The heat of the Tatooine suns burnt down upon Ben Solo as he stood on the sand dunes. His dark eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the vaporators that stood on the land that had once belonged to his family. Owen and Beru Lars had long since been dead, their charred bones buried hastily beneath the sand by Luke and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The farm itself stood abandoned, striped and ransacked by Tusken Raiders, and not much remained to pay homage to the family that had once lived there.

Ben turned on his heel and descended into the main living pit of the house. The hard packed walls cooled the living quarters, protecting Ben from the intense heat of the twin suns. He was thankful for the coolness, but it didn't help much. It was still swelteringly hot on this forsaken planet.

He navigated his way through the various rooms before finally arriving in the homestead garage. It was the coolest part of the house by far, and Ben could easily imagine his Uncle seeking refuge in this room. Bits of machine and tools were scattered about, not valuable enough to be taken by the Raiders. Ben looked through the rubble, kicking bits aside with his shoe, hopeful to find something that linked with his families past.

He was so engrossed with what he was doing that he didn't realize it had gone quiet. He had grown accustomed to the stillness of the desert, but this stillness was different, calming even. It was when he heard a sob behind him that he noticed the bond had started again. His heart leapt at the sound, and turning, he knew whom he would see.

Rey sat before him, a blanket draped around her. She was so curled up he could not see her face. She must have noticed the familiar silence too, because she raised her head to look at him, sorrow etched across her face. Ben gulped. He hated seeing her upset, and he could feel the raw emotion radiating off her small body. It affected him as much as it did her, threatening to tear him apart.

"What happened?" He asked, moving to sit beside her.

"I don't want to talk about it," hiccupping, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

"Tell me, please." He whispered, trying in his own way to comfort her.

Rey bit her lower lip, and looked at him through un-spilt tears. "I don't think they trust me anymore, the Resistance…." she looked down, consumed by her thoughts. "I think they know about our connection."

Ben's throat tightened, and he felt his hands turning into familiar fists. "That's impossible. How could they? None of them are Force sensitive."

"I don't know… the last time the bond activated we were in the middle of a meeting. I had to excuse myself, remember?"

Ben nodded, recalling their last conversation. The one when she had told him about his mother… Ben pushed the thoughts aside, focusing all of his efforts on the present.

"I don't think they understand the true nature of our bond, but I think they understand something…" She looked at him and held out her hand. "Let me show you what happened. I said I didn't want to talk about it, but I can show you…"

Ben looked at her intensely, careful not to break eye contact with her. He reached out and took her hand– and the world of Tatooine dissolved around him.

"You know where he is!" Poe Dameron said, his voice forceful.

Rey was sitting in what Ben could only assume was the Resistance control room. Resistance leaders encircled her: Poe Dameron, Finn, Rose, and a few others Ben could not name. All of them were young, anywhere from teenagers to young adults. Finn was off to the side, standing close to Rose, a disapproving look on his face. He obviously didn't like what was happening. Rose's eyes flickered from Finn to Rey as she moved closer to the former Stormtrooper.

"I don't!" Rey said firmly, "I know as much as you do. That Supreme Leader Ren is in exile, that the First Order and the Knights of Ren rose against him, that General Hux is now the new Supreme Leader–"

Poe raised his hand, cutting Rey off.

"We all know that. Our intelligence is great enough to understand most of what occurred during the military coup against Ren. We know he left, injured and disgraced to some unknown location. What I want you to tell me is where Kylo Ren is."

"I already told you that I don't know!" Rey shouted. Ben could feel her rising frustration and hurt at being subjected to an interrogation of this kind. "If the First Order cannot find him, then how do you expect me to know where he is?"

Poe crossed his arms over his chest as he spoke. "Where did you go during our last intelligence meeting, Rey?"

At this question, the color drained from Rey's face. "I had… I had to…"

"Is he communicating with you via the Force? You two are the last Force users in the galaxy. You expect me to believe that you don't have contact with him?"

"We are not the last Force users! There are others, I just don't know where they are either."

"Answer the question!" Poe spat, righteous anger bubbling over.

"Poe…" Finn said from the corner. "Leaver her alone, she doesn't know anything."

