Hope Remains - A Reylo Story

⭐Nine⭐

The soft humming of the engines helped Ben sleep - it had felt like a lifetime since he had slept aboard the Millennium Falcon. Rey had told him to get some rest in the bunks after they had formulated some sort of plan. It wouldn't have been fair to Lira for them to turn themselves in so they decided to settle on Naboo for a while in the Lake Country as they had four years ago. The ruse had created the perfect opportunity for Ben Solo to rise again from the fractures of ash. Those who didn't know Ben was Kylo Ren would be easily swayed but those who knew the secrets would want blood, retribution for his war crimes. He had tossed and turned for awhile before he was able to finally sleep: the worries and torments about keeping Rey and Lira safe.

Ben didn't realise how well he had slept. He wasn't sure if it was Rey's presence or Lira sleeping in the bed adjacent to his but there was a calming allure in the atmosphere. Ben dreamed of a life outside the First Order and the Resistance, where he and Rey could both be happy. They lived in his grandmother's lake house on Naboo, isolated and quiet with plenty of space. In this dream, Ben was sat on a small hill across from the lake watching Lira play with two children, a young boy and girl of the same age. He knew they were his children from their appearance. He watched them play tag and play pretend Jedi with sticks whilst he sat with Rey in between his legs snuggled close against him. Ben's hands rested against Rey's swollen abdomen the promise of another child on the way. It was a bittersweet dream, one he had had before when they were last on Naboo together. Perhaps it was coincidence... Or maybe it was the Force showing him the promise of a beautiful and bright future.

Ben awoke to the thump of the Falcon dropping out of light speed with a jolt. His mind hadn't quite materialised with his surroundings but Ben's confusion only grew when he felt a warm tiny form snuggling close to his body. When he looked down Ben saw the muss of raven hair snoring lightly in the grove of his armpit. Lira had obviously snuck out of her own bunk during the night to sleep, the covers had been thrown back and she had disregarded her pilot doll, opting to drag her wookie which was now squished between Ben's muscular frame and Lira's slight body. He sat up gently pulling his arm free of Lira's grasp and shuffling out of the covers to the end of the bed. Ben pulled on his boots and stood up stretching out the tensions in his muscles, aye it was about time for a well needed shower but he knew the Falcon was poorly equipped in the hygiene department. Instead he strolled to the doorway before freezing and pivoting on his heels. Ben looked back at his sleeping daughter, so peaceful and vulnerable: he tiptoed quietly up alongside the small bunk and bent down to plant a fairy's kiss, light and delicate like a feather, on Lira's forehead.

"Morning." Ben grumbled to Rey in a low husky voice as he entered the cockpit. He leaned over to her and kissed her softly.

"I suppose it is." Rey laughed lightly. One could never tell when day and night occurred in the endless vacuum of space. She assumed her circadian rhythm was still synced with that of Dantooine time zones and Ben's to Balmorra. "We'll be at the Naberrie Country House in half an hour. Ten minutes until re-entry into Naboo's atmosphere." Rey informed Ben. He nodded.

"Is Lira still asleep?" Rey asked after a moment of comfortable silence ensued.

"Yes. Let's leave her that way." Ben watched a small smile tweak Rey's lips and his mind drifted to the dream he'd had - in truth, Ben had never ever thought he would have children but something inside him changed when he had laid with Rey those nights four years ago. He had envisioned them living married and happily surrounded by a small brood of little Solo's. Little Solo's, he thought to himself and chuckled low. "You know," he began, "I woke up to Lira lying next to me, hugging me."

Rey laughed. It wasn't unlike Lira to sneak into bed with Rey, it was one of her antics that Rey admired very much. "She does it almost every night."