect you however I can
You've got to believe it'll be alright in the end
You've got to believe it'll be alright again"
— Duran Duran "Your mother once teasingly called me a Kowakian monkey-lizard.""How come?""Because of how I scaled some piping leading out of your grandfather's old homestead on Tatooine." Master Rey Skywalker stood at the base of a large, gnarly tree in her Jedi tunics, which more or less denoted her rank. Her arms were folded over her chest as she stared upward. The faint crinkle at the sides of her eyes gave way to the fact that she was now forty years old, though still just as youthful. "I almost forgot I'm not your aunt by blood, because I was about to suggest you take after me in that aspect."From upon above, clinging to the tapering tip of the trunk, Leia Dameron laughed. "Family can be subjective. You may not be my aunt by blood, but you're still my aunt. Traits don't have to be inherited, they can be learned."Rey nodded slightly. "Apparently so." After a moment, she took a few steps back and squinted due to a bit of fading sunlight hitting her at the wrong angle through the other trees. "Do you see anything?""Dark clouds on the horizon. Birds fleeing toward the east," Leia called down. "Electricity in the air. I can feel it all around.""A bad storm is coming. Do you see any lightning yet?""No. But it'll be open us within the hour, I'm sure." Without warning, she pushed off the branch that was barely holding her weight, and did a backflip. In an exercise of controlled descent, she landed easily upon her feet, but in a slightly crouched position. Pushing up to stand completely upright, she let out a small huff of air. "We'll need to batten down the hatches, and soon. Those clouds seem to be rolling fast in this direction."Rey smirked in response.Leia raised an eyebrow. "What?""You look so much like your father, but that jump and that landing — you're so very much Crisara.""He tells me constantly how much I look like his mother. Well, both Shara and me. Identical twins and whatnot. But obviously my skill in the Force is where I'm like that of my mother. She's the Jedi Master, he's just…dad.""He's more than that," Rey countered sagely. "I've known both your parents for a long time; longer than you've been alive. And yes, your mother is marvelous as a Jedi. She was my master. She helped teach me most everything I know and helped me become the woman I am today. She's done and is still capable of many breathtaking feats. But your father is just as remarkable in his own right. He's the best pilot the galaxy has ever seen, he's resourceful and clever, loyal and selfless, he's brave, witty and loves you, your mother, your siblings and all of his friends with an incredibly big heart. Poe Dameron is not 'just dad'. He's General Poe kriffing Dameron, Governor of Naboo. Give respect where respect is due."As Rey smiled pointedly at her, Leia began to chuckle — mostly at the fact that Rey swore, considering it was such a rare occurrence — and rolled her eyes in that way her mother was known for. "I know, I know.""Do you though?" Rey raised an eyebrow as she unfolded her arms to instead clasp her hands together behind her back. "For as much as your skill comes from your mother's side, you are much more like your father. To know yourself and to respect yourself, you must be able to truly know and respect him.""I do," Leia replied adamantly, as thunder clapped in the distance. "He's a great many things, I know. But the most important of them all — to me — is that he's my dad. And I'm fairly certain it's the most important thing to him, too. Nothing else matters."With warm, proud smile, Rey nodded. "I'm glad you can see that."Narrowing her gaze, Leia fell in step with her pseudo-aunt as soon as she began to walk away from the copse they'd been standing amidst. "Was that some sort of test?""You tell me."Leia tipped her head back and sighed with purposely exaggerated fashion. "Ugh, why must Jedi Masters be so vague?""Because it's not for us to give you the answers. You must learn the lessons and come to the correct resolutions on your own. That's what makes any journey — literal or educational — worthwhile. I know the frustration of desperately wanting a quick answer; to not want to wait around and instead go headfirst into something. I was fortunate to have some of the greats teach me to have a bit of patience. Your mother, your great aunt Leia, your grandfather Luke. The latter two who are still occasionally helpful from the other side, along with a few others who've make the odd appearance over the years."Leia nodded. She'd first "met" her grandfather Luke when she was about seven, after she'd officially begun her training as merely a youngling under her mother's tutelage. Then came a few others. Her great aunt Leia, yes. But then her great-grandfathers, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, as well as her grandmother Adamé. Yoda once, when she was fourteen and feeling particularly frustrated about something she could barely recall anymore. She'd heard the voices of others a few times, but never got names from them. Only words of encouragement, which had always made an impact and had been greatly appreciated.So many Jedi had come before her. A thousand generations, that had lived and died, were somewhere out there and behind her all the way, as they were for others like her; her mother, her brothers, her sister, Rey, Finn, all the other younglings and padawans under her mother's care and under Rey's care, and even those who had yet to be found and trained, as well as those yet to be born. It was like a gargantuan family and it made Leia feel confident that, no matter what happened and no matter where she went in her life, she would never be alone.An hour later, as Leia suspected, the storm rolled in and it lasted all night long.Rain pelted the small window to the small bedroom that had been Leia's meager domicile for the last four months. She laid in bed, staring upward at the ceiling and the faint etchings made by others who had occupied this room before her. Most were just names, as if it was supposed to be proof they existed in this place. One name, paired with a drawing, brought a smile to her face and allowed her mind to wander.It was Nik Yaren. He'd been the young boy her mother had found on Nar Shaddaa thirteen years earlier. Finding him had quickly devolved into a terrible fight with the gang that had been abusing Nik, which led to Crisara Dameron's unfortunate injury that left her in permanent need of cybernetics to keep her alive. Leia knew, to this day, that he still somehow blamed himself; as if it was all his fault her mother had been hurt and nearly died. But Leia also knew he'd grown up and he'd learned to compartmentalize those emotions as any Jedi of old or present could.She also knew that Nik Yaren was absolutely beautiful.She thought him graceful, almost like a dancer, whenever she had watched him spar with lightsabers or wooden staves against any of the other padawans in the training theater at the Kenobi Academy. She could watch him twirl, leap, bend and parry all day. She loved the way his dark curls bounced, tickling at his ears or upon his forehead. She loved his strong nose and his hazel-green eyes. She loved his amazing cheekbones and even the cleft in his chin. He was tall and thin, and his voice was deep but effervescent; like a love song.He was also quite distracting, even when he wasn't around. Like now. When she was alone in her room, staring up at his name etched into the ceiling beside a stick figure holding a lightsaber.Stars above, she hoped it was a lightsaber.Knowing Nik and how, uh, flirty he could be, there was a very real possibility that the stick figure was holding something less than appropriate for a ceiling etching.Eventually, the rhythm of the storm raging outside and her daydreams lulled her to sleep when meditation just wasn't doing the trick. As darkness washed over her and she succumbed to regular dreams, images and scenery appeared at random in her mind, making little to no sense, as dreams usually did. But then something began to evolve. The images became clear and concise. And terrible. Very terrible.She saw a large group of people, but not just any people. Her family, and family friends. They were all gathered together and smiling. She was certain there was faint music and laughter, even. But then there were screams. She saw laser bolts darting all over, and lightsabers igniting in an act of defense against a threat. The screams changed from fear to abject horror. She saw her father, struck in the head by a blaster bolt and fall backward. She saw blood all over his shirt. She saw her mother drop to his side. She saw her brother Tem cry out in grief as tears raged down his face.And then Leia woke up.She bolted upright, drenched in sweat. As she took deep, steadying breaths to calm herself down, she glimpsed the view out her window and saw morning was starting to break and the storm had passed. But now she was filled with worry that another storm was on the horizon; this one metaphorical, but just as equally impossible to prevent."Not my dad. Please, not my dad."Tossing her blanket off her legs, she sprang up out of bed and hurried to her door. Pulling it open she ran off to find Rey. When she did, she found the older female already awake, and in deep meditation in one of the communal spaces. All Leia had to do was appear in the doorway, her breath loud and uneven, and Rey was on her feet and facing her without hesitation."What's wrong?" the Jedi Master inquired, stepping forward; easily sensing great distress in the padawan."I'm not sure if I had a vision or if it was just a terrible nightmare," Leia prefaced. "Either way it felt very real.""Tell me.""It was all jumbled. So much was happening." Tears burned at the eighteen-year-old's brown eyes — her father's eyes. "I think someone's going to kill my dad. There were blaster bolts firing at him, at my family, and I think he gets shot in the head. He fell. There was blood on him. Temiri was crying and Temiri never cries."Rey reached her hands out and cupped the sides of Leia's face. "Breathe," she urged when sensed the panic attack starting to build within Leia. "Deep breaths. In and out. In. Then out." She waited, watching as her honorary niece did as instructed and began to calm down a smidgen. "That's good. Just like that. Keep doing it. Focus your mind, feel the Force around you. Let it anchor you and bring you peace of mind. Don't allow your fears or your anxieties to take control. You are in control."Leia closed her eyes and continued to steady her breaths; reaching out with the Force and pulling more of it inward. The more it began to feel like a weighted security blanket, the calmer she felt and the clearer her mind became. "Thank you," she muttered, reopening her eyes as Rey dropped her hands to her side."Now, thinking more calmly on what you saw, whether it really was a vision or not, when does all this happen?"Leia shrugged. "I'm not sure exactly when, but soon. That much I know.""Your father's inauguration for his third term as Governor is a week away. You saw your family gathered together. That is something coming up very soon where everyone you know and care about will be in one place, and it will be out in the open in the Grand Plaza." Rey frowned, her mind processing all of this. "I know you were going to be headed home for that in a few days, but I think it might be best if you go home now. And when you get home, talk to your parents right away. Tell them what you saw. Your mother, especially, understands the importance of not ignoring dreams and visions about the future. She learned that the hard way with your older sister. If there is a way to prevent this dream or vision from happening, it has to be looked into immediately."Knitting her brow together, Leia leaned forward and pressed her forehead to Rey's. "What if it can't be prevented?" she wondered in a small voice. "What if my dad really dies?"Rey sighed and grabbed onto the girl's hands. "Whatever does or doesn't happen, you need to be at home.""Will you come with me?""I can't leave just yet. I responsibilities here, but I will be there for the inauguration ceremony," Rey assured; gripping Leia's hands tighter, as if to assert her avowal. "I will be there to help in any way I can, if and when your vision comes to pass."Slowly, Leia began to nod her head in gratitude. Though, despite how grateful she felt of her Aunt Rey, she couldn't shake the feeling that, whether the older female was there beside her to help in any way she could, it wasn't going to be enough.  Three hours later, Leia was on her way home in the J-type star skiff that her parents had gifted her for her eighteenth birthday three months prior. It was an exact replica of the same skiff her mother had once flown, that had been previously owned by her grandfather Luke, which he had inherited. The original had been flown by Leia's great-grandmother Padmé Amidala during her tenure as Naboo's senator. After her death, the skiff had been decommissioned because it had been too painful a reminder to the people of Naboo of what had happened to their much beloved, former monarch. But eventually, many years later, Leia's other great-grandmother Sera had convinced the then-current monarch and the Advisory Council to remove the ship from its metaphorical slumber so it could go to one of Padmé's children — her son, Luke. Knowing that, between Shara and Leia, the latter was going to be the one to venture further out into the galaxy, it made the most sense to gift such a sleek starship to their youngest twin daughter. When she finished her training, she could use the ship as a mobile home much like how the Millennium Falcon had been for the Solo family for so many years, before it came into the ownership of the Damerons.Leia had felt almost guilty to receive such a literally large gift, knowing Shara wasn't receiving quite the same, but she knew Shara received her own gift that made more sense for her. Their parents had bought her an entire apartment near Theed University, so that Shara could have a place of her own while she went to school. It would be a place where she could invite over the friends she would make or even take in roommates if she wanted to. And it was close enough to the Governor's Mansion as well, in case she got homesick for her parents, but with the benefit of having something of her own, for her own privacy, and that could be something she could grow into even after she finished her schooling and began a career, or maybe even a family of her own someday.Leia loved her gift, though. While it wasn't the exact same ship, it made her feel a little closer to her great-grandmother Padmé and grandfather Luke; to know they sat at an identical pilot's chair, while traversing the galaxy on one adventure to another. When asked by her parents if she had a name for her star skiff, she had spent the better part of an evening considering the options. She'd only been gone a month by that point, but had come home for a few days for her and Shara's eighteenth birthday, and was due to return back to Rey the following day. That night before, though, she finally approached her parents, who were lounging together in the first floor parlor of the Governor's Mansion, playing a round of sabacc together."Skywalker," she'd announced."Huh?" had come her father's confused response; distracted by the round he was unsurprisingly losing."My ship's name. It's Skywalker."Poe and Crisara had looked at each other, sharing a smile, and then back at their daughter with a look of approval."It's a good name," her mother had remarked. "A strong name."Now, Leia was behind the pilot's seat, with her droid; an old R6-series astromech she'd rebuilt during her downtime when she was fifteen, which was called R6-KT or simply "Katy." Leia had given Katy a new color scheme — white with fuchsia and silver trim — and installed female programming. Without her twin sister at her side, at this point in her life, she was especially glad she'd done that. It felt like having her sister with her, in person, at all times. Using the droid as her co-pilot and navigator, she was able to sit back and more or less enjoy their trek through hyperspace, en route to Naboo. Katy beeped occasionally, when the relative silence within the cockpit had gone on for too long; as if needing to fill the air with conversation, even if it was in binary.After a while, Leia reached for the communications panel and made contact with someone not her parents. When a holographic bust of a young man appeared, she smirked. "Hey," she greeted."Hey to you, too," Nik replied with a nod, while staring back at her."I'm heading home early to Naboo. I had a vision. I think."
"Good or bad?"
"Would I be heading home early if it was good?"
"Maybe you won the lottery and want to share the news in person."
Leia rolled her eyes. "My family is loaded. I don't need to play nor win any lottery.""Correction," he countered. "Your parents are loaded. You're only loaded by association. None of that money is yours until they kick it. And even then it'll only be a fraction. You have four other siblings you'll have to split that inheritance with." When her expression immediately soured, and her chin began to quiver, Nik became suddenly concerned. "Did I say something wrong? Did something happen?" Then, thinking back on what she'd just said before, he asked, "What was your vision about?""My father being killed by blaster fire," she answered with an aggrieved sigh.
"Oh — Leia. I'm sorry."
She practically scowled at him. "Don't say it like that — like it's already happened and there's nothing I can do about it. That's why I'm going home early: to warn my parents, to prevent it." She sighed. "If I can. I hope I can."
"Hope is a good thing to have."
"Hope can only do so much, though."Nik shook his head. "Hope can mean everything. Hope can inspire. Hope fueled the fight to win two wars in the last fifty years."With a smile that was rueful at best, Leia nodded in agreement. "Where are you right now?"
"In some backwater village on Scarif that wasn't razed by the Empire during the Galactic Civil War."
"What are you doing there?"
"Followed some asshole that stole my droid while I was getting something to eat on Tatooine."
"What were you doing on Tatooine?""What's with the third degree?" he questioned, teasingly. "I'm a single man, who has recently completed my trials to become a Jedi Knight, thank you very much, so I can come and go whenever and wherever I please. But, no…I met someone, followed her back to Tatooine. We had some fun, I got distracted. I can only blame myself for Arthree's droidnapping. But, long story short, I got him back and the droidnapper learned the hard way not to mess with a Jedi Knight." Nik shrugged. "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do."Leia kept her face neutral. She was glad he wasn't physically there. This way he couldn't sense her disappointment in him having sewn his wild oats with someone that wasn't her. This way he couldn't feel the way her heart broke a little from envy. "Well, if you're on Scarif, then you're not far from Naboo," she finally spoke. "Can you come home? Can you meet me there? I could use a friendly face at my side at a time like this, and to help me protect my dad should my vision come to pass."Slowly, but with reassurance, Nik nodded. "I'll leave right away." Then, in a way that gave Leia butterflies in her stomach, that he had no way of realizing, he added, "I'd go anywhere for you, princess."Because of who she was named after, and because of her family's reputation and affluence, the nickname Nik had chosen to bestow upon her years ago, when they were much younger, just seemed to fit. But that wasn't why she had butterflies. She just hoped he meant what he'd said in a way she hoped; on a deeper level. She hoped he saw her as more than just a friend, or that he could…in time."Thank you, Nik."
"Anytime."
  At that very moment, several star systems away, it was well after nightfall in the hemisphere of Naboo where Theed was located. All was, more or less, quiet in the Governor's Mansion. Security staff monitored the official estate, inside and out, while cleaning droids moved about each level to maintain a fresh and sparkling interior, but as quietly as possibly on the second level, as not to disturb the Governor and his Jedi wife, who were home alone.They weren't officially empty nesters, since Len was only sixteen and his primary residence was with them still, but he was yet again back at the villa with Caro while he kept up with some of his lessons and training at the chief branch of the Kenobi Academy. Though, both Len and Caro were both due back to Theed the following day; what with Poe's third inauguration coming up by the end of the week. All their children would be coming back to the Governor's Mansion over the next few days, and it would once again be a very full house, and Poe and Crisara were looking forward to it.But, right now, a small explosion could've detonated inside this official residence and they'd be oblivious, as they were too distracted by one another.Happily in bed together, Poe had his face buried into the side of his wife's neck while lying as equally buried between her legs. His arms were tucked just underneath her upper back while his hands were digging into either side of the pillow her head was resting upon. All the while her fingernails were gently scrapping against the skin of his back, giving him yet another reason to moan in pleasure. With her legs wrapped around his waist, Crisara welcomed each and every thrust he made; feeling as if he was somehow pushing deeper and deeper each and every time. At this rate she was sure she'd feel him all the way up in her chest, between her lungs, and she'd be perfectly fine with that.Sliding her hands down his back, she briefly palmed the area of his tailbone before affectionately clutching at his ample bottom; urging him further onward. Taking the hint, Poe increased the pace of his thrusts and groaned accordingly. Dragging his lips up from her neck, he lifted his head and stole a proper kiss from her."Fuck, I love you," he muttered, as he swiveled his hips just enough to draw a guttural moan from the depths of her throat.Lifting her hips to meet each of his thrusts, Crisara dragged one of her hands away from his ass to slip her fingers into his thick, dark curls that were peppered with plenty of grey and silver. She didn't respond verbally to his declaration, but she didn't need to. He knew she felt the same, and she knew that he knew. When she felt him starting to clench up, that he was nearing his climax, she shoved at his chest. "Not yet, not yet," she insisted with a faint whimper. Twisting them around, she pushed him back onto the mattress and then sat up so she could be on top and have more control of the situation. "Okay. That's better."With his head lying back, but slipping between his and her pillows, Poe rested his hands upon her upper thighs. As she began to bounce on him, he grinned devilishly while enjoying the gratuitous jiggle of her full breasts and the way she had her eyes closed so tightly in concentration. Slowly and methodically, he let his fingers grip her thighs firmly for a moment before letting them dance upward over the curve of her hips until they came to rest against either side of her waist; all in an effort to guide her up and down on his aching shaft, much in the way her ass grab to him had been meant to guide him deeper inside of her. She was hunching forward, her hands firmly pressed against his chest and her sandy blonde hair, which was slowly beginning to give way to a few streaks of grey and silver as well, fell around her shoulders and down around her face.The moment he was finally about to come, Poe quickly sat up, slipped one arm around her waist and rolled them back over, so he could be on top again; giving it one good, final thrust. The fact that they managed to come together was a nice little treat, as Poe usually went first, but was always a good sport about riding it out until she got hers. Or made it up to her orally. As soon as they were both spent, he collapsed down upon her and let out a sated sigh."You're so much fun," he remarked with a slight chuckle. Sliding out of her, much to her chagrin, he shimmied down her body a bit so he could rest his head down upon her chest while still lying between her legs. "This is paradise for me — right here." As he nuzzled the valley between her breasts, placing small kisses upon each, he sighed and resumed lying his head down sideways while she slipped her hands back into his locks and held onto him. "I would very much like to die like this; between your legs, within your arms. Fucking paradise."Crisara smiled. Moving a hand from his hair, she touched her fingertips to his bearded chin and urged him to look up at her. When he did, she stared lovingly back at him. "What a way to go," she added with a playful grin. When he leaned his face forward, she craned her head upward so they could meet in the middle to kiss. "I love you, too." It was delayed, from his remark earlier, but she finally got around to reciprocating it. "So much it hurts."With a soft, wistful smile, he shimmied back up her, kissed her lips once more and then rolled over to lie beside her; propping his head up in his hand while draping his other arm around her waist. It was as if she would somehow float away and disappear forever if he wasn't holding onto her or just barely touching her. For a moment, his gaze lingered down past her lovely breasts and focused a little bit upon the scars from her corrective surgery that she'd undergone four months ago, which were healing better this time around than the first time on Nar Shaddaa years ago. It still made him sad for her, that the need for cybernetics ended up being her lot in life, but he was thankful she still had a life. He was still grateful he still had her in his life.Slowly returning his gaze upon her face, he asked, "How is it possible you're even more beautiful now than when we were younger? Do you have fine wine for blood? Should I open a vein and take a taste to check?"She laughed. "That would be weird.""It would certainly be a very specific kink.""If it's an unfulfilled one of yours, then I'm sorry to burst your bubble, because I'm not letting you sample my blood."Poe grimaced. "Eww, no thanks. Was just making a joke. Don't be disgusting."Crisara's laughter continued. "You brought it up.""And you took it the wrong way and made it weirder.""You're weirder."With a raise of an eyebrow, he just stared blankly at her for a moment. "That was possibly the lamest comeback in the history of comebacks.""Whatever." She rolled her eyes and looked away; upward at the ceiling, but very aware he was still staring at her. "I'm tired. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it."Bringing a hand up to the opposite side of her face, he insisted she look back at him. When she did, he dropped his head down onto the pillow below and they both just stared at each other. "You have a thing," he mumbled, vaguely."A what?""A thing on your face." Brushing the pad of his thumb just under her eye, and pinching ever so slightly, he pulled his hand back and then smirked. "Eyelash. That was the word I was looking for." With a soft smile, he continued to just absentmindedly brush his thumb as well as his index finger along her face. It was just little touches here and there that he watched bring happy, little smiles to her lips. "So beautiful.""That feels nice.""Post-coital bliss?""Well, yes, that, but also the little touches," she clarified. "You, staring at me; always making me feel like I'm a goddess.""You are."Crisara rolled her eyes again and smirked. "Well, we're two halves of a whole, husband and wife, so that means you're a god.""I can live with that. You know, since gods and goddesses are supposed to be immortal. Living forever with you would be especially amazing." As he watched the way her smile faded a bit, he began to frown in response. "What is it?" When she didn't respond right away, he added, "I can't peer into your head like you can so you have to use your words, babe.""Just a fleeting thought that I try not to ever think about.""What thought?""How there will come a day, hopefully still a few decades away, where we won't be able to see each other or talk to each other ever again." Her lips began to quiver and tears filled her eyes. Quick to wipe at them before they fell, she released a small, displaced laugh in an attempt to assure him she was fine. "I think I'm going through the change. I'm suddenly very emotional. Crying at the drop of a hat."A naturally emotional guy, Poe understood where she was coming from. He'd never exactly been afraid to show his feelings, at least not around his loved ones, so it wasn't strange when he reacted to her tears with tears of his own. However, he smiled through his and expressed an encouraging smile. "I hope that day is a long time away, too. I don't want to leave you before I have to.""It's not just," she began; taking a brief moment to suck in a steadying breath to calm her nerves. "It's not just the thought of you dying someday. I mean, we're both going to die. That can't be prevented. It's the thought of you just being gone for good. No ghostly visiting like I'll be capable of. Yes, I'm certain I'll be aware of your presence in the Force. My grandfather Obi-Wan likened sensing Gram existing in the Force to a breeze surrounding him. But he can't see her or hear her or hold her. Considering their time together had been largely sporadic and then cut short, I suppose the transition from her life to what came after wasn't a big change for him. For us," Crisara mumbled, looking Poe in the eye, "we've rarely been apart in twenty years, and if we get another twenty or forty more, if we're lucky, to transition into not having something like this anymore might feel like a fate worse than death."Leaning closer, Poe brushed his nose against her jaw and then lifted his face to kiss her cheek and then her lips. "Well, maybe your Jedi forefathers and foremothers don't know everything about the afterlife. Maybe there's a place for us after we die, that's like this." He slid his hand up the side of her body and let his fingertips dance a bit between her breasts before resting the palm of his hand where her heart was. He was quiet for a moment, feeling the rhythm of the beating from within her chest, and then just enjoying her eyes on him, even if she was looking up at him with sad, blue eyes. "Maybe once we're both gone, we get to have an afterlife that's just for us. If and when I go first, I'll get it all set up. I'll make it really nice and comfortable, so when you join me…" He cut himself off. This topic suddenly became very depressing. "It'll be a new paradise.""What'll it look like?""Our bedroom back home at the villa, but just the bedroom. We'll be dead, so we won't need to worry about eating or needing a bathroom. But a bed for sex, of course. And just beyond the bedroom, it'll instead open up to a beach, with soft white sand—""I hate sand.""Yeah, but this is the good sand. It's paradise afterlife sand. You can walk on it and it doesn't burn your feet if you're barefoot. And it won't be stuck between places where the sun don't shine." Off her gentle chuckle, he smiled; happy the sadness was passing. "Just a small beach, though, and the waters are turquoise blue and the breeze is fragrant. And there are ginberry bushes, just for you."Crisara smiled. "That does sound like paradise.""But wait — there's more.""Oh?""This beach is like a cove, and there are little bungalows all around it, but spaced far enough apart for our privacy. And in each bungalow is where our loved ones end up. Our family, our friends and, someday, our kids will join us there. So on and so forth.""Adera will already be there, to welcome us.""With flowers in her hair." He was recalling how her daughter had looked at Alfic and Isabara's wedding long ago.Crisara released a comforted sigh. "I want that to be true.""I'm sure if we believe in it enough, it could be. Isn't that how most faiths work?"Curling against his chest, Crisara nodded and wrapped an arm around his waist. Pressing his lips to her temple, he leaned his face backward a bit to pull her even closer until they were practically cocooned together, as if they were of one body. Where one ended the other began. Silence fell over them both but it was a welcomed silence. They had long been able to enjoy each other without the need to talk, despite how chatty Poe could be.All they needed was little looks and little touches, and they felt safe and content with each other.  By the time Leia arrived to the Governor's Mansion, a few more hours had passed and her parents were already very much asleep. She'd docked the Skywalker at the Royal Hangar and then received a lift via speeder to the mansion. The guards outside, that looked as if they were keeping vigil, nodded politely at the twin daughter to their Head of Government and let her inside without hesitation. When she slipped inside, she was immediately greeted by C-3PO, who had been sitting, semi-powered down, upon a chair in the entrance hall. His proximity sensors alerting him to a presence, he straightened up and turned to look at her.
"Good evening, Mistress Leia. A pleasure, as always, to see you. Are you back already for your father's inauguration? It was quite fantastic that he won again, but there really wasn't much of a doubt that he—"
Leia whipped her head toward the golden protocol droid. "Threepio. Shush."
"Quite right. It is very late and we don't want to wake your parents who are, no doubt, deep in slumber."
"Actually, I kinda intend to wake them up," she remarked, stalking forward toward the staircase toward the right. "I just didn't realize how late it would be by the time I got here."Leaving the droid behind downstairs, she took the steps two at a time until she reached the second level and stood in the center of the upper hall, staring in the direction of her parents' bedroom suite. At this moment, both of them were alive and well, with no idea of what might very well transpire by the week's end. Her mother was sleeping peaceful, unaware she may become a widow terribly soon. And her father — oh, her wonderful father — had no clue his life might be about to end.Thinking on her vision, which she hoped was just a nightmare and nothing else, Leia's brow furrowed and such a weight seemed to return upon her shoulders and within her heart."Please don't let it happen, please don't let it happen…please…"  The veil between sleep and consciousness began to lift quite suddenly on Crisara. A still, small voice in the back of her mind urged her to wake up; telling her something was a bit off. Sitting upright, she stared forward in the dark toward the windows that looked out toward the large garden at the back of the mansion. Beside her, Poe was asleep on his stomach; the blanket having shifted off him at some point and giving her the best view of his bare bottom, which brought a small smile to her lips.Sensing a familiar presence, she turned her head toward the suite door and her smile slipped away as quickly as she had sat up."Leia," she whispered, mostly to herself. Reaching a hand out, she placed her palm down upon Poe's left shoulder blade and patted him a few times to wake him up. "Poe. I think something's wrong with Leia."Inhaling a deep breath through his nostrils, her husband of nearly twenty years muttered something incoherent but didn't wake. When she reached forward and slapped his ass, his head shot up and he glared upward at her with sleepy eyes. "Whatthefuck.""Leia," she repeated, clambering to get off the bed. Hurrying over to where she'd abandoned her nightgown earlier in the night, she threw it on without waiting for him to properly react to her vague urgency."What about her? Is she okay?" he asked, rolling more onto his side and following her in the dark with his eyes."I don't know. But I feel her near," Crisara replied. "I think she's home early. I can feel this heavy fear in her. She's scared about something."Rightfully concerned now, Poe kicked off the remainder of the blanket that had somehow gotten twisted around his feet, and slid off the bed. Turning on the lamp on his bedside table, he could now see better to find his pajama pants. When he gathered them up in his hands, he began to slide them up his legs while trying not to fall over himself. "Is she hurt?" Leaning back upon bed as he pulled his pants up over his hips, he looked over at his wife with a raised eyebrow. "Well?"Crisara paused and looked squarely at him. "Poe — I don't know, okay?" Stepping around him she walked over to the suite door. Before she could open it, there came a harried knock. Crisara's gaze shifted over her shoulder to Poe and then back to the door.
"Mom?"
It was definitely Leia.Even though their twins were identical, their voices weren't. Shara's was softer, Leia's a hair deeper.Crisara didn't hesitate to open the door and her daughter didn't seemed surprised to find either of her parents already awake and staring back at her on the other side. "What happened?" the Jedi Master demanded. Reaching forward, she grabbed for Leia's hands and led her inside the bedroom. "Tell us."Before she responded or could be led further inside to sit down anywhere, Leia darted over to her father and threw her arms around his waist and hugged him. Caught off guard by the urgency and suddenness of the gesture, Poe was a bit delayed in reciprocating, but eventually did; slipping his arms around his daughter's back and looking over her shoulder toward his wife with continued concern. Leia inhaled a deep breath and found some comfort in feeling safe in her dad's arms. It made her feel like a little girl again, where nothing bad could reach her. Where there were no shadow creatures standing in the corner and no monsters under the bed, lying in wait to eat one of her feet or one of her hands that might dangle over the edge of the mattress. And where nightmares were just that, and not harbingers of death."Hey," Poe muttered as he gently began to pry Leia off. When she lifted her head and stepped back from him, he pressed his curled index finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. "Berries, what's wrong?"Leia found extra comfort in his old nickname for her. Whereas Shara was Breezy. She was Berries, all because she liked to feed her face with ginberries from the villa's back garden any chance she got as a toddler. Poe had laughed his ass off the first time he'd found her with the skin around her mouth stained purple from the small, dark berries she'd feasted on, and how her face kept twisting with the funniest expressions. Every time she chomped down on a handful, it seemed she kept forgetting how sour they initially were before giving way to sweetness.With a sigh, she looked over at her mother, who would understand more. "I had a vision." Then, she amended, "I'm pretty sure I had a vision.""And it wasn't a good one," Crisara easily deduced as she waded through the waters that were the feelings ebbing and flowing from her daughter. She gestured to the chaise lounge at the end of the bed, for Leia to sit down. "Tell us every detail you remember."Gingerly taking a seat, Leia hunched slightly and folded her hands between her thighs, as her father sat down across from her in one of the armchairs, and as her mother just remained standing beside her. "We were all together," she began. "Our family. And our closest friends. We were all happy, smiling…laughing. And then there was blaster fire. People were screaming. There was mass panic." She lifted her dark eyes and glanced at her dad with a pained expression. "You get shot in the head. I saw you fall back. Mom dropped down with you, to catch you as you fell, I think." She watched as her father sat back and stole a glance upward at his wife; the two sharing some unspoken conversation. She watched as his own dark eyes drifted back down as he processed what Leia had just said. "There was blood on your shirt," she continued as new tears appeared and quickly began to fall down her face. "Tem was even crying. He looked like his heart hat been ripped out of his chest.""Tem never cries," Crisara remarked."I know. That's what I told Aunt Rey when I told her about what I saw," Leia countered, sparing a look up at her mom. "Tem's so in control of his emotions, he's practically a droid. So, if he was crying, then it has to be serious." Returning his gaze toward her father, she frowned deeply and wiped at her tears. "It's going to happen soon, and I think at your inauguration."Considering this, Poe leaned forward and clasped his hands together between his knees. "We've done this twice before. The security detail that surrounds the Grand Plaza, the security guards from the Palace — they're always on the ball in case of any outside threats." He eyed his daughter. "Civilians have to pass through check points when the Queen or I make public appearances before large crowds, for our safety and the safety of the crowds.""What if it's an inside job?" Leia suggested. "Or what if the attack comes from above?""I can wear armor under my clothes. I can wear a bracer-mounted personal energy shield. We all can. And you, your mom, and your siblings all have lightsabers and can sense danger before it happens. I'll be safest with all of you. I'll be okay," Poe insisted, reaching forward and taking one of Leia's hands in his. "You giving us this warning, whether or not it happens, makes a big difference. Now I can prepare for an added threat and put plans into place.""Can't you just project yourself through hologram from the safety of your office?""I'm the Governor of Naboo, honey. I was Security Chief before this and a General in the Resistance before that. I survived a lot more stupid and dangerous things before now. How would it look if I hid away from the people? They'd think me a coward.""At least you'd be alive!" Leia contended; the volume of her voice raising."You see me get shot at. But do you actually see me die?" Poe looked from his daughter to his wife. "Visions can be subjective. Every aspect isn't fully detailed, right?" Before Crisara could answer one way or the other, Poe grabbed for Leia's other hand and returned his focus onto her. "I'm not dying. I refuse to. I have too much yet to do. I have my beautiful children to see get older. I have you and your sister to walk down the aisle someday. I have your goddess of a mother to grow old with. Or, well, older. I know we're not exactly nubile, young things anymore."It wasn't lost on him, the conversation he'd had with Crisara earlier in the night, in bed; about death and dying someday. And now, to have Leia bring this apparent vision of hers to the table — it felt a bit jarring. But he refused to give it any power.Like he more or less said to Crisara: believing in something enough could make that something happen."I'll weigh the options," he continued, looking between his wife and his daughter. "Your mom and I will discuss this. And I'll go over it with Security. I'll exhaust every option. I'll hire off-world help if need be. But I can't hide myself away. I can't shy away from my duty. It was my choice to run for Governor and to continue to do so two more times. It's been my choice to have us leading this life, when I could've remained Security Chief, or just lived a quiet life back at the villa all these years.""But your father is a man of action," Crisara finally spoke up. "He can't just sit idly by. And, maybe, facing this possible danger can root out the threat."He nodded up at her and snickered. "It wouldn't be the first time I acted as bait."Though Crisara stood behind him and whatever decision he'd make, knowing she'd be there to protect him in any and every way she could, it didn't diminish her own fears on the matter. She'd passed off the vision Adera had as just a recurring nightmare and the cost had been Adera's life. She wasn't prepared to ignore Leia's vision and pretend it was likely just another nightmare, too. She couldn't risk it."If I die," Poe remarked, feeling a clump of emotion get a bit stuck in his throat, "then at least I'll be surrounded by the people I love the most."Leia stood up abruptly and stared defiantly down at him. "Your chance of dying by the week's end is astronomically high, and you won't do anything about it because you're worried people will think you're a coward?" she questioned, as if he were the biggest idiot to ever live. "Your chance at dying if you cancel the inauguration celebration or doing it by way of holo would put that chance down near zero.""And there's also a chance it won't happen exactly as you saw," he countered, standing up with her. "Leia—"She pulled away when he reached out for her. Turning, she looked her mom in the eye. "You need to talk some sense into your husband," she huffed before pushing past to exit the suite without another word.With a sigh, Crisara eventually pulled her gaze back over to Poe, who plopped back down into the chair and stretched his legs out. Draping his arms over the armrests, he slowly began to glance up at her and watched the way she moved around the end of the bed to sit down upon the chaise lounge where Leia had been seated."Do you think I should cancel the inauguration? Hide myself away here and project the ceremony live into the Grand Plaza instead? Do I take the risk?" Poe chewed the inside of his bottom lip. "She flew all the way back here, days early, to warn me." He gestured toward the closed suite door, as if their daughter would still be there in the room with them. "Whatever she saw was bad enough that it's got her real freaked out."Crisara shrugged. "It's not my decision."It was Poe's turn to roll his eyes. "Oh, come on. You and I both make decisions of this kind of magnitude together. Always.""Do we? You just told Leia it's always been your choice on the life we've been leading."He frowned. "I didn't just mean only me, alone. You and I. Together. One in the same, remember? And how many times have I asked for your input only for you to let me make the final decision anyway? That time Sessani asked me to be Senator — remember that? I was a little bit on the fence, we talked it out, and I know you weren't at all keen about it, but you still said you'd support whatever choice I made.""And you chose not to do it.""Because we talked it out and you helped me see the right course of action to take." Poe sat up straighter and leaned forward; staring up at Crisara through his eyebrows. "I need you to help me make this decision now," he insisted. "What do I do?"Leaning forward like Poe did before with Leia, Crisara took hold of her husband's hands. "You'll regret it if you cancel it and nothing happens. The public spectacle of the inauguration gives the people something extra to look forward to every five years that feels more personal. With the coronation ceremonies every two years, of countless monarchs, it feels too informal and loses it meaning, because it happens much more frequently. It's not as special. The Queen — or the rare occurrence of a King — leaves the people feeling distant. Monarchs make fewer public appearances and are always dressed up and speak in such monotone voices, that it gives them the impression of being statues brought to life. Governors may be less grand, with less spectacle, but that's what the people really enjoy. They can reach out and talk to you and actually feel heard. You're less of a figurehead and more a man of action and they see that. They respect that.""So, you're saying to go forward with the inauguration as planned?""I'm saying to go forward with inauguration, but hype up security. Bring in some friends from the Republic Navy or the Republic Security Forces. You can stand within a protective plasma barrier, and not just use a portable shield on your damned wrist," Crisara countered; brushing her thumbs over his achy knuckles, which she knew he always greatly appreciated. "We can ask Rey and Finn to bring Jedi reinforcements to stand guard around the Grand Plaza. We can limit the amount of people in the crowd, citing 'credible threats to personal safety'. I'm sure the people would understand."Poe nodded slowly. "What if is an inside job, like Leia suggested?""Then let every member of your security detail meet with the kids and me. We'll peer into those minds and root out those who might plan to do you harm."With a warm, appreciative gaze, Poe yanked slightly at Crisara's hands and pulled her toward him. When she stood up, he kept pulling until she stepped forward as far as she could go and sank down on his lap; sitting sideways on it. As he wrapped his arms around her waist, she draped an arm around his shoulders and leaned her head down against his. For a few moments, they just remained there in silence."What if I die?" he asked quietly. "What if it really happens? How do I focus on the inauguration when these could be my final days?" Laying his head against her chest, he sighed. "I don't want to die yet.""Well," she began; trying to find the words to say to sate both of their worries. "If my husband, the love of my life and the other half of my soul, was going to die, don't you think I would've had a vision of my own about it by now? If anyone should see something like that about to happen, it should be me."That was considerably comforting, but not completely. "What if you're not meant to see it happen?""Then the Force and I are gonna have some words."Poe simply smirked and held her tighter. "I don't want to leave you," he muttered. "I'm not ready.""Who truly ever is?" She turned her body at the waist, causing him to lift his head away from her chest, so she could press hers against his, and hugged him. She slid both arms around his neck and welcomed the way he held both his arms firmly around her back. "You think I'm ready to let you go? No. But you can be damned sure I'll fight tooth and nail to protect what's mine," she insisted, whispering into his ear. "And you're mine."  The days until the inauguration passed like a death march. Each of Poe's and Crisara's children had all soon congregated at the Governor's Mansion and taken up in their old or current bedrooms. The only difference was that Sessani now joined Temiri in his room, and Temiri's padawan Uwin was given one of the old servant's rooms in the attic level so the twelve-year-old Pantoran could be close to his master. While hesitant to reveal Leia's vision to the rest of their children, they finally came out with it the first night where they were all gathered together, after dinner had finished in the dining room. But it wasn't just their children there. Obviously Sessani and Uwin were there, as well, but also Kes and Taya; the latter who had decided to get married eight years earlier.Immediately everyone had begun to talk over each other; wanting to know more from Leia about what she saw, if it was truly a vision and how accurate could it possibly be. Then they were all curious as to what could be done. Since Poe and Crisara had about two days by that point to discuss it together in private, ad nauseam, they had decided they were going to take every possible precaution, sparing no expense for outside help if need be, but were still going to go through with the inauguration as planned. If there was a credible threat, they would root it out. Even if nothing happened, something still could at a later date. Poe, with the help of Captain Betal, who was still Security Chief, wasn't going to go down without a fight. He wasn't about to wait around to possibly be murdered. He didn't want to be murdered, of course, but he would look his killer in the eye; or potential killer, if he managed to survive whatever may or may not happen.Much to Leia's chagrin, none of her siblings believed as she did; that the inauguration ceremony should be canceled or live-streamed via holo from home. Most were of the belief that there were six Force-users in their immediate family to protect Poe. They also had several other Jedi Knights between both branches of the Kenobi Academy, which included Nik Yaren, who had arrived the morning before, when he snuck into Leia's second-story bedroom through her window. Nothing had happened. She'd merely let him in and let him catch up on sleep on her floor while she'd gone downstairs for breakfast. Plus, Rey and Finn would be present. Leia's siblings doubted her vision would come true because there were too many of them to keep their father safe. They didn't believe her vision was entirely accurate, but didn't think it was without merit either. They weren't going to ignore the possible threat and agreed with their parents, to take every precaution without shying away, just in case.Leia was a little pissed, but instead of reacting in anger, she quietly seethed when the kitchen droids brought out dessert and excused herself from the table. When she abruptly left, Shara had excused herself a few moments later and gone after her twin. Crisara had felt the urge to follow after both twins, but knew Shara was probably a more welcomed shoulder to lean on. The twins would always have a special, unshakable bond, and Crisara was happy of it — that they would always have each other, no matter what.Crisara never did get any insight into what her daughters had talked about that night. They had kept that to themselves in the days that passed but, whatever Shara may or may not have said, it seemed to have helped. Leia seemed to be in a better mood and was insisting to help with the security team in whatever way she could. She knew her father had made up his mind to go through with the inauguration and she couldn't change that. She couldn't fight city hall, so to speak. No matter her continued doubts, Poe was just happy to have her at his side during the daily meetings in preparation for the ceremony. She acted as his shadow, along with any number of her other siblings who took turns joining the father-daughter duo. Sometimes Shara, sometimes Caro, sometimes Temiri, and even sometimes Len. When Temiri joined in, he brought Uwin along. At one point Nik came along with Leia and Poe when they'd done a trial run of the inauguration, the day before the event, in the Grand Plaza.Multiple checkpoints were being set up, the airspace above the Grand Plaza was being heavily monitored. Any and all buildings, including rooftops, in the immediate area, in range for a possible sniper, were being rigged with miniature ion pulse security devices that would render any blaster useless. Except Security Guards. They had special equipment attached to their weapons immune to those devices. Of course, the security detail was also being vetted twice over. The stage that had been built up in the center was being built with a deflector shield. In the end, the use of outside security was deemed unnecessary because it was thoroughly believed everything would be easily managed by Naboo's Security Forces and any and all present Force-users.Still, Poe felt like all this prep, to make sure he was safe, as well as his loved ones and the citizens that would be present, was akin to preparing for his own funeral.The night before, Rey and Finn arrived to Naboo, with a few of Rey's Jedi-in-training. They swung by the Governor's Mansion, asking if Poe and Crisara needed help with anything, and stayed a while for dinner. Afterward, they continued onward; to head to the villa where they would be staying for the next couple of days. Once their kids had called it a night, Poe and Crisara still remained downstairs, in the parlor, listening to some music playing quietly in the background.Poe was seated in the center of the sofa, looking toward one of the two large windows but seeing nothing because of how dark it was outside. The light from inside the room caused too much of a glare and he only saw his and Crisara's reflections, and that of the large fireplace at the center of the room on the wall opposite of the windows. On his right, the flames flickered and the heat felt nice. Despite how mild a climate Naboo was, the interior of the Governor's Mansion always felt a little cold, both literally and figuratively. Perhaps it was all the marble. On his left, Crisara rested with the small of her back against the sofa's armrest while her legs were draped over his lap."You're a million miles away," Crisara remarked; reaching a hand up and brushing her fingers down upon his sleeve.Blinking away his daydreams, Poe inhaled and exhaled the same deep breath and then shifted his focus upon his wife. "Kinda hard not to be," he frowned. "All the precautions we've taken...there's a possibility none of it will matter. Tonight could be my last night.""You can't think like that." Crisara had heard enough pearls of wisdom over the years from the Jedi before her, and squirreled them away, and sometimes she could regurgitate them for others as if they were own, and they'd be none the wiser. This was one of those moments. "Your focus determines your reality," she instructed in a soft, gentle tone. "Simply focus on yourself and your path, and you will forge your own way.""So, basically, if I believe something will happen, then it will? Just like that?" he questioned with a raise of his eyebrow."Not quite." She looked up at how a lock of his dark hair had fallen down over his forehead and was blocking part of his face from her. Reaching forward, she brushed it back, which caused him to close his eyes and lean into the gesture. "I won't deny I'm not nervous about tomorrow. I do feel a bit of dread; that something is going to happen. Leia, I'm certain, was one hundred percent correct about that. But I don't feel dread about losing you. I feel confident you'll survive whatever happens or doesn't happen. I can't explain how I know. I haven't had a vision to confirm it. But I know. I know it as much as I can see you right now, here with me." Brushing her hand along the side of his face and against his beard, she smiled lovingly. "You're still stuck with me.""As long as you're confident, then so am I."Crisara narrowed her blue eyes at him. "Your anxieties say otherwise.""Yeah, well," Poe sighed, "we can't all channel the Force to be calm and introspective.""Then find something else to focus on for now, as a distraction."With a frowned, he asked, "Got any recommendations?"Sitting upward a bit more, Crisara leaned closer to him and grabbed for his left hand which had been resting on her thigh. "Let's go to bed and I'll give you some suggestions." As he began to nod and grin knowingly, Crisara swung her legs off of his lap. "And, if this is truly your last night of existence, don't you want to spend it with me, inside of me?"As soon as she was up to her feet, Poe was following suit and squeezed her hand. "Definitely, yes," he replied. Before either of them exited the parlor to head upstairs, he pulled her over to him and encircled his arms around her waist. When she slipped her arms around to his back, they looked fondly upon one another and then he leaned down to kiss her. "If and when I survive tomorrow, can we celebrate in bed again tomorrow night?""You know it.""Wizard," he retorted with a smile, and kissed her again.  The following afternoon, Poe was already dressed and ready to go. He was downstairs in his office, with Varga, C-3PO, Caro and Finn, and a few of his advisors. When Temiri came downstairs, with Uwin in tow, they'd continued out of the house, but remained in the forecourt of the mansion; seemingly in the midst of some sort of verbal lesson. Sessani had come down shortly after and slipped into the office, lingering near the door and watching Poe quietly, until he noticed her and smiled. Asking the others to give him a few minutes, he beckoned his future daughter-in-law forward."You look lovely," he complimented; gesturing at the simple but elegant dress she was wearing and the decorative fan secured into the way she wore her hair in an elaborate bun. "Still very queenly.""Old habits and whatnot," she replied with a smile. As she clasped her hands in front of her stomach, she stepped forward. "I just wanted to thank you…for everything."Poe immediately frowned. "Don't make it sound so final," he sighed. "Not with—""I know. I'm sorry, but…I have to. Just in case." She sighed heavily and cast her eyes down. "When I became Queen I was only fifteen years old. Too young, in my opinion, in retrospect. But whenever I doubted myself, you there for me. You always believed in me, and you supported me in my decisions. And, when I found it hard to make a decision, you were there to help me make it, or guide me toward the right one. I've said it before, but you've always been like a second father to me and, aside from being very happy and excited to become Tem's wife, at some point within the next year, I'm also very happy and excited to become your daughter by marriage. To finally be family, for real."Smiling warmly, Poe reached for her and pulled her in for a hug. "And you've always felt like another daughter to me." He kissed the top of her head. "And even if you and Tem decide, for some reason, to never get married and just continue as you are, you'll always be family." He then added, "Even if I'm not around anymore.""Now who's making it sound final?" she tried to make jest, but it fell flat."We all gotta go sometime. I just hope my time is still a long way off.""Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. You told me that once.""It was good advice, though, right?" he questioned with a chuckle.As she stepped out of his arms, she smirked and nodded. "You always give good advice. And I took all I learned from you, during my short tenure as Queen, and carried it over into my work as ambassador, and it's done me wonders. So, thank you again."Poe smiled proudly at her. "Thank you for being more receptive to my advice than my actual children," he quipped. "Maybe I'll trade them in for just you."Sessani simply chuckled in response.A moment later, Crisara appeared in the door to the office, adjusting an earring in her left ear. Straightening her posture, she released a steadying sigh. "You look lovely, Sessani," she declared with a smile."That's what I said," Poe countered; shifting his gaze from the twenty-eight-year-old to his wife. He looked at Crisara, standing there in an elegant but simple, long-sleeved, cobalt blue dress with a sleeveless, charcoal grey cloak over it. Her hair was pulled away from her face and wrapped into two long braids, woven together to encircle her head like a halo, similar to how her Aunt Leia used to wear it, and in one of the only ways she had figured out how to do for herself. It only took her almost fifty years to manage her own damn hair. While it was her aunt who had been royalty, as well as her paternal grandmother, and even Sessani, Crisara looked just as regal to him. "You look just as lovely, too."Crisara smiled, admiring his simple, chocolate brown, military-style suit coat with the rebel patch sewn onto the upper arm of his left sleeve, and matching pants. His hair was brushed back and remained in place, and his beard had been trimmed a bit so it wasn't unruly. "And you look as handsome as ever."Varga slipped into the office beside the Jedi Master. "The official escort to the Plaza is here, sir," he announced.Poe immediately sighed."With the exception of your son Temiri, his apprentice and Ambassador Lell here," Varga continued, briefly glancing at Sessani, "the rest of your children have already gone ahead and will be meeting you there. You'll all enter the Plaza together and walk to the stage together, where Her Highness Queen Tenerra will greet you and swear you in for your third term as Governor."Poe all but glowered. "I know how this works, Varga. I've done it before.""Well, it is my job to micromanage you, sir."Crisara laughed, and it felt good to do so, all things considered. "He has you there, dear.""Whatever," Poe remarked; taking a page out of his wife's book and rolling his eyes. Adjusting the ends of his jacket sleeves, he stepped around his desk. "Are you ready?" he asked, offering her his arm.When she accepted it, she glanced upward at him. "Are you?""I'm not sure."  There were so many people.It was as if the entire population of Naboo, not just Theed, had come out to attend the inauguration. It felt as if somehow they knew something might happen and wanted to be there to witness whatever it was. Perhaps it was the obvious heightening of security that somehow got tongues wagging and curiosity piquing. Or maybe Poe really was just much beloved and the people just wanted to be there to share in his special day. He had, after all, received majority of the vote. It wasn't the record-breaking seventy-nine percent like with his first term, but it wasn't the seventy-one from his second term. This time around, he'd received seventy-four percent. Still a lot, either way. The majority still wanted him, very much, as their Governor.It made him wonder, though, whoever might take a shot at him, if they were part of the twenty-six percent that didn't want him as Governor again. Or, maybe someone else entirely. Had he wronged someone recently? Was it a holdover grudge from something in his past?He'd been flanked by both security officers and several Jedi Knights as he walked side by side with Crisara up to the stage. Directly ahead of him was the current monarch, Queen Tenerra, who was encircled by both her Royal Guard and her handmaidens. Behind Poe and Crisara was their children, along with Sessani, Uwin, Nik, Rey, Finn, Kes and Taya. When they reached the stage, Poe ascended with only Crisara and their children. Sessani joined, as she was a former Queen and would be marrying into the family. And then there was also Ransolm Casterfo, former Chancellor of the Republic, who had been asked to say a few words.The entire time, Poe's nerves felt like they were on fire, but he was thankful that Crisara sensed as much and held his hand tightly in hers; letting him know she was there for him. Still though, he was breathing a bit more deeper; trying not to start hyperventilating. He noticed his children casting wary glances and he knew they were trying to sense danger.So far nothing.Little blessings, he supposed.After Ransolm spoke, he smiled and shook Poe's hand, and then stepped away to stand among the others on the stage. Queen Tenerra spoke next, addressing the crowd. When she had stepped forward, the deflector shield went up and enclosed the entire stage in a dome-like setting, but still allowed the people a clear view.Poe breathed a little easier.But, out the corner of his eye, he noticed a few security officers turning to talk among themselves while the Queen continued her speech. And then he noticed Ransolm step aside as someone from below the stage was whispering something to him. He couldn't make anything out.Except for one word: a name.Hux.Poe clammed up and gripped Crisara's hand tight enough that she grimaced and turned her gaze up toward him."What?" she asked quietly, with concern."Something's gonna happen," he whispered; fear in his eyes.But it was too late to cancel everything now. Leia had been right. He'd been a fool. He should've listened to his daughter. He should've known better than to risk it."Poe Dameron," Queen Tenerra spoke with her deep, regal voice; smiling at him with admiration. "Do you solemnly swear to continue to honor, uphold and preserve the Constitution of Naboo, and to faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Governor to the best of your ability?"With a shaky sigh, Poe stepped forward. Placing his right hand over his heart, he raised his left. Having declared the same thing twice before, he had this part memorized. "I, Poe Dameron, do solemnly swear that I will well and truly serve the people of Naboo in the office of Governor, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Your Highness Queen Tenerra, to the best of my ability." He nodded at the young monarch and slowly lowered his hand.As the people began to clap and cheer, Poe was now expected to stand front and center and make a small speech. He'd done it so many times over the last ten years, and he would be expected to for at least the next five. But was he going to get another five years?Would he have another five minutes?As if on cue, which did little to sate his nerves, the deflector shield flickered.Poe turned and stepped over to Crisara; looking her dead in the eye. "Whatever happens, I love you."Crisara had already sensed the change in the air. The hairs on the back of her neck were already standing on end and she felt all of her children tense up as well. They'd sensed it, too.Danger.A few, sporadic flickers later, which had caught just about everyone's attention, the shield went down completely. The Royal Guard began speaking into their comms; making the decision to remove the Queen to safety first and foremost. Captain Betal hurried up to the stage and touched a hand to Poe's shoulder."There are reports of several of our guards being down near the Triumphal Arch. Their blasters are missing," the Security Chief warned. "Time to go, sir. The threat is real and likely imminent."Poe nodded and shifted his gaze to his wife, and then briefly over at Ransolm, who was leaning forward. "What did that guard say to you before? About Hux…""Hux?" Crisara questioned; her brow furrowing together.Ransolm opened his mouth to respond, but then he was silenced forever. From up high, a single blaster bolt entered the front of his skull and exited the back. Blood splattered the faces of a few guards standing directly behind him, while the exiting bolt continued to go right through one of those guards but only into their shoulder.As the former Chancellor fell lifeless, backward upon the stage, screams erupted from the crowd. Chaos suddenly reigned supreme. Every Jedi Knight or padawan present ignited their lightsabers. Guards brandished their own blasters and began to flank around both the Queen and the Governor."Never mind me!" Poe bellowed. "Protect the people! Protect my family!"The blasts from high up continued, firing toward the stage."They're coming from windows around the Plaza!" Betal shouted, pointing for her Security Officers to fire back in those directions. As she began giving a barrage of orders into her own comlink, a barrage of continued blaster fire hit the stage.The Damerons clambered down the steps, with Poe very aware Rey and a couple of her padawans had run off in one direction, very likely on a mission to go after an assailant; deflecting a few blaster bolts along the way. When another blaster bolt fired a bit too closely for the family's liking, their lightsabers shot up and deflected all they could as rapidly as possible. It was like a choreographed dance. Had he the time to do so, Poe would stop to watch and admire how amazing his wife and children were. But all he could do was try to run for cover and hope, with every fiber of his being, that his children didn't get injured, or worse."Betal! Get Poe out of here!" Crisara shouted. Shrugging off her sleeveless cloak, she spun and deflected a blaster bolt as lithely as if she were a teenager still. "Poe!" she shouted at him when he hesitated. "Go!"When he looked back at her, he frowned but nodded. They were armed, he wasn't; something he admonished himself over. He should've taken a weapon with him. He'd meant to, but he'd been so distracted with worry.Then there was pain, but it wasn't too terrible. He'd felt worse.Poe's head whipped backward, to the right. The side of his face, near his temple felt like it had just been set on fire. He dropped backward onto the ground and then he heard Temiri shouting out in anguish. His children called out to him and, a moment later, Crisara was there at his side in the blink of an eye. She had all but thrown herself to the ground and cradled his head in her lap as blood began to drip down onto her dress. As he touched a hand to his temple, he winced. Pulling his hand back, he noticed the blood on his fingertips."How bad is it?" he questioned; his heart racing."Dad!"It was Leia."It's okay, Leia," Crisara assured. "He was only grazed.""Dad, your knee."Poe tried craning his head and noticed his knee was bleeding, too. He hadn't felt that shot. He still didn't feel it. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "I'm okay," he insisted; repeating his wife's sentiments. "I'm okay."Leia looked frantically around. She watched the way Shara and Len were standing side by side, creating a sort of barrier in front of their father. Caro and Nik were working in tandem with Finn and a few of other Jedi Knights and Security Officers to continue to fight back against the blaster shots that were starting to let up. Either because the assailants were dead, retreating or caught. She then felt a cold shiver up her spine as she glanced over at Temiri, who was on his knees; sobbing like baby."Mom," she muttered, as she gestured toward her older brother.Both her parents turned and saw their eldest son, hunched forward and crying over Sessani, who was lying dead in his arms with a gaping hole in her neck, caused by a blaster bolt. He was cradling her; rocking her slightly as tears fell down his face at breakneck speed."No," Poe muttered. "No, no, no, no…" Twisting at the waist, he moved to stand up but immediately fell from the injury to his knee, which was made worse when he fell down to both of his knees. Yelping out in pain, he gritted his teeth and pushed through it as he crawled forward as best as he could while Crisara hovered behind him. When he reached Temiri and Sessani, he placed a hand to her neck, which was still gushing blood, even though she was already gone. "No," he whined. "It's all my fault. All my fault."Temiri sniffled and shook his head. "No, it's not," he insisted through the tears, while fighting to regain some calm within. "It's the fault of whoever orchestrated this attack."The chaos in the Plaza was dying down, no pun intended. Most of the crowd had dispersed. Blaster fire had all been silenced. The security officers and the Jedi Knights were beginning to stand down, but only warily. As Crisara slowly stood up, she looked around at the aftermath of it all. Thankfully, there seemed to be next to no collateral damage. Ransolm and Sessani were the obvious victims, but she also noticed a couple of guards and one or two civilians who had been caught up in the foray. The attack had been mainly aimed at Poe and those surrounding him.But why?Slowly, his assistant Varga stepped forward, holding a blaster. "Governor," he greeted; his expression unreadable, while garnering curious and cautious glances, primarily from Poe's children. "I see you're alive."Poe sighed. "Yes." He wasn't looking at the other man. He was still looking down at Sessani. Despite the terrible, fatal wound to her neck, with her eyes closed as they were, she looked so peaceful. He was crying as well now; for the loss of the young woman who would never get to marry the man she loved and become a member of the Dameron family she adored, or just get to live a long life. "But why was this the trade off? Why wasn't it me? It should've been me.""Yeah," Varga agreed. "It should've been you. Still can."Before Poe could looked up questioningly at his assistant, he was aware there was a flurry of motion, and a few gasps from those surrounding him. When he finally did look up, he saw Temiri was suddenly standing there, directly in front of Varga, and with the blue blade of his lightsaber piercing through Varga's chest. Varga's right hand, which was brandishing his blaster, which had been aimed at Poe's head, dropped it."What the—?" was all Poe managed to say.Varga coughed, spluttering blood. In his dying moments, he grinned through the pain. "Long live the Supreme Leader!" he declared.Temiri grabbed the man by the shoulder with his left hand and shoved his blade deeper into the man's chest and then deactivated the blade. When the blue light faded, Varga crumpled to the ground."He was going to shoot you," Leia realized.Sixteen-year-old Len, who had been the most sheltered of his siblings so far, simply because he was the youngest, just stared downward at the dead man, and tried to process everything that had happened. Furrowing his brow, he glanced at his parents. "What did he mean?" he questioned. "Who's the Supreme Leader? Did he mean Chancellor? Ransolm, maybe?"Crisara ran a hand down her face, trying to process everything that had just happened as well. "It was the leader the of the First Order. But both who held the title have been dead for two decades. I should know," she remarked. "I was there for each death.""But 'long live' is said when someone else ascends to such a position," Shara insisted. "Is someone the Supreme Leader again? Is the First Order somehow back, after twenty years? Wouldn't we have heard something by now? Our family has friends in a lot of high places all over the galaxy…"Poe couldn't really process much anything else at the moment. He was busy removing his jacket and placing it down over Sessani; tucking the high collar over her neck to both absorb the blood as well as cover up the wound. Leaning back, he realized there was so much blood on his hands, both literally and figuratively. Tears were falling from his eyes as he wiped his hands on his dress shirt, but now suddenly aware that Leia was stepping backward from everyone."Are you okay?" Crisara asked of her youngest twin. She reached out a hand when Leia finally deactivated the purple blade of her lightsaber."It's my fault," she decided. "I was so caught up in assuming dad was going to be killed that I didn't focus on anyone else in my vision. If I'd just paid closer attention, I could've done something more. I could've saved them all."Poe glanced up at his daughter. "If none of this is my fault, then it's not yours either. If anything, your vision helped prevent this from becoming a much worse tragedy. More people could've died, instead of just a few." His attention shifted quickly as he watched Temiri pocket his lightsaber and then crouch down to hoist his slain fiancée up into his arms. "Tem — I'm so sorry."Temiri didn't say anything. With a teary-eyed Uwin beside him, the Jedi Knight began to walk off — where, nobody knew.Caro and Len flanked their father and began to help him up and allow him to put his weight on their shoulders since he couldn't manage to place any weight on his right knee. Medical transports were beginning to arrive within the Grand Plaza and set down. Medics began to disembark, to gather up the wounded first. A second wave of transports would gather up any of the dead, and then a clean-up crew would come through after Betal, the security officers and the Royal Guard could assess the scene, and map out every inch of the chaos to make a report on what happened so an investigation could officially begin.Poe had never had to deal with anything like this during his tenure as Security Chief and he didn't envy Betal now, but he would sure as shit do everything in his power to bring those responsible, those who were caught or got away, to justice.Rey finally ran back up to them."We have a serious problem," she announced."No shit," Len muttered."Len," Crisara admonished her youngest.Rey looked amongst the Damerons, then at Finn with a sigh, before focusing lastly on just Poe and Crisara. "I went after a shooter. Caught up with them and got them to talk long enough to admit something.""Which is?" Poe wondered; not sure he could handle any more bad news."Armitage Hux."The couple, as well as Finn, were all gritting their teeth at the name."What about him?" Finn inquired, sidling up beside his friend. He could sense what she was going to say was not good news, but he still hoped it was. "Please tell me he choked on a sandwich in prison and died.""Unfortunately no," Rey countered with a frown. "He was broken out of prison a week ago. Hux has been on the lam since."Leia faltered. "A week ago is when I had my vision."Rey nodded. "The Force sought fit to show you a warning of what was to come because of his escape. I'm sorry if I doubted you for even a second, Leia. I should've done more.""We can't change what's happened. We can't focus on yesterday," Crisara remarked, reaching out to take Leia's hand and squeezing it. "We can only focus on right now and what happens tomorrow, and count our blessings we get a tomorrow when some of us won't."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Into the great wide openUnder them skies of blueOut in the great wide openA rebel without a clue"— Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Len Dameron had always been a wonderful kid, especially as a baby. He had hardly ever cried, he slept through the night, ate really well and was rarely, if ever, sick. He was cuddly and affectionate; always wanting hugs and kisses from his parents or his Grandpa Kes. As he began to grow up, he hit all his milestones without issue or concern. He said his first word — dada — at ten months, took his first steps on his first birthday, and he was fully potty-trained just before his second birthday. He was his parents' happiest child, but also the quietest. Like his sister Shara, and their great-grandmother before them, he was a keen observer. He didn't shy away from conversation; he just preferred to listen and watch the world around him. He found peace in being a spectator for a long time. As he got older, and came a bit more into his own, he became the practical joker in his family — just naturally funny; inheriting his father's sly wit. He was always trying to make everyone laugh or, at least, smile. Their joy brought him joy. He never took things too far for a joke, either. He barely ever got into trouble.And then he became a teenager.His body began to change, his hormones began to rage and no amount of meditation ever truly helped. Because of his quiet, observational tendencies, he was usually caught daydreaming when he should be studying or training. He got bored easily, which soon led to taking his practical jokes a bit too far. When he wasn't advancing as quickly in either his basic education or his training at the Kenobi Academy, as quickly as his siblings had, he grew frustrated with himself, and then took it out on his mentors, siblings or parents. Usually his parents. He would shout, slam doors (if they were able to be slammed), but usually hide away in his bedrooms (either at the villa or the Governor's Mansion) and cry.The growing pains were affecting everyone and, at times, his parents felt like they were failing him. They felt like they weren't doing enough. Because he'd been six when his father was first elected Governor and his mother began splitting her time between the Kenobi Academy beside the villa, and the newer, secondary location in Theed, most of his adolescence had seen his mom and dad pulled a in a great many directions and, sometimes, they were failing their kids where attention was concerned, so mandatory dinners had been instituted at the Governor's Mansion every evening. No matter what anyone was doing, or where they were, they were expected to gather in the dining room for a meal and conversation. When Poe's second term began, Len was eleven and was used to the way life had become for them all and he retreated into his own little world more often than not.His older brothers were both in their twenties by then and discovering their paths as Jedi, and they had plenty of friends with their fellow padawans and Jedi Knights. His sisters always had each other; ready-made best friends, who went everywhere and did everything together. Len didn't really make friends as easily. The other kids his age were primarily orphans and training to one day become Jedi, if that was the path they chose to continue on once they reached adulthood. They were more focused and disciplined; oftentimes having nothing else going for them, and beholden to Crisara for finding them and giving them place to learn, live, grow and become part of a found family. Len was too much of a dreamer and wasn't a fan of group activities. Or just large groups of people. He could handle large family gatherings, but that was usually his limit — his parents, his siblings, his Grandpa Kes and step-grandmother Taya, who was also his distant cousin...Stars above, it was such a confusing family tree sometimes.Len didn't need the Jedi path like the others did, even if it was the only lifestyle he'd ever known, for the most part. And, it wasn't that he didn't have Force abilities. He was strong enough, just not motivated enough. He liked wielding his lightsaber, which had an orange blade, but he disliked training with others in combat techniques. He especially disliked meditation. It bored him too much and he usually fell asleep or began to daydream about being an X-wing pilot, like his father and grandfather Luke before him. It made sense that he looked forward to his father taking him for flying lessons. He gobbled up everything he was taught and listened very carefully so, when the time came, and he got to take a solo flight, he wouldn't crash and burn. He also enjoyed learning about Jedi lore from Professor Kin, as well as astronomy and about the last three wars — the Clone Wars that his Jedi great-grandfathers fought in, the Galactic Civil War that both sets of his grandparents fought in, and the First Order-Resistance War that his parents fought in. Not that he liked confrontation, per se, but he did wonder if his generation would see another war in his lifetime, and if he'd be called up to serve or if he'd have the guts to sign up of his own free will.By the time he'd turned fifteen, he'd started to get a bit reckless.Maybe he was suddenly realizing his brothers and sisters were getting older and about to all leave home, and he'd be alone with just his parents, even though his parents would be busy most of the time with their respective jobs. He knew he could train in Theed, but often opted to remain at the Lake Country, because there were padawans his own age, at least. There, he had contemporaries and his brother Caro. His sisters switched their training to Theed, to be closer to their parents, but to also enjoy what the capital city had to offer. Even though Caro was with him at the villa every night, he was helping to train the younger flock and making moon eyes at Zeda at every chance he got. Then there was Temiri, who had gone to live in the apartment on Chandrila, on Embassy Row, to be closer to Sessani, who had only been his girlfriend at the time. And, again, because he didn't feel he had enough in common with the other padawans, though he got along with them well enough, it only cemented his feeling of being alone. Even though he did enjoy being my himself for the most part, he didn't enjoy it all of the time.His downward spiral into recklessness, so to speak, began with curiosity getting the better of him. Sneaking wine from his parents' collection, but hiding it as well as a teenager could, which was not very well at all. It got him in trouble. And then he took off on Caro's speeder one night; skimming over the lake in the dark and almost crashing it into a tree when he failed to sense the bend in the shoreline. He'd jumped off in time, but the speeder had been demolished, along with the tree; which had come crashing down and caused some damage to the pier that belonged to another mansion about half a mile down from where his family's villa was. He'd gotten in much more trouble then, with his dad taking away flying privileges for three months and to spend his free time repairing the pier for its owners.By his sixteenth birthday, he was aware he was becoming a thorn in, at least, his father's side. Or that's how he assumed it. He could always feel his father's displeasure at the way he'd been acting out; wishing for the sweeter boy he used to be and lamenting the fact that Len was becoming too much like how he had been at the same age. Poe always regaled his son with his juvenile mistakes and how his frustrations and restlessness had led him to recklessness and almost his own death on more than one occasion. He didn't want the same thing for his son. Poe didn't want history to repeat itself. He wanted his son to learn from his mistakes, not emulate them. He wanted his son to be better than that, and Len understood that, deep down. But he was teenager, and very much in his feelings.He wanted to prove to his parents that he wasn't some young idiot with a silver spoon in his mouth. He wanted them to see he was more than just his growing pains. And he wanted them to see him as more than just the baby of the family, who seemed as if he'd never be a great Jedi. He was still, for the most part, a happy kid. He still loved to joke around and make others laugh. He loved having fun. He longed for excitement but hated the monotony of his education and training. Honestly, it would've made more sense for him to want to train more in Theed, where there were more things to see and do, but the Lake Country afforded him wider, more open spaces. He could run free, swim at his leisure, and have a quieter place to hide away when life felt a little too overwhelming.What may or may not have made the growing pains worse was overhearing his mother remarking that, from what she knew of how her grandfather Anakin Skywalker had been as a young man, prior to becoming Darth Vader, Len was proving to be a bit like him. Like his great-grandfather before him, he felt the need to prove himself and show off his skills, where he'd been previously lacking; not wanting to be seen as a failure or not good enough or as amazing enough as his siblings. He had so many powerful Jedi in his family and he just wanted to be as their equal, even if the life of Jedi didn't seem as exciting to him. He was passionate, he was becoming a bit of a thrill-seeker, and not often thinking first before leaping headfirst into a situation, which would typically get him into trouble or injured, but only slightly.Len knew of his great-grandfather Anakin, and the terrible person he would become at the close of the Clone Wars, so hearing he was only a bit like him still made him feel like he was exactly like him, and it made him feel self-conscious that he was going to somehow be the one in his generation to fall to the dark side and do harm across the galaxy.He didn't want to break the hearts of his loved ones by making some stupid decision that there might not be any coming back from. He didn't want to hurt anyone, or kill anyone. He didn't want to get into any fights, but he would defend his loved ones and he would fight for a good cause, if need be.He just hoped he didn't somehow fuck it all up along the way.  It was two days after the Grand Plaza Attack, and Poe was seated in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace with Queen Tenerra and the rest of the Advisory Council and two 'guest members', so to speak, in the form of Crisara and Rey. At the center of them all was the Queen, as she sat in her throne behind her desk. She was different than previous monarchs in that she was the same in both public and private. It was relatively unknown if she'd ever smiled before. She was much too serious, all the time. Little was known about her personal life before, other than both her parents had died when she was very young and had been subsequently raised by her grandparents, who had left the actual child-rearing to a nanny droid. Also, she'd been an only child and her only friends had been a BB-series droid, which had resembled BB-8, and was possibly the only reason she'd took more of a shine to Poe than the rest of her Advisory Council; because she liked his astromech, which only occasionally made an appearance in the Palace alongside his owner.Right now, her expression was both neutral yet stern."The reports from around the Republic are still coming in, M'Lady," Captain Betal was saying; having been added to the Advisory Council during the previous monarch's reign and then invited to remain upon Queen Tenerra's ascension. "And they're all, more or less, the same. At about the same time, across the galaxy, calculated attacks were made against leaders of several worlds. Fortunately, as had happened here, deaths were kept to a bare minimum.""We doubt the people of Pantora would consider the murder of their Supreme Chairman to be fortunate, Captain," the Queen countered as she eyed the Security Chief. "Nor the people of Glee Anselm in regard to the loss of two elders from their Council of Elders.""The numbers could've been higher," the Master of Sciences remarked. "They weren't. Let us all count our blessings."Betal sighed. "Recent updates have finally reached us from Thyferra that Supreme Chancellor Vecta was targeted while Senate was in session. A delivery person was admitted into the Senate Building with a parcel for her. The parcel was scanned and cleared and brought to her office, where the package apparently disintegrated and a poisonous nerve gas leaked out. Only Vecta's assistant was present in the office at the time, and died almost immediately. It was assumed he must've accidentally activated whatever was inside the parcel for it to go off. There was no mechanics left behind to allude to any sort of timer having been used." The Security Chief glanced around at the others present and frowned. "When word reached the Senate about the attack here, and then the others around the Republic, the Senate went into full lockdown, and Vecta has called for the Republic Special Forces to send operatives to each of the affected worlds; to assist us in investigating all of this, and uncovering those responsible so they can be brought to justice."Straightening his posture, Poe tightened his grip on the handle of the cane in his right hand. He'd been chewing the inside of his bottom lip and practically seething with anger. "Is no one going to address the subject of Armitage Hux having escaped from Sunspot Prison? Oh, pardon me, he was broken out of a maximum fucking security prison." When all eyes immediately darted toward him, he sighed. "Sorry for the language.""It's understandable, Governor," the Queen assured. "We were clearly both targets. We have every right to be angered by this.""You weren't actually shot, though. You didn't lose anyone you cared about." Poe had heard himself. He knew it sounded crass and mean, but he was still grieving the loss of the young woman who'd almost been his daughter-in-law, who he had cared for as much as his own children. "Sorry again." He tipped his head back and stared upward at the high ceiling as Crisara reached over and gave his forearm a comforting squeeze."Your Highness," Crisara broached, "there has been no official response from you, my husband or this Council about what happened. The people of Naboo are no doubt reeling from what happened as much as the rest of us, and deserve answers — any answer that can be given. The continued silence cannot continue.""Master Dameron is correct," the Education Advisor added. "Remaining silent any longer gives the appearance that we are weak. We cannot let those who tried to darken our door think that they have won. We must present a united front, as both citizens of Naboo as well as citizens of the Republic."Poe nodded. "Here, here," he concurred; stamping the bottom of his cane, twice upon the marbled floor, for emphasis. "Hux has been a thorn in our sides since the war." He looked at his wife, who was glancing down at her lap, but caught a shared frown from Rey, who was seated on the other side of Crisara. "When my assistant Varga was about to shoot me dead, before my son came to my aid, Varga declared 'long live the Supreme Leader' and the only person it could pertain to is Hux. The fact that he was broken out of Sunspot, a week prior to so many orchestrated attacks, and that he's the surviving, highest ranking shit for brains from the First Order, cannot be a coincidence." He didn't bother to apologize for swearing again. What would be the point? He was physically and emotionally hurting, and he was beyond angry. They all had to understand expletives should be expected at this point. "Varga was my assistant for a decade. Ten fucking years." He took a moment to look around at everyone. "He came to me with such high recommendation. He had the best qualifications. His father was a Pathfinder like my father had been during the previous war. Varga had Rebels in his family. So, how could a man like that — who had been brought up knowing loyalty to the Republic, to democracy — turn? Who got to him? When did they get to him? What could make him change his beliefs so much that he would align with First Order sympathies? If he'd been a plant from the very beginning of his tenure with me, why wait until now to try and kill me? Why not on day one?""Maybe he's been feeding intel back all this time," Rey spoke up. "Maybe no moves could've been made until Hux was free and clear of imprisonment." All eyes were on her now. "If these attacks had been made while Hux was imprisoned, and acknowledged to have been done so in his name, Hux would've been locked up even tighter.""To have been broken out means he had help on the inside," Betal commented, sharing a glance with the brunette Jedi Master. "He could've been broken out regardless.""We need to acknowledge something else," stated Crisara. "None of us know how long this attack has been in the works. We don't know the extent of involvement in this. We don't know if it was just a few, organized First Order fanboys or if this is an entire organization with spies in every government or civilized society around the galaxy. We don't know anything. We don't know how deep this goes or what might happen next." She turned and looked upon her husband, covering her hand over his, which was still gripping the handle of his cane. "It's obvious this was just the beginning of something bigger. We don't know how big it may get, but we need to be prepared for anything.""We would prefer not to have our people living in fear of something that hasn't been confirmed yet," Queen Tenerra announced; eyeing Crisara."Would you prefer them to be none-the-wiser if and when another, more devastating attack finds its way to our door?" Crisara held the Queen's gaze and leaned forward. "No disrespect meant, M'Lady, but you weren't even alive during the last war. You didn't live through the tyranny the First Order was responsible for spreading. You've only ever known a time of peace, and I envy you that. My husband and I, and one or two others on your Council, were born into a galaxy in the midst of war against the Empire. We knew peace for a time, during our adolescence, but that peace ran out by the time we reached adulthood because the New Republic rested too greatly upon its laurels. In its hubris, it couldn't imagine another threat or war would happen in the lifetime of the younger generation — my husband's and my generation — but it did." Crisara leaned back and let out a steadying breath, but still maintained her gaze upon the teenage monarch. "I'm not saying whatever this threat may or may not be will be anything near in scale to either the Empire or to First Order but, with the right allies, Hux — if he is somehow behind this and was not just coincidentally broken out of prison at the same time — could rally a good deal of support from leftover First Order sympathizers and allies, who went to ground, to do some very real damage. And, if I was to wager a guess, he'd see damage done against those people and those worlds that have always been supportive of the Old Republic, the New Republic and the Republic we are now. So go ahead. Prefer all you want about not wanting the people of this planet and its moons to live in fear, but if you could've been preemptive and weren't, and the people find out about it after the fact, they'll be calling for your removal right quick. If none of us act on this, it'll be all our asses on the line. The people will have our heads on a platter."Poe smirked inwardly, at his wife's gumption and her slight expletive at the end of her diatribe. "There will be a lot to do going forward, to ensure the safety of our people, our worlds — both Naboo and its moons," he asserted; casting a brief sideways glance at Crisara, before looking next upon the Queen. "But, another immediate topic for discussion is that of Sessani's funeral, as well as the return of Casterfo's body to his family. Both were leaders and deserve to be honored as such."The Queen nodded in agreement and gestured to Captain Betal. "We have already been discussing the matter of Ambassador Lell's funeral arrangements with her father." Shifting her eyes toward Crisara, the teen monarch nodded respectfully. "As was the case with your grandmother, Padmé Amidala, who had once been Queen of Naboo and then representative of this planet as Senator, Ambassador Lell should receive the same fanfare as any former monarch. However, it has been her father's wish to keep the arrangements smaller. Because of the recent attack, he fears large crowds gathered to see his daughter off, during a funeral procession, could incite another attack against our person," Queen Tenerra gestured to herself, and then to Poe, "as well as you, Governor. Mister Lell deserves to have his daughter receive every honor in death as she received in life, if not more, but he insisted it would not be her wish. Her wish would be for the safety of her people, not for her final send-off, and we agreed with his wishes. It won't be about honoring her death. It will be honoring her life."Betal turned and looked at Poe. "When I was in contact with Chancellor Vecta's advisors, they insisted they would be sending a Republic Naval Starcruiser to our system. Once they're in orbit, we'll transfer former Supreme Chancellor Casterfo's body to the ship for a hand-off. From there they'll return him to Riosa, to his family, where he'll lie in state for the next week before burial.""I'd like to oversee the transfer," Crisara offered, catching the Queen's eye. "Ransolm was a dear family friend, and the uncle to my cousin's husband. I'll bring my son Caro with me, as well as my cousin and her family. I'll dock with the Starcruiser, where Ransolm's casket will be loaded onto, and we'll continue on to Riosa that way." She turned and looked at Poe. "My husband is still healing and, as Governor, especially at a time like this, he needs to remain here. I can go and represent my husband, as well as Your Highness, and the people of Naboo.""Riosa already had an Ambassador from Naboo to represent us," the Master of Sciences remarked.Sidestepping that comment, Queen Tenerra attempted a smile, for possibly the first time ever. She seemed to be appreciating Crisara's boldness. "And if we were to decline your offer to oversee the transfer?"Crisara shrugged. "I'd go regardless, whether I was transferring his body or not," she insisted. She slipped a brief glance toward the Master of Sciences as she added, "I don't have to be my husband's representative, or that of Her Highness, in an occasion such as this, but I can go as a representative for the Jedi."Queen Tenerra nodded, appreciatively. "Jedi who we are very thankful were present in the Grand Plaza. Had they not been there, we have no doubt the collateral damage would've been much greater. For that, Master Jedi, we offer you—" she shifted her sights onto Rey as well, "we offer both of you our deepest gratitude.""It's what the Jedi have always stood for," Rey remarked, after briefly clearing her throat. "We are meant to be as guardians for peace and justice; to be as protectors for the galaxy." She shared a small smile with Crisara. "It's what we were trained for and what we've been training the next generation for all these years — with both the Kenobi Academy and the Jedi Order. We've worked together, sharing the same, common goal and we will continue to do so as long as there is breath in our bodies, and even afterward, so long as the Force allows."The Force nor the Jedi weren't mere myths anymore, as they had become after the rise of the Empire, when the Jedi had been all but wiped from existence during Order 66. There had been a brief glimmer of its return during and after the Galactic Civil War, when Luke Skywalker took on the task of rebuilding the Jedi Order, but he'd kept it so sequestered and tucked away on Ossus that the rest of the galaxy still barely realized its presence, even if the galaxy's citizens were still very much aware of the living legend that Luke was supposed to be as a Jedi Knight and then Jedi Master. It was because of Crisara and Rey that the galaxy had finally gotten to remember what the Jedi had been and could yet be with them at the helm. There had been enough witnesses of what they were capable of at any given moment during the First Order-Resistance War, and those moments were talked about and spread around, and this time Crisara and Rey could show receipts, so to speak. They and their padawans and growing numbers of Jedi Knights were proof that the Jedi were alive and well.So, speaking on the Force and what it would 'allow' didn't seem strange to the average person anymore. The mantra of 'May the Force be with you' was no longer just a mantra shared amongst Rebels, it actually had something to back it up. More and more people across the galaxy had become privy to the supposed miracles the Jedi had been capable of creating. They'd witnessed what Force users could do, and now it felt increasingly more commonplace. So much so that several branches of the Church of the Force had begun to sprout up here and there; taking up the mantle from the religious institution's fallen member Lor San Tekka.Queen Tenerra seemed to understand enough about the Force as well; at least as much as someone who wasn't Force-sensitive could. "We are continually grateful of the work and goals you have both achieved in recent years. You are a both a credit to your craft." Focusing more upon Crisara, the Queen seemed considerably thoughtful. "As a representative of the Jedi, a Master of your craft, as well as a war hero and native daughter of Naboo, it is our wonder if you would be obliged to join our Advisory Council." It wasn't so much a question, as it was an outright offer. "We could only benefit from your advice and expertise."Crisara blinked. "Uh, well, I suppose I would have to think on it, M'Lady. Whatever my decision, I am honored by your offer.""We understand there is a lot on your plate in the immediate future," the Queen continued. "Take the time you need to think on it."Crisara could feel both Poe's and Rey's eyes on her, but it was Poe's hand, lifting from his cane to encircle her hand, which drew her attention toward him. When she looked him in the eye, she could see he wasn't outright smiling with his lips, but there was a hint of one at the corners, and one in his gaze. She wasn't peering into his mind, but she could sense he was happy with this. She knew how stressful or boring these Advisory Council meetings could be most of the time. This particular time was only heated because of the attack. These meetings weren't like this normally, so she was certain he saw this opportunity to have her at his side in this aspect of his life, too, would be greatly welcomed.It was definitely a tantalizing offer; to have more of a chance to be around her husband and not so often pulled in different directions during the day, with his work as Governor and hers at either of the Kenobi Academy locations. "I will think very hard on it," she asserted; holding tighter to Poe's hand, but looking back at the Queen. "When I return from Riosa, after Ransolm's funeral, I will bring Your Highness an answer."Sassaly Ganmakiss, a councilwoman from Keren who had run against Poe during his second campaign for Governor, and now had a seat on the Advisory Council, cleared her throat and raised her hand slightly to draw some attention her way. "Speaking of funerals, where will Ambassador Lell's take place and who will be allowed to attend, if this it isn't going to be the grand affair she so richly deserves?"Crisara sat back in her chair and leaned closer to Poe. Any contented feelings he'd been exuding faded from him, and she had immediately sensed it. Talk returning to the matter of Sessani had felt like a sharp knife to the heart, so she gave her husband's hand another tight squeeze to remind him that they would always be in it together, no matter what.  As not to draw it out, Sessani was laid to rest the following day.Her body had been on display in the Royal Palace's ballroom, where only her father, Temiri, Temiri's immediate family, members of the Advisory Council and their immediate families, the Royal Guard and Sessani's former handmaidens were in attendance. Poe managed to stand upright the entire time, relying partially on his cane and Crisara, who had her right arm linked through his left. His focus wasn't on his pain, though. His and Crisara's attention were too engrossed on Temiri and how emotionally shut off he seemed. He hadn't cried once since the Grand Plaza Attack, before he carried Sessani's body away. He'd barely spoken a word, either, and it had his parents considerably concerned; although, it wasn't as if they didn't understand.Crisara knew how she'd felt after losing Adera. She still remembered how, after the initial shock and pain wore off, the grief had grown so strong that it made her feel as if she was sleepwalking through her life during those first weeks. Poe still remembered the pain of losing his mother so long ago. Even though he'd only been eight at the time, it still sometimes felt fresh. Even though he'd only been a child, he still missed his mother and wished he could talk to her.The deeper you love someone, the deeper it hurts when they're gone.Resting her head upon Poe's shoulder, Crisara was much aggrieved that Sessani had been so brutally killed, but she couldn't pretend she wasn't grateful it had been Sessani and not Poe. She knew it was in bad form, according to the old Jedi ways, to put one person above another, because of attachments and what the fuck ever, but she would choose Poe or her children over anyone else, any day. Of course, if she had to choose between Poe and her children, as much as it would deeply hurt, she would choose her children in a heartbeat, and she knew he would choose the same. It was the only right decision to make and they knew it wouldn't detract from how they felt for one another. If anything it would increase their love for one another. To sacrifice your life for the life and love of another was love.As Sessani's father didn't have some special family crypt to entomb his daughter in, but knowing she would've become a Dameron had she lived, he had asked Temiri for his advice on the matter. He knew his daughter deserved more than just a simple grave, and he also knew the Royal House would've covered the expense for something befitting a former monarch. He also couldn't bring himself to cremate her, despite a great many people of Naboo opting for cremations and having their ashes cast into the Solleu River. Funeral arrangements were one thing, but he couldn't handle this last, final gesture. Sessani would've been Temiri's wife and one day, had she lived, the decision on where her final resting place would be would've fallen upon Temiri's shoulders anyway, if he'd outlived her decades from now.In a break from his silence, Temiri had approached his parents with the idea he had, but needed their approval, because he didn't own the place where he would wish to see her buried. He'd asked if she could be buried at the villa, but not down into the ground as to conflict with the flora, vegetables, fruits and herbs that grew in the back garden. There was a section, set within the trees surrounding the back garden, where a tomb could be erected and where her body could be sealed within. Crisara and Poe didn't hesitate to give their permission. In the expanse of time following the Advisory Council meeting and before the actual funeral in the Royal Palace, stonemasons had been immediately hired and went to work with creating a tomb fit for a former Queen of Naboo, while Caro had overseen the clearing of the spot where the tomb would be placed.Sessani's body had been transferred into a chromium casket, with an adhered plaque on top that stated her name, birth and death years. The casket was brought to the villa after the funeral, with only Temiri, Sessani's father and the Dameron family in attendance; though most padawans and Jedi Knights from the school next door slipped on over to pay their respects as well. Temiri, with Caro's help, had lifted and then lowered the casket into the tomb. Overcome by a wave of emotion, the elder brother stepped back and let his blonde brother take over in lifting the impossibly heavy stone lid, by way of the Force, and lowering it onto the tomb to seal Sessani inside for all time. The top had a lovely design etched into its surface to look as much like Sessani, but simply asleep, as possible. It even had what was supposed to be her hands, folded over her abdomen, holding a single flower. On the side of the tomb that faced the back garden, an epitaph was carved.
Sessani Lell

