Alright, I decided to cut this chapter into four, so not all of the awesome stuff I wanted to happen, happens in this chapter. But there's a lot of fun about to happen in the next few chapters, and I wanted to try doing a smaller chapter to see if I show switch back to a smaller length.

Enjoy the – not supersized but I've literally work over 30 hours on these next few chapters – fiftieth chapter. If you haven't reviewed already, I'd love to hear how you've been enjoying the last fifty chapters and what you look forward to the next fifty.

Because this story's going to end up clocking in at 200 chapters. Mark my words.


The Long Way Home

Chapter Fifty

Messes in Mess Hall


You could usually tell when Poe Dameron was about to go on an undercover mission because his appearance would turn into what Jessika Pava liked to call Scruff Mode Activated.

"I always forget that you have your mother's curly hair," Leia said as she and Poe walked towards the mess hall. "Doesn't really look it all that much until it gets long."

"Well, that's mostly because I use about ten thousand products to smooth it down," Poe replied. His black hair had been grown out at least a good four inches, and he had a thick, rather untamed beard. He looked the opposite of his usual peacock nature. "Dad always tries to get me to keep the natural curl, always going on about how I should be proud of my heritage, but honestly, it's just easier to control smoothed down."

"If that's what you want to tell yourself," Leia chuckled. "How's Kaydel?"

"Quite excited that we get to do an undercover mission with me. I'm surprised the Council agreed to let the two of us go on one together."

"Well, when the personas of charismatic but overly affectionate married couple was pitched, we knew exactly where to look."

Poe shook his head, "I'm surprised Vice Admiral Holdo didn't object."

"Object? Poe… she was the one who suggested you two," Leia grinned. "Said something along the lines of if they're going to be constantly making out on the job, might as well put it to good use."

Poe gave a hearty laugh as they entered the mess hall.

He immediately spotted Jessika Pava waving him over to the table where Tallie, Paige, and Rose were sitting. Poe glanced at Leia and saw her eyes searching for a friendly enough face. It seemed that no other heads of department were at lunch. Made sense, what with Nils Arlos busy with Poe's upcoming mission, Diego Nalto stressing over event planning, and the rest dealing with the commotion going on at the landing platform.

"Hey, do you know if my Dad come in yet?" Poe asked Leia.

"No, he's not supposed to land for another hour," she answered. "Remind me to thank him for helping out with this relocation."

"Of course."

The Resistance was busy that day helping move about a thousand refugees off Preon IX – yet another system that had been ravaged by the First Order. Kes had volunteered to help out with administering aid and supplies. Holdo was overseeing the exodus, claiming Leia could use a break. Usually Diego was the one to step in when Leia needed a break, but she and Holdo were fairly certain that if Diego had one more responsibility to oversee, the Commander might just literally explode.

An event planner, Diego Nalto was not born to be.

"Looking for anyone in particular today?" Poe teased as he saw Leia searching the faces in the mess hall.

She grinned at him, "I might have a surprise or two today."

"Poe!" Jessika finally called out.

"I'm coming," he yelled back. Poe looked to Leia, "Well, until you get your surprise, would you like to join us? Or are we whippersnappers a might too young for you?"

"Careful, Dameron," Leia smiled. "Don't forget, you turned thirty last month."

"Oh, don't remind me. So, you in?"

"I suppose one lunch wouldn't hurt. I'll get our food and you get our seats. Just make sure we keep a few seats open for later."

"Holdo can't sit with us."

"Noted, Poe," she patted him on the shoulder and joined the food line.

"Uh… are you not eating today?" Paige frowned as Poe took his seat at the table. "Because Evan's joining us in about fifteen minutes after shift and I'm not up for another why you shouldn't skip meals lecture."

"Oh, the General's getting it for me," Poe nodded towards Leia who was arguing with the people in line that no, she didn't want them to let her cut to the front of the line, they don't need to give her special treatment.

"The General?" Jessika exchanged a look with Tallie. "Great. Here, I thought lunch was going to be relaxing."

"Knock it off," Poe shook his head. "You know the General isn't like that."

"Where's Kaydel?" Tallie asked. "Thought she was coming with you."

"She had to finish some prep for the mission."

"When are you guys setting out?"

"Day after tomorrow," Paige answered. "This is so exciting, I've never been on an undercover mission."

"How did Paige get assigned to this mission?" Rose frowned, trying to pretend she wasn't insanely jealous and feeling a little left out.

"We thought it might be a good idea to bring Evan just in case something went south and we need a medic," Poe explained. "Since it's good to have a second seat of eyes, we thought having Evan be off as a second 'unaffiliated' team would be good. He pitched Paige and the Council figured that they work well together."

"I just don't see why I couldn't go too," Rose crossed her arms.

"Hey, you want to sleep in a hotel room with your sister and her boyfriend, that's your prerogative," Jessika held up her hands.

"Jess," Paige scolded. "Evan and I are going to be on a mission. We're not going to be doing that."

"Why not?" Poe shrugged. "Kay and I will."

"Oh please," Jessika rolled her eyes, "you two will do it anywhere."

Poe opened his mouth and then paused. He considered her words, closed his mouth, and shrugged.

"Just my luck," a voice said behind Poe. "I approach the table to once again find Poe Dameron discussing his sex life. Scoot over, Dameron."

Most heads turned to the newcomer: a petite brunette with an amused but pretending to be annoyed grin.

"Oh, sorry," Tallie spoke up to the brunette as she set her lunch tray down on the table, "you can't sit here. We're waiting on some others and all ful…"

Tallie stopped.

"Kaydel?" her jaw dropped.

The brunette – indeed one Kaydel Ko Connix – smiled and placed her hands on Poe's shoulders. Poe chuckled as the others stared at Kaydel in shock. She bent down, and he turned his head to give her a kiss and a hello. He couldn't stop smiling as everyone watched in shock as a not only brunette Kaydel Ko Connix sat down next to Poe, but a blue-eyed, brunette Kaydel Ko Connix with her hair down.

Silence clung to the table for a long minute as everyone just stared at her.

Kaydel looked around the table and frowned, "What?"

"What is going on with your hair?" Jessika said bluntly.

"And eyes?" Tallie added.

"Contacts," Poe explained the latter. "I'm going to wear green contacts on the mission. But yeah, can you believe this hair?"

"Oh," Kaydel grimaced a little as she pushed the brunette locks off her shoulder, "it's for the mission. They wanted me to change my appearance a little bit and figured the best way was dying my hair… the whole having my hair down thing is not my idea, but Colonel Arlos insisted I get rid of the… how did he put it?"

"Yavin era Leia buns I believe he called them," Leia cut in setting down two trays on the table and taking the other seat next to Poe. "Apparently the style is too recognizable. As if I'm the only woman in the world to ever wear two hair buns. Our styles aren't even the same ones. And all of you, stop."

Everyone paused, all but Poe having been moving to stand and salute the General.

"There's no need for ceremony," she motioned for them to sit down.

They awkwardly obeyed.

Paige smiled at Kaydel, "Well, I for one like your hair down. You should wear it like that more often."

Poe watched as Kaydel struggled to return the smile. He was fairly certain he was the only one on base – maybe with the exception of Aletha – who knew the story of why Kaydel's hair was always up.

"I'm sure she's got her reasons," Poe slung an arm around her shoulder. "Up, down, long, short, bald. Who cares? She's beautiful inside and out no matter how she wears her hair."

"So, to be clear," Jessika said dryly, "this constant praise of Kaydel's feature is something we're going to have to put up with from you for the rest of our lives? It's not just a… first year thing?"

"Try to get used to it," Poe nodded. "There's nothing wrong with a little public display of affection."

Jessika shook her head as Paige asked General Organa a question. She didn't pay attention to where to the conversation went, instead turning her head towards Tallie. Jessika hesitated and then reached for Tallie's hand resting on the table.

