A/N: as always, If there's any suggestions on what you all would like to read in the story, let me know! I've already taken some suggestions into consideration!

And hang in there! The story really starts changing and more action will be happening once we get to Maz's cantina! Thanks for staying this long!

Chapter Three

She first met Isaac at a college event two months into her first year there. At the time, she was still figuring out where she fit in and Isaac had this way of being so open and honest with people that it made everyone feel as if they had been best friends for years. That's what drew Alayna into hanging out with him every day after that.

Isaac was already best friends with RaSasha since she began high school in the same district he attended. They both welcomed Alayna in with open arms--all three of them having had many family issues they dealt with every day of their childhood. It was something they could all relate to; however, it was rare any one of them ever talked about their past very much.

But that's what Alayna loved. Her friends and her university were a means of escape. She didn't have to talk about or even think about her past. She could just enjoy her time with them and finally stop dwelling on the hardhips.

If only she could do the same with Rey and Finn.

They'd been flying along in the galaxy for a few hours towards the Resistance base as they all tried to searching the nooks and cranies of the Falcon for more maps of the galaxy, but they all came up short with anything related to Earth.

During those few hours, Alayna pitied herself some more. She knew she was being pathetic and Finn and Rey were probably annoyed she wasn't being of any help.

Then, Alayna got to thinking.

The ship jolted, reversing itself in space. They were going in one direction, now she felt they were being pulled in another.

Rey looked up to the ceiling as if she would be able to see what the commotion was. Finn rushed towards the glass windows, peering out to see what was happening.

But Alayna already knew. "Han Solo."

"The Han Solo? The War Hero?" Finn asked starstruck. "How do you know for sure?"

The door slid open suddenly. The familiar howl of Chewbacca sounded through the Falcon. Both Chewie and Han stepped through the frame. "Chewie," he said with a smile. "We're home." Then his turned to the three of them with a cocked brow. "Who is the pilot here?" he asked.

"M-me. I'm the pilot," Rey said.

"Are you Han Solo?" Finn asked eagerly.

"I am. And who are you three and how did you get ahold of my ship?"

"I stole it from Unkar Plutt who stole it from the Irving Boys who stole it from Ducain," Rey said swiftly.

"Who stole it from me. You tell them that Han Solo stoke it back."

"Wait," Rey said, her eyes bright with wonder. "This is the ship that made the Kessel run in fourteen parsecs?"

"Twelve," he huffed. Han walked to the pilot's seat, reminiscing the lost days of old.

Alayna felt a sudden urge to tap his shoulder and ask him a million questions. She found her hand so close to his shoulder, but she instantly retracted. As if he felt her pressing questions, he turned back around, looking down at her with the classic Solo smirk.

"You need something, kid?"

She opened her mouth, then she closed it, and then opened it again. "I have a lot of questions. Questions...about your son."

Alayna made the side eyes at Finn and Rey who were preoccupied with BB-8's frantic beeping. He rolled around them, trying to convey as much emotion as an expressionless droid could. It was enough of a long story to keep them occupied while Alayna could pull out any information from Han that she could.

The sinking of his heart was subtle, but she picked up on it. Alayna felt ashamed, though, there wasn't any turning back now.

"What about him?"

"Did you leave before or after he started his Jedi training?"

He narrowed his brows at her. "Where are you getting these ideas and how do you know anything about me or my son?"

This whole experience seemed to be nothing but how much information revealed was too much. But in her mind, the more background she got, the more she could use it for everyone's advantage.

"I just know things," she said.

"Where are you from?"

"Solo," Rey shouted from the other side of the ship. "There's another ship docking! Do you recognize it?"

Han rushed down the Falcon's ramp to check the monitors in the hangar. He flipped through them quickly as Chewie made a concerned groan, clutching his bowcaster. He leaned over Han, groaning at him to move.

"Blasted," Han mumbled. "This way."

Finn, Rey and Alayna straightened and followed Han through dimly lit corridors. Alayna's heart beat in a panicked frenzy as she tried to keep up. The flashing corridor lights worsened her heightened anxiety.

Han stopped in the middle of the corridor, lifting a piece of the floor up. He had them shuffle down into the vents to hide them from the gangs.

A panel of switches conveniently sat on the vent wall in front of them. Rey analyzed them thoroughly, flipping one of them down. Something clicked, ringing off the metal panels in the vents.

Alayna Knew what happened next, but that didn't stop shivers running down her spine when she heard the horrid screeching of rathtars being unleashed.

"No," Rey whispered. "Wrong fuse."

Anyone could hear the loud banging against the corridors that came from the tentacles of the creatures. It made it all the more terrifying that she couldn't pinpoint exactly where they came from. The noises just echoed overhead.

The three of them hoisted themselves out of the vent. Han and the gangs all but disappeared. Finn and Rey looked every direction, not knowing which way to go.

