As the sun started to set, Rey became more nervous. She bit her lip in anxiousness.

"What are you fighting for, Rey?" Ben's question cut her into millions of pieces.

She looked at him, hesitant.

"Do you actually think the Resistance is the source of ultimate good?" He prodded, pushing for an answer. "What I've realized…" he continued as she pondered in thought, listening intently, "...you have two groups...the newly formed New Order and the Resistance fighting amongst each other." He thought of his words carefully, spoke concisely. "Are they both not equally responsible for the pain and suffering in this world?"

Rey looked at him seriously. As he had grown, not just physically, but mentally in her absence. "You're right. War is war."

"You have two groups completely convinced and morally justified to do whatever they please because in their mind...they think they're right." His hoarse voice sounded angry. "Fighting with weapons, killing...are they both not a source of evil pretending to fight for opposite ends?"

Rey nodded in realization. "I'm fighting for myself." She declared, her eyes glimmered in the flames before her. "I've spent too long being a nobody. I want my own identity in this galaxy."

Ben's eyes softened. "Did you not see...do you now...that I want the same thing as you?"

Rey looked up, his eyes sincere. "I do now."

"That day in Snoke's throne room. You saw us as a team. You came to me, fought for me...with me...because you saw my potential for good. I saw your potential by my side. Perhaps misplaced but I realized in my loneliness that I was wrong in the way I handled things." Ben looked pained to confess his weaknesses.

"As I was wrong just the same." Rey shook her head.

"The first time we touched hands...you know we saw the same vision-"

"But we saw it the way we wanted to see it." She interrupted.

"I didn't go looking for you for any reason other than righting my wrongs. I let you slip away from me for my childish behavior. I realized how wrong I was, how bad I handled my emotions and my feelings. I don't want Kylo Ren to be a part of me in my future. But he was a part of me...my past...and I'm willing to move past that if you are by my side." Ben's voice croaked.

"And what were you planning on doing? Running away?" Her eyebrow arched, suspicious.

Ben's sad eyes struck her soul. "Maybe. Would that be so bad? Let them fight while we become who we were meant to be."

Rey's lip tightened shut, she bit her lip anxiously. "What were we meant for? I can't see you living a mundane life on a farm. You're technically royalty."

Ben pushed the thought away. "You know this connection has led us to each other. Our destinies are intertwined. Let the rest of the war play out and like your plan...we'll pick up the pieces and teach the force users the new way of life. One without fighting, violence, the Jedi, the armies, any of that junk!" His tone sharpened, he was left breathless.

For once, Rey thought long and hard about his plan. "I have friends fighting in that army!" She cried, knowing he was right.

"My offer from five years ago still stands...but it's not ill intentioned this time, I promise you. We want the same things Rey. It will take time but we can rule this galaxy together after the fight is over." He rushed over to her, wiping her tears away with his sleeve. He looked deep in thought. "I'll let the Knights of Ren survive on their own. Let them join either side for all I care. I don't care about anything else but your safety. I want to keep you safe. I want to teach the future of this world, next to you. You're the strongest person I've ever met...not just physically but emotionally, spiritually, and I-I know...you'll be there for me and for them."

Rey clasped her palms to her face crying loudly into them. "I don't know if I can just wait around and pick up the pieces."

"Isn't the way of the Jedi knowing when to step back and let things unfold?" He stroked her hair carefully, rubbing her cheek with his thumb. "Maybe, you can use everything you've learned and create the true balance in the force and with every ounce of Force in my body, I will help you achieve it because I am nothing without you. I need guidance. They'll need guidance."

Rey rubbed the rest of her tears on her sleeve, sniffling loudly. "I don't know if I can do it."

Ben took her hand and kissed it. "It's so easy for you to be so selfless. But think of yourself, your future and be selfish for once. I know you can. I'll help you." He enveloped his body onto hers, protecting.

He cradled her; rocked her back and forth until his ears perked, his eyes dropped in realization. "They're coming." He now looked up in the sky, noticing a large starship descending into the trees. "I have to go." He shot up quickly, unwilling to leave her side. "Will you be alright?"

Rey kept her face buried between her knees and nodded in reply, throwing the hilt of her saber aside. She wanted nothing to do with it at this very moment. Ben hovered closer to her, then changed his mind and decided to give her space instead. He headed towards the wrecked trees in the distance. Putting on his leather gloves which were stashed in his pockets, slowly and unwillingly.

After a few long moments, Rey picked herself up and wiped away the rest of her tears. She inhaled heavily as she made her way down the cliff onto the sandy beach to smell the ocean's water as rain started to pour onto the island. She sat perplexed staring into the distance, thinking of Ben's plan. She heard a faint buzzing around her body. She turned her head around and saw nothing. She squinted her eyes in confusion and felt a vibration against her body. She shuffled around her pockets and found the beacon. The twin opposite of the one she gave to Poe. They were calling for her, it's blue light blinked slowly for attention. She groaned in frustration, squeezing it tight. She shoved it angrily back into her pocket. Letting the rain and guilt wash over her.

