Star wars : Reylo chapter I

They sat around a table, the strangest group of people you'd ever expect. Leia Organa, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Rey… and Kylo Ren. Only it wasn't him, not quite… Not anymore. The purpose for their ensemble was, surprisingly, a peace treaty. After the battle on Starkiller base, something had changed… The attacks of the First Order had ceased. And when after a few months the fleet showed up near the resistance hideaway, the rebel fighters were not met with hostility but with a request from the supreme leader himself, Kylo Ren. It was a request for parlay. Leia had almost cried when she had received and watched the holo recording. She knew she was seeing her son Bel Solo, not Supreme leader Kylo Ren. However she was wise enough to realise that her bond with him was still fragile and she tried her best to keep her feelings to herself. The message Leia had received read as follows:

"I am supreme leader Kylo Ren and I am reaching out, not for war but for peace. I do not believe in extremes of light and dark anymore. Both sides have lost too many lives already. Supreme Leader Snoke is dead and with him died his warmongering. If you grant me safe landing on this planet, I will know that you agree to a peace treaty. I will land this evening."

Leia's heart lifted at seeing his face, it no longer looked like Kylo's, he may have introduced himself as such, but she knew better. Rey had an even harder time containing how she felt. She saw the change in Ben as well as Leia did and she couldn't help but wonder what part she had played in it. After some discussion, Leia had decided to let him land. Rey was surprised at the compliance of the resistance. Even Poe seemed relieved by the holo of Kylo. Which was very surprising because he had felt the wrath of Ren more than some. But then again, he also knew war and like everyone, he wanted it to be over.

That evening Rey stood near the landing ship that contained Kylo Ren. She stood behind Leia and could hardly control herself. She felt exited to see him again, but also scared that he might still be mad at her, but also scared that she may be wildly overestimating her importance to Ben. Leia threw her a glance, as if she sensed her disturbance in the force. Rey smiled apologetically and Leia smiled a suspicious smile, like she had figured something out that no one yet knew. It made Rey a bit uncomfortable, she was Ben's mother after all. They stood there for what seemed like a hundred years, whilst Rey tried to avid Leia's eyesight. Finally a ship landed and the doors opened with a hiss…

Rey was pulled from her thoughts and looked up to see only mist. The steam from the doors cleared and Ben walked out. Arms up and wearing not his usual uniform but just black leather pants and a black linen shirt. He looked like a dark Jedi more than a Sith, Rey pondered. He also looked even more handsome than usual. Rey accidentally let her mind wander when she noticed that the hem of his shirt was slightly pulled up by him raising his arms. She could see his hipbones and quickly pulled herself together before she could ponder about things she couldn't see. He walked straight to his mother, being careful not to make any sudden movements. When he reached her he finally broke the silence.

"General Organa, I am glad to see you have accepted my proposal." He spoke as a mirror to her. Rey could immediately see where he had learnt to speak like a politician. Leia seemed to agree with this and smiled a little, but it was graced with sadness. She may be seeing her son but he did not yet see his mother. Their bond was very damaged. Nevertheless Leia kept her head high and responded.

"We're glad to receive you. I think I speak for everyone when I say that the change of leadership in the First Order has pleased us all. We would be glad to put this war behind us and move forward."

This last sentence was met with cheers from the people. Even though most of them had hated Kylo Ren most of their lives. The notion was not lost on them that he could have attacked and killed all of them even now with his existing fleet but instead had come to them, arms raised, asking for a peace treaty. After some time in war, all people want is for the hurt to end. And to have the strongest Sith lord walk into their arms unarmed, gave them immeasurable hope. Even Poe cheered and looked at the pair of mother and son as their grandest hope yet. Rey was happy that the people would accept him, but she couldn't hide her hurt.

Ben hadn't even looked at her. She had been standing so close to him, just behind Leia and he hadn't even so much as glanced in her direction. It was as though they were strangers, and yet they had shared intimate moments together. As Leia led Ben into the Resistance base. Ben gave an order to his men to get food and supplies such as bacta spray from the fleet and share it with the people. When they cheered that time, it was just for him and it seemed to make him more than uncomfortable than anything else. He gave no reaction and followed his mother. Rey was left in the cheering crowd, staring at him, tears welling in her eyes. She felt so stupid, when she had seen the holo she had thought that her luck had finally turned, Ben would come back to her and they could… Well she didn't really know what would happen or what she wanted to happen, but she wanted him near her. And to find out that she had indeed overestimated his interest in her, it crushed her. Finn and Poe were cheering but stopped when they saw Rey's broken expression.

"What's wrong Rey?" Finn asked, with Rose close on his feet. They had become very close and Rey was happy because she liked Rose. She made Finn happy and there was something incredibly comforting in her, just like there was in Finn. They had quickly become her favourite duo of people. But right now she didn't know if they would understand. Poe joined the group.

"Rey, I know you fought him… I saw his worst side as well, but he stopped attacking, he turned the first Order around. He's here now, helping us. And I don't think we should forget that he is Leia and Han's son…" Poe tried to calm her with these words, but he didn't realise that was not why she was hurting. Rey thought about finding an excuse but she looked at her three amazing friends and she couldn't.

"He…" She started, a sob broke of her sentence. She looked at Rose when she said the next part, thinking she would be the first to understand. "He didn't even look at me…" She said it so quietly that only Rose could really hear. Rose smiled and took her into a warm hug. While Finn and Poe looked confused but reassured that Rose was helping Rey. Rose pulled away and looked at Rey's face.

