tt's the end of the road as we know it!

Last entry, ya'll! Tell me what you think!

Chapter 18

Rose set her headset down with a bang! She had taken over the duties of the Shot-Caller and had been listening to one recorded message when she heard it. It was Rey's voice, a sharp whistle of a sound that came from inside her ears out, striking at her heart first.

Rose, get out of the tower!

She whirled around to the big open window, seeing them on the horizon. Six beautifully refurbished X-Wings screaming forward at full steam. Rose tore around the desk, nearly slipping on a sheaf of paper.

'Get out!' She screamed at the girls. 'They're inbound! Tower's target number one! Get out! Get out now!'

The girls didn't hesitate. With yelps of surprise, they threw down their headsets and followed Rose out of the door and hitching their skirts above their knees to run down the steps as quickly as possible. 'Hurry!' Rose screamed, hearing the incoming wails draw nearer and nearer with each step.

She burst open the door, stumbling on a rock but scrambling forward digging with her nails until she stood upright and ran forward, the villagers running to and fro securing their goods and immediate perishables.

BOOM!

Rose hit the ground as a sonic wave shoved her back. She clamped her hands to her ears, her body remembering this position all too well! Rubble pattered her backside, rocks falling around her. She shot a look back, and saw a pillar of fire where she had been seated placidly not five minutes before.

SWSWSW

Poe heard Ben shouting the same time his war ears heard their screams. He knew what to do, having followed BB-8's proxy messages from the Golden Couple. He bolted around the restaurant area, shouting at his waitresses (those who had returned to their shifts, that was), shouted at the patrons to run, then flicked the shutter window handles to encase the glass in two plywood shields to keep anyone seeking shelter safe.

Boom!

He bolted to the secondary exit, seeing the lighthouse erupt into a ball of flame.

'Rose!' He shouted.

'Do you have the droid?'

Poe flinched around, seeing Ben skid into the restaurant, his eyes wide. He was dressed for once, even had his lightsabre.

'No!' Poe told him. 'He was with you last I saw!'

'Find him!' Ben commanded. 'Widow has a telecom transceiver in her basement, maybe you can get a message to them!'

'On it!'

Poe bolted out the door, head-turning on a swivel for the small ball droid.

'Beebee Ate! Where are you buddy?!'

SWSWSW

'Rose!' Finn screamed, watching the lighthouse erupt into flame. She was alive! He could feel it, she had made it out! But they were all far from safe.

The villagers darted about, screaming at the sight of the X-Wings. The Republic! Half of these people were wanted by the Republic and the other half by people working for it, either directly or guilt by association. Finn darted forward shaking his head, BB-8 on his heels. No wonder their spy missions were a bust!

The X-Wings soared overhead, their sonic booms knocking him back off his feet. BB-8 zinged and rolled close to Finn, asking if he was alright.

'Those are our ships!' Finn gasped, ears ringing. 'Our friends are shooting at us!'

Can we call them? BB-8 whistled. Tell them to stop firing?

'We need a transceiver!' Finn told him, jumping to his feet. 'We need a ship or a single unit!'

'Finn!'

He looked up, seeing Poe bolt towards them. He had a gleam in his eye, a concerned face to be sure, but he was glad! He was back in war mode, and he knew what to do. His body still remembered it's action responses, and his first one was to find and establish communication with those in command.

'Poe,' Finn shouted, 'Where's Rose?'

'Haven't seen her!' He called, skidding to a halt and almost falling to his bottom. 'Ben says there's a transceiver at the Widow's HQ, maybe BB-8 and I can get a message out.'

'Finn!' A voice shrieked.

Finn whirled around, seeing Rose rush towards him. Her leg had been cut, a large red gash blooming on her skirt. She moved as though she hadn't noticed, and by the look on her face, she truly hadn't.

'Rose!' He shouted, ignoring Poe and bolting towards her.

