A/N: I'm just going to leave this AU nonsense. Sith Rey, Prince Ben.

Sithtroopers strolled by on their rounds. They chatted in low voices, their march more leisurely than urgent. The guard presence was merely a formality. No one had breached the walls of the royal palace and none would dare try. The inhabitants were powerful. Frighteningly so. If a threat existed, the dark masters within could demolish an entire army with nothing but a thought. Still, serving as a royal guard was an honor, even if pointless. Perhaps that's why the guards didn't notice an outsider crouched at the base of the palace wall, a light saber at his belt and blaster at his thigh.

As soon as the guards had passed, the man straightened and leaned casually against the wall, crunching an apple as he waited. It wouldn't be long now, he thought, wiping a trickle of sweat from the back of his neck. The heat of the nearby lava fields was stifling. It reminded him of waiting by the oven door while cookies baked in his childhood home. His nannies always made sweets for him. He had been a good boy. What would they say now?

Ben Solo, son of the resistance and general trainee, had no business on Mustafar, even less so at the palace of the Sith royals. Yet he wasn't nervous. Excitement sizzled through him. The Force was practically purring in anticipation. He glanced eagerly up at the palace window. Specifically, the third window to the right. Where was she?

They were something special, something the world hadn't seen in an age. They were a dyad in the Force. Any time he brought it up, the Sith princess rolled her eyes. Rey Palpatine didn't give a womprat's ass about the power they could wield together if they tried. Her passions were solely focused on their connection, and Ben had to admit he didn't hate it.

She made everything better. The stress of leadership. The guilt of a failed mission. The pressure of being Ben Solo. The shame that came with leaving the rebellion for a night with the enemy. Rey was worth it. Hell, he knew if it came down to it, he'd die for her. The thought didn't scare him. After all, Han Solo had spent Ben's entire life warning him that doing stupid, heroic things for love was the Solo way.

And love it was.

A head appeared from the window. Ben's heart tripped out of time. Rey deftly scaled down the side of the palace, her dark tunic helping her blend in to the dark stone that built the palace. There wasn't a hand or foothold anywhere, but Ben was unconcerned. Rey would never fall. It wasn't the first time she'd sneaked out and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

Ben smirked as she jumped the last few feet and landed before him. "You're late."

"He's putting me through extra training." Rey rolled her eyes and adjusted her clothing. "Can't let me forget that I'll be the one to end the Jedi scum, you know," she said devilishly. "Little does dear grandfather know one of them is here now to defile me!" She put her hand to her forehead and mocked a faint.

Ben scooped her into his arms and pressed a kiss against her neck. "One day this rebel is going to take you away from here. I'll turn you."

Rey giggled at his touch, then kissed him deeply. Her hands were smooth on either side of his face and his entire body was alive at her presence. Ben wondered if the sensations would have been the same if the Force didn't flow freely between them. He never wanted to find out otherwise.

"You don't scare me," Rey muttered against his lips between hungry kisses. After a few minutes she reluctantly wriggled free of his grasp and took him by the hand, leading him back to his own ship.

"I thought you were getting a new ship?" Rey said as she strolled up the ramp of the freighter hidden in a tight spot between rock formations. That's all the planet was; either boulders upon boulders or vast lava flats. She was tired of both.

"There's nothing wrong with the Falcon."

Rey strolled past an exposed wire panel. "Oh?"

Ben hastily slid the metal cover back into place. "Just making a few adjustments." Ego bruised, he cleared his throat. "If you're too proper for fucking me on my ship, you could invite me up."

The princess spun, her long intricate braid whipping around fiercely. "Isn't being with me enough of a thrill for you? You want to fuck the emperor's heir right under his nose? The next general of the resistance that's been such a pain in his ass? In his palace?" She cocked her head solemnly. "He'd rip your soul from your body if he so much as caught whiff of you on me."

