A/N: A big thanks to everyone reading this story! Thanks for your comments and your support! Without you I would not have made it! A special thanks goes to Leia-Amidala, Alpha 545 and Caya Strife for staying with me all this time. And I want to thank Madame Jocasta for the nice compliment. :)

**Chapter 20 – The End**

The parade had been beautiful and quite breathtaking in its magnitude and grandeur. Leia, who had managed to obtain a seat in the Imperial Box during the parade, now stood at one of the large windows of Imperial Palace and looked out towards the dark, clear sky. She sighed as she listened to the echoes of the fireworks and people celebrating in the streets. It had been a good day.

Then she glanced back into the ballroom. Everyone with rank and name had come, either to present him or herself, to congratulate his majesty, or simply to enjoy the far too expensive wine. It was strange to see Mon Mothma talking to Moff Disra though. Nevertheless, it was nice as long as it lasted.

Leia lifted her long, red dress, crossed the room and then sat down next to Luke, Lando, Wedge and Han, who shared a table and were obviously still celebrating her engagement.

"Here, Leia." Wedge handed her a glass of champagne, but she shook her head.

"No, thank you. I have a reputation to keep," Leia explained and had her glass refilled with sparkling water.

Wedge looked at Han. "You know there's still time to change your mind, buddy. Looks like there's a …", he searched for the right word, "….rather `dry´ future ahead."

"Don't listen to him, Han. He's only jealous." Luke lifted his glass and toasted to his sister. "To the future."

Leia smiled when her glass met his. "To the future."

She listened only half-heartedly to the conversation Han had with Luke, when she saw him again. For the first time since her abduction. She saw him over her fiancé's shoulder. He was on the other side of the room, talking to Admiral Piett. It was strange how a single person, so far away, could suddenly capture one's full concentration. It was almost like he was the only person in the room and there was nothing, not even a sound, except him.

Leia was not sure how long she had starred at him, when he suddenly turned around and their eyes met. She looked away, down, as fast as she could, but it was no use. He had seen her, she knew it and that knowledge alone was like an electric shock, jolting through her veins, heating up her blood, leaving her insecure. She had known that they would meet again, that she had to tell him… but this was too soon. Maybe he would just walk away, pretending that he hadn't seen her. Leia dared to look up again and felt her heart racing. No, he had seen her, and he was coming over.

She could barely remember him wearing anything but rags and now here he was, an Imperial Grand Admiral, in full regalia. He looked….impeccable. There was no other word to describe him. Both his white uniform and his body, were perfect. There was no mark, nor scratch, or hair out of line and in his blinding white uniform with the shiny golden buttons, he looked more than ever like a God, humbling the mortals with his presence. Leia forced herself to look away. He had noticed, no doubt.

"I am pleased to see you again, Princess." She heard a deep, balanced and quite familiar voice from behind.

"The pleasure is all mine, Grand Admiral." She smiled and turned around. "Have you met Commander Skywalker yet?"

"Admiral." The two men shook hands.

"Only briefly. But his reputation precedes him, of course."

His gaze flicked to Leia for a second and then went back to Han and Luke.

"It was not my intention to interrupt such an illustrious gathering, but might it be possible to relieve you of the princess' company for a while? We have been through a lot lately, and therefore I was hoping to talk to her in private."

How did men do it? Leia wondered, not for the first time. Women always looked, thought, analyzed and waited - until it was too late. And men just walked over and then it sounded like the easiest and most natural thing in the world.

"Yes, of course." Luke looked over to his sister.

"That is, if Leia agrees", Han said, looking suspiciously at Thrawn.

"Don't worry." Leia smiled, leaned over the table and kissed Han lightly on the lips assuring him, before walking over to the Grand Admiral. "I'll be right back."

Wedge grinned at Han while he watched the two leave the main ball-room.

"Sure that was a smart thing, Solo?" He teased when he saw the shadow on his friend's face.

