❝ you don't know me. ❞

―

CHILLS RIPPLED THROUGH Carina's skin as she exhaled, pulling her coat tighter around herself. The woman absolutely hated Hoth, she had never been fond of the cold. Neutral climates worked more in her favor but more then the weather, it was the reminders the snow brought.

Memories of the time her and Anakin started a snowball fight that lasted longer than it was supposed to. Laughter echoed through her ears, as if she was reliving the moment. It was one of those memories that were engraved in her mind, it was a time when she felt unimaginable happiness. A time she missed.

Carina blinked as she broke out of her trance, catching sight of her son stepping towards her with his saber in hand. The brunette quirked up a brow at him, "Ready to get thrashed again?"

Luke feigned an offended expression, "Hey, I'm getting better." Carina gave the boy a look as she turned to walk into the only vast space available in the base, "You're lucky you didn't have my Master watch your training."

Luke was quick to follow after her, "They were strict?" Carina dryly chuckled, "Well, my first one wasn't as much. Master Windu on the other hand did not bother going easy on me."

The blonde boy tilted his head slightly at her, "You had two mentors?"

Carina fell silent for a short moment, slipping her saber out of her utility belt before turning towards her child, "I lost my first Master at twelve so I had to be given a new one since I was a young padawan."

Luke pulled his brows together, "Is it normal for padawan's to lose their mentors?"

Carina shrugged off her extra coat, her son was a very curious person, though she couldn't blame him. She was the only person who could answer his questions.

"It is, most are Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters so death is always in line for them. Masters have also been known to lose padawan's as well."

Curiosity shined in Skywalker's eyes, "Really?" The brunette nodded in confirmation, "It's quite common as well."

"Did my parents have padawan's?"

Carina stilled at the question, her eyes going blank as she thought of one person. Ahsoka. One of the people she most cared and loved for, she felt a sense of failure when she thought of the young girl.

She felt as if she could've done more for her, the council had not been the only one responsible for her absence, but she felt guilty for it as well.

Ahsoka was never Carina's padawan, but that didn't stop the brunette from treating and protecting her like her own. She trained Ahsoka just as much as Anakin did.

"Your father did." Luke's eyes visibly brightened up at the mention of his father as the woman continued, "Ahsoka Tano. One of the best people I knew."

The blonde knitted his brows together, "Knew?"

Carina swallowed a lump in her throat, she had accepted that Ahsoka had most likely died in Order 66. Specifically because she had last been with clone troopers on her own.

Carina had done her share of mourning for the girl she spent much of her war days with. Yet every time she thought of her, it hurt a little more each time.

"Order 66, a horrid time. Even I had begun to be overwhelmed, barely making my way out." Carina had been pregnant with her twins at that time, making her agility rusty as she couldn't move as quick.

"How did you make it out?"

Carina pursed her lips, "My husband." Surprise rippled through Luke's expression, "You're married?"

Carina's gaze shifted towards the ground as a soft breath left her parted lips, "Yes."

"Wasn't that—"

"Against the Jedi code?"

Luke shuffled on his feet before nodding. Carina hummed, "It was, we broke it. We paid the price for it."

"Did you ever regret... marrying him?"

Carina blinked, her mind wandering off to the countless memories she had made with her beloved. His laughter purging her thoughts as she could vividly remember every single one of his smiles. Having treasured all of them.

Most of all, he had given her Luke and Leia. Her children that had become her entire life, devoting herself completely to them.

Carina shifted her attention back towards her eldest, "No, I don't." The brunette ignited her ember saber, it's radiating noise purging the room, "Enough chatter, you can't avoid getting thrashed for long."

Luke rolled his eyes before slipping out his own weapon, turning it on as he cautiously held it before him. Carina gazed into his bright eyes as she took a step towards him.

Luke charged towards her, slashing his saber down to clash against Carina's. The woman pushed against his weapon with much force before sidestepping him, turning to see the boy slightly stumble.

Carina twirled her saber in her hand, "At least you're not falling on your face anymore." Luke groaned slightly, turning to clash his weapon with hers. The mother shifted her foot to hook around the blondes ankle before hauling him towards the ground.

Luke let out a grunt as his head hit the concrete as the woman pursed her lips, "You have got to start paying attention to the lower half of your body."

"Do people even use moves like that?"

Carina gave young Skywalker a look, "I just did."

"I don't think I'll ever beat you in combat."

"Probably not, no."

Leia treaded towards the duo, glancing at Carina who was helping the blonde stand once again. The princess narrowed her eyes at Luke, "You're gonna be late for your patrol."

Luke muttered a curse under his breath before placing his lightsaber back into his belt before turning towards Carina, "I will knock you down eventually."

Algora smiled at him, "Perhaps in your dreams."

Luke picked up his pace as he ran out the room, his footsteps getting harder to hear as Leia gazed at the woman, "He seems to be getting better."

Carina hummed in agreement, "He's getting stronger, but he still has some way to go."

