Part XXXII

Those words, once meant with cruelty so long ago that Rey could hardly remember that time…now they still sent a chill down her spine but they also set a warmth deep in her core. Coming away from her ear, his nose grazed back over her temple and down her cheek bone as his full but dry lips skipped along her jaw line. Only once she felt his warm and tangy breath ghost across her lips did Rey speak, "What do you want?"

Ben's thick lashes flicked open and his dark eyes met hers, "For you to believe that I will never leave you…that I will always come back for you."

Rey whimpered but when his lips crashed to hers, she was set ablaze with an animalistic need for Ben…for Kylo, to feel connected and in control of something…anything that would ground her into this moment and to the fact that he was actually here.

It appeared that Ben had the same dominating need as he dug his fingers deeper into her jaw and throat as she bit at his already split lip. Rey tasted the sharpness of copper and swiped her tongue slowly over his bottom lip before their gaze met again.

This is what they did. They hurt each other just to turn and provide comfort. Their love was unequivocal, bonded and absolute in the Force, but they had both been so damaged by the follies of their upbringings that the corruption of doubt always lurked in the depths of their minds. That doubt, rooted in darkness, would be a vicious and constant barrier that they would continue to struggle to overcome for the rest of their days.

But in this coming together, they would find relief in the brutal torment that gave them both strength within the Darkside. They would lay claim to one another, pulling from feelings of possession, angst, uncertainty, and suffering. Both sought acceptance, serenity, reassurance, and balance through the clawing of fingers and gnashing of teeth.

With Rey already nude, Ben yearned to feel her warmth under his fingertips, so ripping his mouth away from her for just a moment, he pulled at the leather with his teeth, tasting burned ions on his tongue. When he released his hold on Rey's throat she staggered back a few steps, appearing unsteady and heavy on her feet but stumbled to the bed like a moth drawn to a flame.

Ben stalked after her and just before she could fall back on the plush duvet, he caught her hips and spun her around so she planted chest first over the side of their bed. Pushing down with his hand between her shoulder blades he gave her the unspoken command to stay put and he sank to his knees, kissing and nipping at her round rear as his fingers dug into her toned thighs.

Nudging her legs further apart, Ben gripped at the cleft of her rear before burying his face into her slick. Only licking and sucking at her for a moment, he sat back before quickly shoving his fore and middle fingers into her core. Not stretched and hardly ready for him, Rey clenched around his fingers. They both groaned, unsure which was the inflictor or the receiver of the punishment that racked both of their bodies.

Curling his fingers and working her into a frenzy, Ben continued his biting and sucking assault on her pale skin, leaving chapped areas that were certain to bruise across her thighs and rear. His free hand worked at the closure of his trousers and when he felt her legs start to quiver with her mounting climax, he swiftly removed his fingers giving her a long lick from her sensitive bud to the pulsing pucker between her cheeks.

Rey squeaked at the sensation of his warm mouth at her rear and she attempted to lift her head and look at him. But his large hand came back down between her shoulder blades leaving her immobilized. Then he was gone and Rey's body shivers with the lack of his touch.

He didn't make her wait long and with one snapping thrust, his hips were pushed against her supple rear. Rey bared her teeth and clawed at the covers at the borderline painful feeling of fullness. Ben smirked with satisfaction, watching her spine bow as she squeezes impossibly tight around him.

Her only salvation was the half-minute that he gave her to adjust as he lightly brushed his fingertips across her back as it heaved with each of her breaths. After that he wrapped his large hands around her rib cage, his fingertips grazing the undersides of her breasts before he used his grips as leverage for his unrelenting thrusts. Her cries could be compared to those that echoed in the throne room as Snoke ripped into her mind. The only encouragement that she gave Ben was when she shifted her hands, gripping the duvet by her shoulders in order to push back against him, forcing him to go harder and deeper.

When she threw her head back with pleasure and arched her spine, Ben moved one of his hands to gather her chestnut locks around his fist. Her scalp burned as he pulled, but this only made her push back against him harder. He moved his other hand to wrap around her shoulder, this changing the angle of his penetration and causing her breath to catch in her throat and within seconds Rey was clamping down before falling into bliss.

As she rode out her orgasm, twitching and then becoming limp on the bed, Ben shifted his hand again wrapping it around the base of her throat while pulling her back to his chest. Supporting most of her weight with his arm wrapped around her torso, his lips moved against her neck and came to rest by her ear. "You are mine," his husky voice spoke into the soft spot just behind her ear.

