Chapter Fifty-four:

From a short distance, Rey watched Ben cycle through the goodbyes to his family, her gut wrenching as her turn came closer and closer. The eventuality of it loomed over her like an ominous storm cloud, rain not yet falling, but promising to deliver its devastation.

Finn and Caliiya gave her some space, which was, well… probably a good idea. As much as Rey wanted to hug her dear friend and congratulate him on his newly healed state, she couldn't talk to anyone. She couldn't trust her own voice.

Ben was holding his mother now. This would be the last mortal contact Leia would have with him, so Rey understood why she ended up having to be pried away by Luke.

Jacen cooed in Rey's arms, and she glanced down to see a line of dribble escape the corner of his lips. She wiped it away with the edge of her tunic before it got into his hair. Her fingers brushed along his black hair, the hair Ben had given him.

Jacen was being unusually calm, the naivety of being an infant aiding him in his tranquil behavior. If he could actually understand what was happening, he'd be wailing, much like Rey was doing in her heart.

Movement made her glance up. Luke was walking Leia back to the Falcon, the woman needing her twin for support, which up until now, she had never required. The strongest woman in the galaxy now looked as if she was void of life.

Was this the reaction that awaited Rey?

Chewie looked over at her, giving her a solemn nod as he passed by. Rey just blinked, her heart starting to hammer against her chest.

It was her turn.

She couldn't feel her feet, but somehow, she found a way to make it over to Ben without crumbling.

Maker, she couldn't stop her body from trembling.

Ben took Jacen into his arms, cradling him as he tried to make him smile. Jacen always responded so merrily to his father, showing off his toothless grin whenever Ben made funny faces or spoke in a ridiculous voice. Now was no different, and Jacen grunted in an attempt at giving him a laugh.

In the end, Rey had been right all along: Ben had turned out to be an amazing father. She never doubted he wouldn't be. Ben offered up his love and compassion to their son freely, holding Jacen when he needed comfort, and reading to him to stimulate his intellect. Ben had done extensive research on developmental stages of children, had read every book published on the best practices of being a parent. He became so devoted to gaining as much knowledge as possible before and even after their son had arrived.

But it was the quiet moments that stole Rey's heart. Like the ones where she would find them napping on the sofa, Jacen sprawled over Ben's chest, both softly snoring. Or during the night when Jacen needed to be fed, and Ben would gently turn Rey onto her side, positioning their son so he could latch onto her breast, allowing her to keep sleeping.

Then there were the times when she overheard Ben talking to him, thinking that Rey was either asleep or out of earshot.

"What do I have to give you to make you sleep in your crib tonight? Twenty credits? A fancy cape? The Galactic Order? Don't underestimate me; I can make all those things happen."

"You're lucky you're cute, or this whole situation of excrement leaking out of your diaper would be an issue."

"No, uh-huh, you just ate thirty minutes ago. If you keep this appetite up, how am I to ever have mommy's chest to myself? Show me some mercy and stop being so selfish."

The last one had caused Rey to laugh from the other room, Ben looking embarrassed that she'd heard him.

If she were to be honest, Ben was leaps and bounds a better parent than her. Taking care of a baby and adhering to all its needs brought out a frustration in Rey she didn't know she had. If Jacen was defiant in going to sleep, she cried. If he had trouble latching onto her breast, she cried. If he started crying and Rey had exhausted all efforts in trying to sooth him, Rey sobbed right along with him.

She hadn't wanted a nanny in the beginning; she was insistent that she could be a great mother on her own.

It wasn't till she had a breakdown two months into parenthood that Ben sat her down and explained that he was worried for her.

"He likes you so much more than me," Rey had told him as she sniffled.

"That's not true," he tried to assure her. But they both knew that Jacen was calmer in Ben's presence.

That night, Ben got her to agree to hire someone to help her when he was away and adhering to the galactic duties demanded of his station.

The helper, an older Togruta female who was nothing less than understanding, with nurturing hands and a patient ear, was there whenever Rey needed her. It took only two days for Rey to admit and realize that her mental state had become so much more manageable.

But the nanny wasn't a constant presence. The woman needed some time off every once in a while. Like during this trip, for instance – the one that had transformed into a very realistic nightmare at the drop of a credit.

Supporting his head with one hand and his body with the other, Ben brought a wiggling Jacen up to his face, snuggling his son cheek to cheek. "I thought I'd have more time with him," Ben whispered, lips pressing together, chin trembling.

He stayed like that for a long time, knowing that this was the last chance he would be able to be close to their son. Rey kept her eyes on them, not sure when exactly the water works had started, but making no move to wipe them away once noticed.

A hand came to her shoulder. Rey turned. It was Caliiya. "When you're ready, I can take him for a bit," she said carefully, indicating to Jacen. "Give you guys some time alone."

"I'm ready," Ben said, but his weak tone indicated otherwise. "Or, as ready as I can be." To let him go, Rey heard his added-on thought.

Reluctantly, Ben handed Jacen to Caliiya, who gave them a look of sympathy before walking back to Finn. Ben pinched his eyes with his forefinger and thumb, his chest expanding as he took in a string of deep breaths.

