Chapter 57: Traitor
It's been 6 weeks, and the babies are doing wonderful. Burg said they are right on track for babies born at their size. Both a little over 4lbs, now around 8. Poe had gone to the village not long ago and was able to get some baby's clothes. I love dressing them up. But every time I look at them my heart breaks a little over missing Kylo. They remind me of his soft side. His gentle touch and our late nights in this bed.
Both the babies lay cooing in the middle of the bed while I get dressed. A cool breeze blowing through the balcony. I finish brushing my hair and lean over the babies. My incision almost completely healed. I feel almost back to normal, wearing black pants and a plain white shirt. I can fit into all my old clothes. I'm thankful for that.
Poe knocks on the door and slowly pushes it open, "Breakfast is ready. Do you need help?" He says.
"Sure. Want to grab Ana?" I reach over and grab Kylan. Kissing his nose and cheeks and I walk past Poe to the door. I walk downstairs, hearing Poe right behind me.
"Coffee ma'am." Dalah asks. She is such a delight to be back around. Helping with the cleaning.
"Sure." I lay Kylan down in the makeshift large bassinet and sit in a nearby chair at the dinning table. Poe lays Ana next to Kylan and sits down across from me. Burg emerges from the living room and sits down next to me.
"Your doing great Rey." He says and squeezes my shoulder. He looks exhausted, big black bags under his eyes. In his hand he holds a small red book. I recognize it from above the shelf.
"Why are you reading that?" I ask and point to the little book in his hand.
"Ohh, Force Bonds." He laughs. "I get bored here and how often will you be able to read such great book." His words sound eerie. There is no way he would ever know that about me and Kylo. No way.
"Oh yeah, good book." I say and excuse my self from the table. Checking on the babies before walking out into the patio. The water shimmering in the sun. Poe comes and stands next to me. "I miss him you know. A lot. Every time I look at those sweet babies I think of him." I say and then I look Poe, pleadingly.
"I know." He says and offers me a consoling hug. He lets go and steps back.
We spend the day playing with the babies, taking turns passing them around. Bed time comes quick, and they sleep up to 8 hours so I know if they go to bed now will be able to get a good amount of sleep since it's dark out. I lay them down each in their own bassinet and kiss them goodnight after their final feedings. I crawl under the covers and close my eyes. Ready for bed.
I wake up to a rustling. The room is dark, the sound unexpected. I turn and flick the lamp on next to the bed and in the corner is a face I will never forget. Finn, looking at me with almost a snarl, reaching for Ana.
"Get away from her!" I yell.
"It's for the best, they are the last Jedis, the survival of the Resistance depends on it Rey." He pleads with me. He reaches for Ana a little closer. I raise my hand and for the first time since the twins I froze something, Finn frozen in fear, not expecting me to wake up and ruin whatever plan he had. Poe comes barging in the room.
"How did you get in?" Poe yells out. "I'm sorry Rey. We have to leave here right away." I squeeze my hold around Finn and he grasps for air. "Stop Rey!" Poe yells and grabs my raised hand. I loosen my hold and Poe rushes over, tying Finns hands behind his back with a belt.
"Who else is with you? How did you find us?" I say, worry filling me. If their are more then how will I take them. I don't remember a lot of my training. I don't know where my saber is right now and I'm to tired.
"This was just a stop on my places to look for you. Last place I thought you would be. But here you are. Leia sent me, those babies need protection Rey. You think Poe is going to protect you? I'm suprised you arnt dead already... When we saw the Destroyer we barley got away. We assumed they took you guys but when we got Intel from the inside, there was no word. And Leia and I figured that their was still hope them. For Kylan and Ana to be raised as Jedi, not Siths... If they were to ever get to them." Finns says this all through his teeth. Spitting and eyes bulging in anger.
"I DONT CARE WHAT YOU THINK! THEY ARE MY BABIES AND YOU WILL NOT TAKE THEM!" I yell, I don't know either to kill my dearest friend from what seems like a lifetime ago or take him as prisoner. My heart pounds through my chest. I unclench Finn and Poe drags him out of the room. I frantically start packing everything I will need. Now we are on the run again. I was hoping Kylo would sense I was here and come back. But lately, ever since the twins where born I feel more distant from him. I throw my clothes and the babies clothes into bags. Rushing frantically around the room. Kylan fuses in his sleep and starts crying. I walk over to him and pick him up, cradling him close in my chest, he must sense my distress.