When she let out a mix of a moan and a whine, he tightened his hold on her, sliding his fingers up her throat to hold her jaw once more and turned her face towards his. "I will always come back to you," he raked his gaze across her face, shifting his hips into her and watching her already hooded eyes roll back in her head.

A needy groan sounded deep in her chest but he was still not satisfied, so he thrust again, "Do you understand?"

"Yes…" she cried…pleaded.

"Good girl," he cooed and stroked her cheek with his thumb before pulling their lips together and bringing his other hand up to cup her breast and pinch at her pert nipple.

Rey started to shift her hips, needing to feel him move within her but instead, he pulled away from her, slipping away from her lips and her heat. But he only gripped her hips, turning her over and pushing her further up the bed so that he could crawl over her. Rey let her legs fall apart without having to be asked and Ben settled between her thighs, easily plunging back into her with the moisture from her first release.

Now that they were chest to chest, face to face, Ben's moments were slower, coaxing out her pleasure instead of demanding it. Their lips moved together lazily and he was helpless to keep his fingers from carding through her soft hair and cradling her head in his large hands.

"I'm sorry," he cooed against her neck. Her body shuttered and her breathing caught somewhere between a gasp and a sob. "I'll never abandon you," he whispered against her lips.

Tears slid down her temples as she gripped his hair and kissed him with every ounce of love that she had within her soul. She poured her insecurities and doubts into him, allowing him to wash them away with each thrust, kiss, and touch. As she held him impossibly close she felt it again…the balance and he fell with her into oblivion.

They lay together for a long time, panting in each other breaths and peppering kisses against sweat and tear-stained faces. His weight pushed her into the mattress and Rey had never felt so safe in her entire life. She felt as if a bomb could go off around them and their moment would not be shattered and she spoke her own apology against his lips.

When his length soften, he slid from within her and gathered her in his arm. In the shower he washed her love bitten and bruised skin as if it was made of the finest porcelain, kissing over each mark he had left on her body. It was only at this point that Rey saw the injuries that marred his pale skin. She didn't want to ruin the love and understanding that was swirling in the steamy enclosure and within the bond, so she just stroked his cheek and kissed each blaster burn across his shoulders and torso.

Not bothering to dress, they curled around each other in their bed, Rey drawing shapes along his chest with her cool fingertips while he twirled strands of her hair around his fingers and fluttered kisses upon the crown of her head. Neither slept, neither spoke, but the bond was wide open and they were able to express what was beyond any known verbal language.

The sun rose before either of them wanted and Ben wondered with their powers combined if they could reverse the spin of the planet to just have a few extra hours with each other. But as the light started to cross the floor of the room, Rey untangled herself from her fiancé and padded off to the fresher.

Ben sighed, sitting up in bed and pushing his hair out of his eyes. He was exhausted but there would be time to sleep later, for now, he wanted to spend as much time with Rey as he could. Calling his datapad to his hand, he ordered a cleaning droid to come and vacuum up the glass that was now sparkling across the floor in the morning sun.

Getting out of the bed he moved to his closet and pulled on a pair of gray lounge pants just as Rey was coming out of the fresher. He kissed her lips when she turned her face up towards his and he whispered a promise of caf which made her smile.

His heart dropped when he walked into the kitchen. Two place setting were untouched at the table and a delicious looking rib roast sat on the counter next to the oven. Rey had cooked him dinner, had sat waiting for him to return home, and he loathed himself for hurting her so.

When she walked into the kitchen Ben was standing by the caf machine and the aroma had already carried in the apartment but she was halted by the agonized look on his face as his gaze slid from her to the remnants of their dinner. Rey attempted to smile but only achieved a tight upturn of her lips as she walked to the pan that held the roast, picked it up and then tipped it into the bin.

"I didn't know," Ben offered.

"So maybe I will be able to surprise you one day…"

He moved to her, cupping her face between his palms and finally she did smile while nuzzling into his warmth. "I'm sorry I disappointed you."

Rey met his gaze and wondered how many times he said those sullen words to his parents when he was a boy. She had seen over the bond how many times Leia had pleaded with him to just be good, or considerate, or normal. Han would shake his head in a detached manner, never knowing what to do with his son, never trying to understand the Force and the swirl of conflicting feelings that were eating away at his boy.

So Rey turned her face and kissed his palm, "I wasn't disappointed. I was just scared."

He nodded, not wanting to fight or continue down a path that would leave them both upset or in tears. So like many mornings with the Empress in residence, he took two cups of caf out to the terrace and they sat together in an oversized chair and watched the city come to life.

Before long the front door comm was sounded and Arlan was welcomed into the apartment to help Rey pack. Within half an hour Rey was donning her gray cloak and being ushered up to the landing platform.

