Apologies for the delay, but here we are!

Chapter 16

Rey followed a winding staircase up to the landing of another stone hallway. She could still hear the sounds of music and voices from the floor below, but by focusing, she was able to block it out. He was not hard to find, her instincts leading her directly to the balcony where he stood, leaning and looking out over the lake. Rey knew that Ben felt her presence. Without a word, she joined him on the balcony, placing her hands on the rail and lightly brushing her arm against his.

His anger had risen from embarrassment, and now it had simmered into self doubt. He felt her soft skin brush his before she leaned her head on his shoulder. With a sigh, he too tilted his head to lean on the top of hers.

"We don't need to prove anything, Ben," Rey spoke in a low, calming tone, and looped her arm through his, fully leaning into him.

Ben remained silent, but turned to face her, enveloping her in his arms while they both looked out over the lush landscape of Takodana. They stood like that for several minutes before he took a deep breath and spoke.

"Marriage hasn't really worked out well in my family," He confessed, thinking of both his parents and grandparents. Skywalkers were not known for their 'happily ever afters'.

Rey nodded against his chest, understanding what he meant. The subject had never occurred to her either. The act of marriage was considered a frivolous thing on a planet like Jakku, let alone the extravagance of a wedding.

"If you wanted to -," Ben started to speak before Rey stepped back from him, forcing both their gazes to move from the view to one another's face.

"Ben Solo, I'm already tied to you in all the ways that matter. I don't need some kind of party to show that."

The tension melted from his body and his heart thumped unevenly. He reached for her once again, cradling her head in his right hand and holding her tight to his chest. Kissing the top of her head, he breathed in her scent deeply before breathing out a small laugh.

"So does that mean you will be telling Maz no?"

Rey froze in response, titling back and looking at him with alarmed eyes before she responded, "On second thought, maybe we should just let her have her fun."

Ben laughed again, "Rey, we're two of the most powerful Force users in the galaxy, and you're scared of that old bat?"

Now it was Rey's turn to scoff, her left eyebrow raising as she gave him a smirk, "As if you aren't even more afraid of her than I am!"

They were both smiling now, the banter banishing the remaining embarrassment from their scene in the cantina.

Ben raised his hands in mock surrender, "You caught me. I suppose a little fun won't kill me, but then again, none of our friends are here."

"OUR friends?" Rey smiled wide, shocked at the words that had just slipped out of his mouth.

Ben startled, realizing what he had just said and he began back-tracking, "I, well, uh, I suppose the pilot isn't as incompetent as I thought he was. And the stormtr-, I mean, Finn, I guess he's a hard guy not to like."

Her heart melted at his admission, surprised as she was to hear it. Gently, she reached out and took his hand and began to lead him back into the hall, "C'mon, let's get this over with."

Two days later…

"Rey!" Finn shouted across the room, surprising a freshly woken Rey and causing her to splash a bit of her breakfast on the table in front of her. A few seconds of mental processing ticked by before she felt the Force ripple and turned towards the voice, her sleepy eyes growing wide when she saw her friend striding towards her.

"Finn!" She smiled, her friend quickly reaching her and enveloping her into a hug. When the hug ended she stepped back and took a look at him, "What in the galaxy are you doing here?"

Finn smirked and nodded his head towards the main door where Poe was walking in while talking with Chewbacca, looking serious.

"How did you guys know?" Rey asked, her smile flashing brightly.

"Know what?" Finn cocked his head slightly to the side in confusion.

Rey blushed pink before stammering, "Oh, we...Ben and I- Well, we're kind of getting married."

"Married?!" Poe walked up from behind Finn, shock coloring his clean-shaven face.

"I am tied to Ben in all the ways I want to be, but Maz seems to think that's not good enough. She's making me wear a dress!" Rey laughed, trying to ease the shock of her announcement to her best friends.

Both of their faces softened, amusement creeping onto their faces.

"I don't blame you, I wouldn't cross that little monster for all the beskar in the galaxy," Finn said, his eyes darting around cautiously, making sure that the person of interest was not within earshot.

Poe reached for Rey and gave her a friendly hug before pulling back and smiling, although she could still see a slight tension in his eyes.

"Rey, I may not be his biggest fan, but I'm glad he makes you happy. And I think the dress is punishment enough, no need for me to rub it in," Poe winked, receiving an eye roll from Rey in reply.

"I'm so happy that you two are here, I could use a few more familiar faces. But, truly, why are you two here?"

Poe exchanged a glance with Finn before answering, "Well, we're here to take that slimeball, Plutt, into official custody of the Citizen's Republic. Chewie sent a message to us, said he'd be a good place to start in cleaning up the chaos of the Outer Rim."

A grimace overtook her face, but she nodded, a bit of tension she didn't know she had been holding dissipating from her chest. She recovered quickly, and waved them over to the table she had been sitting at, motioning for them to join her.

"I have so much to tell you both."

Rey stood by the lake, looking out onto it for the thousandth time, but feeling no less awed than the first time she had seen it from the cockpit of the Falcon. The pale blue dress, almost appearing translucent from the shimmering fabric it was crafted from, fluttered around her ankles. It had long, fitted sleeves, and she pulled at the cuff of one arm, annoyed at the constricting nature of the dress. Her hair had been left long and loose, framing her face, and irritated her nose when the wind blew a few strands out of place.

