Chapter Thirteen – Rey

Ben held her hand as they strolled from his hut to the kitchen the next morning. The wind storm had wreaked havoc on the grounds. At least two trees had been ripped out of the ground, one of which was quite massive. Most of the smaller stones in the rock garden had been scattered, and fence around the vegetable garden now lay on top of the plants. The temple remained standing tall and most of the huts appeared unscathed, only a few missing sections of their roofs.

Rey smiled, loving the feel of his warm hand encompassing hers. She walked on air, her spirit so light and content. Their union had been the most perfect moment of her life. Sure, she was sore. He was very well-endowed and she'd been a virgin. But it was a good sore. A very good sore. They'd spent the rest of the day together in his hut, mostly talking, but also exploring each other and devouring the last of his stash of ration bars. They'd fallen asleep wrapped up in a tangle of limbs on his bed.

He pushed through the door to the kitchen, which sat at the back of the temple. The lights bloomed out of the darkness as they stepped inside. Several tables lined one side and Ben pointed at her to sit at the closest one. Then he seemed to perform some sort of magic, pushing buttons, opening and closing cabinets and finally walking back to her with plates full of steaming food.

Rey clapped enthusiastically. The ration bars here tasted much better than what she got on Jakku, but her stomach demanded real food. She breathed in the tantalizing smell as he placed the food in front of her.

He sat down across from her. "Hope you like it."

She didn't recognize the green and orange substance, but she dug in with relish. "Mmm," she moaned as she savored the first bite. The green stuff had a light, sweet flavor while the orange stuff tasted creamy and enhanced the texture of the green stuff. She devoured bite after bite.

Amusement

She glanced up at Ben.

He smiled at her as he chewed thoughtfully. He had only eaten half of his in comparison to her empty plate. "Glad you're enjoying that."

Before she could ask what this delicious ambrosia was called, a group of little Padawans ran into the kitchen. Alkos followed behind them.

"Hey! Did you two feel that earthquake yesterday?"

"Earthquake?" Rey didn't remember an earthquake, just the horrendous windstorm.

"Yeah, a couple hours after we got back. It happened during the windstorm, but definitely wasn't the wind. I actually felt the ground move under me. Knocked half my stuff to the floor. Everybody I talked to felt it too. Never had one of those before in all the years I've been here." Alkos's head whipped around. "Ja'en! Get out of that cupboard! You know you aren't allowed in there!"

A boy of about ten slammed the cupboard door closed, stuck out his tongue at Alkos and ran out the door.

"Grrr, that boy is getting on my nerves." He looked at the other Padawans. "Everybody have a snack they can carry?"

Little heads nodded then filed out the door.

"Have fun at the concert tonight if I don't see you before you go. Ben, say hello to Mirabella for me." Alkos winked at Ben before ducking out the door.

Ben rolled his eyes.

Rey smiled coyly. "He's got a crush on your sister."

"So does half the galaxy. Basically, anyone who's heard her sing," he grumbled. Then he paused, his face growing serious. His voice dropped to a conspiratory whisper. "You don't think we caused that earthquake, do you?"

Laughter bubbled up inside her and burst out of her mouth. The knowledge that their love resulted in an earthquake filled her with merriment. She had certainly been very moved herself during their activity.

He crooked an eyebrow at her reaction.

She laughed harder at his questioning look.

Then he cracked. It started with a little giggle and grew into a roar of laughter, joining hers.

"You two better not be laughing about that earthquake you caused yesterday!" Luke's voice echoed through the kitchen as he walked in.

Rey and Ben went silent in shock, their eyes wide at being caught. Then they looked at each other and the giggles started again.

Luke huffed as he stopped at their table, shaking his head. "Have some decency! A book fell on me during that earthquake. A heavy book!"

The giggles died out, although Rey still laughed inside.

Ben's barely suppressed smile told her he felt the same thing. "Sorry, Master."

