Disclaimer: It all comes together as characters that never existed before match up with ones that they shouldn't be paired up with in a universe that I don't own.

The dramatic conclusion...

When the fleet arrived at Coruscant, Han decided it wasn't quite time to wake Arryn or Leia, who had gone to sleep hours ago. He had managed to grab a few minutes but was unable to quiet his mind. He turned his grief into concern for his two passengers. He was there for Leia, but he was worried about Arryn. She seemed detached and disconsolate. He decided to make a call.

The voice that answered sounded gruff and unapproachable. "Yes?"

"Mareel," Han replied, unable to hide his dislike.

"Solo. I never expected to hear from you again," the man said, sounding amused.

"It's only for her sake that I even acknowledge you exist."

The man laughed, a grinding unpleasant laugh. "I appreciate that. To what to I owe this pleasure?"

"We just got back from Gehar, got their leader and all, but we lost Luke."

Mareel was quiet for a moment. "I see. That loss is going to be hard on the government. He was everybody's hero."

"Yeah. I know he wasn't your favorite. Just as a favor, I'm worried about Arryn. She's taking it kinda hard. Just thought you ought to know."

Mareel grunted. "I see. Are you in orbit?"

"Yeah, just getting ready to land. She's got to report to Mon Mothma first."

"I'll be home when she arrives."

"Thanks."

"Of course," said Mareel. "After all, she is my wife."

Arryn walked towards the Senate offices. She felt better after several hours of sleep and her mind seemed clearer. The sharp pain in the back of her mind was now a dull ache, one she knew would never completely go away. She still felt bone-tired. That, too, would take a long time to fade. She shook her head and tried to think about her report. She must focus and not lose control.

She entered the chamber where the senate was already in session discussing the end of the war. She walked onto the disc reserved for Jedi Council members and signaled that she was ready. Below her in the center she could see Mon Mothma reading her console and nodding.

"If you please, Arryn Mandrello of the Jedi Council is recognized," sounded the projected voice of Mothma. Applause broke out. Many knew of her contributions during the Rebellion and especially during the war. She commanded the disc to enter the vacant space where recognized speakers floated in their discs. It gently floated out then began a lazy orbit around Mothma.

Arryn looked at the senators, representing thousands of worlds. What she had to say would change many things.

"Senators, friends. I come with tidings both victorious and terrible. You may already know that we have captured the enemy leader Garn Bestid and beaten his forces." Applause echoed through the chamber, punctuated by cheers. Arryn allowed a small smile. They most likely had heard about it long before the Falcon had even landed.

"Still, losses were high and many are the hearts that are mourning. Among the Jedi fourteen of our thirty knights have fallen." Murmurs and cries of alarm were silenced by Mon Mothma. She took a deep breath. "Among them was the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. I stand here in his place."

She had no hope of continuing her report. Gasps and silence filled the chambers, if ever silence could. This news was too much.

"The Jedi Council will meet and appoint a new senate representative. We ask only for time, patience, and that his memory remain sacred." Her disc swung back to its resting place.

Mon Mothma looked at Arryn and even from that distance Arryn could see the look of shock on her face. "Thank you. May the Force be with you."

May it indeed.

Unwilling to answer any more questions after the senate closed, Arryn took the first transport home. She lived in a modest but decent apartment that she shared with her husband, Jaster Mareel. As she looked out the window, she watched the buildings and other vehicles go by like leaves on a river. Her thoughts were unorganized but quiet. She thought idly about what the planet would have looked like before it was converted into a giant city. Then her thoughts turned to her home world and the green fields she hadn't seen for many years and wouldn't see most likely for many more.

When she arrived home, the sun had set and the winter clouds were heavy with snow. Tightening her shirt around her neck she swiped her security card and entered her apartment.

The heat was on just enough to stave off the cold but not so warm as to forget the season. The lights gave off a gentle glow that turned everything pleasant and cozy. Arryn stripped off her jacket and hung it by the door. At the far end of the room a figure turned away from the computer he had been studying.

Arryn's husband, Jaster Mareel, was at first a startling figure to see. His face was scarred and his eyes were hawklike. Few knew that he had once been the infamous Boba Fett who met his fate in the belly of the Sarlacc on Tatooine, a victim of his own arrogance. He had, in fact, survived by blowing the creature up, severely injuring himself. Picking up where he had left off, he began bounty hunting again but his legacy was over. Desperate, he turned to the Alliance for work, eventually partnered with none other than Arryn Mandrello, the bounty he had caught and collected. An unlikely friendship developed between them that matured into a romance. Despite Han Solo's misgivings, not to mention half the Alliance, the two were married. Unable to respectably find work as a bounty hunter both from his image as Arryn's husband and because of his injuries, he turned his talents into training new recruits for the Academy under the name Jaster Mareel. His knowledge of tactics and strategy were renowned throughout the Alliance. He lived a quiet life with his wife. Only her and a few others knew his true identity.

Jaster turned and watched Arryn enter and hang her jacket. Every movement was strained, as if she was using her last strength just to walk inside. Her clothes were dusty and torn, he could see a bandage around her leg. She hadn't bothered to clean up for her appearance at the Senate, which he had watched. Now that the Senate meetings were available to the public, he had taken a keen interest on keeping an eye on the republic he had sworn his allegiance to. Tonight, however, he had only been watching one person who was now stumbling towards a chair.

So Skywalker was dead. He had almost received a rather large bounty for that man. Despite what Han thought and what Jaster made no attempt to dissuade him of, Luke had been the only one besides Arryn who really accepted and trusted him.

Arryn was now sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the wall. Jaster stared at her, his face unmoving. He was thinking. Suddenly he walked towards her and sat down next to her, all the while looking at her. She didn't seem to see him, didn't react when the couch moved.

They sat there unmoving for several minutes. Jaster then reached out and took her hand into his larger scarred one. She still didn't move, so he waited.

Her fingers slowly curled around his.

A single tear slid down her face.