Queen of Naboo,

Daughter of Ruther and Una Lell,

Mate of Temiri Dameron
Temiri hadn't been expecting the final part of the inscription. It had actually been Caro's idea. When Temiri found that out, he'd hugged his brother so tightly and then allowed himself to finally cry once more. After the entombing, the family and Sessani's father gathered in the villa's dining room for a meal. They ate and toasted to Sessani together. They did their best to not wallow in grief but share happy memories they had of her. Ruther Lell had been invited to stay the night; Poe and Crisara insisting that, since his daughter would've become part of their family, that Ruther should consider himself part of their family now as well. The couple knew he didn't have anyone else anymore. His wife was gone, his only child was gone. Even he had been an only child, so he had no siblings to lean on, and his parents had been gone a while now, too. Poe and Crisara didn't want him to be alone on the first night after laying his daughter to rest and insisted he stay as long as he needed. When he was ready to head home, then he was free to go, but to also not be a stranger. He was welcome to show up any time, to visit his daughter's grave or just visit with the Damerons.That night, after everyone had gone to bed, Temiri was sitting in the back garden, on the stone bench that faced the memorial pedestals of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Sera Kenobi and Adamé Dotolo-Kenobi. However, he was sitting perpendicular to them, straddling the bench, so he could stare at his beloved's tomb. Despite everyone having gone to bed, he was more than aware that not everyone had gone to sleep. He could sense movement here and there, coming from within the house. He could sense some conversation and fluctuating emotions.Then he was aware of an approaching presence.Turning to look slightly over his right shoulder, he spotted someone walking toward him. "You should be in bed," he remarked, quietly. "Growing boy such as yourself, you need all the sleep you can get."Len scoffed as he sat down behind his older brother, but facing the correct way on the bench. "I'm hardly a boy anymore.""You're sixteen. I'm thirty. You're a boy to me." Temiri shifted around to face forward as well. "I changed your diapers once or twice when you were baby.""Did you really?" Len knitted his brow together with curiosity."Mom insisted it was a good life experience to have." He shook his head at the memory. "She said I might become a father someday, and it wouldn't be fair to expect my wife or a nanny droid to do all the work. Fathers should be as equally hands-on as mothers." Temiri sighed and looked down at his hands, which were folded between his thighs. "Little did she know…"Len looked upon his brother's profile and frowned. "You don't think you'll ever be a dad?""I don't know. Right now, I don't see it happening." Lifting one of his hands, Temiri gestured toward Sessani's tomb. "I wanted to have kids with her. I wanted to have a life with her.""Well, you kind of have a kid already. Sort of." The youngest Dameron shrugged. "Uwin's kind of your kid, in a sense.""Not the same.""I know.""I can't even focus on training him right now," Temiri sighed. "I know he understands I'm going through a tough time, but he deserves someone who can give him more one-on-one attention. I don't think that's me right now.""So, he can resume training with the others next door for the time being. When you're ready, take him on again.""I'm not sure I will be. Not with him, anyway." With a frown, Temiri looked at Len. "Don't tell anyone I said this, but I think I chose wrong when taking him on as my padawan. I think I was so caught up with the idea of training someone, one-on-one, like the Jedi of old would've, that I didn't actually think it through. I didn't really take a good look at the rest of the padawans to see if any of them would be better suited to me.""Isn't that better, though — to not be so alike? You can learn from one another that way. The student can teach the Master, too."Temiri smiled appreciatively. "I forget how perceptive you can be sometimes. We're all so distracted with our own lives and with how irresponsible you can be of late."Len didn't deny that. "I just get bored easily, so I create my own adventures. If those adventures get me into trouble, well…oh well.""You shouldn't think that way. You can't be so careless forever," Temiri contended. "I get you're still a teenager and you've got growing to do, physically and mentally, but at some point you're going to have to grow up, Len. Maybe mom and dad have dropped the ball here and there with you, with all of us, but they're parents. They're not perfect. There were times I felt restless and yearning to break free and be crazy when I was your age. But then you get older and you begin to see things from the other side. You grow up.""Sounds boring.""It's anything but. When you get older, you can finally go on actual adventures by yourself and no one will yell at you for it. You can drink wine and not get in trouble." Temiri eyed Len rather pointedly in regard to his latter comment. "Mom and dad are very much aware you've been swiping a few bottles here and there. And topping them off with water isn't as clever as you think it is. They were your age once, too, and they know any and all tricks you think you've invented."Len rolled his eyes. "Whatever."Temiri chuckled, and it felt really good to do it. "These growing pains will pass for you before long. I'm certain. You'll discover your true self. You won't be just a boy anymore. You'll be a man and, with role models like mom and dad, you'll be a great man.""You're a pretty great role model," Len offered up. "If I ended up like you, I'd be pretty happy."Slowly, Temiri moved his hand over to his little brother's lap and patted his leg briefly. "I appreciate that. It means a lot."For a few moments, both Damerons fell silent. Their gazes seemed to drift over toward the memorial pedestals in front of them, but they each focused on different ones. Temiri looked over at Obi-Wan's, and Len looked over at Adamé's. The pedestals weren't the original ones, as those had been destroyed when the villa had been partially destroyed over a decade earlier, but the holos atop those memorial pedestals in the back garden still brought a sense of comfort. The younger generation of Damerons had heard the countless stories of their relatives who had died, either before they were born or just after, and sometimes they'd been able to see and communicate with their Force ghosts, but not all of those relatives were Force-sensitive; specifically Sera and Han. Seeing these looped images made them feel a little closer to their dearly departed family members, regardless of Force ability or lack thereof."Tem?"Temiri turned back toward Len. "Yeah?""I'm sorry about Sessani."With a heavy-hearted sigh, the elder Dameron brother agreed. "So am I.""Do…do you think you'll ever love anyone else?" Len wondered. "Mom found love again with dad. Grandpa Kes found love again with Taya. Do you think you will? Or do you think you'll be like Great-Grandma Sera or Grandpa Luke? They each had their one, great love and no one else could ever compare. They didn't even bother to find love again."Temiri shrugged once more. "I don't know. I mean, like I said about becoming a dad someday, I don't see that happening right now. But I also know that, if Sessani were here to tell me, she would insist I not wallow in my grief forever and let love in again. And I really would like to be a dad. I could adopt. I'm adopted, after all. I could also use a surrogate if I wanted a child of my own but didn't want to give my heart to anyone again, aside from my child. But it's too soon to think on things like that." Furrowing his brow, Temiri glanced over at Sessani's tomb. "I buried the love of my life today. Whether or not she's the only love of my life remains to be seen. Right now, I can't focus on the future. I can't think about the what-ifs.""Yeah," Len remarked with a slight nod. "I don't really ever think about the future either."Temiri turned and looked back at his brother. "Not ever?""I'm more of a here and now kind of guy, I guess. I don't really think about later. I like to live in the moment."A small chuckle escaped Temiri's lips. "Yeah, that tracks.""What's that supposed to mean?""You said it yourself. You get bored and 'create' adventures, and they almost always get you into trouble. You don't often think before you act." Temiri smirked. "Dad is constantly saying how very much like he was as a teenager that you are. And, from what I've heard from mom, he was pretty much like that until she met him and he began to finally grow up.""So, what you're saying is I'll finally grow up when I'm in my thirties and I find love?"Temiri chuckled again. "Maybe. But I hope it doesn't take you long to come into your own and become that good man I know you'll be.""Well, as long as you're there with me along the way, to keep me in check, I'm sure I'll survive.""Oh, I doubt I'll ever be able to let you out of my sight," Temiri quipped, sliding an arm around his little brother's shoulders. "You make life interesting, that's for sure."Len snickered. "Well, if I stopped acting without thinking, how else would I get any attention around here?" He was teasing, but there was a heavy seriousness to his rhetorical question. He could also tell that his brother was aware of that as well, but was thankful Temiri didn't go into it at the moment. "The rest of you are like unseasoned meat. I'm the herbs and spices the rest of you need right now. If I grew up too quickly, this family would be really bland.""Have you met our family?" Temiri questioned with a raise of his brow.  Several hours later, just before sunrise, Crisara bolted upright when she heard a heavy thud from somewhere nearby. It had woken her up out of a virtually sound sleep and, instinctively, she pulled her lightsaber to her hand by way of the Force, but didn't ignite it right away. She looked upon the left side of the bed, expecting to find Poe asleep beside her, but he wasn't there. The covers on his side had been tossed back. Reaching her left hand out, she touched the mattress and it still felt warm, so he hadn't been gone long. Upon hearing lumbering movement, and then what she was certain was indecipherable grumbling of frustration followed by muffled crying from within the en suite bathroom, Crisara set her lightsaber back down on her bedside table and got up out of bed.Quietly padding around the bed and walking across toward the bathroom door, she knocked once, gently. "Poe?" she called out before opening the door and stepping inside. There, on the floor, she found her husband sitting with his back against the side of the bathtub and his legs stretched out in front of him. He had tears streaming down his face, which was contorted in a mixture of pain and sadness, and he had his right hand clamped down over his right knee, which she knew to be bandaged underneath his pajama pants. "Poe, what's wrong?" she asked, as she moved to slide down to the floor beside him. "Did you fall? I heard pretty loud thud."He didn't look at her, but he nodded. "I had to go to the bathroom. Thought I could manage just fine without that damn cane," he replied; lifting his left hand to wipe away the tears on his face. "Thought wrong." He dropped his left hand to the floor between them, and then, with his right hand, he gingerly rubbed at his right knee. "It gave out right after I got in here." With a huff, he looked at her with clear embarrassment in his sad, dark eyes. "I pissed myself like some old invalid."Crisara glanced down at the inseam of his pajama pants and saw the narrow, damp stain, but it didn't bother her. It also wasn't the first time he'd pissed himself in her presence over the last two decades. Plus, he delivered their daughter Leia after C-3PO had assisted with delivering Shara. The point was, they had both seen plenty of each other, in less than glamorous circumstances, so she didn't feel as if there was anything to be embarrassed about. However, she could still sense this wasn't so much about the fact that he'd pissed himself. It was because he was proud and refused to acknowledge that his injury had left him weakened, and he didn't want to have to ask for help when it came to things that were supposed to be simple tasks, like going to the bathroom, for starters. She was also certain his tears were only partly because of his pride and embarrassment, and the physical pain.She could feel his continued grief, too."You're not an old invalid," she insisted, reaching a hand up and brushing her fingers soothingly into his hair. "You were badly injured. The fact that you made it this far into the bathroom without your cane is quite impressive, if you ask me.""Don't pander to me." He jerked his head away with a grimace."I'm not. It was a bad injury." Crisara reached for his head again, but let her hand drop to his shoulder instead. "I still don't understand why you won't let me heal you. I healed a leg injury for you once before, if you recall. I can do it again. I mean, bacta is a wonderful thing, but it can only do so much." She sighed and watched the way he dipped his bearded chin down to his chest as he listened to her. "If it doesn't get better sooner, and if you don't let me help, it's going to get worse. It'll be irreparable. You'll need a full, mechanical replacement and, being a knee, that kind of pain will get worse as we get older; being a joint that helps hold your weight and whatnot.""Maybe I want the pain to last, as a reminder."Crisara made a face. "And what kind of stupid reminder would that be? That you should listen to your wife and swallow your pride?""That it could've been worse," he answered simply. "That it should've been me."There it was. The heart of the matter."But it wasn't you."Poe lifted his face and practically glared at her. "And it was meant to be Sessani?""Maybe," Crisara shrugged with a sympathetic frown. "Maybe it was her time. Maybe that was how her story was always meant to end. I don't know. The Force works in mysterious ways sometimes.""Okay, seriously? Fuck the Force. This wasn't the Force working in mysterious ways. This was Varga, and Hux and a bunch of other criminals that have yet to know my wrath." Just as quickly as he was to anger, it faded when a sob escaped his lips; suddenly likening him to a scared, little boy. Clamping his hands over his face, Poe hunched forward. "Fuck," he quietly whimpered. "Why does this hurt so bad?"Crisara slid her hand from his left shoulder, around his upper back, and squeezed his right arm as she moved to lean against him. With a few tears of her own lining her eyes, she tilted her head against his. She knew he wasn't referring to his knee. That wasn't the pain he was on about. "Because losing a child hits differently than losing anyone else. We've both lost parents, grandparents, dear friends. But nothing compares to the death of a child.""But she wasn't even my child.""She was, in a way. You loved her as if she was your flesh and blood; no differently than you've always loved Tem and Caro. She found a way into your heart. You watched her change from a girl to a woman. You watched her go from Queen to Ambassador, and you were there for her every step of the way, whenever she needed it. You've never denied that you loved her like a daughter, and she openly admitted to loving you as much as her actual father. You helped shape the wonderful person she became because you're a good man. A kind man."Poe scoffed. "A good man who couldn't keep her safe.""You're not perfect, Poe. None of us are. We can't bring her back. We can't turn back time. We just have to continue to do right by her, even though she's gone.""But she shouldn't be gone!" he bellowed. He wasn't angry at his wife. He was just angry at life. "I let her down. I keep going over it in my head. I know multiple worlds were targeted, but I still should've listened to Leia. I should've called off the inauguration ceremony. I mean, I get the Queen and I were targets, because we're leaders, but Sessani and Ransolm had been leaders, too. Maybe they were targeted, as well, for that reason. I mean, those were pretty precise hits." Poe looked his wife in the eyes. "Sessani and Ransolm were there for me. They could both still be alive if I'd just done as Leia advised, and held the ceremony at the Governor's Mansion.""Where Varga would've been able to carry out the attack in private?""You would've all been there for us," he maintained. He was alluding to her and their children, Rey, Finn and the other Jedi Knights that had been present during the attack; the Force-sensitives with lightsabers and the ability to sense danger."And look what good that did with all of us there with you in the Grand Plaza. We were so caught up in protecting you, because we assumed you would be the only target, that we didn't think that Ransolm or Sessani would need the same protection. And no blasts should've been able to reach the stage, but they did because the deflector shield was deactivated," Crisara countered. "We only learned after the fact, due to surveillance feeds, that Varga was the one who deactivated it. Betal's officers found the device on him that he used to power the shield down, which also canceled out the ion pulses that were supposed to be able to prevent blasters from firing into the Grand Plaza. Plus, several Security Officers near the Triumphal Arch had been killed and their blasters, which were purposely immune to the ion pulses, were stolen. And who knew about that fact? Varga. To an extent, it was an inside job. No place would've been safe. Not really."Poe nodded slightly, but said nothing.Planting a firm kiss to his temple, Crisara then leaned back while she listened to the way his breathing seemed to even out a bit more with every word she spoke. "Varga was willing to die for his cause. His autopsy showed he had a suicide pill encapsulated into a false tooth, the same as the other assailants who took their life during and after the attack. He never got to take his own life, of course, because Tem took it for him, but it makes me wonder. What if we did host the inauguration in the privacy and supposed safety of the Mansion, only for Varga to have somehow rigged the entire place to blow, taking himself with us? We were given insight into Leia's vision and we worked with what she'd been able to tell us. And her point of view, where that vision was concerned, was obscured because of bias. She only saw you and the attack, and she interpreted it as you being killed and nothing else. But you don't see anyone blaming her for that, do you? None of us believe it's her fault or that she should've done more, the same as no one — and I mean no one — has been blaming you, except you." Crisara lifted her hand off his right shoulder and began to slip her fingers back up into his hair. "Poe…it is what it is, and what it is hurts. Pain always hurts, no matter what kind it is."Tipping his head to the left, he leaned into hers again; the wave of grief that he'd been feeling so strong, now dissipating considerably thanks to her. "My feelings about all this aside, I feel worse for Tem," he remarked; watching the way Crisara's left hand drifted over to slip into his left hand. "How is he still standing after losing the woman he loved? How is he not—""Raging from grief?"Poe sighed. "Yeah.""Because I trained him well," Crisara replied with a smirk. "He's had eighteen years of learning to control his emotions; to channel it through meditation. I mean, he's not a droid. He's still susceptible to bouts of anger, grief, fear and any other negative feelings. He just knows ways to mollify them so he doesn't explode and cause damage to himself or others. I almost leveled this place after Adera died. Thanks to Caro being present, the only things that took any damage were the front-facing windows and the trees out front."With a smirk, Poe flipped his left hand palm-side up so he could interlock his fingers with hers. "Probably for the best. All those trees were blocking that beautiful lake view."Pulling her face away, Crisara took note of the small smile on his face and was glad to see he was getting past this surge of grief. For now, anyway. Letting her blue eyes drift over to his injured knee, she nodded at him. "Have you taken any more pain meds for your knee?""Not since before bed.""I can sense you're in pain again — physically. Is it because the meds are wearing off or because you fell and aggravated it?"Poe shrugged. "Both, I think."Turning slightly, Crisara lifted her right hand away from his hair and aimed it toward the bathtub's faucet that was jutting out from the wall. With the Force, she turned both dials to let equal parts cold and hot water fill the deep, copper basin. Her grandmother, as Naboo's ambassador to Coruscant, once had a similar bathtub at the Naboo Embassy there and, at some point, after the rise of the Empire, had her very own copper bathtub installed into this en suite bathroom. Now it was Crisara's and Poe's copper bathtub, and they'd always enjoyed the romantic ambiance it had added to the room; more than the marble bathtub in their en suite at the Governor's Mansion."What are you doing?" he wondered."Running a bath for you," she replied; stating the obvious. "The warm water will help soothe the pain and, well, you pissed yourself, my love. We're going to feed two birds with one seed, okay?" She could see the way he was raising an eyebrow at her out the corner of her eye, but ignored it. Gripping the side of the tub, she pushed to stand up and then held both her hands out to him. "Come on." Hunching forward, she grabbed at his forearms and let him move at his own pace as he slowly began to get up off the floor. As he twisted at the waist and put all of his weight upon his good knee, Crisara slipped an arm around to his back so he could transfer some of his weight onto her. "I got you," she insisted when she felt his hesitation. The moment he was more or less upright, he gasped and groaned when he had no choice but momentarily add weight onto his bad knee, but she was there to still hold him up so his knee didn't give out on him and cause him to fall again. "It's okay, babe. I got you," she repeated. "Hold onto my shoulders. I'm gonna help you get your pants off and then get your bandage off. You shouldn't soak in the tub with that still on.""At any other time, hearing you say you wanna help me out of my pants would be grounds for immediate fucking," he managed to quip.Crisara chuckled. "We've fucked for lesser reasons.""True," Poe agreed. He gripped firmly to her shoulders as she began to shimmy his pajama pants down off his hips; revealing he wasn't wearing any underwear, which was pretty much commonplace for him and nothing she wasn't familiar with. "You don't have to do this, you know," he added with a whisper, despite it being just the two of them in the privacy of their bathroom."Yes, I do," she countered, once his pajama pants had pooled around his ankles. While he kept one hand on her shoulder, and moved another to the edge of the bathroom sink's countertop, Crisara crouched down and looked upward at him. "You're my husband. We promised to love and cherish each other until our last breath. This is part of what that entails." Dropping her eyes to his bandaged knee, she frowned. Blood was seeping through the padded gauze; his fall having definitely aggravated his injury by reopening the wound. As she carefully began to unravel the bandage, she found herself thinking about how he'd done the same thing for her, years prior, after each of her surgeries. He'd taken care of her then, both times, and now it was her turn to take care of him. "The wound opened up," she remarked, as she let the old, soiled bandaging drop to the floor. The blood from the wound was already coagulating but there was a bit still dribbling down. His entire knee was green and purple from the bruising the blaster bolt had caused. The skin wasn't singed anymore, thanks to the bacta, but his knee was a horrible mess to look at. "Slapping on bacta isn't going to cut it anymore, Poe. At this rate, you're looking at a full knee replacement.""I know," he replied with a sigh. "Well, the couple that has internal cybernetics together, stays together.""You don't need to have cybernetics."Standing back up, his grip tightened on her shoulders while she gestured at the faucet and turned it off; determining that the tub was filled high enough for a good soaking. Edging him closer to the tub, she had him sit down upon the edge, so he could swing his left leg in first, to take most of his weight, before she helped him lift his right leg. The second his good leg was submerged, he was already feeling better. She knew he didn't like his bath water as hot as she did, but she did make sure to add more hot water than normal, for the aches and pains, and he was clearly already appreciating that decision. As he began to lift his right leg, she hunched forward and gripped under his calf and helped swing it over the edge of the tub until he was gripping both sides and able to lower himself down."Ahh, shit," he hissed. The heat from the water had stung a bit at the reopened wound, but he was taking it on his chin as best as he could. "Fuck, I hate this."Crisara tried to bring some levity to the situation. "You men are such babies when sick or injured," she teased.He glared back at her, but it was a playful glare. There was absolutely no seriousness behind it. "You ever get shot in the leg? Twice?""I told you I've been shot before," she countered; recalling that excursion to Taw Provode with her father when she was eighteen. "You ever push five little humans out of your body?""You ever been shot on other occasions besides just the once, or stabbed? Have ever been physically and mentally tortured?"Crisara scowled. "You ever get poisoned and need a bajillion internal organs replaced with little machines because, if not, you'd die?"Narrowing his gaze as he assessed their literal and figurative war wounds, Poe leaned his head back. "Alright. You win this round."A small chuckle escaped her lips. "Maybe we just call it even.""Nah. You gave birth to our kids. Well, five out of six of them, anyway."Letting her hand skim the water as she knelt down beside the tub, Crisara smiled appreciatively. "I love that you consider Adera as one of our kids, even though she died before we were even engaged.""What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine," he remarked with a shrug. "She was — is — your daughter. You're my wife. Therefore, she's my daughter, too."Crisara's smile continued. Slipping her hand below the surface of the water, she watched as his dark eyes followed the gesture. "Don't get any ideas. I'm not about to jerk you off.""I wasn't thinking that," he insisted. "I couldn't get it up right now if I wanted to. Not in the right frame of mind for a good time."Instead of responding to that, Crisara reached further down until her hand touched his injured knee. "Is the water temp okay? Not too hot?""It's fine.""Just fine?""It's serving its purpose." Turning toward the soap dish attached to the wall beside the tub, Poe grabbed a pellet of soap and dropped it into the water. As the pellet sank to the bottom of the tub, a foaming fizz followed it on the way down and began to spread a white, fogginess around; creating the look that he was bathing in white milk. "It's feeling better, though. The bath was a good idea.""I'm regularly filled with them."Poe smirked. "Yeah, I know." As he focused on the way she still kept her hand to his knee, and the more he realized the pain in his knee was subsiding, the more he realized what was actually happening. "Hey." He looked her directly in the eye. "What are you doing?""Healing you, you stubborn twat.""You have a surprisingly fowl mouth," he bantered. Then, after a moment of just holding her gaze, he smiled lovingly at her. "Thank you.""You're welcome.""I'm sorry I was being a stubborn twat.""It's nothing I'm not used to," she threw back at him with a playful grin.Narrowing his gaze again, but smiling properly at her, he flicked water at her; getting her right in the face, only for her to squeeze his knee tightly in response. However, it didn't hurt anymore when she did it. When she removed her hand, he bent his right leg and popped it up out of the water and saw his knee was completely healed. There was no wound, no scar tissue, no bruising. The femur, patella, tibia, and the cartilage in between all seemed perfectly intact. His knee was as good as new. Or as good as new as it could be for a man in his fifty-third year of life."Thank you," he repeated. "For taking care of me. For being the best wife ever, and the best mom ever." Dropping his right leg back down, he reached out for her hand and held tightly onto it. "Thank you for loving and cherishing me, and making me feel calm when I'm stressed, angry, sad or scared." Bringing her hand closer to him, he kissed her knuckles, and then the inside of her palm. "Thank you for being my best friend."Crisara smirked. "You're welcome again." With a deep sigh, she took her hand back and stood up."Going back to bed?" he wondered. "I imagine healing me again drained you."Raising an eyebrow at him, she looked at him like he was stupid. "I'm older and more experienced now. Healing someone doesn't take as much out of me like it used to." Slowly, she lifted her nightgown up over her head and tossed it to the floor; revealing she at least hand underwear on. Sliding them off, she dropped them to the floor as well, and then watched the way he maintained a curious gaze upward at her. As she carefully lifted one leg and stepped into the tub, his brow furrowed, which caused her to chuckle. "No, I'm not about to seduce you.""I didn't say a thing," he countered, holding his hands up defensively.Stepping completely into the tub, she gripped the sides and lowered herself down into the warm, soapy water and leaned forward until she was lying sideways upon his chest. Immediately, he was smiling and wrapping his arms around her as she did the same. When she rested the side of her face down upon his left clavicle, the underside of his beard tickled slightly at her forehead, so she lifted her left hand up and gave his beard a loving scrunch with her fingers.After a lull fell over them for a few moments, a sigh escaped her lips, but it wasn't exactly one of contentment; despite the fact that she was perfectly content with him right there in the tub.Poe noticed as much. "What's up?""Just thinking about tomorrow. Or, well, later today," she began to say. "Leaving for Riosa, to see Ransolm off on his final journey." Crisara frowned and dropped her left hand down upon his chest; just casually drawing circles against his damp skin. "He was a good friend.""He was.""I keep thinking about what his wife and sons must be going through — how they're feeling," she continued. "Less than a week ago, he was alive and well. Those poor boys won't get to continue growing up with their father. He won't get to see the men they grow up to be.""Ransolm's wife is a lovely woman with a strong head on her shoulders," Poe insisted. "Those boys will be fine, in time. They'll heal, and they'll become strong men because of their mother, and to make their father proud." Turning his head, Poe beard brushed against Crisara's nose when he attempted to pull back so he could kiss her forehead. He smirked at the way she scrunched her face up and rubbed at her nose, as if she was trying not to sneeze. "And Temiri will continue to be strong and amazing, because of you, and how well you trained him. And Sessani would be proud of him, for all the amazing things he'll go on to accomplish without her by his side, that he'll no doubt do with her in his heart."After managing to kiss his wife's forehead, Poe leaned back again to look at her, and once again smirked. But this time it was because her eyes were drooping. Despite what she'd maintained about her abilities, now that she was supposed to be older and wiser and more experienced, she was still falling asleep on him after healing him.Poe didn't draw attention to it, to disturb her.He simply wrapped his arms tighter around her and closed his own eyes to enjoy this peace and quiet; inside and outside of his mind.  When Poe entered the Royal Hangar in Theed the following evening, he was flanked by his wife and two eldest sons, Temiri and Caro. Captain Betal and six Security Guards were a few paces before them or behind them; maintaining all safety measures for him, just in case. Straight ahead of the direction they were all walking toward was the Millennium Falcon, and the guards lined the way leading up to the lowered access ramp, in threes. They nodded with respect as Poe stopped at the base of the ramp and turned to look upon his wife first. With a gentle smile, he grabbed the sides of her face and pulled her in for a kiss."Be safe," he whispered.When she leaned back with a reassuring nod, she replied, "You, too."As husband and wife stepped apart, they turned to see another set of six guards entering into the hangar, carrying the plain, chromium casket Ransolm Casterfo's body was being transported in. The freight elevator to the forward hold was already lowered and awaiting the casket to be loaded up into the ship. As the freight elevator ascended, though, two from the second group of guards were missing. Noticing Poe's curious gaze, Betal stepped forward with an explanation."It was the Queen's idea that two guards remain with Casterfo's body, as sentinels, until he's delivered to Riosa. It's already been squared away with General Connix of the RNS Ackbar." Betal looked from Poe and then settled on Crisara. "She's expecting the added fanfare and is apparently looking forward to seeing you and your boys."Crisara smirked. "It has been quite a long while since we've seen her."Poe nodded in agreement. "Almost ten years. Since my first inauguration," he confirmed. "She was there with the rest of us at the villa when the results came in."Remembering that evening fondly, Crisara looked from her husband and then gestured their eldest sons over. "We shouldn't waste any more time." As Temiri and Caro took that as their cue to hug their father goodbye, she looked back over at the Security Chief. "I assume the Ackbar is already in orbit, waiting for us?""It is, Master Dameron." Then, curious, Betal asked, "Wasn't your cousin and her husband Dazra, Casterfo's nephew, supposed to be joining you?""They were, initially, but they decided to leave yesterday instead."Temiri stepped away first and headed on up into the Falcon while Caro lingered a little longer. He seemed distracted by something, as he looked toward the ship; as if he was trying to listen for something or recall something he'd forgotten that was on the tip of his tongue."Everything alright, son?" Poe wondered, patting the younger man on the shoulder."Yeah," Caro assured. "I just…thought I felt something.""What?" Crisara asked; becoming quickly concerned. "Anything we need to worry about?""No." With a smile to prove all was fine, Caro shook his head. "Nothing like that. It was just a feeling of…familiarity. Nothing bad at all, of that I'm certain."Poe sighed. "Good. We deserve a break from the bad for a little while."As he watched Caro give a nod goodbye and ascend the ramp, Poe yanked Crisara back toward him once more and stole another kiss before slapping her playfully on the ass and seeing her off. When she rolled her eyes and disappeared up the ramp, he stepped away from the Millennium Falcon with Betal and the rest of the remaining ten guards."It's good to see you healed, sir," Betal remarked.Poe took a moment to glance over at his Security Chief successor, and smiled. "My wife is a miracle worker. I was being a stubborn twat." Off Betal's look of surprise at that particular vulgarity, he chuckled. "My wife's words, not mine."Despite herself, Betal chuckled as well. "Well, I'm glad someone said it."Poe immediately dropped his mouth in surprise, just as the ship began to lift upward and turn in preparation to exit the hangar. "Hey," he gently exclaimed with mock offense.Betal shrugged. "You said it yourself. They're her words. Not yours, not mine," she countered. "I'm just not arguing with a Jedi Master's assessment.""First Varga betrays me, now you," he teased; managing to make some light of recent events.  It was barely an hour later when Poe was back at the Governor's Mansion, seated behind the desk in his office. He wasn't alone or anything, because C-3PO was standing on his left, beside the desk, and BB-8 was underneath the desk at his feet, like a pet animal yearning for nearness to its master. There wasn't any sentient company in the office, though. Around the estate, the security detail had doubled since the attack. There were even two Jedi Knights, on loan from Rey, so to speak, after she and Finn had left with the other Knights they'd arrived with. Em'aa and Cordin were their names, Poe recalled. A Rylothian female and a Weequay male. They'd apparently only just been knighted a month ago and this was their first major task as Jedi Knights that Rey had given them on their own.Instead of hiring a new assistant, mainly because Poe was currently having trust issues because of Varga, he had decided that C-3PO could take on the position. The protocol droid was more than capable and definitely reliable. Plus, he was especially loyal. After all, he'd served Crisara's family, in one way or another, since Anakin Skywalker had first rebuilt him from scrap parts on Tatooine about ninety years ago. Where Poe's and Crisara's children were concerned, C-3PO had now been present alongside five generations of Skywalkers; all the way from Shmi down to Len.Shara hadn't gone back to her apartment yet, though she had resumed attending classes at Theed University. With everything that had just happened, she felt more comfortable being closer to her father for the time being. Leia, however, had flown back on her star skiff, the Skywalker, that very morning; to resume her added training under Rey's and Finn's tutelage. Caro and Temiri had, of course, gone with Crisara. The latter both parents had been surprised with. Neither had thought Temiri would want to throw himself into a major task after losing Sessani, and putting her to rest only the day before. However, he insisted it was exactly what he needed right now. He needed distraction; a purpose. And, perhaps, getting away from Naboo and things that reminded him of what he lost was good for him.As Poe glanced down at some security reports regarding the recent attack, which Betal had sent along with him after he'd left the Royal Hangar, and then perused the latest infrastructure budget, he felt his stomach growl with hunger. He'd had breakfast that morning, before the family had left the villa and returned to Theed, but he'd skipped lunch. Now he was regretting that, considering how aching the hunger pains were feeling.Knowing Shara had a later class that evening, and wouldn't be home for a couple more hours, that left only Len to have dinner with him."Threepio."The golden droid immediately turned. "Yes, Governor?"Before he continued with what he'd been meaning to say, Poe frowned and said, "You don't have to address me so formally when it's just us, you know."
"But it is the correct form of address, sir, especially since I am to be your assistant now. It would be very impolite for me to refer to you as anything other than—"
"Threep, seriously." Poe held a hand up to shut the droid up. "And I talk too much?" he questioned, mostly to himself. With a sigh, he continued with his original train of thought. "Can you call Len down and then give the kitchen droids a heads up to get dinner started, like, yesterday? I'm so hungry right now I could eat an entire runyip."
"Of course, sir."
As the droid began to shuffle out of the room, Poe leaned back in his chair and looked out the nearest of the two large windows along the wall to his right. It wasn't dark just yet, but it was getting there. He hated the idea of Shara coming home in the dark after a late class, even if she was plenty capable of protecting herself with her green-bladed lightsaber. Because of recent events, he was just understandably a bit more on edge. That's why he had a security detail on her that would transport her back and forth, wherever she went, for as long as he deemed it necessary.Better safe than sorry, as it were.It was a good fifteen minutes later before C-3PO returned; appearing in the doorway to the office, and somehow being able to convey a look of confoundment."Everything alright there, Threepio? You seem lost."
"I went to get Master Len, as you asked me to, sir."
"Uh, yeah. I remember. It was only fifteen minutes ago."
"I looked high and low, but he was not in his bedroom or in any of the bedrooms. Nor is he on this level. I tried his comm but received no reply. The kitchen droids and the security staff in the basement haven't seen him either. In fact, sir, the last anyone saw of him was well before you and Mistress Crisara left the mansion with Masters Temiri and Caro."
Poe sat up straighter. "He's not inside?"
"Apparently not, sir."
"Has anyone checked outside?"C-3PO turned to his left, toward the direction of the front doors. "I don't believe so.""Maybe go do that."The droid nodded obediently. "Of course. Right away, sir."With a frown, Poe stood up and pulled out his own comlink. Bringing it toward his lips, as C-3PO shuffled once more out of the office, he soon made contact with someone on the other end. "Beaumont, can you do me a favor?"He waited a moment, and then Beaumont Kin's brogue came through. "Sure thing, Poe. What's up?""Is Len at the Academy with you and the others? Or has he wandered back toward the villa for the remainder of the night?"
"No, he left with you lot this morning."
"I know that, but he didn't, you know, come back your way at all in the last couple hours?"
"Nope. Can't say that he has."
Closing his fist around the comlink, Poe smacked his closed fist gently against his forehead in frustration. After a moment, he brought the comlink back to his lips. "Okay. Thanks anyway, buddy. Let me know if he does pop up, though."
"Of course. Will do."
When that communication ended, Poe turned and hunched forward with both hands balled into fists against the desk's surface. He closed his eyes, sighing deeply and tried to get into his youngest child's mindset. He had been just like Len, once upon a time. He saw way too much of himself in the sixteen-year-old and that made him even more anxious now, with everything else going on.When Poe heard the sounds of C-3PO's shuffling gait as he was returning back toward the office, somehow he knew what the droid was going to say.
"Sorry to say, Governor, but there are no signs of Master Len outside on the mansion grounds, either."
"Yeah," Poe grumbled. "I figured as much." Growling almost as loudly as his stomach had earlier, he brought the comlink back to his lips.  Crisara was standing on the Primary Command Bridge of the RNS Ackbar with her arms folded across her chest. Beside her stood General Kaydel Ko Connix, who had come a long way from the fresh-faced lieutenant in the Resistance and now had command of her own ship in the Republic Navy, so named for the fallen Mon Calamari, General Gial Ackbar."Would've thought Aftab would be the one in command of a ship named after his father," Crisara was in the midst of commenting, as the familiar streaking lights of hyperspace swirled around them, outside the Starcruiser.The forty-two-year-old General smirked. "My goal was to take command of the Organa someday, but Ematt hadn't yet retired. Or wouldn't retire. Then the position here opened up and I went for it. Two years later, Ematt finally retired but I was already set up here and couldn't leave my people here. This became my home away from home." Connix shrugged. "Aftab was then promoted to General and given control of the Organa. He and I joked once about swapping, but nothing ever came of it. He said it would be too weird to helm a ship bearing his surname, which was in honor of his dad."Crisara nodded. "I suppose if I had to helm a ship named Kenobi or Skywalker, I might feel the same.""It'd be a bit on the nose, right?""Yeah."Looking over her shoulder, Connix frowned. "How come your boys didn't want to join us up here?""Temiri's still processing his grief."The younger female nodded. "Understandable.""He wanted to come, but he claimed he wanted to keep an eye on the Falcon in the docking bay. Really I think he just needs the quiet and familiarity of Falcon right now. And Caro's there for support, I think. So Tem isn't alone.""You've raised such sweet boys.""They all have their moments — positive and negative," Crisara quipped, just as she felt her comlink beeping from within the inner pocket of her cloak. Looking down, she pulled it out and lifted it up. "Dameron.""How did you know it was me?" Poe's voice came through, questioningly."I didn't. I was answering with my last name. Not addressing you," she replied. "Remember how we got married and I assumed your name a million years ago?" Thinking to very early that morning, she added, "What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine. Remember?""Ha," he muttered, sarcastically. "Listen…" There was a very exasperated sigh on his end. "Can you do me a favor?""Anything."
"Is Len with you?"
Furrowing her brow, Crisara was momentarily confused by the question. "Um, no. I left with only Tem and Caro. You were there.""Yeah, well, he's not here. Hasn't been seen since before you left. And Beaumont says he's not at the lake. Then, I got this sneaking suspicion that, since our baby boy is just like his dear ol' dad, he might've decided to get up to no good, as per usual lately." There was another audible sigh, but with more frustration this time. "If he truly is like me, he wants any excuse to get out and explore. And, considering what happened recently, and how Tem is doing, and knowing the boys are all pretty close with one another, I figured, if there was anywhere Len would be, it would be wherever Tem was. So, again I ask, is Len with you?"It was Crisara's turn to sigh. "For kriff's sake," she mumbled; vaguely aware that Connix was trying to rein in an amused smile. "Give me about thirty minutes, tops. I'm on the Bridge. Not near the Falcon. Let me go check."
"Alright."
Neither husband nor wife said goodbye to end their communication. It went unsaid, not just literally. Turning toward the General, Crisara nodded, "I'll be right back.""I'll be right here, waiting with bated breath to hear about your family drama.""Oh, stop it."Listening to Connix's chuckle, Crisara turned and left the Bridge.  Less than ten minutes later, Temiri and Caro were seated around the curved lounge seat in the Millennium Falcon's main hold; engaging each other in a round of dejarik. Neither was winning, though. They were too evenly matched because they'd been schooled in the game by their mother, who was a savant at the game, and both were just too naturally perceptive to understand their opponent's next move. Honestly, it made for a boring game every time, but at least it kept their minds occupied. Or, at least, it was keeping Temiri's mind occupied.When the sound of footsteps approached from down the main corridor, coming from the direction of the access ramp, both men turned and looked; waiting to see who was approaching but already sensing who it was before they appeared.A moment later, their mother was standing there in the archway between the corridor and the main hold with her hands on her hips. Her eyes were narrowed and she was deep in concentration; as if listening for something specific, much in the way Caro had been earlier, before they boarded the light freighter in the Royal Hangar back in Theed.And then it hit Crisara.Her gaze shifted pointedly toward Caro. "Where's your brother?"Raising an eyebrow, Caro pointed across the table at Temiri. "Right there."Crisara all but scowled. "You know exactly who I mean."Both Caro and Temiri shared a look. They both knew who she meant, and they both knew what she meant. What Caro had sensed before boarding the ship, Temiri had come to realize well after they'd docked with the RNS Ackbar, but neither had said anything to their mother then."Caro," Crisara continued, with aggravation in her voice.The twenty-five-year-old sighed gently and pointed in the direction of the portside corridor that led toward the bunkroom and galley. "Try Chewie's old quarters."Tipping her head back and inhaling a steadying breath, Crisara rolled her eyes and walked forward into the main hold, while her eldest sons watched her disappear around the portside corridor. They then looked at each other; mentally preparing for the trouble their little brother was about to be in this time.When Crisara approached the bunkroom, she glanced slightly to the left, at the small latch in the wall. Stepping forward, she considered pulling at it and yanking the hidden doorway aside, but opted for a more subtle gesture. Balling her right fist up, she knocked firmly on the wall. "Len. Be a dear and get your ass out here."She immediately sensed movement on the other side and felt a slight feeling of foreboding exuding outward from her youngest, who tucked away within the hidden former quarters of their family's Wookiee friend.Without needing to be asked twice, Len slid the door open from the inside and was immediately looking sheepishly back at his mother. The fact that he was only sixteen and already looking to stand taller than both his parents was a matter for another day, and made them both realize their little boy wasn't so little anymore."Hello there," he greeted; purposely slapping on a charming smile, akin to his father's."Don't give me that," she warned; already knowing he was going to try and worm his way out of being reprimanded by turning on said charm. "Your father's gonna kill you," she asserted. "He's been looking all over for you, apparently. A little heads up that you were taking off on him would've been nice. I mean, you could've asked to come with us. I wouldn't have said no, Len." She gestured accusingly at him. "What goes through your head sometimes? Why don't you think first?"Tipping his head down, Len shrugged. "I just wanted to have a little fun, I guess.""A little fun? Seriously?""I never get to leave Naboo. I wanted to see another world, someplace I've never been. I wanted…""Wanted what?" Len mumbled his response, so Crisara questioned, "What was that? I didn't understand you, what with you not using your words.""I wanted an adventure of my own," he stated more clearly."And you thought now was a good time for that? While we're headed to Riosa to pay our respects to a fallen friend? We're going to a funeral, Len. This isn't going to be fun.""I'm sorry."With a shake of her head, she pulled her comlink out once more and lifted it up to make contact with her husband."Oh no, no. Please don't tell dad," Len pleaded, stepping closer to his mother.Crisara hesitated for a moment, even after Poe answered."So what's the word?" Poe asked from his end.With a sigh, Crisara looked away from her youngest. "Len's here.""What the fuck — Len!" Poe was shouting."Poe," she muttered calmly. "I'm sorry. With everything going on, I completely forgot I told Len he could come." She eyed her son and sternly mouthed the words 'you owe me' before turning back away from him. "He went ahead of us. He was just so quiet, listening to music in the bunkroom, I completely forgot he was here. And then, when we arrived, Connix pulled me away as Ransolm's casket was being unloaded from the Falcon…"
"Really?"
"Yeah," Crisara lied, and hated doing it. "He was playing some dejarik with Tem and Caro when I just reached the ship. They were surprised that I forgot. Usually my mind is a steel trap for things like this." She eyed Len once more and just pointed for him to take a seat on one of the beds.Poe sighed from his end. "Well, alright. Just…next time, let me know about this kind of shit, too. I got scared. I was worried something might've happened."When Crisara held the comlink out toward her son, he watched the way she looked expectantly at him. With a frown, he leaned forward. "Sorry, dad. It's not mom's fault. I should've asked you both, together, not just her."
"No, it's okay. At least one of us knew what was going on. I'm just glad you're safe."
"I am."
"Alright, well, be good. And babe?"
"Yeah?" Crisara answered, pulling the comlink back to her."Tell that boy he's grounded for another three months when the rest of you get back," Poe remarked. "I know he snuck aboard. Your voice gets higher when you're lying, woman."Crisara tipped her head down. Turning away from Len and sauntering out of the bunkroom, she stopped halfway between there and the main hold. With a grin dangling from her lips, she whispered, "Am I grounded, too, when I get back?"
"Can Len hear me right now?"
"No."Poe didn't reply at first. Then, he whispered back, "Spanking might be involved."A chuckle escaped her lips. "I look forward to receiving my punishment. But for now, I have things to handle here.""May the Force be with you, wife. And the boys." Poe quickly added, "Especially Len."After slipping the comlink back into her cloak pocket, Crisara reentered the bunkroom and eyed her youngest up. "You won't me leaving this ship the entire time we're on Riosa. Our hosts are only expecting Tem, Caro and me. There is foodstuffs and enough to keep you safe and occupied here for the next twenty-four hours. And, should anything happen, at least I know you're capable of flying and can get yourself to safety if you need to take the Falcon and flee for whatever reason. Not that I think anything like that will happen, though. But now you get to stay put and keep guard and, I dunno, make sure no one steals her." Crisara pointed downward. "Your grounding starts now instead."Len nodded, solemnly. "Yes, ma'am."Running a hand down her face, Crisara just walked away.Slouching, Len looked down at his hands and grimaced. "Fuck," he mumbled.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"And when two lovers woo
They still say 'I love you'
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by"
— Jimmy Durante 
56 ABY — Six months later
Despite often preferring to work from his home office in the Governor's Mansion, there were a lot of times where occupying the office space that was technically his official office as Governor was just more convenient for Poe; especially when he was in and out of meetings with the Queen, any of the committees he was on, or when he had to dip in and out of Naboo's planetary legislative assembly; where the sitting Governor was expected to oversee special sessions and give the final vote on any and all proposals or bills brought forth by any one or more of the legislature's representatives, if there was a deadlock. Because it had been half a year since Armitage Hux had escaped from Sunspot Prison, there was also now the ongoing matter of the Republic-backed manhunt that was a constant source of frustration for Naboo's now fifty-four-year-old Head of Government. That, and Crisara was splitting her time between her duties at home, as a Jedi Master, overseeing the progress of her padawans at either branch of the Kenobi Academy, as well as traipsing the known galaxy with the Republic Navy, assisting the search in any way she could.The request for her help had come directly from the mouth of Chancellor Vecta. A mere week after Ransolm Casterfo's funeral on Riosa, Crisara had been summoned to Xozhixi, the capital city of Thyferra, which was the current revolving seat of the Republic. There, Vecta had asked of Crisara what the Old Republic had asked of the Jedi in times of great need: to preserve peace by acting, more or less, as a soldier for the Republic. While it wasn't exactly the same, because the galaxy wasn't at war, and the amounts of Jedi were still nowhere near the amount that had existed before the rise of the Empire, it was sort of the same…in theory.There wasn't a war. Not yet, anyway. Or, at least, it didn't seem likely anytime soon. Hux may be a wanted fugitive, the galaxy's enemy number one, but his network of loyalists seemed to be few and too widely scattered. Or they were just that hidden in plain view. There really was no way of knowing what was going to happen. There was the hope he would just stay gone; disappearing into the far reaches of space to never return or cause trouble ever again. But no one was that naïve; especially when there had already been more attacks as the months had gone by, made in his name.The attacks were always at random and it rarely, if ever, allowed any of the afflicted worlds to prepare for what happened. There had been other assassination attempts. In face, the senator from Umbara had been killed while traveling away from Thyferra back to his homeworld. His ship had been fired upon, and destroyed immediately. The deflector shields hadn't helped because the same technology used by Varga to dismantle the deflector shield during Poe's inauguration was likely the same reason the senator's ship didn't stand a chance. It had taken too abrupt a hit, and its light-speed capabilities were damaged beyond repair; preventing the ship from making the jump to hyperspace to flee. The offending ship was apparently a Dissident-class light cruiser from the era of the First Order. The captain of the senator's ship had been able to contact a Republic Naval Starcruiser and give their coordinates, that they were under attack by such a ship. However, by the time the Starcruiser arrived to offer assistance, the Dissident-class light cruiser was gone and the senator's ship was floating about as nothing more than space debris.Where the Dissident-class light cruiser had gone was a mystery. How many were on board it was a mystery. Who was at the helm of that ship was a mystery. Whether or not Hux had given the order for the attack, or if he was on the ship as well, was a mystery.The senator had been the only assassination of any sort of leader since the initial attacks the day of Poe's inauguration, though there had been other, failed attempts. It hadn't been the only deaths, though. There had been plenty of collateral damage in the form of innocent civilians. Buildings had been bombed and leveled, taking with them any poor souls trapped inside. Poisonous gas, like the kind that had been packaged and meant for Chancellor Vecta, was again packaged and left behind at random, albeit important, locations; such as package distribution centers, responsible for collecting and delivering packages across the galaxy. The tampered packages weren't meant to end up delivered all over the galaxy. They were meant to go off in these distribution centers, kill the workers, and cause a disruption in just one of the cogs in the wheel of the galaxy's commerce.On a smaller scale, there was vandalism and theft; also all done in the name of Hux. It honestly blew Poe's and Crisara's mind how a man like Hux could've accrued such a following of sycophants. Then again, he was the king of sycophants, so who better to rally a legion of his own? But, again, the exact number of those loyal to him were unknown. No one in a position of power could be sure if it was just a very organized few dozen or a hidden-in-plain-sight few million, or something in between. They hoped it was just the former. If it were a few million, the possibility of an actual war could be much more likely to happen, sooner rather than later.This group of Hux loyalists, however small or large in number they were, hadn't an official sobriquet yet. They were definitely a criminal organization, like that of the former Death Watch, Pyke Syndicate and Crimson Dawn, though they didn't seem greatly organized. There didn't seem to be any sort of rhyme or reason to any of the attacks aside from creating discord and spreading chaos. Leaders throughout the Republic were trying to figure out what exactly the endgame would be, but none could be sure. The only thing they were sure about was this organization was a terrorist group. At least with past and even current criminal organizations, like the Hutts, there was a sort of code of ethics. It almost felt like there wasn't any one person in charge of this terrorist group. It was like children had been left to their own devices and were running amuck.It was the cause of many a headache for every leader across the galaxy. With no idea what this group's next move would be — not knowing who, what or where would be attacked next — it had everyone on their toes. All anyone could do was be hyper-vigilant, and amp up any and all security measures. And, obviously, send out a few Jedi.Crisara wasn't the only one going off on these missions. Each ship in the Republic Naval Fleet had at least two or three Jedi at any given moment. Most came from Rey's Jedi Order, as the Kenobi Academy catered primarily to youths; the younglings and padawans. Once they were of age, they tended to head to Rey for specialized training, which was what Temiri and Caro had gone through before they became Jedi Knights. It was also what Leia was going through now. Some stayed with Rey, once they became Knights and took on their own padawans. Some returned to the Kenobi Academy as teachers for the next generation, or to also take on a padawan of their own. Some stayed with either the Jedi Order and continued their personal training within the Force. Some, like Nik Yaren, ventured out into the galaxy to explore and make their own way, but always ready and willing to return when they were needed. Case in point: Poe's inauguration and now the manhunt for Armitage Hux.Because both Crisara and Rey still had responsibilities where their padawans were concerned, they couldn't be off on these missions, around the clock. It was like when Crisara had decided to join the Resistance but was only "on call" one week a month. It was sort of like that for them. The combination of Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters on these missions was ever changing; giving those involved time to return home where they were also needed for a spell, before heading out again. Because she still in training and not a Knight yet, Leia was exempt, but Temiri, Caro and Nik were a few of the younger generation of Knights that were joining the Republic's manhunt. Crisara hadn't been so worried about herself going but, as a mother, she obviously worried about her sons; especially when they weren't always stationed on the same Starcruiser as her.It didn't sit well with Poe, either. And it wasn't just the worry about his wife and his sons; it was also his desire to be out there helping with the manhunt. He wanted to be part of the action. He'd been the Resistance's best pilot, and that wasn't just him constantly bragging or talking himself up. He had been the best for a damn reason.But he was on Naboo, more often than not stuck behind a desk; pushing papers, so to speak. He'd taken an oath. He'd made a promise to the people of Naboo, to serve them. He was their Governor, the head of an entire planet's government. His responsibility had to first be to Naboo and then, if able, offer assistance wherever possible, to the Republic, but primarily from behind his desk. Since he'd been a target once, it wasn't the best idea to head off into galaxy and place an even bigger target on his back.He almost felt like it would be worth it, though.At least he'd be with his wife and his eldest sons, and could keep an eye on them, even though he knew they were more than capable of taking care of themselves. Of course, he had Shara and Len to keep an eye out for, at home on Naboo. Leia, he had to hope, was keeping herself safe and not taking any pages from Len's book and pulling any reckless stunts.  Whenever Crisara was away, Poe had given strict instructions to the housekeeping droids not to change the linens on his and Crisara's bed. When she was gone, at least he could pretend like she was still there because the linens retained her scent. It was a minor thing, but it help sate his nerves when he woke up alone every morning. It calmed his mind a little. The longer she was gone, though, the worse his sleep patterns got. He woke up earlier and earlier, and was always exhausted but, by the time he was up for the day and got the day started, there was barely time for him to get a nap in. Almost falling asleep during meetings wasn't uncommon for him. He'd go up to bed at the end of every day, as soon as he could manage it, and slide under the covers where he'd shove his face briefly against Crisara's pillow and inhale the scent of her still lingering there.Crisara was never gone longer than a week at a time, but this particular time, she'd been gone two weeks. It was the longest they'd ever been apart in over twenty years. The last time they'd gone longer than two weeks without seeing each other, in person, was before the Hosnian Cataclysm, when she was only helping the Resistance part-time. Even during those three months on Ajan Kloss, when they hadn't been speaking to each other because they were stubborn idiots in love, at least they were seeing each other. They might not have said more than a simple, awkward 'hi' to one another, but at least they were near each other.One night, when Poe had gone to bed, he'd been so dog tired that he dropped and fell asleep the second his head hit his pillow. He never got around to leaning his face against Crisara's. Sometime in the early hours of the morning, when it was still dark out, he woke up rather abruptly when he heard himself crying out.He'd been having a nightmare, which had been increasing in frequency since the Grand Plaza Attack. Perhaps it drudged up memories from the war. The death and carnage, and the fact that Hux was relevant again, clearly hadn't helped. Poe had been doing so well where those nightmares were concerned; becoming fewer and farther between. Add the fact that Crisara wasn't there beside him, to calm him down, and he just knew he wasn't going to have a good day.After bolting upright, Poe slapped his hands over his face and hunched forward; trying to shove those images and stupid, old fears of Kylo Ren ripping into his mind back down as deep as they would go. He knew Kylo Ren had ceased to be when Ben Solo returned to the light side of the Force and that, in the end, he was a "good guy" again. But, even now, twenty-odd years later, it still managed to feel like he was back on the Finalizer, strapped to that torture table, and being made to see all those horrible things Kylo Ren had taunted him with possibly doing to Crisara. Of course, Poe knew now that neither Ben nor his dark side alter ego would've ever done those things to his cousin, but Poe didn't know that at the time. And seeing those things and feeling that excruciating pain had broken him in ways he hadn't fully realized back then. He didn't know it would stay with him, decades later. He'd been so good at shoving it all aside during the waking hours, pretending he was fine. He was able to laugh and smile, to joke and flirt. But then nighttime came, and it was made worse when he didn't have Crisara near.Just like now.Dropping his hands to his thighs, Poe twisted at the waist and sank back down onto the bed and shifted over to Crisara's side of the bed. He pressed his face down into her pillow and inhaled, but then stopped. Lifting his head up, he stared at the pillow and immediately groaned with frustration.Her scent was gone, and not because it had finally faded.There was the unmistakable and lingering smell of detergent; denoting these were clean sheets.Did the droids forget somehow? Did they think that, because Crisara was only ever gone one week and not two, they were expected to change out the bedding regardless of what he'd previously instructed? Had he been so tired that maybe he gave the go-ahead to change the sheets? Were the droids malfunctioning?Grabbing her pillow up, Poe tossed it angrily across the room and fell back onto the bed once more; staring up at the ceiling. "I fucking hate this house," he grumbled.He didn't really.It had been a good place to live in for the better part of the year, for the last ten and a half years, but it was just a house. It wasn't home. The villa was home. He was just upset and the house felt like a decent scapegoat at the moment.With a huff of indignation, he tossed the covers off of him and he gingerly climbed out of bed. With continued grumbling under his breath, he stepped away from the bed and headed into the en suite bathroom. With a sour expression plastered on his face, he began to peel off his pajama pants and used the toilet before opting to jump in the shower. Turning the water on hotter than normal, it soothed the aches in his joints a little better, plus the steam that was created was a bit nice. He lathered up his body with soap, worked shampoo into the hair on his head as well as the hair on his face, and then added some cold water when it came time to rinse it all away. Leaning forward, he planted the palms of his hands against the shower tile and tipped his head back as the water pelted his face, and it felt like a massage. Tilting his head from side to side, he cracked his neck. He flexed his shoulders backward and then twisted at the waist from side to side to get all the kinks out of his upper and lower back.When he finally made his way out of the shower, he reached for a towel and began to pat dry himself; not caring about the amount of water that had rolled off him and fallen to the floor, creating a small puddle, because he hadn't bothered to use a bath mat. The cleaning droids could take care of that later. At the bathroom sink, he wiped steam from the mirror in front of him and sighed at his tired reflection, and then he proceeded to brush his teeth, rinse and spit into the sink. Washing the residue down the drain afterward, he set his toothbrush and looked at himself again while wiping his mouth with a hand towel. The longer he stared, the more he studied the details of his face and wondered where the time had gone.In one more month it will have been twenty years since he'd married Crisara. Twenty years. How? How does time go by so quickly? It felt like only yesterday. He supposed it was true, that the days are long but the years are short. But, seriously — he felt like he went to bed the night before and had been only thirty-four, not fifty-four. At least, in his eyes, he didn't think he looked old. Sure, there were more lines in his forehead and next to his eyes. Sure, there was an increase of grey hairs on his head and in his beard, as well as even below the belt, which was a little amusing to him. But, his face hadn't seemed to have aged as harshly as it had for the previous generation; his father's generation. Crisara, too, didn't really look her age. Maybe they just had great genetics, or maybe they just took better care of their skin? If only he felt younger than he looked. All those things he'd once been able to do so easily, like jumping down from his X-wing, or — hell — running, was more of a chore these days. His joints were stiffer when he woke up, his back ached more by the end of the day. He couldn't stay in one position for too long or his body felt like it was atrophying. If he sat for too long, he needed to get up and walk around, or stretch. If he was on his feet for too long, his legs calves and knees felt like they were on fire and so he had to sit down for some relief.Usually bacta helped for those aches and pains which, for the most part, were minor. He either used the stuff in gel or spray form, or with stick-on patches. Sometimes Crisara could soothe those aches and pains; with either a good, old fashioned massage or by somehow using the Force to combat any inflammation.Stars above, she truly was amazing.Leaving the en suite bathroom, he headed for his wardrobe to get dressed for the day, but decided to temporarily bypass it to instead slip into Crisara's wardrobe. When the motion sensor to the room recognized a presence, the light came on and it afforded Poe the ability to look around at all of her clothing without straining his eyes. It was a large walk-in wardrobe, but it was barely half-filled with clothes because Crisara tended to wear the same items over and over, and they were usually simple things shoved into draws and didn't require being on display. Her simplicity made him smile. She was very low maintenance and really didn't find a lot of enjoyment in having to get dressed up for the official events Poe was expected to host or attend as Governor, but he appreciated that she obliged him with a smile.Hell, he didn't really enjoy it, either, most of the time.He much preferred the end of the night, once they were home and peeling those clothes off; either to simply go to bed or to go to bed.Turning to the right, Poe looked upon a clump of dresses and tunics that were hanging up and he walked right up to them. Grabbing them and smushing them together with his hands, he shoved his face into them and inhaled whatever lingering scent remained. Despite having been cleaned since the last time they were worn, unlike the linens currently on his bed, these pieces seemed to still contain her scent and it brought him the comfort he was longing for. Or, well, a little bit of it. Enough to scrape away some of that bad mood he'd been in.At Crisara's dressing table there sat a bottle of her favorite perfume which she didn't wear as often. It was like how she felt about his favorite cologne, in that he absolutely loved it. Releasing her clothes from his grasp, he walked over to the bottle and held it up. Then, after a brief moment of consideration, sprayed two puffs of the perfume into the air and walked through it. Almost instantly, he felt even better. It was funny how certain smells could trigger specific feelings.Maybe this would help him get through the day.He didn't know when exactly Crisara would be getting home. The last time they'd talked, which was two days prior, she'd been aiming for the end of the week, which was another three days away.Poe sighed.He could survive another two days without her, but he was doing it under protest.After he finally went into his own wardrobe and got dressed, he went downstairs and was immediately greeted by C-3PO.
"Good morning, sir. You're up especially early today."
"Couldn't sleep," Poe replied tersely; heading toward the breakfast room off the large, formal dining room.
"Would you like me to give your usual breakfast order to the kitchen?"
"Might as well."
"I'll request the caf be extra strong today. To help combat any exhaustion you may be feeling."
Poe smirked appreciatively. "Thanks, Threepio."While he waited for his food and his caf, BB-8 had rolled into the breakfast room and joined him; knowing how much his master hated to be alone. When he was alone, he was left with his thoughts. When he was left with his thoughts, sometimes those nightmares he had while he slept crossed the threshold into his daydreams. When he was plagued by darkened daydreams, he got anxious, which in turn made him feel angry and agitated. Not that anyone enjoyed feeling angry and agitated, but he absolutely hated it.Soon enough, his meal arrived. He consumed it quickly, along with his first cup of caf, and then carried a second cup with him to his office, to start on some busy work. Officially, he didn't have to do any work on this day. It was one of his designated days off during the week from his duties. However, with his entire family away from the mansion, he had nothing else to do. So, why not get a head start on the next day's tasks? That way, he might be able to end the following day earlier than usual.For Shara, classes were out of session right now at Theed University, but she had the apartment Poe and Crisara had given her last year for her eighteenth birthday, so that's where she likely was. Len was, unsurprisingly, at the villa with Caro. The latter had, in recent months, taken it upon himself to assume the task of training Temiri's padawan, Uwin. It hadn't been officially decided, but Temiri just couldn't bring himself to continue as the boy's mentor anymore. And, as it turned out, Caro was better suited to Uwin, anyway, and he seemed to thrive a bit more as a teacher than Temiri had, which Poe understood had been a sour spot for his eldest. He knew Temiri wanted very much to help train the next generation, and one day take over running the Kenobi Academy, but Temiri was still trying to process losing Sessani. Perhaps, in time, Temiri would find another padawan to train, one-on-one, or maybe he would be better suited to training younglings and padawans in groups. Crisara had insisted he wasn't expected to follow in the footsteps of so many Jedi Knights and Masters from the Jedi Order of the Old Republic. His path was his own. And he was still young, even now at thirty-one, and there was plenty of time to figure out how he wanted to walk that path. Then, there was also Leia, of course, who was approaching the end of her first of two years away training at Rey's Jedi Temple. In another year, if Rey and Crisara both deemed her ready, Leia would go through her Jedi Trials, which would determine if she would be knighted.Doubling back to Temiri, the eldest Dameron child was currently with his mother and Finn. At the moment, all three were  stationed on the RNS Ackbar, General Connix's flagship. The last that Poe had heard from Crisara, the Starcruiser was somewhere near the Tion Cluster, which was a star cluster and an unremarkable part of the galaxy, located within the Outer Rim region. They were supposedly following a pretty substantial lead, based on a recent sighting of a Dissident-class light cruiser, which was most likely the same ship responsible for the destruction of the Umbaran senator's ship. Poe also knew that, once they returned home, Temiri would be taking time off from the manhunt and Caro would be heading out in his brother's place, but with Uwin by his side, as well as his fellow Jedi Knight (and possible ladylove), Zeda Urli.It made Poe nervous, but Caro and Zeda were adults and couldn't be coddled anymore.Eventually the day progressed and, thankfully, it seemed to be going by quickly. Shara had, bless her heart, come to the Governor's Mansion around lunch time with a basket filled with food she'd picked up from one of Poe's favorite restaurants in Theed; to make sure he actually ate lunch for once. He loved how thoughtful she was. She was so kind and gentle and listened intently when he told her about this and that. On this day, halfway through talking, he had stopped and began to smile. When she raised an eyebrow at him, in a way that reminded him of himself, he smiled even more."What?" she'd asked, as they ate together at his desk. "Do I have food in my teeth?""No." Poe shook his head and sat back in his chair. "It's just…I look at you and I definitely see myself," he began. "My genetics, looks-wise, seemed to have won out in regard to you and your sister, but you mostly just remind me so much of your mother." He stretched hand out across the surface of the desk and tapped his fingertips mindlessly against it as he continued to stare at his daughter. "The older you and Leia both get, and the longer you're apart, the more I'm realizing how very different the two of you really are. Identical in appearance you may be, but not in personality. You are every bit your mother, even though the career path you hope to pursue is something akin to mine."Shara smiled thoughtfully and then pointed at her father, as what he'd said reminded her of something. "I was actually hoping to finally start interning with you soon. Now, during these next two months, before classes start back up, would be ideal.""Don't you want to, I don't know, spend time with friends? You can host them at the villa; spend the days swimming in the lake or sunbathing. Have dinner parties at night. Help yourselves to the wine collection. It's just collecting dust," Poe suggested with a smirk, as he brought the rest of his sandwich to his lips and shoved the remains inside his mouth."They're all mostly off-world, on trips with their families during this time," she remarked with a shrug. Glancing down at her lap and biting her bottom lip, she seemed hesitant about something else.Poe picked up on it right away. "Something I should know about?" he asked with a mouthful. He took a swig of water to wash it down while he watched his eldest twin glance back up at him with a bashful smile. "What?""There is someone I've been spending a lot of my time with lately, who I met in one of my classes this last semester."Somehow Poe seemed to understand what she was getting at, and he only slightly frowned in regard to it. "Oh? And what's his name?"Shara suddenly looked as if all the blood had drained out of her face. Considering she, like both Leia and Len, had her father's more tanned complexion, that was no small feat. "What? How did you know?"Poe snickered. "Your mother isn't the only intuitive one around here." He tapped at his right temple. "I've been around a lot longer than you. I know that look on your face. You've got a crush." With a chuckle, he brought his cup of water back to his lips but didn't sip right away. He just stared over the rim at her. "Reminds me of that singer you had moon eyes for when you were — what — eleven, twelve? What was his name?"Shara sighed with slight embarrassment. "Prizian Dee."Finally taking a sip, Poe nodded and grinned as he set the cup back down. "You begged your mom and me to take you to that concert for weeks. You promised to clean every inch of the Falcon, if I recall.""And I did," she maintained. "Sort of.""You definitely didn't make it look worse," he teased. "You were definitely meticulous. I also recall Chewie being put off by the smell inside the ship the next time he came for a visit, and then we had to explain to him that's what cleaning products smell like."Shara chuckled. "My hands smelled like those cleaning products for days afterward.""And you were miserable about it, but then you were so happy when we agreed to take you and Leia to that concert.""And it was the final show of his tour, and on Chandrila, and you pulled strings to get us backstage to meet him." Shara stared off dreamily. "It was the best night ever."Poe watched the happiness spread across his daughter's face from her memories, and it pushed aside the last remnants of his bad mood. "It made us happy to be able to make you happy." When she stared back up at him, he winked at her. "And you seem pretty happy now, too. So, who's this guy? Do I get to threaten him? Isn't that, like, a rite of passage for fathers with daughters?"Shara rolled her eyes — and there was more of the Crisara in her. "No, dad."He shrugged. "Well, if not with you, then maybe I'll get to with Leia someday.""Considering she's a little bit in love with Nik, you might get your wish.""Wait — what? What about her and Nik?" Poe immediately sat up straighter."Don't worry." Shara held a hand up toward him. "It's pretty one-sided at the moment. She's a little in love with him, but he seems to see her as no better than a sister or, at least, a friend."It wasn't that Poe didn't like the young man, and it was no fault of his own, but Poe couldn't help but associate Nik with what had happened to Crisara years ago. Nik had been given a better life at the Kenobi Academy, which helped shape him into the generally well-rounded adult he was now, but there was always something underlining with him that put Poe off. He was aware that the younger man had suffered abuse before Crisara found him, and he knew a good deal of that abuse was physical. What kind of physical abuse it was, Poe wasn't entirely sure, but he was sure Nik had buried it as deep down as it could go. Poe also knew what it looked like to look into someone's eyes and see something broken in them, and something about Nik was definitely broken. Sure, he was kind and polite, funny and charming, as well as disciplined because of his training, but Nik had his demons. Someday those demons would resurface and maybe Leia could be the one to help him with them. Or maybe those demons would cause him to take it out on her or others. Either way, Poe had his reservations.With a sigh, Poe shifted his focus back onto the object of Shara's affections. "So, who's your lover boy? Do I, maybe, know is parents?""Dad.""I just wanna know."She held her father's gaze and sat back in her chair. "His name is Zeith Grader.""And he goes to uni with you?""I mean…sort of."Poe narrowed his eyes at her. "And what's that supposed to mean?""He's not a student," she clarified. "He's a teaching assistant.""How old is this Zeith Grader?""Twenty-four."Okay, well, that wasn't too bad, Poe supposed. It was only a five-year age gap between his daughter and this…guy. "Have the two of you already started dating?""Officially? Only recently."She was not making this easy on him. "And unofficially?""Well, since he's a teaching assistant, he's not allowed to date the students 'cause it could be looked upon as favoritism, or at least it's frowned upon, but I won't be taking any classes next semester that he assists, so…it's fine now."Poe leaned forward, propping his elbows up on his desk and placing his face in his hands. "You kids really just love giving me more grey hair, don't you?""You'd love him, dad. He's kind and thoughtful. He's intelligent and funny and polite…very respectful." Shara then pointed at her father. "He voted for you twice; for your second term and during this last election. He was horrified by the Grand Plaza Attack, and delighted you survived. And, specifically, that I had also been unharmed." A small smile crept onto her face; looking as if she was somewhat lost in a daydream. "He's also really handsome and he makes me smile every time I see him, and even when I just think of him."Studying his daughter's face, he felt a small pang in his chest; realizing his little girl wasn't so little anymore. She was almost nineteen now — a young woman. "Do you love him?" he boldly asked.Shara shrugged. "I know I'm young and it might be way too soon to tell, but I feel like he might be my one and only," she readily admitted. Shifting her gaze upward at her father again, she smiled assuredly. "I mean, it's still very early days, so I'm not trying to jinx anything. I'm also not trying to rush into anything. I don't want to ignore my education or my potential, future career, whatever it may be, but when I think about my future, and when I think about having someone at my side, the way mom is at yours, I can only picture Zeith. I mean, I know things may change as time goes by, and maybe someone else will enter my life that'll eventually sweep me off my feet instead but, right now, I can't imagine anyone else, no matter how hard I try."It was quite difficult to find anything to complain about when she worded it like that. He knew Shara had a great head on her shoulders. Between both his daughters, he knew she was the one to sit and think things through more thoroughly. She was more level-headed. Poe was certain Shara wasn't the one he'd have to worry about.Leia, on the other hand, with her father's headstrong personality and her apparent moon eyes for Nik…"Well, whatever your future holds, and whoever walks alongside it with you, promise me you'll at least finish your education before you make any major life decisions."Slowly, Shara nodded. "I promise, dad." As she leaned forward and picked at the salad she'd brought with her from the restaurant, she smirked. "Speaking of you and mom, and about the future—""Yes?" he asked, apprehensively."Next month is your twentieth anniversary.""I'm well aware.""I was just wondering," she broached. "Have either of you discussed how you were planning to celebrate that milestone? Because, if not, I have an idea…"Poe narrowed his gaze at her again, but with greater curiosity. "Okay, I'll bite. What's your idea?"  After Shara had left and returned home to her apartment, about two hours later, Poe was still at his desk. However, he wasn't bothered with any work. He'd gotten that jumpstart on the next day's tasks, but then lost his ambition to continue after Shara had come and gone. Now he was just passing the time, using his resources as Governor to look into this Zeith Grader, who had a hold on Shara. He looked into the young man's records and background, he looked into his parents and siblings, and nothing spectacular came up about any of them, which was — honestly? — a breath of fresh air.Poe was pleased that his daughter had good taste. As a heterosexual man, even he found Zeith to be very attractive and could definitely understand the allure. He was tall, blonde, blue-eyed, and could have a career as a model if he wanted, but was apparently an education major at Theed University, working toward his doctorate. He even did community service because he enjoyed it and not because he was obligated to. His parents were educators, as well; his father a professor of literature and his mother a professor of archaeology, and both taught at the university in Keren, where Zeith had been born and raised. He had an older sister who was an intelligence officer in the Republic Navy, currently serving onboard the RNS Holdo, and a younger sister who was also a student alongside Shara at Theed University, but two years ahead. All in all, Poe already liked this Zeith guy and his family; on the surface, anyway.He'd want to meet the young man eventually, of course. And, if Shara wasn't pulling his leg, and Zeith really did vote for him twice, then Poe imagined Zeith would want to meet him, too."Sir, it appears someone has arrived," C-3PO announced, from one of the tall windows in the office that the droid was staring out of.Poe shifted his gaze away from the reports on the Graders he'd been digging through and turned off his portable computer. "Who?""Oh — how wonderful!" the golden protocol droid exclaimed gleefully. "It is Mistress Crisara, Master Temiri and Master Finn! They are home, sir!"Poe immediately perked up at that, as C-3PO turned to see how the Governor was receiving this good news. Abruptly standing up caused Poe's chair to skid backward a bit and then he just stood there, behind his desk, waiting. Despite wanting to, he didn't rush out of his office to greet his wife, son and friend because he didn't want to appear too overzealous.When the front door opened, Poe's heart swelled and fluttered. Then, as Crisara appeared first in the doorway of his office, he smiled warmly. "Hey you," he remarked, rather demurely."Hey yourself," she replied; her smile somehow even warmer than his.Throwing aside that need to play it cool, Poe slipped out from behind his desk and stalked right up to his wife; wasting no time at all in grabbing her up in his arms and holding her tightly against him. After the initial embrace, their lips found one another, and they both seemed to melt at the gesture. They obviously both really needed it."You were gone too long," Poe whispered into her mouth."I know," she sighed.A moment later, Temiri and Finn finally appeared in the doorway behind Crisara; purposefully having delayed their arrival in order to give the couple their long-awaited reunion without any interloping. Sensing their presence, Poe set Crisara back down to her feet and stepped away, but only so that he could pull his son into a hug, and then repeated the process with his good friend."Welcome home!" C-3PO greeted, waving one of his perpetually bent arms at the returnees.Finn grinned over at the droid but quickly shifted his gaze back toward Poe. "Well, technically, this is just a waystation for me till I get home. But it's always nice to visit."Poe scoffed at that. "You always have a home with us, buddy — either here or at the villa, or on the Falcon. Wherever we are, there's a place for you.""I appreciate that."Studying his friend, Poe found himself momentarily distracted by something that made him smirk. "When did you get grey hair? I don't remember you having it when you were here last." He reached up to touch one of Finn's greying loks, only for his hand to be swatted away."I've had grey hair for years, man. You're just too distracted by," Finn gestured to Crisara, "your wife most of the time. Who could ever hope to compete with that attention?"Crisara rolled her eyes. "Believe it or not, sometimes even I have to compete for his attention.""Bantha shit."Temiri smirked. "It's true, mom. That's bantha shit."Finn pointed at the younger man. "See?""You're always the first person he's looking for in a crowd and the person who's on his mind the most.""Oh, come on," Poe muttered, gesturing to Crisara as well. "Look at her. Can you blame me?""For Maker's sake," Crisara huffed as she reached for her husband's hand. "Anyway, it is good to be home." Her eyes lingered on his and she hoped her gaze conveyed the fact that he was also the one on her mind the most.Accepting her hand, he commented, "I thought you weren't supposed to get back for at least another three days.""She lied to surprise you," Temiri offered up; drawing his parents' attention toward him. With underwhelming fanfare, he shook his both his hands, level with his shoulders. "Surprise." There was a look in his own eyes which conveyed a hint of obvious sadness that he clearly wasn't going to address anytime soon. Then, with a tired sigh, he began to slowly back out of the office. "I'm gonna head upstairs."As the older three adults, as well as C-3PO, watched Temiri leave without another word, Poe looked between his wife and his friend with a considerable amount of concern. "Is everything okay?""He's frustrated," Crisara answered, without elaboration. "We all are."Finn nodded in agreement and frowned, while folding his arms across his chest. "We had a close call," he prefaced. Sharing a knowing look with her, he shifted his dark eyes over toward Poe's equally dark eyes. "We had our best lead yet and we missed him by a damn day. Twenty-five, thirty hours tops.""Hux?" Poe questioned, placing his hands upon his hips."Who else?""Where was he that you missed catching him?""Lianna," Crisara answered. "His whereabouts were traced to the estate of the Santhe family."Poe immediately grimaced. He was aware of that name. The Santhes were a wealthy and powerful family from the planet of Lianna who owned a munitions factory that specialized in manufacturing explosives, and were generally known to have sold a good deal of their stock to the First Order during the last war, and the generation before sold plenty to the Empire. One of their family members had even been a propaganda artist for the Empire, once upon a time. The Santhes definitely had the money and influence to help Armitage Hux's cause, whatever that cause may be. "What happened? Did you find any clues as to how long he'd been there or where he was going next?"Finn looked and gestured at Crisara. "She Jedi mind-tricked them into showing her where exactly he'd been holed up for the last few weeks. Some old hunting cabin on their property. But it wasn't any hunting cabin I've ever seen. More like a five-star resort.""He reached out to them through indirect channels and they agreed to put him up for as long as he needed it — longtime Imperial and First Order sympathizers that they are," Crisara scowled. "But he must've heard some chatter, that we were closing in, and was spirited away. Tulene Santhe, the family's youngest daughter, even without my coercion, offered up the knowledge that her older sister, Gremma, was the one who transported Hux off-world, but wasn't sure where they were heading next.""The matter's been turned over to the Security Bureau," Finn interjected; sharing a mentally exhausted look with his former master. "They're going to comb through the Santhe family's financials to hopefully discover any and all properties they own, where Gremma may have taken Hux to continue hiding him. They're also looking into the family's known associates.""And what of the Santhe family?" Poe wondered with a shrug; slipping his hands off his hips to shove into his pants pockets as he glanced between both Jedi. "Lianna is part of the Republic, so the fact that they've harbored Hux, who's galactic enemy number one, can't bode well for them."Finn smirked. "That was our one win this go-round. The entire family, except for Tulene Santhe, was arrested.""And all their assets frozen," Crisara added. She didn't seem as amused as Finn was, when she looked her husband in the eye. "Formal charges are pending in regard to the family. But, even without access to their wealth, they still have influence with other power players. No doubt they have a few judges, senators and other lawmakers in their back pockets. And, with a team of juggernauts for lawyers, who will likely find some obscure legal loophole, none of them will serve any time.""Well, you assisted in making a real dent in this manhunt," Poe insisted, reaching a hand out and placing it down upon Crisara's shoulder. "He'll be found and brought to justice — for good this time — before long.""Like he was last time?"Poe shrugged. "I didn't say anything about legal justice," he remarked, knowingly. "If there's any justice, he'll get a blaster bolt between the eyes this time." As he began to slide his hand down her arm, he slid it into her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers. "How long till you're back out there?""I'm heading back out. Gonna join Caro and Zeda," Finn answered, whether or not the question was for only Crisara or both him and Crisara; all while watching the way Poe and Crisara were only looking at each other. "The Ackbar is remaining in Naboo's orbit until tomorrow. We'll leave then. The plan is to check in with the Security Bureau and see what they found out about the Santhe's financial holdings, and go from there." Still, Poe and Crisara were just staring at each other and there was an unmistakable vibe coming off them that was hard to miss. To test if either of them were actually listening to him anymore, Finn added, "Might toss glitter in the air and dance naked through the streets as we go.""Sounds like a plan," Poe muttered. Then, suddenly, it finally registered with him what Finn had said. "Wait — what?"Finn shook his head and smacked his lips. "Like I damn well said: no one can compete for your attention when you got Crisara in front of you.""Sorry, Finn," Crisara apologized on her and her husband's behalf, and was unable to keep from smirking at the same time."It's been a long two weeks," Poe insisted. Shifting his gaze back to his wife, he added, "Too long." Stepping closer to her, he squeezed her hand and grinned. "Don't take any offense when I say this, buddy, but can you fuck off and leave us alone for, like, at least thirty minutes? You don't have to leave the house or anything, just…you can't be here in this office."Finn's only response was to shake his head again and grimace slightly, as he realized what was going through his friend's mind."You, too, Threepio," Poe continued, glancing briefly over his shoulder at the droid. "Out. Now."
"Very well, sir."
Noticing Finn's hesitation, Naboo's beloved Governor practically glared at him. "Trying to win an award for slowest exit?" he taunted, as C-3PO shuffled around the three humans to leave the office."Alright, alright. You can have your privacy," Finn chuckled. "You do whatever it is you gotta do.""My wife," Poe retorted, without hesitation or a care in the world, as he stared his friend directly in the eye. "I'm gonna do my wife.""Poe," she muttered in a chastising tone that wasn't really that chastising. It seemed mostly for show.He glanced back at her and raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, I am."Throwing his hands up as if in surrender or defeat, Finn backed out of the office and made sure the doors shut behind him. "Have fun making up for lost time."Once they were finally alone, Poe stepped away from his wife, and over toward each of the windows. He pressed a button on the sides of them that added a darkened tint to the glass panes, which prevented anyone being able to look in from the outside. The room did get a bit darker, even though it was still daylight out, but that was fine. Poe knew his way around his office even in complete darkness, just the same as he knew his way around Crisara's body. Stepping over to his desk next, he began to gather up some paperwork and a few tablets and carry them over onto a cabinet; creating a vacant space upon the surface of the desk."Sit there," Poe instructed, pointing to that particular spot."On the desk?""No, on the ceiling," he replied sarcastically.With a chuckle, Crisara sauntered over to the desk, backed up to it and then hoisted herself up to sit upon the edge. As her legs dangled down, she waited for whatever came next.Slowly, Poe stepped over toward her; grabbing her knees and pushing her legs apart so he could stand between them. "Did I tell you that I missed you?" he asked, leaning in to claim her lips in another kiss, while he languidly ran his hands up and down her thighs."Not with those exact words.""Well, I did," he replied, stealing another kiss from her; which she was more than willing to reciprocate. "I was properly miserable without you, you know. This was the longest we've been apart since…forever. I hated it."Placing her hands upon his shoulders, she began to curl her legs around him; crossing them at the ankles, just under his ass. "I missed you, too." Tipping her head upward to stare at him, her expression was both aggrieved and affectionate. "I don't enjoy waking up without you beside me.""Me neither. It's downright sacrilege."A small giggle escaped her lips. When he leaned in to nuzzle her nose with his, she dropped her hands back down to the clasps of his belt. Since he was the one that had instigated this tawdry tête-à-tête, he was quick to counter her movements by reaching for the waistband of her leggings. With a rather abrupt and jerking maneuver, he pulled the leggings down over her hips and then yanked further. Taking the hint, she let go of his belt for a moment and pushed off the surface of the desk just enough that it was easier for him to slide her leggings all the way off her ass. Looking down, she wasn't surprised but she was impressed that he'd managed to pull her underwear down with them. Stepping back a bit from her, he pulled both all the way off and dropped them to the ground."Impatient, aren't we?" she questioned, teasingly."You have no idea.""Oh, I have a very good idea." Returning her hands to his belt, she undid it with deft fingers and then lifted her legs, so she could hook her toes into the waistband of his pants. With impatience of her own, she shoved his pants down off his hips just as abruptly that they ended up falling down the rest of the way toward his ankles; once again revealing, like so many times before, that he had been going commando. "Hello there," she quipped, eyeing his burgeoning erection that was peeking out from underneath his dress shirt. As Crisara lifted her gaze back up toward his face, she saw that he was eyeing her up rather roguishly as he stepped forward between her legs again. "What are you waiting for?""Just admiring you," Poe answered, placing his rough hands down upon her upper thighs and squeezing as he parted her legs a bit further. Sliding his hands around to her hips, he pulled her even closer to the edge of the desk and began to rub himself against the awaiting heat of her womanhood. "We can make love later tonight — you know — properly, but do you mind if I just fuck you right now though?"Slipping a hand between their bodies, she took hold of his swollen manhood and began to stroke him rather lazily; causing him to instinctively buck into her grasp and groan from how lovely it felt to have someone other than himself do it. "Do you really need to ask?" she wondered.With a grin, he shoved her hand away and then lined himself up at her opening. "I was trying to be gentlemanly," he insisted; rubbing his tip between her slickening folds."I don't need a gentleman. I need the galaxy's best damn pilot to blast through my defenses."Tipping his forehead against hers, Poe let out a hearty laugh. Without another word spoken, he pushed himself inside of her and then quickly reached around to grab for her ass. In the same moment, Crisara wrapped her legs around his waist and tipped her head back; releasing a gasp of pleasure from between her lips from the initial thrust. Claiming her mouth with his, Poe moved his right hand around to her lower back to help hold her more firmly against him while he proceeded to pump himself in and out of her at an increasingly fervent pace. The entire time, she was digging her hands into his upper arms and just loving how enveloped by him she felt.She loved the warmth that emanated from his body. She loved the strength in his hands and arms as he held onto her. She loved the depths he strove to reach with each thrust, and the overall feeling of him stretching her further each time. She loved the heat of his breath against her ear and the sounds he made during sex. He tried so hard to be as quiet as possible, because of where they were, but it was very obvious he just wanted to get loud. When it was just the two of them at home, either here at the Governor's Mansion or back at the villa, in the privacy of their room, he could be very vocal. And that was just another thing she loved.And, stars above, she loved he way he could just look her in the eye, while in the throes of passion, and make her feel like she was going to be devoured. Twenty plus years on and his desire for her hadn't decreased one bit, and she loved it.She loved him.Feeling a slight ache in her back from maintaining an odd position seated upon the edge of his desk, she attempted to lean forward so she could better cling to him, but he lost his balance in the process. At the same time, he'd been reaching both his hands up to grip the sides of her face, to kiss her more fully upon the lips, and she began to topple forward as he tipped backward.With the reflexes of a Loth-cat, Crisara shot her hands out and pushed against the air around them with the Force, which softened their landing onto the floor, but not enough. Just enough that neither sustained any injuries. Though, they both had the air knocked out of their lungs for a moment, and grunted from the immediate sting of mild pain, but that pain seemed to fade quickly enough away. There had been a loud enough thud as they fell to the floor. From outside the office, it likely sounding like a heavy piece of furniture must've been knocked over. When they found their breath again, they looked at each other and began to laugh at how ridiculous it was that they'd actually fallen.As the laughter subsided, their gazes refocused more upon one another and they grew serious again. Climbing more fully on top of him, Crisara guided him back inside of her, as he'd slipped out when they'd begun to fall. Pushing himself to sit up, Poe rested his hands upon her hips as they continued where they left off. Facing each other as she sat in his lap, their bodies began to rock together as he began pounding into her in a fierce paroxysm. The frenzied movements caused her to bounce up and down on him, which allowed him to enjoy the jiggle of her breasts, even if they were hidden inside of her tunic. He could still nuzzle his face against them, which also allowed him to muffle any noises he was making.Sliding one of her hands from his shoulders, up into his hair, she arched her back and began to feel the familiar building of pressure at the base of her spine. When the same was happening for him, he hunched forward and lowered her gently back onto the ground so that he could lie on top of her, buried between her legs, and pound even deeper inside of her. Reclaiming her lips once more, Poe furrowed his brow as he concentrated on holding in the tingling sensation until he was sure she was about to come, too."Poe — I'm gonna…" she whispered; her fingernails dragging down upon his upper back.The moment he felt her body begin to stiffen, that was his cue. "Ungh. Fuck. Yes…yes…yeah…" He stopped holding back and let himself convulse against her; spilling every last drop inside of her. "Oh, hot damn, woman…"As her inner walls began to flutter around him, coming with him, she welcomed the way he seemed to curl himself around her like a vice. She'd always felt safe in his arms, but especially now, like this. A deep, elated sigh escaped her lips as she felt his full weight collapse more heavily down upon her; as if permanently pinning her to the floor. And, honestly? She'd be okay with that.With a pleased smile, Crisara turned her face and pressed her lips to his temple and kissed him. "I love you, Dameron."Lifting his head to look back at her, Poe grinned. Removing one of his hands from around her back, he brushed some of her hair out of her face and began to just stroke her jaw and cheek with his index finger. "I love you, too." He leaned in and kissed her; letting his lips linger for a good, long moment and then brushing the tip of his nose against hers. "Really missed you." With the same hand he had been stroking her face with, he slapped her hip. "Missed this, too."Crisara chuckled. "Self-satisfaction only does so much."Poe raised an eyebrow at her. "Thinking about me often these last two weeks, huh?""Always."Leaning in to kiss her again, he smiled against her lips. "Hmm…imagining you touching yourself while thinking of me makes me feel a certain way.""Well, you did tell Finn to give us at least thirty minutes alone," she countered. "That was maybe ten, right? We got time to go again, at least once more."Poe grinned devilishly. "I'm a terrible influence on you.""I'm the one with dark side users in the family. Maybe I'm the terrible influence," she joked."Let's call it even. We're both terrible influences on each other."Crisara chuckled as she attempted to sit up; pushing at his chest in the process so he'd move. After a moment, her gaze became slightly serious. "Can I ask you something?"Sitting up as well, he bent one leg at the knee and draped an arm over it. "Sure."She hesitated to speak right away. Whatever was on her mind left her looking rather curious and amused. Then, finally, she asked, "Are you wearing my perfume?""Huh?""I can smell my perfume on your shirt."Poe furrowed his brow, and then glanced down at his clothed chest. A moment later, a look of realization appeared on his face. "Oh. Yeah. I sprayed some this morning and walked into it." He gestured lamely at her. "I told you I missed you."Crisara merely smiled. "That's actually really sweet." Reaching a hand out, she patted it against his chest. "I used to spray a little bit of your cologne on your side of the bed when you were Security Chief and stuck overnight at the Palace once in a while.""So, we're definitely influencing each other. I'm not entirely sure it's all bad," he jested, sliding a hand down toward her waist. "I suppose, after two decades of marriage, and even more time knowing each other, it makes sense." With a sigh, he dragged his eyes from where his hand was, back up to her face. "Speaking of which, Shara has an idea on how we can celebrate our anniversary next month.""Oh yeah?""Yeah."She waited for elaboration and looked expectantly at him. "Well?"Poe shook his head. "We can discuss it later." He gave another slap to her hip. "Right now I want us to get back up so I can bend you over my desk and fuck you again, 'kay?"Crisara sighed. Then, without any airs, she nodded. "Okay."  In the span of another month, Crisara had only left to rejoin the manhunt for Armitage Hux once more and, much to Poe's pleasure, it was only a week this time. With no active leads to physically follow at the moment, the Republic didn't require the services of her or any other Jedi. Temiri, however, still felt a purpose in going back out, either way, and Kaydel wasn't about to tell him no.Caro was home with Zeda and Uwin, back at the Kenobi Academy in the Lake Country. Leia was still with Rey at the latter's Jedi Temple. Len was with his parents at the Governor's Mansion, instead of the villa, but that's because Shara was splitting her time between her apartment as well as the Governor's Mansion, so the youngest Dameron didn't feel alone. Not that he was alone with just his parents, but at least he had someone his age there with him so the dynamic in the household didn't feel lopsided.The reasons Shara was at the Governor's Mansion so much more was because she was finally interning with her father, but she was also spearheading an event that had been her idea, and was something her parents were rather on board for. As she'd reminded them, from the stories she'd heard told of their wedding twenty years earlier, the ceremony and reception hadn't been what they'd planned. They'd meant to get married in the back garden of the villa, where the reception was supposed to also take place. However, that had all gone to shit when Hux had caused trouble on Canto Bight. They'd ended up getting married in a thrown-together, albeit lovely, ceremony onboard the RNS Organa, which had been officiated by General Caluan Ematt, and it was followed up by a reception that was over-the-top and, honestly, far better than what they'd been planning for the villa's back garden.That reception had been thanks to Emcee — the Master Codebreaker — who had, unfortunately, passed away three years earlier due to a heart attack. He'd eventually married his female companion Lovey, and they'd even had a daughter together. Poe and Crisara had been saddened to hear about his untimely passing, more so for his daughter, who was barely a teenager at the time. However, they felt better knowing the girl and her mother would never want for anything, because of how wealthy Emcee had been; what with owning the Crescent Royale and having made a lot of smart investments over the years.Now, though, Shara wanted to give her parents the wedding ceremony and reception they'd initially intended to have. Obviously, they were already married, so this would merely be a vow renewal, but they were still looking forward to it. What with how life had been lately, they really needed something to celebrate.The day before the vow renewal, the entire family had returned to the villa — Temiri and Leia, too. Rey and Finn made the journey alongside the Damerons' youngest twin, and would be returning with her. Kes and Taya would be staying over at the villa instead of traveling from Theed the day of. Chewbacca had made his way from Kashyyyk by himself; his wife and son remaining back on their home planet. And, for the most part, there seemed to be quite a few guests who had been at the original ceremony that would be in attendance for the new one, but there were also those who wouldn't be there because they'd since passed on. Ematt, for one, had died a few years earlier.Most notably, Lando Calrissian had passed away ten years earlier at the age of eighty-eight. He'd lived an exceptionally long life for a human, and simply died of natural causes. His only regret, on his deathbed, was that he had never found his daughter Kadara. A registry had been created a few years after the First Order-Resistance War, where former Stormtroopers and anyone who had children taken from them by the First Order, or even the Empire before that, could get tested. Their blood samples would be added to a database and, if there were any matches, both parties would be notified and families could be reunited. Not everyone who had been a stolen child wanted to know where they came from, or cared; most believing so much time had passed already or assuming their biological families were either dead or wouldn't want to see what had become of their relatives. Finn had been one of those doubters, but mostly because his found family had been more than enough for him.Lando had given a blood sample and registered with his information, including who he was trying to find. However, there had never been a match. He had just assumed his daughter was already dead, or that she'd just never chosen to register, if she even knew about the registry to begin with. He preferred to think that she just didn't know. It was easier to accept that than she was dead, because what if Kadara had been one of those Stormtroopers or officers onboard any one of those Star Destroyers in the Sith Eternal fleet he'd helped destroy? How could he live with himself if he'd been party to killing his own child?Crisara had been especially saddened by Lando's passing, but she was grateful his transition into the next life had been a peaceful one. Because he'd left behind no known next of kin, he had willed everything he had between his surviving friends: Crisara, Poe, Chewbacca, Rey, Finn, and even Jannah, the other former Stormtrooper who had fought alongside them during the Battle of Exegol, and then traveled with Lando for a while after the war. Because of him, and because of the registry, she'd been able to find the family she'd been taken from. In the end, he'd been buried in his finest cape, within a gilded crypt, which Poe and Crisara hadn't been surprised by when they attended Lando's funeral on his homeworld of Socorro, in the Gold System.Crisara still wished he was still around, though.He would've been good fun to have at her and Poe's vow renewal. She knew he'd insist on dancing with her a few times during the party to follow, no matter how old he was. He would then likely regale her with amazing stories from the Galactic Civil War and probably even yet again mention how much fun he had flirting with her mom, even though he'd realized her eyes had been set upon her father, and vice versa."Like Poe, I've always been a natural flirt and will be till the day I die," Lando had said to her, during one of their dances together, at her and Poe's wedding reception at the Crescent Royale.And he had been.The day of the vow renewal, Crisara had been seated at the vanity table in her and Poe's bedroom at the villa, and she was suddenly having flashbacks to the day she married Alfic, nearly thirty years earlier. She'd been sitting at the same vanity table, with a different Leia doing her hair for her. Now it was her daughter Leia, instead of her aunt. Also, instead of her grandmother and her long-since passed friend Rani Lammu, she had her other daughter Shara, as well as Rey, Taya and Nevara. Rey and Taya had helped her get ready when she'd married Poe, so it was a weird juxtaposition of memories that Crisara was recalling.While Leia completed a simple updo for her mother, Crisara busied herself with putting on a pair of earrings and applying a bit of makeup to her face when the bedroom door opened and in walked Poe without a care. He seemed a little bit distracted as he made a beeline for the walk-in closet, but was immediately cut off by Shara, who was holding her hands up frantically."Dad!" she exclaimed, moving to stand directly in front of him, in an attempt to block any view of her mother. "You can't be in here!"Poe just stared back at her, while struggling with the cuffs to his dress shirt. "This is my room.""And mom's getting ready in here!"Shifting his gaze over his daughter's head, Poe glanced at his wife and shared an amused smirk with her. "Yeah, so?" he asked when he looked at Shara again."Uh, well," she began indignantly, "in many cultures, including our own, it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!"With a smile, he pulled her toward him and then kissed her forehead to silence her. "Breezy, the wedding was twenty years ago," he reminded her when he pulled back. "I think it's safe to say we'll be fine."Shara huffed and threw her hands in the air as she turned from her father and looked over at her mother. "I tried.""We appreciate your fervor, honey," Crisara quipped. Looking back at her own reflection, she looked upward at Leia's and reached behind her to pat Leia's hand. "Thank you." As her younger daughter stepped back, she looked over at Poe for a moment and smiled; the two of them sharing a loving look. "Could all of you give us the room?""Mom," Shara began to contend.Crisara sighed. "Sweetie, while I appreciate your dedication to tradition, this is our day, isn't it?"Shara tipped her head down. "Yes.""Alright then." Slowly, Crisara stood up and made a shooing gesture at everyone. "Let your father and I continue to be nontraditional."As the others slowly began to slip out of the bedroom, one after another, Poe grinned and shut the door behind them all and then looked over at his wife. "Happy anniversary," he remarked with a smile. Placing his hands on his hips, he watched as she sauntered over toward him. "Twenty years. Can you believe it?""I can," she nodded. "Been the best twenty years, even with all the bumps in the road.""Have there been that many bumps?""It's not the quantity of the bumps, but the quality."Poe snickered. "Yeah, okay. Then, yeah, we have had pretty significant bumps, but at least it wasn't us that was bumpy." Holding his hands out, he took hold of Crisara's as he gave her a proper once-over. She wasn't dressed as fanciful as her wedding dress had been twenty years earlier. This dressed was less ornate, and cream in color instead of white. It was more like her — ethereal in its simplicity. "We've been pretty perfect. And you look amazing, by the way."Crisara smiled as he began to step away. "And you look positively edible," she retorted as he headed into their walk-in closet. "What did you need?""Cuff-links.""Why?"He turned back around and shook his arms, causing the bottoms of his sleeves to flap around. "This is why.""Roll your sleeves up. There's no need for us to be so buttoned up." Off his raised eyebrow, she smiled again at him. "You look good with your sleeves rolled up.""Edible, even?" he teased, throwing her word choice back at her."Especially so." As she watched the way he obliged her by rolling each sleeve about three-quarters of the way up his arms, she stepped up to him and hooked both of her index fingers into separate belt loops along his waist and yanked him closer toward her. "Wanna fool around?""We have a vow renewal ceremony that starts in," he glanced at the chrono on his left wrist, "forty-ish minutes.""Sounds like we have more than enough time."Poe laughed and began to nod. "I guess it is our special day, so we can do whatever we want." Encircling one arm around her waist, he used his free hand to cup the side of her face as he went in for a deep, hungry kiss. As he casually backed her up against the wall, he grinned against her lips. "Gonna be the best anniversary yet, I think," he mumbled."The day has pretty much only just begun, too. Makes me wonder how amazing our fortieth anniversary will be," she added with a small chuckle when his tongue began to push into her mouth to graze against hers."Well, by then, it might be harder to do this," he prefaced; slowly dropping down to his knees in front of her. As he stared up at her for a moment, he grabbed at the bottom of her dress and began to lift it up. "What does this remind you of?"When he ducked underneath her dress like a kid up to no good, she expelled a quick giggle. The moment she felt his hands pulling aside her underwear, Crisara bit down on her bottom lip and was suddenly able to recall exactly what occasion he'd been referring to. "Oh—" she began to say when she felt his tongue again. Tipping her head back, she reached a hand down; feeling for his head under the material of her dress skirt. "Oh, I remember very well." Smiling, she jerked involuntarily against his mouth; practically turning to goo when two of his fingers slipped inside of her. "Trying to outdo yourself this time around?"Unfortunately, he couldn't respond with his words since his mouth was otherwise occupied.  The ceremony had been brief and to the point, but exceptionally sweet. Since they didn't need anyone to officially sanctify their union, because they'd already been married for two decades, they simply had someone assume the place of an officiant, to say a few words. That role fell upon Poe's father Kes, who stood beside his son. When Crisara entered the back garden, she was escorted by Caro; choosing him only because he'd done it twenty years earlier on the RNS Organa, and she thought it was a poignant way to recreate part of her wedding to Poe. Everyone else had already been waiting for her; family, friends and droids. As originally intended back then, Poe and Crisara stood with their guests surrounding them in a circle, where they reaffirmed their love with slightly updated vows. After they declared that they still do, Kes announced them as still husband and wife.Like the first time, Poe dipped her as he kissed her; wrapping his arms firmly around her to hold her close. They smiled upon each other as their guests tossed flower petals into the air over their heads, whooped, and clapped.As their guests stepped back to give them space, music had begun to play from a sound system Temiri and Len had installed in the back garden the day before. To keep the affair more personable and for safety reasons, they opted to not have a live band play and went with recorded music instead. Food had been prepared and catered by droids, which was mostly finger foods, and there was plenty to drink as well; finally putting to use a lot of those bottles from the collection of wine. As the first notes of the first song began to drift along the air, Poe had continued to keep Crisara in his arms as they danced together while their friends and family looked on. The entire time, though, they were only looking at each other, and it felt like they were alone in the back garden.After the initial dance, they stepped away, hand in hand, and sauntered over toward one of the small tables that had been designated especially for them, and sat down while the others began to find their own seats. As droids began to hand out glasses of wine to everyone, Poe and Crisara waited until everyone had a glass in their hand, and then Poe stood back up. Clearing his throat, he made sure all eyes were soon on him so he could say a few words.He waited for moment, and then lifted his wine glass up with his left hand; holding it level with the center of his chest as he let out a contented sigh. "I just wanna start by thanking everyone for being here for us — Crisara and me. And I don't just mean today in general. I mean at any time. Whenever we've needed a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, anything — you've been there and it hasn't ever been lost on us.""You've been there for all of us," Beaumont Kin called out, which garnered several nods and murmurs of agreement.Poe smiled a bit shyly, but appreciatively. Glancing down at Crisara, who remained seated at his side, he placed his right hand down upon the back of her neck; slowly letting his thumb graze up and down. "I know you all just got done listening to us rehashing our old vows, but I don't think I really said as much about this woman that I could." He looked up at their guests at the same moment Crisara looked up at him. "You've probably heard the story countless times over the years but, if not, I'm gonna tell it again, because apparently the one thing people know about me is that I can chat." There was some considerable laughter in response to that. "Crisara and I have been married for twenty years now, but we've been together, in one sense or another," he stole a mischievous look down at her, "about twenty-two? That sounds about right…right?""Twenty-three," she confirmed with a knowing grin. "Alfic's wedding."Mirroring her grin with one of his own, Poe let out a chuckle. "Shit, yeah — how could I forget?" Glancing back up at the guests, he continued, "So, we've basically been together twenty-three years. But the part of this story I'm trying to get at is that I've loved this woman for much longer. We apparently met as toddlers but, of course, there's no way for us to actually have any memory of that. But she popped into my life and left it again, like a shooting star, about," he paused, doing the math in his head, "thirty-two years ago. We both happened to be at the same nightclub at the same time. I was with my friends, she was with hers, and I saw her dancing in this silver, sparkly dress that was…" Poe looked back down at her; the memory coming back as if it just happened. "It was very short. It had my eyes wandering.""Have they ever stopped wandering?" his father teased, from the table where he sat with Taya.Crisara shook her head and answered for her husband. "No, they have not."There was more laughter from the guests as Poe added, "And they never will." Taking a moment to just appreciate her, he had to force himself to look back up at everyone else instead of at her. "When I saw her dancing with her friends, looking like the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, I swear I fell in love, and not because I was so awestruck by her. Something in my chest, a voice in my head, told me she was my one and only. She was the one I was destined to be with for the rest of my life. She was the one I was gonna marry. And I got up as fast as I could manage, out of that booth I'd been sitting in with my friends; shoving them out of my way so I could reach her and talk to her — to maybe get a dance out of her." Poe sighed. "But then she was gone, as if she'd merely been a hallucination. Now, this was a club with four floors, and I'd been on the third one. I was desperate to find where she went, so I hurried up to the top floor, but she wasn't there. Then I went down to the second floor, but didn't see her there either. There was a long, curved balcony that looked down toward the massive ground floor and I scoured it as best as I could. Unfortunately, I couldn't find her anywhere. She disappeared out my life and, I'm not trying to be dramatic when I say I was miserable for about a good week afterward. I'd recently joined the New Republic Navy, but was on leave during that time. I spent most of my days holed up in a small, dingy hotel room and every night I went back to that nightclub, hoping to find her again, but no such luck."Leaning back, Crisara narrowed her gaze curiously at him. "You never told me that part."Poe shrugged and smiled back at her. "I wanted to find you," he answered simply. "And I did, almost a decade later. Longest damn decade of my life in retrospect." Emotional guy that he was, happy tears began to quickly appear, lining his eyes, but he did his best to blink them away before they could fall. With a distant-looking gaze, he looked upward again, but at no one in particular. "I was on a mission with the Resistance. It didn't go so well. Lost the use of my X-wing and found myself stranded with Beebee-Ate, with no way to even contact the base on D'Qar for help. So, I thought, why not kill some time until I could formulate a plan by drinking my sorrows away in some sketchy cantina? And, I found a cantina, and it was definitely sketchy, so I sat at the bar and ordered a drink. But I was only one drink in when this hooded female walked by me and sat down in a booth a few feet away. When she took down her hood, I couldn't believe my luck." Poe decided to sink back down and sit in his chair. Setting his wine glass down, he placed his left hand on the table and moved his right hand up to the side of Crisara's face as she looked back at him. "There you were," he remarked, a bit quietly. "You came back into my life and I began to realize that voice in the back of my head, ten years earlier, had been telling me the truth. You were going to be my one and only. I know you were going through a pretty shit time then, where your personal life was concerned, and you weren't in a place to throw in with a Rebel like me, but I was willing to wait forever for you to be ready.""I think I was already," she insisted. "I was just scared.""I'm glad you eventually came around."Crisara smirked. "Kinda hard not to." She lifted a hand and patted his chest while her focus seemed to fall solely upon his lips. "You were to most beautiful man I ever saw. So charming, and funny, and kind. I hate that it took me as long as it did to realize just how much I loved and needed you. I hate that it took me as long as it did to tell you that.""Like I said, I would've waited forever. Glad I didn't have to, though." Leaning in, Poe kissed her. After a moment of just lingering there, he became increasingly more aware that their guests were still just waiting for him to continue talking. Suddenly wishing they were all gone, so he could throw Crisara over his shoulder and take her back to bed, he instead took hold of his wine glass again. "This woman, my better half and soulmate, has made me the happiest man alive. She's given me focus and more to live for each day. She calms me when I'm scared, angry or anxious. She soothes me when I'm sad, or hurt. She talks me up when I'm in doubt." He grinned mischievously and gave his wife some side eye. "She even lets me do that thing a few times a year…" Off the sounds of their children's groans, he laughed. "Go ahead and be grossed out. It's fine." His remark was lighthearted at first, but then his gaze became considerably seriously when he looked between each of their sons and daughters. "I hope all of you can know the kind of love I have with your mother; to have someone who will be at your side and love you no matter what." He focused momentarily on a distant-looking Temiri. "Or I hope you get to know this kind of love again. I hope each of you, our amazing children, can be as happy as your mother has made me. Hell, I hope the person you find is someone you can have a fantastic sex life with. I mean, we do want to be grandparents someday."Crisara placed a hand to her face and shook her head. When she dropped her hand down to her lap she stole a quick, admonishing glance at her husband before also looking over at their kids. "Just, you know…no rush. Half of you are still too young. Or underage.""Oh my stars," Shara mumbled, turning away for a moment; a little bit mortified by her father's candor."You know that's why they kicked all of us out of their bedroom earlier, right?" Leia said to her twin. "Our parents are no better than a pair of teenagers."Poe snickered and tipped his head slightly toward both his daughters. "Guilty.""Perhaps we wrap this up so our kids and our guests can eat and mingle?" Crisara suggested; rolling her eyes at him."I'll wrap you up," he whispered with a playful tone, as if it were a dare. When she just stared witheringly at him, he cleared his throat. "Right, back on track." Lifting his glass up, he emitted a heavy breath from between his lips. "To my wife, Crisara Dameron: the best there is. Thank you for your love, for making me a father, and for sharing your life with me. Here's to the best twenty years of marriage so far, and I look forward to what the next twenty — and then some — holds."When she lifted her own wine glass up, she clinked it against his, and then they both took a sip."To Poe and Crisara!" their family and friends toasted, more or less, in unison.Taking her glass out of her hand, Poe set both his and hers down on the table and then proceeded to grab her face up in his hands so he could claim her lips once more, and she was more than happy to reciprocate."Get a room!" Kes shouted teasingly.As several chuckled, Poe pulled away from his wife and stared at her. "Wanna bail out?""Maybe let's give it another hour before we leave our own party, that our daughter worked so hard to throw together for us," Crisara suggested quietly; lifting a hand to his temple and pushing aside an errant lock of his graying hair. "It is a really nice party."Poe sighed, then nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it is."While everyone seemed to shift their focus away from the couple, to go about starting conversations with one another or seeking out food to eat, Poe and Crisara just continued to stare each other down with an overwhelming amount of love in their eyes."I never knew I could be so in love, and yet here I am…" Poe continued, dropping a hand down onto her waist. "Thank you. For loving me."When Crisara suddenly stood up and grinned down at him, he dropped his arms down at his sides in confusion. For a moment he thought that maybe she was about to agree that they should bail on their own party to go screw like a pair of feral animals. However, instead, all she did was step forward a hair so she could sink down and sit sideways in his lap. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her waist and stared warmly up at her with a soft, gentle smile."Thank you for never giving up on wearing me down," she muttered, with an amused look on her face.Poe let out a short chuckle and nodded accordingly. "If you think I'm done wearing you down, then you don't know me at all." Tipping his head upward, he waited, and then she leaned down; picking up what he was putting down by kissing him. "Best anniversary yet."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"It's dark enough to see the stars
I wonder who and where we are
This solitude is all I know
And as the years pass by it grows"
— Weezer 
56 ABY — Another two months later
Eventually, Poe would fully come to realize that all those things he had been able to do when he was younger, even only five years prior, he couldn't do anymore. Or, at least, not without stretching first. Today might be that day, but there was still a considerable amount of denial.See, two days prior had been a birthday party for Shara only, because Leia still remained at Rey's Jedi Temple and decided, at the last minute, any celebratory fanfare wasn't really for her anymore. Shara, however, loved any reason to celebrate; whether it was for herself or others. Mostly for others. Introvert she may be, but she loved organizing small events or parties. It was something her parents were becoming more aware of; that maybe a career in politics or social justice wasn't exactly where she'd thrive. Maybe it would be event planning. Or maybe it could be a merging of the two, into something like event planning for political and diplomatic events; such as a coronation or inauguration, for starters.The party hadn't been a large affair, by any means. Classes were back in session for Shara at Theed University, so all her friends were back in the city and available to get together in the large, back garden of the Governor's Mansion where the party had been held. For the most part, Shara mainly kept to her friends, which were few in number. She liked to keep her circle small. Her beau, Zeith Grader, was also there, but it hadn't been the first time he'd made the acquaintance of Shara's parents. A couple of weeks after their anniversary, he'd been invited to dinner, mostly on Poe's insistence, and it was done when he knew Crisara would be home and not out in the galaxy assisting in the ongoing manhunt for Hux. And they'd immediately liked the young man. Though, on principle, Poe kept his cards to his chest in Zeith's presence because this was the young man who might very well replace him as the most important guy in her life. Maybe he was just her first boyfriend and not the man she'd marry, but there would likely be someone someday to take Shara from Poe, and that made him a little sad. Then it made him act polite but aloof to Zeith's face, only to confess to Crisara in private about how much he hated to admit that Zeith was perfect for Shara.Aside from the obviously missing Leia, the rest of their family had been in attendance. Shara had arranged the party herself, and had been such a busy body the day before and the day of, making sure everything was perfect. Only once did she had a moment where she got frustrated and hid upstairs in her room, but it more had to do with this being the first birthday she'd ever celebrated without her twin sister, and less about any organizational stress. When her guests arrived, she was ready and dressed beautifully in a simple, pale pink dress and wearing the matching necklace her father had made and given to her and Leia for their tenth birthday. There had been music, catered food and drink, and almost all the people she loved most in the galaxy there with her.Afterward, when the party dwindled and most everyone had gone home, the droids that had been set about to clean up were also busy taking down the party tents, when one of the droids had trouble carrying the collapsible chairs back into the mansion's side entrance down to the basement storage for the next outdoor event. So, Poe had the bright idea to help carrying some of those chairs, and he thought carrying four at a time was the smart thing to do. And he'd managed the feat; making two trips from the back garden into the mansion, down a flight of steps and then back up those steps to repeat the process a second time. It was only an hour later that he was mildly aware of the soreness at the small of his back, but he thought nothing of it at the time.When he woke up the next morning, his entire back was stiff and it was a chore to get out of bed. Crisara had helped him up and walked with him to the bathroom; all the while he grumbled about not being some old fool, who could walk to the bathroom on his own. So, she backed off, throwing her hands up and leaving him alone. Only then did he catch his reflection in the mirror and grimace in pain, when he knew she couldn't see him give in to it. He hated feeling this way. He hated getting old.The rest of the day he'd soldiered through the pain, pretending he was fine. He'd gingerly rubbed on some bacta gel onto the small of his back, since he couldn't reach any higher on his own and he was too proud to ask Crisara to help him since he'd made a big stink about being fine. He'd also popped a couple mild painkillers and then spent the day sitting at his desk in his home office with a chill pac precariously positioned between his shoulder blades, thanks to C-3PO's assistance and promise not to utter a word about it to Crisara. He was supposed to do some work at the Royal Palace, namely a meeting with the Queen, but he gave an excuse that he was too tied up at the moment with other work, and would have to postpone the meeting for later in the week. He sat at that desk all day; taking his meals there, and pretty much only getting up to use the bathroom.That evening, he'd spent time in the parlor with Crisara, playing a game of sabacc, which she naturally won, and then he claimed he was tired and going to turn in earlier. He had to grin and bear it when he stood up and walked out of the room. But he knew she could sense he was in pain. But, she wasn't going to say anything. She was going to wait for him to get over himself and finally admit he needed her help. So, idiot that he was, continued slowly upstairs, but opted for the easier way, by way of the elevator. He didn't even bother getting undressed, because it hurt too much. He just sat down and gently laid upon the mattress; whining quietly to himself as he pulled the blanket up stared at the ceiling.He really was tired, though, so he was able to fall asleep real easy. However, because he was stuck flat on his back, he couldn't roll onto his side, so he was snoring like a demon by the time Crisara made her way up and into their room. Not about to deal with that shit, she went and slept in Leia's bedroom instead.The following morning, Crisara had gotten up earlier than normal. She'd went and woken Len up, because they'd planned on both heading back to the villa for the day. There was simple stuff around the house there she wanted to do, as well as a meeting with Beaumont and a few of the Jedi Knights in the Council Chamber room later in the afternoon, followed by overseeing the progress of the padawans and younglings during group training exercise in the training theater. Len was just going to be part of that exercise, but he also had some regular school work he was behind on, which Beaumont had given him an extension on, so he'd be working on that in the quiet of his bedroom at the villa.When Poe woke up for the day, Crisara and Len were already gone, and he was alone in bed. He noticed his wife's side of the bed clearly hadn't been slept in, which made him wonder if she'd been mad at him about something, and that was why she hadn't spent the night in their bed together. Or maybe she had come into bed after him, got up early and made her side? It was possible. She'd done it before, though it was a very rare occurrence. She usually slept longer than he did, and the housekeeping droids typically made the bed for them.And then, that was when Poe realized he was in trouble.Forgetting that his back had been stiff and pained, he moved to sit up like everything was normal, and then yelped in pain. Tears burned at his eyes as he struggled to roll onto his side. Reaching an arm out, he slapped a button on the nightstand that was there to call for assistance. In eleven years, he'd never once needed to use it. Until now.One of the human members of his staff received the alert from the offices in the basement and came upstairs; finding him looking worse for wear."My back," he mumbled. "I can't get up on my own.""Oh — of course, sir," remarked Maris Orell, the Residence Coordinator of the Governor's Mansion.She was in charge of managing groundskeeping, housekeeping, food and beverage inventories, and any other personal care inventory, like bathroom toiletries. She took note of what the Governor and his family liked or preferred, ordered it and made sure it was always in stock. She ordered the extra food and beverage items for any and all events at the mansion, and then she even organized those events. She was quiet as a mouse, and sometimes the family forgot she was even there. She usually kept to her office in the basement, moving about the mansion to check on the state of things, like a shadow, as the Governor's Mansion wasn't just a place of employment for her and many others, as well as the Governor. It was also the official home of the Governor and his family, just as it had been for past Governors."Would you like me to call for a doctor? Or get the medical droid?" she asked, slowly helping him up to a seated position, while he groaned in pain the entire way."Don't know what a droid will be able to do for my back right now," he grumbled. "I think this might require a more sensitive touch that only an actual person can give. Maybe go find my wife for me?" It seemed it was time for him to swallow that pride."She's not here, sir. She left earlier with your son, Len."Poe nodded slowly. "Oh yeah. I forgot. They were heading to the Lake Country today." With a labored sighed, he frowned. Then, dragging his eyes up toward Maris' face, he smiled appreciatively. "Sorry about the bother, but yeah — if you could call someone for my back, but keep it, you know…""Hush hush?"He smirked. "Yeah. Thank you.""Of course, sir."Sometime later, a chiropractor arrived and found Poe once more lying back in his bed. After minor discussion in regard to what may have contributed to his current condition, the chiropractor got Poe to roll over onto his stomach and then, with Maris present like a chaperon, climbed up onto the bed, straddled Poe's waist, and assessed the problem areas. After a few twists, pops and cracks, the chiropractor climbed back down and helped Poe up to his feet. The immediate pain and stiffness was gone, but the residual aches and soreness remained."You need to take it easy the next couple of days. I'll prescribe you some pain relief medication. You only need one capsule, twice a day. Take it with food, at breakfast and at dinner, for a week. And no heavy lifting." The chiropractor wagged his finger perceptively in Poe's face. "Also, get some shoes with better support. You'd be surprised the difference proper footwear can make on your back. If the pain doesn't go away or gets worse after a week, contact me and I'll be back, and we'll discuss further options."Poe grimaced. "That's rather ominous."The chiropractor shrugged. "That's getting older, Governor Dameron.""I'm not that old.""Well, you're not that young, either. Time to start slowing down with the physical activity.""I sit behind a desk most of the time," Poe remarked."Which means your body isn't used to anything too strenuous anymore. If you're going to be more active, take it slowly. Work up to it. Don't be so gung-ho. Remember your age," the chiropractor continued. "You don't heed my warnings, it'll only get worse from here on out. You could be crippled by seventy.""Well, that's certainly a ways away.""Is it? You're fifty-four, sir. Seventy is only sixteen years away." The chiropractor pointed to himself. "I'm fifty-nine. Trust me when I say time can fly by."Poe couldn't deny that. "Yeah, I know," he sighed. "I just had my twentieth wedding anniversary a couple months ago, and it feels like it was just yesterday.""Then you see my point.""I do, and I'll do my utmost to be more mindful of my body's limitations."The chiropractor patted Poe on the shoulder and smiled. "Good to hear. And you should make appointments with me, at least twice a month anyway. Even if you're not in pain, sometimes quick adjustments can really limber you up and make a world of difference. Oh, and since you sit at a desk most of the time, watch how you're sitting. Try not to slouch. Get a pillow for the small of your back, sit up straighter. Posture is key."After seeing the chiropractor out, Poe thanked Maris again, and also asked her to keep this all to herself as best as she could for now. Soon after, he went and finally took a shower, and a hot one at that, which helped soothe those aches and pains that lingered. He dressed more comfortably than normal, and put off any work he was meant to be doing; letting C-3PO know he was taking a day of rest, so to push back any appointments he had until at least the next day. He also asked the droid to take any and all messages. This would also be a mental health day, too. The only calls he'd accept were from family and close, personal friends. Or, obviously anything that was an absolute emergency.For the better part of the day, he remained in bed, sitting upright and watching that cheesy holodrama that Crisara used to watch, off and on, with her grandmother, that was somehow still being produced. It really was a ridiculous, over the top show, but holy shit if it wasn't entertaining. After two episodes of that, and lunch, since he'd missed breakfast because of all the pain, he took a nap. And it was so nice to just be lazy for once. When he woke up three hours later, it felt like the entire day had passed him by, but it was still early enough. The sun was still out at least.When he finally ventured out of his bedroom and made his way downstairs, he ducked into the parlor and that's when he realized the pain medication the chiropractor had prescribed him, which Maris had gone and acquired for him, and then he'd taken with his lunch, already seemed to be wearing off. How was he going to make it a few more hours until it was more optimal to take another capsule. Was the dosage even strong enough? Was he immune to pain relief? Then again, it wasn't that he was feeling any sharp pain, it was just that he felt his back stiffening up once more and he was feeling little spasms in his lower back. With a huff, he slowly sank to his knees and lowered himself down to the floor to lay flat upon it. As he laid there, staring up at the ornate ceiling, he crossed his hands over his abdomen and let his mind wander for a little while.At one point, C-3PO wondered what the hell he was doing, though not specifically worded like that. BB-8, however, did word it like that when the roly-poly astromech rolled into the parlor with a series of inquisitive beeps and boops. To both, he insisted he was fine, just stretching his back out. Then, Maris appeared, to check on him before she left for the day. Once more, he thanked her and then just closed his eyes; not to nap or anything, just to rest.When he heard the front door open, followed by heavy, plodding footsteps, he opened one eye and looked in the direction of the entrance hall. With a curious raise of an eyebrow, Poe watched as his father appeared; heading initially toward his office across the entrance hall from the parlor, only to find the office empty."In here, dad!" Poe called out.Kes turned and hobbled toward the parlor. Placing his hands upon his hips, he knitted his brow together and frowned. "What are you doing on the floor?""How come you're limping?" Poe countered."I'm eighty-three and have osteoarthritis, that's why. What's your issue?"Poe smirked at his father's gruff candor. "I'm fifty-four and apparently have a bad back." He sighed and looked more directly at the elder Dameron. "I couldn't get out of bed. Maris had to call for a chiropractor to come here and help me.""Where's Cris?" Kes wondered, looking around the parlor as if his daughter-in-law would just magically appear."At the villa."Stepping further into the room, Kes walked over toward one of the sofas. "Well, you're younger so get your ass up and join me over here, because there's no way I'm getting down on the floor with you." Then, as an afterthought, he added, "Well, I could probably get down there, but then there'd be no getting back up."Gingerly, Poe pushed himself up; wincing only slightly. When he finally made it up onto his feet, he trudged over to the sofa his father had sat down upon, and took a seat beside him. "So," Poe began, "to what do I owe the honor of this visit?""Do I need an excuse to visit? Can't I just come see my only child without getting the third degree?"Poe frowned and looked at his dad. "When did you get so crotchety?"Kes leaned in, beckoning his son closer with a curl of his weathered and wrinkled index finger; as if he was about to impart a great secret. "I'm eighty-three, you dolt," he announced instead, causing his son to shake his head and let out a short laugh. "I'm allowed to be crotchety now. Once you hit seventy-five, it becomes a privilege that you can invoke. Right now, if you tried to be crotchety, you'd just be an asshole. Me? I'm just an adorable, old man with a rough exterior but clearly a soft, sweet center.""Whatever." Poe leaned back against the sofa, but made sure to prop a pillow behind his back in the process. "Seriously, though…is there a reason you're here or did you just want to shoot the shit?""Both.""Okay, so…"With a sigh, Kes reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a holodisc. "I was going through a lot of my belongings recently; stuff I want to keep or give away," he prefaced. "You get to a certain age and realize it's all just stuff and you can't take it with you, so why not figure out what to do with it while you can so your loved ones aren't left with the burden when you're gone."Poe raised an eyebrow at his dad again and looked more seriously at him. "Are you doing okay, dad?""Yeah, I'm fine. Just crotchety.""What's on the disc?" Poe wondered, gesturing at the small device.Kes set it down onto the coffee table in front of them. "I found that yesterday. Wish I would've found it two months ago. Could've given it to you and Crisara for your anniversary.""And what is it?" Poe pressed."Proof that the two of you met each other another time, after her mother's memorial at the villa but also well before you said you saw her at the nightclub."Poe was instantly curious. "I would remember something like that.""You were young," Kes shrugged. "It was about two years before we lost your mother. The only time the three of us took an actual family vacation. I'd been talking to Han about taking the trip, but not knowing where to go. He mentioned his family was going to Niamos, and invited us to join. Whether or not he'd talked it over with Leia first, we'll never know, but when your mom and I showed up with you, she didn't seem to mind one iota. The more the merrier, it seemed." Kes smiled as he watched his son's features scrunch up in thought. "It wasn't just Han, Leia and their son Ben. It was Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Crisara's grandmother Sera…and Crisara. When Han said it was a family vacation, he meant his entire damn family. That's probably why Leia didn't seem to care. What was a few more people? Of course, it's not like we stayed in the same hotel suite with them. Your mom and I had found an affordable hotel down the beach from the Solo-Kenobi-Skywalker clan. We may have stayed in different hotels, but we spent our days and evenings with them, on the beach or at restaurants, which Sera treated us all too. I'm pretty sure she was paying for the entire thing.""How come you never said anything about this before?""I forgot about it?" Kes answered simply with a noncommittal shrug. Then, with a bit of sadness, he added, "Anything in regard to your mother, I buried deep down. I tried putting it out of my mind because thinking about how I'd — we'd — lost her, just made it hurt more. Then, time passed. And, I remembered the vacation from time to time, but as with most things, the details get fuzzier the older you get. But then I found this holodisc, and I watched the footage it contained, and suddenly it brought all those details back. I remembered almost everything that happened on that trip as if it was only a year ago instead of fifty years ago.""What does it show?""Not everything from that vacation. Part of the holo is corrupted; ruined by age and how I apparently kept it poorly stored over the years. But there's one moment that's clear as day and brought a smile to my face." Turning at the waist, Kes patted his son's thigh. "What's not on it is how, for a full week, you and Crisara were practically tied at the waist. You were closer in age than either of you were to Han and Leia's son, who was probably two or three at the time. If you were six, she was about five.""I think I remember Cris telling me something about how she took a vacation with her family when she was about that age. She said that was about when Luke took a blood sample from her, to prove to himself that she was really his daughter."Kes nodded thoughtfully. "He did disappear for a day or so after we got there. Never knew what he'd been up to. Guess that's what it was about. Getting her blood tested. I do also remember him being very awkward and quiet most of the time, once he returned.""Probably 'cause he learned the truth about Crisara and was struggling with what that all meant for him.""Probably." Clearing his throat, the elder Dameron continued. "I remember one night, halfway during the vacation, Sera insisted us couples go out together, on a sort of double date. She was going to look after you kids for the evening with Chewie and Luke. Your mom and I had a great night with Han and Leia. We went to eat, went dancing, and had some drinks. When we came back to Sera's hotel suite, we were going to bring you back to our hotel, but you kids were all asleep already and Han and Leia told your mom and me to go back alone — enjoy a childless night of fun. We could come back for you in the morning. But I remember we checked in on you anyway. Sera and Ben had their own beds to sleep in, and Sera had made up a spot on the floor between both beds for you, with a few blankets and pillows to make it as comfortable as possible. But when we poked our heads into the room, all three of you kids were on the floor, curled against each other. It was the cutest damn thing we ever saw.""I wish I remembered that," Poe lamented."This holodisc," Kes said, gesturing again to the device, "shows a good time in all our lives, when life was pretty perfect." He then gestured between him and his son. "Especially for the three of us." Leaning forward, his let his weathered hand hover over the button that would play the holo in question. "I won't lie and say I didn't cry when I watched this. I did. I cried like a baby. Taya thought it was sweet — the footage, not me crying. Though, she might've thought me crying was sweet, too.""Shit," Poe grumbled. "Do I need to find tissues."Kes scoffed playfully. "Be a man and wipe it on your sleeve."With a laugh, Poe nodded. "Sure, dad." He pointed at the holodisc. "Play the damn thing already."When Kes pressed the button on the side of the device, a blue holographic image immediately shot upward at the expanse of about three feet in diameter that was, more or less, level with their faces. The image was still at first, and slightly blurred, but Poe knew his mother right away and he was already feeling the waterworks threatening to spill out."Mom," he whispered with a smile."Beautiful, wasn't she?""She was," Poe agreed. "My girls really do look like her.""Yeah, they do." Pressing the same button, the holo began to play, with sound.It showed his mother, Shara Bey Dameron, sitting on a beach, wearing a bathing suit and shoving her hand outward, clearly at his father, who must've been recording. She was laughing about something. Just behind her and off to the side, a much younger Leia and Han were visible and lounging upon a large blanket set upon a sandy beach. Leia was shown glancing briefly in Kes' direction and then looking off elsewhere as Han got onto his hands and knees, crawled toward Kes and opened his mouth wide."Ahhh!" Han exclaimed, as if he was showing off his teeth for a dentist. Closing his mouth abruptly, he grinned and then looked off camera, toward Kes, with a raise of his brow. "You gonna do this the entire time?""I'm documenting for posterity," came the voice of Kes' much younger self. "Proof that I can get off the farm once in a while.""Once in a while?" Shara repeated. "This is the first time."
"And the hope is there will be more times, hence 'once in a while', okay?"
Shara raised an eyebrow, just the way Poe was noted for. "I'll believe it when I see it," she teased."Ben! No! Don't throw sand!" Leia could be heard chastising, as Han crawled back over to his wife and was looking around for wherever their son had gotten off to.Then, there it was.Poe sat up straighter.In the background, two children ran by, laughing. One boy with dark hair, and one girl with long blonde hair."Holy shit," he mumbled.His father nodded beside him. "Told ya."The holo zoomed in and the view shifted to follow those children."Poe! Smile!" Younger Kes shouted.The boy turned toward his father and smiled wide; revealing that his two, front teeth on the bottom were missing. "Hi!" Six-year-old Poe called out as he waved. Reaching his little hand out, he grabbed for the girl and pointed toward his father. "Say hi, too."The girl turned, revealing it to be a five-year-old Crisara. Her smile was small and a little shy. "Hi!""Introduce yourselves. Pretend you're on a holoshow," Younger Kes urged.Little Poe walked forward in the sand and made his eyes widen, then wiggled his hips, which made Little Crisara laugh. "I'm Poe Dameron, and I'm a pilot and I fly around the galaxy shooting the bad guys.""Thanks for keeping us safe, kid," Han quipped from the side, somewhere.Pulling Little Crisara over to him, Little Poe slid his arm around her shoulders. "This is Crissy. She's my wife."Poe leaned forward and pressed the button on the device to pause the holo. "The fuck did I just say?" he asked with a laugh.His father grinned. "Yeah, I thought that was funny when I watched this the first time, too." Leaning forward as well, he pressed the button to restart the holo. "Just watch.""Your wife, huh?" Younger Kes questioned with a chuckle in his voice. "I don't remember a wedding.""We didn't have one. We just decided," Little Crisara explained, matter-of-factly; her own voice small and adorable."Oh yeah? Does your grandma know about this?" Leia asked, looking over her shoulder toward the two older children, while she wrangled a three-year-old Ben into sitting down on the blanket with her. "I think she might have some concerns. For starters, you're far too young. Where will you live?""In my bedroom," Little Crisara continued."You're both going to live in your bedroom?" Shara wondered, curiously, and with a grin."No," Little Crisara answered, as the dark-haired former Rebel pilot was insane. "He has his own bedroom at your house."Shara nearly fell back, laughing. "Oh, of course.""Husbands and wives live together, though," Younger Kes interjected."We will," Little Poe insisted. He looked at Little Crisara and pointed at her. "She said she had a dream about it."Poe, once more, paused the holo. He paused also; going over what his younger self had once again said. "She had a dream we would be married, when she was five," he clarified. Turning, he looked at his father with clarity. "Crisara had a vision of us. That's what that was about.""I think Leia realized that, too." Kes nodded and gestured up at the stilled holo. There, in the corner, where Leia was briefly shown, she seemed to be looking downward in quiet contemplation, but in a thoughtful manner. "Knowing what Crisara is capable of now, and knowing that her daughter Adera had a vision at about the same age, and Crisara's mother had some vision of Crisara's future, and then your Leia's vision about the attack your inauguration, I was able to figure the same thing out when I watched this.""Is there more to this?" Poe gestured at the holo."You paused it. You tell me."Leaning forward once more, Poe unpaused it and the holo began again; quickly becoming even more engrossed with everything he was watching.Nothing more seemed to be said on the matter, in the holo. All the adults were seemingly glancing at one another; not saying anything except with their eyes. Meanwhile, Little Poe began to run away, but he'd grabbed onto Little Crisara's hand and was dragging her along with him. As they neared the shoreline, where the water was lapping at their toes, Kes' younger self zoomed in on them again and the holo showed Little Crisara tapping Little Poe on the shoulder and then running a few feet away. She seemed to be egging him on to chase her. So he did. When he reached her, he slapped his hand at her arm, causing them both to giggle, and then he ran away and she followed him. They looked as if they were suddenly playing a game of tag. Then, just before the holo began to drift toward the others, Little Poe could be seen shoving Crisara pretty roughly onto the ground, but then dropping down beside her almost immediately and looking worried; as if he realized he'd been too rough and she was going to cry and get him in trouble. But, instead, Little Crisara looked as if she was saying something to him. Off Little Poe's nod, she leaned forward, smushed his face in her hands, which made him giggle, and then she kissed him very quickly on the lips. With the swiftness of youth, Little Crisara jumped up to her feet and immediately ran away from him; leaving Little Poe just kneeling there for a moment and looking confused. After the holo showed him grimacing and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he stood up and took off in wherever direction Little Crisara had gone. Laughter from Younger Kes could be heard, from having witnessed all that go down between both kids."Oh, yeah, she's got her hooks in him. He just doesn't know it yet," Younger Kes was muttering."Who doesn't know what now?" Shara had asked her husband as the holo panned back over to her.
"I'll tell you later, babe."
And then the holo stopped; automatically folding up and disappearing down into the holodisc.Poe sat back; bringing a hand up to his mouth and just staring forward. His gaze was unfocused. He was lost in his thoughts — that much was obvious. As he pulled his bottom lip inward and began to chew on it, he seemed to be holding in some feelings."You alright?" Kes asked."She was my first kiss," Poe muttered, reflectively. "She's thought, for years, that her first kiss was her own cousin. But it was me. All this time." An inspired smile began to spread across his lips. "She was my first. And she'll be my last." He glanced at his father. "My beginning and my end. Bookends."Kes nodded. "When you brought Caro to me, all those years ago, to look after him — when I realized who Crisara was — I didn't remember this vacation. It happened not long before your mom got sick and I just sort of blocked all of those memories or pushed them down, because thinking about the happy times made me sad or angry that there wouldn't be more happy times with your mom. But, I didn't need to see this holo to know that about you and Cris. I remembered when you were toddlers, and how enthralled you seemed to be with each other already by then, even if it was for only an afternoon and evening. I saw you two together back home on Yavin and I knew. There was something between the two of you that would always stand the test of time." Reaching a hand up, the elder Dameron placed it down upon his son's upper back and gripped lightly at the back of his neck. "Sometimes you can just tell two people are meant to be. Destined, even.""I know that even more now."With a smile, happy that his son was so lucky in love, Kes smiled. But then the smile faded when he placed his other hand to his forehead, grimaced, and then groaned a little. "Ah, dammit.""You okay, dad?""Yeah, just…I've been getting headaches lately. They're annoying.""Do you want anything for it? We have a med droid here that can dispense a mild pain reliever, if you need something.""No," Kes assured. "It'll pass soon enough. It comes and goes.""It's not anything serious, is it?""Just old age, I think."Poe frowned. "Have you seen a doctor lately?""Pfft, no. They'd just hand me a prescription of whatever your med droid could give me and tell me they'll see me in six months. And, at my age, what does it matter if it's serious? I've had a good run." Kes gestured up and down at himself in general. "I have arthritis, headaches, double vision and numbness along the right side of my face sometimes. These things happen when you get older.""Sounds like you need to see a doctor.""The only doctor I'll be seeing is the medical examiner when I'm dead and they sign off on whatever my cause of death is."Poe groaned and rolled his eyes. "You're impossible."Kes shrugged. "Meh."The sound of the front door opening, followed by gentle footsteps, quickly caused Poe's attention to slip away from his father when he caught sight of Crisara walking past the parlor. "Cris!" he called out; watching as she began to backtrack. When she stopped in the doorway between the entrance hall and the parlor, he watched the way she smirked at father and son. "You're back early.""Not really," she replied. She smiled warmly at her father-in-law. "Hey, dad," she greeted him affectionately, the way she had since she married Poe. "Always a nice surprise when you stop by.""Gotta keep you all on your toes," Kes quipped."Are you staying long? Wanna stay for dinner?" she asked, leaning against the frame of the door and folding her arms across her chest. She was acutely aware that Poe was standing up, albeit slowly, and with a slight grimace from residual pain still in his back. "Did you come here on your own or get dropped off?""Nevara brought me after she got home from work at GOFOY. I had something to bring you and Poe." He pointed down at the holodisc. "And I could definitely eat.""Well, if Taya isn't expecting you home anytime soon or at all tonight, you're more than welcome to stay the night. You have your pick of bedrooms because it would just be Poe and me here."Furrowing his brow, Poe stepped closer to his wife. "Len didn't come back with you?""He stayed with Caro at the villa. Apparently he's behind on classwork with Beaumont, who was kind enough to give him an extension, so he's going to burn the midnight oil on that tonight there, so he can get it handed in first thing tomorrow without having to add in travel from here to there." She focused her blue eyes upon her husband, and studied the look on his face that seemed to convey he had a secret up his sleeve, or something similar. "What?""Nothing," he lied."How's your back?""Better than it was. Maris got a chiropractor for me."Crisara rolled her eyes and pushed off the door frame. "So when I suggest you get a doctor to look you over, I'm being a nagging wife, but when someone else suggests it, you're down?" She gazed almost accusatorily at him. "What gives?""I'm sorry I was a stubborn twat," he muttered, stepping in front of her and placing his hands on either side of her face. "I'm miserable when I'm in pain and I didn't mean to take any of it out on you yesterday." As he brushed her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs, he leaned his face a bit closer to hers. "I completely understand your need to sleep elsewhere last night. I hate that I drove you out of our bed because of how I was."Crisara scoffed. "Your sour attitude wasn't what drove me away."Poe leaned back. "Then why—""When I came upstairs, you were on your back and out cold. And you were snoring louder than a Wookiee. I wasn't about to make you roll over to stop the snoring, because you finally looked comfortable. So I slept in Leia's room so I could get some sleep. That's all." She smiled amusedly at him. "You give yourself entirely too much credit."As his eyes scoured almost every inch of her face, Poe leaned in again. This time, though, he continued until his lips were pressed against hers. "First kiss, last kiss," he whispered into her mouth."What?" she asked; confused."I'll explain it later," he insisted. "Better yet, I'll show you.""Your father is right here."Poe chuckled. "Get your mind out of the gutter, woman. I mean literally show you. Dad brought a holo of something from our past you'll want to see.""Oh?"With a nod, Poe smiled and claimed another kiss from her. "Now just shut up and let me kiss you some more before the three of us get ready for dinner."Perfectly content with that, Crisara threw her arms around his shoulders and began to kiss him back. "Yes, sir."  Just before sunrise the following morning, Poe and Crisara were woken up by someone banging on their bedroom door at the same time both of their comlinks were buzzing on their respective nightstands."What the actual fuck? Are we under attack?" he mumbled, raising his right hand and slapping it lightly upon his face. He felt the bed move beside him and looked over his shoulder to see Crisara sitting up as she turned on her bedside lamp. "How early is it?""Early enough," she answered with a yawn.The banging on their bedroom door resumed.
"Governor."
Poe and Crisara both looked at each other and their hearts seemed to leap into their throats.It was Captain Betal.What was Naboo's Security Chief doing inside the Governor's Mansion, banging on their bedroom door, at this hour?Fumbling as quickly as possible, Poe slipped out of bed and hurried over to the door; leftover aches and pains in his back be damned. Something serious had clearly happened for Betal to be here in this capacity. As he threw the door open, Poe found Betal frowning back at him, while C-3PO was shuffling slowly toward them, from a few feet away. At the same moment, Kes appeared in a pair of pajamas Poe had lent him the night before; looking confused by the racket."What's happened?" Poe asked; getting right to the point."There's been an accident."Both Poe's and Crisara's blood seemed to run cold. "What kind of accident?" Crisara asked, grabbing for her robe, slipping it on and tying it around her waist."No one has died," Betal prefaced."But someone was hurt," Poe was able to deduce.Betal nodded. "It's Len."Husband and wife looked at each other with fear in their eyes. No parent wanted to ever hear this kind of news. "How serious is it?""He was brought to Theed Hospital less than an hour ago. When the two of you weren't answering your comms, I was contacted and I came right here," the Security Chief explained; trying to express, with her face, her compassion for both parents. "I don't know the extent of his injuries. I came right here to get you." She gestured over her shoulder. "I'll wait for the two of you to get dressed and escort you to the hospital myself."As if running on autopilot, Poe shut the door in Betal's face, but not to be rude or anything. He was just lost in the worst case scenarios suddenly playing on a loop in his mind. As he looked over at Crisara, she was already darting into her wardrobe to find something easy to throw on while he felt like he was gliding without direction, like in a dream. Absentmindedly, he picked up the shirt he'd been wearing the night before, that he'd discarded upon the chaise at the end of their bed and began to pull it on over his head."How bad do you think it is?" he wondered; trying not to go there, but still doing it. "He's not dead, but what if he's dying? What if whatever happened to him, there's no saving him?" Glancing at Crisara with tears in his eyes, he silently implored her to say something, since she'd been too uncomfortably quiet for his liking. "Do you sense anything?"With pursed lips, she practically scowled at him, but it wasn't because of him. It was just how she was trying to process whatever was happening at the moment. "He's not dead, and I don't feel him slipping away from this life," she answered as she stepped more fully back into their bedroom; dressed simply in an over-sized knit sweater that was actually his, and a pair of leggings. As they both moved around to put some shoes on their feet, she added, "We'll know more when we get to the hospital."  Outside Len's private hospital room, Poe and Crisara stood in front of a medical droid assigned to their son. They hadn't been in to see their youngest yet, but had been informed about the details of his accident by an officer in the Royal Security Forces. Apparently, Len had been piloting Caro's starship, which Caro had purchased the year before after turning twenty-five and coming into his inheritance from his great-grandmother Sera. The starship had been making a descent a little too quickly, and Len hadn't been able to stick the landing; something to do with it being too dark for him to find a spot to land safely. The ship crashed into the hillside far above the villa, taking plenty of trees down in the process and nearly totaling the ship at the same time. Len and another padawan had been on board, clearly having been on some sort of joy ride together. The other padawan, an eighteen-year-old Togruta male named Kelda Jinilli, and Len had both only sustained minor injuries.Kelda broke a leg, and had a nasty cut across one of his two montrals, as well as a few other smaller cuts and bruises. Len broke his right hand and arm, and also had several cuts and bruises along his face and neck. Both were also concussed, but they were alive and would heal. That's what was important.After Poe and Crisara had been given that rundown, Poe's fears turned to anger. He dismissed the med droid and practically growled when he turned toward his wife. "What the fuck is wrong with that boy?!" he shouted, not caring if anyone else heard him; especially their son, in his hospital room. "He never fucking thinks! He's reckless and irresponsible and…" He huffed. He was feeling Crisara trying to push a sense of calm in his direction by way of the Force but he threw his hands up. "No. Don't. I want to be angry right now. I get to be angry about this and not placated by your abilities, so stop it." He pointed brusquely at the hospital room door. "I'm done. I've reprimanded him and grounded him so much in the last few years and still he makes shitty decisions. I am done. You can give him whatever punishment you see fit to divvy out." He leaned closer into his wife's personal space and glared. "I'm fucking done."Without another word, and without allowing Crisara to get one in, Poe turned and stormed off down the hall toward…who knows where.Closing her eyes, Crisara tried to center herself and draw on the Force to achieve enough calm inside for both her and Poe, even if he wasn't present to bask in it with her. Exhaling a steadying breath, Crisara quietly made her way into the hospital room, where she was immediately greeted by the sight of her youngest son staring back at her with tears streaming down his face."I'm sorry," he blubbered.Like a typical mom, who was used to being the good cop to her husband's bad cop, Crisara frowned and plastered a look of empathy upon her face for her son. Slowly, she stepped over toward his bed and sat down beside him; the side he had a cast upon his entire right arm, which was strapped across his chest with a brace. Reaching her right hand across to his left leg, she leaned closer to him. "I know you are," she finally replied. "But, Len — what were you doing this time? Why did you take your brother's ship?""I was…" Len swallowed back a lump in his throat. "I wanted Kelda to think I was…I dunno…"Crisara narrowed her eyes and peered somewhat into her youngest's mind, and he didn't bother to push her out. "Oh, Len," she muttered with a ghost of a smile. "You like him and wanted to impress him."Len attempted to shrug, but he was sore from his injuries. "We were talking last night about flying, and then about how my dad is the galaxy's best pilot, and then I may or may not have bragged about being taught by dad how to fly the Millennium Falcon so anything else was a piece of cake. And then Caro's ship was so shiny and new, and I thought…I could fly that. Easy. And Caro wouldn't mind. I could take it out and be back before he woke up, even if he did mind. He wouldn't get mad about it or anything.""He'll be mad now," Crisara countered. "The ship is as good as totaled. He's barely had it a year, Len.""I'll fix it.""With what money?""I can earn it. I'll get a job."Crisara stared witheringly at her baby boy. "You know damn well I'll foot the bill. Don't worry about that. But you will be forever indebted to your brother and will make it up to him however he sees fit."Len nodded. "I know." Then the tears began to fall again. "I didn't mean to crash. It was just so dark. I overshot and missed the landing zone. And I was coming in too fast, so I had to pull up, but I didn't pull up hard enough and then we hit the hillside." Len wiped his tears away with his good hand. "I must've passed out. I don't remember being brought here. I just woke up and was in a hospital bed and some med droid was setting my arm and it hurt like a bitch.""I bet.""Is Kelda okay?"Crisara smiled softly. "We haven't seen him yet, but we know that he's okay. He broke his leg and has some cuts and bruises but, like you, he'll heal.""He's going to be leaving for Aunt Rey's soon. I just wanted to spend time with him.""Pretty sure you left a lasting impression," she attempted to tease her son. She knew he was silently berating himself; that he hated himself for what he'd done. So, what was the point in making him feel worse right now?"The, uh, reason I was coming in too fast for the landing is because I was distracted.""That's pretty obvious. You were taught how to fly by your father. You've known how to take off, fly and land with expertise for years now." Tilting her head to the side, she peered curiously at him. "What distracted you?"Len began to smile a little, through the pain. "Kelda kissed me.""Oh?"With a nod, the seventeen-year-old Dameron nodded. "It was my first kiss."With a sigh, Crisara leaned back and then smiled as well. "How was it?""Pretty awesome." His gaze was a bit distant and wistful for a moment. Then, with a sigh of his own, he added, "Awesome enough that I got distracted and crashed." Eyeing his mother shyly, Len frowned; as if he was preparing to be physically slapped. "How angry is dad? I heard him, out in the hall, but it was kind of muffled.""I won't sugarcoat it. He's furious with you. He just…" she trailed, choosing carefully what she was going to say. "We just don't understand why you make such poor decisions. You're a smart kid. You have so much potential, and you just waist it being reckless and irresponsible.""I know.""Then why be that way, if you know what you're doing?" When he shrugged, as any typical teenager would, Crisara shook her head. "We won't discuss it right now. Right now, you just focus on resting. Obviously, if you were out gallivanting in your brother's ship all night, you haven't slept yet, right?""Yeah.""Alright, then. Rest. Get some sleep. Focus on healing," she continued, patting his left leg gently. "You'll likely be kept here most of the day, or until tomorrow morning at the latest, is my guess." As she moved to stand up, she leaned forward and kissed her son on his forehead. "Please stop scaring us to death with your behavior. For a moment we really thought you might be dead this time.""I'm sorry," he whispered.When she stood up straight, beside his hospital bed, Crisara let the fingertips of her right hand graze the thin, hospital blanket that was draped over his lap. "You know, even with all the other reckless shit you've done, this is the first time it's ever put you in the hospital," she remarked with a shrewd gaze. "Let's have this be the last time, yeah?""Yes, mom."Crisara smirked appreciatively at his avowed compliance and glanced thoughtfully around his hospital room. "The only other time we were here with you, not specifically in this room, was when you were born." She looked back at him then. "You were a big baby. A real, literal pain to push out. Suppose it should've been a sign of things to come," she teased. "But you were so beautiful and amazing, and your father and I were instantly in love with you. And we still love you, no matter how much you piss us off, scare us or give us more grey hairs. You're our son, our last baby and, no matter how angry your father gets, we won't ever not be there for you when you need us."With one last kiss to her son, upon his cheek, Crisara patted the other side with her hand and began to walk away toward the door. When she glanced briefly over her shoulder, she saw the way Len was staring off toward the window, and how his gaze was angled upward toward the sky. She could feel where his thoughts were taking him; beyond that sky, above those clouds, into the serenity of space. She could sense the calm those images in his mind brought him, and it allowed her to realize some things about her son.Wordlessly, she left the room and slipped back out into the hallway. Wiping at a tear she hadn't realized had been falling, until she felt it curl around her jaw, Crisara let her gaze wander toward the ground as she began to walk. After so many feet, she became aware of Poe's presence and drew her focus back upward. He had just turned the corner and was making his way over toward her, and he seemed considerably calmer than before.Small blessings, she supposed.Poe sighed; looking a bit remorseful. "How's Len?""Oh, so you do care?" she questioned with a stern gaze; obviously knowing he did, but needing to make him grovel a bit for how he got in her face with how angry he was earlier. "I thought you were, and I quote, fucking done."He frowned and reached a hand out; curling his fingers around the bottom of the sweater she was wearing — his sweater — and pulled her closer to him at the same time. Tipping his face down, he whispered. "I'm sorry about that.""There was no reason to shout like that. He didn't hear what you said but he heard your tone. He knows what he did, and he hates himself for it, Poe," she remarked, swatting his hand away. "He was distracted and made a mistake. He didn't do it on purpose."Knitting his brow together, Poe clenched his jaw and looked her in the eye. "You're too lenient. All he does is make mistakes, Cris. He's seventeen, almost an adult. Sooner or later he needs to grow the fuck up.""He was trying to impress Kelda," she interjected, folding her arms across her chest. "All his life he's listened to the stories of how amazing a pilot you are and he just wants to be like you. He's trying to prove to himself, and to you, and to everyone, that he can be just as amazing as his dad. But he got distracted.""Kelda said whatever happened was his fault." Poe huffed and gestured over his shoulder. "That's where I went. I went to check on Kelda. He's fine. He says he's to blame for the crash."Crisara, despite the tenseness of the conversation, smirked. "Our son has a crush on Kelda, and probably has for a while. And Kelda kissed him during their descent. Add in that it was darker than Len's used to when he normally lands…"Poe considered this. "First kiss?" he wondered."Apparently so.""Well, yeah, I suppose that would be pretty distracting…but that's no excuse," he maintained. "If he wants to be able to fly — anything — he has to be able to land no matter the distraction. He needs to be able to tune out everything else and focus on what's important — like landing a damn ship and not almost getting himself killed."Turning from her husband, she shook her head and let out a small chuckle as she began to walk away. "Like you've never been distracted and crashed ships before? I've seen some of your landings, Poe. You may be the best pilot, but you're not always the best lander.""Hush your mouth, woman. I have a reputation to protect."As he sidled up next to her, she paused and looked him directly in the eye again. "The only reputation that should matter is that your son knows you love him no matter how reckless he might occasionally be, and that you're the best dad you can be," she insisted as she started to walk again.Poe was realizing she was trying to lead him back toward their son's hospital door. "I know," he assured. "And I do love him. With everything I have in me. But right now I'm still angry and if I talk to him, I'm gonna say things I won't be able to take back." Pinching his nose with his index finger and thumb, Poe closed his eyes. "I'm gonna go to my office at the Palace. It's closer to the hospital than the Mansion, in case anything changes." Dropping his hand, he reopened his eyes and began to look upon her once more. "I passed a doctor, not just a med droid, outside Kelda's room. He says both boys should stay overnight for observation, but they can leave by tomorrow morning. So, I'm going to focus on work." Poe was immediately aware of the disappointment in his wife's face. "Don't look at me like that. Please. I can't talk to him right now. I will, just not now.""Fine.""Ugh, don't say it like that. It means you're not fine.""Of course I'm not." Stepping over toward him, Crisara placed a hand upon his shoulder for a moment, and then gave his face a brief but gentle slap. "One of these days I get to be the bad cop."Poe frowned; looking dejectedly at her. "Is that what I am?"She didn't answer his question. "I'm going to go check on Kelda for myself," was all she replied with before silently walking away.  Len and Kelda had been discharged the following morning from Theed Hospital but only Crisara had shown up to retrieve them. She brought them back to the Lake Country, ushering Kelda to head directly to his bunk room to rest and contemplate his part in the crash while she sent Len up to his bedroom in the villa. Caro was waiting for her outside on the front, tiled patio. He didn't seem to care one iota about his ship. His only concern was about his brother, and it warmed her heart that he was able to maintain such multitudes of affection. He was exactly as she'd hoped he would always be: kind, loving, well-rounded…to name a few qualities, but certainly important ones. She had assured him that his little brother would be fine, physically, but there were other issues that would need to be dealt with sooner rather than later. When Caro asked how Poe was, she didn't need to really give her eldest, natural-born son a verbal answer. One look said enough.Since she had decided to remain at the villa for the time being, Caro had taken Uwin and gone to Theed to oversee the branch of the Kenobi Academy in the capital city. He resumed the use of his bedroom at the Mansion while Uwin was allotted use of Temiri's room for the time being since, after Shara's birthday party, Temiri had once again rejoined the manhunt for Hux. Crisara was acutely aware that Zeda had left for Theed shortly after Caro and Uwin had, to offer her assistance in instructing the padawans and younglings. However, Crisara was certain the young, Umbaran woman was primarily there to be close to Caro. It was something that brought a smile to the aging Jedi Master's face during a moment in time where she found herself frowning more.In the entire week since Len's discharge from the hospital, she'd talked to Poe, and he'd asked how Len was doing, but still wouldn't talk to their son, one-on-one. Because of the ongoing silence, she could feel her youngest growing resentful. Finally, Crisara had enough of the bantha shit. She contacted Poe and gave him a succinct message: get your ass to this villa and have a conversation with your son or I will gut you from groin to gullet.Two hours later, Poe had arrived to the villa like a dog with its tail between its legs.He greeted his wife with a kiss, but she'd turned her face too quickly and he ended up planting his lips clumsily upon the corner of her mouth, instead of full-on. It was just further proof that she was still upset with him, and he hated it. He hated that he was disappointing her. He hated that he was apparently failing his son. He couldn't think of anything worse than failing as a husband and a father.Poe wasn't sure what to say to her. It was possibly one of the first times in his life, if not the first time in his life, that he was at a loss for words. He'd always been able to charm his way out of situations like this, but he was fairly certain this was something new. So, he waited for her to say something.Anything."So," she began to say, finally cutting into their awkward silence, "it took me threatening your life for you to come and talk to your son?" They were standing in the center of the grand foyer, facing each other. As her blue eyes stared into his brown, it was like she was looking directly into his soul, judging it and finding him wanting. "What if something had happened in the last week? What if Hux or his precious loyalists had somehow managed to target this villa or the Governor's Mansion, or wherever Len would be, and the last things he heard his father say about him were in anger? Is that the legacy you'd want to leave behind, Poe? To be someone who holds a grudge against his teenage son?""Of course not," he insisted. "But, considering how many times he's been careless with any mode of transportation or, more importantly, his life — I'm not justified in my anger? I'm not allowed to be upset?" Poe tapped his chest as he stepped closer to her; feeling a swell of indignation. "How many times do we have to worry about him pulling another stunt like this? How many times have we been through this? We reprimand, we ground him, he promises to be good or do better or behave, and then the cycle repeats. And you say I'm the bad cop. Well, someone has to be, because you're too soft on him. You're—""I'm what?" she dared, folding her arms across her chest.Poe sighed; feeling as if he was going to instantly regret his word choice. "You're a pushover."Crisara blinked.The longer she stared at her husband, the more he felt like she really was going to gut him from gut to gullet."I don't mean it as an insult," he attempted to placate, when she remained silent. "I just…I think nothing we do is getting through to him. You're too soft on him, I'm too hard. Maybe we do change places. You go be the bad cop. See if you like it. I sure as shit don't." Poe gestured at her. "You seem to think I do.""You don't know what I think.""No, I don't," he agreed. "But you know things. You can see into my head if you wanted to. You can see into Len's. I can't. I can't understand what goes through his mind and makes him do the things he does. I'm not like you. I'm not special. I am just a regular angry dad, apparently, who can't understand his son and is failing him no matter what I do. I can't do anything right. I can't keep anyone safe like you lot can, I can't protect my family or my people and I'm scared the next time something like this happens with Len, it'll be the last time, because he'll die. And I can't…"Poe teetered on his feet. Taking a few steps back toward the stairwell, he reached for the bannister and sat down on the third step. Leaning forward, he placed his face in his hands. His heart suddenly felt like it was racing, his breathing felt more labored and there was a very distinct numbness spreading in his hands and down his legs. It felt like he was dying.Crisara crouched down in front of him; immediately concerned. "Breathe, Poe," she urged, placing her hands upon his knees.He hadn't even realized he wasn't. Tipping his head upward, he let out a gasp and then the flood of tears came. "I…" he wheezed. "I can't breathe."Pushing his legs apart, Crisara knelt down upon the first step and threw her arms around his neck and pulled up against her. "You're fine. You're okay. You're having a panic attack.""It feels like I'm dying.""It'll pass," she assured. "Just take deep, slow breaths." She turned her face and kissed his cheek; dragging one hand up into the curls on the back of his head and guiding him to rest his face down against her shoulder. With their chests pressed together, she added, "Feel my heartbeat and follow suit. Feel the calm." Closing her eyes, she took that Force that surrounded all of them at any given time, and flowed through them, and pushed it outward, like blowing a bubble, to encompass it around him like a hug. She could feel his heartbeat steadying out and his breathing beginning to slow. "That's it."Poe sniffled; slowly lifting his face up, but not looking at her yet. "I don't mean to be so angry with him. I swear I don't. His actions just scare shit out of me. I feel like this is payback for all the shit I put my dad through when I was Len's age. Our son's choices scare me because I fear the worst possible outcome, and I process that fear into anger because it's easier.""I can understand that," Crisara muttered; gently running her hands down the sides of his face, in an almost massaging manner, as she simultaneously scratched at his beard.Tilting his head to the side, he closed his eyes again. He could feel the tingling in his hands and his legs starting to fade; the numbing sensations finally going away. "This is why you're the good cop," he quipped. "You're better with the softness, the gentleness.""Such is the curse and the blessing of being a mother."Finally looking her in the eye again, Poe pouted. "I'm so sorry I've stayed away, that I've avoided having a conversation with Len."Crisara leaned back. "Don't apologize to me. Apologize to him, and then let him apologize to you, but listen to him. I think he has a lot to say, but isn't sure how to say it." Seeing the inquisitive look take place upon her husband's face, she moved to stand up — slowly, because kneeling on the step had ached —and then stood before him and frowned. "I can sense yearning from him. He wants something, but he's nervous to talk to us about it. I think he's not sure what we'll think.""Do you know what it is?" Poe asked; looking up at her as he stretched and curled his fingers inward, a few times, to shake away the residual tingles."I didn't want to pry. His private thoughts deserve to stay that way until he's ready to open up." Holding her hand out to him, she waited until he accepted and then helped him back up to his feet. "You should be the one to talk to him. Assure him he can tell you anything without you flipping out."Poe frowned. "It's not like I lose my shit no matter what he says or does," he countered. His chest still felt a bit heavy, from the hyperventilating. Placing his free hand against his chest, he leaned his forehead against hers. "He's my baby boy. I just want the best for him.""Tell him that. Not me."  Poe had gone upstairs to the master suite to wash his face first and work up the nerve to talk to his son. He promised he would do it, and he was going to. He just needed a few moments alone; to clear his thoughts and then work through what he wanted to say, and as calmly as possible, beforehand. Crisara had obliged him and took her leave of him in the grand foyer; deciding to make herself scarce by heading into the home office. She tried to find something to do, to keep herself occupied.She cleaned the clutter on her desk. She stared out the window, watching some birds fluttering between the trees. She meditated.She even sat on the sofa and studied every inch of the painting above the fireplace's mantle of the four rings overlapping each other that represented her grandparents, her mother, and then her. Blue for Obi-Wan, Crisara had learned, because of his lightsaber color. Yellow for Sera, because of her blonde hair. Green for Adamé, simply because it's what happened when you mixed blue and yellow together. Crisara was teal, and she'd never understood why. Her grandmother had never known either. Perhaps her mother would appear and explain it to her one day, either in this life or once she had also passed on to the other side.Crisara was in that office for quite a while when she felt a change in the air — resentment, hostility.Then she heard the shouting.Releasing a sigh of frustration, she got up and slipped out of the office. As she made her way down the back hallway toward the family room, she could now hear her husband's and youngest son's raised voices clear as day as they roared at each other."There's nothing for me to do to get through to you, is there?" Poe was growling out. "You'll just make more empty promises to do better, and then do the exact opposite! I can't trust you!""I said I'm sorry!" Len cried. "But you don't care — not really. Not about me. You give everyone else the time of day because they're so perfect and then you got me. The dud.""What?""I can't do anything right, can I? I try and I try, but I can't be what you want and I can't be what mom wants—"Father and son were in the family room, but Crisara hadn't yet made it known she was there. She just listened and waited for now; ready to intervene if need be."What is it you think your mom and I want you to be?""I'm never going to be a Jedi like Tem, Caro or Leia are. I'm not going to be some — I dunno — politician, maybe? Like Shara. I can't meditate to save my ass. I hate training. I just wanted to be like you, but the old you, before—" Len waved his hand at his father "—this.""This what?""Before you became Governor. Even before you became Security Chief. I mean, I've never known you as anything else, but I know the stories. I've seen the historical holos on all the things you did during the war and it's amazing. And I wanna be like that. I can do that.""You want to fight in a war? Is that my understanding? Do you know how stupid that sounds?"Crisara grimaced. No, Poe."I'm not stupid."The vase of flowers on the table in the center of the grand foyer suddenly rattled ever so slightly. Crisara's eyes shot toward them with a knitted brow as the flowers began to bend downward. The air changed again and she didn't like the feel of it."I didn't say you're stupid," Poe countered. "Don't twist my—""And I'm not saying I wanna fight in a war, but I can do something more…I can…I just wanna…" Len groaned. "I don't know.""For kriff's sake, Len. Just tell me.""I said I don't know.""Or you do know, but you're too scared to tell me." Poe sighed dramatically. "For kriff's sake, Len."As the vase cracked but didn't shatter, Crisara slipped just inside of the family room; just in time to see her son scowl at his father and feel the frustration and rage brewing beneath the surface. Sensing an escalation in this father-son clash, she moved to react, but Len was quicker when giving in to his feelings. Crisara watched, as if in slow motion, the way Len shoved his uninjured left hand outward toward his father and the way Poe flew backward across the room; tumbling over one of the overstuffed chairs, ass over teakettle, and slamming into the wall."No!" Crisara bellowed the moment her husband's head hit the wall when he landed on the floor.She held her own hand out and Len immediately froze up, literally. No matter what he tried, he couldn't move. It was exactly like what she'd done to Nik years ago on Nar Shaddaa, after he'd stolen her lightsaber; when she'd caught up to him in that alley and prevented him from continuing to run away. Len's arms dropped down to his sides as if he was tied in chains, and his entire body lifted about a foot off the ground as she kept her hand raised and glowered at him. As she approached him, his eyes fell upon her with surprise and possibly even fear. After all, she'd never done anything like this to him.She'd never had to before now.He knew the stories of the things his mother had done during the war but this was his first time experiencing how truly intimidating she could be firsthand."We do not attack people in this family," she warned with an unnervingly even tone.Breathing through his nose, Len clenched his jaw and tried to contain his anger, which quickly began to devolve into tears welling in his eyes and rolling down his face. "Historically speaking," he managed to mutter, "we kinda do.""Watch your tone with me, young man." Releasing her grip, Crisara allowed her son to drop back down to his feet while Poe slowly trying to pull himself back up by grabbing onto the chair he'd been tossed over. Turning to face her husband with concern, she offered him a hand, but he waved it off. Sensing he would be okay, or that he believed he would be, she looked back at their seventeen-year-old. "What was that? Why would you do that to your own father? Arguing is one thing, but using the Force on him in such a way?" She recalled how she'd reacted in anger, in the same way, against Alfic so long ago, and how it haunted her for a good, long while afterward. Then, years later, she'd accidentally done the same thing to Poe, and that had bothered her just as much. "I can't abide such callousness, Len. You have to be able to control your feelings and not let them control you. Anger is—""A path to the dark side. I know." Len sank down to the floor and pulled his knees to his chest with his left arm while his right arm, which was still in a cast, stiffly drooped downward. "I know I'm the only one you have to worry about. I know you think I'm gonna be the next Vader or Kylo Ren in the family."Crisara was confused by this and expressed as much on her face. "I have never thought that, Len.""It makes the most sense. I'm the reckless one, aren't I?" he continued; his gaze focused on the floor in front of him. "I'm the impulsive one. I'm the one who has no patience. I'm no good at meditation and I hate sparring practice — practicing the fighting forms and whatever. I'm the black sheep. And clearly I'm the angry one.""Anakin Skywalker and Ben Solo," she amended, "weren't black sheep. They were two of the best, strongest Force users who had plenty of discipline, but they were manipulated by outside forces, and chose to give in to the dark side. Are you being manipulated? Do you want to be a Sith lord?"Len sighed, tipping his forehead against his kneecaps. "No.""Well, then…"He seemed to have considerably calmed down. "I'm not good at what you want me to be good at. I hate meditating. It's boring. I can't concentrate. My mind is…too busy."Rubbing the back of his neck and trying to ignore the ache in his back, Poe stepped around the chair to stand in front of his son. He frowned, seeing his baby boy looking so miserable, despite the exchange that had just gone down between them. "Then what brings you peace of mind? Something has to."For a moment, the teenager hesitated to answer. He just draped his left arm across the tops his knees to further hide his face away from his parents. "I told you, but you don't listen," he bemoaned; his voice somewhat muffled.Glancing briefly at Crisara, Poe thought back on the many things their son had shouted at or lamented to him. "You said you want to be like me, the old me. How exactly to you want to be like the person I was?""You don't want to be a Jedi," Crisara clarified. "That's fine, honey." She crouched down in front of Len and placed a hand on his arm. "That's your choice. Just as it was Shara's choice not to continue with her training.""What do you want to do?" Poe asked, softly. "What do you want?"Slowly lifting his head, Len pouted. He looked between both his parents and shrugged. "I just…I want to fly." Pointing toward the ceiling with his left hand, he followed his own gesture with his eyes. "You really wanna know what brings me peace?""Yes. We really do," Crisara insisted."Flying. Being up in the clouds, out in space. The quiet. But also the excitement and the speed. It gets my heart pumping and it's when I'm the happiest."All the animosity that had been building and boiled over seemed to have quickly dissipated. Crouching down as well, beside his wife, Poe found himself smiling rather warmly upon their son. "You want to be a pilot."Len nodded. "Yeah. But clearly I'm not good at it if I'm always crashing.""You don't always crash." Poe reached his own hand out and also placed it upon Len's arm. "Only when you're distracted by some cute guy. It happens." He shifted his gaze momentarily toward Crisara. "Your mom's been distracting me for years. Literal decades." As she rolled her eyes at him, he looked back at their son. "You're a great pilot when you have focus. I should know." He pointed to himself with his free hand. "You learned from the best.""But you don't fly with me like you used to. You never take me up and show me anything anymore. You're too busy being Governor."With a look of guilt, Poe sank down onto one knee and leaned forward. With both arms extended, he forced his son into a tight hug and waited until the boy reciprocated. "Then I guess I'm going to have to learn to make more time for you," Poe insisted, placing a hearty kiss upon his son's cheek. "I'm sorry that you've felt let down or abandoned by me.""By both of us," Crisara added; brushing a hand along the other side of her son's face."I'm sorry, too. I really am," Len insisted. "I promise I'm gonna do better. I don't want you to hate me.""Len," Poe scoffed. "We could never hate you. We love you. You're our last baby. Our pride and joy."Crisara leaned in and kissed their son's forehead. "You're seventeen. This is just…" She smirked when she leaned back. "You're going through growing pains." Tears began to sting at her eyes. "I can feel how much you hate yourself and it hurts my heart that you feel that way, or that you feel that we would ever hate you. Nothing could be further from the truth.""I used to think that maybe I was a mistake," Len muttered; not directly looking either of his parents in the eye, but sensing their confusion to his comment. "You had two sons already, then had twins—two for one. You had two of each and I just thought I was more of an afterthought."Sinking backward to sit upon the floor, Poe chuckled, which broke any tension in the air left between father and son. "You were anything but an afterthought. If anything, we thought way too much about how we wanted to have more kids after Shara and Leia. You didn't hesitate to make use of any and all downtime we had in trying."Off Len's grimace, knowing what his father meant, Crisara gave Poe a shove to his arm. "Shut up," she laughed. "Our son doesn't need to know those kinds of details.""I wasn't being specific," he maintained. "But let's be honest." Glancing back at their son, Poe gestured at Crisara. "Trying to make you was some of the best fun we ever had, and once we actually had you, it got better. You completed our family." Poe leaned forward enough to poke a finger into his son's shoulder. "You made our lives whole. You. Like your mother said: our pride and joy. Even when you act like a dumbass.""Poe," Crisara chastised.Len smirked and waved his left hand in his mother's direction. "No, he's right. I have acted like a dumbass and it's gonna stop." She smiled at her, and then at his father. "I swear on my life."  Deeming it necessary for their family, Poe had made it known to his advisors, as well as the Queen, that he would be taking a few days; using genuine excuses in regard to his recent back issues and Len's injury. Temiri was still off-world, as was Leia, but Caro and Shara were both in Theed, so it was easy for them to come home to the villa. Three out of Poe's and Crisara's children joined them for dinner that night after the blowout and subsequent resolution between father and son. They enjoyed a great meal together, laughed and talked. They left all negativity at the door. They rehashed happy memories and other good times which made them laugh even more. Poe and Crisara talked about things from when the kids were little or before they were even born, and then even revealed the tidbit from the holo that Kes had brought to the Governor's Mansion; revealing the pair had met another time. Crisara had been especially over the moon by that because it turned out Ben, her first cousin, hadn't been her first kiss after all.Poe and Crisara had been each other's first kiss and, someday, they would be each other's last.Later that night, while Shara had returned to the city because of school, Caro had remained at the villa, where Poe and Crisara had been privy to catching him kissing Zeda, outside on the tiled patio out front. They'd been standing in their room and Crisara playfully punched Poe in the arm in excitement."He finally did it," she happily declared."How do you know they hadn't already kissed before?" Poe asked, looking her in the eye when she turned to look at him."I know a first kiss when I see it." Clamping her hands upon both sides of his face, she stood on tiptoe and responded further with a kiss to his lips.The following morning, Poe's natural alarm clock woke him up. He rolled flat onto his back and found himself staring upward at the vaulted ceiling and the stained glass panels made to look like the different star systems that held special significance for him and Crisara. Since the sun wasn't high enough there was no outside light shining through the stained glass, scattering a rainbow of colors down upon them. But there was just enough that he was able to focus his sight upon the panel for the Yavin system and filled him with curiousness."Hmm."A sigh escaped from Crisara's direction. "How come you always wake up so early?"Poe snickered. "How come you always sleep so late?"Rolling over onto her back, she raised an eyebrow at him. "No. I sleep until a normal time. You're the one getting up at random, ungodly hours."Moving to lay upon his side again, Poe propped his head up in right hand. Dragging his left across her abdomen, he could ever so slightly feel the hum and vibrations of the cybernetics at work inside of her. "Every time you leave, I barely sleep. I think my body's just adjusted to it.""Yeah, but I'm home now."Shifting his gaze around their bedroom, he nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We're both home." Slipping his arm further around to grab at her waist, he shifted forward so that he could partially lie on top of her, but kept his upper body propped up so he wasn't placing that weight upon her chest at the moment. "I'm almost a year into my third term, and I'm legally allowed to run two more times, but I miss this. I miss being here. I miss the quiet.""Let's be real," she muttered, lifting her hands and running them along the sides of his face and then through his hair, while he slowly lowered his chin to the valley between her breasts. "You'd go stir crazy without some excitement.""I think we've both had enough excitement for one lifetime, don't you?""We can't rest on our laurels just yet. There's still too much at stake out there."Poe frowned. "Hux.""Unfortunately.""What if I take a leave of absence? Just a couple of weeks. What if we just took the Falcon and traveled the galaxy, all of us, together for a while? You, me, the kids," he suggested; his doleful brown eyes almost looking as if he were pleading. "We could use a vacation. It's been a long while.""Is this the right time for one?""As long as I'm Governor there will never be a right time. But, fortunate for us, I'm not the only person in power on this beautiful planet. There's a Queen, and an Advisory Council. Leaders on other worlds get time away all the time. Hell, Casterfo was Supreme Chancellor of the entire Republic for eight years and managed two weeks of vacation during each of those years." Poe sighed, leaning his face downward and kissing the side of one of her breasts and then the valley between both before looking back up at her. "We should really try to get in at least one a year, even with everything going on. And with how we've made such great headway with Len, we could really use the time away; now more than ever."Crisara offered a small, warm smile. "And where were you thinking we should go?"Poe shrugged and set his chin back down upon her. "Niamos, maybe," he replied knowingly.Both of their thoughts were simultaneously drifting to holo his father had found of when they were five and six years old. Crisara loved the fact that Kes had found that holo just as much as Poe had. She loved seeing the two of them so happily running around. She loved that she actually got to see footage of her mother-in-law and hear her voice, and she loved that Poe was given another chance to hear and see his mother again. Shara really was a gorgeous woman, and Crisara could definitely see more of her in Poe now, and more of her in the twins. She'd also liked seeing Han and Leia again, so young and happy, and a little bit goofy.Most important, she just loved seeing that little kiss between her and Poe. And, to think, she must've had a vision of her future with him. She didn't remember it, though. Being so young, it became something forgotten; a distant dream. But after she and Poe had watched the holo together, which had been his second go at the viewing, he commented that he did remember bits of that part of the vacation, but he'd mixed a few things up. He knew he'd always had a brief memory of Luke from when he was a kid, and realized it must've been from that trip. He'd remembered there being a little girl he was playing with on a beach somewhere, but he remembered it as the girl having brown hair, but he must've been mixing up moments of Crisara with moments of Ben.Crisara's blue eyes began to study every inch of her husband's face as he continued to look up at her from where he rested his chin upon her chest and, every moment that passed, she found something else to admire. She was particularly enjoying how his greying locks were flopping down around his forehead. If she ignored the lines around his face, denoting his age, she could still see the younger man who'd sat down across from her in that cantina on Chaaktil, simply from his eyes alone. His dark eyes still looked so warm, kindly and young."You love me," he muttered with a playful grin."Always and forever," she nodded. "You love me, too.""Yup."A small chuckle escaped her lips. She watched the way he slowly shimmied up her body; lying more directly on top of her. When he leaned his face down, he began to wrap his arms around her back after placing a short but sweet kiss upon her lips. Afterward, he just dropped his face down into her shoulder. Crisara's hand slid up his back and gripped at his shoulders; feeling so comforted by his body pinning her to the mattress. She really did love it. She loved him."We gotta get the glass panels cleaned," he mumbled into her pillow.Caught off guard by the change of subject, Crisara knitted her brow together. "Huh?""The stained glass panel of the Yavin system above us." Lifting his head, he nodded upward and let his gaze follow suit. "It looks like some sort of bird shit on it.""Okay. I'll make a call this afternoon."As he brought his focus back down to her, he moved to kiss her again but stopped short when his comlink on his bedside table began to beep. With a sigh, Poe rolled off her and onto his back and then rolled again so he could reach for the comlink. Lifting it up, he answered the call coming through."Whoever this is, you're lucky I was already awake," he gruffly stated, earning him a playful slap to his arm from his wife.
"Poe. It's Taya."
"Oh. Shit. Sorry, Taya. What's up?" With a smirk, Poe glanced at Crisara and just as playfully slapped at the side of her ass in retaliation.
"Poe…your dad…"
Taya hadn't needed to say anything else for him to sit up straight and for his face to immediately fall. Crisara mirrored him and suddenly felt the hairs on her arms and at the back of her neck stand on end. Somehow, without having the Force at his disposal like his wife did, Poe knew what his cousin-in-law, who was also his stepmother for the last ten years, was going to say."He just dropped," Taya continued to say; her voice sounding raw and tired. "He got up to use the bathroom. I was already up. We were talking and, mid-sentence, he just seized up and fell to the ground."Poe's face began to contort with all sorts of emotions as he processed what was being alluded to but not specifically laid out yet. His chest began to rise and fall a bit quicker as he fought to contain a sob that was threatening to escape. Crisara leaned forward and could see the faint shine of tears lining his eyes as he continued to sit there, struck dumb and unable to verbally respond.
"Poe? Are you there?"
Crisara grabbed for the comlink. "I'm here, Taya," she announced."He's gone," her aged cousin blurted; the sound of the older female's own sobs coming through. "I called for medics. They came right away, but there wasn't anything they could do. They said he was gone the moment he hit the ground.""What happened?" Crisara asked; her brow furrowed as she watched Poe throw his legs over the edge of the bed and stand up."They said it was a brain aneurysm. They took him away. I can't…" Taya's voice trailed, and a few more sobs escaped from her end. "I can't do this alone."Turning around, Poe reached out for the comlink and took it back from his wife. "Let me get dressed, Taya. I'll be right there. We'll do this together.""Thank you, Poe," Taya replied. "And I'm so sorry.""I'm sorry, too."He'd just lost his father, but she had also lost her husband.When the communication ended, Poe dropped the comlink onto his side of the bed and staggered backward a bit as if he were drunk. As Crisara scrambled to get up off the bed to stand beside him, he tipped his head upward and gaze at the glass panel of the Yavin system."Huh," he muttered again, as when he'd woke up. When he felt Crisara's hands reach for his face, he dropped his gaze back upon her instead and suddenly it hit him. "My dad's dead.""I know," she replied sympathetically, tears of her own filling up her eyes. "I'm so sorry.""My dad's dead," he repeated; dropping his head down upon her shoulder. As quickly as he wrapped his arms around her back, he began to sob. "I knew it was going to happen eventually, and I know he was in his eighties now, but I still thought we'd have more time somehow," Poe mumbled against her. "I'm not ready to say goodbye.""None of us ever are."A louder sob escaped his lips, and suddenly Poe was crying like a little boy. He felt things so deeply without needing to be Force-sensitive and this moment was no exception. As he held onto her more tightly, his legs gave out and together she sank to the floor in a heap. Climbing up into his lap, Crisara wrapped herself around him like a vice in order to give him the same kind of comfort he gave her whenever he pinned her to the bed or simply hugged her, because he always gave such big, enveloping hugs."Do you think he felt any pain?" Poe wondered; his voice still muffled by her shoulder."No. It would've happened too quickly. It was over in an instant, and he's at peace now," she assured, lifting a hand to soothingly stroke at his hair. "He's with your mother again.""Do you think so?"Crisara nodded. "Remember that afterlife you described, that you hope exists?""Yeah.""That's where they are, happy to be reunited with each other, and waiting for us to join them there someday."Poe sighed. "I hope so. That would be nice."A knock came to their bedroom door, causing them to lift their heads and lean back a bit from each other."Mom? Dad? Something's wrong. I felt it." It was Len. "What happened?"Poe just turned and looked at Crisara. "How do I do this?" he whispered.Moving her hands again to hold his face in her hands, she smiled a small, sympathetic smile. "With us. Your family."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Sometimes the things that you love most fade away
Like a shadow disappearing in the night..."
— Ricky Nelson "When I said I wanted to take some time away, this wasn't what I had in mind."Sitting at the table in the kitchen of the Dameron homestead on Yavin IV, Poe was nursing a strong cup of caf in both hands. His shoulders were slouched, his eyes puffy from crying and they were cast downward at the milky brown liquid. A moment later, Crisara sank down across the table from him with a cup of her own. With a commiserative gaze, she reached a hand out and gently curled her fingers around his wrist. On his right and her left, Taya also sat with them; hunched forward and arms folded upon the tabletop. She was staring at nothing in particular, while listening to several conversations within the home all at once. In the sitting room, all five of Poe's and Crisara's children sat together, along with Nevara and her husband Daz, and their teenage children, Saya and Dain.With a sigh, Poe glanced at Taya. "Thank you for letting me bring my dad back here, to be buried beside my mother."Lifting her gaze upon her stepson, she smirked. "It took me a long time to finally find my true love," she began to say. "And, even though I know your father loved me deeply, his true love would always be your mother and he should be with her in the end. It was the only right decision."Curious about something but wary that it might be a sensitive matter, Crisara tilted her head in her cousin's direction and decided to ask anyway. "Where do you want to be in the end? There's room on the other side of Kes if you want to be buried with him, too, someday."Poe nodded in agreement. "It would be fine with me. The more the merrier." He attempted a smile, but it fell flat. "Crisara won't have a grave one day, because she'll fade away into the Force, just as the rest of our kids will, I'm sure, so this is where I'll end up. On the other side of my mom. It's where I want to end up." Removing his free hand from his cup of caf, he enclosed it over Crisara's, which was still holding onto his opposite wrist. "We decided on it years ago, and finally informed our kids about it last year, after the Grand Plaza Attack. If, somehow, Crisara were to pass on first, it would be left to the kids to handle my final arrangements upon my death. So, now they know to bring my body back here to be buried." He sighed and looked upward at his lovely wife and finally smiled, but it was a rueful at best. "I used to assume I would be blown up and become nothing but stardust during the war, and when I survived it, it got me thinking cremation wasn't right for me. To have nothing left of me, even after I'm dead, unsettles me too much.""My son Boh-Rel became stardust when the Vigil was destroyed by the First Order when it was fleeing D'Qar," Taya muttered, her dark eyes drifting toward an insignificant spot on the table."Shit — I forgot about that," Poe grimaced. "I'm sorry, Taya."Taya shrugged. "It's been twenty-two years, so I've learned to move past it. His wife was able to move past it after almost a decade and find love again, which I was happy about for her, but then her and her new husband moved away and rarely brought my granddaughters to visit me. I've had to always go see them. That doesn't pain me as much as the fact that those girls never got to know their father. Vanelle's twenty-four now and Leera's twenty-two. Leera had only been born a month before Boh-Rel died, so she definitely didn't get to know him. And he'll never know them either. But, despite the fact that they moved away and I've barely seen them in the last ten years, at least I take comfort in the fact that they ended up with a really good man to be their stepfather. Hesud is very wonderful." Slowly, she let her gaze drift over toward the sitting room, where the others were sandwiched in together on every possible surface available for sitting on. "At least I've been able to actually be a grandma to Nevara's kids." With a distant smile, she looked back between Poe and Crisara, but settled more on Poe. "With your father gone now, Nevara told me they want to move back into the family home with me, so I'm not alone, which I'm looking forward to.""Are Nevara and Daz planning to sell their home in Theed?" Crisara wondered."No, Nevara wants to keep it, so she has a place to crash on the nights she's working late at GOFOY. And, someday when I'm gone, they might want to move back there full-time and sell the family estate. But I don't want that. Selling the family estate, I mean. My grandparents, your great-grandparents, Borral and Lokmé, bought it together a long time ago," Taya remarked, shifting her eyes upon Crisara then. "It should stay with family. If Nevara doesn't want it, and if her kids don't want it, then it should pass to you or either of your kids. Maybe Len." She sighed thoughtfully. "The youngest in families are usually overlooked when it comes to inheriting estates. They usually go to the eldest. Such has always been the case in ours. My oldest brother Tam would've inherited the estate if he hadn't been killed during the Galactic Civil War. Instead it went to me. And Boh-Rel would've inherited from me one day, but instead it will go to Nevara.""You wouldn't think to leave it to Boh-Rel's kids?" Poe asked curiously."If they wanted my house, they should visit me in it. Those girls are adults now and choose to not make the time to visit their dear, ol' grandmother. They'll get some money from me, and a few personal items, but that's it." Reaching her hand out, Taya did to Crisara what Crisara was doing to Poe, and placed a hand upon her younger cousin's wrist. "I should tell you now, anything in my house that was once my grandmother Lokmé's — her art and crystal-work, and any of those supplies we have stored away collecting dust in the attic — goes to you."Crisara smiled appreciatively. "Thank you.""Once upon a time, you began to make a career, picking up where she left off, so it's only right you get it all.""Maybe I'll revisit that career if and when I ever retire from being a Jedi Master," Crisara remarked with a slight shrug of her shoulders.Poe narrowed his gaze at his wife. "As if you could ever truly retire. Being a Jedi is in your blood."Tipping her head in his direction, she continued her smile. "Being Force-sensitive is in my blood. Being a Jedi anything is a choice. It's a vocation, no different than being Governor.""And someday I'll either retire or step down from the position and I'll need something else to occupy my time.""You should travel," Taya suggested as she leaned back in her chair; once again looking out upon the others in the sitting room. "Kes and I planned on traveling, but then we just got too complacent with being homebodies. Then time slipped away." She frowned and dropped her eyes upon the wedding ring on her left hand. "Don't let getting older slow you down. Don't let your eventual retirements tire you out. Someday soon all of your kids will move away and start families of their own and it will be just the two of you." Looking back up between Poe and Crisara, she finally smiled warmly upon them both. "Make time for little adventures."  
57 ABY — Eight months later
Not that either of Leia's parents were surprised, but they were proud of her achievement nonetheless. Rey had contacted them both, weeks prior, with an amused sigh over a sort of holo conference so she could update them on their youngest twin's progress. Rey had revealed there wasn't much else she felt she could teach or show Leia. The almost twenty-year-old had surpassed all their expectations with her skill in every aspect of the Force and her training. Technically, Leia still had a few more months with Rey's Jedi Order before she would've gone home, and perhaps continued a bit more with her mother before she was deemed ready for knighthood. It wasn't something that just happened immediately following the two years spent with Rey. Tem had been twenty-three, Caro had been twenty-two. Most of Crisara's and Rey's padawans were in their early twenties when they were knighted, if they chose to continue the Jedi path. Rey, like Luke with Crisara about thirty-five years earlier, had been secretly putting Leia through her Jedi trials and reported back to Crisara that Leia had passed with flying colors.The only thing left to do was to knight the girl already. What was the point in putting off the inevitable when she was more than prepared for the privilege?So, Leia had been given the news, and the date for her knighting ceremony had been set. Like with Finn, who had chosen where he wanted his knighting to take place, and with most every other Knight since, Leia was given the same choice to choose the location. Historically, it was a ceremony that was presided over by members of the Jedi High Council, but these days any Jedi Master or Jedi Knight could attend, so long as the knighted individual wanted them there. For Leia, she wanted it to be more intimate. She wanted her mother, Rey and Finn there, as well as her older brothers, but she couldn't have her mother and older brothers there and not her father, twin sister or younger brother, even if they weren't Jedi or no longer on the Jedi path. But then she also wanted Nik there. He was a Jedi Knight, and Zeda was a Jedi Knight, too, and she knew Caro cared a great deal for Zeda, who was practically family. Then there was also Chewbacca who, along with Rey, had been designated Leia's and Shara's guardians during their naming ceremony, following their birth. It was only right to include him.And, since Kashyyyk was where Leia's life had begun, and where she'd been named, it only made sense to her that it should be where she assumed the rank of Jedi Knight. So, to Kashyyyk her mentors, immediate family and dearest friends went, and it was the most unconventional of ceremonies but it fit Leia, who never felt like she'd follow a traditional Jedi path. She wanted to explore the galaxy and go on adventures, much in the way Nik was. She had no desire to teach the next generation or mentor a solitary padawan like either of her elder brothers. She wanted more excitement, but not as a pilot like her younger brother, who was due to join the New Academy military school on Chandrila, in Hanna City, in the coming months. Maybe one day, ten or twenty years from now, she'd settle down and choose to take on a teaching role, but definitely not any time soon.What had made her ceremony unconventional, compared to previous knighting ceremonies, wasn't just the guest list. It was the fact that, despite wanting it to be intimate, it was hard to deter other Wookiees from wanting to watch, albeit from a respectable distance. It was also the fact that she had requested that the knighting ritual not be led by a Master, specifically not her mother nor Rey. She wanted the honor to be given to her brother Temiri, who was deeply moved and honored.At the base of the wroshyr tree where the twins had been named, Temiri recalled the tried and true formal opening to the ceremony, which had been inscribed in the Jedi texts Rey had taken from Luke's hut on Ahch-To twenty plus years earlier, and that had been recited for most knighting ceremonies since, including his own, Temiri initiated this ceremony. However, there had to be some minor changes, what with the varied guest list."Several of us here are Jedi," he began. "And, for those of us Jedi, the Force speaks through us. Through our actions, the Force proclaims itself and what is real. Today we are here to acknowledge what the Force has proclaimed. Padawan Leia Dameron." Beckoning his sister forward, he waited for her to step in front of him. When she took to her knees with her head bowed, Temiri stood before her, surrounded by their family, friends and the Wookiees, he withdrew his lightsaber and brought it down over each of her shoulders. Smiling down at her with pride for her achievement and just his overall brotherly love for her, he continued. "By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee Jedi Knight Leia Dameron." After a moment, to let the solemnity ruminate, he deactivated his blade and added, "Rise."Finally tipping her face upward, Leia smiled back at her brother and stood up. Removing her own lightsaber from her hip, she turned to face everyone else. Holding her blade up high, she ignited its purple blade, and those in attendance, with lightsabers of their own, did the same.Poe, as any proud father who wasn't ashamed to express his feelings, felt tears stinging his eyes. He had no lightsaber to hold above his head, but he could clap, and he was certain no one was clapping harder than he was. The mere sight of all the differently-colored plasma blades was a beautiful sight. Even Shara and Len, who had set aside their Jedi paths for different ones, had their lightsabers with them and held high. But nothing was more beautiful to Poe in that moment than his youngest twin daughter; bathed in the glow of all those colors. It reminded him of when she was just a toddler, and the chandelier in the villa was lit and all the colors from the crystals shined and sparkled down around the grand foyer and brought bright smiles to Leia's eyes and lips.How quickly the night changes.Temiri was thirty-two now, Caro was twenty-seven, the twins nearly twenty and Len had just turned eighteen. All his children were legally adults now — grown up. He never felt so old. He was happy for them, and proud of them, and loved them all so impossibly much, but he was feeling sad at the same time; wishing time would slow down. He wished they could all be little again. He missed the squishiness of their infant and toddler years. Hell, he even missed the mood swings of their preteen years when they were only just starting to come into their own as people. He was excited for what would come next for them — love, career paths, and maybe even children of their own someday. He hoped the latter didn't feel as if it went by as quickly as it felt like it had for him. He hoped they cherished every moment they were given and that they didn't wish for time to hurry up.As all the lightsabers were lowered and put away, Leia hugged Temiri tightly and thanked him, and then she stepped away to approach her parents. Poe waited; watching as Leia stepped first into her mother's arms. When she moved away and looked up at him, Poe's tears finally fell down his face and he quickly scooped her up into a big hug."Oh, dad," she muttered with a hint of amusement in her voice."You make me so proud," he whispered into her hair. "You've worked so hard for this, and you deserve every good thing in this life."Leia gripped her hands tighter around him and pressed her face a bit more into his chest; always feeling the safest there in his arms, as every daughter should with her father. "Thank you for giving me this life.""Well, it was a joint effort." As he watched her slowly step out of his embrace, he nodded at Crisara. "She did all the heavy lifting.""And then some," Crisara quipped.After that, Leia moved over toward her other siblings; reaching firstly for Shara. Despite having gone in different directions during the last two years, and despite their diverging personalities, the twins would always gravitate toward one another; like the north and south poles of two magnets coming together. Leia hadn't wanted any sort of celebration to follow, but the Wookiees would have none of it, so a party happened regardless. It took place primarily in and around one of the larger, communal buildings on the ground and there was plenty of food and drink to go around; a good deal of it having been acquired off Kashyyyk by Chewbacca in the days prior, knowing the humans wouldn't be able to stomach a majority of the Wookiee cuisine.The ceremony had taken place during the late morning, so the following festivities didn't begin until the early afternoon. Knowing the Wookiees knew how to party, it didn't take a genius to assume said festivities would go long into the night. However, it didn't take long for Crisara to notice her daughter was already mentally checking out.She had watched as Leia had ducked out of the communal building with a cup of sunburry wine; a case of which Chewbacca had acquired half a century ago from the forest moon of Endor, following the marriage ceremony of Han Solo to Leia Organa, and had since forgotten about until that very morning. It had seemed fitting to break it out and finally drink it. It had been imbibed in celebration of the former Leia, and was now used to celebrate her namesake. With her own cup of the same wine, Crisara had followed her daughter and joined her on the outskirts of the immediate village; sitting down beside her at the bottom of a set of wooden steps that scaled one of the large wroshyr trees."How come you wanted Tem to knight you?" Crisara asked, curiously.Leia sighed, staring out at the dimming landscape, due to the sun having recently set. Her gaze was primarily set upon the many flame beetles in the distance that were being kept away by smoke pots, because they could bite. Painful the bite could be, but it was not the dangerous part. It was their ability to spontaneously combust when in proximity to an enemy or upon death. It was an event that normally occurred throughout a whole swarm of over a hundred beetles; each beetle exploding with the effect of a fragmentation grenade. Of course, Leia gave off a calming vibe, as did her mother, so neither would've been in any danger had any of those bioluminescent bugs managed to get near."Tem just seemed to need the honor more than you or Aunt Rey," Leia finally replied, drawing her attention downward at her cup and giving its contents a slight swirl. "He needed the win, I guess you could say. He's been so sad since losing Sessani, and so focused on only going after Hux. Threepio has shown more emotion."Crisara nodded and smirked. "It was a wonderful thing for you to do. He was so obviously grateful that you chose him for the task, despite him not being a Master."Leia frowned. "That shouldn't matter — Masters, Knights. Hell, if I really wanted to turn tradition on its head, I would've asked dad or Shara to do it.""I have a feeling you'll manage to turn tradition on its head eventually anyway." Sliding a hand behind her daughter's back, Crisara pulled her closer. "Someday, I'll step down from an active role as Jedi Master, so I can enjoy my golden years with your father, and you or your brothers or any others will be the ones to step up and take over, so on and so forth. And when that day comes, whether I'm still alive or not, how things run won't be my decision anymore.""After this eventual retirement, would you still continue as Grand Master? As long as you aren't dead, you'd still be the oldest and wisest amongst us."It had been Rey who had initially made mention of the official title many years ago; since Crisara was the one responsible for kick-starting the new generation of Jedi. After all, she'd trained Rey, Finn and most every other Force user who had since achieved the ranks of Knight or Master. Rey had insisted that Crisara was the only one of them who could legitimately be the Grand Master, of the Kenobi Academy and even the Jedi Order which Rey had established. Though, the latter wouldn't have gotten off the ground if Crisara hadn't financed it. She didn't oversee any of the Jedi Order's day to day operations, but she was the founding member of the Council that was affiliated with both the school and the Order. However, just like during the war, with how Crisara had rolled her eyes at being acknowledged as Commander and then General, she very rarely, if ever, acknowledged the formal title of Grand Master. Jedi Master Crisara Dameron was enough clout to tout."I suppose so," Crisara shrugged. "Though, the older I get, I may retire from being Grand Master, too. I'm no Yoda. I won't live to be nearly a thousand years old. You and the others won't be able to rely on me forever. It takes a lot of time and effort to oversee and have a hand in so many things. Both branches of the Academy, the Jedi High Council, and now even the Queen's Advisory Council as her Jedi attaché. Add in being a wife and a mother…it's an exhausting though fulfilling life to lead.""Is that why you had so many kids? So you can pass the burden more evenly onto us?" Leia teased; taking a hearty sip of her wine to finish off what remained in the cup."I hardly think five kids is 'so many', Leia.""It's five kids more than I want."Crisara furrowed her brow. She had seen both of the twins as mothers someday, in the vision she'd had during the moment of Leia's birth. "You don't want kids of your own?""It's not really something that I'm necessarily against. It just doesn't call to me." Leia turned and looked at her mother. "I'd be a really fun aunt, though." Narrowing her gaze, she could sense something more to whatever it was her mother was thinking. "You know something I don't.""Of course I do. I'm the oldest and wisest, remember?"Leia rolled her eyes. "Funny.""I've been alive almost fifty-four years. I'm officially older than either of my parents got to be. I have seen and done many things. I have learned and adapted, grown and evolved, as all people should over time. And, the older I get, the more things become clearer in hindsight." Lifting her hand from Leia's back, Crisara brushed it lazily against her daughter's dark hair. "I may have seen some things about you and your sister's futures; brief moments that haven't happened yet, but I'm certain will.""You saw me as a mom?""Both of you.""Well, Shara and I are twins. How do you know it wasn't just Shara, or me holding a child any of the others eventually has?"Setting her cup of wine down, Crisara reached her left hand across Leia's chest and grabbed for Leia's right hand and held it, wrist-side up. "Because this." She nodded at the triangular birthmark upon Leia's wrist. "The one, definite telltale sign between you girls. And…just a feeling."The thought of becoming a mother, of having a child, rolled around in Leia's mind. "Did you see when it was going to happen?""No," Crisara replied simply; dropping her daughter's hand and grabbing her drink back up.Letting her imagination take off for a moment; Leia grimaced at the idea of going through the physical inconvenience of pregnancy and then giving birth, and of nursing a child and being fully responsible for its survival. "Was it a boy or a girl? One child or several?""Don't know.""You're no help.""Sometimes knowing the future can give you hope, sometimes it can be a burden." Crisara sighed and pulled her other hand back from her daughter so she could hold her cup of wine with both; staring down at the tart liquid. "When I told your father he would survive the war, and that we'd be having at least one child that I knew of within the immediate years that followed, he was so happy. It gave him something to look forward to during the Battle of Exegol; that we had this amazing future ahead of us. But then, when we didn't immediately become pregnant, it was a source of some stress for him. He thought that it was his fault, since he knew I was already capable of having children, because of Adera and Caro. He thought that maybe that part of my vision, of me being nearly full-term, was a mistake; that maybe something had changed or shifted. He wanted so much to be a father, not just a stepfather or adoptive father, as wonderful and fulfilling as both opportunities have been for him. But he really wanted to help create new life. He yearned for it.""But your vision came true in the end. You and dad survived the war, and you had Shara and me, and then Len. And now you're telling me Shara and I will both be mothers.""I didn't say I saw you, specifically, give birth. And, again, I don't know when any of it will happen.""Surely you could see our faces, and how young or old we looked.""Not so much," Crisara countered. "Like I said, it was more a feeling."Leia sighed. Setting her own cup down, she grabbed for the sleeve on her right arm and pulled it down to hide the birthmark. "But you saw that." As her mind wandered again, imagining herself as a mother, it made her wonder who the father of this future child would be. "I wish you hadn't told me this.""I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would be a sensitive subject for you.""It's not," Leia insisted, looking back at her mom. "I just…it leaves me with more questions than you have answers.""That, unfortunately, seems to be the way of life. We have so many questions about what life has in store for us, or what we should be doing at any moment, and rarely are we given answers. However," she spoke, locking eyes with her darling girl, "we have the Force. It can give us the guidance we need as long as we're willing to listen to it. And you, my beautiful Jedi Knight, have proven yourself more than capable of using the Force, listening to it, and learning from it. You will go far, you will have a great life, and you will do a great many things, of that I'm sure.""And being a mother is the greatest thing? Is that what you're getting at?""No, that's not what I'm getting at. But, for me, it has been, still is and always will be the greatest thing. And I'm sorry if you don't feel that way now. And maybe you never will, when your time comes. And maybe my vision was subjective. Maybe I saw what I wanted to see, or maybe I misinterpreted it in the throes of labor. Maybe you won't be a mom, and instead just a really fun aunt.""But when have your feelings ever been wrong, mom? You said you had a feeling."Giving the wine in her cup a few swirls, Crisara knocked it back in one gulp and then set it back down. "This wine is also giving me all sorts of feelings. Maybe I'm just conflating things. How about, instead of focusing on a possible future that isn't here yet, we focus on the present and get back to the party that's raging in your honor."Leia pouted. "Do we have to?""No, we don't." Sliding her hand around her daughter's back, Crisara chuckled and began to focus on the flame beetles floating about in the distance like dancing sparks of light. "What do you want?""I want to go home. I want to go back to the villa, and I just want our family to celebrate with a meal around the dining table, and watch old holos in the family room, or listen to stories from the past from you and dad.""That…" Crisara trailed; smiling fondly. "That does sound a lot more fun." Patting Leia on the shoulder, she slowly stood up and held out her hand. When Leia accepted it and also stood up, she added, "Let's go home then."  Because most everyone had imbibed during the celebration, no one was really in any position to fly home, and they were all pretty tired, so they remained on Kashyyyk overnight. By morning, after sleeping it off, and nursing a few slight hangovers, the Damerons and the rest of Leia's off-world guests gathered themselves up on their respective ships, after once again thanking their Wookiee friends for their hospitality and bidding them adieu. Poe and Crisara ascended the Millennium Falcon alongside Caro, Shara, Len and Zeda Urli. Rey and Finn left in the same transport to return to the Jedi Temple. Nik Yaren retreated to his BTA-NR2 Y-wing starfighter, better known as a Resistance Y-wing, where his astromech R3-L9, also known as Arthree, was waiting for him. He planned on returning to Naboo, on the request of Leia, who would be flying home in her star skiff Skywalker, alongside her own astromech R6-KT, better known as Katy, as well as her brother Temiri, whom she'd asked to join her.Because she had a feeling she wanted to remain close to him during their journey home.Their ships and starfighters and transports had barely made it out of Kashyyyk's atmosphere when the Millennium Falcon received an incoming communication from the RNS Organa. As Poe answered the call, his eyes briefly lifted upward, through the viewport, as he watched Rey's and Finn's transport zip on by as it entered hyperspace travel."This is Governor Poe Dameron of Naboo," he formally addressed the Starcruiser, as he then shifted his gaze over toward Crisara in the co-pilot seat. "To whom do I have the honor of speaking with?""Mom, how come you haven't made the jump yet?" Leia's voice came through over Crisara's wrist comm."We're receiving communication from the Organa. Hold on a sec, sweetie," she replied."This is General Aftab Ackbar," the Mon Calamari son of Gial Ackbar responded to Poe's request. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything. I was informed you would be on Kashyyyk for your daughter's knighting ceremony. She has my congratulations for her shining achievement."Poe sighed. "I'll, uh, pass it along to her. What's up, Aftab? We were about to head home."
"You might want to change course."
"Oh? Why's that?"Caro and Len, both brothers seated directly behind their parents in the Falcon's cockpit, leaned forward to hear better out of their own curiosity. Crisara and Poe, meanwhile, continued to hold each other's gazes.
"We have Hux."
"Uh, what? You have him?" Crisara asked."Physically, in a cell aboard your ship, or you just have his exact location?" Poe wondered, for further clarification."We have his location. I'll send you the coordinates for the Organa. I'll bring you up to speed when you get here."Poe looked over his shoulder at his sons, and then noticed Shara and Zeda approaching down the cockpit access corridor; likely wondering what the delay for leaving was, or maybe Aftab's voice had traveled and they'd heard enough. When he once more focused on Crisara, silently asking her if she was up for the detour, he watched the subtle nod of her head. "We'll be there."
"Thank you, Poe. Crisara. See you soon."
Crisara lifted her wrist comm back toward her mouth and communicated to Leia, "Slight detour, honey. We're meeting up with the Organa." Watching as Poe leaned forward and read the coordinates coming through from the amphibious General, and then input those new coordinates into the Falcon's navicomputer, she added, "They know where Hux is. If you want to join us, we'll send you the Organa's coordinates. If not, go on and head home.""Like hell we're heading home." It was Temiri this time, coming through from the Skywalker."Nik will want to join us, too," Leia offered up. "Give us the coordinates and I'll pass them along to him.""Consider it done," Poe offered up. Turning and looking yet again at his wife, he began to grin with conviction. "Let's see if we can't finally get this bastard."Crisara merely smiled back.  Within the hour, the Damerons, along with Zeda and Nik, were standing around a holomap table in the center of the Bridge of the RNS Organa. Projected upward in front of them was a planet from the Mikaster sector, in the Expansion Region."This is Derra IV," Aftab remarked, gesturing at the image. "It's a minor world considered to be of little value, which was why it was relatively overlooked by the Empire early in the Galactic Civil War. This made it an ideal site for Rebel Alliance operations." Pressing something upon the table, the image zoomed in toward a very specific section on the planet, within its northern hemisphere. "And this is an old Rebel base. It was abandoned just before a battle took place against the Empire, but its exact location was never discovered, because it was built deep within a mountain. During the last war, after Crait, it was shortlisted as one of the Resistance's next bases, but—"Poe nodded, recalling Derra IV now. "It was discovered by the First Order before we could make it there. We lost a few of our scouts who'd been en route to make sure it was still an option for us." He grimaced at that memory. Too many good people had been lost back then."This is where Hux is?" Temiri asked, unfolding his arms and pointing at the holomap of the planet, as he glanced at the Mon Calamari.Aftab nodded. "We received confirmation yesterday. There's a sizeable community about two miles west of the base. Hux, in his hubris, ventured there with a few of his loyalists. They didn't seem to be hiding themselves very well, but were noted to be in slight disguises — hats on their heads, hanging low over their eyes, and wearing unremarkable clothing. But we have our own loyalists. A loyal citizen of the Republic happened to be there, making a delivery of some sort, when they spotted Hux, and they managed to get this." Aftab pressed something else on the table, disappearing the image of the planet and instead projected a looping holo of a man in his late fifties, with unmistakable red hair, which was greying, and also wearing a beard. "My friends — I give you Armitage Hux."The only image of Hux that had been circulating around the galaxy, since his escape from Sunspot Prison nearly two years earlier, was from his prisoner ID; in which he looked rather gaunt, had short hair, and wore a fuller, more scraggly beard. The holo of the former First Order General had him looking a bit healthier, with longer hair, and the beard he wore now was kept trimmed close to his face."He has such cold eyes," Zeda declared; her voice light and airy. "It's unnerving.""Imagine being in the same room with him," Poe quipped, glancing at the Umbaran Jedi Knight."So what's the plan?" Leia wondered, looking primarily between her parents.Even Aftab and the rest of his team of commanding officers, who were also standing around the holomap table, seemed to be differing their attention to Poe and Crisara instead. But, before either could offer a suggestion, it was Temiri who spoke first and took point."We send a small team down to Derra IV," he decided. "Five. Six of us at most. And the initial ground team should be primarily Jedi." Leaning forward on the table, he stared through the still continuously looping holo of Hux and focused his attention onto Aftab. "You have soldiers, trained in combat and how to engage an enemy. We," he gestured around the table to his mother, siblings and friends, "have trained the same, but we can bring more to the table. I'm not just saying that to be boastful either. You fought alongside my parents during the last war and witnessed what the best soldier, the best pilot can do," he pointed at Poe, "but you also witnessed what a Jedi could do." After pointing next to Crisara, he set his hand back down on the table. "If the Resistance had had an entire squadron or legion of Jedi at its disposal, more than just my mother or Rey, the First Order-Resistance War would've been over before it began. Again, I'm not trying to be boastful. It's just fact. This is why Chancellor Vecta wanted Jedi Knights stationed on all Republic Starcruisers. For moments like this. Hell, I'll go to ground alone if I have to. There's no need to risk any of the Republic soldiers for this, when I or we," he looked next between Caro and Leia, "can do this."Poe tensed up. He'd been out of the military game for quite a long time, but he wasn't too old yet to still kick ass and take names. He just didn't like the idea of passing the buck to younger generation, which included his children. He may have more or less retired from that life after and gone on to do other things, but he'd always be a soldier.You could take the soldier out of the fight but you couldn't take the fight out of the soldier."This sort of operation needs to be handled with care. We can't risk letting Hux get away again," Poe prefaced. Seeing his eldest sigh, as if thinking his father was going to contradict all the things he'd just said, Poe held his hand up and looked directly at him. "I agree with you. Jedi should be part of the ground team, or be the ground team. But, if that's how it's going to be done, I'm joining the flight team." Turning and looking at Aftab, Poe stood a bit straighter. "Give me an X-wing, and let me do what I'm best at. Give me a squadron of your best pilots to lead.""I'll introduce you to Gold Squadron after this meeting is complete," Aftab assured, agreeing with Poe's request. Who better lead to an endeavor like this than the galaxy's best pilot? "Commander Boff will be over the moon to be given an opportunity to fly alongside you.""I'll be joining my son," Crisara announced; flashing Temiri a resolute smile."The flight team will give away too much too soon," Caro interjected. He slipped around the holomap table to where Aftab was and reached forward to press a few buttons. The image of Hux disappeared and the map of Derra IV returned. He zoomed further out, though, to show the entire planet and its immediate orbit. "Derra has no moon. If that base where Hux and his loyalists are camped out in are monitoring the comings and goings around the planet, a squadron of Republic X-wings will surely be cause for alarm and send them scattering to the four winds. My guess is they have contingency plans in place for something like that. From what I've learned over the years about Hux, and from what we all more or less know, he isn't exactly stupid. He always seems to find a way to slither away like the snake he is. So, we have to go into this situation with the same approach. The Jedi team, for a lack of better words, will need to get there in an unassuming ship. We can't take X-wings, Y-wings or even the Millennium Falcon. They're too known and affiliated with the Republic.""We'll take my ship," Leia offered up. "We'll take the Skywalker. I've only had it barely two years, and haven't flown around in it too much. It's not very likely to be on any Huxist radar.""Huxist," Nik repeated with a smirk. "All in favor of coining that as the official term for those asshats: say 'aye'." All eyes shifted to him, but no one responded. There was enough of a feeling on the Bridge, however, that Huxist worked for all of them. Clearing his throat, he added, "Count me in as part of the Jedi ground team. But we should also figure out a cool name for ourselves. Team Lightsaber gets my vote."Leia looked up at him and rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Nik," she remarked with a coy smile.Crisara looked between the pair, and was suddenly reminded of her and Poe during the last war. It brought a tiny smirk to her lips. "Alright," she spoke up, effortlessly commanding attention toward her instead. "The Jedi will be A team, and the flight squadron will be B team." Ignoring Nik's joking pout, Crisara took over at the table's controls; only feeling a little bad for commandeering the meeting away from the ship's General. Zooming in on the map of the planet, to where the town where Hux had been spotted was located, she pointed at it. "We'll take the Skywalker to the spaceport there, and then we'll walk toward this ridge here. It's a little more than two miles, so it should only take us no more than forty-five minutes to get there. An hour at most."Zeda nodded in agreement. "The area between the ridge and the base within that mountain is pretty out in the open, but we can easily cloak ourselves with the Force once we get near enough. We won't have to waste barely any energy by not doing it the entire walk. We take quadnocs with us and we scout the immediate vicinity, and we all stick together. No one diverges from the group."Crisara looked around at this younger generation, made up of the children she'd birthed, raised and trained since childhood. She couldn't be more proud of how strong they stood and how capable she knew they were. "This is our chance," she declared, shifting her hand over to rest it atop Poe's. "We go to ground, we scout every bit of the base's exterior, and we will formulate a game plan on how best to engage. We need to have the element of surprise on our side.""If and when things take a turn, and air support is needed, then you call it in," Aftab advised, clearly agreeing to every bit of this plan so far. "I'll send Poe and all of Gold Squadron in for the assist. Only the best pilots for something of this caliber. I'll also send in Team C at the same time.""Team C?" Len asked; having been standing off to the side."A battalion of the Republic Army's best soldiers. Team D is the team I hope not to call in.""And…what's Team D?""Medics," Aftab replied. "But I'm not that naïve. If we ended up having to engage in real fight with these Huxists, medics will very likely be needed. People will get hurt, or worse. We're not at war, but we must all be in agreement that we may well be in for a hell of a fight, regardless. We don't know how extensive the Huxist resources are. Twenty-three years ago, the Resistance never got to make it to that base and see it firsthand. It hasn't seen Rebel activity in half a century. We don't know what upgrades the First Order made to it when they found it, or what the Huxists have brought to the table.""How come it was never scouted out after the last war?" Shara asked; standing off to the side, also with her younger brother."For the same reason the Empire overlooked it. It was so out of the way, and considered of little value. The Resistance may have won the last war, like the Rebels in the previous war, and we were getting our footing afterward just the same. There was a lot of rebuilding, and sometimes things get overlooked. Mistakes get made sometimes.""But also, anyone who mattered in the First Order had been present on Exegol during that battle and all lost their lives," Poe remarked. "Not many of importance survived long after that, or were captured. Very few escaped. The only reason Hux escaped the end of the war is because no one in the Resistance knew he was alive. We all thought he'd died on Exegol until he randomly resurfaced on Cantonica. And he was Hux, so the fact that he had any Stormtroopers still in his command was just as shocking.""Why's that?" Leia wondered."Because he had the personality of a fence post and looked like a sickly womprat who just drank a pint of piss."Caro tried to maintain a look of seriousness and not to laugh at his father's explanation, but it definitely painted a concise picture. "So, all in Team A?" he asked, raising his hand up level with his shoulder.Without hesitation, his mother and Temiri raised their hands, and then so did Leia, Zeda, Nik, and even Len, but Poe shook his head at his youngest son."No," Poe insisted. "You chose to stop your Jedi training, to be a pilot instead at New Academy. And you're too young, anyway.""I'm eighteen," Len asserted, placing his hands on his hips. "Grandpa Luke was nineteen when he blew up the Death Star.""Are you nineteen?" Off his son's deflated silence, Poe added, "Exactly. You're sitting this out."Frowning, the youngest Dameron tipped his face downward, as not to argue. He just hated the fact that most of his family would be going off to fight and he was expected to just — what? Stand around on the ship and twiddle his thumbs?"I'll be here on the Bridge with General Ackbar and the others. You can keep me company," Shara suggested; placing a hand against her brother's arm. "There are other ways to fight that don't involve blasters or lightsabers."Len merely sighed. "I guess so.""However it goes on Derra, be ever mindful of yourself and your surroundings," Crisara spoke as she once again gained everyone's attention. "Don't be reckless. Think before you act, but don't let yourself get lost in your thoughts. Trust your feelings and let the Force guide you. Don't let your guards down for one second. I have trained each of you. I have watched you grow in your abilities and I am thoroughly proud of the men and women you have become. I also love all of you." She focused not only on just her children but also Nik and Zeda. "All of you." Then after a beat, she added, "So try not to fuck this up."With a few smiles and a few chuckles, the Jedi Knights around the holomap table broke away and began to leave the Bridge, and Crisara began to follow. Poe, however, hesitated and grabbed hold of her wrist while he watched Shara sidle up beside Aftab, asking him where she could be useful. He was also quite aware of how lost Len seemed to be; not exactly sure where he'd actually be useful like his Jedi siblings or more politically-minded sister."Hey," Poe softly muttered. With a small sigh, he smirked once Crisara eyed him. "Like old times, huh?"Smiling back at him; she raised a hand to the side of his face. "More like we're old and this is all new." Her eyes shifted between where Shara stood and where Len stood, and then toward the retreating forms of the others. "I've spent the last — what — year and half traveling with primarily Tem or Caro, and sometimes Zeda, Nik or even Finn. We never really saw any action. It was all mostly reconnaissance and often felt more like we were just wasting our time; yielding no results. Now, it's all of our children here. You're here." Her blue eyes focused back upon Poe's handsome face as he stared lovingly back at her. "I never thought I'd be going off into any sort of actual fight with my entire family, and I'm not afraid to admit I'm a little scared." Crisara frowned. "What if something happens?"Slipping a hand to her waist, Poe tipped his face closer to hers and looked up at her more through his eyebrows. "And what if nothing happens? Take to your own damn advice, woman.""I said a lot of things. Which advice, specifically?"Gently, he pressed his forehead to hers. "Try not to fuck this up."A rather bubbly giggle escaped her mouth. "I'll try.""No, but seriously," he continued; his gaze practically peering into her soul. "Be careful, don't be reckless, and come back to me." Leaning in, Poe pressed his lips to hers, and whispered, "Bring them all back to me.""I will."  It wasn't just a cold winter wind that chilled to the bone and had Caro frowning. There was something deep down in his very soul that felt off; something he was sure the Force was trying to tell him or warn him about.After departing the Organa on board the Skywalker, he'd settled in beside Zeda in the pair of seats across from the ship's turbo lift down to the cargo hold; which was just outside the cockpit where his mother and Nik sat behind Leia and Temiri at the comscan operator and navigator stations. The latter pair had resumed their earlier placement at the pilot and co-pilot chairs, as they had after leaving Kashyyyk. Leia's astromech was firmly planted almost directly behind her, plugged into a dataport to help with cloaking the ship's manifest for when they reached the spaceport on Derra IV; falsifying the name of the ship, the name of who it was owned by, how many people were on board and the purpose for coming to Derra IV. All this was done just in case the Huxists were monitoring any and all comings and goings. With R6-KT taking care of that, Leia and Temiri could place their focus on reaching the planet, which wasn't as cut and dry as they might've hoped.The route there took them through the Zavian Abyss, which was a hazardous area of space in the Expansion Region. It was a maelstrom of electricity filled with asteroids and a lot wrecked starships, including the wreckage of an old Venator-class Star Destroyer. To say the journey through it was a bumpy ride would've been an understatement. Even with the help of the Force and being physically strapped into their seats, the five humans and singular Umbaran felt like they were being jostled around like marbles in a tin can. Fortunately for them, they made it out the other end without injury and with no damage to the Skywalker, or at least no damage that couldn't be fixed by R6-KT when it stayed with the ship while the others ventured out.Soon enough, they'd made their approach to Derra IV. During their descent into the planet's atmosphere, and the nearer they got to the spaceport in question, that foreboding feeling started to get stronger for Caro. It was the same feeling he'd had months before the Grand Plaza Attack, and which he assumed had culminated in that attack and the loss of Sessani. But it was back again and more unsettling than before.With his brow furrowed and his gaze focused on the floor, he was so lost in his thoughts that he barely felt the delicate grasp of Zeda's white fingers curling around his hand. The warmth of her skin against his was a welcomed distraction. When he lifted his head and turned to look at her, he smiled and began to feel more put at ease by the way her silver grey eyes stared into his blue ones. It felt like being safe at home."Are you alright? You feel so tense and uncertain," she quietly observed. "Are you worried about this mission being successful?"Caro sighed. "Something like that.""What more?""Remember I told you about that feeling I had a couple years ago? That people were going to die?"Zeda knitted her brow together with concern. "I do." Removing her hand from his, she lifted it up to brush aside some hair off his forehead and then caressed a knuckle against his cheek. "It's returned?""And it feels worse," he nodded."You know what your mother always tells us," she remarked; leaning closer to him as she kept her voice as low as a whisper, if not lower, in case her voice should carry into the cockpit. She knew he didn't want to give the others any further reason to worry when they were already heading into something that was very potentially dangerous. She knew he wanted to make sure everyone else maintained clear heads."To not center on our anxieties," Caro replied just as quietly. "To not focus on what's to come but on the here and now.""Yes. So, do that."And so Caro tried. He really did.Once the Skywalker had landed at the spaceport, and after they'd made their way through the town and then beyond it, there were no buildings to block the cold, winter wind that whipped around and chilled them to the bone. There were plenty of trees, which they tried to keep to, more for tactical reasons rather than from the elements, but it was winter on Derra IV, so the branches were bare from the leaves having fallen during the previous, autumnal season."Cloaks were a smart idea," Nik remarked, wrapping himself up tightly in his. "This place is freezing.""It's only for a few hours, hopefully," Crisara contended. "At least we're not stuck here, separated from our loved ones and calling this place home for months on end."Caro snapped his attention away from his thoughts long enough to have caught his mother's commentary. "You're referring to that time when I was with Grandpa Kes during the war?"Crisara turned and looked over her shoulder at her son. "Yes, when we were on Haven. Small planet, and very desolate. There were no settlements anywhere. Just our mountain base, which was drafty. And we were there during the height of its long winter season. When it had just finally started to warm up a smidge, we were compromised. The First Order discovered our location and we had to get gone real quick."Leia smiled warmly at this recollection of her mother's. It was from one of those times her parents had each told her and her siblings about. "The day you had to flee Haven was the day dad told you he loved you for the first time," she noted. "And you wimped out instead of saying it back."Looking over her other shoulder at her daughter, Crisara couldn't help herself but chuckle. "Yes, okay, I did wimp out, but I was scared. I'd been hurt before, and even though I knew I loved your father, I was scared to say it. I worried about giving my heart away in case I got hurt again or…" She sighed. "Or if I lost him. I hadn't had my vision of our future after the war yet. I didn't know he would survive it and I was scared he'd do something stupid and get himself killed on some mission, or during a battle."Leia continued to smile and sidled up beside her mother. "We still have about another mile to go. Tell us again about how you finally told him you loved him."Despite the chaos of that particular day, leading up to the Battle of Exegol, Crisara smiled as well. "Well, we were on Pasaana, looking for a Sith wayfinder…"  "Supreme Leader, the ship we were warned about has landed at the spaceport about thirty minutes ago."Armitage Hux stood behind one of his loyalists, who was sat in front of a communications console that had seen better days — or, rather, decades. But, beggars couldn't be choosers and all that. "Let me know when that message from our dear benefactor on Baros comes through. We need those funds yesterday," he asked of the loyalist as he all but sneered. With a huff, he turned around to face the person who had spoken to him, and he immediately changed his tune. His gruff tone and miserable scowl faded. Both a look and a feeling of blatant desire came to the surface. "I'm sorry. What was that, my darling?"A raven-haired woman in her late thirties stood before him; dressed in all black and her hair pulled upward into a severe bun. Even the ankle-length coat she wore, because of the terrible chill in the air, was black. And she was gorgeous. Her skin was pale like his and her eyes were also green, but considerably darker. She had a strong jaw, thick but impeccably arched eyebrows and lovely, full lips painted red. She could have her pick of any man in the entire galaxy and, for reasons Hux couldn't completely understand, she had chosen him. Her beauty, her cunning, and her unruffled personality made her a veritable dark angel in his eyes. She was perfection to him, and the icing on the cake was that she didn't shy away from doing that thing he liked in private."The ship we were warned about from our little spy has arrived. It landed at the spaceport in town thirty minutes ago," Gremma Santhe, eldest daughter of the Santhe family and now a fugitive, informed. "We'll have company soon. And, if our little spy is correct, we'll have several Jedi Knights to contend with, and they're being led by Crisara Dameron, who we all know isn't your number one fan.""She's not exactly mine either," Hux retorted. Then, a bit thoughtfully, he added, "Though, if it weren't for her testimony at my trial, I would've been sentenced to death by the Republic twenty years ago. For some reason she took pity on me." He smiled, more to himself. "A mistake on her part. Had the roles been reversed, I would not have hesitated, either time she had the chance to end my life, to have ended hers."Reaching her hands up, Gremma patted and smoothed down the lapels of his equally long jacket. "You may get that chance soon." Eyeing him rather devilishly, she stepped even closer to him. "But, I think it best we get the bulk of our transports ready to leave, just in case we need to abandon ship, so to speak. Our next base of operations is more or less ready.""It's not exactly ideal, though, is it?""Have any of them been ideal?"Raising an impish eyebrow down at her, he grabbed firmly at her hips. "Your family's hunting cabin was quite memorable.""Yes, it most certainly was." Noticing the loyalist at the communications console trying very hard to ignore Hux and Gremma's fawning, Gremma cleared her throat and stepped back a hair. "Any location can be memorable, but I worry that if we don't prepare to leave this place at a moment's notice, we won't get the chance to make new memories, or succeed in our endeavors."Hux sighed heavily. "You're right, of course. And several Jedi Knights knocking down our metaphorical door is definitely not ideal, especially when at least one of them would like to see my head on a silver plate.""Good thing we have at least one ace up our sleeve.""Yes." Hux nodded in agreement. "That was good luck on our part; finding that brick shithouse on Nar Haaska." Lifting his hand to the side of her face, he brushed the pad of his thumb against her cheek. "Time to rouse the not-so-gentle giant.""I'll let him know his services will be needed." With a knowing smile, Gremma retreated from him in the base's command center.Hux watched after her for a few moments; just admiring the sway of her hips with every step she took, and then inhaled a deep, calming breath. Before he'd had the good fortune of meeting her, he'd never given much thought to the legacy he would leave behind; specifically a family of his own, children of his own. What with the cruel, belligerent fool that had been his own father, he'd never cared much to continue his bloodline. But, then certain people come into your life and things change. For the first time in a very, very long time, Armitage Hux had hope and a reason to look to the future.Armitage Hux was blissfully in love."Attention, my dear friends!" he announced, raising his voice to make sure he was heard. "We're going to have some unwelcome guests very soon. It's likely we'll need to cut our losses again and make for a quick exit, but that isn't anything you're unfamiliar with and cannot handle. You have my utmost faith!" He grinned with pride as his piercing, light green eyes scanned the obedient faces looking back at him. "Remember: there is no shame in retreat. It means we live to defeat another day!"As his loyalists rallied enthusiastically in cacophonous unison, Hux began to swell with confidence.  Thanks in part to a considerable amount of tree coverage, Crisara and the others were able to make their way up toward the ridge. They scaled the incline without issue; keeping low to the ground so that the shrubbery could conceal them even further. They hadn't needed to fall back on using any form of Force cloaking, which was ideal because it didn't drain any of their energy and leave them feeling weak or exhausted. Crouched between some thick bushes or behind thick tree trunks that peppered the sloping gradient, Caro wordlessly passed the quadnocs he'd been carrying in his satchel off to his mother without being asked. As she was the only Jedi Master among them, she was the leader of this team and was taking point. Plus, she was the one who'd served in a war and helped lead the winning side to victory. It only made sense to yield to her knowledge and experience on such matters."There seems to be some heightened activity," she quietly announced, peering through the quadnocs and then zooming in. "They're loading a bunch of crates onto a few ground vehicles that are exiting the base. They're preparing for something or to do something."The opening to the mountain base was a very subtle opening, but if you knew what you were looking for it was rather obvious. Between the base opening and the ridge, where they sat perched assessing the situation, was a narrow valley. Fortunately for them, they had come from the other side of the ridge and hadn't needed to travel along the valley or else they, for sure, would've been spotted; Force cloaking or not. The valley contained a man-made road that led directly toward the town they'd arrived to, but they had opted for the smarter option of stealth and to veer away from the beaten path, which added an extra thirty-ish minutes to their jaunt, but it was better to be safe than sorry."You can feel it in the air," Temiri commented, in regard to his mother's analysis; leaning back on the heels of his boots and inhaling a calming breath. His eyes were closed in concentration, but he could've easily been mistaken for meditating or sleeping with how still he looked. "I sense uncertainty and anxiousness."Leia leaned forward and raised an eyebrow at her oldest brother. "You can feel those specific feelings from those in that base, all the way from here?""No," Temiri replied with a shake of his head. He turned and looked briefly at his sister and then over her shoulder toward Nik. "You okay?"Nik locked eyes with him and steeled his resolve. "I'm fine. Just…I suppose I'm just getting a bit in my head. Since the Grand Plaza Attack, and all the time since, leading up to now…it's daunting.""It's what we've been waiting for," Caro remarked, shuffling a bit closer toward his mother as he gestured to her for the quadnocs. He wanted to see the activity for himself. "All this time, all the traveling across the galaxy to find Hux, and he's finally in reach.""So, basically, let's not fuck this up," Leia parroted her mother's only slightly teasing words of advice from aboard the Organa, which drew a few amused looks her way from the others. They rarely heard her swear. "What?"Nik emitted a sigh as he sank back to sit more comfortably upon the ground. "How long do we just wait here? What exactly is our plan to smoke Hux out?"Crisara didn't get a chance to answer.Caro did it for her."Not long," he replied, zooming in a hair closer to where he was already looking through the quadnocs. "I see Hux.""That's great," Zeda delighted; moving closer to place a hand upon his shoulder.Crisara, however, frowned. She felt doubt in her son. "What more to you see?"Dropping the quadnocs, a grimace took up residence on his face. "He's…staring back at us. Or, rather, in our direction." Looking directly at his mother, then over his shoulder at his siblings and Nik. "He knows we're here."Scrambling forward, Leia took the quadnocs from Caro and looked through them for herself. "Mom," she muttered with a tone filled with deep worry.The elder female glanced at her daughter. "What is it?""There's some sort of large cannon being dragged out of the base and being aimed in our direction."When Crisara snatched the quadnocs from Leia, to see the danger they were now in, she almost turned a shade of white. "Scatter!" she shouted. She jumped up and watched as her children, Nik, and Zeda did the same. "Go, go, go!"As they darted down the incline toward the valley, there was an unmistakable feeling akin to static in the air. The weapon down below was charging up and preparing to fire at any moment, which meant they didn't have long to get down. With the Force on their side, they could increase their speed, which was literally a slippery slope, what with the dusting of snow coating the slanting ground. Each of them slid and stumbled a bit, no matter how graceful they could be. Trees helped; allowing them to grab on and prevent falling over, or to push off of to propel themselves forward. Before they made it to the base of the smaller mountainside they'd been atop of, a substantial laser fired far enough above their heads; violently striking the vicinity of the ridge where they'd been. Immediately, the ground underfoot quaked and chunks of stone and dirt shot upward before cascading downward like falling snow or tumbling down after them. Plenty of trees were uprooted; chunks of wood from the trunks and branches being thrust in every direction. Had the ridge and its mountainside been buried in feet of snow, the fleeing Jedi would've had an avalanche on their hands. Instead it was just projectiles made from nature because of a laser."Ahh!"It was Zeda.Caro whipped around, nearly falling in the process when he almost missed the root sticking out, to see if she was okay. His eyes immediately darted toward the bloody gash in her left arm. He slowed his pace and reached out for her; grabbing her by the hand and yanking her to him. Slipping an arm around her waist, he jumped with her. Fortunately she knew enough to guess what he was doing, and they both were able to tuck and roll when they landed at the base of the mountain. Unable to remain upon the ground for long because of the upended soil, stone, wood and other natural debris cascading downward, Caro dragged them both up to their feet and continued to run.Temiri had sidled up beside his mother and the two of them had darted in a completely different direction than Caro and Zeda. Using the gradient of the mountainside to their advantage, they both dropped to ground and slid downward part of the way until they got close enough to hoof it on foot. They leapt and jump over logs and small boulders, somersaulting and landing lithely upon their feet, and then found themselves stepping out further into the open of the valley."Are you okay?" Crisara asked of her son.He nodded adamantly and then cast his eyes upward toward the ridge and glowered at the blast zone where they'd been. Had Caro or Leia not noticed Hux or the cannon in time, they'd likely all be dead. "So much for stealth," he quipped with little to no amusement in his voice.Not too far from mother and son, Leia and Nik had more or less tumbled without their usual grace, but it was only because the blast had dislodged a boulder the size of bantha. The boulder had caught them off guard and clipped Nik in the right shoulder, which sent him smacking into Leia. That, in turn, caused her to smack into a tree trunk and then they both rolled, ass over teakettle the rest of the way down the sloping terrain; both just narrowly missing impalement by a rather sharp branch that instead lodged into the ground between them.By the time the six of them gathered their wits and made their way over toward one another, while briefly trying to assess any injuries, they stared ahead toward the opening of the base and spotted a few dozen armed Huxists. They were wearing makeshift armor made from plastoid breastplates and pauldrons that clearly came from old Stormtrooper uniforms and that were now coated in something metallic and shiny. All were armed with rather sturdy-looking blasters and had moved into formation for an assault against the Jedi.Strong in the Force they may be, but "Team A" was technically outnumbered when it came to numbers and literal firepower.Crisara looked over her shoulder at her children; all of them. Zeda and Nik included. Wordlessly she moved to stand in front of them and, without hesitation, Temiri and Caro moved to stand behind her, but off to the side. As all six of them took their lightsabers in hand, Leia moved to stand beside Temiri and Zeda stepped up beside Caro. Nik, grimacing from the pain in his shoulder, which he was certain was dislocated, was forced to take hold of his own weapon in his non-dominant left hand since it was too painful to lift his right arm up at the moment.From somewhere, behind all the armed and armored Huxists, Hux's voice carried. "Long time, no see, Master Dameron!" he shouted with a hint of amusement in his voice.Glaring, Crisara ignited her blade. "Why don't you come forward and let me actually see you!" she shouted right back. Behind her, her five Jedi Knights ignited their blades — two blue, like hers but not as light, one purple, one green and one white. "Or are you planning on hiding behind your guards while they once again die at my hands? Did you tell them about Canto Bight, by any chance?"Temiri smirked.He knew that story better than the others. He'd been older and it had taken place mere hours before Crisara had found him. That had been the day his life had truly begun. That day he had taken his first steps to become a Jedi but, more importantly, as a boy proud to call her his mother. And this day, he hoped he could finally avenge Sessani's death.He knew that sort of thinking wasn't exactly on brand for being a Jedi, but…well…sometimes it wasn't all black and white. There was a grey area in-between. Some might call it revenge, some justice. Temiri considered it to be both and he was fine with that."Well, come on now, I'm not stupid enough to put myself in the line of fire!" Hux verbally parried."Just stupid enough to think you'll survive a galactic manhunt!" Temiri shouted."I've survived this long!" Then, Hux added, "And who is it that just spoke? One of Master Dameron's Jedi lackeys, I assume?""Her son!"Hux, from behind the frontlines of his loyalists, whispered at one of them. "How many exactly are they?""Six, sir."Hux scoffed initially, but he was aware of what only just Crisara had managed on Canto Bight. One Jedi had taken down an entire battalion on her own. Now there were six, but the others were mere children compared to her. And he had better weapons now and an ace up his sleeve.With a sigh, he shouted to his loyalists, "Fire!"And, just like that, a barrage of laser fire began. However, much like during the Grand Plaza Attack, the present Jedi were able to parry those bolts or deflect them with the Force. A few blasts they were forced to dodge and duck, but it didn't stop them. They began to advance; though, so did the Huxists.Nik, trying to bury some of his anxieties deep down, was suddenly feeling a sense of déjà vu, but not in regard to the Grand Plaza Attack. Glancing over at Crisara and seeing how firm and resolute she seemed, it reminded him of the day she'd found him on Nar Shaddaa and taken him away from that horrible life he'd been forced to lead. He was suddenly filled with worry that this fight against the Huxists would get her killed for real this time. He remembered seeing Mama shoot Crisara with that dart. He remembered watching as a stunned Crisara used the Force to rip Mama in half. He remembered Crisara falling to the ground as the fight for her life had begun. And thinking of all that brought those bad memories of his life before Crisara back to the forefront of his mind. He remembered the abuse. He could almost feel Papa's or his thugs' hands on him. He could almost feel their breath. He could feel the pain; both the physical and emotional. He could feel the rage inside him brewing, and he was trying very hard to not let it consume him; as Crisara had taught him.But he couldn't stop himself from taking a few liberties in this fight. While he couldn't raise his right arm too high because of his shoulder, he could still use his hand to channel the Force. Focusing on a Huxist, he began to levitate and Force choke them. Practically growling, as he envisioned the Huxist as being Papa or his thugs, Nik snapped the Huxist's neck as easily as snapping a twig. Without missing a beat, he set his eyes upon the next Huxist in his line of sight and began to do the same thing."Zeda," Caro muttered over his shoulder. "Get behind me. Call for reinforcements."Obliging him, Zeda slipped behind Caro, who acted as a shield, and brought her wrist comm up to her mouth while the firefight on the ground continued.  "Go!" Poe shouted as he ran through the main hangar of the Organa.Pulling off his jacket in the process, he turned toward the awaiting X-wings and was ushered over to the one he would be flying. A nearby mechanic tossed a flight suit and flak vest at him. While he slipped both on as quickly as he could manage, the rest of "B Team" was doing the same; getting suited up while the droids in their ships were beginning pre-flight checks. When another person in the hangar crew handed a life support unit to wear over his flak vest, Poe was momentarily distracted by Len, who was approaching with a helmet for his father to wear.Poe sighed as he looked at his youngest son. "I can see it in your eyes: you want to join me."Len shrugged. "Yeah, but there aren't enough X-wings and Y-wings to go around," he replied. "And I don't think General Ackbar would sign off on it anyway. But, to be fair, Grandpa Luke was barely a year older than me when he jumped in an X-wing and blew up the Death Star, so…I mean…""No," Poe firmly spoke. "Stay here. Stay safe." He eyed Len all while climbing up into the X-wing. "I can't have all my children in danger." Sinking down into the cockpit, he reached a hand over the side and finally accepted the helmet from his son. "Please, Len. I know, historically, you like to do the opposite of what I say but, in this moment, just sit still. Join your sister on the Bridge. Do whatever Aftab asks of you."With a sigh, Len clasped his hands behind his back. "I promise not to be stupid and get myself killed."Poe frowned. "That's not what I asked," he lamented, shoving the helmet on. "Just…please, Len.""Yeah, sure."Poe wasn't sure if Len was really going to do as he was told or not. He didn't have time to focus on it, though. His wife, the rest of his children and two of her Knights were in dire need of air support. They were being bombarded in a firefight against an increasingly large number of Huxists.As the cockpit canopy to Poe's X-wing came down, Len watched as his father was the first to taxi out of the hangar and dart out into the glittery abyss of space. As the rest of the squadron of X-wing and Y-wing pilots followed suit, Len swelled with pride to see his father take lead as he once would've, over twenty years ago during the war. Len also felt a pang of jealously; wishing very much to do more than just sit back and monitor it all from a command deck. When he began to back out of the main hangar, he was surprised to find Shara waiting for him with a rather conflicted look upon her face. He could feel the doubt and conflict within her."Dad will be fine," Len assured. "He's the galaxy's best pilot, after all.""I'm not worried about that.""Then why do you look and feel worried?""Because I should be doing more.""You're the politician in training," he teased as the mechanics and the rest of hangar crew went back to doing whatever it was they did when there were no ships to tinker with. "Strategize with Ackbar or whatever."With a sigh, Shara folded her arms across her chest and looked her younger brother in the eye. "I'm about to suggest something very out of character for me, which I know might sound crazy coming from me but that I know you'll be on board with."Len was already smiling. He could see the wheels turning in her head and already had a sense for what she was about to say. "Oh yeah?""I hate flying. But I can navigate with my eyes closed. You can fly and fly really well, when you're not making out and crashing.""Okay, that particular instance was one time," Len grumbled."I assume you mean the making out part because you've crashed more than once. I just need you to promise me that you won't crash this time.""This time?" he repeated.Shara nodded. "If we're going to help our family kick ass and save the day, we're gonna need a ship. And we're going to need the fastest ship, because B Team just got a head start."Len followed his sister's gaze over toward the Millennium Falcon and he immediately chuckled with delight. "Oh hell yes!" Without hesitation, he began to dart forward toward their family's YT-1300 light freighter while Shara followed after him at a slightly slower pace. "At least I won't have to take the sole blame if anything goes wrong. You get to share in that now, and it might be better this way. You know dad would never reprimand the good child.""I'm not always good."Len scoffed. "Yeah. Right," he countered sarcastically. "How about, while we get the Falcon started, you regale me with your many evil deeds.""Oh, shut up."  The armored Huxists were falling, one by one. But it seemed that every time one fell, another two took their place. However, the Jedi knew those numbers would dwindle soon enough. It was just a matter of holding the line. They just didn't know about the ace up Hux's sleeve that he soon called for.Crisara had just barely heard his voice over the din of blaster fire and other voices going back and forth; shouting for the "big guns" to be brought in. She assumed he meant another sort of cannon or artillery. She wasn't expecting the mountain of a Falleen male. His arms were easily as thick as her head, as were his thighs. He was muscled and ripped, plain and simple, and he could rival Chewbacca in height. But, stature and build aside, that wasn't what was alarming about him.He was wielding not one but two lightsabers; one was blue, the other green. They were the most common colors for the plasma blades, and Crisara was able to deduce the weapons had been found and claimed by the Falleen who exuded the Force in potent waves. But there was little to no light in him. She could feel the darkness in him like heat from a raging fire. She stared upward at him and could peer easily enough into his mind. She could see he had never been formally trained by anyone. He'd learned a variety of martial arts on the streets, growing up an orphan. She could see he wasn't very old, nor was he too young; likely somewhere in his early thirties. His face and any other exposed skin revealed countless old, but healed scars; denoting he'd been in many scrapes and fights over the years. Considering he was standing there now, he knew how to win. But, also considering he was a Force user who had let his lifelong anger and rage drag him down into the dark side, but clearly had no formal training, she knew he didn't have the knowledge to build his own lightsabers or bleed the crystals in the ones he held to turn them the traditional red of a Sith blade. He was merely using what had become available to him."I have a bad feeling about this," Caro murmured.Crisara cast a brief glance at her son. "Rey and I fought and killed the Emperor, the most powerful Sith of all time. This lunk is just one, untrained man. Brutish, sure, but there are more of us than him," she insisted.Despite her assurance, she sensed the faint doubt in her Knights. After all, they'd only sparred with each other and fought to protect during the Grand Plaza Attack. There had been very few and far between instances where they found themselves in a fight, but none of those fights had ever been with another Force user they didn't already know, and one that was aligned with the dark side. They'd only ever heard the stories of dark side users, like the Emperor, Darth Vader and Kylo Ren. This was their first time seeing one for themselves, and it was understandably daunting. The Falleen's height and build didn't help either."It seems, in your many years collecting students for your little Jedi school, that you missed one!" Hux taunted; obscured by the Falleen and the rest of the still-standing Huxists. "Your loss, my gain!""It's never too late to join the light side. No one starts out in the dark," Crisara spoke; slowly and gingerly approaching the Falleen. When Temiri shuffled forward and muttered something to her about not doing what she was doing, she gestured back at him to stay put with her free hand. "I tried my hardest, traveling the galaxy, to find Force users who deserved the opportunities for a better life and to be properly trained in the ways of the Force, but I couldn't be everywhere, and I have never stopped looking." She was speaking directly to the Falleen. "I'm sorry I never found you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to give you a home, or a found family. But it's never too late. My grandfather was Darth Vader, my cousin Kylo Ren. They returned to the light and they were two of the most dangerous men this galaxy's ever seen. If they can do it, so can you."The Falleen just stood there, staring down at her with a sneer, as she stepped even closer and stood directly in front of him, barely three feet away. The Huxists, for whatever reason, had ceased firing their blasters; likely to pull back for the sake of letting the Falleen take point and then follow his lead. Or, maybe they were just waiting on Hux to give the word to continue. Nothing about this entire fight seemed very organized, on either side, because neither side had really been expecting any sort of fight until about an hour or so ago. They were all flying by the seats of their pants.Suddenly, the Falleen's sneer shifted upward into a devilish grin. Derisive, almost. "I don't need a home or a found family. I have myself," he proclaimed; his voice powerfully deep and rough. "I have power. People fear me and that pleases me." Taking a step forward, he towered even more over Crisara. "And you are just some weak, old woman with one lightsaber. I have two."Without hesitation, he swung one of his lightsabers down at Crisara's midsection, but she had the forethought to jump out of the way. As she skidded backward, her free hand dragging across the ground, which was covered in a light dusting of snow, she whipped her head upward and jumped upward; propelling her body to flip over him."Well, I tried to appeal to your better angels," she remarked; immediately spinning around and raising her blade to block both of his, which he crossed one over the other, as he brought them down toward her head. "And I'm not old." With her free hand she Force pushed him, but not very far. She didn't take into account his girth. "I'm matured.""Why are you just standing there? Fire!" Hux barked.Crisara immediate whipped her head around; realizing she was between the Falleen and the Huxists, but now she had a better view of where Hux was. If she could just push through, and reach him…But then the blaster fire began again.She ducked, she deflected on both sides, and she Force pushed others away. She was thankful her children were there, but also wished they weren't. No mother wants to see their children in dangerous situations, even if they're trained for such things.Temiri and Leia ran forward first; going for the Falleen. With the hulking galoot distracted by the younger pair, Crisara set her sights on getting to Hux. Caro and Zeda were helping to deflect some of those blasts, meant for them and Crisara; doing so for the latter to help clear a path for her. Hux seemed to realize what was going on and began to retreat. Twirling her blade sideways, she cut a Huxist down and then slashed in the opposite direction to strike at another Huxist. With her left hand extended outward, she shoved several others backward with a vigorous Force push while Nik returned to lifting a few Huxists up; tossing them or snapping their necks. Crisara hadn't seen any of that, but she was sensing the lives that were dropping like fumigated insects.Fortunately, none of those fallen lives belonged to her children, her Knights.Then, the mountain seemed to quake, and the ground vibrated slightly. Some rocks and stones rolled down toward the valley, along with a few tumbling tufts of snow, just before a Dissident-class light cruiser ascended from the other side of the mountain. There must've been some sort of hidden hangar entrance not accessible from the valley unless you went through the main entrance to the base and made your way through. Either way, the ship was lifting up and preparing to make a quick exit, but it was strange it would be leaving without Hux or even his dark side goon. Then again, when Hux had escaped from Lianna, he hadn't escaped on the five hundred meter long light cruiser. He'd gotten away on a smaller transport vessel; likely to meet up with the larger ship once in orbit, or maybe it had been hidden here on Derra IV all along, since it hadn't been spotted in quite a while. Maybe that was what was going to happen again. Maybe the larger ship had to make its way up into space first and set course for the next hideout, and then Hux and the others would scatter on smaller ships and eventually join the larger ship. Or maybe the Huxists were acting much in the way the Resistance had to during the war when fleeing to Crait. The larger ship was the decoy and the focal point while the small ships got away with the survivors on board.Crisara couldn't let Hux get away. She didn't care so much about the Huxists, but not him. But he had a head start and there were still many armored Huxists between him and her."Hux!" she shouted after him.Just as she was preparing to muster a lot of her energy to use a Force dash to catch up to him, a squadron of X-wings and Y-wings suddenly burst into the atmosphere and immediately began to gun for the Dissident-class light cruiser. Crisara could immediately sense Poe and knew he was up there, and she could pinpoint exactly which X-wing he was in. It was the X-wing that flew with the greatest speed and finesse. She'd paused only briefly to look upward, and so had Hux.Before he could continue forward into the base, Crisara spotted a dark-haired female stepping out to usher him inside. Crisara could feel the woman's devotion to Hux, but it was greater than that of just any of his mindless loyalists. This woman — who Crisara recognized to be Gremma Santhe — loved Hux. And, what was more, Hux loved Gremma back. Crisara could feel his longing for her, and it wasn't just physical attraction. It was honest to goodness love.Temiri's voice cut through his mother's thoughts as they ran forward into the base after Hux and Gremma. "I've got your six, mom," he announced.She'd turned around long enough to see that almost all of the Huxists had fallen, though there were a few stragglers that were giving Nik and Zeda a run for their money, while Leia and Caro tag-teamed against the Falleen dark-sider. She felt okay, believing her kids would be okay. She began to smile, feeling victory was finally within grasp. They were going to defeat Hux and his loyalists; finally and for good. They were going to end this dissidence today — here and now. Hux and every last member of his terrorist organization were either going to be arrested or die. And, as terrible as it sounded, considering her light side alignment and Jedi teachings, Crisara quietly hoped it would be the latter.Then she watched Temiri dart forward, using the Force dash Crisara had been intending to use herself. He blustered past both Hux and Gremma. When he came to a stop, he twirled around with his lightsaber; the blue blade slicing across Gremma's chest, which caused her to cry out and drop to her knees before falling face first into the ground.As Temiri took a few steadying breaths, he looked down at the woman who was dying because of him; but he felt little remorse. She was a wanted fugitive, too. She had assisted Hux and his terrorist organization. It stood to reason she may have organized many of the attacks against the Republic or even taken innocent lives herself. In the eyes of the Republic, both Hux and Gremma weren't just criminals, they were traitors. And traitors were often punished with death. Plus, Temiri had sensed the connection between the criminal pair as well. Because of Hux, Sessani had been taken from him, so now Hux would know that pain as well.Like his mother, he knew it wasn't the correct line of thought to have as a Jedi, but everything in life wasn't always black and white. Often it as grey.Hux had cried out; screaming his lamentations.However, as his ladylove died there on the ground, he knew there was nothing he could do for her now. Letting himself get caught, after all this, would mean her death had been for nothing. He had to survive. He had to escape, to live another day to continue what they'd been building toward and avenge her in due course.Managing to sidestep Temiri and avoid being struck by his lightsaber, Hux withdrew his blaster and fired a single shot without warning.  Leia and Caro were in the midst of struggling to best the Falleen when a strong sense of loss suddenly struck them both. Faltering from that distraction, Leia looked at her brother just as sharp, searing pain was inflicted upon her. In the blink of an eye, before she could react, one of the Falleen's blades had come down and severed her right arm, halfway between her wrist and elbow. Her right hand fell to the ground, leaving barely any blood to seep into the snow because of the plasma blade's instant cauterization. Leia fell backward into the snowy ground and found herself staring upward at the cloudy sky as X-wings and Y-wings were in open battle, firing at the Dissident-class light cruiser that was struggling to leave Derra IV, as well as a few transport ships that were also trying to flee the mountain base.It was chaos, but it was something for Leia to zero in on as the swelling pain of grief mingled with the physical pain of losing her hand.She'd heard Nik shouting for her. She'd felt Zeda reach her side first; attempting to pull her up against her lap while muttering words of assurance that Leia would be okay. She was able to tip her head upward and, through tears, she was able to see Caro call his sister's purple blade over to him with the Force; using hers and his as he mirrored the move their mother did earlier.Caro leapt upward and somersaulted over the Falleen, but he managed to spin around while still mid-air and used the lightsabers in each of his hands and sever the Falleen's head from his body. At the same moment he landed on his feet upon the snowy ground, so too did the dark-sider's head. Then, a moment later, the body.After getting his bearings, Caro turned his gaze toward his maimed sister and dropped to his knees; finally allowing his own sense of grief to hit him like a ton of bricks. "No," he whined. "No, no, no, no…"Zeda and Nik began to realize what happened, and could feel the loss of one of their own in the Force.Far above them, onboard the Millennium Falcon, which had just entered Derra IV's atmosphere, Shara and Len felt it, too, and Len almost flew right into one of their own in that moment of disturbance in the Force. Fortunately, he was already a great pilot, despite previous, reckless excursions that said otherwise. He pulled the Falcon upward with great ease and piloted it toward the valley where he felt Shara and he were needed most.Poe, bless him, was none the wiser about what his family was feeling and going through. All he knew was that "B Team" had just brought down the Dissident-class light cruiser, which was crashing into the mountain it had been absconding from. Poe was aware that there were a few small transports escaping, but he was positive they wouldn't get far.Poe was happy.Poe was smiling.Poe was cheering with the other pilots in the squadron he'd been leading.Poe didn't yet realize he had a reason to not be happy.  Slowly, and filled with overwhelming misery, Crisara ambled out of the cave base's entrance. She walked past the cannon that had been abandoned after the solitary blast at the ridge of the smaller mountain across the valley. She barely registered any of the bodies of the Huxists, dead or gravely wounded, upon the ground. She simply stepped over them or around them. She could barely hear the sounds of crashing and thundering explosions, let alone the crunch of her boots in the snow.All she could hear was the ringing in her ears from that single blaster bolt.All she could hear was Temiri's gasp as he muttered a simple 'mom' in her direction.Caro, who had been kneeling in the snow beside his sister, with his and her now-deactivated lightsabers, spotted their mother first. He saw her walking toward them with her arms outstretched. On her belt, her lightsaber was clipped, but across her arms were a familiar cloak, some clothes and a solitary lightsaber on top.Caro had felt what happened, the same as the others. He knew what had happened.Seeing his mother, shuffling forward in a state of shock and grief and holding what she was holding, made it all too real."Mom," he called out to her.When her distant blue eyes found his, her face contorted and fresh tears began to roll down her face. Several yards away, the Millennium Falcon descended; the thrusters kicking up snow in the process. Crisara didn't look toward the ship at all. She was trying to focus on Caro and then Leia, who she was now realizing was oddly cradling her right arm against her chest, but unaware of her daughter's hand a few feet away."I'm sorry," Crisara mumbled, dropping to her knees as Caro got up from his and was at her side in a heartbeat. "I failed all of you."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"But we carry on our back the burden
Time always reveals
In the lonely light of morning
In the wound that would not heal
It's the bitter taste of losing everything
That I've held so dear"
— Sarah McLachlan Poe watched as several transport ships fled upward into the atmosphere as the Dissident-class light cruiser crashed to the ground below. Plumes of fire and smoke billowed upward, as he careened hard to the right to avoid the backdraft. Knowing the cruiser would be nothing more than a wreck with likely next to no survivors, he made it a point to go after the escaping transports, and advised the squadron he was leading to do the same."This is General Poe Dameron, Governor of Naboo," he spoke through his comm as he addressed those piloting the transport ships in a blanket message. "Return to ground and surrender or you will be shot down, indiscriminately." As Poe watched as none of those transports did as he advised and simply continued to head further up to leave, he let out a languorous sigh. "Well, I did warn them." The astromech that was designated to the X-wing he was flying beeped in agreement. Clicking over to address the rest of his squadron, he shouted, "Hit those transports! Hux was either on that cruiser or on one of those smaller ships. Take them out! Don't let them leave!""You heard the General!" came the voice of Commander Boff. "Fire at will!"Poe smiled; feeling that swell of excitement he'd felt at the end of the Battle of Exegol when the Citizen's Fleet showed up, thanks to Lando Calrissian. Plus, being acknowledged as General again by others, and not just as Governor, was pretty nice. With a furrowed brow and narrowed gaze of concentration, he took aim and fired at one of the transports, but it took no damage; their shields clearly up."Hit 'em with all you got!" Poe added, as he continued his barrage.He darted after one of the transports and spun around them to hit them from above and below. When his eyes spotted movement in a different direction than the rest of the transports, Poe frowned; seeing a single transport darting away on its own. Something told him to go after it. Changing up his position in the bombardment, while avoiding a blast from a few old TIEs that appeared from near where the cruiser had crashed, Poe trailed that transport with a barrage of blasts from his X-wing's laser cannons. Whoever was flying the transport was just as good as he was. Poe watched as the transport ship zigged and zagged to avoid being hit and prevent its deflector shield from going down. As he grumbled under his breath and followed the transport up and out into the black of space, something familiar darting downward toward the planet distracted him for a moment. And, in that brief moment, the transport made the jump to light-speed and disappeared."Shit!" Poe growled out as he balled up his left hand and hit it against the paneling beside his thigh. Whipping the X-wing around without hesitation, to head back down toward the planet, he switched to direct communications with a particular ship. "I know that's you flying the Falcon, Len," he remarked, gruffly. "What did I tell you about just staying on the Organa?"
"Dad."
It was Shara."Wait, you're flying the—?""Dad, head back to the Organa," his eldest twin daughter cut him off.He could tell by the tone in her voice something was wrong. Not that she had an overly deep voice for a female, but the fact that there was a noticeable heightening to her pitch was concerning. It only ever did that when she was trying to hold back emotion. "I'll head back once I know what's up. I know something happened. What happened?"
"Just head back. You'll be debriefed when the rest of us return."
Shara had suddenly sounded a bit more resolute and rather authoritative. If Poe wasn't suddenly feeling very worried, he'd be proud and impressed.Well, okay.He could be worried and proud at the same time.Switching up communications, he asked the rest of the squadron, "Does anyone have eyes or intel on what's going on?" He was circling around above the mountain where the base was. Glancing sideways, he looked down at the smoldering wreckage that was the cruiser but, being too high up, he couldn't see anything of great detail on the ground."Dameron, the rest of Gold Squadron is to return back to the Organa." It was Aftab this time. "C Team — Army soldiers are being sent in, along with the medics. There's nothing more the flight team can do now."Logically, Poe knew the Mon Calamari was right. The transport he'd been tailing and possibly two others had escaped. The rest, and obviously the Dissident-class light cruiser, had been brought down. That had been their objective, but he wasn't someone who had to answer to Aftab Ackbar. He held the same rank as the younger male, and was also Governor of a planet. But, he also knew that too many cooks in the kitchen could prove chaotic and be more of a hindrance than helpful."Yeah, alright," he caved. "Gold Squadron — let's head back. Our work here today is done." With a sigh, he added, "Good work, team."As he stole another glance at the fiery plumage, Poe's dark eyes followed along as most of the X-wings and Y-wings that were part of Gold Squadron took off; to leave the Derra system behind and return to where the RNS Organa was located, which of course meant having to head back through that damned Zavian Abyss again. Poe wasn't looking forward to it, but trying to go around and avoid it would add too much extra time onto his travel, and he just wanted to get back to the Republic cruiser so he could finally be let in on whatever was clearly being kept hush-hush and doing nothing to sate his anxiety.  A short expanse of time later, Poe and the rest of Gold Squadron were back and debarking their ships. Helmets were being tossed aside or left inside the cockpits, life support units were being removed, flak vests peeled off, but only Poe was fully removing the flight suit he'd been wearing. The rest of the pilots either kept theirs all the way on, partially unzipped or unzipped down to the naval and tied at the waist. With a heavy sigh, he sought out Commander Boff, who he'd flown alongside and was usually in command of Gold Squadron, but had happily acquiesced to the more senior pilot and famed war hero."Hey. Boff. Have you heard anything yet? Any chatter over the comms at all?"Boff, a human male in his mid or late thirties, turned as he tossed his helmet over to one of the mechanics and shook his head when Poe approached him. "No, nothing, which is a bit unusual. But, I gotta say, it was great flying with you, sir. A real honor. And if you ever feel the need to join us again, please don't hesitate."Poe smirked. "I'll keep that in mind." He reached a hand out and slapped it against Boff's upper arm. "It was an honor to fly with you, too."As he watched the younger man retreat, to make his way over to the rest of his squadron, Poe's eyes began to focus out the hangar toward the vastness of space. He was waiting. He wanted to be there when his family returned. The Millennium Falcon and Leia's Skywalker had been docked in the same hangar before anyone had left for Derra IV. Nik's Y-wing was still docked in this hangar, but only because he'd gone with the others aboard the Skywalker. He was concerned about why the Falcon had gone, too. All he knew was that Shara was aboard it, because she'd been the one to speak to him from it, but that didn't mean Len was with her. It wasn't as if Shara didn't know how to fly, she just didn't like to fly. According to Crisara, her grandfather Obi-Wan hadn't been the biggest fan of flying either, despite being a great pilot. Shara was the same way. She was a fantastic pilot. Very proficient. He should know. He was the one who taught her. Shara just loathed traveling off-world. She was only like the grandmother she was named after in appearance alone.All of that aside, it stood to reason that Len was very well still on the Organa. Though, knowing Len, he wasn't."Dameron!"Poe turned around and let his eyes drift over toward the large, open hangar doors which led into an outer hallway. Aftab stood there with a few other officers and was beckoning Poe forward. With a frown, the fifty-five-year-old Governor walked over and then paused with his hands on his hips. "What aren't you telling me?" he asked. "I've been around long enough to know when I'm not being told the whole story about something."It was hard to tell when a Mon Calamari frowned, but somehow Aftab managed to convey it. "There's been some injuries, and also a casualty. Fortunately, just the one.""Fortunately would be no casualties." Like his daughter, Poe's voice got a bit higher in pitch. He had no idea who died. But it was serious enough that they were keeping him purposely in the dark for now. "What are you waiting for? Tell me.""I've been advised to not tell you," Aftab revealed. "It needs to come from…not me."Poe gestured shakily at his chest. "Not knowing, being left in the dark like this, knowing I've lost someone I clearly love but not knowing who specifically, is gonna give me a panic attack or worse. Do you want me to have a heart attack, 'cause this feels like I'm gonna have a heart attack.""Perhaps it would be better if we go somewhere quieter, more private," Aftab suggested; beckoning Poe forward once more.With a sigh of frustration, the older male tipped his head down and slumped his shoulders. "Fine."The entire time, as he was led free of the hangar and through the outer corridor, which was a blinding white, he just kept thinking to himself how he hoped that, whoever died, it wasn't his wife or his kids. It seemed horrible but, if he had to choose, he'd rather it was Nik or Zeda.  Poe didn't need to wait long.He was seated in the officers' lounge and, for a few minutes after arriving there, Aftab had remained with him, but was quickly pulled away for a debriefing when they were alerted that the ground teams had returned, as well as the medics. Poe had stood up, prepared to leave with Aftab, but he was advised to remain where he was for now. Poe obliged him, but he began to pace. He casually looked out the lounge viewports but there was nothing casual about how he was feeling. He was restless, he was anxious and he was filled with fear.Mere minutes after he'd sat back down, the door to the lounge had slid open. He looked up and was greeted immediately by the sight of Caro standing there. Without hesitation, Poe was back on his feet and practically ran toward his son; pulling him into a tight embrace. "Thank the stars, you're okay.""Physically," Caro replied; the sadness in his voice unmistakable.As Poe leaned back, he sized up the twenty-seven-year-old in front of him. "Where are the others?""Shara and Len went with Leia to the medical bay.""What happened to Leia?" Poe questioned; the fear rising in him."She was injured." Caro held up his right hand. "Skywalker curse, she said." Off his stepfather's confused arch of an eyebrow, he elaborated, "She lost her hand. Well, not lost it, as in she misplaced it. I mean, she just…it was cut off.""What?!" Poe was prepared to dart out of the lounge, but Caro held him back."There was a dark side Force user in Hux's employ. Big guy. A Falleen. Brutal fighter." Caro's gaze went downward. "Leia was distracted. We all were for a moment, but that was all it took. The dark sider cut off her hand, but then I cut off his head, so…""Small blessings." Poe frowned and nodded his head as he slipped his arms across his chest; waiting for further elaboration on what else had happened. "Aftab said someone died."Caro looked back up at Poe, and suddenly there was reawakened heartbreak there in the younger man's blue eyes. "Yeah," was all Caro said.The door slid open again, and Crisara was standing there.Poe breathed a small sigh of relief, but only until his gaze focused on what she was holding in her arms and pressing firmly against her chest. It was a cloak, but not hers, and there was a lightsaber sticking out. He was confused, initially — trying to work the significance of it out. After a moment, he pushed those details aside so he could step over to her and pull her into his arms. He was so happy she had survived that he wasn't completely registering the blank stare on her face; as if she had mentally checked out. She had simply made her way to the officers' lounge as if in a daze, or as if on autopilot. She was aware he was holding her, and she was grateful of it, but it didn't do much to placate the deep sorrow she was feeling.Sensing she wasn't reciprocating his embrace in the slightest, Poe took a few steps back but opted for keeping his hands firmly placed upon her arms. "Are you hurt?" he asked; initially checking her face and neck for any cuts or bruises."My soul is," she replied; her voice sounding rather hollow. "I never wanted to go through this again."Knitting his brow together, he watched as she moved away from him and then over toward the table in the center of the room. She set the cloak and the lightsaber down upon it and then slowly sank down into one of the chairs. Once more, Poe focused on those items she'd been holding. He walked over to stand beside where she sat and pressed his fingertips down upon the material of the cloak, and then realized who the lightsaber belonged to. Lifting the weapon up in his left hand, he pulled at the cloak; revealing more clothing tucked inside of it.Someone had died — that much he had been told. Caro, obviously, was fine. His and Crisara's biological children, he knew, were fine and had gone off to the medical bay together. Crisara loved all of her students, her kids, but she wouldn't be reacting in this particular way for Nik or Zeda.It suddenly dawned on him. His eyes widened and his heart shattered. "No," he whispered."Tem was shot by Hux," Caro explained, as he watched his stepfather put two and two together. "Mom and Tem went after Hux, following him into the base. Tem killed Gremma Santhe, and Hux reacted in kind.""It happened so fast," Crisara muttered; still in of a somewhat daze. Slowly, she tipped her head upward to stare at Poe, who was still holding onto the lightsaber. She could feel the grief building inside of him, mingled with anger. Renewed tears were starting to burn at her eyes. "He cried out to me and fell to the ground. I had the chance to keep going after Hux, but I couldn't leave Tem like that. I had to be there when he—""Faded away," Poe finished for her. Out the corner of his eye he could see her nodding. "Was it quick?" he asked; exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "His death.""He was gone the moment he hit the ground." A sob suddenly became lodged in Crisara's throat. Hunching forward, she shoved her face into her hands and began to openly cry. She couldn't say anything more on the subject. At least not right then.Wiping his own tears away, Caro took a few steps forward to fill in the gaps from what his mother had told him during the journey back to the Organa. "It was a direct shot to the heart. The shot Hux got in was either pure precision or stupid luck." For a brief moment, he chewed on his bottom lip; trying not to dwell on the fact that his older brother was dead. "He, uh, died. He's gone. We all felt him go." Caro gestured limply over his shoulder. "That's why Leia was distracted. Why she hesitated and why the dark sider got the upper hand. I mean — that's a poor choice of words…"Hearing his son silently berate himself, Poe looked over at the younger man and placed his right hand upon his arm, but then kept it there. "It's okay. I know what you meant." Then, glancing back down at the clothing and the cloak, Poe set the lightsaber down. "Hux — he got away?"Caro nodded. "Yeah, but we don't know if he was on one of the transports that got clean away or if he was on one of the transports that were shot down. We know he wasn't on the cruiser. That was already in the air."Poe listened to this. "And Leia's going to be okay?""Yeah.""The others — they're okay?""Nik dislocated his shoulder, but that's the only other major injury any of us sustained."Poe huffed. "I don't care about Nik." Then, grimacing, he said, "Sorry. I do care, but—""I get it," Caro assured. Looking at his mother, who was still crying, he began to step backward. "I'm going to go check on Leia. I'll let the two of you have a moment. Or, rather, as many moments as you need."Poe nodded gratefully. "Thank you. And tell Leia I'll come to see her in a little bit.""Will do."As Caro exited the lounge, Poe turned his attention back down toward his wife. Stepping around to take the seat beside her, he swiveled to face her direction and then leaned forward to shift her chair to face him. "C'mere," he beckoned; leaving no room for negotiation.It didn't take much to coax her out of her chair. Poe leaned back as she stood up, but only long enough for her to sit down in his lap. As she twisted at the waist and threw her arms around his neck, he slipped his arms around her back and held her tightly against him. Poe closed his eyes as his tears began to fall. Shoving his face into her shoulder, he finally let out a sob of his own escape."I'm sorry," Crisara mumbled, as she leaned her head against his.Sniffing, Poe asked, "What for?""I promised to bring them all back.""It's not your fault," he insisted, leaning back and lifting his head. Bringing his hands upward to her face, he made sure she was looking back at him; the shared grief so unbearably evident in their eyes. "It's not your fault. This is Hux. Again.""And if I'd killed him years ago—""No. Don't go down that road. No what ifs. You're not all-seeing and all-knowing. You had no way to know this would happen."Crisara shook her head and wiped at her tears. "But there was always a chance.""There's also a chance this ship could be blown to bits in the next five minutes or swallowed by a purrgil. Life is full of possibilities and we're not responsible for everything that happens to us. Bad things happen. This is one of the worst things, sure, but it is in no way your fault, so don't think like that." He pulled her face toward him and craned his upward to kiss the tip of her nose, both her cheeks and then briefly upon her lips. "We need to place blame where blame is due. And we need to double our efforts into making those responsible pay. If Hux escaped and didn't die aboard those destroyed transports, we need to find him and destroy him. And we need to make it painful.""Temiri killed the woman he loved," Crisara remarked quietly. "I could feel it between Hux and Gremma. He loved her more than anything. He killed Temiri in anger. For revenge. At what point do we stop going back and forth trying to kill each other?""When that motherfucker is dead," Poe answered coolly. "Only then will I sleep easy. I won't have him take anyone else from us that we love. Because of him, you lost Adera. Because of him, Sessani and Ransolm are gone. And now Tem. He's taken two children from you. You should be more enraged by this.""Oh, I am," she assured, sitting up straighter as she glanced at Temiri's lightsaber. "It's a quiet rage, but I can't let it consume me. I don't want to meet the person I'd become, and you don't want to either. I know what I'm capable of as someone on the light side. But if I gave into my pain, my anger, my sadness…the darkness would take over and I would become a blight on this galaxy, of that I'm sure. Just before the end of the war, I dreamt of an alternate me. A version of me consumed by the dark side, and I was vicious and cruel. I was heartless. I refuse to be a Lady Vader — Darth Victus, I was called in that dream." Crisara shook her head; slouching a bit in Poe's lap. "No. I need to work this out the healthy way. The right way. Somehow."Poe listened quietly; his dark eyes focusing, but just barely, on the table's edge. "What do we do now?""About what in particular?"He blinked away a few tears, which still fell regardless. He felt numb. "Everything."Crisara shrugged. "I think Aftab was going to send a crew back to Derra IV; to comb through the wreckage to determine if any remains belonged to Hux. If none do, that will give us more to go on for resuming the manhunt." Hunching forward, she tipped her forehead down against his shoulder and welcomed his arms when they slid around her back again. "Until there's proof, one way or the other, we go home. We lick our wounds. We grieve what we lost.""Not completely lost for you and the kids, though," Poe muttered; not necessarily meaning to say that out loud. "Sorry.""I understand what you meant." Crisara turned her face, leaning it more into his neck instead. "Eventually, whether it happens hours from now, days from now, weeks or months, or maybe even years, Temiri will likely appear to the kids and I through the Force. I trained them all how to do it, just as my father once trained me." She could feel Poe nod; confirming that's what he'd meant. She could also feel his heartbeat quickening and the way his chest was rising and falling, as each breath indicated he was fighting to maintain his resolve, but slowly failing. "I'm sorry for you; that for you the loss is more absolute.""I wish I could've said goodbye." An abrupt sob escaped Poe's lips, almost startling them both. As his hands gripped tightly around her waist, he mirrored his wife by shoving his face down into her shoulder. "I didn't get to say goodbye," he cried. "How was he here and then not here?"There was nothing Crisara could say. She didn't have any words that would make it better. She knew offering up any Jedi adages about life and death or whatever would've only aggravated him and pissed him off. He didn't need words to placate him. He just needed to stew in his grief and so did she.She had said it when she entered the officers' lounge — that she had never wanted to go through this again. She had never wanted to lose a child again.Neither of them were Temiri's biological parents, but he'd been their son for the last twenty years. They'd raised him from a boy to a man, and they'd loved him no differently than if he was their own flesh and blood.It wasn't right.Parents shouldn't lose children. It was supposed to be the other way around.  Leia was sitting upright upon a bed in the medical bay as the Organa's head doctor maneuvered the machine that was attaching a cybernetic hand to the stump where her own hand had been hours before. She couldn't watch it being done. It was too unsettling for her, so she stared forward at her outstretched legs. She could see the doctor and the device working at her bedside out the corner of her eye but was trying to ignore both, and she was also aware of her twin hovering on her left side."Now we'll be more distinguishable," Leia quipped; dragging her dark eyes, puffy from crying, up toward her sister. "Shara with two hands, Leia with one."Leia frowned; unable to avoid stealing a look over at her right arm after all. She instantly grimaced, but actually found herself to be entranced by the spectacle and how intricate and precise the medical equipment was under the doctor's supervision. She was honestly quite impressed with how the base for the cybernetic appendage was adhered to her stump, which had already been cleaned and mended accordingly. The doctor had asked her if she wanted the cybernetic replacement right away or if she preferred to just be bandaged up and wait until a later date, when she got home. When she had asked what would be more ideal, the doctor suggested getting it done as soon as possible because the raw nerve endings would be more receptive to the wires and inner machinations of the fake limb. So, Leia thought 'fuck it' and said to go ahead and give her the replacement. It would be better for her mental health, she was sure: not having to stare at a disfigured stump and deal with the phantom pains."You never did like your birthmark," Shara offered up; not knowing what else to say. "Now it's gone.""Well, yeah. It was on my wrist, but I don't have that wrist anymore. I don't have my hand anymore." Leia nodded with agreement, but then her gaze fell toward her lap and tears began to fall down her face."It's okay." Reaching her arms out, Shara placed her right hand upon her sister's back and her left hand she wrapped around her sister's left hand. "You're getting a new and improved hand, and you can get synthflesh put on it. You won't know the difference. Think of all the fun things you'll be able to do with it. It'll be stronger than a real hand. You could break a rock with it, maybe.""I wouldn't advise that," the doctor piped up, adding his two cents."It's not the hand," Leia muttered; closing her eyes tightly and trying to avoid letting any more tears fall. "We don't have our brother anymore," she whined; letting a hiccuping sob escape out of her lips. "Temiri's gone."Shara, the more practically-minded of the twins, frowned and sighed. "He's only gone in body," she placated; her tone gentle. "He'll return to us in spirit. He'd never fully leave us or stay away. Though, I imagine he's experiencing a very surreal transition into the next life, so it may take some time before he appears; until he gets a handle on his new circumstance."Leia immediately scowled and looked up at her sister. "Have you even cried yet?""Yes. When it happened," the older twin confirmed. "Len and I both did. But we also know what it meant and what it will mean for us. We know death isn't the end for us. Not really. It's just something different. Upsetting, maybe, because we can't truly know and understand it until it happens to us, but mom taught us all we need to know. We know how to let go of this life when it's our time. So, really, death shouldn't be viewed as scary or sad."Feeling herself getting angry at how calm and collected Shara was being, Leia reacted without thinking. Jerking her left hand back, she shoved it upward toward Shara's chest and sent her flying backward across the room. Despite having ended her training as a Jedi two years prior, Shara was still adept in the Force and was able to slow the force with which her sister had used that Force push on her. She got her footing back and slid along the floor the rest of the way before grabbing onto another medical bed to stop herself from going any further.With a huff, Shara straightened her posture and smoothed out the material of her shirt. "I'll forgive you that because you're too far into your emotions right now. You're feeling a lot of things."Leia rolled her eyes; well aware that the doctor had ceased working on attaching the cybernetic hand because of the sudden commotion between the sisters. "Would you just shut up with your pragmatic bantha shit? You sound like a droid.""Maybe you should try it sometime," Shara retorted. "You're a Jedi Knight now, but you're letting your emotions cloud your judgement. We lost Temiri to death. I refuse to lose my twin to the dark side, so get a handle on those feelings."Without another word, Shara exited the medical bay; in the process, passing their parents. Before Leia had the chance to even react to her sister's words and abrupt departure, she looked up and took in the sight of her parents. Her father, mostly. He hadn't seen her in this state yet and he looked broken already, because of finding out about Temiri. Caro had told her their dad had been informed and that he'd left both their parents alone to commiserate together."Oh, Berries," Poe cooed as he stalked up toward her. He lightly gripped the sides of her face and placed a kiss upon her forehead. "Are you okay? I mean — of course you aren't."As Poe stepped back a bit, Crisara lingered; studying her youngest daughter a bit more perceptively. "Everything alright?"Leia knew her mother was aware that something had transpired between the sisters. Leia knew her mother wasn't referring to her grief over Temiri, or in regard to the loss of her hand. "It will be.""I know you're the one taking after your mother, but did you have to take it this far?" Poe asked; pointing to the cybernetics as he tried to make light of the situation. He couldn't help but stare at where his little girl's lovely hand used to be. It was the hand that used to reach for his as a toddler, and that he would kiss the palm of and make fart noises into to make her giggle. "I'm so sorry this happened to you.""Skywalker curse," Leia muttered with an impish smile reminiscent of her father's mischievous moments. "Anakin blazed the trail. Each generation demands a sacrifice. I'm the lucky bastard in my generation.""Let's hope the curse ends with you, then," Crisara remarked as she finally sidled up beside her husband, and placed a hand upon her daughter's knee. "I'm sorry this happened, too. You didn't deserve this. We should've just let Hux get away. Everything could've been different. Temiri would still be…"Leia shook her head. "Temiri wouldn't have let Hux go, though. He couldn't. He'd been wanting Hux to pay for Sessani's death for almost two years. He would've blamed himself if Hux had gotten away." Slowly, she began to frown as she brought her left hand up to wipe at some tacky tears that were staining her face. "Well, I guess it didn't matter either way. Hux got away regardless. Either he successfully fled or he was killed on one of the ships that were shot down. There won't be any sort of closure until we know for sure." Glancing at her mother, her face grew still and her gaze darkened a bit. "If he survived, and when we find him again, and when we're successful, I want to at least take his hand from him. I deserve that much. Eye for an eye and all that.""You can run him through with your lightsaber if you wanted," Poe insisted, placing his hand upon her shoulder and giving it a squeeze. "But I'd rather that not be on you.""Your father's right," Crisara agreed. "It shouldn't be you."Leia nodded. "Then, at least the hand. The honor of killing him should go to you." She held her mother's eye. "He took more from you.""There is honor in death, but not in killing; even if someone deserves it. Sometimes it's just a necessary evil. We know arresting Hux, putting him on trial and imprisoning him didn't seem to hold. I had believed back then that seeing him dead would've made a martyr out of him for any First Order or even Imperial sympathizers still out there. Clearly, that didn't matter. He accrued a following anyway.""So we snuff him out for good, if he hasn't already been," Poe agreed; watching as the doctor finally began to resume his work upon attaching Leia's cybernetic hand."I really hope he didn't go down in flames. I would feel so robbed," Leia remarked; following her father's gaze. "I want the satisfaction of knowing he got his just reward and that mom was the one that gave it to him."Turning slightly at the waist, Crisara sank down toward the end of the medical bed, beside her daughter's outstretched left leg. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," she insisted. "Right now our focus is on you, and then finding a way to honor Temiri when we get home. From there, we'll figure it. Little steps.""Then big leaps?""If that's what's required of us."Poe looked between his wife and daughter and then downward at Leia's left hand, which was reaching up for him. Cupping it with both of his, he sighed. "But first, little steps."  Caro and Zeda were standing with Aftab on the Bridge with the rest of the ship's command team when his parents returned without Leia, who was still being tended to. Shara was on the Bridge, too, sitting at a communications console and being shown the intricacies of what that job entailed by the officer who normally sat there. Len and Nik, for the moment, were both unaccounted for."Cris brought me up to speed on everything that happened on the surface — leading up to the fight, during and after," Poe announced as he strode over to the holomap table; his expression, posture and gait all giving the impression he owned the place. "She also told me that somehow Hux knew they were there. They were hidden within the trees on the mountainside across the valley from that base, and he had some sort of ion cannon aimed at them and fired."Aftab nodded. "We were just talking about that.""I suggested there might be a spy on board," Caro informed. "Security officers are running checks on every last person assigned to this vessel.""Every communication going out is being screened, just in case," the Mon Calamari stated further. "If there really has been a spy on my watch, I won't rest until they're found and brought to justice."Crisara quietly studied the room; trying to get a sense for the emotions of all that were gathered and working at their particular stations. She didn't feel a sense of guilt among any of them, nor did she gleam any traitorous thoughts. Everyone on the Bridge, to her, was deemed innocent. "Has the cleanup crew sent back any word yet on any of the wreckages?" she wondered; absentmindedly slipping a hand into her husband's. "Any signs of Hux's fate?""Unfortunately, it's too soon to tell," Commander Kasty Sonellis, a human officer who happened to hail from Naboo, lamented with a sigh. She was leaning forward upon the table, her shoulders hunched as if in defeat, but the look of hope on her face gave the opposite impression. "But we're working hard at that, too. And, for what it's worth, I think all teams involved today did quite a number on the trifling Huxist regime.""I wouldn't exactly call them trifling," Zeda remarked; glancing around the table. "Look at the amount of damage they've done in the last two years; sporadic, any and all attacks may have been.""The Resistance was trifling compared to the First Order. The Rebel Alliance was trifling compared to the Empire. And look at what we managed," Poe interjected as he tapped the fingertips of his free hand down upon the edge of the holomap table. "All it takes is a small few. A spark to light a fire.""We just need to make sure that fire doesn't burn down everything we worked for," Crisara added with sad eyes. "I won't have this build into another war in the years to come. Three major, galactic wars in less than eighty years are more than enough." Slowly, she looked between Caro and Zeda, and then glanced across the room toward where Shara was seated. "The last one was supposed to be the last one, so your generation wouldn't have to deal with what we went through. We wanted peace to last.""It will," Caro insisted; drawing his mother's attention back toward him. "This will only be a footnote in history. Not an entire chapter or volume."Appreciating her son's confidence, she smiled. "Your optimism has always been appreciated, and I appreciate it now, more than ever."Caro winked back at her."I understand you'll be wanting to return home," Aftab spoke up again as he glanced between Poe and Crisara. "You'll have things to take care of as a family, and there won't be much else for you to do here for the time being, until we get things sorted back on Derra IV, and in regard to what to do next if we learn Hux isn't among the dead.""It would be better if he was," Sonellis quipped. "Hopefully nothing more than a pile of bone and ash." She glanced sheepishly at the Governor of Naboo and his Jedi Master wife. "I wasn't old enough to serve in the last war, but I remember learning of the devastation of the Hosnian System. Knowing Hux had a very prominent hand in it, and that he escaped maximum security prison after two decades of incarceration, and has been gallivanting across the galaxy, to continue that devastation — it sickens me.""You're preaching to the choir there, Commander," Poe muttered; holding her gaze for a moment. After a brief sigh and clearing of his throat, he looked beside him, at his wife. "Aftab's right. We need to go home. For now, anyway. And, unfortunately, we have daunting matters as a family to tend to, as well as professional responsibilities that require our attention as well."Aftab nodded in agreement. "I don't envy your burdens."Shara, from the communications console where she'd been seated, stood up and turned to give the others her attention. It's not like those around the holomap table had been whispering. Any and all in the immediate vicinity could hear everything being discussed. "Len returned to the Falcon after we saw Leia to the medical bay. He needed to grieve alone, and in his own way, but I'll go find him and let him know we'll be leaving soon."Crisara nodded gratefully at her elder twin daughter. "Thank you, honey." As Shara quietly slipped away from the Bridge, the Jedi Master knitted her brow together with a thought. "Where's Nik?""He had his shoulder readjusted in the medbay after we returned, but lingered near Leia for a while," Caro informed. "He left when I returned, after we told dad about Tem. I don't know where he went after that. Maybe to his own ship. Maybe he's with Len.""He has a comlink on him. I can message him and let him know we're leaving, and ask if he'll be returning to Naboo with us," Zeda offered up. "I imagine he'll want to. He's a good friend to Leia and will want to make sure she's healing and convalescing well, I'm sure."With a tight-lipped smile that bordered on frowning, Poe eyed his wife. "Well, what say you?" he questioned; giving her hand a squeeze. "Ready to head home?""Yeah," Crisara answered softly, but sadly. "Let's go."  Two days later, Crisara was standing in the kitchen of the villa. She was at the stove, frying a few shaak steaks in a pan with caramelized onions and other seasonings. She was simultaneously flipping the steaks over here and there while pushing the onions around; her movements all pretty robotic due to her many drifting thoughts. After a while, she became aware of a presence in the room behind her, but felt comforted by it.Poe stepped into the kitchen and, without hesitation, moved to stand directly behind his wife; sliding his hands to her waist and leaning his face down to look over her shoulder. Then, after a beat, he pressed his lips to her neck and left a lingering kiss. "Smells amazing." As he moved aside, toward one of the cabinets and pulled out a tea tin, which he set aside, he added, "I spoke to the Queen.""Oh?""She, again, sends her condolences and told me to take as much time as needed for mourning." He sighed; hating that he even had to say that. Mourning. Because their son had died. It still felt too surreal. "She also said she understands there was no body to bury or cremate, but she still offered up the Funeral Temple, if we wanted to symbolically cremate any of Tem's belongings. I thought, maybe, the clothes he'd been…" Poe couldn't finish his sentence. Dropping his face down, a sob escaped his lips and he silently chastised himself for it.He thought he'd been doing so well — maintaining his composure.Guess not.With a sympathetic frown, Crisara lowered the heat to the pan and stepped away from the stove. With continuous movement, she slipped over toward Poe, grabbed at his hands and urged him into a hug, which he was more than receptive to. "I know," was all she said."Has he…" Poe began to speak again; resting his chin upon her shoulder as he held her tightly. "Has he appeared to you yet? Have you heard him?""No, but I know he will; when he can or when the time is right.""Can you — I don't know — feel him at all?""No."With a sniffle and another sigh, Poe pulled back and wiped the tears from his face. "This really sucks, you know."Crisara nodded and continued to frown. "I know." Casually, she turned back toward the steaks in the pan. "Can you do me a favor and let Leia know dinner will be ready soon?" Glancing over at her husband, she smiled apologetically. "Sorry. You were about to make some tea, weren't you?""No, it's okay. The tea isn't going anywhere."As he stepped away from the tin he'd pulled down from the cabinet, she followed him with her eyes. "I can boil the water for you in the meantime.""You're busy cooking," he said over his shoulder at her."I can multitask.""I know.""Poe?"When he paused in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room, he turned back toward her. "Yeah?"For a moment, she didn't say anything. She just looked at him. Then, with a gentle smile, Crisara said, "We're going to get through this."He smiled back at her, and then nodded in agreement. "I know."  Another two days later, the Dameron family stood within the Funeral Temple on the outskirts of Theed. With them was Taya, Nevara and her family, Rey, Finn, Chewbacca, Sessani's father Ruther Lell, Zeda, Nik, Beaumont, the Jedi Knights, the padawans and younglings, Captain Betal, Queen Tenerra and her handmaidens, as well as the Royal Guard, and several of the Dameron family's trusty droid friends; namely C-3PO, R2-D2 and BB-8. At the center of the open air rotunda, atop the inset stone bed, where normally a body was laid out and set alight with some straw for kindling, there was instead the clothes Temiri had been wearing when he'd passed from this life to join the Force; his tunics, his pants, and his cloak.Crisara had been tempted to keep the cloak, because it retained her son's scent, but she knew there were other clothes of his back at the villa, and even in that apartment on Chandrila, that would produce the same effect.As they all packed in the temple, side by side and on different levels, all were silent as they watched the flames lick upward and consume the material and straw. No one said a word. Eventually, though, as the fire began to die down, the Queen turned to Poe and Crisara, once more conveyed her condolences and then nodded to her handmaidens to follow her as she took her leave. The Royal Guard left with her, but a few officers remained; Betal, included. The padawans and younglings were ushered away soon after that by Beaumont and a few of the Knights. Eventually it was just the immediate Dameron family; just Poe, Crisara and their surviving children. No one else.And then, it was just Poe and Crisara.They remained for hours, keeping vigil, until the last ember went cold.It had been just after nightfall when the fire began and it was daybreak when it was over.They were exhausted, but pushed through it while the sun rose over the horizon and began to shine its light through the open air windows into the Temple. Together, the pair worked together in collecting the ashes into a deep, wooden box. When the last bits they could gather had been tucked away, Crisara held the box to her chest and began to lead the way out of the Temple, with Poe resting a hand just barely against the small of her back.When they reached the Royal Hangar, they were surprised but also not surprised that Caro was there, waiting for them. He hadn't gone home to the villa with the others on the Skywalker. He remained all night; keeping a sort of vigil on his own aboard the Millennium Falcon. Embracing his now-oldest son, Poe held tight for a few moments while Crisara quietly boarded the ship with the box of ashes. Both men had looked at each other when they stepped apart and then looked after her before following shortly behind. Poe and Caro had watched as Crisara had slipped into the main hold and sank down at the lounge seat around the gaming table and just quietly stared at nothing as she continued to cling to the box. Without bothering to engage, father and son went ahead to the cockpit and sat down in the pilot and co-pilot chairs, respectively.After takeoff, and during the flight home to the Lake Country, neither bothered to say a word. They were simply ruminating in everything that had happened recently. Even after they arrived to the villa and touched down within the hangar beside the estate, they didn't speak. Caro disembarked and went toward the house, where he was greeted with open arms by Zeda on the front, tiled patio. Poe waited for Crisara and then the two of them left the ship together.Again, he let her lead the way.In no time at all, they'd gone round to the back of the house and wandered toward the garden where Sessani's tomb was. When Crisara stood directly in front of it, Poe glanced at her and brought his hand, once more, to the small of her back."What do you want to do with the ashes?" he asked.With a sigh, Crisara responded by removing one hand from the wooden box and extending it outward. Closing her eyes, she concentrated carefully on the Force around her and how it ebbed and flowed. Channeling it through her, she began to lift the heavy, stone slab to the tomb; hovering it a few feet in the air."Can you set the box inside, please?" she finally spoke.With a nod, Poe took the box from her. Stepping forward with it, he eyed the stone lid carefully. He trusted his wife's skill and knew she could keep the lid up, but part of him worried it might fall and crush his hands or arms the moment he reached inside the tomb with the box. Thankfully, her abilities didn't falter and Poe was able to lean inside the tomb and set the box down upon Sessani's sealed coffin, which was an odd thing to stare at again, considering she'd been gone nearly two years by this point. He'd never thought he'd set eyes on the coffin again and it just drudged up the heartbreak of losing her, which mingled with the heartbreak of losing Temiri.When Poe stepped back, Crisara slowly and gently lowered the stone lid with the Force. If she'd done it too quickly, the slab could've cracked and broken."Should we say a few words?" he wondered; easily slipping a hand into hers."To those fallen Jedi Knights and Masters who have come and gone before," Crisara began to voice, "we hope you've welcomed our son with open arms and given him the comfort we no longer can. We hope he feels overwhelming peace. We hope he knows how much we love him and always will. We hope he is, to some degree, with his beloved Sessani once again; reunited in death."Poe cleared his throat and added, "Temiri wasn't given many years, but the years he had he brought joy to our hearts. He expanded our family and made us proud at every turn." Tears began to burn at his brown eyes, and his chin began to quiver. Blinking rapidly didn't help with washing those tears away. They just fell and new ones took their place and added to the burn, so Poe closed his eyes tightly. "We loved him so much and our hearts break without him. He was our son."Crisara tightened her grip on Poe's hand and rested her head sideways down upon his shoulder. As she focused her gaze forward upon the tomb, the hairs at the back of her neck stood on end and she felt a presence on her other side. Not needing to turn toward it right away, she could see enough of their bluish and transparent figure to know who it was, and it filled her were peace. When she did turn toward them, she found the Force ghost of Temiri smiling back at her.She wanted to reach out and hug him, or at least hold his hand, but she knew she couldn't. He seemed to understand as much and simply glanced down at her hand and then back upward to continue smiling at her.Temiri didn't say anything. Maybe he couldn't. Maybe he hadn't mastered communicating verbally from the other side just yet. Or, maybe, there were no words necessary. They both managed to say everything they wanted to say with their eyes.And then, just like that, he faded away.For now, anyway.Crisara gave Poe's hand another squeeze. "He was here."When he turned to look upon his wife, it caused her to lift her head and stare back at him. "What?" he questioned; making sure he heard her correctly."Tem was here, for a brief moment.""What did he say?" Poe was desperate for any detail, and morsel of information she could convey."He didn't say anything. Or maybe he couldn't. I'm not sure," she elucidated, studying her husband's handsome face and expressing a look of calm and serenity. Her grief suddenly felt not as terrible. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "He seemed peaceful. Happy.""Really?" Poe needed this, too."Yeah," she insisted with a nod. "He's okay. And we will be, too."Poe agreed. He knew they would be, but the pain of never being able to see their eldest again hurt. But, at least, he could be comforted in knowing when Temiri was around, thanks to his wife and the rest of their children. Like her grandmother Sera before her, he'd have to rely on them to know when Temiri popped up or wanted to convey any messages to him. He supposed it was better than nothing."We can continue to grieve as long as we need to," Crisara went on to say, "but we have to focus on the living, on our other children and our responsibilities. And on what comes next.""And what comes next?" he wondered."Justice, for Temiri. And Sessani, and Ransolm, and so many others. For Adera. Justice for them all," she replied. "And karma for Hux."  A full week after Temiri had passed, the Dameron family had yet to return to their regular lives, their routine. Poe hadn't returned to his duties as Governor, nor had he even physically returned to the Governor's Mansion in Theed. It was just more comforting to remain at the villa, which held more cherished memories as a family and which helped with his peace of mind. Crisara was finding it difficult to meditate or find an inner sense of calm through the Force, so she tried to distract herself from her sadder and darker thoughts by keeping her mind busy by keeping her hands busy. She'd settled into the new art studio downstairs, off the family room, and began to tinker; figuring out what she could make with all the supplies she had lying around. Len, who hadn't yet gone off to the New Academy on Chandrila, joined her a few hours each day; mother and son quietly tinkering together, side by side.Caro spent much of his time with Zeda and Uwin, his padawan, formerly Temiri's. The three of them, unlike Crisara, found comfort in meditation. When it was just Caro and Zeda, the pair found comfort of a different sort in his room. Classes at Theed University hadn't resumed for the new school year, so Shara hadn't bothered to return to Theed, either, though she had passed much of her time, reading ahead on subjects she knew she'd be studying during her third year, as well as communicating frequently with her boyfriend Zeith. He'd even paid her a visit at the villa, and to pay his respects and offer his condolences to her parents in person, which they had been appreciative of.Then there was Leia, who was, well…moping.Following Temiri's memorial at the Funeral Temple, she'd had an appointment in Theed with a cyberneticist. Both her parents had wanted to come with her, but she'd insisted it was something she needed to do alone. Nik, who had remained on Naboo, did go with her. She hadn't asked him to, he just showed up when she arrived for her appointment and he sat with her, holding her other hand, while her cybernetic right hand and part of her forearm were fitted with synthflesh and done up to look exactly like a real hand. But, even though it looked real, she knew it wasn't, so it tainted her opinion of it. So, she still opted to wear a glove over it, so she didn't have to look at it or think about it — at least, not as much. Though she hadn't asked him to, she was thankful Nik had shown up either way. He made her feel more at ease. He came back to the villa with her, and he stayed in one of the spare bedrooms on the third floor instead of next door at the Kenobi Academy, and they spent the bulk of each day afterward in her room; just talking. They were shooting the shit, rehashing what had happened, wondering what could've been done differently, and what might happen next.At the end of the week, Nik had heard from an acquaintance he'd made some months back, and who needed to talk to him in person about something, and Nik felt it wasn't something he could put off. Leia could easily sense Nik's unease about the situation and a tinge of guilt, and asked if everything was alright — if he wanted someone there with him in the way he had been there for her. But Nik insisted it was something he had to do alone, because he knew the acquaintance was skittish.So, he'd kissed Leia atop her forehead and told her he wouldn't be away for long; hopefully just a few days. However, when he lingered there for a moment, and as he watched the way she was looking back up at him with such concern and care in his eyes, he nearly melted.For him, something had shifted in the air between them.Lifting both of his hands to the sides of her face, and leaning down because he was nearly a foot taller than her, Nik pressed his lips against hers; gently as a feather at first but then with a sense of urgency she readily reciprocated. When her hands began to curl around the cowl neck of his shirt and pull him more against her, one of his arms slipped around her waist and they began to fall backward onto her bed. There was suddenly a frenzy of movements; hands groping here, lips parting and tongues twirling, legs willingly parting, while breaths and heartbeats began quickening.And then it all stopped.Nik looked down, at Leia pinned underneath him, and he knew this wasn't the moment things should progress between them. Sure, she'd always been such a good friend to him, and in recent years his best friend, but he was now becoming increasingly aware that he liked her as much more than that now. He realized he wanted to woo her properly. He didn't want their first kiss to immediately springboard into their first time having sex. She deserved better than that, especially at a time like this, when she was grieving the loss of her brother and of her hand. As he pulled back, it confused her and he could see the wheels turning in her head; wondering if she'd done something wrong to put him off her, so he smiled to reassure her."I really do have to go," he remarked with a small laugh."Your friend can't wait a few hours?" she asked, with a small but impish grin pulling at the corners of her lips."He's not my friend. He's just someone I met by chance during my travels a few months ago."As Nik climbed off her and stood beside her bed, Leia sat up on her elbows while letting her legs continue to dangle over the edge. "What does he want from you that can't wait?"Nik sighed. "It's not necessarily something he wants from me. I've already helped him more times than he deserves. Now it's time for him to return the favor," he replied, vaguely, as he shuffled closer toward the bedroom door."Can you elaborate or is it a secret? If you don't want to tell me, I won't pry.""He says he has information about my parents."Leia raised an eyebrow at him. "I thought your parents died when you were little? What could this guy know?""They weren't…" Nik hesitated to complete the sentence for a moment; casting his hazel eyes down toward the ground. "They weren't my biological parents. I was placed with them as a newborn, sort of in the way your grandfather was placed with his aunt and uncle on Tatooine or your great aunt Leia was placed with the Alderaanian royal family. Though, I wasn't necessarily given away for my protection; just simply because my mother couldn't keep me, for whatever reasons," he revealed with a shrug. "I don't know those details, but that's what I'm hoping to get out of him, and I hope this is the last time I ever meet with him." Nik harrumphed. "He's kind of an asshole and I kind of hate him on principle.""Well," Leia began to say as she sat up straight. "I hope you get out of him all you need. I hope you learn the truths you've been looking for, about where you really come from. And, when you do, I hope you come right back here."Mirroring the soft smile she flashed him, Nik stepped back over toward her. Once again placing his hands upon the sides of her face, he kissed her sweetly and then brushed some hair behind her ear. "I will," he assured.Without another word, he left her room.Immediately going over in her head everything that had just happened, Leia began to grin like a loon and tossed herself backward onto her bed and stared upward at the ceiling. As the minutes passed, a knock soon came to her door and she rolled onto her side."Yeah?" she called out.Her door opened a bit and her twin poked her head in. "Can I come in?"Sitting up straight again, Leia nodded. "Yeah, sure."As Shara slipped completely into the room, she offered a small smile. "I saw that Nik left," she started to say; gesturing over her shoulder with her thumb. "I passed him downstairs in the foyer.""He has to meet with an acquaintance. Personal matter," Leia informed."Sounds…cryptic."Leia shrugged. "He told me some of what it was about, but it's not my place to elaborate.""Oh, no. No, I wasn't expecting you to or anything." Shara moved over toward the foot of her sister's bed and sat down. "I, uh, wanted to apologize, actually.""For what?" Leia was thoroughly confused."For what I said on the Organa. Insinuating you'd fall to the dark side if you didn't get a handle on your emotions. It was mean. You had every right to be upset. You had a limb cut off. You physically lost part of yourself, at the very moment our brother died. Technically, you lost more that day.""I wager Temiri lost more. I mean, he lost his life," Leia countered. "But you don't have to apologize. I should be apologizing to you. I shoved you across the room in my anger.""I didn't fall. I just slid. I should've known better than to poke a bear." A tiny smile appeared on the elder twin's face."I should've known better than to attack my own sister when she was just looking out for me."Shara shrugged. "Truce?"Leia nodded. "Truce."Tilting her head to the side, Shara's dark eyes drifted toward her sister's right hand. "How does it feel? Does the synthflesh feel like real skin? It looks real." She then gestured at the hand in question. "I could paint your fingernails. It might help make it feel more real that way."With a small frown, Leia began to peel the glove off of her right hand to reveal the synthflesh-covered prosthetic that really did look like the real thing. She instinctively curled her fingers into a fist and then straightened them out before resting the hand down upon her thigh. "Yeah, that might help. I mean, my nerve-endings keep telling me there's nothing different, but my mind constantly reminds me it's an impostor hand.""Better than no hand, though, right?""Well, obviously." Frowning deeper, Leia began to scramble to pull the glove back on. She still couldn't look at it right now. "Can I tell you something that stays just between us?""Of course." Shara leaned forward, sincerely and expectantly.Taking a deep breath, Leia locked eyes with her sister and began to grin. "Nik and I kissed," she revealed. "We were, like, full-on making out on this bed no less than ten minutes ago.""No shit, for real?" Shara was fully invested in wanting these details.Leia giggled. It was always amusing to her to hear her twin sister curse. "For real," she nodded."Well, now I need to know everything. Don't leave one morsel out. Tell me about Nik and I'll tell you about Zeith. We can compare and contrast.""Leave it to you to make typical 'girl talk' so clinical."Both girls, as if on cue, began to laugh, and how wonderful it felt after a long week of mourning.  Three days later, the family was sitting around the dining table, enjoying a meal that Poe and Crisara had prepared together without help from any kitchen droids. They'd followed one of his father's tried and true recipes that everyone already loved, and it was just as delicious. Seated at the head of the table, nearest the kitchen, Poe had held up a glass of wine to toast his children and his wife and finally spoke more openly amongst them all since Temiri died, about Temiri. Unfortunately he'd only gotten halfway through before he choked up, and covered his face in his free hand to cry it out. Crisara, seated at his left, stood up and pulled him toward her. He'd set his wine glass back down and wrapped his arms around her waist as he pressed his face against her abdomen. The rest of their children, as well as Zeda and Zeith, who had been invited to join in on the family dinner, all sat quietly as the Governor continued to grieve for the son that had been lost. They simply looked down at their own plates while their mother kissed the top of their father's head, and while she whispered words of comfort and assurance into his hair.After a few moments, Poe began to gather his wits about him. He pulled back from his wife, tipping his head upward at her and smiling a small smile of appreciation as he wiped the remaining tears from his eyes. Turning to look around the table at the kids, he let out a slightly embarrassed laugh. "I'm sorry," he muttered, gesturing vaguely at himself. "I'm sure I'll have a lot more moments like this as time goes on.""It's okay, dad," Leia insisted. Sitting at his immediate right, she extended her hand toward him and wrapped her fingers around his wrist. "We're all going have similar moments, at the most random times. Grief isn't linear, and it's different for everyone. There is no wrong way to grieve, either. Just…everything in its own time."Poe knitted his brow together and eyed his youngest daughter. "When did you get so wise?"Leia smirked and gave his wrist a squeeze. "My parents are really great role models."Sighing and considering her words, he smiled gently at her, and then once again looked around the table at the others. "I sure got lucky with all of you," he remarked; returning his left arm back around Crisara's waist and holding her close, while twisting his right hand around so that Leia's hand wasn't just wrapped around his wrist but so that he could hold hers instead. "I don't care how hard I have to fight going forward, or if I have to sacrifice myself: I will not lose any more of you. I can't do it. I won't do it. I love all of you more than life itself.""We love you, too, dad," Shara offered up.From beside Leia, Caro cleared his throat and drew everyone's attention to him. Once he had it, he stood up with his wine glass and smirked a bit. "I'd like to make a toast of my own."Poe nodded up at him. Letting go of Leia's hand, he grabbed his own glass back up and held it upward. Crisara returned to her seat, and took her glass into her left hand while reaching across the table to hold onto Poe's left. For a moment, they locked eyes and smiled at each other and then returned their focus upon their son."By all means," Poe insisted."Temiri passed from this life into the next, and not seeing him or talking to him anymore, at least not as we used to," he began, before casting a remorseful look at his stepfather, "or ever again for others, is going to take some getting used to. No one lives forever. We all know life, in the grand scheme of things, is fleeting. We know the time we're given is but a mere moment when compared to all of time, so that's why it's important to make the most of every moment we have. That's why it's important to cherish each other while we can." He looked at his parents and smiled with pride. "My first five years of life were…turbulent. There were good times, and there were bad times. I lost one father, but I gained another one. I lost a sister, but I gained, in the years that followed, two brothers and two more sisters. My family grew. I grew into the person I am today because of my parents. Our parents." He looked at the twins and then at Len, before looking down at the dark red liquid in his glass. "I love my family, more than anything. And, with that being said, I think you all deserve to know that our family is going to be growing."Crisara perked up first. Her grip within Poe's hand tightened and he seemed to narrow his gaze upon Caro accordingly because of that grip. Both older adults followed Caro's gaze as he looked at Zeda, who was seated at his right; the slight tinge of blush reaching her pale, white cheeks. And, suddenly, both parents understood."Last night, I took page from Tem's book," Caro continued. "Zeda and I enjoyed the evening down at the pier with our feet in the water as we watched the fireflies dancing over the surface. After everything that's happened in recent years, it made me realize I didn't want to waste whatever time I have left in this life; whether it's six years or sixty years. And I don't want to live a minute of the time I have without the love of my life at my side." He maintained his gaze down upon his fellow Jedi Knight, who was now looking back up at him with the same manifestation of love in her eyes that he held in his eyes for her. "I'm fairly certain I've loved Zeda since we were children, and last night she agreed to be my wife."Without realizing it, Poe let out a resounding whoop, and this time it was happy tears that sprang from his eyes. One or two of those tears that had fallen may have been bittersweet, though. He was reminded of how he'd reacted almost similarly when Temiri had told him he'd proposed to Sessani and Sessani had accepted. He just hoped this son and his ladylove would get the chance to make it down the aisle and build a life together.Caro turned and chuckled at his dad's exclamation. "That was pretty much how I reacted, too," he quipped. Setting his wine glass down, he extended his hand to Zeda and pulled her up to stand with him. "I love you, and thank you for loving me back.""There is no one else I ever could love besides you," she remarked, softly and sweetly.As Caro pulled his Umbaran fiancée into his arms and kissed the bejesus out of her, the rest of the family — and Zeith — congratulated the pair with continued whoops, happy exclamations of congratulations, and even clapping. When the newly-engaged couple pulled apart, his parents and siblings — and Zeith — all began to clink their wine glasses together to toast the happy news."To Caro and Zeda!" Poe declared, as he stood up and focused his gaze upon them. "May your love only continue to grow and may you bring each other the same happiness your mother has brought me." Tipping his wine glass toward the pair, he nodded at them. "Cheers.""To Caro and Zeda!" the other chimed in, clinking their glasses together once more.  Across the galaxy from Naboo, Nik found himself in a place he'd never wanted to return to. Yet, here he was, fifteen years later, wandering the streets of Hutta Town, on Nar Shaddaa.Everything looked the same. Everything still looked dirty and dreary. The overall feeling was dark and depressing. At every turn he felt nothing but anger, hopelessness and fear. He could neither feel nor see any of the nuggets of love, hope and happiness that Crisara had once been able to spot before she'd found him. It was likely because this place was so tainted for him. It was where he'd come into this life and where he'd spent the years following his parents' death; being all manner of abused by terrible people and living no better than a slave. Nik still bore the physical and mental scars this hellscape had given him, and he was sure they would never leave. They were constant reminders of how vile people could be.When he followed the directions to the location he was supposed to be heading toward, he suddenly realized he was standing in front of the old factory where Mama's and Papa's organization had been run out of. He'd been so lost in his head from all the terrible memories, that he hadn't been paying attention to where he physically was. As Nik stared up at the front façade, it looked even more dilapidated than it did then, but it was clear it had been sitting empty since Crisara killed Mama, Papa and the others that fateful day. A day that had been a sort of a rebirth from him.He'd been given a new life and a new purpose. He'd been given a home and a found family, and wonderful friends for life. And now he was falling for one of those friends. He was a Jedi Knight! He was strong, and he was powerful. He could strike fear into lesser creatures if he chose to. Hell, all he had to do most of the time was ignite his lightsaber and wave it about a bit, and it would send any possible assailants running for the metaphorical hills.And yet, back here, in this place, Nik didn't feel strong or fearsome. He felt like he was nine years old again, just struggling to survive. He could recall that oppressive fear he'd once felt, as if it was just yesterday, and it made him feel agitated and angry.He didn't want to be here.Closing his eyes and inhaling a steadying breath, he slowly turned to look across the street at the other building that towered higher than the old factory shithole. This other building in question was where he was supposed to go.Figures it would be here.It was as if Nik was being forced to literally and figuratively face his past.Crossing the road, he ignored the curious gazes from a few street urchins and headed inside the building. It was dark, with nominal lighting, and it smelled just as bad as it did outside. Grimacing, he stepped further inside the entryway; noting this was some sort of apartment building that had probably never seen better days. Craning his head, he looked at the stairwell that coiled upward for a few dozen stories. He was not looking forward to ascending so many levels on foot, but he'd noticed the single lift in the entry hall had a sign denoting it was out of order, and likely had been that way since the age of the Old Republic. With another grimace, he took to the first step but kept his hands off the railing, because it looked…sticky, at best.As he went along, he had to sometimes skip steps because of the odd person sleeping here or there, random and questionable puddles, or just other debris in his way. But that was fine. He stood at six feet and three inches tall. His legs were long so there was no worry there. Though, tall he may be, as well as athletic, he still found himself to be getting rather winded after the first dozen flights of stairs. Removing the small datapad from the pocket of his cloak, he turned it on to check where his final destination in this building was and he thanked the stars he only had four more floors to go up.Finally, when he reached the apartment in question, he stopped and let his shoulders slouch while he let his breathing level out. He kept a mindful eye out for any dangers, but it seemed the only thing he had to worry about was the slovenly drunk singing under his breath who had been seated at the top of the stairs and nursing a nearly empty bottle of some unknown liquor.Assessing any other dangers, by way of the Force, Nik felt assured all was fine and pressed the button beside the door to alert the occupant or, perhaps, occupants that someone was waiting outside. Staring directly at the door, he was aware of the peephole that could only be looked through from within the apartment and was able to sense someone approaching from the other side of the door, and that he was soon being stared at. So, he held his gaze; hoping he was making the person on the other side quiver a bit in their boots."Open up," he bellowed. "I'd rather not be here longer than I need to."He felt hesitation and a bit of contempt wafting from the other side, but also overwhelming grief and a hint of curiosity."I can easily cut my way in." He opened his cloak to reveal his lightsaber, which was clipped the side of his belt. "Or I can just rip this door away. I've heard the story. I know my Master did the same to you once on Canto Bight, and it had you shaking like a branch in a storm."All at once, the door slid open to reveal a haggard and puffy-eyed Armitage Hux. He was already glowering at Nik. "You took your good ol' time getting here."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Grief and hope, they walk together
Live side by side but they're not friends
Grief and hope they help to carry us through
And when we see better days, they go separate ways"
— Don McLean "You took your good ol' time getting here," Hux had blustered."Yeah, well, you're not exactly my favorite person, so I thought I'd make you wait." After a moment of continued hesitation on the wanted criminal's part, Nik tipped his head forward a bit and raised his brow expectantly. "Well? Are you going to let me in?" he questioned impatiently. "I'm pretty certain you don't want your neighbors knowing who you are. People here are always looking for any way to make a few credits. Imagine how much they'd get for information leading to your whereabouts."With a snarl, Hux beckoned Nik forward. "Alright, hurry up. Come in."As the younger man slipped inside, Hux stole a quick but thorough glance out into the hall and then ducked back inside; shutting the door behind him. The moment he turned around he was faced with the business end of a green plasma blade pointed at his chest. Throwing his hands up, he gave Nik his undivided attention."I'm very much within my right to strike you down where you stand," Nik warned. "You're the galaxy's enemy number one. Your face has been plastered all over the HoloNet for two years and the reward amounts are constantly increasing.""Are you insinuating you're in want of money and desire to be the one to turn me in?" When Nik didn't respond immediately, Hux sneered, but with touch of amusement. "You would've done it already." Assessing the threat level he was under, Hux lowered his hands and boldly stepped around the blade. And, as he expected, Nik lowered his lightsaber and deactivated it; clearly not about to actually use it. "You've had ample opportunity to kill me over the last six months, and yet here we are." Sauntering into the kitchenette of the small, drab apartment, the older male sank down into one of the two rickety chairs at an equally rickety table. "You didn't have to show up. You could've brought a sentry of Republic officers to my door and seen me arrested or even executed on the spot to save the Republic the trouble and expense of another trial. But you didn't."Nik huffed and slowly followed into the room. With a touch of guilt in his expression, he sat down across from Hux; resting his left hand upon his thigh while his right hand maintained a firm grasp on the hilt of his weapon, which he set upon the table and had pointed directly at Hux in case he changed his mind and felt the need to kill him after all. "You've taken countless lives over the last two years.""No. I had other people for that," Hux countered. "My loyal supporters, who still believe as I do: that the Republic is a joke and that the First Order should've won the war.""But the First Order didn't win the war. It failed. Spectacularly," Nik threw in his face. "And you did kill at least one person who mattered."Narrowing his tired, bloodshot green eyes, Hux tipped his head back a bit with realization. "Ahh, yes. The adopted son.""Just the son," Nik insisted. "Blood doesn't make a family. And your goon permanently maimed someone I love." He'd surprised himself with that admission, considering he'd only just recently been realizing his feelings for Leia had been changing."Well, that son of that witch killed the one person that I loved, so turnabout is fair play."Nik leaned forward and glared. "No. Turnabout is him killing the woman you loved because the woman he loved was killed…because of you. You started all of this. In the end, you have only yourself to blame.""Well, I have no one left now, so there's nothing anyone can use against me. All I have now is my anger. My rage." Hux folded his arms over his chest. "It keeps me warm at night."Both men just stared at each other for a long, tense moment; clenching their jaws and sizing each other up."When I crossed your path six months ago, I should've killed you then and there.""Yes," Hux agreed. "You really should have. Why didn't you?""Because you said you had eyes and ears all over the galaxy and, you claimed that if you were to be caught or killed, your operatives would target further innocent lives," Nik replied; his hazel eyes dropping down toward his lap. "I looked into your mind, your soul, and saw you meant everything. I couldn't take the risk. You'd been laying low, the attacks from the Huxists had dwindled. I thought the threat you posed didn't really exist anymore, so long as you were just left alone to live out your life."Raising an eyebrow, Hux smirked. "Did you say Huxists?"Nik sighed. "Yes. It's what we've taken to calling your loyalists. Hux. Loyalist. Huxist." With a roll of his eyes, he quietly added, "Not that it matters, but I coined the phrase." Technically Leia coined it, but that was neither here nor there at the moment. "Oh, no, I like it. Has a nice ring to it, and it finally gives me the recognition I deserve."With a scowl, Nik shook his head. "Nothing about you deserves recognition," he retorted. "You're a washed-up First Order has-been who can't let go of the past.""When you've lived the life I have, when your childhood was spent receiving verbal beatings from a father who wished you'd never been born and then physical beatings from his friends, and when all your hard work to achieve greatness is thwarted by a whiny pissbaby with horrible temper tantrums, then we can talk about holding onto the past," Hux bit out; unfolding his arms and bracing his hands upon his thighs. "I spent so long withering away in a jail cell, forgetting what it felt like to have the sun on my face, and wishing I could have done things differently. And then I was given my chance. I befriended a few guards who were like-minded individuals. I gained my freedom with their help. I promised to make good on my old goals to see order brought to the galaxy's chaos.""You only succeeded in creating more chaos.""Well, in order to make an omelet, first you must break a few eggs." Hux shrugged. "We all have to start somewhere."Nik's grip on his lightsaber hilt tightened, and he was aware that Hux had noticed that fact by the way the older man tensed slightly. "You think I don't know what it's like to crawl out from abuse and strive for a greater existence? I was born here." He gestured toward the boarded up window a few feet away; referring to Hutta Town and Nar Shaddaa as a whole. "I spent the first nine years of my life here; abused, hungry, cold, tired. Living in a state of constant fear. At nine years old I was already wishing for the sweet release of death. But then I was saved.""By Crisara Dameron." Hux's tone was lightly mocking."Jedi Master Crisara Dameron, daughter of Luke Skywalker. Granddaughter of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the most remarkable woman I've ever known. Yeah." He paused, then shrugged a bit. "Well, second most remarkable woman to me now." His mind lingered upon Leia again, and he was thankful Hux didn't have the ability to see his thoughts."Still, during the last six months, after that first time, attacks were still being made in my name and began to increase again. But you still didn't attack me.""Because you threatened to destroy group homes belonging to GOFOY. I wasn't about to risk children being injured or killed. But you also knew what I was, and who I was raised by and studied under. You knew my alignment and didn't shy away from me. You…""I what?""You treated me with respect and, as much as I hate to admit it, some of the things you told me, about the galaxy you envisioned, it sounded…it felt right." Nik pulled his weapon back and clipped it to his belt. Mirroring Hux's earlier pose, he folded his arms across his chest. "The galaxy isn't ripe with chaos, but there is corruption. Lesser worlds still go hungry or unchecked with rampant crime and pollution, like this moon. I could understand, from your perspective, what you wanted to create. A galaxy where every world and every moon, from the Core Worlds to the Unknown Regions, are equal, or at least somewhat equal. One ruling body, overseeing everyone and making sure none fall behind or are forgotten. There are planets and moons that never returned to the Republic or remained still faithful to the Empire or First Order and have been left to struggle. Places like here, Hutt Space: it's miserable, but it doesn't have to be if a higher government kept order. I can understand that."Hux gestured appreciatively at Nik. "Exactly.""But the galaxy, as a whole, isn't inherently chaotic. Why attack such peaceful places and take such innocent lives in the process? And don't prattle about eggs and omelets.""The locations targeted were strategic. They were places that would hurt the Republic and bring doubt to its citizens; that the Republic couldn't keep them safe. The mistake on my part was that a few of my Huxists thought they were somehow helping me by naming me as behind it all," he informed. "I didn't want anyone to know who was behind it. I wanted to eventually come out of the proverbial woodwork, turn on the attackers and show the Republic that only I could keep them truly safe. I wanted to sway them to my side and make them think I wasn't the bad guy after all. I wanted to come out on top and smelling like roses. But, I had to work with what I had. And, a little over a week ago, I was so close. Even with my name and face all over the HoloNet, I was close to achieving some real goals. I was about to come into an exorbitant amount of credits, and I was working with ship builders out of Corellia — on the down low, of course — and would've been able to build a proper fleet to rival what the Republic has. And then, I reached out to you last month; offering you a peace offering of a mutual enemy's whereabouts in exchange for you giving me a heads up if the Republic got too close to our current base of operations. I scratched your back, you scratched mine." Leaning back in his rickety chair again, Hux stared Nik in the eye. "Did you ever find that mutual enemy?""We did," Nik confirmed. "But I don't see how he was a mutual enemy. He was a Huxist.""He was one of my higher-ups, but he was getting a bit too big for his britches and was going rogue. Thought he could do it all without me." Hux sneered his trademark sneer. "I wasn't about to let some blithering fool undermine me and reap the glory. I suffered that once. Not again." Reining in his irritation, he let a deep sigh escape his lips. "And you followed through on your end. You gave us ample warning. But, things still went…" He trailed; his gaze becoming distant."Not as expected?"Slowly, Hux nodded in agreement. "Yes.""What information about my parents did you have, that you wanted to see me now?" Nik quickly changed the subject. "And how could you know about any of that?""Because your name was familiar to Gremma." Hux's chin began to quiver; thinking on his deceased beloved. "She wanted to tell you herself when she figured it out, but obviously she didn't get the chance.""Did this information die with her? If so, there was no point in me coming here."Abruptly, Hux leaned forward on the table and looked Nik directly in the eye. "She told me everything. I know her secrets, just as she knew all of mine. Because, when you love someone, you don't keep secrets."Nik swallowed a small lump in his throat. "What did she know about my parents then?"Standing up, Hux stalked over toward a narrow, disheveled bed around the corner from the kitchenette and picked a long, dark jacket up off the ground. Slowly and meticulously, he folded it up so that it laid in a square in his hands. Wandering back over to the table, he set it down in front of Nik and then resumed sitting across from the younger man. The second he sat down, he pointed at the jacket with one hand. "I was wearing that when Gremma was killed. When Crisara's son sliced his lightsaber blade across her abdomen, I was sprayed with her blood upon my chest and my face. I've since washed my face, but I know her blood is still stuck to that fabric. Being that it's black, it's impossible to see with the naked eye. But it's there."Furrowing his brow, Nik didn't understand why any of this was important. "Okay? So?""When Gremma was sixteen years old she got pregnant by an older man who worked for her father. She thought she was in love, but he was just a pedophile. When her parents found out, they had the man quietly arrested. Or killed. She wasn't sure which. She was then sent away, somewhere no one would recognize her. She was sent here to Nar Shaddaa. Her parents arranged for her to stay in the Palace of Grakkus the Hutt, who had only been freed from Megalox prison the year before. She remained in a private wing, with nurse droids until she delivered her child. A son."Nik's breath instantly hitched and his heart began to race with what Hux was beginning to insinuate."She got to keep her son for two days. She named him after his father, the older man she thought she loved. Nik Pirsto. However, her father arrived to claim her and bring her home, but not with her child. He allowed her to meet the parents her son would be given to: Kondrack Yaren and—""His wife, Aly Corr Yaren," Nik finished. His nostrils flared slightly as he pieced this information together."Do you remember your adoptive father?""He died when I was three. My memories of him are a minimal, but they were happy ones. I think he got sick. My mother — Aly — she definitely got sick. She died when I was six. Then I was taken in by a gang who indentured me." Nik was rambling; his mind flitting between memories while processing the fact of who his biological parents apparently were."Kondrack fell out a window," Hux revealed. "Not that there's ever been much of a law enforcement presence here, but there was a report on his death that Gremma found. He fell out a window with such a force that tracked with people who were pushed. But he'd been home alone with you. Your mother, Aly, wasn't home. She was at work." As if amused, Hux leaned one arm on the table and gave a nodding gesture toward Nik. "I learned some things from Kylo Ren years ago, about his training. And I've done my research since. I'm aware that Force sensitive children were taken in by the old Jedi Order when they were around two or three years old, because that's about the time they begin to truly manifest their abilities." Hux chuckled. "I think you probably had some temper tantrum and pushed your father out the window with the Force, and that's why he died."Great, as if Nik needed something else to bog him down about his past. Now he might've murdered his father?Once more, Hux pointed at the coat. "You don't have to take my word for it about Gremma. Take the coat. Test whatever blood splatter you find on it. Compare it with a sample of your own blood and come to your own conclusions, and then do with that information what you will." Pain and grief returning to his eyes, which were most likely puffy because he'd been crying due to his loss, the older male boldly reached across the table and held his hand out to Nik.At first, Nik just stared at Hux's hand with great skepticism. Then, for whatever reason, he took hold of it. He didn't say anything. He just stared at both their hands for a moment and then looked quizzically at the other man."You look like her," Hux blurted. "I mean, not like you're her twin or anything. You have your differences. There are definitely prominent features you must've inherited from Nik Pirsto — the cleft in your chin, your nose, your eye color not being green like hers were. But, there is a hint of green in yours. What color are your eyes anyway? Hazel?"Nik's mouth went dry, causing him to gather some spit to swallow so he could speak again. "Greenish hazel," he replied with a nod in the affirmative."Nik Pirsto either had hazel, too, or possibly brown eyes. But, you have her dark hair. She wore it straight and slicked back, but it was naturally curly like yours. You have her strong jaw and cheekbones. The tone in your voice even sounds a bit like hers, even if your accents are different." Hux sighed sadly. "She talked about you to me, even before she realized you who were. She said she wanted to find you. Then you basically fell into our laps, and she had such hopes, once she confirmed her suspicions, of us being a family. She and I intended on getting married at some point." Hux snickered. "I was almost your stepfather." Tilting his head to the side, he narrowed his gaze. "I could still be like one. Gremma might be gone, but I still love her and she's the only woman I will ever love. That I could ever love. You could join me. Together, we can make the changes to this galaxy that you've already told me you can understand and get behind. No one innocent needs to die. I can teach you how to be a real leader. And with your abilities, you could go so far. You would make Gremma so proud, of that I'm sure."Finding his nerve, Nik jumped up to his feet and backed away from the table; letting go of Hux's hand in the process. "I…I can't…no…""It's alright. I understand. It's a lot to process all at once." Hux sat back and looked up at Nik. "Just, not that you owe me anything…just do me one favor and take some time. Think about everything I said. Test the blood. I'm certain it will prove my claims about who Gremma really is to you. And, when you get the results, contact me. I can tell you more about her, if you want." Hux looked downward at the table and stared almost dreamily at it; lost in thought and memories. "She was remarkable."Tucking in his bottom lip, Nik reached for the jacket and pulled it to his chest within his left arm. "I make no promises.""It's okay," Hux insisted with a small sigh. "You have to do what's best for you. But what's best for you might just be aligning with me." Slowly, he got up to his feet. He was pretty close in height to Nik; only about an inch or two shorter, so they more or less came eye to eye. "I didn't get the chance to officially become your stepfather, and I had a horrible father, so I have no personal frame of reference for what a good father is like, and I know you haven't had a father since you were three, but I could, in time, and if you'd allow, be the father you deserved to have all along. We could do great things together, as only a father and son could. After all, you said it yourself: blood doesn't make a family.""I'll think about it."Hux tipped his head at the younger man. "That's all I ask.""I should…" Nik looked in the direction of the apartment door."Of course." Hux understood the younger man wanted to leave. "By all means."After walking a few feet, Nik paused and turned back around. "How exactly do I find you if I choose to come back and talk to you or somehow decide to follow you instead? Would you still be here?""I'll reach out to you in a few weeks. I have eyes and ears everywhere, remember. I'll find you."  Poe couldn't wallow any longer.Yes, he would continue to grieve, but after two weeks of being in the thick of mourning, he had to do something else. He had to get back to work. He had so many responsibilities as Governor that had been shelved or put onto the shoulders of his advisors or onto the Queen, and it wasn't fair to any of them. Of course, he understood the necessity of taking some of that burden off of his shoulders, and they would continue to do so, but Poe was insistent he was going to return. He believed it would help give him focus and take his mind off things for a while.When he returned to the Governor's Mansion, Shara and Len joined him. Crisara remained at the villa with the others, for the time being. Though, because she was focusing solely upon working at the original Kenobi Academy, it meant she wouldn't be available at the Theed location, so Caro and Zeda soon went there to oversee the padawans and younglings, with Uwin in tow.Suddenly, it was only Crisara and Leia at the villa.Nik had since returned from wherever it was he'd gone, to meet with his mysterious acquaintance. Although he had been offered one of the spare rooms, he had some vague excuse about wanting to stay in the city. After Kes had died, Poe had chosen not to sell his father's apartment, so it became an extra residence for any of their guests or any of the Jedi Knights who wanted to stay in the capital city, but not at the Governor's Mansion or the second Kenobi Academy's dormitory. Nik asked if it would be alright if he stayed there, and Crisara had insisted he didn't need to ask. It was what the apartment was there for now. He had stayed for dinner his first night back but wouldn't elaborate on where he'd been, who he met with and what had him so oddly quiet and lost in thought. Neither Crisara nor Leia wanted to pry, so they were careful to avoid reading him.Before he'd left for Theed, he had been standing in the grand foyer, beside the antique, wooden table that housed a vase filled with a large bouquet of flowers and ferns, which had been the latest condolence bouquet sent to the family in honor of Temiri. Leia stood in front of him with both of their hands upon the table's surface; his over hers."How long will you be in Theed?" she wondered."A few days. I have something I need to look into.""And you won't elaborate? Does it have anything to do with your biological parents? You said this acquaintance had information about them."Nik tensed up and slowly coiled his fingers away from hers. "I was given their identities, but I'm not sure yet if it's the truth. That's why I need to go to Theed," he replied; his voice low and quiet. "To, uh, test a theory, so to speak.""If they are your biological parents, are they still alive? Can you meet them?""If she really is my mother, then she's recently dead. The man who might be my father either died before I was born or may still be alive. If he's still alive, he's either in jail or walking around a free man." He caught Leia's curious gaze and sighed. "Long story. I promise to let you know when I know for sure, and once I've…processed it all.""Of course," she insisted. "It's your history. I've no right to it."Tilting his head to the side, he returned his hand over hers and thumbed her knuckles. "But I want you to. Just not yet." Looking her more in the eye, he felt like an idiot for not realizing sooner how truly beautiful and perfect she was to him. "I want our story."Leia began to smile brightly up at him. She was sure she was blushing like a fool, but she didn't care. "So do I."Smiling back at her, but more subdued, Nik tipped his head forward and pressed his forehead against hers. "I have all this chaotic energy buzzing around in my head and in my chest. It feels like a swarm of angry insects, but you make me feel calm and at ease," he quietly remarked; practically whispering. "Thank you for that.""Anytime."Angling his face until his lips hovered over hers, Nik paused for a moment before finally kissing her. It was brief, but it was ardent. "When I get back from Theed, maybe we can explore more of that." He leaned back and gestured between their lips."You better believe we will," Leia quipped with a chuckle. "I have nearly twenty years of repressed hormones building up here. If we happen to get to the point where we take things further, you better be prepared for me to destroy you."A hearty laugh bubbled out of Nik's mouth and it felt good. With everything he'd been feeling and coming to terms with, and with Temiri's loss, and just everything lately, it felt good to laugh and smile. And, honestly, Leia had always been the person who had been able to help him do both. So, again, it made him feel like an idiot to not realize what a gem of a person he had right under his nose all this time. Literally, too. She was much shorter than him."I think I can handle whatever you throw at me.""Myself," she replied, without missing a beat. "I gonna throw myself at you."Arching an eyebrow at her, he nodded and stepped back. "You and I?" He gestured between the two of them again. "We're gonna have a lot of fun together."Leia simply grinned.Stealing one more kiss from her, Nik walked out of the villa without another word; leaving her to stew in hopeful thoughts of the future instead of how she'd been dwelling on Tem or her injury. It seemed the rest of her surviving siblings finally all had things to look forward to now except her. Caro would be planning a wedding with Zeda, and hopefully it actually happened for them, since it didn't for Temiri and Sessani. Shara was about to be heading into her fifth semester and third year of school at Theed University and was openly dating Zeith Grader now. And Len was still on track to enter New Academy on Chandrila in a few weeks, with his eventual endgame to join the Republic Navy as an X-wing pilot; following in their father's and paternal grandmother's footsteps. As she'd approached the end of her training and her knighting ceremony, Leia hadn't any goals beyond that. She didn't know what she wanted out of her life going forward. She wanted to remain a Jedi Knight, and to travel; that much she knew.But now she hoped — no — wanted to travel alongside Nik. She wanted to go on adventures with him; to see the galaxy, live in different places, meet new people…finally lose her virginity. To Nik, obviously. It's not like she hadn't already imagined it. And, since she knew he was far from being a virgin, at least they both wouldn't be fumbling novices."You alright down there?"Leia snapped out of her reverie, blinked rapidly a few times and tipped her head upward to spy her mother descending the stairs. "What? Yeah. What do you mean?"Crisara snickered. "You look flustered." Her blue eyes flitted knowingly toward the closed front door. "Are you coming down with something or is Nik the reason for the redness in your cheeks?""Oh, gods, mom.""I was a young woman once, too. And I was your age when I was also a Jedi Knight, striking out on my own, and then eventually finding myself being romanced by good-looking guys. I remember feeling so out of my element because I'd never been in a relationship before and it was exciting but also nerve-wracking." As she reached the bottom step, she sauntered over toward her daughter with her hands clasped in front of her. "I just want to make sure you're in a good head space and not rushing into anything you're not ready for.""I've never been more ready," Leia assured."Nik doesn't have to be the one. It's okay if he's just the one for right now. You're almost twenty. He's twenty-four. As much as it pains me to admit, you're an adult now, and this is your life to live. As long as you're happy, and whatever happens or doesn't happen with Nik is what you want, and what he wants, then I'm happy for you, too." Holding her arms out, she pulled Leia into an embrace and relished the way her daughter readily reciprocated."Thanks, mom." After a few moments of just standing there like that, Leia suddenly asked, "Wait — how many guys were you 'romanced' by when you were my age?" Pulling back, she raised an amused eyebrow at her mother. "Who other than Caro's father?""Didn't I ever tell you about Radu?""Ra-who?"Crisara chuckled. "I'm sure you've met him before," she continued. "Radu Lammu. His sister was my friend Rani, who was a New Republic naval pilot who died a few years before the war began. But before that, before I met Alfic, I met Radu and we dated for several months.""I think I remember him." Leia nodded. "He was at dad's first inauguration, right? He works for GOFOY.""Yes.""You dated a Twi'lek? Go, mom.""I did, and he was a great kisser." Slipping an arm around her daughter, she began to guide her into the family room, where they could sit comfortably and partake in some proper girl talk. "I lost my virginity to him."Leia immediately grimaced. "Not sure I needed to know that.""Well, now you do. You're welcome."As she shook her head and laughed, Leia leaned a bit more into her mom. "Somehow it's hard to imagine you being with anyone other than dad. Like, obviously you were married to Caro's dad first, but you got divorced and then he died along with Adera and a billion others, but dad's always been there.""We were both always in each other's lives, even though we didn't know it." Crisara also nodded; agreeing with her daughter's remarks. "We were always meant to be and, I hope, whether it's Nik or even someone else, that you find a love as lasting."As mother and daughter sank down, side by side, upon the sofa in the family room, Leia let out a huff of breath and smiled lazily. "Nik's been part of my life since I was five years old, and I think he's going to be to me what dad is to you."Crisara hugged the girl close; pressing the sides of their heads together. "Then, like I said: I'm happy for you."  Later that night, after both had gone to bed, but not necessarily to sleep, Crisara found herself staring upward at the vaulted ceiling in her bedroom. Her eyes were focused primarily upon the stained glass panel that depicted the Cantonica system, which was there to symbolize where Poe and her had gotten married, as well as where Temiri had first come into their lives. The fact that it had also been where Hux had been caught by Poe and her, how that one day over twenty years ago, seemingly tying their fates all together, suddenly seemed very poignant. That day started them on a journey. Had Hux not gone to Canto Bight, it's very likely Crisara might never have found Temiri. But, also because of Hux, on another poignant day, in another star system, Poe and Crisara's time with Temiri came to an end.She had thought she was all cried out by this point, but somehow there were still plenty of tears yet to fall. Her face was scrunched up with emotion; her brow knitting together, her lips pursing, her nose crinkling, and her chin quivering. Crisara wasn't overcome by an obnoxious sob that wracked her chest or anything like that. She wasn't wailing like some overacting starlet. Her tears, her cries, were quiet and muffled by the way she covered her face with her hands and then shoved her face into her pillow. Rolling fully onto her side, she stretched her left arm out upon Poe's side of the bed, which was empty. Curling her fingers, she grabbed at the fitted sheet and held tight as the tears continued to fall from her eyes and the grief continued to wash over her.Never in a million years did she think she'd be back in this place: surviving another child.No.Losing another child, because of Armitage fucking Hux.As she rolled onto her back again, she wiped aggressively at her cheeks, to dry up the tears. She began to feel her grief subside as anger began to take over. The more her mind wandered to Hux and how he was this bane of her existence, her anger grew into rage. Without Poe beside her, to bring her a sense of peace, and just left alone to let the negativity fester, she felt the room around her quaking. She could hear smaller objects, like her jewelry box upon her vanity table, rattling. She could hear the doors to her bedroom, as well as her bathroom and walk-in closet doors creaking. Casting her gaze upward, she returned her focus upon the stained glass panel of the Cantonica system and watched as it began to crack and splinter."Mom!"Leia was outside her door, banging on it. But Crisara was becoming too enveloped by her anger to respond or react to the obvious concern in her daughter's voice.Unaware of just how far she was getting to the edge, while she held her hands over her abdomen and curled her fingers as if she was choking someone, the faint pinging noise that glass made just before it shattered was all she heard before that glass panel suddenly began to fall down toward the bed. Quickly realizing that fact, Crisara rolled herself off the bed and onto the floor with a resounding thud, seconds before very sharp and jagged shards of glass landed on the mattress.Leia burst inside the room half a moment later and her dark eyes darted down toward her mother. "Mom — what happened?" she questioned; hurrying over to place her hands upon her mother's shoulders.Crisara, who was on her hands and knees, arched her back and roared in pain, but not the physical kind. She had cried plenty of times since Temiri died, but she'd been surrounded by so much of her family to keep her calm. And she'd felt she had to hold it in as much as possible for their sake. She had to be strong for them. She couldn't fall apart. She couldn't afford to fall apart. But it was just her in her bed, and only Leia at home with her and not their entire brood.Tilting her chin toward her chest, Crisara bellowed with deep, heartbreaking sorrow. Leia didn't need to ask further about what happened or what was going on. She quickly understood. But she was also worried. She saw the broken glass. She looked upward and saw the broken panel. And she felt the darkness inching around the peripheral within her mother. So, crouching down and leaning over, she pressed her chest against her mother's back and wrapped her arms around her mother's abdomen."Mom. I'm here. Just listen to my voice. Don't give in to the darkness," she urged. "I know it may feel tempting, but you're better and stronger than that. Don't let your pain, your sadness and your anger consume you. Do you hear me?"Crisara closed her eyes tightly, letting the sound of Leia's words soothe her soul. It wasn't just her daughter's arms that she felt around her, it was the calming influence of her daughter's Force signature; enveloping her in a physical and metaphysical hug. Because of her daughter's training and the strength in her ability, she was able to bring her back from the edge just as Caro once had, nearly twenty-five years earlier.An aggrieved whimper escaped Crisara's lips as she teetered toward the right and slumped heavily within her daughter's arms. Leia sat back on her legs and let her mom collapse against her thighs, and basically cradled her."I'm sorry you've had to suffer this loss," Leia whispered; brushing some hair off her mom's face. "It isn't fair to you, or any of us. But, to have to suffer this twice in one lifetime borders on cruel. I wish things could've happened differently." Bending over her mom, she placed a kiss upon her cheek and felt a grateful sense of calm wash over the older female."Thank you for being here with me," Crisara managed to say."Of course. Think nothing of it."After a few silent moments, Crisara quietly asked, "Can you do me a favor?""Clean up the broken glass for you?" Leia attempted to make jest, but it fell flat."Can you contact your father and ask him to come here? I know he might be asleep, and he only just got back to Theed yesterday to resume his work there, but I think I really need him here right now."Leia nodded. "Okay." She brushed a hand gently against the side of her mother's face in a soothing manner, but hesitated to move. Leaning downward again, she kissed her mother's temple. "I love you, mom. I'm here for you, too, whenever you need me."Crisara began to cry again, but this time because she was just so proud of the strong and kind woman her daughter had grown into. It had nothing to do with the Jedi Knight she was. Leia was just a good person, all around. "I love you, too, my beautiful girl."  Poe hadn't heard his comlink. He'd been fast asleep when Leia had been trying to contact him. It wasn't until the morning, just after sunrise, when he woke up and noticed the device on his nightstand and that it was blinking. When he reached for it and turned it on, he listened to the recorded message that had been transmitted hours before and almost bolted upright when he heard Leia urging him to come home because her mother needed him.He didn't need any context.Crisara could've merely wanted him to get something off a high shelf for her and he would've dropped everything to be there for her. But, because of the concerned tone in his younger twin daughter's voice, he knew it was more than that. He knew it had to be in regard to Temiri. It was the only thing it could be.Poe hadn't bothered to shower. He'd simply gotten dressed as quickly as he could and informed C-3PO that he was heading back to the villa and to postpone any meetings for that day by, tentatively, at least another day. He'd know more once he got home to the Lake Country. As Len was staying in the Governor's Mansion with him at the moment, he'd also asked the golden protocol droid to let his son know where he'd gone once he got up for the day. C-3PO had nodded obediently; obliging his master's request and then bid him safe travels. BB-8 had come with Poe, ever his faithful droid friend and shadow.When he got home and walked through the front door, he found Crisara curled up on the sofa in the family room, nursing a cup of tea. However, before he could approach his wife, Leia cut him off as she came from the dining room with a cup of caf in her hands.She'd needed something stronger since she hadn't slept a wink all night. She'd wanted to keep an eye on her mother in case Crisara got too far into her head and let the grief morph into rage again."She had a rough night," Leia whispered when her father turned to look at her. "Her grief got the better of her. One of the glass panels in the ceiling in your bedroom shattered and fell onto the bed."Poe knitted his brow in concern. "Was she hurt?""No, she was on the floor by the time I got into the room. Glass was all over the bed. I think she fell out before the glass fell. I don't know if she'd been dreaming and that's why she was on the floor, or what. She hasn't elaborated and that detail isn't really important anyway." Leia yawned, abruptly. "I think she caused the panel to shatter, though, which would normally be impressive if anyone else did it, because that glass is supposed to be blastproof but, you know, it's mom. I felt the grief and the rage swelling in her like an approaching tsunami that was about to tear the house down. I got out of bed as quick as I could. Luckily I hadn't gone to sleep yet.""Have either of you slept?" Poe gave his daughter a concerned onceover and then glanced at his wife."No."Grabbing the cup of caf out of Leia's hands, he nodded up the stairs. "Go to bed. I'm here now." When she hesitated to go, he stared more pointedly at her. "I'm not asking, Ley."Leia smirked. "Okay, dad." With a sigh, she also stole a glance in her mom's direction and then leaned in and stood on tiptoe to give her father a kiss on his cheek as a proper hello. "Let me know if I can do anything.""You've done more than enough," he smiled appreciatively at her. "Thank you." As she nodded, Leia turned and ascended the stairs while Poe held the cup of caf level with the center of his chest and walked forward into the family room. "Hey, there, woman," he greeted. "What's this I hear about you losing your shit without me?"Crisara nearly rolled her eyes at him but opted to just stare tiredly. "I broke one of the stained glass panels," she muttered. "I'm thinking that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to have them. I could've been impaled if I hadn't moved off the bed quick enough. Then again, it would've been my own damn fault, so…"Poe sauntered over and sat down on the coffee table in front of her and set the cup he'd been holding down beside him. Reaching forward, he grabbed for both of Crisara's hands and then just looked at her until she gave him her full focus. "None of that matters," he insisted; referring to the glass panels. "And I'm not going to ask if you're okay. Of course you aren't. Neither am I." He shrugged and tightened his grip on her hands as he subtly urged her to sit up a bit straighter. "What do you need right now? What can I do to help you — us — through this right now?"She hesitated to answer. Her exhausted blue eyes drifted downward toward his knees, but she wasn't actually looking at his knees. Her mind and her focus was just too cloudy. "Can we go somewhere?""Sure," he obliged, without hesitation. "Where you do have in mind?"Crisara looked back up at him and smiled with such love and appreciation for how willing he was to drop everything for her.  The fact that Temple Island was bathed in warm sunlight instead of being battered by the usual, intermittent rainstorms of Ahch-To was a small miracle. With how both Crisara and Poe had been feeling, they didn't need the weather to mirror them. The Millennium Falcon cut low into the atmosphere and Poe angled her expertly toward the large, grassy island and leveled out just before landing upon a wide enough rocky section where Crisara had mentioned Rey and Chewbacca had landed the ship decades earlier when they'd originally arrived to find Luke."So, this is Ahch-To," Poe remarked. "How have we never come here together before now?""I haven't been here since I last saw my dad," Crisara replied with a shrug. "Haven't felt the need to come back until now."Poe powered down the ship and both sat back in their respective chairs. As he looked over at her, he watched the way she stared out the viewport with a sad, distant look on her face; but it didn't feel the current look had too much to do with Temiri. He was certain this look pertained more toward her father because, as far as he knew, it had now been about nine years since she'd seen him as a Force ghost."Did you want to go explore?" he wondered; not sure how else to initiate whatever was going to happen next now that they'd arrived.Crisara frowned and tilted her head to the side as she stared upward at the uphill landscape. "I haven't been able to meditate since Temiri died. Meditation has always helped clear my head and center myself. I've felt so…" She began to roughly tap her fingertips against her sternum, and then sighed. "My mind has felt so noisy and chaotic. I don't know what to do with myself. I can't focus on anything and I'm really starting to scare myself."Poe felt tears sting a bit at his eyes; hating to see her in any kind of turmoil and not being able to be the one to fix it for her. "What can I do?"Slowly, Crisara turned and looked back at him. As she held her left hand out to him, he readily reached out and took it with his right. "Just be here with me."Poe nodded. "Always."Within minutes, the pair had made their way outside of the ship and inhaled the refreshing sea air and welcomed the warm sunlight that was beating down on them. It was mid-afternoon, so there was plenty of daylight hours left, and there was definitely an abundance of sun, what with two of them. Smiling lovingly at each other, they held onto each other's hand as they began to ascend the stone steps long since built into the island's gradient."There's going to be a lot of uphill walking, isn't there?" he questioned."And then a lot of downhill.""Downhill is always easier, though. Not as hard on the knees."Crisara snickered. "My father was barely younger than you, and he was climbing up and down this island every day for six years before he died.""Your father was also a galactically-famous Jedi Master. I'm just a former pilot turned politician who has spent most of his adult life literally sitting on his ass; either in an X-wing or behind a desk.""Explains why you got such an ample posterior."Poe paused, causing her to do the same, since they were still holding hands. When she looked up at him, he raised an eyebrow at her and smirked. "I like seeing you being able to joke.""Maybe it's the change of scenery that's helping."As he slowly nodded, accepting her basic excuse, he started to continue upward again with her. "Maybe my ass is the real motivation." He tightened his grip around her digits. "It's just so mesmerizing."A bubbly chuckle escaped Crisara's lips and it brought a brighter smile to his.Before long, the two of them reached the Caretaker village, where a few of the Lanai appeared; either already outdoors, partaking in their daily chores, or poking their heads out of any number of the domed huts to see who was approaching. Poe was a bit caught off guard by them, but Crisara merely smiled politely at them."Hello," she greeted two of the closer Lanai, who were manning a wooden cart filled with linens that had recently been cleaned and dried. "My name is Crisara Dameron. This is my husband Poe. I was here before, over twenty years ago. My father was Luke Skywalker, the Jedi Master, who lived in this hut." She pointed at the first hut that was immediately at her and Poe's left.One of those two Lanai at the cart nodded and gestured to the hut. The other Lanai bowed with an air of respect to Crisara, and then both continued to go about their business."Did they remember you?" Poe wondered."I think they remember my dad more. I was only here for a few days. He was here, day in and day out, for several years." Her gaze followed after the duo. "They respected him." She shifted her eyes toward the hut and noted the door, which she'd blasted inward by way of the Force, had since been replaced with a new door. Though, the wood used wasn't new. It seemed repurposed from what had either previously been there or found elsewhere. "This was where he sat me down and revealed to me our actual connection: that I was his daughter."Poe watched the way she just stared at the door but didn't make a move. "Did you want to go in? See if it looks the same? Maybe he left things behind.""Rey came back here before the Battle of Exegol. If there was anything of importance, she would've passed it on to me or kept some of it for herself, I'm sure.""It was nearly a year after Luke died when she came back. Maybe these avian cleaning maids or religious sect, or whatever they are, gathered any belongings up and stored them away somewhere. I recall you mentioning once, over the years, this lot didn't seem to be Rey's biggest fan. Why would they give anything of Luke's to her?""Perhaps." Craning her neck, she glanced higher up the terrain, toward the top of the island where the first Jedi Temple was. "I should continue up there on my own. It's sort of a sacred place. It might be considered sacrilege to bring a non-Jedi or non-Force user inside.""Who's gonna censure you if I came?" he asked; only partly teasing.Crisara shrugged. "If I need you, I'll call." Knowing how positively miserable she'd been mere hours ago, he was understandably wary to let her out of his sight. She immediately sensed his concern, and she appreciated it. "I'll be okay."Stepping toward him, she squeezed his hand and leaned her face upward to kiss him for further assurance. Knowing that sated his doubt for now, she offered him a small smile as icing on the cake. Then, as she let go of his hand and turned away she began the arduous trek up the higher elevation of the island. Looking back briefly, she saw Poe had chosen to sit down on the stone bench that still remained outside what had once been her father's hut, and then returned her eyesight upward. Slow and steady she climbed. The higher she went the more the cooler the air got and the more the breeze seemed to pick up. She meandered near the saddle of the island, casting a glance down toward where the trunk of the Force-sensitive, uneti tree had been for centuries, but was now nothing more than charred remains. It was a good thing Rey had taken those ancient Jedi texts when she did, because they would've been torched whenever the tree went up in flames.For a moment, Crisara wondered if any fragment of the tree was salvageable. Like how her father had found the two fragments on Coruscant, little more than fifty years ago, and planted one fragment on Ossus while the other was given to Shara Bey, who had planted her fragment on Yavin IV, Crisara wondered, if she found a fragment of this tree for herself, if maybe she could plant it in the back garden of the Kenobi Academy. It would be a nice touch, for sure. However, with how charred the trunk looked, she doubted it would be likely.Onward and upward she continued; the stone steps soon winding directly into the temple.As she stepped within the wide, cavern interior, she approached the ancient font with a mosaic affixed to the floor that depicted the Prime Jedi in a state of balance and meditation. Stopping just short of the font's edge, she crouched down and touched her fingertips along the surface of the water collected there. After bringing her fingertips to her forehead, she looked to her right; out at the vantage point with a meditation ledge. With a sigh, she slowly stood back up and affixed her gaze upward for a moment and then all around the interior of the temple. She imagined her father coming here, day after day, during his six years of exile. She recalled the few days she'd spent with him here while she was still merely a padawan, and how it had led a bit to her revelation about wanting to veer away from the Jedi path for a more civilian life. She also thought about how those few days, though laden with unrest in her soul because she wasn't certain about her path, she'd enjoyed the one-on-one time with her father; but, of course, she hadn't known he was her father then. He was just her Master, and distant cousin. With him she'd always felt home, which was why it wasn't the easiest decision when she turned away from his Jedi Order.She also thought about the last time she'd seen him alive. She pictured him, a tired and shaggy curmudgeon, traipsing the grassy cliffside, asking her if she knew Rey was a Palpatine. She pictured the worried look on his face after he told her the truth of who he really was to her; studying her face and trying to gauge what her reaction would be. She remembered his brief quarrel with Rey in the pouring rain, and she remembered hugging him that last time before she left with Rey, Chewbacca and R2-D2.Crisara sighed.Walking forward toward the opening to the vantage point, she was greeted by sunlight again and wind whipping at her hair. She closed her eyes for just a moment; breathing in the salty sea air and enjoying the warmth of the suns on her. When a subtle flapping noise distracted her, she opened her eyes again and looked downward a bit. Narrowing her gaze in curiosity, she noticed a large bit of brown fabric caught on some jagged pieces of the cliffside that seemed to have been lodged there for quite some time. Holding her hand out in its direction, she concentrated on dislodging said material. When it was suddenly freed and began to billow away on the wind, Crisara was quick to pull it back toward her with the Force. When it got close enough, she grabbed at it. Stepping back a bit from the edge of the vantage point, and then retreated back into the temple, she began to give the material a proper onceover before realizing what it was.It was her father's cloak."Oh, dad," she muttered sadly, as she held the weathered material tightly to her chest and shoved her face into it. It didn't hold his scent anymore or anything like that, but it was a comforting gesture nonetheless. "Now, more than ever, I could really use some pearls of wisdom. It's been a very difficult time for me, I'm sure you're aware.""I left something for you," his voice suddenly appeared; drifting on the wind. "You'll find it in my hut if you focus hard enough."Her breath hitched in her throat. It was so wonderful to hear him, even if he wasn't appearing to her. "What is it?" she wondered.
"You'll know when you find it, obviously."
Crisara smirked, and then nodded. She could practically hear the eye roll in his voice, and suddenly she realized who she got that tick from. "Okay."She left the temple without hesitation, but was careful not to hurry down the stone steps. Falling upward was one thing. You can always land on your hands or knees and catch yourself — no problem. However, falling downward could be just plain dangerous, Force sensitive or not. By the time she reached the Caretaker's village, Poe glanced up as she got near. He lifted a hand over his eyes to shield them from the sunlight so he could see her better."Everything all good? Did you, uh, get what you went up there for?" he asked with a feeble shrug."Possibly."Panning her gaze toward her father's hut, she didn't bother to say another word as she stepped inside. She could hear Poe moving to get up to his feet, and then sensed him entering the meager, stone domicile behind her. Meditation having not been her strong suit lately, trying to concentrate and feel for whatever her father had apparently left for her was a little frustrating. With a frown, she sat upon what had been the bed, but was just a stone slab missing the thin mattress that had once been there. She assumed the Caretakers had taken it at some point. Poe remained quiet; assuming correctly that she was trying to figure something out. After all, he'd known her long enough to understand a lot of her Jedi-esque quirks by now. So, he kept his trap shut and sat down beside her; just watching her do her thing with interest and admiration."I can feel you staring," she muttered."Do you want me to go back outside?""No." She stole a brief look at him and smirked. "I was just stating fact. I don't mind it when you stare.""Then I'm gonna keep doing it," he jested. Then, after a moment, he asked, "Are you looking for something?""Yeah.""What?""I don't know."As they both fell quiet again, she realized it was impractical to look with her eyes. She had to instead let the Force direct her. She did her best, and was finally able to clear her mind and focus just enough. She could feel a sort of hum within the air, like static electricity, and it felt like it was taking the invisible form of a hand at the end of a very long arm, which was beckoning her in a specific direction.Crisara glanced straight ahead at the stone wall and stood up. In just a few steps, because it wasn't a large space, she knelt down and began to pick at the stone. A long chunk moved; revealing it was hiding space. As she pulled the stone away and set it down beside her, she saw some sort of leather hide that was wrapped around something long and narrow, and tied with a thin leather string.Sinking back on the heels of her feet, Crisara didn't even need to unwrap the hide to know what was within it. She simply let out a short laugh."What is it?" Poe asked; leaning forward with his hands on his knees.With a smirk, Crisara grabbed at the hide and removed it from the wall. Slowly, she undid the string, let it drop and then unwrapped the material to reveal none other than her father's lightsaber. "I always wondered what happened to this," she remarked; letting the hide fall as she gripped the weapon in her right hand. Holding it upward she pressed the activation button and the green plasma blade shot upward. She exhaled a deep breath and felt such…comfort. "Remember when I said Ben had destroyed my original lightsaber, just before we met in that cantina?""Yeah.""It was a green blade, and even the hilt looked like this one," she continued to say. "I'd purposely modeled it after this one. I was nine at the time, when my dad guided me on how to make it. When it was finished and the green blade popped out of mine, I remember announcing to him that we were like twins. I remember him looking rather proud, either that I'd accomplished my build or that I wanted to be like him. I guess it's likely it was both." Crisara deactivated the blade and looked over her shoulder at her husband. "Holding this lightsaber has felt more right in my hands in just one minute than using my mother's has felt for twenty-five years. No offense, mom," she said; partly to herself, and partly to her mother, as if her mother was going to suddenly appear on cue. Standing back up, Crisara backtracked to sit beside Poe on the stone bed, but her gaze remained on the lightsaber. "Do you mind if we stay the night here?""In this hut?""Oh, gods no. This would be way too uncomfortable," she assured. "In the Falcon. I just…my father led me to his weapon, but I sense there's more for me to confront or help me gather insight into here."Poe nodded. "Sure. We'll take as long as you need."Smiling appreciatively, Crisara turned and looked at her husband, who was already smiling lovingly back at her. "You just returned to work two days ago, and I pulled you away. Queen Tenerra must've been so thrilled.""She was fine. She wasn't expecting me to return to work as early as I did." Poe slipped his hand into hers and slowly thumbed her knuckles. "I didn't tell her exactly why I had to leave my post again. When we get back, I may just tell her I returned too soon; that I need more time away. She'll understand, and it wouldn't exactly be a lie." He sighed and tipped his face down. "I don't really think I was ready to be back at it. I just thought I needed to keep busy so I wouldn't think so much on what we've lost, but it's just been a very hard two days. And being back at Mansion while you were at the villa, it was just—""Unbearable.""Yeah. I miss you when you're not beside me.""I miss you too.""Then I won't go back to the Mansion until you're ready to go with me," he insisted. "And I'll stay here with you — anywhere with you — for as long as you need me to."With a warm smile on her lips and in her eyes, Crisara leaned her head down upon his shoulder and then he leaned his head against hers.  In the early hours of the morning, Crisara was roused out of her sleep by someone calling her name. It felt distant, like in a dream, at first. So she ignored it and tried not to let consciousness get to her just yet. She was pretty damn exhausted. But then the voice continued to call to her. Her eyelids fluttered and she began blinking away the remnants of sleep. With a deep sigh, she rubbed at her eyes and slowly sat up. Feeling a tingling in the air around her, she knew someone was in the room with her, besides Poe, who was asleep in the full-size bed with her.She looked to her left at first, at Poe lying upon his side with his back to her. She noted the subtle rise and fall of steady breath; denoting he was still deeply asleep and hadn't been the one calling her name. She began to pan around the room, which had once been the rear cargo hold that Poe remodeled years ago into the "captain's suite"; a proper bedroom aboard the ship for them. The kids had use of the remodeled crew quarters, which now consisted of four bunks instead of two, since there were the other two inset wall beds in the main hold.Crisara saw nothing at first, but she felt compelled to get up.Quietly, she padded out of the room and turned right. She passed the starboard airlock, which could drop down and become the boarding ramp, and continued toward the main hold; bypassing the cockpit access corridor.
"Sorry to wake you."
Crisara stopped in her tracks just inside the main hold and stared at the Force ghost of her father. Wrapping her arms around her chest, she smiled fondly upon him. "Literally long time, no see."Luke shrugged. "You didn't need me."With a roll of her eyes, Crisara scoffed as she stepped forward and sank down upon the edge of the curved lounge seat. "You're my father. I'll never stop needing you.""Pfft." Tilting his spectral head to the side, he shot her a withering look. "You've managed just fine thus far." Despite being non-corporeal, he sat down on the other end of the lounge seat. "You've been through some hard times these last couple years. I don't deny that. But you've risen above. You've survived with the help of your family. You're living family." Then, he frowned. "Sorry. I know that's not the kindest way to word that right now, considering your recent loss.""I know what you meant," she assured. "And I take comfort in knowing Temiri seems fine on the other side." Then, pointedly, she asked, "He is fine on the other side, right?"Luke smiled and nodded. "He is."A contented sigh escaped Crisara's lips. "I have so much I want to talk to you about. I have so many worries and fears. And I've felt so much anger and rage lately. I'm scared of what I'll do, or who I'll become."Waving a hand dismissively at her, he stared across the gaming table and shook his head. "You're going to be just fine. You're in no danger of going off the deep end and drowning in the metaphorical waters of the dark side, if that's what you're thinking. This is just…grief. It's love persevering." Softening his gaze, he offered a sympathetic smile. "You think I didn't lose my shit after your mom died? Me — the legendary Luke Skywalker?" Off the eye roll she gave him, he chuckled. "Even the best of us falter. It doesn't mean we fall. Falling is a choice that's made.""I still just worry I might.""You won't, though. The initial pain will pass and you'll soldier on. Because you have to. Because you need to and, I'm certain, you want to.""I don't want to linger in grief forever," she concurred."And so you won't," he repeated. "Because it's a choice." After a few quiet moments, he added, "Gotta say, even though I've been able to watch you get older, it's a bit strange looking at you now. You're officially older than I was when I died. I imagine this is how my father felt, watching Leia and I become older than he was at death. But, that's how it's supposed to be. Children surviving their parents. So, when it doesn't happen that way, it feels unnatural." He stared sympathetically at her. "I watched your grandmother push through that grief of surviving your mom, and you did it once before with Adera. You'll do it again, Crissy.""I wish I didn't have to do it again.""I know." Then, he smiled as he continued to look directly at her. "You may be older now, but you still look the same when you first wake up. Still that same, sleepy face that used to greet me every morning on Ossus; from the time you were six years old until you left at twenty." His smile became more rueful. "I missed you every day afterward. And I know I could've gone to you. And, after Adera was born, I know I didn't have to go into exile. It was my choice. And, in retrospect, a stupid choice. I've had plenty of time to consider all the time I wasted — that I could've had with you and your kids."Propping her right elbow up on the gaming table, she placed her face in her hand and felt tears stinging at her eyes. "I've often thought about that, too. And even though I said I wished for some pearls of wisdom to help through what I'm going through right now, there's really only one thing I've wanted, but that I know I can't have.""And what's that?" Luke wondered."All I've wanted from you was just one more hug. Seeing you and hearing you is wonderful, don't get me wrong. But, it's almost like this big tease; like dangling a treat in front of a beast of burden to make it pull a heavy load. It's been just enough to keep me going, but it only does so much."Despite having no breath, he released a sigh from his lips. "Well, I don't have the strength in me to hold you in my arms as I am, but I think I can at least manage this." Draping his spectral left arm across the gaming table, he held his hand palm side up.Recalling Ben doing the same thing years ago in the cockpit, Crisara began to smile. Lifting her face out of her right hand, she lowered said hand down and felt the Force energy of her father's hand solidifying just enough to briefly hold hers. Happy tears fell from her eyes instead of sad ones."It's more than I could've asked for," she insisted.Luke smiled back at her. "I love you, Crissy.""I love you, too, dad."As his hand began to slip through hers, from overextending his energy, he frowned a bit. "I may not be able to hug you and make you feel like everything is going to get better, but that man in that bed back there can." Luke nodded in the direction of the main corridor that led to the former rear hold. "He's quite the catch. You picked a good one."Crisara nodded in agreement and looked toward the opening to the main corridor as well. "I picked a great one." When she looked back toward her father, he was already gone.The feeling he left her with, however, remained.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"'Cause karma is the thunderRattling your groundKarma's on your scent like a bounty hunterKarma's gonna track you downStep by step, from town to town"— Taylor Swift 
57 ABY — 2 weeks later
Once more, Poe had returned to work and resumed his full-time residence at the Governor's Mansion in Theed alongside his entire family. Well, with the exception of Caro, who had switched back to the villa with Zeda, so that one of the members of their family was near the original Kenobi Academy. Plus, he was a grown man who didn't need to go where his parents went, and he just preferred the Lake Country better, anyway. But, as for Poe, as much as he also preferred the Lake Country to Theed, his duties couldn't be set aside for too long. After he and Crisara had left Ahch-To and come home to Naboo, they'd commiserated together at the villa a bit longer before they both came to realize they weren't helping themselves by constant wallowing. They knew their grief would always hurt, but it couldn't run their lives.When Poe and Crisara took part in their first Royal Advisory Council meeting, since before Temiri's passing, they were welcomed back by the Queen and the rest of the Council with open arms and a few continued condolences. The pair expressed their thanks, but wished to just get down to business. And it actually felt good to resume their normal lives. Not that they were in denial, but it also helped to pretend Temiri was merely away on Chandrila, or traveling the galaxy on board any of the Republic's Starcruisers in search of Hux. If they didn't think too much on the specifics, it was an easier pill to swallow.It wasn't denial, per se. It was 'ignorance is bliss.'What also helped Poe with his gubernatorial duties was working out of his office at the Palace instead of at the Governor's Mansion. It hindered chances of daydreaming about the past or the what ifs. There were more people coming and going out of his office this way, and there were just more people in general at the Palace.And it was at the Palace where Leia went in search of her father one morning, about a full month since they'd lost Temiri. She was dressed simply in leggings and a dressier blouse instead of the typical Jedi tunics. As she wasn't a padawan anymore, and instead a Knight, she didn't have to adhere to the strict wardrobe if she didn't want to. Though, in formal settings, where the Jedi or the Jedi Order was concerned, she would throw those tunics back on in a heartbeat. But, she enjoyed a bit of style and fashion. It was something she and her twin sister had in common, and was apparently a trait they both inherited from their great-aunt Leia and their maternal great-grandmothers Sera and Padmé. Leia and her sister both wore their hair long, but Leia took after their mother in not being bothered with doing much with hers. She wore it simple, in a long ponytail that fell down her back and swayed from side to side with each step she took.As she made her way through the vast, cavernous corridors of the Royal Palace, Leia passed the occasional droid or sentient worker. She briefly crossed paths with Yumena, one of Queen Tenerra's Royal Handmaidens, and exchanged a few pleasantries before both young women continued their separate ways. Once Leia reached the exterior door to the Governor's office, she entered in without hesitation but was greeted immediately by her father's Palace secretary Salona Sonellis, who happened to be a cousin to Commander Kasty Sonellis from the RNS Organa.Leia smiled politely. "Hello, Salona," she greeted. "I'm here to see my father."The thirty-something woman behind the nominal desk looked up with a harried expression on her face. "Is he expecting you?"A bit put off but also considerably amused, Leia raised a solitary eyebrow. "Allow me to repeat myself: I'm here to see my father," she replied with a firmer tone. "I don't need an appointment to see the man who's fifty percent responsible for giving me life." Noting how stressed Salona truly looked, Leia began to frown. "How are you this anxious so early in the day? It's barely half past nine."Salona puffed a bit of air out the corner of her mouth, which caused some hair to flutter away from her forehead for a moment. "I overslept. I just got here, like, ten minutes ago and I already managed to accidentally delete an important file on your father's datapad and spill caf on his lap." When she leaned forward and placed her face in her hands, the sudden sobs that spilled out of her caught Leia by surprise."Hey. Hey, it's okay. These things happen sometimes." Stepping forward, Leia moved around the desk to offer a few comforting pats to Salona's shoulder."I'm gonna be let go, I know it," Salona quietly whined into her palms. "I'm gonna have to go back to working in my aunt's haberdashery. I hated it there. She was so belittling."Leia crouched down and placed a hand upon the older female's leg. "Look at me," she urged. After a moment, Salona obliged, but shyly. "How long have you worked in this office for my father?"Salona sniffled and attempted to wipe a few tears away. "Four years.""That's a decent amount of time. And when my dad gets used to a certain way of life or certain people in his life, change isn't something he's big on. You've been a consistent person in his professional life and he's clearly been happy with you this entire time because you haven't been fired or demoted, and I'm sure you've made mistakes along the way, right?" Off Salona's nod, Leia smiled and continued. "Do you really think he'd fire you? I mean, really think about. You know the man he is. He's gracious, he's loyal to those who are loyal to him, and he believes everyone deserves a second chance. He's certainly made his fair share of mistakes, so who is he to judge you when you're just having a bad day? These things happen.""But that file I deleted was really important and that caf was really hot.""Did you do it on purpose?""No, of course not.""Are you going to be ever vigilant to not do it again or at least be careful next time?""Yes," Salona nodded vigorously."Well, okay then. That's all that matters.""But—"Standing back up, Leia patted the desk with her cybernetic hand. "Salona. Take a breath. Go to the fresher and splash some cold water on your face. Take five minutes to yourself and calm down. Everything will be alright, I'm certain." Shifting her hand from the desk back to Salona's shoulder, Leia smirked. "Go on."She didn't wait to see if the woman got up and went to the facilities or took a walk somewhere. Leia simply turned and entered into her father's inner office, where she found him not at his desk but seated upon the sofa off to the right.Poe immediately looked up at his daughter's arrival and sighed. His legs were crossed at the ankles and he was holding his datapad in one hand while using the other to peruse something upon the device. "Hey, Berries," he greeted as he tossed the datapad aside to give her his attention."Salona is a mess.""Yeah, she seemed rather distracted.""She thinks you're going to fire her," Leia continued as she stepped closer to him.Furrowing his brow in confusion, Poe sat up straighter. "How come?""Because she said she deleted a very important file from your datapad and spilled hot caf on your lap. And I guess she was late coming in this morning.""I don't really keep specific hours here, so it's not like she needs to keep the same," he replied with a smirk. "And yes, the file was deleted when she was reaching over my desk to fill my cup, and then spilled the caf in my lap, but it wasn't that hot. Stung, sure. But I keep an extra pair of clothes here. And I backup all my files, so the file in question wasn't gone for good. So, all is well."Leia frowned. "You should probably let Salona know that. She's about to have a coronary. Or, well, let her know in about five to ten minutes," the Jedi Knight quipped. "I advised her to basically walk it off for a bit and assured her everything would be fine. I'm sure it would be more reassuring coming directly from you. She's really worried about going back to work in her aunt's haberdashery?"Poe grimaced. "Oh, yeah…Aunt Helemina. She's a miserable old bat. I've met her twice. First time was years ago on the street. I walked past her shop as she was opening up and she spit at me.""What?""It was just after I won the election to my second term. She'd apparently voted for Sassaly Ganmakiss, the councilwoman from Keren who's also on the Royal Advisory Council with your mother and me, and she was pissed I won.""Ballsy," Leia remarked, leaning against the side of her dad's desk and folded her arms. "She seriously spit at you?""Yep.""When was your second, unfortunate path crossing with her?""Three or four years ago. Just after Salona became my Palace secretary," Poe replied with a roll of his eyes. "Again, passed her in the street and she blamed me for Salona quitting her shop.""Did you say anything any of those times?""First time I was just stunned someone would spit at me and I just kept walking. Second time I turned back around, walked right up to her, looked her dead in the eye and told her I didn't blame her niece for wanting to leave a toxic work environment for somewhere she would be appreciated."Leia's eyes widened. "Did you really?"Poe nodded. "Yeah, and let me tell you Aunt Helemina wasn't expecting that either. I think I shut her up. Don't think she believed I'd talk back." He scoffed and gestured to himself. "She clearly doesn't know me. I famously talk back."Leia let out a few giggles as she nodded at his remark. "Yeah, you kinda do."As a smile spread across his lips, Poe leaned back against the sofa. "So, what brings you here at this hour? It's too early for a lunch date with your dear ol' dad.""It wasn't anything to do with you actually. I woke up and couldn't find mom anywhere at home. Caro said she's not at the villa or the school next door. My next stop was to check the local campus of the Kenobi Academy, but I thought maybe you'd know.""Did you try her comm?""Yeah, no reply.""She mentioned last night, before bed, that she wanted to work on something at the school here in the city. If you can't get a hold of her, it's because she's probably down in that room in the basement that has the worst comm reception.""The atelier?""Yeah. That."Leia began to nod; understanding what her mother was likely up to. "She's tinkering, isn't she?"Poe smirked. "Very likely."Pushing off the desk, Leia unfolded her arms. "Okay, well, that's really all I wanted to know."Moving to stand up, Poe frowned. "Is that really all? I mean, you could've called me for that.""Maybe I wanted to actually see you and talk to you face to face," Leia inferred. "I mean, the Palace is near the Academy. Might as well stop in to see you on my way there."Walking forward, the Governor grabbed his younger daughter by her upper arms and pulled her in for a hug. After she readily welcomed the embrace, he kissed the top of her head. "You doing alright?" he wondered. "Everything okay? How's the hand been?"As she stepped out of his arms, Leia shrugged. "It's fine." As if to prove it, she made a fist with the cybernetic hand and then stretched the fingers out, twice in a row. "Honestly, better than expected. It doesn't really feel any different. I thought it would. I mean, it feels heavier, like I'm wearing a weighted glove. But, beyond that, it's fine. It looks oddly like the real thing. The only problem is I have to maintain the fingernails on my left hand so they match with this hand." She flexed the right again. "These nails are fake, too. But I don't really keep my nails longer. Long nails have been impractical for my 'line of work', so to speak."Poe nodded; accepting this. "Yeah, your mom's the same way. She's always kept her nails trimmed." Studying his daughter's face a bit longer, he nodded his head at her. "How are you…up here?" He pointed to his own head. "How've you been doing?"Leia understood what he was getting at. "I miss Tem. I know mom got to see him already, even if it was brief." She leaned back against the desk for a moment. "I was hoping I'd seem him, too, by now.""You will. Just give it time.""I'll let you know first, when I do," she insisted, with a sad smile. "I know how unfair it must feel that you can't. So, any way I can make it a little bit easier for you to cope, I'll do."He smiled appreciatively; reaching a hand out and brushing a knuckle gently across her cheek. "Thank you. I'd like that." Grabbing the sides of her face, he pulled her head closer to him and kissed her forehead. "Okay. Go see your mom." Releasing her and waiting as she began to move first toward the door, he added, "I should probably put Salona's mind to rest. She's a great secretary. I'd hate to have to break in a new one."Leia rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Yeah, okay."  Crisara was alone in the atelier of the Theed branch of the Kenobi Academy. It was quite literally just a glorified workshop in the basement of the building; windowless and naturally dark to avoid distractions from the outside world. There was plenty of overhead artificial light when needed, though usually kept dimmed as the main light source usually came from the kyber crystals being infused into brand new lightsabers, and then the plasma blades of those lightsabers. At present, Crisara was hunched forward at a work table, biting down on her bottom lip in concentration and wearing a pair of welding goggles over her eyes. At the sound of the door sliding open to the room, she sat up straight and looked over her shoulder to find Leia stepping inside."I forgot how dark it can be in here," the young woman quipped.Crisara pushed the goggles up to her forehead and shrugged. "It helps to focus," she replied. "Allows you to rely less on your eyes and—""—instead with your mind," Leia finished the sentence. "Yeah, I know.""I take it I've said that more than once during your lifetime." Swiveling on her stool, Crisara turned to face her daughter more fully as she set down the welding tool that had been in her right hand, but still held onto a decorative piece of metal tubing in her left. "What's up?"Leia shrugged. "Was looking for you, is all. Dad suggested you might be here. I tried your comlink but," she gestured at the room as a whole, "no signal.""Yeah, this place is a veritable dead zone." The Jedi Master glanced upward toward the ceiling and then back at her daughter. "So, again, what's up?" She knew there was something on Leia's mind."I've just…" A sigh escaped the brunette's lips as she moved over to sit down upon another swiveling stool. She sat with her legs parted enough that she could grip the edge of the seat with both hands. "I've been worried about Nik lately.""Oh? How come?""A few weeks ago, he went to see someone he knew, off-world, that had information about his parents. His birth parents," she clarified.This was news to Crisara. "I didn't realize he had a different set of parents from the ones he'd lost when he was just a small child. He never said and I never saw as much in his thoughts.""He didn't know until several months ago or something like that. He finally met up with this person in question, who was offering him the specifics," Leia continued. "After he came back, he was heading here to Theed to somehow make sure the information he'd been given was legit? He seemed both doubtful but hopeful about it all. He said he'd be here only a few days, tops, but he never came back to the villa and he's been radio silent ever since. I know he's here, in the city, and I know he's at grandpa's old apartment. His Y-wing is nearby.""Have you gone so see him? Maybe the information has left him with more questions than he has answers and he's feeling a little lost." Crisara pointed to her daughter with the tube in her hand. "The two of you are rather close. I'm sure if anyone could reach out to him and help him through this possibly difficult time, it's you."Leia looked down and smirked sheepishly. "I figured he wanted the time alone; that if he wanted to talk to me or see me, he'd let me know."Crisara scoffed; slowly swiveling back around to face the work table. "He's a man, sweetie. He doesn't know what he wants," she remarked teasingly and shoved the goggles back down over her eyes. "Just show up. If he's in a mood and turns you away, then give him some more space. If he lets you in, well…there you go."Leia rolled her eyes and got up. Sauntering over to her mother's side, she glanced upon what her mother was doing. "I knew you had to be tinkering with your dad's lightsaber, now that you've found it, but what exactly are you attempting to make?"A small, contemplative sigh escaped Crisara's lips. "A long time ago, when your great-grandfather Obi-Wan was still just a padawan, during the Invasion of Naboo, his master Qui-Gon was killed by a Sith lord named Darth Maul. According to Obi-Wan, Maul wielded a double-sided, red-bladed lightsaber that could come apart at the middle when needed." She shrugged. "I thought I could build something to attach both my parents' lightsabers together, to use as one, like a saberstaff. Or pull them apart and use them separately; one in each hand. I don't know. I'm figuring it out.""It'll look pretty amazing when you do figure it out, I'm sure. Especially with there being two differently colored blades: one blue, one green."Crisara nodded. "My original blade was green; the one I built myself as a child. I modeled it after my father's which was modeled after Obi-Wan's, the same as my mother's. Looks-wise, they're both similar. Color-wise, yes, it will be pretty neat." She picked up the welding tool and began to hunch forward again. "I'm gonna get back to this for now. Go talk to your boy toy.""Maker's sake, mom." Leia was glad the room was dim and her mother had her back to her. She didn't want her mother seeing her blush. "Alright, I'm going."  The apartment that once belonged to Kes Dameron was a simple but lovely apartment. There was a sitting room, an eat-in kitchen, two moderately-sized bedrooms and one bathroom. There was even a balcony overlooking the road the building sat upon and, since it sat atop a quiet, little bookstore, and it was the only apartment there, it had sole rooftop access as well, which offered vast views of the rest of the city, in every direction. At the moment, Nik had more or less claimed it as his. None of the Damerons or even any other Jedi Knights were using it right now. Why not him? He was holding a glass of blossom wine; a fragrant wine created on Naboo by distilling the natural essences of different flower blossoms. It was pale yellow in color and, as Nik leaned with his forearms upon the balcony railing with the glass in his hands, the sunlight hit it in such a way that made the color a tad more golden. He looked at the liquid and gave it a swirl; his eyes distant and tired. Movement up the road caught his eye. He craned his neck for a better view and finally spotted Leia approaching.Instinctively he stood up and stepped backward off the balcony. She'd left countless holos and voice messages for him to view or listen to, and he had, but he wasn't sure how to respond yet. But now he realized she was probably tired of waiting for an answer. She probably assumed he was ghosting her, which wasn't the case. He just thought it was easier to deal with his own shit on his own.He downed the rest of the wine in one, hearty gulp and set the glass aside before stealing a glance at his reflection in the small mirror beside the door. And then he waited.The way up to the apartment was by a flight of stairs that ran along the side of the building and opened up to a side porch, which was covered by a green awning that seemed to match most of the domed rooftops across the capital city. Nik listened carefully and soon heard her light, but precise footsteps ascending those stairs. Then, came her knock, but he had already felt her getting closer before that. Her Force signature was practically rippling off her, toward him and through the wall, like a tantalizing pheromone beckoning him to her. Slowly he approached the door and let it slide open for her. Bracing one hand upon the doorframe, he tilted his head to the side and smiled guiltily at her."Well, at least you're not dead," was her immediate quip, as she looked him in the eye upon his wordless greeting.After a moment, he muttered a small and pouty, "Sorry."She blustered right past him, into the sitting room, as the door slid closed to shut them both inside the apartment together. As he turned to follow, Leia spun around to face him with folded her arms over her chest. "Where have you been?" she asked with a mix of concern and castigation."Here." He pointed downward at the floor, but was referencing the apartment as a whole."Yes, I know that much. But where have you been?"He understood the deeper meaning. She wanted to know why he hadn't reached out to her; why he had been hiding away for two weeks. "I've been…processing."Leia's dark eyes flitted over to the empty glass on the counter in the kitchen; which wasn't hard to spot. It was essentially an open concept layout, after all. She also noted a few empty wine bottles tucked away in the sink basin. She narrowed her gaze back upon him and frowned. "Drinking your woes away? Is that it? Maybe not the best course of action.""I haven't drank that much. It's only five bottles, and they were consumed over the course of fourteen days. It's not the end of the world," he scoffed, stepping away from her. "I'm not suddenly some closet alcoholic.""What happened?" she probed, following after him into the kitchen. She watched him grab at the glass and move it into the sink; out of sight, out of mind. "You said you were coming here to Theed to 'test a theory' on whether or not your purported biological parents were, in fact, your biological parents. Did you get any results?" She pressed her forearms upon the kitchen island and leaned forward before moving to sit on one of the stools."The theory that needed testing was a blood sample. Well, two blood samples.""Whose?""Mine against that which supposedly belonged to my birth mother."Leia nodded slowly, taking this bit of information in. "Okay."He splayed his fingers across the surface of the island and tapped them lazily. "It was a perfect match. She's my mother." Nik immediately frowned. "Correction. She was my mother. Because she's dead."Emitting a sympathetic sigh, Leia reached a hand across the island for his. When he accepted hers, she muttered a simple, "I'm so sorry.""I found out last week. The results came back in one day but it took me a week to want to know.""If you don't mind me asking: who was she?""Alive," he evaded.Leia sighed again, but this time in slight exasperation. "Okay then. What about your biological father? Did you have a blood sample from him, too?""No. But I looked him up, to determine if he's alive or dead. Records on the HoloNet show he died a few months before I was born. He'd been in a duel. He lost. Blaster shot to the chest." Nik gestured at his own chest. "My maternal grandfather killed him, but he had money and influence so the whole thing was swept under the rug.""Oh, wow. That's—""A lot to process? Yeah. I know.""I was gonna say 'heartbreaking', but yeah. That, too."Nik hunched forward; resting his elbows upon the kitchen island and then placed his face in the palms of his hands. "It would've been nice to at least have a proper conversation with either of them," he mumbled. "I mean, I spoke to my birth mom before. I just didn't know it was her. And knowing who she is — was — makes it harder to come to terms with. She wasn't…" He ran his hands down his face and looked across the island at Leia with tired, greenish-hazel eyes. "She wasn't exactly a good person. She'd been complicit in some terrible things the last couple years.""I'm sorry that that's the case." Leia offered him a small, sympathetic smile. "But at least you know the truth now and don't have to keep wondering, right?"Leaning upward, he gripped the edge of the island with his hands and shrugged. "Maybe it would've been better never knowing. I think I would've preferred always believing my adoptive parents had been my real parents all along. Though, looking back, the fact that they were both dark-skinned should've been an obvious clue they weren't."Despite the seriousness, a chuckle escaped Leia's lips. She immediately clamped a hand over her mouth and looked apologetically at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh. It's just…how did you not realize before now they weren't biologically your parents if they had an entirely different skin color from yours?"Nik grimaced. "Yeah, okay, so maybe I had blinders up." He was able to find the amusement in it as well and began to slowly smile. Shaking his head at himself, he glanced toward the balcony for a moment. "The man who told me the truth about my parents wants to meet up with me again, at least one more time, in about another two weeks or so, give or take." His smile quickly faded. "I'm not sure if I should go.""Do you think he can give you more information?""About my parents? No. I know who they are now. I can find out anything else on my own without him. But…he thought that, maybe, him and I could somehow work together. Because he knew my mother. They were…close." Nik shook his head again. "He's not a good person, either.""Well, then, don't go to him. You got what you needed from him. And you said he was only an acquaintance at best, right? And if he's not a good person, then good riddance. Put him behind you and look forward. Not backward."Nik's eyes fell back upon hers. They were so warm and inviting. Her parents really did a great job in creating her and her twin sister. Though, despite Leia and Shara being identical, Leia was somehow more beautiful to him. "You always have just the thing to say to make me feel better," he grinned."Could've made you feel better if you hadn't disappeared and holed yourself up in this apartment for two weeks." She quickly pressed her lips together and her eyes widened a bit at the unintentional innuendo peppered into her remark. "I didn't mean it like that."Slowly, he began to move around the island; dragging his right hand along the surface as he approached her. "Didn't mean what like that?" he teasingly questioned. His eyelids purposely drooped and he flashed a come hither stare at her, along with a cheeky smile. When he curled the fingers of his right hand around her left wrist, he watched the way she turned upon the stool to face him better. "I believe you promised to 'destroy' me and 'throw yourself' at me when we talked last."Leia nodded slowly; recalling the conversation in the grand foyer of the villa. "Yes," she admitted, self-consciously. "I did."Gently, he let his fingertips slowly dance up her arm from her hand until his entire hand was pushing some hair behind her ear. He stepped closer, between her legs. "Is the offer still on the table?""I, uh…" Her voice became lost in her throat and she swallowed back a lump. "I would very much like it to be," she confirmed with a nod. "There's just a little issue.""Which is?" he asked, leaning closer to her face and staring a bit more in her eyes."I've never, you know…" Leia trailed; letting him put two and two together."Well," he began, "I have. So, if this is a thing you want to pursue — the two of us — then consider me the Master and you the Padawan."Leia snickered. "Okay." She nodded again; giving him the go-ahead. With a sudden swell of confidence, she grabbed at the material of his shirt and pulled him forward so that they could claim each other's lips. "Teach me in your ways of the, uh, Force," she mumbled jokingly into his mouth.Without hesitation, Nik grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist; hoisting her up off the stool. Spinning her around, he held her against him as he began to carry her off in the direction of the bedroom at the very back of the apartment, which was further away from the noise of the city street. The entire time, the kisses they shared went essentially uninterrupted. Inside the bedroom, the bed was disheveled and unmade. It was where he had been sleeping for the last two weeks and now it was about to be where Leia lost her so-called innocence.As he gently laid her down upon the bed, she stared up at him with a shy, nervous gaze that was also filled with anticipation. The scent kicked upward around her from the tousled duvet and sheets underneath her was a mix of his natural musk with a touch of the cologne he sometimes wore. It was positively her new favorite smell: him."If at any point you want me to stop, just say so," he insisted; crawling up the bed and hovering over her with his hands braced on either side of her shoulders as his dark curls flopped forward around his face. "I want your first time to be a happy memory you can look back upon when you're old and crotchety."Leia laughed and pushed the hair away from his face as he leaned down to kiss her again. "Maybe you'll be there beside me, just as old and crotchety," she muttered against his lips. "And you can remind me of this moment if my mind goes like it did for my great-grandma Sera."Nik nodded as she spoke in between kisses. "Either way," he whispered; slowly pressing his clothed body against her equally clothed body. "Either way, I'll make sure this is memorable for the both of us."  The following morning, Nik woke up in bed with the sunlight pouring in through the window and hitting him directly in the face. He stretched out his long limbs and rolled over, away from the offending rays, only to roll right into Leia's sleeping form. She was curled up in a tight ball, her back to him and twisted within the bed sheet as if in a cocoon. He smiled lazily; letting his eyes rove over her bare shoulder, which was the only part of her that was exposed as her hair was fallen over her face and neck. Leaning his face down, he nuzzled his nose against the back of her head; inhaling the faint, citrusy scent of her hair and then slowly wrapped an arm around her waist.The Force had never given him this sense of peace and calm before.No man or woman he'd been with in recent years made him feel this way.Why had he not recognized Leia for the perfect creature she was until recent? All the time wasted jumping into bed with random, good-looking people who had charmed him enough, when he could have been wooing Leia. And he wouldn't have had to woo her hard at all. She already liked him. And they'd known each other for since they were children. She already knew who he was and where he came from. He didn't have to throw up any walls or defensive mechanisms. And now they knew each other — most intimately. He wanted to continue to know her. He wanted to show her every possible way to know pleasure. He wanted to take her out into the stars and make her see stars.But he couldn't be everything she deserved with the weight of a terrible secret looming over his head, like an albatross. What he'd done, who he was the son of, and how he'd betrayed her and her family by consorting with Armitage Hux instead of turning him in right away, no matter what the aging criminal threatened; credible or not.Because of him, Hux and Gremma knew about them arriving to Derra IV. Because of him, Temiri was dead. Because of him, Hux was still out there and had been for nearly seven months, and could still such worse damage to the Republic.In her sleep, Leia began to stir when she sensed such an overwhelming weight of angst and anxiety. It was practically enveloping her like the bed sheet she was wrapped up in. She groaned, and then yawned; slowly waking up. She felt movement beside her, which was just Nik rolling away to give her room to properly stir. As she tipped sideways onto her back, she kept her eyes shut tightly as she scrunched her nose up and stretched her body out. With a lethargic sigh, her brown eyes finally popped open and she was quickly caught off guard by her surroundings, as well as the fact that someone was staring at her.However, just as quickly, it all came back to her.Leia remembered where she was. She remembered who she was with. She remembered what had happened.She began to smile brightly as she rolled over onto her other side and took in the sight of Nik looking down at her. "Morning," she greeted; shimmying closer to him so she could snuggle against his chest. He had his left arm bent at the elbow and his head propped up sideways in the palm of his hand. She slid her head into that space created within the bent part of his arm, against his bicep, in place of a pillow. She continued to smile. "It is still morning, right? Or did we sleep straight until the afternoon.""Pretty sure it's still morning," he replied. "Maybe late morning." A sigh slipped from his lips. "A noon bell tolls from a nearby bell tower, and I haven't heard it yet.""Hmm. Probably the University bell tower. It's not too far from here.""Probably."That feeling of angst and anxiety still continued; causing Leia to feel restless and wake up a bit more fully. As she lifted her head and leaned back a bit, Leia stared up at Nik with concern. "Are you alright?" she wondered, perceptively."I have a lot on my mind.""About us?" she worried; her brow knitting together. "This wasn't a mistake, was it?""No, no, no. You and I — we're the exact opposite of a mistake. Trust me. You're perfection and you make me feel the happiest I think I've ever been or ever will be," he assured. As if to prove his point, he leaned in and kissed her languidly upon the lips.When she cooed at the gesture, a lazy smile returned; pulling the corners of her mouth upward. However, she was still concerned about what she was feeling from him, even if it had nothing to do with her or the two of them, together. "What is it then? Is it something I can help you with?"Nik shook his head. "I did something. I've kept a secret, which has resulted in terrible things happening, and I'm worried about the damage I've caused and the people that have been hurt because I didn't do the right thing when I had the chance. When I had multiple chances." He rolled away from her, onto his back and ran a hand down his face. "I need to make amends, but I'm scared I'll be hated — that I'll lose everything and everyone that matters to me when I come clean." He turned his head and looked back at her. "I'm scared you'll hate me.""I could never hate you," she insisted; shimmying closer to him again. She kissed his chest and then tipped her head upward; staring at him from below his chin with doleful eyes. "Everyone makes mistakes, everyone deserves second chances. Whatever you've done, I can see it pains you to have done it. The fact that you feel such strong remorse proves what a good and kind person you are. Heartless people feel nothing. They don't care who they hurt." Slowly, she slid her left arm across his waist and hugged her hand underneath him, against his back. "You can tell me whatever it is, and I won't hate you." Boldly, she added, "I love you."He knitted his brow together. "You do?""I do," she nodded; owning it.Nik sighed and smiled appreciatively at her. "I love you, too."That was certainly music to her ears, and gave cause for her to smile again. Then, after a moment, when it grew a bit more serious in the room between them, she asked, "Do you want to tell me?""I…" he began; hesitating. Then he timidly shook his head; guilt too heavy on his soul. "I can't. Not now anyway. But I can't keep it to myself any longer either. I feel like it's eating me alive. I have to tell someone. Just…it can't be you right now. I can't risk having you look any differently after what's just happened between us. I just want us to be us for a little longer before I bring it all crashing down.""You won't bring anything crashing down between us.""You don't know what I've kept secret — what I've allowed to happen."Leia didn't dare to peer into his head. For starters, she knew his mind was a steel trap and it was virtually impossible to probe into his thoughts. Even her mother — a gifted Jedi Master — had her difficulties gleaming any details of whatever he was thinking at any given moment, or any memories he held in his mind."Well, whatever it is, I forgive you in advance, if that helps.""You're going to want to take that back in time, I'm sure."She shook her head. "I don't think I will."Nik was unconvinced. He looked away from her again and, instead, upward at the ceiling. "If I don't make some sort of amends, sooner rather than later, this is gonna come back around and bite me in the ass somehow.""Then talk to someone. Anyone." She removed her hand from underneath him and gently slapped his abdomen. "Talk to my mom. She's the one person who's been there for you the longest. She's the granddaughter of Darth Vader and first cousin of Kylo Ren. She told me she forgave them, and they were really terrible people when they were aligned with the dark side," she remarked, with a pointed gaze in his direction. "If she can forgive them for being blights on galactic society, there's no way she can't forgive you for whatever trifling secret you've kept. She's not one to hold grudges. She's pretty great like that.""She's held a grudge against Hux since the war against the First Order," he contended."Well, yeah, but only because he's responsible for my older sister being killed alongside a billion other people, and because he personally killed my brother."Great, Nik lamented to himself."Talk to her," Leia pressed. "She'll listen and tell you exactly how you can make amends, if that's even necessary, and she'll offer likely amazing advice on how to make peace with whatever's plaguing your mind. I promise."Nik expelled a deep, uncertain breath from his lips. "I suppose she's exactly the person who I should talk to." Returning his gaze to Leia once more, he pouted a bit. "Before I do that, before I get up I leave this bed and possibly ruin everything, can we just…" He rolled onto his side and began to press her back down upon the mattress; hovering over her without placing all of his weight down upon her body…yet. "Can we pick up where we left off last night? Can I show you how I love you before I give you reason not to love me?"Grabbing his shoulders, she pulled him down atop her. "Stop being so dramatic," she quipped; claiming his lips in a fervent kiss.  Nik and Leia had spent the rest of the day making love. As the day before had been her first time, and even though they'd gone at it several more times into the evening and night, she was considerably sore. However, she was able to ignore any residual aches and pains down there because she knew enough to channel it elsewhere with the Force. She knew how to focus and look past the aches and pains and the soreness. And, in a way, it was like a trophy — a reminder of this new chapter in her life.She was officially a woman now.And she was in love with someone who loved her back!When they finally came up for air, they had lunch delivered to them while they showered and got redressed. After eating, they ended up making love on the kitchen island and then on the floor, where they fell asleep for about two hours. After waking back up and talking about anything other than what was bothering him, they made dinner together; and it felt wonderful. It felt like they were an old married couple, playing house. That night, she thought about returning home to the Governor's Mansion. She was sure her parents may be wondering where she'd gone, but her mother had known she was going to see Nik and her mother was also perceptive enough to know Leia had feelings for Nik. Likely, her mother knew where her daughter had gone and what had kept her for a day and a half. Her father, however, would probably be a bit put off by the notion of his little girl rutting around like some wanton sex kitten with her lover. It might send him into an early grave.She supposed she could wait until after dark and slip into the mansion once she was sure her parents would be asleep so she wouldn't have to face any questions until first thing the following morning. Or she could just own it and walk through the front door the following day, wearing the same clothes she'd been wearing for days in a row; reeking of debauchery. That actually made her chuckle to a degree.In the end, she opted to stay the second night with Nik. However, when she woke up that following morning, Nik wasn't in bed. When she padded around the apartment, calling out to him, she received no answer. He wasn't out on the balcony or even up on the rooftop. After showering, she threw on one of his clean tunics; wearing it like a nightgown because he was so much taller than her, so it hung lower on her. She tossed their dirty clothes into the laundering unit in the kitchen. While she waited on those, so she could change back into clothes that were clean, she changed the sheets on the bed and made it. She walked around the kitchen and cleaned up any and all food and dishware they left out the night before and then sank down onto the sofa with her hands folded between her thighs; thinking happily upon all the things they'd gotten up to, and all the positions he'd shown her that made her head spin with delight, as well as which of those positions she enjoyed the most.She smiled happily to herself.When her gaze shifted toward the kitchen, she finally noticed a small piece of paper tacked upon the exhaust hood over the nanowave stove. Knitting her brow in curiosity she stood up and walked over to it; snatching it down to read what was written.
L—