"Mommys little man, I love you so much. I will not let anyone get to you. I promise." His eyes quickly close and he's fast asleep. I kiss his little forehead and get their carriers together. They are just flat baskets with blankets piled in for comfort, Burg intertwined rope handles to the flat baskets so they have little transportable beds. Right now they look so small in them as I carefully one by one place them in their little pink and blue carriers. Pushing their hair into place and walking to pack my last bag.
Burg walks in, "We loaded the prisoner..." He hisses the word through his teeth, "... Onto the ship. Are you ready? What can I grab?" I point to the three large bags on he bed. I pick up the baskets and awkwardly carry them down the stairs, Burg huffing behind me from my heavy bags. When I get to the bottom of the stairs DalAH TAKES Kylan's handle from me and carries him the rest of the way to the dock where Poe has his shuttle hovering at the end. Dalah hands the baby to Poe while I catch a glimpse of a furious tied up and gagged Finn in the back.
"What are we going to do with him?" I ask Poe.
"Not sure, but if we send him back he will just come looking for us. We will take him with us. Or drop him at the nearest desert planet." He shoots a narrow eyes look to Finn who's eyes bulge out of his head.
"I could wipe his memory again." I say to Poe. "Or make him believe we arnt his enemy. We could use a pair of extra hands around here."
Poe looks nervously at Finn, "You don't want to kill him?" He asks me while still staring at Finn. I hear Burg shuffle onto the ship behind me.
I look back at Poe. "We need to go someplace new, hidden. I'm make Finn forget all the stuff about what Leia has apparently corrupted him with. And we can go. Okay?" Poe hesitantly nods his head. I walk over in front of Finn and look him in the eyes for a few seconds before shutting mine and concentrating. I raise my hand and pry into his mind. I watch what Leia says to him about the babies and all the places he looked...
Even Jakku...
I clear all these and wipe it a clean state, leaving him with only the good memories of us before before Starkiller. I honestly have no idea what I'm doing. I let go of his mind and open my eyes. He's slouched over, unconscious on the seat. I turn around and lol, at Poe.
"If that doesn't work, then I don't know... Drop him off somewhere. But I refuse to kill him." I say. I walk over and sit in the seat next to the baskets. Both babies sleeping peacefully. I slide down my seat. And we take off to a new place...
The Twins Turn One...
We have made a home on the planet of Gnash, it's a beautiful planet with large oceans and islands full of fresh fruit and harmless wild game for food. We landed on one of the islands exactly one year ago today with an empty minded Finn who soon believed that Poe was the father of Kylan and Ana, with all that black hair he very well could be. Once in awhile Burg and Finn will leave for half the day, getting supplies or clothes for the fast growing babies. They managed to pick up an extra shuttle at one of the exchanges.
We built little shakes out of the forest and keep mostly to ourselves now that the babies are alittle older and I can do more with them by myself. I'm trying to teach Ana to walk, Kylan was a much faster learner than she is. Her chubby wobbly legs and gummy one tooth smile.
I'm watching them play in the sand, slowly filling their cloth diapers with sand.
"They are defiantly going to need another bath." Poe says from behind me.
"Ha ha, yeah. I shouldn't of let them do that huh?" I look over to him, he makes his way past me and sits down next to the kids and starts brushing some sand off Anas cheek.
"Do you think we can stay here forever?" I ask.
"I hope so. It's relaxing you know, not fighting all the time." He says and looks up at me.
"I want to take the babies to the meadow. Just me and them for the day. It is their birthday" He winces and stands up. Walking slowly towards me.
"Why?" He says.
"Because I keep dreaming about it and I want to take them there. Just for a few hours. I will be fine. I am free to leave right?" I say.
"Well yeah, but I" he starts...
"I am going alone. I need a little space." I say. Putting my hand on his chest and pushing him back.
