Here we go -- Amy, who is REALLY hoping she is sending the text version, since my computer has decided to rename the once-differentiated versions on my disk all the same thing The disclaimers are all in part one, so I won't repeat them here. However, I will repeat my pleas for feedback, which can be sent to ImXFScully@aol.com ************************************* THE END OF THE BEGINNING by XFScully ImXFScully@aol.com ************************************* **************** Part Two **************** As Chewie piloted the ship away from Coruscant, Lando broke open a bottle of wine and did his best to create an atmosphere as relaxed and pleasant as the night before. He didn't have quite as much success, though. "I hear the tabvids are calling this the wedding of the century," Wedge said. "How does that feel?" He was grinning when he said it, but the grin faded somewhat as Han muttered, "It feels like the crime of the century." Lando stepped between them, held out a glass of the wine to Winter. "It's an exquisite vintage -- the year you and Leia were born, so you know it must be fabulous --" Winter, perhaps remembering the aftereffects of the ladies' night out, groaned and actually turned even paler, something Lando would have thought impossible. "No drinks, please." "I'll take it," Han said. "I could use a stiff drink." "I don't know whether wine qualifies as a stiff drink --" "It'll do," Han insisted, taking the glass from Lando. "Well, I -- where's Luke?" Lando forced a little cheer into his voice; this party had to lighten up sometime, and while Luke wasn't the usual person he'd turn to for that, nobody else looked like a good candidate. He stepped into the back chambers of the Lady Luck, eventually finding Luke sitting on one of the bunks, eyes closed. "Hey, buddy, are you all right?" "I'm fine," Luke said, his voice somehow strange. "I'm meditating. I need to concentrate right now. Just let me know when we get to the coordinates, all right?" "Sure thing --" "Thanks. I owe you one." Luke never opened his eyes. Lando went back, walked past the now ominously silent gathering in the main chamber, and went straight into the cockpit. Chewie growled questioningly. "No problems. I just needed a little civilized company." Chewie nodded understandingly, then took the wine from him and drank deeply, straight from the bottle. Lando sighed and stared resolutely at the starfield before them. "We're here --" Leia peeked through the doorway as she called to her brother. "Luke, are you all right? I know you've been planning this surprise for us, but even so -- you've been distant for days." "I know," he said softly. "And you've needed me close. I'm sorry for that. I hope I can do this for you, and that it helps a little." "Do what?" By this time she was mystified; the coordinates had brought them into near-empty, unremarkable space. "We'll see. At least, I hope we will." He held his hand out; she helped him from the bunk, hugging him to her side. Luke smiled at her wistfully as they walked towards the front. There, the tiny group had all assembled in the main chamber; the earlier tension had faded, replaced now by somewhat confused anticipation. "Okay, kid, let's see it; what's this present we can only unwrap out here in the middle of nowhere?" Han smiled, doing his best to summon up enthusiasm for his young friend's plan. "There's something I want to show you all on the viewscreen; maybe we should go to the cockpit --" "I got you covered," Lando said, hitting a switch on one bulkhead. The laddered metal on one side of the room began folding up, revealing a huge viewscreen. Han started to laugh. "Lando, I knew you had turned this thing into romantic hideaway, but a whole wall for stargazing?" "I don't suppose you'd believe I'd taken a sudden interest in astronomy?" "Not a chance." "You shouldn't," Lando said, with a smile. Chewie began to laugh. Luke raised one eyebrow at his friends before asking, "Could you focus on the nearest star?" "That's some distance --" "Maximum magnification." The starfield blinked into existence, creating the illusion of a window into the vastness of space. One star was large enough to be observed separately from the tiny lights in the distance; had it not been close, they probably wouldn't have seen it at all. It was an old star, dim and sluggish, its surface a dark red. It gave off less light than the average moon reflected. "What's special about this one?" Winter asked. "It's dying," Luke said. "It doesn't have enough energy to collapse back in upon itself and go nova." "And what does that mean for us?" Han was genuinely curious by this point. "Nothing yet. If you could all be quiet for a minute --" Silence fell. Luke looked at the star for a long moment, then shut his eyes. Leia felt an energy gathering within him -- unlike anything she'd ever felt before -- and then -- "Ohh, my," Lando breathed, as the star began to collapse. Before their eyes, the small sphere contracted sharply inward. Luke's hand closed in a fist. Leia felt the Force washing over her, washing through her. She felt something like joy, but not from within her -- it was projected at her, overwhelming her. She clutched Han's hand as the star exploded. The nova unfurled itself in the