Rey looked at Finn, deep appreciation for her friend evident on her face. Ben was beginning to like Finn more, feeling only slightly guilty about the lightsaber wound he had given him on Starkiller Base…

"You were on the Supremacy that day, but you never told us what really happened. Yes, Ren killed Snoke, saving your life… but why did such an act have to occur in the first place? Why did you need saving? You were supposed to be on Ahch-To with Luke Skywalker, not flying around the galaxy and ending up a prisoner of the First Order… Again."

The atmosphere in the room dropped at Poe's words. It was clear that in the year since Crait, no one else had thought to question Rey's presence on the Supremacy. Now that the question was out there, it hung in the tense air.

Ben had no idea how Rey was going to answer. He himself knew what happened when he had tried to lie about what had transpired in Snoke's throne room. His answer had almost cost him his life when Hux's own suspicions had come to a head.

Rey just stared at Poe. Ben could see the gears of her mind spinning, trying to find a suitable answer to appease him. "I went to the Supremacy on my own accord."

"Exactly! No one just walks aboard a First Order ship, no one that is considered an enemy anyway. I think that you went to report on the Resistance, to tell Supreme Leader Snoke all that you had learned about the Resistance and Skywalker."

"Poe really?! This is insane!" Finn shouted, slamming his had down on a control panel. But Poe continues his advance on Rey.

"You and Ren conspired to kill Snoke together. How else can you explain the First Order rising against Ren? Treason is the only motivation I can think of. Why did Ren take you during the battle on Takodana, how did you escape with not so much as a scratch on you? When I was prisoner of the First Order, I was tortured. I was beaten so that they could have the map to Skywalker. Finally, Ren probed my mind until he got what he needed. Stormtroopers dragged me onto his ship; you Kylo Ren himself carried you on to the same ship! You were on Starkiller Base for hours before you made contact with Finn. And no one knows what transpired between the two of you after Ren cut down Finn. What really happened on Starkiller Base, Rey?"

Ben's own mouth hung open slightly. This rogue was actually dumber than Ben gave him credit for. Of course Ben's treatment of Rey would raise questions. Of course her multiple escapes from harm would generate suspicion. It seemed as if Poe Dameron suspected that Rey had always been an agent of the First Order, an equal to Kylo Ren in darkness, or working with him from the beginning…. Well in regard to the former theory, Dameron was correct. She was his equal in the light, but there was so much he had gotten wrong.

Rey's face matched Ben's, her own astonishment at Poe's analysis evident on her face. She locked her eyes with Poe's, "Kylo Ren took me as a prisoner because I had seen the map to Skywalker, and he wanted to extract the information from me. He knew what I had seen, and wanted the information so he could find Luke."

A grin spread across Poe's face, one that Ben did not like to see directed at Rey.

"Because of what you had seen, Kylo Ren thought he could gather intelligence from you. You have seen too much of the Resistance, Rey. I believe you are a liability to us. Yours and Ren's paths have crossed too much for my liking. I don't know what connection you have with Ren, but I can't take any risks! Too many lives have been lost already do to my carelessness. Rey, I'm sorry, but you put us all at risk by simply being here. Unless…" Poe paused, a calculating look on his face. Ben was familiar with looks like these on military personnel. He had seen Hux's face take the same shape when he realized he could use a situation to the First Order's gain. It didn't matter what side of the conflict you were on war was still war. "Unless you use this connection I know you have with Ren for our advantage. Tune into his mind, gather intelligence on his location for us, and then I will believe that you are a friend to the Resistance."

"I am a friend to the Resistance. Besides, what use do you have with a disgraced and wounded former Supreme Leader?" Rey said, tears beginning to fill her eyes. She blinked and looked away, trying to control her emotions.

"Kylo Ren is still powerful in the Force, and he is a risk to the Resistance as long as he lives. Spy on him, deliver him into our hands, and we can have trust once more."

Rey's hands clenched into fists, "That is not how the Force works!" she screamed.

Ben felt it surge through her before the others realized what was happening. The Force, the rage, the passion that Rey usually did so well controlling burst out. She screamed again, a feral sound Ben had only heard while she was in combat. Suddenly, computers, machines and various other devices erupted into sparks, imploding in on themselves causing a cascade of fire and sending a strong smell of burning things through the air.

Then it was all gone, and Ben was sitting with Rey once again, her hand clutching his.

