Thank you all for taking this journey with me. I hope you enjoyed the story. Now I must tell you if you have not seen The Rise of Skywalker (aka Episode IX), you may want to wait to read this chapter until you have seen it. It has major spoilers from the movie. Also I still would love to hear your feedback!

Chapter 22

Rey sat up in the darkness of her quarters. She had dreamt of him again. She touched her face and noticed that it was wet with tears. The light from the morning sun was just beginning to peek through the blinds on the window.

It had been a happy dream – he was here with her, laughing and loving her again. His smile, his warm touch, his kisses – it had felt so real. "Oh Ben…," she whispered.

She heard movement from across the room. A little head full of black wavy hair and hazel eyes peeked over the side of her bed. She smiled and lifted the little boy up into her arms.

"Mommy, are you crying about Daddy again?"

"Only happy tears, Ben." Rey kissed him on the forehead as she pulled him close. "I just miss him so."

How long had it been since Ben Solo died in her arms and joined with the Force? Almost seven years? He had brought her back from the void. As she looked into his beautiful eyes, she was overwhelmed with happiness. She kissed him and realized it was the first time they had truly kissed. He was there with her. She felt his love and his joy. And he smiled. He knew. He knew the secret she had been holding dear. He knew he had saved their child too. That was when he collapsed in her arms.

So long ago but still so fresh in her mind. Young Ben looked into her face, studying her.

"Don't you need to get ready for the day? Your Uncle Poe should be coming to visit!" Even in the darkness, she could see the sparkle in his eyes.

"Do you think he will let me fly his x-wing?" Ben said excitedly.

"I don't know…," she teased. "But you can ask… and no mind tricks on Uncle Poe." She tickled him and he squealed in her arms.

Ben hopped down off the bed and twisted his hand. The lights in the room responded. Rey watched him tear through his dresser drawer and grab some clothes. She smiled. There was so much about Young Ben that reminded her of Ben Solo. His smile and his eyes. That scruffy hair of his.

She got out of bed and went to her dresser. She hesitated as she opened one of the top drawers. It was nearly empty except for a black tunic and pants. She pulled the tunic out and ran her hands over it. She pulled it to her face and smelled the fabric. It still smelled like him. On the day she lost him, she had carefully folded Ben's clothes after he had faded into the Force. She couldn't leave it there. She placed it carefully back in the drawer and pulled open another drawer to get her tunic and pants out for the day. Another day of training at the Jedi Temple was at hand.

Ben ran past her and out the door as she was adjusting her belt. She heard a familiar voice call out to Ben.

"Watch it Ben! Uncle Poe isn't here yet!" Finn yelled as he laughed.

"Sorry, Uncle Finn!" Ben yelled behind him as he continued running. "I want to be first in line!"

Finn knocked at Rey's open door. "You can come in…," she said as she greeted him with a hug.

"You okay?" Finn asked concerned.

"Yeah, just dreamed of Ben again." She sighed as she attached her lightsaber to her belt.

Finn looked at her softly. "Look, I didn't know him like you did but I know he is watching over you two. I feel it."

"I know," she smiled sadly. "Well, there is no changing the past." Her face brightened up. "Time to go wait for Poe's arrival." Rey took his hand as they exited her quarters.

The jungles just beyond the Jedi Temple on Yavin IV were dense and full of life. The sounds and bird calls and animals filled the air along with the smells of rich, moist earth and tropical trees and flowers. The docking area was off set from the temple, giving ample space for ships to come and go. Master Luke had cleaned the temple out a long time ago when he trained Leia and a few others when he first began teaching. Those few students had gone with him to help train Ben and a dozen students at another Jedi Temple. But they had perished in the fire on that dreadful day.

Rey choose to begin the same way – small. She took Finn as her student after he confessed that he was Force sensitive. Finn had known that she had died and had been brought back to life. Now Finn helps with the training of new students like Ben, other children, and young adults that have come here to learn the ways of the Force and the balance in-between.

Rose was waiting for them at the docking area with a very excited group of children. She smiled as they approached and hugged Rey. Rose's swollen belly made it hard. Finn took Rose's hand and pulled her close to him. With a deep kiss, he placed his hand Rose's belly. "She's happy and can't wait to meet you," he said gently to her. Rose beamed at Finn.

Happiness like that is sometimes short lived but sometimes it lasts a lifetime. Rey thought.

The sound of an engine made every one look up. Poe's x-wing descended from the sky onto the landing platform. A cheer rang out from the children as Poe's canopy opened and he began climbing out.

"Whoa, whoa! Hello!" Poe yelled to the children over the noise. He glanced at Ben waiting at the front of the small crowd. "Hey, BB-8 you better lock down the control panel and turn off the engines before Ben gets up here. Last time he almost took off," Poe smiled as BB-8 chirped a knowing response. Last time Ben was in the process of lifting off and closing the canopy when Poe had jumped back onto the x-wing and turned off the engine. The x-wing had unceremonially fell hard against the landing pad almost knocking Poe off the x-wing. "You got to admire that kid's drive!" Poe said as he took off his helmet and put in his seat. BB-8 whistled worriedly.

Rey saw Poe look for her and he smiled when he saw her. Same old Poe except for that small streak of grey in the front of his dark wavy hair. It looked good on him. He was now one of the top generals of the New Republic.

