Star Wars Episode VII: The Search For Skywalker

Together Again

Han and Ben helped Chewbacca to the medical bay. Finn, Poe, Rey and Leia followed behind them.

"Take care of Chewie, I have to get us out of here," Han told Finn.

"Sure," he answered nervously. He looked at the Wookiee. He remembered seeing him rip the stormtroopers arms off. Finn didn't like the idea of being trapped alone with the Wookiee. He watched as Han hurried to the cockpit followed by Ben, Leia and Rey. Finn was relieved when Poe and BB-8 stayed behind to help him bandage Chewbacca.

Han ran through the familiar halls of the Millennium Falcon. He came into the cockpit where he had spent so many years. He sat down in the pilot seat, Leia sat down in a chair behind him.

"I guess my copilot is a little tied up," Han said as he heard Chewie growl in protest to being bandaged. He tried to reach on of the switches on the copilots side of the cockpit. It wasn't an easy task and Han knew that it would be even harder once they were off the ground.

Ben came over and sat down in the copilot seat. Han looked at him with a smile. "Can you flip that switch?" He pointed to a switch on the console.

Ben nodded and flipped the switch. "I've always wanted to do this," he said.

Han smiled. He had always thought that if he ever had a son, he would teach him how to fly the Millennium Falcon. Now he did have a son. Or at least he finally knew that he had a son. And this seemed like a good time to start teaching him. He knew that Ben probably already knew how to fly a ship. But the Millennium Falcon wasn't just any ship. Of course Ben was smart, and he was his father's son. Han knew that he could figure out how to fly the Millennium Falcon without any problems.

But he had already missed so much time with him, he wanted to do something with him that a father would do with his son. He wanted to spend every special moment with Ben that he could, since he missed so much. He had missed his first steps, his first words. He hadn't even gotten to see him as a child, but he wanted his son to know that he cared about him.

He looked at Ben. He could tell that his son wanted him to show him how to fly the Falcon just so they could spend time together as father and son. Han began flipping switches and pressing buttons, explaining to Ben what he was doing as he went. Ben listened carefully, nodding as he watched his father work. Within seconds, the Millennium Falcon was in the air and flying above the trees of Endor.

Rey smiled sadly, she was happy that Ben was finally reunited with his father. It was something she had always wanted, but she knew that was something she would never have. She had always wanted to spend time with her parents, as Ben was doing now. But she didn't have parents to spend time with or to teach her how to fly a ship. She had to teach herself how to do everything. And she had never had anyone to take care of her. She had always had to take care of herself. And she feared that she always would.

Ben seemed to sense her despair. He looked back at her. "Next time you can copilot the Millennium Falcon, Rey," he said. "If it's okay with my Dad," he added looking at his father who sat next him.

Rey smiled. "Really?" she asked.

"Sure kid," Han answered. He knew that she didn't have parents to teach her how to fly a ship. He knew that Rey could take care of herself. She didn't need his help, but she did need his love and affection. He knew that his son needed the same.

"Thank you," Rey exclaimed.

"Press that button, then flip that switch," Han told Ben, pointing them out. Ben nodded and did as his father had instructed.

Leia smiled as she watched them. Her son was finally able to be with his father. It had broken her heart to watch Ben grow up without his father.

The Millennium Falcon sailed up into the sky and out into the space surrounding Endor.

Han heard Chewbacca growl in pain. "Don't hurt Chewie!" he yelled to Finn and Poe.

"Hurt him? He tried to kill me twice already," Finn yelled back.

"I better go check on him," said Han.

"I can check on him for you," Rey offered. She didn't want to keep Ben from spending this special time together with both of his parents for the first time.

"I don't know," Han replied.

"Don't worry, I learnt a lot living on Jakku. Including how to speak Wookiee," she said.

Han nodded, then she made her way to the medical bay.

Leia watched her leave. "Who's the girl?" she asked.

"She was abandoned by her parents on Jakku. She helped us so we decided to take her with us," said Han. "She doesn't have a home or a family, or anyone who cares about her."

"Well, she does now." Leia answered.

Han nodded.

"She won't be alone anymore," said Ben.

Han could hear pain in his son's voice as he said the words. As if he had experienced the pain of loneliness himself and didn't want the girl to share that pain. He put his hand on his son's shoulder. "And neither will you, son. I promise I will never leave you again."

"Thanks, Dad," he answered.

"And I'm sorry that you had to grow up without me. But you must understand, I didn't abandon you. Not on purpose. If I knew that you were going to be born, I never would have taken that job that got me caught by those bounty hunters in the first place." Han smiled. "If I knew that I was going to be captured by bounty hunters and held captive for years, I wouldn't have taken that job."

Ben put his hand on his father's shoulder. "It's okay, Dad, you're here now and that's what matters."

"Thanks, Kid," he answered.

Leia smiled. She stood up and went over to Ben. She bent down and kissed his cheek. Then, she turned to Han and planted a kiss on his cheek. "I'm glad we're finally all together as a family," she said.

"Me too," Han and Ben agreed at the same time.