4BBY: Planet Kessel

Jyn had been alone for two solid months. It had been two months since Saw Gerrera had abandoned her in an almost strikingly similar way her mother had. They both left her in a hatch. Jyn was moving on from that, though. Her spirits, which had been deflated these past months, had lifted after she finally found a solid lead on the whereabouts of Kenna. This is what had led Jyn to Kessel. It was a planet renowned for its spice minds and dealings in slavery.

Jyn cursed at the sweltering heat and smell that had hit her like a wave as she exited the transport shuttle. She had anticipated such a climate and dressed accordingly; rust-coloured pants along with a shade-lighter, sleeved shirt. Blending into the arid environment was ideal, but she took no risks and made sure she picked up a sandy-coloured scarf she could use as a hood.

From what she could piece together, Kenna had been running a band of criminals in the underground movement of the Kessel Spice Trade. What Kenna's work actually entailed, Jyn did not know. Kenna had always been unpredictable, but she was the only person Jyn had left.

This was the first time Jyn had set foot on Kessel. It was a planet Saw had expressed his hesitation in her coming here whenever business arose. Growing up, Jyn knew Saw had protected her from matters that were even more extreme than the norm. Had something happened here on Kessel Saw hadn't wanted her to witness? A slaver led a single file of wookie slaves all chained by the wrists. Their heads were bowed and Jyn felt her heart fall at the sight. Her fingers twitched around the baton which was firmly tied at her waist. Why had Kenna decided to move here? Jyn had been here all of ten minutes and already hated everything she witnessed.

She found her way down a market alleyway where the delicious aroma of cooking foods wafted over Jyn. Her stomach growled; she hadn't eaten in over a day. She had spent the last of her credits getting here, and if she were to get more Jyn needed to find Kenna. Stealing credits was a tempting thought; the more she looked around, the more she realised she couldn't do that. Not to these simple people. The salvers perhaps, but they were tightly secured in their lavish homes far away to the south. Jyn soldiered on, refusing to meet eye contact with anyone who passed her. Kenna had been using a symbol to mark her territory throughout the slave city. Her resource had suggested she use those symbols to find someone connected to Kenna's gang. The symbol was the letter 'K' with a red slash crossing vertically. Jyn first found it behind a market stall selling handmade mining bags. The owner noticed where Jyn's gaze had landed and leaned in close.

"What's with the interest?" she asked. The merchant was an elderly human with a hunched back. She used a cane to keep herself standing.

Jyn looked behind her to make sure no one was watching. "That symbol."

"Need help?"

Jyn eyed the merchant cautiously. "With what?"

"Anything."

"I'm looking for someone," Jyn confessed.

The elderly merchant shifted to the side to give Jyn a better view of the symbol. "They can help you track people down. For a fee, of course."

"Can I speak to the leader?"

The lady croaked a laugh. "Nothing goes on around here without her knowing."

"Who?"

"Kenna."

Jyn was surprised Kenna had been using her real name. "I'd like to see her."

The lady muttered to herself as she hobbled over the curtain hanging behind the stall. She gestured for Jyn to follow. She pulled the curtain aside to reveal a narrow, crooked passage. "Through there. It'll lead you out into the adjacent courtyard. Keep walking until you find the statue; you can't miss it. You'll find another symbol there on a loose brick. Under it, you'll find the address."

"That's it?" Jyn asked incredibly.

The merchant laughed again. "First contact is always messy. Don't say you weren't warned."

Jyn stepped passed the curtain and let it fall behind her. It was so narrow that Jyn had to walk sideways in order to move. It was a long process and Jyn came to the conclusion this hadn't been a pathway originally. Perhaps a crack in the building had split it open. Kriff knows what goes on around here, despite the obvious of course. The statue was a large, clay impersonation of a human male Jyn didn't recognise. She shaded her eyes against the harsh sun as she stared up at the statue. Ugly. Absolutely ugly. She circled the statue, looking for the next symbol and found it on the ground behind the tall figure. The bricks were hot from being in the sun and Jyn had to remove her hood so she could protect her fingers from the heat. She mumbled curses as she fiddled with the brick until finally loosening it so it would remove. The address was a street name and the single number '6'. Simple enough, she thought as she placed her hood back over her head.

