A/N – Ok, so I did decide to split this chapter up. I really want the second part to be good and if I didn't split I fear I would have rushed it. So there will now be 8 chapters total instead of 7.
Chapter 6 – Going Home
Ben toggled an array of switches, preparing to activate the landing gear. Ahead he could already see the rolling green hills of his homeland and lakes large enough to produce waves along its shoreline. And then of course, there was the small homestead built just at the edge of the forest. The humble home could never be mistaken for a house worthy of a princess, nor a general. Beside him, Rey leaned forward to glance out of the window in excitement.
"Will Chewie be there?" She asked eagerly.
"Probably," Ben replied.
"Good, I miss him."
A pinch of sorrow prodded his heart; now knowing for certain that her accusations from earlier that same day had been true. Ben had become distant. He had thought it noble to step aside and allow her to choose her own way, while he was left drowning in the painful certainty that their paths would diverge. And yet, here she was in his ship; eager to be with his family. Guilt tore at his insides as he finally came to realize that he had only been hurting them both for a mere oversight.
"Are you ready to try it yourself this time?"
"What? Landing?" Rey glanced at him. "Really?"
"Be my guest," he motioned for her to take the controls. She immediately straightened her posture, grasping the handles with excitement; too much excitement. The ship bowed slightly the moment her fingers wrapped around the controls. "Careful."
"Relax, Ben. I've landed ships before." Rey scoffed.
"Not this ship," he reminded. His hand reached out to cover her own. "You have to bring the wings up first and you'll need to hold it tighter."
Rey's knuckles tensed under the weight of his palm, but she nodded obediently; allowing him to guide her. More than once she swallowed nervously and he began to fear that he had once again overstepped. After he was certain that she understood his instruction, he slowly pulled away.
"Perfect," he nodded in approval once they were safely landed on the ground.
"Why do you like these small ships?" Rey asked. "They feel so much different."
"They have better range of movement." He shrugged. "Easier to maneuver out of a target's sights."
"Is that worth feeling so cramped in here?" She smirked; trying and failing to stretch her legs.
"I don't normally have passengers," he finished toggling the last of the ship's engines.
"You used to bring me along every time you would go home," she reminded.
"You used to be a lot shorter," he pointed. As the engine turned off, he reached to retrieve his things. Thinking nothing of the sudden silence before hearing her sorrowful whisper.
"Why did you stop bringing me?" The question froze him; turning his gaze to the woman beside him. "After we fought Snoke, you changed."
Ben was still as he watched her, failing to find any suitable answer. Sorting through an array of different truths though finding none being fit to share. What was he to say? Because I loved you when I wasn't supposed to?
"I just, needed some time alone with my parents," he finally said.
Rey nodded, but there was not an ounce of relief in her eyes.
"I had thought you hated me," she admitted in a whisper. At that, he flinched in surprise.
"What?" He stared at her in shock, while Rey fiddled with the ends of her tunic. How had she translated the exact opposite?
"Come on, Ben. You have to know that you changed?" She finally met his eyes. "You became critical, only critical. You stopped sitting with me at meals, you stopped waking me up after a nightmare to talk. I don't think I've seen you smile in years. I thought you were annoyed by me after the whole Snoke thing."
"I wasn't annoyed with you," he shook his head furiously in disbelief. Terrorized at the realization of what he put her through.
"What else would you call that?" Rey scowled in doubt.
"I almost lost you," Ben shook his head in disbelief. "I was scared. I thought that I needed to do better. To perfect your training. To let you live your own life."
He swallowed in discomfort as the admissions flowed passed his lips. His head gently shook as his gaze fell to the floor in shame, sinking in the revelation of his undeniable failures.
"I'm sorry I made you feel that way."
"It's alright," Rey appeared to shrug. However, Ben knew the sight of a mask when he saw one. She was lying; she was hurt. "It's in the past."
"That doesn't erase the pain," he voiced aloud when she refused to and his heart punished him after. Apologies were nothing. They could not change his doomed legacy of failure. They could not bring back those who had lost their lives solely because they found themselves in his path. Then again, as a man's voice shouted from outside of the cockpit Ben lifted his gaze to see his father. The old man waved at them from below and the familiar confusion of facing his family returned.