He locked his eyes on hers, full of understanding. "You couldn't control what happened." He said, putting his arm around her, drawing her close. He knew all to well what happened when a Jedi's Force abilities ran out of control, especially when their emotions got the better of them, and Rey was still young in her abilities. It had happened to him too, multiple times.

"I know. Everyone was alright, I think." Rey nuzzled her face into Ben's side. He could feel her warmth and smiled a little at their closeness. They sat there for a moment, Rey just letting Ben hold her as he stroked her hair with his free hand.

Rey lifted her head and looked at Ben, a fierce and blazing look in her eyes. "I will not betray you, Ben! I will not surrender you to the Resistance. To betray you is to betray myself." She said, tears still streaming from her eyes but her voice steady and firm with resolve. Ben's heart beat a little faster at her words, and soft warmth burned across his chest.

"I feel more alone now than I ever did on Ahch-To. I feel as if every friend I have here thinks I am a monster."

Ben tightened his arm around her. "You are not a monster, and you are not alone. People just don't understand the strength you have in the Force…. It intimidates them. They can sympathize, but never truly understand. But Finn is still your friend, so is Rose. I could see how displeased they were with your interrogation. As for Poe… I think he places the Resistance above everything else. He's just trying to win this war." Ben looked around. He could still not see her surroundings, though of late, they could begin to make out rough outlines of objects and things that surrounded the other person. Their bond was getting stronger, and lasting for longer intervals of time. They still never knew when it would end; but usually they could talk until someone interrupted them, or the Force decided they had talked enough.

"Where are you?" he asked, his eyes making out a rough outline of what he supposed was a window.

Rey sniffled. "My quarters. I've been in here since the incident this morning. It's dark now."

"Are you safe?" Rey nodded in response.

"I don't think they would hurt me…" Ben let a grunt slip past his lips. He had to make sure she was safe. He closed his eyes and stretched out with his feelings. He could feel everything going on in her room, even though she was light years away from him. "You aren't locked in there, are you?"

He felt her shake her head no. He reached out again. There was something… "You are some place very cold…"

Rey snorted with derision. "If Hoth had a cousin, then it would be this ice cube." Ben opened his eyes and looked at her, an amused smile on his face.

"How are you handling the cold? You… a Jakku girl?" She smiled at him.

"I hate it… although the snow is quite pretty. I like looking at snowflakes– watching them dissolve on my fingertips." Her description of snow warmed him. He loved watching her discover new and exciting things that had been denied to her in her childhood on Jakku.

He saw her take a deep breath, an close her eyes, exhaling.

She reached out through the Force, out to him all the way on Tatooine. He could feel it wrap around him like a warm blanket. "You are somewhere very warm. Mhmmm. It is nice where you are… where are you exactly?"

Ben tensed next to her, and she opened her eyes in alarm. Sensing his thoughts, and finding embarrassment she stumbled "No! No, I don't mean because I want to— I would never tell the Resistance. Ben, you must believe me." She said, taking his large hand in her own.

"I do." He paused, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. He looked at his own surroundings. The piles of debris were useless. Just broken hunks of junk that held no answers. "I'm on Tatooine."

Rey's brows crinkled. "Tatooine? What are you doing there?" She asked in astonishment.

Ben gave a sarcastic laugh. "I came here looking for answers. I've been here since I healed from the wound Hux gave me." His jaw tightened at the memory of Hux.

"I thought you were looking a little tanner." Rey said, nudging his side playfully. Ben laughed again.

"Tatooine is where my grandparents met. It is where Luke was raised by his aunt and uncle and where my namesake hid for nineteen years from the Empire. It's where my father met Luke, and where he was handed over to Jabba the Hutt as a slab of carbonite. It's where my parents were reunited… It all pointed back to Tatooine. I thought I could find something here. But all I have found are ghosts and broken memories."

He looked at Rey again, and ran his thumb over the mark above her eyebrow, where a Praetorian guard had struck her. She closed her eyes at his touch, and Ben thought he could feel her shiver slightly.

"The Skywalkers began here… maybe they should end here too." He said, taking his hand from her face. Her eyes shot open.

"What do you mean: "should end here?"' She asked, concern in her voice.

"What life is there for a disgraced Supreme Leader? Maybe I should live out the rest of my days in this sand pit. With ghosts and Jawas to keep me company." He knew Rey wouldn't appreciate this kind of talk, and he was right.

