Early the next morning, Luke Skywalker shepherded Rey, Ben, and Leia aboard the Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca was the only non-Force sensitive allowed to go with them. "We should be back within a day or so."

"What do we do if you're not?" Poe Dameron asked with a look of concern. "You're taking our only ship."

"I made a call to an old friend," Luke told him. "Lando will be here soon with another ship. He'll help you carry on the Resistance if something happens to us."

"I don't like this," Finn asked. "Going with that guy"- and he pointed at Ben- "is just asking for his trouble."

Ben scowled, but he made no other response.

Look at you being all diplomatic, Dex told him with a mental smile.

Can't kill him, Ben replied with mock anger. Rey likes him.

"Ben is on our side now," Rey slipped her arm through Ben's. She glared at both Finn and Poe.

"He's on your side," Poe pointed out. "I'm not so sure he gives a kriff about anyone else."

"That's not true," Ben replied. "I care about my mother too." He paused. "And Chewbacca."

The Wookie grunted in surprise.

"What about me?" Luke asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I'm still deciding. I just don't plan on going to sleep any time soon where you have a key."

Luke chuckled dryly.

"Where are we going?" Dex asked.

Somehow, Luke seemed to have picked on knowing which one of them was speaking. "Where you came into this universe, Dex. The easiest place to send you home is where you came through."

"Won't there be a First Order fleet there?" Rey asked.

"Not likely," Ben replied. "With me gone, Hux will be trying to consolidate power. It's no guarantee the rest of the First Order will follow him." Ben smiled grimly. "He wasn't Snoke's apprentice, and he has no power with the Force."

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Poe asked Finn.

"Not at all," the ex-Stormtrooper admitted.

"Good. As long as I'm not the only one."

"Hold down the fort, Poe," Leia told him firmly. "We'll be back."

..**..

There was wreckage near Crait.

Some of the wreckage- most of the wreckage- belonged to the First Order- but there was still debris from the destroyed Resistance ships … including the Raddus.

"I'm sorry," Dex said.

"Thank you," Leia said.

She's lost so much but she just keeps on going, Dex told Ben.

That's my mother. There was pride and regret in Ben's voice. She always does what needs to be done- no matter what it costs her. He paused. Or the people who love her.

Dex had no answer to that.

"Do you feel anything?" Luke asked them. "Reach into the Force. Everyone say what they feel strongest."

They did so.

"Fear," Leia said softly.

"Anger," Ben murmured.

"Courage," Rey declared.

"Determination," Luke added.

"Home …" Dex whispered. "There." He raised Ben's arm and pointed in a spot where the wreckage of the Supremacy floated. "I can feel it. That's how I get home."

"But you're not Force sensitive," Ben reminded him.

"Maybe you're sensing it, and I just recognize it."

"Possible," Luke mused. "Dex is technically a part of you now, Ben. He could probably use the Force through you if he tried."

"That's okay," Dex muttered. "I'd rather not. I don't think I'm cut out to be a Jedi or a Sith."

"Neither am I," Ben said with a grim smile. "Dex … there's still time. None of us will hold it against you if you decide to stay here. I know you don't want to stay a part of me forever, but that doesn't mean we can't find another solution." He paused. "You don't have to go back home to die."

"Ben is right, Dex," Rey added. "You're a good person. We can find another way."

Luke and Leia were silent.

"Thanks, guys, but this … feels right. Whatever I was supposed to do here, I think it's done. Ben is back with his family. The two of you are … working things out. The Resistance has a chance to grow again and stop the First Order. I don't know what will happen here … things are different than they were in the movie I saw now … and even then I didn't know what was going to happen. Heck of a movie. I wish I could tell you something useful, but ..." Dex paused. He thought for a moment. "This place- this Galaxy—has seen many dark years, but even in the darkest moments, there's always hope … always some small spark of hope, of rebellion … the chance for things to get better. It will get better." He smiled. "The Force is with you."

"And with you as well … Rebel." Leia said. She reached out and took Ben's hand … Dex's hand by proxy. "You were right, Dex. You were here for a reason. I can't believe that everything that's happened to you … to all of us … was just for you to go home to die."

"Thank you, Leia."

"Chewie, take the Falcon into the center of that wreckage," Luke told the Wookie. "Rey, Ben, Leia- we're going to give Dex a push. Dex, just focus on getting back home. Focus on what's important to you."

"Amy," Rey said with a smile. "Focus on Amy."

Ben said nothing, but Dex could feel his sadness. Hey, Ben. It'll be fine.

I know. He smiled. Just- tell her, Dex. Make sure that you tell her this time.

I will. Dex smiled mentally. I can promise you that much. And if it doesn't work … I'll find something to destroy.