Ben never could grasp how to cope in the presence of his parents. He had learned to behave, to be more forgiving than they ever would. He had harnessed his anger as they wrought the same careless words that drove him to madness in his past life. And yet, he could never erase the sight of agony in his father's eyes as a flash of red erupted through his chest. He could not help but wonder their reactions if they had known the truth. Would they still love him?
"It doesn't erase what I have done," Ben whispered.
"Relax Ben," Rey finally chuckled. "You act like you killed someone."
Ben tried not to react but given the way she softened he knew that there must be pain in his expression. He had killed someone. He had razed villages, tormented countless souls. His body count had been far too high to keep tally. He could see Rey twisting towards him from the corner of his stare and he turned to gaze into her innocent eyes. Her sweet gentle eyes. All at once Ben was reminded how unworthy he was to be in her life.
"I'm just happy to finally have you back," She smiled with an outstretched hand. "Let's agree to never let it happen again. Deal?"
Ben could help but smirk at such a simple solution. As if a simple clasp of the hands could cleanse his dark past. A task that even fifteen years of an earthly purgatory could not seem to amend.
"Really? A handshake?"
"If you prefer we could seal it in blood? Or back on Jakku people would spit on their hands." Rey smiled at Ben's repulsion and exaggerated their shake when he finally took her hand. "Good, now come on! Han's waiting for us."
She quickly removed the buckles around her waist, staggering through the narrow hallway of the ship. Ben followed, releasing the hatch so they could step on solid ground. He almost felt ashamed that he failed to match Rey's enthusiasm as she raced to his father, but he supposed their relationship had never been the type to participate in such actions.
"Hey! You brought the kid with you," Han smiled as Rey practically leapt upon the man. Han grunted at the impact, but never lost his smile. "I guess you're not really a kid anymore. It's good to see you again."
"Good to see you too," Rey beamed up at his father. The sight only troubled him further, reminding him of what he had taken from her in his years of brooding. Selfish, he scolded himself. Unworthy. He did not need a voice in his head for him to know as much.
"Hey kid," Han nodded to Ben, reaching out in their usual fashion. Ben returned his nod, clasping his hand within his father's.
"Dad."
"Would it kill you two to hug?" Leia groaned playfully as she hurried from the house. Before either of the two had the chance to retort, Ben was forced down into his mother's arms. Ben smiled over the woman's shoulder. No matter how many times he had the privilege to spend time with her, one gift that he had never failed to cherish was that of his mother's love. "I missed you sweetie."
"I missed you too, mom." He smiled against her shoulder.
"Chewie!" Rey gasped as the Wookie strangled her against his furry chest. She managed to laugh as Chewie roared happily above their hold. Leia pulled from her son to watch the pair, smiling with every passing moment and waiting patiently for her turn to hug the scavenger.
"Alright, get your things," she ordered them both. "I hope you like Alderaan soup."
"I tell ya' kid, she hasn't gotten any better at cooking since you left," Han grimaced in a whisper.
"I heard that!" Leia shouted before disappearing into the house.
Chewie released a roar that could only be translated as a laugh as he followed the woman into the house. Ben smirked before walking astride his father to the ship; tossing Rey's bag into his arms.
"How come you didn't tell us you were bringing the kid?" Han smiled once they were alone.
"It was a last minute decision," he shrugged. "I thought you said she's welcome anytime?"
"Of course. But you're the one that said you didn't want her here."
"I never said that, dad," Ben groaned at his father's knack for twisting his words. "I said that I didn't think she would want to come."
"Because of her boyfriend?" Han's brow rose as he secured the last of their bags. "They still a thing?"
"Dad…" He sighed in irritation but supposed that he had only himself to blame for his father's misunderstandings. "Apparently they weren't a thing."
"Oh," Han smirked. "So you were just jealous for nothing then?"
"I wasn't jealous," he argued.
"Uh-huh, sure. I wasn't born yesterday, kid." Han chuckled. "I know when someone is pining."
"Can we talk about something else?" Ben's temper rose. "Anything else?"
"Alright, alright," the man chuckled. As they walked to the house, he was only given a moment of silence before his father taunted again. "She's gotten pretty, don't you think?"
"Dad…"
"Hey, we get closer to war every day," Han shrugged as if the declaration was meaningless. "Might as well make the best of your time."
Ben pushed against the door and rushed through the hallway away from his father, hoping his face was not as flushed as it felt. The mere suggestion of his hidden thoughts spoken aloud sparked a strange sensation within. At first he thought the pang in his chest was a result of his father's teasing, but with each passing second it only strengthened. His breaths rapidly grew unsteady as he watched the scene before him.
