•LEGACY - A Reylo Story•

EPISODE XLVIII - THE TRUTH IS OUT

"Master Luke!" yelps C-3PO. "He's back! Oh, R2!"

R2 blips and hums, glancing at Ben, who nods.

They leave the cell that Ben's been confined to ever since the brawl—a month ago now. Mother, Lando, Chewie, and the droids at the only ones who visit him now. Poe hasn't come, not that Ben expected him to, and Finn hasn't come either, not even to seek answers.

Ben's not surprised, though, when Chewie and Lando show up within the hour. "Luke and Maz want to see you," Lando informs him.

Ben sighs.

Sure enough, Luke greets him with folded arms and a deep scowl.

"I'm sorry," Ben says.

"Give the child a break, Luke," the small orange creature Ben vaguely remembers from one of his father's trips on the Millennium Falconinterjects.

"Hmph." Luke leans against the wall, and Ben notices his mother perched on a bench, next to Finn, who won't look at him, and Poe, who glowers at him.

"Have a seat," Mother invites him. Lando guides him to a bench that faces the others.

"I am sorry to tell you I have no news of the girl," Maz says. "But all of my contacts are on the lookout for any signs of the First Order. I should expect to hear from them soon. Or else I'll send my boyfriend after them." She jostles Chewie with her elbow.

Ben wrinkles his nose.

Maz removes her goggles and peers at Ben, creeping closer. Ben jerks back.

"Oh, that's not good," Finn crows. "She did that to me once, too—"

"Ah," Maz says softly. "I see it now. Why you tried to run."

"I was trying to save Rey."

She nods. "It's what Han would have done."

Ben gulps.

"Shouldn't you tell them?" Maz asks. "Just what are you waiting for? Why are you keeping it all to yourself?"

Shit. Shit, shit, shit. "What are you talking about?" he asks weakly.

Maz puts her hands on her hips. "They all know you're keeping something from them. Despite what you think, you're not an accomplished liar, Ben Solo. Manipulation, yes, you're skilled at that only because you're so complicated. But I can see you. I see your eyes. I've seen that look thousands of times over."

"You can tell that I'm hiding something just by looking at my eyes?" Ben demands.

"I can tell what you're hiding—or should I say, who—by the Force. But in your eyes: you're afraid. Not just for yourself, although that's there." Maz purses her lips. The room is dimly lit, and yet Ben can tell every single person in the room, every droid, is watching him. "Child, when are you going to stop being afraid?"

He shakes his head.

"This is not something you should be ashamed of," Maz informs him.

"That's easy for you to say," Ben retorts.

"Quit stalling, Solo."

He's really going to have to do it. There's no way he'll be able to refuse now. Chewie's massive hand comes to rest on Ben's hair as if to say, you're not alone.

Ben presses his fists against his side, probing, and then enlists them to cover his face as he leans over, his voice coming out a muffled whisper. "Rey's pregnant."

For a moment he wonders if anyone heard.

"What?" Luke asks.

No one else speaks. Good grief, does he have to say it again?