A/N: WARNING! The second half of this chapter is sexually expicit. Even if that isn't your thing, you might want to read the first half of the chapter to for important story dialogue. Thanks!
Chapter Seventeen – Rey
"Now, Ben." Leia looked pointedly at her son.
Rey declined Han's offer for a drink with a wave of her hand, as did Ben and Luke. Both Leia and Mirabella held glasses with strong liquor. Chewie, who'd met them as they landed, now stood silently behind Han. They all gathered in a comfortable sitting room near the back of the house.
"Alright, I think we're all exhausted after what just happened so I'm going to make this as short and easy I can," Ben spoke.
Rey placed her hand over Ben's.
He turned it over and entwined his fingers with hers. Then he took a deep breath. "Rey comes from an alternate reality where I turned to the dark side, helped with the rise of The First Order, which is an imitation of the Empire, and murdered my father."
Han choked on his drink.
Ben didn't stop. "Rey joined the Resistance under General Leia Organa and was able to turn me away from the dark side. Together, we destroyed the wraith of Emperor Palpatine-"
"Palpatine!" Leia slammed her drink down on the end table. Some of the blue liquid splashed out, but she didn't notice. Her piercing gaze turned on her brother. "I thought Vader killed him, threw him down an air shaft! You were there!"
Luke stood up. "I was there! I thought he was dead, too. But when Rey came to me, she told me he had somehow survived the fall. Or maybe was cloned. I don't know!"
"His followers kept his frail body alive with machines, magic and sheer will," Rey answered. "Although he still might have been a clone. A bad one. He needed a new body, a powerful one. I think he'd been grooming Ben for years through Snoke to steal his body. Right up until he found me."
"Are you more powerful than Ben?" Mirabella asked.
"No, we have equal power because we are a Dyad in the Force." Rey met Ben's eyes.
"What does that mean?" Leia spoke up.
Luke answered for them. "The Force has bonded them together, making them two that are one. They share a soul."
Han snorted. "Talk about true love. No wonder he was writing love poems to her!"
Mirabella slapped his arm. "Stop it, Dad! This is serious."
"What? I am being serious. You weren't the one whose son murdered him in an alternate reality!" Han took a big swing from his glass.
Leia shook her head, then asked, "So if you two destroyed Palpatine in this other reality, if you won, why are you here, Rey?"
Rey closed her eyes, the pain of her loss squeezing her heart. "Because Ben died."
Leia, Han and Mirabella gasped in unison.
Ben continued for her. "Rey found an ancient Jedi device that allowed her to travel back in time to fix one mistake, which was to alter the course of my life. Then it pulled her back to the future of this timeline."
Leia looked at Rey. "So we saw you twenty years ago. How long has it been for you?"
"Eight days."
"No wonder you haven't aged!" She swallowed and pursed her lips. "That still doesn't explain why our shuttle was attacked tonight."
"Right, I forgot about that part." Ben cleared his throat. "Rey has a price on her head. We're relatively sure Emperor Palpatine is alive in this reality and he still wants her."
Mirabella frowned. "But if Ben and Rey have equal power, why would he specifically target Rey?"
"Because she's his granddaughter."
Every time she heard it said, it was like a knife plunging into her heart over and over again. She couldn't help wincing.
Ben squeezed her hand. "Rey's parents sold her into slavery on Jakku when she was five years old to hide her from him. I don't know how he's found her so quickly."
"How devastating!" Leia hand when to her chest. "I'm so sorry, Rey. Maybe you should be in protective custody."
"No," Ben said firmly, standing up with Rey. "This is the best location, especially with Poe doubling the security teams. I made a mistake taking her to the concert, but here I can protect her."
"I have to go back to the Temple," Luke spoke up, "but I can bring back one of the training lightsabers for Rey to have. I'm sorry it won't be as good as your yellow lightsaber."
"Wait!" Leia barked before her voice softened. She held up a finger for them to give her a minute, then she slipped out of the room.
Rey wondered what that was about. She looked up at Ben, who just shrugged in response.
Mirabella stood up and walked over to Rey. "I guess I'm not singing in that alternate reality," she said in a soft voice.
Rey shook her head. "No, and the galaxy is a much darker place without your singing."
Mirabella smiled, looking down at the ground self-consciously. "Thank you."
Leia stepped back in the room and held out her lightsaber to Rey. "I want you to have mine."
Rey recognized it immediately, remembering when the ghostly manifestation of Luke handed it to her before she faced the Emperor. Emotion welled up inside her. Tears formed in her eyes and she hastily brushed them away. "Are you sure?"
Leia nodded. "It belongs with you now. After what you did for my son, there's no way for me to adequately thank you. Take it." She pushed it into Rey's hand.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Rey threw her arms around Leia before she realized what she'd done.
Yet, before Rey could draw away, Leia embraced her back. The older woman squeezed her gently before letting go. Rey caught her wiping away a few tears as well. Then Leia cleared her throat. "Alright, everyone, it's very late and it's time for sleep. Rey can sleep in the mountain-view bedroom, right across from Ben's room. Is that close enough?" She looked at Ben with an expression on her face that dared him to argue with her.
