A/N: Wow. I am floored by how many people are telling me that they like the character of Felicity, and they hope I keep her alive. I am deeply honoured to have created a character that people attached themselves too so quickly… and am terrified what you're going to do to me after chapter six.

Then again, maybe I'm just messing with you guys and have thought of some convoluted way to keep her alive. I guess you'll have to wait and see.

…Please don't kill me.

In lighter news, I'm really proud of the Huttese in this chapter. I did my research, and it should translate out exactly to what Luke says in Basic (hence the terrible grammar, but there's only so many defined Huttese words I could work with.)


The Long Way Home

Chapter Four

Half-Brave


"Hey Lando, it's Han. Have you seen Felicity and Rey?"

"I'm looking for information on someone who might have checked into your inn. Do you have any guest under the name Rey, Felicity, Rhiaon, and/or Skywalker?"

"And you're sure you've checked in with the entire family, Aunt Sola? What about the lake house?"

"Fixer, it's Luke. I know this is out of the blue, but has anyone been around the old homestead lately?"

"Lando, it's Han again. Just checking to see if you had any updates from any of your contacts."

"Tell Admiral Akbar that it's an emergency and he needs to comm me back as soon as possible."

"I know it's a long shot, Pax, but you haven't heard anything from Felicity, have you?"

"Nothing, Kes? Well, can you get Poe to ask around the academy if anyone has heard news of Felicity or the First Order?"

"For the last time Jaina, I can't attend to any Senate business. My family is in the middle of a crisis. Tell the other Senators to leave me a message if it's that important."

"Yes, I'm aware that this is the fifth time I'm contacting you, Lando! In case you haven't heard, Rey and Fliss are missing!"

"Are you sure you've communicated with the entirety of Rogue Squadron? What about Dak? …Yes, I forgot he died on Hoth! My wife and child are missing! I'm under a lot of stress right now!"

"Nerissa sends her condolences and regrets, Luke," Leia sighed as she ended the communication with the Queen of Zygerria. "But she hasn't heard from Felicity either."

"I guess we can scratch Zygerria from the list," Diego got off the couch to cross off Zygerria from the large board full of planet names that was propped against the wall.

The Organa-Solo living room had been transformed into a call center dedicated to the search for Rey and Felicity. Luke, Han, Leia, and Diego desperately contacted every person Felicity had ever crossed paths with and nearly every location she had stepped foot in.

Artoo sat in the corner, searching every media outlet, Republic wavelength, and spy network he could connect to for any mentions of his disappeared Mistresses. Lando was contacting every shady connection he had ever made. Wedge and Chewie were leading ground teams of several of Luke's friends to follow up any leads on the missing women. And Threepio was serving refreshments, translating calls, and loudly panicking, detailing what horrors he feared Mistresses Felicity and Rey must be encountering.

"One more word about Fliss and Rey dying, and I'll lock you in the closet, Goldenrod," Han had threatened the droid.

Threepio was oddly quiet after that exchange.

"Cross Naboo off the list as well," Luke rubbed his temples as he slumped helplessly back onto the couch. Much of his usual liveliness and optimism had been missing since Felicity and Rey's disappearance three days ago. "My mother's family has searched Naboo high and low. No sign of Felicity or Rey."

"I guess that means we start Round Six of messaging our contacts," Leia sympathetically rubbed Luke's shoulder as she sat next to him.

"Fine, but someone else has to talk to Lando," Han replied. "I think he's going to punch me if I call him again."

"What's even the point of contacting the people we've already spoken too?" Diego objected. "They'll let us know if they find anything. We should be looking in places we haven't checked yet."

Leia frowned at the list of planets, "The problem is we're running out of places."

"This is ridiculous!" Han shook his head. "Fliss wouldn't go to an obvious significant landmark, but she also wouldn't go to some random planet we've never heard of. She'd go somewhere discrete she knew we could find her. Somewhere only we would guess based on knowledge only we have."

"Not to mention it would have to be a place she's quick to think of," Leia pointed out. "She couldn't have had a lot of time to plan her escape."

"Alright, so Fliss is sitting in the cockpit of a ship with the enemy on her tail," Han posed. "She has ten seconds to type in a set of coordinates. What does she type?"

Diego froze. He recalled a similar moment between himself and Felicity many years before.


"I can't fly this thing!" Diego shouted, clutching the bleeding wound on his shoulder. His vision was fuzzy, and the world around him was fading.

Of the five Rogue Squadron members sent in to steal the plans to the Death Star, only he and Rhiaon remained. They were almost out of the woods. The plans were in a chip hanging from a pouch around Rhiaon's neck, and the two of them had made their way into a TIE fighter to escape the battle station. Unfortunately, Diego had been injured badly on the way in and was barely staying conscious.

"Hold on, Nalto," Felicity begged. "I just need you to get us into light speed and we'll be in the clear."

A blast blot hit the ship.

"I can't move my arm!" Diego replied. "Look, I've got us set up. Just punch in a destination, push the buttons I tell you, and we'll be out of here."

"What destination?"

"Anything! As long as it isn't Yavin IV, Coruscant, or Naboo, I don't care where you take us!"

"But Nalto-"

"PUNCH IN A DAMN COORDINATE, RHIAON!"

Without any hesitation, Felicity entered a set of numbers.

"What did you type?" Diego asked.


"Jakku," Diego remembered Felicity's answer. He looked over at Luke, "She would go to Jakku!"

Luke's eyes went wide.

"Jakku, of course," Luke scrambled to his feet. "Artoo get me a contact number for- Who did you and Felicity work for again?"

