Reylo | We deserved better

In the end it was him...

This is to all the Reylo Shippers who were left with a broken heart after The Rise of Skywalker.

The one-shot is a extended version of the edit of the Final scenes I just made, in honor to give Ben and Rey the happy ending they deserve.

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Her gaze went to the spot where just a few seconds ago the Empereor had stood. Where he tried to kill both her an her friends without any hesitation. And now there was nothing left.A trembling breath escaped her lungs as her body simply gave up. Luke and Leias lightsabers fell to the ground, whirling up the dust. The thud was a sound every force sensetive person near her could feel. Could feel how the last bit of life left Rey.As she fell down on her knees and collapsed, Finn who just was safed from the exploding comando ship of the Sith, froze. Feeling the disturbance in the force he leaned against a wall of the Millennium Falcon. "No...", he was out of breath and his chest ached as he realised what happened. "Rey." There was no way to misunderstood what the fromer Stormtrooper felt. She was gone.It was the same disturbance Ben Solo felt. Close to the death he lied down in the pit where Palpatine threw him in. Even though the worst physical pain he had ever felt went through his body everytime his chest filled with air, he somehow managed to rise and climb up the pit, only one thought in his mind. He had to safe Rey.It took almost an eternity for him to climb up the pit and even as soon as he reached the top, he fell over multiple times, not able to walk properly on his leg which he guessed was broken.Gasping for air he finally reached Rey. And as he saw her, he almost broke down. "Rey...", he whispered inaudible, somehow managing to pull her on his lap. Her body was cold as stone and her naturally soft tanned skin was pale, her lips blue and her beautiful eyes stared into nowhere."No... Rey can you hear me? Hold on.", panic rose in him as he clenched her to his chest, holding her as thight as he never had the possibility to do before. His thoughts rushed forth and back, seeking for a solution to bring Rey back. That was the only thing Ben wanted to do.It took him a moment to realise what he could do to safe her. And what it ment to him...But it didn't matter. He wanted rather her to be alife than himself. So he loosened his grip around the brunette, layed his hand on her lover stomach and reached out for the force. Closing his eyes and taking deep breaths he collected every last inch of life he still had inside of him and sent it over into Reys body. Giving her his last remaining life energy.He almost didn't realise how her body tensed a bit, how her skin became warm again and her eyes wandered around. The sharp breath she took and her hand that landed on his made him open his eyes which instantly locked with hers.Rey rose up without moving away from Ben as he would have expected after everything he had done to her. Instead her gaze went over his face and a slight smile appeared on it. But just in that second it changed to a rather concerned look as all color went from Bens skin. Just as she did a short time ago he collapsed, falling backwards on the ground with Rey following him, trying to hold him.Her eyes filled with tears as she realised what was about to happen. Her heart felt like breaking, leaving her just with half herself."Ben, please don't go.", she cried and still held him as her tears fell down on his slowly disappearing body. Clenching his hand which she finally, after such a long time, took she looked down at the dark haired man that was her soulmate, her Dyad in the Force. And then... He was gone.Far far away from Exegol on Ajan Kloss where the base of the Resistance was, Maz stood aside the lifeless body of General Leia Organa. And in the moment when Leias Son Ben disappered, so many planets away from her, her own body vanished making her one with the force. A sacrafice the fromer Princess of Alderaan did for her son.
Just as the last glimps of him vanished, there was a new disturbance in the force. It shook Reys Body and for a brief moment she frowned, wondering what happened just as she saw how Ben, who was gone for some infinite seconds, reappeared. The color came back to his face and within a second, his chest rose in a deep breath. Shoked at first and then feeling relieved and for the first time in her life absolutely completed, Rey pulled him up.
In disbelieve she touched his face, not sure if she was dreaming or if this really could have been real. But the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers prooved her, that it had to be real.
Her eyes filled once again with tears - happy tears - as a smile appeared on her face. "Ben.", it was almost like she was beathing his name out and in just that moment something happened that Rey never had seen. Ben began to smile. A bright smile that spread his face, made his eyes wrinkel and made him for the first time look just as young as he really was. Reys heart skipped a beat at the sight of that smile and after a short moment of hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him. It was a soft kiss which Ben immediately returned. His arm wrapped around Reys back and he pulled her even closer to him, deepening the kiss. Never in his life he would have thought that this could happen. Even if he had the desire to touch Rey and be with her for a long time he always got in his own way, destroying every positive thing these two connected. But somehow she still felt the same about him. Didn't hate him for what he did.
The second Bens thoughts went to that fact, he pulled away, holding Rey still close to him.
"Rey," he whispered. "I can't go back.", it scared him to say that out loud. Admitting that it was impossible for him to go back to a normal life after all he had done. After he killed so many innocent people and destroyed multiple Planets. There was no way anybody could ever forgive him.
Rey looked him deep in the eyes and he could see how she was trying to figure the problem out.
"We could go in exile, just like Luke did. Seeking a safe place without telling anybody where we went. Going where all Skywalkers have lived.", her voice became more and more excited as she told him her thoughts and hinted that he was the last living Skywalker. "The war is over, the Sith are gone.", for a short moment she frowned. "It's almost like then in Snokes Throneroom. We have to let it go."
Making a face Ben reminded his angry words against Rey that day. How he wanted to end everything both their lifes and rule over the galaxy. "Are you saying that we have to let go of the Jedi, too?", concern marked his face as he looked back at her.
For a brief second Rey closed her eyes and sighed, then she nodded. "It's the best, isn't it? The perfect balance between Good and Evil.", and it made sense even if it had a bitter taste to it.
"So we are the last Jedi.", his husky voice made Rey look up again. And once again a slight smile appeared on her face. "Just for now.", she replied, well knowing that the Jedi will not be gone forever.

