Heeeeeelllllloooooo readers! It's been a while, I know. Main reason for that is I wanted to get the last two chapters done and post them together. Then chapter 51 got really long and I had to split it in half. So now, after this one, there are two chapters left. But I thought I should start posting them anyway, even if chapter 52 is only 70% done. Basically, I hope ya'll like drawn out endings. lol. I still have some ground to cover to tie everything up nicely, and I hate leaving loose ends.

And to everyone who left a review, thank you so much. Even if it's only a few words, the encouragement helps keep me motivated. And boy, do I need encouragement right now. I need you all to pressure me to finish this story in an acceptable amount of time! I'm like half burned out, half nervous about how the ending will be received. It's not a bad ending in my opinion, but it's different from what I've seen in other Reylo stories.

QwertyStrange: I know, I KNOW everyone was annoyed with Rey. And I get it. But I knew good things were coming for her, characterization wise. So I am so glad everyone who is still reading stayed with this story! I hope you see just how much she has grown up. caitykon: Thank you so much for the kind words! It makes me so happy to hear that this story has impacted a reader, because it has impacted me so much. I wish Lucasfilm used my story too. lol. And when Poe and Jess died, I was crying too. Just imagine having to edit that and continuing to get emotional every time. It was draining. You get excited all you want! Trust me, I love seeing people's enthusiasm. And I do plan on writing a Reylo AU after this. I'll be posting it here, and on AO3. Thanks for leaving a review! It helps me to keep going! sweetes forbiden candy apple: *hands over some tissues* I know, our babies are happy together and Snoke is dead! Yippee! MBellicose: Thanks! Well, If Rey does become pregnant, Ren will have to work on his emotions and accepting it. We shall see! Aleta Wolff: You got it right! Yeah for a wedding! Kimmycocopop: Rey is a strong fighter, but I didn't want her to go through fighting Snoke completely alone. Hence why I had those who had died visit her, to help give her an extra boost of energy. Operator Bleiss: Thanks! I hope you like the ending, and still love the story when all is finished. lilkathra: Me too! lol. Hope this chapter fulfills expectations. SheLitAFire: The connection Ben still has with Snoke will be answered in the very last chapter. Dun dun dun! And there was no way I could off BB-8. He too precious. :) candymushroom: I know long fics aren't for everyone, but I'm glad you like the length! Thanks for the review!

So this chapter is more just a glimpse into Rey and Ben's life. But it is all leading up to something. If you find it boring, I'm sorry! And thank you to my amazing beta, SheLitAFire, for helping to edit this chapter! You catch the things I don't, and I appreciate it!

Chapter Fifty-one

One year later…

Rey's form appeared in the quarters she shared with Ben aboard the Finalizer, her legs taking long strides from one side of the main room to the other.

Pacing up and down as if she were determined to wear a thin trail in the metallic floor, Rey stared down at her brown boots. Eyes wide and watery, back and forth she went.

Rey never paced.

But she was frustrated. No, that wasn't quite right. She needed a stronger word than frustrated.

Fuming.

Yes, that seemed more accurate since she was pretty sure she could wield fire from her fingertips with how ignited her blood felt.

How could that woman say those things to her?

In a small wooden hut, located in the outskirts of Akiva's major city amongst the thick foliage of the jungle, a young, dark skinned woman held her small daughter close to her chest, as if she could shield the child from the threat that sat across from them. "You want to take my daughter from me?" the woman questioned hotly through her thick accent.

Rey's insides grew unpleasantly warm and her stomach, though completely empty, writhed as if it were struggling against a rich meal. "No, you'd be able to see and speak to her anytime you want. I'm reforming the Jedi Order to be more open–"

"And why should I believe you? You are the Empress of the Galactic Order–"

"I'm not an Empress," Rey contested quickly, her hands clenched into fists atop her thighs.

She was really getting sick and tired of being called that.

"But you are married to the Supreme Ruler, no?" Rey let the silence answer for her. The woman sneered. "You are his Queen, and you may think you're fooling us, but you aren't. You may have renamed that abominable organization the Galactic Order, but your goal is still the same: domination. You're trying to build up your own personal army of Force users so you can enslave those who do not follow you."

"Enslave you? Ben abolished slavery!" Rey was too taken aback to stop herself from using her husband's birth name. But what did it matter anymore? "He's trying to help you–"

"Lies," the woman screamed, causing her child to whimper. "You want us to believe you are good people? Kylo Ren was Snoke's personal enforcer, seeking out and killing Force users throughout the galaxy. He destroyed the Hosnian system–"

"That was Hux."

"– and he razed his own uncle's academy, leaving the bodies of the students behind. Not to mention he killed his own father. We know his history, and you want us to entrust our children to him? The Jedi Killer is a monster. The Skywalkers are a curse. "

"He won't be running the new academy, I'll–"

"Or is it you who's truly the evil one?" the woman accused. Rey's mouth clamped shut as she flinched back, but the woman ignored Rey's reaction and continued to harangue her. "Maybe you manipulate him through letting him into your bed. Maybe all you are is just a drudeg who got a glimpse of power and went for it."

Rey wasn't sure of her facial expression. It was hard to focus on anything but the ringing in her ears.

The mother huffed, looking at Rey as if she were vermin. "Get out, and don't come back here."

Rey had taken two steps out the door before vanishing back to the Finalizer.

And that woman– what had she called her? A drudeg. What the hell did that even mean?

She went to the bedroom and grabbed a datapad from the side table, searching for the term on the HoloNet.

