Bond (Kylo Ren x Rey)

Bet

A garbled sound left Rey's mouth, the only answer she could possibly have for Leia's matter-of-fact statement. How could she possibly respond to that? She couldn't love Ben, could she? She cared for him, sure. More than just saving him, she painstakingly admitted. But love? Is this what it felt like? Her heart was constantly felt like it was being shredded in two, but she was constantly drawn to him. Despite his actions. In spite of her resistance.

"N-no, I-," Rey stuttered.

In the general's signature gravelly, feminine voice, she gently stated, "My dear, I may not be a Jedi, but I don't need to read your mind to know how you feel. When you talk about his light, your eyes spark. You have compassion for Ben, or else you would not have come this far with him. I have done the same because of the love I still hold for my son."

Leia held out her hand to grasp Rey's and implored her, "Let me show you."

Rey knew what she meant. The Jedi felt out with the Force towards an awaiting Leia, who had a memory floating at the top of her mind. She put one toe in, scared to jump into the memory of the most important leader of the Resistance. But she was sucked downwards, incapable of leaving if she wanted to.

The boy with floppy black hair was familiar. Ben. He couldn't have been more than eight years old. He hadn't transitioned to wearing the stark black clothes yet, so he had opted for a grey tunic and trousers. Rey looked at her surroundings. She was on a large platform overlooking a bustling city. The sun was bright and she could hear the sounds of people mulling below in the streets. But her attention was glued to Ben. And the big, furry beast standing opposite him. Chewie, she thought with a smile. They were both holding wooden sabers and circling each other.

"You're going down, Chewie! Prepare to eat my dust!"

Ben had a mock-serious look gleaming on his face, while Chewbacca grunted for the battle to begin. The little boy charged at the hulking mass of hair, absolutely fearless. Rey had never known Ben to be without fear. But in this moment, he was hurtling towards the Wookie with his long raven hair flopping behind him. Chewbacca humored the little boy, clashing wood saber against wood saber. Ben snuck in a poke of the saber to the Wookie's ribcage before he gripped Ben at the waist and slung him over his shoulder. Rey couldn't help but chuckle to see the future Supreme Leader dangling from Chewie's back, still valiantly trying to whack him with the wooden stick. She could hear Ben's cries of laughter, muffled by Chewbacca's fur as he hauled him into what must've been his home.

The scene shifted and blurred, and she was back, sitting in front of Leia. Rey looked over to the ever-strong general to see tears in her eyes mirroring her own.

"My son, he was so sweet, so gentle. But as Snoke infected him more and more, Ben was not able to keep the dark at bay. We feared what he would do, so Han and I sent him to Luke. Our distance pushed him away, further into Snoke's embrace. I will never forgive myself for what I did to my poor boy. I held him at arm's length instead of helping him and understanding him. But never doubt that I loved him. I still do."

Rey could hear the strain in Leia's voice from trying to contain her emotions. This had torn the mother's world apart. The scavenger gripped her hand harder, giving it a squeeze.

"We will fight for him. No matter what happened in the past, there is still time to fix what has been broken. Ben Solo is worth saving," Rey said, looking directly into Leia's eyes, determined and fierce.

She knew then in that moment, that yes, she did love him. That her determination to help and care indicated her deeply set feelings for this boy, this man. She could still see little Ben in her mind's eye howling with laughter while struggling against a stubborn Chewbacca. Ben Solo still deserved that love. And he had it, even if he didn't know it yet. Leia interrupted her train of thought with seriousness.

"My Ben is worth saving, you're right. But Rey, if you meet him on that battlefield, and he has not made his choice for the light...you must do what is necessary." Rey tried to object, but Leia continued, "This is the last chance for the Resistance. If my boy has remained with the dark side by next time you see him in person, we must fight for justice, for the oppressed, even if that means you must fight him."

"I cannot hurt him," Rey choked out, tears running freely now.

"I know, my dear. But it doesn't mean you can't subdue him. You are the only one powerful enough to do so. Once he is captured, we will be able to talk to him and show him how much we truly love him. I bet he won't enjoy the experience," she tried to give a laugh, "but I believe that through time, and especially now without Snoke's influence, he may come back to us."

Rey nodded, not sure what to say anymore. She wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, playing the scenario over in her head. Would she be able to capture him? Was she completely sure that he wouldn't hurt her? If he was desperate? Surely not. He wouldn't hurt her before, and after the moments they'd had together, Rey was willing to bet he wouldn't now.

"This is a gamble, and a lot to think about. It's getting late and you need all the rest you can get. Why don't you just sleep on it tonight?" Leia gently offered.

Rey turned her head towards the opening of the tent to see that the sun had already set. She rose from her chair, still holding the general's surprisingly strong hands in hers. This was her moment to prove herself to the Resistance. She had already made up her mind. Looking down at the woman, the mother before her, Rey smiled. The gesture wasn't truly happy, but it was determined.

"No need. I will do what is necessary. For the Resistance, for us, for Ben."

Aided by Rey's strength, Leia stood up. She took a hand and cupped Rey's cheek, giving her a faint smile.

"If I had a daughter, I would have wanted her to be like you," she said, giving Rey a motherly kiss on the forehead. Tears reemerged as she let go of the general's hands and walked out into the moonlit night on Naboo.

Rey stopped by the mess hall to grab a quick snack before it closed. Smiling at her fellow members of the Resistance, she made her way back to her tent, illuminated only by starlight. This was where she belonged. She wasn't a little girl pining for her parents on Jakku. She wasn't lost anymore. She had people who respected her and loved her. Rey was home. With the Resistance, with Leia, with Finn, with Poe. With Ben.

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They have a plan for Ben! Will it go according to plan? Probs not but I'm sure Rey'll try her darnedest! Cute mother/kinda-daugther moment with Rey and Leia I just wanted to sneak in there! Let me know what you think!