AN: Here is another Reylo drawing, with a dark Rey.

Also, in this chapter, pretend that Rey and Poe have met beforehand somehow. :)

On to the story!

Chapter 11

Ben POV

She stood beside him when the fighter landed on the dunes, close enough that he could feel her presence like a fiery burn in his mind, but not close enough for peace to flood his veins, as it did when she touched him. Dust and sand farther covered their clothes, pushed onto them by the landing mechanisms of the fighter.

Something alighted in Rey as the fighter landed, a something so bright and golden that he could sense it within her easily. He did not have to push. He looked over at her, stepping back and giving the fighter more room. A smile spread across her face, so wide and bright that it turned her cheeks pink with joy.

He found himself smiling, too, somehow.

At last, the door to the fighter opened, the two panels sliding to the sides and a ramp lowering to the floor. His heart beat faster with apprehension as he waited for the pilot, and whoever else was on the ship, to reveal themselves.

Only one figure stepped down from the ship, dressed in bright orange and white and wearing a helmet--the uniform of the Resistance. Beside him, Rey smirked. "I knew it," she mumbled under her breath.

Before he could ask what she meant, the pilot was taking off his helmet and Rey was running toward him. "Poe! She sent you?"

The man smirked, a smirk Ben knew all too well. This was the man he had interrogated, the best pilot in the Resistance and the man he had tortured. Ben could not help it when he clenched his jaw and stayed a good ten feet back. "Only the best for you, Leia said."

Rey shook her head, her grin widening. "Cocky."

The pilot--Poe--grinned back. "The most."

And then, with a great shriek of excitement, Rey leaped into his arms. A rush of jealously flooded Ben. He could sense her joy, and in that moment he wished he was Poe. He wished that he could know he made her that happy.

"It's good to see you too," Poe said, chuckling. And then the smile dropped off his face as his eyes met Ben's. "Is this him?" He asked, his voice darkening and eyes hardening.

Rey released him then, nodding. "This is Ben."

Poe stepped closer to Ben, looking him up and down. What a change. The last time he saw me  I wasn't covered in sand. Maybe Poe could read thoughts, because he said exactly what Ben was thinking.

"The last time I saw him he was calling himself Kylo Ren and he wanted to know a little something about a map."

Rey's eyes flicked between the two men, and her eyes widened in understanding. But when her eyes met Ben's, she did not look at him any differently. For that he was grateful. She did not say anything, either. She let him speak for himself.

"It's Ben now."

"You sound different. Don't you think he sounds different, Rey? Did he get a cold, lose his voice? He looks different too, a bit less intimidating without that dress. Good choice there, man, getting rid of that thing. Wasn't flattering you."

Rey stepped in front of Poe as he stepped closer to Ben, putting her palms out and pressing her hands against his chest. "Stop."

"I've changed," Ben stated, stepping closer to the pilot and clenching his fists.

"I certainly hope so, man. Else you're really going to disappoint a woman who loves you."

---

Nico Deist nodded and smirked at the stormtroopers who stood outside Snoke's door. He remembered that position well. He too had spent long hours guarding doors when he was being punished later in his career, and when he was just learning the meaning of the word sleepy.

The door slid open and Nico entered confidently. He had done this many times--coming to see Snoke over the past few days. They had much to talk about. Much to plan.

"Mr. Deist, I do hope you have brought me good news," Snoke said by way of greeting.

"I hope so, sir. The droid that was with Kylo Ren and the girl has self destructed. The last camera footage I received from the droid was a clip of the girl being thrown from the Tie Fighter."

Snoke nodded and stood. "And yet she is not dead." His tone was accusatory, and frankly Nico was insulted.

"I am a bounty hunter, sir. I do not use my droids to aid in my kills. I gave the droid the command to self destruct in order to ensure the Tie Fighter they had stolen was destroyed. To ensure that they send for General Leia's help."

Snoke stopped and turned, his brows furrowed. And when he smiled, slow and thin and broad, Nico could not prevent the shivers that ran down his spine. "I can sense your plan, Nico. You are more intelligent than I previously thought."

Nico said his next words confidently. He knew that no matter what, he was one of the most important weapons to Snoke. "It's disturbing how little faith you have in me." The Supreme Leader's eyebrows rose, and Nico added, "Sir."

"Get your things, Mr. Deist. There is some prey that must be hunted." Snoke turned his back on him, and Nico took that as his cue to leave.

He slipped quietly out of the room. Yes. Prey. Nico Deist knew what he must do.

---

Ben's knuckles were white as he clutched the edge of his seat. Shivers ran down his spine as Poe guided the freighter to the ground. Rey too, he noticed, was jumpier than usual. Her eyes flicked from side to side, and at last settled on him.

She smiled softly and sent her thoughts to him. You can do this.

He tried to cover up his fear with arrogance, but even as he pushed the thoughts to her, he could tell he saw straight through him. I can do anything.

I'm serious, Rey told him. You'll be fine. We'll be fine.

Ben shook his head, faintly chuckling. You're not a man known for terrible things.

You're not the woman bringing him home.

He was just about to reply when Poe interrupted. Not that Poe even knew he was interrupting. They hadn't been speaking aloud. "We're here. Let's go find the General."

Ben and Rey rose from their seats at the same time, both stiff with nervousness. He nodded, and she nodded back. And then, shoulder to shoulder (or rather Rey's head to Ben's shoulder), they exited the fighter after Poe and stepped out onto the concrete landing strip.

Dozens--no, hundreds--of ships were outside the doors. Ben's eyes widened. All around him were pilots, and mechanics, and engineers, and droids, and all types of people with the same agenda--to fight the First Order. So these were the brave souls who always fought back.

