A/N: Alright, alright, I know, long time, no write. Like 5+ years I think? Anyways, here's a new fandom for me. I had to. It was hurting my heart too much to let things stand. Not sure if I'm going to leave this as a one-shot or build on it. Let me know what you think I should do with it.

As always, I've only borrowed from the rightful owners.

She wasn't one to cry twice over the same thing. Not since she had lived on Jakku. There was plenty to be thankful for, she told herself, and other people had been invested longer, lost more, and risked everything. She hadn't had much to risk, not in the beginning. The friends that she gained had taught her much and given her reason to hope. Seeing their faces, bright and happy, was enough for now.

As night began to fall, and the fires roared to life, she snuck away into the Falcon. While she didn't think she would ever truly have a home, the Falcon was as close as she got.

She let her hand trail along the paneled walls, reminiscing on her first flight. It had changed everything, set her on a completely different path. Some might say it was chance, or fate, that brought her, BB-8, and Finn together that day, but Rey knew it was something more.

Making her way to the cockpit, she settled in and tucked her feet up. Her arms wrapped around her legs, chin resting on her knees. And only in the solitude, looking out over the impromptu party, did she allow her tears to fall.

Rey wasn't sure what exactly she was crying for, but it was probably for a number of reasons. When she had said goodbye to Master Leia, she hadn't thought it was for the last time.

"Don't be afraid of who you are," came the soft echo. She couldn't be sure if she was remembering, or if Leia was with her through the Force.

"You'll always be with me," she whispered, smudging tears and dirt and old blood across her cheeks. "And I'm not afraid. Not anymore."

A while later, after Rey had dozed and woken a handful of times, she was discovered by a Wookie.

Chewbacca chuffed, appalled to see his friend sleeping in such a state.

"No, I'm alright here, Chewie. It's… quiet, and peaceful."

He expressed his disagreement with a variety of hand gestures and roars.

"I'm really not hurt, Chewie, I promise," she assured him. "I just… it's a lot to process, and it's easier to do that by myself." Chewie crossed his arms and tilted his head as he huffed in defeat.

As he turned to leave, Rey grabbed his arm.

"Thank you," she whispered, tears threatening to spill again. Chewie patted her head and wandered back through the Falcon, no doubt to find sleep.

Rey stretched, joints and muscles protesting from being in the same position for so long. Chewie was right, she didn't look okay. It would be easier for her to get herself cleaned up now than to be asked about it later.

Most of the fires were burning low, their coal glowing softly in the dark. Rey didn't need any light to see, feeling for each person's life force as they slept camped under the stars. It was truly a beautiful night.

She let her mind wander as she easily navigated the base, routes so familiar that she didn't even need the Force to know when to turn. Finding her locker, she pulled out a fresh set of clothes, in light and charcoal grays. The shower water was warm and inviting, relaxing her protesting muscles. While Ben Solo had saved her life, she wasn't fully healed.

Ben, she thought sadly. I wish we would have had more time.

Deciding to leave her hair down to dry, she retreated back to her old quarters. It was small, dark, and a little dusty, but they reminded her of the people she had lost, and more importantly the ones she had gained.

Despite turning in so late, the early morning light beckoned to Rey. The sun had just begun its journey across the sky when she woke, hair in a thousand directions. She yawned, stretching her arms out in front of her (the low ceilings didn't allow for much room above) as she tilted her neck to either side to get rid of the cramp. She contemplated what today would bring as she readied herself. There would be a world of new problems to solve now that Palpatine had finally been defeated and his followers scattered.

Contemplating all of the complexities of the new situation as she walked towards breakfast, she didn't realize there was someone in front of her until she plowed head-first into a tall, solid someone.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't…"

She trailed off as she looked up from her boots, realizing who was in her way.

"Ben," she gasped, one hand making its way to her face. She blinked, hard, but there he stood, blue glow unmistakable.

