Part XXXIV

Ben didn't have to blink or rub at his eyes to know what he was seeing, so instead he just exhaled, "General…"

"We are past that by now, don't you think?" The soft but raspy voice replied.

"I suppose so," Ben replied before gulping down the lump in his throat. "How are you mother?"

Leia looked down at her almost transparent form, "Apart from being dead…"

The sound that escaped Ben was somewhere between a laugh and a sob and Leia's face softened. In her years with the Resistance and dealing with the arrogance of Poe Dameron, she had forgotten how sensitive her son was. "Ben," she tried again, this time softer and reached out a hand.

At first he recoiled from her touch. The last time he remembered feeling comforted by his mother was before he went away to boarding school. A boy of fifteen, sent away from his home to Alsakan, to be surrounded by other children from high born families. But Ben was always different, if it wasn't the poor breeding on his father's part, it was the fact that he had the Force, which scared his peers more than his muddied bloodline.

But the next time she reached for him, Ben did not flinch and she touched the left side of his face, the unscarred skin that still reminded her of the gentle boy he used to be. A tear slid past the pad of her thumb. "You died before I could…" his voice hitched.

"Before you could kill me yourself?" The harsh words were through her lips before she could stop herself.

Ben groaned in both mental and physical anguish, "No mother." His voice echoed off the cliffs, "Before I could make amends."

"Amends?" Leia said the word as if she didn't know the meaning of it coming from her son's mouth.

Pinching the bridge of his nose Ben tried to calm his mind and his heart, "I was led down a path where I made decisions, ones that at the time…" he swallowed, "I didn't think I had any other choice."

"We always have a choice, Ben."

"I didn't!" His voice boomed, just as it had when he yelled at Rey across the throne room. His tone was not one of malice but one that begged for understanding. "Between you and father's constant fighting, always rushing off to help someone…anyone but me."

"We had a duty…"

"And what of your duty as a mother? Was I not deemed worthy enough for your time and consideration?"

"We tried…"

"You left me time and time again. Then you sent me away, first to Alsakan, then Coruscant, and finally to Luke." Even though on his last trip to Ahch-To he forgave his uncle, the judgement on his mother's face brought all of the anger back. "You saw the darkness in me and you almost sent me to my death!"

Leia finally sighed, dejected and wearing an expression that would almost show shame. "What you uncle tried to do…"

"He tried to kill me, mother."

"The incident…"

"You mean murder!"

The Force ghost snapped, "Yes murder, just like you did to your father."

They were at an impasse. Both staring the other down, waiting for which one was going to blink first.

It was Ben. Just like in the TIE, when he was unable to fire off shots at the Raddus. He knew that when given the choice, he could never hurt his mother. "Do you not think that I have not regretted that decision every second of every day since it happened?" He sounded gutted, torn apart once again.

"I know you have Ben," Leia sighed out her own frustration and sorrow and pressed her fingers to her forehead as if warding off a headache. She had reconnected with Han in the afterlife and while she wished that she could say their relationship was perfect, it was just like being stuck on the Falcon all over again. It appeared that stubbornness carries over in the Force.

Feeling that they have both expelled the pain that they held for years, Leia decided to tell Ben what she crossed over for. "I've been watching you rule…"

"I am trying to do better than Anakin…better than Vader."

"Your grandfather is very proud of you, Ben."

"Grandfather?" He looked like the ten-year-old boy who got to push the Falcon into hyperdrive the first time.

Leia smiled now, "It's Padmé that won't shut up about that girl of yours."

"Rey?" He was reduced to dumbly replying with one-word questions.

Leia hummed, "Yes, little Rey."

"I'm marrying her tomorrow," he said without doubt or shame of their bond.

"I know," Leia nodded but did not look away from her son. "We have seen what you've become. We've seen what you and Rey have accomplished. Your father, your uncle, my mother and father…we have all been watching from within the Force."

Ben wanted to blush, praying that there were some parts of his life, namely the ones that involved himself and Rey being unclothed, that his family was not privy to.

Trying again, Leia reached out and placed her hand on her son's arm, "We are all very proud of what you and Rey are doing."

He stuttered, opening and closing his mouth a few times but no words came out. Finally, he shook his head and looked down at his mother, "You're what?"