A venal or unscrupulous person; a woman who engages in sexual acts for money or station; a promiscuous or immoral woman: equivalent to the slang word "whore" used in Basic.

Rey's mouth hung open. The woman had called her a whore… as if she were using sex to get what she wanted from Ben. Is this what the galaxy truly thought of her?

The operating panel near the entrance pinged and Rey jumped from the sound, snapping back to reality. She was flustered, as if she'd been caught in a personal moment of secrecy. But no one could see her, and she could sense that Ben was too enthralled with whatever he was doing to pick up on her emotions.

Rey left the bedroom and crossed the common area to the wall panel near the door. She cleared her throat as she pressed the button for the intercom. "I'm back," she announced with no amount of flare.

"Do you need anything?" JM asked, the head of her security detail she neither asked for, nor wanted.

"No. I just want to be left alone for a little while."

"Of course, M'Lady. I'll let the Supreme Ruler know you're safe."

Rey pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. They were her security team, but at the end of the day, she knew Ben had complete control over them – evidenced from how they refused to leave her when she ordered them to do so.

Rey remembered when Ben told her about the extra protection as she was getting ready to leave the med bay. She hadn't been happy about it, but Ben insisted.

Those first few weeks were a learning curve for them all.

Rey could pop in and out whenever she wanted, go anywhere in the galaxy at the drop of a thought. If she'd been there before, it was as easy as taking a breath to get back. Unknown places were more difficult, but it was doable after extensive concentration.

Either way, her guards couldn't come with her. The Force bond only allowed her to take Ben if she wanted to. This infuriated him since he couldn't always accompany her due to his duties of running the galaxy, and he was yet to figure out how to teleport on his own.

They fought about her safety for a good few weeks, neither adhering to what the other wanted. But once she felt the worry that was fueling his anger, Rey offered to compromise. So the rules were laid out to her as followed:

One: She couldn't teleport anywhere without letting him and her team know first.

Two: When she came back to the Finalizer, she had to reappear in their room. This was because her security would always be outside the door, unless they were accompanying her somewhere on board.

And her personal favorite, three: She must tell Ben and the others of her return.

Obviously, Rey wasn't very good at the last part. She'd spent the first fifteen years of her life never having to announce her return home to anyone. To fix said problem, Ben had the door panel set up to beep at the start of every hour, as a way to remind her of rule number three. She'd turn it off, but somehow it always came back on. She suspected that Ben could control it remotely from wherever he was.

But, if she really thought about it, the stipulations weren't the worst things in the Universe. Ben could've attempted to ban her from teleporting all together, but he didn't. If Rey told him everything that had happened to her while searching for Force sensitives, she had no doubt he would've tried. He knew how they all cursed at her and told her to leave, but she never told him the instances where people had actually gotten physical.

There was that one woman who slapped her when Rey had offered her a place at the academy, and then the father who had shoved her so hard into the wall she struggled to breathe for a good two hours after. Rey had chosen not to tell Ben about either of those altercations, because one, she'd been embarrassed that two civilians had caught her off guard.

And two, she was afraid of what Ben might do to them. When he threw punches, his goal was to go beyond just knocking out teeth.

But she had a feeling that her days of searching for students was going to be put on hold after what Harter told her at her monthly check-up this morning. The news wasn't necessarily surprising; Rey knew it was only a matter of time before it happened. But still, relief flooded her and caused the emotional dam to break from her tear ducts.

Harter rejoiced and celebrated with her, but cautioned that even though her blood work was normal and she wasn't experiencing any cramping, things could change quickly.

Rey asked Harter to keep her predicament a secret. She wanted to tell Ben tonight, after the ring ceremony was over. She knew him well enough to know how he would react to such news, and she didn't want him acting weird at the celebration.

He'll need time to process the idea of change.

Then there was the problem of what had happened when she was in that place with all the portals.

A grown-up Anna had alluded to the possibility that Jacen had never met his father before that day. Rey hadn't told Ben about that. She still wasn't sure if she should. He didn't even know that Anna, Lizari's daughter, had been there. Not once had Ben pressed her for more details about her time in that place, still so convinced that it was all just an illusion of Snoke's making.

Now, she had substantial proof that it wasn't.

Which was good, because she was finally expanding her family… but it was also troubling. Was Ben's mortality on a countdown she couldn't control? There'd already been three assassination attempts over the last year, each one getting closer than the last. What if–

No.

Nothing was going to happen to Ben. It was all going to work out. Maybe she just misinterpreted what Anna had said. That happens. Maybe Ben was so busy with being Supreme Ruler that he didn't have time for their son.

Rey shuddered.

That theory didn't sit well with her. It reminded her too much of Leia and Ben's relationship growing up, and look how that turned out.

After the appointment, Rey had considered not going to Akiva. It wasn't just her safety she had to take into account anymore. But her drive to find just one student to teach drove her to go anyway. While nothing physically happened to her, mentally, she was worn down.

Her vision started to cloud as she rested her forehead against the cool wall. When she pinched her eyes closed, a tear escaped down the curvature of her lips, settling in the line of her mouth. The morning had sent her through a whirlwind of contrasting emotions, rocketing her to the highest of highs, and strangling her into the lowest of lows, the likes of which she hadn't experienced in quite a while.

What was she going to do about the Jedi Order? Luke and Rey had agreed for him not to come with her to meet the families anymore. Too many of them were either extremely intimidated by his presence, or they cursed his whole family. There was no in-between.

