Chapter 4

Ben followed Hux down the hall to another office and got the information needed and it did indeed look like the resistance was on Coruscant. Ben inwardly sighed, of all the places they could have gone it would be to an old resistance base. His mother knew to keep moving, but how much longer could he keep her out of reach of Hux?

After getting on board his ship he set a course for where he needed to go. Not really trusting Hux as soon as he was far enough from their ship, he turned off the tracking transmission. He wondered what he would come across as he travelled onward. Was he ready to see his mother? And why did he decide to go exactly, trying to convince himself it wasn't just to see a pretty girl and that it had more to do with the resistance base.

Upon arriving in the atmosphere, he picked up on Rey and his mother's force energy and knew the general direction. His mother was like a beacon in the night, she was powerful and easy to find. Somehow finding Rey should have taken him longer, but he always seemed to know where to look to find her. It must have something to do with the dyad bond.

He landed the ship far enough from the base, he guessed he would have to walk a good half hour to get there. That gave him plenty of time to think over what was to come from this visit. He could hear the music now, he slipped past a guard who was patrolling. Being a former Jedi did have its perks, Luke had trained him to be calm and collected, while Snoke had trained him to follow his feelings and use his hatred. In this instance Luke's' teachings came in handy. Calmly slipping past the guards he snuck unto a bunker and stole some clothes. It took a few tries, as most men weren't his height or had his broad chest. Ben always felt a little too big and awkward, that was until dancing with Rey and seeing her unconsciously check him out. She felt so small next to him, it was a powerful feeling; unlike he'd felt before.

Slipping into the new clothes he ran a hand through his hair and stopped by a mirror on his way out of the room. He thought he looked a little like Han Solo, but more like his mother at the same time. With a frown he walked out of the room and down the hall. Thinking too much he ran into Finn accidently. "Hey there, I haven't seen you around, are you new?"

"Ah. yes." Ben was ready to use the force to make him forget, nervous to be found out before getting a chance to see any more of the base. "I was – "

They were interrupted by Dameron, ben would recognize him anywhere, he made an impression upon his interrogation. Ben did feel bad for hurting him, if he would have just given the information needed maybe it wouldn't have been that bad. "It's time to eat, Rose found us a table." Poe, not realizing Ben was there wrapped an arm around Finns waist and started to drag him away. Noticing him he smiled, "Hey, Poe Dameron, nice to meet you….?" Ben took the hint, "Ben…" They shook hands and Poe invited him to have a drink with them later.

Dumfounded Ben retracted his hand and watched them walk off. Not knowing who he was had saved his life, but more than that, maybe he could have a fresh start…With that thought a deeper frown etched its way across his face. That was dangerous thinking. He was here for the girl, no he was here for the base to see their numbers and what ships they had. Muttering to himself to stop thinking about the girl at all. She may have leaned into his touch, but maybe it was a trap? Shaking his head, he went in search of the ships. He found a handful, and walking amongst them he noticed how many were getting repairs or were in terrible shape. The numbers must be dwindling. He turned back around, feeling regretful for knowing their numbers and seeing them in person. How was he to murder them after seeing their living conditions and meeting them and having drinks with them? He was in over his head. What he wanted right now was a big glass of corillian whiskey and a quiet corner to observe the room full of people. If he could have one night as Ben Solo again; he would take it. Just a man with a drink and maybe a chat with some drunken fools not knowing who he was. A simpler life.

It didn't take long to find the drink table, he searched the room from his shadowed spot, finding his mother as easy as finding a star in the night sky. She simply stood out against everyone else. She caught his eye and he hoped she didn't sense him. He was using a lot of effort to hid himself. She smiled and he knew he failed. Considering leaving the mission as a failure and slipping into the night, until he heard Rey. Instinctively he zeroed in on her in the lunch room, she was talking to her friends. She was a sight in that dress, hair down flowing, it was longer now; almost to the middle of her back. She looked so carefree with her friends. Suddenly she stood up and hugged her friends, noticing how the men held hands he supposed she just found out they were courting. Ben knew the first order was pretty strict but he was glad that it wasn't so here. FN – 2187 looked happy here, more like an individual. If Ben could change one thing- many things really- but the big things is he would go back to clones or droids to fight in the wars. Even Jedi had an issue where they stole children to train them, Ben hated when he left his parents, but at least he got some time… who knew how long FN2187 had with his family before he was taken.

