Rey should have felt at home amongst those she'd considered family, but now she realized what strangers many of these Rebels were. In an effort to find her place in the galaxy, the Jakku scavenger had been so desperate to fill the void her parents left that she'd lost sight of what family truly was.

The distinction, however, had grown clearer these last few years. Rey's immediate family was her husband, Ben, and their beloved daughter Cela. But there was also Luke, her father figure, and Poe, who she loved like a brother. These were the people her heart burned for with a love she never known existed.

A knock on the door pulled Rey to her present situation on the Rebel base. Without giving it a second thought, Rey reached out with the Force, penetrating the wooden divider to narrow down who may be on the other side. The visitor was singular and not Force-sensitive, ruling out Ben, Luke, and the padawans. The being also held a life-force, which ruled out BB-8, C-3PO, and R2-D2. Seeing as how Poe was off-planet and Chewbacca working on the Falcon, there was nobody that came to mind that she wanted to talk to at that moment.

"I wish to remain undisturbed," Rey said firmly. After the meeting with the Resistance members earlier, she wasn't eager to speak with a good portion of them.

"Very well," the visitor responded. "Is there anything I can help with before I return to my quarters?"

Rey winced. She knew that voice-it was Mon Mothma. Trying her best to erase the guilt from her face, Rey answered the door.

"I'm sorry," Rey apologized. "I didn't realize you were on base,"

The visitor gave a small smile. "That's quite all right child," Mon Mothma said. "When you get to be my age, you won't be able to attend every meeting you're invited to either,"

It had been years since Rey had spoken with the former Chancellor. While they had not been close, Mon Mothma had commended Rey on two occasions during her years of piloting with the Resistance. Likewise, Rey had also heard stories of Mon Mothma's accomplishments, long before the leader's red hair turned grey and her health confined her to a hover chair.

Opening the door a little wider, Rey said "Please, come in," Mon Mothma floated through the door, the hovercraft giving off a rhythmic hum as it passed the sleeping Cela.

"It's not often we have infants in the Resistance," Mon Mothma commented as Rey closed the door, "But it does happen. And when it does, it reminds everyone what we're fighting for,"

Rey sat down in an armchair next to Cela's bassinet. "I wanted her to live a life away from the war," Rey confessed, "But the war still managed to find us,"

"Some things cannot be outrun," Mon Mothma said.

Rey placed a hand on the side of the bassinet. "I know," she said, a dull pain thudding in her heart. "I just want what's best for her,"

"Any mother would," Mon Mothma agreed, "But the best may not be the easiest. The important aspect is if a decision feels-and, consequently, is-right,"

"Ben and I spent a lot of time discussing whether or not we should return to the Resistance," Rey said, her thoughts still on how people reacted to Ben's return. "Whatever Ben's opponents say in the war-room, I know our decision was the right one. Cela's safety is our primary concern, and to be alone in the galaxy with this Darkness suddenly hunting us… it's just too dangerous,"

"That is why we are the Resistance," Mon Mothma said. "We fight the oppression, and we do it together. Despite what some individuals may have said earlier, know that you have many others on your side. Not only that, but we are united in our efforts against the First Order. And when we settle our differences and combine our efforts, there is nothing we can't accomplish,"

Rey looked down at the bassinet and found Cela staring up at her. When had the baby awoken? Sighing, Rey reached down and picked her daughter up. Sometimes she wished Cela hadn't inherited her inability to sleep soundly.

Cela's eyes grew heavy as soon as her mother held her. As the baby began to doze off, Rey felt a new surge of love and compassion flow through her. Mon Mothma was right: whatever Ben's opponents said, all the negativity would be outweighed by the security of the Resistance. As for any internal challenges, Rey, Ben, and Cela would face them together because they were a family…and family doesn't fight alone.

[To be continued in "Yavin Rains and Jakku Sandstorms"...]