A/N: This first chapter appeared as a one-shot in my string of nonsense, ForceBond Fluff. Thought I'd expand. Enjoy!

A blaster slung at his thigh and tall black boots freshly shined, Ben Solo strode easily through the Rebel base camp, nodding and waving as the fighters bid him good morning. His dark eyes scanned the officers and fighters' faces for a certain smattering of freckles and a small scar, but couldn't help the disappointment when the search failed to heed his specific results.

"Solo," a rebel called. "Your guest is ready to see you."

"Fantastic," Ben grinned in excited anticipation, rubbing his hands together. "Let him know I'll be with him shortly. Ask how he takes his coffee."

The rebel stifled a grin and turned on her way. Ben continued making rounds. It was a morning ritual; nothing was more important to him than knowing that his fellow fighters liked and trusted him. Perhaps he wasn't official resistance leadership, but enough of the rebels put power upon him that he was forced to accept some semblance of importance whether he wanted it or not. So every morning just as the commotion began, Ben strode through the Rebel base with what his mother called the Solo Swagger. The title came with an eye roll, of course.

Ben supposed he did scream Solo to anyone who could see or hear him. All except for the hair, of course. How Han hated his hair. Recently Ben wore his raven locks swept back into a half bun of sorts. Han threatened to lop it off as he slept, but the younger man trusted that the Force would wake him should his father sneak into his room with scissors.

Grinning fondly, Ben tucked a flyaway hair back behind his ear and ducked into the Millennium Falcon. "Dad!"

"Yeah," Han's voice came. Judging by his tone, he hadn't enjoyed a particularly pleasant morning.

Ben snagged a jelly-filled pastry from a tray on the Dejarik table. "You want a crack at Hux?" he called through a mouthful of crumbs.

Han appeared with a look of utter disbelief on his face. "I know I'm old, but you don't have to patronize me yet, kid." Sighing and leaning against the wall, he motioned to the door. "Just go grab the intel from his head and let's get this show on the road," Han grumbled. "I'm tired of this planet. All it does is rain."

Ben chuckled and popped the rest of the pastry into his mouth and reached for another. "Really. I want to see what he volunteers freely. Hux apparently demanded someone of his own station and rank."

A Wookie cried out from elsewhere on the ship.

"I know, right?" Ben agreed as Chewie appealed through a corridor.

Han nodded to his copilot, then scowled at his son. "Hey, that's my breakfast!"

Ben finished the second donut and licked jelly from his fingers. "Oops."

Han slumped down into a chair. "I don't get any respect around here. Leia paraded those new recruits in here yesterday wanting the big speech on what it means to be a general. The truth? You get dragged all over the place to fight off some new group of assholes on some miserable planet and your kid eats your goddamn breakfast twice a week."

Chewie and Ben snickered, but Han suddenly perked up. "Hey. Maybe it doesn't have to be that way. Yeah. Yeah! Starting now, I'm not General Solo. I don't have to be. I can just-"

"No," Ben cried out. "No, no, no. I've gotta go handle Hux. See ya later!" He snagged the last pastry from the plate before bounding out of the ship, leaving Chewie laughing and his father calling after him.

"Ben!" Han yelled. "Come back! I'm trying to promote you!"

"Noooooope!"

The First Order officer repeatedly eyed his coffee, but hadn't taken so much as a sip. Restraints held his legs to the chair he was seated in, but his arms were free to reach out and partake in the caffeinated goodness if he chose. Protocol or dignity kept his arms crossed over his chest, though his nostrils flared as he took in the welcoming aroma. This wasn't his first run-in with the rebels and of one thing he was quite certain: they were not to be trusted.

The guards behind him stood stoically, not certain whether to expect an escape attempt or not. They relaxed when Ben entered with the ease of someone meeting an old friend for breakfast.

"It's not poisoned," Ben said, gesturing to the coffee. "There are much easier ways of killing you, if that was our intent."

