#I tried to do a thorough sweep of the archive but there's only so many holiday keywords a girl can think of

[the-lonelybarricade]

Feysand Holiday Fic Recs

A collection of holiday-themed Feysand fics for you to enjoy while snuggled down beneath a big, cozy blanket with a cup of hot cocoa!

Spicy fics indicated by a 🌶️ emoji

Please make sure to spread the holiday joy and kindness by leaving kudos and comments on any of the fics that you find and enjoy from this list 💕

One-Shots:

Modern:

The Holiday (🌶️) by @velidewrites - When two sisters with a terrible taste in men (or is it?) decide to swap houses for the holidays, they don't expect to fall in love.

Dada by @julemmaes - Rhysand and Feyre have tried everything to make their little boy talk, now they can only wish for a Christmas miracle

Home for the Holidays by @darling-archeron - Feyre and Rhys have been best friends for years. And Feyre knows that's all they'll ever be - friends. When Rhys brings her to his family Christmas party, she realizes that not everyone has the same impression of their relationship.

Going Home by @darling-archeron - When Feyre's flight home is cancelled, she finds herself stranded in Chicago on Christmas Eve. Luckily, she runs into a familiar face at the airport.

Christmukkah by @live-the-fangirl-life - When Feyre can't celebrate the holidays with her family, Rhys decides to help

Merry Christmas, Feyre Darling (orphaned) - Feysand Fluffy Highschool AU fic

Don't Be a Jerk (It's Christmas) by @the-lonelybarricade - When the group in the corner of the cafe are being too loud for Feyre to study, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

A Letter Never Sent by @the-lonelybarricade - Rhysand was assigned as Feyre's secret santa—again. But after nearly confessing his feelings to her last Christmas, he'll be making sure not to put his heart on his sleeve this year. Or; Rhys accidentally gives Feyre the wrong Christmas letter.

A Letter to Satan (🌶) by yafan92 - When Feyre sends a drunken letter to Santa on Christmas Eve, she doesn't realize that she actually sent it to Satan, who shows up willing to grant her Christmas wish.

Feysand Holiday Fluff Fest by @nomattertheoceans - A series of 31 holiday prompt fills for December 2019

All I Want For Christmas Is You by dr_woodsprite - Rhysand and Feyre’s first Christmas.

A Very Feysand Christmas by @librarian-of-orynth - Feyre and Rhys buy, and then decorate, their Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas, Darling by whimsicallydrifting - Rhys and Feyre are celebrating their first Christmas together as a married couple, and Rhys decided to be romantic and take care of all the preparations: tree, dinner, and decorations. It didn't go exactly as he'd planned.

False Identity (🌶️) by addiewritesthings - One night at a bar, recent divorcee Feyre Archeron is approached by a beautiful dark-haired man who wants to know her name. Only the name she gives him isn't her own.

Canon:

In the Spirit by @noirshadow - the Inner Court confronts their biggest enemy to date - Dry January.

Winter Solstice with Nyx by JAWhitethorn - This is a fluffy, happy story about Feyre & Rhysand celebrating Solstice with the Inner Circle and Nyx, when he is almost five years old.

Solstice Lights and a Scared High Lord by Littlelionman15 - Rhysand thought it'd be a good idea to put himself under the christmas tree as another winter solstice present for Feyre, but things don't go as planned, and the possibility of a new haircut comes in play when Feyre has to help him get out.

I Am Lost And Led Only By The Stars by highfaelucien - The first Christmas after the war and Feyre is disappointed when Rhys can't make it back from the Illyrian camps due to a violent snow storm. Rhys decides to throw caution to the wind and do whatever it takes to get back to his mate in time.

Christmas at the Cabin by @illyriantremors - The entire squad goes to the cabin in the mountains to spend a week together at Christmas. Mayhem and shenanigans ensues.

Seven Days of Solstice by @msfeyredarling - On Feyre’s fiftieth, Rhys decides to celebrate Feyre following the seven days of the winter solstice.

