Chapter 5 Between Moments

Ben sat in the pilot's chair as the Falcon cruised through hyperspace. He was alone at the moment rather enjoying the quietness. The cabin was nearly dark while everyone else on the Falcon was doing something. He could be alone, something he was use to and relayed on. As he sat there alone in his thoughts he was thinking deeply. The emptiness of space around him helped the process. He thought about his choice he made.

Ben stood before that empty throne and could have taken the title of Supreme Leader, he could have been the Sith Lord, even his grandfather never managed that title fully let alone Jedi Master. He could have had it all, ruled the galaxy to the way he wanted it. But turned his back and why? Why turn from he wanted and probably what he was destine for? For death and glory? No, he knew he was going to die as the Knights of Ren would come for him. The First Order will hunt him because Hux hates him. Why give the galaxy that much power?

"Ben?" A voice called out to him in the dark. Ben turned around in the pilot's chair seeing nothing. He felt a pull though as he sat up and began to walk down the corridor. The Falcon was empty and dark as he looked around. The blackness seemed to cave in around him as he continued to walk down into the darkness. But then he stopped feeling this…cold wall. He reached out to touch it but his hand only reached into the blackness of endless space. "Skywalker!" A voice hissed and Ben pulled his arm back.

Then in the blackness he saw something glowing. It almost appeared to be eyes looking at him, yellow and fire eyes looking to him. "Solo!" Then something flashed before him.

Ben jolted awake hearing small chattering from behind him. He even heard someone laughing a little. Ben sat up slowly in the pilot's chair awaking from some sort of sleep. He then looked over as he saw Chewie. Chewie looked to Ben a little curiously. Ben shook it off while Chewie a little whine wanting to make sure he was ok. Ben waved it off as he turned around. The other two seats were empty. Chewie then spoke and Ben looked a little confused. Chewie stated Ben had fallen asleep for half an hour. To Ben it felt much longer though.

In the main haul of the Falcon the rest of the Resistance walked around, talked, maybe munched on some snacks. Rey sat at the table in her thoughts thinking. She has yet to talk to Leia about Luke and where he stands in all this. There wasn't time between Ben kissing death, keeping the Resistance from falling into shambles and hiding from the First Order. The last week was non-stop and it was only going to continue on. Rey tucked some hair behind her ear as she straighten herself up looking around. She then looked down seeing Luke's old saber at her side. Actually it wasn't even Luke's, it was Anakin's. It really belonged to Ben but she felt that she needed to keep safe for now.

In the cockpit Ben maintained the speed as a droid came in beeping. Ben turned around seeing R2 rolling in with BB-8 behind him. It was nice to see the old droid making friends. R2 hasn't worked since Luke left and Leia couldn't bare to give the droid away.

"No, R2 we are not there yet." Ben answered as he flipped a switched and leaned back. Flying was always soothing to him even in the heat of battle. He was much like his father, his uncle and his grandfather. Chewie spoke and R2 beeped at him. "I can manage from here Chewie." Ben insisted that the Wookie walk around and maybe eat. Chewie cocked his head asking a question. "No, thanks." Ben rejected the offer and Chewie sounded like he said whatever and got up. The Wookie and the two droids left the young Solo alone.

Rey sat at the table and saw Chewie and the two droids together. So she got up and went to Ben. She kind of wanted to be by herself with him. As she looked around to make sure no one was watching she headed to the cockpit. Finn saw her leave in the distance and went to follow but then felt a hand on his shoulder.

"She'll be ok." Poe assured his friend and Finn gave a sigh. Rey stood at the entrance of the cockpit and the pilot chair turned around as Ben was there.

"Can I sit?" Rey asked and Ben shrugged as Rey took up the copilot seat and sat down. "So…" She wanted to make small talk but it seemed awkward as Ben was definitely that quiet kid. "How...are…things?" Ben looked to her and she nodded. No news was good news maybe. Rey looked out to space. "You know…hyperspace looks so strange." She started and Ben looked back to her. She didn't look at him but knew this was just getting awkward. They seemed to work best in battle and not in a dinner conversion. "So,"

"I'm not good with small talk." Ben finally spoke up and Rey nodded as she figured that out. But she wanted to talk to him alone about what had happened. They both needed to know why it happened.

"Ok," Rey looked down a little and continued to sit there. "So…" The tension between them was thick for sure. "Do…you have a favorite color?" Rey asked starting there. They connected in the Force but yet they knew nothing of each other. Ben furrowed his eyebrows at that question and then finally looked at Rey. It was one way to strike up a conversion.

"Blue." He answered and Rey looked to him.

"Would have thought red." Rey muttered to herself. She then looked to Ben again. "How are you feeling?" Ben looked away and back out to space.

"I feel tired." Ben answered and he did. He knew he slept for a week but it didn't feel like it.

"You nearly died." Rey added just to make sure he understood what he came out of. No one really told him how bad it was so he looked back to Rey. "Like, you had this high fever from an infection that you seized and then we had to put you on ice and at one point your heart stopped. Completely stopped." Rey then looked away. "We all thought that was the end and then…you just came back." Rey couldn't explain it but Ben pulled through. Some would say it was fate and it must mean something.

The silence fell back over them again while they looked into hyperspace for another moment. Rey then leaned back into the chair and swiveled around a little. Ben then reached out and grabbed the chair to stop her. She realized it annoyed him and smiled just a little. But the burning question still remained.

