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 Four

Days later, Rey found herself in the Millenium Falcon, BB-8 by her side as she began to start up the old starship. Poe had offered the droid as a companion, an idea that the little robot had actually brought up to him, and she gladly agreed to the extra companionship. She loved the little guy and having him with her made her feel a little happier.

She inserted the jump coordinates that Ben had given her and waited for the ship to calculate the time it would take. As the computer did its thing, she turned to her friend with a smile.

"Thank you for coming with me," she said, placing a hand on the droid. He beeped in response and after a few more seconds, the ship was ready. Taking one last look at the planet that had housed her for the past year, she initiated the hyperdrive that sped her away.

Half an hour later, the Millenium Falcon and its two-member crew found itself on the snow-covered planet of Vandor, a frown forming on Rey's face.

"I hate the snow," she declared as she began rummaging throughout all the closets on the ship, hunting for a snowsuit capable of keeping her warm in the harsh cold. She found one minutes later and shouted out in glee, inciting a surprise beep from BB-8. "Of course I don't like the cold! I lived my entire life on Jakku." As she zipped up the jacket and shoved her foot into a snow boot, she continued, "I'm just not used to it, that's all." Then with a grunt of struggle, she muttered to herself, "I should've put the boots on before the jacket."

BB-8 only beeped one word and yelped in his own, droid way, when a boot came flying towards him.

After the fiasco of finding clothes capable of withstanding the harsh cold temperatures, Rey began preparations to set the Falcon down, but in the midst of the snow that whipped around the ship from the engines was a lone figure standing, a hand in the air.

Ben, she thought happily, excitement following every move she made. It didn't matter that she had not needed to put on clothes appropriate for the weather because she could barely contain herself with joy. When the ship finally landed and as the landing ramp finally connected her to the planet, she found herself running down the ramp.

She stopped before setting a foot into the snow, her nerves getting the best of her, but when Ben pulled his hood and goggles off, a name left her lips: "Ben."

He trekked through the snow, foot after foot in the deep, but like she had done he too stopped short before the entrance of the ship. While he seemed happy to see her, she sensed the conflict from within their bond – the ship was a different story. Through the memories he shared with her, she knew that the last he had been on it was when he was a kid, being shipped off to the Jedi Temple.

Rey, sensing his unease, reached out physically. He was in reaching distance, and by placing a hand against his arm, she tethered him back to the present with her. "I know this ship causes you pain, Ben, but...it's okay." I'm here, were the unspoken words that reverberated through their bond.

His eyes remained on the Falcon for a few more moments before turning to her, a darkness in his eyes storming amongst the warm chocolate she had gotten used too. But he took a deep breath and nodded his head. They both recognized that whatever this was, it was never going to be an easy path for either of them. It would be a tumultuous journey that neither were truly prepared for and while setbacks were to be expected, the small steps forward were what truly mattered.

Rey felt herself return the small smile he had on his face as she led him back to the ship, back towards her.

It was a good start.

The duo closed the ramp and she helped him settle himself into the large starship. They were silent in their movements but there was an ease to them, a rhythm that typically took most years to develop between each other. For them, it was instinctual.

Months would pass and during this period, the two took their time to learn about each other and themselves. For so long, both had been held back by the unfortunate circumstances that had controlled them – Rey with her imprisonment in Jakku and Ben with the First Order.

On some days, they would find themselves be hiding out on a planet, hunting down the remainders of the First Order generals who had managed to escape the chaos that had been Exegol; and on others, they would huddle in the ship, studying the books that Rey had taken from Luke.

Today, though, the comfortable schedule that they had settled into would change. When Rey woke up and prepared a meal, she saw Ben looking straight through her. With an energy bar in her mouth, she tilted her head and asked, "Are you okay?"

He remained mute but nodded his head. She frowned but let it slide, for now.

Once the food was eaten, things cleaned up a little, they both officially started their day by going towards the cockpit. "So where to today?" Rey asked, chucking off a large blanket onto the pilot's seat before sitting on it. BB-8 rolled next to her when Ben answered.

"Canto Bight."

Taken aback, Rey couldn't help but whirl around, staring at him; he was standing by the entrance of the cockpit, his brows furrowed in deep thought. "...What?" Was this the reason why he had been acting so weird?

"I had...a dream, you could say," he muttered, moving towards the seat. He stood beside her and next to BB-8, but refused to sit down. Instead, his eyes roamed the controls and levers, but they were glazed over, almost as if he was recalling a distant memory. Yet, oddly enough, he was actually easy to read as of right now, his barriers down around her – a development that had grown during their time together. "Something about this person is important." She asked if he had seen whoever this person was but the look on his face was an answer enough. "No. That was the thing that eluded me, no matter how long I tried to meditate, to see. There was a fog that prevented me from seeing them...but all I know is that our next step is there." He quickly turned away, quietly adding, "But that's only if you want too, of course."

