Happy 2020! Thank you for being patient with this chapter I had some nye shenanigans to get through and I didn't want to rush this chapter out without giving it some love. Enjoy 3


Rey opens her eyes to find herself in the master quarters of the Falcon with a small blanket draped across her waist. She's lying atop the covers fully dressed - minus her boots which someone removed in her sleep. She rolls over with a groan, discovering Finn sleeping soundly beside her.

She sits up, feeling two of her buns droop and pieces of hair fall unceremoniously against the nape of her neck. Rey feels the pull of the bond from the other room and quickly climbs out of bed. She pads as quietly as she can down the hall back to her room, opening her door slowly.

Ben is fast asleep in her bed - her very small bed which is dwarfed dramatically by his massive frame. Rey feels her cheeks flush as she examines how her blankets do very little to cover his bare torso. I only hope the med droid left him with his pants. Rey giggled softly at the thought and slapped her hand over her mouth. Ben's eyes shoot open and blink at her slowly, his mind and Force signature blooming with life as he instantly recognized her. He starts to sit up and winces in pain. Rey crosses the room towards him in an instant. "Ben?"

He pushes himself up once more and pulls himself into a sitting position. "It's just my leg. I think I need another patch."

Rey takes the opportunity to focus on finding another med-pack instead of ogling at him. The blanket had continued to fail it's only job and fall across Ben's lap, revealing his toned chest. Rey opened up the med-pack and turned back to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Better...now..." He rolled his shoulders as he rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at her. Taking her eyes off his biceps, Rey assessed her options and took a seat on the edge of the bed. She set the patches in her lap, put an infusion on her bedside shelf, and dropped the rest of the pack on the floor. She looked up slowly, struggling to meet Ben's eyes as he watched her. "What is it?" "Nothing..." His smile gave him away but Rey didn't press.

Without hesitating any further, Rey reached forward and began removing the spoiled bandage from his chest. Ben gives himself the infusion, which immediately makes Rey worry how many times he's done it before. Surely someone of his rank and status has always had access to a med droid? Rey opens a fresh bandage and reapplies it in the same place, pressing down softly while keeping her eyes focused on her own hands.

As her fingers lingered against his chest, Ben reaches up and takes her hand, moving it from the patch to the center of his chest. Rey can feel the steady heartbeat underneath and takes a shaking breath. A thousand questions tumble through her head - through the bond -, a thousand things she wants to say to him as reality sets her in place.

Not too long ago, Rey had squashed her ideas of Ben Solo returning to the light - her light, her home, her new family. That had stayed with her following the Resistance's victory and she'd been sure she would carry on just like she always did. She hadn't mourned Ben Solo, who had died in her arms. She chose to live the life he gave back to her.

Except now he wasn't dead, he was very alive and holding her hand against his beating heart. Now she had nothing but questions for him and his beating heart.

Rey decided to focus on the one question most important to her. "Ben..." Rey shallows as his fingers tightened against hers. "How did you..." She looked up into his dark eyes. "I felt it. I felt you leave...I saw it...and our bond it..." Ben nodded slowly. "I don't want to frighten you...but I don't truly know."

Rey finds herself shocked by his answer. He continues. "When I woke up my mother was there. She told me where I could find you..." His lips quivered softly at the mention of Leia. "...and the rest of the Resistance...so I got into the Tie-Fighter and I..." As he struggles to find his words, Rey laces their fingers together.

"You came back to me..." Rey leans in slowly with a grin. "I was right."

This makes Ben chuckle - the low sound like music to Rey's ears - and he runs a hand through his hair. He squeezes her hand tightly against his chest. "My father used to tell me women were always right...even when they were wrong...it's a wonder why I didn't listen..."

Rey sees a flash of a memory of a much younger Han Solo lecturing 'her' about the ways of women. Seeing his smug grin once more fills her with so much happiness. Rey rubs her thumb against the base of Ben's palm, releasing her hand from his and using it to push his messy hair behind his ear. The Force thrums in appreciation as her touch lingers against his cheek.

"The Force seems to like it when we're together..." She whispers, letting her thumb pad closer to Ben's lips. His gaze is intense as he turns his face, kissing the inside of her palm softly. Rey gasps as she feels his other hand slid behind her back, pulling her closer to him. Rey lets her eyes flutter shut as Ben leans forward and his lips meet hers.

