Chapter Fourteen – Rey
The sprawling manor appeared through the clouds as they descended to the surface of Naboo. Rey stared in wonder out of the front window in the cockpit, just behind Han and Chewie. She saw three wings coming off the center of the place. A fountain in the front yard spurted water into the air. A giant swimming pool and huge garden sat behind the building. Farther back was the lake of crystal blue water, a boat parked on a dock near the house.
"You live in a castle!" she exclaimed.
Han chuckled. "The advantages of being royalty. Did you know you're dating a prince?"
"Don't call me that!" Ben yelled from the living area behind them.
"Oh, sorry, I meant Jedi prince!" Han yelled back.
Ben huffed but didn't say anything more.
"I'm aware," Rey said to Han. She wouldn't have carried if he'd been a dirt farmer or sanitation worker. She just wanted him.
Han continued. "Even though Alderaan is gone, the royal family had properties all over the galaxy. Some were lost to the Empire, but this one remained intact. It's been here for generations."
The ship set down flawlessly, and a figure emerged from the house. They all headed down the ramp, Luke joining them at the back of the group.
Leia arrived at the bottom of the ramp just as they exited. Rey noticed she walked just slightly hunched, not as tall and stiff as she did as the General. She remembered the injuries Ben had told her about, suffered during Leia's battle with Snoke. It wasn't as evident as Luke's lost eye, but spoke volumes of what she'd endured to save her son. Rey, who'd admired her from the beginning of her journey, couldn't help but admire her just a little more.
Leia embraced Ben first, squeezing him tight. "I missed you, my boy."
He wrapped his large arms around her. "I just saw you a couple months ago. But I always miss you, Mom."
She squeezed him one more time then let go. She went to Han next, pecking him on the cheek. "Did you have a good run?"
"Of course, your worshipfulness."
She swatted him playfully, laughing. Then she hugged the Wookie. "Chewie!"
Chewie bellowed happily.
She stepped aside. "Luke."
"Hello, Sister."
They embraced. "Mirabella's going to be so happy you came."
"I'm excited to hear her sing. I've only heard recordings since she started on this career."
Leia pulled away from Luke and spied Rey.
Rey's stomach clenched as Leia studied her. She wanted to put out her hand and introduce herself, but Leia's scrutinizing her kept her frozen in place.
Finally, Leia nodded. "Rey, isn't it? You were assisting my brother at the temple when we first brought Ben. Yet, I haven't seen or heard about you since then." She stepped forward and grabbed Rey by the chin, rotating her face to either side. "And you haven't aged."
Rey held still, letting Leia manipulate her movements in any way the older woman wanted
Ben stepped behind Rey and put his hands on her shoulders. "Mom, she's with me."
Rey leaned back into him, savoring the heat coming off him, appreciating his protection.
"Oh! Is that how it is?" Leia's eyes widened.
Luke stepped forward. "I'll vouch for Rey. Her intentions are pure."
Leia's head twisted sharply to her brother. "You are condoning this?"
He ignored her question, instead saying, "Rey is the one who told me about Snoke. She's the reason I knew he was the one attacking Ben when he was eighteen."
Leia reeled back.
Han reached out to steady her then put an arm around her shoulders. "If she told Luke about that, she's obviously a friend to us."
"But how did she know?" Leia implored, her eyes shining.
"It's a long story, which we're going to tell you. Do we have enough time before the concert?" Ben asked.
Glancing at her chrono, Leia shook her head. "No, not enough time for a long story." She examined Rey for another moment, her brow creased. Then she nodded. "Rey, if my son and brother both trust you, then I trust you."
Rey smiled as she watched Leia's suspicious manner melt away into one of welcoming.
Relief
Ben physically relaxed behind her.
Leia squeezed Han's hand then pulled away from him. "We've got to get ready for the concert. My flight commander will be escorting us into the city in a shuttle. After the concert, we'll be dining with Mirabella. Then we can talk. Come on."
Ben took Rey's hand and they walked into the lake house.
Rey's breath caught as she crossed the threshold into the huge entranceway. A grand staircase with a swirling wrought-iron handrail graced one side. An intricate crystal chandelier hung down from the high ceiling. It seemed like the white marble stretched on for miles. It looked so elegant, too good for a sand rat like her.
"You belong here with us," Ben whispered into her hair.
She knew she belonged with him, and if he lived in a castle, she'd get used to it.
"Ben and Luke, you've both got clothes in your rooms. Rey, did you bring a gown?" Leia asked.
Rey bit her lip. Not only hadn't she brought a gown, she'd never even worn one in her entire life.