Jyn's stomach was grumbling louder by evening. Her head felt light from the lack of food and water. It had taken her the last remaining hours of sunlight to weave her way through the dirty streets in order to find this particular street. Only some roads had allocated names and of course there was no map to refer to. She stood outside the door that had a large red painted '6' on it. There were no streetlights in this area, only small bonfires lighting the street every few hundred meters. The doorway was situated in a large row of what appeared to be housing. A few windows had light flickering away, but the window above the door she stood in front of was pitch black and unwelcoming. Taking a deep breath, Jyn stepped up and knocked loudly. Waiting, and then more waiting. Finally, the door creaked open and a dark-skinned man with a two braids revealed himself. He was dressed in black and had a rifle slung over his shoulder. He eyed Jyn up and down, smirking.

"Well aren't you a pretty little thing," he remarked, opening the door wider. "Come on in."

Jyn stepped over the threshold into the dark room. The man slammed the door shut before grabbing Jyn's wrist and tying them behind her back. Jyn struggled, kicking the man in the shin. The man retaliated by pushing her down to her knees. He leaned down so Jyn could feel his breath tickling against her ear. "Now be a good girl or I'm going to blindfold you."

Jyn bit her lip to prevent a string of curses from flying out. The man walked over to her right and turned on a lamp. The room was empty except for a single chair that was placed in the centre of the room. Behind the chair Jyn noticed a door. The man took a seat, leaning his elbows on his knees. "What brings such a fine creature to this homely estate?"

Jyn rolled her eyes. "I came looking for a friend."

The man hummed and nodded. "So you want help tracking someone down?"

"I already tracked her down," Jyn replied. "I tracked her here."

The man chuckled. "Oh really? And pray tell me, what's her name?"

Jyn finally smirked. "Kenna."

The man stared at her for several moments, jaw clenched. Her stood up and left through the back door. Alone, Jyn struggled with the coarse ropes that bound her. Her wrists felt raw from her struggles and soon enough she felt blood trickling down her left hand. The back door swung open and another man; tall, pale with sandy-coloured hair appeared behind the first one. His clothes were in better shape and he was clean-shaven. He walked over to where Jyn was kneeling while the first man sat back down.

"My name is Barn," the pale man said, kneeling in front of Jyn. "Right hand man of... Kenna."

Jyn arched her brow. "You?" She laughed. "I gotta say you don't look her type."

Barn smirked. "How do you know Kenna?"

"Does it matter? I want to see her."

Barn stood up and placed his hand on the dark-skinned man's shoulder. "This is Vorno. If I give the word he will haul you down into the spice mines where you will never be heard of or seen again."

"Oh please," Jyn spat. "Do that and Kenna will have both your heads." Jyn levelled her shoulders. "Intimidate me all you want but once you tell Kenna that you have denied her a reunion with her childhood companion, it'll be you two who will be sent to the spice mines."

Barn and Vorno were not pleased with her defiance. They shared a look before Barn exited the room. Vorno kept his eyes locked on Jyn, expecting her to break free of her restraints. Jyn matched his glare, not backing down. They remained like this for almost half an hour before the back door flung open. Jyn inhaled deeply, her eyes watering as she saw her. Kenna.

Kenna looked different from their last encounter. Her hair was actually pulled back into a messy bun. Her olive skin had tanned darker from her time in the Kessel sunlight and her lean body was more muscular. It was still Kenna though. She looked at Jyn as if she were a ghost come to haunt her. Her body was still but her eyes darted all over Jyn.

"Vorno, removed the bindings," she said. Jyn's heart fluttered at the sound of her voice. How many times had she hated hearing Kenna speak over the years? It felt good to hear her voice for once.

Jyn rubbed her wrists as she stood up. She managed a small smile. Kenna stepped over to her, her fingers twitching.

