This is the last chapter! This week has been so fun to do, thanks for reading!

Prompts: First Kiss & Found Family


"Why?" asked Qi'ra after a long flight to salvation, when she was lying bandaged in a bed in the Lars homestead. Leia sat beside her, and they'd both frozen when their fingers brushed. "Why can't we love each other except when they're watching?"

Leia paused, then went back to brush their fingers together, this time entwining them. "I don't know. I…" She swallowed. "I want you to fight."

"And I want to live."

"I want us to stay."

"I want us together, too."

"So why is it so hard?" Leia echoed. "Because I can't trust that you'll support me?"

"And because I can't trust that we'll both be alive after you've done what you do," Qi'ra replied. "I'm afraid to lose everything we've already built."

Leia grimaced. "I suppose it's about taking risks, then."

Qi'ra nodded, gripping her hand tightly. "I…"

She was struggling, so Leia said it for her. "I choose you."

Qi'ra relaxed, and managed to smile. "I choose you. I'll stay, though I've never stayed before."

"I'll trust you, and I'll live." Leia leaned forwards to press their foreheads together. "Even if living was not my priority before."

"You're far too much a good person," Qi'ra said fondly. "I do love that."

"And you're far too clever." Leia moved to sit closer to her, on the edge of her bed, looking down into Qi'ra lovely face. "And careful. And sensible, though I might have called it cowardice before."

"It is cowardice, perhaps," she admitted. "You're far too brave."

"Brave? This is the scariest thing I've ever done."

Qi'ra lifted her chin, eyes glinting. "So are you going to take the risk now, Princess?"

"I will if you will."

In the end, their lips met in the middle, soft and sure and trusting—and they made a promise to each other there, though no words were spoken. They had traded them at every opportunity until now, but here, they found no need.