A note from your humble author: Time to hold onto your butts!

She was speechless.

She had lived a very sheltered life. She wasn't even sure what love was at first, and the concept of marriage seemed particularly alien to her. Even though she didn't quite understand all of the implications of what marriage meant, she did know that it meant 'to belong to someone', presumably for forever.

The concept of 'belonging' had been something she had always ached for. She had grown up starving for kindness, for compassion, for love. She had known loneliness so intense it had physically ached her. The friends she made since leaving Jakku, made her happy, and she did love them, but Ben, Ben was different.

He was the completion of her soul. He was home. Being with him was belonging.

She didn't know what the future held for either of them. Would they find and be able to defeat Snoke? Would they live to see the end of the war? What then? But somehow none of that mattered; the only thing that mattered was that they could continue to face each day of their lives, together. Nobody had ever wanted her before, and now he was offering to want her for the rest of her life.

He watched as various expressions cascaded over her face, holding his breath as he waited, praying to the force that she would agree to complete him. He was mortified when she started crying.

"Rey?" he asked, but she simply covered her face with her hands and sobbed loudly. He felt devastated. He had done something wrong!

"Rey, please, I'm sorry. It's just that I love you so much…I…I thought wanted to be with me..."

Finally between gasping sobs she managed to collect herself enough to speak again.

"You…you want me?"

"Yes, Rey."

"Forever?"

"Yes, absolutely!"

"Okay," she said.

He felt a fearful confusion grip him.

"You…you'll marry me?" he dared to ask again.

"Yes, I will," she stated more plainly, as she could sense his lack of belief though their bond.

Just when he though his heart couldn't race any faster, he felt a tidal wave of exhilaration come over him as he finally managed to absorb that she wanted him, she really wanted him, a broken, damaged, and tainted creature, hardly worthy of forgiveness or compassion, yet alone love. He pounced on her mouth and kissed her as deeply as he could, then picked her up and spun her around.

She was nearly dizzy by the time he put her down, but she didn't care.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object that glittered in the fading sunlight.

"I've never done this before," he stated the obvious as he clasped her hand and slid a small ring onto her finger. It was made of a shining white metal and a flat green stone that took on different hues depending on which way her hand turned. "This belonged to my grandmother, Breha Organa, she was the Queen of Alderaan."

Her eyes shot open in shock. "Oh, Ben, I can't accept such a gift!" she argued. Feeling herself too low-born to wear the heirloom of royalty. It stung a little to remind her, that he was the son of a princess, and she was just a poor desert scavenger - a nobody.

He could sense her misgivings over their bond.

He gently lifted her chin and held her eyes with his. "Rey, it's I, who am not good enough. The fact that you would have someone like me at all…it's more than I deserve. Mother gave this to me before we left Takodana, with her blessings," he assured, as he leaned down to place one more gentle kiss on her warm lips.

The next day they arrived at Rotta the Hutt's pavilion, which sat at a prime vantage point for viewing the races in the arena. Upon arrival they were met with Rotta's protocol droid.

"Greetings, Cal Missen! His excellency is pleased that you have chosen to join his gathering today. There are many other pod racers here as well; perhaps you would like to meet them before today's early preliminary races?"

"No," stated Ben, who could care less about interacting with the other racers and abhorred social occasions.

Rey elbowed him.

We need to circulate and gather information.

She argued.

"On second thought, sure. Why not?" he amended.

The droid was oblivious to the odd exchange and merely ushered them into the gathering.

Both Rey and Ben kept an eye out for any signs of Ereus Ren, but so far he did not appear to be attending. Rey could feel discouragement from Ben.

Doesn't mean he can't still show up, and besides, even if he doesn't, someone here might know where he is.

The pod racers weren't hard to spot. Most were still in their racing attire, some were accompanied by pets, or swarmed with admirers and gambling speculators. Most everyone attending Rotta's gathering looked seedy in nature. They could also see bounty hunters, guards, a few other Hutts, as well as Rotta himself, and his entourage. There was also a band playing live music, and a dance floor where several slave girls were dancing provocatively to entertain Rotta's guests.

"Allow me to introduce you to Crom, his excellency's most prized racer!" introduced the droid as he ushered Ben towards an intimidating looking green Nikto, who was being fanned and fawned over by his three pets; an attractive Twi'lek, a Togruta, and a Zeltron. Rey had heard the name 'Crom' many times from Rando, who always loved talking pod racing whether people were interested or not, apparently she had managed to absorb some of the information.