Now Leia had to laugh at her son, but it was a sad kind of chuckle that didn't quite cause the wrinkled beside her eyes to crease. "We are proud of you. The Force is with you both."

"Thank you…" he spoke softly, not sure what else to say.

The light around Leia seemed to pulse and she reached out her other hand, now gripping desperately at his arm. "But you must listen to me, Ben. There is still danger out there for you and Rey. Be careful of those that would wish revenge against you both."

"I would die before allowing any harm to come to Rey," he defended.

"I know you would," Leia spoke kindly and stroked her son's face one last time. "But the danger may be closer than you think."

The phantom of his mother faded and he was sunk into darkness. The suns had long since set and the glow of the Force ghost had been the only thing casting a gentle blue light to his surroundings. Now he was alone, the chill of the night air prickling at his neck and he was forced to find his way back to camp only with the light of the worlds single moon.

He might have taken the winding way back down to the small cluster of huts about half way up to the island's peak. His pace was slow, his too large feet kicking out in front of him as he thought back over the interaction with mother from the other side of the Force.

Leia's warning hung with him.

Ben was overly cautious with the people that surrounded him, putting his counselors through borderline intrusive interrogations with help from the Force, to know their intentions. He knew what each of their ambitions was, their strengths and weaknesses. He knew what carrot to dangle or who to threaten when needed.

Perhaps his arrogance was passed down from parents. His mother never balked at a challenge, going up against monarchs, senators…her father…with a quick whit and a sharper tongue. Or from his father who at the tender age of nineteen escaped the Imperial Army, joined a group of pirates, went up against the Red Dawn, and made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs.

His ambition mirrored his grandfather, child of the Force, Chosen One, and Dark Lord of the Sith. Or perhaps his hubris was just as flawed as his uncle's, who was the last Jedi after the cult was obliterated by Order 66, war hero of the Rebellion, awarded the Medal of Bravery after the Battle of Yavin, and teacher…Master of the last Jedi Academy.

Ben's family had not made him a trusting man and he built his Empire on equal parts fear and respect. So while he would heed his mother's words, he was confident in the group that he selected to stay close to Rey and himself. Each of his guards, each of his Knights, would never let a hair be harmed on their Empress' head, of that he was undeniably sure.

So he relaxed on a stone bench around a warm fire and carried on with Alister and Davin on the eve of his wedding.

Rey woke early the next morning, just the hit of sunrise on the horizon and surprisingly, Arlan was standing by the open closet. "I've run you a bath," she said simply as she laid out simple traveling clothes. "Tyris has just come down to start breakfast so you have some time."

Stretching out her tired limbs, Rey replied with a quiet 'thank you' and walked into the fresher. The room smelled of rose oil and Rey remembered Ben being helpless but to run his nose along her skin the last time she has such an oil infused soak.

The warm water felt heavenly and even though she had a fitful sleep the prior night, thinking back to the last time she was alone in the apartment waiting for Ben, unsure of the condition he would return to her in. But now she knew that the next time they saw each other they would be wed and she giggled to herself before dipping her head under the cooling water.

Not bothering drying her hair, knowing that the grooming droid would have it's way with her later, Rey pulled on the clothes that Arlan laid out for her on Ben's side of the bed. Before going out to join the guards…her friends for breakfast, Rey picked up his pillow and hugged it to her chest, bending her face into the plush material and breathing in his scent.

A vision overtook her, it was early morning much like the one at present but she could smell the lavender of her Naboo garden blowing through the open windows of the manor. Her eyes were closed but she could feel the warmth of the sun behind her lids as if the whole world was glowing just beyond her waking state.

Beyond the calming earthy scent of the hardy purple flowers, she was surrounded by rich sandalwood and amber with hints of citrus and ozone, unequivocally Ben, and when she opened her eyes his restful face was within inches of her own. The smirk that she loved so dearly pulled at his full lips and his sleep and love rumpled hair caught the light just so that a halo of golden sun appeared around his head.

His warm and steady hand slid over her hip and gripped at her bare rear, pulling her body in closer to his and kissed her nose as she giggled into the scruff of his chin. Her chest had never felt so light and she was unsure if she could ever love anything as passionately and completely as she loves Ben.

