A/N: So here we are at the epilogue. Thank you to everyone who's read this story, especially those kind enough to leave a review. It's been fun!

The Hapes Charade.

Epilogue: The Final Journey.

It was with a mixture of bitterness, sorrow and anger that Sabé watched Padmé's coffin make its ceremonial way down the promenade of Theed. She could hardly believe that her best friend's bright and vibrant life had been snuffed out by the one person she had loved and trusted above all others. Sabé knew it all, all the secrets that Padmé had kept so carefully, that could prove her ruin if she was ever caught. She had managed to get some additional information from Bail Organa, after much pleading and tugging of heartstrings, and for the rest she had filled in the blanks herself.

She knew it was dangerous for her to have come to the funeral at all, but she couldn't have stayed away. She needed closure. If it was going to be found at all, she knew she'd find it here. But the guilt would remain, she knew that. She and Typho had spent a very drunken evening lamenting the fact that neither of them had been forceful enough to insist on accompanying Padmé to Mustafar. The fact that the evening had ended with them passed out on the floor, Typho's head resting on Sabé's shoulder, was uncharacteristic of them both. But then they had never felt so desperately helpless before.

Pushing those thoughts away, Sabé lurked in the shadows, her features hidden beneath her dark hooded cloak. Hundreds upon hundreds of mourners had come out to remember Padmé Amidala. She had touched the hearts of so many in her duties as queen and senator.

Sabé pressed her palm against the stone column she was concealed behind, seeking reassurance from its cool, damp surface. She needed something solid and steady to lean against or she thought she may well fall over. The shock of Padmé's death, the horror of the regime of the new Empire and her continual separation from Obi-Wan left her with the weight of the galaxy on her shoulders. It was a weight she felt too fragile to bear.

She watched as Padmé's flower-covered casket disappeared into the temple for cremation, and silently said the remainder of her goodbyes. Once that was done she had only one thought left in her head. She backed away from the column, preparing to make her departure while all attention was on the temple. Then a hand seized her elbow, steering her further into the shadows.

Sabé reacted on instinct, wrenching her arm away and reaching for the assailant's neck, slamming them into the wall. There came a yelp of pain and Sabé found herself face to face with Duchess Satine Kryze. She didn't have time to curb her surprise.

"You?" Remembering herself, she took her hand away from the Duchess's throat. "Sorry about that."

"That's all right," Satine said unconvincingly, rubbing her neck.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question. You shouldn't be here, they'll be looking for you. You were closer to Padmé than anyone. I know they lied about how she died and I'm sure you must know the truth."

Sabé found it surprisingly hard to meet her pleading eyes. She was not used to seeing such an unguarded, human side of the Duchess.

"I'm sorry, Milady, I can't tell you. My duty aside, it would be dangerous for you to know what I know."

"I'm safe enough. Mandalore is a neutral system."

"For now. But do you really think the Emperor will just let the neutral systems be and hope that none of them protest to his dealings?" She gave a sigh and continued in a calmer tone. "I'm sorry, Milady. But that's the way things are going and you'll be safer not knowing the truth."

Satine nodded dumbly, defeated by the logic of Sabé's words. "You're right. I wouldn't be surprised if that is what happens. But I'll fight it for as long as I can."

Sabé raised an eyebrow, then turned to go. "I don't wish to be rude, Milady, but I need to get out of here."

"Of course." A peculiar look came over the Duchess's face. "You're going to him, aren't you?"

Sabé stopped in her tracks.

"He's still alive," Satine breathed, her face bright with wonder.

Sabé looked back at her and merely nodded. It seemed that Satine still carried a torch for Obi-Wan, despite Kalan's very obvious influence on her mood and jewellery collection.

"Come with me," Satine ordered, businesslike.

Puzzled, Sabé followed her through the streets of Theed until they reached one of the vast public docking bays. Satine strode up to the guard on duty and flashed her I.D.

"I am Duchess Satine Kryze," she added for good measure. "My handmaiden and I are ready to leave and would like our ship."

She need not have tried so hard. The guard looked thoroughly bored and disinterested and waved them through with hardly a glance. Satine's ship was a small cruiser, not dissimilar to some of the ones Padmé had used to use on her diplomatic missions. Its pilot was sitting on the ramp reading a holomag.

"Pilot," Satine snapped, announcing her presence.

He jumped to his feet at once. "Sorry, Milady, I didn't see you."

"Evidently. This is an important friend of mine. Take her wherever she wants to go, then come back and pick me up. I can amuse myself in Theed until you return."

Both Sabé and the pilot looked at her in astonishment.

"Why are you doing this?" Sabé asked, not without gratitude.

"For him," Satine said simply. "Go, before I change my mind."

Sabé met her gaze. "Thank you."

Satine didn't answer, but gestured her up the ramp.

Inside the cockpit the pilot gave her an expectant and inquisitive look. "Well, where to, Milady?"

Sabé slipped into a vacant seat, feeling a rare spark of anticipation. "Set a course for Tatooine."

Before the start of Clone Wars, Padmé had gone with Anakin to visit his mother's new family on Tatooine. When she'd returned she'd shared the story with Sabé. Sabé had listened politely, sympathising with Anakin and his shock over suddenly having new relations, but had never considered that the information might come in useful some day. But she found that it helped her immensely on her arrival in Mos Eisley. It didn't take her long to track down the Lars homestead.

Not quite so easy was to convince Beru Lars that she was not an Imperial assassin sent to murder Obi-Wan. Although the fair-faced, highly suspicious farmer agreed to help her, Sabé could see that she was not completely sure. She told her husband she was taking a quick trip into town, then, in a tone that was encouragingly apologetic, she explained Owen's dislike of the Jedi.

On the journey, Beru piloted a rusting, ancient landspeeder, keeping her blaster close just in case Sabé should try anything. The fact that she was helping at all indicated that she believed Sabé's story, but she had learned to be cautious.

Eventually, Beru took a detour and halted at the top of a large sand dune. She pointed. "There he is."

Sabé followed the line of her finger and spotted him. He was sitting on the peak of the next dune in a meditative pose. The first of the desert planet's two suns was just setting, bathing him in a rosy, golden glow. Sabé's breath caught in her throat. Her heart clenched painfully at the thought of everything he had been through and she found herself too emotional to answer. She climbed out of the speeder and found her tongue enough to thank Beru.

"I'll just wait here for a bit, if you don't mind," the farmer said, her hand lingering near her blaster.

"Of course."

Sabé began the short yet endless walk towards him. He didn't seem aware of her presence, too deep in his meditation. That in itself was unusual and she wondered what demons he was fighting. Every step she took raised another doubt in her mind and she almost turned back. But she had come too far and had nothing to turn back for.

She had begun climbing the slope of the dune when he registered her presence. His eyes opened, then widened in disbelief. Sabé tilted her head and tried to smile, but it soon gave way to tears. Crying was so unlike her that she was shocked by her own actions and tried to wipe them away.

Obi-Wan was on his feet in a trice and strode down the dune to meet her. Sabé began to speak, but he crushed her in his arms and kissed her, as if he was afraid that she would vanish if he didn't hold her close enough. She clung back, more content than she had been in a long time.

Neither of them noticed when the suns finally set, or when Beru smiled to herself and stole away. They had each other, and that was all that mattered.

The End.

A/N: Well, that's it folks. Hope you enjoyed it :) Until next time!