A/N: Before I start, I'd like to explain that for Luke's wife and Rey's mother, I'm operating under the theory that she will be the main character of Rogue One. Since her name has yet to be revealed, I'm using the name of Felicity Rhiaon after the actress who will play her (Felicity Jones). Felicity is the subject of some photosets and oneshots I've written so I will refer to those from time to time (including ones I haven't written yet) so you might want to check them out.

The Long Way Home

Chapter One

A Peaceful Night

We like to think that major turning points are always foretold by some dramatic sign. A birth is announced with the break of dawn, healing with a flower's bloom, and a tragedy with a thunder storm. Perhaps that is why the metaphor of weather reflecting a situation is called a pathetic fallacy. Because frankly, it's pathetic to think the weather cares about someone's insignificant life.

The day Luke Skywalker came into possession of R2-D2 and C-3PO started with Uncle Owen yelling at him to get up. The day Han Solo met Ben Kenobi started with yet another piece of the Falcon breaking. And Leia Organa… Well, she had always had a rather exciting life, so the fact the day she received the plans to the Death Star started by getting shot at by Imperial Forces wasn't out of the ordinary.

By all rights of literature, the massacre of the Jedi should have been marked by a hurricane, but was not. The weather had been perfect, and day free of anything but the most minor of transgressions.

The Jedi lived in a community called Temple Village on the planet of Rornian. Temple Village was not an academy but rather a place to live and learn. The Jedi shared their knowledge in the Temple, which was located in the center of the village. In addition to the resident Jedi who trained there, all were welcome to come and learn about the Force regardless of their Force Sensitivity. Lor San Tekka, a friend of Luke's and religious leader of the Church of the Force, had established a branch of the Church on Rornian specifically to encourage non-Force Sensitives to visit.

Temple Village and the New Jedi Order had been a labour of love that took sixteen years for Luke Skywalker to build. Though both the village and the Order had had its ups and downs, there were few things Luke was prouder of. It was especially evident in the placement of his home.

On the north edge of the village, set a few yards away from the beginning of the forest's treeline resided the Skywalker home. It sat on a slope that overlooked Temple Village with pride. Some might have thought the placement sent the message that Luke thought himself above his students, but a well groomed path led straight from the Temple to Luke's front door. A gate sat at the edge of the house's front lawn, but it was ornamental, always remaining open as a symbol that no matter the hour, Luke would always welcome his students inside.

Though more opulent a residence than that of the Jedi Knights of the past, the small house was relatively modest, reflecting the family who lived there. Two floors, two bedrooms for the family, and one for guests, a refresher on each level, a combination kitchen and dining room, a small living room, an office for Luke's wife, a front and back lawn, various charge ports for Artoo, toys scattered every which way by Luke's daughter, and a garage that usually housed Luke's X-Wing, but that night sat empty.

"When's Daddy coming home?" Rey Skywalker – the youngest resident of the home – asked as her mother tucked her into bed.

"Twenty-two days," Felicity Rhiaon Skywalker shook her head with an amused smirk. "One less from the amount I told you when you asked last night."

Rey adored her father, and hated whenever Luke had to leave her behind. Felicity always insisted to Rey that neither of her parents would ever abandon her, but Rey was five and not quite mature enough yet to understand. Luke would always laugh whenever his wife told him of Rey's uncertainty and say that there was nothing more they could do at that time, and that it did only made the reunions all that much better.

"Why did he go away?" Rey asked.

"For reasons that would only bore you," Felicity answered.

"Aunt Leia Senate stuff?"

"Aunt Leia Senate stuff," Felicity nodded. "Now enough questions. It's time to go to sleep."

"But you and Daddy say to never be afraid to ask questions."

"Yes, but Daddy and I also know when you're only using questions to delay going to sleep."

"I'm not doing that," Rey tried to look as innocent as possible.

"Sweetheart, I gave you that false innocence look. Don't you dare try using it against me."