"Okay." I'll help you get your stuff together. One day can hurt." He says and shrugs.
We spend the next few hours getting the babies ready and he helps load them into the shuttle. Each in their baby seats Burg picked up one time on a trade. I can tell Poe is worried.
"We will be fine. No one but me and well you.. Know about that place. And by now I think Kylo might be dead. No one in the first order knows about the lake house at all. Or about its secret meadow. I'm going to land right in there. I'll be fine, a few hours at most." I say.
"Okay, yeah. A few hours." He says, he gives me a small hug. "If you don't come back then what?" He says and let's me go.
I laugh, "I'll be back. Kay?" I say. "Iv had a lot more practice with my powers, I can defend myself if need be... From the giant flies." I laugh again, he rolls his eyes and walks off the ramp.
I look down at the kids, sleeping away and raise the ramp. Take seat in the pilot seat and take off, smoothly in order to not wake them. Before I know it I see the darkness of space and the twinkling stars for the first time in a year. I slump in my seat. Thinking of Kylo, he's somewhere out there. Either dead or looking for me.
But he stopped the connection, he could turn it back on.
I shake my head, press all the correct buttons and type in the coordinates for Naboo, to my meadow.
When I arrive the littles are still sleeping. So I lower the ramp and walk down into the meadow. Running my hands over the tall grass. Closing my eyes and soaki in the sun. It feels different here. Like home. This place feels like it calls to me, like I belong here.
I wore my best dress and took time brushing my hair before coming here. I wanted to feel totally different than the dirty mom on the island, running from the wrong of the resistance and the wrong of the first order. I don't know where our place in the galaxy lies. Without Kylo... I feel lost I grab my chest because I feel the hollowness in my heart. Where there should be something that was ripped out. I fall to my knees and cry, silently. Silent sobbing to myself. To my broken soul.
For the first time I really believe Kylo might be dead.
Ana starts fussing and calling for mama so I get up and wipe my tears. Walking back into the shuttle to grab my bag and unstrap the littles. I put Kylan down and let him walk off the shuttle while I follow close behind with Ana. Setting her down on the grass and fluffing a blanket to sit them on. I move Ana over and make Kylan sit while I hand the handfuls of Island berries to gobble up to keep them still. I lay down and let the sun hit my bare arms. Listening to the bustling waterfalls and the giggles of the twins, now throwing berries at each other.
We spend hours playing in the meadow. Me holding Ana while Kylan wobbles behind, his walking is strong for his little legs. I don't worry about him falling. Ana laughs and claps. Kylan giggling behind us. I move the blanket into the shade of the shuttle and lay the littles down, Ana passed out in my arms. I wait for Kylan to quickly fall sound asleep before walking over to the waters edge and dipping my toes in. The close waterfall misting on my hot skin. I pick some flowers and make a bundle for back on the island. I start gathering my stuff, ready to take the kids back but letting them sleep till I put everything away in the bag.
"Rey..." A deep voice from afar, so low but I can still here it. Calling to me. I drop the cup in my hand and slowly stand up, All the hair on my body stands up. Not knowing who was somewhere behind me.
I cautiously turn around and in the distance is a black hooded man. His face smothered by the shadow of the hood. My heart pounds in my chest. I start walking backwards towards the littles, sleeping peacefully in the shade of the wing.
"Don't run..." It says... I stop moving, something about the hooded man seems to catch my attention. I squint my eyes and try and see into the shadow.
My hands shoot to my mouth and my heart leaps from its place, thumping out of my chest, out of control. My eyes fill with uncontrollable tears.
"Ky...Kylo..." I want to run to the man but he hasn't removed his hood yet so I can't be to sure. I take a step forward... Being pulled in his direction, my heart filling with joy.
Slowly he raises his hands, both black and gloved and holds onto the brim of his hood, pausing for a second. My heart just can't take the anticipation. His hood drops and my heart stops.
"Kylo." I start running, as fast as I can through the field. He slowly walks towards me, through the blooming flowers and tall grass. I slam into him, hard. But he remains upright. Wrapping me in his embrace. Our lips meeting and it's like they never were separated. I wrap my arms so tight around his neck I don't know how he didn't suffocate. Tears draining from my eyes. He pulls back and places his forehead against mine and slowly lowers me to my feet.
