A/N Just a short chapter today. Fam is conspiring to keep me from sleep and zzzzzzzz…
The first thing Rey noticed when Ben appeared before her in the hangar was the blood covering his face and then the blaster wound to his shoulder. The defeated and remorseful expression he wore nearly tore her heart in half and her anger with him evaporated as fear took its place.
She listens to his words, watches Ben bow in fealty to his mother and Rey is dumb-struck. She looks around at the faces of her friends and sees that she is not the only one.
Her tears fall as Rey drops down beside Ben and touches his uninjured shoulder.
"Ben… what have you done?"
She asks, almost afraid to know the answer as he looks up into her eyes.
"I disbanded the First Order. The remaining troops are at the command of the Rebellion."
He says simply but Rey knows he's leaving something out and glances up at Leia, standing over them with an equally worried look. Spurned into action, Leia suddenly motions to the others around them to leave.
"Alright everyone, you will know what's happening when we do. Ben, get up and speak plainly."
She says, rounding back on her son when Finn, Rose, Poe and the others have wandered away. Ben and Rey stand from their kneeling position and the women wait for him to speak.
"I gathered all the high-ranking officers from each of the First Order ships and slaughtered them. I told the rest of the officers and troops that they are free to go or serve the Rebellion under your command."
His emotionless voice leaves both Leia and Rey speechless as Ben continues.
"I will remain here on the Dreadnaught and wait for you to take command if that's easier but then I will be leaving. I think I have done quite enough in this war."
He finishes with difficulty and Rey stops herself from touching him and breaking the spell woven between mother and son. There's a very long and tense pause before Leia makes her decision.
"I will leave for the Dreadnaught within the hour."
Ben bows his head again but his eyes dart back up to hers when she speaks.
"Ben, you just ended a war with a single act."
He drops his gaze again to the hangar floor and swallows dryly.
"I very much doubt that will be my lasting legacy."
With a sad smile, Leia turns to walk away, leaving Ben alone with Rey. She opens her mouth to speak but Ben talks over her without meeting her eyes.
"I need to go."
He closes his eyes to break their connection, but Rey reaches up and stops him with a soft hand on his cheek.
She wipes away a tear with the pad of her thumb and it comes away red with blood as he opens his eyes again to look at her with all his pain in his dark eyes.
"Ben."
She pleads with a quivering lip and glassy eyes.
"I am doing what I can to give our child a better future."
Rey's anger is returning rapidly, and her grip tightens on Ben's jaw.
"You are not leaving me here alone, Ben Solo."
The smirk that raises the corner of his full lips doesn't reach his eyes and Rey furrows her brow in question.
"I never said that I was going to leave you, Rey. You will see me again."
The hope in her chest swells as he steps in to tip her face up to his and he feathers a kiss across her lips.
"But I've committed so many crimes, Rey. It's time that I start paying for them."
He says with a sad smile as he backs away from her and closes their connection.
Rey is left staring blankly at the floor of the hangar.