•LEGACY - A Reylo Story•

EPISODE LIII - STOWAWAY

"I love her. That's my child," Ben pleads to his mother.

"I think it makes sense for you to be there as well," she agrees. "But the others won't hear of it. They think you can advise them just as well here in D'Qar via transmissions."

"I'll go crazy if I stay here."

Come back for me.

I'm trying, Rey.

Though inside he knows that if he helps the others, Rey will respect that. And he can't think of more capable people to rescue Rey than his mother, Luke Skywalker, Poe Dameron, Finn, Chewie, and Lando Calrissian. Plus three droids that, despite the fact that they're droids, seem emotionally invested.

Mother shrugs.

Heaving a sigh, Ben sits on the cot in his cell. When Rey's back, will he be allowed to go free? If not, will she stay with him? He could never ask that of her.

And she'll have their child, and he'll be a father. Ben shudders. He wonders that Han would think. At least you know he liked Rey.

Mother takes a seat next to him, slipping her arm around his shoulder like she always did when he was young and disappointed.

Is it just that everyone you're close with will be gone, except Maz? Are you scared? he taunts himself.

Not for myself, he responds, shutting his dark side up.

Ben leans his head against her. "Make sure she's okay. No matter what else happens."

"I promise," she says.

"I love her."

"I know."

And he's afraid. When they get her back—because they have to—what does he know about being a father? He's still not sure he even knows how to be a son.

"Why didn't you tell us, Ben?" Mother asks, peering at him. "Why keep it in?"

"I was afraid of exactly what you're saying," Ben says. "That the child is important. Powerful. And I'm afraid for Rey. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense. It's like... speaking it makes it more real, and..."

"You're still nervous," Mother states.

"Just about... the baby. I want the child, I'm so excited—and yet I'm so afraid."

She grasps his chin, turning his face to hers. "Oh yes," she says. "You're feeling just like your father felt, before we had you. You'll figure it out. Han wasn't perfect—but he tried, he did his best—"

"I know he did," Ben admits, pressing his forehead into her neck. They stay wrapped in each other's embrace, mother and son, for minutes.

"He'd be proud of you, you know," Mother whispers.

Ben doesn't know that. But he hopes so. Oh, how he hopes so.

Mother leaves and the door closes. The light never changes, but it still feels like shadows creep in. "Grandfather?"

He doesn't appear. Ben scowls.

The door slides back open, and his uncle strides in.

"This is unsanctioned," Luke warns him.

"What is?"

"R2 may have temporarily disabled the monitors via a distraction in the form of BB-8 playing with the cords," Poe chimes in, poking his head through the cell door.

"If you still want to come, move," Luke orders, grabbing his nephew by the shoulder.

"You're helping me?"

"We're helping you help Rey." Poe marches along the corridor.

"Coast is clear," Finn's voice travels through a radio in Luke's hand.

"Good." Luke slips a lightsaber into Ben's belt. "You can have this back now."

They slink up the stairway. Worry pounds at Ben. "Won't this undermine Mother's authority?"

"Nope. They'll all know it was my idea," Poe says with a grin. "Trust me."

And then they're outside, and Poe and Luke hurry him over to the Millennium Falcon.

"In here, kid." Lando shoves him down into a small compartment that presumably Lando, and then his father, once used for smuggling. "We'll let you out when we're in the air."

Ben's frame barely fits, and the metal door scrapes his back as Lando pulls the cover over it. It's okay, he tells himself, trying to find the best place to position his nose when his knees are shoved up against his face. You're doing this for Rey.

You'll see her soon.

A Wookiee moans, droids bleep, his mother barks out orders and shouts at C-3PO for calling her princess. Ben smiles to himself as he remembers his father, when Ben was about five years old, ordering the droid to always call her princess, despite what his mother said.

A clang echoes. The ramp's closed. And within moments, Ben hears the shudder of engines starting, and they're airborne.

It won't be long now.

"What are you talking about, Ackbar?" Mother's voice rings out. "He's gone?"

"Er, about that," Poe cuts in. "Give me the radio, General. Lando, do you mind?"

Lando pries open the compartment and helps Ben out. Mother's mouth drops as she struggles to decide whether to slap him, or Poe, or her brother.

"Sorry, Leia. I just didn't think it'd be right to leave him behind," Luke says.

"Good for you, Ben Solo!" cheers Maz from the radio.