I went to make amends. Or try to.

Don't wait around for me.

I don't know if I'm coming right back afterward.

I might need to go away for a bit.

Just know I love you, whatever happens.

— N
Leia felt a little unsettled by that. Nik's note almost read like a suicide letter, even though she could see it wasn't anything like that."I love you, too," she mumbled aloud; a small frown tugging her lips downward.  That morning, while Leia was asleep, Nik had slipped out of bed, managed to shower as quietly as possible, and got dressed out in the sitting room as not to make any noise to wake her up. He'd written the note for her, stuck it on the exhaust hood and walked out of the apartment and into the awaiting daylight.The sky was clear and the sun was bright, but he felt anything but.He hadn't bothered to take his Y-wing. He left it where it was and walked to the Governor's Mansion, as it wasn't too far from the apartment. Plus, walking took longer and it gave him time to go over in his head exactly how he was going to broach the subject of Armitage Hux with Crisara. Shops and restaurants were already bustling with the morning crowd of usual patrons. Some people nodded and smiled at him or said hello while he barely gave them a second glance. When the Governor's Mansion came into view, looming like the harbinger of his doom, Nik paused outside the outer stone wall that surrounded the entire estate and then stepped past guards at the front gates. In the forecourt he noticed the small shuttle Crisara usually traveled in, to and from the Lake Country, so he was one hundred percent certain she was at home here. Another pair of guards were standing on either side of the front door, and each greeted him with a nod.They knew who he was, and what he was. He was one of the few who didn't need to enter inside without verification or hesitation. He was nearly family.Nearly.Stepping within the entrance hall, the weight on his shoulders and on his heart suddenly felt heavier. He stared forward, all the way toward the direction of the large dining room. This place, this mansion, was the very definition of grandeur and opulence — like the Royal Palace but on a much smaller scale. After all, it was where the Head of Government for an entire planet resided. It should be grand and opulent."Nik."Nik had been so focused on what was in front of him he hadn't realized Poe was just within his office to the left of the entrance hall. The older man stepped into the doorway; already dressed for the day and shoving a datapad into a satchel that was slung over his right shoulder."You look lost," Poe continued."I was, uh, hoping to talk to Cris—Master Dameron about something important.""It's just us. You don't have to address her so formally, you know."Nik shrugged. "I think it's better if I keep it formal right now, given what I need to talk to her about."Poe immediately narrowed his gaze at the younger man; trying to get a better read on him. He wasn't Force-sensitive, but he had been around the proverbial block a few dozen times during his life to be perceptive enough on things. Something about Nik's tone rubbed him the wrong way. Something had happened and he wanted to know what it was.Instinctually, he asked, "Is it Leia?"He hadn't seen his daughter in two days, but he was certain enough she was alive and well. It wasn't as if it was the first time she took off without saying where she was going. Fortunately, he could piece enough together because Crisara had told him Leia had been to see her and mentioned going to see Nik. So, Poe could assume that's where Leia likely still was.And that was a different kind of headache for a different time."Leia's fine," Nik assured; his mind clearly on something else.Slowly, Poe nodded; taking Nik at face value in regard to his daughter. "Cris will be down in a little while. She was just getting in the shower when I came downstairs." He gestured into his at-home office. "Have a seat," he advised. "We'll wait together."Nik hesitated. "That's not necessary. You look like you were just about to head out. I don't want to keep you.""I'm the Governor, kid. I can take as much time as I need." He just stood there and stared; practically boring holes into the Jedi Knight's head. He gestured again, inside his office. He went as far as to remove the satchel from his arm walk back inside the office himself and set the satchel down on his desk. To drive it home, he pointed at one of the two chairs on the other side of his desk from where he sat. "Have a seat, Yaren." Not waiting for Nik to oblige him, he walked around his desk and sat down in his chair. Leaning back, he folded his hands across his chest and then looked upward.Slowly, Nik stepped inside and lithely made his way to the chair in question and sat down. Looking across the desk as Poe, at how stern he was now looking, he was suddenly reminded of the man who had barked at him, once upon a time, as if he were no better than a pest. Of course, Nik had understood that the gruffness to Poe's voice had been because he was terrified of losing Crisara after she'd been shot by Mama's poisoned dart. It had been fear in Poe's eyes then, and fear in his voice that made him sound angry. Nik understood Poe had seen and experienced a lot of his own trauma before and during the First Order-Resistance War. He'd watched countless friends and comrades die terrible, and usually fiery, deaths. And then he nearly lost his wife. And then Sessani was killed, and he'd been injured and nearly killed during the Grand Plaza Attack. A year later, he would lose his father, and now he'd just recently lost his son. Things like that hardened a soul.Plus, Nik could see enough of Poe's surface level thoughts to know he wasn't entirely convinced Nik was the right person for his daughter. The way Poe tipped his head back and practically glowered at him, Nik was certain Poe had realized Nik was prodding. After all, his wife and all of his children were Force-sensitive and capable of such a skill. Surely, by now, he knew when it was happening."Don't," Poe warned.Nik frowned and tipped his gaze down apologetically.Yeah, Poe knew he was trying to pry."Maybe, while we wait for my wife, you can tell me where Leia is."Nik cleared his throat. "At the, uh…your dad's old apartment. I was, um, having a hard time with something lately and she's been helping me cope."Poe grimaced slightly. He could read enough between the lines. "Okay. I don't need details. I just want to know she's not being kept somewhere against her will."An abrupt chuckle managed to escape Nik's lips. "As if any of us could keep her anywhere against her will."Despite himself, Poe also chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose that is true.""She's okay, though. I swear on my life."Nodding, Poe accepted this. "Alright. Just know one thing," he began to say. Deliberately slow, he brought his folded hands down upon the surface of his desk and leaned forward; just full on glaring at Nik now with a fatherly warning in his dark eyes. "If you ever break her heart, if she ever gets hurt in any way, shape or form because of you, just know that I will rip your heart out of your chest and eat it."Nik's eyes widened somewhat and he inhaled a steadying breath. "I will keep her heart safe for as long as I draw breath, sir."Poe liked that. He liked hearing that title of respect muttered after he'd put a little fear of the afterlife into the twenty-four-year-old, as well as liking the fact that Nik would clearly rather die than see Leia in an ounce of pain. "Alright," he repeated. "Then we have an understanding."As Poe had begun to lean back in his chair again, while keeping his hands upon the desk, light footsteps were echoing from beyond the office, near the back of the mansion, but getting closer. Shifting his eyes toward the open doorway, Poe waited for a few moments until his wife appeared. Having enough sense to realize he was inside, she gravitated to the room with a curious raise of her brow when she spotted the pair."Hello there, Nik," she greeted first, and then gestured between him and Poe. "I don't think I've ever seen the two of you in here together, alone." As Crisara stepped just inside the office, she clasped her hands in front of her and narrowed her gaze primarily upon her husband. "Everything alright?" Then, more precise, she asked, "Is Leia alright?""Leia's alive and kicking, and back at my dad's old apartment where Nik left her," Poe spoke before Nik could. "Nik, here, showed up a little bit ago — says he needs to talk to you.""Okay." Crisara was slowly trying to suss out any deeper, underlying issues going on between her husband and former padawan. She moved toward the chair beside Nik. "What's on your mind?" She practically stared directly into his soul as she sat down. "You feel uneasy about something. Is it Poe?" She briefly tossed her gaze at him and almost frowned at how brusque she knew he could be, primarily when it came to Nik."No. It's not, uh, Poe." Nik sighed and looked down at his hand; rubbing the knuckle of his left index finger in a subtle, but fidgety manner. "But it's important. Something I've been keeping from you for a while now and it's been eating at me…"Poe began to stand up. "Well, I'll let the two of you have the room."Nik looked upward at him. "Actually, you should probably hear this, too," he insisted; looking guilty already. "It affects both of you."The air in the room almost immediately felt heavy as Poe clenched his jaw and slipped back down into his chair. "Well, I'm not liking where this is already going. A fantastic start to my day."Crisara shot her husband a withering look. "Poe." With a roll of her eyes, she returned her focus to the younger man. "Whatever it is that's been bothering you, you can tell me. Us." She stole another brief glance at Poe to make sure he kept a civil tongue. For now, at least."There's really no point in tiptoeing," Nik began to say. With a deep breath to bring himself some calm, which didn't really seem as if it worked, he tipped his head down but still managed to look Crisara in the eye. She deserved that much with what he was going to tell her. "I know where Hux went after Derra IV." Before the couple could interject, he added, "And, in about two weeks, give or take, I should know where he's going to be next, if he's indeed moved on from where he was. I'm assuming it'll be someplace new."Poe shifted his chair forward so he could lean upon the surface of his desk once more as he began to glower at Nik again. "You knew where he went after Derra IV, but you've known about it for a while?" he clarified; making sure he heard everything correctly. "Derra IV was a month ago. I'd constitute a while as being longer than a month…"The guilty look in Nik's eyes hadn't diminished any. "That's because I first crossed paths with Armitage Hux and Gremma Santhe about seven months ago.""Excuse me?" Poe practically growled."I also knew they were going to be on Derra IV prior to, uh, Aftab contacting you. Before Leia's knighting ceremony." Nik swallowed a big lump in his throat while it felt like his stomach was being eaten alive by stress. "I'd been in brief but occasional contact with Hux. And I swear I wanted to say something right away, but he made certain threats that I believed to be credible; against places like GOFOY group homes. I didn't want to risk the lives of innocent children, so…I kept quiet." He didn't bother to mention the part where he had sort of been a little swayed by Hux's side of things…to a certain degree. Crisara and Poe would really hate him then, he was sure."What more?" Crisara questioned; her tone even, as she continued to look him in the eye. She knew there was a bit more to it."Part of the arrangement, for him to not order an attack on group homes or innocent civilians, was to warn him if the Republic got to close to where he was. He wanted warning if a threat against him was imminent."Crisara leaned back and fold her hands upon her lap, and just remained silent for a moment.Poe, however, went straight to anger. "You were the spy. You," he accused; standing up and pointing aggressively at the younger man. What this realization meant sunk in further because of what had happened on Derra IV. "You told Hux, so he was able to prepare an attack. My kids could've all died." Then, even more realization. "My son is dead — all because you helped a wanted fucking criminal? For what? Based on a feeling he might attack innocent lives? He's been attacking innocent lives for two years, Nik! Over the last seven months, of you supposedly knowing where he's been at any given moment, he's attacked innocent fucking lives!" Poe's voice roared. C-3PO, who had been approaching out in the entrance hall, decided to turn right back around and avoid interfering in whatever was going on. "What the fuck is wrong with you? We could've taken him and his entire operation out a month ago if you hadn't fucking warned him! He'd be dead! There would be no one to threaten and kill any more innocent fucking lives!"Poe!" Crisara shouted back. She was upset by all this, too, but she couldn't handle his shouting and berating of Nik anymore. "Enough!""He fucking knew, Cris." He glared at his own wife. He stepped around his desk and leaned in toward her and shoved his pointed finger right in Nik's face. "This little bastard knew."Crisara steeled her gaze upon the man she loved. "Leave this office right now, Poe." Her words and her tone were her only warning.Clenching his jaw and expelled a puff of air out of his flared nostrils to express his frustration with all this. Normally she might use the Force to calm his nerves for him, but she didn't this time. She didn't even attempt it only for him to ask she stop it. She just stared and held his gaze until he calmed himself down.Well, calmed himself down a little.He was still plenty fucking furious."Fine. Fine," he bit out. "You deal with him."He had been preparing to leave for the Palace, to work there for the day. He and Crisara did have a meeting later on that morning with the Royal Advisory Council, but now he was too up in arms and needed to cool off, so Poe stormed out of the office.Where exactly in the mansion he stormed off to, neither Crisara nor Nik knew.When Poe's loud anger left the room, Nik was left with Crisara's quiet anger, and somehow that felt worse to him. The Jedi Knight slouched and leaned back in the chair he'd been sitting in and dropped his gaze; unable to maintain it with her anymore. This was going just about as he'd expected it would."I'm sorry, Crisara," he mumbled."It's Master Dameron," she asserted; which she knew stung him.That did the trick to bring his gaze back over to hers. He saw the way there seemed to be no emotion in her eyes. She was fully expressionless. He couldn't read her appearance, nor could he glimpse her thoughts. She had purposely shut all of that down; leaving him guessing."Everything my husband said was true, even if it was said in rage and peppered with vulgarity," she began to say. "Because of your actions and inaction, our son is dead. Many other innocent lives are dead. You claim to have known, more or less, where Hux was or might've been over the last seven months, even if you weren't completely sure, while all these deaths, all the tragedy, could have been prevented. Those lives are on your hands just as much as their on his." She watched tears welling in his eyes as well as how he refused to let them fall. She had trained him well, after all; in how to keep his emotions in check. If only she could show Poe how to do that. "This was a betrayal, plain and simple. What you did, even if you thought you were potentially helping innocent lives, was technically a crime in the eyes of the Republic. You're aware of that, right? You colluded with an escaped felon, a wanted criminal, and assisted in his continued evasion. Whether or not his threats against GOFOY group homes or anywhere else were true, you're a Jedi Knight, Nik. You swore to be a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy. You have failed to uphold that.""I'm sorry," he remarked; barely getting the words out.Knitting her brow together, Crisara leaned forward. "I'm not going to turn you over to the Republic because of this or anything like that. You made a regrettable decision that caused a lot of irreparable damage. You've broken my trust in you," she spoke; her voice barely above a whisper. Tears of sadness and grave disappoint began to sting at her eyes. "I put such faith in you ever since you were nine years old. I had great hopes for you, and I'm certain you will find a way to make amends for your misconduct.""I wish to."Crisara nodded. She believed him. "Well," she sighed. "You can start by letting me know exactly where Hux will be, as soon as you find out.""He'll be expecting me to meet with him."That soured her stomach. "Well, obviously you won't be," she insisted with a pointed gaze. "The second you find out, you tell me and then you go nowhere. Understood?" Off his quick and obedient nod, Crisara sighed. "I'm so disappointed in you, Nik. You've broken my heart and my trust, but I believe you can at least earn back my trust. It'll take time, though.""If it takes the rest of my life, I will try my best to be worthy of your trust again," Nik contended.Crisara said nothing to that comment of his. She simply continued to stare at him. Then, after a moment of silence that she knew was making him feel antsy, she hit him with, "After this matter with Hux is finally settled, you and I will need to have another conversation. There will be consequences for your actions." She watched him nod; accepting whatever awaited him as punishment in the near future. "For now, go home. Go back to my father-in-law's old apartment. Hunker down. Wait for Hux to contact you."Nik nodded again. "Okay."As he began to slowly stand up, she asked, "Does Leia know any of this?"He shook his head and almost blanched at the notion. "No. I mean, I told her I've kept a terrible secret and a lot of people were hurt because of something I did. I kept it vague. I wasn't specific." His shoulders slouched. "I didn't want her to hate me."Crisara understood his deeper fear. "Because you love her.""Because I love her," he agreed."Well," she began, tilting her head slightly to the side, "if you truly love her, you'll eventually be honest with her. I'm not saying you have to leave here and go directly to tell her right away. But don't wait too long, because the longer you keep this from her, it may be harder for her to forgive you." With a touch of amusement in her voice, despite how she was feeling, Crisara added, "You do realize she is a lot like her father where her personality is concerned."Nik managed to smirk. "Yes, I'm quite aware."Crisara sighed. "Alright, well…" She waved a hand dismissively at him. "You can go.""I'm sorry again, Master Dameron. I am so impossibly sorry," he insisted as he hesitated to leave. He was staring down at her, but her gaze had already drifted away as not to make eye contact with him anymore. He really wish she would yell at him and lose her temper like her husband. It would be like ripping off a bandage — just getting it all over with in one fell swoop. But he knew this was something that would linger and weigh them down for a while. "I'm sorry.""I know you are," she maintained. "Please. Go now."Without saying anything more, he bowed respectively at her and then slipped out of the office. He didn't wait around to see if Poe would come back and berate him further. He slipped out of the office and into the entrance hall, and then out through the front door; leaving Crisara alone in the office.For a few minutes, she sat there in silence; staring at the nearest of the two, floor-to-ceiling windows, and out at the bright and sunny day outside. It looked quite lovely and cheery, but she was feeling anything but. She was thinking of everything that had just transpired. She was thinking of this information she and Poe had learned.She was thinking of how Temiri hadn't needed to die — that his death could've been prevented if Nik had just come clean sooner. Or, better yet, just not helped Armitage fucking Hux in the slightest to begin with.Scrunching up her face in mix of renewed anger and grief, Crisara hunched forward and shoved her face in her hands and began to cry. Everything she'd been holding in, to appear calm, cool and collected for Nik's sake, began to spill out. As the tears fell, and fell hard, Poe quietly reappeared in the doorway of his office and just stood there with slumped shoulders; watching his wife with pain in his eyes. He slowly stepped inside and moved to sit in the chair Nik had been occupying, and scooted it closer toward her until their knees were basically touching. Removing her hands from her face, he held them in his hands and squeezed them. While she attempted to calm herself down and rein in her emotions, he just sat there in further silence and waited for her to speak first, when she was ready.He was sorry he'd lost his shit and even dared to direct it at her, and he knew she knew he hadn't meant it that way. He wasn't angry at her, obviously. He was angry at Nik and his horrible shortcomings. He knew Nik wasn't right for his daughter, but he wasn't sure Leia would feel the same once she knew what he'd done. Her mother — Crisara — had been able to forgive her grandfather and her cousin for being genocidal megalomaniacs, so he was sure Leia would have no problem forgiving the boy she liked for keeping secrets and consorting with fucking Hux."I can't wait to finally put this part of our lives behind us," Crisara finally spoke; her voice low and quiet."Me, too."Lifting her gaze up, she looked him in the eyes with her teary ones. "We're very close now. We're almost at the finish line."Poe simply nodded in firm agreement.  
Twelve days later
Within a synstone hut, situated high on a cliff, in the remote Jundland Wastes, near the Western Dune Sea on Tatooine, Armitage Hux was milling about in an attempt at making himself a decent cup of tea, which hadn't been easy to do since arriving to this dustbin of an Outer Rim world. After leaving Nar Shaddaa, he knew he wanted to abscond to a more obscure locale, where few might realize who he was, and where even fewer would care. He believed it was the best place to disappear for a little while longer until what was left of his supporters and entire operation that had come to fruition over the last two years could regroup to carry out the next phase of his plans. However, a lot of those plans required funds, something of which hadn't come through from his benefactor on Baros.Apparently it was too risky right now.Hux had angrily scoffed at that. Now it was too risky? Not any time before now?Without funds, he couldn't pay a lot of his supporters who expected financial compensation for their assistance and weren't doing whatever he required out of the goodness of their hearts. He wasn't naïve, of course. He knew there was no honor amongst thieves and loyalty could be bought. Without being able to buy that extra loyalty he'd needed, those supporters — Huxists, as Nik Yaren had called them — found loyalty elsewhere; leaving Hux in the dust.So, it was befitting he was on Tatooine now. It was definitely dusty here, that's for sure.Originally, when he decided on Tatooine for the time being, he considered renting out a small place by the week in Mos Espa, Mos Eisley, or even Anchorhead. He still had enough personal funds to last him the next half year and live comfortably, but when his shuttle had broken through the atmosphere and passed over the Dune Sea, he had spotted this insignificant hovel on a rocky ridge, and thought it was perfect. It was out of the way, but near enough to Anchorhead if and when he needed to go into the small town for supplies.If only he knew just how significant the hut was.He could tell it had likely been built a very long time ago by a transient who had looked to become a moisture farmer or trade with the Jawas, but eventually abandoned it. What Hux didn't know is who had spent the better part of a decade living there, and the full circle moment it would bring.Never having been good at menial labor, because he'd always had underlings for that, getting the moisture vaporator and everything working in and around the hut had been quite the learning experience for Hux. It took four days before he gave up, went into Anchorhead, and purchased a droid to do it for him. At least the droid had the decency to break down after the moisture vaporator and the inefficient cooling unit was fixed. As it was just him, he hadn't needed to buy too much foodstuffs, but he did make sure he was stocked up on tea and sugar. He didn't need milk for his tea, mainly because the blue, bantha milk disgusted him and he'd always had trouble digesting it when he was younger. It was a triggering aspect of his youth he hoped to continue avoiding for as long as possible.He had a datapad to keep him apprised of everything going on throughout the galaxy, to keep tabs on himself on the HoloNet, in case he needed to flee, or if there was something important that pertained to him that he needed to know. It was also how he communicated, usually through code, to the Huxists who hadn't abandoned him yet or to his dwindling financial backers. It also kept him entertained. He could pass the time reading, watching the occasional holodrama (his guilty pleasure) which he'd missed out on during his nearly two decades of incarceration, and there was even a digital version of sabaac preloaded on the device that he could play against digital opponents.But, at the moment, he was trying to perfect a cup of tea.The water was hot in his cup, the sachet of tea was steeping inside it, and he'd just added the sugar, which he stirred in with the only spoon he had. The tea needed to sit, to cool down before he could drink it, so he set it aside on the meager dining table that only had two meager chairs. He was hunched over, blowing on the contents just a tad, and trying to ignore the arthritis in his lower back which was exacerbated by how he was hunching, when he heard a scratching outside.Hux stood up straight and narrowed his green eyes.He heard it again and could determine it was coming from the side of the hut where the moisture vaporator stood tall and he grimaced. He really hoped it wasn't making noise because it was malfunctioning. He didn't have that damn droid to help him anymore. Then again, perhaps he could search the HoloNet for directions on how to fix it himself, if that was the case.When the scratching seemed to cease, he figured maybe it had just been a dune lizard.But then he heard clinking, clanking and it definitely sounded like something large and metal had toppled."Sonofabitch," he grumbled.Grabbing for his blaster, he ascended the three steps up from the living space and turned to face the door on his right. With a steadying breath, he opened it up and stepped outside into the offending light of the twin suns. He'd had his blaster raised, ready to shoot, but there was no one there. With a frown, he wasn't about to rest on his laurels. He turned left and walked around toward the side of the hut where the vaporator was and almost immediately growled in aggravation, and maybe even wanted to cry.The entire thing had fallen. However, on closer inspection he saw it didn't just topple because it was old and rickety, or even because some scaly creature bumped into it. It had been cut in half; the seared edges practically molten like they were on fire.Despite the oppressive heat, Hux felt a chill go up his spine.He wasn't alone.Starting to breathe a little faster, at nearly the same pace as his heartbeat, Hux retreated. He whipped around and scurried back to the door and stepped inside; pausing to hunch forward and brace his hand upon his knees as he caught his breath. He'd barely gotten it under control when there came three solid knocks on the outer side of the door.As he stood up straight, he considered something.The cauterized edges of that vaporator — a lightsaber could do that.Oh, yes, of course!Hux could've practically slapped himself for being so forgetful. Perhaps it was his old age. He was fifty-eight now, after all. Not exactly as spry and sharp as he used to be. His nineteen years of nearly solitary confinement hadn't helped any of that. Regardless, he chastised himself when he remembered he had contacted Nik the day before. It was obviously Gremma's boy; come to meet with him once more. But why destroy the vaporator? That was just wasteful. Now he'd have to somehow buy a new one in Anchorhead, or leave behind these lodgings and find someplace else, and what a chore that would be."Nik?" he called out. "Cutting the vaporator in half was completely unnecessary." With an exasperated sigh, he hit the panel beside the door to open it and greet the young man, only for naturally his pale face to suddenly get even paler."No, not Nik." It was Poe, and he was aiming a blaster directly at Hux's head. "Long time, no see, asshole.""Shit.""Shit is right."As Poe stepped menacingly forward, Hux stepped backward and tried to move down the stairs, just as something moved in the shadows behind him, down below in the living space. Whatever or whoever was hidden in the dark corners of the hut wasn't in darkness for long. Hux whipped around only to be met with the vibrant blue plasma blade of a lightsaber suddenly igniting.Crisara stood there, catching Hux by considerable surprise, as her face was bathed in that vibrant blue light and staring him down like a demon about to devour a soul."H-how?" he stuttered. "How did you get in here?" He was genuinely confused; trying to piece the details together."The ways of the Force are quite mysterious," she quipped; clearly messing with him.The long and short of it was that Poe had been dragging his blaster back and forth alongside one of the pipes coming out of the hut just before Crisara had cut down the vaporator and, without missing a beat, moved lithely around the hut. When he came outside and was distracted by the equipment's destruction, she slipped inside when he wasn't looking. All the while, Poe had followed quietly after her, but remained out of sight until Hux made his way back inside. She had then hovered in the one, dark corner of the hut; silent as the grave while he assumed he was alone and safe. She watched him for those few moments while he gathered his wits about him and worked on catching his breath. Force cloaking herself had helped, of course. Had she not been using it, he would've seen her otherwise had he just turned and looked in her direction. It was daytime and the interior of the hut wasn't that dark.Crisara stepped forward, just as a second blade — a green one — ignited on the other end of the extended hilt. She gave both ends a quick spin for dramatics and then pointed the blue end toward his chest. With a stilled expression, she gestured for him to move toward the inset bed that doubled as a couch. "Sit," she ordered.Poe began to descend into the living space after Hux; watching carefully as the aging ginger backed up toward the inset bed. "Would you look at this," Poe quipped, sidling up beside his wife. "Kinda like old times, huh, babe?""What — with him cornered with no way out? Realizing he's kriffed?" Her eyes were still glued on Hux, who was glancing back and forth between the couple, while still holding onto his own blaster and looked like he might have an itchy trigger finger. Holding the double-bladed lightsaber vertically like a staff, Crisara held out her other hand and yanked the blaster from Hux with the Force, and then handed it to Poe. "Yeah, definitely like old times," she added, still looking only at Hux, with a slight cock to her head.As Hux finally sank down onto the bed, he let out a huff of breath and it seemed, all at once, he had resigned himself to this being the end of the line for him. Something was suddenly made clear to him about all this, as well. Focusing on a spot on the table in front of him, and almost seemed disappointed as he muttered, "Nik was never coming, was he? I guess he finally got tired of keeping secrets." Figuring there was no harm in being bold now, the former First Order General chuckled and stared upward, directly at Crisara. "Did he tell all the secrets he'd kept from you? Did he ask your forgiveness for betraying you? Did he tell you how Gremma was his biological mother?"Crisara and Poe subtly looked out the corners of their eyes at each other.Hux smirked. "Oh, you didn't know that last bit, did you? Well, surprise." He folded his hands upon his lap and straightened his posture. "She was sixteen and forced to give him up by her father. You're familiar with the Santhe clan, yes? Astronomically wealthy, with a lot important people in their back pocket. The patriarch, her father Borris — incredibly unfeeling and a bit prickish. Her mother, Olena? Functioning alcoholic. Her brother and sister? Uninspired fools. The only worthwhile member of that family your son killed. She was really looking forward to getting to know the son she never got to raise, but now she's dead.""Yeah, we don't really care about that," Poe asserted, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. "She made her bed and was forced to lie in it. Now it's your turn."A sneer graced Hux's lips. "Are you going to shoot me in cold blood, Governor?"Crisara stepped forward and deactivated both lightsabers. "How far did you think you were going to get with your little escapade as a terrorist on the run? Did you think you were really going to rise up from the cold ashes of the First Order and somehow become the next Emperor or Supreme Leader?" Without hesitation, she added, "I mean, really? Supreme Leader? You?" Crisara let out a derisive laugh."Awfully big dreamer, aren't ya?" Poe taunted.Removing a device from the pocket of the cloak she was wearing, Crisara tossed it onto the table and watched as Hux gazed down at it. "That's for you.""A holodisc," he acknowledged, as if he was bored. "Did you record something for me to watch?""No, it's for you to record yourself on."Hux raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh? And what am I supposed to record?"Crisara hooked the hilt of her dual lightsabers upon the belt around her waist and then turned around. Walking only a couple of feet, she grabbed one of the chairs from the dining table and dragged it across the dusty floor to the table in front of the inset bed. Poe remained standing at her side as she sat down. Leaning forward a bit, she stared Hux directly in the eye while a sense of pure calm washed over her. Poe stole a glance at her and smirked; already knowing what she was up to. Her breathing steadied as she mirrored Hux by sitting up straight. "You're going to take the holodisc and record a message for all your Huxists; telling them how you truly feel about them." Pushing herself into his mind to manipulate his thought process and free will, she reiterated, "You want to record a holo for all to see about your plans and how your Huxists played into it, and how it's all over."Hux's shoulders slumped; his mind visibly weakening. Reaching for the device, he pulled it closer to him and cleared his throat as he pressed the button to record himself. "My name is General Armitage Hux of the former First Order. This message is for all those who have helped me over the last two years and even before then," he began, while Poe and Crisara stole a look at each other before staring back at him. "You have done everything I asked like good, little soldiers. You have abandoned all sense and bolstered my authority and control like the brainless sycophants you are; without an original thought of your own." It looked like he was trying to struggle not to continue with this line of speaking, but Crisara's influence over him with her Jedi mind trick had been greater than his free will. "The only person in this regime, that you all helped me build from the ground up, who mattered to me, is dead. And, honestly, none of it means anything anymore without her. None of you have ever meant anything to me beyond what you could do for me. You were, all of you, a means to an end. You broke me out of Sunspot, you gave me shelter and funding, and you flocked to me because I told you pretty words of a greater existence in this galaxy that awaited you if you followed me. You carried out heinous attacks on innocent people because I said so. But let's be honest. This organization, if you can call it that, has crumbled. It has run out of money and steam. The attack against us on Derra IV, despite the warning we were given, was too great for us to recoup our numbers, which were already dwindling anyway. You served a purpose for a little while, but I honestly can't remember even one of your names. That's how unimportant you were in the grander scheme of things. A faceless mob. A means to an end." Hux repeated, and then frowned. "There was never going to be a new Empire or First Order with me at the helm. I believed it was something I deserved a long time ago, to prove something to my long-dead father that I was worthy, but twenty years in prison took that fire out of me. Truthfully, I don't care about any of it anymore. I don't care about you. So, as I prepare to shuffle off this mortal coil, I leave you with this…"Poe scowled, concerned about what he was going to say and also wishing he'd wrap it up already."No matter how long or how far you run, you can't outrun the consequences of your actions. Sooner or later, karma arrives at your door to give you what you deserve. So make peace with your Maker, your gods. Fix whatever you broke while you still have time. Do what you can to make amends before karma finds you, too." With sigh, Hux reached his hand back out across the table and turned off the holodisc. After blinking once, then twice, he looked as if he was snapping out of a daydream. Casting his eyes prominently upon Crisara, he knitted his brow together in some confusion. "Wait — what were you saying? Was I saying something?""It's not important," she assured, taking the holodisc back with a smirk, and stood up out of the chair.Hux nodded; sensing the end was even nearer now. "You're about to kill me, aren't you? Long overdue, I expect.""Well, we sure as shit aren't here to arrest you," Poe countered, gesturing at Hux with his blaster. "You'd just escape again, and you're aware you're wanted dead or alive, right?"Having not realized the message he'd just recorded, Hux scoffed. "My Huxists will revere me as a martyr. One of them will take up the mantle and continue where I left off."Poe winced with slight amusement and shook his head. "Kinda think they won't now." He turned and looked at Crisara, who was pocketing the holodisc back into her cloak.Hux noticed the device and finally comprehended that something had happened, but he was feeling foggy now as to the details. "What did you do to me?" he questioned; glancing between the pair, but focusing primarily upon the Jedi Master."I had you tell the truth — how you really feel." Crisara leaned forward, still holding onto the hilt of her dual lightsabers. She considered what she wanted to say to him next. There were so many things she wanted to say. How could she condense decades of pain he'd caused into a couple of sentences and make him understand? "You took two children from me," was what she began with. "That's two too many. Four times I let you live when I should've killed you. On the Steadfast, Canto Bight, when I spoke at your trial on behalf of a life sentence instead of a death sentence, and one month ago when I could've gone after you and killed you, but I chose to be with my son as he passed from this life." Tears welled in her eyes and her face hardened. "No more escaping, Armitage. No more lenience."Looking her in the eye, he frowned. "I'm not sorry about your son, but I am still sorry you lost your daughter, who was very young. I'd say that order I gave haunts me to this day, but I'd be lying. But I'm not lying about being sorry your daughter was collateral damage." He sighed and watched the way her gaze lowered toward the table and the way her jaw was clenching. Recalling how psychotic her cousin Kylo Ren could be when he was angry, he wondered if his end would come by some trick of the Force from her. "Alright, then. So it's over." He held his arms out at his sides as if proving a point. "How am I to die?" He gestured between Poe and Crisara with his right hand. "Blaster or lightsaber? I mean, since it's the end of my story, I think it's only right that I should choose how—"Hux's head abruptly jerked backward.A bloody hole formed in the center of his forehead and blood instantly painted the wall behind him, just as his entire body slumped backwards against some pillows a moment later.Crisara let a heavy breath escape her lips and turned her weary blue eyes in the direction of the smoking gun, which was literally Poe's blaster."He talked too much," Poe muttered; quietly processing what he'd done. When his gaze met hers, he frowned. "Sorry. I took that moment from you."She shook her head. "No. Despite everything, I'm not sure I could've done it," she replied as the tears in her eyes began to sting. But they weren't tears for Hux. They were tears for this all finally being over, in regard to Hux. He was dead. The man responsible for Adera's death, and Sessani's death, and who killed Temiri, was dead. "I didn't need to be the one to do it. I just needed to witness it, I think — to see with my own eyes that he can't take anything or anyone else from us anymore." She sighed and stepped over to Poe, who tossed Hux's blaster onto the table so he could pull her against his side. "We can breathe easier now." Resting her head against his shoulder, they both couldn't avoid staring at Hux's dead body. Despite the heat, Crisara had felt Poe shudder and lifted her head to look up at him. "Are you okay?""It's been a long while since I killed anyone, point blank — since the war. It wasn't something that was easy then, and it's even less so now. Even though it's Hux…""Taking a life should never be easy. The fact that it bothers you proves you're a good man."Poe smiled appreciatively and nodded solemnly. "It really is strange, staring at him, and he's actually dead.""We should head outside and call up to the Republic Security Forces in orbit; for them to take care of clean-up," she suggested."Yeah," he agreed. "And we need to upload his final message to the HoloNet and make it viral before the official statement of his death is released." Holstering his blaster, Poe finally looked fully upon his wife and sighed. With a small, loving smile, he slipped his hand into hers and wordlessly began to lead them out of the hut.They ascended the three small steps out of the living space, turned right and then headed out of the door and into the sunlight. They breathed in the hot, excessively dry air and squinted as they looked out at the Jundland Wastes before them, and then the simple desert landscape beyond that. The speeder they'd rented from Anchorhead was at the base of the cliff and would take them back to the spaceport there; to the unassuming shuttle they'd borrowed from the Starcruiser awaiting them above Tatooine's outer atmosphere."Of all the places for Hux to wind up," Crisara muttered, stepping near the cliffside. "It had to be here."Poe looked over his shoulder, back at the hut. "We always did plan to finally make it here. It's unfortunate it was under these circumstances."She nodded. "My grandparents lived here for nine years, and now it's where Hux died.""I doubt this is where they were at their happiest. I mean, it's not the place that's important. It's the people. Sera and Obi-Wan were in love for a long time, and they made happy memories all over the galaxy, and in shittier places, I'm sure. This is just a house, and barely that. They had a home, even if they never got to live in it together. Our home." Poe slipped a hand to the small of her back and curled his fingers around the material of her jacket, which was definitely not made for Tatooine's climate and he knew she had to be sweating in it. "Which is where we should go: home."Crisara looked up at him and nodded once more. "Do you think our lives will calm down now?"As Poe began to usher her forward, along the steep path leading down the cliffside, toward where they left the speeder, he let out a hearty chuckle; a sound that was always wonderful to hear.Laughter. Happiness."We have four kids left, still figuring out adulthood. You're still a Jedi Master, looking after a slew of Force users. Me? You know — Governor still. So, no. Our lives won't calm down till we die.""Which, hopefully, is still a few decades away," Crisara remarked; mindful of the steep gradient before them."Oh, for sure. I mean, we get to outlive Hux, so things are looking up already."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I don't care who you are
Where you're from, what you did
As long as you love me"
— Backstreet Boys If ever there was such a thing as good chaos, then the aftermath of the holo that Hux recorded going 'viral' all across the HoloNet, followed by the news of his death, was. There were many that celebrated it as the good news it was, there was a small faction that believed it was all a hoax, and then there were those who remained unfazed if not downright unbothered by it all, either way. Most were glad Hux's attempt at tyranny had been subverted. The Damerons, for one. Obviously.When Poe and Crisara had gotten to their speeder, they had sent word up to the Republic Security Forces, who were dispatched down to the surface of Tatooine to claim Hux's body, take the couple's official statement on the matter, and then Poe and Crisara were free to return to Anchorhead where the shuttle they'd arrived to the desert world on was located. They returned the speeder they'd rented, to the owner who was pleasantly surprised they did, and that the vehicle was in on piece. Poe and Crisara had then left Tatooine, docked with the Starcruiser in orbit and made contact with Supreme Chancellor Vecta; to give her the news over holo that Hux was dead and they 'found a holodisc' containing a 'final statement' he'd made. Vecta, just as bitter as the rest who had been personally attacked by Hux and his loyalists, gave the go-ahead for the pair to upload the holo for all the galaxy to see.Of course, Poe and Crisara would've uploaded it regardless. They weren't looking for permission, but it was appreciated that they had the Chancellor's support in the endeavor; just as they did when they'd informed her they knew where Hux was and this time and that he wouldn't know they were coming. And he hadn't.There were some worlds, like Naboo, Glee Anselm and Pantora, where their leaders had been assassinated, that had the people out celebrating in the streets and throwing parades, or just toasting happily to the death of Armitage Hux as well as the final nail in the coffin that was the last remnant of the First Order. On Thyferra, where the Republic Senate was still currently located, Vecta made a formal, live announcement that was broadcast across the HoloNews to confirm Hux was indeed dead and that the holo of him was one hundred percent the real thing.Poe and Crisara had returned home to Naboo a short time after that on the Millennium Falcon, and the moment they landed they were immediately contacted by the Queen for an emergency session with the Royal Advisory Council. All it ended up pertaining to was going over the details of what had transpired with Hux, and Queen Tenerra wanting to know from their lips if it really was true — both the holo and the death of Hux. They both swore on their lives and the lives of the rest of their children, and that was enough for Her Highness to hear. The rest of the Council was grateful of this and expressed their wishes that the galaxy as a whole could return to a time of peace and prosperity, or as much peace and prosperity that had been exiting prior to Hux's escape from Sunspot.For the Governor and the Jedi Master, they just wanted to go home. They wanted to sit down with their children and tell them everything verbatim and assure them this chapter of their lives was behind them. So they did. They returned to the Governor's Mansion where Caro, the twins and Len sat down with their parents in the parlor, and they spent a few hours just talking about it all and how they felt. They then all agreed to put this behind them now and move forward with their lives.Caro had returned to the Lake Country after that, to be at home at the villa where Zeda was. Shara went home to her apartment, where she was expecting Zeith and a few of their friends from the university for a late dinner and study session, despite the new semester of school having not started yet. Len, who was due to leave for New Academy in a week's time, retreated upstairs to get a head start on resuming the packing of clothes, toiletries and what have you he'd been planning to take with him. Leia didn't need to say where exactly she was going. Her parents figured she wouldn't be staying in the mansion, so it was either going to be back at the villa or back at her grandfather's old apartment, to be with Nik. Before she could leave, however, Crisara pulled her daughter aside while Poe just hovered awkwardly for a moment. He had a certain level of agitation brewing beneath the surface that was becoming too obvious, so Crisara just looked at him and he took the hint and went to walk it off.Leia, catching on that there was something more at play, narrowed her gaze upon her mother. "What's up with dad?"Crisara waved the question off and veered the subject away from her husband. "Can you do me a favor, when you see Nik?""Sure?" Leia replied, apprehensively."Just ask him to come see me tomorrow or whenever he can. We have something to discuss.""Does it have anything to do with whatever he came to talk to you about two weeks ago? He's been pretty solemn since."Brushing a hand against her daughter's upper arm, she offered a small smile to placate her. "It does. There are a couple things him and I didn't get around to." Then, inquisitively, she asked, "Has he told you anything about what he was involved in? Do you know what he came to talk to your father and me about?"Leia shook her head. "No, and I haven't pressed him about it. I figured he'll tell me when he's ready." A sigh escaped her full lips as she glanced over toward her father's office, which he wasn't in at the moment, as he'd gone somewhere toward the back of the stately home. "He was practically vibrating when he came back. And he didn't come back right away. He said he went walking around the city for a couple of hours to clear his head. When he returned to the apartment he was quiet and took a shower, then came out and asked if I wanted to order in or go out to eat. It's been sort of like that ever since. I can feel he wants to tell me something, but he's nervous. He thinks I'll hate him forever."Crisara had listened carefully and frowned slightly. "Well, it is pretty serious. It's a little hard to forgive but it's not unforgivable. It's just…your father and I…it's going to take a long time for him to earn our trust back, and I have a feeling your siblings may feel the same, once it comes to light. And I hope he tells you himself, and it's not something you have to hear from me, your dad, your brothers or sister. It shouldn't come secondhand. If he truly cares for you, it should come directly from him."A weight seemed to fall upon Leia's shoulders. She didn't like the ominous tone in her mother's words. "Is it really that bad? Did he kill someone?""Leia," Crisara hushed and brought her hands up to cup her daughter's face, "Nik made some bad decisions, and betrayed a lot of people. And because of those decisions and betrayal and the secrets, people are dead. He didn't kill anyone directly, but lives were ended." Feeling Leia's nerves beginning to fray, Crisara pulled her into a tight embrace. "It's too late for you to return to him and have such a deep conversation. Perhaps you can get him to open up about it first thing tomorrow morning, and then send him my way. He might be more receptive to talk to you before rather than after.""Now I'm not sure I want to know.""You will want to know," the Jedi Master insisted. "It won't help to be blind to it."Pulling out of her mother's arms, Leia slowly nodded her head. "Can you wait to tell Caro, Len and Shara about whatever it is until I know?""Of course.""Thank you." Spotting her father reappear from back near the large dining room, she saw he no longer seemed as filled with bubbling rage, but his expression was still grumpy and sour. "Dad's never been overly keen on Nik," she perceptively remarked; her voice low and quiet. "He doesn't know him like I do.""I should hope not," Crisara quipped.Leia rolled her eyes, and managed to small chuckle. "You know what I mean."Brushing aside some of her daughter's hair, Crisara narrowed her blue eyes. "Have the two of you…?"Appreciative of her mother not coming right out and saying it, Leia nodded. "Yeah.""Your father may have his reservations about Nik, which I can understand from his perspective, but I also understand my own perspective and know Nik suffered terribly as a child. And yes, he's made terrible choices lately, but it doesn't make him a bad person. He was just…misguided. And, if there was one good choice he made, it was to view you as a shining beacon." Crisara smirked a bit. "I got the impression that breaking your heart is the last thing he wants to do, and that he truly cares for you — that he wants to make right by you, for you.""He loves me," Leia admitted. "And I love him, too.""Then, despite his shortcomings, I hope this is a matter that the two of you can work through together. Because, if you can get through this, you can get through anything. And a love like that, a love that can rise above everything else, is a love worth fighting for. But…"Leia sighed. Of course there was a 'but' coming. "Yeah?""Sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, or how much they love you, the relationship just isn't right. Sometimes romance fails, but friendship can persist. I should know. It happened with Caro's father and me. We loved each other, but there were issues we couldn't seem to work out, and our marriage failed, but we still wanted to remain friends. To be nothing to each other would've been worse." Crisara shrugged. "Love…it's a crazy thing. You just have to know when to fight for it or when to walk away."Steeling herself, as she spotted her father finally returning toward them, from over her mother's shoulder, she eyed her mother. "I'm not walking away from him," she insisted."Okay." Crisara accepted this. It was Leia's life, and thus her choice what to do with it. For Leia's sake, she hoped Leia found continued happiness with Nik. She hoped Leia was able to forgive Nik and that Nik was able to make amends and learn from his mistakes; to be a better man. Her daughter deserved that and more. Pulling her daughter close, she kissed her forehead. "Okay, then. Go have a good night, and please give Nik my message."Poe furrowed his brow as he sidled up beside his wife. "You heading out?" he asked of Leia.She nodded. "Yeah." She eyed her father and then stepped forward for a hug goodbye. When he held her a little longer than necessary, she didn't bother to budge. She just remained there in his arms and let him hug her as long as he needed. After all, a lot had happened lately and he clearly just needed this as much as she did. When he finally released her, she walked backward and smiled ruefully at her parents. "Goodnight," she spoke and waved her hand slightly.After she slipped out of the front door, Poe looked upon Crisara's profile and grabbed onto the wrist closest to him. "It's been a long day," he muttered. "It's been a long two years." Pulling her toward him, it was Crisara's turn to be wrapped up in his arms. He buried his face into the crook of her neck and inhaled the scent of her skin before placing a chaste kiss just under her jaw. "Let's call it a night, yeah?"With a gentle nod, Crisara agreed and let him lead her away from the entrance hall to the stairwell on the right to head upstairs.  Nik had made the decision to continue leaving Leia in the dark, for now, about what he'd done. He wanted to know what her mother wanted first before he broached the subject. When Leia had returned that night to her grandfather's apartment, she'd given him the details her parents had shared about finding Hux and killing him. What Nik was aware of was that Leia never mentioned anything about her parents finding out about where Hux was because they'd learned that tidbit from him. They had apparently claimed a "source close to home" had given them the credible information they needed. He knew they hadn't outed him yet. They were waiting for him to come clean, and he would. He wanted to. Just…not now. Not just yet.First thing the following morning, just as he had the morning he admitted his part in the whole Hux debacle from the last seven months, Nik arrived to the Governor's Mansion and found Poe wasn't at home. That, admittedly, was a small relief for Nik. Poe was a bit intense when he was angry. While Crisara's calmer demeanor could be surprisingly more intimidating, it was what Nik preferred.He waited in the entrance hall, rocking on the heels of his feet, when he spotted Len coming down the stairwell on the right with a datapad in his hand. "Len," Nik greeted."Hey," the eighteen-year-old smiled. "What's up?""Your mother wanted to see me. Is she, uh, here?""Yeah." Len nodded and gestured over his shoulder with his thumb. "She went into the back garden after breakfast. I think she went to meditate.""Are you, um…are you looking forward to becoming this galaxy's next greatest pilot?" Nik maintained a calm exterior but he felt the unease rumbling in his chest.The youngest Dameron seemed to sense as much, but didn't draw any attention to it. "Yeah. I am. But, as long as my dad's alive, I can live with being second best."Nik chuckled, but it was slightly forced. "Hah, yeah. Your dad is pretty amazing in any air- or spacecraft. I remember how he wove through traffic, going the wrong way, on Nar Shaddaa, to get your mom medical attention.""The day she found you and almost died?"Nik frowned. "Yeah.""Sorry," Len was quick to say. "I didn't mean it like that. Just, you know, both those things happened at basically the same time.""Sometimes I wonder if maybe it would've been better for everyone if she hadn't found me." The older male stared distantly at a spot on the marble floor; his gaze darkening with regret."Nah, man. You can't believe that. You were an innocent kid. And you know my mom by now." Len ducked into his dad's office and set the datapad down on the desk, but maintained this conversation with Nik at the same time. "You know she'd do it all over with the same results if it meant taking you away from that place.""I've let her down.""You're aware of how many times I've gotten myself in trouble over the last few years, right? I think I got you beat on the disappointment game."Nik shook his head; looking up and over at Len as he stepped back out into the entrance hall. "Your transgressions were that of a rebellious teenager, testing his limits. Mine are that of an adult, who knew he wasn't doing the right thing and still did it anyway, without realizing what the consequences of his actions would be until it was too late."Len furrowed his brow and folded his arms across his chest. "Well, shit, Nik, what did you do?""Right now," Nik sighed, "it's apparently a matter for your mom and I to continue discussing. Though, I'm sure you'll be in the know eventually."Without saying anything further, and more or less just leaving Len hanging, Nik continued through the first level of the house but turned right, down the corridor alongside the stairwell and out through the side entrance. Stepping back out into the warm sunlight, he turned left; sensing Crisara's presence in the back garden long before he saw her. Casually but with anxiety building in his chest, he stepped along the stone path that led to a stone patio where there was a small patio set. Beyond that the labyrinthine garden that was filled with many fragrant flowers. At the center of it all, Crisara was hovering a few feet above the ground, cross-legged with her hands upon her knees, and her eyes closed.He walked closer, inhaled a steadying breath and then cleared his throat to get her attention. "Master Dameron," he greeted her formerly.Her eyes slowly opened and, taking her time, she unfurled her legs and lowered herself back down to the ground. "It's been some time since I could properly meditate," she quietly admitted. "I suppose knowing Hux is gone has helped." She stood there, just watching him, and clasped her hands behind her back. "If he'd been caught or died sooner, I surmise I could've been able to properly meditate sooner." Her gaze was deliberate, as well as slightly piercing. Perhaps it was just the way the sun reflected in her blue eyes. Or, perhaps, it was her disappointment nonchalantly simmering below the surface. "Thank you for coming right away. Though, considering the hour, I'm assuming you haven't taken the time to talk about things with Leia.""No." Nik shook his head. "I wanted to wait until at least after this discussion."Crisara figured that would be the case. "It won't actually be a discussion. A discussion is a process of talking about something in order to reach a decision or to exchange ideas," she stated; moving forward to step around him. She gazed for a moment at a large, wilting flower — almost as tall as her — that was bending toward the path they were on. She touched her hand to one of the floppy petals and the entire crown seemed to straighten. "I told you there will be consequences for your actions, Nik, and that's what you're here to obtain."He could feel the thumping of his heart in his chest. Was she going to call for the Republic Security Forces to arrest him after all, for being an accomplice of sorts to Hux?"No," she replied. She turned and looked him directly in the eye. "I'm not going to do that."Nik swallowed back a lump in his throat; realizing that, in his distraction and worry, he'd let his guard down enough for her to easily glimpse his thoughts, which he was usually an expert at preventing. His mind was usually a steel trap. "Okay," he muttered, reticently."You went against your Jedi teachings; to be a protector, to be a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy. You betrayed the Jedi Order by associating with Hux and keeping that association a secret for seven months, Nik. Not seven days or seven weeks. Seven months. You didn't outright lie, because it's not like anyone specifically asked you if you knew where Hux was or if you were helping him. But a lie by omission is still a lie. It's a betrayal. I brought you up from nine years old to do the right thing, even if it was hard. I showed you the right way to go about things in this life, and how to use your abilities, and how to be a good man. And you do this." She stared up at him with such chagrin in her eyes. "I don't care why. It's unimportant now. I don't need excuses either. What's done is done. You can't un-ring a bell, as they say."Tipping his head down, Nik folded his hands in front of him. "So, what is my punishment to be, Master?""I have loved all my padawans as if they were my own children," she prefaced. "I have loved you as sons and daughters, but you are not my sons and daughters. You are my students, first and foremost, and I wonder where I went wrong; if it was my fault you wandered from the straight and narrow. Was I not present enough for you? Did I ignore you?"Nik shook his head. "No," he insisted, looking back up at her."Again, I don't need explanations or excuses. I just wonder if there was more I could've done.""You gave me a better life. But there comes a point where we all make our own choices, and I made the wrong ones. It's not your fault what any of us do after we move on into our adult lives as Knights."Crisara tilted her head somewhat to the side and looked back at him. "And therein lies the consequence." Off his look of confusion, she sighed heavily; regretting to say what she was about to say, but believing it was the right decision to make. For now. "Nik Yaren, you forsook your oath as a Jedi Knight, so a Jedi Knight you will be no more."He immediately took a step backward, as if she'd physically slapped him. "What?""You're stripped of your rank as Jedi Knight for a period of at least five years," she expounded. "After that time, so long as you continue on the correct path, you may be allowed to complete your trials again. If it is deemed you've completed them successfully, you may reclaim the rank that has been revoked. But that's up to you.""What…what am I if not a Jedi Knight? A padawan again?" The thought of being equal with those much younger and less experienced than him left a bad taste in his mouth. A bitter taste."No, not a padawan. Just a Force-user, still affiliated with the Jedi Order.""Affiliated but not a member," he deduced. Then with worry, he asked, "Are you going to tell everyone what I did? They'll all shun me. No one will want me back."Crisara sighed and reached for his hand, which he hesitantly gave her. "The details will stay between us: you, me and my family."Her family.He loved Leia, and surely Crisara knew enough of that by now. Did she not think he could become actual family like Zeda was about to? Or was he just not good enough for her family? Thinking all that, he was ever vigilant to make sure she didn't glimpse those thoughts. He could tell she was trying, but was coming up short. Though, she did seem get a sense of his resentment on the matter."No one will else will know," she assured."But they will know I did something terrible enough to be demoted.""Yes, they will. But it will not be any of their business and I will make it my business to make sure my husband and children keep it to themselves. If anyone else asks, all they need to know is 'it's confidential' or that it's a 'need to know' situation and they don't need to know.""Can't we just tell the others that I needed time away, to try a different path, like you did? You didn't lose your rank when you walked away. Do they need to know I've lost my rank?""Yes. You'll be a cautionary tale," she replied; remaining firm on her decision. "But, again, it won't need to be permanent." She then added, "I suppose I will need to tell Master Skywalker of this, too, and she will keep the secret if I ask her to."Nik staggered backward and sat down upon one of the patio chairs. "What do I do now? Who am I if I'm not a Jedi Knight?""I suppose it's something you need to figure out for yourself. But I could still use help here and there with the schools. It would be grunt work, though."He scoffed. "No. I won't be some janitor or groundskeeper. And clearly I shouldn't be teaching the younglings and padawans if I'm not worthy enough to be a Jedi Knight anymore." Nik hunched forward and stared at the ground before him. "I'll be a pariah. Tainted goods. I may be able to regain my rank in five years, but everyone will know me as the wastoid who did something terrible enough to lose it in the first place. There's no coming back from that kind of shame.""I don't think you give the others enough credit. In the past, during other Jedi trials on places like Lothal, padawans would go through nine steps: teamwork, isolation, fear, anger, betrayal, focus, instinct, forgiveness, and protection," she commented; moving to sit down beside him in another patio chair. She stared at him and watched the look of utter dejection washing over his face. "Forgiveness is something that I believe in and have taught others to believe in. I mean — Nik. My grandfather was Darth Vader. My cousin Kylo Ren. I forgave them for being genocidal puppets. You think you're somehow not worthy of the same forgiveness? The only reason they really even received their forgiveness from me in the first place is because they died, and died sacrificing themselves for someone else and the greater good, after returning to the light side of the Force. Had they lived it would've taken them a hell of a lot longer than you to earn that forgiveness, which you can receive in a fraction of the time. Your actions led to the death of my son, but you didn't kill him. Despite knowing you warned Hux, you still chose to fight alongside us and protect us to the best of your ability. So, I suppose, that counts in your favor.""But not enough to prevent my shame."Crisara shook her head. "No.""Where do I go?" he asked quietly. Casting his eyes upward, he shrugged. "I can't stay at either of the schools and I can't go to Master Skywalker's Jedi Temple. It wouldn't feel right. Where do I live?""You can stay where you are. I'm not about to force you to leave Kes' old apartment.""But I can't stay there for long. Other Knights — worthy Knights — will need a place to stay when not at the schools. Guests of your family will need a place to stay when room runs out here or at the villa.""Theed has hotels."Nik shook his head. "No. If I'm not a Knight anymore, then I need to reorganize my life, my path. I need to rediscover who I am and where I'm meant to be," he remarked; straightening his posture and looking off toward the garden surrounding them. "I need to find my place in the galaxy. And if that place leads me back here, and I can prove myself worthy again to be a Knight, then that would be wonderful. I suppose I should focus more on the person I want to be and less on the title I held. There are, after all, worthier titles."Crisara seemed to understand which he was alluding to. Friend, lover, husband, father."There most certainly are."With a sigh, Nik pushed against his knees and stood up. He felt her gaze following him, but didn't return it. He just kept staring at all the pretty flowers. "I can apologize until I'm blue in the face for my part in Temiri's death, even if it was indirect, but I also know it won't bring him back and I can never truly right that wrong no matter how hard I try. Like you said: you can't un-ring a bell. I am beyond sorry, though.""I know you are."Shifting his focus toward the back of the mansion, and still not on her, Nik began to step away. "Thank you for being the best maternal figure I could've asked for. I'm sorry I let you down." Before she could reply to any of that, he added, "I'll leave you to resume your meditation. I suppose I might be in need of some of it myself."Slowly, Crisara also stood up. "Will you be talking to Leia soon?"So you can tell your other kids? he thought to himself. He wasn't entirely sure when he could bring himself to do it. Maybe that night, maybe in a few days. He needed to process all of this—his shame, the punishment handed down — in his own time first. "I'll try," was all he offered as an answer, and then began to walk off.Crisara frowned and watched him go. She supposed she couldn't force him to tell Leia. If he wanted to tell her, he would. She knew in her heart that her daughter was loved by him, and that her daughter loved him in return. She just hoped he didn't string her daughter along and keep her in the dark for long. She hoped he didn't break her daughter's heart.Sitting back down, Crisara slumped her shoulders and glanced down at her wedding ring. The ordeal with Hux was over. The fallout regarding Nik had been dealt with and he had accepted his punishment with his head held high. She supposed she had to be proud of him for that. And she truly hoped he would be able to work his way back toward being a Knight. He had worked long and hard to achieve the rank and it was a shame he'd been so callous with the privilege. And, if he ended up not wanting to be a Jedi Knight again in the long run, then she hoped he found something that was just as noble and brought him fulfilment. But now she had other things for herself to focus upon.A hopefully brighter future awaited her and her family.Len would be leaving for New Academy the following week, to start his journey separate from the Jedi path he'd been on, the same as Shara, who would be starting her third year at university and possibly settling upon a definite major of study. Leia's future was also up in the air, and Crisara had enough sense to realize it still might be linked to whatever future Nik gravitated toward. She just hoped that future didn't drag Leia down. Though, she had seen small glimpses of the twins' future at the moment Leia entered this life. She knew there would be heartbreak and betrayal for Leia, who she was certain the vision had mostly pertained to. She wasn't sure, though, if that heartbreak and betrayal would be in regard to Leia learning about Nik's involvement with Hux and indirect part in Temiri's death, or if it pertained to something else that had yet to come to pass. For Leia's sake, she hoped this was it. She didn't want there to be more for her younger daughter to suffer, but she knew it was naïve to believe otherwise. Leia was only going to be twenty and she had a lifetimes of ups and downs still ahead of her, just as they all did.The brighter part of the future Crisara was definitely looking forward to, though, involved Caro.Her firstborn son was going to be getting married.A date hadn't been set yet, but she knew he and Zeda were eyeing for the following year so it gave them and the family enough time to prepare a wonderful wedding without the headache of rushing too quickly into it. But they also didn't want to wait too long and run the risk of something happening to either of them; repeating what happened to Temiri and Sessani, who never got to make it to the altar because death had pulled them apart.At least death has brought them back together in the Force, Crisara thought, just as a gentle breeze blew through her hair. Noticing the flowers and plants around her hadn't moved one bit, made her realize it hadn't been the wind."Tem?" she asked aloud.She didn't see him or hear him, but a faint tingle upon her right shoulder told her enough that he was there. With a warm, but rueful smile, Crisara crossed her left arm over her chest and rested her hand down upon her right shoulder; as trying to grab for his spectral hand. She took comfort in believing that was the case. She believed he was letting her know he was there, that he loved her, and that everything would work out just fine.  
One week later
Len's eyes were so large and his smile was so bright as he passed through the stark white corridor to one of the dormitories on New Academy's campus. He was carrying one, large duffel bag over his left shoulder while dragging a rolling suitcase behind him. Passing other students of varying species, though most seemed to be human, he looked over his shoulder at his dad, who was wearing the same crossbody satchel he'd used during the last war, and was dressed as unassumingly as possible as not to draw unwanted attention.This day was about his son and he wanted to keep it that way.This day was Move-In Day for the new and returning military students."It feels surreal," Len remarked, as his hazel eyes scanned the placards beside the doors they were passing. "I can't believe this is really it. I'm gonna be a pilot."Poe smiled so proudly as he glimpsed the way the corners of his baby boy's mouth continuously pulled upward in a smile. "Feels like just yesterday I was walking these same halls," he remarked. "I, uh, know you want to be a pilot like me, but also don't want to live in my shadow — no son does — so I want you to know I didn't talk to any of your instructors or administration to give you any preferential treatment. Everything you achieve here will be on your own and without my help."Poe couldn't help by chuckle under his breath; watching the way his son walked exactly like him. Their posture and gait was almost identical. It was like going back in time and watching his younger self. As the pair of them slowed and came to a particular door, Poe watched his son smirk. The placard stated his surname just below another prospective student's surname — someone who would be Len's roommate for at least his first year, as all first years were required to live on campus. After that, they were allowed to move off campus and find their own apartments if they wanted, or move into upperclassman housing."This is it," Len declared. Shoving a hand into one of his pants pockets, he withdrew a key card that he'd been given when they arrived, which would permit him entrance into his dorm room."I did pull one favor, though," Poe admitted.The younger Dameron immediately frowned. "What?"Poe gestured to the door. "This was my old dorm room where I spent my first year. I thought it'd be a nice touch. Hope it's not weird.""As long as it's not haunted by the girls you likely brought back here, then no. It's not weird," Len chuckled. "I think it's pretty wizard, dad. Thanks.""Good. I'm glad you think so." Gesturing to the door once more, Poe also nodded. "Well, head on in. Meet your roommate—" He narrowed his gaze at the placard; his eyesight not exactly as keen as it used to be. Just another thing starting to fall apart on him, so to speak, with each year. "Bliss?" Poe snickered. "No kriffing way."Len unlocked the door and led him and his father inside the dorm room. Inside, they were immediately greeted by a human male who looked to be the exact age as Len. He had floppy brown hair and his green eyes seemed to smile before his mouth did."Hi," the other teen greeted, while in the midst of shoving some clothes into an inset dresser on his side of the room. Somehow the bed was already in disarray. Luggage was scattered all over the floor and toiletries spread out upon the desk on his side. "You must be Dameron." Holding out his hand, he waited for Len to shake it. When Len let go of the rolling suitcase and accepted the handshake, the other boy continued to smile. "It's nice to finally meet you, roomie.""Len," he introduced himself simply. "This is, uh," he released his roommate's hand and gestured to his father, "my dad—""Poe Dameron. Yeah, I know."Len grimaced from slight embarrassment. "His reputation proceeds him, doesn't it?""I doubt that's it," Poe muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets and studying the other teenager, who nodded perceptively back at him."No, it's not that. He just knew my mom once upon a time."Len whipped his head around and raised an eyebrow at his father. "Uh, dad? Care to explain?"The other boy laughed. "Considering we would've been born the same year, I get your concern," he placated. "No, they didn't know each other like that. Though, I dunno — maybe when they were teenagers? It's not exactly something I need or want to know."Poe cleared his throat and looked at his youngest. "I told you about my brief dalliance with spice running when I was sixteen. His mother was the one who brought me into the fold, and who also helped us during the war."Len realized the name above his. Bliss. "Wait, your mother is Zorii Bliss?"The boy nodded and then pointed at himself. "Wynn Bliss."Poe smirked. He remembered the name of Wynn. It was the surname Zorii had introduced herself by, before he realized her mother was Zeva Bliss, the leader of the Spice Runners of Kijimi. "Where is your mother? She here?" He hadn't seen Zorii since after the celebration on Ajan Kloss, following the Battle of Exegol. They'd spoken once or twice after that, in the year that followed, but then life took them in other directions again."She dropped me off a little while ago, but couldn't stay. Business.""And, uh, what business is she in these days?"Wynn smirked. "Not spice running anymore, if that's what you're thinking. Nah." He shook his head. "She settled on Coruscant and opened up a droid repair shop with Babu Frik. They ended up expanding within the first five years. They have shops on multiple levels now. I mean, she's not the one doing the actual repairing. Babu and others in their employ do that. She's more…upper management.""How's she doing?" Poe wondered, as he watched Len move about to throw his belongings down on what would be his bed."Good. Runs herself a bit thin, I think. She's just trying to earn as much money so she can finally retire somewhere nicer and so she can leave me with a more noble inheritance someday when she croaks." Wynn moved to his bed, shoved aside a pile of clothes and sat down. "She wanted to stay longer, to wait around and say hi, but there was a supply chain issue with one of the more profitable workshops. You know, one on a higher level where the more affluent can be bothered to go. Coruscant may be kind of a shithole, but there are still nice parts that aren't completely corrupt. She couldn't risk losing an important client because some manufacturer was trying to undermine her profits or…something like that. I don't know. I don't usually pay attention when she gets talking about her work. Bores the hell out of me. Hence," he gestured around the room as a whole, "why I intend to be a badass pilot, hopefully someday soon."Len turned around and smirked. "Same."Poe glanced between both boys. He watched the way his son seemed to blush a bit as he looked at Wynn, and then how Wynn seemed to smile a certain kind of way. It made Poe roll his eyes. His son really was just like him when he was younger. Already eyeing up someone cute, and it just so happened to be a Bliss. "Well," he sighed. "I won't linger." Turning to face his son, the Governor of Naboo beckoned him forward into a hug. When Len reciprocated, Poe held on a little longer; not really wanting to let him go. "The two of you need to get settled and make sure this place is in tip top shape. You don't want to receive demerits for not keeping your dorm as spotless as possible. Be prepared for surprise inspections." He then looked at Wynn, "Tell your mom I said hello, next time you speak to her, and tell her not to be a stranger. She knows where she can find me, if she ever wants to chat or visit.""Will do, sir," Wynn saluted.Poe smiled and saluted back, and then turned his attention upon his son. "And you, I know you're gonna be busy with classes, instructions and even a little partying, but your mother and I will still require at least one holo a week to see how you're doing. And if you need anything, don't hesitate." Tears began to form in Poe's eyes, despite the stalwart appearance he'd been trying to maintain. "We're gonna miss you.""I'm not going away forever," Len snickered with a roll of his eyes, as he excepted another hug from his dad. "And I'll be coming home for Caro's wedding, whenever it ends up being.""I hope we can see each other more times before then.""Isn't that what holos are for?" Len teased. Off his father's withering look, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure we'll have breaks here and there to give us time off to be with our families. There are a lot of holidays celebrated throughout a lot of species, and most celebrate Life Day.""Okay, well…" Poe hesitated. Leaving his baby boy behind was harder than he realized it'd be. "I'm gonna stay at the apartment here in the city for a couple days, just in case you need me for anything while you're still getting settled. I don't want you to hesitate to contact me, okay?"Len nodded. "Yes, dad."Poe smiled, again with pride. "You're going to be the best pilot of your generation." Quickly he looked at Wynn. "No offense.""None taken." Wynn pointed at Len. "His mom's a Jedi Master and his dad is you. I'm certain he's gonna be the best pilot, too."The blush returned to Len's cheeks. "Whatever.""Alright." Poe stole just one more hug, and then let go. "Okay, now I'm leaving." He glanced between both teens and pointed shrewdly at each. "Behave, study hard, ace any and all exams, and don't fuck up."Len and Wynn both chuckled. "Yes, sir," they acceded together."Oh, shit — wait." Poe removed the crossbody satchel from over his head and handed it to his son. "This was mine during the war. I packed it with a few things I thought you may need or want. Figured it should be yours now."Accepting the satchel, Len smiled appreciatively. "Awesome. Thanks, dad."Instead of replying with words, Poe simply smiled back and left both boys with a solemn wave goodbye. As he exited the dorm room, and after the door slid shut behind him, he could barely make out the muffled voices of the pair inside; resuming conversation with each other as they got to know each other. Poe's shoulders immediately slumped and his dark eyes fell toward the floor. As his hands slipped back into his pockets, another parent passed by him, headed in the opposite direction."Hard to let them go, isn't it?" the other parent questioned, empathetically.Poe glanced briefly at them, out the corner of his eye, and nodded. "Every time."As the other parent disappeared around a corner, Poe let out a wistful sigh and he continued forward down the stark white corridor.  In the month that followed, Crisara had turned fifty-four and then the twins had turned twenty. Small parties amongst family were held, but all three didn't want any major attention drawn to their special days. Without Temiri, this year's milestones just didn't feel the same. Life was, however, beginning to finally return to normal, and it was quite welcomed.The latest issue to darken their doors, so to speak, was the truth about Nik being made known.He hadn't come to the shared birthday dinner for the twins at the Governor's Mansion, which was for immediate family and significant others. Len, because of being on Chandrila for school, couldn't be there, but he'd sent along a hologram for his sisters; wishing them well and telling them he loved them. There had been an obvious glumness, beyond Temiri not being there anymore, to Leia. Her parents could easily surmise it had to do with Nik not being there either.The following day, Crisara had pulled aside her youngest daughter when she found her crying in the parlor of the mansion. When she'd asked what was wrong, Leia had answered that Nik was going away. He hadn't said where he was going or how long he'd be gone, and he hadn't asked her to come with him either. She had worried she'd done something wrong to put him off her, but he had assured her that wasn't the case. Leia, however, was still upset. When Crisara asked if Nik had finally told her about what he'd done, Leia said he hadn't yet. Since he was clearly going away for some unforeseen amount of time, Crisara became disappointed in that as well.That evening, she had talked it over with Poe and they were both in agreement they would sit Caro and the twins down and reveal all the sordid details about Nik's loose association with Hux, and what had devolved because of it. Crisara, mostly, had really wanted him to be the one to tell Leia, but she couldn't stand watching her daughter pine and linger in the dark any longer.So Poe and Crisara revealed those details to their children, except for Len. They would wait until he was able to return home to tell him in person. They also told Caro and the twins that the matter stayed within the family, with the exception of Zeda, as she would be marrying into the family, and Caro had every right to share this with her, too, at his leisure.Shara remained quiet; calmly accepting this revelation. Caro was the one who shifted away from his usual unruffled demeanor and got visibly upset. As they had been closer in age, Caro had also been closer to Temiri. They'd had more time together as brothers than the others did. They had been the best of friends. So, to learn of Nik's betrayal was like a knife to his heart, especially since he had considered Nik to be a good friend and almost like a brother as well. Not really wanting to hear any more on the matter, the twenty-seven-year-old stood up and made an announcement that he wanted the rest of his family to abide by."When Zeda and I marry, he is not permitted to attend," Caro declared with resentment in his voice and a small sneer upon his lips. "If he shows up, I want him turned away. I don't want to see his face again. Ever."A small sob had escaped Leia's lips and she hunched forward with her face in her hands.Immediately, Caro buckled and sighed. "I'm sorry, Ley. I know you care deeply for him. But I don't want him anywhere near us.""What happened to forgiveness?" Shara questioned; playing mediator. "Nik isn't a terrible person. Surely he can have our forgiveness in time?""Is twenty years enough time?" Caro retorted."Caro," Crisara spoke up in a chastising tone. "Try not to hold on to such resentment. You don't want it to fester and turn into an anger you can't shake. At some point you will need to let it go. For your sake, I would hope you could find it in your heart to forgive him. Nik wasn't the one who killed your brother, after all.""No, he's just the one who tipped off Hux, which allowed Hux to kill Tem," Poe countered; flashing a pointed gaze at his wife that showed he sided with Caro on the matter.Leia stood up at that moment, wiping her tears away, and stormed silent out of the parlor, where they'd all been convened. All eyes followed her, but none got up to go after her. They knew she was the type to hide away and wallow alone without onlookers. As a child she'd shut herself in her room, or Shara's and her room when both used to share at the villa. As an adult, they weren't exactly sure where she got off to anymore, but it was always somewhere by herself. In due course, they knew she'd come back and be able to talk things over more plainly, after she'd been able to marinate in it and meditate on it on her own first."Ignoring what Nik did or didn't do," Shara spoke, as she stood up next and eyed both her father and her brother, "can you not take into account that Leia loves Nik and to not speak so callously about him, at least not in front of her? He made a terrible set of decisions, for whatever reason, but he has been on the periphery of our family the same as all the others that were brought to the Kenobi Academy and the Jedi Order. He has been our friend and he has always been a good person. Must we treat him like he's a common criminal? All three of you disappoint me right now."Without another word, Shara also took her leave; exiting the mansion in a huff. Perhaps to go after her twin, or perhaps to just return home to her apartment.Caro sat back in his chair; gripping his hands upon his legs, just above his knees, and exhaling a deep breath. "I won't apologize for how I feel on this matter," he remarked. He shifted his gaze upon his mother. "I think you made the right decision to strip Nik of his rank. And, yes, maybe I'm a bit too angry about this revelation. Maybe I can't step outside of it right now and I'm being reactionary, but this is how I feel. I can't trust Nik now, and possibly never again. He betrayed us. I don't care what his reasoning may have been for making the decisions he made. He made them. He went against us, and if he loves Leia as she loves him, then it's a funny way to show it, because it means he went against her, too. You don't betray the ones you love." It was Caro's turn to stand up. "I also think you should've gone a step further and informed the Republic Security Forces about Nik's involvement, but he's especially strong in the Force and we wouldn't want to give him cause to spiral down a darker path and turn on any of us." Shifting in the direction of the archway between the parlor and entrance hall, he added, "After all, isn't it better to keep your friends close and enemies closer?""Nik isn't our enemy, Caro," Crisara asserted."Isn't he?"Caro left then; leaving both parents alone with only the flickering flames from the fireplace to keep them company. Both their eyes drifted downward at their own hands while the silence grew heavy around them."Should I have told the RSF or Chancellor Vecta?"Poe frowned at his wife's question. "No," he admitted. "Caro made a good point; that it could've pushed Nik over the edge if he believes he has no friends — no safe place to turn to." Looking up at Crisara, Poe reached over and clasped her hand with his. "And while I don't consider Nik an enemy, we should keep an eye on him just the same going forward." Poe sighed heavily and leaned backward; letting his legs stretch out while his gaze drifted toward the fireplace. "That boy — he went through unimaginable trauma at a young age. A lot of terrible shit was done to him. Shit that no child should ever have done to them. That kind of trauma doesn't just disappear. No matter what better life they're given — that you gave him — that trauma will always be there, in the back of his mind. Has he ever been able to talk openly about it, to process it? I don't recall him ever bringing it up after we brought him back here to Naboo. In fifteen years, he's never really spoken a word about his life before here." Poe slowly shook his head as he thought about this. "It's gonna bubble to the surface at some point.""Hopefully Leia's not there when his pot boils over." Crisara understood his concerns and could sense that was the direction is thought process was heading toward."I've never hated him. I don't dislike him," Poe contended. "I've just been worried about the potentiality of darkness in someone like him. Len worried that we thought he'd turn out like Vader or Kylo Ren because of his reckless ways, but I just worried he'd get himself into the kind of trouble I got myself into at the same age. But it's Nik I worry about following in your relations' footsteps." Poe finally shifted his gaze back toward his wife, who was now the one staring at the fire instead. "I mean, think about it. Same age as Anakin when freed from a form of servitude, and none of us know what kind of trauma he experienced before then, but you told me what Nik went through, because you'd seen it in the minds of those thugs that did the abusing, and glimpsed enough of it in Nik's mind in the past. Influenced to help out the bad guy like Anakin was influenced by Palpatine or Ben was influenced by Snoke. I know I may be reaching here, but you can see what I'm talking about, right?""I won't deny it hasn't crossed my mind, but I've chosen to believe Nik is better than that.""I'm sure Obi-Wan thought the same thing about Anakin, and yet…"Crisara pulled her hand away from Poe and stood up. "Let's just put this matter to bed for the night. I'm tired."Poe furrowed his brow and looked upward at her. "I suppose there really isn't much to say on the matter anyway," he added with a shrug. "But let's promise each other to keep tabs on Nik for the time being. I don't mean, like, spying on him. Let's just—""—maintain a relationship with him," Crisara finished for him."Yeah." Poe nodded and stood up; joining his wife at her side. Facing her, he slowly placed his hands upon her hips and pulled her closer to him until they were touching their foreheads together. "We're not his parents. You were simply his Jedi Master, but you've been the closest thing he's had to a maternal figure since he was nine. And, because I'm your husband, I suppose that positioned me in a sort of parental role as well." Poe's hands slipped around to Crisara's back and held her against him. "If Caro doesn't want Nik at his wedding, that's Caro's choice, but I think it's better for all involved if we don't cut him out of our lives. Just to be safe."Crisara attempted to lean backward, but Poe was firm in his embrace. She simply sighed instead. "He's not a ticking bomb, Poe.""And maybe he is," the Governor contended; lifting his face to stare his wife in the eye. "I'd sleep easier knowing we covered our bases.""Let's cross that bridge when we get to it." As she finally slipped out of Poe's arms, Crisara began to step toward the archway between the parlor and entrance hall."We're potentially on the bridge now, Cris."She turned back to look upon her husband with a exasperated gaze. "We may or may not be on the bridge, but we sure has hell don't need to cross it right now.""That's just reckless; to not be prepared for anything.""Poe! Enough!" she snapped. The flames in the fireplace flickered as if a gust of wind had whipped around the room. "I'm tired. It's been an exhaustive evening, and I want to go to bed. So, you can either stand here and get combative or you can join me."Poe paused for a moment, and then slowly raised an eyebrow."No, not like that," Crisara continued; already understanding what he thought she meant. With a shake of her head, she left the parlor as her voice drifted behind her. "I'm going to sleep, and I'd like my husband there by my side."Lifting his hands, Poe placed them against his face and dragged them slowly downward. He breathed deeply; exhaling the aggravation that had building up inside of him and closed his eyes. Then, after another moment, he shook his head and stepped over toward a small panel beside the archway, which extinguished the flames in the fireplace, and then dimmed the ceiling light. As he followed after his wife at a more leisurely pace, he noted that she had turned to head up to the second floor by way of the set of stairs on the left while he continued forward to use the elevator just within the archway to the dining room.After stepping inside and designating where he wanted to go, he didn't have to wait long to reach the second floor. As he opened the elevator door, he could tell Crisara had already beaten him to their bedroom suite, because the door was open and he could hear her rustling around. Once he crossed the threshold and shut the door behind him, his gaze panned until he spotted his wife, standing next to her side of the bed and peeling off her clothes. She threw a brief glance at him and then sighed heavily once she was standing there in only her undergarments."I lied."Poe arched an eyebrow again. "About what?" he questioned, warily."I'm not too tired.""Oh?"Reaching behind her, Crisara undid her bra and tossed it aside; acutely aware of Poe's ardent gaze. Leaning down, she pushed down her underwear and let them cascade down to her ankles, before stepping completely out of them. Turning down her side of the bed, Crisara continued to feel his eyes on her as she climbed onto the mattress and then laid down on her side. The entire time, he'd just stood there. Looking expectantly upward at him, she reached her right hand out and patted his side of the bed. "Do I need to spell out my intentions?"Despite the more acerbic mood that had been hanging in the air just minutes ago, Poe smirked and his already dark eyes darkened even further. "Spelling it out wouldn't hurt," he playfully provoked. He greatly appreciated the fact that they never actually got mad enough at each other to go to bed angry. He was thankful Crisara wasn't the petty type. As he watched her roll her eyes at him, he smiled properly and then began to remove his shirt and then threw it…somewhere. He didn't pay attention to where it landed. He kept his eyes on her. "Well? Gonna spell it out?"A brief, short-lived chuckle escaped her lips. "I can very easily not be in the mood anymore," she warned."Noted," he replied; meaning, 'I won't tempt fate and ruin the moment.' Shoving his pants down off his hips, Poe pulled back his side of the duvet and sank down onto the bed beside his wife. Rolling onto his right side, he scooted closer toward her and reached his left arm around so he could give her backside an ample squeeze. "You always keep me guessing."Crisara shrugged. "I try." Leaning in, she kissed him gently upon the lips and then shoved him backward onto the bed before lithely climbing up on top of him.As a hearty laugh spilled out of him, he planted his hands firmly down upon her upper thighs and just stared upward at her; watching the way a few stray hairs fell around her face; having slipped out of the haphazard coiffure she'd been wearing. "Considering where we just were not ten minutes ago, I'm surprised by your change of mood. Not that we ever actually go to bed angry at each other, but this…" He began to drag his hands upwards toward her hips as she slowly arched her back and leaned down closer to him. "It's been a couple of months.""I know," she acknowledged. "Maybe this is exactly what we need right now. If anything, it'll help release a considerable amount of stress.""Well, something is gonna be released if you keep slowly moving like that against me." He tipped his bearded chin to his chest and glanced downward toward where their bodies hadn't officially joined together quite yet. Looking back up at her, he snickered, "Tease.""Did you want this to be over quickly?"Poe knitted his brow together. "Well, no.""Then shut up and let me take the lead."Leaning his head back against his pillow, he nodded and smiled lazily up at her. "For the rest of our lives."  
58 ABY — Eight months later
The villa was abuzz with an influx of activity. There were caterers making their way inside toward the kitchen, to prep food and desserts. A bartending droid had been delivered to a corner of the back garden, alongside a stock of varying liquors and equipment it would need to supply alcoholic drinks to guests. The back garden was already adorned with string lights to give it an ethereal quality at night, but more were being added for the specialness of the occasion. But, other than that, nothing else needed to be done to decorate, aside from a few small chairs and tables that had been set up around the back, tiled patio.It was in the training theater of the Kenobi Academy next door where more decorations had been set up. In the center of the large floor, rows of chairs had been set up in a circle, with a single gap large enough for people enter inside the circle. More string lights had been strung up along the ceiling; draped low and extending the entire length of the large, two-story room, which had been a ballroom when Crisara had married Alfic there.Now it was their son Caro who was getting married there, to Zeda, and it was for two reasons. Firstly, because it was where his parents were married, thus starting the path to Adera's and his existence a short time later. But, secondly, and more importantly, it was where Caro and Zeda had met and eventually began to fall in love.The training theater of the Kenobi Academy would only be the site of the ceremony, though. The reception would be held in the back garden next door, at the villa. As guests, which weren't too many, entered into the school, and then filed into the training theater, they casually began to claim seats in the round and were quietly murmuring amongst themselves while they waited for the ceremony to begin. Even the droid guests beeped, booped and chirped with each other; or actually spoke Galactic Standard, in C-3PO's case. The lights soon dimmed and up went the lighting from the string lights, which detracted from the palatial length and height of the former ballroom to create a more intimate setting. Once every last guest was seated, and with the mood set, music from a quartet playing string instruments began.Moments later, Len escorted Leia inside and both found seats beside one another along the inner circle of chairs. Following behind them was Poe, who was escorting Shara, and both found seats beside the other two. Next came Crisara, who walked arm in arm with Caro, which caused all guests to turn their heads with smiles as they focused on the groom and his mother. He took his place, standing in the center of the circle of chairs, while Crisara stood off to the side a hair, and then they all waited a few more moments.Finally, the double doors opened one final time, and in walked Zeda, on the arm of Beaumont Kin. As she was an orphan, about to officially join the Dameron family, she hadn't wanted Poe, as her future father-in-law, to be the one to escort her. Beaumont, however, had been her other main father figure since childhood and the only person who had made sense to her to lead her to her betrothed.And, stars above, did Zeda look transcendent.She looked like a beautiful spirit, gliding along the floor. She was dressed in a simple, floor-length white gown that didn't give much away of her natural figure, as the waist was barely cinched. It had long sleeves and the collar was pretty much level with her shoulders. Draped over her head, and hanging down all around her, to about where her knees were, she wore a sheer, gossamer veil that was head in place by a simple, metal headband that was made of pure silver and looked rather like the most unassuming crown ever. Because of how long the skirt of the dress was, it was impossible to tell what kind of shoes she wore. Then, in her hands, she held onto a small bouquet of bioluminescent pink orchids that were from Yavin IV. Despite bioluminescent flowers being more notable from Umbara than the jungle-covered moon, and even though Umbara was closer to Naboo, acquiring such flowers from Yavin IV was just easier because Umbara experienced no sunlight upon its surface. So, the flowers were at least a nod to her homeworld, while also being a more direct link to the family she was marrying into.As they entered the center of the circle of chairs, Beaumont turned and smiled proudly upon Zeda and then took a seat. When she turned toward Caro, who was dressed just as simply in a fresh pair of Jedi tunics, that were primarily cream in color, her demure smile gave way to something brighter and happier. They both began to beam at each other; so ecstatic that this day had finally arrived.Crisara stepped closer between her son and his intended with her hands clasped in front of her. She smiled just as happily upon them both, and then inhaled a small, but steadying breath."Family and friends, here we are to bear witness to the joining of two souls that the Force saw fit to bring together. But it was not the Force that decided they should spend their lives together. It was love, and it's been a long time coming. The first seeds of love were planted when they were but children, first learning the ways of the Force and the peace it could bring. And then, many years later, the friendship they built begot a different peace. A peace akin to the Force, but special and pure in its own right. It was the peace of finding and realizing another person can be the love of your life, your partner in all things. Your past, present and future all rolled up into one. The one person, above all others, who will always be there for you, fight for you, love you." Crisara unclasped her hands and took hold of each of Caro's and Zeda's wrists that were closest to her. This was the first wedding she'd ever officiated, and she had been so honored when they'd asked her to do it, so she wanted to make sure it was as special as ever for them. "And I love you both and I am so proud of the man and woman you've grown up to be. You have proven time and time again what noble hearts you have. You have proven how worthy and deserving those hearts are of such good tidings, and you have both chosen wisely when it came to falling in love. You are kind and patient with each other, you balance each other, and you wish nothing but the best for each other."Catching her son's brief gaze in her direction, she smiled even brighter. She pictured him at five years old, running to her when she'd returned to him on Yavin IV after the war. She could still feel his little arms around her neck as he practically threw himself at her. She thought of him as a newborn, and how small and precious he'd been, and it made her heart swell with a love of her own."Someone once told me that love is easy but it's relationships that are hard. And then someone else," she continued, stealing a quick look in Poe's direction, "told me that relationships — loving someone — shouldn't have to take work, because it's not a job. It's love. It's unconditional and it's pure. But, both can be true. Loving can be easy, and loving can be wholly frustrating. Love is easy when, even when you disagree, you don't tear each other apart. You share your thoughts and make decisions on what's best for each other as a couple, because you respect each other. You're not against each other — you're on the same side. Love is built on a foundation of trust. Love is seeking open and honest communication. It's understanding each other's perspectives, and being empathetic. Love is the greatest gift we can give each other. It gives us something or someone to fight for and, sometimes, something or someone to die for."She thought about what her grandmother Sera had told her, about how her grandfather Obi-Wan had died to save the lives his wife, Luke, Leia, Han and Chewbacca, and thereby help ensure the Rebels could go on to defeat the Empire. She thought about how Anakin had sacrificed himself to save his son — out of love. She even thought about Ben, and how he'd given his life to make sure Rey, who he'd been falling in love with, could go on living instead. She then thought about how she, in a heartbeat, would give her life for her loved ones, if that was what was necessary.Crisara sighed. "I won't go on and on. I know the two of you wanted a simple ceremony," she teased; continuing to smile between Caro and Zeda. After a moment, to let them all ruminate in what she'd said, she subtly cleared her throat. "Jedi Knight Caro Canda, my son, do you take Jedi Knight Zeda Urli to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor and fight for her until your dying day?"Caro's gaze was solely upon Zeda. He nodded. "I promise."Off Zeda's shy smile back at him, Crisara addressed her next. "Jedi Knight Zeda Urli, do you take my son, Jedi Knight Caro Canda, to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor and fight for him until your dying day?""I promise," Zeda answered, in that gentle, airy voice of hers.Shoving a hand into the pocket of the formal, decorative robe she wore over a simple dress, Crisara withdrew two rings and held them out toward the couple; palm-side up. One ring was a simple, silver band that Zeda had chosen for Caro, and the other was Sera's ring that Obi-Wan had made for her out of beskar from Mandalore and a polished piece of blue kyber crystal that came from Obi-Wan's third and final lightsaber, which Caro had been wielding for nearly twenty years. He'd asked his mother for the ring; which she had kept in her jewelry box since Sera had died. It made no sense for such a beautiful and sentimental ring to be hidden away, unworn. He wanted it belong to the woman he loved, and perhaps it could continue to be passed down through the generations. Crisara had been hesitant at first, but then relented. She imagined her grandmother would want to see it worn on another finger instead of gathering metaphorical dust. She just made Caro promise to make sure Zeda never lost it.As both Caro and Zeda took the rings they'd intended for each other, they then took turns sliding them onto each other's left ring finger.With another smile appearing on her face, Crisara took half a step back from the couple and held her hands out at her sides. "It is my great pleasure to declare the two of you officially wed. You are, now and forever, husband and wife." She then nodded poignantly at her son, with happy tears stinging at her eyes. "You may kiss your bride."Not needing to be asked twice, Caro reached down to lift the veil up over Zeda's face and toss it over her head. Reaching forward with both hands, he cupped her pale, white face and pulled her in for an endearing kiss. As she reciprocated, smiling against his lips, her own hands slipped to his waist and curled around the material of his tunic.All the while their family and friends stood up and cheered them on.When the newly-wedded couple finally came up for air, they dropped their hands down to their sides and turned to stand side by side. His left hand slipped into her right and, suddenly, those guests in attendance with lightsabers ignited their blades, which pointed upward; bathing the pair in an added, vibrant glow of varying colors.With smiles plastered upon their faces, Caro and Zeda began to exit the circle and make their way out of the training theater; momentarily leaving behind everyone else. The raised lightsabers were soon deactivated and the guests began to move about to leave as well, but only after giving Caro and Zeda enough time to abscond from the school and make their way next door before anyone else.As the guests began lumping together or pairing off to leave, Poe pulled Crisara over toward him and they waited until it was just the two of them left in the training theater."That was beautiful — everything you said," he complimented; eyeing her up with pride."It took some time to figure out exactly what I was going to say," she countered. Then with a contented sigh, she leaned her head down to his shoulder. "Our son is a married man."Poe still loved the fact that Caro was considered his son, and he the dad, even if it wasn't a biological relationship. He'd been raising the boy — now twenty-eight-year-old man — alongside Crisara for twenty-three years. It made him wildly happy. "You know what this means, right?""Hmm?""Next stop: grandparenthood."Slipping her hand down into his, Crisara chuckled. "I can't wait for that adventure."  As the afternoon bled into evening, the celebration had continued well past nightfall in the back garden of the villa, as well as around the property. Eventually the padawans and younglings were ushered back to the school next door by C-3PO and were all sent to bed. However, since it was still a celebratory night, it wasn't pressed upon that the children had to go right to sleep. They could stay up late, talking with each other or playing; so long as they did so in their rooms and weren't roaming around, at all hours, unattended.It hadn't been a raucous party by any means, but it was still a jovial one, and something the Dameron family had needed for a long while now. It had been the first thing to truly celebrate since before Temiri died. And, what made it perfectly special, was that Temiri's Force ghost appeared before the happy couple. It was just before they left to head into Theed, to spend their wedding night at Kes Dameron's old apartment, before leaving the following day for their honeymoon, which would be spent in in Canto Bight gor one week of fun and excitement, followed by another week of quiet bliss at the old Dameron homestead on Yavin IV; mirroring Poe's and Crisara's honeymoon. Temiri had smiled happily at the pair and spoken to them; which had been witnessed by every last Force user still there.
"I wish nothing but happiness upon you, and I love you both."
Caro had shed a few bittersweet tears and wished more than anything that he could hug his brother, but took comfort in at least seeing and hearing him. Zeda had appreciated it, too. They had thanked him for such kind words and watched as he faded from their sight. Then, with hearts that were suddenly both heavy and light at the same time, they turned around and bid their remaining guests adieu.Crisara and Poe had been seated upon the retaining wall that backed up to the hillside of the property, along the tiled patio of the back garden. She was curled into his side, with his arm draped around her back while her head rested upon her shoulder. Crisara had relayed to her husband what had happened and he took comfort in it."Our lives are back on track," he remarked."They certainly are," she agreed.Leia had been standing on the periphery with a drink in her hand, engaged in several different conversations, but watching her parents cuddled together, Caro and Zeda lovingly scampering off together, and then even her twin sister staring lovingly up at her boyfriend Zeith. She suddenly needed some fresh air, despite already being outside. Quietly slipping inside the house, Leia made her way through the grand foyer and then out the front door. She stepped beyond the front, tiled patio toward the retaining wall that looked down toward the winding pathway, which led to the shoreline of the lake and pier at the front of the villa's property, where two water speeders were docked. But she just stood there at the retaining wall and stared out at the dark water before her, as well as the appearance of a few fireflies dancing about near the gently lapping surface, when she felt a familiar presence approaching.She didn't need to turn and look to see who it was.She knew."Was it a beautiful wedding?""It was," she replied; bringing her wine glass up to her lips to knock back the rest of its contents. As she brought the glass back down, holding it level with the center of her chest, she finally looked over at curve in the winding path nearest the top of the tiled patio, and there stood Nik, staring back up at her.He wasn't dressed in tunics. He was wearing dark slacks and a glossy-looking dress shirt that hung loose over his narrow hips. His dark curls looked more tousled than usual and his eyes, tired. "You look beautiful.""Thank you.""I would've liked to have had one dance with you tonight."Leia sighed and turned more toward him. "Where have you been?" she asked; cutting to the chase. "It's been eight months. When I returned back to my grandpa's apartment, to tell you that I knew what you did, you were already gone. You left with only a simple 'sorry' on a small piece of paper." Her tone was brokenhearted, but also forgiving. "Why?"Nik cast his eyes downward and sighed. "I couldn't face you," he answered, sheepishly. "I didn't come to your birthday dinner because it would've been my first time back at the mansion since I was stripped of my rank, and I couldn't face your parents, no matter how I feel about you. It was still a raw time for me. And I was trying to distance myself from you. I thought it would be easier for you to move on, if I just left.""But it hasn't been easier for me."He nodded, and then looked back up at her with longing in his eyes. "It hasn't been easy on me, either. You were my person. Are. You are my person," he quickly corrected. "I knew I wouldn't be welcome here; that your family would hate me now because they all know the truth. But I couldn't stay away any longer. I had to see you again in person, even if it's only just tonight, for a few minutes, and then never again."Leia tossed the glass down the embankment without a care and began to saunter forward with her arms crossed over her chest and an indignant look upon her face. "And who are you to decided that? Who are you to decide what is best or easier for me, Nik?" she demanded. "I…" Leia dropped her arms down and gestured wide at her sides. "I still love you, you stupid nerfherder. I haven't stopped." Off his surprised smirk, she continued. "Sure, I was upset and hurt by what you did, but you didn't think I was capable of forgiving you? That I would just turn my back on you? Aunt Rey loved Ben Solo; seeing through how he presented himself as Kylo Ren. She could look beyond his misdeeds and his mistakes to the man underneath, and love him. She didn't get the chance to see where that love could've gone, but we still can."Nik raised his brow at her and held his hands out to her. "You still love me?" he asked; just to be sure he heard correctly. "You don't hate me?""I love you, Nik Yaren — Jedi Knight or not," she insisted; taking his hands in hers. "I love you. Do you still love me?"Looking down at her yearning gaze, he smiled and nodded. Slowly, he took his hands out of hers and encircled them around her waist to pull her closer. "Until my dying day."Without any hesitation, their lips met in a fervently hungry kiss. They had eight months of time to make up for after all. In a quick swiveling gesture, Nik snaked his arms more fully around to her back and hoisted her up; carefully pressing her against the stone wall lining the winding pathway, as they promptly began to make up for that lost time."Wait—" he mumbled; pulling his face back from hers."What?" she questioned, breathily."Would you…?""Would I what?""Do you want to get away?"Leia looked him in the eye and grinned curiously up at him. "Where would we go?"Nik evaded that question and instead asked, "So, is that a yes?"With just a smile, Leia nodded.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister,
And Lord help the sister that comes between me and my man."
— Rosemary Clooney Late the following morning, with the sun shining directly into her bedroom window, Shara woke due to a particular beam of light cascading over her closed, left eyelid. Her right side had been spared because of how her face was so comfortably smooshed against her pillow. Almost instantly, she groaned. It had nothing to do with the light, though. Sure, the light is what began to stir her awake, but it was waking that made her realize her head was throbbing. Groggily, she began to lift her head and then rolled in the opposite direction to avoid having her retinas burned when she opened her eyes. But she didn't fall back to sleep. The ache in her head and a sudden rumbling in her stomach prevented it. Sitting upright with another, longer groan, Shara grimaced and threw back the covers and was tempted to literally slide out of bed to the floor like a slithering snake. Her equilibrium felt considerably off; her entire world seemed to be spinning."Ugh, hangovers," she grumbled to herself.It wasn't her first foray into such territory. She was a university girl, as it were. Shara and her friends from school had a few late nights every so often, where they imbibed wines and other fruity liquors to let off some steam at the end of a particularly stressful week of classes or exams; either in the comfort of any of their dorms and apartments, or out in the world at a nightclub. Shara, the so-called introverted twin, became surprisingly extroverted once alcohol entered her system. And, according to Zeith, she got very flirty and very handsy. Because he was the one she got flirty and handsy with, he had no complaints; therefore, neither did she.Pausing in the middle of her room, she teetered to the right and grabbed onto the edge of her vanity for balance and smiled; thinking of her boyfriend. "Mmm, Zeith," she muttered; her voice cracking because of how dry her mouth and throat felt. She needed water. She needed to properly hydrate. Her thought process began to fire on all engines; thinking like a typical university student the day after having too much the drink the night before. "Take a shower to wake up and then drink from the water coming out of the shower head. Two birds, one stone."Three years ago, something like that may have grossed her out. But she was just being practical. If the water was harmless enough to clean herself with, it was harmless enough to consume.Shara grabbed clothes to change into — clean underthings, and a loose-fitting dress because it was easier and more comfortable to wear right now — and then slipped out of her bedroom to the bathroom next door. Her bedroom used to be both Leia's and hers, back before their father became Governor and they officially moved into the Governor's Mansion. When they returned to the villa to spend time there, the twins had gotten so used to having their own bedrooms by then that they asked to have separate bedrooms at the villa, too. Leia was the one who opted to take a new room; moving to the other side of the house into one of the new bedrooms that had been created when the right wing had to be rebuilt after the bombing. Before she stepped into the bathroom next to her bedroom, she wondered if Leia was awake yet, and then the thought wandered away.After showering, hydrating via shower head, and toweling off, Shara brushed her teeth, brushed through her damp hair so it didn't snarl, and got dressed. Feeling a little more alive, she looked for some pain meds to stave off the continuing throbbing in her head. She took two capsules and held them tightly in the palm of her hand all the way downstairs until she reached the kitchen and could pour herself a cup of water."It's alive!" Len teased; poking his head in the doorway as she knocked back the pills with a single gulp of water.Shara's still-tired, dark eyes drifted toward her younger brother. "It would appear that way.""You had a lot of fun last night, didn't you?" he inferred. Stepping further into the room, he rested his forearms upon the island prep table and leaned forward against it as he grinned at her. "You look like you got railed by an entire team of water hockey players."She raised an eyebrow at him. "Maybe I did."With a short laugh, Len stood back up straight with a solitary slap to the island's surface with one hand, as if added punctuation to his amusement. "I think, maybe, going away to school and matriculating with civilians has been a bad influence on us. You don't hear the others talking like this.""They might. We're just not around them as much anymore to notice," Shara replied with a shrug. "If we stayed here and continued on as Jedi, who knows…"Len shook his head. "I can't picture us as Jedi. We're exactly where we're supposed to be."Shara set the cup she'd drank out of aside and swept some of her damp hair off her shoulder when it began to stick to the side of her neck. "A very Jedi thing to say," she pointed out."Meh. Can take the boy out of the Jedi life, but you can't take the Jedi life out of the boy.""Or girl.""Or girl." Eyeing his sister, he continued to smile. "Did you get railed, though, last night? I mean, I was not as fortunate, having no date of my own here.""Kelda was here. Wasn't he your first kiss?"Len grimaced and then let out a dramatic sigh as he and Shara fell into step together and exited the kitchen. "The crash and subsequent hospital stay sort of took the fire out of what could've been," he remarked, clasping his hands behind him. "We stayed friends, though, so at least it's not awkward.""That's good.""Yeah.""What about your roomie? The Bliss boy.""Wynn," Len clarified."Right. Wynn. Have you won him over yet? When you came home for Life Day celebrations months ago, you mentioned you had been getting along really well with him. Just how well?""He's gorgeous, I'll give you that. Those green eyes of his — I could happily drown in them." Len sighed again as they stepped free of the dining room and then came to a stop in the grand foyer. "Alas, he only likes girls."Shara shrugged. "His loss." Then, a little mischievously, she asked, "Have you been the one to get railed by team of water hockey players? I mean, that was a very specific example to not have come from experience."Len tilted his head thoughtfully to the side. "I mean, not a team. Maybe, like, two members of a team." Then, with greater thought, he added. "Actually, make that two and a half.""A half? Do I want to know?" she asked with a chuckle."Please don't elaborate," came Poe's voice. As brother and sister turned toward the back of the grand foyer, they watched their father approaching from the back hallway; most likely having just come from the home office. Dressed down in comfortable slacks and a loose-sitting shirt that he'd had for years and had definitely seen better days, Poe's brown-eyed gaze flitted between the younger pair. "I really don't need to hear any details about the sex lives of my children.""Oh, so when you let slip details of your sex life with mom it's okay, but when we do it…" Len snickered.Poe simply pointed at his youngest. After a moment's hesitation, he finally replied with, "Yes, because I'm the dad and it's my job to mortify you, not the other way around."As Shara chuckled, her eyes drifted upstairs for a moment as a nagging feeling began to build within her. "Has Leia already gotten up for the day or is she still asleep?"Her father shrugged slightly. "You're the first two I've seen up and around so far. Even your mom's still asleep; but, then again, she's not exactly an early riser like I am. At least, not here, with our bed upstairs.""Ew," Len muttered."Not like that," Poe countered. "That mattress upstairs is pure paradise. This house could be bombed again and we wouldn't wake up.""Speaking of which, who gets the bed when you and mom kick it? I mean, most people would think it'd be gross to inherit a mattress, but it is a hell of a mattress. I've slept in it plenty of times when you and mom have been in Theed without me.""Well, it is gross in theory when you consider your grandmother Ada was probably conceived and then born on it. Your mom was born on it, too. And your great-grandma Sera died on it." Poe pointed at Shara. "I'm ninety percent certain you girls were conceived on it.""Ew," Shara mirrored her brother.Placing his hands on his hips, Len tipped his chin upward and flashed his father a curious gaze. "What about me?""Where were you conceived?" Poe asked, to be sure that's what his son was asking. This was a weird direction the conversation with his kids was going."Yeah.""Definitely not in that bed." With a small chuckle, he then added, "Most likely at the Palace or in the Falcon."Len nodded approvingly. "Rather fitting." He pointed to himself. "The pilot in the family possibly conceived in a ship? It's almost poetic.""You're not the only pilot in the family.""Well, then, the best pilot in the family." With a teasing grin, Len reached forward and slapped his dad on the upper arm. "So, back to the question: who gets the bed when you and mom die?""Why so morbid?" Shara wondered; her focus still occasionally drifting upstairs, or through to the family room.Len shrugged. "Just curious.""We'll be dead, so we won't care." Poe frowned. This conversation was getting weirder. From sex to death in a span of moments. "Well, your mom will likely still be lingering around to give her two peggats on the matter if she chooses to. But I say fight it out.""Caro's the oldest, it should go to him," Shara offered up, rather diplomatically; her eyes moving back to look at her brother."Fuck that!" Len exclaimed. "Does he get the entire villa, too, just because he happened to be born before us? I say we draw straws.""How about we cross that bridge when we get to it? I'd rather not think about the day we lose mom and dad."Poe smiled affectionately. A change in topic was definitely needed. "I appreciate that, because I don't want to think about that day, either. Hopefully it's still, like, another thirty to forty years away.""You'll be in your nineties in forty years," Len remarked, with a playful twinkle in his hazel eyes. "You think you'll get that far, old man?""I'd like to hope so." Poe then stepped closer to his son; eyeing him down with a gaze that could easily put anyone in their place. And Len was no exception. "You'll be my age in thirty to forty years. See how you like it when your kids call you 'old man' then." He poked his son in the chest with a finger and then smirked. "You'll be crying to me: 'Dad, I'm sorry for being a little shit. My kids are being little assholes like I was. What do I do?' And you know what I'll tell you?"Len sighed and rolled his eyes. "What?""Nothing, because apparently I'll be dead by then, according to you." Darting his gaze from his son to his daughter, Poe's smirk continued, but then he focused more on the fact that Shara kept glancing upstairs toward the breezeway as if expecting someone to appear. "You okay?"Shara knitted her brow together and folded her arms across her chest. "I don't think Leia's actually here," she muttered. "I don't feel her nearby. I don't feel her anywhere around here.""Maybe she got up early and went back to Theed," Len suggested. "Hasn't she been spending most of her time at the school there since Nik took off?"Poe shook his head. "No, after he left she came here and has been at the school next door. She's pretty much thrown herself into helping with the preteen padawans since Liachildaa chose to return home to Kashyyyk to be with her family.""Oh, well, maybe Leia decided she needed a change of scenery, too.""No." Shara turned away and began to move toward the front door. "No, the more I focus, the more I don't feel her here. On Naboo."With a sigh, Poe watched the concern beginning to play out on his eldest twin daughter's face. "Do you sense she's in danger, wherever she is? Force abilities aside, you have a twin thing, the same as your grandfather Luke and his twin sister; which, I suppose, is an offshoot of the Force thing…""No, I don't believe she's in danger. I don't feel anything negative like that. I just…she never just leaves without a goodbye.""It's not like she was on outs with any of us," Len commented, placing the palm of his left hand down upon the antique, wooden table in the center of the room; watching his sister open the door and step outside. "She's gonna come back from wherever she went." He cast a glance at his father. "Maybe she went to see Aunt Rey?"Poe shrugged. "It's a possibility." Stepping forward, he followed Shara out the door and into the awaiting sunlight that was bathing the tiled patio."I mean, the obvious option you have is messaging her and asking her where she went," Len went on to suggest."Yeah, I know," Shara agreed; folding her arms across her chest and staring toward the lake."We can check the footage from the security camera." Poe pointed up at the small, purposely elusive device above the door, as Len passed underneath it and out onto the tiled patio as well."Or the footage from outside the hangar." Looking right, toward the hangar his father had built into the hillside two decades ago, Len didn't see his sister's star skiff in the distance; in regard to where she usually kept it, just outside the hangar. "We can easily figure out when she left."With a steadying sigh, Shara shook her head. "No. I'm sure she's fine. She would hate it if we pestered her about where she was — as if she was a child and we were keeping tabs on her." Shara wasn't sure if she was trying to convince them or herself. "We'll be twenty-one in a few months. Neither of us needs permission to come and go whenever we want.""Maybe," Poe replied. "But it is good manners to not just disappear without a goodbye." Now he was starting to feel a little concerned, the more he let this subject matter roll around his head. It was rare that any of his children would just leave without saying anything to anyone unless it was a matter of urgency. Then again, maybe she told one of the droids, to pass along the message and said droid hadn't gotten around to delivering said message yet. That seemed unlikely, though. The droids in either household — official or personal — didn't really know the meaning of personal space most of the time.Shara, sensing her father's budding unease, offered him a reassuring smile. "She's fine, dad. I'm sure of it." Then, more to herself, "Physically, anyway."  "Where are we?"Nik turned and looked over his shoulder at Leia; a small smile gracing his lips. "I guess you can say it's home," he answered her question. He watched the way she walked a few paces behind him with her hands folded over her chest and still wearing the same dress from the night before. His gaze then returned forward, at the stately, two-story mansion before them. "Come on."As they approached the large set of stairs that led up to a loggia, Leia frowned. "Who lives here? I mean, apparently, aside from you.""We're in Lianna City. On Lianna," Nik stated the obvious to her, but was also alluding to something more. "Your mother told you and the others who my birth mother was, didn't she?""Gremma Santhe," Leia replied as she ascended the stairs."And the Santhe family lives where?"She rolled her eyes at the back of his head. "On Lianna."A chuckle escaped Nik's lips. "I knew you were more than just a pretty face." When he realized she was no longer following behind him, he stopped about three-fourths of the way up and turned around to see she'd stopped at about halfway. "I meant that congenially." He held his hand out to her and repeated, "Come on." He then added, "They'd like to meet you.""The Santhes? Nik." She grimaced; not budging right away. "They were arrested for harboring Hux.""And the charges were dropped.""Because they have constables and senators and who knows who else in their back pocket."Nik dropped his hand and his expression soured. "They're my family, Leia." He gestured flippantly at her. "You have a few bad eggs in yours, as well. Worse, if I may be so bold. So maybe hold off on your judgments of them until you've met them?"Leia sighed and cast her eyes downward. "Sorry. You're right. I shouldn't pass judgement, considering Darth Vader is my great-grandfather."A small smile reappeared on Nik's face and he walked a few steps downward to reach out and take her hand in his. "We can't choose the family we're born into.""But we can choose who to build onto it with.""Exactly. We all make mistakes. We all have skeletons in our closet. As long as we choose to learn from those mistakes and choose to do better going forward — that's the important thing." Giving her hand a squeeze, he gestured forward with a nod of his head, and only continued up the steps when she did. When they came to stand, side by side, upon the loggia, Nik waved his free hand at the large, double doors and they immediately slid open for them. "A fair warning, though," he prefaced, warily. "Don't be offended when my grandmother refers to any of our Force abilities as 'little parlor tricks'. She doesn't mean it to be rude. I just don't think she really understands the nuance of what we can do. Also," he leaned in closer and whispered, "she a lush. Most of the time she's got a glass of something in her hand and slurs her words a lot.""Granny's a drunk. Got it," Leia whispered back as her eyes fell upon the mix of painted portraits and framed holo-photos upon the walls of the mansion's grand entrance; clearly of Santhe family members. Whether they were of those dead, still alive or both, Leia was unsure.Nik gestured to the left and together they passed into a small parlor, only to continue on through a large archway into a large sitting room where five adults and two young girls were gathered, and suddenly turning to look upon the approaching pair with curious gazes. Leia looked first upon the graying, older man who appeared to be in his late sixties or early seventies, because he was the only one standing. He was holding onto the mantle above the fireplace and looked as if he'd been in the midst of reciting very melancholic prose. Leia could easily assume he was Nik's grandfather. The full-figured older woman, with the glassy-eyed stare denoting someone who was already three sheets to the wind, while also looking as if she was dressed for a cotillion, was obviously the grandmother. The other three adults, Leia wasn't sure on, but she could assume the two children, who were girls around six or seven years of age, had to belong to at least one of them.The older man stiffened his posture as he stood straighter. "Nik, my boy," he greeted; his voice somehow soft and gruff at the same time. "Good to see you've returned so quickly."Of the three other adults, who appeared to be in their mid to late thirties, two were women and one was a man. With further sussing out, Leia determined the woman with the dark, curly hair was probably the sister of the man, because they looked similar. The other woman was fair-haired with unremarkable, plain features and stood out as looking nothing like the others. Except for the young girls, who shared her hair color. So, Leia deduced that the blonde was the wife of the younger man, and the girls were their daughters.The curly-haired woman twisted at the waist and looked over the back of the sofa she was sitting on to take in the sight of Nik and Leia. She smiled right away and looked to be the only kindly face there. "You weren't lying, Nik," she remarked. "She is prettier in person, but you didn't say she was downright gorgeous." Jumping up to her feet, the curly-haired woman rounded the sofa and playfully pushed Nik aside so she could brace her hands upon Leia's upper arms and just stare at her. "Hi. I'm Tulene, the good daughter — despite what the others may think." Off the younger man's groan, Tulene leaned in and whispered. "They're still considerably sour that I gave up information about my sister fleeing with Armitage as if I'm the criminal here." She rolled her eyes. "Actually, I think they were more upset that the family accounts were briefly frozen.""Tulene. Enough," Nik's grandfather bit out."Truth hurts, old man," she remarked, brazenly; sinking down into a chair in the corner of the room, nearest to where Nik and Leia were standing.Nik, with a smirk, shifted closer to Leia and resumed holding her hand. Clearing his throat, he began to gesture around the room to make the formal introductions. "Leia," he started, pointing at Tulene first, "Tulene is my aunt, despite being only ten years older than me.""Because Gremmy got knocked up when she was sixteen."Nik sighed and continued, gesturing next to his grandparents. "My grandfather, Borris Santhe, and my grandmother, Olena.""Hello, dear. Welcome to our home," Olena greeted with a civil nod of her head; her slurring not as noticeable as Leia expected it would be. Clearly, she was a functioning alcoholic."It's good to meet you," Leia replied, politely; her own voice a tinge shy. She still wasn't sure on all of this.Borris looked more fully upon her and nodded respectfully. "Yes, welcome, Miss Dameron. It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."The younger man, who seemed to have been stewing with unbridled rage since the second Nik and Leia appeared, stood up abruptly and gestured resentfully in Leia's direction. "Her brother killed Gremma. Why are we pretending like we're actually happy to meet her?""Do that choke thing on him again," Tulene dared Nik. "That was hilarious.""Kriff off, Tulene."The blonde woman huffed and pulled the two girls toward her. "Daddy is saying naughty things right now. Why don't you run along upstairs and go play.""But we want to meet the witch," one of the girls whined."She's not a witch. She's a Jedi Knight, Losha," Tulene clarified. "Give respect where respect is due."The younger man scoffed. "As if you know the meaning of respect.""The wrong sibling died," she fired back at him."We can agree on that."Clearly, she meant him and he meant her.What a lovely family this was.Leia turned and looked upward at Nik and, silently with her eyes, expressed the question: you wanted me to meet these people?"Alright, both of you get out of here!" Borris bellowed. "You're grown adults. If you can't act like it in front of company, then maybe I need to reevaluate what you'll inherit when I die."Tulene and her yet unnamed brother immediately shut up. Without saying another word, Tulene stood up and smiled apologetically at Leia and then exited the sitting room the way Nik and Leia had come from. Meanwhile, the brother petulantly stormed off in another direction, with his young daughters quickly following alongside him."I apologize for their behavior," Borris asserted; flashing a dismal gaze at both Leia and Nik. "They're not usually like this.""They're often worse," Olena muttered under her breath, and it didn't go unheard as she brought a glass of something obviously alcoholic to her lips.The deep, aggravated sigh that escaped Borris' lips seemed to be shared by the blonde woman."Well, uh," Nik began to say, "That was my uncle, Anters. He and my mother were close, like you and your siblings are, so he's understandably bitter that she died.""Murdered!" Anters' voice carried from another room; clearly not out of earshot yet."Go!" Borris shouted back.The blonde stood up and nodded politely at Leia, but her gaze was cold and steely, as if the politeness was merely a façade and that she couldn't give a shit who Leia was. "I'm Besa, Anters' wife," she introduced herself. "The girls are our twins. Fraternal twins. Desta and Losha." Without another word after that, she silently excused herself and left the room; heading off to join her husband and daughters wherever they'd gone.Leia sighed and looked between Nik's grandparents, who were the only ones that remained in the room with her and Nik. "Well, I'm Leia Dameron." She gestured pointlessly to herself. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting to come here and meet you all. But, as you're clearly important to Nik and he's important to me, then it's also important to me."Borris' gaze softened and he seemed to appreciate her candor. "We're probably not what you're used to. Our family dynamic is—""Occasionally toxic," Olena interrupted. Her eyes quickly widened and she gazed sheepishly up at her grandson. "Sorry. Did I say that out loud?""—unique," Borris finished his sentence with a frustrated sigh. He turned to look upon his wife. "I think I've suddenly developed a headache. I wonder why." With a shake of his head, he gazed back at Nik. "Sorry, my boy. Hopefully things will calm down by dinner. In the meantime," he pointed between Nik and Leia, "why don't you get settled in upstairs. We'll ring later when dinner is ready."With an apologetic smile at Leia, Nik nodded in the direction they'd entered the sitting room from; the direction Tulene had gone in. Neither said a thing to each other. They simply and quietly took their leave. Before they had even made it out of earshot, they could both hear his grandparents beginning to argue, but in hushed tones instead of boisterously like their surviving children.Once they slipped into the entrance hall, Nik pulled Leia into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry. I really didn't think it'd go that badly.""Are they like that all the time?" Leia asked; her question slightly muffled with her face partially pressed to his chest."Anters and Tulene tolerate each other. Their hostility isn't typically in-your-face. It's usually more subtle and…creative. And, she may not look like it, but it's Besa you need to look out for. Any kindness she shows is a front.""Oh, I gathered that.""She's the epitome of two-faced." He frowned as he pulled Leia back from him and regarded her, apologetically. "She hates that I showed up because it means less of an inheritance for Anters and their girls.""Because you get Gremma's share, as her son?"Nik nodded. "Yep."Staring up at him, Leia took his hands in hers and squeezed them. "You're going to have to give me the details on how you came to be here, and how it went after those introductions were made. Like, did they believe you when you told them who you were? Were they happy?" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Or as happy as they seem to be capable of?"Removing one hand from hers, he slipped it around her back. "Let's head upstairs and settle in, and I can give you the specifics." Nik gestured in the direction of the center of the mansion, just beyond the entrance hall, toward a courtyard of sorts. It made sense, though. Being in the heart of the city, it offered the family private green space within instead of just surrounding the estate. There was a stairwell in the center of the courtyard, that led up to the second level, which revealed a four-sided gallery where the bedrooms were likely all located off of, and which looked down upon the courtyard. Nik squeezed Leia's hand back. "Come on."  
58 ABY — Months later, at the end of the year
As Shara came walking into the villa's family room, there was a bit of a skip to her step. In her hands she carried a small box and on her face a bigger smile. Her parents were seated on the sofa, holding hands and nursing lukewarm cups of caf in the hands that were furthest from each other. They'd been staring in the corner of the room, near the fireplace, where an artificial and miniaturized version of a wroshyr tree sat upon the round, antique wooden table that was normally in the center of the grand foyer. The moment Shara appeared, their attention shifted upon her."Did you find them?" Crisara asked.Shara nodded. "On the top shelf in the closet in the back hall, like you thought.""Good. I was hoping they hadn't been misplaced after the holiday last year. Helping to plan your brother's wedding on top of the rest of our responsibilities was no small feat."Setting the box down upon the short-legged table in front of the sofa, the twenty-one-year-old smirked and lifted up two crystalline orbs out their cushioned packaging. "It feels strange for Leia to not be here and hang her own Life Day orb up this year," she remarked, sadly.Poe frowned and lifted his cup nearer to his lips. "It's all our first Life Day without her. It's bound to be strange."As Crisara turned to watch her husband take a languorous sip, she tilted her head in his direction and tried to offer their daughter an empathetic smile. "She's been traveling for months. Spreading her wings and seeing the galaxy. The boys did it for a time, after they were knighted." She was referring to both Temiri and Caro, of course. "And she said she made friends and wanted to celebrate with them this year instead.""Still," Shara maintained, her shoulders slumping."I know. It's strange," Crisara agreed. "But it's her life. She needs figure out what she wants to do with it; to find her place in the greater galaxy, just as I once did.""Your place in the greater galaxy brought you here, it didn't send you all over creation."A sigh escaped the Jedi Master's lips. "Each path to self-discovery is rarely, if ever, the same."With a roll of her eyes, Shara stepped over toward the tree with the orbs still in her hands. "Remember when these glowed?""They were beautiful," Poe remarked. "I'm honestly surprised the glow lasted as long as it did. How long till they died out?" He looked at his wife. "Ten, eleven years?""About that. Though, maybe sooner. I remember the light inside them already starting to fade before we moved to the Governor's Mansion. But it was around that time, definitely. Either before or after." Crisara snuggled more against him and smiled fondly as they both watched Shara hook one of the orbs onto the tree. "I suppose we could always get new ones. Len did break his when he was four.""Len used to break a lot of things. Still does," the fifty-six-year-old Governor quipped. "At least these days he's breaking good things. Like records at New Academy."As if on cue, the youngest Dameron sauntered into family room from his mother's art studio. "Do you think great Uncle Han would be proud or rolling in his proverbial grave knowing that I made the Kessel Run in eleven parsecs?""Ignoring the fact that you were making the Kessel Run at all, which almost got you expelled," Crisara began to say. "Yes, I'd say he'd be very proud. He probably would've been prouder if you actually got expelled; ne'er-do-well at heart that he was." She smirked as she watched her not-so-baby baby boy approach the artificial wroshyr tree with a pair of pliers in one hand and a bauble in the other. "Did you fix it?"Len raised the ceramic decoration, which was white and painted with black stars upon it. "Its hook isn't going anywhere anytime soon." As he stood beside his sister and hung the ornament upon the tree, he threw a brief glance over his shoulder at his mother. "Speaking of breaking things, you need a new solder-blaster." He turned more fully and smirked sheepishly. "I don't seem to know my own strength."Crisara shrugged. "I've had that thing since before either of you were born. Since before Caro was born, actually. So, it more than outlived its use. The fact that it somehow survived the house being bombed is a testament to its manufacturer.""We need a new orb for the tree," Shara spoke, looking over at her parents as well. "For Zeda, now that she's officially family.""I'll message Caro and tell him to pick one up for her at the artisan's market before he leaves Theed. He can gift it to her tomorrow and she can add it to the tree herself." Looking at her husband's weathered, but still impossibly handsome profile, Crisara squeezed his hand and raised an eyebrow at him. "We should probably head upstairs and wrap the kids' presents while the house isn't too chaotic, or overrun with younglings and padawans covered with sticky fingers.""You just want to avoid putting up the directions," he teased.Crisara held her cup outward and gestured at Shara and Len. "What do you think we had kids for if not the free, menial labor?"Poe heartily laughed and nodded. "You know, if we make good time in wrapping said gifts, we can probably work in a quickie." Shara and Len immediately turned once more toward their parents and groaned, which only served to draw more laughter out of their father. "The louder you groan, the louder I'm gonna make your mother groan."Crisara released her hand from Poe's and slapped him across the chest with it. "Poe," she chastised, but still chuckled at his remark, regardless. The older she got, the less she cared if they embarrassed their children, so long as it was good-natured. She also appreciated the fire that still burned between them. After a moment, she looked more poignantly at him and, as he turned to look back, she leaned forward to set her cup of caf down on the table in front of them before wiggling her eyebrows at him. "Race ya?""You know damn well these knees won't let me race you." With a huff of breath, he mirrored her; leaning forward and placing his cup beside hers. "But it won't stop me from trying." The moment she stood up, with more ease than he ever could, he slowly followed suit and slapped her ass. Off Shara's and Len's ensuing groans, he taunted, "You think I'm joking about the groaning, but I'm not."As Crisara quickly shuffled out of the family room and into the grand foyer, chuckling lightly the entire way, Poe let out another laugh of his own at his kids' annoyance and then picked up his own pace. The sounds of their footfalls suddenly thundering up the stairs, giving way to the fact that they were definitely attempting to race each other, floated back into the family room. C-3PO appeared, looking startled and shuffled over toward the siblings."Is there a fire? Master Poe and Mistress Crisara sure were in a hurry up the stairwell," the golden protocol droid remarked.Shara and Len turned and looked at the droid first, and then directly at each other."To be fair," Shara spoke; addressing her brother while ignoring C-3PO's question and commentary. "We'd be lucky to have half the romance in our lives as they do, after so many years together.""I'd say you're on track to," Len replied. He placed his hands upon his narrow hips and took a few steps back to admire their progress on the tree's decorations. He turned, after a moment, and looked at his sister again. "Zeith's pretty fucking great. He looks at you like you invented sunlight."Softly, she smiled; her eyes on the tree, as well, but her mind focused elsewhere for the moment. "Yeah, I think he's pretty great, too." As a dreamy gaze spread across her face, Shara soon blinked it away. She gestured for a second, larger box on the floor beside the antique, wooden table. "Okay, hand me another ornament so we can get this tree done and then get to stringing the lights up around the house."  That evening, after the decorating had been completed, and after whatever specifics Poe and Crisara had gotten up to in their bedroom, Zeda and Meleri had led all the younglings over from the Kenobi Academy next door. Crisara had come downstairs by then, with a considerable glow to her that told her kids what was up.Poe following suit a few moments later, looking smug and sated was the icing on that cake.Speaking of icing, Crisara, along with Zeda and Meleri, brought the younglings into the dining room, where they would be consuming iced Life Day cookies and painting plastic baubles which would become their very own decorations to affix to the larger artificial wroshyr tree in the school's grand foyer, as part of the holiday festivities. Every year, since the beginning of the school, Crisara had been adamant about including the students. The majority, who didn't have families of their own to go home to, were included in the Dameron family's celebrations — to an extent.Beaumont Kin, who had already informed Poe and Crisara he had plans to finally retire at the end of the next two years when he reached the age of sixty-five, had always lived at the school. Initially, when there weren't as many students, he occupied one of the single dorm rooms. Then, after the first few years, Poe and Crisara had built him a small cottage on the property, so he had a place of his own while being close to oversee the children. They had always thought he might want to take on an apartment or home of his own in Theed, but he always felt uncomfortable about leaving the children alone, even if they had had droid supervision. At least, in the evenings, during the night and on his days off, he had someplace to retreat to for peace of mind. But, during Life Day celebrations, he changed things up. He'd actually been the one to initiate a new tradition for the younglings and padawans.Even the Dameron kids had partaken over the years. Beaumont had all the children set up sleeping mats on the floor of the large training theater, with the pillows and blankets from their beds in their dorm rooms. This even included the children from the Theed branch of the school, who were brought to the Lake Country for the holiday, as the training theater accommodated the numbers. The Life Day tree was brought into the center of the room and, in the evening, Beaumont told them age-appropriate stories about celebrated freedom and peace in the galaxy. The children would also sit around, on their mats, to sing songs that were reminders of their dedication, courage, and love for one another; as not just as Force users, but as citizens of Republic. Len, being Len, had once quipped about the songs being 'festive indoctrination' despite being a self-confessed patriot of the Republic.In the morning, each youngling, each padawan, and each Jedi Knight in residence woke up to open a gift from Master Dameron, which could range from new tunics or other clothing items, a toy or game, books or some fun tech. She was never a fan of the idea of the whole minimalist lifestyle of the Jedi of old, or even the upbringing she'd received with her father on Ossus. She obviously wasn't against personal attachments so why would she shit on the idea of personal items? Sentient beings since the dawn of time had always collected things that held meaning to them. There was absolutely no shame in it in her eyes. Those items could give comfort, or be as reminders of memories, both good and bad. Reminders of bad memories wasn't necessarily bad because it was a reminder of how one could do better or grow as a person or learn from mistakes. But mostly these items were happy reminders. After those gifts were open, the kitchen droids prepared a fantastic breakfast for them all, which was served banquet-style in the large dining room. After that, the younglings and padawans were able to spend the day in a sort of perpetual state of recess. Fresh food was set out during midday and then again in the evening, for the students to eat when they felt hungry. They were obligated to sit down for a formal meal together. That's what the breakfast was for.The following evening, on what was officially Life Day, the villa was in a state of organized chaos, but it was festive, so no one cared. The floor of the family room was strewn with discarded wrapping paper, broken ribbons and empty boxes. Individual piles of gifts were here, there and everywhere — on the floor, on the sofa or in any number of overstuffed chairs. There were forgotten cups of tea and caf from that morning, along with an empty platter on the center of the coffee table that now only contained a few crumbs as remnants to the breakfast pastries that had since been consumed by the family. The droids hadn't been dispatched to clean anything up because it had, years ago, been Poe's decree in the their household, that even droids deserved a day off to rest.The family had opened their gifts, and then shared in retelling happy memories from days gone by that only made them smile or laugh. The previous Life Day had been a somber occasion, because it had been their first without Tem, but then he had appeared to all of them (aside from Poe, who couldn't see him, of course), so it hadn't been too dreary. This year, they were all determined to remember the importance of the holiday, and to appreciate what they had in their lives. During the afternoon, Leia had contacted them with a holo message, wishing them a happy Life Day, and that she was sorry to not be there, but she was having a lovely time. Where she was, she'd glossed over. She didn't really talk about any specifics, but both Crisara and Shara could see she was withholding something. However, because it was the holiday, they set aside the desire to inquire. They just wished her well, expressed their love, and hoped she would return home soon, because they all missed her. She promised she would and then that was pretty much it.Crisara had gone next door briefly, to check on the younglings, padawans and Knights, as well as seeing if Beaumont was keeping sane. He'd confessed that since he'd never married and never had children of his own, all of his students were his kids — his family — so with them is where he was supposed to be, and he was happy to be there.That had warmed Crisara's heart; to know that he didn't feel he'd wasted his life. She knew he could've continued his career as a professor at the Lerct Historical Institute, back on his homeworld of Lerct, or pursued any other career after the war. He could've, at any point, gone on to fall in love and marry someone, to build a family of his own, but empowering young Force-users with knowledge had become his life's purpose. Crisara was eternally grateful of him for it. It was commendable.When dinnertime approached Shara's boyfriend Zeith arrived. While Caro and Len took it upon themselves to at least clean up the dishes in the family room, and while Shara and Zeda went about preparing the meal, Crisara and Poe were able to sit back and relax. Zeith had sat with them as well, and struck up pleasant conversation with them, which had always been easy to do. The twenty-six-year-old, who was now a Professor of History at the Royal House of Learning, was just a very easy-going guy. He had a handsome face, kind blue eyes, a gentle voice and a sharp mind capable of engaging anyone in quality conversation.Eventually, dinner was served, which was fantastic. Before anyone dove in, Poe thanked his daughter and daughter-in-law for preparing and cooking the meal for everyone, and remarked on how amazing it looked and smelled. Crisara led them all in a short but sweet toast to the year of life, love and peace behind and to another year of life, love and peace ahead of them. When they clinked their glasses together and then finally began to eat, it was done so in relative silence.Quite often throughout, Poe and Crisara kept stealing suspiciously knowing looks with one another, and then just smiling when the others asked what mischief they were up to. They assured them it was nothing; they were just happy with their lives at the moment, and that they were just having such a lovely time. Then, after the meal, they sat back and relaxed around the table with more glasses of wine and dessert, which was leftover cookies that had been haphazardly frosted by the younglings the day before. The icing was all over the place and the edible decorations adorning them had little or no pattern. Though, it was the valiant effort that mattered. And at least the cookies tasted as wonderful as the meal they'd just had.Finally, Poe cleared his throat and advised everyone to move things back to the family room, where it would be more comfortable to enjoy the rest of the evening. As Shara stood up, Zeith gently grabbed for her wrist and asked her to stay back for a moment. As the others continued on, Shara looked curiously up at her boyfriend."It was nice of your parents to include me in your Life Day celebration," Zeith commented, pulling her into a hug.Shara smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm glad your parents were willing to part with you for the evening."He shrugged. "We exchanged gifts last night and had a big breakfast this morning. With my sister Mavarra off serving in the Republic Navy, she doesn't often get home for Life Day, and my sister Ressa was already planning on spending this evening with her girlfriend and family, so it was easy to be with you." Stepping apart from Shara so that only one arm was curled around her back, he began to walk her out of the dining room and into the back hall. "It's always easy to be with you."The smile she wore grew brighter and she leaned against him she let him lead them toward the double doors at the back of the grand foyer that opened out into the back garden's patio. The string lights gave the entire area such an ethereal vibe. It was peaceful and pretty, and the scent of flowers from the garden seemed to intensify, as if because the breeze off the lake was dancing around them."So, did you get anything special from your family last night?" Shara inquired; moving to sit down upon one of the patio chairs."The best gift I got came from your parents, actually." Zeith just remained standing in front of her; shoving his hands into his pockets. He smirked and gave a little shrug of his shoulders. His eyes moved about the back garden; noting a few fireflies silently dipping and swaying here and there near the section of the garden where the vegetables were grown. "They gave it to me a few weeks ago."Shara raised an eyebrow up at him. "Was it a ship or an apartment? Those seem to be the gifts they like to give," she joked. "I got my apartment when I turned eighteen, Leia got her ship. Caro and Zeda were officially given my grandpa Kes' old apartment, as part of their wedding gift. Len got a ship when he turned nineteen, months ago, after successfully completing his first year at New Academy, and my parents decided to put the apartment in Hanna City in his name, too, so he lives there now instead of on campus…""No," Zeith chuckled; holding a hand up to silence her rambling. "It wasn't anything material."She immediately furrowed her brow. "Did they sing you a song?" she asked with a laugh. "I mean, my dad has a great singing voice. Mom? She's not that bad, but she should definitely stick to her day job, if you catch my drift.""Shara, will you just shut up for a moment?" He looked down at her with amusement, but also a face filled with love. With a sigh, and with little fanfare, he got down on one knee, which quickly told her enough. "They gave me their blessing." As he watched the way her breath hitched, he reached for her right hand with his left; dragging his thumb over her knuckles and then just continuing to smile at her. After a moment, he removed his right hand from his pocket and pulled out a small box and, with a simple flick upward, he opened it to reveal a ring inside. "I wish I would've done this sooner. I wish I'd beaten Caro to the punch so that the ring I gave you was the ring that belonged to your great-grandmother. But, I suppose the next best thing is my great-grandmother. My dad's paternal grandmother." Removing his left hand from her right, he held onto the box with his left hand and removed ring with his right, and then set the box down on the patio table beside them. "My great-grandfather bought this for her. And she wore it until her son, my grandfather, wanted to propose to my grandmother. She wore it until her son, my dad, proposed to my mom." Zeith brought his blue eyes up to settle upon Shara's brown ones. "After your parents gave their blessing, I went home to Keren and told my parents of my plans and my mom slipped this off her finger without hesitation. She said it was time to pass it on to the next Grader bride.""Oh my stars," Shara muttered; feeling her entire being practically vibrate with nerves and excitement for what was happening."I had to promise your parents you would finish your schooling first at the university before you could officially make an honest man out of me." Slowly, he began to frown. "I'm hearing myself and I don't think this preamble is coming out as smoothly as I planned it. I feel like I'm just saying a bunch of words and they're just blurring together." He released a flustered breath from his lips. "Am I sweating? I feel like I'm sweating.""Yes.""Oh. Well, that's embarrassing then.""No, idiot," Shara emphasized. "Yes."He began to understand what she meant. "Oh." Then, "Wait — I didn't even ask you—""Oh, right. Okay. Ask me."She practically bounced in her seat as she wiggled her hands at him to continue. The smile she was wearing now was damn near infectious, and both were thoroughly oblivious to the fact that her parents, her brothers and Zeda were all staring at them from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the family room that looked out toward the back garden. Shifting from one knee to the other, to maintain the clichéd position, but to also alleviate the ache beginning to build in the former knee, Zeith took her left hand in his left hand."Shara Dameron, you're the love of my life. You're the reason the entire universe exists. Nothing mattered as much until you were in it, the same as my life not having any meaning until you came into it. From the first day I saw you in that lecture hall, I couldn't take my eyes off you, and you never made me feel like some creep because of it." Off her chuckle, he smiled shyly at her and began to slowly slide the ring onto her finger. "I want to spend the rest of our lives making you happy. I want to build a life and a family with you." After a moment, once the ring was all the way on, he finally asked, "Will you have me as your husband?"If Shara's smile was the sun, he would've been instantly eviscerated. But, with how much he loved her, he would've happily gone to meet his maker. "Yes!" she exclaimed, and then launched herself at him.Zeith let out a surprised gasp as her arms went around his neck and they both fell backward onto the ground; with him lying upon his back and her on top of him like a weighted blanket. She kissed him all over the face but was quick to bring her lips to his for a proper kiss. After a few moments, the double doors at the back of the grand foyer opened out onto the tiled patio and her parents were the first to exit, followed by Caro and Zeda, and then Len; all of whom were raising wine glasses and congratulating them.Shara lifted her head to look at her family and then clambered up to her feet. As Zeith joined her at her side, she flashed the ring at them all. "We're engaged!" she announced, gleefully."No shit," Len quipped, only to be met with the back of his father's free hand against his chest. The youngest Dameron laughed, regardless."We're so happy for you," Crisara cooed, as she reached to bring her daughter into her arms.Poe stepped forward and encircled his arms around both his wife and daughter, while careful not to spill his drink against his wife's back. "Just swear you'll wait until you graduate from university, then we'll throw you whatever kind of wedding you want."Pulling back from her parents, Shara slipped over against Zeith's side instead, while her father reached out to shake Zeith's hand and preemptively welcome him to the family. Even Zeda joked about how exciting it would be to not be the only in-law anymore. Caro teased his sister about how he somehow always knew she'd be the first, between her and Leia, to get married, which then made Shara's face fall slightly."Leia," she practically whispered. She looked up at Zeith, and then between both of her parents. "I need to tell Leia."  While it was late evening in the Lake Country on Naboo, on Lianna, where Leia currently was, it was already the morning after Life Day. Wearing only a thin dressing robe, and her dark hair looking impossibly tousled, Leia slipped into the en-suite bathroom attached to the bedroom she had been occupying with Nik for months; when they weren't gallivanting across the galaxy together, of course."Guess what?" she announced as she moved to stand behind him at the sink. She slid her hands around to the flat of his stomach and placed a kiss between his shoulder blades."Something to do with your sister," he deduced. "I heard her voice.""Yeah. She just contacted me with some big news, and now I wish I had been home for it."Hunching forward, Nik spit into the sink and rinsed it all down the drain. Setting his toothbrush aside, he grabbed a cup and held it out under the faucet, to fill it with water. Pouring enough into his mouth, he swished it around and then spat into the sink again. After setting the cup down and turning off the water, he swiveled around in Leia's arms so that they were facing each other. Placing his hands upon her shoulders, he then lifted them to brush some of her hair away from her face. "It's not like I'm holding you hostage here," he teased. "You didn't have to spend the holiday with me and my family. I wouldn't have been bothered if you chose to be with your family instead. Honestly, I'm surprised you did stay, knowing what mine are like.""Well, I like Tulene, and the rest I've grown to tolerate. Even your creepy, twin cousins."Nik chuckled. "Creepy?"Leia comically widened her eyes. "Yeah. They just stare like this almost every waking moment," she replied; returning her gaze to normal. "It's unnatural."With a chuckle, he nodded his head and smiled. "Yeah, okay, they are pretty…off-putting," he agreed, more or less. "I think it's just 'cause they're home-schooled and only have each other. They don't get to socialize with any other kids their age because Anters is a dick who thinks other families, even if they move in the same social circles as my family, aren't worthy enough to have their kids be friends with his kids. He really is a skughead.""Total skughead."Smiling at the how such vulgarity leaving her lips somehow made her sexier to him, Nik shifted gears and focused back on the matter at hand. "So, your sister…""Right." Leia frowned. "She got engaged.""You don't seem too happy about it.""No, I'm definitely happy for her. And Zeith's great. They'll definitely be happy together. I'm happy for them both," she insisted as she stepped backward from Nik. "I just wish I'd been there is all.""So go home. Go be with your family and celebrate the good news with them.""I don't want to go if you won't go, and I know you're not ready to see any of them again just yet.""Leia." He stepped forward and cupped the left side of her face with his hand. "Why are you avoiding your family?" He was looking pointedly at her; glimpsing enough of her feelings to piece together what she was thinking without pushing his way into her mind. "Do you think they'd shun you for being with me this entire time?"She avoided a direct answer and instead told him, "You're my family, too.""And you're mine." Nik leaned down and kissed her lips. "But you should really go home. At least see Shara. You said she was the only one who seemed supportive even after she learned about what I did."Leia shrugged. "I'll think about it." She kissed him back, and then dropped her hands down upon his narrow waist. As she began to drag her thumbs along his hip bones, she felt him closing more of what little gap there was between them. "She still has about five months until she finishes university. She said they won't be getting married until after then, but she also doesn't want a long engagement," she continued to say as she leaned forward to kiss his bare chest. "She asked me to be her Maid of Honor, but there's nothing to do right now. There's nothing to help plan. And they already got the Life Day gifts I ordered for them all, and mine are waiting for me at home. It's not like I would've been gifted anything perishable, so I can wait to go home and open those gifts. Or I can ask Len to bring them back to Chandrila with him. It'd be easier to get there from here than going back to Naboo. Just a simple jump onto the Perlemian Trade Route and, bam — Chandrila.""I think you're just addicted to me, like some spice-head. You're positively unable to keep your hands off me," he teased, looking down between them. "Look at you, you wanton seductress." He grinned saucily. "If your hands go any lower, I won't be held responsible for what comes next."Leia snickered and moved away from him, but almost as dare; to see if he'd follow. She walked backward toward the spacious shower stall and began to undo the tie around her waist that had kept her dressing robe closed. When the material dropped to the floor and pooled around her feet, she was now just standing there naked before him. Curling a finger at him, beckoning him into the shower with her, she slipped inside and turned the water on, which was already set to a temperature she preferred.Shoving his pajama pants down off his hips, he stepped out of them with ease and joined her in the shower without hesitation. "I warned you," he smiled; his gaze, heavy-lidded. Once they were both getting doused by the roasting warmth of the water overhead, Nik moved to pin her against the cool tiled wall and hoisted her up. There was something about her that made him want to indulge his darkest desires. And, right now, there was no one there to stop either of them. "You're mine."As she wrapped her legs around his waist and dug her fingernails into his shoulder blades, Leia took pride in the way he hissed in both pleasure and pain, and how he looked her directly in the eye. "You keep staring me down like you have a bit of a demon in you," she muttered into the hungry kiss he was impatient to plant upon her. "I like it."His lips curled into a devious smile and, with little warning, but welcomed by her nonetheless, he took her then and there. "Mine," he whispered."No," she grunted; holding tightly onto him so she didn't slip. "Mine."  
59 ABY — Six months later
Just like the year before, a lot was going on at the villa in preparation for yet another wedding. The only difference was that only the ceremony was taking place here, and with a more intimate guest list, while the reception that was to follow would be taking place in the ballroom of the Governor's Mansion, with a larger number of guests for that.Shara had spearheaded everything. She delegated duties left and right with the skill of a wartime general. Crisara was certain her Aunt Leia would be very proud. From the flowers in her bouquet to the specific cutlery to be used during the dinner at the start of the reception, Shara had left no stone unturned. She hadn't turned into a bridezilla or anything like that, but it got to the point that Poe rarely worked from home anymore, just to avoid the chaos in the weeks leading up to the big day. He had joked that he was safer that way.The day had been set, the caterers had been vigorously screened, because of where they'd be providing a service, and a live band was hired to perform at the reception while a smaller string quartet would be playing during the ceremony. There would also be a few finger foods and cocktails before the ceremony, to keep the guests from getting too hungry until the meal later on that evening. Decorations were arranged around the mansion and done into a theme. Walking through the entrance hall of the Governor's Mansion felt like walking along a garden path. From floor to ceiling, there was greenery and flowers. There were lanterns strung up along the ceiling with candles inside to provide a more intimate glow. The chandeliers were dripping with vines and flowers and extra gemstones on loan from Crisara's art studio back at the villa.The fact that Shara had pulled this off while simultaneously finishing up her final semester of school at Theed University was astonishing. Her work load at been at its heaviest and she had so many final exams and projects to prepare for on top of planning her wedding. Zeith had insisted there was no rush. They could push the wedding back toward the end of the year or into the following year, but Shara would hear none of it. She had a goal and she was going to reach it.And she did.She was a force to be reckoned with — every bit her mother.Everything seemed to be going smoothly, too, except for the small issue of Leia having only coming home twice since Life Day. Both times had involved getting fitted for the dress Shara wanted her to wear. Shara had wanted her twin sister home more frequently. She had wanted to share this time in her life with the person she'd shared a womb with — her best friend. Communication by way of comlinks or holos only went so far. It couldn't compare to being there, in-person. But, at least, Leia was en route to the wedding.While Shara was getting ready in her mother's room, the door opened to reveal her twin sister; wearing a dress that was made of black chiffon on top, with golden, floral appliqués stitched on, and a black satin, A-line skirt that was draped in the same black chiffon material, but without the appliqués. Her hair was down but pulled back, and she was without any jewelry.Shara, seated at her mother's vanity with a robe to cover her dress, jumped up and scurried over to her twin. "You had me so worried you wouldn't make it in time!" the bride-to-be-exclaimed. "I very nearly bit all my nails off."As both young women embraced, Leia leaned back first and scanned the rest of the bedroom; noting her mother standing beside the vanity, Zeda seated in a chair and wearing a dress identical to Leia's, just without any appliqués, and two other young women with blonde hair, dressed the same as Zeda, who were seated upon the edge of the bed."Hello, sweetie," Crisara greeted; eyeing her daughter in a way that looked as if she was peering into her soul.It unnerved Leia as she approached and readily accepted the hug her mother gave. It wasn't the type of big hug that made her feel cocooned and safe like her father was capable of giving, but it was a hug that made her feel irrevocably loved, and it was something she'd been missing for a while. "Hi, mama," she muttered; careful not to smudge her makeup upon her mother's sage green dress. Turning to look back her sister, she smiled. "Sorry I was late. The Skywalker had an issue when we were leaving.""We?" Zeda questioned with a smirk; leaning forward in the chair she was sitting on."Yeah, uh, I assumed it was okay to bring a plus one to my sister's wedding." Leia shifted her gaze from her sister-in-law to her sister. And then to her mother, who had resumed looking into her soul, or what felt like that's what she was doing."Of course it's okay," Shara assured as she huffed it over to the vanity table and sat back down. Turning to glance back at her twin, she waved a hand at her. "You need earrings. And something in your hair.""I brought some studs.""No. Studs won't do. You need something with 'wow factor.' Something with pizzazz." She leaned forward and helped herself to digging through her mother's jewelry box. "Do you have anything gold and dangly, mom?"Crisara chuckled. "If I do, it's nothing I ever bought for myself and is something I inherited from either my grandmother or my aunt. They were the fashionable ones in my life.""Ah-ha!" Shara held up a pair of earrings made of long, dangly crystals that were affixed to a golden base. "This'll definitely do." She handed them to her sister and smiled warmly up at her. "They'll look fantastic on you."Leia snickered as she accepted the jewelry. "Which is just another way of saying they'd look fantastic on you because we have the same face.""Which is how I know it'll look fantastic." As their mother resumed brushing through her hair, Shara held her face forward toward the mirror but shifted her gaze to the left and gestured over toward the bed with her hand. "Leia, that's Zeith's sisters, Mavarra and Ressa."Leia looked over at the blondes on the bed and smiled politely. "It's nice to meet you both.""Same here," the one who looked older replied, and then pointed at her chest. "I'm Mavarra." She then pointed as her sister. "This is Ressa.""Hi," Ressa greeted shyly.Shifting her gaze back toward her twin, Leia smiled. Because they were identical, it was like getting a preview of what she'd look like if and when she ever got married. She hoped she looked half as amazing as Shara did. "You're going to give Zeith a heart attack from how beautiful you look.""I should hope not. I don't want to live without him this soon."I know the feeling, Leia thought to herself, and then caught her mother's eye over Shara's head. Clearing her throat, she looked away and began to put the earrings in that Shara had given her. "So, uh, am I carrying a bouquet or anything like that? Who's the Best Man?""Bouquets will be handed to us downstairs before we head out into the back garden. The Best Man is Zeith's best friend since childhood, Vancin. He's hard to miss.""Why? Is he tall like Chewie? Is he obese like a Hutt?""He's gorgeous," Mavarra offered up. "He's literally a model. Got a contract with a fashion house when he was nineteen, and has been working primarily in the Core since. Rarely schleps it back here to the Mid-Rim. You'll love him. Everyone does.""Who's the other groomsmen? There's me, and you have three bridesmaids. If this Vancin is the Best Man, then obviously there's Caro and Len…who's the third groomsmen?""Our cousin, Rio." Ressa grimaced and looked down at her hands. "I'm paired with him, and it's going to be such a grand time," she added, sarcastically. "He's a cheesemaker in Keren. All he talks about is cheese. So, when you get introduced, don't engage him in any conversation regarding what he does for a living or what his hobbies are. Nothing like that.""I could just use a Jedi mind trick on him to shut him up."Ressa's eyes, which were a sort of cerulean blue, widened happily. "Oh, for real? Could you please?"All the girls began to chuckle. It was nice to have camaraderie like this, especially at such a joyful time. It was another thing Leia had missed since being away. Even Crisara was enjoying this. It brought back so many memories for her, of both her weddings. Though, the grandeur of this one reminded her more of getting ready for her wedding to Alfic, when she sat at the same vanity table while her Aunt Leia did her hair for her, and then how she'd asked for Han to come up so she could ask him to walk her down the aisle."Mom? Are you okay?" Shara asked, catching her mother's eye in the mirror.Crisara smiled and nodded. "Feeling nostalgic, is all. A lot of good memories have happened in this room over the decades.""Dad did say Leia and I were likely conceived in this room, so that stands to reason."The Grader sisters, as well as Zeda, giggled. Leia merely grimaced.Crisara, however, simply rolled her eyes. "Of course he said that." She shook her head and set the brush down, and then she began to pull some strands of her daughter's hair back to weave it into a thin braid. "He always says more than he probably should.""He does have the gift for gab," Leia remarked."Always has, always will." When she tied off the bottom of the small braid, she reached into a small bowl and picked up tiny, little white flowers and woven them into the braid as well. "Zeda," she called over her shoulder to her daughter-in-law. "Can you grab the diadem? It's in my bathroom. I left it in their yesterday when Shara and I were going over how she wanted to wear her hair today.""Sure thing."As the Umbaran woman got lithely to her feet, Leia raised an eyebrow and suddenly looked exactly like her father by doing it. "You're wearing a crown?" she asked of her twin sister."It's a diadem. And I didn't want to wear a veil, so I needed something to adorn my head." Shara looked upward at Leia. "And, I'll have you know, it's also on purpose." She gestured to her head. "I'm trying to honor the women in our family who've gone before us. The braid is for Sera, the crown is for Padmé, who was Queen of Naboo. The style of dress with the chiffon, is a nod to Alderaanian attire I looked up while doing some research, which is for Leia — our great-aunt, not you.""Well, obviously." Then, Leia asked, "What about our grandmothers, Ada and Shara?"The bride-to-be gestured to their mother. "Both mom and dad are walking me down the aisle. They're the only children of Ada and Shara, so…""You didn't think that far into incorporating them, did you?" Leia deduced with a teasing laugh."Shut up." A smile appeared on Shara's face; unable to pretend to be put off. Looking at her reflection in the mirror as Zeda approached with a leafy, golden diadem in her hands, her smile got brighter. "Okay, not it's finally setting in: I'm getting married."  The ceremony had been beautiful. There really was no other way to describe it. Yes, Poe and Crisara had walked their eldest twin daughter down the aisle together, only after the rest of the wedding party had gone first and waited on either side of the officiant and a happily nervous Zeith. The entire time, Shara felt like she was walking on air. Her eyes were focused on Zeith and only Zeith, and his eyes were only on her. Everyone else was a blurry mess to them. They held hands while the officiant spoke, and while they exchanged vows they had written themselves.All the while, Leia stood directly behind her twin, holding two sets of bouquets — hers and Shara's. But her eyes kept drifting away from the bride and groom, and toward the opposite end of the back garden, in the direction of where there was a pathway that led away from the house toward the hangar and landing zone, a good fifty yards away. Her eyes focused upon the lone figure of Nik, leaning against a tree and with his eyes only on Leia.They smiled at each other; with him mouthing the words 'I love you' while all she could do at the moment was think them back at him. He seemed to get it. She couldn't draw attention to herself right then and there. Plus, he was purposely hanging back during the ceremony as not to disturb it by drawing attention to himself either. Considering how her family had gotten a little heated with each other after finding out what he'd done, now wasn't the best time to step into a metaphorical limelight.The only reason Leia had realized the ceremony had concluded was because she noticed Zeith dipping Shara backward to kiss her and then the officiant boisterously declaring the pair husband and wife.That was a surreal moment for Leia.It was one thing for Caro to be a married man now, because he was seven years older, so it made sense. But Shara was her twin sister. They were both only a few months away from turning twenty-two. She thought they were too young to be getting married, but Shara had insisted there was no point in drawing anything out. If you loved someone and wanted to spend your life with them, and believed in the institution of marriage, then why wait? That was her line of thinking, anyway. But it just didn't seem real that Shara was someone's wife. She was supposed to be just someone's daughter or someone's sister. She was part of someone else's family now, and would build a family of her own before long.So weird.After the bride reclaimed her bouquet from her sister, the newly-minted Zeith and Shara Grader retreated down the aisle. Leia and Vancin, who she didn't think was that gorgeous, followed next. The entire time, though, Leia's eyes darted around to see where Nik was and didn't see him anywhere. Once the rest of the wedding party had made their way into the house, both sets of parents joined, and then any other immediate family and close friends, which had included Rey and Finn.There wasn't going to be any hanging around at the villa now that the ceremony was over. They all had to make their way to Theed for the reception at the Governor's Mansion. Poe had offered to take as many of the guests present that wanted to go with him and Crisara, so that there was little delay in everyone getting there around the same time. Zeith's parents opted to go with them, as did Caro and Zeda. Len, Rey and Finn, too. Zeith and Shara would be hanging back, simply because they were meant to arrive last, so they could be announced. When her parents looked at her, Leia declined; insisting she wanted to travel to Theed on her own.Crisara knew why.At one point during the ceremony, she'd noticed Leia's attention was elsewhere, and followed it toward a cleverly concealed Nik near a tree. She hadn't seen him in almost two years, and was glad to see he looked well. In fact, he looked to be rather smitten as he staring back at Leia.Crisara had smirked when she turned back forward.So, it's not where my daughter has been, but who she's been with for the last year.Leia leaving on her own — Crisara knew it meant that Nik had probably slinked away to board the Skywalker and await her younger twin daughter.A short while later, the guests from the ceremony were soon joined by the guests were only invited to the reception. Everyone had to file through the front doors, and were screened for weapons. Blasters and the sort were temporarily confiscated and could be reclaimed when the owners of said weapons left, but lightsabers were allowed inside the premises, because the Dameron family was made up largely of Jedi and Force users. Hell, even though Shara had been removed from the Jedi training for four years now, to this day she still carried her lightsaber on her. Even now, on her wedding day, she had it strapped to the inside of her thigh, underneath her dress, just in case. She had taken to heart what her mother had said about keeping it near and keeping up with her some of her training, even if she followed another path. It was just smart to do. Better to be safe than sorry, as it were.Again, Leia's arrival was nearly last minute. There was an issue with the landing gear that needed to be looked at, so they had set down in the Royal Hangar instead of the Theed Spaceport, because she knew the mechanics there would be happy to fix what was wrong for her while she was at her sister's wedding reception. And, as the daughter of Naboo's Governor, it wasn't as if they would tell her no. Hopping a ride in an air taxi, Leia and Nik made their way to the Mansion, and walked in through the front door, hand in hand."Wow," Nik had muttered, staring at the very thorough decorations. "This reminds me of that forest on Andara."Leia snickered mischievously. "I could swear your attention was elsewhere the entire time, and not on what the forest looked like."Looking down at her as they passed through the artificial greenery and flora, and toward the ballroom, he squeezed her hand. "I'm capable of multitasking, you know."The moment they reached the ballroom, suddenly eyes were on them, but that's only because they all spotted Leia and briefly assumed Shara had arrived. When they realized it wasn't the bride, just her twin, most eyes diverted away. But a few eyes remained. Namely her parents, and her brothers.Nik tensed up; sensing the mood changing in Poe and in Caro."It's okay," Leia whispered. "You're here with me."It was Crisara who approached first, with a warm smile, as she held her hands out to Nik to welcome him. "I'm so glad to see you again," she remarked. "I've been worried for you, but I can see you've been in good company."As he watched the way his former Master's eyes flitted toward her daughter, he could feel that the words that had just been spoken had been honest and true. Crisara really was glad to see him. She'd meant what she'd said. "I've been in the best company," he clarified. He smiled lovingly at Leia and then appreciatively over at Crisara. "And I'm glad to see you again, too." Despite the fact that you demoted me. His smile remained, all while burying that thought within the depths of his mind where she couldn't see it."Why don't you grab some drinks. Dinner will be served as soon as Shara and Zeith appear."Leia raised an eyebrow at her mother. "Oh. They still aren't here yet? I thought we were late."Crisara chuckled. "You are. They arrived a short while ago, but were spirited away upstairs to freshen up. We were waiting on you before they made their way down and could be introduced as husband and wife for all their guests." Beckoning her daughter and Nik toward the ballroom, she added in a whisper, for Leia's ears only, "Maybe steer Nik away from your father and Caro. They weren't expecting you to bring him, and they're still not over…you know."With a sigh, Leia nodded. She'd expected as much, but she couldn't not bring the man she loved to her twin sister's wedding. Her father and her older brother would just have to suck it up and deal with it.Eventually, Shara and Zeith came downstairs. As the evening would be cooler, Shara was now wearing a chiffon shrug for over her shoulders that had pastoral, black appliqués stitched onto the fabric; sort of mirroring the design to Leia's dress. With the golden, leafy diadem resting upon the crown of her head, she looked very regal. In that instance, she was definitely honoring their great-grandmother Padmé Amidala and great-aunt Leia, who had each been royalty in their own right: one elected Queen of Naboo, the other raised a princess and heir to the throne of Alderaan. Shara, when she saw Nik, was just as civil about it as her mother. She greeted him kindly and thanked him for coming. As Zeith and her made their rounds, welcoming their other guests, C-3PO, on behalf of the caterers, announced that dinner was served.Everyone found their seats, which had been altered slightly to accommodate Nik, so he could sit beside Leia. As the meal went on, Poe made the initial toast to his daughter and new son-in-law. He got a bit long-winded and teary-eyed when he shared a couple anecdotes from when Shara was just a little girl. With a subtle tap to his hand, Crisara had been able to reel him back in and he wrapped it up. Everyone held their glasses high, offered their cheers to the newly-wedded couple, and then began to eat. Conversation began to pick up with each new course that was brought out. By the time dessert was served, Nik was actually starting to feel comfortable; as if it was like old times again. He was even able to laugh and joke with Len who, honestly, didn't really have much of an opinion on the Nik situation, one way or the other.For Len, it was water under the bridge now. What's done is done, and all that. Plus, who was Len to judge when he'd made plenty of his own mistakes that had gotten him into a lot of trouble and caused damage. He'd be a hypocrite to pass judgement. And, if Leia loved him and trusted him to still be in her life after everything that happened, then he was cool with it.The evening carried on.For Shara, it was the best night of her life thus far. She was married to a man she loved more than anything and who she knew, beyond a reason of a doubt, would make her happy for as long as they both lived. She saw her future in his eyes. She saw the possibilities. She saw a home with him, filled with children. She saw him supporting her in whatever career she pursued once they returned from their honeymoon, and she would support him in his. And she knew, that decades from now, when she took her last breath and became one with the Force, she would be able to look back on her life and see that it had been well-lived.For Leia, this night felt like just any other night where her family was together for some dazzling celebration. Not that there had been so very many that she'd attended in her nearly twenty-two years but, for her — if you've been to one, you've been to them all. She supposed she was like her parents in that sense. Sure, they knew how to throw a party and were always the best hosts, and they were wonderful as guests at any party, too. They knew how to wow people when they put the effort into dressing up. However, they were homebodies. They preferred the quieter life of home, the simpler attire and the lack of paltry small talk. Leia felt out of place. She had always been the extroverted twin but, in these situations, she became a wallflower. She was beyond happy for her sister. She was over the moons for her. She wanted the best and only the best for her sister. But none of this felt as enjoyable to her as it was for Shara and the others on this night.As the guests twirled around the ballroom like pretty pieces of paper drifting on the wind, Leia's dark eyes drifted as well. She watched as Shara danced with their father and how Zeith was dancing with his mother, Lara.That was amusing to Leia.Zeith's mother and now wife had such similar names. Lara. Shara.She was sure a joke was in there, somewhere.Leia's eyes then moved toward Nik, who was standing alone; nursing a drink and looking as if he also felt out of place. She sighed empathetically for him. She had made her peace with the part he'd inadvertently played in her older brother's death. He hadn't known what was going to happen to Temiri. There were hundreds of what-ifs on how it could've all gone. One such what-if that often rolled around her head, that she assured Nik with a few times, was that Temiri could've still been alive if he hadn't gone after Hux alongside their mother. He'd been so single-minded in his desire to bring justice to Sessani that Leia truly believed his judgment had been clouded. In the end, she believed he brought that on himself. Had he the sense to think more clearly, he could've anticipated the blaster shot from Hux's weapon and darted away or deflected it with the Force. But he didn't. Her mother could've done any of that. But she didn't either. Watching the way Nik stood alone at the moment, and then the acrid glances Caro was throwing at him, and occasionally — but far more subtly — her father doing the same, it upset her. At some point, Nik couldn't be the scapegoat for their grief and anger anymore. Something had to give, right?To make the night less ideal for Leia, hushed gossip began to spread amongst who Leia would deem to be the lesser, insignificant guests. When it accidentally reached her ears, she was able to piece together what was going on.Apparently, someone had overheard Caro complaining to Zeda about Nik being at the reception; that someone who 'had a hand' in Temiri's death shouldn't be here for his sister's special day. Leia saw the dirty looks slowly making their way over to Nik and, the avid mind reader that he was, he obviously knew what they were all saying. And Leia knew this was something he had loathed would happen in time. That people would hate him and think him a monster.Shara, bless her heart, was oblivious, and rightfully she should be. It was her special day. It shouldn't have to be ruined by callous chatter and bitter feelings. She should be able to while away the rest of the night, dancing with her new husband and enjoying the lovely drinks being supplied by the droid bartender. She should be able to keep smiling and laughing, and jus5 be happy.Leia couldn't keep smiling or laughing, though. If Nik was unhappy, then it made her unhappy.Slowly, she crossed the ballroom and approached him. His miserable, hazel eyes fell upon her with immediate gratitude for her mere presence. His body language accentuated that gratitude by the way his posture straightened and the way he smiled, even if it was small and sad."Do you want to go?" she asked him; placing a hand to his wrist."It's your sister's wedding. I can stick it out," he mumbled.Looking him directly in the eye, she sighed and asked again, "Do you want to go?"For a moment, he seemed to be considering how to answer. Then, apprehensively, he nodded. "Yeah, I do.""Okay," she replied. Leia turned so that she was standing beside him instead of in front of him. "Then we'll leave."Nik was quick to shake his head. "No. I'll go. You stay. You should be here, not me.""These guests are inconsequential. The words out of their mouths mean nothing." Her gaze sought out her brother Caro and she clenched her jaw in irritation. "My brother is being an asshole. He's not one to drink, so my guess is he's had one too many tonight, which has loosened his lips. But, instead of making a scene and giving him a piece of my mind, it's better for Shara and Zeith if we just quietly take our leave after wishing them well." Slipping her hand from his wrist, she entangled her fingers with his and then gestured for them to leave the corner Nik had situated himself in. "Come on."With a nod, he followed as Leia led.Together they sought out her parents; approaching them with polite smiles upon their face. When Poe and Crisara looked between the younger pair, it was Crisara who seemed to understand what was up, but allowed Leia to speak first."We're going to head out. It's gotten a little too heavy in here," she remarked."You don't have to leave. Neither of you have to leave." Crisara made a point to look Nik softly in the eye. "We've heard the talking. I'm sorry."Poe remained silent and avoided looking at the younger man. His eyes settled only upon his daughter. "We wish you'd stay. We barely see you anymore.""I wonder why that is," she muttered; a tinge of bitterness in her voice. Looking directly at her father, she added, "You and Caro haven't made it easy."Poe's face fell, and his shoulders slumped. "Berries.""Don't call me that anymore. I'm not a child." With a sigh that cut through the awkward air between all four of them, Leia squeezed Nik's hands and then nodded at her parents. "I'll see you when I see you.""Leia, wait," Crisara spoke; grabbing for her daughter's free hand as she and Nik began to turn away.When Leia paused and looked back, she expected her mother to plead further for her and Nik to stay, or to chastise her, but all she did was pull Leia in for a hug."Be safe, and call more frequently," Crisara whispered into her daughter's ear. "You may not be a child anymore, but you're still our child, and we love you."Pulling back, Leia looked her mother in the eye and silently expressed thanks for not making a fuss. Out the corner of her eye, she'd seen her father turn away and cover his face with one of his hands. She could feel the swell of emotions in him; his continued anger over Nik, sadness over Leia leaving, and guilt over his own behavior. She could see her mother turning toward him as well, to speak privately with him or console him. Something. Leia wasn't exactly sure and she wasn't sure she cared at the moment. Instead, she sought out Shara next, with Nik still at her side.When she approached her twin, Shara immediately sensed her and turned to smile happily. But then her smile faded when she saw the disenchanted expression upon her sister's facem, but also in sensing the unrest in her and Nik's minds. "What's wrong?""I just want you to know how utterly happy I am for you." Leia looked briefly up at Zeith. "Both of you." Then, back at Shara, she added, "I love you. This was a phenomenally beautiful wedding. You were phenomenally beautiful, and I hope you have a really amazing honeymoo—"Knowing immediately what was up, Shara cut her off. "You're leaving? You can't leave, Ley. It's my wedding. You're my sister.""I know. And it's not like us leaving early means I'm going to stop being your sister, Shar." She looked pointedly at her twin. "You can't tell me you haven't heard the gossip making its way around your guests because of Caro." As Shara made an attempt to reply, Leia cut her off this time. "So, tell me — if the tables were turned, if the situations reversed, and Zeith was made to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome — you wouldn't take him by the hand and leave?"Feeling flustered by this, which was possibly fueled by a considerable amount of alcohol, Shara quietly blurted, "Well, Nik wasn't invited so he didn't have to come, did he?" The moment the words left her mouth, she clammed up and regretted it.Leia could sense, with every fiber of her being, the way Nik felt as if he'd been slapped. He immediately began to step away; wordlessly making his way around a few guests, to head out of the ballroom toward the entrance hall without waiting for her. Pursing her lips in offense, Leia stepped back from her sister as well. "So that's how you actually feel."With a shake of her head, she said nothing else, despite wanting to. She figured it was better to just not say anything as not to exacerbate the situation, and she truly did want her sister to enjoy her special day, after all. So, Leia simply walked away. She didn't even bother to say goodbye to either of her brothers; especially not Caro. But, maybe in a few days, she would contact him with a cooler head and give him an earful. For now, she just wanted to get away.Catching up to Nik, just inside the doorway, she grabbed onto his hand and waited as a guard stepped aside so they could leave. Once they had stepped out into the cool, evening air, they continued to walk and didn't stop until they were a few blocks away from the Governor's Mansion. Needing to figuratively cool off, they seemed to be of the same mind in wanting to walk the rest of the way to the Royal Hangar, instead of grabbing an air taxi to take them back there. They just hoped when they got back to her ship, that the landing gear issue had been fixed so they could head back out into the stars and away from Naboo.Meanwhile, back inside the Governor's Mansion, Shara slapped on a brave face and pretended everything was just fine. She smiled and continued to carry on conversations, or laughed at jokes. She had gone to school where she'd learned political science, and she'd spent most of her life learning diplomacy firsthand from her father. She knew how to remain professional by faking it. And she learned from her mother how to keep her emotions in check so the room didn't quite literally cave in or explode.Plus, she didn't want to focus on any negativity. She wanted to enjoy the rest of her wedding night with the rest of her family and guests. She wanted to continue dancing with her husband.Husband.Oh, that sounded so wonderful to her.She wanted to continue having the best time ever.But a modicum of damage had already been done.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Old man, look at my life
I'm a lot like you were"
— Neil Young

60 ABY — Another year later

Hanna City was glistening as usual, especially with the way the light from the setting sun reflected off both the waves of the Silver Sea gently lapping against the pebbled shoreline, and upon the predominantly white buildings that made up Chandrila's capital city. And, in the lyceum of New Academy, eyes were glistening as well.Sandwiched in a row of seats alongside other parents, family members, friends and lovers, Poe and Crisara were on their feet and cheering as their youngest was called up onto the stage in honor of his completion from the military school. Len Dameron had finished the three-year program that was meant to fast track young adults into a career of military service. For Len, his goal had been to become a pilot in the Republic Navy, as his father had once served. Of course, for Poe, that Naval position had led him to joining the Resistance's Navy instead when the First Order got too big for its britches. And, well, the rest is history there. But now, it was all about Len and his future.He'd left his seat and ascended the stairs to the stage, wearing his naval uniform, and looking dapper as all hell in it. He glanced in the direction of where he knew his parents to be and, even without using the Force to focus in on them, he could definitely hear his father's proud hollering. It brought happy tears to his eyes. He'd finally gotten his head straight and was doing what he always wanted: to become a pilot and make his parents — his dad, especially — proud. In fact, he was top of his class. As in, the very top. He'd already been up on a stage earlier in the ceremony to make a speech, which he'd loathed having to do; public speaker, he was not. But, he also figured, if he ever wanted to be in a position of command someday, and maybe even become a General like his parents or any other predeceased family members, he'd have to get over that hurdle eventually. For now, though, he was on stage to accept his badge insignia, which he would wear when in official uniform and not in a flight suit or civvies. This badge insignia also denoted the specific rank he'd earned upon completion from New Academy, which was one of the bonuses of being the tip top of his class.The provost who had called him up to the stage had merely addressed him by his first and last name, but when he handed Len his badge, he formally declared, "Congratulations, Lieutenant Len Dameron!"Poe whooped it up even harder, which had brought a laugh from Crisara's lips. Neither of them cared if anyone looked strangely at them for being so excited. This was their baby boy finally becoming the man he was meant to be. They weren't just proud, they were prouder than proud. And, the fact that most of the other graduates were leaving with only the rank of Ensign or Sergeant — that was the aforementioned bonus. But, Len had earned it by wowing his instructors, going above and beyond in both classwork and in the field, and breaking records. The friends he'd made were nearly as proud of him as his parents, but it was a point of contention for those who weren't his friends.But that was a matter for another day.Because this was a good day for nothing but celebrating.Once the ceremony had been completed, the graduates had filed out of the lyceum first and congregated in the courtyard outside where their friends and relatives who came to see them were able to shake their hands or hug them in congratulations. The graduates even did the same with each other, while chatting excitably about what would come next for them all; what they wanted to do, and what their plans were. Parents mingled with each other, trying not to boast about their sons and daughters too much.When Poe and Crisara spotted their son, the latter let her husband approach first. Poe was on cloud nine and embraced his boy, who towered over him by about half a foot; having inherited his height from the Skywalker line, apparently. The fact that the two Skywalkers in particular were Anakin Skywalker and Ben Solo, and the fact that Len had once worried about turning out just like them, was neither here nor there."You have no idea how proud I am of you, Len," Poe mumbled into his son's shoulder.Len chuckled. "I think I do. Your obnoxious ovation was sort of a dead giveaway."As the fifty-eight-year-old Governor pulled back, he frowned. "I wasn't that loud.""My eardrums still haven't recovered," Crisara quipped; stepping forward to claim her hug from her son next. "Seriously, sweetie. We're so happy for your achievement. And Lieutenant right out the gate." After his tight embrace lessened and she was able to lean away from him, she brought her hands up to the sides of his face; wondering where the time went. What happened to that chunky newborn with rolls upon rolls? "You keep this momentum going and you'll make General before you're thirty.""That's the plan," Len snickered. "That's still nearly a decade away, so no rush, though.""Definitely. Everything in its own time."Len rolled his eyes. "Such a you thing to say.""You mean a Jedi thing," she countered with a small, amused grin. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. I'm an old Jedi Master and I rehash tried and true adages." She shrugged. "It comes with the territory. One day it'll be your turn, just as a veteran pilot and decorated General, in command of an entire Republic Naval Fleet, I'm sure."As the trio smiled at each other, two figures began to approach."Hey there, Spice Runner."The Damerons turned to greet Zorii Bliss and her son, Wynn, who had been Len's dorm mate during their first year together. Both young men had then gone on to live off campus together in the apartment on Embassy Row, that Crisara had inherited from Leia Organa Solo after her death, and which was now in Len's name. Both young men had quickly and easily become great friends, and hoped to be given placement upon the same Starcruiser. They wouldn't find out for about a week, though, so it would be a waiting game until then. Len didn't necessarily want to get placed upon the Organa, because of it being named for his great-aunt, but he also really did want to, and for the same reason. In a way it would feel like being closer to home that way."Zorii," Poe greeted with a nod and a smile. "Good to see you again.""Our boys deserve so many accolades, I don't know where to begin," Crisara added.Zorii may have a head of nothing but silver hair and plenty of lines in her forehead and around her eyes to draw attention to the fact that she was sixty now, but her green eyes still held their youth. She still looked just as great for her age as Poe and Crisara did. The years had been kind to all three of them. "Finally someone in my family is traveling the straight and narrow from the get-go," she teased; gently slapping her son upon the back. "Too bad his dad was such a deadbeat. Really missed out on what a great kid my boy grew up to be."Wynn tipped his head down in slight embarrassment. "Mom.""Right — what a great man my boy grew up to be. Sorry. I keep thinking you're still only five and biting my clients.""Wait, what?" Poe laughed. "I need to hear this story.""No, you don't," Wynn insisted with a laugh of his own."I'll be the judge of that.""Dad," Len pressed with a shake of his head and a chastising tone."I'm kidding, I'm kidding." Poe then leaned in toward Zorii and lowered his voice, but it was still plenty audible to the others. "I'm so not kidding. I want the scoop later."Zorii chuckled. As she looked from Poe, to her son and Len, and then over to Crisara, she broached a slight change of subject. "I hear congratulations of another kind are in order," she prefaced; pointing between the couple. "You two just became grandparents. That had to be exciting.""It's been absolutely amazing," Crisara confirmed with a big smile. "Our son Caro is a natural at being a dad. And his wife Zeda never seems tired. I don't know how she does it. I was exhausted every hour of the day afterward. Still am.""Same here," Zorii nodded. She gestured at Wynn with her thumb. "This one had colic, so you can imagine the sleep deprivation I had."Poe pointed at Len. "He had it, too. Not the best time ever for any of us those first few months.""What's colic?" Len wondered.Crisara sighed. "It's not something to explain. It's something to experience, and if you ever become a father, pray you don't have to experience it."The youngest Dameron grimaced. "Good thing I'm gay, then, because I don't have to worry about accidentally knocking anyone up."As his parents chuckled, it was Poe who spoke next as he looked between Zorii and Wynn. "We were planning on heading to dinner near the opera house, if you want to join us," he informed. "The more the merrier.""No, we don't want to intrude," Zorii asserted with a slight, dismissive wave of her hand."It's not intruding if I'm asking you to join us."As a smile dangled from her lips, the former Spice Runner turned legitimate business woman caved. "Okay, you've twisted my arm."Poe slapped his hands together. "Great. Let's get going, 'cause I'm kriffin' starving."Sliding her hand around to his lower back, Crisara looked up at her husband and then smirked when she looked back at Zorii. "He purposely skipped breakfast and lunch. He's been looking forward to eating at this restaurant for weeks. It's our favorite when we come here.""She's not lying," Len added. "He loves the parkana.""What's parkana?" Wynn asked, looking at his friend."It's a soup."Zorii raised an eyebrow at Poe. "You go crazy for soup?" She shook her head witheringly at him. "You've gone tame in your old age.""I'm a simple man with simple tastes. I know what I like," the Governor contended. Mirroring his wife and slipping his arm around back to grip his hand upon her opposite waist, he gestured onward with his free hand. "Now, come on. We'll all go together in the Falcon."As all five of them began to head off together, Len shoved his hands in the pockets of his uniforms pants and smiled a bit to himself. He was just in the best, happiest mood ever. This was just really great day.

One week later

The apartment in Hanna City had been shuttered for the time being and Len had returned home to the villa, but only for the next month until he had to report to whatever Republic Starcruiser in the Naval Fleet he was going to be stationed on. As of this very moment in time, he still wasn't sure. Every day he checked his messages to see if the official word had come down from the higher-ups, but so far nothing yet. He could've returned to the Governor's Mansion, where his parents still lived full-time while Poe still remained Governor, but the villa was where Caro and Zeda had officially made a home with their newborn daughter, Lora. Len just wanted to get in as much uncle time as he could before he was off again starting his new career.And, boy — did he love being an uncle. Little Lora was the cutest thing he'd ever seen. She was a peanut; small, cuddly and so very pretty for a baby. Unlike her mother, she wasn't white-skinned. She was fair-skinned like Caro, and had Caro's blue eyes. So far she didn't have a lick of hair on her head yet, but there was dusting that was fair. It was anyone's guess if she'd end up blonde like her father, or white-haired like her mother. Len spent most of the day, when Lora wasn't being fed, holding her. He carried her around like she was an extra appendage, he talked to her in a soothing voice and, at only two months old, she seem just as enraptured by him as he was by her. He even offered to change her soiled nappies and help bathe her. He picked out cute little outfits for her, sang to her, played with her, and told her stories that he'd been told as a child. He also told her about how, when she grew up, he would teach her how to be an amazing pilot and, if she was lucky, she might inherit the Millennium Falcon someday.In a rare moment, when Len didn't have his niece in his arms, he looked up from the datapad in his hands from where he was sitting in the family room; scrolling for new messages he might've received, but there was nothing still. Spotting movement out the corner of his eye, he immediately smiled when Caro entered the room from the grand foyer; cradling his daughter."It's strange," Caro began to say."What is?""Being a dad." He lifted his gaze and looked around the room. "And I've been thinking a lot lately about just the history of this place, and our family. You never got to meet her, and I was only five when she died, but I still have a couple memories of our great-grandma Sera. And I know, from what mom told us, from what Gram told her, that she — Gram — wanted this house to be filled with family. Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. And, well, she may not be here to see it, but now she has great-great-grandchildren.""Yeah, in four more months, Shara will pop. Zeith said she was miserable in the very beginning because of the morning sickness," Len chuckled. "I've seen her hungover a few times, so I wonder which was worse.""Zeda had it pretty bad, too," Caro continued, pacing the room as his daughter slept in his arms; swaddled in a blanket. "I definitely don't envy them that bit, but to experience what it's like to grow a child and give birth — I know it's gotta be amazing.""And uncomfortable, and excruciatingly painful.""Well, yeah. Obviously that, too. But, in the grander scheme of things: amazing. I mean…" Caro looked down at his daughter with such an overabundance of love. "Look what we get out if it."Len smiled warmly. "She is amazing." His datapad vibrated suddenly in his hands. While his brother was distracted by fatherhood, he glanced down at the screen in front of him; tapping here and swiping there. "Do me a favor, will ya?""Hmm?" The older brother looked up at his younger brother, slightly preoccupied. "What do you want me to do?"The smile on Len's face grew brighter. "Make sure Lora doesn't forget who I am when I'm busy being stationed on the Holdo."It took a moment, but realization finally hit Caro in the head. "You got your orders?"Len nodded and tossed the datapad onto the cushion beside him. Jumping up to his feet, he clapped his hands together. "Damn straight!" he whooped with excitement, and then he clamped his hands over his mouth. As his brother glared at him, both waited and then, sure as shit, Lora woke from the sudden outburst and began to wail. "Sorry," Len grimaced."Sonofabitch, Len, she just fell asleep."A chuckle escaped the younger man's lips and held his arms out. "Give her to me, then. I can get her back to sleep, no problem," he assured, quickly switching to baby talk, "'cause she loves Uncle Len, yes she does."With a heavy sigh, Caro obliged his brother and passed Lora carefully over. Once she was cradled in Len's arms, the older brother placed his hands upon his hips and looked on fondly and with a considerable amount of jealously over how easily his baby girl settled down and switched from crying to cooing as she stared upward into her uncle's hazel eyes. "She definitely loves you."Rocking his niece softly from side to side, he began to hum for her and just nodded his silent response for his brother. Keeping his focus only on her, Len leaned his face downward and kissed the tip of her nose and then her forehead. "Wanna go play in the garden till you fall asleep? You know you wanna. Yes, you do."With a smile, and safe in knowing his daughter was fine with her uncle for the time being, Caro knew he could take his leave and tend to other matters. "Since you have things under control, do you mind if I pop over next door to check on the padawans? And I suppose, I should also check on Uwin.""He's probably chomping at the bit lately, huh? Seventeen and with growing pains, I imagine," Len muttered as he subtly began to meander toward the grand foyer. "I bet your domestic life has been interfering with his youthful desire to get out there and go on adventures with his Master.""He's Cerean and the males of his species age more rapidly. So, even though he's seventeen, he's physically and mentally more my age now. Which," Caro sighed, "is a little strange, I'll admit. But, despite how restless he was when he was Tem's padawan, he's more settled now. And he shows great aptitude for being a healer."Len was moving through the grand foyer now, and heading toward the double doors which led out toward the back patio. "Well, then he's a credit to your teaching, old man."Caro chuckled. "Old man?"Looking over his shoulder and back at his brother, Len nodded. "You can't be a dad and be a young man anymore. Them's the breaks, my guy. I don't make the rules.""Yeah, okay." Caro rolled his eyes. "Well, I'll be next door being old or whatever, even though thirty isn't old.""Sounds like something an old person would say, doesn't it?" Len questioned rhetorically; once more in baby talk as he looked down at his niece.

61 ABY — Yet another year later

A squadron of five X-wings suddenly appeared; exiting hyperspace and carefully approaching the MC95 Starcruiser, better known as the RNS Holdo; so named for the famed Admiral who sacrificed herself by executing a historic suicide attack on the First Order fleet in the wake of the Battle of Oetchi. This squadron in question was Black Star Squadron, and they were more or less the best of the best; and recently returning from a mission near Hutt Space. As each X-wing entered the starboard hangar, and landed with complete ease due to each pilot's grace and skill, mechanics began to race over to check the starfighters for any and all damage, and immediately went about any and all repairs. The cockpit canopies were opened and the pilots within climbed out; setting their helmets aside or passing them off to one of the mechanics as they convened together in the center of the hangar. Led by their squad leader, Commander Ophis Dangee, a Dathomirian male, the other four pilots sidled up on either side of him and then followed as he led the way out of the hangar.One of the pilots happened to be Lieutenant Len Dameron, who was was smiling as Dangee slapped him jovially upon the back before bidding the rest of the squad a temporary adieu. The Commander had to head off for a debriefing with Admiral Cova Nell, who had once been a starfighter pilot during the war against the First Order and, over the years with the reformed Republic, rose through the ranks and now oversaw the Holdo and all of its crew as her flagship. As they weren't commanding officers, Len and the other three top notch pilots headed off in other directions.Longing for a long, hot shower and a decent meal, Len immediately sought out his personal quarters on board the cruiser but, before doing anything, he flopped down onto his bed and just stared upward at the ceiling.He was tired — mentally and physically.In just his first year in the Navy he was back to breaking records. In the entirety of the Navy, he was the pilot who had flown the most missions; either with all of Black Star Squadron, one or two other pilots, or solo. It wasn't just that he was trying to prove himself. He was just that capable. He was the one the higher-ups knew could get the job done, whatever it may be, and done quick. He'd even been nicknamed Eleven, as a nod to making the Kessel Run in eleven parsecs and being undoubtedly the fastest pilot around these days.He had other nicknames, too, but those ones weren't worth repeating because they were given to him by other officers who weren't exactly on friendly terms with him. His friends insisted it was jealousy and to pay none of it any mind, and he didn't. For the most part. It's not that he had bullies or that he couldn't give as good as he got, but he was just tired of it. And he also wasn't about to make a bigger deal out of it by going to the likes of Admiral Nell to air his grievances and therefore get his antagonists in trouble. They were all in this together, and to go against your own…well, it just wasn't done. He wanted to make waves, just not those kind.So, more often than not, when back on the ship and without a mission, he kept to himself quite a bit during his down time. He kept his circle of friends small; to those within his squadron and very few beyond. He also made a point of figuring out what shifts those officers or other pilots he wasn't friendly with worked or when they were away from the cruiser on their own missions, so that it was easier for his peace of mind to wander about. He enjoyed working out in one of the gyms on board, and often preferred to take his meals alone in his room. While he may be the hotshot pilot he always wanted to be, he was still the introspective person he'd always been. He still enjoyed observing and listening rather than being overly sociable and chatty. Sure, he could shoot the shit with the best of them and still loved to make people laugh, but only to a degree. He was what his mother referred to an extroverted introvert; more or less the same as Shara. One of the reasons why he enjoyed taking on solo missions, outside those missions with his squadron, was the peace and quiet. Just being out among the stars with just his ship and his astromech with white and black plating, R0-M4, which he referred to as Roma.Rolling over onto his side, he stared at the wall and wondered how his family was doing back home on Naboo. It had been a couple weeks since he'd contacted them. All busy with their respective lives, but knowing that if something was wrong any one of them would reach out in a heartbeat. A smile wove across his lips when he thought about his one-year-old niece Lora, who was officially toddling around, and now an eight-month-old nephew, Shara's son Kes; so named for the newborn's great-grandfather Kes Dameron. Len had only been home once since Little Kes had been born, but he received holograms frequently.He knew Shara was knocking it out of the park; somehow managing to have it all just as their mother had. She was a wife, a mother and had accepted a position working under cousin Nevara Connix Rordi, who was already grooming Shara to someday takeover running GOFOY. Nevara's children, twenty-year-old daughter Saya and eighteen-year-old Dain, had no interest in following in their mother's footsteps and Nevara, at fifty-two, was beginning to worry about turning the reins over to someone not in their family. This way, it would also revert back to the control of Sera Kenobi's direct line. Zeith was also continuing to enjoy his career as a History professor at the Royal House of Learning in Theed, and the small Grader family was easily thriving in Theed, where they lived in the same apartment Shara had been given for her eighteenth birthday, six years prior.Caro and Zeda were doing great, too; parenting aside. The former, when not being a dad or helping to oversee the Lake Country branch of the Kenobi Academy, was traveling with his eighteen-year-old padawan Uwin. Most of the time, they were traveling to Rey's Jedi Temple so Uwin could take part in extra training there, as most others did. But, because Uwin had become the sole padawan of Caro, Caro still oversaw that training, too, as they were Master and Apprentice. Zeda, ever the gentle soul, had finally found more of a niche within the Academy as the main healer and looking after the training of the younglings.As for Len's only other surviving sibling, Leia — she rarely came home anymore. She returned briefly after the birth of Lora and then was there for Shara when she gave birth to Kes, as no amount of animosity could keep them apart during a time like that. Nik hadn't been with her, and that had been on purpose. After the events of Shara's and Zeith's wedding reception, it went unspoken that it was just easier for most involved, for the foreseeable future, if Nik kept his distance. And that was also why Leia rarely, if ever, came home. He was the man she loved, her partner. The family couldn't have her and not him, too. It was both or none at all to her. Len, who had been possibly the most understanding of the siblings, was the only one, it seemed, to actually ask Leia how Nik was and, on occasion, contacted Nik outright, which his sister greatly appreciated. However, Len wasn't entirely sure what Leia's life was like anymore. He knew she and Nik lived with his biological family, off and on, because they traveled a lot aboard her ship, the Skywalker. Where they went and what they did, Leia never elaborated on. His sister was in good health and seemed happy, so that was really all that mattered to him.As for his parents, his father had successfully run for and been elected to a fourth term as Naboo's Governor. Poe had initially had his misgivings about running yet again, but with all his children moving on with their lives as adults or starting to have children of their own, there was less pressure to balance work life and personal life. His kids didn't need him as much as they did when they were younger. He didn't feel as guilty anymore when work interfered. The only one who may have been bothered was Len's mother, but even she was busy, primarily overseeing the Theed branch of the Kenobi Academy. And both were still members of the Royal Advisory Council, just under a new monarch, Queen Brealana. She was fourteen and originally from Keren, and therefore far from home and constantly looking up to Poe for guidance, as a sort of father figure, as so many others had done in the past.Everyone had full lives, it seemed, and Len was happy about that. His was full, too — to an extent. He had his career. He had his friends. He had a purpose. But, even though he was only twenty-two and still considerably young, he wondered if he'd find love like his parents and his siblings had. He wanted to be able to come back from missions and have someone there to greet him and hold him; to talk over his day with. To make love to.Hell, he'd settle for the occasional fling at this point. He was in his prime, after all. He had needs and his right hand could only do so much.While those thoughts were ruminating within his mind, an alert at his door brought him out of his reverie. Standing up, he wasn't sure if he'd done so too quickly but he suddenly felt lightheaded. He realized he still hadn't gotten around to grabbing a shower or anything to eat yet.He should probably get on that."Yeah?" he spoke, seconds before the door slid open.On the other side was one of the mechanics who usually worked on his ship when he returned. He was a twenty-seven-year-old human male that he hailed from Bespin by the name of Yori Mettick. With coppery brown hair and pale green eyes, he was also breathtakingly beautiful in Len's eyes, and Len always had to struggle to keep his cool every time he saw him. Like now, when he answered his door and Yori was just standing there, holding some metallic, square box in his hand with frayed wires sticking out of one end.Len sucked in a breath as subtly as possible. "Hey," he officially and blandly greeted. "What's up?""I was taking a gander at your undercarriage.""S-sorry?" Because of where Len's mind had been wandering, he was caught off guard by that."Are you aware that the undercarriage-mounted laser cannon was just barely hanging on? What the hell did you do to your X-wing during this last assignment?" Without invitation, Yori helped himself to walking right into Len's quarters and tossed the broken part onto a small table attached to the wall across from the bed. "There were no scorch marks so you didn't take on any blaster fire…""No, because I'm fast, and able to avoid being hit," Len replied, turning around to face the mechanic as the door shut to seal them both inside the room. Folding his arms across his chest, he sighed. "Just, you know, not always fast enough to avoid the tops of a few dozen, really large trees."With a laugh, Yori shook his head and leaned his back against the wall. "Typical pilot.""What's that supposed to mean?" The right side of Len's mouth lifted in a partial smirk."Eyes always on the prize and not always on the bigger picture." The mechanic smiled and gestured at the broken part. "I fixed the issue, by the way. And I removed that. It was an unnecessary modification someone made before the X-wing became yours. You should notice smoother sailing, so to speak, going forward. Less lag when coming out of hyperspace and whatnot."With an appreciative nod of his head, Len unfolded his arms and shoved his hands into the pockets of the orange flight suit he was still wearing. "Thanks. I owe you one.""Just doing my job.""Does, uh, your job require you to come here to my personal quarters to tell me what you did instead of waiting to tell me later in the hangar or in the mess?" Len was picking up on a feeling emanating off of Yori, which made him focus his Force abilities to suss out exactly what this vibe was between both of them. As he glimpsed fragments of Yori's thoughts, his heartbeat began to skip around. "Did you need or want something?"Slowly, Yori nodded; doing his best to appear aloof. "You could say that."A nervous laugh escaped Len's lips, followed by a cough he attributed to air he somehow inhaled the wrong way. When the coughing continued for another moment, he turned his head and held up a finger. "Sorry," he mumbled; catching his breath and clearing his throat. "You ever choke on air like it's your first day as a human?"Yori pushed off from the wall and stepped closer. "It's not usually air I'm choking on," he replied, boldly.Up until now, the crush Len had been forming on Yori — for at least the last half year — he had assumed was one-sided. Yet, here Yori was, taking the unspoken leap of faith Len had been to chicken shit to take. For Len, Yori's mind was suddenly laid bare like an open book. He could feel every intention, and see every thought the other man had about him and for him."And, uh, what do you usually…um…choke on?" Len questioned; swallowing back a small lump in his throat. It wasn't as if he was a virgin anymore, but he suddenly felt like a sexual neophyte."I think the two of us have been dancing around the subject long enough, don't you think?" Yori went on to say; stepping even closer. As he was a few inches shorter than Len, he had to peer upward at him. "You're the best pilot ever, whose starfighter I've had the honor of working on, and you are unspeakably gorgeous. Like, I often get distracted by thoughts of you when I'm supposed to be servicing your X-wing or any others, when I'd rather be servicing you."Len's breath hitched in his throat. "Well, fuck," he mumbled. Everything about him felt warm."Yes," Yori nodded. "Exactly." With eager hands, he reached forward and began to clamber at Len's flight suit, to undo it. Half a second later, the two of them were leaning their faces together so that their lips could meet in a mutual, hungry kiss."I was, uh, about to grab a shower," Len continued to mumbled; just this time into Yori's mouth.Shoving the top half of Len's flight suit down, the mechanic leaned back and raised an eyebrow at him. "Want me to join you? It would be the prudent thing to conserve water."An excited chuckle escape from the pilot. "Yes, please."As their hands began to fumble with each other's clothes, Len led the way into this refresher of his personal quarters; both of them leaving a trail of material in their wake.

Five months later

It had been two days since Len had returned from his a classified solo mission to the Annaj system, that was on a need-to-know basis. Not even his squadron leader, Commander Dangee, was let in on what it was about. The only person who knew was Admiral Nell and, apparently, the higher-ups on a few other Republic cruisers, like Aftab Ackbar of the Organa and Kaydel Ko Connix of the Ackbar. There was some dismay from Dangee about why Len was given the task and not him, the squad leader, but Len couldn't elaborate and Admiral Nell also wouldn't. Len didn't understand why it was so hush-hush. It didn't seem that big of a deal to him, but orders were orders. It didn't help the issue with a few other pilots already thinking he wasn't worth the fuss. Len was often given special assignments like the one he'd just been on while so many others typically got benched, which only exacerbated the discord. It also didn't help that now Dangee was feeling a certain sort of way toward Len.Knowing Len was feeling down about it all, Yori had insisted they all enjoy some downtime. The Holdo, as with the other Republic Navy cruisers, had a bar and lounge, where crew of all ranks could come to enjoy some libations after their shifts or during their days off. The bar was manned by droids who were programmed to monitor everyone and make sure they weren't overdoing it. Each person was scanned before they were served and if they tried to order a drink twelve hours before the start of their next shift, they were denied service, as the higher-ups didn't want anyone to be drunk when they reported for duty. Being hungover could be manageable, but within reason. Fortunately there was a pill to help with the pain and nausea attributed to hangovers, but not with the fogginess. Hence the cut-off at the bar, to play it safe and allow enough time for the hangover to kick in and eventually recede.Having one more day left of downtime before needing to report for duty again, Len allowed himself to be dragged to the Holdo's lounge where they grabbed a few drinks with some friends and grabbed a table large enough to accommodate them all."You're the better pilot in our squad than Dangee and he knows it. I think it's only a matter of time before either you replace him as Black Star One or you're given command of a new squadron and, when that time comes, know I have your back." Lieutenant Rani Lammu was a green-skinned Twi'lek pilot, also in Black Squadron. She was also the daughter of Radu, who had been Len's mother's first boyfriend once upon a time, and Rani was named for her paternal aunt, who had also been a pilot in the Republic before she had been killed in a skirmish against the First Order two years before she was born, and a couple years before the war officially began. This Rani's choice of career had worried her father because he didn't want the same fate to befall his only daughter. "I mean," she continued, leaning forward upon the table with the drink she was nursing, "we're practically family, so I'm sort of beholden to you anyway.""Your brother married my third cousin, Leera Connix," Len chuckled into his drink. "That's not what makes us family. What makes us family is that we're a squad."Rani shrugged. "Well, the fact that my dad and your mom used to fuck sweetens the pot."The others at the table, including Yori, cackled at that."Wait — what?" Yori turned and jabbed a finger into Len's shoulder. "Your mom and her dad? Seriously? When was this?""Long before any of us were born," Len answered. "It was before she married her first husband, my brother Caro's biological father. Rani's dad was my mom's first boyfriend. She was friends first with Rani's aunt—""Who I'm named after," Rani interjected."And that's how they met or whatever," he continued to say. "I don't think the relationship lasted long. Maybe six months? Definitely less than a year from what I've gathered. But they've stayed friends ever since."Lieutenant Jenko Firn, a male Rodian pilot, also in Black Star Squadron, shook his head slightly in amusement. "Small galaxy." Turning to look at Len, he asked, "Is there anyone your family isn't connected to?"Len smirked shyly and looked down at the contents of his cup. "My family has been rubbing elbows with a lot of people for nearly a century.""No shit," Lieutenant Hahli Reindoll, a human female from Gatalenta, who was the only other non-pilot at the table aside from Yori. She was a navigation officer and had become part of this particular friend group because of how often she'd communicated with Black Star Squadron over comms during their missions. Eventually it had been Len who had sought her out, months ago, to thank her when one of their missions had almost gone sideways but she had more or less cleared a path for them. "When you consider who your great-grandparents were. I mean, they were important people during the Clone Wars. I wrote a dissertation on the part Padmé Amidala played during that era of recent history, and how better off the galaxy would've been had she survived." Hahli gestured across the table at Len. "To think I'd one day be friends with her descendant — it boggles the mind. And, more recent history, your parents. I'm honestly jealous. Would they adopt me?"Len sat back and his face fell; his mind wandering to his brother Temiri, who had been adopted and had been gone four years already. He would've been thirty-six and, had Sessani also lived, they would've been married with possibly a couple kids by now, of that Len was certain.He sighed.Damn, he missed his big brother."Did I say something wrong?" Hahli wondered; not understanding the nuance of Len's change of expression.He shook his head. "No, I was just thinking about something else," he lied. With a reassuring smile, he glanced up at her and then turned and looked at Yori, he did understand because Len had told him all about the shit his family had been through over the years. Yori was his boyfriend now. He didn't feel the need to keep secrets from him, and vice versa. Well, except when they pertained to missions, like the one he'd come from. Yori didn't know anything about that either, and he didn't try to press Len for any details. "Who wants another round of drinks?" he suddenly asked."Ooh, me," Rani remarked with a chuckle."I'm out," Jenko muttered, pushing aside his cup. He checked the chrono on his wrist. "My next shift starts at 0800, so I should probably head back to my quarters and get some sleep."Rani raised an eyebrow at him. "We're in the same squadron." She gestured between him, Len and herself. "What shift are you working that we're not on?""Lieutenant Khallas is on bereavement leave for her mother and so Omega Squadron is down a pilot for an assignment they're going on. I offered my services. Wanted to get in more flight hours since our Golden God here," he nodded at Len with a brief laugh, "has been off on solo missions and the rest of us haven't been needed as much lately.""I don't ask for the preferential treatment when it comes to those solo missions," Len insisted, giving the contents of his cup a twirl."No accusations here, friend. You're the best we got. We're lucky to be on the same squad as you. And, like you said, it makes us family. And, for some of us, this is the only family we have." Without another word, the Rodian stood up and saluted his friends and took his leave to get a few winks in.With a sigh, Len slowly stood up. "Alright, so, drinks?" he reiterated; returning the subject to imbibing. "I got the next round. How about a couple shots of Shesharilian vodka for the table?""Do you want to knock us all onto our ass?" Hahli joked."I'd rather he was on my ass," Yori blurted. His cheeks went immediately red, which caused both women at their table to raise their eyebrows and then giggle. "Oh stars, I could've swore I only thought that and not said it out loud. I must be drunk already or at least halfway there."Len merely rolled his eyes. "I'll be right back."As he wandered over to the bar, he nodded politely at a few other officers and pilots standing around, also waiting to be served. Where there was room along the countertop, he leaned forward with his forearms and tipped his head down; his gaze drifting toward his chest as he felt a slight spinning sensation in his head. He'd barely had anything to drink so far, and he was a champ at holding his liquor because of his reckless teen years spent swiping the occasional bottle of wine or harder liquor his parents had at the villa. This particular sensation felt…different. He purposely lifted his head up slowly, but the speed or lack thereof he did it with hadn't mattered. It just made him feel like the room was spinning."Ow," he muttered when one of the two droid bartenders pricked his hand with a needle."Your blood alcohol content is well below the maximum allotment," the droid informed, before performing a scan on Len. "Lieutenant Dameron. Your next shift is not for another thirty-seven hours. You may continue to imbibe if you so choose.""That's why I'm here," he replied. "I'd like to order a round of shots of Shesharilian vodka.""How many do you require?""Uh," he did the math quickly in his head. There were four of them left at the table, and at two shots a person… "Eight.""Coming right up.""Thanks."As Len continued to wait, he stood up straight and ran a hand down his face. The dizziness still remained, but he more or less felt fine. However, he did return his hand to his forehead after a moment. He felt a little warm, but that could be the alcohol already in his system, or the mild blushing created by Yori referencing their sex life in front of Rani and Hahli."Well, well, well, if it isn't the Nepo."Len immediately scowled. He hated being called that. It was a mean slur that inferred he only got to where he was because of nepotism and not of his own merit. Turning slightly, he looked first out the corner of his eye to see one of his former classmates from New Academy approaching with a few other pilots from Blue Squadron. The former classmate in question — a Weequay male, Yazil Sheg — swayed as he got nearer. Len could see the guy was already drunk before he got close enough to smell it on him."Sheg," Len greeted civilly."For the life of me, I can't understand the allure," Yazil slurred a bit."And what allure is that?" He wasn't the greatest fan of confrontation but, when he felt backed into a corner, Len could certainly come to his own defense. "My good looks?""I can't understand why everyone kisses your ass.""No one kisses my ass.""Yori does. Literally."As Yazil's pilot friends chuckled at his comment, Len lifted a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can you just…not?""Touched a nerve, Nepo? Gonna run to message your mommy and daddy? Gonna use your Jedi tricks on me? Go on, Nepo. I dare you." And there it was — Yazil's beer balls had lowered."Careful, Yaz. He might channel his great-grandpappy Darth Vader and slaughter us," one of Yazil's human friends quipped from the sidelines.Yazil snickered and moved to lean sideways against the bar as he stared directly up at Len. A few others, not involved with this growing altercation, began to turn their heads to stare or just move away altogether to avoid it. "You gonna slaughter us, Baby Vader? Huh?" The Weequay pilot narrowed his eyes and studied the frustrated expression upon Len's face, which brought a sneer to his. "Gonna maybe cry about it?""Leave me alone, Sheg.""Aww," Yazil switched to baby talk, "is Baby Vader upset? Is it because he only got where he is because mommy and daddy bought and paid for it? One of our head flight instructors back at New Academy was daddy's former squad mate, Jess Pava, wasn't she? You just always have all these fortunate ins, no matter where you go. And if people don't bend over backward to kiss your ass, I'm sure you could just throw them around with the magical Force. Oooooh!" Yazil stood back up and wiggled his fingers at Len, as if he'd just told a scary ghost story. "Let's be real." He leaned closer. "You're not worth the space dust on any of our boots, Dameron.""Oh, so you do know my name," Len countered; finally deciding to square up.At that moment, Yori took notice from their table and stood up. When Rani and Hahli followed his gaze, they also stood and began to advance, to have Len's back, either verbally or physically, if that's what was required."Look at all your little friends, trying to look tough," Yazil spat. "A valiant effort, I'll give you that.""I think you're drunk and you should leave before you get yourself in a world of hurt, Yaz," Rani warned."You gonna be the one to hurt me, sweetie?"As Yazil moved and got in Rani's face, Len pushed between them, which only made Yazil grin. A few guards near the doors to the lounge were slowly realizing something might go down, but both opposing friend groups were considerably oblivious. The moment Len placed a hand upon Yazil's chest, to keep him at bay, Yazil took that as invitation enough to fight. He took the first swing, but Len had trained to fight in the ways of the Jedi, but also at New Academy, which worked easily to his advantage. Plus, he wasn't the one who was drunk off his ass.Len caught Yazil's fist and shoved it away. "Stop.""Fuck you, Nepo."When he swung again, this time Yazil made contact. Despite Len leaning back in time, as not to be struck in the face, the way he arched out of the way, Yazil's fist struck him in the center of his chest, which winded him; something that wasn't hard to do, considering he was already feeling lightheaded. Shoving a hand upward, just as the guards were rushing forward to break this all up, Len had Force pushed Yazil away. The Weequay pilot went tumbling backward, ass over teakettle while Len stumbled sideways and began coughing a lot."Oh, shit, Yaz must've really hit you in the chest," Yori worried, grabbing onto Len to make sure he didn't tip over. "Let's get you to medical.""Alright, break it up!" one of the guards bellowed."He started it," Hahli pointed at Yazil. "We all watched him instigate and he took the first swing. Lieutenant Dameron simply defended himself."The second guard grabbed Yazil up off the ground. "A night in the drunk tank should do you wonders, Lieutenant Sheg. And I'm sure Admiral Nell will love hearing about this. You know how she hates dissention of any kind."As the second guard began to drag Yazil away, the first guard gestured to Yazil's pilot friends. "If you know what's good for you, you'll call it a night and return to your quarters." Turning, the first guard shifted his attention toward Len and his friends. "Are you hurt?" he asked of Len, assessing the way Len looked a little worse for wear. "Or have you maybe had a little too much to drink, too?""Lieutenant Dameron's blood alcohol content is well below the maximum allotment," the droid bartender from earlier interject; repeating what it had said to Len earlier. "He is nowhere near inebriated.""I think he just knocked the wind out of me," Len insisted, placing a hand to his chest. "And I think I'm just a little tired."The guard nodded. "Then best you return to your quarters as well, Lieutenant Dameron." The guard's gaze fell individually upon Yori, Rani and Hahli as well. "The same goes for you three."They each nodded their heads."Yeah, maybe we should," Rani agreed."There will be other nights to let our hair, or lekku, down," Yori added with a small smile as he link his arm through Len's.As Len was led away by his boyfriend, the girls followed after until they made their way out of the lounge as their quarters were in the opposite direction. They bid each other goodnight then, with Rani and Hahli both asking if Len was sure he was alright. When he nodded and persisted that he would be fine, the girls turned and walked away. While Len and Yori walked slowly, side by side, down the stark white corridor, the lounge doors opened again and Yazil's friends dispersed of their own accord without further altercation.Further along the corridor, Len paused, which caused Yori to do the same, while watching Len lean his back upon the wall. "You okay?" Without missing a beat, he added, "Don't let Yaz get to you. He's…he's an asshole, plain and simple."Len shook his head and frowned. "He doesn't bother me," he assured with a long sigh. "I'm just tired. I think calling it a night is a good idea, and I expect I'll be asked to meet with someone from Internal Affairs in the morning, to give my account of what happened in the lounge.""If you're sure." Furrowing his brow, Yori leaned closer. "Do you want me to join you tonight? Nothing…indecent." He smirked a bit naughtily. "Just, you know, company."With an amused smile, Len pushed away from the wall. "No, but I appreciate the offer." Then, as an afterthought, "Maybe tomorrow night." Looking both ways down the corridor — not to make sure no one saw, but simply for privacy — Len pulled Yori toward him and claimed his lips in a kiss. "I'll meet you in the mess tomorrow for breakfast?""Sure thing." As Yori casually backed away and retreated for the direction of his quarters, he gave a slight wave of his hand before disappearing around a corner.Len stood there, watching him go, and then let his own smile slip away. Bringing his right hand up to his chest, he inhaled deeply; only to cough slightly when he exhaled. Frowning once more, he turned and began to also walk away for the comfort and privacy of his quarters where he could reflect on a few things rolling around in his mind.

62 ABY — A few months later, just after the start of the new year

It was early in the morning and Len was in bed with a smile plastered upon his face. Under the covers, halfway down his body, was Yori; whose mouth was slick and warm and knew how to make it feel like he was sucking Len's soul out of his body. It was practically electrifying. The twirls and flicks of Yori's tongue, the suctioning pop of his beautiful lips, the vibrating hum from the depths of his throat — all playing their part to draw forth that sweet, little death out of Len. At the moment of release, his body stiffened and then shuddered, and a low, guttural moan escaped his lips."Fuck," he lazily muttered.After a moment, Yori sat up; the blanket falling backward off him as he smiled down at Len. "Don't fall back to sleep."Sitting up on his elbows, Len shook his head. "Oh, I won't," he snickered; stealing a glance at his boyfriend's aching erection. With a nod of his head, he then gestured for Yori to move up the mattress alongside him. "We both gotta report for our shifts in about a thirty minutes, so we don't have time to sleep, but we have enough time to continue." Sitting all the way up, he grabbed Yori by the chin and pulled him in for a kiss; tasting himself on Yori's lips. "Lay down," Len urged.Without needing to be told twice, Yori laid upon the bed on his stomach and shoved his arms under the pillow where he began to grip the mattress in anticipation. Len shifted around to kneel behind Yori, with his legs parted as he grabbed for Yori's hips. Upon receiving a playful slap to his ass, Yori tilted his hips upward slightly. While his own erection had been previously slick from Yori's saliva, it wasn't as much anymore. For that added touch of lubrication, Len brought the palm of his right hand upward and spit into it."What the fuck," he muttered; feeling a little startled.Yori turned his head and attempted to look over his shoulder upward at Len. "Did you come again?""No."There was a noticeable tone of worry in Len's voice that was concerning for the mechanic. "Len…" Rolling onto his side, he knitted his brow together and reached for Len's hand. "What is it?""There's blood in my saliva.""Did you bite your lip?"Len frowned. "Maybe." Moving to get up off the bed, he just continued to stare at his hand. "Let me just wash this off. I'm out of napkin wipes.""Okay." Yori watched as his boyfriend disappeared into the refresher. He listened to the sound of water running for a brief moment, and then silence, which was replaced by the sound of the door to the refresher sliding opening as Len returned. "Better?""There's no cut on my lip."Safely assuming the mood had passed to continue having sex, Yori sat up. "Maybe you're coming down with something. Sore throat, maybe? Dry air in the cockpit of your X-wing or too many missions to desert landscapes. Maybe instead of a nosebleed the normal way its slipped backward into your throat?" He shrugged, trying to think of explanations. Then, a thought, "You have felt awfully warm lately. And, I mean, you're constantly on the go, always flying, always on a mission or assignment. You barely give yourself time to just relax. You're probably running yourself ragged and getting sick. You should head to medical. They can give you some sort of antibiotic at the very least.""I have felt winded quite a bit lately, and more tired than usual."Yori gestured at him. "Even more reason to head to medical. You don't want whatever it may or may not be to get worse. It could mean you get grounded and we both know you'd just end up going stir crazy and likely driving everyone nuts."Len smirked, and sat back down on the bed beside his lover. "I can always count on you to think more clearly for me.""I'm more than just great ass."Leaning closer, Len nuzzled Yori's shoulder with the tip of his nose. "I got mine. Let me give you yours as thanks for being amazing to me." Slipping his hand down toward Yori's lap, he began to slowly and tenderly palm the older male's cock. As a hiss of arousal slipped from Yori's mouth, Len chuckled. "So, where were we? Oh, right. Hands and knees, babe. Hands and knees." As Yori obliged him and got up to get onto his hands and knees on the bed, Len moved to kneel behind him once more. This time, though, to play it safe, he brought his hand around toward Yori's face. "Spit." When Yori did, he brought back to his returned erection and coated himself with his boyfriend's saliva. "Thank you."After positioning himself against Yori's backside, he slowly eased his way in; which brought forth an almost feral growl of pleasure out of them both. Once he was halfway in, Len gripped both sides of his boyfriend's hips and waited a moment before continuing. When he finally began to push the rest of the way in, he paused again. Easing halfway back out, he repeated the process, over and over. Gradually, he increased the pace; angling in such a way to make sure he was hitting Yori's sweet spot with each thrust. As their bodies began to rock together, their grunts and moans filled the air. While Yori took hold of his own erection, Len reached one hand out to grip Yori's shoulder as he hunched forward.It was a mingling of grunts, groans, moans and whimpers of pleasure building between them. Len was damn near a panting when he felt the tickling sensation starting at the base of his spine. But, as he kept going, that winded feeling returned, followed by a tickle in his chest that rose upward into his throat. Biting his lips together, he tried to suppress the urge to cough, which could cause an unwarranted thrust that might've been too aggressive for Yori's liking. Unable to contain it much longer, Len's body shook briefly as a series of coughs escaped. Luckily for Yori, it happened at the moment his orgasm hit him. As his body began to shudder beneath, he felt a slight misting of wetness upon his upper back."Shit, shit, shit," Len grumbled.With a sated sigh, Yori slowly began to pull himself away from Len; mindful of the mess he'd made below him on the bed. "What?""No!" the pilot exclaimed, nervously. "Don't lay on your back. I — shit.""You shit?" Yori teased.Len sighed with frustration. "No." Then, "I'm sorry.""Len, what?" Finally turning to lay sideways upon the bed so that he was neither on his stomach nor on his back on Len's request, Yori took in the sight of his boyfriend's expression. "Are you okay?""I coughed blood onto your back," Len admitted with embarrassment. "Let me — let me get a washcloth."Yori noticed the tears in Len's eyes and reached up for him before he could get up and walk away. "Hey. It's okay.""No, it's not. It's fucking mortifying. I coughed blood onto you. It's gross and I'm so sorry." Getting off the bed, he disappeared into the refresher again. And, once again, there was the sound of running water. When Len returned once more, he was holding a wet wash cloth. "Let me clean it up."Yori's concerned increased at the sight of tears freely flowing down Len's face. "Hey." He reached for Len's hand but Len gestured for him to sit up. As he did so, he watched as Len wiped at his hazel eyes with his left hand and then began to clean Yori's back with his right hand. "You definitely need to go to medical, darlin'."Len nodded. "I will."Tipping his head and rather enjoying the coolness of the cloth brushing along his back, Yori looked pointedly at Len. "You promise?""I promise."Believing him, Yori nodded. "Alright," he remarked. "Do you want to share a shower with me, so we can both cleaned up? We do have to report for our shifts in about fifteen minutes now. Though, maybe you should see if you can take the day and head to medical instead…""No, I'll be fine. I think the excitement of, you know, us exacerbated whatever bug I might have. I should be fine now."Yori wasn't entirely buying it. "Len."Looking his boyfriend in the eye, he spoke, "Forget about the blood. I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me." The moment he spoke those words, and with the intent behind it, he regretted it.Yori just stared at him, unblinking. A few seconds later, he repeated, "You're fine. I don't have to worry about you."Len hated doing that. He'd never used a mind touch on anyone he was close to before; especially not his boyfriend. But he didn't want to talk about any of this anymore. Or, at least, not right now. He wanted to get past it and just move on to the next thing that mattered, like their jobs."Why don't you get the water started. I'll pull these sheets."Yori chuckled. "Yeah, we do give the laundry droids more than their fair share of work to do." As he stood up, he slowly sauntered toward the refresher. "Don't take too long. We might be able to pull off another quickie."Len smiled as Yori slipped into the refresher, but the smile never reached his eyes. He just continued to sit there; staring forward at the wall. Lifting a hand to his mouth, he brushed his fingers along his lips a few times and released a quiet, shaky sigh. He could feel another rumbling in his chest, of a cough wanting to seep out like a billowing plume of smoke, but he sucked it back with focused his energy on the Force within him to help suppress it."Please stop," he whispered; either to himself, specifically to the cough wanting to escape, or who knows what else. "Please."

A few days later

Len hadn't gone to medical like he said he would, as Yori had more or less been made to forget about it, and Len had been feeling considerably better. The coughing had subsided, he hadn't spit up any more blood, but there was a fever he couldn't seem to shake. However, some generic antibiotics meant for headaches seemed to do the trick for the time being. It took the edge off, so to speak, and he could focus on his piloting with the rest of his squadron or tinkering on his ship alongside Yori.After returning from a run-of-the-mill assignment to the nearby Circarpous system, to the planet of Mimban, he was feeling tired again. He'd returned to his quarters and grabbed a quick shower after a short debriefing on the bridge alongside Dangee and the rest of Black Star Squadron. Afterwards, he got dressed in more comfortable, basic military attire meant for downtime. He was feeling restless and needed to clear his mind, so he figured a light workout in the gym would help. On his way there, he saw there was a message that he must've missed on his comlink while he'd been getting cleaned up.When he replied, he was greeted by the sound of his brother Caro."Hey, old man," Len teased. "Long time, no chat."
"And who's fault is that?"
"Yeah, sorry. Been real busy these last several — well, I was gonna say weeks, but let's be real. Months. So, what's up?"
"Dad's sixtieth birthday is coming up in a little over two months. Did you put in for leave to be home? You probably don't remember his fortieth birthday, but we had a big surprise party for him, and mom wants to do that again. He's said he doesn't want anything big, so it's just gonna be kept to our immediate family. Maybe a few family friends, like Aunt Rey, Uncle Finn and Chewie. Taya's been feeling under the weather, so probably not her. Nevara and Daz should be able to make it. Their kids are off-world at separate universities, so probably not them…"
Len listened to his big brother rambling. "Caro, listen. Don't hate me, but I forgot to put in for the time off.""Oh, please tell me you're joking. Is it too late to do it? Can you drop what you're doing and do it now?"Len snickered. "I was headed for a workout, but I'll check on it afterward. I've had some things on my mind lately and feel some exercising might help clear things up."
"Meditation would work better."
"For a Jedi, maybe."
"You may not have continued with your training, but you're Jedi regardless, baby brother. It's in the blood."
A frown appeared on Len's face. After a moment of silence hanging in the air between them, he sighed. "Listen, I'll talk to you later about leave time — whether I get it or not. If I don't, dad will have to settle for a hologram of me singing to him.""Alright." Then, "Lora misses her Uncle Len, by the way.""She's barely two and I've barely been home since she was born. She doesn't miss me. You're just trying to guilt me into making sure I make it home."
"I can neither confirm nor deny my intentions."
A chuckle left Len's lips, only for the beginnings of a cough to creep forward. "I gotta go, Caro. I'll talk to you later." Without giving his brother a chance to say goodbye, or outright saying it himself, Len ended their communication and pocketed his comlink.The rest of the way to the gym, he didn't cough once, but he was starting to feel clammy. He'd paused near the corridor which would've led him toward the medical bay, but opted to continue onward toward the gym, which required hopping onto a lift and heading downward a few levels. Once he'd made it to the gym, because of the internal hour on the Holdo, it was considered 'nighttime' and therefore not many people up and around, which also meant there was next to no one in the gym, working out. Scanning the large room, his eyes initially drifted toward the long, narrow window at the back, looking out at the blackness of space. As he stepped further inside, he looked to his left and settled his gaze upon a bench and some weights for weightlifting. Feeling that would do the trick, Len moseyed on over.Letting his hands skim over the different sizes, he decided upon two fifteen-pound weights and carried them over to the bench. As he sat down, he inhaled a steadying breath, flexed his shoulders backwards until his back cracked slightly, and then began to hoist the weights upward, from his hips to about mid chest, one after the other.He carried on like that for a few minutes; maintaining his breathing, but struggling to not feel increasingly winded. As the room around him began to feel a bit like it was spinning, he paused. His arms hung heavy at his sides while still holding onto the weights, and not just because he was holding the weights. Everything about him felt heavy. He felt exhausted.When one of the weights slipped from his hands and hit the matted floor beneath him, his gaze shot over toward one of the other officers, quietly keeping to themselves amidst their own workout, and he offered an apologetic smile for startling them. As Len twisted at the waist, he set the other weight down beside him and began to lean forward to pick up the fallen one. However, in the effort to do that, the dizziness hit an all-time high.Len staggered and straightened his posture a bit too quickly, which didn't nothing to help with the lightheadedness. As a cough finally escaped his chest, it was a like a dam had burst. He couldn't contain the continuous whooping."Hey — you okay, man?" the nearby officer called out.Turning slightly to look at the officer, Len held up a hand, as if to assure he was fine, but suddenly everything was spinning. The cough attack was barely subsiding. As he hunched forward to grab the bench for balance, his knees buckled. As he began to fall backward, everything around him went dark well before he felt his body hit the floor.  Len wasn't sure how much time had passed.When he woke up, he wasn't in the gym anymore. He was on a bed in the medical bay and there was a droid on his left side while a male, Pantoran doctor stood at his right, looking over some chart. Noticing Len stir, the doctor turned to look at him and offered a sympathetic smile."Glad to see you awake, Lieutenant.""How," he began to say, but found his mouth to be too dry at first. After clearing his throat a bit, he tried again while slowly sitting up. "How'd I get here?""You passed out in the fitness center. Commander Ivuni alerted a medical team, which was dispatched and brought you back here.""You're Doctor Kurwyn, aren't you? You treated my friend Rani a few months back after she dislocated her shoulder during a mission we'd been on."Dr. Kurwyn nodded. "I've treated a lot more with a lot worse injuries, but yes, that was me.""So," Len began, not bothering to beat around the bush, "how serious is it, doc?"As the doctor looked Len in the eye, he frowned. "Are you aware of what's wrong?" he asked; making sure before he elaborated further."I've had my suspicions for a few weeks now." His brow knitting together, Len pursed his lips and felt tears stinging his eyes. There was an unmistakable quiver to his chin as he tried blinking away those tears, which only caused them to fall. "What does this mean for me, going forward? My place here…I've worked so hard to get here."Pulling a stool over, Dr. Kurwyn sat down and set the chart aside. Folding his hands in his lap, he looked upward at Len. He didn't bother to placate him with a reassuring smile as if he was going to tell him it would all work out and he would be fine. "This sort of diagnosis permanently grounds you, unfortunately. I know it's hard to hear, but I can't sign off on allowing you to return to your duties as a pilot. It puts you and everyone else at risk.""What about, I dunno — desk work? I could help in the command center.""And you could pass out again. In fact, you will pass out again. As time goes on, it's only going to get harder for you.""But…" Len began to openly cry. "What do I do? Being a pilot — it's all I've really ever wanted to be. What do I do with myself? Who do I become? Where do I go from here?" he blubbered. "I don't know what to do."Dr. Kurwyn lifted a hand up and grabbed onto Len's wrist and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "I've already alerted Admiral Nell about this. When you're up for it, she wants to meet with you in her office; to go over the next steps. She thinks it might be best to contact your family. Someone will need to come get you. You can't leave on your own because I won't sign off on that either.""I'm being kicked out?""No. It's an honorable discharge for medical reasons."Len looked forlornly down at his lap. "I wanted to become a General someday.""I'm sorry."Shifting his teary gaze back toward the doctor, he brought his opposite hand up to wipe at his face. "If I need someone to come get me, it should be my parents. And I don't think I can tell them why. I won't be able to get the words out. It should come from someone else, like you or Admiral Nell."Dr. Kurwyn nodded. "Then that'll be arranged, as soon as possible."A moment of silence passed between both of them. "I was going to be a General someday," Len repeated. "Now I won't be anything."  The following day, the Millennium Falcon had landed within the portside hangar of the RNS Holdo and, shortly after the docking ramp was lowered, Poe and Crisara stepped out of their ship, side by side. Knowing their way around these types of Republic Starcruisers by now, neither needed the assistance of knowing where to go once they'd arrived. They were greeted by an awaiting officer nevertheless, who seemed a little too eager to assist them along their way and to make a good impression with such a notable couple. There were plenty others who had stopped what they were doing just to watch the Governor and the Jedi Master walk by; either silently in awe or whispering among themselves as to why such an important duo were there.The fact that they looked important helped provoke the reverence. Poe was dressed in his official military-style suit coat and matching pants, paired with a long robe, because he'd been sitting in on a session of the legislative assembly when he'd been pulled away with an important message from Admiral Cova Nell regarding his son, Len. Crisara, who had received the same message, had been with the younglings at the Theed branch of the Kenobi Academy, overseeing a practice session with short staffs in place of lightsabers, as they weren't ready yet for the real thing. She'd passed off the responsibility of continuing the lesson to former padawan turned Jedi Knight, Zirc D'vandt — the Devaronian boy that she had gone to Batuu to find, alongside Poe, about twenty years earlier. Crisara was in her preferred light blue Jedi tunics; never really caring much for the boring, ol' tan or brown of her youth, that her father had made her and the other padawans of her generation wear. Over that, she wore a black, floor-length cloak that was hooded.Together, side by side, Poe and Crisara looked as if they were gliding across the floor as they left the hangar and made their way through corridors and up the lifts."So, any more thoughts on why we're here?" Poe wondered; flashing his wife a curious look while they waited on the lift to complete its ascent. "Do you think it's something Len did?""No, he's been exemplary since finding his niche in life." A frown appeared on her face. "I'm worried he's been badly injured. The closer we got to being here, the stronger the feeling that something is wrong, and I'm not liking it.""Maybe he got into a fight? We know there's been a few instances of other pilots taking issue with him because of us and the rest of his family tree. Some of those moof-milkers can't look past his genetics and see the natural talent he is. Just…fuckin' bullies.""Len's a grown man now, as strange as that still is to me. I know he can handle his own in those situations. We've been made apprised of those situations because of Nell," Crisara insisted. "Which is what makes it strange that she needed to see us here, in person, instead of just sending us a message as usual.""Now I'm worried he's been injured. I mean, we know he's alive. You'd have sensed the alternative.""Don't even joke."Poe turned and looked at her again with a deep-set frown. "I'm not joking. It's stating fact. You would know before the rest of us."The lift came to a stop and opened up for them. A few officers were waiting on the other side to board and, recognizing the older pair, smiled with admiration and bowed their heads with respect before letting them step free of the lift. Not giving the younger lot a second thought, husband and wife continued on down the corridor, only to be greeted by yet another officer who had apparently been waiting to assist them. This time, they allowed it. But they didn't go far before finally reaching the door to Admiral Nell's office.The moment the door slid open for them and they stepped inside, they were initially met by the sight of the former Resistance pilot turned Admiral of a naval fleet, seated behind her desk. They smiled politely at her and uttered their hellos when their attention was quickly pulled to the right, where Poe and Crisara found their son standing at attention in his officer's uniform, with his hands clasped behind his back, all while avoiding their gaze.That didn't bode well.Searching her son's face, the Jedi Master attempted to focus on his thoughts but she was surprised by how well he was blocking her out."Poe, Crisara, have a seat," Nell advised; her tone and her expression both dismal."What's going on here?" Poe asked, right off the bat. "What's so dire that this had to be in person? What's happened?" His son didn't look hurt, that much he could tell. But his son did look tired, and his eyes seemed puffy, as if he'd been crying recently. "Len, are you okay?"Crisara extended a hand and placed it upon her husband's arm as they sat down in the chairs available to them on the other side of the desk. "Let's allow Cova actually get a word in, honey."With another frown, Poe gestured at the other woman; for her to get on with it. "Sorry. Go on."Straightening her posture, the Admiral folded her hands upon her desk and looked between the pair across from her. "Your son has been the best pilot I've ever seen or have the pleasure of knowing since, well…" She nodded at Poe. "Since you, Poe. I was looking forward to his future in the Republic Navy and being a part of helping him achieve his dreams and goals.""Was?" Poe felt Crisara's grip on his wrist tightened. "I take it you were looking forward to his future not because you're retiring?"Nell shook her head. "No, I'm not retiring." She stole a look over at Len. "A serious medical issue has come up, which has led to the unfortunate decision for him to be honorably discharged from service. Because of his valiant work, and the integral part he's played within Black Star Squadron, Len will be leaving service not as a Lieutenant but as a Captain."Feeling uneasy about this, Crisara spoke up next. "Why is he being honorably discharged?""And why is he just standing there?" Poe wondered, looking at their son. "Len, look at us."Len's chin quivered in response as he continued to avoid eye contact at the moment."He asked me to speak for him, because he didn't think he could say the words himself, and it's the least I could do for him," Nell replied, leaning forward slight upon her desk. As she waited for her former compatriots to refocus their gazes upon her, she cleared her throat to help do the trick. "Poe. Crisara," she began, solemnly. "Your son is sick."Poe's and Crisara's hearts both seemed to leap up into their throats as they kept shifting their gazes back and forth between their son and Cova Nell."How sick?" Poe asked; not sure he wanted the answer.Nell hesitated to answer for a moment. She'd never had to have this specific conversation before, so it was a daunting responsibility to get through. "It was confirmed yesterday by one of our ship medics, but Captain Dameron has informed me that the symptoms began about two years ago, and it wasn't until a few weeks ago that he began to put the pieces together."Poe leaned back and growled, "Fucking spit it out!" he shouted. Then, just as quickly, he held a hand up and grimaced. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He stole a look at his wife and she seemed just as on edge. And then they were both looking at their son, who was now staring at the floor and quietly but openly crying, which only brought tears to Poe's and Crisara's eyes.They knew what Nell was going to tell them.It had been Poe's greatest fear for as long as he could remember."It's terminal," the Admiral prefaced. "Your son has bloodburn."Poe was caught off guard by the gasp that escaped his wife's lips. He watched as she was on her feet within seconds; pulling their youngest into her arms. He watched as Len practically collapsed in her arms for the death sentence he'd been given, that Poe believed he'd passed on to him. Poe believed, deep down, this was all his fault."H-how long?" Poe somehow managed to ask; still focused on his wife and their son. "How long does he have?""Dr. Kurwyn believes that, although there is no cure for bloodburn, if he begins treatment of hadeira serum injections, to curb the most dramatic effects of the illness, he could have another three to four years."It was Poe's turn to gasp. "Three to four? That…that's not enough time." Slowly, he pushed up out of his chair and sauntered over to his wife and son. As Crisara stepped aside, it allowed him to pull Len into his arms next, and hold him tight. "We'll find a way around this," he whispered. "There's gotta be new treatments, to give you ten or twenty more years. Someone might have a cure. We can look for one…""Dad," Len quietly muttered into his father's shoulder. "There isn't a cure.""It doesn't hurt to look for one.""I'm going to die, dad."A sob escaped Crisara's lips and Poe looked over their son's shoulders at her. Pulling an arm from around Len, he beckoned her over and the three of them stood there in a tight embrace."I'll give you the room, for as long as you need it," Nell informed; standing up and moving away from her desk. As she paused near the door to her office, she looked back at the parents with their son. "For what it's worth, I am so terribly sorry to have been the bearer of such news. The two of you, and your family, don't deserve any of this." Without another word, the Admiral left."Mom," Len whispered."Yeah, sweetie?" Crisara replied through her tears."I'm scared. I don't want to die."Poe gripped his wife and son harder and held on as tight as he could.Maybe, if he willed it to happen, he would suddenly wake up, only to find out this had all just been a terrible dream, a nightmare.Take me instead, he thought, to anyone or anything that might be able to answer prayers. Take me. Don't take my son. Not again. Take me instead!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Old man, look at my life
Twenty four and there's so much more"
— Neil Young The journey home from the Holdo was a solemn one, at best. At the helm of the Millennium Falcon, Poe was uncharacteristically quiet. His gaze was set forward the majority of the time, his brow furrowed, his jaw tightly clenched and his nostrils occasionally flaring. It wasn't that he was mad — well, yes, he was. But it was fate that he was made at. Life in general, the Force or whatever was in control. He was also mad at himself, but now wasn't the time to get into it. He was heart-wrenchingly dejected. He felt numb. He was utterly terrified. He was feeling so many things at once, but he couldn't focus on processing any of it because he had a ship to fly home to Naboo. He could also feel Crisara's eyes on him when he fiddled with this button here or pulled that lever there, or when he was checking the navicomputer or other readings about their progress. Over his shoulder, behind him to his right, Len was seated directly behind his mother, wrapped in a blanket Crisara had insisted on. The temperature inside of the Falcon did run cooler sometimes.Len was asleep at the moment. His parents had both noted how tired he looked and suggested he lay down upon their bed in the former rear cargo hold turned owner's suite. Len, however, opted to be in the cockpit; claiming it might be his last time to see the stars, especially during hyperspace travel. Though, almost as soon as he'd sat down and they'd taken off from the Republic naval cruiser, Len had slumped sideways against the wall panel and could be heard snoring.Despite everything that been laid bare for them, Poe and Crisara found comfort in the noise. Crisara, especially, even found amusement in it, because Len sounded exactly like Poe when he snored. Both sounded like rattling turbine engines firing up with each intake of breath."He's so much like you," Crisara whispered, looking down at her hands; at the veins, which were more prominent now, and a few age spots here and there. It reminded her of her grandmother's hands. "Snores like a demon, too."Poe didn't respond.She never usually felt the need to fill the air with conversation; that was something Poe would do, and usually when he was feeling anxious. She could feel his anxiety was at an all-time high right now, but also that he was pushing it as deep down as he could manage. His internal struggle with his feelings created a bit of a role reversal between them. Suddenly he was the quiet, reflective one and she was the one needing to hear her own voice, or any sound, so she didn't have to hear her own thoughts."I'm thinking we go straight to the hospital instead of home. Meet with a doctor or find a doctor who will be able to treat Len, long-term.""It won't be long-term, though, will it?" Poe finally spoke, but still he didn't look at her. "He won't…" He sighed and cast a brief glance over his shoulder at their son, whose eyes were shut and who was still snoring, with his mouth hanging open. There was even the unmistakable sheen of saliva at the corner of Len's mouth, denoting drool forming. If he weren't feeling like a violent storm of emotions inside, Poe might've chuckled at the sight. Whispering, he continued, "He won't make it to the end of this decade. He won't live to see a half decade. You heard Cova, and then we spoke to that doctor who diagnosed him. We saw the medical scans he took. He clarified everything: what to expect, what to prepare for, what needs to be done for Len." Slowly, he turned and at last gave his wife his full attention. "Our son will be dead before then and there's nothing we can do."Crisara was biting her lips together as their eyes met, and her chin was beginning to quiver. The tears lining her eyes hadn't fallen yet, but they would soon enough. Turning to look forward, her face began to scrunch up as she felt that swell of emotion building within. She fought to channel it elsewhere, but it was so very difficult.Watching it all play out across her face, Poe felt guilty. He felt responsible for this happening to their son and for her having to go through losing a third child. "We can stop at the hospital, if you think that's best," he placated; softening his voice. "Or we'll have a doctor come to us. Might be better that way, actually. We don't need word of this to spread around when it's all so new. We should try and keep it within the confines of our family for now while we process it."Nodding in agreement, Crisara looked back at him. "Yeah. Okay, let's do that instead. This should be kept as private as possible, anyway." With a shaky sigh, she sank back into the co-pilot's chair a bit. "We need to get home, get a doctor and then tell Caro and the twins. Immediate family first. Then, extended family and family friends. After that, we'll play it by ear.""Okay."As she watched him return his gaze upon the console, she asked, "Why are you feeling so guilty? I can feel it coming off you like waves hitting a shore during a hurricane. It's potent.""I don't wanna talk about it right now, okay?"Crisara frowned. She hesitated to respond for a moment, and then, "Okay." She reached her left hand out to grab for his. She was just within reach of his arm when he pulled away, which in turn caused her to pull back."I gotta ship to fly. I can't be holding hands right now," he bit out rather gruffly.They were traveling at light-speed, so there wasn't actually much he needed to be doing at the moment, which would've prevented hand-holding. It was just an excuse. However, knowing him, she didn't take his tone to heart. He was going through it, just as she was, and this was how he was doing it right now. She couldn't fault him that. It was probably a good thing he wasn't Force-sensitive, though. Poe would likely cause the Millennium Falcon to concave and crush them all inside of it from the strength of his swirling emotions."Poe?"He sighed heavily, as if he was about to be asked to do something absolutely impossible. "Yes?""I love you."Damnit. She had to go and hit him with that. Turning to look at her once more, he found she was already gazing at him. He almost immediately melted, just a hair. "I love you, too."  In the one day since returning home to Naboo, there had been a flurry of activity within the Dameron family at the Governor's Mansion. Despite insisting he didn't want a big fuss made about him, when Poe and Crisara contacted Caro and the twins, individually, and told them their presence was required, and it wasn't a request, they all came. Even Leia. She had sensed enough within the last day that something just didn't feel right, deep in her soul, so she didn't hesitate; no matter what awkwardness there may have been since Shara's wedding, nearly three years earlier.Shara arrived first with Zeith and their toddling son, Kes, as they lived the closest to the mansion. Caro was next, with Zeda and their daughter, Lora. Leia arrived last, having come from who knows where. But she came alone. Whatever was going on, she felt bringing Nik along might only exacerbate things. All three siblings were asked to head into Poe's home office while spouses and children remained in the parlor for the moment. Inside, they waited as they were joined by their parents after a few minutes. There, they broke the news about Len's terminal disease and how the doctor onboard the Holdo had insisted he could have another three to four years ahead of him, with regimented treatment, but that was merely the most optimistic possibility, not necessarily what would happen.It was hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.Shara broke down first; openly weeping. Caro remained stalwart, but tears did fall from his eyes. Leia kept the most level head between the three. There were tears in her eyes, but she wouldn't allow them to fall. She would let them go later on, when she was alone in the privacy of her former room. Right now, she felt the urge to console her twin, who readily welcomed her arms.Poe and Crisara cried again, but only lightly, as they'd already had more time to deal with this matter. They wanted to allow Caro and the twins their turn to react, but it was hard to remain too aloof. They took turns embracing each of their children there in the office with them; understanding that this would be difficult, but they needed to be as strong as they could for Len's sake. Whatever time he had left with them in this life, they wanted it to be as wonderful and as comfortable as possible. They also expressed that they would let the kids break this news however they saw fit to their respective significant others. In the meantime, Len was upstairs in his bedroom, resting. He needed to see a doctor first, to get on a treatment plan as soon as possible when he woke up. After that, they would see where things went.When Caro and the twins excused themselves, Caro asked Zeda to join him in the back garden of the estate, which was where he told her the sad news. Shara broke down again, but this time in the parlor, where she told Zeith. Leia had opted to take her niece and her nephew, and play with them in the ballroom; as it was a more welcomed distraction for both of them as well as for her. But the toddlers, young they may be, were already pretty receptive to the change of mood in the air within the mansion. They could feel something was wrong; cementing the assumption that there would yet be another generation of Force-sensitives in the family. Crisara hadn't lingered in the office with Poe. She'd gone back upstairs and slipped into Len's room; sitting in a chair in the corner and watching him sleep, just as she would sometimes do when he was a baby. Poe had sunk back into his chair in the office, after closing the doors and himself inside. He hunched forward upon his desk with his head in his hands and began to bawl; his entire body shaking with violent sobs.The household staff weren't fully in the know yet, but knew enough that something was amiss with the Damerons yet again. Once Poe had recomposed himself, he'd descended to the basement level, and approached the security and management offices down there and broke the news to those assembled, including the droids. Many in the household staff had been there since Poe won his first term and had watched Len grow up from the age of six years old when they all first moved in, and took the news almost as hard as the family. The youngest Dameron child had been like their child, too.To take some of the burden off his shoulders, Maris Orell, the Residence Coordinator, put the call in to Theed Hospital to seek the immediate services of a doctor specializing in terminal illnesses who had experience, specifically, with bloodburn. Within about three hours, a doctor arrived at the Governor's Mansion doorstep and was let in immediately. Len was still asleep but his parents and siblings joined the doctor, Dr. Beca Sayn, in the parlor where she went into as much detail on the disease that the family asked for. When they insisted she not hold back, she didn't. She went over the best case scenarios as well as the worst case scenarios. She told them all about the different treatment plans but would need to meet first with Len, personally, to better assess him and offer the family a second opinion, just to be on the safe side. She would also want to acquire whatever medical records from Dr. Kurwyn and comb over them for her own purposes and making sure Len received the best possible care going forward.This gave some comfort to the family, but not much; simply because of the matter at hand.The doctor remained for the rest of the evening, to wait on Len to wake up. She took dinner with the Governor and his wife, while the others left for a little while; retreating to Shara's apartment nearby to marinate in all this as siblings while they had dinner together. Plus, they didn't want to throw too much of their preemptive grief back at their brother so soon after he eventually woke up. It would be too much too soon, and they didn't want to be a nuisance.When Len woke up, he was thirsty. After being offered a large glass of water by his mother, he expressed his hunger, which she took as a positive sign. He insisted he was fine to take dinner downstairs in the dining room, and so he did. There, he finally met Dr. Sayn, and she went over with him everything she had already told his parents, siblings and in-laws. She then drew a blood sample from him, checked his temperature and other vitals, asked him several questions, and then assured his mother and father that he would be alright for the rest of the night. Whenever he felt tired, he should sleep and not allow himself to get too rundown, because it wouldn't help his condition. She also outlined a dietary plan for him, to keep up his strength, and for him to stay as hydrated as possible and avoiding physical stress; the latter of which could exacerbate symptoms. She also mentioned that very moderate exercise could mitigate against the worst symptoms. It was documented that previous bloodburn patients who monitored their lifestyle to mitigate against symptoms in such a manner could have reasonably normal lifespans, provided they stayed vigilant. She believed, best case scenario for Len, that he could actually go on to live five to seven years."What's the worst case scenario?" he'd asked bluntly; sensing his parents didn't really want to hear it.Dr. Sayn frowned; glancing around the end of the large dining room table where they all sat. "Best not to focus the worst case. A negative mindset could work against you.""I don't care about negative or positive mindsets. Either way, I'm going to die from this. I just want to be prepared for all outcomes. I would think that would be the smart course of action, right?" He glanced between his mother and his father, then back to the doctor. "So?""Worst case," she began, "Eighteen months."Len swallowed a lump in his throat. "Oh. Okay.""But, that's worst case.""How many bloodburn patients have you had?" Poe inquired."Personally, only one, and that was about ten years ago. Everything else I know comes secondhand, from the experience of colleagues, former professors when I received my medical training forever and a day ago, or from documented cases from over the decades because, unfortunately, bloodburn is a rare disease to contract.""Could I…" the Governor hesitated to finish his sentence. He sucked in a breath and rapidly blinked away a few fresh tears. He leaned forward upon the table with his hands folded; staring directly at the doctor. "My mother was a pilot during the Galactic Civil War, and lost her life to bloodburn years later when I was eight. She was diagnosed about two years prior. I was just wondering if Len got this because of, um, me. Could I have somehow passed it to him? Am I a carrier for the disease? I flew a lot before and during the war; longer than he did." He unfolded his hands, gesturing to his son. "Hell, over the course of a day and a half, my wife and I, along with our friends, flew all across the galaxy, leading up to the Battle of Exegol and afterward. Did I pass this to my son?""Your mother was diagnosed two years before she died," Dr. Sayn reiterated for clarification. "Do you know when she first started showing symptoms? Do you know if she might've shown those symptoms before you were born?"Poe shrugged. "No. I was too young to really remember those details, and my father never really talked about her after she was gone. And then, when I was older, and we were talking about her again, her disease and death wasn't something that was brought up."The doctor's gaze softened. "There are no documented cases of bloodburn that I've ever seen where the disease was deemed hereditary. I mean, it's possible there's something in your DNA that made your mother and Len both more susceptible to get it, but I believe it's just an unfortunate luck of the draw. It happens so rarely and at random. There's no real rhyme or reason to it. And as there are so little cases to compare one to the other, it makes finding a cure that much harder." Her expression returned to a frown and reached over to place a hand down upon Len's. "I'm sorry this happened to you, Len. It's beyond unfair."Len shrugged. "It is what it is."Sitting back, Dr. Sayn began to gather up her belongings and tuck away Len's blood sample and other readings she'd taken from him onto her datapad. "I'm gonna begin compiling the data I collected tonight from you, along with the records Dr. Kurwyn transmits to me from the Holdo, and then I'll put together a treatment plan. I'll contact you tomorrow afternoon and we'll set up a schedule.""For when he gets the hadeira serum injections?" Crisara questioned."Yes. I'll get to work on figuring out how much he'll need and how often, to assure the best case scenario. But, in the meantime, don't forget everything else I said to do." She looked directly at Len. "Diet, hydrate, moderate exercise, and rest whenever needed. Don't overdue anything, alright? You want seven years, not eighteen months."Len half-smiled; somewhat appreciatively, somewhat lost in thought. "Thank you."Dr. Sayn nodded and stood up. "Just doing my job." With further nods at both Poe and Crisara, she added, "I'll see myself out.""Thank you," Crisara reciprocated.As the doctor retreated out of the dining room and slowly made her way out of the Governor's Mansion, the trio still remaining at the table just sat in silence for a few moments; letting it all sink in a bit more. Then, just as Crisara was about to speak, Len pushed up from the table with both hands for balance and emitted a deep sigh. "I'm still tired," he declared. "I'm gonna go back up to my room and lay down. Might just go back to sleep.""Then that's what you should do," Crisara insisted; looking upward at her son.Without another word, he also left the table, and then it was just Poe and Crisara.The silence lingered between them even longer as they ruminated."Caro and the twins will be back soon. I think I'll just tell them to not bother until at least tomorrow sometime. Len wants his rest and we'll need to meet with Sayn. There won't be time to really focus on the others." Crisara leaned forward on the table and shoved her face in her hands. "I'll need to have Meleri or Anila take over my duties at the Theed campus of the school. Caro and Zeda can continue as they have been at the Lake Country." Dropping her hands back down, she glanced at her husband, who looked to be zoning out. "You'll probably want to tell Queen Brealana. I don't know if you'll want to take time away or how much time. There's so much we're going to have to do.""Can you just—" Poe glowered with a clenched jaw; a hiss of breath barely slipping threw his teeth. He stood up so quickly from the table he nearly knocked his chair backward. "Just shut up, okay. Stop fucking talking about. Can we just worry about everyone else later? Seriously. Fuck everyone else. Fuck your padawans, fuck the school, and fuck the Queen. Fuck everyone!"With the petulance of a child post-tantrum, Poe stormed off.Crisara sat back and watched him go; not letting his outburst bother her. She let it roll off her like water. All she could do was clench her own jaw slightly, close her eyes and focus on keeping her calm because it didn't help anything if they both lost their cool. Their son was sick and Force-sensitive. She didn't want to allow any negative energy to fill this mansion if she could help it.What she couldn't help was the quiver of her chin again, and the tears that welled in her tired, blue eyesWhy did it feel as if there life was just nonstop tragedy now? What happened to the good, wonderful things her mother had seen for her in the vision she'd had before giving birth to her? Were all their good days behind them?  In the weeks that followed, Poe's mood continued to remain disgruntled and sullen. He rarely smiled. He performed all of his work in his home office and only went to the Palace when it was absolutely necessary. Much to his chagrin, he was still Governor and had made a commitment to an entire people of a planet. He still had to sit in on the occasional legislative assembly, and had other organizations that required his presence here and there. He couldn't phone it all in. Crisara also couldn't ignore her duties as Jedi Master, but she had decided to resign as a member of the Royal Advisory Council; recommending several others in her place, including Caro. He declined, insisting he had too much on his plate at the moment, and so the placement on the Council was offered to Meleri, who accepted.Leia had decided to return home to Naboo; wanting to stay nearer to her brother, in case anything happened. If things took a quick turn for the worse, she wanted to already be there for him. She informed Nik of this decision and he was supportive, but she also didn't want to be parted from him. When she expressed as much to her mother, Crisara insisted Nik should be with Leia, if that's what they both wanted. They shouldn't have to live literal worlds apart. Though, for the time being, she suggested it might be more palatable if she and Nik resided at the villa instead of the Governor's Mansion, because her father was already in a consistent bad mood lately. Leia understood. She didn't want to make anything worse, but mostly for Len. She didn't really care so much if her father was put off by Nik's presence, she just didn't want Len to suffer from the negative emotions that may swirl around.Much to Leia's surprise, Caro didn't care if Nik came to live with her at the villa. He still didn't forgive Nik for his minor part in Temiri's death, but it was also water under the bridge by this point. It had been nearly five years, and there were more important things in their lives to worry about and focus on. So, they had a truce. Caro and Nik even shook on it; to put aside any residual animosity and just move forward with their lives.Len had also begun his hadeira serum injections, twice a week, every week for now, which was more aggressive than any of them had been expecting, but Dr. Sayn insisted it was the best course of action to start with. As they went along, the dosage and the frequency of the injections could either increase or decrease. It all depended on how he took to them, and how it affected the disease. Occasionally, he went to the hospital for the treatments, because Dr. Sayn couldn't get away, which meant traveling by speeder. Much to his displeasure, considering the topnotch pilot he'd been, Len usually got hit by motion sickness going to and from appointments; occasionally throwing up inside the speeder or over the side. Sometimes it happened while in motion and sometimes once they finally stopped. He hated when it happened while in motion, because he worried about how embarrassing the possibility of throwing up on someone below was.Despite all that, the treatments seemed to be helping. He kept to a strict diet that Crisara personally oversaw. He went for frequent walks with her or performed the known fighting stances with her in the back garden of the Governor's Mansion for exercise. He always had a bottle or flask of water on him. In the evenings he'd taken to enjoying ginberry tea with his mother; the two of them sitting together in the parlor. Sometimes, while nursing their tea, they would play a few rounds of sabaac, with him knowing she was letting him win most games, and which he often called her out on, but good-naturedly.As the weeks turned to months, Poe had made it clear he didn't want to celebrate his sixtieth birthday, considering everything going on, but Len strongly insisted for celebrating. He insisted it would be a welcomed distraction and he didn't want his family to stop living their lives just because his was coming to an inevitable end."We're gonna celebrate the shit out of you, whether you like it or not," Len had stated; staring his father directly in the eye over dinner, the night Poe had made his claim.For his son's peace of mind, mostly, Poe relented.The surprise party that originally been planned was changed to a simple gathering of immediate family only. Everyone came to the Governor's Mansion, even Nik, and Poe found he actually enjoyed himself. For a few hours, he was able to almost forget his baby boy had a fatal disease he was still convinced he was somehow responsible for passing down.The family had sat around the large table in the dining room, with Poe holding each grandchild on each of his legs while a large cake was brought upstairs from the kitchen, and as gifts were produced as well. Lora and Kes squealed excitedly, thinking the shiny gifts were for them, so Poe let them help him rip at the wrapping paper. He enjoyed the gifts he got; all of which were practical because he was a practical guy with simple tastes. There were some clothing items, a new datapad and updated wrist comm, a bottle of Soulean brandy, which had been from Crisara, and happened to be the type of brandy they'd consumed when they met as adults in that cantina on Chaaktil. He'd appreciated the nostalgia, but his thoughts quickly shifted and began to devolve from their first true interaction as adults to where they were now, and how he couldn't have foreseen how their lives had ended up. It just made him focus again on Len's condition and he became sullen again, even if he forced a smile here and there to insist he was fine.They all knew he wasn't, especially Len, who had been sitting quietly at the table, just watching everyone else — taking it all in; as if committing them and the moment to his memory for safekeeping. He wanted to remember how it felt to be with them all like this, together, for when he wasn't around anymore and just a spectre watching over them from the other side.That night, after the party, Len had been the first to retreat upstairs to his room. Poe had opened the bottle of brandy and poured a glass for himself, and then passed it around for those who wanted some; to help themselves. He nursed his glass, and most did pour a glass for themselves, except Zeda, who was holding a tuckered out Lora in her arms, and then Shara, who abstained for different reasons.It was Leia who realized why, first. "You're pregnant again, aren't you?" She immediately clamped her hand over her mouth; not meaning to out her sister before she was ready to make the announcement, if that's truly what was going on.In response, Shara simply smiled and nodded. "Yeah."Crisara turned and looked at her daughter. "Another one already?""We didn't want there to be too big of an age gap in a sibling for Kes," Shara explained, glancing upward at her husband. She then turned back and lifted up the bottom of her blouse and patted her stomach. "I'm literally only, like, one month along. Just found out last week, so it's very early. Won't be due till next year."Clamping her hands over her mouth as she tried to contain her smile, tears began to swell in Crisara's eyes that were both happy and sad. She was happy for such good tidings, and the prospect of a third grandchild to love, but it also brought to the foreground Len's mortality, and how he wouldn't get to see any of his nieces and nephews grow up or have children of his own. Well, he'd be able to watch as a Force ghost, potentially, but it wouldn't be the same. And it also made her think about when he was born, and holding him for the first time, and how beautiful and chunky he'd been, and how many hopes and dreams she and Poe had for him.Poe smiled, congratulating his daughter and son-in-law, but it seemed he shared in the bittersweetness of the moment alongside his wife. Both were thinking of how this was happy news, and yet thinking on the eventual loss of another of their children.They hoped Caro and Shara, and possibly Leia someday, never had to experience such a thing.That night, after the nightcap, Caro and Zeda returned with Lora to the villa while Leia and Nik opted to just stay the night at the Governor's Mansion and leave in the morning. Shara and Zeith returned home with Kes; wanting to get him into his own bed for the night.That left Poe and Crisara to linger in the parlor for a little while longer, once more in silence."Did you have a good birthday, all things considered?" she wondered; setting her empty glass down on the table in front of them.Poe nodded. "I did," he replied, quietly. "All things considered.""I'm glad."With a small huff of breath, he lifted his gaze toward her face. "Thanks for the brandy. Reminded me of simpler times.""Pending war with the First Order was simpler times?" she questioned in jest."Yeah." His voice was monotone, while his answer was biting. His gaze became heavy-lidded, his lips pursing as darkness seemed to start enveloping him. With the birthday celebration over, his acerbic mood was returning. "I'm heading up."As he stood up, Crisara slowly did the same. Poe exited the parlor first while she lingered to turn off the lights and check with the guards that everyone was all set for the perimeter of the estate for the night. By the time she'd made it upstairs to her and Poe's bedroom suite, he was already half undressed; wearing only pajama pants and nothing else. He felt his eyes briefly on her as she ducked into her wardrobe to change out of her clothes and into a nightgown, and then when she disappeared into the bathroom in silence to brush her teeth and use the facilities so she didn't have to wake up in the middle of the night to do it. When she reentered the bedroom, Poe was lying in bed, under the covers, in the dark. He'd already turned off the light and was facing away from her side of the bed.With a frown, Crisara padded around to her side and climbed in. Once she was comfortable under the blankets, she snuggled closer to him; placing a hand against his upper arm and leaning over him so she could place a kiss to his cheek. "Goodnight and happy birthday, my love," she whispered in his ear.Shifting over, back onto her side of the bed, Crisara rolled onto her right side so that they were both facing away from each other. As she closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the mansion; she could feel Len was in deep slumber, while Leia and Nik were still up in her old room, and from the potency she felt from them both, they were doing what any young couple did once alone in bed — what her and Poe used to do with greater frequency when they were younger. She expelled some air from her nostrils in a sort of amused, concealed laugh, while also feeling a bit jealous of her daughter. Sighing a bit more, she had to just consider herself lucky that she had such a long and committed relationship with the man she loved, and that he still loved her just as deeply as when they were younger, if not more so now. She knew it because she felt it.It allowed her to easily center herself and fall to sleep after a short while.She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep, though, when she felt Poe nudging her shoulder and whispering her name. When she rolled onto her back and began to blink away the sleep, she opened her mouth, which felt dry. "What's wrong?" she asked."Nothing." He was lying close to her; propped up and looking down at her in the darkness in their room that still lingered."What time is it?""Late. Or real early, depending on your point of view."Knitting her brow together as she woke up a bit more, she studied his face and could feel lust, pure and simple, permeating from him like a powerful heat wave. She didn't say anything, she just laid there expectantly and watched as he shifted even closer to her. Then, without missing a beat and with little fanfare, he climbed on top of her; placing his hands on either side of her while she instinctively parted her legs for him. With both their bodies lined up with each other, Poe began to grind against her for a few moments until he was sitting up on his knees so he could push his pajama pants down. Watching him in continued silence, Crisara hiked up her nightgown, but Poe was the one who shoved her underwear down off her hips, and then pulled them off her legs and tossed them aside. When he laid back down between her legs, he used one hand to rub the tip of his strained erection between her dampening folds; spitting into his palm and coating his length for extra lubrication, because of how this was a sudden, unexpected romp that was about to unfold and she wasn't exactly aroused just yet.Without little to no hesitancy, and with a strange sense of urgency, Poe slid himself inside of her and laid down. Wrapping his arms around her back, he buried his face into her shoulder and began to thrust in and out of her at a harried pace. His grunts were muffled against her neck as he suckled his lips to it. As she wrapped her legs around his backside and clamped her hands down upon her shoulder blades, finally starting to get pleasure of her own out of this, Poe became increasingly aggressive. In fact, he got downright rough with her. His fingers were digging a bit too painfully into her sides as he embraced her, and he was slamming his hips a bit too hard against her. She tried to ignore those bits, and instead focus on the sound of skin slapping against skin, the music that was his moans near her ears, and the way he angled his vigorous thrusts which felt positively sinful.They weren't making love. Or, rather, he wasn't making love to her. He was fucking her, plain and simple. And, almost as quickly as it began, and before she could get anything out of it, it was over.Poe had come with such a staccato shuddering before his entire body subsequently went rigid, followed by all of his weight collapsing down upon her. When he ceased movement inside of her, she unfurled her legs from around him and just stared upward at the ceiling while he continued to still hold her. Her own hands remained upon his upper back and, when she felt the emotion change in him from feral craving to despondent sadness, her grip around him tightened. Poe's grunts of pleasure were replaced by sobs of sorrow. His tears rolled down his face and fell upon her neck, which trickled down into her hair. The change in him brought tears of her own forward, but she was determined to stay the calm one for him while he broke down."I'm sorry," he eventually mumbled against her shoulder. "I didn't mean to just…""Shh," she hushed him up. "I know. It's okay.""It's not," he insisted; his face still buried. "I used you because I needed to feel something other than all this anger and—""It's okay," Crisara repeated. She moved her hands to the back of his head; her fingers lacing within his graying curls until she could urge him to lift his head and look at her. "Look at me.""I'm sorry." He looked her in the eye; slipping one hand from underneath her to wipe at his face. "I basically forced myself on you."Crisara raised an eyebrow at him. "No, you didn't," she countered. "If I hadn't wanted to and if you had actually tried to force yourself on me, you would've been tossed across the room." A small, reassuring smirk appeared on her face as she began to brush her thumbs along his cheekbones while her other fingers seemed to grip gently his beard. "You know I can defend myself and fight back against any assailant. What makes you think you'd be any different?"Poe pulled his face out of her grasp but only so that he could pull out of her and roll off her and onto his back beside her. As she watched him move, he clamped his hands down over his face and just held them there. "I'm still sorry," he muttered into his palms."Well, then…apology accepted, if that's what you're after." With a huff, she sat up and continued to just look at him. "I actually would've thought you'd want to have birthday sex anyway when we first went to bed, but you didn't seem to be in the mood.""It's hard to be in the mood for anything lately." He dropped his hands onto his abdomen and stared back at her. Slowly, his expression began to contort into sadness again. "I don't know how to go through all this again."Crisara hadn't needed the Force to read his feelings or see his thoughts to know what he was referring to. "I get it," she understood. "I've been wondering if it's better or worse that this will be dragged out. Is it better that we have time to say goodbye to our son, or is it worse because we have watch him slowly die?" Tears began to burn at her eyes, but she was quick to wipe them away before they could fall. "It was sudden with Adera and Temiri, and both times I felt like giving up quite a bit. I'm not sure how to feel this time. And I've been having such intrusive thoughts; wondering if it wouldn't be easier for all of us if it was quick for Len, too. He gets to still have more time to live, but what kind of life will he even have? He won't get to do all those things he wanted to do, to be. And then I hate that I've had those thoughts. I should be grateful we still have time with him.""I feel like I shouldn't be losing my shit like this. You should be. You deserve to more than I do. You've carried five children to term, felt them growing inside you, given birth to them. But you've been a mother to six in total, including Tem. Six kids, and to outlive half…" Poe's right hand drifted toward her left thigh. "It's not fair to you.""I try not to think about it." She shrugged and stared off toward the windows. "It doesn't help me to get lost in my head over it. It would just pull me down, but some days I think 'what harm could it do?' What if I just took a transport to some random, uninhabited world and let my anger out? What if I demolished an entire mountain range or caused an avalanche? What if I set fire to an entire forest? I know I could do it but, again, what good would it really do? I might feel a little better, but I could also end up feeling worse." Crisara sighed, blinking sleepily. "But I really don't know what I'll do when the final day comes, when we have to say goodbye to our baby boy. I don't know if I'll stay as calm as I have been or if it will finally be the push toward the darkness I've always feared." Dragging her focus back upon her husband, she frowned. "I'm scared of that day, and not knowing when it will be."With his left hand, Poe beckoned her forward. When she took the hint and began to lie down beside him, he rolled onto his side and pulled her against him so that they were facing each other, merely inches apart. He draped his left arm over her waist and looked her in the eye. "We'll face that day together when we get to it." Leaning in, he placed a chaste kiss upon her lips. "And I don't care what you say, but I'm sorry again, for before.""It wasn't so bad," she smirked, placing a hand against his face and then scratching lightly at the underside of his beard. "Had you been able to hold out a little longer, maybe I could've come, too."Poe frowned. "Way to kick a man while he's down on his birthday.""It's after midnight. Technically, it's not your birthday anymore," she teased.Removing his arm from her waist and rolling onto his back once more, he patted his lap. "Let me make it up to you, then." He beckoned her with a curl of an index finger. "Climb on up and have your way with me." With a deep, reassured sigh, he patted his lap again. "Ride me at a gallop and fuck me till we both chafe, until you see every star in this galaxy and the next.""Sounds like you just want to get laid again but not do any of the work this time." Crisara smirked and slowly moved to climb on top of him either way."Well, I am an old, sixty-year-old man now. Honestly, what does a gorgeous young thing such as yourself see in me? Daddy issues?"As a small chuckle escaped her lips, she shrugged. "A little bit, yeah." Instead of making a move to ride him at a gallop, Crisara instead laid down upon his chest; resting her head along his collarbone. "I'd rather just lay here, if that's okay."Encircling his arms around her, he smiled wistfully and pressed his lips down upon the top of her head. Gently, he began to rub at her nightgown covered back and then settled on just hugging her to him. "Well, the offer still stands.""I'll shelve it for a later date. Maybe tomorrow night. Maybe a week from now," she muttered; closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of his heart steadily beating in his chest under her and the equally steady rise and fall from every breath he took. She enjoyed his warmth, his softness and the comforting scent of his skin. "Sooner rather than later I'll come to collect."Poe smiled. "Everything in its time, yeah?"It was such a loaded statement and it pertained to plenty of things in their lives.  When Len found out Shara was having another baby, he was so very happy for her, and he hoped like hell he lived long enough to see his next niece or nephew born. She had been sitting with him in his room; having brought him a platter of his favorite fruits and candies from a local shop he'd always been a patron of. They were snacking together on his bed, watching a water hockey game, live on the holoprojector on the wall across the room, and commenting on who was the better looking player on either team, when she'd shifted gears back to the subject of her pregnancy."So, I was thinking…" she began."Did it hurt?"Shara scoffed and shoved at his arm. "Funny," she replied sarcastically. "No, seriously, I was thinking that, if I have another boy, I'd like to name him Len, after you."Len immediately grimaced. "Uh, please don't.""Why not?""That's something you do to honor someone not around anymore. Like you after dad's mom and Leia after mom's aunt. Caro was even named after some dead relative on his bio dad's side of the family. You named Kes after grandpa. Naming someone after a living person is just…weird. I feel like it's a jinx." He frowned and looked his sister in the eye. "Don't kill me off just yet."He'd meant the comment in jest; trying to make the best of the situation. However, Shara's response was to start bawling. Len watched how her shoulders hunched forward and how she hid her face into her hands. He'd had plenty of quiet moments alone to cry about his own fate. He'd been going through the five stages of grief, but in no particular order. Right now he was at acceptance, but he was certain he'd ping-pong back and forth between the other four stages at some point. Depression was the likely candidate. What he chose to do at the moment, was all he could do, and that was to console his sister as if this was happening to her and not him, and he needed to make her feel better. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a side hug. He rubbed her back and kissed her temple while whispering anecdotes about it being alright, and that they still had plenty of time together, even if he had no idea how much time he'd get.Shara wasn't the only sibling that spent time with him. Caro and Leia both spent entire days with him; trying to make him feel as normal as possible. Leia, most of all. She took him out into the city. They walked the streets; popping into shops and restaurants. She'd even taken him to a nightclub one night. After all, he wasn't a weak invalid just yet. He still looked fine and felt fine most days. He was just feeling a little more tired, more frequently. The hadeira serum injections had been working really well so far with suppressing a lot of the symptoms of the disease. He rarely had any coughing fits, wasn't spitting up blood, or feeling winded. He had an appetite. All in all, he felt normal; as if the diagnosis had all been a bad dream or something that had happened to someone else.Even Nik spent time with him, which made it easier for the rest of the family having the former Jedi Knight around. And, in regard to the former moniker, Len had brazenly asked if Nik had any intentions of working at earning it back — if he still wanted to be a Jedi Knight again. Nik had shrugged; claiming he'd been nine when he was given the life he had at the Kenobi Academy and hadn't ever really considered an alternate path. Once the title was stripped away, he claimed it was rather freeing. He felt there were more opportunities. He could be so many things and not feel tied down.Len then posed a second question: "Speaking of being tied down, do you ever plan on making an honest woman out of my sister?"Nik chuckled. "We've had that conversation, but we're both happy with how things are right now. We agree that we don't need someone to sanctify what we have to make it official, but I wouldn't be adverse to it. I'd marry Leia in a heartbeat if she wanted me to. For now, though, we're good."That sat well with Len; looking ahead and being able to rest easy in believing Leia would be happy once he was gone. In fact, he believed they all would be. Sure, he knew they would be sad initially, but it was no different than when they'd lost Temiri. Yes, he was physically gone. There was no body for any of them to hug. But he still existed within the Force and occasionally appeared or spoke to them. Usually it was brief. Though, sometimes, there were considerably full conversations. It was like Temiri had simply moved very, very far away and his visits or communications home were far and few between.Someday, it would be the same for Len.He would be the one very, very far away.He knew his surviving siblings would go on, building families, careers and lives. And he truly believed they would each have long lives. He also believed his parents would move past losing him eventually. He knew it would be harder on his father, not being able to see or hear him, as it had been with Temiri. But his mother would be able to, and she could pass along any messages. And, in the end, they would all be together in some way, shape or form.As the months continued to roll by, Len turned twenty-three and he got a little drunk, much to his parents' admonishment. But, hey — he was dying, so why not live it up while he could? The fact that he ended up feeling invincible at the end of the night and took off in his mother's speeder did nothing to calm their nerves. More or less gently crash-landing it against the gates of the Governor's Mansion and then passing out downright aggravated them and got them very worried. It didn't help that he had apparently hit his head before passing out and getting a considerable gash across his head.When he laid in bed the next morning, the gash was nearly gone, but not because of bacta. His mother had healed it with the Force but had stopped halfway through when an intrusive thought appeared in her head. It's what had woken Len up. He'd heard those what-if thoughts rolling around her mind and seeping out, as if they were his own thoughts.With fast reflexes, he shot his hand up and grabbed at his mother's wrist. "Don't. Don't you dare," he grumbled; pushing her hand away. He opened his eyes and stared up at her with a frown, while ignoring the ache in his head from both his hangover and the minor injury. "I don't want you to even attempt it."Crisara sat back. She realized he knew what she had been thinking — what she'd been wanting to do. "It could work.""Or it won't."As her chin quivered and tears began to well in her eyes, she shrugged helplessly at him. "I've had a good life. Let me do this. Let me try to save yours.""No, mom." Len pushed himself up into a sitting position. "Maybe it could work. Or maybe you use up the rest of your life force and transfer it into me, to heal me, but the bloodburn comes back. You don't know how it works. No one knows how or why certain pilots get it. It just happens." He sighed deeply and tilted his head to the side. "I'm too far into it now anyway." Gesturing at his chest, he held her gaze. "I can feel it, deep in me. I can feel death slowly approaching. I can see it, like an old friend waving to me on the horizon, and taking their time to walk toward me. Soon enough it will reach me and pull me into its embrace and, when it finally happens, it'll be okay."Crisara's tears fell and they fell fast. "I don't want it come for you. Not yet. Not until after I'm gone. I can't do this again." Reaching for his hands, she held them firmly between both of hers and leaned closer to him. "You're my baby boy. I don't want to let you go."Tears of his own began to appear, but he smiled through them. "You think death will keep me from hanging around all of you like a bad habit? I'm gonna haunt the shit out of you. I'm gonna be so annoying. I'll pop up out of nowhere when Caro's getting out of the shower — give him a scare. I'll taunt Shara with raunchy limericks when she's trying to concentrate at work." Off his mother's slight chuckle, he continued, "I'll spy on Leia and Nik for you and report back, for when they inevitably leave again, after I'm gone. So you know Leia's doing okay.""I'd actually appreciate that one.""And I'll sit with you, and talk with you. We can have lots of conversations about anything and everything. And I think I'd like to stick around for Lora, Kes and the rest of whatever nieces and nephews come along, so they don't forget who I was. So they can still know me."Crisara lifted a hand and cupped the side of her son's face. "You could never be forgotten," she assured. "You're unforgettable."As he leaned into the gesture, something Poe often did when Crisara did the same thing to him, he sighed and closed his eyes. "Sorry I got reckless again last night," he muttered. "Did I crash?""There wasn't any real damage. We were only worried about you.""Well, I survived. But this hangover…""You did drink quite a bit."Len grimaced. "And I think it was the last time I'll do that," he insisted; leaning back against his pillows. "Hangovers feel worse now, and I didn't drink as much as I used to when I was younger.""You're still young," Crisara countered; dropping her hands to her lap."Yeah, maybe, but I'm talking when I was, like…fifteen, sixteen…" He opened his eyes and smirked. "Sorry for that, too. That I was such a pain in the ass back then.""You've made our lives exciting."Len smiled and his gaze drifted downward. After a few quiet moments between them, he sighed again. "Mom?""Yeah?"Looking back up at her, he pouted. "Can you hug me?"Nodding quiet vigorously, Crisara was already leaning forward to oblige him. "Anytime."Len seemed to melt within his mother's arms once she was embracing him. He rested his head down upon her shoulder and suddenly felt like he was five years old again, and as if she was consoling him after he'd woken up from a bad dream. Now it seemed like the end of his life was the bad dream, but he couldn't wake up from it. But, at least his mother was there to still hold him and make him feel like everything would still be okay.  The rest of the year seemed to fly by.Len was keeping up with his treatment, which had stayed the same in regard to how often he received the hadeira serum injections, but the dosage had been increased. He was feeling a bit more worn out more frequently, so he'd taken to napping a few hours during the middle of the day to take the edge off.His mother had turned fifty-nine, and then Shara and Leia's twenty-fifth birthday followed a week later. As with Poe months earlier, no one was really in a celebratory mood, but they all still made an effort; mostly for Len's sake. Zeda had found out she'd been pregnant again, only to miscarry very early on, which had broken her heart. She had tried to put on a brave face; believing that her grief shouldn't overshadow what everyone was feeling in regard to Len, which forced him to once again insist that he didn't want his family to stop living their lives. And that meant focusing on themselves and whatever saddened them that had nothing to do with Len.By the end of the year, Len had finally received some welcomed visitors, from outside the family.Yori arrived first, a few weeks before Life Day.They'd never officially broken up, but with Len's terminal diagnosis, and with Yori still being stationed aboard the Holdo as a mechanic, it was just something that went unsaid. They would have no future together now, even if that was something they might've envisioned for each other beforehand."I'd hoped I'd become the Republic's youngest General someday. Also thought I'd get married someday," Len had remarked as they sat together in the back garden of the Governor's Mansion. He sighed dramatically with a smirk. "Alas, I suppose I'll just have to shuffle off this mortal coil as a handsome bachelor."Yori had been holding Len's hand and staring downward with an aggrieved frown. "I'd marry you right now, if you wanted."Len turned and looked at him, and could sense that Yori was being dead serious. "Um, no thanks. No pity proposals.""It wasn't—"Len cut him off. "Yes it was. And I do appreciate it, but no." He squeezed Yori's hand. "You'll go back to the Holdo and you'll continue to be a great mechanic. Someday you'll fulfill that dream of yours of owning a starfighter dealership, where'll you be able to customize and detail starfighters for wealthy clients and make yourself a fortune. And then some gorgeous guy will walk in to purchase a ship, and you'll get talking. He'll be immediately attracted to you because — how could he not? And then he'll ask you out, you'll say yes and, after a whirlwind courtship, you'll get married and it'll be the most amazing wedding ever." Len grinned and turned to look at Yori until Yori was looking back. "And I'll be there in spirit. Literally. I'll be a Force ghost and I'll be there rooting for you."Yori began to cry and dropped his head down upon Len's shoulder. "I don't want you to go away.""What we want and what actually happens are often two different things." Len sighed and tipped his head against Yori's. "Just take comfort in knowing I won't be gone gone."Poe had been upstairs in his bedroom, as it provided him a better view of his son and his son's (former?) boyfriend. He stood there at the window with his arms folded across his chest. He watched how both young men held hands and leaned against each other, and his heart ached. It was like his son was a rockstar on his farewell tour; saying goodbye, one by one, to all the people who mattered in his life.Tears stung his eyes and fell down his cheeks; rolling into his beard and disappearing into that bushy jungle. He couldn't help but think negatively on how many years he squandered; being overworked as Governor and not giving Len the attention he deserved. He wished he could have a do-over. He wish he could take Len up flying again, like they did when he was younger — to show him the ropes more thoroughly instead of letting Len figure it out himself and end up crashing so many times when the rebellious teenage years hit. He wished he'd hugged and kissed his son more. He wished he'd told him he loved him more, even though he knew that Len knew how much he was loved.Poe just wished he had more time.He wanted to see his son get older. He wanted to see him continue as a pilot and become a General. He wanted to see him thrive in his career. He wanted to see Len get married and maybe become a father. He wanted to see his baby boy become a middle-aged man, with grey hair and the beginnings of wrinkles. He wanted Len to be at his side, holding his hand, when he was on his death bed. Not the other way around.Tipping his head down toward his chest, Poe stepped away from the window and began to openly weep.