Asking him for help was a no-go.

But everyone knew to whom she was married, so it wasn't like her presence was any better.

Rey silently cursed, feeling so alone in her predicament. How was she to have a baby through all this?

Through the swirl of sickening fears came Ben's voice, confused and light. "Rey?"

She spun around to see Ben standing in the middle of the living room, his eyes briefly taking in his surroundings. His bare chest and hair glistened with sweat, his muscles taut and bulky and so perfectly sculpted. She should've been embarrassed with how her eyes ate him up. She wasn't.

In his right hand, he disengaged his saber, the red glow going with it. He'd been training and she interrupted him.

She ensconced the news Harter had told her deep behind her mental defenses.

Rey swiped at her face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to summon you here. I was just…" feeling incredibly depressed and missed you and wanted to see you and was thinking maybe if you held me, I'd feel better.

Ben's expression softened into something tender as he set the hilt on the sofa and went to embrace her. She melted into him, she couldn't help it. And while most would've been repulsed by his slick skin and musky scent, she rather liked it.

"You heard that?" she asked, embarrassment pinking her cheeks.

"Not so much as heard, but rather felt it." They stayed entwined for a few moments before he pulled back, hands moving to her biceps. They were still rather close as Rey looked up at him, stray hairs lying across his forehead and cheeks like a second skin. "I take it visiting Akiva didn't go well."

She chuckled humorlessly. "That obvious?"

He caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. "What did they say to you this time?"

"Nothing I haven't heard before," she said offhandedly.

But while she might technically be more powerful in the Force than Ben, his natural talent of picking up thoughts worked in his favor. To her detriment, she didn't hide it all that well. "You were called a whore?" he exclaimed before his eyes darkened and his grip tightened on her arms. "What's the name of this village again?"

Her heart seemed to be beating in her throat. "Ben, seriously, don't get upset over this."

"Don't do that; don't try and act like this is nothing." He turned away and walked back to the sofa. Hands on his hips, he hung his head, trying to gain some control over his anger. "This is what I mean whenever I tell you that people are basically just monsters hiding behind the thin veneer of societal standards and tendentious insults," he said tightly.

"That's your pessimism talking."

"No, that's me being realistic."

She sighed, long and heavy. When she went to him, she placed her hand on his arm, most of her frustration subsiding as she envisioned herself in that woman's shoes. "Look, that woman was just a concerned mother who knew what happened to the last academy." Rey pulled at him, but Ben still wouldn't look at her. "She believes she's protecting her daughter from being sent off to her death. We can't blame her for being worried and untrusting, like the rest of them."

Ben twisted around and sat on the sofa, letting out a defeated exhale. "I just…. Maybe getting married was a bad idea," he murmured.

Rey's voice tweaked up an octave "Excuse me? You did not just say that."

He ran a quick hand through his hair as he tried to articulate his meaning. "I only meant that by marrying me, it's made it impossible for you to find even one person to teach. And it's because the whole galaxy knows my story; they all know what I've done."

Anger was replaced with sympathy as Rey knelt on the floor, positioning herself between his legs. "They know what you've done, but they don't have the context behind it."

Ben shook his head. "Doesn't matter. As long as you're associated with me, you'll never re-establish the Jedi. Ever."

Palming his thighs, she listed closer. "Then I don't."

He straightened his posture, narrowing his gaze as he looked down at her. "You'd give that up?"

She shrugged. "Can't give up something I've never had."

Yes, admitting that she was somewhat of a failure stung her pride. But at least she tried to re-establish the Jedi. If she hadn't made the attempt, she'd always wonder what the outcome would've been.

And honestly, she was tired. In the very least, she needed a break.

"You could have it," he said softly, "if you weren't married to me."

"Is this your way of saying you don't want to be my husband anymore?" Rey had meant it as a joke to lighten the mood.

Ben didn't interpret it that way. "No. Not at all. Being with you is the best thing about my life. I'm just… I'm waiting for you to regret being with me. This is your dream, Rey, and it's my fault it won't happen."

Her heart sank. Rey didn't like when Ben started acting like this, like he was worthless. Like all the blame was for him to bear. "You're my dream, Ben," she whispered ardently. "Bringing back the Jedi would just be a bonus. But my life with you, that's what I truly want. Nothing will change that."

That static between them returned, the kind that was always there when they got lost in the eyes of the other. It never mattered how near or far apart they were, they could always feel that pull that brought them closer. Something in their souls matched, making that attraction run deep.

Their relationship didn't do superficial, it never had.

Rey embraced him; both going still, reveling in the feel of the other.

Ben's stomach growled.

They both laughed, the mood easing into something light. They went over to the small kitchen on the other side of the room. Most of their meals were delivered to them, but Rey had taken up cooking as a side hobby and needed a place to practice. Being down in the kitchens had made too many of the cooks nervous. So Ben had one added onto their quarters, which also became the place where Rey stashed rations and snacks and any food she brought back with her from the city markets she traveled to.

Ben had told her that she didn't need to hoard food anymore; that everything she ever needed would be provided for her. But old habits died hard... or remained immortalized. She still hid sweet energy cubs and packets of vegmeat under her clothes in the dresser.

As time went on, Ben stopped reminding her that food was now a single comm away. Probably because he was getting rather used to having snacks on hand whenever he got back to their quarters. In a sense, it made Rey happy knowing he was eating the food she provided. Like she was taking care of him for a change.

