Well, friends, this is it... for now...

Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me and thank you for all your kind notes. I had so much fun writing this and am really pleased with the results!

Stay safe everyone and enjoy!

Epilogue

"Are we there yet?" The littlest member of their trio complained as his feet trudged, one after the other through the dense forest. He looked up to the adult whose hand he was holding. "I's tired."

Leia looked down at the little boy dressed in his play clothes and walking boots. "You can walk, Ben. We haven't gone that far."

He groaned. "But I's wanna see the Ewoks."

She tried her best to suppress her motherly frustration at his whining.

Han came to both of their rescues as he stopped and knelt down. "Climb up, kid."

Ben gladly dropped his mother's hand and climbed onto his father's back.

Han wrapped his hands under Ben's knees as he stood.

"We're almost there," Leia announced hiking up her own boots as they kept walking through the brush and tall, tall trees.

She came to a stop as some of the trees became slightly familiar. "I think it's this way," she said pointing towards that direction.

Her husband stopped beside her and looked around, coming up with the opposite opinion. "I think this way." He nudged his chin in the other direction.

"It was near the lake…"

"Which is this way," he insisted.

She huffed and eyed him. "Fine, we'll go your way."

Han gave her a satisfied nod as he trailed the path towards the scenery that looked familiar to him. There was a clearing up ahead. The area had obviously once been used for a large fire, maybe to cook, or for a passing group to set up camp for the night, or for a victory celebration after a battle was won. He heard the flowing water before he saw it. Just to their right, there was the lake. This was it.

"Wait." It took Leia a moment longer to realize and a moment longer to actually admit it. "Here, this is it."

Han nodded, taking in the incredible view, sounds, and smells. "Yeah, I remember. The fire and the lake." He inhaled. "The smell of the pines."

She let her smile bloom. "The sounds of the celebrations still ringing throughout the galaxy."

He let Ben climb off his back and do his own exploring. "Alright." he crossed his arms and turned to his wife. "Let's hear it 'Han, you were right.'"

She flitted her eyes, she was back in a good mood. "Han, honey," she crooned. "You were right." She slid herself next to him as his arm came around her. "I'll never doubt you again."

He rolled his eyes. "Well that's bantha fodder, but I'll take it for now." He felt his head lowering to hers.

Ben perked up. "This is where you's was married?"

"It is." Han turned his head and let his wife sink away from him. "This is where it all happened."

Leia cocked her head. "Not ALL of it…"

He caught her meaning and turned to point at the lake. "Well no, some of it happened over…"

"HAN!" She stopped him, pulling his gaze back and shaking her head at his smolder.

Ben was in his own world as he scouted the terrain. "Was it right here?" He jumped on a spot near the remnants of a fire pit.

Han walked over to his son and shuffled them over a few feet. "I was standing right… here." He planted his feet in the place he remembered and waved Leia over. "And your Mommy was…"

She stood across from him and he moved her shoulders slightly to match with the image in his mind. "… right here."

Leia looked back to their little boy. "General Rieekan officiated."

"What's officiated?"

Han answered. "It means he was the one who read the vows and said we were married."

"Can I be that person?" Ben got excited.

"Sure you can! Okay now," Han lifted his son and placed him on their other side, so he was standing between the bride and groom. "The officiate needs to stand here."

Ben looked down at his spot and jumped his feet there so they would stay put. "Now we get married!"

Leia laughed at her smiley little boy. "Not yet! First, you have to say a few things."

Ben now had a job to do, so he took it seriously. "What do I say?"

Han answered, taking his wife's hands in his. "First you start by asking me if I want to marry her and if I will love, honor, and cherish her."

Ben looked at his father, his legs only slightly wiggly. "Do you wanna marry Mommy?"

"Yes," Ben watched him answer.

Ben remembered the other words. "And love her and honor her?

Now his father turned to look at his mother as he pulled their joint hands to his chest and she took a step forward. "Yes, I do."