Tallie slipped her hand from Jessika's grasp.

Scowling, Jessika caught Tallie's eyes. Tallie gave her girlfriend an apologetic smile and then jerked her head towards Leia.

"Not in front of the General," Tallie whispered.

Jessika sighed and tried to force a smile to her face. In the nearly two years since they started dating – it was about five months from Rey's eighteenth birthday – not once had Tallie allowed a public display of affection in front of a Council member. Jessika just let it slide, mostly because she didn't want to get into a big, emotional fight… but she was starting to reach her limit.

Why did it seem that Tallie didn't want any Council member but Poe to know she was dating Jessika? Jessika even wondered if Diego knew they were an item.

"Well, look who's back!" Poe's joyous exclamation caught Jessika's attention.

Catching sight of the couple who had just entered the mess hall, Jessika's face split into a grin and she shot to her feet.

"Alright!" Jessika cried as Snap Wexley and Karé Kun approached the table. "Black Squadron back together."

"It's good to be back," Karé laughed. "Mind if we join you?"

"Alright," Paige glanced around. "But I'm starting to think we're going to need a bigger table."

"Oh, definitely," Leia nodded. "Someone want to help me push that table together with this one?"

Snap frowned, "General, are you sure that-"

"Anyone who implies I'm too frail to push a table will get latrine duty for three months," Leia cut off. She narrowed in on Snap, "Newlywed or not."

He chuckled and held up his hands.

"Here, I'll help," Kaydel got up.

Tables could fit about four on each bench – which each table had two of – so when the tables were pushed there was a bit of shuffling, which looked odd until later when their other visitors had filled the rest of the seats.

The first table had Leia seated alone on one side of the bench facing Karé, Snap, Jessika, and Tallie on the other bench. The next table had Paige and Rose sitting on the end of the bench parallel to Leia. Poe and Kaydel sat in the middle of the bench opposite them.

"Okay, we better get more people sitting with us soon," Poe said, looking around. "This just looks weird."

"Evan should be finishing up soon," Paige replied. "Poor thing got pulled for the morning shift at last minute."

"Well, we had no choice," Leia said. "We need all hands on deck with the refugees coming in, especially in the medical department. Since Doctor Kymeri is off on Hosnian Prime sorting out vendors for the upcoming ceremony, we had to pull Evan."

"Oh, you'll hear no complaints from me," Paige laughed. "He was just a ball of nerves, excitement, and stress this morning. I thought he was going to bounce off the walls."

"Doctor Kymeri's sorting out vendors?" Snap blinked. "I thought Nalto was the one sorting this whole thing out."

Kaydel grinned, "Well, she figured she'd help give him a hand. Besides, she was going to Hosnian Prime for a supply run anyway."

"How is the Commander coping?" Karé asked.

"He yelled at Threepio for an hour about trying to arrange the seating chart for him," Leia chuckled. "Apparently figuring out which military officers should share a table and which ones should absolutely not is serious business."

"Oh, you have no idea," Poe shook his head, his voice sounding like he was experiencing a battlefield flashback. "So, how was the honeymoon?"

"Wonderful," Karé grinned, looping her arm with Snap's. "But strangely it's nice to be back here. Thank you again, General Organa for officiating the ceremony."

"It was my pleasure," Leia smiled warmly. "In time of war, love is a precious resource. That's why I'm not upset with any of the relationships at this table… as long as none of them give me any issues."

All eyes turned to Poe.

"Ok, that's not fair," he objected.

"Don't worry, General," Rose gave a nervous smile. She still had trouble talking to Leia sometimes… especially after discovering she totally knew the General's beloved late niece was really alive. Rose had the tendency to just run out of the room when she saw Leia, too afraid that she would blurt out the truth. "You don't have to fear my relationships giving you trouble. I'm fairly certain I'm going to die alone."

"Oh for the love of!" Paige slammed her head against the table. "Enough, Rose! You are seventeen! You have plenty of time to find a boyfriend!"

"Or girlfriend," Jessika added.

"But, be careful, Rose," Kaydel grinned. "You might end up settling like your sister."

Paige narrowed her eyes at Kaydel, "Yeah, because everyone wants a Poe Dameron. Good lord, even thinking about being with someone like him gives me a headache. Evan is sweet, caring, nurturing, and very uncomplicated. Who gives a damn is he's not a muscular flyboy? At least I can always say Evan has composure and dignity."

That was when the very desperate and unkempt Evan Tharel raced into the mess hall and made a beeline for Paige.

"Is she here yet?" Evan skidded to a halt, his eyes holding a not unlike crazed look.

Poe snorted.

Paige turned in her seat and took Evan's hands, "She's not here yet, Anh Yêu. Take a deep breath. Relax. Sit and have something to eat."

"Oh, I can't eat," Evan climbed onto the bench next to Paige. He shot a glance to the empty spot left on the bench, "I'm too nervous."

Paige shook her head, "Oh, no, you don't. You don't get to give lectures on skipping meals, and then skip one yourself, Hot Shot. Eat."

She pushed her lunch try in front of him.

He gave her a nervous smile, grabbed a fork, and started picking at the pasta.

Kaydel frowned, "You're not worried about germs from sharing?"

Evan raised an eyebrow, "I put my mouth against hers on a regular basis. If I was going to catch something, I would have a long time ago."

"That is the most clinical description of a kiss I have ever heard," Jessika said.

"I'm still a little grossed out," Rose shuddered.

Evan grinned and reached over to ruffle her hair. Rose batted his hands away but smiled the whole time. Ever since Evan had moved in with Paige, he had made it his mission to be as big brotherly to Rose as possible as recompense for stealing away her sister. He wanted it to be clear to Rose that he wasn't trying to break their family apart, but rather wanted to become part of it. Not just a partner for Paige, but he would care for and protect Rose as Paige did for her and he did for Paige.

"I AM NOT FILLING IT OUT, AND THAT'S FINAL!" a shout rang out through the mess hall.

All heads turned to the door to identify the owner of the man's voice carrying from the hall.

All heads but Poe Dameron's. Instead Poe grinned and turned to look at the wincing Leia Organa.

"I'm assuming that's your surprise?" he chuckled.

"Don't smile yet," Leia said. "I don't think you'll like part two."

The grin fell right off Poe's face when he saw the woman who walked in with the shouting man.

"Would you lower your voice?" Holdo chided. "I'm standing right here."

The man rolled his eyes, "I know, but apparently, you're not getting what I'm saying, so maybe a higher volume will get it through the hair dye. I am not filling out your useless, arbitrary paperwork to file a… what? A record of my ship landing on the base? I'm dropping off a few refugees, not signing up for battle."

"Don't make me laugh," Holdo huffed. "You signing up for battle? That would involve you caring about this war again. But no, you would rather just go mess around in the Galaxy, not getting involved because you don't care."

"I don't care?" the man exclaimed. He laughed dangerously, "Oh, say that again, Sister. I dare you."

Rose leaned over to Paige, "Who is that?"

"I don't know." Paige looked to Kaydel, "Do you know?"

Kaydel shrugged, "No. Poe?"

Poe just smirked.

Jessika blinked, "Wait a minute… Is that-"

"Oh yeah," Poe laughed. "It is."

"What?" Rose asked. "Who?"

"Wait for it," Poe said.

"You want to look me in the eye, Holdo, and tell me that I don't care?" the man challenged. "That this war means nothing to me? That I've lost nothing in it?"

Holdo just looked disgusted at him, "You don't fight, you don't go on missions, you won't even fill out paperwork-"

"Fine! You want paperwork? Alright, here's my ID Number 10002. Got that? 2! Because I was the second person to answer the call and join this damn Resistance. So you can take your paperwork and shove it right up your-"

General Leia Organa's voice loudly cut in, "Do you always have to make a scene?"

Holdo and the man stopped and turned to look at Leia. She was sitting with crossed arms and a stern look but still a smile on her face.

