Hope is like the sun...

Rey was alone in the forest once more. Two arms wrapped around her waist. She smiled.

'I'm giving you one more chance to accept my offer.'

At the sound of the Sons voice, Rey slapped his hands away and turned to face him. She reached for her saber but found it wasn't there.

The son chuckled.

'No weapons this time. Let's just talk.'

'Get out of my head.'

'Rey, be with me and we can avoid all the unpleasantness.'

'No.'

'Not even to protect your friends?'

'If you hurt my friends, I will kill you.'

'There will be deaths, Rey. That is unavoidable, unless you join me now and end all this.'

'No.'

'I smell him on you.'

Rey didn't respond.

'And so the little scavenger becomes a woman.'

Rey roared and ran towards him. The Son held out his hand and stopped her in her tracks. Rey froze. He came towards her and placed a hand on her cheek.

'I will try to spare you in the battle that lies ahead Rey, it would be such a waste if you were to fall.'

He looked at her lips and leaned slightly towards her.

'Get away from her.'

Ben appeared by the Sons side and sent a force powered fist straight into his jaw. Rey was immediately released from his hold as he fell to the ground. She moved towards Ben and he wrapped his arms around her. They looked down at the Son as he lay on the ground and rubbed his jaw. He looked up at Ben with venom in his eyes.

'I'm going to kill you first, Ben Solo,' he spat before disappearing before their eyes.

Rey and Ben simultaneously sat up in bed and looked at one another.

'He has an army,' Ben confirmed.

Rey looked at him with worried eyes.

'And he's coming.'

At first light, they waited anxiously for Finn and Rose to arrive. As soon as they landed, Rey ran towards Rose as she exited the carrier and embraced her tightly.

'I missed you,' Rey admitted into Rose's shoulder.

'I missed you too, I'm so glad you're okay.'

'I have so much to tell you.'

'And I have so many questions.'

Finn came over and put his arms around them, squeezing them both until they protested. The three of them laughed.

'I'm so happy to see you, Rey.'

Rey smiled at him. She looked back at the troopers exiting the carriers and her smile disappeared.

'The Son is coming and he's bringing an army.'

'Where did he get an army from?' Rose asked.

'Some religious fanatics that worship him like a God. They've been preparing for his coming for years, amassing their numbers and their ships and their weapons.'

'So we better be ready,' Finn said.

Rey nodded.

Jannah led Hux from the carrier in cuffs.

'What should I do with this one?' she asked Finn.

'Let him go,' Finn replied.

Jannah and Hux looked at him in surprise.

'What?' the female ex stormtrooper asked incredulously.

'I said let him go. We don't have the resources to be watching him around the clock. If what Rey says is true, we have bigger problems to worry about.

'I'll watch him.'

All eyes went to the owner of the voice Lieutenant Connix who stepped forward and jutted out her chin.

Hux let his eyes roam over the small, steely eyed blonde. So this was to be his keeper. Very well.

'Fine with me,' Finn said with a shrug.

Connix came forward and grabbed Hux by the cuffs. She marched him over to her tent.

'I hope she knows what she's letting herself in for,' Rose said with a frown.

Connix ordered Hux to sit while she moved some equipment. Hux watched her with interest wondering what her next move would be. She surprised him by coming towards him and gently removing his cuffs. Hux rubbed at his wrists as he continued to observe her.

'Are you hungry?' she asked.

She turned and picked up a bowl and a jug with some liquid inside.

'I don't have much but I'm happy to share. It's soup, my own recipe.'

Hux nodded. Connix poured some soup into the bowl and handed it to him along with a spoon.

Maybe it was the fact that he hadn't eaten for more than a day, but the soup tasted good, really good. Hux ate it quickly, then scraped the bowl.

Connix smiled as she took his spotless dish away from him.

'Why are you being nice to me?' Hux asked suspiciously.

Connix shrugged.

'I'm tired of this war and I'm tired of all the hate. General Leia always taught us that killing, even killing our enemies, was a waste of potential and you have so much potential, Hux. I've followed your career and you're undeniably brilliant. Brutal, but brilliant.'

'Thank you,' Hux said carefully.

'I'm just a lowly operations controller turned Lieutenant, but even I can see the benefits of the technology you have been directly involved in inventing and implementing for the First Order.'

Hux looked at her with interest.

'The First Order is gone. We could use your creations to make a real difference in the world.'

'I don't work with rebel scum.'