His mother smiled, her head tilted up. Then she looked back down at Ben. "Now you ask me if I want to marry your Daddy."

"Do you wanna marry Daddy and love and honor him?" Ben was getting good at this.

Again, her face tilted up to look at his father. "I do."

Ben was pleased with himself. He bounced up to his parent's legs. "Now do you kiss and we go see the Ewoks?"

Han stopped his son's jumping brigade. "Hold on, buddy. I have some more things to say first."

Ben huffed, but Leia looked at him curiously. What did he have planned?

She felt his weight shift, his eyes laser-focused on hers as he knelt down. The only thing she could think of to do is grip his hand tighter.

"Princess, I'm no good at fancy words…" He let his one arm drop from hers as Ben came to cling around his father. He wrapped one arm around his son and held his wife's hand in his other. "But you deserve to hear them every day."

He took her breath, took her heart. And now she was trying to hold everything she still possessed together to listen to the rest of his devotions.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, my Leia." He kept his focus on her as their son climbed up his father's back. "You know me better than I do. You let me fly when I need to fly, but I find I just miss you more and more. I never thought…" He swallowed the bubbling emotion. "I would find so much of myself and where I belong in one person. I just… love you so much."

She knelt to meet him. Her light forest green dress pressing at her knees. She opened her mouth to speak, to try and express all he was to her. But she stopped when she saw the small black velvet box that appeared in his hand.

"Oh, Han…" She sighed, falling back on her heels as her hand went to cover her mouth. "What have you done?"

He snickered. "Hopefully made you happy, sweetheart."

She raised back to her knees and brought her fingers to his hands on the box, her touch as gentle as a feather.

He lifted the lid to reveal the most exquisite sapphire stone set in gold she had ever seen. "Han…" she breathed, truly in awe.

Ben swung around his father to look into the box, his eyes immediately recognizing the piece. "I picked that!"

Han turned his face to his son, his free arm pulling the boy in. "That's right, kid. Ben helped pick it."

She moved her own hands to pull the little boy into a mighty embrace. "You have good taste, bubba." She used the opportunity to wipe her eyes behind her son's back. "Thank you."

Ben pulled back with a satisfied grin and a giggle. "Put it on Mommy!" He turned back to his father who had already removed the ring from the box and held it out to her.

She held out her left hand and watched as it slipped on, perfectly complimenting her royal blue wedding ring on her right hand.

"It fits!" Ben put his arms up in victory.

Her shimmering eyes beamed at her husband, his own shined back. Shaking her head in disbelief at the man in front of her, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders whispering the only thing she could. "I love you, so much."

Han lowered his head as she drew closer, finding his arms snaking to her back. He watched her eyes close and his heart pumped even faster. He felt her lips meet his, and then he turned his head, the manifestation of their love coming into view. "Hey, little officiate. Can we kiss now?"

"Yes," Ben nodded, granting his permission.

Han turned back to her, eyes once again closing as they sealed their impromptu celebration with a kiss.

A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. We are all searching for that belonging.

For some, that sense comes immediately, from a loving home and parents who make their child feel like they are the most important thing in the world. For some, that sense comes later, when they find a tribe to make a life with, someone to belong with. And for some, it is easy to fall prey to a destructive purpose, a tribalism that negates values of compassion and love. It's all too easy to fall on a quest to belong. But we are all lucky if we look up to find someone there with an outstretched hand, calling us home.

His family called Ben Solo home. And they found new belonging in each other.

Rey more so than anyone.

After disappearing with Ben for over a year, she emerged a powerful Jedi, stronger than Leia ever expected, and with a determined path forward for herself and for the future of the Jedi.

With the help of her family, she set up a new practice for Jedi training on Naboo. After consultation with both Luke and Leia, she decided to take on a very limited number of new recruits for interval periods of time. She was thrilled that Finn was one of her first pupils. Luke came from Ahch-Toto to Naboo for a few weeks each year to guide and mentor some of the recruits, offering his own expertise to Rey's students. The rising Alliance of the Republic worked with her to harness the power of her trainees for the good of the Alliance, learning from the mistakes of the past and giving new meaning to the Jedi order.