"I'm here my love, I'm here." He says. Pulling me close so our bodies are flushed against each other, feeling his strong form through his shirt. I loosen my arms around him and just run my fingers through the hair at the nap of his neck.
"Where have you been? How did you find me? I was..." And then I stop and pull back, my mind registering his face a few second ago... His scar is gone.
I pull away just enough to look at him face. Iv missed his face so much.
"Your scar." I say, the words barley leave my mouth. He uses one hand sprawled on my back to hold me still as he reaches up and touches my face.
"I won Rey." He says. And gives me a quick soft kiss. "He's dead. I am now the Supreme Leader." He smiles, his smile much larger than I remember.
"You... Your the new leader?" I can hardly speak. I quickly peak around my shoulder back to the blanket with the sleeping toddlers. Kylo catches my glance and his fingers tighten.
"I want to see them." He says.
"Of course of course. Today is their birthday you know." I push off his chest and grab his hand, pausing for a second... It's much harder than I remeber, her gives me a small squueze and looks down at me.
"Today? Odd." He looks down at our hands intertwined, "We can talk about that later." He kisses me again and I start walking fast to the kids, pulling Kylo behind me till we stand directly in front of them.
"Anas a peaceful sound sleeper and Kylan is like you... Snores in his sleep." I laugh and wipe away some tears. His eyes never leaving the blanket. He squats down and takes off his right glove, which is still a flesh hand.
"I can't believe this is real right now, Iv dreamed of this moment." I say. He reaches up and runs his giant fingers over Anas small arm and then to Kylans. His hand trembling.
"So have I, I am sorry I waited so long. There were... complications..." He says. He stands back up. He still looks the same to me, except his scar is gone. I can't stop thinking about that, out of all things. I kinda liked it, it made him even more special because he loved me even though I did that to him.
"But you arnt connected to me anymore... You turned it off. For over a year... Left me wondering." I look down at the babies. Ana rustles in her sleep. Kylos posture changes as he straitens up.
"I had to do what I had to do, to make sure you were safe. Like I said, we have a lot to talk about." He frowns. My heart drops at the just sheer sight of him, how much I have longed to see him. I walk forward and wrap my arms around his ribs, burying my head under his neck and just holding him tight. He embraces me. Kissing my hair and brining his ungloved hand to the back of my neck, holding me tight. "It's okay, I'm never leaving you again."
I sniffle, "How did you know I was here, why can't I feel you... Why haven't you opened back up the connection?" I say, my words muffled by my sobs in his chest. I inhale his misty sent, filling my nostrils with it. A smell I never want to forget.
"I..." He starts, a loud noise comes from above us and I step out of the shade to see our other shuttle landing in the meadow. My heart pounding. Kylos eyes narrow at me.
"Its Poe." I say to him.
"The Resistance pilot." He says confused, his face slowly turning more angry.
"Yes, hes been very helpful while you have been away." I snarl at him. I turn my attention back to the landing shuttle. The ramp lowers and my throat is in my stomach. I try to talk but I can tell from Poe's expression he is misunderstanding the situation.
"Is this why you wanted to come here?! Is this why you wanted to come alone... did you plan on ever coming back?!" He yells. Every hair on my body stands up, caught between Kylo and Poe in a total misunderstanding.
Kylo raises his arm and I feel it, a push at my force as he searches all my memories of the past year and two months. I fall to my knees and through the muffles I hear running. Poe running to me but then it stops... but not close.
I look up and Kylo has his arm outreached to Poe, holding him mid run, Searching his thought, something I refused to do to him.
"You...you love her." His eyebrows narrow at Poe. I never thought of his affection as something of love, because no love could compare mine for Kylos. I always though of Poe as a great friend but from the outside it might look different. I wobble to my feet. Noticing that Kylan is standing up walking for his father, a man he has never yet but feels drawn to him. His arm upwards wanting to be held...
** Thank you readers! Kylo is back :) **