Leia looked up at Han as he sighed and leaned forward. He'd decided something, something important.

"What is it?" She asked.

Han looked at her from where he was sitting on the small couch in her office. He'd been reading something on a datapad, and every so often chuckling at her curses at her paperwork.

"I've been doing some thinking," Han started.

Leia nodded. "I know," she said. "You've been quiet, and that's not like you." She moved over to sit down next to him.

Han chuckled once. "Yeah, guess not," he said, running his hands through his hair. "You know, I can remember the Republic, a bit. Mostly the Clone Wars. But I remember. I don't know if it's just because I was a kid, but I didn't notice any difference when the Empire was declared. Nothing changed for me, for better or worse. So I didn't really care. Then I was tossed out when I wouldn't kill Chewie. And then I met you and Luke. You two cared. So… I started caring, a bit. Then you were gone, but Luke was still in the Alliance. I knew I couldn't reach you. But I still had my… well, Luke's the closest I ever had to a kid brother."

Leia didn't say anything as he sighed and looked at the ceiling. "But to me, as long as the people I… as long as you and Luke are happy, I don't care what the government is. It'd be nice if Chewie was here, but no matter what, I'm not going to see him again. So…"

"Han?" Leia asked when he trailed off.

Han focused on her. "Leia," he started. He took a deep breath. "I love you, Leia," he said. "And I want to stay with you."

Leia was quite unable to stop the brilliant smile as she leaned over and pulled him into a kiss.

He didn't resist, just deepened the kiss almost immediately. "I still say a spring wedding is best," she said after she reluctantly pulled away.

Han shook his head. "Spring weddings are bad luck. People who marry in the spring only stay together in the easy times. Autumn weddings mean you know you can handle the hard times together."

Leia felt Luke at the back of her mind, asking what had made her so happy, but she shut him out, and was only slightly more polite when she had to do the same to her father.

This was for her and Han.

"On Alderaan, we never had any set season. Most people chose spring so they could use the spring flowers."

Corellia's most beautiful flowers bloom in the autumn, just before the winter solstice," Han countered.

She smiled. "We can have an autumn wedding," she decided. "If you're dead set on it."

Han nodded. "I'd like that," he said quietly.

She pulled away so she could study his face. "Han, you do understand what this means, right? My Father is the Emperor."

Han took a shuddering breath. "Yeah. I know," he said. "You're probably going to take over, right?"

She nodded. He closed his eyes. "So, I'll be… what? The consort?" He didn't look terribly excited about the idea.

"Something like that," Leia replied. "You… need to know," she said. "Before you do something irrevocable."

Han opened his eyes and studied her for a moment. "It'll be worth it," he said. "I'll be with you. If you're willing to have a scoundrel in your life."

She kissed him again.

Luke jolted awake- again. He'd managed three hours of sleep this time before the nightmare had come, at least. This time… he'd seen things through the eyes of a young Knight, facing off against another Jedi- no. Luke closed his eyes in thought. He recognized the lightsaber his dream opponent had been using. He had carried it for three years, after all.

He'd just felt his father kill a Jedi. Luke swallowed, and took a deep breath. He climbed out of bed and reluctantly got dressed. He wasn't going to be able to sleep any more tonight. As he pulled on his boots, he was suddenly aware that his unease was not just from his dream. Something was happening, here in the palace. Something bad.

Luke reached out, trying to figure out what he was feeling. Darkness and ill intent, but that was depressingly normal in the Palace. And then, determination, and hatred, and… Luke jolted to his feet and reached out to Leia, to wake her up.

Someone was heading for Leia, intending to kill her. Luke took a deep breath and wished for his lightsaber. Vader didn't trust him with it, and probably wisely, but Luke wanted it.

Luke took a moment to flick a brief moment of attention Vader's way, hoping to wake him up too, before leaving his room and heading toward Leia. Luke used just a brief touch of the Force to keep himself below anyone's notice, and it was a good thing, too. The small squad of intruders were fast approaching Leia's room.

Luke could feel that Leia was awake, and so was Han, who had apparently been with her. Good. As much as Luke knew Leia could keep herself safe, Luke felt better that someone else was there.

Vader was approaching, but he wasn't going to get there in time. Luke could feel the intruders thoughts- they wanted to kill Leia for betraying the Rebellion. They wanted to kidnap her out of the palace and torture her to death. They wanted…

Luke would never clearly remember the next few minutes, not as long as he lived. When looking back, all he could remember were screams of pain, and an overwhelming rage that refused to settle. The next thing he clearly remembered was standing in the hallway, the last of the intruders pushed up against the wall by the Force, and only barely alive. The rest were scattered around the hallway, dead. And it didn't look like they had died easily. The Force was so incredibly strong as it swirled around him. He stared at the unconscious face of the man and for a moment, he wanted nothing more than to kill him.

"Luke," Vader said from behind him. "We need to know how they got in."

Slowly, Luke relaxed his outstretched hand and let the palace guards collect the man. Another group started moving the bodies of the other intruders.

As they did so, the door to Leia's room clicked open and Leia and Han exited. Han whistled lowly as he took in the mess the hallway had become.

"Luke," Leia said quietly. "Are you…"

"They were after you, Leia."

Han went white with fury, while Leia nodded slowly. "I'm not surprised. But are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Luke said shortly. "I'm…" He trailed off. There was something wrong.

Han frowned as he looked between Luke and Leia.

Vader put his hand on Luke's shoulder. "We should continue this conversation in a more private setting," Vader said after a moment. He led them to a small conference room.

"Luke, what is it?" Han finally asked.

"I… I don't know," Luke said.

"I do," Leia said. "And nothing's wrong, you're just feeling overwhelmed by the Force."

Luke closed his eyes and reached out. It was so strong and…

"I was so angry at what they wanted to do," he murmured. "I just acted. I…" he took a deep breath and looked up at Vader. "I understand now," he said.

He could feel Vader's happiness and Leia's agreement. Han still felt confused, but Luke would explain later.

"Father," Luke started.

Vader held up his hand. "My son, I am grateful that you have learned the truth of the Force. Will you stay on this path?"

Luke paused. He could turn from the Dark, he knew it. But he didn't want to, not any more. "Yes," he finally said. This was where he was supposed to be. With his family.

Yes, Luke Turns because someone threatened his sister, just like in canon. Yes, I'm firmly of the opinion that Luke does Fall in ROTJ, but he pulls himself back up, after he cuts Vader's hand off. In this universe, he doesn't. He's just so tired, he doesn't want to fight anymore. So he doesn't.

I will admit, I waffled back and forth on if Luke would Turn for quite a long time, but in the end, having him Turn just fit better.

Ok, just one very short epilogue to go and this universe is complete.