Rey was following his mother through their small dining area, clinging to every word that the woman offered as if it were gold. Chewie was tinkering with Threepio's volume as the cyborg rattled on in a fit of nonsense. Han snuck behind his wife, taking her playfully into his arms. Rey stood with the widest smile as Leia couldn't resist laughing at her husband's antics.
It was beautiful. It was all far too beautiful.
The sensation turned to unexpected terror and Ben raced past the room, tossing his bags aside before hiding himself in the fresher. His heart fluttered from the sudden panic and he found himself gripping the walls for balance to counter the wave of anxiety attempting to strike him to his knees. He wasn't sure the cause, nor the reason for such an erratic display. By the time the strange attack faded, he had sunk to the cold floor.
Tears stung as he gathered his emotions. So much was changing and so quickly was it all happening. Seeing Rey standing taller than his mother, a clear distinction from the awkward teen refusing to leave Ben's side. Now she walked around his house as if she had already been a part of his family. His parents were happy. Without the wedge of Kylo Ren existing to drive them apart, their marriage had seemed to last. It was all too lovely.
A hand clasped over his mouth to silence a sob as the truth bared down upon him. He was going to lose it all.
Ben forced a spoonful of his mother's soup down his throat; ignoring his stomach's insistence that he was not hungry. As quickly as his irrational panic had come not an hour ago, it vanished all the same. Leaving him instead with a terrible sense of dread. He was thankful that Rey had come as she drilled his parents with innocent conversation. While she stared in awe as the couple retold their glorious tales on the Death Star, no one seemed to notice his melancholy.
"So, I hear my brother is closing the Academy?" Leia observed aloud. When Ben failed to answer, Rey stepped in for him.
"Yes," she glanced nervously to Ben. Only then did he fear that his behavior had not gone as unnoticed as he believed. "He said that…"
"Palpatine," Leia finished for her when she failed to speak the name. "Only the force knows how he managed to survive all these years."
"Does anyone know where he is?" Rey swallowed anxiously. Her throat twitched and Ben began to worry that he should have given her more attention after hearing the news of her grandfather's return.
"No," Leia answered grimly. "Luke believes he has a lead, but no one knows for certain. He plans to take his fellow Masters with him to Mustafar. Supposedly sith loyalist are guarding something that could lead us to the Emperor."
Ben startled. He had expected more time before his uncle managed to figure out Exegol's location. He supposed it was naïve to think that the man would fail to find it at all.
"What will happen when he is found?" Rey asked.
"We will strike," Leia answered proudly. "Our numbers rise every day. We are ready to fight."
"Don't get overconfident, sweetheart." Han reminded. "It never does anyone any good."
"We have no choice but to attack first. The longer we wait only gives Palpatine more time to grow stronger. Which reminds me," she turned to Rey with a smile. "Luke tells me that you're a pretty good pilot?"
And then Ben snapped.
"No." His low voice hardly broke a whisper. However, as he felt all pairs of eyes fall upon him, he knew they had heard.
"Ben?" Leia stated in confusion.
"You can't have her." His heart thundered in his chest and it took all his strength to prevent his body from trembling. "She is not joining your fight."
"She is an adult, Ben. Rey can choose her own path." Leia's tone grew in authority, but it failed to move him. It was foolish to argue, a calm mind would know as much. However, tension from years of hidden resentment began to heat his blood, until there was a boiling rage simmering within his stomach.
"She's my Padawan," he growled.
"Until this war is over, the Academy is finished," she threatened in a low voice. "Jedi titles mean nothing."
"I said no!"
"Kid," Han warned but was hushed by his wife.
"Let him talk," Leia focused on her son.
"Why are doing this?" Ben glared at his mother.
"Doing what?" Leia watched him carefully; confused by her son's outburst but stern nonetheless.
"You've already fought your wars. You already have your heroic tales. Why are you still doing this?"
"You think I want this?" She narrowed her stare. "You think I want to keep fighting?"
"Yes!" Ben didn't recall moving to his feet but found himself staring down at his mother with fists clenched atop the table. "You had the chance to get out and the moment things got bad you raced right back into the fray!"
"I didn't have a choice…"
"You had plenty of choices!" Ben roared.
