Well then, this really didn't want to happen. I scrapped this chapter three times. This is my fourth rewrite! I wanted to make sure I gave the boys some good face time while keeping to their characters which is where feel like I struggled. I don't think there will be much more passed this, as I previously stated I wrote the end chapter first and it feels like it's growing time to tie it all together. I really appreciate all your kind words and input. It's been brilliant and so utterly up lifting. You are all so marvellous xo


Never in her life had Rey experienced such a peaceful state of slumber. Her body hummed with blissful contentment as her body stretched against the strong arms which held her securely. Ben was decidedly a heavy sleeper, his breath falling in small puffs of air that sounded faintly like snoring. Not the full blown bantha stampede type but the soft hitch of an inhalation that sounded like a faint gasp of air. It was real and human and so utterly boring that she loved it. It was such a mundane thought, a partners light snoring that for just a moment she granted herself the opportunity to enjoy their small piece of normality. Soon however, quiet curiosity got the better of her and she found herself carefully leaning back to catch a partial glimpse of his sleeping form.

Ben asleep was like Ben in most aspects of his life, dark and beautiful. His full lips parted just so made that light snoring utterly adorable. His strong lean form wrapping itself protectively around hers felt warm and glorious. Even in sleep his arms managed to make her feel safe and lo…. cared for. With no real desire to move Rey nestled in closely snuggling into the hallow of his throat. Gently she pressed a kiss to the soft flesh decorating his collarbone, eliciting a sleepy groan and a shift in positions from Ben. He didn't wake, but wrapped his arms more securely around her small form housing her within his warmth. Already buried beneath a pile of blankets Rey didn't remember being present the night before, she sighed and idly allowed her fingers to trace smooth circular patterns against his pec muscle. Delighted he hadn't bothered to put on a shirt she marvelled at the way his skin felt against her fingers, her arms, her stomach.

Her stomach?

Suddenly very aware of her current state of undress Rey stiffened as the events that lead up to their current position washed over her. Slightly mortified Rey felt as the force around her faltered. Like a child stumbling down the stairs she fell through the emotions feeling everything in a confusing haze. Her mental struggle sent a ripple thought the force which seemed to nudge at Ben's sleeping consciousness. He mumbled something faintly and pressed his nose into the top of her head. Nuzzling it sweetly he placed a kiss against her brow, eyes still closed in a state of peaceful happiness. "Mmmmm, morning," he mumbled softly, soaking up the feeling of her body pressed tightly against his. She could feel his casual exploration of each unique sensation through the force around them. It was the faintest graze of fingertips drawing over the seem of where their bodies connected. As though testing the boundaries of their closeness.

"Hello," Rey said softly, her voice still mildly sleep addled. She was reluctant to move, her mind in a state of easy serenity. Beyond the confines of their small metal hold was the real world, a world which rejected their budding relationship. They feared what they didn't understand and denied the idea that Ben could be anything more then the soulless king of darkness.

Getting up meant facing that world, a world where they would be separated and judged. Getting up meant leaving the confines of his warm embrace in favour of accusatory glances and further arguments. Getting up seemed like a very bad idea.

Ben, picking up on that line of thought gave Rey a soft squeeze before he pulled back just slightly, allowing enough space for him to gaze down at her happily. His eyes were heavily laden with sleep. Dark depthless pools that normally looked so brown they almost seemed black normally now revealed themselves to be a beautiful hazel. The color reminded her of Corellian whisky, the way it adapted to the light just so.

With a smile he rolled onto his back, one arm still happily trapped beneath Rey as the other ran a hand through his hair a few times. It was a motion that was decidedly very Ben. The change in position caused their blankets to shift a little and fall away, allowing Rey a better view of his pale skin beneath the bright lights of the hold. Sliding just a little closer she placed her hand against his sternum and rest her chin atop it. Ben's arms drew her closer practically rolling her petite form over top him in a smooth and fluid motion. Rey found it east to settle into the position, her knees coming to rest on either side of his hips. He kept his touch innocent, a soft trailing of fingertips along the back side of her arm, up and over her triceps, then back down again. The feel of his touch was electric, humming through the force in a low pitched vibration that set her skin alight.