"A junker called Unkar Plutt," Diego replied. "Lives in Niima Outpost."

"Wait, Jakku?" Han questioned. "That junkyard? Why there?"

"The planet coordinates are the same numbers as her brother, Brendan's birthdate," Luke explained.

Han looked over at Leia, "Brendan? He's the brother she promised to let teach her to fly, but then he died and now she uses it as excuse not to learn how to properly take off and land?"

"How many brothers do you think Felicity has?" Leia replied.

"Niima Outpost!" Luke exclaimed as Artoo projected a comm station code. He quickly typed it in and waited for the connection to be made. "It's the only known comm station on the planet. If Felicity's going anywhere, it's going to be there."

Artoo let out a few beeps signifying the connection had been established.

"Message for Unkar Plutt," Luke said as a comm station operator was projected before them.

"Haku?" the creature replied in confusion.

"Is that Huttese?" Luke muttered, looking quizzically at Diego.

"Oh right, I forgot to mention most people in Niima Outpost speak Huttese," Diego explained. "Niima was a Hutt who established the place."

Luke shook his head and then repeated his message in Huttese, "Wankee che Unkar Plutt."

The creature replied for Luke to hold on, and the group waited for a few minutes.

"So how friendly is this Plutt?" Han asked.

"Haku chuba naga?" someone suddenly snapped at the group.

Han frowned, recognizing the phrase, "Never mind. Anyone who starts a conversation with 'what do you want' can't be pleasant."

Luke shot Han a look before turning back to the new creature, "Unkar Plutt?"

"Tagwa," Unkar confirmed.

Luke smiled at the man and began his speech, "Achuta. Dobrah Luke Skywalker, un Jedai, chone ma pateesa bargoned foo chuba wanga tee-tocky. Oto do hopa boska che un cheeka an emeela coo sa faaway tuta bu First Order. Oto tah koose hoohah bunky dunko. La sa un moulee rah che hopa."

A long silence ensued as Plutt just stared at Luke.

"Listen, boy," Plutt awkwardly scratched his head, "I only know a little Huttese. If it's not a greeting or bartering words, I have no idea what the hell you're saying. Mind telling me in Basic what it is you want before I cut this message off?"

Luke turned and glared at Diego.

"Oh yeah," Diego remembered. "I forgot he doesn't speak Huttese."

"I'll kill him for you, Luke," Han offered.

"Thank you, Han," Luke nodded at his brother-in-law as he scrambled to think of a rough translation of what he had said to Plutt. "Sorry, Mister Plutt. I'll try that again in Basic. Hello, I am Luke Skywalker, a Jedi, and my friend bargained with you one time. I want your help searching for a woman and girl who is running from the First Order. I want to bring them home. There is a payment for help."

"A reward, eh?" Unkar paused at the last sentence. His mouth had opened to tell Luke to bugger off, he wasn't going to help him look for any runaway females, but the mention of payment intrigued him. "How much are we talking?"

"That all depends on the help provided," Luke narrowed his eyes. "I'm looking for a woman who once worked for you briefly twenty years ago."

"Twenty years ago? You're joking, right?"

"Her name is Felicity Rhiaon Skywalker, and she might come to you in the next few days," Luke continued. "Additionally, she might be accompanied by a young girl named Rey. Rey looks a lot like Felicity. They're pale skinned humans, with hazel eyes, brunette hair, and petite statures."

"That's what happens when a five foot six man procreates with a five foot three woman," Han muttered. "Seriously, why is everyone in this family short?"

Luke ignored Han, "If Rhiaon or Rey shows up, Plutt, you will immediately get them to contact me, and you will take care of their needs until I can come get them. By needs I mean water, shelter, appropriate portions of food, medical attention, and whatever else they ask of you. When I come get them, we will negotiate a reward. If you fail any of my conditions, you will forfeit your prize. Do we have an understanding?"

Plutt considered Luke's words, "Agreed."

The transmission was abruptly cut off and Luke sighed.

"And now we wait," Luke said. "I hope they're alright."

"I'm sure they are," Leia got off the couch and hugged her brother.

"I must say, that was disappointing," Diego admitted. "I thought they would have been in Niima by now."

"I did too," Han admitted. "I guess the only question now is if they're not at Niima Outpost… Where are they?"


In the middle of the Jakku desert, Felicity silently watched the smouldering transport ship sink into the sand with a cloud of smoke and fire. Rey stood next to her mother as Felicity rested a hand on Rey's shoulder; the girls taking in the sight of Felicity's failure of a landing.

"Mommy?" Rey asked in an innocent voice. "Is that why Uncle Han never lets you pilot the Falcon?"

"Yes. Yes, it is," Felicity simply answered. She looked down at Rey and gently pulled her daughter in closer, "Careful, Sweetheart. I don't want you breathing in the fumes."

Rey buried her face against her mother's leg.

As the wreckage burned – and Felicity thanked the Force neither of them had been hurt in the crash – Felicity looked around her environment. Surrounding them was absolutely nothing but endless desert.

The wreck had been caused by Felicity accidentally triggering a self-destruct when the ship belonging to the Knights of Ren recognized she was an intruder. Apparently one of the Knights had rigged the ship so that unless someone typed in an exact sequence, the ship would blow up when the landing cycle activated. Typical Knight of Ren mentality: lure your enemy into a false sense of security and then unleash hell when they aren't expecting it.

Felicity sighed; she had wanted to land much closer to Niima Outpost, but now it looked like she and Rey would have to endure several days of walking.