"I had responsibilities to the republic!" Leia's shouts matched his own.
"What about your responsibilities to your family? Or was I just a nuisance keeping you from your fight?" Ben countered. Already he could feel the fall of his mother's heart, perhaps his father's too. He could feel Rey's fear as she sat innocently at the table; watching him unleash years of contempt against his parents. And yet, despite all the love they had given him upon his return, the memories of so many lonely nights spent crying under the stars tore at his sanity; releasing like an explosion. "Is that why you handed me off to Luke? Is that why it was so easy to let me go?"
"You know why I brought you to Luke," she tried to speak calmly.
"Of course," he shook his head in disgust. "Can't have a kid around while you rush out to be a hero to everyone else but to your own son."
Leia startled, but was quick to narrow her eyes. "You know that's not true."
"Do I, Mom?" Don't say it. The last remaining ounce of serenity pleaded for his silence, for his swift apology for speaking up thus far. And yet, as he gazed into the war hardened eyes of his mother, the words unleashed themselves. "You're throwing your own life away like you threw me away!"
Leia flinched. Her body froze in a terror that he knew would come. To his amazement, he didn't feel sympathy for his beloved mother.
"I don't know why you are so insistent on getting yourself killed," Ben glared at his mother. "But stop taking others to die with you."
Threepio backed away as fast as his mechanical legs would allow once Ben turned from the table. He pushed through the door and walked out into the night.
He had almost forgotten what it felt like to hold onto so much anger. For years he had learned to master his rage, burying it deep beneath his heart whenever it threatened to strike. So why after so much time perfecting his serenity, did he let it all go in a single moment of anger?
A fist raised in a fleeting desire to take his rage out against a tree, but his senses were well enough to know that he would not win that fight. He paced the edge of the forest, not yet ready to beg the force for peace. Time was a lost concept when Ben finally fell in defeat against a log. He groaned into his knees while his fingers tangled the short hair at his scalp.
Seconds quickly turned to minutes and Ben was certain that an hour passed as he sat there. She is going to ruin everything. His imagination began to plague him. There were images of his mother's lifeless corpse floating in a dark abyss of starlight, of his father shouting in defiance as the Falcon exploded in fire, of Rey falling to her knees in the dark caverns of Exegol and of Ben failing to reach her in time. The force refused to comfort him; further evidence that everything he had fought for over the past fifteen years was doomed to fall all the same as it had before. Anger fled him, making room for a terrible replacement. His eyelids clenched together as an unstoppable flood of tears forced their way to the surface.
Ben didn't even bother to soften his cries. With only the moon to witness his pathetic tears, he gladly released the pain into his palms. By the time they finally stopped, his eyes were as sore as his aching head. When the agony was replaced by an unwelcome sense of emptiness, he could finally feel her.
Rey's worry seeped into his heart, even before her soft footsteps could be heard behind him. She didn't even bother to say a word as she sat on the log beside him. A comforting heat poured from her body, seeping through flesh and into his cold heart. It was almost enough to soothe him, but he couldn't bring himself to lift his head out of his hands to see her. Minutes passed as they sat in silence, finding comfort in the mere presence of one another.
"You don't have to hide them." Rey barely broke a whisper. "Everyone cries."
"What are you doing out here?" Ben groaned; a tone he knew would be regretted if she fled from it. Thankfully, she remained patiently at his side.
The answer was obvious, yet to her credit she did not chastise the stupidity of his question. Instead, she answered calmly. "I didn't want you to be alone."
With a pained grunt, he lifted his head from his knees. The fresh air was kind to his hot skin that was still moist from his tears.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," he whispered. Rey allowed another moment to pass before speaking again.
"You know, for someone who is constantly nagging me to share when I'm upset, you certainly know how to keep things bottled." She tried to chuckle, but even Ben could hear the disappointment.
"I know," he sighed deeply.
"So," she started nervously. "Want to talk about it?"
Ben shook his aching head but sighed again. There was too much to say and too many fears to acknowledge. Too many memories of those he had wronged that taunted from the back of his mind. Reminding Ben once again of the torture he had felt when death sought to punish him. He couldn't do it again. He could never fight again. Collecting his thoughts, he settled upon a simple answer.
"I don't want to hurt anyone," he whispered in defeat before continuing. "I don't want to lose anyone."
A moment of silence fell between them. He almost believed she had failed to hear him before she finally answered.
"Okay."
