A/N: Thank you again for the wonderful reviews, everyone! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

HHHHHHHHHH

Hux whirled to face her as Ben collapsed, the knife dripping with blood. There was a manic look in his eyes. Thrusting both hands toward him, Rey unleashed a terrible scream and a Force push that lifted him off his feet and launched him backwards. Hux flailed helplessly, his lips parting in silent terror when he realized what was about to happen. Then he disappeared over the cliff's edge, and she heard his echoing cry of panic as he plunged to a watery grave.

Her hands returned to her sides, her gaze falling to Ben's motionless form. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think, and as Rey ran toward him, everything around her slowed to a crawling pace. She was aware of nothing else—could see nothing else.

When she reached his side, she dropped to her knees and placed her hands on his back. "Ben?"

He didn't respond, and Rey looked down at her palms. They were soaked with blood—his blood. Her chest clenched painfully, and with some effort, she managed to roll him over. His eyes were closed, locks of black hair plastered to his forehead.

"Ben!" she pleaded desperately. "Wake up!"

She shook him, leaning down close to his face as tears spilled down her cheeks. Finally, his eyelids fluttered open, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Rey…"

"Yes, I'm here," she assured him. "Everything's going to be all right. I'll get you to a medic and—"

"I think we both know," he paused and inhaled a rattling breath, "it's too late for that."

Rey shook her head. "No. You promised. You promised me."

Ben lifted a trembling hand and caressed her cheek. "But you're safe now. That's…all I wanted."

"And what about what I want?" Her voice cracked, and more tears welled in her eyes. "I need you. You can't…you can't leave me here alone."

"Rey, you saved me from—" he shuddered and fought to keep going. "—from a life of darkness. Let me save you just…just this once."

She grasped his hand in both of hers, clutching it against her cheek even as she felt the warmth draining from his fingers. "Why did you—? Why did you have to—?"

She stopped and choked back a sob. Ben's eyes remained fixed on hers, as if he were memorizing them, and his thumb brushed gently over her skin.

"You…you are so beautiful. That's what…I wanted to tell you."

Rey sniffed and leaned into his hand, her heart fracturing. Ben swallowed hard as tears leaked from his eyes.

"And you…you made my life worth living."

His lids closed again, and his hand grew heavy. She held it tighter, rubbing her thumbs back and forth across his palm.

"Ben…"

His chest was barely moving now, and fear seized her.

"Don't leave me."

Falling forward, Rey buried her face in the blackness of his robe. She pressed a tear-soaked kiss to the back of his cold hand, curling her body against his and refusing to let him go. She could not remember a time when his presence did not exist in her mind—in her soul. Years before they had ever crossed paths, a voice had spoken to her as she sat amidst the desolate sands of Jakku, telling her that she was not alone. She had seen him in her dreams, never believing that he was anything more than a figment of her imagination.

But the Force had brought them together, against all odds, because their destinies were intertwined. And all was as the Force willed it to be.

As Ben's chest became still, Rey slowly raised her head. An invisible storm was brewing around her—inside her. A gaping wound had opened in the Force, a yawning void that was throwing everything into chaos. Like a planet that had been tipped off its axis, the Force itself had been destabilized.

All is as the Force wills it. And what is the will of the Force?

"Balance," she whispered, realization dawning on her.

Sitting up, Rey looked down at Ben's pale features, and hers hardened with determination. It wasn't over—not yet.

Placing her hands on his chest, she closed her eyes and began to meditate. The sounds of battle faded away, and she focused on Ben's broken body, his exhausted spirit. Locating faint traces of life still stirring within him, Rey touched them with her mind. A spark ignited. The tips of her fingers started to tingle, and she allowed some of her energy to pass into him.

With the Force guiding her, she began to repair the damage that had been done. And as she did, Rey restored and accelerated his own healing processes. Cracked bones healed. Mangled flesh mended. Ben's wound was closed, and thus, so was the wound in the Force.

When she opened her eyes, Rey saw a strange blue glow emanating from her hands. Sweat beaded on her brow, strands of dark hair falling around her face as she finally relaxed and took a deep breath. The light faded, and now, her hopeful gaze was fixed on his face.

"Wake up, Ben," she murmured. "Please."

Leaning over him, Rey smoothed back his hair and softly kissed his forehead.

"You have to come back to me," she whispered, tears dripping from her chin. "I…I love you."

The words sounded strange as they left her lips, but not wrong. Instead, it was as if a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Her recognition and understanding of her feelings, accompanied by her admission of them, had finally freed her from the cage she had trapped herself inside for so long. She only wished that he could hear her say it.

Rey gave a small gasp of surprise as she felt a large hand touch the back of her head. Ben's eyes opened, and she stopped breathing. Their faces were inches apart, and all she could see was how his gaze shone as he drew her down to him. Her heart swelled with joy.

Cradling his face between her hands, Rey pressed her lips to his. Ben buried his fingers in her hair, gently returning her kiss. And suddenly, she was whole again. As her tears ran down his cheeks, Rey felt indescribable relief wash over her. He was here, safe in her arms at last. Alive.

When their lips parted, she gave a sheepish laugh and lightly brushed her tears from his face. "Sorry."

"Rey," he said quietly, shifting his hand to her cheek.

"Yes?" she replied, her breath catching somewhere inside her chest.

"I love you too."

She smiled, feeling her face flush as she blinked back more tears. Hastily, she wiped them away, and Ben managed to prop himself on his elbows. But Rey saw him wince and felt a flash of pain that was not her own.

"Careful," she warned, her brow furrowing in concern. "I managed to repair most of the damage, but you need time to rest."

"What about the battle?"

She opened her mouth to reply—

"Whrrraaargh!"

Nearly jumping out of her skin, Rey spun around. "Chewie?! What are you doing here?"

The Wookie growled a response, and her eyes widened.

"You…broke through the blockade, and the ships fled? Then the rebel fleet did come!"

He nodded and gave an affirming grunt. Grinning from ear to ear, Rey looked around for the first time since the dreadnought's destruction and saw stormtroopers offering their surrender. The battle was over.

"We won," she breathed.

Chewbacca approached them, growling again, and she realized that he was addressing Ben this time.

Shaking his head, Ben seemed unable to meet the Wookie's gaze. "I just did what had to be done."

Rey smiled slightly, admiring the humility of his response. Then she glanced back at Chewbacca. "He's badly injured, Chewie. Can you help me get him to a medic?"

"That isn't necessary," Ben protested, holding up a hand. "I can—agh!"

The Wookie had already bent down, thrown Ben's arm around his broad, hairy shoulders, and hoisted him to his feet. Grimacing, Ben pressed his other hand to his torso, and Chewbacca canted his head.

"Hrarh?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I can walk."

"Come on," said Rey, moving to his other side as they helped him back toward the palace.