Rey's decision made other decisions easier. Of course Ben followed her to Naboo and of course that is where Leia and Han set up their own home base. They bought a spacious land nearby with a large hanger, only a short ride from Rey's academy.

Leia had been right, not for the first time in her life. The new government was strong, the people who rose as leaders were young and brilliant, and Leia had full confidence in them. Poe rose to ranking General and was the obvious choice to lead the limited military the Alliance retained. This made Leia happier than anything because it meant she would still be working closely with him.

Her position as Ambassador at large was finally a reality. It took a full year for the rest of the First Order fleet to be solidly defeated and for the easing of the transition into the new government. But now, finally, she was free to make her own decisions for the rest of her life. Beginning the previous month, she began traveling on Alliance orders. The job still gave her ample amounts of free time which left time for her to support Rey, time for her to visit Luke, time to spend with her son, and time to play the part of Mrs. Solo.

Han played the role of Mr. Organa for the year where she was still active. He made himself useful by doing scheduled runs for personnel and supplies during the final months of the Resistance. Through the rebuilding of the government, he stayed with her. They found an apartment on Chandrila for the short term, near where they lived when Ben was young. He found his feet back under him again when he was invited to commentate and sit on the advisory board of the Five Sabers racing competition. Luckily, it would involve minimal travel so that he could travel with Leia for her official trips as well as their own personal excursions, sometimes with only his wife and sometimes with his son, Ben Solo, as his copilot.

After years in the spotlight and with high expectations thrust upon him, Ben was keeping a low public profile. With the fall of the First Order, a new government took over uniting the galaxy once again. Ben was tried and exonerated through the court system. His main defense was due to his actions on the Supremacy and they were enough.

Though a free man, he had no illusions as to the controversy he still spurred. Leia was prepared and ready to launch a full-scale defense of her son, calling upon all her public credit to bring him back into the world. But Ben didn't want that. He didn't want to have to defend or even try to excuse his prior actions. It wasn't fair to the innocent people whose lives he took. He would face controversy, he had no illusions about that.

But Ben Solo was content. He had his ship to travel in, fly when and where he pleased. He was commissioned part-time by the new government on the sly to help smooth the transition with some former First Order sects. He often flew for with his mother when he could offer some guidance in bringing First Order nations into the republic, but his Jedi days were through. He trained Rey. That would be his Jedi legacy. Ben Solo was always going to be a pilot.

"Are they ready?" Han asked as Leia appeared from the mountainscape that covered the surface of the Varykino lake area. She was just climbing the last of the steep paths that led to the mountain top where he waited for her.

"They're coming soon." She let him take her hand as she walked to where he was standing.

"How is he? How is she?"

"They're both fine." She patted her hand on his arm. "Nervous, but fine,"

"How are you?" He asked as she looked up at him, the elevation and the wind blowing the tendrils of her hair and making her face flush.

"Nervous, but fine."

He let his eyes wander to the path she had taken, waiting for Ben and Rey to follow her momentarily.

"I'm glad to see you found a clean shirt," she said as her fingers when to the crisp collar.

He grinned back, happy that she was happy. "I'll clean up for you anytime."

She shook her head. "It's not for me today."

He disagreed. "Well, it can be for you later."

She didn't argue with that. Her head turned to view the brilliant scenery they were surrounded by. It had all her senses tingling. She smelled the scents from the exquisite wildlife as the wind carried it to her nose, she heard the rushing water in the distance and could see the stream winding through the lush green valleys. Creatures from the ground and the sky made their presence known through a canticle humming through the air. And she felt it all. Felt the elements mixing in the Force as it settled all around her.

"It's beautiful here," she sighed as she drew the light, muslin shawl closer around her shoulders. The light fabric of her flowing purple dress made these altitudes quite chilly. It made her feel better when her husband stepped behind her and wrapped his arms over the shaw. "They picked a perfect location for the academy."

