Star Wars: The Rise of Ren ✓

Chapter 53 - Family Reunion

Han stayed with Ben most of the first day until the med techs kicked him out. "Ben, you need anything, I'm on the Falcon, Docking Bay 94. You just call me, you hear?"

Ben nodded.

Chewie growled a response.

"See you in the morning, kid."

As Han and Chewie left the med center, they heard a woman shouting at the med tech station at the end of the corridor. "I don't care what time it is, I am going to see my son. I didn't fly halfway across the galaxy to wait one more minute. And, one other thing, buster, you are dealing with a senator. I can shut this entire station down if I want."

Han could not believe his ears—he could not trust his ears. It could not be her, not Leia. But as he and Chewie rounded the corner, there she stood—petite as always, dressed in a blue regal gown, hair braided in her usual crown, small streaks of gray sparkling in the chestnut brown. "Leia!" Han yelled and ran toward her.

Frowning, Leia turned to Han. "Han? Chewie? Luke didn't tell me you were coming."

Han stopped in his tracks. "He didn't tell us either."

"Have you seen Ben?"

"Yeah, I'll take you to him," Han said. "Chewie, keep the med techs off our backs."

Chewie rumbled an agreement as the trio cantered back to Ben's room. Han and Chewie guarded the door as Leia entered the room.

"Ben," Leia said just inside the door. "Can I come in?"

"Mom? Am I dreaming?"

"No, I'm really here, Son," Leia said. She crossed to him and hugged him carefully.

Ben endured the pain as she hugged him, luxuriating in the touch of his mother which he had yearned for these last six years. "Oh, Mom."

"Am I hurting you?" Leia asked, breaking off the hug.

"It's okay. Don't stop," Ben cried. "I can't believe you're here."

Leia held him, caressing his head and kissing him occasionally. "I'm sorry, Ben. I'm sorry for sending you away."

"It's okay, Mom. You're here now. That's all that matters," Ben said. "Will you sit with me, Mom, like you did when I was a kid?"

"Scoot over." She climbed into bed next to him, dwarfed by her gigantic son. "I can't believe how much you've grown. Your uncle tells me you're doing well in your studies. I'm proud of you, Ben." She grabbed his hand and held it, his hand dwarfing hers.

Ben smiled in the love. He felt the light side calling him while he sat with his mom. He could turn his back now, if only he could stay with his mom forever. "Mom, where have you been all this time? I went back to Hosnian a few years ago, and you weren't there."

"I have something I need to take care of right now, Ben. Hosnian isn't the right place."

Ben could tell she was thinking of someone else—a girl. "You could have at least told me."

"I'm sorry, kiddo, but I can't," Leia said. "Secret mission."

Ben tried to probe her mind while he asked, "Oh, Mom, what's so important? What are you hiding?"

"None of your business, Ben," Leia said. "And stop trying to probe my mind," she added with sharpness.

Ben felt the mental shove as his mother slammed her shields down.

"Well, I'd better let you get some sleep."

"Mom, will you stay with me until I fall asleep?" Ben asked. "The Force-dreams ... they terrify me."

Leia nodded her head and grabbed his hand as Ben fell asleep.

Did you know . . .

● I wanted to contrast Ben's reception of Han's hug with his reception of Leia's hug. He was willing to endure any pain just to have her touch once more.

● I grew up in a very dysfunctional, abusive home. Alcohol was the primary cause of the conflicts, but selfishness was, too. And now that I'm older, I believe my mom was bipolar and self-medicating with alcohol. Anyway, it is still very hard for me to write a loving mother in either Leia or Naluma because I never had that relationship with my own. It's hard to write the strained relationship between Han and Ben, as well, because I was closest to my father and miss him dearly, even though he's been dead for almost thirty years. 

Tell me what you think . . . 

● How could things be different? How could this end up without heartbreak?