Summary: He pleaded to the stars but his whispers reached no ears but his own, the echoing of his cries the only witness to his pain. But they were a dyad in the Force, the power of life itself, so one was never meant to live without the other.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or any characters affiliated with it.
Cover art by elithien.

"No later light has lightened up my heaven,
No second morn has ever shone for me;
All my life's bliss from thy dear life was given,
All my life's bliss is in the grave with thee."

Remembrance, Emily Brontë

Remembrance
Chapter Two

In death, Ben saw ghosts.

He remembered a vast emptiness surrounded by pathways and darkness as stars that sparkled in the distance all around. There was a tether within him that he subconsciously knew was Rey, and when it tugged on him, he followed down that path it led until he was brought to something akin to a mirror; but no reflection stared back at him. Instead, Rey was what he saw. He watched her holding his body in her arms with her shaking, their roles now reversed. He was unable to hear what she was saying but by her body language alone, he felt his soul shattering from where he stood, so close yet so far.

He placed a hand against the images, an eerie cold seeping into his palm.

Ben had understood that his decision was not an easy one for them both. Yet, he had done it for her, because she was the one who deserved to continue living, to travel and do the things she loved, and to just...live. He did what he did not to make up for the pain he had inflicted upon the galaxy but because that was the only right thing he could do in his last moments. So when he saw Rey crying over his dead body, he had to turn away, unable to watch any further.

"But you must watch."

Whirling around at the sudden voice, his eyes widened. He recognized the man standing behind him from pictures and the stories that he heard as a child. A blue aura surrounded the Jedi's ghost as a small part of Ben cowered at the sight of his namesake.

"...Obi-wan Kenobi?"

A hand on his shoulder, the former Jedi turned him back to the mirror. "Watch."

Brows furrowing, Ben did as he was told and turned back around. Rey was now kneeling over his body, throwing her head side to side, her mouth moving as she seemed to be speaking. One by one, unfamiliar blue ghosts began forming around them – Obi-wan included – until one last body kneeled by his head, a familiar face amongst the unknown.

It was his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker.

Rey placed a hand upon Ben's forehead, where Anakin had placed his own hand. The room then lit up with no warning in bright light, so bright that even Ben had to shield his eyes. When he turned back, expecting Rey to have shielded herself from the brightness, he saw no reaction from here. Instead, the ghosts all bowed their heads as one by one, they blinked out of existence until only three remained; his mother, grandfather, and uncle. Anakin stood up, his body fading by the second, and gave one last smile to Luke and Leia before disappearing. The two remained a little longer before fading away as well.

"What–"

"My boy, it was not your time yet. You two are a bond, a soul of one, a balance – you were never meant to live without each other." Obi-wan took a step back before saying, "...Be worthy of my name, Ben Solo."

The last thing he remembered was the former Jedi's firm gaze before the tether within yanked, bringing him back to life. And then Ben awoke in his body, eyes shooting open to the grey stone ceilings. There was a weight on his chest and a hand on his face – he only had a second to process everything before he felt Rey's hand slipping from his face. He hurriedly called out her name but her eyes fluttered shut without a response. Instead, he caught her hand and gripped it tightly, but was comforted by the warmth she radiated and the pulsing strength of their bond. Calming himself down, he slowly pulled himself up while ignoring the burn of pain in his body. Although he struggled to do even this simple task, he refused to let it prevent him from trying to ensure that Rey was okay.

He silently went through the motions of checking for injuries as his eyes strayed to her face. Tear stains marked her cheeks, the dust and grit from the fight settling on her. His hand hovered over her cheek as the realization of the consequences from today's fight began to truly into his chest.

Ben knew he could not go back with her, not to the Resistance. Too much death and anger were between him and the organization his mother helmed, and there would be no forgiveness for his actions; he did not seek it as well. He was not looking for his past transgressions to be pushed aside and he hoped that Rey understood that. What he did today, here with her, was not a decision he made in hopes to be forgiven. He did it because it was the right thing to do. He made a fist before pulling away, a heavy sigh leaving his mouth. But a sudden movement in his lap made him freeze.