If you still want me with you, was the underlying tone of his question.

"Ben." Despite sitting, she placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes, firm in her stance and voice. "I'm with you, always. Here, there, anywhere in the galaxy, I'll always be there for you. Six months ago I was here, and years from now I'll still be there too." This was the reassurance that he seemed to need as he finally sat down beside her; she quickly grabbed his hand with a wide grin, saying, "Canto Bight won't know what hit them."

0O0

The moment she successfully landed the Falcon in the Casino City, Rey felt a surge of energy from the Force like never before. It was so different from the other experiences she had and it was clear to her that she had sensed what Ben saw in his vision. There was someone here that was just like them, a force user. She was so sure of it that when she said this to Ben, the look he gave her only confirmed what she thought.

"But this place...it's massive," Rey muttered, looking around at the tall buildings as she walked alongside Ben. They both wore clothes and masks akin to those worn by the aristocrats that frequented the casino, allowing them easy access throughout the city without being noticed – her in a long flowing dress that she hated with a burning passion and Ben in a typical white suit that was so similar to the ones that she saw others wearing. She had grumbled the entire time as she changed, with Ben laughing at her. In frustration, she threw her shoe at his head, only for BB-8 to rudely mention that she had done the same to him. She retaliated by throwing the identical pair at the droid.

"Canto Bight disgusting. I'm sure you've heard of what occurs down here," Ben muttered darkly, sneering at the high pitched giggles from the group in front of them, as he continued, "The corruption here runs so deep and of you have the money for it, there is nothing you can't buy here. It ranges from exotic animals to illegal merchandising, assassinations to slavery – and I'm sure you know what else you can get here without me having to say it out loud." At this, Rey found herself growling, knowing exactly what he meant; she remembered about what happened to those that disappeared from Jakku if they didn't meet the quota for the month.

"I've heard only what Finn and Rose experienced here last year but I didn't know it was that bad."

The conversation would have continued had it not been for a sudden pull from the force, stopping the two in their tracks. It interrupted whatever train of thought that they had and with one look at each other, they silently began following the narrow path to their right, the mission of their search the most important part of the night.

Gradually, the clean marbling and stone hat had surrounded them turned into a path of sand and dirt until the typical disgusting smell of a stable wafted over them. Rey was in the lead and the growing sounds of children's voices and laughter fueled her steps until she reached a stable door. Both were not sure what to expect; while they had prepared themselves for an adult, it hadn't occurred to them that the suspected Force user could be a child.

Yet, there was no denying the voices inside. "Bye Temiri!" Various voices called out and while Rey and Ben remained hidden, they heard the chaotic banging of doors and footsteps, until only one voice was left, and it was undeniably a young boy, singing to himself.

Quietly, Rey open the door, careful to keep it from making a noise. She hid behind the stall before her, Ben following suit, and watched from the corner the boy humming while looking up at the night sky.

Ben shifted, preparing himself to stand, but Rey quickly grabbed his forearm and shook her head, a finger on her lips. Wait, she mouthed. She sensed that the boy was strong with the Force, but to what extent? Was it enough to reveal themselves to the child? And if so, what were they going to say?

They had come too unprepared for this situation.

But soon after these thoughts, the Force gave her a clear cut answer: Temiri, the young stablehand, stretched his hand and in front of them, the broom on the ground flew through the air before slowing down towards the boy.

Rey's heart was racing and judging by how pale Ben was, he was just as nervous. Yet, he was also radiating an energy she couldn't get a read on.

"Ben, what's wrong?" she quietly whispered.

"I…" He shook his head but his voice was quiet yet shaky. "I just...you were the last person that I felt with this kind of power. All the others that were like us, the Order did horrible things to – I did horrible things to. I'm just reminded of that–"

A sudden snap and they froze. Rey unconsciously shifted in her nervousness and had stepped onto a conveniently placed twig, the sound of it breaking echoing throughout the stable.

"Who's there?" the boy, Temiri, suddenly called out.

Rey silently cursed before standing up, both hands up in a way to show herself unarmed. Ben, on the other hand, stood in his typical way, towering over her in his height.

Temiri looked at them first with surprise before it melted into a wildish fear – a crazed look in his eyes that Rey could only sympathize with. It was a look she had seen far too often in herself growing up as a scavenger, and when she saw him tighten his hold on the brook, she rushed out, "Don't worry! We're just here to speak with you."

"Why? I didn't do anything wrong – I'm cleaning, just like the Boss said to!"

"No no, we're not with your boss." She tried smiling but when she saw that Temiri continued to look fearfully at Ben, she turned her head and quickly said, "Ben, stop brooding, you're scaring him." Her companion looked confused for a second but before he could say anything, Temiri spoke.