Alayna tugged Rey's arm band, "This way."

The three of them ran down the halls dodging the corridors where the rathtars were still munching on the gangs for dinner. When Rey spotted one, her eyes grew wide with horror. Finn had to pull on her arm to get her to keep up with them.

It took every inch of muscle in her to sprint in pace with the scavenger and ex-storm trooper. Her face beat red, feeling as though someone had lit her on fire.

Finally making it to the Falcon, they hopped on board to see that Han and Chewie were already there.

Han was trying to calm Chewie down as he had been hit in the shoulder. Finn and Rey rushed over to the scene.

"Here. Help Chewie while I get us out of here." Han and Rey went to the pilot seats.

Finn rummaged through first aid, offering the bandages to Alayna. Though a small gesture, it felt huge to her. She felt a sideliner the whole journey and now she was being asked to intervene—to take part in a story that wasn't hers.

She hesitated, unsure how her presence would ultimately effect everything she knew in this universe. She could stand by and let things happen as they did in the films. She could try and warn them when need be to save lives and leave at that. But what would the outcome be if she became part of all their lives instead of just a passerby? Would she even effect any of the outcomes at all?

Pushing all silly questions aside, Alayna embraced her circumstances and took the bandages.

Finn bickered with BB-8 and Chewie while she gently wrapped his arm in gauze. Though she didn't understand his groans and growling, she could tell he was thanking her for her efforts. Alayna smiled sweetly in return.

When Chewie settled down from his wounds, Finn passed out another meal to everyone. BB-8 rolled around to entertain himself as they flew across the galaxy to Maz's castle.

Alayna found herself taking a short nap on the bench as the day's events took all her energy. Before she knew it, she was waking up to see Rey outside, taking in all the sunlight and greenery on Takodana. The way the suns graced her face made her look like a flawless desert princess.

Chewie went out to the edge of the waters with Rey, privately conversing with each other.

Finn was quick to stand side by side with Rey while Han sat across from on the semi-circular bench.

He smiled sadly, resting his elbows on the holochess table.

"Where are you from, kid?"

"Earth."

The half smile faded from his mouth. He didn't take his eyes off her as they lit up with what she could only describe as hope. The sudden change in reaction made Alayna think of only one thing.

"You know about Earth? Do you know how I can get back?"

"I've explored the galaxies my whole life, kid. And not a single planet is named Earth. What's really going on?"

Although he meant well, the words came down on her like a two-ton boulder, engulfing her in heavy disappointment. She looked down at her lap, her thumb digging into her other palm.

"I didn't want my son to train as a Jedi. I had my reservations, but Leia insisted. I wanted to explore the galaxy with my son but his blood runs through the Skywalker line of powerful Force users. I guess neither of us really had much choice. Ben seemed resentful of us leaving him with his uncle to train. No matter how much I tried assuring him this was the right thing to do, he was distraught over the separation. As much as Leia and I hated it too, we left him there at the temple anyway. From the letters his uncle sent me, he thinks of me very poorly. I just wish I could tell him that I would give anything to go back and correct everything I did wrong. I would fight harder for his choice to train or not and fight harder to be with my son. No point now in dwelling on it. It's far too late for that. But Whatever it is you're hiding, you can tell me. But you've gotta be honest about how you got to Jakku."

She sat there shocked at the confession. The last thing she expected was Han to give her anything concerning his personal life.

If only she could give him hers.

"I honestly don't know. That's my problem. I'm stuck here where my home doesn't exist." Her thoughts raced and the tears started welling in her eyes. "I don't know that I'll ever be able to go back and see my family again."

Rey walked into the room having stood in the doorframe for who knows how long without Alayna's knowing.

"I feel the same way. Or at least, I feel I will never have a family again. I don't even know who they are or why they abandoned me."

Alayna wiped her tears away. She wanted to lash out at her, yelling that if wasn't the same at all. But she knew it wasn't Rey's intention to compare and contrast. She simply wanted to relate.

Han leaned over the table, grabbing her attention. "You aren't alone, kid. Just remember that. And neither are you," he said, looking at Rey.

The scavenger's eyes sparkled with thankfulness, a smile crept to the corners of her mouth.

"Ok, I don't mean to be that guy, but I think we should get this droid back to the Resistance before someone else comes along and tries taking him."

Chewie agreed in that loud, rumbling voice of his. Everyone followed suit, marching into the castle.

Just a she remembered, creatures from every species littered the cantina. Drinking ale, playing cards, betting on holochess, eating exotic foods, lounging on the couches and gossiping about the galaxy. It was a wonder to behold—a wonder she got to see in person.

Maybe enjoying her time while she was here would be better than sulking while waiting for a way to get back home.

A/N: sorry for any mistakes. Been using my phone instead so quality will suck!