Han agreed but had to add his own quip. "It almost makes me feel okay that they're moochin' off of our credits."

"OUR credits?" She mock-scolded his characterization. She knew he was talking about their very sizable contribution to Ben and Rey's new life that included ships, land for the academy, and monthly living expenses. It didn't matter to her. They deserved it.

"What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours. Fortunately for me, the first part of that sentence is what's keeping all of us alive."

She smiled as she leaned back into him. "They're still finding themselves. Remember our first year after Endor? We were both so lost."

"Sweetheart, I was completely lost for at least three years after Endor," he corrected, remembering his time as a new father and as a reputable man with a famous wife.

"But you got there in the end, found a balance between home life and keeping up with your love of flying." She drew her hands to her chest to cover his. "Ben and Rey deserve that chance as well."

He agreed with that. "I want them to have what we didn't."

She knew exactly what he was talking about. "Family. A mother, a father…" And then her mind spun, projecting a future she hoped to see. "Grandparents…"

He frowned, she could tell his facial expression from the bite in his next words. "You're not old enough to be a grandmother!"

She chuckled at his exclamation.

"I'm already ancient, but you…" He brought a hand to her cheek and tilted her chin so he could look at her gracefully aging face. "You're eternally young."

"Keep talking, old man," she cooed.

"You'll still have time for at least two more husbands after I'm gone."

She pretended to think for a moment. "Probably. Why do you think I've been introducing you as my first husband all these years?"

"I thought that was a threat," he said as he held her tighter.

She opened her mouth to respond but cut her comment as she heard and then saw the two additional bodies that made up their family approaching from the mountain, hand in hand.

Han noticed her glance and they watched as the couple walked together, both choosing to enter into the next stage of their life walking side by side.

"You think they'll be happy?" He asked into her ear, his fingers coming to play with the wedding band on her own digit.

"I do." Her chosen words had a successful effect on him as he lifted her right hand to kiss the gems that sparkled on her finger before releasing her and taking a step back.

The ceremony was to be small, very small. Only one person more than Han and Leia had at their wedding, a whopping 4 people. The bride and groom, the officiate, and the officiate's husband.

They asked Leia to perform the ceremony. She had ample practice from her professional life, but all those previous times seemed like practice for today.

Ben slept at his parent's apartment the previous night, keeping with some tradition, but overlooking most others.

Leia spent her morning with Rey at her and Ben's house on the grounds of the academy doing simple preparations to get ready, brushing the girl's short hair, and doing her best to create a braided style she knew Ben would adore. Leia had gone with Rey the week prior to pick out an outfit for the occasion. Nothing too fancy, but still special. Leia relished in this girl time with another female, especially with a person as special as Rey.

She wasn't sure what Han and Ben were planning on spending their time doing, but when she returned to their home, they were both filthy, covered in grease stains from head to toe. She quickly deduced that they spent their bonding time in the bowels of one of their ships, probably the Falcon as Ben's vehicle was only a year old and Rey would never let either of them mess with hers without her express permission.

She shooed Ben off to the guest room to bathe and sent Han into their own 'fresher. Ben changed into his simple pants and a gray button-up shirt. Leia picked out a nice jacket for him to wear over top, nothing fancy but still special.

Once Han looked like a clean version of Han, the three of them drove to the grounds of the academy where Rey was waiting. Han made his way first to the mountain top they scoped out for the ceremony. Leia checked on Rey one last time before letting Ben go in to meet her. That was when she walked herself to meet her husband and wait for the couple to join them.

The couple walked toward the ordained Alderaanian Princess and her husband, hand in hand. Her, donning a ruched blue jumpsuit that covered her torso and hugged below her waist. There was extra fabric attached at the back waist that flowed behind her in the wind. He, sporting his button-up and jacket with his long hair slightly slicked back. They walked completely in sync through the meadow and up to the rest of their party.

