The sun shines on a new day for the Resistance. Last night was spent celebrating the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the First Order. Today would be the start of rebuilding the galaxy for a more positive, inclusive, and just future. The Resistance Base on Ajan Kloss is bustling with activity. But in the medbay, two still sleep.
Asleep in one of the medical beds, Rey lays as close to Ben Solo as possible. The rays of the sun finally shine into the room and Rey's eyes flutter open. She rubs her eyes gently and lets them adjust before they fall on the man beside her. She cuddles close to him and sighs as she remembers the events of what had transpired just hours before.
After defeating her grandfather and saving the galaxy, her last thought in that moment was of him and only him. She had watched him plummet to his death after Palpatine had thrown him into the deep pit and couldn't feel him as her own life force was slipping away. She had collapsed and couldn't feel anything.
The first thing she actually felt before she could breathe again was a large, warm hand resting on her stomach. Her hand instantly reached for it and her fluttering eyes cleared to reveal Ben Solo holding her. Rey's heart raced as she sat up, looking into the eyes of this man and feeling tingly from how his hand stroked her neck. Through their bond, she was able to see what he had done.
As their minds connected, Rey saw Ben, her Ben, was scaling the jagged cliff of the pit. He was desperate to reach her as if he was a parched man in search of water. With broken ribs and a fractured ankle, he crawled his way to her. Ben had panicked because he couldn't feel her, his light. Their special bond allowed him to not feel alone in this galaxy and was a breath of fresh air from all the dark voices he had heard his entire life. When he finally stumbled over to Rey, his heart sank while looking at her limp form. He had reached out to bring her close, whispering to her to come back to him. Once she was in his lap, he cried, really cried. Rey was the only person left who cared about him and she was ripped away from him.
Ben had pulled her close and hugged her, whispering words he always wanted to say but never did because he was scared of the light she brought out of him. He held her close as he cried until a thought appeared. His eyes lit up briefly as he remembered what she had done to save him on the second Death Star. Holding her carefully in his lap, he closed his eyes and placed his hand gently on her stomach. He breathed deeply as he gave her his life force.
After seeing all of this through their bond, Rey just stared at him and whispered his name with a smile. He had finally found her and she had finally found him. Rey placed her hand on his cheek and felt her heart melt as she watched Ben smile, truly smile for the first time. She kissed him and he kissed her back. It was a long awaited kiss that seemed to stretch the length of the galaxy. When they pulled away, they smiled and chuckled together before Rey started to feel him grow cold in her hands. He collapsed and Rey felt her heart plummeting from the high it had been experiencing. Quickly she gripped his hand and fed her life force into him, calling upon the Jedi to help her. Rey cried out when they hadn't responded quickly, her voice ringing across the empty throne room. She would give everything back to him just to have him back. She would not lose him again.
Just before Rey was able to give all of herself to Ben, she felt the hands of Leia and Luke. Feeling their energy helped her stabilize Ben but he didn't wake up. With all the strength she had, Rey managed to carry Ben all the way out of the Sith Temple until they reached where their ships stood. Rey couldn't help but smile at the two ships: an X-Wing and a TIE Fighter parked side by side, united. She turned her head when she heard the familiar engine of the Millennium Falcon and carried Ben over to it and up the ramp. They passed by all the gawking stares of her friends but she didn't care. All that mattered was keeping Ben stable. Without having to ask for help, Chewbacca assisted Rey in getting Ben the medical help he needed as they traveled back to Ajan Kloss.
Rey stayed with Ben all night as the entire base celebrated well into the night. She snuggled next to him and whispered her promise to stay by his side no matter what, whispering her love for her until she fell asleep.
A gentle knock on the door brings Rey out of her thoughts and she watches as Doctor Kepa walks in with Finn trailing behind her. Doctor Kepa smiles at Rey as she holds her datapad in hand. She begins her medical checks on Ben as Rey watches Finn shift nervously from side to side. He stuffs his hands into his pockets and looks Rey in the eye.
