Hey there! This will be the ninth chapter of my story!

Forgive me, but I am tempted to make a new one. There are things I want to write that I just can't add into this story.

Even if I did start another project, I would not stop making this one. I love this one! There are things I could write in here that I couldn't write in my new story, so I will probably just wait until this one is over.

This chapter is not a filler, but it should be much shorter then my four thousand average.

Its funny, though. That I am saying it will be shorter before I even write it.

Who knows really, it might just be average length.

Anyways, here is the chapter

- London

Rey lay in the water, gently floating on her back in a peaceful and very relaxing bliss. She felt her bones expand and her muscles unwind in the tension free water, which occasion splashed up onto her cheeks if she stroked her arm. The Klosslands were usually muggy, and rarely did temperatures drop below ten degrees Celsius even in winter. As Rey float, her mind drifted from thought to thought, not focusing on one particular thing. It was nice being free to float, naked and adrift, letting the water flow onto her. She had heard rumors Ancient Jedi found water tanks to be the best source of Meditation, but if Rey was being honest, she just liked the feeling. As the animals called overhead, Rey used her arms to stay afloat, feeling at inner peace. It was hard at times for her to come to grips with what she was: The Last Jedi, a Palpatine, a savior, Rey. Some of it was too much, and times to just float and come to peace with it all were priceless.

"Be with me..." She breathed, attempting to communicate to her Jedi ancestry. One of the reasons why Rey grew so bonded to Kylo Ren was the fact he understood her. No one else in the Resistance could, not even Finn. During countless Force talks, Kylo had explained how things worked to her if she didn't understand them quite yet. It at first had scared her, his willingness to help, but she soon realized even with his horrible intentions that Kylo Ren just wanted a friend. A partner, which is what made rejecting his hand so hard in the first place.

"Be with me, please." Rey asked again, adding more emotion to her voice. She needed to see Leia again, hell even Luke. She needed to tell them what she was feeling, and how their son had saved her and the galaxy. They already know Rey thought, feeling her last hope of seeing her masters fade with the sound of a nearby X-wing engine.

"Be with me!" Rey felt the ground rumble a bit, she was getting carried away. There was so much she wanted to tell Leia that she had pushed deep inside once she had gotten back. Rey knew the former general had passed on the bridge, the same moment she had used Kylo's saber to strike through him. After seeing and speaking to Luke's Force ghost on Ahch-To, she had silently prayed to converse with her late master's sister once again. Rey heard a distant roll of thunder, and immediately felt her eyes shoot open. Someone was there, she could feel their presence.

"Hello, Rey." The battle hardened, but still sweet voice pierced Rey's ear and she whipped around in the pond to gaze at her former master. A smile shot onto Rey's face before she could even speak, her calls were answered, now what would she say? "Put some clothes on." Leia's Force projection glowed with the haze of blue, her face bright and cheery. "Or a towel" Rey couldn't help but chuckle with her master, she was to happy to care about her clothes.

"Master-" Rey didn't know where to begin, but Leia had already stopped to correct her, as a master should.

"Please, save the title. I think you've grown past my teachings." The heart felt smile tugged at Rey's heart strings like a harp, playing a tune of joy but deep sadness. Rey dipped down lower, so only the top part of her neck was clearly visible above the water.

"Leia, General... I've missed you, so much." Leia gave her a warm look, and Rey could already feel the tears welling up in her eyes. There was no way she was going to make it through this without crying. "I have so much to say, so much to ask! I need your guidance, I wish you were here." Not for a second did Rey take her eyes off Leia, not willing to miss a second of this moment in her life. A Leia, understanding the impact on Rey, gave her the same unwavering attention.

"No one is ever really gone, Rey. I will always be there for you when you need me." Rey tilted her head, ready to ask her questions but still confused by what her master meant.

"How can I speak to you, if I need you?" She felt the question was stupid, but Leia replied with a smile before the wise words Rey had heard so many times in many different lessons.

"Reach with your feelings, and less with your mind. There you will find me, and countless others who came before, ready to help if you ask." There was a slight pause and Rey felt as if she would burst into tears right there, not ready to let go of her master but Leia continued. "If times get too bad, we will seek you out ourselves."

"Is that what you did on Exegol, seek me out?" Rey asked, slowly walking to the front of the pond to lean against its smooth rock. Leia shook her head, still with her faithful smile.

"We merely pushed you up. All of that power, that power came from you." Rey felt her spirits soar. That power came from me! But quickly her spirits dropped, remembering where that power came from.

