Last chapter :) Happy Thanksgiving to those living in the U.S. I am thankful this fic is done lol. Thank you all so much for your support :)

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Epilogue

It had been the longest, most exhausting day. But the party continued to rage on as the Rebels and Ewoks celebrated the destruction of the Death Star and the defeat of the Empire. The war was not over yet, but the biggest blow had been struck and it was only a matter of time before the remnants of the Empire were thoroughly wiped out and a new government could be established.

Night had blanketed the celebration and the Ewoks had built a bonfire. Everyone was drinking their potent berry wine and discussing the battle with unbridled enthusiasm.

From a corner, Han sat and kept his eyes on Leia, where she stood speaking quietly with Luke. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was everything he never knew he wanted, and more.

Her mood kept shifting. She was at once elated and horrified. The news about her lineage had shocked him as much as her. What a sick twist of fate that the monster of Leia's nightmares had turned out to be her father.

While she took this news as some loathsome, meaningful indication of who she was, Han dismissed it as simple biology. Who her father was had nothing to do with who she was. She was still the strongest, bravest, most caring being he had ever known. Her desire to right every wrong in the galaxy was proof enough that the only thread she had in common with Vader was blood. Her heart was wholly her own. And it was big enough to hold the entire galaxy.

And Luke…

The fact that they were siblings, separated at birth and reunited by chance was enough to make Han believe in fate. He supposed his long-worn cynicism had been greatly strained, between that and the Force. He shook his head, smiling just as Leia turned and grinned at him, love brightening her eyes. He beamed back at her, realized Luke's eyes were on him as well, and gave the kid a thumbs up. The duo shared a quick laugh and Leia meandered to him.

Leia was clamped under his arm immediately. Han brushed his lips across her cheek as she leaned into him. It still amazed him that she was his; that she had given up so much for him, risked so much for him. It made him want to give her everything, to be that better man for her. She inspired him in every way.

Her hand moved to brush against his cheek. "I don't know how I would get through this without you." Her gaze was at his chin.

He placed a firm kiss on her forehead then pulled her close to speak low in her ear. "You'd get through just fine. You're too strong not to."

A shaky sigh blew against his neck. "I don't feel very strong right now."

He thought for a moment, still holding her close. "Come," he implored, moving beside her, arm around her shoulders. Compliant, she allowed him to lead her away from the party. They wandered to the wooden bridge where, just the night before, Luke had revealed their familial ties.

Stopping to sit on a low post, he planted her in front of him, hands on her shoulders.

"I want you to myself for a little while," he murmured, one hand gliding down the length of her endless hair.

Standing between his legs, she offered a small, tentative smile, hands on his chest. They were almost nose-to-nose, but Han remained slightly above her. Her eyes turned quickly serious.

"Han, I'm sorry about everything I put you through."

A wisp of pain blew through him at her words, a lingering memory. "We're here now, that's what matters." He was never one to dwell on the past.

She nodded, eyes downcast. Sounds of revelry trickled through the air from behind them, sparking the night. The stars burned brightly above, providing just enough illumination to see each other clearly. A shadow fell over her and her gaze turned inward.

"Don't," Han said gently. "Don't go there, Sweetheart. This is a celebration." It felt like the happiest day of his life. It should be one of the happiest of hers. He didn't want news that didn't matter at all to ruin things for her.

Her voice was low and reticent. "If you had known before…about me…" Her eyes rose to his then quickly rushed away. "Would you still have wanted me?"

A flash of anger, at Vader, Luke, the galaxy at large, flared. If only she had never found out. Her parentage changed nothing, yet to her it seemed to change everything. He took her by the shoulders and maneuvered her away just enough to look her directly in the eyes.

"Leia," he said firmly. "There's nothing you could tell me that would make me not want you. I love you. I think I've always loved you. I was just too stubborn to admit it, even to myself." He paused with an affectionate smile. "None of that's important. So, let's just focus on what is important. Finishing off the Empire. And us."