"Jyn," she breathed. "Kriff Jyn is it really you?"

Jyn smiled wider, nodding. "Yeah. Surprise."

Kenna choked on a laugh as she pulled Jyn into a tight embrace. "I can't believe it's you. I never thought I'd see you again."

Jyn returned the embrace tightly. "I could say the same thing."

They held each for ages while the two men shuffled awkwardly near the back door. Kenna was the first to release. She looked Jyn up and down. "What are you doing here?"

At her words, Jyn's last memory of Saw flashed across her mind like a holofilm. She swallowed hard, not wanting to cry in front of Kenna. "I ah... well... Saw left me behind on our last mission. He never came back for me."

Kenna was in disbelief. "No kriffin' way!" Kenna stepped back, mortified. "He left you?"

Jyn sadly nodded. "Yeah in a bunker. Told me to wait it out. It was a ruse."

"Kriff, Jyn, I'm sorry."

Jyn merely shrugged. "I came looking for you. Took me a while, but... well... I..."

Kenna placed two fingers over Jyn's lips and smiled. "You want to stay with me?"

Jyn nodded. Kenna removed her fingers and grinned. "Just like old times?"

Hopefully not entirely like old times, but Jyn wasn't going to say that aloud. "Yeah, just like old times."

Kenna nodded appreciatively. "You were always better at close combat than me."

"So that's a yes?"

Kenna laughed and pulled Jyn back into another hug. "Yes! Kriff yes! I could ask no one better to be by my side!"

Jyn managed a genuine laugh for the first time in months. While Kenna was not the most stable person, Jyn trusted her enough to never do what Saw Gerrera had done to her, and while she had missed Kenna over the years, part of her had been relieved to see her go. All that aside, it felt good to be reunited.

...

0ABY: Rogue One

Bodhi and Cassian sat up in the cockpit while Jyn sat back at the tech station; her feet lazily up on the panel. She was fiddling with her kyber necklace, trying to find a new crevice or sharp edge she hadn't seen before. Ever since they left Etheron her kyber had returned to its usual calming self. It was a comfort for normality to be back. Sleep had eluded Jyn; every time she closed her eyes she felt herself back deep underground. If she could sleep with her eyes open she would have as the light in her bunk gave her a sense of security. Cassian had settled in his own bunk, door open. While Jyn had left hers open to avoid the feel of claustrophobia, Cassian had left his open to keep an eye on her. He napped for no more than an hour before getting up to join Bodhi. His absence had left Jyn feeling cold and alone.

"Are you hearing this?" Bodhi said from the cockpit.

Jyn cocked her head up at the sound of his voice. Bodhi was leaning over the communications panel while he fiddled with the dials. Cassian brought his head close to Bodhi's, listening.

"It's a distress call," Cassian mumbled, frowning with concentration.

Bodhi check the screen. "It's coming through alliance channels only."

Cassian moved to check the sensors. Interested, Jyn made her way over to them, casually leaning behind Cassian's chair. "What's going on?"

Bodhi replied, not looking at her: "Picking up an alliance distress call coming from..."

Cassian pointed at the sector on the screen. "Savareen Sector." He paused, running his hand across his chin. "It's the same sector Scarif is in."

Jyn's interest piqued even more. "Survivors?"

"Maybe," Cassian replied. He widened their view of the sector. "The signal is coming from here, Nelvaan." Cassian ran his finger along the distance from Nelvaan to Scarif. "It's close by. Very close by."

"Closer than Tatooine," Bodhi remarked.

"We should check it out," Jyn declared. "If there are survivors they need to be found."

Cassian hesitated. "We need to deliver our intel to Delta Base."

Jyn refrained from rolling her eyes. Ever the good soldier. "It's on our way to Delta Base and we're not that far out from Nelvaan."

"Jyn's right," Bodhi said, smiling up at her. "We could make orbit around Nelvaan and try to make contact with any survivors. If not, we could do a fly over the area the signal is coming from."

"Cassian," Jyn spoke softer, "it's the least we could do for them... considering..."

