Chapter 3 – Ben

Ben groaned as the Millennium Falcon touch down on the planet. He sat alone in the living space, strapped in to protect him from bouncing around during spaceflight. He didn't unbuckle himself, just fiddled with the little X-wing toy he held.

Han strolled out of the cockpit and ran his fingers through his hair. "Are you ready?"

Ben wanted to cry. "Dad, please don't leave me here."

Han's brows bunched together as his eyes became sympathetic. He knelt down in front of his son. "Ben, this is a new chapter in your life. You've been gifted with these powers. You know I don't know anything about having powers or the Force or any of that other crazy stuff. Here you'll learn all about it. Uncle Luke will teach you." Han unbuckled Ben's strap and helped him climb out of the seat. "Besides, you're gonna end up with one of those awesome lightsabers." He ruffled Ben's hair.

Ben hated when his dad did that and ducked away. "It's been a really long time since I've seen Uncle Luke. What if he doesn't remember me?"

Han chuckled. "He remembers you." Then he stuck his head through the back doorway. "Hurry up, Leia!" He shook his head and turned back to Ben. "I think your mother is having an even harder time with this than even you are."

Ben doubted that.

Leia struggled through the doorway, weighed down by several bags.

Han rolled his eyes. "Sweetie, he doesn't need all that stuff. Luke said they're going to give him everything he needs." He grabbed a stuffed wookie hanging out of one of the bags. "He definitely doesn't need this. The other kids will make fun of him."

Leia grabbed it back. "Chewbacca gave that to him on the day he was born. It belongs with him."

Han turned to Ben, exasperated. "Do you want the wookie doll?"

Ben pressed his lips together. He kind of did want the wookie doll. It had always been a comfort to him when he'd awaken from nightmares in the middle of the night. But he also didn't want other kids making fun of him. He decided it was safer not to answer.

His mom dropped the bags in a pile. "Fine. I'm sure my brother has some kind of list of what he'll need." Then she pulled Ben into her arms. "You're going to be the best Jedi ever. Even better than Uncle Luke."

Ben smiled. Despite all her absences helping to run the New Republic, he still loved her desperately, still sought her approval.

"Come on, you two. Luke's waiting for us." His dad's voice almost sounded reluctant.

Leia let go of Ben, wiping tears off her cheeks. Ben grabbed her hand as they walked down the ramp.

The ship had set down in the field in front of the temple. Ben's eyes widened as he got his first view of it. So magnificent! Excitement flared up inside him. Maybe this really wouldn't be so bad.

Luke walked through the field to the Falcon, a big smile on his face.

Ben smiled shyly at his uncle. Then he noticed a young woman with dark hair tied up following behind him. Ben couldn't stop looking at her. Not only was she beautiful, but there was something drawing him to her. Something he couldn't understand.

Their eyes locked, hers hazel and his brown. Ben's heart sped up, pounding in his chest. He froze, rooted in place by her gaze. A rushing noise filled his ears, blocking out his father's muttering about how much his mother packed.

Don't be afraid; I feel it too.

The words spoken into his mind were in the deep voice of an adult man. For a moment, he thought it might be that voice. But no, it seemed more like an echo, and he thought it came from the mysterious woman following his uncle.

"Leia!"

The spell broke as Luke embraced his mom. Sound returned as the woman's eyes shifted to Leia. His mom momentarily released his hand to hug her brother, but gripped him again as soon as Luke let go.

"Welcome, Ben," Luke smiled down at him. "I'm so happy to have you here as a Padawan."

Ben just looked up at him in awe.

Han cleared his throat.

"Han," Luke said as he shook Ben's father's hand.

"You've got quite the fancy set-up here, Master Skywalker," Han said as he eyed the temple.

Leia elbowed Han in the gut.

"What?! That's what they call him here!"

"You know what." Leia then looked behind her brother. "And who is this lovely young woman with you?"

Luke stepped aside, letting her step forward. "This is Rey. She's a visitor here temporarily helping me to right a wrong."

Disappointment stabbed Ben in the gut hearing she would only be there temporarily.

Rey smiled brightly, enthusiastically shaking Han and Leia's hands. "I'm just so happy to meet you!"

Ben could feel the excitement rolling off her. He wondered if she was star-struck because of what his parents had done during the war against the Empire. It wouldn't be the first time he'd seen some fan fawn all over them. Yet, there was something just a little bit different about this meeting.

Then Rey knelt down in front of Ben. He clung to his mother's arm. He didn't understand what had transpired between them. He didn't even know if she'd experienced it with him, but it felt...intimate. A blush brightened his cheeks.

"Hello, Ben."

"Hi," he said in a small voice.

"I've heard a lot about you."

He frowned. "About me?"

She smiled, eliciting butterflies to take flight in his stomach. "Yes. Master Skywalker told me you are just beginning your journey to become a Jedi. I'm only here for a short time, but I'm excited to see how things work here. Would you be okay if we spent some time together as you settle in?"

He nodded, smiling back at her. "Yes!" He very much looked forward to spending time with Rey.

After Luke gave them a tour of the temple and had Leia severely pare down Ben's belongings, they ended up at the little hut that would be Ben's. He knew the time to say goodbye to his parents drew near and his anxiety grew.

The hut was small, containing a bed, desk, chest of drawers and a meditation mat. A door to a tiny refresher in the back completed the accommodations.

Leia walked around the room, examining it critically. "It's so empty," she complained.

"It's better for him not to have too many distractions. Besides, he's going to fill it with his accomplishments as a Padawan," Luke assured her.

Ben sat down on the bed. It didn't feel so bad. It felt even better when Rey sat down next to him.

"Well, I'm not letting him leave me without this." She pulled the stuffed wookie out of the bag by the door and placed it on his pillow. Then, with tears in her eyes, she pulled Ben back in her arms.

Ben folded himself into her embrace and buried his face in her shoulder. "What if I never see you again?"

Leia pulled him back, put her hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eye. "That's not going to going to happen."

Tears leaked out of Ben's eyes as he frantically shook his head. "I heard Padawans never get to see their families again." His eyes flicked to Rey. She had her hand over her mouth, unshed tears in her eyes.

Luke knelt down, his hand covering Leia's on top of Ben's shoulder. "Actually, Rey and I were just talking of changing that. We're now going to let every Padawan with family comm them weekly. And, since we can't get much done during the stormy season, two weeks of family leave."

"Really?" Ben whispered.

"Really," Luke confirmed.

"We'll go to the lake house!" Leia exclaimed.

Ben's spirits soared. He loved the lake house. Swimming all day, reading in the library, holovids at night. Too far away from any big cities to have to go to any boring grown-up parties.

Ben looked up at Han. "Will you be there, Dad?"

"He better be," Leia grumbled.

Han raised up his hands in a placating manner. "You had me at lake house. We've had some good times there. Right, darlin'?" He threw his wife a suggestive smile.

"Shut up, Han," Leia threw back, but she had a coy smile on her own face.

Ben smiled. His anxiety disappeared. He really looked forward to becoming a Jedi.