Leia gave her one last look before turning around, treading back into the command center. Carina closed her eyes, her bright expression crumbling off of her face as she slouched slightly.

The mother held a distant look, her exhaustion growing by the day.

―

Carina stepped into the main hangar as her eyes fell upon one of the creatures Han and Luke would ride during the patrols. The brunette knew Luke wasn't back since she couldn't sense him, meaning Solo had returned.

Algora pulled her coat tighter around herself as a breeze flew by, she moved her feet, passing the X-wings that were currently being worked on as she treaded down the ice corridor when familiar voices caught her attention.

"Come on. You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me."

Carina heard her daughters voice chime up, "Yes. You're a great help to us. You're a natural leader."

"No, that's not it. Come on."

Leia's humorless laugh echoed down the hall, "You're imagining things."

"Am I? Then why are you following me? Afraid I was going to leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?"

Leia harshly scoffed, Carina imagined her daughter wearing an incredulous expression as she spoke, "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee."

Carina heard Han's footsteps begin to get closer as he shouted back at her, "I can arrange that. You could use a good kiss!"

Han stormed by the brunette, leaving her still in her spot as she blinked slowly. Everyone in the rebel base knew those two had feelings for the other, sadly Leia had inherited Carina's stubbornness and need to be in denial.

Carina breathed softly as distress suddenly filled her thoughts, her worry being aimed at one person. Luke. She turned on her heel, her pace picking up as she walked up to Han who was crouched under the Millennium Falcon.

"Han."

The male stood from his place to meet the mothers eyes, "What's up, grouchy?" Carina had grown accustomed to the nickname Solo had bestowed upon her, she had given up on getting him to drop it.

"Where's Luke?"

"He said he was going to check out a meteorite sighting."

Carina pressed her lips firmly together, "Something's wrong." A now worried expression pulled at Han's features before turning towards the deck officer, "Deck Officer."

The male turned towards him as Carina stood by Solo's side, "Yes, sir?"

"Do you know where Commander Skywalker is?"

The officer shook his head, "I haven't seen him. It's possible he came in through the south entrance."

Han gave the man an incredulous look, "It's possible? Why don't you go find out? It's getting dark out there." The deck officer walked off, going into the back as Carina went to follow Han who stopped her.

"You stay here just in case he comes back."

Carina narrowed her eyes at him, "No, if you're going out to look for him, I'm going with you." Han shook his head, "If something happens they can't afford to lose you."

Anger was quick to surge through the brunette, "He is my—" Carina was quick to catch herself from making a grave mistake, "Friend. He's not only yours."

Han held a bit of suspicion from how abrupt the woman cut her sentence but shrugged it off, "I know you take orders from no one except Leia, but you're staying here. I'll bring the kid back."

Carina grit her teeth together, she was still having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that she didn't need to do everything.

"Fine, but if you don't come back with him—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You'll castrate me."

Carina grinned slightly at him, "Glad we have that understanding."

Han turned around as he headed for the south entrance, "Don't miss me too much."

―

A shiver racked through Carina's spine as she stood by the main hangars door, patiently awaiting her son and Solo's arrival. R2 let out a beep as he stayed by her side, Carina merely hummed softly, "They'll make it back, they have to."

Carina's expression remained grim as she heard the Lieutenant speak behind her, "Sir, all the patrols are in. There's still no contact from Skywalker or Solo."

C-3PO gazed intently at princess Organa, "Mistress Leia, Artoo says he's been quite unable to pick up any signals, although he does admit that his own range is far too weak to abandon all hope."

Leia shifted her gaze over to Carina who was already watching her as Derlin spoke to her, "Your Highness, there's nothing more we can do tonight. The shield doors must be closed."

Carina breathed heavily, "If you're going to close the doors give me a Tauntaun and I'll go after them."

Leia shook her head, "No."

Carina quirked up a brow at her daughter, "No?"

"We're not risking more people, least of all you."

The mother clenched her jaw rather tightly, fear for her son coursing through her. Carina clenched her fists, "With respect—"

"We just have to have faith that they'll make it through the night."

Algora let out a harsh scoff, "Faith?"

Derlin turned towards the Lieutenant, "Close the doors." Carina's lips began to tremble slightly as she shut her eyes, the officers walking away as Chewie let out saddened howl.

3PO glanced between the mother and daughter, "R2 says the chances of survival are seven hundred seventy-five to one."

Carina lifted her gaze to see the huge metal doors slam across the entrance of the ice cave. The loud booms echo throughout the huge cavern.

3PO looked back towards the two, "Actually, R2 has been known to make mistakes from time to time. Oh, dear, oh, dear. Don't worry about Master Luke. I'm sure he'll be all right. He's quite clever, you know... for a human being."

Carina's chest heaved as she only thought of her son, the blizzarding snow wouldn't take him out. It couldn't.

―

AUTHORS NOTE,
I have so many things I need to add in this act and figuring out how to do that is becoming a pain in my as but it'll be worth it