She questioned her decision. What if they were in trouble? What if they really needed her? Would she be willing to let all of that go? She could easily go check on the Falcon to make sure they were alright. Another buzzing noise emanated around her, this time much louder. She hurriedly stuffed her hand back into her pocket and took out the beacon once more. It was still. The buzzing got louder, closer.

She stood up and turned around and faced a tall man in black cloth, much like the uniform Kylo Ren wore, masked and hooded. The shadow of his stature cascaded over her. His single saber, red and ready. "Ben?" She knew it wasn't him. She remembered she left the hilt of her blade near the fire pit. She glanced and outstretched her arm to it. It was too far. The hooded man started running towards her, expertly wielding his saber, cutting through the rain trying to reach her.

Rey started to run, the watery pits of sand giving her a hard time. She tripped and fell, breathing heavily, she turned to look at her attacker and outstretched her arm in defense. Through the attacker's body she saw a familiar black saber pierce him through his chest from behind. "BEN!?" She cried out, breathing heavily. Her attacker plopped into the sand, his mask falling off revealing an unfamiliar face as it drowned in the water.

Rey looked up and noticed five other hooded men circling her, the darkness rendered them unrecognizable, she backed away from them as one stepped forward reaching his hand out to her. She didn't take it. He unmasked himself and turned his back towards her. "COWARD!" He yelled out at the dead man, unleashing the full power of his voice. He faced the others, holding out his saber threateningly. "DOES ANYONE WANT TO JOIN THIS FILTH!?" He yelled demonically, widened stance, as if he a wild animal protecting his prey. The others slowly backed away.

Ben turned to face her, his angered face dripped with beads of water, sweat and rain. His breath remained heavy but his eyes softened. "Rey, are you okay?" He ran to her, grabbing her hands and placing them in his.

Rey looked at him, shocked and to the others, confused. "Y-yes." Was all that she could muster.

"You need to go." He whispered, his tone of voice still angry.

Rey blinked, not quite understanding. Looking between the men.

Ben's voice lowered, just for her. "Go back to Jakku. To your friends." He panted through each syllable.

"What about you?" Rey looked worried.

"Sweetheart," he said softly, "I'll come back for you. I promise." His hair was dampened in the rain, relinquishing her from his hold yet again. He nudged her to pick up her supplies. He watched as she ran without another word to get her satchel and lightsaber. She opened the doors of the Falcon and stared longingly before she closed it once more on him. She rushed over to the pilot's wing and hovered many feet over the sandy beach as he and the rest of the hooded figures melted into their own shadows. She flew as fast as the ship would go, back to Jakku.

_

If Rey had learned one thing, it's that she believed that Ben would keep his promise and come back for her. The distance to Jakku felt shorter than expected, she bypassed the speedometer and rushed to her destination. Not only had he sent her away, her friends were in trouble. She contemplated telling them about Ben but realized they weren't as understanding as her. Perhaps naturally, she thought to herself as she made her way to the sandy dunes. The village looked intact, she breathed a sigh of relief and parked the Falcon in close proximity to where her friends were staying. Finn and Poe waved at the ship, welcoming it home.

"Missed me?" Rey said as she slid her way down the walkway down to see them.

Poe ran up to her first and gave her a tight hug. "Relieved more like it."

"Are you alright Rey?" Finn finally caught up to the pack, clearly winded.

Rey looked between them, hoping for answers. "Are you all okay? Did something happen? I was worried."

Poe grabbed her by the shoulders and looked between her and the Falcon. "Got company?" He eyed her suspiciously.

Rey cleared her throat. "Oh...um, no actually." She sensed their unease.

"I have to be honest." Finn started pacing as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "The elder of the village sees visions and he saw you with some unwanted company. I pressed on the beacon. I'm sorry."

"Who was the unwanted company?" She asked, even though she knew the answer.

"Kylo Ren." Poe answered on his behalf. "Finn assumed you were kidnapped and taken hostage."

"But now I see you're alright and everything is fine. Y-you, you just left so suddenly that day. I thought something was up." Finn looked pained.

"Yeah, I left in a hurry. Something came up, I'm sorry."

Finn brushed it off coolly. "You're back for good now right?"

Rey's eyes lowered. "Can we talk about this later? I'm a bit tired."

Finn knew he wasn't going to receive the answer he wanted. He moved aside as she walked by him. In a few days she became a stranger to them. Rey heard them whisper between each other as she headed to one of the makeshift tents, contemplating if she should contact Ben.