blackness; color and light blazed outward in wave after wave, unfolding like a flower over and over again. A rush of energy overtook the Lady Luck and the ship rocked slightly; however, they were distant enough for safety. The viewscreen filled with the image of the nova, bathing them in rose-pink light. "Luke -- you created a star," Han said, stunned. "No; actually, I destroyed one. I gave the star the energy it needed to collapse in on itself, instead of just slowly burning out." Luke's voice was weak, almost faint. But he was smiling. "It didn't need much more. After that, the new star was created naturally. Someday, it will coalesce into a new solar system. Maybe even new life." "It's beautiful," Winter said. "That's an understatement -- but I don't know what to say." "Don't say anything. Just watch." They sat in silence for a long time, watching the nova take shape. Luke was trying to regather his energy, and most of the others sat, awestruck, watching the star's first moments. But both Han and Leia found themselves thinking of something else. Leia could not see that explosion without thinking of Alderaan. Even the joy she'd taken in watching the destruction of the two Death Stars had not allowed her to see them without also seeing her homeworld blown into rubble. But for the first time, the pain of those memories didn't eclipse the joy. That's the way it needs to be with my father and my aunts -- I carry them on with me, she thought. Leia had said this to herself many times before, but she'd rarely felt it as deeply as she did at that moment. I don't have to keep all the old traditions -- dwell in all the old pain -- to prove that I keep their memory dear. And who have I been trying to prove it to? The old burden of carrying all Alderaan's past lifted from her; the obligation would never be gone but she suddenly felt younger, and freer, than she had in years. She smiled beatifically, and let herself feel the energy flowing through the new star. Han found himself remembering Renn Tharen's message, blending it into the event before him. Luke had had to destroy the star in order to create life once more; Tharen had urged him to put his past aside. To destroy the past in order to create the future. Bria had struggled hard to create a new future for herself, for the whole galaxy. But she had never succeeded in moving beyond her past -- in giving up old grudges, old dreams, even when they could only hurt her. Or hurt them both. She would have learned that eventually, he thought. But she didn't get the chance. Han had kept her loss close to him -- kept her memory close -- in an attempt to somehow make her a part of the future she'd helped create. He'd dragged her ghost through time with him, making her a part of his life, creating the illusion Bria hadn't been robbed of all those years. But she had. There was nothing left for him now but to accept that, and finally let her go. Bria didn't get to see the Empire fall. She didn't get to recover from their failed affair, to make friends with Han and find her own love. Someone who gave her new reasons to go on. Who did for her what Leia did for him. Han smiled and looked over at his fiancee; she returned the look, and he saw the deep joy shining in her eyes. He knew that somehow the darkness within her had been put to rest, just as his own had been -- knew that she understood this too. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you too," she replied, forgoing their old joke this once. Then she kissed him so deeply that he was in danger of forgetting other people were still in the room -- "You two starting the honeymoon before the wedding?" Lando said. They broke off the kiss as Han shot his friend a look; Leia turned to her brother and smiled. "Luke -- this is perfect." He nodded at her, his eyes knowing, as if somehow he understood that his gift had been more than astronomical pyrotechnics. But of course he knows, she reminded herself. He must have known all along. Luke took her hand and squeezed it. "The nova will be visible from Coruscant, even during the daytime, for weeks; it should be bright overhead the day of your wedding." "And the Viceroy of Vrinithiak thought the muunyak was a great gift," Han laughed. "This should put an end to the bragging war over our wedding presents --" "I'd prefer you didn't mention it," Luke said. "I think -- let's say that it's just as well if my ability to do this doesn't get around." "I see your point," Han said. "Luke -- thanks." The words were inadequate, he knew, but he knew Luke would understand. They sat in silence for a moment longer, watching the nova's now lazy spiral outward; then Leia took a deep breath and patted Han's knee. "I hate to say it, but we have to get back. The Mon Calamari ball starts in about three hours; we have barely enough time to get back and get ready as it is." The trip back was more congenial than their trip out; everyone was energized and eager to talk. Luke recovered himself and joined in; Lando opened a new bottle of wine and served it to far happier guests. Han and Leia talked mostly to their friends, but sat close to one another; while Han still wasn't looking forward to the ball, he felt as if he'd gotten the energy to get through it. And he did