#leia was having the worst day of her life so far

[dilfdarthvader]

this is the most minor nitpick but y'all. vader did not order the destruction of alderaan.

[otterandterrierwrites]

For the number game

3, 5, 23?

There are 60 000 possibilities, but of course there are identical asks in less than a 100 cases, I focused very hard to find something random enough lol.

14 Days of Scoundress 2024 ♥ February 10th

The importance of optics

Some days, it seemed like everybody wanted a piece of Leia. That was how it had been for most of her life; a path first chosen for her, then chosen by her, with full knowledge of the implications. Her parents, her wonderful, caring, loving parents, had modelled for her the kind of boundaries she was allowed to have, the compromises she did not have to make—but even with that, hers was a life of service. And so everybody was bound to want a piece of her—it was up to Leia to decide how much she was willing to give.

On days even worse than that, it seemed like people not only wanted a piece of her, but to slice it up themselves, dissect it, and sell the scrap to the highest bidder. That was when her charity of the self hit the limit.

We commend you for the way you handle your private life, Your Highness, you are so discreet about matters of the heart, Your Highness, of course you’re more aware than anyone of the importance of optics in the success of the new government, Your Highness, we believe it would be most advantageous to continue to pursue discretion regarding your ‘relationship’ with Captain Solo, Your Highness, it’s simply a matter of keeping our bargaining options open and ensure the future of our people, Your Highness, I know your parents would have recognized the importance of that, and that you would do anything to honour their memory, Your Highness.

Oh, Threkin Horm had chosen the absolute worst day to say those words in that order to her face. Frankly, it would have pissed her off any time, but she might have been able to brush it off had she not been dealing with too much already—including Han’s recent and mercifully brief  M.I.A. status—to also have to put up with this guy. Discretion! The main reason she and Han had been discreet was that they were still consistently being pulled apart by their respective duties, something she—and, clearly, Horm—had reason to believe would change soon.

While Leia had chosen to stay out of the politics of the diaspora, she didn’t like Horm’s swift ascent within the provisional Alderaanian Council. If he continued to believe he had any say in her life just by virtue of being a—grossly rich and powerful—survivor, then she would have to take matters into her own hands.

There had been a few possible answers to his request. Dressing him down had been the most tempting but, after taking a few seconds to consider it, Leia had decided a far more effective response would do. At the time, however, she’d thanked him for his input, and assured him that she took the importance of optics to heart.

And she did.

The campaign against the last major Imperial remnant, an annoying stone in the New Republic's shoe for the past several months, had been successful, and the provisional government was eager to welcome Han's team as heroes. In addition to the families, the press had been invited to wait for the arrival of the fleet back to Coruscant. Somehow, Threkin Horm was there as well, as Leia knew he would be. He had the uncanny ability to insert himself into almost any situation—only as long as it would report an advantage for him. What he could possibly gain from being there, Leia wasn’t sure. She suspected he just wanted the chance to monitor her closely, a reminder of their agreement.

All thoughts of Horm evaporated as soon as the Mon Remonda’s ramp lowered, and Han walked down with a swagger only Leia could recognize as a little tired. She waited with her breath trapped in her throat, her heart matching the beat of his steps as he continued forward, a little unsure of what to do with all the attention as the crowd applauded. Other soldiers began to appear behind him and, before the rest of the people waiting for their loved ones broke out of the crowd, Leia marched straight to Han.

He grinned when he spotted her, his posture relaxing at the familiar sight, and Leia could see the exact moment he realized she wasn’t stopping to say hello. Conscious of the cam droids at her back, she threw her arms around Han’s neck and kissed him, her feet leaving the ground as he caught her. Leia didn’t mean to give everyone a peep show, but it was hard to let go of Han, as weeks of worrying and yearning for him coalesced into their reunion. When she finally broke apart, she stood a moment with her forehead pressed against his, eyelashes fluttering against his cheek as she caught her breath.

‘Wow. Hi,’ Han said quietly, setting her gently back on her feet.

‘Hi.’

‘Did you miss me, or are you just usin’ me to get on the tabloids?’ He smirked at her as she held onto his arm, taking advantage of a few more seconds together while security began to herd the press into order for a brief conference.

‘Let's just say that somebody recently made me realize that I want the public to know about us. Unequivocally.’

Han’s eyes softened as he looked at her, and only her. 

‘Good,’ he said, pressing a kiss into her temple.

Out of the corner of her eye, Leia spotted a red-faced Threkin Horm shooting daggers at them, but Leia couldn’t bring herself to care anymore—her point had been made.

******* Prompts:

3: hello

5: “…Wow.”

23: [butterfly] a light fluttering of eyelashes against the partner's skin

[walkawaytall]

Okay, I have this thing I wrote initially as the opener of a ficlet for one of the prompts I have y’all choose for me blindly and it simply was going to be too long, so I ended up doing something else, but some of it amuses me a lot and I just feel like posting it here. Happy Sunday. Have 600+ words of a fic that was going nowhere, I guess?

(Maybe it’ll go somewhere eventually. I did this once before and it ended up in part of Terrified Without You.)

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

They were the government’s worst-kept secret, or so the latest interviewers claimed. Leia would argue that was because they weren’t a secret at all. They hadn’t hidden their relationship — anyone from the Alliance who went about claiming ignorance of her affection for Han Solo was being intentionally obtuse in her opinion — but she also didn’t take time out of her day to answer questions about her love life.

“It’s insulting,” she told Luke over lunch. “My mother was never asked personal questions about my father during interviews about policies, at least not by Alderaanian interviewers.”

“Alderaan was special,” Luke said noncommittally, but Leia could practically hear him think, Playing nice might not hurt, though.

Or, she actually heard the thought, which meant he either let it slip or was shielding incredibly sloppily. Probably the latter. Luke was a gifted fighter and a much more patient Force-user than Leia, but even he admitted his shielding capabilities on his best days were weaker than hers on her worst.

They had a deal to let the other know if they suspected a thought came through unintentionally, and Leia was rarely subtle about doing so. She looked her brother in the eye and said, “I was perfectly nice. They’re the ones who said the interview was going to be centered on the war tribunals and instead prepared fifteen questions about my relationship with Han.”

Luke grimaced, likely because of his slip-up, but pressed on regardless. “Were they maybe trying to humanize you a little? Make you sound relatable?”

Leia shook her head. She had assumed that was the case with the first Han-centered question, which was why she answered it in the first place. But it had quickly become apparent that the team asking her questions had far more inquiries about her personal life than they did about her work to end galaxy-wide fascism.

“I asked to see their list of questions after I confirmed that Han and I maintain a close relationship,” she told Luke. “I didn’t make that number up: fifteen questions about us. Four related to the work I’m doing.”

He shot her a look. “‘Maintain a close relationship?’”

Leia blinked. “We do.”

“You’re engaged!”

She took a bite of the soup in front of her before looking at her brother. Leia knew she sounded ridiculous, but Luke was the one pointing it out; doubling down seemed like the only logical option. “I would argue that planning to marry is one of the closest relationships I could possibly maintain.”

Leia! Luke’s thought was pointed, chastising, and stung like an electric shock. “Are you hiding your relationship?” he asked. “Because you’re doing a terrible job if that’s what you’re attempting to do.”

“No!” Leia insisted. “I honestly thought between the bracelet and the braid, people would get the idea.” She hadn’t exactly been subtle. The bracelet was obviously a Corellian commitment token, a discovery that could be made by any being with access to the HoloNet and three seconds of spare time, and anyone who hadn’t spotted the Alderaanian betrothal braid in her hair for the past two months was blind. “Luke, it’s not about hiding anything. It’s about keeping the press on task when they try to ambush me.”

Luke raised his eyebrows. “All right. I believe you,” he said, though Leia wasn’t sure if he actually believed her or if he just wanted to believe her.

She had nothing to prove to the press. Their pretenses were frustrating on a good day. But she also didn’t want to hold herself back to spite them. She wasn’t sure if Han would make it back planetside from the mission he had been on in time for the charity event she had to attend that evening, but if he did…well, it would be the first big event since the war had ended that they would be attending as a couple. They could get their confirmation there, she supposed.

[minaharker1897]

Gifts

(Takes place in an AU where Vader found Leia mere hours after her birth and they overthrew the emperor together)

(Also note: includes some descriptions of disembodied limbs and tissues. Idk why I even wrote this lol)

Leia waited outside the medical floor, pacing. Her father had broken one of his prosthetic limbs, and it had damaged the skin underneath.

Why did he have to suffer this much?

She stared at her own prosthetic. One of the inquisitors had removed her right arm during the battle for the throne, and her father had gone ballistic, sparing none of them. Afterwards, he made sure that she was fitted with the best prosthesis available, even using synthetic skin and sensory receptors.

It was close to the real thing. But it felt odd, foreign, and disconnected somehow. She couldn’t imagine how her father felt, with all of his limbs gone and his lungs damaged so badly he can’t remember any sensation besides pain.

If only she could help….

Wait….

***

Leia braced herself as she lay down in the bed, her father’s medical droid getting ready to take the bone biopsy. They were going to take samples of all her tissues so they had cells to clone with her father’s DNA (they were genetically close enough that they didn’t have to take specific samples of his tissues.), and create new limbs for him.

This was the one she had dreaded the most.

After about ten minutes of some of the worst pain of her life, the droid wrapped the wound and left.

Her father seriously programmed the droid to do these things without anesthetic? Sheesh. She slowly sat up and went about her day, trying her best to act normal through the pain.

***

It was an accident, really. Leia had wrecked one of his prosthetic hands during practice (he was extremely proud of her because of it) and was just going to get it patched up.

The droid fixed his arm as he did imperial business, although it took slightly longer than usual….

Until he felt a prick of…. Pain?

His eyes darted downwards to see that where his robotic arm was sat an actual arm… one of flesh and bone.

He could feel his hand again… no, that had to be his imagination… but was it? He made a fist and let it go, feeling the blood flow strengthen in his fingertips.

He had an arm. He finally had an arm….

“F22, where did you get this?”

The droid merely beeped at him in response, a simple “cloning.”

The droid pulled out another cryobox, this time holding two legs and an arm, with several skin grafts near it, one covered in hair follicles.

Chestnut. Just like his…..

“Where did you….?”

“Cloning, master. Would you like them attached?”

“Yes.”

***

Leia had pleural tissue taken halfway through the surgery so that it could stay vitalized. She hoped her father would be okay with what she had done. She knew he would feel guilty if he ever found out that it was his daughter’s donations that created his new limbs.

Say what you would about him, he cared about her.

***

The first thing he noticed was that everything was cold. He opened his eyes and everything was…. Colorful. Not red. Not robotic. Human.

He slowly reached up to his head and felt… hair. Oh, it had been so long, so very long! He ran his fingers through it, relishing how soft it was. And his lungs…. They didn’t hurt. The suit was gone, gone forever!

He looked in the mirror on the far wall. It appeared that he was paler than he was before, but that would change with more time outside. He just looked like himself, maybe slightly older.

The door slowly opened and his daughter walked in.

His daughter….

She was beautiful. Just like his Padmé. Just like his angel…. He hadn’t known her eyes were blue… or that her hair was the exact shade of her mother’s…. Or that she even had a smattering of freckles across her cheeks, just like his.

He was finally seeing her with his own eyes.

“Leia….”

“Dad!” She threw her arms around him… and he could feel it.

It felt… good. Human.

His eyes welled with tears as he squeezed her back.

***

Three weeks later and he still hadn’t found out.

Half the fleet didn’t recognize him without the suit, but he had quickly proven that he was just as ferocious and capable as before. Grand Moff Piett was extremely pleased to see the emperor so happy. He had been in such a good mood, in fact, that he had allowed his nephew Macaeus to come in as an officer.

Indeed, his good mood had spread through the palace, and was making everywhere a better place for everyone.

***

[akali-blade]

The Great Grandchildren

Chapter 1

Traveling through time was not on their agenda, yet, they have no choice. Can they save the galaxy? Can they change the fate of their family? Can Allana Solo and Animé Skywalker make things right?

~~~~~~~~~

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”

When Animé Skywalker thought of running, she never imagined running for her life. Well…that wasn’t entirely true. She had been in hiding for what seemed to be most of her life. She and her cousin Allana Solo had been hiding from Jedi haters, bounty hunters, and worst of all…Allana’s father. 

Darth Caedus.

For seven years, Animé had been on the run from Jacen Solo. Her father, Ben Skywalker and her mother, Vestara Khai, were both killed trying to save her. Great Aunt Leia and Great Uncle Han had taken her in, along with Allana, when they were younger. 

Jacen seemed to be taking up the old Sith sport in hunting for remaining Jedi and either turning them into slaves for the Sith, or killing them. Currently they were on the plant Lothal, almost hiding in plain sight it would seem. Of course, the surnames Skywalker and Solo were hailed as powerful names. Not just anyone held those names. So in order to hide, Animé and Allana changed their surnames, taking on the name Adova. 

Looking out the window where she worked as a seamstress, Animé shook her head. Once again she was lost in thought, and if her boss hadn’t loved her, she would’ve been fired long ago.

“Ani! Is your head in the clouds again?” 

Animé snorted and smiled at her cousin.

“‘Course not Lana, I have too much work to be completed for my head to be swimming up there with purrgils,” she laughed. She looked back at the work in front of her and continued her project. Hearing Allana snort, she turned her head to Allana’s direction, raising a single brow.

“Please, dear cousin, I know you better than that, what’s on your mind?” Blue eyes met blue, and Allana challenged her to spout another lie. 

Animé sighed, why couldn’t the Force be kinder to her family? Her family always had a knack for getting too chummy with the Darkside, only two members, which was still too many, ever fell. The rest toed the line but managed to be brought back to the light. Including her.

“Your father, Lana…your father.”

Instantly, Allana’s eyes dimmed, and her playful mood vanished. “Oh…I see.”

Animé gave her a sympathetic gaze, one which Allana waved away. Allana knew all too well how her cousin felt.

“One day...everything will be set right, Ani...one day, whether or not the Skywalkers and Solos live,” Allana said firmly. Only the family truly knows how much the Skywalkers play a part in the galaxy falling Yet, time and time again, the Skywalkers were the saviors of the galaxy. 

“But, what if Jacen does hunt us down, and he kills-”

Allana interrupted Animé harshly, “he won’t! My fath-my father wouldn’t be so cruel.” Tears gathered in her eyes as Animé came closer to wrap her arms around her.

“Of course, Lala,” calling her by her first nickname when they were just younglings, “I was insensitive to even consider it.” Although, she kept her thoughts to herself. After all, it was Jacen who killed her Grandma Mara.

“It’s alright, I thought about it too, it just...hurts..y’know?” Allana sniffled and backed away from the hug, wiping stray tears away. Animé nodded, hesitantly turning back to her station. Allana followed her lead and they finished their work in silence.

“I want to see a purrgil,” Allana said suddenly as they were putting their tools back in their proper places. Animé choked on her caf.

“Wh-where did this topic come from?” Allana giggled and handed Animé some paper towels to dry her face.

“You mentioned it earlier, I wonder how they look, and how big they are.”

Animé tapped her chin thoughtfully and shrugged on her bag, “probably really, really, really, big, they’re hyperspace whales for Force’s sake!” 

Allana styled her hair in two buns that closely resembled how her grandmother Leia used to style her hair. “True, you think they can travel anywhere? I heard deep space pilots talk about it once, they can travel between galaxies!”

The girls waved goodbye to their coworkers and headed home, to a house near the outskirts of the city. 

~~~~~~~~~

“We’re home,” Allana called out, putting her shoes away on a bench near the front door.

An elderly woman with graying hair walked to them, kissing them both on the cheek. “You came just in time, dinner is ready, go wash your hands.” The girls nodded. 

Walking back to the dining room, Allana, refreshed and dressed in a white top and black sleep pants, noticed that her Grandpa Han was already there at the table.

“Hey, kid, what took you so long?” Han raised an eyebrow as he drank some blue milk.

“Mé and I wanted to freshen up,” she shrugged, taking a seat next to him.

“Speaking of Mé, where is she?”

“Getting dressed.”

Han hummed, going back to the holo news. Leia came with a tray full of steaming, hot vegetables and meat. Animé came back dressed in a black nightgown. 

She set dead birds on plates, calling Anji and Sari, the medium sized nexu and Lothal wolf padded down the hallway.

“Yum,” Animé sniffed, entering the kitchen, “I smell Shaak meat.”

“Come sit, dear, tell us about work.” Leia beckoned Animé over to the table. As the four members of the family helped themselves, Allana and Animé recalled events that happened during their shift.

“There was a going away party��”

“–and it was amazing–!”

“–one of the older workers was retiring–” 

“–it was kinda sad to see her leave–”

“–but it was wholesome in the end.” Han and Leia chuckled, their eyes sparkling. 

“Sounds like fun, girls,” Han commented. He and Leia shared a sad look, one that was missed between the younger girls. 

“Grandpa, is it okay if we could fly tomorrow, on the Falcon?” Allana asked, shoving her greens around on her plate. Animé’s eyes lit up and she clapped her hands twice.

“Yeah, can we? We promise to be careful, it’s our day off tomorrow,” Animé added after swallowing a bite of Nuna Legs. Leia hummed thoughtfully.

“I suppose...but only if you promise not to leave the planet.”

Han looked scandalized, “That’s my ship you are talking about…but, I suppose you could, don’t go breaking it now, that’s the only thing I have left.”

The two girls cheered and talked excitedly to each other.

“Oh, see what you did, Leia? Now we’ll never hear the end of this for the rest of dinner,” Han complained jokingly, he winced when Leia landed a swift jab to his arm.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Animé and Allana woke up bright and early, excited. Allana dressed in a short white cropped top, with beige pants, dark brown boots, and an olive green jacket. Styling her hair into twin pigtails.

Animé, wore a short black cropped top, paired with a matching dark gray cropped jacket and skirt. She buckled on her black knee high boots and parted her hair, styling it into a half-up half-down.

When she arrived at the kitchen, Leia was sipping caf chatting quietly with her husband.

“Aunt Leia, Uncle Han,” Animé greeted warmly, giving the two a kiss on the cheek, “is Allana still in her room?”

Leia nodded, “there is some breakfast on the counter, I made pannacakes.”

Allana ran straight to the kitchen, offering a quick hello to the three people occupying the living room.

“Pannacakes!” Shouted Allana in glee. Animé laughed and followed her to the kitchen. Grabbing a healthy serving they returned to the living room and turned on the HoloNet.

It was a quiet morning with the Skywalker-Solos. The soft chatter coming from the HoloNet made everything feel homey, cozy, full of peace.

“Mmm, those were the best, Grandma, thanks so much,” Allana praised. Han grinned.

“You should’ve tasted her food back when we first married, she was awfu–hey! What was that for!” Han suddenly yelped.

“You nerfherder, I have always been a great cook,” Leia sent him the stink eye, mouthing promising words of punishment. Animé rolled her eyes in amusement and shook her head, leaving the two alone.

