So, today was an exciting day. Mostly because for the first time ever, MusicKeeper and I met up. In person. Real life, face-to-face, whatever you'd like to call it. The gist is, we met each other - hugged, screamed, and hugged some more. And how fitting is it that on this day, I actually just finished this story? (I started the chapter this morning, too, but...the magic of friendship, really. I'm sorry. That sounded cheesy. Ignore that. Or don't. Your choice!)

Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven. As the Sun Will Rise

Kira stopped going to the castle. She stopped writing notes. Each time she tried to write something, she'd end up crossing a series of lines over her words – or blot them with water – or simply crumple the note up and toss it. She wished she had a proper way of words. She wished she could transfer all of her thoughts perfectly onto the page – and most of all, she wished she could run up to Caleb in person and spill everything.

"Dear Caleb," she always started.

"I don't understand this anymore," was always her next sentence.

"We used to be friends, and now I can't even see you."

And then Kira would be staring at the page, wondering what she could possibly write. She'd spend hours doing nothing except pacing back and forth in her small bedroom, trying to conjure up the perfect words that she knew in her small, childish mind. Her father was always good with words – Kira had yet to learn the ways to properly speak out.

Finally, in a fit of rage and extreme longing, Kira scrawled quickly on the paper –

"I miss you. I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you."

Kira stared down at her words. They were uncharacteristically messy – in her spree, Kira had defenestrated all rules of proper penmanship. Her letters seemed to stick together – there was uneven spacing between the words – and yet, it looked right. It looked like Kira.

"I'll wait," she wrote at the bottom of the page. "I miss you."

Kira contemplated on that for a while.

And then she tore the paper in half and tossed it away.

It was time to move on.

xXx

Kanan heard the creaking of the door. He didn't bother moving from his seat by the window, keeping his eyes on the falling rain. Still, as the creaking persisted, Kanan was tempted to shout something. If it was Padmé or Anakin or anyone else trying to get him out of his room –

Only then, Kanan didn't hear any familiar sounds of people hopping across the floor. There were actual footsteps. For a moment, Kanan's heart lifted – it could be Kira…but then his heart sank as the footsteps came closer. Kira's steps – Kanan had grown so used to them over the time she had been here – were always light. This person's footsteps were heavy, and though Kanan could hear that the person was trying to avoid making noise, there was a certain loudness to them. Almost like stomping. Quiet stomping.

Kanan lifted his head and turned to look at the intruder.

The intruder was a man with dark hair that gathered into a beard, dark eyes flashing furiously under the dim light of the room. He had an ugly sneer on his face, arms locked around a bow and arrow. Kanan let his eyes linger on the man – and for a moment, he considered maybe getting out of the way and avoiding death.

But what's the point in that? a soft, tired voice whispered to Kanan from the back of his mind. You're going to be a beast forever – you're going to scare people away forever – you might as well give in. Let this man do his job, and you won't ever have to face anymore disappointments. Sadness. Loss. It'll end.

Kanan turned away.

He heard a whistle – and then he felt pain burst at his side.

Kanan might have been prepared for the arrow, but it still hurt.

Letting out a roar of pain, Kanan stood up to his feet and staggered around, trying to make sense of the dots that swarmed his vision. He didn't even know he was being pushed out of the window until he heard the crash of glass around him. He tumbled to the edge of the balcony, his hands clinging weakly to the railing. He could hear someone laughing sinisterly in the background – and then Kanan was looking down at the intruder, whose sneer hadn't faded. "Get up," the man said, his lips twisted into a cruel smirk. "Get up." At the last word, the man pushed at Kanan – and in response, he hurtled down the railings and crashed against a rooftop.

Kanan felt his senses dull to the pain. He pried open his eyes to see the grey skies leering down at him, rain pouring relentlessly down on his prone form. He let his head fall back against the roof tiles. Maybe this would be easier. But then the man was sitting at his feet, pushing him down again.

Kanan felt pain shoot up his spine as he made impact with one of the beams of the roofs. He let out a low hiss, rolling over on his side. He could see everything happening below – there were people crowding into the castle. He could hear screams – though whether it was from the men or from his servants, Kanan couldn't tell.

His servants.

Kanan felt a stab of guilt. He hadn't even thought about them yet. What would happen to them? They were doomed to be nothing but pieces of furniture forever.

