A/N: So this was more of a bridge chapter for Rey and Kylo to begin the healing process between Ben/Kylo and Leia and the Resistance. Please RandR!
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the amazing characters!
Chapter 21:
Walking through the Olara base was like being home. She got so many hugs and 'welcome backs' that she wondered what Poe and Finn had told them about where she had gone. People were treating her like a hero, when she really didn't feel like she was. All she had done when she was gone was train with Kylo and get closer to the Resistance's enemy.
She wondered if they would be looking a differently once they found out about her and Kylo. It made her slightly nervous. Her friends were so busy spouting out random bits of information that they didn't seem to notice her sullen mood.
They entered the dining hall and were met with more cheers. Rey kinda wished they were having breakfast somewhere a little more secluded. The Resistance had grown since she had been gone. Not by much but by enough that there were faces she didn't recognize.
Before they were even through the door Taliah, Thommen, Khalil, and Maddez came over. They all looked ecstatic to see her but she felt bad because a member of their core group was missing. Tears stung her eyes and she closed the bond off so that Kylo wouldn't feel her sorrow or guilt at the death of their friend. The four giants took turns hugging Rey but they didn't stay to chat.
Rey and the others made their way to a medium-sized round table at the rear of the dining hall. Leia sat at the head of the table with her back to a wall. The young people fanned out around her but left the chair right across from Leia empty for Rey. She sat down tentatively but Leia wasn't even looking at her. She ordered breakfast for the group but did say or ask anything of Rey.
"So Finn and I went on our first date," Rose said with a shy smile when no serious conversation struck up.
Finn blushed so hard that Rey thought he was going to get woozy and pass out. She cracked a smile at her friend's embarrassment and wondered what he did that would generate such a reaction. Rey looked to Poe as he never had a problem talking about Finn's embarrassing moments.
"And he screwed it up royally. Luckily Rose is already smitten," Poe said and elbowed Finn in the side, but the dark skinned man just blushed harder. "I did not screw it up. Rose, you had fun right," Finn asked and Rose nodded. "See, Poe," Finn said. "It was a wonderful date! We had a picnic under the stars," Rose said excitedly and Kaydel smiled at her friend. "Now tell her how you screwed it up," Poe said pouring alcohol into his tea with a wink at Leia who just rolled her eyes.
Their food was brought over. Rey and the others began loading their plates up. She was starving and she wondered if Kylo was hungry. Rey wanted to ask but didn't know how to approach the subject. Luckily Finn and Poe went on with the story.
"I forgot the blanket, the food and the wine…"
The whole group laughed including Leia. It was such a Finn thing to do that Rey started to feel a little better about being home. Maybe things hadn't changed as much as she had feared. She also really hoped she would be able to convince Leia to let Kylo and Phasma out before they did something stupid like break.
They ate and made idle small talk but Rey was growing impatient and she was sure that it was Kylo's impatience that she was feeling. After breakfast Rey thought for sure that they would get to talk but Leia wanted to show Rey the new improvements on the base. She didn't want to be rude but there were more important things that they needed to worry about.
They spent hours just walking and talking about what had happened while she was gone. One by one, the others broke off to go do their chores until Rey and Leia were alone. They had made a huge circle around the base and had ended up outside of the hut that Rey had called home during her time on Olara.
"I made sure it was cleaned regularly and I tried to keep Poe from sleeping here," Leia said.
It was the first time she had spoken directly to her since Rey, Phasma and Kylo had appeared. Rey walked up and held the door open. Leia walked inside and sat in Rey's one chair and Rey sat on the bed. The two sat in awkward silence for too long.
"What do you want to know first," Rey asked once she couldn't take it anymore. "My son…he didn't hurt you did he," Leia asked as though afraid of the answer. "NO! Kylo and I had our differences but no he never hurt me," Rey said quickly and Leia let out a sigh of relief.
Rey sighed.
"So why did he…take you and kill Tayven," Leia asked.
Rey proceeded to tell Leia about the double cross and her brief descent into the dark that prompted Kylo to take Rey back to the Vengeance. She couldn't tell her everything, yet. She needed to give her more time to think about why Kylo had stopped Rey from slaughtering her friends or whatever would have happened if she had showed up back to the Resistance with that much rage and hate in her heart.
