Welcome Home

After they had helped the red clan win that small but essential victory, they left that planet behind and finally made it to Yavin 4. Yet the fact that the Death Star was looming right on top of it, with a firefight surrounding it, told them they weren't far from danger.

Blaze took this reveal as the perfect opportunity to speak up for the first time in a while. Jyn and Cassian had almost forgotten that he was in the shuttle with them, he had been so quiet. "I want to fight for the Rebellion now. I can't stand to watch more innocent blood shed as I sit idly by. Rau's last words to me were that the galaxy should be free. I want to do what he couldn't live to."

Cassian patted Blaze on the shoulder and simply said, "Welcome home, kid."

They landed and rushed to the base's command center. People were bustling to ships and taking off faster than you could say Jabba the Hutt all around them on their way. Cassian got multiple waves from pilots and soldiers who knew him, and walked on with confused faces due to him being officially dead on Scarif. A particular female freighter pilot smiled at him in a curious way. Cassian's nervous smile and wave back gave Jyn something she hadn't been in possession of for a long time. She didn't know what it was she felt for a brief moment. Or did she?

When they entered the command center Princess Leia was there, surrounding a battle that was being charted on the large holo table. Only a couple officers were standing alongside her. Most had left. The princess of the planet Alderaan looked stressed. Cassian pulled her quickly aside. They seemed to know each other.

She quickly relayed the terrible news of Alderan, when Cassian asked how her father was. The Death Star had destroyed an entire planet.

"What is going on?" Cassian asked, gesturing to the table that was charting a trench run.

"We've sent a few squadrons to take out the Death Star. One of my good friends is up there." Princess Leia said thinking of her friend who she had first thought to be a little short for a stormtrooper.

    "Who?"

    "You wouldn't know. A new kid."

    Cassian scratched his head. "I see. I'm so sorry about your home."

    "There's no time to think of that now. But thank you. The plans that your team stole, those are being used today." The princess said.

    "You're joking. You only just got them recently? We nearly died days ago trying to get them too you. We launched a suicide mission to get those." Jyn said, cutting in, her tone laced with cynicism.

    "Scarif was only three days ago. And I'm sorry to say I got held up. I had to send a droid I hardly knew to a planet I'd never heard of to keep it from the empire. I even got myself captured and imprisoned on that very battle station." Leia pointed to the sky, and the Death Star. "So don't lecture me about nearly dying. Were you tortured and interrogated by Darth Vader?"

    Jyn fell silent for a second, then took a step forward, and was about to respond back with unkind words when Cassian stepped in front of her.

"Don't lecture us on their torture technics. We've seen them worse than you have ever. Up close and personal princess." Cassian shook his head. "On the battlefield, when your comrades die besides you and you're the only one left, you begin to beg for the empire's torture droids. Or the imperial prison camps and the striking ends of stormtrooper's blasters on your face. Don't presume to know what we've been through."

The princess was taken aback by his words and the truth in his eyes. "I'm sorry Captain."

Jyn just shook her head in triumph, and she looked to Cassian with admiration.

    "No need to apologize. So, you have faith in your friend and his squadron?"

    "Yes. The force is with us."

"Why are people evacuating left and right than?"

    "Most think that the risk of failing is too high and a risk not worth taking. Other's are leaving as a necessary precaution. Some to join the fight, even this late."

    "I should go up. I am a Captain." Cassian suggested, suddenly being taken up by and urge to join the fight after retelling tales of being in it.

    Fear struck Jyn's face, but only Leia noticed it.

    "No." Leia interjected. "It's too late in the fight for you to do any good. All our combat ships are up there anyways."

    "You're right. I haven't seen a U-wing or X-wing since we got here." Cassian's looked around the hanger.

    "If you'll excuse me, I have to get back." Leia subtly nodded to Jyn.

    "Of course." Cassian bowed his head quickly.

    "Wait." Jyn said stopping the princess. "Just to clarify, what are we going to do if we lose?"

    "Die. By pulverization. But if we win. This will be well known as the battle of Yavin, from which grand stories will be told."

"How much time do we have?"

"Twenty minutes or so. Less even now this conversation has gone on longer than I had hoped." With that the princess of the planet that was no longer, left them to return to watching the fight on a screen, and hearing the cries of rebel pilots through the receiver.

Cassian tugged at Jyn's arm and pulled her to a privet spot between two pillars and out of the way of prying eyes. He swallowed hard, then started to talk faster than normal. "You didn't oppose me when I said I'd stick by your side. You didn't oppose our kiss either. But I want you to know why I said and did those things. You mean the universe to me. I don't want us to die before I say it. I'm in love with you Jyn Erso. From the moment we first met, you made me feel something again. I was so lost and broken before. I didn't know who I was or what I really stood for. I had no moral code. You brought that back to me. You inspire me. And I think you're the most beautiful being that's ever existed. And the way we work together... We were made for each other. Blast it, tell me I'm not the only one who sees it." Cassian finished his passionate statement and took in a large breath of air. He looked nervous too. More nervous then Jyn had ever seen him before. He looked desperate even.

"You're bloody joking." Jyn exclaimed under her breath.

"No." Cassian's face turned hard and he looked like a man who had been crushed by a million moons.