"Get up!" the man shouted, kicking at Kanan. He lifted his head weakly to see him glowering down, laughing almost maniacally. "What's the matter, Beast? Too kind and gentle to fight back?" Kanan turned away from the intruder, staring down at the path that led up to his castle. He could see the lights of the village from here.

Kanan heard a dull crack in the background – and then the man was back. Kanan could see from the corner of his eye that he was lifting up a part of the castle – a small, decorative gargoyle. Kanan considered almost congratulating the man – there weren't many who could lift a heavy load. (How ironic – Kanan was wondering if he could compliment his own killer. That sounded tragic. He wondered if it was even Shakespearean of him to think so. Kira didn't really like Shakespeare.)

Kanan watched unblinkingly as the man started to swing the gargoyle over his head – he closed his eyes to wait for the blow –

"No!"

Kanan's eyes snapped open. He looked down to see Kira and her father on a horse – the girl's eyes were wide open, the look on her face frantic and fierce at the same time. Her blonde hair was wet with the rain – she was shivering slightly in her cloak, but Kanan could have sworn that she never looked braver or stronger than he had last seen her in her ball gown.

"Sanjay, don't!" Kira screamed. "Don't you dare!"

The man – Sanjay? – only leered down at Kira and proceeded to swing down the gargoyle –

Kanan's hand shot up to catch it. He stood up to his feet, his lips pulling back in a scowl as Sanjay's expression went from triumphant to confused. Growling, Kanan pulled the gargoyle away and tossed it aside. It shattered below. Sanjay looked up at Kanan, his eyes narrowing. His legs locked up – and Kanan jumped aside as Sanjay launched himself forward.

The two went rolling down to a separate rooftop and landed promptly on a different balcony. Kanan felt Sanjay clamber up on him. Roaring, Kanan grabbed Sanjay off his back and threw him against the opposite rooftop. He heard a grunt – but when Sanjay stood up, it was clear that he wasn't about to give up.

Kanan looked around the balcony – he couldn't fight for long. He needed to hide.

Gargoyles.

Kanan darted to the end of the balcony, curling up to an identical pose as the rest of the statuettes. Just as he did so, he heard Sanjay land on the balcony. There was a loud crashing sound – and then it was followed by a series of colorful swears. "Come out of your hiding spot, Beast!" Sanjay growled, swinging his weapon about. "Don't be a coward!" There was another shattering sound.

"Were you perhaps in love with Kira, Beast?" Sanjay shouted, smashing his club against another statuette. Kanan stiffened. He was coming closer. "Were you?" Sanjay screamed, his voice almost reaching hysteria. "Did you honestly think she'd love you back, when she had someone like me? You're nothing! She's a fool!"

Kanan didn't waste any time when Sanjay passed by him.

His arm shot out – he took Sanjay by the shoulders and threw him against the rooftop. Kanan stomped towards Sanjay, who staggered up to his feet. The man lifted his fists to fight – but Kanan reached up and locked his hands around his neck. Kanan felt anger ripple through him as Sanjay struggled under his grip. "Men like you," Kanan growled, walking to the edge of the balcony. He thrust his arm over the edge, watching fear morph into Sanjay's face. His feet kicked and thrashed wildly, his hands clawing at Kanan's grip. "Men like you," Kanan repeated angrily, "as if." He tightened his grip around Sanjay's neck. The man's face flushed red, his eyes wide and filled with fright.

"Let me go!" Sanjay choked out, his voice desperate. "Let me go, please! I'll do anything – anything, just let me live…" The man's voice disintegrated into whimpers and small, gasping sobs. Kanan stared at him warily, tempted to do nothing more except drop him over the edge. He deserved it. Sanjay deserved it. Men like him caused nothing but grief and insecurity. The idea that this kind of man would even think to push himself on Kira was – the idea was horrifying. There was nothing good that could come out of such a horrific idea. Sanjay was a man with an ego that was too big for his head – he was a man who believed in nothing, would never treat anyone with respect – he didn't deserve this.

But who are you to judge who gets to live and who gets to die?

The thought struck Kanan hard in the chest. He stared at Sanjay – at the pathetic desperation and fear that shone through them. There were times when Kanan had been seen as something completely inhuman – so inhuman that he deserved to be shunned and pushed away from everyone. He had always seen himself as cruel – angry – but there was something more to him, wasn't there? Kira had shown him that – he had found more of himself in the last year than any other time he had been alone with himself.