The Major nodded. "You're right."

"We'll be there in... thirty minutes," Bodhi said. "Won't be long."

Nelvaan was an icy planet inhabited by the Nelvaanian species. As Rogue One soared through the atmosphere, mountains, forests and crystal clear rivers came into view. They had been unable to make contact with any alliance personnel that may have been on the surface, so they made their way towards the distress signal.

"Just through that valley," Bodhi said, pointing to the curve in the terrain.

Jyn glanced to their left and noticed what appeared to be a village built out of the rock of a cliff. "There's a village over there."

Cassian craned his head to see. "Could be useful. We'll check out the crash site first."

Rogue One landed a few hundred metres away from the downed UT-60D transporter. Cassian donned his heavy blue coat and sighed as he glanced at the thinly layered outfits worn by Bodhi and Jyn. "We will have to get you two winter gear once we get back to Delta Base."

Jyn shrugged, zipping up her jacket. "I'll cope."

Cassian chuckled. "You coped well enough on Jedha, yes. But this planet is far colder. You can stay on the ship if..."

"Cassian, I'm coming. End of discussion." Jyn wrapped her scarf around her head and exited the shuttle first.

Cassian and Bodhi ended up leading Jyn and Tonc while the others remained behind. The wind was icy; their breaths were visible as they exhaled. Jyn's cheeks were a soft pink and she felt the cold penetrating her boots. A tempting thought to go back to the shuttle crossed her mind, but Jyn shook it away. She would not let cold weather ground her.

The downed UT-60D was half submerged in the snow, indicating the crash had resulted in a nose dive. Bodhi examined the rear twin engines while Tonc made a survey around the shuttle. Jyn followed Cassian onboard; the sliding main entry door had been torn off, allowing the icy environment to take a firm hold inside. There was no one board; no bodies.

"Check to see if any of the supplies have been taken," Cassian ordered to Jyn while he poked around the control panels.

The supplies onboard had been stripped as well as a few of the collapsible chairs. "Looks like they stripped everything they needed before leaving."

Cassian left the cockpit, to fiddle at the comms station. "I just deactivated the distress signal. Hopefully no imperial troops picked it up before we did."

"Major Andor," Tonc called from outside. He was waving through the port viewpoint and pointed towards the tree line to his left.

Jyn and Cassian walked out and around to the front of the ship. "What is it," Cassian said.

"I think there's a grave over there," Tonc replied. So there was. A grave had been erected several metres past the tree line. A small mound of dirt that was once freshly packed was now covered the snow. Rocks lined around the grave adding a permanent fixture. There was no marking of who had been buried, but they guessed it had to have been a former survivor of the crashed rebel ship.

After their grim discovery, Bodhi informed them that the turbo generator had been hit either during the Battle of Scarif or during their escape.

"The ship was lucky to make it this far," Bodhi remarked. "Luck was on their side or a damn good pilot."

Jyn looked up at the cliff side. "Maybe we should try the village."

Cassian followed her gaze and hesitated. "It's a long hike and we don't have time."

"We can go," Jyn continued. "You and me. The others can stay behind. It'll be quicker that way."

Cassian glanced back up at the cliff before returning his gaze to Jyn. Such determination, he thought wryly. It had been that same determination which had resulted in the Death Star's ultimate destruction. Without that determination, who knows what would have happened to the alliance or the galaxy for that matter.

"Tonc, Bodhi," Cassian began, "head back to the shuttle. Inform the others Jyn and I are heading for the village. We'll keep in radio contact; direct link only. I don't want anyone knowing we're here."

Fortunately their hike was not to be in vain. They found a small trail weaving its way up the cliff side. It was well used, providing a non-slippery trek. Jyn crossed her arms as the cold wind grew sharper as they ascended. Cassian noticed. He wanted to offer his parka, but knew she would not accept it. She was stubborn and determined. He smiled to himself, wishing she would allow him to help her more than the few rare occasions she granted another to enter the small private enclosure she surrounded herself in.

