After Sara had asked Ben to not return, two weeks went by with no signs of him.
"I'm glad you sent him away, Sara." said Maz one night, while Sara mixed a Tattooine Sunset at the counter.
"Yeah. Me too." Sara replied unenthusiastically.
"Don't lie to me, dear." Maz walked to her and held her left hand between her two, making Sara stop preparing the drink. "I can see you're suffering. And I can sense your inner Light burning brighter, trying to call him to you."
"I love him, Maz. I always have." Sara was on the verge of tears.
"Did you tell him to not come back?"
"Yes. To never return. But he said he would come back anyway. And that's what is killing me: imagining that he's on his way, maybe today, tomorrow, someday."
"You gave yourself to him that night."
"Yes. And it was... as wonderful as I had ever imagined." she sighed. "You said to get him out of my system. I tried. And I failed brilliantly. Now I crave him more than ever."
"Your inner Light will bring him back, there's too much darkness in him, he needs and wants your light. And if you're miserable without him, imagine how he must be." Maz sighed, seriously considering her next words: "Dear girl, taking into account how doomed this whole situation seems to be, I feel compelled to say: stay with him – marry him even – and live life as you can for now; all this suffering will return, but later rather than daily."
"But it'll come any way." said Sara. "So what's the point?"
"Yes. But later. Allowing you to be happy instead of miserable in the present."
"I don't know, Maz. Why be happy now, knowing that I'll be suffering in a few years?" Sara went back to mixing the drink.
"Just think about it."
And Sara did. Maz's words stayed in her mind the entire night; there was a possibility for happiness, a small one, but a possibility nonetheless. Maybe with time Ben could realize that there's nothing for him in the Dark Side and then he'd stay forever with her. Sara hoped that wasn't just wishful thinking and that it could become her reality.
Later, when Sara was already in her bed, ready to sleep, she decided that Maz was right: until the First Order destroyed the New Republic, or vice-versa, she could be happy beside the man she loved, live with him, be his and have him as hers for as long as possible.
Taking a deep breath Sara allowed sleep to take her, with a smile on her face and hope in her heart.
Three days after her talk with Maz, Sara felt Ben's presence in the planet. But he didn't walk into the Castle with the Knights.
"Maz!" she ran from the counter to the kitchen. "Can I go home now? Please."
Maz smiled knowingly, "Yes, dear. Go home and be happy."
And Sara ran.
Sara opened the door of the house, smiling when she saw the long black cape on the couch – he was really there. She heard the shower running and quickly removed all of her clothes and shoes and walked into the bathroom. His silhouette could be seen through the etched glass of the shower stall: his wet shoulder-length hair, broad shoulders, strong thighs. Sara didn't lose any minute, she walked into the stall and under the water spray, letting herself be ravished by the tall, powerful man in there. Ben pulled her naked body towards his and took her mouth, passionately, touching her every crease and curve, with the excuse of helping her get clean.
"I've missed you." He whispered.
"Shut up, Ben." She didn't want to hear about his feelings right then, she wanted to feel him inside of her.
Sara got on her knees and worked his hard member with her mouth and hands, hollowing her cheeks, making him groan.
Ben put his right hand on her head, controlling her moves. Her tongue encircled the head of his length, paying special attention to the sensitive underside. He looked down and the sight of her lips stretched around his cock was too much, he came hard down her throat, grunting, both his hands on her head. Once he regained his senses, he helped her get up and kissed her lustfully.
When they left the bathroom, naked and wet, and entered the bedroom, Sara was a shivering mess of desire. She lay down on the bed, on her back, and her hands immediately found her slick entrance. She moaned his name, begging him to make love to her.
"I thought I'd be received with arguments and laser swords." said Ben, standing by the door and looking at her naked form on the bed. "Instead a got blown in the shower and now I find a delicious woman on the bed, waiting for me."
"Yeah. Now, be a good boy, for once, and fuck me hard. I need you." Sara said, breathless in her desire.
He chuckled and got on the bed, on his knees, ordering: "Get on all fours." and she promptly obeyed, putting her bottom up in the air and her head down on the mattress; he held her hips adoringly, kissing both her butt cheeks, his hands going up and down her spine, caressing her skin; he opened her thighs further apart, before guiding his member into her dripping wet entrance, penetrating her in one long hard thrust, without any warning. He held onto her hips and fucked her, one of his hands went down between her legs and found her clitoris, his fingers teased and massaged it, making her stick her ass higher and beg for more. He sped up his thrusts, hitting her cervix, filling her up with his length. Three thrusts later, her channel clenched around his member and, with a pleasure-filled scream, a strong orgasm took her.
Ben flipped her over, onto her back, and penetrated her body again, making her moan louder and arch her back, feeling his member hit deeper inside of her.
Sara moved her hips up, matching every thrust of his, her nails leaving marks on his arms and back. He took her lips, his tongue mimicking the rhythm of his penetration. Sara was lost in the pleasure he was giving her, she wanted to scream, but his mouth never left hers, so she bit his lips, making him pull his mouth away from hers. She moaned loudly, reaching a second strong climax and asking for more.
"Yes." his voice hoarse. "Come on my cock!" and he quickened his thrusts, eliciting more moans and screams from her. He couldn't take his eyes off of her: her face contorted in pleasure, swollen rosy lips parted, gasping for air, her eyes closed, her long hair spread out all over the pillow – she was sex personified.
Ben lost count of how many orgasms she had had, but he only stopped after his third climax, nearly a dry one, having spent all of his cum inside of her already.
