Ouroboros

Twenty Eight

Twenty Eight.

"Rey."

The word was weak, barely a breath, but it was there. She gave something halfway between a laugh and a sob.

"Ben," she whispered. "You're alive." He shakily raised a hand to lightly touch her cheek with the tips of his fingers, the gentle touch a very human, a very tender gesture.

"I hope so," he managed. "Be very disappointed...if this was just a dream..." She smiled then and he reciprocated, his features lighting with the grin.

"It's really you," she whispered. "Not Kylo-Ben."

"I think both of them...are versions of me...but I'm back in the Light..." he sighed, grimacing. He shifted his position slightly. "This really isn't the most comfortable bed," he added. Rey nodded.

"Are you okay otherwise?" she asked and the smile dropped a little.

"Had a busy time since you...went," he admitted. "But I'm alive-we're both alive-and anything else can heal..." Rey stared into his eyes-then lunged forward, pressing her lips to his and he immediately responded, kissing back, his hand gently cupping the back of her neck. She was everything he had ever imagined, that unique mix of sweetness and ferocity that was Rey. She was inexperienced and he hadn't had much more practice but there was an urgency in her kiss that filled his senses, supplemented by the desire he felt surge down the Bond, tempered with her relief that he was back with her once more. And he never wanted to let her go...until he felt her pull away and then he gently released her. He was grinning then, his entire face lit once more with a broad grin that transformed his stern features.

"I've been wanting to do that since...forever," she said, a blush warming her cheeks.

"Ahch-To," he absently murmured and then met her eyes. "Because I've been wanting to do that for at least as long." He swallowed and looked into her eyes, shields down and free from all artifice. "Because I love you."

"Touching though this is, does anyone remember there is a war going on above us?" Poe asked in an impatient voice. Both Rose and Finn hit his arms simultaneously. "Hey-but there are still stormtroopers out there and I need to know if we're kicking their butts or not..." He was interrupted as the familiar sounds of the Millennium Falcon's engines drowned them out and the freighter spun and landed rather awkwardly on the uneven ground of the plateau, the backwash almost knocking them over. Poe was on his feet instantly with Finn at his side, both heading straight to the ship. Giving a stream of relieved beeps, BB-8 rolled along after them before Rey and Rose managed to manhandle Ben to his feet. He grimaced and nearly fell, his legs buckling and needing Rey and Rose to support him as he stumbled up the ship. Jannah was waiting, her eyes wide as she stared at Rey.

"I really didn't think it was possible..." she murmured as the Jedi paused and turned, gesturing. The two lightsabers and her staff flew into her hands before she resumed half-dragging the listing Ben onto the freighter. He leaned against the wall as the ramp closed and Jannah turned back to the main passageway. Up in the cockpit, he could hear Zorii and Poe arguing over who should fly the Falcon. Rey's face hardened and she glared.

"Go," Ben said. "I'll be alright. And this is your ship, after all." Suddenly shy, she looked up into his eyes.

"Actually, I think it should be yours," she said but he gently lifted her chin with one finger.

"Rey," he sighed. "I think I gave up my claim on this ship when I murdered my father. He would want you to have it because I think...in the short time he knew you...he saw in you the daughter he never had. And maybe the child he wanted." There was a tinge of pain to his tone but he was nothing but sincere. "So he would want you or Chewie to have her. And I think you can stop those idiots arguing and get us out of here. I'll be fine." She gave a small nod and ran as he finally sagged. Rose frowned.