"I'm … I'm what?" Rey asks dumbly while Ben processes what they've just been told.
"Lady Organa, Leia left you all her lands and titles, but because you aren't a blood relation, you can't be a princess," Finn explains.
Rey's hand flies over her mouth and she begins to giggle with a hysterical edge. They're all still seated around the conference table and Dameron and Finn share a concerned look.
Then she looks over at Ben who stands behind her left shoulder and asks, "Does that mean the lake house now belongs to me?"
It feels right that his mother had done this. Rey deserves to be the holder of the Organa fortune. "Sounds like it. I'll just have to marry you to get my titles back," he teases.
"I don't think that's going to be a problem," she responds with a smile.
"That, right there. That's gotta stop," Dameron says with a grimace.
Rey calms and looks at Dameron like he's dim. "I'm not going to stop talking to him just because it makes you uncomfortable. What are you going to do when he's back?"
"Trying not to think about that, thank you," Dameron says with a perturbed expression.
"Maybe we'll ask him to give the bride away," Ben says with glee.
But Rey looks at him quizzically. "Huh?"
"I'll explain later," he says, now imagining all the ways he could needle her Resistance friends. Finn would make an excellent best man.
The man in question is inspecting his fingernails when Rey's attention goes to him. "And you! Explain, Magistrate Finn."
"Do I have to? Ask Poe about why he's Minister Dameron!"
Rey's head swivels and she looks back and forth between them rapidly. "Yeah, okay. Spill."
Both men sigh as if they're the most put upon people in the galaxy. Dameron is the first to speak. "Well, see … it was like this. There's still a lot of First Order people out there and we really didn't want to have it turn into a war of attrition. That would take years and be very bloody. We proposed they elect a representative if we didn't hold trials or kill them on sight."
Rey's face screws up in confusion. "And they elected Finn?"
Dameron snickers. "They didn't realize we'd count the stormtroopers in the vote."
Now it's Ben's turn to laugh. At first, it's just a little titter, but soon he's doubled over, hooting and gasping with laughter. Hux would hate that. He sobers a bit as he realizes he doesn't know if he lived or died.
"So, you represent the First Order?" Rey asks, sounding impressed and a little horrified.
"I know!" Finn throws his hands up. "Joke's on me, right?"
"Well, you have to admit, you tried so hard to get away from them."
"At least now I'm able to help the people swept up into this through no fault of their own. Turns out the stormtroopers make up most of who's left."
Rey nods and places her hand on Finn's. "I'm proud of you."
Finn only shrugs and looks away.
Rey's eyes grow keen and she asks Dameron. "And you, Minister Dameron?"
"After the Battle of Exegol, someone had to lead. They picked me. Surprise!" he says with a grin.
Rey groans out, "They don't know you very well, do they."
"Hey!" he spouts as BB-8 whistles out what almost sounds like a droid laughing.
"So, what does this mean? For the galaxy?"
"Peace for now … the rest, well we're working on it," says Dameron.
"And you have access to the archives?"
Dameron looks over to Finn. "Magistrate?"
Finn grimaces. "It might take some time to arrange. They're probably on Atalyn, but they're still … touchy about sharing intel. I'll have to come up with a reason. I don't think telling them the last of the Jedi wants to bring back her boyfriend is gonna cut it."
Rey frowns. "He's so much more than my boyfriend."
Sighing Finn says sadly, "I know, Rey. I know."
Finn and Dameron walk Rey to her guest quarters and just as they reach the door, Dameran makes a funny face. "Uh … does he need a place to stay?"
"Oh, no, he'll stay with me," Rey says casually and both men look vaguely green.
But Dameron recovers himself first. "Huh. How does that work."
Rey grins wickedly. "Do you really want me to answer that question?"
Opening the door, Finn rushes to say, "Nope, he doesn't. Does he," he says pointedly to Dameron.
"Well—"
"Does he." The pilot's mouth snaps shut and Finn huffs out a breath before entering the quarters, beckoning them to follow.
As soon as she crosses the threshold she gasps. The rooms are quite generous, with little Alderaanian touches throughout the suite, like the gauzy curtains hanging to partition the space and the art on the walls.
It makes Ben realize he needs to see his mother. Talk to her, just to be in her presence. Maybe while Rey is getting ready to have dinner with her friends he'll slip to the non-place.
Finn goes to the closet and gestures inside. "You should find something you'll like, if you want to change."
