***Author's Note***
Hello, all! I'm so sorry for the late update, but I wanted to do at least one more chapter today. This one gave me a bit of trouble, but I saw the movie again, and it fixed me right up! Another plot-heavy chapter, and a bit on the long-ish side, but I hope you enjoy!
The next morning, Rey woke first and unwound herself from Ben, smiling to herself. She dressed slowly, luxuriating in the feeling of being utterly un-rushed. Leaving their room, Rey quickly came across Finn and Poe; they both smiled at her as she came to sit beside them.
"How are you feeling, Rey?" Asked Finn. "And I suppose I should ask how Ben is doing."
Rey smiled, "I'm feeling much better, Finn. Ben's doing alright. He's hurting more than he lets on, but that's not terribly surprising; he's as stubborn as his father. He'll be alright once his leg heals, and we get him a proper one, as well as a new arm. He'll be so thrilled." Rey sighed at the thought.
Poe reached his arm around Rey's shoulders, "We were so scared when you ran off into the jungle and nobody heard from you after that. We figured he'd tracked you down and murdered you. So, what did happen on Yavin 4?"
"He saved my life, Poe. I know you have little reason to trust him, or even like him for that matter, and I don't blame you in the slightest. But I've really gotten to know him in the last month or so," Poe nearly choked on his tea at this, "He's not at all like I expected. There's so much vulnerability under the mask. He's lost so much, and there's so much pain and anger over it. Some of it, he'll never recover form. But in many areas, he has improved so much that I hardly recognize him."
Finn spoke up, "All I need to know is this: Do you love him? I can't imagine you loving anyone who was totally beyond all hope."
Rey smiled as though she alone knew a wonderful secret, "I can't say quite yet, but I care deeply for him. I'll not answer that question properly until I've told Ben how I feel. I hope you understand, Finn."
Finn nodded; "If you two haven't had that conversation yet, then that's the best answer I can expect, but I think I already know what the answer will be. In that case, I, at least, will do my level best to help Ben whenever I can. I know he means a great deal to you, and I'll try to be welcoming. For you; not necessarily for him, just yet. But we've got a few days yet before we reach D'Qar. Who knows what might happen between now and then?' Finn smiled warmly at Rey and held out his hand for her; Rey took it, and Finn pulled her close into a friendly hug.
"Let me ask you something, Finn," began Poe, "is the Kylo Ren on this ship the same Kylo Ren you served under?"
Finn frowned; "Well, I'm not sure who that man sleeping in there is, but he's definitely not Kylo Ren. We're dealing with someone entirely new here. The Kylo Ren I served under would kill you just for seeing his face. I don't think Kylo Ren even exists anymoe."
Just then, Rey felt the brush of Ben's mind. "He's awake," she said, "I'd better go help him up."
When Rey entered their room, she found Ben sitting upright, waiting for her. "Have a nice chat with the boys?" He teased. Rey nodded as she took his leg into her lap and re-attached the lower half.
"Be nice. They're just worried about me. They want to make sure I'm...taken care of."
Ben nodded. "I know. I suppose it's...sweet, in an obnoxious sort of way. It's been a long time since I was around normal people. I guess that's what they do. They care about each other and drive each other crazy, but that's sort of the point, isn't it? People drive you nuts, but you still care about them."
Rey laughed, "Yeah, I guess so."
"Well, help me up. I'm hungry." Rey finished tightening the straps that held the prosthetic in place and helped Ben to his feet. They walked together to the lounge area, and found Finn and Poe already eating. They paused as the pair walked in, and Finn pushed two plates towards them.
"I figured you two would be up soon, so I saved some for you. Hope it's not completely disgusting."
Ben laughed. "I've been eating Rey's cooking for the last month." He ducked as Rey swung at him. "Lizards, mostly. But then, that's not her fault. That's all there was on that forsaken planet." Rey shook her head at him, chuckling.
"It's weird, seeing you two so completely comfortable with each other. I'm used to the two of you trying to kill each other; I guess a month can really change everything, can't it?" He cleared his throat and straightened. "Ben; I've come to a decision. I'm going to try. I don't know how long it's going to take, and I'm not sure if I'll ever trust you, but I'm going to try to be cordial, at least."
"Well; I appreciate your...candor. I know you have little to no reason to trust me, Poe. But I will do my best to earn that trust." They ate their meal in silence until Luke entered the room and placed his hand on Ben's shoulder.
"I think it would be a good idea for the three of us to meditate together. And for me, personally, it might help alleviate some of my fears where Ben is concerned."
Ben nodded; "I think that is an excellent idea, Uncle. It should be restful. I always found your presence reassuring when I was younger. I'm finished, if Rey is ready." At Rey's nod, Ben rose from the small table and offered her his hand.
The three settled themselves in a triangle on the floor, each in the position most comfortable for them. They took a deep breath and together were submerged in the Force. They drifted, timeless, thoughtless, waiting for the Force to show them what they needed to know. They may have been under for days, or only moments; they could not tell. But suddenly, the three of them were pulled to where they needed to be, and were invisible witnesses to an unexpected scene.
Supreme Leader Snoke glided smoothly into his Master's anti-chamber, taking a moment to straighten his robes and breathe deeply. He knelt before the dias on which his Master stood, with his back to the chamber
"Master...Our men have...failed to recapture Kylo Ren...The knight we sent was...easily dispatched by Kylo Ren and his...pet." He waited with baited breath. Perhaps this would be the day he pressed his luck too much. Master Ren's hand twitched in irritation.
