*Authors note: Since we are in quarantine, I'm going update probably every other day guys, this story is going a completely different direction than I intended. This won't be the only Reylo fanfic I write tho, I promise ;). Anyways, hope you guys enjoy the rest of the story! ps: I will update One More Chance as soon as I can, it's just this one's been in my head for a minute lol

Rey

Dinner was a mostly quiet affair. Ben had mostly decided he wanted to play 20 questions to see what I liked, what I didn't like.

Sure, he would have searched my mind and I would have let him, but where was the fun in that?

So, we spent almost three hours in the dining hall eating and talking. The whole thing felt so completely natural.

Until the very end of the conversation.

"So, Rey… have you ever uh…been with anyone else? Any other relationships or…?"

I don't know if I was too surprised at the question, I guess it was only natural he would be curious about it. Plus, I had thrown a bit of a jealous fit over Sage earlier…

"Well um… no I… I haven't. I was rather preoccupied with mostly survival I wasn't used to physical contact to be honest. After my parents left me well… I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't form another… connection that would allow pain again. Of course, it seems destiny had other plans for me." I said as I reached up and touched his hand.

"I guess that makes sense" he said, allowing me to stroke the back of his hand.

"What about you?" I asked cautiously. Sometimes things about his past were a little triggering. I had to be careful with how and when I asked things. I also didn't know if I wanted to know the answer to this particular question.

He sighed before answering.

"Well… when I was training under Luke, I was friends with a girl named Voe, I really liked her, but she always had this strange vendetta against me when we were kids. She was very competitive and always wanted to be better than I was. I liked her fiery spirit and tenacity. It never went beyond that. I guess you could say I have a type though" he finished with a smile. I loved his smile.

It was one of those things that was so new, but it was so warm, and I could feel the joy he now radiated through our bond.

"Are you ready to go Princess? I still have that surprise waiting for you. Let's grab our capes and go?" I nodded at once jumping out of the chair and grabbing his hand once again and leading him to the bedroom ready for whatever it was he had in mind.

Ben

"Alright Ben, can't I get one tiny little clue pleeeeeeeeeease?" she begged once again. We left the warmth of the big house and were on our way to the mainland.

"No sweetheart, it's called a surprise for a reason" I said grinning at her. She smiled back but shyly looked away. She wasn't used to me being… the way I was now.

To be honest, I wasn't used to being this way with anyone either, some of the words that came out of my mouth when I was around her were shocking.

I parked the boat on the dock of the mainland and helped Rey get out of it. The dress I helped her pick this morning was stunning on her. It hugged her small figure extremely well and yet, she looked so regal and elegant. She was the most beautiful woman in the galaxy to me.

I grabbed her hand and led her towards a very familiar path towards a hill. I remembered coming here as a child the few times my mother wasn't busy.

I know you miss her…she said in my head.

Yes… I saw her in the in between you know… I finally spent time with her…I told her.

She squeezed my hand and felt her put her comfort and love into my thoughts. I looked at her and smiled.

She smiled back.

"Okay well I don't know how much you managed to get out of my head… but we are here princess." I said as I pointed towards the opposite side of the hill we had climbed on.

"I respect the walls we've put up! Some of your thoughts are just… very loud that's all." She said shyly, as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn't have.

"It's alright Rey, I imagine this will take some getting used to. It was one thing being able to know everything when we were connected but now I see everything you see and feel everything you feel. Time is all we have now." I said wrapping an arm around her.

"Now" I continued "Look over there…" I pointed towards the city and saw the first of hundreds of lanterns float to the sky.

I felt her excitement through our bond and looked over to her. She was smiling from ear to ear and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. I would do anything to keep that smile on her face.

"Ben it's… it's absolutely beautiful…"

"This lighting of the lanterns happens every time the season change for about a week. It's believed to mimic the movement and beauty of change, we can't stop it any more than we can stop the lanterns from floating away. My mother would bring me here sometimes, it was the best memory I have with her"

I reached into a small pocket in my cape and pulled out the small trinket my grandmother had given me.

"Rey… I brought you here because I want to make new memories with you wherever we go. I don't have a ring yet… but I have this for now." I held it up for her to see the little japor snippet hanging from its thread. "My grandmother gave it to me when I saw her in the in between, she told me to give it to you when I felt the time was right… My grandfather gave it to her. Now, I give it to you and all I ask is that…you…" I paused and kneeled in front of her, I could feel the overflow of emotions coming from her. "I just want you to be my wife, and I promise I will love you even after I'm dead. I want nothing more than to be by your side for eternity"

Suddenly I was on my back and Rey was laughing in my ear and planting small kisses. She had managed to tackle me on to the ground and I just held her there. I was completely and utterly content with just enjoying her presence.

"In case you hadn't noticed my answer is yes" she said between breaths.

"Okay well in that case, this now belongs to you princess" I said as I sat up. She lifted her hair and I clasped the necklace on.

"I love you" I whispered to her.

"I know" her response instantly bringing the biggest smile to my face.