Ben

My hands shook as I fastened the clasp of my cloak, and I sighed, raking them through my hair.

It's just a meeting, I lied to myself, trying to calm my breathing. I just have to make it through the meeting.

And I had to play the role of Kylo Ren.

My fingers trembled as I pulled on my leather gloves, first the right, then the left, and I swallowed, remembered that I hadn't even worn the gloves since the battle of Hoth. I hadn't been him since the Battle of Hoth.

I walked toward the meeting room, my footsteps sounding loudly in my heavy, armored boots.

Kuruk and Ushar stood in front of the double doors, both in their full armor and helmets.

"You ready?" Ushar asked.

I took a final breath, held it, set my jaw, and nodded once.

Together they pulled the doors open, and held them for me as I walked inside.

The officers gathered in the room all bowed in unison.

I straightened, flexing my shoulders and balling my hands into fists at my sides.

"It has been several months since you've joined us, Supreme Leader." Allegiant General Pryde commented, standing.

I cut him a sideways glare. "So you knew it was Hux parading around as me?"

His expression fell, as several other generals eyed him. "Of course I didn't know!" He insisted.

"Let's hope not." I strode passed them and turned, sitting in the high backed throne in the middle of the room. "If you knew it was Hux, or of his plan to assassinate me, that would make you a traitor, same as him." I gave him a knowing smile. "And, what do we do to traitors?"

He swallowed, and averted his gaze.

The doors of the throne room opened, and my blood halted in my veins when I saw Rey stride in, flanked by Ap'lek and Trugden.

She was in brown leather trousers and a snuggly fitting cream colored sweater, showing off the softness that had replaced the hard angles of her body.

She was no longer starved, no longer worked to the point of exhaustion. Now, she was exuding confidence as she held my hard gaze, nothing but love and reassurance in her hazel eyes.

I felt a stab of guilt. I'd never wanted her to see me like this, see this side of me again. Would she hate me? Resent me for bringing her here?

You don't scare me. She said, through the Bond. I know it's you behind the mask, and I'm not afraid.

"Excellent!" Pryde praised. "You have Hux's murderer in custody!"

I shook my head. "She's not in custody." I watched as she walked to me. I stood, and extended a hand to her. She took it, smiling as I bowed to her and planted a kiss over the delicate ring that adorned her third finger.

"What is the meaning of this?' Pryde demanded.

"I'd like to introduce you to Rey-" My eyes slid to him. "Solo. My wife, my Mate, and your Queen."

My Knights all knelt to one knee, with a chant of "My Queen."

Several shocked gasps sounded around the throne room, and Pryde stared at us with his mouth hanging open. "You can't be serious."

"I'm very serious." I assured him, moving aside, and Rey sat on my throne, still grasping my hand. "Our Bond is verified, and our marriage is recorded in the archives as being witnessed by the Queen of Naboo."

There was the sound of frantic typing on a data pad as someone looked to validate my claim.

"It's true." They confirmed.

My Knights stood.

"Since I'm feeling generous, i'll give you more good news." I drawled. "I'm appointing Trudgen as my second in command, and putting Ap'lek in charge of returning the recruits."

The General paled, looking from Ap'lek, then to Trudgen, then to me.

"Is there a problem, General?" I asked, the threat in my voice clear.

"Surely you don't intend to return all of these children one by one." He snapped.

"That's exactly what I intend to do." I affirmed. "And any recruit who wishes to return to his family may do so, without being seen as a deserter or a coward."

There were more shocked gasps and whispers from officers around the room.

"And those who stay?" Pryde asked.

"Will be sent to help with the rebuilding efforts across the galaxy."

This earned a chuckle from him. "Are we a humanitarian organization, now?"

"No." I growled, stopping his laugh. "But, I refuse to have my name tied with death, destruction, and human trafficking any longer. As long as I am your Supreme Leader, this Order will be what I say it is. And, I say that the trafficking of children stops now. The Storm Trooper training stops now. And those children who were taken or bought from their families who will have them back will be returned immediately."

Pryde's face was red with rage. "Hux would have never stood for this!"

"And Hux is dead." Rey spat. Pryde growled at her.

"You think you're my Queen?" He sneered. "You're nothing but a scavenger whore, no matter who you fuck-"

His heated words were cut short as he went rigid, rising up on the points of the toes of his shoes.

My Knights were up, instantly in their fighting stances.

I gripped the Force around Pryde, adding pressure, and he strained to get free, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Don't. Rey said, through the Bond, stopping me from crushing his rib cage.

"Apologize." I commanded, my voice icy rage.

