I'm back! :D The response I received after posting the last chapter was so fantastic, I couldn't help but want to thank everyone again for making this a really, really great experience. Reviews are so, so important (they are true sustenance for authors!) and I've appreciated every single review I've received so much. I've replied individually to those I can, but I wanted to reply to everyone, one more time!

Many, many thanks to:

Obiwanabi, RKF22, Azura Soul Reaver, Chloe – thank you for taking the time to let me know you're reading! It means a lot.

Nia – I'm so glad you've enjoyed my story so much, thanks for the reviews!

Valairy Scot – your feedback means a lot to me, thanks for leaving a comment :)

Danielle – I'm happy you loved the story, I've put a lot of work into making Aala a real character, thank you for letting me know you liked her!

Charliebrown1234 – my first consistent reviewer :) your comments have been so helpful and fun to read, I can't thank you enough for the help and wonderful feedback!

Laloga – I'm just so happy we found each other, lol. Thank you for reading my story, thank you for every single review, all the effort and thought you've put into every response from the very beginning, thank you thank you thank you :)

Sachariah, Queen – I'm so glad and grateful you both decided to give my story a shot even though I hardly mention the boys at all :) Such wonderful, thoughtful reviews are truly priceless and have made me very happy :)

So the good news is... I know AN chapters are very not allowed, so I've put together a little epilogue to make this a legitimate post :) It's just a few little parts – the first three are scenes I had written but didn't quite make the cut or fit right, and the fourth sprung from one line I couldn't quite fit in and I've added it as a bit of a lead it to the next story. Speaking of the next story – my plan is to post a teaser for a sequel as the next part of Dozen, and then to start on the sequel from there. Hopefully, I'll have the next piece ready in a couple weeks, but of course there's the author alert if you want to be sure not to miss it!

The sequel will be a lot of fun, but for those of you who would like to see a HappiER Ever After, I've had an idea for an AU rolling around in my head for awhile, and I'm very much looking forward to taking a stab at that, and really, that could lead me anywhere.

Thank you so much for reading!

"Where were you last night?" Queen Amidala asked her sister. She was sitting in front of her mirror applying the traditional white makeup that hid her young face.

"I was just out," Aala shrugged. "Don't worry. Your Jedi rescued me from absolutely nothing." Aala attempted to keep the sharp tone of irritation from sounding clearly in her voice, determined not to argue despite her overwhelming weariness. The last thing Padmé needed right now was an ungracious sister. But Aala's nerves were frayed, she was exhausted and scared and anxious for this situation to be over.

"He's not my Jedi," Padmé said, glancing at her sister in the reflection of the glass. "I was worried. I didn't know where you were." Her regard was astute, her features composed.

Aala sighed, finally meeting Padmé's stare. She seemed so much older, especially when she was adorned as the Queen. Nothing like the little girl Aala had left behind. "I'm sorry. Just don't send him after me again. He was quite rude."

"Rude?" Padmé cocked her head as she shifted to look at Aala.

"Yeah."

"Hmm." Padmé turned back to the mirror. "He has been through a lot."

"Like what?" Aala was skeptical.

"Well, his Master was killed, and –"

"His Master?" she interrupted.

"Yes, he was only just knighted a Jedi. He was an apprentice to Qui-Gon Jinn."

"Oh..." Aala did not consider herself an expert on the Jedi Order by far, but she knew enough... What she had said – the look in his eye when she had implied he wouldn't know anything about losing someone close to him. "Oh." Her shoulders slumped.

Padmé turned around again, fixing her with a flinty stare. "What did you do?"

Aala sighed, no wonder he was terse. She had deserved every bit of it. "I just –" she shook her head and sighed again. "I owe someone an apology."

Aala headed off in search of Obi-Wan but she didn't really expect to find him. There were a great many places in the palace she wasn't allowed to go, and she assumed those were the most likely places for Obi-Wan to be.

Wandering, she took the time to admire the art in the halls, had dinner with her sister, then wandered some more, keeping an eye out for the Jedi. It wasn't very late into the evening before she decided to head to the gardens. Not daring to go outside again, and not wanting to cause Padmé more worry, the gardens were the next best thing and still within the safety of palace walls.

It was only a moment after she arrived, she spotted Obi-Wan sitting on a bench at the end of a path that led to a short, clear waterfall. His head was turned away from her, his eyes on the water as it danced over the slick rocks, and she made a conscious effort to be inconspicuous so she could watch him for a moment. They seemed destined to keep meeting this way, and she felt she could sense his sadness.

Taking a step toward him, she wondered how to get his attention without startling him just as he turned toward her.

