It had been such a long time.

Rey shook her head. No, it was weeks. Months? Yes, that's what Finn taught her. Months. Seven to be exact.

Seven months since she had seen him, seen her friend, her mate. Her supposed partner.

She sighed, yelling at herself internally. She couldn't think like that! What she saw back on Ach-to when she and...him touched hands, it was a vision. A dream. It couldn't have been real she decided.

This man was not the partner she had envisioned. He was truly her enemy. He was hunting her, her and her friends. This was a game to him and it wouldn't end until he was satisfied with her death. She could feel that.

Rey wiped the sweat of her forehead and bent to pick up her staff that lay on the ground. It was a hot, sticky day outside, and she was in the forest training by herself, her staff giving a helpless tree the beating of it's life.

She was indeed correct, it had been seven long months since her and Kylo Ren had their last connection when he had a nightmare, and she possibly shed light to him. She sensed him actively putting up a wall between them, and she decided to do the same after a month of trying to speak with him since that night.

He was the Supreme Leader now, the galaxy's own devil, the bringer of death, the cause of destruction, the prince of darkness. She had to continue telling herself this, to remind her that the dreams and visions were nothing but her own imagination.

She was truly tired of thinking of this, of thinking what could be if only he would allow it. After weeks of pondering about his rejection, and hers, she came to the conclusion that she was meant to be alone, and she meant to not have answers to these questions that beat her down.

She couldn't let any distractions get in the way of her helping the Resistance grow again.

At that, she smiled. When they had left Crait, the entire group fit on the Millennium Falcon, sitting at only 30 people. And now, they had grown to nearly five hundred.

Rey had never been around so many hopeful and positive people, all wanting to achieve something great and help one another do so.

'Leia has built something wonderful.' she thought, smiling again. The general had grown to become a dear friend, a confidant. Though she was often busy, Leia always took the time out to check in with Rey. After Han and Luke's passing, Rey needed it, and she sensed that the princess did as well.

Rey felt the familiar sadness touch her heart. She ached to speak to them both again, even if for only a few words. She had grown so fond of them, Han's free spirit and Luke's stubborn attitude.

Deep down, she knew she had to keep fighting and training to make them proud, and to win this battle, not only for her friends and the resistance, but for the galaxy.

Gathering her things, Rey made her way back to the base, keeping to herself as she passed a few others talking about the event that night. 'Ah, yes,' Rey thought, 'the wedding!'.

She smiled to herself, and the reminder put a kick in her step. That night, the entire resistance base will be celebrating the wedding of Finn and Rose, her dearest friends. She had to admit, she was quite excited with this being her first big event. She had never attended such a thing, and the excitement was new to her. She admitted, shyly, that part of the excitement was the distraction of it all.

Looking up from the ground, she entered the base, the giant hall they used for meetings had been cleared out for the reception tonight. Rey had never seen it look so empty and decorated. Flowers and lanterns filled every space, every member here assigning themselves a task to help transform the room for the ceremony.

Her excitement grew and distracted her so much that she barely noticed General Organa and Poe Dameron join her at her side.

"Quite a renovation, isn't it?" Leia asked Rey, nudging her arm as she smiled at her.

Rey returned her greeting with a grin of her own. "Yes, quite." She turned to Poe, who was watching her with a smile, waiting eagerly for acknowledgement. She offered him a smile and his grew.

Over the past few months, Poe had grown close with Rey, so he thought. They were able to teach each other a bit, him trading information about flying and her trading knowledge about the force.

He had noted how she took time out every single day to train with her staff, and to attempt to read passages from the jedi texts she had taken from Luke Skylwalker. Poe had tried to help her read the old books, but it was very smudged and the writing was very foreign to him. He didn't give up though, being around her was thrilling to him. Rey challenged him, she was not afraid to say how she felt. He admired her for it, and because of that, he was desperate for more time with her, to grow closer to her, more than just a friend.

Leia noticed how Poe fawned over the young woman, and she cleared her throat so that Poe wouldn't push his luck. The general had very much taken into account Poe's growing feelings for Rey, but she knew Rey's mind was on bigger topics.

