A/N: As always, special thanks to my beta Winterd and my editor Fallenstar2 (because really, that's what she's doing). Look for the final chapter of Winterd's 'Phantoms and Slayers', the inspiration for this story, over at TTH; then review and tell her to hurry on the sequel. And a special thanks to Fallenstar2, who helped me bring my computer back from the brink after I installed Internet Explorer 7.

You know what I'm talking about, if you've tried to install it.

And lastly, this story, along with Episode 3 and 1, have been nominated for the Crossing Over Awards over at TTH. So if you have an account, go and vote!


Episode 4 Chapter 11

Victory

Luke landed his battered X-wing in the large hanger of the Rebel base, now sadly empty of ships, though filled to the brim with jubilant Rebels. The young pilot climbed out of his fighter amidst cheers and well-wishes from all of those around them. Eagerly he searched the room, looking for the one person that truly mattered…

"LUKE!"

His sister flung herself into his open arms and the two siblings shared a warm hug. "I'm so glad you made it back," she whispered, desperately fighting back tears. "Did father—"

"He's alive. They're both alive. I can feel it," he whispered back Leia stepped back and held her brother by his shoulders.

"You little space monkey," she said softly, using their Aunt's nickname for him. Luke couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hey!"

The two turned and eagerly greeted the newly-arrived Han Solo and Chewbacca. Luke grabbed the smuggler in a manly hug.

"I knew you'd come back! I just knew it!"

"Well, I wasn't going to let you get all the credit and take all the reward!" Han shot back warmly.

"I knew there was more to you than money!" Leia added, giving Han a hug as well. The three were about to carry on when Artoo was pulled out of the ship's socket and lowered to the ground. The little Astromech was a mess — one of Vader's glancing blows had impacted him right on the side of his body where the head joined the main torso and wires and various lubrication fluids dripped down the side of his blackened body.

"Oh, no! Artoo!" Threepio cried. He turned to the nearest technician and in a pleading voice begged, "You must repair him! Sir, if any of my spare parts will help, I'll gladly donate them!"

"He'll be alright," Luke assured Threepio, leaving the droids in the care of the techs as he, his sister and his friends made their way out of the hanger.


Wedge looked up at his battered ship and sighed. It was reparable, but she'd be grounded for weeks before she'd be fully operational. And he doubted that the Rebellion would have that much time, especially since they just destroyed the Emperor's new toy.

"If you're worried about how we'll get to dinner, don't worry. I'll drive."

Wedge turned and saw the masked Mandalorian in her red and silver armor standing behind him. Then much to his surprise, she lifted the helmet off — and revealed the beautiful young woman behind it. Her blue eyes twinkled with mirth at his expression.

"See anything you like?" she asked teasingly, catching him off guard. She was so…normal, he supposed. He had expected an old battle-axe, worn down and hard from years of the Mandalorian life, not this beautiful young woman that stood before him. Joyce's grin widened. "Face it, tiger. You just hit the jackpot."

Wedge couldn't help but return the grin. "I guess I have." He paused for a moment, considering. "Do you like Corellian food?"

"As long as you're a better cook than my brother, then yes," she replied. "I do."


EARTH


"I'm sure they're alright, Padmé. They have survived this long, after all."

Padmé and Giles were walking through the deserted halls of the Council, the elder Watcher trying to reassure the former Senator of their loved ones well-being.

"Even before she disappeared, Buffy was always getting herself and her friends into trouble. But she always got them out and in one piece. Just you wait— any minute now they'll come flying back—"

Suddenly the wall in front of them exploded outwards as two figures were hurtled through it. They both slammed into the opposite wall and crumpled to the floor, both gasping and moaning. As the dust settled, Giles could finally make out the prone forms of Anakin and Buffy.

"Or, they'll come in for a hard landing…" he amended, moving to his Slayer's side even as Padmé kneeled beside Anakin.

"Ani? Oh Force, are you alright?"

Anakin looked up at his wife, a small trickle of blood running down his forehead from his hairline.

"I'm wonderful," he deadpanned. "Thanks to my sister's brilliant plan." He coughed for a few moments before muttering, "Let's ram them. Brilliant plan…"

"It worked," Buffy said defensively. "I've ported back dozens of times from moving ships. This has never happened!"

"Big ships like the Falcon have inertial compensators dialed all the way up so passengers can't feel anything," Anakin explained. "Fighters usually have them dialed down somewhat, so the pilot can feel what they are doing. That momentum must have carried over…"

Buffy stared incredulously at her brother. "You tell me this NOW?"

Anakin stared back. "Silly me. I thought you already knew and planned accordingly!"

"Now, now, children behave," Giles commanded. "Both of you are going to the infirmary right now and we both would like an explanation as we go."

"Fine," Anakin agreed, wincing as he stood up. "But I want to get back as soon as possible to reassure Luke and Leia that we're all right."

Buffy, helped along by Giles, entered the infirmary after her brother and saw a sight that at once relieved and terrified her—

Obi-Wan, alive but pale, sitting up on a hospital bed, a discarded magazine in his lap and his eyes were locked on hers.

"Oh," Buffy sighed and pulled away from her watcher. "I'll be just a minute," she whispered to him. He nodded and stepped over to Dr. Soren's side as Buffy slowly made her way to Obi-Wan's bed. "Hello, there."

