Epilogue

The Skydome Botanical Gardens was one of the most beautiful areas to visit on Coruscant. Built a long time ago by the Old Republic, before the rise of the Empire, and located on the top of a skyscraper that was separate from most of the rest of Imperial City, the Gardens contained thousands of different plants from over hundreds of worlds in the galaxy, giving the terrarium a natural and exotic appearance. It was the ideal spot to hold Hope's life day celebration.
Over a hundred of guests arrived, friends, family, Jedi students, and Republic leaders who came to celebrate not only their victory over Black Sun, but also for the third life day of the daughter of the Jedi Master who had helped make their victory possible. The celebration was held in the reception area, under a large ceiling window that displayed the stars that twinkled in the newborn night.
Callista smiled as she greeted the guests, wrapped in a mother-of-pearl silk gown. From the many faces, she saw Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar, Isolder and Teneniel, Leia's friend Winter, Lando Calrissian, Kyp, Tionne, Cilghal, most of Luke's original students, Wedge Antilles, Corran Horn, and dozens of other people Callista had met since she had been freed from the Eye of Palpatine.
She even saw Gaeriel Captison, and Mara Jade, and Augwynne Djo, who had just arrived on a personal shuttle from Dathomir, along with Kirana Ti's daughter, Arian. Callista smiled as she went up and hugged the old woman.
"I'm so glad you two could make it," she said. "I was afraid you wouldn't be able to." "Are you kidding?" Augwynne said. "I wouldn't miss this for the universe. After all, it was Hope who delivered us from the hands of the Nightsisters."
"Hello, Callista," Arian said, holding up a wrapped gift. "Where's Hope at? I want to give this to her."
"She's right over there," Callista said, "where all the kids are." She pointed toward one corner of the reception chamber, where Hope stood amidst a mound of presents a kids her own age, including Anakin's friend Tahiri, and Jaina's centaur friend Lusa. Hope squealed with delight as she opened Jaina's present, which turned out to be a kid's multitool. Hope smiled as she thanked her cousin and grabbed Jaina in a hug, and proceeded to open a gift from Jacen. Arian ran over to join the group of kids. Callista smiled as she saw Hope greet Arian with a hug, and went over to Luke, Han, and Leia, who watched the scene from the punch table. Luke smiled as he wrapped his arm around his wife and offered her a warm kiss on the lips. Callista relished every second of it, and when she finally pulled away, she smiled.
"What did I do to deserve that?" she asked her husband playfully.
"Existed," was all Luke said.
"Really?" asked Callista, her fingers curling around Luke's. "Well, in that case, may I ask for another one?"
"Your wish is my command," Luke said, as they kissed again.
"Hey, how come we don't do that anymore?" Han asked as he turned to Leia, a glass of juri juice in his hand.
Leia offered him an exasperated look and sighed. "Fine, Han, you want a kiss? I'll give you a kiss." With that, she grabbed him around the neck and kissed him, taking Han completely by surprise. At first, a cry of protest escaped his mouth, coming out muffled, then became more relaxed as the kiss became more passionate.
Luke and Callista watched the exchange with amusement. "Things certainly never change," Luke said.
"They certainly don't, my love," Callista said, as she looked over at her little girl, who had just finished opening Arian's present. Hope beamed as she pulled out a small brown-furred rancor doll from the gift wrapping, and she hugged Arian in gratitude again. "Look at her, Luke. She's so happy...I hope it stays that way for a long, long time."
Luke nodded, sensing his wife's discomfort at what the future might hold for their daughter. "It will, Callista," he said softly, stroking her hair as she leaned on his shoulder, gray, melancholy eyes watching Hope as she opened Anakin's present. "Trust me, my love...it will."
Callista looked into Luke's eyes, which shined at her with a beautiful blue glow. "Thank you, Luke," she suddenly said.
"For what?" "For everything. For being such a wonderful husband and father, for always being there for me, even when I don't deserve it." She thought back to their fight in the MedCenter, a distant memory to her now. "And for loving me."
"And thank you as well, Callista," Luke whispered into her ear, his breath sending ripples through her hair. "For being the best thing that ever happened to me..."
As the party continued, the music from Hope's favorite jizz-wailing band, Cookiee Navato's Favorite Proclamation, became louder and livelier. Luke and Callista exchanged a brief look, both thinking the same thing.
"Shall we dance?" Luke asked, offering Callista his arm.
Callista smiled as she accepted. "Lead the way, Master Skywalker." The two headed for the dance floor, arm-in-arm. They stood at the center of the floor, and began to dance, slow at first, then faster as the music began to speed up. Callista had always been a jizz-wailer fan, and as the music from Cookiee Navato's Favorite Proclamation entered her ears, she felt that old, familiar adrenaline she got every time she used to dance as a child return, and soon, the two dominated the dance floor.