"S-sorry." He choked out and I released him.

"Mr. Pryde is relieved of his command." I told Ushar. "Get him off of my ship"

He obeyed, scooping up the man and hauling him out of the room.

I turned to Rey who'd gone pale, clutching the arms of the throne in a white knuckled grip.

My chest ached. I hated this. I'd presented her to them as my wife, and announced her as their queen, and despite this, they still thought of her as nothing but a scavenger who'd married me for power.

"You're dismissed." I said, and watched as they moved toward the door, murmuring amongst themselves. "Oh, and gentlemen?" They stopped, and turned to look at me. "Any of you who cannot accept my wife as your queen, I expect your resignation notice immediately. If you stay, you will respect her, and if you do not, you will get no other warnings."

Some bowed their heads in acknowledgement. Others leveled looks at me full of hatred.

I stepped closer. "I know you hate me, so you can give me any look you'd like. However, if you ever look at my mate with such destain again, I will personally rip yiur fucking throats out." I curled my fingers, and several officers blinked, some coughing or tugging their collars as I squeezed their throats with the Force.

I nodded toward the door behind them, and they nearly fled, shoving each other to get out of the room.

I covered my face with my hands, and groaned into them.

"We knew they would be difficult." She reminded me.

"But the way they looked at you." I hadn't been prepared for what that would do to me. "What they think of you."

"It doesn't matter what they think of me." She stood. "So long as they uphold the changes that we're bringing."

Yes, the changes. The entire reason we chose to stay.

"Ap'lek," I heard Rey call. "Report."

"We've located a few hundred families, using the records that we have on file." He said. "Efforts have begun to return those children."

"Put out an announcement on the news casters." She said. "Anyone whose child was taken may submit a DNA sample and be reunited with the match."

Ap'lek bowed his head. "At once, my Queen."

"Any child that is not matched, or who cannot be returned will stay on board, and we will recruit professionals from around the galaxy for their education and care." She came to my side and took my hand.

"Trugden, report to the bridge." I told him. "The ship is yours while we're gone." I nodded toward Kuruk, and he began moving toward the hangar.

"Where are you going?" Trugden asked.

Rey smiled up at me, and I squeezed her hand. "To return a Zavrak boy to his father on Kessel."I told them, and pulled Rey to my side, putting an arm around her and kissing her hair before we began to walk.

oOo

Leia

Lieutenant Connix poked her head into my office. "General." She called, and I looked up. "You want to come see this."

I stood, and followed her into a nearby lounge where several others were huddled around a newscaster.

"This comes from Supreme Leader Ren himself." The anchor was saying. "Along with a public apology for The First Orders previous practices. Anyone whose child was taken can submit DNA and if matched, the child will be returned to them."

I leaned against a doorframe, and crossed my arms over my chest.

"This comes just days after his shocking announcement of his elopement." The station showed a clip of Ben and Rey on stage the day that they'd made the announcement. Though he'd had to assume the role of Kylo Ren, Rey had never looked happier, seeming to be a pillar of strength and support for her new husband.

I glanced over to my left and saw Finn watching the news caster, his jaw tight. "Are you ok?" I asked.

He looked at me and sighed, turning his attention back to the screen. "He said that any trooper who wants to leave can, and he's pardoned those who have deserted." He shrugged. "So, I guess that means I'm no longer a traitor."

I pursed my lips. "I guess so."

"When Rey said that she'd left of her own free will, and when she chose to stay with him, I thought-" He trailed off, looking at me. "But he really is Ben, isn't he?"

I nodded. "Yes, he is."

"And he really does love her." That wasn't a question, more of a statement.

I nodded again. "Yes, he does."

"Him and Rey are starting a school for Force sensitives, and they're training the children who can't be returned to their families." He said.

"Well," I looked down. "Having a child with such power is….daunting. Some families want their children to stay with them to be trained."

He lowered his chin. "She's asked me to train with her."

To learn to use the abilities that were beginning to surface.

"And," he looked at me. "I'd like your leave to go."

I felt a grin spread across my face, because he didn't know that they'd also asked me to help them train the children and I planned to leave in a fortnight.

I nodded once. "Granted."

oOo

Author's Note: I can't believe it's over!

Thanks again to my bff Lena who listened to my plot ideas for years while I worked on this. Thanks to my husband who made sure I was correct in Star Wars lore, and thanks to my beta reader Bibicakes who told me when my writing sucked and my ideas were bad.

But, honestly, I couldn't have done this without you. You're what kept me going, and you're why this actually got finished.

I love you all like Han loves Chewie!!