63 ABY — A full year later

At the beginning of the year, Shara had given birth to another son, who she didn't name Len. Considering her firstborn was named after her paternal grandfather, she and Zeith were in agreement about naming their second child after her maternal grandfather. And so there was another Luke in the family. While the second Kes was blonde and blue-eyed like his father, the second Luke seemed to have darker hair like Shara, but also had Zeith's blue eyes.The entire family was happy by the new addition and it brought more joy into their lives when they needed it the most.Poe and Crisara seemed to thrive as grandparents. At any family function, they were often the ones holding the Littles, as the grandchildren were being referred to. They were constantly cuddling them, smooching their faces, and playing with them. Len loved it just as much. He often let his Lora and Kes literally crawl all over him. Even when they got too rambunctious and their respective parents attempted to reprimand them, he insisted it was fine, because he wouldn't be able to do this for long.Len had, on his mother's assistance, given meditation another try and he found he actually enjoyed it now. It truly seemed to help give him peace of mind and to work through, well…everything. His only issue was that life in the city, at the Governor's Mansion, just didn't feel as comforting anymore. He wanted to retreat back to the villa, where it was quieter and more beautiful.It was where he wanted to die, but he didn't come right out and say that.His mother seemed to understand as much, though.She'd taken him home there and stayed on with him for a few weeks, which was easy to do since giving the majority of responsibility over the Theed branch of the Kenobi Academy to both Meleri and Anila. She checked in from time to time, but was learning to relinquish control, and not always having to have her hands in everything and be everywhere for everyone.Aside from meditation, to pass the time, Crisara had suggested he pick up a hobby to occupy his time and, one morning, she found him in her art studio; tinkering with gems and wires and solder-blaster. She watched him sitting there on a stool, hunched forward over a workbench with his back to her. She could see he was wearing protective goggles that had a magnifying feature for seeing small details and it brought back so many memories from when she was a little bit younger than him, and working in the original studio that used to exist upstairs before the bombing years ago.Many mornings, Len would get up and come straight down to the studio to work. On what, Crisara hadn't bothered to ask. She was just happy he had something to pass the time with and find enjoyment in. During a week away from his duties, instead of the usual vacation away from Naboo they might take, Poe had returned to stay at the villa, which still felt more like home to him than the Governor's Mansion ever could. He'd remembered Crisara mentioning something about Len making art or whatever, and he was curious to see what his youngest was up to.Making himself a cup of caf, he also made a cup of ginberry tea for Len, as drinking caf was frowned upon while his treatments continued, and with more frequency and an even higher dosage these days. Poe carried both cups with him from the kitchen to the other side of the home. As the studio door slid open, he stepped inside with little fanfare and set the cup of tea down, about two feet down the table from Len, so he didn't accidentally knock it over while working."So, what masterpiece are you creating?" Poe inquired; looking upon his son's profile and trying not to grimace at how pale and gaunt he was looking now."Well, I figured someone in my generation should pick up and carry the torch, so to speak." He turned and glanced briefly at the cup of tea and then smiled appreciatively at his father. "Great-great grandma Lokmé was considerably notable for her artwork, especially with crystals." Turning back toward the table in front of him, he added, "Did you know the Parnelli Museum of Art in Theed has one of her paintings? She painted, too. And Shara said the library at Theed University has one of her chandeliers. And, of course, then mom did the same kind of thing after leaving Grandpa Luke's Jedi Order, but she stopped once she got married and had Adera and Caro. She said she always meant to pick it back up. She rebuilt this studio, after all, but it's just been collecting dust. I figured I could give it a purpose.""And it's giving you a purpose. I'm glad of that."Len nodded in agreement. "It's actually really fun. I've discovered I like to make things.""And what is it you're working on right now?"" Poe reiterated his previous question, while taking a sip of his caf."Well, I'm not being very original," the youngest Dameron began to say. He gestured at the black, metal framework in front of him that was bent into a spiraling shape and had many, tiny rings made of the same black metal that were dangling from the spiral. "I'm making trying to make a chandelier, like the one in our foyer here. But this will be for the school next door." He pointed at the center of the fixture. "The glowbulb will slip between there and, once I have crystals attached to these little rings, the light will reflect all over the place, but in a spiraling way, instead of a more regimented way like the one in the foyer.""Regimented way?" Poe chuckled.Len gestured at his head. "It makes sense in my brain. You'll get it when you see this finished and can compare it to ours.""I've no doubt it'll look amazing.""You're just pandering to me.""Am not." Poe set his caf down and pulled another stool over. Sitting down beside his son, he leaned his right forearm upon the table and leaned forward. "I've seen plenty of the pieces your mom made when she was younger. And, as her son, if you have half the talent she had, then whatever you create will be phenomenal."Len sighed quietly and dropped his hands down to his lap, where he also stared. "I just…""What?""I just want to leave something tangible behind for when I'm gone." Looking back over at his dad, he shrugged. "We all die eventually, and we're kept alive in the memories of those who knew us and survive us. But, eventually, those people die, too, and soon enough there will be no one left alive who knew us. We'll just be stories passed down through the generations, or in historical holos found during a deep dive through the HoloNet. None of us knew Lokmé Naberrie Dotolo, but we know what she made. We see it when we look up in the foyer here, or in the foyer at Taya's. We can remember her that way even if we never met her. And someday the generations that come after I'm gone can look at this fixture, or whatever else I get around to making, and they'll say, 'hey, Len Dameron made this' which will lead to 'he was the best pilot in the galaxy, like his father before him' and 'he broke Han Solo's record by making the Kessel Run in eleven fucking parsecs'."Poe smirked. Reaching his right hand out, he clamped it gently over Len's and squeezed. "You'll be a legend," he insisted; trying to swallow back the lump of emotion stuck in his throat. "I doubt anyone will ever beat your record. I doubt anyone will ever make the Kessel Run in ten or less parsecs. No one will ever forget who you are and what you achieved." With a more proud smile, he scooted his stool closer, which caused a rather annoying scuffing sound along the floor, and then draped his other arm around his son's back. "And I'm sure you have plenty of time to achieve much more.""Now I know you're pandering to me." Len frowned. Removing his hand from under his father's, he gestured at his face. "Look at me." His father already was, but he was trying to make a point. "Do I look like I have plenty more time? Most mornings is a chore to get out of bed to come down here and work on this. But I can't just keep lying in bed. I gotta keep my mind active, at least."A look of sorrow flickered briefly in Poe's dark eyes, but he quickly blinked it away and looked off toward the door, simply so that he didn't get overwhelmed by too much emotion while looking at his son. It was becoming sort of a regular thing for him to do lately. Poe often found himself having to look away to compose himself so his son didn't have to see the grief in his face. He was sure Len could feel enough of it in everyone. Len didn't have to see it, too.The days and the weeks passed, and it seemed to happen faster and faster.Before long, Crisara was celebrating her sixtieth birthday, and the padawans from the Kenobi Academy insisted on hosting the event in the training theater next door, because it offered such ample space. The children had even made cookies shaped like lightsabers, which were iced in different colors, as lightsabers came in different colors. It was a wonderful day, which Crisara had appreciated; surrounded by her family and her students. It was a birthday she wouldn't soon forget.And then the end of the year arrived, as did another Life Day.This year was a special one, though.Chewbacca came from Kashyyyk to celebrate with his honor family. Rey and Finn had made the trek, too. Even Len's friend from Black Star Squadron, Hahli Reindoll, chose to spend the holiday with him and his family instead of her own. She wasn't Force-sensitive, but it was as if she knew this was going to be a special Life Day.It was as if they all somehow knew it would be Len's last Life Day.The evening before, he had stayed up late and could be found sitting on the sofa in the family room, wrapped in a soft and fluffy blanket. In his hands he held a warm cup of Keshian spiced milk, and his gaze was focused upon the string lights and glowing orb decorations adorning the artificial Life Day wroshyr tree, which sat atop the antique, wooden table from the grand foyer, as it did every year. It was also in the same corner of the room as usual and, at the base, plenty of wrapped gifts were already piled up for the morning. Len had hoped his family would like the gifts he got them. Some he'd ordered from the HoloNet and had delivered, while others he had made in the studio.He was enjoying the silence the villa was bathed in and the twinkling ambiance from the tree; which was the only light left on anywhere inside. He could hear a pin drop if he concentrated enough. Of course, as he'd slipped out of his bedroom before coming back downstairs, once everyone had long since turned in for the night, his father's unmistakable snoring could be heard from within his parents' bedroom. It made him smirk and also wonder how in the hell his mother managed to tune it out every night to be able to get any sleep. From what he'd been told, he apparently snored just as bad, but he'd never heard himself or woken himself with it. And Yori had never spent the night with him on board the Holdo, for either to have fallen asleep together and then for Yori to be startled by the egregious noises that supposedly came from Len's mouth.He missed Yori.He might've gone as far as to think he had loved him.But, Len was content in cutting ties, so to speak, with Yori…for Yori's sake.He wondered how Yori was celebrating the holiday. He wondered if he had time off from service or if he was stuck on the Holdo with so many others. He wondered if he'd moved on yet.As he finished off the last bit of the Keshian spiced milk in his mug, Len leaned forward to set it down upon the table in front of him, and felt as if the room was suddenly spinning. Slowly standing up, he tightened the blanket around him; to stave off the chill he felt in the air, but not because it was cold outside. Naboo was too constantly mild of a climate. It was just chilly to him because his blood levels were likely dropping. Unfortunately, there really wasn't much that could be done. His dosage and frequency of hadeira serum injections had been decreased because a recent med scan had revealed he was at risk of hadeira serum poisoning. So, it all had to be rolled back. The fact that it was no longer really helping him, and he was feeling worse, just meant what he'd always assumed about this disease.He wasn't going to get a best case scenario. He wasn't going to get five to seven years.He'd officially made it to the worst case scenario of eighteen months, and still felt he had some time left, but he didn't believe he'd make it to Life Day next year.Stepping forward, away from the sofa, Len swayed. He teetered a little to the right, and shot a hand out from within the blanket to use the Force to return himself into a more upward position. But the room wouldn't stop spinning and, despite the chill he felt, he was also getting the sweats."Shit," was the only thing out of his mouth as he blacked out and fell forward onto the ground.He'd only been unconscious for no more than ten minutes when Finn had come downstairs in a bit of a panic. His grey loks seemed to bounce with each step he took and, once he reached the grand foyer's floor, his focus turned immediately to the left. Upon spotting Len on the ground, the fifty-two-year-old Jedi Master darted forward and dropped to his knees."Len. Len, wake up," he urged, gently patting the younger man's face while rolling him onto his side and lifting his head up.Len groaned, which eased Finn's mind considerably. As he regained consciousness, he grimaced when he looked upward at his honorary uncle. "I think I passed out.""Yeah," Finn agreed with a nod. "I think you did, too.""Please don't tell my parents. Don't tell anyone," Len pleaded as Finn slowly helped him up to his feet. "I don't want to ruin anyone's holiday.""You're just lucky I sensed something was off and came down here to see what it was. It woke me up out of a damn good, sound sleep, too." Wrapping his left arm around Len's back, he held his honorary nephew to him. The blanket that Len had been wrapped in slid off and remained on the floor as Finn stepped forward with him. "You're lucky it was me that found you and not everyone in the morning then, I guess." Frowning, he shook his head slightly. "I get you don't want to worry them, that you think you're bothering them by being sick, but you need to tell your mom and dad about this. You don't have to do it in the morning or at all tomorrow. But after the holiday, definitely. Promise me."Len sighed. "I will.""Alright." Then as they made it out into the grand foyer, Finn glanced upward at the staircase. "Poe and Cris need to install a lift like they have at the Governor's Mansion."A small chuckle escaped. "To be fair, they didn't install that. It was already there.""Either way. Eventually they'll be older and rickety and these stairs won't help for getting up to bed every night once they're retired and back to living here full-time." Leading Len to the base of the stairs, he maintained his arm around Len's waist and then grabbed onto the railing with his right hand. "Would make it easier for you, too.""Why, when I got you, Uncle Finn?"Finn smirked. "I won't always be here to pick your ass up off the floor.""Yeah, well," Len muttered with a frown. "I won't always be here either."

