Han Solo could recognize the whir of the Millennium Falcon from miles away. Perhaps the same way Leia could pick up on when he was around. Or Ben. The Force, he thought angrily. Sure would be handy to have, but no. Father doesn't know best. Father doesn't know anything the rest of his family knows.

He stretched out at a picnic table, cup of coffee in his hands and another ready for Ben. Maybe the new General Solo would be embarrassed he'd returned to check up on things. Han didn't care. Ben was his child, though he towered over him and was far more powerful than he'd ever been, mind and body. When your child goes through shit, you show up.

Besides, Leia was sick. Long years of high stress, long hours, and heartbreak wore on her. He was taking her away. War had taken many things from them, but he refused to let it take her. His princess sure as hell wouldn't like it, but Han wasn't giving her a choice. He knew Ben would come on board, and if Leia wouldn't listen to Han (of course she wouldn't), she'd listen to her son.

"They're back!" a few officers called to each other as the Falcon landed in its usual space in the field used as a hangar. A group of four exited and Han closed his eyes, thankful. Chewie ran across the clearing and picked Rey up, then Poe. Ben shied away and Han squinted to see the reason. His stomach dropped. Ben was wounded.

"Ben!" he called.

Ben said something to the others and sauntered to the table, quickly pasting a smirk on and hiding whatever injuries he'd sustained. "You're out of retirement early."

Han watched as Ben gingerly perched on the opposite table bench, trying to hide his grimace. "What happened out there?" Han demanded. "You look like hell."

It never failed to shock Han when he really looked at Ben and realized he was a man. Now he was looking at an utterly defeated man. Dark circles hung under Ben's eyes and the usual carefree bravado was spent. It reminded Han somewhat of his early teenage years when Ben was sullen and depressed, his awkward puberty phase only exacerbated by the loneliness that came from being so powerful in the Force.

Ben sucked at the inside of his cheek. "I had a hunch. I was wrong. Lesson learned." He accepted the coffee and leaned heavily on his elbows. "We ran into some Knights, but they're bad news. Change of plans. Kill Knights of Ren on sight."

Han nodded and stared at his coffee cup, weighing how to broach the subject of what Luke said. He decided to dive right in. There was no use hiding anything from Ben, anyway. He was a kriffing mind reader. "Luke told me about the night you left his training. He said he was wrong. The darkness wasn't coming from you, he said. It was that thing you were just with. That the hell's that supposed to mean? Something's been stalking you all these years?"

Ben didn't twitch. "Just an unexpected visitor."

Han scowled. "Ben."

Ben shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Everything's fine. Go enjoy a beach somewhere." He stroked the hint of a mustache that had grown in their time away. "You said you trusted me."

Han frowned. "I do. I trust you enough that I never asked why you left training. I never asked! And I never spoke to Luke again, all because I trusted that whatever happened between you two was bad enough to warrant it. Now talk, kid. If there's something after you, I want to know about it."

Something flickered in Ben's gaze and Han wondered if he'd get up and leave, but instead, the dark-haired man sighed and stared at his own coffee cup. "He tried to kill me. Did he tell you that? Luke looked in my mind and thought I was too evil to be left alive."

Han sat back. He wanted to argue against the story, but couldn't. There was no lie in his son's face. There never was. "You never told us."

Ben looked up, eyes full of sorrow. "How could I? It's fine. I'm fine. Like I said. Lesson learned. I'm glad he knows it wasn't me, I guess." He forced a chuckle. "A lot of good it would have done to kill me."

"What about Rey? Is this thing after her now?" Han blurted.

"Don't worry about her," Ben snapped. "I can keep a padawan alive." He hesitated, then pressed his palms into his eyes. "Not padawan. Student." He pointed to his head, annoyed. "Concussion."

Upon seeing Ben's temper rapidly diminishing, Han sighed. It was the same fuse he and Leia had. Short and connected to a big bomb. "Just keep her in the loop. If I knew what you were going through I'd have given you every heads up I could. I still can't forgive myself for not being able to warn you what it'd be like." Han gestured vaguely to Ben. "The Force. All that mumbo jumbo."

Ben brushed back his hair, grinning. "Thanks, Dad."

Han gawked at the dried blood crusting over his scalp. "Kriff. Ben. Your head!"

Ben let his hair drop back down. "Yeah. Just a scratch. Poe stitched me up."

