Author's Note: I still don't own anything, nor am I making any money off this. Leave a review if you're enjoying the story so far! Thanks for reading, lovelies! xx

Field of Vision

Chapter Eight

Ben and Rey had fallen asleep together on the rooftop lounge under the stars, wrapped in apologies and promises, but woke abruptly to the sounds of aggressive banging on their front door. The sun hadn't yet begun to rise as Ben woke with a jolt. Glancing at Rey's still sleeping form while the banging continued, he got up from the futon to investigate. Ben stared menacingly over the railing of the terrace, only to find a handful of Rebels waiting at the doorstep. Cursing their untimely arrival, Ben returned to the futon to wake Rey.

"Dream's over," he whispered to Rey as he gently rubbed her arm. He struggled to hide the uproar of his emotions at the Rebels' inevitable arrival. He knew everything was about to change, and possibly in a way he would utterly hate.

Rey began to stir, pulling the bedsheet and blankets closer to her. "What time is it?"

"Doesn't matter," he leaned down to kiss her cheek before collecting her in his arms and walking her back inside, still draped in the bedsheet.

"I can walk on my own," Rey smiled as she nestled into his chest. It had become an inside joke between them by now, for every time he'd done something out of his way for her when she was perfectly capable of doing it herself.

"I know you can," he answered. "But I don't know when I'll be able to hold you like this again."

Rey looked up at him, confused. She sensed there was something bothering him, something immediate that left him no choice in the matter. But, that's when she heard the banging on the door, and knew.

"Who's here, Ben?"

xx

Irritated by their unfavorable circumstances, Ben and Rey prepared to meet their fate and dressed in a hurry to keep the Rebels from breaking down the door.

"Please," Ben begged her.

"Don't you dare!"

"It would be quick and easy."

"Ben, do not Force choke them for knocking on the door," threatened Rey. But the banging on the door continued even louder now. Exhausted by the relentless banging, Rey was reaching her limits closer by the second. "Well, maybe it would be fine if you only scared them a bit."

They exchanged anxious looks as they both realized their time here swathed in safety and comfort was coming to an end, possibly for a very long time. Neither knew what the future held for them, but they tried to hide their fears from one another, though not very well. Rey packed her kitbag with little effort, and began to clean up areas of the house they used while waiting for Ben to finish. She replayed all the happy memories from the past four days in her mind as she worked, wishing they could've had more time. She saw how comfortable Ben was becoming living a life outside of the shadow of the Dark Side, and wanted to keep him there as long as fate would allow. Likewise, she was relieved to have finally filled the void of belonging she'd experienced all her life through him.

Ben sensed the pitiful conflict within her, knowing that departing their newfound sanctuary here would be difficult for her too. There were so many more things left to do together, places to see for the first time and people to meet while making memories here. He felt her anxiety peak suddenly, and he stopped tucking in his shirt midway to cross the distance to where she stood. Ben spun her around and folded her into his arms kissing her open mouth like it might be the last time. His fingers reached forward to knot themselves in her long hair, pulling her closer for a kiss to remember.

"No matter what happens, promise me we'll come back here together when it's all over," she said, desperate.

Ben didn't know if he could make that promise, but he vowed that he would try.

By now, the banging on the door had become unbearable, but Ben had finished dressing in his new threads and Rey looked to follow him, ready to go. Ben unleashed a violent yell for the Rebels to stop banging down the door from inside the entry hall, swinging the door open wide with such fury Rey thought he was going to tear it off its hinges. The Rebels took a fearful step back as they were greeted by the angry presence of the former Supreme Leader of the First Order, sworn enemy of the Resistance. Rey popped out from behind Ben, immediately greeting the Rebels like they hadn't just soiled themselves at the sight of Kylo Ren. Ben folded his arms across his chest and exchanged cross looks with each of the Rebels, the tension thickening between them with each passing second until another speeder pulled up the drive moments later. His mother had arrived and made her way up the garden path to the tense situation developing on her doorstep. Rey swiftly crossed the no man's land between Ben and the Rebels to greet Leia. The general hugged Rey, relieved to see her young protégé looking so well after the short respite. Leia dismissed her subordinates as she approached her son.