"Master!" Cale called out as he jogged across the tarmac. "Empress," he bowed and addressed as he came to stand before them. "The counsel is gathering down stairs."

Ben bit at his lip and looked between Rey and his newest Knight.

"It's okay," Rey reassured, reaching up to ease his pinched brows. "Go rule our Empire."

Still not knowing why the Force had smiled so favorably down upon him by delivering Rey into his life, Ben grabbed the sides of her cloak's hood and dipped his face within its shadow. He kissed her fiercely, drawing out her breath and counsel be damned was ready to drag her back to bed.

Instead, he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you," his words echoed just for her within their woolen cocoon.

"I love you," she answered in kind, bushing her nose against his on her way to his lips.

When they parted Ben ran the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip and smiled down at just how beautiful his bride was. Extracting himself from her hood, Ben saw that Tyris and Davin were standing by the ramp of the Mk3 and he couldn't think of anyone else that he would trust Rey's life with.

Arlan stepped up and took Rey's hand, leading her to the shuttle as her Empress kept her head dipped towards the ground. Half way up the ramp Rey turned, floating her love and longing through the bond and in return she received an adorable Solo smirk and head tilt as if he was daring her to say to hell with the Resistance and stay.

Rey insisted on flying with Arlan taking up the co-pilot's seat. The flight back to Orinda was uneventful and Tyris and Davin sat silently in the jump seats at the rear of the cockpit. After hearing from Cale about the late hour that the Knights had returned from their mission, Arlan didn't dare bring up Rey's prior night. It had appeared that the Emperor and Empress had parted on favorable terms and their relationship was none of her business unless Rey chose to bring it up. She also wouldn't dare speak about what had transpired between herself and Ty once they had left Rey…especially not with Tyris sitting just ten feet behind them.

So in a few comfortable hours of silence, they arrived back on Orinda and Rey hugged her guards who were starting to seem more like family. Just like ever other time she had to meet up with Ben, her shuttle was stocked with everything on her list and with a toothy smile and a full arm wave, Rey boarded her transport and watched the black Command Shuttle disappear below her.

Back on Coruscant Ben had just finished the meeting with the War Counsels about his desire to start downsizing the military. Hux, who was back on limited duty was less than pleased and made his grievances well known his in snide and nasally tone.

Removing his surcoat and throwing it on the chair in the sleeping quarters he noticed the small black box that he had thrown into the pale gray chair the night before. The glass that had once littered the floor was gone and their well-used bed was made. If not for the closet full of her clothes and the box in his hand there was no evidence that he had spent the night with the love of his existence.

Rey had thrown this box at him last night and he turned it over in his hands, no external marking gave away its contents. So he used his thumb to lift a flap closure and when he turned the box over, a cylindrical container fell into his palm.

This lid was hinged and he ran his fingertips over what lay inside. Lifting out the object he studied it. A completely matte black chronometer with a soft black leather band. The only details on the face of the timepiece were the two black hands that currently were pointed at 1147. Running the pad of his thumb over the smooth glass front, his fingers that were pressed into the back of the chrono felt something rough.

Working the band through its closure, he turned the piece over and etched into the back plate were eight simple words and a series of coordinates.

In the Darkness night,

Shines the brightest Star.

-9774.08 , -5568.55

He ran his fingers over the words and numbers and smiled at his lovely and clever girl.

Shifting through two hyperspace lanes, Rey was finally approaching Dantooine again. She wondered to herself how many more times would she be making this flight? How much longer before she called the penthouse on Coruscant or the manor on Naboo her home?

She landed on the tarmac and was taxied into the hangar, droids and sensual being alike swarmed her craft ready to unload the goods that she had acquired on her 'supply run'. Looking off to the far side of the hangar she saw some X-wings that looked worse for wear and wondered if that was the squadron that Ben had encountered.

Not thinking any better, she handed her ledger to the on-duty Chief and quickly took her bag to her quarters before seeking out Poe. While she had gained a pretty fair account of mission from Ben's memory, she wondered how far off base Poe's diluted rationalizations would be. Like many times before, Rey reined in her emotions and expression as she knocked on the General's door.

Against Ben's wishes, Rey had continued to meet with Poe in his private quarters. He had made no other inappropriate actions towards her and she felt over the past few weeks that they had been able to have a more meaningful conversation even if they didn't completely agree on every point.

When Poe answers the door his eyes were full of worry, dark circles set just above his cheeks as if he had not slept in days, and his hair stood on end from endless pulling with ongoing frustration. "Rey," he breathed almost in relief. "Come in," he said while grabbing her wrist and pulling her into his room.