Casually leaning against the wall, Ben shrugged. Oh, that idea had certainly crossed his mind a few times. As much as it made his stomach turn, it made his blood pump frantically. When he spoke, he was surprised to hear his voice, husky and low. "I don't hate the idea of him knowing I stole you from the dark side in his own palace."

Rey took a step toward him, her eyes honed in like a hunter after her prey. "You're so confident." Another step. "What if I'm only luring you in to my trap?" Just out of his reach, she kicked off her boots and toyed with the hem of her top. When she pulled it off to reveal nothing underneath, she flashed a devilish smile. "Is it working?"

"I don't know, Princess. It looks like I've got you completely at my will."

It was a mistake and Ben knew it. Before he could utter an apology, Rey had thrust out her hand and slammed him against the wall via the Force. He wheezed in surprise, but Rey's lip and fingers curled. "I'm under no one's will."

His feet were hanging a foot from the ground. The Force surged through him and the bond between them roared in his ears. "I didn't mean it that way," he managed through the tight grasp on his neck. "Rey!"

She let him drop back to his feet. "You sounded like him. Why does every man I've ever known only want me to serve at their will on their side? I'm not a weapon. I'm not a plot device for your side of the story." Her bare chest was heaving and her teeth were still gritted. "Fuck you, Solo."

Ben massaged his throat. "I know. I've got half a dozen weapons on me and you're- well." He gestured. "That's all I meant. Forgive me if I've had certain notions run across my mind while on guard duty late at night."

She stormed back to the quarters without a word. Ben dropped his holsters next to her clothes and followed.


Rey's makeup was smudged across his shoulder. He stared at the dark kohl for a moment. As easily as it marked his skin, Ben felt her on his soul. She'd always been there, a cloudiness at first that solidified into the magnetic presence he couldn't put his finger on. All he knew was the longing to capture it. The first time he'd been in the same system as her, it felt like his body was on fire. The Force was electric, pulsing through his limbs and igniting something in him that wouldn't rest until he'd met her.

And now when they met and fell in bed together, there was nothing else that mattered.

Rey was asleep under his arm, perfectly content to have worked out her frustration with her lot in life. It really wasn't fair. She was a prisoner here, being groomed as the next Sith host. Her body was only hers for the time being. Her mind? A limited stay on this planet, destined to be crushed when Sidious nee Plagueis needed to migrate from his wrecked body into her own. The Emperor killed her parents when she was young. He was barely a grandfather to her, instead asking her to call him "Master." Rey was trained in the ways of the Dark side until she was an unwilling weapon of the Sith. Rey had been resigned to her fate until she met him. Now she had hope, but that hope led to dismay at waiting for the right moment to escape for a life of freedom.

Ben pressed a kiss to her forehead. In a few hours she would awake in a panic, frantic to get back to the palace before her presence was noted and the emperor thought to reach out in the Force to find her, and in turn, him.

That he and Rey, granddaughter of the man who orchestrated the downfall of Anakin, should be a dyad? It scared him. He wouldn't be the first Skywalker to fall to the Dark Side for a Palpatine. She held a power over him, to be sure. Something stirred in him; an uncomfortable thought he couldn't shake. Was it love or some Sith charade? He felt the familiar pull stoke his conflicted soul. The Dark was always there, singing softly to him at times happy and low. The Dark side flowed in his blood. Darth Vader had been just like him, once. Steeling himself, Ben gave his head a shake. He wasn't Anakin Skywalker. Rey wasn't Sheev Palpatine. It would be different.

"What are you thinking?" Rey whispered, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing."

Rey nestled into his embrace. "What would your family say if they knew you were here?"

Ben exhaled through his nose and cast a sidelong glance at her. Family was a point of contention Rey rarely brought up, and now felt like as horrible a time as any to discuss their pedigrees. "I assume they know I've been sneaking off to meet someone." He forced a grin. "I'm an adult. It doesn't matter what they think."

"But here. Me." She reached out and touched a tuft of his hair. "Won't you be hanged as a traitor?"

