A/N: What can I say except that I'm sorry for the delay? I needed a break from writing, and I wanted to get some chapters ready in advance. The 31st is ready, but I will wait to finish the 32nd before publishing it. Anyway, thanks in advance to those of you who are still here reading this story.


Chapter 30

Sorgan, the next day.

"Rey?"

She opened one eye, suppressing a yawn.

The room they were in, was dimly lit by a large air vent in one of the walls of the cabin. Rey couldn't tell how many hours had passed since their arrival, but from the tiredness of her body and the stiffness of her muscles, she imagined more than ten hours.

"I'm starving," Ben said.

With a smirk on her face, she got up on her elbows, her fatigue suddenly vanished, and began to kiss him passionately. He seemed surprised but did not protest, so Rey began to deepen their embrace. Twisting to get rid of the sheets tangled between her legs, she noticed, amused, that they had hardly used the bed for its primary function. They had rest a bit, before starting to love each other again, discovering the other's body, experimenting, and tasting new sensations several times consecutively.

After the fifth, Rey was surprised that she still hadn't had enough and now she was feeling ready for a sixth. But as she was sliding her mouth over Ben's chest, slowly descending and kissing his skin, he stopped her with a small embarrassed grin, and warned her in thought that he couldn't. She immediately became worried. Had she hurt him? Had she done something wrong? Maybe six times was too much? She didn't know anything about it. She blushed, ashamed at the desire she felt, wondering if there was something wrong with her, before he kissed her to silence her worries.

"You didn't do anything wrong, and there's nothing wrong with what we did, on the contrary. But Rey I can't anymore. For now," he says, laughing softly. "I really need to rest and eat."

As she meditated on his words, her own stomach rumbled, confirming what Ben had just said. Relief hit her and they burst out laughing.

"So," she began, lying down on his beautiful, still naked body.

With her chin resting on his chest, Rey could feel herself glowing with happiness.

"What's for ..." she contorted herself towards the opening to try to guess what time it was with the position of the sun, "lunch?"

Ben raised his hand, and with the Force brought one of the bags containing their belongings to him. He stuffed in it and took out a few small pouches.

"Let's see. Some dehydrated rations, a few more dehydrated rations, and oh, again dehydrated rations."

They both winced at the unappetizing thought of the meal that awaited them.

"Perhaps we could go exploring the surroundings? I think I saw some fruit trees."

"I have a better idea," Ben replied.

He passed on memories of his father telling him about small farming and fishing villages.

"I don't think it's very far."

"Is this really reasonable?"

She couldn't help but think about the news of her identity that would soon travel around the galaxy, and of Ben, still actively wanted for his crimes.

"I doubt they'll get the holonet around here," Ben exclaimed immediately, hearing her concerns. "But you're right, a little caution never killed anyone."

He leaned to the side and dipped his hand into the pile of their clothes, crumpled to the ground when they had stripped eagerly. He pulled out one of the pieces of cloth that Rey used for her arms and wrapped it around his head, hiding his thick hair. One of his ears popped out of his improvised turban and Rey burst out laughing at how funny he looked now. He shared her hilarity and she felt herself trembling with happiness again. She had never seen him so happy, so free. He usually only laughed with her, but this time it was a brand new Ben Solo in front of her. He seemed younger, more radiant.

She loved him so much. Now that they had confided their feelings, they intended to make up for all the time they had wasted hiding what they felt about each other. It was as if they had to tell each other at every moment, whether in their bond, out loud, or with caresses. And that's what Ben chose to respond to her thoughts. He removed the cloth and his dark strands fell back, tickling Rey as he leaned over her to kiss her breast.

"I thought ... you ... were hungry," she managed to speak as he became more eager.

"It can wait."

I want you, he growled in her mind.

/

/

Ohma D'un.

If the news of Rey's origins had been revealed to the UGS, her escape, and Ben's, on the other hand, were still well hidden. But Finn doubted that it would stay that way for long as he listened with Poe and Connix, the Queen of Naboo, pouring out her wrath against the secret of their Jedi.

"How could you let her come to Naboo knowing who she was? Do you have any idea of the trauma that the Emperor left in our culture, among my people? And you let his granddaughter come?"

"Your Majesty please, let me explain..."

"No! The day after the signature of our alliance we learn the most vile treason, it's intolerable!"

