Thank you for the responses everyone! I realized the story may be a little boring in the beginning… so thank you so much for sticking with me! I can't say I'll be updating every few days, but I will post a chapter every week. Most probably Thursdays!

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Apparition

"Ben, you're… you're in front of me?" she was incredulous of the idea that Ben had shown up before her, a year after his death. "I must be hallucinating. You're not here. Not after all this time." She pressed a hand to her face, closing her swollen eyes, almost willing the apparition to disappear.

"Rey," Ben's hallowed voice echoed in the dim cavern. "I don't think I have much time. At least look at me, so I can see your face."

Rey swallowed the lump in her throat, her hand slipped down from her face. Her swollen hazel eyes peered at him, absorbing his image into her memory.

His thick raven hair was tousled, as if he had just woke up from a fitful sleep. He was still dressed in the clothing he had died in, although they were faded and translucent, just like he was, the unmistakable hole her lightsaber had burnt was there. How was that possible? Those who were one with the Force often wore tradition Jedi clothing when they appeared to her as Force ghosts.

In fact, they glowed blue... not white. Was he not a Force Ghost?

Ben shook his head, as if hearing her thoughts. "I am not a Force ghost Rey. I'm... not sure what I am." He took another silent step towards her, seemingly wary, as to not frighten her away.

"Come, let me see you." He extended his hand towards her again.

Rey parted her lips, wanting to say something. But what? No words formed on her tongue— she was not quite sure what to say. Instead, she obeyed him. Hesitantly at first, she closed the distance between them, her hand reaching for his. Her heart began to flutter in her chest, the thought of feeling his touch again made her heart race.

Her hand hovered over his, just millimeters away from touching. She could almost feel the heat emitting from his hand. He moved his hand to grasp hers.

She didn't feel the gentle pressure of his white hand. His hand simply passed through her physical one, as if he was truly an apparition. He was truly not a Force ghost.

She heard Ben forcefully exhale through his nose, frustrated. "I have waited an entire year to see you again... and the Force will not let me even touch your hand." He sounded bitter, dropping his hand to his side and turned his back to her.

"Have you been here this entire time?" She sounded so small, in such disbelief.

Ben nodded and turned back to face her, "I'm unable to become one with the Force, it seems. I've been just... here but not really here."

"How can that be? You sacrificed yourself for me. You brought me back from death! Ben, I—," Rey stepped closer to him, wanting to see his face, wanting to memorize every detail of him. Whether the bond was influencing her or not, she yearned to immortalize him in her thought.

He silenced her with a shake of his head, his eyes gentle, his lips tilted in an endearing smile. "We're a dyad, Rey. We're one when we're together. In death, we are apart. To become one with the Force, we must be whole."

She gasped in realization, her hand flew to her lips in shock. "We are apart. I'm alive... and you're... what... what do we do?" She was at a loss for words. Ben couldn't pass into the Force because she was his other half. Did she have to... die... to bring him to peace?

Ben shook his head again, this time, his expression hardened. "Don't," he commanded. "I have sensed your sorrow, Rey. That is enough for me, knowing that someone mourned for my death. Sometimes, it was almost too much to bear." He sighed, looking around the lifeless cavern. "This is my punishment for what I've done... for those whose life I've stolen. I am glad though, to have seen you again."

"Ben, I can't just go about my merry way when I know your soul is trapped here!" She walked around Ben, facing him.

"Why not?" His eyes bore into hers, trying to sense her thoughts.

"Because I—," she blurted, then paused, wondering. For a year now, she had buried her complicated feelings for Ben. Now that he was here before her, even as a spirit, she needed to speak her peace.

"Because, you're the other half of me. Because I can't be, no ... I won't be happy knowing my other half of our dyad is trapped on this forsaken planet, doomed to walk in darkness because of me. This is not what I wanted when I saw you after you brought me back. I wanted..." she trailed off, words escaping her again.

"Me?" Ben finished with a question, his eyebrow tilted curiously.

Rey's face grew pink, embarrassed. "No," she claimed defensively. A pause of silence befell the two as she searched for her words. Finally, she looked up to his patient face, her hand reached upward towards him, motioning her hand to cup the air on his cheek.