"Are the natives friendly," Jyn asked, staying close behind Cassian in an attempt to use him as a shield against the wind.

"Friendly enough," Cassian replied. "Not technological advanced enough to travel beyond this planet."

"Would they have attacked the rebels?"

"Not unless provoked," he replied. "There was no evidence of a fight or struggle back at the crash site."

Just as they were about to reach the top, a tall, blue canine creature appeared in front of them wielding a spear. His hair was black and his face bore a long snout. He placed the spear in the ground between him and the rebels.

Jyn stood close behind Cassian, unsure what to do. The Nelvaanian's stance was not hostile and his spear no longer remained in his grip. She decided to leave it to the infamous rebel spy to do the talking.

"My names Major Andor," Cassian began. "We have come looking for our comrades. Their ship crashed down in the valley below."

The Nelvaanian lowered his eyes to meet Cassian's. "Andor."

Cassian gave a curt nod. "Major Cassian Andor."

"Cassian Andor," he repeated. "Your name is familiar here."

Jyn mimicked Cassian's surprised expression. The Nelvaanian tilted his head to get a better view of Jyn. Cassian shifted to the side as Jyn stepped forward.

"Jyn Erso," she said.

"Jyn Erso," he repeated. "I know that name to. They tell stories about you."

Well that bit of information surprised Jyn more than anything. "Who?"

"The survivors from the crash. We rescued them many weeks ago. Our women tended them back to health."

"May we see them," Jyn asked, desperate to know who had survived this crash and evidently told stories about her and possibly Cassian too.

"Follow me."

Cassian and Jyn exchange a look as they were led into the village. It was much warmer here with many Nelvaanians stopping to stare curiously at the newcomers. A few children pointed and whispered to each other before running into their homes. They weaved through hollow stalagmites standing tall from the floor which had been turned into homes and rooms. The Nelvaanian led them into the back of the village to a large carved out circular area that had a large bonfire lit in the centre. The floor was strewn with woven rugs and makeshift seating. Baskets of food lined the curved wall at the back and paintings danced across the walls in beautiful patterns. The Nelvaanian gestured for Jyn and Cassian to enter as he stood guard out the front. Stepping inside Jyn felt all her blood rush away from her head as she saw who was sitting at the bonfire.

"Chirrut... Baze?" she all but whispered. She gripped Cassian's wrist to keep herself steady. Two other rebels sat with them; Sergeant Melshi and Corporal Mefran.

Chirrut was smiling at the bonfire as if knowing Jyn and Cassian were to eventually find them. Baze stood up, walked over to Jyn and hugged her tightly. "Little sister."

Jyn had tears forming in her eyes and she grinned into Baze's chest, amazed and shocked at the same time.

Cassian was speechless. He stared at the four men, unable to fathom how they escaped from Scarif. He clasped Baze of the shoulder, smiling warmly before making his way to the bonfire. Melshi and Mefran stood up, looking very relieved.

"Captain Andor," Melshi said. "I cannot believe it."

"Did I not say we would be rescued," Chirrut said smugly.

"Yeah, but," Melshi said.

Cassian clasped hands with the sergeant before repeating the act with Mefran. "I have so many questions."

"We all do," Melshi said. "News is nonexistent on this freezing rock."

Baze and Jyn joined the group and she sat down next to Chirrut taking his warm hand into her cold one.

"The Force protected us," Chirrut said. He tilted his head at Jyn, thinking. "It appears the Force has protected you in more ways than one recently."

Jyn's mind immediately reminded her of Etheron and the time she had spent underground. She shivered and it was not from the cold. Chirrut tightened his grip on Jyn's hand to reassure her. "You are never alone, Jyn Erso."

She smiled, wiping a tear with her free hand. She looked up at Cassian and couldn't help but grin. She was so happy. Baze sat down gruffly next to Jyn and Cassian knelt beside him. "Tell me what happened here?"

