Halo

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A/N-thank you for the kind reviews on this story.

Chapter Forty-Seven-The Meaning of Love

Rey and Rose had a warm reunion. Rose's bright smile immediately put Rey at ease and the two girls hugged each other tightly. "I've missed you." She said.

"I've missed you, too." Rey replied as she reluctantly let go of her friend. "Its been too long."

"It has." Rose agreed as she sat down and motioned for Rey to sit down beside her. There was something so genuinely sweet about Rose that made Rey feel so comfortable around her. It was something in the way she smiled, a warmth, a genuineness, a softness of spirit she just couldn't pass up. "I'm so glad you're here to stay this time. We've got so much catching up to do."

"Staying?" Rey's own smile faltered. "I'm not staying, Rose."

Rose wore a puzzled expression. "But that's the impression General Organa gave me. I thought that's why you went to see her, to discuss joining the Resistance."

"I didn't go to see her. She ambushed me." Rey answered sharply. "I only came here to spend time with you."

"But I thought- "Rose's flow of conversation died in her throat as she realised that she had been duped into luring Rey onto the Resistance base under false pretences. "I didn't know. I'm sorry." She apologised guiltily.

Even though she hated to see her friend so upset, Rey was secretly relieved that Rose hadn't been complicit with Leia's machinations. She could see the newfound knowledge that Rose had been used as bait to draw her onto the base alone was hurting the young engineer. Rey knew Rose revered the Resistance General. Even though she was angry at Ben's mother, she tried to keep her tone neutral for the sake of her friend. "It was wrong of General Organa to involve you like that, but let's not dwell on it. I want to know how you've been."

Rose stared into Rey's eyes, determined to figure how she was really feeling. She was certain that Rey was hiding her true emotions. She watched as Rey contorted her lips into an awkward smile, but her cheeks were not so compromising. They showed great reluctance to be moulded falsely. When Rey finally averted her gaze, her smile fell lifeless. "I know the General went about it in the wrong way, but won't you consider staying with us?" Rose said earnestly. "The Resistance is like one big family. Even though I still miss Paige desperately, I don't feel so alone anymore. Finn's here, too. You'll love it. I know you will. And General Organa is such a great leader-she's so compassionate and wise."

"I'm sure she is." Rey responded dryly. Clearly, they had differing views of Leia Organa. If Ben's mother had a compassionate side, she kept it well hidden. Rey wisely kept her thoughts to herself on that score as she gently refused Rose's entreaties to stay. "It warms my heart to know that you've found a place here, but its not for me. I'm happy where I am."

"With Kylo Ren?" Rose asked incredulously.

"You mean Ben Solo." Rey corrected her curtly.

The air was suddenly so brittle it could snap. The two girls stared at each other in silence for a minute as they reached an impasse. It was Rose who decided to break the deadlock. "I don't want to fall out with you over a man. Despite what I think of him, its your choice."

"You don't know him like I do." Rey let out slow controlled breath and attempted to relax her shoulders. "And yes, it is my choice."

"Then I'll accept it." Rose countered with a small smile. She reached out and clasped Rey's hand in her warm one. "Promise me you'll stay in touch wherever you decide to go. And if you need me-for anything-you know I'll always come when you call."

The water sat coolly in the glass before Ben, condensation beading the outside. Leia had poured them both a glass after delivering her killer blow. Ben ran his forefinger across the top of the glass as he used the temporary distraction to compose himself. He could see his mother looking at him intently out of the corner of his eye, clearly thinking he was actually considering her awful proposal. She was in for a rude awakening if she thought she was going to get what she wanted.

"Ben." Leia did little to hide her impatience when he was slow to respond. "I need to know your answer."

"Rey said no. You already have your answer." Ben kept his tone even. He could already feel the fear in his chest waiting to take over. It sat there like an angry ball propelling him towards an anxiety he just didn't need.

"Her decision was clearly influenced by concern over your reaction. She's loyal to a fault. I like that about her. It's a good trait to have. But in certain situations, you have to put personal feelings aside and think of the greater good." Leia continued tersely.

"Rey is loyal." Ben conceded as he ran the tip of his forefinger across the rim of the glass again. He kept his gaze focused on this repetitive action, fighting to keep calm under the heavy weight of his mother's emotional blackmail. "She's also a strong person and knows her own mind."

"Ben, will you stop avoiding the real issue here." Leia's smouldering stare boring into his back made him turn his head in her direction. When their eyes met, she tried to soften hers in a vain attempt to get through to him. "I'm appealing to your sense of compassion, stop holding Rey back and give her a chance to realise her full potential."

Ben turned his back on Leia again and curled his fingers around the cold glass of water. He raised it to his lips and drained it quickly. As he placed the empty glass back down in front of him, he took a moment to wonder when his mother's love had become so twisted up with ambition and fear. Unlike most parents her love was conditional and time limited, it had an expiry date, one strike and you were out. All children ever needed to know was that their parents loved them no matter what they chose to do with their lives, that they were free to make their own choices...and here she was still pushing her agenda, acting like the choice hadn't already been made.

"You don't seem to realise the fatal flaw in your plan, General Organa." Ben argued, levelling his gaze to hers. "If it's your intention to separate Rey from my terrible influence, then you've failed. If she wanted to stay, then I would stay right here with her. She's already been abandoned once by her parents; I am not going to do the same. I know how much that would hurt her, because I know her. You don't. So, even if it kills me to be around you every single fucking day, I'd endure it, for her sake, knowing that's what she wanted. So, go on, ask her again and I will abide by any decision she makes because her happiness means more to me than you'll ever able to comprehend because you've forgotten how to love."

"Love?" Leia's hand flew to her throat in shock at his impassioned speech. It was the last thing she expected him to say.

Remorseful. Guilty.

That was how she felt at that very moment. Leia wished there was such a thing as a time machine so she could go back, rectify the mistake – another one to add to the growing list.

However, she could not. Impossible. She had to live with it. Like she did with all the others. Remorse etched at her heart. Guilt gnawed like a worm at the core of an apple. Yet, still she couldn't say she was sorry….

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.