After completing the repairs on the Millennium Falcon, Rey brought her things on board and began packing them under her bed just as the saw Ben standing in the doorway.

"I really hate that it has to be this way." He told her

"So do I." She sighed feeling him appear behind her and set his hands on her shoulders.

Just then, a strange beeping noise came running- or rather rolling into the room.

The two turned around in shock realizing that it was BB-8 trying to warn them about something.

"BB-8? Have you been here the whole time?" Rey asked in confusion

He beeped in response and kept making dozens of strange sounds that immediately sent Rey into a panic.

"The First Order knows we're here..." she told Ben. "And they..." Rey paused almost feeling tears pierce her eyes, "they took Leia."

Just as these words were spoken, Ben took her arm and immediately guided her out of the ship. BB-8 quickly followed.

"If they know you're here the first thing they'll destroy is the Falcon. We have to get on my ship and get out of here."

"But Han's ship-"

"First, Leia." He told her as the three rushed to his ship.

Rey was shocked at his call to go and save his mother. It was unexpected, but a very welcome change.

They finally got to Kylo's ship. And from what they sensed, the First Order was not too far away.

"You're the Supreme Leader, why can't you just give them another order?"

"Because in the time they waste searching this place it means a better chance that my mother is still safe."

Rey approved his decision, as she cramped herself into the small space behind him along with BB-8.

As Ben began flying the small craft out of the old Rebel base, Rey checked BB-8 quickly to see if everything was alright with him.

"How did you know about all this?" Rey asked him.

He beeped in response.

"Poe? He sent you a message? Yes, let me speak to him."

BB-8 quickly dispersed a small device and Rey immediately began speaking into it.

"Poe? Poe, this is Rey."

"Rey, I'm so glad to hear your voice are you alright?" He asked

"Yes. I left the base."

"But I'm tracking the Falcon and it's still on Hoth at the old Rebel base?"

"Poe, I wasn't training... I was with Ben for the last two days and I'm in his ship right now. We are going to get Leia."

"Rey what the hell do you mean you and Kylo Ren are going to get Leia? I didn't think your boyfriend would have such a change of heart."

"It's a long story, but not right now, please. You have to believe me. Don't get into a confrontation with the First Order at the base."

"Okay, okay, I got it." He said turning away from the planet. "But I gotta make sure Leia gets home safely. And I'm not going back without her. Let me help you."

"Poe this is very dangerous I would advise you-"

"Rey, I trust you, but I'm still not completely sure about Ren and everything..."

Rey sighed in frustration and tried to reason with Poe, "If you go with us you'll draw attention immediately just with your ship. I'm with Ben, The Supreme Leader and I'm sure we could make up a story so that I could go in with him. I love Leia as if she were my mother also. I promise you, even if it's the last thing I do, I'll get her home."

Poe sighed feeling unease with Rey's request.

"How do I know he hasn't turned you or something?!"

"If I turned I wouldn't even warn you about the First Order surrounding the Hoth Base. It would just be a trap. All I'm asking you to do is go home and keep everyone calm. I will let you know if we need anything."

"Okay. But please don't make me regret this." He asked before dropping the call

"Thank you." Rey whispered to BB-8 and have him back the device.

"I told Poe to have the Resistance stand down." She told Ben. "It's all us now."

"Open the hatch right beneath you."

"Why?" Rey asked

"There's an extra cloak in there. You'll need it unless you want to go in their handcuffed."

"What are you going to tell them?"

"That you have left the Resistance, are no longer a Jedi and now stand with me as a Supreme Leader. It's the only way I can get you to Leia without causing a mutiny." He explained

"As long as it gets us to Leia." Rey agreed

"It will."

"Ben, what made you want to do this?" She asked opening the hatch and taking the black cloak.

"I don't know." He responded vaguely but Rey didn't feel like pushing an answer out of him.

"You know, seeing Ben Solo trying to be the hero is actually quite attractive."

"Yeah, alright." He shook off the comment only as someone like his father would. They were more similar than he thought.