Within seconds, Han and Leia joined them, and the rest of the guests followed suit. In no time at all, the reception area was alive with people dancing, while Hope continued opening presents. Luke and Callista remained the focus of the dancing. Their presence eclipsed those of everyone else, their love for each other burning stronger than any possible flame. Callista felt her muscles sing as she danced, a large smile on her face. She couldn't remember the last time she had enjoyed herself such as this.
When the dance was over, Luke and Callista were the last to finish. Luke took her in his arms and playfully dipped her back over his knee, and Callista laughed. As they stopped to catch their breaths, they noticed the other guests applauding them, cheers rising into the air. Han offered Luke a thumbs-up, while Leia smiled at the happy couple, who deserved some happiness after everything they had been through. Even Hope and her little friends were clapping, the life day girl shouting, "Yay, Mommy and Daddy!"
Luke and Callista bowed, and they climaxed the party with a beautiful, powerful kiss that lasted for what seemed like an eternity to them.

As the party drew to a close, and the guests began leaving, Callista went over to Hope, who was busy looking at all the presents she had received. At the moment, the little girl was fiddling with Jacen's present, a Slice-Me Dice-Me Jedi doll, complete with its own little lightsaber. Callista smiled as she watched Hope play with the doll, using its lightsaber to stab her rancor doll in the chest.
"Die, evil villain!" Hope said, making her voice sound deep. "I am a Jedi Knight! Beware, dark side, for here comes the light!" She turned and saw Callista sit down next to her, and she put the toys down, her face turning red.
"You didn't see that, Mommy."
Callista chuckled. "It's okay, Hope. I used to do that all the time when I was your age." She placed her arm around her daughter's shoulders. "Did you have a good life day, honey?"
Hope nodded. "It was the best life day I've ever had! I got so many presents...even from people I didn't know! I never realized I was so popular."
"Would you like to take a walk outside?" Callista offered. "And look up at the stars..." Hope beamed, and she nodded as she stood up. "Sure, I'd love to!"
Minutes later, they were standing outside the Skydome Botanical Gardens, the stars twinkling down at them as they talked. "Thank you very much for the party, Mommy," Hope said, as she held her mother's hand. "It was awesome!"
"Well, you earned it, Hope," Callista said, patting her daughter on the head. "I can't believe you're already three years old. Time sure does fly by, doesn't it?"
"You bet!" Hope declared, and looked up at Callista. "Um...what does that mean, time flying by?"
Callista laughed at that. "You'll understand when you're older," she said softly, as they began walking down one of the many paths leading back to the metropolis of Imperial City. "Are you ready for pre-school, Hope? You'll be starting in a few more weeks." Hope nodded.
"Yes, I am! And I can't wait! When can I go to Daddy's Jedi Academy?"
"Soon, Hope," Callista promised her. "Before you know it, you'll become a great Jedi Knight, and a defender of the New Republic against evil." She fought back tears at the thought of her daughter growing up. "I'll be so proud of you, Hope..."
"And you'll always be there for me?" the little girl asked, as she kicked at a pebble lying on the ground.
"Always," Callista said, kissing Hope on the crown of her head. "No matter what..." "Thanks, Mo--" Hope stopped. "Hey, what's that?"
Callista looked around. "What's what, honey?" "That," Hope said, pointing toward the ground ahead of her. "It looks kinda like a bracelet." Callista followed her daughter's direction...and felt her breath leave her in a wordless gasp. For on the ground, just in front of them, lay a small seashell bracelet. It was old and worn-out, and some of the seashells were missing or cracked, but Callista recognized the pink and red shells, shells that were only found on a ocean world such as Chad...and the memories came back.
Callista, just before her seventh life day, making the small bracelet for her mother. Callista, holding her mother's dying body seconds after she had taken the poison. Callista, setting the bracelet down atop her casket, her life shattered forever...
Callista watched as Hope went over to pick up the bracelet, unable to believe what she was seeing. The same bracelet, the same one she had made so many years ago for her mother, was now here, on Coruscant. How was that possible...
"It's real pretty," Hope said as she examined the bracelet with curious blue eyes. She looked up at her mother. "Do you think one of the guests dropped it on their way out?" Callista shrugged, trying to hide her shock. "I'm not sure. But it's yours, now, Hope." Hope looked up at her with a hopeful grin. "Wow. Really?"
Callista nodded.
"Yaaaay!" Hope cheered, as she put the bracelet on, which fit neatly around her wrist, and she went over to hug her mother. "Thanks, Mommy! You're the best!"
"Happy life day, Hope," Callista said lovingly, as she gazed up at the black, star-covered sky, wondering how in the universe this bracelet got here... And for a brief second, she could see Ben standing on that very same cliff on the Other Side, his brown eyes gazing up at the morning sky as Icari began to rise over the ocean, watching Callista and Hope hug under the Coruscant stars, smiling as he reached out toward his mother and sister...
"Thank you, Ben," Callista whispered, smiling up at the forever-twinkling stars.