"Which one are you?" the officer uninterestedly taunted, stealing another glance at the coffee. "I've heard the Solos run this resistance and they're all obnoxiously cocky. You must be one."

"Too true," Ben smirked. "General Hugs, right?"

The man's defiant attitude immediately shattered and he flew off the handle. "Hux!" he screamed, his perfectly gelled hair vibrating as he trembled in rage. "General Hux!"

"My apologies." Ben grinned and smoothed back his flyaways. "Shall we, General Sux?"

The general's ears burned as crimson as his hair. "It's Hux!" He lunged for his coffee to launch it across the table, but the cup slid out of his reach toward Ben.

"How rude," he frowned as the cup arrived in his hand without so much as a drop sloshing over the side. "And I thought we were being good hosts by offering both regular and decaf." He took a long drink and let the cup clink back onto the table before continuing. "So we captured you. Welcome to our base."

"Obviously!" Hux took a deep breath and sat back, desperately trying to collect himself.

A mop of dark hair popped into the tent. "Who's that I hear in there? Is that Huggsie?!" Commander Poe Dameron bounced in uninvited and sat next to Ben. "Huggsie. What's up? Nice of you to come visit. I see you've met Ben. Sorry, sorry," he corrected himself dramatically. "Commander Solo. I know we're friends," Poe said, motioning between himself and Hux, "but I don't think you two have met, right?"

"Right," Ben nodded. "I don't think we're getting off to a good start. He didn't want the coffee."

"Didn't want the-" Poe trailed off dramatically. "Hugs, man, show my bro some respect, huh?" He leaned forward and whispered loudly, "You're embarrassing me."

Hux even blinked with hostility. "You infuriating buffoons! Enough of these idiotic theatrics. I've so looked forward to seeing your pathetic resistance blotted out," he snarled, "especially you two."

Ben faked a look of joy and pointed down Poe. "There it is. You hear that? I told you he's been thinking of me." He leaned on the table and flashed a handsome grin at the prisoner. "Am I as tall as you imagined, General?"

Hux's blush was bordering on purple as the dark-haired men cackled and slapped hands. Even the guards' neutral expressions cracked.

"Get this over with," Hux barked. "You'll get nothing from me. Just kill me now and spare me your two-bit comedy routine."

Ben sighed. "You're right. Sorry. It's just so exciting to have visitors." He turned to Poe. "Where is she?"

"The princess?" Hux breathed in hungry anticipation.

Suddenly indignant, Poe snorted. "Leia doesn't have time for space junk like you. Sorry, Huggsie." He stood. "I'll go find her for you. You gonna teach her some mind reading today, huh?" He nodded. "Solid."

"What, then," Hux snorted to Ben. "Don't tell me you have a Padawan."

"No, no, no," Ben interrupted. "Not Padawan. I'm not a Jedi. Don't believe the rumors." He sat back and kicked his boots up onto the table. "She's my apprentice."

"My, my, Solo," Hux purred, "that sounds like you aren't a Jedi at all. Who knew the Resistance harbored a Sith lord?"

Suddenly uncomfortable with the verbal sparring, Ben cast out his hand and forced silence upon the general.

A few minutes later Poe returned, followed by a girl in brown leggings and a tan tunic. Her tall boots matched Ben's, except hers were caramel. She wore her hair in a row of buns along the back of her head and a shy smile on her fair face.

Hux's eyebrow quirked slightly. It didn't take a Force user to detect his sudden interest in her.

Ben rolled his eyes, then sat on the table top before the prisoner, his feet still nearly touching the ground. "General Hugs, this is my student Rey. She'll be interrogating you today." He nodded to the girl, who looked back to him uncertainly. "You've watched me do it a dozen times," Ben said softly. "It's all you. Intent. Focus. Confidence." He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "You'll be fine."

"There truly are two of you now?" Hux asked as Rey dragged another chair next to his. "I've not heard of a Jedi girl and there's little that goes on in the galaxy that I don't hear about." His gaze was more charming than the vindictive sneer he saved for the men. "Are you certain your powers aren't being wasted with these space rats? I could create a place for you with the First Order."