"Rey, I was hoping to speak with you for a moment." Leia started, sending a worrisome glance to Poe, who's smile faded as he realized the conversation they were about to have. "Our allies in Mo-Safte captured an arms dealer for the First Order who was selling information about our base. I believe we caught him before he was able to leak anything. He had younglings with him, though. Three near your age actually."

Rey was listening intently, waiting for whatever Leia was about to ask of her. The three of them began to walk down the hall, Poe taking lead, growing impatient.

"Basically, we think it would be great if you trained them. They have their own skill, but you could make them better. I've seen how you train." He said, stopping in front of Rey, staring at her with hope.

Rey remembered the last time a man looked at her with a flicker of hope in his eye.

She quickly brushed the memory away, an ache hitting her heart like a ton of bricks.

"Of course, you don't need to do this if you aren't comfortable. These young ones are quite loyal to us, it seems they're relationship with the First Order has been cut for a very long time. They were the ones who sold out the dealer." The general informed.

Rey thought for a moment. "But, how are you sure?" she asked.

"Rey, these are younglings with no home. No family, no friends. I may not be extremely force sensitive these days, but I can still sense the light in people, and I can see and feel the light in these ones just as I did with you." Leia said. And just like that, Rey's decision was made. For this woman, the one who took her in, she would do anything.

Rey nodded, and Leia smiled. "Thank you. We'll meet with them tomorrow. Today is a time for celebrating Finn and Rose. Have you seen them by the way?"

"Relax, General. I'm sure they will make it to the alter." Poe winked at Leia as he walked away. "I, however, need to get to the showers. I will see you both tonight. Oh, and Rey?" Poe asked, turned on his heel to face them again. "Save me a dance?" Again, he grinned at Rey, and left in a hurry.

Rey felt the blush creep up from her neck, to her ears, and covering her cheeks. Never had a man asked her to a dance. She wasn't even sure if she knew how to. She sighed, glancing to Leia, who was studying the girls face with a knowing, yet thinned smile.

"The man is a charmer. Just like Han…" Leia's voice drifted, and her eyes flashed with pain before she composed herself again, standing tall. It reminded Rey so much of Ben.

"Anyway, I had C3-PO lay out an outfit for you for tonight. Please, wear it." She told Rey before she could object, though out of respect, Rey didn't. "You know, I had always thought about having a girl. I would picture her to be a strong and brave, adventurous woman. You, Rey, are a mirror of that." The Princess admitted. Rey had never been told such a nice thing before, and she nearly asked Leia to repeat them. Rey knew she would forever carry the words with her.

People passed by them, eager to get to their tasks, smiles and laughter filling the room as Leia and Rey talked in hushed tones.

"We still do not need to get into what happened on Crait. I know you told me how Ben defeated Snoke himself, and his offer to you. I can feel there is more. You have offered so much and done so much for the Resistance, I can't ask any more of you. But I want you to know, I am here if you need to talk, Rey, and I'm sorry my son isn't the person we need right now." The words took Rey by surprise, she was utterly shocked.

She did indeed tell Leia what had happened, though she left out the force bond she had with Ben. Rey found it useless to tell her now that the bond was blocked for the most part. She wanted so badly to ask Leia about transferring the light and dark to people, but she didn't want to scare her.

Her heartbeat returned when Leia gave a gentle squeeze to Rey's arm and left her standing there, thinking of what she had said to her.

One, as of tomorrow, Rey would be a trainer, something she could not wrap her head around. However, there was a part of Rey that was thrilled at the thought of new confidants. She had to quickly push aside the thought of the thrill being part of having a sense of control , of power.

'No, that was not it!' she told herself. This is for Leia, for the Resistance.

With that said, Rey thought some more.

Two, Leia said Ben isn't the person we need right now.

With hope, Rey left to her chambers.

'Maybe, one day, he will be.'

"Ren- sir, we are at the threshold."

"Good. Prepare my ship. I will be going alone." Kylo Ren ordered to General Hux.

"But, what-I mean, Supreme Leader, we can't let y-" His response was stopped when Kylo turned towards him, his hand cupped around nothing as he force choked the general.

"I said, prepare my ship! I will be going alone, and that is the end of it." He swiftly let Hux fall to the ground, his face now red as he struggled to catch his breath.

With that, Kylo turned on his heel, leaving the room.

'The Supreme Leader.' Kylo thought. 'They will see a true leader indeed..