enjoy dancing with Leia -- it wouldn't be all bad. His frustration about the upcoming festivities was melting away. Or so he thought. As they entered Coruscant orbit, Chewbacca could be heard growling from the cockpit, first normally, then a little more loudly. Lando got up and headed towards him. "Probably some docking bay comptroller doesn't speak Wookie. Hang on --" Han finished his glass of wine as he grinned at Luke. "I gotta hand it to you, kid; you know how it is with wedding presents, you usually get two of everything. I don't think that's a problem this time." "I doubt it," Luke laughed. "Oh, man -- I don't believe this!" Lando's voice was half-amused, half-ir ritated. "What's the matter?" Leia called. Lando came back into their chamber with Chewbacca, shaking his head in di sbelief. "The docking bay's too busy with traffic to let us land for at least another hour." "Traffic? What's going on?" Han asked, puzzled. "Haven't you heard?" Lando asked sarcastically. "The Mon Calamari ball is tonight -- delegates from across the galaxy have to be there! They can't be late -- the gods forbid --" "So we have to wait," Leia concluded. She looked at Han the same moment he looked at her, dawning anger in both their faces. "This is the final straw --" "I don't believe this! It's our party --" "Supposed to be our party, Princess. But it's not about us. This is all the proof you should need --" "They wouldn't even notice if we didn't show up! It's just so -- so damn --" She looked up at him, searching for a word, saw her own impotent rage in his eyes -- and then they simultaneously broke into laughter. "When the wedding becomes more important than the marriage, you're in trouble," Luke agreed, smiling at them both. "These people don't even realize it," Leia said, trying to gather her breath. "They really would dance the whole night away without us. You could just put up a poster --" "Or a souvenir tankard," Han added, before laughing even harder. "And they wouldn't know the difference," she finished. "I'm starting to hate this. It was a nice idea -- but it's just gotten to be too much." "The mania about all this has gotten out of hand," Wedge agreed. "I can't turn on the holovid without seeing something about the ceremony. I never thought you wouldn't like it, though. Now I can see that it might drive you crazy." Winter nodded. "They've called on me for a thousand details this week. And there's still so much left to do! Apparently the flowers they chose are the emblem of some radical faction on Dantooine, so we're having to come up with something else -- " "You never told me that," Leia frowned. "I didn't think you'd want to deal with it. And have you even decided who's going to officiate?" Leia sighed. "That's the biggest pitfall of all. Mon Mothma would like to do it. So would General Madine. Then priests of at least six different religions have offered themselves up -- hinting that it's an insult to their followers if we refuse. I think we need to choose someone neutral, and fast --" "Who else can do it?" Lando said. "Senators have the power. Heads of state, generally. Religious leaders -- ship captains -- sometimes spaceport administrators --" "Ship captains," Han said, almost absent-mindedly. "Traditionally -- but that's only on their ships, so it doesn't come into our plans. Mon Mothma is probably the best choice --" "Ship captains," Han repeated. Then he sat upright, suddenly energized. "Lando, you're the captain of the Lady Luck --" "Yeah -- but I could only marry you on the ship. And I don't think you're going to get 700 guests aboard," Lando laughed. "I'm not talking about guests. I'm talking about getting married here. NOW." "What?" Leia said, turning to him in shock. "Han -- I don't like it any better than you, but we've got people coming from across the galaxy for this --" "And they never have to know any better. Think about it, sweetheart! Three days from now, they can have their big ceremony. The aristocrat can marry the commoner and the black can marry the white and all that. That's for everybody else. But we're here with our best friends and -- Leia, we've got a chance to let our wedding be private. Just for us, honey -- what do you say?" Leia folded her arms in front of her as she raised one eyebrow. "It's ir responsible and rash and -- I love it." "You mean it?" Han hadn't expected her to go for the idea. But now that she had, he found himself beaming. "Let's get started --" "Wait a minute!" Lando sputtered. "I -- what am I supposed to do?" Luke took his arm. "We can find a ceremony in the record banks, probably. Don't panic; we'll get you through it. Han, Leia -- this is a great idea." Chewbacca roared his agreement. Leia nodded; she was getting caught up in the excitement, getting carried away as she so rarely allowed herself to do. "At least my hair's done -- still, I'd like to freshen up --" "Uh -- while I hesitate to mention it to such refined ladies as yourselves, I should perhaps point out that I do make it a point to keep a few female niceties at hand. They're in the guest quarters -- I should have everything you need --" "I don't doubt it," Leia said, smiling up at him. "If any element is missing from the boudoir, we'll let you know.. Come on," she