"Hey, she started it," the man pointed to Holdo.

A loud growl filled the room, and a Wookiee lumbered into the mess hall, chiding the man at Holdo's side. Leia moved from the table to greet the Wookiee and embrace the man.

"Oh my god," Rose's eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Is that…" Paige couldn't finish her sentence.

"I think it is," Kaydel's jaw was hanging open.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Poe gestured to the man now hugging Leia, "I give you, Han Solo."

"No way," Rose whispered.

"Are you sure?" Jessika asked.

Han bent his head down and kissed Leia.

"Well, if not, then someone should probably give him a call about that," Poe smirked.

"Oh my god," Rose gasped. "Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god!"

"Ok, breathe," Evan leaned forward. "You're starting to sound like you're hyperventilating."

"Oh my god!" Rose exclaimed. "That's Han Solo! The Han Solo!"

Karé frowned, "Yeah, we get it. Poe just said that."

"No, you don't get it!" Rose cried. "We're finally in the same room as Han Solo!"

Everyone stared at her.

"We can get her autograph for Kira!"

Silence.

Then Poe burst out laughing.

"Oh, please do!" Poe was turning red from laughing so hard. "I need to see his reaction."

Kaydel glared at him, "You mean better than the one you're having at Rose's expense right now?"

Her glare shut him right up.

"Babe," Snap leaned over to his wife. "Who's Kira?"

"I have no idea," Karé replied looking equally lost.


We don't have enough capital ships or troops to oppose the First Order everywhere, but we can look for ways to make a difference – contributing medicine or blasters, or bringing rebels to Resistance headquarters for a week of commando training.

- The Journal of Paige Tico


"So, how's the refugee intake going, Amilyn?" Leia asked as she led Holdo, Han, and Chewbacca back to the table. They all settled on Leia's formerly lone bench.

"Good," Holdo nodded. "Almost all the transports have arrived. We're still waiting on Seneca with Phoenix Rising, but otherwise everyone's accounted for. The humanitarian tents are set up in the sniping field. The New Republic should have relocation homes ready in a week or two. Technically we're still waiting for the freighter Eravana to arrive because I haven't gotten the paperwork-"

"I will leave right now if you don't drop this," Han warned.

Holdo shrugged, "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Leia narrowed her eyes. Han was another person who had permanently blacklisted Holdo from his affections after her business with Felicity. It didn't help that upon Holdo's first meeting with Han she had told Leia – admittedly not to Han's face – that Leia could do better.

Of course, they were already married with a baby on the way by then.

"Excuse me, Vice Admiral?" Evan cut in. "Sorry for bothering you, but I was wondering about a certain passenger."

Leia held up her hand, "It's alright. She's on Phoenix Rising with Senesca and Dameron."

"Dameron?" Han perked up. "Huh, thought you would have Poe on base in case of attack."

"Uh, Captain Solo?" Poe held up his hand. "I'm right here. She means my dad."

"Oh, hey kid." Han did a double take, "Whoa! What happened to you? You're usually more put together than Luke."

Rose bit her lip very hard to stop herself from making a comment about how put together Luke Skywalker could be living in an AT-AT in the desert of Jakku.

"I've got an espionage mission in a few days," Poe said. "Trust me, no one's looking forward to me shaving this beard more than myself."

"I think my thighs would disagree," Kaydel muttered.

Han blinked at her, "Uh… Leia? Do we have a kid I don't know about?"

Leia frowned, "What? No. Why?"

"Well, this girl looks a lot like you," Han nodded to Kaydel. "Like… a creepy amount. Like absolutely could be your daughter."

Everyone looked between Leia and Kaydel.

"No."

"Not really."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't think so."

"Maybe if you squint."

"I don't see it."

"He doesn't mean Kaydel, right?"

Han scowled at the group, "You all must be joking. Seriously?"

Poe shook his head, "I don't think they look anything alike."

"Oh, what do you know?" Han waved off. "You probably don't spend a lot of the time with the girl."

"Sorry," Leia cut in, "I forgot to introduce you. Han this is Connix… the girl I told you about."

Han scowled, "No, I don't remember anyone called Connix."

Chewie growled something to Han. Poe didn't know many words in Shyriiwook… but he did recognize the word desk.

Crap.

Han grinned, "Oh, right. That Connix."

As Kaydel looked at him in confusion, Poe made a mental note not to ever tell her what he translated.

"Speaking of the mission," Holdo said, "is everyone ready for it?"

Paige, Evan, Poe, Kaydel, Karé, and Snap replied affirmatively.

"Good," Leia said, "Jaina will be here tomorrow."

"Jaina Fel?" Han asked.

"She's pretending to be my personal assistant," Poe explained. "General, are we sure it's a good idea to send her? She's got that scar on her arm from Kylo Ren pushing her onto the broken glass. It might tip someone off."

"Jaina will wear long sleeves and gloves," Leia replied. "Besides, she's the only person available who knows what a personal aide should act like."

"What about your envoy? Korr Sella?" Holdo suggested.

"I need her on Hosnian Prime making my case to the Senate," Leia answered. "We can't back down on making them understand the danger of the First Order."

"Well, if the death of Luke Skywalker's daughter wasn't enough to get them to do anything, somehow I don't think anything is going to make them act," Han said bitterly. "Hey, maybe you can show the footage from Fliss' torture or Shara's murder. Those we really effective."

A very awkward silence clung to the table.

"Alright, then," Poe cleared his throat. Kaydel's hand was gripping his in comfort, "Hey, Snap, have the rings finished being polished?"

"Oh, yeah, here," Snap produced a pair of weddings bands and simple, but visibly expensive engagement ring from his pocket. As he handed them over to Poe and Kaydel, he glanced at his and Karé's bare fingers. "I hate that Karé and I can't also act married."

"You're supposed to be our bodyguards," Poe retorted. "Why would I hire a married couple to be our bodyguards?"

"Still," Snap shrugged, "it's just weird that the married couple has to pretend to be single and the single couple is acting married."

"Now be careful with those rings," Holdo warned Poe and Kaydel as they slipped the rings on. They had already measured a while back to make sure they would fit the pair. "Those rings actually belong to a couple in the Resistance. I expect them to be returned to their owners in perfect condition or you will be replacing them. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Poe gave a salute with his left hand, a glint of gold catching the light.

Evan shot to his feet, "Mom!"

Many people at the table laughed as Evan sprang to his feet at the sight of a brunette woman and made a run for her. She was – as they were soon to find out – the exact same age as Leia, she had her son's brown hair and green eyes, and she was bound at a wheelchair.

As Evan raced forward, Paige nervously got to her feet, brushing off and straightening her clothing. It was time for the dreaded meet the parents moment she knew Evan luckily and unluckily wouldn't have to endure in return.

Or so she thought.

There were other smiles at the table with the arrival, Holdo following after Evan in a leisurely pace to complete business. That was because Shayna Namit wasn't entering alone. Strolling in behind her was Kes Dameron and Zev Senesca, the latter making a quick exit to finish other tasks after he reported in to Holdo.

"Hey," Rose nudged her sister as they watched Evan drop to his knees and hug his mother tightly, the two immediately breaking into conversations of how the other had been. "You should go to them."

"Oh no, I couldn't," Paige fiddled anxiously with her crescent moon pendant, trying to suck as much luck out of it as possible.

"Yes, you can! She's going to love you!"

"Paige," Kaydel reached across the table, "you'll be fine. If she's anything like Evan, she's going to adore you."

"I've just never done something like this. Met a boyfriend's parent."

"You know, Kay said the exact same thing to me before meeting my dad," Poe cut in. "When I told Dad that, he told me to tell her that the parents want to like their kid's significant other. Parents want above all else their child's happiness, and the significant other makes them happy, so you've already got an edge."