"Rey is an orphan," said Finn, starting to get angry. "She lived all her life alone, on a desert planet, she may be descended from the Emperor, but she never met him before she destroyed him. To blame her family would be as unfair as blaming Naboo for the crimes of that same Emperor under the pretext that he was from there. You should be tolerant!"

"Tolerant?" Cried the sovereign, bursting out with an evil laugh. "Did I not show tolerance when I authorized you to protect my cousin, the criminal Kylo Ren? When all the other systems demanded his death? When it'll get out, I will lose credibility with my people and other systems! You have no idea what you provoked!"

"Please, this is not at all what ..."

"Shut up! When I think we trusted you... well don't expect us to protect your back again!"

"What about Padmé Amidala?"

"I beg your pardon?"

Finn and Poe looked at Connix, who had just spoken, with the same surprised look as the Queen.

"She is still the most respected and beloved sovereign of Naboo, isn't she?"

"I really don't see the relevance."

"She was married to Anakin Skywalker, the man who became the infamous Darth Vader, a notorious criminal and murderer."

"How do you know..."

"I served with Leia for many years, I know her family history. Of your family, although distant."

"Don't make the mistake of trying to drag my ancestor into this, these situations have nothing in common!"

"And yet. Queen Amidala chose to marry this man, before he became this abomination. Is she still being reproached for this choice today? Is her memory defiled? Of course not, so how can you reproach Rey for something that she could never choose!"

Queen Sola seemed to meditate on her words for a moment before resuming.

"Where is she now? Shouldn't she answer for these accusations? Make a public statement to refute these lies?"

"She can't... because they are not lies," Finn said darkly. "Rey is indeed his granddaughter... and you should know that she..."

Connix and Poe's glances made him hesitate but he preferred to opt for honesty. Sooner or later it would come out, and the consequences would be fatal if the Queen learned that they had lied to her.

"Rey and Ben left the Resistance."

"Finn damn ..." Poe growled.

"WHAT? You let my cousin escape? And the Jedi?"

"We couldn't hold them against their will, they won't be used as a barter for a false promise of peace!"

"There will be no peace if the New Order does not get them back!"

"They are not merchandise! And Your Majesty, may I tell you that you are very naive if you think for one second that the New Order would have accepted an alliance with the UGS! This naming change only means one thing, they want to give themselves a new image, but make no mistake, sooner or later they will seek to take control of the galaxy again!"

"How dare you ..."

"And you! How dare you question months of promises and negotiations! We had hopes and objectives and you are already ready to abandon them?"

"You... You... I can't believe..."

For the first time since he had faced her, Finn was proud to have been able to shut the Queen of Naboo up.

"My Queen," implored Poe in an effort to ease tensions. "We are simply asking for a chance to explain ourselves to you and our allies. The New Order will not be patient, we cannot risk them trying to bribe one of the UGS and sow discord in this young alliance."

"You are in no position to speak of treason."

He ignored this comment and continued his plea.

"This low blow will at least have allowed us to understand that they have allied themselves with this group of extremists against Force sensitives! You know who I am talking about, they captured one of our friends and attacked us on your planet!"

The Queen raised her eyebrows in a horrified expression before whispering as if she feared that she could be heard.

"How can you be sure?"

"The General used the same speeches as the man leading them. The fact that they are claiming Rey and Ben Solo as an offering only confirms that! We have to stop them before it's too late!"

"New, First," exclaimed Poe again. "Their goal has always been the same, to enslave and control peoples. Accepting a truce will only give them the power to dominate us secretly. We know where we stand with them."

"So what do you propose? You are, after all, responsible for the mess we now find ourselves in."

"We need to arrange a meeting with the entire UGS as soon as possible, or I'm afraid we will have created the shortest alliance in the history of the galaxy."

/

/

Sorgan.

After their respective stomachs had made so much noise that it had become impossible for them to kiss without laughing, Rey and Ben had been forced to admit that they had to leave the quietness of their refuge of blankets and go in search of food. They set out to explore the hangar, but the few rooms they found were all empty or devoid of food.

It was clear that the last occupants of this place had been careful to take any valuable belongings with them when they left. No one seemed to have set foot here for at least a decade, noticed Ben as he passed his finger over a chair covered with a thick layer of dust. They found some faulty communications equipment, and those that were still working had to be taken out of service. They could not risk being detected in any way.

