Disclaimer: I am not George Lucas, I am not making any money from this, and I do not own Star Wars, or any of these characters, although if he lets me use them I will return them in good condition, I promise!

Yes, I hate what the writers did to poor Tahiri too, so this is my attempt to put things (slightly) right. Normally I avoid writing like the plague, but I think that has something to do with the fact that people are usually telling me to write things, and not letting me write on my own.

Star Wars – Anakin Solo's Legacy

Chapter 1 - Evening

Anakin gazed into Tahiri's eyes. They sat close together, side by side on the edge of the bed in Anakin's small quarters in the Jedi base of Eclipse. The bare metal walls of the room weren't much for elegance, but at least it was private. "There's something I need to say to you, before... before we leave." The Jedi strike force's mission to Myrkr would leave within the week. Of the many jumbled thoughts racing through Anakin's mind, uppermost was the fact that either of them might well die on the mission, and he didn't want to leave so many things left unsaid between them. "I love you, and no matter what happens I will never stop loving you. Whatever happens on this mission, I want you to never forget that."

Tahiri gazed into Anakin's eyes, and read absolute certainty there. Through the lightheaded haze that seemed to fill her senses, she said, "I know. You have been my friend forever, and you saved me at Yavin 4. I barely know who I am sometimes, but trust me on this-" her voice firmed, "I will never forget you, and I will always love you."

Anakin jerkily reached his arm up to lay it on her shoulder, and managed to get it tangled in the bedcovers. As his arm rose, the covers dragged on it, and instead of touching her shoulder, he accidentally bopped her in the back of the head. "Ah..." His face turned beet red.

Tahiri looked at his expression, and just had to burst out laughing. "S... S- S-sorry," she gasped.

Anakin grinned. "I'm sorry. Beautiful girls make me nervous."

The unexpected compliment caught Tahiri off guard, and quieting suddenly, she looked at him, unsure how to respond.

"Tahiri-" his voice caught. He tried again, but no sound came out. Suddenly, he was struck by the hilarity of it all. Here he was, an almost fully trained Jedi. He could face down Yuuzhan Vong warriors without flinching. Yet present him with Tahiri, and he locked up completely. Their combined laughter broke the tension, and made it easier for him to get the words out.

"Tahiri, I love you, and I want you to be a part of my life, and to be a part of yours. Forever."

She froze. Her green eyes widened in shock. "You're not serious," she breathed. "You did NOT just ask me what I think you did." Emotions whirled through her, shock, disbelief, a bit of fear, and confusion, along with a strange giddy elation.

"Yes," said Anakin, their Force bond leaving him in no doubt as to what she meant. "I did." His voice radiated utter, bedrock conviction. "I know we're young-" That was about a four thousand percent understatement, thought Tahiri in shock. He was 17, she only 15. "-and that we're in the middle of a war. But if we don't say this now, we might never get a chance to. And I don't think I could live with that if..." his voice wavered. "If something happened." He looked away.

Tahiri took his hand in hers, and with the other gently lifted his head to look into his eyes. "Do you really want to marry me?" He nodded. "Even after what they did to me? What they tried to turn me into? What I almost became, what I almost did to YOU when you saved me?" She held her breath, fighting against the fear that he would say, 'No, you don't deserve me.' That he would scorn her for what she had done.

"Yes," said Anakin simply. He sent her a wave of the strongest love and reassurance he could manage through their bond to combat the fear and doubt in her mind. "I do. Will you?"

"Yes! Dear force, yes!" She collapsed sobbing against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. "What did I ever do to deserve someone like you?" she half mumbled through her tears.

"What did you do?" repeated Anakin. "You were you. That's plenty." He knew he was grinning like a fool, but at the moment he didn't really care. Suddenly, he realized that tears were sliding down his cheeks too.

Tahiri looked up at him. "Why are you crying?" she asked.

"Because I'm happy," he replied.

His simple reply grabbed her by the heart and pulled. She struggled to say all the things trying to crowd their way out of her, but couldn't manage it. So she simply pulled his head down to hers, and kissed him. Her arms went around him, and she kissed him with all the things she wanted to say, but couldn't find words for. For all the things she had wanted to say for so long. For all the times she had wished he could hold her. Through their bond, she felt him understand, and she clung to him while the world seemed to spin around her.

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So, what do you think? The story will continue for 2-4 more chapters, and a surprise is coming next chapter. Reviews will make it come faster! :-)

I never before realized quite what a harrowing experience it is writing such an emotional scene!