He's won the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace for the past four years.

She notified Ben through the bond, who had been wondering why the name 'Crom' had sounded familiar. If he was going to pass as a pod racer, it would behoove him to know who the most popular racer was.

You were actually paying attention to Rando?

He doesn't give you a choice!

"Greetings," Ben offered, in a less than enthusiastic manner.

Crom spoke Huttese to Rotta's interpreter droid and the two spoke back and forth for a moment. "Crom was asking if you were the pod racing pilot for Mr. Rando Calrissian. I told him that you were. He says he wants to see you race, as Mr. Calrissian is the only person who has ever found worthy opponents for him. It appears his victories of late, have been less than satisfying."

Ben prided himself on his piloting abilities, and loved challenges and competition. It took a certain degree of self control to force back his naturally competitive nature. He had to remind himself that they were there to find Ereus Ren, not race, but the temptation was certainly there.

Just then Rotta the Hutt slithered over with some of his entourage and seemed to be addressing something to Ben. Rey tried not to shudder as she felt his bulging orange eyes glancing over her.

"His excellency is pleased that you have made the acquaintance of his best racing pilot. He is also pleased that you have brought your pet today. He would like to make you an offer for her, if you would consider it."

WHAT?

She practically shouted through the bond, and Ben seemed to share her outrage.

"My pet is not for sale," stated Ben.

Rotta guessed the refusal without the aid of his droid and spoke again, to which the droid interpreted; "He will gladly pay you fifty thousand credits for her, and throw in his two most prized Twi'lek dancers."

A startled hush seemed to fall over most of the gathering as all eyes turned to the exchange between the Hutt host and the all but unknown pod racer. Fifty thousand credits was an exorbitant amount, and it was common knowledge on Tatooine, that one does not refuse a Hutt, to do so would be an insult.

Ben was aware of this, but he was used to insulting people.

"Forgive me, Lord Rotta, but I must respectfully decline your most generous offer," he stated as inoffensively as he could.

It didn't work, Rotta was noticeably furious. Now everyone in the pavilion was fixated on what was transpiring. He seemed to rant for a moment, then gave a deep and disturbing laugh, and continued on in Huttese to his droid, who interpreted; "It would seem his excellency is most disappointed in your lack of cooperation, but he is a most reasonable and generous lord, and he has decided to make you a wager; he wishes you to enter a qualifying race against his entrant, Crom, if you win, he will give you one hundred thousand credits, but if you lose, you must surrender your pet to him."

Startled gasps rose from the onlookers. Crom was an unbeatable champion, and one hundred thousand was an unheard of amount to be placed on the line for anything as seemingly small as one slave girl.

This is bad.

He spoke through their bond. He had already refused the Hutt twice, refusing again would probably put them both in danger and jeopardize their mission.

Take the bet.

She told him.

What? I am not gambling with you like a prize to be won!

He's furious. We'll be in danger and the mission will be ruined if you refuse him again, and besides, you're the best pilot I know – and don't tell Poe I said that or he'll cry – but you are! I know you can win. I trust you, Ben, I know you won't lose me.

The prize credits were completely inconsequential to him; the only thing that mattered was not losing his fiancé.

You'll be up here alone while I race!

He argued.

You know I can take care of myself.

He had carried her saberstaff for her since they had landed on Tatooine, as there clearly wasn't anywhere to conceal such a weapon in her present state of dress, and it currently rested in the duffle bag with the rest of the credits provided by Rando.

Everyone waited on baited breath as it seemed to take the racer a moment to consider the offer; the tension was palpable in the air.

"Very well, I accept your challenge," he spoke at last, and an excited chattering erupted from the onlookers.

Rey watched as credits immediately began exchanging hands, as the speculators began giving odds.

Crom was a long time champion, and Cal Missen was a completely unknown racer. All that was known about him, was that he was sponsored by Rando, but most who knew of Rando, were aware that he knew a good racer when he saw one, and Rando's past few racers had come the closest to challenging Crom's champion title. Eventually after some arguing back and forth, the speculators settled on placing Cal Missen's odds at ten to one.

Huh, they gave me better odds than I thought they would, considering nobody knows me, and nobody's ever seen me race. For all they know I could just be some scruffy looking nerf herder.

Mused Ben.