"You just have this hero fantasy, don't you? Having a crush on 'Finn'. Looking for a father in Han Solo?"

"I mean I've never really been in need of one, I'm known to manage myself quite well, but being near heroes, specifically conflicted ones, still quite attractive." She teased, "And like I said, Finn is a sweet man, but I don't think he would ever be able to understand all of this... the force being so strong in us both... the fact that we have a child on the way. He's happy with Rose. Equally sweet. Equally strong and kind. Neither have to deal with the realities of the force or the weight it puts on one's shoulders. They're meant for each other, now that I realize it."

"So I win then?" Ben lifted an eyebrow

"It's not about winning or losing," She laughed, "I chose you."

"Rey, Solos are known to win over in these kinds of situations..." Ben fired back in a teasing manner. Rey rolled her eyes, remembering all the talks with Leia about how she and Han went from hating each other, to them having feelings, to them walking down the aisle when she was two months pregnant with Ben. She always said they would have done it anyway. Ben's arrival just made them want to be married sooner for many reasons.

The thought then hit her in another way. They haven't even spoke about marriage. What people would think if they ever found out he was the father? But she didn't feel ready for this sort of thing. Then again neither was Leia all those years ago. It was such a strange thought she felt awkward even thinking about it. But knew that just because of how society was, they would have to make a decision soon.

Ben heard all of her thoughts but didn't respond. He felt the same way.

"We're almost to the First Order's lead ship. Do you have that cloak on?" He asked

"Yes. Can we find a disguise for BB-8?"

"Once we get on board."

She looked out the glass window on the front of his ship, seeing as they approached the landing base quickly. When they touched the ground, Ben exited first, only to be confronted by General Hux.

"Just pick up and leave for two days, Supreme Leader?"

And just with that, Hux found himself slightly levitated and chocking in the air.

"I went to turn one of our most valuable enemies. And I'm sure you'll want to know who."

"My apologies, Supreme Leader." he voiced before being dropped to the floor and out of the choke.

"This is Rey of Jakku. Former student to Luke Skywalker and Ex-Jedi. She is with us now. And shall be respected as an equal to me." He said extending a hand to Rey and helping her down the from the ship.

Hux grumbled below his breath.

"Who is she for us to respect? Your girlfriend?" He said mockingly, "whore?" He practically laughed, "sister?" He asked running out of scenarios and still seeing their faces blank.

"You will lead us to General Organa's cell. There are classified matters of the Resistance

we must interrogate her for."

Just as Hux was about to argue about Rey accompanying him, Kylo stared at him coldly.

"Take us at once. This is an order." Ren glared before raising his arm and threatening the choke.

"Yes, of course, Supreme Leader, at once. Follow me." He replied showing them down to the prison cells.

"The droid is also a prisoner. We shall extract any information he has and convert him into a droid of our own." He told Hux and a stormtrooper as he was immediately put into a box.

"Leave him to me." Ren said as the stormtroopers obeyed and BB-8 followed the 3 crashing around in his little box.

"This way, droid." Rey said coldly trying to act in character as she guided BB-8.

'Exactly...' Ben told her in her through the force, approving her way of speaking to a 'prisoner'.

'Ben I am actually terrified.' She admitted

'Stay close to me. Do as I do. And make sure your lightsaber stays with you at all times.'

They walked towards the room where Leia sat alone behind metal bars. Hux reluctantly opened it for the two and handed Ren the keys without even looking him in the eyes. He left the two to their own, Ren watching from outside the cell.

Rey took his hand.

"Come see her." She pleaded

Ben looked away and Rey released his hand gently, turning to walk inside the cell.

Upon walking in, she found a distressed Leia, alone but visibly unharmed.

"Rey!" Leia said nearly in tears as the girl rushed to her side.

"Leia are you alright? We panicked when we heard the First Order took you!"

"Rey, I'm fine. I was just bait. I'm glad it was you who came. By the way, nice disguise."

"Thank you." Rey smiled

"Rey, How is everything? How are you? The little one?"