gestured to Winter, and the two of them vanished into the back. "Let's get you changed too," Lando said, gesturing dismissively towards Han's old pilot's vest. "And me, for that matter. I don't think gold satin really sets the right tone for this occasion." They scrambled about madly; Han sifted through Lando's extravagant wardrobe until he found a simple white shirt that would do. He could feel Calrissian's unbelieving gaze, but stuck to his choice. "I'm not a peacock like you, Lando. The same stuff that makes you look -- " "Dashing? Elegant?" "Don't get cocky. Let's just say it would make me look ridiculous." Han was bantering with his friend almost absentmindedly; the reality of what was about to happen was sinking in. He was filled -- not with nervousness or misgivings, but with a deep, wordless joy. With wonder. It separated him from the bustle around him -- Luke's commentary on various wedding ceremonies, Lando's increasing jitters about the responsibility, Chewbacca's griping about having to brush out his fur. Han barely heard any of it. Once again, the past was back, surrounding him, but not in the same way; instead, he felt himself the hungry, desperate boy he'd been when he set out on his own. Felt that boy's amazement and gratitude: All this is for me? Although the others noticed his quietness, they left him to it; it wasn't as if they didn't have anything else to do. "Maybe we should just go with the Alderaanean ceremony. Leia would like it, probably --" Luke tapped on computer once, and it spat out a flimsy with the words. "Here you go." Lando snatched up the flimsy, nervously scanning the words. "Oh, man, I hope I don't screw this up." "You won't. Just remember your days as Baron in Cloud City. A little of that attitude will carry you a long way," Luke reassured him. "Lando, old buddy," Han's voice spoke, still distant. "Did you keep that package I gave you?" "Yeah, sure, I've got it in my cabin. I'll be sure to get it before we start -- " "Is there anything else we can do to spruce up this place?" Wedge asked, having already tidied up Lando's various odds and ends. "Sure -- I've got some candles over there -- " "Lando, this ship is nothing but a lightspeed-capable den of seduction and lust," Wedge said, shaking his head. "Can I borrow it sometime?" Meanwhile, in the "ladies suite," Leia was working out some of her pre-ma trimonial energy on Winter's hair; the two of them had been braiding one another's locks for as long as they could remember -- and Winter could never recall having her friend pull so severely. "Ow! Watch it!" "Sorry," Leia said, not sounding the least bit apologetic. She was too excited to register the rebuke. "There you go --" Winter patted the smooth coil of braids with satisfaction. "Let's see if he's got fixatives in here too." The array of perfumes and potions laid out in the room was amazing. "This could almost be a boutique." "He's an incorrigible lady-killer," Leia sighed. "But I must say, he does do it in style." Winter gave up looking along the countertop, and opened a drawer to start sifting through it. As she looked down, though, she froze, and slapped a hand to her mouth. Leia stared at her. "What is it?" Wordlessly, Winter lifted up a scrap of lingerie -- no, actually, it was the entire garment, all there was of it -- in vivid purple lace. Leia met her eyes for a long moment before they both collapsed in laughter. "What were you saying about style?" Winter gasped. "Oh, spirits, he hasn't forgotten a thing, has he?" Leia peered into the drawer to search through the other lacy things inside. "My word -- is this even meant for humans? How would you put it on?" She held up something blue that seemed to involve a lot of satiny string and not much else. "I can't imagine. Well, you could change clothes after all -- you'd surprise the hell out of Han --" "He'd love it. But I don't think I want to buck tradition that much." Leia began turning away, then caught glimpse of something else at the bottom of the pile. She reached in and pulled out a long, flowing gown in shimmery silk; the pale green color glinted softly in the light. "This is beautiful. Winter, what about this?" "Leia -- it's lingerie. A nightgown!" "If I wear my singlet beneath it, it'll look like a regular dress. And it's green -- that's what brides wear on Corellia." Leia went ahead and began stripping off her coverall; Winter shook her head and started helping. "Do you think maybe you should go ahead and tell everyone about this?" "About the wedding? No -- Han's right. We'll let the others have their big public party. It would be an embarrassment to a lot of people if we canceled it now." Leia shot her friend a questioning look. "You should understand that." "I do understand it," Winter said. "I just -- it seems like this might be a good time to take a stand. To make it clear that you're going to keep some of your life private -- that the Republic doesn't have complete claim over you two." "You're right," Leia agreed. "I need to make that clear to them. And sooner rather than later -- but this isn't the time." "When will the time come?" It wasn't like Winter to be so insistent. Leia frowned briefly at her friend as she slipped into the cool green gown. "I'll