-CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE-
I started waking up in a very soft bed.
I never want to get up.
But I pried my eyes open, and realized that it was a couch. The one in Jin's house on Mandalore.
Jin was in one chair, Arianna was serving tea to the man in the other chair, who happened to be Luke.
Luke was holding a bundle.
I was glad Jin had taken my magnets off.
I tried to move, but my legs seemed to be weighted down my something I couldn't see.
My stomach was churning, and my head was throbbing, even down in the roots of my teeth.
Jin signed at me, "Hey, relax. I gave you twice as much spice as I should have."
I gratefully slid my lids closed.
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According to Luke, I slept for another day and a half.
He then placed a four-months-to-the-day Kendra in my arms.
She was beautiful. She had Darryl's blonde curls, and grey-blue eyes.
I missed Darryl and Frida more than ever now.
Luke grabbed my freehand and gave me a look that read, "I know."
Luke snapped my magnets on for me.
I couldn't help it.
"I'm sorry!" I cried at Luke.
"SHHHH!" Luke cradled my pathetic sobbing form.
"Asenath, hush…you made a few mistakes…people make those."
"My father must be so ashamed!"
My father's Force ghost appeared.
"No. I am not ashamed. People make bad choices from time to time."
"Holy Bantha on Tatooine, what is that?!"
"Jin, this is my father."
"Jin, you devil! Thanks for looking out for my little girl."
"Wouldn't let anything touch her sir."
"And Luke, the chosen one thanks you and is still proud of you."
Luke gave a respectable bow.
"But that isn't all. I thank you for being her father. You have turned her into a fine Jedi, and an incredibly fine, young, beautiful woman."
Luke bowed again.
I smiled.
My dad faded.
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When we arrived back on Coruscant, Han and Leia were already on the platform waiting with my children.
They all flew into my arms, knocking me over. I was thankful Luke had Kendra.
When they finally allowed me to clamor to my feet, I walked up to Han and threw my arms around his neck.
"I'm sorry…" I whispered to him.
"It's alright, kid." He gave me a huge hug.
Leia gave me a warm smile.
I knew I was back in the good graces of the entire group.
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The children helped me pack Darryl's things in a trunk. Boba Fett sent me a package containing the clothes Darryl had been wearing, and his wedding ring. Paquette sent us flowers.
Even later than that, Fett sent another box. This time the contents were my husband's ashes in an urn. I believed they were. Boba would have no use for a sick game of sending the wrong ones. I placed the urn on the mantle, next to my mother's.
My children took care of me. Every night, Markus brought me a blanket, Tobi would pull off my boots, and the twins would shower me with kisses and other forms of physical affection, and Micah would show me how well he could "read" (he recited a book he had memorized with Han's help), and it was our bed time ritual.
But I couldn't bear to take off my ring. At least not yet. I still thought of myself as his at the time. It was going to be a very hard change.