Melshi and Mefran sat near Chirrut and the sergeant huffed. "Our ship was hit during the escape from Scarif. Damn TIE fighter hit out engine. Our pilot managed to get us here but crashed the ship." Melshi sighed sadly. "He died on impact."

"So you did manage to evacuate?" Jyn asked, keeping her hand firmly in Chirrut's.

"Yeah, it wasn't easy," Melshi continued. "We were holed up in a bunker near the shoreline. Death troopers had arrived. It was a god damn blood bath, but we managed to cut our way through to the last evacuation shuttle."

"There were nine of us on that run," Mefran added morosely. "We four were the only ones to make it onboard."

"Was it all worth it?" Baze asked Cassian.

Cassian and Jyn shared a smile. "We transmitted the plans to the fleet. Bodhi extracted Jyn and I from the top of the Citadel. Tonc, Basteren, Rostok and Sefla all survived."

"Baze smacked Cassian on his back. "Good job, Captain."

Major," Jyn interrupted. "He was promoted when we got back."

"Look at you!" Melshi said, grinning. "Congratulation, Major."

Cassian nodded in thanks before continuing. "Unfortunately it's not all good news." He sighed. "Alderaan was destroyed by the Death Star. The entire planet is gone."

Silence filled the room as the news was processed. Chirrut leaned his head down in prayer. Baze turned to Jyn. "I hope you have not blamed yourself for this."

Jyn smiled up at him. "We got pay back."

"The empire discovered Yavin IV and sent the Death Star to destroy the base. With the help of the plans, we managed to exploit the flaw Galen Erso created." Cassian smiled at Jyn again. "We destroyed the Death Star."

"Well I'll be damned," Mefran remarked. "It's actually gone?"

Jyn nodded. "Nothing but debris."

"We saw it," Melshi said quietly. "As we were leaving Scarif. We saw it orbiting the planet. It was far bigger than I had imagined."

"It's gone now," Jyn said. "Everything my father wanted has been accomplished. The rebellion has been saved along with who knows how many other planets."

"We had to evacuate Yavin IV, though," Cassian said. "The Base was compromised. High Command has allowed what remained of Rogue One to continue as a team. We have been stationed at Delta Base."

"We were on our way back there when we picked up your distress signal," Jyn added.

"Good timing," Melshi remarked. "The natives have been good to us, but I think they've been wondering why no one has come for us after all this time."

"With the evacuation and the fleet scattered scouting new potential bases, it's no surprise your distress signal wasn't picked up sooner," Cassian said. "But we're here now." Cassian checked the time. "We'll have to leave soon, though."

Baze stood up. "Works for me. I've had enough of this cold to last me a life time."

Everyone stood up, Jyn helping Chirrut. "Bodhi landed the shuttle near the site. We'll have to walk down there."

"We'll be fine," Baze replied. "We've done nothing but sit around here for weeks."

Jyn wanted to express how glad she was to see them alive and well. She had come to terms with their deaths back on Yavin IV while she waited to be released from medbay. She had mourned them, placed them in the back of her mind close to wear her family was kept. More names to those she cared about who had been lost to her.

"All is as the Force wills it," Chirrut spoke as if reading her mind. She smiled in his direction, so glad to hear his voice. Having them back, even Melshi who she had hit with a shovel back on Wobani; it felt good to be reunited.

...

4ABY: Hosnian Prime

Jyn cursed to herself as she held Kalei against her chest as she hurried around the apartment putting last minute items together. She was due to leave for Chandrila in two hours. The original plan was to take a ride to the space port, but that had changed once Cassian messaged ahead to say he was running behind schedule. So she was going to take the train to the space port. She had been so sure Cassian would be home in time she didn't actually think to make alternate plans if he didn't. Cassian had taken their ride with him to work before he left for Coruscant and Jyn hadn't taken the chance to bring it back. Jyn groaned, coming to terms that she was by far the most unorganised mother on Hosnian Prime.

Kalei squirmed, lifting her head off her mother's chest. Jyn placed her hand on the back of Kalei's neck to steady her. Her arm was beginning to ache from holding her daughter for so long, but she powered through it. There was no time for weakness; she had a train to catch. Nydo hovered around trying to help, but Jyn shooed him away.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she protested. "I got it. I'm going."

