It had been so long since she allowed herself to accept comfort from anyone, it felt almost strange to have Poe hold her hand. Strange and wonderful, his touch an anchor in a storm that she desperately needed, and she was so grateful to him for it.

Even after defeating the Empire, it wouldn't be over. There would be another thirty years of battles ahead, and who knew how many after that. The weight of it all threatened to crush her, and Padmé had to lean back against her seat to keep from feeling ill.

"I tried so hard to make the galaxy a better place," she said suddenly, more to herself than her companion. "To make it safer for my children." She gave a slight shake of her head, looking as utterly lost as she felt. "How could we have failed so terribly?"