Hope Remains - A Reylo Story

⭐Twelve⭐

Hyperspace blurred around the Falcon in a beautiful haze of blues and white. Rey sat in the pilots chair with her legs drawn up close to her chest her mind whirring with all the possibilities of what could happen whence they arrived on Pillio. They had formulated a plan for Lira to keep her safe, turn one of the smuggling compartments into a mini safe haven: Ben had spent the better part of the journey stuffing the too cramped space with blankets and cushions from the bunks. Lira had a small bag down there too filled with knick-knacks and food. They had decided that she needn't go into the crawl space until they had landed on Pillio in the hangar of the Resistance base.

Rey remembered Poe's words and her stomach churned - a welcoming committee of some form would be awaiting her. Yet imminent arrest was not what she feared. She feared the look on Finn's face of when Rey would get the chance to explain everything, should the moment arise.

Rey felt her eyes drifting into memory, the current so strong it was as if she stood on the shore and allowed her buried toes that wriggled deeper, to be softly pulled by the lulling reverie.

"How long will you be gone?" Finn had asked her as he stood against the wall watching as Rey fumbled around drawers and dressers seeking to pack what few belongings she owned.

She had stopped and straightened her back as her hand instinctively hovered across her abdomen. "I... I don't know. However long Poe needs me to remain on this mission for."

"I don't see why you have to do it. The Resistance looks to you, idolises you... And its so soon after Leia." Finn had tried almost a hundred times already to persuade Rey to remain of Pillio but all attempts had proved unsuccessful.

Rey had smiled, it was a small and simple smile much like the one she had presented Leia with many a times before. But now it seemed smaller. "You don't need me, Finn. You have Rose. And Poe and lets not forget Chewie is staying behind." The list could have seemed endless in those moments. She had understood the price of keeping this life inside of her a secret. But she would protect it for herself, the child and for Ben. He would come back to her... One day! Rey was used to waiting and she wouldn't give up. Couldn't give up!

Finn had moved away from the wall sluggishly then and whimpered, "But I need you, Rey. Let me come with you."

"No!" Rey had replied firmly. "Stay here where you are needed. I must go where I am needed. Our paths will cross again, Finn, I am certain of it." He had left her to pack the remainder of her belongings then and once she was ready, stepped out of the door to the cold yet cosy room. Her departure from the hangar had been swift and a gathering had formed. Admittedly, Rey did not know even half of the faces or names of the people there, yet all had congregated to see off the Last Jedi.

The memory faded to dust when Rey felt a feather weight press against her cheek and hands press firmly on her shoulders. Ben leaned over the chair half embracing his wife and half leaning for support. "Are you alright?"

Rey turned her head and smiled at her husband, it did not reach her eyes and Ben noted the great volume of anguish her hazel eyes held. "I'm fine. Just remembering." Ben did not believe she was fine but knew better than to press her save for getting his head bitten off. He knew that Rey would choose to divulge whatever was weighing down on her chest in due course. She just needed time.

"Lira's asleep. Why don't you get some rest and I'll take over for awhile?" Ben soothed his breath tickling Rey's ear as he spoke. Rey did not answer him only leaned up to capture his soft lips with hers. The familiar fireworks and flames roiled inside of her as their lips moved in sync with one another. Her hand curled up around to his neck weaving her fingers through the ends of his silk raven locks. Ben groaned deeply into Rey's mouth at the sensation and felt his blood surge with kinetic electricity. The Force rushed through them in perfect harmony at the joining of the dark and light. Both Ben and Rey had elements of dark and light within them and each other counterbalanced the other with a degree of measure so that the scales tipped to stand equal. They were each one part of yin and yang to the other and these most intimate moments cemented the balance and tranquillity they felt.