Week 1 - 9/1/08 - UDC3 - So... an AU where Luke and Callie ended up together... somewhere out there in the multiverse...

1. Happy

It was dusk when she finally made her way back to YavinIV's surface after her close encounter with an Imperial Admiral bent on destruction and the darkness inside herself. He was waiting for her at the hangar door, and said nothing as she collapsed into his arms with the last of her strength. There was nothing to say that would make what could have happened, what almost did, right, and no defense she can offer. Luke doesn't ask for one as he helps her inside, happy to be alive and in his arms.

Later there would be questions, but not now.

2. Sad

She found him in his office, staring out a window. Studying him for long minutes, she could almost feel the heaviness in the air. Something was wrong, and for the first time in a good long while she didn't want an explanation for what that something might be. Slowly, Callista joined him at the desk and took his hand. When he looked at her, eyes heavy, she simply nodded. "Bad?"

"Bad," he answered in reply.

Later he would tell her about an accident which had resulted in the death of a friend and it would make sense, but for now they sat and observed the silence.

3. Curious

Luke sat and watched as their daughter batted at the toys hung from the mobile as she laid on her back on a blanket, and couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever been that innocent. Or that young. Arms enfolded enfolded him from behind as Callista joined him in watching her. "Hey."

"Of course you were," she answered his unspoken thought. "Even thought it doesn't feel like it now."

He turned and blinked at his wife. "How...?"

She smiled. "I didn't need the Force to see what was obvious."

4. Angry

It was two days before she finally couldn't stand the unasked questions anymore. Two days during which nothing had been asked, but everything had been in question. She'd wanted to flee the entire time, and now... now all the insecurities and the anger and the pain just bubbled up from under her control.

Smashing noises drew attention and when she finally couldn't throw another thing at the walls, Callista sat down and refused to move. It hurt to think about anything but the temptation, that everything she wanted most was on the other side of darkness.

A hand startled her and she looked up to find him looking at her, understanding in his blue eyes.

5. Content

Nine months, twelve days, and some hours after temptation and darkness had nearly consumed her, Callista found herself surrounded by family, holding a new life in her arms. It was something she'd thought would never happen, after empty years of hiding inside the gunnery computers on the Eye. But this... this felt right. More right than anything ever had. What was it about this little one, and being part of this family that had changed everything?

Smiling down at her newborn child, Callista quietly thanked Cray for letting her have a second chance at life. The details weren't important today...