She grabbed his hand and lowered it from his face. Her heart stopped beating for a fraction of a second. There was none of that familiar strength etched deep into the lines of Ben's face. His lips were downturned, eyes dull, jaw tense.

Hand in hand, she guided them to a grove of trees and motioned for him to sit in the shade. She dropped into his lap, straddling him, burying her nose in his neck. With his large palms on her back, he eased her closer till she was completely flush against him.

They sat in silence, drinking in the essence of one another, their other half. The gravity of what this was – a farewell – weighed into her, causing her heart to beat in erratic syncopation all over again.

"Ben…." Rey faltered. How did one do this? How did someone convey all the love and appreciation they had for a single person? "Thank you," she finally articulated, deciding to start off simple.

His fingers lazily drifted up and down her spine. "For what?"

"For giving me a family. Maz once told me that through you, I could get what I always wanted. And she was right. You gave me Jacen."

He pulled back, his gaze darting from her face to the landscape. "Do you think… one day… Jacen will understand why I'm doing this? That he'll be proud of what I did?"

His anxiety hit her hard. She cradled his head between her hands, forcing him to focus on her. "Listen to me, Ben: Of course he'll be proud of you. It might take time, but he'll come to understand that you're doing this for him – so he can live freely and have a life of his own making."

"If he turns out like me, so full of hate and anger –"

"He won't," she cut him off quickly. "I know I struggle with being a mother and connecting with him, but I swear to you, I won't fail you in raising our son."

Ben frowned, smoothing out her hair with his wide palm. "Rey, you're the mother he needs. And that doesn't require you to be perfect, just understanding. And I'll be with you every step of the way."

Now it was Rey's turn to be uncertain, her hands falling to rest against his chest. "But what if you aren't?" she asked softly. "Even our bond has limits. What if I never see you again?"

He shook his head. "Not possible, because I won't allow it." Rey hummed when his thumb brushed over her lips, and his hand glided over throat, feeling her skin. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she swallowed.

His hand remained along her collarbone, splayed and warm. She leaned in closer, and his lips met hers, working her mouth slowly against his. As her body grew hot with need, she realized that this morning was probably the last time they would be intimate with one another. Skin to skin, nothing between them.

Rey began to cry.

"Don't think that by me staying means I love you less," he said against her lips. "Know that it means I love you more."

"I know."

He kissed her tears as they fell. "I need you to promise me that you won't stop living the life you've always wanted. Don't give up on rebuilding the Jedi; go explore and experience everything the galaxy has to offer."

"But you once promised to show those things to me. I can't do any of it without you."

"You won't. When you get on the Falcon, I'll come to you. And then, I'll be with you wherever you go."

"You'll only be a projection of yourself," Rey countered, her chest tightening. "What if, because of the distance, it won't be the same as being with you for real? Will that happen?"

He leaned into her neck, his mouth moving across her skin. "I don't know," he muttered.

With both hands, she held him against her. "It'll be decades before I can actually be with you again."

"No sooner than six, I hope."

"Sixty years…."

"What's sixty years compared to forever?"

Rey looked up at the azure sky, her fingers twining into his hair, basking in the feel of his warm breath against her skin.

When they headed back to the Falcon hand in hand, they strolled along slowly, taking their time. Night was approaching this area from the east, and Rey could vaguely make out the trees and plant life dying away under the darkness.

Coming to a stop, she slid her arms around his waist, resting her cheek on his heart. The slow, steady beat greeted her, but unlike all the other times before, the rhythm was unable to soothe.

Ben returned the embrace, placing his head on hers so that they fit together perfectly.

When he went to pull away, Rey held on tighter. "One more minute," she begged him. "Please." Of course, he couldn't deny her.

Lowering his mouth next to her ear, he spoke to her from his heart, softly and with respect. "I want you to listen to my words, and never forget: You're the reason my life had any beauty in it. You saved me, and in turn, you saved the galaxy– no, the Universe. I never would've gotten to this point without you." His voice cracked. He cleared it quickly. "All I ask is that you don't stop living, that you go on adventures with our son so I can be there with you both as you make memories."

Her voice was too constricted to respond to his request. She had no energy to force the words out. Rey lifted herself on her tiptoes in an effort to get closer to him while stroking at the nape of his neck. All she could do was nod her head against his cheek, rubbing against the stubble of his jaw.

They both shifted as Ben raised his head to look behind her. He motioned for someone to come closer, and Finn came to stand next to them. "Rey," Finn said carefully. "What do you need?" No 'you should get on the Falcon', or 'we need to go' in an effort to hurry her along. All that came from her friend was concern, and the willingness to help her.

But as Rey thought about what to say, the only answer she could come up with was Ben. She needed Ben.

"I–" But she couldn't get anymore words out.

"It's okay," Finn said softly, placing his hand lightly on her shoulder. She tightened her hold on Ben, refusing to let go.

"Sweetheart," Ben muttered the endearment in her ear. "It's time to go."

She shook her head vehemently. He shivered under her touch.