"You younglings," Luke muttered and sat down next to Ben. "Before leaving, I did do some research on this Force Dyad prophecy. It's fairly ancient and I couldn't find much. According to the one entry I found in a Jedi text about the Sith, they claimed that two Force-Sensitive would form a unique bond that would connect them both physically and mentally through the Force. It was believed that the sheer power from that bond was equal to life itself."

Rey cringed, remembering the Emperor throwing them both to their knees and stealing their power from them to restore his hideous being.

Ben's hand closed over hers, seemingly reading her mind. "It's not going to happen here," he reassured her.

She nodded to him then looked at Luke. "This doesn't tell us anything we don't already know."

"I'm sorry. I wish I had more for you. I can keep looking but there isn't anymore information in the texts I've got here."

"The most important thing is keeping Rey safe." Ben squeezed her hand, sending little shivers through her. "You are coming to Naboo for the concert, right?"

Luke sighed. "I guess I better. I think you should have back-up in case another strike team hits you. Besides, I am a little ashamed I've never seen my niece perform. I've heard she's quite talented."

"She's incredible," Ben stated.

"Alkos has been itching to run this place while I'm gone. Force, he's been practically running the place while I'm here! It's time to let him give it a try on his own."

Ben groaned. "He'll hold it over my head forever. But he deserves it."

"Han's going to be here soon. I'm going to go tell him. Hopefully, he doesn't create an earthquake in his excitement!" Luke smirk for a moment, then left out the door.

Rey and Ben giggled again. Then Ben cleaned up from breakfast and led her outside.

Several Jedi and their Padawans worked to repair the damage from the windstorm. Rey recognized a few of them as grown-up versions of the children she had met when she'd been there before. Some squinted at her as if they had a glimmer of recognition when introduced, but none truly remembered her the way Ben and Alkos had.

They jumped in to help. Just as they finished getting the blown-down fence upright again, a twinkle in the sky caught her attention. Her breath caught in her throat as the Millennium Falcon descended into view. Her hand grabbed Ben's arm, making him look up as well.

"That old bucket of bolts is here," he muttered, although there was a grin on his face.
She ran out of the garden into the big field in front of the temple. Ben ran right behind her. They stopped as the Falcon touched down in front of them.

Rey bounced on her feet in anticipation. It wasn't her ship anymore but it still meant so much to her. Despite getting to see the Millennium Falcon eight days earlier in her timeline when Han and Leia delivered nine-year-old Ben to Luke, she'd been unable to think of any excuse to get on board without looking suspicious. Now to get to ride on it with Han and Chewie again, harkening back to the first days of her escape from Jakku, had her so excited.

Ben clasped her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Just remember, they don't know you yet. They're going to love you when they get to know you again, but maybe don't hug the Wookie yet."

The bouncing deflated a bit, but she chuckled. "Good advice. I've heard about that thing he does with ripping arms off."

The ramp lowered with a hissing sound. Chewie strolled out, arms open and enveloped Ben in a bear hug. Ben was tall, but Chewie still stood a head taller.

"Hi, Chewie," Ben said, his voice muffled by all the fur pressed into his face. He took the hug in stride.

"For goodness sake, the kid's a Jedi! He's too old for those kinds of hugs, Chewie." Han stepped off the ramp.

Chewie roared in protest, but he did let go of Ben.

Han walked over to Ben with his hand out.

Ben clasped his father's hand only to be pulled into a rough hug. "Oof," Ben breathed out. "Dad, you're not as soft and cuddle as the Wookie."

Han barked out a laugh then released his son. He eyed Rey. "And who is this lovely young lady?"

Before Ben could even open his mouth, Rey stepped forward with her hand out. "Hi, I'm Rey." She couldn't keep the giant grin off her face. Eight days ago, he'd been a lot younger, the Han Solo of legend. But now he looked almost exactly the same as how he'd looked when he'd reclaimed the Millennium Falcon from her. This was the Han Solo she knew.

