"Good morning, Tahiri," Tekli's friendly voice greeted when she entered Tahiri's room a couple days after the end of the second Galactic Civil War. Crossing the room, Tekli set a tray of food down on the counter, then opened the viewport just a little.

"Morning, Tekli," Tahiri responded.

"How does your leg feel?"

"Fine. I hardly notice the pain. Thank you, Tekli."

The Chadra-Fan smiled genuinely. "You are welcome, friend. Now, I must warn you, you'll have visitors today."

"Visitors? The Solos."

"Believe me, they are anxious to see you, but Master Skywalker wants to see you first. And the Solos are- a bit preoccupied right now." Moving to check Tahiri's wound, she smiled. "Are you excited to see the Solos?"

"I don't know if 'excited' is the word for it. I just know I owe them a long apology-"

"And Leia a hug. That's all she needs."

Tahiri nodded. "And I suppose Master Skywalker is stopping by to give me the traditional light side, dark side recovery speech?"

"Perhaps. Though, I know that he wants to be sure you're alright." Like a stern parent, Tekli held out a finger and pointed it accusingly at Tahiri. "No more trips to the dark side, missy."

Tahiri smiled at Tekli's uncharacteristic joking mood rather than the joke itself. "Trust me; I have no plans to ever go back."

"Good. Then, I should think that Master Skywalker's visit with you will pass quickly."

Tahiri and Tekli's gazes both flicked to the door only a few seconds after she said that. Tahiri dropped her eyes to her lap, trying to prepare herself.

"I guess he's already here," Tekli supplied.

Luke Skywalker knocked softly; Tekli called out the appropriate 'come in' and the Jedi Master then did so. Tahiri forced her gaze to find him as he entered and the man smiled gently at her, a small smile that gave her some comfort. "Hello, Miss Veila," he said.

Oh, how times have changed, Tahiri thought with a bit of remorse. He should be calling her 'Jedi Veila', but Tahiri had destroyed that.

Luke was still standing by the door, though, and he looked back into the hall. Then, Masters Kam and Tionne Solusar joined him in the small room. Immediately, Tahiri's heart dropped into her stomach and made her feel queasy, a feeling she knew wouldn't leave her for a while. Dear Kam and Tionne. She loved Kam and Tionne. And that was exactly why she didn't want to see them. Dear Kam and Tionne, the Masters who'd practically raised her. Dear Tionne who had found her on Tatooine when she'd still been so young. Tionne had taken her and brought her to Master Skywalker's Praxeum where she'd grown up alongside a number of other Jedi students. But Tionne and Kam had been like parents to her. Almost. They'd been the best that she had had until Tahiri had grown close to Anakin's family.

The problem with seeing Kam and Tionne now was that they reminded her of her childhood, how she'd grown up, the person that she used to be. There was a sort of guilt that plagued her when she thought about the time she'd spent with Caedus. She felt like she'd disappointed them, failed them since the time that she'd left Yavin IV behind. She felt dirty and guilty.

But when Tionne's gaze found her, her eyes filled with tears- filled with relief and hope- and she hurried over to hug her. Tahiri nearly gasped aloud. "Ohh, Tahiri!" she cried and Tahiri heard Kam's gentle chuckles from where he stood by Luke. But he came over, too, and hugged her.

"It's good to see you, Tahiri," Tionne said, "We've missed you."

"Well, the academy sure has been quieter," Kam joked and everyone in the room had to either chuckle or grin.

"I thought I'd bring the Masters Solusar with me to talk with you a little," Luke began. Tekli provided him a stool and he sat off to Tahiri's side.

"Right," she nodded. "You want to talk about my little 'skirmish'."

"Actually, that's not what we came here for, Tahiri. From the report Ben gave me, I see no reason to press you about your actions during your time of partnership with Darth Caedus. He assured me that you're feeling guilty enough, it would be merciless of me to press you any further. However, I came here to ask you about something that might be even harder to discuss. I apologize in advance."

Tahiri frowned. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Tahiri," Kam said and rested a hand near her leg. "We came to debrief you."

The truth was almost a slap to the face.

