Halo

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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly reviewed the last chapter. I know the Kenobi connection has divided some readers on this story. I wasn't expecting it to be so controversial. I took a few days away from this story and debated whether to continue with it but ultimately decided to carry on after a few people PM'd me on and asked me to continue as they were still enjoying it. So here goes (runs away and hides) ….

Chapter Fifty-Six-Pasaana

In the semi-darkness Ben's cuddles felt like a little touch of heaven, warm and cosy. Rey wished she could extend the night just so she could stay close to him for longer, safe in his embrace. Ben's arms wrapped right around her brought her a peace she'd always craved, a calming of the storms in her weary heart. After Han and Chewie had retired early to give the young couple space after sharing the latest shocking revelations from Plutt, Ben and Rey had stayed up late talking. Their conversation had been so much more than words. It was the reassuring smiles, the gentle hugs and the light in their eyes. That they were both elevated by each other's presence was obvious and even the silences were comfortable. They savoured moments like these, where they could completely relax in the company of the other and feel that sense of peace that comes from feeling loved and protected.

"Do you think my parents were taking me to Luke to keep me safe or so he could train me? Did they know of my latent Force powers?" Rey asked. "Were they Force sensitive too?"

Ben listened to her worries and fears with an attentiveness that was just a part of who he was. His responses were balanced and thoughtful. And in his words was a kindness, a concern that is so quick that, for him, it was natural. From what he said next Rey could tell he was thinking so deeply, already with a strategy that was several moves ahead of what she was capable of right now in her heightened emotional state.

"For them to go to so much trouble to track down Skywalker, I think it's a bit of both. If someone was pursuing them, leaving you with him was the safest option. They must have sensed your power, so I'm guessing that one or both of them had some kind of Force sensitivity. They clearly thought my uncle would be the best person to train you, to teach you to harness those powers, whilst also providing the protection they couldn't give you."

Soft wisps of fine brunette hair swept past Rey's ear and caressed the skin of her neck, jaw, cheeks and around her rather beautiful, deep eyes. Those luminous eyes rimmed with thick, long, dark lashes that brushed her cheeks every time she closed them, seemed to bore into Ben every time he looked into them and nearly lost himself. Suffering, loneliness, longing; her eyes held all those deep-seated emotions and many more. He was so desperate to take her pain away. The knowledge that their paths could have crossed so much earlier if Rey's father had managed to keep that meeting with his uncle was weighing on him heavily. Just like it was with Rey. It seemed whoever her father was running from had found him before he had a chance to meet Luke. Ben couldn't help wondering how different his and Rey's lives would have been if they had a chance to connect earlier. There were so many what if's, it was tragic.

"Deep down I always worried that my parents had abandoned me because they didn't love me." Rey admitted sadly. The tears glazing her eyes sparkled in the soft light as she confessed her deepest fear. "But they did. They really did."

"Yes, they did. Who wouldn't love you? I do." Ben answered. There was something solemn swimming in his eyes. Their stunning, deep brown held a truth that his face could not hide.

Even though he had just declared his love, Rey felt a despairing chill wash over her because she knew what he was thinking. She looked away; she couldn't bear it. Then a tear rolled down his cheek. She didn't see it, but could feel him crying beside her. "You think it was Snoke my parents were running from?" She challenged him. "He targeted you when you were still in the womb, maybe he was trying to do the same with me. We're connected by the Force. I remember he taunted us on the Supremacy, saying he was the one who bridged our minds. If one or both of my parents were Force sensitive, maybe they sensed it somehow, and went into hiding as a way to protect me while they looked for Luke. They thought he would have been the best person to protect me. It must have taken them some time to track him down…years even. All those star charts on the datapad, it was like they were following a set of clues. They were so close…." She let out a shaky sigh. "I always thought they were no-one…but they chose to be. They did it to protect me."

Ben's hand moved around her middle, warm and soft. In seconds Rey's body was moulded to his, sharing his body heat as easily as he shared his heart. She felt his chest rising and falling with hers, their breathing in unison, and the warm blood that they could feel in each other's' embrace.

"I love you, Ben." Rey's heartfelt words lingered on her lips as she sought to kiss his.

Ben's heart exploded.

When Rey left Jakku with the others she knew it would be for the last time. She vowed never to go back in her lifetime. They left behind a much poorer Plutt. Stripped of his possessions he was no better than the scavengers who had taken them from him. His slavish rule was over. It was up to the scavengers who had been the victims of his brutal regime to decide for themselves who to elect in his place. Rey hoped they would choose wisely.

They were now on their way to Pasaana to rendezvous with Lando Calrissian. Han was looking forward to seeing his old friend. During the journey he entertained them with the story of how he had won the Millennium Falcon off Lando during a game of sabacc on Numidian Prime. Ben had heard this story many times during his childhood, his father embellished the tale every time he told it. Still, Han's tall tales proved a good distraction to Rey, who was still coming to terms with her parent's sacrifice.

Pasaana was a desert planet in the Expansion Region's Ombakond sector, located in the Middian system. It was the home world of the Aki-Aki species. The main economic activity on Pasaana was dust farming. Even though the Aki-Aki mostly rejected all post-Starflight technologies, this was a rare exception. They were due to arrive during a legendary event. Lando had informed Han that the Festival of the Ancestors was underway, only held every 42 years, it drew many people from afar.

