Permanent Mark

Chapter 32

Leia and Ben descend the ramp of the Falcon arm in arm, the majority of the Resistance looking on. Ben notices right away how everyone looks on at his mother. Respect and awe, he notices, light their faces.

He immediately hears them in the Force.

"That's him!"

"They thought he died!"

"Oh thank the Maker Leia deserves some good news…."

"I wonder where he's been…."

"He's huge!"

"He looks like Leia…."

"Oh he's a handsome one!"

That last thought makes him blush. He's relieved that there are no blasters at his head, not for his own sake but for his mother's. And Rey's.

Han reaches out for his wife's hand, steadying her. He then grips his son's arm, making eye contact with him. Ben doesn't say a word as they stare at each other.

Then his father does that half smile thing he does and winks at him.

The tension is still slightly there, between them. But for now, they simply feel the connection between them. Leia looks on, her eyes smiling. Her two men are with her again and that's enough for right now.

Then Ben is drawn to look over his dad's shoulder. Rey appears in his line of sight. He smiles as he sees her face light up. She is so happy, he can feel it. She quickens her steps into a slight jog.

When she joins her family, she doesn't hesitate to slip an arm around his back, her hand settling on his waist. His arm comes to rest around her. He didn't even think about it. His arm just moved of its own accord, his fingers wrapping also around her waist. Her cheek meets his chest and she just fits against him, like two puzzle pieces.

"You alright?" He whispers down at her.

"Yeah, I had to go see Rose. I know she was worried," she says back at him, looking up to his face. His thoughts swarm around how he'd never noticed how cute her nose is. He's transfixed by her

"Um…" he tries to focus, "who's Rose?"

"She's my best friend"

He pulls back from her face, looking offended.

"Hey...what happened to me being your best friend?"

He smirks just a bit, pulling her tighter into his chest.

"You died, remember? I did wait ten years to get a new best friend."

"Well, I'm back. Thanks to you."

Her mood shifts and she looks down. He tucks his finger under her chin, lifting her face back to his.

"What?" He asks, concerned.

"You left me. You left me, Ben…"

With that, she pulls away and flees. He starts after her, only to be pulled back by his Dad.

"Time to talk, son. Hope you're ready."

Ben looks back towards the direction that Rey took off in, wanting to go to her. He can't though. He'd agreed to spill his guts as soon as he arrived.

He walks between his parents through the base. It's a beautiful area, lots of green. The base is obviously very old, not much reconditioning had been attempted. There is really no point in trying, being that the First Order could show up at any moment and they'd have to run. It's a constant source of tension, unable to settle in, be at home.