Confronting Fear

Theed

You thought you'd found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace

Beautiful Day - U2

A/N this is not a drill folks! I'm finally close enough to finishing up the Naboo Arc that I'm confident enough to post a chapter of it. The other 7 chapters will be coming soon, I promise. In the meantime, please enjoy this sneak peak.

Ben heard Rey before he saw her, her sweet laugh ringing out over the landing platform that held the ships. She was working on the outside of the Falcon, the dark-haired girl, Rose with her. They were whispering conspiratorially before both women burst into laughter. He couldn't help but be a bit jealous of this person who made his Rey laugh so easily, but then again, there was much he didn't understand about friendship in general, much less friendships between women. He slung his small pack over his shoulder, calling out to Rey to get her attention. Rose glared holes into Ben from afar as Rey excused herself,

Rey followed him to the Dark Star, her aura jittery.

"The Equinox is in orbit around Chalcedon which is not far at all from here. If things go bad for some reason meet me there. Bring your friends if you have to, I'll return them to their base unharmed," Ben told her.

"What do you think will go wrong?" Rey asked, more curious than concerned.

"I don't know, I just have a feeling," Ben answered truthfully.

"From here I'll rendezvous with Shiro, Mitaka, Klendra, and two of my knights dressed as Death Troopers. The knights will fly the Dark Star to Theed and I'll arrive in my shuttle," Ben sucked at his teeth while fidgeting with the dagger at his waist. "We can't be seen as too friendly there, but, you already know that."

He pulled Rey into a loose hug, he knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help it. It could be days or weeks before he held her in his arms again depending on how this went. Much to his surprise, she pulled him closer.

"We always have the bond," she whispered in his ear.

He swallowed hard, "I know. And Rey, for the sake of show I'll have to say things that I don't really mean."

"Leia already told me, that would be the case, just tell me through the bond, tell me what you don't mean," Rey replied.

Ben knew she was speaking because her lips were moving but he was so focused on them he barely heard her. She'd let him hug her, maybe he could....

He didn't have to wonder long as Rey pressed her mouth to his, lightly at first but more urgently as Ben deepened her kiss, groaning against her lips. His dismay when she pulled away could not be overstated, her's either, if her aura was anything to go off of.

"I should go," he said rather lamely.

"Yeah," Rey replied as she gathered herself. "Me too, may the Force be with you..."

He watched her leave down the loading ramp, his heart already heavy at the distance between them. Maker, what had she done to him?

*

Rose watched Rey tinker with the controls as she set the ship to autopilot to Theed, having elected to ride with her. Poe was piloting the Redeemer now and Finn was copiloting the Falcon with Chewy leaving her free to do so. She had something private to discuss with her Jedi friend who was suspiciously quiet and had been since Rose had spied on them making out in Ren's ship.

Once the ship was in the air with the gorgeous Naboo landscape beneath them she decided it was best to just say it. "Rey what is going on between you and Kylo Ren?" she blurted out.