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Ben paces back and forth over the orange-yellow sand of Jakku, fidgeting repeatedly with the hem of his long sleeve tunic. Alternating huffing and puffing with sighing. Rey rolls her eyes at him from her position of sitting on top of the AT-AT. She can understand how he feels. She can feel his anxiety in their connection. He’s nervous and worried. She jumps down gracefully and steps over to him.
‘What if she doesn’t like me?’ Ben grumbles as he pauses to fiddle with his sleeve.
‘Ben, she’s your daughter; of course she’ll like you. She loves you.’ Rey assures him, as she reaches up and cups his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her.
Their eyes meet, and they both feel the charge of the Force pass between them. It’s been so much more intense since they were reunited. It’s as if the Force has found balance. Ben closes his eyes and sighs heavily.
‘But she doesn’t even know who I am.’ He complains, and it’s Rey’s turn to sigh as she shakes her head and a smile forms on her lips.
‘She does know who you are. Because I told her every single day who you are. Can’t you feel her? In the Force?’ Rey questions, as she brushes her thumb over the scar she gifted him.
Ben takes a deep breath and nods. He can feel his little girl in the Force. Shining so brightly and getting ever close to him. To their first meeting in months. Their first meeting since the day of her birth.
The familiar sound of the Millennium Falcon fills the air above them, and Ben tenses beneath Rey’s fingers. She rises onto her tiptoes and plants a soft and reassuring kiss to his forehead, right above the end of his scar. He relaxes a little and takes a deep breath, as the Falcon lands a few feet away.
‘She’s your daughter. She loves you. Just like I love you. Trust me.’ Rey whispers before moving to hold his cybernetic hand, and watch as the Falcon goes through it’s landing process.
Ben takes more deep breaths, needing to stay calm and relaxed. Rey glances at him and sees the tension begin to ease from his shoulders. She can feel him relax in their connection, and she gives a faint smile as the ramp on the Falcon lowers.
Leia stands at the top of the ramp, and Ben braces himself when he sees his daughter. She’s resting against his Mother, and his heart surges and his grip on Rey’s hand tightens. Rey looks up at him and sees an anxious smile spread across his face. Luke joins Leia, and together the twins walk down toward the waiting parents.
Luke stops before Leia, who continues until she’s standing directly in front of her son and Rey. She smiles at Ben, but she knows how important it is that Rey introduces Saya to her Father rather than her. Rey knows this too, and carefully takes her daughter from Leia’s arms, letting go of Ben’s hand.
Rey coos at her daughter as she kisses the little girl on the forehead. Ben simply watches in astonishment at the sight of the women in his life. His Mother – who’s gazing adoringly at her Granddaughter. Rey – the love of his life – so natural and at ease with their baby. And Saya – the most perfect and amazing thing he has ever contributed to.
‘Saya, this is your Daddy.’ Rey smiles at Ben, who holds his breath and his heart freezes.
Rey turns slightly so Ben and Saya can look at one another. Saya’s head is resting against her shoulder, and Ben tilts his head so he can look at his daughter.
‘Hello.’ Is all he can muster as his first word to his baby in such a long time.
He feels a blush spread across his cheeks as he feels his body re-starting – his breath returns and his heartbeat begin again.
‘Do you want to hold her?’ Rey gently asks, her one hand cradling Saya’s bottom, and her other hand occasionally running up and down her baby’s back.
Ben’s eyes widen as they meet Rey’s, and she can feel his fear in an instant.
‘It’s okay, if you’re not ready.’ She quickly adds, not wanting him to feel pressured.
Ben takes a deep breath and nods slowly.
‘No, I’m ready. I want to.’ He states, and she can feel the strength of his determination in their connection and the conviction of his words.
Rey moves so she can pass their daughter between them. Leia takes a step back, allowing them to share this moment as a family. She smiles broadly at the sight of her son gazing adoringly at his little girl, as he so easily and naturally takes hold of Saya, despite his initial reaction. Ben matches the position Rey had been holding Saya in. Saya’s bottom cupped in his left hand, as he lovingly straightens her clothes with his cybernetic right hand.
Saya nestles into his neck, and Ben lets out a surprised gasp and his eyes fill with tears. But the smile on his face doesn’t fade at all. Rey beams at the tender and loving scene, feeling her own tears prick in her hazel eyes, as she watches Father and daughter.
‘Hello sweetheart, I’m your Daddy.’ Ben murmurs as Saya nuzzles closer to him, beginning to drift off to sleep.
Chewie has now joined Leia, and Luke has stepped forward, and they all watch Ben share these poignant moments with his daughter.
Ben reaches out for Rey’s hand and she lets him take it, stepping closer to him. He lets go of her hand and wraps it around her shoulders, drawing her closer to him. She runs her hand beneath his tunic and up his back, liking the feel of his skin after missing it for so long.
He presses a kiss to her hairline as Saya sleeps in the nook of his neck. Rey gently rests her hand on their little girls back, and brushes her thumb up and down, soothing her.
Leia regards the scene once more and fails to fight back her tears any longer. She lets them drip from her eyes. This is what she gave up her position as General of the Resistance for, and she can’t have made a better decision. This was the right outcome. Her son is where he belongs. With the woman he loves and their daughter. She has no regrets over her choice; to merge the Resistance with the Galactic Republic Peace Corps, and she knows that they’re in safe hands with Poe as the new General.
Her only regret is that Han doesn’t get to share in this moment, but she tries not to dwell on it. Ben glances up at his Mother, feeling her pain at the loss of his Father. He regrets it deeply, that he murdered his Father and deprived him of occasions like these. Leia shakes her head at him and he feels her warmth and love, but he knows that he doesn’t deserve it. He will never deserve his Mother’s forgiveness or love, not after what he’s done to her.
‘We should get her out of this sun. Plus we need to figure out where we’re going to live? What we’re going to do?’ Rey announces as she steps away from Ben a little.
‘Well we can help with those things if you like.’ Luke states clearly from next to his sister.
‘But first, isn’t it time you two got married?’ Leia smiles cheekily, as they all move to climb aboard the Falcon.
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