Tionne was quick to throw her husband a look and Kam shrugged. "I'm sorry, Tahiri. That's just the truth, though. We have been assured that you're looking to rejoin the Order and that the events of the war are already long behind us."

"But I would at least like to know what started this," Luke explained. "This was my idea, my decision, so don't find fault in the Solusars."

Tahiri shook her head. "Of course not. So, what would you like to know?"

"Tahiri, before, I couldn't have imagined that you would take such a path to the dark side. Now-"

"You want to know what Caedus did to me."

Luke's expression remained deadpan. He was not surprised. "I had assumed Caedus had done something."

"Yeah, he did a lot, didn't he?" She sighed. "Well, it was him. Or, he drew me to the dark side, I guess you can say."

"But why?"

"The same reason I do anything anymore. Look, I know what you're wondering and I know exactly why I bothered following Caedus for so long."

Luke frowned.

"Anakin."

His frown deepened.

"Everyone knows that Caedus named his big Star Destroyer after him, but you have no idea how much Caedus used him." It took hardly a second after Tahiri spoke the words for tears to glimmer in her eyes. She could have cursed herself for falling for her own weakness so quickly. Come on, Tahiri, she told herself, It's time to be a big girl. You don't have to cry every time you think of him. But that never stopped the tears that she cried for him every day. "He used Anakin against me."

Where she sat in a small chair at Tahiri's feet, Tionne wore a sad-eye look.

Tahiri continued, "He knew that was all it would take. I was a tool for him. He needed to use me to get his dirty work done and he knew I wouldn't be up for that. So, he brought Anakin into it."

"Tahiri, if you don't mind me asking, how? Was it something he said about Anakin?"

"No," she shook her head. "It was empty promises. Promises that meant absolutely nothing. When he sought me out, the first thing he said to me was, 'Tahiri, would you like to see Anakin again?'"

Luke's face cleared. "Flow-walking."

Tahiri's gaze was elsewhere, though; somewhere far beyond. She added quietly, "I think it was at that moment that I lost myself."

"But he promised to take you flow-walking to see Anakin again?"

Tahiri smiled bitterly at Luke. "He promised me so much more. But they were all empty. Empty, meaningless promises that I should never have fallen for."

Kam leaned forward in his seat. "Tahiri, what exactly did Caedus promise you?"

"Well, he made many promises, but not with so many words. He knew how weak I am for Anakin. So, he didn't outright promise me so much as he led me to believe." For a moment, Tahiri blushed. "There was a moment on Myrkr between me and Anakin that- that I regret. That I wish I could go back and redo. So, Caedus let me believe that I could. He brought me back many times and I thought I had changed it-"

"But that's not how flow-walking works," Kam said.

Her mouth dry and her eyes wet, Tahiri only said, "He never told me that until the day I left."

"The day that Ben found you," Luke clarified.

"Yes. Because then, Caedus was so confident of his own victory. He didn't need any more use of me. So, he told me the truth and let me go. Anakin was the only thing keeping me tied to Caedus. The moment he let me realize the truth about the flow-walking, he lost every ounce of my loyalty."

"To be clear," Kam started. "Caedus never said anything about how one's presence in a moment of history through flow-walking affected the moment."

"No. When he brought me back to Baanu Rass, I just automatically hoped that flow-walking would allow for me to change things. I thought it did. I hoped it so much that it wasn't long before I had myself convinced; I truly believed that that was how flow-walking worked. Caedus knew that. So, he let me just keep on believing that."

"Was there any other reason to why you joined Cae-"

Tahiri just shook her head. "Anakin," she told them. "It was only ever Anakin." Tionne drew in a long breath and Kam shifted in his seat. "The mere possibilities of flow-walking amazed me. When Caedus first showed me, I could only think of all the things I wanted to do with it. I wanted to see Anakin again. I wanted to go back and redo so many moments. I wanted to cheat time and death and I-"

She stopped. But Kam, Tionne, and Luke all knew what she was leaving unsaid. I wanted to bring Anakin back.

"I was going to stop it. I don't know how. I don't think I ever got that far in planning. I just knew that was my goal. The bright light at the end of the tunnel that I was headed for." Tahiri shook her head at her own foolishness.

