The Pivotal Moment
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to their respective owners.
A/N-thank you to everyone for the kind reviews and for reading this story!
Chapter Twenty-Six-Vows
It didn't surprise Ben when he found Rey in the Falcon attempting to fix the comms link with the help of R2D2. There were wires everywhere; the droid beeping instructions to Rey as he helped her discover the source of the problem. A rush of affection washed over him as he heard her utter a faint cuss when she nicked her forefinger with one of the tools she was using. He watched as she ignored the slight injury and carried on intently with her work.
"Hey!" He said, hating to interrupt her intense concentration, but equally desperate to tell her about his crazy proposal at the same time.
"Hi." Rey blessed him a soft smile in return, one that melted his heart. "I'm trying to fix the comm link, but the problem is worse than I thought. We need the communication system to be working properly if- "
Ben cut her off with a kiss. Rey barely had time to react before he pressed his tongue to the seam of her lips and, at her grant of access, delved into her mouth. It was a strong kiss, fiery and passionate. Rey's arms reached up and tangled around his neck. She felt his arms close around her in response as he literally lifted her out of the pilot's seat. In an instant she pulled away and arched up into his broad chest, moaning in the contact of body heat against her own, before she drew back into his lips.
"Marry me?" Ben projected into her mind mid-kiss.
Rey was completely unprepared for that question. This is not what she thought would happen when he suddenly appeared on the Falcon. His lips were warm against hers as he asked her the question again, but this time vocally. She could feel the whispered words against her questing tongue. "Marry me?"
Ben's hands were wrapped around her waist, while hers were still locked around his neck pulling him down slightly. He was so tall. Their position was slightly comical. When they broke apart for air, Rey rested her forehead against his and gathered some much-needed oxygen. R2-an unwitting witness to their passionate display-whirred and beeped, his lights flashing chaotically. Rey could empathise with the droid. Had Ben really asked her to marry him?
"Are you ever going to answer me?" Ben laughed, feeling suddenly nervous. He had been expecting a resounding yes right away. He was on tenterhooks wondering why Rey was taking her time in responding. Had he read everything wrong? He began to panic, his hands spanning her waist trembling slightly.
Rey instantly looked up at him, sensing his sudden distress through their bond. The swirls of emotion on his face made her gasp. He was scared, scared she was going to say no. "Idiot." She answered in his head.
"Is that a good idiot or you are crazy idiot?" Ben responded anxiously.
"It's a yes, you crazy idiot!" Rey actually squealed like an excited little girl as she yelled the words aloud.
Ben laughed again, but this time it was unrestrained with joy. He smouldered as he looked down at Rey, the lust and desire showing openly on his face making her skin burn. However, before she could ponder further, Ben yanked her to him and covered her mouth in a hungry kiss. As their lips crashed together Rey felt like she was walking on air. It was magic the way his lips connected with hers. His mouth was so warm, the caress of his lips and tongue softer than she could ever imagine.
When they pulled apart again, they found R2 trying to sneak out of the cockpit as quietly as possible. They laughed at the droid's perceived embarrassment. "Where do you think you're going, R2?" Ben asked. "You're supposed to be my best man…droid…thing." He looked down at Rey and they both exploded with laughter when R2 rocked back and forth in glee.
"I can't believe that Luke has agreed to marry us. Isn't attachment forbidden for a Jedi?" Rey whispered to Ben as they walked down the Falcon's ramp hand in hand. They were met with unexpected sunshine. It seemed Ahch-to was giving them its own blessing.
"I'm not a Jedi." Ben entwined his fingers with hers.
"In this universe you are. Luke trained you to be one, like he trained the others- "
"I don't think my uncle adheres so tightly to the old rules here. He understands the rigidity of the old Jedi religion was partly responsible for their downfall." Ben confided to her.
A small smile blossomed on Rey's face. "You called Luke your uncle." She teased him.
"Did I?" Ben pretended to be shocked as he swung their joined hands back and forth between them.
