Okay, y'all. We're entering The Last Jedi territory. This is where having seen the movies is important, because I'm going to start referencing events that happened without actually showing them. Obviously, things have changed with the simple fact that Han is still alive, but a lot will stay the same, too. (And how fun it was to be able to write Han beyond where his story ended in the movies!)

XXXXXX

Poe wasn't sure how he managed to drag himself out of bed just before dawn, pull on his dress uniform, fix his hair so that it looked at least somewhat contained, and head out to the area where the Millennium Falcon was docked. He had only gotten maybe three hours of sleep the night before. The rest of the time was spent teaching an insatiable young Jedi about the joys of sex.

Three times they had come together, and he had lost count how many times Rey had orgasmed. His body was aching even more than before her hesitant arrival at his door. His lack of real, deep sleep combined with the aftereffects of the torture that still lingered were now joined by his body's reaction to actions and efforts it hadn't had to deal with in almost a year.

Kriff, he thought. It had been almost a year since he had sex! And he knew why. After he had brought Rey back to D'Qar with him, he had not been interested in anyone else. No wonder everyone on base knew he was in love with the woman, as much as he tried to deny it.

He was not going to deny it anymore.

When he reached the open area where the Falcon sat, the sun was starting to rise. He knew he would have to head back to his bunk and sleep, really sleep, after it left, but he was not going to miss seeing Rey and the others off. BB-8 rolled up to him, asking why he wasn't in his room sleeping.

"I'll go back to bed, soon, buddy. I promise. I just wanted to say goodbye to everyone."

Rey had risen and dressed in her sleep clothing shortly before he had gotten out of bed, sneaking back to her quarters. He wondered if her roommates had been aware of her not spending the night in her bed or if they were all out doing maintenance stuff. He looked over and saw her talking to Leia. BB-8 noticed her at the same time and rolled off, twittering that he wanted to say goodbye, too. Poe grinned as the two women looked down at the ball droid, and Rey's soft smile bloomed. She looked up and over at him, then looked back at Leia.

The older woman clasped her hand and said something to her. Rey turned serious and nodded, then looked down at BB-8 as he beeped something to her as well. Leia released her hand and Rey turned toward him. As she walked over to him, Poe couldn't help but feel a bit of gratification as he noticed her gait was a bit shorter than usual; he wasn't the only one sore after last night.

She stopped in front of him, biting her lip self-consciously.

"You take care of yourself," he said softly.

She smiled slightly. "Chewbacca will make sure I do." She glanced over at the Falcon, where Chewie and Han were standing at the foot of the ramp talking with Leia, who had moved over to them. She looked back at Poe. "You better sleep after I leave," she said, then she blushed. "I'm sorry I kept you up all night."

He grinned. "I'm not."

She smiled back. "I'll be back as soon as I can," she assured him. "I know I'm the best one for this, but I hate leaving everyone, especially knowing you'll be evacuating."

He nodded. "Speaking of, how are you going to find us?"

Rey lifted up her arm, showing him a transmitter beacon bracelet on her wrist.

"Leia has the other one, I'm assuming?"

Rey nodded.

"Rey?" Leia called to her, and they both looked over. The General's voice was regretful, but even he knew how important it was for Rey to be on her way.

"Goodbye, Rey," he said softly as Rey looked back at him. "Come back to me."

She nodded, then brought her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tight. He squeezed her back.

"I love you," he murmured into her hair.

Her hold tightened. "I love you, too."

Poe felt his heart leap. It was the first time she had uttered those words, and he hadn't realized how important they were until he heard them.

All too soon she pulled away, then turned and headed for the Falcon without looking back. He could see her wiping her face as she went, and knew there were tears in his own eyes that were threatening to fall. Rey walked past the others and moved up the ramp. R2-D2 and Chewie followed. Han and Leia were giving each other a hug of their own, sharing soft words of endearment, and Poe couldn't help but smile, happy that they had found each other again. Even if Han was leaving again so soon.

It was to bring Leia's brother back to her, so it was okay.

Han turned up the ramp and it closed behind him as Leia moved over to stand next to Poe. The rest of the Resistance members that were still awake gathered behind them. The Falcon roared to life and lifted off with more grace than such a ship should be capable of exhibiting.

As it disappeared above them, Poe glanced at Leia. "Does it get any easier?" he asked quietly. "Watching the people you love leave?"

Leia shook her head softly. "Never."

Poe made his way slowly back to the barracks, making a brief stop at the mess to grab some Haroun bread and blue milk, eating it as he walked. Once back in his quarters, he stripped down to his boxers and crawled back into his mussed bed, not at all concerned with the damp spots he and Rey had created on the sheets. He grabbed the pillow and burrowed his face in it, smiling when he smelled Rey, and quickly fell asleep.

It was more than eleven hours later, with the sun already starting to set on D'Qar, when his chirping comm woke him. He reached for it, his whole body stiff and sore, his head aching. He knew he was going to need another stim shot before he had to get back in the cockpit. He keyed the comm. "Yeah," he croaked, then cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry to wake you, Commander," Lieutenant Connix's voice sounded over the comm. "We just got word from one of our droid spies that a First Order Dreadnaught may be heading this way."