Kaydel clasped his hand, "Poe's right, in my experience the boyfriend's parents don't try to kill you… Just your parents."

"You clearly have never met my father-in-law," Han mumbled stealing a fried nuna strip from Leia's plate.

"Look, Paige," Kaydel said, "if Evan's mom is even half like Kes Dameron, you'll be fine."

"Aw, how sweet. Thank you, Dear," Kes laughed. No one had noticed when he had reached the table with a couple of bags he set on the ground.

"Dad!" Poe leapt to his feet to grab his father into a hug. "It's so good to see you!"

"Good to see you too." Kes pulled back and gave his son a good look up and down, "Or so I thought I would see you. What happened to you? The voice is right, but where's my son behind all this scruff?"

"Just a mission," Poe swatted away Kes' hand as he ruffled Poe's unruly hair. "I'll be back to normal soon enough."

"You better. Just when I finally give up on the you should have Yavinese hair argument you let it grow out? I don't think so," Kes patted Poe shoulder, chuckling. He turned his attention to Kaydel, "And don't tell me you traded in that sweet Connix girl for some brunette. I mean this one gives me very nice compliments, but I'm rooting for Kaydel."

"Very funny, Kes," Kaydel laughed, getting to her feet to hug him. "Again, it's just for a mission. I'll be back to blonde in no time."

"You might want to do it before the mission," Kes scowled. "You know, you look a lot like Leia."

"Thank you!" Han exclaimed. "Finally someone else sees it!"

"I don't know how you can't," Kes slid onto the end of the bench next to Poe. "Good to see you, Solo."

"Kes," Han nodded. "Been a while. What are you up to these days? Still doing the farming thing?"

"It's a nice, quiet life. You doing much of the same? And by same, I mean the same life you always have which is the absolute opposite of my life?"

"The quiet life is a boring one. Nothing like a good heist to get the heart pumping."

"That reminds me," Leia said, "I've got to pull something in a few months here and I want to get your opinion on my plan."

"Sure. What's up?"

"I'll explain it later when we're alone but let's just say Lor San Tekka has… run into a little trouble lately."

"Yeah, he hasn't been around much," Kes frowned. "What happened to him? I know he travels, but he likes to visit the old Force Sensitive tree Shara and I planted. Hasn't been around Yavin IV in almost a year."

Leia shifted uncomfortably. She did not like answering this question in front of so many people.

"Um…" Leia cleared her throat, "there was an image of Lor San obtained by the First Order in which he may or may not be wearing a neck pouch not unlike the one used in Operation Citadel."

Han lifted an eyebrow, "So, you've found-"

"The key to Ahch-to," Kes finished.

"Rrer gre row ree?" Chewie added.

"It's not confirmed," Leia insisted. "Besides, we're not even 100% sure that Luke ever made it to Ahch-to. A few years ago there was some suspicious activity involving certain assets of his that were confirm to be done by him personally. Luke may be at the first Jedi Temple, or he might have changed his mind. For all we know we went to Jakku to find Rey."

Rose loudly coughed as she choked on her drink.

Every eye turned on her.

"Just, uh…" Rose cleared her throat, "went down the wrong way."

Jessika frowned.

"So Lor San is off finding Luke?" Kes returned to them to the previous conversation.

"I think that was his plan," Leia replied, "but then Tara Ren turned up on his doorstep and he's been fleeing from the First Order ever since. We've completely dropped out of contact. I have no idea what he's doing."

"I'm sure he'll show up sooner or later," Holdo said.

"He better," Han cut in. "It's far past the time that Luke should have come home. I get needed some time alone after what happened, but it's been twelve god damn years. I don't care with we have to drag him back literally kicking and screaming; Luke is coming home."

He crossed his arms and slumped back in his chair.

"I'm bringing someone home," Han muttered so only Chewie and Leia could hear him. "I failed with Qi'ra, Rey, Felicity, and Ben. I'm bringing Luke home."

Chewie gave a soft growl and Leia placed her hand over Han's.

"Well, I'd be more than happy to help you fetch him," Kes offered. "This all reminds me of the Rebellion pre-Battle of Yavin. A cold war is worse than an active one."

Holdo gave a sympathetic smile, "It's true, especially with this refugee situation. Forcing mining towns under their thumb and putting those who rebel in prison camps. If we hadn't gotten to the Preon system first, this might have ended up like what they did to Otomok."

Rose winced. She felt Paige grasp her hand under the table, but when she looked at her sister, Paige had a pained, longing look over to Evan who was still off talking to his mother.

"Anyone left there these days?" Snap asked, unaware of the Ticos' association with the system.

"No," Karé shook her head sadly. "It's barren. Everyone's either dead or in prison camps."

Rose struggled not to think of her parents. She wanted nothing more than to go into the First Order with blasters blazing to find that list of Otomok prisoners in the camps. Maybe looking through that list for the names Thanya and Vien Tico would finally quell the ache in her heart. At least then she could come up with a plan for rescue.

Or finally get closure on their deaths.

"It's okay," Paige whispered in her ear. "We still have each other. I won't leave you. I promise."

That was a promise she couldn't keep.

Holdo said, "The sad thing is this cold war won't heat up until either Luke Skywalker returns and brings hope back to the galaxy… or they blow up another planet and we get united by a lust for revenge."

"If they build another Death Star, I call blowing that one up," Poe yelled dibs.

He sunk back in his seat when he saw Leia's deathly glare.

"Not to diminish the loss of Alderaan or sacrifices made in the Battles of Yavin and Endor. Right, Dad?"

"I'm not backing you up in this one, Poe. Your mother and I both fought in Endor. You want to mock it, you're on your own."

"You do have to admit," Kaydel tried to backup his boyfriend a bit, "if there is anything that's a magnet for drawing out Luke Skywalker, it would be a Death Star."

"Well, if there is another Death Star, I'm not telling Nalto," Nils Arlos cut in as he approached the tables. "I had to tell him and Felicity about Death Star Two, and I'm not dealing with him putting another chair through the window."

"How about we just take him to a field, put him at the opposite end, yell it to him through a megaphone, and then run like hell?" Poe suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Nils shrugged. "I've got your ID chips ready."

Nils set a handful of identification chips on the table and took the free seat next to Kaydel. It put him right between Kaydel and Poe and at the next table, Karé and Snap, giving them the best access to the chips.

"Nice," Poe snatched up his while Kaydel slid Paige's and Evan's across the table. "And Vice Admiral Holdo, I respectfully disagree with your assessment."

"Whoa," Holdo blinked, "is that the first time you've used the word respect in relation to me without a negative connotation?"

"Don't get used to it," he flashed her a smile. "Besides, I am disagreeing with you. This isn't a cold war anymore. Things are definitely heating up with the air force."

"Not by much."

"I think BB-8 would refute that."

Kes frowned, "Now that you mention it, where is the little ball?"

Most of the eyes at the table turned on Poe as he gave his father a sheepish smile.

"Well, uh, he, sort of," Poe rubbed the back of his neck, "he kind of… blew up… a little."

Kes blinked, "I'm sorry, what?"

"BB-8 blew up," Jessika repeated.

"Wow, tough luck, Kid," Han said.

"Oh, no, he's fine," Poe assured. "He just got hit by a blaster bolt and went flying in a few different directions. We've got all the pieces but a lot of him is scorched and melded together so BB needs a very thorough repair job that's going to take about a month. Memory core's intact, so he'll be the same BB-8 we all know and love, but he needs some intense work."

"Honestly Poe," Jessika teased, "you need to treat your droids with more respect."

"Whatever you say, Great Destroyer."

Tallie gave a nervous chuckle. Jessika still hadn't figured out Tallie was the mastermind behind the nickname, and Tallie very much wanted to keep that a secret.

"If we could redirect our attention," Nils said a little louder than necessary, "I'd like to go over the mission a little."

Rose hesitated, "Do we… Do the rest of us have to leave?"

