The Return Home (A Ben Skywalker Short Story)

Title: The Return Home
Summary: This story is based ten years post NJO. The war is long finished with the Vong. How has the Solo and Skywalker family dealt with the outcome of those events?
Category: This is an AU story.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Main characters: Ben, Leia, Han, Jaina.
Note: Most of the main characters are dead from the NJO books at this point. This is also my first story here.




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It was amazing.
It had been almost six years since he had seen this place, but it had never changed. Most of the city had been rebuilt from the mess of the war, and one wouldn't know what had truly touched this place once.

No one would guess the darkness that ripped through here, and nearly killed every living thing in sight.

Most would argue that it was worth the cost. The Vong was dead. Destroyed. They were all wiped away.

Nothing would threaten the good people of the galaxy like that again.

One had ensured that forever.

No one had even seen it coming.

But he was never the same after his wife was killed. People would argue. There was no way he could be blamed for what he did. He had only been defending his family, as any good husband and father would do.

But Ben did blame him.

Because of his choices Ben had grown up without either of his parents. His aunt and uncle had been the best they could for him. His sister had no memory of their mother or father, so she looked to them in every way a child could as parents.

She once called aunt Leia Mom.

Ben remembered that he had stormed out in a livid rage. He had screamed at her, and told her that her parents would hate her for trying to look upon Leia as her mother. He had only been young then himself. He couldn't understand why he lost his mother and his father.

And seeing his sister let go of the past so easily had devestated him beyond words.

Even though she had been a baby when their mother had died, and not much older when their father passed, Ben still hated her for being able to do that.

After he left he had never even tried to keep in touch with her.

His own sister.

He wondered what she looked like now.

She would be at least sixteen. Perhaps a little older.

Ben could see a young woman with green eyes and red wavy hair. Beautiful as their mother had been. Perhaps even more so.

Or perhaps she took after aunt Leia.

Ben had no honest idea what she could look like now.

Leia had said she would met him when the transport landed.

She hadn't said if Rosanni would be there.

Ben could only have hope that his sister would want to see him again.


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Hey, this is GREAT! Keep it up!

NYC

 

this is interesting.

~aeryn

 

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The light of the sun caught her eyes, and made her still lovely face glow at the sight of him.

She was alone. It was the first thing Ben noted as he stepped off the public transport ship he had taken from the Galyanna system. It was a system off the edge of the galaxy that no one really knew about or cared for. It had stayed out of the war with the Empire and the Vong. The perfect place for a young Ben Skywalker to hide away.

His Aunt had searched years for him and recently he had made first contact with her about two years ago.

Ben had requested that she would leave him alone and let him live his life away from everything that had reminded him of his losses.

She had kept that promise to him and never contacted him again.

It was he who had decided to make this first move. For his sister, if anything else.

Perhaps one day she would agree to see his world. The place that he had found to be home.

Rosanni wouldn't agree to leave with him now. This had been her home since she had been five years old. There would be no way that she would leave it now.

Ben briefly remembered when their mother had got them from the Temple on Yavin 4.

She had been so happy. Mara had told them that the war was finally finished, and they all could return home to Coruscant. They would finally be a family again.

It had been his dream come true.

"Ben."

The soft but firm voice of Leia Organa Solo caught his attention. She was dressed in a stunning green dress that made her eyes stand out more than they ever did.

She was just beautiful.

And he had missed her much more than he would have liked too.
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Great Posts!

 

wow what a great story you have started I hope there will be more

 

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There she was. The kindness was what Ben remembered most clearly about his aunt, besides the rare visable beauty that most women would gladly kill for. After six years, here she was again, welcoming her brother's son with open arms.

Ben allowed her to place her small arms around him. "I missed you. We all have." whispered his aunt.

"It's good to see you," Ben admitted honestly.

Leia smiled warmly and hugged him once more before letting go. "You're all grown up now. You look wonderful, Ben. Strong."

Ben managed a weak smile. Seeing her again didn't make him feel very strong. It made him remember when he had been at his most weak. When he had lost everything that he loved, and was told his parents weren't ever coming home again.

He had been only twelve years old.

"Come," Leia urged. "The family is waiting back home."

Family.

That was something else.

Were they really his family anymore?

They belonged to that little boy that had feld this place six years ago. The one that had been so angry and heartbroken at everything and everyone.

The one that even the kindness and love of this great woman couldn't save.

No. They weren't his family anymore. They didn't even know him.

"Alright," Ben managed to say. He briefly wondered if Rosanni would be there waiting. That was all it took for Ben to agree to follow Leia home.


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His aunt was the first into the house that sat in the Imperial Mountains. Instantly Ben caught sight of the many holo-photos that layered themselves around the huge hallway that you see when you first step inside the Solo home.

One was a image of his cousin Jaina. She had to be about a year old. She sat in the arms of Leia's childhood friend Winter with her twin on the other side of Winter's lap. Both young babies were grinning away as their picture was snapped.