Poe climbed down and scuffed the hair on Ben's head. "Hey ya champ!"

"Can I go flying with you later?" Ben pleaded.

"Of course you can!" Poe pointed a finger at Ben to make a point. "Later though." Ben's grin shined like the sun as Poe continued to move through the crowd of children to where Rey, Finn and Rose stood.

Poe hugged Finn and patted him on the back. Finn returned the hardy greeting. "Been too long, man!" Finn said excitedly.

"I see that!" Poe said as he turned to Rose. "When did that happen?" Poe laughed and pulled Rose into a big hug. "I can't wait to see this little one!" Rose laughed as she took Finn's hand. Rey noticed that the children had started climbing onto the x-wing and BB-8 was complaining noisily. Poe, Rose, and Finn looked at the children. "Poor BB-8… I guess we better save him," sighed a smiling Rey.

Rose and Finn gave each other a look at seeing Rey and Poe standing there together quietly. "Hey, Rose, help me get these kids into morning lessons today. Let's leave these two alone."

The sounds of the children moving into the temple faded behind Rey and Poe as they walked to the mediation garden. "It's good to see you Rey. Motherhood and being a Jedi Master looks good on you." Poe smiled warmly at her.

"And responsibility looks good on you," she replied softly. "Is the Senate treating you well?"

"As to be expected. I don't know how Leia ever did it. Bickering, scheming politicians. Don't get me wrong! There are a lot of good people trying to make things better for the New Republic but damn it is so frustrating at times."

Rey laughed softly with him. Poe stopped and ran his fingers through his hair.

Poe face turned serious again. "Rey, the offer still stands. You know how I feel."

Rey glanced down to the grass at her feet. She was lost in thought.

Poe took her hand and pulled her over to a bench for them to sit.

"Poe, you know how I feel.," Rey looked deeply into his eyes. "I care for you deeply, but it is not that simple."

Poe nodded. "I get it. What you and Ben Solo had was more deep and connected than anything I think anyone has ever had in their life. And I know you still love him so much and you want to keep that feeling alive for you and Young Ben." A single tear fell down Rey's cheek.

"Poe, you have to move on. Find someone else," Rey said softly.

"Well," Poe chuckled," come to mention it. There was that one Senator from Naboo that was a looker…"

Rey elbowed him in the side. He laughed.

"Seriously Rey," Poe took both her hands in his. "If I have to be Uncle Poe for the rest of my life, I will. But I will always be there for you." Rey smiled gratefully at him.

"Look what you have built here, Rey!" He swept his hand in an arch around the garden. "You, Finn, and Rose have built a home for these young Jedi. A safe place from them to learn and grow and know their full potential. I am so proud of you and I know Leia, Luke, and Ben Solo would be too."

They heard a rustle at the entrance of the garden. Young Ben walked over to them.

"Mommy," Ben put his tiny hand on Rey's shoulder. Ben whispered in Rey's ear. "Guess what?"

"What, sweetie?" Rey smiled.

"Uncle Poe is right. I see Daddy watching me and you. He waves at me." Ben looked at her. Rey hugged him.

Rey looked at Poe and smiled. Poe was there for her. He, Finn, and Rose had listened as Rey told her story about Ben, about the child she was carrying, about her dream of reopening the temple. They were there when little Ben was born. Poe held her as she cried about the love she had lost. He had been so patient and kind.

Little Ben squirmed in her arms and pulled away from her. "So…. Can I go on that ride now, Uncle Poe?" Ben asked hopefully.

Poe looked at Rey and back to Ben. "Shouldn't you be in your studies now, Buddy?"

Ben whispered to Poe. "I sneaked out!"

Poe and Ben looked at Rey.

Rey looked stern and then laughed. "Okay this time," Poe and Ben got very excited. They hurried from the garden with Rey following quickly behind them.

"Can I drive? I'm a great pilot just like my dad!" Ben said gleefully as Poe helped him into the cockpit.

"That is what scares me Buddy!" Poe laughed. "Alright BB-8 fire up the controls!"

"One day I am going to fly Mommy's ship, The Falcon! Hey Chewie!" Ben yelled as the canopy started closing and Poe was trying to get Ben buckled in.

Chewie eagerly waved and greeted Ben happily.

Ben was smiling so hard he could barely contain himself as Poe lifted the x-wing off the ground.

So was Rey. His father would have loved him so much.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ben Solo appeared, transparent and smiling. Rey walked to the gardens again with him.

"He loves flying so much." Rey smiled at Ben. "He is so much like you in so many ways."

"Flying…It's in his blood you know. But he is so much like you." He smiled sadly at her. "I love you, Rey. I always will. The time we spent together meant more to me than you will ever know. It saved my soul. That time together created our beautiful, happy son. But you need to move forward, Rey. You must."

"I am. But it still hurts. I try to reach out in the universe to find you and you are not there anymore. I used to be able to rely on that." Tears began to fall down her face. "Depend on that. I am just not ready to let that go yet." She wiped the tears from her face.

"One day in the distant future I will join you in the Force. That is what I want," she said firmly. "Until then, I have a lot of students to teach and I need to love our amazing son."

He nodded. "Meanwhile, don't forget the people that love and care about you now." He spoke lovingly. "Promise me that."

Rey nodded as he faded. "I will." A loud sound roared over her and as she looked up, she knew her future was there in that lone ship. And that Ben was flying an x-wing.