He lay down beside her and Sara laid her head on his chest, passing out, murmuring: I love you.
He smiled and allowed himself to sleep a full night, finally feeling at home.
During breakfast the next morning
"So, was I agood boy last night?" Ben asked, jokingly.
"Yes." Sara smiled. "Almost too good, actually. You can be a bit bad, you know. I like it." she smiled mischievously and took a bite of her sandwich.
"Well, I promise to think of something very bad for next time." he said, making her smile broaden. He poured himself some spiced caf and became suddenly serious: "Considering I was that good, what do you think of returning to that question I asked you some years ago?"
"What question?" she asked, not understanding what he meant.
"About you... marrying me." he said, looking at her and putting a small black jewelry box onto the table, opening it.
Sara put her sandwich down and stared at the beautiful white gold ring that rested inside the black velvet box, a sparkling red Rol Stone lay in the middle of an eight-petaled flower and, on both sides of the flower, there were seven small transparent Ulikuo gemstones.
"This is beautiful, Ben." she spoke in awe.
"You're making me nervous, Sara... will you be so kind to answer me? Please."
"Yes." she smiled at him. "Of course I'll marry you. I've already answered that, many years ago."
He picked up the ring from its box and placed it on her left ring finger.
They had a very beautiful private ceremony; Maz Kanata was their only guest and witness. They married in the old ways: the simple ceremony consisted of exchanging vows in front of a witness, kissing and making love (no witnesses required for that last part).
And they lived happily for two years. Until...
27 ABY
Sara, 21, was lying on the couch, her head on her husband's lap, resting after having a delicious lunch, a book in her hands. Ben had arrived home just before noon that day; and he seemed worried, checking something in a communication pad every hour. Suddenly, he broke the peaceful silence:
"Master Snoke wants me to live permanently with him, to complete my training."
"Your sith training." she replied without looking up from her book.
He ignored her words and the disdainful tone.
"We will have to move to Rakata Prime; it's a planet in the Unknown Regions, so I can be close..."
"Stop right there." she closed her book and looked up at him. "We aren't going anywhere. I'm not following you into this. I've always made myself clear about that." she sat up.
"You're my wife. We are together for better or worse."
"No, not where Snoke is concerned." she put the book on the coffee table and stood up, going to stand by a window.
"Sara, I can't tell Snoke that I won't be finishing my training because my wife – which he doesn't know about – doesn't want to move to Rakata Prime!" he stood up as well.
It took a while for Sara to reply:
"I've always known this day would come." she said, looking at the window, her back to him, sadness heavy in her voice. "The day you would have to choose between me and him. And even knowing you'd never choose me, I kept hoping; I hoped that, when the day came, you'd choose me. But I see now that all of this meant nothing to you."
"How can you say that?" he sounded outraged.
"Because you're leaving me!" she turned around to face him. "It doesn't matter what I say. Your Master told you to live near him. And you're going!"
"You can go with me."
"No!" she was definite about it. "You've always known that I would never go with you down that path."
Ben tried to explain his reasons: "There's rumor of a map that might lead to Skywalker."
"Master Luke went into hiding because he didn't want to be found! Isn't it obvious?" she sounded frustrated. "Leave the man alone, Ben! He failed you, you destroyed his Temple. You're even. Forget it now."
"Leader Snoke wants him dead."
"And you'll help him?"
"The Knights will."
"Right." she answered sarcastically. "And you just happen to be the Master of them." she sighed. "I am not going anywhere." she walked to the kitchen to get some water.
"But I must move to the Unknown Regions!"
"Have a nice trip." she said weakly, her back to him, fighting to keep the tears from falling.
Ben walked to the kitchen.
"You're letting me go. Just like that!" he angrily accused her.
"No!" she turned to face him, the sadness mixing up with anger. "I am asking you to choose! But, as always, you make the stupidest decision." she walked to the front door. "I have to go to work. You can pack your own things. Goodbye, Ben." and she left.
By the time Sara arrived at the Castle, the tears were copiously running down her face. She entered through the kitchens and Maz went to her.
"My dear, what...?"
"He's leaving me, Maz. He's made his choice." she kneeled on the floor, her hands covering her tear-stained face.
"We've always known he would do this, dear."
"Yes, but I had hoped..." and the tears made it impossible for her to continue.
"And now the suffering returns with a vengeance." murmured Maz, hugging Sara.
About an hour after she had arrived at the Castle, Sara felt Ben's presence leave the planet.
He had really abandoned her.
Notes:
1. Spiced caf was a blend of caf that made use of spices to enhance the drink's flavor. The Oyu'baat cantina on Mandalore, located within the planet's capital city of Keldabe, served spiced caf. The beverage gained a degree of notability over time, even among non-Mandalorians, and it became a popular menu item. (Legends)
2. Rakata Prime is a planet located in the grid area G-11 of the galaxy's Unknown Regions. Tryki, a former Zabrak pirate, was arrested for attempting to board a First Order cruiser near the planet. (Canon)
3. Ulikuo gemstones were precious stones valued for aesthetics and industrial applications. Their cultural significance warranted unauthorized mining a crime punishable by lifetime imprisonment. Traditionally, Tapani nobles presented ulikuo gemstones to each other as part of a marriage proposal. (Legends)
4. Rol Stones were sparkling red gems used to make expensive jewelry and lightsabers. (Legends)
Thank you for your reviews!
It fills me with joy to know you're enjoying this story!
And you know the "arguments and laser swords" Ben thought he would get in this chapter? They'll come in the next one!