Author's Notes: This is the last chapter of "The Lost Ones" and before it
begins, I just wanted to say thank you, again, to everyone who gave me such
wonderful reviews. I loved writing this story, and I'm so happy to know
some other people enjoyed it, too. Your kind words have been so
encouraging. Thank you.
If anyone is interested, I'm currently working on a third story in this series. It's called "Fear" and it's about how Luke and Anakin begin training padawans at their lake retreat. Unfortunately, though, some people on Naboo aren't very happy about the Jedi being re-established, and they'll resort to violence to try to drive them away. I'm going to begin posting it on Wednesday, Sept. 17th.
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns Star Wars. I write for fun, not for money.
The Lost Ones-16
Naboo.
Anakin knocked softly on the door to Leia's room at the lake retreat. It was almost time for the wedding ceremony to begin, and this would probably be his last chance to speak privately with his daughter for some time.
"Come in, Father," Leia called.
He entered with a smile. "Now, how did you know it was me?"
"I can pick up a few things through the Force, you know," she teased. "Besides, the choices are rather limited. Han can't see me before the wedding. We've had enough bad luck. I'm not taking any chances on more. Luke and Lando are supposed to be fetching the holy man from the village now. And as best man, or Wookie, Chewie's probably got his hands full trying to keep Han from going crazy about now."
"I could have been one of the droids."
"R2 can't knock, and 3PO just left. I think he's still a bit disappointed that we aren't having a big formal ceremony on Coruscant."
Anakin gave a small shrug. "He'll get over it. Personally, I'm happy you wanted to get married here." He studied her in silence for a moment. He had kept a few holographs from his and Padme's wedding day, and ever since she had seen her mother's dress, Leia had decided her own dress would be just like it. Unfortunately, Padme's beautiful white lacy gown had been lost, but Leia had had the best seamstresses on Coruscant to sew an exact copy. With her long dark hair falling loose under the veil, the gown, and her eyes glowing with joy, Leia did look extraordinarily like her mother.
Anakin reached out to touch her cheek. "You are so beautiful, daughter."
Leia stepped close and hugged him. "Thank you."
Anakin held her close for a while before stepping back and saying, "I wish your mother could be here."
She nodded. "So do I." After a moment's hesitation, she added. "But, Father, I want you to know how glad I am that you're here. I didn't realize at first how much I had missed having my natural father. I was always close to my adoptive parents, and when I first found out about you, I couldn't imagine ever thinking of you as my parent. But the more I've gotten to know you these past months, the more you've filled a space in my heart that I didn't even know was there." She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Father."
He had to swallow the lump in his throat before he could speak. "For what?"
Leia smiled. "For coming back to us. I just wanted you to know that Luke's not the only one who loves and needs you."
Blinking back tears, Anakin ran his hand lightly over the top of head. "Thank you, dear heart." He realized he had mussed the veil and looked suddenly dismayed. "Oops. Let me fix that."
He awkwardly tried to straighten the veil before Leia laughed and moved over to the mirror. "That's all right. I'll do it."
Just then Luke appeared in the doorway. "Leia, are you ready? The holy man's here, and Han's about to pass out. I don't think he can hold on much longer."
Leia surveyed herself in the mirror one final time, then turned to face her father and brother. "How do I look?"
"Lovely," Anakin whispered.
Luke stepped close and took her hand. "Never prettier."
The three of them embraced and then Luke headed out to the terrace. A few minutes later, Anakin solemnly escorted Leia outside while R2 played a recording of gentle, soothing music. The late afternoon sun painted a golden haze on the scene and at first Leia couldn't see Han clearly. He was a smaller silhouette next to Chewbacca's giant form. As she walked closer and took her place by his side, though, the angle of sunlight changed and she could see him plainly-how all traces of his nervousness vanished in a happy grin when she approached, how handsome he looked in the midnight blue suit he had bought for the occasion, and the sparkle in his eyes when Anakin placed her hand in his and stepped to the side with the others.
The ceremony was brief and they were all a bit surprised when the holy man pronounced Han and Leia husband and wife. For a second they all stood quiet as the couple shared a lingering kiss. Then as the newly-married Han and Leia Solo turned to face them, Lando exclaimed, "Woo-hoo! They actually did it. I can't believe it."
Everyone burst out laughing and they headed inside for a scrumptious wedding feast. 3PO might have been denied his chance to supervise a formal marriage ceremony, but he seemed to have taken comfort in planning a seven-course meal for afterwards. It was late when Lando and Chewbacca wished the couple a happy honeymoon and left to take the holy man back to the temple in the village. Leia and Han headed off to change clothes and collect their luggage. When they came back to the hallway, Luke was waiting for them.