"That's worse to hear," Han joked. "Kid blows things up, not put them back together!" That finally drew a chuckle from Ben. Han sighed. "You better not let your mother see. She's worried sick, by the way. Don't tell her about Luke." He hesitated. "She's coming away with me, once things settle down. She's had a few spells. It's too much for her. The stress."

"Spells?"

"She's fine. Just overexerts herself. Doesn't sleep."

Ben nodded. "Take her. Everyone knows she's earned it. I'll finish the war."

Hux sighed and sipped at his coffee. He expected more hostility from the rebels. Any hostility. Something. A blonde officer smiled shyly at him and he glared back, taken by her brazenness. Didn't she know he was a gen- ah. That's right. He hastily offered a sheepish grin. She giggled and went on her way.

"Hugs!" Poe called, bursting into the tent. "I can't believe you're still wearing the uniform. I'll get you something else to wear. Remind me later."

"Who is that fetching creature?" Hux ventured. "Here I thought the rebels all looked as scruffy as you."

"Aurelia? Communications officer." Poe gave him a wolfish look. "Already taking stock of the rebels, huh? I can respect that. I can plant some seeds if you want me to. Let her know you thanked me rigorously and excellently on the way back from Mustafar. Everyone likes a good review from someone they know, right?"

Hux froze. "What? You'd spread no such falsehood."

Poe's face was all laughter and childish glee. "Lighten up, Hugs. It's just war. Everyone's fucking everyone."

Hux pursed his lips. Yes, life in the Resistance was certainly going to be much different than life in the First Order. Change was good, though, and Hux knew it would only take some acclimating and time away from Snoke before he felt settled.

Poe sat down and shrugged. "So. Let's start from square one and the basics. Ben will show up sometime, by the way, but I'm his next in command and I know pretty much everything going on around here."

"You're sure Rey isn't the second in command?"

"Of course not." Poe sat back and thought for a moment. Then he leaned back forward, concerned. "Why? Does it seem like it? Maybe for Force stuff." He narrowed his eyes. "Are you actually here to disrupt things and try to pit us against each other?"

"No," Hux sighed, already aggravated by the rollercoaster of Dameron's trust. "I'd advise you to keep an eye on here. Solo has always been Snoke's prize, but now that he's seen her strength, she won't be safe either. I prefer to see Rey and Solo together more often than not, though the general has other ideas."

"They'll take care of each other," Poe shrugged. "Ben? He's okay. He'll get over whatever last night on the ship was. He had his brain scrambled. They're peas in a pod. It won't be two seconds before they're joined at the hip again."

Hux considered revealing the conversation he'd had with Ben, but thought better of it. Poe had enough on his plate without knowing about the inner demons of his best friend. "Yes. I imagine you're right."

Across the camp Rey swung her staff, working out frustrations you can't work out in the confines of a ship.

How were they supposed to go back to work, pretending the First Order was the same old military they'd been fighting? Something out there was stronger than her, stronger than Ben, probably stronger than Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.

Someone cleared their throat. "Need a partner?" Finn crossed the clearing, staff in his hand and sheepish grin on his face.

"Hey." She swirled her staff. It already felt foreign in her hands. She was used to the lightsaber hilt. "I guess so."

"I've been shitty. I'm sorry." He hesitated, then looked her over. "You look like shit. What happened out there?"

"A fight."

Finn watched her skeptically. "Against who? The Knights of Ren? Why didn't you bring them back?"

"We couldn't," she sighed. "It's along story."

He gritted his teeth. "Did Solo mess this up? The Knights were our best shot at taking down the First Order!" His voice quickly rose to an annoyed shout. "Now what're we doing to do?"

"Stop," Rey said, her voice low.

"What?" Finn replied, whipping his staff through the air to warm up. "I was hoping the mission would go better, but since it clearly didn't, maybe Leia will change her mind." He kicked at an imaginary opponent and bashed at them with the staff. "Solo isn't a leader. It wasn't that hard of a mission to screw up, but he did somehow."

"I said stop," she warned him once again. "He killed the Knights because they were joking about finding us, killing him, and keeping me alive to-" she trailed off. "For bad reasons." Like the man who snuck into her tent when she was a child on Jakku. He forced her onto the bed, but she was faster. She rolled away and dove out the open window, never looking back. That was the last she lived at Niima Outpost. It was better to be alone where no one could hurt you.