Finn bolted towards her even as the X-Wing jets banked left over the ocean to come back around. She threw her arms around him the moment she saw him, and he around her. The moment her warmth pressed against his chest, their world was set right. He held her as tightly as possible, her fear washing over him and reminding him of the terror around them. From the corner of his eye, he saw Poe dash off, BB-8 on his heels.

'Come on!' He called, taking her hand and rushing them back to their hut. Ben had said that the Hivers would seek to burn the huts if they came near, but that theirs would be far enough from the main action and the Girls' Dorm to be of any interest. With the Republic they would go after the bigger buildings, assuming they didn't land Droppers. If they sent Droppers, then any range of Landing Soldiers could overrun the village and there would be a bloodbath. The pirates would not be willing to let Republic mercenaries take them alive, and if he knew Droppers, they would succeed or die trying.

Rose and Finn moved their bed aside, revealing a hole they had dug in case the roof collapsed and dropped down into it, resting on a floor dried with grass straw with the wind from a secondary crawl escape fluttering against their mat. Rose held Finn, her eyes wide as she looked up at the ceiling, hearing ships she probably worked on spit out bombs at the once peaceful Cove. Finn pressed a rag to her leg, his heart hammering in his chest.

We're going to make it! He thought, Just like in the war, we're going to make it!

SWSWSW

Rey watched, unable to breathe as the lighthouse burned. She could feel the Force warning her, reminding her of the Resistance's practices after the war. The first wave brought the X-Wings. With the second wave, came the Droppers.

'BEN!'

Her voice turned half the village, including her husband. She could do nothing but breathe, her shoulders emphasizing her movement. He turned from her, searching the sky. He took a step back when he saw the heavy transport ship hover near the plaza, closest to the cliff where Rey watched. He turned back to her, his face filled with fear. Her husband who showed little to no emotion, except for her.

Rey shook her head, her jaw opening and closing, her feelings shooting out to him. What was she to do?! She could have killed a Hiver. She could have killed a hundred Hivers! But the Republic? The people she had fought beside during the war, the people she had helped to train! She gritted her teeth, her blinding fury shooting one last curse towards Titan Mi-Lor.

He had arranged it! He had researched Ben Solo and Rey Skywalker the moment he heard their names and sent word to someone, probably the Shot-Caller, to contact the Republic the moment something happened to him. The stealing of Ben's book was just confirmation, either that he had the full story when it was reported or that Rey knew who Ben was, or both.

Rey skipped down the path, her eyes on the Dropper transport. She didn't want to turn her back, as though the moment she did, Ben would disappear… She shook her head, and turned to dash off into a full sprint down the pathway. He was not going to disappear! He was too big and too fight-prone to let himself leave a wife and potential baby behind. And he loved Rey! She knew he loved her so much that he wouldn't let her go so easily as the last time.

The X-Wings flew back around, dropping bombs onto the Captain's Canteen and the Harbour Master's ship. The blasts made Rey's ears ring, but she didn't stop running. She couldn't stop! She brushed by people screaming and running for dear life, men and women arming themselves with a number of blasters and rifles, shooting up at the X-Wings. Their shots would not do any good, but it was the attempt that counted.

She could feel him calling to her, confidence overpowering his fear. She saw his figure move towards her, his shoulders hunched and his face narrow. He wasn't fazed by the chaos, nor was frightened by the Droppers who leaped over the side of their ship and landed into the village. He had her; he could conquer the world if only she was by his side. His grey lightsabre ignited, the hum purring against her heart. She ignited hers and lifted it over her head the same time he lifted his.

Ben cut down the man behind her, and she stabbed the first Dropper attempting to stun him. They stood upright, back-to-back, lightsabres purring around them. Each twitched their chin toward their shoulder, their dyad in the Force an iron chain at couldn't be broken.

'Master Skywalker!'