"She's just a girl. One insignificant little scavenger girl with delusions of grandeur." Ren turned to face his feckless Apprentice. "How is it that they have escaped us for so long? We are Sith, you and I. The most powerful creatures in the galaxy, and yet; one scavenger girl and one faithless Knight have managed to lay waste to our forces every time we try to re-acquire them! The boy is missing two of his limbs, for pity's sake! I grow weary of them making me look like a fool. But you, old man...You are worse by far..." Ren's hand shot out, aimed at Snoke. Lightning flew from his hand and hit Snoke dead in the chest; he crumpled, screaming and writhing. Ren laughed cruelly. "I've always loved the sound of screaming. It's just so...restful" Ren lifted his hand again, and Snoke was lifted off the floor and flung across the room into the far wall. "You will not fail me again, Snoke. You should have known your charge was being seduced by the Light. And yet, here we are. Leave me, Snoke. And for your sake, my foolish Apprentice, I hope you find them soon."
Snoke stood with some difficulty and bowed to his Master, "Of course, Master Ren. It will be as you command." Snoke glided out of the chamber, grateful to be alive. He made his way to his throne and carefully draped his robes over it. Just as he finished settling, his chamber door wooshed open, and General Hux entered to kneel respectfully before him. "Well, General? What excuse...do you have for me...today?"
Hux trembled at the poorly-disguised rage in the Supreme Leader's voice. "They were ready for us, my Lord. Somehow, they knew we were coming. The Millennium Falcon arrived just in time to save them."
"And what excuse do you...have for the death of...one of my Master's Knights? They are...a cripple and a scavenger...girl, and yet I have lost...seven Knights to them! I want...their heads on...platters. Bring them...before me...my Master wants...to watch them die...slowly. You are...dismissed, General. This is...your final chance."
With a gasp, the three snapped back to themselves. Finn, Poe, and Chewie came rushing into the room at the sound. Luke looked at his nephew and Rey with an eyebrow raised. "And here I thought Ben had a temper. Apparently yours is nothing compared to Master Ren's temper."
"Well, it looks like they're not terribly pleased about our escape," noted Rey sarcastically. "Somehow, I expected Snoke to be more intimidating, I think. How long were we out, Finn?"
"Well, it's been about four hours. We were just starting to wonder if you'd all fallen asleep," Finn smiled wryly.
"I'm not sure about the two of you, but I'm exhausted. I'm going to sleep. Can you three handle the Falcon while Rey, Ben, and I rest?" Finn and Poe exchanged a glance and nodded.
Rey and Ben stood, stretching out the kinks that had developed. They worked their way towards their bedroom, clumped over to the bed, and collapsed upon it. They were asleep within moments.
The next morning, they were sitting in the cockpit while Luke had is morning meditation. They sat talking; telling stories and silly anecdotes. Even Ben seemed to be enjoying himself, until Poe asked, "So, I knew your father pretty well, and I know your mother very well. How does someone raised with so much love turn out the way you did?" Rey looked stunned, and glared in Poe's direction. "I mean, I heard you say something about some girl named Padme that died. Who was she? An old girlfriend or something?"
Ben leaned forward, "She was my twin. She was murdered by Supreme Leader Snoke when she refused to join him in the Dark Side. I vowed to never again fall prey to the weakness of the Light. Now, of course, I see that I was foolish. I can never undo the things that I've done, but I can do my best to set right what I can." Poe leaned back, thinking hard about Ben's answer.
Two days later, they jerked out of Lightspeed and began their approach to D'Qar. Rey guided the Falcon smoothly onto a landing pad, and they began to ready themselves for departure. Rey was looking forward to being back in civilization. Ben, however, was understandably nervous. He hadn't seen his mother in many years.
Luke was the first to reach the bottom of the boarding ramp, and his sister was by his time in the blink of an eye. Finn, Poe, and Chewie were next; at last, Ben knew he could no longer delay the inevitable. He took Rey's hand and together, they stepped out into the light. The effect was instantaneous. The assembled crowd went deathly silent. Many that were nearby took a few steps backwards, and a few even made signs to ward off evil. Ben sighed and continued down the ramp, stopping at the bottom as his mother's eyes snapped to his own. She glanced back at her brother, and Ben sensed everything that Luke had gleaned during transit from Ord Biniir to D'Qar, and all that he had learned from meditating with Rey. His mother's eyes narrowed as she looked back at her son. Slowly, the two began to walk towards each other. At last, Leia's mouth turned up in a genuine smile, and she ran the last few steps to her son. Ben grunted in surprise and pain from his damaged ribs before he chuckled softly and brought his arm up to give his mother a gentle squeeze.
"I've missed you, son."
Ben felt tears come to his eyes as he wrapped his arm more tightly around his mother. "I missed you, too. I'm home, now, Mother. I'm not going anywhere." He took a step, and his face paled.
Leia's eyes narrowed. "Well, Rey, this is quite the clever contraption you built for my son, but he needs proper limbs. If it's alright with you, Ben, I'll take you immediately to get them replaced."
Ben smiled, "I was hoping you'd say that. Will you be alright, Rey?" Rey nodded, and leaned in for a kiss. Leia stiffened in surprise, and they could hear gasps and murmurs from the assembled crowd.
Rey turned to go with Finn and Poe as Leia led her son to the medical wing. The two said nothing, but reveled in each others' presence. Leia had her arm around her prodigal son, and her head resting on his arm; Ben towered over her, and she couldn't quite reach his shoulder. They entered the medical wing, and Leia ordered them to tend her son, accepting no arguments. Ben was rushed into a sterile, white room, and laid down on an equally sterile metal table. His final thought before the anesthetic took effect was of Rey, and he smiled as he slid under into unconsciousness.
***Author's Note***
Ahhhh. Finally, Leia and Ben are reunited! What did you think? Thanks, as ever, for reading!