"We're perfectly fine." Rey nearly laughed

"Who are you with?" Leia finally asked

Ben slowly walked in behind Rey, dark cloak and all, taking Rey's hand into his, summoning all of his courage to finally face his mother.

"Ben?" Leia gasped as her hands covered her mouth in shock, looking upon her son for the first time in years.

"Ben!" Leia cried with tears now streaming down her face. She stood up in front of him, seeing tears spill from his eyes despite his efforts to hide his conflict.

Through her tears she reached out in her mind, trying to comfort her son, before hugging him gently. Just as she did this, Ben felt himself weaken, as he embraced his mother, allowing himself to cry the tears of agony he so desperately wished to hide.

Despite the years apart or the conflicts they shared, she provided a certain comfort with her hug that no one else could.

"I missed you, son." She cried

"I'm sorry..." he said nearly sobbing in his mother's arms. It was at that moment he found himself reduced back to that terrified little 9-year-old who feared leaving his mother to go and train with Luke. His mother, who he'd sensed the deep pain of when she and his father separated. But most of all, his mother, who he'd sensed the deep mourning of when he had taken the life of his own father after years of pain and misunderstanding. It was beyond him how she could forgive him for such a thing. But if he was willing to change, she would be the first one, and probably one of the only ones, to take him back with open arms. He was her son. Part of her. And nothing could take that away from them. And in reflecting at this moment, he realized that she had done nothing wrong. She had only tried, and maybe failed, but regretted hurting him more than anything in her life.

"Mom." He cried

"It's okay." She comforted, "somehow, I knew that if the two of you were together, you'd find your way back." She smiled through her tears, "that's all I ever wanted... for you to be happy... and okay."

"I know that now." He said regretfully, "I'm just... I'm so sorry." He sobbed

"I know, I know." She said sadly, "but that wasn't you. That wasn't my son. I know my son. And he's here now. And I just want him to stay this time. Whatever it is... I'll help you. Rey will help you. Anything." She cried looking at her son and then to the girl that brought him to her.

"Ben, listen to your mother. We'll do anything. Give it a chance... for your mother, for me, for our child..." she spoke sincerely

Ben reached out for Rey's hand, finding a soothing comfort in her touch as he remained hugging his mother.

Never had he been so vulnerable in his life. But his soul was bleeding. And so much pain finally needed to be released. It had been bottled up for so long, and now, the only two people in the galaxy he had left, that he loved, found their way to him. And he knew they would not leave. It was a deep feeling of relief. Peace. Something Ben Solo had not felt in countless years.

Ben finally turned to Rey, who sensed relief flood over him and the calm she had so desperately longed to share with him.

With their hands still connected, he stepped towards her and looked deep within her eyes. The woman he was beyond captivated by. The soul that freed him. The person he loved.

"Rey..." he whispered

"Ben." She smiled through tears of her own and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you." He spoke before kissing her lips gently, "for making me realize."

"I love you, Ben, you know that I'd do anything for you." She smiled, but then her smile turned to seriousness, "like getting you out of here..."

"Ben... listen to her... please, come with us." His mother pleaded.

Ben, still shaken by all the recent overwhelming emotions, nodded, and held the two women in a hug. He wouldn't fail them. Never again.

"Let's go." He smiled at them.

Just as they were about to devise a plan to escape, they heard several loud steps march down the hall and confront them in the cell.

Ben immediately pushed Rey and his mother behind him. Setting his hand by his lightsaber in case of anything.

"Supreme Leader... if it isn't your mother and little girlfriend you're protecting there... may I remind you that you sympathize with a General of the Resistance and Jedi Scum!?" Hux practically screamed and tossed Ren's mask on the floor right before him. The mask of the monster that was now foreign to Ben Solo.

"We found this at the Hoth bass... along with the personal belongings of that girl." Hux trailed with distaste being emphasized on the word 'girl', "so we discovered your little romantic getaway with the Jedi. And now we find you letting your mother go free? You sympathize with nothing but scum! You are a traitor!"