Ben's eyes then fell on a holo-photo of his aunt and uncle's youngest boy Anakin. He had to have been about six years old then. Smiling into the distance as his father or mother had taken his picture. The picture had resided in that place since before Ben could remember.

He had never known Anakin.

Ben had only been a baby himself when he had died.

There were other photos.

One that he liked most was a shot of his parents wedding day. Perhaps he would ask if he could have a copy before he went back to Galyanna.

It was how he would like to remember his parents.

In love and so very happy.

"Ben."

Ben turned around to see his aunt standing beside a young woman. She had deep green eyes and flowing red hair. She was the exact image of his mother, say for the slight roundness to her face, and the curve to her eyes that Mara Jade didn't have.

Anyway, his sister was more beautiful than he could have pictured her.

"Anni?"

Rosanni grinned. "No one calls me that but my brother. So you must be Ben."

His sister embraced him gladly, and for the first time Ben knew it in his heart, that he had done right by returning home again.

 

How touching. Please continue

 

very interesting

but really sad, too

 

wow that was great updates but very sad need more soon

 

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Rosanni lead Ben by the hand into the main living room area, and sat beside him on the sofa. Ben was suprised that they were alone say for Leia. Their aunt sat across from them in the white stuffed chair.

"Where is everyone?" Ben asked softly. He had expected to see everyone waiting for them.

Leia bowed her head. "Jaina is with Jag on the Kaladaaan colony. It's just outside of the Baggorr System. They've lived there for about five years now. They moved there shortly after the wedding."

"Jaina married Jag?" Ben questioned in suprise. "They were together such a long time before I left. I never thought he'd get around to marrying her." Ben chuckled.

"Some time it takes awhile," Leia smiled knowingly. "I was with your uncle nearly five years before he finally got around to asking me. I knew him for nearly eight years before we got married."

"How long did our parents know eachother, aunt Leia, before they got married?" Rosanni asked curiously.

Leia laughed. "Even longer then that. It took them forever before they got together. But I think they cared for eachother for a very long time before they knew it."

Rosanni smiled. Ben smiled too. It was nice to see that special light in her eyes again. The light that only shinned when ever their mom or dad were mentioned.

Ben had forgotten how much he had took comfort in that light.

He suddenly felt a deep wave of pain and regret over ever leaving her behind him.

How could he have done such a thing? She had been the best friend and sister that any boy could have ever hoped for.

The guilt deepened, as he pictured the face of that five year old little girl, that he had known so well then.

That sweet little face that had looked up to him and trusted him.

His sister, as if knowing what he was thinking, reached out to him and patted his hands that rested nervously on his lap.

It's alright now. We're together now. That's all that matters.

So she did know. She truly did know what was in his heart. How could he have not guessed that Rosanni would be able to use the Force too? That in all made him feel even closer to her.

"So, do you have a special someone yet, Ben?"

Ben smiled at his aunt Leia's change of subject.

"I don't know about me, but the last time I was here, I remember having an uncle Han," Ben chimed quickly. "Where is he?"

Leia swollowed hard. "He's upstairs. He can't get around as good as he used too. Since the accident."

"What happened?" Ben asked. He winced at realizing too late that might not have been the best thing to say. Hurting his aunt, was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Han was nearly killed trying to save your father," Leia said quickly. "Han lost the use of his legs. There was no stopping it. Things haven't been the same--for him since."

Leia started to tear in her eyes and stood up fast in effort to hide her face.

"I'll go tell the cook we have a guest for supper tonight."

Then she was gone.

Ben frowned deeply. He would go after her, but from what he recalled of Leia, she was a woman that dealt with things in her own time. It was obvious that she was still not over her twin brother's death, or what had caused her husband's accident.

Ben would never bring up either again in her presence.



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***up***

 

This is fascinating! Keep it up!

 

[face_shocked] Han lost his legs awww poor guy

need more

 

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Ben looked away from the door where his aunt had gone, and turned to see his sister staring at him. Her green eyes were bright with deep concern for him. A concern that he had no right to hold. He had come inside her home and disrupted everything. Ben faught the desire to leave again and never return. After how he had upset his aunt, he wasn't looking forward to facing her again now. It would be more simple just to leave.



"So, it gets a little hard and you're going to leave again?" Rosanni asked.



Ben noticed where he was standing now. Three feet from the doorway where Leia had gone. Had he been so lost in his thoughts?



"I'm sorry," Ben replied quickly. "I really didn't mean too.."



"You didn't mean you're leaving?" Rosanni asked. "Then why are you so close to the door?"



"I don't know..." Ben replied honestly. "I was thinking it would make things better if I left. I made her cry, Anni. I don't think I should have come."