At the back of the hangar, they came across an old air-speeder and three speeder bikes that had seen better days. Confident, Rey approached the first one and dragged it with the Force into the middle of the hangar to examine it.

"These are 74-Zs," she exclaimed excitedly.

"They're good for scrap, forget it," Ben told her.

He was already starting to head for the exit, after all they could have just used the ship they'd come here with, when Rey crouched down in front of the machine and started pulling some cables. The device emitted a thud that resounded in the hangar for a long time before she turned around and smiled at him.

"I can fix it."

"You sure? They look in very bad shape..."

"Go get me a power generator and ..."

She gave him a long list of parts that he could retrieve from the Resistance ship without damaging it, and Ben did so without protest, although he thought no less of it.

He had always had trouble understanding her interest in defective or damaged parts. In her eyes shone a puzzling passion that she felt for scrap heaps or lost causes. He and the Millennium Falcon were perfect examples.

That's what I've always done.

You can't always fix everything.

Until now, I have.

She gave him a long glance and Ben shivered under its intensity. Then Rey resumed her work and he sat down beside her. In amazement, he watched her cut, fold and weld pieces together.

Ben knew he was good at improving ships or even droids. He knew how to get the most out of a particular technology or mechanism. But what Rey was doing was on a whole other level. She had the art of seeing beyond the potential of each mechanism, each component.

The way her nimble fingers were able to twist and repair, the slightest piece of metal without ever making a mistake, astounded him. He became jealous of that part of the engine that she was now taking care of. The intense concentration she showed, dedicating all her attention to this task, just as she did when she kissed him, was entirely focused on that part. It was tempting to stop her so that she could turn her attention back to him.

Don't even think about it, she warned him with a wink.

She made the other speeders come to her, and recovered other elements by carefully cutting them with her saber.

An hour later, the machine was ready to fly.

Ben was not very confident when Rey turned it on and saw it wobble slightly, before a glance at her discouraged him from making a comment. He was not questioning her skills but the obsolescence of the equipment. However, he immediately jumped on it, and pointed at her the pilot's place. She was about to protest but he did not give her the time to do so while he pulled her onto the seat and wrapped his arms around her waist.

I will guide you, he reassured her.

With the Force, she opened one of the doors of the hangar and starting the machine, she led them into the depths of the forest.

/

/

Ohma D'un.

Light years away from the planet where Rey and Ben had fled, Finn could feel them in the Force. He had wanted to put into practice right away the last instruction of his makeshift teacher: "Seek us in the Force and we will answer your calls."

Finn wasn't sure if he had called anyone, he had just focused on their presence. He was so focused that he even wondered if his mind wasn't playing tricks on him, yet, as if he could hear their voice behind a door, he felt them. A small, faint current, barely distinct, but very present. Two spirits, his friend and Solo. He could almost feel their joy as if it were his own. He didn't want to think about what they might be doing to be so happy, but there was no doubt about it. They were alive and at peace. Finn felt very jealous of this happiness.

They were free. Free and together. Free to do what they wanted, free from the responsibilities that were incumbent upon him, free to live their lives as they wished, without the threat of a fight over their heads.

With this thought he immediately changed his mind. No, they weren't free. More than ever Rey and Ben were in danger. And they were alone this time.

He got out of the meditative state he had been in when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. Jannah was arriving, holding two orbaks by their bridle. She didn't need to offer him, he accepted the invitation without hesitation.

Together, they rode across the vast plains, then through the swamps, and finally they passed by a large lake where they stopped to quench their horses' thirst.

Jannah lay down in the thick, soft grass, but he did not join her. He took off his boots and pulled up his pants before immersing himself in the icy water of the lake. The cold finally got him out of his thoughts and he took off his jacket and the thin shirt he was wearing underneath. Without further hesitation he stepped forward and plunged into the depths.

The water was even colder but still clear. He opened his eyes and contemplated the underwater fauna that lived there, imperturbable in the face of the events that agitated those who had been sharing this planet with them for some time.

Finn envied them too. He envied their simple life where their only concern was their next meal and the perpetuation of their species. His own would soon be plunged once again into battle and suffering. He had just lost a friend, his most precious friend. He couldn't even blame her, he had understood and defended her choice. But for the first time since he had changed his destiny, he would fight without Rey at his side. Even this realization did not terrify him as much as the prospect of a new war. The more time passed and the more the responsibilities weighed on his shoulders, dragged him down. He soon feared he would be overwhelmed. Or be drowned.