"Hello, Rey," Han said in a smooth voice as he took her hand. "You here to see this guy off?" He stuck his thumb out at Ben.

Ben cleared his throat. "Actually, Dad, she's coming with us."

Chewie bellowed.

Han almost choked as he turned to Ben. "You're bringing a girl home with you? A Jedi girl?"

"It's a very long story, but...yes. I'm bringing a girl home with me.

A slow smile spread across Han's face. "That's fantastic! Come on board, everyone!" He paused looking around. "Wait, where's Luke? He better be coming to this! If he lets my little princess down again, I'll-"

"I'm here!" Luke yelled as he ran up the hill to the ship.

"You just saved your skin, buddy! I was going to send the Wookie after you."

Chewie grunted and whined.

"I know, Chewie. I wouldn't have wanted that either," Luke answered.

They all tromped up the ramp into the Falcon. Luke veered off for the bedrooms, claiming he needed time to meditate during the trip. Chewie ducked into the co-pilot seat.
Rey wished she could take the pilot seat. Had it only been nine days since she'd flown the old girl?

Before Han crossed the threshold into the cockpit, he spun around and pointed a finger at Rey.

Her eyebrows went up as her eyes widened. Did he recognize her?

"Rey? Your name is Rey?"

She nodded, holding her breath. She wasn't sure she wanted him to recognize her. She and Ben hadn't really decided what story to tell his parents about this whole situation. It was something they needed to discuss on the trip to Naboo.

Han's finger transferred to Ben. "Rey? Wasn't that the name of the girl you wrote those love poems about?"

"Dad!"

Rey's heart fluttered hearing those words.

Han couldn't let it go. "Yeah, those ones you kept hidden under your mattress when you were fifteen. They were actually pretty good. I thought about using them for your mother."

Ben jaw clenched, face turning bright red. "Dad, stop talking!"

"Aww, you wrote me poems. That's so sweet." Rey cooed as she rubbed his arm. "Nobody's ever written something like that for me. Or anything for me actually."

Han elbowed her gently. "Pretty sure his mother still has some of them."

Rey sure hoped so.

"Will you just go pilot the ship already, old man? Rey and I have to talk," Ben told Han as he turned to the area with the bedrooms.

"Sure, you need to talk. You know what you're doing in there, kid?" Han called after them.

"He knows what he's doing!" Rey fired back automatically over her shoulder.

Ben just turned a deeper share of red while Han cackled as he turned back into the cockpit.

Rey fully intended to get down to business after closing the bedroom door, but when she saw the hungry look in his eyes, it quickly devolved into a hot make-out session. After ten minutes, with her tongue in his mouth and his hand up her shirt, she pushed him off. "Ben, we've really got to talk about what we're going to tell your family about us."

Ben sighed, obviously not happy about discontinuing their previous activity but relenting. "You're right." He pursed his lips. "My mom's going to recognize you. She never forgets anyone she meets. And she's going to want to know why you haven't aged. Do you want to make up a story, like that was your mother twenty years ago?"

"I don't think so, considering who my parents were. Also, we're going to have to tell them about the price on my head, presumably by the Emperor. That would bring up a lot more complicated questions. We should tell them the truth."

He nodded. "What about Mirabella?" Suddenly, he froze.

Realization

"I didn't have a sister before, did I?"

"No."

He blew out a breath. "She exists because of what you did. Force, I can't imagine my life without her, my baby sister. It's a lot to put on a person that they owe you their existence."

"Maybe we let your parents decide how to handle it with her. Maybe tell her about us being a Force Dyad, meant to be together, but not the time travel stuff."

He nodded. "That should work for now, but I have this feeling she's going to find out everything eventually." He glanced at the chrono. It'll be a few hours before we reach Naboo. Do you want to take a nap?"

She smiled, eyes hooded. "No."

He smiled back. "Me neither."