Rey was too hot and tired to argue about leaving the camp again. She helped cook then fix one of the ships instead. By evening when the sun finally started to go down and give her some relief, she was exhausted. She sat by herself on the ground beside her tent eating a little bit of soup that had been made for dinner, when suddenly a strange feeling washed over her. One that was familiar but she hadn't felt it in so long, it took her by surprise. She stood quickly, dropping her bowl of soup on the ground. She rushed into her tent for privacy.

"Ben?! Ben is that you?!" She said quietly. She was desperate to know if he was okay. She spun around, looking every way. She didn't see him.

"Do you hear me? Can you hear my voice? I can't see you," she said. Come on, Ben say something please...let me know you're still alive...

But there was nothing. No Ben, no nothing. The feeling slipped away as quickly as it had come. She thought perhaps he had just started the connection to check on her, but wasn't safe enough yet to interact. The thought made her feel a little more at ease. He was still alive at least...Leia walked into the tent looking surprised.

"Is everything okay? I felt something...strange," she asked.

"I think so..." Rey replied, "I think Ben just tried to start a connection but couldn't get through all the way for some reason."

Leia looked at her a moment slightly confused.

"Okay...well if you make contact with him let me know."

"I will," Rey said. Leia left and Rey went back outside to clean up her mess. After that was done, she came back in her tent and lay on her cot. Her mind was running wild now. She hoped he was okay and not in danger. She had a knot in her stomach thinking about it. Perhaps in a few days she should try to reach out to him. If he didn't instigate it, perhaps it would be safer. That thought made her feel better. Yes she would have to see him, it had been long enough surely.

Rey did indeed wait patiently for three days. She couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, and thought nonstop of what could be happening without her there to help. She waited until nightfall when most people were sleeping or resting quietly in their tents, then sat on the side of her cot and closed her eyes.

Please...please let me see him. Connect us like you have before. She breathed deeply in and out, calming her every muscle, trying to focus on nothing but the force. She finally felt a little flicker of that feeling. Come on nearly there...reach him, come on. A long silent moment of intense concentration.

"Rey?" Her eyes shot open. She could very clearly see Ben standing in front of her, as if he was really there. He was in his normal black clothes, dark hair more of a mess than normal and had circles under his eyes as if he hadn't been sleeping.

"Ben! I'm so glad that worked," she laughed nervously, "are you okay? Are you safe?"

"I'm okay, you?"

"I'm fine! We've all been so worried about you!"

He raised an eyebrow, "you all?"

"Well...your mother and I..." she admitted. Ben rolled his eyes. Rey felt irritated at this but pressed on.

"Where are you now? Did you get off the ship? I can't see where you are."

"I'm fine, Rey. I can't stay connected to you long. Palpatine has been keeping close tabs on any force activity. If he knows we've been connected..."

"I know and I'm sorry...I just had to check on you."

Ben's irritated face softened at her words.

"I'm fine...I promise...but no more connections until I contact you next time, understood?" he said quietly.

"Yeah, yeah," Rey said annoyed, "I thought the coast was clear because of when you tried to connect the other day."

"Wait, that wasn't you?" Ben said genuinely confused.

"What? No...I thought I felt your presence."

"I thought it was yours. I tried to talk to you but I couldn't hear you," he said, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Me too," she said. They stared at eachother a long moment. Ben finally spoke.

"Well I don't know what that was about but...just don't try this again. Wait for me to connect with you."

"I promise," she said.

His head jerked quickly to the side as if he had heard something.

"I have to go," was all he said, and Rey felt the force connection ripped away from her as she looked around.

She was so relieved and yet...so confused. If it wasn't Ben that she had felt then who? Should she be scared? Should she tell Leia about this? She lay back on her cot and stare up at the canvas of the tent. She debated with herself but ultimately decided she would have to talk to her about it. The night was long, but comfortably cool. She tossed and turned like normal and when morning finally came, she couldn't wait to tell Leia that Ben was okay. She knew she would be relieved. As soon as Leia walked out of her tent, Rey ran up to her.

"I saw him," Rey said quiet enough for only them to hear, a small grin playing at her lips.

"Ben?" She questioned.

"Yes, he looked a little warm down but was still in one piece," Rey spoke. They walked towards the outdoor table together.

"I'm so glad to hear that Rey...I knew he would be."

They sat at the table, Rey jumping right into it, "He said it wasn't him trying to make the connection the other day that we felt."

Leia looked a little confused.