Rey turned, seeing a burly armoured Dropper lower a rifle that must have been half her weight. Rey knew her! Moira Dune, one of the fiercest non-Force sensitive soldiers Rey had ever known. They had gotten along well during the Restoration, with Moira coming to Rey countless times with questions about infiltrating new places because of her sensitivity to the Force. Now, Moira looked at her through her mask and lifted her hand so that the blast shield faded to clear, showing Rey forest green eyes.

'Didn't think I'd see you here!'

Rey inhaled, and said nothing. She had taught Moira this tactic, this talking down of a dangerous captive. Only Rey wasn't sure who was the target in this scenario.

Moira gestured to Ben with her chin. 'Thought he was dead,' She said.

'He was,' Rey answered.

'You bring him back, Master Skywalker?'

'He came back for me.'

'You believe that?' Her eyes travelled to Rey's lightsabre and fighting stance.

'We're married,' Rey told her. 'We got married a month ago. Which is when I assume reconnaissance roughly began?'

'Yep,' Moira answered. 'Got word from a good one that Kylo Ren was back in town. Rumours have been around since you left that he never really died. You just hid him. That true?'

'No,' Rey told her, sending the Force to her so that she could feel Rey's meaning. 'I only discovered Ben was alive the day we went missing. He's been proving himself to be a changed man each day since then.'

Ben's voice in the Force called to her as the X-Wings flew off once more, leaving a disturbing peace in their wake. They've surrounded us, sweetheart.

Moira looked from Rey to Ben's back, her finger sliding to the trigger as he turned towards Moira.

'If he can prove it to you, he can prove it in court.'

Rey's upper lip curled over her teeth and she dipped even more into a fighting stance, lifting her lightsabre.

'That's a lie and you know it! Republic judge and jury will take one look at him and condemn him!'

Moira lifted her blaster rifle higher in response, her eyes hardening.

'I've seen killers go free! War criminals that should've been lined up on a wall and shot! They've walked-'

'And vigilantes took care of the job!' Rey screamed. 'I saw them, too! I cleaned up their mess! Members of the Resistance thinking they could do a better job than the courts! What are they going to do if Kylo Ren walks? How many in your own unit would let him live as a free man?'

'I'll take my chances, Master Skywalker!'

Rey swallowed, and narrowed her eyes at her.

'Do you really want to do that, Moira?'

Moira blinked, fear flooding her senses as she tried to avoid looking at Rey's lightsabre. She was going to die. Moira knew it, and so did the other Droppers. Against the two Jedi, the Droppers didn't have a chance.

'How about a trade?' Ben's voice called.

'Darling,' Rey hissed over her shoulder. What was he thinking?

'What've you got to trade, Ren?' Moira shouted.

'Emissary Tico,' He answered. He lifted his lightsabre, drawing Moira's eyes, and deactivated it, attaching it slowly to his belt.

Moira lifted her head, and gestured with her fingers to someone on Rey's left.

'Emissary's dead!'

'No,' Ben told her. 'She's alive. Her, Finn, and General Dameron. They're all alive. Rey saw them safely off the ship, I made sure they found quality of life until we could get off-world back to Naboo. Took longer than we would've liked, but they're here.'

Moira lifted her head even more, a hand leaving her blaster to touch her helmet. She looked to Ben and Rey, and dropped her hand.

'Show me the body, and we can all leave one big happy family.'

'You already heard General Dameron, what more do you want?'

'Call me a sucker for details, then.' Moira sneered. 'Emissaries go missing around here until they sent a Jedi. I want to see that change.' She looked around, seeing the Blacksmith's daughter's face peer around the corner near her father's workshop. 'You! Come out here!'

The girl flinched forward, her chin bobbing with tears too frightened to leave her eyes.

'Do you know who we're talking about? The other woman who came with this one here?' She gestured to Rey with her chin rather than her blaster, another thing Rey had taught her.

The Blacksmith's daughter nodded.

'Where is she?'

The Blacksmith's daughter shrugged, her tears coming forward at last.