She grabbed her cousin’s dish and washed it, putting them on the rack.

“You ready to go flying, Ani?” 

“Obviously, wanting to fly runs in the family,” they both grinned at the statement, knowing how true it was.

“Grandma, Grandpa, we’re heading out now.”

Just as they turned to leave, Han called them back to the living room.

“Just a minute, Leia, go grab them, you know where you hid it.”

The older woman stood up and went into her and Han’s room, the two younger girls shared a confused look.

“Uncle, what is it?”

“While we know you’re just out flying, we still want you to be safe, and well…”

Leia came back, holding a box that was crafted using Naboo’s style.

“Here are your lightsabers, use it only in an emergency,” she opened the box, two lightsabers lay there next to a severed braid and a Japor snippet, along with a few letters and other small trinkets.

“Wow,” Allana gasped softly. Animé glanced at the other contents.

“What is that, Aunt Leia?”

Leia looked pained, “according to the research I did all those years ago, this braid belonged to my father, and the necklace was given to my mother, a gift also from my father…it was rescued after she was burned at the pyre on Naboo,” she heaved a large sigh, Han had a look of sympathy at his wife’s sadness, “this made me believe Anakin Skywalker was more human before he turned, that he loved Padmé Amidala truly.”

Leia gave Allana her lightsaber, “I hope you don’t lose it, don’t follow the old Skywalker tradition of misplacing one’s lightsaber, your Uncle Anakin, father and Uncle Luke tended to do this.” Allana gave a small smile and nodded, promising she wouldn’t. She scooted back, wanting to get reacquainted with her weapon.

The woman turned to her niece, “I know you haven’t built your lightsaber yet, so I decided to keep this tradition,” she pulled out the other lightsaber, while it was clean, Animé knew it saw many battles, “this was your Grandma Mara’s, before that, it was your Grandpa Luke’s…and before that, it was your great grandfather’s,” Animé took it hesitantly, not sure if she was ready to continue the Skywalker legacy, she felt Allana sending her comfort through the Force, promising her that will continue it together.

Han came over and gave the Japor snippet to Animé, while he gave a small silver headpiece to Allana. 

“This headpiece signified the Goddess of freedom on Naboo, or whatever hokey-pokey they believed in–” Han was cut off when Leia punched him, causing the two girls to set off in fits of laughter. Animé put on the Japor snippet and helped Allana redo her hair, styling it into a half-up half-down as well, they gingerly fit the headpiece on.

They grinned, they had something connected to their great grandparents.

“While we love these gifts, we’re just going out for a ride, it’s not like we’re leaving the planet or whatever,” Allana ended up saying after a few minutes of silence.

“We wanted to give this to you long ago, but we felt that now was the time,” Leia explained, closing the box and putting it on the table, Han came over and gave her a hug. Animé and Allana saw how old and weary they looked. They saw many tragedies, and they vowed to set things right…however they were going to do it.

“We love you, now go off on your adventure, but be back before sundown,” Han kicked them out with a laugh. The girls clipped their sabers to their belt,  gave them a hug and waved goodbye, running out the door and into the garage.

“Anji, Sari, let’s go, it’s time for our trip,” Allana whistled, the big beasts following the sound.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“WAHOOOO!” Allana yelled out in pure excitement. It was Animé’s turn to fly and she did a series of twists, turns, and other near-death tricks.

“I can’t believe he let us fly!” 

“The Force works in mysterious ways,” Allana said wisely, nodding her head slowly, as if she was an old wisened Jedi Master. Animé laughed when her cousin let out a startled gasp.

“Ani! Look!” She pointed to a large blue hole, swirling in the sky.

The two slowly looked at each other and slow grins formed into smirks.

A Skywalker smirk.

Animé suddenly caused the ship to move forward and fly faster in the hole’s direction. They gaped, the Falcon stopping a few hundred feet away. The hole was blue on the rim and pitch black in the center. Purple dust fell continuously as it slowly rotated in a slow motion.

“What is this…” Animé whispered. Allana shook her head slowly.

“Whatever it is, it can’t be good, we have to go.” Animé nodded in agreement, and set the course back home. 

But they didn’t move after she punched in the coordinates.

The ship started to slowly glide forward, up into the portal’s center.

“Mé…?”

Animé had a terrified look on her face, “The ship is moving on its own, Lana!”

Soon the girls were pressing every button, trying to stop the ship. They screamed when they finally entered the hole. A white light blinded them for a moment. When suddenly a different world seemed to exist in front of their eyes.

Luminescent purple trees, blue grass that lit the way for anyone who walked across it, five moons were shown. Animé and Allana’s jaws dropped in sheer wonder.

Stars twinkled in the night sky, crystal butterflies danced with wind. 

“What is this place?” Anime gasped once again.

“This is the homeworld, the afterlife, the Force.” A voice answered, making the girls jump up in surprise.

“You will make things right, my children. You must not delay.”

“What do you mean? What’s going on?” Allana said.

“I believe in you, save my son and the galaxy, show my son back to the path of the light.”

“W-wait! No! Don’t go!” They shouted in unison. 

But, the world around them started to blur, the ship beeped and sirens were making themselves known to the girls who broke out of their stupor.

“Animé, help me with this!”

“I’m trying to stop the ship from breaking, Allana!”

The Falcon gave a violent shake, causing the girls to be thrown out the cockpit, hitting their heads against the wall.

Their eyes slowly closed.

Falling into a dreamless sleep, they could only hear one thing:

“Save him.”

Then all was pitch black.

[ellieandallthingsfuzzy]

Circles

 Summary: Part II to Midnight Delusions where Luke's concern for your mental health gets worse, and you meet and old friend of the family's.

Warnings: Intense descriptions of anxiety and psychosis, elements of horror,

 "Last night was the worst one yet and I'm afraid that it will only get worse." 

Chewie's guttural yawn could be heard from a distance over the hologram. Leia glanced to the side once before meeting Luke's eye again.

"When was the last episode?" 

"About a fortnight ago," he sighed. "I'm at a loss for what to do anymore other than how I take care of her now." 

Leia's heart sunk at the sight of her brave twin looking more defeated than ever. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes were puffed and glazed over. 

"You haven't slept much, have you?"

Another sigh, and then "I'm afraid of her waking up without me." 

Her heart went from her stomach to her feet at that. 

"She seems to be alright in the day when I'm with my students, but then when the sun goes down I think that's when it gets worse." 

"Is there anyone with her in that time?" 

"R2 is always nearby." 

There was a long moment of silence between them as they pondered. Leia was especially saddened to hear of your worsening condition. The two of you were almost as close to each other as you were to Luke. Anytime she visited, he had to practically compete for your attention because you were always glued to her side, and her, yours. Sometimes you two even slept in the same bed, which makes him just the tiny bit jealous, but ultimately he was happy that the two most important women in his life loved each other just as much as he loved them.

"I'm on a mission as an ambassador to Mygeeto at the moment, but I will come see you two at the earliest opportunity. I regret that it's already been this long since my last visit…"

Luke smiled softly. "Worry not, dear sister. I always feel you in the force." 

"And I, you." She said, voice starting to trail off. "I must leave for now, but I will stay in touch." She said regrettably. He nodded before they said their goodbyes and Luke was left alone in the room again. 

Another great breath of air deflated his chest as he studied the forest outside the window. All the vibrant green bamboo trees and the leaves that always seemed to be reaching out to touch you. A truly gorgeous place. 

You'd gone out for a walk maybe an hour earlier after waking up to Luke still rubbing your hair back from your forehead. Your eyes had fluttered sleepily as you registered his puffy eyed stare and his sad smile while he asked you how you were feeling today. 

You gave a big stretch and a tired whine before telling him you felt fine so far. 

"How about I make us something to eat, yeah?" His voice was still at half volume. 

You'd gently shook your head.

"I'm not really hungry yet." 

You'd quietly slipped on your boots and one of your oversized black cloaks: a hand-me-down from Luke. And then you were off, trudging aimlessly and thoughtlessly through the trees and the grass. You were weary as always about possible hallucinations but they usually stayed away for a good chunk of the day. Things only got bad when the sky starts to dim.

But right now, you were relieved and contented to have full control of your own mind and soon, you found a comfortable spot by a pond where you sat with your legs bent on either side of you. Curious frogs and other strange bugs pirouette around your presence. You giggled to yourself while you let some of them crawl up and down your arm and weave between your fingers. You even let a spider explore the surface of your face before gently guiding it back down into your palm again. 

You always had a special relationship with the wildlife here. The animals and the trees and even the dirt beneath your feet. Perhaps that was why Luke picked this place out for the two of you. It was special and it was easy to strengthen one's connection with not only the force, but the universe itself. It was a soothing remedy to your delicate mind. Like being kissed and tucked back into bed after a horrible nightmare. 

"You have a strong connection to the force here." 

You froze, refusing to look at who spoke or to even blink. Was this a real person or was this another product of your damaged psyche?

"But you're not a force user, are you?" 

The sound of footsteps approaching set every one of your nerves on edge and you started to shake. The spider you were holding scurried away after sensing your fear along with most of the bugs and frogs that have also come to visit. 

The footsteps stopped about a meter away and finally, you turned to the side just slightly to see a tall figure looking down at you, but not with malice. At least, you hoped that was what you were sensing. 

They had their arms politely behind their back, something shiny and silver was clipped to their belt. 

"I have a different kind of power." You said meekly. 

"One that most don't understand." 

You only gave a small nod as the stranger got closer, but still far enough away so as not to startle you. You still hadn't looked at her head on.

"But it's a power that can also leave you vulnerable." She continued.

Slowly, you turned to finally see who this stranger was and even though you'd never seen her before in your life….your breath still caught in your throat. 

She was tall and confident and exuded power. Her mannerisms alone suggested great wisdom and maturity. Someone who has seen a lot, someone who has done a lot. Someone from way before your time. From before Luke's, even. 

You recognized her as a togruta woman with the signature white facial markings. You were briefly mesmerized by the striped head tails draped over her shoulders. 

You frowned slightly after a long moment of unsure silence. You didn't look her in the face when you talked. You rarely looked anyone in the face when you did. 

"Why are you talking to me?" 

A strangely worded question but she knew what you really meant. Why was she here? Why was she interested in your power? Why did she care about your mental turmoil? 

"I was called by the force to come here. My help will be needed very soon."

"I don't need your help." You tried to sound as polite as possible. 

"Maybe that is true. But you'll need the help of people very close to you." 

'He already helps me every single day. Even if he doesn't have to…'

"I'm not talking about Luke."

You whipped your head around, eyes wide with alarm. 

She only gave a reassuring smile.

"We met once a few years ago when he trained his first student. I'm…a friend of the family."

Your alarm slowly dissipated until you were gazing off to the side again. You still didn't understand her interest in you or your condition.

"Something dark is plaguing you."

"Well…I've always been a little sick."

"It's different than that." Her tone darkened. "I sense an outside entity. And it will only continue to get stronger if you don't reach out." 

You shook your head. "No, this isn't something anyone can ever save me from. My own mind is poisonous. And you're right, it will get worse. Slowly, but surely. And no one, not even I can stop it. The way to cure me is to kill me."

Your silence after that was horribly telling. Something in the stranger was saddened and suddenly you felt a hand on your shoulder. You were almost surprised that you didn't startle. 

"There is always another way." 

Your eyes started to water when you answered. Your words were wobblier than before. 

"Not for my family." 

Neither of you spoke for several minutes. She looked at you with a mix of sympathy and concern while you fought to even out your breaths. To swallow back the tears and quickly wipe away any that escape. 

"I…I have a rule…If I ever…" 

Your eyes leaked despite you struggling to keep it together. Just the thought alone of this worst case scenario was overwhelming. It felt blasphemous. You were sickened to even say it out loud. 

"If I ever…g-go after him. If-If I ever hurt him…" 

You squeezed your eyes shut as her hold you tightened just a bit. 

Though you couldn't finish the thought, she knew exactly what you were saying. You'd kill yourself if you ever hurt Luke. 

"We don't have to let that happen. Whatever that darkness was that hurt you yesterday, it can be killed." 

You frowned at her seemingly endless knowledge of you and your life, but you also had to remember that she was a vetted force user and could probably see into your past just as well as you could. And if she was older than Luke, which she was for sure, you could imagine just how powerful she was.

"You need to call your sister." 

Once again you whipped your head, eyes even crazier than before. 

"How do you know about my sister!?"

"Luke has mentioned some things. But mostly I can sense it. You need help from your own kind, your own blood."

"I thought you said your help was needed?"

"The force works in ways we don't always understand at first. But I'm meant to be here at this time." 

You shook your head again, mostly to shake away the confusion. Your head was already starting to ache and you suddenly wanted to far far away from this stranger. 

You gave her one last fearful look before rising, making her hand fall limp to her side. You brushed past her, only stopping when she spoke again. 

"You'll understand soon. Better than I ever could. You'll be ready soon."

You didn't say anything, just wrapped your cloak tighter around you and slinking off into the woods. 

At home, Luke was winding down after a long day of teaching, training, and coaching. He was changing into his night robes when R2 started beeping away at him. 

"You know she likes to go for walks often. Don't worry, I can always tell where she's at or if she's safe."

More electronic beeping and squealing and Luke exhaled harshly.

"She's okay R2. Trust me, I'll be the first to jump into action if something happens."

The mouthy droid only got more frantic and frustrated at Luke's dismissal until finally, after a good five minutes of arguing, he slipped on his boots and went out after you. Mostly just to humor R2, who followed eagerly.

♤♤♤♤♤

You trudged farther and farther into the woods, that stranger's words still replaying in your head. You couldn't stop thinking about all the possibilities of what could happen. 

What if she was right? What if you were being attacked? What if you did need your sister's help? What if this unseen force ends up killing you before you kill yourself? What if it ends up killing Luke?

At some point, your hands ran down your face as you cried out in agony, trying to scream away all of these terrifying thoughts. And on and on you walked, occasionally stumbling a bit off to the side.

You passed a bamboo cluster when you heard someone calling out your name. Your husband.

That was when you realized just how long you'd been gone because the sky was dark again and suddenly you knew you had to get home before things got bad. 

But things weren't going to go bad, you told yourself. If you expect it, it will happen. So you repeated to yourself over and over while you headed towards Luke's voice. 

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine…" Over and over until the words no longer sounded like real words. 

Luke called for you once more and you called back, telling him you were coming. But he didn't seem to hear you. 

You must be too far away for your voice to carry. You did have a pretty soft voice especially compared to Luke, who's screeching could rival that of a wookie's. Thankfully, he's calmed down since his younger days. 

You groaned and continued on, still reassuring yourself as you went. 

♤♤♤♤♤

Luke's hands floated back down to his sides after calling you for the umpteenth time. R2 beeped and he only glanced at him once before speaking.

"That is weird. She usually always answers, even if it's just a small wavelength…" A subtle wave of energy that can carry any type of emotion. 

The magic you practiced, or at least used to, was vastly different to what he tapped into. But it also made it easier to sense your presence. It calmed him, made him at ease. But now, he couldn't sense you at all. It was like you'd just disappeared off the face of the planet. 

His heart sunk lower and lower at this until he ordered his trusty droid to keep watch where he was while he ran off through the thick trees, calling your name louder and louder until he was screaming your name like you'd just died in front of him.

♤♤♤♤♤

You passed the same cluster of bamboo sproutlings for the third time when Luke's voice started to distort into something else. A demonic bastardization of his real voice and you were struggling to find your way out of this endless loop. Because soon, you were certain that you were being chased by whatever was calling you and you sprinted until you could hear the quick footsteps of someone right on your heels. 

No matter which way you ran, you always passed by the same cluster and no matter how hard you screamed, no one would hear you. You were trapped in a loop and you clawed at your own face, yanking on your hair, pounding on your own head. Trying to get it to stop, trying to escape this hell. 

It was only when you saw him in the distance, clad in all black and covered with a great cape that a new adrenaline passed through you. You ran faster to catch up, calling and reaching out for him until he was within arms reach. You grabbed first for the fabric of his cloak to turn him around so he could face you but he wouldn't move. He was a statue. Cold and unfeeling. 

You tugged again and called his name with a warbling voice. 

Still nothing. 

"Luke?" You paused to see if he'd do anything. When he didn't, you grabbed his arm hoping to get him to look at you but the second you did, a cold, clammy hand overtook yours.

You gasped instantly as the color of its skin resembled a decaying corpse than the golden color of Luke's complexion. When he turned to look at you, your blood froze in your veins when you were greeted with the gaunt face of a monster you hadn't thought of in years. One with razor sharp shark teeth and soulless royal purple eyes.

Her snarl was demonic. Every once of color drained from your face so you were just as pale as her. 

Your knees already started to give out. 

"M-Ma-Mama…?"

Your petrified whisper echoed through the woods around him as the droid tried his best to keep up. 

He screamed your name much louder this time and was only met with another one of your scared whimpers. 

He stopped when he caught just a whiff of your presence; you were close. He scanned every which way with a determined scowl, still unsure where to run. He could feel you but just barely. Something else was shielding you from him. Hiding you. Something evil, he was sure of it.

And then your scream filled the air more than the air itself. It made him run harder and harder until his legs were shouting at him to rest but he couldn't. Not until he knew you were safe. 

When he did finally find you, you were curled up in a fetal position with your legs to your chest. You were crying like a child, he wasn't even sure you knew where you were. But he couldn't feel that foreign presence anymore. There was no one to protect you from it seemed. 

He rushed over to your side and put a gentle hand over your head, but you recoiled from his touch. He jerked back, not knowing what to do. R2 came slipping out from the dark mass of trees, panicked with worry and trying to wake you with his incessant beeping and whistling. But Luke was quickly to softly talk him down before whispering and cooing to you, slowly bring you back down to reality until it was safe to touch you without you getting scared. 

You peeked through your arms covering your face at his smiling form, coaxing you to open your eyes. 

The world was still a haze and you could hardly move but you were there. You were aware. 

"Oh, Maker…" he whispered, too low for you to hear. 

Tonight was worse than before. But now he was starting to question the validity of your sickness. Was your mind really tainted? Or was there something else at play here? He felt that outside energy, something he'd never sensed before. He didn't know if it was human, or of any species he knew of in this galaxy. He knew it couldn't have been a Jedi, but it also felt far too sinister, even for a sith. Because this force, this entity, whatever it was, it didn't draw its power from rage. It felt too cold for that. Too unfeeling. 

After several minutes of slowly bringing you to a lucid state, he slipped his arms beneath you to carry you in his arms like a bride. Though you still weren't fully sure what was going on, you wrapped your arms loosely around his neck, resting your head against his chest. 

"I think she was right…" you mumbled on the way back home. 

Luke frowned. 

"Who was right?"

You didn't answer for a long time. But you just as he thought you weren't going to at all. 

"Ahsoka."