"Hi," she said, trying to express a little friendliness.

"Hello." He stood up.

She came to stand in front of him but wasn't sure exactly what to say. "May I join you?"

"Of course," he answered quickly.

When he sat down next to her she took a deep breath, then turned to face him. He was watching her quietly.

"I –"

Apologizing wasn't easy for her, she felt she had a right to her feelings, but she knew she had taken her frustration out on him unfairly. "I wanted to apologize... for the way I acted last night. When I said you wouldn't understand... well, Padmé told me what happened and I..." she looked down at her hands then back into his eyes. "I'm really sorry."

Her breath hitched as she looked at him – he had the most engaging, piercing blue eyes, intense and soft all at the same time.

"It's alright," he said, his tone gracious. "I know, this has been hard on all the people of Naboo."

"No." Aala shook her head. "I was selfish and inconsiderate. You shouldn't let me off so easy."

The air was still as he seemed to scrutinize her for a moment, and she realized she was holding her breath. "I suppose you were quite difficult."

Blinking once, she was a bit surprised, but then she caught the glint of humor in his expression. "Yes," she grinned. "I apologize."

He smiled back. "Apology accepted."

She nodded and they fell silent. The quiet was not awkward, but comforting and she let herself relax completely in the peaceful setting. He was sitting, with his eyes closed now, and she felt a sudden deep longing to know him. To connect with him, somehow.

"I really am very sorry about Master Jinn. I can't imagine..."

Obi-Wan nodded, a pained look crossing his face and then she was sorry she had brought it up again. Kriff.

"I just – if you want to talk to someone..." Aala closed her eyes as her sentence trailed off. How silly, he hardly even knows me, why would he want to talk to me? Be quiet, Aala, she said to herself, just be quiet.

But then he covered her hand with his own, and he waited until she met his sincere gaze. "Thank you."

Looking at him, she felt caught in an impossible moment, his thumb brushed across her knuckles and her breath caught in her throat. But as suddenly as it had started, the moment was over. He pulled his hand away and she felt ridiculous sitting there staring at him.

"I should get back," she said, wringing her hands together, but smiling "If we're both out here, my sister won't have anyone to send."

Obi-Wan stood with her, nodding politely, and then she turned and walked away.

"Tell me something about him."

Aala shifted her eyes from her journal to her older sister now sitting in the chair across from her. "About who, Sola?"

"You know who," Sola laughed. "The mysterious Jedi Knight that somehow managed to capture your tightly locked away heart."

"Ha, ha."

"You haven't talked about him at all, except to tell me he was fine..."

Aala tried to suppress the grin that was just now barely lifting the corners of her mouth. It had been four long months and Sola had been relentless in keeping her spirits up.

Thinking for a moment, she glanced out the window. Honestly, her more recent thoughts regarding Obi-Wan, after so long of feeling very alone and lovelorn, tended to take a particular direction of a more personal nature more often than not – the way he looked at her when he wanted to kiss her. The way his fingertips felt on her skin.

Smiling, she tried to think of something a little less intimate... "Hmmm..." she turned back to Sola, "he hates Warra nuts."

"Nuts?" Sola asked, giving Aala an 'are you kidding me' look. She was obviously hoping for something a little more intimate.

Aala chuckled. "Yes. Some ridiculous politician – I don't even remember who – gave him a whole box as some sort of token of gratitude once. He practically begged Obi-Wan to try them on the spot – they were supposed to be gourmet, expensive or something, and the ever polite, well mannered Jedi Master could not refuse. I will never forget the look on his face."

Sola laughed, and Aala couldn't help but join in, remembering the immediate look of displeasure that had crossed his features before he could check himself.

"What did he do with the box?"

"Ah, I saved him." Aala smiled. "I shared it with Padmé."

Aala's gaze drifted back out the window, and Sola stood, coming to sit beside her on the couch. "Thinking about her?" She asked after a few minutes.

Aala nodded, then swallowed. "I can't remember the last time I told her I loved her. I think about her all the time..." There was so much she couldn't put into words. So many hopes she hadn't even known she'd had for the future until it was all taken away.

Sola wrapped her arm around her sister's shoulders and hugged her. No words passed between them, but the message was clear to Aala.

"I didn't realize," Aala spoke up after awhile, "until afterward, how much I really loved him." She shrugged then cast a small, pleased smile toward Sola. "But I'm happy there was at least one thing I did right."

The unthinkable moment was interrupted when Bail stepped into the empty, white corridor. "I'm sorry," he paused, mid-step.

It took all her willpower to break the gaze she shared with Obi-Wan. "No, it's alright."