She hesitated. And wasn't that where she was headed again? She let Ben get close, but it was too close. Sure, he was concussed, but Ben certainly didn't want anything to do with her and had practically jogged off the Falcon to get out of her presence.

"I'm not stupid," Finn sneered. "I know he's your boyfriend. People talk." He drew a deep breath and the staff hung limply at his side. "I thought we were friends, you know, before he found you."

"You still could be if you'd quit whatever you're holding against him." Rey crossed her arms. "And what's it matter what he is to me? You'd hate him all the same."

"He's dangerous," Finn exclaimed, exasperated. "He lost his temper and hurt me! He picked me up and threw me across a room. I woke up in a bacta suit. You know how much fun that is?"

Rey blinked. "He didn't mean it."

"Oh," Finn sneered. "He definitely meant it. He had this look on his face. He's crazy, Rey. You need to stay away from him before you end up in the same situation, looking down a madman who can break stuff with his mind. How long before he loses his temper and kills you? Didn't you say he killed the Knights? I'm not a bit surprised." He reached out and held her shoulder. "This isn't a jealousy thing like they all say. I like Rose. But besides, I'm just trying to keep you out of the line of fire."

Rey swallowed and stared at the ground. "I didn't know." Then she looked up and nodded. "Thank you."

The Solo-Organas joined for a meeting on how to fully transfer power from Leia to Ben, set up protocols for alerting their allies, and to catch up on details from the failed mission to Mustafar. Like most family meetings, their voices were raised and each member was yelling over the other. Fingers were pointed, colorful language utilized, and officers passing by the tent didn't even look twice. It was a typical family powwow.

Han wasn't impressed. "I don't know what goes on in your head. I really don't know. But this? This is a bad idea." He glared across camp to where Poe was eating breakfast with Hux, discussing sensitive Resistance information. "A First Order general? Are you crazy?"

Ben rolled his eyes. "I know what's going on in his head and he's sincere. It'd be stupid to send him back. He wants to help. He saved our hides on Mustafar. He risked himself and showed himself to Snoke."

Leia shrugged. "I don't think it's a bad idea. He's earned his keep. Besides, one of our best men used to be an Imperial trooper." She smiled warmly at Han, who scowled in return.

"I'm different," Han snapped. "It wasn't about the Empire. And I wasn't a general. This isn't the same." He turned back to Ben. "You don't know what you're doing."

"No. I don't," Ben agreed sharply. The air around him seemed to sizzle. "You want the title back? It's not like I begged for it."

Han sat back and held his hands up. "What's gotten in your cockpit? Geeze."

Ben huffed. "Nothing."

Han poked. "Doesn't seem like nothing."

"I said nothing!" Ben snarled. His hand balled into a fist and came down on the table.

"Boys, boys," Leia sighed. "Won't you miss fighting when we're gone?"

"No," father and son hissed at the same time.

"Solos," Leia muttered to herself as they continued to bicker back and forth.

Later that evening Rey stole past the campfires and ignored the tempting aromas of what the rebels were cooking. She did her best to remain unseen. Poe and Hux were gathered together, laughing and discussing who knew what. She watched for a moment, shocked to see the First Order general laughing. His face looked completely different when he wasn't scowling. After a moment she moved on.

Rey deftly avoided a pair of officers passing her way, then turned for her tent. She was almost there when a voice called.

"Rey! C'mon over. You look hungry."

Rey froze and whispered a curse word, then smiled. Turning, she saw Han and Leia at a small fire of their own, away from the craziness of camp. Han waved to her and Leia smiled knowingly. She admitted her own defeat and sheepishly joined them at their fire.

"Sounds like you had a hell of a mission," Han offered. "Sit. You eaten?" Not bothering to wait for an answer, he handed her a dish of food. "Here. You're too skinny. You still look like a desert rat."

"Han," Leia scolded him. "What's the matter with you?"

Han pointed to her. "If she turns sideways, she'll disappear. Someone's gotta feed her."

Rey rolled her eyes and dug into her food. "Thanks." She slurped noisily and immediately appreciated the offer. The stew was incredible and she hadn't realized how hungry she was. The bowl was gone in an instant and she scooped more from the big pot on the fire.

"See? You're hungry. I knew it." Han spooned himself a new plate of food. "What're you up to tonight, anyway? Not like you to go sneaking around. And you're not very good at it, either."