He had never thought of the Resistance like this. Somehow, he had always considered them fragile and insignificant. But never had he truly seen them, collectively landed and taking off and shouting and talking and marching and obeying orders.

"Pretty big, isn't it?" That was Rey, her smiling face turned up to his. Her lips spread open to reveal white teeth.

He nodded. "I just never . . ." Ben trailed off and gestured around him, eyes wide. The gesture said enough.

"I know. Me neither." She turned away for a bit, and searched around them for someone. Her eyes settled on Poe, who was being heartily greeted by Finn. The pair disappeared in the crowd, and Rey turned back, tugging on his forearm. "Now, come on. Leia's waiting."

Ben swallowed and followed after her. "They're all looking at me." And it was true. The crowds parted as they passed, murmurs filling the air.

And then he heard something, a something that he recognized, and a something that made him stop in his tracks. "They're looking at me."

Ben trembled and swallowed, hard. Time passed--it could have been hours, he didn't know--before he turned around.

He met the eyes of a woman, a woman beautiful and aged and a good fifteen feet away from him. She looked at him strangely, barely recognizing him. Sorrow seemed to weigh her down, sitting heavy on her small frame and making her appear even smaller than she truly was.

This was his mother. This was Leia. This was the General.

She wore a floor length, bright red tunic, underneath a deep crimson vest. Leia took a step forward, closer to him, and then another, the fabric of her dress grazing the ground. She moved elegantly, effortlessly. But Ben could not find it in himself to move.

This was the woman he left behind. This was his mother. This was the woman he still somehow loved.

This was the woman whose husband he had killed.

Rey's voice flooded his mind then, as soft and melodic as the words of a song, comforting him and prying his clenched fists open. Breathe, Ben. And then. You've got to say something. She's waiting.

"Hello, General," he managed with shaky breath. He swallowed and listened to the crowd, murmuring about the situation.

Leia smiled, a slight and deep and sorrowful smile that made his legs feel weak. He almost collapsed on his knees right there on the cement. "So you are the man who killed my son."

"Yes," he replied.

"I've waited a long time for the day I would see you again. I just never thought you would be this . . . grown up." Leia licked her lips and stepped closer. "You're even taller than Han, aren't you?"

"I am," Ben told her, his throat constricting.

Leia nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "It's good to see you." She looked him and up and down, as if trying to decide whether she should reach out and embrace him.

She blinked and then reached out to touch his cheek. "My son." He covered her hand with his own, holding his mother close. "Thank you for coming home."

She looked at him and he looked back, both trying to decide what to say. At last she turned away, and Ben let his arm fall to his side. "Rey," Leia began, "thank you for doing this. I am . . ."

"I know," Rey said, smiling. "I know."

---

When night had fallen, they were taken into a large building, which was full of bustling people. General Leia had ordered one of the soldiers to give them a quick tour of the floor they would be staying on. If he was honest, Ben hadn't listened to one word their tour guide was saying.

He figured that if he needed to, he could just ask Rey to show him.

Rey raised her eyebrow at that, turning toward him. He had forgotten that they had that . . . connection.

Their tour guide stopped outside a door and turned to face them. He had one of those faces that made him look angry all the time. And his Adam's apple bobbed when he spoke. A lot.

"This is the room for the man," he said, opening the door and gesturing for them to enter.

Rey stepped in immediately, staring wide-eyed at the expansive ceiling and large bed. Off to the left was a door, which surely led to the bathroom. That was good. He needed to get rid of all the sand.

Rey reached up and lightly tapped the little floating ball that was flooding the room with light. "This is amazing, Ben. You've even got a balcony!" As she spoke, she slid open a door that was past his bed. "Look!"

The tour guide pursed his lips, and with a nod said, "I'll leave you to it, then. Her room is the next one over." In a flash, the man had disappeared down the hall.

At last Ben moved from the doorway, walking through his room to join Rey on the balcony. The door slid closed behind him with a satisfying snap, leaving him to relish in the sounds of the night air.

Rey leaned backwards on the railing and crossed her ankles, grinning up at him.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Ben asked stepping closer and leaning back on the railing himself, copying her position.

"'Course I am," Rey exclaimed. "I get paid tomorrow."

His eyes widened and he stared at her. "Paid? She paid you to do this?" Betrayal flooded him.

Rey laughed and punched his shoulder. "'Course not, you dimwit. See, there's this thing called humor. You should get some." He could see the dare in her eyes as she spoke.

"I can be funny," he protested.

"The way you look doesn't count."

Ben chuckled dryly. "See, Rey? I'm laughing. I get humor."

They went quiet after that, turning around to look down at the streets below. Even from up there, Ben could hear the different languages the people below spoke. Whistles and clicks, grunts, and all sorts of dialects. There was variation here. And he liked it. It was different from the cut and dry First Order.

All of a sudden, Rey reached up and pressed her lips to his cheek. The skin where her lips had touched burned, raging like a lightning storm.

"What was that for?" Ben asked, turning his head to meet her eyes.

She shook her head and smiled. "Don't act so flattered. That kiss was from your mother."

"Despite everything I've done, you would kiss my cheek?"

"Yeah, Ben. I would kiss your cheek." Ben chuckled. "What was that for?" She asked.

"Nothing. Just glad you're here is all."

AN: hey y'all! Hmm a lot of stuff happened in this chapter. There is a bit of super subtle foreshadowing in here, especially in the chapter title.

What does the title have to do with Nico? Predictions?

Okay guys if I started a Reylo account on Instagram, would you all follow it? I would post edits, imagines, AU's, etc. What do you guys think? I haven't seen too many Reylo accounts on Instagram, and I think it would be fun to make my own. :)

Feedback?

P.S. Something wicked this way comes.