Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. Just writing fan fiction for fun.

Chapter Twenty-five: Rebuild

She'd sensed it. Hoped it. It had to be him underneath that cloak of his. Elle looked at her father's timing, comparing it to her aunt's feelings inside of her lost hope with Threepio and the resistance members surrounding her. She'd lost it. She'd lost the spark. They fought to the end, and no one could seem to know how to move on. Stalemate. Darkness had swept around the room until it seemed like light poked through once more. Her father.

Luke lifted his hood to reveal himself to his sister. "Luke," she said in awe.

Elle watched the resistance members and Threepio give them some space.

Leia sat down, holding onto her cane. "I know what you're going to say. I changed my hair."

"It's nice that way," Luke nodded. He looked at her with severity in his eyes, a yearning to apologize. Elle could feel it across the room where she stood with the other Resistance members, and Poe at her other side, clutching her fingers within hers.

"Leia," he said with a shake of his head. "I'm sorry."

"I know," she said. "I know you are. I'm just glad you're here at the end."

Me too, Elle thought sniffily, trying not to cry. She didn't want to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help it at the same time.

"I came to face him Leia," he said. He shook his head. "I can't save him."

God, this was breaking her heart so much. Her body shook gently, feeling the emotions inside of her. Apart of her felt she failed too. She should have done more. She felt Poe give her a gentle squeeze, and kissed her temple, telling her that he and the others were going to check on communications with Lt. Connix. Elle stayed put with Threepio. Elle knew Poe wanted her to come with, but she wanted more time.

"I held out hope for so long, I know my son is gone," Leia said.

Luke shook his head. "No one's ever really gone."

Leia held out the palm of her hand. He handed her Han's golden dice and closed up her fingers. She looked up into his blue eyes. He got up from his kneeling spot, and stood closer towards her. He gently held the side of her face, and planted a kiss on top of her forehead, and turned to face Elle.

She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She was petrified. All this man ever wanted to do was to protect her from this world. He tried his very best, and yet she walked right into danger. But then again, Admiral Holdo had reminded her that she was strong enough to pull herself out, and lead a helping and supportive hand until the end, until the spark burned out. She tried hard to hold onto that spark, but she could feel it flicker within her, on its last wick.

"Elle," he whispered tenderly.

She opened her eyes and stared back at him. "Dad."

A small smile appeared on his face. He hadn't smiled in a very long time and it felt good. He walked over to her and she walked over to him, meeting him halfway. Her heart was beating so fast, she was so worried, and unsure of what to say. She'd get all tongue-tied, just like the first time she started to have real feelings for Poe before she went to train as a Jedi.

"You have no idea how good it feels to hear you say that," he said, almost jovially, but she could see it within the lines of his face.

Elle felt her lips curl upward. "Really?"

"Yes," he said, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her in for a deep hug. "My daughter. My sweet, beautiful daughter. I'm so sorry. I failed you both."

Elle sniffed against his shoulder as she wrapped her arms tight around his torso. She felt a sense of relief, and knowing of who she finally was when she hugged him. "I thought I failed you," she said in a tearful mess.

He pulled apart and shook his head. "You did not fail me," he said strongly, and saw that tears were streaming down her face. He wiped a tear from her cheek with the soft pad of his thumb. "If anything, I am proud of you. Mom would be too."

Elle sniffed, and nodded, trying not to cry, but that was inevitable.

"I wish she was here," she whispered.

He planted a kiss on top of his daughter's head. "You are strong, Ellie. You've always been the strong one. You take after her you know? Besides, she's always with us. And she'll be watching you, and your little one grow old some day."

Elle's cheeks burned a deep shade of red. Luke gave her a wink and she smiled sheepishly. "Must be a Force thing," she murmured.

"Well, it does run in the family," he said humorously.

All humor aside, Luke became serious and she felt it. She shook her head, not wanting him to do something crazy. She just got him back! It wasn't fair.

"I have to face him, Elle," he said.

"No no, please, it's not fair," she shook her head, as a whimper left her lips. She struggled to understand all of this. "Don't go. Stay. Let me. Please, Dad. Let me do this for the Resistance."

"We've sacrificed enough," Luke said. "You deserve a second chance. This is my fight. Elle, you're the best thing that could've ever happen to me. I love you, princess," he said, one more time. She swallowed hard, and tried to convey her emotions swirling inside of her.