"Yes, you made her cry over something that happened five years ago," Rosanni agreed. "But you have to see how hard that time was for her. You have to understand that it isn't every day you're entire family is turned upside down in one day. You have to see that you're not to blame, and sit back down with your sister who has missed you very much." Her soft voice broke on the last.



"Please don't go away again, Ben," Rosanni pleaded. "We need you. I need you here."



"Alright," Ben agreed finally. "I'll stay."



His sister hurried to him and embraced him tightly.



"Thank you, Ben," Rosanni cried softly. "Thank you."



As he held his baby sister in his arms, he remembered the last time that he held her this way. The last time that he was forced to act strong for her sake, and was truly anything but that for her.



I'm sorry, Anni. They're dead. There's nothing that we can do to bring them back.
You're lying, Ben. I hate you! I hate you!



Rosanni couldn't believe in him then, and Ben had no idea how she would now.

The past was the past and there was no changing it for anyone.

Luke and Mara Skywalker were dead.

The innocence of their children lay dead with them.
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It had been years since he'd seen the boy. Leia had said it would be best to leave Ben on his own with his pain, as she feared any pushing would lead the boy down the path that Luke tried so deeply to stay clear from for over thirty years.

The path that had claimed Anakin Skywalker, body and soul.

The path that nearly swollowed his own daughter Jaina whole, at the sudden and abrupt loss of her youngest brother. She had been confused and unsure how to deal with losing someone that she had loved so very much. Someone that shouldn't have died because he was so young.

His boy hadn't even been an adult when he had died.

Still a teenager with the galaxy infront of him.

It had all been cruely ripped away forever.

When they first lost Luke, Han Solo hadn't thought of taking in the Jedi's children. All he could think about was that young farm boy from Tatooine, that he had first known so many lifetimes ago.

That young man hadn't been a Jedi Knight. He hadn't a secret sister that was the most beautiful Princess in the galaxy, and Han Solo would fall helplessly in love with her, and even make her his wife someday.

Luke Skywalker wasn't any of those things to him. Jedi. Brother-in-law. Friend. He had stayed that farm boy since Han Solo had known him. And it had been hell to lose him.

It had been almost as hard as when Anakin had been killed.

But getting custody of Luke's children had given Han new hope. That what he had given of himself in effort to save Luke hadn't been for nothing.

He would have these children and be there for them.

He would go on for Leia and them.

But there had been one problem.

The twelve year old boy that he had depended so much on to help him deal with yet another senseless loss, hadn't want nothing to do with any of them.

He had run away.

Now he had returned.

Han Solo swollowed hard and moved his flychair into the living room where the kid was with Rosanni.

They were speaking quietly about old times. It was good to know that Ben Skywalker still could laugh.

The twelve year old boy that he had known, couldn't.

"Ben."

"Uncle Han?"

The cool blue eyes stared at him with curious awe.

"Well, just don't stand there kid," Han quiped. "Come and give your old uncle a hug. I hered you were asking about me."

Ben chuckled uneasily and gave his uncle a careful hug.

Perhaps this reunion wouldn't be so hard after all.

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***up***

 

awww this is so sad. need more need more

 

Thank you, JediFalcon!


I should be able to post again by Saturday.

 

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Ben could see his mother off in the distance. Jaina said his mother had landed on the south side of the Temple, and would be taking them all back home. The war was finally over.

"Ben, don't run so fast," Jaina cried after him. His five year old sister Rosanni, who had always lived on Yavin since she had been an infant, with him and the other Jedi for protection, ran at their cousin's heels.

"Wait," Rosanni cried. Her small legs failing to keep up.

Ben was the first to fall into his mother's warm embrace. It had been six months since her last visit. It had been almost a full year since they'd seen their father.

"Oh, my sweet Ben," Mara whispered against his hair. "You've grown up so much. I'm so sorry that I missed it so much. We both are."

"I know Mom," Ben smiled, kissing her cheek. "I know you're doing all you can."

"That's my strong boy," Mara smiled, before a small red haired little girl, slammed herself hard into her mother's embrace, nearly knocking Mara over.

"Oh, my Anni, don't cry love," Mara whispered. "Mother's here. I'm always going to be with you from now on. No more seperations."

"What?" Ben demanded. His grey-blue eyes filled with hope. Could they really be a family again?

"I'm not here to visit, Benny," Mara smiled lovingly at her son. "I'm here to take you and Rosanni home. Your father and I feel it's time we have our children home with us. Is that alright?" She teased.

"You really want us home?" Ben cried. "You really want me home?" He whispered.

Yavin 4 had been the only home that Ben Skywalker could remember living in. He had not lived with his parents since he had been born. The galaxy had been too war torn for the Skywalker's to feel that home was a safe place.

"Yes baby," Mara told him. "Lets go home."

It would be the last trip that he would take with his mother.

If only he had known it then.

But the nightmare continued on.



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wow great update poor Ben and Anni more soon

 

Awww that was so sad!

 

Good story.

 

Uping