"I'm not a Jedi," Rey said with the same strange indignation her master had taken on. She sat on the edge of the seat and stared intensely into Hux's eyes as Ben and Poe knocked fists and snickered once more. "Now. This won't hurt if you don't resist."

His lip twitched and he looked away. Rey's own expression intensified. Beads of sweat began to form at the general's hairline. Rey leaned forward slightly and put her hand out so that it nearly touched the man's face. Her fingers were graceful and relaxed. Hux's face contorted in effort and pain. "Enough," he groaned through gritted teeth.

Pride swelled as Ben watched her work. Not long ago she was just a strange Force dream; a beautiful vision he hated waking up from. Night after night he hoped to see the girl and wondered if she saw him in return. Months later when they locked eyes on Jakku by sheer coincidence, Ben knew the girl recognized him.

With Rey's arrival, life had taken a serendipitous turn for the resistance. Everyone loved her immediately, but she chose to spend her days and evenings with Ben, learning new skills or ravenously chowing down on his cooking, but more often just talking late into the starry night. Until he met Rey, Ben had no idea something had been missing.

At last Rey sat back and released Hux from her interrogation. "The First Order is moving to send us soldiers posing as recruits!" she exclaimed, beaming up at Ben. "They'll be arriving today and another wave tomorrow. Twenty seven of them all together."

"That's perfect," Ben grinned. He stood and clapped Hux on the back. "Thanks for cooperating, Hugs. Our time has come to an end, but you're going to have a great afternoon with the generals."

Rey chewed at her lip, suddenly nervous. "Ben, aren't you going to double check?"

"Why would I?" he shrugged, motioning to the guards.

"Maybe you should make sure I didn't miss anything." Rey stood and offered her chair. "Just in case."

Ben frowned. "Do you feel like there's something he's withholding?"

"No, but-" Rey cleared her throat and shifted her weight awkwardly. "Can't you just check? Please?"

"Rey!" Ben laughed. "Trust yourself. I do. Twenty seven new traitor recruits. That's the official word." He hesitated, then smiled at her. "You're just as strong as I am. There's nothing more I could retrieve from him. Don't doubt yourself."

A smile came to her lips and pink to her cheeks. "Thank you."

Hux glared at them in absolute contempt. "Are you quite done?!" He panted to catch his breath and slouched in his chair, clearly exhausted. "Take your pitiful flirting elsewhere."

Ben cocked an eyebrow in his direction. "It's rude to interrupt, Hugs."

Rey sheepishly cleared her throat and nodded to the tent flap. "I, uh, told Finn I would spar with him." With another shy smile, she left.

Poe nudged Ben as she disappeared from sight. "She likes you," he mouthed obviously.

"What?" Ben breathed in surprise. "Not a chance. I've been in her mind. Isn't that something I would have noticed?" He scratched the back of his neck. "Isn't it?"

"Yeah, you were in her mind." Poe rolled his eyes as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You don't have a crush on someone in your mind." He tapped his chest. "It's in here. And boy, does she ever, you lucky bastard."

Even Hux groaned. "Surely you can't be that thick, Solo."

Raising an eyebrow, Ben shot him a look. "You and I just aren't going to get along, are we?"

It was sprinkling lightly as Finn and Rey swung staffs at each other in a clearing near the forest. Han Solo was right – it only ever rained on their current planet. Even with the mist, this was considered a nice day.

Finn ducked and jabbed his staff at Rey, who stumbled into the mud as it whapped against her thighs. She stumbled back to her feet and thrust at Finn. He grabbed her staff and used the end of it to knock her backward again. This time, Rey sat in the mud and caught her breath.

"Come on," Finn teased her as he pulled her back to her feet, "your teacher isn't going very hard on you if that's all you've got." He twirled his own staff before advancing on an imaginary enemy. "The First Order isn't going to go easy on you. You should let me train you. I know the enemy. I was the enemy!" His face lit up at the idea. "Staffs, blasters, mental toughness. I could prepare you better than pretty boy could." He glanced over his shoulder. Certain the coast was clear, he smirked. "Besides, I've never seen him rush into battle with the rest of us. Wouldn't want to mess up his hair."