She put down the emergency bag she had swiped from Luke's X-Wing and rescued from the crash of the stolen ship. This was the exact type of situation they carried the bags around for.

Felicity unzipped the bag and checked over the contents. It had a basic first aid kit; food and water rations; clothing for Rey, Felicity, and Luke; basic navigational equipment like a compass and a star map; extra shoes; flares; a sewing kit; some ice packs that would become cold when you snapped them in half; flashlight; tool kit; basic ship repair kit; two sleeping bags; a pair of lightsabers for reasons Felicity couldn't explain, though one looked like Reine Agim's; and several other odds and ends that would be useful.

Felicity grimaced at the weight of the bag. Walking in a desert would be bad enough, but add an extra, what ten? Twenty pounds? Felicity was never great at gauging measurements.

It was only natural that her next task was to figure out a set of measurements. Felicity opened the navigational kit and pulled out a small silver box. It was a simple machine that calculated the latitude and longitude of a person's location, as well as stored a list of coordinates for popular locations on most chartered planets in the galaxy.

To Felicity's relief, Niima Outpost on Jakku was one of the places listed. Using the coordinates and the other tools in the navigation kit, Felicity calculated that she and Rey were about three days' walk from Niima.

Well… three days in ideal conditions.

The first time Felicity had come to Jakku, she and Diego had landed right in the shipyard of Niima Outpost. Additionally, the work they did for Plutt was packing food ration packs for Unkar to dole out. One of the benefits of the job was that Plutt had kept Diego and Felicity in the shade at all times, and provided them a small tent to spends the nights in.

Therefore, Felicity had never really travelled in the desert before. Yes, she had been to Tatooine with Luke a handful of times, but they never walked for long periods of time. Add in the fact that Felicity had her heavy bag to carry, and Rey by her side, and Felicity knew it would be more than three days of walking.

But then how long would it be? And more importantly… How long could they survive?

Felicity rummaged through the bag, taking inventory of their rations. When she finished, Felicity found that she wanted nothing more than to slap Past Luke and Past Felicity.

They had a supply of five days of water, and three days of food… for a single person.

The emergency supplies bag was not designed to support more than one person's survival for a short period of time. It was because of a rule Luke and Felicity established after Rey was born. Technically only one member of the Rhiaon Skywalker family at a time was allowed to be in a potentially dangerous situation where the bag was needed. Additionally, they were not allowed to be far from a way of contacting each other, that way a rescue could be made as quickly as possible.

Felicity hated herself for her lack of foresight. Luke had altered his X-Wing so that Rey could make a quick getaway with one of them and Felicity had ensured there was an extra set of clothing and footwear for Rey. Why in the Galaxy did they not stock enough food for Rey? Had they really been so naïve to think that one of them wouldn't bring Rey into a situation with no food?

Looking at the meager rations, Felicity groaned. Everything had to be perfectly portioned if both of them were to survive the trek. Felicity would have to be very strict with Rey when she inevitably asked for more food and water. But what kind of mother would she be to deny her child water?

Luke's words from the forest echoed in her mind, "We both know that you are more capable of making difficult decisions and even sacrifices for Rey's safety. Decisions… I could never bring myself to commit."

Felicity looked at Rey and knew. She would be a mother who would rather her child be alive rather than momentarily comfortable.

So how long would it take for them to reach Niima Outpost? Felicity quickly did some calculations in her head. She vaguely recalled Luke telling her never to travel in the desert between 11 am and 2 pm. Factor in at minimum six hours of sleep. Maybe about three hours of resting. So walking for twelve hours a day in desert conditions with a child and heavy bag… Four days? Five?

Felicity decided to budget for five. Ten portions of water and food were needed. Felicity had five portions of water, and three of food. So half a portion of water for each of them a day, and one third portion of food. Felicity's stomach churned of the thought of her daughter going hungry; maybe she would give up a few of her meals for Rey.

Felicity quickly snapped the ration packets into thirds (and vaguely wondered why she let Luke talk her into stocking the bag with the revolting dehydrated nutrient bars instead of real food) and measured the water in each of the five canisters. A capful every few hours should do it.

Next was the question of attire. Felicity eyed Rey critically; her daughter was still in her pyjamas. Felicity thankfully had thrown on some clothes appropriate enough for the desert during the massacre.

"Rey, come here," Felicity ordered as she pulled out some clothing for Rey.

Felicity quickly stripped off Rey's pyjamas, and dressed her in a pair of leggings, short boots, and a long tan tunic.

"Now what are we going to do about your hair?" Felicity mused as she tied a dark brown belt around Rey's waist. Felicity was trying to keep the mood light before Rey began to panic about the situation.

"My hair?" Rey frowned, touching the dark hair that fell to her shoulders.

"We have to put it up or else it'll trap heat and make your neck all sweaty," Felicity gently forced her daughter to turn around. Felicity grabbed a few hair ties and a brush from the bag, "Then it'll get all matted and tangled and you'll be terribly uncomfortable. So how do you want me to do your hair? Bun? Ponytail? Braid?"

Tears gathered in Rey's eyes, "I want Daddy. He does my hair best."

Felicity paused brushing Rey's hair.

"I want Daddy too," Felicity said softly. After a moment of silence in which Felicity had to fight back her own tears, she cleared her throat and put on a brave face, "He does do hair very nicely. He sometimes even does mine. But you know what? Daddy only does hair so nicely because it's in his blood. You know what Grandma Padmé and Aunt Leia's hair look like. How about I do something like them?"

Rey sniffed, "Okay."

"Alright," Felicity gathered a few hair bands, "well, Grandma had a very famous one bun style, and Aunt Leia had a famous two bun style, how about we carry on the family legacy and put your hair in three buns?"