"Here," he said simply, handing each of them a small package.
He watched as they opened their presents. Each gift contained two small identical items-a holograph of the three of them taken long ago in the first weeks after they'd met (Leia and Han had obviously been arguing about something-they were glaring daggers at each other in the holo), and a small medallion engraved with some type of seal.
Leia and Han both burst out laughing at the holo. Then Han held up the medallion while Leia gave her brother a curious look.
"It's our new family crest," Luke explained. "See, on the right there's a falcon for Han. The dove on the other side represents you, Leia, because you're part of the government that is bringing peace. And the lightsaber in the middle stands for Father and me. It's a symbol of the Jedi. And to show that our family will always defend justice and honor. And one another."
They stared at each other in silence, too moved to speak. Then they all came together in a great hug. Finally they stepped apart and Leia wiped at her eyes. Luke grabbed one of their bags and they walked outside where Anakin was waiting.
It was time Leia and Han to leave, but for some reason they all seemed at a loss for words.
"So, what are you guys gonna be up to while we're gone?" Han asked after a moment.
"Well, in a few days we're going back to Roon to bring the Arixil family here. Elissa's parents wanted to come visit before deciding if she could come here. Then we're going to see if Gil wants to leave the orphanage and become a padawan, and notify Tera to come as well," Anakin responded.
"What about Keren Colzin?" Leia inquired. "Didn't you say she was Force-sensitive?"
"Keren Miret," Luke told her. "She's decided to take on her father's new surname, along with Betta. And, yes, we think she may be Force-sensitive, but she wants to spend some time in Theed and get to know her father before making any decisions about becoming a Jedi."
They stood in awkward silence for a few more moments. Then Han cleared his throat, "I guess we'd better get going."
Anakin hugged his daughter and then held out his hand to Han, "I guess we're officially family now."
Han shook his father-in-law's hand with a wry grin. "Yeah, who'd have ever thought?"
Anakin looked into his new son-in-law's eyes, "I'm glad."
Han stared back at him a moment and then nodded in agreement. "Me, too."
Luke and Leia smiled at each other, hugged one more time, and then Leia and Han clasped each other's hands and hurried up the Falcon's ramp, eager to begin married life together.
As the Falcon soared away, Anakin curled his hand around the back of Luke's neck. "You okay?" Joyous though the occasion was, he knew how close Luke was to his sister and friend, and he didn't want Luke to feel lonely.
He needn't have worried. His son leaned against him and said softly, "I've never been happier."
The End
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
If anyone is interested, I'm currently working on a third story in this series. It's called "Fear" and it's about how Luke and Anakin begin training padawans at their lake retreat. Unfortunately, though, some people on Naboo aren't very happy about the Jedi being re-established, and they'll resort to violence to try to drive them away. I'm going to begin posting it on Wednesday, Sept. 17th.
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns Star Wars. I write for fun, not for money.
The Lost Ones-16
Naboo.
Anakin knocked softly on the door to Leia's room at the lake retreat. It was almost time for the wedding ceremony to begin, and this would probably be his last chance to speak privately with his daughter for some time.
"Come in, Father," Leia called.
He entered with a smile. "Now, how did you know it was me?"
"I can pick up a few things through the Force, you know," she teased. "Besides, the choices are rather limited. Han can't see me before the wedding. We've had enough bad luck. I'm not taking any chances on more. Luke and Lando are supposed to be fetching the holy man from the village now. And as best man, or Wookie, Chewie's probably got his hands full trying to keep Han from going crazy about now."
"I could have been one of the droids."
"R2 can't knock, and 3PO just left. I think he's still a bit disappointed that we aren't having a big formal ceremony on Coruscant."
Anakin gave a small shrug. "He'll get over it. Personally, I'm happy you wanted to get married here." He studied her in silence for a moment. He had kept a few holographs from his and Padme's wedding day, and ever since she had seen her mother's dress, Leia had decided her own dress would be just like it. Unfortunately, Padme's beautiful white lacy gown had been lost, but Leia had had the best seamstresses on Coruscant to sew an exact copy. With her long dark hair falling loose under the veil, the gown, and her eyes glowing with joy, Leia did look extraordinarily like her mother.
Anakin reached out to touch her cheek. "You are so beautiful, daughter."
Leia stepped close and hugged him. "Thank you."
Anakin held her close for a while before stepping back and saying, "I wish your mother could be here."
She nodded. "So do I." After a moment's hesitation, she added. "But, Father, I want you to know how glad I am that you're here. I didn't realize at first how much I had missed having my natural father. I was always close to my adoptive parents, and when I first found out about you, I couldn't imagine ever thinking of you as my parent. But the more I've gotten to know you these past months, the more you've filled a space in my heart that I didn't even know was there." She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Father."