'I don't know,' She blubbered. 'I knew she worked at the Lighthouse, but I don't know what happened or where anyone went before it blew up.'

'She's in her house,' Ben told her. 'The one she shares with the Spy, your father's apprentice. Please go bring her.'

He must have used the Force, because Rey never knew that girl to be so obedient, especially in distress.

Silence ensued between the Droppers and the Jedi, Rey not lowering her lightsabre. Ben touched her back, the feeling at once welcome and distracting.

'No,' Rey moaned to him, shaking her head.

'Sweetheart,' He breathed.

Ice flowed into her core as she felt his urge for her to stand down for a moment. She sighed, and deactivated her lightsabre. She whirled around and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him with the same desperate passion as when she straddled him in their bed. She was not going to let them take him! They were one! They would have to take her, too! They would have to kill the Jedi if they were to kill Ben Solo formerly known as Kylo Ren. She would fight! She would fight every single one of them to death until her beloved was safe. She was not going to lose him! Not again…

His hands tightened around her waist and he wrenched her face away from his, pressing her temple into the hollow of his throat. That feeling of smallness returned to her, small and protected like a pair of knit gloves kept in a pocket for safekeeping. His fingers dug into her sides, a spot of wetness falling onto her ear. He shook, his body vibrated with the same blinding rage as when he learned that she had been assaulted. He loved her! He loved her so much that he crossed the very boundary of the living and the dead to be with her! He was not going to leave her! Not by them or by anyone else! Not again…

Footsteps echoed in their ears, the Force calling to them, announcing Poe's arrival. The sound of barking commands echoed around them, the Droppers stopping an incoming person.

'Bring him forward!' Moira commanded.

Rey turned as best she could in Ben's arms, seeing Poe stagger forward. Poe had recovered from Ben's attack, without a single trace of yellowing around his jaw. Although, he had respected the distance to a fault. The moment he saw Moira, he blossomed into the biggest relief smile Rey had seen in years.

'Moira Dune!'

Instantly, Moira turned toward him, her eyes alighting.

'How's it going, General?!'

'Not as bad as Crait, Mo! So pretty darn good!'

She let out a quick chuckle. Ben's grip on Rey didn't relinquish once.

'Heard you got grounded! How'd that happen?'

Poe looked at Ben and Rey, feelings flaring. One word. One wrong word and Moira could have them executed or separated.

'Pirates attacked our ship,' Poe told her. 'Rey and Ren got us safely on land and sustained us until now.'

'Why not call out? Why'd you take five months for us to hear from you?'

Poe shrugged. 'Everything's old school hard copy around here! Pirates trade in paper, not comms. Word of mouth not transceivers. The one radio we got was a hard-fought spoil that included taking out the local guy in charge. Even at that, I needed my droid to fix the thing first.'

'And Ren's been watching out for you?'

Again, silence ripped through the village. Rey could feel Finn's and Rose's presence as they neared.

'Yeah. Had to figure out a few things ourselves, but he pointed us in the right direction.'

'You'd vouch for him in court?'

'You taking him to court?' Poe asked, the humour in his face draining as BB-8 rolled up behind him. 'Mo, he'll never see the light of day again.'

'That's for the courts to decide! Orders are to bring him in for war crimes, terrorism, murder, the whole line up.'

Poe shot out a hand to Ben and Rey as he released her, and they ignited their lightsabres. Moira pointed her big gun to them, the other Droppers barking orders for him to stand down. The two gold beams with the grey shot fear into the Droppers, the soldiers switching their weapons from stun to kill. Whatever it took, however long they needed to do it, Rey and Ben Solo would fight and they would win because losing meant separation.

'Stop!' Rose's voice shrieked. 'Stop! Please stop!'

'Emissary's in sight!' A Dropper shouted.

'State your name!' Moira shouted, turning to see Rose limp forward, arm slung over Finn's neck. She was bleeding from her leg, crimson droplets following the sand after her.