Their position is awkward, with Rey leaning farther forward than she imagines she would and Ben sitting up too straight. Something was off. She can sense his hesitation through the bond. He's holding back. Rey can't blame him either. Their first kiss was electric - full of the life that Ben was giving to her. This kiss is new, different, more like what a first kiss is imagined to be. Rey pushes back on his shoulders, meeting his calculated frown with a smirk. Trust me.

Rey pushes herself up onto her knees and crawls closer to him - the discarded bandages scattering to the ground. He stares at her almost dumbfounded as she takes his face in both hands and studies it. She traces a finger from his temple to his jaw, spreading the palm of her hand against his cheek as she admired all the freckles on his face. She couldn't help but revel in how soft his skin was, even where he'd once sported his scar.

She feels a pang of regret course through her as she recalled what she did to him that night. I wonder if I hurt him. He takes her wrist suddenly. "I will never regret being beaten by you that day...you saved me..." "Did I?" Rey whispers, leaning closer and pressing her lips to his brow. He sighs softly, letting his hand slide down her arm. Rey shook her head. "I must've been a sight...waving the saber around like a maniac..."

Ben chuckles at her words as he slowly wraps her in his embrace. "The girl who bested me. Who took hold of my heart..." His words are less than a mumble as their lips meet again. Rey leans into him and this time, there was nothing timid about their touch. Ben groans as he wraps an arm around Rey's waist and pulls her tight against him. Rey kisses him fiercely, releasing her grip on his face and sliding her hands into his luscious dark hair. Every feeling, every ounce of pain, every moment of helplessness Rey had felt since Exogul evaporated in an instant.

The Force practically erupted around them as they continued kissing each other. Neither of them could keep their hands in one place - Rey couldn't decide between his hair, his neck, his shoulders, his chest. She could feel her head spinning as Ben's lips drift from her own, peppering her jaw with small kisses until he reaches her neck. Rey.

His voice overwhelms her senses, but two can play at that game. Ben...Ben... "Ben..." Rey moans, slapping her hand over her mouth as Ben sighs. She suddenly remembers where she is, where they are, and how the door of her quarters is wide open. Ben chuckles underneath her, his warm breath tickling her neck. Rey almost slaps him as he continues his soft kisses along her neck and collarbone. Ben...we're going to get caught... She sighs as he doesn't answer and tightens his grip around her waist. I don't care. I just want-

"Mistress Rey! Master Finn!" Rey and Ben freeze as c3po's wiry voice echoes down the hall, followed by the creaking of his steps. Rey pushes herself back and they share a look of panic. She clears her throat. "I'm in my room 3po!"

Rey feels embarrassment ripple through the bond and she watches Ben scramble to gather her blanket as she climbs off the bed. He yanks it over his waist and doesn't look at her as he runs a hand through his hair. Rey's cheeks burn in realization just as the golden droid enter's her quarters.

"Mistress Rey! Oh my goodness and Young Master Solo! It is a pleasure to see you!" "It's good to see you 3po." Ben smiled at the droid.

Poe is close behind c3po, peering into the room. "You two are up early." He does a once over of them both, making a quick observation of their mussed up appearances. He grimaces. "Well, that's...urgh. Nevermind. We're having a meeting to finalize the council plans. You're both expected to be there - and bring the tape, Ben. I'm going to wake up Finn."

Ben nods silently as Poe gestures to him. "And find him something to wear would you Rey? We don't need any distractions." She covers her mouth to conceal a laugh as he walks away, c3po following after him. Rey bites her lip and meet's Ben's pained expression. That was humiliating. He mutters across the bond. Rey shakes her head. Well judging on how many compromising positions I've found him and Finn in we're far from being even.

Rey leans down to kiss his cheek but gasps softly as he turns and meets her lips. Rey shoves his shoulder and steps away from him, their distance giving her the space to sweep her eyes over his broad chest. "He's not wrong about your need for a shirt..." Ben pulls at the far end of the blanket. "And the med droid tore the hem of my pants to apply the infusion on my leg. Do you think there are any clothes on the ship I can borrow?" Rey nods before he finishes his thought. "I'll be right back!"