"Don't say that," Rey snapped. "He's more powerful than you could imagine. You don't just throw that kind of weapon on the front line. You wouldn't understand."

Rolling his eyes so hard he surely saw stars, Finn scoffed. "That Force junk won't save you when an electrostaff is swinging toward you. C'mon. Let me train you instead." He sank into a battle stance and Rey did the same.

"It will so," she grumbled. "And Ben is a great teacher, thanks."

Finn dodged a blow, then landed one between Rey's shoulder blades. "You used to be better than this," he barked as she cringed. "You need to be practicing what's actually important! You're wasting your time with Solo. Have you seen his temper? He's a wackadoo, Rey!" His amusement had soured.

Rey all but snarled aloud. Playtime was over. This time her attack was quicker, more aggressive. Finn grunted as two rapid blows hit him in succession. The pair regrouped and engaged again. Time after time they wordlessly spun and swung, panting and crying out in pain as the sparring changed to harsh slashes at any body part they could reach. Rebels began to wander over to investigate the cries and sharp cracks of the staffs colliding. By now both duelers were filthy, covered head to boot in mud, sweat, and blood.

"Take it back," Rey growled as she advanced, staff whirling. A trickle of blood dripped from her split brow but the precipitation worked to wash it away.

Finn frantically danced side to side to dodge her ire. "Not until you admit I'm right! All those magic tricks are a waste of your time. If you're going to help us,actually help us!" He caught Rey in the stomach with the end of his staff and smirked as she dropped to her knees with a groan. The small crowd gasped and murmured.

Now he circled her like a shark as she sat in the mud, trying to catch her breath.

"Quit messing around with that creep!" Finn said darkly. "You really wanna be the one there when he finally snaps?" Desperation crept into his voice. "I'm trying to help you, Rey. Ben had to find you because no one else wants to spend time with that freak! At least I like you for you and not what you can do." He dropped his staff. It landed with a wet squelch as he extended a hand to pull her out of the puddle.

Instead, Rey stood on her own accord, leaving her weapon on the ground. A split second later her fist crashed into Finn's cheek and sent him staggering. Chatter rumbled through the still-growing audience but none dared step in. After all, both of the brawlers were perfectly capable of defending themselves, and everyone know the pair to be friends. Sometimes it just took a good schoolyard fight to work out differences in order to move on.

Shaking her hand off, Rey scowled in Finn's direction, but avoided eye contact. "Ben Solo is the only one to ever come looking for me. Don't you say a cruel thing about him again!"

"Is that what he's teaching you? To sock your friends in the face? That's the secret Force trick, the great Jedi technique?" Finn massaged his cheek. "He's a freak!"

"You want to see a freak?" With a hiss, Rey threw her hands out in front of her to attack. Before she could unleash her power, a calm, deep voice sent a chill down her spine.

"Rey, stop." Ben strode through the crowd and into the mud.

Poe was by his side. "What the hell, man?" he exclaimed as he stormed to Finn and grabbed him by the collar. "In front of everyone? What's your problem? You don't beat one of our own into the mud!"

Finn brushed his hand away and shoved past, giving Ben a sidelong glare. "I'm not sorry. Someone had to say it," he mumbled. He marched off and the crowd dispersed, not wanting to stay and see what Ben had to say about the scene.

"Are you all right?" Ben asked, taking a quick 360 degree check of the woman before looking up at her face. Blood was still oozing lazily from her eyebrow; thick syrupy blood clotting in her eyebrow hair. "That's going to need stitches."

"Yeah," she mumbled. "I got hit."

"You weren't keeping your emotions in balance," Ben replied. "That was a good lesson, if anything. Always keep your feelings in check."

Rey's eyes widened. "You saw? Heard?"

