A/N: Oh. My. Goodness. I can't believe the last chapter is finally here! Writing this story has been a seven-month journey for me, and I just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has joined me on this little adventure. Thank you for every review, fav, and follow. I love you all. And may the Force be with you!

- Madison

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"You did great, kid. I know that you made a few wrong turns along the way, but it's the destination that counts. Han would be proud of you, and so would Leia."

Lando Calrissian reached up and gripped Ben's shoulder. All these years later, he still had that same twinkle in his eyes.

Ben shifted uncertainly and glanced at the floor, feeling thoroughly unworthy of anyone's praise. "I hope so."

The old smuggler smiled and gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze, then allowed his hand to fall back to his side. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a very nice looking bar that I've yet to visit."

Ben nodded, managing a nervous smile as Lando turned and walked away. Standing alone in front of one of the many columns that lined the palace corridor, he watched as the rebels and the people of Naboo joyously celebrated their narrow victory. There was drinking and feasting, cheering and laughing. The dark hall was warmly lit, its fiery glow mingling with that of the moon as its ivory rays streamed through the towering windows. And in their merriment, no one took any notice of him.

Or so he thought.

"Wrharaar."

Startled, Ben turned and faced Chewbacca. The Wookie held two small, golden objects in his extended hand. Ben's lips parted with pleasant surprise as he reached out to take them.

"You did it," he breathed, meeting Chewbacca's solemn blue gaze. "Thank you."

The Wookie responded with a series of grunts and growls, and Ben nodded.

"I will," he promised.

Chewbacca was silent for a moment, his wise face deep in thought as he looked at the son of Han Solo. Then he reached out and ruffled his hair, just as he had when Ben was a boy.

"Wrahgh."

The Wookie gestured past him, and Ben's eyes widened. Quickly, he slipped the items into a compartment on his belt, then made an about-face. In an instant, the rest of the world grew dim, and he could see only her. Rey's dark hair was bound up and back from her face, an elegant gown of soft yellow, pink, and purple draping across her body. Her green eyes danced as she smiled at him, but Ben found that his tongue had turned to lead, his mouth hanging uselessly open.

She approached him with a hint of hesitancy, her cheeks flushing. "Hi."

He blinked, willing his mind to work, willing his lips to form words. "Hi," he managed.

"It's…good to see you up and about," Rey replied, rubbing her arm. "You look like you're feeling better."

"I am," he nodded. Pausing for a moment, he swallowed. "And you look…incredible."

"Really?" she responded hopefully, her features brightening. Then she blushed harder. "I mean—thanks."

Ben couldn't help but smile at her, feeling the unfamiliar but not unwelcome warmth of affection spread through him. Then to their left, there was a sudden flash of light and a loud boom. Rey jumped and spun toward the nearby balcony.

"What was that?" she exclaimed anxiously.

"Don't worry," he assured her. "It's just fireworks."

She gave him a curious look. "What are fireworks?"

His eyebrows rose. "You don't—? Oh…right."

Rey's face had fallen, but when Ben offered his hand to her, she met his gaze again.

"Come with me," he suggested. "I'll show you."

"All right," she agreed with a slight smile.

Placing her hand in his, she let him lead her through the open doors and out onto the balcony. Far below them, bathed in moonlight, were the rolling hills, the lazily flowing river, the distant mountains—and the charred remains of the dreadnought. The hulking warship was a blight on the otherwise unblemished view, and Ben sighed when he saw it.

"What a mess."

"Maybe," said Rey. "But it's a reminder—a reminder that we won."

As they came to the railing, she glanced up at him and smiled again. Her hand was small in his, her skin toughened by years of scavenging in the desert. But he savored the strength of it and the reassurance it brought him.

"What is it?" she asked, noting how he stared down at their entwined fingers.

The truth was that he was remembering a time not so long ago when she had refused his hand. And now…

Ben shook his head, gazing deeply into her eyes. "I just…can't believe I'm here. With you."

Rey drifted closer to him and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad you are."

Suddenly, an explosion of colors ignited the sky above them. She gasped and turned to look. Bursts of red and green. Blue and purple. Some scattered fiery sparks that crackled and shimmered as they rained down from the heavens. Others whooshed and darted across the sky like shooting stars.

But Ben paid little attention to them, for he was captivated by the childlike wonder in Rey's eyes. Her grip on his hand had tightened, and she grinned from ear to ear.

"Oh, they're beautiful," she breathed.

Rey leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and he blinked in surprise. For a moment, he was unsure how to respond. Then, slowly, he relaxed and wrapped his arm around her waist. Holding her close, he looked up at the sky and thanked the Force that there was a will in the universe that transcended his own. A cosmic will that had seen fit to bring the two of them together—to bring balance back into the world.

