Despite the exhaustion he felt, Kylo's mind would not allow him to rest. He paced back and forth within his quarters, even hours after Hux had returned to the bridge, attempting to connect with Rey. Each attempt was met with a barrier he had not felt before, and with each effort, Kylo became increasingly frustrated and panicked.

Had the Knights of Ren already made their way to the Outer Rim? Had they gotten to Rey before he had?

Not possible, the logical portion of his mind insisted. They had only just analysed the transmissions and entered warp, the Knights would be at least another five days in warp from their current mission in the Ilum System.

Kylo unconsciously shuddered at the thought of the Knights. Those scared boys at the Jedi temple had seemed to be more easily corrupted than he had been. Where there had been conflict within his heart, despite his wholehearted efforts to please Snoke, the Knights of Ren had become completely devoid of light within months of training with the Supreme Leader.

He knew the only reason Snoke had not forsaken him for one of the more devout Knights was contained in his blood. The conflict within his soul was outweighed by the direct lineage to the great Darth Vader.

To Anakin Skywalker.

His mind drifted to his dying mother, the bridge between himself and the crushing weight of expectation that was bestowed upon him from birth.

His mother who neglected and betrayed him, his mother who he had betrayed and left broken.

The rage and fear dispersed and left room for only guilt and regret. He reached out to Rey, desperately needing to speak to her, desperately needing to feel the gentle waves of her light to temper his dark.

Kylo reached out to Rey every few minutes, only to be met with a gentle resistance; she wasn't purposely blocking him out, but she was indisposed.

Sleeping, he realised with a defeated sigh. Kylo moved to his bed and lay down slowly, feeling the acidic burn of failure rage through his chest.

Hours passed and Kylo fell into a fitful sleep, his waking fears turning into terrifying nightmares. He saw the Knights of Ren with the severed heads of his mother and of Rey, their laughs echoing throughout his mind. He ran towards them, screaming, but his feet did not seem to comply with his mind. The force would not obey his efforts until the figures disappeared, and he felt a light breeze against his cheeks.

He sighed with relief at the presence of Rey, but that relief was quickly extinguished when the force signature did not match hers. The realisation dawned on him the moment he heard a voice that had been forgotten by his ears.

"Ben, my son."

Kylo turned slowly to face his mother. Leia stood, dressed completely in white, her face serene and young, her shoulders relaxed and unaffected by the weight of the world. She looked as though she were almost at peace.

Almost.

There was a look in her eyes that spoke volumes, the exact look that Kylo felt within his own soul.

Leia walked slowly towards him, her eyes taking him in as he stood frozen in place. The presence of her force told him that this was no longer a dream. His mother was truly there with him.

Kylo felt his lips tremble and he pushed his nails further into his palms to keep the brew of emotions underneath.

As she reached him, she placed her open palm against his cheek, and the force of her love poured through with so much strength that the air rushed from his lungs as though he had been physically hit. He felt tears begin to pool behind closed eyelids and he did not have the strength to withstand the flow of his mother's force and control his response all at once.

The tears finally streamed over as the love receded and forgiveness instead filled his being.

Forgiveness for his actions after Luke's betrayal. Forgiveness for the horrors he had inflicted across the galaxy.

Forgiveness for murdering his father and her great love.

Kylo fell to his knees and clutched his mother's hand as the sobs wracked his body. He was unable to speak for what felt like eternity, and when his chest stopped heaving, the words that left his mouth were strangled and stuttered.

"I am so sorry, mother… I am so sorry for… For everything…" Leia knelt beside him and lifted his chin to draw his attention to her. The conflict of emotions within her eyes begun to flood to the surface, and it was in deciphering this that Kylo missed the blue that begun to tinge her aura.

"I know, my son. I know. You have my forgiveness wholeheartedly… I just hope that one day you can forgive me for sending you away… I thought that Luke was the best to train you and help you control your abilities… I was wrong, Ben, and I am so sorry." Kylo searched her eyes and felt the regret and guilt that she still carried within her.

Shaking his head, he held both of her hands within his own and implored her dark eyes.

"There is nothing to forgive, mother. I understand completely." He allowed the truth of his words to wash through the force towards her, proving that he meant every single word he said.

A wave of peace flowed through him from her, and the smile that spread across her face was one of the most beautiful things he had seen. The light that he felt emanating from her was so pure and white hot that it took all that was within him to continue breathing. His gaze was caught by the deep blue of her aura that glowed stronger and brighter with each moment that passed.

"Mother, what…" The words lodged in his throat as he stared at her, wide-eyed and frozen in shock.

Leia leant forward and kissed his forehead, her hands lingering at his neck until she spoke the words he thought he would never hear again in his life.

"I love you, Ben. I always will." Kylo closed his eyes, and just as he swore he would drown in her light, he shot upright from his bed, panting and covered in sweat.

He felt an enormous ripple crash through the force and the truth of what happened filled him with a gentle, content sadness he had never felt before.

Leia Organa had become one with the Force.

I apologise that this is a short chapter, but I feel like it conveyed exactly what I needed it to (after I rewrote it three times!) Because I have done a rewrite, the next chapter will be up sooner because most of it is salvageable from what I cut from this chapter. Anyway, I hope you're all well! Thank you to love of escapism and AngelfromBeyondBelow for your continued support, I really appreciate it! Feel free to favourite, follow and review, it really makes my day! Enjoy your week ahead everyone and thanks again xx