"Rey," a deep and gently spoken voice from behind her broke her momentary trance, and she turned around and smiled warmly.

She couldn't help but look him over, the grey tunic and matching pants making him look almost Jedi-like. Though, she knew better than to make that comment at this moment. Without hesitation, she took his outstretched hand, where he led her to the shade of an enormous tree that stood along the shoreline. Maz stood at the base, with Poe, Finn, and Chewie sitting on a bench off to the side.

Ben and Rey had successfully talked Maz out of a full-blown wedding procession, though the party was non-negotiable.

Ben turned to take hold of both of her hands, and the wide, scoop-necked design of the dress did not hide the color now creeping over her skin. She felt exposed, and could feel his emotions echoing hers. The Bond they shared was so deeply private and unique, and this display, however small, made it feel as if they were suddenly allowing the world in on their little secret.

Words were spoken, and pledges were made to one another. They shared a chaste kiss at Maz's behest and laughed sheepishly at the ensuing cheers of her friends and the roar of Chewbacca's approval.

Back inside the hall, the music was loud and the drinks were flowing. Maz had gone all out, ordering a special shipment of Corellian whiskey and food enough for a whole planet. The locals and even a few visitors joined in on the celebration, knowing better than to pass up a party under Maz's roof.

Rey closed her eyes in enjoyment as she took another bite of the cake Maz had had made in their honor. It was unlike anything she had ever tasted in her life, and she was already ready for another slice.

Ben sat at her side at the circular table also occupied by Poe and Chewie. Finn had gotten caught in a conversation about galactic affairs with a couple Mon Calamaris that were passing through. He felt such an overwhelming mixture of emotions, it almost felt as if he would explode. It was a similar feeling to his former struggle with darkness, but instead of the tearing of his soul, he felt it grow stronger. She opened her eyes, whether she was sensing his emotions through the Force or just feeling the burn of his gaze upon her, and she locked eyes with him. Slowly, so as not to miss a crumb of the treat, she removed the fork from her mouth and placed it on the table. She licked her upper lip, catching a bit of frosting left behind. Her eyes remained locked to his, and she watched the movement of his Adam's apple as he swallowed in response.

She leaned over to him, whispering in his ear, "Later. But right now, I'm going to rescue Finn."

Before she could stand up straight again, he caught her, pulling her in for a quick kiss. Chewie groaned from across the table, something about getting a room, and the two separated.

He watched as she walked to Finn, her dress swishing behind her, still glimmering in the light of the castle's hall.

"Ben."

Ben turned his head sharply in response, surprised to hear his real name, without sarcasm, coming from Poe.

"I wanted to say," Poe paused to take an encouraging drink of his whiskey, "Congratulations. And, also, that, well...She never gave up on you."

Confused for a moment, Ben remained silent before suddenly realizing that Poe was speaking about his mother.

"She never gave up on anyone," Poe finished, raising his glass and motioning towards Ben. Chewie grunted, raising his glass as well. All three of them silently toasted to Leia; a general, a friend, and a mother.

The sun was sitting low, its last rays reflecting off of the expansive lake. Rey sat in the grass, leaning against Ben's chest as they watched the remnants of their day settle into a peaceful night.

It darkened quickly, and the young couple moved to get up and make their way back to Maz's castle. Rey stood up, smoothing out her dress and picking a few stray pieces of grass from one of her sleeves when she felt a slight chill run through her. When she looked up, she knew exactly what she would find.

Next to her, Ben bristled at the sight of Luke Skywalker, glowing a faint blue in front of them.

"Master Skywalker?" Rey questioned, realizing that the last time she had spoken with him was just before she had left for Exegol.

"Welcome to the family, kid," Luke said, smiling at Rey. He only nodded at Ben, a wariness in his eyes.

Ben nodded back, the most civil gesture he could muster, but remained silent.

Rey was about to thank him when he spoke again, "And I see that you two have already started on continuing the Skywalker line."

The couple exchanged confused glances before a mirrored shock overtook their faces.

Ben stared down at her abdomen, and Rey turned to look back at Luke.

"Some Force dyad you two are," he chuckled, earning a glare from Ben. He took a step back from them, looking sheepish, "Oh, well then, on that note... May the Force be with you both. Always."

The specter faded into the night, engulfing Ben and Rey in a silence once more.

New life. How had they not noticed this before?

It was barely a flicker, but they concentrated, hands gripping each others' tightly until that flicker turned into a beacon of light. It could not have been there long, a few days at most.

Astonishment and joy coursed through them both as if it were infused with their life's blood. Wisps of images flashed through both of their minds as they envisioned themselves with a tiny, dark-haired boy who had hazel eyes and dimples when he smiled.

Both of their hands dropped to Rey's stomach, feeling the light and warmth of the growing new life. A new journey was beginning, a fresh start - perhaps that was the true Skywalker legacy.

End

Well, this has been a lovely journey. Thank you so much for all of you that have stuck with me this far and left me lovely reviews. I appreciate it more than you know. I've toyed with the idea of an epilogue, but for now, this is the end. Again, thank you readers!