"Tahiri."

She looked up to meet Luke's gaze.

"Do you think there's any more potential for flow-walking?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think that, if used in a specific way, more could be accomplished by flow-walking?"

Tahiri considered for a moment before she stiffly shook her head. "No!" she shouted and the tears returned to her eyes with a vengeance. "No. Flow-walking is a dead end. Caedus taught me all there was to it and that's it! It's- it's a stupid trick! It should be banned! It's useless. Flow-walking just fills the Force with empty promises. Now, I'm sorry, Master Skywalker, but I don't want to discuss this any further."

"Of course, Tahiri. I apologize. Masters Solusar and I will take our leave now."


Mirax Terrik Horn stood before Luke's desk, patient while she waited for him to look up. Luke knew he was there, but he finished reading part of a report from Kyp about the Moff Council before closing the folder to pay the Corellian woman attention. He watched her fingers dance on the edge of his desk. She wasn't impatient; the woman just had so much energy and Luke wasn't sure that he'd ever seen her stand still for half a minute. He smiled warmly and part amusedly when he looked up. "Good afternoon, Mirax."

"Grand Master, still ever one for formalities, I see."

He shrugged. "Probably Leia's fault." He stood and accepted the hug she offered. Then, he saw Corran standing just behind her, though he'd already sensed him there as well. "How are you? What can I do for you?"

Mirax took Corran's hand and they adopted expressions of empathy as Mirax started in a gentle voice, "Never mind that, Luke. We came here as good friends, to see you. We're- worried."

Luke frowned. "Worried?"

"Well," Corran shrugged. "Everyone is. Not to be rude, but about your sister especially. Not that we would expect her to be around right now, but no one has heard from her and it's already been a few days since-"

Mirax cleared her throat and Luke understood. He raised his chin slowly, then lowered it.

"Everyone is just worried about Han and Leia. And Jaina. You said they're still in the medical ward?"

"Oh! Um, well, Jaina is still recovering," he lied. Jaina had already been admitted out of Cilghal's care. She'd been spending the last few days with her parents in the medward, watching over Anakin who still hung on a thread. But nobody besides the Solos, Luke, Cilghal, and Tekli knew any of that. "Master Cilghal said she'll be just fine, but she had some burns . . . "

Mirax's breath hitched and Luke didn't know how to respond as he looked between the husband and wife.

He swallowed. "But- she'll be fine." He said it in a dismissive manner, simultaneously shrugging and shaking his head as if it hardly mattered. "It'll be fine," he repeated.
Mirax gave a frown. "What about Han and Leia? How are they holding up?"

"Oh, well, you know Leia. She's- trying to tough it out. Han is holding her up." And Luke knew that was the truth.

Mirax nodded sadly and Corran showed a look of concern. "We thought we would visit Leia and Han. Do you think now would be a good time to talk to them?"

"No!"

Mirax and Corran both blinked, startled. "Uh, I just mean that I don't know if they want company right now."

Now, the couple nodded. "Of course."


Mirax took her husband's hand as they headed out of Luke's office. She steered him down a hallway other than the one they'd come from and Corran frowned. "Where are we going?"

"To see Han and Leia."

"I thought we just agreed that-"

"Oh, please, Corran!" Mirax rolled her eyes. "I just feel like we should stop by."

"You just- just feel like it."

Mirax shrugged. "I don't know. But they did just lose another son, another child. Sure, I get why everyone's going with the whole Jacen-died-a-long-time-ago-probably-shortly-after-Anakin thing, but we all know the truth. It doesn't matter what metaphorical view we have on it, that was their son. That was one of Leia's children, her son that she gave birth to. And the second one they've lost. I can't imagine how much they must be hurting."

Corran went with her reasoning and they walked down to Cilghal's medward in the basement of the base.

The halls were empty and Mirax figured that Cilghal and Tekli were taking a break. The Order demanded long hours of them and Mirax thought they deserved a nice, long vacation if Master Cilghal would ever agree to it.