know. Sometime soon, when things aren't so complicated -- oh, Winter, isn't it beautiful?" Winter was a good friend for many reasons; chief among them was her unerring knowledge of when to hush up. She smiled and held out her friend's hands, admiring the fall of the shining cloth around her. "Yes. Yes, it's beautiful." And if Winter's smile was a little sad, Leia was too happy to notice. "Only through unity does humanity find strength. Only through love does the soul find redemption. We stand here today to consecrate the most sacred and joyous symbol of unity and love. In this celebration, we forge a new bond between Han and Leia -- and between our most honored beliefs and our living reality." Lando's voice had an unaccustomed gravity; his newfound dignity only added to the surreality of the occasion. Han was still a little dazed, looking at Leia, unbelievably beautiful, smiling at him warmly, still bathed in the pink light from Luke's star. They stood facing one another, hands clasped between them; the others stood in a circle all around them. He was dimly aware of Winter's teary eyes, of Chewie's proud approval -- but he couldn't seem to focus on them. Only on Leia. Once again, he heard the voice of the boy he had been. I can't believe that this is happening to me. I can't believe I could ever have all this. And yet, somehow, it was true -- "Who represents the families of Han and Leia?" Luke stepped forward. "I represent them." "Take their hands in your own and speak for these families." He covered Leia and Han's clasped hands with his palm, smiling quickly at both of them before beginning the words he had so quickly memorized. "In this joining, two families become one. Our allegiances and our loyalties are forever joined. Through their love, Han and Leia have united us all. May our love and support for them help strengthen the bond between them." Han and Luke's eyes met for a moment; they'd felt like brothers since the day they'd met. No ceremony could make that more true -- at least, that's what Han would've sworn -- and yet it was different now. He felt Luke's acceptance, and his love, as strongly as he did Leia's. Han smiled at him for a moment before turning back to his bride. Leia watched her brother step away with a tiny thrill of nervousness. This is it! This is it? She'd never imagined her wedding like this; while this was wonderful, it was so different from her expectations that it was hard to convince herself that it was all really happening. I'm getting married. I'm marrying Han, finally, truly -- Concentrate. Remember this. It's the most perfect moment of your life. It will never come again. "Han and Leia, I ask you now if you will swear yourselves to the promises and ideals that form the covenant of marriage. Do you avow to hold one another first in your hearts, before past commitments and future temptations?" They both spoke, but Han's voice was strongest: "I do so avow." "Do you avow to hold one another dear, to find the inspiration for love anew, even through the passage of years?" "I do so avow." "Do you avow to help one another to be true to the beliefs and principles you wish to abide by?" "I do so avow." Lando took a deep breath, betraying his first hint of nervousness; almost before the others could notice, though, he continued: "Do you avow to preservere in times of hardship and give thanks in time of plenty?" "I do so avow." "Then turn to face me and hold out your hands." Han and Leia did so, and Lando put his hands on either side of theirs, clutching them tightly. "As you have promised to honor the sacred commitment between you, and to forge a new life at each other's side, you are now created husband and wife. Remain forever as you are now -- symbols of the love and hope that redeem us all." They were silent for a long moment; Han took a deep breath, clearing all the happy unreality from his mind. My wife. Leia, my wife. Leia, for her part, was smiling through unshed tears. Just as it looked as if she would speak, Lando held out his hand. The chressathine sphere -- he'd almost forgotten. Han glanced over at Leia again, seeking her consent; in answer, she herself took the shimmery, papery globe from Lando and held it out to him. He put his hand over it, brought their palms up between their hearts. All that old pain. All those old promises. Gone as if they never were -- maybe for the best, maybe not, but to make way for a future more hopeful than anything they'd ever dared to imagine. Han nodded, and together they pressed on the sparkling surface; the sphere resisted for a minute, then gave way with a resounding pop. Everyone started, then began laughing as the glittery powder from the sphere settled in Han and Leia's hair, on their clothes, all around the room. Han froze up for a moment -- he hadn't expected that -- but relaxed and grinned as he saw Leia laughing too, her cheeks dusted with the shimmery powder. "I love you, Princess." "I love you too, hot shot." And with that, she took him in her arms and kissed him, oblivious to the chressathine dust, the joy of their friends, the newborn star -- to everything but her husband. And that moment, more than any other, was theirs and theirs alone. *********************** THE END ***********************