Chapter 3: The Marriage That Brings Balance

Over the next several weeks, wedding preparations were finalized. The ceremony would be held here on Ahch-To, with a serious rain contingency plan put into effect. In fact, the little community went ahead on the assumption that the rain plan would be the plan, making sure to craft a marquee for that exact purpose.

Rey and Ben were content to let their friends handle most of the preparations, and perhaps it was better that way. For many of their Resistance colleagues, working feverishly seemed to serve as a form of penance, which the couple were not above seeing it as. One day, resting alone in her hut, Rey was surprised to see Lieutenant Connix and a few other officers enter her room, carrying a garment that was carefully wrapped. Rey was shocked upon opening it to discover that it was a wedding dress. Until now, she had thought she would just get married in her regular clothes, or maybe try to take up a dress herself. Sew one from scratch.

"This was General Organa's wedding dress," Connix explained gently.

Rey gaped at the material. It was beautiful, fit for the princess that Leia had once been, and certainly too beautiful to be defiled by a plain girl like herself. "I... I can't accept this."

"Accept it for Leia's sake, then. She would have wanted you to have it regardless, but especially if you were marrying her son."

Her eyes prickling with tears, Rey nodded.

The marquee was set up on Shaved Rock Ridge, as it was one of the only flat surfaces on the island, and perhaps the only space large enough to hold everybody. Chewie did most of the leg work, his tall physique advantageous in mounting the poles and stringing up lights. C-3PO did what he did best: delegating, politely barking out orders to everyone else. It was a job he was very attentive to and conducted with gusto, but by nightfall and with a pre-celebration already ramping up, even his patience was wearing thin. At one point, Ben, the groom, approached him.

"Excuse me, Threepio. I've been going over the accounts. Do you realize how much the Resistance is paying for this wedding?"

"Why, Master Solo - it's your wedding eve! Dash the expense! Run along and stop working - enjoy yourself! Go ahead, go ahead..." and Threepio shooed him away.

Ben shuffled up to the ring of huts, dazed and mildly amused by what he had just encountered. He ran into Rey just as she was coming out of her hut. "I think I just had an out-of-body experience."

Rey quirked an eyebrow at him, her curiosity piqued. "I can't imagine what that would entail."

"Threepio just told me to, and I quote, 'Dash the expense!' He's a protocol droid, for heaven's sake!"

Rey laughed. "He's exhausted. Everyone is."

"Rey, dear! Time for bed." Connix suddenly called. Bemoaning that they had to spend even this one night apart, Ben and Rey shared a passionate kiss.

"I don't want to sleep alone," she moaned.

"Don't worry, in less than 24 hours, you'll be all mine, and I yours," Ben promised. "See you at the altar. I'll be the one in black. No mask."

"Can't wait," Rey beamed.

The next morning, Rey allowed Rose and Connix to help her into Leia's wedding dress. Surprisingly, and to her great relief, the dress was a perfect fit, right down to the bodice. As she checked herself in the mirror, she blinked in utter shock when a figure she thought she would never see again appeared in the reflection:

"It looks better on you."

Rey spun around with a gasp to see the Force Ghost of Leia Organa beaming at her. "I always wanted a daughter. Someone I could dress up and make clothes for. I just never expected I would get one through my son."

Rey beamed at her, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Thank you," she said softly.

Leia hugged her and kissed her forehead. "I'll be there. You'll see me."

At that moment, Connix re-entered the hut to announce that it was time. Rey strode down to Shaved Rock Ridge, where the marquee was glistening in the sunlight. She was grateful that the Ahch-To squalls had stayed away once again. Reaching the end of the aisle created by rows of white folding chairs, Rey giggled as she took in who would be escorting her.

"Chewie..." The Wookie, with only a too-small bow tie on his body, gave her an affectionate howl and held out a furry arm to her. Rey smiled at him warmly. The father she had never known was long dead, and probably would not have cared to give her away, even if he was still alive. If Han or Luke had survived, she supposed they would have fought like brothers over who would accompany her. But in this moment, Chewie served as a fine substitute.

The wedding march played and Rey glided down the aisle, trying to match her strides to Chewie's unnaturally long ones. All the time, she kept her eyes glued to the front of the altar. Ben looked so incredibly handsome in his tuxedo, and he had kept his hair at the length she liked, combing it nicely. Finn gave her a gentle grin, standing at the former Supreme Leader's side.

When Chewie handed Rey off the Ben at the altar, it was the first time she noticed that the podium was empty. Who would officiate?

The answer would come as a shock to all. For suddenly, who should be standing there, but the Force Ghost of Luke Skywalker himself. He smiled warmly at the couple.

"Now, in my day, and in my father's time, Jedi were not allowed to marry. So, I'm just gonna wing it."

Ben leaned over to whisper in Rey's ear. "Luke Skywalker? Winging it? This should be good."

Luke now gestured between each of his former pupils. "Rey, do you take my nephew to be your husband?"

Rey gazed up into Ben's eyes and beamed. "I do."

"Ben, do you take my apprentice to be your wife?"

"I do," Ben nodded, never surer about anything else in his life.

"Then by the power vested in me as a Jedi Master, I now pronounce you and husband and wife." There was a pause as nobody moved. Luke jerked his head over towards Rey, his eyes twinkling. "Well, kiss her, you nerfherder."

Ben thus swept Rey into his arms and gave her a breathless kiss as the whole marquee burst into applause. After the newlyweds broke apart, Luke gave his nephew a wink and echoed the words he had once spoken to him, and in more tragic circumstances. "See ya around, kid." And the Jedi Master disappeared.