It took a few minutes for Felicity to properly tie Rey's hair, but soon she was proudly observing the three bun hairstyle that would become Rey's signature look.

"There, functional and fashionable." Felicity proclaimed with a wink, "That's the Rhiaon way."

"Thank you, Mommy," Rey smiled, running her little hands over her hair to make a picture of it in her mind. Rey glanced towards the burning sun, but cast her gaze down quickly when it hurt her eyes. Rey hesitantly looked at her mother and said, "Mommy… I'm hungry."

"We'll have to fix that, won't we? Here," Felicity gave Rey one of the food portions. As Rey ate, Felicity unscrewed the cap off the first canister and poured the lukewarm water into it the cap, "Drink this. Slowly."

Rey gratefully took the cap of water, and drank slowly under her mother's critical gaze.

She didn't want to say anything, but Rey knew there was something wrong with her mother. Mommy looked like Uncle Han when the Falcon broke. What was the word Aunt Leia taught her? Stressed. Mommy looked stressed.

Rey didn't know how to help Mommy, so she did the thing that would always help Daddy when he looked stressed. Rey gave Mommy the biggest, brightest, cutest smile she could muster. The same one that Daddy couldn't help but make his own grin at and give her bug hugs.

Felicity could barely resist Rey's grin. It was the same goofy grin of Luke's that Felicity had fallen in love with. There was something about seeing it on the mirror of her own face that made Felicity's heart lift. Despite their terrible situation, at least Felicity had Rey, the physical proof of her shared love with Luke, at her side.

Rey grinned even wider when she saw the corners of Mommy's mouth upturn. Even though to only took the corners of Mommy's mouth, Rey knew it was a full on genuine loving smile, and not the smirk Mommy gave to Daddy that often made Daddy tell Rey to go to her room so Mommy and Daddy could go to bed… sometimes even in the middle of the day.

"More, please," Rey sweetly asked, politely holding the lid out to Mommy.

Felicity's smile faltered.

"Rey, Sweetheart," Felicity went down on her knees to be at Rey's level. She took the canister lid from Rey and gently clasped her hand over Rey's, "I can't give you anymore. I'm sorry."

Rey's smile dropped.

"But I'm thirsty," Rey was confused. Her upbringing never left her wanting for basic needs, so to be denied water was incomprehensible for the five-year-old.

"I know, Sweetheart," Felicity softly replied, trying to keep the pain from her voice, "but Mommy can't give you anymore water right now. We have to save it."

"Why?"

Felicity looked over at the ship, and Rey's eyes followed.

"Do you think Mommy wanted to land here?" Felicity asked.

A loud bang and a puff of flame and smoke rose from the ship.

"No," Rey looked back to her mommy. "Where are we?"

"We're on a planet called Jakku," Felicity explained. "You remember that from my stories, right?"

Rey nodded, "The planet whose coordinates are Uncle Brendan's birthdate."

"Correct. I took us here because Uncle Diego would know to look for us here. He would tell Daddy, who would come and get us, but I wanted to land in a place called Niima Outpost."

"But the ship blew up."

"Right, so we're on the right planet, but just not in the right spot. We have to get to Niima Outpost to call, Daddy."

"Then who is coming to get us?" Rey asked.

"No one, yet," Felicity confessed. There was no point in giving Rey false hope with the uncertain path before them. "You, see, the thing is there aren't any towns or places to get food and water and a ride between here and Niima Outpost. So we have to walk to Niima Outpost, and in order to have the energy to walk, Mommy needs to take special care that we have enough food and water to last the trip.

"Can you carry me?"

"No. That takes a lot of energy and Mommy needs to keep her energy or we'll never make it."

"We'll die?" Rey exclaimed.

Felicity said in a dead serious voice, "You are not going to die. I won't let that happen. I promise."

"What about you? Will you die?"

Felicity let the silence linger for a moment too long.

"Mommy!" Rey cried out.

"Mommy will do whatever it takes to keep you safe," Felicity vowed. "That might mean Mommy does some things you don't like, and some things Mommy might not be proud of. But I will get you back to Daddy. I swear that to you, Sweetheart."

Felicity words didn't comfort Rey, and Felicity couldn't stop Rey from bursting into tears. She tried to hush Rey, worrying that Rey would deplete the water in her body from the crying, but Rey was inconsolable. Trying not to cry herself, Felicity pulled Rey into a tight hug.

"Shhh, it's okay, Sweetheart," Felicity soothingly rubbed Rey's back. "Please don't cry. Mommy doesn't like when you cry."

"I'm scared, Mommy," Rey sobbed.

"Mommy's going to protect you," Felicity swore. "But she gets needs you to be brave."

"I can't," Rey wailed. "I can't be brave now."

As Rey sobbed, her foot accidentally kicked one of the canisters of water next to the survival bag. Seeing the canister, Felicity got an idea. She took a deep breath, gathered herself, and gently pulled back from Rey.

"Then you don't have to be brave," Felicity rubbed the sides of Rey's arms. She had her strong hazel eyes met the mirrored, albeit teary, eyes of her daughter. Felicity said in a strong voice, "Rey, I'm going to tell you a secret. Can you keep a secret?"

Rey nodded, and Felicity smiled, happy to see that her questions were keeping Rey engaged in the conversation.

"People have the same capacity for bravery." Felicity picked up the canister, "That means they all can have the same amount of bravery. It's like this canister. You can have a little water in it or a whole lot, but they can only have one canister's worth. That's enough for them to be fully brave for one person. Now, you can share your bravery. I can pour some of this water into another canister, but I'll still only have enough bravery for one person. Does that make sense?"