64 ABY — Six months later

On the insistence from their children to take some overdue time for themselves, Poe and Crisara had just celebrated their twenty-eighth wedding anniversary about a month early by spending a simple overnight away at a resort hotel just outside the city of Keren. Caro and Zeda had booked the hotel suite for them, Shara had squared away dinner reservations at a top notch restaurant that she and Zeith enjoyed when visiting his parents there, and Leia had packed her mother's bag. The latter brought very welcomed laughter out of Poe and Crisara when they got to their suite and Crisara discovered a very revealing negligee was the only thing available for her to sleep in.As for Len, well…he wasn't conscious enough lately to have done anything special or thoughtful for his parents other than to wish them a good time.They'd hated leaving him right now, but he was the most insistent that he would be fine without them for one night — that he wasn't about to drop dead the moment they left. He'd joked that he'd wait for the moment they returned. The joke had fallen flat, but they all smiled politely either way.Despite it all, Poe and Crisara really did enjoy themselves. They just didn't end up using the dinner reservation. They didn't feel like leaving the hotel room, and not because they were having a bunch of wild sex as if they were back in their early thirties instead of now in their early sixties. They just didn't want to be bothered by anyone else. They wanted the peace and the quiet, and to just be together without anything else to distract them.And, okay, yes. They did have a few rounds of sex.Poor choice of words it may be, but they weren't dead yet. They were still very attracted to and aroused by each other. Just, these days, making love or plain, ol' screwing didn't happen as frequently has it used to or as they would've like. It was just something that happened as they got older. Sex wasn't the be-all, end-all of the intimate side of their relationship. Sometimes, just lying together, holding one another and talking was the absolute best. But this was their anniversary so they were definitely gonna put an effort into it.The next day, they'd returned home; considerably rejuvenated and very thankful for their kids. They resumed their lives, with Poe forced to return to his duties as Governor in Theed, and Crisara joined him for the time being; knowing that the Kenobi Academy next to the villa was in Caro's and Zeda's capable hands and that Leia and Nik had taken point in looking after Len. Crisara had been overdue to check in on the progress of the younglings and padawans at the Theed branch of the Kenobi Academy; knowing a group of older younglings were due to head to Ossus to acquire their kyber crystal so they could build their lightsabers. As for Shara, well, she was going through a slight change of scenery, in a matter of speaking.At the beginning of the year, Taya had passed in her sleep after a brief illness. In her Last Will and Testament, she had left her home to Shara, which had been a surprise, but not for Taya's daughter Nevara. The fifty-five-year-old head of the Galactic Outreach Foundation for Orphaned Youth — GOFOY — had already known about this. She'd always preferred living at her amazing apartment in the city with her husband Daz and their children, which had been closer to GOFOY's headquarters, and had only moved in with her mother in the last few years to help her. But her children were grown, and now her mother was gone, so she was able to move back to her apartment with Daz without any regrets. And, since she'd be eventually handing off the reins of GOFOY to Shara, it just made more sense. Also, it had been originally purchased about one hundred and twenty years ago by Borral and Lokmé Dotolo, Nevara's great-grandparents and Shara's great-great grandparents, so Shara had just as much right to the place. It was just a matter of legal ownership now — whose name would go on the deed.For Shara, it immediately felt like home, but she knew there would need to be some changes and updates to make it feel like her home. The one thing she absolutely loved, though, was the large, multi-colored crystal chandelier in the foyer. It was the original, the first one Lokmé had ever made. The smaller version she had also made was what hung in the grand foyer of the villa but had been partially destroyed by the bombing, which led to Crisara fixing it. Shara's sons seemed to love it, too. She'd often find them lying on the floor of the foyer, staring upward at it and babbling at each other.About a week later, the entire family was once again gathered at the villa, for yet another celebration. This time it was for Len's twenty-fifth birthday. Too weak, however, to walk down the stairs, Caro had carried him while Poe walked alongside them both to assist. Len had hated it, but only because he felt it was embarrassing to be coddled in such a manner, as if he was a child. Unfortunately, it was necessary. And Caro wasn't bothered one bit by it. He'd carry his baby brother wherever and whenever it was needed. At the base of the stairs, Caro set Len down onto his feet and walked alongside him with their arms linked. Since it was nearer to the archway, Len sat in the chair at the head of the table just there and everyone else filed in and found their seats. Poe and Crisara, understandably, took the chairs on their son's left and right.Dinner was made up of soup, since it was the only thing Len could eat anymore, and they were determined to eat the same as him in both solidarity and as not to taunt him with what he couldn't have. Dessert was jogan fruit parfaits because it was made up of jelly and sweet cream, and, therefore something Len could also eat.Plenty of conversation was had, which mostly included funny stories from the kids' youth that pertained to Len. Some of the conversation also migrated toward whatever else was going on in their lives, especially Shara's plans for what was now considered the Grader Estate — previously the Connix Estate, and then the Dotolo Estate before that.Len listened intently; watching his siblings, in-laws and Nik chat animatedly, and feeling so happy for them. He even looked on fondly at his niece and nephews, who were seated between their parents upon booster seats so they could reach the table. Well, except for little Luke who was in a chair that connected to the edge of the table because he was only a year old. Len just loved watching him playing with his food, and even whining when Shara chastised him for it. He also loved watching four-year-old Lora and nearly four-year-old Kes chattering with each other across the table and making each other laugh by using the Force to push pieces of jelly from their parfaits along the table's surface.But, while he was watching them, his parents were taking turns watching him.Poe stared the most, it seemed.He couldn't help it.His heart was breaking to see his baby boy, who had been so full of life and healthy and built well, now looking so exhausted, pale and emaciated. He'd once weight approximately two hundred pounds and was now half that, if he was lucky.Len was withering away in front of their eyes.Sensing his father's sorrow, Len turned and offered him a smile, and then placed his bony hand over his father's fuller one. His movements were slow and shaky, and nearly gave the impression of him being drunk or drugged up. But there was still warmth in his smile and in his tired, hazel eyes. And there was so much love in his heart.As dessert came to an end, but before gifts could be given, Len apologized when he claimed he was tired and wanted to head back upstairs."But you gotta open pwesents, Unca Len," Lora asserted; her little voice, as gentle as her mother's, managing to rise above the din of everyone else's voice.Len simply smiled back at her. "I'll open them tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll love them." While she pouted, her father stood up. Caro stepped away from his chair and over to Len's. As he helped pull it backward and then helped his brother to his feet, Len looked out at everyone staring back at him. "Don't stop having a good time on my account. And don't feel the need to be quiet. I like hearing everyone talking and laughing." Taking Caro's hand, he began to walk slowly away from the table. Zeith was on his feet half a moment later and walking around the table to assist Caro this time, as Caro once again hoisted his brother up into his arms. This time would be harder; going up always was. "Sorry for this.""Don't be," Caro insisted as the three of them ascended the staircase. "It's not the first time I've carried you.""The first time I was probably a newborn.""And you weighed as much as an adult back then. You were a ball of lard."Zeith laughed at that. "That's like Luke. He was our ball of lard when he was born," he remarked the further up the stairs they went. "Shara thought he was going to split her in two when she was giving birth."Once he was settled in his bedroom, after Caro had tucked him into bed, he asked for the bedroom light to be dimmed but not turned off. Zeith had retreated first, but Caro remained a little bit longer."Thank you," Len remarked. "For everything."Caro nodded and smiled ruefully. There seemed to be a sense of realization between them. "Thank you for keeping life interesting." Gently patting his brother's knee, he sighed. "I love you more than words, you know."Len flashed a lopsided smile and emitted a long, labored breath. "I know."Shortly after that, Caro left and headed back downstairs.The twins went upstairs next and sat with their little brother for about a half hour; just chatting and turning on some music for him to listen, but mostly as just background noise. Afterward, they hugged him and they kissed him and they wished him the happiest of birthdays. As soon as they exited his bedroom, Leia felt the swell of grief building in her sister and dragged her away to her room on the other side of the house, so it was a bit further away. Once they slipped inside, Shara began to sob and Leia stood there consoling her while her own tears fell. The imminent loss of their brother was frighteningly too real.About an hour later, Shara and Zeith left with their sons to go home, but left behind Len's birthday gift and promised they would be back the next day or, at least, Shara would — to sit with her brother and just spend quality time with him while she could. Caro and Zeda had eventually put their daughter to bed, only to return downstairs and sit with Leia and Nik in the family room. Poe and Crisara had decided they wanted to turn in early, but they did so only after looking in on Len, who had fallen asleep by then. Crisara had turned off the music he'd been listening to and Poe turned off the light completely, and then they closed the door behind them as they retreated to their bedroom a few feet away; never more thankful that they'd put Len in a room so close to them, twenty-five years ago when he'd been born. They could still keep a better ear out for him this way.Neither really spoke as they got ready for bed. They took turns going in and out of their bathroom to wash up and changed into their pajamas, and then approached each other with sad smiles before hugging one another. They rested their heads on each other's shoulder and just stood there for a while. When they parted, they kissed and walked to their sides of the bed. Once they'd climbed in and were comfortable under the covers, they moved closer to one another and resumed holding one another.For what felt like the longest time, they just stared upward at the vaulted ceiling above them with the stained glass panels, as their eyes adjusted to the darkness of their bedroom; the panel that shattered and fell years earlier, since replaced."Goodnight, babe," Poe muttered; the first between them to break the silence. He turned his head and kissed her temple, and then began to close his eyes."Goodnight," she replied; finding comfort in the warmth of his lips against her skin. "I love you.""I love you, too."  Hours later, Crisara felt something was amiss and it woke her up out of a sound sleep. Bolting upright, she was quick to toss the covers off her and scramble to her feet. "Poe," she called out, grabbing her pillow and tossing it at him. "Poe."The moment he stirred, he was disoriented and instinctively gruff about being woken up to a pillow to his face. "What?""Something's wrong." As she darted around the bed toward the door and threw it open, Poe was moving as quickly as he could to sit up. Crisara's eyes dropped down the ground in the hallway outside her and Poe's room and immediately shouted back over her shoulder at her husband. "Poe!"He was on his feet in seconds and already feeling a sense of panic rising in his chest like bile. When Crisara beckoned him forward, he saw what was wrong — that Len was on the ground, unconscious. "Was he getting up for the bathroom?" he wondered in concern."I don't know. We need to get him up, either way." She shrugged while patting their son's face. "Len, sweetie.""Watch out."Poe pushed past her and crouched down; ache in his knees be damned. Rolling Len onto his back, he shoved one arm under Len's back and another under his legs. Inhaling a steadying breath, Poe gritted through his teeth and pushed himself back up to his feet while cradling his son in his arms. The movement, rather than Crisara's voice, is what woke Len. As his head lolled to the side, more against his father's shoulder, he let out a labored sigh, just as Poe moved to take him back into his bedroom."No, bring him into our room." Crisara looked Poe in the eye. "Our bed will be more comfortable for him."Poe nearly faltered at that, and all at once understood the baser meaning.This was it.The end of the line.Tears welled in Poe's eyes but merely nodded as he stepped around his wife to head back into their bedroom. Down the hall, across the breezeway, a sleepy-eyed Leia poked her head out of her room, which caught Crisara's attention. Both women stared at each other through the darkness but said nothing. Leia turned and headed for Caro's room and knocked on the door while Crisara didn't wait to see what transpired there. She could assume enough. Instead, she followed Poe into their room and shut the door behind them as she watched him carry their son and lay him down upon their bed."Dad?" Len whispered."Yeah, buddy?" Poe questioned as he propped a pillow underneath his son's head and seemed to be doing everything not to look him in the eye, lest he lose his shit and breakdown in front of him. He settled upon pushing Len's hair back off his forehead as he sat down beside him."I was…coming to see you and mom…"Crisara walked around to her side of the bed and climbed in next to him. Shifting a bit, she slipped her left arm around his shoulder and reached down so both their right hands were interlocked. "So, not getting up to use the bathroom, then?"He smirked and shook his head. "No. I just…" He sighed and let his gaze linger upward upon his father's face. "I'm tired.""Then, you should lay here. Get some sleep. Like your mother said, our bed is more comfortable," Poe advised; actively ignoring the obvious meaning to his son's words."Dad, you know what's not what I'm saying." Len weakly lifted his left hand and gestured toward the bedroom door. "I woke myself up coughing. There's a really bad blood stain on my blanket, and I realized I can't do this anymore." His tired eyes dropped down to his lap. "I can't hold on anymore."Poe pursed his lips together and looked upward at the vaulted ceilings; not really focusing on any particular stained glass panel. He was trying to blink back the tears that wanted to fall, and failing miserably at it. After a moment, he reached his hands out and encapsulated them around Len's left. Drawing his gaze back down, he slowly began to nod. "Are you in pain?""Nothing I can't mitigate with the Force, but even I have my limits," Len admitted. "And I've reached it." He turned slightly to steal a glance at his mother and then leaned his head against her shoulder. "I wanted to be here with the two of you when it happens. I didn't want to be alone in my bed."Crisara closed her eyes and tried to gather her strength. "Obviously, we were both there when you were born. We're going to be here for the next part," she insisted; her voice shaky."I have a favor to ask.""Anything," Poe countered. "Name it.""When I go, and all that's left behind is my clothes, don't burn it like you did with Temiri's clothes and cloak. I dunno." He shrugged slightly. "I don't like the idea of turning to ash, even if it's just material and not actually me. I'm already going to fade as if I never existed." He could sense both his parents about to argue that turn of phrase. "I know, I know. I'll be remembered, and I won't really be gone. But can you just promise me not to turn my things to ashes. Bury them instead." He looked back at his father. "Put it in a box and bury it next to Grandpa Kes, on Yavin. Maybe make me a little grave marker to prove I lived."Poe's brow knitted together and he dipped his chin to his chest. "Yeah. Yeah, okay," he blubbered; unable to hold his tears back any longer."And I know it's asking a lot, and it'll be hard to do, but please don't cry over me and mourn me forever. Live your lives. Find ways to be happy even though I won't be here, at least not physically. Because, believe me, I'm not exactly ready to leave, so I'll be hanging around as often as I can. And then, I suppose, I'll do it less and less, gradually, to make it an easier transition for all of us."Crisara curled more against her son's side. "Nothing about this will ever be easy.""We might find a way to carry on, but losing you like this, this soon, will always hurt — straight to the soul," Poe added. He shifted forward and twisted at the waist so that he was curled up against his son's opposite side. He held Len's left hand in his right and stole a glance at Crisara, who was looking downward with tears subtly slipping down her cheeks. "We love you too much."Len smirked appreciatively while his breathing was becoming shallower. "I cut a lock of my hair off a few weeks ago," he muttered. "There's a small box in the drawer of my nightstand. The hair is tied with a string I found in the studio. I figured that could be something actually part of me that gets buried." With shrug, he added, "Obviously I've had some time to think about the end." Looking off toward the bedroom door, he smirked. "Company's coming."Gingerly, the bedroom door opened. Both Leia and Caro slipped inside, but stayed standing just inside the room."We wanted to be here," Caro announced. "It didn't feel right to hide away in our rooms, waiting…"Len nodded at them. "Too bad Shara didn't stay the night, huh? Could've had the whole gang here.""Well, almost the whole gang," Leia remarked; lifting a hand to wipe tears from her eyes.A feeling akin to static electricity grew in the air and all eyes, except for Poe's, shifted toward the other end of the room, near the windows that looked out toward the lake. A sense of familiarity and love washed over them; again, aside from Poe.Temiri stood there; all aglow in the typical blue haze of a Force ghost, and donning similar Jedi tunics that he wore in life. They watched as he stepped toward the bed with his hands clamped in front of him."Tem," Len greeted, which finally caught Poe's attention. His smile was big and bright, with no signs that he was in pain or in any sort of discomfort. "No one I'd rather have to ferry me across to the other side.""I once told you I'd never let you out of my sight," Temiri ruefully jested. Then, more seriously, he added, "I'm ready when you are."Caro and Leia walked forward; each simultaneously sinking down to sit upon the foot of the bed as their attentions fell back upon their younger brother.With a few, small breaths Len leaned backward against the pillows but also leaned more against his father this time. "I'm sorry you won't see me after this, old man," he whispered with a hint of amusement in his voice, "but I will be around."A sob escaped Poe's lips as he leaned his head against his son's. "I know."With a squeeze to both parents' hands, he continued to whisper as a sob of his own surprised them. "I'm scared." Stealing a look at Tem, he asked a little more audibly, "Will it hurt?"Temiri shook his head. "It will be peaceful."Taking comfort in that, Len allowed tears to fall from his eyes as he did everything left in him to draw on what strength he had left. "I enjoyed my birthday," he mumbled; closing his eyes. "I had a really good day."As he took his final breath, Len was overcome with a sense of completeness. He let go of everything tying him to this life and faded away; giving himself over to the Force and becoming one with it. The clothes he'd been wearing crumpled and molded against the bed and his parents jerked slightly from the sudden lack of him being there.The moment he was gone, so too was Temiri.Leia turned toward Caro and threw her hands around his shoulders to cry, and he readily accepted her embrace; needing it just as much as she did as they grieved. Crisara rolled onto her side and then shoved her face down into the shirt Len had been wearing and hugging it to her as she began to openly weep. As for Poe, he'd never experienced a death like this before. He'd only heard Crisara talk about what it was like, or supposed to be like. She'd seen it happen twice before, with her cousin Ben and then with Temiri. To have his son just fade into nothing felt unsettled, as if he wasn't really physically gone and just somehow teleported to another room or another world. It didn't feel real. It didn't feel as if he'd just watched his son die."No!" Poe blurted; his voiced raised considerably as the very realness of it all began to really sink in. "No, no, no, no, no. Please. No." Hot tears burned and fell from his eyes as he buried his face in his hands. "Please, no," he repeated. Rolling sideways, he didn't know what else to do other than reach out for Crisara. He threw an arm around her back and pulled her against him and then buried his face into the crook of her neck.Letting go of her son's shirt, Crisara reached for Poe instead; sliding her arms around his back and welcoming his tight embrace as she turned her face down into a pillow to muffle her cries.Deciding to take their leave and let their parents take the time they needed to grieve the fresh loss of their youngest child, Caro and Leia stood up and exited the bedroom together in relative silence. The only noise now came from the depths of Poe's and Crisara's chests as heartbreaking sobs reverberated out of them.They'd known this day was coming.They'd been mentally preparing for it.But there was never a way to truly prepare for the loss of a loved one, especially your child.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I should be thinking with my headNot with my broken heartLook to the future for all it can giveAnd not to us being apart"— Sarah McLachlan The sun was setting on the horizon in the west, just beyond the trees on the other side of the hangar and landing platform that was yards away from the villa. The light was finding its way through the branches, scattering about and reflecting off a black X-wing with white trim here and there. Crisara stood on the edge of the tiled patio, facing it, with her arms folded across her chest and the blankest of expressions upon her face. Her feelings, her emotions — wholly unreadable. Considering she usually had at least a gentle smile toying at her lips or even just a hint of a sparkle in her eyes, to be void of anything gave her more something akin to "resting bitch face." But, it was understandable.Her son had died barely two days earlier and now she was staring at the starfighter he'd flown as part of Black Star Squadron. It seemed no one else on the Holdo, who was given the opportunity to join the squadron, wanted to take the reins in the same ship Len had flown. It just didn't sit well with any of them to replace him, in any sense. Other pilots on other naval cruisers echoed the same sentiment. They all knew who Len Dameron was, even if they'd never met him or served alongside him. They knew what he'd been capable of, what he'd achieved, and the records he'd broken. Hell, even his adversaries who had often taunted him or accused him of nepotism, like Yazil Sheg, expressed their remorse over his passing and desire to see him honored for what he'd been able to do in such a short time with the Navy. Virtually every pilot, scattered between several cruisers, were in agreement that the X-wing should also be decommissioned. After brief talks, recently elected Supreme Chancellor Dentin Pross, along with a few Generals and Admirals between both the Republic Navy and Army, had agreed to decommission it in honor of Len's service and his passing.And, as with the end of both the Galactic Civil War and the First Order-Resistance War, what with how most pilots were given the starfighters they flew as part of their compensation package at the end of their service, Len's X-wing was given to his parents, as they were his next of kin since he had been neither married nor had any children.So, there the X-wing sat, having been delivered by Rani Lammu (the second), which was an extra special kick to Crisara while she was down, because it merely brought up the memory of losing her good friend, of the same name, more than thirty years ago. A small transport ship had arrived with it, containing most of Black Star Squadron, who had also presented Poe and Crisara with the orange flight suit and helmet Len wore. After expressing their condolences for their fallen friend and comrade, the rest of Black Star Squadron returned to the transport ship and left; not wanting to overstay their welcome, and to allow the Dameron family the peace to grieve privately.
"Staring at it's not going to bring me back."
When Len said he would hang around even after death, he wasn't lying.Crisara didn't turn fully to look upon the Force ghost of her recently-deceased son, but her gaze did shift somewhat in his direction. "You're here now, aren't you?""Not in the way you want. Not in the way any of you want.""As much as we wish it could be different, you lingering like this won't be good for anyone in the long run. We'll never be able to move past this. You won't be able to let go of this life and experience all the Force has to offer." Crisara sighed and tipped her head downward. "You deserve peace."
"I'll have the rest of eternity for that."
"And when it's each of our time to move on, we'll have all of have the rest of eternity together." Finally she turned and looked at him, with a slight sideways tilt of her head. "I'm not saying we don't want to see you or talk to you, ever. You can hang around and watch us as much as you want or need to, but you need to let us grieve you. We need to find a way to get past this.""I know. I'm sorry." Len shrugged and watched as she stared back toward his X-wing. "Tem more or less told me the same thing, as did Grandpa Luke."Crisara smirked ruefully. "They're wise men. You should listen to them."As another thought popped into her head, she turned to look at him again, but found he was gone. It didn't feel as if he was fully gone; just that he had sort of closed a curtain between them, where he could see her but she couldn't see him. It was almost how her grandfather Obi-Wan had described her grandmother Sera, within the Force, as being like a gentle breeze he could feel around him. It was the same to Crisara now, in regard to Len. He was gone, yet still near."Mom."Turning toward the front door to the villa, she found Shara standing there with her son Luke on her hip. "Zeith and I are going to be heading home soon with the boys, to get them ready for bed," she announced. "And I gathered up Len's clothes and found the lock of hair in that box in his bedside table. Leia found a larger box to put it all in for the burial, but I was also wondering if maybe you wanted to include his lightsaber. I mean, he never used it once going to New Academy. Wasn't sure if you wanted to completely part with it, or maybe pass it down to the grandbabies, like how Caro got Obi-Wan's lightsaber." She adjusted Luke on her hip due to him not being a baby anymore, and therefore being a little heavier now. He just liked to still be held and Shara was happy to let him be as clingy as he wanted for however long he wanted. She knew, one day, he'd get older and not want his mother to fuss over him, no different than she and her siblings did with their parents. "Maybe you wanted to keep it for yourself?"Crisara began to slowly walk toward her daughter and, upon getting nearer, held her arms out to take little Luke into her arms. Once the boy slipped happily over into her embrace, she held him tight against her chest and enjoyed the feeling of his little arms draping over hers and the way he smushed the side of his face down upon her shoulder. It was getting later, and he was nearing his bed time, so his sleepiness was obvious; which only served to make him extra cuddly. "I think I'd like to keep it for now. Your brother didn't say what he wanted to be done with it. And, I mean, I suppose I could always ask him, but…""Best to get used to separation."Crisara nodded. "Exactly." She believed in what she'd told her son — the need for him to keep his distance on the other side of the veil and not appear as often as any one of them would've liked. It didn't mean it was what they wanted, though. Wants and needs were often two completely different things. "We can't move on, to learn to live our lives without him, if he's always at our every beck and call." As they had the same idea, to return inside the house together, a deep sigh escaped her lips. "I think about how many times I would've loved to have had my parents at my side, at any given moment. But they weren't, even if they were keeping an eye out from the other side. And, in the end, I think I was better for it. It allowed me to lean on the living, as one should.""We'll have an eternity together someday," Shara remarked; which garnered an inquisitive look from her mother. She shrugged a bit sheepishly. "Len may have been hanging around in his room when I was packing the box. We may have had a brief conversation.""Sounds like the one I just had with him.""Yeah, I know," the younger female nodded, as she glanced toward the family room, where Zeith was beckoning their son Kes toward him so they could get a move on heading home. "I saw the two of you."A sad smile appeared upon Crisara's lips as she tipped her head against her younger grandson's. Holding little Luke suddenly kicked up the very recent memory of holding Len for the last time, just before he faded away, and it brought new tears to her eyes. "It's going to be so hard," she muttered as a sob escaped. "I never wanted to do this again. I never wanted to lose another child." With a big hug for her grandson, she casually handed him back to his mother. "Cherish your babies, Shara," she urged. "I hope you never have to go through what I've gone through — am going through."Shara frowned as she accepted her son back onto her arms. "I hope so, too." Glimpsing Zeith playfully chasing Kes around the sofa, she sighed deeply. "I used to have so many different fears when I was younger, and then I became a mother and all of them revolve around my children. And the worst of those fears is them getting hurt or worse. But watching you soldier on — it gives me hope that, should I suffer a similar fate, I could come out of it the other side with the same strength and resolve as you.""I'm sure you'd be stronger." Crisara gave a shake of her head. "But let's not talk about such things anymore. There's already enough sadness to wade through without adding terrible, hypothetical scenarios to it.""Deal."As Zeith succeeded in wrangling up Kes, and after the Grader family finally went home, the villa was considerably quieter. Those little boys sure made a lot of noise. But, at a time like this, the voices of those so young, beloved and full of life, were music to the ears. Caro and Zeda had taken an extra-long time in putting Lora to bed; wanting to squeak out as much time as possible with her, because of everything that had happened. Watching his parents lose another child, Caro and Zeda felt the strong desire to hold tight to theirs, especially since they believed she would be the only one they were going to be able to have. Leia and Nik were sitting quietly in the back garden, at the patio, just talking with each other as they, but mostly Leia, processed this grief together.Even the droids seemed to be grieving. C-3PO was abnormally quiet for one that could chat as much as Poe was capable. BD-80, Crisara's little droid that she'd had for fifty years, had hidden himself away somewhere in the villa. BB-8 just rolled around, aimlessly, from room to room; emitting sad beeps in an almost cooing manner, as if hoping to see Len just around the corner. As they were droids and not Force-sensitives, they were in the same boat as Poe. They would never see or hear Len again, just as they would never see or hear Temiri again.As night fell and lights were either dimmed or shut off completely, Crisara had gone around to make sure everything was closed up or put away. She wished Leia and Nik a goodnight after poking her head briefly outside the double doors off the back of the grand foyer. She passed Caro and Zeda as she headed up the stairs and they were headed down, and she wished them goodnight as well. When she turned left, she came to stop just outside Len's bedroom for a few moments, and she nearly expected him to still physically be in there, as if his death had just been a really bad dream and not a nightmarish reality.When she entered into her and Poe's room, she found him sitting up in bed with a datapad in his hands. She watched as he looked up briefly in her direction, but neither said anything. The moment she turned and slipped into the bathroom to get ready for bed, he returned his attention to whatever was on the screen in front of him. Once she had privacy in the bathroom, Crisara sank down onto the edge of the tub, gripped it with her hands, and stared at nothing in particular.She resumed the blank expression and the feeling as if she was an empty shell; just going through the motions. She was sure she wasn't fully processing her grief yet. Aside from the sobbing immediately following Len's becoming one with the Force, she hadn't really cried anymore since. That fleeting moment in the grand foyer with Shara and little Luke had been the closest she'd gotten in nearly two days.Crisara supposed, tomorrow, either during or after the burial of Len's clothes and lock of hair at the Dameron homestead on Yavin IV, she might finally relieve herself of the grief inside of her that was tight in her chest, but felt stuck there like a clog in a drain. Once it was dislodged, waterworks were sure to flood out.For now, she was just going to continue to go through the motions.  As with many mornings, Poe was awake first. He had been staring upward at the vaulted, stained-glass panel ceiling for about twenty minutes before tossing the blankets off of him and rolling out of bed. He got up and slipped quietly into the bathroom, took a shower a few tens of degrees cooler than Crisara usually preferred it, toweled off, brushed his teeth, combed through his hair and walked back out of the bathroom with only a towel around his waist. Even when he walked into their closet to pick out clothes and got dressed, Crisara was still asleep. Poe stood there and watched her with such sadness and longing.Sadness for their loss, longing for how much he loved her.He knew it was still too early for her, let alone the rest of the house to wake up, and he couldn't just stand there like a weirdo staring at his wife for a few more hours, so he needed to do something to pass the time.Poe left the bedroom; pausing to look down at the floor in the hallway where Len had been. After taking a moment to process where they'd all been just days before, he continued forward toward the breezeway and slowly descended the stairs. Almost as if in a daze, he walked through the lower level until he realized he'd made it to the kitchen, so he made an entire pot of caf. He stood at the sink, staring out the window, through the trees just beyond and glimpsed briefly Len's X-wing on the landing platform outside their hangar. For a brief moment, he felt a flutter deep in his chest as if his heart had jumped and did a somersault. It actually took his breath away.Placing his hand to his chest, he took a deeper breath; sensing a need to calm himself down as if he was getting worked up. "Get it together, Poe," he urged himself.A moment later, the pot of caf stopped percolating and he helped himself to a cup, and then he continued out of the kitchen to the home office off the back hallway. Inside the curved room, he opted to sit upon the couch; unaware that it was the same couch that both of Crisara's grandmothers had sat upon together, almost eighty-five years earlier, talking about their hopes for the future — for the families they wanted to build with the Jedi they loved. Poe stared upward at the painting above the fireplace, of the four differently-colored circles that interlocked with each other that represented Obi-Wan, Sera, Adamé and Crisara. He looked beside the fireplace, toward the bookshelf, and then toward the desk.He took a few sips of the caf in his hands but, after a while, almost seemed to forget about it. He dazed off, lost in thought, and wasn't sure how much time had passed until Leia entered the office and called out to him. With a startle, he lifted his head and realized he must've fallen back asleep. The cup of caf had fallen and spilled onto the floor; splashing the legs of his pants."Oh, shit," he grumbled."Are you okay?" she asked, stepping further inside the office.Poe scoffed. "That's a loaded question." Picking up the cup, he frowned and then got up to his feet. "Do me a favor and deploy a cleaning droid, will ya? I need to change my pants, apparently.""We're all ready to go, when you are."As he stepped past his daughter, he looked back at her. "Hell, how long was I asleep in here?" The question was more for himself than for her to answer."Dad, seriously." Leia grabbed at her father's arm. "Are you going to be okay today?""What's not to be okay about? It's not like we're burying your brother's body, are we? Just some clothes and a lock of hair." His response was gruff but passive. Without another word, he excused himself and made his way back upstairs, but not before handing off his now empty cup to Leia.  Hours later, the family was standing at the foot of the graves of Kes Dameron and Shara Bey Dameron, on the outskirts of the Dameron homestead on Yavin IV. Everyone was coupled up. Caro and Zeda were linked together with their arms. Zeith had his arm around Shara's back, holding her closely beside him. Leia and Nik were holding hands. But, as for Poe and Crisara, they merely stood next to each other because Crisara had been holding the box containing Len's clothes and the lock of his hair. On his insistence, Chewbacca was there and digging the hole where the box would be buried; not wanting the immediate family to have to do it.Behind them was Rey, Finn, and a few of the Jedi Knights and Masters, as well as Nevara and her husband Daz. Beyond them was Black Star Squadron Len's former boyfriend Yori, and his navigator friend Hahli Reindoll. Admiral Cova Nell, and Generals Aftab Ackbar and Kaydel Ko Connix also came. The Dameron grandchildren — Lora, Kes and Luke — were inside the home, being looked after by C-3PO, who was possibly having an equally stressful time trying to keep them wrangled. Then again, the golden protocol droid always seemed stressed about something.When the hole, which was only about three feet deep, was finished being dug, Chewbacca stepped aside and Crisara stepped forward. She crouched and then knelt down to set the box within the hole. Leaning forward, the Wookiee offered her a hand to help her back up to her feet, which she silently thanked him for with a simple nod of her head and a half smile. Then, with a tired sigh, she held her right hand out and, slowly, the soil beside the hole began to cascade downward to slowly fill it in. When the grave memorializing her youngest son was just a small mound of dirt, Crisara took a few steps backward and looked up at Poe, who looked back at her and shook his head."I can't do it," he whispered. "I can't…I can't speak."Caro, on the other side of him, overheard and gave his stepfather's hand a squeeze. "I'll do it, dad." With his head held high, the thirty-four-year-old walked forward and around to the other side of all three graves. With his hands clasped together in front of him, he sighed and offered a rueful smile toward all gathered. "My brother Len has passed from this life, and yet he remains," he began to say. "I don't mean as a spirit in the Force, though that is part of it. I mean that he remains in the lives he touched. Every one of us has memories we cherish, funny stories that will always bring smiles to our faces or make us laugh. Growing up, that seemed to be Len's purpose in life: to make us smile and laugh. To bring joy. Without him as he was, in this life, there will be a certain emptiness that will be difficult to get beyond, but we must take comfort in the knowledge that he's never far away. And, someday, when we all pass from this life and become one with the Force, in one way or another, we will all truly be together again." Swallowing back a small lump in his throat, Caro dropped his gaze toward the fresh mound of dirt. "Len wouldn't want us to mourn him. He wouldn't want us to stop living our lives. He'd been especially adamant about that at the end. And so we should live for him. Because of him. We should live our lives in ways that would make him proud. I'm sure, if we pulled the occasional prank on one another, he'd be especially proud; trickster that he once was as a teenager."There were a few small laughs that came from the twins and a few of the Jedi Knights, who had been at the receiving end of some of those pranks over the years. Others smiled a little. Poe and Crisara, however, were expressionless. Tired — mentally, emotionally, and a somewhat physically. They hadn't gotten any good sleep in the last few days, after all.Caro continued to say a few more words, but it became as white noise to the grieving parents.Afterward, there was to be no memorial gathering which would typically include a meal. There hadn't been one for Temiri, and neither was anything of the sort planned for Len. Sure, close family and friends were obviously still going to get together, likely back at the villa, to reminisce, but it wasn't going to be anything official, so to speak. Cova, Aftab and Kaydel left first, along with Black Star Squadron, Yori and Hahli; back to the transports, which they would then take to their respective Republic cruisers. Chewbacca hitched a ride with Rey and Finn and a few of the Jedi Knights and Masters, while Nevara and Daz left together. When it was just the Dameron family, Zeith ducked into the house and gathered up C-3PO and the three children; ushering them outside so the entire family could board the Millennium Falcon and return to Naboo together.Poe and Crisara had, understandably, been the last to leave the gravesite."Is he here?" Poe asked. "Len, I mean."Crisara turned toward him first and then glanced around. "No."Poe immediately sighed; his dejection obvious. "Is Tem, at all?""No. Neither are here right now.""Have you seen either lately?"As she began to step away, Crisara nodded. "Len, yesterday."Poe didn't budge. "You didn't say anything about it.""I'm telling you now," she answered. "Shara and Zeith were getting ready to leave with the kids, and I just…I dunno…""You told me you would let me know when you saw our boys or when they spoke to you." His tone was a bit angry."And I'm telling you now," Crisara repeated. "And I'm not the only one who has had a conversation with him since he passed.""Died. Our son died."Spinning around to face him, Crisara just stared. "Oh, really? I'd forgotten.""Hey — I have to rely on you lot for this kind of shit," he bit out and attempted to grab for her arm, but dropped his hand before he could. "But of course you're all fine about the way things are now. You still get to see and hear Temiri and Len. I don't. I can't!" he shouted.Crisara stepped closer to him and eyed him down. "I am in no way fine about any of this!" she shouted back. Quickly, she inhaled a breath and then placed a hand to her chest as she willed herself to keep calm. Lowering her voice, she continued, "I've held both sons in my arms as they faded away. I've lost three children. Three children who were cut down way too young in their lives; who had just begun to live their lives or never got to. Two were ripped out of existence because of the same man, another because he strove to be a pilot just like his father.""So, what you're saying is Len's dead because of me?""Don't put words in my mouth, Poe." Crisara turned from him and began to walk off toward the Falcon. "You know that's not what I meant.""But he is dead because of me," Poe insisted. "He wanted to be a pilot like me, like my mother before that. He wanted to prove himself. If I'd given him more attention when he was younger, maybe he would've stayed on the Jedi path. Maybe I could've dissuaded him from the path that claimed his life. You remember I gave up wanting to be a pilot anymore because I feared happening to me what happened to my mother. And, in a cruel twist of fate, it skipped me and took our son. I don't care what the doctors said: I know I passed it to him somehow — the increased genetic likelihood of getting that fucking disease.""And we've been over it a thousand times: you didn't." With an aggravated huff, she gestured at the Corellian light freighter. "Let's just go home. I don't feel like arguing."His nerves frayed from grief, Poe was feeling like he wanted to continue being combative. But then he saw Shara poking her head out from the top of the ship's boarding ramp; likely wondering what the hold up with her parents was. No doubt she could feel the frustration from the pair, which seemed more likely when she ducked away and gave them a wide berth when they ascended the ramp, one after the other. As Poe moved faster, he stepped around his wife and daughter and headed directly for the cockpit. Finding Caro in the pilot seat, he pointed upward with his thumb and ousted the younger man, who instead moved over to the co-pilot's seat. Crisara, meanwhile, turned and went in the opposite direction; to Poe's and her owner's suite which had formerly been the rear cargo hold. The door shut behind her, leaving Shara to frown and retreat to the main hold where she joined her husband and children. Zeda was already there as well, looking out for her daughter, while Leia and Nik absconded toward the crew quarters; for a bit of peace and quiet from the incessant chatter of the Littles.The Millennium Falcon had taken off without a hitch, with Poe at the controls and Caro as his navigator, and soon enough they'd left Yavin IV's orbit and shot forward through hyperspace, and it wasn't lost on Poe that light-speed travel was the major culprit in losing his baby boy."Fucking hyperspace," he muttered, nearly inaudibly."What?" Caro questioned; playing it dumb, but he'd heard."Nothing," Poe contended.With a simple nod of his head, not wanting to rile up any further negativity, Caro opted to just remain quiet. He didn't even bother with small talk. He knew Poe could be chatty, but he also knew Poe loathed small talk. So, the only noise wafting in the air came down the cockpit access corridor from the main hold, and it was the kids, which was a welcomed distraction.For Caro, anyway.For Poe, it merely made him think about when Len was that young; jabbering about and playing with his sisters, who were nearer in age than either Temiri or Caro. He clenched his jaw and held his gaze forward nearly the entire trip home to Naboo. He fought hard to not pay too much attention to the sounds of his grandchildren because of how raw the pain was that he was feeling for his son — no, both sons he'd lost. And it made him feel further guilt; still convinced he was somehow to blame for Len's death, but also guilty for thinking his grief could somehow compare to Crisara's. And then he blamed himself for upsetting her, but he was feeling a bit too proud at the moment to apologize.So, silence on his part continued.  That night, the remaining siblings and their significant others stayed up long after the Littles had been put to bed, and even after both their parents had gone to bed. They sat around outside in the back garden, drinking wine and finding joy with each other as they told funny stories about both fallen brothers.Meanwhile, up in their bedroom, Poe and Crisara were lying in bed, but neither had fallen asleep yet. They were on their sides, backs to one another, when Crisara began to wiggle about under the covers, and then eventually rolled over and tapped Poe on the shoulder."What?" he grumbled.When he shifted onto his back, Crisara threw the covers off them both and climbed up onto his lap with little to no hesitation. "Fuck me.""What?" he asked again, as if he hadn't heard her correctly.Hiking up the bottom of her nightgown revealed she wasn't wearing a stitch underneath. Leaning forward, she placed her hands upon his shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Just fuck me, okay? I need to feel something instead of grief. However you want, just fuck me. Please."Poe sighed. "I can't." Reaching down between them, she attempted to grab at his manhood but he swatted her hand away. "Cris, I can't right now.""Oh, okay," she hopped off him without a second thought and began to walk around toward her side of the bed. "When you're sad and want to fuck it all away, it's okay. But when I want to, you can't."He immediately recalled the night of his sixtieth birthday, just two years earlier. "Our son hadn't just died," he asserted; pushing to sit up."No. He'd just been handed his death sentence only two months prior," Crisara flung back at him; looking for her underwear. Finding them, she crouched down and began to shimmy them back on.Poe watched her in the darkness of the room. He watched her stalk over toward the door. "Where are you going?""I'm gonna sleep in Len's room.""Cris. Come on."Without another word, she slipped out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind her, which she immediately regretted because she forgot about her grandchildren being asleep for a moment. She paused, and listened carefully, but the house was rather well built, or built stronger now, and the kids were up on the third floor and on the other end of the house, so she wasn't too surprised when she sensed none of the kids stirring away from the noise. Letting out a sigh for small blessings, she slipped into Len's room, stalked over to his bed, curled herself under the blankets, and took some comfort in how his scent lingered in the room; though not on the bedding, which had to be changed because of the blood that he'd vomited on his last night of life.Poe, alone in their room, flopped backwards against his pillows with a frustrated sigh and just stared upward at the vaulted, stained-glass ceiling panels again."Fuck."  The next morning, over breakfast, Caro was talking with his siblings about ordering the memorial pedestal for the back garden as well as a grave marker for the burial site on Yavin IV. Poe had entered the dining room, catching the tail end of the conversation but made no comment on any of it. He took a seat at his usual place at the head of the table, near the kitchen, when Nik wandered out of the kitchen with a cup of caf in his hands and then sat down beside Leia. The grandchildren's voices could be heard from the family room, where Zeith and Zeda were with them."Is mom still asleep?" Shara wondered; looking down toward her father as she nursed her cup of tea.Poe shrugged. "She slept in Len's room last night.""I know she sleeps later than you, but even she's usually downstairs by now, especially with a house filled with the Littles," Caro added with a small smile.Pushing her chair back, Leia stood up. "I'll make her a cup of tea and bring it up to her," she remarked. "If she wants to spend the day in bed, who are we to judge right now?"And so, Leia did just that. She went into the kitchen, made a cup of ginberry tea the way her mother liked it — the way great-grandma Sera used to apparently make it, and took it upstairs. When she paused outside of Len's room, though, something felt different. She didn't feel a presence inside. She still opened the door and stuck her head in to the room, either way, but found it was empty. Figuring that her mother had probably gotten up and gone back to her own room to get a shower in to start the day, Leia poked her head into her parents' bedroom instead. But she heard no noise coming from the direction of the en-suite bathroom nor was there any presence in the entire master bedroom.Still, she called out, just in case, "Mom?"Leia was met with silence.Holding tight to the cup of tea, she went back downstairs and paused just outside the archway into the dining room.Sensing her uncertainty, Shara immediately turned toward her twin sister. "What's wrong?""I…" Leia began. "I don't think mom's here.""Maybe she went next door," Nik suggested, looking over at her from the rim of his cup as he took a sip of its contents. "Or back to Theed.""No." Leia shook her head. "She feels…"Attuning herself to, more or less, the same wavelength of thought, Shara frowned. "Far away," she completed her twin's sentence."Yeah." Stepping into the dining room, Leia set the cup of tea down onto the table and then continued forward toward the kitchen; ignoring all the eyes that followed after her. "Dad!"Poe turned and looked over his shoulder. "Yeah?""Len's X-wing is gone," she called back from the other room.While Poe turned his gaze down toward the table, to process what that revelation could mean, Caro and Shara shared looks with each other. Nik, on the other hand, seemed wholly unbothered.  In the middle of virtually nowhere, by galactic standards, but within the Unknown Regions, a few porgs were pecking curiously at the landing gear of Len's x-wing while a few others were merely using it for shelter as torrential rain poured down from Ahch-To's stormy, grey skies. About a hundred yards up the sloping gradient of Temple Island, Crisara trudged along the slick, stone steps that had been there for at least a few thousand years. She had already moved past the old Jedi Village and was now continuing further up. After a short while, she reached the top of the island, the Jedi Temple, and found shelter within; sitting down upon the ground beside the font with the mosaic that depicted the Prime Jedi in a state of balance and meditation.Drenched to the bone, with her graying blonde hair matted alongside her dampened face, Crisara folded her legs underneath her and clasped her hands together in her lap and just stared out toward the direction of the vantage point with the meditation ledge, which overlooked the choppy oceans.Crisara closed her eyes and she focused all her energy on seeking out the sense of calm that seemed to be alluding her. However, that calm continued to remain only just within arm's reach. Meditation didn't look as if it would be in the cards for her anytime soon, so she would have to focus her energy elsewhere. Not knowing how to deal with the emotions vibrating inside of her was feeling a bit like restless leg syndrome. She had to keep moving about. She got back up to her feet and she began pacing; taking in as much detail as she could about the interior of the temple. She touched her hands to the rugged stone, feeling the Force energy within like an echo of the countless Jedi who had passed through and meditated here over the thousands of generations before; like seeing a star in the sky but knowing its light had gone out so long ago, but was only just reaching you. She wondered how many Jedi Knights and Masters touched these walls, sat on this floor or upon that ledge out there, hoping for peace of mind and receiving it. She wondered how many didn't receive it.Turning toward the opening to the vantage point, she stepped over to it and was immediately hit in the face with mist from the rain. When she stepped up to the ledge and slowly sat down on it, she was once again getting drenched by the torrents of water from the storm clouds up above. The rainstorm, thunder and lightning aside, was practically deafening. She could get brutally attacked and scream for help, and no one would hear her, even if there was anyone other than the Lanai Caretakers there on the island with her that could come to her aid.It actually gave her a rather good idea, though.If she couldn't channel her focus into calm, into meditation, she supposed there were other ways to release the buildup of stress, anger and grief churning inside of her more turbulent than the dark water of the sea around the island.Sitting cross-legged upon the meditation ledge, she gripped the slick, rocky side and inhaled a deep breath while closing her eyes momentarily. The second her eyes fluttered back open, she released that breath just as deeply, but in a resounding scream. Everything she had in her she tried to release and something about it reminded her of when she'd realized that pang of loss after Adera's death. She felt something akin to a shockwave ripple outward from her. She felt the ground beneath her quake. She could feel the alarm and confusion felt among the Lanai Caretakers and other sentient lifeforms on and around the island; wondering what the hell that was — whatever it was.Feeling only slightly relieved, Crisara inhaled and exhaled one more scream.The ground quaked even rougher. She could hear a few rocks and pebbles rolling down from the tip top of the temple. She felt the meditation ledge shift underneath her slightly. She could feel what she was certain to be some porgs taking flight to flee whatever it was she'd unleashed.Tapped out and emotionally drained, Crisara tipped backward onto the ledge and let fatigue claim her.  Sometime later, either mere hours or an entire day, the storm had passed and the sun was out, drying up what it could. The ground was still heavily saturated with rainwater, but the rocky paths up to the temple and around both the old Jedi village, as well as the Caretaker village were pretty dry.
"What are you doing?"
The gruff voice filled with rebuke entered Crisara's ears and caused her to stir. Lifting a hand to her face, she squinted as the light from Ahch-To's dual suns offended her senses. Yawning as she properly woke, she slowly sat up and looked around; realizing she'd fallen asleep upon the meditation ledge amidst the storm and somehow managed to not roll off of it. When she turned to the right, she noticed the familiar blue haze of a figure approaching from behind her, from within the temple."Hello to you, too," she grumbled, wiping at her eyes."Why are you here, of all places? Don't tell me you're exiling yourself. There's been enough self-imposed exile in your family tree, don't you think? Have you learned nothing from Obi-Wan or me?" Luke turned and frowned at his daughter. "Hiding away never solves anything.""Who says I'm hiding?"
"You told the droid to turn off your X-wing's tracker."
Crisara frowned. "Not my X-wing."
"Well, it's not Len's anymore, so…"
Turning, Crisara glared upward at her father's Force ghost. "Shut up.""Crissy." His tone wasn't chastising. It was merely paternal. The way his brow knitted together in concern was enough to convey it alone. "I know this is a difficult time.""No. You don't know." She swiveled at the waist until she was facing the entryway back into the temple. The moment she stood up and began to step toward it, she paused when she felt the front of the ledge crack and then drop into a freefall; breaking apart further and crumbling all the way down the cliffside. She lifted her gaze from the damage and then upward toward her father again, who looked back at her as well."I don't know what it's like to lose my children like you have, but I understand terrible loss. And I know you're still stronger than you realize, because your grief broke that plinth in half." He gestured to the fragmented stone slab. "That stood there for a millennia. And believe you me, it has seen its fair share of rage and grief and bursts of anger, not just an unknowing amount of reflection and meditation. Also, you're gonna want to make amends with the Caretakers. You also did some damage down below."An aggrieved sigh escaped her lips. "I didn't mean to.""I know you didn't." As she turned to slip back into the temple's cavernous, stone interior, Luke followed with his spectral hands clasped in front of him. "Why are you here?" he repeated the question that had awoken her. "Why aren't you home, with your family?"With a side gesture out toward the vantage point, Crisara just stared at her father. "Because I felt something like that would happen if I stayed, maybe? I could feel it boiling inside of me." She shook both of her hands in front of her chest. "I can still feel it now. I was trying to stay calm, I was trying to move through the grief, but I feel like it's just one loss after another. My mother's vision from sixty years ago was supposed to be that of me having this long, amazing life where I was going to be happy, but it just feels like more bad than good is happening. More sad, than happy. When I go back over the last thirty years alone. I lost Adera, Han and you all within — what, a week? My daughter, my uncle and my father. Fast forward a year, I lose Leia and Ben in the same day? My aunt and my cousin. A few months later, I lost Gram."
"But consider what you gained — the family you built upward from the metaphorical rubble."
"And consider what I lost," she countered. "I nearly lost my life." She pointed at her midsection. "I'm practically a droid these days. My father-in-law died, and then my son Temiri was murdered, and by the same man who had a very personal hand in Adera's death. And my pupil, who I risked my life for, in order to free him from abuse and servitude — it turns out he had his own hand in Temiri's death. Maybe it was indirect, but it was still a betrayal. And knowledge of it put a wedge in the relationship between my children. Leia took off with him and barely ever comes home. Though, yes, she came home for Len and things seemed like they've been getting better between Caro and the twins, and with Poe, in regard to Nik…" Crisara sighed heavily and stepped away from her father, around the mosaic font, but not to exit the temple. It was just more of that sort of restless leg syndrome again. She needed to keep moving. If she stayed still for too long, she got antsy. "Len…" she practically whispered. "My baby boy." She lifted her sad, tired blue eyes — her father's eyes — and looked back at him with them. "We had to watch him wither away and then fade away." She turned more fully to face her father. "I've lost half of my children. Adera should still be here. She should be thirty-six with a life of her own. Temiri should be here; married to Sessani. Maybe even a father. He would've been thirty-nine. Nearly forty. And Len…he had so many hopes. So many dreams. Why were they taken so young? Why is fate such a…a…cruel bitch?"Luke opened his mouth to say something but he could sense Crisara still needed him more as a soundboard, and didn't really need any sort of response from him just yet. He just stood there; watching, listening."Everyone else's grief, Poe's grief and anger. My grief and anger. I couldn't move through it any longer. I can't pretend I'm okay. I can't just meditate it all away. If I didn't leave and find some sort of escape I was going to finish what Caro stopped me from doing thirty years ago. I would've brought the villa down." She gestured toward the vantage point again. "That out there, that's nothing. Whatever I did to the villages down below, I know I could've done worse." Once more she instead shifted gears by gesturing at her chest, but this time she smacked against it with the flat of her hand, only to give it another slight shake as if she was about to start seizing. "I can still feel it brewing inside me, wanting to get out. It's like a beast that wants to break free and lay waste to everything in sight and it feels like a constant battle to keep it sedated. It feels like a battle I'm any moment away from losing. I don't like how it feels and I didn't want my family to watch me fight it. I didn't want to be responsible for destroying my home or hurting my family. I wouldn't be able to come back from it." Slowly, she began to approach her father. "All my life, long before you told me the truth of who you are to me, you always did tell me I was stronger than I know. Leia always told me the same thing. I never truly believed it myself until the day Adera died. It was like the beast inside finally stirred, but didn't fully awake. The moment I decided to jump from upwards of a thousand or more feet in the air, and then landed upon the ground without a scratch, I finally understood what I was capable of. Sure, I didn't land gracefully on my feet, but it was admittedly impressive. I took on the strongest Sith Lord ever with Rey, and we defeated him. I've seen the terrible things I can do to protect the people I love, and for the sake of the galaxy. I've seen how brutal I can be and not care much about it." Her mind drifted for a moment to Papa and his thugs, and then to Mama, on Nar Shaddaa years ago. With a still expression upon her face, she practically bored holes into her father's transparent face. "Imagine what I could do if I let my anger and grief get the better of me; if I wasn't just protecting anyone, but instead projecting. If I slipped up for just one moment, who could stop me? I can feel it in me now." Crisara rolled her eyes, but merely at herself, and even managed to chuckle a bit. "If I wanted to split this entire island in two and sink it into the depths of the ocean, I could.""So, what's your plan, then? Exiling yourself, after all? Hiding away because you're afraid of what you could do, not what you will do?"Crisara tilted her head slightly. "You were right to keep who I was to you hidden from everyone," she remarked; looking away. "Can you imagine if I'd been the one Snoke or Palpatine had latched onto instead of Ben?" Shoving her hands into the pockets of her still-damp cloak, she threw a look over her shoulder at him. "If I'd been the one to burn your Jedi Temple down, would you have come here and hid away? Or would you have joined the Resistance and fought to bring me back from the dark side? Could you have brought me back? Would the Resistance have won?" Facing forward, she began to walk over to the Temple's only entrance and exit. "Do you ever think about the what-ifs?""Crissy…" Luke was becoming increasingly concerned about her state of mind. "What are you going to do?""Relax, daddy dear, I'm not about to go off the deep-end right now. That's why I came here," she assured. "You said I did some damage down below, so I'm gonna do what I can to fix what I can." She shrugged as she slipped through the opening and began to descend the rocky steps out of the temple. "It'll give me something to focus on."Luke emitted a breathless sigh. Casting his gaze back out toward the vantage point and the broken ledge, he frowned deeply. "Ada," he muttered. "She needs us both right now."  
One month later
Poe stood at the large windows in his office at the Royal Palace, staring downward at the view of the multiple waterfalls nearby. Twenty years ago, the office he kept as Security Chief faced the Palace Plaza and other bustling streets of Theed. But with the elevated position came the elevated view, which often helped elevate the mood when he was feeling particularly stressed or overwhelmed.Like now."She's not dead. I'd have felt it. And she hasn't cut herself off from the Force because I can still feel her."Poe turned and looked over his shoulder toward his desk, where the holographic bust of Rey was facing him. The noticeable lines of age were more prominent in her face, as were the greys in her hair. "You share that bond with her and yet you still don't know where she is?""You know we can communicate across the cosmos, beyond light-years, with each other. We can hear and see each other. Once or twice we've been able to physically reach out to one another. But we've never seen each other's surroundings. It's how it's always been. That has never changed. But she's doing something." Rey seemed perplexed; as if trying to piece together a very convoluted puzzle. "She's not cutting herself off from the Force, but she seems to be cutting herself off from me, as if she knows I'd be the one to reach out to her before anyone else, and therefore being able to possibly suss out where she's gone.""You can't think of where she might have gone?""Can't you?" Rey countered. "You're the one who's been married to her for nearly thirty years."While her expression had an ever-so-slight hint of amusement to it, Poe had only what could be interpreted as 'resting bitch face.' He was not amused. He was not able to find even an ounce of amusement in the situation. He was sad, he was angry, he was scared, he was worried. He was feeling a lot of things. Amused was not one of them."If I had any idea where she would've gone, I'd go there and bring her home. If she doesn't want to be found, I can't imagine she would go anywhere we've been before, or any place that held special meaning for us. It would be too on the nose," Poe remarked with a tired sigh. Reaching forward, he grabbed for the back of his chair and casually moved to sit down at his desk. Rey's gaze followed him accordingly. "When we found the note she left behind, I'm not sure what I expected," he continued; his gaze drifting toward nothing in particular on his desk's surface. "I never thought she would just get up and leave without a goodbye — after all we've been through. I'm still trying to process it all.""She didn't say she wasn't coming back, at least; just that she needed to be alone for a while.""Yeah, but how long is a while going to be? What if she decides to never come back? What if something happens to her and I never know? What if something happens to Caro or the twins, or the grandkids? She'd never forgive herself and then she'd really be gone for good. And I just…"Rey studied him with concern. "You just what, Poe?"He tipped his head down; trying to hold back all his feelings and the tears, as best he could. "I miss her," he all but whispered. "I can't do any of this without her." Poe looked upward, toward Rey's hologram, and gestured around him at nothing specific. "In thirty years, I've never been kept apart from her this long. It's only been a month, but it feels like an eon. The longest we ever went was maybe a few days." He sighed again; deeper this time. "Imagine being right-handed—""I am right-handed.""—and then pretend you've just had your entire right arm severed from your body, but you've been given no robotic replacement. No cybernetic prosthetic. You've just been left to flounder and struggle. That's how I feel," he detailed. "She's part of me. She's one of the most important parts of me and I can't function without her."
"Of course you can."
Poe shrugged. "Maybe I just don't want to."Watching the way his dark eyes drifted downward again, and the sorrow that was continuous and unmistakable, Rey suddenly wished she could teleport and be there right then to give him a reassuring hug. "How have you been, Crisara aside? How are you coping?""Not very well," he admitted. "Leia's left again with Nik for who knows where. She'd only come back these last two years because of Len, and it was nice to have a fuller house again, whether at the Governor's Mansion or the villa. It didn't matter the reason why she was back or that Nik was with her. It was just nice. I'd kinda hoped she'd continue to stay on. But she was gone a week after Cris left. She mentioned keeping her ear to the ground and doing what she could to figure out where her mother may have gone, but she has a life of her own to lead, doing who knows what." Poe shrugged again. "I wish I knew what her life was like with Nik, when they're on Lianna with the Santhes, or wherever else across the galaxy they travel around to. She never opens up about it, and I understand it's because she knows I'm just not a fan of Nik and likely never will be. I hate the wedge it's created — that he made deeper because of what he did."
"Do you think you can ever get past it?"
"No." Poe's answer was quick and resolute.
"Not even for Leia's sake?"
He hesitated in answering that. Of course he'd do anything for his children, but it might be begrudgingly. "I don't know," was the only reply he gave.
"How are you doing, in regard to Len?"
Poe's gaze shot upward to Rey's hologram. "I don't want to talk about that."
"It might be helpful. It's not good to bottle your emotions up. You need to talk through your grief, and it doesn't have to be with me. Finn's always a ready and willing ear. We both know that. Caro and the twins will always be ready and willing to be there for their father, not matter where they go. You have other friends who care and want you to be well."
"I don't want to talk about it, Rey," he repeated, brusquely. "In fact, I have to go."Before she could get another word in edgewise, Poe reached forward and hit a button on his holoprojector to abruptly cease their communication. He felt a little bad in doing it like that, but he brushed it off. As he sat back in his chair, slouching slightly, BB-8 rolled out from around the back of the sofa at the far end of the office. He'd nearly forgot his longtime droid had been there with him. The little astromech had been so quiet and out of sight for the last hour and change. When BB-8 chirped droidspeak at him, Poe glowered and looked away."I know it was rude, but I also don't care right now."BB-8 beeped more aggressively."No, I'm not going to apologize." Poe looked down and watched as the droid rolled over toward his legs, and ejected its utility interface arm, only to promptly zap the side of Poe's shin. "Ow, dammit." Off BB-8 tipping his domed head backward and beeping a taunt back at him, the Governor of Naboo sighed. "Alright. I'll consider apologizing." When BB-8 began to move closer to zap him again, Poe lifted his leg upward and out of the way and pointed irately at him. "Zap me again and I'll sell you off for parts."  
Another two months later
It was a lovely day on Temple Island. The sun was shining, even if it was occasionally getting obscured by the increasing amount of clouds that were getting larger and more grey; alluding to more rain on the horizon. Though, it didn't seem like it would be some major washout. Likely just a passing storm that would last only an hour, from start to finish, once it arrived.At the moment, Crisara was meandering through the Caretaker village, pushing a wooden wheelbarrow filled with clean linens that had just finished drying on a line. Despite only being of average height herself for a human female, she was still considerably taller than most if not all of the Caretakers, which made it easier for her to do a lot of the hanging and taking down of the linens and other clothing that had been washed and needed to be dried. Plus, her arms were longer than theirs, which was an added benefit, height aside.Even though her initial rage scream had caused some remarkable damage throughout the island, the Caretakers didn't seem to hold the slightest grudge against her. It was either because they still remembered and respected her father, and therefore her by extension, or they were aware she was going through something terrible and didn't have it in them to blame her for being 'in her feelings.' The Caretakers were the females of the Lanai species, and many of them were mothers. So, they could understand her grief. And, possibly, they were impressed she didn't go on to do what they were acutely aware that she could've done to the island if she'd chosen to.What was a few toppled or badly damaged homes, when the entire island could've been destroyed?And Crisara had been actively working alongside them for three months now, to help with any and all repairs; even to things that had been damaged for years and not by her, but just from the passage of time.It had given her a purpose, for the time being; something other than her grief or anger to focus on.She had been acutely aware that the Force ghosts of both her parents had been watching her. Sometimes she would see them in the distance, sometimes it was just a feeling of their presence nearby. Sometimes she heard their voices, but she hadn't felt the need to respond or actively acknowledge them. She'd gone so long without them that she'd grown used to not needing them, even if and when she wanted them around.When not working around the island, helping with repairs or chores, she spent a considerable amount of time in the hut that her father had once called home for six years. She hadn't really brought anything with her, aside from a small tote containing two spare outfits and undergarments, and a few toiletries. She'd lived a modest life in her youth on Ossus, when in training to be a Jedi. She could do it again with ease. She knew how to fish. Those damn porgs could be a nuisance but they were also so impossibly cute, so she wasn't about to kill and cook any of them. She could survive on whatever she could retrieve from the sea or what the Lanai offered her. She could boil the salt out of the sea water and drink that, or harvest some green milk from any one of the bathing thala-sirens. There were also plenty of edible plants she could eat raw or cook up over an open fire, in the bowls or pots the Caretakers had given to her. Along with the thin mattress and linens they had provided her with, Crisara could see how she could easily spend years here like her father did.She knew she wouldn't. But, for now, it worked.
"Are you going to go home yet?"
Her gait had faltered and she stopped pushing the wheelbarrow behind one of the Caretakers. Discreetly, she looked over her left shoulder and spotted Len's Force ghost this time. It had been his first appearance to her since the day before his memorial. She returned her focus straight ahead but closed her eyes. "No."
"Mom."
"Have you told the others where I am?""No, I haven't." Crisara couldn't see it, but she could feel the frown in his voice. "I want to," he continued. "I want you to go home.""I can't right now."
"Why?"
"If you have to ask, Len, then you can't understand why," she retorted; lifting the wheelbarrow up off its wooden legs. As she began to continue forward with it again, she added, "Please."She didn't have to elaborate on what the 'please' referred to.He understood she was still grieving him and him popping in on her wasn't helping her move on or work through her grief however she needed.Len watched his mother walk away with that wheelbarrow; winding through the Caretaker village and only pausing here and there to hand out the freshly cleaned linens to any of the female Lanai that needed them."She'll come to appreciate your presence in time," Adamé assured, as her Force ghost appeared beside her youngest grandson. She placed a hand upon his shoulder and watched as he turned to smile at her.It wasn't so much a smile of appreciation that she was there with him at all, or that she was there to also keep an eye out on his mother, her daughter. He was just a little amused still that, despite both of them being dead and both being Force ghosts, he was physically older than his maternal grandmother by three years, as she had been twenty-two at death and he'd been twenty-five. What increased his amusement was when his grandfather Luke also appeared just then, next to Adamé. Their physical age gap was much greater, even if they'd only been born six months apart. Len obviously knew it was simply that Luke had been offered three more decades of life than Adamé, and therefore got to grow older and more weathered, but seeing them together was like seeing some dirty, old man who'd robbed the cradle.Beyond that amusement, he found comfort of his own in them also being there for him. He couldn't hug his parents anymore, but he could hug his grandparents. And he could hug his brother Temiri, his great-grandfathers, and his great-aunt Leia and cousin Ben, if he wanted. He was dead, but he still had family to surround himself with on the other side. He wouldn't ever be alone.He just didn't want his mother to live like this, just to get through grieving him. He wanted her to heal her broken heart together with his father."She's going to be okay," Luke insisted; looking around the love of his life to their grandson. "Your mother won't be forced to return. She'll leave when she's ready." He gestured between Adamé and himself. "She's too much like us.""Powerful?" Len assumed."Well, sure. That, too…" Luke nodded.Adamé smirked. "He meant she's stubborn.""Oh," Len chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so."All three watched after Crisara as she gradually disappeared out of their immediate line of sight."We have things under control here. Why not keep an eye on your siblings or your father?" Adamé suggested. "I sense the latter could use your presence, even if he isn't aware of it."With a nod of agreement, Len took his leave and faded away from view, only for Luke and Adamé to do the same thing moments later.  
A few months — and another Life Day — later
Poe had returned to the villa for the holiday, but it didn't feel like much of one this year.It was his first one without Crisara since during the war, thirty years earlier. He remembered celebrating it during those months on Haven. The entire Resistance had found a way to take a day to just take it easy. They didn't have any decorations to hang up, nor did they have anything in the way of gifts to exchange, but they had each other. They could all share a meal together with what little foodstuffs they had at that frigid base. And Poe had especially enjoyed being able to slip away with Crisara, onto the Millennium Falcon, where they had been able to spend a couple hours alone to keep each other warm, so to speak.That had been his first Life Day with her and they had spent every single one together since. So, to not have her around this year put such an ache on his heart.Not having Len or Temiri around because they were dead was another ache on his heart.Leia choosing to spend the holiday with Nik wherever wasn't necessarily an ache, because it wasn't the first time she'd opted to not come home for Life Day, but it was certainly a kick while he was down. With what they'd all lost and without her mother there, he'd hope Leia would want to come home. But, he supposed, maybe it was just hard on her, too. Maybe staying away this year was how she was working through her own grief.Naboo's latest monarch, Queen Murrilla, had insisted he take a month off from his duties as Governor, from two weeks before the holiday, to two weeks after. Typically most officials in all levels of the government did, but the reigning Monarch and Governor didn't usually get that same break as they were at the top of the food chain, in a sense, and needed more. However, after a row Poe had with another member of the Royal Advisory Council, which ended with that member flat on his ass with a busted lip, and Poe with a few bruised knuckles, the Queen had seen through the build-up of tension. Sure, the other member of the Council had it coming, because he'd been unnecessarily uncouth and insensitive to Poe's plight, which had led to recent distractions during the weekly meetings, but the altercation hadn't needed to escalate to violence, either. Understanding that Poe was going through it, and that he'd been through the ringer more than enough times with personal grief, while barely taking downtime for himself, Queen Murrilla had insisted he take the time off.He needed time to spend with his family; to work on healing his broken heart while he continued the grieving process. He couldn't do that if he had his nose buried in work. It would just be a distraction and prevent any healing from taking place.But Poe couldn't heal without the one person who could always soothe his soul.Shara and Zeith had spearheaded organizing the food and desserts for the holiday because, with Crisara absent, Caro and Zeda had their hands full with handling the Kenobi Academy next door. Poe was trying his best at keeping his grandchildren occupied, but his mind kept drifting and he occasionally disappeared into the home office or the art studio. What he did in either room, no one really knew. He watched Lora and Kes help their parents decorate the artificial wroshyr tree, but Poe found himself absentmindedly reaching out for Crisara's hand, as he normally would. Every year she'd be sitting there beside him while the kids decorated the tree, played games around the table or decorated cookies. And Len would always make them laugh; whether the joke he told was appropriate or not.This year, Poe was far from being in the holiday spirit.He went up to bed earlier than normal, but he didn't go right to sleep. Much of the time he spent sitting up in bed, watching that stupid holodrama with the over-the-top ongoing storylines that had always been Crisara's guilty pleasure. It was a mild distraction, but eventually the show ended and he turned off the wall-mounted holoprojector. He rolled onto his side and faced Crisara's side of the bed; reaching his hand out and wishing she'd come home already.Sometimes he felt angry at her for taking off, and sometimes he felt sad. And then he remembered how they held Len for the last time, and how he'd watched Len fade away before his eyes, and he got even sadder, but he didn't have Crisara to hold and help him through this terrible chapter in their lives."Cris," he whispered; curling his fingers into a fist and shoving his hand up under her pillow. "I need you here."  At the same moment, across the galaxy on Temple Island, it was only late afternoon. It was once again storming, and Crisara was taking shelter inside her hut. The night before, the Visitors returned to the island after another month away and, while the Lanai didn't observe Life Day, Crisara did, so she was able to join in their revelry and feel a sense of familiarity in the togetherness of it all. However, she had sat alone, a bit on the outskirts, during this monthly Festival of Return; simply listening to the music and watching the dancing. She ate a fried fish and salted vegetable kebob that had been offered to her and drank from a mug of some sort of ale that tasted much like the thala-siren milk that had been spiced and mixed with…seaweed? It wasn't good, but it wasn't terrible either, and she sure as hell wasn't going to offend her hosts by appearing ungrateful. She had only taken a few sips and set it aside while she continued to watch them all.And now, the next day, she was thinking about the tail-end of the festival, where long-term romances were rekindled. She'd taken her leave then, before she got an eyeful. The Lanai were a monotonous and modest people, but they could get a bit frisky with each other during this monthly, multi-day celebration. The night before had been the first night and there would be at least two more nights, but Crisara had no plans on joining them again. Her second month on Ahch-To, she'd observed a good deal of every night, but always bowing out before it got too salacious.As the rain pelted the stone exterior of her hut, she was lying upon her back on the thin mattress that was her bed, and sighed heavily because she missed her bed at the villa, but she missed her family more. In nearly six months away, her heart ached still from the loss, as well as the yearning she felt; wanting to be in Poe's arms when she went to sleep and woke up. But it had been difficult. Every time she felt she was fine and could just take off and go home, she felt like something was keeping her glued in place. She couldn't move. She felt anxious and, on a few occasions, she jumped into that gaping hole covered in black vines of water and with a resounding splash into the underground lake that she'd discovered there over forty years ago. When she floated upward toward the surface, she swam over to the rocky ledge at the side and pulled herself up, but kept her back to the obsidian cavern wall of the cave.She had felt the pull from the dark side within the cave but it hadn't been the reason for her occasional jumps down into it. And she didn't need to see whatever the wall might show her. She knew it would show her some distorted, shadowy images of those she wanted or those she couldn't have in her life anymore. Either way, it would just taunt her or confuse her. No, she entered the cave — oddly — for how the negative vibrations within her seemed to be negated by the negative vibrations of the cave's strong connection to the dark side of the Force. They canceled each other out and she was able to finally meditate and find the calm she needed, and feel the warmth of the light side.She felt peace there.Luke had found it perplexing; how she willingly sought out a dark side location only to be able to find the light within it.Adamé, who had spent sixty years on the other side, better understood that it was never so cut and dry. It wasn't just the dark side or the light side. It wasn't just good or bad. There was a grey area. A balance. She could see that their daughter could find calm in the chaos, as well as chaos in the calm. Crisara was able to clear her mind and figure out her next steps in the mirror cave. It was basically just another metaphor for her life. It forced her to push aside all the cold darkness in her way and focus straight ahead on the warmth and light in her life. It helped her come to terms with the sadness she felt and want to get through it. It helped her unglue herself, so to speak, and get moving.Her yearning for home, for her husband, for her children, for her grandchildren, for the life she'd absconded from — it became stronger and stronger. Stronger than the behemoth of a storm raging outside.At the base of her neck, she felt the hairs standing on end, and there was an unmistakable charge in the air, like electricity."Hi, Rey," she muttered."So, this is me, trying again."Turning her head to the left, Crisara stared across the hut and saw Rey just standing there, even though she knew she wasn't actually there, no different than Crisara wasn't actually lying down wherever Rey was. Their connection in the Force as a dyad (previously a triad, when Ben was alive) had never wavered or weakened. If anything, it had gotten stronger as they got older and as they years went along. They just didn't rely on this part of their connection as often anymore, mostly because of how their lives kept them so busy and pulled in different directions most of the time."I won't be here forever," Crisara insisted; her hands crossed over her abdomen."And where exactly is here?""I'm surprised, you of all people, haven't figured it out yet. My parents and Len know, but I've been assured by them they wouldn't say a word, because I've needed this, and I didn't want anyone coming to drag me back before I was ready."Rey knitted her brow together and sat down. For Crisara, it looked like she was sitting on the wooden chest on the other side of the hut, but she was likely sitting on a chair somewhere. The younger female, though not as young anymore at forty-nine, narrowed her eyes in contemplation and study of her former master. "Your skin is dewy."Crisara turned and glanced upward. The tiny window above the bed had no covering on it to prevent rainwater from misting inside of the hut. It actually felt refreshing for her, so she never bothered to block the hole during storms."You seem relaxed.""Well, I am literally lying down."Rey frowned, dismissively. Leaning forward, she sniffed. "Saltwater. Fresh air." She scrunched up her face. "Fish."As mentioned, their connection had grown stronger and they were able to do and experience more things with it when they could be bothered."Getting warmer," Crisara quipped, shifting her gaze away and upward.Leaning back, Rey sighed and her shoulders slumped. "Taking a page from Luke's book, are you?" she questioned; finally putting the pieces together. "Ahch-To."The graying blonde puffed a bit of air out of her nostrils while nodding slightly. "It's been nice, all things considered," she admitted. "When I first got here, I was feeling more torrential than the storm that's currently raging outside." She turned back toward Rey with a distant gaze. "I screamed with such rage that I broke the meditation ledge outside the Jedi Temple. Literally cracked it in half. Also toppled a few old huts in the Jedi village and did some structural damage to the huts in the Caretaker village. Oh, and there's a new crevasse running through the charred out husk of what was the tree library. The remains of the uneti tree cracked in half and landed on opposite side of the crevasse." She winced slightly at the details she gave. "I felt it in me, that I could've easily sunk the entire island if I wanted to. I mean, I wouldn't, because of the Lanai and the beings that call this particular island home. If I'd really wanted to, I would've focus on a different island, that didn't have life on it like this one does, and destroyed it. Some mornings I wake up and feel like I still might. And that's why I came here. Because, if I hadn't, my anger and grief would've bubbled over, and I was afraid I would've destroyed my home or accidentally hurt my family. I felt I was a danger, so I had to leave. But only for a while. Not forever.""Your kids are doing fine, but Poe is miserable without you," Rey informed with a sigh. "Like, proper miserable. I spoke to Caro a few hours ago, to wish your family a Happy Life Day, and he said Poe was like a zombie all day and went upstairs just after dinner and didn't come back down. They're worried about him. Queen Murrilla, I guess, told him to take time away during this holiday season, so he's just been wandering aimlessly about the villa."Slowly, Crisara pulled herself up and sat facing Rey. Her hands gripped the edge of the bed and she pouted. "I wonder, at what point, Poe and I became so co-dependent." Staring her symbolic sister in the eye, she pushed some hair out of her face and shrugged. "I came here to work through my grief, to find a way to move on with my life without Len, but every morning when I wake up and every night when I go to sleep, all I think about is Poe. In quiet moments, when I could be meditating, he's on my mind. Every month, during the Festival of Return, I've watched the Caretakers and the Visitors rejoicing in being with each other again, and it makes me crave my husband. I want his arms around me. I want my hands enveloped by his. I want to smell his skin and kiss his lips. Hell, I even want to listen to him snore like a demon when he sleeps."Rey smiled softly. "You can do all those things if you go home.""It's not that I don't want to. I simply haven't felt that I can just yet," Crisara maintained. "I want to go home. But I need to stay here, just a little while longer.""How much longer? Can I contact your family — let them know you're okay and give them a time frame for your return?"Crisara frowned. "I don't know. I'm sorry.""I'm not the one who needs to hear that."  
65 ABY — One more month later, at the very start of the new year
Poe had hit the ground running when his time away from his duties as Governor had ended with the holidays — Life Day and then the five-day celebration of New Year Fete Week. To mark his return, there was the first legislative assembly meeting of the new year; one of few he was always expected to sit in on, and to make a speech during. Typically he would speak on the year gone by for all of Naboo, and what they had to look forward to in the new year ahead, as well as the State of Naboo, where he might address concerns from sitting representatives. It was also the only legislative assembly meeting the Queen sat in. Poe had worked with C-3PO in drafting his speech, but found he was letting the droid do most of the work.He just couldn't focus.He couldn't figure out the words he wanted to say that would encapsulate the past year, considering what he'd lost. He couldn't figure out the words to say in regard to the year ahead because he could only think about where Crisara was, and wonder if and when she would come home. He felt so dazed lately. His heart no longer felt in it anymore and, by it — he just felt no fulfillment as Governor anymore. It was a tireless job and, looking back at the last twenty years and four terms, he felt he'd missed out on just living his life with his wife and kids.Poe had wanted that purpose years ago. He wanted something of his own that could keep him busy and moving, when maybe he should've been a stay-at-home dad. He wondered if it might've been more fulfilling. He recalled those early years in his marriage, when the twins were babies, and just after Len was born. Life had been more simple then. He'd absolutely loved being at home with his kids. Why the hell did he ever feel the need to seek any sort of employment outside the home? They didn't need the money. His kids needed him and he needed them. Above all else, it had always been the domestic life he'd longed for. The adventure and need to prove himself in his youth had been fine when he was in his teens and twenties, and in the first few years of his thirties during the war. But then he'd married the woman of his dreams and they were building a life together — a family. He'd never truly needed anything more than that.C-3PO was prattling on in the background about the speech, but all Poe could think about was how he wished he could have a do-over. He wished he could go back to just before Len was born, and turn down the position of Security Chief, and just be at home with his growing family. Maybe there would've been more children of their own. Maybe they wouldn't have gone away for their sixth anniversary, and ended up needing to stop on Nar Shaddaa to refuel. And then Crisara wouldn't have gone and found Nik. And then, maybe somehow, the ripple effect of these what-ifs meant Hux wouldn't have ever gotten free from Sunspot Prison and instead died there; forgotten to time. And then Crisara wouldn't have almost died. Sessani wouldn't have died. Temiri wouldn't have died. He would've been home and more present for Len, and maybe Len wouldn't have felt the need to prove himself to be the amazing pilot Poe had always touted himself as, back in the day. Maybe Len wouldn't have gotten sick with bloodburn, like his mother Shara, and died the same. And then Crisara wouldn't have gone away.Poe's gaze drifted.He felt a flutter in his chest, as if he'd forgotten how to breathe for a moment, all while a faint, numbing tingle began to take shape in his hands."Master Poe," C-3PO called out to him, a bit louder.Opening and closing his hands a few times, Poe blinked and glanced at the golden protocol droid. "Huh?"
"I had asked if you are happy with the speech as is, and if you are ready to leave for the legislative assembly meeting."
"Oh, uh…yeah. Yeah. It's fine," he assured; shaking his hands out. "I'm fine."  Crisara was frowning and huffing in frustration as she worked tirelessly at cleaning a porg nest out of the landing gears to Len's X-wing. Back in her hut, she'd cleaned it up and rolled up the thin mattress and folded the linens. She let the Caretakers know she would be leaving. She had sensed it was finally time for her to return home. She was having a strong feeling that it's where she needed to be now. She had gathered up what little belongings she'd brought with her and stored the tote within the storage area near the nose of the starfighter. But she couldn't go anywhere with the gears so jammed up.Damn porgs.She had stepped back for a moment and glanced upward at the sloping gradient of the island, toward the old Temple at the tip top. She saw a shimmer of a bluish figure, but couldn't tell who it was from the distance, but she knew it was a loved one, just keeping an eye on her and probably glad she was finally going home where she belonged.She smiled to herself.She finally felt the good again, deep in her soul.  Poe had given his speech, standing behind the lectern at the front of the assembly hall, but he'd barely gotten through it. He'd kept his hands down at his sides, but the entire time they continued to feel more and more numb, and it was feeling more and more like he could barely breathe. He'd gotten through the speech, but when it came time for the floor to be opened up to all the Representatives who had questions or concerns, or matters they felt needed to be discussed, Poe's fingers began to curl and cramp up until both hands were balled up into fists he couldn't open. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest and he could feel the beginnings of hyperventilation. Breathily, he excused himself; leaving his datapad behind as he shuffled out of the assembly hall through the sliding pocket door directly behind the lectern.Appearing in the narrow hallway on the other side, he felt his legs buckle underneath him as if he'd lost the ability to walk altogether. He staggered forward as the erratic palpitations in his chest continued. He suddenly felt as if he was dying. He felt lightheaded, as well as feeling filled with a looming sense of dread. C-3PO had appeared, having claimed his datapad for him and followed him out into the hall, when one of Poe's advisors scrambled forward and grabbed for Poe's hands."Sir, are you alright?""I can't breathe," he sobbed; tears already falling from his eyes. "I can't open my hands.""Oh, my — is he having a heart attack?" the C-3PO worried."I can't…" He was shaking, and the dizziness only got stronger. "Can't breathe. I need…"Poe's head lolled backward, his eyes drooped and then he simply fainted. Fortunately, he didn't just drop and hit the ground. The advisor had been able to catch him and immediately shouted for help and for medics, all while C-3PO went into a frantic tirade that was typical of the droid in tense situations.  Crisara had been climbing into the cockpit of Len's X-wing when she swayed. She felt as if she had just been hit by a massive wave of something she couldn't quite name. It wasn't loss or pain. It wasn't disconnect in the Force. It wasn't fear.All she knew was that something was amiss.She could feel it deep in her heart, in her soul. In every fiber of her being.Wasting no time, she sank down into the seat, lowered the cockpit canopy and got Len's astromech R0-M4, known affectionately as Roma, to get started at charting their path and quickly finishing up the pre-flight checks. She placed her son's helmet upon her head and, before long, the starfighter was hovering a few feet above the ground as she turned it to face away from the island. Not knowing if she'd ever return in her lifetime, Crisara bid a silent goodbye to the island and, without hesitation, she was gone.The X-wing darted up and up, leaving behind the chain of volcanic islands and the choppy oceans. She slipped into Ahch-To's outer atmosphere and, with R0-M4's assistance, they made the jump to light-speed.  A few hours later, Shara was standing behind her father's desk in his office at the Governor's Mansion, with Maris Orell, the Residence Coordinator. She'd only just arrived thirty minutes before and was feeling a bit flustered in trying to arrange bringing her husband and children to stay at the house for at least a week, maybe two, and what they might need to keep the running of the estate going smoothly for all of them. But then she was distracted by the unmistakable sound of a starfighter engine powering down in the mansion's forecourt. Turning from Maris, Shara stepped over to one of the two floor-to-ceiling windows and spotted Len's X-wing had landed and a weight immediately lifted off her shoulders.Running out of the office, she stood in the entrance hall and waited, but only a few moments, until the door all but flew open and her mother was suddenly there. "Mom," she beamed; immediately grabbing her mother into a tight hug. As the gesture was reciprocated, she added, "Are you really back?""I am," Crisara insisted, pulling back and holding onto her daughter's elbows. "Where's your father?"Shara smirked. Her mother never missed a thing. "He's upstairs, in bed, either resting or asleep. I only just got here a half hour ago."Maris appeared in the doorway between the entrance hall and the office. "Ma'am," she greeted Crisara.The Jedi Master glanced briefly at the other woman and nodded back at her. "Hi, Maris." Returning her focus to her eldest twin daughter, Crisara asked, "What happened?""He was at the legislature meeting, I think. Gave his annual 'new year' speech. According to Threepio he ran out of the assembly hall afterward, seized up and passed out. When he came to, he declined going to the hospital, so he was brought back here and Maris sent for a doctor," Shara explained.Crisara began to move forward through the entrance hall. "What happened, though? Why did he pass out? Is he okay?" She looked over her shoulder for elaboration."He's okay now," Shara assured, stepping forward with her hands clasped in front of her stomach. "He had a panic attack. A debilitating one. That's what Maris told me.""It's what the doctor told me," Maris remarked. "And he ran a few extra med scans, just to be sure there wasn't anything else underlying going on."Crisara looked expectantly at the Residence Coordinator. "And? Is there?""No, ma'am.""Well," Shara spoke with a slight shrug. "He needs to take better care of his blood pressure and cholesterol. But, other than that, he'll be fine. It was just a panic attack. The doctor just advised he try some calming breathing exercises and to work out what's making him so stressed, because stress makes panic attacks worse."Crisara's shoulders slumped and her face fell. "I did this, didn't I? Being away so long…"Shara stepped forward and tilted her head slightly to one side. Placing a hand to her mother's shoulder, she offered a sympathetic smile. "Are you here to stay?""I am.""Then I don't imagine this happening again." Hugging her mother once more, she rested her chin upon her mother's shoulder; also feeling more relaxed to have her back. "You're the glue that keeps us all together. You're the heart of this family, mom.""That's nice of you to say.""It's true, though. And you're the only one who can ever soothe dad's nerves when he gets angry or frustrated or scared or anxious. The two of you — you're each other's be-all and end-all. Where you end, he begins, and vice versa. When the two of you are together, you're strong, and it makes the rest of us stronger." Shara smiled as mother and daughter pulled back from one another. "I'm glad you're home, mom."Crisara smiled, appreciatively. "I'm glad to be home, and I do want to catch up with you, but I need to see your dad."Shara nodded, understandingly.As Crisara took her leave, she darted up the stairs to the second floor and, walking with purpose, she made it to her and Poe's bedroom. Quietly, she slipped inside; not knowing if he would be awake or asleep. It was early evening, so there was enough natural light coming in through the windows that she wouldn't have needed to turn on a wall light to see him. Turning right, she found him lying on his side in the center of the bed, with his face partially buried into what was her pillow.A sense of relief washed over her; seeing him again.Walking around to her side of the bed, she silently shed her cloak and let it fall to the floor. The fingerless gloves she'd been wearing she peeled off and tossed aside. When she came to stand beside the bed and could see his face better, she could see he was asleep, but the fact that he wasn't snoring meant he wasn't in a deep sleep yet.Slowly and carefully, Crisara climbed into bed; lying down on top of the covers and facing him. She laid her head down on the same pillow as him and lifted her right hand up. Studying his face for a moment, she brought her index finger down upon his nose and gently began to stroke it, from the bridge to the tip. She repeated the motion a few times before he finally stirred.When Poe's eyelids lifted, he blinked away the last vestiges of slumber and the world around him came back into focus. Literally. Crisara was his world and there she was, smiling softly at him. Jerking his head back slightly to get a better look at her, Poe knitted his brow in confusion. "Am I still dreaming?" he asked; his voice groggy. "Are you really here?""I'm really here and I'm so sorry I haven't been."Instead of speaking a response to that, a sob escaped his lips and returned to partially burying his face into her pillow. Reaching her hand around, Crisara placed it upon the back of his head and leaned forward to kiss his temple and then kiss his cheek. She continued to murmur 'I'm sorry' or 'I'm so sorry' over and over, and still he couldn't find any words to say anything back to her. He just lifted his left arm, curled it around her back and pulled her to him like he was a shepherd's hook and she was an errant part of his flock that had been so close to escaping. Without missing a beat, his other arm slipping underneath her and he practically had his entire body wrapped around hers, just holding her to him; refusing to ever let her go again."I never wanted to go away," she whispered; tears of her own stinging her eyes. "I just needed to." She sighed and hoped he could understand. "I was becoming too angry and my grief was starting to consume me, and I was scared of what I might do. I was feeling like a volcano or a ticking bomb, ready to explode, and I didn't want to take everyone with me. I had to go somewhere, far away, and deal with it all on my own, however I could. But it had to be alone." Pulling her face back a bit so she could look at him, she frowned. "I'm sorry we left things so heated and that I didn't say goodbye, and that I was gone so long.""You were gone seven months," he finally spoke; his chocolate brown eyes damp from tears. "We've never even apart from each other for seven days. It felt like seven years.""I know, and I'm so sorry.""Stop saying that," he mumbled. Slowly, he brought his gaze back up toward her face and cupped the side of it with his hand. "We were grieving. You did what you had to do. I can't fault you that." Expelling a deep breath through his nostrils, he tipped his face closer to hers but still maintained eye contact with her. "My regret was not taking off and searching for you, and joining you. I just stayed here, wallowing like an idiot; letting my own grief and anger fester. I felt like an empty shell of myself, just going through the motions. And, when I wasn't quiet and robotic, I was loud and throwing things like a raving lunatic. Fortunately, those moments weren't many, and the Littles were never around for that.""I almost split Temple Island in two and sunk it."Poe sniffed in slight amusement. "Is that where you went?" He rolled his eyes, but at himself. "And here I was so convinced you wouldn't go somewhere familiar, where any of us could find you."Crisara smirked. "Don't feel bad. It took Rey until Life Day to figure out where I was, but I made her promise not to give my location away," she remarked; grabbing for his hand, pulling it down from her face and then holding onto it between their chests. "Did she say anything about where I was?""No," he answered. "But she contacted me. Said you were okay and that you wouldn't be gone much longer, but it didn't really help any to hear it. And then, today, I was preparing for my speech with Threepio, and I was already feeling anxious about it. I had to talk about how the last year was for Naboo and what we, as a people, should strive to look forward to in this new year, but all I could think about was losing Len, and not having you at my side. I got myself so worked up. I was shaking. My entire body went numb. My hands cramped up. I literally couldn't open them. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was dizzy. It felt like I was either having a seizure or a heart attack, or both. It felt like I was dying, and then it all went dark.""I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'm sorry I wasn't at your side." Crisara leaned in and kissed his lips. "I'm sorry I left you to grieve our son alone.""Well, I wasn't really alone. I had Caro, Shara and both their families.""What about Leia?""She and Nik left about a week after you did. She hasn't been back since, but she calls every few days, though sometimes it's a few weeks." He knitted his brow together in concern. "She doesn't really seem herself lately. More…sad. And not just because of Len." Poe shrugged. "I don't know. I wish she would've stayed and not gone off with Nik again, but…it's her life. I can't stop her from living it however she sees fit, and I'm in no position to tell her who she can or can't be with. She's twenty-seven.""Too true," Crisara agreed.Propping his head up in his right hand, Poe looked down upon his wife and, suddenly, everything was starting to feel right again. He was already feeling more at ease. His mind and heart no longer felt like a turbulent storm of grief and anger, just as it no longer felt like that for her either. "I missed you so much.""I missed you, too." She smiled lovingly up at him. "Our kids getting older and moving on with their lives, that's to be expected. I love them more than life itself. But they have their lives to live that will be separate from ours, and we won't always have them under our roof. What we will always have is each other. You and me, together. Always.""Never go away," he pleaded. "No matter how angry or sad you are. No matter if you think you'll blow a gasket and kill us both in the process; either stay or take me with you." Poe leaned in and kissed her forehead, then repeated, "You and me, together. Always."She smiled some more and shimmied forward so she could be the one to curl herself around him this time. "Did I miss a lot while I was gone?"Poe sighed. "Not really." Resting the side of his face upon the top of her head, he once more wrapped his free arm around her back to hold her in place. "We're gonna need to discuss a few things now that you're back, in regard to our future. And there's something Caro wants to talk to you about, but he's been putting it off until you returned. He ran it by me, but it's your opinion on the matter that he needs," he began to inform her. "When he sits you down and explains it, I think you should go along with it.""What's it about?""You'll know when he tells you.""That's ominous," she quipped; her voice slightly muffled by his chest. "What do we need to discuss?""Part of it ties into what Caro's gonna talk to you about. Part of it's about me." He kissed the top of her head and inhaled the scent of her hair, which had a very salty, fresh air quality to it. "Don't worry about any of it right now, though. Tomorrow is another day, and today I want to just lay here in bed with my wife and do nothing else.""Nothing else?" she teased."Well, I'm sure we can squeeze in some extracurricular activities later on. We do have a lot of time to make up for." Dropping his right hand from his face so that it was no longer propped up, he grabbed both sides of Crisara's pulled her back from him and then claimed her lips with his. "I'm sure the best way to heal a pair of broken hearts is with some good, ol' fashioned boning." Rolling onto his back, he smiled when she laughed at his remark. When she shimmied closer to resume curling herself around him, he felt complete again. "Right now, though, this is perfection."Crisara hummed with contentment. "It really is."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving, it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return"
— Alanis Morissette It had only been a few days since Crisara's return to Naboo and she was enjoying a simple afternoon with her son Caro. She had known he'd been wanting to talk to her about something now that she was home, since Poe had mentioned as much, so she wasn't surprised when he showed up to the Governor's Mansion first thing in the morning. She had expected him to pull her into either the parlor, Poe's office or outside into the back garden. Instead, he asked her to join him on a little excursion just outside the city limits. He'd brought his airspeeder and they headed to a spit of land, set upon a meadow along the Solleu River. When they climbed out, Caro had removed a basket and a blanket from a rear compartment, causing Crisara to raise an eyebrow at him."Thought we could make a nice day of it, or at least a few hours," he remarked with a smile; squinting slightly from the morning light hitting him directly in the eyes. "Haven't seen you in while. We have some catching up to do."Crisara tipped her head downward and frowned. "I'm sorry about that."Caro shrugged and gestured ahead of them a few more feet. "I barely remember it now, but it's reminded me of when you were gone with dad, fighting against the First Order." Passing the basket off to his mother, he unfolded the blanket and spread it out, down upon the ground. "Other than that, it was when I spent my two years with Aunt Rey and Uncle Finn, but even then I came home frequently enough, so I didn't actually go long without seeing you." Standing up straight, he glanced at his mother and reached for the basket. Noting the continued frown she was wearing, he sighed. "I wasn't looking for an apology from you, mom. I don't need one," he assured. "You did what you had to do and, I suspect, if I lost Lora, I would do the same. I would want time to reflect and grieve on my own terms.""I hope with every fiber of my being you never have to go through what I've gone through." Sitting down first upon the blanket, Crisara tucked her legs up underneath her and leaned a bit to the side. As she watched her son sit down with the basket out the corner of her eye, she looked upon the surrounding meadow and then, after a moment, she closed her eyes. She steadied her breath and listened to the movement of the river nearby. It was rather nice, the rhythm. "This is a nice spot for a picnic.""Yeah, I like it." Sitting cross-legged in front of her, Caro opened up the basket and began to pull out containers of food, as well as a thermos and two cups. "Tea?"Crisara opened her eyes and looked at him with a smile. "What kind?""Blue honeycup. Zeda and I had it for the first time during our honeymoon on Canto Bight and it's sort of become our favorite thing; mostly, I think, just because of the nostalgia it drudges up and not so much the taste, which is nice, too.""Brings back memories of the honeymoon and everything that went along with it," Crisara reiterated with a knowing smirk. "I can understand that. Honeymoons are awful fun."As Caro poured them both a cup, he nodded to her comment and then passed her the cup that was for her. "Please don't elaborate on either of yours. I'm not going to elaborate on mine. That would just be weird. Actually," he paused, looking up from his cup before taking a sip, where did you and my father honeymoon? I know you and dad went to Canto Bight and then Yavin like Zeda and I did, but what of you and my father?""Alfic and I went on a cruise for two weeks. It made a few stops. One of which was to Synjax. Lovely place. Gorgeous beaches with pristine purple waters and the softest sand imaginable." Crisara thought fondly back to that time with little regret. The beginning of her marriage with Alfic had been almost perfect but, in the end, they just weren't meant to be. "I haven't been back since."There was a touch of rue that Caro noticed in his mother's voice. "One day, would you tell me more about him? I haven't bothered in really asking, figuring there was no sense in living in the past, but I've realized that, as I get older, the past gets further away and you begin to miss certain things."Crisara smirked. "Everyone gets to be young, but not everyone is lucky enough to get old. It's both a blessing and a curse. A blessing when you get a long life. A curse when you outlive so many others." Her gaze drifted and a montage of memories began to flash before her eyes. She could plainly see so many faces of those she'd loved and lost in her sixty-one years; starting with her mother, when she was only five months old. "But that's enough sadness for now." Setting her cup down, she peered at the food Caro was starting to lay out between them from their containers: sandwiches, cubed pieces of cheese, crackers and some sort of pink spread for the crackers, as well as some slices of fruit. A light meal to start the day with. "Poe told me you had matters to discuss with me. He has something about our future to discuss with me, too, but said it needed to wait until our conversation." She gestured between her and her son. "So, what's weighing on you?""It's nothing like that. It's nothing that's weighing on me, as if it's a burden," he insisted; grabbing up a sandwich but just holding it and not bothering to take a bite just yet. "It's the school.""What about it?""I want to shut down the Lake Country branch," Caro began; immediately sensing his mother's whiplash. "It's a beautiful location, and it's close to home, which is convenient. But, despite it being larger than the villa, it's not as large as the Theed branch. There's more dorm space for the younglings, padawans and knights combined. The training spaces are larger and there's more dedicated space for other instruction. However…""However?""We don't own the Theed location. We merely lease it, year to year. And it is a bit claustrophobic, in the sense that it's surrounded on all sides by other buildings what with being located in the Capital. It's not as peaceful as the Lake Country. And, with that said, it brings me to why I chose this location for our picnic."Crisara raised an eyebrow at him again. "Oh?" She was getting a feeling for where he was going with this, but wanted to hear it from his lips."I bought this land two months ago. One hundred acres." Setting his untouched sandwich aside, he stood up and pointed in every direction, moving in a circle. "All of this is mine, and I plan to develop it. I plan to build a new school. Well, not a new school, but a new location. There will be plenty more space, and it's halfway between Theed and the Lake Country. It's not the same view of the lake like we have at home, but being along the Solleu is pretty nice, you have to admit." Casting his gaze downward toward his mother, his expression changed from confidence to doubt. "If that's not okay, I'm sure I can sell the land back. I might take a loss, but it's no sweat off my brow." Sitting back down, once more cross-legged, Caro leaned forward and grabbed at one of her hands and held it firmly in his. "I won't go forward with this unless I have your blessing. The Kenobi Academy is your baby. But you were gone and I didn't know when you were coming back, and the offer to buy this land was something I couldn't pass up…""Caro," Crisara muttered softly. "I think it's a fine idea."He stared her dead in the eye. "You do?""I do." She nodded her head adamantly. "The Kenobi Academy might be my 'baby', but it won't always be. Someday I'll be gone and it will be you left to take the reins, as you already have been. Tem and Len are gone, Shara has GOFOY, and Leia has…I don't know what Leia has going for her." Crisara shrugged sadly. "I suppose many parents of multiple children have at least one, sort of wayward child; one whose path isn't straight. Maybe she'll come 'round someday, and help you run things. If not, you'll have so many others. Lora, maybe, will take the reins from you, as you will take them from me, to pass leadership down through the generations of our family yet to come. But, this is not just my baby, even now. There are leaders in every Knight and Master within both branches of the Academy, and within the Jedi Order that Rey built up with Finn. The Kenobi Academy belongs to all of them, too. The Jedi Order from the Old Republic had a full Council. The old Jedi Temple was a massive building that housed thousands of Jedi, from younglings to Masters. It was a place for learning, for teaching, for living. It was a school, it was a home, and it was a community. And you're gonna build on that."Caro smiled appreciatively. "I'm gonna need your help. I can't do it alone."With a sigh, Crisara hunched forward and grabbed for her own sandwich, and took a bite. While she chewed, she felt her son's eyes expectantly upon her. After washing the food down with her tea, which she wasn't a fan of, she cleared her throat and looked back at him. "I'll help you where I can," she assured. "You're my age now when I started the Kenobi Academy, so I think you'll be fine even if I start to lessen my presence. I'll remain on the Council, I'll even continue to instruct some of the padawans, but I think the time has come for me to lighten my load." She smiled ruefully and looked around at their beautiful surroundings. "I've been going, going, going for so long. I think it's time I slowed down and began to consider how to enjoy the twilight of my life." She shrugged. "I'm not getting any younger."With a gentle nod of his head, Caro finally began to eat his sandwich, and the two of them sat quietly together for a while as all of this ruminated in their heads. They listened to the flow of the river nearby, the birds singing in the distance, the insects buzzing about, and the clinks and shuffling sounds they made as they continued to eat and drink. After a while, though, Crisara could sense her son had more to say."Better out than in, my dear.""I've decided Uwin's ready to be a Jedi Knight." He smiled upward at his mother. "I'll finally and officially be a Jedi Master.""Have you told him?""Later this week. Wanted to run it by you first," Caro explained, leaning back on the blanket. "I may be his Master, but I do believe the Council still needs to agree on it.""Well, if you believe he's ready, then I vote with you, and you know the others won't vote against me," she quipped with an impish raise of her brow while popping a piece of fruit into her mouth.Caro chuckled. "I don't know. You did take off for seven months and thereby shirked your duties. Maybe the others won't think you're in the best mindset."Crisara shrugged. "Rey, Finn, Meleri and Anila, as well as your own damn wife, are also on the Council. Do you see them voting against either of us?""No. I don't.""Then, there you have it." She gestured lithely at her son. "Tell Uwin the good news later today. We can still go through the motions of having a Council meeting to vote on it, but you might as well start planning his knighting ceremony. See where he wants it to be; at either of the school branches, maybe even here in this meadow, or somewhere else that holds meaning to him…""I will." Caro poured himself another cup of that blue honeycup tea and held it up to his mother; alluding to wanting to toast with her. As he watched her raise her own cup upward toward his, he smiled brightly. "Thank you for finding your way through your grief, and coming home. Thank you for gifting me this wonderful life and putting me onto the path I'm on. Thank you for believing in me, every day, without falter. Thank you for being the best mother and grandmother." Watching the way she looked down sheepishly at the compliments, he added, "To you, mom. And to those we've love and lost, who came before us, and are never truly gone or forgotten."Raising her cup a little higher, she clinked it against his. "And to you, my son, who has consistently made me proud to be your mother."As they knocked back the contents of their cups, Caro smiled while she did her best not to make a face because of how much she really didn't enjoy the tea. It was somehow bland and sour at the same time; as if somehow the tea leaves had spoiled on the stem long before being cultivated and subsequently brewed.Crisara let out a breath of relief.She was content in knowing of her son's goals for the future and that the Kenobi Academy would definitely be safe in his hands once she finally retired. Though, honestly, she wouldn't ever be one hundred percent retired. She knew the others would always need her to some extent. But, as time went on, she should be able to live out the rest of her days with the majority, if not the entirety, of responsibility taken over by the next generation. She could look on with pride now with what her son had planned to do, to build. And, long after she was gone, she would be able to continue to look on and watch generation after generation build onto it.  In the weeks that followed, Poe had yet to go into whatever it was about his and Crisara's future he had wanted to talk to her about. He had returned to work and seemed more at peace. It was as if the stress he'd been feeling was nothing more than a distant memory and his debilitating panic attack in the hallway outside the assembly hall had somehow happened to someone else, and not to him. There was a noticeable skip in his step and he smiled more at those who passed him in the cavernous corridors of the Royal Palace. Most could easily credit the change in his mood to the fact that Crisara had come home, and they'd be right, but it also had to do with the fact that he knew something they didn't.He had plans in the works that only C-3PO knew about because C-3PO had been working with him, privately, to draft the appropriate speech he would be giving soon. However, before he gave that speech, he needed to finally be out with it and talk it over with Crisara, as it would have an effect on their life.So, one evening, while they were home alone at the Governor's Mansion and enjoying a late dinner together, Poe cleared his throat and sent the droid attendants away, as well as any sentient ears that might be listening in nearby, as was known to happen on occasion. Curious, Crisara raised an eyebrow at him and smiled as a few untoward thoughts began to pop into her head; assuming he was suddenly feeling frisky.It wouldn't be the first time he'd sent the help away so he could make love to his wife on this very table.Leaning forward, she looked him in the eye and grabbed for his left hand in her right, and then began to drag her thumb slowly along his knuckles. "Have something in mind?"Poe chuckled. "I like where yours is at, but I actually just wanted to talk to you and to do it with some privacy." Off the immediate slump in her shoulders, he grinned at her. "We can do the other thing, too, afterward."Leaning back, Crisara tipped her head forward slightly and smirked; accepting that as satisfactory to her. "Alright, then. Does whatever you want to talk to me about have anything to do with this plan for our future that you've been withholding since I got back? Do I finally get to know your big secret?"Rolling his eyes at her, Poe also leaned back; pushing his plate aside and grabbing for his wine glass. Taking a small sip, he let the liquid swirl around his mouth for a moment before swallowing, and then set the glass back down while settling his gaze upon his wife. "You're aware it's another election year, right?"Crisara nodded. "What's your plan for your fifth and final run?" she responded by posing her own question. "It's almost hard to believe we're finally at this part. Seems like forever ago you were running for the first time." She smiled; a distant expression upon her face as her eyes drifted toward the windows that faced the back garden. "Hard to believe it's already been twenty years." Looking back at him, she emitted the smallest of chuckles and seemed almost perplexed by another thought. "It's been thirty since the end of the war. So surreal, the passage of time, isn't it?""Cris.""Yeah?""Shut the fuck up so I can elaborate."Pulling her face back in mock offense, Crisara folded her arms across her abdomen and leaned slightly to the side in her chair. "My apologies, Your Excellency. I didn't mean to prattle. That is your department."Flashing her a withering look, Poe cleared his throat again and began to tap his fingertips upon the table. "I'm not running."Crisara knitted her brow. "Hmm?""I'm not going to run for a fifth and final term as Governor," he clarified. After waiting a few moments to let that information sink in for her, he continued. "After everything we've been through, all our losses — I feel like I haven't had the time to process any of it. A week or two, here and there, doesn't really do much. Plus, I feel like I've missed out on really being there for our kids over the last twenty years, when they could've really needed me. I feel like I wasn't there for you enough." Poe looked her directly in the eye and slid his hand across the table toward her. He waited, and not for long, for her to take the hint and offer hers to him. When he held onto her hand, he sighed heavily. "We're not getting any younger," he continued; unknowingly mirroring her comment to Caro from a few weeks earlier. "And I want to spend the rest of the years or decades we have left enjoying our lives with the kids we still have, and with our grandchildren. Hell, maybe even great-grandchildren someday, if we're lucky. I want to spend my days playing with the Littles, spoiling them rotten and then sending them back to their parents all hyped up on sugar or whatever. And I want to spend every other waking moment with you in my arms, fucking you without having to fit those moments in and around our schedules. We said we were going to travel someday. Why can't someday start now?"Listening to everything he was saying, Crisara began to smile much more warmly at him. "I'd like that," she replied with an adamant nod. "I would really like that." Then, a thought appeared in her head and she narrowed her gaze at him. "This was why you wanted Caro to talk to me first. You knew of his plans. And those plans involve him taking the reins of the Kenobi Academy. And you knew I would say yes to his plans.""Well, I know you," he remarked with a nod of his own. "We want our kids to thrive. We want them to be able to live their own lives as they see fit. And we deserve to do the same. We've given enough of our time, our lives, in service to others and the galaxy as a whole. We've given decades. Surely we get to live out the rest of our lives with fewer responsibilities. With the exception of my father and Taya, our parents, our elders, didn't really get to be as lucky. Both our mothers died young. Your father, Leia, and Han — fighting the good fight right until the end; never really knowing a moment of peace. Your grandma got a long life, but never got to spend her golden years with the love of her life. I don't want that for us. I want to retire. I want to have no plans for once. I want our kids to be able to see us living out our final decades and be happy for us. And I want them to see that it's something they can have someday, too." Tilting his head to the side, he reached his other hand across the table, and this time he didn't have to wait for her to reciprocate the gesture. She offered her other hand up without a second thought. "I love you with every bone in my body, Cris. I have loved you since the day you shoved me into a bush when we were toddlers."Crisara chuckled at that. "How can you be sure love began that early?""I just know." With a shrug, he continued to hold her gaze. "So, what do you say?" Getting up out of his chair, but not letting go of her hands, Poe moved to get down on one knee as if he was about to propose marriage. And, in a way, it was sort of like that's what he was doing. "Will you make me the happiest man alive and retire with me?"The heartiest laughter bubbled out of her mouth. Her face almost hurt from how much she was smiling. Without even a hint of indecision, Crisara pulled her hands from his and clamped them down upon either side of his face. "Yes, I'll retire with you."Smiling back at her, Poe leaned forward and the two of them met in the middle to share a kiss. "One more thing I need to ask," he mumbled against her lips."Name it.""My knees are killing me. Can you help me up?"With a bit of continued giggling, Crisara nodded and got to her feet. As she did so, she once more grabbed onto Poe's hands and began to pull him up with her. She watched the way he winced, and she smiled at it. Once they were both upright, her hands returned to the sides of his face, and his lips returned to hers. Neither spoke as his arms slipped around her waist and his hands slid up her back to hold her firmly against him."Thank you," he mumbled."You don't have to thank me for agreeing to retire.""No," he countered; dragging his lips to her jaw and then down to her neck, which caused him to hunch his back slightly, and he practically inhaled the scent of her skin in the process. "Thank you for wearing a skirt today." Sliding his hands down from her back, he began to bunch the material of her skirt upward above her knees before shoving his hands underneath and gripping her thighs. "Easier access.""You're incorrigible," she grinned."And you're beautiful," he breathed into her mouth. "Get on the table."Not needing to be told twice, Crisara was lucky she had the ability to channel the Force because, were she not a Force user, hopping up the way she did would've taken greater effort. Once she was seated on the edge before him, he roughly parted her legs and began to drag his hands further up her thighs. With the thumb of his right hand, he rubbed the material of her underwear for a moment and then pushed it aside so his thumb could rub against the cleft between her legs instead, which gave her cause to bite down on her bottom lip and hum accordingly."Yeah, that's right," he muttered, staring her down like a side of beef. "I love those little noises you make when I touch you." Leaning in, he placed his face beside hers and whispered in her ear, "Especially when I taste you." Without hesitation, Poe pulled back and sank down into the chair she'd been previously sitting in. Rolling her skirt up a bit higher, he leaned forward and began to kiss his way up her thighs, and mumbled against them, "You're a better dessert than anything those kitchen droids could concoct in the basement."Poe leaned back up for a moment, but only so he could grab at the waist of her underwear and begin to tug them off her ass. She lifted up a bit to assist in that endeavor and then just waited with bated breath as he pulled them the rest of the way down and let them drop to the floor. As she leaned back on her hands, upon the table, Crisara stared upward at the large, ornate light fixture overhead while Poe dipped underneath her skirt and began to drag his tongue roughly up and down her dampened folds. She emitted a few small squeaks when his tongue circled and flicked at her clit, but when he suctioned his lips around it, she nearly saw stars right then and there. The hairs of his beard scratched and tickled at the insides of her thighs; something she never got used to, but she loved it. It added a heightened sense of pleasure whenever he went down on her.Draping her legs over his shoulders, Crisara's hands migrated to the top of his head, which was hidden by the fact that he was underneath her skirt, but she could still feel the soft tufts from those graying curls of his. She didn't need to press her hands down upon him, to urge him further on, because he was already devouring her as if it was his sole purpose in life. He was pleasantly aggressive and she was so easily undone by him, so it was no surprise at all when she came so quickly.Her entire body tensed up; rigid with satisfaction as the synapses in her brain began to fire like stars exploding in front of her eyes. When the full completion of pleasure hit her with its full impact, Crisara loudly cried out, her toes curled and her body began to tremble and shake as she came down from that high. "Gods, Poe." She groaned with delight; feeling quite breathless. "Please don't stop there."Sitting upward, Poe wiped at his mouth with index finger and thumb as her skirt cascaded back down, covering her legs. With a shake of his head, he began to stand up. "Obviously I'm not," he countered. "That was just the first course."Crisara rolled her eyes, but chuckled regardless at his pun. "You're ridiculous."Standing between her legs, he shoved his pants down off his hips and let his heavy-laden gaze focus primarily upon her mouth. "You love it."Looking back at him, she nodded in agreement. "I really do."Poe grabbed hold of himself; stroking his erection a few times to make sure he was ready for her before lining himself up with her wet, awaiting entrance. "I've missed this," he whispered, upon pushing just the tip in first. A languid grunt followed when he slid the rest of the way in. "I missed every inch of you."As he gripped her hips, Crisara threw her hands around his shoulders. "And I've missed every inch of you," she replied, just as he pulled back and plunged upward into her.After a few initial thrusts, Crisara allowed her upper body to fall backward so that she could lie upon the table. In response, Poe's hands slid to her calves and lifted her legs up so they could rest against his chest and once more drape somewhat over his shoulders. He lowered his hands back down to grip firmly upon her thighs, holding her in place, while his movements became more urgent. He filled her as deeply as he could while her body rocked decadently beneath him. As he pounded into her, he watched the way her chest jiggled within the confines of the blouse she still wore and it brought a smirk to his face, and then his gaze grew even darker with lust when he watched the way she slid a hand down between her legs and began to touch herself.When Poe came, it felt like the longest, hottest release of his life. For a moment, his entire body seized as if he was about to experience a terrible, painful spasm which would only be exacerbated by the slightest movement, but then it was nothing but pure bliss. He spilled himself inside of her, and when she came again, Poe let go of her thighs and dropped her legs; which parted on either side of him. As his body continued to quake with the aftermath of his orgasm, which was paired with the quakes of hers, he slumped forward. Immediately, he burrowed his face between her clothed breasts and let out a fully sated sigh while Crisara's hands sought to wrap around his back and hold him against her.Their bodies still connected most intimately, they both found comfort and delight in the sensation; of him being buried within her warm, tight depths, and of her feeling full from his twitching, swollen manhood. This was a dance they knew all the steps to and had perfected over their many years together, and it just seemed to get better and better every time. To date, this was possibly the best yet, but they could simply be biased because it was their more recent romp and therefore fresh in their minds from just happening."Do you think it'll feel this amazing in twenty years when we're rickety and senile?" Poe questioned with a laugh; his face still smushed against her chest.Snaking her fingers through his locks, she practically cooed. "I'd like to say it will be, if not better, but we should probably be more realistic about these things," she teased. As she watched him lift his head and look at her, Crisara's hands fell away and she grinned. "I think our more adventurous years are behind us, but we aren't dead yet."Poe grinned quite devilishly back at her. "Maybe I'll get some elective surgery. Get a prosthetic hip and then we can go all day and all night, until we're a hundred years old, without getting winded or," he slowly began to stand up, wincing slightly, "getting cricks in our backs." As if to make his point, he placed one hand to the small of his back and flexed his shoulders until there was an audible pop. His other hand he left resting upon the side of her hip. When he finally slid out of her, Poe took a step backward and plopped down into the chair and watched the way Crisara propped herself up on her elbows and stared back at him. "Remember when we first got married? Remember how frequent we had sex, and on basically every possible surface at the villa, and in every damn position known in the galaxy?"Crisara smiled lazily in thought. "The glory days," she quipped."The glory days," he repeated with a nod.Sitting up fully, she pushed her skirt the rest of the way down while stealing a glimpse at how he was still naked from the waist down. When her blue eyes roved upward toward his brown ones, she raised an eyebrow at him and lifted a foot, which she shoved against his shoulder. "Did we ever make the most of every surface here when we moved in?"Poe grabbed for her ankle, turned his face and kissed the side of her calf before letting her leg drop. "Probably not. Not with five kids and a house full of official staff," he replied. "We were usually delegated to only our suite when we wanted privacy. It wasn't until the kids got older and began to leave home that we could spread our wings, so to speak." Then, catching the mischievous look in her eye, Poe began to grin and leaned forward; placing his hands upon her knees. "Why? What's on your mind?""You're not stepping down as Governor before your fourth term is finished, are you?""No, I'm gonna ride it out until the next Governor is elected by the end of the year."Crisara looked thoughtfully at him as she considered this information. "Care to ride me in every room and on every surface, while we still can; physically, and before your term is up and we're out of here?"With lust returning to his eyes, and with his loins stirring again, Poe slowly began to nod back at her. "It would be my honor." Standing up, Poe grabbed his wife by the waist, hunched forward and, without warning, quite literally threw her over his shoulder; all while his pants were still shoved down over his ass and he was still hanging free. "Come on, woman. Where to next?""For Maker's sake, Poe, you're half naked," she laughed; her view now upside down and mostly just of his back and bare ass. "Threepio or Beebee-Ate might see and short circuit from shock.""Wouldn't be the first time they've seen either of us in a state of undress, or the first time they've walked or rolled in on us banging like pair of ash-rabbits. Won't be the last time."As Crisara's laughter continued to echo, as he carried her out of the dining room and into the ballroom, she turned her head slightly. "How is your back not sore from carrying me like this? Remember the part about our adventurous days being behind us?""Oh, I'll for sure be sore tomorrow, if not completely immobile, but it'll be worth it," he retorted; stopping in the center of the ballroom. "Now, shut up and tell me where we should have fun next.""Have we ever done it right here?""Right here, on the floor of the ballroom?" he clarified."Yeah."Poe sighed, and looked around. "Can't say that we have, but now we're gonna." Setting her back down to her feet, he smiled lasciviously at her. "Gonna wreck my knees tonight, too." He leaned in and stole a quick kiss from her lips, and then whispered, "Get on yours."  As their lives continued to get back on track, Shara made the wonderful announcement that she was pregnant for a third time and would be due sometime before Life Day, which would also fall just after Poe officially stepped down as Governor. The end of the year would definitely be a time to celebrate for them all and it felt nice to have such things to look forward to.Shortly after celebrating his sixty-third birthday, Poe had rewritten and revised his speech that he wanted to give, announcing he was stepping down, several times with C-3PO's help. He'd recited it a few times to Crisara and picked her brain to see if it sounded any good, and she gave criticisms where needed, but there really wasn't much she could suggest because it was pretty good to begin with. She'd teased him that he could just broadcast a simple "I'm not running for a fifth and final term, that's it, thanks, bye" but he'd just shot her a withering look for not being helpful. So she'd teased him further, and it got him flustered enough because she wasn't taking it as seriously, but then he realized she was doing it to get a different sort of rise out of him and not to upset him.So, he caved and dragged her away; to continue checking off locations within the Governor's Mansion where they hadn't made love yet, before they didn't get the chance again.After what would've been Len's twenty-sixth birthday, and what was the first anniversary of his death the following day, Poe and Crisara fell into a bit of a quiet slump; but it was more reflective than completely sad or miserable. They spent a few days, just thinking about their son, which then got them thinking about Temiri, and the rest of their losses all over again. When Len had appeared and asked his mother to give his father a message, she'd smiled and obliged."Len wants me to remind you about how you used run around the villa with him draped across your arms, making whirring and blaster noises, so he could pretend he was a starfighter in the midst of battle," she passed the message along. "He says those were one of his favorite childhood memories."Almost immediately, Poe broke out into tears, but they were happy and sad at the same time. "He used to giggle so much when I did that," he blubbered. "He had the best laugh; when he was a kid and even as an adult. It was infectious.""He really did, and it really was," Crisara agreed. "He also wants me to remind you that he loves you and he's always near." While she noticed Poe looking over at her with expectant eyes, she turned sideways to look upward at their ghostly son, who only she could see. With a chuckle, she shook her head and smiled back at her husband. "He says it's not just because he wants to stay close but that it's boring on the other side. It lacks adventure.""Is he still getting up to trouble?""No," she assured. "He's a good boy. Plus, he's in good company that can keep him in line, just in case."That had appeased Poe. It helped knowing his son was around, even if physically gone, but also that he wasn't alone; that he was surrounded by plenty of family, on both sides of the veil.Three weeks after what would've been Len's twenty-sixth birthday, Poe and Crisara celebrated their twenty-ninth wedding anniversary, but kept it simple. They hadn't celebrated the year before, because of how Crisara had left, and this year they just wanted to be alone together. They had a lovely candlelit meal, for the ambiance, and then went upstairs to enjoy a long bath together until their fingertips and toes were pruney and the water went cold. Afterward, they didn't bother to get dressed after toweling off. They sauntered back into the bedroom where Poe bent her over on the bed and buried himself inside of her yet again, only to continue their anniversary romp in a heap of limbs on the floor, where they spent the rest of the night, talking and cuddling. It was also where they fell asleep and where they woke in the morning, stiff as all hell.Knowing campaign season was upon them, and Poe still hadn't made his announcement, and that the people were expecting him to run as well as win again, he knew he had to finally come out with it and not put it off any longer.The afternoon before the other candidates were officially announced to the people of Naboo and its moons, there was a Royal Advisory Council meeting at the Palace. When it came time for him to give his weekly updates to the Queen and the others on the Council as the Head of Government, he instead dropped the metaphorical bomb about his decision to retire from office. To say all were surprised was an understatement.For twenty years, he was Naboo's only consistent leader. Sure, the Monarch held the most power, but every monarch came and went every two to four years. They were a flash in the pan compared to him. He'd been the one with staying power, and he had made the most changes for the better; for the planet, its moons and its entire people. He'd helped strengthen its Security Forces into a proper, albeit small, military. He'd signed off on countless legislation that he believed was for the betterment of all, as well as vetoing other legislation that he believed would do the opposite; and he was almost always right. From the moment Leia Organa had recruited him to be in the Resistance, his path to be a leader had been cemented. She had seen it in him then and had done everything she could to make him see it in himself; to carry on the Organa legacy of leadership and diplomacy, and he'd succeeded.He'd made her proud, a thousand times over; something she'd expressed a handful of times to Crisara, as a Force ghost, over the last three decades.But now he was ready for the next chapter of his life and he believed Naboo deserved a fresh perspective. He teased that he was getting old and stuck in his ways, and that he wasn't feeling as if his heart was fully invested in the position anymore. He longed to be with his family, and for a quieter, less stressful existence now.Queen Murrilla had listened carefully to him and taken his words to heart. And then she accepted his decision and wished him well in his future, peaceful endeavors. He had assured her and the rest of the Council he was going to complete his term; he would serve the people as he had for the last twenty years, until his successor was sworn in, which the Queen and the Council were grateful for. None of them wanted to scramble to take on any of his vacated duties if he just dipped out right then and there. He'd been in that position before, after his predecessor Governor Brosa Senn had been arrested, and it hadn't been easy to do while juggling his position as Security Chief. He didn't want to do that to Queen Murrilla and the Council. They were a good lot and didn't deserve that stress.So, that night, with his finalized speech displayed before him on a holoprompter, he stood in front of his desk in his office at the Palace. His image was being projected into every home and establishment on Naboo and its moons, for those who cared to watch on their holoprojectors, computers or datapads, or whatever mode of technology they had to get their news. Behind the hovercam droid recording what he was about to say, Crisara and Captain Teshené Betal were there for support."My fellow, esteemed citizens of Naboo," he began, "I stand before you this evening to announce my decision to step down as Governor of this great planet. For the past twenty years, it has been my honor and privilege to serve the people, to work tirelessly for the betterment of our society, and to uphold the values that we hold dear. However, as much as I have cherished my time in office, the moment has come for me to pass the torch and embark on a new chapter in my life." For a moment, his eyes drifted beyond the hovercam droid to Crisara, and then back after she smiled lovingly at him; silently assuring him he was doing fine. "After much reflection and consideration, I have made the decision to retire from public service and to spend the rest of my days with my beloved family, whom I have sacrificed my time with during my tenure as Governor. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Naboo for their unwavering support, trust, and collaboration throughout the years. Together, we have achieved remarkable progress and prosperity, and I am proud of the accomplishments we have made as a whole. When I finally bid farewell to my role as Governor at the end of this current term, I will do so with a sense of fulfillment and optimism for the future. I leave behind a legacy that I hope will inspire future leaders to continue the work of building a brighter tomorrow for all the inhabitants of Naboo. In closing, I thank you all for your friendship, your dedication, and your passion for this planet which has been my home for the last thirty years. It has been an incredible journey, and I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead as I look forward to my golden years with my amazing wife Crisara, our children and our grandchildren." He didn't have to see his wife to feel her eyes on him, nor did he have to see her to feel her smile of continued support. He looked directly into the ocular lens of the hovercam droid, as if he was staring every person and droid, between Naboo and its moons, in the eye. "May the Force be with you all, and may Naboo continue to thrive and prosper for generations to come."Betal stepped forward and ended the transmission with the hovercam droid for Poe and then stepped back with a heavy sigh. "The end of an era," she remarked with a rueful smile. Then, she added, "That was a fantastic speech, sir.""Thank you."Crisara nodded in agreement. "I've heard you recite several versions and this was the definitely the best one.""I considered making mention to our recent losses as being part of why I've decided to step down, but figured the people know enough," he admitted with a shrug. "I don't need a pity party as I leave all this behind." He leaned back upon his desk and gripped the edge with his hands. His focus shifted mostly upon his wife and smiled a small, warm smile at her. "Captain, would you be so kind as to take the droid and give my wife and I the room."Betal nodded. "Sure thing."As the Security Chief, Poe's successor in that position, left his office, including the outer office, Crisara stepped forward and placed her hands upon Poe's shoulders. "Seriously, you did wonderfully. And the people love you. Or, at least, most do," she added with a playful smirk. "I'm sure there will be a lot of broken hearts and sad tears shed over this. You did so much for Naboo these last twenty years. You'll no doubt go down in history as its greatest Governor to date.""You're just saying that because you're my wife and you contractually have to," he snickered, lifting a hand to brush some hair away from her face."No," she insisted. "I'm saying it because it's true. But, because I'm your wife, while you go down in history as Naboo's greatest Governor, I'm going to celebrate you by going down."Poe raised an eyebrow and watched as she began to sink down before him onto her knees. He immediately looked around his office, as if the hovercam droid was still there, but he knew they were completely alone. Looking down at her, he watched the way she lazily began to undo his pants and shimmied them down over his hips. His eyelids drooped as he focused on the feel of the palm of her hand massaging his length tucked within his underwear. His breath became caught in his throat as she pulled him free and began to stroke him with her deft fingers; her grip firm and deliberate, yet also soft and gentle. The moment he felt her tongue swirl around the head, he involuntarily bucked forward and shifted one of his hands from the edge of his desk to the back of her head."Oh, Cris," he groaned.Her chuckle from his vocal arousal caused a vibration up his manhood that was akin to a tickle. When she took more of him into her mouth, the warmth he felt and the slickness of her saliva that coated him was near to feeling like paradise. When her lips suctioned around him, she slowly began to bob her head up and down on him while simultaneously stroking the base of his shaft with one hand and gently fondling his balls with the other. From decades of experience, she was able to easily breathe through her nostrils when he began to push himself further back toward her throat. She concentrated on the task at hand and avoided gagging, while enjoying the wanton moans escaping his mouth from how well she could take him. Just as he loved the sounds she made, she enjoyed hearing the same from him. It wasn't everyone's cup of tea to perform oral on their partner, but Crisara found as much enjoyment in it as he did. It made her feel properly turned on, and she even enjoyed the salty taste of him.As she licked and sucked him harder and faster, it took no time at all for him to come; spilling hot down the back of her throat. Only then did she gag a little, but only because she'd been so caught up in it all that she hadn't been expecting the sudden release. Still though, she swallowed what he gave her and, as she licked the rest of him clean, any stress he'd been feeling in regard to giving that speech was long forgotten. He slumped backward against the edge of his desk and looked down at Crisara again as she leaned back and wiped at her mouth. She looked upward at him through her eyebrows with such an unbelievably shameless grin upon her lips and within her eyes that it made him feel liking coming all over again."Thank you," he murmured; watching as she slowly got up off her knees and how she shrugged his gratitude off as if it was nothing. "I owe you one.""You don't owe me anything." She reached down between them and tucked him back into his underwear for him, and then pulled his pants back up for him also. "You give just as good as you receive." Lifting her hands, she brushed at his suit coat as if to brush away imaginary dust. "And I enjoy giving as much as I enjoy receiving from you. But, if you want, you can consider this your retirement gift.""I should retire from more things then," he joked; leaning in and kissing her so fully that it was as if he was trying to steal the air from her lungs, while also tasting himself still upon her lips and on her tongue. "This is still my office for a few more months," Poe muttered into her mouth as he slid his hands to her hips. "Wanna make use of the sofa over there?"Crisara nodded. "I thought you'd never ask."  Victory Day was the next major event, a few weeks later. It was the thirtieth anniversary of the Battle of Exegol, which was the paramount and unmistakable win for the Resistance in the war against the First Order. And, while it wasn't the same time of year, this year was also the sixtieth anniversary of the Galactic Civil War ending with the Battle of Jakku and the signing of the Galactic Concordance, but that celebration had already taken place at the beginning of the year, around the time Crisara had returned home to Naboo.Poe had made another speech, which he realized would be his last public speech, so it was a bit heavy-hearted. There were parades in the street, fireworks, music and laughter. Vendors were out selling commemorative items and wares. The younger generations who had been babies or not even born yet, celebrated the day as just another galactic holiday, but being able to understand and respect its significance. For the older generations, especially those who lived through it, or fought in the war like Poe and Crisara did, it was more of a time of reflection, which trudged up some bad memories of fear and loss, injury and death.It had honestly been a few years since Poe could remember having those recurring nightmares involving Kylo Ren, as there had been so many other things occupying his mind, but he woke up in a sweat, several nights in a row, on the nights before, during and after Victory Day. More often than not he was thrashing around or crying out, or just whimpering. At one point he kicked Crisara in the shin and she'd been left with a nasty bruise in the days that followed, which had left him feeling horrible about. But it also wasn't the first time something like that had happened. Earlier on in their marriage, after the war had been over, he'd even given her a black eye when he threw his hand out and clocked her in the face with the palm of his hand while in the throes of a nightmare. Fortunately, Rey had been around more then, and she'd been able to use the Force to heal the bruise when makeup and bacta just wasn't doing the trick.The morning after Poe had kicked her, Crisara had been visited by Ben in her bedroom while Poe was still apologizing to her from in their bathroom. Her cousin stood there in front of the windows looking out at the back garden to the Governor's Mansion, the usual blue haze surrounding his transparent form, and his gaze was angled on the direction of the bathroom."How is he still bothered by what I did? I've been dead the same amount of years that I was alive. Surely he would've gotten over it by now," Ben quipped.Crisara shot him a withering look. "It's the fact that it's been thirty years now. It's trudged up that part of our lives especially hard this year. He had put it behind him before this," she whispered, so Poe didn't hear. And she was sure he couldn't, because the water to the shower had started to run. Dragging her full attention toward her cousin, she sat upon her side of the bed, with her left leg tucked up underneath her while her right leg dangled off the edge. "As strong as he is, physically and mentally, you did a pretty lasting number on him and, even now, though I've forgiven you for all the other terrible things you did during your tenure as Kylo Ren, I still can't forgive you for him."
"You forgave me for my hand in the Hosnian Cataclysm, for my part in your daughter's death, and for killing my father, but not that I sifted around Poe's mind for a few minutes?"
"Did you know Adera was on Hosnian Prime?"
"No."
"Did you give the order or make the decision to destroy that entire system?"
"No."
"Did killing your father rip your soul in two?" Crisara questioned; already knowing the answer.
"Yes."
"Well, then." She gestured toward him as if that proved her point. "I could forgive you for those instances. But Poe — you knowingly and willingly did more than just 'sifting around his mind for a few minutes' and you know it. You broke him. You terrified him. I can't forgive you that, because he can't. Ever."Ben looked to be emitting a sigh, despite having no breath anymore. "Well, I'm still sorry about it all. I wish I could do more to make it up to you both.""Unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do." Crisara shrugged. "I still love you, though. You'll always be my first best friend.""And I'm not your best friend anymore because of what I did or…because I'm dead…?" He was fishing for clarification, but with a half-smile upon his lips."Because I married my best friend," she replied simply, listening to the sound of the water turning off in the bathroom."Meh," Ben muttered; just to toy with her. "You look old, by the way."Crisara chuckled. "Fuck off, will you?"Mock scoffing, he smacked his hips and shook his head at her. "Not very Jedi Master of you.""Yeah, well, I'm retiring, so—" She finished her sentence by sticking her tongue out and blew a raspberry at him, and then watched as he faded away with a laugh in her direction."Who were you talking to?" came Poe's question before he stepped out of the bathroom with only a towel around his waist. He looked around the room, easily assuming some Force ghost had been present, because Crisara never just talked to herself. If she needed to work things out, mentally, she did it quietly in her head during meditation. "Was it the boys?""It was a boy."Her eyes instantly fell upon his chest, which he hadn't completely toweled off. There were still beads of water clinging to his olive skin; slowly sliding down. His chest and abdomen weren't as defined as they used to be. There was considerable pudge forming around his mid-section and his pectorals were definitely softer these days, but she loved it. Hell, she wasn't one to judge. She'd always leaned more toward the petite side, and had remained active and as fit as possible all her life, but there was no avoiding her own mid-section pudge or the increased wiggle of less defined muscle in her upper arms, or even the way her jowls looked like they were starting to sag. But, Poe still thought her to be the most beautiful woman in the galaxy, even when she felt like moldy porridge. And she also viewed him as the sexiest man alive. And there was something especially sexy about him now, with the added thickness, the silver in his hair and the wrinkles next to his eyes and upon his forehead. Aging really suited him."Babe."Snapping out of something akin to a daydream, Crisara blinked and looked him in the eye. "Huh?"Poe let out a small chuckle. "I was talking to you and you just, I dunno, drifted away for a minute.""Sorry." She smirked apologetically. "What was the question?""I asked what boy?""He whose name I still avoid saying around you."Watching the way her eyes drifted back down from his face, it finally hit Poe with what was distracting her. "My eyes are up here, woman." Pointing at his face, he began to saunter seductively around the bed toward her; just knowing, with each step, he was purposely creating an effect on her, and finding amusement in it."Sorry again," Crisara remarked, looking upward again; feeling a little flustered. "Was I making you feel like a piece of meat?""I like it when you make me feel like a piece of meat." Coming to stop just in front of her, he placed a hand upon her right knee and looked down his nose at her, but only because he was standing even taller than usual because she was sitting. "I can spare thirty minutes before I have to leave," he continued; alluding to the fact that they both still had their respective professions to see to before their mutual retirement was finally a thing. "Wanna take advantage of me?"Shifting on the edge of the mattress to face him more properly, Crisara laughed and nodded. "I can spare as much time as needed for you." Reaching her hands out, she removed the towel from his waist and let it fall around his feet and then slipped her hands around to cup his ass. "The question is: how much time can you spare if you don't care about being a little late? I mean, what can anyone do? You can't be fired. The lot aiming to be the next Governor have already begun to campaign. This is the final stretch. You could slack off as much as you want for the next few months if you really wanted to.""I could, but that's not the legacy I want leave behind," he muttered; tipping his face down to kiss her. "I don't want to be remembered as the guy who stopped caring in the end."Smiling warmly against his lips, she almost melted at what a stand-up guy he was, while they were both simultaneously trying to get each other back into bed. Her hands gripped his ass tighter and one of his hands reached out to cup one of her clothed breasts as their kiss deepened. "I knew I married you for more than your great hair and great ass."Poe laughed and began to subtly push her backward upon the mattress. "You think my ass is great?""You know I think your ass is great," she countered.As he climbed up over her, completely naked while she was fully dressed, albeit in pajamas, Poe sighed into her mouth. "I suppose I could be a little late today," he caved, casually grinding himself down upon her. "You win."  Crisara's birthday came and went, and then the twins' birthday came and went. Then, before any of them knew it, it was Election Day on Naboo. Poe and Crisara sat in the parlor of the Governor's Mansion with Shara and her family. Caro was too busy overseeing the construction of the new Kenobi Academy outside Theed, which had broken ground the month before, while also continuing to unofficially head both branches now that Crisara was weaning herself off as being the main one in charge. Leia, still a citizen of Naboo, though living elsewhere, had voted in absentia, which was weird to do for her, since she didn't have her father to vote for anymore. And, since her father wasn't on the ballot this time, she hadn't seen any reason to physically come home.The days leading up to the election, the entire mansion had seen a massive overhaul of cleaning and packing. Poe would be the outgoing Governor and would need to be officially moved out by the day after, when the incoming Governor would be moving in with his or her family. Any and all of their belongings had been already stored in crates, boxes, totes or pieces of luggage, and then shipped back to the villa by the time they were sitting around the parlor the evening of Election Day, awaiting on the results. It was the first time in twenty years that none of them waited with bated breath to see if he'd won, or won again. Before those prior elections, they hadn't bothered to pack, because they never knew what the outcome would be. They just knew that, if somehow he'd lost, they'd be double-timing it to get packed up. This time around, they were able to take it more leisurely.There was the sense that a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. They were all looking forward to living their lives less out of the public eye now.The reports came in, the winner of the election was announced; Tilla Osméra, the former Education Advisor who had served on the Royal Advisory Council between Poe's second and third terms as Governor, and during the reign of Queen Tenerra. Poe had voted for her, so he'd been happy she'd won; even if she hadn't won by the same, monumental margins he'd won by each time. All that mattered is she got more of the vote by the people. Tilla Osméra would be the one moving in the following day, with her wife and their three sons, and then her Inauguration would take place the following week; to give time for planning, which included increased security measures that had gone into effect for any such official event, after what had happened with the Grand Plaza Attack a decade earlier.Poe would be at the Inauguration, with Crisara by his side, and then they could finally step away from the limelight that his career had placed on them.Not that there were any regrets.They'd chosen together for that to be part of their lives, and had accepted everything that came along with it — the good and the bad.When Poe and Crisara walked out of the Governor's Mansion the following afternoon, with both C-3PO and BB-8 in tow, there were reporters at the gates there to watch the transition; of them moving out and Tilla Osméra and her family moving in. Both the outgoing and incoming Governors stopped for a few minutes to talk, express mutual well wishes, shake hands or hug, and then Tilla Osméra and her family headed through the forecourt and up into the estate where they would be welcomed inside by more or less the same staff that had been serving and assisting the Dameron family for the last twenty years. Poe and Crisara smiled at each other, reached for each other's hand and headed out through the gates with their droids, where they ignored the reporters asking for any comments about both their professional and personal lives going forward, and boarded into a private transport that was going to chauffer them all the way home to the villa in the Lake Country.The Millennium Falcon was already there, as they hadn't been using it to go back and forth into the Capital over the last few weeks, and just relying on smaller transports or any variety of speeder. They looked upon their hangar and then over toward the villa and a sense of peace filled their souls.They were truly home now.The moment they stepped into the house, just within the grand foyer, it was quiet. Well, almost quiet. They could hear C-3PO chattering with BB-8 out on the front, tiled patio as they shuffled or rolled off in the direction of the school next door. Besides that, there wasn't the muffled noise from a city street just beyond their walls. There were only birds and the breeze off the lake and, even then, they couldn't exactly hear any of that from inside. So, with a slight skip in their step, they migrated into the family room and plopped down onto the sofa together, and then just looked forward at the fireplace as they both released contented sighs."We're almost there," Poe remarked; throwing an arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer against him. "After the new year, when you officially step down as head of the Kenobi Academy, we can finally focus on us.""I'll still be Grand Master," Crisara countered; referring to her position as head of the Jedi Order, as she was the oldest and 'wisest' living Jedi. Leia had once asked her if she'd ever consider giving up that honor whenever she retired along with Poe, and Crisara had basically said she wasn't sure. At the time she had so many balls in the air that stepping down as Grand Master seemed more likely then. But, being Grand Master would still give her something to do and be part of, so that she wasn't just sitting around twiddling her thumbs for however many more years or decades of life she was going to have. "It isn't necessarily a position I have to be physically present for. If I'm ever needed, I can always transmit a hologram, either previously recorded or in real time. It wouldn't be the first time any member of the Council did it, especially since Council meetings have consistently rotated locations between next door and at Rey's Jedi Temple. Soon those meetings will also be taking place at the new site of the school.""Speaking of which — what are the plans for the school next door when it officially moves?"Crisara shrugged. "Don't know. I haven't thought about it.""It's in your name, so it's your decision in the end," Poe added, turning his head and kissing the top of hers. "Maybe we turn it back into a house. Maybe we can lure Leia back to stay here permanently by offering it up as a place where she can live while having privacy.""You'd be okay with Leia living next door with Nik? Because you know they're still quite committed to each other."A deep frown spread across Poe's face. "There is no ring on either of their fingers, so there's always a chance she'll leave him in the dust.""Poe," Crisara muttered; her tone chastising."What? There's no harm in dreaming."Rolling her eyes at her husband, she smiled despite herself. Dropping her head fully upon his shoulder, Crisara sighed. "Whatever happens, time will tell. Right now, I just want to sit here and bask in the fact that we're finally home."Poe smiled as well. After a few moments of silence between them, he raised an eyebrow and attempted to steal a sideways glance at her. "What would you like to do first?" he began to ask. "Late lunch, early dinner? Or, if you're not hungry just yet, we could make the most of being home alone, in our very comfortable bed, and make all the noise we wanted, if you catch my drift."Crisara giggled. "We've been pretty rabid this year. Have you noticed that?""Well, we've been making up for lost time. The two years of Len being sick, it was hard to get in the mood, simply because of the situation. And, then, you being away for seven months…""Still sorry about that.""Stop apologizing," he countered. "Seriously. I don't hold a grudge about it. I understood why you did it and never blamed you for it. I just missed you and longed for you to come home. I mean, I always had the option to take the Falcon and scour every corner of the galaxy till I found you and begged you to come home, but I didn't want to put you off from wanting to come home.""I always wanted to come home," she insisted. "I just couldn't. Mentally, I wasn't ready till I was ready. It had nothing to do with you. It was me. I had to—"Poe reached across and smushed his index finger against her lips to stop her from talking. "Shhhhut the fuck up."Crisara immediately started to laugh again."Seriously," he muttered. "We don't need to go into it all again. We don't need to rehash anything. It was a moment in time and we got past it. It's in the past. Now we have to look forward, to the future." As if to make his point, he removed his hand away from her mouth and pointed directly in front of them, at nothing in particular. "Now, back to the present, I'll ask again: wanna bang?"Crisara's laughter continued and got heartier. She could always depend on Poe to make her smile and laugh. He always had a way of dancing around serious matters by deflecting with humor, while also just being naturally funny in the best of times. Turning and staring up at him, she smiled lovingly and, for a moment, realized that's where Len got it from: the sense of humor.Len hadn't just physically resembled his father, or been a bloody fantastic pilot like his father. He was sarcastic and funny like his father."What?" Poe asked; sensing she had very specific thoughts rolling around her head that had nothing to do with what he'd been asking her."Nothing," she assured. "Just admiring you."Accepting that answer at face value, Poe nodded accordingly. "Okay. So…wanna admire me in bed?"Another chuckle escaped Crisara's lips. She sat up and exhaled an overly dramatic sign; pretending like he'd just asked this majorly inconvenient favor of her. "I suppose," she jokingly harrumphed while holding his gaze.As he got to his feet, Poe held out his hand to her. "Let's go pretend I can still get you pregnant."When she stood up beside him, she had to hold her legs together as she laughed some more. "Stop. You're gonna make me piss myself.""Sorry," he replied with a smirk. Then with a sigh, he looked out the archway to the grand foyer. "I wish I could throw you over my shoulder and carry you up the stairs, but I'd only throw my back out and possibly die. It was so much easier to throw you over my shoulder to take you to bed at the Governor's Mansion because we had that lift." Casting a gaze back at her, he asked, "Can that be our next project? Can we install a lift? I mean, we're gonna be ancient and decrepit before long and those stairs won't be fun."Crisara nodded. "I don't see why not.""Wizard."Holding a hand out, she gestured toward the grand foyer. "So, are we gonna…?""Yep." Poe nodded adamantly, took her by the hand and dragged her quickly out of the family room.  When Life Day arrived, about a month later, the villa was filled with their family again. Caro, Zeda and Lora already lived there with Poe and Crisara, so the latter pair weren't exactly empty nesters, but Shara and her family had come to stay for a few days, and even Leia came; but this time she was alone. Nik hadn't joined her for the holiday, which had gotten Poe's hopes up, only for them to be dashed when Leia offered up the fact that Nik's grandfather, Borris Santhe, was in failing health, so he wanted to spend the holiday with his family instead. But, since Leia hadn't come home since Len died, and Shara was due to give birth any day now, it had been Nik who had insisted Leia return to Naboo for a few weeks."I guess he's not so bad," Poe had teasingly quipped to his wife, in private, afterward.The afternoon before the holiday, Caro oversaw his daughter and nephews with decorating the old, artificial wroshyr tree with all the decorative lights, orbs and baubles, which had been a wonderful sight for Poe and Crisara to behold. Once upon a time, it was the two of them helping their kids decorate. Now it was their grandchildren. They looked around the room and smiled with love in fulfillment in their eyes as they watched the way Zeda was recording the joyous chaos for posterity. They watched the way Zeith was hunched over the overstuffed chair Shara was sitting on; massaging her shoulders while she grimaced in discomfort from merely being ready to pop. And they watched the way Leia seemed to find amusement in watching her niece and nephews laugh and giggle. They especially took note of the way she seemed increasingly more relaxed as the day had gone on; as if she had been feeling stressed about something but was too caught up in the festivities and the love of her family to be bothered by whatever it was.That evening the family sat at the dining room table for a formal meal since the next day's meals would be more casual and akin to grazing any and all leftovers, or just feasting more upon desserts. A few hours later, the kids were sent to bed and the adults stayed up a bit longer. However, the kids were exhausting so everyone else barely managed to keep their eyes open.While they hadn't gone directly to sleep, Poe and Crisara were in bed, but only because that's where it was most comfortable to wrap the rest of the gifts for their kids and grandkids that they hadn't already gotten to wrapping beforehand. It didn't take too long, though. There hadn't been that much left to do. Afterward, Poe slipped into only a pair of pajama pants and Crisara slipped into a simple nightgown that just screamed 'I'M A GRANDMOTHER!', and then they both slipped into bed beside each other. They started out cuddled up together, chatting until they fell asleep in each other's arms but, at some point, they had rolled apart and were twisted up into the covers on their separate sides of the bed.After only a few hours of sleep, Crisara was awoken; not by Poe's demonic snoring, which she had long since grown used to as a sort of white noise, but from a feeling.It was almost like déjà vu.She was suddenly reminded of the early hours of the morning when she'd gotten out of bed because of another feeling and found Len on the floor of the hallway outside her and Poe's bedroom. But this feeling, while it did feel dire, it didn't feel disheartening. It was just the opposite.Crisara knew what it was and a smile immediately spread to her lips.Shuffling down toward the end of the bed on her hands and knees, she paused for a moment to grip Poe's ankle through the covers. "Poe. Wake up," she urged, and then slapped at his shin for good measure. "It's time."Poe let out an indecipherable grumble before managing to utter, "Time for what?""Baby!" she squealed, excitedly.Crisara was on her feet and practically hit the ground running in a matter of seconds. Before Poe could manage to sit up, she had flung the bedroom door open and found Shara standing outside in the hall, and there was that sense of déjà vu again. But, again, it was for a happy reason this time. Standing behind Shara was Zeith; the pair of them pacing together while Shara was quietly focusing on her breathing.Looking upward at his mother-in-law, Zeith smirked. "Contractions started after dinner, but she didn't say anything until a little while ago when she woke me up," he revealed."Water broke." Shara moaned as another contraction seemed to be starting again, but she had the patience of a Jedi, despite not being one, to focus on not letting the pain get the better of her. "I thought, for whatever reason, I only had to pee," she continued to say; her words a bit disjointed from the pain. "Just made it to the bathroom but not to, uh, go to the bathroom.""That's okay," Crisara insisted, beckoning the pair forward. "That's what cleaning droids are for." As she backed up into her room, she was aware Poe was finally up and staggering forward with eyes puffy from sleep. "Come in here. It'll be more comfortable.""There goes our birth plan," Shara muttered as she waddled into her parents' bedroom with her husband's assistance. "We should contact the hospital, at least, and see if they can send a midwife droid as soon as possible.""This is your third child, Shar. A midwife droid won't get here in time. Not at this hour." Stepping aside, Crisara gestured toward the bed. "I think we gotta do this old school." She watched the way her daughter grimaced at the idea. "My father delivered Adera, in a transport ship, while his Jedi Temple was burning around us. I gave birth to you and your sister while the Falcon was crashing down onto Kashyyyk.""And you were delivered by a very tightly-wound Threepio while I was able to deliver Leia, a few minutes later. Translation: you can do it here, in more comfort," Poe added as he darted into the en suite bathroom to gather up some towels.He threw one, very large towel out into the bedroom, which managed to land on the bed. Knowing what it was intended for, Crisara grabbed it and began to spread it out on top of the covers, and then coaxed Shara to climb up onto it. While Poe was gathering up the rest of the towels they might need, Leia suddenly appeared in the doorway to the bedroom; causing Crisara to look over her shoulder at her other twin daughter."Good, you're here. Be a dear and get on the other side of the bed and sit next to your sister. Hold her hand and let her squeeze it as tightly as she needs. If she breaks anything, I'll heal you later."Leia chuckled but obliged her mother. "In that case she can squeeze the fake hand." As she climbed up onto Crisara's side of the bed, she smiled at her sister and offered her right, prosthetic hand. "Nowhere else I'd rather be," she added more seriously.Shara smiled appreciatively. "I promise to pay for a new hand if I damage this one.""I'll call for the midwife droid anyway," Zeith began to say."No," Crisara countered adamantly. "Sit your ass behind your wife and let her use you as a pillow. Wrap your arms around her and be here for her. This is how I was born, and in this very bed. And this was also how my mother was born, also in this bed." Crisara flashed a smile at Shara, who was panting and struggling not to push at the moment. "Time for history to repeat itself.""This bed has seen a lot of action," Zeith joked; climbing into bed behind Shara and stretching his legs out on either side of her hips."Oh, you have no idea," Poe remarked as he walked out of the bathroom and set the towels down upon the end of the bed where Crisara had moved to kneel.Bypassing her husband's loaded comment, Crisara instead gestured at him. "Sit on Shara's other side. Hold her other hand. Like I told Leia: if she squeezes too hard and breaks it, so be it. I'll heal you later.""Wouldn't be the worst injury I've sustained." Sidling up beside his daughter on the bed, he tucked one leg underneath him and grabbed for her hand, which she was very quick to start squeezing, but it really wasn't that bad. It didn't hurt at all. With his free hand, he pushed some hair out of her face. "We're all here for you, Breezy. You can do this."Despite never having delivered a child before, Crisara had given birth to five and knew what to expect. It really was history repeating itself. Her father delivered his grandchild, and now she was going to do the same. At least this was in a better, more peaceful environment."Sorry I've ruined Life Day," Shara groaned."Honey, you've done no such thing," Zeith muttered beside her ear. "You've made it ten times better. You're giving us the best Life Day gift, ever. An actual, literal life.""Zeith's right," Crisara agreed, as she pushed Shara's legs up into more of a bent position and parted them. Taking one of the towels, she draped them over Shara's knees for modesty. Glancing down to check the progress, she let out a small chuckle and looked back at her daughter. "Shara, listen to me: you appear to be fully dilated and your child's head is already poking out, so this won't take long, understand? You can probably cough, and he or she will slide right out. You've been through this before. You know what to do. It'll be easy, okay? Just focus on your breathing…"Shara nodded and grimaced."Push, sweetie," Crisara urged. "Push as hard as you can."For a brief moment, she cast a glance over at Poe, who was staring at their daughter, but seemed to sense his wife's eyes on him, so he looked at her instead, and they both shared a warm smile. This really was going to be the best Life Day gift. Another grandchild to hold and love and watch grow. Another life to make theirs even fuller.  It had only taken ten minutes.Crisara had only been joking but, really — Shara basically coughed and out came her child.And it was a girl.Shara and Zeith finally had a daughter after two, consecutive boys, and Poe and Crisara finally had two of each. Two granddaughters and two grandsons.The moment the newborn baby girl wailed, the entire room seemed to go still. Shara broke out into happy tears and collapsed backward onto Zeith, who was kissing her forehead and praising her for how well she did, as were both Poe and Leia. The noise of the little one wailing had been unmistakable and had woken Caro and Zeda, who rushed from their suite on the right wing of the house, and were pleasantly surprised by the welcomed addition to the family. Zeda had slipped back out to make the call for the midwife droid to come, just to make sure everything was on the up and up, medically speaking, now that the baby was here and for the birth to be officially registered.After congratulations were expressed, and after Crisara had initially cleaned up her newest grandchild, she handed her to Shara, who took her eagerly into her awaiting arms. Caro and Zeda took their leave for now, and Leia did as well. Only Poe and Crisara lingered a while longer with the happy couple."Did you have a name picked out yet?" Poe wondered."If she'd been a boy, we were going to name her Len," Zeith informed, which immediately touched his in-laws."And we obviously like the tradition of naming kids after loved ones who have passed, as a way to honor them," Shara added; smiling with such love upon her daughter. "And, well, most if not all the females in our family have been covered, except for one of significant importance. You said that Adera's was a combination Grandma Adamé and Great-Grandma Sera. Caro was for someone on his biological father's side of the family. I'm named after Grandma Shara, Leia after Great-Aunt Leia. Len was a combination of Grandpa Luke and Great-Grandpa Obi-Wan's nickname..."Crisara looked down momentarily; thinking to that moment on the Millennium Falcon where she'd revealed to the Force ghost of her cousin Ben that the Ben part of her son Len's name was actually for him, too, but that knowledge was something Poe would've never been able to get behind if he'd known the truth. So, even now, it was a secret she kept.With a much brighter smile than just moments before, Shara looked upward at her mother. "This is Amidala Grader, for Great-Grandma Padmé," she announced. "But we'll probably call her Ami for short."Crisara beamed as brightly as her daughter. "It's a good, strong name.""It's a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl," Poe agreed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"How stupid could I be
A simpleton can see
That you're no good for me
But you're the only one I see"
— Sarah McLachlan When her brother Caro had a daughter, and then when her twin sister Shara had two sons, it was wonderful. Leia had always believed she'd be a really fun aunt, but she had barely been around since the births of those three children, which she regretted over the course of five years. But then, Shara gave birth to a little girl. Her twin sister had a daughter and Leia wasn't sure why, but there was just something more special about that to her. It wasn't that she loved her niece Lora or nephews Kes and Luke any less, but Leia just felt more of a pull and immediate bond to her newest niece. Maybe it was the manner of Amidala 'Ami' Grader's birth that made it seem more special. Maybe was that damn bed in her parents room, tying generations together.Her grandmother Adamé had been born (and possibly conceived) in that bed. Her mother Crisara was born in that bed. Her great-grandmother Sera died in that bed. She, along with Shara, was most likely also conceived in that bed. Her brother Len died in that bed. And now her niece Ami had been born in that bed.From an outside perspective, she imagined it had to seem weird or even gross, but she knew measures had been take to see to that mattress and its bedding being thoroughly cleaned throughout the years; especially after the momentous occasions.By this point, it was an heirloom.And, somehow, after nearly ninety years, that mattress had yet to lose its oomph.Crisara claimed it was still as comfortable as it had been when she was just a toddler, some sixty years prior, and the mattress had been custom-made long before that by the long-presumed dead Kaminoans. It was possibly the only mattress of its kind left in the galaxy. Leia wondered how long it would continue to hold up for. Another ninety to one hundred years? Less than that? Long after that? The more she thought about it, the more she hoped she might be the one to inherit it, despite understanding Caro was the oldest and the only other living sibling she had that still lived at the villa.Still, Leia could dream.And it wasn't just the comfort of the mattress or even the beautifully ornate carvings upon the headboard. It was the other memories it held from when she was a child. All those good ones, because her childhood had been virtually perfect, and not just because of the nostalgia factor. From her earliest memories, she could see herself being tossed onto the bed by her father, bouncing only slightly in a fit of laughter, and then rolling around to get back up and ask him to do it again, and for him to happily oblige. She remembered Shara waking up because of some horrible thunder and lightning during some random storm at night, when the two of them still shared a bedroom. She remembered trying to assure her twin that it was okay, only for a pretty particular clap of thunder to scare the shit out of both of them and sending them running, in tears, into their parents room. They'd climbed up into bed, and cuddled between their mom and dad, where they were mollified by the pair until they fell asleep. She remembered snuggling her mom while she'd been recuperating from that terrible injury on Nar Shaddaa when she'd almost died after finding Nik. Sure, the near-fatal injury wasn't exactly an ideal part of that memory, but the snuggling most certainly was. She remembered jumping on the bed with Shara and Len, getting caught by Tem, who said they were going to get in trouble, but then he just joined in with them. After all, the mattress had taken so many beatings and never seemed to show any wear and tear, so what harm was three little kids and a teenager going to do by jumping all over it?So many good memories, when life was simple.After spending the holiday at the villa, she'd followed Shara and her family back to the Grader (previously Connix, and Dotolo before that) Estate. The remainder of the time she was planning to stay on Naboo for, she wanted to spend it with her twin sister and cuddle the shit out of her new niece. And, the entire time, she more or less became a live-in nursemaid. She was the one volunteering to take care of the late night feedings and diaper changes, to let Zeith and Shara to sleep. She would then sleep a better part of the day when the couple were up and around, while on paternity and maternity leave, respectively, from their jobs. She never wanted to put Ami down. She'd quickly formed a bond with the infant and it struck a nerve in her and made her vividly aware of a conversation she'd had with her mother years before, after her knighting ceremony.She'd claimed she never had any plans to become a mother. It just wasn't something she aspired to become, but her mother claimed she'd seen parts of her future while she was being born. She'd seen both Shara and Leia becoming mothers, and Leia had sort of laughed it off, while wondering who the father of an possible child she would have might be.But she knew who it would be.It would be her husband, Nik.Yeah, you read that right.Husband.  
64 ABY — Approximately a year and a half ago; a week after Len's death
Leia and Nik had boarded her J-type star skiff, the Skywalker, and taken their seats at the pilot and co-pilot seats with any and all of the luggage they'd brought with them when they'd come to temporarily resume residence on Naboo two years earlier, after Len's diagnosis.But Len had passed on now, and her mother had taken off to who knows where, so it was time for her and Nik to return to the life they'd been living together. However, grief is a funny thing. There's suddenly this void in your life, in your heart, and you feel the need to do something, anything, to fill that void; to distract from the pain and the sorrow, and to give you something else to fill your days with. When death and darkness starts weighing you down, you reach out and latch on to life and light, no matter where it seems to come from, and you surround yourself with it.Before they'd taken off, just sitting there on the tarmac outside the hangar, Leia broke down and began sobbing. Like her mother, after Len's initial death, she'd held it all in and hadn't cried, but she couldn't do it anymore. She needed a release. She needed comfort.Nik was her comfort.He'd slipped lithely out of the co-pilot's chair and knelt beside her on the floor. With his arms extended, he waited for her to turn toward him, and then he pulled her into an embrace. Practically falling into his lap, she buried his face into his chest and he cradled her as if she were a child. The entire time he just held her and whispered little assurances that she would be okay, that she was the strongest woman he knew, and that Len would always be there looking after her.It was when he insisted he would always be there for her, too, that something seemed to click in her brain.Maybe it was grief clouding her judgment, or maybe it was her love for him that made her see things more clearly, but she made a decision right then and there.Pulling back and wiping her tears from her face, Leia exhaled a steadying breath and looked him in the eye. "Marry me."Nik chuckled slightly; unsure if he heard her correctly. "What?""Marry me. Let's get married."Furrowing his brow, he peered into her thoughts to make sure she wasn't just pulling his leg, but saw she was being very serious. "Okay, uh, yeah." Nik nodded and watched as she moved to stand up, so he stood up with her. "Do you want to stay, then? Tell your dad? Tell Caro and Shara? Did you want to plan something big or small? We'll need to find out where your mom went to—""No." Leia stepped around him and slipped back into the pilot's chair and resumed the pre-flight checks while he sat back down as well, albeit gingerly. "Despite how the past two years have gone with us being here, my dad and Caro still aren't your biggest fans and any support they'd show for us would be a farce. Shara…her support might be genuine. I know she wants me to be happy and would do whatever needed to make that happen, despite her loose-lipped remark at her wedding reception about you." Turning, Leia glanced back at Nik with a sigh. "And who knows where my mom went or when she'll return? I don't want to wait for anyone in my family to get on board. They've had years to do it. And your family is, well, you know." Leia shrugged and then looked more pointedly at Nik. "Let's just go do it. Just the two of us.""Seriously?""Seriously." Then, she added, "Both sets of my maternal great-grandparents had tiny, secretive weddings. Obi-Wan and Sera apparently exchanged vows, the first time, on board Bail Organa's ship after the fall of the Old Republic, only to make it more official ten years later with Bail, his wife Queen Breha and my great-aunt Leia present. Even then, only a select few knew the truth of their marriage until the end of the Galactic Civil War. And then, of course, Anakin and Padmé. They got married in secret at the start of the Clone Wars, with only an officiant and their droids, Threepio and Artoo as witnesses.""How do you know that detail?" Nik wondered, as Leia turned her attention back to the console in front of her, as the Skywalker fully powered up and as her astromech R6-KT assisted with navigation by docking with a dataport in the wall behind them."My mother isn't the only one who's had the occasional chat with Anakin Skywalker. I'm his great-granddaughter." She stole another look over at Nik. "Like he wasn't going to reach out to me, too, eventually?"Nik smiled; intrigued by that. As the star skiff lifted upward, his hazel eyes focused only on her. "How often do you chat with him?""Not very. Maybe once a year," she responded, nonchalantly; picking at some drying crust in the corner of her eye, caused by her recent tears. "Always seems to be around my birthday.""Maybe his presence is his present.""I mean, maybe." When they careened more upward at an angle, and then darted forward to leave Naboo's atmosphere, Leia shrugged. "It is weird, though. He was an honorable Jedi Knight who turned into a homicidal despot Sith Lord, and was my great-grandfather. It's a strange dynamic to stomach. I have to do what my mom does, and view the Force ghost of Anakin as separate from Darth Vader. Just like as if Kylo Ren was merely a murderous split personality of her cousin Ben Solo."The sky around the Skywalker quickly ceased being light blue and gave way to the star-littered darkness of space beyond the planet. Only two of the three moons were visible at the moment; the third, Veruna, somewhere on the other side of the planet where it was currently nighttime and not daytime where Leia and Nik had just left."At least your family only had two bad eggs and weren't corrupt like mine was — is," he quickly corrected himself. "But we can change all of that going forward. We can make our own family. We can make it better, greater."Leia smiled. "So, you're alright with getting married? With eloping?""Yes," he insisted. "And I can see you already doubting yourself about it, so stop that. Eloping feels very us. It's more special this way.""I mean, if you wanted, we could have maybe Tulene involved. She's the one person in your family I don't mind. No offense.""None taken. She's the only one I don't mind either. But, no. I'm all about this just being about us. No one else.""Okay.""The big decision, though," Nik continued to say, "is where do we go? Where do we get married?" They were just coasting along at regular speed, having not entered hyperspace yet, since they hadn't picked a destination yet. "Where do you want to go?"Leia shrugged. Then, with a smirk, "Groom's choice."  A few hours later, Leia and Nik were walking along the main thoroughfare of Anchorhead on Tatooine. They wore their dark cloaks with the hoods up over their heads; not to conceal who they were but merely to shield their faces from the blistering suns overhead. Behind them, rolling at a leisurely pace, was R6-KT. It wasn't their first time in Anchorhead, or any of the other cities around the dessert world, so they were familiar with enough of the local establishments.After docking the Skywalker at the spaceport, they'd gone directly to the Sidi Driss Inn and booked the only available suite; both unaware that it happened to be the very same suite that her great-grandmother Sera frequented in the early years of her great-grandfather Obi-Wan's self-imposed exile to the planet, and where he would subsequently, and discreetly, join her. It was almost as if fate or the Force had dictated where they should go; that history was deemed to repeat itself no matter what. After checking in, they'd meandered through the streets, passing several vendors, and then a fountain where a few eopi were quenching their thirst, before approaching a small and unassuming cantina. Slipping inside together, she hovered just inside the doorway for a moment while looking around.Despite being the middle of the day, there were plenty of patrons enjoying a drink or two. Or ten. The one guy passed out on the floor, beside a bar stool, seemed to be one of the latter patrons. The fact that no one had moved him, woken him or asked him to leave, or even checked to see if he was still alive, alluded to him being a regular who did this quite often and was clearly no bother to anyone else.Before they opted for finding a pair of empty bar stools, a small table or booth for themselves, Nik sauntered up toward the bar with that lithe, long-legged swagger of his and leaned slightly upon the countertop as Leia came to stand just behind him. The moment the bartender looked in their direction, Nik beckoned them over."What can I get you?" the bartender asked."Answers to a question," Nik remarked. Leaning a bit closer and lowering his voice, he asked, "Who in this town can officiate a marriage?"A green-skinned Duros male sitting on the stool beside where Nik was, turned. "I can."Nik's attention immediately shifted toward him instead. "And who, my friend, might you be?""I'm Brother Fid Bal. I am — or rather I was — a monk at Dim-U Monastery in Mos Eisley up until three years ago. The brotherhood and I may have parted ways, but I still maintain the legal and spiritual requirements to officiate any marriage on Tatooine as a whole."Turning to look at his betrothed, Nik shrugged, as if silently asking 'so, what do you think?' only for her to nod back at him with an equally silent 'fine with me.' Giving the Duros, former monk a smile, Nik stood up straight. "Would you marry the two of us, then?" he asked; gesturing between Leia and himself. "If you need payment of any kind, we can arrange for that."Fid Bal nodded. "I'll marry the two of ya," he confirmed. "As for payment: cover my tab here."The bartender, overhearing, scoffed and eyed Nik. "Not unless you want to be in debt.""How much does he owe on his tab?" Leia wondered, stepping closer to the bar."Seven hundred credits."Nik looked down and removed a slim credit chip; passing it across the countertop to the bartender. "Here.""You sure?"Looking the bartender in the eye, Nik focused on their mind and pushed his way in. "Swipe the card, deduct what Brother Bal owes. No more, no less. Wipe his debt."As if in a daze, the bartender merely nodded and quietly went about doing everything Nik as told him to do. Leia knew he'd used a mind trick, but the Duros beside them was a bit perplexed. That was, until Nik was given the credit chip back. In order to slip it back into his pocket, underneath his cloak, the cloak shifted to the side a bit; revealing Nik's lightsaber, which he still carried on him despite no longer being a Knight. Nik had caught the sudden look of surprise, mixed with respect."A Jedi, huh?""No," Nik immediately counter; not feeling like elaborating."But you carry that laser sword.""And you used to be a monk in a monastery."Glancing between Nik and Leia, Fid Bal shrugged. "Alright. That's fair." Inhaling a small breath, he swiveled on his bar stool and folded his hands between his legs but only after pushing aside him near-empty glass of whatever liquor he'd been imbibing. "So, when and where do you want to get married?"Nik turned to once more look at Leia; this time differing to her for a location. "Any thoughts?"Considering where they were and what might hold significance to make the event special, she smirked and nodded. "It might be a little on the nose and maybe even a bit taboo to do it there, but I know of a place."Slipping a hand around her waist, Nik grinned down at her. "I'm not adverse to taboo."  Out in the Judland Wastes, a synstone hut sat upon a bluff, surrounded by the Western Dune Sea. At the base of the bluff was the Skywalker. At the top of the bluff, outside the hut, Leia stood with Nik behind her, and Fid Bal the former monk behind him."I know this place, but I've never been here before," she informed. "It was my great-grandparents' for about decade, just before the destruction of the first Death Star." She looked over her shoulder at Nik; her gaze pointed. "It was a place they made a life together. Where they loved each other. But, on the other side of that coin, it's also where my parents brought down Armitage Hux for good. This is where my great-grandparents lived, and where Hux died."Fid Bal furrowed his brow. "Who exactly are you two?"Nik held a hand up; urging their Duros officiant to be silent, while maintain eye contact with Leia. "It's a juxtaposition. Life and death, love and hate, light and dark." He could sense she still wasn't sure he'd be on board for this location, so he offered her a small smirk and stepped closer to her and placed his hands upon the sides of her arms. "A woman and a man. A husband and a wife. Perfect balance.""Are we doing it out here or inside? If outside, I'd suggest just before sundown. It won't be as sweltering and the lighting would be more, uh, romantic," Fid Bal suggested.Nik was about to turn around and use the Force on Fid Bal, to shut him up some more, but Leia nodded in agreement. "That sounds nice, actually. And it will give me a little bit to get freshened up and feel more like a bride." Reaching up, Leia grabbed for the cowl of Nik's shirt and yanked it down slightly; not so subtly indicating he should lean down. When he did, she smiled and they met halfway in a kiss. "Give me thirty minutes, tops."Without another word, Leia walked off and carefully descended the rocky path they'd just come up. When she reached her ship, she climbed up into it and headed directly to the small shower unit where she got undressed and washed up as quickly as possible. Naked as they day she came crying, she scuttled toward her onboard wardrobe and pulled out a few pieces of clothing that were ecru in color. It was a sleeveless, lacy tunic with a solid, attached under layer that came to just above her knees. She brushed through her long, dark hair, which was still plenty wet from the shower, and twisted it around and around into a tight bun at the top of her head. The last things she threw on were a pair of tan-colored leggings and the boots she'd been wearing before. Stealing a glance at herself in a small mirror above the tiny sink within her ship's refresher, she was satisfied with how she looked, but wished she had at least one flower in place of a bouquet.When they'd gone up to the top of the bluff, they'd initially left R6-KT on the Skywalker, but she had deemed it was an easy enough gradient for the astromech to climb. And they needed a witness, anyway, not just an officiant."Come on, Katy. I need you with me," she beckoned as she moved to leave the ship. "You're my droid of honor."The purple astromech beeped happily at that and followed obediently afterward.A few minutes later, both had reached the top of the bluff once more. Nik was stepping out of the hut while Fid Bal was just sitting on the ground outside of it, with his legs bent at the knees and his arms draped over them."You look lovely, young lady," Fid Bal complimented when he noticed her approach.Nik's look was a bit distant until his focus settled upon her. Then, he grinned. "Gorgeous," he muttered."Everything okay?" Leia asked, sensing his unease about something. "Is it the location?""The location is fine. I just wanted to see inside for myself," he assured, as Fid Bal moved to get back up to his feet. "Aside from the years, if not decades, of sand and dust, it's pretty clean in there. There was an unmistakable odor of cleaning solution, but it was faint." Nik sighed and shrugged. "Hux was killed here. It's probably from cleaning up after his body, is my assumption." Reaching for her hands, he pulled her close and then rested his hands upon her hips as he tipped his head down to look at her. "You sure you don't want to wait to do this?""I've never been more sure," she insisted. "I want to be with you forever. I want to continue building my future with you."Clearing his throat, Fid Bal stepped between them and shoved their hands away from each other. "Stop doing my job for me," he teased. "There will have been no point in me being here if you're gonna go right into it."Obliging the former monk, the pair stepped back from each other, but only about a foot and a half. They still reached out to hold onto each other's hands while the first of the two twin suns got nearer to the horizon; casting unique shadows here and there."Okay, you want long-winded and sentimental, or short and sweet?"As if on cue, both Nik and Leia responded at the same time, "Short and sweet."Fid Bal nodded. "Alright then." Clasping his hands together, he took a deep breath and considered how to begin this little marriage ceremony. "Since neither of you have introduced yourselves to me yet, when I point to you, just insert your name then. Okay?" Off their looks of corroboration, he cleared his throat again. "Marriage can be a beautiful thing. It is an agreement between two people, or sometimes more than two people, depending on the world and their culture, but primarily two people who love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together. Or maybe one of them needs an alibi or a quick path to citizenship. Either way, it's a serious commitment."Leia raised an eyebrow up at Nik who was already smirking back at her in amusement."You two clearly seem to be the type that's in love, so I congratulate you on this endeavor you've decided to undertake together. From what I've gathered, your family history," Fid Bal continued, eyeing Leia specifically, "is wacky.""You have no idea," she remarked with a small smile."And you," Fid Bal looked at Nik, "are willingly signing up for the wacky she brings to the table.""Honestly, it's wacky on both sides," Nik contended."Then, you're a perfect match for each other. So, straight to the point, then, yeah?" He pointed at Nik. "Do you—""Nik.""Full names.""Nik Yaren.""Do you, Nik Yaren, take—" Fid Bal pointed to Leia next."Leia Dameron."Before the former monk continued, he looked at her more shrewdly with his large, red eyes and a furrowed brow. "Dameron?"She stole a brief look at him. "Is that a problem?""Your dad is Poe Dameron, isn't he?"Slowly, she nodded. "He is."Fid Bal chuckled. "My uncle L'ulo flew with him during the last war, and with your grandmother Shara Bey in the war before that. Huh. Small galaxy."Frowning, Nik turned and stared at him. "That's nice. Can you continue?""Right, right. Sorry. Where was I?" Yet again, Fid Bal cleared his throat. "Okay, so, uh…do you, Nik Yaren, wish to be the husband of Leia Dameron?""I do," Nik answered; returning his focus upon her instead."Do you, Leia Dameron, wish to be the wife of Nik Yaren?"Leia nodded adamantly; holding her gaze upward on him as well. "I do.""Do you both wish to spend the rest of your lives together? If not that's okay. Shit happens sometimes."The couple both turned and looked at Fid Bal at the same time."I'm starting to understand why you and your brotherhood of monks parted ways. Were you kicked out?" Nik questioned."Kicked out, asked politely to leave and never come back...eh," Fid Bal shrugged. "Semantics. That's not important. What's important is the two of you and your vow to love one another till you both die or get tired of each other. So, do you wish to spend the rest of your lives together, or whatever else?"Nik was the one to roll his eyes this time as he looked back toward Leia. "We could've had a lovely ceremony with our problematic families."Leia chuckled. "At least this will be memorable."Fid Bal gestured between them. "See? At least she's looking on the bright side."With a heavy sigh, Nik nodded. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he confirmed as he continued to hold her gaze."And I want to spend the rest of my life with you," she mirrored; giving his hands a gentle squeeze."Well, then, by the power you've vested in me, and under the light of the suns and stars above, I do officially declare you to be wed," Fid Bal announced; clapping his hands together as if they were the exclamation point at the end of a sentence. "Seal it with a kiss, and then go celebrate and make babies, or whatever you want to do."Taking only half a step forward, Nik slipped his right arm around Leia's waist and then cradled the back of her head with his left hand. Without warning, he dipped her backward as she giggled at the gesture, and then leaned down to claim her lips with a kiss. When her hands immediately flew upward to clamp upon the sides of his face, to keep the kiss going a bit longer, R6-KT began to wobble slightly and beep excitedly in her own congratulations."We're married," Nik whispered into her mouth."I'm aware.""Wanna head back to the inn and start our honeymoon?""Very much so."Looking back and forth between the pair, Fid Bal leaned forward and asked, "You'll drop me back off in Anchorhead, though, right?"  The first full year of marriage had been rather perfect for Leia and Nik. Possibly because they'd continued to keep it a secret. Neither of their families knew, and she hadn't bothered to change her last name, mainly because she was proud of her last name, whereas Nik was conflicted about his. Yaren was his adoptive name, but he'd lost both of his adoptive parents by the age of six. His paternal father's last name was Pirsto, but he had no connection other than blood to the guy who had died before he'd been born, and there was no other Pirsto relatives he knew about. And, obviously, there was the Santhe surname — his biological mother's family. He had been building a decent relationship with his grandfather, but he was aware that Borris Santhe didn't really see him. He held Nik at arm's length because, while he was happy to have part of his deceased favorite child back, he also saw in Nik the man who had taken advantage of and impregnated his daughter when she was only sixteen. And, of course, there was the remainder of the Santhes, who Nik just couldn't connect to, except for maybe his Aunt Tulene. But, even then, she was annoying to him, too.So, Leia and Nik carried on as if they were still merely boyfriend and girlfriend — partners in life and love — and not legally married. While the marriage was kept under wraps, they had registered it at a local clerk's office in Mos Eisley, the day after their wedding night. Somehow, by either luck or the fact that no one in the desert city seemed to care who they were, word of a Dameron marrying a Santhe reached zero news outlets, which meant it never got back to either of their families or their friends.A secretive marriage was actually quite exciting and added a considerable amount of fun and pleasure to their sex lives. While Leia chose to willfully ignore the hard truth that her own parents were the same way just before Shara and her had been born, Leia and Nik were repeating history by making love anywhere and everywhere they could; sometimes just in the other room at the Santhe mansion, where his family members could walk in on at them at any moment.The marriage aside, unbeknownst to her, there was something else her family was unaware of, and that was how she made a living. Sure, they could assume that Nik had inherited a fortune from being Gremma's only child and next of kin, and therefore the two of them were living off that wealth. They could also assume Leia solely lived off the trust fund Crisara and Poe had set up for each of their children, once they'd either completed their Jedi training with Rey or whatever separate schooling path they chose. But they'd be wrong on both accounts.Well, sort of.Nik lived off what he'd inherited, but he was shrewd about it. Leia had been adamant about not accepting a single credit from the Santhe family that she hadn't earned herself. And that's how she fell into a line of work that Nik had already been doing well before he'd been stripped of being a Jedi Knight.Bounty hunting.They had a particular skillset, they had transportation, and they enjoyed traveling.When Nik had been doing it alone, he fared really well. But, the two of them as a team, they easily became the ones to go to. Though, they purposely went by aliases and occasionally covered the lower halves of their faces to further conceal their identities, so it didn't get back to either of their families and shine a negative light on them; no matter what issues they did or didn't have with them.Nik went by Kin Neray, which was literally just his name backwards. Leia went by Areda, which was her older, deceased sister's first name, also backwards. As for a last name, she either never gave one or used the same as Nik. For the sake of added obscurity, they never used her star skiff, and instead a slightly more rundown transport ship Nik had purchased while visiting the Santhe Shipyards in Coronet City on Corellia. Leia found a strange amount of enjoyment in what she did. Though, despite the danger that could present itself with such a line of work, and no matter what the quarry — a.k.a., the bounty — did or didn't do, or why they were wanted, she refused to kill said quarry. Even if it was specified that it didn't matter if they were brought in dead, alive or dismembered: Leia brought them in alive. Leia was adamant about that with Nik from the start. They could use the Force to subdue their quarry. They could use mind tricks on them, so long as it worked on whatever sentient life the quarry was. If not, literal force by way of the Force worked to get them in shackles or to put them to sleep.When not traipsing across the galaxy acquiring bounties, Nik had been taken under his grandfather's wing; to be shown the ropes of what running the Santhe Corporation and all its subsidiaries entailed and included. This meant having to occasionally work alongside his Uncle Anters, who openly loathed Nik being there. Leia, as supposedly just Nik's longtime girlfriend, kept to the Santhe mansion, where she maintained her Jedi training so that she never got rusty. She was still a Jedi Knight and a member of the Jedi Order, though not a member of the Jedi Council like her mother and brother Caro. That was something that didn't appeal to her; at least not at this point in her life. Plus, she didn't hold the rank of Master, so a spot on the Council wasn't an option anyway.After getting word that her mother had returned home to Naboo, Leia had breathed a little easier that her family would be okay going forward. Around the same time, Nik was getting increasingly frustrated with Anters and became prone to bursts of anger and aggression; though he never directed it at Leia. Several pieces of furniture within the Santhe mansion had been broken or flat out destroyed in the process, or Anters got to experience being Force choked a few times, or flung across the room. Somehow, Anters remained unfazed, in the long run, though there was irrefutable fear in his eyes in the moment it happened. Each time, he'd been lucky Leia had been there, to talk Nik off the metaphorical ledge; acting as a cold, refreshing cloth to a feverish forehead.Nik's grandmother dealt with it by drinking so much that she gave herself full-blown cirrhosis of the liver; or, at the very least, accentuated it. But, the Santhes had money coming out of their asses, so Olena Santhe was able to pop into the hospital one morning after breakfast for a new, synthetic liver and be home in time for her midday meal, and continue drinking. Anters' wife Besa began to hide away inside their suite of rooms. Their twin daughters Desta and Losha usually did the same. Borris tolerated it, as he usually butted heads with his hotheaded son anyway. Tulene remained ambivalent on it all. She seemed sly, as if playing both sides and figuring who was best to align with at any particular moment. Leia tolerated her the most of the Santhes, but believed her to be a snake in the grass."You know why Anters hates Nik, right?" Tulene had asked of Leia one evening, as they sat alone together in the main parlor."Because he's angry by nature?""That," the older female chuckled, "and Nik stands to inherit everything from my father.""Everything?""Well, everything that matters, according to Anters." With a sigh, Tulene leaned closer and lowered her voice. "In our family, the oldest child inherits controlling interest in the Santhe Corporation and becomes CEO. They inherit full ownership of this estate and anything else the previous patriarch or matriarch owned. My father was the oldest child in his family, so he got it all. Gremma was the oldest but, when she died, Anters and, well, all of us, really, went with the assumption he was next to inherit it all. And, even though he'd been close to Gremma, he always secretly thought he should inherit because he's the only son. Because he's a kriffing misogynist, if you haven't already noticed."Leia nodded. "Oh, I've noticed.""Anyhow, he thought he was going to get it all, but then Nik shows up and its revealed the baby that Gremma had given birth to and were told died, is Nik. He had the details that align with information only my father would know and the genetic test that proved as much. Of course, Anters had been adamant that he wanted another test done, and Nik consented. A specialist was brought here and did the test in front of us, and we watched the results come back in real time, only to further prove Nik's claims once and for all," Tulene continued with a chuckle. "Anters had his hopes dashed in that instance, because Nik was the only child of the eldest child. He inherited everything that was Gremma's, including her place in succession. It passes directly to him. Anters would only resume inheriting everything if Nik died before him and without an heir of his own."With a knitted brow, Leia thought upon this. "Sort of like a traditional monarchy.""Exactly like that," Tulene agreed, pointing her finger at Leia as if to cement that fact. "If Anters dies before Nik, and Nik dies without heirs, it all goes to Desta.""But Desta and Losha are the twin daughters of Anters. Why not both of them equally?""Because Desta was born seven minutes before, making her the older child." Going further into detail about the Santhe inheritance process, Tulene added, "If Nik died without an heir, and then Anters and his twins died, only then would I inherit. If we all died and there were no heirs left in our immediate family, it would all pass to our cousin, who is the oldest child and son of our uncle, my dad's younger brother, who died about ten years ago."Leia was trying very hard to keep all this information straight."So, yeah, that's mainly why Anters hates Nik," Tulene remarked as she sat back on the sofa and let out a soft sigh. "Normally, I'd suggest Nik would want to sleep with one eye open, but he's proved he can put Anters in his place; physically, I mean. He might want to be mindful of what he eats, though. I wouldn't put it past Anters to find a way to slip poison into Nik's food or drink." She turned and eyed Leia, to express she was very serious about that.Later that evening, while in their own bedroom suite, Leia had mentioned that conversation she'd had with Tulene to Nik, especially the last part involving possible poisoning."I can handle Anters," Nik had insisted."You're strong in the Force, but not immune to deadly poisons.""Don't worry, princess," he remarked; reverting to the nickname he'd opted to give her, simply because of who she was named after, and because of her family's affluence, though now it tied into his own family's affluence. "Poison isn't what's going to bring me down." Sauntering over to the bed where she was sitting, he placed his fingertips upon the space between her breasts and gave her a playful shove backwards onto the mattress. Off her abrupt chuckle, he began to climb over her; bracing both of his hands on either side of her head while staring down at her. "I've foreseen how I'm going to die."There was a small glimmer of concern in her dark eyes. "Oh?""Yes," he nodded; slipping one hand back down and underneath her blouse until he was snaking it back up fondle her breasts. "I'm going be killed.""By who?""Well, not so much who. More like what."Leia sighed and tipped her chin to her chest as she watched him slowly begin to shimmy down her body. Nik hunched over her; eye gaze focused on the leggings she wore and his obvious desire to pull them down off of her. Once he was successful in that endeavor, Leia scooted further along the mattress to give him more space and so he wasn't about to fall backwards off the side. With a devious smile flashed her way, Nik leaned down while parting her legs by gripping her thighs firmly with his hands."I'm going to be suffocated," he whispered, just before sticking his tongue out and licking between her folds with swift determination. After only one flick of his tongue, he managed to roll over onto his back and take her with him. "Suffocation from you sitting on my face."A serious of giggles escaped Leia's lips and she rolled her eyes accordingly. But, as he continued to hold tight to her thighs, and as she came to now be kneeling on either side of his head, all that amusement faded. Nik proceeded to pull her warmth down upon his mouth and began to lap at her as eagerly as a thirsty hound finding a pool of water in the desert."Oh. My. Stars," she squeaked between each word; placing one hand behind her, upon his chest, while the other fell in front of her and gripped at the curls on the top of his head. "Nik…Nik, oh…"If this was how married life with him was going to continue to be, she was certain they'd be happy forever.  Something changed after that, but not between the two of them.When Nik wasn't spending a good deal of his downtime making love to his wife, or collecting bounties with her, or even shadowing his grandfather at the Santhe Corporation's main headquarters in Lianna City, he was occasionally closing himself off in the home office for hours on end, and sometimes taking off on solo trips to unknown locations.Leia would ask where he was going, but he never gave her a straight answer. Sometimes he said it had something to do with work pertaining to the Santhe Corporation. Sometimes he was just seeing a friend from the early days of his knighthood. He became increasingly more callous toward Anters, but that wasn't particularly out of character. Anters was a thorn in Nik's and Leia's sides. But it got to the point where sometimes Nik was the one instigating confrontation. He would later claim to Leia that he'd looked into his uncle's mind and seen the desire Anters had to inflict harm against him or even against Leia. He claimed he was being preemptive.He would use the Force to cause Anters to trip over nothing or lose his footing down the stairs; nearly falling and breaking his neck. As the months went along, she noticed Anters had bruises upon his neck or arms, and then Anters was suddenly wearing longer sleeves and higher collared shirts to hide it all. When Leia confronted Nik about it, he told her it wasn't him that did it; that Anters and Besa must be getting into some pretty rough sex with each other.Leia knew Nik was lying, but she loved him, and wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.Plus, Anters was a belligerent asshole half the time, and Besa was snobbish bitch. But…still, though. They didn't deserve violence done against them.When she and Nik would go bounty hunting, a few times she had to pull him back from nearly killing the person they were after. Shortly after their first anniversary, she'd let one of their bounties 'get away' rather than see Nik slaughter him. She'd had to stop Nik by igniting her lightsaber and turning it on him; holding it a hairs length in front of his face and demanding he stand down.He did, but begrudgingly.He was just letting himself be ruled by his anger and she didn't like it.Afterward, he'd apologized and then made it up to her by fucking her so thoroughly she nearly forgot her name for a few hours, and then all seemed forgiven again.It became a cycle, and it was tiring one.Leia would ask him to join her during her meditation; to get back to basics and center himself. To find some peace for his mind, body and spirit. But then his grandfather's health was suddenly in decline. Borris had had a heart attack when he was with Nik one afternoon, at the Santhe Corporation's headquarters in Lianna City. It wasn't until later that evening when Nik had returned home from the hospital to give Leia details of what had happened. He seemed flustered and had stalked upstairs to retreat into their bedroom, where he sat down upon a settee. When Leia turned on a light, he'd snapped at her to turn it off; claiming he was tired and the sitting in the dark was more calming at the moment, so she obliged him. Only then did he detail how Borris had been standing at his desk and they had been talking about nothing overly important when the old man had suddenly clutched at his chest and fell to his knees. Apparently he'd been dead for a solid minute until Nik had managed to transfer a bit of Force energy into his grandfather to bring him back from the brink of complete death, and then called for help. Medics arrived and took Borris away to the hospital and Nik had followed along, waiting on any and all updates. And then, to make the situation more stressful, Nik claimed Anters was circling like a bird of prey, waiting to hear if Borris died so he could claim whatever bit of inheritance he'd been promised upon his father's death."My grandfather may not be everyone's cup of tea, but to have no love for your own father — even just a little…" Nik scoffed. "Borris Santhe is a lot of things, but he's devoted to his family. He's given his children everything they could ever want and it's never enough. They just take, take, and take some more. Rarely a thank you. Anters and Tulene are both spoiled brats, and it stands to reason Gremma was as well." Casting a glance at Leia in the dark, Nik sighed heavily with exasperation. "Had I been raised with this family, I'd be no different. They're a blight on society."Leia moved to sit beside him; patting her hand gently upon his upper thigh in support. "Well, they're lucky to have you — to balance it out.""I sometimes think it would be better if they were all gone." He turned and looked his wife in the eye. "The two of us could build something better. You and I could form a greater dynasty. We come from such prominent families. You, more so. Imagine what we could do for this galaxy; the staying power of our combined genetics. Not just who we come from, but what we are. Any children we might have would be as gods."Leia frowned. "Any children we might have would be mortals, like you and me. Thinking any differently is a dark path to go down."Nik sighed again. "Yeah, I suppose."She could feel he wasn't completely convinced he was in the wrong with his line of thinking. She could feel the continued turbulence deep within him. Lifting her hand up, she cupped the side of his face and then slipped her fingers backward into his curls. "Want me to run a nice, hot bath for you? It might help."Slowly, he nodded. "Only if you join me.""Always." Leaning forward, she embraced him and kissed his cheek, and then got up from the settee, just as he playfully slapped her ass.When she looked back at him with a chuckle, Nik met her gaze halfway with a knavish smirk. "I know I've been all over the place lately; literally and mentally. I'm sorry," he muttered; glancing down at his hands. "I've just been figuring some things out. I'm working toward a goal. I'm working on our future and I want it to be a great one.""It will be. I'm certain," she assured as she paused and looked back at him.He looked a little less certain, yet with a hint of determination. "Life Day is coming up. And with Grandfather's health and wellness up in the air, I think it might be best if I remained here for the holiday. But you should return home to Naboo, be with your parents and siblings again. Shara's about to have another baby. It'll be good for you both if you were there, and I know you miss them all.""But you're my husband and I want to be where you are," Leia countered."And we have the rest of our lives to be anywhere and everywhere together. One holiday season apart won't kill us." Then, he added, "Stay for a few weeks. A month if you want. It's been a while since you've been home.""You're my home.""And you're mine. Everything I do, I do for you. For us. And insisting you be with your side of the family is also me doing something for you."Leia smiled warmly and began to walk backwards toward their en suite bathroom. "And I can't wait to get in the bath and do something for you."With a chuckle, Nik sat more upright and just watched as she slipped out of the darkness they'd been bathed in, and into the more widespread light of their bathroom.  
66 ABY — Shortly after the new year
So, Leia had enjoyed her time with her family and especially the time spent bonding with her newborn niece. She'd actually hated to leave, but she also missed Nik every day they'd been apart. She'd hugged and kissed her parents goodbye, she'd wished her siblings and their spouses well, she'd cuddled her nieces and nephews something fierce, and then she'd boarded the Skywalker with R6-KT with one last wave and a promise to return more frequently.While traveling through hyperspace, en route to Lianna, she had been in the midst of minor conversation with her droid when she felt something strange deep in her chest. An encumbered feeling. On instinct, she patched into her ship's comms and contacted Caro, hoping whatever she was picking up on had nothing to do with her family, so soon after leaving them.When she got through to him and asked if everything was alright, he'd assured her it was, and then asked why. After explaining her feeling, he fell silent for a moment and then said he would ask their mother, and even contact Rey, to see if either of them had picked up on something in the Force that neither of he nor Leia couldn't pinpoint. When he got back to her, she was still in hyperspace; now traveling along the Perlemian Trade Route, nearing Lianna.Their mother and Rey hadn't felt anything of significance to them in the Force, nor in regard to anyone they knew or cared about.Leia had thanked her brother and ended communications with him, but she hated not being able to shake this feeling that something had happened or was about to happen. It felt almost as foreboding as when she'd had that vision years ago, when she'd assumed her father was going to be shot and killed. She felt restless. She felt she needed to be doing something, but she wasn't sure what that something was.Her next move was the contact Nik, which didn't help.He wasn't answering.A swell of anxiousness filled the pit of her stomach.When she finally popped out of hyperspace, appearing just within Lianna's outer atmosphere, Leia began her descent toward the planet. The closer she got, passing through the clouds that hovered above Lianna City, she noticed the unmistakable sight of black smoke billowing in the distance and her heart leapt into her throat when she realized where the smoke was coming from.She picked up her speed, despite her descent, and veered expertly toward the landing port beside the Santhe estate; her father and her deceased younger brother not being the only amazing pilots in the family. When the Skywalker touched down and the landing gears settled, Leia stared directly out the viewport with her stomach flipping and flopping around as she saw the mansion engulfed in flames.Leia had never run so fast.She clambered off her ship and out onto the tarmac while firespeeders hovered overhead; attempting to suppress the flames with some mixture of water and foam spray.Fearing the worst, Leia felt tears burning at her eyes, but then…there it was. Her gaze darted away from the burning remains of the mansion, and instead toward an area that was a safer distance away. She saw three figures standing somewhat together. One tall male and two shorter females.A breath of relief escaped Leia's lungs."Nik!" she screamed.As if snapping out of a daze, Nik turned in her direction and watched as she came running over toward him. As she got closer, he smiled lazily at her. "Hey," he greeted simply.Leia practically threw herself into his arms and held him so very tightly. "I saw the flames. I feared the worst," she remarked; her face pressed into his chest. "For a terrible moment I thought I'd lost you."His smile taking on an appreciative look, Nik sighed and shook his head. "Nah. I'm fine." Pulling her back from him a bit, he gestured a few feet away from them both and Leia followed with her concerned, brown eyes. "The girls and I are okay."Leia spotted his twin cousins, fifteen-year-old Desta and Losha, who were huddled together and looked rather shell-shocked. Stepping away from her husband, Leia moved forward to reach out to the sisters. "Are you two okay?" she asked; seeing they were physically okay, but wanting to know they were mentally okay.Desta turned first and her chin immediately began to quiver. "They're all gone."Despite never having been close to her cousins-in-law, Leia didn't flinch when both turned and ran into her arms, and then began to sob so heavily that it broke Leia's heart. Turning to look over her shoulder at Nik, she knitted her brow questioningly at him. "What happened?""I'm not entirely sure," he replied; a distant look in his eyes, which shifted back toward the still-raging flames. "Anters was being Anters again. He was arguing with Tulene and me about Grandfather. It all happened so fast. Anters tossed a drink into the fireplace. Next thing I know a fireball exploded out of it, and fire was spreading through the house." The entire time he spoke, his expression was blank, as if he was nothing more than a droid, reciting data. Perhaps it was merely his own shock. "I remember running. And the girls were screaming from the top of the stairs. I must've gotten the three of us out, but the others…they're dead. The rest of the family. Even the servants." He then repeated what Desta said, "They're all gone."As she pulled back from the twins, she caught the nervous and terrified gazes in their eyes when they stole a glance in Nik's direction, and Leia could sense more had happened. They had witnessed something terrible. Perhaps they'd seen their parents burning alive in the fire before they got out. Perhaps they'd seen something else that sent chills up their spines and put fear into their hearts.That encumbered feeling returned; if it actually ever left.What made it worse was she could've swore she saw a smile briefly appear on Nik's face the longer he stared at the fire.  In the aftermath of the fire that destroyed the Santhe mansion, the charred remains were completely leveled and all the debris was carted off. The property was just level ground now, with just an indentation from its foundation. Nothing had been saved, everything destroyed. The equally charred remains of the remaining Santhe family members were found under the rubble and soon identified, as well as any and all servants that had been on the premises.Nik had taken them all to a nearby luxury hotel; putting the twins up in a suite together while he and Leia took up in a conjoining suite. While Nik was busying doing his best to detail what had happened to both local law enforcement and the Santhe Corporation's board of trustees, Leia had contacted her parents to give them a heads up on what she had pieced together so far, but left out the terrible suspicions she buried deep because she didn't want to face a possibly disheartening reality.Despite still not knowing their daughter was married to Nik, both Poe and Crisara had offered to take the couple and his cousins in. Poe still owned his father's old apartment in Theed. It had two bedrooms and therefore enough room for the foursome. Leia had liked the idea, but knew she'd need to talk it over with Nik first. And, even though Nik had the funds as the Santhe heir, Desta and Losha were still underage and now technically orphans, so Crisara had pointed out that Leia could reach out to Shara about seeing if there was a way GOFOY could help in any way.Leia had expressed all this to Nik in the days that followed, but he insisted he would take care of it all, and that he didn't need her family's handouts. Put off by his comments, Leia got understandably upset and the pair began to argue, but only verbally. When their fight came to an unresolved close, Nik had stormed out of their hotel suite and didn't return for nearly two days; leaving Leia to keep an eye on the teenage, twin sisters.Having lost family of her own in recent years, she used that to be able to talk to the girls and relate to them, and assure them that their sadness and their pain wouldn't last forever. In time they would get stronger and begin to heal. She insisted they would continue on with their lives and that the best way to make their parents proud was to thrive. Her words seemed to help, but she couldn't help but continue to grieve for them and wonder what horrors they'd seen or hadn't seen.She was too scared to ask.When Nik returned, he was quiet.Leia refused to be the one to break the silence between them first. She was stubborn like that.By the next morning, when they woke up, Nik broke. He stretched an arm out and coiled it around Leia's mid-section, and then pulled her to him. Exhaling a deep breath, he whispered into the nape of her neck, "I'm sorry for the things I said. I didn't mean to get so angry at you. It wasn't you I was mad at. Just…everything is a little crazy right now and I have a lot on my plate.""I understand," she whispered in return."I've made a decision that I think will be for the best."Wary about what it would be, Leia inhaled a steadying breath. "Yeah?""I'm going to send Desta and Losha to a private boarding school on Chandrila," he revealed. "They need to be around kids their own age. They've been homeschooled by private tutors for too long, and it'll be good for them to get away from here and the terrible memories.""They're your family, though. If anything, this is a time they need you most. We're the only family they have now."Nik rolled away from her and laid flat on his back. "The two of them going to boarding school on another planet — and a really good boarding school, might I add — doesn't mean they're not family anymore. I'm just thinking about their best interests.""They're almost sixteen. I think they're old enough to have a say in this."Sitting up, Nik twisted at the waist and stared down at Leia. "And I'm the head of this family now, and their legal guardian. It's my decision," he firmly bit out. "If I think they should go to boarding school on Chandrila, then that's what's going to happen." With a grunt of displeasure, Nik tossed the covers off of him and climbed out of bed. "The news of it might be easier to swallow coming from you, though. So, if you want to tell them, I'd appreciate it." Stalking off toward the bathroom, he slipped inside without another word; just leaving Leia with a feeling of whiplash from how he'd gone from sweet and apologetic to petulant and hostile within the span of a minute.  The months ticked away slowly.Desta and Losha went to Chandrila, to the boarding school Nik had chosen for them to attend. And, honestly, it really was a fantastic school. Leia had joined Nik in taking the twins, and they'd gotten the tour of the campus and all its buildings. They got to see the dorm room where the twins would be living, and Leia was happy for them that they got to share. It would've been just heartless if they'd been forced to be parted and dorm with strangers at such a time in their lives.Even though she'd never been close to the girls beforehand, this tragedy had seemed to endear them to Leia, and vice versa. She was kind to them; motherly, even. They had glomped onto that affection rather easily, so Leia had told them they could contact her any time they needed to, and for whatever reason; day or night.Leia's marriage to Nik had entered its second year and they seemed to be floundering a bit. They had moved out of the hotel and into a penthouse apartment at the very top of one of the residential skyscrapers in Lianna City, but he was rarely home. From what she remembered her mother mentioniong on the tail end of her marriage to Caro's father Alfic, Leia was worried the end of her own marriage was coming because it felt like history was repeating itself yet again. Sort of. At least, for Leia, she wasn't stuck in their penthouse all day with two kids to look after. She could come and go whenever she wanted.As a form of stress relief, Leia took on some bounty hunting jobs by herself while Nik was off; either in meetings in regard to any business dealings or ventures involving the Santhe Corporation, or doing who knows what else.Leia was actually finding that she preferred bounty hunting on her own. She could get the jobs done quicker without having to focus on tag-teaming it with Nik. She didn't stand out as much as he did, because of his lanky height. She was shorter and more lithe in her movements. She could slip in and out of places more easily. She could tail a quarry like a shadow and pounce when least expected. And, in between jobs, it gave her ample opportunity to pop home to Naboo for a few days here and there, as she had promised to come home a bit more often.By the end of the year, she and Nik seemed to be effortlessly finding their way back to each other. Neither came right out and offered up any sort of verbal apology in regard to their disagreements or disputes. In the end, love and lust paved the way for getting back on track. Leia, of course, wasn't blind to the fact that there was a noticeable change in her husband. Something seemed darker, but she was in too much denial to want to face the what was right in front of her.She could feel the change.It was scary, but it was also a bit intoxicating.It was like watching a mid-air collision happen and not being able to look away from the carnage.When Life Day came back around toward the end of this year, she had insisted they all return to Naboo for the holiday: Nik, her and his twin cousins. He agreed, but on the condition they keep their marriage a secret still. He said he still liked the thrill of it being something that was just theirs and no one else's.Because of the things she'd been feeling and sensing about him, she was fine with that. If she faced the ugly truth that was staring her in the face, there would be no way for her to avoid admitting it to her family and she knew they wouldn't take any of it well.So, the four of them went to Naboo for Life Day. The twins were put up in a room on the third floor of the right wing of the villa, and welcomed with open arms by Leia's parents. It seemed like the twins suddenly blossomed; having a proper sense of family again, and with a family they wasn't constantly bickering with each other or at each other's throats. It was a healthy environment for them to be in. The evening before the holiday, they all sat together for the formal meal. Afterward, with a cheerful gaze, Leia watched as her youngest niece Ami toddled around the family room; using any surface to grab onto for balance. She was literally only one day away from her first birthday, so it would be a double celebration for the family.After everyone had gone to bed, Leia and Nik had retired to her old bedroom. Having been feeling considerably lighter, from being surrounded by all those she loved, Leia felt compelled to further push away any doubts and negative feelings she'd been having or actively continuing to ignore, and slipped out of her clothes while Nik was in the bathroom. When he returned to the bedroom wearing only a robe, he was pleasantly surprised to find her lying in bed with only a thin bedsheet covering her body. As she propped her head up with her prosthetic hand, Leia beckoned him forward with a curl from her left index finger.For a moment, he just stared; letting his eyes rove over her obscured curves. Then, he raised an impish eyebrow and peeled his robe off. "Are you my Life Day gift?" he asked, slipping into bed beside her.Instead of replying, Leia tossed the covers aside and climbed up onto his lap while his hazel eyes darkened with desire. His gaze drifted down toward where their bodies were about to connect, and he watched as she took a firm hold of him with her prosthetic hand, causing a pleasured hiss to escape his lips. When she began to stroke him, he couldn't help but respond by bucking upward into her grasp. He wanted more of her. He didn't want a hand job, so he gripped her waist and swatted her hand away. Taking hold of himself, he lined up with her entrance, and thrust abruptly inside of her, which brought an elated gasp out of her.Reaching forward, Leia rested her hands upon his shoulders and began to bounce on his aching manhood. Her breast jiggled in front of her face, which lured him in to take one of her nipples between his teeth and then suck firmly upon it while rolling and pinching the other in his free hand. As their bodies rocked vigorously together, stars began to form behind their respective eyelids, which were closed tight in concentration.The moment they both came, Nik spilled himself within her warm depths and then she collapsed upon his chest; wrapping her arms around his neck while their heartbeats began to settle."Happy Life Day," Leia finally muttered."Happy Life Day," he repeated.  Rather late in the evening on the following day, after all the Life Day gifts had been exchanged and Ami's first birthday had been celebrated, Zeda was cleaning up some of the mess that the cleaning droids had missed. As she'd moved through the family room, she caught sight of Desta and Losha through one of the floor-to-ceiling windows that faced out onto the back garden's tiled patio. They seemed quiet, not even talking together; as if they were still shell-shocked from the fire, or merely communicating telepathically. She knew they weren't Force-sensitive, so the latter was highly unlikely. And they'd seemed so happy and content over the last two days, so she didn't think they were still terribly broken up over the loss of their family members. But something seemed concerning.Passing through the family room, Zeda continued toward the back of the grand foyer and stepped through the double doors; coming to a stop just outside both doors with her hands placed upon her hips. "Are you girls okay?" she inquired with a slight tilt of her head. As her white hair fell more to that side, the movement seemed to catch the attention of the twin teens. When they shifted their gazes in her direction, she could definitely sense something was the matter that was weighing on their minds: something that scared them. "Whatever it is, you can tell me about it, if you want." Zeda stepped forward and crouched down in front of them both. Looking up at them with her silver-grey eyes, her gaze was nothing short of warmth and kindness. "Don't be afraid. This is a safe place. You're with friends and family here."Losha swallowed back a lump in her throat. She opened her mouth to speak but she got too nervous about whatever it is. The tears welling in her eyes were a telltale sign that it was definitely something serious. She looked too scared to say anything about whatever it was.Desta seemed a bit more determined, though. "Nik," she whispered. The anxiety began to build in them both, and they both readily welcomed it when Zeda offered a hand to each of them to hold. "It was Nik.""What was Nik?" Zeda asked; her brow furrowing in concern.Desta leaned in closer, and continued to whisper. "He did it."Zeda wasn't quite following yet. "What did he do?"Both girls abruptly leaned backward and their eyes shot upward; wide and nervous. Zeda sensed the presence directly behind her. It felt cold and it even made her feel a little nervous, too."What did who do?" Nik asked.Gracefully pushing up to her feet, Zeda stood up straight and turned around to face him. She felt the fear in his young cousins, so she suddenly felt compelled to placate him on their behalf. She smiled; spreading the warmth of it all around her face. Her lips curled upward, her eyes brightened. She even let out a small chuckle. "I was asking them how they liked their school and they told me about how some boy they go to school with pulled a prank on another student, and it caused a bit of a ruckus. They didn't think it was very nice of him."Nik looked over Zeda's shoulder and nodded. "Oh. Well, boys will be boys." Clearing his throat, he beckoned the girls forward. "Why don't you two head on up. It's late and we're going to be leaving in the morning.""You aren't staying a bit longer through the holiday?""I'm the head of an entire corporation now, and the girls have school to get back to." He smiled at Zeda, but his smile, unlike hers, didn't reach his eyes. "We're all very busy.""Of course. I know how that is, what with my daughter, training younglings and padawans, and helping Caro build the new site for the Kenobi Academy," she replied. "Sometimes it seems like there are never enough hours in the day.""So you get it." He looked from Zeda, back at the twins, who hadn't budged. "Now," he insisted, curtly. "Upstairs."Without hesitation that time, Desta and Losha got up and hurried forward; sidestepping the adults before disappearing inside of the villa. Zeda's gaze followed after him and couldn't seem to shake the icy feeling she got off of him. When she took a step to the side, to move around him and head back inside as well, he blocked her, but only slightly. Zeda looked up at him and watched the way he cocked his head to one side and looked as if he was thinking about something he found amusing."Funny thing about the school the twins go to," he began; purposely leaning into Zeda's personal space. "It's an all-girl school. No boys allowed." Leaning back, he flashed a small smirk at her and winked. "Goodnight, Zeda."Turning on the balls of his feet, Nik walked off ahead of her and she was sure she felt a chill go up her spine.Something wasn't right with him.  The next morning, Leia had hugged her parents goodbye, as well as her siblings, their spouses, and her nieces and nephews. Like the year before, she promised she wouldn't be a stranger, and would come home more frequently, and not just because she didn't want to miss out on her nieces and nephews growing up. She missed them all. And she missed Naboo. Even though she loved the freedom of traveling around the galaxy, and even the enjoyment she found in bounty hunting, she missed her first home. She missed its peacefulness. She missed the smells.Hell, she even missed the ginberries, which was what contributed to her father nicknaming her Berries as a toddler.She'd watched her twin cousins-in-law carry their luggage toward the direction of the villa's hangar and then watched Nik soon follow after them. Before she could join them, Zeda stepped forward and hugged her once more. But, before letting her go, she whispered something into Leia's ear."Please be safe."When Leia pulled back, she looked curiously at her sister-in-law. And, while she didn't acknowledge what the Umbaran could be alluding to, Leia knew.But Leia was also in love, so Leia chose to live in denial, like a damn, stupid fool.She smiled and quietly laughed the well-wishing off. "Uh, you be safe, too." There was a hint of a serious look that passed between them both, but Leia didn't linger on it for more than half a second before she turned and walked away.When she boarded the Skywalker, she found Nik in the pilot seat, but didn't mind if he flew. Even though it was her ship, it wasn't the first time he'd flown it, so it was never something that bothered her. However, with Zeda's remark still ringing in her head, and with how things had been over the last year, something just felt wrong about having him at the helm.Still though, she didn't say anything. She just sat down in the co-pilot's seat and helped with the pre-flight checks and navigational details.Once they were in the air and rocketing upward out of the atmosphere, Nik turned slightly toward her while still managing to keep his eyes glued forward. "I think it's for the best that I don't come back here anymore."Leia frowned in his direction. "How come?""I just get a sense I'm still not welcome. They'll never trust me again. And I don't want to be around people who see me as the enemy." With an even exhale of breath, he finally shifted his gaze fully upon her. "I just want to be with you, and I want you with me."Leia smiled. She loved him. She honestly and fervently did. But his eyes stirred something other than love in her. She had to fight back the little voice in her head that told her those recent flecks of yellow that were taking over the greenish-hazel color of his irises were just a trick of lighting and not something darker beneath the surface.To assure him and to appease him, she reached her hand out and curled her fingers around his wrist. "I'm with you until the end."Nik seemed to breathe a little easier, and the normal coloring in his eyes seemed to return, allowing Leia to also breathe a little better.But, as they both turned to stare forward, as they slipped into hyperspace, Leia wasn't exactly feeling better.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"You don't know my mindYou don't know my kindDark necessities are part of my design"— Red Hot Chili Peppers 