"The whole thing." Ben tried to hide his hurt. The whole outburst had truly shocked him; he thought he was generally well-liked through the resistance. Finn had never seemed to like him, but now Ben knew that for sure.

"I'm sorry," Rey blurted. Sighing, she shook her head. "I wasn't going to-"

"It's okay," Ben cut her off. "You're still learning to control your power. Han caught a few of my outbursts when I was younger. I know exactly how you feel." He held out his hand.

After a shaky sigh, Rey gingerly took it.

"Yikes," Ben said, reacting as if an electric current flowed into his fingers from hers. "I was going to nix training for the day, but we'd better work out that pent up energy. I think I'm the only freak here who could handle it." He grinned into Rey's sullen face, hoping to make her smile.

Poe chuckled darkly. "He wasn't wrong, though. Maybe you are a freak. Leia has the Force, but she can't do half the stuff you can. Speak of the devil," he added.

"You three!" Han's voice boomed across camp.

The mud made sucking sounds as Rey struggled to stand at some sort of attention. Leia and Han were crossing the camp to their muddy clearing "Generals Solo!" She looked to Ben in a panic, but he simply replied with a lopsided grin that assured her there was nothing to worry about.

"A mech just said you just beat the snot out of Finn?" Han asked as he approached. After studying her muddy clothes and bloody face, he cringed. "Looks like the other way around, actually. You all right?"

Rey nodded.

"Get that stitched up. Looks awful," Leia noted, nodding at her eyebrow.

"I dunno," Poe shrugged. "Finn went off on her about Ben. I have no idea what that was."

A look of understanding passed the generals' faces. "News travels fast around here," Leia sighed. "Ben's being named general tomorrow and Han's stepping down. I knew there'd be blow back, but I didn't expect it to be from Finn."

Poe and Rey reacted with sheer surprise and concern. Before they could speak, Han held up a hand. "Leia doesn't need me," he scoffed. "None of you do. I just want to go somewhere warm and enjoy a nice meal and a strong drink. Peace doesn't take in this galaxy but I at least thought I'd be long dead by the time the next group rose to power. Giving orders, battle plans: wasn't ever my thing. I work better alone." The weight of responsibility had already left him and left him feeling lighter. He offered a lopsided grin that matched the one his son just showed Rey.

Leia nodded. "Ben can wrap this thing up. We're old. You're young. It's your turn."

Rey and Poe looked between the three Solos, delighted at the turn of events. Ben, however grimaced and shook his head. "No," he replied. "I don't want – I can't -" He gestured to Rey. "I've got a padawan and I couldn't possibly manage the rebellion without her training sliding."

"Padawan, huh? I thought you weren't a Jedi?" Han snarked gleefully. "People have done more impressive things and still trained their padawans. Besides, Rey's smart and you won't be training her for long."

Rey grinned. "Thanks!"

Ben's nervousness grew palpable and his easy nature fell by the wayside. "Mom can handle it, if your heart's not in it." An edge crept into his voice. "I won't do it. You don't know what you're asking of me." He held his hands out and conjured sparks between his palms. "No one wants me to be in charge of anything. It's too dangerous. You know that." He pointed to Rey. "One of our men just fought my padawan because he thinks I'm unfit to train her. How could I lead the entire resistance?"

Leia crossed her arms. "Ben. You're ready. When I was your age I had you and we'd already won against the Empire. Quit worrying." She looked to Poe. "You're my other best pilot, Dameron. Who else would you see promoted? I never threw your name in the ring because I know you'd never get out of the cockpit to do anything else."

"That's right, General," Poe agreed enthusiastically. He clapped Ben on the back. "There should always be a Solo leading this resistance. You've got this, buddy!"

Sensing his son's doubt, Han nodded seriously. "You'll do great, Ben. Hell, you already do. Just keep doing what you're doing, and if anyone comes barking around for General Solo, I'll send them your way."

Rey touched Ben's arm. "There will be so much more for me to learn now!" She giggled and it made him feel warm. "Do it for my training, if you won't do it for yourself."