His presence was all encompassing and yet restrained. He toyed with the way his light fluctuated against the darkness, allowing the two to meld in ways that gave Rey small glimpses into his more private mind scape. She found herself dipping into that pool of shadows herself, finding a deep need seated at its core, not the fear and hatred she had been expecting. Darkness, like the light was multilayered and fascinating. It's pull a dangerous call that must be met with cautious answer.

She was worried at first, the way he pulled at the shadows around him. She reached out into it with warm tendrils of curious light. When the darkness didn't shirk away from her exploration she allowed it to lap at her force energy delicately, like a loth-cat winding it's way about your legs. Neither spoke, nor moved. They communicated through the force, allowing their energies to crash and wander through and over one another. His darkness was warm, not cold as she had expected. There was a passion there that begged for her light to meet it. Jedi were not permitted worldly attachments, they weren't allowed to marry or have children for passion opened a door for fear and hatred. How stilted their mindsets had been. As Rey explored the depths of this connection she felt the warm coiling darkness of his passion wind itself around her, not suffocating her light but enhancing its brightness. Curiously she toyed with the sensation, his dark need unyielding while her bright light shown with the luminescence of a super nova.

Her breathing began falling in rapid puffs as their energies connected and stilled. It was glorious the way passion met need in an eruption of colors and blinding light. Without warning Ben shifted their positions, Rey's back suddenly against the floor as his strong form hovered over her watching through eyes clouded with a need to understand and discover. He was hesitant and yet insistent, his body a hard line of muscle and deep thrumming energy. She found him, nestled between her legs, holding himself up on his elbows and forearms as his face found itself now precariously close to her own. Their noses touched, feather light and testing, his lips a breath away, holding enough space so that he could lose himself within her eyes.

"What is this," he practically growled. Rey found herself unable to answer, lost on the current of light and dark dancing and swirling around on another. She focused on her breathing for fear she might crumble should she focus anywhere else. "Do you feel it?"

Weakly she nodded, watching as he closed his eyes, their noses sliding against one another softly. He became wrapped up in the sensation, slowly becoming lost as the dark began to pull and tug at him with deeper insistence. Rey felt as he slipped a little, her light wrenching after him. When his eyes opened moments later they were a haze of dark unbridled desire. He looked almost dangerous in that moment sparking a level of panic in Rey she was afraid to admit. His body pressed a little firmer against hers, more then she was prepared for and she gasped. Her apprehension fluttered along the force, a soft trickle and then, as he smiled with predatory fierceness it became a furious torrent of fear. The sensation hit him hard and he drew back, shaking himself off. Rey simply blinked, breathing steady as she gave him space to adjust.

She could feel as embarrassment wavered through the force, Ben's control had slipped. The darkness that he had wound about them had seized him quickly and he had fallen with it allowing his light and adoration to become mottled and manipulated by his baser instincts. There was room for the two but it would take time to find the balance within the force.

Gently she raised her hand to press against his cheek. Drawing a knuckle across the surprisingly soft scape of his jawline she playfully snatched at his ear lobe and gave it a playful tweak between her thumb and forefinger. Ben's eyes drew wide and with a chuckle he delved into her neck, worshiping it in a fury of quick pecking kisses. Caught unaware Rey squealed and that was when all hell broke loose.

They had been so swept up in one another that neither had noticed when they were no longer alone. It happened fast, Finn was on Ben's back trying to wrestle him off Rey as Poe torn between shock and fury drew his blaster pistol and readied it to fire. The force around Ben bucked and raged as his eyes found Rey's with a look of defeated surrender. Finn held Ben's arms behind his back as Poe levelled his gun and Rey cried out in agitation.

