A/N: Thanks for reviewing!

Cuz now I'm pushing forward and nobody dare oppose, now I'm moving faster while that ticking clock slows

Discretion was easier when they could land in the hangar of the New Republic building. There was no danger of the crowded welcome Rey had received on Coruscant after she left Tatooine, which she was startled to realize was not very long ago at all. It felt like a lifetime had passed since she had arrived here, desolate and angry at the galaxy but unwilling to admit either feeling to herself. Now she might be a little nervous about how this might go, but was reassured by Ben's presence and the resolution to run away with him if he were not welcomed properly. And then she would still be with Ben! So she could hardly worry about either prospect.

Chewie led the way off of the Falcon, followed by Finn and Rose and then Rey and Ben. They had only gotten about halfway across the hangar bay when Poe, Kaydel, and Lando Calrissian entered from the other side. Ben stopped short and she tightened her grip on his hand. Perhaps it would have been better to let them know about the purpose of the mission, or that it had been successful, without him present to witness the reactions of their leaders. But Rey would not stand for any mistreatment of him, not after everything that had happened, so she was confident they would at least be polite.

"Your mission seems to have taken no time at all, Jedi Rey. Are you always as efficient as you are lovely?" Lando called as they approached. Kaydel, walking at his side, smiled. Behind them, Poe was stone-faced and silent, looking only at Ben.

"Your ship is none the worse for wear, as I'm sure you can see," Rey responded, gesturing with her free hand. She smiled as Lando's attention seemed to be fully on the ship and to have hardly registered their presence. Beside her, Ben was holding his breath.

"Yes, wonderful, I knew I could trust you to fulfill that part of the bargain. Now, for the other part, I've had some dinner brought to my dining room and would be honored if all of you would join me. Even you, you old pirate," Lando added with a grin toward Chewie, who growled in response. Then the man stopped, his smile disappearing. He leaned suddenly on his cane and Kaydel rushed to assist him, greatly concerned. Waving her away, he blinked at them. "Ben?"

It was hardly more than a whisper, but somehow seemed to echo across the empty hangar. Rey was glad no one else was around – Ben was uncomfortable enough without adding more witnesses. His eyes were wide as he stared at Lando, then swallowed heavily. "Uncle Lando," he offered tentatively.

"I'm alright," Lando insisted to Kaydel, then looked at Ben again. "I… it's been a long time, Ben. I wasn't sure – I thought I'd seen a ghost," he added, forcing his cheerful expression to return with difficulty.

"That wouldn't be inaccurate," Rey offered when Ben was silent.

Lando finally tore his gaze away from Ben to look at her. "I see. Well, let us retire to eat – I'm sure you're famished – and you can tell me all about it." He turned around and headed toward the lift. Kaydel shot Rey a questioning glance before she followed him. Rey looked up at Ben to see if he wanted to go with Lando or not. His expression was dazed but he met her gaze with a slight nod. So she started forward and Ben hesitated only a moment before doing the same.

"Wait," Poe murmured when they got close. "I'm not too keen on having him alone with our new chancellor," he said firmly.

"I'll vouch for him," Rey told him, just as firmly.

"Rey, it's okay." Ben sounded almost relieved. She frowned at him, searching his face. Then, more helpfully, she searched their connection – he was afraid, unsurprisingly, and she blushed at how touched he was by her sticking up for him. He looked at her steadily, his resolve to see the situation through quite clear. Well, she would keep running away together as an option, even if he was willing to accept whatever the New Republic threw at him. There was no way she would accept any kind of separation.

Finn stepped forward, Rose close behind. "You know what Rey told us about him. I trust her judgement."

"The war is over, Poe. Snoke and Palpatine are dead. We need allies, not more enemies," Rose explained in that gentle way of hers.

Poe did not seem entirely convinced, but he nodded grudgingly. They joined Lando and Kaydel by the lift, where the two were waiting and politely ignoring the conversation they were missing. Rey noticed that Poe tried to keep himself between Ben and Lando, and also that Lando took note of their clasped hands with a slight raise of his eyebrows. Finn and Rose looked grim, while Chewie and Kaydel seemed unconcerned with the palpable tension in the small space of the lift when they had all boarded. As for Ben, well, his emotions were churning at the close quarters they were all squeezed into and she wondered if she should insist on getting him out of this situation. He squeezed her hand and shook his head slightly, so she acquiesced. Even if she continued to mentally tally how much food was aboard the Falcon, and how far its current fuel stores could get them.

They reached the floor that had been put aside for the Chancellor, a role Lando had been fulfilling since Exegol while a proper election was organized. There was little doubt that he would win – no one else had his experience in peace-time ruling, or his charm to convince anyone to join his side. It was a relief to know the galaxy would be in his capable hands for the time being.

