Leia Organa's frail body rested on the hospital bed. She marveled at how it only took two years of sickness to weaken the Resistance's strongest general, after the other ninety years of hardship she had faced. But the good can outweigh the bad in the end, and the struggles only made her stronger.

There was a knock at the door. A man with long black, slightly graying hair entered her room. He smiled gently at Leia, moved over to the bed and took Leia's hand in his.

"How are you today, Mother?"

Leia grinned widely at her son Ben, the pride and joy of her life. He was strong like her. He turned back to the Light after years in the Dark, a task only accomplished by one other person in history: Anakin Skywalker. The Force was strong in their family.

"I'm feeling better now that you're here. How are you?"

Ben stared out the window, concern etched across his features.

"The doctors say you don't have much more time." Leia noticed a tear trickle down his face.

"Oh, sweetheart, don't cry." She moved to wipe the tear from his face. "If I had a nickel for every time I've faced death, I could buy the whole galaxy."

Ben laughed lightly, but his face was still serious. "I need to ask you something. It's been years since I've returned from the Light. I've paid for my crimes, tried to piece my life back together. But how have you forgiven me for everything I've done?"

His mind returned to the moment he faced his mother for the first time as Ben Solo after being Kylo Ren for so long. He stood before her and said the only four words he could muster. Four words that could never encompass the regret and pain he felt. "I'm so sorry, Mama."

He saw the love glistening in her eyes, and just like that she had wrapped him up in her arms as he sobbed, rubbing his back and telling him it would be all right.

Leia looked upon her son now with the same undying love in her eyes. "Because you're my little boy. I knew you when you were completely innocent and pure. And despite all that's happened, I will always see the Light in you."

Ben gave Leia a watery smile and kissed her on the cheek. Another knock sounded at the door and Luke appeared in the doorway. Despite his aging body, walker, and huge glasses, he was still the finest Jedi in the galaxy.

"Hey, sis! I have a surprise for you!" Luke made his way slowly to Leia's bedside, dragging along a suitcase of heavy equipment.

"Uncle Luke, let me help you with that!" Ben jumped up and picked up the suitcase. "What is this?"

Luke seated himself in a chair beside Leia. "Lando was going through some salvaged materials from Cloud City, you know, things that were recovered from before the Empire took over. And he found this." Luke pulled out an old holo-vid tape from the suitcase.

Leia eyed the tape and responded sassily. "And?"

"Lando let me borrow some equipment that could play this old thing, and I think you will appreciate what is on here. Ben, help me set this up."

After twenty minutes of attaching wires, plugging in cords and cursing, the beast of a machine was running. Luke inserted the tape and Leia saw an overhead image of the landing dock on Cloud City. The first thing she noticed was the massive Millennium Falcon.

"Luke, what is this?" She asked warily.

"A security tape from Cloud City. Just watch."

Leia squinted her aging eyes and gasped when she saw a male figure sitting by the Falcon that she would recognize anywhere, even though she hadn't seen him for years.

"Han."

Next, Leia saw a young version of herself strut out along the dock towards the young Solo. Gosh, she couldn't remember the last time she had that much bounce in her step. Her eyes widened as she realized what was on this tape. "Oh...my...goodness."

Leia watched the scene unfold as if she was watching a romantic holo-film. She could see them arguing, although she couldn't remember exactly what it was about. They bickered too often for her to recollect each individual fight.

Suddenly, rain started pouring from the sky. Leia watched her and Han running through the rain like two children, eyes watering at the joy and youth emanating from the couple. Then they danced, and Leia could almost feel Han's strong arms around her again. When they stopped dancing and stood still, the lack of sound from the tape provided no context as to what was happening. But Leia could remember this moment as if it was yesterday.

Leia pulled herself away from Han's chest to look him in the eyes.

"Han, please stay," she whispered.

He took in all of Leia's beauty in that moment. Never had he seen her more beautiful. Her hair was starting to curl around her face, and her face was decorated with tiny, crystalline droplets of water. And her eyes were the richest brown yet. He reached down and planted a light kiss on Leia's lips. He could taste the fresh rain on them. When their lips parted, four little words escaped his lips unexpectedly.

"I love you, Leia."

The young woman looked up at him in shock, and he could tell he surprised her. Leia was at a loss for words and couldn't respond, but Han knew she loved him too. Her eyes gave her away every time.

"I love you too, Han," Leia murmured under her breath, as if saying a sacred prayer. She realized that a few tears had managed their way down her cheeks.

"Leia, I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you sad!" Luke pleaded.

She shook her head. "Luke, it's okay. These are tears of joy. I was able to dance with Han one last time. In a way."

Leia rested her back down against the pillow. The trio sat in silence for a long time as Leia's breathing slowed. Luke wrapped his arms around his sister and rocked her lightly back and forth, a sort of waltz to the beat of her slowing heartbeat. He wanted to be with the person he entered the world with as she left it.

"Leia?" He whispered to her.

"Mhmm?"

"What are the first words you're going to say to Han when you enter the Force?"

The smallest smile appeared on Leia's lips, and right before Luke felt her presence dim in the Force she said, "May I have this dance?"

A.N. There is just one more, epilogue-type chapter after this! Thanks for reading!