With these words, Ben immediately ignited his saber attacking him and slashing his leg straight from the hip to the knee.

Something inside of him didn't let him kill Hux. As much as he hated him.

"Fine..." he murmured seething in pain, "I was going to leak information about the First Order anyways, but it seems you've already beat me to it, Ren."

"I'm not Kylo Ren." He spoke down at the withered Hux grasping his leg on the floor.

"Then who the hell are you?"

"Ben Solo." He responded with a hand out to help Hux up, "we'll get you out of here." He told him

Hux was greatly unsettled by his words. Who was this? Kylo Ren? Trying to save him? Using his birth name?

He took his hand reluctantly, as Rey rushed to help Ben lift him to his feet.

Hux looked over at the stormtroopers, giving them a sign to disregard.

The three rushed then took him over to a medical room where a droid was able to patch over the wound and tie it tightly until it was safe enough to transport him.

With enough convincing, they actually got General Hux to get on a loudspeaker and release every stormtrooper from their post and give them their freedom.

They had really thought they'd done it. They thought the war was over, as Ben, Rey, Leia, BB-8 and an injured Hux navigated the halls with all intentions to leave. Until they turned a corner to find a ship, only for several hundred remaining stormtroopers led by General Pryde.

"I would hate to see you leave so soon, Supreme Leader."

"I'm not the Supreme Leader." Ben responded

"Then who is? Little red?" Pryde scoffed.

Hux glared at him completely insulted by the remark.

"Alright then, let's get this finished then, shall we?" Pryde looked toward the group and then back at the stormtroopers who had sided with him. "Execute on my command-"

"Stop this!" Ben shouted, "I was foolish to think that this was all there was to be in the galaxy. You don't understand what you're doing!"

"Oh, and you do? Sympathizing with those you swore to destroy? A General of the Resistance? Jedi Scum and her little pet droid?"

"Don't call them that!" He fired back, "you don't know a thing about them!" Feeling his anger return threateningly.

Pryde scoffed. "I know who your mother is Ren. We all do. It isn't like we've just heard about the misery that is the legacy of the Skywalkers..." he spoke with an edge of vengeance. "And this one, of course, the little Jedi who you strived so desperately to destroy. She is nothing but Scum. You threw away everything over some girl that gave you some."

Ben felt anger seething back within him. But this time, towards the ones who had wronged the ones he loved.

"She is not 'some girl'. And she is not 'scum'." Ben snapped staring coldly into the eyes of General Pryde. "You will leave her alone."

Pryde smirked, "What if I don't?"

"You'll have to go through me." Ben hissed

Without a second's notice, Pryde blasted over at Rey, coldly and cruelly, striking her right in the abdomen. Rey dropped to her knees, immediately taken out by such a blow. Leia held Rey up. Barely able to keep her from completely collapsing.

Just seconds after Ben felt the blast hit Rey, he swung at Pryde and killed him with one swipe of his saber.

While many of the troopers disbanded, probably bribed by Pryde into standing with him, few continued to shoot at the small group with only the defense of Ben's red saber.

"Mom, Rey's lightsaber!" Ben reminded as he lifted the girl into his arms leaving his mother to try her best in deflecting the blasters.

"Ben I haven't done this in years!" Leia shouted back

"Just until we get onto the ship..." he responded motioning towards one just feet away. With all the commotion, Hux was an easy target and got killed immediately.

Suddenly, right before them, the roof collapsed in a great explosion, taking several of the stormtroopers with it.

It was a Resistance ship, making BB-8 begin to beep towards the group.

"He's saying... he.. called Poe." Rey pushed herself to say.

Ben rested her head over his shoulder and tried to calm her.

The ship landed with Poe piloting.

The door opened quickly as he shouted for them to get on. They didn't have very long to get help for Rey; down to minutes, each more and more critical than the last.

I know I know... Us Reylos have been through enough trauma for at least the century after The Rise of Skywalker ending ... :( I promise this won't be as bad as this sounds! Just hope you enjoyed the chapter :D -Michelle