Secret Weapon by addiewritesthings - Feyre returns home one evening to discover exactly what Rhys and Nyx have been up to all day.

Multi-Chapter (all completed):

Modern:

A Christmas Prince by @separatist-apologist - When reporter Feyre Archeron is sent to the small European Principality of Aldovia to cover the upcoming coronation of Prince Rhysand, she's mistaken for a royal portraitist. Deciding to lean into the lie in order to get a better story, Feyre is caught up in the drama and politics of Rhysand's life with no way out that doesn't betray them both.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy by @the-lonelybarricade - "You didn't put up Christmas lights so my friends and I decided to decorate your lawn for you"

Silent Night by Lyetta - When a spare of the moment decision sends Rhys down the riverside path, his life is turned upside down by a beautiful woman in need of help.

Home for the Cold Spell by @thegloweringcastle - When faced with yet another birthday alone in her hometown, Feyre decides to gift herself the thing she needs most: an escape. Things go well; she explores new places, meets new people, and finds a muse in the most arrogant (and beautiful) man she's ever met. 

[keelywolfe]

Third in the ‘by any other name’ series

Summary:

Edge just wants two things; his lover to be safe and a good place to get a cup of coffee. Naturally, this is too much to ask.

Notes:

I'm just amusing myself at this point. Can't they just be sarcastic and witty and love each other for a little while?

The Beanery wasn't in the most prime location for a coffee shop. Starbucks had claimed all those in town, with at least three in easy walking distance of the college. Despite that, the shop did modest business, particularly with the unspoken knowledge that Monsters were welcome.

Edge parked his car in the outer part of the lot, with spaces empty next to him on both sides. Another little habit that he didn't bother attempting to break; it was safer to have a clear line of sight with the extra bonus of no one being able to ding his car and if Stretch was going to grumble about the walk, he could take a shortcut to the passenger side.

If he was going to talk to Edge this afternoon, that was. This morning had been unpleasantly quiet, to be sure.

Getting Stretch to agree with letting Edge drop him off for a few days had taken more than a little persuasion. Not that he wasn't allowed to take the bus; as per his agreement with the King, after Stretch had signed the statement and deleted a few choice selections from his twitter (and agreed not to post any new ones. And to not ask anyone else to do it for him. And to not post anything to Reddit, Snapchat, Instagram or any other place on the internet or undernet with regards to the Ebott Police. Honestly, Edge hadn't read the entire agreement but he had no doubt Antwan had been thorough). After he'd signed it, he'd had his full privileges reinstated.

It was Edge who was having a difficult time letting him take the bus. Just thinking of Stretch sitting in a cramped vehicle, likely wearing headphones and barely paying attention to his surroundings, humans all around him…and the creature who'd tried to hit him was out there, in the city, perhaps considering retaliation—

Edge was very, very good at compartmentalizing, but not where Stretch was concerned.

Stretch was fairly reasonable about Edge's completely unreasonable concerns, but trying to infringe on the freedom he'd just gotten back hadn't gone over well. That night wasn't the first time Stretch had slept on the sofa, refusing to come to their bed, but it was the first time Edge hadn't left him there alone. He'd sat on floor beside the sofa, leaning against it and listening to Stretch's even breathing the entire night. Stretch was fine, perfectly fine, and Edge hadn't at all spent the night coming up with elaborate fantasies on how to secretly murder the creature who'd dared trying to hurt what was his.

He was under no illusions as to what he would have done if the human had managed it.

Stretch had awoken early to find him still sitting there, shadows beneath his sockets, and his emotional walls crumbling. It hadn't taken him a moment to slide to the floor, crawling half into Edge's lap, arms around his waist and burying his face into his shirt.

"you can chauffeur me around for this week only," Stretch had told him, his voice still sleep-rough. "find a way to get over it, lover; i already told you, the collar and leash stay in the bedroom."

Find a way to get over it.

Right.

The bell on the door rang cheerily as Edge stepped inside. At this time of the afternoon, there were a few college students taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi and no one else in the shop.