The reception was the party of the century, and honestly, Ben did not remember most of it. Finn and Poe were busy bouncing BB-8 back and forth between them like a volleyball, or maybe a balloon. C-3PO was busy serving everyone refreshments. Lieutenant Connix now stood up at the podium where music was being played and announced, "I think it's time for the happy couple to share their first dance."

"You got my request?" Ben called over to her.

"Sure did, Mr. Solo," Connix confirmed.

As a slow and gentle song began to play across the air, Ben led Rey out onto the dance floor and gathered her in his arms. The pair rocked slowly from side to side as the music played:

"If I never knew you, If I never felt this love, I would have no inkling of how precious life can be. If I never held you, I would never have a clue, how at last I'd find in you the missing part of me... And I'm so grateful to you. I'd have lived my whole life through empty as the sky... never knowing why... lost forever if I never knew you."

The lyrics were gentle and beautiful, and Rey found herself staring up into her husband's face curiously. "You requested this?"

"Yes." Ben's eyes grew sad and wistful as he and Rey rocked each other. "After Crait, I would listen to this song going to sleep in my chambers, and dream of you."

Rey gasped at the revelation, and her eyes filled with tears. What a sweet, heart-breaking thing to say... She gently pressed a finger to Ben's lips. "Ssssh. You never have to feel that way again. You belong here, with me."

And then, all at once, she began to cry. Ben peered at her, a tender, surprised smile overtaking his face.

"Aw, honey... are you crying? Why?"

"I just realized: I finally have a last name! Rey Solo," and she spoke the last with relish. "I finally have a family!"

The song ended and everyone applauded. C-3PO, R2D2 and BB-8 now served the wedding meal, starting off by having Rey and Ben cut their cake and pose for the camera that was being manned by Chewie. As everyone dug in, Poe suddenly called for silence. Ever since the announcement of Rey and Ben's engagement, he had helped when and where he could, but had mostly stayed off by himself. But now, he announced, "I have a gift for the bride and groom." And presenting himself before Ben and Rey, he held up a simple white envelope. "I hold in my hand a deed, allowing for Mr. and Mrs. Ben Solo a week's honeymoon on Naboo in the former castle of Queen Padme Amidala."

Ben stared at the former Resistance commander, for once at a loss for words. "How did you...?"

Poe shuffled his feet, blushing and smiling almost sheepishly. "I know the Queen there, and pulled a few strings. Having the groom be Amidala's grandson only helped." He handed the envelope to Rey, his eyes unexpectedly shining with tears. "Forgive me?"

Rey blinked back tears of her own, realizing he was truly sorry. Standing on tiptoes, she kissed his cheek. "There's nothing to forgive. But yes, I do."

It was time for the couple to depart for their honeymoon. They raced aboard the Millennium Falcon, Finn and Poe there to see them off.

Rey kissed the cheeks of both men, lingering longer on Poe and granting him an additional hug. "Thank you."

Poe beamed down at her. "You're welcome. Have fun."

"Be safe!" Finn called out, and he and Poe watched, arm-in-arm, as the Falcon blasted off into the sky.

He could only watch helplessly as Rey's body convulsed under Snoke's grasp, as the love of his life let out agonizing screams. Only this time, Snoke did not stop. Ben sat, unable to move or aid her, until the last of the life was squeezed out of Rey, and she dropped to the ground, lifeless. No... he was still trapped, and always would be under Snoke... he would never be free... The only good thing he had in the world was gone...

"NO!" Ben Solo came roaring back into the conscious world, sitting up, gasping, his bare torso slick with sweat. Beside him, he felt his wife shift against him in the bed they shared.

It had taken several galactic days to travel all the way from Ahch-To to Naboo. Their wedding night had actually been almost a week after the actual ceremony, consisting of frenzied, desperate kisses, awkward giggling and shedding of clothes as husband and wife made love together for the first time. In the bed that had once belonged to Ben's grandmother, and where no doubt she spent her own wedding night with the dashing Jedi who would one day become Darth Vader.

"Sssh... sssh... Ben, I'm right here... it was only a dream, my love..." Rey curled into him, wrapping her arms about him and stroking his taut, shaking muscles, willing them to relax. She held him stoically, understandingly, as he clutched her close and sobbed into her brown hair, her hair that smelled earthly and yet impossibly sweet. Perfection.

"I can't lose you again! I'm not strong enough." Ben moaned, blubbering.

Pulling away to look into his eyes, Rey seemed stunned by his admission. Wordlessly, her face gentle, she leaned over and lovingly kissed him. When she drew away, her own eyes were shining, clashing with her gentle resolve.

"You won't lose me. Ever again." And then, she added, almost in a desperate whisper, "I love you, Ben."

Ben's arms encircled her, one hand ghosting over her bare breast so that the nipple pebbled, the other sinking into her womanhood and just tickling the bundle of nerves there. Rey gasped at the contact, arching into him instinctively. One night together and it felt as though they had known each other's bodies, shared the same bed, all their lives. "Mine..." Ben growled in contentment, but also protectively. At one time, Rey would have scolded him for such possessiveness, but that was before she knew what fears lay in his heart, the fears that Snoke had exploited.

"I love you too, my Rey. My beautiful Rey of light." And shifting her onto her back. he bent over her and began to show his beautiful wife just how much he loved her.

And as their bodies came together, their Force Bond, the Force itself, hummed around them in blissful peace. They were balanced. They were one. And they were, and would always remain, blissfully in love.