Looking up at him with the bond open, Rey closed her lids again, unable to be witness to the ever-present fear that was always just beyond the devotion in his gaze. Pressing her forehead to his, her body racked with regret and for the first time, she understands how Ben would always carry Han's death on his conscience because she now had her own betrayal to bear until the end of her days.

With a gasping breath, Rey came out of the vision. Her heart was racing and she wondered what the future held for them to making her feel such grief. She had not been privy to the inner thoughts, just the feeling behind them and she both yearned for and feared what was to come.

A knock on the door brought her back to the present and Rey looked over her shoulder at Arlan, nodding when she was told that they needed to depart soon and Rey was encouraged to eat something.

Tyris had prepared a simple spread of sweet yogurt, fruit, and of course caf. Rey's nerves were getting to her and she was secretly happy that her friend noticed.

"Are you well?" Arlan asked.

Rey gave a soft but not reassuring smile, "Just jitters I'm sure…" She didn't mention the Force vision, not sure if Arlan would understanding and perhaps did not fully understand it herself.

Bona came into the apartment and announced that the shuttle was ready and they needed to be off. Rey finished her caf and allowed the young Knight to help her with the gray cloak. Arlan assured Rey that her dress was already loaded aboard and that there was nothing Rey should worry about.

Like so many time before, Rey pulled up her hood, kept her face down, and allowed Cale to lead her across the tarmac and on to the MK3. Once inside Rey pulled down her hood and gave Arlan a mischievous raise of her brow.

The guard gave a mock sigh of annoyance, "You can get us off world but then you must go prepare for your wedding."

Rey smiled brightly for the first time that morning, throwing her cloak at Cale and then raced to the cockpit.

"Empress," Bona addressed from the co-pilot's seat and Rey wanted to roll her eyes. Of course, all of the Knight would also know how to fly.

"You might want to strap in for this," Tyris warned from his jump seat, having endured a few of Rey's enthusiastic take offs.

Forty-one seconds Rey thought with glee. She couldn't wait to tell Ben that she got off-world in forty-one seconds, beating her last record. It helped that the Emperor's ship had complete clearance and was able to avoid the ports entering the world, but she still felt high from the flight and the slightly green tint to Bona's face also improved her mood.

Returning the helm to Arlan, the guard placed her hand on the Empress' arm, "Comm me when you are ready to get into your dress and I will help."

Rey nodded with a genuine smile. She wondered how many more dresses in her tenure as ruler Arlan would help her into. It was a strange feeling for Rey to have so many trusted people in her life, but she was also plagued with some sorrow over the fact that her first friends, Finn, Poe, and Rose, were the ones she was lying to.

The people in the shuttle with her now, the ones that were delivering her to wed the Emperor of the galaxy in secret, they knew her almost as intimately as her soon to be husband, expect in the carnal way of course. But they knew her past, her present, her truth, her purpose, and they loved and accepted her for and in spite of it all.

Taking hyperspace lanes would add extra time and undue parsecs to their travels, so Arlan relied on the advance free space computers and Bona relied on the Force to get them from the Core to the Unknown Regions safely.

The grooming droid was not the same one that assisted Rey on Naboo, but it was just a silent but effective. Her hair was softly swept back from her face and when she was given a handheld mirror to see the back, a sob choked in the back of her throat. Three braided buns trailed down the back of her head but instead of her simple knots, they were twisted and pulled in such a way that it appeared as if her dull locks had been turned into large blooming roses.

"Do you not like it?" The droid finally spoke. "It is what the Emperor selected."

"The Emperor?" Rey asked dumbly.

"Yes, your Imperial Majesty."

If a droid could wear a worried expression, that is what was painted on the white humanoid shaped bot's face.

Reaching back to lightly touch the buns Rey cried harder. Ben saw her, understood her, loved her, and it didn't matter to him if she was in gowns that cost thousands of credits or if she was in scavenger's rags, his desire and acceptance of her would never change.

"I love it," Rey was finally able to say and she was thankful that her makeup was not yet done because her tears would have ruined it all.

About an hour later Rey sent a comm to the cockpit and a few minutes later Arlan was crossing the threshold of her ruler's quarters. "Empress," she breathed out in wonder. Even in a gray bathrobe, Rey was a sight to behold. With glossy hair and light but glowing makeup, Arlan knew that Ben would be beside himself.