Rey leaves him to navigate through the unorganized storage rooms at the back of the ship where she discovers an old box. She opens it and finds what she is looking for - a box of men's clothes Leia had asked her to keep on the Falcon upon their settlement of Ajan Kloss. She dug through it, finding a dark blue shirt and brown trousers. She held them up and judged their length and stretch against her own small frame.

Satisfied, Rey brought the clothing back to her quarters to find Ben sitting up, kicking his boots off with a groan. She tossed him the pants. "I have a feeling these will fit...Ben?" He cringes. "These were my father's clothes..." He turns the clothing over in his hands. "My mother must have kept them...after..." Rey steps to him in a panic. "Oh I can look for something else you don't-" "They're perfect." He takes the shirt from her. "I'll wear them. I'm sorry for making you worry. Now you have to get ready."

Rey turns away from him to hide her flushed face. She steps back into the hall and finds her shoes sitting outside the master quarters. Thanks Finn. She is positive she can hear the generals bickering inside but decides to leave them to it. She slides them back on quickly and makes her way back to her room, finding Ben mostly dressed and fixing his own boots.

Rey crosses the room silently and begins to undo her arm wraps. After she readjusts her tunic and replaces her wraps, she grabs her hairbrush off her shelves and lets down her signature hairstyle. She brushed through her hair quickly and began retying the top bun, leaving the brush on a shelf.

She hears Ben groan and whips around, catching him with the Force as he stumbled forward on his bad leg. She keeps a light hold of him as he stands straight and finishes adjusting his pants. Rey gives him a once over and notices how although the pants fit fine, the blue shirt is strained - stretching ridiculously against his toned chest and shoulders. She catches him also looking her over, his gaze falling on her hair. "I remember the first time I saw you with your hair down...it's a wonder you don't wear it like that more often..."

Rey smiled as she remembered that night - after she returned to her hut on Achtoo and the Force had connected them. He'd been so silent upon their connection, Rey had assumed he was shocked by her haggard appearance, but his memories proved her wrong. He thought I was beautiful... Rey scoffed and tried to distract herself by working on her second hair bun. "The day I wear my hair down is the day I see your hair in buns Ben Solo." "I'll have to remember that..."

Rey feels his presence and tosses a glare over her shoulder. Ben had moved right behind her, his fingers ghosting over the few pieces of hair on her shoulder. She's taken by his gaze, his eyes switching between searching her own and her lips. She can sense him leaning forward and as Rey's eyes begin to flutter closed, he hums softly and reaches past her. He takes her hairbrush from where she left it. "May I?"

Rey can feel her lips open in shock as she nods mindlessly. He had you by a string, didn't he? She watches as Ben assesses his appearance in her small mirror and brushes his hair back. It's so low he has to stand at an angle to see the top of his head. "I need a shower..." He grumbled as he took the brush to his mop of hair again.

Rey smiled as he made faces as it fell in different directions. Her mind wandered to all the other small moments they could share now that the future was theirs. As if reading her mind, Ben set her brush down, stepping into Rey's space and putting a hand on either side of her. He was so incredibly large, taking up more space than Rey could fathom as he cornered her against the shelves.

She tilted her chin up higher to look at him. "I'm happy you're here..." She could barely muster more than a whisper. A soft sigh escapes him as Ben leaned down to capture her lips in a hard kiss, making Rey gasp in surprise. It hits her again, that feeling of absolute bliss. Those warm feelings of complete...oneness.

They are interrupted by a sharp knock at the door - which Rey had thankfully remembered to close. "Rey! Poe's ready for you! Is Ben up?" Finn called from the other side. "I'll be right there!" Rey calls back. Ben steals one more soft kiss from Rey as they pull apart. He smiles down at her. I'm looking forward to doing that every day...

She resists the urge to embrace him again and starts towards the door. At this rate, we'll never make it out of here. Rey realizes her inner qualm has an audience as Ben chuckles at her. He gives himself a once over and limps across the room to meet her at the door.

"Shall we?" He smirks at her. Rey takes Ben's hand and laces their fingers together. "Only if we do it ..together."

As Ben and Rey walk together to the middle of the Falcon, they find Poe, Finn, Kaydel, and Rose all waiting for them. Zorri and Jannah are nowhere to be found. Their absence suddenly makes Rey nervous. The thought of how others would react to her and Ben's blossoming relationship makes her stomach churn. Or whatever we are...