"No, Dear," Holdo gave her a sickly smile not intending for it to be condescending. "It's not that classified."

"Hey, Hot Shot!" Poe turned and yelled to Evan. "Get over here! We're briefing."

Evan nodded, and he approached the table with his mother. Paige shot to her feet in an instant. As she waited for them, she kept adjusting her stance, shifting her weight and swaying in jerky movements, appearing to have forgotten entirely how standing normally was supposed to look.

"Everyone, this is my mother, Shayna," Evan announced when they reached the table. "Mother, these are my friends, commanding officers, and… and I'm not sure who the fuzzy one is."

Chewbacca growled a greeting.

"Sorry, we're last minutes additions as always," Han said. "I'm Han Solo and that's Chewbacca."

"It's a pleasu-" Shayna stopped and blinked, "Wait… the Han Solo? Like Kessel Run Han Solo? The one who did the Kessel in twelve parsecs?"

Han too blinked, then broke into an enormous grin, "Lady, I think I like you."

"I don't believe it," Shayna sounded as excited as Rey when she spoke of Han Solo. "This is amazing. I've always wanted to meet you and shake your hand."

"Well, I don't want to be rude," Han got to his feet and did just that. "It's always nice to meet someone who focuses on my best accomplishment."

Leia raised an eyebrow, "Didn't you used to say our son was your best accomplishment?"

"In all fairness, General," Poe grinned, "I feel history will disagree."

"Poe," Kes warned.

"Captain Solo, tell me," Shayna leaned in conspiratorially. "Did you really do the Kessel Run in only twelve parsecs?"

Han grinned, "Absolutely."

Roar rah ro grr!

He glared at Chewie, "You're not supposed to tell them we round down!"

Rah grr gre raw roh greh!

"Oh, whatever!" Han stomped back to his seat. "It's still less than thirteen, so it counts as twelve!"

Grr grah roh gree!

"No, we are not doing this again, Chewie! Now drop it!"

Chewie huffed and crossed his arms but did as he was told.

Holdo just stared at the two, "…Alright then."

Rose suddenly pushed Paige forward. She went stumbling almost falling right onto Shayna, but Evan caught her in time.

Paige caught her bearings and scowled at her sister, "Rose!"

"What?" Rose held up her hands in surrender. "She seems nice and you looked like you needed a push."

"Rose!" Paige blushed.

Evan just looked like he wanted to laugh but knew at least one person in the company would slap him for doing so… Most likely Jessika.

"Oh, come on," Rose exclaimed, "she's a Han Solo fan. She's good in my book."

"For the love of," Paige groaned.

Leia leaned over to Han, "Rose there is a big fan of yours as well."

"Oh really?" Han looked so smug.

"Yep, and she's got a little friend here that absolutely adores you. Like I mean Felicity didn't idolize Brendan as strongly as her friend idolizes you."

"Sweetheart, I have no interest in being a hundred feet near someone who idolizes me more than Fliss idolized Brendan. That's just a terrifying image."

"You're in luck. The girl isn't actually on base."

"Good. Won't want to have the girl hear her idol doesn't want to meet her."

"It would be devastating, but I would never focus you into that situation. I am however making you sign an autograph to her."

"I don't do autographs," Han said instantly.

"No, but you'll do this one," Leia answered as a matter of fact. "You're going to grin and bear it, take a picture of yourself, and sign it To Kira, Never Tell Me the Odds, Love Han Solo, Captain of the Millennium Falcon."

"Qi'ra?" Han frowned.

"Not your Qi'ra. Kira like how Luke and Felicity were going to spell it."

"Good, that would just be awkward if it was my Qi'ra."

"Especially since we're taking and sending a picture of the two of us as well."

"The two of us?"

"A picture and autograph from Chewie as well. This girl has grown up in an environment like Tatooine mixed with Corellia. The least was can do for her is send a couple of pictures."

"Leia," Han groaned. He hated it when she played the Corellia card.

"Don't even start," Leia count off. "You know you're not going to win this argument."

Han huffed but conceded defeat.

While that was happening, Paige was trying to find a way to actually open her mouth and speak to Evan's mother. She didn't even need to introduce herself, she just needed to find a way to regain the ability to speak. Even the word hi seemed out of her grasp. Hell, she'd be happy to just blurt out I slept with your son last night to calm his nerves over your arrival today.

Okay, maybe not exactly that.

Shayna watched as the girl struggled to speak. She glanced at her son and found Geno was being of no help.

She sighed; fine, if she had to do it herself, she would.

"Hello, Dear," Shayna offered her hand to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure's all mine," Paige shook. When they let go, she started to crouch down, but stopped herself. She started to go back up but again hesitated and started to crouch until she stopped again. "I, um… I'm sorry, I haven't met someone in a wheelchair before. Should I be standing, or is it more offensive not to look at you at eye level?"

"Standing is preferred," Shayna said politely. "It's actually considered to be condescending to crouch unless asked."

Horror filled Paige's face, "Oh my God, I am so sorry! I didn't mean-"

"Oh, I didn't think we were trying to be."

"I know!" Paige said getting increasingly hysterical, "I just- I thought- I don't- I- Evan- I mean, Geno… Uh, you see-"

Shayna held up a hand, and Paige fell silent.

"Relax," Shayna said gently. "Why don't we start this over?"

Paige nodded, "Ok."

"Take a deep breath… and you start."

She gathered herself and then smiled, "Hello, my name is Paige Tico, and your son, Geno is the best thing to ever happen to me."

Rose loudly cleared her throat.

"After my sister, Rose," Paige amended.

Shayna chuckled, "Hello, Paige. I'm Shayna Namit. Genie's told me a lot of good things about you."

"That's good, and again, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Namit."

"Oh, Dear, call me Shayna."

"Alright," Paige smiled finding herself relaxing. "Shayna's a pretty name. My mother had one similar, Thanya."

"Has Genie had the pleasure of being introduced yet? Or is the tardiness in introductions mutual?"

"Mother," Evan groaned.

"Don't you mother me," Shayna countered. "I know you live with the girl."

"Hey, we just sleep in the same bed. We haven't done anything else!"

Jessika leaned over to Tallie, "Yeah, just like we only sleep together."

"Jess!" Tallie hissed, eyeing Holdo.

"Uh, no," Paige answered the query, "Evan- Er, Geno hasn't met my parents. They're, um… We're from Hays Minor and…"

Shayna smiled, "I understand. It's a horrible thing the First Order has done to the Otomok system and now the Preon moons."

"Why were you living on Preon IX? I thought you guys were from," Paige paused. "Actually I can't remember where you guys are from. Evan only mentioned it once, but I know it wasn't Preon IX."

"Oh, I work for a mining organization as a coordinating director," Shayna explained. "I decide which employees to send to which sites. Actually that's how I met Geno's father. He was a safety inspector for the mining industry. He was checking out one of my sites, then started to check out me, and I checked out him, and well… Things went from there. It was strange, not meanly man take a second look at a girl in a wheelchair."

"I'm sorry about your husband. Evan said he died in a work accident?"

"We was inspecting a mountain operation's safety measures and there was an avalanche and… let's just say the operation wasn't up to code."

"I'm sorry."

"It was years ago," Shayna waved off. "I think I did a good job with Genie afterwards."

"I agree," Paige grinned at Evan. "I think you did a very good job."

Evan reddened slightly.

"Sorry to cut in," Jessika said, "but you're one of the refugees?"

"I haven't had a stable home since Geno joined the Resistance," Shayna explained. "I sold our house so that Geno could afford to do so. That's the problem with these volunteer organizations, they don't come with a salary."

"Believe me," Leia interjected, "if I could get actual funding from the New Republic, anyone would be able to join. Not just the well-off and the homeless."