She took a seat on one of the bar stools at the narrow kitchen island, watching as he rifled through the unorganized chill box on the other side. Her pyro flower was situated in the middle of the countertop under the hanging lights. It was strange that the little plant was still going strong, the vibrant crimson of the petals never seeming to dull. Pyro flowers lasted an average of nine months, but this one appeared to be defying the odds somehow.

Rey rested her arms on the duracrete top, her finger tapping at a frantic rhythm, he leg bouncing up and down. "Hey," she started off, voice uneasy. "So… while I was away, I tried getting back to that meadow again."

"Yeah?" Ben inquired as he turned around, dumping an arms load of sustenance between them. "I thought you gave up on that?" He went to a cabinet and pulled out a brown container.

"I did, but I just wanted to see if anything had changed." She studied his demeanor, but he was giving nothing substantial away. She knew whenever she brought this up to him, he tensed and became frustrated. He never could understand why she wanted to find those places again, and was worried for her safety if she did.

At least, that's what she assumed. He would never really engage in the conversation with her.

Ben set the container next to the pile, pulling out a choc bar. "And?" He unwrapped the sugary substance and took a huge bite.

Rey blinked in surprise, but quickly recovered. If Ben was engaging with her about the subject, she wasn't about to question it. "Nothing happened." She decided to take it one step further and air her annoyance. "I just don't understand. Places I've visited are easier to get to and require little to no effort on my part, but for some reason, I can't get back there."

He made quick work of the dessert. "What about the place with all the portals?"

Rey's heart nearly stopped. Was this a dream? Was Ben a clone? Was he ill? Was she ill and somehow imagining all of this?

"No luck with that either," she replied through a tight throat.

Ben halved a loaf of cushnip, some of the baked veggies and cheese stuffed inside falling onto the counter. Rey snatched the other half, not caring that it was still cold. They ate in relative silence, Ben quite used to Rey's ravenous appetite by now. He just didn't know she was hungry for different reasons.

"Maybe," Ben began to say in-between chewing, "the reason you can't get there is because dimensional travel is more complicated than you thought."

Rey gulped down a canteen of water and wiped at her mouth. "Then why could I go there before?"

"The Force probably willed it. You had the power to teleport, and the Force used your ability to allow you to hop between dimensions."

"Yeah… maybe…" She nibbled on a choc bar, contemplating his theory. "But have you ever wondered what that place is exactly? The one with the meadow?"

Ben's torso tensed. "No."

"Really?" Rey questioned, eyeing him as he put some of the snacks back in the fridge. "I mean, if the Force willed Snoke and me to fight there, and for him to die there, then it must be important. Don't you think?"

"You give the Force too much credit."

"But you're the one who just said that I only got there because of the Force."

Ben was still for a moment before he rounded the island and came to her. Rey watched him suspiciously, noticing that he was trying to hide his frustration. But then he leaned forward, his nose tickling her ear. She let out a tiny gasp and squirmed as he handled her intimately, his lips grazing her neck. Her face heated. She drew back, meeting his gaze, confused. His dark eyes twinkled, his distraction working.

"How about we try to solve this riddle later?" He kissed the tip of her nose before withdrawing his warmth and strutting over to their bedroom. Rey almost whimpered. "There's something I've been wanting to show you," he added over his shoulder.

"Show me?" Rey hopped off the stool and followed close at his heels, her arousal simmering under the surface. "On the Finalizer? What is it?"

"It's a surprise."

Her stomach churned. "I hate surprises."

Ben entered the refresher, initiating the shower. Toe to heel, he peeled off his boots, discarding them in the corner. "You'll love this one," he said with irritating confidence.

She stayed in the doorway, crossing her arms and narrowing her gaze. "Is there a reason for this 'surprise'?"

He bent over to take off his trousers, eyeing her through his wavy hair. "You could say it's a belated birthday present."

She swallowed, feeling her skin flush. Ben was completely naked as he stepped inside the shower and submerged himself under the scalding spray. Even through the churning steam, she could see every curve of muscle perfectly through the glass. "My birthday was months ago," Rey pointed out, though her voice cracked toward the end.

"Hence the belated part," his voice rang off the sleek shower walls. "But if that won't do, then it's a gift to go along with the ring ceremony tonight."

Ben lathered his body as he watched her, noticing how her entire form tightened. "It's going to be okay," he promised. But his assurance wasn't helping to calm Rey's rattling nerves. "My mother said all we need to do is show up. She has everything organized; we don't have to worry about a thing."

Twisting her fingers, Rey glanced over at the sink. "I just don't want to be the center of attention for a bunch of people I don't even know."

"Trust me, it could've been worse if I hadn't gotten ahold of the guest list and slashed it in half." Rey opened her mouth to offer a solution, but Ben talked right over her as he rinsed his body free of the suds. "And if I postpone this ceremony one more time, my mother's rage will literally find a way to kill me."

She huffed. Ben knew her too well.

But while she was going to offer up the postponement as a temporary solution, she wouldn't have actually gone through with it. Not when she was planning on telling Ben some hefty news after the ceremony and reception were over. And somewhere in there, she would need to find a moment to also give him his gift, the one she's been hiding from him over the past week. The one that had taken her a year to track down and find.

Don't think about it; don't think about it; don't think about it.

"Hey, it'll be okay." He mistook her trying to hide her thoughts as being nervous about the party. Which, now, she was. Again. "Just keep your eyes on me. No one else matters."

Rey's shoulders dropped. "I guess we do owe this to Leia, don't we?"