"I... wanted to know you, the real you, Ben Solo. Not the mask you wore as Kylo Ren. I have seen a glimpse of it when you brought me back... but then... you vanished." Hot tears blurred her vision, threatening to fall all over again.

He leaned his cheek into her hand, sadly she felt nothing but the air around them. With a defeated sigh, she lowered her hand.

This isn't fair.

"There has to be another way, Ben. Is there a way to help you cross? Or at least... let you leave this monstrous place?" The thought of him spending decades alone in the Sith world ate at her soul.

"I'm not sure. This body is new," he looked down at his opaque hands. "I wasn't able to manifest my body before today."

"What changed?"

"You, your tears," he replied, the look of regret marred his face. "I had wished to see you again after I had die. I didn't think, didn't want, for you to grieve for me as you did."

"When you vanished, I felt... my heart, it—," she stuttered, unable to find the right words.

"I know, I felt it too," he softly pounded a fist over his chest. "When I saw your body, I felt it break— physically. Almost as if someone had ripped half of myself and burnt it away. I knew had to try to bring you back."

Rey granted him a watery smile, "Yes. I felt the same. And I still do. Ben, I want to bring you back— physically. Alive."

"It's too late, Rey. Though I appreciate the sentiment," he smiled at her, his heart warmed at her compassionate nature.

"It's not too late," she retorted hotly. "You said you weren't able to manifest a body before. And I highly doubt my tears gave you the power to do so. Something has changed. What was it?"

They both turned to face at the stack of stones on the cold ground. Everything was as she left it a year ago, with exception to the…

"Lightsaber," they said in unison.

"Of course," Rey exclaimed, her eyes dancing with excitement. "The kyber crystal! You've imbued it with your Force. It— you're able to manifest your body with the added force signature. Just… how do we capture your remaining Force in this place?"

She walked over to his lightsaber, her hand hovering over the air above the lightsaber, she closed her eyes. Exhaling in a steady breath, she projected her will to the force. The air around her hummed, in sync with her thoughts. Ben's lightsaber levitated off the ground, slowly, piece by piece, layer by layer, it separated until the core— the kyber crystal surfaced.

The crystal was glowing in purple, swirling crimson red and sky blue within. Light and dark. Rage and redemption. Kylo Ren and Ben Solo.

"That is interesting," Ben remarked, intrigued at the display of lights within the crystal.

Rey grasped the crystal in her hand, staring at it with great concentration. "What if the kyber crystal is like a beacon for your spirit here. Like a catalyst for you to manifest your body."

"Rey, if it truly is a catalyst, we both know I still can't leave this place," he spoke tentatively, not wanting to destroy her ideas or give her false hope.

"No, but what if I bring more kyber crystals. Bind them together and imbue it with your force signature. What if—."

"Rey," he interrupted, his tone pleading.

She continue to ramble, oblivious to his pleas. "What if I build something that can concentrate the power of the crystals?" She murmurs, pacing back and forth. "No, that's stupid. What about a relic or—."

Ben's face brightened at the mention of a relic. "Rey, lis—."

"Ben Solo, I am trying to think of something to get you out of here! Now, if you would please, stop calling my name!" Her focus broken, the metal parts of Ben's lightsaber fell and clattered loudly onto the ground.

He gave her a toothy grin, crossing his arms on his chest. "You are far more invested in helping me leave this place, than I am myself."

Rey frowned at his teasing, not finding any mirth in the situation at hand. "Of course, Ben. You're trapped because of me... and there's no way out for you," she finished with a dejected whisper.

"Or, perhaps... we may have one yet."

"What? What do you mean?" Hope in her eyes began to bloom.

Uncrossing his arms, he moved to stand in front of her, speaking carefully. "Snoke mentioned a collection of relics Palpatine had hoarded. He mentioned of one; the Kwa relic, that had the power to absorb and concentrate a being's life force. Though, I'm not quite sure how long that may last. Nor do I know if this relic truly exists."