Ben shrugged. "My mother has been hinting that she'd like grandchildren." Rey's eyes, now smeared with a mess of her dark makeup, nearly bugged out of her head and he chuckled. "I'm just kidding. I don't know what they'd say if they knew I came here to see you. Probably not much of anything. My mother was a princess. My father was a smuggler. They'd be happy to know someone can handle me." He stroked her hair. Wisps had fallen free of her braid. Even undone and wild looking, she was lovely. "It doesn't matter what anyone said," he whispered. "I couldn't exist without you."

Rey rolled over and pulled his cloak around her. She slid out of bed and wandered to a viewport. Her breath fogged the glass. "One of these times I'm afraid I won't go back." She put her hand up to the glass for a moment before wiping the mist away. "I could leave now. No one's stopping me."

A shudder went through the bond. The weight of the moment slammed down on Ben. He'd begged her for months to take his hand and embrace the Light that shone in her. Usually she rolled his eyes and pulled him into a kiss or back into bed. This was the first time she so much as mentioned his offer. Not just leaving for the night; leaving for good. She was really considering it. Leaving Mustafar. Leaving the Emperor. Leaving the Sith.

"Rey?" he whispered hopefully. "We can. We can leave."

After a moment, her voice came, her words terse. "It would be better for me to stay." She finally turned to look at him. Her face was pained. "He would tear the galaxy apart to find me. It's better this way. I don't need to put anyone else at risk." She drew the cloak around her tighter. "When it's my time to sit on the throne, promise you'll destroy me. I'd rather be dead than have him living in my body."

"No." Ben took the few steps to reach her. His heart was pounding so hard he wondered if there was something wrong with it. "You get to decide your life, not him," he said firmly. "Right now. Tonight."

Rey glanced through the glass anxiously. Beyond the rocks hiding the Falcon was the palace and everything she'd ever known. But something in her had shifted. She was afraid. "What if he's just been allowing us to meet so he can use our connection to hurt you?" Rey physically pushed him away. "You should go home, Ben."

This might be the only opportunity to bring her to the light, and it was slipping through his fingers. It wasn't how he expected this moment: Rey wrapped in his cloak and him standing there stark naked. It didn't matter. Ben offered his hand. "Come with me. We'll leave right now. I'll give you a new life."

Rey sucked in a breath. "I can't."

Ben held his. "Please."

She looked at his outstretched fingers, then to his face. Her choice was made.


Rebels casually waved to Ben as he strolled through the resistance camp. Rey followed closely behind him. She stared in wonder at the new faces and the secondhand equipment and ships. Nothing was uniform, even the uniforms. She couldn't believe this was the little resistance that had been a thorn in the First Order's side for so long. There wasn't a single tent that hadn't been patched in several places. How did they operate like this?

"Ben, hey!" An older man spotted them and was making his way past the rebels to get to them. Rey didn't take him for a threat, but took half a step behind Ben anyway. Let your guard down, she thought. This is Ben's home.

Ben turned to face her so abruptly she ran into him. "Okay, just follow my lead," he hissed quickly. He forced a smile and turned back to the gray haired man in the leather jacket. "Hey, Dad. There's someone for you to meet. New recruit."

Resistance General Han Solo scanned Rey briefly, muttered a greeting, and turned back to Ben. He opened his mouth but snapped it shut. His eyes widened. Ah, Rey thought. He does recognize me.

"Hey, no, no, no," Han waved his hands. "I've seen this girl. This is the girl from Yavin you disappeared with after the battle."

Ben pulled Rey against his side. The weight of his arm resting on her waist was reassuring. If this was a battle with the old man, it would be fine. Making a good impression? Nerve-wracking.

Han stared between them, absolutely incredulous. "You brought home a Sith girl? Your mother's going to kill you, and then she'll kill me, because somehow she'll think this is my fault." He looked to Rey. "And then she'll give you a serious talking to."

Ben cleared his throat. "This is my new recruit, Rey. Rey, this is Han Solo." He gestured between them and pretended this was perfectly normal. He offered a warm smile to Rey, and shrugged to Han.