"There." Mirax looked to see Corran gesturing down one short hall. She followed his guidance until they saw two dark shadows standing at the end of the hall; a man and woman. Mirax considered turning around as she realized she and Corran were interrupting a private moment. The man leaned down to leave a kiss on the woman's forehead, looked down the hall toward Mirax and Corran, then quickly disappeared out an exit door. The woman turned to look at them then took hesitant steps into the light. "Master Horn? Mirax? What are you doing down here?" Jaina stared at them with confusion, her mouth opened in surprise.

"Jaina!" Mirax hurried forward, just as confused as the younger woman. "What are you doing up? Your uncle told us you were still healing."

Jaina nodded mutely, her cheeks lifting up in a cringe just as a new voice joined them. "Jaina, I'm going down to the cafet-" Han Solo froze as he noticed the Horns standing there.

"Han," Corran said softly, stepping forward. "How is everything? Luke had told us that Jaina was still in recovery. We were worried."

"Right. Well . . . "

Jaina sighed. "I'm feeling much better. Thank you. We're just down here-" She stopped, then started over. "There's something you should see. We haven't told many people yet. Only Uncle Luke, Master Cilghal, and Tekli know. Just come." Jaina and Han turned to the nearest door and led the Horns inside. The spacious room was lit sparsely, the main light source being a dim, yellow panel off to the side of the room. Han flicked another light on and Mirax could then make out Leia's slumped form in a chair beside the med-bunk. Mirax paid all her attention to her. She looked so disarrayed like she could sit in the chair but not really be there. Her hair looked unbrushed and her gaze was so unfocused, but it flickered and quickly came to focus on Mirax who stood before her. Leia had herself curled up in a blanket and she dropped it to her lap as she sat up to acknowledge the other woman. "Mirax."

"Hey," Mirax said. She found a chair and pulled it over to sit beside Leia. She took her hands and asked her, "How are you?"

Leia shrugged. "Tired."

"Hmph."

"What are you doing down here?"

"Well, we thought Jaina was still in a medbed down here."

Leia looked over Mirax's shoulder to exchange a look with her own husband.

Confused and almost uncomfortable, Mirax added, "Corran and I thought we'd come see you and Han."

Leia just nodded slowly. "Jaina's fine."

Mirax blinked. She looked to Corran who just shrugged. "Um . . . " Mirax repositioned herself in her chair and leaned in close to her friend. "Leia, are you okay?" She spoke to her as if she were a child, and it hurt her to do so, but Leia truly did seem so far away. It was as if she were on a whole other planet in a far away galaxy, so distant from everyone else. She seemed lost like she'd lost her compass.

Mirax's words seemed to shock her back into the present just the tiniest bit. Her eyes bulged for a brief moment. "I'm fine, Mirax."

"Okay, well, is there any we," she motioned between herself and Corran, "can help you?"

Leia just stared at her for a long while. It made Mirax want to burst into tears herself. Then, as sudden as a flash, Leia's face cleared and she truly looked Mirax in the eyes. "I don't know what to do."

"What?"

"Come here." Leia stood and grabbed the edge of a curtain which hung around the medbed. She pulled it aside and Mirax- at Leia's encouragement- looked to examine who lay on the bed."Oh! Kriff!" She spun right back around, hardly believing her eyes, but Leia clung to Han and his eyes said it all. He believed it. A non-Force user. Not to say that Han was faithless, but he'd always been a bit more cynical and untrusting. There was nothing wrong with that. He was just more realistic and the Force had a tendency to clash with his ideals. If something smelled fishy, Han would plunge toward the more realistic explanation. As for herself, Mirax trusted her husband's Force instincts over anything else, but if Han believed this- that this unconscious person truly was his dead son-

Oh, what was Mirax to think? She hadn't been at the funeral to have seen Anakin Solo's body burn, but Luke Skywalker and half the Jedi Order had felt it the moment that the young legacy had passed into the Force. But then, how was it that he was here? She glanced at the monitors off to his side, each pronouncing him alive. His heart beat albeit slowly and his breaths were aided by their own machine, but there was nothing that went to say that he wasn't alive.

Looking for guidance, Mirax turned to her husband, but he was still studying the body, his mouth hanging wide open. So, she turned back to the Solos. But when they returned her gaze, Mirax lost all her words.