Rey pouted, "How come it works when Daddy looks at you like that?"

"Uh… I'll tell you when you're older," Felicity hastily answered. "Now go to sleep."

"But I'm not tired!" Rey's declaration might have been convincing had it not been concluded with an enormous yawn.

"Sure you aren't," Felicity dryly replied.

"Okay, I might be a little sleepy," Rey confessed. "But I would be even sleepier if I heard a story."

Felicity shook her head and smiled, "Fine, one story but then you sleep. It'll be short, and I pick the story to ensure it is. We're not having another 'Mommy, tell me the entire story of Anakin Skywalker' incident."

"Deal," Rey settled into her bed.

"Alright," Felicity tucked Rey in, "how about I tell you about the time I led the team that stole the plans to the first Death Star?"

Seven hooded figures stood on the edge of the forest surrounding Temple Village.

Their focus was directed on the dormitory and handful of houses where the other Jedi lived. But one of those hooded figures – a mere sixteen-year-old boy – had his eyes locked upon the Skywalker residence.

It was a place he once called home – or at least the place he lived. The house was also the dwelling of the two people he hated most in the universe: Rey and Felicity Rhiaon Skywalker.

"You're certain they're alone?" one of the hooded figures asked the boy.

"Positive," the boy nodded. "Uncle Luke's- I mean, Skywalker's presence in the Force is too great for me to miss. The girls are alone."

"This is your chance to prove yourself to us, Kylo," another hooded figure said. "If this information is wrong-"

"It's not wrong!" Kylo snapped. "I've upheld my end of the bargain, and I expect that you'll keep up your end."

"We have an understanding then," the first hooded figure said. He looked behind himself at the others and declared, "Knights of Ren! Tonight we cleanse the universe of this hypocritical, archaic teaching of the Force. If Kylo's information proves to be correct, we will accept him into our ranks as our most junior Knight, Kylo Ren. Knights of Ren, do whatever you wish to the other Jedi, but remember that the daughter of Luke Skywalker must die! As for his wife, Rhiaon, our newest member has claimed the right to end her life. Do not fail me, Knights!"

Had this moment been from a story, the battle cry would have been accented with a thunderclap.

"After nearly a month of hiding out on Jakku and working for that terrible Unkar Plutt, Diego and I were finally able to contact the Alliance and transmitted the battle plans to your Aunt Leia," Felicity concluded her story.

"Then what happened?" Rey asked as if she had not heard the story a thousand times before.

"Well, the Alliance sent a pilot called Shara Bey to come pick us up. Diego and I were taken to a medic ship where we recovered from the mission and mourned the deaths of our other team members. Diego finally admitted that he had respect for me, and we became the best of friends."

"And what happened to the Death Star plans?"

Felicity shot her daughter a look, "You know very well what happened to the plans. They went to Daddy, who, with Uncle Han's help, rescued Aunt Leia and brought the plans to the Alliance. But that's another story for another night. Now, enough, Rey. It's bed time. No more stories, no more questions, just close your eyes and go to sleep."

"Fine," Rey crossed her arms and slumped back against her pillow with an adorably pouty look.

"Goodnight, Sweetheart," Felicity laughed and kissed Rey's forehead. Rey reluctantly kissed her mother's cheek as Felicity gave the covers a once over, pulling and smoothing the sheets to ensure Rey would be warm and comfortable. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Night, Mommy."

Felicity made her way to the door and was about to push the button to turn off the lights when suddenly Rey spoke.

"Mommy?" Rey's voice was different from a moment before. It was small and sad, as if she was afraid to pose the question that had been gnawing away at her mind for weeks, "Why did Ben leave?"

Felicity's mouth went dry. How could she possibly explain to Rey what had happened to their family?

"Ben…" Felicity began reluctantly. "Ben decided he had to go away for a while. He was having some trouble with accepting Daddy's teachings of the Force."

"Like you?"

"No," Felicity shook her head. "Not like me."

