~One standard year later~

The invitation for the gala was lost in a sea of New Republic communications. It caught his eye though.

Please join us in celebrating the appointment of Rey of Jakku as Senator to the Galactic Senate.

Ben Solo ran his fingers over the datapad. He swelled with pride for her, pleased that she was being recognized by her people. She deserved it.

The pain though, that he found out, in this way, that he was on the outside, it was worse than any physical pain he had ever experienced. That his life and hers would forever be separate and he could never be a part of her story, was a constant struggle for him.

The evening was warm and the soft breeze was rare and weak. Ben's dark shirt felt rough against his neck in the irritating, sandy air. He walked into the hall, he assumed it was likely the finest in Jakku, but that really wasn't saying very much.

He eventually found Rey in the sea of people. She was as beautiful as ever, though she didn't look so much like the Rey he remembered, there in the fine dress and ornate hairstyle.

"I'm so glad you came, I had something to ask you," she blushed slightly, "I wanted to ask you in person."

Ben felt his heart quicken at her words though he hated himself for it.

"What is it?"

"I'm going to be busy," she laughed, "you'll probably think it's a bad idea, with this and everything." She motioned to the crowded room around them.

He shook his head, a bit confused.

"I want to start a Jedi academy." Her voice was low, "I want you to help me teach. It doesn't have to be all the time, it's whatever you would be comfortable with." Rey finished quickly.

Ben was overcome with the idea of seeing her more often, working with her toward some common good, redeeming himself through the investment in young Jedi lives. The thought of being near her again particularly stood out to him.

"It does seem like a lot of work for you," he answered, afraid to appear too eager lest her plans fail to come to fruition.

"It would be too much if I were doing it alone," she said.

Ben exhaled, she wanted to depend on him.

She continued, "Poe will be there of course, when I'm busy with Senate business."

Ben felt as if the planet stopped turning in that moment.

"Poe...Dameron." He said, the name sticking in his mouth.

"Yes, he..." she started.

"I know...him, we...met before." He nodded, avoiding her eyes now.

"Oh, on Naboo that day?" Rey asked.

"Before that," he answered.

"Oh," Rey seemed embarrassed.

He hadn't meant to make her uncomfortable and regretted his inability to pretend more effectively in social interactions, he felt he had been improving with socializing and politics but Rey unnerved him completely.

"I am also quite busy these days," he nodded graciously, "but I'm sure I could stop by from time to time."

Rey smiled. "That would be wonderful." She drew close to him for a moment and placed a quick kiss on his cheek, as if they were old friends who had simply been apart for a great long while and it had been so good to see each other.

Ben clinched his jaw slightly, holding his emotions in check. He had never been that close to her, though he had dreamt he had. He saw Poe approaching, he gave polite nod as the man encircled Rey's waist with his arm and pulled her into a quick embrace, whispering something in her ear. Her face lit up and she looked over his shoulder, she glanced back quickly to Ben.

"Excuse me, Ben. We'll talk soon." She said and floated away into the crowd.

Ben mingled in the crowd a few moments, he recognized several dignitaries he needed to speak with anyway. Then he came across FN-2187, though he reminded himself the man liked to be called Finn these days. He supposed he wasn't the only one who had changed his name.

"So Rey and Poe..." Ben's voice betrayed more of his emotion than he would have preferred.

"Yeah, I know." Finn nodded smiling.

Ben glanced at Finn, "I always thought it would be you and Rey." He said, less bitter than he felt.

Fun laughed and shook his head. "There was a time I thought so too, but her and Poe, it happened just after Crait, and she was so happy, I couldn't have done anything to take that away from her."

Ben nodded and said, "She does seem very happy."