"We don't know how," Han mumbled in his own amazement. He left Leia's side and sat down at the head of his son's bunk. Leia, floating right behind, joined him. She thrust her hand through his hair and caressed his pale cheek. "He was just- there. In the same room Jaina was."

"Wait, when?! When did this happen? Where? I-"

Leia responded, "When we came to get Jaina out-"

"Off the Anakin."

She nodded, grimacing at the irony. "He was just lying there. Jaina has no idea what happened. She said that there was some sort of storm. Then, Caedus was missing, but Anakin was there."

At first, all Mirax could do was laugh. She came to the side of the bed where Leia and Han both sat and she gave a choked-off laugh and reached out to pat Leia's hand. "Leia, that's- this is amazing! I don't know how it is, but this is amazing! I'm so glad for you. For both of you!"

Han and Leia seemed to take the congratulations with mixed feelings as Han sort of winced and Leia's nose wrinkled.

They've still lost a son, Mirax had to remind herself. They're grieving at the same time as- how do they even deal with that? Mirax thought it a wonder and decided to tread lightly around this conversation. Unfortunately, she'd never learned the proper conversation etiquette for such a situation.

"How is he?" she asked softly.

While Han looked to her to respond, Mirax noticed that Leia had retreated back into her own world, completely focused on her son. She held his face between her hands, her eyes glassy with emotion. Mirax struggled to cope with the sight.

"He's hanging on," Han told her. "It's insane." He shook his head. "He has the exact same injuries he did from Myrkr. It's like he was just transported to the Star Destroyer."

"But he'll be alright?"

Startled, Mirax's gaze flicked up to see it was her husband who was asking. Seemingly having gathered back his wits, Corran gazed at Han with great sympathy while reaching a hand over to rest on Leia's. She gave him a small smile in acknowledgment. "Master Cilghal is still worried," she said. "When the rest of the team had come back, I'd had no idea his injuries were this bad."

"He's only breathing with a respirator," Han added. "A couple amphistaff wounds."

"He's weak," Jaina said simply. "He'd spent every ounce of his energy fighting. He just needs time to heal."

Mirax wanted to appear more hopeful, but she couldn't even get past wrapping her mind around the idea (Idea- not fact; this was too crazy and new for Mirax to consider as a fact.) of Anakin being alive again.

She brought her gaze back up to the bed. He was still there.

"I don't know what to say, Leia, Han," Corran was saying. "This is extraordinary! I do wish he makes a quick recovery."

Leia managed a soft-spoken, "Thank you," still more focused on the body which lay before her.

Sensing that nothing would be able to break the poor woman from her reverie, Mirax embraced her for a long moment, offered an encouraging smile, then took Corran with her and left.

Standing outside the medroom, Corran blew out a breath. "What on Coruscant did we just walk into?"


He walked in to find his sister and niece curled up together on a chair and their heads were slumped against each other. At the sight, Luke smiled because he was reminded of just how much Jaina and Leia looked alike. Wearing peaceful, innocent faces slumber, Luke turned to leave them; he was doubtful that either of the women had slept a decent amount in the last few days. Or, more likely, in the past weeks. He knew his sister and husband had been spending some great time in sorrow over their lost son and Jaina had been pushing herself to the brink in preparation for her duel against Darth Caedus. So, Luke didn't dare wake them now.

But, of course, as he turned to leave and crept out the door, Leia reached through the Force and tug him back. It always amazed Luke- since his sister had begun training under Master Sebatyne- how powerful and strong she was. Even though he knew it was wrong, Luke found it easy to forget that Leia had as much potential in the Force as him and that he was no stronger or more powerful than she. The Force came just as naturally to her.

When Luke turned back around, Leia was rubbing sleep from her eyes, careful not to wake her daughter who remained blissfully asleep.

"Hey, there," he greeted quietly.

"Hi," she waved. "What are you up to? Don't you have a bed to sleep in when it's so late?"

He smiled. "What about you? Is Han hogging up all the space?"

"We thought we'd stay here for the night." With a flip of her her, Leia indicated the medroom. "Han is just making a quick trip home to check on something. He'll be back soon."