'Rose Tico!' Rose panted, 'Emissary for the Republic, Haysian Minor!'

'Sergeant Moira Dune, 4th Battalion Dropper, Army of the Republic, at your service, ma'am!' Moira called, not lowering her weapon.

'Please!' Rose cried, sliding her arm off of Finn. 'Please, lower your weapons! They won't attack. They've… been my protectors!'

'Ren's got a price on his head, ma'am!' Moira called, not flinching. 'Orders are to bring him in!'

Rose panted, her lips dry and crackling. If she stayed much longer, she would be in worse shape than she already was. She stumbled forward, and lifted her chin.

'By order, 67, of the New Republic, the Jedi are recognized by the Senate to serve as peacekeepers and protectors of stewards of the New Republic. Under codes 191 and 192, emissaries to hostile territories may call upon the Jedi or other entities for protection to help us fulfil our mission.' Rose inhaled a deep breath, sending Finn to her hips to steady her. 'Jedi Master Rey Solo, needed help. Ben Solo, offered himself to keep us safe until such time,' She reached out a hand and grabbed Finn, her eyes swirling in her head, 'That I, fulfilled, my duty. Or returned to… the Republic.'

Moira lowered her rifle, eyes shooting to Poe.

He nodded, 'It's true. I oversaw his swearing-in, myself.'

'He's a Jedi?' Moira asked, looking at Rey.

Rey lifted her head, realizing what Poe had just done. By law, Rey was untouchable! She was a Jedi Master, therefore not prosecutable by the Army or the Senate unless by special decree, and she could take into her tutelage anyone whom she deemed worthy of it.

'If he wasn't,' Rey told Moira, her hope rising in her throat, 'I wouldn't have permitted my apprentice a lightsabre.'

Ben almost looked at her at the term apprentice! Ever the master in the Force, he said nothing, and did less.

Moira lifted her gun to rest on her shoulder, barrel away from them.

'We cannot arrest members of the Jedi Order, but we can ask them to accompany us to the senate. Emissary Tico, let's get you patched up. Wings up in ten!'

Finn moved forward with Rose, the Droppers at once turning on their heels to create a circle around Moira, Rose, and Finn. As one, the circle moved, Poe and BB-8 following, the eyes of the soldiers twitching left and right in case of any of the pirates came to attack them.

Rey hesitated watching them go. She turned to her husband, the breath catching in her throat. Ben looked down at her, his brows rising. They couldn't speak! Such lightness, such hope flowed between them. By law, they didn't have to go with them. They could stay here, in their little village in their little home. Rey deactivated her lightsabre… and clamped a hand to her mouth. Her stomach lurched, the need to vomit overwhelming. No! She thought fiercely. No!

Ben grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to lean over a wooden barrel. The metal ring ramming into her stomach combining with the musky smell of salt and old urine did the trick! Ben held up her ponytail and she emptied her stomach of its contents, her throat burning as she coughed up everything but…

She wiped her hand with the back of her throat, thinking as the fire scorched everything from the waist up. Ben dropped her hair, and grabbed her stomach with the same palm. The Force pulsed around them, erasing the world save for the three of them…

Their eyes met at the same time. Two sets of wide, frightened-into-excitement eyes.

Ben nodded, the choice no longer hers.

'Your book,' She cried.

He reached into his back pocket, and withdrew it, showing it to her before putting it back.

'Your jewellery,'

He lifted a finger to her chest, touching the three misshapen pearl necklace that had become her favourite. It wasn't her copper crown, nor the dozen others that he had made just for her. But it was all that they needed!

Rey looked up at him, and nodded.

The Blacksmith emerged from a hiding place, blaster rifle poised. He had a cut down his face, but he ignored it, looking to Ben awaiting orders. Ben whirled around and tossed him his ring of keys.

'All yours, JS-8657,' Ben told him.