Rey nodded, her tears drying up as she focused on the canister in her mother's grasp.

"Now, come in close. Mommy's going to tell you the secret. Promise not to tell?"

"Promise," Rey leaned in.

Felicity dramatically looked around, like she feared someone would overhear them, "When a person becomes a parent, they get a second canister of bravery. A whole nother person's worth."

"Enough for their baby?"

"Exactly! And they get one for every child they have, whether by blood, or adopted."

Felicity unconsciously rubbed the tattoo along her right wrist. It read FN-2187, the serial number of the child she once upon a time tried and failed to save from the First Order, back when the Resistance's job was to reclaim children kidnapped by the First Order. Felicity had gotten the tattoo so she would never forget about the disastrous mission where a little boy was literally torn out of her arms by a Stormtrooper called Captain Phasma.

It was an event that set off the infamous rivalry of Phasma vs Rhiaon. Felicity and Phasma had had many encounters since that day, the most famous of which involved Phasma kidnapping Felicity while she was pregnant with Rey. Felicity may have hated Ben, but she despised Phasma more than even Darth Vader himself.

"So the canister," Felicity shook her head, getting her mind back on track, "is enough so that if a Mommy has a little girl who is afraid, she can pour a little extra bravery into her little girl, and her little girl won't be scared anymore. Now, I've got my full extra canister, but there's just one small problem. Mommy needs a little bravery herself to get us to Jakku, but Mommy is just as terrified as you."

"So you need some of the bravery?" Rey asked.

"No. Take all the bravery. Let Mommy be full-brave for you. It's my job, and I'm happy to do it, but I do need a little extra bravery. So how about this? How about you take to make some bravery, and you share that with me? I make you full-brave, and you make me, what quarter-brave? A third?"

"Half," Rey grinned. "I can be half-brave for you, Mommy!"

"Half-brave," Felicity declared. "You'll make Mommy half-brave! That's perfect!"

Perfect, because that was all Felicity knew she could manage.


Felicity let the tears fall that night when she was sure Rey was asleep.

The day had been long and hot, and the novelty of adventure had worn off far too quickly for Rey. Felicity couldn't blame Rey for the complaints near the end of their day long hike: Rey was only five.

Felicity's stomach growled, begging for more sustenance, her parched mouth echoing the chorus. She prayed that she and Rey had made good headway to Niima, but Felicity was uncertain and far too tired for the calculations to figure it out. Every muscle ached in Felicity's body as she sat on a smile hill, Rey sleeping silently next to her. Felicity couldn't find the peace to sleep: she was terrified something might happen to Rey while she was sleeping. Felicity would never let that happen to Rey again. She never would wake up to Rey's desperate screams; even if it meant Felicity would never sleep again.

She wanted Luke. Throughout the day, Felicity refused to let him enter her mind. It was too painful to entertain the ache she felt for her husband. Felicity wanted Luke. She wanted his arms wrapped around her. His lips pressing against her own. Their hands lazily clasping as they strolled along. Their bodies intertwined and molded into one as they made love.

Felicity didn't care want they were doing: she just wanted Luke.

She knew he wasn't dead: the notion of Cade Ren killing Luke Skywalker was ridiculous. Felicity knew somewhere out there he was desperately searching for them. Luke was probably staying at Leia's apartment on Hosnian Prime. Bags under his eyes, lines across his forehead, arguing with Leia that he didn't need to eat, but rather find Felicity and Rey. He was probably blaming himself for what happened, but Felicity refused to lay it on anyone but Ben.

Ben Solo had destroyed their life.

Felicity cried softly, trying not to wake the peacefully sleeping Rey. It had taken a long time for Felicity to convince Rey she'd be safe to sleep. Rey could sense Felicity's distress, and once again Felicity cursed Luke's damn Force Sensitive DNA for corrupting her little girl. A mother had the right to lie to her daughter that everything would be okay, and have said daughter believe it.

Stupid midi-chlorian tattletales.

Felicity watched the steady breathing of Rey as she slept. Rey was curled up with the survival blanket; a specially designed blanket that would adapt to the environment. Felicity shivered, holding herself in a vain attempt to keep warm. Who knew that the desert got so cold at night.

Once again Felicity cursed Past Luke and Past Felicity for their planning. It was true that their survival pack could only carry so much, but only one blanket? Felicity was seriously doing their other packs when they got home.

Felicity sighed and began digging through the pack. She wasn't going to keep cold if she didn't have to. Felicity pulled out some of the spare clothes. It wasn't like she or Rey needed winter clothes, and Luke's clothing was free game since he wasn't around.

Her hands set on something orange, and Felicity paused. It was Luke's flight suit. It was used, though maybe not really in need of a wash. Luke must have stripped out of it sometime before returning to Rornian. He might have even changed out of it when stashing Reine's lightsaber in the bag.

Felicity ran her hand over the suit. It was Luke's. It may have been "dirty" but it was Luke's. It had touched him not much longer before the last time she had. Felicity lifted it out of the bag, and hesitated. She held it against her face and closed her eyes, pretending he was wearing it as he lovingly held her.

Felicity didn't try to inhale the scent or anything, because seriously why did book go on about characters smelling like things? To Felicity, Luke either smelled like a person, cologne if he was wearing it, or BO when she would tell him to take a shower. Luke didn't magically carry the lingering scent of sand, lightsaber, and fried Death Star bits, or whatever the hell the girls wrote in their fan mail to him. No, Felicity justified holding the flight suit against her face on the basis that it was in good enough laundered condition to be like when he was away on a trip, and she stole his pillow as a reminder of him. Yes, it was like a pillow.