-----

If anyone is still reading, thank you, first of all. And second, please give me your feedback on if this story should be continued or not. I wrote this several months ago when I was still struggling with addiction to alcohol and this story was a way for me to comfort myself, but, as you can see, describes some harrowing mental spirals that I'm not entirely sure I can recreate, especially now that I'm sober.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is, I'm also a little afraid to continue this story. But I'm nevertheless, still proud of what I have written so far, so maybe it can be a good standalone and maybe someone else will use this idea to branch off into something better. Anyways, may the force be with you all.

[sofias-diary]

Period hasn’t come yet. Only a matter of time now… that’s what’s awful about starting your period at FOURTEEN. Who starts their period that late??? I’m fifteen now though, don’t you worry about that. But my periods are like suuuuuper irregular so I have no idea when it’s going to appear!

I started watching Killing Eve. And I finished the third series of What We Do In The Shadows and can’t watch any more unless I get Disney+ (that’s never going to happen).

I think about Leia a lot. Like, more than friends normally think about their friends. But I don’t think I have a crush on her, right? Because when I had a crush on Christabelle that was SO different. I don’t feel about Leia that way. But it’s definitely a greater feeling than normal friendship. When I first properly met her I thought I had a crush on her but I know now that was just me wanting to be friends with her as I had no other friends at the time. The way Dilpreet mentions that sometimes is actually soul-crushing because every once in a while she’ll say “Hey, remember when you sat on your own all the time?/when you would go to class super early to avoid other people seeing you be totally alone?” as if it wasn’t one of the worst times of my life. Whatever.

I think the reason I like Leia so much is because she’s so perfect and I can’t understand it. She has this way of being so sincere when she tells me she missed me on the few days I was sick, and I could tell she genuinely genuinely meant it. I like that about her because it means I can tell her how much I love her (which is a LOT!). And when we have conversations it’s like when you’ve been sat in a car for hours and you finally step outside and you get that fresh clean air. And when she compliments me or reassures me about something it feels like it’s the middle of summer and the sun is rising and all the flowers have begun to bloom.

I don’t like her boyfriend much. I don’t dislike him. He’s incredibly kind to her and about once a week she’ll tell me something wonderfully sweet he said to her, usually about how he wishes she saw herself how he sees her. I could bet a million pounds I see her in a far better light! And he went to ARMY SCHOOL… and she showed me his six pack… ew… he literally failed his GCSES. Oh, did I mention he’s 17 and she’s my age? And he sent her a dick pic she didn’t ask for. As if anyone would ask for that! He’s an idiot and he’s disrespectful.

Tegan (the girl Leia used to be best friends with) clearly hated him. Why would she do that? She would talk about how much she hated him to her face. I would never do that. I couldn’t hurt her feelings like that! I think Tegan likes Leia a bit. Clearly not a lot though, because she’s always so nasty to her. Maybe she’s just a bit controlling - I know she gets jealous when Leia sits with me and my friends instead of Tegan and her friends. Not that it’s a competition or anything.

I’m never ever mean to Leia! God I sound like such a nice guy. I’m not, I swear. Well I mean I am nice. You know what I mean… When Leia was trying to convince me not to buy her anything for Christmas and I told her I would because she deserved it, I feel like nobody ever really tells her that because she had a real reaction to it. And when she told me about how she went on a bus for the first time I saw how her eyes lit up with wonder! Over a bus! She’s so cute. And once in English, when Emily and Natalija weren’t in (thank GOD) Leia said to me that it was the highlight of her day. How precious is that?!

I think it’s more that I just want to be her best friend. I think.

Should I start adding tags to these? Because I genuinely do not care if people can read them. I just write them when I can’t write in my proper diary.

More later, Sofia xx

[organatwins]

THANK YOU @deathstars for tagging me in this fun lil fic game hehehe

rules: post the first lines of your last 10 fics posted to ao3. if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics. i will be posting WIPs as well becus i have lit rally one published sw fic LMAO also the first few lines just cuz i wanna :P

1.) It felt like being in a confessional booth, sitting alone in the Jedi’s room. Like waiting to lay your sins bare to a stranger for the sake of salvation. Maybe that’s exactly what this was. As it is, the Jedi's hands on his skin feel like a salvation in of themselves, and the presentation of that skin was his most disgusting sin yet. (A Witness to My Sins) 2.) Grief was not a kind friend to Leia. It liked to tug on her hair, making its presence known at the worst of times. Some days she found herself drowning in it, some days she found herself holding its small angry hand. Most days she simply lived with it. (Leia pov Luke goes missing WIP)

3.) Luke liked to believe he was decently skilled with masking his emotions at this point. A far cry from the over-eager farm boy in the sands of Tatooine that Din had only ever seen in old holos, his emotionless Jedi Master persona remained at the front more often than not these days. (dinluke WIP)

4.) Unconditional love… Leia doesn’t think she could ask more of Mara without asking her to open up her chest and allow Leia to crawl inside, to plead for shelter from the world next to her beating heart, to beg Mara to claim the taller woman as another vital organ she couldn’t possibly survive without. (maraleia WIP)

5.) Leia Organa was a being with a large capacity for unbridled, unwarranted, and unwavering hope for the galaxy at large. She believed in her fellow man, she believed in people and working hands and steady hearts and she believed in a cause. She was fighting for something she knew was right. So how had things gone so horribly wrong? (Leia Grieving Alderaan WIP)

6.) Her grief is strong willed and angry and bright, and it hasn't died down in the years since it began. She nurtures it like a child she's afraid of losing, because that's it isn't it? If she begins to heal from this, then what's left of Alderaan? She mourns because she has to, because she was the first to mourn Alderaan. Because her parents are dead and she feels like a little girl in adult clothing, parading around like she has any right to lead as they did. (Leia Timeloop AU WIP)

7.) Jaina. When they were alone, her mother called her Jaina. Jaya sometimes, even still, but that name was reserved for hushed tones and bright tears. (Sith Jaina AU WIP)

8.) Leia Organa is a girl unlike any other. She's smart as a whip, too smart for her own good, even. She's kind and caring to a fault, she believes in her fellow man, and she hopes that faith is returned to her. She's as beautiful as the moon hanging over Alderaan, with a smile twice as bright as its sun. Yes, she is truly set apart from others. 

You see, many girls are smart. Many girls are kind. Many girls are beautiful. Leia sees girls like this every day of her life! But she's never seen another girl like herself. Even the face in the mirror is foreign to her.  (Leia Character Study WIP)

aaaaand cutting short at 8 becus i cant find any other polished WIPs !! thank you again parker and if you see this and wanna do it please consider yourself tagged !!!!

[mayhemandtrouble]

Good Memories, Chapter 31 of Not Giving Up

Full story with detailed tags on A03

While a wedding celebration might usually continue well into the night, sometimes into morning, Rey and Ben made their polite excuses not long after sundown. Ben considered taking Rey up on her offer when she suggested he stay with the others, after all she was the one who actually wanted to go ahead and curl up. 

It might be good to spend time with her friends on a day wherein they were inclined to be more favorable. Then again, he’d been on his very best behavior all day. Which was why Rey found herself laughing, smacking his shoulder lightly as Ben scooped her up just outside their door.

“Ben, I’m heavy! You’ll drop me!” With her arms tight around his frame, Rey buried her head into his shoulder. He was absolutely horrible, there was no predicting him and she couldn’t stand how he made her laugh with just a cocky grin.

“Phft. If you ever weigh more than I can carry, I’ll just get stronger.” Or just employ the Force, but it was far more fun this way. He brought Rey directly to the bed, laying her out gently as one does a priceless treasure before he started peeling each layer off her pregnant frame.

“I swear, it’s like you think I can’t take care of myself anymore.” Rey grumbled even as she turned to give Ben easier access to the various clasps as he moved through the process.

“Hardly. Enjoy it now.” 

A rumbling laugh from behind sent a soft thrill racing through her, with Rey glancing over her shoulder just in time to catch the predatory look in his brown eyes. Ben had been behaving so sweet lately that she’d nearly forgotten how he could make her feel like a helpless creature, about to be devoured in all the best ways.

“Once the twins are here - and you’re recovered - I’m going to remind you why getting involved with me was the worst mistake of your life.” Ben let his teeth graze slowly along the line of her shoulder. The way she shivered was intoxicating, already looking forward to when Leia would take the twins for a night.

“You’re cruel.” She exhaled, feeling his fingers unsnap the bra. Collapsing back against the bed, Rey rolled onto her side, using her fingers to massage her swollen breasts.

“Says my new wife as she fondles herself.” Ben snorted, giving her ass a playful nip on the cheek. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy the view, especially in the context of pulling down her panties. Rey had acquired a habit of sleeping nude lately and he wasn’t planning to discourage her.

“Feels better when you do it.” Rey grumbled slightly before burying herself under the covers. 

“I’d offer, but the last time I tried you said I got carried away.” He winked playfully, putting up each garment in turn. Ignoring her muttered accusations with a quiet smile on his face. Whatever he’d like to be doing with her carnally, Ben couldn’t help but feel an unaccustomed bliss. They’d married. Rey was his wife. In very short order, he’d have two infants to care for. Ben Solo had a family again.

While her new husband seemed to drift off in surprisingly short order, Rey found herself struggling to sleep. Before meeting Ben, she’d felt little in the way of sexual attraction. People were pretty, or pleasant to look at, and some more so than others. What needs she had were easily taken care of with her own hand for the most part.

Things were… decidedly different now. 

He was typically the aggressor when it came to their trysts. Perhaps his drive was higher, perhaps it was because he had been so bent on seducing her into Darkness. Rey didn’t know and she honestly didn’t care - it suited her well save that she got used to a certain level of attention.

Now, under the blankets, her hips wiggled in the darkness. She could roll over and whine at Ben. He’d probably enjoy it, preen over her needing him, and then attend to her thoroughly. Only the idea of actually doing it, especially waking him up just to whimper at him, was entirely too humiliating to genuinely consider. He would never let her live it down.

Her fingertips gently probed between her folds, teeth catching her bottom lip to smother

 a faint groan. Imagining Ben’s teeth nipping up her thighs, how he cradled her face in his hands, soft kisses to contrast against the vicious tracks he left with his nails. 

Rey bit lightly on the tip of her own tongue, feeling the warmth starting to pool between her thighs. There it was. She just needed to take the edge off, then she would be able to sleep.

“This brings back memories.” 

Ben moved too suddenly for her to respond, curling up behind her as he wrapped a strong arm around her hips. Catching her wrist in an unforgiving grasp and preventing her from pulling away in false modesty. 

 He’d felt her stirring beside him. He always knew when Rey moved in the bed. A troubled sleeper with an overprotective streak and horrific nightmares, he needed to know that she was safe. It was delightful to hear her breathing grow quick, and feel the telltale little wiggles of her frame next to him.

“I… had an itch.”

“Mmm, I can see that.” 

She struggled to contain a slow groan, feeling his teeth catch and drag along his earlobe. Her fingers were damp and her clit was still aching, all the while he nuzzled into her from behind languidly.

“Thinking of me?”

The asshole nearly purred into her ear. It was a struggle not to roll over and bite his damned nose off.

“Don’t start. We are not flirting right now.” She hissed, trying to jerk her hand back only to find Ben wasn’t letting up in the slightest.

“No? So you don’t want to finish, not even a little?” There were no words for how much he loved this woman, how her body tensed in frustrated arousal. He could feel her thighs shift, trying to rub together and Ben quickly wrapped both of his long legs around her own - wedging one of his thighs between hers. Close enough to torment, not enough to grind against.

“Ben, I hate you so much.” Rey shut her eyes though a smile played at her lips in the darkness.

“I love you so much.” He kissed the edge of her ear innocently. “I’ll let go if you tell me who you were thinking about.”

“You!” His wife groaned in defeat, cheeks turning scarlet with the admission and she tried to bury her head into the soft pillows. Behind her, pressed firmly against her backside, Rey could feel his own heat rising.

“Continue.” Ben savored it as one does a fine wine, releasing her wrist and nipping a gentle line from her ear along her throat. Their first encounter hadn’t been too different from this. Only he hadn’t been able to touch her, had to guess what she would taste like. This time, he could feel her warmth. “Or do you want me to do it?”

His wretched teasing was horrible. But the worst was that the answer was yes. Groaning in frustration, Rey shifted her hips, feeling the press of his dick against her rear. 

“Mmhmm.”

Her answer was soft, but clear. Idylly, he wondered if he would ever break Rey of her shy modesty, at least when it came to these sorts of things. A part of him hoped not - it would be interesting to see her bolder to be sure, but there was such a sweetness to it that he never tired of sullying.

“You could have just asked to start with.” Ben bit her shoulder in teasing reproach at the same time as his hand took over. Stroking between her folds gently with calloused fingertips, assessing her arousal with the same diligence as a lightsaber duel.

“You… were… asleep…” Soft mewls of words, Rey’s hands fisting into the blankets. She could feel his breath on her skin, the warmth of his body along her own. Comforting, even when he was at the heights of his sadism. He was there. Not her enemy, a galaxy away but there and tending to her need.

“And my dear wife didn’t want to wake me.”

His laughter was a rumble that filled the bedroom though she only had a moment to savor it before he pressed down against her clit, making her yelp. 

“I keep telling you to take advantage of being spoiled now.” Ben smirked into the back of her shoulder, slowly stroking along the bud of nerves. He wouldn’t push her tonight, all things considered - He finally had a toy he wasn’t willing to destroy, not truly. Instead, he teased her mentally. Whispering into her ear as he thrust two fingers deep within her soaked channel. “I’m going to utterly ruin you later.”

“Ben…” His answer was a whispered pant, her frame squirming in his arms. How did he manage to make being sweet to her twisted? Rey’s lips parted with her breathy moans, gasping when his fingers curled just right within. Stroking exactly where she wanted him to, without making her beg all the while whispering sadistic promises in her ear.

“Would you like that? Being ruined, wrists tied together behind you while I raise welts along your perfect ass?” 

Such playful, loving nips of his teeth along her skin. Sending shivers down her spine as Rey pictured it, her heat rising, body clenching around his digits.

“I could bend you over the bed, the counter… my knee…” Ben let the tip of his tongue trace the line of her neck. Each hungry cry Rey issued made his cock throb. The patience he’d struggled with at the start now served him well, knowing exactly how many heartbeats it would be until her cunt soaked his fingers. That she would be as eager for the temptations he was presenting as he was. An ending made sweeter for the spoilers.

 “Ben… I want you.” Rey whined, her back arching, fists clutching at the sheets as she panted through her first release. It was good, wonderful but…

“Who am I to deny my bride?” 

There was a smugness to his voice that grated on her nerves, knowing that she had been right. Ben was never going to let her live this down, the night he’d caught her touching herself to avoid admitting she was needy for him. It would be worth scolding him, if he weren’t already gently lifting her thigh to ease her heat.

“There… there… Ben…”

Even without overt begging, there was a pleading to her voice that lit a fire within Ben’s blood. Rocking his hips forward, he began to press within. Gentle strokes weren’t their usual rhythm, though there was a beautiful torture to how he took his time. Forcing her body to wait, both empty and full as Ben worked his way in slowly.

“There you are, that’s what you needed isn’t it? My pretty Flower doesn’t like to be empty, does she?” He pressed a soft kiss to the back of her neck, resisting the urge to bite down hard enough to leave a mark. Soon enough. Instead, Ben focused his energy on the slow thrusts, gradually building speed as her breathing increased in desperation.

“Ben!” Rey was grateful for the cover of darkness and, though they were alone in the bedroom, she was increasingly bashful as his words grew bolder. Remembering the night he’d first begun coaxing her wicked fantasies from her and giving her ever darker, new ones.

“It’s all right… I’m going to keep you full. So full, Rey. Keep you full and panting, you’ll be carrying again within a year.” He groaned into her ear, his hand sliding down her hip, pulling her back against him. That thought alone was unexpectedly exciting, unrealistic but thrilling all the same. Keeping her full of him, making it so obvious who she belonged to. 

“Yes…”

A faint hiss, so barely there Ben might have mistaken it had he not felt the surge of mutual arousal swell between their bodies. Her walls clenching down, hips bucking wildly within his grasp while their thighs were painted with her nectars. Giving into the pleasure, Ben let himself fall off the cliff, clutching as tightly to her as he dared while his seed spilled deeply within his most beloved.

Recovering in his arms was like being wrapped in warm clouds. His length would soften slowly within as Ben’s arms wrapped closely around her, keeping Rey safe and warm. Giving her his arm to use as a pillow while he lavished her skin with kisses. A tenderness made all the better for the contrasting sharpness of their lovemaking.

“I love you, Ben Solo.” Humming softly in delight, Rey snuggled backwards and as deeply into his embrace as she was able to.

“I love you, Rey Solo.” His smile growing for the pleasure he could feel thrumming out of her at her newly minted name. It was utterly pathetic how stereotypical they were, in delight over such inconsequential little things. Yet here they both were, with himself just as pleased as she was.

Rey fully savored the moment, the faint sound of night birds and insects from the lakeside like a melody playing in time to their own breathing. How the warmth of his body surrounded her own like a blanket. Ben had commented that he never expected himself to marry, not once he’d fallen to Darkness. Rey had never really expected herself to marry at all, just as she had never expected to travel past Jakku or live in a palace on Naboo. Her lips curved into a slow smile, so very grateful she had never given up on him.

It was a nightmare that woke Ben. The sort that used to leave him drenched in sweat as a teen, only this time it was Rey’s face he saw screaming. He jerked into a sitting position, one hand bracing himself on the headboard while he leaned over her. Using his other hand to frantically reach out, searching for both her life and the children within.

She was still asleep, thank goodness for that. All three of them were well. It was a given that they would both struggle with where they stood in regards to Light and Dark, but Rey was, quite literally, carrying enough at the moment. She didn’t need to know about the specifics right now.

He slipped from the bed, running both of his hands through his dark curly hair. Morning would be here soon, Rey would wake up and want caf. He’d have to placate her with a fragrant tea. Once the twins had arrived, he swore the woman was going to drink an entire makerfull of the stuff herself.

Stepping outside, he exhaled in the chilly morning air. There was a faint mist above the lake’s water. Barefoot and bare chested, the cold air was refreshingly bracing physically though Ben still felt uneasy. He hadn’t expected it to be easy to walk towards the Light again, but the pull of the Darkness was all the more exhausting for having failed before. Falling into a chair, Ben braced his head on his palm and allowed himself to examine his distorted reflection on the top of a nearby table.

He barely recognized the face looking back at him, and it wasn’t the rosy-pink tone that the table surface added. The dark circles under his eyes were worse than he remembered, and he supposed they would only get worse in the coming weeks. Exhaling slowly, Ben closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

“I can’t be a Father.” Ben muttered darkly to himself, contemplating the many ways he could fail at this and ruin everyone’s lives. Maybe falling twice would finally end the pull of the Light so that he could just be numb, ending the pain. Contemplating the new and exciting ways he could disappoint his loved ones was a hobby Ben hadn’t expected to pick back up.

“Bit late for that, kid.”

