Disclaimer: Nothing's changed. I still don't own Star Wars or any of the recognisable characters of the franchise. This story is purely for entertainment.

A/N: I'm moving at the end of July so I've been a bit distracted recently. I'm still trying to stick to my posting schedule but please be forewarned and don't hate me if there are any delays in the nearest future. Again many thanks for following my story and for each and every comment you've made :))

Chapter 25

Finn was watching Rey closely. After they left Dantooine, he was worried at first as she seemed lost and not herself at all. She had changed after the weeks of training with Ben Solo and he missed his old friend a lot. She was following their commander's, Alik N'Ado's, orders in a robot-like manner and avoiding people whenever she could get away with it. She seemed comfortable only with a handful of people, Rose and himself among those very few.

Finn tried to encourage her to spend as much time with them as possible. He didn't want her to be on her own in between the fights. He knew better than other people that underneath her seemingly collected surface, she was very sensitive to all the grim of the war raging around them. She was often refusing, claiming that the newlywed couple should have some time to themselves, even at war time.

Her fame was spreading around to the point that even he sometimes felt awkward in her company. He could see her on a few occasions fighting with her lighsaber. It was like nothing he had ever seen her doing before. She was almost ferocious and looked quite terrifying. When he talked to her about it, she said that all she wanted was for this war to be over. This was what was driving her on. And she seemed unstoppable. Weird things were happening around her. Everyone could see that the Force was with her.

With time however, especially after she started being in quite regular contact with Solo again, she seemed to reach some inner peace. He was relieved when, on her own accord, she suddenly started joining them during meal times. She became more animated as if she finally found the way to deal with all the pressure and challenges imposed by war, as if it stopped overwhelming her. She, of all people, even started saying she felt useless, saying she would like to take a proper advantage of the strength that was in her. This was more like her. Yet her habit of seeking solitude, usually outside their quarters still remained. N'ado wasn't happy about it but she was adamant. She needed her space so Alik reluctantly agreed but insisted for someone to watch over her from afar.

Finn sometimes liked to join her – not as a guard but as a friend. Especially when the climate of the planet they were on was a mild one. Tonight was one of those times. He needed to talk to Rey alone. She was sitting on a grass in her favourite spot here on Cantonica, on a hill with the best view towards both the desert and the city nested on the shores of the sea. Her back was leaning against a big fallen tree trunk. With her legs crossed she looked as if she was meditating. He hesitated. He didn't want to disturb her but even when he was approaching her from behind, she knew it was him.

'Sit down, Finn.' – She said without taking her eyes off the stars. She tapped the ground next to herself suggesting he should sit there. He wasn't a huge fan of sitting on the ground if he could avoid it. Unhappily he tried to make himself comfortable settling down next her. He looked around. The colourful lights of the town reflected in water and all of it surrounded by dark hills and stunningly starry sky, was a view to behold. It was breath-taking. It was only thanks to her or Rose that he was having those moments of slowing down and realising there was something else apart from the war. He sighed. – 'It's beautiful.' - He also said it to Rose when they came here before. Despite everything he knew about this place he still thought it was stunning.

'Yes. There is so much beauty around us.' – Rey agreed with him.

They were both admiring the display in front of them for a while.

'You know…Rose still hates this place. She wished she could completely annihilate it.' – He finally took his eyes from the sky. Rey looked so relaxed. He almost wanted to excuse himself and let her be but he was afraid there would not be any other opportunity to talk to her like that.

'Yes, nothing is simple, nothing is just black or white… I understand why she may feel that way.' – She replied and Finn hesitated. It was a good opportunity to start talking to her about his decision but he didn't know what to say, how to start even explaining her why…So, they were just sitting next to each other for several minutes.

Finally, she turned her head and looked at him breaking the silence. – 'So…you are going.'

'How do you know?'

'It was me who suggested it. You were an ideal candidate to overlook the Shelter Project.' – she laughed.

'Oh. '– It seemed all his worrying about how she would take the news was in vain. Rose was right…as always.

'I have never heard from Larma though…if they considered it a good idea.' – Rey added.

'Of course, it was a good idea.' – He said excitedly. – 'We need everyone able to fight…and ex-stormtroopers can be pretty good fighters. I think I am living proof…' - He winked and smiled proudly.

She laughed again and clasped her hands together. – 'I wish I could go with you.'

'I wish that too.' – He whispered and lowered his head. He closed his eyes. He was serious again. He really wished he didn't have to leave without her. – 'I don't want to leave you alone here.'

'I…am not alone.' – There was something weird in her voice. He looked up toward her and saw that her eyes were fixed for a moment on something over his left shoulder. He followed her eyes but there was nothing there. He frowned. It kept happening to her from time to time since the battle of Crait. She was becoming suddenly distracted and was looking at something that was not there. They assumed it had something to do with the Force. Poe called those episodes 'weird moments'.

'Are you ok? – He asked as she seemed a bit … flustered.

She nodded her head with a mysterious smile and cleared her throat. – 'Yeah. I just…thought I saw something. Sorry Finn…'

He waved his hand dismissively. – 'I just wanted to say that you need to stay among people…but it seems you get it. As you said, you are not alone.' – He couldn't understand why she smiled cheekily at him. – 'That is all...I mean, apart from…one thing.' – He hesitated. She was still sitting in the same position, unmovable. Should he bring it up? – 'Ben Solo…'

Her whole body shifted. She seemed alert. She looked over his shoulder quickly again and then back at him. – 'Ben Solo? What about him?'

'Did the idea about saving as many stormtroopers as we can, really come from him? You know…the whole thing about using your powers to capture them alive?'

She hesitated. – 'I did it first as you know…by chance. But it was his idea to do it more often and find the right technique to do it…and the whole idea of creating special shelters for them…I think it was maybe me… and giving them a chance to change sides…it was…I guess…a bit…from both of us?'

'Poe was right then. You are probably better together than separately…'

'Poe really said that?'

'Yeah…but honestly…I asked because I wanted to thank you..' – He cleared his throat. – 'you…and Ben..for what you have done. You know more than anyone else how important it is for me.'

'There's no need. And to be honest it's me who should thank you...'

'For what?'

'For creating this miracle in the first place. For trusting me when we found him on Dantooine, when everyone else thought I was mad…'

'To be honest… I thought you were completely insane. I hated helping you that day.'

'Why did you help me then?'

'Because…as you said…I trusted you. And this trust was bigger than the hatred I felt. And now…I'm so grateful…to him as well…'

'There's no need. We're all on the same side now.'

'That's what I'd like to ask you about…Are we all really on the same side though? Is Ben Solo completely on our side now? Is Poe really safe staying so close to him?'

She looked over his shoulder again for a long time and still looking into the darkness behind him, she said. – 'Just like you trust me, I wholeheartedly trust Ben now. And this trust is bigger than anything else. I would trust him with my life without a moment of doubt. And I hope he trusts me as well.'