A/N - Wow, I can't believe we reached chapter 20! Thank you guys for all of your incredible support!
Jacqui - I think it's safe to say that no one was happy with Poe when that happened! We'll see what happens next...
bja133 - I can go ahead and safely say that is not the case. Rey simply gained weight because she had a consistent source of food.
Hushabyepie - Didn't mean to cause you pain! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Rain dripped melodically onto the roof of the Millenium Falcon. Rey stood at the end of the ramp, under the cover of the ship's wing. It didn't offer much protection from the elements, but Rey didn't care.
The air was refreshing and gave her a feeling of freedom after all the time spent cooped up in the caves. It helped to ease the sense of claustrophobia that still haunted her, but it did little to wash away the persistent screams that had woken her every night for the past week.
Poe, Finn, and Chewie had been her only companions since the attack, as they waited for orders from Leia. It was likely that their next mission would be to follow the map to Skywalker and attempt to recruit him to the cause.
Still, they weren't about to do anything without permission, and so they waited on a designated rendezvous planet that she couldn't remember the name of.
She was pulled from her thoughts as Finn approached.
"You should get some sleep," He told her.
"I will."
They both knew it was a lie, but he didn't argue with her. Instead, he patted her gently on the shoulder before entering the ship once more.
It was nearing dawn, the sky beginning to glow, though the birds hadn't begun to sing yet. The rain was starting to end, and it was going to undoubtedly be a warm day, the air already muggy with heat.
Restless, she grabbed her lightsaber and moved through the forest, winding her way toward the river near where they had landed. She knew she shouldn't be going out on her own, but she needed some time alone to try to sort through the multitude of emotions swarming her.
She quickly made her way to the edge of the river, letting the water soak her feet. The sun was breaking over the mountains, its bright rays lighting up the forest around her as they filtered through the leafy bowers.
Rey stood for a moment, her head tilted back to allow its warmth to caress her, to soothe her, if only just a little.
She didn't know how long she stood there, until she sensed the presence of another.
Someone was watching her.
The hair on the back of her neck stood up and a chill crept down her back before seeping through her limbs. Her hand rested on the lightsaber clipped to her belt, ready to draw it at any time.
Slowly, ever so slowly, she turned to face the creature stalking her. She spotted him almost instantly.
Ben stood amongst the trees, his black hair highlighted by the rising sun, a stark contrast to the greenery surrounding him. Light reflected off of the mask he held tucked under his arm.
She could feel the heat of his gaze as it raked over her. Her heart knocked against her ribs, it flipped and beat and pounded in a rapid pace that left her immobile and breathless.
He was just as magnificent, dark, and powerful as she remembered, but seeing him here, in her world, she also realized just how wild and untamed he was.
Just how dangerous and lethal he could be.
Excitement strummed through her, and for a brief moment she was consumed with the urge to run to him, to throw her arms around him, to bury herself in his strong embrace and shut out all the misery of the world like only he could make her do.
For a brief moment, all of the joy and wonder she had ever experienced with him in the palace rapidly flooded back to her.
She had been terrified in that place, lost and adrift in a world that she didn't know and would never understand. But she had also been the happiest she'd ever been in her life. She'd been foolish, and naive.
And she had been in love.
Her hand wavered on her lightsaber, and she could feel the hot press of tears burning her eyes. He was breathtaking, he looked amazing, and he was here.
He had finally come for her.
Though she hated to admit it, there had been a part of her that had craved this. A part that had pined for him to come for her, to take her away from all of this desolation and pain, to keep her safe and love her.
She hated that part of herself, tried to deny its existence, but it had always been there, hoping, waiting, praying, and now he was finally here.
But it was obvious that he hadn't come to save her.
She could see that fact in the rigid set of his jaw and the tension in his broad shoulders. She could sense it in the rage that radiated from his stiff body.
He was here, but he hadn't come for a good reason.
Rey swallowed heavily, trepidation trickling through her as she realized that he was truly furious right now. She could feel the tremendous amount of fury directed solely at her.
Well, that was good, because she was pretty kriffing pissed at him too.
She didn't know why he had finally come after her, but from the look of him it appeared that he wanted to rip her apart.
Narrowing her eyes, she clenched her jaw and drew her lightsaber.
Yes, he had finally come for her, and it was obvious that one of them would not be walking away from this encounter.
A/N - I know that was a short chapter, but I promise another is coming soon!
As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)