…Or maybe a blanket.

Felicity dug out the sewing kit and fished out a pair of scissors. She was about to cut the fabric when suddenly she heard something.

"Daddy," Rey moaned in her sleep. "I want you, Daddy."

Felicity smiled; she knew just how to get Daddy for Rey.


Luke tossed and turned in the guest bed of Han and Leia's apartment on Hosnian Prime. His comlink was set on the side table next to his lightsaber and a set of clothes. At the drop of a hat, he could be up and ready to go get his wife and child.

He wanted them back so bad. A million scenarios played in his mind. Where were they? Were they safe? Were they comfortable?

Luke didn't want to sleep. He wanted to find Felicity and Rey. Everything that wasn't tracking them down was a waste of time. Replacing his synth skin had yet to be done, as it wasted too much time. Responding to the media's questions on the events of the Burning of Rornian was a waste of time. Eating was a waste of time, though Han had physically forced him to after he got annoyed with Luke and Leia's arguments every meal time.

Sleeping was just wasting time. He wouldn't even try it sleep if Leia hadn't tricked him into the room and locked the door until morning. It was the same bed Luke had slept in when he received that blessed yet accursed vision of Rornian burning.

He had had trouble that night too, struggling to sleep without the snores of his petite wife against him, stealing the blanket. Felicity's snores had become a soothing rhythm to fall asleep to, and even if they weren't, Luke still got the better end of their bed sharing deal. Luke may not snore, but he was prone to kick in his sleep whenever he got a vision from the Force. Being the Grandmaster, his visions were so frequent that Felicity's threats to smother Luke in his sleep if he didn't stop kicking her was almost part of their nightly routine.

Luke missed their nightly routine. He missed tucking Rey into bed while Felicity showered. Luke missed the way Rey's eyes would light up as he told her stories of their family's many adventures. He missed Rey falling asleep in his protective arms and sending Artoo to get Felicity's help to rescue him without awaking Rey. Luke missed Felicity laughing at his predicament until Luke pinned her against the hallway wall in a playful, passionate kiss. He missed the nights where that passionate kiss would turn into a bout of lovemaking as he inhaled the scent of her freshly washed hair. Luke missed the way he and Felicity would chat for hours whether or not they had made love, talking about everything and nothing until they drifted off to sleep.

He missed them, and he wanted them back.

When he found them, Luke would never again let them go. Well… He would never let Felicity go. Luke would briefly let Rey go and send her to Han and Leia so he could make love to Felicity more passionately than he had ever before.

And that was saying something considering once he threw out his back.

"Daddy?" a hesitant voice came through the Force. Rey was unsure of the connection she was making, and Luke fought back tears as he heard his little girl's voice speak to him. "Daddy, I want you."

Luke smiled. Rey was speaking to him. He finally had confirmation that Rey was alive. Luke would have burst into Han and Leia's room proudly proclaiming the discovery if Leia hadn't locked Luke's door. He couldn't wait to tell them in the morning.

"Daddy wants you to," Luke spoke back through the Force. "Rey, where are you? Are you safe? Is Mommy safe? Speak to me."

"She won't answer you," Obi-Wan Kenobi's voice replied. "She's speaking to you in here sleep. She's not conscious to the connection. I don't know if she'll even recall this in the morning."

"Obi-Wan!"Luke exclaimed. He had gotten into the habit of referring to Kenobi's true name as not to confuse Ben Solo. "You can tell me! Are Felicity and Rey safe? Where are they?"

"I'm sorry, Luke," Obi-Wan replied. "But you know the rules. We can only offer you guidance. We cannot tell you the living status, location, or specific current actions of another person. I cannot tell you where Felicity and Rey are, specifically what they're doing, or even if they're alive."

"But you just told me that Rey is sleeping."

"That falls under the vague category," Anakin Skywalker input. "Have faith in your family, Luke. Rey's a Skywalker after all, and that wife of yours… Well, I can count on one hand how many people have ever injured me during the Vader phase."

"Phase?" Obi-Wan shot.

"Oh, not this again," Anakin groaned.

Luke chuckled, remembering the story of Rogue Squadron's encounter with Vader while stealing the Death Star plans. Felicity had managed to get her team away when she shot Vader in the life support system and he went down. When Luke informed his father that he was marrying the girl who once shot Vader, Anakin had chuckled and said, "That girl? I like her. She's feisty."

Felicity turned to drinking upon hearing that Darth Vader had called her feisty.

"So, Rey won't remember what I say to her when morning comes?" Luke asked when he realized Obi-Wan and Anakin had been bickering over definition Anakin's time as Vader as being a 'phase.'

"That remains to be seen," Obi-Wan answered. "But she won't reply now."

"You can still give it a shot," Anakin encouraged. "Now if anyone needs me, I'm going to go to that embarrassment I call a grandson and try to talk some sense into him."

"He couldn't have done that before?" Luke bitterly snapped before he could stop himself.

"Anakin's been trying for years, Luke," Obi-Wan explained. "Ben just won't allow himself to see Anakin. I think I'll join Anakin in his attempt. My namesake is shaming our good name."

Luke chuckled as the Force became quiet. Even years after their deaths and the whole Vader fiasco, Anakin and Obi-Wan still bickered like brother. Luke hoped twenty years from now, he and Han still acted the same.

Luke settled in his bed, comforted by his knowledge that Rey was safe. Replaying her call through the Force to him and in his mind, Luke made one last attempt to reach her before falling asleep.