Sensing her mixed feelings, Ben gracefully shields their joined hands by feigning a deeper pain in his leg, helping Rey have a reason to support his arm with her other hand. Rey can tell by the way Poe rolls his eyes that it wasn't convincing. As they take their seats he begins.

"So as we predicted there are only a few people that know the truth about your being the son of General Organa...but it's going to spread like wildfire. Seeing how you spent your time as Supreme Leader without your helmet that also means you're easy to recognize and it'll be important to keep a low profile. Which shouldn't be hard to do." Poe and Kaydel shrug at each other. "Regardless of whether or not the galaxy knows you, the order has fallen and you are seeking sanctuary. You have surrendered all your FO intel to us, which is your collateral for staying out of a cell and becoming an ally to the Resistance- sound about right?"

Ben nods, removing the tape from his pocket. He glances at Rey and she can see the mischief in his eyes as he sends the tape float gently towards Poe with the Force. Poe rolls his eyes as he catches it. "And for all that it is worth do not attack anyone for whatever reason. No Jedi nonsense...that includes you, Rey."

Rey scoffs at this. "I would never-"

"I may not know Solo here but I know Kylo Ren has a temper and I've also seen what you can do when you're mad." Ben conceals a chuckle poorly as Rey glares at him.

Finn waves his hands. "What Poe is trying to say is we need to make sure we can establish Ben's trust among the Resistance. It won't make sense to every person in our Forces that we've allowed the Supreme Leader off scott free. It's going to be messy, but we'll all get through it if we work together." Rey feels Ben take her hand under the table and lace their fingers with a tight squeeze.

Poe hands the data tape to Rose. "Rose, I'll need you to decode some of this for me so we can have some evidence to present to the council." She nods and smiles. "Looks like I'm going to Naboo with you."

Rey feels Ben tense beside her at the mention of the planet. Are you alright? - Ask him if we're going to the planet with them. Please. Rey doesn't question him and gets Poe's attention.

"Would you still like me to go with you? To Naboo?" He nods quickly. "Oh right yes we were going to have you come with us in the Falcon and just lay low on the estate we're staying at." Rey can sense Ben's swarm of sudden feelings. "We'll know by the second day of meetings what the best way to break it to the council that we have Ky-...Ben with us. Sound good?" Rey nods. Poe waits for Ben's answer as he swallows and nods. "Yes."

Rey pockets her urges to question him further through the bond. Ben turns his attention to her as the rest of the group scatters amongst their tasks. Finn interrupts before Ben can speak. "Rey, would you mind helping me with the last of the cargo crates?" "Of course!" She shares a look with Ben. "I want to discuss this later." She ignores Finn's confused look and follows him across the ship. Chewie comes in and takes her place beside Ben. She can sense Ben relaxing even as he speaks quietly with the Wookie.

We'll get through this.

Together.


*insert confetti* look at these babies kissing and being cute. That's truly all I ever wanted for them and I'm so glad I get to try to write it. They just deserve all the love and happiness after being alone for so long. I hope no one is lactose intolerant because this got a tad bit cheesy. But come on! It's a space opera I can't help myself. A few notes:

- All fics are a little different but I decided to make my Force bond as simple as possible in terms of description. They can sense each other change in feelings in the Force and can communicate with each other when they're both consenting to it, but otherwise, Rey's dialogue would be internal. I tried and failed to describe the whole close/opening of mental walls that other fics use so I scrapped it completely.

- This will not be the fic you are looking for when it comes to determining how the galaxy is going to forgive Ben Solo. The data tape is really going to be a recipe for success and I don't plan to write a lot of political conflict around his return! I'm just here for the domestic fluff tbh. I've yet to determine if I want to avoid the stereotypical Naboo tropes of your average Reylo fic, but that's TBD at the moment as well!

I've been through some weird emotions this week as I watch a lot of Reylos turn into complete nutcases even though our ship is literally canon and there's no reason to be upset with the actors of the franchises (if you're not familiar with the John Boyega/Reylo twitter drama do yourself a favor and look it up it's a mess). I just want to keep spreading happiness and be someone who's kind to every shipper. That way we can all be awesome nerds together.

Thank you for reading! I truly appreciate it!