A series of looks were exchanged across the tables. Far too many of the people seated there were technically homeless. The mere beds, food, and refreshers just barely allowed those who didn't have money to survive, and those who did often felt pressured to foot the bill.

And those revenue streams were starting to dry up.

"So, where were you living if you didn't have the house anymore?" Holdo asked.

"Thankfully my company would pay for places to stay while I was out traveling," Shayna answered. "Otherwise I've been doing a mix of motels and the generosity of friends. I was living on Preon IX for a few months when my company got into this mess with the First Order. We're currently pretty broke and have to shut down until things get better. I was in the middle of trying to find somewhere to go when the New republic finally woke up and ordered the evacuation. I've been promised a place to live from the government and a meager pension, but it's going to be a little longer to find a placement for me, what with the whole wheelchair situation."

"Which brings me to my point," Jessika said. She turned to Holdo and Leia, "You're not seriously going to make her sleep in the sniper field in a tent? General Organa, I know that forest. I know its trials. Even BB-8 gets knocked over on those paths."

Leia said, "It's alright, Miss Pava. Due to her disability, Mrs. Namit has been allotted a room for better accessibility."

"Speaking of," Holdo stood, "I was about to go check on how things are going with the camp. Would you like me to run your bags to your room, Mrs. Namit?"

"That would be wonderful." Shayna looked to Kes, "Is this the one you said your son complains about a lot?"

Poe glared at Kes.

He shrugged, "What? It was a long flight. Having sons was a mutual topic for conversation."

Holdo went to the end of the table where Kes had dropped Shayna's bags.

"Genie, help her out," Shayna said as Holdo struggled to find a bag way too hold all three bags. Amilyn Holdo was definitely not a stand in for a pack mule like Kes Dameron.

Evan frowned as he helped Holdo, "Is this all you have?"

"It's all we were allowed," Shayna replied. "They told us we could only bring three bags. You know, it's not easy to put a lifetime into a bag. Not that I really had much after selling the house."

"I know how you feel," Kes said. "I remember during the Rebellion you were allowed to pack a single bag. Lead to some weird items showing up on base. Didn't Fliss steal her brother's urn from her father?"

"Carried that thing everywhere," Leia shook her head. "Although, admittedly it was the size of a travel shampoo bottle. There wasn't a lot of Brendan's body to cremate. But hey, at least she got a bag. There were people like Diego, Luke, and I whose homes and families were destroyed and you literally only had the clothes on your back."

"Sweetheart," Han said, "you absolutely had more than one outfit."

"Well, in my case I already had a bag packed at the base," Leia reddened slightly. "It still counts!"

Holdo had managed to get the bags all sorted out. She said her goodbyes and then she was gone.

"Hey, Mom, I'm going to go grab you some lunch," Evan put a hand on her shoulder. "You want to stay here with Paige?"

"Of course," Shayna wheeled to the end of the bench where an empty spot was left for her and Evan. "She's a lovely girl. Why don't you, I, and her have dinner tonight. Privately?"

"Right. Privately," Evan reddened as he caught her meaning. He probably shouldn't have made Paige have an audience for meeting his mother. Oh well, he didn't exactly have a reputation around base for thinking things through. He wasn't called Hot Shot for nothing.

As Evan left to get his mother some lunch and Shayna settled at the end of the table, only then did Paige realize that Shayna wouldn't be able to sit on spot on the bench they had left for her.

Oops.

When Nils announced in annoyance that he couldn't proceed with the briefing until Evan got back, the table broke off into several side conversations. Kes, Kaydel, and Poe fell into their natural rhythm – Kes adoring Kaydel so much that Poe suspected Kes liked her better than Poe. Han, Leia, and Chewie broke into Skywalker family banter. Karé, Snap, Jessika, and Tallie went into the topic of piloting. And surprisingly, Rose and Nils – seated across from each other – fell into a conversation about tricking computer systems while undercover.

That left Paige and Shayna alone.

"So," Paige shifted in her seat, "did you and Evan have a nice conversation earlier?"

"A wonderful one," she smiled. "Geno is truly my pride and joy. He's a little eccentric and hotheaded sometimes. I think I might have been a little too by the book when raising him and he wants a life that isn't too cliché. A little cliché, sure, but not his whole life."

"Yeah, he told me that you were very conservative."

"Oh, Honey, if you think I'm conservative, you should have met my parents. They wouldn't let me do anything after I ended up in this thing."

Paige hesitated, "If you don't mind me asking… Evan doesn't- Won't tell me-"

"How I ended up in the chair?"

She nodded.

Shayna said, "Have you ever heard of the Bombing of Faclov? That's how."

"The Bombing of Faclov?" Paige blinked.

"Yep. I grew up in Faclov City. Raised Geno right on the intersection of Rhiaon Boulevard and Memorial Street."

"Wow, I didn't even know people survived the bombing."

"Oh, 2000 may have died but there were over 5000 injured. I was near a lamppost when the bombs went off. Said lamppost exploded and I got fragments shot into my spine, paralyzing me from the waist down. People don't like to talk about the survivors of Faclov, just the martyrs like Brendan Rhiaon. But thousands of us survived, and we were pissed. I wanted to join the Rebellion in revenge, but I was only fourteen and my parents became super protective of me."

"I'm so sorry," Paige said.

"It's okay. I've lived a good life," Shayna said. "You know, Genie tells me you're a bomber."

"I, um… I don't believe violence should ever be used, especially when there are bystanders involved, but I believe the use of bombs in space battles are an important tool. No, we're not always going to hit the right people, but I think it's a good way to accomplish a lot using only a little."

Shayna patted Paige's hand, "I'm not going to debate the ethics of bombs with you. You live a different life than I do, and with that comes… different beliefs."

Paige frowned, why was there that odd tone in Shayna's voi-

Oh.

Oh.

"You, uh… you know about Evan and I…" Paige couldn't even bring herself to say it.

"Darling, you share a bed," Shayna said simply. "I'm not an idiot."

"Right," Paige chuckled nervously. "Look, I don't want you to think that I devalue the uh, act of lovemaking. I just, um, I don't think you have to be married. I think it's up to each person to make that decision for themselves."

"I agree. I think that's a choice for each individual to make. Personally, I think it should be reserved for your spouse alone, but I'm not going to impose my will on others."

Paige frowned, "I thought Evan said you'd kill him if he had sex before marriage."

"I may have told him such things," Shayna smiled slyly. "But that's only because I wanted Geno to treat the thing very seriously. His nickname around here of Hot Head is appropriate. If I told Genie that I didn't care who he slept with and when, I know he would have rushed into something he regretted. He holds me in high regard… maybe too high. I knew he wouldn't want to hurt me. If he had come talked to me about why he wanted to have sex before marriage, I knew he would be taking the issue seriously. I knew that if he wanted to tell me – or as it turned out not tell me but do it anyways – that he wanted to be with a woman intimately, that meant this girl was something very special to him. If he wanted to also just go out and sleep with every woman on this base, that would have been okay. I simply gave him my opinion and enough passion behind it to treat the issue seriously. Did I over step? Perhaps, but ultimately Geno… Evan is an adult free to make his own choices. So, if he wants to be Evan Tharel, war nurse, and having sex before marriage, then that's the man he chooses to be, and I respect it."

"For what it's worth," Paige said, "personally, I think you should only do it with someone you love."

"And do you love my son?"

She smiled, "Absolutely. Meeting him was one of the greatest things to happen to me. I'm so happy that Aletha was too busy to treat me after the Battle of Valra."

"That's wonderful," Shayna reached out and squeezed Paige's hand. "Now that that's out of the way, I've been meaning to ask. Where is Aletha?"

Evan returned at that moment with a lunch tray.

"Grandma's on Hosnian Prime helping secure vendors," he set down the try in front of her and took his seat next to Paige. He wrapped his arm around Paige. "She'll be back in a few days. This ceremony is stressing out half the Resistance."