Rey looks down on her dusty desert clothing. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
Dameron shrugs and says, "Nothin', but you might feel out of place. Things have gotten downright odd around here. Makes people feel safe to put on a bit of a show and tonight there's a delegation from Coruscant." Dameron makes a face. "They're fancy," he says with a stage whisper.
"Yeah, the uniforms make the First Order people comfortable," Finn offers.
"Well, you both look very nice. How much time do I have to change?"
"Dinner is in three hours. Take a nap, relax. Finn'll come get you," Dameron says easily as both men take their leave.
Rey stands in the middle of the room, looking a bit stunned. But then she makes a funny little smile. "Lady Rey, huh?"
"Well … I did always want to make you Lady Rey to my Lord Ren." Then he realizes what he's managed to allude to, and he quickly says, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"
"It's alright. It's not like we don't have a past." Then she yawns hugely. "I actually am pretty tired after … everything. Maybe I will take a nap."
Ben perks up immediately. A nap sounds like an excellent idea. But first, he has something to attend to.
"Would you mind if I checked in with my mother? All this talk of her … I … I …"
"You miss her. Of course, Ben. Just don't keep me waiting too long," she says with an arched brow.
"Of course not," he says with a deep bow. "My lady."
"Do not start doing that," Rey says with a grimace.
"You better get used to it. I'll make you a princess soon."
Rey kicks off her shoes and starts to get undressed for her nap. "Shoo. Go see Leia."
"I think I'll wait just a moment longer," he says with a waggle of his eyebrows.
Rey just laughs as she keeps pulling off her tunic.
"Ben," his mother says with a relieved tone.
"Hello, Mother," he responds. "I've … I've missed you."
"You've been busy."
That makes his eyes bulge. Does that mean she knows what he and Rey get up to?
"I didn't mean that, but you're just like your father, so I can figure it out all on my own."
"Mom!" he gasps.
"Oh, hush. How do you think we got you?"
Ben puts his hands over his ears and starts to chant, "La la la, I'm not listening."
When he senses quiet from his mother, he cautiously uncovers his ears.
Leia is looking at him with pursed lips. "Seriously, Son?"
"There are things I never, ever want to know."
"I'll make sure to tell your father. I'm certain he'll remind me of a few choice stories."
"Wait. You see Dad?" he asks, his heart seizing at the thought his father is still with his mother.
She smiles gently. "I do. I didn't know how to tell you. But you seem in such high spirits."
"I think we're on the right path," he says carefully.
"Tell me more," she entreats.
He joins Rey in her dreams and finds her immediately, pulling her into his arms as he's wanted to ever since her breakdown in the corridor.
"Are you alright?" he whispers into her ear.
"Mmmm, now I am," she purrs.
He pulls back slightly, looking into her face. "Are you really?"
She sighs. "Now that they've agreed to help, yes. I don't know what I would have done if they'd refused."
"I have trouble imagining Finn refusing you anything," he says with a touch of asperity.
"He's my best friend." Her lips pull into a slight frown.
"I know. And I think I might be beginning to like him, but that doesn't change the way he looks at you."
Rey bats at him. "I think you're imagining things."
Ben is pretty sure he isn't, but it isn't worth arguing over. There is something worth arguing about, however.
"Changing the subject …"
She looks at him warily and he's sure she knows what he's going to say. "Yes?"
"You need to get rid of those tablets."
"What if there's an emergency?" she pushes back.
"I just don't like that you even have them. It concerns me."
"Look, I'm not going to endanger myself anymore, I know what's at stake."
"Then why not get rid of them?"
Her arms slide around his neck and she's pulling him down for a kiss. "We don't have much time until I need to wake up, let's not waste it."
Ben lets her distract him. It's not much of a trial.
It's a good thing that Ben had already helped Rey figure out the complicated fastenings of gowns in her dreams, because the dresses available are all quite similar.
Rey's hand glides over the fabric and stops at a long, deep green gown. She pulls it out and holds it up to herself.
"That looks like it should fit," Ben offers.
"I like the color."
"You should try it on," he urges. He's certain the green will do magnificent things to her eyes.
She's already in only her underthings from her nap, so she pulls the dress over her head. It's a long sheath with a very daring slit up her thigh. The a deceptively plain cut, with its long, elegant sleeves and swaths of fabric across her clavicle makes her natural beauty shine.
Maker, it clings and Ben swallows thickly. He's not sure he wants her to wear this in public, with her creamy thigh so on display. "Do you like it?" he asks in a strangled tone.