"Please, Rey," he pleaded, his voice gravelly. "I'm only so strong. If you stay any longer, I won't let you get on that ship." And he meant it. He would stop her, and she would stay here and be granted the chance to never age, to never die. She could be with him forever, starting right now. No waiting–

"Jacen," Ben said, knowing where her thoughts had been headed. She let out a strangled sob, feeling guilt over forgetting about their son. Even if it was for only a moment.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You're never supposed to apologize to me. Remember?"

She let out a morose filled laugh, because she did remember. How could she not? Ben reminded her at least once a week that she should never apologize to him for anything. What if… what if this was his last reminder?

Rey's legs finally gave out, but Ben's long arms held her up. "I know," he whispered. "I know, Rey." Her body was growing fuzzy, his voice growing distant. "Can you help us… please?" Ben must have directed the question at Finn, because Rey felt her friend come up behind her and wrap his arms around her waist. With weak legs, she found her footing, but she still needed significant help to stay upright.

Ben kept his hands under her arms as he pulled away, and Rey was finally able to see his face: he was broken, hair falling into his face. But gods, he was still so beautiful.

He rested his forehead against hers, and she knew this was it.

Rey had said plenty of goodbyes during her life. Some had been said with a simple turnaround, others with a simple 'see ya later'. She'd said goodbyes that were lies, filled with angry words. And goodbyes in her heart to places she'll probably never visit again. She has said hundreds of goodbyes, but how she wished, for once, 'goodbye' would just say goodbye to her.

"I'll see you soon," Ben choked out as he tried not to cry, but failed. "I promise." He brought the back of her hand up to his lips and kissed her skin, his mouth lingering for a few moments. When he straightened, he held her gaze, and she could no longer decipher whose emotions belonged to who. Was it his heart being stabbed a thousand times with no promise of death? Was it her tears that stung like bees?

Ben briefly broke eye contact and nodded to Finn.

With firm arms, Finn slowly backed them away. Rey held onto Ben's hand as long as she could before having to let go. The others had already filed onto the freighter, her and Finn being the last ones to go up the ramp.

Rey kept her eyes on Ben, his form getting smaller and smaller. He took several steps forward, but stopped himself, his shoulders hunched in sorrow. She needed to go to him, to comfort him, but her body was in such a daze it put up too weak of a fight against Finn guiding her.

Then Ben was gone, the sight of him obscured by the inside of the ship.

She was on the Falcon now.

Standing in the corridor as the ramp closed, Rey felt boxed in by the restrictive space. But she only lingered a few moments before Finn walked them to the main hold where everyone else had congregated.

Leia was crying by the alcove, Luke comforting her with caring arms, Ransolm watching her with worry. Finn nestled Rey into his arms, but she just stood there. Motionless. Over Finn's shoulder, Rey locked her gaze onto Jacen, cradled safely in Caliiya's arms.

Jacen would never be held by his father again, never see Ben's smile or hear Ben's laugh.

Rey tried to hide a new wave of tears, but there was such a flood of them that she couldn't control them. She cried as if the ferocity of it might bring Ben back; as if by the sheer force of her despair everything would be undone. He was her other half, her only love and he couldn't be gone.

Finn attempted to hold onto her, to calm her, even as his own tears fell thick and fast down his own cheeks, wetting her hair. But in Rey's gripping hysteria, she was too strong, too wild for him to get a good grip on. Rey whirled about and got free, bounding for her private quarters as Finn called after her. Thankfully, he didn't follow.

He shouldn't have to witness her breakdown.

She decimated her room the moment the door shut her in.

On her knees, Rey screamed. Hot tears stung her cheeks, her whole face red and neck tight as she forced the air from her lungs. Her chest rose and fell unevenly as she gasped for breath, the hollering downgrading into sobs. She squeezed her eyes shut, balling her hands into fists and pounding the floor.

Where was the bravery she had when she helped Ben come to the decision of accepting his fate? Where was the undercurrent of comfort from the Force? Rey had always prided herself for being strong and courageous in the face of hard decisions. Now, she was anything but.

Pretender, she berated herself silently. Fraud.

What had she done?

What had she done?!

How could she agree to this? How could the Force steal him away from her? Or did she push Ben to stay behind? To accept a destiny that was unfair and cruel?

"You didn't make me do anything," Ben's voice breezed through her mind, his deep timbre instantly soothing her turbulent soul. Rey's breathing hitched. "Turn around, Rey."

On her knees, she swiveled and saw him, standing there like he was real. No glow to his skin. No god-like demeanor. It was Ben. Just Ben.

Was she going insane? Or… was their bond… actually strong enough?

He knelt down, brushing the tears away with his knuckles, the moment stretching before quickening its pace.

He scooped her up and placed her on the bed, caressing her cheek as they faced each other. Rey couldn't stop touching him, her brain having a hard time accepting that he was there. She was so close to hyperventilating, gasping for air that simply wasn't there.

"Is this real?" A part of her was dying inside, yet, relief.

"I told you, no amount of space could keep me from you." His voice, it sounded the same.

