"You're the last person I would have expected to see here." Ben said, crossing his arms against his chest as he watched Hux cautiously.

"That does not concern you. Now, what are you doing with my cat?"

"Giving her the attention she's so obviously asking for."

"There is no way that she would come to you willingly. You must have used one of your mind tricks on her."

"Using a mind trick…on a cat." Ben said, his frown turning into a grin as he realized he could now show Hux just how much he really did like the former general's cat. "You're just mad she likes me better."

There was a brief pause, before Hux's face twisted into one of irritation. "It was you! You're the reason she was gaining weight."

"Clearly you weren't feeding her enough."

"I'll have you know that I feed her perfectly balanced meals."

"Balanced, but obviously not tasty. It's no wonder she came to me."

"Boys calm down!" Rey placed herself between the two of them, having set Millicent back on the desk and looking at each of them pointedly. "Remember that you're supposed to be on the same side now?" Hux continued to bristle while Ben looked like he'd won, a smug grin on his face. Rey made a sound of exasperation, shaking her head. "Honestly, how old are the two of you?"

Fighting over a cat? Really?

Ben shrugged.

Hey, he started it.

Rey rolled her eyes.

And you continued it.

"It doesn't matter why either of you are here," Rose said as she went over to Hux, taking his hand in hers, "all that matters is that you are. Right, Armie?"

Hux pursed his lips. "I suppose you may have a point, my dear Rose."

Ben could only stare the two incredulously, trying not to choke.

Really, he lets her call him that and doesn't try to shoot anything?

Why is it so strange? I don't see the problem.

Ben gave Rey a look.

Because it's Hux of all people. Hux, the one who was the most dedicated to everything that the First Order stood for.

Rey only returned his look with a pointed stare.

If you can change, why can't he?

Ben glanced away, placing a hand on his neck.

...Alright, I get the picture. It will take some getting used to, though.

"I don't expect it to be immediate," Rey said as she smiled softly, taking his hands in hers, "just so long as you're trying."

Rose nodded. "Try to put up with each other if not for yourselves then for us."

"On that note," Rey said, going over to Hux so that she could stare him down directly, a saccharine smile upon her face, "If you ever make Rose cry again you will regret the day we ever met."

"Yes, well," Hux coughed awkwardly, looking for all the world the only reason he had not taken a step back the fact that Rose was still holding onto him, "I shall be sure to keep that in mind. I know full well what you are capable of."

"Perfect." Rey smiled, genuinely this time, backing up to give him room to breathe once again.

"Now that's out of the way," Rose said, looking over at Hux, "How did the reconnaissance go?"

Hux sighed. "Just the same as every other time. No one has heard anything, either."

"Is this about what you mentioned earlier?" Rey asked.

Rose nodded. "A few days after you left, a report came in about a suspicious ship, which turned out to be a remnant of the First Order."

"So, they're still around..." Ben muttered, looking at the floor.

It's not over...

It was jarring, just how much they had gotten used to simply being Rey and Ben. Yet the fact remained they weren't; they were, in the most brutal of reality, the Scavenger and the Supreme Leader.

Rey reached up, placing a hand on Ben's arm.

It's going to be different. We have each other this time.

He nodded slightly as they locked gazes, with her trying to provide him as much reassurance as possible even if it was as if a large, impossibly heavy weight had been placed upon them.The beginning may be over, but that did not mean the ending was set in stone. They would come to the ending they wanted, even if they had to carve it out piece by piece.

She gave him an almost teasing grin, albeit a bit weak around the edges.

Don't worry, I feel it too.

He laughed softly, pulling her close enough to place a light kiss on her forehead and holding her there, as a means to try and calm the both of them down.

Hux rolled his eyes. "Honestly, I don't know why you are acting so -"

"It makes sense they would be upset." Rose said, elbowing Hux, "Even you said it was 'unfortunate' when we found out."

"Yes, well," Hux said with a dismissive hand, skirting around the fact that he had been caught, "That's beside the point. It really shouldn't be a surprise a splinter group exists; not everyone was thrilled with the way Ren handled matters."

Ben sighed. "It's Quinn, isn't it?" Of those that he knew were averse to the way he had been doing things, the general was the top.

"We have not been able to confirm the identity directly, but from the style of the ship alone, it does appear to be Quinn's Cruiser." Hux said. "However, shortly after it was sighted, it disappeared, and we have not been able to track it."

"And you tried -"

"Of course, we tried his frequency." Hux cut in sharply, "I am not some simple-minded fool."

Ben opened his mouth to say something, but Rey elbowed him. "What can we do to help?" She asked instead.

"He hasn't made a move yet, so for now we're just keeping an eye out." Rose answered, "How long were you planning on staying?" She added, looking hopeful.

"We'll -"

"Goodness it really is you, Master Ben! I heard the news you had returned." C-3PO barged in, not bothered at all that he was interrupting. "And miss Rey! It is a pleasure to see you again."

"Hey, Threepio." Rey waved at him, shaking her head and slightly amused that the droid's sense of timing was still just as bad as ever.

"If I may ask, where have you been? We needed your help against Kylo Ren and the first order!" Threepio turned to Ben, looking at him expectantly.

Ben glanced over at Rey, his stomach dropping. "No one told him, did they?"

Rey thought for a moment, before shaking her head. "I guess not. Sorry...it was never something that quite registered."

"No, it's not your fault. It wasn't your job to tell him." Ben sighed, glancing back at the droid.