"Do you have any idea who it could have been then?" She asked the younger girl.

Rey shook her head.

"I have no idea. Anyway, Ben said not to contact him again. Palpatine has a tight grip over the first order right now."

Leia nodded slowly, thinking.

"I think it's best the entire resistance keep their head down right now. With Palpatine back and on a rampage we could put everyone in danger if he finds out where we are. I just hope Ben doesn't change his mind about you."

"What do you mean?" Rey asked, realizing she sounded a bit too eager. Leia didn't seem to notice and answered.

"I just mean I hope all this time he's spending alone with Palpatine in his ear persuading him to find you doesn't change his mind. He's very easily seduced, Rey as I'm sure you know. He always has been. Han used to tell him he was too gullible as a kid," she stopped and grinned a moment as if remembering something funny.

"I'm sorry. It's really not funny now looking back..."

"It's okay," Rey said gently. This was her son, her only child she was talking about. Of course Rey knew how hard this must be for her. She decided to keep the conversation a little lighter, sensing Leia's sadness.

"I bet he was...quite a hit with the girls growing up wasn't he?" She grinned. Leia laughed.

"You don't have to humor me, Rey. I know his past doesn't mean anything to you-"

"On no! I honestly want to hear about him, I think it will help me understand him better."

Leia smiled and looked down at the table then looked back up at Rey with excitement.

"I loved him so much from the first moment I held him. He was born a few weeks early which was probably for the best, he grew like you wouldn't believe. Always the tallest kid for his age anywhere we went. His hair actually started out sandy brown if you can believe that. It got darker as he got older, I think he got that from Han's side of the family. He favors him so much." She stopped and smiled. Rey smiled back, resting her head on her arm watching Leia carefully. She would stop her if this got to be to much for her. But she knew how much venting could help sometimes. Leia continued after a minute.

"We decided to name him after Ben Kenobi who saved Han's and I's butts once a long time ago...and Rey he was the sweetest little kid. Always bringing me flowers he picked and bringing home strays. A little shy and quiet but sweet. His teenage years hit him hard. I think I pushed him a little too much once we discovered he was so in tune with the force. Luke and I wanted to continue the Jedi race so badly we didn't see what we were doing to him. He just wanted to be a pilot but we wouldn't hear of it. We just knew he would be infinitely good and change the universe for the better...how could he not...look at his ancestry! Sure Darth Vader was his grandfather, but even he turned good last minute. We never thought he would begin to explore the dark side when he began to use his powers." She sighed, "but that's exactly what he did. And once Snoke had his claws into him too deeply I just don't think he could figure out who he really was anymore. Snoke promised him power, leadership, riches, anything he could to seduce him. Then the whole situation happened during his training and that's when he made that fateful decision that he was destined to be dark. We didn't hear from him for months afterwards, we had no clue what had happened to him. Then next thing we know he's hanging around with these 'Knights of Ren' and changed his name. It felt like a nightmare...no one wants to see their child become that evil." Rey placed a hand on Leia's arm to reassure her. A few tears began to run down the generals face. Something Rey surly never thought she would see.

"I just want my sweet little boy back...but I know I can never have that."

"Leia," Rey scooted closer to her and took her hands into her own. The General looked up at her.

"I promise I will do everything in my power to get him back to you. I've seen a softer side of him, his heart is still there and I know he still loves you. I can feel it."

"He can't come back, Rey. He's done too many terrible things...society would never accept him. He would be assassinated the first time someone got a chance. I just want him to make peace with himself and turn back to the light before he..." she trailed off or able to finish her thought.

Those words hit Rey hard. She thought of Rose and how she talked about him...that was how everybody would feel. No one would trust him, no one would even want to give him a chance. She then realized why Ben hadn't come back with her when he had a chance. He didn't have a choice anymore. He literally couldn't come back to his old life no matter how much he wanted to. The grief overwhelmed her and she felt her own tears spill over now.

"Is...everything okay?" Rose said coming to sit across the table from them.

Leia wiped her face quickly, "yes were fine. Just having some girl talk," she grinned at the girl.

"Okay...just...looks like a funeral happened over here that's all..."

Rey almost laughed. In some weird way it kind of was a funeral...one for the Ben that could never be. Rey felt sick and mentally drained now.

"I'm going to lie down for a little. I'll do the training course this evening when it cools down," she said to the two women, now standing and heading back to the tent.

"Don't push yourself to hard, Rey, I know your not yourself right now," she heard Leia call after her.

Not herself. That was for damn sure.