"My power rose from the dark side, Leia, why did you train me?" Rey knew she had already asked Luke that exact question, but she needed to hear it from Leia. As if hearing her voice would change her entire outlook on her lineage.

"So it did, Rey, but some things are more powerful then blood." Rey let out a sigh. It was the same answer Luke gave. Hearing the sigh, Leia answered again. "I understand that your parentage might scare you, Rey. Not being able to trust yourself, it is hard." Rey braced herself, she was going to cry soon. "Your parents made the hardest decision of their lives to protect you, and the galaxy. They did that for the good, and they too were Palpatines'." The first tear trickled down Rey's face and her lips scrunched up. "You, Rey Palpatine, were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good. You, Rey Palpatine let rose do your hair at breakfast. You, Rey Palpatine, willing fix droids in your spare time. You, Rey Palpatine looked into the eyes of evil and denied your own grandfathers deception for the greater good. You, Rey Palpatine, died with pride knowing you had defeated the Sith." The tears kept falling, no stopping them now. "You, Rey Palpatine, saved the entire Resistance without hesitation at the cost of your own life because you are more then a name of the blood that runs through you. You, Rey, are more of a Skywalker then I could ever be. You are more of a Skywalker then Luke could've hoped you be."

"I- Leia..." Rey's voice was weak, she was choking on enough emotions to last a life time. Happiness, sadness, guilt, joy, all of it. To much for her heart to bear, and she was giving into the tears. "I can't- I need your wisdom..." That was one thing Rey managed to make out in her whirlwind of thoughts, and that was she needed Leia.

"You're reaction says otherwise, Rey. You already knew what I told you, and you knew it too be true." Rey burst into another fit of tears, feeling herself being gently lifted out of the water. A towel was flung around her and tied neatly with the Force, wielded by the ghost that stood before the now standing Rey.

"How can I be something I'm not!" Those words were mere sobs and Rey collapsed into the arms of Leia, who embraced her with open arms. Leia's touch was not that of skin, but of pure energy, and Rey could feel the Force that was projecting the ghost she now hugged.

"That answers your own question. You can't be something you're not, and you are not a Palpatine." Rey looked up at her former master, tears coating her cheeks with salty liquids. Her eyes were puffy, but true.

"I am..." Rey paused, thinking for a moment she could be wrong, but in her heart it felt right. "I'm Rey Skywalker." With those words, Leia nodded her approval and stepped back. Allowing Rey to stand on her own feet, and she wiped her tears from her eyes, feeling a renewed sense of self.

"Then that is who you are, Rey, and who you will be." Rey looked sharply at her, confused by the last bit. Leia could already sense her confusion, and smiled even wider.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rey asked, to which Leia just shook her head, refusing to answer all of her former apprentice's questions. As some things were best left unsaid.

"Does Ben know that I am proud of him?" Leia responded, watching as another tear fell down Rey's cheek. Ah yes, Leia knew. How her apprentice feel about her son, and she knows it is pure. She even knew of the Force talks, and those only made her happier.

"Tell him yourself!" Rey gave a definitive answer, sticking her nose up. She imagined how happy it would make Ben to see his mother, to hear those words. "Tell him you love him!" Rey called, seeing as the ghost of Leia was fading. Desperate to hold on, she stepped forwards and reached out to grab her masters hand.

"Rey, tell him that yourself." With a good bout of hearty laughter, the Force projection was gone. Rey was left alone again, but this time she didn't actually feel alone. If Leia had stayed she was going to ask what she had meant by that but deep down, Rey already knew what she meant and it scared her. Rey looked around, perplexed about what to do next. There was still plenty of time to kill before noon, where she would tell Ben everything that just happened. She imagined falling into his embrace, describing everything that had just taken place. She knew he would be there for her, looking back, he always had.

But there was some time before that was going to happen, and Rey now knew what she was going to do. Rey turned to a rock where she had put her garments, and she used the Force to bring her clothes to her. Holding them in place right next to her, Rey dried herself off quickly with the towel. Patting down her belly and legs before using the Force to conveniently hold it in place the her right. A few moments later she grabbed her delicates, slipping them up and clipping them behind her back. Once she was done with that, she quickly slid her pants up and fastened her belt around her. The last piece was her grey top, which resembled the style of her Ahch-To outfit.

Now that she was dressed, Rey neatly folded her towel and placed in on the rock outcrop where the small box of soap and sleeping pills sat. Walking past the box, she hadn't needed the pills since the first night back and was starting to think she might never need them again. Not to long after Rey had exited the stone clearing and was headed back up to her hut, ready to begin work on her own saber again.