The guard and the droid set to the task of reacquainting Rey with the dress that she had selected weeks early. The lace still felt as soft, the layers still accented the slight swell of her hips, the embroidery and beading still provided some semblance of modesty as she could see the creamy skin of her breasts but the blush of her nipples were concealed.

"Shoes Empress?" The droid asked holding up a pair of ivory silk pumps.

"No shoes," Rey replied, knowing that traversing the island in heels would be next to impossible but there was also something carefree and unmistakably Rey about being barefoot at her wedding.

They all shifted when the shuttle was pulled from hyperspace and Arlan steadied her friend by placing her hands on Rey's shoulders. "We are starting out decent. Are you ready?"

Rey smiled, just now picking up Ben's signature through the Force and her heart seemed to only beat with and for that man. "I've never been more ready for anything in my entire life."

It was a few hours past noon on the island in the middle of what seemed like an endless ocean. The first time Ben had come here, he knew it was the one from Rey's dreams and was even more amazed that his little scavenger was not awakened in the Force or found by his old Master long ago.

That morning he had paced relentlessly in the small village of stone huts, successfully avoiding the one that had been his uncle's self-imposed prison cell for years. Instead, he had used one across the simple stone courtyard to dress.

Earlier that day he had laid upon the slab bench, looking up at the interlocking stones that made up the domed roof. The hard surface below him held an unnatural warmth and as if not in control of himself, he sat up in a lazy manner as if waking. Standing, he crossed the small hut and reached out to touch a spot on the opposite wall where the bricks looked to have been recently repaired.

"Rey," he spoke out into the Force and he was answered with the same warmth under his fingertips.

Now having been approached by Alister and informed that the shuttle was about to break atmosphere, Ben started to fidget with his cape, wondering if it was too much. He was dressed much like his mother's father, or at least the one she was raised by. Ben's take on Alderaanian royal dress was his more formal black boots, pants, and tunic, but his coat was gray and high collared and adorned with silver.

His saber was hooked to a belt worn on the outside of the coat, but instead of the battle scraped black buckle, one made of silver and stamped with the symbol of those who were balanced within the Force, sat clasped around his mid section.

The biggest departure from his normal dress was the dark blue velvet caped that draped over his shoulders. It had two large slits on the sides so that he had free use of his arms and hands while the heavy fabric still flanked his chest.

He left his hands bare, thinking it unfathomable to not be able to feel her soft skin the moment she was within reach. When he heard the ruble of ion engines circle the island, he looked at his surroundings.

The temple was dark and wet from the lack of windows and the constant spray from the sea blow. Light streamed in through the entrance from the island side and also the opening to the precipice where a flat meditation stone sat. He had surmised that this is where his uncle met his end and became one with the Force.

A mosaic of small colored stones were set into the floor where water barely an inch deep settled. The crest of the Prime Jedi stood the test of time. If this truly was the first temple, then the teaching had been pure, before the modern Jedi, before the Sith, before there were sides to fight against each other and he had thought it only proper that two balanced Force users be joined in such a place.

Rey and Ben were the last of a kind and also the first of a new breed. Their foundation was both in the Dark and the Light, able to see the benefits of peace and passion, that knowledge was power, and that victory can be obtained with serenity and harmony. They were gray, they were balanced, they were the Force.

Their love would foster a new era, not only for the galaxy but also for those blessed with the Force. Ben had not always seen the Force as a blessing, but now as he felt Rey's joyful anticipation through her signature, he bared his soul to the Cosmos and expressed his unwavering gratitude to the Force for this day and the many more to come with Rey at his side.

Checking his right pant pocket, he felt the cool metal of the three rings that would signify their commitment to eternity. When he pulling his hand free, he brought it to the object that hung in his left hand, and with his hands now clasped in front of his hips, he gripped the sharp points of the crown against his palms.

Thin cords of black and white gold twisted among themselves as if vines crudely woven together to form the crown. Thorns of Mustafarian obsidian were patterned almost by nature along the vines. Some were so dark that light was unable to pass through the volcanic glass, while others had points that shone red as if having just drawn blood.