"Why did you do it?" Rey asked looking to Ben but he adverted his eyes. "You killed Snoke and not me, why?" She wanted to know and had the right to know. Ben then looked to her.

"You're not my true enemy." Ben answered but that wasn't enough.

"Ok," Rey wanted more.

"I don't know why." Ben answered. "I don't know." He was frustrated though. "Maybe I wanted the throne."

"But you're here." Rey pointed out and Ben nodded in frustration. "There's a reason,"

"Ok, then Master, you tell me why." Ben did have a temper. Rey's eyes went a little big as she sat there.

"The…Force?" She asked rather than answering and Ben stared at her not at all impressed with the answer. She then scoffed and looked back to space. "I felt something." Rey continued as she sat there. "When we fought together, I felt something there. It was powerful to."

"That was the Force." Ben added. "I don't know why I did what I did but…I felt it too. It seems stronger when you're around." Ben finished and that was the only answer they had for now.

"What happens next?" Rey asked because what was next?

"I don't know." Ben was honest and Rey nodded.

"The First Order will find us won't they." It wasn't a question it was a statement and Ben nodded. He was deep within the First Order so he knows how they operate and what capabilities they have. They could run but at some point they will hit a wall and will have to fight. "We do have a Solo and a Skywalker with us…that has to count." Ben then looked to her. He didn't want to have Rey rely on him. He could feel it deep down that he was being pulled to the dark. He could turn easily and for some reason it hurt to think it would break Rey's heart. And for some unknown and un-profound reason he could not bare the idea of breaking her heart.

"You shouldn't trust me." Ben suggested because he couldn't trust himself. Rey understood but she was still going to try. Everyone deserves a chance.

"I know." Rey then leaned back in the copilot chair and Ben looked at her for a moment longer and then sunk back into the pilot chair too. They both enjoyed the splendor of hyperspace. Out in the corridor Finn listened to their conversion trying to pick up on anything that might pose a threat from Ben, so far nothing. But he was going to always be around to watch and listen. Just then he heard laughing.

In the cockpit Rey was laughing a little which confused Ben as he looked to her wondering what could be so funny. She then looked to him.

"I was a scavenger like…three weeks ago. Then I meet Han Solo, I flew the Falcon, met General Leia and you and even was trained by Luke Skywalker…" She summed up what has happened and she had to laugh because why her? "Why me?" Ben couldn't answer that. He's been asking why himself. She continued to smile as she watched the stars fly pass her.

"You still need a teacher." Ben added and she nodded not denying it. Luke gave her some insight but she was far from being a Jedi. She then turned to Ben smiling and once more he was confused.

"Wait here," Rey then got up and Ben still sat there a little confused. A few moments later Rey came back sitting down holding some books. They old, worn and maybe would fall apart if she were to open one. Ben sat up and closer as his eyes widen.

"Where did you get those?" He asked knowing what they were. It was legend but now the legend was in front of him.

"I…borrowed them." Rey answered and Ben nodded meaning she stole them. She then opened one and looked at the writing but it meant nothing to her as she looked up to Ben. It didn't take him long to figure it out. Rey never had any real formal education. He then reached out and took the book away and looked to it. The language was old and he could pick through it. It would need some additional translations. He then looked up to Rey and she looked a little embarrassed.

"I can teach you." Ben added and Rey smiled a little. "Would you like to learn another language too?" He added and Rey rolled her eyes and sat back.

"Now you're just trying to show off." Rey added while looking at the other books. But Ben kept looking at her. She then turned her head to him as his eyes locked onto hers. He blinked and looked back down at the text placing his hand over it feeling the paper. It held so much history and knowledge. He turned another page feeling how thin the paper was. He then looked up to Rey again as she continued to look to him. Ben closed the book and let out a sigh holding the book. Ben handed the book back to Rey and she stacked it on the others. Ben leaned back in the chair thinking of what was next.

Rey held onto the books looking at them. She was rather excited to learn. Luke taught her quite a bit but she was craving more knowledge as the door was opening slowly. She knew there was more to learn and she was hoping in the process Ben could learn too. Rey sat up and placed the books aside and decided to let Ben be alone. She started to get up but then Ben reached out to her gently grabbing her hand.

"Stay?" He asked and she looked to him. "Your presents is…is soothing." Rey then went back to the copilot chair and she got comfortable.

Ben looked to the controls seeing they were halfway to their destination. As he flipped a switch and went to sit down he saw Rey was asleep. She was cuddled up in the chair sleeping. Ben felt the Force around her and it was complete calm and peaceful. He wanted to know what that felt like someday. Ben had on his black hooded cape that he managed to bring with him. It was meant to keep him warm no matter where he went and shield him from the elements when needed. Looking at it, it was the item he had from the First Order. But as he looked to Rey he stood up and unwrapped the cloak from him and placed it on Rey to keep her warm. Ben stood there for a few moments and then went back to sit down. He took in a deep breath to clear his mind and then closed his eyes to mediate on something and as always…the blackness started.

A/N: Honestly this chapter wasn't even going to be apart of the story but I thought a Ben/Rey moment would be nice. Hope you guys are enjoying. Remember comments and reviews are always welcomed. Thank you, you readers are awesome.