Both of her friends seemed to forget she was even there as they marvelled at their triumph, subduing the great Kylo Ren. "Not so tough with a gun held to your head," Poe muttered venomously. The act was asinine, their win had granted them a false sense of bravado. How quickly they seemed to forget the power Ben wielded without needing a weapon. Rey could feel the tempest of his emotions struggling beneath the wall he kept carefully in place. His instincts were telling him to lash out, to crush them, to over power the aggressors but still he kept his eyes trained on her. He was using her as an anchor, holding himself against her steadying light as the darkness groped and grabbed at him.

He was silent, he was still, his arms wrenched back uncomfortably behind his back as Finn held him tight. The sight would have been laughable, like watching two little boys play soldier if it wasn't so utterly dangerous.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Rey cried finally, "What has he done to deserve this?"

Finn turned his head looking her over. The sheets she clung to her chest fell just a little showing exposed shoulders and sleep mussed hair. Her lips she could feel were swollen, her neck warm and possibly a little red from Ben's delightful attack just moments prior. He had the decency to look away when he realized what was happening. Eyes on the back of Ben's head, then to Poe as if trying to silently communicate what they had failed to pick up on.

His hold on Ben shifted some allowing for Ben's shoulders to relax against their position. Still Poe held his pistol aimed and steady, reluctant to shift his position at all. "Put the gun down Poe, Now," Rey demanded, her friends eyes turning to her a moment then back to their captive. She could see how easily his thoughts tumbled into madness, the way the force shifted around him, growing darker around it's edges. "Poe," she warned stiffly, his sudden descent into the dark was making her very nervous. Ben could sense it too, the muscles in his neck tensed as he readied himself for an attack.

Things were about to get very dangerous if someone didn't stand down. Ben's patience was waning, like a fuse lit and ready to blow. As Poe looked to Rey once more, finally seeing what it was Finn had been trying to communicate subtly. He turned, the gun moving with him, sliding off of Ben and onto Rey without realizing it. "What are you doing?" he asked, his hold on the weapon loosening some.

But all Ben saw was a gun shifting towards Rey and his resolve snapped. Finn was thrown back, stunned as he stumbled against the force of an unseen assailant. Poe hadn't time to respond as Ben struck his gun hand. There was a crack and the clattering sound of metal hitting the floor. Poe cried out, nursing his wrist which was injured in the impact while Ben placed himself between Rey and her friends, effectively shielding her from attack.

Poe was cursing as Finn approached, looking at the injured appendage carefully, "I think it may be broken," he said calmly, his fingers moving over the area as Poe hissed and recoiled from the touch. "Yep, definitely broken," Finn assessed casting a look towards Rey and Ben.

Ben looked wild, like a loth-wolf ready to attack, his shoulders set in a line of hard defiance, determined to shield Rey from any harm. Her hand came down on his shoulder gently and he tensed beneath it's touch before relaxing. Turning to face her, he hovered over her, eyes searching her face as his hand raised to draw delicately across her cheek. With calm reassurance she brought her hand up to hold against his for just a moment treating him to a warm smile before she pushed away and stood up.

Finn suddenly found everything in the room that wasn't Rey incredibly interesting while Poe stared at her in open defiance. "What is this?" he demanded as Ben rose to his feet coming to stand at Rey's back.

With a shake of her head and a slight eye roll Rey approached Poe, "It's us," she stated simply, "Now give it," she gestured towards the wrist he was cradling against his body. His dark eyes watched her with a level of distrust that stung just a little. They shared a quiet stalemate before he held out the injured wrist and watched her place gentle hands over it. A hushed whisper fell over the room as Rey inhaled slowly and wove delicate tendrils of her force energy through the damaged bone. Poe's wrist grew warm beneath her touch and the anguish on his face dissipated.

"Thanks," he muttered, Ben behind them had picked up her shirt and was handing it to her as Finn eyed him carefully.

"So, this is a thing now, you're a thing?" he asked awkwardly. Ben shrugged while Rey shot him an exasperated look. She made fast work of pulling on her tunic, adjusting the leather ties in the process.