Placing the crown upon his head, Ben felt some of the thorns dig into this flesh, not enough to break the skin, but enough to be felt by the wearing. The crown of thorns was to remind him of his sins, to be a physical manifestation of the sorrow and hardships he had caused in the past, and that wearing a crown often came with more burden than pleasure.

Looking to the case that sat upon the stone floor, Ben itched to finally crown his Empress, a coronation before their friends, his Knights, and before the Force.

His thoughts were jarred by Alister stepping into the entrance of the temple. "Your bride approaches," he announced simply.

Ben had not been this nervous when his father let him fly the Falcon solo for the first time, his first day of boarding school, when he joined his uncle's academy, when he was Knighted a Jedi, when he ran away to Snoke, or when he was bestowed the titles of apprentice and Master of the Knights of Ren. The only moment in time that could compare to this in the amount of anxiety that flowed through him was when he watched his old Master tear into the woman he was about to marry. But he had been as true in his intent to kill Snoke as he is in the resolve to spend the rest of his days loving and honoring his wife.

With Alister standing to his right, Ben watched Davin, Cale, Bona, and Jix file into the temple, two standing on each side of the entrance as sentry and witness. Alister nudged his Master with his elbow and they both exchanged a smile.

"You ready for this?" The Knight asked.

"I've been waiting my entire life for this," Ben answered almost breathlessly.

Arlan entered next and stood opposite Alister. She had been shocked and completely honored when as the shuttle was coming to land on the solitary island that Rey had turned to her and asked if the guard that had shown nothing but kindness and respect would stand up with her during the ceremony. She gave her Emperor a reassuring smile as she took her place to his left.

Ben felt her before he saw her and it was like the sunrise after years of night. His heart and breath seemed to still at the same time and by seer will of the Force, he was able to stay on his feet as she came into view.

The two sun's beams poured through the precipice opening and created an isle of light for her follow to him. His strong and beautiful Rey was draped in lace and crystals that threw prisms of light in her wake across the dull walls of the temple. He couldn't help but smile as he saw her small bare toes peek out form under the billows of cream lace that seemed to sway around her ankles with an unfelt breeze. The only thing that shone brighter than her inner light was the smile that she beamed at him.

Rey had never seen Ben look more like a Prince…Emperor before now. He was the perfect combination of his heritage and a legacy of his own making. He had his mother's eyes, his father's smirk, his grandfather's strength, and his grandmother's grace. He gave respect to House Organa and exuded the power of the self-made Empire of Ren.

She took each step as she had been moving towards this moment since her conception and it was possible that she was created for this very moment and she accepted long ago to not question the Force. Even on cold nights in her AT-AT when she was half staved or when she was so thirsty that her body refused to sweat in the unrelenting Jakku sun, she had never desired anything more than to be joined for eternity with the painfully handsome man extending his hand to her.

Without any hesitation, Rey slid her fingers into his waiting palm and they both seemed to sigh with the contact. He took a step closer and ran his free hand softly against her cheek, "Beautiful," he said before dipping to press his lips to hers.

"I think you are supposed to wait until after we are married to kiss me," Rey said in a whispered jest.

Ben smiled down at his bride, "When have I ever followed the rules?"

Rey answered with her own kiss, "Hopefully never."

Alister cleared his throat and the couple was brought out of their public but seemingly private moment. Ben took a half step back from Rey, dropping her hand for a moment as he went for his pocket, "Irris would kill me if we didn't do this properly."

Giving him a confused look, Rey watched something glowing come from behind the velvet cape before Ben drops down to one knee. The ring he held out was simple upon first glance but she could tell the rough cut stone at the center was kyber.

"Rey, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Of course, his first proposal in the hangar on Kuat would always be the story she would tell when people asked how she agreed to marry the most powerful man in the galaxy, but that did not make this moment any less sincere. But in the whimsical spirit of their combined mood, Rey shrugged her shoulders before saying, "I'm already in the dress so I might as well."

All in attendance chuckled, thankfully this also included Ben as he slid the ring on to the proper finger. The moment that the cool and slightly dark gold piece was situated, all joking slid from Rey's expression as she sucked in a breath. "I can feel you."

Ben looked slightly bashful as he stood back up from his kneeling position, "It's a piece from my kyber."