He watched as the man from the day before followed Rey out to the dance floor, his mother surprisingly was already out there. They started with a waltz; no surprise there. Ben rolled his eyes, his mother loved formality. Watching them he noticed that Rey was slightly leading the man. He watched for awhile longer noting the man ran her into another couple, he would probably accidently shoot her in battle as well. He had to go. After all these months of the bond joining them, and the few time's they had fought one another Ben picked up her tell signs that she wanted an escape. She needed to be rescued, the thought crossed his mind and he laughed. He would tell her later when it was just the two of them. He watched her leave the floor and as soon as the man raised his hand to her lower back Ben started walking across the room. All laughing aside, no one was allowed to touch her. Not Snoke, not Hux, and not this man who couldn't even lead her around the floor. He watched her flinch and caught a slight pinch to her features from his spot. He picked up his pace across, he was closing in and he hoped this man left before he arrived.

Ben could over hear, he slowed his pace and was a few feet from Rey now. "Sorry, I just- "

"No, no that's ok, I didn't think. You must be used to fighting so much that a man's touch scared you." Ben was thinking this man didn't know who Rey was, she kicked his ass which was no normal feat. "What? No, I just wasn't expecting- "
"It's ok Rey… "He started to lean in and Rey stood like dear in the head lights, as he got closer, she ducked out of the way and he fell into the table. Ben watched as Rey stopped moving, did she really want to kiss him, no there was no way. He couldn't have dreamt the day before, there was more to that moment.

"I'm sorry Chris, but I don't want to kiss you." He sighed with relief, knowing deep down he needed to get himself under control; she held too much power over him.

He looked shocked, "Really?"

"Really, and I think Poe and Finn played a mean prank on both of us. I'm not looking for anyone." Rey looked sorry at Chris but then followed the line of site over to Poe and Finn still dancing. "They mean well, but- "

Chris shook his head, "It's ok Rey, I understand, there's someone else."

"What? No, there's really not." Ben folded his arms, no one huh? He would remind her about their heated moment from the day before.

He smiled, "I can accept defeat, but only if I meet him. Who is the lucky man?" This cocky flyboy needed to get his ass kicked, Ben knew in this moment he would never like this man. Why would Rey owe him anything?

"There is no man, I don't need someone to take care of me. I can take care of myself." Rey was getting mad. After seeing into her mind and the few stories she had granted Ben, he knew she could take care of herself. And how her childhood had been, Rey would choose her partner. Ben hoped it was him, but even if not, at least he took pride in knowing it wasn't this guy. Across his mind he felt a sense of annoyance that wasn't wholly his own, was that Rey's emotions? That was a new development to dissect at a later time.

"Even if there was someone, and there is not. It is none of your business." She glared at him and he looked at her like she was crazy. "Rey, you need someone, I could be that someone if you'd like me to be."

She laughed, "I've been alone my whole life, I don't need someone to take care of me then or now." Ben loved her laugh, he decided he'd been here long enough.

"And here I thought we had some special bond." He could tell that his deep voice behind her shocked her to the core. She must have thought he wasn't really there and tried to ignore him but she turned when this buffoon looked at him. "Who is he?"

"Shit- "Rey turned around, "What are you doing?" She noticed the civilian clothes right away, and in that moment… Ben felt her desire. She was looking at him in a new way she'd never looked at him before. "Ben are you here? "She looked around and noticed people staring, but not jumping for their weapons, even Ben was shocked no one knew who he was yet. Which meant, no one besides her and Leia knew what Ben actually looked like, and he was surprised his mother hadn't come to find him yet.

