Force Dyad

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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Fifty-One-The Truth Hurts

Ben's gaze slid to Chewbacca. The tall Wookie looked exactly the same as he remembered, albeit a little more stooped than he used to be. Before he could even utter one word, his surrogate uncle lifted him up into a bear hug. Given Ben's weight and height, it was highly amusing to those watching, that the Wookie was able to haul him up as if he weighed nothing.

Ben's face split into a rare grin as he hugged Chewbacca before fighting his way out of his hairy arms. "Enough of that!" He complained good-naturedly.

Chewie huffed out a laugh before reaching out to ruffle Ben's hair like a small child.

Ben rolled his eyes as he combed his fingers through the tousled strands. "It's good to see you, too."

"This was meant to be a surprise for your birthday." Han said sourly as he caught the flash of guilt in Rey's eyes. "You just couldn't keep it to yourself for one more day, kid?"

"Don't blame, Rey." Ben intervened quickly. "She had no choice but to tell me,"

"Don't defend her, son." Han still sounded unusually stern. "She has to own her mistakes."

"I'm sorry, Han." Rey apologised as she hung her head in shame.

"Sorry doesn't quite cover it, kid." Han argued. "I've pulled some reckless manoeuvres in my time…. but lightspeed skipping? You could have killed us all."

"Dad, lay off her." Ben warned him. "She had good reasons for what she did."

"Well enlighten me." Han bristled at his son's sharp tone. "Because right now I can't think of one."

Chewbacca laid one furry hand on his friend's shoulder, warning him to calm down. Han glanced up at the tall Wookie, mumbling under his breath as he took the hint and relaxed his stance. "Well go on. I'm listening." He said grudgingly.

"Not here." Ben stared around the crowded hangar bay where there were many eyes watching.

"Where then?"

"Your quarters." Ben answered curtly. "This involves you and mom." His gaze shifted to Rey, seeking reassurance. She looked back at him, the corners of her mouth attempting a smile, but she couldn't quite manage it. She was still upset over disappointing Han.

Ben sighed, trying to push his own reservations to one side. He was already convinced his confession wasn't going to down well with his parents. He tried to imagine their reactions-Han would probably kick off right away - it was Leia he wasn't too sure about. He had often wondered how much his mother really knew. While Chewie remained with the Falcon so he could oversee the repairs, the rest of them left the hangar bay and headed toward the Raddus.


Despite his family dysfunction and his inherent distrust of his mother, Ben forged ahead and confided in his parents about the many years of mental abuse and trauma he had suffered as a result of Snoke's cunning manipulations. Talking about it so openly for the first time triggered the emotional pain and distress he had been forced to endure alone for pretty much his whole life. If Rey hadn't been with him, he didn't think he could have gone through with it. Her gaze remained fixed on him the whole time. Her eyes saying what he needed to hear: "I see you. I do. I see the pain in your eyes. It has sat there for your life time, but I'm here. Let me join you in that pain, walk with you, feel the same torture I know you bear. And, together, we'll overcome it."

He wasn't alone.

She was with him.

He could do this.

When Ben reached the end of his confession, once again his emotions turned jagged and his insides tight. He waited, wide eyed, heart in his mouth, anxious about his parent's reaction. As predicted, Han immediately balked, kicking off by uttering a string of expletives. He pushed his chair back violently, pacing back and forth as he declared Snoke a dead man. Han's reaction was as familiar in a way that was traumatic. Ben didn't want his father issuing death threats, what use were they now? He would have welcomed this in his youth, but his father's constant absence in his life, especially during his vulnerable younger years had allowed Snoke in to try and corrupt his soul. That was when he needed Han's protection. Now, his anger and frustration at the situation rang hollow.

Ben swallowed down his pain, his face remaining impassive as he turned his attention away from Han and focused on his mother instead. Leia's complexion had turned ashen. She appeared stunned, but something in her eyes showed, that this news wasn't a complete surprise to her like it was to Han.