She tried to hold onto his hands before he started to leave, and leave her in despair. She felt her heart tighten within her chest, and felt the tears flow freely against her cheeks.

He passed Threepio, and gave him a wink. Her aunt walked on over towards Elle's side, and squeezed her shoulder gently, watching him walk out of the cave to face Kylo Ren alone.

All Elle, Leia, Poe, Finn, Rose, Threepio, and the rest of Resistance could do was watch in vein as he walked out into the open fire. Nerves were on high alert.

Elle clutched her heart as she watched Kylo Ren fire on Luke alone. Red puffs of smoke billowed all around him from the salt mines underneath the surface. Fire, smoke, ammunition, everything piled on top of Luke Skywalker himself.

Fire power and red blasters shot at him. And Elle glared as she could feel Kylo Ren's anger heated within his heart as she tried to reach him, but he'd blocked her out, so focused and so determined to kill his uncle.

When the red smoke cleared, Luke came into view, allowing everyone in the base to sigh of relief. But it wasn't over. Kylo Ren got into his ship and settled in front of the First Order.

Elle paced back and forth, nervously, unable to sit still as Poe watched through the quadoculars.

"It's Kylo Ren. Luke's facing him alone," Poe announced.

"We should help him," Finn said, ready to go, but Poe placed the palm of his hand on his chest, stopping him in his trek, holding him back.

"No, wait, wait," he said.

Elle stopped pacing, and wondered what Poe was thinking.

She stepped forward wanting to hear what they had to say out there. She could see her father's blue light saber ignited as Kylo dropped his cloak on the ground. Could his soul be saved? Elle could only hope. A hope that surprised her because she thought she lost it. But maybe that's what this little baby inside of her was doing, giving her and everyone else around her hope.

"He's doing this for a reason," Poe said.

Elle narrowed her eyes at him.

"He's doing this so we can escape," he said, looking at Elle. She nodded. It's what she wanted to do.

"Escape? He's one man against an army! We have to help him, we have to fight!" Finn said.

Elle looked at Finn and smiled a little. She lifted a fallen strand of dark hair out of her eyes and over her ear.

"No, no. We are the spark that will light the fire that will burn the First Order down," Poe said, remembering what Holdo said before. "Skywalker's doing this so that we can survive," he said, looking at Elle. Elle smiled at him.

"There's gotta be another way out of this mine. Hell, how did he get in here?" Poe asked, walking from the front of the base, where they were trapped, to the middle, looking at the rest of the resistance with unsure faces.

Elle tilted her head to the side. Good question. She looked around the surrounding cave walls herself.

"Sir, it's possible that a natural mapped opening exists," Threepio began, joining in the tighter group together in the middle of the base, at the front opening, blocked off by the First Order. "But this facility is such a maze of unless tunes that the odds of finding it are actually 15 to 428."

"Hush! Hush! Shut up!" Poe yelled frantically at the droid, trying to think for himself. "Everybody listen."

Everyone looked at each other, but didn't make a sound. Elle thought she could search her feelings, and within the cave, trying to listen for anything that was there. She'd been so overwhelmed with emotion she didn't really think to look for anything else.

"Oh, my audio senses no longer detect-" Threepio began.

"Exactly," Poe cut him off. He walked through the resistance members and they watched him curiously.

"Where'd the crystal critters go?" Finn asked. Poe looked around and walked around until he finally found the hidden maze. He grinned at Elle and Elle felt a small slither of warmth reach back into her heart, that familiar comfort she'd missed again. She was ready to follow him, with Finn and Rose in toe. But the rest of the resistance wasn't sure.

They looked to Leia for orders.

"What are you looking at me for? Follow him," she motioned a chin nod over to him. Poe nodded at her and lead the resistance down the maze, holding Elle's hand, determined to find a way out of this cave.

Elle felt Poe tug on her hand, and she quickly tried to keep up with is fast pace they followed the pathways of the crystal critters where'd they go and run. She could hear the foxes now as they drew closer to what would appear to be a….

She stopped walking, the others stopping short behind her. Her aunt had made sure they didn't loose anyone else behind.

A crystal critter slipped within the rocks that had blocked the escape.

"No! No!" Poe cried, slamming the rock covered wall in front of him.

Elle grabbed a hold onto his arm. "Shh. It's okay. Poe. We'll find another way."

Poe shook his head. "This was it, Elle. This was it. I led us to this..."

