A/N: just a little warning that some people may consider this part mature.

~*~

   Rey lifted up on her toes. Her ankle throbbed, but she hardly felt it as she framed Ben's face in her hands, as she rose herself up to him. For once, he did not move. For once, he let the guard down, unable to speak or think, taken completely by surprise.

   She kissed him softly at first, a brush of butterfly wings against his lips. And she could feel him hesitate, for a sparse moment unable to react. She breathed in the scent of his skin, and kissed him again, this time deeper.

    Still, he seemed unable to respond. But then he caught her fire, and his arms went about her as he returned her kiss, giving an answer to her waiting. His palms pressed to her back, bringing her against him, the last of the distance melting.
  
   Her fingers lost themselves in his hair as she learned the secrets of his mouth, and he learned hers. Tentatively at first, then eagerly. 

   His hand went up to her face to caress her cheek, and Rey could feel it trembling, cold from the fear of something new, yet warm on the inside.

   But there was still a doubt within him, she could feel it. But she wanted to assure him, to let him know...

   Not yet, that voice in her mind of the rational whispered in her head again. Not yet, not yet.

   But her heart was already swallowing the warning whole. She already knew it was too late to deny it, that thing she felt and was trying so hard to decipher.

   "Ben..." She whispered through the kiss.

   At first he didn't seem to have heard. But then he began to draw back, slowly, as if afraid to let go. And when their lips were a breath away from each other's, he leaned away, all of a sudden realizing her intent, his eyes big with wonder.

   "I want to know how it is... Before I die..." She wanted, indeed. Yet it was something new, something that scared her. As much as it scared him.

   "But Rey, the vows." he whispered back. As if the mere sound of his voice would stir the forest from its sleep. As if the interruption she had brought had caused him to realize the mistake.

   "I want you, Ben. Only this time. Please." She squeezed his hand.

   But his eyes went down to the ground. She had never expected him to be so shy, and she wondered; did she do anything wrong?

   "I don't deserve this." he kept whispering and slightly shaking his head.

   "You do." She insisted, staring into his eyes, as she clutched his hand. And then she knew it. "Finn loved me, but I couldn't love him back. Not the way he wanted. Not the way I love you." and her nose nudged his face up too meet his gaze.

   She could see clearly the wonder etched on his features in the dark as his shimmering eyes bore into hers. "Love comes in from the eye." she whispered to him. "From the place one can see right through the other's soul. From the place one can see the other's thoughts, intentions..."

   He had still not forgiven himself. But she did it, for him. He was but a child, she realized. Someone who clung to her as if she were a propel to his life. And she knew that he loved her, she knew he would never betray her. She trusted him blindly. Because they were each other's pride and support.

   This time, it was her that was waiting for his permission. And she knew it when his knuckles began to caress her face before he leaned down, and their lips met once again.
   Her arms wound up around his neck, and his hand supported her head, cupping her three buns.

   Time did not exist for them anymore, as they listened to each other's erratic heartbeats. Nor did the battles they were going to face, or the execution that would take place the next day. There was only the sound of the forest, the sound of the blood rushing in their veins.
   And his mouth soon left hers, trailing a path of kisses across her jaw and down on her neck.

   He must have found a soft spot there, right beneath her ear, for he kissed and kissed her even harder, until her sighs turned into words.

   "I love you..." She caught a moment and whispered in his ear. "And I trust you..."

   Her words were a sweet melody sang past his ears. The Force was singing between them, too, and the bond felt so tight, they tought it was going to explode.

   But soon, Rey's hands began to fumble at the pins that held his cloak in place, as his mind was lost to her love.
   Entangled with each other, they edged across the ground breath by breath, flushed from the warmth they have sparked.

   Until Rey tripped on a root, and Ben all but toppled onto her, his hand reaching out to catch himself.

   His hair fell in his eyes, and Rey's hand slowly rose up to brush it away. He was breathing heavily, as if he had ran a mile. But so was she, beneath him as her other hand still grasped his cloak.

   What has just happened? She couldn't quite recall it... Except that it had been something finally come alive, something beautiful.

   Slowly, as if still reluctant to make a move, Ben stood back on his knees to make her space, as if frightened by the intimate closeness the fall had brought between them. But the cloak that was draping his shoulder fell to the ground, still in Rey's hold.