But you won't have a light saber.

I'll make do.

The Falcon began to move.

The closer it got, the more Dex felt that sense of home. For the first time since he woke up in Kylo Ren's body, he began to feel a separation between them.

Leia laid a hand on her son's face. She took Luke's human hand with her other. "Rey, take Luke's other hand."

Rey did so. "I could have gotten a few portions for that back on Jakku."

"I still need it so don't get any ideas," Luke chided her. "Now touch Ben's face with your free hand like Leia."

Rey did so.

"Reach into the Force. Let it fill you. Don't try to do anything specific with it just yet. Just let it fill you."

Through Ben, Dex could feel the energy of the Force gathering around them.

"Ben, Dex is going to need your help most of all. The two of you are connected. We can give you the energy. But you're the only one who can send him home." Luke smiled gently at his estranged nephew. "It's time. Help Dex the way he helped you. Help him get home."

"Goodbye, Ben."

"Goodbye, Dex."

And with a surge of power, Ben Solo sent his friend home.

..**..

"Dex … I don't want things to change between us. You've always been there for me when I needed you. No matter what. You'll always be my best friend. You'll always be my Dex."

He was back.

He was alive again.

He was with Amy again.

He looked into Amy's eyes. "Always and forever. Amy ..."

"Yes?"

Say it, the voice of Ben Solo told him. You promised me that you would say it.

Ben? How are you doing this?

The hole isn't closed. Luke thinks it might when-

When I die. But before that …

"Amy … I love you."

Amy blushed, and looked away. "I love you too, Dex ..."

"No." He reached out and gently turned her face to his. "I'm in love with you, Amy."

"Dex …?" Her eyes widened. "Dex ..."

And that's when they heard the boy scream.

I said it. That's all that matters. I said it.

The boy. He had to get to the boy. He had to save the boy. He had to save the boy again.

"Amy! Call 911!"

He slid down the hill, feeling his pants tear again. He cursed again. Time. No time. He couldn't let the kid down.

The train. The train was coming. The damn train that was going to kill him was coming.

The boy was still screaming. There was panic in his bright blue eyes. The boy's clothing … it reminded him of Luke's suddenly.

"We're going to get you out of this, buddy. I promise you we're going to get you out of here."

The engineer saw them. Again he heard the desperate blasts of the air horn. He could hear the squeal of the brakes …

It wasn't going to stop. It couldn't stop.

He tore at the boy's boot. It was keeping his foot pinned down between the tracks.

Use the Force, Dex.

"I don't have the kriffing Force, Ben!" Dex swore. "I'm sorry, kid. This is probably going to hurt."

Let me use the Force then! Touch the rail, Dex.

He had freed the boy's foot before … but this … maybe this could change things. "Hang on, kid." He laid his hand on the rail. "Do it, Ben!"

Only an echo … a faint whisper … of what he had felt when Ben used the Force came to him then … but it was … enough!

Dex yanked the boy's booted foot free. He grabbed the boy and tossed him to the side as far as he could. "Please, God!"

This time he had time to see the train coming …

And then something yanked him off the tracks.

He was flying.

No, wait. He was floating.

The boy's hand was outstretched. His face was passive, calm … all signs of panic gone.

The train whistled behind them.

The boy lowered his hand … and Dex was lowered with it. He was on his hands and knees, looking up at the boy.

The boy shimmered and became a man. A tall man with sandy hair and a scar on the right side of his face. The man looked at Dex, and a very faint smile crossed his lips. "Thank you for helping my grandson."

Grandfather, Ben whispered in Dex's mind.

"Anakin Skywalker," Dex muttered. "It was you."

Anakin smiled. He bowed slightly … and faded away.

Dex stood up. "I'll be damned."

He turned and watched the train pass.

Finally … after what seemed like forever … the train was gone.

Amy was on the other side of the tracks. She was on her knees. Her face was buried in her hands. With the train gone, he could hear her sobbing.

"Amy ..." A whisper was all he could manage at first.

She couldn't hear him.

"Amy!" He cried. His throat hurt with the effort.

She looked up. "Dex?"

"In the flesh." He began walking towards her.

She stood up. She wiped her eyes. "Dex …"

The moment he crossed the tracks she ran into his arms. "Dex!"

He wrapped his arms around her.

"I thought I lost you," Amy whispered. "Oh, God. I thought I lost you, Dex. I thought I lost you ..."

"Never." He brushed her hair back from her face.

Kiss her, idiot, Ben whispered. You know how.

I do.

He looked into Amy's eyes. He could still drown in those eyes. He wanted to look into them forever.

He bent his head and kissed her.

And Dexter Ferris knew he was home.

Author's Note: One more chapter left.