Sparks

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Chapter One

That smile. So precious. His last gift to her.

And now he was growing cold.

She was losing him. He had sacrificed everything for her.

And now he was dying. Paying the ultimate price.

Why?

What had it all been for?

Rey's hand remained tightly clasped in Ben's as he collapsed to the ground. The Force reached for him in welcome. But Rey wasn't prepared to let him go. She had felt all alone for all of those years on Jakku, and the whole time she had been part of a Dyad all along. The signs had always been there, how had she missed them? And, now, just when she had discovered that precious connection, that incredible sense of unity, she was losing it.

Ben looked up at Rey one last time, saw first the confusion, then the resolve forming in her beautiful hazel eyes. She was a fighter. Always had been. But this was one fight she couldn't win. She didn't have enough life force to bring him back. Even in his last moment, he could sense that was what she intended to do. He had poured everything he had into her, and that hadn't been much, just enough to spark the little bit of life that remained inside her, just enough to start her heart beating. To bring her back.

"Don't." His mouth could barely form words as he tried to speak, to warn her not to even try. Her attempt would only end in failure, meaning his own sacrifice would be in vain. "Just let me go."

Rey crouched over him, staring down at his face. He was already fading away. She was losing him. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "You promised me that I wasn't alone. And now you're leaving me."

In the moment, that flash of anger protected Ben from the pain of leaving. If he were to relive it, he would try to summon more strength. He had failed himself, and her too. "I will always be with you, Rey." He gasped. "In here." He raised one shaking hand and placed it over her heart.

"Its not enough. I don't want a part of you. I want all of you." Rey cried in anguish. She felt like her heart was being shorn in two. Everything she wanted, everything she had strived so hard for was being ripped away. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. How was she supposed to survive with only half a soul?

Rey's emotions turned - cold, fearful, anxious...like a small child, wide eyes and shaking limbs, still looking for that dark place all over again, but praying for the light to give her the answers. Just like Ben had searched for them earlier-none came. The Jedi had used her as a vessel, then abandoned her.

Ben was the only one who had come to save her…

Rey gazed at the tumbled wreckage of the cathedral around her as she placed her hand on Ben's chest, her fingers splayed over his heart. She ignored his dying protests and closed her eyes as she poured everything into him. Seconds passed, she couldn't feel her arms and legs. She reached for the Force…. she sensed…. Finn? And…Jannah?

"Goodbye." Rey murmured in relief. Giving up absolutely everything didn't matter anymore -compared to being with Ben. Her friends would go on without her…. she just couldn't go on without Ben.

Rey collapsed on top of Ben and felt herself slowly drifting away. Dying wasn't so bad after all, she decided, as she felt Ben's arms wrap around her. It was more peaceful than she'd imagined. This was different to the first time, she was more aware, happier. At peace. Centred. Rey embraced the feeling. Let the joys of small things bring a soft happiness, a sense that is akin to gratitude and awe.

"I love you." She mumbled. "I wish I'd told you that."

"You didn't need to." He answered. "Deep down I always knew. And, Rey, I love you, too."

When the Emperor had stolen their life force, it had left her feeling carved out and broken. She always had to give, to give everything. Ben was the only one who had ever given her anything back. Her body relaxed as she continued to drift, embracing the peace and calm the way Leia had taught her. Through that calm came a voice calling her name.

Rey,

Rey,

Rey!

"I'm tired." She whispered.

The same voice came at her fast but gentle, as though she lay in the confluence of the Force, possibilities, futures and pasts all stretching away from her. The cosmos, time, energy, being-nothing was the way she thought it was.

Then that voice again, getting more insistent. More powerful.

Rey,

Rey,

Rey! Wake up! Open your eyes and see!

A shining presence filled her awareness. So familiar. So beloved.

Rey didn't understand, but she accepted and slowly pushed her heavy eyelids open. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but when they did, she had trouble believing what she was seeing. It was Ben. Looking down at her. He was so handsome, from the depth of his eyes, to the gentle expressions of his voice as he spoke her name.

"It's not so bad." She said thickly.

"What isn't?" Ben questioned, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Was he laughing at her?

"Being dead." Rey smiled up at him dazedly. "It doesn't hurt like I thought it would."

"Ah." Ben murmured. From his eyes came an intensity, an honesty, a gentleness.

Rey continued to stare up at him admiringly. What he was, what was beautiful about him, came from deep within, she decided, it made her want to feel how his lips moved in a kiss again, how his hands followed the curves of her body. She could get used to this, not having to hide how she felt, being able to voice her thoughts without fear of saying the wrong thing. This after life, whatever it was, was perfection.

"You can kiss me, you know." She stated boldly.

The blush that accompanied her bold declaration was a sight to behold. It didn't help that he was so modest with it. Even here. Wherever this place was.

"That might not be such a good idea right now." Ben murmured, his eyes flicking to the left and right of him.

Why not?

And what was he looking at?

Rey found herself feeling immensely frustrated. Did he not want to kiss her? He had enjoyed it the last time. She may be innocent in the ways of love, but he had definitely been into it, by the way he had clutched at her when she had pressed her lips clumsily onto his after he'd brought her back to life. She remembered the way he nuzzled closer, trying to deepen the kiss before she'd reluctantly pulled away to look at him.

"Rey, please tell me you're suffering from some weird after affects of your concussion and that you don't really want to kiss that guy?"

Finn's disgusted voice pulled Rey out of her dream like state, plunging her back into reality. Her mouth formed a surprised O as she glanced to the left and saw her friend hovering by her side. On the other was a disgruntled looking Poe. And in the middle of the two men-his hands manacled together in front of him, and towering above all of them- was Ben, looking calm, expectant, and amused all at once.

"Oh, so we actually made it?" Rey laughed nervously as realisation dawned. "We're alive?"

"Very much so." Ben agreed.

Finn's expression turned sour. "And now you've seen for yourself that's she's alright, we'll escort you back to your cell." He said harshly to Ben.

"Good luck with that." Ben murmured when Rey sat up abruptly, glaring at both Finn and Poe in annoyance. The feral scavenger was back. Oh, how he had missed her! He settled back to enjoy the show. He had a feeling he wouldn't be going back to his cell any time soon.

A/N-thanks for reading!