Except Stretch, who instead of sitting at his regular table was wearing one of the barista's green aprons, sweeping the floor.

"What are you doing?" Edge asked, resigned.

"uh, cleaning?" His tone clearly suggested that Edge was the crazy one.

Of course. "Let’s try again. Why are you doing that?"

"well, see, that’s a long story but what really matters is they are letting me work off my debt. it’ll only take....what did you say, debbie? five days?"

The shop owner looked up from behind the counter. "Four, sweetie, today counts."

"four days!" Stretch said cheerily. He moved the broom over the floor in exactly the manner of someone who had no idea how to sweep.

Edge stepped up to the counter, surveying the various containers and cake stands filled with treats. Nothing seemed out of place or missing. "What did he break?"

"Sorry, hun," Debbie shook her head and set a steaming cup in front of Edge. "I’m sworn to secrecy."

Wonderful, he was converting people to his side.

Stretch slouched up next to him, flopping down on the counter. "i mean, i am sorry. i really thought it would work. i did the math and nitrous isn't dangerous in those quantities anyway—"

"Stretch…"

"—besides, it would really help with their cold brew. if it worked."

Debbie patted him lightly on the skull and Edge struggled not to tense. He knew the woman had no ill intent but the instinct was hard to ignore. Particularly right now, his emotions roiling far too close to the surface. "I know, dear, you did try."

"You have been allowed back into the city for one day," With a sigh, Edge reached for his wallet, "What does he owe you?"

A hand slapped his own against his pelvis, pinning it down. He did not lash out, he had far better control than that, but the urge still flickered, viciously suppressed. Another coffee may not have been the best idea for his nerves, not with internal volcano he was battling.

"uh uh, sugar daddy, i can pay my own debts."

"Can I at least pay for my coffee?" Edge asked dryly, tugging free and handing Debbie a bill. He waved away the change. "You are not allowed to get me banned from this coffee shop. I like this coffee shop and I don’t want to find another."

"We'd never ban you two, hun. The way you both drink coffee, you're putting my son through college," she patted Stretch on the skull again. "He just needs a job to keep him busy. I keep telling him he needs to start a YouTube channel. His Twitter is hilarious."

"maybe someday," Stretch rolled his head enough to look up at her, "and then years from now you can look back and say you knew me when."

He shifted to stand upright, posing majestically with broom in hand. He looked like a movie poster for a new Simon Pegg film, something about ninja janitors, perhaps. The sight settled something in him, made him want to pull Stretch in and hold him. Instead, Edge pulled out his phone and took a picture.

Stretch sidled over and looked over his shoulder, "who are you sending that to?"

"Blue."

"good, tell him to fucking call me. he’s two continents away, i could use a check in."

Now there was some information. Stretch always managed to be chatty and at the same time saying a frustrating amount of nothing. That he hadn't spoken to his brother lately was worthy of note. "I’d assumed he was calling you daily while you were home bound."

Stretch turned away, sweeping with sudden intensity. Ah yes, that was about as subtle as a flying chainsaw.

"Rus?" Edge prompted, softly.

He waited patiently, watching Stretch fumbling with the dust pan. When that became too much for him to bear, he took it away, crouching to hold it while Stretch swept his feeble pile of dirt and straw wrappers into it. He was empting it into the waste bin when Stretch finally muttered. "i didn’t tell him."

"What?"

"i didn't tell him," Stretch said louder. He flopped into a chair, shrinking away from Edge's look. "he would have come home. his work is important. we can’t just rely on our trade agreements with this country."

Edge exhaled slowly. Difficult to argue either point, particularly since he knew Stretch was right. Blue was part of an envoy visiting overseas working towards increasing their revenue and goodwill but if he heard what had happened, Edge had no doubt he'd be on a plane home immediately. His own brother was along as a bodyguard, of all things, and he never would have expected Red to take the job so seriously. He'd changed since they'd come to the surface in ways Edge never could have anticipated.

