Disclaimers: All right reserved of the originals "Star Wars" Characters, Names, Places, etc., to George Lucas / Disney. I pledge to return all characters after the story is complete.

Warning: Major Spoilers of TRoS.

Note: This is a Reylo FanFiction (slow-burn)

「Part V」

「Act 34: Cushy and comfy disasters」

「Silence」

When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a light

That split the night.

And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light, I saw.

And no one dared

Disturb the sound of silence...

Ajan Kloss, 36 ABY

Sun rays came as nature's easel, giving brilliant color to what was hidden even under the passing starlit night. In that light was a sense of serenity, a peace that invited itself into the soul and made itself at home. The silence adhered to them. It was like they had no contact with the outside world, isolated and alone, in their own dimension, into their bond. That silence was more of an idea—a notion. The silence around them might contain a lot, but the most interesting kind of silence was in the one that laid within. Their silence within their bond brought balance and calmness to Ben's troubled soul. As for Rey, the value could not be weighed and measured; the experience of silence was a beginning to know themselves.

That silence should speak, and they should talk with it to harness the presented potential. That silence blended in with wonder, but it also had a kind of majesty to it, yes, like the galaxy, or like an endless expanse, and whoever didn't stand in wonder to this majesty. However, those two heard the music that the silence was echoing and even afraid as they were trapped inside their bond, they found quietness and patience to accept sleep with themselves in full silence.

Rey felt the tapping sun-light against her face. Moments later, she wondered where she was. She recalled she had visited Ben's room last night worried about him. He was so exhausted, trying to keep locked his thoughts and memories, that it drained him. She was able to read his thought. Clearly, he shared some of his memories. She slowly pulled her upper body up, her legs numb from the weight was resting on top. She dropped her gaze against her legs and found Ben still resting there.

His features were much softer in sleep, the lines that usually creased his brow replaced by the youthful appearance that matched others' age. He looked peaceful and calm. His heart thumped following slow, shallow breaths. At peace, his consciousness swirled in the land of dreams, oblivious to the physical world. But even there in the dreamland, his nightmares hadn't visited him this night, as he drifted asleep inside Rey's arms. It was hard to imagine that this was the same man who was in such agonizing pain last night—the same man who was holding all the weight of his wrongdoings and lived with it. In sleep, he was angelic, his face as fresh as a dewdrop, making gentle snuffling noises as he breathed.

Rey leaned against him and took a better look at his calm expressions on his face; she slowly ran her fingers, sensing his soft skin under her fingertips. She paused around the area that used to be his scar, a scar she had inflected at him, and the one she had even cured. She didn't realize it, but her face lit up, and her lips formed a heartwarming smile. She took her time observing his relaxed face, and she took in the memory. She had never seen Ben Solo as relaxed and calm. She noted again that she didn't know much about the man that was sleeping in her arms.

Her finger slowly trailed under his neck and against his shirt close to his chest. She again recalled the time she had almost killed him by using Kylo Ren's lightsaber. He admitted that even if she weren't stronger than him in most of their encounters, she would hurt him. Either by the use of the lightsaber or by declining his wishes. She felt under her fingers wetness and noted that his shirt was damp around the chest area. Rey tilted her head confused and touched it again, and found out that it was sticky. It took her a long minute to figure out what had happened. But when she did, she was flustered with herself.

She almost hit her head as she figured out what she had done. Rey usually was a light sleeper, special the time when she lived in Jakku. She could never sleep deeply, she had to be aware in case something, or someone would attack her. But after she started living in Ajan Kloss and stayed under safe land, she would sleep so deeply like a brick. And a messy brick nonetheless. She would end up sleeping with her mouth open, saliva dripping all over the place, and her limbs were kicking. She was lucky enough not to kick Ben last night, but she surely drooled all over him. That wetness in his shirt was from her saliva.

She closed her eyes again, abashed, as she noticed that Ben was slowly awaking. The last thing she needed now was to explain to him what that wetness was. She leaned back against the bed that was behind her and tried to act asleep.

Ben blinked his eyes and slowly awoke from his sleep. He felt so rested and calm like all his inner pain was brought to a hold. He could not describe it with words, but last night after he reached his breaking point, he felt so deeply asleep, and then nothing happened. No nightmares were waiting for him; there were no painful memories, just a sweet silence.

He took a moment to shed the sleep from his brain to allow the night's unformed visions to give way to the day and move from that which he created on a whim to things more fixed and real. In a few seconds, he would greet the sunlight and see the colors as bright; he would adjust. For now, he let it come with the subtleness of gentle morning and let him doze underwing. And soon, he was fully awake in her arms.

'Wait,' his inner voice said, 'her arms?' Ben spread his eyes wide opened and settled up, the vivid colors caused him to lose his focus, but soon he could clearly see. He was sleeping all along against Rey's lap and into her arms. Normally, he would be bothered that she managed to get through his barrier and read his thoughts. But at that moment, Ben was too relaxed and calm; it felt too holy and divine to have slept in her arms. For the first time after a long time, he felt some joy, and he could breathe once more.