"Ben!" Before he could respond, Rey fully awoke and jumped onto him, tackling them both to the ground as her arms wrapping around him. His hands instinctively held her back as he felt her tears on his neck, her shoulders shaking. "You're alive," Rey muttered over and over again, a relief that he understood in her voice. He still had no response when she pulled back, a blinding smile greeting him.

She continued to touch his face, his hair, his neck, his shoulder – she had to reassure herself that he was really here, that he wasn't going to fade away like he almost had earlier. Her fingers grazed his cheeks when his eyes softened, recognizing what she was doing.

Steeling himself, Ben lifted a shaky have over her cheek once more as she paused in her movements. Earlier, when they both had been fueled with adrenaline from the fight, and in the moment they had allowed their instincts to take over and to succumb to the emotions that had been building within them for over a year. Now, with their bodies tired and but mind clearer, he could not help but think that he would be no good for her–

But Rey, seeing the conflict that tore within him, answered Ben's silent question by moving slightly closer. She placed the side of her face into his palm, a smaller but warmer smile on her face as her eyes shined with something indescribable. At this, Ben felt a tear escape, slowly streaming down his face, as he watched her pull his hand into her own before kissing his palm.

She understood him and stayed.

Like the final piece of a puzzle, Rey's love broke something within him. One tear fell after another as a quiet sob left his mouth. The hold that the months and years of terror, manipulation, and incomprehensible anger that burned within him finally disappeared as he finally allowed himself to breathe.

Rey brought their heads together, holding him as he opened his heart out to her with his tears, and she kept him centered by never letting go.

0O0

They leaned on each other as the two limped together out of the Sith Temple.

"I can't go with you," Ben announced as they reached their individual ships. "And you know why."

He expected resistance from her but the sudden anger that erupted on her face surprised even him. "No! I can tell them what you did here–" Her mouth continued moving but he heard nothing but the beating of his heart as he felt himself falling deeper and deeper into the unknown, the love he felt for her continuing to surprise even him. Even here, in the ruins and chaos of the Sith temple, she vowed to fight for him to her fellow comrades.

"Rey." He placed a hand on her shoulder, cutting her mid-sentence and forcing her to look at him. "I have spilled too much blood to ask for forgiveness from the Resistance. If I go with you, we both know what'll happen."

Rey remained stubborn and tried to think of arguments, but Ben unexpectedly pulled her into one last hug, her arms trapped at her sides. She paused before her forehead fell against his shoulder, her resolve to convince him crumbling. "...I'll fight for you," she whispered weakly.

His arms tightened around her, his voice rumbling in his chest. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

In time, they pulled apart and Ben helped her to Luke's old x-wing. "What should I say?" she asked, settling into the starfighter.

The entire time they were leaving the temple, he had pondered over this. What could Rey say to everyone that would be enough? That would allow them to truly understand what had occurred here? And as he saw his reflection in Rey's eyes, he knew. "Tell them the truth as you see fit but...tell them that Kylo Ren is dead." She seemed stunned for a moment before understanding what he meant. "And Rey?" She paused over the button to close the ship as he said, "I'll come find you."

02: End

A/N: Here's chapter two. It's not long but I'm working on chp 03, which should be done relatively soon. On another note, when I first started shipping Reylo, I genuinely didn't think they'd become a thing. Like, ever. Everyone around me was so convinced that they were related that I was highkey terrified of shipping them – and then TLJ came out and oh boi, was I excited. Then here we are, four years later with TROS, highkey shocked that they became canon but mad at how they executed it.

Sad.

Oh well – leave a review and I'll try to respond in the next chapter :)

Mayazita: Hi, thank you so much! I'm very self-conscious of my writing style so reading your review made me so happy :)

SqueakyDolphin6: Wow, thank you, I'm blushing lmfao! But yeah, as I was watching the movie I was so surprised at how they kinda...killed Ben off, like? You're contradicting yourself? God, they WERE robbed and I am still upset. Smh.

Mischief Managed: Thank you! Literally, that was me I'm so sure that the people around me were fed up with my reactions LMFAO!