"Ah ..."

"That's what I thought," Rey said sadly. She started to head back to the door. "It's not real, is it? Ben's not changed at all. It was all you."

"No!" He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let her lose faith now. "Rey, hang on. Listen to me."

She stopped. "Yes?"

"I … from a certain point of view ..." Dex brightened. He had a bedroom and a bath, but the kitchen and living room were pretty much a combined area. He ran over to the fridge and looked inside. Yes, there was some bottled water there. He grabbed a bottle and a glass. "Come over here to the kitchen table. Sit down."

Curious, Rey did so.

If only Amy were here. She would love this. She would be better at it too.

Dex poured some water into the glass. He stopped. "Now ..."

Rey took the glass and drank it. "Thank you. That's very good water."

"Your welcome, but … I was... it was supposed to be an illustration of the point I'm going to try to make."

"Illustration? But it's water!"

"I know it's water." Dex poured the rest of the bottle into the glass. "Don't drink it. Tell me what you see."

"A glass of water."

"It's half a glass of water."

"Okay," Rey allowed. "It's half a glass of water."

"Question: is the glass half full or half empty?"

"Doesn't that mean the same thing?"

"It's an old saying from my world. Some people would look at it and say that it's half empty. Some people would look at it and say it's half full. It's the difference between optimism and pessimism. It's a metaphor."

"I grew up alone in an abandoned AT-AT on Jakku. I don't think I understand metaphors."

Dex sighed. "It's all about your point of view. There's half a glass of water. Some people would bemoan the fact that it's half empty and feel cheated. Some people would look at it and be cheered at the thought they have at least half a glass of water."

"Can I drink the water now? I'm still thirsty."

"Sure. Knock yourself out."

Rey finished the water. "I don't understand what this has to do with Ben. You gave me the light saber." Her eyes narrowed. "You were the one who tried to stop the destruction of the Resistance ships. Everything I thought Ben did was a lie. You did it."

"No. No I didn't. I wasn't there when Ben promised you that you weren't alone. I wasn't there when he killed Snoke to save your life. I wasn't the one who went solo-" he coughed. "I mean- alone- against the First Order to give you time to save the Resistance. That was all Ben."

"So you're saying he did turn to the Light."

"I'm not sure he'll ever fully turn as you understand it." Dex closed his eyes for a moment. "I let you take the light saber- but he could have stopped me. I tried to make the First Order stand down- but he's the one who activated the com-line so I could try. He still hates Luke for trying to kill him. He still has resentment for being sent away. There's darkness in him, and he's done terrible things. But … there's hope for him. He may not be as far as long as you'd like, but he is trying."

"What makes you say that?" Rey played with her glass, running her finger around the lip. She avoided looking at Dex.

"You're here because he let you in, didn't he? He knew you wanted to talk to me. He knew you were going to ask me these things."

"I- yes. I'm sure he did."

"And did he try to stop you?"

"No."

"What made you think that he might not have have been the one who ordered the ceasefire or let you take the light saber?"

"He told me you helped him-"

"I don't think he's ever lied to you, Rey. He's not taking the easy way out here. He's letting you know everything- that's a sign that he wants to do this the right way."

"It's just so- complicated."

"Welcome to real life, Rey."

Her eyes narrowed. "I fought to stay alive since I was a child. I know all about real life, Dex."

"You had a life you understood. And don't get me wrong; it was hard. I know that. The fact that you came out as nice a person, as good a person, as you did is- kind of implausible, but impressive nonetheless, Rey."

"Thank you- I think."

"You're not obligated to love him if you don't, Rey. You're not responsible for saving his soul." Dex paused and smiled. "Though I do know that you dressed up and changed your hair and makeup before you went to save him from Snoke which is a good indicator that you like him."

She blinked in surprise. "How did you know that?"

"That's complicated and I'm not sure you'll believe it."

"I'm talking to a ghost who's sharing the body of a man I wanted to kill a few days ago who's probably the most important person in my life right now. I think I can believe a lot at this point."

"Okay. I'm not just from a different world than the rest of you. Or even another Galaxy. I'm from an entirely different universe- just hours ago I was watching all this as a movie."

Rey stared at him blankly.

"A form of entertainment. Where I come from, no one would believe this could happen. They would think it's kind of strange fanfiction."

"Fanfiction?"

"Let's not go there. The point I'm making is that you aren't responsible for saving Kylo Ren or Ben Solo. And he can't change just to please you. That's not a real change."

"I know that. I just want- kriff! I'm not sure what I want any more." Rey laid her head on her forearms. "I care about him. I kissed him- more than once, now. I know he cares about me- but how do we move past what he's done? How does he move past what he's done?"

"I don't know," Dex admitted. "I'm guessing that's why I'm here. Once you two sort things out, I'm sure I'll be moving on … to wherever I'm supposed to go."

"Maybe you'll get to go back home?" Rey offered hopefully.

"Doubtful. Freight trains don't tend to leave a lot behind. I'm just sorry that Amy had to be there when it happened."

"Amy?"

"You might say she's my Kylo Ren- minus the mass murder, Starkillers, and light sabers." Dex sighed. "She's been my best friend for years-"

"And now that's changed?" Rey guessed.

"Yes. Nearly a year ago she kissed me- and it changed everything." Dex laughed. "Or maybe it just made me stop lying to myself and admit that what I felt wasn't just platonic."

"If she kissed you-"

"She's engaged. She broke up with the man she was going to marry and kissed me right after that. The next morning she made up with him and accepted his marriage proposal."

"Oh. That's … I'm sorry, Dex."

"Me too." Dex smiled. "So I really don't have anything to go back to. Except- I just wish-"

"You wish you had told her."

"Yes. It wouldn't have changed anything. She still would be marrying Isaac, but at least she would have known how I felt." Dex sighed. "Ben can't spend the rest of his life being my time-share. He needs for me to move on- both of you do- so you can build whatever you two are going to have without me around as a third wheel. We just have to figure out how to make that work."

"I'm sorry, Dex. You've already helped us so much- Ben really does value your friendship. I think you may be the first friend he ever had- aside from me."

"Don't worry. I don't think he's ever going to make out with me like he did you." Dex held up his hands. "Not that I would want him too, mind you-"

"He'd do anything to help you get back home." Rey squeezed Dex's hand. "So would I."

"Thank you, Rey, but that's impossible. I'm dead, and nothing can ever change that."

"Amazing."

Dex turned his head and saw a bearded Luke Skywalker staring at him from the doorway. If he asks for blue milk...

"Everything you just said is wrong."

And Luke smiled.

Author's Note: I wasn't intending to post again so soon in this story, but I decided I needed to write something a bit less angsty.