A soft wind rustles through the flowers on the ground, making them sway in the breeze. Luke has rarely ever felt so at peace.
Back in his days on Tatooine, life mostly consisted of hard work, the base need to survive, leaving little room for more than dreams of far away worlds.
After that there was war, his duty to protect the light side. As much of an excitement as it was at first, it posed also a strain, bringing the concept of pain and loss and despair to his life. No matter how dull his existence had been before, it kept him safe, something he only came to understand when it was already too late.
After the fall of the empire he had hoped to find peace in the midst of his family, but instead mission upon mission, political debates, resisting new threats took over, rarely allowing tranquility.
His students had given him joy. Finding others like him, renewing a once grand order, teaching, passing on the knowledge he had gained and experiencing companionship-those were things he came to cherish, hold close to his heart. They became the sole meaning of his life, finally filling the void that always threatened to draw him in.
In the end they were ripped from his grasp, leaving him defeated and broken, a crippled existence with no further purpose.
Luke now savors the moments of peace and quiet, the feeling of finally having a place where he belongs.
"What are you thinking about?" He blinks and tips his head down to meet her eyes.
"How do you know?"
"You're quiet. It's so unlike you." Rey reaches up, ruffling his soft hair. "It's grown out so long…"
"What is?" he asks.
"Your hair. I like it." She twirls a lock around her forefinger. "So soft…"
Luke chuckles "You'll make me a spoiled, vain man if you go on like this."
"Nah!" Rey shakes her head, one of her messy buns coming loose. "That, my dear, is not in your nature"
"And you know that because?" As so many times before his eyebrows rise high enough to vanish behind his bangs.
"Because you let me into that pretty head of yours, silly"
"I'm not pretty!" He protests, heat rising to his cheeks.
"So are" her eyes shine with mischief, shoulders shaking as she tries to hold back her laughter.
Rey enjoys teasing her lover who, despite his age, will usually grow flustered in an instant. She thinks him rather adorable that way. It makes her forget all the troubles bound to catch up on them.
"So not!" he crosses his arms in a defiant gesture, not at all seeming like a man in his fifties, but rather a small child that got chastised for stealing cookies from the jar.
"Oh yes you are" Rey pokes his side, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Luke lets out a rather undignified squeak and recoils. It only makes her grin widen further.
"Now that's a surprise" She pinches his side again, or at least tries as he swats her hand away.
"Stop that Rey!" Even though he is resisting his face tells another story, eyes bright and flashing his teeth as he smiles.
"You like this. Admit it!"
"Well…" Without another word he pounces, tickling her until she's breathless, rolling around, her ending up on top, hair tangled and petals clinging to it like tiny crystals.
"You were right."
"With what?" She nuzzles his neck, her position convenient for a little show of affection.
"That was fun" Gently he brushes a strand of hair behind her ear.
"And I made you laugh"
"Indeed, you did."
"And?"
"And what?" he draws it out, amused by her pout.
"No reward?"
"For what?" he asks, pretending to be completely oblivious.
"Making you happy?" She leans up as if to kiss kim, stopping mere inches from his lips.
"So now that is a task to be rewarded for? Am I such a hard case?" Luke tilts his head, their noses brushing in the process.
"Very hard. Insufferable. Annoying. Too much to take to be frank. A complete idiot" She whispers, her warm breath brushing his face.
"And still you are here. Why is that, hm?"
"As you once said it: you're my idiot"
"There's something else I am" he runs a hand-his artificial one- along her spine. She squirms.
"And what would that be?" She is quietly expecting the answer to be lover, followed by a kiss.
"You master!" He flips them over and pins her to the ground."Never let down your guard so easily."
"You tricked me!" She tries to break free but fails.
"He brings his mouth close to her ear and murmurs "Do you want to save your friends, or not?"
Rey's eyes widen and she gasps in shock, not expecting the challenge in his voice.
"Yes but-you said I wasn't-"
"That you were not ready, yes. And I still think you aren't yet." He pauses and locks his eyes with hers, expression stern. "But I also think the time of hiding is over."
"Why?" Rey isn't sure if she should be devastated or hopeful.
"Because I believe in you."
Rey is at a loss for words. After all that had happened within the previous weeks she hadn't counted on him offering her another chance so soon. Subconsciously she had hoped, that their simple and peaceful life on the island could have lasted forever. Certainly the illusion of peace represented a more likeable situation than the distress of millions of souls out in the galaxy, demanding their intervrntion.
Sometimes it would be easier to turn away and just pretend that there is no misery to be overcome, but ultimately it would be nothing but a lie born out of cowardice.
"Are you certain?" Her voice is hoarse, shaky from a flood of emotions: hope, fear, determination, sorrow, love and respect.
"I've rarely been more certain of anything else." The look in his eyes is warm, encouraging, telling her that he truly believes they can make it.
"Thank you…" Rey's eyes are watering. He brushes the tears away with the pads of his fingers.
"There...is something else" He averts his gaze.
"Yes?" There is a hint of worry in her tone now, as he expertly evades meeting her eyes again.
"When all of this is over..." Luke is so very quiet, speaking barely above a whisper "would you…"
"Anything, love" She wants to turn his face, but her wrists are still pinned to the ground.
"Stay with me" he mumbles, the words almost unintelligible.
She blurts out "You don't even hav-" then stops, the hidden meaning only now catching up on her.
"Let go of me." Her voice is flat, face void of any emotion. She can feel something in him break, his usually so bright light dimming as he draws back, finally setting her arms free.
A sinking feeling settles in her stomach as he watches him fight down disappointment, hurt, a deep sadness.
Making use of her regained freedom of movement she reaches up and places her hands on both of his cheeks.
"Look at me, Luke"
After a few moments he does, his eyes red and glossy from suppressed tears.
"I'm sorry" he whispers "Forget the ideas of an old man."
"I won't" She answers firmly.
"Please, Rey. Don't make this any-" He is cut off by a finger across his lips.
"Old fool" The finger traces his bottom lip, a feeling so exquisite he cannot help but close his eyes and let out a shuddering breath.
Within the blink of an eye he is drawn flush against her chest, their lips meeting in a soft kiss.
"Of course I will, silly. It is where I belong" She kisses him again.
"But you-" He is cut off again.
"I needed my hands free" Luke flushes in embarrassment for having drawn a rash conclusion.
"So you really..?"
"Yes!" Her smile is blinding, bringing fresh tears to his eyes, only this time they are tears of joy.
Carefully he laces their fingers and rubs his nose against hers. "We will end this together and then we can find us a nice place to stay, wherever you want to."
"I would like that a lot" She flashes him another bright smile.
As he leans down for yet another kiss, soon ending in soft touches and the joining of their bodies, their union is sealed again, a promise for a long future together yet to come.