"Okay," he said softly, his heart swelling at the support. "I accept."

"Ben, I mean, General Solo," a fighter called to Ben a week later, "Rey said to let you know she's already setting up in the forest."

"Thanks!" Ben called. General Solo, he mused to himself. Several fighters had to run after him and literally, physically grab his attention since his promotion. General Solo had always been his father. Or mother. Never him. Not until now.

Resistance General Ben Solo.

The words sounded good on Rey's lips, though, and good thing. She insisted on trying out his new title at every opportunity, obviously more excited than anyone had any right to be. Ben smiled at the thought as he made his way toward the clearing in the woods where they trained. Suddenly Poe and Hux's words rang through his mind. She likes you.

The possibility never passed his thought filter before without being shot down quickly and effectively. She's young. She's smarter than to get involved with a Solo. She likes Finn. She's far better than what I deserve.

Ben had easily pushed down his interest in her and instead devoted his effort to being the best teacher he could; supporting her and giving her every piece of advice and technical information she could possibly benefit from. Her growth and strength delighted him and come to think of it, so did hearing her giggle when she called him General and the way the sun brought out her freckles.

Again Ben tried to deny the thought. Rey had never acted as if she was interested in him beyond a teacher, had she?

Sure, she brought him food and drink when he forgot or was too busy and always with a laugh and smile. Even when training exhausted her, Rey always kept working if he pushed her, and she never doubted his training sessions, no matter how bizarre they were. And perhaps she did show up at his room at all hours of the night when the Force showed her a vision or dream that amazed or horrified her. More than once she'd curled up next to him in his cot, sheepishly explaining that she didn't want to sleep alone.

"Kriff," Ben whispered as his heart began to hammer. "I'm an idiot."

He nearly turned around to regroup himself, but heard a groan of effort and quickened his pace.

In the clearing, Rey struggled against the pseudo-weight of an entire fallen tree levitating fifty feet in the air. Her arms trembled and knees locked. The log wavered and crashed to the ground, sending Rey tumbling forward. Her nose made contact with Ben's sternum with a dull thud.

"Ow," she moaned, pinching her nostrils together. "You're like a brick wall." Rey sniffed and wrinkled her nose a few times before looking up. She sucked in a breath. "I'm, I'm fine," she sputtered.

But Ben didn't step away. "Rey," he started.

"I can usually move things that big," Rey quickly defended herself. She spun and lifted the tree once more, but it quickly crashed back to the ground and she cried out in frustration. "It's like my power is tired after yesterday. We trained for a long time, and I'm not-"

"How long have you had these feelings?" It was more of an accusation than a question.

Rey's jaw moved up and down wordlessly. "I- I sense your doubt. Don't. Please don't. I'm just drained and you said yourself that sometimes you need some time to recharge between-"

"Not that," Ben interrupted. "You like me?"

"Of course I like you," Rey answered earnestly, if not bewildered. "You're a fantastic teacher, Ben. General," she added with a breathy laugh. When Ben merely gazed at her, a pained look passed her face. "Oh. You didn't know?"

Chuckling sheepishly, he shook his head. "No." Then, sensing her dire curiosity, he added, "I wish I would have. I was too preoccupied with everything to let myself see it." He swallowed hard. "Uh-"

That was all it took. Laughing and sighing all at once, Rey threw her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. How perfectly she fit against him, Ben thought. He was endlessly thankful they didn't need to discuss it further; he was truthfully speechless.

Rey reached upward and stood on tip toe. Her breath was warm at his lips and chills ran down his arms. "I don't want to compromise your training," Ben murmured against her mouth.

"Then I will," she whispered, tucking her fingers into his hair and pulling him closer. Then her lips were on his, passionately confirming Poe's suspicion of her feelings.

Elation and peace soothed and energized his very soul. "How did I not know?" Ben breathed when they broke apart. "How long?"

Rey giggled. "From the very first time I saw you in my dreams."

"Rey," he muttered, kissing her again.

"General."