"How are you feeling?" he asks.
"I'm ok. Tired, but I'll be alright. I just wish he would wake up," Rey replies softly.
Finn watches Rey looking down at the man beside her, feeling a sense of nervousness and need to protect her. He shifts again and takes a deep breath.
"I didn't ask because I knew it wasn't the best time. But Rey, I have to ask...why did you save him? Why did you bring Kylo Ren here when you know he is a threat to everyone here," Finn asks, careful of his tone and watching Rey constantly.
Rey sits up, careful not to hurt Ben in the process. Her hand slides into his and she feels herself steadied by his warmth. She takes a deep breath before responding to her friend.
"Finn, I know this doesn't make sense. I know you must be confused and worried. I understand. But this man...this isn't Kylo Ren," she begins.
"Uh, Rey? Did you have too much of the Fizzbrew last night? That man beside you IS Kylo Ren," Finn responded, still being mindful of Rey's emotions he could feel beginning to rise slightly.
Rey shakes her head and holds Ben's hand a little tighter, trying to keep herself steady.
"I wasn't at the celebration last night. I stayed here with Ben all night. Kylo Ren died on Kef Bir aboard the second Death Star. I killed him with his own saber and then healed him so he could be the man who was hiding behind the mask all this time. This man, the man who came for me and stood beside me as we took on the Emperor...Finn, this...this is Ben Solo," Rey explains.
She pauses, letting her words sink in and watching Finn carefully. His eyes search her face and he feels in his heart the truth of her words. He takes a breath and relaxes his stance just slightly.
"I know it'll be difficult for people to understand. But he is with us, with me. Ben came back to the light. He brought me back to life as I did him," she presses on.
Finn still stands quiet and regards her words. He had felt her die on Exegol and couldn't fathom how she had made it out of there. Knowing it was Kylo - no, Ben who had saved her...he knew he owed this man at least some respect for saving his dearest friend. Rey watches as Finn moves slowly closer to her. She positions herself in between him and Ben, protecting her Dyad. Finn smiles softly and places a hand carefully on her shoulder, taking a deep breath.
"It's going to take some adjusting, and I expect a major apology from him. But if he saved you...I also owe him a thank you," he says softly.
Rey smiles gently back and nods her thanks to her friend.
"I hate to interrupt, but I have his vitals," Doctor Kepa speaks up suddenly.
Finn and Rey turn to face her. Rey's heart thuds loudly in her chest as she waits for any positive update.
"We have used a lot of bacta on him and his broken ribs and ankle are healing nicely. He should be better by tomorrow," she explains.
"That's good news. But...why hasn't he woken up yet?" Rey asks nervously.
"His wounds were pretty substantial. He is simply sleeping it off," Doctor Kepa replies, placing a hand on Rey's shoulder.
"He'll wake up soon. I think he has a reason to," she says with a smile.
Rey blushes and watches as the doctor makes her way out of the room. She stops and turns back to look at Rey and Finn.
"Don't worry. I'll be back to check on him in a bit. He'll get the best care there is," Doctor Kepa says with a smile.
She leaves and they watch as the doors close behind her. Rey looks at Ben sleeping and feels Finn squeeze her shoulder gently.
"I know this is a tough time for you, but there's another reason I wanted to talk to you, Rey," he says gently.
Without letting go of Ben's hand, Rey turns to Finn as he sits down across from her. She waits for him as she feels his nervousness radiate off him.
"With the end of the Emperor and the First Order, Poe and I have been asked to travel to Chandrila where the New Republic has been slowly rebuilding itself. It has been working towards functionality underneath the nose of the First Order and now requests us to go to deliver a recounting of the Battle of Exegol," he begins.
Rey listens intently but waits patiently for him to continue.
"In order to have a complete story, they are asking for you to join as well," Finn concludes, holding his breath as he waits for Rey's reply.