He had to swallow the lump in his throat before he could speak. "For what?"
Leia smiled. "For coming back to us. I just wanted you to know that Luke's not the only one who loves and needs you."
Blinking back tears, Anakin ran his hand lightly over the top of head. "Thank you, dear heart." He realized he had mussed the veil and looked suddenly dismayed. "Oops. Let me fix that."
He awkwardly tried to straighten the veil before Leia laughed and moved over to the mirror. "That's all right. I'll do it."
Just then Luke appeared in the doorway. "Leia, are you ready? The holy man's here, and Han's about to pass out. I don't think he can hold on much longer."
Leia surveyed herself in the mirror one final time, then turned to face her father and brother. "How do I look?"
"Lovely," Anakin whispered.
Luke stepped close and took her hand. "Never prettier."
The three of them embraced and then Luke headed out to the terrace. A few minutes later, Anakin solemnly escorted Leia outside while R2 played a recording of gentle, soothing music. The late afternoon sun painted a golden haze on the scene and at first Leia couldn't see Han clearly. He was a smaller silhouette next to Chewbacca's giant form. As she walked closer and took her place by his side, though, the angle of sunlight changed and she could see him plainly-how all traces of his nervousness vanished in a happy grin when she approached, how handsome he looked in the midnight blue suit he had bought for the occasion, and the sparkle in his eyes when Anakin placed her hand in his and stepped to the side with the others.
The ceremony was brief and they were all a bit surprised when the holy man pronounced Han and Leia husband and wife. For a second they all stood quiet as the couple shared a lingering kiss. Then as the newly-married Han and Leia Solo turned to face them, Lando exclaimed, "Woo-hoo! They actually did it. I can't believe it."
Everyone burst out laughing and they headed inside for a scrumptious wedding feast. 3PO might have been denied his chance to supervise a formal marriage ceremony, but he seemed to have taken comfort in planning a seven-course meal for afterwards. It was late when Lando and Chewbacca wished the couple a happy honeymoon and left to take the holy man back to the temple in the village. Leia and Han headed off to change clothes and collect their luggage. When they came back to the hallway, Luke was waiting for them.
"Here," he said simply, handing each of them a small package.
He watched as they opened their presents. Each gift contained two small identical items-a holograph of the three of them taken long ago in the first weeks after they'd met (Leia and Han had obviously been arguing about something-they were glaring daggers at each other in the holo), and a small medallion engraved with some type of seal.
Leia and Han both burst out laughing at the holo. Then Han held up the medallion while Leia gave her brother a curious look.
"It's our new family crest," Luke explained. "See, on the right there's a falcon for Han. The dove on the other side represents you, Leia, because you're part of the government that is bringing peace. And the lightsaber in the middle stands for Father and me. It's a symbol of the Jedi. And to show that our family will always defend justice and honor. And one another."
They stared at each other in silence, too moved to speak. Then they all came together in a great hug. Finally they stepped apart and Leia wiped at her eyes. Luke grabbed one of their bags and they walked outside where Anakin was waiting.
It was time Leia and Han to leave, but for some reason they all seemed at a loss for words.
"So, what are you guys gonna be up to while we're gone?" Han asked after a moment.
"Well, in a few days we're going back to Roon to bring the Arixil family here. Elissa's parents wanted to come visit before deciding if she could come here. Then we're going to see if Gil wants to leave the orphanage and become a padawan, and notify Tera to come as well," Anakin responded.
"What about Keren Colzin?" Leia inquired. "Didn't you say she was Force-sensitive?"
"Keren Miret," Luke told her. "She's decided to take on her father's new surname, along with Betta. And, yes, we think she may be Force-sensitive, but she wants to spend some time in Theed and get to know her father before making any decisions about becoming a Jedi."
They stood in awkward silence for a few more moments. Then Han cleared his throat, "I guess we'd better get going."
Anakin hugged his daughter and then held out his hand to Han, "I guess we're officially family now."
Han shook his father-in-law's hand with a wry grin. "Yeah, who'd have ever thought?"
Anakin looked into his new son-in-law's eyes, "I'm glad."
Han stared back at him a moment and then nodded in agreement. "Me, too."
Luke and Leia smiled at each other, hugged one more time, and then Leia and Han clasped each other's hands and hurried up the Falcon's ramp, eager to begin married life together.
As the Falcon soared away, Anakin curled his hand around the back of Luke's neck. "You okay?" Joyous though the occasion was, he knew how close Luke was to his sister and friend, and he didn't want Luke to feel lonely.
He needn't have worried. His son leaned against him and said softly, "I've never been happier."
The End
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----