"I thought I would come see how my dance lessons helped, but it looked pretty poor from where I stood." Rey glared, "Why are you here?" Ben looked at the man behind her, leveling him with a look that would suggest he move along.

"I don't think she wants your company." That man put his hand on her shoulder and moved to push her aside. Ben waved his hand at his side and he removed his hand from her shoulder and walked away, looking dazed as he did so. This man was lucky that's all that happened as he had touched her. Ben had people killed for less.

"Ben! What did you do?" Rey moved to go check on him when Ben caught her hand, "…May I have this dance?... "After a few second hesitation where Rey was still looking back at the man walking away, he added, "He'll be ok, I just let him know not to touch you or I would kill him." He felt smug.

"You can't bully everyone." Rey glared up at him. At that moment a couple walked over seemingly to know her. "Hey Rey, who's this?"

Rey smiled at her and said "Rose, this is BEN, Ben this is Rose." Rose looked at Rey and then at Ben, then back at Rey. "Ben-Ben?" He tilted his head at Rey, she must have mentioned him. That was problematic in itself. Rey nodded her head, her hand still in his grasp. Rose looked at him in fear for a moment before she looked down at their joined hands. She softened her gaze, a bad sign to Ben. He was to be feared. "Have you talked to your mom since you arrived?" He glared at both women. This was going poorly.

He felt annoyed and out of control in this situation. "I see you've been talking about me; I should be flattered." He mumbled so only Rey could hear, "I was planning on avoiding her tonight if I could."

Rose smiled, "You two should go dance!" She pushed Rey toward Ben, he steadied her and started toward the dance floor. His mother was sure to find him now. She could always trap him on a dance floor when he was a teen and scold him for not dancing or

They walked to the dance floor with more eyes on them then both would have liked. "Are you here to inform me that you want me to join you?"

"No"
"Then why did you come? Couldn't just check in through the bond?" She looked up at him as he took the stance for a waltz. "Hux found out where you are, I convinced him that I should come alone to see if anyone was on the planet, but I do see my dance lessons paid off." He wasn't sure why this truth slipped from his lips. He'd never been able to tell her a lie.

"Lesson, we only danced once." He started leading her around the floor, being sure to turn her from others and to hold her closer than that man had. Ben wanted to make sure she knew who was more confident with her in their arms. "Why wouldn't you bring back up? Afraid anyone will see me kick your ass again?"

"You had luck on your side both times."

The silence stretched for a while, both aware that he was in fact correct, the first fight she was lucky and the second they weren't really fighting each other, more like the lightsaber knocked them both out.

"Twice." She stared up at him, "We are dancing now." He smirked down at her. They danced in silence for a while, until someone tapped Rey on the shoulder. Turning her head, she saw Leia, and Ben's face dropped into a scowl. "May I cut in?"

Rey smiled so big, if that were directed at Ben, he might not be able to say no to her. Since it was directed at his mother; he was able to think NO! Unfortunately, she answered out loud.

"Yes! Ben be nice to your mom."
"Believe me, I'm more scared of her than she is of me." He mumbled. Looking to his mother with a grim expression.

He picked up exactly where they left off in the waltz, slowly leading his mother around the room. She led him. It may have looked like he was leading her but she was by far the superior dancer. "Ben… I am happy to see you, and I'll be honest, seeing you in civilian clothing has me hoping you are here to stay... But I know that is not the case." She glanced over her shoulder where Rey stood with her friends. "Rey confided in me that you taught her to dance."

Ben looked down at his mother, "She was in need of a lesson. Did you see that boy she was dancing with tonight?" Leia laughed, "Chris is a nice man, and he's a decent pilot, but he hasn't had formal lessons like someone else." She looked pointedly at him.