He knew, and he knew it well, that luxury wouldn't last, but oddly he accepted what was offered to him. A small break from all the suffering and pain. His eyes seemed alive again; the color sprang and captured anyone who would look into his gaze. His breathing was steady and relaxed, his face calm, and his body loosened up from all the stress. Ben turned his face and looked at Rey; he couldn't but share a big pure smile with her. He slowly moved his large frame from her legs and sat up, gazing at her.

"Rey" came his voice smooth "I know you are awake; I felt it through the Force."

At first, Rey acted as she was asleep; of course, she had heard him, but she was not ready to face the silly thing she had just caused. A moment later, unaware if Ben noticed her saliva all over his shirt, she opened her eyes and looked at him. Dark eyes met brown, and the room was filled with positive energy and smiles. It felt like a little touch of heaven had surrounded them with warmth and care. A unique moment they had never shared.

Ben's arms wrapped right around her, bringing her closer to him, thanking her for the peace she brought, the peace he had never known before, a calming of the storms in his heart. In her embrace, he almost started to believe that there was nothing out there to fear; he found more strength to face everything that would be thrown again in his way. He hated to admit it, but her cuddles were like medicine, medicine he shouldn't be allowed to have access to.

Rey didn't wince away as he expected her to do. On the contrary, she leaned against him and hugged him back. His chests rising and falling against hers, their breaths in unison, and the warm breath that they could feel in each others' embrace. Rey couldn't hide a smile, watching Ben finally having a moment of rest. A moment when his mind was in silence, without dark memories, pain, and his wrongdoings tugging on his soul. It was a part of Ben Solo. She wished to see more. And Rey decided if she could be the reason he ended up like that, she would help him as many times as he needed.

Ben finally pulled back and gazed down at her, he was still smiling brightly, and Ren saw that there was kindness in his smile, a gentleness. It was the smile of one who laughed with ease and saw a person under the behavior, a soul-connector. Once more, a side of Ben she had never noticed. He was the kind of person who lived now as he believed people should; he was not hiding who he was. And honestly, he never did even as Kylo Ren. But now Rey could say assured that he was her friend.

"There is no time," said Ben as he stood up "we have to get ready... there is a mission waiting for us."

Rey lifted her arms and yawned as Ben walked over to the Box that Chewie had brought him last night, the box that had caused him to collapse. "There is so much I would want to tell you, but I already feel that we already have spoken." Rey suddenly said.

Her words surprised him, but his face remained calm. "You can tell me when we get back," he assured her. Although Ben had let her in, and Rey had seen through his thoughts, he was not ready yet, to explain and talk about himself. He already knew she would tell him to take it easy; she would try to give him hope. And Ben would want to reach out and accept her offer. But he could not. Not yet, as he still had not figured out how to live with his misdeeds and how to keep hope going when he was the one who brought so much darkness and pain to the galaxy.

His words reminded her of Leia, and Rey's smile fainted as she looked at him, worried. Leia had told her the same thing, but when she returned, General Organa was already gone. She didn't wish to release such a moment. "I'd prefer to speak to you now!"

Ben smiled and grabbed a pair of clean clothes from the box and closed it. Then he walked over to her. "You already have," Ben said. "After all, I need to shower and get rid of all this saliva," he added, knowing that Rey would get annoyed. "Maybe you should too; you smell weird!" he lied. Then he softly patted her head and walked away, hiding a smile. It was the first time since forever he had teased someone. But he had to pay her back from the drooling she did on his shirt.

Rey's anger increased as the kind Ben from before did just made fun of her drooling habit and her smell. She sniffed herself, but she couldn't smell anything. She stood up, ready to start a fight with him, but he was already gone. She dropped her eyes, defeated and embarrassed, and she rushed off to get her towel and clean outfit to shower as well. But she decided next time she would meet with Ben; she would not go easy on him.

「 Upcoming Chapter: Act Thirty - Five」

Okay, guys, that's all. I hope you enjoyed reading the 34th chapter.

Thank you all so much! Stay awesome! Stay sweet!

And be nice to each other, see you soon, in the next chapter!

Feel free to Review and Follow the story!

Feedback is always appreciated!

Adelgado28: To be honest, I haven't yet fully thought over how Dark Rey will be pulled into the story. Yes, she has an essential part to play, as well as Delkor. But at the moment, I haven't yet gone forward with Rey and Ben's story. We need slowly to unfold the story. I still need to set the plot, and eventually, Dark Rey will show up. Surely, until that happened, Dark Rey will make an appearance here and there. But keep in mind that no one knows yet, that she exists. So having her flirt with Ben makes no sense at the moment. But stay along; she might do more. I don't yet. I am still trying to figure Dark Rey out. Again thank you for reading the story ^_^

amyunder: I think Ben and Rey will finally share some moments. I'll try to keep some balance and add some light and funny scenes along the way. ^_^

Rainbow-33: I'm glad that you mentioned the Skywalker curse. Yes, I was aiming to add something like that. I am not sure how much information I'll add about the curse. We don't want to end up like JJ, trying to explain every move, but we will see how things will go. As for Ren been underrated, yes, he was. I believed Ben Solo more. That's why we are here now and trying to continue what we couldn't see in the movies. Yet Adam Driver delivered his role as Ren and Ben perfectly.