"Charmed," Rey said politely as the silence lingered on. "General of the Resistance Han Solo? I've heard stories."

"Hmm. I'm sure you have." The general looked her over, his brows drawn. "Rey who?"

"Unimportant," Ben answered quickly. "Where's Mom?"

Han didn't tear his gaze from Rey. "In the mess hall. Hey, you sure it's okay to have her here?" He grabbed Ben's sleeve and searched Ben's eyes. "Are you okay?" He snapped his fingers an inch from Ben's nose. "This isn't some mind trick, is it?"

Ben waved him off. "It's fine. I'm fine. We're all fine here."

"Ben-"

"Gonna go see Mom. See you later, Pop!" Ben took Rey's hand and pulled her deeper into camp.

Rey glanced over her shoulder. Han Solo was still watching them, shaking his head. "This is off to an excellent start," she deadpanned.

"We'll need to get you new clothes," Ben muttered. Han had been wearing clothes similar to his; simple pants with a loose shirt and a vest. Most of the rebels were wearing some sort of variation. Meanwhile, Rey was still parading about in her black tunic and stylized Sith accessories. Everyone was beginning to stare. There really was no shrugging her off as anything but a dark princess.

"They hate me already," she moaned. "I told you this would happen."

"Well," Ben shrugged, "it's a good thing I'm in charge." The words came out in a sharp tone, and he checked it quickly. "You're with me. With us." He paused and took her hands in his. "It's going to be okay. I promise."

"I still don't trust that someone isn't going to shoot me in the back." Rey scanned the faces pointed her way. Young, hopeful, suspicious of her. Exactly what she expected of Ben's rebels.

A weathered voice called across the camp. "So this is the girl my son has been running off to see every time he has a free second." General Leia Organa raised an eyebrow as she made her way to them. Rebels moved out of her way. "Oh. You're your father's son, all right." She looked Rey up and down. "So Ben dragged home a Palpatine."

Ben visibly cringed and gestured for her to keep her voice down. "Not that it matters. But yes." His grip around her waist tightened, as if he was afraid the general would pull her away. He turned to Rey, his eyes honest. "I had no idea they knew."

"I wasn't born yesterday, Ben," Leia scoffed. "It's nice to finally meet you, Princess."

Rey chuckled in relief. Where Ben's anxiety was sky high, Rey had never felt more at ease among people. "It's just Rey."

"Hmm." Leia circled the couple. "Thank the stars you look nothing like him, Just Rey. I assume your grandfather doesn't know you're here."

Was that the slightest force push, vetting her out? Rey smiled. "You may interrogate me, if you like. My mind is yours to peruse."

Ben's face paled and he erupted in disagreements before Leia could reply. "No. Nope, no. We're not going to do that. If anyone was going to do that, it'd be me, and I've seen what I need to see." He forced a laugh. "She's good. She's great. Not here to burn down the rebellion, doesn't have me under a mind trick."

Rey squinted. Was Ben sweating? She giggled. There was plenty of very explicit material between them that she imagined Ben would rather die than have Leia see.

Rolling her eyes and shooing him away, Leia linked her arm through Rey's. "Let me show you around camp."


After swearing up and down that it would be just peachy for Rey to join him at camp, Ben felt more on edge than ever. His mother had commandeered Rey and stars knew what they were talking about. Rey had worried about being rejected, even shot on sight. Instead, Leia whisked her away like the daughter she never had, chatting merrily arm in arm. What embarrassing tales would Leia tell Rey? Ben chewed at his lip. Yes, this had been an utterly awful plan.

A cup of much needed coffee in his hand after his sleepless night with Rey on Mustafar, Ben leaned against a console and sighed. She was here. Once Leia ripped off the bandage and Rey knew every mortifying detail about his childhood, things would be fine.

Or not. Han stormed over and shook a finger in Ben's face. "You lied to me. You can't just bring a Sith girl home, can you? No, you had to take it way too far, as usual. You brought home the Sith princess? Do you know how much trouble she's going to bring us?"