Surprised to see him actually wearing the clothes she left him, Leia's eyes began to water and her voice broke as she looked at her changed son. "You look like him," she said, tears streaming down her face.

The sight of his mother showing any kind of emotion absolutely wrecked Ben, who in her wisdom was both proud of and devastated by her only son. He wanted to flee, to escape the pain of facing the consequences of his actions. But he stayed and watched his mother cry and turn away from him because sometimes it was too much for her to take. The walls surrounding his heart that once protected him from feeling any emotion were gone; they had abandoned him when he left the shell of Kylo Ren behind. Now, Ben felt everything one hundred times more deeply than he did before, and he wondered if he would ever get used to that.

"Ma," he pleaded, and his voice was small and scared; a reflection of what he felt inside.

But Leia held up her hand to stop him. Gathering her wits again, she nodded at him, proud of how well everything came together in just a few days' time.

"It's time to go. I need both of you with me now."

xx

The journey from Chandrila to Ajan Kloss was, to say the very least, awkward. Ben and Rey separated themselves from the rest of the Rebel crew to keep things amicable, while Leia decidedly remained by herself. Rey had hoped they would take the opportunity to talk while they traveled, but soon gave up that hope once Leia had literally closed the door on them.

"Give her time," Ben offered, remembering similar difficult moments from his adolescence, "She'll talk when she wants to—even if I don't want to."

Ben decided to settle in for the journey, propping his booted feet up against the galley table as he reclined. Just as Rey had gotten comfortable herself, one of the Rebel pilots poked his head around the corner, trying to get Rey's attention without disturbing the seemingly sleeping but still quite dangerous Kylo Ren.

Rey turned to look for the source of the annoying "pssst" sounds coming from behind her, finding Snap Wexley's big shaggy head in the doorway. Rey mouthed "what" back at him. He waved her over frantically, unwilling to just go up and speak to her.

"What is going on," said Rey irritably as she stomped over to him.

Snap looked edgy, like he was about to do something that Rey wasn't going to like.

"What's goin' on with him? Is he even safe to be around? The boys and I are worried he's a loose cannon,"

"Stop. Right there." Rey's eyes were like daggers as she stared at him. "You don't need to worry about his behavior—I'm more concerned with how you'll treat him. If you keep pushing him, of course he's going to get mad at you."

"But,"

"Shush— he knows that none of you trust him right now, but give him a chance, won't you? That's the least any of us would do for you."

Snap clenched his jaw, blinking like he didn't understand anything Rey had just told him.

"Look, we don't trust him. But… if the General trusts him, and he proves he's not going to be a problem, then we'll consider it. But I'm tellin' you, we don't want him around."

Rey felt like a thousand needles had pierced her heart. They weren't even going to try. Just as she felt the despair sinking in, she felt a gentle hand rest on her back. Ben came around the corner, drawn by his bond with Rey and stared daggers at the pilot. His expression was unreadable, but nonetheless still intimidating.

"Look, y—you keep your distance, I'm warning you!" Snap shouted.

"Or?" Ben's tone was calm and even, but his presence was menacing as he squared up against Snap. The two men were close in bulk and height, making Rey feel small between them.

"Stop it, both of you. This is not the right way to start things off." Rey inserted herself between them before anything escalated further.

"You're damn right, Rey. He's pushing boundaries!" Snap started pointing fingers at Ben, needlessly escalating the situation.

"Snap! Return to the flight deck, you idiot." General Organa had appeared behind the foolish pilot and no sooner than she was needed.

"Yes ma'am, right away ma'am!" said Snap as he retreated like a rat.

Leia exchanged looks between Ben and Rey and had to stop herself from smirking. "Causing trouble already, son?" Rey was fretting and tried to explain, but there was no need. Leia had been there the entire time, listening and waiting to see what they would do.

