Rey was directed by Princess Maia to sit down on the right side of the Queen-Mother Jocasta. Jaina took the seat next to the princess, and Kyp Durron next to Rey. She recognized the insult in seating Jacen so far away. By interacting with the guard girl, he had greatly displeased Princess Maia.

She didn't say anything yet, partially because she did not understand the full capabilities of Hapan technology yet.

I wish Rose were here, she thought as she looked at the recreation of a beautiful meadow planet around them in the dining room. If she didn't know that she was in a ship, she would've been convinced that they were dining in Hapes.

If left to their own devices, she, Rose, and Jaina would already be in the engine room, analyzing and dissecting what made all of this work.

The food was good, though. If there was one thing that Rey could appreciate, it was good food. Even decades after leaving Jakku and putting a few healthier pounds on, she still held some habits that were because of her starving formative years.

Food had become important to her. She learned to cook with Finn from Rose and Poe and Kaydel, and took pleasure in learning as much as she possibly could. She'd try just about anything, and saw bad food as an ultimate betrayal.

"We have already reached out to your associates in the First Order," Queen-Mother Jocasta said.

Rey spit back into her drink from shock. "They are not our associates."

"Well, then, your equivalents," Queen-Mother Jocasta said.

"It was much simpler with the First Order," Princess Maia complained. "They had only a few leaders. We've already talked to the Resistance leaders, but now we need to talk to the Jedi. They just had a Supreme Leader who covered both."

"That can be dangerous," Sorscha Martigan called from down the table. She was one of Rey's more feisty Jedi, a green-skinned girl with hair dyed a great many colors.

"Well, Kylo seemed to be a perfectly charming man," Queen-Mother Jocasta said.

It took everything Rey had not to snort. She loved the man, but he was more socially-awkward than charming in any way. It was a miracle that Han and Leia had produced such an un-charismatic son.

Kyp, on the other hand, felt like a wind gathering the conditions to make a tornado beside her. Jaina gave him a pointed look, and Kyp calmed slightly. But there was still a fire in his emerald eyes.

"Kylo Ren is a monster," he said with the same conviction that Rey had two decades prior. But what almost broke her heart was the way her two children nodded and agreed.

That was a major part of why she never had told them. But they were doing well with her little challenge of keeping a secret. She would have to sit them down and explain the truth about Kylo Ren.

Would they even look at her the same way, once they knew? Would they ever learn to see their father as anything other than a monster? Ben Solo had once lost his way, but he'd found a path to goodness now, as unconventional as it was.

Rey still wasn't sure what she believed about government and all of that. Not after all the good Ben had done. She remembered the tales of Palpatine, and how a cruel sovereign was terrible— the galaxy still felt the echoes of that for nearly half a century now. But many of the planets in the Republic were monarchies, if democratic ones.

Perhaps a similar situation could be set up in the First Order?

She felt keenly the ache that had been with her since she'd visited Jakku again for the first time. She wanted to be by Ben's side so badly. But it wasn't what Leia wanted. The promise on Leia's deathbed still haunted her.

"I am afraid that you are mistaken," Princess Maia snarled.

Rey gave Sorscha a warning look, and her eyes returned to the royals. "We have our own negative experiences with the First Order."

"That surprises me," Queen-Mother Jocasta said. "Kylo Ren especially had good things to say about the leader of the Jedi."

Rey frowned. "I can't imagine what."

"He said that you were a cunning warrior and incredibly loyal to your friends," Queen-Mother Jocasta said. "It almost sounded like he knew you more than just as a mere enemy."

Rey decided that this conversation had gotten far too real, especially as Jacen and Jaina gave her confused looks. She raised her glass again to drink as she shrugged. Of course, this was the moment when their bond seized her.

Instead of Jaina sitting in front of her, she saw Ben standing. She stood abruptly.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I need to use the refresher," she said.

One of the guards came to her side. "Down the hall, Grandmaster. Take a right."

"Thank you," Rey said. She headed exactly where the guard said, and locked the refresher door before facing Ben. "You have great timing. Why did you say those things to the Queen-Mother?"

Ben frowned. "What sorts of things?"

"All that kriff about me being a cunning warrior and a good and loyal friend," Rey said, folding her arms across her chest.

"I didn't say that," Ben said. "I think someone in the room is Force-sensitive, though."

"And you didn't think to tell me this?" Rey hissed.

"Not every Force-sensitive is aware of it and taking the thoughts of others!" Ben protested.

"So level with me," Rey said. "Who do you think it is? Because they told Jocasta."

"Jocasta isn't," Ben assured her. "But it's not Maia, either. I didn't get a good feel for the guards. I'd bet anything that it's one of them."

"I might have to agree," Rey said. "I need to get going."

"You know where this is going, don't you?" Ben asked.

"An armistice," Rey said. "It's obvious, if they've talked to you. They want some sort of armistice between us."

"Rey, we could be together in a year or two," Ben said, reaching for her hands. "The Hapans could allow us to be a family."

"Ben, we have to be sensible," Rey said. "I want this, don't get me wrong, more than anything. But I made a promise to Leia. And I don't trust the Hapans. Something's off."

Ben was silent for a moment. He bit his lip. "I know. But I just want to look away, if it'll bring us together. Dammit, Rey, we've been apart too long."

"I know," Rey said, wanting to cry. "You think I don't want you to be with your children? That I don't want this damn war to end? Of course I do! But I don't want to trade out one war for another."

Ben swallowed, looking almost to tears himself. "You're right."

"But we can work together, from both sides," Rey said. "And if the Hapans really are bad news, like I suspect, we can work together to defeat them."

A smile emerged on Ben's face. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Rey was smiling herself. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

When she left, she noticed that the Queen-Mother was looking at her funny.

"Sorry, I took longer than I expected," she said. "I assume you're here to offer an opportunity for an armistice?"

"Yes," Queen-Mother Jocasta said. "We'll host a ball in five days' time on Hapes. We will host both factions in the galaxy and come to an agreement."

"What do you want in return?" Rey asked.

"Nothing!" Princess Maia cried, scandalized. "We are doing this out of the goodness of our hearts!"

"Although we would like to establish trade routes with this galaxy," Queen-Mother Jocasta admitted.

"Well, I can't wait," Rey said.

Everyone stared at her, shocked.