May The Way Be With You

Intergrade

"Dear Force, that's exhausting!!!" I groan as I sit in the cockpit. What should have been a short walk took two hours due to people hearing the news and learning who I am. So many people welcoming me home, wanting to touch my hand, take a holophoto, or ask a bajillion questions.

"It's the price of being a royal. You did good for your first public outing as a Princess!" Riley grins as she sits in Grogu's old seat. Din sits in the cockpit, powering up the ship. "So, this is the Crest! You fixed it all by yourself?" Riley asks. As Din flies, I tell her about Fiona and the work she and the others have done, as well as making sure it was safe for us.

I take her to my room to show her Din's gifts and she handles each one delicately. She then smiles at me as she says, "You have a wonderful husband. He's a good man, I can feel it."

"He really is. We've had some ups and downs, but we always come out on top." I smile back. She sits on my bed and looks at the geode.

"I wish I could have met Grogu in person. You know, sometimes I have Force connected with you while you were taking care of him. He seems like a sweetheart." Riley sighs.

"One day, you will. When he's done training with Skywalker, we'll meet again." I tell her, sitting with her. She smiles, and I can feel she has more to say. "You can talk to me about anything you want." I tell her. She looks up, then sighs.

"You've been all over the Galaxy, met so many people, been on countless adventures! All I know is Greylandia. While I won't be Queen, I'll still be a Princess Royal. How can I help you help our people if I've never been off the planet?" She asks, tears in her eyes. I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly.

"You will be a great help. Remember, I know nothing about our culture or mannerisms. You can teach me all that. And maybe one day, I'll take you on an adventure. I'll take you to Tatooine! You can meet Peli and Cobb! Cobb will love you, and Peli will adore you!" I smile at her. She giggles and wipes her eyes with her handkerchief.

"Already you're the best sister ever!" She grins. I smile back and she asks, "What's it like to be married?" I think for a few moments, wondering how to put it into words.

"Well, it's like having a best friend that you can kiss. That you know loves you more than anything in the world, and as long as you two are together, nothing can stop you. There are times you don't get along, and may want to wring their neck for leaving the toilet seat up, but at the end of the day you want nothing more than to be with them." I tell her honestly. She smiles warmly.

"I hope I find a husband some day." She sighs.

"You will, because you're so cute!" I snicker as I tickle her side. She giggles, then Din comes over the comms to tell us he's landing soon. We return to the cockpit and Riley is fascinated by Din landing the Crest. It reminds me of Grogu watching us land the ship. I feel a pang of grief, missing him again. I push it down as Din lands.

Already I can see a team of people waiting to board, standing at attention like soldiers. I groan as Riley reminds me that we're Royal. Before Din opens the ramps, he places a lock on his gun storage, then calibrates it so only his vambrace and my comms bracelet can open it. Then he lowers both the side and back ramps. The servants are quite careful as they move boxes, cargo and nets full of our things.

As they work, a footman walks up to me with a bow. "You're Highness, the King wishes to speak with you privately." He says. I nod, then give Din a Keldabe kiss before leaving. I'm brought to a majestic study, where Father sits at an ornate desk. The footman leaves, and I give Father a bow.

"No need to bow in private. Come, sit." He says, gesturing to a plush seat across from him. I take the seat as he types something on his holopad. "So, you've met Ahsoka and Bo-Katan?"