Ben shot upright, leaning forward with his brown eyes snapping open. Across from the table, sitting comfortably in a chair with a soft smile, was the grey haired figure of Father. Both of Ben’s large palms rubbed rapidly across his eyes, trying to clear them of what was clearly some kind of mirage. But when he opened them again, blinking rapidly to refocus, Han Solo was still there.

“Look, no one is ready for Fatherhood, Ben.” Chuckling quietly, Han leaned forward with a soft twinkle in his eyes. The man was dressed exactly as he had been then, that night on Starkiller base. But Han was whole, and not the varying blues of a Force ghost. This was something different.

Perhaps Ben had finally lost his damn mind.

“Right.” Leaning back slowly, Ben stared openly at the image of his dead Father.

“You’ve got a good start. You got her somewhere safe, the wedding was beautiful. Focus on one thing at a time.”

Ben slowly rubbed his hands over his mouth and chin as though he could hide his shock. Father’s tone was warm, conversational and loving. Like when Ben was a boy and Han was teaching him to fly, with Ben’s small hand covered by Han’s on the controls, Chewie murmuring in approval from the background.

“I’m not concerned about when they are young.” He finally spoke, lowering his hands and looking down to the palms. The callouses weren’t earned in glory, overthrowing Darkness or even building ships like Han’s father. Destruction was where the bulk of Ben’s achievements lay.

“Mmm.” Han paused, seeming lost in his own thoughts for a long moment. Then leaned forward with a bittersweet smile. “It’ll be hard when they start to go out on their own, where things happen that you blame yourself for. You’ll wish you could take their place, take the pain on for them.”

“What do you do when that happens?” Ben stared at his hands, unable to look up. If it was truly Father or a product of his own mental breakdown, Ben didn’t know. He just knew that if he looked up and met Father’s eye right now, he would collapse under the pain of it all.

“You try. You keep trying, you never give up. And you always forgive them. Always.”

A soft rustle of stiff fabrics, the type worn to protect and keep out the cold and damp, and a hand reached over. Grasping one of Ben’s with a firm squeeze. The touch was real, warm and more comforting than it had any right to be. He knew the ring on the hand, and the thin silvery criss cross scars of a life spent repairing flyers in tight places. 

“You’re allowed to be happy, kid. That’s all we ever wanted for you.”

Ben’s eyes flicked up, meeting Han’s with a sudden intake of breath. Father wasn’t here. Only those with the Force could reappear like this. And even then, requirements had to be met. Training, knowledge, strength. Yet here the man was, offering forgiveness for his own murder as though it were nothing more than Ben had spilled dinner on Mother’s new rugs. 

“What if I fail them?”

“You keep trying. That’s all life really is, son. You find people you love, you try together at whatever needs doing. When you screw up, you try to fix it and you trust that things will be ok.”

“And when they aren’t?” Ben was painfully aware of moisture sliding down his face. It wasn’t fair that Father wasn’t really here. That he wouldn’t get to hold the twins, that Leia couldn’t fuss at Han for putting too much sugar in his caf. It wasn’t fair and it was all Ben’s fault.

“Then that’s ok too. It’s ok for things to not be ok.” Han wiped the tears slowly from Ben’s face, a rough thumb brushing across Ben’s cheeks.

“How can you forgive me?” Unable to stand it any longer, Ben finally spoke the question out loud. Whatever this moment was, nightmare, delusion or something else, he needed to know.

“I love you, Ben. I always have and I always will. You’ll understand, once you hold them.” 

One last touch, an affectionate shoulder rub, and Father was gone. As quickly and silently as he’d arrived. Ben buried his head back into his hands, trying to understand what had just happened. Was this some kind of trick, perhaps the last surviving forces of the First Order had found him already? No, the touch was real, not some projection. A mirage of the Force? Possibly, but the only other users nearby were Rey and Mother. Rey wouldn’t, Mother might but both were still asleep.

“Why now.” Ben murmured to the world at large. Perhaps this was the first time he was ready to listen, Ben mused with a self-deriding snot before standing. He needed to visit the refresher, the twins would be waking Rey soon if they hadn’t already. Perhaps he had only been speaking with a memory, but if so it was a good memory.

Full story with detailed tags on A03

[lightsiided]

     her breath leaves her in an exhale, taking the bulk of her anxiety with it. rey feels dizzy with a sudden wash of gratitude, love and affection for the wonderful man she calls her husband. despite how overwhelming it is, rey holds his gaze and feels each of the BEAUTIFUL words thor offers her as they sink in.

the touch of his hand on her cheek only underscores his point, and she leans into it greedily, reaching out for his arm in turn. "i don't doubt YOUR LOVE," she murmurs, thumb stroking his skin where her hand is wrapped around him. "i know our souls know every last bit of one another. but i'm still grateful to you for saying those things. and reminding me how strong we are together."

slumping forward, rey presses her forehead against thor's. briefly, she shuts her eyes, drawing a deep breath to center herself before blinking them open again. while his confidence is fortifying, the thought of what awaits them on moraband certainly scares her. it's what the voices in her mind have long since been TAUNTING her about. it's what kylo tried to get her to confront so many times before. the dark side lurks in the back of her own mind -- the path she might have taken had she not chosen the light is always right there. try as she might to ignore it, it demands to be acknowledged. and there is no avoiding it now.

still, she knows thor's promise is sound. he won't let her hurt him. the assurance is enough to make the trip feel less like a suicide mission. perhaps whatever they encounter won't irreparably ruin their relationship like she fears. thor has already seen her darkest thoughts, after all. she's shared this with him before, and still he STAYS. he will stay. his insistence that this task might even be commonplace, compared to some of what they usually see, even makes her laugh -- quietly, under her breath, but still.

"of course i trust you. i know you always make the best decisions you can. you do what you feel is right, and you are very rarely wrong. irritatingly so." a flash of a smile appears and leaves her face too quickly. rey sighs. "but it doesn't stop me from worrying about you. about myself. the last thing i EVER want to do is hurt you."

there is only so much she can control. and the fear of having the love of her life taken from her, and being powerless to stop it, is strong. so thor's reminder that he can prevent the worst from happening is welcome. her eyes sweep his face, tracking the look in his eyes. he is serious, sure, true. rey believes what he swears to her wholeheartedly. maybe they have faced worse. maybe this will be far easier than she expects. if leia were here, she would certainly tell them to HOPE. the thought is appropriately chastising, making her sheepish over her pessimism. it's just that now there is so much more to lose than before.

"i love you so much. thank you for always doing your best to reassure me. i suppose it's the unknown of it all that troubles me... not being certain what will happen when we arrive there." for a brief moment, rey bites at her bottom lip uncertainly. then, she admits, "the dark side seems to trouble me much MORE than it ever did luke. so i fear his notes are unhelpful in that regard."

perhaps the sith will bother her more than is typical. perhaps she won't be able to resist it, this time. perhaps -- any NUMBER of things, more than she has the time or mental capacity to worry about. it's probably better they devote their energy to focusing, instead. fortunately, rey is never stronger than when thor is beside her.

"i suppose i am lucky," she murmurs playfully. "a little danger is NOTHING to the god of thunder. even if we must struggle, it's just another day to the all-powerful thor."

the question itself is absurd, and the fact she can’t see it as such, even more so.  but there is no judgment in thor’s face; no impatience, no more teasing.  he is entirely serious, all the hope and faith and love he has for her swelling almost painfully inside of him.  it feels warm in his chest— but burns so hot, he wonders, for a moment, if she can feal the heat emanating from him.  he was born of electricity, a wandering, restless storm and rey’s veins carry a mirroring current; he can feel the charge between them now.  at once, it’s everything: thrilling, inexplicable, frightening.

before he speaks, there is the lightest shake of his head.  he holds their eye contact without wavering.  “so much of life is uncertain.  you know, more than once, i have been unsure of my place in. . .  everything.  i have been unsure of my alliances, my own family.  who i am, and what my purpose is.  you, what is between us— has never been one of those things.  i have always known, undoubtedly, how i feel about you.  i have always known that i want to be by your side, forever.  i know you as i know myself.  i know your heart.”  mindlessly, his touch makes its way to her shoulder, crawling up along her throat, until he is cupping her face in his palm.  “nothing could ever shake my reverance or my love for you.  it would take something. . .  particularly cruel, and you— the real you is capable of no such thing.  and i am not foolish enough to get the two confused.”  whatever horrible things the darkest side of her may say, whatever actions that side may commit, thor knows better than to take it as truth.  rey, in her truest form, as she is now, would never do anything to hurt him.

just as he would sooner die than bring any harm to her.

he knows the sentiment is returned, whether she believes in herself or not.  because they are two that come together as one.  they are woven from the same threads of fate.  rey carries part of his very soul with her, always.  he knows.  it is the simplest thing there is.  as the days and months and years pass, his faith in them only strengthens.  he just wishes he could lend part of it to her, so that she may shed her own doubts.

“moraband doesn’t scare me.  the sith don’t scare me.  i know what my limits are.”  despite the confidence with which he speaks, they both know that isn’t entirely true.  more than once have they argued over his willingness to overextend himself.  it has been a difficult lesson to learn: god or not, he cannot do everything, cannot survive everything.  but he knows he isn’t being arrogant now, isn’t simply underestimating the forces that be.  if he did believe this mission to be beyond what he can stomach, their conversation would be entirely different.  “you are right, i won’t fight you.  nothing you can say will convince me to even consider it, but i have promised that i won’t let you hurt me.  what else is there?”

if they have survived worse than this together, why would this be their undoing?  why would he ever allow that?  they are stronger than that.  fear as a tool to manipulate and taunt is so minuscule, even juvenile, in the face of what they have in one another.  it would take the impossible to challenge something so formidable. . .  so unbreakable.  the desperate attempts and power plays are not nearly enough.

thor is well accustomed to illusions and lies and deception.  it may look like rey, sound like rey, feel like her— it may even be tempting to believe— but he knows better.  it isn’t rey.  and if he can withstand that, nothing on this planet stands a chance at hurting him.  whether it be his body or his heart.

“it is going to be dangerous, yes.  but what is a little danger to us?  unlike anything we have faced before. . .  i must say, i doubt that.  we’ve endured extraordinary circumstances.  it will just be more of the same.”

swallowing the knot that has grown heavy in his throat, his thumb strokes at his wife’s cheekbone.  even with horrors lurking just around the corner, even with her fear worn so plainly on her face, she is so lovely.  that she fears for him, for them, as she does makes it clearer.  sometimes, he both hates and adores it, how much she cares.

“i trust that you are capable enough to handle this.  the only question that remains is. . .  do you trust me to do the same?  can you trust that i will be alright, that i won’t allow anything to take me from you?”

[positivityjediprince]

Luke didn't want to go back to Tatooine. Even if it was just for a few hours. The planet was filled with painful memories, with a past that felt both centuries and minutes ago. But, he knew he had to. He had to do this. He wanted to do this.

"Fucking hell! If you think you can intimidate me into free service with you're spooky hood and silence, let me tell you I've faced far wor-" the sound of fabric pulling away from his hair seemed to fill the entire yard. "WORMIE!?"

Luke somehow cringed and laughed, he had missed Peli. Summers spent tinkering away on every rusty, broken ship and speeder that passed through her workshop seemed like a whole different life time.

"Hi, Ms Motto.."

Peli rushed over, bundling him in a bone crushing hug that put a wampa to shame, before pulling away and fixing him with her famous Peli stare.

"You owe me three weeks of work, Wormie! I don't care about all that galactic nonsense, I had to buy more droids since no one I hired was anywhere close to your level."

Luke laughed, only Peli could make a compliment sound like an insult, "I'm sorry Ms Motto."

"Damn right you should be!"

She paused, unusually silent, before pulling Luke in for another hug, this one far gentler than before. "I'm sorry about Beru and Owen" and whispered as one hand came to stroke his hair, "they loved you very much."

Suddenly he was was 19 again, staring at charred corpses and a blackened home, he cried. Cried like he hadn't allowed himself to cry in all these years. He'd been on the go. Non stop. Running from the memories of lowering his parents into shallow graves, as charcoal stuck to his body.

He wasn't sure how long he cried for. The suns were far lower in the sky.

"Tell me you didn't come here alone? I don't think I can let you leave by yourself."

Luke wiped his nose on the edge of his cape, Leia was gonna not going to be happy about that, and smiled.

"I came here with my...partner... fiancé?"

"Wow, you're getting married!?"

"Why do you sound so shocked?! Beru always said I was a catch!"

"Well Beru also rejected my advances, so we can't trust her judgement." Luke laughed so hard he began to choke on the phlegm left over from crying. "See?This is why I'm shocked youre getting married squirt. Sooooo will I be meeting him? Is he coming to ask for permission? Because I'm a tough sell."

"I think you already know him..."

He could see Peli's mind speed through an index of people she knew, she was never going to gue-"

"Mando?"

Wait..What?

"How?!?!?"

Peli waved dismissevly, "broad shoulders, sexy voice, and a cute kid. I've known you since you were the size of a spanner."

"You really are incredible Ms Motto."

"Oh enough of that, I'm not giving you a pay rise no matter gow cute you are."

Luke grinned, she hadn't changed a bit - it was comforting. He took a deep breath, okay Skywalker here we go.

"Ms Motto-"

Luke's serious tone caught Peli off guard, "yes?"

"Do you-" he closed his eyes, "Do you have any photos of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru?"

His eyes were burning, "I don't have any and-" he could feel his voice catching on his tears, "and- and I want them to be at my wedding."

The admission sent Luke over the edge again as the tears fell in heavy drops on the sand below.

For the third time that day, Peli held Luke close to her, "I do. You sure you want to see them now? Let's get some food in you first?" She gave him a squeeze before pulling back, "And I want to see that tin can and your son before I cry again!"

Luke let out a wet laugh, "I'll comm him."

-----

Turns out Peli did not really want to see Din, she barely acknowledged him as she swooped in to throw Grogu in to the air.

Luke watched her, she tried to hide it but she was such a softie, especially when it came to children. Strong arms circled round his waist, and the beskar of Din's helmet was a pleasantly cool.

"You doing okay, Cyar'ika?"

"More than. Maybe Tatooine isn't the worst place in the world."

"Mmmm, could be Hoth."

"Hey, I had some good times on Hoth!"

"You don't get frosty armour."

Luke giggled, relaxing into his lovers hold.

"Mando, you better be keeping those hands above the waist or I'll cut them off."

Peli pointed a threatening spanner at him, someone looking threatening despite the baby eating her hair.

------

Dinner was great, Luke had missed real Tatooinian food and Peli - the softie -was providing his favourites non stop.

Grogu feel asleep almost instantly after finishing his feast, feast was the only way to describe it as he ate more than the three adults. Din gently lay Grogu in the small nest he made from his and Luke's cloaks, giving him a quick Kedalbe kiss before turning back to Peli and Luke.

"Here's the ones I have" Peli activated her datapad, pulling up the 'Lars' folder, she blushed slightly "look, your family and I were friends this isn't weird, I already had the photos, and yes maybe the folder, well no I made the folder after..but so what, sue me I thought you had all died so of course I made a folder-"

Luke layed a gentle hand on her arm, "I'm glad you did."

The mechanic calmed down, handing Luke the datapad, "I thought you had died too till I heard about the Death Star."

"I'm sorry. I didn't even think tha-"

"Pfsch, it's in the past and you're alive- and getting married to a good man."

Din couldn't help but feel like he was intruding on something private. He knew Peli well of course; but, this was a side she had never willingly shown him. Part of him felt like he should leave the two tatooinians to their grief; but, Luke's grasp on his hand told him he was needed, and wanted.

Luke hesitantly took Peli's datapad. For a while he just stared at the unopened folder. Din held Luke's hand tight, bringing it up to his forehead in a reassuring kiss.

A blue light filled the room as a flickering image came out of the datapad. Luke felt his heart clench as he reached towards the image.

The picture was of him clinging to Owen while Beru laughed. He couldnt have been more than three as Owen was lifting him with ease. It was the first time he'd seen them since their death, he thought he would cry; but instead he felt happy. Their lives together had been good, hard but good.

As Luke cycled through the photos he knew; they were always with him. He had felt their love over the past decade, even without seeing their faces.

"They're going to be at our wedding." He whispered.

"They always were going to be, Cyar'ika, they always are."

[radioactivepeasant]

Fic Prompts: Star Wars Wednesday

Luke sensed trouble before the Slave I broke atmosphere. He hurried out of the gardens, shrugging on his robe, and started gathering the few students he had.

"Jacen, get Pypey, Allora, and Grogu, and go wait with your mom in the hangars. Wait until either Master Organa or I give you the all-clear."

The human-Twi'lek boy groaned in disappointment, but dutifully put his focus toy down and ran off to find the older padawans. At least Luke knew they'd be safe with General Syndulla.

Leia met him at the landing pad. "It's Fett's ship," she said in a low voice.

Luke frowned. "Fett's sarlaac poodoo," he grunted, "So who's the pilot?"

When the ramp came down and the armored figure marched down, Luke found himself thinking that the Force had a strange and somewhat cruel sense of humor. Of all the people to survive despite certain death, it had to be the man who had gotten his friends into that mess at Jabba's palace.

And by way of aiding and abetting, the man partially responsible for one of the worst days of Luke's life: his duel with Darth Vader in Cloud City.

Naturally, both Skywalker twins had some...complicated emotions regarding the bounty hunter.

Leia had her blast pistol in hand so quickly and fluidly that Luke really wasn't sure when she'd unholstered it.

"That's far enough," she said in a commanding voice.

"You know that won't do you any good against beskar, Jetii," Fett retorted. "Put it down before Fennec blows somebody's head off."

Luke touched his sister's mind briefly.

Let me talk to him. Maybe he knows the Mandalorian I met on the Star Destroyer.

Leia rolled her eyes at him, but lowered the pistol.

Still can't believe you got so baby-crazy you forgot to get that poor man's name and frequency.

Look, Grogu's very cute, okay? I was a little distracted!

Luke eased a step forward and kept his hands in full view.

"Why have you come here, bounty hunter?" he asked calmly, "I will not allow you to harm any of my students. But I think you already knew that."

Fett lifted his chin. "Bring me the kid and nobody gets hurt."

Luke bristled, and this time it was Leia holding him back.

"Counter offer: give me one good reason we should, and nobody gets hurt."

Something old and bitter and scarred with mourning hung from Fett like a cloak in the Force. He scoffed at the twins.

"The Jedi took enough from my family. My clan. You don't get to waltz up and take my vod'ika's boy without so much as a comm line-"

Boba paused his accusations when the Huttslayer -- and good for her, really -- sighed, reached over, and slapped the Last of the Jedi upside the head.

"I told you to get his frequency!"

Luke grimaced. "Okay okay, in my defense, Grogu said he knew the comm line, but it turns out he actually just wanted to smack all the buttons in the control room."

"Luke. That's not better."

With an embarrassed groan, Luke turned to address Fett.

"You're right, I'm sorry. Is the child's father with you?"

