Force Dyad

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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who has kindly read and reviewed this story. I can't believe we've reached seventy chapters!

Chapter Seventy-Jealousy

The base at Ajan Kloss was barely cobbled together. Consoles sat outside, exposed to the elements. A massive cave provided some shelter for sleeping and an old rebel blockade runner called Tantive IV-currently grounded while awaiting replacement parts-served as command quarters for Leia as well as a communications centre.

Ben and Rey, like many of the Resistance fighters, shared the spaces that were left. Rey lodged with Rose, their quarters were tiny, consisting of two small cots, placed one on top of the other, like bunk beds. Ben shared his limited space with Tai and Hennix-though he only used the shared quarters to sleep. Since Magda's arrival, the three guys had dutifully given up their billet to the Mon Calamari matriarch and her grandson, Denny.

Magda had protested at first, insisting that she and Denny could accommodate themselves. However, her protests fell on deaf ears, there was no way that Ben and Rey would allow her to sleep on an uncomfortable cot tucked against the wall of the cave like some of the other Resistance fighters had chosen to do.

"Please, Mags, let us look after you like you always looked after us." Rey had pleaded with tears in her eyes. "Take Ben's quarters. We want you to be comfortable….and you and Denny have been through so much."

Ben added his please to hers.

Magda was close to tears herself. She gathered them both in her arms, hugging the young couple, who she had come to love as much as she did her own children. "Thank you." She murmured gratefully.

Leia, who was deep in conference with Rose and Hux at the time, chose that moment to look over in their direction. A spike of jealousy bit at her insides. Since Magda's arrival on the base, she had become unusually reticent. The Mon Calamari female - who her own son seemed to have adopted as a replacement mother figure - suddenly seemed to be everywhere.

Magda had the sort of open personality and kind heart that drew others to her-she was one of life's nurturers, acting like a nurse, a psychologist, a chef, an educator... what she did was priceless, not only for her grandchild, but for all those who chose to be in her orbit. The maternal love she showered on Ben and Rey was blatant, and sometimes, in her darkest moments of envy, Leia thought that Magda did it on purpose, deliberately trying to wound her. She had never been able to express the same love to Ben so openly, not even when he was a young boy.

Ever since their first harsh introduction, the two women had avoided each other. When they did cross paths by chance, Magda remained reserved and coolly polite, Leia chose to do the same. Leia could tell by Ben's face that he was severely disappointed by her underreaction. When the warm welcome he had expected her to give Magda was not forthcoming, he had withdrawn from her completely, choosing not to engage with her at all. During meetings he didn't even glance her way, acting like they were strangers rather than mother and son.

It about broke Leia's heart to be rejected so openly.


Leia pushed away the pot of Caf'- normally one of her favourite beverages- she now found she could barely stomach it. She had a constant ache inside her gut which refused to go away. She refused to acknowledge it, but it had started the day that Magda had arrived at the base.

"How long do you think she's planning on staying?" She asked Han.

Although still estranged, Han still made sure to check in with his wife at least once a day. "She has a name, Leia." He said curtly.

Leia's expression tightened. This was the same response she had gotten from him the day before. Like everyone else on the base, Han seemed to have fallen under Magda's spell. It was immensely irritating. She felt isolated and like she had no one on her side.

"You could try reaching out to Magda." Han suggested, not for the first time. "I'm sure Ben would appreciate it."

Leia growled at him. "Don't do that."

It stopped Han cold. "Do what?"

Leia's voice was flat. "Tell me what to do."

"Since when have I ever been able to do that." Han's tone was as lifeless as hers. "What is happening to you, sweetheart? You've built such high walls around you that nobody can breach them. Believe it or not I'm trying to help."

Whirling, Leia stomped off. Sighing, Han followed. He caught up to her easily, she didn't stop, nor did she look in his direction.

"If you're not careful, you're in danger of losing our son forever." He yelled after her. "Is that what you want?"

