Chapter 11
Rey stumbled away from the cockpit, dismissing Chewie's inquiry of concern when she passed him by the cargo bay with a porg on his shoulder, and somehow found herself collapsed in her bunk.
Being close to Ben was dangerous-very dangerous. She had to be more careful. She had felt his passion rise to match her own immense anger, and the fact that he held himself back despite the intensity of it left her breathless. Though she had always restrained herself, it had never been with such need behind it. It would be too much to fall into that passion while they were at war though. For multiple reasons, she realized, pressing a hand to her womb.
And what to do about the misunderstanding that was likely already spreading throughout the First Order? Could it even be stopped at this point? The news of their force connection had traveled fast once released. There was no reason to believe this would be any different.
She needed to talk to someone. She wished it could be General Organa, but that wasn't an option.
"Luke?" Rey whispered, feeling like a complete idiot. "Are you there?"
"Am I anywhere?" a whisper returned, and he was standing next to her. He glanced around, as if surprised. "Ben's not here this time? Shame, I had fun teasing him."
Rey scrunched up her face, but decided to stay on focus. "I wanted some advice. Ben accidentally started a rumor that I'm pregnant with his child."
Luke jumped back, as if startled badly, then leaned close to look at her womb. "It's definitely a rumor, if that's what you're wondering. Jedi ghosts: Advisors, cockblockers, and pregnancy tests wrapped up in one! Course, it should be easy enough for you to check for yourself. Just check for an extra life force there whenever you're concerned. I could see Ben's life force easily from the start. Startled Leia pretty badly with the news. Though if you don't want one, just don't have… wait, you do know how babies are made, right?"
Rey gave him a look so cold he faked blowing into his hands and rubbing them together to keep them warm. "Chilly! So there's a rumor. Can't stop those. Just have to accept that some people will believe it. What's the issue?"
Rey threw her hands up in frustration. "How do I talk to people when they think I'm pregnant with the Supreme Leader of the First Order's child?"
Luke's eyebrows rose into his forehead. "Oh! That's easy. If they're someone you care about, you tell them the truth, and if not, don't waste your energy."
"It can't be that simple!" Rey exclaimed. "What if I don't get the chance to explain myself?"
"Then you don't get the chance to explain yourself. May as well make peace with it. People will misunderstand you. It's not something you can control."
Rey groaned and covered her face.
"Although, you're a Jedi, rumored to carry the child of my nephew, who is powerful himself. Have you or Ben considered that there are some who will try badly to kill you rather than risk another force user be born, especially one with your combined bloodlines who would be positioned to destroy either legacy?"
"But I'm not pregnant!" Rey protested.
"But they don't know that."
Rey growled her frustration and punched her pillow. "It's not fair!"
Luke tsked at her. "Temper, temper. My teachers would have told me that such rage was unbecoming of a Jedi, but I think it suits you. Still, you and Ben will need to be careful. Leia, though she's not very strong in the force and Han had no powers at all, was under constant assassination attempts during her pregnancy, even from some Resistance members who feared her son might follow Darth Vader's legacy." Luke cocked his head to the side and gave Rey an amused glance. "Well, they weren't wrong."
"So I'm going to be attacked by people I don't know for something I haven't done?"
Luke nodded. "Yup."
"That's ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous, yes, and little different from your current life. You're the Jedi of the Resistance. The First Order has already targeted you. There are already others opposed to a return of the Jedi. The only thing that's changed is that, since Kylo Ren is the rumored father, you will have unexpected allies and enemies on both sides."
Rey took several deep breaths and eventually acknowledged that this was true. She felt a hollow grief that her peaceful days were gone. "I never thought I might miss scavenging on Jakku."
"I never thought I would miss farming on Tatooine… or Uncle Owen's lectures. It's part of the Jedi legacy, Rey. If you're very lucky, you'll live long enough to isolate yourself in a hidden location for wayward young force users to seek you out before you tell them they're not worth teaching. Make sure to leave some clues before you disappear though. Hidden maps, that sort of thing. Otherwise I might have to tell them your location myself, and I won't do it without sharing embarrassing stories."
Rey looked at Luke suspiciously. She had always wondered why there was a secret map to him in the first place. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
"May the force be with you," Luke said, and he was gone.
Rey took a deep breath and curled up in her bunk. Too much had happened in the last day, and she needed her rest.
Kids are sleeping well tonight, and I've already started writing my next project. Just need to finish editing this one and getting it online. Not sure I said it before, but I appreciate the reviews and am relieved that the consensus so far is that I've done a decent job keeping them in character and it's a good story.
At least, no one's gone "OMG that's so not Rey or Kylo Ren!" or told me they hate it.
Anyway, the story's written except for editing, so you can't influence it much at this point, but if you want to encourage me to keep writing in general or come back with more Star Wars fanfiction later, please feel free to leave a note. If you think I'm a horrible author and deserve to die for introducing such crazy ideas into the fandom, leave a note too, though check the rules first just in case.
You know, whatever seems best.