The question answered itself when a high-pitched squeal of joy echoed down the hangar. Apparently, Grogu had escaped Pypey's attempts at corralling him. The 51 year old toddler made a beeline for the landing platform, gurgling and waving his ears.

"Hello, little'un," Boba greeted the child gruffly. "Your buir's all holed up in the cabin."

"Bweer!" Grogu repeated happily.

"I hope you don't have any bite sized valuables in there..." Leia muttered, barely above her breath.

[dameronology]

to all the pilots i've loved before {poe dameron} - 3/4

part three: better half of a whole

summary: you’re in love with poe dameron. it’s both the most complicated and most simple thing in the galaxy - and it’s all shoved into a shoe-box under your bed, in the form of a thousand love letters. here’s to hoping he never finds them. (series masterlist)

warnings: language, mentions of injury

i'm so sorry this took me so long to write!! i got writer's block and then i was horribly busy with a thousand others things and sadly, i cannot prioritise fan fiction over real life duties. and i would know, because i've tried

enjoy!!

- jazz

Poe didn't sleep for...well, it was probably days. Felt like years.

Dear trouble,

Every time he closed his eyes, your face would flash into his mind. The sound of your laugh echoing amongst the cries of war; the feel of your soft hands tracing the remains of battle scars and wounds. What if the hug you gave him before you left was the last? What if your slightly pained laughter at the shitty joke he'd made in the jungle the night before was all he had left? He cherished every memory he had of you but he loved you more.

I know you hate when I call you that, but it feels pretty accurate - because you do cause trouble, normally with me but more recently FOR me. Anyways, I never considered myself to be much of a letter writer, but then I saw yours and...fuck.

Love. What a funny fucking word, right? Said so easily, but meant so much. Something that felt so hard to find, but even more difficult to hold onto. His parents had found it and they'd kept it for so long, and he'd always wanted the same - nothing less, nothing more. Just the kind of unwavering, undying love that can survive a war and be happy with the domesticity that followed. The only difference between Poe and his parents was that they'd been fearless with every aspect of their lives, not withholding their ability to express feelings. Perhaps that's where he fell short. Shara had taught him a lot of things but she'd been lost before he taught her how to pull his head out his ass and just...say things how they were.

What am I even supposed to say? I love you too would be a start, because I obviously I do. I've always wanted to say it but I never wanted to risk what we had in case you secretly hated me, and now I'm going to live out the rest of my days regretting it.

The first that Poe managed to finally get some rest was four days after Leia had broken the news of your disappearance. He'd fallen asleep in his quarters, curled up into Finn's side and clutching a t-shirt of his that he'd left in your room - you'd borrowed it a few months ago, and it still smelt of you. It was a mixture of your everyday body fragrance and a little of engine oil. BB-8 was snoozing quietly in the corner and for the first time in days, Poe's jaw and shoulders weren't tense and clenched.

The little robot did stir, however, when he got a comms system message from Leia. He was awake immediately, cruising across the room and crashing straight into the nearest human he could find - and it was at that point that Finn regretted leaving his leg dangling off the side of the bed. He jumped awake, brown eyes finding the droid peering up at him.

You're not just my best friend. You're my partner in crime, my soulmate and you know that twin flame bullshit that Rey always go on about? You're probably that too because we're both flaming hot. You're the better half of this whole. You and me.

"Poe is sleeping, buddy," he quietly said.

"There's a message from the general," BB-8 beeped back.

Poe suddenly woke up at that - it could have been any message, and certainly not one about you, but something in his gut told him otherwise. If it hadn't have been, Leia would have left it til morning, or not even bothered him at all in his current state.

"What?" the pilot asked. "What is it?"

"They're back, in the med-"

Poe didn't give him a chance to say anything else, because he was already up and out the door - jacket unzipped, boots half unlaced, hair sticking up in a thousand different directions.

And even though he hadn't slept for days, he was running for his dear fucking life. The medical bay was right on the other side of the base and he didn't care. You were there - in what state, he didn't know - and that was all that mattered. He was just wanted to be with you, beside you, and he never planned on leaving.

If I see you again, I'm not gonna hide it anymore. I love you and you deserve to know that. I'm gonna give you the fucking world, I promise.

Poe skidded around the corner, stopping his tracks when he saw you across the room. You looked tired - far past it, in fact - and his entire body tensed when he saw the bruises on your arm and up your neck. Still, he took comfort in the fact that he knew you put up a good fight. You'd sparred together enough times and given him enough bruises to last a life time.

There was a slight oof as someone crashed into the back of Poe (Finn's subtle way of announcing his arrival). He placed a hand on his shoulder, shoving him forward slightly. It was clear that Poe was in a state of shock - at your loss, at your declaration, and even more at your return - because the last few days had changed everything.

Everything he'd ever wanted was about to come to fruition. No pressure.

"Go to them," Finn murmured.

With that, Poe took a few steps forward - you met him half away across the room, chests colliding with enough force to knock down an ATAT. He wound his arms you, pulling you towards him with one hand tangled in your hair and the other holding your back. He clung to you, tears in his eyes and entire body shaking, almost as though he was using the feeling of you to act as a reminder that this wasn't a dream. You were here. You were back. Perhaps a little worst for wear, but alive and standing all the same.

I don't know how I'll say it. Am I meant to just blurt it out? I've never said it to anyone before, so...what the fuck am I meant to do? Normally, I'd come to you for advice on this sort of this but that feels a bit counter intuitive.

"Hey, Poe," you gently murmured.

"Hey, trouble," he let out a shaky laugh, pulling back from the hug to clutch your face in his hands. "You're alive. You're here-"

"- yeah, I'm here," you grinned.

"What happened?" he pushed. "If I ever find those First Order bastards, I swear it's on site."

"They were trying to shoot us out the sky, so we had to lay low on a random moon for a few days, but the residents of said moon were not very friendly and - you know what? It doesn't matter," you leant into his touch, relishing the feeling of his hands against your skin. "I'm here and that's what's important."

"I was so scared," Poe admitted. "And they had me search your room for back up plans and-"

You froze.

"You...you searched my room?" you stuttered. "What did you find?"

The main thing is, I AM gonna tell you. I promise. Just...please come back.

Love, Poe

Poe's eyes widened - maybe now wasn't the best time to break the news. You were bleeding from your head and hadn't slept for days. To spring it on you before you were even cleaned up felt a bit unfair. His worst fears had been avoided, so he didn't mind waiting just a little longer.

"Nothing," he forced a smile. "C'mon, I'll clean you up."

Taking your hand in his, Poe lead you towards one of the beds. He was hardly a medical expert, but he'd been through enough cuts and scrapes to have a basic understanding of stitches. And luckily, your injuries didn't look too bad. It was more just the fact you had them in the first place that hurt him.

What if he'd gone on the mission with you? Or convinced you to stay? Fuck, he would have gone in your place if he knew what was going to happen. The last few days had been the worst of his life and he almost felt responsible for what had happened to you. Your pain was his pain, and he felt it in every fibre of his being.

But, of all things, at least he knew what love was now - and if you had never have gone MIA, he never would have gone looking in your room, and he never would have found those letters. It felt like a bit of a dick move to call them a blessing in disguise but his mother had always taught him the value of looking for silver linings. The last week had been one giant thunderstorm. There had been no breaks in the rain, or sun peaking through the clouds. It had just been darkness and thunder, but it was all beginning to clear now.

What was it that Shara had said when Poe was a kid? Things have a funny way of working out. This was all a testament to that, and also to the fact that she always seemed to be right.

Poe's hands moved gently as he stitched up the cut on your forehead. They were still steady as they moved, brown eyes occasionally moving down to meet yours. He always smiled when they did.

"There we go," he said. "That shouldn't scar, but if it does, it would make you look like a bad-ass, so..."

You chuckled slightly. "Thanks, Dameron."

"You don't have to thank me," he quietly murmured, running a thumb over your cheek. "I'm just glad you're back."

"Right," you grinned. "What did you do whilst I was gone?"

Cried. Read those letters. Cried some more. Wrote a letter myself, then cried on that too.

"I just...I caught up some on some reading," he forced a smile. "C'mon, let's go to my quarters. I have some bactaspray there for those bruises."

Poe took your hand in his again and helped you up off of the bed - you seemed okay to walk, but he didn't let go. He needed to feel you, to know that you were there. He was worried you might float away into the galaxy and disappear all over again if he didn't cling onto you.

And for you, the feeling of his warm hands against yours was a welcome relief after a long few days. You were trying to push the pain and the incoming nightmares to the back of your head, and it was much easier when Poe was beside you. You already knew that he was going to make you sleep beside him that night. Being on the same wavelength so often was a great feeling.

Poe hadn't thought about tidying his room - why would he? He'd been so preoccupied with you, and finding you, that he'd barely considered the idea. Besides, it wasn't like you were going to care about the shoes by his door, or the letters on his desk, or the unfolded laund-

- fuck.

The letters.

Your box of letters, which was sat on his desk, which was right by the door.

By the time he'd even registered that they were there, you were already half way into the room. In a somewhat half-arsed attempt to shove them back in the box and toss them to the side, Poe dove forward and knocked them into an open draw, slamming it shut.

When he turned around and saw your wide eyes, it was clear he was a little too late. You'd already seen them.

taglist: tags: @neverlandlibrarian @asphyzzz @dream-alittlebiggerdarling @ubri812 @taina-eny @dessinemoiunehistoire @fangirl-316 @princessxkenobi @brandyllyn

[bookishofalder]

Night Changes [Nine]

Summary: Will Poe and the reader be reunited?

Warnings: Angst, character deaths, language, smut. TW-pregnancy, birth, infant, breastfeeding. WC—+10k

A/N-At the end.

“Rey,” At the sound of her name, Rey paused and glanced around to see Leia standing next to the Falcon, waiting. Meeting her kind eyes, she hoped Leia wasn’t going to try and convince her not to go again; she’d already told the wise General that she had to find the Wayfinder, that she needed to complete Luke’s mission and get to Exegol. Finn, Poe, Chewbacca and C3PO were already on board, waiting for her to join them; it was time to leave.

“Leia?” She stepped toward her mentor, who looked around cautiously before lowering her voice to speak to Rey.

“I need to give you something.”

Rey frowned, confused, glancing down to Leia’s empty, “What do you mean?”

Leia sighed, her eyes tired. Rey understood—she felt exhausted too. “I can’t explain it. And you must keep it to yourself until the moment is right—trust me, you’ll know when that is—if you do end up needing to,” Leia took hold of Rey’s hands, squeezing, “I’ll show you, but you must keep it tucked away no matter what.”

Seeing the seriousness in Leia’’s eyes, Rey swallowed and nodded, “Of course. I promise.” She returned the pressure to the General’s hands and watched as she reached up and pressed her fingers gently to Rey’s temple.

In a brief flash, Rey saw enough to understand.

As he was pushed roughly through the doors to an open hangar with Finn and Chewie, Poe couldn’t help but reflect on his life over the past year and a half. He’d had a lot of close calls, even been captured, but this was the first time he felt like he was going to die, as General Hux and a couple of Storm Troopers stood behind them, ready to execute Poe and his friends. He hoped Rey was able to escape, at least.

And Leia could get the news of his death to you. She would make sure you were taken care of for the rest of your life. He had no regrets, no, not with you on some planet far away from all of this and free to raise the baby. He’d done everything he could, fought as hard as possible, but that didn’t mean he was guaranteed to live.

Poe tried to picture what the baby might look like, whether they got your smile, his hair. Pain shot through his broken heart that his child would grow with only pictures of him, no memories. He glanced up at Finn, eager to distract himself; he could hear Hux speaking to the Troopers and ignored them.

“What were you going to tell Rey before?”

Finn hesitated, appearing uncomfortable, “You still on that?”

“Oh,” Poe frowned at him incredulously, “Is this a bad time?” He just wanted to hear Finn admit aloud he had feelings for Rey. He could sense it between them, especially recently, and thought that they made a good pair. In another life he could see himself with them, you at his side, enjoying a late-night dinner, laughing around a table while the kids pretended to be asleep in their bedrooms.

Nodding, Finn gave Poe a wary look, “It sort of is?” Poe scoffed, shaking his head.

“So I tell you my deepest secrets but right before we’re about to die you’re locking down on yours?” Poe hadn’t just told Finn about you; after he’d confessed your existence, he hadn’t been able to stop sharing with his friend, who listened attentively as Poe described his life with you, how he’d love you since he was ten years old.

Finn blanched, and after a pause opened his mouth to respond, only shots went off behind them and they flinched. Poe expected to feel pain, or perhaps nothing if the shot was well placed, only they heard thuds behind them and instead glanced around to find Hux holding a blaster, eyes on the dead Troopers momentarily before he looked up at them.

“I’m the spy.” He claimed, a dark smirk on his twisted face, and Poe felt a rush of confused relief—he and Finn exchanged looks as Chewie groaned.

“What?” He exclaimed at the same moment Finn yelled, “You?” In disbelief.

Hux ignored them, “We don’t have much time, we have to go.” He gestured for them to follow and after a brief pause, they hastened to climb to their feet.

Poe hurried forward and grabbed a few of the fallen Troopers blasters, passing them to Finn and Chewie before taking one for himself. His blood was rushing, the feeling of being alive still—of getting lucky, again—made him feel powerful like you were out there somewhere sending him the strength and good fortune that he needed at every turn.

As they ran behind Hux, Finn touched Poe’s arm. “That was too close—made me realize, do you have a way of her knowing if something happens to you?”

Poe nodded, “Leia will tell her.”

But he sincerely hoped that would never happen, that you wouldn’t be standing in the doorway of some home he’d never know and hear the words that he had died, that he was never coming for you. The idea of you being in that kind of pain was something he couldn’t fully fathom, and it only renewed his determination to get to the Wayfinder and finish this fight once and for all.

11 Months Ago

“Doesn’t matter how many galaxies separate us, I will always be with you, and you with me. I promise.”

Memories of your life with Poe had a way of burrowing into the forefront of your mind when you least expect them; when you let your guard down. The emotional goodbye all those years before, back on Yavin-4 when you were just kids—Poe leaving with Charlie to join the Resistance...it was a lifetime ago. And as much as you believed his words both then and now, it didn’t make the pain any easier to endure as you lay here without him, the Healer and Kes having left you alone with the newborn baby cradled in your arms.

You were surprised when the Healer had passed you the baby—after almost nine hours of labour—to see the tuft of dark curls on their head; Kes had remarked that Poe had come into the world with as much hair, and you’d laughed through your mixed tears of sorrow and joy and love. So they took after their dad—what a beautiful, heartbreaking thought.

Stars, you hoped Poe would meet them before long--before they grew too much. Just seeing the tiny creature, skin-to-skin with you like the Healer recommended, both made your heart feel complete while simultaneously tearing it apart. He should have been here to hold your hand, to cut the cord and press soft kisses to both of your heads and cry tears of joy from it all.

It wasn’t fair. Up until this moment you’d been able to lock back to anger and the bitter feelings over having let Poe send you away because it had been the right choice no matter what way you looked at it. But now, as you lay exhausted and bursting with love for the baby you made with your soulmate, you let some of that anger free through wretched sobs because it wasn’t fair that he had to miss this, that for all you knew he could be...

You stopped yourself from thinking of the worst-case scenario. It wasn’t helpful to imagine what he was doing now, where he was, if he was okay. And you’d promised him you would keep him alive in your mind unless you knew for certain that he wasn’t.

A small whine met your ears and you glanced down at the baby, smiling at their pinched expression as they struggled to adapt to their new surroundings. “It’s okay, little bug. Mama is here, shhh...” You cooed softly, running a lone finger over their hair in a gentle motion. You watched their eyes flutter beneath the lids, enjoying the feel of your touch, and then froze when they opened their eyes for the first time to look up at you blearily.

Stars, they had Poe’s eyes.

Now - 35 ABY - Battle of Exegol

When Temmin died, Poe truly began to lose all hope.

Before watching another friend’s x-wing get shot down, he’d managed to scrape the bottom of the barrel for that hope, for any remaining belief that they could win this fucking fight. That everything he’d ever sacrificed was worth it because now they had arrived and it was time to put an end to it all—but then he was screaming for Snap to watch his six, heard the anguished cry through the comm when he was hit, the searing memory of losing Charlie so many years before in the same way making his stomach churn, and he just felt so...

So fucking hopeless.

Leia was gone. The Resistance was down to pathetic numbers, and he had finally lost all hope.

Shit, if he was being honest with himself he’d been running through these last few days with urgency and adrenaline that prevented him from overthinking the odds, a blissful denial that anything other than winning could occur. When he’d told the remaining fighters of the Resistance that this was their final stand, that help would come, he had meant it as much as he’d hoped it was true.

“Help will come if they know there is hope,” Poe had stared around at his friends, at their doubting expressions, “They will. We have friends out there. The First Order wins by making us think we’re alone. We’re not alone—good people will fight if we lead them.”

In all of the time that had passed between when he’d said goodbye to you to this moment, he’d never once regretted sending you far away from the fight. Even here, with Rebel, after Rebel dying and a fleet of Destroyer’s that would wipe out entire planets unless they bent to the will of the First Order, he felt a sense of peace knowing that you were safely tucked away well beyond the reaches of their tyranny. His child would grow up with a mother who could share stories of Poe’s life, his love for you, for them.

It still stung, though, knowing he would never see you again. That he would die fighting and his last thoughts would be of you, of his little family, and you would have no idea. He hoped when you did find out the Resistance was done, the fight was lost, that you didn’t take it too hard—didn’t blame yourself in any way. He wanted you to be mad at him, not at yourself, not after everything you’d done for him, everything you had sacrificed.

He almost could have laughed, bleak as the outlook now was it shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did that no aid had arrived, that Lando and Chewie flew to the inner core worlds for nothing—clearly, no one was coming. Just like the Battle of Crait, they were alone; only now Leia was gone and Poe was the General, he was the one everyone was screaming for orders from through the comms, he was the one that had to say it aloud.

“My friends,” His voice was scratchy, choked up, as his mind played flashes of his life—of you, of losing Charlie, marrying you, losing Leia. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry—”

He would die taking down as many enemies as he could. He would tell the rest of them to either do the same or flee—he wouldn’t blame them if they fled. Poe could almost imagine himself doing it, but the idea of finding you somewhere out there and saying he’d left at the final hour made bile heave in his stomach. He would never abandon the fight, not when you had wanted to stay as much as you had, but left for the baby.

As he struggled to pull in a breath to speak, he recalled the last time he saw you.

It was late, the base quiet and most of the Rebels sleeping, all except for Poe and you—it was time to say goodbye, under the cover of darkness. He wasn’t allowed to follow you into the hangar because he couldn’t know even the most minute details of how you got off-planet. Still, he would walk you as far as he could, and savour every final second together.

“I changed my mind, I’m not leaving you.” You whispered, halting in the hallway and turning to face Poe. One hand ran absentmindedly over your swollen stomach, the other reached up to grip his forearm. Your lower lip trembled, and he felt every word you wanted to say to convince him you should stay.