Rey's eyes lit up at the hopeful information, shutting out his apprehension towards the end. "It's worth a try, Ben. I can't leave you to roam here. If we somehow had the chance, however bit small, to free you, I would take it. No matter how small."

Ben smiles at her optimism. "I wish I had known of you sooner... the maybe all this," he gestured all around him. "Maybe this wouldn't have happened. And Kylo Ren never existed."

She ached to hold him in her arms. Through their bond, she could feel his waves of regret, his hidden rage, his pain. "You were what you've had to become, yes. But you are so much more, Ben Solo. For what you've done for me, you do not deserve to roam this place until I die."

"Thank you, Rey," he reached for her face then, brushing the back of his finger against the corner of her lips. For the briefest second, he swore he felt the warmth of her skin.

Rey gasped, "I felt it, Ben. I don't know how, but I did..."

"I did too," he whispered, his eyes longing and hopeful.

"Maybe with the Kwa relic, you can come with me... until it's time..." she trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

"Maybe," he affirmed. "I would prefer a whole day of your company than an eternity in these caves."

Rey gave him a small smile, "I'll find it, Ben. Please." Her eyes stared into his, begging for him to disclose the location of the relic.

With reluctance, Ben answered her. "With Palpatine's first death, the New Republic excavated the vaults of the Imperial Palace. The artifacts, both Sith and Jedi were sent to the Outer Rim planets... but many of the ships were ambushed by Imperial loyalists. The relics were scattered. Though before Snoke's death, he sent scouts to recover the relics."

"Did Snoke find out where they are?"

He shook his head, "No... we were too wrapped up with the war... with finding you."

Rey sighed, obviously disappointed by the grim news. "Of course..."

"There was mention of an old Imperial Moff, by the name Janthir who resides in Ryloth. He captured one of the vessels with the relics and had hidden them on the planet. I'm sorry Rey, that is all I know."

"That's enough for me to start looking."

Ben reached up to touch her face again, this time, admiration shone in his eyes. "You are hope, redefined."

Rey leaned into his hand, feeling the faintest of touch on her cheek. "You deserve a little bit of hope, Ben Solo."

He hummed a tone in agreement.

"I'll come back for you," Rey stated, emphasizing her words to him as to she him her dedication.

"It's ok if you don't, " he responded, his tone light.

Rey scoffed at him, as if hurt by his words. Then she smiled, knowing he was teasing her. "You know I will."

"I know. I can feel your determination through our bond."

Yes, and she could feel his contentment from their Force bond. For the past year, she had kept herself away from this place. She wished she had listened to her heart and came sooner. She would've been able to see Ben months earlier.

Her com beeped again, this time Chewie stated he was coming to get her.

"Wait no, Chewie. I'm sorry. I'm on my way now," she replied into the device. Chewie's frustrated growl from the com echoed into the cavern.

"You better go," Ben nodded towards the path out of the caverns. His eyes were deep in thought, she was unable to tell what he was thinking about.

Then she felt it. Abandonment.

"Ben, I am coming back with the relic. Trust in me," she reasoned.

"I know, Rey. I do." Ben's gaze fell to the glowing kyber crystal in her hand. "Take that with you. It'll be safer with you than it laying out in the open here with me."

Rey nodded. "Okay." She stilled when his ethereal body shifted, his head bending towards her. She closed her eyes, welcoming what was coming next.

A faint breath tickled her hairline, a pair of warm lips pressed against her forehead.

"I'll be waiting for you," he whispered against her skin. The air around cooled, and with a sigh, his presence disappeared.

Rey kept her eyes closed, unwilling to let his departure dampen her optimism.

"Wait for me Ben, I won't be long." Lingering for just a moment longer, she savored his gentle kiss.

With a nod, Rey opened her eyes— determined and focused.

.

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Shorter chapter but earlier update! I wanted to project the power of their bond in this chapter. The longer and closer they got, the more physical Ben was able to be. Hope the message came across right.

I also twisted janthir's story a bit. That part's not quite canon.

Oh, I edited a few words at the end of the 1st chapter. No major changes. It was just funny sounding.

Thanks for reading!

Please review? Heh!