67 ABY — Three months later
It was a surprisingly chilly morning on Naboo. Surprising, because it was rarely so. It was overcast; the sky surrounding the Lake Country filled with heavy rain clouds, but it was only drizzling at the moment. A heavy downpour, however, was imminent but it wouldn't last long. The weather report over the local holonews had said as much the evening before. Once the storm eventually passed, the clouds would remain well into the night, but everything was expected to clear up by the following morning. For now, though, it was dreary. It certainly made for a perfect day to stay cuddled up in bed, and that's what Caro hoped to achieve.Construction was halted on the new Kenobi Academy for the day, because of the weather, but the overall structure and surrounding campus was almost completed, so one extra day of delay was no bother. The fact that it would soon be one less headache for Caro was an added benefit, but he had to keep telling himself that it was all worth it. After nearly two years, he was ready to get on with this new chapter in both the life of the school and his own life. The estate next to the villa had shuttered almost immediately after ground had been broken on the new property, with all those students being moved to the city branch, where there was more dormitory space, even if it meant doubling or tripling each room's occupancy. It was easier to condense the student body this way and keep a better eye on everything in one location. It also meant that Caro, Zeda and their daughter Lora had shifted their primary residence from the villa to the apartment that had once belonged to Grandpa Kes.His parents, Crisara and Poe, had been a little sad at first, feeling a new wave of empty nest syndrome, but Caro knew it wouldn't last. Soon enough, the pair would take advantage of not having to worry about 'walking around naked', as Poe had once joked. Though, Caro knew his stepfather had not been joking. He was planning to literally walk around naked and then some with his wife, now that both had the freedom from their careers, and that their children were off living their own lives. And, the older couple still intended to begin traveling, so they wouldn't really be home to be too bothered by their children not being around, if they were the ones that weren't around.Hearing the subtle tap, tap, tapping of rain against the windows and upon the rooftop, Caro stirred and stretched his limbs. As he rejoined the land of the living, he was becoming more aware of his surroundings; the sounds, the smells and the chill in the air.He could feel the buzz of life in the bookshop downstairs, which the apartment sat atop of. It didn't see that much business, as most people preferred to read on their datapads, but it was a niche market for those who preferred antiquities, or enjoyed the feel of turning a page or the smell of printed paper. It held a certain ambiance, and Naboo was an ideal place for such a business venture.In the bedroom next door, he knew his daughter was awake. He could hear her muffled voice, so either she was talking to herself as she played with her toys, or she was talking to one of their deceased relatives, because he knew it wasn't his wife, as he felt her in the room with him. Finally opening his blue eyes, Caro rolled onto his right side and spotted Zeda standing in front of one of the windows. What she was staring at, he hadn't the slightest clue, but he could sense something was weighing heavily on her heart and on her mind.Something had been bothering her for a few months now, actually."Darling," he spoke; his voice croaking slightly from going hours without speaking. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "What's been bothering you, darling? I know our lives keep us considerably busy, but I have noticed something has been on your mind, and I am always here for you if you need to talk anything over."With a gentle sigh, Zeda turned and looked over her shoulder at her husband. She offered him a small smile; not so much for reassurance, but in appreciation for his concern. "We have known each other most of our lives, since we were such young children — our daughter's age. I know you, back and front, just as you know me the same.""And then some," he quipped with a bit of a mischievous smirk and an arch to his left eyebrow. When he saw she was not sharing in his jest, he began to sit up, and his expression changed to that of the apparent gravity in her mood. "Sorry," he muttered quietly. "You were saying…"Stepping over to the bed, she sat down upon the edge; her body perpendicular to his. Her gaze shifted as she focused on a spot above the bed, and she looked like a mix between lost in thought while still being ever present in the moment.She had that way about her."Have you, in thirty years, ever known me to be truly terrified by anything? Worried, concerned about things — sure. That's normal. But, terrified?" Zeda's soft, silver grey eyes flitted over to her husband and, there within them, was undeniable fear. Her hairless brow was ever so subtly knitted together, but her lips weren't pursed and her posture was rather unassuming. There was truly nothing, other than her eyes, that gave way to what she was truly feeling. "I'm honestly scared, Caro."Leaning toward his wife, he placed a hand to her upper thigh and gave it a firm but gentle squeeze. "What has you feeling this way? Have you had a vision of something terrible to come?""No," she insisted with a small shake of her head. "Something terrible has already happened. Something terrible is happening, right under our noses, all this time." That didn't do anything to sate his burgeoning anxiety, and she could see it all over his face. She could feel it ebbing off of him like waves. With a sigh, she covered his hand with hers and curled her pale, white fingers around his fingers. "In my thirty-six years of life, I have never once had a vision. I haven't seen what is to come, so I have no definitive proof other than a feeling. I sense growing darkness in the Force. Not overtly strong, but strong enough.""You sense the darkness in someone." It wasn't a question. It was a flat out statement."I do," Zeda confirmed; nodding, as a frown took place upon her lips.Caro wasn't sure he needed to ask. He was sure he could guess who she was referring to, but hearing her spell it out for him seemed tantamount to confirming his own suspicions. "Who?" was all he asked.With a slight tilt of her head, Zeda quietly answered. "You know who.""Say it." When she hesitated, he leaned his head closer to hers. "Zeda. Say his name.""Is it necessary? Clearly you know who I'm referring to." As he continued to hold her gaze, she sighed once more and caved. "Nik. It's Nik. It's been Nik."Caro immediately began to scowl, but he said nothing more at the moment."I'm worried for Leia," Zeda continued. "To be that close to him. To be in his orbit. She's so removed from the rest of us. What if he corrupts her? What if he pulls her away from the light?" Tears began to well in her eyes. "She loves him. She stood up for him and stuck by him after learning the truth of his affiliation with Armitage Hux, and after he was stripped of his rank of Knight. She followed him across the galaxy. She's lived with him for years now.""Do you believe my sister could become convinced to turn to the dark side? Is that what you're suggesting?" Caro's tone wasn't accusatory. He was generally curious to know what his wife believed was or wasn't possible. "It wouldn't be the first time someone in my family has fallen. We've all just hoped Ben Solo would've been the last.""I don't know for sure. I can't know." Zeda shrugged. "But she loves him, and love will make you do crazy things sometimes. Sometimes it blinds you to the truth. It doesn't let you see what's right in front of you, or what's underneath your nose." Clamping her other hand around her husband's, her frown grew a bit deeper. "I believe she's aware of the darkness, but that she's in denial and believing that, if she ignores it, it will go away. I don't think she wants to accept that the man she loves may not be the man she fell in love with anymore.""It may sound harsh, but I don't rightly care about that. I care about what his darkness will mean for the rest of us — for the galaxy. Will we have another Kylo Ren or Darth Vader on our hands? Is he even a Sith now? Or is he just a bad seed who happens to wield the Force?" Caro shifted around in bed; swinging his legs around and scooting closer to the edge to sit beside his wife once his legs dangled over the edge. "We need to be smart about this. I think we should keep this between us for now because, if we make a big stink of it, and if we go about this the wrong way, it might not go well. It could spook him, and we don't want to give Leia cause to cleave to him even more."Zeda nodded in agreement. "I was thinking we need to try and get Leia away from him, even if just for a little while. Or maybe I could go to her.""I'm not sure that's the best course of action.""We're sisters by marriage. It shouldn't seem strange that I want to pay her a visit. I've heard there are some lovely spas on Lianna. We could spend the day doing girly things, and I can use that time to suss out where she is mentally and if she's truly in any sort of danger; be it from him or from herself.""I don't know, Zey.""Caro. I agree we need to be smart about this but we can't sit on our hands about it either. I'm the most unassuming member of this family to figure this shit out." Off her husband's abrupt chuckle, Zeda furrowed her brow inquisitively. "What's so funny?""You never curse," he replied with a smile. "It just sounds so foreign coming from your lips."Zeda rolled her eyes at him and shifted her gaze back over toward the windows. "You and Poe have both made your feelings known to both Leia and Nik on how you feel in regard to Nik. Yes, matters seemed to settle as Len's sickness got worse. Bygones seemed to become bygones. But, even then, the resentment still always lingered and none of us in the family have been oblivious to it. And Nik, especially, knows it. If either you or Poe came forward with these suspicions of darkness building in him, his retaliation could be detrimental. Even if your mother came forward — well, I'm sure she would knock him on his ass before he could blink. But, if it came to a fight between him and any of the rest of us, do we want Leia caught in the middle? Obviously not. We don't want her to become some sort of collateral damage. We don't want anyone to become collateral damage." Zeda took hold of her husband's hand again and squeezed it while silence fell over them for a few moments. "I know Nik has done something terrible. Unforgiveable. I'm not talking about his involvement with Hux and his birth mother, either. I'm talking recently. I won't go into it right now, because we have to get moving and get on with our day. The Kenobi Academy is nearing completion, and we have many responsibilities to oversee.""Maybe we can find time to talk further about this tonight when we return home?" Caro suggested."Or maybe we just table it until tomorrow. We already started the day with such a dismal subject. I'm not sure I want to end it the same way.""And how would you suggest we end today instead?" Caro wondered; arching his eyebrow and smirking mischievously at her again.Despite the aforementioned dismal mood, Zeda allowed herself to giggle as if she was no better than a foolish schoolgirl. "Oh, I'm sure you can think of a thing or two." Leaning sideways toward him, Zeda kissed Caro warmly upon his lips. When he pressed his forehead to hers afterward, she felt his love for her ebbing off of him more strongly than his anxiety from earlier. It was damn near intoxicating. "Well, maybe we can make some time right now."Snickering, Caro twisted at the waist and threw an arm around her so he could promptly pin her backward onto the bed. "I only need five minutes."Zeda's laughter which followed was enough to change the mood completely for the rest of the day.  For a few years now, when not learning the ropes to his grandfather's corporation with the endgame of eventually taking control of it, and when not gallivanting across the galaxy with his secret wife, Leia, as a pair of Force-wielding bounty hunters, Nik Yaren was scouring the same galaxy on his own. He was searching for information. He was searching for insight. He was searching for a greater purpose.He was searching for power.Now that he had an immense fortune at his fingertips and access to countless ships and facilities under the umbrella of what was now his corporation, he could do almost anything and get away with it. The same politicians in the Republic Senate, the same judges in High Court of the Republic, and the same local politicians and local law enforcement on Lianna that his grandfather had had in his back pocket, where now in Nik's back pocket. Plus, he knew the majority of the time he didn't need to grease any wheels with credits when he could just use a mind trick on them, or threaten to destroy them and everything they loved if they didn't bend to his demands. As of yet, he hadn't needed to go that far.Well, there was that one Senator from Serenno who had been a little stubborn and outright refused to bend the knee, so to speak; claiming Nik was inexperienced in the ways of business and how politics truly worked, and that any deals made under the table with Nik's grandfather Borris Santhe died with Borris Santhe.Then Nik used the Force to lift the Senator up and choke him until he relented.But Nik had also done his homework beforehand, and learned everything he could about the Senator, and casually dropped the knowledge of where the Senator's children went to school and what a lovely house he had, and what a pretty mistress he had. Quickly, the Senator was prepared to do whatever he could for Nik, but Nik didn't need anything at that particular moment. Though, when the time came that he would need something, the Senator knew he better be prepared to acquiesce accordingly.Eventually, that time did come. As Serenno had been the homeworld of Count Dooku, before his death at the end of the Clone Wars, nearly ninety years earlier, Nik wondered what came of all of Sith Lord's belongings. From his own minor investigation into the topic, Nik knew Dooku was the last of his family. He left no heirs. There were no more members of House Serenno, which had been the planet's ruling family. What Nik wanted to know, that he didn't already know, was what happened to Castle Serenno and everything inside of it. The Senator had mentioned something about how the surrounding city had been obliterated following an orbital bombardment carried out by the Galactic Empire, after the Clone Wars had ended. Because all of this had happened before the Senator had been born, he didn't know much else about that particular area and part of his planet's history. By now, any stories about what happened during that period of time were likely either tall tales or hearsay.So, Nik went to what was now an abandoned castle; overgrown with all sorts of plant life, dilapidated and left in ruins. He had entered into the great estate; walked through its Great Hall in the main tower, and found what would have been Dooku's chambers, which was connected to the Great Hall by a gangway. He went below and found the kitchens, old servants' quarters, and even a prison. Gifted with the ability of psychometry, or Force Echo, Nik listened carefully to the echoes of moments and memories held within the castle. He could see, in his mind's eye, happy times and sad times. He saw pleasure and he saw cruelty. He heard Dooku's booming voice in his ears, as if he was still alive and beside him, speaking to his 'master', who Nik knew, from history lessons conducted by both Professor Beaumont Kin and C-3PO, to have been Emperor Palpatine.Nik had followed little bread crumbs in the Force, leading him out into what was once some ornamental gardens. There he could feel emotions, hear voices and see everything happening as if he'd been transported into the past. In the process of this, his normally hazel-green eyes had gone completely white but he had no trouble in navigating around; relying on the Force to guide him and prevent him from possibly falling to his death here or there. Or, at the very least, walking into a wall. Out in the gardens, he witnessed an Imperial operation to ship Dooku's war chest off-world. From his little Force visions he acquired from within the castle, he knew that war chest was a massive cache of valuable goods and artifacts that had been stored in Castle Serenno. He saw the task force of Clone Troopers that took over the place and extracted the war chest; clearing everything of value and placing it all into three, class four container transports to be shipped. But the operation was interrupted by a small band of rogue Troopers. In the ensuing chaos, one of the containers had lost a small portion of its contents, which spilled out into the upper forest region near the ruins of Serenno City.Nik had a feeling.He could assume Troopers would've been dispatched to retrieve any and all scattered cargo, but it was also possible to assume not all had been retrieved. With the city a proverbial graveyard, there wouldn't have been any survivors around to have gone after any of the loot. So, by that logic, some of it could still be there, in the forest, all this time. Whether it was credits, priceless jewels, works of art or artifacts of a particular dark nature, Nik had been determined to go in search of it.He had spent two days doing just that. He had scoured that forest and even the outer edges of the city, and he managed to find a small handful of things, but one item in particular spoke volumes to him, and not literally. He just recognized its importance and knew it could lead him to other, greater things. After he'd carried the items to his Y-wing, he realized there just wasn't enough room to take it all with him, so he opted to only take a small box containing a few pieces of jewelry he wanted to bring back home for Leia, and, the most important thing, a journal.Just holding the journal in his hands, he could see Dooku leaning over it, scribbling information into it. He'd skimmed a few of its pages and was alight at its potential for leading him further in his search for information, insight and power. It would lead him to greatness, he was sure of it. With it, he would claim the life he always deserved, and the one he wanted; not just for himself, but for him and Leia, together.Months before the fire, that unfortunate accident that claimed the lives of his maternal family, except for his twin cousins, he had used that journal, which detailed locations of importance to the Sith. It took him to the world of Moraband. There he discovered a Sith temple, the largest monument in the Valley of the Dark Lords, which was a corridor of ancient monuments that doubled as crypts for previous Dark Lords of the Sith who had long since passed.The Force Echo that Nik had begun to experience there was potent and downright intoxicating. As he walked through the temple, discovering every nook and cranny of it, there was a blinding flash of light before his eyes and then he was feeling the pain and the agony of Jedi being tortured to literal death in some sort of execution chamber where they were sacrificed. He saw many of the Sith gathered around.And then he saw them turning toward him, as if he was really there with them all.He could feel them reaching for him, calling to him; whispering secrets in his ear and offering him their knowledge. However, their voices were too faint to make out their words. They were just memories. Echoes. They weren't there. They had all been dead for centuries, if not millennia. Dooku's journal, which he carried with him, he had set down upon a slab of broken stone and flipped to a page he'd bookmarked; regarding a Sith Lord by the name of Darth Bane who had created the Rule of Two. It was a decree that commanded only two Sith Lords must exist at any given time: a master to represent the power of the dark side of the Force, and an apprentice to crave it and train under the master and to one day fulfill their role. It was created so they could operate in secret and eventually get revenge on the Jedi Order for their near extinction in the Jedi-Sith War.Nik knew, historically, the Sith always fell to the Jedi; be it to many or just one or two, as in the case of Emperor Palpatine and any combination of Skywalkers. There was something amusing to Nik, though, in learning all this and knowing he was secretly married to a member of the Skywalker family. Hell, even her ship was called Skywalker, for Maker's sake. There was something thrilling about seeking out and learning this information, all under the nose of Leia and her family.Leia had been the only shining light in his life. Her mother, Crisara, had always been kind and given him the benefit of the doubt, but she was the one who had stripped him of his hard-earned title of Jedi Knight. He'd become too embittered to wait those damned five years from the time of his demotion in rank before he was allowed to work at regaining his place within the Jedi Order again. Instead, he'd chosen to turn his back on it altogether, and seek out his biological family, which only fueled the darkness that he believed had always been inside of him.The Santhes had been horrible people. He never loved them. He walked into their lives and played the part of the dutiful, long-lost grandson, but he had hated them all. His grandfather, especially, he hated the most. Because of Borris Santhe, his mother had been forced to give him up and place him with adoptive parents, who were both dead by the time Nik was only six years old. Because of the decision Borris Santhe made for his daughter, Nik wound up taken in by Papa's gang in Hutta Town on Nar Shaddaa, where he'd been forced to commit minor crimes to earn his keep. And, if not, or if he "misbehaved", he was beaten, starved, verbally assaulted, or sexually abused. That only went on for three years, but it was the longest, most horrible three years of his entire life.Poe Dameron had been right all along.The trauma Nik had suffered at so young an age never disappeared. It was always with him, like an albatross or a dark shadow. He'd never been able to properly process any of it. He'd never been able to talk about it, and not just because he never had anyone to talk it through with. He just pushed it so far back into his mind, in the deepest and darkest depths, where it was left to fester over time. It fueled his rage when he became angry, and his anger became a sort of blanket that wrapped around him and protected him from feeling weak or helpless ever again.Those decades of pushing his anger down had eventually boiled over. He'd snapped. He had been in his grandfather's office with him, at the Santhe Corporation headquarters in Lianna City, when he'd seen into the old man's mind about how he was having doubts over letting Nik take the reins and leave it to his son Anters, after all. Nik hadn't ingratiated himself to this motherfucker to be cast aside — again!He hadn't realized what he was doing until he was already doing it.With his hands balled into fists, he watched as his grandfather was clutching at his chest. Borris Santhe had turned around to face Nik, gasping for air and trying to speak, but only ended up collapsing unconscious to the ground. Once he realized he'd just used the Force to give his grandfather a heart attack and subsequently killed him, he felt a minor wave of panic. He couldn't end the old man like this; not when his death would mean there would undoubtedly be a fight between him and Anters for who would actually take control of the Corporation. He needed them all out of his way, not just the damned patriarch of the family.Nik had told Leia he'd used a bit of Force energy to bring his grandfather back, long enough for help to arrive and take him to the hospital for further care and assistance. But it hadn't been his Force energy that restarted his grandfather's heart.It had been Force lightning.Well, not the full-blown thing. It was more of tiny lightning shocks that crackled out of his fingertips and allowed him to send that electricity into the old coot's heart and jumpstart it. When it began to beat again, albeit weakly, and breath resumed in those old lungs, Nik clambered for help, but it had all been a ruse by then. He'd was playing a part again — the concerned grandson, worried about his dear grandfather's health and well-being.What bantha shit.Borris Santhe had recovered eventually and returned home, and it had been just after that new year, while Leia had been home on Naboo, but imminently due to return to Lianna, when Borris had recalled the events of his heart attack and realized it hadn't been due to natural causes as the doctors and medical droids had assumed. He remembered seeing his grandson's darkened gaze out the corner of his eye. He saw the malice and he remembered the subsequent squeezing around his heart as if done by a vice. He knew his grandson had tried to kill him and so, there in front of the rest of the family, except the twins who had been upstairs at the time, Borris laid bare his accusation, which was the fuel Anters had needed to declare how Nik wasn't deserving of his Santhe inheritance or to even be a member of the Santhe family. Anters' words still echoed in his head.
"You're just a fucking bastard no one wanted, a Jedi reject, and now you're an attempted murderer!"
Nik had seen red.He'd unhitched his lightsaber from his side, which he still always carried with him, and had cut off Anters' head. The screams that followed were shrill and instant. His grandparents, his Aunt Tulene and Anters' wife Besa began to panic and scatter in fear. But Nik couldn't let them get away and tell anyone what had happened. He killed Besa second, as she dropped to her knees beside her husband's decapitated body. Then, his grandmother. He lifted her up in the air with the Force and threw her so hard into a wall that her neck snapped. In the same movement, he twisted at the waist and threw his lightsaber into Tulene's chest as she attempted to run out of the room. Before her lifeless body hit the floor, Nik had called his lightsaber back to him; grabbing the hilt and stalking up to his grandfather."Just think," Nik had taunted with a laugh. "If you hadn't forced my mother to give me up, I wouldn't have turned out the way I did. I'd be worse." Then, with a sneer, he impaled his grandfather, purposely slow, through the heart. "I'd be like the rest of you."Once Borris Santhe slid dead to the floor, Nik had sighed and began to walk around the mansion, setting drapery and furniture on fire with his lightsaber. When he crossed paths with the servants, he snapped their necks or impaled them as well. Every move he made was done as if he were a mere puppet and someone else was pulling the strings. He was robotic, he was hollow and he was heartless. When he heard his teenage cousins crying out in fear from the top of the stairs at the sight of the fire and the dead servants in the courtyard at the center of the mansion, he'd been about to end their lives, too. But he'd heard a voice pleading with him not to. Desta and Losha were just girls. Teenagers already, but still basically children. They were innocent and wouldn't necessarily follow in the footsteps of the elder, fallen family members. There was still hope for the twin sisters to grow up and be better than their parents and grandparents. So, he beckoned them forward, down the stairs and ushered them out of the mansion as it began to burn down around them. He'd deactivated his lightsaber by that point and clipped it to his belt, and then slowly followed after his fleeing cousins.Outside, safe from the fire, they watched in silence as the entire estate became consumed by fire and began to collapse upon itself. Then Leia had returned, and he'd painted a different story for her, which he was certain she believed, and he knew the fear in his cousins' eyes when they looked at him meant they were too scared to suggest anything else had happened.In the aftermath of that, when he knew bodies would be found, and that their deaths wouldn't be contributed to fire, he'd paid a visit to those in charge of making such an assessment and paid them off according, or convinced them against revealing the truth by way of the Force. Lianna City's police force was already corrupt enough, so he didn't really need to do much. Plus, to say otherwise would've just created more paperwork for them, and what a headache that would be, am I right?That was the day the darkness had fully taken hold of Nik and he stopped fighting it.He'd enjoyed the feeling that had washed over him.The retribution, the vindication that he'd felt against his biological, maternal family.The way he saw it, he wasn't the monster. He'd gotten rid of the monsters. The galaxy now had five less horrible people in it. Honestly, he'd done the galaxy a favor. He should be lauded for this great service he'd performed. Of course, he knew no one would be able to see it that way. Not right now, anyway.Maybe someday, and the sooner the better. But, he needed to learn more on how to control the darkness and use it properly to his advantage. And he also had to work on concealing it. He loved Leia and didn't want to lose her, and he knew her family had too much of a hold on her; her family which had always looked down on him. Her father, especially.There was going to come a day where he would get the chance to cut down any and all people who wronged him in his life, and Poe Dameron was at the top of his shit list.But, he would have to work on convincing Leia that he was better for her than her family so that, when the time came, she'd be able to move past the further losses that would take place within Dameron clan and that she wouldn't blame him for any of it. Or, at least, be able to forgive him and not turn against him.But there was a wedge growing between them regardless, and it was all because of his damned cousins. Well, they'd been a big part of it, anyway. They were arguing, and he hated arguing with her, but it had been difficult to resolve their issues when he found just how tiring it was to be the head of the entire Santhe Corporation. He was pulled in so many directions at any given moment. But, at least, during his travels here and there, he could take some time to search for further knowledge into the Sith; knowledge he never would've been able to learn at the Kenobi Academy or within the Jedi Order where it had been to stifling. This way, on his own, he could freely be himself do what came natural and was feeling more right with each passing day.He'd still never known whose voice he'd heard, when he'd spared his cousins cruel and untimely deaths. He hadn't recognized the voice. He knew it hadn't been the Force ghost of Temiri or Len; voices he would know. And, honestly, he wasn't sure he cared.On Moraband, while caught up in everything those Force Echoes were showing him, he saw Emperor Palpatine visiting the same place. He saw the Sith Lord discovering a Sith holocron and taking it with him. With that knowledge, Nik had traveled next to Coruscant. There he made his way to the former Imperial Palace, which had been the Jedi Temple before that. He went with the assumption that, if the Emperor would've taken the artifact anywhere, it would've been taken to the Imperial Palace where he lived. The building had been long since sealed up, on orders from the New Republic, but he saw signs of looting that had clearly taken place in the years and decades that followed. And surely, following the Hosnian Cataclysm, when the First Order officially rose to prominence, those within the First Order or the Sith Eternal might have gone there to confiscate whatever was deemed important or returned it and hidden it.Nik followed further Force Echoes, which led him to the throne room, and deeper yet to what he realized was Palpatine's private chambers. But nothing pointed him in the direction of where the holocron might be. And, as suspected, the Imperial Palace had long since been picked apart and stripped of anything of value. The immense building was just a sarcophagus for eras gone by. But he had ideas of where he could go, based on intel he'd heard or gathered over time from a few contacts that had been Huxists who had never been found out or arrested. They told him to go to Exegol, where the last war had been lost and where Palpatine had met his final end.So, Nik went to Exegol, which had previously been a near-impossible journey because one needed a wayfinder. But, thanks mostly in part of Professor Beaumont Kin's history lessons and other historical holos that documented the Resistance's journey to Exegol, Nik was able to make the treacherous journey there in once piece. He went to ground and made his way to the Sith Citadel, the ancient and imposing Sith temple and fortress which had been the site of Palpatine's demise at the hands of Crisara Dameron (then Kenobi) and Rey Skywalker. He'd wandered all around the Citadel, which was both under and above ground, with the latter being a large, upside-down truncated pyramid structure that was made of black stone. The structure floated above Exegol's surface, with a platform that was used to lower individuals into the underground portion of the Citadel. In a large hall, there were large and ancient statues of those Nik could assume had been prominent Sith Lords. After heading underground, he'd made his way to the amphitheater, which was opened up to the dark, stormy sky outside. Everything was in ruins. The throne was toppled, dust coated every surface and there were there was such powerful Force Echoes within this space that Nik actually staggered and fell to his knees.Placing his hands upon the ground, he saw a flash of light before his eyes, which went completely white again, as visions of the past came flooding into his mind. He saw the confrontation between Palpatine and Rey. He saw her joined by Crisara, as well as Ben Solo. He saw Crisara and Rey stand together to defeat Palpatine, and then how Ben died to give all of his life force to resurrect Rey. The power the three of them shared was breathtaking.On making his way to this amphitheater, Nik had noticed the words inscribed all around the walls, here and there, but in a language he knew to be Sith, but unfortunately couldn't read. If he could, he would know it spoke of the Doctrine of the Dyad. It was only after Nik continued his investigation of the Citadel that he found himself drawn to a spot in a wall near the laboratories. It was an unassuming, large block of stone but, when he touched it, it moved inward; far enough to reveal an opening below that contained a small metal chest. Curious, he retrieved the chest and removed it from the wall, which resulted in the block of stone returning to its previous position. Once he set the chest down, he used the Force to get a feel for what might be inside, and then used the hilt of his lightsaber to bash in the ancient-looking lock and break it apart.Removing the last bits of the lock, he lifted the lid quite slowly and peered inside, only to find a book, but also a lightsaber. It was rather beautiful in design, but it vibrated with such darkness. Taking hold of it in his hands, Nik almost recoiled from the power he felt from it; like claws or smoking tendrils attempting to latch onto him like a nightmare. But it didn't bother him. If anything, it emboldened him. He held it upward, activated and looked on with awe as the red plasma blade shot forward and pulsed with vibrancy in front of his face. Using the blade for light, he held it over the box to get a better look at the book inside the chest and pulled it out with his free hand.Nik leaned back on the heels of his feet and set the book down upon his lap, and then began to flip through the pages. The first page, first and foremost, struck him to the core with further awe.The title and author.
The Secrets of the Sith, as transcribed by Darth Sidious
Darth Sidious was Emperor Palpatine. Nik was holding a book written by Palpatine, which meant the lightsaber he was holding…Kriffing hell.Nik grinned and he couldn't peruse the pages ahead fast enough. He would sit down in the near future and fully give this tome his undivided attention but, for now, a quick looksee would have to suffice. He flipped a bit and let his hazel-green eyes drift along the words before him with rapt attention.
'For one such as I, the dark side offers unlimited power. Harness its full fury and all things are possible.'
He flipped further yet and saw mentions of the Force Dyad, which was the unique and unbreakable Force-bond between two Force-sensitives, and what was believed to be the key to unlocking the full potential of the dark side of the Force.
'For a millennium, the Sith have adhered to the Rule of Two. But this decree is said to merely be a pale imitation of its predecessor, the Doctrine of the Dyad. Legends claim that two beings sharing this profound connection gain access to a great number of abilities — skills beyond the grasp of even the most powerful Force wielder.'
Well, Nik knew there had been a triad in the Force, not a dyad, because Crisara shared that bond with both Rey and Ben. In further perusing of this book, Nik saw Palpatine's uncertainty on that particular matter.
'Yet, even with the so-called Chosen One at my side, the balance we shared paled against the perfection of the dyad. If the two most powerful bloodlines in the history of the galaxy — Palpatine and Skywalker — could not produce such a bond, the question remains if a dyad is possible at all.'
However, Nik could see how — technically — the triad had still been somewhat of a dyad, and not because Ben Solo was dead and only Crisara and Rey were all that remained of that bond. Rey was from the Palpatine bloodline. Crisara and Ben were from the Skywalker bloodline, each a child of twin siblings, who were, essentially two halves of a whole when you think about it. So, by that logic, if Luke and Leia had been, together as twins, the whole, then Crisara and Ben had also been two halves of whole as well, and therefore shared in one half of a dyad alongside Rey's half. And, from what Nik remembered growing up at the Kenobi Academy, from what Crisara had mentioned once or twice, she and her cousin shared a separate bond within the bond. They had always been close while growing up — the best of friends, long before they learned they were first cousins and not something more distant. During that year between the Hosnian Cataclysm to the Battle of Exegol, their dreams would occasionally intermingle; allowing them to glimpse into each other's minds and psyches.It was a lot to think about and ponder, but unimportant now. What was important now was this information Nik had at his fingertips. Literally. He was excited by this find and continued to flip through the pages until he found a reference to the holocrons, and there he found the clue of where he had to go next.Deactivating Palpatine's lightsaber and closing the book with an echoing clap of sound, he stood up with both and let out a sigh."Back to Coruscant, it is," he'd muttered to himself.And back to Coruscant he went.This time, though, he didn't go to the former Imperial Palace. This time he went to the Grand Republic Medical Facility, or what used to be the Grand Republic Medical Facility. It had shuttered its doors after the fall of the Empire, and all personnel had moved on to other medical facilities, but the towering medcenter still remained. Because this book of Palpatine's, which was dated, in the margins of the first page, to have been written about 35 ABY, he knew that the knowledge within was up to date until then. Which means whatever was hidden in some secret lair in the building had gone unnoticed until then. After the fall of the Empire, and after the facility closed down, apparently no one thought to do a thorough sweep of the place, from top to bottom.However, Nik couldn't be sure, in the thirty-two years since the last war, that no one in the Republic hadn't cleaned out whatever troves had been housed within. He could've been heading there to come up empty. It could all have been a wild pelikki chase and he'd more or less be back to square one.But, it hadn't been all for naught.Nik had discovered the motherlode. He had managed to grab what he could carry as he snuck inside the facility. Taking it all, though, ended up proving tricky. There were massive artifacts. There would be no way to remove them from the building and not be noticed. He would need some sort of cargo transport to haul it out. And even though Coruscant had turned into a den of thieves after the Empire fell, in the last twenty years it had finally been getting cleaned up, so to speak, thanks in part to the long arm of the Republic lending a hand to crack down on crime; especially since Coruscant was a Core World and not some pittance of an Outer Rim world or any world in Hutt Space that would be filled to the brim with heathens galore.He'd been flagged as he was leaving by local law enforcement and wanted to know what he was doing. He couldn't outright say he wanted to take some things from the building without raising a few red flags, and mind tricks wouldn't work on the grander scale. So, he claimed he was interested in purchasing the building and was wondering who to get into contact with, to which the officer had directed him accordingly to which building, and in which particular district, he had to go to in order to achieve his goal.And to move it along.So cliché.So, Nik used his connections and he called in favors with Senators to grease some wheels. He met with the head of the Code Enforcement office, and he met with a realtor on behalf of the bank which held the title to the former medcenter, along with a few other stuffed shirts. Even with his connections, there was still going to be a few hoops for him to jump through. They wanted to do a deep dive investigation into his finances, first off; to prove he had the funds needed for such an excessive purchase. Apparently they found it odd that someone as young as him would have that much at his fingertips; never mind that he was almost thirty-four now. Then, they wanted to know what his intentions were for the building, because of how strict building and zoning laws were and had always been; before, during and long after the Empire. Even especially when it was a cesspool. He claimed he didn't want to change a thing about the facility, at least not in the foreseeable future. Though, he promised, that when the time came and he had a plan, he would file the correct forms and plans with the correct departments and offices.It took a few months but finally he was approved to purchase the building. He was sure that it might've taken even longer, but those pushing the papers around must've realized he was the Santhe heir and head of the Santhe Corporation, which held stock in many other companies and corporations and businesses all around the galaxy. And, the fact that he had been a member of the Jedi Order, under the tutelage of the famed Crisara Dameron, likely helped a bit, too. None of those paper pushers and stuffed shirts would've known the truth as to why he wasn't in the Order anymore and no longer a Knight. Excuses he'd given to any who asked in the last decade was that he chose to leave; to find his biological family and explore other options for his life. It wasn't entirely untrue of an excuse. But, those people who had cared to ask just automatically seemed impressed that he had been a Jedi. There was an instant amount of respect that came with it and he used it to his advantage.Once he was the proud proprietor of the former Grand Republic Medical Facility, he got to work with clearing out the larger artifacts; borrowing a few load lifter droids from the Santhe Shipyards for the heavy lifting that was needed. Into two large crates, he used those droids to load up a bulk freighter, also borrowed from the Santhe Shipyards, and made sure the contents of those crates were packed carefully. Then, off he went.While he and Leia had been residing in a penthouse suite in Lianna City, he'd been working at building a brand new estate on the literal and figurative ashes of the former Santhe mansion. He wanted it to be grander, with all the bells and whistles.He wanted what Dooku had: a palace.Just before that Life Day at the villa on Naboo, where he had brought his cousins to join him and Leia, the foundation for the new estate had already been laid, and it included a very deep sub-level, just below the basement level. And that was the perfect place, in his mind, to unload all his new finds.After the new year, the building was structurally completed. All that was left to do was furnish and decorate, but he wanted Leia to be the one to do that. If this was to be his palace, she would be the Queen of it.But the sub-level would be off-limits.That is, until he could get her to see things his way. He wanted them to be on the same page, but he knew they weren't yet. He wanted her at his side; not just as his wife but as his partner in all matters. He knew the story of how Anakin Skywalker wanted his own secret wife, Padmé Amidala, to join him and rule the galaxy alongside him. Hell, he also knew of how Ben Solo (then, still, as Kylo Ren) had asked the same of Rey. Nik believed both men's mistake had been throwing such a daunting prospect at their respective mate, or intended mate, way too soon. They didn't ease into it. They just figuratively tossed their mate into the deep end, expecting they would swim without any lessons. But Nik knew he couldn't do that. He had to take it slow and easy; dropping hints and — he hated the word the word manipulation, but — it would take some gradual manipulation.It would take time and patience; both of which he had plenty of.  Just mere days after Caro and Zeda had discussed their concerns regarding Leia and Nik, Leia's own concerns were coming to a head. In the last three months since the holiday with her family, and after Zeda's whispered plea to be safe, her heart had grown heavier.She knew the truth of what was wrong and it wasn't that she was in denial. She knew what was going on. She wasn't ignoring it and pretending it wasn't happening. She was just so brokenhearted and not wanting to rock the boat just yet. She was holding out that Nik would come to his senses and get back on track without her needing to be the one to do it for him.Because what if he didn't want to?Where would that leave them?What would happen to their future together?That same week, they had officially moved into the new estate. He'd surprised her with the knowledge of it after they'd returned Desta and Losha to their boarding school on Chandrila, and then came home to Lianna. They hadn't been in the door, in their penthouse, ten minutes when he told her. When she saw how happy he looked, her woes had seemed to disappear; at least, for the time being. His bright smile lit up his entire face and it reminded her of how he used to be. His smile reached his eyes, instead of how distant and emotionless as they usually looked now, and she could ignore the dark circles around them that seemed to also be a permanent fixture. She could even ignore the darkness pulsing from within him, all because of how brightly he shined when he was happy, and genuinely so. It made her happy. It made her hopeful that he wasn't completely lost.
As long as there's hope, it can't all be bad.
Those were words her mother had told her and her siblings as they grew up; words that had been told to Crisara, more times than she could count, by her grandmother Sera.Those words floated loudly around Leia's mind.She had hope inside of her that her husband was only teetering on the brink of the dark side and not fully consumed by it just yet. She had hope inside of her that she could get him to step back from that ledge.She had hope, even if it was blind hope.However, after three months, that hope began to slip away.They had moved into the estate, which was needlessly big for just the two of them. It stood at three stories high, not including the attic space, and contained countless bedrooms and bathrooms, housed a gaggle of servant droids, and there was even an indoor pool. It was over the top, for sure, and Leia had done what she could to make it feel like home with the furniture and decorations she'd picked out. There were still so many other rooms to furnish, but Nik assured her they had all the time in the world and there was no need to rush. They had the main rooms and their bedroom taken care of. That's what mattered. He loved it and she knew he wanted her to be happy there, even if nothing about the house was to her tastes, aside from what she'd chosen to decorate with. She liked smaller and simpler things. She liked cozy. She didn't need the flash and bang — the grandeur. But, again, it made him happy and she so loved to see him smile.One evening, after they'd begun to settle in, she couldn't find him when it was time for dinner. She hated eating alone in the dining room and wanted him there to join her. The room was too cavernous, the table too long, and she didn't enjoy the quiet when it was just her. She'd pushed aside her plate and got up; meandering all around the labyrinthine manor. He wasn't in any of the usual living spaces or their bedroom, or its en suite. Concentrating on the Force, she was able sense Nik's life force. If she moved too far away from where he was, his life force got weaker. The closer she got, it became stronger.Following the metaphorical bread crumbs, she made her way downstairs to the basement, where the pool and an extensive wine collection were. He wasn't there, but she felt him further below; underneath her feet. Her dark eyes immediately gravitated toward the door that led to the sub-level she knew existed, but was always locked. Because all good marriages were supposed to be built on trust, even though she knew he was keeping secrets from her, she could never bring herself to force the lock undone when he wasn't home and see whatever it was he was hiding down below.Nik must've sensed her, too, because that door opened a few moments later and he just stood there, almost like a statue, staring curiously at her. "What's up?"Leia offered him a small smile. "I was just looking for you. Dinner's ready."His hazel-green eyes narrowed as he rooted around the surface of her thoughts. "And you loathe eating alone. I know." He smirked, and then turned to lock the door behind him to the sub-level. "I was just coming to join you. My stomach was growling."No he hadn't, and no his stomach wasn't.Leia knew he was lying.She could feel it.She knew he had sensed her drawing near and needed to placate her, and nothing more. But she smiled back at him and pushed her negative feelings on the subject out of her mind so he wouldn't probe any further into it. "Maybe we could eat on the patio together instead of the dining room. It's more intimate and there's a nice breeze this evening. And," she continued to speak, as he sidled up beside her and slipped an arm around her waist, "you know I enjoy a good sunset.""Is it sunset already?""Almost.""Huh." He frowned as let her walk ahead of him as they ascended to the main level together. "Time got away from me, I guess."Boldly, she asked, "What have you been doing down there? What even is down there anyway?""Can't a man have a man cave?" he deflected with a short laugh. "I just have so much going on. It's my place to get away from it all; to meditate or tinker.""I'm glad you're still keeping up with meditation," she remarked, going along with his excuses. Because, honestly, if he really was meditating, that had to be a good sign — right? She didn't know much on how the dark side worked, to know if meditation was a part of that way of life. "You could join me in mediation sometime, too, you know. I'd like the company, just as how I like the company for our meals."Nik sighed. "I know, I know," he contended. "But, sometimes, I can concentrate better when alone."Once they were on the main floor and had made their way into the dining room, they both grabbed their plates and their silverware, and carried it out toward the patio off the back of the estate that offered the view of the setting sun in the evening. A service droid followed after them; carrying a tray with a decanter of wine and two wine glasses."Actually, I could go for some tea instead of wine," Leia remarked as they sat down at the small patio table. Shifting her gaze upon her husband, she eyed him with another small smile. "What about you? How about some tea?"He shrugged; his eyes focusing upon his food before him. "Tea's more of a daytime drink, don't you think?""Tea can be enjoyed at any time," she countered. Looking up at the droid, Leia asked, "Can you make a pot of ginberry tea and bring me a cup, please?""Yes, Mistress." The service droid wavered; turning its focus toward Nik as it waited to see if he wanted tea as well, or if it should just pour wine for him instead. "Tea or wine, sir?"With an exaggerated sigh, Nik sat back and threw his hands up, as if he'd been beaten fair and square at a game of sabacc. "Yeah, let's have some tea."Biting down and pulling her food off the tines of her fork, Leia smirked. "A nice, warm cup of tea is quite relaxing at the end of the day.""The sugar will keep me up.""So don't add any.""You can't drink ginberry tea without sugar and cream. It's too bitter otherwise."Leia sighed this time. "Then don't have the tea. You don't have to drink what I'm drinking."He looked up and stared at her for a moment. They were both starting to feel agitated. "No, it's fine," he assured. "One cup won't hurt.""It's not like it's that late, anyway. A cup now won't keep you up all night." Sitting back in her chair, Leia turned her gaze outward toward the horizon and the warm glow of the sun that was hidden by trees and other estates in the distance. She could hear the clinking of his fork he stabbed at his food and as he quietly chewed it. After a few minutes, she could feel his eyes on her. She was sure he might've been curious as to why she'd stopped eating and was looking for insight into her thoughts, but she was blocking him out. She could also feel his discouragement because of it. "Please stop that." Finally turning to look back at him, she looked him dead in the eye. "My parents have long had an agreement that my mom would never rifle around my dad's head without his permission. Caro and Shara have the same agreements with Zeda and Zeith. I'd appreciate it if we could follow the same agreement, too."Setting her fork down, she tried to ignore the fact that the service droid had returned with a pot of tea and two tea cups instead. She was aware that both cups had been set down and the tea was being poured into them. Her eyes flitted briefly upward as the droid went about removing a container of sugar and sealed saucer of cream from within a carrying chamber in its chest cavity, and set them both down on the table, as well a small spoon for the sugar."Shall I prepare your individual cups of tea for you?" the droid asked of them both. "Or would you rather do it yourselves?"Suddenly very riled up, Nik reacted by throwing the droid off the patio with the Force.Leia's head whipped in the direction it went flying, and watched the way it bounced and clattered to the ground, and how it lost one of its arms in the process. Aggravated by his quick rise to anger, Leia went about fixing her tea the way she liked it and then stood up. "That was unnecessary and you know it," she bit out.As she began to step away from the patio table, leaving behind her food and taking only her tea, Nik furrowed his brow and looked after her. "Where are you going?""I've lost my appetite," she barked at him, and then disappeared back into the house.  A few days later, Nik had gone into the city, to Santhe Corporation headquarters. There was a board meeting he had to attend or something to that effect. Leia hadn't been listening. She'd still been bothered by his attitude from days prior, as well as just distracted for other reasons lately. Once he'd gone, though, her focus got back on track and she made a decision about something.She was going to get into that sub-level and see what he had down there.She was tired of the secrets.Their future was at stake.So, down to the basement she went, and she easily used the Force to mess with the inner workings of the lock; a talent she inherited from her mother that her siblings shared, but not as well. When the door slid open for her, she began a slow journey along a deeper set of stairs that bent at a ninety degree angle halfway down. The entire time, with each step she took, sensors overhead picked up on her movements and lit up her path as she went. At the base of the stairs was an enclosed hallway with only one door at the end. At that door, she needed to use the Force again because that, too, was locked.With an apprehensive inhale of breath, she stepped inside.As the lights came on inside and she looked upon her immediate surroundings, she literally gasped. It wasn't some room for meditation or tinkering. It was akin to a damn warehouse. It was large, and more cavernous than the rooms in the actual house up above. Actually, it was set up more like a damn museum. And there were so many items — artifacts.And the darkness she felt from it all; it was oppressive."Oh, Nik. No."Leia's shoulders slumped.Walking forward, she passed small statuettes and holocrons. As she stepped toward an enclosed case atop a wide pedestal, she spied a rather beautiful lightsaber hilt and a red leather book inside. When she peered at the words upon the cover she blanched."No, no, no, no…"She didn't bother to look any further or deeper into all the things Nik had clearly been collecting for some time. Feeling sick to her stomach, she backtracked out of this place as quickly as possible. She shut the door and locked it behind her, and then hurried up the stairs to the other door; repeating the process. Then, just as she made it back up into the basement, she was met with the figure of someone standing directly in front of her and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She hadn't been expecting anyone to be there and assumed Nik had come home early, and that he'd just caught her in the act of snooping around and discovering his secret.However, and thankfully, it wasn't Nik."For Maker's sake, Zeda." Leia exhaled sharply; placing a hand to her stomach. "You scared the shit out of me."There, in front of Leia, was her Umbaran sister-in-law."Sorry," Zeda apologized; her tone as soft as usual."What are you doing here?""I came to see you. Couldn't find you upstairs." Then, noting the slight distress within Leia, she asked, "Is everything alright?""Honestly?" The brunette shook her head. "No.""What's wrong?""Just…" Leia stood straight and sighed deeply. "Forced to face some unfortunate truths.""About Nik." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Reaching a hand out, Zeda linked her arm through Leia's and began to lead them toward the stairs up from the basement to the main level. "He's gone to the dark side, hasn't he?"Leia, despite not wanting to acknowledge that fact for some time, was forced to finally face it head on. "Yes," she admitted, as they walked upstairs together. "He has.""How long have you known, if you don't mind my asking?""I think my first inclination was last year, when I came back here, after the fire. The twins—""They said Nik did it. That he set the fire."As the pair came to stop upstairs on the main level, in front of the door to the basement, Leia looked at her sister-in-law and knitted her brow together. "You know that?""They told me," Zeda answered simply; her expression nothing if not sympathetic. "And they were terrified about it." A frown quickly took root upon her pale, white face. "I believe they saw something more terrible than just Nik setting a fire. I believe he murdered his family and they witnessed it, and the fire was set to cover it up. And the girls, they're young and impressionable. They're too afraid to speak against him, for fear he might do to them what he may have done to the others."Leia found the nearest chair and sat down. "I've been so willfully ignorant. I saw the fear in their eyes whenever they looked at him and I chose to look the other way." She looked regretfully up at Zeda. "I've been such a fool.""No. You're just a woman who's been blinded by her loyalty to the man she loves." Zeda pulled another chair over and moved it closer to Leia, grabbing both of her hands; the natural one and the prosthetic one. "Sometimes the ones we love let us down, and in big ways. Now, I don't know this from personal experience—""Because Caro's pretty great, I know." Despite herself, Leia managed a small chuckle."He really is." Zeda nodded in agreement. "He's made me happy for years, and even prouder to call him my husband. He's a good man with a good heart, but Nik…" She trailed; her frown deepening as she looked down at her and Leia's hands. "His soul was broken long ago. His demotion within the Jedi Order was a just punishment, and it left the door open for him to earn back the trust he'd lost, and eventually earn back his place as a Knight, but I've often wondered if maybe there could've been something more lenient that could've been handed down. Knowing the trauma he faced as a child and the potential he had for darkness, it might've been wiser to keep him as he was. A year of grunt work, something janitorial, could've sufficed. It would've been a way to keep an eye on him, and for the rest of us to help him stay on the right path. Instead, this is where we are. He chose to follow a different path, a darker path, and I'm sorry you're in the middle of it."Both women were silent for a moment as Zeda's words ruminated within Leia's head, until she finally spoke again. "He has…" she began; wondering how to put what she wanted to say into words."What does he have?""There's a space below the basement. It's huge. He's been collecting things." Leia's voice lowered, as if Nik was about to appear at any moment. "Artifacts.""What kind of artifacts?" Zeda had asked the question, but she already sensed the answer."Sith artifacts. And two things in particular frighten me the most." Leia frowned and dipped her head down; suddenly very grateful to have her sister-in-law there with her. "There's a book and a lightsaber, and I believe they were both the property of Emperor Palpatine. The book, I know, was his. I could feel it, as if his essence still lingers within them both. Pure darkness. Pure evil." Lifting her gaze back up, tears now stung terribly at her eyes as she grimaced. "Everything down there, or almost everything, has the stink of Palpatine on it. There are Sith holocrons. One of them is gigantic. I don't know where Nik found it all, or how he got it down there. I'm assuming before the foundation for the basement was laid and the rest of this estate was erected. He's clearly been busy. He's been doing all this for a while now — longer, I think, than before the fire. And…I don't know what to do.""You know what to do," Zeda insisted to the contrary, looking Leia in the eye. "You can't stay here. Nik is too far gone. It's not safe for you to be here anymore." She squeezed Leia's hands and sighed. "Come home to Naboo. It'll be for the best. And then all of us, as a family, and with Jedi Council, can decide what should be done in regard to Nik.""What, like, kill him?" Leia leaned back and removed her hands from Zeda's, as if she'd been slapped. Being brokenhearted that he had gone to the dark side was one thing, but the idea of killing him because of it was another thing entirely. "No. I won't let any of you kill him. There's got to be something else. I can talk to him — get him to see sense.""Padmé Amidala couldn't get through to Anakin Skywalker.""Nik may not be as far gone as Anakin was.""He killed his entire family in cold blood, Leia.""Allegedly."Zeda tilted her head to the side and just stared. "Come now. You know in your heart what the truth is. Don't deny it any longer.""He can come back from the dark side. Anakin did. Ben Solo did.""Yes, Nik could. But right now, at this moment, he's in the darkness — and deeply so, I'm afraid."Leia ran a hand through her dark hair and slouched in her chair. "I can't just leave him, though.""Why not?"Staring Zeda in this eye this time, Leia pouted. "Because he's my husband.""Wait — what? What do you mean?""We got married just after Len died," she finally admitted — to someone. She even smiled a bit; albeit distantly, at the memory. "We did it on Tatooine, at sunset, beside the hovel where my great-grandpa Obi-Wan and great-grandma Sera lived. And, honestly, it was a great, little wedding. Just the two of us, and a drunk, former monk as our officiant. My droid, Katy, was our witness.""How come you've never said anything? It's been almost three years."Leia shrugged. "Because we both knew how most of the family felt about him. And we were all upset about Len dying, and mom went AWOL, and then it just seemed exciting to have this secret; just him and me. It was our special thing for just the two of us. But lately…" Her eyes dropped down and she teared up again. "Lately it's felt like this heavy burden to bear. I mean, I still love him, and I want a future with him. But it's all so tainted now. I want to bring him back to the light. I just don't know how to do it.""Well, maybe some time away from him might help," Zeda suggested. "Come home, clear your head. Focus on everything you need going forward. Have a serious conversation with your mother. Or go to Rey about it, if it feels too awkward to talk about with your mother. Just figure out what you need, for your own well-being." Reaching a hand up, Zeda set it down upon Leia's shoulder. "We can't afford to lose you to the dark side, too. Ben Solo was supposed to be the last in your family tree."Leia nodded, considering all this. "I can't just take off on him. I can't disappear and leave him wondering where I went. For better or for worse, he's my husband and I'm his wife. You may not think he does, but he deserves to know where I'm going and why. Or, at least, the sugarcoated reason why." Looking her sister-in-law in the eye, she smirked appreciatively. "I'm glad you came, for whatever reason; whether it was just to visit or to spirit me away.""It was a little of both, if I'm being honest," Zeda replied with a chuckle."Well, either way." Sitting up straight, Leia wiped at the single tear that had managed to slip down her face. "Will you stay here tonight? I won't go anywhere until tomorrow at the earliest, and I don't know if you're planning to stay until I go, or before." She gestured lamely upward. "Maker knows there's a shitload of bedrooms for you to choose from in this mausoleum.""You don't like it here, do you?""It's not what I would've chosen to live in. It's too big. Too hollow. It lacks warmth and no amount of furniture or decorations will ever change that." Staring knowingly at the older female, Leia frowned. "I know you're thinking about the correlation between the house and Nik.""I didn't say a word.""You didn't have to."Standing up, Zeda pushed the chair she'd been sitting in aside. "I will stay the night," she insisted. "I told Caro I might be here a few days, and that maybe you and I might have a spa day for just us girls. It'll be a perfect excuse to give Nik, anyway, when he gets home." Looking Leia pointedly in the eye, she added, "I'm assuming Nik will be home from wherever he is sometime today."Leia nodded. "He's in the city, at the Santhe Corp offices. There was a board meeting." Then, "He hates those, so he'll likely return in a sour mood. So, be prepared for that.""Does he often come home in a sour mood?""Not often.""He hasn't…he hasn't hurt you, has he?""What? No. He'd never." Leia gestured in the direction of the basement door. "I'm like one of those Sith artifacts to him."Being Umbaran, the brow she raised at her sister-in-law was a hairless one. "How so?"Leia smirked. "He keeps me on pedestal, too."  When Nik arrived home, his mood was surprisingly unruffled. However, having spied the unfamiliar starship on the landing pad near the house, he was curious to know who was calling upon his wife. When he entered inside, he made his way into the parlor and found Leia and Zeda sitting together and enjoying a cup of tea. He immediately tensed up and tried rooting around their minds for a reason for this visit, but found them blocking him out. They turned and smiled pleasantly up at him when he approached, and set aside their tea cups."Hey," Leia greeted. "How was the meeting?""Long." Without further elaboration on the subject, he focused his attention upon his sister-in-law. "Zeda. What a lovely surprise."She smiled a small smile. "It's been so crazy back at home recently, what with getting the new location for the Kenobi Academy ready to open, I thought it would be nice to get away for a few days for some peace of mind." She shifted her gaze upon Leia. "We might go to a spa. I heard there are some lovely ones in Lianna City.""I wouldn't know," he replied with a shrug and a sigh. "And how long are you planning to stay?""She's family. She can stay a year if she wanted," Leia quipped, reaching for her tea cup again. "It would be nice to have someone to chum around with from day to day. Since I haven't been working," she continued to say, alluding to the bounty hunting her family still didn't know she did from time to time, "I have so much free time on my hands, and with you so busy, I get lonely.""Sorry about that. I know I've been distracted lately.""It's okay. You're a busy man with a lot of responsibilities now."Nik nodded in agreement. "I am, but that's still no excuse to neglect you."Leia almost felt like switching back to ignoring the darkness again, for how genuine she believed he was being in that moment. She knew he really did love her, and she really did love him. It was just this path he was on that she was scared of. If he kept on with this path, they wouldn't have the future they wanted because she wouldn't follow him down it. She couldn't. "Is there anything in particular you're in the mood to eat for dinner tonight so I can let the kitchen droids know?""Whatever you want is fine with me." He was shifting around, nervously; as if he wanted to be anywhere else at the moment. It may have had something to do with the way Zeda was staring at him; as if she was staring directly into his soul or trying to read his mind, but without actually doing any of those things. He supposed it was just the coloring of her eyes. He'd always found the silver hue, as well as her overall paleness, to be a bit unnerving. She was like a living spectre; haunting him, specifically. "I'm gonna be downstairs for a while." Patting his hip, he added, "I have my comlink on me. Shoot me a message when dinner's ready." Stepping forward, he ignored Zeda's continued gaze and placed a kiss upon Leia's lips, who reciprocated the gesture too chastely for his liking. He assumed it was because Zeda was there. "Love you."Once he walked away, he was unaware that Leia had let her shoulders slump; that she'd been tensing up the entire time he'd been in the room with her and Zeda. He had made his way downstairs to the basement, put in his passcode to the sub-level door and then continued further. But, the moment he descended the stairs that bent halfway down at that ninety degree angle, he stopped.Something felt off.Inhaling a steadying breath, he slowly continued forward. As he approached the second locked door at the end of that small hallway, his eyes clouded over and he focused on the Force Echo he was experiencing. He began to scowl; seeing Leia walking this hallway and making her way into his cavernous, subterranean vault. He saw that she had used the Force to get inside. After inputting the code into the second door and stepping inside, the lights began to come on and he could see how she had done the same; how she'd looked briefly around and how she'd left in a hurry while looking both crestfallen and nauseous.Nik's eyes resumed their hazel-green hue and he growled out in frustration. "Fuck."  That night, dinner had been eaten in relative silence on Nik's part. Leia and Zeda chatted with each other and both actively engaged him in conversation, too. He answered when they asked him a question, and he spoke when spoken to, but he was otherwise quiet. He was too focused on his thoughts. When Leia asked if he was alright, he lied and said he was tired. Before he was even finished eating, he pushed away from the table and stood up; claiming he was heading up to bed early. He wished both women goodnight and left the dining room.Normally, he might've returned to the vault, but he chose against it right now. Instead, he kept to his word and headed upstairs. He went to his and Leia's bedroom suite, which entailed an outer, sitting room, and then the bedroom, two very large walk-in closets, and a rather grand en suite bathroom; all of which faced the rear of the house and offered a view of the sunsets that Leia loved so much. He didn't bother undressing when he reached the bedroom. He sat upon the end of the bed, his hands upon his upper thighs, and looked out the windows at the sun nearing the horizon, through the tree tops. His mind drifted, as if he'd fallen into a trance.He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but eventually he snapped out of it when he heard the door to the bedroom suite open, followed by Leia's gentle footfalls. When she appeared in the doorway between the sitting room and the bedroom, he remained unmoved."Are you sure you're okay?" Leia asked.He could hear the uncertainty in her voice. He could hear the dread in her voice. He knew what she had seen down below. He knew she had seen all he'd been collecting, but he wasn't sure she was aware why. "I've been better."Her resolve faltered. He felt it."I could draw us a bath.""No.""Okay." Leia lingered in the doorway still. "Are you upset about something? Is there, I dunno, something you want to talk to me about?"Slowly, he turned to look over his shoulder at her. As he got to his feet, he watched as she ever so slightly recoiled from him. His jaw clenched, his gaze steeled. "I know you where you went. I know what you saw," he prefaced. "And I want to apologize for making you feel as if you had to sneak around like a common criminal. I know I've been evasive. I know you know I've been hiding something from you, and I'm sorry I've kept you in the dark." He walked forward and he watched the way she leaned her back against the door frame and stared upward at him with uncertainty in her dark brown eyes. She was worried he would hurt her. "I would never lay a hand on you," he assured; placating the concerns in her head. "I love you."Boldly, Leia stepped forward and met him halfway. "There are other ways to hurt the one you love."Tilting his head, his narrowed his gaze upon her. "You're brimming with such disappointment." His face noticeably twitched. "You find me disgusting, and I don't mean physically. You're repulsed by the man I've become."She shook her head at him and pouted. "Why?""You couldn't begin to understand. But, in time, you might." Reaching a hand out, he brushed his knuckles along her face. "In time you'll come to accept me for who I am. What I've become. And I can wait as long as it takes for you to come round to it. And, for your sake, it would be better if you just embraced it.""Are you fucking insane, Nik?" she barked at him; slapping his hand away. "Why would I embrace it? Why would I embrace the fucking dark side? What allure could it possibly hold other than a lifetime of pain and heartbreak? You know what it's done to members of my family, and you—" She scowled at him and shoved at his chest with both of her hands; causing him to teeter slightly backward, but he never lost his balance. "How could you do this to us?" She struck his chest with the sides of her balled up fists and he let her. "How could you do this to me? I stuck by you through everything. I never gave up on you when others did. I assured them you weren't a lost cause." She hit him again, and then again; letting her frustrations out. "You made me into a liar!"He just stared, and began to smirk. When she noticed as much, she scowled even more and growled angrily at him, which amused him considerably. "Your anger gives you strength. And in that strength, there's power beyond your wildest dreams." Abruptly, he grabbed for her wrists before she could hit him again, and just held them tightly. "I can show you what it's like, how it feels, to finally let go of all that nonsense we were taught as children by your mother and the others. I can show you how freeing it is to not have to push such natural urges down. Anger is natural. Rage is natural. Hate is natural." Still holding onto her, he pulled her closer to him. Leaning his face down, he brought it beside hers and whispered, "The power of the dark side is a freedom like no other. Let me show you. Let me teach you what I've learned. You can be my wife and my apprentice. The Power of Two, like no other."Horrified, Leia yanked her hands wrists free and stumbled back. "Never." She shook her head and backed away from him. "If you truly loved me, you wouldn't do this.""You know I love you," he maintained; her gaze darkening."Your actions say otherwise." Quickly, she turned and slipped out of the bedroom and into the sitting room. "I'm going home to Naboo. I can't be here with you like this." She sensed him following behind her. "We need time apart. You need to take stock of what you value more. Me or the dark side. When you've made your choice, let me know.""Leia.""No." She turned around and held a single finger up to him; revealing tears that were falling from her eyes. Pausing for a moment, she just stared at him and his own dismay on how this was all going seemed to finally be hitting him, too. "Nik, you're breaking my heart. I feel like I don't even know you anymore." Shaking her head, she turned back around and reached the door to their bedroom suite. As she slipped outside, she felt him picking up the pace to continue following after her, and she could feel his desire for her to not leave him alone. "No. Stop it." Leia whipped back around and glared at him. "Nothing you say can convince me to stay right now. I need to go away for a while, because you're going down a path I can't follow."She continued onward, heading downstairs to the main level, just as Zeda stepped out of a bedroom from another of wing of the house. She locked eyes with Nik and watched the way he all but shot daggers at her; as if this was all somehow her fault Leia was leaving. Without hesitation, the Umbaran Jedi Master darted down the staircase and caught up to her sister-in-law, who was feverishly wiping tears away from her face."Did you have it out with him?" Zeda asked in a whisper."You could say that." Leaning closer to the older female, she added, "There's no denying he's consumed by the dark side, and he wants me to walk that path with him." Dragging her saddened gaze upward, she looked Zeda in the eye. "You were right. It's not safe for me to be here with him. I need to go home."Zeda nodded in agreement. "I'm glad — that you're coming home, not about Nik. None of us wanted this."Both sensed him nearing; reaching the base of the staircase. Before he appeared or could properly overhear them, Leia pulled Zeda into her arms. "Thank you for coming here and making me finally face this.""It's going to be very stressful and hard, I'm sure, but back on Naboo you'll have plenty of family to help you through this and whatever comes next."Leia nodded. "I'm gonna take the Skywalker. I need to travel back alone, so I can clear my head a bit, if you don't mind," she quietly remarked."That's fine," Zeda assured. "I came in Caro's ship. I'll follow behind you." Looking over her sister-in-law's shoulder, she noticed Nik finally appeared; standing just inside the entrance hall where both women were. "Did you need to pack anything?""I always keep a small, extra wardrobe on the Skywalker. It's also where Katy and my lightsaber are. Anything else can remain here." Leia turned and looked over her shoulder at her husband. Slowly, she sighed. "If you truly love me, you'll do what's right. Until then, I can't stay. I won't stay.""Leia, please," he pleaded.As she migrated toward the front door, she threw one last comment at him. "I still love you, though. I hope you can find your way back from this darkness."Then, she was gone, with Zeda in tow. Neither female wasted any time heading for the landing zone.When Leia reached her ship, Zeda stepped back from it. "You go ahead. Just head home and don't look back. I'm gonna board mine and contact Caro. I'll let him know you're on your way, and to let your parents know what's happening.""Don't," Leia muttered. "Well, just not the last part. I'll talk to my mom and dad when I get there. It should come from me."Zeda nodded, accepting this. "Very well." As she watched Leia begin to ascend up the boarding ramp into her ship, she called out, "May the Force be with you."Despite everything, Leia smiled; every so appreciative to have such a kind and caring sister-in-law — and friend. "May the Force be with you, too," she replied. "Always."  Zeda had been sitting in the pilot's seat of her shuttle for about twenty minutes. Five of it was spent talking to Caro, after she'd watched the Skywalker lift up and shoot upward into the sky before disappearing completely out of Lianna's atmosphere. She told her husband what had happened; what Leia had told her about what she'd found below the basement, about what Nik was hiding. She confirmed for Caro that Nik had definitely given himself over to the dark side and he apparently had designs to eventually lure Leia to it as well, as Zeda had feared might happen. She was glad she'd made the decision to come here when she did. She then told him that Leia was coming home; to expect her arrival to the villa in the next several hours.When Caro wished his wife to have a safe journey home, as well, she hesitated on that."I think it might be prudent to get proof of what he's keeping in that lair of his, to take back to the Council," she began to tell her husband. "He's said it himself, that he's a busy man. He will leave this estate sooner rather than later, and I'll sneak inside and take holos. I'll be in and out."
"I don't think it wise, darling."
"It has to be now. What if he takes this time, with Leia gone, and moves his stash?" she implored. "I'll stay only another day or two, tops. I'll take the ship, fly off toward the city, as if I'm leaving to give him the idea I've left and then circle back in the morning. I'll dock the ship somewhere else that's nearby and walk the rest of the way if need be, so he won't see the ship."
"You're taking an unnecessary risk."
"You know I never take risks. I'm as pedestrian as they come," she teased with a light smile, watching as he frowned over their holo communication.
"There is a first time for everything."
"A quick in an out, I promise. Fifteen minutes I'll be, at most. I won't dillydally. Cross my heart and hope to die.""Zey." He rolled his eyes at her.Zeda chuckled. "I'll be home soon enough," she assured. "Give Lora a kiss goodnight for me."
"It's late morning here, my love. She's in lessons."
"Oh, right. Well, kiss her for me either way when you can."After brief exchanges of 'I love you', they ended their communication, and Zeda did as she said she would. She took her shuttle and she flew away from the Yaren Estate. Whether or not that's what it was technically called, she wasn't sure. She darted upward through the clouds; grateful it was after sunset and dark now. It made it easier for her to zip back down toward Lianna City, circle around and bring herself back near to the estate. There was an open field half a mile away that she set down upon and hunkered down for the night.When morning came, Zeda woke up and splashed some water on her face from her small ship's small refresher. Her stomach growled so she ate a protein bar she had stashed away, and then grabbed her lightsaber; clipping it to the belt around her waist. After disembarking from the shuttle, she began to walk through mild forestation and even having to wade through a rather fast-moving stream that proved tricky to trudge through. But, eventually, she found her way to the edge of the Yaren Estate's property, where she hid herself among the trees. She wandered through the woods surrounding the property, since she was near the back of it and needed to reach the front of it in order to determine if Nik was still at home by whether or not his Y-wing was there.It was.So, she knew, he was still home.Hunkering down again, she ended up having to wait several hours until she heard the familiar rumble and hum of a ship's engine coming to life. Peering out from behind the foliage, she watched as the Y-wing lifted upward and flew off toward the direction of the capital city. Taking a moment, she realized the possibility that there would be a security system in place, so she relied on the used the Force to manipulate the locks to the door and let herself in once she made it up to the front of the manor. Slipping inside, as silent as the grave, and quickly to boot, Zeda paused and looked around the entrance hall for droids who might stop and accost her; but she knew how to be stealthy and avoid them, since mind tricks wouldn't work on them.Zeda had reached the door to the basement and made her way down. She'd used the Force to manipulate the lock on the sub-level door, and then hurried down the stairs as the lights came on overhead to illuminate her path. She spied the door at the end of the short hall, and used the Force once again to force her way inside. And, just as Leia did, Zeda gasped at what she saw inside.When the lights inside the massive hall of artifacts came up, she saw and felt it all. She saw the huge holocron Leia had mentioned. She saw the lightsaber and book Leia believed belonged to Palpatine. She saw an enormous kyber crystal that she could feel was imbued with darkness. There were smaller holocrons, there were broken kyber crystals that no longer had any color, there were splintered lightsabers, more books or journals, and a plethora of melee weapons. It truly did look like a museum.Removing a small datapad from her pocket, Zeda held it up and began to record everything she could, or as much as she could. Once she'd gotten enough footage, she attempted to send it, but it wouldn't transmit; likely because she was too far underground and the signal was being blocked. So, she hurried out of there and made her way back up to the basement, where she tried again, but to no avail. Continuing further up to the main level she meandered toward the parlor, but had to duck behind a sofa when a droid approached. Only after it finally moved along to some other part of the house did she get back up.As she stepped over toward the doorway to the entrance hall, she finally succeeded; sending the footage she record onward to Caro with the simple typed message of "the evidence". Moving carefully toward the front door, her datapad beeped and she smiled at the message she'd received back.
No more risks. Come home. I love you.
She had been about to type back, to ask if Leia got home alright, when she felt someone approaching. Pocketing her datapad, she swiftly moved to grab for her lightsaber and going as far as to ignite it. When the white plasma blade shot upward, Zeda whipped around and found herself to be surprisingly startled at the sight of Nik standing at the other end of the entrance hall and holding his own lightsaber in his hand, but deactivated."Did you really think I didn't sense you hiding out there in the trees?" he taunted; his gaze dark and unsettling from how hidden he was in the shadows. With a raise of an eyebrow, he nodded downward at the ground. "Did you see anything you like down there?""You will answer to the Jedi Council for your affront," she warned.Nik laughed. "I'm not a member of the Jedi Order anymore. I am no Jedi anymore, so the Jedi Council has no dominion over my life.""You're married into the most prominent Jedi family. I'd say there's plenty dominion there.""Oh, so Leia told you about us, huh?" Nik stepped forward slightly and watched, impressed, with how Zeda didn't seem to waver. "I was actually the one who insisted we wait and have a proper ceremony with our families, believe it or not. Leia wanted it to be just the two of us. And then it was our secret. It was just the two of us and it's been wonderful.""Everything that starts out in the dark eventually comes to light.""That's cute," he scoffed. "Is that one of those insipid adages we were taught as children? Or that we read about?" He moved his free hand in a way that looked like he was operating an invisible puppet's mouth. "Ooh, the dark side is so evil. The light side is so pure and innocent. Blah, blah, fucking blah." With unnerving speed, he quite literally glided across the floor with that same hand reached outward and grabbed at Zeda's neck; catching her by surprise. "Fuck the Jedi, and fuck you, too."As she moved to swipe upward with her lightsaber, Nik jumped backward and finally ignited his, which was still its usual green hue."You are evil," she contended; touching her free hand gingerly to her neck, which felt somewhat sore from how he'd grabbed her, and then shifted her gaze briefly to his blade.He noticed as much. "You were expecting it to be red, weren't you?" He snickered. "I haven't figured out how to bleed my kyber crystal yet. But I think I'm close. Until then, this is still fine." He gave it a twirl, for theatrics. "And I'm not evil. Maybe you are." His eyes widened with amusement, as if he'd said something bold and hilarious. "It's all about perspective, really. Eye of the beholder. Something, something. I forget how it goes." He moved his free hand in a rolling motion. "Either way.""If you don't answer to the Council, you'll answer to the Republic, because you murdered your family, Nik," she accused. "I'd say that's pretty damn evil.""They were terrible people. And what proof do you have, anyway? The accusations of creepy, twin teenage girls? I know they told you something, that night, on Life Day. But they're young. And they were clearly just traumatized by the fire and losing their parents so suddenly. When you're young like that, the imagination tends to run wild. It's a coping mechanism when something awful happens. So, again, what proof do you have? None. You have nothing." He stepped forward again, but stopped when she aimed the tip of her blade at him. "Want to know what I have?"Zeda pursed her lips in a small scowl as she pondered what he might say. "Let me guess: proof that I broke in? It would be only natural you would have some sort of security here.""No. Well, yes. I have that. But, no. Something else.""Humor me then."Nik sneered. "You know, most everywhere in the galaxy, if one person breaks into another person's domicile, the owner is within their right to kill the intruder." He could feel Zeda tensing at that. Holding his lightsaber up, he deactivated it. "But I won't kill you with this. It's so…" He seemed as if he was looking for the right word, and then he smirked knowingly at her. "Pedestrian."Zeda blanched."Oh, yeah, I bugged your shuttle before dinner last night. Slipped outside, lickety-split. Popped back in. You should really get some sort of security system for it. I could've attached a bomb and blown you up the second you pretended to leave," he quipped, taking half a step forward. "But I'm not going to kill you with a lightsaber." As if to prove his point, he tossed it away from him; leaving him unarmed. "And I'm not going to blow you up. That would," he sighed, "that would just be too messy. All that debris, all those body parts raining down."Tilting his head, he looked her in the eye and stepped even closer, just as he watched the way she looked up at him with repugnance when she noticed how his eyes began to change colors. Slowly, the hazel-green seemed to get dark, as if they were becoming brown, but then they shifted to something brighter, something almost golden orange. His sneer returned as he took a few steps back up from her.Zeda inhaled a deep, steadying breath. He had purposely let the walls down to his mind and allowed her a glimpse inside. She had been able to see enough into his thoughts in that moment to know his intent, and a harrowing realization fell heavy upon her heart. "You have lost Leia. No matter what happens next, you have lost her forever.""That remains to be seen."Sensing his immediate move to attack, but not knowing how he was planning to do it, Zeda shifted into an offensive stance, but she was already too late to do anything.With a howl of vehemence, Nik threw his hands out in front of him as lightning shot out from his fingertips; striking her straight in the chest before she could deflect with her blade. Her arms spanned outward at her sides, her entire body began to convulse, and her grip around her lightsaber faltered. As it fell out of her hands, it deactivated just before it hit the ground. Zeda couldn't even cry out in pain. Her breath had become caught in her throat. There was a sudden appearance of tears in her silver grey eyes that were unable to fall. Everything in her vision was as bright and white as the hair on her head, while it felt as if she was burning alive from the inside out.All of a sudden, her eyes rolled back into her head. At the same moment, Nik ceased the literally electrifying violence against her, and her body unceremoniously crumpled to the floor; devoid of life. The last thoughts in her mind had been that of her husband and her daughter, and how sorry she was that she would not be there for them anymore.With a rather lazy and unbothered sigh, Nik sauntered forward. When he reached her, he kicked his foot at her thigh and then, unsurprisingly to him, he watched as her body began to fade away as she became one with the Force. All that remained, once she was gone, was the clothes she had been wearing and the shoes that had been upon her feet. Bending down, he grabbed up her lightsaber."Well, that was anticlimactic," he mocked; staring at her clothes as if she was still there to talk to. "I thought we'd at least spar a bit." Holding his other hand out, he called his own lightsaber back to him with the Force and shrugged. "Oh well."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"It's just the ghost of what you really wantAnd it's the ghost of the past that you live inAnd it's the ghost of the future you are frightened of"— Stevie Nicks When Leia returned to Naboo, her chest felt heavy with dread. It had nothing to do with the situation she left behind or how her relationship with Nik was going to continue in the days, weeks, months or even years to follow. It had everything to do with facing her family and not wanting to hear them say any I told you so's; that they had been right about Nik being a bad egg all along. She didn't want to face Caro's potentially chastising gaze or her father's disappointment that she'd sullied herself with someone not worthy of her. Shara would be there for her, as support, no matter what. They were twins. They were ride or die. Her mother, she knew, would be the calmer and more collected of them all. Still, though.Telling them what had been happening was one thing, but there was also the matter of the secrets she'd been keeping from them, and they weren't small ones. She didn't want them to be angry with her. She just wanted them to accept whatever she told them and find a way to move on from all of it.She set the Skywalker down on the landing zone outside the hangar near the villa; just barely fitting it beside the shuttle she knew belonged to her mother. Caro's, she knew, Zeda had used to head to Lianna. Once she disembarked from her ship, her astromech R6-KT followed suit; beeping in such a small, delicate tone; as if the droid knew Leia's stomach as doing somersaults and was just trying to talk her up. Slowly, Leia wandered toward the front of the villa and was immediately greeted by her brother, who had poked his head out of the front door with his arms folded across his chest. Thankfully, he didn't look chastising at all. He looked sympathetic."Hey," he greeted with a small, rueful smile.Leia sighed; her shoulders slumped. "Hey.""How are you?"Truly not expecting such a warm welcome; tears immediately sprang from her eyes and she began to ugly cry. Without hesitation, Caro beckoned her forward and pulled her into his arms and held her tight against his chest; resting his chin atop her head. And, for a few moments, neither said anything."I'm sorry things didn't turn out the way you'd hoped with Nik," he remarked, softly."He had such good in him," she whispered in return. "He still does. I can feel it. Deep down. Deep, deep down. It's there, nonetheless, but the darkness has just grown so much stronger." Pulling back from her brother, she wiped at her face; ridding it of the fallen tears while not bothering to look him in the eye. "I don't know what to do.""Well, you're home now, and with family who can help you figure it out." Placing a comforting hand upon her shoulder, Caro gestured toward the house. "Zeda contacted me. Said she's staying longer. She's planning to pretend to leave and hide out until Nik leaves. She wants to get proof of everything he's collected in the basement or wherever, and then be able to bring that evidence before the Council so we can determine next steps.""It's below the basement," Leia muttered as the pair began to walk inside together. "It's this great big sub-level that's at least two stories high. He has a book or journal — something like that — that I believe was written by Palpatine, and what I also believe is Palpatine's lightsaber. There's a massive Sith holocron. It's probably as big as the two of us, if I stood on your shoulders. And there is so much more. Where he got all of it, I haven't the slightest clue."Caro frowned. "I wasn't too pleased on Zeda staying behind any longer, but she promised to be quick about it; in and out. She's been worried about you lately. We all have. And she even admitted to me that this whole situation has her frightened, which makes me worry that she might get reckless." As brother and sister came to stand beside the round, wooden table in the center of the grand foyer, Caro sighed and cast his gaze downward. "Her feathers are rarely, if ever, ruffled, so to speak. Between the two of us, she is the more levelheaded. I'm usually the one who is more likely to act before thinking. But, this has her judgment a bit fuzzy, I think." Finally looking back up at Leia, he added, "I have a bad feeling about this."With a nod, Leia couldn't help but agree. "So do I," she replied. "She gave me no inkling she was going to hang back. I thought she was going to be right behind me, more or less. She did say she was going to contact you about what happened, and I asked her not to say anything to mom and dad, because I want to be the one to do it…""Yeah, she told me to keep this to myself until you got home."Peering around her brother, toward the dining room, she asked, "Where are mom and dad? Are they home?""They were spending the afternoon at Shara's; looking after Luke and Ami while Shara and Zeith are working. But they'll be home in a couple hours — by dinner."Leia nodded again; accepting this information. "Where's Lora?""At the Kenobi Academy." Caro smirked. "We officially opened the new site a few days ago. That's why Zeda went to you when she did. The headache of getting the school ready was finally over, and now we're just getting back into the swing of normalcy," he explained; leading his sister to join him in the family room, where they could sit and talk more comfortably. "She assumed Nik had gone to the dark side, but I think was hoping she might be wrong; that he was just an asshole who might've murdered his family. She was hoping for the best, for your sake. And, best case scenario, she was going to use this time simply to visit and just have some quality time with you, as family.""I would've really liked that to have been the case." Leia plopped down onto the sofa with her hands between her knees while watching Caro sit across from her in an overstuffed chair. "I wish a lot of things had been the best case scenario.""If wishes were falumpasets—""—beggars would ride," she completed the old Naboo adage; one they'd heard their mother say plenty of times.Caro simply nodded in response."How come you're not at the Kenobi Academy?""I was, but I came back here so you wouldn't come home and be alone." Tilting his head slightly and offering her a sympathetic smile. "If you need distraction right now, we could go back there together. I could show you around." He snickered. "It's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself."Slowly, Leia shook her head. "No. I'm tired. It was night when I left Lianna. I haven't slept, and I've just been feeling pretty drained lately.""Stress," he muttered; not as a question, but as an assumptive statement."Something like that.""Well, how about you head upstairs. Your room is still your room. Get some rest." As he watched his sister nod at his suggestion and move to stand back up, he added, "Do you want me to wake you up when mom and dad get back?""Yeah," she answered in a small voice, just as R6-KT entered the house; beeping at her about being left outside. Despite her downcast mood, she chuckled. "Sorry, Katy."Caro followed Leia with his eyes as she walked back out into the grand foyer and patted the domed top of her fuchsia and silver astromech that had been at her side for nearly fifteen years. When she ascended the stairs to the second floor, the droid rolled into the family room and greeted Caro with a series of beeps and boops. Before Caro could respond, his mother's droid BD-80 began to chirp from somewhere outside the family room; causing R6-KT to circle back toward the grand foyer. As both droids began to communicate with each other in binary, Caro smirked and then returned his gaze forward as he considered his sister's mental well-being; having sensed there was something more plaguing her mind and heart than just Nik's fall from grace.  It was barely four hours later.Poe and Crisara came home by way of one of the speeders they usually kept docked beside the pier below the villa. They'd walked the winding path up to the front, tiled patio, arm in arm; chatting about what else but their grandchildren, who occupied their hearts, minds and their time, now that they were in their retirement years. And, honestly, they wouldn't have it any other way. They still planned on traveling, but with the Littles so, well, little…it was hard to be away from them. When they got a few years older and were all busy in school or training at the Kenobi Academy, then Poe and Crisara would make a run for it, so to speak.As they reached the front of their home, they both immediately noticed Leia's ship. It was Crisara, though, whose posture straightened; sensing there was something serious afoot. Noticing as much in his wife, Poe's expression turned just as serious. They headed directly into the house, where they were met first thing with Caro, who cut them off before they could ask any questions."Leia's home. Possibly for good."That was certainly a concerning way to start a sentence."What does that mean, exactly?" Poe asked, stepping around his stepson and looking into both the family room and then the dining room; expecting his and Crisara's youngest twin daughter to somehow suddenly appear."She's upstairs, resting. She was tired. But something has happened and she wants to be the one to talk to you about it.""And you know what it is?"Caro caught his mother's eye for a moment, watching the way her gaze drifted upwards, and could feel her trying to get a sense of things with the Force. His own gaze, however, returned to his stepfather. "Yes, I do," he affirmed. "Technically, Zeda told me first.""Where is Zeda?" Crisara wondered."Lianna. She left last night.""Why is she there and Leia here?""She went to see Leia. She was concerned." Caro sighed. "Leia will explain everything. I told her I'd wake her when the two of you returned." Without another word, he turned on his heel and ascended the stairs.Left to ruminate with that vagueness, Poe looked at his wife with even deeper concern. "I don't need the Force to know something is really wrong," he remarked; placing his hands firmly upon his hips. "Do you think something happened to Leia? I hope she's not hurt.""If she was, I'm sure Caro would've begun with that," Crisara assured. "But I do agree something serious has happened. Or is still happening.""You getting any special feelings with the Force? Did you see anything in Caro's mind that could give us some hints?""I try not to.""That's not a 'no.'"Crisara rolled her eyes at Poe. "No, I didn't see anything in Caro's mind. I wasn't looking. But I did get a sense from him that we're about to get some bad news. And, if Leia is here — supposedly for good — that can mean she may have broken up with Nik. What's concerning me more at the moment, though, is why Zeda isn't here."Poe's frown continued. An exasperated sigh escaped his lips as he migrated toward the family room. "Well, whatever we're about to be told, I'm certain we'll need to be seated for it."Agreeing, Crisara followed her husband out of the grand foyer and sat down next to him on the sofa. The two of them waited in relative silence; holding hands as their eyes drifted nowhere in particular. After a few more minutes, Caro reappeared and informed them that Leia would be down soon. She was still in the throes of waking up and getting her bearings. After he sat down in the chair perpendicular to the sofa, a few more minutes passed before either of them heard Leia descending the stairs. Poe's and Crisara's attention turned and they watched as their daughter stepped into the family room, wearing dark circles around her eyes and looking emotionally drained. Their hearts automatically went out to her. They then watched in silence as she moved to take a seat in the same chair Caro had been sitting in earlier. After tucking one leg up underneath her, she folded her hands in her lap and sighed."Hey, Berries," Poe greeted gently.She didn't respond right away; instead chewing lightly upon the inside of her bottom lip. Her parents could both see that she was processing what to say and how to say it. She looked almost guilty, but they didn't know what she had to be guilty about."I guess the only way to do this is to just jump right in and not beat around the bush," Leia remarked with a sigh. When her dark eyes lifted up, they flitted back and forth between her parents before settling primarily upon her mother. "Nik's gone to the dark side."That was all she said at first; letting the words fully absorb into her parents' minds. She watched the way her father's expression turned into a scowl, and how her mother's became more saddened than anything. She could feel the anger rising in her father and the disappointment from her mother, but also some guilt. Leia could sense her mother was beginning to blame herself for this; believing there must've been something more she could've done to prevent this, and wondering where exactly she went wrong with Nik."I knew it would happen," Poe blurted, only to be met with the back of Crisara's hand to his chest. He turned and looked at her; a light scowl upon his face. "What? I did.""Let her speak." Crisara returned her focus to their daughter, all while Caro remained silent and more as moral support for his sister; something of which Crisara was thankful for. "Go on, honey."Leia frowned, dropping her eyes back down as she picked mindlessly at her fingernails. "I'm not sure when exactly it officially happened, but I had my first inclination of it last year, when I returned to Lianna and found the Santhe Estate burned to the ground," she continued to say. "There was an unsettling look in his eyes, and his cousins seemed so terrified of him. And, I mean, in hindsight, I can see how he'd already been heading toward this path, but I didn't want to believe it could happen. I just assumed his biological family were just getting on his nerves, and all the stress he'd been under, learning the family business, was adding to it. And, I mean, the Santhes were quite dreadful. Always cutting each other down. It was a toxic environment, but he had me. I was there to keep him centered. Or, so I thought." Tears began to sting at her eyes, but she was quick to wipe at them before they could fall. She didn't want to lose it in front of her parents. "The fire wasn't an accident. Nik killed his family. He probably killed the servants, as well, and then set the fire to cover it all up. But his cousins — Desta and Losha — they witnessed it, or enough of it. They told Zeda on Life Day.""Zeda's known all this time?" Poe wondered; turning his gaze instead to Caro.Sensing Poe's eyes on him, Caro shrugged. "She's assumed the truth for the last three months. She only just told me about a week ago." Gesturing to his sister, he added, "It's why she went to Lianna to see Leia. She wanted to make sure Leia was okay, and she wanted to know for sure if Nik had gone to the dark side or not."Catching Caro's eye, Leia swallowed back a lump in her throat. "Nik had been hiding something below our home — the estate he had built for us on the ashes of his family's old estate," she continued. For a brief moment, she looked up and caught her father's eye and then quickly looked away. "There's a basement below the basement, if you can call it that. It's like a warehouse, or a museum. I don't know how long he's been at it, or how he got any of it, or where he found any of it, but Nik's been collecting Sith artifacts. Looking back now, that oppressiveness I've been feeling there, I don't think it came from the house being so big and me feeling so lonely in it. I mean, okay, that was part of it, but I think I was being affected by the amassed dark side energy coming off those artifacts." Looking back up, she locked onto her mother's eyes. "Most of it I'm certain belonged to Palpatine. There's a book he wrote and a lightsaber I believe was his. And, again, I can't begin to comprehend where Nik found any of it."Caro leaned forward; his arms draped upon the rests of the chair. "Zeda stayed behind to get proof of the artifacts for the Council. She was going to pretend to leave and then hide out somewhere until she was certain Nik had left the house, so she could sneak back in." Catching both of his parents' troubled expressions, he cut them off before either could comment on that. "Trust me, I already told her I didn't think it was a good idea, but she was insistent and, when she sets her mind to something, she needs to see it through.""Zeda showed up just after I discovered Nik's collection," Leia resumed steering the conversation. "I told her what I found. I told her my suspicions. She told me hers. Then she agreed to stay with me, at least overnight. She wanted to make sure I'd be okay, while urging me to at least take some time away from Nik. And she said something would have to be done about Nik, but the Council would need to convene and discuss it first. I assumed she believed he should be killed, but I don't want to see him dead." She looked imploringly at both her parents. "I still love him.""He murdered his family." Poe leaned forward; folding his hands between his knees and staring at her. "He's partially responsible for your brother's death because of his involvement with Hux. Leia, you just said it yourself that he's turned to the dark side and has been hoarding Sith artifacts that belonged to the Emperor. I mean, I don't see any coming back from that. The man you love is gone. You have to face facts.""Poe," Crisara spoke; her voice gentle as she placed her hand just as gently upon his thigh. Her blue eyes, however, continued to remain locked on her daughter's brown eyes. "It is possible to come back from the dark side. It's just not something that's done easily. And, historically, it comes at a cost; usually at a sacrifice of life." She stole a quick look out the corner of her eye at her husband, then toward Caro, before looking back at Leia. "So, it might also be possible your father is right; that Nik will never be the same Nik again. The boy you fell in love with years ago is not the man you love today. And, Zeda was right in that this is a matter that will need to be brought before the Council. I'll contact Rey and Finn tomorrow. We'll get the others together. We'll all convene here or we'll use the old school next door." She gestured with her free hand at her daughter. "I know you're not a member of the Council, but it would be prudent for us to have you there as well. You may be biased, but you have every right to be there to discuss what happens and what needs to be done. We also have to consider whether or not this is a matter that is taken care of in house, so to speak, or if we bring it before the Chancellor and the Republic Senate. There is a lot to consider. But, we'll wait until Zeda returns and brings us whatever proof she has. Without proof, and with only hearsay, there is no case to be made against Nik.""There's plenty. He confessed to us his involvement with Hux," Poe scoffed."Which we swept under the rug and kept just between immediate family. We hid his involvement from the Republic. I can't imagine anyone would be happy about that.""Fuck 'em. Nik is former Jedi. He's strong with the Force. This is a Jedi issue, not a Republic issue. You and the rest of the Council will pass judgment. You add the Republic into this and it's just too many cooks in the kitchen. It'll be too much talking and not enough action."Crisara tilted her head and frowned at her husband. Her focus quickly shifted back to Leia; sensing her daughter's emotions beginning to swell."He asked me to join him," Leia muttered, wiping at her eyes again. "He wants me to join the dark side, but I told him I never could. I told him he had broken my heart. He was so angry and, even though I'm the one who's rightfully betrayed, he looked so betrayed by me. And that just broke my heart further."Taking a softer approach, not wanting to upset his daughter any more than she already was, Poe sighed and knitted his brow together with love and concern. "I know you loved him. But he's never been right for you. And someday someone else will come into your life who is," he insisted. "He was your first love, not necessarily your true love. I wasn't your mom's first, and it worked out pretty damn well, if I do say so myself.""But you don't understand," Leia whimpered; her tears starting to freely fall."But we do," Crisara assured. "We know you—""No," Leia asserted rather firmly. "You don't understand." She looked between her parents, and even stole a look at Caro, who had returned to just being a spectator and moral support. "Nik isn't just someone I love. He's not some trifling boyfriend that I can just turn my back on."Crisara sat up straighter.So did Caro.Poe just looked on with a raise of his eyebrow; unaware of the bomb his daughter was about to drop."Nik's my husband. We're married. We've been married for almost three years now; just after Len died," Leia revealed."What?" Poe looked as if he'd been slapped in the face. "You…you've been secretly married all this time to him?""Yes.""Wh-why would you keep this from us?""Are you serious?" she tossed back at him. Standing up, he gestured at her father and practically scowled. "You, more than anyone, haven't been his biggest fan. Even when he was just a child you held him at arm's length. And you wonder why?" She looked at her brother next. "And you, who vehemently refused to have him at your wedding, and then openly ignored him at Shara's wedding reception. Granted, yes, the last two instances were after learning about his dalliance with Hux, but you," she looked at her father again, "have openly disdained him from the start. Maybe you're the reason he turned out this way. You thought he was no good, so it pushed him in that direction.""Leia," Crisara firmly spoke; holding a hand up and using the Force to mollify her daughter. "Calm yourself."The air around them seemed to ripple.Almost immediately, Leia sank back down into her chair; her shoulders slumping as if she were a balloon that just had some of its air released. Crisara maintained her gaze upon her daughter while Poe and Caro instead focused on her; a little concerned, a little impressed…a little intimidated.Just because she was older and effectively retired from the Jedi life, people seemed to forget just how strong Crisara was in the Force. The older she got, and the more experience under her belt, the stronger she had become. She rarely had cause to prove what she could still do, but she knew what she could do. Several others that were still alive, that knew her from during the war, also knew what she could do. Her relatives, who were mere spirits within the Force, knew what she could do. Hell, they might have even seen things she hadn't yet done, thanks in part to the World Between Worlds."We will not be pointing fingers at anyone in regard to why Nik has fallen to the dark side, except upon Nik himself," Crisara continued to speak. "He is a grown man. He was not manipulated. He, like others before him, made a choice to give in to darkness. He was broken long ago, and weakened in spirit because of it. He chose what felt easy, because doing what is right is never easy. Only the strong of will and strong of mind can avoid the temptation of the dark side. Only the strong make the right choice and keep to the light. Because it is a choice. Nik chose the dark side, and therefore didn't choose you." Standing up, Crisara moved around the table between them all and sat down on the edge of it, directly in front of her daughter. Leaning forward, she grabbed Leia's hands and held them in hers as she looked Leia in the eye. "If he truly loved you, you would be his priority. He would know your heart and know you could never sway from the light; that the dark holds no allure to you. He has betrayed you. You not joining him is not you betraying him. That is its own manipulation. He chose the dark side. He didn't choose you, and I'm sorry that's the case. I'm sorry this is something you have to go through. I'm sorry love is complicated. I'm sorry he's broken your heart. But I am proud of you; for knowing your worth, your heart and your mind. I am proud of you for being able to walk away from something that's not right, from someone you love, even though it was hard." Crisara tightened her grip around one of Leia's hands with hers, but lifted the other to cup the side of Leia's face. "In the moment of your birth, I saw betrayal in your future; something I never wanted to come to pass. But I also saw your strength, because you are strong. Not just in the Force." She dropped her hand from Leia's face to Leia's chest. "But also here." Leaning her face closer, she smiled compassionately. "I am proud of you."Sniffling in her tears, Leia reached forward. Sensing what was going to happen next, Crisara opened her arms up and offered the hug she knew her daughter needed and wanted. As both women embraced, Poe stood up and moved to mirror his wife by sitting beside her on the table. He placed one hand upon Crisara's back and the other atop his daughter's head; whom he kissed upon the temple."I'm sorry, Berries. I didn't mean to be so callous about Nik and your relationship with him." He sighed heavily. "Your marriage to him."Pulling back from her mother, Leia stole a look at her father. "I'm not sure I have a marriage anymore. If he can't come back from the dark side, I can't be with him." A sob escaped her lips, and this time it was Poe's arms that wrapped around her. Suddenly, her father's arms were stronger and more enveloping. "I'm just worried about what my future will be like without him.""Not as dark, or is that too on the nose?"Despite the seriousness of the moment, Leia snickered. "No, that's pretty much accurate."Caro stood up and cleared his throat. "I don't mean to cut and run, but I need to get back to the school, check on things, and get Lora," he announced. "But I'll be back in a little while."Crisara looked around Poe and up at her son. "Okay, honey." She was wiping her own tears away now, but smiling up at him through it all. "We'll get some dinner started, unless you're planning on eating there with her.""Nah, we'll eat here.""Okay."Stepping forward, Caro placed a hand to his sister's back. "Mom's right. You're strong," he commented, warmly. "You'll get through this, and we'll all be here at your side to help you."Leia smiled appreciatively up at him. "Thank you."In response, before he ducked out of the room, Caro simply nodded back at her.Turning back at her parents, Leia sat back into her chair and sighed, while she continued to wipe her tears away. "I'm really scared, you know," she admitted; her eyes glancing downward at her hands. "My heart is hurting. I'm so scared for him but also scared about what he might do.""Well, we'll handle it together," Crisara insisted. "Not just the Jedi Council, but this family, as well."Poe nodded in agreement. "And we'll try to defer to you. He's your husband, after all. You should definitely have a major say in what happens." He hated even acknowledging that his daughter to was married to Nik, but he didn't want to cause her further distress by shitting on the guy any more right now.Leia sighed. "I'm not sure I could be impartial enough, no matter what happens, but I appreciate the sentiment either way."  After dinner, Lora had pulled out a board game for the family to play. She'd been so excited that her Aunt Leia was home that she wanted to play countless rounds and to never go to sleep. However, eventually Caro had to more or less drag her away. When she tried to negotiate staying up a little bit longer, Caro had to get firm with her."I know your mom is usually the one who gets you off to bed, and that you don't pull this crap with her, so don't think you can do it with me, either," he informed; literally pointing up the stairs for her to get a move on.As the nearly seven-year-old girl begrudgingly trudged upstairs, her aunt and grandparents chuckled under their breaths from where they were all seated at the dining table. Caro had stolen a glance at them, watching as they began to work together to pack up the board game and all its cards and play pieces, and then shook his head witheringly in regard to his daughter."She's gonna make me grey before I'm forty, isn't she?" he quipped. "She's seven going on seventeen.""Now imagine that stress, times five, and that's how it was for your mom and me," Poe retorted, as he stood up from the table.Shortly after that, Caro had gone upstairs and tucked Lora into bed once she'd washed up and changed into her pajamas. He regaled her with a brief, little story from one of his brief little adventures from when he had been training under Rey's tutelage for those two years, nearly twenty years earlier, and then he kissed his daughter goodnight and turned off her bedside lamp. After shutting the door behind him, once he was out in the hallway, the handheld datapad in his pocket vibrated and chirped once; letting him know a message had come through.He glanced at screen and saw the message was from Zeda. A warm feeling immediately spread through him at the mere thought of her. Ducking into the bedroom suite he shared with her, he moved to sit upon the edge of his bed and then properly took the time to read what the message was about.It was just two words: the evidence.There was a file attached. Pressing a button, a holovid projected upward; revealing footage of all the Sith artifacts in question within Nik's dark side museum, or whatever it was. He felt so utterly disgusted by it all, but felt continued concern for his wife to be in that place.
No more risks. Come home. I love you.
That had been his response to her.After a moment of just holding the datapad in his hand, he reached over and set it down upon the table beside the bed. Exhausted from such a long, draining day, he was ready to just go to sleep. He wasn't even going to bother to change clothes or even go back downstairs to wish his parents or sister goodnight. He simply swung his legs up on onto the bed and lay backward; his head touching down upon the pillows. As he draped his hands upon his chest, his blue eyes settled upon an insignificant spot on the ceiling and then, slowly, his eyes began to droop. His breathing leveled out, the usual sounds — or lack thereof — and quiet vibrations from the house began to lull him further as if into a meditative state, but it was merely fatigue.With a deep sigh, he rolled onto his side to get more comfortable while kicking his legs out to push the duvet down so he could cover up with it. Lifting one hand, he held it out in the direction of the light switch upon the wall, and managed to turn the light off with the Force; something his mother and sister Leia could do with the greatest of ease, but he had to concentrate more on. Slumping more fully upon the mattress, a yawn escaped his lips and he closed his eyes.He hadn't had any time to fall asleep, but he had felt himself beginning to drift when a piercing ache rocked him to the very core. Caro bolted upright and cried out as if in physical pain; as if he'd just been stabbed with a very sharp blade through the chest. It damn well took his breath away.For a moment, he just sat there.His eyes focused on the room around him, peering through the darkness of it, and just focusing on what it was he'd felt.The last time held felt anything like that was when Tem—"No," he whispered to himself. "No, no, no." Twisting at the waist, he reached out and picked his datapad up, and saw that Zeda still hadn't replied back to him, which wasn't sitting well with him. "Zey, come on."He typed another message to her: Is everything okay? Are you on your way home?Caro waited a few minutes.Still no response.Something felt wrong.Slowly, he got up out of bed, taking the datapad with him just in case, and exited his room just as he heard his daughter whimpering from within hers. He sighed. Maybe that was what he was sensing. Maybe it was Lora. He was sure it had only been barely a half hour since he'd tucked her in, but she could've fallen asleep and had a nightmare in that time, right? It was possible. Right? Approaching her door, he stepped inside just slightly."Lora, darling," he called out to her; hearing her shift around in her bed and sensing she was awake. "Did you have a bad dream?""No," she whispered. "I haven't gone to sleep yet. But my heart is hurting and I feel really sad. I don't know why."He could hear the tears in her voice and stepped more fully into the bedroom. Moving to sit down beside her, Caro sighed. "I'm feeling sad about something, too, but I'm not sure what it is.""Something bad happened."He nodded in agreement; not wanting to acknowledge the thought that passed through his mind. "Yeah, I think so, too." Leaning forward, he brushed Lora's pale blonde hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. "I'm sure whatever it is will pass. Don't focus so much on it right now." He kissed her once more and then sat up straighter. "Whatever it is or isn't can wait until morning. Just focus on getting some sleep and having wonderful dreams, okay?"Lora nodded a small nod at him. "Okay, daddy."He smiled reassuringly at her. "I love you, peanut." It had been what his brother Len had called her when she was a baby, and a term of endearment Caro had adopted for her after Len had passed. "Sleep tight."When he retreated out of Lora's bedroom he made his way back downstairs. He'd been standing on the last step, just staring straight ahead toward the front door when his mother approached from the family room with concern written all over her face. Slowly, he turned to look at her and then began to shake his head. His brow knitted together and his chin quivered as tears began to well in his eyes."Mom," his voice barely squeaked out. Suddenly it was like he was a little boy again. When he moved off that last step, he walked straight into her arms and let her hold on tightly to him; bringing him some semblance of comfort. "I think something happened to Zeda. I think she…"He couldn't say the words. He didn't want to say the words."Let's not assume anything right now." Pulling him back from her, she cupped either side of his face in her hands and looked him in the eye. "I'll make us some tea and we'll sit up together. Poe and Leia went up to bed just after you did. It'll be just the two of us. We'll both try to contact Zeda. We'll track your ship if need be. Maybe she's already en route home and her comms have broken down. Maybe she can't reply because she's busy still getting proof of Nik's Sith collection.""She already got it," he replied, pulling his datapad from his pocket. "She sent me a holovid of it all. I replied back and she hasn't responded. And then I felt this…pain of loss. It feels like part of me just died. It hurt. It still hurts." Tears began to flow from his eyes and his entire upper body hunched forward in grief. "I think she's dead."Crisara began to shake her head. "Don't assume the worst just yet. Have a little hope.""Don't use Grandma Sera's old phrase on me, please.""I wasn't going to." Beckoning him forward again, Crisara pulled her son's head down upon her shoulder and resumed holding him tight. "Whatever happened, or didn't happen, we'll get through it together."  Caro had talked about his fears and his worries, he cried some more, and all the while Crisara just sat with him and listened. When there was a lull and it was obvious he needed some words of wisdom from his mother, she simply reinforced the tried and true mantra of him not centering on his anxieties. She gave him a literal and figurative shoulder to lean on and, when he got too tired to continue with any conversation, she watched as his eyes drooped and the way he leaned sideways; eventually slipping into hopefully a dreamless slumber. Once she was sure he had fully fallen asleep, she grabbed a blanket from a basket behind the sofa and draped it over him. Crisara stood there in front of her son and saw before her the little boy he used to be.She saw the toddler who used to follow around his big sister, Adera; wanting to be wherever she was and do everything she did, and who he barely had any memories of anymore. She saw the boy who was so excited to see her, when she returned for him after the Battle of Exegol, that he threw his entire body at her and hugged her as tightly as he could. She saw the teenager, with a face full of pimples, coming into his own as a padawan in the fledgling Kenobi Academy, and who was often stealing glances in a certain Umbaran girl's direction when he thought his mother wasn't looking. She saw the young man he'd grown into, who had become a Jedi Knight, and finally owned up to the fact that he loved his fellow Jedi Knight Zeda Urli, and then how they got married, and became parents, and made Crisara and Poe grandparents for the very first time; officially adding to the new generation of their family tree.And now she saw the man he was now.Jedi Master. Headmaster. Father. Husband…or, possibly, widower.Please let Zeda be okay, she thought to herself. Let her just be in hiding — having cut herself off from the Force to keep herself safe from some unknown danger that she's successfully avoiding.As much as Crisara wanted to hope, she knew it wasn't likely.She'd felt what her son had felt.She'd felt that sudden loss, but she had also sensed darkness surrounding that loss.Crisara had told Caro to hold onto hope and to not assume the worst until there was definitive proof as to what happened. But she knew Zeda was gone, and that her end had not been accidental. It had been sudden, and it had been brutal. But Crisara also knew that no matter how Zeda died, she was at peace in the Force now, and she would always be watching over the man she loved and their daughter.  As the hairs on the back of Caro's neck and upon his arms began to stand on end, he was acutely aware he was not alone, even though he had been asleep. Somewhere in his subconscious he felt a presence quite near him. Slowly, he opened his eyes; still tired, but mostly it was just emotional exhaustion and not so much physical. Realizing he was still in the family room, and lying upon the sofa, covered in a blanket, he deduced he'd fallen asleep on his mother and she'd tucked him in just like when he was a child, and that brought some comfort to him — the nostalgia. Simpler times. Sort of.The presence he felt wasn't his mother. He could surmise enough that his mother would've gone up to bed after he'd conked out, and this wasn't her. This presence was different. It wasn't of this plane of existence but of another. He knew because it wasn't his first rodeo experiencing this sort of visitor.Usually, it was his grandparents, Luke Skywalker and Adamé Kenobi, or his brothers Temiri and Len. A few others took their turns, popping into his life when he was in particular need of guidance; like his great-grandfathers Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, or his great-aunt Leia Organa Solo. Once, a few years ago, he'd had the privilege of meeting the Force ghost of Ahsoka Tano, who had been Anakin's padawan during the Clone Wars. Caro had liked her immediately and could see how they could've been the greatest of friends had they lived during the same era; if he'd been born earlier or if she'd been born later.This presence wasn't any of the usual suspects.He knew who it was, though, and his heart instantly felt like it was crumbling to pieces.Sitting up straight and tossing the blanket off of him, Caro gripped the edge of the sofa and stared straight ahead at the fireplace, but unable to look over his shoulder from where he sensed the visitor to be."How did it happen?" he asked.His voice had cracked slightly; partially from his mouth being dry from sleep, and partially from the swell of emotion in his chest. Tears were fast to reach his eyes and sting them, as if containing acid. He blinked them away as best as he could and waited for his answer; noticing the slow movement out the corner of his eye. He noticed the bluish glow and the hazy, nondescript of a lithe figure stepping around the sofa and heading more toward the direction of where he was already facing. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he thought that, if he didn't make eye contact, he could ignore the truth a little while longer. However, he couldn't put it off. He had to see. He had to know.The moment his eyes drifted upward, a sob got stuck in his throat and he clamped a hand over his mouth to prevent the sound from possibly carrying upstairs of causing any of the droids downstairs from stirring. This was a moment he needed to have without interference."Oh, darling, no," he whimpered. "H-how?"The Force ghost of his wife was looking back at him, and it was such a surreal thing; likely for both and not just him. He quickly took in her appearance: ethereal as always, but now transparent. The fact that he could see through her, out toward the grand foyer, was unsettling. She was wearing traditional Jedi tunics in pale colors, and a matching pale cloak over it all. Her hands were clasped in front of her and she was frowning."I was careless," she responded with a sigh that lacked breath. "I was impetuous and naïve. I didn't really think it would happen. Not yet. Not that way."Caro stood up and looked her in the eyes which, somehow, he couldn't see through; something he was glad of. "What way? How did this happen to you?" Out of instinct, he reached for one of her hands; but his own passed through her. A small and abrupt gasp escaped his lips when he was forced to acknowledge the very realness of their situation. This wasn't a hologram of his wife he was communicating with. This was her spirit, because she was, in fact, dead. "Was it an accident?"He already knew that it hadn't been. He knew."Nik hadn't gone away as I thought he did. He knew I was lying in wait for him to leave," she began to explain; tilting her head slightly. She seemed sad about her demise, but also what it meant for Caro and Lora. But, also, she somehow already seemed at peace with it. "He accosted me. We didn't even get to fight. He threw away his lightsaber but made it clear he would kill me. And," she paused for a brief moment, "he did."Anger was beginning to bubble upward in his chest. "How, Zey?"She appeared somewhat baffled, and a little demoralized. "Lightning shot from his fingers. I knew from your mother and Rey, and from what we were taught growing up, that the Sith could do that; which casts away any doubts any of us may have had as to where his loyalties now lie."Caro felt as if the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. "He electrocuted you?" Furrowing his brow, he asked further, "Nik murdered you?"
"Take comfort in that it was over quickly."
"How can I take comfort in the fact that my wife was murdered?" he questioned; nearly laughing at that notion. Then, with a slightly calmer head, "Did it hurt?"
"That's unimportant now."
"It's very important, and you not giving me a straight answer means yes, it did hurt."Zeda's gaze drifted upward toward the ceiling. "What's important now is making sure Lora is going to be okay. She's going to need you now more than ever." When she returned her eyes upon her husband, she unclasped her hands and stepped closer to him. "I would love nothing more than to be the one to hold her in my arms and tell her it will get better in time, but it has to be you. You need to explain things to her, in a way befitting a little girl. Don't be blunt with the truth. Soften the blow. As she gets older, reveal more of what happened. I don't want the rest of her childhood marred by how I died.""And what exactly am I supposed to tell her?""You'll figure it out," she assured with a small smile. "You're intelligent and kind and you have a big heart. You'll know the words when the time is right. But, for now, just keep it simple. Tell her 'a bad man hurt mommy' and that 'mommy passed from this life and became one with the Force' because that is, technically, the truth.""And when she wants further details? You know how inquisitive she is."Zeda smirked. "She always will be, too, and it will serve her well as she grows older." Her smirk quickly became brighter and shifted into a full smile. "It's a strange thing, being on this side of the veil. In the moments following my death, as I felt myself drifting away from the living world, I saw and experienced so much, and all at once. I saw things that have already happened and things yet to come. I saw you, and I saw Lora, and I saw the lives you will lead. I saw the happy, well-adjusted woman she will become." Reaching a hand out and letting it merely hover half an inch away from Caro's cheek, Zeda looked him imploringly in the eye. "I know this moment in time is going to be rough for both of you, but it will pass. Grief always does. You'll move on from this.""I don't think I can." He wanted so badly to lean into her hand and feel the touch of her skin against his."But you will," she insisted. "My story is complete. Yours aren't."Caro's posture straightened; his gaze hardening. "I want him dead," he quietly blurted as she dropped her hand down. "I want to run Nik through with my blade and I want to do it slowly."
"Don't let yourself go down such a dark path. Vengeance isn't the answer."
"What — so, I should forgive him instead?" He scoffed at the notion."No, I'm not saying that. Just don't let your anger devolve into rage. Cast your hate for him out of your heart. Don't let it turn you into what he's become. Don't give him the satisfaction of knowing he's weakened you in any way. Be the bigger person." Clasping her hands together again, she returned to frowning. "Don't get revenge. Get justice. Don't let this change you. Don't let this ruin you.""I don't think I came promise that," he admitted with slumping shoulders. "I want him to suffer as you suffered."
"The physical, worldly pain I may or may not have felt will in no way compare to the pain I will feel if you blacken your heart and soul in some reckless plan to avenge me."
"The path to the dark side is a path followed by choice," Caro countered. "It's something you choose when you've given up and see no other way. I would never do that to you, or Lora, or the rest of the family. I'd never forgive myself.""That's good to know." After a few moments of silence between them, Zeda took half a step back from him. "I'm sorry I was foolhardy and didn't listen to you. I'm sorry I insisted on getting that evidence on my own, and not just coming directly home. I'm sorry I've done this to us.""You didn't do this. That bastard did this."
"Caro, please. Don't let even a morsel of the dark side worm its way into your heart. Rise above it. And, one last thing…"
Caro sighed. "What's that?"
"I promised to love you until my dying day, but I need you to know that my love for you will continue beyond it. And, one day, a long time from now, we'll be together again."
"Will you not linger and visit like the others? I can't not see you or talk to you anymore," he implored; absentmindedly moving to reach for her again, but then quickly remembering the gesture would be fruitless.
"I won't be a stranger but, for the foreseeable future, I believe it best if I maintained a distance. If I linger, you won't be able to move on with your lives. And you need to be able to do that."
"I don't care what I need. I want you to linger.""Well, I suppose I will, from this side of the veil, though. I'll always keep an eye out on my loved ones, but you just won't know it. And there is much for me to learn about this new existence I find myself leading. And I'm not alone. I suffer no more." She smiled softly and assuringly at him. "I feel such peace." Then, with another sigh that require no breath, she added, "I will always love you. And tell Lora I will always love her, as well."Right before his eyes, Caro watched as his wife faded away, and it felt like he'd been slapped across his face. His face scrunched up in anger, but it wasn't directed at her. It was at the situation. It was at Nik. He knew what Zeda wanted of him; to not let his anger consume him and to go about whatever happened next the right way and with forethought. She didn't want him running headfirst into a reckless situation, but their vows to each other hadn't just been to love each other until their dying day. He had promised to love, honor and fight for her until your dying day.Well, he wasn't dead yet, and he would still fight for her, even if she was gone.He believed he could get justice for Zeda as well as revenge against Nik. He could do it. He was convinced of that.He would do it.  A few hours later, Leia woke up to a virtually silent house. It was slightly before sunrise, but she was like her father and used to waking early, so this wasn't strange for her. But it wasn't just her circadian rhythm that had woken her up. She was feeling restless, and it wasn't just her own restlessness. She was sensing it from somewhere in the villa.Forgoing a shower to fully wake herself up, she brushed through her thick brown hair and pulled it back into a quick ponytail and changed out of her pajamas and into some fresh attire. After sliding a glove over her right, prosthetic hand — just not feeling like looking at the fakeness of it today — she slipped out of her bedroom and padded silently downstairs to seek out the source of the anxiety she was feeling.Again, part of it was her own, because of Nik and who he'd allowed himself to become, as well as another matter that involved him she wasn't in the mood to face at the moment, but most of what she was feeling was coming from another. And it wasn't just anxiety.It was grief and anger. It was hate.At the base of the stairs, in the grand foyer, she silently moved forward and attuned herself to the Force; seeking out the source of such strong feelings. Her gaze almost immediately shifted forward toward the front door, so she stepped over toward it and let herself out into the early morning.Upon the leaves on the trees, and upon the blades of grass, dew clung like a blanket. There was a crisp freshness to the air she enjoyed at this particular time of day, before most of the world woke. There was a particular peace to it all. A calm. But she wasn't feeling any peace or calm right now.Panning to the right, she spotted Caro a few feet away, upon the edge of the tiled patio with his hands clenched at his sides. "Caro," she greeted. "Has something happened?"Turning around, he was instantly glaring at her. "You fell in love with a monster," he prefaced; stepping closer toward her. "That monster chose the dark side over you, and that monster murdered my wife last night."Leia's brow knitted together in confusion. "What?""Did you not feel the loss in the Force? No, why would you? Zeda wasn't the love of your life, and you're too consumed by your love for a murderer.""Caro, what are you talking about? What happened to Zeda?" Her heart was beginning to race for what her brother was going to elaborate upon."I felt it — the moment she died. As did Lora, but I assured her that it was nothing and told her to get some sleep," he began to say. "Mom felt it, too. But, then again, she's mom. She's stronger and more experienced in such things." Lifting a hand upward to his face, he wiped at an errant tear and inhaled a steadying breath. "I was visited by Zeda's Force ghost a couple hours ago. She told me what Nik did. How he found her snooping. She'd thought he'd left, but he hadn't actually. He taunted her. And then he killed her." Caro held his hands out and wiggled his fingers. "Electrocuted with lightning from his fingers.""Caro, I'm so sor—"He held up a hand to cut her off. "She said it was quick, but it was also very painful. She didn't outright say it was, but I know it was. How couldn't death by electrocution be painful?"Leia was feeling such an overwhelming swell of emotion spilling off of him and pushing outward onto her. It was staggering, that amount of grief and anger he was feeling, and she was worried for him because of it. Worried for his state of mind and worried for what it would do to him. Worried about what he would do, in general."I've made a decision that I know won't please her. But it's something I need to do," he continued to say. "It's something that needs to be done."Leia didn't like where this was heading. "Caro…""I'm going to kill Nik. And I'm not just making an empty threat out of frustration. I mean it. I am going to find him and I am going to kill him. Eye for an eye, sister dear.""Caro, don't.""Why not? 'Cause you love him still?" His tone was mocking. "The decision has been made. There is no changing my mind. So, you either tell me where he is — if he would still be on Lianna, or any other of his known haunts — and you help me however you can…""Or?""Or you get out of my way and continue to look the other way, since you seem to be so kriffing good at that.""That's not fair.""No, you want to know what's not fair, Leia?" Caro stepped even closer and pointed a finger accusingly at her. "What's not fair is Zeda losing her life to that piece of bantha fodder you've been secretly married too for almost three years! What's not fair is that I have to live the rest of my life without the love of my life, and now my daughter will have to grow up without her mother! All while Nik gets to roam free and continue to thrive in his darkness. Well, I can't allow it. I won't allow. He's going to pay for his crimes.""Then let justice come from the correct channels. Let the Jedi Council take into consideration this new information of Zeda's loss. Let them pass judgment. Don't go off and be his judge, jury and executioner. Don't let it darken your soul.""That's what Zeda said," he muttered."Well, Zeda's a smart lady.""Was. She was a smart lady."Leia sighed. "Caro, please. Take some time. Step away from this moment. Meditate on it. Consider the situation from all angles.""I have. And my mind remains unchanged," he insisted. "So, again, either help me or leave me alone to do what I need to do. What I have to do."Shaking her head at the one brother who had always been the most level-headed, but was now anything but, even if she understood why, Leia caved. "I won't let you go alone."With a slight nod of appreciation, Caro began to turn away and head off in the direction of the landing zone. "Good," he remarked. "So, tell me where your husband would be.""Well, now that his secret's become known, I doubt he'd leave behind the bulk of his collection. The amount of time he put into finding all those artifacts — he won't just walk away from them. He's going to either batten down the hatches to keep them protected where they are or move as quickly as he can to find them a new home so the Jedi Council can't get to them.""Which means what?""He'll still be on Lianna," Leia answered, as she followed after her brother."Alright." Pausing for a moment, Caro nodded at her star skiff, the Skywalker. "We'll take your ship. Zeda took mine. Plus, if he sees yours approach, he might just let his guard down long enough for him to become distracted by you so I can get to him."Inner turmoil began to twist within her. She didn't contradict her brother or try to talk him down from his current trajectory at the moment, but she would try during the downtime ahead of them as they traveled from Naboo to Lianna."No matter your feelings on the matter, whether you help me or sit it out, I'm thankful you're coming with me," he spoke; his tone considerably softer now."I'll always be there for you," she assured. "I'm your sister."  Leia's plan to talk her brother down, to appeal to his better angels, had been to no avail.She considered subduing him with the Force, but didn't want to make things worse. She didn't want him to end up hating her. But, if it meant keeping him safe and alive, then subdue him she would. She had tried using guilt; asking if he wanted to risk Lora losing both her parents, which caused him to waver slightly. Leia knew she'd touched a nerve there, but he had doubled down by insisting he was doing this for his daughter.He was acting in grief and anger and not thinking straight, and that was why she couldn't let him go it alone, and she also had her reasons for not wanting to see Nik killed by Caro's hand. She didn't want Caro to kill someone in anger, for revenge. And yes, she loved Nik even now. But, she loved the man he was, and the man she still clung to the hope would return. She wasn't so naïve to think it was likely, but all things were possible. Nik was only a couple years at most into the dark side. Surely coming back from it would be easier than it had been for Ben Solo, who had been immersed in it for seven years, or Anakin Skywalker, with nearly a quarter century in it.She had to have hope. But she also had to be prepared for the worst case scenario, and not rest all her laurels on the best case.When the Skywalker made its descent to Lianna, Leia realized Caro had never been here. In fact, before Zeda's surprise arrival, none of her family had ever come here, but that had mostly been due to issues with Nik, as well as the Santhe family's issues with the Damerons. Leia had been fine with going home to her family on Naboo or meeting up with them anywhere else, so this was going to be a little different; having her brother on this turf with her.The star skiff touched down upon the landing zone in front of the estate, just beside Caro's ship, which Zeda had arrived in; something that was like an extra knife in his side. He had stolen a glance at his ship. It was clear in his thoughts that he was lamenting on how his wife had arrived on this planet with every intention of leaving it alive, and in one piece. She would've returned to Naboo on her husband's ship. Now it just sat there as an extra reminder of what he'd lost and what he wanted to do.Caro had stood up from the co-pilot's seat; having let Leia take the controls as pilot of her own ship. He'd already had his lightsaber clipped to his belt when she'd found him outside on the patio, but now he was gripping it tightly in his hand."You don't have to follow me off this ship. You don't have to witness what I'm going to do," he tried to warn as gently as possible. He'd had time to listen to his sister and take into consideration everything she'd said to him and urged him not to do, which had basically been all the same things Zeda had said to him and urged him not to do. But Caro and the rest of his siblings all had their mother's stubborn streak. And, like his great-grandfather Obi-Wan Kenobi, whose lightsaber he'd been wielding for almost thirty years, he was a man who kept his promises. "You shouldn't have to see it happen.""Then don't do it," Leia remarked, standing up and grabbing her lightsaber from an overhead storage bin, where she kept it most of the time. The only difference between brother and sister was that she wasn't arming herself. She clipped hers at her side because she had no intent on fighting her husband, but she would keep it on her, just in case she had to defend either man. "We can turn around and go home right now.""No."Caro's answer had been short and simple, and then he'd stalked off; leaving the ship without another word and without waiting for her to follow or not. She did, of course. The entire time she felt this weight on her chest. She felt she was stuck between a rock and a hard place, even though she knew the common sense choice was to back her brother one hundred percent. It just was that simple. It wasn't cut and dry. It wasn't black and white.There was so much grey.Caro was aware Leia was walking several paces behind him; either giving him a wide berth or dragging her feet. Likely both. The fact that she'd come, no matter her reasoning, did make him feel a little better. He wouldn't admit to her that he was nervous about the pending outcome of this venture. He was worried he'd get himself killed and thereby leaving his only child an orphan. To have his sister at his side, even if she was conflicted, was better than not having her at all. Deep down he believed that, when push came to shove, she would be there for him and not Nik.Blood was thicker than anything else.As he approached the estate, he frowned at how gaudy it was. Nothing about it felt like someplace Leia would live. It was too over the top, too ornate, too…much. "This is your home?" he questioned, tossing a slight glance over his shoulder at her."It's where I've been living, but it's never felt like home," she admitted, sadly. "Nik surprised me with it. I was fine with the penthouse we were in.""It's massive.""I thought so, too. But, now, in hindsight, I think the square footage is so big simply to accommodate the size of the sub-level below the basement."Caro glowered as he returned his gaze toward the front façade. Squaring his shoulders, he began to breathe in and out, slowly and steadily. He searched for peace in the Force. He reached out with it, focused it and steeled his gaze toward the direction of an upper window.Some drapery moved and Caro's lips pursed tightly together.Half a moment later, he ignited his lightsaber."Caro," Leia whispered. "Don't attack first. Please.""I won't," he assured. "I'm just preparing for the inevitable."The siblings remained standing there, side by side, facing the stately home. When the front door slid open, neither were surprised when Nik appeared, crossing the threshold. The fact that he was seemingly unarmed was surprising. Caro had been expecting the other man to be brandishing his own lightsaber. But, then again, it wasn't a lightsaber that Nik had used to kill his wife. Nik's bare hands were deadly enough."Two visits from family in two days," Nik remarked; remaining where he was, and not budging from the portico. "I'm certainly popular.""You killed my wife," Caro accused. He felt no need to beat around the bush."Did I? Or did she trespass into my home and force me to defend myself when she threatened me with her lightsaber?"Caro stepped forward and pointed the blue plasma blade of his weapon in Nik's direction. "You murdered my wife in cold blood, you bastard! My mother should've left you to rot all those years ago. It would've saved us all the great, big headache that is your entire existence in this life."Nik's jaw clenched and unclenched a few times while trying his very best to remain calm and collected. The rage in his eyes, even from the distance between the three of them, was however very evident. Caro could feel the rage — Nik's, not his own. His, he had a handle on. His, he was pushing down as far as it could go. He didn't want to lose control and let Nik get the better of him. Caro had trained longer and came from a long line of strong Force users. He would come out of this virtually unscathed; of that, he was certain. Or, at least, he hoped."Yes, she probably should have," Nik agreed with a shrug. "But what's done is done." His hazel-green eyes shifted away from his brother-in-law and instead upon his wife. "Have you come home or have you come to betray me?""You betrayed me, Nik. You broke my heart by going against everything I believe in. But I could've found a way to believe you weren't a lost cause; that you could come back from this. I still had hope for us," she remarked, stepping a couple feet in front of her brother, while holding her hand out to urge him to lower his weapon. "But you killed Zeda." She knitted her brow together, with such heartbreak clear in her eyes. "How could I ever come home to you after that? I've known her all my life. She wasn't blood, but she was my friend and my sister. You took a sister from me. You took a wife from Caro." She pointed a finger angrily at him. "You took a mother from a child. What were you thinking, Nik?""I'll tell you what I'm thinking right now," he countered; standing in such a way that it was obvious he was bracing for something to happen, to escalate. He folded his hands behind his back and sighed as he gazed back at her. "I'm thinking you should leave now, for your own good, my love. I don't want you to witness the death of your last, surviving brother.""Oh, don't worry," Caro quipped; with the sassy aloofness his great-grandfather Obi-Wan had been somewhat known for. "She won't." He found a way to smirk as he gave that same great-grandfather's lightsaber a twirl in his hands before resuming the way he'd been pointing it toward Nik. "If she stays, the only think she'll witness is becoming a widow."Nik scoffed, mockingly. He went as far, for dramatics, to place a hand upon his chest like some affronted, elderly woman. "You would do to her what was done to you? How callous. And to think, you teach children." He shook his head and backed up slightly. "There's no hope for the next crop of Jedi now."Whipping his other hand out from behind his back, he revealed a lightsaber that neither had ever seen him wield. But Leia had seen the hilt before, just a couple days prior. The blade wasn't ignited just yet, but she knew what the color it would be."Oh, Nik," she muttered with greater disappointment in her voice."Well, as I told Zeda when she was surprised my old lightsaber was still green: I just haven't had the time to bleed the damn kyber crystal. Fortunately, I didn't need to. Caro and your mother know what it's like to adopt another lightsaber instead of building one. Why let a perfectly, good weapon go to waste, yeah?"Caro sneered again and stepped forward so that he was even with Leia again. "There is nothing good about that weapon or the monster it belonged to." Caro had been able to figure out the original ownership of the lightsaber. It was giving off such negativity. "You have two options.""And they are?""Drop the blade and surrender. Come willingly into our custody, where we'll take you to be judged by the Jedi Council, or the Republic — whichever…"Nik chuckled. He knew that wasn't the option Caro wanted him to take. "Or?""Or I will do what I must."Leia swallowed back a lump in her throat. "Nik, please. Enough of this. You've committed terrible crimes. You've murdered multiple people, and I think it's safe to say you've likely done other terrible things."He furrowed his brow. "You really have no faith in me anymore, don't you?""You broke my faith in you."Hardening his gaze, Nik began to shake his head slightly, as if ignoring what he'd just heard or just not believing a word of it. "No. No." He aimed the lightsaber in his hands toward Caro and activated it. Neither Caro nor Leia were surprised by the red plasma blade the jutted outward with startling vibrancy. "You will not take her from me. Your entire family has been trying to poison her against me since Tem. I made one, miserable mistake and suddenly I was the lowest of the low to you lot. No." Nik growled and began to approach the stairs. The entire time his glaring gaze was fully upon Caro. "You will not take her from me. She is my wife. Mine!""My sister is no one's property," Caro parried. "And if you really loved her, you wouldn't have hurt her so badly. And if you knew my sister at all, you would know that this gilded nightmare you call a home is nothing of the sort to her. You stuck her in here, like a princess in a tower, and you see yourself as her hero. But, in a twist of fate, all of your own doing, you've become the villain instead. You stand for everything she doesn't. It can never work between the two of you now. You've ruined it all by letting your darkness consume you despite having been given so many opportunities to be better than this. You had such potential, Nik, and you squandered it. You let the pain from your past eat away at who you are. Your inability to let go of those feelings has made your angrier and more hateful, which has in turn led to suffering done at your hand." With a shake of his head, Caro felt nothing but pity for the man that stood above them, at the top of the stairs. "Only the weak give in to such things. Only the weak allow themselves to be consumed by the dark side of the Force."The entire time that Caro spoke, Nik was beginning to seethe with increasing rage, which only worked to prove Caro's point. Nik lacked the discipline to control his anger. Instead, he fed into it. With his free hand, he reached out in that anger and began to Force choke Caro, who retaliated by using the Force to throw Nik backward and cease the hold on him, allowing him to breathe freely again."Stop!" Leia had shouted, but it was pointless.Nik had officially made the first move, so now Caro was within his right to defend himself, and both were going to fight. It was what Caro had come here for. It was what Nik was expecting to happen.It was what Leia was loathing would happen.Growling out, Nik began to backtrack into the house, which led Caro to run up the stairs and follow after him. By the time Leia made her way up toward the portico and made her way into the entrance hall, she saw neither men, but she could already hear their blades striking one another. She darted immediately into the parlor off the entrance hall, just in time to see Nik and Caro already backtracking out of the room and into another adjoining sitting room. Unclipping her lightsaber from her belt, Leia followed after them but momentarily lost track of them already; no thanks to the damn, labyrinthine layout of the home. She was left to rely simply upon her hearing; following the sounds of their shouts and grunts, and the continued humming and sparking noises their blades made.Caro and Nik were in the dining room when Leia found them. The former had jumped up onto the ridiculously long table and began to run down it while Nik trailed after him on the ground, all while both occasionally struck outward blows at each other. For Leia's sake, Caro didn't want to have to kill Nik, even if it was what he truly wanted to do. He could feel enough of Nik's rage to know that Nik wanted to kill him, regardless of what Leia felt, and therein laid the difference between the two of them.That was the light side of the Force and the dark side of the Force, forever at odds with each other.Nik had jumped up onto the table, cutting Caro off at the end, and the two of them continued their fight there. Mirroring them, by jumping onto the table as well, Leia stalked forward with greater trepidation; holding her free hand out. Using the Force, she chose to shove Nik off the table to the ground instead of her brother. When he tumbled to the ground in surprise, he looked upward at her and watched the way she finally activated the purple blade of her lightsaber and pointed it in his direction."Stand down, Nik," she urged; watching as he directed his sneer at her, and then watched how the hazel-green eyes change into a golden orange color. The wave of rage she felt rolling off of him was so toxic. He growled in such frustration, in a way that sounded like something demonic, and it was in that moment she realized the man she'd love truly was gone. What cemented it was the way she watched him get back up to his feet; not seeming to care that both she and Caro were aiming their weapons at him. She could feel his intent. She knew what he wanted to do next. "Don't bother. It's been attempted before and it won't work."Caro seemed to sense as much, too. "You will fail, so don't even try it. Just do what Leia says and stand down.""Never," Nik replied with a shake of his head. "This is my home and you will not get the better of me in it."Crouching slightly, he sprang upward and began to somersault over Caro and Leia, with the intent of landing on the other side of them and catching them off-guard. He had no intention of harming Leia, but he certainly desired to maim Caro something terrible. Caro, however, was not an idiot. He and his sister knew of this move. Hell, they'd all been schooled on it when growing up; training under their mother's tutelage at the Kenobi Academy. It was a move only their great-grandfather Obi-Wan Kenobi had ever seemed to have done successfully and that their other great-grandfather Anakin had foolishly attempted to mimic, to his detriment.Leia and Caro had something Nik didn't.The high ground.In the breath of a few seconds, Leia watched as Caro began to throw his blade outward; knowing the move he was going to make. She reacted by physically shoving him off the table and throwing her own blade upward instead. As Caro fell to the ground below, she heard Nik's agonized cry as he dropped sideways onto the table, teetered on the edge and rolled off with the thud to the floor. She looked down at her feet as she slowly lowered her arm and deactivated her blade, and noticed the splattering of blood coating the wooden surface as well as the tops of her boots. Steadying her breath, her face showed nothing but regret and remorse, as well as disappointment and heartbreak, as she began to climb down from the table.Caro was clambering to get back up to his feet and looked on with mild shock at the sight of one of Nik's legs a few feet away from his body on the ground and then the sizeable, bloody gash that had been cut diagonally across Nik's chest."Leia, why?" Nik whined in pain; clutching his hands to his chest as blood seeped out, and staring up at her with those jarring, golden eyes. "I loved you!" His tone was accusatory, of a man betrayed, as if he had never done anything wrong, ever, in his life. "Why, Leia…why?"She didn't have any words of solace for him. She turned instead to Caro; making sure he was okay. "Let's go home.""But he's—" Caro began to say; still wanting his pound of flesh.Leia waved him off. "He's in no position to fight and I won't let you blacken your heart by ending him." She leaned in and added, quietly, "You know he'll never turn himself over willingly to any higher authority. And I can't let you kill him." She turned and looked over at Palpatine's lightsaber, which lay discarded several feet away from Nik. "He's terribly injured, and unarmed. Whether or not he strikes at us with Force lightning from his fingertips at any moment, he's technically unarmed, and it goes against our teaching to strike down an unarmed assailant. He's in no position to cause us further harm right now.""So we just leave him and hope he bleeds out? What if he gets away?"Leia gave her brother a shove to the arm in response and gestured with a nod of her head for him to keep walking. As she clipped her lightsaber to her belt, she used her free hand to call Palpatine's to her with the Force, and then handed it off to Caro. "Take this. We'll bring it back to mom, or we'll make a pit stop somewhere with a volcano and toss it in.""What about the rest of his prized possessions?" Caro wondered; begrudgingly walking away while stealing one last glance at Nik, who was still writhing upon the floor in a pool of blood.Leia didn't respond right away."Leia!" Nik called after her; his voice strained and raspy. "Don't leave me!"She faltered for a moment and Caro noticed as much. As they made their way toward the front door, listening to the volume of Nik's shouts and cries decreasing, Caro clenched his jaw and tightened his grip around Palpatine's lightsaber with one hand while holding just as tightly to his own with the other. As brother and sister slipped outside together and slowly descended the stairs, Caro turned back on their way to her ship when he realized she wasn't following any longer."Ley?" he called out to her; concern heavy in his voice. He watched as her shoulders slumped with a sense of defeat, but was quick to get a sense of purpose and determination from her. "Leia, what are you—"Before he could finish asking his question, he felt the rumble.Caro watched as his sister held a single arm upward toward the massive estate and curl the fingers of her prosthetic hand inward toward her palm. With his brow knitted together in curiosity, and in a bit of surprise, he felt the ground shake underneath and all around them. He heard the entire structure before them beginning to groan. Glass began to crack and shatter, walls began to buckle and bend inward, and then the entire house suddenly collapsed onto itself.The sound was deafening and the collapse kicked up so much dust and debris that Caro had to throw an arm up in front of his face to shield his eyes. After a moment, when the literal dust began to settle, he tossed a glance back at Leia, and saw her standing there, completely unscathed and seemingly unbothered by what had happened — by what she'd done.He'd always known that, among his siblings, she was the strongest. She'd never gone out of her way to prove it or flaunt it. It was just there, raw and unchallenged, like a river of molten rock that was always flowing beneath the surface, waiting to explode. She was the one in their generation with the greatest potential to be the next, legendary Jedi Knight.She barely had to put any effort into bringing down the estate. She did it as easily as swatting away a pesky insect, all the while knowing her severely injured and possibly dying husband was inside.After a moment of silence, Leia blinked and turned around. "Okay. Let's go."As she walked ahead, Caro hesitated to follow this time. He watched the way she squared her shoulders in attempt to maintain inner strength, but he could feel the deep sadness jostling around inside of her. He was sad for her, but he also felt a sense of relief, and hoped that was truly the end of Nik. He couldn't see how the other man could've survived something like that.When he finally moved his feet, and once he'd joined Leia inside of the Skywalker, leaving his own ship behind for now, they resumed their seats in the cockpit. She remained quiet the entire time and he didn't bother to say anything; figuring she would break the silence when she was ready. Plus, he was still trying to process the grief of losing his wife. It was something he likely would never fully heal from, but he would do his best to remain strong for Lora. He wanted his daughter to know he would be there for her emotionally as well as physically.An hour into their flight home, Leia inhaled a deep breath and let it pass quietly through her nostrils as she turned to look upon her brother beside her in the co-pilot's chair. "I couldn't let you kill Nik," she remarked quietly. "I'm sorry if you're upset that I took that from you."Caro looked back at her and frowned. "I'm not," he assured with a sigh. "I'm sorry you had to kill the man you loved."Narrowing her gaze, which she shifted toward the controls in front of them, she shook her head. "He's not dead.""Are you sure? I mean, you left him with one leg, bleeding out on the floor and then, minutes later, brought the house crashing down on top of him.""There are two reasons why I know he's still alive," she prefaced. "One, I just know. I haven't felt him go yet.""And the second reason?"With another sigh, Leia leaned forward and tapped a small monitor that showed a red dot moving along the screen. "Nik and I have tracking devices on each other's ships, in case we ever got separated on a job or needed to find each other for any other reason.""What job?""Bounty hunting." She immediately waved at him before he could ask for elaboration on that particular subject. Instead, she tapped the monitor again. "Not sure how he got out, but he's on the move. And, because I can see his current trajectory, he's either forgotten we can track each other, or just doesn't care, and both reasons are likely because he's in too much pain to care or can't be bothered to disable the device.""Then we should follow him and take care of this once and for all," Caro insisted, gesturing to the same monitor. "He's badly injured, so we can easily get him into custody. Though, how long could that hold? He's strong in the Force, too. It would only be a matter of time before he wrenched his way free if he manages to heal. I know he's your husband and you love him or loved him — I won't begin to assume where exactly your feelings for him lie anymore — but he's a danger to us all, and a menace. He may not be an official Sith Lord, but he's definitely consumed by the dark side, and he's a murderer. He doesn't deserve to live, Leia. I'm sorry.""I know. But I can't have you be the one to kill him. It needs to be me.""It doesn't have to.""But it does," she maintained; staring her brother in the eye. "He may be a menace, a murderer and a Sith, but he's more than that.""Your husband," Caro muttered with a roll of his eyes as he turned his gaze out toward the view of hyperspace swirling around before them."No. Even more than that."Confused, Caro looked back at his sister and raised an eyebrow at her. "What more could he be?"With a slight tilt of her head, Leia's shoulders slumped as she placed a hand to her stomach. "He's the father of my child."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Said the road's got to end somewhere, ohEvery road has got to end somewhereNow is the time for the showdownSo let me give you the low downWe've come to the end of our road"— Gladys Knight & The Pips "Well, this is a surprise."Crisara turned from where she sat at the small table upon the front tiled patio; looking over her shoulder at her husband, who was holding a steaming cup of caf close to his chest. The front door was open and Poe was leaning against the frame while wearing a small, sleepy smile upon his face. "What is?"Pushing off the door frame, allowing it to shut behind him, he stepped forward. "I'm the early riser, not you." As he took the seat opposite of her, that faced the front façade of the villa, he took in a deep breath of the crisp, early morning air and settled his gaze solely upon his wife. "To what do I owe the honor of such lovely, daybreak company? Is this how retirement is gonna be for us now? 'Cause, if so, I'm digging it."On the table before her, and seemingly forgotten about, there was a cup of tea that had gone cold. On her face, there was a distant look; forlorn and sad. Her eyes drifted from the cup and then off toward the landing zone. "I couldn't sleep," was her simple reply.Noticing the seriousness of her tone and the sadness in her eyes, Poe began to frown. Setting his cup down on the table, he folded his hands between his thighs and leaned forward slightly. "Okay, what's up?"With a deep sigh, Crisara let her shoulders slump and returned her focus toward him. "Well, I won't beat around the bush, but I will preface this with asking you to brace yourself for some more bad news.""Shit." Sitting up straighter, he unconsciously began to clench his hands into fists. "What happened?" He was assuming the worst; something to do with the kids. Little did he know that his assumption was more or less on the nose."Zeda was killed last night." Watching as that information began to sink in for him, Crisara gingerly continued. "Caro felt it, and I felt it, too. It was just after you and Leia had gone up to bed. He came downstairs and was beside himself. Neither of us had any solid proof that anything happened, and I tried to assure him that everything was fine, but I knew it wasn't. I sat with him for a few hours on the sofa. I let him talk it out, and cry. When he fell asleep on me, so worn out from everything, I tucked him in like I used to when he was a child." She smiled a bit ruefully at that. "I went up to bed, but I couldn't sleep. I might've gotten two hours, if I was lucky. I woke up again, and just stared at the stained glass above our bed. I tried meditating and tried searching for Zeda's life signature in the Force, but didn't feel it. I got up, stepped out into the hallway outside our room and I heard voices." Crisara's tired blue eyes flitted upward upon Poe's sorrowful brown eyes; both holding each other's gaze. "It was Zeda, talking to Caro. I listened quietly from upstairs. I could feel her presence in the house, but it didn't feel like a normal presence. It felt like when I'm suddenly aware that a Force ghost is near. It's like when the hairs on the back of your neck or upon your arms stand on end. Or when your ears start to ring for no reason. I knew that Zeda was here, but she wasn't here." As she watched a few tears roll free from her husband's eyes, she frowned. "She was telling Caro what happened to her, and wanting him to not dwell on his grief, and to always be there for Lora." Scrunching up her face in her own grief, Crisara leaned forward on the table; propping her elbows up onto the surface and shoving her face into her hands to hide the tears that began to fall again from her own eyes. "I'm so heartbroken for Caro, but I can't help thinking of little Lora; having to go through the rest of her life as we did. She has to grow up without her mother. It's just not fair."Clenching his jaw and wiping the tears away that had fallen, Poe cleared his throat and swallowed back a lump that had gotten caught in his throat. "Who killed her?"He knew, of course. He could do the figurative math. He recalled Leia mentioning, the evening before, that Zeda had stayed behind on Lianna to sneak into Nik's evil lair, or whatever it was. He was able to safely assume that shit went sideways for his daughter-in-law, but he needed to hear it said aloud."Nik," Crisara replied, dropping her hands down and nearly tipping over her tea cup in the process. Gently pushing the cup to the side, so that it was out of the way, she stretched her arms toward Poe and held her hands out. When he took the hint and grabbed onto both, Crisara pouted upward at him. "You were right. You knew from the get-go he would be trouble, but I refused to believe it. I should've seen it. I should've…""Shh," Poe hushed. Removing one hand from one of hers, he beckoned her forward. When she took his hint, he waited as she stood up while still holding onto his other hand and stepped around to his side of the table. As she sank down into his lap, sitting sideways, she twisted at the waist so that it was easier for him to pull her into his arms and hold her tight. "You did everything you could," he assured her. "You gave that boy every opportunity and every chance. You risked your life to give him freedom. You raised him and provided him with a wonderful home. You taught him how to be a better person and he threw your goodness back at you like an ungrateful bastard." Poe turned his head to momentarily inhale the scent of her hair, and then kissed her shoulder before continuing any further. "You gave him the tools to be the best possible version of himself, and he made the choice to be the worst version instead. None of this is your fault. It's not yours, mine, or even Leia's. The fault lies only with him and he will pay the price, one way or another."Lifting her head off his shoulder, Crisara lifted her hands and placed them upon either side of her face. "He may pay the price, but at what cost?"  As the day dragged on, Lora had eventually woke up and made her way downstairs. Her light blonde hair was considerably tousled; alluding to a night spent tossing and turning. Likely she hadn't gotten any good sleep either. Her especially sleepy, blue eyes was the other telltale sign. By the time she had made her way downstairs, Poe and Crisara had already come back inside of the house and were trying to keep themselves busy by making breakfast together instead of relying on the kitchen droids. They'd already realized that both Caro and Leia were gone, judging by Leia's ship being unaccounted for on the landing zone. Plus, Crisara just didn't sense either of her children currently in the villa or around the overall estate. They felt far away to her, though alive. However, not knowing how long either would be gone, Poe and Crisara made the decision to contact Shara and Zeith, and to break the bad news to them. They hated doing it over hologram, but they didn't want to keep the information to themselves and knew the younger couple would be busy that early in the morning, getting ready for their jobs and getting their older two children ready for school at the Kenobi Academy.Zeith was beyond stunned. Shara seemed upset but was able to move past the initial shock more easily, especially when she admitted she'd felt something strange the night before, but had been unsure what it was she'd felt in the Force. Lora had been eating her breakfast in the dining room at the time, while Poe and Crisara had tried their best to keep their voices low, but their granddaughter had a keen enough sense to know something was already amiss. The conversation with Shara and Zeith had ended when suddenly Lora was standing there in the archway to the family room; staring at her grandparents who were seated together on the sofa."My mom died, didn't she?" Lora asked with a small voice.She was only seven, but she seemed so very much like an adult in that moment. She didn't seem emotional, though understandably concerned. She was pouting, because it was a heartbreaking matter, no matter one's age. Still though, she was a child and she needed her grandma and her grandpa to make it okay.When Poe beckoned her forward, she hurried forward and slipped readily into his arms. He pulled her up onto his lap, hugged her tight and kissed the top of her head while Crisara grabbed for one of the girl's hands. "Yes, sweetheart," he admitted. "And we're very sorry it's happened." There was no point lying to her. "It happened quite suddenly last night.""I know," Lora muttered into his shoulder. "Dad said everything was okay, but I knew something bad happened."Crisara leaned forward and kissed her granddaughter's cheek. "She was hurt very badly, but she managed to appear to your father very early this morning and let him know she's okay now. She's at peace and wants you to know she still loves you very much, and will always be keeping watch over you and your dad." When Lora lifted her head and glanced at her grandmother, Crisara frowned with tears in her eyes. "I was just a baby when I lost my own mother. Grandpa was only a year older than you are now when it happened to him. It's a difficult thing to lose a parent, no matter the age, but especially harder when so young. It's unkind, it's unfair. But you're strong. You are amazing and you are surrounded by so many who love you, and we will always be here for you.""Mom, too."Poe nodded. "Your mom, too," he agreed; brushing a hand against her hair.When she turned and looked at him, she smiled sadly. "Is daddy okay?"A small, reassuring smile appeared upon Crisara's lips; ever amazed by Lora's kind soul. "He's upset, but he will be.""Where did he go?" the girl asked, as she dropped her head back upon her grandfather's shoulder."He needed to take care of something with your Aunt Leia. But they should be back soon," Poe replied; looking over Lora's head as he made eye contact with his wife. His gaze expressed concern, but also uncertainty. Neither knew exactly where Caro and Leia had gotten off to, but they had their suspicions. They also had no idea when both would return, but they had to be optimistic for Lora's sake. Turning his face, Poe kissed the top of her head again and kept her wrapped up in his arms; the safest, securest place she could be right now. "Everything's gonna be okay."As Crisara was looking fondly upon the man she loved cradling their granddaughter against his chest, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Turning toward the archway leading into the grand foyer, she sat up a bit straighter, and then waited.Poe, noticing as much, knitted his brow together. "What is it?"With a sigh of relief, she smiled. "They're back."A few minutes later, the front door opened, and in walked Caro first. When he reached the center of the grand foyer, and he saw his daughter with his parents, the stalwart expression on his face and in his posture faltered. A sob escaped his lips and he slipped past the archway; not wanting his daughter to see him suddenly lose it, emotionally. When Leia appeared inside the house, she locked eyes with their mother and then dipped her head down; looking quite dejected.In an instant, Crisara had moved up to her feet. Shifting Lora around, Poe urged her off his lap. When he noticed his wife's stern gaze back at him, he could tell something more was amiss so he had Lora stay put on the sofa for the moment before joining Crisara as she stepped out into the grand foyer to greet their two returned children. Seeing her son, again so broken, Crisara reached for him and pulled him into an embrace."I know, I know," she murmured. "It's going to be difficult for quite a while. But Lora knows, and you need to find your strength for her."As mother consoled son, Poe turned his focus upon Leia. Curling a finger, he beckoned her over. "C'mere, Berries."With a pout, Leia welcomed the embrace her father gave her. She welcomed the warmth and the feeling of his heart beating as she pressed the side of her face against his chest. It made her feel like a little girl again, when she had next to no worries in the world. When life was simple and beautiful. "He really is gone," she whispered.Poe had enough sense to understand his daughter was referring to Nik, and that she wasn't alluding to Nik being dead. She meant he was too far gone; that there would be no redeeming the man she had loved for so long and married. Poe's heart broke for her and wished he could make all the pain and suffering go away for all of them. We wished he could turn back time but retain the knowledge of what he knew now to prevent all the bad things that had happened. "It's gonna be okay," he whispered back to her, kissing the top of her head; mimicking the same he did and said for Lora."Daddy?"Caro lifted his head and pulled back from his mother to see Lora peering around the archway from the family room and looking up at him with sad, expectant eyes. Wiping his eyes, he crouched down to his daughter's level and swept her up into his arms. With surprising ease, he hoisted her upward and stood there with her; father and daughter locked into an embrace of their own. "I'm sorry mommy's gone, darling.""It's okay, daddy. She's gonna watch over us now."Well, if that didn't just pull at the damn heartstrings…"She most certainly is," Caro agreed; his voice cracking slightly. When he looked over her shoulder at his parents and sister, he returned his gaze upon Lora and began to step away with her still hoisted up in his arms, as if she were still just an infant. "C'mon. Grandma and Grandpa have something they need to talk about in private with Aunt Leia. You and I will head outside where we can talk about mommy, alright?"Lora looked her father in the eye and nodded. "Yeah."As Caro exited the grand foyer and through the double doors, out into the back garden, Poe leaned back from Leia and held her at arm's length as Crisara turned to face her daughter as well.With a heavy sigh, Leia wiped at the corners of her eyes and gestured toward the family room; for them to head on in. There was clearly another bomb she needed to drop on them and, obviously, it would be better if they were sitting for it."There's something more I need to tell you both," she prefaced, as they obliged her by heading for the sofa."Good news or more bad news? What do we need to brace for?" Poe wondered as he plopped down first.As Crisara sat down beside him, she furrowed her brow together in concern. "And what happened with you and Caro? What went down when you left here early this morning?"Both watched as their daughter didn't budge and remained standing. Leia brought her arms up and folded them under her chest and found a spot on the floor to focus on. "He wanted to go kill Nik, and there wasn't much stopping him. But I couldn't let him do it, for a number of reasons. For starters, I didn't want him to cross a line and blacken his soul by seeking revenge instead of justice. Caro has always been the most noble, the most kind and thoughtful of us all. But, since Nik's involvement with what happened to Tem came out, Caro's become a little more angry." Finally lifting her eyes, she gazed briefly back at her parents. "I couldn't let him go off alone, so I went with him, and we went to Lianna. Nik seemed to be waiting for us. He saw us arrive." Leia sighed again. "A fight began. Nik had made the first move against Caro, and Caro held his own. The fight moved into the house, and I…"Crisara tilted her head to the side; feeling the waves of regret ebbing from her daughter. "It's okay. Take your time," she insisted.Poe was starting to think that maybe Nik really was dead. Maybe that's really what Leia meant when she said he was gone. Inwardly, that's what he hoped, but he wasn't about to jump the gun. "Why don't you sit down?" he suggested.Leia shook her head a bit. "Caro and Nik were in a standoff. The rage coming off of Nik was like pure poison. His eyes…" She grimaced at the recent memory. "There was nothing left of the man I knew. Caro had the opportunity to fatally wound Nik, but I couldn't let him do it, and not because who Nik is to me. Like I said, I didn't want Caro to be the one to blacken his soul. I didn't want murder, in retaliation for another murder, to be something he had to carry around with him for the rest of his life." She paused for a moment and squared her shoulders as she glanced between both of her parents. "I shoved Caro out of the way and I struck Nik instead." Her parents both seemed somewhat surprised, but not overtly so. "I hadn't even watched what I'd done. I was busy pushing Caro off the table we'd been standing on. But Nik was lying there on the floor, a deep gash across his stomach, and missing a leg." A slow breath escaped Leia's lips as she finally moved to sit in one of the chairs perpendicular to the sofa. "I pulled Caro away then and we left the house; with Caro assuming we were leaving Nik to bleed out and die alone." Looking her mother in the eye, knowing she'd understand the next part, she continued with, "And then I used the Force to bring the entire house down on top of him. Then we left."Poe sat back and looked as if a great burden had just lifted off his shoulders. "So, he's dead now?"Leia frowned and tried to find something interesting in the material of her pants; knowing her mother was eyeing her perceptively."No," Crisara answered. "He survived, didn't he?"Poe sputtered. "What? How? Out of spite?""Maybe," Leia shrugged in response. When she lifted her eyes upon her father, she was still frowning. "I knew there was a chance he could survive. And, I don't know…I think part of me was happy he did. We had trackers on each other's ships, in case we ever got separated or anything like that. On the journey home here with Caro, I saw his ship was on the move, away from Lianna." She was quiet for a moment, as were her parents; for that she was grateful. Leia needed this minute or two after telling them this; to let it ruminate. A few tears began to well up in her eyes but she was quick to wipe them away instead of letting them fall. "I know the only way this chapter in our lives ends is with his death. I know there's no way he comes out of this alive, but I wasn't ready…I didn't want to lose him just yet, no matter what he's done…"Crisara, understanding what it was to love and care about someone who had done terrible, unforgivable things — in her case, her cousin Ben — and not wanting to see them dead, she leaned forward and placed a hand upon her daughter's knee and squeezed it affectionately. "It's not an easy thing. Life and love is complicated.""I don't know, I think this is pretty cut and dry," Poe muttered; not necessarily meaning for it to be said aloud. It had been what he'd been thinking and it just slipped out before he could reel it back in. When Crisara turned and glared at him, he held his hands up defensively. "Sorry.""No, it's okay," Leia insisted. "You're right. It should be cut and dry. By letting him survive and get away, I've allowed him to possibly hurt more people, or worse. This is on me."Poe began to adamantly shake his head. "No. No, this is not on you. Your mother is right. Life and love are complicated. It's not black and white. And, I suppose, no one is ever one hundred percent evil. Hell, even Palpatine apparently, once upon a time, gave a shit about what happened to your great-grandma Sera all because he apparently had some sort of romantic feelings about her mother. And Nik," Poe sighed heavily, struggling to get the next words out, "hasn't always been the way he is now. He was a good kid once, with the potential for being a great man. He just made too many wrong decisions the older he got." Scooting closer, toward the edge of the sofa, Poe pushed up to stand and moved closer to sit back down, but this time upon the edge of the coffee table directly in front of Leia. Grabbing both of her hands in his, he squeezed and waited until she was looking at him. "The best thing he ever did was fall in love with you. I can't fault anyone for having great taste."Tipping her head down, Leia began to cry; which gave cause for Poe's heart to break again. He removed one of his hands from hers and placed it upon the back of her head before kissing the top of it. "I'm sorry you have to go through something like this," he muttered into her dark hair. "I'd take it all away if I could.""This wasn't the 'something more' you meant to tell us about," Crisara suddenly commented; sensing more to their daughter's grief. "Something else has happened — something you don't want Nik to die without knowing about first."Lifting her head, Leia stole a solemn look at her mother and nodded, at the same time Poe glanced at his wife with a bit of confusion. "Yeah," Leia admitted; wiping at the tears that had fallen this time. She could sense her father's gaze upon her but shifted her own back toward her lap; unable to look him, most of all, in the eye. "I'm pregnant."Poe blinked.Those two words hadn't fully hit him yet.After a moment, they seeped in and he sat back with his posture considerably slouched. He wasn't upset by this news at all. He was upset for her; for the road she would have to travel now."I had a feeling you were," Crisara remarked as she broke the silence between the three of them. "A mother knows." Then, on further curiosity, she asked, "How far along are you?""Three months."Poe sat up straighter then. He planted both of his hands upon his upper thighs and he emitted a steadying sigh out from his nostrils. "And Nik doesn't know yet?""No," Leia replied in a small voice. "He has to die. It's the only way any of this ends. I know that. I understand that. But, no matter what he's done, he's still my husband and he's the father of this child." She placed her right hand upon her abdomen. "He deserves to know before…"She couldn't finish that train of thought.Slowly, she sat back against the chair and covered her face with both hands."Well, we're here for you and we're not going anywhere," Crisara assured. "No matter what you need form us, we'll give you."Nodding in agreement, and after sharing a dispirited look with his wife, Poe focused his attention back upon their daughter. He folded his hands between his knees and leaned forward; staring up at her through his eyebrows. "What do you need from us this very minute? What can we do now?"With a tired sigh, Leia dropped her hands down and shifted her teary gaze back and forth between her parents. "I had some time to think about it, to Lianna and back," she started to say. "First, the estate Nik built: it's destroyed and he fled from it. I'm assuming he's gone to get medical attention. If he's smart, he'll dismantle the tracker on his ship, unless he's hoping I'll seek him out and come back to him." She grimaced. "Even when I was standing over him, watching him writhe in pain after I'd severed his leg and cut him so badly, he looked up at me with hope that there was still a chance for us. Even with the anger and betrayal he was feeling toward me, he still loves me.""It's not a switch any of us can just turn off," Crisara remarked, crossing one leg over the other as she admired the mental and emotional strength Leia was trying to hold onto and exude. "My marriage to Caro's father ended about thirty-five years ago, and he's been gone almost as long, but I still feel love for him, even now. It doesn't really ever go away. It just…changes. It changes us."Leia listened to her mother's words and took them to heart. "The estate is basically abandoned. I mean, it is in ruins now," she continued; in regard to the home Nik had built for them on Lianna. "But all those Sith artifacts will still be below it all. It needs to be retrieved and removed. Destroyed, preferably. I don't want anyone else to ever get their hands on even one those things again. I know for a fact that Nik has me listed on the deed to the house and its grounds, so I can give permission to anyone to take it all away. I think it's best if we call in favors with the Republic to assist in removing it all, but with the undertaking being overseen by members of the Jedi Council."Crisara nodded in agreement. "I'll contact Rey. We'll set up an emergency Council meeting to discuss what needs to be done."Off his wife's look toward him, Poe took the metaphorical baton in conversation. "And I can look into clean-up crews local to Lianna City, who can help in removing the debris from the house, and then see if maybe Aftab or Kaydel can lend a hand by letting us use a starcruiser for carting the artifacts away." He sighed and tried to give his daughter a supportive smile. "We have plenty of friends who are always ready and willing to help."Silence fell over the three of them again.The double doors off the back of the grand foyer opened up and they could hear Caro and Lora heading back inside of the house. Their voices were low and bit muffled, and then they grew distant; heading in the other direction toward either the dining room or kitchen."I suggested to Caro that the artifacts be dropped into an active volcano somewhere, or wherever there's molten lava flowing. Mustafar, maybe?" Leia resumed speaking. "I dunno. It seems a fitting location. It's just…a lot to deal with right now, but I know this isn't something that should wait. We shouldn't risk Nik doubling back to get his hands on any of those things. The sooner, definitely the better.""Your mother and I can take care of those details. You have new life to grow. You don't need the added stress," Poe insisted."I don't need the stress but I need to be involved." Leia leaned forward, closer to her father, and looked him in the eye. "More than that. It has to be me who goes after him. I'm the only one he trusts. Even now, after what I did to him. I know it. If anyone else goes to him or after him, it could get too ugly. It will get too ugly. More lives would be lost, instead of just his." She shifted her gaze briefly upon her mother, who was already staring at her with a rather calm and decisive expression that Leia couldn't read much deeper into. Casting her gaze downward, she considered the road ahead. "I will go to him, no longer as a lover, but as a friend. It cannot be Caro. It cannot be anyone but me. No matter what I've done to him, I know he doesn't believe I'd see him dead, because I don't want to see him dead." Once more she looked at her mother. "But I will do what I must."Reaching forward, Crisara grabbed onto her daughter's wrist. "If it's what you need to do, we won't stop you."Despite everything, Leia smirked. "You couldn't if you tried.""You don't know your mother as well as you think," Poe teased.As mother and daughter shared another look, Leia sensed her mother did intend to let her handle Nik on her own, but she also felt her mother would find a way to do more to help, with or without Leia's knowledge, input or permission. And she knew she couldn't prevent any of that if she tried.  Lost in a daze, Leia stood before the rubble of the home Nik had built for them. Her dark eyes slowly and absentmindedly drifted about as recovery crews were using cranes to remove massive chunks of debris while another crew was hosing down the rubble to contain the dust that was getting disturbed and kicking upward into the air. The voices of those in charge of the removal were so faded into the background that Leia barely registered any of them were there aside from her. She wasn't really even seeing the rubble of the estate before her. She was seeing the rubble that was her marriage.It was only two days since she'd returned home with Caro to Naboo. The day before, first thing in the morning at the Kenobi Academy, a memorial service had been held in honor of Zeda, so family, friends and students alike could easily attend. Caro had spoken; saying such beautiful words about his dearly departed wife and mother of his daughter. And, the entire time, Leia couldn't help but place a considerable amount of blame upon herself. She felt responsibility for what Nik had done. She'd made the choice to love and marry him, making them as one, so half of her was at fault for Caro losing half of him. She wanted nothing more than to make it up to her brother somehow, but she wasn't sure Nik's death would ever rectify what had happened.For now, she was here on Lianna, helping to oversee the clearing and removal of those Sith artifacts buried deep by the fallen, cavernous abode. She wasn't alone in it, though. She had both of her parents with her, as well as three Jedi Masters there on behalf of the Jedi Council: Rey, Finn, and Meleri. All of whom were also being assisted by a small handful of officers from the RNS Ackbar, including General Kaydel Ko Connix. A few, large shipping containers would be arriving soon, which would then be loaded up once the artifacts were located and hoisted out."How long do you think you'll need to catalog these artifacts once they've been retrieved from the debris?" Kaydel was asking Crisara and Rey; her arms folded across her chest as she looked between the pair."Well, we don't know all of what was down there," Rey replied; speaking up first. "Zeda was able to record some evidence, which Caro received the holo of, just before she…" The greying brunette couldn't bring herself to say the words, so they went unspoken but understood. "The footage shows enough, though.""Anything and everything, even if the recovery crews think it might be insignificant, will be looked into and be assessed," Crisara asserted. "There are five of us here who can determine what is a Sith artifact and what is just everyday decoration. Depending on how quickly the recovery crews can move things along, it shouldn't take us long at all." She looked at Rey. One, two hours? Off Rey's nod, she looked back at Kaydel. "One, two hours tops."Kaydel nodded at the senior pair of Jedi Masters. "Alright then. I'll crack the metaphorical whip." Reaching forward, she patted her hand briefly upon Crisara's upper arm. "I'm terribly sorry about Zeda by the way.""We appreciate the condolence.""I've spoken with Aftab, as well as officers across both the Republic Navy and Army. The Chancellor, officers in the Republic Security Forces and even several key Senators have been made aware of what's happened, and that Nik is a dangerous criminal at large.""I hope this doesn't shine a negative light upon the rest of the Jedi or any other Force users out there," Finn grimaced; having overheard as he approached the trio. "Just because one Force user went to the dark side and is dangerous, doesn't mean the rest of us are complicit. He's one person, and he doesn't have the same support behind him that Vader had with the Empire or Kylo Ren had with the First Order. He's a rogue. Dangerous and shouldn't be taken head on by just anyone, sure. But he's one person, and he's acted alone.""Am I not complicit?" Leia muttered loudly enough for the others to hear her, and turn to look over at her. "I was aware he'd changed, but I was in denial about it. I could've come forward with my suspicions sooner and Zeda would still be alive. Am I not an accessory after the fact to his crimes?"Kaydel sighed. "Were they just suspicions or did you have irrefutable proof you chose to withhold?" Though posed as a question, it was clear by her tone that she meant it as a rhetorical statement. None of them gathered believed Leia was willingly in on whatever crimes Nik had committed. They'd all watched her grow up. They knew the person she was. "You're not the guilty party here, Leia."Crisara watched the way her daughter's shoulders were slumping and how her gaze drifted back toward the excavation of the artifacts ahead of them. She wanted nothing more than to take the heartbreak away from her daughter. She wanted her to feel peace in her heart, mind and soul. As she frowned subtly, movement out the corner of her eye pulled her attention away for the moment as she looked upon her approaching husband. And there was something familiar that he was holding in his hands."This was the first thing found, because it hadn't been buried down below," he prefaced. "Likely it had been somewhere on the first or second floor."Everyone watched as he lifted his hand and held up a lightsaber hilt that looked remarkably intact."That's Zeda's," Meleri announced.Crisara nodded. "It would've been left behind when she passed from this life. Nik probably took it afterward." She took the weapon out of her husband's hand and inspected it more properly. Then, holding it upward, she activated it; allowing the white, plasma blade to appear. "It still works." With a saddened sigh, she just as quickly deactivated it and aimed it downward before clipping to her belt along with her own, double lightsaber, which had been forged from her mother's and her father's lightsabers. "We'll take it back to Naboo, give it to Caro. He can decide what to do with it; either keep it for when Lora is little bit older and ready for a blade of her own, or put it aside as a treasured memento."Stepping away from the others, Leia turned and began to head over toward the direction of Caro's ship, which Zeda had arrived in and which Caro had left behind after he'd left Lianna with Leia. Neither sibling had thought to bring it home to Naboo with them. Too much had just happened. They should bring it home after all this was said and done, though. It shouldn't remain where it was. It was Caro's, after all."Hey."Leia turned and looked upon Finn, who approached her with a small, sympathetic half-smile. "Kaydel is right. Your parents and the rest of us are right, too," he began to say as he placed a hand upon her shoulder. "You're not to blame for Nik's actions. Don't let the what-ifs or your unfounded guilt eat you up. You're stronger than this. You gotta rise above it.""Easier said than done," she grumbled."I know it seems that way, but you are your mother's and your father's daughter. You can move mountains." With a slightly amused tilt to his head, he added, "Being that you're your mother's daughter, the mountain-moving thing could possibly be literal.""I wouldn't go that far.""From what I've been told you brought down this entire estate with, more or less, the flick of your wrist. I'd say I'm not going far enough." Sliding his hand across her back, Finn pulled her in for a side hug. "Not that I'm picking favorites or trying to pit you against your siblings, 'cause I swear on my life I absolutely am not, but you're the strongest of them. I felt it as the lot of you grew up and began your training, and even beyond your training, as the years have gone on. I know your parents cast a pretty large shadow where legacy is concerned. You come from a long line of remarkable people who cast large shadows, even though they're already gone. You may never step out from those shadows, or maybe you'll cast one even larger someday. Regardless of the legacy you leave behind or become known for, if known at all, you are powerful. You are strong. And your heart is so big. You are destined for greatness, I'm sure." With a knowing nod downward, he gestured toward her abdomen with his free hand. "Even if it's just to be the greatest mother to a child that will be very much loved by his or her family and friends."Leia looked upward at him with surprise. "Did my parents tell you?""Believe it or not, I'm pretty great, too," he quipped. "I didn't get to where I am and become a Jedi Master for nothing." Finn removed his arm from around her shoulders and smiled properly at her. "I sensed it from you. And I could sense that little life already blossoming."Swallowing back a lump in her throat, Leia glanced briefly over at her parents and the others. "I'm scared about what comes next. About what I need to do.""You don't need to do anything if you don't want to," he replied knowingly. "You don't have to be the one. It shouldn't have to be you.""It has to be, though. It's the only way."With a frown, Finn leaned closer and whispered, "There's always another way."  With the exception of the book that had apparently been written by Palpatine himself, every last excavated Sith artifact, from deep underneath the debris of the demolished estate, had been successfully loaded up into two large transport crates. After being brought on board the RNS Ackbar, the continued overseeing of the artifacts' transfer away from Lianna was done by the Poe and the same Jedi that had been present on the ground. A final destination for those items had been set; something the Jedi Council had all been in agreement about. They would be destroyed, and the destruction by liquid fire seemed ideal, so the lava rivers of Mustafar it was.The journey would take several hours, even with traveling most of the time at light-speed, because the distance between Lianna and Mustafar was considerably wide, what with being more or less on opposite ends of their galaxy from one another. While en route, the Jedi left their respective starships in the same hangar and joined Connix on the Command Bridge, except for Leia and her mother. When Poe had realized both were hanging back, he hesitated to go and stay with his wife and daughter, but Crisara had insisted he go ahead. After further hesitation, and a look of ongoing concern in his eyes, he relented."How are you doing?" Crisara inquired when she joined Leia in the cockpit of the Skywalker, which the three Damerons had arrived to Lianna together on.The younger female was sitting at the pilot's seat, with her hands folded between her thighs, and playing with something small. "Well, I've been better."Taking a seat at the co-pilot's chair, Crisara leaned sideways against it and nodded supportively. As her gaze narrowed, she gestured at her daughter's hands. "What are you holding?"With a gloomy sigh, she held her left hand palm-side up; revealing an ornate gold ring. "We didn't exchange rings when we got married. But we gifted them to each other on our first anniversary. We never wore them on our fingers. We wore them on chains around our necks, tucked under our clothes; hidden but close to our hearts." She was frowning as she recalled each of those memories. "We kept everything so hidden from the outside world about the truth of our marriage. Mostly from you and the rest of the family. It just makes me think, looking back, when hindsight is twenty-twenty." She lifted her gaze over toward her mother with her father's dark, doe-like eyes; beautiful and sad at the same time. "When love starts out in the darkness, it doesn't do well in the light. I don't know where I heard that before, but I understand it now." Leia closed her fist around the ring and set her hand down upon her lap. "It was never going to last — Nik and I. I think I just always wanted what you and dad have so badly that, when Nik finally reciprocated my crush, I latched on even harder to him and didn't want to let go because, I dunno…maybe I thought I'd never have another opportunity at love. I thought what he and I had was true love." Slowly, she began shaking her head. "It was infatuation. It was lust. I never…"Crisara tilted her head slightly to the side and looked gently upon her daughter when she hesitated to continue. "What is, honey? You can say whatever it is you need to say. No judgment.""I never felt peace in my heart with him. I thought I did. He never felt like home. I was always looking toward the horizon, so to speak; for something other than him to occupy my time. I mean, when we were together, I gave him my undivided attention and I know I had his. But, apart, my mind didn't often contemplate him at all." Leia looked once more at her mother. "I was always thinking about you, dad, Shara, Caro…Tem and Len…the rest of our family. The villa. Naboo." Her brow knitted together and tears began to line her eyes. "Home." Placing her free hand to her stomach, those tears began to fall again. "What have I gotten myself into? How do I bring a new little life into the world with Nik as the father? My child isn't even here yet and already they'll have such a burden to bear.""I know it seems impossible at the moment, but try thinking more on the positive. Your child will have you as their mother, and your father and I as their grandparents. Caro and Zeith as their uncles. Shara as their aunt. And they'll have plenty of cousins to grow up with and play with. They will be surrounded by family — living and departed from this life. They will be surrounded with love." Crisara leaned back and folded her hands upon her lap as she watched Leia wiping her tears away. "My father and Aunt Leia were adults when they learned the great burden of the man their biological father was, and it was a great shock for them both. It stuck with them for the rest of their lives, and I'm not saying the same thing will be the case for your child. And I'm not saying it's going to be easy, either. But, by being surrounded by so many family members and friends, with so many people with good hearts, your child will be just fine. They will have so many people to look up to, and to help guide them down the right path so they don't follow in Nik's footsteps."Leia nodded; accepting her mother's supportive and encouraging words. Holding the ring back upward, she tossed it toward her mother with little warning, but was correct in assuming her mother would catch it with ease. "That needs to go with everything else into the lava rivers." As she watched her mother take a proper look at the ring, she added, "Two more things need go in with it." Catching her mother's eye, she frowned and stood up. "When we were cataloging everything that had been recovered, I took something. Another I already had on this ship."Crisara watched as her daughter disappeared out of the cockpit, and then waited. A few moments later, the twenty-nine-year-old Jedi Knight returned with a book in her hands and, on top of it, a lightsaber rested. "I took the lightsaber off Nik. Caro and I brought it on board this ship when we left him for dead under the rubble. I intended to hand it over to you when we got home, but I left it here. And then, the book…" She frowned and held them out for her mother to take. "They both belonged to the Emperor and should also be destroyed with everything else. But I thought the book — at least — you might want to look over; to see the information transcribed within, before doing away with it forever. It might hold something within its pages we can use, as Jedi, to combat any possible Sith or dark side users in the future."Crisara considered this, and she supposed it made sense; to get insight on the other side. "It's a tempting idea. But I don't want any insight into Palpatine's mind. Our family has known enough of him. As of now, he's plagued our family for nearly ninety years. He died over sixty years ago, and still found a way to cling to this life, but Rey and I were able to finally end him for good barely thirty years ago. It's seems like, dead or alive, he worms his way into our lives every three decades, and I just want the very last traces of him to be gone. I don't want any of us to forget history, lest we be doomed to repeat it, but I feel like holding onto these things any longer, or giving them a second glance, is keeping him alive, to a certain degree. Do you get where I'm coming from?" Off Leia's nodded, Crisara stood up with the book and the lightsaber. She looked at them and could feel the darkness tainting them and it reminded her of that mysterious Sith holocron that had her Aunt Leia had shown her so long ago. It gave her the same anxious and nauseating feelings. "I'll see to them joining the other artifacts."Leia nodded once more. "Okay."Crisara pocketed the ring with one hand while balancing the book and lightsaber with her other hand. "When we get to Mustafar, will you remain here or go with the cargo carrier that dumps the artifacts into the lava rivers?""Where will you be?""Rey and I decided the two of us would go with the cargo carrier. I think your father is going to stay behind with the others, either here on your ship or where he is now, on the Ackbar's Command Bridge. The choice is yours."Leia thought it over for a moment. "I'm not sure yet," she finally answered with."Well, no rush for a decision. We still have plenty of time before we get there." Stepping closer to her daughter, she placed her free hand upon Leia's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Don't linger in here the entire time, though, okay? Come join the rest of us on the Command Bridge. It'll do good to be surrounded by others right now.""I will."Leia watched as her mother left the cockpit and then she resumed sitting in her pilot's chair. She did intend to join the others shortly, but needed a few moments alone to ruminate over the conversation she'd had with her mother, and what would eventually come next; not just destroying the Sith artifacts and her wedding ring, but dealing with Nik. It was weighing heavily on her heart.Thoughts on how she'd see to his end began flashing in her mind. Would it start and end in a lightsaber duel? Would she even be successful? Would he get away again? Would he kill her instead? Would she take a page out of Darth Vader's book and Force choke him to death? How could she do it? Maybe she couldn't do it alone. Maybe if she had the entire Jedi Council with her; all of them against one. It could definitely work, but then that just seemed overkill. No matter how she felt toward him, they had history together and they had created life together, even though he didn't know it. Yet. She would prefer it if his end was swift and painless. It was going to haunt her for the rest of her days, she was certain, and she just felt a dragged out and painful death would be horrible."How do I do this?" she asked herself. "How do I kill my husband? How do I kill the father of my child and live with myself, no matter what he's done?"  The Sith artifacts had been destroyed; never to see the light of day again.The larger the item, the more carefully it was lowered and released into the lava rivers, to prevent unnecessary and very molten splashes from reaching the underside of the cargo carriers containing the items. When it had come to the smaller items, such as the Emperor's lightsaber and book of Sith secrets, Crisara and Rey stood side by side with the cargo carrier's door open and just dropped them. They watched as the lava caught and consumed both, and something in the Force seemed to vibrate; as if both women had just felt the last death rattle of Sheev Palpatine. Before the door to the cargo carrier sealed shut, Crisara had one last thing to toss into the fiery river below: Leia's wedding ring. She felt a little awkward being the one to do it. She'd thought there would be a greater significance if it was Leia tossing the ring in on her own; that she was putting to bed her marriage to Nik for good. She'd asked Leia as much, but Leia had insisted it was easier for her this way.After the cargo carrier left Mustafar and docked back with the RNS Ackbar in orbit, Poe had greeted his wife in the hangar and, before he could say anything, she had simply sighed and announced that it was all done. Rey and Finn had, shortly thereafter, left to return to the Jedi Temple the two of them had built up together in the last twenty years, while Meleri joined the Damerons in heading back to Naboo; hitching a ride in Caro's ship, to bring it back to him. As Mustafar was galactically closer to Naboo, it didn't take as long for the latter group to make it home. Since it was her ship, Leia was the one piloting the Skywalker while Poe sat beside her as co-pilot.Despite the overall somber mood that had been hanging over their heads, he found a bit of enjoyment in flying with her. He looked on with pride at how deftly she managed the controls and how smoothly she sailed along when they entered their planet's orbit, and how she brought them in for such a gentle landing.Maybe, all this time, Leia was the best pilot in their family. Not him, not Len, not even those that had gone before, like Luke, Han or Anakin.Poe was starting to realize, in that moment, his youngest twin daughter was going to be a powerhouse like her mother; a Force to be reckoned with and possibly the next iconic member in the Skywalker family tree. For one, she brought down that massive mansion on top of the man she'd loved; assuming it would kill him. And, according to Caro's commentary on it after the fact, Leia had done it with such grace. It had been as if she was merely brushing a bit of dust off her sleeve.In the weeks that followed, Leia kept largely to herself. She spent a lot of time down at the end of the pier, dipping her bare feet into the water while thinking about her future and the life of her unborn child in a way that was similar to how her grandmother Adamé had done the same in the weeks leading up to the birth of her mother Crisara. History loves to repeat itself, after all. Neither of her parents pestered her about her next steps just yet, mostly in regard to Nik. They'd taken it upon themselves to put out feelers to all their contacts to keep an eye out for him. They were even considering offering up a monetary reward, as added incentive, but nothing had been officially decided yet.As for Caro, he was doing better. He still had many moments where he had to take some time to also be by himself, to grieve privately without spectators, as well as to not let his daughter see him get weak. He wanted and needed to be strong for her; to make the transition from having two living parents to two a little easier.Crisara had ordered yet another memorial pedestal for the back garden, this time for Zeda. It arrived within a couple of days and she deferred to Caro where it should be installed, because some day, hopefully many decades from now, his own memorial pedestal would go beside it. After choosing a spot further away from the others, he'd actually laughed and commented how the back garden was turning into a cemetery and memorial garden.It got Crisara thinking.Maybe the memorial pedestals and even Sessani's grave should be moved elsewhere, so the back garden could be reclaimed as what it was supposed to be.For now, it would stay as it was.Leia had been watching from the back windows of the family room, watching the installation take place, and watching as the looping holo of Zeda was activated. She'd watched the way her niece Lora smiled brightly and waved at it, and told her mother she loved her and was being good. Focusing closely, Leia had tried to get sense in the Force if Zeda's spirit was actually near, but she got nothing. Likely, Zeda was doing as was right, and keeping her distance; to allow the living to live without latching on the dead.A brief but poignant thought had popped into Leia's head as she watched her parents retreat into the house to give Caro and Lora some space.Nik won't have a memorial pedestal.She understood that from the logical perspective, because he was wholly undeserving of getting one in the back garden. But there was still part of her that wished to do something after whenever his end came, which she knew had to be sooner rather than later. She was feeling the way Caro was getting occasionally antsy about the subject. He, most of all, was looking forward to the day Nik got his comeuppance. Then again, Nik wouldn't need any sort of memorial to denote he'd lived. He had an unborn child on the way. That was proof enough of existence.The one decision she'd definitely made about that was Nik would always be the man who helped create this life growing inside of her, but he would never be its father. Leia would be both mother and father. And, as her mother had told her, her child would be surrounded by plenty of family and friends. That would have to be enough.  It was more or less a solid month after the destruction of the Sith artifacts when a man matching Nik's description was making his way through the shadowy alleys of Nar Shaddaa. In fact, it was Nik. He'd chosen to hide away on the planet of his birth because he assumed no one would ever believe he'd ever go back to the place that had only ever brought him torment in his formative years. And he'd been right. So far, no one had come looking for him there. With each step he took through those dark and grimy alleys, he limped. He was, after all, still getting used to the prosthetic leg he'd been fitted with after finding his way to the nearest, seediest medical facility — the BactaMax medical center right there on Nar Shaddaa. It had once been fully operational during the Galactic Civil War, but had more or less shuttered its doors in the years that followed. In recent years, Nik knew it operated with a small crew of medical professionals who had lost their medical licenses elsewhere or weren't licensed at all. There was a mod parlor inside the facility now, so it was basically a one-stop shop for Nik.He'd landed his Y-wing on the roof of the building and barely been able to climb out. Lucky for him, there had been two Mods standing together, having a smoke break, and Nik had just enough strength left in him at that point to mind trick them into helping him so he didn't continue to bleed out and die right then and there. The Mods had lifted him up and carried him down into the building from the rooftop access door, but he'd passed out shortly after that. When he woke up, the substantial gash across his chest had been taken care off. It had been stitched up and lathered with bacta, and his entire chest and abdomen was wrapped in one, continuous bandage made of some sort of gauzy material. Breathing was hard, but he was told that was to be expected for a while as the healing process continued. Afterward, he'd been carted off to the mod parlor, where those two, very same Mods that had helped him inside were the ones who fitted him with a new, left leg. He'd lost his own at mid-thigh so it was definitely going to be an interesting experience for him when it came to walking around now.He couldn't deny the similarities of what had happened to him, paired with where he was to get fixed up. Once upon a time, Crisara had required major surgery and the need of cybernetics on Nar Shaddaa after a terrible injury, after helping to free him from servitude as a child. Now, here he was, in her shoes.Sort of.As he'd still been too weak, he couldn't be bothered with attempting to mind trick the Mods again, so he didn't have to pay them for their services. It wasn't that he didn't have the money. He just didn't want to go flashing it around. And he didn't want a digital trail of transferring funds into their accounts from his own. Fortunately, no one had touched his ship, where he'd kept a stash of credits for emergencies. He grabbed enough to cover the cost of what they'd done for him, and a little extra for their trouble, and then chose to befriend them. Because it had been a great number of years since he'd called Nar Shaddaa home, and because he wasn't familiar with this specific area of the moon, he relied on them on the perfect place to lay low while he was recovering. The Mods — Ekkie and Moyra — pointed him in a helpful direction; leading him to temporarily settle in New Vertica, which was a region long since declared independent from Hutt Kajidics.After spending a few days convalescing in the hospital, after having given the fake name of Allick Corr — a play on his adoptive mother's maiden name Aly Corr — Nik found a small apartment to rent by the week. He paid to dock his Y-wing in a long-term hangar nearby and paid for a droid delivery service to bring him some foodstuffs, clothing and other toiletries he would need for a little while. And then he took in his meager domicile; considering how far he'd fallen, and not from the light to the dark side of the Force.He'd gone from living in a grand mansion of his own creation, married to the woman he loved, and with every opportunity at his fingertips. Now he was living in squalor, hiding out on a moon he hated, and permanently maimed by that same woman he still loved. A sane person would've realized their wife almost successfully killing them would be grounds for the end of a marriage, but Nik couldn't let go. Somehow, for reasons unbeknownst to him, it made him love her more. Maybe it was because he admired that fire in her, and respected the lengths she would go to protect those she loved and fight for what she believed in.Even if he wasn't someone she loved anymore.That was okay.He could love enough for the both of them.As the days turned into weeks, Nik had kept himself abreast of the goings-on in the galaxy; notably what had happened in the aftermath of the destruction of his and Leia's home. As had happened a decade earlier with Armitage Hux, it appeared he was now the galaxy's enemy number one, which was no small feat, considering how large the galaxy was and how many wanted criminals were around at any given time. Part of him was proud and impressed, but part of him was also angry and worried. The latter gave cause for him to be hypervigilant about where he went when he needed to venture away from his apartment. He wore a hood over his head and kept his head down. He kept to the shadows, both literal and figurative. He tried to avoid leaving his apartment most of the time, but wound up going stir crazy.To relieve the anxiousness of being cooped up, he would go up the his building's rooftop, sit on the edge and just watch the world go by. It was hypnotic, and a little therapeutic, and it passed the time.Mostly, he just missed Leia.He knew, in her eyes, he'd royally fucked up. But, in his eyes, everything he'd done was excusable. That business with Hux and the death of Temiri was old news now and not what he thought about anymore. The deaths of his maternal family at his hand were brutal and unnecessary, sure. Maybe. But, without them in his life anymore, he was free of their toxicity. He'd rid the galaxy of nasty, brutal, greedy people. Sure, Tulane was okay, but he couldn't very well kill everyone except for her. She was a loose end that had to be pruned, too. His mistake was not doing away with his cousins, but they were so young. Even he had to draw the line somewhere. And, there was the bonus that they were scared of him and that he could use that in his favor. But then they had to go and talk to Zeda, even if it had been brief. And Zeda had to go and poke her nose where it didn't belong — and she made the move to come after him first! She had no right to come into his home, brandish a weapon at him, and not expect him to retaliate.He needed to make Leia see that.If he could get through to her, they could get back to where they were. They could continue to live their lives together and put all this drama behind them.It was going to be an uphill battle, though. After a month of being on the lam, so to speak, he found his funds had been frozen. Every last bank account he had access to. Without access to money, he couldn't pay to stay where he was, or to keep his ship docked in its hangar, let alone buy food and other supplies. He'd have to rely on mind tricks or go old school by relying on the pickpocketing skills from his early years.What a full circle moment his life had become.He'd more or less begun his life as a pickpocket on Nar Shaddaa and now, here he was, twenty-five years later, forced to fall back on old habits.It was late one evening, after swiping a coin purse containing plenty of credits from some svelte woman heading into one of the casinos in the Red Light Sector, when he was in the process of slipping away into a narrow alley when he faltered. It had nothing to do with his new gait, either, which was due to his prosthetic leg throwing him off. His eyesight seemed to fade away on him, but only for a moment, as a jumble of images began to take shape. It was quick but succinct and he was able to understand it all in real-time without any difficulty.Nik stood straighter, stared at the side of the building across from him in the alley, as his regular vision righted itself, and then leaned against the side of the building behind him. As his mind processed the vision he realized he'd just had, which had been the first vision he'd ever had in his thirty-four years of life, he let out a deep, languid sigh.Part of him was amused, part of him was distraught, but part of him was also relieved."So," he muttered aloud to himself. "That's how it's going to end."  A little over a month after Zeda's death, Caro had found himself able to finally return to the Kenobi Academy. Because of how recent the loss still was, though, he chose to occupy the small apartment he'd had built into the school, so he and his small family had a place to stay if they opted to not return home to the villa and wanted to be closer to the school. His desire to stay in that apartment this time with Lora had nothing to do with being closer to the school, but to stay away from the villa, where there were just too many memories to contend with. And, despite how much he truly loved his sister and how he didn't blame her for anything that had happened, seeing her day in and day out just made him think about what Nik had done, and that Nik was still very much alive, out there somewhere in the galaxy, while his wife was dead.One of the few comforting things for Leia lately was spending time with Shara and Shara's family; her niece, Amidala, especially. Shara tried shining a light on the good things, such as talking about how nice it would be to raise their children together — her three and Leia's, which was on the way. But that ended up making Leia cry. She knew she had family and friends to help her, but everything surrounding why she'd be a single parent just broke her heart.Upon returning home from a visit to the Grader residence outside Theed, Leia set the Skywalker down as effortlessly as possible upon the tarmac of the landing zone next to the villa. She sat there in the pilot's seat for a few moments, mentally composing herself when R6-KT beeped at her; asking if she was alright. Smiling appreciatively over her shoulder at her astromech, Leia had nodded and confirmed she would be. She was also thinking about how, in the week following the excavation of her and Nik's home, someone from that recovery crew had found another item buried in the wreckage that they believed were of value to Leia — not knowing just how valuable it was, but not particularly to her.Zeda's wedding ring, which had previously adorned the finger of Sera Dotolo Kenobi for more than fifty years until her death, had been discovered. Her lightsaber had been found the day of the excavation and claimed by Crisara on Caro's behalf. Caro had thought the lightsaber destroyed and was glad to have it back. When the ring was found a week afterward, Crisara had been assuming it had somehow passed into the next life with Zeda, unlike her clothes, which would've remained. She had also assumed the ring had likely been destroyed, or lost under all the debris and virtually impossible to ever retrieve. Getting both items back was a small blessing, and one mother and son were grateful to have returned to them. Even though Crisara had taken ownership of the ring after her grandmother's death, she eventually given it to Caro to give to Zeda, so she gave it back to him; insisting he pass it to Lora one day, when she got older and if she chose to ever get married. She believed it should, after all, stay in the family.As Leia stood up to leave her ship, a small but significant chirping noise from the dashboard console caught her off guard. Turning and looking back at the monitors, her eyes widened and her heart began to race with what that noise meant. With harried vigor, she all but stumbled out of the star skiff and ran toward the house. The moment she was through the front door, she came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs in the grand foyer and already found her mother appearing at the top, staring down at her."It's Nik," Leia muttered. "He's pinging me." As she watched her mother slowly descend the staircase, she inhaled a steadying breath as a bit of dread washed over her. "He's letting me know where he is."With a blank, unreadable face, Crisara held her daughter's gaze until she reached the bottom step and then gently grabbed onto the side of Leia's left arm. "Where is he?"  Within the hour, Leia was once again in the grand foyer, but dressed in more appropriate clothing for where she was headed. Loose, casual tunic-style clothes just wouldn't cut it for a place like Nar Shaddaa. She needed something darker and more fitted that wouldn't get caught on anything if she were to get into a scuffle of any kind. She was armed with her lightsaber and wearing a simple cross-body satchel while her father stood in front of her; looking somewhere between uncertain and fervently cross with her."I don't want you doing this alone, and not with a baby on the way, Berries," he spoke firmly; his brow furrowed and his arms crossed in a way that showed he meant business."And we can't risk him turning tail if anyone other than me shows up," she countered. "I've insisted it has to be me to face him, and I mean it. I have to do this. Me. Not anyone else.""That's your hubris talking." He sighed; knowing she wouldn't listen to him on the matter, but he could at least try. "Take a few Jedi Knights from the Academy. They can stay on your ship until you need their assistance, if you need their assistance." Poe frowned as he looked her dead in the eye. "I'd breathe easier knowing you were as safe as possible, Leia. I can't go through surviving another child. And think of your mother; how she'd have to go through it again. It would destroy us both this time.""Dad," Leia spoke quietly; grabbing for his hands and giving them a squeeze. "I'll be fine. Nik won't hurt me, no matter what. Trust me.""I do trust you. I just don't trust him as far as I can throw him. And with this back of mine, I can't throw anything very far anymore."She smirked, despite everything. "You're my dad. Poe Dameron. You can move mountains."Shaking his head witheringly at her, he tried his best not to smile at her flattery. "You're lucky you're so cute.""I'm almost thirty. I'm not cute.""Okay then. You're lucky you're phenomenally gorgeous, just like your mother."Leia rolled her eyes, also just like her mother. "Oh, please." As she turned from him, he continued to hold onto her hands; as if trying to physically do everything he could to prevent her from leaving. "Dad…""Take me with you then. Let me help." Tears lined his eyes and his chin quivered slightly. "I'm just really scared I could lose you.""You won't. I promise to come back." She then quickly added, "Both of us will come back."As he followed her gaze down to her stomach, Poe exhaled a shaky breath and pulled her into his arms. "Okay. But just please don't follow in your mother's and my footsteps by being reckless." When she stepped back from him, after their embrace, he raised an eyebrow at her. "When we were a barely a little older than you are now, I was mouthing off to Kylo Ren and your mother was somersaulting off of Star Destroyers. Be better and smarter than us, okay?""I will try.""Don't try—""Do," she finished the old adage that she had heard rehashed, namely by her mother, all her life. "I know, I know."With a reassuring smile, Leia took her leave of her father and headed out of the villa, but she was acutely aware he was watching as she walked away. Her mother hadn't wanted her to go either but had accepted her daughter's choice do go it alone. Crisara had retreated to her office to reach out to Rey, to alert her, in case Leia would need back-up, as Rey and Finn and the other Jedi Knights at the Jedi Temple were closer to Nar Shaddaa than they were on Naboo. So, her mother wasn't seeing her off, but at least she knew she had her mother's blessing, in a way.When she settled into the Skywalker again, something felt amiss; as if there was something she was forgetting, but she quickly shook it off. She knew she had everything she needed. She had herself and she had her weapon.She also had the knowledge that she was now four months pregnant with her and Nik's unborn son or daughter. That, alone, would be enough to prevent him from doing any harm to her. She knew he'd always liked the idea of having children with her someday, even if motherhood had never been something she'd strove to achieve. It was approaching now, though, and she was quickly growing fond of the prospect.The morning sickness she could do without, though.As she powered up her ship, Leia began the pre-flight checks. Going off the location that had come through, from Nik's pinging where he was on Nar Shaddaa, she was able to easily lock in her coordinates before she left Naboo's atmosphere. Once she was airborne, she shot forward until she reached the planet's outer atmosphere, and then she paused for a moment. Once again, she felt that sensation of familiarity. She had considered that maybe there was something she'd forgotten. But, she had her blade, R6-KT was still on the ship where she'd left her, and her satchel was set upon the co-pilot's chair.It really was just an odd feeling and she wished she could put her finger on it.So, she shook it off.Once she pushed the Skywalker forward through hyperspace, Leia sat back after setting it on autopilot. She watched the swirling of starlight streaking past the viewport and inhaled a deep, shaky breath. She closed her eyes; trying to focus on the calming vibrations within the Force."You can do this," she whispered quietly to herself; talking herself up. "You can do this."  On the rooftop of his apartment building, Nik sat upon the ledge once again with his long legs dangling down. He leaned forward only slightly to stare down at the seemingly never-ending drop. With the moon being an ecumenopolis, it was virtually impossible to see the ground in most regions. In Hutta Town, where he'd been born, that hadn't been the case. The skyscrapers stood tall there but they were nowhere near as looming. There, you could see the ground and walk upon it. There was even a river with water that flowed readily, but no one with any sense dared to drink from it, let alone wade into it, because of how horrifically polluted it was. It was also why most everyone drank bottled water or had to rely on personal water filtration, which got expensive for that region. Beside him, on the ledge, was a bottle of off-world rum, because no one in their right mind drank the locally distilled stuff unless they had a death wish or needed an accelerant to make a fire spread faster.Though, considering where he believed the day was leading…Overhead and all around the neighboring skyscrapers, all sorts of ships, speeders and other transports were zooming in every possible direction. The higher up, the better the air quality, which was why he enjoyed sitting on the rooftop. Plus, the view of New Vertica wasn't too bad. On his other side, in a small container, there was a meager helping dried berries and mixed nuts that he was snacking on because, as previously mentioned, money was tight for him at the moment, and it was what he could afford. He had been hoping that, when he next saw Leia, they would work things out and he could return to a more comfortable life, but he knew the fate that awaited him. He just wasn't sure on every little detail.Nik was positive he would not see another day, even if he had hope there was a chance he could. His vision had shown him enough that he knew he was more than likely going to die, and he knew Leia was coming to see him. The vision just didn't show him exactly how he died. He just knew that he'd felt his death, and that it would come quickly when it happened.A quick death, he supposed, was more than he could ask for.At any given moment, newly arriving ships entered through Nar Shaddaa's atmosphere and made their descent toward any number of spaceports in any number of the moon's regions. One such ship broke through the cloud cover above him, or was it smog? It was anyone's guess, really. Likely a mix of both. When that particular ship grew nearer, Nik sighed and swiveled; lifting his legs and setting his feet down upon the surface of the rooftop. He covered the container with the dried berries and mixed nuts, and then took one swig from the bottle of rum. Setting both down on the ground, he stood up and watched as Leia's ship, the Skywalker descended and landed a few tens of feet away from him.After a few moments of nothing, the boarding ramp lowered. A minute or two after that, Nik watched as Leia stepped down the ramp and stood at the base. She turned when she saw him, and just remained there, unmoving, as if she'd become stone. There was an undeniable look of love in her eyes for him, but it was paired with greater disappointment, which he knew would be unavoidable to see. He watched the way she finally moved to approach him, but still maintained a considerable distance between them."Hello, beautiful.""Don't," she replied, waving him off as she hardened her expression. As she gave him a proper once-over, she sighed, "You got a new leg, I see.""I couldn't very well hop everywhere on just the one.""I'm not sorry for what I did.""It's okay," he assured, taking a few steps closer and appreciating the fact that she didn't take any steps backward to maintain the gap. "Found a couple Mods here who helped me out. It was…painful, but I survived." It was his turn to give her a once-over. "You do look as beautiful as ever, though. And thank you for coming without delay. I almost forgot our ships were connected with those trackers.""Why did you turn yours back on? Why alert me? You have to know by now I will not join you down the path of the dark side. And, even if you came back to the light, you've done too much damage. There is no going back for us. There is no going forward for us." Leia frowned. "You've broken my heart too badly, Nik.""I know." With a shrug and a smirk, he added, "Seems we've both broken promises."Furrowing her brow in a way that unnervingly reminded him of her father, she asked, "How so?""You promised to love me and spend the rest of your life with me." He saw the way she was about to say something to combat his comment, but he continued with, "But I also promised your parents to never break your heart. I'm pretty certain your father's exact threat was that if I broke your heart, he would rip mine out and eat it. Something to that effect."Leia released a shaky sigh. Her gloved, prosthetic right hand began to hover over her lightsaber that was hooked to the belt she wore. She took a series of small, subtle breaths to keep her calm, but Nik could feel the unease and uncertainty washing over her. He could feel she wasn't sure she could go through with what she came there to do."It doesn't have to end this way," he pleaded; taking a few more steps forward. "I mean, I'm unarmed, so it would be a pretty unfair fight. And doesn't it go against what we were taught; to not cause harm or take the life of someone who is unarmed?""You don't need a physical weapon to be dangerous. You are a weapon, Nik, and there is no prison in this galaxy that could contain you. I know that to be true. And you walking around freely as you are, after what you've done and are still capable of, just…it doesn't fly." She pouted and a few tears began to sting at her eyes. Or maybe it was also the smog. Also likely both. "I don't want to fight you, but I don't know what else to do. You've forced my hand.""Why does it have to be your hand?""You're too dangerous," she repeated. "I can feel it in you — that you won't change. You won't turn away from the dark side. You will become worse if allowed to live." Her tears began to fall. "You can't be allowed to live." She sniffled, but was quick to suppress the sob that was threatening to escape her throat.While he loved her as much as he possibly could, he also felt an odd sensation of hatred for her. He hated her for not seeing things his way. He hated her for not throwing in with him. "We could've been the ultimate power couple, if you could've just opened your mind to the possibilities. The two of us, against the galaxy: no one could've stopped us. We could've done anything. Gone anywhere.""I didn't want any of that. I've never wanted that," Leia contended. "I loved traveling with you, sure. But I just wanted you. I didn't want," she gestured between them, "this." With a shake of her head, she boldly took a couple steps closer to him. "I never agreed to walking the type of path you're on. You weren't thinking about us. You were only thinking about yourself. You made that choice for yourself. And, in a roundabout way, you made a choice for me, too. You made me choose to walk away from you and the relationship we've built for the last ten years. For what? Power?" She scoffed at him, at how ridiculous the notion was. "It's pathetic."It was Nik's turn for his expression to harden. His hazel-green eyes began to shift colors again; giving way to that golden yellow the Sith of old were notable for having. The rage he'd been suppressing, for her sake, he now allowed to slowly seep upward toward the surface. "I'm not pathetic," he muttered evenly. "I just see things differently now."Taking a few steps back from him, Leia removed her lightsaber from her belt and ignited it. The purple glow from the plasma blade highlighted her face and reflected eerily off her dark eyes as she stared upward at him. "I truly don't to fight you. I don't even want to kill you," she asserted. "Even now, I still love you, and I always will to some degree. I just don't see myself in love with you anymore. I think it's like how it was for my mother and Caro's father. Marriage ruined their relationship. Binding myself to you in such a way — it ruined our friendship and it's making it harder to do what needs to be done.""Then don't do it." He was trying very hard to not be insulted by her claim of not being in love with him anymore because he was certain he was very much still in love with her. But, that was okay. He still believed he could love enough for the both of them. "I haven't hurt or killed anyone in the last month, since you last saw me. I don't just kill people because I'm bored and it's fun. Everyone who met their end at my hand deserved it!" he suddenly shouted in her face; though mindful of the plasma blade near his."Zeda didn't deserve it!" she shouted back; letting her own anger bubble upward as she pointed her lightsaber directly at his head, which caused him to jerk backward so he wasn't impaled by it. "Your family, assholes they may have been, didn't deserve it!"Nik glowered at her. "Yes they did. Each and every one of them, and I would do it again," he sneered. "Your brother was lucky you were there with him at our home, because I would've killed him, too, without so much as blinking an eye. And if he were to come at me now, I would throw him off this building after taking your lightsaber from you and splitting him in two."Letting out a growl of frustration, Leia pulled back and swung at him, but he dodged the strike. Throwing a hand outward, he Force pushed her backward, causing her to skid along the roof's surface. He didn't want to cause her harm, but he would defend himself for as long as he could. After taking barely a second to regroup, Leia charged forward and began to parry against him, even though he held no blade. He was merely using the Force to push back against every hit she attempted to take."Your anger is palpable, darling," he taunted with a rakish smile. "Don't you understand how easy it would be if you would just give in to it and join me? You won't have to worry about the moral repercussions. It's so fucking freeing." Nik sidestepped another strike by ducking down and popping back upward somewhat behind her. "If you just gave in, you'd see more clearly. You certainly wouldn't be struggling to lay a blow on me. You were able to do it just fine back at our home.""I wasn't actively trying to kill you then," she threw back at him."Let's be honest: you're barely trying now." With a small chuckle, he reached his right hand out and clenched his fist; causing her to gasp and her eyes to widen with surprise. He was choking her, but her airway wasn't completely restricted. He didn't want to suffocate her or snap her neck. He didn't want to kill her but, being without a weapon, he had limited options to defend himself. "Stop it. Just…fucking stop for a minute."As she struggled in his grasp, he was able to yank her blade away from her with his other hand, which caused her eyes to widen in fear. Because of the steel trap his mind was when it came to anyone trying to probe his thoughts, she couldn't tell that he wasn't going to actually kill her. She believed this could be the end of the line for her, so she knew she had to use the only ace up her sleeve she truly had."Nik, I'm…" she gasped. "I'm pregnant."As soon as she managed to get those words out, his hold on her slackened and he let go completely. "What did you just say?" he questioned; narrowing his gaze at her.Leia hunched forward, bracing her left hand upon her left knee while touching her gloved right hand upon her neck. Coughing and clearing her throat, she slowly stood up straighter as soon as she caught her breath again. "I'm pregnant. Four months now." With a languorous sigh, she held a hand out to him, but watched the way he tensed and drew backward from her with distrust. "Just give me your hand for a minute." Apprehensively, he held his free, left hand outward. She took hold of it and brought it downward to hover over her stomach. "Focus and tell me you don't feel that new life; small but growing." She watched the way he knitted his brow together. "You wanted a family of your own, with me. You wanted to be a dad, and you would've been a great one, if you'd just stayed the course."Nik snapped his eyes upward at her and yanked his hand back. "I still could be.""What kind of father could you be?" she asked. "Honestly. You refuse to turn back to the light for me and I can feel, even now, how you refuse to come back to it. Not for me, not for our child.""Our child," he repeated under his breath."Because, again, no prison can hold you and you can't be trusted to willingly stay in one. You can't be allowed to just go freely, living here or anywhere else in obscurity. Sooner or later, you'd do something else horrendous, and you need to pay for your crimes."Nik sighed. "I know." Tilting his head to the side, he focused more on her gaze. "I had a vision that I was going to die," he admitted. "I thought there could be a chance I could change that, or put it off, but I know my time has come."Tepidly, Leia reached forward for her lightsaber, and was thankful Nik made no play to hold onto it. He simply let it go. She took a couple steps back from him and watched as his eyes closed; resigning himself to death. She ignited the blade once more, holding it upward, but she hesitated to bring it down upon him or to fatally impale him with it. She couldn't help but think of all the wonderful times they'd shared. All those happy memories, now tainted by his recent travesties."Will you tell our child about me?" he wondered; his eyes still closed."The good and the bad.""Okay.""Leia — stop!"Both Leia and Nik turned and looked back toward her ship to find her mother standing upon the boarding ramp. Both were equally surprised by the Jedi Master's appearance."Mom?" Leia questioned. "How?" Then she finally understood — that familiar feeling when she'd boarded the Skywalker to come here. It was her mom, hiding away on her ship.Yeah.So, maybe Crisara had taken a page from her grandfather Obi-Wan's book and snuck aboard another Naboo star skiff as another pair of secret spouses was having a serious row on another shitty world.You know…history repeating itself…yada, yada, yada.As Crisara casually approached the pair, she maintained her gaze only upon Nik. "Leia, go back to your ship and don't look back, okay?"Understanding what her mom meant to do, Leia shook her head. "No," she insisted. "It has to be me.""No, it doesn't.""Mom, no."Stepping up beside her daughter, Crisara turned and looked Leia dead in the eye; her gaze calm, stern and unwavering all at the same time. "You will go back to your ship and you will not look back."Abruptly, Leia's posture straightened and looked as if she was suddenly in a trance. It was the strangest, most unperturbed feeling that washed over her; as if she no longer had a care or a worry in the world. "I will return to my ship and not look back."Leia deactivated her lightsaber and clipped it to her belt. Then, without a second thought, she turned on the heels of her feet and sauntered back toward her star skiff while Nik watched her go with shock and awe in his eyes.For possibly the first time ever, a Jedi mind trick had just been successfully executed against another person strong in the Force, who would normally be immune to such power. It was that power Luke Skywalker had always seen in his daughter and that others who had come and gone before her, or that were still around, had always known she was capable of.It was also a power that had Nik feeling properly frightened; realizing this was the end of his metaphorical road."Shit," he mumbled quietly.Not needing to watch after her daughter to know she'd obeyed her directive, Crisara had returned her focus upon Nik and stepped forward with renewed purpose, which caused him to visibly swallow back a lump in his throat. "I used to believe that I failed you in some way," she began to say. "Everyone else told me I shouldn't think that way because I'd given you every opportunity to rise above, and yet you still made the choices you made. You threw away everything good and became darkness personified. I pulled you out of darkness as a child, but I suppose I was too late. The seeds had already been planted in your soul. I guess you were always destined to walk this path you've found yourself on. That you've chosen to walk.""It's true," he agreed; somehow managing to find his voice again. "I was put on this path long before you came into my life. Even if I hadn't been given up for adoption or orphaned, I would've found the darkness. The Santhes would've fueled it from the beginning if Mama and Papa hadn't. And I won't apologize for anything, though I do regret breaking Leia's heart." After a moment, he sighed. "Can I ask just one favor?""It depends.""Don't let my child follow in my footsteps. Don't let them become like me."Crisara nodded once. Then, "Close your eyes."With a steadying breath, Nik obliged.For a moment, Crisara saw the little boy he used to be standing in front of her, but then she was easily reminded of the terrible things he'd done.Remaining calm, cool and collected, Crisara lifted her right arm up and, with the swiftest flicks of her wrist she used the Force to snap Nik's neck. A moment later, his body crumpled lifelessly to the ground and she just stood there, looking down upon him with a frown of deep sadness and regret. Tears stung her eyes when she realized his body wasn't fading away like she knew others strong in the Force had been capable of. She knew it wasn't because he didn't have the knowledge of how to do it. After all, she'd trained him how. She knew it was because he had still been consumed by the dark side in the end, thus making him incapable of joining the Force upon death and retaining his consciousness. His soul would likely, if such a place truly did exist, be sent to the Void — hell.Knowing she couldn't just leave him there, no matter his misdeeds, she crouched down and, with aid from the Force, lifted him into her arms. Even with the Force, though, it was a bit of a struggle. She carried his body the entire way toward the boarding ramp of the Skywalker and then set him down to drag him the rest of the way up into the hull. Once inside, she closed the ramp, sealing them all within, but then just laid him down there.When she made her way up to the cockpit, Crisara found Leia standing there in a bit of a daze, but the younger woman was slowly coming out of it when she sensed her mother's approach. Shaking the remnants of the mind trick away, she rushed forward toward the viewport and looked out in the direction of where Nik had been, but then she stood up straight and looked back at her mother."Where is he?""He's on this ship.""You let him live?" Leia asked; surprised.Slowly, Crisara shook her head. "No."Tears immediately sprang from Leia's eyes and she dropped down to her knees. "I never wanted him to actually die," she blubbered, "even though I knew he'd have to. I loved him so much.""I know." Crisara, too, had tears falling from her eyes, but she otherwise maintained her composure. After crouching down again, this time to place a consoling hand upon her daughter's shoulder, Crisara sighed heavily with remorse. "He'd been a lovely young man once. Try to remember him that way."Wiping at her tears, Leia nodded, but then knitted her brow together with confusion about something. "How could you bring him onto the ship? Wouldn't he have—?" Then it hit her. She understood. "Oh."Crisara nodded."The dark side prevented him moving on," Leia remarked; causing new tears to fall. Breathing in and out a little harder, as if trying to prevent some oncoming panic attack, she looked her mother in the eye. "No matter what he did, he deserves a final sendoff. I need to put the man I loved to rest.""And I'll help you with that."Appreciating that, Leia began to stand up. "How come you did it?" she questioned, as her mother stood back up as well. "How come you wouldn't let me be the one?""For the same reason you wouldn't let Caro. I couldn't let you blacken your soul. And I couldn't let you kill the man you loved and," she pushed some hair behind her daughter's ear, "I think still do. If your father had done what Nik had done, I don't think I'd have it in me to be the one to take his life. I'm just surprised you're not angry at me.""I'm not. I'm grateful, actually. I didn't want to be the one to do it." Sadly, she looked her mother in the eye. "I can't imagine it was too much easier for you.""I brought him into our lives. I think it was fitting I…" Crisara suddenly found herself a little emotional. She exhaled a steadying breath and wiped a few of her own tears away. "It couldn't be you, that's all that matters. You're going to have enough on your plate with that little one going forward." Placing a hand upon her daughter's stomach, she looked her lovingly in the eye. "I would do something like this again, for any of you, in a heartbeat, because that's what parents do. We make the hard decisions and we make the sacrifices to give our children better lives." Pulling her daughter in for a tight hug, she whispered further, "You'll come to know what that's like eventually. But, right now, you get to remain the child, okay? Let me take on the burdens for you while I still can."As Leia wrapped her arms around her mother's back, she began to freely sob again, but Crisara remained stalwart for her.They would take Nik's body wherever Leia chose for him to either be buried or placed upon a funeral pyre, and Crisara would stand beside her daughter through it all.For her daughter and for the boy Nik had once been.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I'm a wanderess, I'm a one-night standDon't belong to no city, don't belong to no manI'm the violence in the pouring rainI'm a hurricane"— Halsey 