"I suppose there's a lot to explain," she gave by way of answer, watching Ben as he set to work finding his own shirt in the pile of blankets that had previously been their bed. Poe was making a face that said he didn't want to hear any of it while Finn looked like he might vomit. Rey was growing tired of all this foolishness and was prepared to put an end to it once and for all.

"No, no not really," Poe was back to stubborn opposition as he flexed his fingers and tested his newly healed wrist. "I think it's all pretty straight forward, he has you under that force manipulation… thing," grasping at straws, he looked to Finn for support.

"He doesn't," Finn told him sadly, he seemed to loathe that he had to give Ben credit for that but Finn was never a good liar.

Looking increasingly annoyed Poe wheeled around on Finn, "And how would you know that?" he cried looking a mix of hurt and betrayed.

Rey swatted at Poe and grumbled, "Smarten up!" to which Finn gestured knowingly. "Why can't you pull your head out of your cockpit and just listen to us," gesturing between herself and Ben Rey pleaded with Poe, beseeching her dear friend to give her the benefit of the doubt. He didn't need to trust Ben but he should trust her.

Poe pursed his lips and took a steadying breath before he hollered, "He tortured me Rey! He tortured me, he tortured you, he tried to kill us and you're canoodling with him now so we should just trust it?"

It was Ben who spoke next, pulling his shirt lazily down over his shoulders. Rey noticed he went with his old black ripped piece of clothing instead of the new tunic she had provided for him. Probably the best, it would do no good to look like an over grown man child while fighting this battle, "Do you want an apology?" he asked quietly, testing the limits of Poe's patience.

With a chastising look cast over her shoulder in his direction Rey spoke his name softly. It was a nudge for him to rise above the situation at hand but Ben had done an awful lot of rising and received an awful lot of grief for his exercise in control. Still, for Rey he yielded. That was of course until Poe turned his attack on her.

Ben felt the shift in the force first, the hallow darkness that welled around Poe was unmistakable. His ire wound itself around each of them, tugging harshly at their resolve. He made himself fill the room without realizing it, his emotions raging and confused. He was hurt, he was angry and most violent of all he felt disrespected and betrayed by Rey. She didn't seem to notice the shift, still fighting against the hurt she felt over their lack of trust. Cautiously Ben reached out to take her hand but the action did not go unnoticed by her friends. Still, his fingers wound into hers as he made himself into a wall at her back.

"What I want," Poe seethed, "Is for you to pay for everything you've done, for everyone we've lost." he meant Leia they both realized quickly. Ben grew still, Rey looked unsure but Poe took the opportunity to press forward, "I want you to stop preying on our friend. I want her to stop acting like some love struck fool and start acting like the fighter we know her to be,"

The force around Ben grew dark and thick. Rey gave his hand a gentle squeeze trying to assuage his mounting fury but the darkness sang to him of revenge and protecting the one he cared for. She knew the song well, it had lulled her into a state of rage and fear before but Ben and Leia had saved her from it. Ben's hold on the light was tenuous at best, the dark was a comfort to him, something he knew well.

"Stop," she found herself crying out, "Stop, STOP," She threw herself against the force, a light erupting through the darkness. Finn and Ben both looked thoroughly shocked while Poe crinkled his nose, annoyed at being chastised.

"No, you know what," he stepped forward drawing himself up, his chest puffed slightly, "You stop." pointing his finger in her face now he chewed his lip giving his head a faint shake, "Stop being so stupid," Eyes wide Rey stared at him as he continued, "I know the concept of family is a little foreign to you but I thought we were in this fight together. You've betrayed us, you've betrayed Leia and you've betrayed our chance for peace."