Rey ran the fingertips of her right hand along the stone, appraising it with an intense stare before turning her gaze up to Ben. "It's blue," she said somewhere between a question and a statement. "How?"

He reaches back out to cup her cheek as he spoke, "With enough determination, patience, and love even the deepest wounds can be healed."

Propriety be damned, Rey threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again with all the fierceness of her love.

When they finally parted and she was lowered back to her feet, Ben pressed his forehead to hers. "You never gave me your answer."

Rey gave him a blinding smile and stared deeply into his gaze as she answered, "Yes Ben. Let's get married."

A calm settled over the temple as Ben and Rey turned to face each other, standing just before the symbol of the Gray Jedi set into the stone floor for all time.

Taking in a deep breath Ben took her hands in his and seemed to fall in love with her all over again as joy danced in her hazel eyes and she looked upon him like she was just as anxious to start the rest of her life with him.

"Rey," he breathed her name like a prayer. "The love you've shown me is beyond anything my childhood self could dream up. It's awe-inspiring, genuine, and fierce…sometimes all at once." His expression was light and her giggle was like music. "At the same time, your love has taught me to find what I spent so long searching for within my own self."

Squeezing her hands he brought them up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Balance…balance within my past, present, and future. Balance within our love and balance in the Force.

"I want you to join me in this life and every other in the after, to be my partner, equal, and lover…the Light to my Dark, mother to our children, and Empress to our galaxy. I will spend my every breath attempting to be worthy of your love, protecting your Light, and being the star that will guide you home."

He pulled another ring from his pocket, this one had raw edges of a stone encased in the same bronze tinted gold. The surface was smooth but it looked like a dark ocean swirled with brilliant colors crashing onto a shore of liquid gold and as he spun the ring onto her finger the colors shifted much in the same way he remembers from when the stone was whole and rested upon his mother's finger.

"From this day forth, we will have a bond stronger than flesh and blood, more profound than the bond forged within the Force, because this bond is given freely, with love, respect, understating, and acceptance." Pushing the ring to sit next to the one that held a piece of his kyber, Ben pulled her hand back up and placed a kiss over the two rings that solidified his commitment to Rey.

Before she could start her vows, Ben wiped the tears that had fallen upon her cheeks and took her right hand, reaching in his pocket once more before sliding his ring over her thumb so that she could present it to him when she was ready.

She took in her own calming breath and attempted to stay her tears long enough to get through her speech. So gazing up into his lovely face, she ran her left thumb along the scar on his face, "I hated you before I love you."

The group chuckled and a tear followed the track down his check that her thumb just carved. "When people ask how we met, the story will never be a dull one, but I think that I have always been yours, just as you have always been mine.

"You awakened me, not only to the Force but to what it really means to be loved…wanted, and you have given me something that I yearned for my whole life…family." She looked around those in attendance and gave a special smile to Arlan but her heart hurt that Rose could not be there as well.

"I am in continuous amazement of the man you have become and I am so proud to call you mine," she took his left hand and kissed his palm.

"Ben, I desire for you to join me with your body, your soul, and within the Force. I pledge myself to you in this life, in the next, and in the beyond. I will be your protector, your lover, your equal, your balance. I will give us a family and we will not make the mistakes of those who came before us. I will be your wife, your Empress, and your constant Light in the Dark. I will always be your star, just as you will always be my home."

She slid the ring off her thumb, seeing that it had the same rawly cut stone set in the same dark gold but the width of it was about double that of the ring that rested upon her finger. As she pushed the ring up his finger, Ben's face had become impossibly close to hers and she whispered up into the space between them, "Our bond is formidable, profound, and given freely. No power will breach what we have built."

With his wedding band firmly in place, Ben didn't waste another moment in taking her lips against his and sealing their vows with a kiss that allowed their bond to flow and swirl as their emotions becoming one and the same.

When they parted with Ben's cupping her face and smiling down upon her, Rey searched his expression for any doubt or regret and found none. "I love you, husband."

Her voice was the sweetest sound he ever heard and he gave a playful kiss to her nose, "I love you, wife."

AN: Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe we are finally here! The crazy kids got married!

I love your comments! I smiled and laughed like an idiot when reading them...even though I had a trainee with me at work!

I'm so excited about what is to come!