Author's Note: I thought it would take me until at least Monday or Tuesday to get this written, but I have been so motivated by your comments, I've spent my whole vacation writing! Back to work tomorrow unfortunately, but I wanted to leave you with another chapter first. Then, depending on work, expect the next update on Thursday.
As soon as Rey was sure she was alone again, she settled back against her tree and cracked open one of the texts. The pages of this tome were filled to bursting with diagrams, most of which had completely gone over her head during her first read. But she had a faint recollection, triggered by something Master Luke had said.
A World Between Worlds.
She flipped through the worn pages, searching for the diagram she remembered, studying page after page as the sun moved between the trees overhead. She pulled a packet of mealbread from her bag to quiet her growling stomach and chewed as she continued her search. She dusted crumbs from the pages, glad Master Luke wasn't there to chastise her for disrespecting these priceless artifacts of Jedi history.
Pages and pages more, until…
There.
Rey ran her fingers over the aged paper, tracing lines and angles connecting points in a sort of organized geometrical array. She read several lines of text until she found something that made sense.
"Chain Worlds Theorum."
"This is it, Ben. The World Between Worlds," she breathed.
His only reply was the buzzing chorus of insects and birds, going about their daily battles to survive.
"But how do we get there?"
She flipped another page. It detailed theories of the Vergence Scatter, another name for this interconnected world beyond. It seemed these Jedi of long ago had postulated that if one could access this world, they would have complete control over space and time, choosing to follow paths to alter history or travel to another dimension in time.
Something shifted at the core of her spirit. A tingling awareness of belonging and connection, like two pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly together again.
And with that feeling came his voice, That's it.
Ben's breath was warm on her neck as he spoke. The sensation caused a shiver of pleasure to ripple through her which she tried to hide. Why did her traitorous body have to react so strongly to him? They really just needed to talk.
But I can't get through. There's something else there, blocking my path.
"The darkness you sensed."
He grunted his assent.
She flipped through more indecipherable explanations, until she reached a sprawling two-page diagram detailing a gnarled, twisting tree, its branches spreading across both pages. The Great Tree, whose roots are said to peer into the World Between Worlds.
But she didn't need to peer into it, she wanted to go there, to help Ben get there, or something. Kriff, she didn't even know what she was looking for. She continued skimming, noticing connections between several worlds, Lothal, Ahch-To, even Exegol. But there was no information about how to gain access to this space between worlds.
"Has anyone been there?" she asked.
Luke mentioned several Jedi who have travelled there.
"Any names?"
Luke give helpful information? He huffed. He only said that few had managed it.
Rey pulled out the next to continue their search. Just a clue about where to begin.
As they studied, she remained keenly aware of Ben's presence. He was so close she could hear the steady whisper of his breath. She could sometimes sense his gaze falling upon her. And though his outline was very faint, she occasionally felt the brush of an arm or sleeve against her own as he leaned forward to study something on a page.
The sun was falling lower still, when, now on the third book, she came upon something more useful. She read out loud for both of them to hear:
"Another early example of a Force Bond was one forged between Jedi Bastila Shan and the Sith Lord Darth Revan. The Jedi council sent Shan to capture the Sith Lord, but during the battle Revan was betrayed by Darth Malak and left on the verge of death. Remembering the Jedi way, to preserve life wherever possible, Shan saved Revan and a powerful Force Bond was forged."
Rey studied the simple illustration of the pair, light and dark colors exemplifying their opposite natures, though they were pictured hand in hand. Nothing more was written on this page about this early Force Bond, but Rey was still curious.
Ben's voice rumbled low in her ear, answering her unspoken question. I've heard this legend, he said, assuming the dramatic voice of a storyteller. Bastila Shan healed Revan and brought him back to the Light, but was eventually seduced by the Dark Side herself. When Shan and Revan finally faced each other in battle, it was Revan who brought Shan back in the end, by showing her that he trusted her completely. He left himself open to her attack, confessing his love for her.
Rey turned away from the drawing, focusing on their Bond, willing Ben's form to appear. Ben joined her focus, reciprocating through the Force. She wanted to look on his face as he told the end of the story.
His outline sharpened and she could see he was completely focused on her, the intensity of his gaze bringing immediate heat to her cheeks, as he continued on. Shan realized she could never do Revan harm, and she confessed her feelings for him.
Rey tried to control her breathing as she stared into his eyes. "What happened to them?"