Felicity's doubts about the extent of the Force's reach had become something almost legendary after her marriage to Luke. The Jedi Grandmaster's wife rejecting the destiny aspect of the Force yet still having a healthy marriage with said Grandmaster was almost too hard to believe. But Luke and Felicity had long ago discussed her reasons for her beliefs and learned how to live with opposing views.

Ben Solo's views on the other hand, were a little too hard to swallow.

Felicity sighed, "Rey, what happened with Ben is too complicated for you to understand right now."

Rey scowled, "You and Daddy say that all the time. I'm not stupid!"

"No one said you were but there are some things about the past that you might not be able to grasp just yet. It's why the night I told you about Grandfather Skywalker that story took so long." Felicity muttered to herself, "Maybe if Luke hadn't insisted on me editing out so much. Whatever happened to let's never lie to Rey, Felicity? Or was him saying a certain point of view nearly destroyed me just a load of-"

Felicity suddenly remembered Rey was staring at her.

"What I'm trying to say is that we will explain everything when you get to be a little older. Kind of like how Daddy won't let you learn lightsaber until you're older. We know nothing bad is going to intentionally happen, but you haven't grown enough to know how to handle things properly and you might accidentally get hurt. But I promise you, Rey, neither Daddy or I will ever hold back information from you because we want you to get hurt. Do you understand?"

Rey gave a small nod, "Yes, Mommy."

Felicity sighed, weighing her next course of action, "Maybe… maybe when Daddy gets home, you, me, and him can sit down and have a talk about Ben. Think you can wait that long?"

"Twenty-two days?"

"Twenty-two days." Felicity pressed the button to turn off the lights and whispered, "Goodnight, Sweetheart. I love you."

"I love you too, Mommy," a voice in the darkness called back.

Felicity smiled, comforted by the thought that her daughter was nestled safe and sound under the protective covers of her bed.

Felicity never dreamed that hours later she would be woken by Rey's shriek as she was forcibly dragged kicking and screaming from the safety of those covers.

"Come on, come on!" Luke banged his mechanical hand against the computer of his X-Wing. The words Transmission Failed blinked mockingly at him from the screen.

Luke was not at home the night the Knights of Ren attacked. The Knights of Ren had timed it perfectly; they had waited for Luke to leave the small Jedi settlement without his protection. It happened the midnight of the eighth day of a month long meeting between Luke and the Senate determining the extent of Jedi authority as a governmental agent. Luke had been preparing for the meeting for over a year, and thus his focus was not on protecting his students and family.

What they didn't plan on was Luke coming home early.

Luke had been woken at the crack of dawn by a Force Vision of the Temple of Rornian burning, and the residents of Temple Village slaughtered on a rainy battlefield. Immediately Luke had tried to contact Felicity, but found communications had been blocked to their home. He had spent the next hour trying every possible means of communication to Temple Village, but nothing could get through.

With some profuse apologies to the Senate, Luke had immediately jumped into his X-Wing with Artoo and set a course for home.

"Artoo, try the transmission again!" Luke ordered sharply, his voice getting more desperate.

He waited nervously as Artoo attempted to make communication with any device on Rornian, but once again was met with failure. Despite the consistent results, Luke had been trying non-stop his whole journey home to find some way to communicate with Rornian.

"Someone must have hacked into the communication center blocked the channels," Luke muttered to himself as the words Transmission Failed refused to leave his screen. "Artoo keep trying, but connect me back with Leia in the meanwhile."

Artoo gave a few beeps, and after a minute of crackling over the radio, a familiar voice was transmitted into Luke's headset.

"Luke, this is Leia," his sister's voice was perfectly political – worried enough to show she cared, but strong enough to broadcast that she wasn't shaken into a helpless wreck. "Have you had any luck?"

"Negative," Luke replied. "I'm still being blocked. Have you gotten a hold of anyone to check things out?"