"Rey, wake up," Felicity urged the next morning.

"Daddy?" Rey moaned in confusion as her eyes fluttered open. Mommy was smiling down at her, and all around was an endless stretch of desert. Daddy was nowhere to be found. "I thought I heard Daddy. He said he misses us and hopes we're safe."

"It must have been a dream, Sweetheart," Felicity gathered their breakfast from the survival kit. She didn't dare get Rey's hopes up that Luke had contacted them through the Force, but Felicity allowed the thought to secretly comfort herself. She handed Rey her breakfast, "Eat up. We have another long day of walking."

Rey observed her mother as they had their breakfast. Felicity's eyes had bags under them and she kept yawning.

"Are you tired, Mommy?" Rey asked.

"A little," Felicity confessed. "I didn't get much sleep last night."

"Mommy needs her full energy if we're going to make it to Niima," Rey teased.

"Cheeky," Felicity ruffled Rey's hair. She then turned to the survival bag and pulled something out, "I have a surprise for you. This is why Mommy didn't sleep a lot last night. She was busy making this."

Rey gasped as Felicity held up a blanket that had been patched together with the spare clothing in the survival bag.

"Daddy!" Rey exclaimed as she focused on Luke's familiar flight suit taking up the middle of on side of the blanket.

"Yeah, Mommy needed her own blanket and thought Daddy wouldn't mind," Felicity grinned. "And if he does, well… Mommy has her ways of making sure he doesn't."

"Or those the grownup things Aunt Leia doesn't let Uncle Han and Uncle Lando joke about around me?"

"Some of them. Daddy didn't just marry me for one thing after all."

Rey suddenly noticed something odd about the flight suit, "Mommy, what happened to the sleeves of Daddy's flight suit?"

"I cut them off."

"Why?"

"To make this," Felicity pulled another item out of the bag that made Rey gasp. A small doll had been stitched out of the flight suit and a few other pieces of clothing and stuffed with sand to look like a Rebellion X-Wing Pilot, "I heard you calling for Daddy last night, so I thought I'd make you this."

Rey happily accepted the doll, "Is it Daddy?"

"Daddy. Uncle Wedge. Uncle Diego. Poe Dameron. Whatever pilot you want," Felicity shrugged. "I modeled it after Daddy, but there's no skin tone, so it can be whoever you want. Just not Grandpa Anakin."

Rey hugged the doll tightly, "Thank you, Mommy."

"You're welcome, Sweetheart," Felicity packed their items in the bag. She held out a hand and pulled Rey to her feet, "Now, come on. The sooner we get to Niima, the sooner you can show Daddy your new doll."


Felicity Rhiaon miscalculated.

She realized it on their forth night when she recalculated their position to Niima while Rey slept. They were still a few days from the Outpost, maybe three or four.

Felicity only had enough food and water for one more day.

She did her best to hide it from Rey in the morning, but Rey sensed Felicity's distress through the Force. Felicity was forced to admit to Rey they were running out of food when Rey asked why Mommy hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch.

Rey had been upset to hear Mommy was giving up her portions of food and water, but Felicity was tired, hungry, overheated, and frankly had had enough of Rey's whining. Felicity knew Rey was young and irrational, but she couldn't stop herself from snapping at Rey.

"Rey, nothing has changed around us! There's no food, no shade, no water, and no civilization! I cannot do anything more right now! Stop crying about it!"

That outburst led to Felicity apologizing non-stop to Rey during their rest between 11 am and 2 pm. She and Rey shared the last of their water and final portion of food. Felicity refused to tell Rey what running out of food and water meant, and Rey was too afraid to ask.

"I'm hungry, Mommy," Rey whispered as Felicity laid her against the sand that night to rest. Rey was very pale and barely had the energy to move.

"I know, Sweetheart," Felicity couldn't fight back the tears. She kissed Rey's forehead, "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Please, just close your eyes and sleep. I promise it'll be better in the morning."

Rey tried to sleep but couldn't. Felicity wasn't mad; she couldn't sleep either.

"Poe taught me a trick one time," Rey said as she and Mommy lay next to each other staring at the stars trying to figure out which one Daddy was on. "He said that if you ever get in a situation where you get really upset, but can't do anything to change things, you should dig a hole and scream in it."

"Dig a hole and scream? Why?" Felicity asked in amusement. It was nice to have a conversation distracting her from the nagging thought that she was being a terrible parent letting her daughter be tired and thirsty and hungry.

"The screaming gets the angry out," Rey explained. "And the digging gives you something to beat up and focus on."

"Dig a hole and scream," Felicity chuckled. "You want to do that?"

Rey nodded.

"Alright, let's dig a hole," Felicity sat up but Rey didn't follow. "Sweetheart?"

Rey looked like she was going to cry, "I- I can't sit up."

Felicity cringed as she looked over Rey. Rey was pale and still. Her breathing was labored and if Felicity didn't know any better, she might have thought Rey wasn't breathing.

"How about I dig the hole and then move you to it?" Felicity suggested. "You just close your eyes."

"Okay, Mommy."

So Felicity dug a hole. She had no shovel, so she dug it with her bare hands. Frequently she looked over at her daughter and every time almost had a heart acted. Eyes closed, pale skin, undetectable breathing, unnaturally still.

Rey looked dead.

When Felicity was finished digging the hole, she did as promised and moved Rey so they could scream. As they took turns screaming, Felicity had to admit that it did help a little bit. It helped enough that Rey was able to sleep.

Felicity feared what would happen when Rey woke up.


