Sparks

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Chapter Four-C-3PO

"I cannot believe you are alive, sir. This is a miracle. I must say. But so sad that our beloved princess is no longer with us to rejoice in your return. I am so sorry for your loss, Master Ben." C-3PO babbled quickly before Rey had the chance to hush him. "May I, on behalf of the droid community, welcome you to Ajan Kloss."

"Thanks, Threepio." Ben mumbled. The diplomatic droid's casual mention of his mother had thrown him. It was clear that C-3PO had been kept in the dark about his former identity. He didn't think he could handle this interaction right now.

"Threeopio, Ben is feeling rather tired." Rey intervened when she saw him struggling.

"Oh my! You must excuse me, sir. Where are my manners? Of course, you must be exhausted. Though I must ask…where have you been? We really needed you in our struggle with Kylo – "

"He was right where he needed to be, Threepio." Rey cut in sharply. "He was the reason we managed to defeat Palpatine."

"Oh, thank the maker! So, you were right in the thick of the action? I wish I had known. No one tells me anything." C-3PO lamented as he threw his arms up in the air.

"If that's all, Threepio." Rey said impatiently.

"Yes, of course. I'll leave you now. Oh, this is a miracle. I cannot wait to tell R2." C-3PO shuffled off, his yellow eyes eagerly searching for his smaller companion.

Ben's sadness drained through him rather than skating over his skin. He saw the same melancholy reflected in Rey's eyes. The diplomatic droid's interruption had killed the mood, and drudged up yet more guilt. "We should have told the truth. Now he thinks I'm some kind of hero." He said bitterly.

"And what good would that have done?" Rey demanded, her anger overriding her sadness. "The less everyone knows about your former identity, the better."

"We lied." Ben continued flatly.

"How?" Rey persisted. "You were right there, standing beside me when we faced down the emperor. So, where's the lie? He didn't ask directly if you were Kylo Ren."

Ben felt dejected- a mixture of hope and hopelessness. He had been so determined to face up to his past, to confront it and atone. It was always going to be a difficult path to follow, especially when he was asking Rey to walk that path with him.

"I don't want you to live your life constantly having to defend me all the time, or to protect others from the knowledge of who I once was." Ben reached out and ran his thumb along the curve her jaw until he ended up cupping her chin. "You deserve so much better than that."

"I know what I'm signing up for, Ben. Give me some credit." Rey argued hotly.

"I do." Ben drew her face closer to his own. The fire in her eyes was intoxicating, especially when he was the cause of it. "I give you credit for everything."

Rey bit her lip, trying to control her nerves, eyes suddenly everywhere but on Ben. She knew he was going to kiss her again. The first time had been so spontaneous, but this, this was something else.

Ben moved closer, with those eyes that looked so deeply into her own, "Hey, it's me."

Rey's breathing became softer, her pensive look melting into a smile as soft as the morning light. Her body squirmed just a little as her muscles relaxed. There was something about that gaze of his she knew she would never find in another man, as if in that moment their souls have made a bridge. In that moment of the kiss, their chemistry became an ever-bright flame, transporting them into another world entirely.

With his hands in her hair, hers upon his chest, Ben deepened the kiss, gently coaxing her lips apart. Rey responded to his overtures eagerly, losing herself in him completely. Ben swept Rey's hair aside and kissed her just over the collarbone. She nibbled the lobe of his ear, and then sank into his welcoming arms. Ben buried his face in the curve of her shoulder, his hands flexing around her back. He gave a reduced groan. "I love you," he murmured into her hair. "So much."

"I love you, too." Rey whispered back. "Whatever happens, Ben, we can face it. Just as long as we're together."

A/N-thanks for reading!