The Alderaan sun is shining its light all over the city, indifferent to the faint shape of its moons that remain high in the clear sky. It's incredibly high for this time of the year, but no one is complaining: the mountains look even more majestic with the light hitting their summit. The sunrise hasn't been so majestic in decades, which some see as a sign of peace. Ben isn't sure how much he's inclined to believe that the Force would clear the sky of a few clouds to manifest its satisfaction. He does feel at peace. No voice has been tormenting him for the last months, beside Rey's snores in the early morning. For the first time in his life, he understands what balance is. There's still doubt sometimes, and the shadow of the trauma left behind by generations before him- but he's not alone anymore. He gets to wake up next to his soulmate every day, and learn to be a family again with his parents and his uncle.

Everything changed after Palpatine's death. For the first time in the history of the Skywalker family, everyone was able to talk openly and heal together. It took a long time, and everything isn't perfect, but Ben is now able to say he feels part of this family. He learned a lot- about Luke's aunt and uncle, about what the war actually was like for his family and the struggles they encountered. This version is far less heroic than the one everyone retells, but Ben likes it more. He learned to know and understand each side of this family and their story, and even make peace with its most conflicted elements.

A smile curls his lips as he watches the new addition to the gallery. Many members of the palace disapproved of his decision, but Ben doesn't regret it. It was about time his grandfather found his place back into the family as well, forgiven by his children and now understood by his grandson. Finding an artist willing to paint the infamous ex-Sith lord hadn't been an easy task, but Ben found the rare gem in a young artist from Chandrila. She watched every archived hologram Ben was able to find on Coruscant and delivered the perfect portrait. Her brush captured the conflict in his grandfather's eyes, as well as his crooked grin, representing the duality of the man Ben wishes he'd known personally. There are so many questions he would've asked, so many fears that could've been voiced much earlier and without shame. The name painted at the bottom of the frame is probably his favorite part. Not a mention of Darth Vader, or of his Sith past: just Anakin, the first Skywalker welcomed to the royal gallery of the Organa family, placed right next to his wife, the Queen Padme Amidala. Her portrait's frame stands out among all the silver ones, golden and crowned with delicately forged petals. A small reminder of the audacity of Rey's gift, and a good anecdote to tell when visitors point it out.

Ben spent a few nights listening to the rest of the holograms the Coruscant library gave him. Getting to know his grandfather through these had been strangely addicting, and much more reassuring than he'd anticipated. Some security files had been harder to watch than others, but seeing these historical moments and his doubts as he gave in to the darkness had comforted him in his choice to forgive him for his mistakes. Further research gave him more information on Anakin's childhood on Tatooine, and with it a new project for the gallery. Finding any visual documentation of Shmi Skywalker revealed itself to be impossible, but Ben was determined to honor her memory and place in the family as well.

His smile widens in the peaceful silence, a warm feeling in his chest soon traveling to his hand as Rey joins him and laces their fingers together. "Ready?"

The corridor seems brighter as Ben turns to her, his hand reveling in her touch as he nods.

She looks radiant, her eyes soft on him and incredibly grounding. Ben can't help thinking about her as a tiny sun, fierce and loving and so strong. These last months on Alderaan have brought her so much, it's impossible not to hear it in their bond. Ben can feel her happiness at the warm welcome his family gave her, and the feeling of belonging that comes with it. He can see the tears threatening to bead down her cheeks every time his mother braids her hair or offers a new gown, even if she never wears them too long. She confessed, once, in the safety of the night, that she'd never felt beautiful until his mother helped her put on her wedding dress. Every outfit she'd ever worn had been carefully chosen for her, incredibly uncomfortable and based on the current fashion she knew nothing of.

Ben isn't the only one who went through consequent changes. The days following Palpatine's defeat were incredibly challenging for Rey, split between her newfound freedom and an ever-present guilt. The first nights were marked by nightmares, all filled with guilt. Luke assured Ben this was a natural reaction after taking someone's life, even someone as evil as Palpatine: but he didn't know about the other part of her, the one fighting not to mourn the man but begging to. It took some convincing before she agreed to talk to his uncle, but looking back at it, Ben doesn't regret it. Rey hasn't stopped blooming since that day, fighting her demons one by one with a strength Ben hopes he'll find in himself for what's waiting for him today.

"Ready," he replies in a breath.

The sun is blinding, high and hot when Ben stands up, sweating and breathless. The name Challenge of the Body is rather appropriate: his legs haven't felt so sore since his Jedi training years, threatening to let go of him at any moment. They've been climbing for hours in complete silence save for a few chuckles and grunts. Ben always thought he'd climb Appenza Peak by himself, but bringing Rey with him was like evidence. It had first crossed his mind the day they met, then again when his mother addressed the subject of his accession to the throne. Ben wasn't sure then, and still isn't to this day, but accepted to pass the three challenges to the crown as part of his decision taking process. Both challenges of the Heart and Mind were done soon after their victory. His Challenge of the Mind was far more interesting than he'd predicted, and consisted of an alliance between the Resistance and the Senate. One of his more personal projects was to make sure History archives mentioned Palpatine's treason, and didn't forget to mention his grandfather's return to the light. For his Challenge of the Heart, Ben planned a visit to the most secluded planets, in hopes to prevent more children from going through what happened to Rey.