I guess Rando has quite a reputation for knowing his stuff out here. Guess you might as well do him that favor…and you're far from scruffy looking!

She added with an encouraging smile and passed him the duffle bag that she had been holding since they arrived at the pavilion.

Ben removed the credits, and handed the bag with the saber back to her, he didn't want her unarmed while she was alone.

Ben, it's all right, I'm not afraid. You can do this. I love you.

He had great confidence in his abilities, and he knew the force was with him, but he couldn't help but feel afraid for her.

He lifted her veil just enough to give her a deep impassioned kiss, much to the scandal of the onlookers, and the obvious jealousy of Rotta.

I won't lose! I'm coming back! If anyone tries anything while I'm gone, kill them. Kill them all! I love you, Rey.

He reluctantly tethered her chain where she could see both the race and keep an eye on the rest of the people in the pavilion. No tether could hold her, not with the force and her lightsaber, but it would have looked particularly odd for a racer to leave a pet free to roam. Despite the obvious public display of affection, they still needed to maintain the ruse that she was only his property.

Crom seemed particularly excited about the race. It was apparent to Rey that he was thrilled to race someone who might actually offer him a challenge. She stared after Ben as she watched the two racers exit the pavilion.

Once in the pod docking bay, Ben was able to safely place his bet on Rando's behalf, then he went to inspect his pod.

He didn't have the mechanical skill that Rey had, but he was relatively certain his vehicle had not been tampered with. As he was looking the pod over, Crom approached him.

"Not…rigged. They want to…I say, no. Lord Rotta may be mad…I don't care," he struggled to explain in the broken common language, as Rotta's interpreter droid had remained with his owner in the pavilion. Crom could speak his native language of Nikto, but often chose to speak in Huttese on Tatooine for the satisfaction of his sponsor, but he had never fully grasped the more ubiquitous language. "I want…real race," he continued.

Ben understood him completely. He couldn't deny that he at least admired Crom's sportsmanship; his drive to be genuinely challenged mirrored his own.

"You should…free her. I think she like you. Those are…good ones. I free my pets…long time go…but they do not leave!" he added the last part with a deep laugh.

Ben was shocked. He had completely misjudged Crom. He saw now, as he looked past the Nikto racer, to where his pets were waiting by his pod, though they were all wearing the obvious garb associated with slavery, none of them were wearing chains. He hadn't even noticed it before.

He offered Crom his hand in gesture of goodwill. "I'll do that. May the best pilot win!"

The Nikto gladly accepted his hand and shook it, and gave, what Ben could only assume amounted to a smile on the strange green reptilian face. "Crash and burn!" he shouted the famous pilot's idiom!

From where Rey stood in the pavilion she could easily see the arena below. There was also a large telecast that would display the parts of the course that weren't visible beyond the arena. She watched as Ben pulled the Red Comet up to the starting line. Crom was also there, as well as a few other racers who were attempting their qualifying runs for the day. The starter dropped the flag and all the racer's peeled off with a roar of their engines.

They would have to complete four laps. All around her Rotta's guests were cheering and working themselves into a frenzy. She watched as both Ben and Crom began to take lead of the rest of the racers.

As she stood there watching the race blow, Rotta the Hutt slithered up beside her, instantly making her uncomfortable, she clutched the bag she was holding a little tighter. To her surprise he reached out his slimy disgusting hand and handed her a single beautiful desert flower. She wasn't quite sure what to make of such a gesture, it seemed…sweet.

"Uh…thank you," she said, accepting the gift, not sure at all if he even understood that much common language, but apparently he did, because he seemed genuinely pleased and his disgusting green face seemed to change color a little.

She was immensely grateful that the awkwardness did not have an opportunity to continue as the interpreter droid waddled up and leaned in to deliver a message. She wished she could understand Huttese, as it must have been important enough for Rotta to slither back into his pavilion.

Ben's pod rumbled as he blew through the desert, easily passing most of the other racers, and pulling in right alongside Crom. They were rapidly approaching the canyon turn and matching each other in speed as they entered through the cave pass.

He had to quickly maneuver to avoid a stalactite and fell behind as Crom sped in for the lead.

She sensed a dark presence and turned away from the race to see the unmistakable form of Ereus Ren. He was speaking privately with Rotta.

Ben must have sensed her shock because he called to her through their bond.

Rey, what's happening? Are you all right?

Ereus Ren is here!

I'm coming!

She cursed Ereus Ren's terrible timing.