"did you tell your brother?"

Then again, some things never changed. "Of course not. I don’t have to tell Red anything. He knew before I'd even gotten you out of the cell and since he hasn’t told Blue, I assume he’s agreeing with your stupidity. Older brothers..."

Stretch looked at the floor, downcast, and Edge made a mental note to ensure Blue called him by the end of the night. Just talking to his brother would improve Stretch's mood.

"How long do you need to sweep?" Edge gave the broom a nudge with his toe, waking Stretch from his contemplation.

"huh? oh, it’s fine," Stretch took off the apron and handed it over the counter. "thanks, deb, i told you he’d believe it."

"You were right, next coffee is on the house." She folded the apron with an amused grin and then handed over a paper bag to Stretch. "And here, for fixing the steamer for us."

"no problem," he shrugged awkwardly and took the bag. Edge didn't have to look inside to know it was lemon bars.

"If I had an ass, you'd be the biggest pain in it," Edge grumbled. This would be the first of many paybacks for refusing to let Stretch ride the bus, he was sure. He didn't care; whatever petty amusements Stretch came up with were worth the price.

Stretch slung his arms around Edge's shoulders, pressing their foreheads together. "you love me."

"I do," Edge said. Faint orange tinted Stretch's cheekbones and Edge pressed a kiss there. Only to glance to the side to see Deb watching them like a particularly good cable movie, her chin propped on her hands. If her eyes could have morphed into hearts, he had no doubt they would have in an instant.

"Don't mind me," Deb grinned. "You aren't bothering us, are they, guys?"

An absent murmur of agreement came up from the college students who weren't wearing headphones. None of them looked up.

"Come on," Edge grumbled, catching up the strap of Stretch's laptop bag, waving to Debbie as he guided Stretch out the door. "We need to get home. Antwan and An—Jeff are coming over for dinner tonight."

"really?" Stretch all but glowed at that news, melancholy forgotten. "they are actually coming to dinner together? my own personal matchmaking project is coming to us?"

"They're already dating, you don't need to matchmake."

"Oh, please, like antwan won't find a way to fuck it up? we both know better."

"We know no such thing. The only thing I know is that Antwan is going to murder you if you don't stop calling him Andy and I may let him."

Stretch's look said exactly how much he believed that. "the important thing is how does andy feel about it."

"I think 'Andy' has Stockholm syndrome and would probably let you call him Pricilla." Edge climbed into the driver's side and waited for Stretch to fasten his seatbelt before backing out. "I feel like we should discuss this odd cult of fans you're getting."

"they are called followers and twitter is not a cult."

"Of course," Edge sighed. "I'm not worried about your twitter harem. The living one you're slowly gathering is what concerns me. Just promise me you won't use your powers for evil."

"you know i love you," Stretch reached over and patted his knee. "but i can't make you a promise i might not keep."

Edge was fairly certain that nothing he'd done in life was worthy of this punishment. Maybe it was time to let Stretch take the bus again…then again, that was how he'd met An—damn it. Jeff. "Let's just worry about dinner tonight."

"what's to worry about?" Stretch yawned. "you'll cook, i'll entertain. what could possibly go wrong?"

Edge wished that sounded less like a prophecy. He really did.

-finis-

Read the Next One

[pviane]

PROLOGUE - Mercy76 week - Day 6: AU - Star Wars

Here is my AU for Mercy76 week. I just imagined a story that brings together Mercy76 with one of my favorite franchises: Star Wars.

Quick Warning: I follow the Legends continuity, also known as Expanded universe, so many references might be lost to many. Feel free to leave a comment and I’ll gladly clarify!

It is rough and rushed, but I hope you’ll enjoy it!

The Star Destroyer Reaper and its escort fleet exited hyperspace in the Outer Rim system of Besberra. Inside the ship, a siren alerted the crew and garrison that they had arrived at their destination. Inside the barracks, the Storm Commando of the Reaper’s Stormtrooper detachment prepared for the oncoming mission. The elite unit had been chosen to perform a thorough reconnaissance on the planet in search of a certain HVT (High Value Target). The target in question presented characteristic that required the expertise that only a special force like them could provide.