"But I thought he wanted you to fall to the dark side. He could have killed two birds with one stone if he would have let you take out the Resistance," Leia said. "Yes, but there is something out there that takes precedence over our relatively small squabble now," Rey said. "I agree that having Armitage Hux at the head of the First Order but it really doesn't change anything." "That's not what I'm talking about," Rey said.
Leia looked confused.
"Before Kylo took me back to the Vengeance, I was visited by Master Luke and he informed me that we were about to face a new evil that was threatening our entire galaxy. He said the only chance we had was for the Resistance and the First Order to work together or more importantly if Kylo and I worked together," Rey said and snuck a glance at the older woman who was looking at Rey with stern look.
Rey let out a sigh. She knew it wasn't going to easy to convince Leia of the need for a truce. She just didn't think it would be so hard to find the right words.
"What makes you so sure it was Luke and not Kylo Ren trying to manipulate you," Leia asked. "Because Luke appeared to Kylo, too," Rey said but she could tell that Leia was still skeptical. "And how do you know this," Leia asked. "Because Kylo and Luke both told me. Luke told us that working together Kylo and I are stronger than any Force user ever. So when Kylo took me, we started training together and we are stronger. Though before we could finish our training Hux staged a coup," Rey said.
Leia was silent. Rey wished Kylo was here. He would just lay everything out no matter the consequences. Rey on the other hand was too timid and afraid that her friends would look at her differently.
"So you are telling me that my son, the same man who killed his own father, stopped you from killing your friends and wiping out the Resistance because he wants us all to work together to defeat some monster that's threatening our whole galaxy? Do you have any proof," Leia asked. "Well no. They were helping Hux with his coup but I never got to fight them," Rey and Leia shook her head. "So what do you want from me, Rey," Leia asked. Rey took a deep breath and said, "I need you to let Kylo and Phasma out of that cell. They are the only ones who know the First Order front to back. We can't fight a war on two fronts the way that we are now. This man known only as Zroyais wants me, the last pure light Force user, to what end I don't know but if wasn't for Kylo and Phasma, I never would have made it back here," Rey explained.
Leia shook her head was about to say something but suddenly they both felt an achingly familiar presence. Rey turned toward where she knew Luke was going to appear. Leia looked to Rey in confusion.
I haven't been gone long enough for you to forget the feel of my presence in the Force, Luke said appearing near the door to Rey's hut. "Luke," Leia gasped. Hello, sister. It's good to see you, Luke said before turning to Rey. "I'm glad you're here Luke but Kylo and I could have used your guidance back when we were training together," Rey said not wanting to give away more than what was important. I see you and my nephew have not finished your training yet. We are running out of time, Luke said sounding annoyed. "Ozoroth and two others showed up to help Hux usurp the First Order from Kylo before we could," Rey explained.
Force ghost Luke just shook his head.
If you two hadn't fought your destiny so long this wouldn't have happened. Where is Ben, Luke asked. "In a cell about 200 feet below us," Leia said. Let me guess; you didn't tell her that Kylo wasn't a threat to the Resistance any more, Luke said sarcastically. "I tried but I didn't know if I was supposed to tell her everything," Rey said putting emphasis on the last word. I don't see why not. If you two plan on staying here I am sure everyone would figure it out soon enough, Luke said with a smirk.
Leia was staring at the two of them like they were crazy.
"What are you two talking about? Why isn't Kylo a threat? What haven't you told me, Rey," Leia asked sounding as concerned as she looked. "Kylo and I are connected. Well bonded together by the Force," Rey said, going for the simple answer. "WHAT!?"
Luke chuckled at Leia's reaction.
"How long has this been going on? Were you working for Snoke? Are you working for Kylo Ren," Leia asked.
She grabbed Rey's shoulders and began to shake her. Rey's face was bright red. Luke watched the two women with an amused look on his transparent face.
Calm down Leia. Rey is innocent in all this. The Force saw fit to bond her to Ben to help him find his way again. They both fought it so hard that they almost crippled themselves. It wasn't until recently that they admitted how they felt for each other and began sharing everything, Luke said.
Leia turned from Rey to her brother.
"What do you mean," Leia asked. I mean Rey and Kylo are the future of the Force as well as the Skywalker line. Ben killed Snoke to protect Rey, he said and Rey felt her face go bright red. "What," Leia asked again. They are in love, Leia. I don't remember you being this dense, he said with a laugh.
The look that Leia gave him was not friendly.