Rey was not particularly familiar with trappings of wealth, but the doors opened onto one of the fanciest places she had ever seen. There was soft upholstery, sleek and shiny tile, a fountain just in the center of the room – she tried hard not to stare, but she could feel Ben's amusement in her reaction. She smiled up at him, glad he was no longer quite so worried.

They settled around a large table, already spread with more foods than Rey could put names to. She realized she hadn't eaten since they had left and was absolutely starving. Still, she had learned that it was considered rude to eat as quickly as one could, so she forced herself to wait and see what everyone else would do.

"I am glad to have all of you as my guests on this momentous occasion. Not only was I elected Chancellor of the New Republic, but my favorite nephew appears out of nowhere to join my celebration. Tell me all about your adventure, Rey, Finn, Rose. I'm sure it's fascinating," he added with a smile when no one spoke.

Looking mournfully at her plate, Rey launched into the tale. She told about working with Finn and Rose to search through the Jedi texts, about their frustrations at finding nothing, about their eventual success. She told about going back to Exegol and how her visions had led her to the pool. She did not dwell on the particulars of the visions, nor on exactly what she had seen while she was in the Vergence Scatter. But she did talk about finding Ben and bringing him out with her.

"How wonderfully brave of you, Rey, to have gone into such a terrible place for him. You'd better appreciate her, Ben," Lando added with playful firmness.

"I do," Ben replied much more seriously than Lando had been, and Rey felt her cheeks getting warm.

"Now, perhaps you can tell us how you knew Ben would be in this Netherworld," Lando continued.

Rey swallowed, glancing at Ben uncertainly. He leaned forward and everyone's attention turned toward him. "I went to help Rey face off against Palpatine. Afterward, she… was injured and I used the Force to heal her. Given the efforts of the fight and the wounds we had already sustained, it took all of my life Force to bring her back. I fell into the Vergence Scatter then," Ben explained quickly, obviously preferring not to dwell on those events.

"So you have been in there since the Emperor fell?" Lando asked, surprised.

"Yes."

The older man frowned slightly at Ben. "Well, perhaps you can tell me about it sometime. Why don't we eat?"

Rey was very relieved to hear that suggestion and set to her plate with gusto. Lando showed his colors as a politician by easily carrying the conversation through the meal. He kept it lighthearted and pleasant until everyone had eaten their fill. Then he asked Ben to speak with him privately. Rey checked in again through their bond to make sure Ben was up to the task. He nodded at her as he got to his feet and walked haltingly off into one of the side rooms with Lando. As soon as they disappeared, all eyes were on her and she swallowed the last of her food regretfully.

"Rey, I know we were understanding about Kylo Ren being your boyfriend or whatever, but why did you bring him here?" Poe hissed.

"Oh, sorry, should we just leave, then?" Rey shot back, sarcasm coloring her voice.

Poe's exasperation was written all over his face and he threw up his hands.

"He can help us," Finn told him. Poe turned to look at him in surprise. "What better example could we have for joining our side than the Supreme Leader himself? Look, man, I know you have some ugly history with him – we all do – but imprisonment or banishment helps no one. If he could work with us, help us find the rest of the First Order and rehabilitate as many of them as we can, think what we could do."

"We might be able to make peace actually stick. Instead of the next generation having to deal with the remnants of the First Order the way we've been dealing with the remnants of the Empire," Rose added.

Poe nodded slowly, looking at Rey. "Will he help us?"

"I think he wants to," she replied, not saying that she would leave that completely up to him. She refused to coerce him to do anything.

"Fine. We'll try. But I'm not making any promises," Poe added quickly.

"I don't expect any," Rey replied calmly.

Poe didn't seem happy as he got to his feet. "Well, I have work to do. Ask Lando about what he wants done with Kyl – I mean Ben," he corrected himself at Rey's glare. "If he wants us to announce his presence or whatever. Keep out of trouble," he added as he walked away from the table.

After watching him go, Finn and Rose exchanged a glance. "Well, I need some sleep," Finn said as he stood, Rose doing the same as she nodded.

Rey hurried over to embrace them. "Thank you for all of your help. I couldn't have done it without you."

"We know," Rose teased. "See you tomorrow, Rey."

They also left, and Rey looked toward the door where Ben and Lando had disappeared with some trepidation, wondering how long they would be. If she should knock or just wait. She glanced back at Kaydel, surprised to find her staring with wide eyes.

"So, Kylo Ren is your boyfriend? I always knew you had guts, but wow. I need to know everything about that."