Hey guys!
I'm sorry it's been a while since I've updated. I have to reassure you all that I haven't even thought about abandoning this fan fiction. I've actually spent a lot of time thinking of where I'm going next with his story, and I'm really excited about it. I hope you're wearing your seatbelt because it's going to be a wild ride!
As soon as Ben was finished repairing the compressor, he joined Rey in the cockpit. Chewie was already there as well and was now preparing to send the ship into lightspeed.
"Took you long enough!" Rey teased.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hide her giddiness. When Ben walked into a room, her chest lit on fire from within. She tried to dilute the intensity of her excitement by giving young Solo a hard time. After all, it had only been a few days since she had stabbed him with his lightsaber. And since their triumph against Palpatine, she had been too alarmed by the speed at which she forgave him.
And even loved him.
Maybe she was crazy…
"Miss me?" Ben teased back. He took his seat behind Chewie and strapped himself in. "This ship will make it through hyperspace just fine now."
"Thanks, Ben." Rey turned to look at him, to express her gratitude. "I trust you and Chewie came to a sort of…understanding?"
"Someone came to an understanding," Ben replied in shy happiness. And Chewie trilled in agreement.
Ben had to admit fixing the compressor was an easy feat, and he had spent most of his time away gathering himself together. The last time things had moved so far in one direction at such a fast speed, was the moment he left the Jedi temple. It was another intense transition, especially for a man who spent more time in his head than out of it.
This direction was a far better one than that which led to those things of a dark and sinister nature. Yet, Ben couldn't help but feel too fortunate. A paranoia that followed him from his past. The only one who could dissipate such paranoia was Rey. When he was with her, he felt in place, and at peace.
"So, I never asked…" Ben continued, "what's on Tatooine?"
"Hopefully, a proper memorial."
"Memorial?"
"I know Luke was raised on a moisture farm on Tatooine. That's the last place he had a normal life. I thought I would pick it as a final resting place for his legacy." Rey reached into a bag near her seat and pulled out Luke and Leia's sabers then turned her seat to face Ben. "Leia's homeworld was destroyed, and it didn't feel right to separate them… so I'll bury these together."
Rey looked from the lightsabers in her hands to Ben. "Do you want to come with me?"
Ben was taken aback at the question. Why wouldn't he say yes? Deep down he felt a sickening almost bloodcurdling sensation. He quickly discerned the source of his terror as the prospect of seeing his uncle again, which would most certainly happen at such a special memorial. Even his disconnect with the force wouldn't stop him from having to face the legendary Skywalker in some form or another.
Was it a feeling of shame? Partly perhaps, but if he was being honest, if there was one person Ben still struggled to forgive it was Luke.
His feelings persuaded him to avoid the event at all costs. He wasn't going to let his sour sentiments prevent Rey from connecting with her mentor.
"Rey… this is your legacy. Not mine." Ben said shortly, yet sincerely.
Rey quietly protested, "The Skywalkers are your blood. Of course, this is your legacy too."
"At one time, I might have believed that. Blood has nothing to do with it." Ben unlatched himself from his seat and reached over to grab Rey's hands, which held the lightsabers. "This is your legacy." Ben stood up from his seat and reached to the roof of the cockpit and plucked something from its geared rafters.
He unfolded his hand to reveal the object to Rey. It was the gold dice his father Han Solo had carried around as a memento since his life on Corellia. The same dice a much younger Ben would show to his peers as a symbol of who he was. The son of an incredible pilot.
"I have to reclaim myself," Ben stated firmly, and with affection. "This is my legacy."
Ben looked at the dice in his hands and twirled them around in his palm.
Ben sat back in his seat and pointed to the twins' lightsabers. "This is something I am not ready for."
Rey looked sadly back at the lightsabers. She felt frustration build inside of her. Here they were, a dyad in the force. They felt so complete with each other, yet Ben struggled to find his way back to the Jedi path. A path she had planned to take as far as she could. She wanted to share this with him, but her eagerness kept getting the best of her. She knew she needed to give him space to orient himself properly. And she would.
It didn't help that her connection to his mind felt dwindling. She felt almost pushed out.
She knew it wasn't Ben's fault. It had something to do with that spiked food he ate. She had hoped it would be a temporary issue. For now, all she could do was try her best to understand.
"Alright, I'll go down on my own. You can stay on the ship, and we will fly off as soon as I'm done." Rey put the lightsabers back in the bag and turned her attention back to the console. "And then we can go anywhere you like! It'll be a nice break from trying to save the galaxy!" Rey giggled and readied the ship for hyperspace.