Without invitation, Ben reached out to take his mother's hand, desperate to prove he wasn't that monster anymore. "I can't keep your men from hating me, but if you really needed me, like you said you did, something has to change. Tell me what I need to do."

Ben craved direction. Now that he was without his former master, even though Snoke was abusive, Ben still craved that firm, guiding hand he had provided. Rey had been the driving force that brought him back to center, but she was too similar to him in that they needed guidance. His mother, the General, would have to be the one to call the shots now, especially if he wanted to stay on the correct path.

"We've got a lot of work to do," warned Leia. She knew it would not be easy to integrate her son back into decent society and even more of a challenge to show the Resistance that he had turned. "Once we land, I'm bringing you in as the focal point for a briefing with all my commanders. We need to start dissecting the First Order into pieces we can manage. Can you do that for me?"

Ben nodded solemnly. His marching orders were assigned and he knew he had to behave now.

xx

After landing on the Rebel base, Rey felt like she was in the midst of another homecoming. Poe, Finn and BB-8 found her within minutes of the ship's landing, pulling her into a trio-sized hug like they usually did when she returned from long stays away. Their collective joy at seeing her again was refreshing, and everything she needed right now to feel welcome. But that welcome did not extend to the man descending the ramp behind her. General Organa descended directly behind Ben, keeping close to her turncoat son in an unfamiliar and hostile territory. Immediately upon recognizing the former Supreme Leader and scourge of the galaxy, Finn and Poe tensed up, bitterly unfriendly towards him even as Leia approached them.

"Guys, you've gotta let up a little," said Leia, trying to get her men to cooperate. "You were a stormtrooper, Finn, and nobody blinked when you turned and joined us."

"That was different, I had no choice to be a stormtrooper! He had a choice!" Finn responded angrily, pointing more fingers at Ben. Poe had to press him to remain calm. Leia knew it was only their fear and not their hearts talking now.

"General, I know why you're doing this… but you've gotta remember how much we've personally been affected by this…. him. How much we've all suffered," said Poe with an undertone of insubordination.

Finn stormed off, leaving Leia and Rey downhearted as they watched him leave. Poe didn't stick around much longer either. "I'll see you in the meeting, General. Good to to have you back, Rey."

Rey watched, crestfallen as her companions fled. Her happiness from their reunion was short-lived, especially now that a rift was drawn between them, hoping beyond anything that she wouldn't be forced to choose between Ben or her friends. She would have to do everything in her power to keep Ben from getting distracted by all the negativity surrounding them now.

Leia guided her son towards the compound for the meeting. Rey followed close behind with the company of Rebels that picked them up on Chandrila, sensing Ben's rising apprehension through their bond. Every eye cast their way was wary to believe what they were witnessing. There was some confusion among the ranks whether he had been taken captive, or arrived on his own volition; a traitor to his own cause. Minor scuffles from emotional Rebels emerged along the long trek from the ship to the meeting location, throwing insults and biting sarcasm at him. The General ignored them all as she marched her son through the camp. Rey felt like her heart was being ripped in two as she felt not only her own pain at this horrendous homecoming, but Ben's deceivingly deep pain from hearing the truth-laden ridicule thrown in his face and not being able to do anything about it. She could only imagine what Leia was feeling as she watched all of this unfold. This was her only son; an extension of herself under scrutiny.

As they neared the entry way to the compound, the path was clear by all except for Maz Kanata. Her short figure stood by the door, awaiting the General and her company. Rey remembered Maz from the beginning of her adventure, plucked fresh from Jakku and in the wild company of Han Solo, Chewie, and Finn. Maz greeted Rey with a warmth and kindness beyond what anyone else had been able to give her. Maz was a true believer in the ways of the Force, and knew, even before Rey did, of her potential to be a powerful Jedi.

