Forgotten, But Not Lost

Chapter 50

Darkness. Empty vast darkness was all Ben could feel and see after he had kissed Rey. He had smiled at her and then felt all of his soul being lifted above, almost as an out of body experience. Ben knew he no longer was present with his body and that he was one with the force. He couldn't help, but feel this was what needed to happen for the galaxy to be able to rebuild. If he were left alive, he would have had to answer for the crimes he had committed within the First Order and to what was his family. Not that it mattered much now, his family was gone, his Father, his Mother, and even his Uncle. Rey was the only person left back in the real world and he had left her alone with all of it, his other half. Something now resided where his heart should be, a feeling, one of something nagging at him, wanting him to remember, but what?

Ben looked down and could see what he had been wearing when he died, there was still some shape to him. The darkness started to lighten and he was immediately met with glowing forms coming toward him. Ben wasn't ready, if he was to be met with Jedi that had come before, he wasn't ready. He would have been such a disappointment to everyone and he knew that he wasn't up for reprimanding at the moment.

One figure started to walk ahead of the others, it was one that had a much shorter stature. Ben's figurative breath hitched, before him was his Mother, whom he had not seen since he was a youngling. Ben's vision blurred, he thought to himself how ridiculous this was, he was dead and his body was still acting as if he wasn't.

Ben could no longer bear it, his body melted before his Mother, he felt shame. He knew he had down wrong by his family and regretted it. Ben bowed his head by the emotions he was feeling, but was met with a gentle touch only a Mother had. Leia placed her hand under her Son's chin and lifted it up to look at her in the eyes.

"Ben, oh how I have missed your face. Look how much you've grown! You are absolutely a stunning young man. I forgive you my Son, you no longer have to carry that burden with you." Tears were forming in Leia's eyes as well. Her thumb caressed her Son's cheek back and forth.

Ben had no words at the moment, all he could do was show his Mother how thankful he was. Ben sank to his knees and wrapped his strong arms around his Mother's legs and held onto them like he had when he was a small boy. Leia placed her hands in his shaggy hair and patted him, she would never give this moment up, not ever. Her Son was finally home, back from the shadows of Palpatine and his evil.

Ben lifted his head to look at his Mother and noticed the other figures walking closer to him. Before his eyes were his Uncle and someone he had not met before, but a familiar feeling in his heart knew it was his family, his Grandfather. Ben jumped up from his knees to bow before his Uncle Luke and Grandfather Anakin.

"There are a lot of things that I need to say, but most importantly. I cannot begin to express how sorry I am, Uncle Luke." Ben forced out of his mouth quickly out of being uncomfortable.

Luke's face showed him that he was forgiven, but his face still carried sadness.

Again, how could he feel all of these things being dead? Wasn't it supposed to be different from being alive? Because right now Ben felt like he was back being a teenager who had just got caught and was now in trouble.

Anakin came over to his Grandson and patted his shoulder and gave him a sly smile.

"You are so much like me, it's uncanny." Anakin said while chuckling to Leia and Luke.

Luke and Leia both smiled and nodded in agreement.

"My Son, there are many things we need to discuss, so much you are unaware of. It probably would be best if you sat down, Ben." Leia came up to him again and placed her hand on his arm.