But she realized the more she touched him, the more it became apparent that something was off. Something was missing. His flesh was neither warm, nor cold. He appeared real, but he wasn't. This was merely a manipulation through the Force, a projection of himself. All the other times they'd appeared to each other like this, never had he felt this way.

With their connection open and flowing, Ben could hear the thoughts passing through her mind. "The bond is weakened since we're both in different dimensions. But I'd rather have this, then for you to go through the rest of your mortal life never seeing me again."

A new set of tears escaped her eyes. Rey nuzzled into his chest, the familiar scent of him nowhere to be found. "We're together," she said in a hushed tone. "That's all that matters."

Ben kissed the crown of her head and wrapped his arms around her. "Together."

()()()()()

Time slowed, as if Ben needed a holopic, a keepsake he could look back on if he ever wanted to revisit this moment. Rey kept her focus on him as Finn guided her toward the Falcon and went up the ramp, lips trembling. Once he realized he had started going to her, he stopped himself, painfully.

The ship finally obscured her image, and that was that. By mortal standards, it would be a very long time till he could look upon Rey with his own two eyes again.

The Falcon was manned by Chewie, who waved at Ben as the vessel lifted into the air. He watched till the freighter disappeared. His heart was on that ship, being whisked away to the corporeal dimension.

Tears dropped from his chin and ran down his neck, his black tunic absorbing their descent. His collar was drenched, but he didn't care.

The pain that had settled in Ben's chest was inexplicable. Watching Rey leave had hurt him in ways he had never felt before. Even though he wanted to hold her and keep her by his side forever, fate had other plans for them. He'd never forget the moments Rey had laughed with him, cried with him, helped him. Different from the others, he didn't regret any of the memories he'd made with Rey.

After time immeasurable, he realized Kayani was standing next to him. "I know this is –"

"Don't," he cut her off curtly, his eyes still on the horizon even though the Falcon was gone. "Just because I agreed to do this, doesn't mean you can talk to me. You are not to be in my presence again until Rey and I are reunited," he ordered with the authority that came with being the master of this domain.

He shifted his eyes down to Kayani. She crossed her arms over her chest, her voice coming out just a little softer than usual. "I didn't do this to you."

He clenched his jaw, annoyed that she had the nerve to appear affronted. "I understand that. But seeing how I can't take my anger out on the Force, I'll have to take it out on something else."

"…. Which would be me," she uttered. Ben shrugged. His mind was already going elsewhere, to the people he actually cared about. "How is that fair?"

His stare darkened, and she had the good sense to shrink away from him. "Oh, you and I are never going to have a discussion about what's fair and what isn't. Ever. Now, do me the courtesy of leaving me the fuck alone."

With a thought, he could make her disappear, banish her to a part of Mortis of his choosing. He had absolute control over her and her brother, and she had no way of warding off his power. But he didn't want to micromanage her. So he gave her the choice of either leaving on her own terms, or being forced to.

Kayani blinked in rapid succession, startled by his imprudence. Her mouth floundered open, as if she were going to bite out a retort, but then thought better of it. Instead she bowed her head and said, "As you wish."

Ben let out a strangled breath once she vanished. It almost turned into a sob, but he didn't have the time to cry like he used to when he was a little boy, holed up in his room, lonely and small. Then, he had thought himself to be alone. But here, he really had no one.

Never being one to thrive in seclusion, he almost called Kayani back.

Almost.

He gazed off to where the darkness was quickly zeroing in, could recognize the death that came with the shadow, making everything wilt and the animals vanish. But close behind the darkness was light, and along with it, rebirth.

Balance really was cyclical.

The darkness passed over the castle and its six towers, and it was then that Ben felt the spirits inside. Most he didn't recognize, but one stood out to him the most: his grandfather. The signature was similar to his own, but still held the uniqueness of Anakin's identity.

Ben hesitated before walking in the other direction. He had forever to meet those who were waiting for him, but Rey and his son only had one life to live. He couldn't afford to miss a single moment.

The spirits must have sensed Ben's urgency to connect with Rey, for they stayed in the stone citadel and made no attempt to see him. But as he ambled across the terrain, two orbs manifested in the air, their essences immediately recognizable.

Poe and his father, a minute fraction of who they once were. But it was enough.

The pair stayed close as they followed him, and Ben found himself grateful for the minimal company.

A few acres of meadow had remained after Mortis' transformation, and Ben decided that was as good a place as any to wait for Rey to return to him. Laying and disappearing within the tall sward, the blades of grass pricking through his clothes and tangling in his hair, Ben gazed at the blue sky above.

He closed his eyes and reached out with his mind.

In the span of a moment, he was with Rey on the Falcon.

As the years passed by, the galaxy went through more of a rapid change than Ben had expected. Ransolm had taken up the mantle of Supreme Ruler, with almost all planetary systems giving him their full support. He'd been pardoned of the previous crime Carise Sindian had framed him for, but Ransolm still went through great lengths during his election to lay out the proof of his innocence. Not like he needed to; the majority of galactic citizens adored him so much that they looked past his previous conviction.

But Ben knew that it was all for Ransolm's personal benefit than it was for others. The man just wanted his honor back, to look himself in the eye and to know Carise hadn't ruined his life. Even during his imprisonment, he had still held onto his beliefs and ideologies – which was why Ransolm had no desire to spearhead a dictatorship.