"He's had a rough couple of weeks I'd say and I don't think the awkward family reunion was easy either. Maybe just let him adjust before drawing any conclusions, okay?" She smiled at Rey. Rey was so relieved that Rose understood. She hadn't talked to any one about Ben, but Rose and her had been spending a lot of time together and Rose was observant.

"You don't blame me?" she asked. "He was our enemy." Rose laughed out loud and held Rey by the shoulders.

"You do realise that it's very possible that I fought against Finn right? I may have murdered some of his friends and he may have murdered some of my relatives. There's no way of knowing now, but it's very probable. It's war, Rey. Once you're on a side, you hurt the people on the other side and everyone has people they care about." Rose said all this in a very matter-of-fact way. She looked at Finn and he smiled. Rey laughed and threw her arms around Rose and Finn.

"Thank you." She cried while laughing and pulled away.

"Rey, I'd like you to come with me, you should be a part of these discussions." Leia said, her face in perfect emotionless stance.

Rey however felt her cheeks turn crimson, she quickly searched for another familiar face desperately hoping he wasn't there. Before she could answer Leia said; "He's already inside, now will you come with me."

"Yes, General." She managed. Rey prayed that Leia hadn't been close enough to hear the whole conversation, Finn and Poe might need more words to understand, but Leia wouldn't.

Rey followed her with red cheeks, worried about what Leia might think if she knew… But Leia seemed to be pleased, if anything. They reached the conference room and Leia entered first. There were two seats still available, one at the head of the table and one next to Ben, who sat at the other end. Rey knew Leia would take the seat at the head and she reluctantly sat next to Ben, willing her cheeks to go back to normal. When Leia stood, everybody silenced and the meeting began.

"Kylo Ren, supreme leader of the first Order. We, the resistance, would like to hear your proposal regarding the peace treaty." She sat and looked at her son. Kylo stood and Rey realised again how tall he was, her mouth opened slightly when he towered over her so close… She shut it quickly and realised that he had yet again not looked at her once. Hurt stung her but she kept a brave face and remembered Rose's sweet words.

"First of all, if it is alright with you, I would reclaim my birthname." He looked at General Organa and her stern façade broke. She smiled at him and nodded. Not saying anything, but it was clear that that was because if she did she would cry. Ben nodded back and thanked her. He took a moment to compose himself during which his father secretly wiped away a tear. Luke looked like a kid at Christmas and just smiled.

"I intend to dismantle the first Order. I do not however plan to return to the Jedi ways. The dark side is flawed and leads only to death and destruction, but I believe the ways of the Jedi have the same risk. They have brought me nothing but sorrow. Not unlike Anakin Skywalker, they sent me down a path of darkness." Luke's smile disappeared as he acknowledged this to be true with a small, sad nod. Ben continued.

"It would, I think, be beneficial to all if we were to form a new republic based on a new way of life. Not Jedi, not Sith. Rather, one where love is not a crime, where feelings are not sins. We can unite in a path which holds all that is good from the Jedi ways while including some things from the dark side that would make it a path anyone can tread." Leia had wiped a tear away as she heard her son. This may seem like a political speech, defending a new republic. But beneath that lay the path that Ben had had to endure to come to these truths. The way his family had wanted him to suppress his feelings, the man Anakin had become because of love. It was the culmination of their painful family history. Leia composed herself and stood up.

"I think, that is something we can all agree on." She broke her political stance again and smiled broadly at her only child. She looked so proud and before she could stop herself, she expressed it.

"I'm so proud of you." She sobbed, immediately covering her mouth with one hand. Ben's eyes softened. "Mom…" He made a small gesture and Leia smiled even brighter at hearing that word from his lips. She hadn't smiled like that in years. Since she had lost her son, in fact. Ben smiled too. Rey almost swooned to him being to handsome and good and happy. She was so happy for Leia and for Han, who had put an arm around his wife and had puffed out his chest. Ben smiled at his father and they seemed to come to an understanding without words. But Rey couldn't help feel out of place. They were trying to be a family again and she just sat there swooning over Ben. She felt like she didn't belong, in a room full of people and yet utterly alone. That word hit her like a brick and she tried desperately not to let it show. Just when she thought this, she felt the mental bond between her and Ben stir. The connection was stronger than ever, it was like Ben was making it into something she could hold onto. She didn't how he knew but she accepted the support gladly and held onto it so she would not burst into tears in a room full of people. He may not have looked at her, but they were still not alone. Finally Leia spoke again.

"There are many details to be worked out, but not today. Today we celebrate!" outside, in the hall, she heard cheers. Apparently not everyone understood the idea of a private meeting. Leia couldn't be angry, not right now and she excused herself taking Ben with her to show him his chambers.

"Um.. Mom," he started, the word still a bit strange on his lips. "I have chambers on my ship, I don't want to take up more space. We have another ship with free sleeping quarters if you need more space." Leia just realised she had absolutely nowhere to put him and gratefully accepted his offer.

Outside Leia made the formal announcement. "Tonight we celebrate peace!"

Cheers exploded in the camp and everyone started preparing for a feast. Leia and Ben left to deal with the planning of the food, drink, sleeping quarters, they worked together very well. And Rey was left with just a nod from Leia. And still only through the force bond had she had any contact with Ben. She was grateful for his support but she still felt a little rejected, one look, would have been enough.

She returned to her sleeping quarters to get ready for the feast. She realised that she had absolutely no idea how to make herself presentable and even though she did not admit it to herself she wanted to look pretty tonight. She walked back and hoped to find Leia alone. By some miracle she did and she felt a bit stupid but she was the only one she could think of to ask.

"Leia?" Leia turned around and smiled at the girl. "Yes, my dear?"