Ch 59

Rey

I saw Ben stand up next to and the words that left his mouth were along the lines of what I was thinking, just much, much less aggressive…

"Esteemed members of the court please, listen to me. We do NOT want to impose our beliefs on you anymore. What my wife and I want, is to be left alone. We will go back to whatever planet you deem worthy, we will start a new Jedi academy, where people of all ages are free to come and train. We will NOT get involved with your new Republic, we will NOT be your warriors and we will NOT be imprisoned. We just want to be left alone, to start a new generation of Jedi who value the Force for being the Force and not old traditions. We do not need to get in each other's ways. We can sign a treaty, now if you wish to have help from our new Jedi, that will require a different conversation. This is what we want, and surely you must know this is the best you'll get today."

With that Ben sat down.

The way he had spoken had reminded of so much of Leia, I even pictured her as a young politician, one that would be feared.

I wondered if that's what Ben would have become, a young powerful Senator, or the rightful Prince of Alderaan…

It made me think that perhaps in another life we could have met differently, regardless, I think I would love him no less than I do now.

"Young Solo's plan sounds reasonable" said a older man from the crowd "The Jedi have been long extinct, but as long as you give us a draft of what you had in mind for this new academy, perhaps a treaty would be greatly considered"
"You will have that draft first thing tomorrow morning, and if anyone else has any other questions anyone is more than welcome to come to our quarters and ask what you please."

His words seemed to placate the crowd, but from the corner of my eye I saw Poe and Finn look… somewhat pained. I wasn't sure what the emotion was, but it surely wasn't a happy expression.

After a few more hours of deliberating Ben's proposal, we were finally dismissed for dinner and rest for the night.

"Rey can we talk to you for a second?" said a familiar voice behind me as we were leaving.

I turned around and saw Finn with Poe at his side and Rose, the gang was all here.

I looked at Ben and he nodded.

I'll see you back in our rooms, he said as gave my hand a reassuring squeeze and left.

I smiled at him and turned back to my friends.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, trying to get a sense from them. They were all slightly apprehensive and guarded. Not that I blamed them.

"Is this really what you want Rey? Do you really not care if you're sent to some backwater planet and never see us again? Or is he still manipulating you?" asked Poe.

"No, I don't want that, but no one is really giving us a chance to do anything else. Or am I wrong? I don't want to choose between you and him, but when he died, a part of me died too. I can't live without him, I won't do it."

"But he was Kylo Ren! How can you tr-"

"No, she's right" said Finn

Rose, Finn and I were both shocked at what Finn said.

"Wait, I am?"

"Yes, I can… kind of feel it. I can feel he's different, and it's very conflicting because I can't deny the truth that he is Ben Solo and Kylo Ren is gone."

"Finn… why didn't you say anything?" I asked him

"Because I was afraid of… myself. The more the days go by the more I feel this… thing grow inside me. The Force. Rey… I want to go with you, and I want you to teach me the ways of the Force. If you are willing" he said with a sad but hopeful look in his eyes.

I was expecting a lot of things, but this wasn't one of them.

"Finn… you can't be serious! You're going to just leave us here?!" Rose yelled at him. I could feel his conflict, he knew leaving would be difficult and he knew Poe and Rose would feel betrayed, but he also knew this was the right thing to do.

"I have to go. Jannah and I found a lot of other Force users in the storm trooper ranks. Some of them wants nothing to do with the Force, some of them are waiting for Jannah and me to come back and… teach them, but we have to start somewhere."

I blinked, this is why Finn had been so willing to help, "Is that it then? You just want me to be your teacher? Finn you're my friend but this seems a bit one sided don't you think?"

"I know what it looks like but Rey, I still love you as if you were my sister. You're the only person I know can help me, and if… Ben is willing to help us, then I am willing to forgive him. Not just because of the Force and what it tells me, but because if you trust him, then I trust him, and that's enough for me"

I sighed and looked at him, then Poe and Rose.

"I know this has been difficult for all of us, it's been difficult for me too. I don't want to take Finn away from you but… if you want to come with us and join our new academy then… I will not stop you and I'll train you Finn"

He smiled and suddenly I was being held in a tight grip in Finn's arms. Suddenly feeling like another part of me had returned, and I hadn't even noticed it was missing.