Poe took a shuddering breath, “Sweet girl, you aren’t leaving me—stop thinking about it like that. You’re saving our baby, keeping them safe, remember?” He tried to keep the desperate plea minimal in his voice because it had been like this for the last few days. One moment you were reluctantly prepared to leave, the next you were begging to stay. He didn’t know how much more of this torture he could stand before he broke down and let you stay.

Your pretty eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed, just like his. You’d each cried more than enough to last a lifetime, and although heat pricked the corners of his eyes now he knew no more tears could come until you were out of sight. He would cry in his bed alone tonight, and probably every night until he saw you again, but right now he needed to show strength.

You stepped into his arms and Poe hugged you close, your body angling your stomach so that it wasn’t pressed between you both. “I don’t...Poe, I don’t think I’m strong enough to do this.”

Poe stared at you in disbelief, “Not strong enough? Are you kidding me?” He brought his hands to cup your cheeks gently, “You are the strongest person I know. What you are about to do for us, for our baby, is the most incredible sacrifice anyone could make. Everything you are doing and have done in your life only proves how amazing and strong you are—no matter what happens, please never forget that, okay?”

You whimpered sadly, nodding your head, and Poe shakily pressed his lips to yours, capturing you for one last kiss. It was soft and for one brief moment, he let himself imagine it was a greeting, though in truth it only made his heart fracture further rather than make him feel any better.

“Whatever happens, Poe, we’ll be okay...so don’t worry about us, focus on yourself,” You reached up and pushed your hands into his curls, savouring them one final time. “Promise me you’ll never stop fighting, flyboy.”

Poe smiled sadly down at you, his eyes drinking in every detail of your beautiful face, “Never, sweetheart, I promise I’ll never stop fighting. And this isn’t goodbye,” He pressed one hand gently against your belly, “It’s just a...see you soon. Once I’m finished blowing shit up in my x-wing.”

You laughed, tears streaming down your face and then pulled Poe against you again, his hand stuck between your bodies as you crushed him in a strong embrace. “I love you, Poe.”

“Oh, sweet girl, I love you too.”

35 ABY - Sorgan

You missed flying, though the place Leia had sent Kes and you to barely had any air traffic, the planet much too out of the way. Still, it had a sky that night or day you’d find yourself gazing into, wishing you could feel that weightlessness that came with blasting off from base, that you would look to your left and see Poe in his ship, the stars stretching beyond.

Poe. Stars, you missed him more and more every day. You had trouble believing it had been over a year, that the baby was now eleven months old and starting to try and walk and they’d never met their father. Though each time this knowledge became too heavy, you reminded yourself of the peaceful life you were living on Sorgan and how that had been the whole point of you leaving the fight—for the baby, for safety.

Sorgan was so far removed that no news reached the planet from the middle and core rims, something you’re sure Leia knew when she decided to send you here. You sometimes felt suffocated, not knowing a single thing about what was happening out there, but then you knew if you did know, it might make it harder to stay. And you couldn’t leave, you knew that for certain the moment you’d laid eyes on your newborn when the Healer had set the baby in your arms, face pinched as shrieks filled the air until they’d calmed, skin to skin with you.

You had gazed at the beautiful baby and you knew that you could never bear to part from them, no matter what you did or didn’t know about the war. Nonetheless, it was perhaps infinitesimally easier to be ignorant and allow yourself to imagine that it was all going fine.

You were living in a small but cozy yurt on the edge of a fishing village. The simple space comprised of the main room that hosted the barebones kitchen with a big table to eat at and a couple of comfortable sitting chairs, and had two rooms, one on either side, for sleeping quarters. The baby was in a crib at the end of your bed, where you were laying now. Very much awake even as they slept soundly.

Or so you thought until you were jerking from your thoughts at their sudden cries. You waited for a minute, the soft cries more whimpers than anything, and hoped the baby would soothe themselves back to sleep. They hiccuped, however, and started to cry again from the jolt. You sighed before sliding out from under the covers and padding softly to their crib.

“Your eyes aren’t even open,” You accused, grinning at the baby with the scrunched face, all the drama of their dad and only eleven months. Carefully lifting them, you tucked the baby against your chest and began to stroll slow circles around the bedroom, swaying as you went. “You know, when your dad finally comes and meets you he’s taking night duty over. I don’t care how many wars he wins.”

The little coo you got in response was enough to tell you Bug was on your side.

Though every day apart from Poe was painful, you did savour the good moments with the little piece of your heart that remained, beating for the baby you held now. And on this peaceful, sleepy planet most days had plenty of good—even if you were sad. Kes was an incredibly positive man, and like his son knew how to read you well, often stepping in to whisk the baby away whenever he sensed your sorrow was too hard to contain. You tried to spend all of the energy you had smiling for Bug because that was the only thing you could really do.

The guilt was heavy. You knew Poe would be devastated if he knew just how much you carried, living so comfortably—if a little rustic—on Sorgan all while he spent every day fighting to stay alive. But it was easier to focus on that guilt, to hate yourself than it was to be afraid of losing him—never seeing him again. Stars, the guilt was practically a salve in comparison to that.

Some days though, it was harder to keep the frame of mind that staying was the only option. As the baby grew, the guilt began to feed a steady flow of ‘what if’s’ into your mind. It was getting harder to ignore the sense of it. When Bug started to mix food into their diet, weaning partially from your breastmilk, you told yourself you could wean them completely, earlier than you planned but then you could hire a ship to take you back to D’Qar...

Only, you didn’t even know if D’Qar was still safe anymore.

It was a circular battle you couldn’t win no matter the choice you made, though you always chose the baby, chose to stay because you promised Poe you would. He’d told you that you were making the greatest sacrifice, and he had been right—he knew he could distract himself with the fight, and that you would only be able to distract yourself so much with raising the baby. He understood you would spend every day apart wishing you could rejoin him.

A soft snore pulled you from your thoughts and you glanced down at the baby to find them fast asleep again. You smiled fondly, that little chunk of your heart giving a happy beat as you settled them back into their crib and ran your fingers gently over their soft cheek.

“Goodnight, Charlie, my sweet girl.” You whispered heart clenching at the sight of her chubby cheeks relaxed in sleep.

Deciding a cool drink was needed, you slipped from the quiet of your room and into the main extension of the yurt you shared with Kes. A single lamp lit the small space dimly, and you helped yourself to a glass of water and took a seat at the table. You weren’t sure how long you were sitting there before Kes appeared and sat down across from you with a knowing smile on his face.

He sat silently for a few minutes as you sipped at your drink, speaking only once you’d finished. “Can’t sleep again?”

You sighed, running your hands through your hair, exhaustion setting deep in your bones.

“I keep having the same dream, Kes. Poe and Bug, back home on Yavin-4. Only, the beach is in colour but they aren’t.” You choked up, glancing toward your room, where you could see the crib through the doorway.

Kes followed your gaze, “Bug will meet him someday. I know it. You need to believe that too, kiddo, and you really need to get some sleep.” He patted your hand gently before standing and you watched him make his way to his room, pulling the curtain across his doorway as he did.

Taking a deep breath, you pressed your palms into your closed eyes, willing your mind to settle so that you could go to bed and get some rest. You just don’t think you could stand to have the dream again—always waking up and wondering, would you ever really get to see Poe again? Would he ever get to meet his little girl?

When you climbed back beneath the cool sheets of your bed, you fell into light sleep, your dreams the same as ever—Poe playing with Charlie on the beach back home on Yavin-4 while you sat on a blanket on the sand watching, laughing as they splashed each other. Your family, together again.

35 ABY - Battle of Exegol

As wretched as it was to think of never seeing you again, this wasn’t the first time he thought he was going to die. At least here, in his x-wing, he could take out as many enemies as he could before going out in a blaze—just like...like Charlie.

“I thought we had a shot. There’s too many of them.” He finished speaking to the remaining fighters in resignation, his eyes heavy—he was tired, so tired. Enough so that when a new, familiar voice came clear over the comms, he sat up straighter before his mind even registered what they were saying.

“Oh, but there’s more of us, Poe. There’s more of us.”

Poe spun his ship around, his heart frozen in his chest, flew up over the wreckage of the one First Order ship they’d so far managed to take out—and there it was.

Lando and Chewie were back; he could see the Falcon, and behind them were thousands and thousands of ships. And still, more coming as he looked, pulling out of light speed to fall in with the Falcon. Poe could hardly believe his eyes, but right before him, he couldn’t doubt for a moment that his friends had come back and they...

They had brought hope.

You sat with your toes in the water, the sun shining on your back warm and comforting. Charlie splashed around happily, her water suit covering her arms and legs, joining her cute straw hat in protecting her from too much sunlight. She kept looking from the water around her chubby legs to the flowing stream behind her-as if dissatisfied with the ankle-deep water you had set her in.

“You can go in the river in a few years,” You cocked a brow at her as she gave you a pouty look. “You’re very cute, but mama says no.”

With a resigned sigh that seemed far too mature for her, she went back to splashing the water and you slid your toes towards her, wriggling them so that she tried to catch hold. When she managed to grab your big toe, you laughed and she giggled brightly, her gleeful peals filling the quiet around you.

It was a beautiful day on Sorgan. They all were, really, even the rainy days, the ones that kept you inside the yurt listening to the rain while Kes tried to teach Charlie how to crawl and you laughed as you watched them. But the sunny days were the best, the ones you could fill with endless activity to distract yourself as much as to tire out the baby. Because when your mind settled, it tended to stray off into dark thoughts.

Maybe Poe was gone.

Maybe he would never come to find you here, your little family would be memories of Poe as you raised his little girl with Kes instead. The weight of that responsibility, of ensuring she had a happy life all while missing a whole section of your heart for the rest of your own was heavy so you tried not to overthink it.

You channelled that energy into Charlie, focused on her and you think you were doing a good job of keeping her safe and content. You showed Charlie pictures of Poe every day, wanting to ensure she knew his face even if she would never get to see it in person. She’d been looking at him since she was just a little bean, and you repeated his name, ‘dada’, every time as well. She wasn’t speaking yet, but it couldn’t hurt to keep the association in her mind when she was ready to start talking.

Charlie stopped splashing and glanced up at you with wide eyes, her expression familiar. “Hungry, Bug?” You reached out for her and lifted her from the water, carefully standing and wading to the grassy spot you’d set your picnic up.

You dried her off first, then let her crawl on the blanket while you dry your feet before following her to sit. She beelined for you as you untied your tunic, lowering one side and easing your breast out, grateful your nanny droid had provided you with a soothing balm for your aching nipples. Breastfeeding was your favourite way to bond with her, but Stars, it came at a cost.

You settled Charlie against you and watched as she closed her eyes, suckling softly. You adjusted the tunic to protect her from the sun and fell into a quiet state as she fed. It was sometime later that the sound of a large ship captured your attention, breaking you from your meditation.

Charlie was asleep against you, her face still pressed to your breast, and didn’t stir as the ship, far in the distance, flew past. You wondered briefly, a jolt of electricity coursing through you wondering if it was Poe come to find you both. But when the ship flew only further away, you pushed the idea from your mind. It was probably a shipment from the core worlds going to the markets. You made a mental note to plan a trip there for the next day—if there were fresh supplies, you might find a treat or two. Get something nice for Kes, perhaps.

Feeling exhaustion hit, you napped with Charlie there on the river's edge. You had nothing to fear on Sorgan, and in fact, many of the neighbours in your village were around, not too close but enough so that if needed they could come and wake you. You kept Charlie protected from the sun but let it shine on you, the brightness no match for the gentle lull of sleep, the soft trickle of the river.

When you woke an hour later, you felt more rested than you had in some time, pausing as you sat up to stretch the kinks from your body. Charlie was wriggling and you knew she probably needed to be changed. “Time to go home?” You asked her with a grin, and she made a sour little face in response that made you laugh. You loved how expressive she was, how even though she wasn’t talking yet she managed to let you know how she felt.

With practiced movements, you packed up the little picnic, hoisted your bag over one shoulder before lifting her to sit against your hip, and made the short walk home. Kes was sitting outside the yurt when you arrived, reading, though he set the book down at the sound of your footsteps and grinned widely when Charlie cooed for him.

“Did you have a nice time, ladies?”

You smiled, “She sure loves the water, I should start taking her in the river, see how she likes floating,” Kes took her from you carefully—Charlie made a face and you both laughed, “Sorry, Kes, I think she needs to be changed.”

“No worries, you relax for a bit and I’ll deal with diaper duty.”

Nodding gratefully, you set your bag down on the chair Kes had vacated and turned to gaze out at the grassy lawn. It was a simple home, certainly not where you would have planned to raise a baby, but it was peaceful. You start to think about the next steps, how long you would stay on Sorgan before leaving. You would go ahead first, find out if it was safe, and then you wanted to return to Yavin-4. Not for a few years, although you’d like to leave before Charlie got too old and she was too attached to this place.

You stepped away from the front of the yurt to stare out over the fields. First towards the villagers as they came in from working for the day in the waters, ready to put their feet up before making dinner, and then you turned toward the river and watched the water for a while, your arms crossed, listening distantly to Charlie and Kes making each other laugh inside.

When a voice broke through your thoughts a short while later, you started in surprise before spinning, recognition of the honey-warm tone slamming into you.

“You dreaming about me, sweet girl?”

“Rey, I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you—“

Rey cut Poe off, gripping his arm with a soft smile, “It was Leia, Poe. She found me before we left Ajan Kloss, she put the coordinates in my head, just in case she didn’t make it.”

Poe hugged her quickly, “Still, without you, I don’t know how long it would have taken me to find her here.” He hurried to the ramp, hitting the button to lower it with excitement mounting within him by the second.

“What do you want us to do?” Finn was standing next to Poe as he waited for the ramp to lower onto the grass.

Poe glanced up at his friend, “I have to go alone, can you wait for me here? I’ll come for you—or send for you—if I find them.��� He adjusted his jacket as he spoke, nerves slicing his stomach to pieces. He hadn’t felt this close to you in almost a year and a half.

Finn nodded, a small smile on his lips, “We’ll wait. She has to be here, Poe, you’ll find her.” He clapped Poe on the shoulder encouragingly and he swallowed, unable to form a response so he just returned a half-smile and then clambered down the ramp.

Sorgan was a quiet, sleepy planet full of green. If you were here, the idea that you spent all this time in such a place was comforting to Poe—you would have been able to enjoy the land, be outside, not cooped up somewhere.

He was in a small village, and the market that lined the street was bustling with after-work crowds that were in the tens, the people all smiling at one another in a way that revealed how kind of a place it was. He wandered for a few minutes until he spotted a stand that carried medical supplies and approached the vendor, a friendly-looking older woman who grinned at him.

“Hello, stranger. How can I help you?”

Poe held up the photo he had of you, one he’d taken not long after finding out you were pregnant, your hand on your small belly and a big smile on your face. “Have you seen this woman, ma’am?”

“That’s Mrs. Carstairs,” She responded with a small nod. Poe felt his insides inflate, his excitement now ready to burst forth in a shout of glee that he had to bite back. He took a steadying breath, realizing that you had used your mother’s maiden name as your cover.

He grinned, “Yes, (y/n)—“

The woman cut him off, her eyes widening, “Oh now, you must be the husband. Now that I look at you, the baby has your eyes.”

Poe’s stomach turned over at this information. The baby had his eyes? “That’s me, do you know where I can find her, please?” He made to pull out some credits to pass over to the woman for her trouble, only she reached over to take his hand gently and shook her head, smiling.

“No need for that, dear,” She jerked her head in the direction of a nearby road that split off from the village, “Just follow that, about twenty minutes you’ll come across a fishing village. She lives right off that road on the outskirts of the village.”

Saying his thanks quickly, Poe ran faster than he had in his life in the direction she had indicated.

When he finally saw the little yurt along the main road, he breathed a sigh of relief. The sun was lowering in the sky and casting a golden glow over the ponds, fields and the nearby river. It was beautiful, and as he passed the fishing village he smiled at the villagers, who gave him curious looks before returning friendly smiles. He slowed to catch his breath, his eyes moving back to the yurt, now much closer. And then his gaze snapped to a figure standing not far from the door, gazing out in the direction of the river.

It was you.

His heart about ripped out of his chest at the sight of you alive and well. The closer he got he could see how you’d barely changed—your skin had seen more sunlight, your hair was longer, and he could see the soft curves of your figure that motherhood had brought on. He watched you for a moment, standing a few feet back, and he could hear his dad inside the yurt making a baby laugh.

Making his baby laugh.

“You dreaming about me, sweet girl?”

You spun around so fast you were a blur, though Poe didn’t miss the way your hand twitched toward the blaster at your hip before your eyes landed on him. Seeing this only made him grin more broadly, but nerves for the reunion kept him rooted to the spot. What if you were angry with him? The thought hadn’t occurred to him before this, but perhaps you-

“POE!” You cried out, and then you were running forward and jumping into his arms and it was everything he’d dreamed of and more. He caught you and held you close as you both fell to your knees in the grass, and Poe let himself get lost in the moment, sobs pulling from deep within.

He hugged you as tight as he could and then started to pepper your face with kisses, “Oh my sweet girl, I missed you. Stars above, I missed you,” He murmured, his eyes closing as your fingers sunk into his curls and tugged him, your lips crashing to his in a desperate kiss that felt exactly like coming home.

“I was so afraid you wouldn’t be able to find us,” You whimpered after pulling back, your body still pressed against his, “I can’t believe you’re finally here...”

Poe shook his head, “Leia had a backup plan all along. Stars, you are so beautiful,” He swept his fingers over your cheeks, getting a good look at you now and seeing how well cared for you looked; Sorgan had been good to you. “I’m here now. It’s over, we’re safe now.”

You released your hold on his head to run your hands over your face, wiping at your tears, “Poe, the baby’s just inside, I—”

Poe and you both turned your heads at the same time at the sound of Kes coming out the door, his excited shout of glee making you both grin wider. He was holding the baby in his arms, and they looked around at the sound of your laugh, eyes just like Poe’s wide and curious—what a beautiful sight.

For a beat, the baby just stared at him, and then as Kes moved closer, a smile—a little smirk just like yours—appeared.

“Dada!”

Kes froze and glanced down at the baby in surprise, and Poe heard you gasp, one of your hands landing on his arm and squeezing excitedly. “That’s right Charlie, sweet girl, this is your Dada!”

Poe couldn’t stop staring at the baby, who hadn’t looked away from him either even as you spoke to her. She made grabby hands then, reaching for him and he tentatively raised his hands. His dad closed the gap between them and lowered the baby and he took hold of her cautiously, words caught in his throat and his heart beating fast.

She was a solid thing, sturdy in his arms and cooing happily as she gazed up in wonder at Poe. She was stunning, her eyes honey-brown and lined with thick, long lashes just like yours. Her skin was soft, and she was chunky, her baby rolls making him smile wider. After a minute, she spoke again, “Dada!” She raised her little fists towards his scruffy jaw before glancing at you.