   Her eyes were locked with his as she brought the heavy cloak up to her chest, clutching it tightly. Her face was a lighter shade of red, but thankfully the night hid it beneath its cover.

   Reluctantly, she decided to spare him the discomfort he felt. She knew he was on the verge of apologizing, again, given by the way his mouth struggled to open, but this time she would not let his words fall.

   She stood on her knees as well, but while she went to the edge of the clearing, her eyes commanded him to wait where he was. She found a patch with soft grass, where she laid the large cloak that would shield them against the coldness of the earth, and sat down on it.

   The bond was fully opened, so she could feel clearly the wonder in Ben's heart. He couldn't understand why she was acting like that, why she was commanding him to wait. And somewhere deep in her soul she could feel an old sense of abandonment coming from him, some kind of fear he had experienced so often.

Ben
   She sat down on the woolen cloak and her hand stretched out to him, inviting him to join her. They locked eyes from across the clearing, and he slowly and steadily walked over to her.
   When he was above her, his hand slid into her smaller one, and she tugged at him to sit.

   And that was when he realized he was trembling, as he came to the same level with her.
   Love comes in from the eye, he kept repeating her words to himself, as he tried to decipher her, the way she had done to him earlier. Because just when he thought he finally knew her, he realized he did not. She was always full of surprises, making him want to explore her deeper, making him love his savior even more.

   His thumb began to caress the top of her hand, as his eyes stared into hers. Her eyes that had the power to take his heart, his soul. Her eyes that during day reflected the sun with a happiness and optimism he had never met, and that during the night the stars pooling in them told a galaxy of unknown stories. Stories he would like to hear one day.

   His hand rose up, and tentatively touched her jaw, shyly, softly, before stroking her ear and cupping her ckeek.

   He wanted to hold her, to shield her in his arms. Yet she was the one to allow him to do so.

   Rey placed her hand over his, and nuzzled inside his palm. And he approached her, until their faces were only a breath apart.

   Her hands found his face, and his arm wound about her, pulling her closer to him. He could feel it again, that tension he had before doing something new. But he melted into the moment as her lips approached his, and he tilted his head up after her touch, joining yet another kiss.

   Her lips tasted of salt and the desert wind they have worn in Jakku, giving him a hint of that place, one of what her life used to be. Her left fingers caressed his face as the right ones were entangled in his hair.
   One of his hand went up and down her bare arm, causing her to stay warm, whilst the fingers of the other were splayed through her buns, that silken hair he was looking forward to kiss again.

   Caught in a swirl of caresses, he never noticed when her hands slid down his chest, and to the belt that strapped his leather tunic. His breath hitched in his throat, and he was numb for a moment. But instead of giving in to his fears, his mouth took after her kiss once again, after the lips that caressed his. And this time, he did not stop her. But urged her to go on.
  
   His hands came to help her fingers that were aimlessly fumbling at the buckle of his belt. She flung if aside, moving to his tunic. He could feel her hands wandering across his chest in a desperation to touch him. He had never known this side of her, but was willing to accept it. He pulled the tunic off, which she threw away as quickly, exposing his skin.

Rey
   Rey took her time looking at him. From his eyes, to his mouth, to the cuts and bruises that covered his chest like a map.

   And after that, she knew what came next, and it scared her as much as it excited her. But after all it was just fair.

   Staring within his eyes, she waited for his nod before she turned with her back on him.
   Her heart was beating against her ribs as if it were a bird trapped in a cage. And her breath hitched in her throat as she tried to drown the lump that had formed there.

   She turned her chin slightly, her eyes tried to catch a glimpse at Ben behind her. But it would just spoil the moment. And she could feel how he yearned to do it, to make her his.

   Her heart skipped a beat when the tips of his fingers grazed her back, when she felt his warm breath against her neck.
   There was a tenderness in his touch as she had hardly met at anyone else. He did not hurry to rip off her clothes as, maybe, she would have expected. Instead she could feel his knuckles running up her spine, his hands caressing the exposed skin of her shoulders with such care, before beginning to unlace the white tunic that hugged her chest and stomach. His fingers brushed against her collarbone, making her shiver.

