Confronting Fear

Leia's Legacy

10 Years Later

The city of Coruscant was abuzz with activity hundreds of feet below as it always was, but today even more so as the city prepared for the coming parade and festival making the glassed in room atop the tallest tower of the Jedi Temple an even more welcome reprieve than usual, not that it was quiet by any means. The sounds of laughter, both of children and adults filled the room and hearts of the people gathered there. In a few minutes time they would be expected to report to the temple steps for the parade that would wind through the city before ending at the Senate building, but for now, this time belonged to them.

The group had gathered as they always did, on this day, to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Exegol. The location of the gathering had changed over the years and the number of attendees had grown as their families had, but some things would never change.

Rey spotted Ben on the far side of the room, crouched down low speaking to their five year old twins, Hannah and Lee. He stood, tall as ever as the little boy and girl ran off to join the Windu girls, seven year old Paige and four year old Salah. She placed a hand protectively over the bump just starting to show under her finest white dress uniform. Next year the gathering would have one more attendant.

The door to the chamber opened as Poe entered, his four year old son Hunter riding on his shoulders, Seirien following with their infant daughter Shara asleep in her arms, BB8 on their heels.

"Uncle Poe!!!" the Solo and Windu children collectively shrieked running to greet him. As the fun one, Poe had always been the favorite uncle.

Rose shook her head as Poe and BB8 began some secret game with them, Hunter still on his shoulders. "Just a big kid."

"You can say that again." Seirien added, her voice betraying the tiredness that mothers of infants knew all too well. One Rey would know again in a few months time.

Rose reached out to take Shara from Seirien. "Sit. I'll take her." Seirien gratefully took her up on the offer.

Finn had now gotten in on the game.

Rey's head found Ben's shoulder as he placed his arm around her, the black fabric of his dress uniform soft against her cheek as she watched her dearest friends, her family, carefree against the backdrop of the city. "This is what it was all for."

"Yeah, it was." Ben agreed.

"Indeed." added Rose.

In truth, defeating Sidious had only been the beginning.

Almost immediately, Poe and Finn -with some guidance from Leia in the early days - had begun to rally support for yet another Republic with assistance from the resources of the Empire and the Hapes Consortium and the political savvy of Queen Cyrilla.

It had taken over three years of constant work for the rebranding of the First Order into the Empire and the beginnings of the Republic, which ten thousand systems had immediately pledged to join, to take place and for everyone to find their new place it.

Poe had taken up the mantel of general as Leia had intended for him, rebuilding the starfighter corps and ground troops.

Finn had abandoned his title of general after the war and focused on his Force training and the Senate, becoming the High Chancellor and lead diplomat of the Republic. The initial ten thousand systems had grown to over two hundred and fifty thousand because of his efforts, with many more in the process of joining.

Rose had continued to follow her passion, becoming the Head of Engineering for the army, a post that granted her the official rank of Commander. She was granted control over the shipbuilding facilities and had overseen production of some of the best technology and engineering the galaxy had ever seen.