And who was to say Sanjay couldn't learn? Or that he didn't have any redeemable qualities?

Kanan slowly lifted Sanjay back over the edge of the balcony. He dropped him carefully, only letting his fingers curl around the front of his shirt. Pulling him close, Kanan said in a low voice, "Get out." Sanjay nodded his head frantically, backing away.

Kanan started to walk away – but before he could head inside, he heard a warm, familiar voice shout, "Kanan!"

Kanan stopped in his tracks. He looked up to see Kira standing in the balcony above him, her hands outstretched. "Kanan!" she shouted again.

"Kira," Kanan breathed. He couldn't help it – he smiled, relieved. It was all over. Kira was here. Everything would be fine. She was safe.

He started to climb up the rooftop. He gently made his way up, careful not to slip – until he was standing in front of Kira on the balcony. Kira reached out her hand further, and Kanan didn't even hesitate to put his hand around hers. The girl's face lit up with a smile. "Thank God," she whispered, her hands tightening around Kanan. "I thought I was too late – Kanan…"

"You came back," Kanan only said, his voice soft. "You really came back."

Kira let out a laugh – it sounded more like a twist of a giggle and a sob. When she looked back at Kanan, he could see her blinking tears from her eyes. "Of course I did," she replied, leaning her forehead forward. Kanan felt her bump her forehead gently against his. "I would come back."

Kanan clung onto Kira's hands, feeling his smile grow wider. Everything would be fine. Everything was alright now. It was finally over.

But suddenly, Kira lifted her head. Her eyebrows furrowed together in confusion – and then, too late, she shouted, "Kanan, watch out –"

Kanan couldn't hear the rest. He felt something dig into his side. He let out a cry, feeling the white-hot pain take over. He heard Sanjay shrieking with happiness – he heard Kira gasping and screaming something. And then he was being dragged over the balcony. Gentle hands were lowering him onto the ground.

Kanan couldn't make sense of anything else.

xXx

Kira stared at Sanjay, knowing that her face would be a mix of horror and anger. "Sanjay," she spat. "You monster!"

"He was the real monster," Sanjay leered, sheathing his knife. "And to think, you were going to get to him." He turned to Kira, his lips curling back into a cruel smile. "But I could forgive that," he continued. Kira felt shivers run up her arms. "I could forgive that, amongst other things, if you would just…" He took a few steps towards the girl. Kira walked back, feeling her hands curl into fists. She felt Sanjay's hands lock around her arms. He was wearing a maniacal expression on his face now, his eyes wide and filled with something that made Kira want to hide in a hole.

No.

Not hide in a hole.

She had a better idea.

"Sanjay?" Kira asked, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"Yes?"

Kira could feel her nails digging into her palm. Forcing a sweet smile, she said, "Men like you never seem to learn." Before Sanjay could figure out what she was saying, Kira smashed her foot against Sanjay's boot. Instantly, his hands fell away as he hopped backwards in pain. Kira gritted her teeth, marching forward. She lifted her leg and kicked him again, not even caring that her foot had found Sanjay's crotch. "Men like you," she hissed, ignoring the howl of pain Sanjay gave, "can't ever take no as an answer! And you know what?"

Kira grabbed Sanjay by the collar. She tightened her grip as she delivered her last words. "That's what makes you the real monster," she finished – and pushed him over the balcony's edge. She watched as his mouth opened in a silent scream – he tumbled past the bridge to the castle – he fell towards the chasm. Kira stared for a few seconds, feeling her heart pound quickly in her chest. Breathing hard, Kira stumbled back a few steps and turned to look down at Kanan.

His chest was rapidly rising and falling, his hands trembling and breaths coming out unevenly. Kira fell down to her knees, clutching onto Kanan's front. "Hey," she breathed. "Kanan. We'll – we'll get you help. You – you just need to hold on, alright?" She could hear her voice clambering up a few octaves as she repeated, "Alright? We'll –"

"I saw what you did," Kanan only said, a weak smile forming over his lips.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Kanan replied. "Brave."

Kira managed a smile before turning to the opening of the balcony. She could see Padmé and Anakin – and Admiral and Luke and Ahsoka and Cadena gathered around, everyone wearing equal expressions of shock and sadness. It's not over, Kira tried to say. It's – it's not over. Not now. Not yet.

