A/N - Welcome back to the story! We'll be finishing up within the next couple chapters, but it won't be over until I've given Rey and Ben the ending they deserved (f*** you Abrams).
SHAMELESS SELF-PROMO: I HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHERE I MAKE REYLO FAN EDITS. Seriously, it exists, please check it out. The channel name is Fan Of Delicious Flavour and here's a link: youtube/channel/UC7_8n_HeRbVkSqKaJM4-5GA
GuestCT - That's the dream!
oldestj1 - I'm glad you're enjoying it so much!
icy-rain499 - Thank you! I'm happy you think so!
ldsrsc - I hope the turn was enjoyable as well as interesting :)
Guest - Your wish is my command.
Ludo - Now that's an idea. You'll find out what happens to Hux in this chapter...
Rey followed Ben as he guided her into the meeting room. Everyone had already gathered, with representatives from all over the galaxy mingling together. They rose as Ben entered, but she was well aware of the fact that their eyes tracked her as she moved through the room. Poe stood at the side of the table with Finn and Rose behind him. They all smiled at her, but she sensed their surprise over her presence.
The chair at the head of the table was obviously meant for Ben, but as he strode toward it he snagged another chair with one hand. He shoved his chair aside and placed the other one next to it, holding it out for her with a look of defiance as he raked the table with his steely gaze.
Holding his gaze, she had to fight back the tears of love and pride that filled her eyes. He'd been born for this, he excelled at it, and he desired for her to be at his side.
Even if she wasn't sure that she could be.
Swallowing heavily, Rey slid into the chair. She'd expected some condemnation, some irritation, or some form of protest against her sitting beside Ben, but she saw only admiration and curiosity as she looked around the table at the Galactic Senate.
"Thank you for joining us, Rey," Leia spoke. She was seated further down the table, next to Luke. "We know that these past weeks have been difficult."
Rey struggled against the tears that burned in her eyes, taken aback by the kind words.
"Thank you," She managed to respond.
She started in surprise when Ben seized hold of her hand. For a moment she tried to tug it free but he held on, his jaw locked as he gazed at her. She knew there was no denying their relationship, not after they kissed at the end of the battle, but she was still apprehensive to be so blatant about it.
Then, she realized that she didn't care. There was no hiding this anymore, and she didn't want to.
Rey watched as a group of ten or so First Order generals were led into the room. They were dirty and disheveled but they didn't appear overly mistreated. They certainly weren't as mistreated as she had been. Resentment filled her as she recognized the female general that had imprisoned Finn.
She glanced to the side of the room where Finn stood, chin raised, gaze unwavering as he met the woman's hostile stare. Rey had to fight the urge to jump up and throttle the hideous woman for everything she had done to Finn.
Then she noticed Hux among the group, staring hatefully at her. She had no doubt that he blamed her for all of this, but she was glad to bear that burden.
Rey listened as their fates were discussed by those at the table. These generals had been the most treacherous and cruel. They had been the Supreme Leader's top advisors, had helped him keep power, and had relished in the decisions he made and the sadistic world he'd created.
Rey hoped every one of them fried, but it wasn't her decision to make. Ben also remained silent as he listened to them debate for a few moments before coming to a unanimous decision that they were all to be executed.
"It's agreed then?" Ben asked.
"Yes," Luke stated.
"Wait! You can't do this!" Ben's hand tightened around hers as Hux's pleas fell on deaf ears and she was forcefully removed from the room.
"Bring the soldiers in," Ben commanded.
Rey braced herself; this was why she'd come. She understood that those most loyal to Snoke had to be eliminated, but this was an entirely different matter.
The discussion that erupted at the table was much more heated than the last one. The delegates were almost evenly split on the matter, but Rey realized she had to speak up as they began to sway towards execution.
"Can I say something?"
They all turned toward her, their faces twisted in various expressions of displeasure. Though she sensed their annoyance was due more to the fact that they couldn't arrive at an agreement, than with her interruption.
"Please do," Luke encouraged her.
Rey felt somewhat uncomfortable as they all focused on her. SHe glanced briefly at Ben before taking a deep breath and plunging onward.
"I understand the other deaths are necessary, if given the chance they would start a rebellion, and the pattern would never end. However, these men and women were simply doing what they were ordered to do. For years, death, torture, and intimidation ruled here; don't start this new government out the same way. If you slaughter them all, it will only show the galaxy that nothing has changed, and that mercy is impossible. If there soldiers before you swear fealty to you, and perhaps are even monitored for a while, I don't think they should be executed."
There was a moment of silence and then they burst into conversation. Ben finally ended the argument by calling for a vote. Rey was unmoving as she waited breathlessly to see what they would decide. They had established a more civilized and kinder rule in Republic, and she hoped that would prevail here.
"I think we agree that if the stormtroopers are willing to swear fealty to us, and consent to be monitored for whatever period of time we see fit, they may be allowed to live. If not, their lives are forfeit," Leia declared. Some members of the council didn't look overly pleased with the decision, but they didn't protest it either.
The shoulders of most of the stormtroopers slumped, some nodded enthusiastically, but there were a few that didn't look at all pleased. Rey wondered if they would choose death over their new regime. If so, that was their choice to make, and she wouldn't interfere with it.
As the soldiers were escorted out, Ben leaned over.
"That isn't the choice I would have made," Ben said so quietly that only Rey could hear him.
Rey turned toward him, not at all intimidated by the darkness simmering beneath his smooth exterior.
"I know."