The arid air hit Rey in the face as soon as she stepped off the Falcon. It was all too reminiscent of Jakku. If it wasn't for Ben holding her hand she would have turned around and walked right back up the ramp. The Forbidden Valley was packed with 500,000 Aki-Aki and 5,000 off-worlders during the festival. The lack of amenities, such as hotels, spaceports and restaurants, meant that only the really desperate or really determined usually ventured there. Local chiefs hired mercenaries for security during this busy time. They would scan the crowds, looking for other hired guns, or fugitives. The chiefs did not want to become involved in galactic affairs, but they did want to keep the celebration peaceful.

Rey began to relax as they walked among the crowds. Ben had his hood up to shield his face, but he was still a noticeable figure, being so tall he stood out amongst the shorter crowds, much like Chewbacca. In contrast to her desolate home world of Jakku, Rey found Pasaana teeming with culture. She stopped for a moment, gazing with interest at a large group of Aki-Aki children. One of the female Aki-Aki tending to the younglings caught Rey's attention. She was dressed in a blue daswoad robe that were typical of her species. She approached Rey and smiled, introducing herself in her native tongue.

"I'm so sorry. I can't understand you." Rey apologised.

BB-8 chose this moment to step in. He was no C-3PO but he had a basic understanding of some languages. He beeped at Rey, translating what the Aki-Aki female had just said to Rey. "She says welcome." He chirped in his binary language.

"Thank you." Rey said to the smiling female Aki-Aki.

"My name is Nambi Ghima." The female said, which BB-8 translated again for Rey's benefit.

"That's an excellent name. I'm Rey."

"I would be honoured to your family name too." Nambi asked.

Rey's own smile faltered a little when she responded. "I don't have one. I'm just Rey."

"She'll soon be a Solo if my son has anything to do with it." Han mumbled in an aside to Chewie. The Wookie let out a faint whine of agreement.

Nambi Ghima's eyes softened as she gifted Rey with a fertility necklace made of husk. She placed it around Rey's neck and smiled in pleasure. "One day you will be surrounded by children of your own." She said with certainty.

Rey glanced at Ben standing beside her. Even though his face was partially obscured by his hood, she noticed the way his eyebrows raised a centimetre or two, his eyes twinkled in amusement as if he knew something she didn't. They were like melted chocolate. Warm and oh so addictive. Rey found herself becoming lost in them until she caught Han and Chewie nudging each other out of the corner of her eye. She scowled at them in annoyance, which set them off laughing. Rolling her eyes at their antics, she bid farewell to Nambi, thanking her again for the necklace before resuming her journey through the swarming crowds.

"Still the same old scoundrel." Lando greeted Han with a broad smile as they embraced briefly, patting each other on the back.

"You haven't changed." Han laughed as he took in Calrissian's ornate clothing complete with his signature cape. He turned to introduce Rey. "This is the kid I told you about." He said, drawing her forward.

"Hi." Rey smiled shyly in front of the old legend. "Its nice to finally meet you. Han has told me all about you."

"I bet he has." Lando chuckled as he clasped Rey's hand in his warm one. "Everything you heard about me is true."

Rey felt her cheeks growing warm as she remembered some of Han's wilder stories about Calrissian's past exploits. She felt Ben tense beside her and looked up at him nervously. She could sense his anxiety; he was clearly concerned about seeing Lando. The two had been close when he was a young boy, Lando was just as much of a surrogate uncle as Chewie. She watched as Ben slowly drew back his hood, revealing his face.

Lando's jovial expression vanished, his brows drawing together as his curious gaze met Ben's for the first time. There was no judgement or blame in Lando's eyes as Ben had expected, instead he only saw compassion. "So, you've finally returned to the fold." Lando drawled. "Good. Welcome home, kid." He reached out and embraced Ben just like he had Han, taking Ben completely by surprise.

Rey found she had tears in her eyes as she watched them hug. This was a big moment for Ben and she shared his emotional joy at the reunion. She could see how much it was affecting Han and Chewie by the moisture glimmering in their eyes. Rey discreetly wiped away a tear and smiled happily up at Ben as he let go of Lando and reached for her hand.

Lando's expression turned serious as he looked over at the packed crowds. The festival was still in full swing. He motioned them to follow him into his treadable vehicle. A treadable was a ground vehicle used to traverse the deserts of the planet Pasaana. Designed after abandoned crawlers by the native Aki-Aki, the treadables consisted of a central cage surrounded by a pair of continuous treads. Lando had turned the vehicle into a mobile home. It was full of his belongings and something else.

As soon as Ben and Rey stepped inside, they felt her. They had been so caught up in the reunion with Lando they hadn't felt the ripple through the Force of her presence. A shudder tore through them both as they realised Lando had lured them there under false pretences. Han was still laughing with his old friend as he climbed in after them, with Chewie and BB-8 following close behind. It was only then Han saw the solitary cloaked figure hiding at the rear of the vehicle and his laughter died on his lips.

Leia Organa Solo stepped out of the shadows, pulling back her hood as she faced her family.

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.