A/N: Well, Reylo fans! We have reached the epic FINALE for this fan fiction! Thanks for all your support for The Gaping Hole in my Heart! You guys are THE BEST!

The big questions you might be asking:

"Why does Rey call upon Palpatine?!"

"Does Ben even come back?!"

Or maybe, you're asking:

"Anything significant about Rey's hernia?!"

These WILL be answered! Note: This chapter is long, so get comfortable!

It had begun to rain.

I turned slowly to face the late Emperor. His force ghost shimmered, the outline hazy. Palpatine held a bony finger to his lips as I steadied myself and opened my mouth.

"I already know what you want to ask of me, dear child." His menacing voice sent shivers lashing my spine, the words deliberately slow, like a thrust of a blade into my ears.

My body twitched. I was this close to knowing how I could get Ben back in my arms, in my life, in me…

My legs threatened to fail me, and I worried I would crash onto the floor and shatter.

Palpatine angled his head to the side, surveying the Resistance base. He took his time. His scarred lips curled up in a smile, revealing sharp, yellow, lethal fangs, before locking his yellow eyes onto me.

"Let's take this conversation… somewhere else." Venom dripped from his words. I willed my voice not to tremble, to show any weakness, as I matched the venom.

"Let's."

Inky blackness slid into my vision, swallowing every ship, every plant, every light up, until pure midnight blanketed the two of us. I felt slightly nauseous and pushed a hand to the hernia. It throbbed softly, not a good sign. The void stretched endlessly between me and my grandfather, and the air was crisp.

"How do I use the Force to bring Ben back?" It was blunt, short and direct. This is how you had to talk to beings of high power, like Palpatine. His lips curled further.

"My dear Rey… You already know the answer to that question," he spat. I frowned, however, deep down, I agreed. He opened his palms upright and held out his hands, gesturing to the black void.

"Doesn't she, my fellow Sith?" Palpatine's booming voice made the ground tremble. I peered slowly into the darkness, letting my eyes adjust.

The crowd of Sith ghosts towering up into infinity roared their agreement, making me lurch back, startled.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

Palpatine grinned.

"You killed me… You struck me down… However, the ritual you performed to absorb my powers was incomplete. You need my full power, my Sith - not Jedi - power, to bring Ben Solo back. You saw how powerful it was from what the sliver you have did to your friend."

My eyes widened, hand raising to my mouth, as the weight of what I did to Finn ripped me apart. It had finally sunk in.

I…

I had hurt him.

With the Dark Side of the Force.

And I had liked it.

"No… No. NO!" I screamed at Palpatine.

"YES, YES, YES!" He was delighted. The Sith ghosts roared. I shoved my hands to my ears as their cry rang though me, the tear now joining a steady stream.

Palpatine shushed the ghosts with a shift of his hand. The only sound in the void were my sobs echoing around the darkness. When I was strong enough to face him, I raised up and looked at him with gritted teeth:

"I will never… become a Sith. I will never join you."

He made a noise that seemed like a sigh.

"Your stomach…" He was suddenly in front of me, reaching for my hernia with a bony finger. I shifted away from him, the pain shooting through me almost too much to bear. He laughed. It was not a happy noise.

"A child is growing inside you, Rey. Ben's child."

Time stopped.

I felt a shift in my stomach in response to his statement. The tears fell again as I stroked the lump.

"How?" I whispered softly, my voice gone. Palpatine shrugged as if this was the simplest thing in the world.

"It's easy. When Ben died, some of his life force entered your womb and began to grow." He closed his eyes.

"It is a girl. Dark hair, brown eyes… He had a name for her planned if this day would come. And I'm sure you saw her too in the Mirror Cave."

A small cry escaped my lips.

"Jules."

"So that's her name." Palpatine's smile made me sick.

"If you give me the girl, I'll bring back Ben Solo, just for you."

I growled, placing a hand protectively on my stomach.

"I won't let you take her."

"Then you have no choice." He held out his hand. "Take it. When you do, all the Sith shall pass into you. You will be Empress Palpatine, and you will destroy the Resistance, and the Light Side forever!"

I had no choice.

I really didn't.

I reached out and took his hand.

My vision became red-rimmed. Lightning stabbed my body, changing my very soul. My blood turned black - i could see it running through the veins in my arm.

I screamed and shut my eyes.

Palpatine laughed.

The Sith ghosts bowed as Emperor Palpatine faded into me, and, as I opened my now yellow eyes, Empress Palpatine was reborn.

I stretched out my fingers, watching the lightning dash along them. Beautiful, gorgeous power coursed though me. I loved it.

My arms raised to the skies as I let out a blood-curling cheer and unleashed my lightning into the night black sky.

"Your new emperor is born! The light side will fall! I will rule eternal!"

The Sith ghosts unleashed a deafening yell of pure pride as I laughed into the sky.

"Rey…?"

The beautiful, velvet voice clogged with fear and anxiety slid over me. I paused my lightning.

I must be going mad.

It must be a Light Side trick.

I turned.

Standing in front of me, was Ben Solo.

His lips were parted slightly. They trembled as his eyes shone with tears. His black hair was a dreamy mess framing his face.

The sight of him looking achingly beautiful made me moan and fall to my knees.

Ben ran over to me and slid a hand over my back as I panted.

"Rey…"

I looked up at him.

"Rey, what have you done?" His voice was so tiny, so hesitant… Tears dripped from his eyes. I felt the power that once thrummed in me a second ago still. The Sith ghosts disappeared with a tortured sigh. I cried into his shoulder as he crushed me against his broad shoulder. He stroked my back and head, hushing me softly.

"I want you," I rumbled softly as I pushed myself against him. He hissed softly, stilling me with his hands on my round stomach.

"Jules is present, remember?" He said it with a small rasp in his voice. I smiled. He craved me too. His hands gently lifted up my shirt to expose my stomach. Ben lowered his lips to her.

When he finished, he pulled my shirt back down.

"Let's get out of here," Ben whispered. I nuzzled his neck sleepily as I pressed my lips to his, inhaling his scent and feeling his warmth envelope me at last.

At last.

We faded into the darkness as our lips joined, the Force spiriting us away.

The air was warm

Tinged with love, with Ben by my side…

I'd never been more alive.