Chapter 7

Luke was getting impatient. It had been five days since Allana arrived, and she and Leia hadn't spoken since the first night. He at first tried to let them work it out on their own, but it was becoming clear that neither were making the first move. He had been walking around the base for an hour trying to find Allana, so he could finally put this argument to rest. Finally, he found her covered in grease and oil on the Falcon.

''Allana!''

Allana jumped and dropped the tools she was holding. ''Uncle Luke you scared me.''

''Sorry.''

''Is there any particular reason as to why you felt the need to come and sneak up on me like that?''

''I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay.''

''I'm fine thanks.''

''Good, good. So… what are your plans for the day?''

''Cut the bullshit Uncle Luke. What do you want?''

''Can't an uncle just come and check on his niece.''

''Not in this family. Now, spit it out.''

''Why haven't you and Leia made up yet?''

Allana groaned. ''If I make the first move she's going to hold it over my head and make me feel guilty for not agreeing to stay here.''

''You two are the most stubborn people I have ever met.''

''Gee thanks.''

Allana stood up and faced her uncle. ''Luke I appreciate that you're trying to help us, but I think the two of us are a lost cause. As soon as the Falcon is fixed, I'm leaving.''

''You can't keep running from everything that scares you.''

''I'm not scared of facing my mother.''

''I'm not just talking about Leia.''

Allana froze. ''Who are you talking about,'' she said icily.

''I may be old, but I'm not blind. I know something is or was going on between you and Poe Dameron. What ever it was may be over for you, but it's not over for him.''

''You've gone crazy.''

''Allana,'' he said, placing a hand on her arm, ''you have to understand that people are going to care about you no matter how hard you want them not to. You can't run from the people you love because things got though.''

''Why not? You did.''

Luke stared her down. ''You're right I did, and I've regretted it every second since.''

He let go of her, and started to walk away.

''Don't make the same mistake I did.''

Luke left the ship, his steps echoing on the walls of the ship. Allana stared after him, contemplating his words. She stared at the doorway and then back down at her tools as an internal battle raged inside her. She pulled her shoulders back and a look of determination settled on her face. She knelt down on the floor and went back to work.

….

''Ah there you are.''

Rey slipped into the empty training room where Luke was waiting.

''Sorry I'm late. I lost track of time.''

''It's alright Rey.''

Rey sat cross-legged on the floor across from Luke.

''What are we doing today?''

''Patience Rey. Now close your eyes.''

Rey visibly relaxed and she closed her eyes.

''Good. Now I want you to take a deep breath and clear your mind of all thoughts. That's it.''

Luke rose from his position and grabbed a blaster from a shelf behind him.''

''Okay, I'm putting something on the floor in between us. Don't open your eyes. Now, try to lift it.''

''How can I lift something that I can't see?''

''You have to trust yourself and your instincts. You still rely too much on your sight. Your eyes can deceive you.''

A peaceful silence filled the air. The two of them were focused on the blaster on the ground between them.

''Concentrate Rey. Visualize it floating in the air.''

''I'm trying,'' Rey said through gritted teeth. ''It's not working. I don't know what I'm even supposed to be visualizing.''

''Keep trying,'' Luke said soothingly. ''Don't let your thoughts keep you from doing this.''

The blaster slowly started to rise up off the ground. Rey's face scrunched together in concentration as she willed it to go higher. The blaster suddenly began to shake.

''Hold it steady Rey.''

''I'm…trying.''

The blaster slowly stopped shaking.

''Good,'' Luke said, ''Now, slowly lower it to the ground. Don't just let it drop.''

Rey laid the blaster on the ground softly, and then opened her eyes.

''See you did it,'' Luke said as he stood up. ''You're getting better every day.''

''Thank you Master, but I still have a lot of work to do.''

''Focus on what you're doing right Rey, not what you're doing wrong''

They both turned when someone knocked on the door.

''Hey Finn,'' Rey said when she saw the man standing at the door.

''I was wondering if you were ready for dinner,'' he said shifting from foot to foot.

''Am I finished Master?''

''Go Rey,'' Luke said smiling, ''go join your friends.''

Rey quickly gathered her things and followed her friend down the hallway.

…

The mess hall was almost empty when Allana entered. She scanned the room, looking for her friends. When she spotted them, she rushed over.

''Hey guys,'' Allana said hesitantly.

''Allana! I thought that you weren't going to be joining us,'' Rey said.

''Come sit,'' Poe said as he slid over.

''We're almost done eating, but we'll wait for you,'' Finn said.

''Thanks, but I can't stay,'' Allana said as she gripped her bag tighter.

''What's wrong,'' Finn asked concerned.

''Nothing,'' Allana said slowly, ''I came to say goodbye. I just got my clearance to leave. I already told Luke and Chewie goodbye.''

''Chewbacca isn't coming with you,'' Finn asked confused.

''He wanted to stay, and I'm not going to force him to come with me.''

''You're leaving,'' Poe asked, standing up.

''Don't act so surprised. You knew I was leaving eventually.''

''We didn't think you'd be leaving so soon,'' Rey said softly.