The Blacksmith straightened, eyes wide. Then he smirked, clicked his heels together, and crossed his chest with the keys jingling.

'Long live the Supreme Leader.' A gleam shimmered in his eye that suggested to Ben and Rey that he had known for some time.

'First Order's gone,' Ben told him.

'Beaties will always stand true, sir!'

Ben smiled at him, showing him his teeth. 'Take care, my friend.'

The Blacksmith smiled back, looking away for a moment to absorb his new title before looking back at him. 'Aye, you too, sir!'

Rey took Ben's hand, taking him from the moment. Moira was not a patient woman. He swallowed, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. Together, they dashed through the streets of the Cove, running through Merchant's Village past the laundry where Edran's bright blue eyes could be seen popping around the corner, his mother's voice hissing at him to come back inside. They rushed past a fallen house where one of the couples who had gotten married with them lived with her parents, and passed a Glitterati dressmaker whose windows had been broken and her front dresses shredded.

The engines of the heavy transport ignited, Moira rushing Poe inside. She turned, and waved them in, both running up the ramp and skidding to a halt beside where Rose had been lain, Finn kneeling next to her. Moira ran onboard, punching the close doors button and sending them into a cloud of steam as they shut.

'Take a seat!' She shouted over the din of the engines whirring. 'We're star bound in five, four, three, two!' She grabbed a ballast as they rocked, almost falling onto each other.

Ben pulled Rey to a canvas seat, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he flicked his hair out of his eyes. Rey tried not to hold her breath, but she couldn't manage it. Soon, they would be pushing through the atmosphere, then into hyperspace. Then, they would be in the clutches of the Republic where they would be in for the fight of their lives.

Ben rubbed her arm with his hand, drawing her attention. She was frightened! She was so frightened for him. He lowered his chin, and sent warmth and comfort to her through the Force. He released her hand and cupped her face, then swooped down and kissed her.

What was going to happen didn't matter. They would face it as they would face every other threat to their happiness: together. As one.

SWSWSW

Naboo

Six Months Later

Rey dressed in a gown of almost pure grey silk, streaks of shimmering gold lining the hem like a painter's brush touched at the hem and dragged upwards until it faded, Her hair drawn above her head in an elegant ponytail secured by a gold comb. In the matching sleeveless cloak, she kept her lightsabre so as to keep a tight holster off her stomach. She was getting bigger, and soon would look like a child's kickball attached to a stick, but that didn't matter. Her baby had begun kicking and she couldn't stop smiling!

She turned to look beside her, and had to resist the urge to bite her lip at the sight of Ben emerging in his brand new robes. He wore a grey long sleeve tunic and matching trousers under a panelled mustard yellow vest that hung down to his knees. To top it off, he wore a long grey cloak that fell to the floor, the sleeves cut off at the elbow that hung down to his knees, and grey boots. Rey had similar robes, only her vest flared down into a longer dress, but she couldn't wear that tonight. Tonight, he was the centre of attention.

'Ready?' He breathed, looking her over and smiling.

'Yes,' She sighed.

He moved towards her, and wrapped his arms around her, her bulge coming forward in the tightened gown. He cast it a warm smile and smoothed it over with his fingertips.

'Master Solo, it's not forever.'

'No,' Rey told him, wrapping her arms around his neck. 'Just a year. But if you need anything-'

'I'll ask,' He finished, leaning forward and pressing his forehead into hers. 'Besides, it's not like you're going off-world.'

'Just across the river,' She sighed. 'Make sure you come home every night.'

'Every night,' He promised, 'So that I can have you in my arms until morning.'

