Chapter 5

Ben awoke early before anyone else, he had slept very deeply. After grabbing all of his things from the room he slipped out, he had found a notepad and paper and wrote a note to Rey, as well as a letter to his mother. Closing his door quietly listened outside Rey's room. All seemed quiet, he opened the door a crack to see her sleeping. He entered the room and left the note on her small desk next to her staff. Turning to leave he was struck by her peaceful face; she was completely unaware of him in her room. He wondered if she slept this peacefully before she came to the resistance. As a scavenger, did she ever have to fend off anyone in the middle of the night? He supposed people would steal her rations or blankets, maybe even stored water. He squatted next to her bed and pushed a piece of hair out of her face. Her face was turned toward the window, allowing the light of the stars to bathe her face in soft light. It also gave him a better view of the line of drool running down her chin.

She looked beautiful, not that she didn't every other time he saw her mind you. She probably wouldn't be pleased he was saving this moment to show her at a later time. Her arm was stretched above her head, the other across her stomach, and her legs tangled in blankets. The look was completed with wild hair, drool and the light snore. He knew he should leave, but he wanted to check on her leg. He lifted the blanket and prayed no one entered the room. How would he explain this to Rey, or his mother? Rolling his eyes, he saw that she was wearing shorts so he was able to see the bruise; the yellowing of the bruise specifically made him relax his shoulders. It was healing fast, not fast enough in the event of an order attack, which he was sure he could only put off for a little while; but at least she wouldn't be tied down due to her leg and back bruising.

His own leg had healed nicely. His back on the other hand had hurt quite a bit when Chewy hit him, he supposed it was better now. He hadn't paid much attention to it in the heat of the moment, only concerned with how it felt to her through the bond. It was becoming more of a problem that he was more concerned about her than his own wellbeing. Out of the entire bond learning, they needed to find a way to stop receiving the same injuries. He frowned and stood up, he was on a lot of wanted lists and that wouldn't do well to put her in danger. Pulling the blanket back over her he paused with his hand on her hair one more time. He was amazed in all the running, fighting and training that her hair remained so soft.

He retreated to the door, if he didn't leave now, he wasn't sure he could. Last night had meant so much to him. To be Ben Solo for one day, thinking about it now gave him a sense of nostalgia. Her friends really weren't so bad, and he could trust them with her life now. They had shared stories of war, life, love stories from Poe, and humorous moments. Which reminded Ben he still had a few things to do before he left.

Exiting Rey's room, he shut the door quieter than he entered. Walking back down the corridor he found himself outside the kitchen, he snuck in to get a bucket, some string, and some bread. He had found out that Poe wasn't a morning person, and Finn had a dislike for rodents. Since they had been so unfair to throw men in Rey's path… he would leave some fun behind on his way. He hoped never to have the bond open while Rey was on a date, the thought had never crossed his mind before yesterday. Now he was only concerned she wouldn't wait for him. He just needed time to end the war, to somehow find a middle ground. He had some ideas about that… but that was his last stop before he left and wouldn't be well received in the first order.

First stop was Poe's door, he made a makeshift ledge above his doorframe with the force's help. He put the small pale of water on top testing the weight. Using the force to hold it in place he cracked the door open. A tangle of limbs could be scene on the bed. Not just one set mind you, Ben smiled at the thought that the two men had already started sharing quarters. Only knowing them for a few hours he already thought they were well suited. Much better than his parents had been at least. He rigged it so the water would fall once the door was shut, opening it wouldn't do the trick. He sauntered down the hall and opened Finn's door, he went into the corner opened the closet and snuck the bread into the bottom. Surely the rats would find it easy enough, but not super obvious to Finn's eye. He was sure Rey would mention these things the next time they met.

He felt his mother stir, he shut Finn's door and walked the hall to her force signature. He had written a proposal for a middle ground and pocketed it this morning. He was nervous this was all for nothing. Stepping into her office was like stepping back in time. Nothing ever changes for Leia Organa-Solo, well… except the grey hair. That was definitely new. He smirked as he thought it, looking at his mom's hair flowing freely before she put it up for the day. When she was younger, he remembered braiding it and playing with it before she would go to a meeting and pull it back.

"Good morning Ben, I assume you're leaving." He nodded. "And there's nothing I can say to get you to consider staying?" Ben smiled, "No, I'm afraid I must leave."

"She's going to miss you, and her friends too." She leveled him with a look, "This is the most peaceful we've been to one another for years. May I ask what has changed in your life to bring such peace?"

Ben looked at his mother, "I don't think I'll answer that." He shrugged, to his mother it looked so much a Han gesture it brought a tear to her eye.