Ben turned to see her; startled by the calm reply. "What?"
"We can run. To the farthest reaches of the Galaxy," Rey spoke far too relaxed as she finally rose to her feet. Stepping until she stood only a foot away. Her eyes were comforting, but no less fierce as she met him. "And then what happens when my grandfather finds us? After he's finished terrorizing the rest of the Galaxy? After he's killed everyone we know?"
Ben tried to turn from her; to avoid her logical musings. But then, she cupped his cheek. The act would have sent him into a rage if the fingers along his cheek belonged to anyone but her. Instead, he tensed at her beautiful gift; struggling to focus on anything but the sweet warmth against his skin.
"Ben, if we wait, he will grow stronger. He will kill our allies and when he chases us across the Galaxy, we won't stand a chance. You'll lose everything. We have to help."
When he attempted to pull away again, her fingers moved to grip the side of his face. It was almost irritating how strong she had become. Padawan or not, Ben no longer felt that that he had any right to expect obedience from the woman standing firmly before him. His desire to simply take her and hide from the Galaxy was unmatched for the pride he felt.
"You know I'm right," she said sternly. "You know."
"Why us?" he shook his head. "Why do we have to fight? Why are we responsible for the Galaxy's problems?"
"Because we live in it," she stated far too simply. "And you said it yourself, I'm the 'second' strongest Jedi next to you. They need us."
She smirked and he wanted to growl at the smug display of her victory as his words were used against him. Her thumb began tracing circles on his cheek and all at once he felt his resistance fading. That's not fair, he thought to himself.
His own hand moved to cup the back of hers before she fled his cheek; begging her touch for just a moment longer. In a moment of bravery, or perhaps confusion, his head twisted into the heat of her palm; placing a long kiss against her skin. Ben wasn't sure how to translate the slight gasp that passed through her lips. For a moment he worried that he had frightened her before she pulled him into her arms.
Ben released a deep sigh as he melted against her; soaking in the comfort of her warm hold for as long as she would allow. His own hands snaked around her back and he tucked himself into the safety of her neck. It was likely a pathetic sight if any pair of eyes were to come across the large man seeking solace in her small reach, but in that moment he wasn't inclined to care. He was certain that he could have stayed there until the sun peaked above the shoreline. However, all too soon, she pulled away.
"Now come on," Rey moved to her feet, dragging him with her. "You need to apologize for yelling at your mom. And then show me where I'm sleeping because I'm tired and your mom is insisting that I wake up early to 'learn how to shut a senator up.'"
Ben scoffed while following the sweet warmth against his hand. Something had changed in the short span of the day. Where Rey had once been hesitant, she now confidently pulled him along. A normal Jedi Master would be offended at their Padawan treating them in such a manner, but Ben was no normal Jedi Master.
"You realize that you're just going to sit in a bunch of boring meetings tomorrow, right?" He joked.
"It's better than having to sit through one of Master Luke's lectures," she replied. The moonlight lit their path as they trudged through the grass to the cozy home he had grown up. With the comfort of her hand within his he almost forgot what he was about to walk into. When they stepped inside the house, lit dimly by a few remaining lights, Han and Leia were waiting on the couch.
Rey released him before the couple could see their entwined hands, but had no quarries letting them watch her nudge their son forward. Ben attempted to glare at her, but she merely scowled. With a sigh he turned to his parents.
"Rey said I had to apologize," he grumbled.
"Ben," Rey groaned from behind.
"I'm sorry that you…"
"Nope," Rey stopped him again; seemingly unsatisfied with his delivery. Ben turned to glare again, but the young woman refused to back down. With a sigh he returned to gaze at his amused parents.
"I'm sorry."
"See that wasn't so bad," Rey whispered just for him, however given the expressions on both of his parents he would be a fool to think they could not hear. Then, Rey tried to nudge him forward once again. "Now hug them."
"Alright, time for bed." He grasped her shoulders, refusing to acknowledge her triumphant smile as he pushed her along the hallway. She followed him into a room and he could feel her mood shift in an instant.
"Isn't this your room?" She asked in surprise.
"Yes," he answered while retrieving an extra set of blankets; tossing one into her arms. "Here's an extra blanket if you need one, you already know where the fresher is."
"Ben," she stopped him as he reached the doorway.