Squeezing out a big glob of shampoo onto his palm, he started to soap up his dampened hair. "We do. Indulge her, just for tonight at least."

"I will, because I love her." She neared the shower entrance. "And you."

"You going to get ready?"

She arched a brow, looking down at her worn down sleeveless tunic and trousers. "Do I need to look more presentable than this?"

He gave her a knowing smile, and Rey was reminded yet again why she hated surprises. She didn't like being out of the loop. "I would advise it."

Rey gave in, putting on a fake show of reluctance.

The shower was two minutes of her cleaning herself and thirty minutes of bonus activities. They would've been in the shower longer if Ben hadn't reminded her they needed to leave soon. He rarely ever cut their intimate time together short, so naturally, Rey became increasingly anxious as to what was going on.

Dressed in her usual capris, shirt, and vest, with her hair in her preferred half-up style, Ben and her exited their quarters.

JM and another one of her guards nodded, preparing to follow them wherever they went. But it was the woman leaning against the wall, just opposite of their chambers, that caught Rey's attention. "Caliiya. Hey. Did you need to speak to Ben, or…"

Caliiya pushed off from the matte partition and straightened her black uniform, grinning at Rey. "Actually, I'm here to accompany you."

Ben wasn't as enthusiastic by her presence. "How did you even know we were going to head over there?"

"As your personal aid, I like to stay informed about everything that is happening aboard the ship." Rey had to suppress a giggle when she noticed the way Ben rolled his eyes.

In the beginning, after everything with Snoke had come to a head, Caliiya hadn't started in such a close position to the new Supreme Ruler.

It all began with a small job Ben needed someone to do, and Caliiya volunteered. From there, the responsibilities piled on until one day, Caliiya demanded an actual title for all the work she was doing. Ransolm was the one to suggest having her be Ben's closest aid. Reluctantly, he had accepted.

Turned out, Caliiya was the most detail oriented and organized person Ben had ever known. And naturally, Ben had made Rey swear to never repeat those words to anyone – especially Finn, since he and Caliiya were officially together.

But even with the smirks and scoffs and occasional harsh words, Rey knew… she just knew those two had actually become friends.

Placing his hand on Rey's lower back, Ben guided Rey through the hallways. "You're turning out to be way better at this job than I thought you would be," Ben grumbled.

"Why, thank you," Caliiya said with pride, striding next to them. "And besides, I wasn't going to allow you to take all the credit for what I did. Without me, this gift would only be half complete."

"Humility was never one of your strong suits."

"It's not yours, either."

The banter stayed alive the whole journey through the Finalizer till they came upon their destination. Then, they both became silent, Caliiya stopping mid-sentence. A double pair of blast doors stood in their path.

The entrance opened, and Rey was instantly hit with warmth and fresh fragrances and lots and lots of green and color. Entranced, her legs mindlessly guided her inside, her boots staying on a winding path that was lined with grey stone. The further she went, the more it felt like she was on an actual planet.

The path brought her up a small hill, allowing her an unobstructed view of the expansive surroundings. Groves of Asuka trees blanketed the landscape, the fat, broad leaves and crinkly blue blossoms twisting around the branches. At the center there was a pond as large as a small lake with flowering lily pads and a wooden bridge that crossed from one side to the other. So many different types of flowers were causing a riot of color, each hue catching her eye one after another, the sight over stimulating her shocked brain.

When she looked up, Rey saw the vacuum of space through the panes of transparisteel, and even though the whole area was lit up to mimic daytime, some stars had enough strength to still shine through.

It was a piece of paradise, tucked away inside a war ship.

Rey had been so absorbed by it all, that she had completely forgotten about Ben and Caliiya. As if on cue, Ben came to stand next to her, looking over the wondrous garden. "Ben, this is…." Rey couldn't find the words. "Beautiful doesn't even begin to describe it."

"You like it?"

"Like it? I love it. Like, it's… just… wow."

"Well, it's yours."

She pivoted to face him, heart hammering. "You had this built for me?"

He grinned and brushed a strand of her hair back. "I know you can go anywhere in the galaxy and see something like this, but I still felt like you should have your own personal space whenever you're aboard the ship."

Rey was lightheaded as she went back to scanning the garden. Her gift. "I can't believe you did this for me."

"You should know by now that I'd do anything for you. And, technically, while it was my idea, I did hire someone to do all of this. A friend of yours, actually. Goes by the name Garov."

Ben explained how over the last six months, he had commissioned the Bimm to create this specifically for her, smuggling him on board right under Rey's nose. This explained all those times Rey had gone to visit him on Spira and rarely found him at his personal greenhouse.

"There's one last thing I want to show you," he added, a certain strain of nerves plaguing his voice.

He guided her down the hill, taking a few different turns along the winding pathways. Rey was going to need a map to get through all of this, lest she'd become lost. But getting turned around in this piece of paradise wasn't the worst idea. It truly was a lovely place.

She paused as they crossed a group of workers setting up rows of chairs, all facing a small platform that was tucked beneath a thicket of trees. Thin vines hung down from the branches, turning in their random ways against the soft artificial breeze.

"Is this where the ceremony is going to be?" Rey asked, becoming giddy. Ben nodded, and Rey couldn't suppress the childish squeal that left her lips. He chuckled at her excitement before leading her further into what now felt like a jungle.

If she had to do this ceremony in front of a large group of people, at least it will be here, in her own space of beauty.

