"She'll break through it sooner or later…" He hadn't heard her walk up. Or see her. But he knew she was there just the same.

"No thanks to you, of course."

He turned to her then to see the mock-scolding smile on her face. He couldn't help but return it, even as he pondered yet again the wonder that she was.

Looking at her, you wouldn't be able to tell anything about her. She was older than she looked, which led most to mistake her for a young, unexperienced girl. The clothes she wore were black and various shades of gray, loose fitting hiding the figure underneath. Her hair appeared muddy brown, until light set it aflame. He found himself sad that she had it braided back, instead of her wild curls.

None of this gave anyone the impression she was anything but the persona she put forth.

But here eyes... That's where the true story laid. Forest of moss, old as stars. It had taken years to reach that level of trust, but she'd opened up eventually...

Hadn't she?

He had been looking at her as he thought, could see her clear as day. But as he watched her walk towards him, she seemed to...flicker. Just for a moment. Like a glitch in a holo.

"Damn it, Kira. You did it to me too."

The smile lingered for a moment before fading - her turn to match him.

"You hid away on a deserted island for twenty years. Just you...and your thoughts. (a pause) I'm surprised it took you so long."

"Kira…"

"You know why."

"She knows nothing of who she is."

"She's safer that way."

"She needs to focus."

"She's stronger than both of us."

"And that's what I'm afraid of!" He had been pacing, but turned to her. "She's our daughter, Kira. That combination-"

"Is why she shouldn't be anywhere near Snoke. That's why I've done everything I've done. To protect her. Protect both of you." A pause. She watched as he looked away, a look of guilt flickering over him. "Oh Luke... It wasn't your fault. Ben- It wasn't you."

"It wasn't you either." He matched her gaze. "You couldn't have convinced Snoke any more than I could Ben." A pause. "And now he has you both."

She reached up to brush a hand against his cheek. He felt nothing but a breeze of air.

"Luke…"

"Come home." She turned away and he moved to keep the eye contact. "We can do more together. You know that. And we both know the danger of you being that...close to the dark…"

"What about Ben?"

"What about Rey?"

"Don't." For a moment the fire of her hair drifted to her eyes. A forest alight.

"Ben is lost."

"He's not-"

"He killed Han! He killed his father."

The silence rang with the memory of another father. Another son.

"It's tearing him apart. He's lost because the conflict within him didn't diminish like Snoke assured him it would."

"And what can you do? As Snoke's…lackey..."

"He has me going to Ben...as Vader." At his incredulous look, she hurried on. "I go as Anakin."

"How does that help?"

"Anakin Skywalker was as bullied and used as Ben is now."

"So are you." He watched as she looked away. Almost abashed. "You didn't come here to argue, I'm sure."

"You have to go back."

"I... I can't. What about Rey? She's still just at the beginning of her training…"

"And you've never experienced training on the go?" She smirked and it was his turn to look away.

"I... Leia…"

"Leia doesn't hate you." She raised her hand to make him look at her and he subconsciously followed. "She's lost her son, now her husband. She needs her brother."

"And I need you."

She gave him a sad smile. "I have never left you. Or Rey. You are both my everything - my reason for doing what I do. You are my light. If anything were to happen... I would have nothing to bring me back."

She reached again for his face. He could almost feel her hand that time... Cold. "Wake up Luke."

There was screaming and explosions.

Wake up…

A sinister whisper... A sinister laugh...

Wake...up...

He sat up with a start, his cloak bunched around him.

"Master... Luke...? Um...is everything alright?"

He ran a hand through his hair, memories flowing - hazy, but clearing. The barrier Kira had put up falling away. "Chewie will be here in a few hours. We should pack."

"Are... We're going somewhere?"

He looked up at her then - seeing her anew with all the reclaimed memories behind it.

"Home. We're going home."