Obi-Wan looked her over critically. "Well, apparently I wasn't the only one having fun today." He gently took her hand that hung limply at her side. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Buffy lied, torn between pulling her hand away or else returning the squeeze. She settled for just leaving it where it was. "Look, about what happened before we left…"

"Yes, that…" Obi-Wan blushed. "I apologize if I embarrassed you—"

"It wasn't that!" Buffy quickly assured him. "It's just…" she struggled to find the right words. "I haven't loved anybody since Jacen. I haven't allowed myself to feel for anyone since Jacen. And I certainly haven't kissed anyone since Jacen. I just don't know if I'm ready…"

"Believe it or not, Buffy, I know what you are going through," Obi-Wan interrupted firmly. " I, too have had a hard time getting close to anybody since the death of Siri…" he trailed off at the memory of his first love, the girl and fellow Jedi he had not been willing to risk everything for - and only realized too late what a terrible choice that had been. "You were lucky, Buffy. You had over a year with Jacen, a year to be with him, to love him. All I had with Siri was a few stolen moments when we were Padawans and a bunch of unresolved feelings that never truly got any closure by the time she was killed." He looked into her eyes, bright with unshed tears. "I don't want to make the same mistakes again."

"No, you want to make all new ones," she quipped, pulling her hand free to wipe the tears away. She looked down at him and gave him a small smile. "This won't be easy."

"Nothing worthwhile ever is," he replied. "But I'm willing to try if you are."

The stood there for a few minutes, each thinking their own thoughts, before finally Buffy replaced her hand in Obi-Wan's and squeezed it.


"You know," Han solo mused as he adjusted his utility vest for the umpteenth time, "if you had told me a week ago that I'd be getting a medal from the Alliance, I'd have called you a liar. Or shot you. Whichever came first."

"Please - you would have called them a liar," Joyce rebuked, her smirk visible for all to see as she carried her helmet under one arm. "Everybody knows you never shoot first."

"Hey!"

Chewie let out a guffaw of laughter and Luke couldn't help but join along. The four of them were standing outside of the grand old throne room of the temple, awaiting the door to open so that they may be given the Award of Merit, the highest award possible from the Alliance - and once the highest award given by the Old Republic.

"The damn things were always to big and clunky for my taste," a familiar voice said from the shadows. "But hey, you earned it."

Luke smiled as his father stepped out of the shadows. He looked a bit bruised and banged up, but he was alive and that was all that mattered.

"What happened?" he asked as he rushed over to give his father a hug. Anakin did his best to hide his wince.

"A slight miscalculation on your Aunt's part. One that I won't be letting her live down for quite some time." He stepped back and held his son at arm's length, getting a good look at him. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay and let you know that we were fine." He smiled. "I also wanted to let you know that you'll be seeing a lot more of us. And by us, I mean your mother, too."

"Is it safe enough?" Luke asked worriedly. Anakin chuckled.

"No, but there's no use hiding anymore. By now, the Emperor has already learned that Buffy is still alive and the new Vader probably sensed my presence during the battle. Besides," he added, looking past his son to the Solo clan who still stood together, joking and laughing, "Buffy wants to see more of her daughter."

Luke looked back at Joyce and suddenly it clicked. "That's why she called me cousin! We're related!" A sudden realization hit him. "Does that mean that Han—"

"No," Anakin said. "Buffy would have been his stepmother, but she never got to marry his father. Joyce is the only one you're related to." He looked at his son. "Why?"

"I think Han's got a thing for Leia," he said, almost reluctantly. "If we were related, I didn't want them to end up…doing anything, you know? It'd be like kissing your brother… kind of gross, you know? Father?" Luke asked him, but Anakin was suddenly very interested in examining Han like a bug. "Father? Are you in there?" Luke asked, waving a hand in front of Anakin's face. The Jedi started and then smiled.

"I'm here. But I think it's time for you to go," Anakin hugged his son once more. "May the Force be with you. And with Leia as well." Luke stepped back and gave his father a smile before moving to join his friends. Anakin smiled and activated the PPG, whisking him back to Earth.

Luke stepped up next to Han and looked at the smuggler briefly before looking through the now open doors. The throne room was filed to capacity with Rebel troops, all standing in formation in their dress uniforms. At the far end was Leia and General Dodonna with several other important Alliance leaders; a newly-polished See-Threepio stood next to the repaired Artoo-Deetoo off to the side. Luke looked back to Han once more, who was clearly looking at Leia.

"That's my sister you're ogling," Luke remarked. Han looked sharply to the young pilot.

"Your sister, huh?" he repeated. Luke nodded earnestly. Han's thoughtful look dissolved into a grin.

"Good," he said, in a tone that clearly meant less competition for me.

Luke shook his head and glanced to Joyce, her brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. "Let's go get awarded, shall we Cuz?"

Joyce smiled back. "Let's," she replied and the four strode down the aisle, walking tall. The Empire might be there tomorrow, but today they were kings and nobody could ruin their moment.

Fin.


To be continued in Star Wars Episode V: Trials of the Empire

There will be one last chapter for an epilogue where I will set up several important arcs for the next Episode. I'll get that out as soon as I can.