She stared up at him, eyes large and vulnerable. "But it is important," she said gravely, voice strained. "Luke says I have the same power as he does." She seemed hesitant to name it. "That power was what drove Vader to the dark side."

"Vader went to the dark side cause he was evil." He couldn't believe he was having this conversation. Not too long ago, he would have dismissed the entire idea.

"I come from Vader…" Her voice was low and shaky, as if she were testing out words she could barely force from her throat. "Does that mean I have the potential for evil?"

He didn't have answers. But, he knew Leia. "The one thing in this life I'm sure of is you. Look what you've done. You've defeated the Empire."

Her eyes dimmed. "It's not as if I did it alone."

"No. But, you played a big part." He took her hands in his. "You're good, Leia. There's no evil in you. You're so good, you made me want to be good."

A smile tugged her lips upwards. "You were always good. You just…got sidetracked."

He grinned at her choice of words. "You have no idea. The things I've done…I wouldn't even wanna tell you."

Leia's expression grew serious again. "You can, you know. You can tell me anything. I wouldn't judge you."

He raised his chin a bit. "So, why would I judge you for where you came from? That's not who you are."

. "Okay," she relented. "I see your point."

"Good." He smiled broadly and kissed her soundly on the mouth. "S'about time you listened to me."

A slight roll of her eyes accompanied a burgeoning grin. She shook her head slowly.

A myriad of emotions overwhelmed him and he looked at her in wonder. "Who woulda thought? A princess and a guy like me." Love coursed through him, like fireworks brightly lighting the night sky. It felt powerful enough to brighten the whole galaxy.

"Certainly not me," she replied playfully.

He grew suddenly serious. "I just hope you never regret your decision." He glanced askance, mild insecurity grappling inside him. He would never be able to give her everything she deserved.

"Never," she whispered, drawing closer, arms slipping to his waist. His hands roamed to her shoulders then slid up to her neck, thumbs caressing the soft skin behind her ears. "I made the right choice. The only choice. I couldn't possibly marry someone I wasn't in love with."

A question formed, but halted at his lips. His heart was beating more quickly, anxiety and anticipation looming. He took a long, deep breath as doubt flickered. This could go wonderfully…or horribly wrong.

"Would…" His voice came out raspy and he cleared it before continuing. "Would you wanna marry someone you are in love with?" His breath fled him as he awaited her reply.

Her eyes went wider than he had ever seen them and her mouth dropped open just a bit. Nothing happened for the longest, most tortuous moment.

"Are you…are you asking me?" she asked in a breathy whisper.

He couldn't gauge her reaction and it was killing him. It crossed his mind to deny it, to play it off as a joke, but he found himself nodding. "Yeah," he replied quietly, seriously.

Her expression remained unchanging for several heartbeats that felt like the longest of Han's life.

Slowly, an unequivocal smile unfurled across her face, flourishing into the widest grin he had ever seen. Her eyes sparkled into his and his fears dissipated instantly and then she launched herself up to encircle her arms around his neck. He caught her easily, his sudden, smile of joy as wide as hers.

"Is that a yes?" he asked, almost laughing with delight and relief.

"Yes," she breathed near his ear, clasping him tightly.

His eyes fell shut and he hugged her more tightly. A burst of happiness rushed through him like never before, as if all the stars in the galaxy had suddenly brightened just for them. He lowered her to the ground and they looked at each, eyes still shining.

This amazing woman had changed him, had worn down the calluses surrounding his heart. Gone was the loner, the cynic, the mercenary who put up a callous façade.

A husband. He was going to be a husband. It was the last thing he would ever have expected. But, as he looked into the eyes of the woman who would be his wife, he knew that this was where he was meant to be. And that he finally believed in something. Whether that was the Force, fate, or simply love, did not matter.

"I love you," he rumbled, still smiling like a fool.

"I know." She smiled back with equal parts joviality and sincerity.

Arms wrapped solidly around each other, they faded away into the night, their own plans for a celebration most immediate in their minds.

END.