"Sometimes, you…. You remind me so much of him." She held her breath waiting to see how that was received.

Ben sighed, "I… I'm sorry, for everything. I can't and won't take the blame for everything-"
"No! No, you shouldn't. I should have kept Han home, and not jumped back into the resistance as fast as I did, and I regret not training you myself." She had stood up and come to hold one of his hands.

"You- we all did our best in the situation. We can't go back; we need to kill the past. It doesn't matter." He tried to pull his hand away.

"Oh, but Ben, it does matter. I'm sorry, but I agree that we need to move passed it." She let him have his hand back, "Thank you for saying goodbye."

She moved back to her desk and sat down. "Before I leave, please go over this and let me know changes you would make, what would be a … middle ground if you will." He passed the folded letter to her, she looked at the writing and smiled.

"You always did have pretty writing. I'll read it, is this…" She looked down at the commands, her eyes flew back up to Ben. "Would the First Order consider some of this?"

He shrugged, "It's just an idea. Rey got me thinking, we've been arguing about the light and the dark, it's the same with this war. There has to be a grey area."

"Of course, let me talk to my generals and I'll send you what they are willing to do." She extended her hand and shook his. "I look forward to working with you Ben Solo."

He winced at his name, "I don't' go by that anymore."

"Well, I'm your mother and to me you'll always be my Ben."

He left her office and was on his way to the hanger bay to cut across the area. The sky was just starting to lighten and he noticed something unusual by the ships. There was a storm trooper sneaking in the dark to his left. He spun around and fed an imagine of an empty base to him with a forced push to retreat and that Kylo Ren was leaving as well. The storm trooper relayed the information that the base was recently empty and to fall back. Ben watched from the shadows as six troopers left. He heard Hux's voice over the comm. "Where could they have gone that fast?!"

Ben needed to get rid of that man and fast. He backtracked and made sure that no storm troopers were snooping, he waited until their ship left the atmosphere before he started back toward his ship. He had bought them a little time. Enough to start planning a way to end this war. As soon as he entered the atmosphere, he turned on his tracking and then was bombarded with messages from Hux. "Really Hux, don't you have anything better to do than concern yourself with me…"

"Sir!" His shrill voice was already causing a headache as Ben flipped the switches to set it into autopilot.

Rey noticed immediately that her pillow was soaked with drool. She had slept so peacefully; she wasn't sure if it was a combination of the alcohol they drank or if it was something to do with Ben being closer. There was something soothing when the bond was closer in range. She wouldn't dare tell him that, though she suspected that he felt the same. She wasn't able to bring up the kiss the day before. she should have asked why he had kissed her. Walking to their rooms last night she felt the same tension.

She changed into workout clothes; she could already feel he was gone. There was a not in her stomach wishing he could have stayed, but a part of her knew he wouldn't. She really hadn't expected him to, but she had hoped he would stay for his mother. She noticed a piece of paper as she grabbed her staff. It had her name written on it, she thought it must have been from Ben.

She opened it and began reading, her face progressively getting redder as she got, to the point where half way through she had to put the letter down. It wasn't that it was embarrassing by any means, it was cute and sweet and nothing at all like a supreme leader should be. If this was found… no one would fear the First Order anymore. He was like an ewok, he was so cute underneath all that gruff.

She folded the letter back up and set it under her pillow, though not far enough as it stuck out a little from a corner. She left her room with the staff to go out to the training course. As she left the sun was just rising. She could get at least a couple hours before breakfast.

Finn and Poe got dressed and were leaving Poe's room. Finn walked out first, stepping out of the way Poe shut the door behind him as the bucket of water dropped on his head. Soaked from head to toe he glared at Finn who was laughing so much he had to lean on a pillar. He turned around and went back inside. By the time he came back out Finn had composed himself. Still with a grin on his face he led a grumbling Poe to the kitchen.

"That's not funny Finn. How early do you think Rey got up to do that?" Poe grumbled and angrily.

"What if we get her back, will that make you feel better? I would bet she's out training right now."

Poe left the line and turned toward Rey's corridor; they entered her room quietly in case she was back. Seeing no one inside they entered and started looking for things to mess up. They decided to turn everything in her room upside down. They started with her desk and chair, moving to her jedi books that they left on top of it all. They moved to the bed, they threw the pillows and blankets off. Tipping the bed on its side they flipped it over. They laughed to themselves and were about to leave the room when Finn noticed the paper. "What is this?" He was about to put it with her books but Poe ripped it out of his hand. "Let me see that!"