He put the matter of governmental selection up for a galactic wide vote, and the people chose to reinstate a Republic, so long as a Prime Chancellor was elected to mediate the Senate. Ransolm won the nomination with little resistance, and over the course of two years, a New Republic was formed.

Ben should've been offended by the change he once opposed, but he found that he really didn't care all that much anymore. Politics were no longer his concern. All he cared about was staying by Rey's side, and watching over his family.

Those first few years proved to be a learning curve for everyone. Only Rey could see and interact with Ben, making moments with other people… awkward. She would have to become the middleman to anyone who wanted to talk to him, which were most often Leia and Luke. But what Rey really needed to adjust to was Ben's constant presence. He never left her, not when she broke down crying when she felt like she was a single parent, nor when she struggled to get the Jedi Academy up and running on Ahch-To.

The latter she accomplished through pure grit, perseverance, and with the unforeseen help of Leia telling the truth about what happened to Ben.

While the ever looming presence of Kylo Ren had caused many beings to decline attending the academy, it came as no surprise that when the galaxy knew he was gone, there were a select few who chose to become students. Even though most didn't believe Leia's story, attributing the grandiose tale to the grief of a mother in an attempt to conceal that her son had been assassinated, it didn't matter to Ben.

The fact that everyone believed him to be gone was what allowed those first three students to attend the academy and be trained by Rey and Luke. From there they agreed to admit a group of journalists from the esteemed Perre Needmo Newshour to visit for interviews and a tour, permitting them to witness a day in the life of the apprentices.

The exposure worked in their favor.

The positive publicity garnered more requests from Force sensitives around the galaxy to attend the school, the number of attendees growing exponentially over a period of five years. It brought in the funding they needed to construct a proper building on the island, used as a dormitory for the students and newly hired academic tutors and staff.

Juggling the academy, students, and their son was a stressful time for Rey, her attention being pulled in multiple directions at once. Through it all, Ben was constantly there, watching and trying to support her with the only thing he could offer: an ear to listen, his arms for comfort, and intimacy for when she needed to feel loved, though without its usual warmth.

But while Ben could only really offer her emotional support, she found actual help from those of her family.

It was a relief to see Leia step up and help raise Jacen, her life now focused on being a full time grandmother.

Korkie and Soniee also offered their services by moving to Naboo, living in one of the wings on the Naberrie estate. As fate would have it, Rey would only have her grandfather for two years before he passed away, with Soniee following suit a few years later. They were both buried on their home planet of Mandalore, giving Rey an opportunity to learn about her genealogical roots.

By studying the bloody and warmongering past of her ancestors, it made Rey wonder how to teach Jacen about where he came from.

Through many long conversations and planning, Ben and Rey agreed not to tell Jacen the full story surrounding Ben until he was old enough to understand. That came when he was seven years old. But even when Rey tried to illicit a conversation between Ben and Jacen, their son couldn't get past how irregular the whole situation was. Going to school showed him that his familial unit was far from normal, making him long for a father that was present, instead of a man that was essentially a ghost.

After a few tries of Rey being the mediator, Jacen refused to participate. In his own childish way, he believed that if he snubbed his father long enough, Ben would actually appear to him. Their son didn't understand that what he was wanting was never going to happen.

Rey gave Jacen some time to come to the truth on his own and told Ben to be patient, that Jacen would come around once the confusion subsided.

It hurt, Ben wasn't going to deny it. His son couldn't see him, couldn't talk to him, couldn't touch him. Ben watched him cry in private, and couldn't do a thing about it. He felt useless. But Rey assured him that he wasn't useless to her, and with time, their son would come to know him.

So Ben waited.

After all, he had an endless amount of time.

But the same couldn't be said for everyone else.

As his mother had predicted, it wasn't long before she passed away, having gone peacefully in her sleep. Her unwavering determination to learn what she needed to about the Force had allowed her to keep hold of her consciousness, materializing along side the other spirits that dwelled in the stone citadel of Mortis. There, she waited for him.

Leia's funeral was one of the biggest ceremonial funeral processions the galaxy had ever seen, his mother having touched and influenced so many planets and individual hearts throughout her lifetime. The memorial was held on Naboo, where she was put to rest next to the once beloved Queen and devoted Senator Padme Amidala Naberrie. Jacen, Chewie, and Luke acted as pallbearers, walking alongside the hovering carriage. Although Naboo custom dictated that the deceased were to be cremated at the Theed Funeral Temple and their ashes spread over the Solleu River, an exception was made, just as it had been for the late Queen.

Unexpectedly, a week after the burial of his twin, Luke passed in the same fashion as his sister. Rey had awoken immediately during the night, having felt his mortal life come to a peaceful end. In his hut all that was left of him were his robes, tucked under the sheets of his bed. Rey cried over the empty bed, and thanked him for all the help and guidance he had given her.

Ben remained by her side, his hand on her back as he let her mourn another loss to her family. But it wasn't forever. Luke was with his sister now, waiting for when Ben would come and greet them.