A sharp inhalation of air came from over Rey's shoulder as Ben squeezed her hand. He was trying desperately to maintain control but the wall he had built up was now crumbling down around them. His eyes were dark and furious as he moved to stand in front of Rey. She struggled and tried to pull him back but this was one time he wasn't prepared to listen. Hovering over Poe like a wampa ready to attack it's prey he steadied himself and spoke. "You need to take it down a notch," when Poe baulked and prepared himself for retort Ben pointed the ole Solo finger directly in Poe's line of sight, "You can hate me, you can want me dead, I deserve that and worse," he agreed, Poe sneered, "But, what you will not do is treat her like that again."

Finn was watching with an air of curiosity his head cocked to the slide in quiet observation. Rey seemed to want to pull Ben back but his shoulders were set stone and he was not budging for anyone now. Ben could feel her apprehension wriggle down through the force but she was the only thing that mattered to him now. He was alive because they were connected. Every possibility, every opportunity, every laugh, smile, hug and more he owed to her and that glorious light which pulsated at her very core.

When Poe didn't snap back, Ben relaxed some, dropping the finger he had jammed in Poe's face. He turned to Rey with a sad sort of smile before ducking to kiss her on the forehead, his free hand moving to cup the back of her neck and base of her head. His lips were warm, sweet and filled with promises.

"Maybe we should listen…" Finn's hesitant suggestion caused the General to panic a little. He was gesturing widely with his arms in utter disbelief but Rey could feel the darkness slipping away.

"Poe, please," Rey pushed, her force energy winding around Poe in a vein attempt to sooth his ire, "Leia,"

"Don't!" Poe growled.

Still Rey pushed, "Leia gave her life in one last attempt to save her son," Poe was glowering at her, General Organa meant a lot to everyone in this hold but Poe seemed to owe her more then most. Or so he felt. Rey couldn't help but feel giving Ben life was a pretty big thing but then Rey recalled At-Shae's words. She didn't know Poe's story. "We all lost someone important when Leia passed," she hedged. Ben stiffened but she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze as she continue on. "You cared for her, we all did. Im not playing the who's hurt more game here, I'm just stating facts. The reality is though, She was a force within the Force. I think likely even stronger then Luke himself. She fought, she won some, lost many and still she stood up for something far greater then any one person. She knew her son's soul was good, she knew he could be saved and you dishonour her memory by not trusting in her death as you did in her life."

Finn looked to Poe, coming to stand by his friends side in silent support. When Poe didn't respond Finn chanced, "Rey has a point,"

Encouraged by this Rey pressed on, "I'm not asking you to be his best friend, I'm only asking that you hear his side," she paused as she looked to Ben, "Our side."

Irritation bubbled to the surface again as Poe shrugged out of Finn's embrace. He scrunched his nose and shook his head back in agitation, "Why do you have to do that?" he asked harshly, "Why is it now always you two together?" gesturing between the two of them with an over turned hand Poe grumbled to himself as though afraid to say what he knew was coming next. He didn't want to admit to something, "It use to be us, we were a family."

Ah, Jealousy and hurt.

Taken aback by this Rey stepped towards Poe quickly, "We are a family," she pressed. Moving until she stood directly in front of Poe, Rey forced him to look her in the eye. They were approximately the same height but for a small variance so when she looked at him, their gaze met instantly. Stubbornly he hesitated, his brown eyes marred by his own private emotional pain. He was torn between hollering some more and wrapping her up in a hug. He wanted so desperately to fight and yet more then anything he wanted to give in and forgive. "If you would stop fighting for just one second you would see." she said softly, gesturing between she and Ben, "This doesn't make us less family, he's lost too."

When it looked like Poe was about to draw back, Finn swooped in, crushing his two friends together in a tight embrace. He held them there, steady and solid, his arms winding around both of their necks. "Family doesn't always get along Poe," he said softly, giving them the faintest of squeezes as the other two wound their arms into the embrace. "You ran spice, we still love you," he said with a chuckle earning him a soft cuff to the back of the head.
"Can't let that one go, can you?" Poe growled jovially as they released Rey and he looped his arm more firmly around Finn's head, hauling him down as he rubbed his knuckles against Finn's crown playfully.

