Yeah, it's over now
But I can breathe somehow
"I'm not running."
The cavalcade of worried faces stared at Amora, who stood beside Kylo calmly brushing out her hair. She'd been cleared to leave the infirmary and had made it top priority to get into a shower. She chose to lock eyes with Rey as she spoke, as though she would understand the logic behind her words more than anyone else.
"Don't be coarse, Eve," Leia responded, folding her arms.
"What she means is don't be an idiot. You're in no condition to fight. Rey and I can-"
"-not fight my battles for me. He wants me alive, he can have his go," she answered, pulling her hair back and pinning it in a knot atop her head; she glared at Poe, shutting him up.
"Ben, will you please?" Leia begged of her son, who hadn't taken his mesmerized eyes off of Amora since she'd awoken. He glanced quickly at his mother.
"I'll kill him either way," he replied quietly.
"If anyone is going to end this, it has to be me," she responded.
"Then let it end, but not now. Not in your condition," Kylo insisted.
She shook her head a little, setting her hairbrush down and exchanging it for a lightsaber. She looked back at Rey.
When it's all worn out
I'd rather go without
You know its been on my mind
"If you're going to go off and be a hero, you might want this," she said, offering it out. Rey couldn't believe what she was looking at. It was the Skywalker lightsaber, in one piece and shining new.
"How did you…" she took it, admiring it in her hands. Kylo watched her, taking Amora's now empty hand in his.
"I asked Finn for it. I have a knack for saberwork, and that lightsaber is too precious to leave broken," she replied.
Rey felt such a conflict in looking at Amora now. From the first moment she'd laid eyes on Amora Ren, she had thought of her an evil, monstrous person; and Amora had never once denied it of herself. But as she stood, one hand fingers laced in Kylo's and the other settled on her stomach, the small smile playing on her face while she looked at Rey; she could not have seemed further from that monster. Maybe there was redemption for those who sought it after all.
Could you stand right there
Look me straight in the eye and say
That it's over now
We pay our debt sometime
"I wanted to help teach you. Guide you a bit more. But I suppose we won't have any time for that, not for a while. I'm sure you'll be alright, Rey. You're my blood, and you can fight; you've proven that," she continued, looking up to Kylo and touching the scar on his face.
"Makes him look real tough," she remarked. He smiled at her, taking her hand over his and holding it against his face. The love between them was real, old, lasting; Rey could finally feel a bit of warmth towards it, rather than hate. It seemed accepting it strengthened her more than fighting it ever could have.
Poe nudged her a bit.
"Let's let them have their time, and get the ships ready for them," he said quietly, offering the door to her and Leia both. There was a lot to be done if they were going to make this plan work.
Well it's over now
Yet I can see somehow
When its all gone wrong
It's hard to be so strong
Amora stayed focused on Kylo. There was no one else in the room from the moment she'd locked eyes with him. Her thumb continued to graze the scar on his face.
"We may not make it," she said quietly, a truth they both knew. The fleet heading their way was formidable, tactical, specialized. They were trained by the woman herself, and she knew.
"I will do everything in my power to keep you both safe," he answered without hesitation.
"Don't let them allure you with promises. We cannot go back. We can never go back."
"I know my place now," he said, taking her close to him, "it is with you."
She smiled, letting her head fall across his chest in the moment.
"If I die, take care of my sister," she said, her hands moving down along his scar from outside his clothing. He gripped her more tightly. This was the reality, but it was a hard one to verbalize for them both.
"I will."
"If you die…" she could not finish the sentence, it made her heart hurt. Though so many years passed between them in hatred, contempt, jealousy; the love had always won.
"If I die, love what we have made together enough for the both of us," he finished for her, running a calming hand along her back.
You know its been on my mind
Could you stand right there
Look me straight in the eye and say
That it's over now
The Vincit and Millenium Falcon sat docked side my side, the Vincit baring its omnipotent shadow over the Falcon. Poe stood staring at the Vincit, a beautiful vessel despite its origin. He could fly it, he could fly anything anyone put him into the cockpit of. He was the best pilot in the Resistance. And as he stared at what was perhaps the best looking vessel he had ever flown, he smiled at the thought that it would be the best last vessel he had ever flown. He played through every scenario of what could happen next. In many of them he would die. But this was what he fought for, all the people around him loading up the ships with supplies. A few had volunteered to fight with him. Many others were gearing up to fight here.
"Commander Dameron."
He turned at the sound of Amora's voice, she was on him in second, draping her arms over him in a tight hug.
"You don't have to do this."
"Neither do you."
"Yes, I do," she said with a little laugh, "I'm quite literally the only one here who has to."
"I meant go with him," he said with the same little laugh as they let each other go.
"Oh, Poe," she touched his face gently, in the same caring way she did to Kylo. He smiled. It was not quite the same.
"I'm a stronger fighter, but he's a better pilot. You've got Finn, and my Rey. Please keep her safe for me," she said. He nodded. She took his hand, placed his necklace into it, and closed it in his palm.
"You'll find someone worthy of this honor someday very soon," she choked up a little as she said it, but continued to smile at him.
"Pregnancy has made me the most emotional person. I am sorry," she added, wiping off the forming tears. He got the one under her right eye before she could with a quick kiss.
"I'll let you have that one, pilot," Kylo said as he approached, the smileless of the three.
"Just saying goodbye, and making her promise me you will treat her well. Otherwise I'm coming for you, Solo," Poe said. Kylo reached out, causing Poe to flinch a bit with the memory of their last encounter; but this time it was in handshake.
Guess it's over now
I seem alive somehow
"If something happens to me, you'd better take damn good care of her, Poe," he said. Poe took his hand and shook it, both of them testing their firm grip with one another.
"I can take care of myself, both of you. Now, let's go," she took Kylo by the arm, walking him toward the Falcon.
"Hey Eve, wait!"
Rey came running down the hill toward them, coming to stop just before Amora and embracing her tightly.
"Thank you for fixing my lightsaber," she said. Amora held onto her tightly back.
"Anything for you, sweetheart."
"Keep Ben safe. You… be safe," she added. Amora nodded.
They all looked to one another for a while, in regard, respect, love.
"May the force be with you," Amora said to each of them.
"And with you," Rey answered.
And then, they all slowly parted ways. Kylo took Amora's hand, led her onto the ship where Chewie awaited them.
When it's out of sight
Just wait and do your time
You know its been on my mind
Could I stand right here
Look myself in the eye and say
That it's over now
Kylo held his hands over her belly, the little bump of life within it gave him the strength to part from her to fly the ship that once belonged to his father.
Those same golden dice he played with as a child hung overhead as he settled into the pilots seat and strapped in. His uncle Chewie put a strong hand on his shoulder, uttering a soft grumble.
"You too," he replied, touching that fur covered hand that used to throw him up and down into the air as a child. It hurt somewhere deep to be here now. But he felt next the lips of the one he loved upon his cheek.
"I love you," she said softly, taking up the seat next to him and strapping in.
"I know," he answered, taking her hand and using the other to fire up the engines.
This was it. The final battle. And as he heard somewhere up above him the distinct sound of ships coming out of hyperspace, he knew there was no more time. They were here, and they were coming for the both of them.
He squeezed her hand, preparing the ship's jump to hyperspace.
"We won't be apart anymore."
We pay our debt sometime...