70 ABY — Three years later
As the breeze whispered through the branches of the trees lining the back garden of the villa, Leia sat there in a simple chair, unable to truly focus on what was going on around her. She was completely zoned out. The voices were speaking were muffled, as if her head was underwater. It wasn't until she felt a tugging at her hair that she blinked the daydreaming away and snapped out of it. With a small, affectionate smile, she tipped her face down a bit to glance upon the little boy in her lap.Her son.He was everything to her now, and her mother had been right, once upon a time. For Crisara Dameron, she had claimed being a mother had been her greatest achievement. Of all the titles she'd held, 'mom' was by far her favorite. And, once upon a time, Leia couldn't see how that would ever be the same for her. She'd never wanted kids of her own. She'd only wanted to be the 'cool aunt.' After all, having grown up with several siblings and surrounded by plenty other children at the Kenobi Academy, she'd had her fill of kids, even when she was one. She hadn't been receptive to the idea of having to give up her freedom, or her body, for another person who would become dependent on her for, most likely, the rest of her life. It was such a daunting responsibility. A burden, if you will.But then, something changed.Not saying all females who get pregnant suddenly discover that motherly instinct and immediately love the child growing within them, but it did end up happening that way for Leia. And, for her, it was wonderful. It helped soothe the ache of Nik dying; no matter the path he'd gone down in the end, or how she still felt about him or didn't feel about him anymore. He'd been her first love, and they had loved for an entire decade. He'd been beside her during her transition from girl to woman. They'd been through so much together. And, even though he'd broken her heart, he still clung to a portion to it, even in death.Looking down at her son, her beloved little boy, she pressed her lips to the top of his head and inhaled the scent from the soft tufts of his thick, dark brown hair. He didn't inherit his father's curly hair or the cleft in his chin, but it was looking as if he would get his father's nose, the older he'd get, as he grew more into his face. Her son did have her ears, the shape of her face, and even the way he laughed was just like her. However, despite also having Leia's brown eyes, somehow his eyes were still very much Nik's. Some days it was like seeing Nik in toddler form, running around, and it made her take pause for a second so she could grieve again, however briefly.But this wasn't Nik in her lap. It was their son. No, her son, because Nik was gone and she was doing this without him. In fact, her son had her name.Dameron.Yaren had been Nik's adopted surname and the surnames of his biological parents — Pirsto and Santhe — yeah...no, thank you. Leia was not going to burden her son with any of those. If he was going to have a name that meant something, it was going to be a name he could be proud to have as he grew up. And, as Caro's daughter carried the Canda surname, and Shara's children would carry the Grader surname, and with both Temiri and Len gone, there was no one other than Leia to ensure the Dameron surname continued.But it wasn't just the Dameron name she had given him.She had been hemming and hawing over what to call him. She had such a hard time settling on something. She didn't really have any favorite names that she'd always liked because she had never planned on being a mother, so she never squirreled those preferences away for a rainy day, so to speak. And, unlike Shara, she wasn't as keen on naming her child after the dead. Shara's fourth — and final, she'd asserted — child had been another son, who had been born two years ago, and who she had finally named Len, which was something Len had lamented the idea of when he was still alive because it had felt weird to him then. Though, it wouldn't have mattered at the time, because Shara had ended up having her daughter Amidala — Ami — anyway.It had been a full week after her son was born and she still hadn't named him. He legally just Baby Boy Dameron for the time being, until she returned to Theed Hospital and registered his name with them. She'd been nursing him upon the front tiled patio, staring off toward her ship, the Skywalker, and then glanced down at him. At that moment, he'd unlatched from her and seemed to smirk up at her. And, just like that, she knew his name.That evening, she formally presented her son to her parents, Caro and her niece Lora.Skye Dameron."Mama, we eat cake now?" he was now asking of her; shifting his grasp on her hair to start twirling it comfortingly around his fingers."Shh," she hushed him. "Not yet. Soon, though." Sitting up straighter again, she turned to her left and noticed her father smiling and then winking at her. As she smiled back, she watched the way he turned his attention forward, and she did the same.Surrounding them all was their immediate family and their family's closest friends, all seated together in simple chairs in the back garden of the villa. Leia was seated at the front with her parents on her left, her son on her lap and her niece Lora on her right. In the row behind them, Shara and Zeith sat with all four of their kids, who were growing just as restless as Skye was becoming. Before all of them Caro stood with a thin, wisp of a redheaded woman, ten years his junior.Caro was forty now, and his hair had been changing in the last few years. Fifteen to twenty years ago he had still been quite blonde. As he got older, the blonde got a little darker and, as he slipped into his thirties, red hues became more prominent. Their mother claimed he'd inherited it from their great-grandfather, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Then, seemingly overnight, his hair had more or less become fully ginger, with several prominent streaks of grey entering the chat. Leia didn't believe the grey had anything to do with age, so much as the stress from having lost Zeda. That first year afterward for him had been difficult, but he was in such a good place now. He was happy and he was smiling.And, he was in love again.He was getting married again.That had been a surprise for them all — for himself, especially.It had been only the year before when he met his new bride, Sindé Rhal, and their whirlwind romance began. He hadn't been looking for love. In fact, the night before this wedding ceremony, he'd admitted to Leia as much."Never in a millions years did I think I'd fall in love again. At least, not this soon," he'd said. "I thought, if it would ever happened again, it would've been at least another ten years or so."He hadn't been able to properly explain it, but it all boiled down to love at first sight. Something in him was just intrinsically drawn to Sindé. He'd taken Lora to the Concert Hall in Theed, where a touring troupe of dancers, native to Naboo, were performing a dance recital of sorts. It had been advertised for weeks. The troupe was making stops in all the major cities on Naboo and its moons; the final stop being in Theed. Lora had gotten wind of it and had wanted so badly to go, so Caro made sure he got tickets for the two of them. He had bought her a pretty dress to wear and, the day of, he'd taken her to her first fancy dinner in an actual restaurant.Ever since losing her mother, Caro had made more of an effort to do more for her and be more present for her, and make as much of her childhood as special for her as possible, to make up for what was lacking in their lives.It was at the show where Caro had literally bumped into Sindé, who happened to be the choreographer for the troupe. As it turns out, years before she had been one of those dancers in the same troupe, but she'd fallen during a rehearsal and broken her leg very badly. No amount of time spent healing and no medication or bacta treatments would ever get her back to one hundred percent. Her days as a dancer were over. But, as the saying goes: Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.He'd complimented her and her troupe, and they'd immediately struck up further conversation while Lora had wandered off to give flowers to the dancer she had thought to be the prettiest and most talented. Shortly after that night, Caro had been in the capital city again and, by chance, crossed paths with Sindé at a bakery. He'd been picking up a dozen sweet cakes frosted with pink icing for Lora's ninth birthday, and Sindé was just there because she had a sweet tooth. After that day, Caro couldn't stop thinking about her. Suddenly there was a change in his demeanor at home. He was happier, he walked straighter, and he didn't seem as if he had a world of burdens weighing down upon his shoulders anymore.He'd been nervous and admitted to feeling so guilty by allowing himself to fall for someone else again. He was worried Lora would be upset. He was worried what others would think of him. He was even worried Zeda would appear to him in her spectral form and lament how betrayed she was by him. But none of that ended up being the case.Lora was happy her dad was happy. She was such a sweet thing, with her mother's kindly and gentle disposition. She missed her mom, and she knew her dad did, too, but she also didn't want her dad to be lonely forever. She knew he would always love her mom, but he had to continue living; the same as they all did. The rest of their family was just as happy for him, too; especially when they realized he was already falling in love. And Zeda did appear to him, but only to give him her blessing, and to assure him that she thought Sindé was a lovely woman. His deceased wife liked her, Lora liked her and, after he'd brought Sindé around to meet his family for the first time over dinner, they all decided they liked her, too. And she liked them back.Sindé Rhal had easily fit into their family as if she'd always been there. So, the fact that she and Caro had begun dating, gotten engaged and were now getting married all in the expanse of one year didn't seem strange to anyone. Considering all the losses they'd endured throughout their lives, they knew all too well to cherish what they had, while they had it. There was no point in wasting time. If you found someone to love, you loved them with all your heart and you didn't look back. And Caro was definitely looking forward now.Leia was truly happy for him. Seriously, she was.It just…Seeing Caro getting this second chance at love, seeing Shara's continued happiness with her husband, children and even her career, and seeing the way her parents still hadn't lost that fire, after over thirty-five years together…Leia just felt a little jealous about it all.Not that she had been in any headspace to consider love again — 'cause she wasn't. She just wished she was as happy as they were. Sure, her son brought her joy, but there was definitely something missing in her life, which led her to filling that void in different ways.Mainly with work, which she had resumed about six months after Skye was born.By that point it had been a year since Nik's death. She had gone to the place where she and her mother had taken him. They'd gone to Tatooine, deep into the Jundland Wastes, where they'd built a funeral pyre together and placed Nik atop of it. They'd set the pyre alight with their blades and then stepped back as the fire consumed his sheet-wrapped body — because Leia couldn't watch him burn, uncovered — and as the smoke began to billow upward in thick, dark plumes. Mother and daughter had stood there and watched the pyre all night, even long after the twin suns had set and the world around them grew cold. The fire kept them warm enough, but only physically. Neither had spoken until the last flame died away and Nik's body had turned to ash, which was indistinguishable from the sand on the ground.Crisara had wondered why Leia had chosen Tatooine, but received no answer.For Leia, though, it had been where she married Nik, and it was where a lot of their family's stories had begun, or where their lives forever changed. Leia's life was definitely forever changed now and something about being widowed had sat oddly with her.She'd needed to do something; to feel more purpose in her life outside of just being Skye's mommy now. So, she chose to get back into bounty hunting because it gave her distraction and a bit of a thrill, and kicking the occasional ass was a good outlet for her some days when meditation just didn't cut it.Following the ceremony, the bride and groom, along with their families and guests, made their way inside the villa for a cocktail hour while hired help brought tables into the back garden and set the same chairs around those tables. Tablecloths were added, dishware and silverware laid out, and small bouquets of wildflowers were placed in the center of those tables. While everyone had a drink or two and mingled with one another, the kids were allowed to head upstairs and play for a little while with Lora and Kes, the oldest grandchildren, keeping an eye on the youngest ones.In total, there were six grandchildren now, and Poe and Crisara couldn't be happier with their lot. Sure, they still wished their oldest and youngest sons were still alive and with them, with families of their own, but they were grateful for what they did have. The pair were inching ever closer to their seventies; with Poe having recently turned sixty-eight and Crisara a few months out from sixty-seven. It was a strange thing for them both, for sure. Poe had summed it up for her a short while ago, in regard to their advancing age, which felt absolutely surreal for each of them."In my head, I still think I look as I did when I was twenty-five, thirty years old. But then I catch my reflection and it confirms otherwise. Half the time I think I'm looking at my father, or my grandfather, but it's just me. I'm the old man now and sometimes it's a little scary."They were grateful to be able to get older, of course, since they knew so many others they had known had never and will never get the chance. Still yet, it was a little scary. Most of their lives were behind them now. How much time was left ahead of them? It got Poe, mostly, feeling a little anxious and antsy, and that's why he'd decided, after the excitement of Caro's wedding dying down, that he and Crisara needed to finally get their asses moving and finally start traveling, as they'd always wanted to in their golden years.After the meal in the back garden was served and enjoyed, Skye, in his little booster seat in the chair beside his mother, was happier than a drunkard in a river of whiskey because dessert was finally served and he was able to get his little hands on his very own slice of cake. Leia and Skye sat at a table with Poe, Crisara, Rey and Finn, and each adult had the best time watching Skye go to town on that cake."I could watch him all day," Rey laughed. "He is, by far, the most amusing child I've ever known.""Hang around a bit more," Poe retorted. "He's already a natural comedian. Reminds me a lot of Len in that manner," he added, wistfully; no longer as heartbroken as he had been years prior that his youngest was gone.Leia smiled affectionately at her son, reached her hand out and brushed at his hair. "Slow down, sweetie. You'll choke," she urged, as she watched him attempt to shove three bites of cake into his mouth without chewing and swallowing the first bite yet.Finn, who sat on the other side of the toddler, pushed his sippy cup closer. "Take a sip, buddy. Wash some of that down."Skye made an attempt to say something, causing most of the cake to fall out and plop back down onto his plate in a mushy clump; bringing subtly disgusted grimaces to the faces of the adults. When his mouth was clear, he grinned across the table at his Grandpa Poe, who was very much his bestest friend ever. "Cake so good," he asserted, grabbing for his sippy cup as 'Uncle' Finn advised."Cake is better when you eat it in smaller bites," Leia added. "Or, at least, one bite at a time, okay?"Sucking back a few hefty gulps of juice to cleanse his palate and wash down what was sticking to his mouth, Skye nodded his head just as his eyelids began to droop. With everything going on that day, he hadn't gotten a nap in, so Leia knew he'd be able to go straight to bed without issue, and earlier than normal, which would allow her to enjoy the wedding as a proper adult and not just as a parent. And, sure as shit, that's exactly what happened.For a little while, after the tables were cleared away by hired waitstaff, the kids resumed running around. Because of the sugar rush Skye and the others had from the cake, they were burning it off at an increased rate but, before long, they were crashing. Their parents found most of them slumped on the sofa or overstuffed chairs in the family room inside the house. Skye was found curled up on the floor near the fireplace, which was unlit, with only a small, decorative pillow for comfort. Leia had hoisted him gently up into her arms while Zeith had done the same with his and Shara's youngest, Len. The others, being older, were ushered upstairs on their own two feet, where they were sent to bed. Lora and Skye were the only kids that lived at the villa with their respective parents, and grandparents, while the Grader kids took to the spare rooms that Poe and Crisara had added onto the villa for this very reason: to have plenty of room for their children and grandchildren to have a place to lay their heads.As the night wore on, music was kept to a low din, as not to disturb the sleeping children inside while the adults carried on outside. Leia had made her way around the back garden, mingling with family, friends and even several of the Jedi Knights and Masters from both the Kenobi Academy and the Jedi Order who had been invited. As she migrated away from most everyone, she found herself near the section of the garden where the stone bench was still positioned across from the memorial pedestals of her great-grandparents Obi-Wan and Sera, and their daughter, her grandmother Adamé.Sitting down with a drink in hand, she turned away from that direction to instead face the tomb that still held Sessani's coffin and the box containing the ashes of the clothes and cloak Temiri had been wearing when he died. She sighed and, after a moment, shifted her gaze over at Len's memorial pedestal.She hated that she wished Nik had a memorial pedestal of his own in the back garden.That would've never flown with either her father or with Caro. Really, none of her family, including herself, would've thought it appropriate. But, part of her couldn't help but still miss him and wish her son could've known the man his father had once been. At least Skye didn't seem to have the wherewithal to ask who his father was yet, despite the fact that his first word had been 'dada'. She had to tell herself, when that happened, that 'dada' was most children's first word because it was the easiest to say. How he knew to say it was a little unnerving though. She hoped there was no Sith version of a Force ghost of Nik floating around that she couldn't see but her son could, or at least hear. She didn't need Nik, in any capacity, whispering in their son's ear as Snoke had done to Ben Solo so many decades ago."I still wish things had gone differently, and I'm sorry for my part in it all."Leia turned to look over her shoulder; finding Caro standing a few feet behind her with a drink of his own also in his hand. As he moved to sit down beside her on the bench, she raised an eyebrow up at him. "What are you talking about? Sorry for what?""Maybe if I'd been more forgiving and not actively pushed to remove Nik from our lives after what happened to Tem, maybe Nik wouldn't have, I dunno, gone off the deep end? What if the part I played was the key factor that sent him down the path he traveled? What if, in a roundabout way, it's a little bit my fault that he went to the dark side? What if it's a little bit my fault that Zeda died?""Nik was a grown man who understood right from wrong and still chose the path he walked. And Zeda, well…no offense, but she shouldn't have hung back on Lianna and engaged Nik, who was already pretty hostile by that point," Leia countered with a slight shake of her head. "Not that I'm victim blaming. I'm not.""No, it's okay. Some days I'm still angry at her for going off like that." Caro harrumphed. "She was never so headstrong about things like that. She was always so passive, but she was also very protective of those she loved, and she was worried for your sake." With a small, sad smile, he bumped his shoulder against his sister's. "She thought she was helping to protect you.""I didn't need protecting.""Still, though…"With another sigh, Leia shifted on the bench so they were both fully sitting side by side. "I don't know if I told you yet that I'm so happy for you," she continued; changing the subject to something happier. "I'm so happy you've been given this second chance at love." Leia smiled properly up at him. "I can't think of anyone who deserves it more."Caro smiled back. "I can," he remarked, knowingly.Picking up what he was putting down, Leia shook her head. "No. I don't see myself walking that path again. Or, at least, not in this decade. Maybe when I'm old like you, I'll give it another whirl.""What is it with you guys calling me old?" he laughed. "Ten years ago, just after Lora was born, Len kept teasing me; calling me an old man. Now, here I am, with you doing the same. And, okay — once upon a time I thought thirty was old, but then I was thirty. Then, at thirty, I thought forty was old.""And now you're forty and — what? Are you looking ahead to fifty being old instead?" Snickering she leaned closer and lowered her voice. "How about we settle on neither is old, but mom and dad are."Caro laughed once more. "Definitely don't say that too loudly. It's a point of contention for dad," he remarked; bringing his drink to his lips and taking a chaste sip of the wine within the glass. "What comes after a mid-life crisis, because I think he may be having a small one of whatever it is?""I'd say 'late-life' crisis, but I don't like the way that sounds. It makes it sound like mom and dad are positively ancient and about to drop dead at any minute." Once more wanting to steer the subject matter back toward something happier, Leia took a swig of her own wine and cleared her throat. "Anyway, where are you and Sindé going on your honeymoon again?"Settling his drink upon his lap, Caro began to smile a bit dreamily. "Chandrila," he replied. "With how mom and dad had placed the apartment in Hanna City into Len's name, ownership returned to them after he died, and none of us have really bothered to use it since. They've still kept it all these years, so that's where Sindé and I are gonna stay." His eyes drifted briefly over toward Len's memorial pedestal out of habit, and then he opted for finding something interesting in a ginberry bush that wasn't in season just yet. "Sindé is more well-traveled, I guess you can say. She wasn't raised the way we were. She grew up in a moderately well-off household. When she became a professional dancer, she was traveling and touring the major cities on Naboo, its moons and all around the galaxy. Even after her dancing career ended after her accident, and she shifted into choreography, she's still kept up traveling. She's used to nicer, glitzier things, and I want to provide her with the same things. Obviously, I'm not saying she's materialistic or anything like that. Just, compared to Zeda, she's more…" He was struggling to find the appropriate word that didn't insult his either wife nor shine a negative light on them."Cultured?" Leia suggested."Yeah, that sounds about right," he agreed. "Growing up here, Zeda and I — we were more sheltered, even if we were all raised with plenty different walks of life at the Kenobi Academy. We traveled a little bit once were knighted but, for the most part, we kept our lives quiet and simple. With Sindé, everything is new and vibrant. It's not better or worse. Just…different.""Different is good.""It is.""You two leave tomorrow, right?" Off Caro's nod, Leia added, "I'll be heading to the Core tomorrow, too.""Oh?" Caro turned his head and raised a curious eyebrow at his youngest sister. "Chandrila, by any chance?""No. Coruscant."His smirk faded and he immediately grimaced. "Ew.""It's not as bad as it once was." Then, "Well, most parts, anyway. Like most ecumenopolises, the further down in levels you go, the shadier, and not just because those levels are further away from any natural light. The closer to the surface, the nicer and more swanky, as with any city, really. I mean, the higher the floor in any apartment building, the more expensive those apartments get.""No, I get it." After taking another sip of wine, he asked, "Going to Coruscant for, uh, work?""Yeah," she confirmed. "I was contacted yesterday by a Guild Master about a quarry; some lowlife who failed to complete a job for someone of importance, or stole from that someone of importance. I'm not sure on the details yet. I have to meet with the Guild Master tomorrow, and then I'll get my holopuck with the information needed and can get my guy, so to speak."Caro's blue eyes widened slightly amusement and he raised an eyebrow at her. "Sounds exciting?" He seemed unsure."It can be, honestly.""And you really, truly enjoy doing this? Because, I mean, if you wanted, there's always a place for you at the Academy. You could also take on just a single padawan to teach. Either way, you'd be able to make the rank of Master someday."Leia shrugged. "I'm fine as I am."He nodded, accepting her decision. For now. "So, what's the plan for Skye? Leaving him with Shara again?""Yeah.""Is she aware or are you going to spring it on her last minute like last time?"A soft chuckle escaped Leia's lips. "She knows. When she and Zeith leave here tomorrow morning with their brood, they're taking Skye with them." After a thought popped into her head, she turned and looked upon her brother. "Who's going to be looking after Lora while you're on your honeymoon?""She's gonna be boarding at the Academy for a week. Afterward, we're coming back here to get her and take her with us for our second week away; for a family vacation afterward.""Aww, that's a lovely thing to do. Where are you going with both your girls?""Synjax.""Place with the beaches with super soft sand and purple waters?"Caro shrugged. "Apparently," he replied. "A few years ago I asked mom where she and my bio dad went on their honeymoon. They went on a cruise that made a stop on Synjax. My honeymoon with Zeda I mirrored mom's and dad's stops to Canto Bight and Yavin. So, I thought, why not mirror part of mom's and my bio dad's stops, but for a family vacation?"Leia smiled. "I was there once with Nik years ago. I enjoyed it." A dark shadow quickly fell over her face. Straightening her posture, she moved to stand up. "Well," she began to change the subject, "I hope you and Sindé, and then you, Sindé and Lora have an amazing two weeks of fun and then sun. You deserve it."Standing up alongside her, Caro smiled back at her, appreciatively, and then pulled her into a hug. "Thank you," he whispered. "And you deserve the same, whenever you see fit to open yourself up to the possibility of love again."With a sigh, she leaned back and frowned, and then knocked back the remainder of the wine in her glass. "Don't go holding your breath anytime soon."  Less than a twenty-four hours later, it was after nightfall as Leia was walking along Vos Gesal Street in the Uscru Entertainment District of Coruscant. She was dressed in rather unassuming clothes which were more or less hidden by the dark cloak with wide sleeves she was also wearing. She kept the hood up, not because she was hiding who she was but because it was raining; something that only happened at night. It was something long since decided upon by the Coruscant Weather Control Network, or the Coruscant WeatherNet, which was responsible for various weather conditions on Coruscant. Even so, rain after nightfall wasn't too frequent on Coruscant. From what Leia had come to understand, it maybe only happened one night a week, and usually at the end of the week; as if metaphorically wiping away the sins of the week ending so the new week could begin anew. Despite her hood being up, not to hide who she was, she was wearing a mask over the bottom half of her face exactly for that reason; the same as she'd done while on jobs as well as taking them on. Basically, all that was visible were her eyes, which she lined with kohl; as makeup wasn't something she normally wore. So, if a member of the Guild or a former client, or even a former quarry ever saw her plain face, it would hopefully work in her favor that they might not recognize her.As she passed countless varieties of species coming and going from any given establishment, she paid them no mind. Looking ahead, she careened her gaze upward slightly at the marquee above the main entrance for the Outlander Club; unaware of its momentary significance in the lives of her great-grandfathers. It wasn't something that had ever been written about in any of the journals Obi-Wan had left behind for Luke, Leia and Adamé, and it wasn't something either Obi-Wan or Anakin had ever bothered to make mention of to their descendants in their spectral forms. So, Leia had no idea that her great-grandfathers had come to this club to track down a bounty hunter that had attempted to assassinate her great-grandmother Padmé.Ducking inside the main entrance to the club, which was a hangout for gamblers and glitterati, she shoved the hood to her cloak down and walked further inward toward the main gaming floor. As this wasn't her first time at the Outlander Club, to meet with this particular Guild Master in question, she knew where to turn next. Heading toward one of the narrow lifts opposite from the main entrance, she hopped in and took it up to the fourth level. Stepping out, a drunken Weequay male almost bumped into her, but she easily sidestepped out of the way. She then turned down a hallway on her right and came to a set of double doors which slid open after she entered a passcode.The moment she stepped inside, there was a more subtle, pulsing music style that was playing inside the room she'd entered, which was a private lounge. Three of the four walls were lined with a continuous, cushioned bench seat with several small lounge tables that provided a place for drinks to be set down. At the center of the room was a partially-raised, circular dance floor which hosted a trio of scantily-clad women with ribbons twirling about in their hands and dancing to the seductive beat of the music. In the corner farthest from where Leia had entered, there sat a gruff-looking human man who looked to be in his late forties or early fifties. He had both of his arms outstretched behind him along the top of the lounge seating and seemed rather entranced by the red-skinned Twi'lek dancer who seemed to have the largest breasts. In fact, most of the men in the lounge seemed entranced by her as well, and for the same reason.Leia noticed as much and inwardly rolled her eyes.Heterosexual men. They were the same in most every species.As Leia neared the human man, who was the Guild Master in question, his attention quickly diverted when he realized she was approaching."Areda Neray," he greeted her with the fake name she'd been using for years when she and Nik had first gotten into bounty-hunting together.It was what she'd registered herself as when she formally joined the Guild; when she didn't want it getting back to her family what she occasionally did for a living. Despite the fact that they now knew the truth, she kept up using the alias, as not to draw attention to or shine any possible and further negativity on her family, and to keep any potential enemies, that she may have unintentionally accrued over the years, at bay. Areda Neray was her older, deceased sister Adera's first name and Nik's surname of Yaren, backwards. He'd been Kin Neray — his first and last name, also backwards."Merry," Leia greeted back as she sat down beside the weathered Guild Master, Mercott Peggins. "I was surprised when you contacted me.""Why? You're one of the best.""But not always as readily available for a job as most others in the Guild," she replied quietly; resting her hands upon her lap.Narrowing his gaze at her, he sighed. "Maybe, but you're one of the best. No, actually, I'd go as far as saying you are the best. Infrequent your availability may be these days, but you get the job done, quick and clean, and I can't remember a time when you ever had to bring in a quarry dead. Clients who hire the services of bounty hunters usually like to do the maiming or killing themselves. If we bring 'em in dead, it takes some of the fun out of it, apparently. Plus, a dead quarry can't be squeezed for money owed or intel, what have you." Gesturing a service droid over, he asked Leia, "Want a drink? My treat."Leia shook her head. "I'm good. Just here for the puck so I can get on with the job." She stared knowingly Merry, as he couldn't see the smirk she wore behind her mask over the lower half of her face. "You were a bounty hunter before you moved up the food chain to that of a Guild Master. You know it takes time to go over the information and determine a plan for acquiring the quarry. Plus, travel time to and from. I don't want to be in the field, so to speak, too long.""Got a hot date to get back to?" he asked teasingly."Nothing like that, I assure you.""What ever happened to Kin? Did he fly into a black hole somewhere? He got out of the game about — what — four years ago? Haven't heard from him since.""He died."Merry furrowed his brow and leaned back a bit from Leia. "No shit. How'd he go?"Turning her gaze upon the dancers, a shadow returned to Leia's face. "He fell in with the wrong crowd. Got himself killed.""Huh. Well, I'm sorry to hear that." Then, "I know the two of you were close. Same last name and all, so I assume you were married.""We were, but we'd separated before his death. Our values no longer aligned.""Sorry either way.""I appreciate the kindness, but I've moved past it and would just like the puck now, if you don't mind." Leia returned her gaze upon Merry, and it was firm and unwavering this time. It suggested she wasn't one to be trifled with and she could see he easily took the hint."Yeah, about the puck." With a harrumphed, he slipped a hand within his coat and pulled the small, round device out. Holding it out to Leia, he frowned. "There's some damn issue with the it. It's short-circuited or something. I tried getting a new one, but it would've lost the information already stored." As she took the device from him, Merry reached forward for a drink left discarded upon the table, which was presumably his, and brought it up to his lips for a quick sip of whatever liquor was within. "I got a guy working remotely to get it fixed.""How long will that take?" Leia questioned; wondering if maybe there was a way she could get her astromech R6-KT to figure something out."Oh, not long. No later than late morning or very early afternoon tomorrow.""Well, that's not too bad.""Like I said. I got a guy, and he knows his shit when it comes to tinkering with holopucks and the like."Leia flitted her brown eyes upward at Merry and pocketed the puck within her cloak. "Any details you can give me while I wait? What do you know about this quarry, other than it's a guy and he maybe stole money from someone or didn't complete a job? I mean, that was pretty kriffing vague on your part, even for you, Merry.""That's because it's literally all I gathered. The puck arrived corrupted. I know he's a man, human. And he was hired for a job, which he was paid for in advance, and then never completed. So the client wants him found.""Who is the client?"Merry leaned close and whispered, "A Hutt."Leia sighed. "You know, my family can't seem to escape dealing with Hutts.""Oh yeah?"Sensing he was about to fish for further insight into her personal life, since she had always been so vague or closed off about it, Leia stood up; thereby changing the subject. "Well, I guess I'll be hanging around this cesspool of a planet a little while longer."Running a hand down the front of his jacket and leaning back a bit more upon the lounge, Merry smirked. "No need. I was told the quarry might be lying low somewhere on Corellia. Where exactly, what city, I couldn't tell ya. That detail should come when the puck is fixed. But, I mean, if you wanna stay a while and have some drinks with me…"He was angling; knowing now that she was single and somehow believed he had a shot with her. "Well, if the quarry is on Corellia, then I should go to Corellia.""Well, it's not one hundred percent fact that he's there. What if you go all the way there only for him to be elsewhere, and then you've just wasted fuel?"He had a point. Then again, Coruscant and Corellia were both Core Worlds and not far from one another. She wouldn't be wasting that much fuel, and she had the means to replenish her fuel supply. But, there was the headache of wasting time going back and forth. "Alright, then I guess I'm staying here on Coruscant until the puck is fixed." Before he had a chance to open his mouth, she added, "And no, I won't be hanging around here, but I appreciate the offer."Merry shrugged. "It was worth a shot. But, if you change your mind…""I know where to find you, creature of habit that you are."With a wink, Leia turned away from him and left.  As a bounty hunter, Leia had tried to never mix business with pleasure. Wherever she met up with Merry or any other Guild Master who tapped her with a job, she never continued to hang around and get drinks there. She moved on. If she did have time to kill, and if a few drinks wouldn't hurt, she went elsewhere to do it.This was no exception.Not wanting to spend the night on the Skywalker, but only returning to it to retrieve an overnight bag with some toiletries and clothing items she would need, she had moved through the districts to find a hotel that provided a better view of the ecumenopolis so that she wasn't staring at only the facades of other skyscrapers. She wanted to be able to properly see the sky and a bit more of just…everything. Grabbing an air taxi, she settled on some glitzy hotel in the more upscale Federal District that had only been operating for no more than thirty years. Leia booked a room for two nights, just in case things took longer than expected to retrieve the information off the holopuck, and quickly headed up to her room.Once inside, she pressed a button to lift the visor that was shielding the view of the area around the hotel. Since it was nighttime, there really wasn't much to see other than a lot of glittering lights. Come daybreak, though, it would be quite something. Of that she was sure. Shedding her mask and cloak, and after freshening up in the bathroom, she checked the puck in an attempt to see if there wasn't something she could do to fix it. Leia had been known to tinker here and there. She'd fixed up R6-KT and made her like brand-spanking new. However, on further inspection, she realized there wasn't much she could do. She didn't have the tools and she didn't want to risk completely fucking the puck up. Better to leave it to the supposed expert who was already working remotely on getting it un-fucked up.Unable to sit still in the hotel room all night, and since it was still rather early in the night, Leia decided she would head back out. She wanted to have a drink or two somewhere, but someplace quieter and little bit smaller. And hopefully someplace with food. Her stomach was grumbling, but she wasn't in the mood for ordering room service because, again, she wanted to leave the hotel. After changing into a nicer top but keeping on the same leggings, she wiped the kohl from around her eyes and took her hair out of the bun she'd been wearing at the back of her head. Content with how she looked, she caught another air taxi and headed to an unassuming restaurant nearby; off the recommendation of the service droid at the front desk of the hotel, and she was rather pleased with that recommendation. It was cozy, and quiet but it wasn't some hole in the wall, either.Opting to sit at the bar, as not to take up a table or booth that would be better occupied by couples or small groups, she ordered a simple glass of whiskey and an appetizer of fritzle fries to start. After studying the menu for a few minutes, she picked the Crispy Kaadu Cutlet Sandwich as her meal while she continued to nurse her whiskey.The restaurant wasn't that busy, so the service was better, and the din of multiple conversations going at once wasn't a bother that it normally would be. The music was low, as was the lighting, for ambiance. Leia was thoroughly enjoying herself, and squirreled away every detail about the place; deciding she would definitely give it her business again the next time she was on Coruscant.While she picked at her fritzle fries and took the occasional sip of her whiskey, while waiting on her meal, she looked upward, just above the bar, which was stocked with an expansive variety of top shelf liquors. There was a mirror that ran the entire length of the wall, which offered a view of the rest of the restaurant without having to turn around or merely look over one's shoulder while sitting at the bar. She watched a few patrons huddled together, that looked like they were on dates, and she smiled a little bit at that. Some looked like they were on first dates, judging by how stiff and shy they appeared with each other. Some sat in comfortable silence or chatted animatedly, denoting an established relationship. A few even looked they were merely sharing a meal while conducting business of some kind. There was an older humanoid woman, who looked to be in her seventies or eighties, dining alone in a booth toward the back, but looking perfectly content by it. She gave off the vibe of being a regular, and someone who enjoyed watching the world go by while simultaneously enjoying a good meal.Turning slightly to look down toward the far end of the bar, Leia glimpsed a man, human like she was, who seemed to be enjoying a quiet drink. He seemed tired, and maybe even a little distracted by something. He was staring ahead of him at nothing in particular and only occasionally taking sips from the glass in his hand. The other thing about him, that was rather undeniable, was he was incredibly handsome.Or, at least, he was to Leia.He had short, dark brown hair and a thin, neatly-trimmed beard and equally trimmed mustache. She noticed some sort of tattoo on the right side of his neck but couldn't make out what exactly it was from where she sat. All she knew was that he was the kind of handsome that easily got her blood pumping and no amount of mentally chastising herself about it worked. She had to quickly turn away so that she wasn't ogling him no differently than Merry and the other men ogling the red-skinned, big-breasted Twi'lek female in that lounge at the Outlander Club.Leia had thought she was being discreet but, when she stole another glance in his direction, she found he was already staring back at her.The wink and coy smirk he sent her way was enough to make her blush all the way from her head to her toes, so she looked away again; attempting to find something interesting with the fritzle fries on the small plate in front of her. However, all it took was a subtle look upward through her eyebrows to glance at the mirror above the entire bar wall, as well as discreetly out the corner of her eye, to see he had gotten up off his stool and was casually making his way over toward her. Doing her utmost to put on aloof airs or to somehow channel her father's ability at displaying perfect resting bitch face, Leia held her head high as she straightened her posture.A moment later, the handsome man in question was at her side, standing perpendicular to her, while resting his left hand upon the bar that was holding his drink. "So, I'm gonna get the cheesy pick-up line out of the way," he spoke. "I couldn't help but notice you across the bar." He leaned against the bar and began to smirk at her again; this time more playfully and flirtatiously. "Actually, I couldn't help but notice you noticing me from across the bar because, you know, you were kind of obvious. But it's cool. I like a forthright woman."Quietly inhaling a steadying breath, Leia swiveled slightly to turn and look at him with a raise of her left eyebrow, only to find him doing the same thing at her. The only difference was hers was done to give the impression that she actually wasn't that impressed by him, so he didn't think he had any upper hand in the situation, while his was just that of amusement. "Do you often ramble?""Yeah, sometimes. I can be chatty. Happens when I'm a little nervous or anxious, or scared," he freely admitted.So does my father, she thought, amusedly, to herself."Or when I'm overcome by a beautiful woman," he continued, "and I think, 'gee, there's no way I'd ever stand a chance with this goddess', so I overcompensate with incessant talking. So, uh, yeah…feel free to tell me to shut up at any point here. 'Cause I will keep filling the air with the sound of my voice to avoid the deafening, awkward silence that's sure to exist otherwise…""Shut up," she remarked firmly, but with a small smile.The man visibly and audibly sighed. "Thank you." He then flashed her a proper smile and took it upon himself to sit down beside her on the vacant stool. "So, not to keep up with the cheesy pick-up lines, but…what's a beautiful woman like you doing in a shithole like this?"Leia took a quick glance around the restaurant. "I wouldn't call this a shithole. It's actually quite upscale.""Well, okay, no. Not this place specifically. Just…" He waved his right hand vaguely. "Coruscant.""Ah." Leia gave a small nod of her head."Work or pleasure? Or, I suppose, you could live here." He paused; momentarily looking off in the distance as he considered that third option."Work."Drawing his gaze back to her face, he subtly began to study every detail about it; smiling softly the entire time. "What kind of work?"She wasn't going to come right out and admit to being a bounty hunter or a Jedi Knight. "Acquisitions."He seemed to settle in a bit; becoming increasingly and genuinely interested. "Like, with antiques? Or do you, like, buy companies up or handle the merging of companies? Not gonna lie, sounds boring.""Definitely not the latter. I'm more of an independent contractor. I take on jobs to acquire goods that are sometimes very difficult to find. Sometimes it's dangerous work." She shrugged and brought a fritzle fry to her lips, just as her meal was brought over to her. She nodded her thanks at the waiter that approached from her right while she caught the handsome man steal one of her fritzle fries. "Hey.""You're letting them go cold," he shrugged back at her. "There are starving people all around the galaxy. No point in wasting food if you're not gonna eat it fast enough."Leia furrowed her brow at him. "You're a bold one.""Sometimes," he nodded in agreement.Then he smiled at her again, and in a way that made her feel warm all over.Down girl, she mentally reprimanded herself."I've been ignoring my whiskey since you came over. You gonna steal that, too?" she queried with an impish smirk.He leaned closer to her; he gaze occasionally settling solely upon her lips. "So, what you're saying is I can easily distract you?"Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Not in the way you think," she replied. She was lying. He was distracting in exactly the way he was implying. Lifting her focus to his eyes, she noticed they were a mix between brown and green, and maybe a little grey. "What color are your eyes?" she asked; not realizing she'd come right out with it. She'd only been wondering in her head and hadn't meant to actually ask him."Hazel."Part of her clammed up at his answer. She immediately thought of Nik, but also Len. Both had hazel, though Nik's had more green to them. "My younger brother had hazel," she chose to reply with. Bringing up her dead, dark side husband seemed too heavy to pepper into conversation with someone she just met.The handsome man nodded solemnly at her specification of the word 'had' in her comment. Choosing not to focus too heavily on it, but not wanting to ignore it completely, he went with the clichéd, "I'm sorry for your loss." Then, "Was it recent?"Leia shook her head and looked away from him. She suddenly wasn't feeling very hungry for the sandwich anymore. "No. It's been almost six years.""I'm sorry," he reiterated. Shifting away from what he could tell was a sore subject, he asked, "Well, if he had hazel and you have a very lovely brown eyes, who did you get the brown from?""My father. But my mom has blue, so my brother was an anomaly," she mused as she beckoned the bartender over. "Can I have my sandwich and fries packaged up.""Shit, sorry," the handsome man muttered again. "I'm keeping you from you food."Leia shrugged. "It's fine," she assured. "Honestly, I'm enjoying the conversation. Plus, I have time to kill. I have to wait until tomorrow to get the details on my next, uh, acquisition. So, why not kill time chatting up a handsome guy?"He grinned. "So you think I'm handsome.""Well, you sure as shit aren't ugly."A hearty chuckle escaped his lips. After the smile that paired with his laughter became a bit more small and thoughtful, he nodded in the direction of her right hand. "What's with the glove?""I lost it in an accident years ago." She tapped her gloved fingers upon the bar top. "I was fitted with an incredibly realistic prosthetic, but I know it's not the same, so it's just easier for me this way to occasionally keep it hidden." With her gloved hand, she gestured up at his face. "What happened to your eyebrow."Lifting his hand up, he sighed as he touched his fingertips upon the scar cutting through his eyebrow. "Accident from when I was a kid," he replied; a noticeable sadness passing across his eyes."Did you fall out of a tree, maybe? My older brother apparently fell out of a tree once as a kid and broke his arm.""No, uh, my dad threw a glass bottle at me and it broke on my face," he admitted rather candidly. He leaned closer to her again and pointed at the scar and then gestured downward. "If you look closely enough, you can see the scar actually goes down to my cheek, but the eyebrow area took the brunt of the bottle."Leia was mortified on his behalf. "Well, shit. I'm sorry. Makes me appreciate my own father even more."The handsome man leaned back. "Yeah, dear ol' dad was a raging alcoholic. Mostly it was just verbal abuse. He only ever got physical with my mom, which was why she took off." He frowned; his expression becoming a little bit distant. "He never hit me, but projectiles like bottles became common after mom left." He then lifted up the glass in his hand. "Also why I decided to never drink alcohol of any kind." Nodding at his drink, which was amber in color like her whiskey, he added, "So, I stick to mocktails and the like.""What are you drinking now?"He gave the contents a slight swirl, causing the few ice cubes within to clack together. "Iced ginberry tea. It's sort of my go-to."Leia chuckled.Of all the drinks in all the galaxy, even if it was the chilled version."What's funny?" he wondered, curiously."Nothing," she insisted as the bartender finally returned with a container that she could place her food into. Shifting gears, and suddenly feeling bold, she swiped his glass from his hand and took a sip. After all, he'd helped himself to her fries. Turnabout was fair play. "So, if you don't imbibe alcoholic beverages, what you're saying is I can't get you drunk and take advantage of you," she quipped as she handed his drink back; careful not to pucker her lips from the sour aftertaste the ginberry tea always left when not enough sugar was added to it.His hazel eyes darkened to the point that they looked brown like hers, but it was merely his pupils enlarging from very discernible desire. "You could've passed me on a street anywhere, pointed at me and told me to shove my pants down right then and there, and I'd be very compliant."Failing to stifle a giggle, and sensing the goodness in him, and that any motives he had toward her were only pure — except for those baser, carnal feelings that she was also feeling — Leia turned from him. Swiftly, she opened the container on the bar top, dumped her food in without a care, and then closed the lid before turning back at him. "Wanna get out of here?"Since the birth of her son, she'd only had one other one night stand, which had been six months prior after a job on Nevarro. And, even then, she hadn't really been that attracted to the guy. He was cute, sure, and he scratched an itch, but nothing more than that. But, this man before her; something was different. However, she wasn't sure she was ready for anything more than another one night stand. For tonight, though, he would sure as shit scratch several itches. And, hopefully, several times.As she slid off her stool, and grabbed her container of food, she dug into her pocket and handed over more than enough credits to cover her bill and his, plus a generous tip. The entire time, the handsome man just grinned with amusement at her."So, I'd ask 'your place or mine?' but I'm not from Coruscant, either. I just have my ship, but it's not someplace to bring a pretty lady to. And you're not from here, so…dark, seedy alley?" he joked as she sidled up beside her."I have a hotel room nearby.""Definitely better than an alley."She paused and smirked at him. "I suppose it just depends on the alley and who you're with," she countered.As she began to walk off ahead of him, he quickly caught up to her with a slight hustle in his gait. "I don't even know you're name but I think I love you.""Leia," she admitted, without thinking about it. But then she stopped in her tracks when it hit her that she'd given her real name and not her alias. Shit."Oh, cool. Like the famous princess from Alderaan?""And also Senator and Resistance General. But, yeah, sure. The Princess from Alderaan." She kept her gaze forward as they made their way for the exit. "My parents served in the war against the First Order and looked up to Leia Organa a great deal. I was named in honor of her.""That's cool," he repeated. This time he paused. When she realized as much, and turned to look at him, he offered her his hand. "I'm Catch.""You're a catch? Mighty full of yourself, aren't ya?" she teased with a slightly withering gaze upward at him."No. First name is Catch. Last name Lacen.""So, Catch Lacen," she repeated back to him as she accepted his handshake; which made the one night stand they were about to embark on rather formal, like a business transaction. "Why does Lacen sound so familiar?"Catch snickered. "Neither names are my original names. I took them for myself when I was a teenager, when I struck out on my own. But there was this kids holoshow I always liked, about a pirate with a heart of gold—""Captain Lacen Kort," Leia fondly recalled. Len used to love that holoshow, too, when they were kids. "So, why Catch, then?"He shrugged. "I was fourteen and I thought it sounded badass."She chuckled as they dipped outside into the night air. As they turned left, he followed as she led them across a small plaza. They came to a station where they could wait for an air taxi, and then just stood there as the manufactured rain drizzled down upon them; neither really caring about any of that. "So what was your original name, if you don't mind me asking?" she wondered."Tarl Corratta," he grimaced. "Obviously not as badass as Catch Lacen, though." Tipping his head downward, he narrowed his gaze at her. "What's your last name? Or don't you have one, like some sort of hotshot singer?""It's a secret.""Oh, come on. That's not fair."Raising an eyebrow playfully at him, she countered with, "Depending on your performance later on, maybe I'll consider telling you."Stepping closer and into her personal space, Catch placed a hand upon her waist and let his lips hover barely an inch away from hers. "In that case, I'll have your entire life story by morning." Claiming her mouth with his, he slipped his other hand up to the side of her face and pulled her flush against him. As the kiss grew more and more fervent and heated, Leia's container of food slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. "Your food," he muttered into her mouth."I don't care," she mumbled back, and then threw her arms up around his neck.  By the time they caught an air taxi and made it to her hotel, both Leia and Catch were drenched. But, still, neither cared about that. Her food she left abandoned on the ground because the only thing they could focus on was each other. On the way up to the floor her hotel room was on, they began to get hot and heavy in the lift, much to the surprise of the young Pantoran family who had to shield their young daughter's eyes and, in a flustered manner, assert they would catch the next lift.Once they reached her hotel room, their soaked articles of clothing were being aggressively removed as quickly as possible. When she realized one of his hands was getting too close to where she had her lightsaber clipped, and not wanting him to discover it, she shoved him forward with a playful smile. Using his momentary distraction, where he looked over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't about to bump into anything, she removed her weapon and dropped it within the folds of some of those clothes already on the floor. Stalking back up to him, their hands and fingers resumed wandering over every inch of the other's body until they made their way over to the bed; where Leia proceeded to shove Catch once more, backwards onto the mattress.For a moment, he turned and looked to his right; at the sight of the Federal District's upper levels beyond the expansive windows. "Great view," he remarked; genuinely impressed. Then, glancing upward at her as she straddled him in just her undergarments, he clamped his warm, calloused hands down upon her hips and grinned. "Better view.""Shut up," she snickered, leaning down over him to claim his lips again.And, hot damn, could he kiss…The way his tongue curled with hers and the way his lips moved, she felt like his was trying to meld with hers until they were literally one person. His movements and touches were gentle while hers were a bit more rough, and both craved the other considerably.As Leia sat back up, reaching behind her to undo her bra, manufactured lightning flashed outside the windows, back-lighting her like some glorious vixen. Catch was in awe of how beautiful she was, and her bare breasts were pretty top notch to him, too. Pushing up on his forearms so that he was partially sitting, he slipped his right arm around her waist. Pulling her closer to him, he cupped her right breast in his left hand and brought her nipple between his teeth, but gently as not to cause any undue pain. Off the faintest squeak of delight from between her lips, Catch looked upward at her through his eyebrows and twirled his tongue around the taut bud before proceeding to suck upon it. When he moved to her other breast and repeated the process, Leia's head tipped backward while she gripped her hands into his hair. After another minute or two, he swiveled at the waist and tossed her down upon the mattress with very little grace to the gesture, but she sure as shit didn't mind.For just a moment, as he laid there between her legs, he simply looked her in the eye and smiled warmly. "You're properly fucking beautiful. You know that, right?"Placing her hands softly upon the sides of his face, she let her thumbs graze along the scratchy hairs of his thin, neatly-trimmed beard and smiled just as softly upward at him. "Yeah, well, you're properly fucking sexy."Catch grinned smugly. "Can you afford to go without sleep for whatever job you gotta do tomorrow? Because, you know, if you can, I'd very much like to have you as many times as possible tonight.""Did you think I brought you back here for a quickie?" she countered with a raise of an eyebrow. "We could've done that in an alley."With a chuckle, he leaned down and kissed her. "Good to know we're on the same page," he mumbled into her mouth. "You smell fucking amazing, by the way. What perfume is that?""You really do talk too much," Leia sighed, as she lifted her hips up to grind against his still-clothed erection."Guess I should do something more productive with my mouth then, huh?" With a gaze darkened by lust, Catch began to saunter down her body; the entire time he began sliding her underwear off her hips."Yeah, that's a good place to start," she heard herself say, but was too distracted by what was about to happen next to pay much attention to actual words.Leia's eyes were on the ceiling. She was watching the lightning flashes and listening to the sounds of rainwater pelting the windows. She was taking note of the way the mattress was dipping here and there as he moved about to fully remove her underwear and throw them aside. She was enjoying the feel of his hands gripping her calves and noting how he had tossed her legs over his shoulders.And then she was moaning with pure delight when she felt his tongue work its magic with such artistry.  By mid-morning the following day, Leia was sitting up in bed, naked as the day she came crying, but covering her front with the top sheet. Catch was sauntering back into the room from the bathroom, as equally naked, after having grabbed a quick shower. He flashed a smile at her as he reached for his pants. Leaning upward, his gaze shifted out the window at the sunny day awaiting them and the light glimmering off the windows of the countless skyscrapers all around."You don't have to go right away. I'm not kicking you out," Leia assured.Catch smirked. "I wasn't planning on going just yet. Just wanted to at least put some pants on.""What a shame," she remarked, friskily. "I rather enjoy the whole nine yards."Chuckling, he dropped his pants back down. "Nine is a bit generous, but I'll take it.""You'll hear no complaints from me. I rather enjoy feeling as if I'm being harpooned."His laughter continued, and it was such a wonderful laugh that it made Leia feel genuinely comfortable and content; for the first time in a long time. Her eyes settled upon his smile and she loved the way it reached his eyes. There was definitely something about him that made her feel…Well, she wasn't sure what word she was looking for.As Catch plopped down on the side of the bed, his hand reached for her prosthetic one; which was now bare because she'd removed the glove early on the night before after they'd arrived to her hotel room. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles, but she felt nothing physical in the gesture. She did feel something else, though. Looking from their hands and then up to his face, she found he was already staring at her."I was thinking," he began to say. "I got the sense last night that this was supposed to be a one-time thing. Just two consenting adults, both passing through a planet that's not their own, looking for someone to have a bit of fun with. I sure as hell didn't start my night with this in mind." He began to let his hazel eyes drift over all the details of her face; finding new things he liked about her in the daylight. "I was just waiting on someone who was supposed to help me with a little predicament I may or may not be in, but they never showed. Then, there you were, swirling your whiskey around and chowing down on fritzle fries like someone who'd never been out in public before…"Leia cackled and gave him a playful shove against his shoulder. "Shut up."Off his own chuckle, his face became a bit serious. "I was just thinking that maybe this doesn't have to be a one-time thing. I'm not asking for forever. We just met last night and that's ridiculous, but we could give each other a holler whenever we might be near enough in the same star system, and we could meet up again for a bit more fun and then some."Twisting her lips in thought, Leia considered this and then offered up a subtle shrug. "I don't see why not," she remarked. "After all, it's been a long while since I've had an orgasm that I didn't give myself."With a shit-eating grin, Catch leaned forward and planted his hands on both sides of her hips. Tilting his face upwards, he claimed her lips in a kiss that sent shivers down to her toes in the best way possible. "I really like you. You're a lot of fun to be around, and not just in bed." Sitting back up, he added, "I mean, you make my toes curl, and somehow I was able to smell colors and see sounds at some point last night, but you're also just pretty chill and all-around lovely. At the very least, I'd love to have you as a friend."Leia smiled demurely. "One can never have too many friends.""Too true," he nodded.A chirping sound cut through the brief silence that followed and both their eyes drifted to the holopuck she'd left on the nightstand mounted into the wall beside the bed. It had turned on by itself; whoever had been working remotely on it clearly having finished the job of fixing whatever was wrong. Now there was an image of a man being projected upward from it.Both Leia and Catch blanched in shock.It was Catch's image.As they both turned toward each other, he looked accusingly at her and also with a bit of dejection. "Acquisitions, huh?" He stood up and pointed at her. "You're a bounty hunter."Leia had remained silent; processing what this now meant."Well," Catch continued to say; placing his hands upon his bare hips as he kept his gaze upon her. "Shit.""Yeah," she agreed, looking back at him. "Shit."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I'll show you how a real bad boy
Can be a real good man"
— Tim McGraw For what felt like forever, Catch just remained standing there with his hands on his hips; trying to process the gravity of the situation he now found himself in. Both he and Leia were just staring at each other, neither moving or saying anything to the point that it was definitely awkward, but acknowledging that fact would've definitely made it more so. He was surprised to see the holographic bust of himself along with his name and other vitals displayed, and that he was wanted dead or alive. The last part was concerning, sure, but he really and genuinely was surprised. He was thirty-seven years old, and in his thirty-seven years of life, despite a few, insignificant stints in a jail cell here or there, he'd never had a bounty out on his head. There was so much to unpack here and there were serious repercussions about this that didn't just affect him which, to him, was much worse."Okay," he finally spoke; slowly raising his hands up as if to make his case. "So, I can see how this might obviously complicate things between us…"Pursing her lips, Leia lifted her left hand up and outward. A moment later, her lightsaber unfurled itself from within the confines of their discarded clothes just inside the entryway to the hotel room and shot over to her. Catching it by the hilt with ease, she pointed it in his direction and ignited the purple, plasma blade all in the span of seconds.And, needless to say, he very nearly shat his pants."What the actual fuck?" Catch stepped backward, feeling the searing heat from the weapon, and looked back at her with a mix fear, curiosity and wonder. "You're a Jedi? I thought you were a bounty hunter.""Two things can be true at once," she replied; somehow managing to hold onto the sheet to keep her bare chest covered. "I've been a Jedi Knight for almost thirteen years. I've only been bounty hunting about ten or eleven. I've never done it for the money, though. I never needed the money. It was just something to do that I was good at." Narrowing her gaze upward at him, she asked, "How long have you been a criminal?""Are we counting pick-pocketing to make ends me when I was a kid or—"Leia frowned.Of course she had to find herself attracted to and find herself already falling for another bad boy. She very clearly had a type."What did you do to become wanted by a Hutt?"Exhaling a defiant breath, Catch lowered his hands back down and placed them back upon his hips. "You tell me." He nodded at the holopuck. "The information is right there.""I'm asking you. I'm asking the man I invited into my bed last night."He could see a glimmer of hurt in her eyes, as if he'd betrayed her."I did what I've got a bounty on my head for. Or, rather, what I didn't do," he prefaced while pointing at his pants on the floor that he'd dropped upon the ground earlier. "Mind if I put those on. I'm very exposed and you're pointing a laser sword very near to my junk."Knowing she could handle anything he might try, she acquiesced. "Go ahead."Breathing a sigh of slight relief, Catch took a few steps and crouched to retrieve his pants, and then warily slid them on one leg at a time. Beside the windows, near the side of the bed he'd been standing on, there were two lounge chairs with a small table between them. He backed up toward the chair furthest from her. "Am I allowed to sit?"She shrugged. "Fine." As she watched him slowly sink down into the chair, she retracted the plasma blade back into the hilt, which she rested upon her lap. "Just know that, if you try anything, I will have the business end of my weapon become very intimately familiar with your skull."Catch swallowed back a lump in his throat as he braced his hands upon his knees. "Noted." Fucking hell his heart was racing a mile a minute. "So, you want to know what I'm wanted for?" he asked rhetorically. Sighing again, his gaze shifted toward the holo of him. "I was paid handsomely upfront to do a job by a Hutt. I'd done work for this Hutt before, but it was always minor, trifling jobs. Smuggling stolen cargo and whatnot. Because he knew I could be trusted to uphold my end, he always paid me half up front and the other half upon completion. But, this time, I couldn't go through with it.""What Hutt?""Seriously, is that information not right at your fingertips?""I'd rather have an honest conversation to know what I've just allowed myself to possibly be compromised by. I have a reputation for always upholding my end of things, too, you know," Leia countered."Okay. Fair enough." He looked her in the eye. "Are you familiar with Rotta Desilijic Tiure?""Sounds familiar.""What about Jabba the Hutt?""Everyone knows the name of Jabba the Hutt.""Well, Rotta is the son and only child of Jabba. He's shrewd when it comes to business and occasionally witty. On the surface, he seems like a very respectable guy, despite being a Hutt. But, under the surface and to those who actually know him, he's just as ruthless and cruel as his father used to be. Shortly after the First Order-Resistance War, he returned to Tatooine and reclaimed his father's former palace as his own. Apparently, for those first few years he seemed like a benevolent benefactor, but quickly he began to sink his claws into the criminal empire Jabba once ran. As Jabba's son and heir, it wasn't exactly hard to do." Removing his hands from his knees, Catch instead folded his arms across his chest and sat back in the lounge chair. His hazel eyes drifted toward a spot on the floor. "I won't bore you with any more specifics on Rotta's life story. They're not really important. Point is, though: he's a piece of bantha dung.""What did he hire you to do that you didn't do?" Leia reiterated; still holding the sheet to keep herself covered."I was to collect some large package from a facility on Daiyu and bring it to Rotta on Tatooine. I wasn't supposed to look inside or stray from Point A to Point B. So, I arrived to the facility, and stood by as this large crate was loaded up into my ship's cargo hold by some sort of masked dock workers." He shrugged. "In my line of work, you don't really ask questions or look too deeply into who you're forced to interact with. It just comes down to getting a job done so I can get paid, and I have someone other than myself who happens to be dependent on me, so getting paid is important.""Got an invalid wife back home? Wherever home is.""My ship is my home. And no. No wife or significant other of any kind." He shook his head slightly and looked upward at Leia again. "Long story short, I got curious about the large crate in my cargo hold. I was mostly just checking on it, to make sure it was secure and whatnot, but then I heard noise coming from inside of it. So, I opened it up and looked inside."Annoyed by his hesitation, either for dramatic affect or whatever, Leia glowered at him. "And?""The Old Republic outlawed slavery but, in the Outer Rim, it was rarely enforced. Same thing more or less continued after the fall of the Empire, but it got a little better with the New Republic, but not by much. In the last thirty-five years, since the end of the First Order-Resistance War, the ban on slavery has been more heavily enforced, which is a great thing, obviously. No one should be forced into servitude of any kind. It's wrong and unnatural. But, those like the Hutts seem to find a way around it."Leia's eyes widened. "You were hauling live cargo? People to be sold into slavery?""Yeah," he answered grimly. "Sex slaves, to be specific. All girls." He looked her even more in the eye to express the seriousness of the matter and his sour taste it left in his mouth. "And when I say girls, I mean girls. I don't think any one of them was of legal, consenting age. I'm pretty sure the youngest was barely thirteen." He saw the abject horror in Leia's eyes and nodded in agreement. "Exactly my reaction. And that's why I knew I couldn't complete the job. I couldn't bring those girls to Rotta so they could be forced into a life of sexual servitude. No thank you. So, I changed course. I let each girl out of the crate, I got them blankets or whatever clothes I had to spare that would fit, that covered them better, and I fed them and let them use the facilities to shower or whatever they needed to do. I asked them what their names were and where they were from, so I could take them home. Those that didn't have homes or didn't want to go home, I offered to take them anywhere they wanted, and then I took the money Rotta paid me upfront with and I divvied it out evenly between the girls, to give them a better start on whatever their next journey was, or to at least act as restitution for whatever they'd been through.""So, you're just like Captain Lacen Kort," Leia quipped, but with respect. "A pirate with a heart of gold."He appreciated her candor, but the recent history of the job still bothered him, so he couldn't bring himself to smile at her comment. His brow furrowed and he was still frowning. "I may make a living outside the law, but I have standards. I may do bad things, but I'm not I'm not a bad guy. And, well, at least I tell myself I do those bad things for a good reason.""What reason is that?""I don't care if you still think you need to complete your job and bring me in. I know you bounty hunters tend to have your code of ethics, to not look deeply into the reason why you're hired for a job,  same as me. I don't care if you care why I didn't go through with my job." Catch leaned forward and folded his hands together between his knees and looked imploringly up at Leia. "I'm just begging you to not bring me in because, as I mentioned before, I have someone who is dependent on me.""Who?"Catch sighed. "I have a daughter. Brina. She's seven years old and I'm all she has, and she's all I have," he admitted. "She is my everything. Please. Just let me go. Let me get the hell out of here and lay low somewhere, now that I know there's a bounty on my head."Focusing on his emotions and his surface-level thoughts, she saw glimpses of an adorable, smiling little girl with dark hair, and she felt his parental love for the girl and his honesty in the matter. He did do illegal things, but he wasn't a bad guy. He was a good guy making ends meet however he could to provide for his child."Where's your daughter now?""On my ship."Leia raised an eyebrow at him. "You left your seven-year-old daughter alone on your ship?""Not alone. A friend is watching her."Still curious on this subject, she continued with, "Why were you at a restaurant's bar last night and not with your daughter?""I told you. I was waiting for someone who was supposed to help me with my…predicament. But they never showed," he replied. "They have an ear to the ground, so to speak. I was able to assume Rotta wouldn't be happy with me, and this someone was supposed to get me fake identichips for Brina and me, so we could go hide out somewhere for a few years where no one would think to look for me, and where I could finally give her a normal life. She deserves that. But, again, this someone never showed." Catch's gaze softened the more he looked Leia in the eye. "You did, though. And, somehow — I'm not sure how — you made everything better for a little while, and not just 'cause, you know, the great sex. In the last twelve hours my life has seemed considerably more promising. Now, though? I'm not sure." He shrugged. "I like to think I can read people pretty well, but right now I can't seem to figure what your next move might be. I mean, I don't really know you at all. You're a bounty hunter and a Jedi Knight who isn't from Coruscant. And I only know you as Leia, nothing more.""Well, my history and who I am is a lot more to unpack right now." Pushing aside her lightsaber, she inched over toward the edge of the bed; continuing to maintain the sheet covering her front while pulling it tightly around her as she planted her feet upon the ground and stood up. "I'm gonna grab a quick shower."Catch followed her with his eyes as she walked over to satchel she'd brought with her to the hotel and began to root through it with one hand while keeping the sheet from sliding down with the other. The entire time he said nothing. He just watched her with a bundle of nerves brewing in his chest.A few thoughts ran through his head.Could he get out of her hotel room while she showered, and before she could stop him? Could he make it back to his ship in time? Did he want to?Leia stood upright and stared directly at him. "You wouldn't get far," she remarked, knowingly, which caught him by surprise."How—?""Jedi Knight, remember?" Then, with slightly slumping shoulders, she added, "Just sit still. Let me freshen up and get dressed, and then we'll figure out the next steps.""So…are you not turning me in? Or are you?"Her face was unreadable to him. "I haven't decided yet."The moment she disappeared into the bathroom, he again considered making a run for it. She'd left her lightsaber on the bed. If he took it, how much of a threat could she be to him? Then again, she lifted it and brought it to her by some sort of Jedi magic. Thinking on what she'd done, though, he wasn't too unfamiliar with it. He'd just never realized what kind of power that was. He'd seen it before, but to see it again, in someone else, and to understand why, it put some other things into perspective for him. He realized that understanding her might help him to help someone else understand their own self. Then again, Leia might just turn him over to Rotta, collect the bounty on his head, and then he'd never see his daughter again and she'd be whisked away and thrown into some juvenile center or orphanage; assuming he'd abandoned her.When Leia said her shower would be quick, she wasn't lying.Within five minutes, she had cleaned up and was dressed in a simple pair of leggings, and an equally simple, collared black top. Her thick brown hair was still damp but pulled back into a ponytail and the little bit of kohl that had still been around her eyes from the night before, which had ended up a bit smudged as the night had shifted into morning, was now fully washed away. She was plain-faced and her overall appearance was unassuming but, to Catch, she was still so blasted gorgeous.He was so fucked."Finish getting dressed," she remarked, gesturing to the rest of his clothes on the floor. The moment the words left her mouth, she held her prosthetic hand out, and her lightsaber lifted and flew over to it. As she grabbed it, she clipped it to the belt that had been hidden by her top, which was hanging low over her waist. Crouching down, she found the glove for her prosthetic hand and began to slip it on while stealing a glance in his direction. "It wasn't a suggestion, Catch.""Right, sorry." He stood up, and began to gather up the rest of his clothing. He pulled on his shirt in a hurry, and then began hopping about as he put on his socks, and then his boots. Afterward, he stood up straight and tried to appear cool and unfazed, but that exertion had winded him a bit and he knew he'd looked ridiculous doing it. Placing his hands upon his hips, he frowned. "So, uh, did you make a decision as to my fate yet?""Yes," she answered without missing a beat. Leia dipped briefly back into the bathroom, only to reappear seconds later with her dirty clothes under one arm. She shoved them into her satchel, which she closed up, and then walked around the bed to grab the holopuck off the bedside table where she'd left it. It had still been projecting his image upward, but she turned it off."And?"As Leia shoved the small, round device into one of the satchel's outer pockets, she levitated her cloak up into her hands and threw it on. "I'm gonna help you."A huge weight suddenly lifted off his shoulders. "Oh, thank the Maker," he breathily muttered. "Listen, you have no idea how grateful I am…""My great-grandfather was born into slavery," she told him; referencing Anakin Skywalker. She didn't elaborate on that exact detail, though. "My ex-husband spent three years of his childhood in servitude where he was all sorts of abused and it tainted his soul until the day he died. It turned him into a shell of the man I loved. Those horrors that followed him for the rest of his life turned him into a monster." She knew Catch wasn't oblivious to the subtle appearance of tears in her eyes, and she didn't rightly care. She was making a point. "So, if I can do something to stop more of that kind of horror from continuing within our galaxy, then it's really not a matter of wanting to help you. It's wanting to do the right thing. But, something of this magnitude will require some help, and you're lucky I know people.""Other Jedi people?" he questioned; stepping a bit closer to her."Let's just say I know plenty of people in high places." She sighed and slung her satchel over her shoulder. "My family is well-connected, which is why I don't usually give my real name, like I did with you last night." She watched the way his brow furrowed together in thought. "I slipped up with that. I usually introduce myself as Areda." Reaching for her mask, which was resting upon the hotel room's complimentary dresser, she held it upward to show him. "And I'm usually wearing this to hide my face.""Who exactly are you?""It's not so much who I am. It's who my family is," she remarked. "They've been making waves — good and bad — since before the Clone Wars.""Okay, well, now you definitely have me intrigued." Catch took the hint as she turned away and began to head for the door to leave the hotel room. As he watched how she slid her mask over the bottom half of her face and tossed the hood of her cloak up over her head, he followed her out. "I can't go anywhere without my daughter. I need to get her.""I know."They were heading toward the lifts. "I'll lead the way back to my ship and then—""No," Leia cut him off; throwing a look over her shoulder at him. "Now that there's a bounty on your head, your ship will be a target. We will go get your daughter but we're not taking your ship. You'll travel on mine. Both of you. But, whatever happens going forward to set things right for your sake, and to do whatever is needed to deal with Rotta the Hutt, we'll need to take your daughter somewhere she'll be safe and properly looked after.""And you know where, yeah?""I do, actually." Reaching forward, she pressed the button for the lift doors and then stole another look in his direction. "I promise your daughter will be taken care of."Slowly, he nodded and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants as they both began to turn their focus toward the lift door. "Can you promise me something else?""It depends.""If something happens to me, during whatever happens going forward, if I get thrown into some prison or if I'm killed, will you make sure my daughter knows I love her and make sure she stays safe?"Leia sighed; readily accepting that burden regardless. "I promise."  Holding tightly to her satchel, Leia stared upward at the C-ROC Gozanti-class light cruiser before her and Catch. They had made their way to the vast shipyard where he had stashed his ship; which Leia couldn't deny was actually pretty clever. It was better than using any number of spaceports or hangars."I honestly didn't expect you to have such a large ship," she remarked. "I thought you were a man of little means.""I am," he replied with a nod. "I didn't purchase this with any funds I managed to save up over the years." He then shot her a look when he realized what her next assumption might be. "I didn't steal it, either, in case you were wondering." Catch looked back toward the bulky vessel and began to step toward the area where the docking ramp would lower down for them. "I sort of inherited it.""Oh?""I mentioned leaving home when I was young.""Yeah…""I was fourteen, and I ran away from home. I was tired of dealing with my dad's shit. Tired of too many bottles to the head and being constantly reminded of how worthless and unlovable I apparently was, so I ran away. I started pick-pocketing. But then I got in trouble. I got scared of being thrown in jail or whatever, and managed to get away. I was hiding out near a spaceport when I spotted this baby." He gestured at the ship again. "It was docked near the entrance and the boarding ramp was down. I didn't see anyone guarding it. I was a bit scrawny back then so I was able to sneak aboard and hide behind some crates. I just wanted to get as far away from my father and Dantooine as possible.""Dantooine? That's where you're from?""Originally, yeah." He frowned; bitter memories momentarily resurfacing. "I was found hours later by the crew, once we were already in space. I was called the 'little stowaway' and brought to the Captain, Haka Pem. He was this muscled Weequay who looked like he ate kids like me for breakfast, but it turns out he was just like Captain Lacen Kort." Catch's frown gave way to a fond smile. "He was a good guy. Rough and tough on the outside because, you know, he was a pirate. But he took care of his crew and fought hard for them. He always made sure they were taken care of and paid well. Did he kill people occasionally? Sure, but only if they had it coming. He didn't outright murder people for sport." Shaking his head, he continued. "Anyway, he took a shining to me, I guess. Asked me who I was and where I wanted to go. That's when I told him my name was Catch Lacen, because I thought if he knew my real name he'd return me to my dad. And then I said I'd go anywhere. Then he basically offered me a job on the spot. Must've sensed I had nowhere to go. He told me I could stay on with his crew on his ship, but I had to earn my keep. Started out with minor tasks, like taking stock of supplies, cooking and cleaning. As I got older and built up muscle, I was out with the crew doing whatever was needed. I became a pirate.""So, how did you come to inherit this thing?" Leia asked."About ten years into my foray in piracy, we got into some trouble with a rival gang. There was a firefight." A shadow passed over his face. "I don't know how the fuck it happened but, after the dust settled, I was the only one left. Everyone else, on both sides, was dead. I didn't know what else to do, so I took a ship and flew away with it.""You never took on anymore crew as its new Captain?""No. It just didn't feel right to. It had become my home, and that's what I wanted it to continue as. So I just traveled around with it. When fuel got low, I took on enough smuggling jobs or any other kind of job — legal or illegal — to keep myself afloat." He tossed an impish smirk in Leia's direction. "I may have even dipped my toe into prostitution.""For real?"Catch shrugged. "I'm not gonna play dumb or humble by not drawing attention to the fact that I know I'm a traditionally handsome guy." He leaned closer and raised an eyebrow at her. "Obviously you're aware of that because you readily picked me up and brought me back to your hotel after talking to me for — what — twenty, thirty minutes?" Off the roll of her eyes, he chuckled and gestured once more at the ship. "This is the Brina. I renamed it after my daughter was born."Leia offered him a small smile. "That's sweet."With a small smile of his own, he stepped forward and he hit a button to lower the boarding ramp. Moving around toward the base of it once it touched ground, he gestured for Leia to follow him up, only for him to stop halfway. At first, Leia wondered why, but then she looked around him and stared upward at the business end of a blaster rifle being pointed at them by a grey-plated, LOM-series protocol droid."Stand down, Elle. It's just me," Catch announced, with his hands raised at about mid-chest. "We have a guest.""Apologies, Captain," the droid replied with a feminine, albeit robotic, voice."I thought you weren't a Captain," Leia quipped as she began to continue following him up inside the ship."I'm not." He then stared pointedly at his droid. "I told you to stop calling me that."
"You are the master of his vessel. You are therefore its Captain by default."
"That may be the case by a technicality, but what did I tell you?"
"To not call you Captain. To call you Catch."
"Then why don't you ever listen?"
"You chose to give me feminine programming, so I chose to ignore your request."
Leia let out a snort of laughter, which garnered a withering gaze from Catch."Don't encourage her.""You gotta admit," Leia muttered. "That was pretty funny."Catch rolled his eyes and stepped around the droid — officially named 9-LOM, but affectionately referred to Elle for short. Leaving the ramp down, he began to walk deeper into the bowels of the cruiser and then stopped short with his hands on his hips. "Brina! I'm back.""So, is the droid the friend you left your daughter in the care of?" Leia wondered."Yeah," he answered. Then, he added, "You saw how she was armed and ready to blast us to pieces. She may be hardheaded, but she's objectively protective of my kid and this ship. And, sometimes, me."A few moments later, the audible footfalls of a young child came scampering nearer, and then the young girl Leia had briefly glimpsed in Catch's memories appeared with a bright smile plastered on her face. As she ran forward and was scooped up into her father's arms, the girl — Brina — looked over her father's shoulder at Leia."Who are you?"Catch sighed. "The polite thing to say is, instead, hello. Am I raising an animal?"Brina giggled. "Hi," she muttered shyly at Leia. Then, "So, who are you?"As Catch lowered her back down to her feet, he brought a hand to his face and ran it downward with a harrumph. "I guess I'll take what I can get." Before Leia could respond to the girl's continued curiosity, he took it upon himself to make the introductions. "Brina, this is my, uh, new friend. Her name is Leia.""Leia who?""I haven't actually gotten that far yet, either," he admitted. Glancing at Leia, he gestured at his daughter. "Leia — the fruit of my loins, Brina."Leia smirked and crouched down. Holding her hand out, she narrowed her gaze upon the girl and focused keenly upon her. "It's nice to meet you, Brina."The girl began to look Leia just as keenly in the eye, while reaching out and offering to shake hands. "Hello," was what she initially responded with. But then she asked, "Do you have kids?""I have a son, just a few years younger than you.""You do?" Catch asked.Leia briefly shifted her gaze upward at him. "I do." Looking back at Brina, she continued. "His name is Skye. He's almost three.""Where is he now?" Brina wondered; her hazel-eyes, which she clearly inherited from her father, gazed rather piercingly at Leia."My sister's looking after him.""Your twin sister."Leia smiled. "Yes. My identical twin sister.""Only in looks, though. She's very different than you are.""You're quite different, too, aren't you?"Catch began to shift a little nervously; placing his weight from one leg to the other. "So, uh, Bree," he interrupted the interaction. "We have to leave our ship behind for a little while. Leia is gonna help me with a job, but we need to take her ship instead. And, while we're on this job, we're gonna take you someplace else. Leia has some people that are gonna look after you while we're gone.""I am plenty capable of looking after Brina," 9-LOM interjected.As Leia stood back up, she turned toward the protocol droid. "I've no doubt, but this place has other children Brina's age that she can play with. And there's plenty of room for her to run around and play." She turned back around and looked down at the girl. "It's a school my brother runs, actually. I think you'll enjoy it there. You might even get to meet my nieces and nephews.""Are they like you?" Brina asked, perceptively.Leia nodded. "And just like you," she countered. She then looked curiously up at Catch, who seemed at a bit of a loss in regard to the interaction between his daughter and his one night stand. "We should get going.""Right," he agreed. Placing a hand upon his daughter's shoulder, he nodded his head at her. "Go gather up your emergency bag, okay?""Are we coming back?""I'm not sure how long this job will take, but yeah, eventually we'll come back," he assured her.At first, Brina hesitated. Then, after a moment, she took her leave from both adults and the droid.Squaring up with Catch, Leia looked him directly in the eye and smirked slightly at him. "She's pretty special.""Yeah, she definitely keeps me on my toes."Leia didn't elaborate on her meaning. She didn't bother looking further to determine whether or not he understood what she was getting at, or if he was aware of just how special his daughter truly was. For now, she left it alone. After they dealt with Rotta the Hutt, however they dealt with Rotta the Hutt, perhaps then she would broach the subject of Brina again.  "Your ship is so shiny."As the air taxi dropped Leia, Catch, Brina and 9-LOM off on one of the landing platforms to the former Grand Republic Medical Facility, the seven-year-old girl's eyes were wide with wonder as she set her sights upon Leia's star skiff. Catch, meanwhile, was a bit entranced by the exact type of ship that it was while also perplexed by why her ship was docked at this specific place.Leia smirked at Brina as they made their way along the landing stage, closer to her ship. "It's shiny because of the chromium plating," she explained."What kind of ship is it?" Brina inquired; wearing a cross-body satchel and holding firmly onto the strap."It's a J-type Naboo star skiff," her father interjected as he caught Leia's eye. "I know a lot about ships and I know this is a rare gem.""It's a replica," Leia downplayed, as she pressed a button on the wrist comm she was wearing, which allowed the boarding ramp to the skiff to lower remotely. "I mean, it's is a J-type Naboo star skiff, but it's not one of the original models that were more abundant almost a century ago. This is only about fifteen years old and it was made on Corellia based on the original ships." More sheepishly, while avoiding Catch's gaze, she added a bit quietly, "It was an 18th birthday gift from my parents.""Who are you?" he muttered back at her, just as quietly.She still avoided his gaze and just gestured for them all to board the ship. "At the top of the ramp, you can go through a set of doors that will take you through the cargo hold and into the main hold," she informed Brina and 9-LOM. "Make yourself at home. There's food and drinks in the galley if you get hungry or thirsty. If you get sleepy, there are bunk rooms on either side of the main hold."As Brina helped herself to running on ahead without waiting for the adults, Leia paused when they reached the top of the ramp and sealed them in. There was a small, narrow ramp which led to an equally narrow staircase that curved slightly and led up into the cockpit. As she continued in that direction, Catch looked over his shoulder to steal a look in his daughter's direction, but the doors between the top of the boarding ramp and the cargo hold had already slid shut. He knew she would be fine with 9-LOM, though. She always was. So, with a huff, he followed Leia along the ramp and up the staircase. Once they'd both made their way up into the cockpit, he watched as she tossed her satchel onto the chair that wasn't designated for the pilot or co-pilot, and then as she plopped herself down into the pilot's chair."Make yourself useful and help me start the pre-flight checks," she politely barked at him. "I always hate leaving Coruscant. Navigating upward through the traffic is so much more of a headache than descending."As he sat down in the co-pilot's seat, he leaned forward and perused the control panel for a moment to familiarize himself with it all and then went about doing as she more or less commanded of him. Were he not to damn attracted to her, he might've taken offense to her brusqueness. But, here we are."Can I ask you something?""I suppose," she replied."Why was your ship docked here? I mean, I get it's been abandoned for a long time, but…the Grand Medical Facility? This place famously shuttered its doors in the decade following the fall of the Empire because of its affiliation to the Emperor. So, why here when there's plenty of spaceports and short-term and long-term hangars?""I own it."Catch blinked. "Wait. What? You own it? Like, the whole thing? Like someone owns a house or a ship? You own a skyscraper?""I own a lot of things." Stealing a glance at Catch, Leia noted how he looked as if his brain was broken. His mouth was hanging open a bit and his brow furrowed in confusion. "My ex bought the building. When he died, I inherited it, along with anything else he owned. I was his sole beneficiary, because he didn't know I was pregnant until minutes before he'd died. Otherwise, I'm sure he would've named our child as his beneficiary, or at least co-beneficiary.""How'd he die?""He was killed.""I'm sorry.""Don't be," she snipped bit harsher than she'd intended. "Like I mentioned before. He became a monster. His death was necessary."Studying her distant expression, Catch sighed. "Still breaks your heart, though, doesn't it? If you loved him once, it's a normal thing to still grieve what was lost.""I'm not sure how much of what he and I had was love and how much was just lust or my girlhood crush given wings." She looked at Catch again and shrugged. "And even if it was truly love, the fact that he murdered my sister-in-law was enough to put an end to whatever we had.""Shit. And I thought my family drama had been bad."As their pre-flight checks came to an end, Leia exhaled a deep sigh and began to lift them upward off the landing stage. "Trust me; you have no idea how bad my family drama has been. The shit with my ex is just the most recent."  A few hours later, the Skywalker was making its descent into Naboo's atmosphere. Catch was quite caught up in how beautiful the planet was the closer to the surface they got. She veered the ship a few miles away from Theed, toward the grassland region where the new and improved Kenobi Academy now resided, and it was a magnificent complex to behold. It actually resembled something that would be better suited to Chandrila, what with how very white and pristine it looked from the outside. Though, the large, domed copper roof at the heart of the main building was green, like most roofs throughout the entirety of Naboo, because of oxidation.The main building itself stood at four stories tall and spread out in three directions: a west wing, an east wing and a south wing, as the complex faced north. Between the east and south wings, there were extensive gardens where a great variety of fruits and vegetables were grown. Between the south and west wings, there were outdoor obstacle courses, as well as a playground for the younglings and padawans to just have fun and be kids, too. Beyond the main building there two, two-story hangars, side by side and connected by a short breezeway between the upper levels. There were also cottages beyond that, for older Jedi Knights and staff who didn't want to live in dormitories because they either wanted their own space or had families of their own. For example, Jedi Master Anila Khallan, had married Yenno Hast, a cartographer from Theed, fifteen years earlier, and the pair were also raising their thirteen-year-old daughter Ganna and their eleven-year-old son Paden in once such cottage. Both children were Force-sensitive like their mother, so they attended the Kenobi Academy as a day school, while living on the grounds.And then, of course, there was the Solleu River, which gave the entire complex an even more peaceful vibe, what with being located alongside it."What is that place?" Catch asked."The Kenobi Academy. It's a school.""Yeah, the 'academy' party kind of gave it away," he quipped; shooting her a sarcastic smile."It's a school for Force-sensitive children that my mother founded around the time I was born. My brother runs it now." As she began to lower the Skywalker down upon the tarmac just outside one of the two hangars, she could sense his curiosity growing and how he was trying to piece these little morsels of information together. "I come from a line of notable Jedi," she admitted. Once the landing gears extended and the skiff officially landed, Leia swiveled in her chair to face Catch properly. "Your daughter is special. You're aware of that, aren't you?"He nodded slowly. "Yeah." Looking Leia in the eye, he frowned. "She's only seven, but you have no idea how many times where she was the one who ended up protecting me instead of the other way around." He leaned back and swiveled to face her as well. "She's been blowing my mind with the things she can do since she was about two years old. I wasn't ever sure of what she was doing or how she was doing it. I'd never crossed paths with anyone else like my daughter. Till this morning when you made that laser sword fly to your hand.""Lightsaber. It's a Jedi's weapon," Leia clarified. She watched the way he was clearly mulling something over. "She's like me. Brina. She's strong in the Force. I could feel it in her the moment I laid eyes on her." She turned and gestured out the window, even though the viewport only offered them a view of the hangar before them. She was obviously referring the complex as a whole, though. "This school could be good for her. It's a boarding school, and also a group home of sorts. Orphans, kids without parents or any family, who are Force-sensitive, live and learn here all year long. Those with parents or families that can care for them can come and go. For them it's usually just a day school, unless their families live worlds away. Then it's a boarding school, too, but they get breaks where they return home for a few weeks at a time." She looked back at Catch. "My mom wanted it that way because it's how she was brought up. She was born here on Naboo. But, at six years old, her grandmother sent her to train on Ossus with Luke Skywalker.""No shit, really?" Catch knew the name. Almost everyone knew the name of the legendary Jedi Master who destroyed the first Death Star and helped defeat the Empire.Leia nodded. "My mom spent most of the year with Luke, but would return to her grandmother several times a year, one or two weeks at a time, from the age of six to twenty, when she chose to leave the Jedi path behind to try her hand at a more civilian life. So, when she began the Kenobi Academy, she wanted the same for her padawans. She wanted them to have options. They learn the ways of the Force here, they train to become Jedi. But, once they come of age, they don't have to continue onward to become Knights or even Masters someday. They can go out into the galaxy with what they've learned, knowing how to use the Force properly, and make whatever life for themselves they see fit. Or, they're welcome to remain here to continue training and learning, or to teach the next generations. Or they can head off to the Jedi Temple and be more of a part of the Jedi Order. My brother Caro chose to build on to what my mother started. He's a Jedi Master now. He runs this school and he teaches. My twin sister chose a different life. She'll be taking over another family business in due course.""Your family is loaded, isn't it?" He'd meant it in jest but his tone was serious."We may have financial wealth, but the wealth of family has always been more abundant and more important to us.""Leia," he muttered, leaning forward. "Who are you?"She bit her lips together. "I wasn't named after Leia Organa just because my parents respected her," she began to say. "Leia Organa was my mother's aunt." As the wheels began to turn in Catch's head, Leia sighed with slight amusement. "My mother is Jedi Master Crisara Dameron, formerly Kenobi. Luke Skywalker was her father and therefore my maternal grandfather. Her grandfathers were Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his padawan Anakin Skywalker, who became Darth Vader. They're my maternal great-grandfathers. Their wives, my maternal great-grandmothers were Sera Dotolo Kenobi, who founded GOFOY — the Galactic Outreach Foundation for Orphaned Youth, which is where my twin works, and Padmé Amidala, former Senator and former Queen of Naboo, and who had a ship identical to this one.""That's, uh, definitely quite the pedigree," he remarked, as this information began to soak into his brain.Leia simply nodded in agreement. Then, "You said you know ships. Well, so does my father, because he was the best pilot in the Resistance." Throwing another glance at Catch, she added, "He's General Poe Dameron, former Governor of Naboo. My twin sister is named for his mother, our paternal grandmother, Shara Bey Dameron, who was a pilot in the Galactic Civil War. And that's not even all the people in my family who have made their mark on history. I could write books on each of them. I had two brothers who I lost. My eldest brother, Temiri, was murdered by Armitage Hux. My youngest brother, Len, made the Kessel Run in eleven parsecs, breaking the record made by my maternal great-uncle, Han Solo. Len contracted and died of bloodburn a few years later. I also had a sister, Adera, who died before I was born. She was six and on Hosnian Prime with her father when it was destroyed." Tears began to form in her eyes but she was quick to wipe them away. "Sometimes I forget all the terrible things that happened to those I loved. I try not to focus on any of the past so much. I try to just focus on the happy moments, because there were always more of them, even if the sad or terrible moments were rather daunting." Leia looked at Catch again. "I'm sorry. I know that was probably a lot all at once.""No, it's fine. I asked who you are," he insisted. "I wanted to know. And I'll listen to whatever else you want to tell me because I really do want to get to know you better."Leia immediately began to clam up, and cleared her throat. "We should get Brina settled here. I can see that she's given a private dormitory, and that Elle can stay with her so she doesn't feel too out of her comfort zone," she quickly changed the subject. "It only has to be for a day or two at the least, until we can get your situation taken care of. After that…" She shrugged. "Well, it's up to you.""A place like this might be better for her than with me," Catch muttered a bit sadly. "I just want her to have a better life than the one I was born into. I want her to have as many opportunities as possible.""She would definitely have that here, but you wouldn't have to stay away from her. If you had to hide out somewhere, Naboo's a pretty nice place to do it." Sitting up straighter, Leia slapped her thighs with her hands. "But, like I said, we need to get your shit sorted first. And now you know why I know people in high places that can help you.""Yeah, I guess so," he chuckled. After a moment of silence fell between them, he began to stand up and looked down at her with an air of solemnity to him. "Whatever does happen — whether your friends or family members in high places can help — I just want you to know I'm beyond grateful of your help. It's been a long time since I could lean on someone who wasn't myself. It's kinda lonely that way, you know.""There's only so much we can do by ourselves.""Exactly," he agreed.  As Caro was still on his honeymoon with his new wife Sindé to Chandrila, he wasn't at the school to greet Leia and her 'guests', so she relied on the most senior Master in residence, Meleri Evo, who was most accommodating. After a brief tour of the school and after showing Catch exactly where Brina would be able to stay for the time being, he felt more comfortable leaving her behind, for however long it ended up being. And, if it ended up being forever, then he supposed he was okay with that, too. He saw the other kids of all ages, and how happy they looked. They were clearly healthy and being treated well. They had clean clothes to wear, were being fed well and had access to medical attention should they need it. They weren't just learning the ways of the Force and the ways of the Jedi, but also received a traditional education as well, involving the likes of mathematics, sciences, literature, galactic and Naboo history, art and astronomy. Catch could plainly see his daughter could have a well-rounded upbringing here, no matter what happened to him. This really was more than he could've hoped for in regard to her needs and her future.Before departing from her, Catch pulled Brina into a big hug and very nearly refused to let go. When he did go, with Leia at his side, he kept his head down and was notably silent. Leia had enough sense to understand he was worried; not so much for what might lie ahead for him, but for never seeing his little girl again, and that certainly endeared him to her a bit more. Small-time criminal with a bounty on his head he might be, but he wasn't a bad guy. He might've killed people before, but she felt, deep down, it had truly only ever been done in self-defense or in defense of others, not out of malice or enjoyment. She had killed before, too, only ever out of necessity, so who would she be to judge?Once she'd resumed her place in the pilot's seat aboard her star skiff and Catch to the co-pilot's seat, Leia lifted them upward and away from the Kenobi Academy, but made no move to leave Naboo just yet."Tell me something," she spoke, tossing him a look."Sure.""How come you didn't alert any authorities about what Rotta was up to? The Republic very strictly enforces slavery of all kinds these days. You said as much yourself. It's not like it was before. The Outer Rim isn't ignored.""But things still slip through the cracks. Important people can still be bought off to look the other way," he retorted with a shrug. "But, it is better than it would've been a long time ago.""So, then why not blow the whistle on injustice?"Catch turned and looked her dead in the eye. "You're awfully naïve, aren't you? Who would listen to me? The word of a nobody with a criminal record against the word of a wealthy crime lord doesn't stand an icicle's chance in a lava pit.""And you did release your evidence." Off his furrowed brow of confusion, she added, "You freed those girls. Without them, it would be your word against Rotta's. Unless…""Unless what?""Unless we can retrieve one or two of those girls, who would be willing to corroborate your claims. And it would be best to get them to make statements privately and separately, to ensure their statements weren't coerced by outside sources or influenced by each other." Leia sighed and sat back in her chair while the Skywalker merely continued to hover over the Solleu River; half a mile down river from the Kenobi Academy. She began to tap the fingers of her gloved hand upon the edge of the control dashboard in front of her. "I can contact my aunt. She can meet up with us, along with a few Jedi Knights if need be. And, while we're en route to Tatooine, they can reach out to a few officers in the Republic Security Forces for us.""Wait, we're going to Tatooine? Why don't you just kill me now?""I was hired to bring you in. It's gonna be part of the ruse. Just trust me with this.""Have you ever pulled the wool over a Hutt's eyes?" He tilted his head and swiveled in his chair as he remained looking in her direction. "You better be prepared to fight your way out of Rotta's palace if he sees through our ruse and shit goes sideways.""Rotta's father met his end at the hands of one Leia. If necessary, the son will meet a similar fate at the hands of another."  Dressed once again with in her cloak with her hood up, the mask covering the bottom half of her face and dark kohl back around her eyes, Leia had resumed the persona of Areda Neray, the bounty hunter. She was walking beside Catch, whose hands she'd bound together with binders while holding firmly onto his arm with her gloved, prosthetic hand. Together they were making their way through the main entry portcullis to the palace that once belonged to Jabba the Hutt, was taken over by Bib Fortuna, then claimed by force by the bounty hunter Boba Fett, but had eventually found its way into the possession of Jabba's only child, Rotta.A few paces ahead of them were two, armed Gamorrean guards who were grunting back and forth with each other about mindless issues and idle gossip."I really hope you know what you're doing," Catch whispered over his shoulder at her."Shut up," she barked; her tone firm and unfeeling, but look she flashed him held a certain amount of warmth and humor.It helped considerably with the anxiousness he was feeling. "Yes, ma'am," he replied with a subtle smirk.The further into the palace they went, the lower they also went. They descended into the subterranean complex and were led down into the throne room where the was a cacophony of music, chatter and laughter. It sounded like a very good time was being had. Leia half expected there to be countless life forms in the throes of a raucous party going on, but was surprised by the fact that there barely two dozen people present; not including droids. And everyone seemed to be sitting idly about. It wasn't as actually raucous as it sounded from beyond the scope of the throne room. Everyone was just loud; talking over each other and over the music.At the base of the stone stairs, the Gamorrean guards beckoned the pair forward, with Leia now putting on more of a show by roughly pulling Catch alongside her. She immediately noted the large grate in the center of the throne room and knew, from stories she'd been told, it could retract and there would be a drop down into a cavernous pit below where a rancor was once kept under Jabba's rule. She felt no such presence now, but such a drop could still prove painful. At least for Catch, it could. She could manage to use the Force to soften the blow for herself. Perhaps for him, too, if she concentrated enough and could spare the energy. Regardless of there being no monstrous beast awaiting below, Leia was still wary as she and Catch were guided to stand upon it.On their immediate right, they turned and faced the obnoxiously obese being that was Rotta the Hutt.
"I remember him being smaller."
Leia's gaze shifted to her immediate left; upon hearing the disembodied voice of her long deceased great-grandfather Anakin.
"I helped save his life when he was just a Huttlet, and he was returned very much alive to his very ungrateful father."
Leia ignored his commentary so she could focus on the very much grown-up Rotta lounging upon the large dais before her. She'd never actually interacted with a Hutt before, so she was a little curious why she was specifically asked to take on this bounty. Part of her wondered and worried about if Rotta knew her true identity and wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Did he want to acquire Catch, who failed to complete the job he was hired and paid half upfront for, as well as avenge his father's death by claiming the life of the great-niece of Leia Organa, who killed his father? She tried making a subtle mental note of all exits and how many guards there were. How many would she need to fight if they had to make a run for it? How many would she have to kill?The Hutt began to chuckle with what Leia sensed to be amusement and gratitude. So far she felt no ulterior motive from him."You are very prompt," he declared; his deep voice, thunderous.The music and the chatter all around them seemed to almost completely stop.She supposed she wasn't too surprised he was speaking Galactic Basic Standard. Most if not all Hutts could understand and speak it, but were notable for conversing primarily or exclusively in their native Huttese; expecting those they interacted with to also understand or speak the same, or have some sort of droid present to translate."When I do a job, I do it right," she replied; keeping her eyes forward on him while she felt Catch growing anxious again.Out the corner of her eye, she noticed a lithe-looking female guard, covered in disheveled clothing and wearing a helmet to conceal her face, that had just approached the base of the stairs Leia and Catch had come down. Leia couldn't tell what species they were but she could tell the guard was keeping a watchful eye on her and Catch. At the same moment, a large crate was being brought in from the massive private elevator off to the side of the largest alcove, at the end of the throne room opposite from the large stairwell.One of Rotta's workers, a Trandoshan, approached him and whispered something. Rotta leaned closer to hear better and then leaned back again with another bout of laughter. He turned his attention back to Leia and Catch. "Not only did you bring me the man who failed me, you found what he was supposed to bring me. You have gone above and beyond, Areda Neray," he announced, rubbing his hands down the front of his sluggish body. He was positively brimming with pleasure and excitement. It was disgustingly palpable. "You shall be doubly rewarded.""It wasn't easy to retrieve them all. Some are still missing." Leia turned and nodded upward at Catch. "Under duress, he admitted to freeing them and giving them the credits you paid him upfront with."Rotta sighed and shifted his gaze upon Catch. "You've disappointed me, Lacen.""Yeah, well, I can't condone the trafficking of sex slaves, especially when they're primarily underage," Catch threw back with as much confidence in his voice as he could muster."Seems I didn't need you to when someone else took it upon themselves to go the extra mile," Rotta taunted. "That is what I call service."Leia returned her focus upon the Hutt while still maintaining her grasp upon Catch's arm. "I don't require a double reward when I already received payment through the Guild for taking on this bounty." With a shove forward, she let Catch go and stepped back from him. "And I won't accept payment for bringing you what you didn't ask me to bring. But it was clearly what you need." There was a vague, double meaning to her comment that the Hutt seemed a bit oblivious to. "I just ask that you keep me in mind for future tasks because, as I said, when I do a job," she continued, "I do it right."Without missing a beat, the helmeted guard at the base of the stairs withdrew a lightsaber that had been previously concealed and ignited it. A vibrant golden blade sprung forward as they stalked forward; pointing the weapon in Rotta's direction. "Rotta Desilijic Tiure, on behalf of the Galactic Republic, you are under arrest for the crime of illegally trafficking underage females for the intent of selling them into sexual slavery." The voice of the female guard was modulated and sounded rather robotic; giving nothing away of who they really were, other than they were clearly a Jedi because of the lightsaber they held. As she used her free hand to press a button upon the comm secured to her wrist, the crate opened up and out poured several Jedi Knights who withdrew and brandished their own lightsabers. "A Republic cruiser is in orbit. You will be removed from this palace either of your own recognizance, or by Force, if necessary."Leia stepped forward, lifted her arm and presented the comm around her wrist. Pressing a button she played back the holo she'd been secretly recording of Rotta just confirming his crime. After enough of the evidence had played, she watched as he growled in anger at her and at the helmeted guard. As she lowered her hand back down, Leia unhooked her lightsaber from her belt, which had been hidden underneath her cloak, and activated the purple blade.As she noticed the way he was about to grab for a subtly obscured lever, and having seen enough of his intentions, Leia was able to correctly assume that lever would've opened up the grate beneath the feet of the Jedi Knights gathered; herself and Catch included. In a swift movement, she threw her weapon, which pinwheeled directly at him. Rotta's left hand was cleanly severed from his wrist at the same moment she called the lightsaber back to her with the Force, like a boomerang. As the Hutt let out a roaring wail of pain, Leia wagged a finger at him; admonishing his intention to drop them all down into the pit below."I am a bounty hunter. But my real name isn't Areda Neray. That's just been my alias," she admitted. In a final gesture, she pulled her hood down and removed the mask from the bottom half of her face. "My name is Leia Dameron, and I'm also a Jedi Knight."Two of the other Knights at her side happened to be Zirc D'vandt, the Devaronian that her parents had rescued on Batuu, and Uwin, the Cerean former padawan of both of her older brothers, Temiri and then Caro. The others had come up primarily with Rey and Finn at their Jedi Temple, but she was familiar enough with them all."You will never work as a bounty hunter again. I can promise you that," Rotta bellowed. "You will be blacklisted. I'll see that all other bounty hunters come for you instead."Leia narrowed her gaze. "Let them come.""Let them try," Zirc dared; aiming his green lightsaber more pointedly in Rotta's direction. "Because she's not alone."The helmeted female guard to the right of Leia and Catch nodded in agreement. "She is never alone. She is a Jedi and therefore all the Jedi are with her. Always."Swelling with affection over the expressed camaraderie, Leia felt even more confident. "Your time as a crime lord is over. Your rule is over," she declared."You cannot arrest me! This goes against the Hutt-Republic Treaty!""Uh, you clearly don't know your galactic history, Rotta," Catch spoke this time. "Reading up on history, along with tinkering with ships, happens to be one of my favorite pastimes." Despite his hands still being bound, he lifted both up so he could scratch at the side of his nose. "The terms of that treaty you're referring to granted the Old Republic access to Hutt Space hyperspace routes, granted Hutts access to key trade routes in the Mid-Rim, and that the Hutt Clan would stay out of the active fighting of the war, which was the Clone Wars at that time, and with the Galactic Republic agreeing to not be the side to bring fighting into Hutt territory." Catch tilted his head and shrugged a bit. "Now, sure, by the Old Republic signing an official treaty with a criminal cartel, the Old Republic also inadvertently legitimized Hutt businesses and gave them a foothold into the Core Worlds. However, when the Old Republic was reorganized into the Galactic Empire, that original treaty, as with many treaties and laws and amendments of that time, what have you, became null and void. Hutts might've also thrived a bit more during the reign of the Empire but — oh yeah — the Empire fell." With a smirk, and feeling bold, he winked at Leia before returning his focus to the Hutt. "You aren't immune from committing crimes in this galaxy, in this Galactic Republic, just because you're a Hutt. Also, you may have decided to base your criminal operations out of Tatooine, like your father before you, but Tatooine is very much not in Hutt Space. It's an Outer Rim territory and under the jurisdiction of the Galactic Republic, and thereby subject to its laws, which you've broken. And I'm sure there may be some of your friends here who wouldn't mind offering up some extra insight into your illegal dealings in exchange for immunity."As Catch turned and looked over his shoulder at the two-ish dozen, he noted a few seemed very unsure what to do: to attempt to flee or stay put. Some just seemed curious to see how this was all going to pan out for Rotta."You being a history buff was not on my score card," Leia quipped as she eyed him."Gotta keep you on your toes," Catch replied.As they continued to look at each other for a few moments longer, the rest of the Jedi Knights that were present began to fully advance around Rotta in order to detain him, and then continue to remove him from the premises; with that large crate, that the Knights were snuck into the palace in, coming in handy again. A few other Knights began to apprehend a few of Rotta's henchmen as well; which was more easy to do as they were more susceptible to Jedi mind tricks, whereas the Hutt — not so much."So, uh, do I still have to keep these on? Or do you have a certain kink I should know about…" As Catch lifted his bound hands upward, he found immediate relief when Leia used the Force to unlock them. As they slackened and then fell off his wrists, he let his shoulders slump with relief. He felt better knowing justice was being served and Rotta was being arrested, and that he'd been able to play a part in it. And he was happy to not have the binders on anymore because part of him was worried he might be arrested for the unwitting part he had played in accepting a job from Rotta in the first place, or if these Jedi Knights decided to look into any of his past crimes that he may not have answered for yet. "So, what happens now?" he wondered.The helmeted guard beside them both retracted her golden blade and turned to face them. A moment later, she began to remove her helmet; revealing that it had been Rey all along. "You live your life without having to look over your shoulder," the aging Jedi Master eyed Catch specifically. "You did a good thing when you freed those girls. You did the right thing." She smiled slightly. "I'm aware you have a daughter. She should be proud to have a hero for a father."Catch scoffed. "I wouldn't go that far.""Not everyone would've done what you did," Leia contended, putting away her lightsaber. "You left your daughter behind to continue to do the right thing, and without knowing if you would be able to return to her. You left her with people who could take care of her and guide her. You thought only of her. Not of yourself.""Yeah, but I haven't always done the right thing. I haven't always been a good guy.""Take the win, Catch," Leia smirked upward at him. "And leave the past in the past. You can't change it."Rey nodded. "The past can't be changed, but you have a present and a future to look forward to for you and your daughter. You want to know what happens now? Start making plans for that future." Looking around him to Leia, Rey reached out and placed a hand upon the younger woman's shoulder. "You did well. But we have this. The two of you head out. Return home," she advised. "I'll let you know how it goes." Her gaze flitted back over to Catch. "Don't go too far, though. You may need to go before the Courts to make a statement or bear witness when Rotta gets a trial."Catch exhaled a shaky sigh. "I'd prefer if I didn't have to. But, I'll do what's needed if it keeps that slug locked away." He watched as the Jedi Knights were working in tandem; using the Force to subdue and levitate Rotta off his dais and into the crate. Because of his immense weight, it took as much help as possible. He then watched as Rey stepped away to offer her help as well. When Leia stepped a little bit closer to him, Catch brought his eyes upon her and suddenly felt a little flustered. "This went a lot better than I thought it would," he continued to say. "I'm not sure who was more surprised by all those Jedi spilling out of that crate — Rotta or me."Leia shrugged and gave him a light punch to his shoulder as she began to step around him and move toward the stairwell. "You had to believe it was just the two of us," she remarked back at him; not waiting for him to follow, just assuming he would. "I didn't know if you could play dumb or not. Was definitely surprised to learn you're more than just a pretty face, what with the history lesson you schooled Rotta with.""Wait, wait…" Catch hurried up alongside her as he did, in fact, follow. He immediately began to grin amusedly at her. "So you think I'm pretty?""Shut up, Catch."  It was after sunset in the Lake Country of Naboo, but it wasn't completely dark yet. The sky had a lovely light purple hue to it and the ground lanterns lining the tiled patio of the villa provided what light the sky didn't. Crisara was sitting upon the retaining wall, looking down at the curved pathway that led to the pier; holding a lukewarm cup of ginberry tea in her hands. Overhead, a few birds began to scatter and, moments later, the undeniable whir of a ship's engine became more audible as it grew nearer.Casting her blue-eyed gaze upward, Crisara easily spotted the Skywalker's approach. When it landed upon the tarmac in front of the villa's hangar, she remained unmoved. A small smirk appeared on her lips, though, when Poe stepped out of the front entrance with a dish towel in his hands."How's it going?" she asked, taking a sip of tea.Poe sighed; looking down at the front of his shirt, which was noticeably wet. "Ships I can fix. Kitchen sink pipes? Not so much.""I told you we should just hire someone. Remember, this is that time of our life where we're supposed to be sitting back and letting the younger generation do for us.""Yeah, well, I thought I could do it." He shrugged and shifted his gaze toward the landing zone. "Leia's back.""I noticed.""What was that whole business with a Hutt?" He looked confused. "When Rey called you a little while ago, I didn't catch it all."Crisara looked lovingly upon her husband of thirty-four years, who was still as handsome as ever to her, if not more so. Like a fine wine. "I'm certain Leia will fill us in on those details.""Yeah, but Rey told you, right? So, you already know. Just give me liner notes before our daughter gets here.""She is here.""Woman," he muttered in a withering tone. "You know what I mean."Crisara chuckled. "Leia accepted a bounty. The bounty was a single father who refused to complete a job trafficking girls to be sold as sex slaves by Rotta the Hutt. Leia took the guy's daughter to the Kenobi Academy because she's apparently Force-sensitive. They then went to Tatooine to confront Rotta, with assistance from Rey and some Knights, and with the backing of the Republic Security Forces. Rotta was arrested. Everything went swimmingly. Better than expected." She then narrowed her gaze at Poe. "Happy now?""Leia came out of it okay, though, right?""Well, she's home, so she's obviously still alive and I don't sense anyone in pain."Poe stalked forward with his hands on his hips and just eyed his wife. "You're being a pain in the ass on purpose, aren't you?""How else am I supposed to pass the time in our golden years?"Taking a page from her book, Poe rolled his eyes. As they both turned back toward the landing zone, they noticed the boarding ramp had lowered. Moving closer to his wife, Poe tried his best to muffle the grunt he made when Poe slowly sat down next to her, but it was unavoidable, and just another fun part of getting older. Bodies made more noises.When they spotted Leia stepping down the boarding ramp, they smiled in her direction, even if she was too far away to see the gesture. When a dark-haired man appeared behind her with a young girl in his arms, and was followed by some sort of protocol droid, Crisara and Poe moved to stand back up as their curiosity piqued. As they waited for all four to approach, Poe slipped a hand behind his wife's back and rested it upon her hip opposite from him."I wonder what this is all about," he muttered.Crisara remained silent on the matter until their daughter could elaborate."Berries," Poe greeted when Leia was near enough.As Leia finally set foot upon the tiled patio, she tossed a small but tired smile at both of her parents. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, if at all, thanks to Catch, but her mother and father didn't need to know that. She'd just been going nonstop since Coruscant and was looking forward to her own bed. But that would have to wait a little while longer for now."Dad," she greeted back. Her eyes drifted to her mother and she nodded. "Mom." Stepping aside, she gestured to her guests. "This is Catch Lacen and his daughter Brina, and their droid, Elle.""My full identification is Nine-Elle-Oh-Em," 9-LOM informed.Leia looked over her shoulder and gestured to her mother and father. "These are my parents, Poe and Crisara Dameron."Maintaining his hold on his daughter with one arm, Catch stepped forward and offered a hand to Poe first. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." He smirked sheepishly. "Honestly, I'm a bit of a fan." His equally tired eyes shifted to Crisara and offered her his hand next. "Pleasure to meet you, too, ma'am."After the older adults accepted his handshakes, Crisara tilted her head slightly to the side and looked fondly upon the sleepy girl. "Brina, correct?"Catch nodded. "Say hello, darlin'."Brina lifted her head and turned to look properly upon the pair who were strangers to her, but she looked at Crisara with an innate sense of familiarity. "Hello," she replied quietly."She's not usually this shy. She's just tired," Catch insisted as Brina dropped her head back down upon his shoulder. "She had a very lively and busy day at that, uh, Jedi school.""I really liked it there," Brina muttered; her voice a hair above a whisper. "I made a friend. His name is Luke."Crisara smiled. "Luke Grader?"Brina lifted her head back up and over at Crisara again. "Yeah," she confirmed. "He showed me how to twirl rocks in the air.""Luke's my nephew," Leia remarked. "He's my twin sister Shara's son."As the girl drew her attention to Leia, she asked, "Will I get to go to school with him all the time?"Leia shared a look with Catch. "It's up to your dad."He leaned his head back until his daughter turned and looked at him instead. "If it's what you want, then yeah. You can go to school there.""I don't want to live there, though. I don't wanna leave you alone, daddy." Dropping her head down upon his shoulder once more, her small arms slid around his neck and held tightly.Poe felt a pang in his chest; seeing the girl with dark hair and how she reminded him of how both Shara and Leia would do the same thing when they were still that young. He missed being able to hold his kids in his arms like that.Sensing the bittersweet reverie ebbing off her husband, Crisara leaned more into his side and then mirrored him by slipping her hand around his back to his hip opposite from her. She looked over at their daughter and was able to surmise enough about why she'd brought the father-daughter-droid trio back to the villa. "Looks like you've all had a very long and eventful day. Why don't we all head inside," she suggested; gesturing toward the front door with a nod of her head since one hand was holding onto Poe and the other still held onto her tea cup. She then eyed Catch, specifically. "We have plenty of bedrooms for you and your daughter to occupy for the night, or however long you need." She was sensing good vibes and intentions from the younger man. He seemed like a lovely person, right off the bat. "Leia can show you where you can settle in. And we have a few docking stations downstairs for you, Elle, if you'd like a bit of a recharge."The grey-plated, LOM-series protocol droid nodded her head appreciatively. "That would be nice. Thank you."Leading the way, Poe and Crisara walked ahead first. As they entered into the grand foyer, they stepped aside to let the others follow them in. The moment Catch and Brina entered inside, their attention both immediately darted upward to the multi-colored crystal chandelier overhead, as happened with everyone the first time they came to the villa."Wow. That's some light fixture," Catch remarked.Poe was suddenly recalling his first time seeing it; when he'd come to pick up Crisara to escort her to Alfic's wedding on Hosnian Prime, which suddenly felt like a million lifetimes ago. "Yeah, and it never gets old," he commented. "It looks amazing at all different times of the day. The colors change, depending on if it's artificial light or from natural light coming in through the windows above the door or above the breezeway upstairs." He gestured toward the top of the stairs, and then he pointed at Crisara. "Her great-grandmother made it, but she fixed it a couple decades ago after the house was bombed."Catch was caught off guard by that and looked directly at Poe. "Wait, seriously?""Yeah, well," Poe shrugged. "We may be well-known and decent people, but we're not everyone's cup of tea.""Speaking of which…" Crisara held up her cup of ginberry tea which she was sure had now gone cold. "If you want anything to drink, the kitchen is through there." She pointed through the dining room, where the kitchen was on the other side. "Help yourself. If you're hungry, too. Go right ahead.""Just avoid the sink." Poe gestured at his chest. "I was attempting to fix it, but I'm gonna have to call for someone tomorrow morning."Catch shifted Brina from one hip to the other. She was, after all, seven years old. She wasn't that small anymore. "I could take a look at it for you, if you'd like. I'm good with fixing things." He gestured at himself with his free hand. "I'm good with my hands. I'm always tinkering.""Sure," Poe agreed. "Maybe two heads are better than one.""Well, okay then," Leia interrupted the banter. "I'll, uh, show you to some of the spare bedrooms." Turning to look at her parents, she asked, "Is Lora here?""No, Caro and Sindé took her to the school before they left on their honeymoon, but then Shara and Zeith were going to look after her until the newlyweds came to get her for their family vacation to Synjax next week," Crisara replied. "It might be better to bring her back here tomorrow, if you're gonna go get Skye. No point in bogging Shara down with every child in the family when she has four of her own.""That was my plan. To get Skye tomorrow, I mean. But, yeah, I'll grab Lora, too." When mildly awkward silence fell over them all, Leia cleared her throat. "Anyway." She gestured up toward the staircase. "Come on," she spoke to Catch, and then began to lead the way upstairs.With a polite nod to the older couple, he smiled. "Goodnight, and thank you for the hospitality.""You're plenty welcome," Crisara countered. She kept her gaze on the retreating trio while simultaneously pointing in the direction of the back hallway that lead toward the home office. "Elle, there's a docking station and a small bench around the corner down that hall where you can sit and recharge.""Thank you," the droid remarked, and began to shuffle away.Leaning closer to his wife, Poe whispered, "So, what do you think of him?"Crisara remained quiet and contemplative for a moment, and then began to smile ever so faintly. She watched as Leia continued to lead the way toward the direction of the smaller staircase on the second floor, where Adera's bedroom used to be located, and now led up to the third floor. "I have a good feeling about him," she replied; whispering as well. "I see a young man who adores his daughter and would lay his life down for her in a heartbeat. I see a young man who has done things he's not necessarily proud of to survive and provide for his daughter. I see a young man who has been through some hard times but made the best of it," the sixty-seven-year-old Jedi Master began to elaborate, as she stepped directly in front of her husband and looked him in the eye. "And I see a young man who looks at our daughter as if she walks on water or invented sunlight, and I wonder if he could be the one to heal her heart."A rueful smile took up residence upon Poe's lips as he looked down upon his wife. Leaning in, he kissed her gently and then sighed. "I'm not Jedi, but I have a good feeling about him, too. I mean, we only just met him but, if he's gonna be sticking around Naboo so his daughter can attend the Kenobi Academy, he might end up being in our lives to some extent, and then we'll be able to get to know him better." Poe shrugged. "Maybe he won't be good enough for Leia. Maybe they'll just be friends. And that's fine. But, I dunno…""What?" Crisara sensed something was amusing him."He just…he kinda reminds me of—""Yourself?"Poe chuckled. "Yeah. He kinda does.""Well, don't they say guys fall for girls who remind them of their mothers and girls fall for guys who remind them of their fathers?""I guess so."Both chuckled as they looked in the direction of where Leia, Catch and Brina no longer were; having already disappeared out of view up toward the third level."Wanna call it a night?" Crisara wondered, setting her tea cup on a round, antique wooden table in the center of the grand foyer; knowing a cleaning droid would claim it at some point. "I don't know why, but I'm suddenly feeling a certain kind of way."Catching the impish smirk she flashed him, Poe raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh?"Crisara simply nodded in response. Taking him by the hand and leading the way up the stairs, she used the lifted her free hand and used the Force to dim the light coming from the multi-colored crystal chandelier, but not turn it off completely.  A few hours later, in the middle of the night, Catch was lying on one of the most comfortable beds he'd ever been in. Even the bed in Leia's hotel room hadn't been this comfortable. He was still asleep and staring up at the ceiling; watching the occasional shadow shift back and forth from the breeze moving the tree branches outside. His mind was reeling with the last twenty-four hours and how differently his life had changed. He was thinking about his daughter's future and how it was going to be a better one now; of that he was definitely certain. And he had Leia to thank for it.If she hadn't come into his life, he would've probably ended up dead and Brina would've ended up some destitute orphan. He didn't want to think of the horrors she would've grown up facing without him there to protect her as a father should. It made him feel anxious to even consider those terrible possibilities. Even now, though, he still worried the rug might get pulled out from underneath them and that this better future might fall through.Maybe it would end up being too good to be true.He frowned.As he continued lying there in silence, he became slowly aware of gentle footsteps just beyond the door to the guest bedroom he was in. Initially he assumed it was Brina; having woken up confused by her surroundings or from having some bad dream she need her father to soothe her mind over. When a soft, gentle knock came, it seemed like it came higher upon the door than Brina would be able to reach, which caused Catch to perk up.Rolling onto his side, he sat up and furrowed his brow curiously. "Yeah?" he called out quietly as he slid off the bed and began to slowly pad over toward the door.
"It's Leia."
Unaware he was doing it, Catch smiled.Upon reaching the door he opened it and found her standing there in the hall; barefoot and wearing a rather comfy-looking robe. Her hair was pulled back off her face and she'd long since washed away any remnants of the kohl she'd been wearing when they'd gone to Tatooine. She looked fresh-faced and sleepy at the same time. But something in her dark brown eyes was very alert."Hey," he greeted lamely; leaning with one hand braced high upon the door frame. His eyes began to trail around her face, to the softness of her hair, which she wore in the sloppiest ponytail he'd ever seen, and then shifted his gaze downward to focus very much upon her full lips. "Can't sleep or something?"Stepping forward, Leia shoved her hands against his chest; forcing him to move out of the way so she could step inside. Once she was, he shut the door behind them and turned around to face her again, just as she undid the sash holding her robe closed and let the entire robe fall and pool around her feet; revealing the pleasant surprise of how very naked she was."Uh…hi," he chuckled; the pajama pants he'd been lent suddenly feeling very tight."Do you still want this to be more than just a one-night stand sort of thing?" she questioned.Catch began to walk backward toward the bed and nodded his head very adamantly. "Uh, yeah. I'm down if you are.""Okay." Shoving him backward so that fell into a laying position upon the bed, Leia dropped her hands down toward the waistband of his pants and began to tug them downward. "This is just going to be a casual thing, though, okay? No strings attached," she informed. "I'm in no place to want anything more and I'm not sure I ever will be. But you're very good-looking, and you're nice and you know how to hit all the right spots like it's your sole purpose in life."Catch's heart fluttered in his chest. He hesitated to answer as he watched the way she began to climb up over him. When his hands flew to her hips, and saw the expectant look in her eye, searching for confirmation that he agreed to her terms, he slowly nodded up at her. "Yeah, okay. We can be friends with benefits."Leia nodded back at him. "Friends with benefits," she repeated.As his fingers began to dance along her hips, he slid one arm around her back and flipped her around so that he was lying on top of her. "You might wanna shove your face into the pillows because I'm gonna do things to you that's gonna make you wanna scream, and I really don't want to wake up my daughter."Grinning from ear to ear, Leia did grab for a pillow, but she instead smacked him across the face with it. "Maybe I'll be the one making you scream. You might need this pillow more than me.""You know what?"As he leaned down and began planting kisses along her neck and up to her jaw, she simply asked, "What?"Whispering, he answered, "Shut up."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I don't care what consequence it bringsI have been a fool for lesser thingsI want you so badI think you ought to know thatI intend to hold you for the longest time"— Billy Joel 
72 ABY — Two years later
As the late morning sun reached high enough in the sky to shine its rays into the villa, strike the multi-colored crystal chandelier and scatter dozens of rainbows upon the walls, Leia came walking along the breezeway from the direction of her bedroom at the same moment Caro exited his bedroom at the end of the same wing. Looking over her shoulder and throwing her brother a smile, she slowed her pace so that he could join her at her side and they could walk together down the stairs."Late start to the day as well?" she asked with a smirk."Poe kept me up all night," Caro yawned; as if to further prove his point. "I almost forgot how tiring newborns could be just in the first few weeks alone." He noted the sympathetic look in his sister's eye, which he appreciated. "I'll be sixty when he's a legal adult, so maybe I'll be able to look forward to a full night's sleep by then, I guess."As they reached the base of the stairs, Leia laughed. "Um, you're forty-two. Shara and I are almost thirty-five. In the entirety of our lives, do you think our parents have gotten a full night's sleep?" she questioned as they walked in step around the antique wooden table in the center of the grand foyer; heading in the direction of the double doors that led out toward the back garden. At the same moment, a child with dark brown hair came running out of the family room and darted right between both adults before continuing through those very same double doors. "No running in the house!" Leia bellowed; knowing it would be to no avail. With a sigh of frustration, she threw a look upward at her brother. "Now that we're parents, we understand what mom and dad have always gone through, and it would just be easier if we just accepted the fact that we will never know peace until we die. And, even then, we will always be worrying about our kids and our grandkids, if we have any of those. So on, so forth."Caro nodded. Stepping aside, he let his sister head outside first and then sauntered behind her. "I suppose that's true," he agreed. "And, when you think of it, I'm pretty sure we've somehow given all those family members who've long since passed into the Force even more grey hairs. Grandpa Luke is always looking exasperated with any number of us when he makes himself known."As they chuckled together, that same dark haired boy came skidding to a halt when Crisara grabbed at the collar at the back of his shirt. "If you keep running around like that you'll slip and break a bone and I will not permit anyone here to heal it for you. I will let you hobble around in pain," she warned.The boy looked wide-eyed upward at her and then nodded obediently. "Sorry, Gramma." At a much slower pace, he immediately skedaddled to join the rest of his cousins in the garden.Crisara turned and glanced over at her two approaching children, but ended up placing her main focus upon Leia. "Your son has more energy in him than all of you kids combined when you were his age." Then with a sympathetic smile, she added, "I don't envy you. Also, I'm glad I'm just the grandmother and not his mother, so I don't have to look after him all the time. I'd go insane."Leia nodded. "He definitely keeps me on my toes." She looked over at her four-and-a-half year old son, who was looking more and more like his father every day, which was undeniably bittersweet for her. She was at least thankful Skye's hair wasn't curly like Nik's had been, and that his eyes were brown like hers. Looking back at her mother, she asked, "Where's dad? Is he planning on being late to his own party?""He may be an early riser but have we ever known him to be overly punctual?" Caro joked, resting his hands upon his hips. "He'll be late to his own funeral someday."While he was aware of his mother and sister chuckling in agreement at his commentary, Caro became momentarily distracted by the sight of his daughter Lora. Unlike Leia, he wished his child looked more like her deceased parent. Even though there was that looping holo atop a memorial pedestal in the back garden for Zeda, as well as the access he had to plenty of other holos that actually had sound attached to hear her voice, and even though he was able to actually see and converse with his much beloved first wife every so often, he could never truly see enough of her in Lora. The twelve-year-old girl, who was already blossoming into a beautiful young lady, looked way too much like him. Sure, her hair was lighter than his ever was and her skin tone was considerably more fair because of how Zeda had hair the color of snow and skin the color of alabaster, Lora was her father's daughter. No DNA test would've ever had to be done. However, even though he saw himself in his daughter, he was so very happy that she had more of Zeda's soft and gentle disposition. Her feathers never seemed to get ruffled, so to speak. She was thoughtful and kind. She always put others first. He could already see the makings of an amazing Jedi Master and, if that was the path she chose to follow one day, he believed the Kenobi Academy would be left in good hands one day, as his mother had entrusted it into his."Naboo to Caro."Snapping out of his reverie, he blinked a few times and shifted his focus to Leia. "Huh?""I think maybe you should sneak away and take a nap," she teased him."No, it's not that. I mean, sure, I could always go for a nap, but I'm not really tired. Was just…thinking." Shaking away the last vestiges of his daydreaming, he looked upon his mother instead. "So, where is dad?""Well, had you been paying attention, you would've heard mom say he was spending the morning tinkering in the hangar while we got things ready for the party," Leia informed as she folded her arm across her chest. "Though, I'm a little confused why he wanted to celebrate so early in the day and not in the evening like a normal person. A lot of people work during the day.""Normal people, sure," Crisara remarked. "But when have we ever been normal?"Caro sighed. "Shara's normal. On the outside, anyway." He grinned. "She's still Force-sensitive like us, even if she plays the part of the run-of-the-mill woman expertly juggling a full-time career, husband and four children twelve years of age and under.""Well, her kids are here, so she's not really juggling them at the moment," Leia commented; gesturing to their niece and nephews. "And Zeith would be at work right now, too, so not really juggling him either."With a roll of his eyes, Caro began to step away from his mother and sister. "You know what I mean."Watching him walk off, to assist C-3PO who seemed to be struggling with hanging some paper decorations the kids had made, Leia sidled up beside her mother. "Is dad feeling weird about turning seventy?"Crisara shrugged. "He's never been the biggest fan of celebrating any of his birthdays, but this one seems to be getting to him a bit more than the others," she freely admitted to her daughter. There was no sense lying about it. Leia would've been able to sense any evasion. As she looked upon the younger woman's profile, she smiled at how lovely Leia got with each passing year. And she was just happy that her daughter seemed happier these days. It was a good look on her. The weight of regret and sadness over Nik had finally lifted and she very much was in a better place now. "The older we get, the closer to the end we get, and the uncertainty of how far off that may be is a little stressful at times. And, considering he won't be able to join the Force as we will, that's been bothering him a bit more lately." As Leia turned to look back at her mother, Crisara continued. "He sees you kids, he sees all your kids, and he hates the idea of not being around to see where you will all end up in your lives. He's talked about hoping to live long enough to see great-grandchildren. It's a goal of his. Hell, it's a goal of mine, too. I won't deny I don't wish, every day, that there could be some way he could be as we will one day in the Force. I wish every day that I won't have to live a day without him. I watched my grandmother do that for the first thirty-three years of my life; longing for Obi-Wan. And, in death, they still never got to truly be together. He senses her, sure, but that's the long and short of it." Sensing the swell of empathy from her daughter, Crisara locked eyes more fully with her. "I'm not looking forward to going through that for myself, either."With a sigh of solidarity, Leia reached for her mother's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Me, too."Crisara's gaze softened, knowingly. "All three of you kids will understand that someday. Shara with Zeith, Caro with Sindé, and you with—""Caro may not have Sindé at his side in the afterlife, but he'll be reunited with Zeda," Leia cut her mother off. "And Shara and I came into this life together. We can be at each other's side after our times come. And we'll have so many other family members and friends there with us. And we'll be able to interact with our loved ones and other Force users who need us on this side of the veil. We'll be too busy, even in death, to allow ourselves to wallow in what we won't have.""I'm not sure if teaching at the Kenobi Academy has made you wiser or if it's just who you are as a person, but that was a very wise take, dear." She removed her hand from Leia's and brought it up to brush some hair over her shoulder. "I'm proud of the woman you are." Glancing briefly over at Caro, she added, "I'm proud of the adults that each of you have become." Shara wasn't there, but she was referencing her other daughter as well. "And, I'm sure if Temiri, Len and even Adera were still alive, they'd still be making me proud, too."  A little more than fifty yards away from the villa, inside the hangar, Poe was seated at a work bench. On his left was a cup of caf that had gone cold about an hour ago and still sat untouched. On his right was a broken catalyzer spread out in several, crumbling parts. Directly in front of him, however, he held a brand new catalyzer in his weathered, achy hands. So he wasn't left too alone with his thoughts, he had some music playing at a low volume, which gave cause for a slight bobbing of his right knee as he continued to sit there on his old, rusted stool.The sound of someone approaching and clearing their throat quickly drew Poe's attention away from the task at hand."Happy birthday, sir."Poe frowned initially, but only at the reminder that he was getting older. Aside from that, he smiled as he swiveled around. "I told you not to call me 'sir'," he lamented.Walking forward through the hangar, Catch tossed a gaze upward at the underside of the Millennium Falcon, which he was always in awe to be in the presence of, and then chuckled as he looked back at Poe. "Yeah, well, old habits die hard," he responded. "I can't help it. You're my elder and you're a man I respect, so I just feel it's the right thing to do.""Yeah, well," Poe mimicked, "Listening to your elders is also a sign of respect, and you don't seem to listen when I tell you not to call me 'sir'.""I suppose I can relate in a way. Elle still calls me Captain, despite the fact that I've never been one. I mean, yeah, okay…I took over the ownership of a ship previously captained by a pirate, who was technically a Captain, but…it was only ever just me and her afterward, until Brina came into my life, and then it was the three of us. And that's not me really being a Captain, just a father—"Poe sighed again and flashed Catch a withering look. "I never thought I'd meet someone who could rattle on more than me. Yet, here we are." His expression softened again. "Did you just get here?"Catch nodded and shoved one hand into a pocket in the jacket he wore while brushing the other hand down over his beard, which was fuller than it had been two years prior. "So, are you trying out new looks for this next decade of your life." Dropping his hand, he pointed at the former Governor, who was now clean shaven."I did it this morning," Poe replied; looking a little nervous. "First thing. I got up, showered and, spur of the moment, I shaved it all off." He eyed Catch and began to frown as he rubbed the smoothness of his jaw. "I haven't seen my face in thirty years. Neither has my wife or my kids. The grandkids have never seen me like this. I shaved and came here to the hangar before any of them woke up this morning. They know where I am, and that I'm hanging out here till the party is supposed to start, but they haven't seen me yet today.""Do you feel naked without it? I haven't been without a beard in at least five years.""It's definitely going to take some getting used to." Poe shrugged. "Who knows, depending on how the others react, I might grow it back in again. Sure as shit doesn't take me long to do."Catch smirked and stepped a bit closer. "So, whatcha been doin' in here?"Poe lifted the new part for the Millennium Falcon up. "Catalyzer broke, so I ordered a new part. Arrived a little while ago, like a little birthday gift to me, from me." Off Catch's slight chuckle, Poe set the part back down. "Need to get the Falcon in tip top shape. The missus and I are heading out the day after tomorrow." Once again rubbing at his bare face, he couldn't deny it did feel weird. He'd grown so used to such a full beard for so many years that he almost didn't feel like himself anymore. "When we retired, we had every intention of traveling, but then we felt bad about not being around while our grandkids are still so young and still enjoy spending time with their dear, old grandparents. Plus, we were better babysitters than any droid could be, and we loved doing it. But, with the exception of Caro's new son, the rest of the grandkids are in school or will be heading to school within the next year. Up until this point, Cris and I have managed a little time away, here and there, but nowhere near what we'd initially hoped. Before we get any older or senile, we gotta start doing it now or we won't ever do it."With a scoff, Catch waved his hand at him. "You act like you're ancient. You're not.""If you're trying to brown-nose, it's working," Poe joked."I wasn't, but if it makes you feel better — you're welcome."As a kindly smile spread across Poe's lips and reached upward into his warm brown eyes, he beckoned Catch forward. "Wanna help me install this fucker?"Caught off guard by the sudden vulgarity, Catch laughed and nodded his head. "You know I jump at any chance to help you tinker with the Millennium fucking Falcon," he countered, just as vulgarly and in a way that made Poe smile even more. Reaching forward, Catch took the catalyzer from Poe's hand and gave it a proper onceover. "I'm never used to seeing brand new parts. I've always had to steal mine from other ships or find them used from scrapyards.""Yeah, that was something that took some time getting used to when I married into the Dotolo-Kenobi-Skywalker family," came the former Governor's amused remark. "I married into money."Catch cleared his throat and began to step away with the new part still in his hand.The entire time, Poe wasn't oblivious to the look of nervousness and uncertainty suddenly plastered upon the younger man's face. "Something on your mind?" he wondered, getting up off his stool.Turning the catalyzer aimlessly around in his hand, Catch shrugged noncommittally. "I guess you could say that." Noting the boarding ramp to the Millennium Falcon was down, he stepped over to it and sat down halfway up it while pretending as if the part he was holding was the most interesting thing in the galaxy; to avoid looking up at Poe. "I needed to talk to you about something important.""Oh?" Following Catch to the boarding ramp, Poe merely stood there; bracing his right hand upon one of the extended hydraulic pistons. "Well, feel free to elaborate. I'm obviously not getting any younger."Casting a gentle smile upward, Catch hunched forward. "I suppose I'll start with a simple thank you.""For?""For Leia."Instinct took over and it told Poe exactly where this conversation was headed, and he found himself rather amused by that trajectory. "How so?""Because she's amazing. You and Crisara—""Oh, so my wife you call by her given name, but not me. Sure."Catch ignored the impish commentary. "You and your wife," he continued, "created the most amazing person I've ever known. Your combined genetics produced the most beautiful woman ever. Now, I know she's an identical twin, but I can see the difference. And, not to insult Shara at all, but somehow Leia is more beautiful to me."Poe smiled. "It's because you love her. When you love someone, everything about them is perfect; inside and out."Catch nodded in agreement. "I do love her." He expelled the softest breath. The look on his face suggested he was lost in a wonderful daydream, but somehow also very frustrated. "I think I loved her the first moment I saw her. If not then, definitely the morning after." Catch immediately clammed up. His hazel eyes shot upward and looked guiltily at Poe, and he seemed to shrink into himself. "Sorry. That's probably not something I should even allude to with her father, of all people.""My daughter was with her ex for a decade before she became a mother. I'm sure she hasn't been a virgin for quite a long time. So, don't worry about me. She's a grown woman and can do whatever and whoever she wants."Off Poe's cavalier stance on that subject, Catch felt considerably less awkward about what he'd said. "I love her," he repeated. "She came into my life and instantly made it better, and not just because she helped save it. Because of her, my daughter has this potential to become an actual Jedi Knight. Not just that, but a great education at a great school. And I finally have a place to call home that isn't the inside of a ship. Naboo is…it feels like I was always meant to be here."Poe's gaze drifted downward. "I know what that's like. I felt at home here right away, too.""She helped me get teaching credentials," Catch continued; in regard to Leia. "She understood my interest in galactic history and wanting to stay close to Brina. And, because of that, I actually teach lessons in Galactic History at the Kenobi Academy, so I'm earning an honest living and can provide for my daughter without worrying about if the next job will be the one that kills me and leaves her an orphan. And, because of Leia, my daughter has a woman in her life to look up to. Brina adores Leia. She's told me how much she wants to be just like her when she grows up. And she adores you and Crisara, too." He looked Poe in the eye and smiled appreciatively. "She's never had grandparents, and the two of you are the closest thing she has to that, and I'm thankful to you both for treating her no different than your actual grandkids. It means a lot.""My father was the same with Caro, once upon a time," Poe remarked; his mind drifting to decades gone by. "The year they spent together while Cris and I were fighting a war, my father told me he felt like he came alive. He loved having a grandson, even if he wasn't biological and, at the time, only a temporary thing. I loved Crisara but, when we left Caro with my dad, neither of us knew whether or not we'd end up together after the war, let alone if we'd survive it. And, even after we adopted our other son Temiri, and then went on to have the twins and Len, my dad treated them all the same; as if all five sprung from my loins and were biologically his grandkids." He frowned for a moment as he thought more on his father, Kes. "It's hard to believe sometimes that he's been gone fourteen years. Some days I think I can still just call him up or go visit him in Theed.""Leia said the apartment where I live with Brina used to be your dad's.""It was. And then it was a place where any of the Jedi Knights could stay. More often than not, though, it was used by my kids." He smiled down at Catch. "I'm glad it feels like home for you and your daughter."Both men fell quiet for a few moments."I know you wanna get this part installed," Catch spoke as he began to continue their conversation. He held up the catalyzer as if to make a point. "And you have a birthday lunch to get to. No doubt everything's just about ready. So, I'll get to the point of what I wanted to talk to you about."Seeing the way that Catch still seemed nervous about what he wanted to say, Poe felt it would be easier to just put him out of his proverbial misery and beat him to the punch. "I know Leia held you at arm's length for a year after she met you. I know the two of you only just became an official couple during this last year," he remarked; removing his hand from the hydraulic piston and folding his arms over his chest. He watched the way Catch shyly nodded. "I've never seen my daughter happier than when she's been with you. You've helped bring her out of the darkness that was weighing her down, and I don't mean, like, dark side of the Force darkness. I just mean…Nik left a mark on her. What he'd done, who he became, it put a weight upon her heart and upon her shoulders that I worried she'd never be able to come out from under. But then you came into her life. You brought light back into her life. So, really, my wife and I should be thanking you." As Catch met his gaze halfway, he continued. "I know she loves you, too. She's a bit stubborn like her mother, though. And, like her mother, because of a past relationship that left her feeling burned, it's been just as hard for her give her heart away again for fear of it getting broken again."Catch stood up then, grabbing for the opposite hydraulic piston in the process. "But I would never break her heart. I would rather die first."Poe smirked. "I know. And that's why you don't need to ask for my blessing to marry her. You already have it."Letting out a sigh of relief, Catch seemed as if a weight had been lifted of his heart and his shoulders. "Thank you.""Don't mention it. Just promise to make her happy. Or, rather, keep making her happy. That's all her mother and I would ask of you.""I plan to," Catch assured. Reaching forward, he passed the catalyzer back to Poe. "I just hope she's as receptive to the idea of marrying me as you are."Poe chuckled and accepted he part. "Well, if it helps any, I'll put a good word in for ya." Leaning forward, he slapped the younger plan firmly upon the upper arm. "Okay. Help me install this bastard and then let's go watch my grandkids cry when they see me without a beard for the first time ever."As Catch began to laugh, he nodded obediently and proceeded to follow Poe around the boarding ramp toward the rear of the Millennium Falcon.  The small get-together that was Poe's birthday brunch had been a lovely day spent with his immediate family, and that's it. He had only wanted his wife, his kids and their significant others, and his grandkids to be there. No one else. And it had been his favorite birthday so far. He got to tinker with the Millennium Falcon, he got to eat some good food, he got to play with his grandkids and tell them jokes that Crisara would normally chastise him for, because the jokes were dangerously close to being inappropriate for children, he was content in believing Leia would soon become engaged to a great guy who looked at her as if she walked on water, and then, at the end of the night, he got to make love to his beautiful wife.There was the gentle teasing about how he'd shaved off his beard, but he didn't mind it. He'd expected it.Shara practically squealed with laughter when she saw him. She had been the first to see him, clean shaven, aside from Catch. She had just arrived with Zeith; having just set their speeder down outside the hangar as he had been walking out of it with Catch. "Stars above, dad! Your face — you have one!"He'd rolled his eyes at her; taking a page from his wife's book. Instinctively, he had run a hand over his jaw; still not used to the smoothness. "Does it look okay?" Then, with more jest in his voice, he also asked, "You don't think your mom will divorce me over it, do you? She hasn't seen me yet.""She married you when you didn't have a beard," Shara had assured. "You'll be fine. It'll just take some getting used to."Crisara had been quite receptive to it and had the most underwhelming response, compared to the others. A few of the younger grandkids were a bit freaked out, especially Shara's youngest, Len. He kept shying away from his grandpa because Poe looked so different to him now. After she'd approached him and given him a kiss, Crisara had merely smirked, brushed her fingertips gingerly upon the sides of his face and, in the vein of Shara's previous comment, remarked rather sweetly, "There he is. The man I fell in love with."The day after, Catch had returned to continue helping him with a few minor repairs, but had to leave after a couple hours because he had a history lesson to give at the Kenobi Academy. Poe had managed the finishing touches by himself and with some assistance from BB-8. That evening, Caro had returned to the villa with Lora after the school day was done for both. The younger man had been quick to take over cuddling his newborn son, who had been named after his stepfather.Poe had been over the moons when Caro and Sindé had revealed the infant's name. He'd be lying if he said he didn't cry happy tears about it. He knew that he was the only father Caro truly ever had, since his biological father had died when he was way too young to form enough memories, let alone retain them, of the man. But Poe still somehow assumed Alfic would've been the name chosen before his own. After all, Poe's and Crisara's children's and grandchildren's names were in honor of people who had died. Considering Poe was still alive and kicking, he at least got to actually be around to enjoy said honor. After Poe, Crisara, Caro and his family sat down together for a family meal, they all sort of began to migrate to different parts of the house.Poe and Crisara had gone upstairs to finish packing. They were planning to head out the following day on the first of the adventures alone together. For this jaunt ahead, they would be away upwards of two months straight. They'd chatted excitedly about the places they were intending to visit and, for the first time ever, having it just be about them and no one else.When they left, Leia had come home with Skye. They'd been splitting their time between the villa and the apartment in Theed where Catch had been living with his daughter, but Leia wanted to be present to see her parents off. By her usual mannerisms, Poe had been able to surmise Catch hadn't proposed yet otherwise he knew Leia would've seen her parents off with the good news. Poe merely figured Catch had asked for the blessing first but maybe didn't have a ring yet, and was maybe trying to come up with a romantic way to ask Leia for her hand in marriage. Poe had told Crisara about what Catch had spoken to him about, and she'd replied that she'd assumed it was bound to happen. They both wondered if, when they came home after two months, if they'd come home to news of an engagement, or if the news would come via hologram while they were away.It was now two days after they'd left Naboo on the Millennium Falcon. They'd arrived to Tatooine; specifically Mos Espa. They hadn't bothered with checking into any sort of hotel or inn since they had everything they needed right on the ship. They'd landed within a circular hangar that perfectly fit the Falcon and was located within the upper level of the city next to the upper sprawl. They'd headed out almost immediately; wandering around the markets and finding a cantina where they grabbed something to eat.After what had gone down at Jabba's old palace, which eventually found its way into the hands of his son Rotta after the end of the First Order-Resistance War, Poe and Crisara hadn't paid much attention to any reports on the HoloNews about what came of Rotta, other than he was convicted and sentenced to fifty years in prison with no chance for parole, and that he could never set foot (pun not intended, since he didn't have feet) on Tatooine ever again. If he did, and if he was caught, back to prison he would go. For a Hutt, though, fifty years wasn't too bad, considering they could live several centuries, easily. Hell, Jabba was about six hundred years old when he was killed. Rotta was only in his nineties. He was practically a teenager or very young adult in Hutt years, so fifty years was nothing. He still had so much of his life ahead of him. Poe and Crisara were, however, aware that Mos Espa had come under the governance of Hiro the Hutt, in Rotta's place, but it was done so with the Republic's blessing and under the Republic's watchful eye.Hiro was the son crime lord Ziro Desilijic Tiure and first cousin to Jabba. Hiro's father had died sometime during the Clone Wars and never seemed to follow the typical path of most Hutts. He had no criminal empire or illegal business dealings — at least none that had been discovered yet. He'd hosted a talk show, 'The Hutt Hour', on a radio station on Batuu and, after the First Order-Resistance War, it had gained popularity across the galaxy; spawning into a weekly holoshow that was broadcast late at night on many worlds. However, the success of that show had waned in the last decade and the Republic — seeing Hiro as a non-threatening option where Hutts were concerned — offered to install him as the Hutt representative. It kept the peace that way. Hiro wasn't the criminal like those in his clan, or in any Hutt clan were, but he was a Hutt, so it appeased the Hutts to have one of their own still overseeing things. So long as those things remained legal, the Republic wouldn't ever need to step in.As Poe and Crisara ate, a radio was on, and 'The Hutt Hour' was being broadcast as a radio show again, but only for Mos Espa. Jabba's/Rotta's palace had been confiscated by the Republic and turned into a local garrison for the Republic Army, and was mostly used as a training facility and barracks for the soldiers, so Hiro was set up elsewhere. As the Desilijic Tiure clan of Hutts had lost control of the place multiple times now, it didn't seem as if they cared anymore on where they had a representative so long as they still had some degree of influence."This show isn't half bad," Poe remarked, with a mouthful of food. "He's actually kinda funny." As he took a swig of house ale to wash everything down, he looked across the table at his wife, who was looking at him with a slightly annoyed expression. "What?""Do you have to talk with food in your mouth? How old are you?"Poe snickered. "You were just there when I turned seventy, babe. Sure you're not getting senile?" he teased as he set his cup down."You're incorrigible. Is this how the next twenty or so years is gonna go?" Despite the exasperation in her tone, there was a smile on her lips and in her eyes."Twenty?" He chuckled and leaned backward; pushing his plate away. The food was good but not that good. "That's being generous, I think."Almost immediately, a sullen mood fell over them."Twenty plus more years isn't enough," she countered; holding his gaze."Yeah. I know." Slowly, he reached his hand across the table and took hold of hers. "Forever wouldn't be enough."After their meal, and after wandering the city streets again, where they found plenty of small toys or trinkets as souvenirs for their grandkids, they returned to the Millennium Falcon. There they settled in for the night; making a smaller meal from the foodstuffs they had stored on the ship. It wasn't much, just oatmeal that came out of packets and which they added freeze dried fruit to. They grabbed quick showers in the latrine to wash off the dust and grime of Mos Espa and then took to their bed in the ship's Captain Suite. There they snuggled up together under the covers and talked about nothing and everything until they got too sleepy. Poe fell asleep first, as usual. It only made sense, though, as he was always the first one up for the day.Crisara laid on her side, facing him, and reached a hand out to gently and effortlessly touch her fingertips to the side of his face. Her heart swelled from how much she was still so achingly in love with him. Shifting closer to him a few inches, she pressed her lips upon the tip of his nose and then rested her head back down upon her pillow."I love you," she whispered.When she woke the next day, she was unsurprised that Poe was already up and moving about. He'd thrown on clean clothes and was puttering in the cockpit when she joined him. Their morning greeting to each other came in the form of a kiss, which quickly began to escalate, but Crisara lovingly shot him down; reminding him they had to get to the arena outside Mos Espa. With an exaggerated sigh, Poe complied.Soon enough, Crisara was dressed for the day and wearing a large, floppy hat atop her head, which made Poe laugh. "Where we're going to be sitting, there are no canopies or coverage from the suns of any kind. If you want to be blinded and get sunburned, by all means," she remarked."Yeah, you're right, of course.""I know I am."Crisara watched as he retreated back into their cabin, only to return a minute or two later wearing a wide-brimmed hat."How do I look?" Poe asked, giving a small turn like a model on a catwalk."Handsome." Reaching upward, she adjusted the hat a bit more properly, so it tipped a bit lower over his eyes. "Hats don't really suit you, but somehow you still make it work."Reaching up on her tiptoes, she kissed him once again and then led the way off the ship. As he followed, they began their trek out of the hangar and out into the city streets of Mos Espa. They grabbed some food on the way; knowing it would take upwards of an hour of walking to reach the entrance to the Mos Espa Grand Arena. Sure, they could've hired a speeder or some form of air taxi to ferry them to their destination, but this entire trip was about taking it slow and easy, and making the most of every moment together. They walked along with their food in hand — Poe with a bantha cheese hoagie and Crisara with a zucca fruit pastry. With how hot it was neither wanted to eat too heavily.When they finally reached the arena, they made their way up to their seats, which were in direct sunlight. As they sat down, Crisara had opened her mouth up to make a comment but Poe was quick to clamp his hand down across it."Shhhhut up. I already agreed that you were right, about the suns" he retorted. With a smile, she stuck her tongue out and licked at his palm. When he pulled it away, he flashed a withering frown at her. "Woman."Crisara giggled and then linked her arm through his as they got ready for the Boonta's Eve Classic Podrace to begin. They still had upwards of an hour, though, so they passed the time people watching and chatting. A little while later, Poe had gotten up to use the bathroom. He was gone longer than expected and, when he returned, admitted to stopping at the Arena Citadel to place a bet on a podracer."Seriously? You're into gambling now?""Have you met me?" Poe squinted at her, after he'd sat back down beside her. "Remember the reckless sonofabitch I was during the war? Headstrong, taking stupid chances and betting with my own life that I'd survive, and I always did, by the skin of my teeth.""Okay, maybe, but actual gambling?"Poe shrugged. "A little excitement once in a while never hurt anybody."The race eventually commenced, with one of the podracers stalling out almost immediately, much to the displeasure of a great many in the crowd who had clearly placed their bets on him. Because they had paid extra, Poe and Crisara had been given a handheld device where they could view the official hovercam feeds of the race."You know, I bet you could use the Force to tip the odds in our favor," Poe muttered quietly as he angled the device so she had a better view of the small screen. "I mean, our guy isn't exactly in last place—""Your guy. You placed the bet.""Maybe, but if my guy wins, you reap the rewards with me. What's yours is mine, what's mine is yours and all that. Do you not understand how marriage works?" Off his wife's giggle, he nudged her shoulder with his and flashed her a smile. "Seriously, though, our guy doesn't have to win, but making it to the end in the top three would be pretty swell.""How about we just enjoy the race and the excitement of not knowing what will happen next?""You're no fun."The first lap around the course took about six or seven minutes for every podracer that survived the first lap to cross the finish line and go immediately into the second lap. The podracer Poe had picked had dropped in placing and, halfway through, while traversing around the Bindy Bend, crashed and exploded into one of the large stone spindles."Fuck," Poe grumbled."Sorry, dear," Crisara consoled as she reached across and patted his arm. "Do you wanna stay for the rest of the race or leave?""The overall thing is only three laps and lasts no more than twenty minutes, so yeah. Might as well stay."Lowering the handheld device upon his lap, Poe stared forward. A few minutes later, the podracer in the lead sped through across the finish line to begin the third and final lap; followed immediately by the remaining podracers. He was still curious to find out who would win in the end, but Poe's interest had diminished, which allowed his mind to quickly wander. As he glanced down at Crisara's hand resting upon his thigh, he began to smirk as a thought popped into his head.Sensing a question burning in his mind, Crisara glanced at his profile. "Something is bothering you.""No. Just the opposite, actually." Stealing a look at her out the corner of his eye, his smirk continued. "But, considering we're in such a public space, it might be better if you just read my mind because what I'd like to say isn't exactly family friendly.""You're giving me permission to enter your thoughts?""Yep." He popped his lips on the 'p' and then turned to look more fully at her, just as many in the crowd of upwards of one hundred thousand people cried out. Either something good or bad happened. Poe wasn't sure which because he wasn't paying attention anymore. "Dig away."With very little effort, Crisara focused on him and his thoughts suddenly became very loud and very vivid; as if she was watching a holoshow playing out in her own mind. Almost immediately she laughed and rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. "For Maker's sake, Poe."Poe chuckled as her reaction. "Well?""Dirty old man," she teased. "Almost thirty-six years of marriage and still only one thing on your mind.""Well, not the only thing. But it does occupy a lot of time that would be better used for — oh, I don't know — reflection. Or all those times I speak before thinking." When he didn't receive any response to what he'd proposed to her in his mind, he added, "You know, Tatooine's dryer climate is pretty great for my joints. I'm feeling a bit more limber." Waiting until she looked at him again, Poe wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at her. "Come on."Lowering her voice, she shook her head. "I am not letting you drag me into some dusty bathroom stall. For one, it's disgusting. Two, I don't care how limber the dry air makes us, we're not doing that in a place like that. Three — save it for the Falcon, where it's cooler and cleaner, and we have a comfy bed.""Party-pooper.""Am not.""Are too.""Dameron."Poe grinned. "Woman."Suddenly everyone around them jumped up in cheers. The race had finished. The podracer in first place crossed the finish line for the final time. The greying couple, however, remained seated; just looking at each other."How about we hire an air taxi to take us back to the hangar," Crisara suggested. "Walking all the way here is one thing, but I don't really feel like doing it again."Poe nodded in agreement. "Thank the stars because, despite what I just said about feeling more limber, my knees felt like they were on fire by the time we got here, what with all the walking around we did yesterday, too," he remarked. "What the fuck were we thinking — walking both ways today? Pfft. Nope. My old ass says no fucking way."Gingerly standing up, Crisara offered Poe her hand. "C'mon, Dameron. Let's try and get to the turbolifts before everyone else begins to pour out of this damned arena," she continued to say. "I'd rather not hang around waiting longer than needed for a ride out of here."Nodding in agreement, he stood up beside her and stole a kiss from her lips. "Lead the way, woman."Eventually, the pair did in fact reach the underground parking area in good time and didn't have to wait long at all. Poe was sure she'd used the Force to convince an air taxi driver to take them. She tipped well on their arrival back into the city center of Mos Espa's upper level, so it's not like she was abusing the privilege she had as a Force user.Once back inside the Millennium Falcon, they were greeted by much needed reprieve from the dual suns and the heat that went along with it. Because of that heat, they felt tired and opted to retire to their cabin where they happily collapsed into bed and napped for a couple hours. When they woke up, neither felt like heading back outside to the heat again, so they ordered food from a nearby restaurant which was delivered to the hangar by droid. Only then did Poe pop outside, and only long enough to accept the delivery and head back up into the ship where Crisara was waiting so she could hit the button to raise the ramp and seal them back in.They ate at the gaming table in the main hold and then, after cleaning up, proceeded to play a round of dejarik; which, naturally, Crisara won. It had gotten to the point in their lives that Poe knew he would always lose to her when they played, but it didn't bother him at all. It was no longer about the outcome, but the simple act of playing the game that was fun.Before nightfall, they took turns showering again and then retreated to the cockpit. Once it got dark out, they were aware fireworks would be going off to celebrate Boonta's Eve. Wanting to get a better view of them, Poe took to the pilot's chair and lifted them out of the hangar. With Crisara by his side in the co-pilot's chair, they headed away from Mos Espa entirely and changed directions; instead going toward Mos Eisley, where they fireworks were notably bigger and better. At a decent enough distance away, Poe kept them hovering dozens of feet in the air just as the show began.There were so many pops and flashes of color. The booming that accompanied a good number of those fireworks seemed to reverberate all the way inside the Millennium Falcon and could be felt in their bones. Poe and Crisara looked on with childlike wonder until the finale. When the last bright and colorful explosion fizzled out, Poe turned to his wife and she to him. Neither said a word. He lowered the Falcon back down to the ground and then powered down the engines. As they both made their way out of their seats, they quickly gravitated toward one another.Like a pair of teenagers in heat, they began to shove down pants and pull away shirts. Had their wardrobe any buttons, they would've popped off and gone flying. Each time their lips had to part to focus on removing articles of clothing, they quickly sought each other back out as hungrily as possible. It was almost as if they couldn't get close enough. Melding into one person would have been ideal if at all possible.Before long, the two of them were rutting around the floor of the cockpit. However, because they weren't as young as they once were, it took a little longer for them to each climax, and then they took longer to rest in-between romps. Once they were good and spent, they laid beside each other; using their balled up clothes as pillows under their head while snuggling together for warmth, since the interior of the ship was cooler than normal now because of the suns having already set outside."I love you," Poe whispered, a short time after she had rested her head down upon his chest.When he received no response, he did his best to lean his face back and noticed she was ever so gently snoring. Smiling at the way she had fallen asleep on him, Poe merely curled and arm around her and held her close, and then shut his eyes to welcome sleep as well.  The morning after Boonta's Eve, Poe and Crisara had left Tatooine. There next destination was to Yavin IV, where they spent a quiet week of rest and relaxation at the Dameron homestead. They cleaned up the graves of his parents, and where the lock of Len's hair was buried on the other side of Poe's father. They took one day to head into Wetyin's Colony for a few supplies and deployed the cleaning droid to remove some of the dust and other grime covering most of the surfaces inside the small home. They enjoyed their mornings on the meager porch, nursing cups of caf. In the evenings, after dinner, they wound down with cups of ginberry tea that they'd brought with them from Naboo.After Yavin IV, they went off to Canto Bight, where they were greeted by Emcee's — the Master Codebreaker's — thirty-one-year-old daughter Calla, who had grown up at the Crescent Royale alongside her widowed mother after her father's fatal heart attack nineteen years earlier. Despite having spent most of her life without her father than with, Calla was very much like him and kept his memory alive by how well she was assuring that the hotel and casino thrived.It was the first time Poe and Crisara spent two weeks there instead of one; finding the atmosphere to be a bit more exciting now as they were older. When they were younger and just wanted to stay sequestered in their suite most of the time, it seemed pointless to waste time in such an obnoxious locale, but now they wanted to experience as much as possible together before that time ran out. Despite Crisara's playful admonishment about Poe gambling on Tatooine by betting on that podracer, they both took to plenty of the gaming tables. They ate breakfast in their suite, but enjoyed a light lunch and a heartier dinner every day at any number of the restaurants on site or in town. They attended cabarets, caroused with other couples their age at any of the other bars and nightclubs, and watched two fathier races, which reminded them of how Crisara found Temiri so many years ago in a fathier stable.At the end of a lovely two weeks, Poe and Crisara returned to the Millennium Falcon and moved on to visit Rey and Finn at the Jedi Temple. A week passed there with the same quiet and relaxation as on Yavin IV, but this stop off was also spent sitting around with their old friends; laughing, joking and telling stories from the last four decades of knowing each other, which centered mostly on that time during the First Order-Resistance War. From there, they continued to Chandrila, where they settled into the apartment in Hanna City; ownership which reverted back to them after Len's death, as they were his parents and thus his next of kin. Several times they went to that restaurant Poe loved, so he could get that soup that always got his mouth watering thinking of it. They actually spent the longest time there by almost a month. They visited with other friends from during the war that had gone on to teach at New Academy, and were either still teaching or retired now, like Poe and Crisara, but had settled on Chandrila; namely Jess Pava. They went to the theater, they walked through parks, they dined out at other restaurants, they sampled different desserts and they shopped. They wandered about the city without a care in the world, and made love as often as possible. They knew there would come a day, perhaps sooner rather than later, where their libidos would take more of a nose dive or at least decline considerably. They wanted to take advantage of feeling like a pair of horny teenagers while they could.When they finally came home at the end of that almost full month on Chandrila, they felt so rested and relaxed, but they were also very anxious to see all their grandbabies again, and Poe was also a little curious to hear the good news he hoped would come from Leia and Catch.However, no good news came.That first evening home, all the kids — Caro, Shara and Leia — and their respective significant others and children had come together for dinner at the villa. There was no awkwardness between Leia and Catch. They were still acting quite affectionately with each other, so Poe and Crisara didn't think anything was off at all. It wasn't until after dinner, which was followed by a light dessert, when the men of the family all migrated toward the hangar to tinker, shoot the shit and whatever it was guys generally did together when they were hanging out. The women of the family settled in the family room while the grandkids — with the exception of little Poe, who was cradled in his mother's arms — were running around in the back garden under the watchful eyes of the eldest two, Lora and Kes; burning off the sugar from dessert."So, your escapade around the galaxy was enjoyable?" Shara inquired; holding a warm cup of tea in her hands, which she then took a languid sip of.Crisara smiled almost dreamily. "It was fantastic. We had the best time together.""So, it was everything you hoped it would be when you and dad considered your retirement years?" Leia questioned next. She was sitting at the opposite end of the sofa from her mother with both of her legs tucked underneath her. Unlike her twin, she was nursing a glass of wine. "Did you get up to no good?""The wildest we got up to was what happened in the bedroom. Or whatever room we were occupying in the moment." Off her daughters' almost immediate groaning, but her daughter-in-law Sindé's chuckle, Crisara shrugged and smirked. "Oh, grow up. One day, sooner than you think, you're kids are going to be grossed out by any hint that you have sex lives. Did you think it stops once you hit a certain age? If anything, it gets better — like a fine wine. Maybe not as frequent as when we were younger and more nimble, but it's still great. It's the love you share that keeps the fire burning.""Well, I think it's sweet the two of you are still…hands-on," Sindé quipped; her visual focus settled primarily upon her baby boy.Leia grimaced. "Don't encourage her."As Crisara chuckled at her daughters' continued discomfort, Shara sighed heavily. "At least mom's subtle. Dad will just come right out and announce he's going to 'bang mom into oblivion' and then chase her up the stairs to do just that.""Seriously." Leia turned and eyed her twin. "I will vomit. Shush your face.""I hope you are each as lucky when you're my age. I hope your husbands are still as hands-on," Crisara remarked as she rolled her eyes at the banter between Leia and Shara, and then focused on the latter. "You have four kids. I'd wager you're starting to understand it."Shara reached forward and set her near-empty tea cup down on the coffee table. "And because I have four kids, we're both too tired nowadays to get hands-on. Plus, jobs.""And I don't have a husband, so..." Leia interjected.Crisara turned and looked at her youngest twin daughter with some mild confusion. "I thought…""What?""Hmm. Nothing." The look between mother and daughter lingered for a few moments; with Leia not able to see what exactly her mother had been about to allude to, but that Crisara was able to easily piece together having happened. Or, rather, hadn't happened. With a placating smile, the matriarch of the family turned and looked upon Sindé. Setting down her own cup of tea on the table between them all, she made beckoning gestures with her hands. "Alright, hand me over my newest grandbaby. I missed out on enough in the last two months. He's already getting so chubby and I have a lot of munching of cheeks, thighs and little feet to make up for."As Sindé happily obliged her mother-in-law, Crisara eagerly accepted her four-month-old grandson. As he began to jabber incoherently, she set him down upon her lap facing her, with her hands hooked under his arms to hold him in a seated position. While both Caro and Sindé had blue eyes, little Poe had his father's eyes in shape. However, the slight dusting of reddish hair atop his head suggested he'd be the ginger his mother was, even though Caro's hair had gotten more red the older her got — grey streaks aside.Studying her youngest grandchild with greater focus, as he looked up at her with a big smile, she noticed something in him that she had also noticed about Shara's youngest, Len, which wasn't something that was discussed as much within the family lately. Crisara kept this to herself for the time being. She was sure Caro had sensed it, and that her daughters could sense it, too. None of it mattered, of course. He was a wonderful baby, and loved without question.  "So, how'd it go?"Poe, unlike his wife, was definitely more straight to the point in regard to certain things. He was currently staring directly at Catch, who seemed confused at first, but then realized what the older man was referring to. Caro and Zeith, meanwhile, seemed perfectly oblivious as they were sorting through a crate of tools near the workbench."Uh…it, uh…didn't," Catch replied with a sigh. He placed his hands upon his hips and watched as Caro turned and looked inquisitively over at him and Poe; wondering what 'it' was."Didn't you ask her?""Uh, no, I did. I asked her."Poe's brow immediately furrowed and he let out a deflated breath of disappointment, but simply out of solidarity and sympathy for the smuggler-turned-teacher. "She said no?" He was in utter disbelief."Wait — what happened?" Caro tossed a tool back into the crate. "Did you ask Leia to marry you?""Yep," Catch confirmed, popping the 'p' as if it was all the punctuation he needed. "And don't sound so surprised, Laser Boy." That had become his nickname for Caro; born out of friendly banter, as an over-simplified reference to the man's lightsaber-wielding capabilities.Zeith, now aware of what was going on, turned and looked on with the same disbelief as his father-in-law. "Leia said no?" he reiterated. "Were you, I dunno, not romantic enough?""No, I was romantic as hell. I pulled out all the stops." Grabbing one of the stools at the workbench, Catch plopped down onto it and then glanced downward as he fiddled with his fingers. "I surprised her with about half a dozen bouquets of flowers on her ship, and then we took it up into orbit where we had this amazing view of Naboo. I broke out a cask of chilled champagne I'd hid in a compartment in the cockpit, and then dimmed the lights. Then, with the mood set, I prattled on like an idiot about how much I loved her and how, besides my daughter, she meant everything to me and I couldn't imagine my life without her. When I got down on one knee and pulled out the ring I'd stressed over picking out, because I wasn't sure if she'd like it or not, I asked her to marry me." Catch finally looked up and found all three men staring back at him."And?""She laughed."Zeith winced. "Ooh. Ouch.""But then she apologized for that. Said it was a knee-jerk reaction.""Well, did she give you a reason why not?" Poe wondered.With a further, exaggerated sigh, Catch nodded. "She said she loved me, too, and she very much wanted me in her life, but she isn't ready for marriage again. She isn't sure marriage is something she wants again. But, maybe to placate me, she told me to not give up hope."Caro shook his head. "This better not have anything to still do with that asshole."Glancing at his stepson, Poe understood 'that asshole' referred to Nik. Zeith easily understood that, as well. Catch had come to understand that, too, over the last two years. "He did do a lot of damage. Something like that…it leaves a sour taste." Shifting his focus back upon Catch, Poe reached forward and slapped him upon the shoulder as affectionately as possible. "But, hey…she said to not give up hope. So don't," he insisted. "She loves you and wants a life with you. That's not just a foot in the door. You're all the way in the house, so to speak.""And by telling you to not give up hope," Caro continued, "she clearly believes something will get her to change her mind. Give her time." He smiled encouragingly. "She'll say yes when she's good and ready because my sister is nothing if not stubborn, but also a softie at the core. Continue being a great guy and she'll come around sooner rather than later. I'm sure of it."Catch frowned. "I wish I had your confidence.""You have all of our confidence," Poe assured. "And, Maker forbid she rejects you completely, you will have friends in us."Feeling greatly appreciative of that, Catch seemed to visibly relax. "Thank you." He bobbed his head slightly. "Gotta admit, I'd hate to lose the camaraderie. Been a long time since I had something resembling a family that wasn't just Brina and Elle — not that that wasn't enough. It just...""Wasn't enough," Poe finished; understanding. "I get it. I'd had a difficult relationship with my father when I was a teenager and younger man. We went years without speaking. It wasn't until after the war that we put the past behind us and became father and son again, but it was in falling in love with my wife, and in marrying her, that I gained my family, my home. And you'll have that, too. I'm sure of it.""I'd like to hope so."Caro pointed and smiled at him. "Exactly. Hope." He eyed his stepfather knowingly; seeing the older man knew just what he was about to say next. "As long as you have hope, it can't be all that bad."  After a couple more months, life continued on as usual.Poe and Crisara had remained at the villa; only going away once for their thirty-sixth wedding anniversary, wherein they spent a week back at the Dameron homestead on Yavin IV. Everyone else's lives remained the same. There was little to write home about. Nothing overly exciting happened other than Skye losing his first tooth and freaking out about it.Oh, and Crisara sitting down with Caro to talk about how his son wasn't Force-sensitive.When she'd held little Poe that evening on the couch, she hadn't felt anything in the infant that she had in her other grandchildren from the get-go, the same that she hadn't felt anything in Shara's youngest, Len. With Len, she thought maybe it was something that would become stronger as he got older and became a toddler. But he was four now, and there wasn't anything that indicated he would ever be able to wield the Force like his siblings or his mother. Len had inherited the lack thereof from his father, and it seemed little Poe had inherited the same lack thereof from his mother.Caro was fine about it. It didn't change how he felt about his son. He didn't love his wife, Sindé, any differently just because she was a 'civilian'. It was no different than how Shara didn't love Zeith any differently, or their son Len, because of having no Force abilities. Or Leia with Catch.Or Crisara with Poe.They'd talked about it a little more and figured the ability might dwindle as the generations went on. Neither were certain that adding more non-Force users into the family tree was the cause, but they didn't exactly rule it out. But, again, it didn't change the love felt for anyone.It was no different than family members who could speak binary, Shyriiwook, Rodian, Huttese or any other prevalent language in the galaxy with ease while others struggled or couldn't at all; having to rely on C-3PO or — now also — 9-LOM to translate for them.The only other development was Catch's second attempt at proposing to Leia.Instead of the grand gesture of the first time, he decided to be more subdued this time around. They had gone to dinner in Theed and, while both their respective kids were spending the night back at the villa, they returned to his apartment where they made love more or less all night long. When they woke, bright and early the next morning, she was greeted by his loving smile and the way he was gently brushing her hair off her face."Marry me," he'd muttered with little fanfare.Leia smiled and chuckled. "No.""Please?""No."Catch just continued to stare at her for a moment. "It's the morning breath, isn't it?""I mean, it's not not that," she teased.Catch frowned, but playfully. "Thought so." Sitting up, he gestured toward the bedroom door. "I'm gonna go brush my teeth, come back and ask again. Okay?""Catch." As she watched him get up out of bed, she also watched as he slowly turned back to look at her. "It will still be no."He was obviously crestfallen but trying very hard to appear aloof about it. "Okay. Then I'll just go brush my teeth and we can start our day like any other." After flashing her a small smile, he pointed at her. "Wanna grab breakfast at that eatery you like?"Smiling softly back at him, she nodded back at him. "Sounds like a plan."And so they did go to breakfast and they did carry on as if it were any other day.But Catch refused to give up hope. Granted, he could happily carry on with Leia at his side for the rest of their lives, even if marriage was never a thing for them. When it came down to it, he just wanted her and no one else. Ever. Someday his daughter would be grown and not need him as she did now. Leia's son would be in the same position someday as well, and then it would just be Catch and Leia, hopefully still together, having adventures of their own like her parents were finally doing.So, he didn't give up hope.Poe and Crisara had discussed this here and there, as they discussed many aspects of their children's lives, as most if not all parents did, no matter how old they got or their children got. They never stopped being parents and they never stopped loving them or being concerned for their well-beings. It was just a natural fact of life. For Poe and Crisara, they were concerned at Leia's apparent aversion to becoming engaged; running with the assumption that she had just been so badly burned by how things had gone with Nik. And, yes, they would be correct in that assumption. Nik had broken something in her. She was more reticent at giving herself fully to anyone again. Nik had broken her heart and, perhaps, a bit of her spirit, and so now she wasn't emotionally ready or wanting to give her heart away ever again.However, it was plain to see, by anyone who knew her and had two working eyes, that she was quite over the moons in love with Catch; just as he was with her. Crisara always looked on knowingly and with such amusement at how Leia's face would light up at the mention of Catch's name or how Leia was the one to bring him up first in conversation. Poe frequently assured Catch to not give up on that hope; that he was the one for Leia. He was the one she had always been meant to be with. He was and would be the love of her life. Poe and Crisara were certain of that, and it wasn't just because they wanted it to be the case. Sure, they were biased. They adored Catch. It might've had a good deal to do with how much Catch was like Poe. Poe saw himself in the younger man, as a kindred spirit and even as a friend. They got along like a house on fire. Crisara saw this good-looking guy, with the same humor as her husband, who treated her daughter like she was a goddess and who worried about doing anything to cause her distress.With the exception of also having dark hair and hazel eyes like Nik, Catch was nothing like Nik. He was a different man with a different personality, goals, hopes and dreams, and with a better head on his shoulders. Catch had his own youthful trauma that still haunted him from time to time, but he channeled it more constructively. He worked hard to be better than how his life started out. He talked about what bothered him; often seeking out Poe or Crisara, as they were really the only parental figures he had in his life, even if they weren't his parents and might very well never even become his in-laws. He still respected and trusted them. He knew they would offer an ear when he needed it. He readily sought them out even when Leia wasn't around. He felt comfortable around them.It was another reason why Poe and Crisara liked him so much. They felt comfortable around him, too. And, if Catch and Leia never made it official or even if they broke up someday, Poe and Crisara would still hope Catch would still feel comfortable to come to them if he ever needed help, advice or even just some company.A few weeks later, Catch was late arriving to the Kenobi Academy. And, instead of heading directly to the classroom where the padawans were expecting him for their galactic history lesson, he sought out Leia, who was overseeing sparring lessons with padawans who'd recently constructed their lightsabers in the training theater. He'd walked inside with one hand behind his back and, when she noticed him approach, she smiled. The entire time he didn't say a word. He just walked up to her, stole a chaste kiss upon her cheek — knowing her aversion to public displays of affection in front of the students — and then presented her with a small bouquet of her favorite flowers."Aww, thank you." She smiled properly at him as she accepted the gift. "My favorite.""I know." Then, leaning in, he whispered, "Marry me."Again, he didn't pose it at a question; just more of a request or a statement.And, again, Leia looked him in the eyes and quietly shook her head.With a nod of acceptance, he didn't plead or linger. He just smiled back at her and then retreated out of the training theater so he could hurry up and make it to the classroom where his students were — hopefully — waiting patiently.  
Two months later
Poe and Crisara had just returned from another jaunt away, this time spending three weeks gallivanting across the galaxy. The longest they spent anywhere was five days on Gatalenta, where Crisara took part in skyfaring, which was a form of calisthenics exercise involving the use of scarves to climb wooden scaffolding and suspend themselves in midair, and which Poe happily avoided and watched from the ground. Despite being only a little more than a year younger than Poe, and despite the fact that she was quickly approaching her sixty-ninth birthday, she was still as agile and nimble as most Jedi half her age. Poe had long suspected that any aches and pains she alluded to having were just for show so that he didn't feel alone in it, and so it didn't feel like she was rubbing it in his face that she was better off physically than he could ever hope to be.Mere days after their return home was her birthday and the family got together for a good meal and sweet deserts, and then they all sat around watching old holos. It was how she wanted to spend her special day and so her husband and children obliged her.It was another two weeks after that when the twins — Shara and Leia — were the next ones to celebrate a birthday; their thirty-fifth. They were officially half their dad's age now, or the same age he had been when they were born. Half of his life ago, Shara and Leia entered this life during a tumultuous sort of crash landing onto Kashyyyk while on board the Millennium Falcon. It had certainly been an eventful day then. And now, thirty-five years later, it was about to be another eventful day.The entire family — Poe and Crisara, their three surviving kids and their significant others and kids — as well as a few of the twins' close friends were gathered at the Banqueting Rotunda in Theed, which sat along the banks of one of the branches in the Solleu River. Many years ago it had been where their cousin Nevara Connix celebrated her wedding reception to her new husband Dazra Rordi. Now it was where the twins had — together — decided they wanted to celebrate their shared birthday. Shara had taken it upon herself to book the location weeks in advance, as planning and scheduling was more up her alley and just something she was better at, whereas Leia usually just flew by the seat of her pants and went wherever the wind took her, so to speak.The Rotunda was rented and caterers were hired so that everyone could sit down for a meal, shoot the shit with each other and not worry about the cleanup afterward had the event taken place at either home — the villa or the Grader estate.It had been well after the meal, while individual cakes were being handed out by way of droids in the service of the catering company, while Catch and Leia had been standing together near the end of the table where Shara and Zeith had been seated. Both were throwing the occasional glance in the direction of the table where their kids had been seated, but not currently occupying their seats as they were getting antsy and running around a bit. Catch, with his hand upon the small of Leia's back, casually slipped it further along to bring it to rest upon her hip furthest from him. She had subconsciously leaned into the gesture while laughing at something Zeith had said.Then Shara had made a comment about the venue they were in; not much thinking on the significance of any deeper meaning it might have."I can totally see how beautiful this place would've been decorated for Nevara when she married Daz." Nevara and Dazra were, in fact, present for this particular evening, and both were deep in conversation with Caro and Sindé at the other end of the table. "When I told her I was booking the Rotunda, she said as much. I mean, with the river right there, and one of the waterfalls, then with a bunch of twinkling lights at dusk — ugh. Imagine how romantic either a wedding ceremony or reception, or both, could be here."Catch nodded. "I can see imagine it." He'd stolen a subtle look at Leia out the corner of his eye.Leia, however, just sighed."What? I could."Shara suddenly sat straighter; sensing something more in her twin sister, as easily as their mother and Rey could sense anything in regard to each other because of their bond as a dyad in the Force. "Did I say something wrong?" she asked."No," Catch insisted on his and Leia's behalf. "Just my hopes being sidelined again."He hadn't meant it to sound as bitter as it had come out but, well…here they were.Leia immediately turned and looked directly at him. She didn't glare, per se, but she wasn't overly amused by his remark either. "Well, if I'm holding you back," she began to say, gesturing toward the doors leading out of the Rotunda, "by all means…"Both Shara and Zeith clammed up; finding themselves caught in-between some sort of festering, personal issue that was now apparently about to boil over. Crisara, who had been in conversation with Rey, and Poe, who was accepting plates of cakes for him and his wife from a passing server droid, both noticed something was going on and looked over in the direction of Leia and Catch."I'm not going anywhere," Catch maintained with a gentle smile. "You know that. I just wish that was enough for you to say yes.""Catch, please." Leia sighed and began to step away from the table at the same moment Caro began to catch on that something was possibly amiss. As he stood up and looked over at his sister with a curious raise of his brow, she became aware that eyes were on her and Catch. "This isn't the place for this anyway.""It's not the place for it no matter where we are," he countered. "Here, at the school, at home…out in the quiet of space with just the stars for company. But if you think I'm ever going to stop asking you, you're in for a rude awakening, babe.""Catch.""Leia.""I can't.""You can't. Not that you won't. Not that you don't want to." They were now standing together in the center of the Rotunda, surrounded by all the tables filled with their family and friends who were trying to be discreet in watching their 'dirty laundry' being aired. "I love you more than life itself, and I believe you feel the same. No. I know you do," Catch continued to say. "And I will keep on loving you for the next fifty years, give or take, or whenever it happens to be that I take my last breath. And you know what? I will keep asking you to marry me until that happens. I'll accept all the no's you throw at me with a smile on my face, but I will never give up on the hope that there might be a yes. If there isn't, if I never get a yes, then at least I tried. At least I never wavered or gave up. You're everything I ever wanted in a person to love. You are everything I've ever dreamed of. You are, without question, the one person most deserving of love and adoration and I will give all of it to you, every waking moment, forever and ever."Leia just stood there staring at him; her dark, doleful eyes full of so much emotion. But she said nothing.Then again, she couldn't really get a word in edgewise at the moment."I've been through a lot of difficult things in my life. I've had a lot of hard times. Loving you, though? The easiest thing I've ever done." He gestured strongly between them. "You and me? We work so fucking well. I wake up thinking about you. I go to bed with you on my mind. I wonder what you're doing and how you're feeling when we're apart. I love how amazing you are with Brina and I'm so grateful she has such a fantastic woman in her life. I love how brilliant you are at being a mother to your son. And your abilities as a Jedi? Still blows my mind. You're magic and you're effervescent. You're funny and you're kind and you're smart. You're also, occasionally, frustrating and big pain in my ass…but that just makes me love you more. I want to fight with you and for you because, on day one, you fought for me while barely knowing me. Your heart is huge and the fact that I occupy any part of it also blows my mind. You are fucking perfection."Tears were lining Leia's eyes now, but they definitely weren't sad tears. They were anything but."So, yes, I'm gonna continue to ask you to marry me. Not every day, or every few weeks. Maybe months or years will pass, but I'll ask you. And I'll ask again. Not trying to wear you down or anything like that. I just want you to know I'm not giving up on us because I could never stop loving you, even if I tried.""Catch, I—""No, I know. It's 'no'. I know that.""Catch.""Woman," he growled out, exasperatedly.Crisara and Poe both perked up at that. Catch's word choice and tone wasn't lost on them, and it wasn't lost on Leia either. If he didn't have it before, he definitely had her full attention now.Leia began to smile and a slight chuckle escaped her lips. As she focused her gaze on him, it seemed to darken considerably. Then, with little hesitation, and just as he was about to possibly say something else, she closed the gap between them, grabbed hold of either side of his bearded face and planted her lips fully upon his.Catch was a bit caught off guard by the gesture, but quick to slip his arms around her back and hold her firmly against him as if she would disappear or float away if he let go by even an inch.When they both came up for air, she was grinning unabashedly up at him. "Say that again."He was in somewhat of a post-kiss fog. "Uh, say what?""What you just called me."It took a moment for him to recall the sobriquet he'd chosen to blurt out. "Oh." Raising an eyebrow at her, he smirked coyly and whispered more huskily, "Woman."Leia inhaled and exhaled the same deep breath while staring up at him as if she was about to devour him sexually, right there in full view of both their children and her entire family. "Yes."The lone eyebrow lowered on his face and seemed to knit together with the other in some confusion. "Yes?" he asked; not really sure what she was saying 'yes' to.Stressing the word a bit more, she repeated, "Yes."Finally, like a sledgehammer to the face, realization hit him. "Oh." Then. "Oh." Lifting his hands up, this time he was the one to clamp his hands down upon the sides of her face. He kissed her again and pumped a fist into the air with success. "Did I wear you down that quickly?"Leia didn't bother responding with what exactly cinched it for her, but she would later go on to admit to Shara, in private, that it had been how Catch had so publically declared his love for her and how he had slapped his big, ol' heart on his sleeve. How he'd taken a risk at embarrassing himself, without caring if he embarrassed himself. But, also, the way he'd called her 'woman' in that way had suddenly incited her in exactly the same way her father spurred her mother on with the same exact term of endearment. It was passion and craving, as well as deep-rooted love and frustration. It was what she wanted. She wanted everything that he was offering her. She wanted him, but she'd needed the public provocation to help motivate her. Everything he was and everything he promised was all she needed.The 'woman' was just the icing on the birthday cake.  As a testament to how little they cared about fanfare and more about just wanting to — officially — get a jumpstart on forever together, a wedding between Catch and Leia was thrown together within a month. Literally one full month after she had finally agreed to marry him, they were getting married. And, like Shara and Zeith, and then also Caro and Sindé, Catch and Leia's ceremony was to take place within the back garden of the villa. Also like Caro and Sindé, so would the reception that followed.Despite it being Leia's second marriage, this time she got to do all the things she didn't get the first time around. She got to pick out a proper dress to wear and get ready with her mother and her twin sister there to assist. This was also Catch's first wedding and, like Poe before him, he was determined this would be his only wedding. So there would be a little bit of fanfare.For her dress, Leia didn't need or want anything new or too fancy. In the back of her parents' walk-in closet was the dress her mother wore to marry her father aboard the RNS Organa, which had been a dress that was altered and dyed white from its original blue color, and had been a dress once owned by her great grandmother Padmé Amidala. She wore her hair up in a braided bun that Shara had done for her and which small white flowers were placed within. The only thing that was different about the dress was that Leia didn't wear it done all the way up to the neck. She opted to have it opened up a bit, to reveal some cleavage as well as allow her to display the necklace she was wearing around her neck, which was the one her father had made and given to her twenty-five years earlier, that matched the necklace Shara had also received at the same time.Chairs were set up in the back garden, string lights were strung up, and caterers were once again hired to serve cocktails and finger foods before the ceremony. After the ceremony, a proper meal would follow, as well as desserts, more cocktails, dancing and music, and generally merrymaking.In the former Kenobi Academy next door, like Alfic had over forty years earlier before Crisara married him, Catch was getting ready. Caro was there and would be his Best Man. Zeith was there, not as a member as the wedding party, as that was part of how Catch and Leia wanted to keep their wedding more simple and streamlined — just a Best Man and just a Matron of Honor, which was obviously Shara. But Zeith was there, either way, just as support, and as the other man who was about to become his brother-in-law. Poe had popped in, to make sure everything was going alright, and then gave Catch a small box."What's this?" he asked of his very soon-to-be father-in-law."A little birdie told me you and Leia forgot to pick out rings for each other," Poe replied with a chuckle.Catch nodded. "Yeah, we got a bit sidetracked with everything else."Poe gestured to the box. "There's a ring inside for you to give her that should definitely go to her, and Crisara's giving Leia a ring that she'll give to you."Stealing a peek inside, Catch knitted his brow together with admiration for the piece of jewelry. "Looks antique.""It's about seventy years old so, yeah — you could say that."Caro stole a peek at the ring as well. "I remember that ring," he remarked. "I haven't seen it since I was — hell — a toddler?"Poe nodded. "It occupied the finger of a great woman for thirty years, and now it'll occupy the finger of another for, hopefully, several decades to come." As he began to retreat, to look in on Leia, as he was finally going to be able to walk her down the aisle as he had with her twin sister over a decade earlier, he smirked. "The ring for you is a new one. So, unfortunately, no similar and deeper meaning behind it. I picked it out, though, so you're welcome in advance."Of Catch's chuckle, he closed the box and pocketed it within his suit coat. "Well, then I thank you in advance.  Less than an hour later, Catch was watching as Leia walked toward him, arm and arm with her father. His breath momentarily escaped him as he tried to contemplate how it was possible that she could get any more beautiful than she already was. At the end of the makeshift aisle, Poe placed Leia's hands in Catch's hands and then stepped back to join his wife in the chair set aside for him."You're beautiful," Catch blurted."You're not so bad yourself," she quipped.On Catch's right and Leia's left, Finn stood there as officiant, on what had been Leia's request. The older, male Jedi went on to say a few lovely words, promising to keep it short and sweet for the couple, both of whom had opted not to exchange personal vows so they could, again, keep it short and sweet. When it was time to exchange rings, the couple released their grip on each other's hands. Catch began to retrieve the ring box from inside his suit coat and then opened it while Leia had discreetly accepted the ring for him from Shara, who was standing behind her.When Catch presented the ring to Leia and slid it upon her left ring finger, she immediately recognized it as the wedding ring that had been worn by her namesake, Leia Organa Solo. It was the dark gold signet ring the former Alderaanian princess had been given by her husband Han Solo after her first ring had been broken during their honeymoon. The gold snaked down to showcase a round purple-blue stone at the base of her finger and then looped up to display a second stone past her middle knuckle. Like with the former Leia, the ring demanded to be noticed. The two stones had been there to symbolize both Leia and Han, and now they would symbolize the younger Leia and Catch. And, also being a twin, Leia felt more of a kinship to her great-aunt who she'd never known in life but had made the acquaintance of as a Force ghost.After taking a moment longer to admire the ring on her finger, Leia began to slide Catch's ring on his left finger, but she paused halfway up and then slid it back off. "Oh, there's an inscription on the inside you should read first."Catch glanced down and accepted the ring from her. It was a simple golden band. Definitely nothing to write home about, but it suited him regardless. Poe had known that, and it was why he'd chosen it for his impending son-in-law. Furrowing his brow, Catch brought the ring closer to his face so he could better read what was inscribed on the inside of the ring. "Always and forever."It was part of the vow Poe and Crisara had exchanged for each other, and now it would carry on as something for their daughter and the love of her life. Poe and Crisara had agreed, since basically day one of meeting Catch, that Catch would be the one for Leia, and they had been right. And they were happy that Leia finally had a sense of peace to her that had been missing during her decade with Nik.Leia finally had her other half, and Catch finally felt complete.Once she had taken the ring back and then slid it fully onto Catch's finger, both looked to Finn to complete ceremony.In closing, he smiled upon the couple and declared them wed, and for Catch to kiss his bride, which Catch happily did. He swept her up in his arms, tipped her backward and claimed her lips in such a way that it felt like her soul had just left her body, but in the best way possible. Once they'd parted their lips from one another and took a step back to turn and face everyone, Finn made an another declaration that was a surprise to all the guests but not for the bride and groom."Friends and family, may I give you, officially and for the first time as wife and husband, Jedi Knight Leia Dameron and Mr. Catch Dameron."Poe looked immediately at Crisara, who was just as surprised — that Leia was not Leia Lacen, but instead Catch had become Catch Dameron.As the happy newlyweds accepted the cheers from their guests, they retreated back down the aisle together, hand in hand, while Poe and Crisara looked on.Finally the significance of the name change hit Crisara. "Lacen was a made-up name he gave himself. It came from a fictional character. He chose it rather than maintaining his original last name — his father's." As she and Poe stood up, she looked her husband in the eye. "He looks to you with more admiration and more respect. Becoming a Dameron was more important to him than Leia becoming a Lacen. It's showing his commitment to Leia and to our family.""We never would've had this with Nik," Poe whispered in his wife's ear, while trying to be subtle in the way he wiped a few tears from his eyes."If they have any kids together," Crisara continued to say, "the Dameron surname will have the opportunity to carry on in more than just Skye. Your name, your father's name, that legacy, will live on well after we're gone.""As long as they're happy, though, that's all that matters."Crisara nodded in agreement, and then linked her arm through Poe's. "As long as they're happy."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Promise me we'll never grow up
I don't wanna fall out
I wanna make love
And even when we can't, so what?
We're together, and
Happy ever after
Don't make me face the truth
That I'm dying soon
That we're dying"
— Badflower