He smiled compassionately, and she truly didn't mind his disruption – she was so grateful for his support, everything he'd done.

"I could still use your help, you know," he offered.

But it was too much, she couldn't deal with the rest of the galaxy right now. "I know... I – miss my family. I've missed so much, and it would probably be best if I just quietly faded into the background," she stole a glimpse of Obi-Wan. "I wouldn't want to draw attention to anyone."

"I understand." He paused another moment, looking from Aala to Obi-Wan, then back again. "Everything's ready," he said, indicating in the most delicate way he could that it was time to go.

Aala took a step toward him and Bail drew her into a tight embrace.

"Take care of her," she said softly, her voice muffled.

"I promise." he said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"And you'll tell her... Her mother loved her very much?"

"Of course."

And then Bail left, and Aala, anxious and unsure, turned slowly back to Obi-Wan.

Flicking the com on, Aala was unprepared for the rush of emotion she felt at the image of Bail Organa in front of her – the warm, kind expression on his face, and the knowing, understanding glint in his eyes.

Feeling a little choked up, she was unable to return his kind greeting, instead nodding and giving him a watery smile. The relief she felt, just to be in the presence of someone who knew, someone she didn't have to lie to or pretend for, was like a giant weight off her narrow shoulders. It was unfair, it was not her family's fault, but she felt more like herself sitting here with Bail than she had in months.

"I must apologize," he said, in his deep, refined timbre, "for not offering my condolences in person sooner. We thought it best to let your family have a bit of peace and privacy for awhile."

"Of course." Her voice was rough, and she cleared her throat. "Thank you."

"How are you?" he asked carefully. The words didn't matter, they were neutral and vague, but it didn't matter. She knew Bail well enough to know how much he cared, and it meant more to her than she realized it would.

"I'm okay. I've been spending a lot of time with my sister and my nieces and we're – we're getting by."

"Glad to hear it," he smiled at her.

"I've missed you, Bail. I –" she wasn't sure what else she wanted to say. She was sorry for how things had turned out? She was sorry for not contacting him sooner? Those words seemed inadequate to express what she was feeling.

"I missed you too, Aala."

It was alright, it didn't matter, he understood.

They were quiet a moment – Aala felt the need to collect herself, then she couldn't hold back the question that had been nagging at her for so long.

"Congratulations on the addition to your family," she brightened, giving an honest smile as she thought of Leia. "How is she? Her name is Leia, right?"

Bail smiled back, the fatherly warmth she knew would come easy for him so evident on his face. "She is very well, healthy and happy. I can't believe how fast she's growing, and she's so smart, I can tell already."

"Can I – meet her?"

"Of course. I know Breha would like to say hello as well."

He looked over his shoulder, off screen, and Aala could hear baby Leia cooing and babbling before she could see her. Then Breha sat down next to him, holding a baby in a pretty white gown, that honestly, to Aala, looked nothing like the newborn she had last seen almost five months ago.

"She's so big!" Aala exclaimed before she could think better of it.

Bail chuckled softly, taking the baby to sit on his lap so Aala could see her.

Leia waved her tiny fists and shrieked as she looked at the screen, and Aala had to bite her lip as she began to tear up. Could Leia possibly recognize her? She doubted it, but then she'd never been around a Force sensitive baby before.

"She's beautiful, Breha. I'm so happy for you both." And she truly meant it. If there were any two people who deserved to be happy parents more than Bail and Breha, Aala didn't know of them.

And then Leia was shrieking and babbling again, and the adults laughed obligingly. "And quite vocal, too." Bail added, a knowing look in his eye.

"Hmm..." Aala grinned. "Think she'll grow out of it?"

"Somehow, I doubt it."

They chatted for a few minutes, gushing over Leia, and Aala felt a deep joy she hadn't felt since she wasn't sure when.

"It's almost time for a nap," Breha announced finally, gathering up Leia in her arms. "It was very nice to see you, Aala," she added, her voice full of sincerity.

Aala nodded, and then Breha and Leia were gone.

"Unfortunately, I have quite a bit of business to get back to," Bail said after they had left. "But there was one more thing I wanted to ask you."

"Of course," Aala answered.

"Our annual ball is coming up soon, I'd very much like to send you an invitation, but I wanted to talk to you first. I know it's a lot to ask right now..."

Something about the tone of his voice, and the look in his eye made it very clear to Aala he was asking a lot more than just her appearance at a ball.

I could still use your help, you know.

Aala held her breath. She thought of Obi-Wan. Of Padmé. Of Luke and Leia and the hope they gave her for the future – how defenseless and innocent they were, and would be for a long time.

"Yes." She nodded. "Yes, of course. I'll be there."