"What's going on Poe?" She started off with concern, but truly this was not the cocky man that she had left just days prior. "I saw the X-wings in the hangar. It looks like they took quite a beating."

"We all did," Poe said pulling at his hair again and pacing over to the single chair in his small sitting area.

Rey took up her usual spot on the loveseat to Poe's left and waited for him to start explaining. She washed the area in just enough calming energy to get him to stop fretting and start talking. So she tried to prod him along, "I didn't think we had a mission scheduled."

"We didn't," Poe confirmed and he watched Rey become confused with his insinuation. "I didn't order a mission. I would have never…"

"Then what happened?" Flashes of the battle through Ben's memory filtered through Rey's mind as she tired to piece it all together.

"The Resistance had always operated outside of the Senate and we even opened our base and resources up to those who were displaced from their would during the upheaval, but with this betrayal, they have shown that they have no intention in giving up any of their power."

"The New Republic Senators ordered the mission?" Rey tried to think about how this was even possible.

"They must have worked to gain sympathizers and obtained their own intelligence and constructed this harebrained operation. But one thing they did not account for was that Kylo Ren and his Knights would show up…"

Rey needed know, "What happened? Where did they strike? How many were lost?"

Poe sank back in his chair ready to retell the debriefing that he had just received hours ago. "The world of Mairne has a long history with the Sabiador Slavers and when Ren abolished slavery of any kind, the Sabiadors were not too keen on giving up their strong hold in the Kathol sector or the highly sought after ore of Mairne.

"So the New Order had sent a shipment of ships and weaponry to Mairne so that they could protect their own people. The Senators got wind of this and thought that they could take the cache for themselves to…I don't know…take over the planet, bring back here and assume power over the Resistance…I'm not sure what their end game was."

"Why haven't these Senators been taking and interrogated?" She sat forward before offering, "I can take a run at them."

"That won't be necessary," Poe said calmly. "They are all dead…"

"What?" Rey asked in shock.

"This is why I don't think that they had any intention to return to the Resistance and were planning to start their own rebellion," Poe sighed. "They took a transport, twelve of them in total and went with the X-wings and other ground fighters to infiltrate the capital."

"What's our casualty numbers?"

"Twenty-two, but from the debriefs, Ren and his Knights only went after the Senators. The rest were either shot down or killed by Mairne defenses."

Rey was taken back by this and she remembered Ben saying the night before that her friends were not harmed. She couldn't pretend to mourn for the Senators, they had made their own beds in this mess, but the ten other fighters had been led to the slaughter. "Finn…Rose…?" Rey asked and her chest hurt at the thought that she was doubting Ben's promise.

"They were both here and are actually very worried about you."

"I was on the other side of the galaxy on Metalorn," she lied.

"Yes, but with the newest attack, we are certain that the New Order will have more troops stationed around the galaxy and last we checked there is still a bounty out on you."

Rey just gave a tight-lipped smile and hoped in the upcoming weeks that the bounty order would soon be changed to a coronation announcement.

Poe looked at Rey and when her gaze came up to meet his, the General's expression crumpled, "I'm so sorry…"

Rey shifted in her seat, trying to inch closer to her friend who seemed to be on the cusp of redemption. Reaching out her hand, she placed it on his knee and his warm hand came down to cover her slim fingers.

"I did what you asked. I ventured out into the galaxy, visited worlds, talked to fighters who were returning home, spoke with liberated troopers." He took in a shaky breath, not believing that his next words would ever cross his lips. "Leia would have been proud of what her son is doing with the New Order."

Sucking in a breath, tears welled in Rey's eyes and her chest felt alight. A soft smile crossed her lips, "Is Poe Dameron ready to talk peace?"

He puffed out a long exhale, "Ten people died today over the greed of power and it has to stop. I see that now…"

Rey could have launched herself at the man that she once again considered a friend, wanting to hug his neck and shake him and tell him that 'it's about damn time', but instead she gave him a brilliant smile. "I'm so pleased to hear this Poe…I'm sure the Emperor will hear your conditions."

"I don't think it will be that easy," he said with a nervous laugh.

"I could go to him again…"

"No," Poe said with authority.

Turing her hand over, Rey squeezed his palm, "He won't hurt me. I went to him before and he killed his Master to avoid striking me down."

"You can't be sure. The bounty…"

"Says to bring me in alive and unharmed. If he wanted me dead, he would have come to deliver the final stroke himself…long ago."

Poe sighed, "Finn will never agree to this…"

"Then we are lucky that he has no say over what I do," she gave Poe a reassuring smile. "We will give it some time…we need to mend our ships and regain some confidence within the ranks."