She gave him that blazing look again, the one that made him shake slightly in fear but also gave him a fierce desire to kiss her.

"Ben Solo, your true legacy– your true destiny, is in the truth of your family. How long are you going to deny it? You are destined to bring balance to the Force! I have seen it. I've seen it again and again since we touched hands on Ahch-To. I see your future in my dreams and constantly in my waking hours… and I believe it is true. You have already denied Snoke and the First Order. You have adopted your given name and forsaken your identity as Kylo Ren. It is time for you to truly finish what Anakin Skywalker started."

Her eyes were blazing with hope and conviction. She believed every word she spoke with such earnest passion that Ben believed her too. He had not had the strength to accept the hope she offered him aboard the Supremacy, but now, so much had happened. So much pain and loss, he knew he could not do anything without her by his side.

He turned his whole body towards her- taking both her hands in his- he looked deep into her hazel eyes.

"Rey, I can't do this without you. I tried to once, and failed. I asked you to join me before, but that wasn't the right time… I know that now." She smiled, blushing a little remembering what he had asked her on the Supremacy. "Come to me." He whispered.

She blinked at him. "To Tatooine? That planet is worst than Jakku!"

Ben chuckled. "No, no not here. I don't want you anywhere near this hive of scum and villainy."

"You do remember that I was a scavenger on Jakku, right? I can take care of myself."

Ben beamed at her. He loved her confidence and strength. He brushed a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face and tucked it behind her ear as he spoke. "I know you can. Meet me where it all started– Where the Jedi started– on Ahch-To."

Rey smiled at him, "You are going to need a map to get there." Ben smiled back, then he leaned forward a little, playing with her.

He lowered his voice an octave and starred at her through his lashes, "You've seen the map, now you'll give it me." He said, playfully tickling her sides.

She laughed at the memory of their first encounter, the day that the Force had awoken something in the both of them, something that had always been there. She reached up and took hold of him behind his neck and pulled his face down inches in front of her own.

Ben could feel the warmth of her breath that escaped passed her pink lips as they parted slightly. She drew him closer. His breath quickened as he realized what was about to happen. She closed her eyes and slowly moved her lips to touch his.

The kiss was soft, like she was. Ben could taste the sent of oranges and honey on her lips. He felt as if he could melt. The coolness that surrounded her on her own ice planet seemed to blend with the heat that radiated off of Tatooine. Ben could get lost in this new, uncharted world. He weaved his fingers through her hair, thankful that he had long since shed his gloves.

In response, Rey placed her hand on the side of Ben's face. The moment she did, the map flashed before his eyes. The shock of it broke their kiss, and Ben lurched back. He had seen something else.

"You need to leave. Now!" He said, his voice stern.

Rey looked at him, surprised. "What?"

"There are some within the Resistance who want to put you under house arrest. You need to leave, Rey. Take the Falcon, and come to me on Ahch-To." He placed both his hands on either side of her face, and pressed his forehead to hers. He could feel that the time the Force had allowed was coming to an end.

"They won't try to hurt you, but if you don't leave then we won't be able to see each other again." He closed his eyes, willing her to see the vision that now plagued him. He felt it pass from his mind to hers, and Rey gasped with understanding.

"Ben." She choked, sensing the connection beginning to fade.

"Come to me." He said, and then he was gone.

Rey shivered in the coolness of her chambers, starring at the space Ben had just occupied. The bitterness of the room had not bothered her during their exchange, but now it grabbed at her flesh, making her body shake with cold.

She jumped up and ran about her room; gathering all she could and shoving it into her knapsack. She looked to the corner where the chest of Padme Amidala's dresses sat, and threw open the lid. She found the gown she was looking for and carefully folded it and placed it on top of the other items already in her bag.

Scanning the room a second time, she realized she had almost forgotten her lightsaber. "This weapon is your life!" Ben had told her once. She clipped it to her belt, and knew that she might have to use it.

The time had come for Rey to join Ben, just as he had prophesied in the elevator on the Supremacy. It was time for her to turn, not to the dark side as Kylo Ren had believed, but to turn towards her destiny– the destiny she shared with Ben Solo.

It was time, at last, for their destinies to join and balance to come to the Force.