"You better shut up before I come over and do something you'll regret." It was meant to sound funny, but somehow didn't and when Solo leaned back, Luke saw his eyes shooting daggers at the Admiral's back. Something wasn't right here.

…

…

"Not perfect, but better than any room within the palace." Thrawn put his glass down on the balcony's cornice and then closed the door behind him.

Leia nodded. Of course, she had not thought of that.

"How are you?"

Leia stood with her back to the balcony's stone balustrade, her hands playing with the crystal glass in her hand. "I'm fine. Thank you."

"I am glad to hear it. You did not look well the last time I saw you."

Leia nodded. "Yes, I had to stay in a bacta-tank for a couple of days."

"My apologies that there was no time for a visit or a proper goodbye at the time. I am afraid I have a rather demanding job."

"There is no need for an apology. You got `Alpha Red´ and with that probably saved us all. Thank you ... I take it that was not an easy task."

Thrawn leaned against the door and folded his arms across his chest.

"No, even though it should have been. It was an immoral decision to keep `Alpha Red´ to themselves. During war collateral damage is inevitable, but to witness entire races being extinguished while having the means to prevent it equals genocide."

"What will you do now?"

"At the moment I do not have enough information to fully answer that question, but contrary to popular belief, I have no desire to watch my people suffer. And there is no doubt in my mind that they do suffer under Imperial rule. Nevertheless, the Chiss are too proud for their own good and Imperial control allows me to correct some basic Chiss doctrines and political ideologies, which I deem necessary in order to prevent a major cultural collapse in the foreseeable future. However, I have powerful enemies on Csilla ..."

He looked at Leia intensely. "And what about you? Princess Leia Organa, Respectable Senator? Rebel of the solar system? Or heroine of the galaxy? What would you like this time?"

"This time, I thought of something a little less grand, but worthwhile... Han proposed to me."

He cocked an eyebrow at Leia. Maybe, just maybe, she had actually surprised him this time.

"Domestic life? I see. A little hard to imagine at the moment, but congratulations nonetheless."

"Thanks."

Silence.

Thrawn took a deep breath. "I will leave in four hours and this time wanted to say goodbye properly. Apparently, the border regions are in chaos and his majesty wishes to restore Imperial control as soon as possible. It looks pretty bad if one can believe the first reports. After that I would like to go to Csilla. I am not sure when I will return."

He stretched out a hand towards her and pulled her into a wordless embrace.

"Goodbye, Leia."

They stood silently, while his chin rested on the top of her head. This was it. This was goodbye. Leia kept her eyes closed and breathed in his scent one last time. He smelled good, he always smelled good. She couldn't define of what, only that it was powerful and pleasurable. She remembered that her biology teacher had once told them that the smell of a person was actually an indicator of genetic compatibility. She smiled. If he had been right, she would have a perfectly healthy baby. His baby. Suddenly she was scared again. She had to tell him… Now or never.

"I'm pregnant." His hand froze on her back and Leia released the breath she did not know she had been holding. "I do not expect anything. I just wanted you to know."

He pushed her away a little and then slowly lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"Is it mine?" Angrily she pushed away his hand and then freed herself completely from his embrace.

"Otherwise I would not have told you, would I? Of course it's yours!"

Too late he realized his faux pas and then stared at Leia, who, in her hormone-induced haze, leashed out before thinking.

"Just a few minutes together and I have to apologize to you for a second time… My only excuse is that this is the first time I am faced with a situation like this. My reaction was inappropriate. I am sorry. You wanted me to be happy, but your pregnancy is disadvantageous ... on many levels."

No, she would not cry now! She had mentally prepared herself for this conversation time and again. She would not fall apart now! Instinctively she avoided his eyes, while fighting for control.

"As I said, I do not expect anything of you…. but I will have this baby."

His impassive mask cracked for a moment, and he displayed some amalgamation of shock und regret when the underlying implications of his words sank in. This, surely, was unknown territory to him.

"I never intended to imply anything of that sort. I…." He looked at her attentively.