He shook his head as he leaned closer to her. Stubble shadowed his jaw; he hadn't had time to shave in the past few days between the new demands placed upon him and staying by her side every free moment he had.
Love swelled within her heart. There was such darkness inside of him, and yet such good and understanding. He released her hand, his arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer to his side.
"Sometimes you are too forgiving," he whispered against her ear.
"And sometimes you're that same stubborn boy I fought in the forest; only now you're going to be Emperor."
Something flickered in his gaze as sadness filtered across his features. He didn't have to tell her, she already knew that he would be the emperor. It wasn't what he would have chosen, he'd done nothing but fight against it, but he'd finally come to realize that this was where he was supposed to be. The only problem was, Rey still wasn't sure where she was supposed to be, and neither did he.
"I'm tired," she confessed. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to our room."
His fingers gently stroked over her cheek.
"I'll take you."
"Stay. I know my way back."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Though she still felt strange being so open about their relationship, she leaned forward and pressed feathery kiss upon his hard mouth. She had meant for it to be quick, but she lost herself to the pleasure and taste of his lips. For a brief moment there was no despair, no uncertainty. There was only the two of them as the warmth of his lips heated her all the way to the tips of her toes.
She forced herself to pull away and smiled as she met his dazed gaze.
"Get going," he said gruffly.
She pecked his cheek before rising to her feet.
"Excuse me, everyone." She gave a brief bow of her head before she hurried from the room. As she walked down the hallway, it wasn't long before she felt the presence of another, and Leia stepped beside her.
"Rey," She greeted.
"I'm not going to leave him," She blurted out. The words were blunter than she'd intended, but they had to have it out. There couldn't be any more subterfuge and plans between them.
"I know."
"I can't. I mean, I could, if I actually thought it would do any good, but…"
"It won't," Leia finished for her when Rey's voice trailed off. "The Jedi are dead. I know that now, so does Luke, and the rest of the galaxy. You are a new generation. And you belong together."
Rey faltered for a moment.
"You… really accept us as we are? As Gray Jedi?"
"I do," Leia assured. "You're the light to his darkness. You temper each other, and though I believe you can be separated, it won't make either of you stronger to do so. And after what happened, I believe the galaxy will accept the two of you ruling side by side."
"As lovers?" Rey asked in astonishment, blushing at the word. "No secrets, no hiding?"
"No secrets and no hiding," Leia emphasized. "This isn't exactly the life you've prepared for, Rey, or even one that you ever wanted. For all of its opulence, in some ways this life will be even more arduous than the one you will be leaving behind if you choose to stay and become empress."
Rey didn't respond, lost in thought. She barely even noticed when Leia parted from her and was replaced by Finn at her side. "Need an escort, my lady?" He joked, holding his arm out to her as a gallant smile appeared on his face and for the first time she saw actual joy in his eyes again. Rey rolled her eyes, but slipped her arm through his and smiled back at him.
These past few weeks she had welcomed his presence, and the fact that he knew when she felt like talking and when she didn't. She enjoyed the friendship that had become easy between them again.
"Do you feel better now that she is going to die?" Rey asked him.
Finn didn't pretend not to know who the she was.
"I thought I would, but I don't," He admitted. " I thought revenge was the answer to it all, and I know she has to die, but no, it doesn't make me feel better. I do feel better now that this is over, now that we're safe. It's going to be so much better now, Rey, for all of us."
She smiled at him as she leaned against his side.
"It is," she agreed. They were silent for a moment.
"I'm sorry, Rey."
"There's nothing to be sorry for, Finn."
"There is. I didn't believe you, I didn't believe in him, and it nearly cost me everything. I was angry, foolish, and stubbornly holding onto boyish dreams." Rey stared at him in surprise as color heated her cheeks. "I should have known to trust your instincts. You were right."
"I always am," she teased.
"Yeah, well, I wouldn't go that far."
Rey laughed as she bumped his hip playfully.
"You went through a lot more than I did, Finn. You had every right to be angry and disbelieving. I probably would have been too if I'd been treated as poorly as you. I didn't experience what you did, either time," she assured him.
"Are you still having nightmares?"
Rey couldn't meet his gaze as she focused on the floor beneath her. She hated the images that plagued her at night, hated the lingering fear of the dark that enshrouded her, but she couldn't shake them. She supposed it would get better with time, but she was still ashamed of the enduring impact she'd allowed Snoke to have on her.
"Yes." She didn't like to admit her weakness, but she wasn't going to lie to Finn about it. Out of everyone, he was the person that understood the most.
"It will get better."
She nodded as she squeezed his arm and stopped before the apartment that Ben had claimed for them.
"I know it will."
His gaze focused on the door behind her as he released her arm.
"Ben is a good man, Rey, a better man than I thought he was, but even good men can be driven to do horrific things when they are pushed to it. I know you're aware of this, but please don't forget it."
She hesitated, her hand on the door handle as she turned toward him.
"I don't plan to leave anymore, Finn."
"Good. You deserve a happy ending," He told her firmly, before adding with a smile, "And besides, you're gonna be one hell of an Empress."
Before Rey could respond, he turned away and walked down the hall. But she wasn't about to let her friend get in the last word.
"Finn?" She called after him, and he turned back towards her. "You know, Poe is a good man too."
Rey darted inside the apartment as soon as she said it, but she could have sensed Finn's blush from a galaxy away.
A/N - I had to throw a bit of Finn/Poe in there! It is my opinion that Finn is hella bisexual.
As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter.
~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)