Ben suddenly stopped, Caliiya now closing the distance she had kept when she'd been following from behind. Soniee came into view as she stepped out from a thicket of unruly bushes. This must have been the next surprise Ben had planned. Though, Rey knew Soniee would be at the ceremony tonight, so it really wasn't a shock to see her a few hours early.

Rey ambled forward to greet the woman.

A man followed her grandmother, older and wrinkled, with pale skin and steely blue eyes.

Rey froze.

For being aged, the man still had a full head of hair, though the pure white color suggested that he'd once been blonde in his younger years. His clothes were nothing extraordinary, just the usual brown leather jacket, shirt, and trousers most travelers wore around the galaxy.

But… she knew this man, from one soul to another.

Ben was watching Rey's reaction closely. "Rey, this is Korkie Kryze." Her eyes slowly grew wide, and she momentarily forgot how to breathe. "As Caliiya said, while I'm tempted to take all the credit for this, it was really her who found him."

Rey swung around, looking at Finn's partner.

"After you set me on the right track," Caliiya added with a smile. Rey basically threw herself at the woman as she hugged her, and Caliiya warmly reciprocated the gesture.

"Thank you," Rey choked out, trying not to cry. She took a step back, glancing between Caliiya and Ben. "Both of you."

Ben nodded and motioned for Caliiya to follow him out of the garden. "I'll leave you two to get acquainted."

"Ben," she called out. He glanced over his shoulder, her gratitude for what he had done beaming through her face. He nodded at her before continuing and disappearing beyond the bend.

Wiping her palms on her trousers, Rey slowly walked over to the man. Korkie adjusted his weight from one leg to the other, both of them not sure what they should say or do. Rey started to shake, her toes and fingers tingling.

"You look so much like your mother," Korkie whispered. He blinked rapidly, but the tears he'd been trying to stop fell anyway. He offered her his hand in greeting, and she saw that he was trembling just as much as she was.

What was the protocol for meeting your grandfather for the first time?

Rey did the only thing she could think of: she wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head against his chest. Korkie tensed, not expecting her to be so open to someone that was a virtual stranger. But as the seconds passed, he patted her back and rested his temple atop her head. Rey put her hand out to Soniee, including the woman in the moment by pulling her in.

Rey would've survived if she never had the opportunity to meet this man, having long ago accepted that it might not happen. But having Korkie here now, it was like a vital ingredient of her life had been missing. The Force had known he was out there, somewhere, tugging at the back of her mind to find him.

Turned out, the family Rey had chosen for herself had found Korkie in the end.

And she sensed that in the years to come, she would need him just as much as he would need her.

()()()()()

The sweet smell of flowers cut through the soft scent of the recently clipped grass, the string of lights that surrounded the large reception having been dimmed as the time had grown late, giving the artificial feel of an impending night. There was an organization to the round tables that circled the area, but only half the guests were lounging in their chairs. The other half was busy socializing on the square platform situated in the middle.

There was a certain tension in the air, evidenced by how no one on the dance floor even remotely tried to move once the music shifted to something more upbeat.

Ren could tell his mother was getting annoyed, her efforts of going around and trying to loosen up the guests failing. Even with Rey in tow, her bright smile and infectious laugh did little to assuage their anxiety.

Ren picked up some of their thoughts. One person actually believed this to all be a sham, that the guests were being round up just to be slaughtered for their shortcomings at serving the Supreme Ruler.

It wasn't until Ren excused himself from the table designated to the bride and groom that he sensed their emotions uncoil. They all relaxed the instant he was out of sight.

A short walk through the garden led him to an exit, which opened up into a long hallway. Private refreshers lined one side, and Ren passed the first two doors till he found one to be unoccupied.

He lingered in the refresher longer than necessary, looking at his reflection above the marble sink.

Sometimes, when he thought about everything that had brought him to this exact moment in his life, he needed to take a while to just breathe. Not just to reflect, but to also calm his anxiety. All good things came to an end, and the particular joyous streak he'd been on over the last year was something he'd come to covet.

So when would the finale be upon him?

It was one of the reasons why he didn't like to talk about Rey's time fighting Snoke. It hadn't taken Ren long to realize where that meadow was, and who was trapped in the confines of its power. The fact that Rey had been brought there didn't mean anything good.

His nerves frayed swiftly. In the months he lived with that building unease, he constructed elaborate rationalizations as to why everything would work out for him. Through it all, that nagging voice in the back of his mind persisted, speaking of something yet to come.

Not doom.

But destiny.

It was all rather perplexing. He was living his destiny right now, at this very second. This was where he was meant to be.

His soul told him he was wrong.

He shifted his thoughts to Rey, the one thing that could moor his runaway feelings. Thinking of her gave him the intended effect: it calmed his frantic heart, gave his mind a pleasurable distraction.

The corner of his lip twitched upward as he remembered the events of the evening. Rey had been radiant in his grandmother's wedding dress, the one she wore at the secret ceremony between her and Anakin. It had been altered slightly to accommodate Rey's broad shoulders and height, his mother surprisingly calm over the precious dress needing to be taken apart.

His gut warmed as he relived the moment Rey appeared at the end of the walkway, her arm interlocked with Korkie's as her grandfather guided her down the aisle. Everyone paid attention to her beauty. With her head held high, Rey walked on with an effortless saunter. When her eyes met his, she smiled, and it was like the stars themselves had decided to rest in the soft curve of her lips.

She was gorgeous. Angelic. Celestial.

His wife.