"Kira," Kanan whispered. Kira turned her head back, looking down at his face. His eyes seemed to stand out the most – always green and blue, glowing like little lights. "You came back." Kira smiled again. "Of course," she whispered. "I couldn't just leave you."

"I'm glad," Kanan swallowed. He slowly lifted a hand – Kira took it, leaning the side of her face against his warm palm. "It's…good to see you right now. Before I go."

Kira's smile faded. "No," she said forcefully, clinging onto his hand. "You can't say that. I only just got here – you'll…you'll be fine! We'll be fine. We'll be together – we'll be happy." She felt hot tears spring into her eyes. She waved them away. No. Don't give in. Don't give in, don't give in! "Kanan? We'll be happy."

"No," Kanan breathed. His eyes were shining. "We'll be happy right now. This." He cupped his hand around Kira's cheek. "This is enough."

"It's not," Kira said, her voice shaking. "It's – no, Kanan. I don't want you to…go. Please. Don't go."

Kanan brushed a hair away from Kira's face. "I got to see you one last time," he said with a smile. Kira buried the side of her face against Kanan's hand. "Don't go," she whispered. She clutched onto Kanan. "I – this isn't enough." She squeezed her eyes shut – and then she felt Kanan's hand go limp. Kira tore herself away to look down at Kanan. His eyes were closed, his head falling back against the ground.

A low, guttural sound came from the back of Kira's throat. "No," she breathed, still holding onto Kanan. She let out an animalistic sound, burying her head into Kanan's chest. "No!" Her voice rose into a scream. "Kanan! No, no, no!" She felt sobs heave up her chest. "Oh, God – no!" Her hands found Kanan's shirt. "Please," she begged. "I…" Her voice got caught in her throat, but she managed to continue. "I love you."

Why couldn't she had said that before? Why? There were so many different times to say it – before she left, after all of those long sessions in the library, during the dance –

"I love you," Kira repeated, feeling tears slide down her face. "And I couldn't say it."

She heard the sound of people hopping towards her. "Kira," Cadena said softly. "It's –" She cut herself off. "Don't say it's done," Kira whispered. "Don't say it's over. It's not."

"We should get you two out of the rain," Anakin murmured. "We…can't stay out here for too long."

Kira lifted her head. She could still feel tears squeezing out of her eyes. She looked around at her friends, their heads bowed. Rubbing at her eyes, she managed, "We'll make him comfortable, won't we? He won't be…"

"We'll treat him with the utmost respect, Kira," Padmé said gently. "But now, we must get inside."

Kira only turned back at Kanan. He looked so small and limp and grey in the rain. She felt sadness bloom in her chest again. She slowly started to make her way to the inside of the balcony – but only made it a few steps before seeing something flicker in the corner of her eye. Instantly, Kira whirled around to see lights enveloping around Kanan. She let out a short gasp, stumbling back. She turned to look at her friends, wondering what they were thinking – or how they were reacting – but instead, she found that they, too, were covered in beams of light. "What…?" Kira breathed, walking forward. Everyone was suspended in the air, eyes closed and body limp.

Kira looked up at Kanan. His eyes were still closed – and then the lights brightened. Kira threw her hands over her face, unable to look at anything else. And then she heard small gasps rise from all around her. She heard someone let out a cheerful squeal, and Kira dropped her hands.

First she saw Kanan.

Or…not Kanan?

His hair was dark and long, falling around his chin. His clothes were tattered, his shirt hanging loosely around him. He stumbled a little on his legs, wary of his own balance. Before he could fall, Kira rushed forward, grabbing onto his arms. "Thanks," he muttered, and then he looked down.

Kira couldn't forget those eyes.

"Kira," Kanan breathed. "You –"

"Kanan," Kira whispered. "Oh, my God, is that you?"

"I…" Kanan tilted his head to the side. "Kira," he said slowly, "you…I know your face. From somewhere else. I didn't realize it before, but –"

Almost as soon as Kanan said those words, Kira felt something flicker at the back of her mind. A distant memory – a few giggles, a hand flashing in front of her. Kira felt as though someone had knocked the breath out of her. "I don't…" her voice drifted. "I know you, too," she whispered. "From…somewhere else." She turned – and gasped to see everyone standing in front of her.

