Chapter 21- Searching and Moving Forward
Kylo felt his heart shatter in pieces with each day that passed and his wife and daughter hadn't been found. Even with the Force bond with both of them, Kylo couldn't locate them. Before, when Rey was pregnant with Briana, Kylo was able to talk to his wife via the Force. This time he couldn't and with his son's birth looming closer, Kylo was naturally worried.
Kylo walked to the bridge, making a desperate attempt to rid his mind of Rey and his children. 10 out of 10 times that never worked, but Kylo would persist in trying not to think about his family. Granted, it would fail again as he thought of kissing his daughter good night and then kissing Rey. It had taken 24 hours for him to get over the anger he felt towards his daughter and realize it hadn't been her fault that she and Rey had left. Rey had talked her into this and when he got them back, Briana would live with him as before and Rey would be in the cells until his son was born.
"Supreme Leader," a female lieutenant said, giving a small bow.
"Have you found the empress and her daughter?" Kylo asked, relieved that no one could see the pain ravaging his face as he was wearing his mask.
"Not yet. The Resistance moves around a lot. The population has mentioned a Jedi Rey Solo and her daughter Briana Solo. Jedi Solo appears very pregnant," the woman said. Kylo clenched his hand so tightly the glove squeaked.
"My wife and daughter's names are Rey and Briana Ren," Kylo said. Rey may call him Ben as he had allowed it, but he had never allowed his wife to go by the name that used to be his.
"That is the name the Jedi gave the population, Supreme Leader," the woman said, gulping visibly in the face of his anger.
Kylo felt tears burn his eyes. His wife thought she could hide herself and their daughter under the name Solo? He would find his wife and children. His wife would remain locked up for her insolence in taking his former name. "Any thing else, Supreme Leader?" The lieutenant asked in a quavering voice.
"No. That will be all. Only if you find the Jedi and her daughter, they are not to be harmed. I will deal with them myself," Kylo said as he made his way to his private quarters.
It hadn't taken Rey and Briana long to find the Resistance. Leia had welcomed them back with open arms. The reunions were tearful as Leia kissed and hugged both her daughter-in-law and granddaughter warmly and touched Rey's stomach, which was starting to grow from the new baby. Her tears were more evident when Rey had explained that this baby was also Ben Solo's son as Briana was Ben Solo's daughter.
They quickly got back into the routine of living on a Resistance base and Luke had blocked Rey's and Briana's connection to Kylo Ren while giving Briana new lessons in the ways of the Force. Luke had set up an obstacle course which he made Briana run every day to strengthen her skills in the Force. Her new skills caused mirth as mishaps often sprang up when least expected; things like finding nearly all the salt dumped into soup bowls and Poe's and Finn's ships hanging in midair while Briana was trying to lift rocks caused everyone to laugh uncontrollably. And yet life moved forward and the day of the baby's birth had arrived.