DISCLAIMER: *trips Garen and retakes the Ring* A-HA! I have it! My One Ring of Unlimited Copyright Privileges! *is thunk'd on the head by Kit Fisto, who takes the Ring* ARGH!

I don't own Star Wars.

Sorry guys, it's another death fic, although it's Zara this time. It's also a songfic to "Lucy", done by Skillet (BEST BAND EVER!). All I've done with the lyrics is swap "Lucy" for "Zara". Let me know what you think! I'll try to post a happier one-shot later. (When I'm not supposed to be working on that book report...)

Ren Ankh: Thanks so much for all the reviews you've been leaving! Wow, Chapter Two made you cry? I wonder if you've read Chapter Three yet... ;) You rock for reviewing!

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Hey Zara, I remember your name

I left a dozen roses on your grave today

I'm in the grass on my knees, wipe the leaves away

I just came to talk for a while

I got some things I need to say

"Hey, Padawan." Cin knelt in front of the humble marker, showing where Zara's ashes had been spread two weeks ago. He set his bundle of Alderaanian roses down in front of the stone marker. "I hope you still like roses. I found your favourites."

He paused for a moment, resting his hand on the cold stone. His fingers traced the inscription on the stone, giving Zara's name, date of birth and date of death. Underneath was carved one simple rose. Roses were her favourite flowers.

He settled back, sitting cross-legged in front of the marker. "I hope you're free in the Force now, Zara. I hope you're not hurting... hurting the way I am." He forced himself to hold back the tears that sprang to his eyes. "If you'll still listen to your failure of a Master, can I talk to you? I need someone who'll listen, and no one else will."

Now that it's over, I just wanna hold her

I'd give up all the world to see

That little piece of heaven lookin' back at me

Now that it's over, I just wanna hold her

But I gotta live with the choices I've made

And I can't live with myself today.

"... I'm sorry, Zara." After half an hour of talking to his Padawan's grave, Cin's cheeks were wet with tears. "I've failed you." He looked down at the roses strewn on the grass in front of him. "If I could ask the Force for anything, I'd have you alive and in my arms right now. But I don't deserve it, after failing to protect you. Forget that; I didn't deserve you while you were alive, Padawan. I wish I could have you back, more than anything. I should have been the one who died instead of you." His voice broke as he held on to the marker, finally allowing himself to cry for his dead apprentice. "I'm so sorry."

Hey Zara, I remembered your birthday

They said it'd bring some closure to say your name

I know I'd do it all different if I had the chance

But all I've got are these roses to give

And they can't help me make amends

"You'd be twenty years old today, Zara." Cin knelt in front of the grave, cradling a small rosebush in his hands. "I should be taking you to one of the pubs in Lower Coruscant to celebrate your coming of age, instead of talking to your gravestone." He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumped from old grief. Despite Zara having died almost six years ago, the wound in Cin's heart was still raw and bled easily.

"I did bring you something, though." He started scooping out a hole in the soil with his hand, big enough to hold the roots of the rosebush he'd brought. "You always did love white roses. I hope you like this." He carefully planted the bush in the hole, patting down the dirt over the roots. "It looks like that one you saw on Alderaan once, remember? The one you said was possibly the most beautiful plant you'd ever seen. It looks a little scraggly right now, but it'll grow up to be as beautiful as you were."

He sighed again, remembering his other reason for coming to visit Zara's grave. "Yoda wants me to take on a new Padawan. He said it'll help me heal from your death." He looked at the shrub, his fingers stroking one pale bud. "I don't know, Zara. You were something special, as everyone admits. Even Yoda acknowledged that you could never be replaced. But he says that I'm still wallowing in grief over you- and I think he might be right. Even Obi-Wan's gotten over your death, as far as I know. I mean, he still misses you, but I don't think he wakes up almost every night from nightmares."

Cin reached around the rosebush and touched the stone marker. "The worst of it is, I think the Force is pushing me to one Youngling in particular. Her name's Serra. I think you would have gotten along great with her. Since Yoda says you're in the Force now, I guess you have a hand in this..." He touched his forehead to the granite, fighting a new wave of tears. "But I don't know if that's true. Shouldn't I be able to feel you in the Force if you're there? Please Zara, let me know you're there and listening, please." His shoulders shook with sobs as he continued to grieve for Zara.

When he glanced up a few minutes later, he gasped when he realized the rosebud he'd been touching earlier was blooming, white petals glimmering softly in the shadows caused by the leaves. Cin reverently touched the flower, new tears of joy on his face. "Thank you, Padawan."

He could have sworn as he left that he felt laughter come from the long-dead bond in his mind.

Here we are, now you're in my arms

I never wanted anything so bad

Here we are, for a brand new start

Living the life that we could've had

He desperately moved against Skywalker, only to realize he was half a second too slow. He would have screamed as the lightsabre blade sliced into his chest, but only gurgled as his lungs gave out on him.

He fell to the ground, trying his hardest to shout through the Force for Kichan to run. But he didn't think his fledgling bond with his new apprentice was strong enough to carry the warning. He glanced up to see a good-sized shrub above him, white roses stained with his blood.

The last thought that came to mind before the Force took him was, I'm under Zara's rosebush. I'm dying on Zara's grave...

Then everything faded into a white light.

Me and Zara walking hand in hand

Me and Zara, never wanna end

Just another moment in your eyes

I'll see you in another life in heaven

Where we never say goodbye

He blinked as he entered the light of the Force. All he could see was white, everywhere he looked. He supposed that the brightness should have made his eyes ache, but he found that nothing hurt, even his chest where he'd been sliced in half.

As his eyes adjusted, he could see shapes moving around. Mace Windu raised a hand in acknowledgement, and... Force, was that Qui-Gon Jinn, standing beside Dooku? And Serra, waving from over there?

Joy not felt for over twenty years surged in Cin's heart. He looked around, seeking one certain little red-head...

"Master!"

Here we are, now you're in my arms

Here we are for a brand new start

Got to live with the choices I've made

And I can't live with myself today

Cin wept new tears of happiness as he swung Zara up into his arms, holding her as if their lives depended on it. "Oh, Zara..." He kissed her face, moving from hair to forehead to cheek. "Padawan..."

For her part, Zara clung to him as tightly as she could. "Master, I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, little one. Oh Zara, I'm so sorry..." Cin's grip on her tightened. "I'm sorry for everything."

"There's nothing to be sorry for." Zara pulled away from him, lightly holding his face in her hands. She looked happy, and much healthier than the starved, beaten shell that had burned on the pyre all those years ago. "If anything, I need to thank you."

Cin was startled. "Thank me? For what?"

Zara smiled, before taking Cin's hand and leading him to a large shrub. She picked one white rose off of the bush and held it up to him, whispering, "You remembered my roses."

Cin gently took the rose in his fingers, breathing in the light scent. He reached out for Zara, holding her close to his chest, feeling her wrap her arms around him. She stretched up, kissing his cheek. "We have eternity together now, Cin. We'll never be separated from each other again."

Cin squeezed her. "Don't ever leave me again, Padawan."

"Never, Master." Zara rested her head against Cin's heart. "We'll never have to say goodbye."

Hey Zara, I remember your name.

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I cry so much during character death fics... Why do I do this to myself? Oh yeah, I got bit by a Skillet-obsessed plot bunny. *sighs*

Speaking of Skillet songfics, there's a new poll on my profile. Check it out!

Thanks for reading! Please review!

Xaja