Everything else about the short ceremony was honestly a blur. The officiant gave a monologue about commitment and love and other things that had to do with marriage.

Ren preferred Finn's short opener on the Falcon more.

Then the rings were exchanged and he found himself at the reception venue nearby, sitting on a raised stage at a table overlooking the guests. Rey and Ren were expected to dance together to open the event, and he was amused how Rey tried to bury her head in his shoulder to hide how nervous she was. But he didn't mind holding her close, swaying softly to the mellifluous music that offered them a gentle rhythm.

When the song had finished, Korkie had asked for the next dance, to which Rey immediately accepted. Leia then pounced at the opportunity to dance with her son, the whole time beaming at him while wiping away stray tears. Harter and Lizari danced with him next, while Finn and Luke took turns partnering with Rey.

Once there were no more pairings, Korkie and Leia had gone about occupying the majority of Rey's time. But instead of being jealous, Ren had been content with sitting at the table and just observing the scene before him.

So far, the evening had actually been bearable.

He stepped out of the refresher, his attention falling on the man waiting just outside the door. Ren almost walked into him, and as he gave his apologies, something in the way the man stared at Ren made him stop.

He knew that face; he'd seen it in the echo of someone he'd once been close to.

The older man smirked. "Supreme Ruler Kylo Ren," he said in a deep, mocking voice, bowing his head slightly, even though it was clear it hurt his pride to do so.

The strong jaw, hint of stubble, dark hair, and that stubborn glint behind hard brown eyes, it reminded Ren too much of– "You're Poe's father."

Kess Dameron's eyes popped slightly in surprise. "I didn't think the Leader of the galaxy would know such a lowly civilian such as myself."

All the moisture in Ren's mouth disappeared. "I don't. I knew your son." Pause. "But you already knew that."

"Yes, I did. You outlined as much in the letter you sent me."

Reflexively, Ren ran a hand through his coifed hair. "I would've preferred to talk to you in person, but since you refused to meet with me, the only option left was to send you a message."

"On actual paper, written in ink. Quite old fashioned."

"I have a certain preference for the old ways."

"And yet you're so young." Kess didn't add anything else, his gaze remaining on Ren in such a way that he didn't know if the man wanted to kill him, or he was just bored by the conversation.

Ren chewed at the inside of his cheek. "I take it you read the letter, then?"

Kess tersely nodded. "To be honest, when I saw it, I very nearly threw it in the fireplace. You're a mass-murdering terrorist; what could you possibly tell me about my son that I don't already know? And why would I ever want to read anything written by a man who killed his own father, an old friend of mine?" Ren's fists tightened and his jaw clenched, but he kept quiet. This clearly confused Kess. "You're not going to defend yourself?"

Oh, Ren wanted to. He wanted to make this man see that he wasn't that kind of person anymore, the one who killed without moral imperative and who followed orders blindly. The thing was, Ren couldn't defend himself against the accusations, because there was no excuse in the Universe that could absolve him of his sins. "They're valid points. But you're flagrant disrespect towards me is getting close to being a problem."

"Disrespect is a lesser offense than murder," Kess deadpanned.

A muscle twitched involuntarily at the corner of Ren's eye, his mouth forming in a rigid grimace. He reminded himself that this was Poe's father.

Kess glanced around, clearing his throat. Ren sensed that Kess was embarrassed by his small outburst. "Look," the man said in a more accepting tone, "I didn't read the letter till a few days ago, which is why I'm here now. I initially declined the invitation Leia had sent me, but changed my mind after reading what you wrote."

The man rubbed at his chin, beginning to feel uncomfortable. Not from Ren's presence, but from what he needed to say. "I don't like you. You've done horrible things to get where you are. But I had to come here and thank you for writing to me about the last moments of Poe's life." Kess' voice cracked, and he had to take a moment to clear it. "It crossed my mind that you could be making the whole thing up, but why would you? You gain nothing from lying to me."

"Every word I wrote was the truth."

Kess hesitated. "Even… about Poe seeing his mother?"

"I'm not sure what he saw," Ren clarified, even though it was all in the letter. "All I know is that he went silent over the comm, and Rey and I thought we lost the connection with him. But then he muttered 'mom' before…"

Kess nodded gravely. "She was there, with him. I know she was."

And it was the strangest thing… Ren believed that Poe's mother had been there as well.

"Have you visited Jakku?" Ren asked.

Kess shook his head. "But… I will. Soon, I think. After I meet Jessika's parents."

"We named Jakku's sea after her," Ren found himself explaining, for some reason. "She was with Poe, at the end. He… he loved her."

Kess shifted his eyes to the floor between them, trying to hide his grief. Ren stepped forward, not enough to get in the man's personal space, but enough to where if he lowered his voice, Kess could still hear him over the procession going on outside. "If there's ever anything you need–"

"I don't need your credits," Kess snapped at him, fire returning to his glare, the solemn moment of shared loss now gone.

"I'm not just talking about that." Though, Ren would've offered credits if he was certain Kess would take it. "I know you have a military background, and I've been trying to put together a council to help advise me on issues throughout the galaxy."

Kess's brows popped into his hairline. "You're offering me a job?"

Ren shrugged. "If you want it."

"You know there's a rebellion forming against you."

"Are you planning on joining?"

"I was contemplating it."

Well, Ben could at least respect the guy's honesty. "They don't have the numbers, and their ability to recruit is getting harder the more systems benefit from the policies I've set in place. The economy is out of a recession, inflation has gone down, and slavery of all kinds has been outlawed."