"Remember you used to make fun of me and call me a prince?" Ben shrugged. "Who better suited for me than a princess?" He chuckled, but Han frowned.

"You've gone too far, kid."

"Oh, I imagine you'd like me to hand deliver her back to Palpatine?" Ben snorted. "Hello, Emperor, I hope I haven't done too much damage to your precious vessel. Bad news. This relationship is going to have to end once you're living in her body."

Han's eyebrow shot into his hair. "He's going to kill you, Ben! Kriff! The one man in the galaxy who has the power to put you on your ass and you…. you… defile his granddaughter?" Han held the bridge of his nose and drew a deep, feverish breath. "This is punishment. You are punishment. You know what? I deserve this. I do. I thought Leia's father being Darth Vader was one thing, but of course now there's a Palpatine hanging around. Skywalkers," he snarled. "You're genetically destined to be a pain in my ass."

"Just think. Your future grandchildren will be a mix of all of it."

Han looked like he was going to faint.

Ben laughed maniacally. He was exhausted, anxious, and nearing delirium. That's what growing up during a war did, he supposed. So many missions, nights with Rey, cups of coffee after midnight poker games with Poe and Connix. Endless chats with Han, strategic lessons from Leia, Force training with Luke. Somehow it wasn't too much knowing it all pointed him toward Rey. Now that she was here, safe with him, it felt like he could breathe again. He did it. By the stars, he'd done it. He saved Rey from the clutches of the dark side. Tears squeezed out of his eyes as Ben continued to giggle in absolute relief.

"Luke!" Han called brusquely across camp. "Come tell your pain in the ass nephew that he's being a dumbass."


Conversation with Leia was easy. The older woman never once treated Rey like the enemy, and she appreciated that. Rey listened to her tales about the rebellion and her own family; Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca. She listened, captivated. What it must be like to have a family! Rey's only cherished stories involved Ben.

"Ignore this one," Leia muttered as a handsome young pilot bounded over and handed Leia a report. "Here you go, General." His gaze flickered to Rey and he flashed a dazzling smile. "New recruit? Funny. I have an opening on my squad. I'd love to have her. You're a pilot, aren't you? You'd look good in my cockpit."

"Cool it," Leia snapped. "This is Rey. She'll be joining us."

"Commander Poe Dameron." The pilot offered his hand and Rey shook it. He nodded to the primitive silver bracelet jingling on her hand. "You're – wow. You're not from around here, are you?" He grinned. "Where're you from? What's your story? Tell me everything. Say, let me get you a drink." Poe winked at Leia. "Thanks, General. I'll take good care of this one."

A familiar voice from behind them slowed him down. "I see you've met Rey." Ben appeared again. He and Leia exchanged a glance that Rey couldn't quite read.

"Leia's new recruit. She's joining my squad." Poe nodded proudly and put his hand on Rey's back. Rey bristled but reminded herself he was harmless. She was among friends. Clearly he didn't even know who she was or where she'd come from. The glint in Ben's eye said that would be changing, though.

Ben winked at her, then shrugged to Poe. "I figured she'd be with me, but if you need another recruit, I'm sure Rey would be happy to join you. I didn't take you for someone so willing to work with a Sith. Remember that princess I said I was going to convince to join me? This is her."

Poe jumped away from Rey as if she were on fire. "A Sith prin- Palpatine? Ben! Holy shit." Poe's face went white. He regarded Rey with his hand on his blaster. She noticed, but didn't balk as he continued to stutter. "Wow. Okay. A Palpatine. In camp." He cast daggers at Ben, then cleared his throat. "That sounds like an excellent idea. Great. Super fantastic."

The introduction to camp wasn't going to be easy, but Rey didn't mind. She'd do this a million times. As long as Ben kept looking at her with that Solo charm and that glint in his eye that assured her everything would work out, she knew she was exactly where she needed to be.