Luke nodded. "So, you decided to stay here tonight. And last night. And the night before."

"I don't think I can leave this room. I'm stuck."

"Well, if you're stuck, at least take care of yourself. Where does Han keep going to? During the room, he was always good at making sure you ate. Have you even had anything to eat in the last 72 hours? Really, what's Han doing?"

Leia quickly looked away as she answered, "Han is taking care of a small thing at home. He'll be back in the morning."

Luke frowned. "He's staying at your quarters all night? Is everything okay?"

Leia waved away his concern, shaking her head. "Luke, it's nothing like that. It's fine. It's just a small matter he's looking over."

Luke pondered her explanation with some worry. What could possibly be keeping Han home at a time like this?

Sensing his worry, Leia elaborated, "We adopted a war orphan."

For a while, his confusion only mounted, but he read Leia's soft gaze and the reassurances she was sending him- and it came to him. His mouth opened in surprise. "A war orphan, huh?"

Leia put a finger to her lips and repeated, "A war orphan."

Luke nodded. "What happened to the mother?"

"She thought it was for the best." Leia offered no further explanation, no more words. So, Luke took the plunge and asked gently, "How is Anakin?"

Leia hesitated. "Stable."

Luke probed her feelings just a little and quickly became aware of a rising sense of guilt building within her. He did a double take, leaning forward to watch her carefully. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"Well, we both know that's not true. Come on. You can tell me. What's bothering you?"

She was silent for a long moment, refusing to respond, but Luke knew she would answer soon enough, so he allowed the silence and waited.

"This shouldn't be happening," she finally said. "This isn't right."

"Don't tell me you're upset about this."

Leia's eyes flared even though she knew her brother was only joking. "I mean- it isn't fair. And I feel bad because of it."

"Because . . . "

Leia found the courage to look him in the eye when she finally said it aloud. "You deserve to have Mara back."

It hit Luke squarely in the chest, but he knew Leia had done it on purpose. She wasn't going to beat around the bush. She truly felt bad and she felt the need to express that.

He assured her, "And you deserve to have Anakin back. This isn't something that should be blamed on someone else. And I certainly couldn't be mad at you for getting your son back."

Leia, with no words to respond, turned back to watch her unconscious son where he lay. "I don't know if I can deal with this."

"I think you can. It will be good. You have him back, Leia. That's all that matters."

"I have him back," Leia echoed, "and-" She broke off in silent tears. Her jaw trembled with sobs, so Luke kneeled at her side and awkwardly hugged her while she remained sitting with her daughter still lying in her arms. "You'll figure this out," he promised. "You and Han will figure this out and then it will be really great. It will be really great, Leia."

"Promise me that because I can't take any more of this."

Luke softly chuckled. "It will be."

Leia cried into his shoulder and Luke didn't mind. He watched his nephew over Leia's head until she turned back to watch him too. "This isn't how it goes," she said. "I could swear it was just yesterday we had his funeral!"

"Hey! Hey, relax," he tried to soothe, but found it hard as the same old memories were returning to him as well. It seemed like only yesterday that he had sent both of his nephews and his only niece along with fourteen other young students straight into the heart of Yuuzhan Vong territory. And only yesterday that he had felt the death of Anakin and the supposed death of Jacen and he had allowed Leia- in all her cold and molten, bitter rage, fury, and sorrow- to place the burden on his shoulders. Had he truly ever felt the weight of that burden leave him? He didn't think so, but- at the sight of Anakin now- he felt slightly relieved.

Luke promised his sister once again, "This is going to be really great."


AN: Hello, lovely readers! Thank you for checking out Revival; I really hope that you're enjoying this EU story. I'm really proud of how this chapter went, so I can't wait to hear from you guys (please!)

Now, while I still have your attention, if you hang out on Tumblr, might I suggest that you go check out starwarsotpositivity? It's a safe haven for Star Wars fans who need a place to flee the war in the SW fandom right now. If you need some positivity in the fandom or want to escape TFA canon, this is promised to be a wonderful place to stay and it's headed by the wonderful OtterandTerrier.

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