Ben's brain stuttered for a moment and every part of him went on pause while he waited for his thoughts to catch up. Then it hit him, the undeniable truth. His mother's underreaction only adding to the confirmation. "You knew?" He accused; his voice hoarse with disbelief. "You knew about Snoke? Didn't you?"

"I was…was trying to protect you." Leia faltered.

Before Ben could respond to that statement, Han stepped in and confronted his wife. "You knew from the beginning?" He exclaimed angrily. He looked completely betrayed. "Why didn't you tell me?'

Leia blanched under the ferocity of his tone. "Snoke knew our child would be strong with the Force, that he was born for equal potential for good or evil.' She explained in an effort to defend herself. "There were many reasons why I didn't tell you. I was hoping that I was wrong. That it wasn't true. I hoped I could sway him, turn him away from the Dark Side myself, without having to involve you."

"You are unbelievable!" Han retorted bitterly. "You had no right to keep this from me!"

Leia remained on the defensive. "You have wonderful qualities Han, but patience and understanding were never among them. I was afraid that your reactions would only drive Ben further to the Dark Side. I thought I could shield him from Snoke's influence and you, from what was happening."

"You didn't trust me."

Leia's voice dropped and she had trouble looking at him directly. 'It's clear now that I was wrong. Whether your involvement would have made a difference, we'll never know."

Han was still having trouble believing what he was hearing. Like his wife, he seemed to have forgotten Ben and Rey were still in the same room, watching and listening to their every interaction. "So, you're telling me Snoke was watching our son since the day he was born?"

"Always." Leia admitted. "From the shadows in the beginning, even before I realised what was happening, he was manipulating everything – pulling our son toward the Dark Side."

"If you knew. Then Luke knew." Han guessed.

"Yes." Leia looked at him pleadingly, her eyes begging for understanding. "That's why I sent him to train under Luke…. for protection."

"So, you handed the problem over to your brother instead of letting us deal with it, together, like a family." Han said resentfully. "You really have some nerve, sweetheart. You always think you know best. You always have to control everything."

Red bloomed on Leia's cheeks as she slowly began to lose her own temper. "You have the audacity to talk to me about family. You were always off doing your own thing…while I…"

"Was too busy trying to save the galaxy to focus on the fact that an evil monster was grooming our son!" Han interrupted bitingly.

When Ben looked her way, Rey could see he was one more blow away from breaking. She understood now why he had kept the heavy burden of his secret from his parents for all these years. Knowing them so well, he would have anticipated this reaction, his personal trauma had become all about them and the way they had handled it. They were so busy arguing with each other, they had failed to do the one thing that Ben so desperately needed them to do -support him.

"I'm so sorry, Ben." Rey whispered to him forlornly. "I was wrong to suggest you tell them."

"It doesn't matter." Ben whispered back bleakly. Seeing his parents fighting was too reminiscent of his childhood. He hated seeing Rey so crestfallen. He knew how much she adored Han. The scales had well and truly fallen from her eyes and it had to hurt. As for him, he couldn't find it within him to be disappointed with his parents, he was used to it. "Let's go."

"K.'" Rey mumbled as she followed Ben and quietly rose to her feet.

They were halfway across the room when Han and Leia noticed they were leaving. "Where are you going?" Han called after them. "We haven't finished talking this through yet."

"Please, come back and sit down so we can discuss this." Leia added.

Ben glanced over his shoulder at his parents. They seemed utterly bewildered that he was essentially walking away after dropping such a huge bombshell. It would be laughable if it wasn't so tragic. "You seemed to be doing just fine without me. Carry on." He said scathingly. "Rey and I have somewhere else to be."

As the doors glided smoothly shut behind him, sealing his parents inside their quarters, Ben felt a sense of relief that it was over. There comes a point in trauma when seeking empathy from others is not enough to bring healing. He had to do that himself. Ben realised his parents were incapable of offering him the kind of support he needed. Only one person could do that. He glanced at Rey, walking steadfastly by his side, the shared warmth from their bond reached his heart unaided and he relaxed.

A/N-thanks for reading!