A Bright Future

by QuinnOfConeyIsland

In their moment of solitude, Ben and Rey can see each other from different corners of the galaxy and suddenly, they are not alone. Just like the first time they touched hands, they see visions of what's to come. Visions that will affect them more than anything else and hope will finally be restored.

The moon is full and bright. The white light illuminates the clouds in the dark night sky. It's a beautiful sight. Rey stands looking out over the vast ocean. She likes to feel the cool breeze sweep over her face and hear the crashing of the waves below. What she doesn't like is the empty feeling in her heart. She is right where she needs to be. With the Resistance. With her friends. So why does she feel so lonely? There is another who shares the exact same feeling somewhere across the galaxy. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren. Ben Solo.

He looks through the window. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Stars are blinking back at him. The universe was a big place. The thought of it makes him feel all the more insignificant. All the more lonely. He has the entire galaxy in his grasp. And yet… he has nothing. Her name unconsciously falls from his lips in a longing whisper. "Rey…"

The wind carries her name across the space between them. She hears it as clear as day. Closing her eyes, she whispers back, "Ben…" He is reaching out to her again. Not Kylo Ren, but Ben Solo. When she opens her eyes, she can see him. He's standing right in front of her, all alone on his ship. Even though he's not smiling, he looks happy to see her. She is happy to see him too. Relieved that he's alive and well. At least as far as she can tell.

"Rey," he says her name clearer.

"Ben," she responds. There is only so much either of them can say. Though there is much to talk about, sometimes the look of an eye can say more than a thousand words and convey the deepest of feelings. Rey doesn't need to hear him say it. She already knows.

He raises his right arm and she mirrors his move with her left. Meeting halfway, their palms press together and a warmth spreads through their hands and bodies like a tidal wave of energy. Suddenly, their eyes are wide open. They see it all so clear. Images. Visions of the future.

He hears a baby's first scream. He sees himself, holding the delicate thing in his arms, wrapped up in a warm blanket. Its tiny head fits right in the palm of his hand. Tears form in his eyes, both in the vision and in the present. "It's a girl," he hears himself say. "A baby girl." There is nothing confirming that the baby is his. Nothing except his feelings and he trusts that they're telling him the truth. He is the father and no one else. He cradles the girl in his arms. She seems to find it soothing. Soon, her screaming dies and she's no longer crying. Ben smiles down at her with pride and joy. "I promise you," he says, "that I will never… ever… leave you."

She's holding a sleeping baby in her arms. An innocent babe with a round face and tiny hands. It's the most precious thing she's ever seen. Where did this baby come from? Why does it make her feel so happy? So… at peace. She feels fulfilled. Complete. The vision fades and she's brought back to reality. Her tear-stained face meets his and realization dawns on both of them. But time is up and before they can say anything, the connection is broken and they fade from each other's view.

Ben's hand rests against the window pane right where Rey just held hers. Both of them are shocked by what they have just seen. Right now, things seemed hopeless. But hope… Hope was like the sun. If you believed in it only when you could see it, then you would never make it through the night. They just needed a reminder that it would all be worth it in the end. That there was something worth fighting for. The past was filled with darkness. But the future was looking bright.