"I am sure you know the reasons for my initial hesitation, but that does not mean that I do not want the child to be born. I would not ask that of you."

"Most men in your position would."

He smiled a rare smile at Leia. "Perhaps I am pretentious in saying so, but I am not `most men´ and I am not in the habit of comparing my behavior to the lowest common denominator either." He slowly pulled her back into his arms. "Besides, I refuse to be that irresponsible. So, please, stop crying, Leia. You have no reason to. We will have a child …. and I have heard that a baby can sense all of its mother's emotions through the umbilical cord from a very early stage and if that is true we better stop this right now, otherwise I am afraid our child might hate me even before it is born."

Leia laughed softly and carefully wiped away some of her tears. "No. No, it won't."

The last fireworks in the Coruscanti sky died away, the war was over and all was well.

…

**EPILOGUE**

…

Leia went into her daughter's bedroom. Of course she had once again fallen asleep with her head on a thick book. Leia sighed and smiled tiredly, shaking her head. Typical. Quietly she removed the flashlight and the book from underneath her sleeping daughter and already wanted to leave, when she suddenly noticed a still active data-pad on her nightstand.

…

Homework

Name: Victoria Organa

Title: The Waroom Invasion

In purely political terms, the Waroom Invasion was rather insignificant. Only five years after the Galactic Unification, Emperor Palpatine resolved the Galactic Senate once more, which consequently led to Civil War and the revival of the Rebel Alliance. Thus, on a larger scale, the political situation has hardly influenced by the invasion.

Territorially, the destruction of two major star-systems can be noted, as well as the annexation of the Chiss Ascendancy by the Galactic Empire.

On a personal note, I am probably the only one in this class who is happy about the invasion. I know that is not entirely fair, because of the tremendous loss of lives, but without the Invasion, I would not exist. I do not know much about my parents' relationship, but I know they got to know each other during this intergalactic crisis.

Furthermore, I regret that the Galactic Unification did not last. Here again, one has to distinguish between politically and personal regret. Politically, I do not think that the larger objectives of the two major political fractions are too different to overcome and if the Waroom should ever return, I am certain that we will need each other to prevail. Personally, I am sad that I do not know my father. He is an Imperial Officer and by the time the second Civil War started, I was still too young to actually remember him and now I am afraid I never will. I do not know how and why it all happened – for that I am probably too young anyway…

…

The recording ended there, left in its fragmented state, either to finish it later or to abandon it completely, Leia did not know. Thoughtfully, she looked at the sleeping figure in front of her, as she slowly sat on the bed. She had had no idea how Victoria thought about her father. Or that she thought about him at all. Only once had she inquired about him and that had been years ago. Leia stroked through the little one's raven-black hair and sighed. She was her father's daughter; so similar and yet so different at times.

Leia heard Jacen and Jaina's giggling from the room next door. Sleep was surely not in any of her children's blood.

Her eyes returned to her eldest daughter. One day she would meet her father. But not yet.

THE END

A/N: Actually, it's not really "the end". I started a sequel with the title "Unlikely is an Understatement: Reconnect". It was planned as a one-shot, but then I somehow added more and more chapters. I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it, as it's fun to write. It starts with a 14-year-old Victoria, who grew up in the Rebellion and one day starts her own little investigation about her infamous father. Another "Christmas Special" deals with a teenage Victoria running away and giving her parents quite a shock. If you want to read it – you're more than welcome to. But be warned: It's in German and Google Translate comes up with some interesting sentences sometimes. ;) I'm not sure if I will translate that one, too. But I doubt it. On the other hand, I never thought I would mange to translate this one!

At the end at big thanks to everyone who read my story to the end! I hope you enjoyed it! I know it is a very different couple and some people probably thought what the f***? But I like it! :) I guess Dallas is to blame. When I was little and my Dad was off to the firefighters, my Mum always let me to stay up and watch Dallas with her, so I was influenced/scared by the mother of soap-operas from early on! *JR's-evil-German-voice-laughing-in-the-background*

Cheers!