His hand finds her as they stand in silence, catching their breath and watching the landscape from here.

"It's beautiful," Ben murmurs while lacing his fingers with Rey's.

The palace looks significantly smaller from here. It also looks less important with the city around it and the shape of more cities and mountains. Ben wonders if his ancestors had the same thoughts during their own climb, but something tells him they didn't. Where any pretender to the throne probably felt pride and ownership at this sight, Ben's eyes keep shifting back to the horizon.

"How are you feeling?" Rey asks in a murmur.

Her voice brings him back softly, drawing a smile back on his lips as Ben watches her for a moment. "Good." He feels her contentment through the bond as he focuses on her freckles, letting his feelings and thoughts mingle. The words leave him before he can think of a better way to sort them out. "Let's not get married."

"What?"

Ben realizes his mistake when Rey's hand squeezes his as she searches through the bond for further explanation. His eyes shift to hers in an attempt to calm the nervousness he can feel growing in her. "You've never looked happier," he continues, his hand returning the light squeeze.

"I am. I'd be happy wherever you are."

"How about being happy everywhere?"

The bond stops buzzing for a second, his words distracting Rey from her search. Slowly, Ben lets her feel the images that crossed his mind and explore them with him, one by one.

"We don't have a ship," she points out after a few minutes.

"Yet."

Her eyes follow Ben's, scanning through the fields surrounding the palace and stopping on the Falcon, landed in its usual and very accessible spot. The hint of a grint blooms on her lips. "Are you implying…"

"It would only be the fifth time."

A nervous chuckle passes between them as they realize the absurdity of this idea. They keep laughing incredulously as they climb down the mountain, and again as they board the Falcon hand in hand, waves of excitement and adrenaline running through the bond.

Ben's heart beats faster with each step he takes, memories coming back to him as he guides Rey through his father's freighter. He remembers his father telling him about his childhood on Corellia in the captain's quarters before bed time. He remembers Chewie teaching him to play derajik, and his father showing him how to pilot the ship, promising that one day, it'd be his. This probably wasn't how he'd expected it to happen, but Ben can't help thinking his father will find it amusing once the anger has passed. His mother will be delighted, though- she might even buy them more time. A laugh leaves him as he enters the cockpit and instinctively claims the pilot's seat.

"Where are we going?"

Rey drags him away from his thoughts once again, her smile betraying her amusement at his daydream. "Surprise me," he replies with a shrug.

A frown makes its way on her face, her eyes scanning the map before them on the panel. "There."

Her finger lands on a small point beyond the Outer Rim, in the Unknown Regions. The point grows bigger as she zooms in, an obvious addition from his father based on Luke's travels.

"There's nothing to see on Ahch-To," Ben warns as she enters the coordinates. "Nobody."

"Mmh. I don't want to see anybody. I think we deserve a break."

Her fingers keep dancing along the tablet, confirming her choice and starting the engines.

"It's a three day trip," Ben continues, but he's already out of focus. The idea of being away, just the two of them, sounds like a dream he's more than willing to chase.

"Ah, if only we could find a way to stay busy."

Another chuckle leaves them both. Ben has never felt lighter than he is right now. Careful not to startle Rey, he wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her closer, looking up to find her eyes. "But you said you wanted to see forests. Oceans."

Her hands come to rest on his shoulders. "I still do."

"It'll be a long trip."

"I guess I can endure your company a little more."

A shiver travels down Ben's body at her words, his heart beating faster as she comes closer. The seat squeaks a little when she joins Ben on it, straddling him carefully with her thighs on either side of his waist. His hand comes to push a strand of hair away from her face, lingering on her cheek to feel her warmth. He isn't sure he'll ever get tired of counting the freckles covering her nose and cheeks.

"My father will be worried sick about his ship," he adds as she grabs at his tunic. "He might chase us across the galaxy to get it back."

"That sounds fun already."

Her lips brush his, sending another wave of shivers to roll down his spine and drawing a few words from him, whispered. "At your command, captain."

He can feel her grin before she plants a quick kiss on his lips, her excitement palpable through the bond as she turns around and starts setting the controls. Ben straightens up, his arm around her waist pulling her closer until her back melts into his chest. He's still kissing her shoulder when the ship starts with a few tremors, forcing him to focus back on the massive freighter about to launch. With his hands above Rey's, he guides her through the process and risks a glance at the window as the familiar noise announcing a departure echoes around the durasteel walls.

The colorful scenery of his home planet fills his heart with a multitude of feelings. Alderaan would always hold a special place in his heart. This land saw him come to life and grow through the years, for better and worse- but something about the way his heart beats faster as the landscape disappears behind them tells him this might be the best mistake he's ever made. His feeling is only reinforced as Rey flashes him a smile above her shoulders. He isn't quite sure yet about a throne, but there's one thing he knows. No matter what planet they land on, Rey is, by far his favorite home.