This was the last night he would spend on Naboo. Just prior to the beginning of the celebration feast, Queen Vashti had privately summoned him to discuss his future, and she had shown him far more mercy than he deserved. In exchange for saving her people and the Resistance on Naboo, she had agreed to grant him his freedom—provided that he departed the planet as soon as possible.

Of course, he had accepted her generous offer. But one question still remained. What would Rey choose to do?

They stood in silence for some time, watching the fireworks flash overhead, until she finally twisted around to gaze up at him. "Something's troubling you," she observed, her brow furrowing with concern.

Ben sighed, knowing that there was no point in denying it. He turned and faced her, taking both of her hands in his. It was time—time to ask her.

"Rey…I spoke to the queen."

There was a flicker of worry in her eyes. "And?"

"She's agreed to let me go in peace, but I can't stay here. I have to leave—tomorrow."

She blinked and glanced away, her lips parting. He could feel the rush of fear that suddenly assailed her.

"What…what are you saying?"

"I'm saying…" He stopped and swallowed hard. "I want you to come with me."

Her eyes darted back to his. Summoning his courage, Ben lowered himself onto one knee and released her left hand.

"Rey…you know how I feel about you. I never want to leave your side. And, if you'll have me, I never will."

Reaching into the small compartment on his belt, he withdrew a simple gold ring and held it up to her.

"Rey, will you marry me?"

She stared at him, her mouth hanging open. Her right hand trembled in his left. Tears glittered in her eyes, and she finally nodded.

"Yes," she managed, a radiant smile spreading across her face. "Yes, I will!"

And without waiting another second, Rey threw herself into his arms. Nearly dropping the ring, Ben caught her and laughed. And for the first time, they embraced each other with the knowledge that they would never be parted again. Her arms were wrapped tightly around him, her fingers tangled in his hair as he buried his face in her neck. He could feel her heart pounding in tandem with his own.

Rey drew back just enough to take his face in her hands and press a fervent kiss to his lips. And for a moment, Ben lost himself in it, but then he remembered something—something important.

"Wait," he said with a smile as he broke the kiss. "Don't forget—there are traditions, you know."

"Well I wouldn't know, would I?" she responded with a playful smirk.

He should his head, failing to conceal his amusement. "Here. Hold out your hand."

She did as he asked, and Ben slipped the band onto her finger. Rey canted her head as she looked at it.

"Where did you find this? It feels almost…familiar somehow."

Solemnly, he met her gaze. "My father's dice."

"What?" she gasped, her other hand flying to her mouth. "Ben, I—"

"Rey," he interrupted, placing his hand on her cheek as he stared intently into her eyes, "even after all these years, those dice had never been separated from each other. They were always linked. And now, we are too. You are my family now."

Tears spilled down her cheeks, and Ben brushed them away. Then he leaned in, kissing her slowly—deeply. The woman who had once been nothing to him but a scavenger from Jakku. Who had become a Jedi—and his equal. And now, she was his partner, his soulmate—his wife.

He had done nothing to deserve her, and yet, here she was. Indeed, the Force worked in mysterious ways, for the light that he had once despised—that had never ceased calling to him even in his darkness—had taken the one form that he could not resist.

Her.

HHHHHHHHH

Ben stepped into the dark, empty cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. It was the following morning, and the time had come for him and Rey to depart. Flicking on the lights, he allowed his eyes to wander over every inch of it, hardly believing that it now belonged to him. But Chewie had insisted, saying that he no longer needed it, for he planned to finally return to his family on Kashyyyk.

Ben placed his hand on the back of the pilot's chair, his gaze drifting down to the gold band on his finger. A profound ache of grief and loss filled his heart, and he wished, more than anything, that he could see his father one last time. That he could tell him how sorry he was. That he could show him how he had changed.

But then he heard his mother's voice, an echo of his vision, reminding him….

"Even when you can't see me, I'll always be with you."

And he chose to believe it. About her. About his father. About all of them.

"Ben?"

Turning, he saw Rey standing in the doorway. Her cheeks were wet with tears.

"Are you all right?" he asked, taking a step toward her.

"I'm fine," she replied, hastily wiping them away. "In fact, I've never been happier. It's just, well, goodbyes are difficult."

"I understand."

Rey smiled and moved closer, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Come on," she said softly. "Let's get out of here."

Ben watched her slide into the copilot's seat, then smiled as he followed her lead and lowered himself into the pilot's chair—his father's chair.

"Where to?" he asked, firing up the freighter's newly repaired systems.

"Anywhere," she answered with an adventurous grin.

That was good enough for him, and when the hangar doors opened, the Falcon flew out to meet the rising sun. His old life was ending, but another was just beginning. A new journey awaited them, and this time, they would embark upon it together.

HHHHHHHHHH

First comes the day
Then comes the night.
After the darkness
Shines through the light.
The difference, they say,
Is only made right
By the resolving of gray
Through refined Jedi sight.

— Journal of the Whills, 7:477