"Rey also mentioned you think this is a dyad bond, those are rare, but special. Hold on to it, it'll keep you both safe." He looked away from his mother, out past the crowd, easy to do at his height. "I'll keep that in mind mother." She smiled at his slip up. "You haven't called me mother in a long long time. It feels like a lifetime ago."

Ben smiled warmly down at his mother, "It was a lifetime ago, we were all more innocent then. Things are more complicated now."

"You'll be nice to her wont you? She has had a rough life and if you hurt her, you'll have me to deal with." Ben's shocked face looked at her, his scowl placed over his face "Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" With a pause he said, "Just because I called you mother doesn't mean you can come into my romantic life or my life at all. We parted ways a long time ago and nothing has happened between Rey and I that would involve the resistance."

His mother smiled, "She told me about the kiss."

Ben found Rey in the crowd and glared, earning a concerned look from her friends but a smug look from Rey herself. "I would rather not talk about me kissing or not kissing a woman of my choice."

Leia looked at her son, "She is a young woman on the opposite side of the war, of course she is concerned where you are involved. She can see the good in you and hopes you'll leave the dark side behind you. There can be a middle ground Ben!" She squeezed his upper arm. He sighed knowing it was a losing battle, they might never agree on his choices. As far as this conversation, it was much better than he could have hoped for.

"There will be a lot of things to discuss after the war, but I do hope you'll come back to us one day. I'm not sure why you're here tonight, but it was wonderful to see you again." She hugged him as tight as she could. "I've missed you."

Ben hugged her back, at this moment watching them hug in the middle of the room, Poe and Finn looked at each other, then to Rey who was smiling but looking like she might cry. "Rey- ""Is that?"

Rey nodded, "Don't do anything stupid, give them a moment." Poe was shocked and nervously ran a hand through his hair. "Well I did offer him to have a drink with us earlier. Who would have known that was him…"?

"Why is he here?" Both men looked to Rey, she shrugged, "He won't tell me. He said it was to see my dancing skills."

Both men howled with laughter, "Maybe we should have bet Rey would attracted Ky- "Rey slapped a hand over Finn's mouth. Her glare was enough to make them laugh more.

Leia and Ben walked over after they heard the laughter, "I'll make sure they don't say anything, when people are scared it's hard to accept change. They will accept you one day Ben." They had attracted many watchful eyes in the room. Leia left the group with a smile and continued on to socialize.

Poe looks at Ben, he is concerned his mother placed trust in the wrong man when Poe extends his hand and passes him a cup of whiskey. He takes the cup and takes a sip and the conversation continues with Poe telling Finn to pay up, and Finn arguing that neither should pay. Apparently betting on Rey's love life was why that man had inquired about the dance. Ben could see the humor in that.

"Poe! You are such a difficult man, no more betting! No more pranks!"

"But Rey come on, don't be such a stick in the mud! If I had known that Ben here was in the running, I would have put my money on tall dark and scary!" Ben laughed, Rey glared and Poe and Finn swapped money.

"Rey, don't feel bad, my choice didn't even get to meet you because Ben showed up." Poe looked at the ground. "I saw him the other night by the Falcon, but Chewy and Ben made me so mad that I didn't want to talk to anyone."

"What? Ok, you have some explaining to do- lets get a table and more drinks" Poe grabbed the drinks and Finn found a table near the edge of the forest.

"Wait, are you telling me that you can talk to each other across the galaxy like walkie talkies?" Poe and Finn shared a look, "That's so cool!" The alcohol may have made them more open to this situation. Rey just had to worry about them being quiet and not blabbing around the base until Ben was gone. Speaking of, she wasn't sure why he was still there…. He was hanging out with her friends, sharing a drink and talking? Well, he was pretty quiet, but he was sitting there.

"Have you tried passing snacks?" Poe was shocked that they hadn't tried to pass things through.