They took their places, facing the other with the Princess between them. At her first statement, they joined hands.

She spoke from her memory, reciting the words she had repeated many times for many couples. This pair appeared to be no different. The groom couldn't move his eyes from his captivating bride. The bride stared right back with an adoring gaze.

Their hands were clothed in smooth, youthful flesh, yet weathered through war. Their faces, deeply set at the eyes with the trials and challenges they've faced. Their eyes, opened and scarred by images and experiences they never predicted. Time had changed them.

And yet here they stood, together on the other side.

When the time came the groom turned to the older man at his side and held out his hand. The man reached into his pocket, pulling out a familiar and exquisite sapphire stone set in gold. Handing it to the groom, he took the treasured family ring that Ben Solo picked out and slipped it on his bride's finger while reciting his promise to love, honor, and cherish her. She repeated his words, pledging her love till death do they part.

The Princess raised her right hand, gesturing to the bride and then the groom.

The words sparked action. The groom let go of his bride's hands, but only to move to caress her cheeks. The bride latched onto her groom's arms, pulling him close with her fingertips digging into his skin. He tilted her head, leaned in, and poured all the passion, gratitude, commitment, and love he could into his wholehearted kiss. She matched his devotion in earnest, savoring all they were together.

As soon as they broke, their family was there with hugs and congratulations for both of them. Leia hugged her now daughter-in-law while looking into the eyes of her smiling son.

"Take good care of him," she whispered to the girl as she reached her hands for her son to join their embrace. "And you take care of her."

"I will," they both answered through elated grins.

Han stood behind his wife as she stepped back from the couple. "Have fun, you two."

"They will," Leia answered for them with a knowing smirk and elbowing her husband behind her.

Ben turned his head to the side for composure before chastising them with a look. "Mom, Dad…"

They weren't listening to his retort. Leia still had Rey's hand in hers and was admiring how perfect the ring looked on the young girl's finger. "Fly safe."

"I will," they both answered again.

Leia took another step back, her entire being glowing at the young couple, her ultimate legacy. She raised her hand for a wave as Rey took Ben's hand. Their smiles biding their temporary farewells, then their heads turned, their feet carrying them back down the mountain and towards their future together.

"I love them both," his whispered voice found her ear.

She watched the last of their heads disappear into the valley before turning to the voice. "I know you do…" Her voice trailed off as she tilted her brilliant grin up to him.

"What?" He asked, curious about her serene expression.

"I like to hear you say it."

"I love you too," he confirmed as his head lowered to meet her forehead.

"I know that too."

Her smile turned once again to the vista before them, trying to take in this moment as the Naboo day slowly turned to dusk.

"Sit with me?" He asked as he took a few steps towards a grassy space and lowered himself delicately.

She watched as he stretched one leg out and bent the other. His one arm went to rest on his knee while the other stretched towards her. She held her skirts as she first knelt and then sat with her legs curled beside him, facing outwards towards the landscape. He let his arm rest on the ground behind her, holding some of his weight and allowing him to lean into her shoulder.

"You remember our wedding day?" She reflected.

"Course I do," he assured her, running through the entire day in his head. "I remember the look on General Rieekan's face when you said you wanted to marry that old smuggler."

She smirked. "I'm never one to be predictable."

"You can say that again." He turned from the view to look at something even more exquisite. "Now… I'm remembering after the wedding."

"Uh-hum," she cooed as she felt his breath on her cheek. "What about it?"

"Nothin' really." He shrugged, trying to maintain an air of passivity. "It was nice…"

She eyed him from the corner of her lids. "'Nice' is not the first word that comes to mind when I think about that encounter."

"Well," he offered a compromise. "There's a secluded lake down there. We could… compare notes…"

She snickered with an incredulous head shake. "Leave that to the youth, okay hotshot."

He pressed his lips together with his dejection. "Well then, what fun can we have?"

