Sparks

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Chapter Ten-Time to Go

Stars lit the sky like snow-flakes in the night, yet appeared still, like an old holo image from the distant past. Rey smiled, feeling the wind blow her hair into a tousled mane. If she were out there in space, riding the limits of the known galaxy, the stars would be like a choreographed blizzard, oh how they would tumble and dart in a whirl of picturesque beauty. She longed to escape the confining trees of the base on Ajan Kloss, to take the Falcon and dance with the stars above, to head off to destinations unknown, just her and Ben. Rey was beginning to believe that she would remain forever a prisoner of others' expectations of her. She had promised Finn and Poe six months of her life, but that six months had now turned into a year. How much more was she expected to give?

In the intervening months since Ben's revelation about his true parentage was broadcast on every news network spanning the galaxy, their life hadn't been their own. Max Sonata's plans had backfired on him, the wider star systems, desperate to latch onto a hero, had chosen Ben as their saviour. He was the son of a princess after all. That made him practically royalty. Tall, dark and brooding, he certainly fit the image of a storybook prince. What did it matter if Alderaan only existed in the lingering memory of those who had once walked its green pastures? A prince from an obliterated planet was better than a prince from nowhere.

How ironic that it was the former Supreme Leader of the First Order who was now helping to rebuild what he had once tried to destroy? Not that the citizens of the newly reformed senate knew that Ben Solo was once Kylo Ren. Rey mused how easily people were swayed by a good story- a prince of a long dead planet and the last jedi had come together to save the galaxy and rebuild it. Finn and Poe, initially angry at Ben's ownership of his former name, soon saw the advantages when it encouraged new star systems to sit at the negotiating table with them.

In the past the Republic was initially based on Chandrila, the Republic had chosen to rotate its capital to different member worlds through a process of election. Instead of choosing Coruscant, the former seat of power of the Galactic Republic and the Galactic Empire, the rotation of the capital helped convince star systems that were reluctant to join the Republic that it would not repeat the mistakes of its predecessors, and that this Republic would not be a Core-centric government. Poe and Finn were advocating for a similar system, though still cautiously optimistic that their hard work was paying off, and that soon peace would be within their grasp, they knew there was still a long road of negotiations ahead before anything crucial could be achieved.

Rey was dwelling on all this as she felt Ben come up behind her and slip his arms around her waist. She turned around in his embrace and snuggled against his solid body. "You want to leave." Ben said aloud, always attuned to her every thought and feeling.

Ben's hug was stronger than anything she'd ever known, as if holding her wasn't quite enough, he needed to feel every ounce that she was press into every ounce that was him. In that moment of feeling him so close, Rey felt more awake somehow, more alive than she had been in so very long. "I'm tired of all this, Ben." She admitted quietly. "I don't think I've got much more left to give."

Ben rested his chin on top of Rey's head and closed his eyes. He shared her exhaustion. It wasn't physical, it was more emotionally. Having so many eyes constantly watching their every move was mentally draining. Every day they were essentially performing for a crowd, having to be careful about every word they spoke in public, their every action studied and pulled apart for hidden meanings. It had afforded Ben a newfound respect for his mother, for he now had a first-hand glimpse of all that she had endured during her political career. It was no wonder she had little time for anything else, even family. She was a strong woman, determined to stand up for what she believed in, no matter what it cost her personally. But even though he had gained more of an understanding of Leia's achievements in the face of such adversity, it also made Ben more determined not to repeat her mistakes.

"You're always my first priority, Rey." Ben murmured.

"You want to carry on your mother's work. To make a difference. I know that." Rey raised her head to look up at his troubled face.

"That's not quite true." Ben brushed a stray lock of hair back from Rey's forehead. "It wasn't about carrying on my mother's legacy…it was about making myself feel better, like I was getting a real chance to atone for my past. And you stayed and supported me every step of the way, despite what it cost you."

"It wasn't all on you. I wanted to make a difference, too." Rey defended him.

"And you have, Rey. We wouldn't be in such a good place without your hard work…"

"And yours." Rey insisted.

A tender smile crossed Ben's face. She would forever try and defend him, despite his selfish desire to make himself feel better. Working with Finn and Poe toward a shared goal had made him feel good about himself, at least for a while. But he had soon seen he was falling into the same trap as his mother. He and Rey were drifting, just like Leia and Han had, with one sacrificing more than the other. Soon he didn't feel that good anymore, he just felt guilty, seeing daily how much Rey was hating this life they were building, and soon he was hating it, too. They were trapped and they had done it to themselves. Just like her, he soon came to long for his former anonymity. It was time for them to put themselves first, they had laid the groundwork for the future. It was time for others to build on it.

"So, we go?" Ben questioned.

"Just like that?" Rey countered with an anxious frown. "What about Finn and Poe?"

"I think if you ask them, they'll agree its time for us to take a step back." Ben took her face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her.

"You've already sounded them out, haven't you?" Rey mumbled against his questing lips.

"Uh huh." Ben was already losing himself in her and was beyond coherent thought.

"And?"

"Finn was understanding. Dameron not so much." Ben's lips were on the sensitive skin of her neck now. His touch started a fire within her that no one else could ignite.

Rey leaned her head to one side to give Ben better access. Her fingers wandered gently into his hair and she tugged on the ends. "Where would we go?" She asked, releasing a blissful sigh as his lips did a wicked dance along the base of her throat.

"Kashyyyk."

"Kashyyyk?" Rey cried in surprise.

Ben resurfaced with a broad smile, his eye twinkling. "Chewie finally reached out to me."

"And you're only telling me this now?" Rey slapped his chest playfully.

"I wanted it to be a surprise. And believe me it was a difficult secret to keep, with you knowing me so well." Ben teased, leaning down again to nuzzle her ear. "We leave for his home world tonight."

A/N-thanks for reading!