Rey couldn't move in the morning.

"Carry me, Mommy?" Rey asked when Felicity determined that Rey wasn't faking it. Rey legitimately could not get up and walk.

"Alright," Felicity picked up Rey and began carrying her. They would get there slower, but Felicity had no choice.

With no food, water, or signs of civilization, they were running out of time.

"Momma, where's Papa?" Rey's question on the seventh day threw Felicity for a loop.

Momma? Papa? Rey never called Luke and Felicity those terms. It was always Mommy and Daddy, or Mom and Dad if she was feeling bratty. Momma and Papa were terms you found in old stories, and Luke and Felicity hated the titles. Luke always said he felt like an eighty year old grandfather when her heard the term Papa.

But even more troubling was the question itself.

"Daddy's with Aunt Leia," Felicity reminded.

"Why isn't he here? And where are we?"

Felicity stopped in her tracks.

"Rey, let's take a little rest. Mommy wants to look at you," Felicity set Rey down and placed a hand on Rey's forehead. "Does your head hurt?"

"A little," Rey answered.

Felicity looked over Rey. Rey's skin looked red; at first Felicity thought it might be sunburn, but examining her arms closely Felicity determined that Rey was flushed.

She checked Rey's pulse and watched Rey's chest as she breathed. Rey was fast on both accounts.

Confusion. Headache. Flushed skin. Racing pulse. Rapid, shallow breathing.

Fear struck Felicity. No, it couldn't be. She had been so careful. Rey couldn't have-

Felicity dug in the bag and pulled out the thermometer from the medical kit. She took Rey's temperature and observed the result with horror. 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rey had heatstroke.

Felicity needed shade now.

She threw everything back in her bag, scooped Rey into her arms, and ran. Felicity ran as fast and as far as she could. When she thought she could run no further, she looked down at her dying daughter and found the strength to push forward. Even if it meant she ran until she dropped dead, Felicity would not stop until her daughter was safe.

Felicity had no idea if she was heading in the correct direction, or even what she was looking for, but she didn't care. She quite literally held a matter of life and death in her arms.

"Hold on, Sweetheart," Felicity begged as Rey groaned in her arm. "Please hold on."

An hour later the vomiting started. What little was in Rey's stomach ended up splatted on Felicity's clothing. But Felicity don't even flinch, it was simply a reminder to her that Rey was very close to the end. Again and again, Rey vomited as Felicity carried her on. She threw up until all was left was stomach acid, and then there was nothing.

The sound of Rey's dry heaving carried across the desert as tears gathered in Felicity's eyes. She wanted Rey's pain to stop, but what would happen when it did?

Overwhelmed by the possibility that Rey was about to die in her arms, Felicity did something she hadn't done in years.

She prayed.

"I don't believe in destiny or fate," Felicity let the words in her head reach into the great unknown. "But I know there is something more in the universe. It may not dictate my actions, or have set my choices, but something is out there. And in this moment of desperation, I ask, I pray, I beg please help me save my daughter. Don't take my ray of light from me. Don't let her die."

And the great unknown delivered.

As Felicity came to the top of a desert hill, she spotted it: a downed AT-AT, laying on its side.

Felicity and Rey had seen a great many battle remains on Jakku, and used them as shelter. But they were few and far between, the machines being concentrated mostly near Niima Outpost.

Felicity burst into tears at the sight of the AT-AT, but she paused to observe the situation. She looked down to see that Rey had fallen asleep. Felicity pulled out the survival blanket and laid it on the sand. She rested Rey atop it, and covered her with the patchwork blanket. Felicity pulled out her blaster, and with great reluctance left Rey to check out the AT-AT.

It was abandoned and untouched by the scavengers. There was a large enough space for someone to live in, and even had scraps of supplies. Felicity was quick to bring Rey inside.

Wasting no time, Felicity pulled the gels packs out of the bag and snapped them to activate their cooling powers. In the fog of her own overheated mind, she hadn't thought to use them before that moment. She rested a pack against the survival blanket to see how it reacted to the backs. When Felicity saw that the blanket cooled, she set about placing the cool packs against Rey's groin, neck, back and armpits before wrapping her in the survival blanket.

She thanked the Force that Luke had rambled on with so many childhood stories involving people getting heat stroke that Felicity memorised the cooling technique. Of course, Felicity would need to get Rey to the doctor to completely heal her, but it was a start.

Felicity raided the AT-AT for food supplies. Unfortunately all water had been long evaporated, but she managed to find food rations. Expired nutrient bars, but food nonetheless.

Felicity took a small bite out of one to test if they were still edible, and upon tasting food for the first time in days, Felicity finished the whole thing in less than a minute. Finding her self-control, she gathered up the rest and brought them back to where Rey was wrapped up.

"Rey, Sweetheart, I found some food," Felicity settled next to Rey. "Here, eat this."

But Rey didn't stir.

"Rey?" Felicity very was nervous as she saw how pale and still Rey was. She gently prodded her daughter, "Rey, Sweetheart, please wake up."

Rey didn't move.

Fear overtook Felicity. No, she had gotten Rey to safety. She had made it. Felicity didn't care if Rey was so young and sunstroke so harsh, they had made it to safety. Rey had to be alright.

"Rey, come on, this isn't funny," Felicity shook the little girl. "Rey, wake up!"

Tears fell from Felicity's eyes onto Rey's face, but still Rey did not move.

"Rey! Wake up! Wake up, Rey!" Felicity begged. "You're safe! You'll be alright! Please, Rey, wake up. REY! WAKE UP! REY!"

Rey wasn't breathing.