Rey tore off a piece of meat and chewed it thoughtfully. "I'm looking for Ben."

Han rolled his eyes and Leia sighed. "He doesn't want to be found by anyone tonight, I don't think. Just one of those moods."

Rey shrugged. "I don't care what he wants. We need to talk." She considered stopping there, but couldn't. "He says he doesn't want anything to do with me. Something happened on Mustafar. Snoke, whatever he is, got into his head and now Ben won't even look in my direction." She scoffed. "I don't understand. He's never been like this. He doesn't get to just ignore me. Not an option."

Firelight reflected in Leia's eyes. She set her empty dish down and smoothed a fold in her vest. She cleared her throat and shared a meaningful glance with Han before turning her gaze back to Rey.

"What?" Rey blurted. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ben," Leia started, "has always seen himself as dangerous." She chewed at the corner of her lip for a moment in thought, then continued. "Whatever happened, he must be keeping his distance for your sake. He loves you. He would never turn away unless it's for what he determines to be your own good."

The dish slipped from Rey's fingers and landed with a thud on the dirt. "What?" Her heart fluttered.

"Go talk to him," Leia said, reaching for the fallen dish. "We tried earlier. He's all out of sorts. He will listen to you."

Rey wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. "Yeah. Yeah. All right. Thanks."

The Falcon was a safe place. It could take him lightyears away if he chose. It reminded him so much of his father, who always found ways to look through his Force powers and treat Ben like a normal kid. He didn't care how strong Ben was and had no problem going toe to toe with him when he was a bratty teenager. Ben smiled at the memory. Yes, in the ship, the Force didn't matter. It took real piloting skills to fly. Everything here was concrete and had a purpose.

That's all he wanted: to be free of the Force.

But it kicked in and sat up straight. A storm was coming. A moment later, Rey's footfalls and voice came from the ramp. "Ben."

"Please, Rey," Ben sighed. "Leave me alone."

"Like hell," Rey snapped, marching toward him. "You don't get to just ignore me."

Kriff, he loved her, Ben thought mournfully. Her eyes were ablaze and her hands balled into fists. Had he expected her to take his mistreatment lying down? Certainly not. He loved her spunk, her can-do attitude, the way she demanded what was right. That's what she was doing now and he loved her the more for it. It made his choice even more heart-wrenching. "Leave me alone," he said solemnly, throwing out his hand and half-heartedly restraining her in place with the Force. "I told you to stay away from me."

"Ben," she repeated as she thrashed against his hold. "Please. I just want to talk to you. I know you're scared. I feel it. But I don't understand why you won't just talk to me!" Her anger swelled and tears welled in her eyes. "Ben. Let go of me."

"You saved my life. Your training is done. You're as strong as I can help you become. Go back to Jakku. Wait for your family." He drew a shaky breath. "Go away." He stared at the wall behind her. If he looked at her, he would cave. If he saw the tears he felt her holding back, he would fail. If she said the right thing, he'd crumble to a million pieces. He might, anyway. Rey was the only person who ever understood him, but for her own good, he had to drive her away.

Rey gasped and stuttered, fumbling for a response. "Ben!"

"What do you want from here, anyway?" Ben asked, his throat dry. "Han and Leia are leaving. Finn's upset with you, Poe's attention span isn't long enough to give you the connection you crave. We're at war. This isn't your battle."

"This isn't you," Rey whispered. "Ben. Please."

He could let her stay. They could carry on, fight side by side. She would resume being his shadow, sneaking into his cot just to be close to him, smiling across camp at him. The vision of their daughter. The visions of him violating her, hurting her. No, the choice was already made. He would starve himself of happiness if it meant keeping Rey from harm.

His chest ached and Ben fought back his own tears. "How many ways do I have to say it? Leave! I don't want you here." His voice cracked and his hand dropped.

"Ben," Rey said softly, walking toward him, hand extended.

His heart thudded anxiously, craving her touch. It was now or never. It was life or death for her. Life was freedom, death was staying with him. "Go away!" He threw his hand out and sent a blast of energy at her, knocking her backward toward the ramp.

He expected her to glare at him, to swear, to fight back. Instead, she cast a sidelong glance that spoke volumes. It broke his heart clean in two; more painful than watching her leave the ship and his life.

Hot tears spilling down her cheeks, Rey crossed camp and got into a ship.