Unfortunately, Luke had no one he could ask to go check on Temple Village while he raced to get back. Temple Village was the only place on the planet Rornian inhabited with sentient creatures, and the only other body in the Rornian Star System was a small uninhabited moon orbiting Rornian. The surrounding systems had no one friendly to the Jedi Order, as since the opening of the Rornian Jedi Temple, the First Order had been overtaking the surrounding systems, getting uncomfortably close to Luke and his students. It was an action Leia heavily warned Luke about, but only once it had become a problem did Luke regret not doing anything about it.

"None that can reach them yet," Leia answered. "I've got both Wedge Antilles and Diego Nalto en route, and Han and I will set off in about an hour – I've just finished cleaning up the political mess you left behind and the Falcon is… well, being the Falcon."

"Sorry about leaving you with such a hassle regarding the Senate," Luke apologized. "It's just the vision-"

"I understand, Luke. How much longer until you reach Temple Village?"

"Thirty minutes."

"Alright, keep me updated on the situation."

"I will," Luke promised. "And if you don't hear from me in an hour-"

"I've already got Republic troops on standby," Leia cut in knowingly. "But I do hope this is only a false alarm."

Luke sighed, "Me too."

"Good luck, Luke. May the Force be with you."

"And with you," Luke ended the transmission as he pulled out of hyperspace and Rornian came into view. "Artoo begin the landing cycle. Cut off any unnecessary processes, and get us home is quickly as possible."

The attack on Temple Village was so horrifying, Rey would block out most of her memories of that night. Even years later, when she began to uncover the truth of her past and the things her father had hidden from her, there were still parts of that night she could never recall.

Rey didn't know how she went from being dragged out of bed in the dead of night to laying on the training field. Rain pelted her as she looked around in shock and horror. The bodies of her friends and Daddy's students laid unmoving around her with horrible bloody injuries.

Frantically she crawled over to the nearest person, a Zygerrian named Zena Halcorr. Zena was one of Daddy's best fighters and had helped him recruit nearly half the Order.

Rey turned Zena over. Zena felt cold and had a large slash across her chest. Rey was young enough to understand injury, but as Zena's eyes stared unseeing at the stars above, Rey didn't understand the signs of death.

To her, death was a foreign concept. She knew of death: both Daddy and Mommy's parents were dead, and so was Mommy's brother, a man Rey was supposed to call Uncle Brendan. Daddy's teachers Masters Yoda and Kenobi were dead. The Evil Emperor Palpatine was dead. Mommy's friends, Ji-Dan, Riz, and Gunner from her team to steal the Death Star plans were dead. Uncle Han often said if they hadn't heard from Uncle Lando in several months, that probably meant he was dead (or at least in trouble.) But Rey had never encountered real death before. To her, death was simply a person going away, never to be found again.

But in that moment, as she held the shoulders of Zena Halcorr, Rey was forced to face the reality of death. Death was not someone disappearing – unless you were like Grandpa Anakin, or Master Kenobi – death was an ending. A shell left behind, and an entire life coming to an abrupt halt. It was undignified, it was never by choice, and it could never be reverse.

Zena Halcorr was just gone.

"No!" Rey being so young couldn't accept it. She shook Zena's still body hard, "Wake up! Wake up, Master Halcorr!"

Zena would never wake.

But there was another thing that Rey failed to understand; her screaming for Zena to wake up had attracted attention.

"Get down!" someone screamed at her.

Rey spun around to just in time to see a red lightsaber drive through the back of a Jedi Padawan named Genko.

"NO!" Rey screamed in terror as Genko fell to the ground, unmoving like Zena.

Lost and disoriented, Rey rose to her feet and looked to see Genko's source of death. Seven black clad figures stood before her in the rain, slaughtering every man, woman, and child they could find.

A loud clap of thunder rang out as the rain fell upon the training field, washing away the stains of blood. In the distance, Rey saw the Jedi Temple burning, as well as her home on the slope.