"What do you want? If you're looking for a place to do...your thing, you know, what you adults like to do, you can't do it here. I'll get in trouble."

"Our thing…?" Realization dawned on Rey and she began sputtering, her face turning a deep red in embarrassment. "Oh no, no no no, y-you've got it all wrong! We–I–Ben!"

"Uh– Okay, we, uh, we're just like you." Ben too was red but unlike her, had managed to string a reasonable sentence together. "And that's why we wanted to speak with you."

"Y-Yeah," Rey finally managed to add, her heart still racing from what the child insinuated. "Your name's Temiri, right?" The silence that followed the question was an answer enough and so Rey tried asking another question, although she felt like she already knew the answer. "Where are your parents? I can't imagine they'd allow you to work here in these conditions."

"...They owed the racetrack money and I was the payment."

"Oh. I'm sorry–"

"What do you mean, you're like me?"

"We're Force users, like you," she began to explain. She stepped forward, bringing her closer to the child, and while he made no moves to leave, his body was still tight with tension. Sensing that she was pushing his limit, she stopped at a comfortable distance with Ben quietly trailing behind her, unusually silent.

"...I dunno what you're talking about."

Tilting her head, she smirked before focusing on the bucket near the boy. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," he denied stubbornly. Rey then, using the force, lifted the bucket unknowingly behind the child before slowly bringing it around, allowing it to hover between them. Temiri's eyes widened as he let the broom in his hand go in shock, his eyes flying between the two adults. "...Oh. Oh."

She placed the bucket to the ground and took another step, and another, until she was right in front of the child. Kneeling, she asked, "Do you know what the Force is?"

"I've...I've heard of it," he quietly muttered, his eyes shifting to Ben. "So he's really like us too?"

"Yes, he is." Smirking, she hid her mouth behind her hand and whispered loud enough for Ben to hear, "But Mr. Broody is a little shy."

"I heard that."

Rey giggled and was glad to hear Temiri do the same thing, as it broke the tension in the air. The sense of unease that had been plaguing them slowly disappeared as the boy became comfortable enough to reach out to the man.

"Can you do what I do, then?"

"I–"

The main door to the stable swung open, slamming into the wall and interrupting the trio. A Cloddogranian stormed in, shouting, "The fuck? Who the hell are you two? Get the fuck out of my stable!" Then, pointing to Temiri, he growled, "Why'd you even let them in? I told you what'd happen if I caught strangers in my stable, didn't I?"

Without thought, Rey shot up, placing herself between Temiri and the fat creature with a scowl marring her face. "We–"

But Ben, oh sweet sweet Ben, he waved a hand through the air. "You're not upset," he commanded, his voice low but humming with the power of the Force. Bargwill Tomder, the name printed on the nametag of the Cloddogranian, flipped like a switch; his entire demeanor changed as a glaze fell over his eyes. He began to repeat what Ben ordered, his voice high and face dropping into a dreamlike state.

"I'm not upset."

"You will leave this room and forget we were ever here."

"I will leave this room and forget you were ever here."

"Leave."

In a matter of seconds, the creature left, but the shaky breathing from behind her worried Rey. "Temiri?" she called out, reaching out for him.

Whatever trust that they had gained with the boy disappeared as he flinched away from her hand, his eyes wide with fear. They were shiny and his face was pale, and it was obvious with the tightness in his voice that he was holding back tears. "He's still going to remember after you leave though, won't he? I'll still get in trouble!"

A gentle hand on Rey's shoulder stopped her from talking and she watched as Ben took over, kneeling down on one leg to the small child, a hand resting on his knee. "I take it you don't like it here, do you?"

"Of course I don't."

Rey knew with those words immediately what would follow, and the sudden panic that surged from within her crashed with Ben's calm determination as his thoughts went through their bond.

Don't worry, he said, but Rey quickly countered with another surge of panic. They were in no way capable of taking care of a child! She was barely able to take care of herself!

But she also saw Temiri through Ben's eyes. He was dirty, skinny with malnutrition, and the clothes he wore were threadbare. Rey's heart continued to fall as she realized that she saw a reflection of herself all those years ago. Those hungry eyes, looking for any opportunity to feel safe, to not have to worry about where her next meal would come.

"Would you like to come with us?"

04: End

A/N: I think that the story's going to end with either the fifth chapter or sixth – I'm not one hundred percent sure yet. I know that this chapter was definitely rushed and has grammar issues, but I hope it wasn't confusing! I wanted someway to combine TLJ and TROS together and the little boy that we saw with the force powers at the end of TLJ never showed up, so I figured that what perfect way to do that than now?

Anyways, please leave a review :)