Rey and Finn both got up and embraced Allana. When Allana turned to Poe, a lump formed in her throat.

''Goodbye Poe,'' she said softly.

Allana turned around on her heel and flew out of the room.

''Allana wait!''

Poe tore down the hallway after her.

…

Luke and Chewie cautiously approached Leia, who was pouring over some charts.

Princess, we need to talk to you.

''What's wrong,'' Leia asked looking up.

It's Allana.

''What about Allana?''

''She's leaving,'' Luke blurted out. ''Tonight.''

Leia let out a sigh. ''I know.''

You knew?

''Did you really think they wouldn't tell me when my daughter asked for clearance to leave?''

''We kind of figured they wouldn't,'' Luke said.

Why aren't you trying to stop her?

''Allana is too much like her father. She can't stay in one place for long. I couldn't get Han to settle down, so what makes you think I can get her to stay.''

''You're her mother,'' Luke said.

Leia turned stared at the charts on the table as her voice began to tremble.

''That's exactly why I'm letting her leave. If I didn't let her, she would hate me even more then she already does, and she'll find some way to leave without me knowing.''

Do you want us to stop her?

''Let her go,'' Leia said sadly. ''She'll come back when she's ready.''

''Leia…''

''Don't keep her from leaving Luke.''

Leia went back to her work. Luke and Chewie silently accepted defeat, and left the room.

…

''Allana! Allana!''

Poe finally caught up with Allana right in front of the Falcon.

He grabbed her arm to keep her from boarding the ship.

''What the hell do you want,'' Allana spat.

''Don't go.''

Allana rolled her eyes.

''I don't have time for this. I'll see you around.''

She yanked free from his grasp and started to board the ship. Poe reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her into his side. Allana stiffened at his action but didn't pull away.

''Why are you leaving?''

''I feel like I'm suffocating here. I need to get out.''

''You were fine here before you left. Why is it any different now?''

''Nothing is same as it was! Everything has changed!''

Allana stared him dead in the eye.

''Including me.''

''Not everything is different.''

''Really? Give me one good example.''

Poe tightened his grip on her and pulled her, so that they were as close as humanly possible. Allana's breath hitched as she stared into his eyes. He placed one hand behind her neck and crushed her lips to his. Allana gripped his shirt, as they pressed even closer together. They pulled apart as their lungs screamed for oxygen. Allana froze.

''Lana…''

''Why do you always have to make it a hundred times harder for me to leave?''

She leaned her head against the cool metal of the ship and tried to calm her racing heart.

''I still feel the same way about you,'' Poe said softly.

Allana dropped her head into her hands.

''I'm a different girl now Poe.''

She slid to the floor and pulled her knees to her chest. Poe crouched on the floor next to her.

''What happened to you Allana? You used to be so open, so happy. What changed that? Who changed that?''

Tears began to fill Allana's eyes.

''It doesn't matter Poe. I made a mistake. Now I have to live with the consequences.''

''Talk to me.''

''I can't.''

''You can.''

''No I can't,'' she screamed as she jumped to her feet.

Poe clasped his hand over her mouth.

''Shhh. I'm sorry for pushing you.''

Allana rested her head against his chest. Poe sighed deeply.

''I can't stop you from leaving, can I?''

''No.''

''If you have to leave,'' he said gently, ''can you stay one more night?''

Allana studied his face and then nodded slowly. Poe put his arm around her shoulder and lead her back inside the base towards his bunk. He scanned his palm and pulled her inside his small room. She fastened her lips to his and tugged at his shirt. Poe yanked his lips from hers.

''Lana…''

''Don't talk. Not tonight.''

She pulled him closer and guided his hand to the hem of her shirt.

''You sure?''

Allana rested her forehead against his.

''I always am with you.''

Poe wrapped his arms around her even tighter, and pulled her down on the bed with him.

…

Early the next morning, an annoying beeping jerked Allana out of her dreams. She opened her eyes and groaned when she saw what time it was. She attempted to sit up, but something jerked her back down.''

''Stay a little longer,'' Poe said, his lips inches from her ear.

''I have to leave.''

''No you don't''

He began kissing her neck and ear.

''Poe I really have to leave!''

''Stay with me.''

''I would if I could, but I can't''

He let her go reluctantly, and she jumped out of bed. She gathered her clothes and disappeared into the fresher. She came out and found Poe propped up on one arm.

''How long are you going to be gone?''

''I don't know.''

''Where are you going?''

''Tatooine. I have a friend who lives there. I'll stay there for awhile, and then who knows.''

''Be safe okay,'' he said as he got up.

''I will.''

Their lips met in a long kiss.

''Be happy,'' she said as she pulled away. ''Even if it means being with another girl.''

Her eyes were full of tears that were threatening to spill over. Poe's shoulders slumped as he kissed her forehead.

''Goodbye Lana.''

''Goodbye Poe.''

Just like that, she was gone.

AN: I am SO sorry for how long it took me to update. Finals and other end of the school year stuff have kept me busy these past few weeks. I will do my best to update soon, but because it's summer updates are not going to be very regular.