"Welcome home, my girl," said Maz as she embraced Rey warmly, her slight stature was swallowed by Rey's hug. But Maz sensed something, abruptly pushing Rey's shoulders back to look at her through the thick lenses of her spectacles. "Something is different about you…"

Maz looked the girl's body up and down to see if her old eyes had missed something obvious. Rey blushed under Maz's scrutiny, hoping she wouldn't find anything.

But, the look in Maz's bespectacled orbs for eyes told Rey she knew it was something secret. "We'll talk soon, dear." Maz and Leia exchanged friendly glances, communicating secretly in the method only wise mothers know.

Waiting behind the women, Ben cleared his throat awkwardly, feeling like they had completely forgotten he was still there.

"And you," Maz said critically to Ben, bustling around Rey to face him, "Don't think you're getting off so easy. I have not laid eyes on you since you were a youngling, but much has changed in you. The Dark Side is all consuming, but you are not beyond saving." Her knowing eyes penetrated deep through his hard exterior. Being under her scrutinizing gaze was like being under a hot microscope, and there was no escape from the exposure. He wasn't used to this kind of treatment, but had the sinking feeling this was only the beginning of his undoing."There is much yet for you to learn here, young Solo."

Visibly shaken from the encounter, Ben had no recollection of ever having met this creature before, and in mere seconds, was left completely deconstructed by her. His mother sensed the unease in him and reached out to take his arm.

"Let's go. They're waiting for us."

xx

There was already a large gathering of Rebel command waiting for General Organa and her company inside the compound. As soon as they saw her, the group of roughly twenty pilots, mechanics, and strategists began to make way for her and congregate in the situation room. Poe and Finn were there, along with Chewie, who didn't look thrilled to see his god-son. Rey slid her hand into Ben's and squeezed briefly to let him know everything would be fine before seeking her place in the back of the room. Ben immediately wanted her back, feeling the familiar shame and fear rising in him again that only she could banish.

Leia took her place in the center of the amphitheater, surrounded by brightly lit holoviewers and diagrams of star destroyers flashing behind her, setting the scene for his undoing. The Rebel command took their seats in a hushed anticipation, all eyes on him. Ben sat close to the center where his mother instructed, and noticed Maz follow and sit close behind him. He didn't like the weight of all those unfamiliar eyes on him, and did not know if he could bear it for much longer. This was different from the attention he received from his officers in the First Order. There, he ruled through fear and had forcibly gained their respect. But here, the weight of their gaze carried a bitter hatred he had not yet known from subordinates. Their fear of him was so strong he could smell it permeating the room. A tiny, darker part of him was thrilled that he could still cause such chaos.

His mother began to address her ranks with respect and gratitude. She was open and honest with them, and it left Ben so confused. This was not the same woman he knew growing up. She had changed during that long, lost time while he was gone.

While the Rebel command revered their leader, it was apparent they did not hold Ben in the same regard. In their fear, hecklers in the crowd began to interrupt the General's speech, shouting angrily when she mentioned his ability to help. They didn't trust Kylo Ren, nor did they want his presence in their secret sanctuary of a base, fearing he would give away their position. But, General Organa quickly regained the floor with a fierce rebuttal to their outburst. Anger burned deep within Ben at their blatant disrespect for his mother as their leader, and it showed. His fists clenched tight as he fought every impulse to unleash his dark rage. Not only were they being rude to his mother, but Ben saw this as a major error from a militaristic standpoint; subordinates were being disrespectful to their superior. He's never seen such behavior tolerated; not in the First Order, nor by Luke at the Jedi academy, and certainly not under Snoke's tutelage. Many of the scars on his body were the result of growing pains from his education in the Dark Side, where he had tested the limits of that tolerance and received the consequences for it. He doubted these Rebels had ever known such discipline.

"Whether you like it or not, my son is a valuable asset right now. He has turned from the Dark Side and abandoned the First Order. He can and will help us," Leia continued.

Ben glanced over to where Rey was standing. His emotions were difficult to control in the way he needed right now; beseeching Rey's help through their bond. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, reaching out for her.