"Yeah, I think I do. Now … what do I do with my hair without you to braid it?"
Ben glowers as they walk to this dinner. In the end, Rey had chosen to wear her hair down, brushing it until it hung in glossy waves. She looks edible and he's not visible to anyone here. He can stand over them threateningly as much as he wants, but it won't do a damned thing.
Dameron sees Rey and Finn and darts over. "Whoa. Rey, you look stunning!"
"Ben helped me pick it out," she says with a sweet smile.
Dameron scowls. "Where is that psycho?" he asks, looking around as if he could find him.
"Right next to you," she says with a wicked smile. "And his name is Ben."
He actually jumps away and Rey cackles. Dameron is now even closer to him and he has to admit, this aspect of all of this ridiculousness is rather fun.
"Other direction," she says with delight.
Dameron visibly shudders and scoots away.
"You're being an idiot," Finn remarks.
"Should we tell him he just slid through me?" Ben asks, and Rey only laughs.
But Finn misunderstands. "See, idiot."
"No argument from me," Rey says with surrendered hands.
"Yeah, yeah," Dameron scoffs. "Oh! Bast, join us!" the best pilot in the Resistance calls to a slight young man.
Obediently, the fresh-faced officer joins them.
"This is Rey, uh, Rey Organa."
It pleases Ben an inordinate amount to have her wear his mother's name. He'd been there when she'd claimed Skywalker, but that had never really made much sense to him. If anything, she should be a Solo. But he supposes his mother would have a great deal to say about that.
"This is Analyst Bast. He'll be accompanying you to Atalyn," Finn introduces the officer, with kindness in his eyes.
"And this," Dameron says eagerly. "Is Lady Rey Organa, Last Jedi and heir to Alderaan."
"Oh!" Bast exclaims, his eyes going so wide as to be comical. "I'm so grateful for this assignment. There's so much I can't wait to research! I don't know why we only have access to the basic archives, but—"
Dameron clears his throat, and Finn puts his hand on Bast's shoulder. "We're working on that. But for now, Lady Rey will need you to assist her to access the classified archives. The dark archives," Finn says with heavy intimation.
"Yes, yes, of course, Lady Rey. Anything I can do to be helpful. I know there's so much lore that a Jedi would be fascinated by, perhaps on our way—"
"Yes, yes," Dameron interrupts the vibrating Analyst Bast. "You'll have a whole day in hyperspace to discuss it. Why don't you get our guest something to drink?"
Bast eagerly complies. "Yes, of course! The Benthen wine is perfection!" Then he swiftly removes himself and scurries off to the bar.
Rey looks at Finn and Dameron with a beleaguered expression. "Really? I need a baby-sitter?"
Personally, Ben thinks Analyst Bast could be an asset. Finn had already said this could be a delicate thing to arrange and having an official First Order representative can only help.
"It's not like that. This isn't … an easy request," Finn explains. "Yes, the First Order is working with us, but you're a tempting target. We're also arranging a stormtrooper guard."
"What?" Rey sputters while Ben is ecstatic. If he could, he'd hand-pick the troopers himself.
"Look, things are … tricky right now. We just want you safe."
"Do they still wear those stupid helmets?" Rey asks mulishly.
"Some of them, yes," Finn says with a sigh.
"Please don't fight us on this, for once in your life," Dameron says with a touch of frustration.
"They're right," Ben offers.
Huffing out an exasperated breath, Rey says, "Oh not you, too."
"Still weird!" Dameron chimes in.
"If … he agrees with us, doesn't that say something?" Finn points out.
"Oh no, no ganging up."
"You need to be safe. It was a very precarious time after the Empire fell. They aren't trying to baby you; they're trying to protect you. You might be an exceptional fighter, but you're still just one person," Ben says, trying not to sound too patronizing.
Rey scowls but she nods. "Fine. But no helmets. They're creepy."
"Your wish is our command, my lady," Dameron says with a mocking bow.
"Oh, my gods," Rey sighs with rolled eyes.
A/N: Thank you, ArtemisBare, who is the very best cheerleader a girl could ask for!
Thank you, Readers! This will be the last chapter of 'Tethered' until mid-next week. A fellow Reylo is coming to visit so we'll be ripping TRoS to shreds and crying on each other's shoulders. I'm so grateful that folks are still here for this story and your feedback is simply marvelous. Blows kisses.