Thousands of pairs of eyes were staring directly at him. The usual terror and distrust on their faces. He could expect no less. Not after the horror he had brought them and their families. Including his own. He would spend the rest of his life trying to atone for that.
Rey pushed her hand towards him again as he hesitated. He could feel her happiness. It was flowing off of her in waves. And trust. She honestly trusted him. Trusted that the Darkness had been subdued. He wasn't as certain.
With some reluctance he took her hand. Her hazel eyes bore into his. She was smiling. Her warmth and happiness calmed him. He stepped closer to her, a sign of solidarity and unification. He had no words for them, there was nothing he could possibly say.
The crowd seemed to understand as well. They looked at them with apprehension. Even though they trusted Rey, they weren't sure how to take this news. Even if it had been what General Organa had wanted all along.
The tension was so thick you could cut it with a vibroblade. Poe stepped up beside Rey. He was eye to eye with the man that had chased them from every corner of the Galaxy. Had cut down good fighters - good people. But the man who stood before him didn't look so frightening. He was still dressed in black, but the mask was gone. He stood, somehow, less rigid. His eyes were no longer pools of hatred, but warm, liquidy brown.
Though his feelings were still mixed, Poe knew what had to be done. If there would be peace in the galaxy, it had to start somewhere. He held out his hand.
Ben was surprised by the gesture. He held onto Rey's hand with his left and greeted the young General with his right.
"Make it right," Poe said. "You owe Her that."
Ben knew in an instant who Dameron meant. The crowd parted and allowed them to pass, closing in behind them and reviving their celebration. Rey led the way through the encampment to the room which had belonged to General Leia Organa.
When he saw the sheet of white draped across the body - Ben fell to his knees beside her. She had given her life to reach out to him. To call to his good nature which had been hidden beneath the scars of the past. She had cut to his core and reminded him of her love. That she never lost faith in him. That she never would.
Rey was at his side. Sinking to her knees beside him, she bowed her head. Tears began to fall from her eyes.
"I did this." Ben told her. He felt a tightness in his chest.
Rey shook her head. "Maybe. But she knew the cost and was willing to pay it. For you."
Ben laid his forehead against the bed. He wished he could feel her touch just one more time. To remember the feel of his mother's arms.
Two things occurred at once. Rey gasped, and Ben felt a hand on his back.
Ben lifted his head. The body on the bed was gone. He looked to the side where Rey knelt beside him. She was staring at something behind him. He craned his head around, his eyes following a ghostly arm that connected to the ghost of his mother, General Leia Organa.
"Welcome home," She said with a smile as he got to his feet.
"Mother I-"
She raised a hand to stop him from attempting to apologize - as if anything that could be said would make up for everything done. She shook her head and cupped his face in her hands.
"I'm so proud to see the shroud around you gone."
"But I've done such horrible things…"
"And you have the chance now to help make things right. I am proud of you, Ben. I've always been proud - even when you were wrapped in Darkness. You are my son. I knew you would come back to us."
"How can I possibly make up-"
"Together," Leia turned and smiled at Rey. "You will serve the will of the Force. You will be the Guardians of the Light and the Dark. You will lead others to the ways of the Force. You will be the Beacons for the Galaxy. Pillars reminding them of the past and the present, and what can happen when the scale tips too far in either direction."
"Mother?"
"I know," Leia smiled. "It will be a hard journey. But you are not alone. You have each other." She took both of their hands and held them in hers. Even in death, her touch was soft and warm and comforting. She lingered only moments, leaving them both speechless with tears in their eyes.
All around them, the base broke out in celebration. The end of the Emperor. The unified force of the people of the Galaxy. It was a time to mourn the loss of comrades, and to celebrate the victories achieved. It was time to be together.
Finn and Poe found Rey as she and Ben were leaving Leia's shroud. They wrapped her in an embrace while Ben looked on, wondering if one day he'd earn friendships like theirs. Whatever the future held, it would be time before anyone else came to trust him as dearly as they did her. Ben admired her. He'd been stronger in the Force - had years of training ahead of her. But Rey had something he didn't - the love of those around her. Friendships to bolster her. He yearned for that too.