One of them sat apart from them, deep in thoughts. He was staring at his black helmet, wandering what lied ahead of them. On the reflective surface of the wide visor, he could see the reflection of his own blue eyes and blonde hair

“Are you thinking about it again, aren’t you Jack?”

The voice of a fellow commando snapped the blonde soldier out of his trance, looking up he faced his comrade. He could recognize that goatee and dark, scarred face everywhere.

“Some things don’t go away, Gabe.” Jack responded

“You have to get over it! We did what we had to do, for the Empire, for peace!”

“So why this doesn’t make it any easier?”

“I don’t know, my friend,” Gabriel said, putting on his helmet “but we have to go now. There’s a mission to complete!”

Jack sighed and put on his helmet as well. Now they were identical, black faceless tools of the will of the Emperor.

An officer briefed the squad on the Sentinel Shuttle on its way to the surface:

“The Imperial Intelligence has collected a rumor of possible Jedi activity on Besberra. I.I. repost states that numerous locals reported unnatural events that match archive information on Jedi abilities. Since this is still unconfirmed, the High Command believed it was not necessary to ask the Inquisitorium for an official Inquisitor to investigate the matter. However since there is still a possibility the rumors are true Grand Moff Tarkin authorized the deployment of Storm Commando squad to locate this Jedi or Jedi impersonator.”

A concerned voice raised from the ranks.

“Are we supposed to… engage the target sir?”

The officer looked down to the soldier that asked the question.

“If the target resists arrest you are required to use lethal force! All Jedi are enemies if the Empire and must be executed on sight! Now, do you have any stupid questions, THX-7676?”

At the mentions of his number, the whole shuttle began to murmur. Jack has earned himself quite a reputation for his efficiency and courage among the ranks of the Stormtrooper Corps where many heard the stories of the exploit of “76”.

Jack looked straight ahead of him, away from the officer.

“No sir!” he laconically replied.

“As I thought!” The officer concluded, “Men, you know your orders. Now execute them, for the glory of the Empire!”

The transport landed on a landing bay in the middle of the main spaceport on the planet, in the temperate zone. The Jedi was reported hiding in the outskirts of the city and the Storm Commandos marched on the suburbs escorted by a pair of AT-ST.

Jack looked up at the bipedal walkers looming over the roofs of the one-store houses of the neighborhood. Were they necessary? They were after one man after all. Despite being born in the times of the Old Republic, Jack lived in a middle rim word that provided food and supplies to the Grand Army of the Republic and had not experienced the Clone Wars first hand. Thus, he never saw a Jedi in his life but the tales of their abilities and fighting skills maybe warranted for such firepower.

Once they arrived in the general area of the sightings, they began searching door to door in pairs for this elusive “Jedi”. Paired with Gabriel, Jacks performed this task with little enthusiasm, trying to cause as little damage and discomfort to the local as possible. Gabe on the other hand relentlessly executed the search, often resorting to violence both verbal and physical to learn the whereabouts of the Jedi. Despite his ruthless efficiency, they were not able to get any more intel on their HVT and many people were arrested for resisting when they stated they knew nothing of any Jedi. Jack could only watch as Stormtroopers carried innocents away for not helping the Empire.

They were almost done with their sweep when Jack stopped in front of a house. There was nothing particular about that building. It resembled the dozens of white one-story houses they already searched.

However, Jack felt had a strange sensation. It felt like that house was calling him, drawing him inside.

Gabriel stepped beside him.

“Something wrong Jack?”

“No, nothing” He answered shaking his head “But… let me check this next one alone, it won’t take long!”

Gabriel stared at his friend, damning the helmet that prevented him from seeing his face

“Ok, but be quick. I have a bad feeling about this!”

Jack saluted his friend and marched towards the house, clutching his trusted E-11 Blaster.