Unlike the grandiose of Leia's ceremony, Luke's funeral was small and by invitation only. Though Luke's sister and mother remained on Naboo, he desired a more quaint and quiet location for his memorial. So Rey and the students carved his name and a brief summary of his legacy at the base of his favorite meditation rock.

Caliiya's end came twenty-six years later.

She volunteered to lead a battle against the resurgence of the Black Sun after a string of terrorist attacks on Mandalore, but her insistence on always going into a skirmish first had finally caught up with her. Rey stayed with Finn for a while after that, worried over the fact that he now lived alone. His two daughters were married with kids of their own, and weren't able to stay with their father for long. Rey moved in with him and stayed for a while, having the other appointed Jedi Masters run the school in her absence.

Jacen was one of those Masters, though it was a long journey for him to become one.

From never leaving Rey's side, Ben was able to watch his son grow into a man. Ben helped as much as he could, which just consisted of him being supportive of Rey's parenting. She struggled with their son's tantrums and the ease in which he used the Force. Through a lot of patience, tears, and discipline, she taught him how to control the power he possessed, and for a while, it had brought the two closer. But going into his teen years, the relationship became more strained.

His jealousy over his mother being able to connect with his father was the foundation for the resentment. But other life trials also contributed to Jacen's withdrawn behavior.

From early on, Jacen hadn't wanted to attend the Jedi academy for his formal education, instead opting to do his schooling on Naboo. Rey teleported between the Naberrie estate and Ahch-To, allowing her to individually train Jacen in the ways of the Force while being able to adhere to her other students. But it wasn't necessarily Rey's position at the academy that soured their relationship further; it was the fact that the bullying at school kept getting worse.

And it was all because he was Kylo Ren's son, and a descendant of Vader.

From telling their family story, Leia had explained how Kylo Ren came to be, being honest about how her lack of parenting had allowed her son to be manipulated by Snoke. She didn't excuse the horrible things he'd done, nor did she dance around the issues of the Skywalker line. But with more insight into the family came more judgment, and that led to Jacen being ostracized by his peers.

The only loyal friend he had was Jorfel, but he was studying on Ahch-To alongside his sister, Anna, and couldn't help Jacen when he needed it most. So he toughed it out on his own, becoming more and more closed off.

As time went on, Jacen started to ask Rey more and more questions about Ben, but no matter what answer Rey gave him, he couldn't understand why his father had committed so many atrocities. Mainly, murdering Han Solo.

Rey couldn't stop Jacen from leaving home when he came of age, but she trusted that he would one day come back home. Afterall, it was an adult Jacen who'd found her in that portal dimension so long ago.

His son became obsessed with finding a way to see him, scouring the galaxy in hopes of locating a waypoint that would lead to Mortis. As much as Ben wanted nothing more than for Jacen to finally lay eyes on him, Ben could not control the Force. He was merely a conduit.

So Jacen's pain became Ben's as he watched his son struggle, unable to offer any aid. But the loneliness his son went through was satisfied in a way that Ben hadn't quite foreseen. During his journey, Jacen reunited with Anna. Distance, and the fact she was four years his senior, had forced the childhood friends to grow apart as they got older. But when circumstances had brought the two face to face, old feelings started to resurface for Jacen, and Anna couldn't deny that his charm still had a way of making her feel at ease.

Gone was the boy she once knew, now replaced with a man that twisted her stomach into knots and hitched her breath in her throat.

It didn't take much to convince Anna to join in his efforts of delving deeper in the Force, using the power in a way that was once seen as controversial. He'd even discovered his ability for particle transportation, giving him hope that he was powerful enough to meet his goals. At first, Anna thought Jacen could handle it. But it soon drove him to being reckless, and the relationship he'd been building with Anna was teetering on strained.

After extensive searching, Jacen and Anna discovered a waypoint to what they believed would lead them to Mortis. But when they went through it, it brought them to the World Between Worlds, held together by a cluster of portals. There he found his mother, and had laid eyes on his father. Except, it wasn't his father. And his mother was younger, so much younger than the last time he had seen her.

He recognized the events for what they were: the time his mother fought Snoke. Except, she'd never mentioned Jacen and Anna being there. She'd lied to him, all his life. But even through the deception, he begged his mother to come back with him and Anna, where she would be safe. This woman, however, was yet to be his mother, and had a destiny to fulfill.

Rey forced him through a portal, and he came back to his own time without her.

Seeing and interacting with his mother in that place was what forced Jacen to take a hard look at his priorities, and he realized that his obsession was slowly ruining his life. He gave up his pursuit of seeing Ben and immediately returned home, hand in hand with Anna. Through Rey, he talked with Ben, the beginning of a relationship between father and son finally beginning to form.

But just when Jacen and Anna started to ease into where their lives had led them, something always came along to challenge the peace.

Jorfel left the school after disagreeing with the curriculum, his frustration over his 'innovative ideas' constantly being denied driving him to cut ties with his sister, Jacen, and eventually the rest of his family. And whenever anger lingers, the dark side waits with its enticements.