Taking a deep breath, Poe sat up. Damn, they were serious. "How's the evacuation going?"

"The essentials are on the Raddus, but we still have a lot of equipment and munitions down here."

"Get what you can," he told her. "I trust you to use your judgement on what's more important and what we can leave behind. Is the General on the Raddus?"

"Yes, sir."

"Comm all the pilots. I want them in the Command Center in fifteen."

"Yes, sir!"

Within thirty minutes, all Resistance personnel were either on board the Raddus or its two support ships, or working at loading the transports with supplies. Poe left Connix in charge of that while he went over his plan of attack for the coming Dreadnaught. Snap, Karè, Suralinda, and Wrobie had left for a mission for Leia a couple hours previously ("she wasn't going to wake you," C'ai told him), but Poe trusted that the pilots still here could handle what was coming.

Before he made his way to Black One, Poe checked in with Dr. Kolonia and her patients, including Finn.

Finn's arm was healing well, but it would scar. "It didn't even bleed," he told Poe. "But kriff it hurt!"

"I bet, buddy," Poe laughed. "I think you have the honor of being one of the few people in the galaxy injured by a lightsaber!"

"It was worth it," Finn told him. "Ren was going to kill his father. You could see it in his eyes. But he stopped, like he got distracted or something."

"Rey," Poe told him. "He sensed Rey in the battle above."

Finn nodded, an awed expression on his face. "Anyway, Han ran back to Chewie and Chewie set off the bombs they had set. I met up with them half-way to the Falcon, and Ren was almost on them, too, so I distracted him." He looked down at his arm. "I guess I wasn't fast enough."

Poe laughed. "I'd say you were. You're still alive!"

Kalonia walked up to them. "I suppose you want another stim shot?" She looked disapproving but he knew she would concede it was necessary. She looked at Finn. "You have been discharged, and the General would love to have you on the Command ship to offer advice if you'd like?" She moved toward her medical bag.

Finn looked startled and looked back at Poe. "Do we know for sure they're coming?"

"Word is it they're sending a dreadnaught."

"Kriff."

"Yeah."

Finn thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'll help where I can," he finally said softly, but Poe could tell he was nervous. He wondered if the young man was regretting his choice to stay and help the Resistance rather than just run. If he was captured, the First Order would show him no mercy.

Poe grasped his shoulder and squeezed gently. "Thank you," he said with emotion, hoping Finn recognized his immense gratitude.

Kalonia came back with the stim shot. "Commander? This better be the last one for a while."

"We can only hope."

XXXXXX

Rey sat on the hard stone bench, more confused than she had ever been in her life.

She had found Luke Skywalker. She knew it was him. He was much older looking than the holos she had seen, but his eyes were the same. He had been standing alone on top of one of the tallest summits on this strange island, and he had seemed startled to see her. Had he not heard the Falcon land on the beach down below? Had he not sensed her through the Force?

And why had his eyes gone cold as she told him who she was and why she was there? Why had he stormed past her, marching back down the trail she had come up, taking a sharp right just past the lip of a steep drop-off? She had followed him into what looked like a simple village. He had entered a small stone hut and slammed a metal door. She could hear the bolt as he locked it behind him.

When her polite taps and more explanations didn't get a response, she called in the big guns. She commed Han.

"I found him," she said tentatively. "I… I must have said something wrong. He completely ignored me and locked himself inside what I think is his home." She paused. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I said to make him mad."

She heard a heavy sigh on the other end of the comm. "Kid, I'm 100% certain you didn't do or say anything wrong. There's a reason he came here, remember? I don't think he's happy being found." There was a pause. "Did you tell him you came with me and Chewie?"

"No," Rey said. "I just told him that his sister sent me. That the Resistance needed his help."

"We're on our way," he said, sounding a little less than enthusiastic about the climb ahead of him.

So, Rey waited, staring at the door. She glanced around at the other huts. They looked occupied, but so far, she had not seen anyone else. Their doorways were simple drapes, not metal panels that could be bolted shut. She looked around the barren but strangely beautiful area. It was cool, but not cold, with a brisk wind blowing off the sea. Clouds scuttled quickly across the sky, allowing the sun to shine for brief moments, but Rey gathered due to the green vegetation all around her that there would be rain sooner rather than later.

Finally, Han and Chewie came over the rise. Chewie was leading the way, and he turned to wait for his partner, who was huffing and puffing along behind him. Rey understood his distress; she hadn't exactly reached the top of this mountain with all her breath, either.

"I'm getting too old for this shit," Han muttered as he made his way over to Rey. He plopped himself down next to her on the bench eyeing the closed door. "Is it locked?"

"I heard what sounded like a bolt from the inside," she told him. "And it didn't budge when I tapped on it. No handle or latch that I can see."

He nodded, then looked at Chewie, who was also eyeballing the door, a contemplative tilt to his head. "Let's do this," he said to his partner.

Rey watched as Han stood and he and Chewie moved over to the door. Han knocked firmly, but didn't say anything.

Nothing.

He knocked again and got a response this time. "I said go away!"