Kess took a moment to mull over Ren's words. "I've even heard you want to reform the labor laws so employers can no longer abuse those they employ."

"It's in the works."

A group of drunk patrons floundered down the hall, too engrossed with whatever joke was being said to notice the ruler of the galaxy talking to a man in the middle of the corridor. Ren and Kess watched the group laughing and stumbling, trying to hold on to the person beside them for support. Eventually, they all made their way into a single stall, their raucous behavior being heard from out in the hallway.

With no more distractions, Kess went back to observing Ren, eventually letting out a heavy sigh. "Maybe you really are trying to make the galaxy better, and maybe it will even prosper under your leadership. But what happens when you're gone? That's the problem with empires: not all leaders are actually good people. The one after you might actually enjoy watching the galaxy burn."

Ren blinked, not sure how to respond.

"I'll think about the job," Kess added, appearing indifferent. But Ren could sense that the man would actually give the proposition some serious thought.

Ren put out his hand, trying to offer a sign of good will. "You can contact Leia with your answer."

Kess eyed the gesture. "Enjoy the rest of your reception, Supreme Ruler." The man turned and walked away, leaving Ren's hand hovering in the air.

Well… he figured that confrontation could've gone a lot worse.

Ren let out a slow controlled breath and attempted to loosen his limbs. He walked back to the reception like a woundup trooper, trying to wiggle his shoulders and roll his neck of the tension. It was a decent effort, but didn't completely work. In a world where opponents watched for any small thing to use against you, he knew he needed to appear like a walking advert of strength and control.

But he wasn't.

When Ren made it back to the reception, the room was now buzzing with boisterous chatter and laughter, the atmosphere having let up from him absence. His eyes moved with the alertness that came from a lifetime of paranoia and heavy stress.

A few guests noticed him immediately, their backs straightening and their mouths pouring out a string of trepid words of congratulations before scurrying away. A server came up to him, offering a drink from a tray. Ren waved him off, and the young man was relieved to have been dismissed.

"Is the champagne not up to your standards?" Ren turned toward the voice, seeing Ransolm walking up to him. "It is Daruvvian, after all. The finest in the galaxy. "The man was dressed impeccably well, his rich blue suit tailored to his body like a piece of art.

Ren noticed how the women here would ogle at the man.

Ransolm brought his glass of champagne up to his lips, a smile forming against the rim.

"I don't drink alcohol," Ren dryly stated.

"Oh? Are you not a fan of loosening up every once in a while?"

"Drinking tends to bring me bad luck."

"How so?"

"Last time I got drunk, Carise went about torturing my mother right in front of me."

Casterfo choked halfway through taking a sip of the champagne, bringing his hand up to wipe away the excess as he coughed. "Well," he cleared his throat, looking like he regretted having started this conversation. "That would put me off drinking as well, I suppose."

The men stood side by side and observed the room, Casterfo taking another long swig of his drink as he wondered how to get away from Ren without it looking awkward.

Ren didn't give the man the chance. "Casterfo?" He glanced at Ren. "If I were to die, who would take my place?"

Casterfo frowned. "I suppose that is entirely up to you. You can choose a successor, or put something else in place to have a new Emperor chosen. There are multiple routes you could take with deciding."

"Give me an outline of all the different options by the end of the week."

The shock registered on Casterfo's face before he could hide it. "Sorry? You… you want me to actually help you? With something?"

"You're on the council, are you not?"

Casterfo floundered as he searched for the right words. "Yes, but I thought that was to appease Leia. You never actually give me anything to do, nor do you listen to my opinions."

Ren waved his hand through the air, conveying false confidence about his quick decision to choose Casterfo for the task. "Well, I'm giving you something to do now. Or have the years spent in prison rendered you incapable of problem solving and performing basic research?"

Casterfo was affronted by the clear jab at his intelligence, but he still had the wherewithal to agree to the assignment before leaving Ren alone, forgoing a farewell.

Mulling over his thoughts, a strange feeling came over Ren. The closest word he could find to describe it was inevitability. The task given to Casterfo might be more important that Ren initially thought it would be. Watching the patrons dance, his mind cranked along the various variables of why that seemed to be so.

When his mental calculator kept showing him zeroes, he decided to leave the problem for tomorrow. Or the day after. Or the day after that. Honestly, he didn't want to think about it, which was why he gave the problem to Casterfo.

He caught eyes with Garreaus at one of the tables, the burly man waving over for Ren to join them. He made his way through the traffic and the frenetic movement of people, joining the few individuals he was actually comfortable being around. It helped that Garreaus and Terr were stationed on the Finalizer, and that the men, with addition of Finn, held weekly Dejarik competitions.

Terr still owned him 230 credits.

Lizari's little girl, Anna, the only child allowed at the party, ran up to him when she caught sight of his tall form. It was always surprising how forward the child was whenever she saw him, raising her arms and demanding that he pick her up and hold her. He gave in because he'd never been able to tell the little monster no.

As Ren talked with the others, listening to how Lizari's been doing with her sister, Anna rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. Something about the little girl always felt so significant, but he could never figure out what it was. She was Force sensitive, yes, but not to the extent that it would define her future without her say. Not like it had with him and Rey.

No…. Maybe what he sensed had nothing to do with her power or the Force, but everything to do with who she'd become.

A/N

Okay. Let's see if I can get chapter 52 out before I leave to Ireland on July 9th. I'll be gone for a week and doubt I'll have much time to write. So everyone, cross your fingers!