It felt like an eternity since Rey left Exegol in Lukes old X-Wing Starfighter Red Five, seen by Finn and her other friends of the Resistance that were unable to hide their joy over seeing that Rey was alive. It was hard for her to leave without Ben but she knew that it was the best for him if no one knew that he was on Exegol, not even speaking of that he was still alive. Looking over her shoulder she saw the Tie Fighter appearing from underneath the giant foundation where Palpatine was hidden for all those years and flying in the other direction just as she pressed the buttom to make a jump.
Now - many hours later - she landed on Ajan Kloss where all Survivors of the Battle were celebrating. Everyone was in joy, tearing and reliefed that the War was officially over.
Climbing down the Red Five Rey was welcomed by BB8 which she greeted joyfully, happy to see the quirky Droid beeing well.
She was greeted and congratulated by many people, feeling her heart warming with all the happieness spread around her. It took her some time to finally find the two people she looked out for.
Poe and Finn stood some meters away from her, looking at her with pure joy in their face. Within the blink of an eye the three fell into each others arms, laughing and crying at the same time while clenching each other. Rey couldn't believe they really survived the fight. That all her friends were still there. But in the same time, her joy was a bit overshadowed, since she knew what she was about to do.
Still beeing held by Poe and Finn, she first buried her face in Finns shoulder, then whispered in his ear. "I have to go."
She felt him tense and short after that he shook his head in disbelieve, tears rolling down his face. Even though Rey thought he would let go of her the second she told him, he continued holding her. Maybe because he knew that it was possibly the last time he ever saw her.

Some days passed where Rey stayed at Ajan Kloss to help with the caretaking of the wounded people, while at the same time having the desire to finally fly away. It literally ached her to stay away from the place that would become her home in the future, shared with the man she had a unbreakable bond with.
It was in the night, when she entered the Millenium Falcon, the spaceship she could officially call hers, together with BB8 and flew off to Tattooine, the place where Anakin Skywalker was born and his son Luke Skywalker was raised. Her journey lasted a long time and when she finally reached the planet and found the old house where Luke had lived, she felt confused. She knew what she had to do just to make her and Bens life make safer but it was hard to let go. Letting go was something she never was good at and probably never would be good at.
But it had to be done. Making her way over to the house she reached for the two matching Lightsabers. Lukes and Leias. She wrapped them in a fabric and buried them deep in the sand of Tatooine with the help of the force, knowing that they will not be used for a long long time. Just as the hole refilled, she heard the sound of an animal and turned around. A older Woman stood there, holding a tall animal on rains that Rey had never seen in her life.
"There's been noone for so long.", the old one said. "Who are you?", her gaze shooting over Rey.
She made a step closer to the woman. "I'm Rey.", she answered honsetly. But that didn't satisfie the woman. "Rey who?". That question sinked in to Rey and made her think just as she noticed a movement right of her. She turned her face and saw Ben. He came over, walking a longer distance, wearing his so well know all black outfit. Her eyes locked with his and she realised that it didn't matter who she was or where she came from. The only thing that mattered was who she was in that moment. She smiled and turned back to the woman to tell her exactly what she just thought. "I'm just Rey.", she said then turning away, walking straight towards her new future, accompanied by BB8 and shortly after by Ben who wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest while watching the two Suns of Tatooine setting.

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Note me if you want to see the Video - it's not published on Youtube.