A hand on his arm pulled him out of the water and out of his dark reflections.

"Finn! Are you all right? You weren't coming up!"

He realized that his breathing was erratic and blood was beating at his temples.

He let Jannah drag him to the shore where they sat on the squeaky gravel. There, he did nothing to stop her from holding him close to her. He needed it. She may not have been Force-sensitive, but he had the consistent impression that she read him without difficulty. Knowing exactly what he needed when he himself seemed lost.

"You are not alone in this. You will never be alone."

He nodded his head like a child being comforted after falling. It was strange because as far as he could remember, he had never been comforted by a mother or a relative. In his old memories there were only instructors, soldiers, shouts and orders.

He gave Jannah back her embrace, letting himself go to the warmth of the woman's body against his own, and the rays of the sun gently drying their skin. They had then left the slippery shore to continue their embrace in the grass. Afterwards, both of them had fallen asleep in the middle of the mountains, in the plains of Ohma D'un.

"It's time to get back to training."

A few hours had passed and they hadn't spoken again, but Finn understood right away what Jannah meant.

"We're going to continue what we started."

"How," he asked. "Without Ben, the reluctant legions won't want to listen to us."

"We don't need him."

"But... You thought it was a good idea!"

"Those who resist will already have gone to join her, they have sealed their fate. We will save the others."

"What if that's not enough?"

"We won't give up."

/

/

After miles of pine forest, where Rey's dexterity at piloting was put to the test, they arrived within sight of the village.

Village was a big word for the grouping of a few wooden huts, but one could feel a certain organization in the layout of the houses.

Before entering, they put their vehicle behind a particularly wide tree and adjusted their disguise. Ben had finally given up the idea of hiding his hair with the strips of cloth, but Rey had made him a sturdy hood using her old poncho. She was about to go, when he raised his hand to the village and concentrated intensely.

What are you doing?

I am simply suggesting to them that we are not strangers, that we have been among them for many years.

Will it work?

I hope so. I've never done it for so many people at once.

Cautiously, they decided to test Ben's techniques of persuasion with the Force, and they moved slowly through the village. They soon noticed that no one was paying attention to them. Several times they were even greeted with an indifferent look as if they had been there for many years.

The village was small but there was a warm, peaceful and welcoming atmosphere. An old man with mischievous eyes and skin so wrinkled that it hung on both sides of his face asked them what brought them here today. Rey's belly took charge of answering his question loudly. A few children who were present burst out laughing and dragged the young woman with them.

Feeling no bad intention on their part, Ben made no comment to stop them, and watched her tenderly accompany the villagers to the small ponds next to the houses. He quickly understood that they were asking for her help in preparing the meal.

Sitting in a corner, he watched them get busy, then pull up the catches, feet and legs immersed in the water. Around the adults, the children splashed and pushed each other, laughing. Rey joined them, and soon her laughter resonated among them. It radiated happiness.

Ben watched her from afar, amazed by her beauty, her smile, by the way people looked at her, charmed by her innocent and communicative joy. How could she think for one second that she was a monster? A dark person?

She was only light to him. The brightest and most brilliant of lights. He couldn't even get annoyed that she was giving her attention to these people rather than to him, as he replayed in his mind the events of the day before they had finally united. He saw her blush as the same memories materialized in her mind. He continued for a while, loving to see her face turn red. This vision relieved him more than he could have said. After the ship incident he thought he had lost her forever. And yet everything had changed. Within a few hours he had had the best time of his life, and he had the delicious feeling that it was just beginning.

Kriff they should have run away long ago.

"Ben, come and help us," called a woman.

This request caught him off guard and he stood up, uncomfortable and embarrassed to mingle with these people. Maybe he shouldn't have convinced them that they weren't strangers, he found them a little too familiar.

But he met Rey's mischievous gaze and he understood.

It was your idea.

You looked bored.

Rey, I don't know...

Neither do I, but come on! It's fun!