"What?" he turned to offer his attention and was confused by her expression. For someone so confident only seconds ago, she now appeared to fumble for words. Her fingers grazed the length of her biceps and she nervously shifted on her feet.
"Thank you for bringing me," she whispered.
Ben smiled, clutching the remaining blankets in his arms. "Goodnight Rey."
The door closed behind him with a click as he returned his is own place of rest. However, he swallowed anxiously as he knew for certain that his parents would still be there. Sure enough, the pair remained seated on his make-shift bed with mixed expressions as he entered the room. The devastation on his mother's face was enough to stir his guilt once more, while his father looked far too amused for his liking.
"You let her have your room," he pointed.
"Very perceptive," Ben refrained from rolling his eyes. Han, however, never faltered.
"You used to make her sleep on the couch," he prodded further.
"She's not a kid anymore, dad." He grumbled. "I'm sure she wants more privacy."
"Sure, sure." The man's amusement nearly pushed Ben back into the forest. "You know, I thought the Master was supposed to be in charge. Not the Padawack, or whatever you call it."
"You know what a Padawan is, Han," Leia silenced him impatiently.
"Not so sure our son does," Han smirked. "Now, are Masters allowed to, you know… mingle with their Padawacks?"
"Knock it off," Leia stood from the couch. For a moment he thought she would leave, to free him from the awkward conversation that he wasn't sure how to avoid. Instead, she walked to him, standing so close that he could count the tears building at her lids. "Ben…"
"I didn't mean it," he tried to interrupt but his mother silenced him by cupping his face.
"Yes you did," she accused softly. Her fingers began to tremble against his skin as she too struggled for words. "Why didn't you talk to me?"
Ben closed his eyes, scolding himself for earlier. Why had he snapped? He debated sorting through a list of lies that would shorten the awkward moment. However, when he opened them to see her desperate gaze, her tired eyes demanded the truth.
"You were always busy," he answered quietly.
"I was never too busy for my son." His mother's half-sob nearly broke him. And then, she began to beg. "Tell me you knew that?"
Oh how Ben wanted to. How Ben wished to make her feel like the greatest mother in the Galaxy. But it would be a lie. His own tears formed as she broke at the gentle shake of his head.
"You always seemed so strong," Ben admitted. "I thought I had to be too."
And with that, she collapsed against him. His arms tightened around her, while his heart shattered at every cry falling into his shoulder. He was half aware of Han standing a few feet away; uncertain what to do as his wife muttered an array of apologies.
"Mom, you did your best," he tried to assure, but the choice of words only seemed to strengthen her grip. He couldn't stand it. To see his mother, the woman of so many legends, reduced to a fit of sobs in her son's arms.
"My best wasn't good enough," she replied when she finally managed to calm. He sighed against. No, he thought with a grimace, it hadn't been good enough. At least not in his past life.
"It's alright, mom." He tried to promise.
"Kid," Han scratched the back of his head. "You know that we, that we uh, well you know."
"I know," he nodded. For once, when his father brought his arms around him, Ben did not pull away. So many apologies passed all three sets of lips, until he was unsure what they were even for anymore. However, one thing he knew for certain was that he never wished to let go. "I love you too."
Review Replies
The Doctor Rose – Thank you very much! I'm glad you are enjoying the story!
Dingbat Annie – Aw well thank you very much! Your comment warms my heart! Thanks for reading!
Drama – You are very welcome and thank you for reading!
stepanka hanusova86 – I am so glad that you are eager to read the chapter updates! I will say that he will open up their Dyad again, but not just yet. I'll add a tally mark to the birthday present scene :) Thanks for reading!
Magali – That's a really good observation that Ben still struggles with loneliness after all the good that has happened. I definitely do think it would be difficult for him, especially with him being unable to talk about all the bad that he's done. His friends that I mentioned would still be with him, though like he said in the chapter they were never "enough". Those three are based on the characters from the Kylo Ren comic, so I really want to know more about them and their relationship with Ben. Thanks again for reading and sharing your thoughts!
UniKatFox – They are indeed getting closer! Very close! I'm glad that you are still enjoying the story! Thank you for reading!
catstop – Aww well thank you very much! That is so lovely to hear! I am glad that you think my character building is doing alright. Thanks so much for reading!
rainne 20000 16 – Haha! We are getting closer! I'm glad you enjoyed the whole failed suitor scene and I hope you enjoyed Han and Leia's interactions with the pair. Thanks for reading!
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