Eeee, I'm so glad you liked the final product, considering you saw it from the beginning when it was not so much with the sense-making.

and how beautiful and terrible destiny is when it's something you choose.

*nod nod* It's not a great choice, maybe, but it's a choice, and it's part of who she is. (And it's not surprising that this reflects your personal canon somewhat, since I pretty much adopted it. *g*)

knowing that she's going to be fine, more than fine.

This, exactly. <3