"Off to Tatooine we go!" She pushed the accelerator and they took off at lightspeed. Just as Ben had latched himself back to his seat.
The jolt of lightspeed in the large Correllian ship took Ben off guard and he clung to the underside of his seat. It had been a long time since he had flown in the Falcon, and this reminder made Ben miss his smooth riding tie fighter. He was in a big metal death trap.
The ship lurched back as it came out of lightspeed and the passengers came back with it. They were above Tatooine's atmosphere and began to descend to the sandy planet.
As they drew closer, Ben realized his only palpable memories of Tatooine were only stories Luke had told him. He knew Luke and Anakin were raised here. Yet, he had never visited. Not even with his father Han, who had too much trauma from being frozen in Carbonite and hung on a wall in Jabba's palace.
Ben wondered what inspired Rey to choose this place (of all places) to bury the lightsabers. He supposed maybe this was something that connected her to Luke. She was from a sandy planet the same as him. And Ben figured Luke was raised by his aunt and uncle who cared for him.
I guess the place did have history…
They finally breached the planet and came to a happy landing just shy of the Lars abandoned moisture farm. Everyone got up and headed for the boarding ramp. Just before Rey exited the ship she stopped and turned to Ben.
"I don't know if I want to do this alone." Rey pleaded
Without hesitating, Ben replied, "You're not alone."
Rey smiled shyly. Memories of their connection on Ach-to surfacing.
"What are you going to do without a saber?" Ben asked.
Surprise and recollection flooded Rey's face and she slapped her hand to her forehead. "I forgot to show you!" She shouted.
Ben raised an eyebrow as Rey reached into the bag holding the Skywalkers' sabers and pulled out what seemed like the end of her bo-staff.
Rey carefully pulled the switch and ignited her yellow lightsaber.
Ben admired it with awe. The light of the saber filled his brown eyes which were wide in wonder.
"It's magnificent." He said in his deep yet softly-spoken voice.
Rey grinned ear to ear, her own eyes glued to the saber. It was her pride and joy. And she was gleefully excited Ben had such high praise about it.
Chewie made a noise some would interpret to sound similar to Wow indicating his admiration. He then slapped Ben on the back and headed back into the ship. Ben now had Rey to himself for a few moments.
Rey retracted her saber, placed it back in her bag, and faced Ben. She gazed up into his eyes. This was just an errand to him, but to her, it was a momentous occasion. She wished Ben could feel what she felt.
"I can't read you so easily anymore." Rey blurted out. Surprised at her forthrightness she quickly darted her eyes away to the sandy horizon.
"You don't need to. I've never lied to you, Rey. Ask me anything." Ben urged. Ben's heart started racing. He wondered what it was she wanted to know. There were a great many things he wanted to know. A lot of those things were of a more light-hearted nature. A lot had to do with coming to know Rey in every thinkable way. Very unlike the kinds of questions Ben was afraid to answer about himself.
There had been one question burning in Rey's mind since they kissed for the first time. Every moment with Ben since has been a dance around this one question. Would Ben tell her the truth?
"I know we are a dyad," Rey began "two that are one…whatever that means."
Rey looked back to Ben, her eyes fixed on his eyes. His eyes hadn't left her. "Despite this, I want to know if… if you love me."
Ben's mouth curled up into a smile. He walked closer to Rey, who had to tilt her head further to follow his face. He gently slid his hand around to the back of her head and neck and kissed her again. Passionate yet short so he could answer her important question.
"I do." Ben grinned. "Do you love me?"
Rey beamed and copied Ben's response without hesitation, "I do."
After which Rey brought her hand to Ben's face and pulled him back in for another kiss.
This kissing lasted much longer and might have been forever if the wind hadn't picked up and sprinkled both people with sand. They stopped and laughed. Rey placed her bag back up on her shoulder which had started to slip during their little moment.
"I'll be back in a jiffy." Rey grabbed Ben's hand and started walking down the boarding ramp. Partly in hopes he would actually follow her. He clung to her hand, but his figure stayed in place. His fear was too strong, despite how much he adored Rey. She finally let go of his hand and headed towards the farm.
Ben leaned against the wall from inside the Falcon and watched her go. His arms folded as if to contain all the happiness.
"I do." He whispered to himself.
As soon as he saw her disappear into the farm's atrium, he turned and went further into the Falcon to go find Chewie. It was time to figure out where they were going next.