Help me. I can't take much more of this. I'm going to scream if this doesn't end soon.

Wildly in tune with him, Rey understood his desperation. Reaching back through the bond, Rey focused her energy, hoping this would work as she rotated her hand at her side.

As Ben sat in silent agony waiting for the demoralizing scrutiny to end, he felt a familiar warmth against his cheek and knew it was Rey. The warmth moved slow over his skin like a bushfire from his left cheek down his shoulder, then down to settle over his heart and felt pressure like an invisible hand was there. He took another deep breath and opened his eyes, only to find Rey standing in a white dress front of him.

She was concealing the inhabitants of the room from Ben, blocking out the images of bitter glares and sneering faces. Ben was beyond impressed at her ability to manipulate the Force this way as she made it very clear that all he needed to see right now was her. It was working; he didn't feel like he was suffocating anymore.

Focus on me, Ben. Focus on now. They can't take this from us.

But, try as Rey might, the sound of his name being called broke the spell. Suddenly, Ben could see the room as it was again. But Rey had tempered his heart, giving him the boost he needed to keep going. His attention was recaptured by his mother as she called his name again, but he didn't notice Rey as she slumped down against the back wall, exhausted.

"Son?" Leia called once more, concerned. Behind him, Maz smiled knowingly at Leia; she knew what had caused his distraction.

Ben sat up straight and gave his mother his full attention, a slight blush coloring the bridge of his nose as he realized he'd been caught drifting. He hardened his expression under the Rebel's relentless staring once more.

"There you are. Come up here and show us the location of the First Order command frigate. Last known coordinates. Then, you can start showing us where all their satellite bases are in the Rim."

His body could only operate in slow motion under this new pressure, as Ben left his seat and approached the holoviewers. His heart was ready to give them up; the First Order hadn't done him any favors. They had only enabled his mistakes. It was time for comeuppance. He typed in the coordinates and the holoviewer changed to reveal the star map to General Hux's command frigate. He knew the skinny ginger bastard had taken over his position as Supreme Leader; he'd craved absolute power and Snoke's approval more than he ever had.

"We must keep Ben a secret as long as we can, not just for his safety but for ours. The First Order knows what they've lost, and are going to try to gain him back. We must not let that happen," Leia ordered. "Is that understood?"

The response was bleak, but every commander gave a verbal response. Finally, Ben thought, some semblance of obedience. He wasn't impressed by their collective apathetic response, but it seemed to be enough for her. The meeting officially disbanded, but several people lingered behind, possibly waiting for their chance to give Leia an earful about bringing public enemy number one into their secret base.

Ben swiveled around in his seat to face Maz Kanata to ask for some much-needed insight into this new world he'd been thrust into. As he came face to face with the elderly creature, he wasn't quite sure why he wanted to speak to her, but the wisdom she clearly possessed had to count for something.

But, Maz lifted her hand to stop him before he even had a chance to speak and pointed to something behind him. "Go to her," she said. "I will answer your questions in time, young Solo. Go to her." There was something about the urgency of her tone that worried him.

"Rey," Ben said with an undertone of panic as he realized with a jolt who she was pointing to beyond his line of sight, and whom he could no longer sense through their bond.

Immediately, Ben leapt out of his seat and hurried across the amphitheater seating area. Curiously watched by his mother and the handful of other commanders near the holoviewers, Ben jumped over the high railing in the back. There, he found Rey's body slumped on the floor against the pillar, barely conscious.

Ben spoke her name repeatedly, trying to rouse her. She was awake, but very weak. "No, no, no, get up sweetheart." He spun around and yelled down to his mother for help. Panicking, Ben hoisted her up, carrying her like a bride in his arms as Leia and a few others trekked up the stairs to find out what the fuss was.

"Where's your infirmary?" Ben asked, refusing to let go of Rey.

"Bring her this way," Leia ordered, dismissing the remaining commanders and summoned for the medics.