73 ABY — Slightly less than one year later

A frigid gust of air whirled through and around the bare trees of Ossus, in the area that was once Luke Skywalker's training temple. It had been forty-five years since it had fallen and become little more than rubble paired with a graveyard for the padawans who were killed in the process. Over time, nature reclaimed most of it all. Rain healed the burnt soil, seeds blowing on the wind rooted themselves and new grass and other flora eventually blossomed. They say time heals all wounds, after all. As the years continued to pass, and when Crisara began the journey of picking up where her father left off, by becoming a Jedi Master and training new generations of padawans, she began to bring them back to Ossus, where they would take the same journey of finding their kyber crystals as she once did with those she grew up with. But she also schooled them on the significance of the place — its history — because it was a site of great loss, and yet renewed hope. Luke had come here with the hope of restarting the Jedi Order and then Crisara built on that; succeeding where he didn't.After her retirement, she enjoyed coming to Ossus with Caro and each new batch of padawans who were about to build their very own lightsabers. Having taken the metaphorical baton from his mother, Caro now led the students to the mountains and then returned to "base camp" where mother and son waited for them all to return with their kyber crystals. For whatever reason, this rite of passage more often than not seemed to coincide with either late fall or early winter in this particular area of Ossus and it gave Crisara an idea.With how bitter the chill of winter could be, she decided to build a cabin on the former grounds of the temple; sourcing partly from the rubble and surrounding nature. A lot of wood and stone was used. It looked just like any clichéd log cabin would look like, but maybe a little bit bigger and with a bit more amenities for comfort inside. When you walked inside, you were greeted by one long, communal space. A larger than normal dining table directly in front of you, a kitchen to the right and a sitting area to the left, complete with a large, stone fireplace. Off the communal space there were three doors. The central door led into the bathroom. The other two doors opened up to separate bedrooms. Then, between the doors to the bedroom on the left and to the bathroom, there was a ladder that led up to a loft space. It was situated directly over both bedrooms and the bathroom and looked out onto the open communal space; all of which sat underneath the high pitched gable roof. With several bunk beds and twin-sized beds filling up most of the space in the loft, it had become the perfect place to bring the padawans after they acquired their kyber crystals. This way they could rest and warm up after their trek back. It was where they could have a proper meal together and tell stories about their little adventure around the fire.And it was someplace where, only twice since its construction was completed five years earlier, Poe and Crisara had come for a little getaway. They were the first the stay in it; spending an entire week when it was in the height of spring, and everything was green, lush and blossoming. Now they were back, and in the dead of winter, because they realized, they hadn't spent any amount of time anywhere, in any wintery season — not since during the war when the Resistance had made base on the planetoid of Haven. So, this is where they were now.This was where and how Crisara wanted to spend her seventieth birthday.This year, there wasn't a big party or even a birthday dinner with their children and grandchildren, or even friends. She wanted something simple and quiet. She just wanted to get away and spend the time with her husband and best friend.For Poe, he would've preferred somewhere warmer and drier. The cold annoyed his joints more than it darkened his mood. But, for his wife, he'd do anything and go anywhere if it was what she wanted. And it would only be for a week. He could live with that.Even though there were modern conveniences, the cabin was still as rustic as one would expect. The fireplace wasn't gas or electric. It required actual wood that would be burned, but the fireplace wasn't the only heat source. There were heating units in the bedrooms and in the bathroom, which were closed off from the open communal space and loft, where the heat rose to. However, after a particularly brutal snowstorm the night before, the generator that supplied power to all those amenities most people took for granted went down. And that meant bye-bye heat. So, Crisara and Poe had buried themselves under layers of blankets and cuddled up together until morning when the storm died down.At this very moment, though, Poe had taken Crisara's lightsaber outside with him and, for the first time ever, activated it. He'd never bothered to use it before and it felt strange and a little daunting now. However, he'd needed it to melt the snow in his path since he didn't have a shovel at his disposal. He needed to get around to the other side of the house so he could tinker with the generator and see if he couldn't get it fixed. When he realized some of the wiring was fried, he spewed a few obscenities, kicked at it, and then slumped his shoulders as he looked around. Spotting plenty of trees that suddenly looked promising, his mood changed.Glancing down at the dual lightsaber in his hand, he twisted his lips in thought and then activated it again. As before, only one blade popped out. It was the green-bladed half of the lightsaber that had once been Luke Skywalker's lightsaber. For a moment, he wondered what it was like to be a Jedi or simply Force-sensitive. His wife and his children all were. All but two of his grandchildren were, too; including his step-granddaughter Brina. They knew or would know how it felt to wield something like this, or have the abilities that went along with it. He'd had times over the last forty-five years where he felt a little jealous, but mostly he was always just amazed and inspired.Right now, though, he needed it for practical reasons.Swatting at the snow around him, he cut another path toward the trees and settled upon a particularly dead-looking one. It was old and there were obvious singe marks that had made an attempt at healing over the years, hinting at the fact that it had likely been damaged decades ago when Ben Solo lost his shit and destroyed the Jedi temple. Raising the vibrant green plasma blade, Poe struck the base but didn't cut all the way through, just about three-quarters of the way in. Raising a leg, he kicked at the trunk, just above the scorch mark and staggered back through the snowdrift as the tree began to careen away from him and then topple. As it kicked up a cloud of snow around him, Poe squinted and blinked. With a smirk, he looked at the blade again."That was fun."Inside the cabin, Crisara was curled up on the floor instead of on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket and turning her gaze toward the fireplace. She was cold but the blanket was helping considerably. She and Poe had the option of returning to the Millennium Falcon. And, despite popular belief, Crisara wasn't the only stubborn one in their marriage. They both didn't want to throw in the towel on this trip just yet. They were sure this would end up one of those funny stories that would be told in the years to come.It was a wonderful memory in the making.Her thoughts were interrupted when the door whipped open and plenty of blustering wind with it. She looked up and found Poe grumbling and trying to carry several logs of wood in one go. "Do you need help?" she asked with a chuckle; moving to stand up.As the door slid shut behind him, Poe stepped forward and dropped the wood onto the table. "No. I'm good." Turning slightly toward her, he reached down and removed her lightsaber from one of his parka's outer pockets, and then tossed it over to her. As she caught it with ease, he gestured to the table. "Couldn't fix the generator. Wiring is fried," he informed. "Actually, it kinda looks like some animal managed to open it up and chew on the wires, which are properly mangled and a little melted. The fact that the generator worked at all when we first got here is remarkable.""So, we rough it." Setting her lightsaber down upon the sofa, Crisara shrugged and sauntered over toward him; still managing to be bundled like a burrito. "Wouldn't be the first time."Poe sighed and then just smirked at her. "Haven."She nodded; remembering some of the fonder memories from that time. "Haven.""You know, in those frigid temperatures, we found a few ways to keep warm." He turned and began to walk up toward her, just as she opened the blanket up. "Body heat is ideal.""Remove the parka. It's got snow on it."Giving a brief shake like an animal wood, Poe chuckled at the way Crisara frowned and stepped back from him. "What? Don't wanna get a little wet from a bit of melting snow?""Not from the snow, no."Catching her eye, Poe picked up what she was putting down. "Body heat, huh?"Crisara pointed at the pile of wood. "And actual heat, please." As he stepped inside the blanket and slipped his arms around her waist, he practically melded his body against hers while she cooed with content. "But first, body heat.""It was fucking cold outside. Gotta warm up a bit before I do anything else." Turning his face, he placed his lips to her neck and kissed her. "Happy birthday, by the way.""It's officially not until tomorrow," she muttered."We're celebrating all week, though. And, when we get home, I'll take you into Theed and buy you some tea cakes and we'll crack open that bottle of champagne we were gifted on our tenth anniversary from my dad," he suggested.Leaning back from him, Crisara knitted her brow together. "Or we save that bottle for our fortieth anniversary." Bundling herself back up in the blanket, she watched the way Poe shivered slightly and then began to grab up the pieces of wood from the table. "It's only two years away."Poe suddenly paused and just looked at her. "It seems insane, doesn't it? Almost forty years of marriage. I mean, fuck." Walking past her toward the fireplace, he tossed another look at her over his shoulder. "Doesn't it feel more like four years sometimes?""It really does." With a chuckle, she added, "Time flies when you're having fun, though, right?""Every day with you has been more fun than the last.""Oh, I'm sure there were days when the two of us were having no fun with each other. I know there were one or two times when I felt the urge to shove you off a cliff."Laughter escaped Poe's lips as he crouched down and began to stack the wood in the fireplace. "Just one or two times?""Maybe three or four.""I wager the number is higher, but I appreciate the low-balling." When he got back up to his feet, he grabbed for her lightsaber again and ignited it. This time, he'd hit the activation button for the other half, which caused the light blue plasma blade from her mother's lightsaber to come out. Reaching forward with it, he touched the tip of the blade gently along the logs until it sparked to life with fire. After deactivating the blade, he tossed it back onto the sofa and looked over at his wife, who was looking at him with amusement in her eyes and upon her lips. "What?""You just look good with that in your hand.""The lightsaber?"She smiled a bit thoughtfully at him. "Had you been Force-sensitive, you could've made for a pretty great Jedi. It would've been something special to watch you wield a lightsaber of your own.""Yeah? What color blade do you think mine would've been in this alternative life?""The same as Len's. Rebel orange, of course."Poe smirked. "You think our marriage would've been able to handle two Jedi?""Look at everything we've been through." Crisara stalked up to him, to join him in front of the blossoming heat from the fireplace and then opened up one side of the blanket for him to slip in beside her. "We can clearly handle anything."Curling an arm around her waist, Poe tipped the side of his head against hers and watched as the flames licked upward against the logs of wood. "We sure as shit can."Later that evening, once the heat from the fire had properly warmed up a good deal of the communal space and after enjoying a light meal together, Poe and Crisara had decided to lug a mattress out of one of the two lower bedrooms and set it on the floor in the sitting area. They had to move the coffee table and two of the lounge chairs out of the way, but they finally had enough room for it. They made up their mattress with pillows and plenty of blankets and then just collapsed onto it; a bit tired from all the trouble they'd gone through. And, since they were already there, they figured that was as good a time as any to make love.Afterward, curled up together, naked under the blankets and propping their pillows up against the base of the sofa, the pair sat there; admiring the dancing flames in the fireplace while the wind outside picked up as another storm seemed to be brewing."We might get snowed in," Crisara remarked; not overly bothered by the prospect."Suppose we'd have to find a way to pass the time and keep warm."Turning her face upward toward his, she grinned. "Clearly we already know how to do that."Poe nodded. "That we do."After a bit of silence fell over them, while the wind whistled and pelted fresh snow against the windows, Crisara rested her head down upon his shoulders. "I've been thinking about the future and what we'll leave behind. By that I mean actual things; not, like, our legacy. I mean, I think about that, too, but since coming here, I've been thinking more about what we leave the kids as part of their inheritance when we're gone.""Yeah?""We have three homes now, all away from Naboo. The apartment on Chandrila, in Hanna City. Your family's homestead on Yavin IV. Now also this cabin. Since Leia is the only one that still has the Dameron surname, I think the Dameron homestead should go to her."Poe nodded in agreement. "And it'll continue in her family; with Skye also being a Dameron and since Catch changed his last name to the same thing.""And since Leia legally adopted Brina, thereby making Brina a Dameron," Crisara pointed out."Don't forget the twins on the way," Poe added with a smile. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised about that. Twins clearly run in your side of the family.""One more month to go. I know Leia's been getting antsy these last few weeks; nearing the end of this pregnancy." Crisara began to smile as well. "I think that will be it as far as grandkids go, though. Shara and Zeith are definitely done at four. Caro had his daughter with Zeda and now got his son with Sindé. At forty-five, I think he's good with the lot he has. And I know Leia is done after her twins are born. It'll give her four in total by then, which is amazing considering she never desired to have any.""Do you think she regrets it?""No. She's happy with what she has. But, if she'd never had Skye or never gotten pregnant this time around, or ever, I'm sure she would've still found her way to Catch. The two of them were as meant to be as you and me, which means she would've still become a stepmother at least."After another moment of silence between them, Poe sniffed and wiped at his nose. There was still a chill in the air, despite the fire going, but the heat from the fire was making his nose run a bit. "So," he began to say, returning to the topic at hand. "Leia gets the Dameron homestead…""Right." Crisara remembered what she'd been saying before getting off on a slight tangent. "Shara should get the apartment in Hanna City. What with there being a major office as well as a group home for GOFOY only a few blocks away, it just makes sense. Plus, it just feels more like her vibe. It's a fancy place. Shara's a bit fancier than the other two.""So then that leaves this cabin for Caro?"Crisara nodded. "He's the head of the Kenobi Academy now. He's the one who typically oversees all those padawans coming here to Ossus to find their kyber crystals. Plus, he was my father's first grandson. They never met in life, but they were alive at the same time. My father knew about Caro while he was still alive, so I imagine all that gives more meaning to this place going to Caro.""Makes sense to me.""Was also thinking about the other homes," Crisara continued. "Shara has a home of her own that she inherited from Taya; allowing the home of my grandmother's birth to remain in the family since Nevara didn't want it. So, Shara is set.""Okay, sure. But who gets the villa? Do we leave it to both Caro and Leia? I mean, there's enough room.""Don't forget the former Kenobi Academy next door. It's been sitting empty for a few years now. But I was thinking, circling back to Caro being the head of the Kenobi Academy, and how he'd taught at its original location, and how he married Zeda there, he has more of a tie to it. It can be remodeled; changed back into a proper home. The villa was the home he'd made with Zeda, but the former Kenobi Academy can be the home he makes with Sindé. Or, you know, it can be once we're gone. Though, I think I'd rather turn ownership of it over to him now so he can enjoy it longer.""So, then Leia gets the villa." It wasn't a question Poe asked. It was a statement. "It has been the one place she always felt at home in. Even when she was with Nik, you could see how much more at peace she looked when she was at the villa. She never even seemed overly comfortable at the Governor's Mansion during my twenty-year tenure as Governor.""She's a lot like you," Crisara remarked. "You were never at home anywhere but the villa. Not even at the Governor's Mansion. You complained about the Governor's Mansion quite often, in fact.""Did not.""Did too."Poe frowned. A draft coming from somewhere within the cabin caused the flames in the fireplace to flicker considerably; dragging his attention away. But then a thought popped into his head. "You know what that means, right? If Leia gets the villa…""Hmm?""She gets our bed. The mattress. That might start a feud."Crisara cackled at that. "Can you imagine if that damned mattress proves to be the final undoing of our family? How ridiculous would that be?" Snuggling more fully against him, she let the laughter subside and emitted a contented sigh. "I think they'll all be fine. What I think we need to worry about them fighting over is who is going to inherit the Falcon?"Poe grimaced. "Shit, yeah. It's in my name, too. My Will states it goes to you if I die first, but I don't imagine you'll go flying it around by yourself if we get another ten or twenty years.""No, I will not.""So, I should probably consider who I think it should go to.""Probably should, because I don't want the headache of making that decision."Poe harrumphed. "Meh. That's a problem for another day.""Famous last words," Crisara joked, as she slid an arm more fully around his midsection.As he patted her arm, he smirked. "Nah. My last words will be far more remarkable. Or, I dunno, maybe they'll be something along the lines of 'hey, watch this' or 'what's the worst that could happen?'" he teased."Yeah, I can see either sincere or stupid being your options.""Hey."Both laughed regardless as the continued to snuggle together to keep the cold at bay.

76 ABY — Three years later

Well, four weeks after Crisara's seventieth birthday, Leia had given birth to her and Catch's twins. Like her great-grandmother Padmé before her, her twins were a boy and a girl. Except, in this instance, Leia's daughter was born first. Like her parents before her, Leia and Catch agreed that they would each get to name a twin. Leia gave Catch first dibs; neither knowing if they would both be boys, girls or one of each. It wasn't until after both children were born, and after they were cleaned up and resting in their parents' arms that naming took place.Catch named their daughter Ellorie. As he had taken the surname of Lacen, once upon a time, from the title character of the children's holoshow he'd loved as a kid, Ellorie had been the name of one of the female characters in the same show. As it was such a lovely name, regardless of its inspiration, Leia had no qualms about it.As for their son, Leia named him Cris, for her mother. She had always thought the idea of naming people after the living to be weird, but she'd made an exception in this case. Probably because it was an abbreviated version of her mother's name. Plus, she didn't want her dad to be the only one with a grandchild named after him. She wanted her mom to share in that honor.And Crisara had been honored.She and Poe were watching their children thriving with their own families, and they were enjoying watching all ten of their grandchildren growing up with each passing day. But they couldn't sit still for very long. Not since they'd finally been traveling around. They got bit by that particular bug and there wouldn't be any stopping until life or their healthy dictated otherwise.For their fortieth wedding anniversary, because it was the start of another decade of marriage, a bigger deal was made of it. Shara, as usual, spearheaded the celebration; once more booking the Banqueting Rotunda. There was amazing food and desserts, the drinks flowed, the music was lively but not too loud that guests couldn't hear each other talk, and there was plenty of music. Assuming they wouldn't be feeling as lively as the music by the time their fiftieth wedding anniversary came around, Poe and Crisara partied as hard as they could; continuing with the theme of making the most of every moment.Of course, they immediately regretted it the next day.It had been the first time in a long time either of them had any proper hangovers. Plus, they knew they'd overdone it with the dancing. But that's what bacta gel and pain relief medication was for. It had also been timed perfectly; their fortieth anniversary, that is. Over forty years ago, Poe had once promised to take Crisara back to Aldhani to witness the spectacle that was The Eye of Aldhani, after mentioning it as something she'd once done with Alfic, and that she and Alfic had desired to witness every three years. Unfortunately, it hadn't ever happened again with Alfic, and not once with Poe, simply because life got in the way, or they'd planned to go but something else came up and they missed the event by a day or week.This year, approximately fifty years since the last time she'd witnessed it, Crisara was back on Aldhani with Poe at her side. As with that first time with Alfic, there was a fancy party in the hotel that came first. It was only three days after their anniversary celebration back on Naboo and Poe and Crisara were once more dressed to the nines while drinking and dancing the night away as if they were half their age. As the evening wore on, it soon became time for The Eye to begin. While some opted to stay inside where it was warmer and view it from within the ballroom, most went outside; Poe and Crisara included.Poe had immediately removed his dinner jacket and threw it around Crisara's shoulders as they stood along the bridge that connected the hotel to the entertainment complex where the party had taken place. They stood side by side, waiting with bated breath. Crisara knew what to expect but waiting for it to happen with Poe, who had never seen it happen before, was like she was about to see it for the first time as well. Then again, after fifty years, she supposed it sort of was like seeing it for the first time, just with older eyes.When the first colorful streaks appeared in the sky, Poe's breath hitched. "Oh wow," was all he managed to say.Crisara ended up watching him most of the time. She found more enjoyment in watching the way the streaking, kaleidoscope of colors reflected in his dark eyes and upon his face. She enjoyed watching the bright smile in his eyes and upon his lips, and even the appearance of tears at the corners of his eyes from how moved he was.When this 'every three years' experience was drawing to its natural close, Poe finally realized her eyes were on him. He felt self-conscious at first, but then continued to smile back at her. "That was better than I could've imagined," he remarked; pulling her close and kissing her warmly upon the lips. "Let's do it again in three years, and I mean it this time.""I'll mark our calendar." Kissing him back, she slipped her arms around his waist and rested the side of her face upon his chest. As they both turned to glimpse the last remnants of The Eye, Crisara asked, "Want to go back inside to the party or back to our suite?""Oh, the suite obviously," he replied. "Our party of two is much more fun, especially when clothing becomes optional."Crisara giggled. "I love how, after forty years, you're still horny.""Just a horny old man now," he replied; not disputing her comment in the slightest. "And how can I not be?" They stepped away from the edge of the walkway and began to head toward the hotel; walking side by side and hand in hand. "Look at the knockout I have for a wife.""You're not too bad yourself, Dameron."Poe sighed and squeezed her hand a bit firmer. "Come on, woman. Let's go act like we're only forty years old and not forty years into this marriage, and pretend I can still get you pregnant."More laughter slipped easily from Crisara as she thanked her lucky stars for having Poe as her husband.

77 ABY — A little over a year later

"Whose idea was it to stay in a tent instead of on the Falcon?" Poe griped as he tore back the flap to the tent in question, which kicked up a small modicum of sand."Yours." Just outside said tent, Crisara was seated on a folding chair. As she had a few years earlier on Tatooine for the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace, she was wearing the same large, floppy hat upon her head. "It was your idea because you said you wanted to be more in the thick of all this.""Well, that was stupid of me."Taking the empty folding chair beside her, Poe sat down; heavily, like a sack of coal. All around them were other tents as well as views of vendors and dancing and colorful kites in the air and bursts of yellow smoke being expelled upward. On the air was the smell of all kinds of cuisine and sweet treats that made the mouth easily water. It was bright, and not just because of the sun overhead. There were so many colors of fabric flitting about. And it was noisy. So very noisy.There were so many walks of life talking, laughing, singing and shouting. There was music. There was merriment.It was the Aki-Aki Festival of the Ancestors, which was held in the Forbidden Valley on the desert planet of Pasaana. It was something that only occurred every forty-two years, and Poe and Crisara had been present at the last one, briefly, just before the Battle of Exegol when they'd been trying to look for the Emperor's wayfinder. Now they were here as spectators; to take part of the experience. They could kick back and relax and enjoy it all instead of worrying about the possibility of losing a war."We should get some of those salted candies we saw that guy selling earlier. Maybe we get a bunch of little baggies to bring back for the grandkids," Crisara suggested. "Maybe some kites.""You know, if somehow we lived long enough to be around for this next festival, we'd be in our one hundred and tens," Poe mused, turning to reach into the cooler beside them. Opening it open he pulled out a canteen of fruit-infused water they'd packed to bring with them. "What do you think? Should we look into the advancements in medical science and see how we can prolong our lives? Or, I'm sure we could find any mod parlor in the Outer Rim that would give us those enhancements.""I don't want to live forever.""Yeah, well, some of us don't get the option of being a ghost after we die and still, to some extent, hold on to the lives and loved ones we'd normally be leaving behind." Poe immediately sighed. Squinting from the sun, he turned and looked upon his wife. "Sorry. That sounded bitter." He shrugged, uncapped the canteen and knocked back a hearty swig. "I think the older I get, the closer to the end we get, I'm getting a little anxious." He noted the way she finally turned and looked at him as well, and there was nothing but warmth and softness in her gaze. It was empathy. "Neither of us knows when the end will come but, realistically, I might be lucky to get another five years. I'm seventy-five. My dad was eighty-three when he died. I'm almost at the age he was.""He also had a brain aneurysm and had been ignoring the symptoms because he hated seeing doctors. You're more vigilant about your health," Crisara pointed out; curling a finger in a beckoning gesture so he would share the canteen with her."Well, yeah, because you'd kill me otherwise."She chuckled as he gave her the canteen. "My mother was only twenty-two when she died. My father was fifty-three." Taking a swig, she eyed her husband from under the brim of her floppy hat. "I've obviously surpassed their allotted times, so I think it's safe to say we are not fated to share in their life expectancies. Plus, every day there are advancements in medical science and medication. Add in healthy living and maintaining a stress-free life, we could make it to one hundred, I'm sure. But, live forever? No, thank you." Suddenly she began to sit up straighter as she set her eyes on something in the distance. "After all, we're only human. We're not supposed to live that long. We're not Wookiees." Lifting her right hand, she smiled brightly and began to wave. "Speaking of which…"Poe followed her gaze and began to smile as well. Both slowly got up out of their folding chairs as they watched Chewbacca stalking forward through the nearby crowds of people — mostly the Aki-Aki — and waving back at them. As the Wookiee garbled his greeting, as he drew nearer and could be heard better over the din of noise, two other familiar faces appeared from just behind him."Thanks for the invite," Finn announced; the first to step out from behind Chewbacca. At sixty-six, the Jedi Master was no fresh-faced Resistance newbie anymore. Long gone was the nervous, former Stormtrooper who just wanted to get as far away from the First Order as possible. Now there stood a wise and weathered man with decades of Force training under his belt, and whose hair had gone fully white in recent years and that was still worn in locs. "I hate that we haven't seen either of you since your anniversary last year — at least, not in person.""Speak for yourself," Rey quipped, stepping around him to immediately reach for and hug Crisara first. "We can see each other whenever we want now."Finn huffed and rolled his eyes as he watched both women hug and then as Chewbacca pulled Poe in for a hug; just waiting his turn to get a hug in with either or both. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. Keep rubbing it in — your fun, little dyad."Jedi Master Rey Skywalker looked amazing for her age. She was the youngest of the group present, at sixty-two and most of her hair was still brown. She wore it long but pulled back in the same triple-knotted style she'd worn for most of her life. There were streaks of grey, of course, just not as many as for the others. But, then again, they were older than her. At almost seventy-four, like her grandmother before her, as well as Finn, Crisara had gone almost fully white, too. Though, she had been feeling a bit self-conscious about it in recent years and she may or may not have been dying her hair to add in more blonde; not necessarily wanting to look as old as she was."Glad the three of you could make it," Poe remarked when Finn finally managed to hug him."The last time we were here, we happened upon this festival by chance, and I immediately thought it was wonderful," Rey spoke; greeting Poe with a hug next while Crisara got her turns with Chewbacca and Finn. "I completely forgot about it in the years that followed. Or, well, specifically the large gap of time between festivals.""We can thank Threepio for that," Crisara piped up. "He mentioned it a few weeks ago, that it was coming up. Poe had been talking to our grandson Luke about some missions we all took part in during the war, and this part," she gestured vaguely at the festival as a whole, "was touched upon.""I was telling Luke I'd teach him how to hotwire a speeder," Poe offered up with an impish grin."Which Shara very much did not appreciate."Poe shrugged. "Grandpas and grandsons are supposed to be partners in crime, getting up to no good. She needs to accept it already."Off their friends' laughter, Chewbacca and Finn turned back to head to where they'd parked their respective ships, to get their tents and other belongings, while Rey remained with the couple. Poe had offered her his chair but she'd declined; teasingly assuring him that an old man such as himself should rest. After a while, though, Crisara closed the lid to the cooler and offered it up as a temporary sit instead, to which Rey relented."Have you two done anything fun yet?" she asked."We set up the tent, then Poe set up the puff-cots. That's basically been it," Crisara replied."And I wouldn't call any of that fun," added Poe; stretching his legs out as he watched a few Aki-Aki children run by with colorful, clacking baubles in their hands. "Tedious. Sweat-inducing."Crisara looked around her pseudo-sister to her husband. "It's a desert planet. Did you not think you'd be sweating?""It was different when we were younger. 'Cause, you know…adrenaline.""When you take the danger element out of it, what we were doing and going through back then," Rey began to remark, "it was rather fun and exciting." She turned and eyed Poe. "Finn was properly perplexed by you. Hot-wiring the speeders we stole, the light-speed skipping you did before that on the way back from the Sinta Glacier Colony…" After a moment she sat up straighter and raised an eyebrow, she asked, "Did you ever elaborate how you learned how to do all that? All that I remember about that was when Zorii outed you as having been a spice runner.""I was sixteen and stupid, and barely a spice runner. I was primarily just the pilot that got the others from point A to point B, and picked up a few maneuvers or figured them out on my own along the way.""Such as hot-wiring and lightspeed-skipping.""Correct."Before the trio could continue to reminisce any further, there was suddenly a minor bluster of commotion as a small group of four people came running by and crouched down beside a neighboring tent. Poe, Crisara and Rey turned and looked on with curiosity. Of the foursome, three looked human. One, a male, was a blue-skinned Twi'lek. Of the three humans, only one was male while the other two were females. All four looked to be in their late twenties or early thirties. They also looked to either be running from something or someone, hiding from something or someone, or lying in wait to pounce on something or someone."Something the matter?" Poe called out; too curious to remain silent.The human male, who was fair-skinned and wore his dusty blonde hair short, turned and looked over his shoulder at the older trio. At first, he ignored them all and shrugged the question off. But, after taking a moment and a double take, he twisted around at the waist and thoroughly glanced between Poe, Rey, Crisara and then back to Poe."Wait a minute — are you?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned slightly and slapped his Twi'lek friend against the arm. "Eshok. Look."The Twi'lek — Eshok, apparently — turned and looked in the direction the blonde man was indicating. Furrowing his brow, realization began to hit him. "Holy mother of meteors!" he quietly exclaimed as a toothy smile began to spread across his lips. "You're Poe Dameron."Poe smirked. "Last I checked, yeah." He just remained seated where he was.The two women with the younger men looked to see what the hubbub was about as the blonde man pointed out Poe to them. "That's Poe Dameron. Famed General from the war against the First Order. Led the Resistance in the Battle of Exegol Poe Dameron."Crisara stole a glance in her husband's direction and could feel his swell of pride at recognition and how this younger generation was so starstruck by him. It didn't happen as much anymore, so it was nice to be a little fawned over.Eshok stood up and walked over to Poe first with his right arm extended; hoping for a handshake and positively thrilled when Poe leaned forward and gave him one. "It's an honor to meet you, sir."The blonde man angled for a handshake next, which Poe also gave. "Definitely," he agreed with his friend. Then, gesturing to himself, he added, "I'm Captain Lucca Hewgood.""I'm Lieutenant Eshok Basut," Eshok introduced before pointing at their female friends. "And these two are Lieutenant Mia Cross—" who was fair-skinned with fantastic, thick ginger curls, "and Commander Halanna Hossan."Commander Hossan was tall, with muscled dark skin, bright amber eyes and purple hair in thin braids she kept swept back in a long ponytail. By her rank designation, and her very no-nonsense vibe, she was the leader of this group. She nodded with respect at Poe, but her gaze drifted more so upon both Rey and Crisara. "Leave it to men to only recognize another man's worth but completely overlook the two women of esteem at his side." She bowed her head with further respect at the older females. "Master Crisara Dameron, Master Rey Skywalker. It is my honor to meet you."Eshok and Lucca suddenly wore expressions of embarrassment on their faces, but Crisara was quick to wave it off. "Don't worry about it, boys." She nodded in Poe's direction. "I understand the allure of noticing my husband first. His good looks are partly why I married him," she teased. Then, after a brief, awkward moment, she gestured at the foursome and piggybacked on Poe's earlier question to them. "Are you in trouble or in search of something?"Commander Hossan looked between her team and nodded. "We're on sort of a time-sensitive mission. General Ackbar sent us here.""Aftab? How's he doing?" Poe inquired."Poe," Rey chuckled. "They said 'time-sensitive.' They have places to be.""We're on the hunt for a bounty hunter who goes by the name of Gibbins," Lucca revealed. "Unfortunately, and as much as we'd love to elaborate further and pick your brain, we can't divulge much else. It's highly classified."Poe nodded; understanding. "And we're not cleared for anything like that. It's okay." He gestured between his wife, his honorary sister-in-law and himself. "We had our time in the sun." He then pointed upward, briefly. "No pun intended.""Was this bounty hunter last seen here?" Crisara asked."He's definitely here. His ship was last spotted out near some area called Lurch Canyon," Eshok offered up while stealing a look over his shoulder at Mia, who seemed to be keeping an eye out beside the tent they'd originally crouched down beside. "We got here, not expecting there to be some massive festival, though."Rey chuckled. "We know all too well what that's like.""This festival happens every forty-two years and forty-two years ago, five of us and two droids made our way here to Pasaana on a mission just before the Battle of Exegol. It didn't go to plan, but it was quite the adventure," Poe recalled with a small smile on his lips and a distant look in his eyes. "We got through it, though. I'm sure you lot will, too. And, were we younger, we'd drop everything and help you.""If we had the clearance," Crisara threw in with a teasing grin.""We unfortunately can't offer up any pertinent details, even though it would definitely benefit us, but we could use any advice on how to navigate this chaos," Commander Hossan commented; referring to the festival as a whole, "and where someone might hide here." She looked primarily upon the older Jedi Master. "We'd be grateful for anything. It feels like we've been all over creation at this point.""Have you been searching high and low here on Pasaana?""We have."Crisara began to nod slowly. "There are Sinking Fields out near Lurch Canyon. If you can't find this bounty hunter in question, it's possible they ended up stuck there. If that's the case, there's good news and bad news."Rey took the metaphorical baton and completed former master's line of thought. "The good news is those Sinking Fields lead down into some underground tunnels where there is a way out, and it would be an ideal place for someone to hide or lay low. The bad news—""Big, big slithery serpent," Poe interjected. "Sharp teeth, can likely swallow you in one gulp. The whole nine yards."The foursome looked between each other and grimaced."There is another option," Crisara offered up. She pointed at Poe and then to herself. "Our daughter used to be a bounty hunter. We can put you into contact with her and she might be able to give you some added insight into finding this guy you're after. As a former bounty hunter, she can either give you perspective on how to find him or where she would hide out were she in his position."Eshok nodded adamantly and gratefully. "We will definitely take whatever help you can give us."Crisara smiled over at her husband. "Seems like adventure still finds us, huh?"Poe simply smiled back. "Babe, every day with you has been the best adventure."Lieutenant Mia Cross turned away from her post as lookout and immediately cooed at his comment. "Aww." She then reached forward and slapped Eshok roughly against the arm. "Why can't you tell me sweet things like that?""You wanna have a conversation about our relationship now?""As compared to all the other times we don't?"Chuckling under their breaths, Poe and Crisara immediately recalled that day, forty-two years ago, when they tried to have just one conversation about their own relationship and how they kept getting interrupted.It seemed some things never really changed.  Three years later, in 80 ABY, time had come for further celebration, and not just for the Dameron family. The 75th Festival of Liberation had arrived, which was the seven-day fete that celebrated the signing of the Galactic Concordance and marked the end of the Galactic Empire's reign, and thus the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War. On most every world there were parades, fireworks, concerts and even pop-up carnivals to help contribute to the merriment. On a smaller scale, families held barbecues with their families and blew off their own fireworks, but not as grand as anything that would be seen in towns and cities.But, again, that wasn't the only celebration.For Caro, specifically, he was celebrating his fiftieth birthday with his wife, his children, and the rest of his immediate family. For Poe and Crisara, they agreed that now they finally felt old; having a child that was fifty years of age. Of course, had either Adera or Temiri still been alive, both would have already hit that milestone by now. For Crisara, it was a little weird to thing her son, who she still thought of as her baby boy, was now only three years younger than what her father got to be. Physically, both grandfather and grandson appeared to be the same age and more like they could be brothers. Of course, one had to take into account the fact that Luke Skywalker was still very much dead and merely appeared as a spirit in the Force.It had been a nice treat when he made the effort to pop in, so to speak, during Caro's birthday party. His appearance, as well as many of the others like him who had long since become one with the Force, was more infrequent and rare these days. As the years passed, the less they were seen or heard from; becoming more like distant, happy memories of times gone by.If having a fifty-year-old child didn't make Poe and Crisara feel old, having two grandchildren who were twenty now sure did. Lora hit that milestone first, and then Kes a few months later. Their youngest grandchildren, Leia's and Catch's twins Ellorie and Cris, were now seven and on their way in the education at the Kenobi Academy. Only two of their ten grandchildren weren't Force-sensitive — Shara's twelve-year-old son Len and Caro's eight-year-old son Poe — and they attended regular school in Theed, where they were doing quite well. In fact, every one of their grandchildren was thriving in their respective educations. For the eldest, Lora and Kes, they had completed the typical education most Force-sensitive children received at the Kenobi Academy and had gone together to spend the next two years training under the primary tutelage of Rey and Finn at the Jedi Temple, which they'd recently completed and were aiming to gain the rank of Jedi Knight in the near future.Possibly the most remarkable of their grandchildren so far was Shara's daughter Ami, who had turned fifteen on Life Day. Three years earlier she had made the decision to maintain her Jedi training at the Kenobi Academy while simultaneously opting to attending the Theed Royal Academy; wanting to learn how to become a political leader her grandfather Poe, her great-aunt Leia Organa, and her namesake — her great-great grandmother Padmé Amidala. While she'd fallen behind at the Kenobi Academy, she had been surpassing her fellow students at the Royal Academy; proving to have a gifted mind for diplomacy. So, when Life Day rolled around and the family was celebrating the holiday along with her birthday, Ami had made a very big announcement.In the new year, she would be campaigning to become Naboo's next monarch. The current Queen was going to be running for re-election, but Ami had noted the planet's unrest in the policies being put forth by the current Queen and her administration. Ami wanted better for her homeworld and its moons. Her parents had been unsure about this decision, but didn't necessarily dissuade her. In private, Shara had spoken to her father; asking him to speak to Ami and see if he could give her some honest insight as to what it took to lead an entire planet and keep its people safe. Shara hoped that might dissuade her daughter, but Poe had seen it in Ami's eyes that her mind was made up. He was honest that it was hard and oftentimes stressful work, but it was also very rewarding. Plus, a monarch didn't rule as long as Governors did, so she might have an easier time of it than he did as Governor for twenty years. At most, she would rule for two terms, which meant only four years total. A drop in the bucket by comparison.So, into the new year, Poe helped her with her campaign. He and Crisara had agreed to suspend their upcoming travel plans to help their granddaughter along the way. It gave them something to occupy their time, with the added bonus of spending more of it with one of their grandchildren while the others were busy with their schoolwork or spending time with their friends.Whereas the electing of Governors always took place toward the end of the year, when a term was up, elections for Monarchs happened mid-year, so Ami only had half a year to build her campaign, which had also meant she had withdrew herself from the Kenobi Academy in order to devote that extra time for promoting herself while juggling her main education at the Royal Academy. But, that chaos soon came to an end.On election day, Ami voted for herself.She had campaigned as Candidate Amidala, just as her great-great grandmother had done, well over a century earlier. The only difference was that Padmé had shed her Naberrie surname and taken Amidala as her regnal name to maintain anonymity, which used to be the customary way of things, once upon a time, while Amidala was Ami's full, given name. Also, given who her family was, it would've been hard for Ami to hide her true identity under some new name.That night, as her entire family sat around and waited together at the Grader Estate, the announcement finally came that "Candidate Amidala has won."Almost immediately she was swept away to the Palace by the current Security Chief. It was a trek meant to be taken alone, without immediate family, to continue the tradition of anonymity, but she refused to go anywhere unless her grandfather could join her. To say Poe was beyond honored would've been a huge understatement. He acquiesced to her wish. He joined her on the skiff that took her directly into the heart of Theed, and into the Royal Hangar. He walked alongside her through the cavernous halls of the Palace, which he hadn't walked through in quite some time; not since shortly after his retirement from office as Governor. He stood beside her when she greeted the outgoing Queen. But then he stayed behind, outside what would be her royal quarters for at least the next two years, and waited upwards of an hour until she reemerged.When she did, Poe had stood up from the seat he'd been given to sit in, and watched as a handful of Royal Handmaidens walked out first. Then, after a moment, he watched as his granddaughter stepped out, dressed in full regalia. With rigid posture and her head held high, Ami looked every bit the part of a queen, as if she'd been one since birth. Her blonde hair had been pulled back and tucked within the headpiece which matched her hair color. Her face and nails had been painted white and she wore the traditional, stylized royal makeup that included a red scar of remembrance; a stripe painted on the lower lip to symbolize the suffering endured by the people of Naboo before the Great Time of Peace. For her attire, she wore a full-length red gown made of heavy material. She was covered from her neck to her toes. Even her hands were barely poking out from the bell-shaped sleeves, which were trimmed with golden fur."Your Highness," Poe greeted with a proud smile and bowed his head accordingly, as he had with plenty of other monarchs in the past. Then, with greater amusement, he asked, "Is it uncomfortable?"He was referring to the wardrobe and the headgear.Ami sighed and very subtly nodded. "It is, but we'll get used to it."Poe found himself even prouder of how she'd easily slipped into using the royal 'we' when speaking now. Even her voice sounded deeper and more regal."You look beautiful."With a bright smile suddenly cracking through the regal exterior, Ami walked forward and grabbed her grandfather's hands in hers. "Thank you, grandpa." Then, leaning in closer to him, she whispered, "I'm nervous.""It's natural to be. This is new territory and you have quite the burden on your shoulders now, but this is what you've worked for, and you will be the greatest Monarch since Sessani, and since your great-great grandmother Padmé before that." He squeezed her hands because he couldn't give her a kiss and risk ruining her makeup. "You will be amazing. I have complete faith in you."With a shaky sigh, her blue eyes flitted toward the windows for a moment, and then back up at Poe. "I know you've been retired for as long as I've been alive, but I was hoping you'd stay here with me. I don't know in what capacity, but maybe as one of my advisors." She'd put aside the royal 'we' for the moment, to have this conversation with him as her grandfather and not as her subject. "You and grandma, both. I got here because of the two of you. I can't do it without the two of you."With a firm gaze, Poe lowered his voice to that of his own whisper. "You got here because if you. You need to learn to do this on your own. So, no, grandma and I won't stay here with you, but we will visit and lend advice whenever you absolutely need it," he assured. "First and foremost, though, just follow heart. If something feels too easy, then it's probably not the best course of action. If something is difficult, keep your chin up and don't back down. Fight for what's right. Fight for the good of Naboo and its people. Be the best Queen you can be. And, don't forget to just have hope."Ami smiled. "Because with it, it can't be all that bad," she remarked; continuing the mantra created by her other great-grandmother Sera, as the next generation.  As Ami took to the throne under the official regnal name of Queen Padmé Amidala II, life got a bit crazier for her, but she clearly seemed to love every bit of it whenever Poe and Crisara came to visit her at the Palace. In time, life for the rest of the family got back to normal, or as normal as it could be. For Poe's and Crisara's children, they had been so used to having their family in the limelight when their father had been Governor, so having one of the younger members of the Dameron clan as Queen didn't seem all that different to them. Ami's siblings and cousins found it to be strange to get used to. Sindé and Catch found it surreal to be married into a family where they now had a niece in the position of Naboo's Head of State.Before long, another year had come round and Poe was soon celebrating his eightieth birthday. Unlike his seventieth a decade earlier, this time he decided he wanted a bigger celebration, and Ami insisted on having it take place at the Palace so she could more easily attend. And it was definitely a big celebration. Their entire family, every last surviving friend he had in the galaxy, as well as Jedi Knights and Masters, and even those Poe had worked alongside during his years as Security Chief and then Governor were in attendance. Hell, even the current Supreme Chancellor of the Republic made an appearance. It was practically the social even of the year. It was a veritable Who's Who in regard to guests.He had one of the most loveliest nights of his life; dancing with his wife until late and chatting up everyone and anyone. He asked for no gifts, because he had everything he wanted and needed in the form of his loved ones. There was nothing anyone could give him that he didn't already have. But there was one thing not even Poe Dameron could've expected to receive.The day after his birthday, while he was lamenting all that dancing he'd done by how sore he was the next day, Crisara had handed him two tablets of pain relief medication and a glass of water, and then tossed a container of bacta gel his way."Get dressed," she ordered; a knowing smile dangling off her lips.Raising an eyebrow up at her, Poe did his best to figure out what she was up to. "Am I not allowed to languish in bed and nurse my hangover?""You haven't touched a drop of alcohol in years. Try again.""I was pretty drunk on doing too much dancing and standing around talking. Point is — I was on my feet way too long last night. Today is my day to convalesce."Crisara sighed and folded her hands over her chest. "You can convalesce when you're dead, which might be soon, so get up and get dressed. We have someplace to be."She didn't wait around for him. She was already dressed for the day, and had even woken up before him, but that was due to the fact that — like he said — he'd done too much the night before and was tired. Poe had watched her leave their bedroom and just sighed heavily.Once he'd knocked back those pain pills and rubbed that bacta gel on all the key joints that were giving him trouble, he eventually got up and got dressed. He had no idea where the fuck they were supposed to be going, so he wasn't sure how he was supposed to dress, so he went with casual. A comfortable pair of pants, a decent shirt, and an extra comfortable pair of shoes. The final touch was brushing through his grey hair, which he'd been growing out in the last couple of years because — why the fuck not? Also, since shaving his beard ten years earlier, he'd grown increasingly nostalgic for the beard, but not wanting the fuss of having to maintain one, so he split the difference and now kept only a mustache. Crisara had initially joked that he looked like retired adult actor from a holoporn, but it quickly grew on her. After all, she fell in love with the man not the mustache.Crisara had opted to pilot their speeder down by the pier; forgoing the Falcon for the time being. The pair traveled together — just the two of them — from the villa in the Lake Country to the heart of Theed in relative silence. After so many years of marriage, they no longer needed to fill the void with conversation. They could say enough with a single look than with an spoken sentence.The speeder touched down just outside a lush park that was located two city blocks from the Governor's Mansion. Poe, still, was confused about where they were going and what his wife was up to. Regardless, he followed her into that very park, right toward the very center of it where he remembered there used to be a pretty basic fountain, but he saw that fountain was hidden under some sort of canvas tarp, covering something very large.Furrowing his brow in further confusion, he looked at Crisara and then realized the people in the park were his children and their families, as well as a good deal of those guests that had been at his birthday celebration the night before. "What's going on? Am I dying?"Sidling up beside her grandfather, Leia's eight-year-old twin daughter Ellorie slipped her hand into Poe's hand. "It's a birthday surprise, grandpa."Dropping his gaze down at the girl, he smiled warmly and squeezed her hand. "Oh, it is?"A squad of guards from the palace began to approach, flanking Ami as she made her way into the park and toward her grandfather, with her handmaidens trailing behind her. She was, as usual, in full queenly regalia, but let royal façade drop so she could smile upon him and speak to him as his grandchild and not his monarch."Am I the last to arrive?" Ami asked, looking around him to her grandmother.Crisara nodded. "Yep."Clearing her throat, the sixteen-year-old Queen of Naboo walked closer to the base of whatever was covered at the fountain and then turned to face Poe with her hands clasped in front of her. "Poe Dameron," she addressed him formally, "for twenty years you served the people of Naboo as its much beloved Governor. You did so much for so many. You achieved more than is expected of any Governor, and you did it to make this planet and its moons a better place, for generations still yet to come. You fought in war, on the side of good, in the face of insurmountable evil, and came out of it a hero. You have inspired your friends, your family, the citizens of Naboo and citizens of this galaxy far and wide. People dream to meet you. People aspire to be like you. And we all want you to know, that decades and centuries from now, you will still be someone others aspire to be like. You will continue to be revered; never forgotten, always remembered."Poe felt the swell of emotion bubbling in his chest while his brown eyes blurred from tears he was trying to rapidly blink away so he could maintain his composure. With his free hand, he quickly sought out Crisara's and squeezed it considerably tighter than he was squeezing Ellorie's. He looked at his wife again and she just smiled at him with such love and pride for him. He still wasn't sure what was going on or what was about to happen, but everything Ami was saying definitely struck something in him that made him very moved and happy at the same time."Without further ado," Ami continued.She turned and gestured to a few of her guards, who stepped forward and reached for the base of the tarp. With a nod of her head, they began to pull. Because the tarp was large enough to cover whatever monstrosity was underneath, the guards had to walk backward a good deal. Slowly, it began to slip up and over until it dropped down the other side to reveal a very large statue made of bronze. And, like many of the domed, bronze roofs throughout Theed, oxidation would turn the statue green within the next couple of years.Realization finally hit Poe like a bag of hammers to the face. "Is that me?"Sure as shit, it was a very lifelike statue of him, dressed as he typically did while in office as Governor, and looking as he did when he first became Governor. The statue version of Poe Dameron was had a full beard, and he was posed with his hands upon his hips and looking skyward.Stepping closer, Poe made a noise that was a mix between a laugh and a sob as he pointed something out at the base of his statue's feet. "Shit, there's even a Beebee-Ate.""Everyone knows or remembers that wherever you went so does Beebee-Ate," Crisara remarked with a light chuckle. "Since before the war started to now."As if on cue, BB-8 rolled forward from where he'd been tucked a bit behind Leia's fifteen-year-old son Skye. The roly-poly astromech droid immediately began to chirp as he approached his master and friend, and then rubbed against the side of Poe's calf like your average house pet."Hey, buddy. I'm glad you're here, too," Poe muttered. Removing his hand from Crisara's, he slapped it gently upon the side of his face and then dragged it across his mouth as he found himself a bit dumbstruck by what he was seeing, feeling and overall experiencing. "This is…I don't know…I think I've finally run out of words to say.""Who knew a statue would do it," Finn teased from where he stood a few feet away."There's a statue of me." Poe was in disbelief. "I don't know what to say. I don't…this is wonderful." He looked at Ami. "Thank you.""I didn't commission it, but I did sign off on its placement." She gestured to Crisara. "Gram commissioned it."Poe turned and looked at his wife once more. Letting go of Ellorie's hand, he placed both of his upon the sides of Crisara's face and smiled appreciatively at her. "This is too much. I didn't need a statue." He chuckled a bit, but was still very close to full on sobbing — happily, of course."You deserve more than just this statue," she replied. "You deserve a statue in every city on Naboo. On every planet where there are lives touched by you." Leaning closer, she added in a whisper, "I know how worried you are about the end; worried to not be around anymore. This," she stole a brief glance up a the statue and then back at him, "is just a little something I could do to help make sure you remain."Giving up on holding them back, Poe finally let his tears fall freely. Tipping his head forward, he pressed it against Crisara's, nuzzled his nose against hers, and then kissed her. "I have the best wife in the history of wives," he stated with such adoration oozing in his voice. "Thank you for pushing me into that bush when we were toddlers and setting us on this path together."Crisara laughed, stole another kiss from him and then slid an arm around his back. "Thank you for being the best husband in the history of husbands, and for offering to be my rebound when we met again as adults.""Longest rebound in the history of rebounds," he joked; gesturing between them as she rested her head down upon his shoulder.As they both looked upward at the statue, the rest of their family and friends began to approach him and offer further birthday wishes as well as congratulations on this new honor. He barely heard Ami mentioning something about a plaque that was in the works and that would be added to the base of the statue later in the week. He was just so lost in the moment, and just happy that he was exactly where he was always meant to be.

85 ABY — Three years and a few months later

Poe stood upon a balcony in Theed, following the coronation of the Queen that had succeeded Ami as Naboo's newest monarch. His granddaughter, now nineteen but going on twenty, had won a second two-year term but was now happy to be moving on to whatever came next for her. She had already achieved something great at so young an age that she admitted to her grandfather that she feared she'd already peaked, but he assured her that was nonsense. She was still so very young and with so many years left ahead of her to do so many great things if she wanted to. She could do anything. There was nothing set in stone and there was no rush for her to figure out what came next.For now, though, he stood beside her, along with Crisara, Shara and Zeith — the latter two there as they were Ami's parents. The coronation had managed to coincide with the 50th Victory Day, which was the celebration of the Resistance's victory over the First Order during the Battle of Exegol. They stood together, watching fireworks booming and sparkling high in the sky over capital city, almost directly over the Palace, alongside the new Queen and her guard, the current Governor and other government officials.Poe had remembered all his years being part of these sorts of festivities, which now felt like a lifetime ago. He didn't much think on the bad times anymore, just with great fondness for the good times. He hadn't even had a nightmare involving Kylo Ren in a very long time. He could think back on that time now as if an outsider looking in. It didn't seem to bother him anymore. Perhaps it was part of getting older and taking stock of one's life. At some point, he had to let go of that baggage. He sure as shit didn't want to take any trauma with him whenever he died.After the festivities had died down, Poe and Crisara had finally decided on taking another trip together. Considering their age, both being in their eighties now, they weren't about to go too far or get up to any shenanigans anymore. They figured this would be their final hurrah before retiring fully to a quiet life at the villa for the rest of their days.The start of their trip was not exactly a happy one; at least not for Crisara. And it was something that came up at the last minute.Radu Lammu, her very first boyfriend, the brother of her long-since deceased friend Rani, and the head of Ryloth's GOFOY headquarters, had died. He had been eighty-seven and had been dealing with a brief illness that claimed him in his sleep. The best way to go. He'd lost his wife of five and a half the year before, so Crisara believed part of it may have been heartbreak. So, to Ryloth she went with Poe for the funeral, and she found herself to be very upset by his passing. It seemed more and more people she and Poe knew were dying every year and it was just starting to feel very real that they were now very near the end of their lives, and that it was a guessing game of how and when they would go next.She tried not to think of it, because she knew her time to pass would merely be a transition into another plane of existence within the Force. But she knew it wasn't the same for most and that she was lucky because of it. Though, considering all those she'd never see again, namely Poe, she wondered if she really was the lucky one, after all.After the funeral, Poe and Crisara continued onward to Bespin. As they approached Cloud City, they landed the Millennium Falcon upon Docking Pad Three, where they were greeted by the current Baron Administrator, Ottel Bregg; a position once held by Lando Calrissian. As honored guests to the city, Bregg continued to personally escort them toward the Grand Bespin Hotel, where they would be staying.That evening, they went to dinner at a rather lovely restaurant where they were seated next to the expansive windows which allowed them a marvelous view of the clouds at sunset. Since Bespin completed a full rotation every twelve hours, those sunsets lasted approximately two hours. Afterward they went off to Pair O'Dice, one of the nicer casinos, but they didn't bother to gamble. They just walked around and people-watched. Tired from traveling, they soon retreated to their hotel and went straight to bed. While they slept, the sun rose again on Cloud City but, by the time they were getting up for the morning, there was yet another sunset soon taking place."Bespin is a strange place," Poe had remarked; looking a little sluggish that morning.He was moving slow and his balance had been off lately. His doctor back home on Naboo had said that was normal and to be expected now at his age. He and Crisara both remembered her grandmother being the same way."Always has been," Crisara had replied; keeping a watchful eye on her husband out of concern. It was where Alfic had proposed to her, so that was an added layer of strange; being here with the man she'd been married to ten times longer.As the day wore on, and quickly at that because of that short rotation, they were invited by Bregg to have lunch with him at the Administrator's Palace. All three moved to the Paradise Atrium after that, which was just an upscale lounge. They sat together and chatted about this and that. Soon enough, Crisara began to assume Poe was growing bored and weary of the small talk with the much younger man who so very happy to have the ear of the Poe Dameron and the Crisara Dameron. Because of that assumption, Crisara excused Poe and herself; claiming that, at their age, they needed to rest more frequently.Linking her arm through Poe's, Crisara walked blithely beside her husband as they made their way back to the hotel. Before they reached it, he had to pause; placing a hand to his chest and sucking in a shaky breath."Are you okay?""Indigestion, I think," he answered; looking up at her with assurance in his eyes. "I used to be able to eat the spiciest foods without batting an eye, but I'm not sure whatever seasoning was used on my lunch is agreeing with me.""Well, let's get back to our suite and I'll order some tea from room service. And how about I draw us a bath?""You really wanna risk getting in and out of a slick tub with me?" he chuckled as they began to walk on again. "When was the last time we took anything other than just a shower?""Stars — I haven't the slightest clue." Off her own laughter, they leaned more affectionately into each other and walked the rest of the way in comfortable silence.After they returned to their hotel room, Crisara was true to her word by ordering room service while Poe chose to sit down upon their bed with a few pillows keeping him propped up. When the tea arrived on a cart with all the fixings, she began to bring it over to him with a smile on her face.But that smile soon disappeared.As Poe moved to reach for the cup of tea when she offered it to her, a pained expression briefly passed over his face. He grabbed at his chest, let out a sharp gasp and then crumpled quietly over the edge of the bed to the floor."Poe!"Crisara dropped the cup — immediately unimportant and forgotten while tea splashed everywhere. She clambered to kneel beside him and give his shoulder a shake, but he made no movements or sounds."No," she mumbled. Then, more clearly and firmly, "No, not yet. Poe!" She whipped her head wildly around. "I need help. He needs help."Rolling Poe onto his back, she closed her eyes and concentrated as hard as she could while placing one hand upon his forehead and the other upon his chest. After a few moments, she felt that spark of life in him again. She could feel his heart faintly beating again. She could hear him taking breaths again.And then, from the sudden stress of what had just happened, Crisara began to cry.  Sometime later, possibly only hours, Poe lifted his eyelids.He was aware of a beeping noise nearby as well as a golden light casting a warm hue all around him. When the world around him came more into focus, he found that he was lying in a hospital bed and outside the windows on his right were clouds upon clouds. So, by that deduction, he was still in Cloud City because, you know — clouds.He opened his mouth; finding it to be as dry as a popcorn fart, as his father used to say. Looking to his left, he spotted Crisara slouching sideways in a chair. She appeared to be asleep, and Poe hated to wake her, but he needed to know why he was in some apparent hospital. He had no idea what had happened to him.The last thing he remembered was reaching for a cup of tea, and then everything got blurry and everything went black."Cris," he croaked.Without hesitation, perhaps because she wasn't actually sleeping but simply resting her eyes, Crisara sat up straight and looked directly at him. "You're awake," she remarked; stating the obvious with such blatant relief on her face, but also with deep concern."What happened?"With a sigh, she pushed up out of the chair and walked over to him. Sitting down upon the edge of the hospital bed, she took hold of his hand closest to her and then looked him in the eye. "You had a massive heart attack," she revealed."Seriously?""Yeah," she nodded. "I brought you back. Transferred a bit of life force into you from me. Not too much to kill me, but I would've if I had to.""I wouldn't have wanted you to.""Well, I didn't have to. You were only down a few moments." Looking him more poignantly in the eye, she added, "But you were down, Poe. According the doctors, you died the moment you hit the ground. That indigestion you thought you were experiencing? How sluggish and winded you've been lately? All symptoms leading up to a heart attack." Reaching up with her free hand, she brushed her fingers through his hair and then cupped the side of his face. "All those years of stress and anxiety — maybe even the physical duress you were put through so long ago during the war — finally caught up to you." She watched the way he quietly sat there; processing it all. "I was so scared, Poe. I literally lost you for just a few moments and I refused to accept it. I couldn't. I couldn't let you go yet. I'm sorry."Poe furrowed his brow. "Don't be. I'm glad you didn't let me go," he assured. "I'm not ready to go yet either."With another side, Crisara lowered her hand back down from his face and set it upon one of his blanket-covered knees. "After I brought you back, I called for help and you were brought here to the medical center. You were immediately taken into surgery. I had to make a call, as your next of kin, on what to be done. I made a decision for you." Lifting her hand once more, she gently rested it upon his chest. "Your heart was so badly damaged. They were giving you only months more before another heart attack took you for good, and I couldn't accept that either. So, I gave them permission to perform a transplant." As she watched him tip his chin to his chest, she continued. "Welcome to the prosthetics club, my love. You have a new heart."Poe knitted his brow together and pulled the collar of his hospital gown outward so he could peer down his front. Spotting the faint incision marks from having had open heart surgery, the reality of what happened to him finally set in and tears began to well in his eyes."Did I make the right choice or was I selfish?" Crisara asked. "It was the best option to give you more time. To give us more time.""No, it's okay. It was the right choice," he insisted; looking back up at her. "If you recall, I had to make the same choice for you about forty years ago, but on a grander scale. You're basically a droid compared to me." Off his slightly teasing smile, notable serious still yet remained in his dark, tired eyes.Suddenly, he looked so much older than he was. The physical stress from his heart attack had seemed to age him further in just a day. Somehow his hair was even grayer. His wrinkles and the lines of his face were more pronounced. He suddenly didn't look like the strong and vibrant man he'd always been. He seemed small and weak. He was tired."What happens going forward?" he asked."Rest and recovery," she answered. "We're gonna stay here at least a week more so the doctors can observe you and make sure the transplant took or if anything needs to be tweaked. After that, we'll return home to Naboo.""Okay.""I called Leia and Catch — filled them in on what happened. They promised to tell the others. They're going to be here tomorrow. They're booking passage on a starfreighter to get here instead of taking the Skywalker so that they can be the ones to fly the Falcon when we eventually head home. That way you can continue to rest while I play nursemaid."Poe frowned. "I hate being such a bother.""You're not a bother. This is what we do for those we love when they need us. And now you're the one who needs the help." Sitting back a bit and slouching, another sigh escaped Crisara's lips. "We're not young anymore, Poe. We haven't been for a long time now. We'd be idiots to believe things like this weren't going to start happening. I just was hoping losing you would've been further off.""Well, according to you, you did lose me for, like, a minute, so we got that out of the way. Next time, when I actually do kick it, you won't have to grieve because you'll have already gotten it out of the way.""I won't be any more ready for the next time," she mumbled; casting sad blue eyes downward."Well, woman, it's coming regardless." Watching the way tears were beginning to subtly slip down her cheeks, Poe patted her thigh. "But I'm not going anywhere just yet, okay? I love you too much to just dip out like that again; without any warning. That was rude of me. I'm sorry, babe."Pouting, Crisara looked him in the eye. "I suppose I can forgive you this one time."With a small smile, he leaned back against the pillow behind him; suddenly feeling tired again, but merely because his body was still going through it while his mind was still processing the gravity of it all as well. "Good.""I love you, too, Dameron."His smile grew wider.

86 ABY — A little over a later

Poe was doing better, all things considered.It was one week after his wife's eighty-third birthday and one week before the forty-ninth birthday of his twin daughters Shara and Leia. But, on this particular day, it was the morning of his grandson Skye's nineteenth birthday. Standing halfway down the pier and leaning on the cane he'd been reliant on since returning home after his heart attack, Poe was staring out at the lake before him and feeling more nostalgic than usual. He remembered standing in the same spot so long ago, while the Republic was in a frenzy to put itself back together again after the end of the First Order-Resistance War. He could almost hear Crisara calling down to him to let him know it was time for the meeting with the Council that had existed at the time, as a preliminary governing body before everything righted itself again. He remembered how he felt. He felt a little lost and scared of the future, but simply because he had so much of it before him and didn't know what he would do with it. After the non-stop action of battles and mission, to go from an object in motion to an object at rest had been jarring. Beyond that, though, he'd felt peace and happiness.He'd had a future.He had the woman he loved by his side and they were going to build a family together.They had just been starting out then.Now everything was winding down.Poe was nearing the finishing line. And, since his heart attack, something had changed for him. For the first time ever in his late years, the thought of death no longer scared him. Whatever awaited him he knew he had no control over, so what was the point in worrying about any of it? He would hate leaving behind his wife, his kids and his grandkids, but he knew they would be fine without him.He'd lived a long, good life and he was proud of it.And he was going to be a great-grandfather! That had been something he'd looked forward to being in the years after becoming a grandfather several times over. Earlier in the year, Caro's daughter Lora, who was twenty-six now, a Jedi Knight and teaching along her father at the Kenobi Academy, had gotten married to a fellow Jedi Knight she'd come up with in her training, a young man named Sam Hain. In no time at all, she found herself to be pregnant and the child she was carrying was expected to arrive a couple of months into the new year. After some med scans, it had been determined she was carrying a boy, so she would have a son, Caro was going to have a grandson, and Poe and Crisara were about to have a great-grandson.It was something to celebrate; life carrying on no matter what."Hey! Gramps!"Poe turned and looked over his shoulder; squinting upward at Skye peering down at him from the retaining wall up above at the front of the villa."Dad said you were looking for me," Skye continued to call out.Poe grimaced and beckoned to the younger man. "Come down here. Don't make me shout." With a shake of his head, he turned back forward at the lake but then smiled to himself as he waited for his grandson to reach him.He also smiled at the fact that when Skye said 'dad' he was referring to Catch. Like with Poe and Caro, Catch was the only father Skye ever had in his life. Catch was the man who had raised him over the last fifteen years and helped shape him into the man he was becoming. And, like with how Leia had legally adopted Catch's daughter Brina, to officially become her mother, Catch had legally adopted Skye at the same time, to officially become his father. Skye had long since been told the truth of who his biological father had been and the terrible things he'd done, but none of that had mattered to Skye by that point. Nik Yaren wasn't his father in his eyes. He'd just been the man who donated DNA to make him. Catch was and always would be his dad.It warmed Poe's heart."So, what did you want to talk to me about, old man?" Skye teased, as he had finally made his way down the curved pathway down from the villa to the water's edge."Hey — watch it or I'll rescind your gift.""Ooh, gift?"Poe shot his grandson a withering look. "It's your birthday," he remarked. "So, happy birthday."Skye grinned. "Thank you.""I know there's a party later tonight, and then you're going off gallivanting around Theed with your friends after that, but I just wanted you to know what your gift was before all that." Off the curious raise of Skye's eyebrow, Poe sighed. "You won't receive it till I'm dead, though, so don't get too excited just yet.""Well, in that case, I hope I never get it because I don't want you to go anywhere.""Yeah, well, we can't stop death." Noting the frown on the nineteen-year-old, Poe switched his cane to his left hand so he could use his right to pat Skye upon the arm. "I have three children left who will survive me, and I have ten grandchildren. In about five months, give or take, I'll have my first great-grandson. Each of you will inherit something from me and no matter the grandeur or lack thereof of what you all get, it doesn't mean I love any of you any differently. I love you all the same." With a deep, raspy breath, Poe continued. "Someone will inherit the Millennium Falcon and I've thought about it a lot for a while now." He suddenly turned and eyed Skye very pointedly. "It's you."Skye looked positively dumbstruck. "Wait — seriously? Me?" He gestured to himself. "Why?"Instead of elaborating on his decision, Poe remained vague and shrugged. "I have my reasons."Slowly, Skye began to accept this news with a bright smile spreading over his lips. Without hesitation, he turned and threw his arms around his grandfather and hugged him tightly, but not too tight as to cause any discomfort or pain. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise to take care of her.""I know you will." Poe patted Skye on the back and smirked before both pulled away from each other."I'm just curious about something, though.""What about?""Why tell me about it now? Why not just have me be surprised by it after…you know…""Because I won't be around to see your reaction when you officially inherit it." Poe began to smile just as brightly. "I wanted to see the smile on your face while I still had the chance. But, just do me a favor.""Don't crash the Falcon?""Well, obviously that, but just…" he lowered his voice and leaned closer, as if there were eyes and ears everywhere; spying on them. "Don't tell any of your siblings or your cousins. I don't want to be around when they feel jilted by my decision. I think Kes has been assuming it would go to him, as the oldest grandson. The only people who know about this are you, me, your grandmother, and your parents. Oh, and Rey.""Because of that whole dyad thing with grandma?""Yeah."Skye nodded obediently. "I promise to keep it a secret until it's not a secret anymore."After a few moments of silence between them, both men were staring out at the lake as a bird swooped down from some trees overhead, dipped its beak into the water and then flew off with a fish it had caught with the greatest ease.Fifty years earlier, Poe stood on this same pier and watched the same thing happen.It was like bookends.A beginning and an ending.

87 ABY — Ten months later

The upside of having a heart transplant was that the new, artificial heart that Poe had received pumped with the strength of a heart belonging to men Skye's age. Every morning he had more get-up-and-go energy but, by midday, he was tired again. The downside was that the heart pumped so strongly that the rest of his internal organs, which belonged to a now eighty-five-year-old man who had suffered a massive heart attack, couldn't keep up. They were breaking down and weakening at a faster rate than expected, which meant his synthetic heart wouldn't be able to operate properly anymore. Also, it left him more receptive to illness.Just before his birthday, two months earlier, he'd been feeling sluggish and under the weather. After a visit from a doctor, he was given the news neither he nor Crisara were wanting to hear.Poe was dying.He had — maybe — six months of quality life left. Unless he wanted to replace all those organs with synthetic versions, like with what Crisara had, the end was nigh. He'd considered that; to prolong his life with synthetic organs and prosthetics like his heart, but that also meant more surgeries and longer recoveries. And — for what? A couple more years? He'd achieved all he was ever going to achieve. He'd seen all he could ever dream to see. He was fortunate to have been married to the love of his life for fifty-five years now. He'd danced together with her on their fiftieth the year before; just the two of them, alone in the family room, listening to one of the songs they'd dance to during their wedding reception. He'd been a father to several children. A grandfather to even more. He had a great-grandson, Jak, who he adored.Poe was dying and he was okay with it.He didn't need more time. He was just grateful for the time he had been given.On his last night, he was lying in bed beside Crisara; propped up a bit by a few pillows because lying flat on his back had become problematic to his breathing since the heart attack. Plus, with the congestion in his chest from fluid constantly filling up his lungs, he could barely breathe now as it was. He was coughing constantly, which made his chest ache. His throat burned and was sore. No amount of cold water or hot tea seemed to soothe it. His arthritis was flaring up as well, and he couldn't get comfortable, even on the most comfortable mattress to ever exist.Poe was dying and he was tired."Do you need anything?" Crisara asked, sitting up beside him.He turned and looked at up his wife, who suddenly reminded him of her grandmother. For the first time ever, he couldn't see the young woman she used to be. He saw an old woman beside him. She was still the most beautiful goddess of a woman he'd ever known, but she was tired, too. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. She knew he was at the end and that knowledge was taking a toll on her heart. Not the extent of giving her a heart attack, but enough to break it. She wasn't ready to let go even if he was."I'm tired," he muttered.Crisara frowned. "I know."With tears beginning to well in his eyes and fall down his face, he slouched his shoulders while folding his hands together in his lap. "I can't do this anymore. The pain meds and the bacta don't help anymore. Surgery and transplants won't help. Not even you sharing more of your life force will help." He sighed; pouting when he saw the look of grief in her blue eyes, which didn't seem to sparkle as much as they used to. "I've had a good run, my love. I lived a pretty amazing life, you gotta admit. I did a lot of stupid shit in my youth that should've gotten me killed ten times over, but I made it to this moment. I got to marry my best friend, I got to become a father and a grandfather—""And a great-grandfather," Crisara interjected.Poe nodded with a small smile, despite the tears. "And a great-grandfather," he agreed. Then, "I got to grow old with you and, like I always wished, I want to leave this life in bed with you."She didn't say anything."I'm sorry. I know we wanted to make it to one hundred years." He was trying to keep it light, but it fell flat. "I just can't." Removing one of his hands from his lap, he slipped it into one of hers and held on tight. "We agreed to five or more decades together, and we got that.""We did.""I know you're not ready to say goodbye, and I don't want you to.""Then what do I say? How do I say everything in my heart? How do I express a lifetime with you in one, final sendoff? How…please…just…I'm not ready."He watched the tears spilling down her cheeks but also how she was maintaining her resolve so that she didn't just begin blubbering like a fool. He watched her sniffle and wipe furiously at her tears, but more kept coming. "No one is ever ready.""But you are. To go."Poe nodded slowly. "It's time for a new adventure. Who knows what's waiting for me? Maybe it's not all nothingness like you Jedi assume." He smirked. "Maybe you lot are shortsighted and can't see the galaxy for the stars. Or," he shrugged, "maybe there's nothing. Honestly? I've made my peace with that. I'm made my peace with not knowing what happens, but I am sorry to go, even if I'm ready to go. I never wanted to make you sad. I never wanted to break your heart.""You're not doing any of that. It's just…the situation we find ourselves in. It's life and it's death. We can't stop it. We've lost so many others along the way. Parents, grandparents, friends and family." She eyed him knowingly. "Children." Knitting her brow together, she mumbled, "Adera would've been almost sixty by now. So strange." Returning her focus upon him, Crisara shifted in their bed so that she was closer to him and then laid down beside him. She slipped her right arm around his middle and rested her head down upon his shoulder. "I'll survive without you, but it won't be much of a life without you in it.""You'll find joy in other things and, in time, you'll join me," he assured; tipping his head against hers and resting his left hand upon her right arm. "I don't know how or to what degree, but we'll find each other again. Either in the afterlife, in the next life if there's such a thing as reincarnation, or maybe other versions of us in alternate universes are falling in love with each other at this very moment, and those versions of us have yet another five decades or more ahead of them to experience an amazing life together. If so, I wish them the absolute best. Maybe, on some cosmic level, they'll live through all the great parts of the life we had together with none of the shit parts.""One can hope. For their sakes."Poe nodded, and then he fell quiet. He was staring straight ahead, but off center a bit, toward her vanity. He was certain he saw movement of some sort or a faint bluish haze, but his shook it from his mind.Crisara, looking in the same direction, had seen what he thought he was seeing, and it brought fresh tears to her eyes.Beside her vanity table were the Force ghosts of her sons, Temiri and Len. They were both looking on with love. Both had been gone so long and yet never truly gone at all, and both were now here as their father was rapidly approaching the end of his life."Tell him," Len urged."He deserves to know," Temiri added.Crisara sniffed and looked upward at Poe. "The boys are here to see you off.""Is that what I saw?"Lifting her head and properly staring at him. He was tipping his head backward into the pillows; trying to get comfortable before drifting off to sleep. Likely forever. "You can see them?"She thought about how Poe had mentioned her grandmother seeing her grandfather and more at the end. So, she supposed, it made sense Poe would be able to do the same now. The veil between this life and the next was lifting for him."I saw movement out the corner of my eye. A blue shimmer, but then it was gone."She smiled. "They want to be here with you as you make your way onto the next adventure."Poe's eyes were drooping. Crisara could feel his life force gradually slipping away and she desperately wished she could pull it back. She could feel the panic of losing him increasing inside her heart and mind. Everything in her was screaming to give up her life so she could give it to him, as Ben did for Rey so long ago. She didn't want her husband to die. She didn't want to be a widow and live without him for even a day. How would she do it?As she felt the vibrations from his artificial heart beginning to falter due to everything else shutting down on him, Poe managed to open his eyes a bit more and look at her. He leaned in toward her and pressed his lips down upon hers; getting one last kiss in.Then he smiled warmly at her.It was funny. Despite smiling warmly, he felt quite cold. However, it didn't seem to bother him. He was realizing everything was feeling numb. He could barely feel Crisara still wrapping her arm around him. His vision was fading but he was aware of where he still was."I love you, woman," he mumbled; closing his eyes and breathing more and more shallow."I love you, too, Dameron."He smiled again; hearing those words from her. "Loving you…" he whispered in-between increasingly strained breaths, "has been…has been my life's greatest…adventure…"Crisara smiled as well; snuggling even closer to him.She heard him go silent just like he always did when he fell asleep, but before he began to snore. No snoring came, though. With her head once more resting upon his shoulder, she tipped it further down and could feel the vibrations of his artificial heart slow and then stop.Poe felt the darkness swiftly envelop him.It felt as if all the air had just left the room.It felt as if a candle had been lit, but then snuffed out.Poe Dameron — the best pilot in the Resistance — was gone.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love
You make"
— The Beatles

93 ABY — Six years and a four months later

Sometimes there were days when Crisara forgot Poe was gone. She would wake up in the morning, roll over and find his side of the bed empty, but wouldn't think anything of it. He always got up before her, and would occasionally go as far as to make his side of the bed; a habit from his days in the military. She would get up and head to the bathroom none the wiser, but then it would hit her. She might be walking back out of the bathroom and find herself staring at the bed again, and she would remember him lying there, lifeless.She would remember the way she began to cry so loudly the villa literally shook, and Leia had come running. And then she remembered Leia crying. And then Leia's children had slipped into the bedroom and found their grandfather having passed away, and they cried, too.Crisara barely remembered much after that night. Everything had happened so fast and was so blurry. She barely remembered Poe's body being removed. She barely remembered the days that followed, and how Poe, as a former Governor of Naboo, had been laid out in his coffin; lying in state at the Palace for all to come visit and pay their last respects to a great man. Crisara sort of remembered the seemingly never-ending line of people who took turns coming up to her to express their condolences, or to share a touching anecdote or memory they cherished about Poe. It had all been white noise to her, though. She couldn't remember who came up to her or what they said. It had felt like she was in a trance; just going through the motions or lack thereof.When the funeral service took place, also in the Palace, she had been completely zoned out. Deep within herself she was wishing she could react to anything. Deep inside she was wishing she could scream or rant against fate for making time pass by too quickly for her liking and taking the man she loved from her. She wanted to get angry, to show any range of emotion, but she had become like stone.No one could tell what she was thinking or feeling.Crisara was accompanied by immediate family only — with the exception of Rey, Finn and even Chewbacca, as they were oldest of friends and were basically family — to escort Poe's coffin to Yavin IV. It had long been his wish to be buried at the Dameron homestead, beside his mother. When they arrived, the six foot deep grave had already been dug beforehand and, using the Force, her children lowered their father's coffin into the ground. Each family member took turns grabbing handfuls of soil and tossing it down into the grave until Crisara was last to do the same. But she just stood there, staring down at that coffin and wished Poe would throw back the lid, sit up and yell 'gotcha!' because it had somehow been a very terrible, macabre practical joke.He couldn't be dead. Poe was supposed to remain at her side forever.Forever and always is what they promised each other.The family doctor that had tended to Poe in the end had been sent to check on Crisara after they had all returned home to Naboo and tried to settle back into their daily routines. A fugue state was what the doctor had said Crisara was in. She was dissociating herself from everything around her; unable to face her grief and the reality of her loss. Leia had stepped away from her duties as an instructor at the Kenobi Academy; insisting it was better to have a family member look after her mother than some hired help or a nurse droid, as had been done for Crisara's grandmother Sera Kenobi in the last few years of her life, once upon a time.Leia had made sure her mother showered and got dressed. She helped her eat and took her for walks around the back garden and down toward the lake. Leia had become her mother's keeper and she was happy to do it. Her mother had taken care of her and her siblings, and even her children for so long that it was only right to return the favor.After a few months, by the end of the year, Crisara began to come out of it. Watching her family share in joy and laughter as they celebrated Life Day and her granddaughter Amidala's twenty-second birthday together brought smiles to her face. She began to feel happiness in seeing them happy, and realizing that, if Poe was there beside her, he would be smiling and laughing with them all. And he would be chastising Crisara for mourning him so badly. He would tell her to live her life and place her focus on their children, grandchildren and now great-grandson. Poe was gone, but they weren't.So, Crisara started to actively make more of an effort. She had her good days, and she had her bad. And sometimes she had downright horrible days where the ache in her heart would be so strong for how much she missed Poe. She would walk past something in the house that reminded her of him and she would begin to sob. More often than not she excused herself and hid away in either the office downstairs, but mostly up in her bedroom. Or sometimes she cried herself to sleep. She tried to do her crying in private, as not to worry her kids or grandkids. She didn't want them hovering over her as if she was a piece of glass dangling precariously over jagged rocks; about to fall and break.As time went on, life went on.Her children and grandchildren got a little older, as did she.Caro's hair had gone fully white like his great-grandfather Obi-Wan before him, and at the same age. It made him look very distinguished, though. The soft white locks and even the white beard he wore — it was a good look for him. Crisara had even been able to see a little bit of Caro's other grandpa, Zeris Canda — Alfic's father — in him. She also liked seeing how well being a grandfather suited him. His grandson Jak was the apple of his eye. His son Poe, now well into his teenage years, was giving him more white hair, if that was even possible. Because the younger Poe wasn't Force-sensitive, that had become a point of contention, which caused father and son to butt heads on occasion. Poe was frustrated at being different, even though Caro assured him there was nothing wrong with being different. On days where the drama was at a high point, Crisara was just glad Caro had moved his family next door into the recently remodeled former Kenobi Academy. He had retrofitted it back into a proper house and it was absolutely lovely. Because it was bigger than the villa, there was plenty of room for Caro, his wife Sindé and their son Poe, as well as Lora, her husband Sam and their son Jak, as well as children they planned on still having later on.Shara, having long since given up her Jedi training, hadn't been as physically active as her siblings. With having four children and a job where she sat a good deal of the time, she had gotten a little fuller figured, especially as she entered the menopause years. Crisara could see it didn't bother Shara none. And she loved the way Zeith still looked at Shara as if she was the sun in the sky. Crisara was happy they were still so very much in love with each other, thirty years on. And she was happy their children were thriving. The eldest, Kes, was a Jedi Knight like his cousin Lora, but he wasn't teaching at the Kenobi Academy. He'd taken a bit after his Aunt Leia; going off into the galaxy, helping out with Rey's Jedi Order or wherever else he could be of use. Second-born Luke was recently knighted and teaching younglings for now, with plans on possibly taken on a single padawan in the coming years. Ami, after her tenure as Queen Padmé Amidala II of Naboo, had gone to Rey's Jedi Temple to continue her training, once again as just Amidala 'Ami' Grader. When she returned to Naboo, she was offered the position of Naboo's Ambassador to Chandrila by the current Queen, which Ami accepted. Despite Crisara giving the apartment in Hanna City to Shara and Zeith, and that it could've been a place for Ami to live, as Ambassador she had the more secure Naboo Embassy to work and live out of. Like his cousin Poe, Shara's youngest son Len wasn't Force-sensitive also, but he wasn't bothered by his lack in ability. He admired those who could wield the Force, like his mother, siblings, cousins, aunt, uncle and grandmother, but he knew he had other options to make his own mark. The year before Poe had died, Len had been just eighteen and finished his schooling at the Royal Theed Academy, and had gone straight to work for his mother at GOFOY's head office in the capital city. He was starting at the bottom, learning every aspect of the foundation, but it went without saying that he was going to be groomed by Shara to one day take over when she decided to retire; to keep leadership of the foundation in the family.Leia was the one child of Poe and Crisara whose looks didn't change too much as she got older, aside from a few, prominent grey streaks of hair and a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and across her forehead, which were likely caused by all the frowning she'd done throughout her life. Beyond that, she was in amazing shape and health, but still merely kept to the rank of Jedi Knight. She was referred to as Master Dameron while teaching, but it was out of respect from her students at the Kenobi Academy. It just wasn't the rank she held, and that was perfectly fine with her. She had less responsibilities there; allowing her to focus more on her family and pursuing other things that interested her. It allowed her family, or just her and Catch, to take a few more vacations than normal — wanting to make more memories that her children would look back fondly upon. Crisara couldn't help but wonder if Leia was doing that because she'd felt like her and her siblings had felt they'd missed out on more of those opportunities growing up, especially once Poe took office as Governor. Leia also liked the idea of helping Shara with GOFOY from time to time. She would assist where needed; usually when it came to fundraisers the foundation would host, to raise money for the group homes operating on the worlds that weren't as well off. She would even oversee the occasional building of a new group home, or school in the foundation's name, much like her great-grandmother Sera had done in the early years.As for Leia's and Catch's children, Brina, as the eldest, had gone on to become a Jedi Knight, but then went off into the galaxy. Even though Leia was her mother where it counted, and even called Leia 'mom', Brina was curious to find her biological mother and hopefully reach out to her. She wanted to know about the maternal side of her bloodline; to make peace with the past so she could place more focus on her future. Skye had officially become the legal owner of the Millennium Falcon upon Poe's death, as Poe had said he would be, and everyone found out during the viewing of Poe's Last Will and Testament. Despite what Poe had assumed about Kes, he wasn't put off by Skye inheriting over him, the eldest grandson. Caro's son Poe seemed a little butthurt that he wasn't a contender but, other than that, no one seemed bothered at all by the decision. Skye was determined to make his grandfather proud, and even his great-great uncle Han Solo, by taking amazing care of the ship. He didn't bother to take on the ship until he returned from Rey's Jedi temple, where he'd completed two years of training under her and Finn. After that, he went through his trials, achieved the rank of Jedi Knight, but held off on doing anything else with either the Order or the Kenobi Academy. He wanted to explore the galaxy a bit and, with the Millennium Falcon at his disposal, he thought there was no one better to join him on his adventures that Han Solo's first mate, Chewbacca, who had recently entered into his third century of life and was still going strong — and the Wookiee was more than happy to tag along with the next generation from the Skywalker lineage. As for Leia's and Catch's twins, Ellorie and Cris, they were still just underage teenagers, attending the Kenobi Academy, and going through the typical growing pains. Their futures were yet to be determined, but they had good heads on their shoulders because they were surrounded by great role models.Despite entering into their seventies, both Rey and Finn hadn't stepped back from their duties as Jedi, nor had they recused themselves from their positions on the Jedi Council, but they were each considering the idea. Crisara had offered them a place to stay at the villa, if they chose to retire; citing her assertion from decades earlier that they would always have a home there because, despite the lack of a blood relation, they were still family.Over the last six and a half years since Poe's passing, others had died. Jedi Master Meleri Evo had been on a trip back to Naboo from the Core when she'd been attacked by pirates she had apparently had some sort of previous altercation with. Her shuttle didn't have hyperspace technology and relied on a hyperspace ring, which had remained in the outer orbit of the planet she'd been on. She didn't have a chance to connect with the ring when she was set upon by those pirates. They gave chase and blasted her shuttle until its shield was depleted. One good and final blast destroyed the shuttle with her in it. Crisara had been heartbroken, as was everyone else within the Jedi Order and at the Kenobi Academy. A week of mourning took place, wherein all lessons and training exercises were canceled. Meditation was encouraged, and sharing circles were instituted to help the younglings and padawans process their grief. A memorial was held and a plaque with her name was put up at the Kenobi Academy. Despite the quickness of her death and the destruction of her physical body, she was still able to become one with the Force after the fact and appeared as a Force ghost at her own memorial where she even spoke to everyone about not dwelling on what was lost.The only other person whose death struck a nerve with Crisara was that of her second cousin, Nevara Connix Rordi. It had happened almost five years to the day after Poe's death, which didn't help any. Nevara had been eighty-three and in seemingly good health. An illness appeared almost overnight. Within just a few months, it spread like wildfire; shutting down a lot of her internal organs. She'd had the option of transplants to give herself much more time, but she couldn't be bothered with it. Like Poe, she'd been too tired and, like Crisara, she was a widow who missed her husband, Daz, who had died thirteen years earlier.Crisara couldn't imagine what it was like to live more than a decade without the love of her life. Granted, she'd seen her grandmother do it for thirty plus years, but that had been so long ago and she'd been so young and unable to relate at that point. Now she was old, and Nevara had been her contemporary in age. They'd more or less come up together as Dotolo relations, despite the measly six year age gap. It had been hard to watch Nevara grieve for her husband, but she'd admired Nevara for how she'd soldiered on. Now Crisara grieved for her cousin, but not as much as she still grieved for Poe.At six years and four months since Poe's passing, Crisara was reluctantly in Theed; being seen to by the family physician at all three of her children's insistence. The doc had contacted her a few days before her ninetieth birthday, to make an appointment to see how she was doing, but she'd been putting it off."I'm ninety," she'd remarked. "Who cares how I'm doing? News flash: I'm old."But, mostly just to appease her children, she finally relented.Leia took her to the hospital in Theed for her medical exams and, afterward, mother and daughter sat in the physician's office as he gave her the news — news Crisara hadn't been expecting nor hoping for."Good news, Crisara," the physician informally addressed her; something she'd long since insisted on, because Mrs. Dameron or Master Dameron felt too pompous and made her feel positively ancient. "All your scans came back and you are doing very well. With the exception of arthritis, which is unavoidable for someone like yourself, at ninety years young—"Crisara immediately flashed him a withering look."—and your synthetic kidneys will need an upgrade within the next five or so years. Other than that, from what I've seen, I'd wager you will very easily live well past one hundred years of age." He smiled warmly at her with his hands folded upon his desk. "Your need for all those synthetics and prosthetics fifty years ago saved your life back then and, because of them, it's extended your lifespan. You're quite the lucky lady."She could see he was looking for a similar reaction to what he was giving her. He was expecting her to be over the moons about such news. She could also feel Leia trying to fish around for any reaction, one way or the other, but Crisara's mind was a steel trap by this point. She was currently the oldest living Jedi in the galaxy, with the most years of training under her belt. No one could best her; even now in her old age. Not even any of her grandchildren, with all their youth. She was their generation's Yoda."I'm lucky indeed," she remarked; feigning a smile.Even though her mind was a steel trap, she couldn't fake the expression on her face. Her physician seemed oblivious, but Leia could see enough through the façade.After the meeting, Crisara had shaken the man's hand and thanked him for his time. When he said he'd see her next year for her ninety-first birthday check-up, she simply nodded quietly and left the office with Leia beside her. The entire trip home to the villa was quiet, too. When they arrived, Crisara walked ahead and entered the home first, with Leia taking her time and bringing up the rear. Catch had greeted her outside; momentarily distracting her. He greeted his wife of twenty-one years with open arms, which he pulled her into, and then a kiss to her cheek before moving it to her lips. When they pulled back, he smiled."How'd it go?" he wondered.As Leia stepped away, she glanced up at him with an unreadable expression while admiring the silvery streaks in his dark hair and within his beard. He'd been aging so well, like a fine wine. She loved it. She loved him — the love of her life. "Clean bill of health. She'll live past one hundred, apparently."Catch knitted his brow together; quite perceptive without needing to be Force-sensitive like his wife and children, just like Poe had been. "Then why did she look miserable just now?"Leia paused just inside the villa, as she stood with her husband in the grand foyer. Her mother was nowhere to be found, but she could assume the elderly woman had already slipped upstairs and gone to hide away in her bedroom. Ninety or not, she was still quite fit and spry for her age. "How can I put it?" Leia began to say. With a sigh, she tipped her head upward and eyed Catch gently. "Imagine we've spent fifty years together, and then I died. Fast forward several years and you're told you'll live way more years than you could have expected, but it also means more years without me. How would you feel?"Catch nodded with understanding. "Oh. Okay, I get it. She's not happy to have more years." He'd known for years now how the Force worked, even though he couldn't wield it, and he knew what happens after death for Force users. "She's longing for the day where she can be one with the Force and at least sense your father in it because she can't while she's still alive."Reaching the latest version of her prosthetic right hand upward, she patted her husband upon the head and smirked. "I knew you were more than just a pretty face."Leaning in closer, he claimed her lips in other kiss and mumbled, "It was my big dick, too."With a muted cackle escaping her mouth, Leia shoved him away. "Go see to dinner. Tell the kitchen droids I'm in the mood for shaak steaks and spicy rice for tonight."Catch grimaced. "Spicy rice means spicy gas. Can we not? My ass still isn't recovering from the last time we had it.""Fine," she playfully huffed. "Pick a different side dish.""Soup?"Leia paused; having been about to head up the stairwell. "Yeah. Soup sounds good."  Crisara hadn't joined the others for dinner. She'd remained up in her room the rest of the evening, so it was only Leia, Catch and their twins, as Brina and Skye were off traversing the galaxy. And, of course, Caro lived next door now with his family, so they ate over there most nights. However, once a week, a large family meal was held by one of Crisara's three, surviving kids. Either Caro, Shara or Leia hosted the lunch or dinner at their houses, and almost everyone was able to make it. That next meal was still a couple days away, with Caro being the next host. It was a way to make sure the family and all the generations maintained continued kinship beyond shared genetics.The following day, Crisara still remained in her room all the way through to the evening. By that point, Leia had already contacted her brother and sister; giving them the news of their mother's appointment with the doctor. However, she left out the concern she had about her mother's mental well-being. She didn't want to place any undue stress on her siblings. She knew their lives were busier than hers and didn't need anything more on their plate right now. And this was another reason why Leia had scaled back her time at the Kenobi Academy. She wanted to be the one who was there to help take care of her mother.It was the very next morning when Leia finally walked in to see how her mother was. Her concern was too heightened.Crisara had been sitting up in bed with a datapad on her lap; reading something. She looked up when her daughter entered and smiled, but it was a smile that didn't reach her weary eyes. "Hey, sweetie.""Mom," Leia greeted with a semi-chastising tone. "You've been holed up in here for more than a day and you haven't come down to eat or drink anything."Furrowing her brow, Crisara immediately gestured to her bedside table where there was a cup. "I made myself some tea in the middle of the night. Everyone was asleep. I was quiet." Then, looking more pointedly at Leia, she added, "And this is still my house. I don't need permission to come and go. Also, I just haven't felt hungry.""Or," Leia muttered, stepping forward, "you're unhappy by the news that you'll basically live forever and so you're wallowing in here without any watchful eyes."Crisara scoffed; trying to give the impression that Leia was quite off the mark, but both knew Leia was very on the nose. The younger female was perceptive, too. "I will neither confirm nor deny that. And there are always watchful eyes. They're just not always living eyes." Setting her datapad aside, Crisara frowned. "I'm sorry." Looking Leia in the eye, she beckoned her daughter to sit down on the bed. When she did, Crisara continued. "You're right. I'm not happy. I'm miserable. I've been trying for years now to put on a happy face. And I have been happy with you kids and your kids, and even the great-grandbabies—" of which there were now currently three "—but it's just a lot of sitting around, watching the world go by. I'm just sitting here, watching everyone else get older and need me less and less. I may be the matriarch of this family, I may be the oldest living Jedi around, but I'm not someone that anyone needs anymore. None of you need me and I don't need to needed, and that's okay. It's better that all of you can look to each other instead. It's how it should be.""But you can't move on to the next part," Leia deduced. "You're doing so well. You're as healthy as a gundark. There is no sickness trying to claim you and none of your organs — organic or inorganic — are failing you. You aren't in any mortal danger. There is nothing that is about to take you from us." Looking her mother in the eye, she reached forward and patted her mother's blanket-covered ankle. "Only you are keeping yourself here, mom. If you're tired, if you're ready — no one is going to hold you back." She watched the tears beginning to fill up in her mother's eyes. Hell, she felt them filling up in her own as well. "We'll miss you. We'll miss hugging you. But we both know you won't be too far away. You couldn't ever stay away from us completely. You'll pop in from time to time, no differently than Tem or Len, or even your parents still do. If it's what you truly want, to move on…"Crisara looked away; guiltily."Mom," Leia continued. "Like you said: this is still your house." She smirked knowingly, but also a little sadly. "You don't need our permission to come and go. Especially to go." Giving her mother's ankle a gentle squeeze, she added, "But if you want it, or need it, you have my blessing."Crisara sighed and looked back up at her daughter, appreciatively. "Thank you. For being so wonderful."Leia shrugged. "What can I say? I had such wonderful parents." She smiled affectionately and then released a languid sigh. Standing up, she stepped forward closer to her mother and leaned down; pulling her in for a big, tight hug. "One more for the road." With a kiss to her mother's cheek, Leia leaned up and placed a hand to her mother's abdomen. "Your future is in your own hands." Standing up straighter, she smiled once more, wiped at her tears and began to walk away. Once she reached the bedroom door, she turned back. "I love you, mom.""I love you, too, Berries," Crisara replied; calling back to Poe's childhood nickname for Leia.With a tap to the door frame, Leia muttered, "I'll be seeing you around." Then, without another word, slipped out of the room; leaving Crisara alone with her thoughts.  Late into the night, Crisara had gotten up out of bed. Leia and the others in the house had continued to leave her alone but she could sense they were purposely not too far away; just waiting on her next move, one way or the other. They were letting her do what she needed or wanted to do. If she wanted them at her bedside, they knew she'd only need to call out and they would be there in a heartbeat.She'd managed a shower, and redressed into her old, blue Jedi tunics that she hadn't worn in about twenty-five years. It just felt like the fitting outfit to wear. She sat down at her vanity, having let her hair air dry, and brushed through it; suddenly seeing her grandmother doing the same so long ago. Now she was the old woman brushing through her long, white hair. Now hers were the wrinkly, age-spotted hands holding the brush. She barely recognized her reflection anymore. Somehow she still expected to see her younger self looking back, not the woman before her now. It made her feel especially nostalgic and wish she could do certain things over, or relive them just one more time, but there was plenty she wouldn't redo. She was fine with how her life had turned out.It had been a good, long life just as her mother had foreseen.But it was time for the next part.It was time for her story to end, just as it had for so many, many others she'd loved and lost.However, it was nighttime and something about leaving this life in the dark didn't sit well with her. Crisara wanted to see one more sunrise over the lake. After braiding her hair but leaving it to hang down behind her back, she got up from her vanity and walked over to the windows facing the front of the villa, with the view of the lake. She pushed aside the drapery and then stepped back toward her bed. She noted the chair where Poe once sat, watching as she slept next to her dying grandmother — the same chair he'd pulled her in as he consoled her once her grandmother was gone. She looked out the windows, not seeing much due to the late hour, but remembering how she stood at the same window almost fifty years earlier, pregnant as the day is long, and realizing the vision of her future with Poe had come to pass. She could still feel him standing behind her as he wrapped his arms around her. If she concentrated hard enough, she could hear his voice in her ear from all the memories they'd made in this very room.Crisara passed the time, the hours, by simply walking around her bedroom; cataloging her memories as well as occasionally writing down little notes for her children and grandchildren. She'd updated her Last Will and Testament the year before after the birth of her most recent great-grandchild, Dara Grader, the firstborn child of her grandson Kes and his wife Siaré. There was nothing that needed updating, but there were special things she wanted to leave behind for them all that weren't explicitly mentioned in the holo she'd recorded. There were final wishes she'd never formally stated and never could bring herself to talk about. There would be no burial or cremation for her because she wouldn't be leaving behind a body, but she did like the idea of joining her loved ones in the back garden in the form of a memorial pedestal.After Poe had died, and after his funeral when she had to watch his coffin get lowered six feet into the ground beside his mother's grave, a headstone had soon been erected to denote that he was buried there. But nothing else had been done. Caro and her twins hadn't broached the subject of adding a memorial pedestal of their father because they knew their mother would want to weigh in on where it should go, but she'd been in that fugue state. And then time just continued to pass and life went on, but now Crisara knew the where. From speaking to the Force ghosts of her father and Aunt Leia over the decades, she had been told the general vicinity of which bush she'd pushed Poe into when they were toddlers. So, for Crisara, it seemed a fitting location for their memorial pedestal.Yes.Their pedestal.She didn't want her and Poe to have separate pedestals with individual, looping holos of them. She wanted one for them to share because it would be the one way they could be together in death. One of those notes left behind was for the inscription she wanted, too.Before long, the first morning rays of sunlight began to peak over the horizon and find their way into the bedroom. When Crisara felt the warmth bathing the side of her face, from where she'd been sitting at her vanity again, she once more stood up and turned to face outward at the view of the lake; glistening with the light of a new day.She smiled fondly.Everything was going to be so different. So new. She was so ready, but she had some slight apprehension.Gently shuffling over to what had always been her side of the bed, the side that faced the front of the villa, Crisara sat down and swiveled her legs up onto the mattress. She fluffed up the pillows behind her so that she could sit upright — not wanting to lay down.Then she sighed and began to look around the room."I know what to do next," she spoke out loud, but quietly. "But I don't want to do it alone.""You won't be alone, mom."Crisara turned and spotted the Force ghosts of her sons, Temiri and Len, standing at her immediate right; with the sunlight shining right through them and making them almost sparkle. It had been Len who had spoken to her and she smiled up at him first."You've never been alone," Temiri added.One by one, more Force ghosts began to appear around her room and around her bed; like glimmering mirages taking shape over a hot, desert road. Her mother and her father stood at the foot of her bed, her Aunt Leia and cousin Ben at the left side of the bed. Her great-grandfathers, Obi-Wan and Anakin, stood a few feet off to the side from their respective children, Crisara's parents. Zeda and Meleri appeared near the windows. Several other Jedi made their presence known, as well, like Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda, Mace Windu, Ahsoka Tano and others she wasn't too familiar with."You're not alone, Crissy," her father Luke reiterated. He gestured wide to refer to others who were present. "You have all of us."Crisara look around at all their faces. She felt their love, their respect, their friendship. It made her feel more at ease. She was grateful for all of them. But there were those who were definitely missing. "No," she smiled ruefully. "Not all."She noticed Anakin and Obi-Wan nodding with understanding. Temiri and Leia understood as well. Each of them were missing someone they wished they still had at their sides.Padmé. Sera. Sessani. Han.Poe.But this was the way of things for the likes of them.At least they all had each other, and the end didn't have to be the end; just the start of something new. Something different. The story wasn't ending, just evolving."Okay," Crisara whispered. Clasping her hands over her abdomen, she smiled one last time and closed her eyes, but she could still feel the others there in the room with her. "Let's get this over with."She was certain she heard Ben teasingly snicker something along the lines of her being 'so impatient', but she chose to ignore it. Instead, she put her focus on what was going on within her, not around her. She felt the vibrations of the cybernetics inside her body; toiling away, keeping her alive. Due to her aptitude for being able to manipulate electronics and technology with the Force, it didn't take much to flick the 'off' switches, so to speak. One by one she felt those inner mechanisms begin to sputter and wind down, and then she began to quickly feel the effects of it.She felt the tightness as breathing got harder, but she didn't want her end to be a chore. She was going out on her terms, so she focused on the Force and the warmth it brought. She felt every little tingle and tickle as if it were little fishes nibbling away at her. She remembered her training, and what she'd trained so many others to do. She let her mind empty and she reached out with it in every possible direction.The air around her felt still and all noise seemed to cease.All was calm. All was peaceful.Crisara's head tipped down toward her chest. Taking one last breath, she exhaled steadily and let go of everything; fading away into the Force. At first, it felt like she had just jumped off a diving board and found herself suddenly submerged underwater. All the air left her and it was a frightening for only a second, but then there was no air to need. She did feel like she was floating, though.It was strange and it was the most freeing experience in her life.Or, well, afterlife.As her mother had predicted, Crisara had lived a long life, but now it was over.Now Crisara was at peace.Sort of.

303 ABY — Two hundred and ten years later

Crisara had been dead much longer than she had been alive, but the passage of time on the other side didn't seem to have much rhyme or reason. At the moment of her death she had experienced her entire life from start to finish in the matter of moments, like a montage playing at light-speed, while simultaneously witnessing events that had happened long before she'd been born and things that hadn't happened yet, but would happen in due course. It was confusing at first, but somehow also made so much sense. When she arrived on the other side of the veil, she found herself in the World Between Worlds, where she was greeted by her parents, who pulled her into their arms and who she could hug again after so very long. And then her sons. She felt like crying, but there were no need for tears anymore. She hugged her Aunt Leia, and Ben, Zeda, Meleri, Obi-Wan and, yes — even Anakin again.Hugging Obi-Wan had been a little more special because she'd never got to in life, as he'd died before she was born, had always just been a Force ghost to her, and he hadn't been present to hug her during that brief appearance in the World Between Worlds while she'd been incapacitated half a century earlier after getting her cybernetics. It felt wonderful to hug him, and he gave really good hugs. Also, he seemed to share the same sentiment; that he'd been waiting a long time to hug her, too.It hadn't taken much time at all to acclimate to this new phase in her existence, having successfully retained her consciousness, to continue on. When she figured out how to push through the veil and enter the land of the living, she felt a pull in a specific direction and didn't avoid it. She went where she was apparently needed, and found herself in the back garden of the villa; looking on while her children, grandchildren and other outlying family members and close friends were gathered and looking sad. Then she noticed the memorial pedestal that was clearly new and stuck between two bushes. She noticed the looping holo of her and Poe dancing together at some point from early on in their marriage. They looked so young compared to how they looked at the ends of their lives. They were happy and smiling, and Crisara loved seeing it. She also noticed the inscription upon the front of the pedestal, which had been placed upon a chromium plaque instead of just directly upon the stone like all the others.
In Memory of
Poe Dameron and Crisara Kenobi Dameron,
Truest of Loves,
Beloved as Parents,
Adored as Grandparents, and
Cherished as Friends.
If tears could form in her eyes, Crisara would've cried.It wasn't the inscription she'd left behind, but it was perfect and she loved it.Then, one by one, she watched as Caro, Shara and Leia turned around and looked in her direction with such relief on their faces to see her. And then each of her Force-sensitive grandchildren, several Jedi Masters and Knights from the Kenobi Academy, and even a few padawans who were present, as well Rey and Finn, all turned to look at her; having sensed her presence and spotted her.She didn't know what to say or if she had enough strength in her just yet to speak, so she just winked and smiled at them all. With a tip of her head, she felt herself let go again and the back garden faded away and she once again found herself in the World Between Worlds. She was immediately joined by Ben."Was it weird?" he asked."Was what weird?""Attending your own memorial."Crisara knitted her brow together. "Is that what that was?""Well, it wasn't a joyous festival," he replied sarcastically."Oh, shut up." She playfully shoved him, which felt so odd to be able to do again."Watch it, old lady."And that became an increasingly tiresome thing for her. Crisara was going to be stuck looking like a ninety-year-old woman for the rest of time. White hair, wrinkles, age spots. Anakin got to look young and nothing like he did at death, which didn't seem fair. So how come she had to look as she did? She'd asked others for sage advice, but none had any to give on the matter. All seemed perfectly content with the image of themselves that they retained in death.Crisara hated coming off as vain, as she never much cared about her appearance in life, but getting old and looking old had been off-putting. She just didn't feel as if she looked like herself because, deep down, she pictured herself as still looking younger, as she did in her twenties or thirties. But, there didn't seem to be anything she could do about it and it wasn't like she could check her image in a mirror, so she put the matter behind her.Eventually time began to pass and this new part of her existence felt more and more natural and like second nature to her. She enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren get older. As the years passed, she looked on as great-great grandchildren were born while her children became elderly and, soon enough, joined her on the other side.And, actually, none of her surviving children were the first to go. It had been her grandson Kes, which was a horrible blow for Shara. The death of Kes Grader had come only three years after Crisara died. He'd only been thirty-six and with so much life left to live, but he'd been killed in an explosion, off world. It had been an unfortunate accident, nothing criminal or malicious. He hadn't been targeted. He'd simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. What was the saddest part of it was that he'd left behind his young wife Siaré and their two young daughters, four-year-old Dara and Zella, who was barely a year. At least Shara, Zeith and Siaré could take comfort in knowing Kes would be welcomed into the Force by his grandmother, and Crisara had been there for him when he passed through the veil.In regard to Crisara's children, however, Caro had been the first to go. He'd died only sixteen years after she did, at the age of seventy-nine. He'd been traveling with Sindé in his retirement years, much like Crisara had with Poe, when he contracted a virus. He was strong and his body fought it off for as long as it could, but he chose to let go, just as she had, and go out on his terms instead of continuing to languish with the disease. As an extra kick to her daughter Shara while she was down, Zeith had died a few months later and she never truly seemed to get over the loss of her husband, just as Crisara hadn't ever gotten over losing Poe.Shara died thirteen years later, a few months before her and Leia's eighty-fifth birthday. Taking after her mother, she was tired of life without Zeith. She'd been retired twenty years by that point and was just bored. Her son Len had taken over running GOFOY then, but he'd joined his mother in death the following year. Having never been Force-sensitive like his siblings or mother, he never lived as active a life as they did. He became increasingly overweight in the last decade of his life, which put strain on his heart. Paired with not adhering to the healthiest of diets and some stress at work, he passed from a heart attack at the age of fifty-five. He'd been found at his desk in his office the following morning. He'd left behind his wife of twenty-nine years, Jaeda, and their three children, sons Kenobi 'Ken' Grader, Han Grader, and daughter Zara Grader. Oddly, even though Kes hadn't been Force-sensitive, and neither was Jaeda, all three of their children turned out to be, so neither of them took on running GOFOY after his passing. Instead, that went to Caro's granddaughter Zeda Hain, by way of his daughter Lora, who was Force-sensitive but, like Shara, didn't feel a calling to be a Jedi and had been taken under the wing by her mother's first cousin.Caro's second wife Sindé had also died the same year as Kes, but Caro had already been reunited with his first wife Zeda in the afterlife, and admitted feeling a little guilty about not being overly upset by Sindé's passing. He and Crisara could sense her in the Force, on a baser level, as could Zeda, so Sindé was still there with him to a degree. However, despite knowing her son loved his second wife a great deal, she knew Zeda had always been his true love and he seemed happier being with her again.For Leia, she'd lost Catch the year after Caro died, but she'd taken her widowhood in stride. Shara was there for her, having experienced the same loss the year before, and the twin sisters had come to rely on each other more and more. Having already decided to leave her home to her oldest surviving child, Luke Grader, Shara had moved out and back into the villa to be with nearer to Leia. Being together at the tail end of their lives helped Leia more than it seemed to help Shara. Then again, Leia had been through more and learned how to brave hardships better in her life. She was built to weather harsher storms than Shara could. She could survive living without the man she loved, but it seemed she couldn't live long without her sister. They'd entered this life together, so living it alone just felt too…lonely. So, three years later, at the age of eighty-eight, Leia let go and joined her mother, siblings and so many others in the Force.For Crisara, being reunited with all her children again was wonderful, and it was wonderful to see them being able to properly interact with their grandparents and great-grandparents and so many others for the first time, ever.And then more time passed. Her grandchildren got old and they too passed on. And then her great-grandchildren got old, and they passed on. She welcomed each of them with open arms and smiles upon her face. But she had also been there for them as they lived their lives. When they were troubled and in need of advice, she appeared to them as others had done for her once upon a time. Sometimes she just 'popped in' for a visit and a little chat. She didn't just do it for her grandchildren or great-grandchildren, but also any Force-sensitive individual in need of guidance from time to time.Not long after her death, Caro had commissioned and erected a statue of her within the center of the atrium at the Kenobi Academy. It was made of white marble that seemed to glisten when light shined upon it. On the nearest wall the lightsabers of deceased and fallen Jedi and small plaques bearing the names of their owners were placed, but Crisara's wasn't there. Hers, which had become the double-sided lightsaber made from her parents' lightsabers, had been fitted into the hand of the statue version of her, which was held upward but not ignited. Though, through the following years, it became a sort of rite of passage, for newly minted Jedi Knights to ignite both plasma blades, the green and the blue, for but a moment, using the Force. It was like a nod to Crisara, a sign of respect, and to mark their own achievement.Before Crisara knew, so much time had passed.She'd witnessed so much, including so many things, good and bad, yet to come.After two centuries, though, she had grown bored — wondering, is this all there is?Two hundred years just existing, just watching. Time kept passing and the faces kept changing, and yet so much still remained the same.Like her.She'd learned and experienced and witnessed as much as she possibly could in life and in her afterlife. Like with the end of her mortal life, she wasn't needed or relied on anymore. Generations had come and gone who only knew her as a footnote or passed her statue or read stories about her in history lessons. They didn't know her anymore. No one alive knew or remembered her. Too much time had come and gone. She'd spent time in a sort of meditative limbo, just sort of existing in one literal position while listening to the Force and all the lives of so many throughout the galaxy; seeing if anyone called out for help. But no call came. No voices asked for assistance. It was just all white noise. She'd spent as much time with her loved ones who had come and gone as she could've ever dreamed beyond the veil, but it was the same thing over and over and over. She loved her family, her friends. Everyone.But…She was tired.She was tired again, though it was more mental because she couldn't be physically tired as she was just consciousness with form. But what else was there? What else could there be? This was the afterlife. There wasn't an after-afterlife. Then again, her daughter Adera had chosen long ago to become completely one with the Force; to just exist within it like all those non-Force users. Maybe it was something Crisara could consider, but the notion of not truly being anything anymore was a little scary. To cease to be as she currently was or had been was hard to imagine.With no need to sit, she was just standing there along the curved path in the World Between Worlds; staring off toward the stars that shined while occasionally twisting the wedding ring around her left ring finger. She knew it wasn't actually there. Her real wedding ring had dropped onto her bed along with the tunics she'd been wearing at the moment she died and became one with the Force. Leia had gathered it up after the fact and placed it into her jewelry box. Years later Leia went on to pass the ring down to her daughter Ellorie on her wedding day, and then Ellorie passed it on to her eldest daughter. So on and so forth. But Crisara liked the feeling that it felt like it was there with her still. The funny thing was in seeing Ellorie also wearing the same ring upon her own, elderly finger when she passed on and Crisara helped ferry her to this side of things, and then Ellorie's granddaughter. The three of them, all wearing the same ring."Peggat for your thoughts."Crisara turned and looked upon Anakin; standing there beside her as he once did forever and a day ago while she was still alive but just unconscious. She smiled softly, fondly. Any hang-ups she once had about him so very, very long forgotten and forgiven. He'd been dead three centuries to her two. Even he was a footnote to history now. However, he'd been relegated to being the boogeyman in stories told to children whereas she was always a heroine."There's no point in making an excuse or pretending everything is fine. I've watched you you're entire life and…here." He gestured broadly at their surroundings or, rather, lack thereof. "I know when you're hiding something or something is bothering you, so out with it."Smirking but trying to play it off as offended, Crisara turned more fully to face him. "You know, I had more years of life than you. I was a Jedi Master." She pointed at herself. "Look at me. Despite the fact that you were born forty-plus years before me and are my grandfather, I'm more your elder than the other way around so don't get pertinent with me, young man."Anakin heartily chuckled. "Okay, I suppose that's fair in a way. But seriously. I want to know what's bothering you because you're my only granddaughter and my favorite grandchild. I still care about you and love you."Inhaling an airless breath, she slumped her shoulders. "Are you aware I spent ten straight years here in a sort of dissociative state? I didn't move. Literally. I just stood or floated. I'm not really sure. But I was moving, just with my mind. I was searching — for more, for something else…for someone else.""Poe," Anakin deduced without missing a beat."I do sense him; like smelling flowers on a breeze. But that's all and I want more. We had fifty years and that wasn't enough. I wanted forever. It's been over two hundred and twenty years without him and I don't know how I keep doing this without him." She wanted so badly to be able to shed tears; just to have that therapeutic release. She had looked away as she was speaking but now found herself returning her gaze upon her paternal grandfather. "I don't know what else to do anymore."Doing the same as her by inhaling an airless breath, he reached out, placed his hands upon her shoulders and waited until she was truly looking up at him. "You had almost a century of life and you achieved so much. You loved, you had children, you shaped the lives of so many, you fought for what was right and what you believed in. You were and still are a wonderful person. And now, after nearly a century of life and over two centuries of death, I think you deserve some peace. Maybe stop looking for Poe and what else there is," he remarked knowingly. "Maybe — finally — let go of it all.""What are you suggesting?" She knew what he was suggesting. She'd already considered it."Just fully become one with the Force like Adera did. Like a few others that you may or may not have noticed have done the same." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Remember my daughter, your aunt? Leia let go long ago. Then your son Temiri, and your daughter Shara. They were tired of continuing like this without the loves of their lives and wanted to be done with it all. To stop feeling and missing them. They wanted to join them in the Force, however they could. Just let go and you'll finally feel peace."Crisara tilted her head and looked him pointedly in the eye. "I could suggest the same to you. To Obi-Wan. My daughter Leia. Any others who haven't been fortunate to be joined by their loves on this side of the veil. Don't you want to see be with Padmé again, after all this time?"He stared downward and shook his head. "I don't think I've earned it. I don't think I deserve to live happily ever after. Or, well, not live. You know what I mean.""What about her happily ever after? You don't think that, on some level of existence, she wouldn't want to be with you?""Maybe someday. But I still feel as if I need to bide my time. Maybe another two hundred years for me, to round it out to half a millennia of penance."The conversation had ended shortly after that, with Anakin taking his leave to parts unknown within the World Between Worlds. She moved along, sensing her loved ones around her. Sometimes they appeared in their corporeal form, sometimes she just heard them speaking to each other. She began losing track of how much time had passed since she spoke to Anakin. Was it minutes or hours? Was it weeks?She began to realize Anakin's words were making more and more sense. She did deserve reprieve from it all now. She had done so much and did deserve to just be done. Right? But how? How did she move on from the afterlife? She knew how to move on toward it, but not away from it. Maybe it was the same process. Maybe it was easier than she was making it out to be. Maybe she was getting too far into her head about it all. She figured she may as well give it a try. The worst that could happen was nothing happened and she remained where she was, as she was.As she continued to move along, she slowed until she came to a stop. Moving into a crouching position, she sat down, cross-legged, and then leaned backward until she was lying upon the transparent walkway that curved around here and there and led toward portals which glimpsed into the past, present and future. She stared upward at the glittery darkness that was supposed to be stars but she'd felt wasn't actually the real thing.She continued to just stare upward, though. Focusing on those stars, whether or not that's what they truly were. Then her focus fell upon one, particularly twinkling star. She let her mind begin to travel and she projected it forward. She reached out with her soul. She took the same steps to let go of the her afterlife that she took to let go of her mortal life. But this time she used the added focus to zone in on that slight hint of Poe she felt in the Force. She latched onto it with precision, like threading the universe's smallest needle with an equally small string. She looped that string, knotted it and began to pull. She was the string, Poe was the needle, and she was pulling herself closer to him and further away from the World Between Worlds.She felt the darkness beginning to curl around her like a hug. That star she'd been focusing on got fuzzier until that, too, dimmed and faded away into the darkness. It felt like she was floating away into the abyss and she wondered if this was it. She wondered if this was about to be it for all eternity. If she didn't like whatever came next, would there be a way back to the World Between Worlds or would she be stuck? Was it too late to turn back?It was.She felt herself getting pulled further forward. It was like being on a train with no exits. If she had a heart that could beat, it would be pounding a mile a minute. She was nervous, she was anxious, she was scared, and she was excited all at the same.The darkness became deafening and silent at the same time, like she an explosion within the vacuum of space.Then, as quickly as the darkness came for her, she found herself blinking rapidly at offending bright, white light. But it didn't hurt.The light, slowly, began to ebb away a bit. It wasn't as blinding or bright. It was warm and inviting. Images appeared. Scenery took shake. She heard sounds that sounded familiar. Water? Lapping at a shore? She felt something akin to a breeze. She looked down and found herself staring at a pair of hands, but she wasn't sure they were hers. They were smooth, without wrinkles or age spots. They were the hands of a young woman, clearly not her. She'd been ancient for so long.She looked up again, forward. She saw sparkling, glistening turquoise waters that seemed to go on forever. The shoreline was white sand and it curved in such a way that formed a private cove with rocky cliffs, littered with tropical trees. In the blue sky overhead, there wasn't a sun, but there was a warm light. What it was exactly — who knows.Everything was beautiful, though, and somehow it felt familiar. Even though she knew she'd never been here before, she still knew this place."It's breathtaking, isn't it? The view, I mean."The voice Crisara heard was also familiar. It was a voice she knew she'd heard a few times in her life, but belonged to someone she'd never met. It was someone who had died well before she was born. It was feminine, gentle, welcoming.As she began to look over her left shoulder, a woman walked forward to stand beside her. This woman had long brown locks that fell past her shoulders and down her back. She was staring ahead of them at the water with a distant smile upon her lips. "This is quite a place he picked.""Huh?" Crisara was so confused. "How are you—?""Here?" The woman turned and looked at her. "This place — it's for the rest of us to live out our afterlives; to wait for our family and friends to join us someday. It's also where we hope our Jedi loves will find their way to us, as you have. As your son Temiri and your daughters Adera and Shara have." With warm, brown eyes, she stared directly into Crisara's. "As my daughter Leia did.""Padmé," Crisara blurted. "It's you, right? My other grandmother. This isn't just something my mind or consciousness has created as a way for me to pass the rest of eternity, is it?"Padmé Amidala stood there in a sleeveless, periwinkle dress that looked to be made of the finest silk. She smiled at her granddaughter; her hands clasped in front of her. "I'm so happy to meet you.""And I've always wished I could've known you."Without warning, Padmé reached forward and pulled Crisara into her arms; holding her in a loving embrace. "Sera told me so much about you that I feel like I already know you. She filled me in on so much that happened after I died." As both women pulled apart, she continued. "Here we can't look in on the living world like Jedi who have passed on can. But we can sometimes here voices in the distance. I'm not always sure who those voices belong to — if they're the living or not. We die and our souls or consciousness end up here, and we can make of it whatever we want. It becomes what we want or what we need. And I know what you must be thinking. Why isn't this the go-to for the Jedi? Why don't they immediately join us here? And the answer? Well…" She shrugged. "I don't know. The Force, I have long since come to learn, despite having never been able to use it, works in mysterious ways. We're not all meant to use it or understand it. It just is what it is. Life's and death's beautiful, eternal mystery.""Not everything is meant to be understood.""No," Padmé agreed. "It's not.""Where exactly is here, though?""From what others and I have gathered, this is a place within the Force. The true afterlife. Where you were, where others like you find their way to after death, is a sort of stopping point. A way station. There are things you're meant to do or learn to continue do as Jedi, maybe. Not until you're ready — truly and honestly — can you let go of everything else and find your way here." Padmé gestured to Crisara. "You were ready. And not a moment too soon." She began to flash her famously bright smile. "Some of us have been quite anxious; waiting to meet you for the first time, or to see you again."Crisara perked up at that."Sera is waiting for Obi-Wan to figure it out. And she's waiting for their daughter, your mother. And I know she's looking forward to seeing you again, too.""My mother and my father," Crisara gestured at Padmé, "your son Luke — they're still quite happy and content as they are together, in the World Between Worlds. Though, as their daughter, and now that I'm here, maybe they'll find their way here, too, someday soon.""The hope is everyone will.""Have you see my daughters, Adera and Shara? My son Temiri?""I have." Padmé smiled. "Adera has been here quite a long time. She came to us as a child and remains as such. She was immediately greeted by her father, but I've spent a lot of quality time with her. She's precocious and I adore her terribly. Sera had to explain that she was our first great-grandchild, and that you also have a son, Caro. When Temiri and Shara arrived and explained who they were, it was lovely to meet more great-grandchildren. Did you have others?"Crisara nodded. "Adera and Caro were by my first husband, Alfic. Temiri was adopted by my second husband Poe and I. Then, together, we had our twin daughters, Shara and Leia.""Shara mentioned her sister was named for my daughter. A lovely tribute. Thank you.""Did she tell you that her daughter was named after you? Amidala. We called her Ami, though.""She did."Crisara thought further on the memories of the past, and specifically on Ami. "She was also elected monarch of Naboo, reigning as Queen Padmé Amidala II, and continued to follow in your footsteps by becoming a Senator. Though, almost thirty years aftee my death, she went even further and was elected Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.""Well, then I'll definitely had a lot to talk about with her whenever I get to meet her," Padmé remarked with a smirk.Shifting back to her children, Crisara added, "I had another son with Poe. His name was Len. He was only twenty-five when he died. It was a terminal sickness. Bloodburn." Despite having happened a long time ago, and having been able to spend two centuries alongside Len in the World Between Worlds, the memory of losing him still stung. Losing Adera and Temiri the way she did still stung, even now. "I had to outlive three of my six children. It was difficult.""But they found their way here or eventually joined you where you were. We all end up together…in the end.""We do. We really do. But in the moment, when it first happens, it hurts."Both women turned to look out toward the water again. They fell silent for a few moments but then Padmé cleared her throat to say something more. "What made you decide it was time to find your way here?""I didn't know this was where I would end up. I just…" Crisara trailed off for a moment. She looked at her grandmother once more. "I missed my husband. Poe," she admitted. "He was the love of my life, my best friend and partner. He was my everything, and living without him for six years, and then existing another two centuries after that without him was just…""Lonely.""Yes." Crisara laughed a little at herself. "I could be in a room, surrounded by loved ones, or in the World Between Worlds, with any number of other souls like me — be it my parents, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on, or even my grandfathers — and still I felt something missing. I felt alone, yes. Because, without Poe…without him I had become half of what I was. Together we were whole. I never realized what was truly missing in my life until he came into it. It was him. It was always him. It was always going to be him. And it's still him. After my death, I could sense him somewhere, in the distance. His soul." She looked Padmé in the eye. "It feels stronger now. Potently so.""Then I shouldn't take up your time." Padmé placed a hand upon her granddaughter's shoulder. "We have an eternity before us to get to know each other. You have an eternity to catch up with Sera, your other children already here, and anyone else you care to see or meet. You have forever. But right now you have a mighty need to become whole again."Crisara noticed the look of slight envy cross her paternal grandmother's face. "He wants to join you and make you whole again, and to be whole himself, too," she remarked. "Anakin, that is."Padmé's posture straightened. "Has he spoken about me?"Crisara nodded; offering her grandmother comfort in that simple gesture alone. "He misses you even now. He loves you still. But he did a lot of terrible things while he was alive, as Darth Vader, and he's still trying to work through it and make up for it somehow. He needs more time to do what he can to make amends, I suppose, before he can let go and allow himself a moment of peace.""Well, I've waited this long. I can wait forever for him. And our son. I'd like to meet my son.""Your son, my father — he was a wonderful man. He gave his life to give the galaxy hope. And, even when I didn't realize he was my father, he was a great one."Padmé smiled thoughtfully. "I look forward to picking your brain and learning about your life and the galaxy you helped shaped in due course but, again, you have someone who has been waiting a long time to see you again."Following Padmé's gesture away from the water, Crisara looked to her left, up away from the shoreline where she finally noticed a small, thatched-roof cabin surrounded by more tropical trees and tropical flowers. When she looked back at Padmé, the other woman was already gone. Crisara glanced around at her immediate surroundings and still saw no signs of her grandmother. There weren't even footprints in the sand to hint that she'd been there at all in the first place. It was as if it had all been a dream.Looking down at her hands again, Crisara was realizing those young, smooth hands were hers. Here, in this place, she wasn't old anymore. She could look how she wanted to look. She touched her hands to her face, and she felt no wrinkles. She didn't feel any sagging jowls. She stepped closer to the water and leaned forward to see if she had a reflection.She did.Crisara let out an amused laugh in seeing herself.She was young again.Judging by the tautness of her skin and the twinkle in her blue eyes, she placed her physical appearance as how she looked in her early twenties, just after she'd left Luke's Jedi Order for a different path. She then looked down at what she was wearing and saw it was the long and sparkly silver dress with the slit that she'd worn to Canto Bight on that mission with Poe. Around her neck was the necklace he'd made her and on her left ring finger was still her wedding ring.Crisara smiled and exhaled a breath. Whether or not it was an actual breath or just an illusion was anyone's guess. Turning her body toward the direction of the thatched-roof cabin, she began to move along the sand and she was positive she could feel just how soft it was between her toes, which made her realize she was apparently barefoot. She began to feel this pull within her; as if there was a large shepherd's hook dragging forward. She felt as if every fiber of her being was tingling and on fire, but without the pain. It was electrifying. It was effervescent.The closer to the cabin she got, the stronger the feeling.There was one step up to a small porch. There was no door to open; just a curtain made up of several strands of jute twine with a variety of seashells adhered to it. Reaching out with both hands, she pushed it all aside and stepped inside of the cabin.Crisara found herself in a simple room. There was a sofa with a coffee table. On either side of the sofa were side tables. On those side tables were candles of all shapes and sizes that were lit. On the coffee table there sat a silver tray that held a teapot and two empty tea cups. There wasn't much else in this room of interest, but she found it all to be interesting nonetheless. Shifting her focus to the left, directly across from the sofa and its tables, there was a wide arch that led into an adjoining room which she quickly realized was a bedroom. The centerpiece of the bedroom was the bed, but it was no ordinary bed.It was the bed her grandmother Sera had made for her bedroom after she bought the villa. It was the bed her mother Adamé was conceived and born in. It was the bed she was born in. It was the bed Sera, Len, Poe and Crisara all died in. It was the bed that was then inherited by Leia and Catch, and which they, too, died in. It was the bed that was inherited by Leia's son, Skye, upon inheriting the villa and thus passing the villa on and on through the generations through this line, from parent to eldest child. Before Crisara had let go and absconded from the World Between Worlds, the last descendent of hers, by way of her grandson Skye's branch of the family tree, who owned the villa was Helé Dameron, the elderly widow of her fifth great-grandson Tom, and it was about to be inherited by inherited by their oldest child, Crisara's sixth great-grandson Andi Dameron and his wife Arra.At the time of her transition to this final afterlife, Andi and Arra were alive, but she had already seen their futures and their deaths. She already knew what was to come in another hundred years, and the horrors that her ninth great-grandson Marsh Dameron, his wife Sura and their only child, Crisara's tenth great-grandson, would face. Crisara had seen the horrors the galaxy as a whole was going to face in the next century to come and she felt terrible that there would be nothing she could do to prevent it. She also felt terrible for being happy not to have to live through any of it.At least she took comfort in knowing those horrors would pass and her descendants would find a way to carry on. But, right now, none of that meant a thing as she stared at this afterlife replica of the bed that held so many memories.It was her and Poe's bed.And then, there was that feeling again; that tingle, that electricity. Like a swelling wave hitting the shore outside, she was suddenly hit with a scent she hadn't smelled for the longest time and that brought her great happiness."You sure took your damn time, woman."Crisara could feel the unmistakable flutter in her chest at the sound of that voice. She turned and found Poe stepping out of a room which she could just barely see was a bathroom. In fact, the more she paid attention to the bedroom's details, with the exception of the way it was connected to a sitting room by only a wide, open archway, it was her and Poe's bedroom at the villa.She didn't know what to say. All she could do was stare at him with happy tears burning in her eyes.He looked so good. He looked so young. Like her, his skin was smooth and without a hint of wrinkles or age spots. There wasn't a grey hair anywhere on him. To her, Poe looked as he did when they finally crossed paths at that cantina on Chaaktil. His face bore a little bit of stubble along with his permanent five o'clock shadow and his eyes were still dark and warm. He was wearing khaki-colored lounging pants and a loose and gauzy, off-white long-sleeved shirt that was opened quite a bit at the top. He looked comfortable and at ease."Loth-cat got your tongue?" he teased with an impish grin."I've missed you so much," she blurted out. Stepping forward, she added, "You have no idea how I languished in my last years of life without you. All I wanted was you."Reaching his hands out, tears of his own began to well in his eyes, but they were also happy tears. "I missed you the second I left you. But I told you we'd find each other again. I knew we would." Without hesitation, Poe took hold of her hands and it felt like sparks going off the moment they touched. He pulled her in and embraced her; both reveling in having this opportunity again. "I promised you this place once. Remember?"Crisara smiled as she kept the side of her face pressed against his chest. "Our little bungalow on the beach," she muttered. "You also said there would be ginberry bushes just for me and only a bedroom for sex. But I see there's a sitting room with a tea tray and I noticed you came out of our bathroom from the villa."Pulling her back from him, he snickered. "Yeah, well, I got bored and added a few extra touches."Crisara looked upward at him and frowned. "Have you been terribly lonely here all this time — just waiting?"He shook his head but also shrugged at the same time. "Time passes differently here," he replied. "I'm aware that a lot of time has gone by but it doesn't drag on. It's just felt like a really long day. The fact that the sun, or whatever that light is, never sets might have something to do with it." He gestured toward the direction of the beach outside the cabin they were in. "But I've found plenty of ways to pass the time till you joined me.""Oh yeah?""I found my parents. My grandparents. My mother is the one who greeted me first and explained to me where we were and what this all was or could be.""My grandmother Padmé just greeted me at the shore."Poe nodded with a smirk. "Yeah, I met her, too. She's lovely." His smirk turned into a warmer, more loving smile. "Adera visits me frequently here. We swim in the water out there or we play card games. Once we had a handstand competition that seemed to go on for hours." He chuckled at that and so did Crisara. "Here, it seems anything is possible.""I'm looking forward to seeing Adera and the others, too."Despite no longer in an embrace, they had resumed holding hands as they looked upon each other. "How long has it been since I died? How long for you?" he wondered."You've been gone two hundred and sixteen years.""No shit. It's been that long?"Crisara nodded. "I let go and passed into the Force six years after you, just after my ninetieth birthday," she informed. "Doctor told me I could easily live past one hundred by I was not having any of that. I'd had enough." She smirked; removing her hands from his and instead placing them upon his hips while focusing her attention on the center of his chest instead of upward into his eyes. "I've spent the last two hundred and ten within the World Between Worlds or making the occasional visit to the living world as a Force ghost. I helped Force-sensitives; offering advice or guidance, or just lending an ear. I watched the rest of our children grow old and die. I've watched our grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow old and die. Our fifth great-grandson Tom Dameron died six years ago. His widow will die next year and their son Andi will inherit the villa, which still stands and will continue to stand for a long time yet to come.""You've seen a lot of what's to come?"Once again, Crisara nodded her head. "I've seen a lot of wonderful things, but there is a great evil on the horizon. In a little less than one hundred years there will be a massive war. It will dwarf the Clone Wars, Galactic Civil War and First Order-Resistance War combined." She looked up and watched Poe furrow his brow with concern. "Over three hundred trillion lives will be lost. Planets will be destroyed or remade. It will be referred to as the Great War. Many Jedi will be lost. Many of our descendants will die, but not all. The war won't last forever. Less than five years. It'll feel longer to those fighting. But there will be peace again. The side of good will be triumphant once more and our family, our descendants, will find a way to survive. They will push through with grace and valor." There was a knowing and playful sparkle in her eyes at the tail end of her remark.""Well, so long as good wins over evil, and as long as our descendants can know peace — that's what matters."After a brief moment of silence fell over them, Crisara's smirk returned. "Can I ask you something, in all seriousness?""You can ask me anything."Hesitating to continue, for dramatic effect, she finally spoke again. "Why wasn't kissing me the first thing you did when I walked into this cabin?"Poe chuckled. "My apologies. I didn't mean to offend." He sighed and lifted his hands to brush aside her hair, which was once more sandy blonde and no longer snow white. He looked directly into her eyes and it felt as if they were one body and one soul. "I've waited so long for you to get here that I think the waiting just became to norm. I knew you'd come, but finally seeing you again caught me off guard for a moment. I think I just had to process it all and wonder if maybe my mind wasn't playing tricks on me.""This does feel a bit like we're in dream, doesn't it? Like, maybe we didn't die. Maybe we're back at the villa, asleep in our bed, and somehow our minds have linked up and we're sharing the same dream.""Then I hope we don't ever wake up because I don't plan on this dream ever ending."With a smile, Poe clamped his hands upon the sides of her face and leaned in. The moment their lips touched, nothing else mattered anymore. It was just the two of them, in their little paradise, in this afterlife within the Force. It was where loved ones found each other again. It was where anything was possible. It was where all roads eventually led.It was nirvana, it was peaceful.It was the perfect end to their story.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The series has ended, but it's first sister story/spinoff has been posted.It's called Star Wars: Tales of LoveYou can either click the link above or go to my dashboard.ENJOY!Also, you can listen to the music I was listening to while writing this story ("The Legacy of Hope") at my Spotify playlist: here.

The piece of artwork above I commissioned from giotanner95, on Instagram.
It depicts an older Crisara and Poe Dameron at the time of his second inauguration as Governor of Naboo.