Summary: The storm brings Leia an unexpected visitor. Luke and Rey, however, are not going anywhere anytime soon.

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Rey didn't want to move.

Actually, she wasn't sure she could, not with the comforting weight of Luke's arm draped across her.

He was sprawled on his stomach, still breathing hard, his beard prickling her shoulder. Rey turned her head – all that she could move, really – and faced him.

His eyes were half open. A slow smile spread across his face when he noticed her looking.

And Lord help her, Rey's heart fluttered.

"Hi," she whispered.

"Hi," Luke replied, and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

Rey scooted closer and tugged his arm more fully across her chest. Luke hummed happily, and pulled the covers up over them. Rey sighed with contentment and she pressed her body to his. Somehow, he was even warmer than her.

Luke mumbled a thank you and rested his head against her shoulder. His arm slid lower, and Rey found herself melting further into the mattress as a warm hand cupped her breast.

Luke smiled into her skin. Rey sighed happily, and settled back into the sheets, looping her arm up on the pillows so that she could play with his hair. And keep touching him.

######

Leia peered out the window and frowned.

"Come on Artoo," she said, tapping his leash against the doorframe.

The old dog yawned, got halfway to his feet, and stared at the snow choked window. He huffed, as if incredulous, and plopped back down onto his enormous, plaid pillow near the fireplace.

"You're going to regret this later," she said, shaking her head. "We're supposed to get at least a foot tonight." Leia strode into the living room and knelt at his side. "I know I wouldn't want to use the bathroom in a snowstorm."

Artoo blinked at her, and then hauled himself to his feet with a tired whine.

"Good boy… Come on, this will only take a minute."

Artoo snorted, probably because that certainly wasn't up to her, was it? But he let her clip the leash to his collar.

Leia rubbed his head with a smile, stood, and zipped up her padded, down coat. She led the old Lab to the door, feeling a little like a stuffed potato between the puffy coat and the fuzzy scarf wrapped over her face. She stepped carefully down the deck steps, now thoroughly covered in snow, gasping a bit as Artoo tugged impatiently, throwing her balance off.

"Hold on," she muttered, gripping the railing for support. "Some of us only have two legs."

But she made it, and walked Artoo out into the snow, wincing as the air bit her nose. She could barely make out the fence at the end of the yard – the posts were nothing but gray shadows in the whirl of white.

Artoo's enthusiasm ended when he sunk up to his belly in the snow. He whined, leaped out, and headed down the rapidly disappearing track in the snow that she dug for him. He glanced back at her accusingly as he got down to business.

"I don't make the weather, you goof." Leia grumbled.

Her voice was lost in the wind.

Snow pattered on her coat, some melting immediately, but far more sticking. She squinted, looking out towards the horizon. The view wasn't much better than it had been through her kitchen window.

At least I can see the drop off, she thought.

The lack of visibility was one of the reasons why she had Artoo on the leash. The old dog was smart, but she didn't want him to wander off into the storm. Or slip under the fence, and fall over the cliff into the sea.

The mere thought made her shiver.

And to think it had almost happened to Luke…Twice.

Leia's stomach swooped sickeningly. An old memory resurfaced; Luke clinging to the railing, shaking with cold, his fingers slipping inch by inch as rusted steel groaned. Her fingers tight on the wheel of Han's ship, salt water streaming in through the cracked window, stinging her eyes.

Lando yelling in panic as she angled the Falcon closer, closer to the reef…

"It's a good thing you listen to me," she said. The storm was growing angrier by the minute. She could barely make out the dark, roiling sea. But she could feel it. The surf crashed on the cliff side and growled on the cliffs of the Cove like a wild thing.

Leia glanced back to the house. Warm light shone through the window.

"All set Artoo?" she called, a lump growing in her throat. Artoo barked, shook himself, and bounded back towards her.

Maybe I'll light a fire today, she thought, placing her feet carefully on the slick deck steps. Then, if the power goes out…

And she needed a fire that night. Maybe was the crackling of the flames, or the feeling of stepping into a globe of warmth, but the house always felt less empty.

On a night like this, Leia needed some company.

######

Leia didn't see the truck until it was halfway up the driveway. She had just stoked the fireplace, and was headed for the bedroom to dig her thick, woven afghan out of the closet, anticipating curling up by the fire with a mug of tea, when Artoo jumped up and ran to the door.

Leia peered at the window. Powerful headlights glowed through the snow. She tensed. Then she snapped into action. She pulled on her steel toed boots, snatched the rifle out of the cupboard under the stairs, and planeted herself against the doorframe, out of view.

"Hold on Artoo," she muttered, squinting out into the dark.

Artoo waited next to her, his tail wagging hesitantly.

She edged forward as the engine grew louder.

That engine…

Abruptly, a blocky, gray truck emerged from the storm.

Leia relaxed. She chuckled to herself, and hung up the rifle.

Five minutes later there came a knock on the door. A fountain of inventive cursing erupted as snow slid off the overhang and onto the two shivering figures standing on her doorstep. The taller one laughed roughly, and rumbled something about watching where you stood.

"Leia?"

She let him sweat a little.

Then she opened the deadbolt and ushered him inside.

Artoo barked a greeting and jumped up onto Hans leg, tongue lolling enthusiastically. Leia's husband grinned and rubbed the Lab's head affectionately.

"Boots go over there," she said crisply. Inside, though, she was positively leaping for joy. "You too, Chewie."

Han nodded obediently. He gave her a lopsided, slightly sheepish grin.

"Nice weather were having, isn't it?"

She snorted, and took his coat.

"You should've called," she said, turning toward the kitchen.

"The phone lines are down," he said, his eyes crinkled at the edges. Leia pursed her lips.

"Come on in," she said. "I just started a fire. Oh – take Artoo out, please… He's dying to see you."

"Yes dear," said Han, mock annoyance in his voice. But he grinned, and pulled his boots back on. Chewie chuckled, snow tumbling everywhere as he shook his shaggy head. Leia had once asked the improbably large man when he'd last shaved, and had been pointedly ignored.

"Oh, for…" Leia rolled her eyes as the foyer began to resemble the outside steps. She held up her hand when Chewie tried to step forward. "Coat. Off." She passed him a towel as he laid it across the drying rack. "I just cleaned in here."

"Thank you, Leia," said Chewie, his deep voice rumbling with warmth. "It is good to see you." Leia smiled back.

"And you. Now, come in…Careful!" She nudged Han's friend around the widening puddle of melted snow. "Have a seat. I was just making some tea." She pulled out a chair at the kitchen table.

Han waved at her through the window, his grin evident even through the whirl of snow. Leia couldn't help but grin back.

They had a lot to talk about.

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Notes:

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1. Yay! Han and Chewie!

2. We are officially in the next stage of this story.

3. Yes, Anakin went full Vader in this 'verse. There were problems. But he redeems himself in the end.

4. You know how I mentioned that the reef is dangerous? Especially in the winter? Yep.