His lip twitched into that little half-smile of his. Together they turned the tide of the battle. Then, as though an afterthought, he added, And they lived happily ever after of course.
Ben turned his body face to her, his dark eyes reflecting the mottled sunset as it filtered through the leaves. He leaned in closer, looking like he would say more and Rey felt her breath hitch. She was unable to move, unable to look anywhere but his eyes, his lips. Here was her chance to show him what he meant to her and not just because he had saved her, but because she truly cared for him. She wanted to feel his lips against hers. She wanted to taste him.
Her entire body was screaming for him to touch her.
He scooped up her hand and placed it in his lap intertwining his fingers with hers. Some of the tension bled into their touch, but she could still hear her pulse thundering in her ears, her body announcing that it wanted more than just his hands. And when he began tracing gentle lines on her palms, her fingers, the back of her hand, she wasn't sure how much more she could take. Her chest was contracting, filling with what felt like fire and she just needed to…
His lips found hers in a desperate, crushing kiss that spoke plainly of his pent-up desire. His need, a wild urgency, surged from him down the Bond and she was overcome by the intensity of it. Like Revan, this was his confession and he was kissing her again, harder and deeper, with a fanatical type of want that she'd never known was possible. And she wanted more.
She knotted her fists in his robes and drew him closer, kissing him harder still, leaving no questions about the confession she was making in return. His insistent mouth parted her lips, leaving her lost in the sensation of him. She tried to breathe, but found that tasting him again, just one more time was much more important than air.
A low groan came from the back of his throat, announcing what she couldn't speak. More. Closer.
And he was pulling her onto his lap, cradling her against his arm so they fit together perfectly. The Bond was singing with their contact, emotions coursing between them, and she wasn't sure which ones he was feeling and which were hers.
It didn't matter. They were one and the same.
Ben pulled back, leaving his hand to cup her cheek as he studied her from inches away. His lips were reddened, cheeks flushed with their kiss, and those adorable smile lines were etched at the corners of his eyes.
If this is all we ever get, it will have been worth it.
She reached up to his face, running her thumb over his bottom lip like she'd wanted to yesterday. His shoulders dipped and tightened as a shiver ran through him. She saw his body's reaction at the same time she felt it through their Bond.
She didn't want to ruin this moment with words, so she let the intensity of her gaze be her response to his tender profession, taking a handful of his hair and pulling him back into her.
Leaning in, she captured his mouth gently this time, showing him the soft, unrelenting affection she thought would give voice to the feelings crowding her heart. If their first kiss was demanding, this one was effortless. Each caress of his lips was an unspoken lesson, teaching her just how thoroughly he ruled her heart. Each taste of him lured her deeper into a closeness she couldn't understand and could never explain.
She was breathless when their lips parted again, and keenly aware of a tightening pressure at the core of her that begged for more of his skin against hers. It gave her a thrill to see him flushed and panting for her, too.
Feelings screamed down their Bond now, louder than they'd ever been. A chorus of desire that only they could hear and that was very hard to ignore. Difficult as it was, she attempted to put some space between them, pulling herself from his lap and sitting cross-legged opposite him. They needed to talk and with her heart hammering to the rhythm of his body, that was proving to be impossible.
Rey. His voice was low, husky, and a new shock of need blossomed inside of her. She sensed he would say more if he could, but his voice wasn't working properly. Instead, he leaned in a bit, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers left tingles on her skin, her body begging him for more.
"I feel it, too," she admitted, her own voice coming hoarse.
Do you remember the first time you felt it?
She would never forget. "You had me strapped to an interrogation chair."
What I wouldn't give to have you there again. And there was that adorably crooked smirk again.
She squirmed uncomfortably, trying to ignore the persistent heat he'd ignited inside of her that would not be extinguished.
It was like seeing into this moment for a millisecond. A shock of this feeling, but all at once.
Rey remembered. And now, hearing him talk to her like this. Talking about his feelings for her, showing her his emotions when for so long they had both tried to hold it all back. She would not lose this. It was not an option. It gave her a newfound sense of urgency, and she stood, crossing to her bag where she'd stowed his lightsaber.
"We are going to fight for this," she said, "for us." She slid the weapon from her bag and held it out to Ben.
She could have been holding a venomous snake for the way he startled when he saw it.
His throat bobbed with a hard swallow. I threw that into the sea.
"Master Luke wants you to have it."