"Perfect. Goodnight, mother."
Leia kissed Mirabella on the cheek. "Wonderful show tonight, dear."
"Goodnight, Mom"
Leia then gripped Han's hand and pulled him along behind her.
Han patted Rey on the back as he walked by and waved goodnight to his children.
"I'm going to do a sweep of the grounds before turning in. Come with me, Chewie." Luke nodded to them as he left. Chewie followed along behind him.
Rey followed Ben and Mirabella up the stairs and through the same hall Leia had taken her for the gown. Mirabella threw open one of the doors and led them in. Rey adored the lavender color of the walls, accented with darker shades of purple and silver on the bedspread, drapes and carpet.
Mirabella parted the drapes slightly. "It's too dark to see the mountains now, but when you wake up, the view is spectacular. Of course," she smiled coyly, "if you were by chance to wake up from the room across the hall, you'd have a spectacular view of the lake."
Ben rolled his eyes. "Goodnight, Mirie."
Mirabella smiled brightly. "Goodnight, Ben. Goodnight, Rey." Then she strolled out of the room.
"So this is my room?" Rey still hadn't gotten over the honor of Leia giving her the lightsaber, but also giving her such a gorgeous bedroom seemed too much.
"Technically," Ben answered.
"Technically?"
"You can keep all your stuff here, but I don't intend you to sleep here."
Warmth grew in Rey's body, igniting sparks inside her. "So I get a view of the lake tomorrow morning?"
"Definitely."
Before she could blink, they'd crossed the hall to his bedroom. Rey attacked him, her hands on the back of his head, dragging his mouth down to hers.
He used his foot to kick the door shut behind him as he kissed her with gusto. His raising desire for her mixed with her own desire, the two sides mingling into one overwhelming need.
Rey's fingers slipped out of his hair and down his neck. She skimmed past his collar and landed on the first button. She loved how the fitted dress shirt hugged his well-defined chest muscles. Her fingers struggled with the first button and finally popped it open. The second button gave her more trouble. With a growl of frustration, she pushed away from him and ripped the shirt open. Buttons clattered as they flew around the room.
A deep laugh rumbled through Ben as he shucked off the remains of his shirt.
Rey couldn't resist tracing her fingers over his chest and down his abdomen.
Ben grabbed her upper arms and pulled her back into him as his mouth ravaged hers.
She couldn't get enough of the taste of him. A throbbing beat through her body. She couldn't seem to get close enough to him either, even as his evident want hardened.
He slowly walked her backwards until her legs hit the edge of a high bed. Her hand touched a silky comforter on top of it.
Then, in one swift motion, he spun her around and leaned her over the bed. He roughly yanked her dress up over her waist and dragged her panties down her legs. He picked up her feet then threw the offending piece of cloth across the room.
Rey reveled in his aggressive actions. She hadn't minded taking the lead their first time when he'd been afraid to hurt her. Yet, now that she released the inner bonds on his lust, she liked him taking charge.
He whipped off his belt then kicked off his pants and underwear. His foot moved her ankles farther out, opening her legs.
Her heart sped up. She ached for him to take her.
One hand gripped her hip. He positioned himself with the tip of his steel shaft at her opening. Then he hesitated.
Yes! she screamed inside her head. She knew he'd heard her silently screamed consent because his other hand gripped her other hip and he penetrated into her. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of him filling her.
He kissed her shoulder before he started moving against her. He started slow.
Something about this angle had him hitting all the right places. The throbbing within her intensified. She moaned and pushed her hips further against him.
It urged him on. He picked up the pace. His tongue joined his lips on her shoulder, licking her. His hands went around her body, caressing her breasts through her dress.
Rey moaned louder as he thrust into her faster.
His one hand created burning streaks of fire down her stomach. Then his finger dipped into her folds finding her nerve center.
She bucked against him, crying out.
His other arm wrapped around her waist to keep her against him. He bit into her shoulder, teeth scraping against her flesh. It didn't hurt much but further added to the stimulation.
As he plunged himself inside her over and over again, he stroked her to the point of madness. The throbbing overcame all thought. Her head lolled back on his shoulder as her back arched. She screamed as her whole body convulsed with pleasure.
His own orgasm followed on the heels of hers. He buried himself deep inside her as he bit her shoulder again.
Things rattled around the room, but luckily there was no earthquake this time. Neither of them would have wanted to face the wrath of Leia Organa if they'd damaged the house.
Clinging to her, he kissed away the sting to her shoulder as they both came down from the high. They panted in unison.
He pulled out of her then picked her up.
She let out a little yelp, but didn't resist. She was exhausted after such a night. A concert, a shuttle attack and a vigorous lovemaking session!
He laid her on the bed then helped strip her out of the dress. He pulled the covers over her naked body. Then he crawled into bed besides her. He wrapped his arm protectively over her.
"Rey?"
"Mm?" She closed her eyes, drifting towards sleep.
"You don't have to answer now, but I want you to know that when this is all over, I intend to ask you to marry me."
She opened her eyes and gave him a dazzling smile. "And I intend to say yes."