The front door slid open and Jyn kicked Kalei's pram out the door; Kalei on one side and two duffle bags slung over the shoulder on the other.

"A smart woman would put her daughter in the carrier to relieve the load."

Jyn lifted her head to see Cassian leaning against their ride at the front gate.

"Where the hell have you been?" she all but shouted. She was too stressed and flustered to give him a proper welcome.

Cassian strode over to his wife, taking Kalei from her. "Protest shut down the terminal I was due to leave from." He held Kalei close, kissing her. "She's grown!"

Jyn dropped both bags and curved her arm around Cassian's waist. He kissed her keenly, holding her close.

"I've missed you," he whispered. "Both of you."

Jyn smiled. "We've missed you too."

"I see you packed for me," he muttered.

Jyn hummed, leaning into his shoulder. "Just in case." Kalei gurgled, grabbing the collar of Cassian's jacket. "She talks a lot now. Very vocal." She stepped out of his embrace and picked up the bags. "We don't have much time."

Jyn threw the bags into the back with the carrier and held Kalei tightly as Cassian drove them to the space port. "So how is Coruscant?"

"Good and bad," he remarked. She noticed the dark lines under his eyes. Sleep had eluded him. "The sector I was in had a lot of civilian casualties. We manage to rectify that by reverting most of the imperial fire away by causing a prominent distraction."

"When will it be over?"

Cassian sighed. He was so tired. "Not sure. Weeks; months maybe. With our help the resistant fighters are starting to push back and have gained more ground. If they keep it up it won't be much longer."

Jyn rested her head against the seat, watching Kalei sucking two of her tiny fingers. "Bodhi message me. He said everyone has arrived except us and Han."

"I didn't think Han would actually come to this," Cassian confessed.

"I think Leia is pushing it."

"How is the Princess?"

"Tired, but not like you." Jyn ran a finger along Cassian's jaw line. "You should sleep on the way to Chandrila. Kalei will be eager to keep you up once we get there."

Cassian took Jyn's hand and kissed it. "I'd rather my daughter keep me up at night than the sounds of blaster fire and buildings burning."

"She has been sleeping a little better," Jyn said. "It's getting her to sleep that's tricky."

"How have you been?" Cassian asked. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," she replied. "I'm a lot better than I was when you left."

"You look much better. You're no longer pale."

The post-partum bleeding had stopped along with the tenderness feeling down there. Now it was her breasts that were becoming tenderer by the day. At least feeding Kalei relieved it... occasionally.

"You'll be pleased to hear that I am no longer required to attend checkups. Kalei's last check up had her at normal weight and development. The doctors are very pleased with us both."

"That's what I want to hear," Cassian replied warmly. "I've been worried about you both. I hated having to leave so soon after Kalei being born. I hated myself."

"Cassian," Jyn said softly. "Don't do this. I thought we were past you hating yourself."

"I left my wife and newborn daughter alone to go fight in a civil war," Cassian said. "I should never have agreed to it when you needed me most."

"I did just fine," Jyn replied. "Leia stayed for a while and kept tabs on me. Nydo helped around the house and Kalei and I went out on day trips into the city. I kept myself busy."

"Well I've told command I won't be accepting anymore field mission for a long time. My place is here with you two."

Jyn smiled to herself as she kissed the top of Kalei's head. She liked the sound of that. "We're glad to have you back, and I'm also glad to finally be getting off Hosnian Prime. Despite keeping myself busy, I've been bored to death."

"We can't have that," Cassian remarked smirking. "We're almost at the space port."

Jyn slowly rocked side to side as Kalei fought back sleep. The simple ability to be close to Cassian once more; to feel him and smell his scent was enough for her stomach to flip. She had missed him sorely and wanted nothing more than to be locked away from everything in a room with Kalei. No doubt they would get that chance on Chandrila. Oh how it felt good to be reunited with those you love.