Chapter Text
The way home was long, but he felt satisfied, he made a little baby happy, the mother of the child gave the baby to Ben for a few moments and despite everything, the little girl smiled to him, so brightly, that he started to imagine his own baby girl, smiling at him that way, even brighter.
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
“I see” the old man spoke calmly.
“See what?” he answered in a hurried voice.
“You are embracing your light, changing yourself, I am glad Ben”.
Luke was calm and solemn but his voice sounded a bit happy.
“I am not doing this for you, my parents or even myself” he replied not angry, but sad.
“I know, you did all for her, love is something amazing, my father changed because of love too, at the end his love for me saved him, and like Rey, I never lost hope” he was looking at Ben, his eyes were trying to say something more than his words.
“But it was not enough” he whispered.
“You believe that?, the important thing here is that Rey now is happy I sense it, she deserved it”
Ben’s eyes were glistening, then he suddenly stopped.
“You, old man, I need to ask you a favor” he was almost choking. “I know i have no right, but isn't about me, I need you to look after Rey, she wont reopen the bond, so I just want you to tell me if she is in danger”Ben’s voice was full of emotion, he was almost crying.
Luke stayed silent.
“I am willing to sacrifice my life for her and her family, I just need you to do that, Rey, deserves everything and I will always be there for her, even if she believes I am a monster” his face contorted, but he was firm and his tone demonstrated conviction.
Luke smiled sadly at him.
“You really love her”
“Just promise me that, I beg you uncle” he spoke the last words like a whisper.
“Fine kid, I promise that, but believe me when I say that life is full of surprises, even for you”
Before he could reply, his uncle vanished.
Ben arrived to his new home, small but cozy. he opened the door and then he saw her. Rey, Ben blinked several times, surely it was just his mind playing cruel games with him. He was about to say something when she spoke.
“Hi” she said in a small voice.
“Rey, what… why?” he could’t say more.
“You look really bad Ben” she pointed out, then looked at him closer. “Gods!, Ben, what happened?”
She ran to him, she looked terrified.
“Nothing really, I ran into a creature that was threatening an old couple” he found himself giving a great explanation. He wasn't sure why.
Rey didn’t say anything, she ran her fingers through his face.
“You should take care of yourself, I know you believe you deserve this, but you don’t" she had tears in the corner of her eyes.
“Helping this people its just a small price for my crimes, Rey” he responded, trying not to sound to weak due to her presence.
“Ben, I…” she was about to say something but Ben interrupted her.
“Just give me a day or two, I will face whatever other punishment the Resistance wants for me, Rey I wont fight you, don't worry” he said with his eyes on hers.
“You are an idiot Ben Solo” she said while crying.
He just stared at her not sure what to respond.
“I just needed to arrange some things, it took me a bit, but I have been dreaming of you every night, in my dreams you said to me ‘I love you’, you made love to me every night, we had a beautiful baby girl, we lived in a small cozy home, we were happy” she said shyly, cheeks burning.
Ben just hold her so fiercely that Rey felt she was going to melt. She embraced him and he prayed to all gods that Rey was real.
“You didn’t respond when I confessed” he found himself remembering that, he still doubted the reality of that moment.
Rey sighed.
“I was speechless, I didn't know what to say, then when I was on my way to your bunk, you had left”she was openly sobbing.”You left me behind, I never felt so alone in my life, never, not even in the cave”
Ben hold her tightly, he hated that she cried.
“I saw the way the pilot looked at you, and how much you liked his presence, how brightly you smiled at him”, he was almost choking on words. “I knew at the moment that I never stood a chance, that you would never…”
“I never loved him, never desired him, he is only my friend” she told him shyly,
“But you never …”
“I was overwhelmed , I am sorry , I… I love you” she finally found the courage to say it.
Ben felt a warm feeling forming inside of him, he wanted to say many things, but let her continue.
“You are the only man for me Ben, I only want you” she was sobbing louder.
Ben never believed she would come back. And now he was having a hard time processing it. But life was full of surprises, good ones, bad ones, and miraculous ones.
This was just the beginning.