He opened it up and started reading out loud,

"Dear Rey,

I enjoyed getting to be Ben Solo for an evening. I want you to know that I was glad I could spend a night with you and your friends. It means so much to me that I can trust them to look after you; not that you need caring for. It eases something in me to know that I don't have to worry about you so much. Leia is very happy to have a student; you're doing well with her and she'll show you how to hone your abilities. Though I still think I could teach you a few things if you'd let me. I know you need to get a crystal for your saber. I left a few instructions below that helped me when I first found my own crystal.

Meditation is key

Wear warm clothing, the caves are like ice

It can take time to find the right crystal, be patient, it could take up to a week.

I also want you to know that I couldn't stop thinking about the dance. You looked very beautiful last night, though I prefer you in jedi robes. I wish to repeat the occasion again as well as the kiss…

Stay safe,

Ben

Finn and Poe looked at each other in shock…. Sprinting from the room they ran to find Rey.

Rey was coming back to the compound, making her way to her room to grab clothes and head to the fresher. Fin ran straight into her knocking her to the ground. "Woah! What's wrong!?"

The guys were out of breath and threw the letter at her. She instantly went white "Oh no… "

"Yeah, want to explain some of what's inside that letter?"

"STARTING with the kiss. What kiss! We were all there last night and no kiss took place." Poe was being loud and drawing unnecessary attention to them. She didn't know how they had gotten it or what to say back.

"I… I guess we explained most of it last night, and I thought you two understood, there's time when this bond connects us. It did so when I was training and Ben showed me a few dance steps. I didn't want to learn but he taught me anyway. That's all there is to it."

Finn crossed his arms, "So what about a kiss, the kiss… Did he force you? Rey if he did, Poe and I will-"

"NO!? You two are like unbearable, you need to stop. Why were you digging in my room anyway!"

They shrugged, "This is the more pressing issue, sure drinking and talking to Ben is fine. But kissing him? Rey! We're at war, do you really think this is going to end well?"

"It happened one time, and we haven't talked about it, I-I'm not even sure why he did it." Poe raised an eyebrow, "I can tell you why, because he's a man and he's attracted to women. Why when you're sweaty and gross from jedi training instead of in a dress on the dance floor; who knows but he's a man. It's as simple as that."
"You're so difficult, you don't know anything about this situation."

Finn looked at Rey's red face and knew that there was more to her feelings than nothing. He stayed silent and let them hash it out. Rey and Poe started arguing over peoples' property and staying out of others rooms, "Yeah Rey, stay out of my room and the bucket wasn't funny this morning."

She came up short on a retort, "What bucket?"

They guys stared at her, 'The one filled with water that dumped on my head… If it wasn't you, who was it?"

Rey started laughing, "What are you laughing about?" She looked at Finn and shrugged, slowly Finn thought back to who else was in on their prank wars, "I haven't seen Rose today, but she's usually over by the ships at this point…that would leave, wait, Rey… where is Ben?!"

"He left early this morning." She continued laughing, "But you can't blame me for a prank he may or may not have done. It wasn't me, you had best check with Rose. But I would bet money that Leia's son had a last laugh before he left. Finn you might want to check your room… what was it you were scared of that you talked about last night? Bugs? Rats?"

Finn was off, running away from them to his room to check and make sure there wasn't something left behind. Poe was less angry now that he couldn't retaliate at Ben. "I apologize about your room. I honestly thought it was you. I never would have thought Kylo Ren/Ben Solo would join our pranking."

He looked at Rey, ".,.. So, you can pass things through the bond, right?"

"It depends, he's usually focused on what I'm doing, so if you need something snuck through, you'll need to be there…" As an after thought she looked to her left, "I'm not starting a war with Ben, so if you want this, you need to make it known that it's from you."

"Oh absolutely, he'll know it wasn't from you, you're too busy making gooey eyes at one another." Rey glared at him. "Sorry!" He picked up the letter off the ground and handed it to Rey.

"I'm going to finish getting ready and I'll meet you guys for breakfast, then Leia gave me approval to have you drop me off at a nearby planet to find my kyber crystal." At his blank stare she mentioned, "It's for my lightsaber." He nodded and walked off.

Thank you to everyone keeping up!

I appreciate the support

I saw this one a story and thought it was a great way to keep myself on task:

Preview:

The cave was cold as she entered it, it had only been a few minutes but she was glad she had heeded Ben's words and brought a jacket. Luckily, she had packed a small bag with a sleeping bag inside. It looked like she would need it. She set her stuff down and started to place her hand on the wall, she could see all the little crystals shimmering, but which one was hers? Maybe if she was lucky the force would connect her with Ben so she could ask what it felt like?