She frowned, and pulled him close to her, holding his hands in hers.

Suddenly the rocks blocking their way out shook around them. Poe gripped Elle's hand tightly, and pulled back, pulling everyone back out of the way for safety as the rocks started to move on their own and depile into the air creating an opening for them to escape to.

Rey!

They quickly rushed to the opening and looked at Rey in awe as the floating rocks in the air surrounded her with her hand out in front of her, channeling and harnessing the energy of the Force.

A chill swept over Elle, and she closed her eyes with relief.

They ran out and into the clearing. Everyone was told to get onto the Falcon. Leia made sure that the resistance and those that survived with them hadn't strayed behind. Finn and Rey hugged each other finally.

Rey waited until everyone was on board the Millennium Falcon. Poe and Elle got onto the ramp. Leia was last one in.

Elle meandered her way onto the ship, and found her way to Chewie.

"Chewie!" she exclaimed happily and hugged the walking carpet tight. He hugged her tight too. "It's been way too long, pal. I have so much to tell you…" she began but then stopped when a sudden of realization suddenly came over her.

Rey got to see BB-8 again and finally meet Poe Dameron.

"Hey," she said, looking up at him.

"I'm Poe."

She smiled at him. "Rey."

"I know," Poe said.

She felt it. She felt a pain and twinge of sadness within her heart once more, halting all happiness.

She excused herself for a second before she found her legs walking down the ramp to where her aunt waited outside, and stood by Rey's side, also sensing her father's death.

She tried to peer into her cousin's mind once more, and finally penetrated it so much that she saw him inside the makeshift control room, kneeling down, and grasping tightly onto his father's golden dice that once hung from the Falcon. He opened the palm of his hand and they disappeared.

"Ben…" she whispered painfully.

Rey looked over sadly at Elle and pulled her in for a hug. Elle didn't hug her back, she just let Rey hug her, letting all emotion just validate itself and pour out. Luke was gone. And Elle had to realize that Ben was gone too.

Once everyone got on board and was strapped in, finally able to relax, and finally able to leave Crait for good, and get into hyperspace, Rey made sure Elle was okay. The poor girl wept with emotion, laying her head onto Poe's lap, while he too took a breather, and watched over Elle. She needed to relax, and decompress from the loss of everything that she just endured, especially with the loss of her father. It was such a short moment, a moment she'd craved her entire life, and she lost him within that exact same span of time. Her heart was officially broken. Numb. And she wondered if she could ever repair itself from this. Even though they told her she still had strength to keep going, she feared eternally she did not. Her parents were now gone. And with no real guidance ahead of her? How could she raise her own child like this? How could she be a mother? It terrified her to no end. How was she going to do this? A mother should be warm and loving and caring. Yet, right now, she was lost, and sad. She wondered if her cousin might be right after all. She felt Poe kiss her temple, his warm lips on her skin, making her tingle with warmth that felt like a warm blanket, wrapped around her.

Leia sat next to Rey.

"Luke is gone. I felt it. But it wasn't sadness, or pain. It was peace and purpose."

"I felt it too," she said softly. Rey looked over across the Falcon at Elle's resting form. If they felt it, Elle definitely felt it. She could only imagine how Elle must feel right now.

"How do we build a rebellion from this?" Rey asked, glancing back at the resistance members as D'Arcy told Chewie what coordinates to go to since she had a contact from the outer rim to get them to safety.

Leia placed a hand on her shoulder, and patted Rey's broken light saber in her lap.

"We have everything we need," she said, and couldn't help but look over at the happy couple sitting in the back, resting their heads against each other's shoulders. Poe must've reminded her that good things were coming their way. Elle just had to hold on a little longer. Poe and Elle were now holding and hugging onto each other, especially Elle's stomach. Rey frowned slightly, though fondly at the couple, wondering if Elle still had bad dreams like she did. She hoped Elle would get some sleep, for she was going to need it.

~*TLJ*~

A/n: The Last Jedi is finished you guys! Ugh. I was crying when I wrote this chapter, literally almost in tears. It's my favorite moment of the whole movie, to be honest. I honestly just wish Leia and Luke had more time but this moment was special and I loved it. I can't wait to start the Rise of Skywalker. I have such plans. ((*grins evilly*)) Hope you all liked. Thank you so so much for the follows, favorites, reviews, kind messages, and love for this story, especially the recents! They are loved and welcomed! More updates soon!