"No" Ben answered, his deep voice seemed to affect Rey more than she would like to admit, so she had stopped drinking a few drinks ago. Between the three men they had gone at least 6 rounds to the bar. Besides the light slurring and the laughter, it would be hard to tell that all three had been drinking. They seemed like old friends, even Ben had laughed and smiled at jokes, or teased them once in a while. He seemed at ease here, like there wasn't a care in the world.

"Have you tried passing anything through?"
"No, but I did have raindrops when she trained with Luke."

She looked at him, "Did you?" He looked at her and nodded, in that moment Ben wanted nothing more than to do this every day. The easy conversations, her sitting next to him and the relaxing nights. It was not to be, he knew eventually he would have to go back. If he did not then Hux would send men to find him; he probably had sent them as soon as he had left.

Over the last few hours, he had learned about their pranks and goofiness. As well as Rey's hostility towered others flying the falcon. Apparently, there was an incident where they were running from the order and Poe lightspeed skipped. Ben was impressed more so than mad that anything happened to that piece of junk. Han loved the falcon but it needed so much work. They had tried to scare Rey once and she had thrown them into a tree. The more stories that passed, the more rounds were passed. Ben even told a few stories about Han, Chewy and the falcon to appease them.

Finn was the first to yawn, soon following everyone at the table. Disposing their cups in the trash and following to the compound Rey had to ask, "Ben, as nice as this has been, why are you here tonight? Are you here to stay?"

She looked so hopeful in the low lighting that Ben considered saying he would stay. He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I wanted to see you, I was telling the truth, Hux thinks the resistance is here. I wanted to throw him off so I intend to tell him I found nothing but an empty compound. You must leave in the morning." She frowned, "We can't just leave because he thinks were here, we just need a few more days."

Ben sighed, "I'll try to give you time, but I can't promise anything from Hux. He likes to do things behind my back, honestly if he already sent troopers I wouldn't be surprised."

Rey frowned, "I understand. I'll inform Leia in the morning."

"I passed her a note when she left earlier. She probably already has a plan to leave tomorrow." Ben smiled knowing his mother was always prepared.

They continued walking until Rey realized he was still following. "Where are you staying?"

He grinned, "Is that an invitation?" Her blush was instantaneous. "I'm joking, I'll sleep in my tie and take off in the morning."

Rey wouldn't look at him, "There is an empty room next to mine, you're welcome to it. I'm sure Leia would prefer you to be there rather than sleep in a ship. She doesn't let me sleep on the falcon anymore." Rey smiled fondly at memory of Leia finding out she was sleeping on the ship.

"She has a point, that ship needs a new bed. I don't think Han ever replaced it. Who knows how old or what it's infested with." Ben frowned at the thought of her sleeping on that bed. It had been in the ship before his dad had taken it off Lando's hands. "I'll stay the night. Lead the way." He followed her to the rooms along the side of the compound. After seeing their numbers tonight, he suspected that they had lost half their population at Crait. Feeling guilty he realized he would be diverting Hux for a few months.

Rey opened the door for him, "If you need anything, let me know." He smiled down at her, as he stepped closer. She took a sharp breath, probably not realizing he could hear her. "Thank you, Rey." He kissed her forehead, relishing in the feeling that he felt flow across the bond. Shock, but also a pleasant feeling. "Have a good night." He whispered as he entered his room.

"Good night Ben." She had the reddest face he thinks he's ever seen. She rushed to turn away and go in her room. Ben shut the door and prepared to go to bed. Removing his shirt, vest and shoes he laid on the bed. Not comfortable, but better than sleeping in the tie fighter. He wondered if he would get any sleep with her right next door. He wondered in that same thought, if she felt the same.

Rey sat on her bed after changing and wondered about Ben. Would he be there in the morning? Did he really come to only see her? How did he feel about her friends? Why she cared, she wasn't sure.

She laid down to sleep, but how could she sleep when her forehead was still so warm?

Thank you to everyone for reading. I hope you enjoy!