Star Wars: Reylo chapter VI

Ben went to practise in the woods, he tore down a few trees before he calmed down. He wanted so badly to make this match work, to make Rey happy, but when she shivered like that, it felt like she was revolted by the idea of being touched by him. He believed that part of it was due to the fact that she didn't like touch in general, but it felt like it was more due to him than anything else. And yet she was the one who had insisted on the wedding night, though her reason for that was good as well. He couldn't make sense of it and it drove his mind to places he didn't want to go. So he held onto words that brought him comfort, when she had said he wasn't alone either, when she said she would never forget the night they danced. His mind was trying to focus on the good things, but it couldn't. The dark was taking over again and this time it wasn't of Snoke's making, it was entirely his own self-hatred that brought this on. The only thing he can do is cut down trees unstill he can't hold himself up any longer. Then when he was about to let the dark overtake him, he suddenly felt a disturbance in the force.

It was Rey, he saw her, but she was asleep. He felt that she had been reaching out. She was dreaming and he was about to look away when she said something. "Ben." He jerked his head back and looked at her again, did he mishear, it couldn't be. But then she said it again; "Ben". It wasn't said with fear or anger, she said it with longing. Ben couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She rolled over and a smile graced her features. Ben smiled weakly and his knees gave out. The darkness left him without him even noticing, then she was gone. It was as simple as that, no guarantees, but that small show of affection gave him the spark of hope he needed to keep his heart light. He groaned and got up, his muscles aching from his exertion. He returned to his chambers tired but relieved in his heart. There was at least something between them, and he was determined to do everything in his power to let her feelings grow.

The next morning he greeted her at the door, they were after all supposed to look more like a regular couple. Rey was surprised to see him, but happy.

"So, what's on the agenda?" She asked shyly. Ben had received a list of things her mother wanted to have them do, but he had thrown it away. "I found something that I think you'll like. They walked through the camp in a way to show to Leia that they were at least being seen together. Then he took her into the woods. They walked almost the whole way in silence, but Rey didn't mind, she enjoyed the calm atmosphere, the camp was a lot sometimes. Finally Ben pushed some branches away and gestured Rey to go through. Rey walked past him, and she had to stop to catch her breath. It was beautiful, she was standing in an open spot in the woods surrounded by high trees. In the middle a stream went into a small clear lake and a tiny waterfall passed in further down the mountain.

"I know you like baths, so I thought you might like this." Rey stared at the beautiful sight before her and forgot all her other troubles. Ben looked only at her. "Can we swim in it?" She suddenly asked.

"Sure, but… do you know how to swim?" He looked at her a bit hesitantly, he knew that she couldn't swim and also. she'd have to take off some clothes if she wanted to try. But Rey was solely captured by the glistening surface.

"You could teach me." She looked at him with such excitement that he could hardly say no. So he walked over to the water and pulled his shirt off. He kicked off his boots and walked into the water with just his black pants. He felt the temperature and decided it was fine, it was warm even, Naboo was always warm. Then he turned around to find Rey staring, he realised she might not be comfortable with his undressing. And he started to get out of the water. "I can put the shirt back on if you'd like." He started but she quickly interjected. "No!" she said a little too quick. "I mean... you've seen me in the bath, and I mean, we're going to be married, and I've seen you without a shirt in training."

Rey tried her best to sound casual, while her minds raced to other visuals of Ben like this. But she was determined to make this go as smoothly as possible, she was just going to learn how to swim. So she started to take her shirt of, she kept her eyes firmly on the ground. Ben wanted to look away, but he couldn't. Rey took off her linen pants and belt and placed them on the pile of clothes she had made. She felt Ben's eyes on her, and she wanted to keep them there. She knew that he had said he wanted her, but she didn't truly believe it, but in this moment, she willed herself to believe. Ben was mesmerised and couldn't tear his eyes way, she was so soft and beautiful, he couldn't believe she was willingly doing this in front of him.

Rey made a last-minute decision to undo her hair, so she pulled out the string that held her braid together and untangled her hair. Then she walked towards the water's edge. She looked up at Ben and their eyes met in a tangible moment of tension.

Ben held out his arms and Rey gladly took them. He guided her in the water and held her up so she could learn how to keep herself on the surface. They didn't talk much, he just helped her when she needed it. But she quickly got the hang of it and was gliding through the water with no effort. Then Ben said:

"You know you can float on your own right?" Rey's head snapped back to him, and she shook her head.

"Can you teach me?" Ben nodded and gestured her to come to him. She obliged. He held the small of her back and pushed it up. She felt her body react to him but willed it to calm down. Then she rose out of the water, and she felt the sun kiss her skin. She was floating in the water, warmed by the sun, held by Ben. If she had dreamt up how her life would change, she could not have created a better scenario than this. She was in absolute bliss.

Suddenly she felt him let go. She quickly turned her head and let her body sink.

"Why would you do that?" She stared at him with big eyes. Ben laughed. She almost forgot her anger, since she had never seen him laugh in such a casual, free manner, he looked gorgeous.

"I'm sorry, I should have said but you looked so peaceful. I thought I'd let you go. I know you can float on you own and I know you don't love to be touched."

"I don't mind being touched by you." It came out before Rey could stop it. She hadn't meant to tell him. Ben's eyes grew narrow for a second and then they softened.

"Good." He said, almost in his political voice. Then his attention seemed to be caught by something else.

"Leia, she wanted us back at the camp." He looked at her apologetically. Rey raised an eyebrow.

"Why does she need us?"

"I might've thrown out today's itinerary." Rey was shocked that he would do something like that, she would never go against Leia.

"We should get back, why would you do that, she'll be expecting us somewhere!"

"I wanted some time away with my fiancé and I thought you might enjoy the water." Rey blushed and looked down. She had enjoyed it; in fact this might've been the happiest she'd ever been. But she couldn't tell him that.

"I did, thank you." Was all she could manage. But she gladly took his hand when offered to help her out of the water and this time she didn't pull away or shudder. She still felt the electricity, but it felt warm now, more comfortable and she kind of didn't want to let go.