Ben's perspective
Six standard years ago—nearly seven, now—he never would have expected to be where he was now.
Leia had arranged for a magistrate from Chandrila to video-comm the base. Rose had promised their location would be kept confidential. Several of the women had scoured the nearby forest for anything they could use as adornments, and had decorated a clearing in the trees with a surprisingly tasteful collection of woven vines and sprays of wildflowers. The men had spent the day hunting and foraging, and had put together an impressive spread of food for afterward.
They were married in a small ceremony, with only their small group of Resistance soldiers in attendance. The celebration lasted well into the night.
He'd talked and smiled and laughed and danced and eaten more than he had in a long time. He was exhausted down to his bones, and so happy he didn't know what to do with himself. Looking down at the woman beside him, he found himself smiling again. Force, she was absolutely perfect.
"Hey, kid."
He looked away from his wife—his wife—and found his father standing before him. He even had a smile to spare for Han. "Hey, Dad."
Han stretched out a hand, and Ben clasped it in his own. "Congratulations, Ben," Han said warmly. "I'm happy for you. Both of you."
"Thank you."
Han raised his brows. "Couldn't really think of anything to get you…" he said with a guilty shrug.
"You didn't have to get us anything."
Han jerked his head over his shoulder. "Well I, uh, borrowed a bit of the reserve fuel," he continued nonchalantly. "Topped off the Falcon for you. Why don't you two get off-planet and go somewhere for a while, hm? Take a honeymoon, on me."
"You did wh—"
"Don't worry," Han groaned, raising his hands placatingly. "I did it with your mother's permission."
Ben raised a brow.
"What? I did!"
Ben laughed. "Then thank you. I appreciate it."
"Go on, get out of here."
In the midst of the clearing, the party was well under way. Poe had unearthed a forgotten bottle of some type of aged alcohol, and people were starting to get rowdy.
He touched Rey's hand to get her attention. "Want to get out of here?" he murmured in her ear.
She nodded, then neatly excused herself from her conversation with Leia and Rose. He took her hand and led her away from the clearing.
"Where are we going?" she asked, following him through the darkening forest.
"Wherever you like," he replied, and grinned over his shoulder at her. "Dad told me to take the Falcon and get away for a while."
She smiled back. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked, raising a brow.
His grin turned heated. "I believe so."
…
He got the feeling Luke wouldn't approve, but he didn't really care.
They touched down on the same rocky outcropping as they had before, and trekked up the rugged steps to the ancient stone village. Armed with rolled-up cots and blankets from the Falcon, they reclaimed their old hut and went about making a comfortable place to sleep.
Which was the first thing they did, as soon as they were settled. There would be time enough to explore the next day.
Time to explore the way she breathed in as she awoke to his touch, rolling over to look up at him with those doe-like eyes, glittering with warmth and intelligence and love as he bent to kiss her.
Time to explore the way she curled her legs around his, pulling him closer, arching against him as he trailed his lips down her neck, past her clavicle, and lower…
Time to explore the little sounds she made as they moved together at long last, her breath gusting against his ear as she moaned his name and he muffled his cries in the juncture of her neck and shoulder.
Time to explore the island as they retraced their steps, venturing to the rock outcropping where they'd practiced with their sabers what seemed ages ago. The warmth and firmness of the flagstones beneath him as he pulled her on top of him, giving himself over to her lead, mouth gaping and breath hitching as she moved with him.
Time to explore the waterfall pool and all the undiscovered places there. The relatively-dry grotto hiding behind the waterfall, and the bed of grass beneath the trees where they dried off after their swim. The way she keened when he moved like this, and the way she fell apart completely when he moved like that.
Time to explore the way the firelight glinted in her eyes, like the stars scattered across the night sky, and the way she smiled at him just before she kissed him. The way his breath caught at her touch, and how his heart overflowed with love for her.
Oh, yes. There would be plenty of time to explore after they'd slept.
A/N: Aaand we're done! Hope you enjoyed it!
I have a couple more story ideas similar to this one that I've decided to shape into a rough trilogy, tentatively titled Anakin's Interventions. They all follow a similar vein, in which Anakin tries to prod things in a better direction, but each story is entirely separate from one another. The second one is fully outlined, and the third is still just a sparkle in my eye. I have several other stories I'm working on as well (some in other fandoms, and some original work), so I'll get to these as I can. I won't ever post anything unless it's completely finished.
:D