Jorfel accrued a devout following, darkening the hearts of those who were already troubled and ripe for corruption. They forsook the light entirely, not wanting to seek out the balance both sides of the Force could offer. When Anna finally found her brother, pleading for his return, he nearly killed her. If Jacen hadn't stepped in, she wouldn't have survived.

Going into deep hiding, Jorfel taught those who were still loyal to him the depths of the dark side.

Neither Anna, nor Jacen, ever saw him again.

Shortly thereafter, Jacen went on to accept the royal position of Prince and Regent Ruler of New Alderaan, the first proclaimed Jedi to fill a sovereign role. He remained on the Jedi council, mainly as a formality. There were other members of the council that took on a more active role than him. Like Anna, for instance, who later became his wife.

They had three children, and in watching Jacen and Anna raise them, Ben realized something: Children succeeded their parents, taking their place, walking along future paths as they carried on their traditions and life lessons so that which was brought down could be passed on again.

It was immortality for those who were mortal.

And as all mortals knew, time was an unbeatable opponent. It came to collect Rey's youthful features, her body growing old as wrinkles became more pronounced, her bones starting to ache and her back forming a hunch. She became distressed over the fact that Ben remained youthful, while she was slowly withering away. To make her more comfortable, Ben aged his appearance as best he could.

Rey cried the day he did it.

"I thought this was what you wanted," he told her gently, holding her hand as they sat side by side on the edge of their bed.

She wiped the tears away with shaky fingers. "It is." Lifting her head, her sullen eyes met his. "I just wish we could grow old together for real."

As did he.

In no way would he categorize Rey as a vain person, but it was hard for her to have time claim her body while the man she loved remained untouched. She kept questioning why he stayed, telling him he should leave before things got worse.

He refused.

Outer beauty was subjective, but what Ben truly found beautiful about Rey was her grace. Sure, heads stopped turning when she passed people in the street, and the compliments came less and less from strangers, but when there was sad news on the HoloNet, she would try to hide her tears behind her hands. When she saw suffering, she connected to it, because she never built up an immunity against the plight of others. To Ben, those attributes were what encompassed the authenticity of beauty.

Rey continued to be active all the way up to the elderly age ninety-one. A month after Finn's funeral, an infection in her lungs had caused complications, and given her age, there wasn't much doctors could do for her. Jacen wanted to take her to a facility on Coruscant for better treatment, but Rey knew… she knew her time was coming to an end. With what little awareness she had left, Rey requested to stay on Ahch-To where she was comfortable, and for her to be memorialized next to her Jedi Master. She already chose what she wanted etched on the stone:

Never a queen, forever a Jedi.

Ben could feel her body weakening. The moment of separation of the soul from the body was upon her.

Rey was in bed, surrounded by Jacen, Anna, her grandchildren, and the oldest of her great-grandchildren. Her family.

Jacen sat beside his mother, holding her hand as Anna remained behind him. Unseen, Ben kneeled at the opposite side of the bed, intertwining his fingers with Rey's. He caressed the papery thin skin of her hands and crooked fingers, trying to let her know that he was there.

He wouldn't leave her. Not even at the end.

She had fallen asleep a few hours ago, and this time, she wasn't going to wake up.

Jacen leaned forward, brushing a wisp of white hair from her forehead. "It's okay, mom," he whispered reverently through trembling lips. "You don't have to hold on anymore. I have my own family now; you don't have to worry about me. I'll be okay. I know you want to be with dad again. Go to him." He kissed her cheek, his tears now falling freely. "Be at peace."

The energy in the room changed slightly, and having sensed it, Jacen straightened and glanced to the side. He inhaled sharply as he made eye contact with his father.

Ben just stared, as did Jacen, both men at a loss for words. Stuck in the moment, Ben was only slightly aware of raising his hand and reaching out to him. Mesmerized, Jacen did the same. Just as their palms met, Rey's spirit and body vanished into the Force, taking Ben along with her.

Ben's eyelids popped open. He was met with the familiar blue sky he'd shut his eyes on seventy-one standard years ago. Poe and Han swirled in the air above before fading away, granting him privacy for what was to come.

Standing, his eyes swept over the landscape of the mountains and valleys, his fingertips brushing along the tall grass of the meadow.

Yet, a more lovely sight awaited him.

"Ben?"

He whirled around. There stood Rey in all her youthful splendor, looking so much like the girl he'd lived his mortal life with. She was even dressed like it, too – her grey capris hugged her toned legs, her cream colored shirt was softly overlaid with a woven blue vest, and her hair hung at her shoulders, the top half pulled tightly away from her face.

Rey's smooth, tanned skin sparkled in the light, her scarlet lips parting as her hazel eyes took him in.

She sprinted as fast as her legs could take her, throwing herself into his arms. He breathed in the scent of her hair and touched the curves of her body, his hands awakening neural pathways that had laid dormant from the lack of touching her with his tangible form. She was real; she wasn't a spirit like the others.

"I'm so proud of you," he was able to tell her through a constricted throat. "You were such an amazing mother to Jacen, and I never left you. Not even for a second."

