AN: thank you for all the follows and faves, I don't know why but I can't see the reviews atm but thank you for leaving a review anyways :) hope you guys enjoy this one as well ;)

Ben let out a long sigh and watched the vapour of his breath disappear into the night. Leaning against the hard wall, he wished he could disappear as well. From inside, music and laughter could be heard, all of his friends-actually, his mother's friends- had come to celebrate his stepping into manhood, his leaving to the Jedi temple. His father wasn't there, as per usual.

Ben undid one of the buttons of his white, royal cape, then leaned his head against the wall, closing his eyes.

"Well, you look uncomfortable," Rey teased as she stepped out onto the balcony.

Ben exhaled. "This is stupid. Frivolous. A sham. None of these people are here for me, they're just complying with their duty to the princess," he said in an accusatory tone, opening his eyes and looking up at the sky.

"I'm here for you," Rey plainly replied.

He looked at her then and found that he was speechless for a few moments. Her usual garments were replaced by a stunning green dress, falling softly down her body. Rey felt herself blush under his dark gaze. He looked every inch the prince tonight, with his dark hair contrasting against his stark white robe; and somehow, she didn't feel good enough in that moment.

"You don't like it?"she asked, her voice small.

He stared at her dumbfounded and then shook his head. "No, I, ah," he was struggling to find the right words. His gaze drifted to the ground, unsure of what he wanted to say; but when he looked at her face again, he knew what he wanted to say: "I think you look beautiful."

Her blush deepened and her eyes sparkled, and in that moment, Ben felt the need to add: "And not just tonight." He watched as the realisation of what he'd said hit her, how her eyes started gleaming with something, something he couldn't quite name.

"Here you are, son." Leia stepped out into the balcony as well; she was accompanied by Poe, as she was most days. "Well, the party can't go on without its host," she smiled at both him and Rey, but they both knew they were being told off.

"Well then maybe you should go back inside, mother," Ben said bitterly.

Rey carefully watched everybody's reaction: she saw the muscles in Poe's jaw clench at Ben's rudeness, saw Leia's eyes fill with pain, saw Ben clenching his fists. Before Ben could storm out, Rey decided to interfere. "Why don't you dance with me?"she asked Ben, ignoring both Leia and Poe for the time being. She could see that her question had taken him by surprise, but she saw his fists unclench, saw his body relax, and then he nodded. Taking his hand, Rey smiled at Leia. "If you'll excuses us?"she asked the princess.

"Of course," came Leia's reply.

"What was that?"she questioned him a while into their dance, after she felt he had calmed down a bit.

Ben only looked at her, his face expressionless, as they swayed to the music.

"She's your mother, Ben!"Rey pointed out, annoyed with his attitude.

"Maybe you should tell her that," he spat and her eyes immediately softened.

She didn't push him anymore, she understood that whatever was going on between him and Leia wasn't really her business.

"Where is Han?"she asked trying to change the subject. She realised that was the wrong thing to ask when she felt his body stiffen and his dark eyes drain of emotion. There had been anger in his eyes when she spoke about his mother, but now, there was pure rage; Ben hated his own father. As that realisation hit her, the vision she had had days ago, started forming again in her mind: Ben in a dark robe, with a red lightsaber and that name, Kylo Ren. Filled with dread, Rey tightened her hold on him.

"I don't know," he said and his voice broke a little. Then, to mask that, he added in a cold tone, "And I don't care."

Rey simply nodded, too afraid to do anything else, say anythibg else; anything that meant loosing him.

(Later that night)

Leia was brushing her hair in front of the mirror, inspecting her own reflection. Her eyes fell on her dark circles, and the lines forming around her face, signs of the passage of time. She sighed, she wasn't fit for parties anymore.

Brushing the last strand of hair, she sat the brush on her vanity then made her way to the bed.

"Are you gonna stand in the doorway all night?"she asked as she pulled the sheets to the side.

From the shadows, the figure of a man emerged. "I wasn't sure you'd want me to come in," the man said.

"Then you should have asked, Han," she said getting in bed. "You're late." Leia turned on the lamp on her night stand so that she could see her husband's face.

Han looked old and tired, but most of all, he looked sorry. "I'm always late." He tried to smile but it didn't reach his eyes.

Leia sighed. "Your boy would have appreciated you being there," she gently chastised.

"Yeah," Han started as he made his way to her side of the bed and sat down, "I'm not so sure about that."

Leia shook her head. "That boy adores you," she said, taking his hand in his, "but he is hurt. He feels betrayed by his own mother and father. I'm afraid we failed him." There were tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.

Han squeezed her hand. "We did our best," he tried to reassure her.

"Then our best was not enough," she said, wiping tears from her cheeks. "I see the Force inside him, it's powerful and it's fuelled by his pain and rage and..."she trailed off, her voice too broken to continue.

"Luke will help him!" Han insisted.

"Luke is not his father," she accused and he let go of her hand.

He slowly moved to kiss her forehead and whisper goodnight, before he made his way to the door.

"Han," Leia called after him, "just be there tomorrow."