Poe followed her gaze, “How does she know me?” He breathed, his heart in his throat.

Your watery smile only grew, “Showed her your picture every day. Wanted her to know her daddy, even if he...he couldn’t be with us,” You shuffled closer, one arm securing itself around Charlie and grasping Kes’ arm. “That was her first word, Poe. She said it just for you.”

Tears stinging at his eyes, Poe sat huddled with his family, clutching the baby closer with one arm, the other around your shoulders. His dad had thrown his arms around both you and Poe and was lamenting about how good it was to see him while Charlie cooed happily in his arms.

The moment was better than he’d ever dreamed.

Poe couldn’t put Charlie down. He carried her around for the rest of the evening, following you into the comfortable yurt you had called home all this time, one hand always on you, keeping you close.

Dad was making dinner and Poe enjoyed the banter you had, the routine of living together clearly having established itself long ago. He felt a jolt of gratitude for his dad dropping everything on Yavin-4 to take care of you and Charlie all this time.

He ate with one hand, relinquishing his hold on you but tugging you into his side before eating, his eyes constantly drinking in every expression on the baby’s face. He hadn’t realized how in love he would be so instantly, and certainly had not expected Charlie to adore him just as much—he’d thought the baby would be shy around him, maybe cry when he held them. But you had ensured she knew his face, his name—just another thing you did for him.

Poe was never going to be able to thank you enough for everything you had done.

“Poe?” Your soft voice broke into his thoughts and he looked around at you. You gave him a tentative sort of look, “Where is BB8?”

His shoulders relaxed automatically, “Oh he’s on the ship I came here in...with my friends,” He grinned and you copied him, your eyes curious, “I’ll go get them tomorrow and you can meet...I have so much to tell you, sweetheart.”

Your expression softened, “We have all the time in the world now.” You reached up and stroked his jaw, the motion so familiar his eyes automatically closed and emotion swelled in his chest. Before he could reply, he felt a second, much smaller hand land on his jaw and begin to copy the movement.

He smiled, looking through his lashes to see Charlie watching you intently as she imitated you, “Clever baby,” He murmured, and Charlie lit up at the sound of his voice. He turned his head and kissed her little hand affectionately.

“She gets her brains from me,” Kes piped up, tossing a wink at you before collecting everyone’s plates. He set them in the large stone sink before glancing at his watch. “You want to put her down for the night in my room?”

As you nodded, your eyes falling from Kes to Charlie, Poe felt a flush begin to creep up his neck at the idea of being alone with you again after so much time. He wanted to hold you close with nothing separating your bodies and curl into your healing warmth. Your hand reached for his, pulling him from his thoughts, and you tipped your head toward the baby in his arms, whose eyes were blinking slowly as exhaustion set in.

“Time for bed, little Bug,” You murmured, leading Poe towards your room. The curtain across the doorway sat open, fluttering slightly in the cool evening air, and the room was dark, illuminated only by the moonlight outside and some of the filtering light from the lamps in the main room of the yurt.

Poe carried Charlie to her crib, pressing his lips gently to her forehead, “Goodnight, Charlie, I love you.” He whispered, smiling to himself when she replied with a sleepy little coo. You took her from Poe then and took a moment to show him how to put the baby down for the night.

His heart was beating wildly in his chest as he watched you soothe Charlie, your fingers brushing delicately over her cheeks until her fluttering lashes settled and a small snore confirmed she was asleep. Poe hadn’t felt so much love in such a long time, he was half convinced he wouldn’t survive all of it thrumming through him now. And Stars, he was fucking proud of you, of how good of a mother you were; you’d done an amazing job raising Charlie so far, and he briefly worried about how he would ever be able to compare to you; if he could be as good of a parent as you were.

Once you had Charlie tucked in, you pushed the crib silently into Kes’ room, then wandered over to an armchair and picked up a blanket. When you turned to look up at Poe, his breath caught at the expression on your face. “Come with me, flyboy.”

Gulping, Poe followed you outside and across the grassy lawn in silence. You led him straight to a secluded spot along the riverbank, the flow of the water the only sound he could hear aside from his heartbeat. He wasn’t exactly sure why, but he suddenly felt nervous, alone with you for the first time in over a year—he’d faced down death countless times since, and yet it was this moment that was giving him pause.

He watched as you carefully spread the blanket out on the cool grass, then slipped off your shoes before stepping towards Poe with a soft smile. “Come here,” You whispered, and he closed the gap between you both eagerly. Kicking off his shoes before pulling you against him in a crushing hug, nuzzling his face into your neck, inhaling your familiar scent deeply.

He couldn’t have said who started to cry first, just that the moment he had you tight in his arms, you were both taking shuddering breaths. He let himself sob in a mixture of joy and sadness for everything, one hand cradling your head against his chest as you sniffled. “Sweet girl,” Poe drew back to look down at you after a few minutes, “Maker, I missed you. Every day was...shit, just complete shit without you.” He admitted, eyes closing automatically when you reached up to brush the tears from his face.

“I missed you too, but you’re here now, Poe. You’re here and you’re safe,” You whispered, leaning up on your tiptoes and pressing a gentle kiss to the end of his nose, “You’re safe, baby.”

He kissed you then; harsher than he’d intended, but you met him with equal intensity, your hands sliding into his hair to draw him closer, teeth clashing. The need then, to be with you, became overwhelming—he pushed your pants down frantically, then undid the tie of your wrap tunic and slid it off your shoulders, grunting when he realized you wore no chest band beneath.

You’d started undressing him, but when your hand passed over his length he brushed his fingers against your pebbled nipples in response and you hissed, body jerking away slightly. Poe’s eyes snapped open and he quickly pulled back from kissing you, “Sweetheart, did I hurt you?”

You tugged at his shirt, smiling softly, and he removed it before glancing down your body, his eyes drinking in every glorious curve, the fullness to your breasts. “Breastfeeding is hard on these,” You replied, gesturing toward your somewhat swollen nipples, “You didn’t hurt me, just need to be careful.”

Poe nodded his understanding, surveying your postpartum body with a new wild hunger he’d never before experienced. You were beautiful, always, but something about seeing your shape with its new fullness, your milk-filled breasts and soft stomach—it made him feral. With a groan, he quickly helped you to lay down on the blanket, careful to avoid your chest as he peppered kisses down your warm body, relishing in every square inch of you. “My beautiful love,” He spread your legs apart, his hand trailing down the slit of your wet heat, “Oh sweet girl, so wet for me. You’re a fucking dream.”

As much as he wanted to taste you, lick you until you couldn’t see, the need to be inside of you was too great to allow for any more time apart. Propping himself on one arm, Poe gripped your thigh, lifting it from the ground, and gently rocked his hips forward, groaning as you tightly gripped around his cock, your body needing his just as much.

“Oh fuck, Poe...”

“I know—I’ve got you,” Poe whispered, settling between your thighs, he dropped your leg and lowered his body fully over yours, careful to keep his weight on his arm. He captured your lips against his as he slowly dragged his cock back, then rutted forward, building a slow pace meant to draw out the feeling of bliss for as long as possible. “Missed you—dreamt of you every night, baby, every fucking night.”

You had one hand tangled in Poe’s curls, the other pressed into his lower back and your legs wrapped around his hips. You whimpered, “N-never leaving you again,” The words came out strained, thick with emotion even as you moaned at the feel of him moving within you, “It’s you a-and me, f-forever. Forever.” Your back arched slightly, and Poe groaned at the change in angle, your walls clamping around him harder.

“Fuck,” He felt himself getting close and quickly slid his free hand between his body and yours, slamming into you as he circled your clit tenderly. “Forever, sweet girl, I promise—cum for me, let me feel you—“

“Poe—“ You whined, your eyes fluttering as your pleasure spiked, and he felt your body go rigid beneath him as his hips stuttered—he came with you, spilling himself with a groan as you trembled and moaned, then pressing himself as deep as he could while you both came tumbling back to each other.

When Poe finally collapsed next to you, he slipped out of you carefully before tugging you into his side, pressing his lips to the crown of your head while you both caught your breath. “Still...still got it, flyboy.” You joked, giggling when Poe shifted to look down at you with a smirk.

“I was going to say the same to you.”

“Ah well, it’s busy work running around after a baby, you know. Keeps you fit.” You grinned, snuggling against Poe as the cool night air seemed to seep between you. He reached above his head, grabbing his shirt and tossing it over your upper body to protect you from getting too cold.

Once he was satisfied you were comfortable, he rolled so that he was looking down at you, your head resting on his forearm. “Sweet girl, you—I mean, Charlie is perfect. You kept her safe, raised her, taught her who I was...I can never thank you enough, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying.”

“Oh Poe,” You smiled, your eyes glistening as you gazed up at him with a fondness that he felt almost undeserving of, a hand cupping his cheek. “You came back to us, that’s all I could have ever asked for—you’re alive and you’re here.” You choked up, then, and Poe leaned down to press his forehead to yours, cupping your cheek softly with one hand.

You lay together for a short while; until the cold became too much. Curling up together in bed sounded almost too good to be true. “Come on, sweet girl, let’s get some sleep,” He gathered you in his arms, pausing as you grabbed at the clothing he wasn’t going to bother putting on, and carried you into the yurt, the blanket abandoned in the grass outside.

When Poe had his body pressed against yours under the comforter of the bed you’d slept in alone all this time, he kept his arms securely around you and felt peace wash over him, “Going to introduce you to some pretty special friends in the morning, and then we can plan our next steps, my love.”

With a happy little sigh, you tucked your head into his neck and fell asleep promptly, your light snores lulling him until, just at the precipice of sleep, he smiled to himself—he was home.

The first thing you noticed when you woke early the next morning was the bed next to you was empty. Your hands roamed for Poe and when you didn’t find him you sat up quickly, wondering if perhaps you had dreamt of the day prior, of him coming home...

Only, a little giggle from outside your room sounded and you heard Poe proudly declare, “Clever, just like your mama, Charlie girl.”

You hadn’t ever known happiness like this, truly. Your heart was full and repaired and you couldn’t believe how after so much time, so many years of mistakes and pain, you were married to your best friend and he was currently waiting for you to wake up while caring for your baby, the little girl who shared traits of the both of you. This felt like a dream, but it was so raw it couldn’t be anything other than real.

You sprang from bed, throwing on your robe and hurrying out to see Poe holding Charlie as he sat in the armchair, bouncing her on his knee as she giggled for him. When you paused to watch, a smile stretching over your face, he glanced up at you and his own broadened, eyes shining brightly with affection.

“Morning, mama,” His thick morning voice always sent heat through you, and the fact that he was sitting shirtless, his hard muscles flexing as he moved Charlie only doused further fuel on the fire within. He seemed to read that in your expression, his soft eyes darkening somewhat before he sent you a wink that said there’d be time for that again later.

Charlie had looked around to follow Poe’s gaze and she cooed loudly when she saw you, her hands raised towards you. You frowned, “Oh, now you want mama time? Could it be that you’re hungry?” Charlie made grabby hands as Poe laughed and you pulled her from his arms before settling into the chair next to him, easing your robe open enough for her to have access to your chest.

Settling her in for her meals was second nature to you; you knew the way she preferred to lay, how to hold her just right, that she liked to feed quietly in the mornings but at night you were allowed to rub her back and speak soothing words to her. As she began to suckle, you carefully adjusted your breast to make the angle more comfortable, then glanced up remembering that Poe was watching.

The expression on his face was stunning—he was watching you rapturously, as though the sight before him was the most beautiful he’d ever seen. You saw emotion mixed in with the awe and the adoration, and you knew he was feeling grateful he hadn’t missed something as pure as this entirely, that Charlie hadn’t grown too much.

You leaned your head back to rest and smiled at Poe warmly, “She’s on partial foods now, you can feed her yourself a little later, if you want.” You whispered, and his face brightened even more. You felt a bit like those first days after you’d joined him and your brother on D’Qar, the giddy joy of reuniting making the smiles stretch for days.

“I’d love that,” He shuffled his chair closer, resting one hand behind where you were holding Charlie, the other raising to brush over your cheek. “Does it...hurt?”

You shook your head and his look of concern relaxed, “Not really, she’s good about not biting,” Poe cringed at the thought and you giggled, “She’s a good baby. Now, you said you wanted us to meet your friends?”

He nodded, his expression softening sadly, “They’re the reason I was able to make it home to you...I have so much to tell you, but I want you to meet them first.” Poe’s eyes dropped down to watch Charlie again and you let him have a moment, recognizing he had suffered a great deal over the year and a half apart.

You let your eyes wander over his bare torso and noticed now, in the morning light, that he had some new scars, some angrier than the others. The idea of him having been hurt made your stomach sink, and you couldn’t help but lean toward him, capturing his lips against yours when he glanced up. He moaned softly at the tender kiss, petting your hair, and you let yourself sink into the moment, pulling back only when Charlie stirred.

“Where did you leave them?”

Poe gestured toward the main village, “Just outside the village, on our ship. I could go and get them—“

You shook your head, “I think a walk will do us all good. Let’s get dressed, eh Charlie?” You made a face at the baby, who was sleepily peering up at you, happy with her tummy now full, and she smiled at your expression.

Poe insisted on changing Charlie’s diaper and dressing her, so you merely stood by and watched, handing him her daytime outfit and trying not to laugh too hard as he struggled. You could see the joy in his eyes as he attempted to get her arms through the sleeves, his big hands so incredibly gentle as he worked. It took about twice as long as normal, but eventually, Charlie was ready to go and you took her from Poe, strapping her to your chest with a sarong, watching him as he dressed.

You wanted to ask about the new scars. But you were afraid when you did, it would open up the vault he was currently guarding and all of the terrible stories would come tumbling out. Enjoying this peaceful reunion for a little longer wouldn’t hurt anyone, so you resisted the urge and instead popped your head into Kes’s room to let him know where you were going.

“It was hard, not knowing anything,” You admitted quietly as you walked along with Poe, Charlie gazing around happily. The arm draped over your shoulders tightened somewhat at your words. “Leia sure picked a good place for us, though. It’s been quiet, safe.”

You glanced at him, the tension in his jaw confirming something you’d suspected since he’d arrived-after he’d mentioned it was thanks to one of his new friends that he’d been able to find you. Leia was gone, but he didn’t know how to tell you—just as much as you were avoiding asking him for details, he was reluctant to give them.

“Yeah, she knew what she was doing,” He replied softly before his eyes lit up. You followed his gaze and saw a large ship, its ramp lowered, come into view just as a familiar orange and white blur was speeding in your direction.

“Buddy!” You yelled, hurrying forward and dropping to one knee to greet BB8, one arm securing Charlie closer to ensure she didn’t get too jostled from your movements. The droid beeped and whirred excitedly and the baby began to giggle, craning her head to look at BB8. “Charlie, this is BB8, wave hi—“ You laughed as Charlie roughly flopped her chubby arm in the direction of the droid.

You could feel Poe’s hand resting lightly on the crown of your hand, and you looked up at him to speak but before you could, another voice chimed in. “Poe, man, you found them!” A handsome man with enviably smooth skin and a friendly grin was walking towards you with a pretty woman who had sad eyes next to him.

Poe helped you to stand back up, his arm securing around you as he led you forward to meet his friends. “Finn—Rey, meet my better half, (y/n), and my kid, Charlie.”

You saw the pair shoot wide-eyed looks at Poe when he said Charlie’s name, and you realized he must have told them about you, about your brother. The thought warmed your heart even further. You reached out and grasped each of their hands in turn, grinning, “It is really lovely to meet you, thank you for getting Poe back to me and Charlie safely.”

Finn smiled warmly, “Hey, he saved our asses as much as we saved his,” Poe shoved his arm playfully, laughing. Rey was quiet, you noticed, gazing at the baby thoughtfully. You wondered who she had lost.

“Do you want to hold her?” You asked, and Rey met your eyes in surprise, though after a brief pause she smiled nervously and nodded. Her smile lit up her whole face, and you were glad you thought to offer the baby as a way to pull it from her—babies had a way of making the sad a little less daunting.

You lifted Charlie out of the sarong, “Say hi to Auntie Rey, Charlie!” Charlie began to babble incoherently in that cheerful baby talk as she settled against Rey’s hip. She watched her, smiling to herself, before glancing between you and Poe.

“She’s beautiful,” Rey’s hand caught one of Charlie’s, squeezing gently, “Takes after her mama, clearly.” She tacked on, throwing Poe a look that made you laugh out loud.

Finn, you noticed, was watching Rey hold the baby with a quiet expression of adoration that made you smile inwardly. He caught you staring and grinned cheekily. As he began to chide Poe teasingly, a sudden memory came to mind, of the last time you had spoken to your father.

“Just remember, family always comes first—but we can make our own family, sweetie,” Dad squeezed your hand, “Family is what we make it, big or small, blood-related or not. So you make sure to surround yourself with good people, people you love and trust, and you’ll always have a family.”

And as you stood there, gazing at your new friends, the people who had ensured your Poe had come back to you, you realized that you were only adding to your family today. You felt like the luckiest woman in the entire galaxy, your heart was bursting with joy and hope for everything still to come.

Poe pressed a kiss to your temple, and you shot him a smile, knowing he felt it too.

Here, you thought, was where the next chapter of your life began. And you couldn’t be more excited.

A/N—THANK YOU for reading this story, for enjoying this journey with me and loving my characters so much. I’m hopeful you loved this final chapter and can’t wait to hear your thoughts. And of course, we still have the epilogue coming!🤍

Taglist

@mermaidxatxheart @foxilayde @eleinemk @paintballkid711 @mylifeisactuallyamess @20th-centu-fairy-girl @deitysnips @cannedsoupsucks @ubri812 @poedameronloverx @hoeforthefictional @astrological-bitch @itsnottilly @itsdameron @alex-sulli @generousrunawaydonut @wildmoonflower @onlyferorder66 @afootnoteinyourhappiness @asaucecoveredsomething @ladydmalfoy

[starboundanon]

herbie, my dearest and most beloved grouch, we have touched on The Thing in the chat, but I am begging you for crumbs of throne!pet anakin or generally tooka!jedi anakin.

Oh, Tali, my twin sun, my muse. You should know by now that I am literally feral to discuss the incredible tooka hybrid AU.

So, please enjoy my take on throne pet tooka!Anakin, featuring baby kitten tooka!Luke because I’m trash.

Tw: dark, skeey sheevy being the worst, dead dove: do not eat!

In this particular AU, Palpatine’s plans get fucked up by pure, old-fashioned bad luck. Before he can proposition Anakin to join him and save Pamdé’s life, she goes into premature labor, and doesn’t make it.

Leia, his princess, is born human, like her mother.

Luke, his prince, is born a tooka hybrid, like himself. Even the markings on the ears and tail match — his little mini-me.

Anakin is, canonically, destroyed by Padmé’s death. He’s lost it. He’s a basketcase. But two things keep him from falling into despair, to the Dark side; the love and support of Obi-Wan and his friends, and the children he now has to care for.