"I know," she said, melting against him, feeling his warmth. "I just can't believe I'm here, that we're finally together. I've waited for this moment for so long." Rey paused, snuggling closer, like she could squeeze herself in between his ribs and into his heart. "And when Jacen joins us, when our family is here, it'll all be as it should."

As he held Rey against his body, Ben's heart was free, his soul was free, and it was at that moment he knew that the fall was over. Back when Rey was on Takodana and he'd seen her for the first time and looked into her eyes, when he had a sense that this girl was important and was somehow going to forever change him… now he knew, down to his marrow, that all would be well. The next era of their lives was about to begin.

Craning her head up, Rey's mouth found his and Ben's thoughts ceased to exist. They melded together, their energies like two stars colliding into one, the space that had so heavily lived between them during her mortal life ceasing to exist.

Fate was not easy, but it proved to be worth it, for in the end, it granted them one final gift:

Eternity.

The End.

A/N

I have so much to say, but I will try to keep my thoughts brief. First of all, this was one helluva ride. This story took 2 1/2 years to write, it was my first time attempting such a feat, and I love it dearly. I hope all of you enjoyed the journey the characters took as well. Second, to everyone who has left a comment, especially those who reviewed regularly, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. The encouragement helped motivate me to finish this story and I really couldn't have done this without you.

Thank you to my sister, who listened to me talk about this story A LOT. I ran all my ideas by her, and she was honest with me when she didn't like something and I would nix it. To show my appreciation, I will now shamelessly recommend her Star Wars/Game of Thrones crossover she is writing on AO3. It's called A Song of Jedi and Sith, by MissFit. Go check it out and leave a comment that I sent you her way so I could earn some extra brownie points with her. :)

Thank you to SheLitAFire for being such a gracious beta. Through all the corrections you made (and there was a good amount cause I'm not good at this lol), you never made me feel inadequate or that you were judging me for being such an amateur writer. We had fun, we became friends, and I'm so very grateful for you!

Thank you to my mom for being so supportive of this hobby of mine. She started reading around chapter 11, and she's been such a huge cheerleader of this story. I've always purported that I wrote this story for myself, but by the end, I wrote this story for my mom, too. There were times were I didn't get a lot of comments on a chapter and it would get me down, but having my mom read my chapters and then call me afterwards to discuss what had happened would always lift my spirits. By chapter 20, as long as I had my mom to talk to, comments didn't matter to me that much anymore. I mean, I still love to get reviews, don't get me wrong. Please still leave comments! lol. And that includes all the other fanfics you read. Writers really do need encouragement. I've just learned not to base my feelings of self-worth as a fanfic writer upon them, cause I could get fifteen comments on one chapter, and none on the next. It would be jarring. So in summary, my mom helped to remind me that I wrote for myself, not for others.

Some random thoughts I want to jot down:

I intended for this story to have Ben and Rey as equal main characters, but I will admit, Ben ended up being more of the main character than Rey by a slim margin. As I wrote, it just happened to turn out that way.

Ben was easier to write than Rey. Hands down. With him at rock bottom, I had a lot at my disposal when it came to writing his redemption arc. With Rey, she was already a good, compassionate person at the end of TFA. So I had to think long and hard about obstacles I could throw her way in order for her to grow and be challenged. I know it was hard to like her at certain parts of the story, but her self-righteousness was supposed to be one of her weaknesses to overcome. Also, she's a decade younger than Ben, and I wanted to show the age of her immaturity.

I got the idea about Ben and Mortis two days after seeing TFA. From there, I took the next five months working backwards and outlining the story from the end to the beginning before starting to post it in May 2016.

While this story takes place in a huge fictional world, I wanted it all to revolve around one thing in the end: family. As Carrie Fisher said in a TLJ interview, it's all about family. I wanted the relationships to shine and to build with the plot.

Chewie was meant to die at the end when they went after Snoke, but my sister convinced me that after killing Poe and Jess, it would be too much. It wasn't until I actually started to write that scene that I realized I shouldn't kill Chewie off. So everyone, send your thanks to my sister!

There were so many ideas I had for this story that didn't make it in, mainly because it would've made it way longer than it already was. Or it just didn't work with the characterization.

I do plan on writing some stuff about Jacen, but I'm taking a break from the Star Wars Universe for a bit. Right now, I'm working on this modern day Reylo AU that involves reincarnation and demi gods and the afterlife. Let me know in a comment if you'd like me to update it as I go, or to wait till most of it is done before posting it. We all know I erratically update, and I'm not sure if you guys want to be put through that again. So let me know!

I'm not sure if any of you are big video gamers, but at some point, I want to write a Fallout/Reylo AU. I can't play video games to save my life (ya'll should see me try to play Call of Duty), but my husband is a huge gamer and I love to watch him play. Fallout is one of my favorites, and of course with the release of Fallout 76, I've been starting to think about a Reylo story to take place in that world.

Again, thank you so much for reading my story, and please follow me if you want to stay up to date with the other stories I'll post. I'm gonna post my next one on here and AO3, which will be under the same name.

Thanks be unto JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson, the deities of Reylo, for blessing us with this ship. May the Force be with you all!