Around the Resistance, it was a busy day. With Ben's help, they had tracked the old Imperial Impoundment station and had recovered a few Republic era ships. These new additions were in fairly good condition, considering they were stowed away for so long, and immediately bolstered their fleet's numbers. Even finding a collection of older X and Y-wings, which could still serve their purpose.

Ben was walking down the runway towards the Falcon, brushing past many newcomers to get there. He was thankful that none of them knew who he was, and deep down part of his wished he would be tried for his crimes. But the thought of Rey, and how that would affect her gave him determination to never let it happen.

"Where is Rey?" A young man's voice called out from a registry booth, it's tent flexed in the new breeze that engulfed the base as of late. Ben turned his attention towards the sound of the voice, and it called again. "Does anyone know where Rey is?" It sounded closer now, and Ben was perplexed. What does this man have to do with my Rey? Not even hesitating, Ben walked up towards the booth examining everyone there with cold eyes reminiscent of Kylo Ren. "Can someone please help me find her, she is a Force user!" This time, he spotted who was calling Rey's name. He looked young, dirty blonde hair, even holding himself like a storm trooper.

"I can help, and she is a Jedi." Ben called out to the mystery man. The word Jedi had some of the line behind Ben pause, but continue their mumbling as they waited getting registered. The young guy turned, now Ben saw he had blue eyes.

"Where is she?" The boy, or teenager quickly walked up to Ben who towered over him. Actually, Ben towered over most people he met. "I need to see her." Ben rolled his eyes, this boy needed to grow up, not see Rey. However, he was willing to help.

"Who are you?" But first he needed to make sure it was safe for Rey to meet this mystery boy. He stood straight and tall once the boy had gotten close enough to look up at Ben, who had been promoted to Corporal. The stranger clearly had military background, as he respected his superior who at the time was Ben.

"I am Zach, sir." The man now identifying himself as Zach kept is ridged posture, it was exactly how a stormtrooper would stand.

"Last name?" Ben inquired, waving with his hand to order him to break his posture. Zach relaxed a bit, and shook is head to reply to Ben's question. "You're a former stormtrooper, aren't you?" Ben, to which Zach surprisingly answered very honestly and quickly.

"Yes I was. That is why I need to see Rey!" The young mans eyes gleamed, and Ben assumed Rey had either saved him at some point or helped him walk free. Understanding this, Ben mistakenly said a First Order statement.

"Alright, take your Detachment materials and find your barracks. I'll let Rey know a boy named Zach is looking for her." Ben shook his head, remembering that the Resistance doesn't have different Detachments. "I mean, just follow the instructions to get registered and verified." Zach's eyes grew wide

"Are you also First Order?" He asked, looking at Ben. By now, he was surprised he hadn't recognized who he was yet. Perhaps he was never there to see him without his mask one, but Ben was sure there would have been pictures sent around on their standard issue holopads.

"I guess you could say that." Ben said with a chuckle, knowing he used to be the whole damn Supreme Leader of it all. At one point, Ben thought, he would have severely punished a deserter. High treason wasn't common, but many people fled. He had argued with Hux about using a clone army many times over, and now seeing the Resistance, it would have been much better if they had. "Now hurry along before the line gets to long." Ben added, turning to leave quickly. Zach watched as he walked, he recognized that walk, but he couldn't remember where. He shrugged, and followed the rest of the new recruits to get registered.

Rey had lost track of time, focusing on building her own lightsaber. Crafting a hilt out of the end of her staff was proving very difficult, but the Jedi text had shown her the best way to make it was through meditation. That part, the one where she close her eyes to bond with the crystal, was easy to her. Rey was truly gifted in the Force, but now the hardest part became wiring the switch to turn it on. She looked like a surgeon, using all kinds of fine tools to wire the saber. Its basic wiring was done through her meditation work, and had already been tested, but the blade would not show unless Rey could finish the switch. Unlike Luke's saber, Rey wanted an actual switch, that turns left for on and right for off. She figured this would help if the saber ever was knocked from her hands, it would not turn off.

"Almost there..." Rey let out a breath, her eyes locked onto the last bit of wire that needed to be connected. There was a little zap in thee air and with the powers of the Force, the saber was complete. She let out a sigh of relief, she had done it! Now all that was left was to seal it, and wrap it with some grip she had left over from Jakku as a call to her roots.

Not a moment later had the final piece of metal from her staff been placed then she felt a string surge in the Force, as if there was now a permanent connection between her and her weapon. It was strange, she hadn't felt this with Luke's saber. Smiling, she wrapped her cloth like grip around the middle second of the hilt. Holding it in one hand, she examined her masterpiece. In terms of aesthetic, the saber looked fantastic, almost ancient in design. Rey had secretly wanted to add Kylo Inspired hand guards, but figured how that would look and decided it would be best to leave that out.