He scowled as she extended the hilt toward him, shadows of the faltering evening sunlight accentuating his dark, angular features as he studied it. He had such an uncommon handsomeness to him, an attractive uniqueness that forced her to look when he spoke, when he moved. Another shock of desire tore through her veins again and she wondered if she would ever stop wanting to kiss him now that she'd had a taste.
He rose to face her, brows twisted in confusion, staring at the saber, then back at her. Then, a dawning expression of understanding relaxed his features. I have to start again, heal the crystal and rebuild it.
She nodded and he took it, turning it over and over in his hands.
Will you hold it for me? He asked, offering it back to her again. I'm not sure I can keep it with me.
"Of course," she said, letting her hand linger on his as she took the saber. "I think we are getting better at this, look how long you've stayed with me." She cleared her throat, trying to sound more in control. "Next time, I'll have the materials and tools set out for you. And you can start working on the crystal."
Thank you.
Her heart thudded in her chest as the jungle birds cried their final calls into the twilight.
"What's our next step?" she asked.
He raised his eyebrows before closing the space between them. I can think of a few steps I'd like to take.
He kissed her again, this time not lingering long at her mouth, but instead grazing his lips across her cheek and coming to rest against her neck, breathing heavily into her ear. Her skin erupted in gooseflesh, and in an instant, that heat was back in her belly.
Oh stars, he was getting better at this. And bolder.
"I meant about the World Between Worlds," she said, voice strangled between gasps.
He hummed against her skin, sending new tingles coursing down to her toes.
"You are impossible, Ben Solo."
A deep chuckle resonated in his chest and now, his hands were joined in the assault, perching on her hips first, then exploring the small of her back as his lips worked at her collar bone.
"Ben," she breathed, trying to infuse her voice with an edge of seriousness.
He sighed. The book mentioned the Great Tree. His hot breath ignited the skin at her neck as he spoke. If anything, it's a lead. Or go ask Maz, that woman is a thousand years old. She'll know something about it.
Rey ran her hands over his robed forearms and up to his shoulders. "This suits you," she admitted, fingering edge of his hood. "You look so, official."
His lip twitched. At least I got something out of this deal. And there it was, the full, toothy grin she'd longed for. It wrinkled the corners of his eyes and his dimples were just where she'd remembered them. But I am sorry to announce that it seems you were not the Last Jedi after all.
"For about 30 seconds," she said, trying her best at a deadpan delivery.
She cracked a smile when he shoved her playfully. And Rey realized, this was what she'd been grieving for. She'd been mourning the loss of moments like this, getting to know the Ben Solo she'd seen and felt through the Bond. And now, the Force had given them a second chance.
"Rey!"
She tensed, snatching her hands back from Ben's as her name came floating over the treetops.
It was Rose's voice first, then Finn's "Where are you?"
"Ben, you have to go, they're coming," she said in a tense whisper.
He gave her an injured look. Let them come. They can't see me anyway.
And the arrogant son of Han Solo trapped her in another kiss, just to prove a point. With her raw desire for him still so close to the surface, Rey didn't have the self-control to deny him.
A rush of alarm echoed somewhere nearby in the Force, and she turned to see her friends standing not too far down the path. Rose and Poe were smiling, glad to see her.
But Finn.
Finn's eyes were wide with shock. Like he'd seen…
A ghost.
And then Finn was sprinting towards them, pulling his blaster free from its holster, pointing it at Ben's outline.
Ben put his hands up in a gesture of surrender, before awkwardly realizing a blaster bolt couldn't make him any more dead, and lowered them. He glanced back and forth between Rey and Finn as realization dawned on his face. Oh Force, you've got to be kidding. He can see me?
"Yes, I can see you!" Finn was yelling, hand shaking as he gripped the blaster, searching Rey's face for a sign of what to do.
"Finn," she said. "Put that thing away."
"What the hell are you doing, Finn?" Poe caught up to him, prying the blaster out of his friend's hand.
Rey imagined what it must look like to Poe and Rose, who couldn't see Ben at all.
As Poe continued to hold him back, Finn divided a hard stare between Rey and Ben, trying to understand what he was seeing.
"What the hell were you doing, Rey?" Finn asked, incredulously. "You said you understood him. Not that you, that you… What the hell Rey? You were kissing a dead guy!"
Poe and Rose froze into the same stance. A perfect parody of shock on each of their faces. "Wait, what?" Poe asked.
"Not just any dead guy," Finn answered, pointing to the space Ben was occupying. "That's Kylo Ren."