Rey giggled as she took a step back and away from the flailing boy arms to find herself pressed against Ben's solid form. When he had moved closer she couldn't be sure but she was glad for his presence. A large hand came to rest at her shoulder as she placed her own over top of it with a squeeze.

Poe and Finn were flailing now, Finn trying to gain purchase as Poe wrestled against him to maintain dominance. It was nice to see him smile, actually smile. Poe was all business all the time, he fought with everything he had, he sacrificed his own comfort, his own safety, his own life for the cause and was rewarded with the most epic victory in the galaxy and yet still his face was drawn in a hard line. They had won, they had survived and still he couldn't let it go. "You don't have to hold us all together Poe," Rey called with a quiet smile, "If you let go, we won't float away. We have so much more work to do and we'll need help," looking up at Ben she smiled, a fond grin which he returned.

Finn gained leverage, grabbing at Poe's legs as his assailant held on firmly to his head, Pulling up on one of Poe's legs he caused the man to loose his balance hopping on one foot. They looked like two young cadets fresh from flight academy, not a pair of resistance Generals responsible to defeating the Final Order. Still, joy was a good look for them. Poe was laughing loudly as he hopped, Finn's arms now wound around Poe's thigh as he continued to pull blindly with his head lost in the x wing pilots aggressive embrace. There was a sudden cry and Poe was grabbing at Finn's ear while the other seemed to pinch at Poe's legs, grabbing the sensitive flesh of his inner thigh rather harshly. Like a pair of little boys they fought, poking and jarring at each other, squabbling loudly as they went.

As the noise rose, like a pair of bantha in heat, Chewie poked his head into the engineering bay. Whether he was surprised to see it was Poe and Finn mucking about and not a squabble involving Ben, the wookiee gave no indication. He instead stood with his arms crossed against his chest and watched as the scene continued to unfold. Poe was hollering "Yield"

Finn crying, "Never!" as they bumped into crates and knocked back against the Millennium Falcon's sublight engines.

With a howling chatter Chewbacca strolled over to the two men pretzeled together. He grabbed each by the collar of his jacket and pulled them apart hastily. Due to his formidable size when Chewie pulled them apart, holding them at a distance neither of their feet managed to grace the ground. Poe cast the wookiee a sardonic look while Finn swung and flailed trying with all his might to get at Poe. Chewie warbled and chuffed as he set the two on the ground and the air in the hold was remarkably lighter. Finn swung to cuff Poe in the back of the head only to be awarded with a similar gesture offered up by Chewie. Poe laughed as he brushed off his pants and his jacket sleeves idly before turning to Rey and Ben.

They stood a unified front, Ben's hands pressed with protective force against Rey's shoulder as his force signature wound around her tightly. It thrummed against hers, wavering and winding until they were melded into a singular wave that caused the light around them to glow just faintly. Poe sneered slightly as Chewbacca nodded his head in their direction letting out a growling yip.

Rey smiled, "No more mead…" she said loftily Chewie letting out a chuffing laugh in response.

It was Poe however who sobered the situation, his eyes locked on Ben and Rey, where their bodies touched. He seemed to follow the invisibly cords which wrapped around them possessively joining them together, linking their bond on a deep and intimate level. "So…" he called as Finn and Chewie came to flank him, "Tell us the story, make us understand."

Sharing a knowing look both Rey and Ben let out a soft sigh before they set in on the tale of their force connection, where it started, how it had been manipulated. They spoke of Luke's failings as a teacher and Ben's up bringing much to the dismay of Poe. Eventually they came around to Rey and her lineage. She was hesitant at first to explain but so much had been laid bare that when she started, she simply couldn't stop. Everything came in waves and still her friends listened. They spoke of their fight with Palpatine, their struggle to survive and how they had made it off Exegol together. Her friends listened without contempt or judgement, asking quick but intelligent questions when necessary and giving them the credit they were due.

They offered honesty in it's truest form and were rewarded with a patient albeit hesitant understanding. It was a start, a rocky one but a start non the less.