The door was unlocked and Jack decided to sneak in instead of loudly announcing himself, as per standard Imperial protocol. Moving cautiously, he searched for its occupants. The house itself was simply arranged, almost barren, with little decorations. Laid around were numerous gift baskets, and he could not walk without having to check his movements to not knock down a vase of flowers. Such an occurrence happened in the kitchen where his rifle hit a vase of Sunflowers on the counter, which almost fell to the ground. Only his fast reflexes avoided the shattering of the vase on the floor.

A noise coming form the backyard attracted his attention. Moving even more cautiously he approached the doorway that lead outside. Taking cover behind the wall, he peeked outside, in the garden behind the house. There was someone there: a little girl and a person wrapped in a robe with a hood on his head. The girl was crying due to a nasty cut on her forearm and Jack felt very sorry for her. The other person was standing in front of her, listening to the story of how the girl was injured. Jack could not hear the full details, but apparently, it was a gardening accident. After the girl finished her tale, the robed figure took her arm in its hands and a strange glow appeared to come from them. Before his very eyes Jack saw the blood drying and the wound closing without any contact with that person’s hands nor the use of any bacta or healing tool.

As the wound closed, the girl stopped crying and looked at her arm in awe. The cloaked figure pet her head and send her on her way. Jack waited for the girl to leave the garden, and then he left his cover and pointed his blaster at the person with the hood.

“FREEZE!” he ordered, “Don’t move! I don’t know what that was, but it sure ain’t natural. In the name of the Empire, you are under arrest, Jedi! Now remove the cloak and turn around, slowly!”

The robed figure froze itself and followed Jack’s orders. A pair of slender arms reached for the large hood and slowly pulled it back. Underneath it, they revealed long blonde hair that descended well beyond the shoulders, with a pair of braids tied behind the head in a knot. After removing the hood the mysterious individual, which happened to be a woman, slowly turned around towards Jack. What he saw surprised him beyond all his expectations.

It was indeed a woman he was holding at gunpoint. She was beautiful, the fairest female he had ever saw. Her long golden hair he saw before shimmered in the sunlight, giving her a heavenly aura. Despite having a blaster pointed at her, she was not scared. On the contrary, she was defiant and looked directly at Jack. Her face ensnared him and her sapphire eyes seemed to tore a hole through his visor and reach his own. It seemed she could stare into his soul, and she did not look happy.

She did not answer at first, and then she spoke to him.

“You are mistaken, I am no Jedi. The Jedi Order is no more. Your empire see to that!”

“We have been looking for you Jedi! You are coming with me!” he tried to say, managing to somewhat keep a hold on himself in front of such an otherworldly beauty.

“Why are you doing this?”

Her question hit him like a train. He never asked himself that question, despite wanting to do it for a long time. Why was he doing this? Why was he trying to arrest a woman, no an angel, that was just helping sick and injured people? How could a person like this be a threat to the Empire?

His self-doubt grew each passing second. In service to the Empire, he did despicable things, some hunting him to this day and now, in front of that woman, they all came back to him.

“I… I don’t know!” he admitted

“I can feel the conflict inside you. You are not what the Empire has made you! I feel you are a good man, whoever you are. Leave me alone, please. Leave this place in peace!” she said as she closed in and put a hand on his blaster, pushing it away from her.

Jack knew she was right, as much as he hated to admit it. However, he felt he could not live her. He felt a connection to her, a deep link that bind him to her. He could not tell why or how, but he felt… attracted to this mysterious woman. That woman made him feel something he thought he lost forever…

He stared down at her begging eyes. He wanted to get rid of the helmet, tell her she was right and that he wanted to stay there forever. However, he was completely dumbstruck, unable to process the overwhelming feelings growing inside him.

In that moment, Gabriel busted in, tired of waiting and worried for his friend. Upon seeing them in the garden, he pointed the weapon at the blonde woman.

“FREEZE, hands where I can see them!” he shouted, closing in with his blasted ready. He looked at Jack, frozen in place, and at the woman touching his weapon with impunity. Shacking his friend, Gabriel tried to get a response from him.