He didn't see anything funny about getting wet to catch nets teeming with small crustaceans but he didn't dare to protest. How far away he was from the Supreme Leader of the First Order as he took off his boots and plunged his bare feet into stagnant water. He was handed a piece of a net and he refrained from using the Force to help himself. However, he quickly got the hang of it and began to pull up some good catches. Maybe it wasn't so hard after all.

See, mocked Rey.

A bit farther on, in another pond, she and the group of children had stopped pretending to work and half sitting in the water, she was listening to their stories.

Ben and his group, on the other hand, had a successful harvest and they were soon made to stop, dozens of baskets filled to the brim with small blue shrimp. Just when he thought he was finished, the woman who had shown him how to pull up his net, explained to him how to sort the small crustaceans.

While he was doing so, he came across a small white shell, shaped like an oval and polished to the touch. A green wire seemed to be embedded in it and drew a spiral pattern. The small object fascinated him. Proud of his discovery, he showed it to the woman and her authoritative air softened as she explained to him that the shell brought good luck. He put it in his pocket and continued his work.

A few hours later he and Rey were sitting side by side among the villagers, their stomachs full of seafood and vegetable stew that they were growing not far from the forest.

The afternoon was coming to an end but neither of them were thinking of leaving. The people they had manipulated for their own safety had been so welcoming and caring to them that it was easy to believe they had been with them for a long time.

"This is for you," Ben said suddenly, taking the little shell out of his pocket.

With the help of a sharp tool he had managed to drill a hole in it and had received help to weave a thin cord to make it hang like a pendant. It was probably the simplest and least elegant gift he could give her.

Rey made no gesture to pick it up, she stared at the pearly object hanging from the makeshift chain he had created.

He was already worried about her reaction. She deserved much better than that. He should have covered her with jewels, with sumptuous outfits, she took him for a prince, but was this the kind of gift a prince gave to the one he loved?

Ben felt ashamed to have thought of giving her this. He closed his fist on the shell and was about to put it back in his pocket.

"But it's not worth the gift you gave me..."

She cut him by kissing him and she stopped his hand before he completed his gesture. Unfolding his fingers she took the necklace and passed it around her neck.

I love it. I love you. Thank you so much.

They stayed cuddled for a long time, enjoying the stories of the village and its people, learning their names little by little.

They all dispersed when the rain began to fall, and Ben felt it was time for them to return to their new home. He took off his jacket to shelter Rey, but she had already gotten up from the tree trunk where they had both been sitting.

Standing with her head tilted back, she had closed her eyes and a big smile illuminated her face. Ben had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. No one appreciated the small things in life as much as Rey did, like the feeling of a rain pouring down on her face.

Although in a state of shock, he rode the speeder bike himself for the ride home and when they finally arrived at their destination, they didn't wait until they reached their beds to throw themselves on top of each other. Between kisses, Ben brought blankets from the ship to soften the discomfort and cold of the metal floors of the hangar.

While he was taking off her clothes, Rey raised her hand to close the big door, but he stopped her.

The rain was always pouring down outside, and the sound of the drops on the leaves was mesmerizing. He continued to undress her, stopping from time to time to kiss her skin every time he stripped a patch.

But ... what if ... someone came ...

He silenced her worries. A huge thunderstorm had begun to rumble, no one would think of coming here in such weather, and the Force would warn them.

So Rey surrendered and trusted him. She sat down on top of him and began to move slowly.

Terribly slowly. He grabbed her hips to help her in her movements, while she rested her forehead on his and her hair tickled his face. Their screams were covered by the thunder and the heavy rain. He felt her abandoning herself completely, to pleasure, in the Force, in him. He heard her thoughts as confused as his own, but they shared the same well-being, the same passion. She was afraid, however, afraid of losing herself in pleasure, afraid of hurting him, afraid of losing herself forever. He didn't know if the lightning roaring outside was natural or came from her power. He didn't care. He grabbed her waist harder and almost scratched her thigh with his hands to anchor her in the present, to bring her back to him.

Then he tilted her to the side, taking control of their embrace, and he kissed her gently. Outside the shed, the thunder ceased, and only the sounds of rain and breathing remained. A few minutes later, they reached deliverance together.

Once calm, Ben got up and took her in his arms to bring her back to the comfort of their bed. She had already fallen asleep with a smile on her face. He gently laid her down and covered her with blankets before slipping in behind her. He joined her in slumber some time later, lulled by the sound of the rain and the warmth of her body.