Han and Chewie looked at each other, and Rey could tell by their expressions that it was indeed Skywalker inside the hut. Han shrugged, then backed up a step, motioning toward the door. Chewie stepped forward, raised his fists, and pounded on the door with both of them. Once. Twice. Rey could see the metal bend with the strength of his fists. Then the Wookiee backed up, lifted a foot, and kicked the door.

The metal plate came off its hinges and disappeared inside the hut. Rey could hear shouting and watched as Chewie stepped inside, roaring at the occupant, saying that they "asked nicely and you didn't listen, so you lose your door!"

Han grinned at Rey as Luke shouted a startled, "Chewie!"

Rey got up and followed Han as he moved to the now open door. He leaned on the jamb, his arms folded. "You know, kid. You should have known you couldn't hide forever."

"Han?" Luke's voice was weaker now. "I…"

Rey stepped forward just in time to see Chewie wrap Luke in a hug. Skywalker closed his eyes, shaking his head, but he reached an arm up around Chewies bicep, hugging him back. Chewie stepped back, releasing Luke, and the grizzled man looked at Han, a combination of anger and affection on his face. He glanced at Rey, frowning once more, then looked back at Han.

"How?"

"It's a long story, kid," Han responded. He motioned back outside toward the bench. "Wanna talk about it before you use a Mind Trick and send us on our way?"

Luke sighed. "I wouldn't do that." He stepped out past them and sat heavily on the bench. Han moved to sit next to him and Chewie and Rey moved to stand in front of them.

"You didn't make it easy," Han continued. "It was a group effort, finding you, and you're fortunate the First Order didn't get here first."

Luke glared at Han. "Maybe that would have been for the best," he grumbled. "It would have been nice to get it over with."

"Get what over with?" Han growled. "Your self-pity party?"

Luke sighed and looked away. "You wouldn't understand."

"Why?" Han said sharply. "Because I'm not a freaking Jedi? Or because I'm emotionally involved?"

"What happened was my fault, Han!"

"You still believe that?" the pilot argued. "After all this time alone to contemplate what happened, you still blame yourself for something that was inevitable?"

"It was not inevitable," Luke denied. "Ben was good. Ben was the best of both you and Leia. I ruined that with my mistrust!"

"Sithspit!" Han practically shouted. "We all know Snoke was influencing him long before he finally turned. Just because one mistake on your part set him off doesn't mean some other little thing later on wouldn't have done the same." He shook his head. "Leia and I finally had a long talk just before I came here. We all should have noticed sooner that something was wrong and faced it. Leia felt it, but she ignored it. You felt it, but you thought you could train it out of him. I might have even felt it, but I was in denial, imagining that our love was enough to beat off the Dark Side." He paused. "And maybe it was. Maybe if we had all been on the same page, focused and aware, we could have kept him from…" His voice broke. He took a deep breath. "Losing both you and Ben, and then me, almost broke Leia. But it didn't. She's the strongest of all of us. So, we need to let her show us the way."

"The way?"

"He almost killed me. I thought I had him. I thought I had found my son again. But his eyes changed, right in front of me." He shook his head, then motioned to Rey. "She's the reason I'm still alive. He felt her, in the sky above, fighting in her X-Wing." He took another deep breath. "Leia feels Rey is the answer to all of this. That her light is so strong it will not only help us defeat the First Order, but bring Ben back."

Luke was staring at her, now. "You're that strong?"

Rey shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious as he scrutinized her. "I don't know," she said honestly. "I… something inside me… has always been there… Leia recognized it. I didn't know what it was, or how to handle it. She's shown me, but she's convinced you can help me more." She took a deep breath and straightened up. "Having met you, I'm not so sure of that."

Han started chuckling, but Luke just watched her, his expression contemplative. He looked at Han. "How bad is it?"

"You don't know?" Han responded.

Luke looked away, grimacing.

"You've closed yourself off to the Force," Rey suddenly realized. "That's why you were surprised to see me. Why you didn't know we were here."

"And why you don't know that the First Order destroyed a whole star system," Han added, understanding what Rey was saying.

Luke looked at him, his eyes wide.

"The Hosnian System is gone. Just like Alderaan. Billions gone. Without a chance to fight or even time to prepare."

"How?" Luke whispered, his expression devastated.

"A weapon that we managed to destroy," Han answered. "Made out of what was left of Ilum."

Luke looked away, but then his expression hardened. "And you think what? That I'm going to walk out with a laser sword and face down the whole First Order?" He motioned toward Rey. "Show her just how powerful she is and watch her turn to the Dark Side?" He stood. "Do you think I came to the most unfindable place in the galaxy for no reason at all?" He started walking away from them, his shoulders slumped. "Go away."

"We're not leaving without you!" Rey said, her voice firm. Han stood and grasped her arm lightly, keeping her from following Luke as he left the village.

"Give him some time to think," he told her.

"I think he's had plenty of time to think," Rey responded angrily.

"Yeah, but he has new information now." He glanced at his brother-in-law and friend. "His heart won't keep him from helping. Especially if we can get him to open up to the Force again."

"And how do we do that?"

Han's smile could only be described as devious.

XXXXXX