“Hey buddy, what’s wrong? Are you alright?” he asked. Receiving no response, he turned to the woman.

“What have you done to him? Eh?” he angrily asked her.

“Nothing, I only asked him what was he doing here and to leave me alone!” she replied

“Nonsense, you did something to him! You drugged him?” he pressed her

“No, I did not such things! We just talked!” she continued.

Gabriel grabbed her by the arm, squeezing it hard

“Let me go! You are hurting me!” she protested

“I do not care! You interfered with imperial business and resisted troops of the Empire! I’m taking you in!” he retorted

“I said Let. Me. GO!” she cried pushing him. A repulsive force propagated from her hand, sending Gabriel flying across the backyard with a thunderous sound. Gabriel recovered from the fall, furious about the unexpected attack.

“You ARE the Jedi we are looking for!” he said, raising his blaster at her again. She was completely frozen by fear, unable to defend herself from the imperial soldier.

Jack watched the events unfold in front of him. She pushed a trained and fully equipped soldier across a distance no man could ever throw him. It was easily a five-meter flight, and she did it without a direct contact between her hand and Gabriel. She must have been the one they were looking for! Jack understood why the Empire could fear Jedi because if they wield such power they were really a grave threat. Still we found himself unable to raise his weapon against her again, blocked in place by his own self-doubt. The clicking sound of the safety on Gabriel’s blaster snapped Jack out of his trance. His teammate was about to execute the final order.

Before Gabriel could pull the trigger, a red blaster bolt went through his chest. He had the strength to look down to the bleeding hole in his black armor and at Jack holding a smoking blaster before falling to the ground, lifeless. The woman rushed at his side, trying to revive him, but it was no use. Jack shot to kill, making sure the wound would be fatal and that his friend died immediately.

Jack kneeled down beside her and put his hand on her shoulder, trying to take her away from him. She resisted his efforts and turned to him, staring down his soul again.

“Why? Why did you kill him?” she asked

“He was going to kill you! I could not let that happen! I…”

He stopped. His heard was broken by what he just did, but deep inside he know he had no choice. He removed his helmet and stared back at her

“I… could not let the Empire take another innocent life. I did not want him to kill you! The moment you spoke to me and looked at me, I felt all the horror I’ve done in the name of the Emperor. Every despicable act I justified for the greater good, for peace and stability. At the same time, I felt something else, something I never thought possible. I felt peace. I could not have that taken away from me.”

Her expression changed. She was not angry with him anymore. She felt his conflict before and now she knew what it was about. Furthermore watching that man commit such an act for her made her feel empathy for him. She started looking at the man beneath the helmet and she could not avoid feeling a bond forming between them. She reached for his cheek with her hand and he immediately laid his on top of hers, keeping it pressed against his face. Neither of them wanted to end that first contact, as they felt connected through it. Jack was the first to pull back, though.

“We have to move! They surely heard the shot and will be back, and in greater numbers!” He told her

“Right beside you!” She responded.

Sneaking past the Imperial forces they managed to reach the spaceport and catch a ride on a ship leaving the planet before the city was put on lockdown. In the cargo hold of the ship, he sat next to her, glad they could finally leave the Empire behind. All that happened tired her and she leaned on his shoulder, trying to get some rest.

“What are we gonna do now?” she asked

“We are gonna hide, start a quiet little life somewhere they won’t find us.”

“That sounds lovely!” she cooed, adjusting her body against his.

“I will protect you, I promise!”

They stood quiet for a while, and then she broke the silence again.

“Angela.”

“What?” he asked, looking down at her.

“My name is Angela.” She replied, looking up at him.

“Jack.”

“I’m glad you are here Jack!” she said before slipping into a deep sleep.

Jack looked at her again. He sacrificed everything for her. However, the more he looked at her, the more he knew that was the right choice. Because he was slowly realizing the reason he saved her.

He loved her.