"Lets see if you work..." Rey breathed, holding the saber out with her right hand, her thumb on the ignition switch. Her heart started to beat faster, worrying what color it might be. What if it is red?! Rey shook her head, facing her fear she ignited the saber. A sound similar in tone to Luke's old saber ignited and the blade shot out. Rey had closed her eyes, feeling the ignition in her hand the Force bod between her and the saber grew up her arm and into her chest. Opening them, she saw what made her gasp.

Yellow? She blinked, assuming she saw it wrong. When her eyes opened the yellow blade was still there, humming its tune as the light glowed around the dim room. Yellow. Rey brought it up to her face, feeling the heat of the saber and the hum of its power. "Yellow." She breathed, a smile growing on her face. Pointing it back towards the empty space, she gripped it in her hand guiding it as it hummed a sweet note. Its so unique! And its mine! Rey felt a sudden sense of happiness at her new saber, and quickly did a little flourish, accidentally cutting a piece of one of her chairs. "My bad." She giggled and flicked the ignition switch off, and the yellow blade shrunk back inside of its hilt.

Only about ten minutes had passed since Rey had finished her saber, when Ben came knocking. The sky to the west was built up with large dark grey clouds, a storm was looming on the base. On their way to Rey's training spots, they decided it was best to do the short loop today due to the ominous clouds on the horizon. They weren't even half way there and already they were enjoying themselves, chatting endlessly about life while training. Be had said that under Luke it was not too much different then Snoke, major differences coming with how Snoke had treated him with real life circumstances adding to the pressure.

"You're telling me, you never failed one of Snoke's missions?" Rey was in disbelief, there was no way that was close to being true. Ben laughed, looking at the lush green scenery as they walked side by side. Rey was to the left of him as they marched along the path.

"Up until I lost to you, Snoke had never seen me lose." Rey looked up at him, a playful look in the eye. Ben didn't see this glance as he was too focused on the large leaves that were to his right.

"So you did fail, when you lost to me." Ben now turned to face her, a little smile on his face.

"I had to wear my scar for the world to see, Snoke never liked my mask." Ben recalled, remembering how his former master had told him the mask was foolish and childlike. Rey tilted her head, looking away from Ben.

"Isn't Snoke just Palpatine anyways? Wasn't he in control over him or something?" Rey asked, she was unafraid to talk about her grandfather around Ben. She figured he would understand it best. Ben thought for a moment, then gave an answer.

"I suppose Snoke was a free thinking being, a clone of sorts, programmed from birth to be like Palpatine." He looked over at Rey who nodded, she was satisfied with that answer. It made sense to her. "But I'm sure he would step in if things got out of hand." Rey nodded again

"That is something he would do." She paused for a moment, looking over at Ben who had turned back to gaze at the plants. "Why did our Force bonds keep happening after you killed Snoke?" Rey asked, looking around for the prize ribbon that was hidden in the trees somewhere. Ben shrugged

"We are a dyad, I think Snoke- I mean Palpatine had less to do with it then he said he did." Rey realized he was right, Snoke could have just sensed the connection and used it instead of creating it, but Rey had a different answer.

"I think we did it because we needed each other, more then we were willing to say." Ben looked down at Rey and smiled, perhaps it was a mix of both. The idea of Rey wanting him then was outrageous, even if she said it now.

"They happened at some of the worst times!" Ben said with a bit of laughter, to which Rey chuckled as well. He did have a fair point, but sometimes they happened when no one was around, as if they were timed right.

"Sometimes they were nice." Rey said, with a hushed voice. Ben looked over at her but she couldn't see his smile because her head was down.

"I enjoyed them." Ben replied with pure honesty. Once the anger had passed from her not taking his hand, Ben had grown used to their chats. Even if some weren't friendly, he looked forward to them. Seeing Rey's face was like seeing light after being around the darkness of the First Order all the time. He recalled one time he had made her smile, and since Snoke was dead, he was able to freely think about how it made him feel.

"You were an ass sometimes." Rey said with a smile, squinting her eyes as a ray of sun pierced the clouds and trees hitting her face. Ben let out a laugh, before looking out to his right again.

"And you threw a broken saber at me!" Ben retorted, turning to face Rey. Once he say the light on her face he felt his legs grow weak, she looked so flawless, even with a small scar above her eyebrow. Rey turned up to face him, eyes glowing

"I threw it because you deserved it to get thrown at you." Rey stopped walking, fully facing Ben her arms were crossed and she playfully tilted her chin upwards in defiance. Ben smiled, looking down at the pretty Jedi.