NO! You have to complete the race! Nothing has happened. He doesn't know I'm here. He's only talking to Rotta. I won't engage him until you finish the race and we can take him on together.

I don't like this, Rey.

Please, Ben, finish the race. I'll be safe, I promise.

She could feel him relent across the bond and when she turned her eyes from Ereus Ren she could see him speed through the arena again, starting the second lap, and he was once again ahead of Crom.

When Ben sped past Crom, finally taking the lead, the crowd jumped to their feet as they powered through the arena.

The other racers were so far behind that by the next lap he would be seeing them again as he came up behind them.

Rey was torn between trying to keep an inconspicuous eye on the corpulent Ereus Ren, and trying to watch Ben as he raced below. She relaxed a little when she saw him take the lead.

Rotta the Hutt grew furious as he watched Cal Missen pass ahead of Crom. His bet had been a safe bet. Crom never lost! He was sure he would gain Missen's pretty little pet without having to lose a single credit, but as he watched his racer fall behind, a sudden panic struck him. What if Crom lost? He wasn't about to lose a hundred thousand credits to some racer scum!

When Ereus Ren finally made his late appearance to the event he pulled him aside and requested his services.

If Cal Missen won, he wanted him dead.

Ereus Ren spoke perfect Huttese and addressed the agitated Hutt.

"If your excellency wishes my services, I request my standard blood payment," said Ereus Ren.

Rotta the Hutt was owed a hit whenever he turned in force-sensitives to Ereus Ren. They referred to it as 'blood payment'.

"I will give you two blood payments, but you must make it look like an accident. Word cannot get out that I welch on my bets," replied Rotta the Hutt.

As he entered the third lap, he began gaining on the other racer's who were still completing their second lap.

Crom was gaining on him as he maneuvered around the other pods. One of the other racers chucked a metal object out of his pod, intending for it to fall into Ben's left turbine. He swerved to dodge the object which subsequently flew into the turbine of one of the other racers he had just passed, causing the other racer's right engine to blow and the pod to careen into a canyon wall.

Crom took advantage of Ben's distraction to sweep ahead for the lead.

Rey's heart was thundering in her chest as she watched Ben lose the lead over the telecast. That was when she heard the screams.

She turned around to see two of Rotta's personal guards enter the pavilion and each was dragging a small child in chains. The children were kicking and screaming, desperately trying to reach for each other, but being held apart.

She instantly recognized them; they were the young twins she had chased through the pod bay. They both had dirty golden blond hair and large blue eyes. Their grimy cheeks were stained with their tears. The guards tossed the two children together before Rotta and Ereus Ren. They held each other and cowered in fear.

She could see Ereus Ren and Rotta discussing something in Huttese, and she cursed that she couldn't understand what was being said, but she knew the children were in danger.

She had no other choice; and put up a barrier to keep Ben unaware of what was surely to come.

As Ben tore through the canyon towards the end of his third lap, he felt Rey close up the bond between them.

Rey? What's happening? Rey, answer me!

He begged, but she could not hear him. And he knew that there was danger. As long as she could actively keep the barrier up, she was alive, but he knew time was against them both. He had to get back to her. He had to finish the race – fast!

He punched for harder speed as he rounded a corner along the treacherous canyon, desperate to not leave her all alone in her time of need.

Most of Rotta's guests were too entranced with the race, but a few turned away and began surrounding their host, the Knight of Ren, and the two crying children. They knew there would be blood. Everyone knew what to expect when victims were laid before the Knight of Ren. The only thing more exciting than a race – was an execution.

The children cried in terror as the large form of Ereus Ren circled them, his vibro short-sword crackling in the air. They closed their eyes and screamed as they watched his blade raise high and swing down again.

They heard a hum mix with a crackling sound, and opened their eyes to see a slave girl, the same who had chased them the day before, standing before them with a glowing double-bladed weapon; she had blocked the sword of Ereus Ren.

All of the other racers seemed to be practicing dirty tactics as they smashed into each other trying to knock as many opponents out of the race as possible. Ben was struggling to regain his lead and work his way through the other racers, who where crashing their pods left and right.

I'm coming, Rey!

Rotta and his guests gasped in shock to see that Cal Missen's slave girl had freed herself from her chain and had come between the knight and his prey.

Rey twirled her saber staff and stood defiantly between Ereus Ren and the children. Ereus Ren didn't recognize who she was at first, but suddenly the realization dawned on him when he recognized her weapon. He had fought it before, and nobody else in the galaxy had a weapon like that.