Connix looked disappointed and Hux was shocked to realise that he felt guilty. Why did he care? Was it because she was the only person who had shown him any real kindness in…well he had no idea how long it had been since someone had treated him with kindness. He considered his options and decided that it might be a good idea to have an ally in this lawless place.

'What's your first name?' He asked.

'Kaydel.'

'Armitage.'

'I know,' she said, with a small, appealing smile.

She really was rather pretty in a conventional sort of way.

I have to go to a staff meeting. Can I trust you to stay here?'

'Where else would I go?' Hux asked truthfully. He wasn't a pilot and he didn't even know what Star System he was in let alone what planet he was on.

'Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can,' she promised and he found himself hoping she was true to her word.

Just before she left, she turned around and looked at him thoughtfully.

'If Kylo Ren can get a second chance, why can't you?' she said with a shrug and he found himself deeply pondering her words. Could he be a different man? Could he live his life for a new cause? A better cause?

Hux didn't know, but he knew he was still hungry. He found the jug of soup and poured himself another bowl. If he was going to die out there in the middle of some meaningless rebel war, he was going to die with a full stomach.

While the rebel leaders convened to discuss battle strategies, Rey and Ben called a meeting of their own.

Finn, Rose, Poe and Daughter were all in attendance. Once they were all caught up with each other's exploits, they addressed the matter at hand. The Sons impending arrival.

'We know he was on Mustafar, but he's definitely on the move and he's coming here,' Ben stated.

'Should we run?' Rose asked.

Rey shook her head.

'No point. He'd just find us. We have to stay and end this. We have to fight.'

Finn stood up.

'More troopers are on their way, I'm expecting twenty more carriers within the hour.'

Ben nodded at him.

'We think the Son will keep himself separate from the fight. He will most likely stay on board one of the bigger Alazmec ships. One of us will have to take him out, with this,' Ben held up the dagger of Mortis.

Daughter stood.

'I should be the one to face him.'

'Over my dead body,' Poe announced.

No one is asking you to do that,' Ben said.

'If not me then who?'

Ben was silent but Rey knew he was thinking of himself.

'No,' she said firmly.

Ben looked at Rey. Unspoken words passed between them.

Rey frowned and started to shake her head violently.

Ben cocked his head to the side and gave her a soft look.

'You know I have to do this,' he said.

'No,' She replied stubbornly.

'Rey, you know this is the only way.'

He settled his wide eyes on her.

'No. I don't believe that. There has to be something else we can do.'

'Rey...'

'I said no!'

The anger behind her words silenced him. He looked into her water rimmed eyes. She didn't have to tell him what she needed. He put his arms around her and pulled her towards his chest.

'I just got you back,' she whispered, clinging to him, I can't lose you now.'

'I'm not going anywhere,' he vowed, releasing her momentarily and bringing her hands to his mouth before pressing a soft kiss against her bunched up fingers.

'I've imagined doing that so many times,' He confessed.

'I've imagined you doing that so many times.'

They looked at each other and came to the joint realisation that they had shared the unified desire via their bond. They smiled and let out a small laugh at the welcome revelation.

Finn looked at them both.

'I didn't truly believe it until right now, but you two really are made for each other.'

Rey smiled at him. It felt good to have her friends begin to understand her relationship with Ben.

'You didn't believe it until now? Did you miss the part where he died for her?' Rose said incredulously.

Ben winked at Rose and she smiled back at him.

Rey took a deep breath and tried to control her emotions.

'Let me go with you,' she pleaded with Ben.

'You know you need to stay here, for this to work,' he said firmly.

Rey set her jaw stubbornly and opened her mouth to protest but Ben stopped her by pressing his lips against hers.

He pulled away and tucked a curl of hair behind her ear.

'Rey, Sweetheart, I did die for you. That means you owe me one. So this isn't a negotiation, you have to do as I say.'

'Cheap shot, Solo,' she muttered.

'You know I fight dirty, Scavenger,' he said with a lopsided smile.

She swallowed hard. How could she watch him walk away and not know if he was coming back? She wasn't sure she could lose him again and survive it.

'I'm coming back,' he said softly, answering her thoughts.

'You can't make that promise.'

'Sure I can. I'm Ben Solo. Son of the legendary Generals Han Solo and Leia Organa. My bloodline alone will have him quaking in his boots before I even have to land a single blow. I'll be gone five minutes, maybe ten.'

Rey laughed at Ben's blatant display of Solo cockiness and despite her growing fears for him, his response did bring her some comfort.

'Have faith in the plan,' he said.

Rey nodded as she hugged him close.

Come back to me…

Always…