"It would seem," he began, reaching out a hand as if to touch her face before drawing it back, "that we are still connected as a Dyad in the Force."

"I… I don't… how?" she fumbled, trying to readjust her focus to the words Ben was saying.

"Did you notice a change when I died?"

She had to stop to think about it for a moment. So much had happened that day, played with her feelings, that she wasn't sure at first.

"I felt… I felt when you died," she admitted. "But I'm not sure what else I should have felt."

"For a Dyad to be split, it would feel as though one's mind is fracturing. What we felt when Palpatine took our connection."

Rey searched within, to try to remember if she felt such a thing. Nothing came to mind.

"Somehow, we are still connected."

"I wonder why that is." Rey bit her lip as she pondered the new information.

Ben nodded his head. "Perhaps when you defeated him, it returned the bond. You might find more answers in the Texts you salvaged."

She noticed how he didn't say "killed" or "murdered," and she was grateful. It hadn't been out of maliciousness or hate, but simply something that had to be done. Breakfast now forgotten, Rey turned and rushed back to her room. She hadn't wanted to leave the texts where someone might stumble across them; she had no desire for the Sith or Jedi to rise again, now that peace and balance had just begun to reestablish. Ben watched her from the corner of the tiny, now-cramped room.

"Do you know if there have been any Dyads before?"

"It wasn't something I ever formally learned," Ben said, moving to sit on Rey's bed. It was still a shock to her, seeing and talking with him. "But there had been a prophecy of such a Dyad." His dark eyes sought hers. "Us."

Rey nodded solemnly, moving to set next to him as she sensed he had more to say.

"Palpatine tried to create a Dyad to fulfill the prophecy on his own, but failed. Twice." He looked down at his hands. "Our connection amplifies everything between us, and continually grew stronger, even when you shut me out." Rey pursed her lips, and Ben chuckled. It struck Rey that it was the first time she had heard him laugh. "Not that I blame you, of course. I got over it."

"Wait, you said... "grew" as in past tense," Rey interjected, confused.

"Either our connection is as strong as it will ever get, or something stopped it from getting stronger. It may have been that not all of the life force that Palpatine took from our bond was returned."

It was confusing to Rey, but also made sense. Almost. She'd have to think about it more once the shock wore off.

I miss you, Rey thought suddenly, without meaning to share it with him. He jerked his eyes to hers and stared at her, hard, for several heartbeats.

I know. His eyes softened. I wish I could be there with you, fully.

A sudden thought crossed her mind, and in excitement she spoke aloud, "Palpatine had said our connection was like life itself. Do you think…?"

"That there's a way to harness it? To bring me back?" he completed, knowing what was in her mind. He was already shaking his head. "I don't want that."

"But why not?" Rey didn't like how her voice rose in pitch, making her sound almost childish.

Ben laughed again. She loved that laugh, and wished she could hear it forever. "I knew the choice I was making and the consequences. It wouldn't be right."

"I'm not saying that we wouldn't have to sacrifice anything," she argued. "I'm sure the balance would take our bond away, consume it. But if it brought you back, gave you back to…" She couldn't continue with tears swimming in her eyes.

To me, she finished in her own mind.

Ben reached out and touched her face, feeling as solid as the day she lost him. He tilted her chin up and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Tears spilled down Rey's face as she closed her eyes and immersed herself in his feelings she could feel swirling inside.

"I will always be with you, Rey," he whispered, his fingertips caressing away her tears. She felt when he left, not quite understanding how it happened. She reached out with her mind, searching for him, and found him, almost like the end of a string. Unable to know his thoughts, but able to feel him still there with her at the other end of the string, she was satisfied, for now.

If there was anything Ben should have learned about her, it was that she was stubborn. She wasn't going to let him go easily, if ever.

A soft knock on her door pulled her from her musings, and she looked up as Finn cracked open the door.

"Breakfast?" he asked simply.

Rey smiled at her friend. "Breakfast."

A/N: Leave it here, or continue? You tell me.