"I beg your pardon, but would someone explain what is going on?" Threepio asked, looking between Ben and Rey.

"And with that, it is our time to leave." Hux said, taking Rose's hand as he began to make his way out.

"I'll go with you." Rey said, making to follow after the pair.

"Where are you going?" Ben asked, gripping onto Rey's hand tightly, keeping her from leaving, his eyes pleading with her.

"You have a story to tell and I can't do it for you." She spoke softly, reaching up to lightly stroke his cheek with her thumb, "But I know you're going to do great. You are so much stronger than you realize." She stood up, placing a kiss on his cheek. "I'll be with Rose, but if you really need me, you know how to find me."

Ben nodded slowly and she left, her fingers sliding across his until she was out of reach, then out of sight, leaving him alone with the droid.

He looked over at Threepio, still standing there curiously as he waited for an answer. Ben sighed, his stomach tightening into knots as he mulled over in his head how exactly he was supposed to explain. In the end he decided the most direct way was the best; to rip off the band aid quickly and get it over with. "Kylo Ren was...is me."

"I beg your pardon." Threepio balked, pulling back ever so slightly in his surprise.

"You heard me." Ben swallowed thickly, the knot turning into a twisting, white hot knife. It was the first time he had ever said it out loud, and he was not relishing the feeling. It was so much easier when people already knew who he was, what he had done, to not have to say it point blank just exactly how far gone he had been. He took a shaky breath before continuing, not able to fully meet the droids gaze. "Kylo Ren. Ben Solo. Both of them...are me."

"But Kylo Ren killed Han Solo! And Princess Leia..." At Ben's flinch, Threepio stilled for the briefest moment, as if the droid had finally come across something that was enough to rend him speechless. "I-oh dear." He paused again, before turning to leave. "Master Ben, I am afraid I must excuse myself to go into low power mode for a bit…"

"Yeah, whatever you need." Ben muttered, placing a hand on his neck as he watched Threepio leave. He looked down once the droid was out of sight, coving his face with his hands. "I'm sorry..."

/

"So, you really hooked up with the guy that's kidnapped you twice now?" After parting, Rey had met up with Poe and Finn, with the former being just as difficult as usual.

"That's not what happened. If anything, I kidnapped him." Rey said, crossing her arms as she stared Poe down.

"He's still a murderer. I watched him order the destruction of an entire village!"

"Because you've never done something you regret? Something you want to make up for? People can change, you know!"

"We should be throwing him in a cell not letting him run free!"

"Try locking him up and you'll see just how fast you hit the ground." She glared at him, ready to use the force on him if necessary, to keep him from doing anything rash towards Ben. "We had this conversation on Exegol; we are not having it again. My stance on the matter will not change."

"You gave Armitage a chance; why is Ben different?" Rose cut in, looking between the two before they could start fighting for real.

"She's got you there." Finn said.

"I thought you'd be on my side!" Poe said, giving Finn a look of surprised irritation.

Finn shrugged. "What's one traitor to another?"

Poe sighed, deflating. "Alright, fine, but only on one condition," Poe added, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes, "he has to go through initiation just like everyone else."

"What? No! You are not getting Ben drunk."

"Aw, C'mon, we even made General Hugs over there do it."

Hux pinched the bridge of his nose. "For the last time, that is not my name."

"You should've seen it," Finn said with an amused grin, looking over at Rey, "no one's been able to out drink Poe that much since you."

"Really?" Rey looked over at Hux, unable to contain her surprise. "You didn't strike me as the type to go drinking."

"Certainly not with that swill you call alcohol here," Hux said, "but I have been known to indulge in the finer aspects of the craft."

"Interesting." Rey muttered. She was about to ask if he wouldn't mind if Hux would indulge to see which of them could handle more, but the sudden, stabbing pain in heart had her instead looking back in the direction they had left Ben and Threepio. She frowned, lightly tugging on their ribbon.

Don't forget that I'm here.

Ben didn't answer, but she could feel him coming closer, almost running to be with her. Within moments her was there, seamlessly slipping his hand into hers once he was close enough, and she locked their fingers tightly together. He was doing his best to hide it now that they were among those he wasn't so comfortable with, and she didn't need the pang in her heart from to tell her just how upset he truly was. It was written plainly on his face; the way his lips titled slightly downwards, in how his eyes looked to be on the verge of tears. If they had been alone, she was sure that he would have let them fall.

What happened?

He glanced away, gripping her hand that much tighter.

He didn't take it exactly well. It's the first time I've seen him so speechless.

I'm sure he'll come around, it's just a lot to take in, I'm sure.

"Alright now that the man of the hour is here, we can begin." Poe cut in, completely unaware of the conversation he was cutting into.

"...What are you talking about?" Ben asked after a moment, watching Poe cautiously.

Rey sighed. "They mean to drinking with you." She shook her head. "You don't have to if you don't want to. In fact, it might be better to decline." She added, looking over at Poe suspiciously. 'Initiation' wasn't just a friendly outing with a few drinks – no, the means of the venture was to get the poor fool as drunk as possible.

"I don't see what it's such a bad idea." Ben said.

Rey looked back over at Ben, watching him carefully. No one had said this would be easy, with the simpler alternative to simply hide from it, to deny what had happened. But he was still here, trying his best to move forward; even though she knew how much pain it brought him. It wasn't something that she could do for him, but she would be there every step of the way, to make good on the promise she had made all that time ago in the elevator of the Supremacy.

It had been a harder day then anticipated; perhaps letting off some steam wouldn't be such a bad idea.