She kissed him, the clicking sound of their lips pulsing together filling the dim foyer. The lights had been lowered for the ceremony, but the illuminated holopaintings shone brightly on the walls, the images of the Jedi Who Came Before standing tall with their lightsabres, and captured in mid-battle. Leia Organa Solo and Luke Skywalker were side by side, looking at each other in opposing holopaintings. To Rey, some days Luke looked placidly at his sister, like they were sharing a secret joke. Other days, he looked somewhat befuddled as Leia smirked with Ben's same smirk. Rey wanted a holopainting of Han Solo, but didn't know where to put it. She wanted their students to be inspired by the faces of those who came before, and didn't know how her father-in-law would come into play. Perhaps he could just hang out in their home across the river, overlooking the Jedi Academy as she would in the coming days.

'Come on,' She smiled, moving her hands down to his chest. 'Let's get this over with.'

'The sooner you're off your feet, the better,' Ben told her, shooting her a stern look.

Rey rolled her eyes, but knew that the midwife would be at their home in the morning to make sure that her bottom didn't leave the bed for the remainder of her pregnancy. She hadn't seen Jedi pregnancies (though she could have sworn a few 'odd' ones were), but she had seen birthing troubles due to overactive pregnant mothers and Rey had moved to the top of the class with one look. Ben tucked Rey's arm under his and covered her fingers with his other hand, then moved them down the stairs and out the massive doors that nearly brushed the roof tiles.

A crowd had gathered, there had been crowds as their students studied and practiced their stunsabres. At once, the three students dressed in traditional Jedi robes assembled before them, and bowed at the waist. Rose, dressed in her elaborate Naboo attire of a magenta pink gown that opened at her chest to expose half of her breasts and arched over her head in a delicate hood, moved away from Finn, blushing red.

They were in the midst of planning their wedding, the planning of which brought such giddiness to the two that made Rey smile and shake her head. She still felt that way when Ben would wink at her in public, sometimes breaking into giggle fits if he did it in front of their students. The Force blew a gust of wind over the crowd, making Ben turn towards them. Rose was at least two months pregnant and none the wiser. She wouldn't have nearly as much of an exciting morning sickness period as Rey had, luck be to her! Rey wanted to tell her, lest her wedding plans be ruined, but given that they wanted to get married in only six weeks, then she saw no reason to spoil the surprise.

Rose nodded to Rey, then shot her eyes across the courtyard, her hood staying firmly on her hairline. Rey and Ben tried not to look at the same time, but they could feel them regardless. They had found a loophole, one loophole in a private court session that allowed Rose to keep on her a personal guard as designated by the Jedi. So long as the Jedi had appointed him, that guard was irrefutable. So long as Rose was in some sort of office for the Republic, Ben couldn't be touched. It was when she left office or would be removed from it, that they would have problems, and those problems somehow always managed to find Rose when she attended Jedi events. No matter, she was still in office, an even more popular emissary than ever, and she wasn't going to leave that office any time soon.

Rey released Ben's arm, and stepped towards a firepit filled with kindling covering a gas line. This torch hadn't been lit, not officially as they had been given the academy while Ben was still awaiting his fate, and the students had been gathered shortly afterward. To top it off, Ben had contacted the Blacksmith back on Courkrus and asked if the Laundress, now known as Shava Kareen, would be willing to relocate with Edran to Naboo. The proud woman agreed on the condition that she would work for her room and board, and so would clean Ben and Rey's house and cook for them while Edran learned with a special tutor to coax him into learning more day-to-day activities.

Rey inhaled, looking to their students. Three months! Only three months of learning and they had developed so much. She hated leaving them, but one look back at her husband, and she knew they were in good hands.

'The time has come,' She announced, her voice echoing in the night. 'As much as it pleases me to have taught you this short time, the Force has directed me to another, more pressing task.' She paused to rub her round stomach, feeling her little one summersault at her touch. 'It is my privilege to pass on duties as Master Jedi to your new master and teacher.'

She turned, and Ben moved forward, tall and handsome in his new robes. The students bowed again before him, not a single one flinching from the sight of him. They had long gotten over that nervousness.

Ben halted before her and bowed low at the waist, his hair tousling forward.

