Kira Carsen stirred.

How long had it been? Hours? Days? Why did her entire body feel so stiff? Why was it so hard to open her eyes? There was activity all around her. Through the Force, she could feel the ripples of people rushing around the room, carrying out tasks she couldn't grasp right now. She could hear sounds, even what sounded like voices, but they felt distant.

Then suddenly, the deepest, throatiest voice she had ever heard let out a bellow that seemed to encompass everything around her, like an echo.

"She's awakening. Now quickly – administer the injection before she goes blind!"

Was that voice coming from a … Hutt?

The thought conjured her most recent memories from her befuddled mind. Kabbura! That Hutt! He had done this to her! She remembered the Hutt laughing as it had slammed his fist on a mechanism – the floor had opened up beneath her. A trap! She remembered falling – her lightsaber extinguishing in her hand as she cried out an expletive.

And then she remembered nothing, as unconsciousness claimed her.

Did Kabbura still have her? Was that whose voice it was?

Can't be. Kira thought rationally. Hutts don't speak Basic.

Before her mind could cobble together another thought, she felt the distinct pressure from a Hypodermic injector in her shoulder, and the quick poke of the needle piercing her skin.

No. They were giving her something! It could be a sedative - or worse! She had to get up – she had to fight her way out of here before they did Force knows what!

"Her readings are normal, Doctor." She heard a nearby voice say. "She should be fine with time and rest."

Kira lifted herself up, and it registered in her mind that she had been laying at an angle. As she felt around, she realized there had been some sort of slab around her. She tried to stand, but her limbs felt like jelly. She started to fall forward, only to find a set of powerful arms catching her, drawing her against a rather broad chest.

This feels very familiar. Kira thought, groggily, pressing her hands against the torso as she fought to regain her footing.

A new voice emerged, this one feminine, authoritative and with a very crisp, Imperial accent.

"Right. That will be all, everyone. We are dismissed. Clear the room. Now."

All around her, Kira could hear the sounds of people dropping whatever they had been doing and leaving. She heard a heavy grunt in the distance – a humpf sound that reminded her of the deep, Hutt-like voice she had heard earlier. Her mind still wasn't processing everything clearly, but she could feel the room emptying…

"Kira."

… except for the one who seemed to be holding her, this man whose voice was full of love, concern and strength and sounded very familiar to Kira's ears.

It couldn't be…

Kira fought to open her eyes, this time determined. Everything was blurry, but at least she saw light. She closed her eyes again and pressed her fingertips together, using a Jedi meditation technique Master Kiwiiks had taught her years before. After a moment, she looked up again, now with a clearer vision.

It was him.

He was smiling down at her, his pale blue eyes glistening. His face had a couple more lines than it had when she last seen him… almost three years ago? They were standing in what looked like a medical lab. It was impossible; he was dead. But it was him.

Kira's eyes were tearing up as her breathing stopped and her heart caught in her chest. She reached up a trembling hand to touch his face…

But then she remembered. She remembered her dreams of the Emperor, her Father, wearing his face. The panic overtook her as she pushed him away, backing up until her back pressed against the wall. She still couldn't breathe. It was her greatest fear in the galaxy. The bastard who had dominated her life possessing the man she loved; the hero who had given his life to protect the galaxy.

He made no sudden movements. It was as if he could read her fears; which, of course, he could, just as easily as she could read his.

"He's gone." He said, reassuringly, his smile never leaving his face. "I got him for good this time. He won't be back. He can't harm either of us or anyone else ever again." He reached out a hand for her to take, again not moving from his position or doing anything to alarm her.

Kira tried to speak, only for her voice to catch at first. Was it because of whatever had happened to her? Or was it because of what he had said? Kira would never know for sure.

"Reach out to me through the Force." He said, with all the compassion she knew he possessed. "Trust your feelings. It's just me."

Kira's senses reached out… and found only him.

Her heart skipped a beat then awakened as she let out a gasp. Kira practically leapt into his arms, her lips finding his. They kissed as their bodies pressed together, their spirits soaring. The years of pain from being apart evaporated like snow on a hot day as she felt his lips, his body and his soul against hers.

Kira didn't know where she was. She didn't know how long she'd been imprisoned, or what had become of her captors. She didn't know where he had been, or what sort of hell he had been through. And she didn't know what the future held.

All she knew was that for the first time in years, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

And so was he.