The World between Worlds

Chapter 9- The Grey Jedi

Rey lay on Ben's chest in her hut, which was now their hut. Some changes would need to be made to their living arrangements. Sleeping on the floor together couldn't work long term, but for now, in this moment, it was perfect. Her head rose and fell with his inhale and exhale of breath. Within his chest, she could hear the slow, steady and quiet thrum of his heart. Their lower limbs were entangled, and his hand gently traced her spine. They might appear sleeping, but their subconsciouses were very much awake and active; they were sharing memories. Ben was sharing his life, his real life, the one he'd seen in the World Between Worlds, not the life he thought he'd had that had been so wasted in hating himself and everyone around him. Rey was sharing hers freely. Her life on Jakku, training with Luke and Leia, flying with Chewie and her life here on Ahch-To. A life she knew should've been Ben's. His life had never really been his own, hunted from birth as she should have been. He had never really stood a chance against the forces of darkness seeking him. Neither of them could or should dwell on these thoughts. What difference would it make now? The past was the past; they were here; they were together, and that was all that mattered: one, whole, right and good the Dyad as it always should have been at long last.

Rey awoke in the morning alone, and for a moment, she panicked. Had she dreamt it all? Her panic stopped almost as soon as it had started. She could feel him in the Force; he was close by. Exiting their hut, she found him standing on the edge of the cliff outside the Jedi Temple. The rock beneath her feet was still cracked from when Luke had helped her awaken the Force. Ben stood watching the dual suns of Ahch-To rise.

Ben felt her in the Force walking towards him before he felt her arms encompass him from behind.

"I see why you like this place so much," he exclaimed as the dual suns changed the horizon's colour from dark red to warm yellow. They stood in an embrace for a while, appreciating the beauty before them: the wild sea, the native creatures and the sun's warm glow. The chatter of Lanai and the children broke the peace.

"Your padawans will be waiting for their master's lesson," Ben murmured over his shoulder to her, to where she rested.

"Our padawans," Rey replied.

Ben turned to her, adamant that she understood him fully, "No, Rey."

"Ben, you are no longer of the dark."

"Neither am I a Jedi. I shouldn't be teaching anyone."

"It is the destiny of a Jedi to face their fears. You faced yours. Your inheritance, the expectation, you faced them."

"I've faced many fears, your death being one of them, but that doesn't make me a Jedi. Staying on the path and not succumbing to one's fears is a constant conflict that changes and evolves. A lifetime's battle."

"What is it that you fear now?" Rey asked, concerned.

Ben swallowed, he'd had a long time to think about this and knew the answer but admitting it out loud was different.

"Myself. I know, and I remember what I'm capable of when I fall. I never want to become that again."

Rey reached up and stroked his hair before resting her hand on his face, her fingers lingering on his cheek.

"Never be afraid of who you are, Ben. Your mother told me that."

Ben took in a shuddering breath and relaxed his face into her hand, gaining comfort from her touch. She continued, "You stopped me from falling, and I'll stop you. We'll keep each other on the path. Besides I intend to teach a new order, embracing our nature. The old Jedi didn't believe in love and attachment, but it makes us strong. We are something else, something in-between- the Grey Jedi."