"I am not dense. I just don't see how my son could be capable of loving someone so pure and good," Leia said and Rey hated that she thought of Kylo like that. "You helped make him like that," Rey said and it was Kylo's anger toward his mother that produced the words.
Leia looked shocked and took a step back from Rey. Rey's hand clamped over her own mouth. She couldn't believe she'd just said that to Leia. Sometimes Kylo's personality, feelings and thoughts came out at the most inopportune time.
"I'm sorry Leia," Rey said quickly. Rey and Ben have been sharing their consciousness with each other for the last 9 or so weeks so she has his memories and some of his emotions. And his personality shows through her every now and then. But she is right. Most of Ben's darkness comes from the abandonment inflicted on him by you and Han. Make no mistake I know I am partially to blame also, Luke said.
Leia just stared at her brother. There were tears in her brown eyes. Rey didn't mean to upset her. She glanced at Luke who had a peacefully amused look on his face.
"So this evil is real," Leia asked and both Rey and Luke nodded. "And you are in love with my son," Leia asked and Rey nodded again. "So if I let him and that woman out of the cell they won't attack anyone," Leia asked. "As long as no one attacks them, it should be fine. Though I may have to build Phasma a hut next to mine just to keep her away from Finn," Rey said thoughtfully.
Leia was staring at Rey as though she had never seen her before. Rey wondered if she was more different than she had first thought. Maybe she was too much like Kylo now… Would her friends see it and treat her differently.
"Is there any chance I may ever get my son back," Leia asked suddenly. Luke looked to Rey who said, "There is a younger, light version of Ben Solo buried in the darkness that is Kylo Ren. Maybe once we spend more time together, I can figure out how to bring Ben back to the surface of his mind. But Kylo Ren isn't so bad once he was away from Snoke and when you get to know him."
Rey felt heat in her face and knew she was blushing. She and Kylo had barely kissed but Leia was now looking at her like she was expecting a grandchild at any moment. Rey had to look away from the older woman's questioning stare.
Leia, the poor girl has told you everything now. There's no need for the inquisitor stare, Luke said with a laugh.
Leia began asking Luke questions. Rey felt Kylo calling her through their bond.
Rey, Kylo called and there was panic in his voice. I can't really talk right now. I'm still talking with Leia, Rey said back. I know sweetheart, but I need you to hurry. I just met Zroyais.
Rey's heart began to beat faster. She tried not to let her panic show on the outside even though it felt like she was getting ready to hyperventilate. Leia and Luke looked over at her at the same time.
Wait, what!? When could you have possibly met Zroyais, Rey asked. He came to me in my dreams, the way Snoke used to when I was younger, Kylo said, but this was different. Phasma said that I disappeared like I was visiting you through the bond. Rey asked, How is that even possible?
While waiting for Kylo's response, Rey filled Luke and Leia in on what Kylo had told her. A look of identical panic came over their similar faces.
I don't know and that is why I need you to hurry up and get me out of this cell. The sooner we get everything out in the open the sooner we can start preparing for war. Because it is coming, and it will be like nothing we've ever seen before, he said grimly.
Rey wanted to run out of the hut. Instead she focused on calming her heart rate and breathing. Luke looked to Leia.
"Fine, let's go let the mass murderer out of his cell. If someone gets hurt it will be on your head," Leia said. It'll be on all of our heads, dear sister. Out of the three of us, Rey is the only one who didn't contribute to Ben's darkness. She loves him and he loves her. To hurt Rey is to hurt himself and that includes her friends. I think it will all be fine. Rey, I'll try to check on you and Ben's progress soon, Luke said and was gone.
Rey led the way out of the hut. The two of them walked to the lift, rode it down, and walked to the cell in silence. Rey wondered what she was thinking but was too afraid to ask. Once they got to the cell Leia stood back and to the side as the bars slid down into the floor.
As soon as the cell was open Rey rushed inside and threw her arms around Kylo. He held her close in a manner that reminded Leia of how Han used to hold her. The older woman walked off before Phasma and the happy couple could leave the cell.
"She couldn't even look at me," Kylo said in an angry voice into Rey's hair. "She just processing a lot of information right now," Rey said and led Kylo out of the cell.
What do you think Rey's friends reactions will be once they know everything considering how Leia reacted? How about the new Force Users since they all have reasons to hate Kylo and the First Order? (Again check out my other story Star Wars the Last Hope to learn more about them with new chapters out every Sunday).