"What did I say, to deserve such a punishment?" He probed, remembering exactly what he had said to cause her reaction. Rey blinked once, biting her lower lip before answering.

"I was trying to fix the Skywalker saber, and our Force bond thing happened." She giggled a bit before continuing. "You said: 'Rey, you look beautiful when you're working'." Rey looked up into his eyes, she stood with a smug look on this face. "That is when I felt the need to chuck a piece of the saber at you." Ben didn't reply yet, and reached out to put his hands on her shoulders.

"I remember what you said after that: 'I wish you wouldn't say things like that, you just confuse me'" Rey nodded, shuffling towards his body without breaking eye contact. Ben recognized this and slowly ran his hands of her shoulders down to her biceps, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Ben..." Rey felt the urge again, the same urge she had felt on the floor on Exegol and when they had danced. Ben didn't respond, but his gaze grew warmer as Rey drew nearer. Moving her hand up she placed her palm on the side of his cheek, like she had on Exegol, and Ben knew what was coming next. He moved his hands off her arms to her hips, where he firmly grasped her waist. Rey closed her eyes and leaned up on her tiptoes, perking her lips in a kiss.

Their lips crashed, sending a shock wave of feeling down Rey's body. It was like the night they touched hands only she couldn't she his future, she could feel his feelings. Ben barely had time to close his eyes before Rey's eager lips were pressed against his, she tasted good again. Midway through the passionate exchange, Rey moved her free hand to the back of Ben's head, pulling him closing in the kiss. She couldn't get enough, and neither could Ben. The two only broke apart due to the need for fresh oxygen. Rey pulled away first, opening her eyes to gaze at the face of her Force bond buddy, and he could see the excitement in her round eyes. Rey took another deep breath and Ben tightened his grip around her waist, feeling her in his hands compared to nothing else.

"Ben." Rey said again, this time more firm and assertive, as if she were claiming him to be her own. He looked down at her with his warm smile so few had seen, and Rey closed her eyes for a second kiss.

This time Ben had leaned over to kiss her, moving his left hand from her waist to her back to support her as they kissed. Feeling the same bliss and peace as their lips touched. It felt strange, having her be so closed to him, like a dream to good to be true. Rey felt swept off her feet, her heart swelling with passion as she guided her hand from his cheek to his neck, allowing her to hang in his embrace as they kissed.

Neither of them wanted to let go. Being together in that way, felt right. It also felt overdue, as if it should have already happened. The only thing to break their kiss this time was the clap of thunder not to far away, forcing the two to reluctantly break their embrace. Rey blinked a few times as she pulled away, looking into Ben's eyes as he brought her back to an upright position.

"We should head back." She breathed, the words barely audible. She was too distracted by the man in front of her to put any weight into her words. Ben nodded his agreement, pulling his hands away from her hips. Rey did they same, bringing her arms back to her side. "I have more to tell you on the way back." Rey said with a smile, her voice a little stronger now.

"Sounds good." Ben's lips felt funny speaking, he could still feel Rey on them. Another roll of thunder echoed between the trees, Ben turned to face Rey who seemed to tense up. "Let go." He said assertively, sensing Rey wasn't to fond of storms.

"Yes, lets." Rey agreed, watching as Ben turned to go down the path they came. His pace was quick, and Rey hurried to catch up with him. Once Rey had caught up to him, she intentionally leaned hard into his side, grabbing his hand in the process with hers.

"Oh." Ben spoke in surprise, his face turning red. He had never held a woman's hand before, not like this at least. He looked down at Rey, who bite her lip and smiled up at him, squeezing her hand tighter against his as they walked.

Rey planned to tell him of the talk she had with his mother, but after their kiss, she figured it would be better to deal the news later. Walking hand in hand, Rey had never felt more appreciated. Ben understood her, he always had, that is one thing the old Kylo Ren never lied about. Rey sighed, resting her head against the side of his arm.

Is this what love feels like?

Ah, I told you! This chapter wasn't short!

To be honest, it was probably one of my favorite ones to write! I love emotional scenes, and this had plenty.

Rey has felt love before, by the way. Just not this kind of love. Rey loves her friends, she loves Leia and Luke but that's not the way she feels for Ben (Obviously)

Anyways, thank you all for your wonderful words in the reviews! I love reading them, and right now I am at 59 so lets aim for getting 65 reviews for next chapter!

If you can follow and favorite too! I appreciate all the support.

And if we can get 65 reviews I would love you all that much more!

Sincerely yours,

London