"I didn't think so." Leia eyed her. "Come with me."
"Mother." Ben's voice held a note of warning.
Leia held up a hand and he shut his mouth. "I'm not going to hurt her. She's a little shorter than Mirabella, but she'll fit nicely in one of your sister's gowns. I promise to return her to you unharmed."
Ben glanced at Rey, but she just nodded and followed Leia up the stairs. Rey couldn't help but gaze wide-eyed at the splendor around her, especially when walking into an amazing gold and silver bedroom.
Leia flung open a door on the other side of the room, revealing a walk-in closet the size of the place she used to live on Jakku. Dresses of every color lined one wall and matching shoes lined the other.
"A bit extravagant, I admit, but my daughter has always had a flare for the dramatic. Mirabella will be coming back here with us after the concert, but I guarantee she won't mind you borrowing a gown. What color?"
Rey stood there, speechless, overwhelmed by the choices.
Leia nodded. "Let me." She pulled out a gorgeous purple satin dress, examined it, then replaced it. "Nope." She held up a sleeveless deep red dress, then shook her head. "Still not right." Finally, she landed on a shimmering white gown. It was more beautiful than any piece of cloth Rey had ever seen. "Perfect. Go try it on behind that changing screen."
Rey felt clumsy as she stripped out of the Jedi clothing.
"Rey, can I tell you something?"
"Of course, General." She bit her tongue at the slip up. "I mean, ma'am."
Leia chuckled. "Funny. Back when I fought against the Empire with the Resistance, I dreamed of being a General. But I'm glad my children don't have to experience war like I did at their age. But that wasn't what I wanted to tell you. Has my son told you who my father was?"
The remembered words echoed in her head. My mother was the daughter of Vader. "Yes."
She sighed. "He trusts you if he told you that. Anyway, I found out Anakin Skywalker was my father in the middle of the last war, but I've always wondered about my mother. Had he loved her or were Luke and I a product of rape? It gnawed at me, demanding an answer.
"Recently, I had my genetics run, looking for any family I could find besides Luke. I submitted it here on Naboo first, just because I was already here. And I got a hit."
"Really? How exciting!" As a person who knew nothing of her family heritage but the worst, she was happy for them. Then she pondered how to get such a dress as this on her.
"The results showed Padme Amidala, first a Queen and then a Senator on this planet a generation before mine. She died in mysterious circumstances right as the Empire rose to power. I doubted such a regal woman as her could be my mother, but I couldn't let it go.
"I traveled halfway around the planet to find her closest handmaid, Sabe. She may have been elderly, but her memory remained completely intact. And what she told me made me reexamine my whole existence."
Rey pulled the dress over her head, glad that it stretched instead of ripping. "What did she say?"
"That Padme died of a broken heart."
Rey paused at such a poignant statement, but remained silent.
Leia continued. "Padme fell in love with a Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, even though it was forbidden. She secretly married him and became pregnant. Sabe was one of the few people who knew she carried twins. She didn't know what exactly happened to Padme or the babies at the end, only that she died after Anakin betrayed her."
Rey stepped out from behind the screen, feeling self-conscious in such a dazzling dress.
Leia smiled. "Oh, I do believe my son will be most impressed. Let's do your hair."
Rey smiled at the thought of Ben's reaction to this dress. She moved to the dressing table in the corner. "Does Ben know about Padme?"
Leia grabbed a brush and started unraveling Rey's hair. "No. Nobody does, not even Luke. I wanted it to be only mine, just for a little while. I'll tell them all soon."
"Then why are you telling me?"
Leia paused her brushing. "Because I hate that vow of celibacy Ben took! If Anakin had been free to love and marry Padme out in the open the way it should have been, I don't think he would have turned to the dark side.
"If Ben wants to break that vow and be with someone he loves, I'll support him. But you should know, if you hurt him, I'll destroy you. Do you understand?" Leia dragged the brush roughly through Rey's hair.
Rey gulped. "I would never hurt Ben."
"Good. We have an understanding then. Now, close your eyes, dear."
Rey complied and tried not to flinch when some kind of pad moved across her eyelids. Then something dragged across her lips.
"Now stand up and open your eyes."
Doing as she was told, Rey found her looking at a stranger in the mirror. A beautiful woman in an opulent, white gown with red lips and flowing, brown hair. She looked exactly like the Rey in Ben's fantasy, save for the scars. For a moment, she could do anything but stare at her reflection.
"Marvelous! My son's going to have to pick his jaw up off the floor when he sees you!"
A/N: Thanks so much to everyone reading this!