"Oh right, the big ceremony." Shayna teased, "Do I get an invitation? After all, Aletha apparently is my mother."

"I know you're joking about getting invited," Leia interjected, "but I don't suggest you make such comments to Diego. He's so obsessed with putting this all together that a joke like that might break him."

"Nalto's planning this?" Han had given up the pretense that he hadn't just stolen Leia's lunch tray. "I'm surprised. Based on history, I would have thought you'd be all over that, Sweetheart."

"I have far too much to deal with to be concerned with event planning. Diego was actually really excited to do it himself at first. Aletha's been lending a hand, but this will ultimately be his vision. Which reminds me, Diego wanted me to tell the lot of you that he does need an official RSVP. Even if you're involved with the ceremony. So far, he's only received Holdo's."

Poe leaned over to Kaydel, "Remind me again why it would have been rude not to invite her?"

"She's the third-in-command of the Resistance."

"What's your point?"

"Well, I'd reply if I were invited," Han said, "but Chewie and I only heard about all of this this morning. Guess we weren't included."

"Yes, you both were," Leia responded, "Diego was just smart enough to send the invitations to Malla and I. You're both going."

"Oh, I am, am I?" Han countered.

"Yep, and you're going to remember how Diego spent hours collecting the bodies of the Jedi while you punched and tree and threw up. So put on a suit, take a shower, comb your hair, smile, and deal with it."

An indignant look flooded Han's face and he opened his mouth to argue, finger pointing right in Leia's face. Nothing came from his throat but a small, strangled noise as he realized he had no retort.

So he grunted, crossed his arms, and mumbled, "Fine."

"And that," Kes leaned over to Poe, "is how he ended up married to her."

Poe chuckled.

"Chewie," Leia turned her attention to the Wookiee. "I'll need you to get a hold of Waroo. He's invited, but Malla said he wasn't home when I commed her. I need to know if he's coming."

Rowr roo ree wah.

"No, Chewie, I can't. I don't know where he is."

Grr rowr gree raa.

"What? D'Qarhere?"

Roar.

Leia just stared at Chewie. Then, slowly, she turned to face the cringing Han.

"Why is Waroo on your ship?" Leia demanded.

Han shrugged, "Chewie wanted to spend more time with his son, so I suggested he come spend a few months doing business with us."

"Illegal business?"

"We may bend the rules from time to time."

"Han," Leia chided.

"Oh, don't start, Leia," Han was in no mood for this argument. "Waroo is an adult. He can make choices like this. Frankly it's a better choice than our own son is making ever since he decided to take roleplaying as Darth Vader Junior far too seriously!"

"Do you have to make a joke about everything?"

"It's the only way I know how to cope with pain."

The table fell silent.

A very, very long silence.

"…So, anyway," Kes cleared his throat. "Shayna, if you actually wanted to come to Nalto's thing, I've got a free plus one. You could come as my date."

"What?" Poe blinked.

"Really?" Shayna asked.

"Yeah, in fact, I've got a spare room at my place if you wanted somewhere to stay that's better than what the New Republic would give you."

"Wait. Stop," Evan frowned.

"That would be wonderful!" Shayna grinned, excited at the thought. "You know the entire time you were talking about your farm, I was thinking how much I'd love to see a place like that. Are you sure I wouldn't be a bother?"

"Oh, not at all. Frankly, I've been quite lonely these past few months."

"Dad," Poe said nervously.

"You have no idea what these would mean to me," Shayna continued. "You know, I'm a certified accountant. I could run the books for you as thank you."

"Mom," Evan groaned looking as frightened.

"That would be amazing. I'm terrible at math."

"Math is one of my favorite things."

"Hey, I'm going to go grab a sandwich," Kes stood up. "We can talk details when I get back."

"Why don't I come with you?" Shayna suggested.

"Let's do it!"

The table was silent again as Shayna and Kes went off talking excitedly.

"What just happened?" Evan stared blankly after his mother.

"I think my dad is going on a date with your mom," Poe looked pale.

Evan turned to Poe and blinked, "…I'm not calling you brother."

"Don't worry, Boys," Han chuckled, "Chewie and I are meeting a contact on Yavin IV in few weeks, so we offered to give Kes – and now, Shayna, I guess – a flight home. We'll keep an eye on that. For what it's worth, I don't think they mean a date date."

Poe scowled at Evan, "I still don't like this. My dad is meant for my mom. End of story."

"Don't worry," he sighed, "my mom is ridiculously straight-laced. If he's anything like you, he won't have any fun with her at all."

"Well, if we're done chatting," Nils Arlos cut in impatiently, "can we please get to the briefing?"

"Right."

The soon to be spies scrambled for the ID chips they had forgotten about.

"Okay, let's go over the mission," Nils began. "You lot will be going to the planet of Nixrye in a few days. You'll be staying at a hotel that's holding a business and pleasure conference as they call it, for Kation Defense Holdings. This is a new company offering defense weapons and systems and we want to check them out, as well as who they're doing business with, before the Resistance approaches them for a partnership. Now, you are allowed to partake in the hotel's amenities, but try to keep the costs as reasonable as possible. You will be required to list everything in your reports later and anything deemed too extravagant you will be asked to reimburse the Resistance for. Got it?"

"No facials with 14 karat gold, got it," Poe nodded.

"You lot will be going as two separate groups. Tharel and Tico, who are you going as?" Nils quizzed.

"Doctor Zeth Bahol, veterinarian," Evan answered as he studied his fake ID chip. "Paige is going to be Doctor Liin Mallix, my coworker who may or may not be having an affair with me even though that's against workplace rules."

"Good, make a story," Nils nodded. "So, why are you two attended a weapons conference?"

"We work on an endangered animal reservation and are looking for new anti-poaching measures."

"Good." Nils turned to the others, "Now the rest of you, as well as Miss Fel, who has already been briefed, will be going as another group. Poe, you're Kane Nilar, millionaire real estate mogul with other side projects of a questionable nature. You may or may not be involved in the spice trade."

"I refuse to confirm or deny," Poe smirked.

"Now, Miss Connix, you are playing Dania Nilar, his, uh… how to put this nicely? Trophy wife."

"Got it," Kaydel nodded. "He's ten years older than me and we got married when I was eighteen after only knowing each other for three months, but I was conveniently impregnated by him – we've had blood tests to prove it – so it's what you do. You get married."

"How'd you two meet?" Nils tested.

"Well, Dania here," Poe wrapped his arm around her, "we were at the same gala together. She came in on the arm of a business associate of mine, and she left the museum night on my arm."

"In all fairness, he ended up being an absolute creep," Kaydel said. "Kane saved me from him, and I thought it polite to reward him."

"We went straight to my luxury penthouse apartment, and I, uh, made her breakfast for the next three days. One of my favorite memories," Poe nuzzled her neck.

Kaydel paused him away, smiling, "Come on, not in polite company, Dear."

"Since when have I been polite?"

He was suddenly literally pulled off Kaydel by the returning Kes Dameron.

"Since I taught you to be so," Kes set Poe back in his seat. "Now sit up and stop mauling your girlfriend. It's rude."

"Can you please stay here forever?" Jessika begged.

Leia shook her head, "I think you two are going to have fun with this cover story. Just make sure you stay consistent."

"We will," Poe nodded.

"Oh, really?" Han smirked. "Why don't we test that theory?"

"Go ahead," Kaydel welcomed. "We can answer anything and do it consistently."

"Alright," Jessika said, "how many kids you have?"

"Three," Poe answered.

"Names?" Tallie asked.

"Abril, Persephone, and Mateo," he shot back like he had picked them out years ago. "Two Yavinese names like me, and one Mallarex for Kaydel."

"How old are they?" Rose challenged.

"Eight, seven, and Mateo's about to turn five," Kaydel shot back.

"How old were you when you had them?" Leia asked.

Kaydel paused to calculate.