He nodded and squeezed her hand back and watched her stand from her seat. Not being ready to let her go, Poe trailed behind Rey to the door and when she stepped out into the hall, their hands still joined and stretched out between them, he pulled her into his space, wrapping his arms around her back and hugging tightly.

Rey returned the hug, her arms easily folding over his shoulders, their heights only differed by a few inches. It felt weird for her to be embracing someone and not have her face buried into the warm chest of Ben. She felt Poe lean his forehead against her shoulder and he turned his face just slightly to whisper, "Thank you for not giving up on me," into her ear.

Pulling away she gave him a caring smile and then started down the hall, their fingers falling apart when she was no longer within reach. A smile was stuck on her face and her hands swung happily as she walked down the hall, everything was falling into place. All of her sacrifices were going to be worth the peace that she was able to foster within the Resistance.

Maybe twenty-five paces down the hall Rose leaned up against the durasteel wall and lit up when she saw Rey but also appraised her friend's mood.

"Rose!" Rey said with utter joy and the two friends hugged. Just like she had done with Irris and Arlan, Rey linked her arm with Rose and they walked down a few corridors until they were in Rey's quarters.

"Did you hear about the Senators?" Rose asked as she sat down on Rey's cot.

"Yeah," Rey answered as she unfastened and slid out of her high collared vest. "Poe was just telling me what happened."

Rose giggled into her hand, "I'm sure that is exactly what you and Poe were doing…"

Rey turned to her friend with confusion and Rose pointed to her own neck while raising her eyebrows with a knowing smirk. Still not getting it, Rey rushed to her fresher and looked at her neck in the mirror. "Kriff," she cursed to herself, but it was too late, Rose was now leaning up against the door way into the fresher and watching Rey inspect the love bites that littered her neck.

"It's not what you think," Rey tried to stop the wheels that were turning behind her friend's bright eyes and telling smile.

Rose held up her hands, "I'm not here to judge…it's just we all thought that Poe had something going on with Kaydel."

Rey groaned knowing that she wasn't going to be able to talk her way out of this and without being able to relay the real culprit, she would have to lie about any sort of romantic relationship between herself and the General.

Reaching up, Rey quickly healed the most noticeable bruises but if her hazy memory was an accurate depiction of what Ben did to her the prior night, she would have marks along her thighs, bottom, hips, and breasts, but there was no way she was going to disclose any of this Rose.

"So how long has this been going on?" Rose asked only slightly surprised when Rey used her Force powers to make the angry red marks disappear.

Rey faltered and turned to her friend, "If I tell you, will you let it go and not tell anyone about it?"

Rose nodded happily.

"Not even Finn…" Rey warned.

Making a gesture as if she was pulling a zipper across her lips and throwing away the key, Rose eagerly awaited the juicy details.

They walked back over to Rey's cot and sat down. "It started just before the wedding," she lied through her teeth. "I don't know about him and Kaydel, but we were spending so much time together and it just happened…"

Rose bounced and clapped her hands. "So have you guys done it?" She wiggled her eyebrows with the question.

"Rose!" Rey said in mock horror.

The small dark haired woman just shrugged, "At least you won't have to take care of yourself as much anymore that you found a man to…service your needs."

Rey blushed seventeen shades of red and balked. "Okay! That's enough talk about my love life. How about you give me a second to change out of these travel clothes and we will go down to the mess and get an early dinner."

Giggling again, Rose stood up and nodded, relaying that she was going to run by her quarters and see if Finn wanted to join them. Rey pointed a finger at her friend, "Remember, not a word to anyone about me and Poe…"

Rose winked and then was out of the door.

Sighing and crumpling back on to her bed, Rey threw her arms over her face and thought about how screwed she was, not only for lying about a fictions relationship with Poe to hide the fact that her fiancé had ravished her not twenty-four hours ago but concealing said fiancé from her best friend has caused an ache to bloom within her chest.

Finally gathering herself, Rey sat up to get changed and let out a surprised yelp.

"So you and Dameron?" Ben said from across her small quarters with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Kriff," Rey breathed.

AN: Oh it feels good to be back...kinda. I'm working and on call for Christmas so I will see how much writing I get done this week but I hope to have another chapter out before the New Year. I had no idea that I would be going into 2019 writing Reylo stories but here we are.

You are all so amazing and your comments mean the world to me. Bad shit keeps happening but your words make me smile like an idiot and I want to thank all of you for that.

ALSO! We are almost to 10,000 hits! You all are so freaking amazing!