Glitter and Gold

Chapter 33

34 ABY – D'Qar

"Is it true, Leia? Is our son a father?" Han questioned once he was finally alone with his wife.

Leia nodded, eyes glittering with tears. "Vex brought our grandson here, Han. His name is Anakin," she admitted, plucking up her datapad to show him pictures.

"A grandson," Han echoed, eyes tracing the image of a smiling, dark haired and eyed toddler. "He looks just like Ben… is he here?" Han questioned, a hint of hope in his voice.

Leia shook her head regretfully. "Vex and I agreed to send him into hiding with Ayla'Lyn. Ayla'Lyn was Vex's nanny, before Snoke took her,"

"Oh," Han breathed, brows knitted. He sucked in a deep breath. "What did she say of our son?"

Leia laid a hand on her husband's arm. "That there was still hope for him. To find the light. Vex believes her son is her redemption, and that he could be Ben's, too,"

"Did she know what he thought of being a father?"

"She said he loved him. Anakin. That he helped her escape the First Order, knowing he may never meet him. He believed the First Order was no place for their child," Leia said, the first tears beginning to fall.

"But that's just fine for him, huh?" Han said bitterly.

Leis sighed. "I don't know anymore, Han. Vex said there'd been no way for them to escape together. And he spent those three years doing his best to keep them hidden,"

Han paced the room, not knowing what to think.

"Han," Leia said softly, putting a hand on his arm. "Anakin needs his father. And so does Ben,"

Ahch-To

Sweat beaded on Luke's brow, his eyes clenched tight as he concentrated on the Force around him, surrounding his X-Wing.

Wind and rain whipped at him, his hair and cloak already drenched from the storm.

It'd been such a long time since he'd done this. Like a muscle, it'd atrophied. He felt as if he was lifting the ship himself.

Inch by inch, foot by foot, the X-Wing rose over the waves.

Luke felt like Yoda was there, laughing at him.

Hours later, or what felt like hours, his X-Wing sat safely on the bluff before him.

Now, the real work began. It wasn't as if the ship could fly after twelve years below the surface.

He would get it ready – as fast as he could – because Luke wasn't going to let the galaxy suffer anymore, not when he could do something about it. He wasn't going to let Vex suffer anymore, not if he could save her.

Even if it meant facing the man that was once his student. His nephew.

Starkiller Base

"Where am I?" the scavenger asked.

"You're my guest." The man in the mask – Kylo Ren – answered.

"Where are the others?"

"You mean the murderers, traitors and thieves you call friends? You'll be relieved to hear I have no idea." Kylo said, pacing closer to her. His helmet tilted to the side. "You still want to kill me,"

Rey studied him. She was fearful… but curious. "That happens when you're being hunted by a creature in a mask." she growled.

Kylo Ren stopped, considering her. Then he reached up and removed his mask.

Rey stares at him dumbly. It takes a moment to regain her own mask of defiance. Kylo Ren approached and she shrinks away. "Tell me about the droid."

"He's a BB unit with a selenium drive and a thermal hyperscan vindicator-" she recited, knowing that wasn't what he was looking for.

"It's carrying a section of a navigational chart. And we have the rest, recovered from the archives of the Empire – but we need the last piece. And somehow, you convinced the droid to show it to you. You. A scavenger," he said skeptically.

"Vex Valorum built that droid."

Astonishment crossed Kylo Ren's face for but a moment, he quickly hid it. "You know I can take whatever I want," he warned.

Kylo Ren raised a hand up before her. Rey cringed, feeling the invasion of her mind. "You're so lonely… so afraid to leave… at night, desperate to sleep. You imagine an ocean. I see it… I see the island. And Han Solo. You feel like he's the father you never had. He would have disappointed you."

"Get out of my head!" she cried.

"I know you've seen the map. It's in there. And now you'll give it to me." he paused. "Don't be afraid, I feel it too."

"I'm not giving you anything." Rey insisted.

"We'll see." Ren growled, fingers flexing as he pushed harder, trying to find the image in her mind.

But Rey was fighting it. And all of a sudden, she had the upper hand.

"You… you're afraid…" Rey said, eyes burning into his face. "…that you will never be as strong as Darth Vader…" he reeled back, hand dropping back to his side.

They're both surprised – they react to a feeling that passed between them. An energy they recognize in each other. Rey's brows furrowed.

"-and there's something else… you're scared for someone… a woman, a child… your child," Rey's head tilted, eyes slowly sliding shut. Kylo Ren took a step back.

"You're afraid that the first time you see your son's face is the day he comes to kill you… just like Darth Vader,"

"Enough!" the man cried. Ren's face was drawn and pale, dark eyes haunted. They stared at each other for several long moments before Kylo Ren fled the room.

Review, Please.

Thanks to my reviewers last chapter - Mstngsali1, Victoria Pontmercy, and Guest!

Thoughts?

Much love, Suz Singer.