Looking around wildly, Rey could not see her mother anywhere. In fact, the only people in sight were the seven black figures. Of course, taking another look around at the bodies, Rey knew that there weren't enough for everyone in Temple Village to be dead… but the number of missing people was very small.

Rey was at the complete mercy of the seven figures.

"MOMMY! WHERE ARE YOU?" Rey screamed for her mother, too young to understand the danger of her actions.

The figure whose red lightsaber had ended the life of Genko looked to her. Rey took a few steps back in fear. For some reason, the figure seemed familiar.

He started forward at her, and Rey could sense his intentions were of the Dark Side.

Pathetically raised her arms to shield her face from the figure, meekly withdrawing. She barely registered that between her tears she was softly begging the boy to spare her life.

"Please, no!"

The figure backed her away from the battlefield until she was pinned against a trunk at the edge of the treeline. A path to her left led deep into the dark forest. It was a path she knew Mommy and Daddy had forbidden her from going down alone, but in that moment it was her only escape. If only she could get around the dark figure.

"Rey," the monster said in a mechanical voice that Rey couldn't recognized, yet still felt familiar something, "I'm sorry. This isn't personal."

"NO!" Rey screamed as the monster raised his lightsaber.

The monster was suddenly ripped backwards, crashing back to the ground.

Rey frowned, looking around in confusion before setting her eyes on a glorious sight. Daddy's second-in-command, Jedi Master, Reine Agim had Force Pushed the monster away from Rey.

"Rey! Run!" Reine yelled as she rushed towards the monster in black.

Rey glanced at the monster. His helmet had been knocked slightly askew, and he was gently stirring. Black curls spilled out of the helmet, but as Reine screamed again for Rey to run, Rey took her chance. Rey dashed down the forbidden path as fast as her little legs could carry her.

The monster who called himself Kylo Ren pushed himself off the ground. He fiercely swung his saber at Reine as she advanced on him, trying to drive him away from Rey.

Kylo's cousin had disappeared into the dark forest, and unfortunately his helmet made it difficult to see through the moonlit branches. With a growl, he pushed Reine back and ripped off his helmet. Tossing it to the ground, he decided it would be better if her just came and collected it again later.

"LOOK!" one of the Knights of Ren shouted.

Everyone looked up. A familiar X-Wing had appeared in the sky, and was preparing to land.

"Luke," Reine whispered her blade cross locked with Kylo's.

Kylo frowned, "How did he know to come back?"

Reine and Kylo looked at each other. The same thought went through their minds.

Kylo was quicker, slashing Reine across the abdomen before she could defend herself. She stumbled back, clutching at her wound. It was not fatal… but it was only a matter of time before it would be.

Smirking at her, Kylo told Reine, "Tell my Uncle I said hello."

Then dashed down the path after Rey.

Reine looked helplessly after the boy she used to call Ben. She didn't have much time; the wound was already getting to her. There was no way she could both save Rey, and find Luke in time to help him. Weighing her options frantically, blood seeped her tunic and began staining her arm as if to say make your choice NOW.

So she did. She knew that the forest had enough twists and turns for Rey to be able to shake off Ben for a while. Luke was the priority; he needed help. He needed to know what had happened, and where the survivors were.

Reine turned in the direction of Luke's X-Wing, and made a run for it.

She only prayed that Luke would be able to find Rey before Ben did.

Ok, I know what you're all thinking. Isn't this supposed to be Luke in the Force Awakens? Why aren't we in the events of the Force Awakens? I will admit that the Force Awakens material doesn't actually start up until roughly chapter eight as there's a lot of backstory to set up. I really feel like I need to show how Luke got separated from Rey, how she ended up on Jakku, why Kylo freaks out at hearing about a girl on Jakku, why Luke wouldn't go looking for Rey, and how Rey could be left behind for so long. So, I'm sorry if you have to wait a while for the actual Force Awakens material, but I'm aiming for shorter chapter for this fic that I hope it doesn't end up taking too long to get there.