"And you just blew your cover," Leia said. "A mother knows the age she had a child. Make sure you know that by heart. So, I'll ask again. How old were you when you had your kids?"

"Nineteen, twenty, and twenty-two."

"Good girl," Nils smiled. "General Organa's right, you all need to study and practice your stories a lot. The tiniest slip of the tongue could blow the entire mission. Know your story and go along with what the others come up with."

"Speaking of," Kaydel turned to Poe, "really with those names?"

"What?" he frowned. "They're nice. I like them."

"Well, I don't."

"What's wrong with them?" he challenged.

Kaydel raised an eyebrow, "I hate the name Abril – it sounds like we misspelled the name April and just went with it."

"Abril is the Yavinese word for April."

"I don't care. Then there's Persephone, the kind of name a trust fund baby would have."

"Which is why, it's perfect."

"Poe, can you ever spell Persephone? Then there's Mateo-"

"What's wrong with Mateo?" Poe snapped.

"Poe… it's Diego's father's name. Tell me that isn't a little weird to use."

He considered it, "Alright, I'll give you that one. We can change the names if you want."

"I'm sorry but I'm going to have to veto that," Nils said. "We now all know the names, so it's safer to just have those names in your heads than them and another set. Abril, Persephone, and Mateo it is."

Poe shrunk back from Kaydel's glare.

"Now, this is a good angle to have," Nils said, "two girls and a boy. It's exactly what my wife and I had, and Sabrina is from Yavin III. Our younger selves kind of look like you two, so our kids might pass as yours. I'll get a picture of them from the right age that you can use in case anyone asks to see them."

"Thank you," Kaydel smiled, "that sounds wonderful."

No one at the table considered the fact that Kaydel was now sporting brown hair instead of the blonde of Nils' youth. So no one thought to stop Nils from giving black-haired Poe and brunette Kaydel a picture of two black-haired children and a blonde.

On and on the preparations went. Snap would be Thon Sho, Poe's personal bodyguard, and Karé would be Vella Takan, Kaydel's bodyguard. Jaina Fel would pretended to be a personal assistant named Artora Dimodan. The job of Poe's team was to get as close to the employees of Kation Defense Holdings and their clients while Evan and Paige would monitor what happened behind the scenes.

The group had been talking about the mission on Nixrye for about half an hour when something hard and metallic tapped Leia's shoulder.

"Excuse me, General Organa?"

Leia looked up in surprise to see Threepio standing between herself and Han.

"What is it, Threepio?" Leia asked.

"Pardon me for the interruption – it is a pleasure to see you again, Captain Solo – but I'm afraid it's Commander Nalto."

"Can't get the centerpieces just right?" Poe asked dryly.

Kaydel swatted his arm.

"What happened, Threepio?" Leia asked.

"Well, this is rather embarrassing, but it appears that Doctor Kalonia has discovered she's allergic to a certain root vegetable on the menu she committed to, so she told him she had to switch her catering choice from nuna to fish, and uh… Commander Nalto has locked himself in his office crying and cussing… Mostly cussing… And throwing his possessions."

Kes shook his head, "That's it, I'm putting Diego in anger management courses."

"Maybe wait until after the ceremony," Poe suggested. "He might actually try to kill you if anyone pisses him off in the next two months.

Leia sighed, "I'm coming."

"I'll get Aletha on the comm," Kaydel too rose.

One by one everyone took this as the signal the meal was over and each gave farewells and muttered plans for where they were going next. Han had just risen from the bench himself when someone tugged his arm.

"Uh, Captain Solo?" Rose asked nervously.

"What is it?" Han tried to be polite but he wasn't sure why he was talking to this girl who was roughly the height of Felicity, he noted sadly. Maybe that was why he gave her his attention, for that speck of resemblance she held to his best female friend that he missed so much.

Rose bit her lip, nervously fiddling with what appeared to be a comm on her belt, "I know it's out of the blue, but I was wondering if you might do me a favor?"

Han sighed as he caught an encouraging look from Chewie out of the corner of his eye, "Depends on the favor."


"Rose, you are the best person in the universe!" Rey squealed into the comm as she sat alone in the walker. "You got Han Solo to come talk to me?"

"Well, I thought since it was just going to be just the two of us tonight we might do something self indulgent," Rose was indeed alone that night, Kaydel and Paige off having dinners with their boyfriends' parents, Aletha on Hosnian Prime – these days she tended to leave Rey's comm with the girls when she went away – and Jessika decided to have some alone time with Tallie that night.

"Is he going to be there soon?"

"Any moment. Are you alone? Your dad would be so upset if he discovered this."

"I don't think he would."

"Trust me, he would."

Before Rey could argue, she heard the compression of a door.

"Captain Solo!" Rose greeted. "Thank you so much for doing this!"

"Alright, alright, settle down," a gruff voice made Rey's heart stop. Holy shit, that was Han Freaking Solo. "I'm only doing this because it's always good when a mechanic owes you a favor. Now, where's your friend?"

"She's off-planet, but we're communicating over the comm. Say hello."

It took a second before Rey realized Rose had said that to her, "Oh, right, hello, Captain Solo. It's truly the greatest honor to speak to you."

"Yeah, well, nice to speak to you too, I guess. I'll be honest the only reason I'm doing this is that Leia says you grew up on a place a lot like Corellia and Tatooine, and I have a weakness for kids I find in the desert. So, what's your name?"

Rey wanted to scream her real name at the top of her lungs, but held back. Considering her connection to the Jedi, it wasn't safe.

"Kira," she answered.

"Oh, right, Leia mentioned that. Okay, I know this whole thing means a lot to you, but not to be crude, I do have a Princess waiting for me back in her room. So let's try to make this quick. You get one story. Which do you want to hear?"

"Tell me about the Kessel Run!"

Han chuckled, "A good choice. Alright, settle in, it's a long one. Now, picture this: It is a lawless time. Crime Syndicates compete for resources - food, medicine, and hyperfuel. On the shipbuilding planet of Corellia, the foul Lady Proxima forces runaways into a life of crime in exchange for shelter and protection. On these mean streets, a young man fights for survival, but yearns to fly among the stars..."

Rey listened in her hammock, clutching her pilot and Felicity dolls, Dosmit Raeh's helmet on her head, and a smile plastered on her face. She could barely believe what was happening. Han Solo was actually telling her the story of the Kessel Run. She could barely focus on breathing, let alone anything else.

Which was why she didn't notice Luke watching in the corner.

His arms were folded, a smile identical to hers was on his face, and he made no movement whatsoever to put a stop to it.

It was simply wonderful to hear Han's voice again.


Coming Up Next Chapter…

Sins of a Family

The mission on Nixrye doesn't go as smoothly as the Resistance hoped when Kylo Ren and entourage show up. But Kaydel struggles to help Poe through his feelings of anger and betrayal when faces from her own past also arrive.

If anyone is interested in what I meant by Poe's Scruff Mode Activated I pretty much meant, Poe in this chapter looks like Oscar Isaac did in The Nativity Story.

I want to clarify one note about the timeline of this story. In the last chapter I mentioned that Snap and Karé had recently gotten married. This event occurs in the Poe Dameron comic, issue 25. However, Leia mentioned a heist, which refers to a story arc from the comic taking place from issues 20-25. I want to state for the record that the events of issues 20-25 have not taken place yet, but Snap and Karé got married already. I have a moment planned for later to explain why the divergence happens.

So to be clear, Snap and Karé are married, but Leia's heist has yet to take place. It will happen (off-screen probably) but it hasn't happened yet.

…And the reason that is is because something's going to happen that saves Padmé Amidala's dresses. Yes, I changed the relationship of two characters simply so I can have a way to save Padmé's outfits.

Also, don't ask me where the events of issues 1-19 take place. I actually just started reading the comic at issue 20, so I don't have the proper knowledge yet to give you an answer.