It’s his love for those children that make him reject Palpatine as vehemently as he does when the man attempts to sway him. In the blink of an eye, Sidious goes from comforting his trusted friend over the death of his wife, to promising him his children — especially his sweet, vulnerable little kitten, whom the galaxy will hunt like an animal — will always be kept safe, if he allows himself to be trained.

Anakin’s furious, stubborn refusal is not taken well by Palpatine, who has worked too hard and too long to possess this rebellious young Skywalker in mind, body and soul. He decides that if Anakin will not give himself to the Dark side willingly, he will have to be broken until he has no other option left — and what better way to destroy Anakin Skywalker than by reminding him that, for all his accomplishments, for all his titles and power and Jedi tricks, he is still every bit the slave that he was on the day he was born.

So as the galaxy fearfully welcomes its new Emperor, Sidious gleefully introduces his Imperial court to his new prized pet.

Anakin, hands bound behind his back, snarling mouth caged behind a thick muzzle, a Force-suppression collar tight around his throat, kept leashed to Palpatine’s throne like a Tusken dog, is the sight the Emperor’s loyal subjects are greeted to when they enter the throne room.

Sidious likes to make lightning dance on the bronze canvas of Anakin’s skin, just to keep him reasonably tame while he addresses his court. But his favorite pasttime, by far, is to reach over and gently pet the boy’s ears, a false show of affection, chuckling when Anakin snarls out a frankly beastly noise — his pet has so much still to learn, yet.

Sidious goes through apprentices too fast for Anakin to even memorize their names, but he always makes sure to remind Anakin what he could have had, in the form of casually cruel remarks spoken about — but not to — his pet protégé: “This one might have made a worthy apprentice, but I’ve found he is much happier here with me, on his knees where he belongs. You’ve always been keen to kneel for your betters, haven’t you, my pet?”

Anakin is feral, wild and untamed and vicious to a fault, but the underlying threat that Sidious might — might — have his children keeps him just barely obedient enough. The man occasionally will make a cryptic comment or a threat, alluding to the possibility that he knows exactly where Anakin’s babies are, and all it takes to make his pretty throne pet reluctantly open his mouth for him is a remark such as, “You know, my boy, I’ve heard from very reliable sources that your young kit has grown to resemble you quite closely. A younger, sweeter lamb in need of taming, just as his father was. Perhaps it is time to put you out of your misery, hmm? I do so enjoy the challenge of training a new pet.”

Anakin knows it’s a lie. Palpatine wants to break him. If he knew where Luke was, he would have brought him here years ago, tortured him in front of his father for his own amusement, just to watch Anakin suffer. He knows it isn’t true, that it’s just a ploy to make him submit, make him dehumanize himself, the way his Master loves.

But it’s a risk he can’t take. So he obediently opens his mouth, head lowered, ears back, and quietly begs, “No, Master, please. I can still serve you,” shivering as that gnarled hand strokes his wilted ears, pleased beyond words at his boy’s willful submission.

Unbeknownst to Anakin, Leia has been raised safely and secretly by the Organas, and Luke, the spitting image of his father, has been raised on the run by Obi-Wan, who has spent every day for the last 19 years plotting to free his padawan from Palpatine’s grasp — with Anakin’s willful, determined young son leading the charge.

[yetanotherhoeforpedro]

Sinfully Armored

Summary: After Din Djarin had lost everything: his ship, his child, his way, and found himself as rightful leader of the Mandalore, he’s glad when an opportunity arises to escape all of his responsibilities. Grogu doesn’t seem to adapt well to his destined life in the New Jedi Order and handling the little rascal is simply too much for Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, who has to rebuild the entire Jedi Order and help in the founding of the New Republic. As a last resort, he contacts the mysterious Mandalorian, who seemed to have formed a strong bond with the Jedi foundling, to help Grogu accept his Jedi heritage and finally let go of the past. What Mando didn’t know is that on top of being given the chance to escape his duties, he’d meet you.

Notes: see ‘Sinfully armored’ on AO3

Chapter 1 - Strange Revelations 

It has been the Maker knows how many days since you arrived at this desolate planet in the Outer Rim. The planets where you had to scout for Imperial Scum all started to blend into one after weeks and weeks on this expedition. The same dreary landscapes, shady people and shabby buildings on every single one. The Empire has left its dirty imprints throughout the entire galaxy and its people, including you.

The rundown bar you found yourself in right now must have seen better days as well. You swirled your drink lazily and scowled at the remaining dregs. This next part of your job was always the worst, impossibly done sober. You absolutely despised any kind of peaceful interaction with sympathizers of the Empire, even though you knew hate was not an emotion you should feel as a Jedi.

You drowned your glass in one big swallow and smoothly slid the it across the counter with a few credits. Before the bartender even reacted to your movement, you were already gone. The mud made an unsatisfying, squelching sound under your boots as you maneuvered through the narrow streets of Wakuda. Your nose scrunched at the mere smell of the place. Why the secret underground organization you were supposed to track down chose this of all places to build their base is beyond you, but you guessed it fit their morals.

As you neared the location you tracked the Imperial scum down to, you noticed a few snipers on the roof of the half-ruined building in your peripheral. Deep down you hoped they’d be skilled just so that you’d have a bit of a challenge as a distraction. They weren’t, since they didn’t even notice you until you were too close. Maybe their stupid helmets blocked their vision, you couldn’t even blame them. A quick swipe of the force knocked them out and you proceeded with your task.

Through a crack in the roof, you could spy on the meeting taking place underneath you. You leaned down a bit to get a better view and watched the scene unfold.

There were 6 people assembled in the room, but the woman at the head of the table stuck out especially to you with her glowing red hair. When she raised her voice, everyone went quiet. This woman clearly had an air of authority surrounding her. She began in a conspiring tone: “Fellow members of the First Galactic Empire, I have called you here today because troublesome news reached me. The New Jedi Order of Luke Skywalker keeps gaining more and more power. If the New Republic is backed by such a strong force of Jedi knights, our chances of rebuilding the Empire are slim to none.” The woman surveyed the room full of expectant eyes. No one dared to interrupt her. “So, we must take action. I have already contacted Grand Admiral Thrawn…”

The rest of her sentence didn’t reach your ears as you heard that name. As far as you knew, the notorious man died during the Battle of Endor with most of the other Imperial generals. If there was any truth to her claim that he was still alive, the New Republic and everything you stood for was in great peril. The old hatred started to boil up inside of you once again and it was all you could do to not jump down there and finish all of them in your fit of rage. To calm yourself, you reached deep into the Force as Luke had taught you. You reminded yourself that it was him and the Jedi’s goal of a peaceful galaxy you were doing all of this for and the discussion that broke out beneath you abruptly caught your attention again.

“That’s absolutely impossible! How would we even train those children? It’s not like we have a Sith Lord to train them!” a small man with shockingly pale skin exclaimed. “Leave that to me and the more experienced generals, we have everything under control. All you need to do is collect the force sensitive children from the systems I’ll send you out to,” the woman answered. The small man nodded once and the woman seemed satisfied. She pulled out a little device, flipped a switch and a holographic map appeared at the center of the table. As you glanced at the map, something pocked at the back of your mind. Why did it look so familiar?

But before you could observe it more closely and identify the feeling, the comm at your wrist vibrated. Luke always had such an unfortunate timing for someone so in tune with the Force. You cursed under your breath and accepted the transmission. After all, he wouldn’t contact you if it wasn’t important.  

“Report back to the Jedi Temple immediately,” he stated. “What? But I’m in the middle of a mission! I just made a discovery of great importance,” you protested. “Alright, but get back as soon as possible. May the Force be with you.” The connection snapped and you focused on the meeting again.

“Do not disappoint me,” the woman commanded. That was an obvious dismissal. After cursing Luke’s awful timing once again, you decided to track the leader of the meeting, which couldn’t be too hard, considering her hair was shining like a beacon. However, as you scaled down the building and looked down the street, she and her co-conspirators had vanished into thin air. How odd. But it was a blessing of sorts because you were eager to get off this planet and return to the Jedi Temple. Thrawn was alive?  It was all you could think about as you cut through the winding streets of Wakuda once again. The man who had taken so much from you had not been avenged? A sick part of you was thrilled about the opportunity to get revenge yourself, but it was outweighed by your general anxiety.

The sudden gleaming of a hull caught your eye and your pace quickened. As you turned around the corner, the magnificent ship arising before you obscured the view of your tiny, wreckage of an X-Wing. The rusty ship had accompanied you on many missions and despite its state, you had grown quite fond of it, but couldn’t be bothered to clean it. It wouldn’t matter anyway; it would just get dirty again in the next place you landed. You climbed into the cockpit and took off.

As you activated hyperspace, you tried to shake Thrawn off your mind and it quickly filled with other enigmas. You reconsidered the strange Déjà-vu you felt when you saw the map. You were sure you had seen it before sometime, but when and where exactly? Why would you have seen an imperial map? And how could they have left without a single trace? Who was the strange woman?

After pondering about these questions turned out to be futile, you began to wonder what could have been urgent enough for Luke to call you back from your mission. While you would have been jumping at the chance to finally leave these shitty systems under normal circumstances, the situation just got interesting and all you wanted to do was track the Imperial scum down and kill them one by one before they could do any more harm. But Luke had to lecture you on discipline far too many times and this mission was your chance to show him that he could trust you.

Still…How would you ever find out where they had gone now? You should have damned Luke’s orders and followed them somehow when you still could, what if they got to the children first? Shit, why didn’t you think straight? It seems like all of your focus and composure had left you once Thrawn’s name had perturbated your thoughts. All of the old grief and hate resurfaced again and threatened to drown you.  

You took a deep breath and pushed those emotions as far back as you could. The logical action right now would be to contact Luke immediately, he needed to send out someone else to stop the bandits. While you were short on Jedi, the New Republic would sure have someone to take care of the problem. If only you knew where they went, they’d be long gone if the Republic needed to investigate their whereabouts first. You sighed and called Luke.

“What’s wrong?” His hologram appeared in front you instantly. “A lot,” you responded dryly. “You’ll not be pleased about what I just discovered – before I was so rudely interrupted by you, that is.” He frowned at your sarcasm, this was obviously not the time for it, but you couldn't help it. It had become a sort of coping mechanism for you, a way to shield yourself from issues lest they touch you personally. “Grand Admiral Thrawn – or some doppelgänger of him – is still alive and in direct contact with the leftovers of the Empire.”

Luke was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. “That is bad news indeed, I’ll need to inform Leia and Han so that they can alert our troops. Your assistance has been most valuable to us,” he replied finally, oddly formal. Still, you nodded curtly at the approval.

“Wait,” you intercepted as he was about to disconnect. “Unfortunately, there’s more. I overheard that they plan to rebuild the Sith Order, but on a far grander scale. I only caught a glimpse, but they had some map that directs them towards force-sensitive children all across the universe. While I have no clue as to how they would train them – unless they had a secret Sith Lord up their sleeves as well – we cannot let them take the children. The Jedi Order needs them.”  This time, Luke’s silence lasted even longer, to the point where it was almost painful. You forced the words forming on your tongue to fill the silence back – yet another nervous habit of yours – and mirrored his quiet. Until you gave in and broke it: “I did not disappoint when I warned you that I had some bad news, huh?”

Luke gave you a no-nonsense-look. “No, you did not. Do you think you can recall the map and lead us to the children?” he inquired. “Um…I’ve tried, but to no avail. However, the map looked oddly familiar. No idea where I could have seen it before, but I trust my instincts.” You shrug, though it doesn’t reflect your sentiments in the slightest.

“You said this map leads them to force-sensitive children?” he repeated slowly, more to himself. “Yeah.” – “In that case, I might know just where to look.” Before you could ask him what he meant by that he was gone. You let out an exasperated sigh. He took the whole mysterious Jedi image way too seriously, in your opinion.

You spent the rest of the flight dissociating in space, as one does. In a way, you were doing the meditation exercises Luke taught you. Time bent around you, it could have been minutes or hours until you arrived back at Coruscant. The blinding lights of the capitol made you snap back to reality as you swiftly descended.

------------------------

You spotted Luke, facing the wall, quickly as you entered the council chamber, which was empty except for him. The few other “Jedi” seemed to be on missions as well. The “Council” consisted of a bunch of half-trained Jedi knights and one other survivor of Order 66, Master Vamora who appeared too fragile to still be an active fighter, but he was a stubborn old bastard. Not that it wasn’t an immense blessing to have at least one Jedi of the Old Order in your midst who was fully trained. He was extremely cranky and righteous though.

Luke turned back around to you. You did a double take as you took him in, seeing what the hologram had concealed. At first you noticed his eyes and the black rings underneath them, then the hollow of his cheekbones, his general paleness and crouched stance. He looked really exhausted, to say the least. Not being able to hold yourself back, you commented: “What happened to you? You look like you went through some shit.” At that, you earned a small grin from him that made some of the color reappear on his face.

Your heart jumped a little at the sight, you had to admit he was quite handsome, especially when he smiled. It wasn’t just ideological reasons keeping you in his Jedi Order after all, although you felt a twinge of guilt every time your stupid, horny brain produced these immoral thoughts. It was absolutely illegal for a Jedi to harbor such feelings, much less act on them, at least according to your set of morals. Luke himself had been conceived out of such an improper relation and since he did not grow up learning about the old set of Jedi rules, he had seen no use in implementing any such rule in his Jedi Order (much to the displeasure of Master Vamora, who had quite a lot to complain about today’s youth). You, on the other hand, had been indoctrinated the old set of rules from a small age on and you tried to stick to them in honor of those who saved you from your horrible fate and the sacrifices of those who had not been as lucky as you. But Luke did have a point. He claimed that love was not a crime or a weakness to be punished but rather a virtue that differentiates you from those who strayed to the Dark Side. Frankly, he was just a little too horny for his own good. He was well known for his bohemian lifestyle, sharing his bed with both men and women.

“That’s why I had to call you back here. I am being tormented endlessly by a little green monster,” he replied with a smirk on his face, pulling you out of your thoughts. You raised an eyebrow, but before you could inquire further, the door slid open behind you and you snapped around.

This day just kept getting weirder, or maybe you were extremely sleep-deprived as well. There was a Mandalorian with a little green creature that eerily resembled Master Yoda (if he were young and cute instead of old and wrinkly as he had appeared the last time you saw him) cradled in his arms standing in front of you. His armor was unlike any you had ever seen before, pure beskar and shimmering as it reflected the bright city lights. He looked exactly like the legendary warrior race of Mandalore you had only ever heard rumors about, straight out of a myth. Considering those rumors, didn’t they absolutely despise the Jedi? Suddenly alarmed, you pulled your lightsaber from your belt. The Mandalorian didn’t move, only cocked his head to the side. Even though you couldn’t see his face underneath the helmet, you felt like his eyes were piercing you. You stared right back at him, not moving an inch, thumb resting on the switch of your weapon, ready to activate it should he attack. Not that your lightsaber could do much damage to him, as he was dressed in beskar from head to toe. But what about the child in his arms? Maybe he wasn’t up for a fight after all. With a sick disappointment – how challenging would it be to fight such a legendary warrior? – you put your weapon back on your belt again. The Mandalorian kept staring at you, standing still as a machine.

This time it was Luke who broke the silence, as you were too entranced to say anything at all.  “There is the source of my eternal torment.” He strolled up to you in a relaxed manner. It was his calm posture and the underlying humor and fondness in his voice that kept you from attacking the strangers. The green creature turned its head and stared at you innocently with its huge, black eyes. You sensed it suddenly through the Force and did a double take in surprise. It reached its small arms out to you, but the Mandalorian took a step back from you rather than let the child closer to you. “This…this is why you called me back?” You shot Luke an incredulous, slightly offended look, to which he returned another wicked grin. “Yes.”

“Elaborate, please?” You didn’t even try to hide the annoyance in your voice. “This is my good friend…” He gestured to the Mandalorian. “Um, I actually don’t know his name, I just call him Mando. Everyone does.” He smirked at the warrior. “And this little fellah is Grogu, a Jedi foundling I took upon me to train.” The look Luke gave the child was so full of love that it seemed almost too intimate to witness. “Mando saved him from the Empire and took great care of him. Frankly, he cared for him too well. Grogu has formed such a strong attachment to him that it’s nearly impossible to train him. The little rascal is incredibly stubborn if his daddy isn’t around.”

A bit more enlightened, but still unaware of your place in this family drama, you waited for Luke to continue. “Since I have a ton of obligations, I don’t have time to train the little one and detach him from his savior.” Oh no. You hoped this wouldn’t be heading in the direction you thought it was. “You, on the other hand, have less responsibilities.” Fuck. "So, I decided that you should train him. And let his dad tag along until he can let him go.”

No fucking way. “I am not a damn babysitter! Neither do I care to get involved in this clearly complicated family structure! I have a mission, Luke. I need to get to those…,” you paused, suddenly all too aware that you had an audience, “…thieves and stop them.” Luke grinned at you, as if he expected that answer from you. “Isn’t it super convenient that our friend Mando here is a professional bounty hunter, eager to earn a few credits from the Republic?”

You shifted your gaze back to the silent warrior and the kid. “I am supposed to train this rip-off Yoda while on a mission? That’s just pointless, I won’t have time to teach him anything at all!” you pointed out. You were not interested in training another Jedi, especially not one that resembled Master Yoda and everything you lost so much. “You’ll have plenty of free time while traveling through space and he can learn a lot more in real situations than I could ever teach him,” Luke argued. “You want us to take him along on a hunt?” a modulated voice interjected. “No way, that’s far too dangerous for him as long as he’s untrained!” Luke wasn’t kidding about the bond, the man in armor clearly cared deeply for the child. Interesting.

“You need to stop being such a helicopter parent if you want him to live an independent life,” your Jedi companion retorted. You couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped your throat and a visor turned back to you. “I don’t trust her with my child”, the Mandalorian stated curtly. You scowled at him. “You shouldn’t have brought him to the Jedi if you had a problem with him being in the custody of a Jedi,” you snarled at the intruder, suddenly not caring that you didn’t even want this child in the first place and simply wanting to disagree with him. “It’s not the Jedi I don’t trust, it’s you and your attitude.” – “Is it because I called him a ‘rip-off Yoda’?” You flashed him a sweet smile.

“I see you two’ll get along just fine,” Luke said, the corners of his mouth quirking up slightly. “You could leave for the first child tomorrow.” At that, your attention snapped back to him. “What do you mean? Did you find the map?” – “Of course, as it was our map they stole in the first place.” Now your Déjà-vu made complete sense and you cursed yourself for not having come to this conclusion earlier. Obviously the Jedi had a map with the locations of force-sensitive children – possible new Jedi. The situation was even graver than you expected. “Get some rest now, you seem to need it almost as much as I do.” Luke winked at you. Accepting defeat for now and realizing how exhausted you truly were, you gave Luke a short nod before departing from the room and retiring to your chambers to finally get some well-deserved sleep.

Chapter 2

Masterlist