Leia continued to march forward, angry tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "You don't understand!"

Frustrated, Han stepped out in front of her, stopping her forward momentum. When he spoke again, his voice was huskier, his tone almost pleading. "Will you just stop and listen to me for a minute? Please?"

It was the 'please' that stopped Leia. Han Solo was incapable of pleading. It wasn't his way. "Go on then, I'm listening."

"I know you love Ben." Han said softly. "But you keep it all locked up inside, for some reason afraid to show it, in case it makes you seem weak, or for some other reason I can't fathom. I've caught the sadness in your eyes when you look at the way he is with Magda, I've seen the envy. It's making you bitter…and I hate to see it."

Leia stared at him, shaking her head slowly. "That's what you think of me? I am not bitter…. I'm hurt!" She cried in anguish. "Every time I see the way he is with her, is just another reminder of my own failings as a mother."

What could he say to that? What possible response could he give that would make her feel any better. "We both failed him, sweetheart. Neither of us was there when he really needed us."

"No, you just used Rey as a replacement." Leia flung at him accusingly, wanting him to hurt as much as she was hurting.

Han dipped his head, his lips pressed together until they turned almost white. It took him a good minute to get his anger under control enough to speak. again. "Rey was never a replacement for Ben. I love them both."

"Yes, you had years with them, all those months away on the racing circuit together. While I…."

"Continued to put your political aspirations above being with your family." Han cut in harshly. "Are we really going to rehash everything again, Leia?" He demanded.

Leia bit her lower lip, refusing to concede. "We all have to live with our regrets, Han."

Han met her eyes steadily. "Or you could choose to face up to those regrets, Leia. I faced mine…and now I have the relationship with our son that I've always wanted. You could have that, too, if you would only try."

Leia wanted to laugh derisively. In Han's mind, it was so simple, when in reality it was complicated. But she knew, if she did, he would never speak to her again.

"Nothing is impossible, Leia. Not even now, at this late time. Reach out to Ben, reach out to Rey…. you are missing out on so much. Please, for my sake as much as your own, show that you damn well care."


As much as she tried to ignore it, Han's pleas continued to haunt Leia for the rest of the day. She was distracted during the daily briefings, noticing Ben and Rey's absence immediately. Ben had sent Tai and Hennix in his place, wanting to remain as far removed from his mother as possible.

Leia could guess where he was-playing happy families with Rey, Magda and her grandson no doubt.

Jealousy was a wicked thing. Left to grow and fester it can begin to poison the soul, because it can never come from a loving heart. At best jealousy was a distraction from the hard task of improving yourself, at worst it is a pathway to your worst self, a person you'll find it hard to respect.

And Leia Organ Solo was struggling to respect herself right now. She had left the meeting with the sole of intention of locking herself away, until she had her envy firmly under control. But, to her surprise, she found herself heading in the opposite direction of her quarters on the Tantive IV. Her steps led her in one direction only – Magda's quarters.

It was the fresh smell of baking that came flooding into Leia's brain as she stopped outside. Of course, Magda was an excellent chef, just another nurturing feature that she lacked, Leia thought resentfully. The female Mon Calamari had quickly become indispensable to those responsible for catering for the Resistance fighters' nutritional needs. She showed them ways to make their limited rations last much longer, when the jungle's humid heat would quickly turn them rancid. She managed to make something delicious out of almost nothing. It was a skill she had acquired throughout a lifetime of running her once famous inn on Trask.

Leia squared her shoulders and wrapped her knuckles on the entrance to Magda's quarters. There was the sound of faint movement inside, before the door slowly slid open revealing the female Mon Calamari.

"Finally." Magda said curtly, almost as if she had been awaiting this very moment. "It took you long enough, Leia Organa Solo."

Leia immediately bristled at the flagrant lack of respect. "Its General Organa Solo."

"I am not one of your lackeys, Madam. I think we can dispense with the titles here. Its just you and me now." Magda stated firmly. "Come inside."

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.