'Ben Solo,' Rey began, 'Your actions have proven yourself worthy of the Trials of Knighthood, and have therefore called this court into session. You have succeeded in the Trial of Skills, with your knowledge of the Jedi technique proving to be exceptional. You have succeeded in the Trial of Courage, returning to Naboo where your life before turning to the Light Side of the Force proved you worthy of the hangman's noose.'

Ben almost flinched to look up at her, but he didn't. Rey continued:

'You have succeeded in the Trial of the Flesh, overcoming overwhelming torture through your training to return and uphold the values of the Jedi. You have succeeded in the Trial of the Spirit, returning to this current realm from the World Between Worlds.'

Rey inhaled, the truth settling over her. He had come back! He could have stayed with his mother, but he didn't! He chose her. Rey swallowed, this last announcement attacking her eyes.

'Lastly, you have succeeded in the Trial of Insight, coming to my side during the Battle of Exegol… seeing through the manipulations of the former Emperor Palpatine and using the dyad connection you share with me to help fight the Dark Side incarnate. To keep me from striking him in anger, and assuring me that such action was not to be made alone.'

He smiled at the floor, his feeling flaring. He would have kissed her if he could!

'In light of your accomplishments and before these witnesses gathered here, it is my honour to knight you,' She took her lightsabre from her cloak and ignited it. Slowly, she lowered it to his shoulders, the hot beam caressing one shoulder then the other. 'Ben Solo, Master Jedi!'

He stood, his pride rising with him.

'Thank you, Master Solo,' He announced.

'As such,' Rey continued, 'As my current state of health does not permit me to continue serving as Headmaster of this academy, it is my honour and duty to pass the mantle unto you should you choose to accept it.'

'It would be my honour and duty to accept, until such time that you might return to us.' Ben announced in a booming, clear voice.

'Then, by all means,' Rey smiled, stepping back and gesturing to the fire pit.

Ben turned from her, and withdrew his copper lightsabre handle. From their students, a loud gasp resonated.

Rey felt it the moment Ben froze. She turned for him, hearing more gasps resound as they began filing out of the doors. Dozens of Force Ghosts filled the space with more illuminating the inside of the academy, all glowing an eerie, iridescent blue atop flowing robes. Rey could recognize Leia and Luke, but not the tall man with long hair that covered his ears and had a scar across his eye.

My darling.

Rey turned to look over the balcony, and gasped herself, clutching her throat at the sight of them. Her mother! And her father! They stood side-by-side looking up at her… with Han Solo! He walked up next to her father and gave her a slight wave to her before looking down at himself and giving such a massive eye-roll Rey couldn't help but laugh through her tears.

'Are those your parents?' Finn asked, looking over the edge with her.

Rey could only nod, any semblance of makeup on her face utterly ruined.

'You look just like your mom,' He commented, smiling at her.

Rey turned back to her husband, seeing his shoulders shudder and his lips mash in an attempt to keep it together. He ignited his lightsabre, the beam going right through Luke's robes. At once, the Jedi Who Came Before moved forward and placed their hands on him, resting their hands on each other if they couldn't reach. He inhaled and stole a peek at the scarred man on his left, watching him nod his approval. He looked to his right, and earned a wink from his mother.

Ben touched his lightsabre to the kindling, and the torch ignited!

As practiced, their students knelt before the torch and lowered their heads in reverence, giving obeisance to their new master. Slowly, Rey moved forward through the crowd of Jedi, feeling them leave one by one as she came forward. Ben deactivated his lightsabre and stood his family, absorbing the feeling of love and confidence, caution, and delight that they sent him.

'Darling,' Rey breathed, her tears mangling her words.

The scarred man, Anakin, jutted his chin at her in approval. Leia looked warmly on her, her hand cupping the bulge in her middle. Luke smiled at her and nodded. Ben extended his hand, and the ghosts of the past faded.

They were not alone. No matter what happened, no matter what was thrown at them, they would face it together. A united pair, as strong as life itself.

The End