"Jedi scum!" he shouted through the mechanical filter of his mask.

Rey tore off her veil, disguises were of no more use. "Scum? I'm not the one trying to murder helpless children!" she accused as she lunged for him, her saber singing as it moved through the air.

As their two weapons clashed, suddenly everyone in Rotta's pavilion panicked and started running to get away. Nobody wanted to be caught in the crossfire, even Rotta slithered away as if his slimy life depended on it. A few of his guards were ordered to intervene, but as they fired blasters at Rey, she easily deflected their shots back into them.

The children tried to get away but their feet were still shackled together.

Rey managed to fight back Ereus Ren just enough so that she could turn back, and with a few quick slashes, the manacles and chains fell free from the children.

"Run!" she ordered them, and they did not need to be told twice as they took off as fast as their feet could carry them.

Ereus Ren charged her like a barreling bantha. She narrowly ducked beneath his crackling sword and came up again behind him, swinging her saber down and hacking into the back of his thigh.

Ereus Ren let out a shout of pain and rage, but the wound did nothing to slow him as he rained down more heavy strikes against her.

At last Ben had cleared the remainder of the other racers, and was quickly gaining on Crom as they entered the canyon turn for the final time. The walls were tight and jagged, and Ben was certainly impressed with how skillful of a pod pilot Crom really was. He had underestimated him in more ways than one. But even so, he had to get ahead, he had to finish the race as fast as possible while Rey was in danger, and he had to win. He calmed his mind and felt the force flow through him as the two pods approached a very narrow section of the canyon, and with a final throttle of power to his engines he managed to squeeze just ahead of Crom, who managed to avoid smashing into the tight canyon wall at the very last moment and came in right behind Ben.

Once they were free of the canyon they each accelerated their pods to maximum speed as they approached the home stretch up the arena. The finish line was just ahead.

A furious hatred burned within her as she battled back and forth against the large knight. He outmatched her in size and strength, but she was faster and more agile. As much as her hatred burned for Ereus Ren, she fought for her life, she had fought for the children, and even though she had put up a barrier, she could still feel Ben as he pounded against it trying to reach her. She would not fail, nor would she fall to the darkness, because in her heart she knew she was fighting to protect life.

Ereus Ren slashed across at her, in a heavy but clumsy move, and with a furious twist of her saber she managed to knock his weapon from his thick hands. Before the knight could pull away she leapt forward and swung her saber hard, slicing through Ereus Ren's large and bloated gut. She watched as his stomach burst open and all of his fat and internal organs poured out onto the ground with a sickening plop. The knight shouted in agony as he watched his insides empty out all over the decorative rugs of the pavilion.

In the only act of mercy a Knight of Ren deserved, Rey stabbed Ereus Ren through the neck, and watched as he fell with a heavy thud, and was slain.

Ben crossed the finish line just a meter ahead of Crom. The audience in the arena shouted in wild abandon as they watched the racers pull their pods to a screeching halt.

Crom jumped out of his pod and was going to approach Cal Missen, but the Red Comet was already empty, and Cal was nowhere to be found.

A note from your humble author: Hope you still have your butts! I just want to take a moment to talk about my Easter egg type references. Nobody seemed to catch that the title to Chapter 13 was a reference to something…well that made me feel old LOL. At least one person got the Matt the Radar technician reference in Chapter 12 (YAY!). But I just want to point out that the title of this chapter is also a reference, and the expression "Crash and Burn," which is the theater equivalent of "break a leg" is also a pretty obscure reference. I hope someone picks up on these, (don't leave me alone in my nerdyness!) and no fair googling!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback, and big thanks to all my new followers and readers. You guys are awesome. And I just want you to know…I suffered for this chapter. Like many, I am not particularly a fan of the prequels (no offense intended if you're big on them, I'm aware the prequels do have their fan-base, I just mostly prefer the original trilogy, and of course episode VII), but I forced myself to re-watch The Phantom Menace again, just so I could get good ideas for this chapter's pod race. I willingly subjected myself to the horrors of Jake Lloyd's acting, and the nightmare that is Jar Jar Binks, just so I could write an accurate interpretation of a pod race. Please reward me for my suffering by leaving some feedback and letting me know if you guys enjoyed this chapter; or the story in general. Your kindness and support makes it all worthwhile.