There was a young man with chestnut colored hair. There was a stuffy-looking, older man with a bristly mustache. There was a young woman with warm, doe-shaped eyes. There was another young woman with mischievous, blue eyes and a bright laugh already leaving her lips. And then there was the youngest servant, a girl who couldn't be too much older than Kira with a knowing smile. Lastly, there was a little boy hiding behind the woman with the doe-shaped eyes' skirts.

"Notes," Cadena said suddenly. "She's the girl with the notes – the…girl we had to distract from the guards."

"You're the – I remember," Kira breathed. She whirled around to Kanan. "And you – oh, my God. You're – you…" She felt her heart thudding – pounding – no, raging in her chest, fighting to get out. The memories spun faster and faster around her. She could hear a child laughing in her ears. Velvet suits. A pile of books and sitting on knees in Madame Jocasta's shop. Green-blue eyes, crinkled at the edges in mirth.

His name. What was his name?

"Caleb," Kira whispered, reaching up to cup Kanan's face. "Caleb. I remember now. You're Caleb." She felt as though she had tasted something sweet – discovered something new. "Caleb," she whispered. She wanted to repeat his name again and again – the memories came sharper and clearer that way. ("Caleb!" Sitting on the wet grass, watching as Caleb fell into a stream. "Caleb!" Jumping up on rocks, grabbing his hand as she teetered forward. "Caleb!" Shrieking and ducking as he tried to tag her in a running game. "Caleb!" Trying to comfort him in a closet, his head bowed in his hands. "Caleb!" Screaming as she realized that the gates were closing in on them. Screaming as she realized that she couldn't reach out to him. He was slipping from her fingers. And then there was pain. "Caleb!" Complete, utter, whole pain. Thinking he was gone forever. Trying to forget about him, because that'd be easier than anything else.)

"It was you," Kanan kept whispering. He pulled Kira gently towards him, their foreheads resting against each other. "It was always you."

Kira felt happy, hot tears spring into her eyes. "It was me," she breathed. She placed her hands around Kanan's cheeks. "You're here. You're here."

"Kira…" Kanan murmured, eyes closing. He gave Kira's wrists a gentle squeeze – a quick warning – and then Kira felt his lips press against hers. She could hear people cheering around her, but she didn't even mind. Kira felt Kanan's fingers threading through her hair, somehow going through without tangling. Kira had to tilt her head up, trying to take in more of Kanan's lips. She could feel his hair tickling against her cheek. She could feel everything. She was everything.

He was everything.

xXx

The curse was broken.

Everything was fully restored to its former glory. The autumn came around with a fresh start, with trees bursting into yellows and reds and oranges. The castle glowed in the sun, everyone from the villages came to see the great event that would go on in the ballroom.

And everyone cheered when Kira and Kanan said their vows. There was no one scowling at the unlikely arrangement – there weren't any tutors or guards to pull them apart. Nothing would, nothing could.

xXx

There always seemed to be something new in the castle, too.

There were heated nights, filled with nothing but warm lips and slightly-damp sheets and good morning kisses. There were loud and cheerful days, when the servants would find each other creating rackets that would explode around the castle. There were long evenings in the library, when small village children gathered around their king and queen, who always had enough time to weave stories for them. There were glorious mornings, when there were walks and talks with Kira's father.

There were children.

Little princes and princesses scampering around the hallways, sometimes flirting with the children of the servants and increasing the volume in the castle.

Kira watched them grow – she watched everything grow around her. Grow and develop and change into something else. Everything was becoming different.

Well, not everything.

As Kira sat on the throne with Kanan, she found her fingers tightly entwined around his. She felt him squeeze her hand back, and then there was a light kiss planted on her cheek. Kira felt a smile curl over her lips.

Not everything.

-the end-

A/N - I honestly feel like I might have lost a little part of me after marking this story Complete - because even though this story was only eleven chapters long (not my longest multi-chap story, I'll admit), I've grown attached to this AU. As always, thank you for all of your fantastic support - I'm glad that there were still people reading, even though some of you lot didn't make yourselves known. Thank you for everything!

(But as always - because I'm funny like that - reviews would be fantastic. Constructive criticism is alright - flames are not!)

Luv ya bunches,

katierosefun (Caroline) xx