"You know you did." Rey laughed as she pushed him away with her hand, only to bring him closer again with the other. "Admit it, you're warming to him."
Ben nodded, his own smile faltering as he drew Rey to his chest. "If Skywalker had just taken the time to listen and understand me, Rey. My whole life would have turned out so differently…" His voice tailed off as he kissed the top of her head. "When this is all over, I want to stay here, Rey. I don't want to go back."
"I know." She whispered, resting her head against his chest. "I want to stay, too."
Luke Skywalker stood between Ben and Rey, smiling at them appraisingly. R2D2, revelling in his role as best droid and witness combined, rocked from side to side with excitement.
"You do know that Leia and Han will expect a more elaborate affair when you get back, don't you?" Luke teased his nephew. "You're going to have to do this all over again. In front of crowds of…"
"You're not going to scare me off." Ben interrupted him, laughing. He turned to look at Rey, whose own eyes were shining with mirth. "Its true, though. Do you think you can cope with marrying me twice?"
"Definitely." Rey confirmed with a fond smile. She lay her hand on his cheek, intending to reach up and kiss him, but Luke put a stop to that.
"Hey, slow down, kids." Luke quipped. "That can come later. At least say your vows first."
Rey blushed scarlet and Ben grinned, thinking how lovely she looked with rosy cheeks. "Sorry." He apologised, not feeling sorry at all.
"Okay then, lets begin." Luke began sombrely. He took their left hands in each of his own and gently lay them over each other. "Ben, would you like to say your vows first?" He prompted.
Ben nodded. He took a deep breath before making eye contact with Rey. She was so beautiful that it took his breath away. The familiar intimacy of their connection surrounded him like a warm blanket, his nerves vanished and he was finally able to voice what was in his heart. "Rey, I love you." He began. "In you I see a chance for the kind of love that they say doesn't exist anymore. The type that spans far longer than one lifetime. Before you, my life was empty. Falling in love with you was like coming home. You make me feel complete. When you smile it's as if my universe begins and ends with you. I could run forever, search forever, but in the end, every path leads back to your heart and soul. You are my guiding light in the darkness. I love you, now, always and forever."
The way that Ben looked at her while he spoke his vows melted Rey's heart. She reached up and traced his bottom lip with the tip of her finger. It pouted slightly and she had to fight the urge to kiss him. She knew Ben sensed what she was feeling because he smiled slightly, his dark eyes softening with so much love that it made her breath hitch in the back of her throat.
"Rey, its your turn." Luke said gently. "Would you like to say your vows to Ben?"
Rey glanced at Luke and smiled. He nodded encouragingly at her. She took a deep breath and focused all her attention on Ben again. "That first day I saw you I knew there was something even then, though I didn't know what." Rey looked up at him shyly and Ben smiled, reaching out with his free hand to caress her cheek. "When I look into your eyes, I see the humanity, the person you really are. I see the love that burns there, the sort that goes on for eternity." She bit her lip nervously, before continuing. "There is something in your spirit that calls to me, like a fire giving me just the right amount of warmth. In you I see the person I love with everything that I am. When I look into your eyes, I see the real you, and I know when you look into mine, you see the real me, the scavenger girl who messes up, but would do anything in her power to keep you safe. I love you, Ben, now, always and forever."
"Well, there's nothing much left for me to say but I now pronounce you husband and wife." Luke said huskily. He wiped his eyes discreetly before giving Ben a mock glare. "Well kiss her then, boy."
Ben laughed at his uncle as he obligingly pulled an emotional Rey into his arms and kissed her. The kiss obliterated any thought. Everything evaporated around them. Drunk on endorphins Ben's only desire was touch her, to move his hands under Rey's confining clothes and feel her perfect softness. But with an audience he had to settle with savouring her lips instead. The quickening of her breath matched his. A kiss like this was a beginning, a promise of much more to come.
A/N-thanks for reading. Please review!