"Plenty." Her statement was followed by action. She twisted herself to fully face him. With their eyes fully locked on each other, she started low, snaking her palms from his belted waist with firm pressure all the way around his shoulders and raking down his arms. Her hands finally stopped on his biceps as they latched on and pulled herself closer.

He wanted to look away, but he couldn't. He wasn't far behind her as he tilted his head down, giving her the ability to reach his lips with hers. Her mouth parted slightly and he watched her tongue peek through her mouth to swipe across her pink lips. His breath came in quick labored gasps and he felt a surge of adrenaline shoot from his core to every nerve in his body.

Her active mouth manifested the feelings that were in her heart. She felt him reciprocate the message, his soul gripping her tighter, pulling her under.

In her haze, she pulled away only enough to catch her breath. She felt her skin burning where his hands ended up on her cheek and at the small of her waist. Her head tilted to the other side, knocking noses as the magnetic force pulled them in again.

The power of their caress forced him to lean back until he was flat on the ground. She didn't hesitate before moving closer so that the top of her body was resting on his.

He felt his chest swirl as soon as her lips touched his again. She was so warm. She let out a breath and he sucked it in a moment later. He couldn't follow his body's reaction. She had him wild, turned around inside. The desire was creeping heavy in his soul. He was on fire and she was the oxygen he still craved after all these years.

When she felt adequately sated for the public location they currently occupied, she pulled her head back and reveled in the hazy look on her partner's face. Taking a steadying breath, he snaked a hand around the back of her neck and let her head rest on his chest. With his other arm around her back, he pulled her impossibly closer.

A whizzing sound started low and distant, but immediately caught the attention of the man on the grass. He sat up, suddenly not even aware of the woman he had lying on him or the fact his jerk made her tumble to the ground.

"Han…" she chided confusedly.

"Shh…" He quieted her with a hand as his head turned towards their private hanger.

Now she saw what he heard. They watched together as a familiar ship rose from its hideaway, the streak of light igniting along its back. Steadily, it climbed higher. They had to tilt their heads back as it rose and twisted slowly, soon facing them head-on.

It didn't linger. No sooner had it reached flight height than it went into gear and rushed forward, exemplifying its title as the fastest ship in the galaxy.

Both their heads arched as they followed its path above them, watching until it left only a streak of light in its wake.

"They took the Falcon…" he managed with his jaw dropped.

She titled her amused face towards him. "You're surprised?"

"Yeah, I am! We buy them…"

She cleared her throat.

"You buy them," he corrected. "Each of them a new ship and they take mine!"

"You said they can always borrow her," Leia was trying to reason with him.

"Yeah, if they ASK me first."

"You said it would one day be Ben's ship…"

"I'm not dead yet!" He assured, turning towards her.

She let out a single chuckle at that as she de-escalated his temporary stupor with her hand pressing against his chest.

"You are most certainly not dead yet," she cooed as she returned him to his recumbent position.

Her hand snaked down his chest, rubbing her palm over the solid surface.

"It's their honeymoon, love. Leave them alone."

Her ministrations obviously relaxed him because after letting out one resigned sigh, he reached an arm to pull her back to her position against him.

She let him hold her and sighed into his chest. "You remember when we woke up on our first official day as husband and wife."

His fingertips squeezed into her waist. "I remember when you woke up."

"That was my favorite moment." She nuzzled his chest. "Something I know Rey and Ben will experience."

Han thought back to that day, that morning. "I laid awake the whole night trying to convince myself this was real. That I wasn't still searching for my life."

His core strength helped to pull his torso up, her body jostling as her hips fell to his other side, legs now curling across his hips. Her head now pillowed on his bicep as his hand stroked across her temple. He looked down at her as if it was that first morning together.

"But when you woke and touched my face…"

She did just that, caressing the love she found there.

"I knew that I belonged."

Note: So, the sequel I have in the works takes place about a month after the epilogue and a month after Rey and Ben were married. I would love you guys to share your thoughts on where you think Ben's head would be after all this happened. What does he want to do? Where would he find his professional calling?

Thanks much!