[Niall Organa]

Niall smiled. "It was during the war with the Sith. It had been going on my whole life. I didn't know when it would end, or if it would." He shook his head. "It's almost hard to believe that it's over now. I... hope it stays that way. I worry it won't."

He took a breath. "And so I wanted to do my part. Not to fight the sith, but just to stop them. I thought perhaps that if I did my part, maybe it would make it that much more likely that it would would end. And that..." He took another breath. "The next generation might not grow up surrounded by war."

[Luth Khalan]

"Yeah... I hope it does, too. I think... Sometimes individuals on both sides forget that we're not still fighting. Especially since the Jedi and Sith are still opposed," she said, sighing. "Still... I have hope. I have to."

[Niall Organa]

"Yes." Niall said. "Good."

He sighed again. "But now there's this war. Perhaps there will be one after it. It seems like there's always more to do."

He gave her a wan smile. "Sometimes I wonder... when it comes time for the next generation, will I have anything left to give to them?"

[Luth Khalan]

She took his hands and squeezed gently, smiling at him. "The galaxy and the Republic survived the last war and many before that. It will continue to survive afterward. You helped that happen with that one and this one." She met his eyes sincerely. "You have the right to be happy, too, you know."

[Niall Organa]

As Luth took his hands, Niall's eyes widened. He listened, his gaze locked with hers. Even after she finished, he didn't respond, merely sat silently, stunned.

Finally, he smiled. "Thank you, Luth. For reminding me." His lips quirked. "It seems only fair that if I ask you to believe me when I tell you that, I should believe you when you tell me that, shouldn't I?"

[Luth Khalan]

"Yeah, you should," she replied, her own lips quirking a little. "I'm gonna tell you something else you've told me before - you've more than done what you needed to. So I think it's your turn to go and find what makes you happy."

She looked very earnestly and warmly at him. "When you find that, don't let it go, okay?"

[Niall Organa]

"Mmm." Niall's lips twisted, his smile growing decidedly wry. "Well, that's the trick, isn't it? Finding it. Recognizing it. Holding on to it. There's a lot that can go wrong, isn't there."

The smile faded, his expression turning serious. Niall took a deep breath. "But... I'll try, Luth. I promise." He smiled again, but without that wry twist. "You're a good friend."

[Luth Khalan]

"Yeah... But you can also find something you didn't expect when things go wrong... Don't get too caught up in expectations, even from yourself," she said, shaking her head.

When he said she was a good friend she smiled and leaned forward, bumping her forehead against his playfully. "Yup. Don't you forget it." Please don't forget it.

She leaned back and let go of his hands. "I should probably finish getting ready, and I'm sure you have lots to do, too."

[Niall Organa]

"Ah." Niall laughed softly, mostly humorlessly. "I suppose that's the real trick. I'm an Organa. The heir to my particular branch of the family. My whole life is expectations."

"I won't." Niall said, closing his eyes as her forehead bumped his. This time, when he laughed, it was real.

He rose to his feet slowly. "Okay. I won't keep you any longer. Ummm... there may be some follow up questions. I'll let you know." His brows drew down thoughtfully. "I don't suppose you actually heard the blaster shot, did you?"

[Luth Khalan]

"It can be hard to tell where actual responsibilities end and others expectations start, I bet. And it can be hard to trust yourself to decide what the best course of action is," she guessed. "But you have to balance those things with your happiness, because if you don't, you'll drive yourself crazy. A life lived entirely based on others will is just another form of slavery."

She nodded. "Okay. As to the blaster shot... I heard it, but I didn't know what exactly it meant at the time. I was on my way back to my room."

[Niall Organa]

"I see." Niall said softly. "And that's coming from you." He brought his hand up, one finger tapping his lips thoughtfully. "You've given me rather a lot to think about." He smiled. "Thank you again, Luth."

He nodded acknowledgement of her statement. "Very well. I'll be in touch." He gave her a smile. "In the meantime, take care. I still owe you a swim, don't I?"

[Luth Khalan]

She nodded. "You do. Take care, Niall."

[Niall Organa]

Niall paused a moment, his grey eyes serious as he studied Luth's face.

Finally, with a wave and a smile, he swept out of the room, letting the door shut behind him.

/exit

[Luth Khalan]

Luth flopped back onto the bed, pressing her palms into her eyes. "I'm sorry..."

/scene