"I didn't mean it like that." She grabbed his arm as he was about to turn away. "I only meant I was going to say the same thing." She smiled a full smile. "I know we haven't made any actual promises to each other, though we both know those kisses meant something. I've fallen in love with you recently. Not because of our circumstances or any of that. I've fallen in love with you because of you, just you. You're a good man, with flaws and broken pieces, but they make you who you are. And you've never treated me with any disrespect, or failed to keep me under your protection--although it's hardly warranted---that's something I've always admired about you. You've shown me what it was like to believe again. To believe in a cause greater than oneself. To put ones own feelings aside to see the bigger picture. There're not many men like you Cassian Andor. And I don't think I ever made it abundantly clear, but I do care a great deal for you. And I do think that we work well together. I don't think I'd ever look for someone else to Rebel with." 

Cassian's face lit up like a drunken Bothan on life day, but he didn't care. He pulled Jyn to himself, and they shared a celebratory kiss. They pulled away with smiles as rebels all around them cried out in sadness, for a proton torpedo didn't go into the ventilation shaft as it should.

"This is going to sound crazy." Cassian said, ignoring the commotion about them.

"I'm fond of crazy."

"Do you want to get married? Or do you-- would you marry me?" He looked to her with raised eyebrows.

"Go on." She said, sensing he had more to say by the unsureness of his statement.

"I'm tired of running from our fates. If we are to die here, amongst our comrades let us do so. But I want the galaxy to know that we're going out as one. That we're partners who plan to care for each other and share a future together. If a future is given to us."

"Cassian. That doesn't sound crazy. And of course I'd like to marry you. Who wouldn't? You hardly give yourself enough credit. Only, why such little faith in the plans that we stole with our very own hands? They'll work, the squadrons will destroy that blasted Death Star."

"I have faith. Hope even. It's just that being a military man, I have to consider all the variations of my plan. A necessary precondition, you could call it. But there's something I want to do more than worry about even the Death Star and death."

    "That makes two of us. We have less than twenty minutes now."

    "But we shouldn't rush into it if you feel like we're moving into this too quickly. If you're feeling pressured by a looming possibility of death.

    "Cassian, if I have to die with one certainty, it's that you're sticking around, indefinitely, and I won't let you go. I don't feel like we're rushing. We've already promised to be there for each other. This is how it should be." Jyn shrugged her shoulders playfully. "But if you're getting cold feet already, just say the word..."

    At that comment Cassian shook his head, she loved to tease him. He smiled at her joke and took her hand to kiss it and hold it. "Let's go."

    The two scoured the base to find a high ranking officer who wasn't preoccupied with anticipation of weather or not they were to blow up. It took quite some time before they found someone who agreed to use their rank and the power given to them by it, to join the two in matrimony.

    Mon Mothma was about to leave the base when she heard their plea. She temporary canceled her shuttle's departure, to officiate. They thanked her, but she simply said, "No. Don't thank me. This is something more important than anything I have to do. If ones alive but love is lost, what's the point in fighting for freedom? I should be thanking you."

     Because no other jewelry was present, Jyn and Cassian exchanged Kibar crystals quickly. Jyn giving him her families crystal, and Cassian re-giving her the green one he had gotten her from Corellia. They spoke their heartfelt vows fast, and were announced as married before the three witnesses. Blaze, an injured x-wing pilot, and a scrappy old droid called chopper, were the witnesses of the quickly put together ceremony.

    When it was done, smiles were exchanged, and hands were shaken. Blaze gave them both a hug. He thanked them for all that they did for him. He said he owed the two of them a life debt, for saving him and bringing him someplace where he could serve a greater cause.  A hopeful cause. He also congratulated them saying, "I just knew it. Rau and Jensen said it too. You two couldn't keep you're eyes off each other for even five minutes! Congratulations guys. I wish you nothing but the very best."

    With less than five muinets on their countdown clock, the newly wedded couple climbed up an ancient pyramid to sit atop and watch the Death Star stare at them with its one ominous eye. It was a beautiful evening, the light from the closest sun just making the surrounding area glow with a beautiful sunset haze.

    "Couldn't you have married us?" Jyn asked Cassian as they opened their one wedding gift. A flask of some blue delicious liquid that the X-Wing pilot had given them.

    Cassian took another sip of the beverage. "Hypothetically, yes. My ranking of Captain gives me the authority to do so. But I'd have to have a clone of myself made to actually marry myself to you."

    "I met a clone once. He shared the same name as my father and claimed to be 'Death Vadar's secret apprentice'. Or he was just crazy."

    "Probably the latter."

    The both looked to each other, just to stare at the person they loved in the beautiful setting. They savored the moment as they just stared. Then they simultaneously looked up at the Death Star.

    "Despite it causing so much death. It's a beautiful masterpiece, your father made." Cassian said, as he held his wife close.

    "Yes it is." Jyn smiled solemnly.

    "Not far as beautiful as his first masterpiece." Cassian smirked at her.

    "Why thank you."

    "I'm sorry I never got to meet him."

    Silence fell on them for a moment. A silence Cassian soon broke.

    "Glad that I didn't kill him though." Cassian smiled sheepishly.

Jyn smiled back at him fondly. He tried to hard to be funny, and he failed miserably every time. But she would never hate him for that.

As they leaned in for a kiss, the eye of the Death Star turned green and readied to add a fourth planet to it's rap sheet of destruction. Only as they pulled away did they hear cheers from those who were still on the base. They looked up to the sky to see a cloud of derbies floating above them in an explosion. Right where the artificial moon had been. It was a glorious sight.

"What now Mrs. Andor?" Cassian said with a smile. Their future was finally looking up.

Jyn looked to Cassian hopefully. "We're rebels aren't we? Let's rebel some more."