   Rey helped him take it off, revealing only the wraps she wore around her breasts. But once exposed, the coldness of the night bit at her skin, making her want to shrink back into that cloth that gave her a sense of warmth. She closed her eyes, eager to know what Ben had in his mind to do next, wanting to beg him to make it last as long as possible, for she didn't want to admit how scared she was, in fact.
   She was a stranger to what was going to happen, and so was he.

   His warm lips pressed against her shoulder, making her sigh, her eyes close, as his hair grazed her skin.
She wanted to nudge his head, but realized she was somehow frozen in place by the emotion, the way he had been only moments ago.
   She felt the warm skin of his neck brush against hers, and his lips slowly found that place beneath her ear. And his kisses were but a tender caress, his soft nudge pressing harder and harder against her skin with each breath. And from that place she loved, his kisses trailed a way up to her jaw, where his tongue accidentally grazed her soft cheek. Her head leaned back on his shoulder, giving him even more acces, as his palm slid on her bare stomach.

   Rey did not want it to end. She had hoped he would go even beyond her collarbone. But he stopped, and she could feel his warm breath edging away.

   She was wondering what was in his mind, when she felt her hair relax from the tight hold of the three buns. Ben undid them one by one, letting her hazel hair cascade down her shoulders in waves that shimmered silver with moonlight. He couldn't help it; he took a few strands between his fingers and let them slip through them.

   Ben leaned down, until his nose was buried in her hair. It smelled of warmth, of sun and sand. How he had missed that smell of home...
   His lips brushed against the surface softer than silk itself, before he placed a long, loving kiss on top of her head.

   And last of all... Came the part that terrified Rey the most. His deft fingers began to unstrap the only thing that shielded her from his eyes now.
 
   Once untied, the tight strap she wore to cover her breasts fell in her lap, yet Rey made no attempt to put it back. She found she was unable to move. So heavy her breath had become, she was afraid she would faint.

   But he was waiting for her to face him, to reveal herself to him, for she was done. Rey had to gulp down hard, before she grasped the last part of courage she had within herself, and did it.

   As she suddenly turned around, she placed one hand on his cheek, the other across her breasts, shielding them from his eyes. Her eyes found his, and pleaded with him to wait, to give her time, reading through the depth of his soul.

Ben
   He could sense it. And see it in the way her eyes shivered as they bore into his, sense how her breath was tense, as if preparing for an upcoming battle.
   And his desire told him to grab that arm and reveal what hid beneath. But he loved her. With a love born from respect. She was beautiful. Yet he did not fall in love with her physic, but with her soul.

   "It's fine if you don't want. We don't have to rush anything." he said as his thumb caressed her cheek.

   "Ben." She interrupted him. "You've lit a spark inside me when you kissed me on Exegol." the tip of her nose touched his for a brief moment. "Now feed it. Please. This love, this love is like an open wound. And the thought of not having it is like salt. Mend it, please." 

   He tilted his chin down so his forehead rested against hers. "I love you, Rey. I love you!" he said from the depth of his soul as his hands framed her face. His eyes searched hers, his thumb traced her cheek, remaining on her lips.

   He looked into her eyes and saw himself amidst the stars that filled the sky. Saw his real self, the one she had chosen to believe in. And he couldn't explain how grateful he was for it, how she had changed his life. She was his salvation, she had done everything for himself.

   He tilted his head up and placed his lips against her forehead in a soft caress. And a hot tear slid from his eye and down along her cheek.

   "I want to be yours..." he heard her whisper through the low rustle of leaves that sheltered them from the eyes of the galaxy. "...as I want you to be mine."

   And those words snapped him to reality. "But Rey... A jedi..." and she looked up at him, almost sadly, slightly tilting her head to the side.

   "Let's forget about it... Please, let's forget about it at least for once."

   His mind was roaming with sequences from his grandfather's life. But what was love, if not the greatest trait of a jedi? And what would their love become, if not fulfilled?

  " Ben, " she began, as if she would have read his mind. "You're my past, my present, and my future. I don't care what will happen from now on. Nor do I think you do."

   His hand was mindlessly caressing her face, her hair, threading it like silk through his fingers, when her free hand grasped his wrist, and all of a sudden she leaned up, and her lips caught his and her other arm finally left her breasts and wrapped around his neck.

   His hand remained on her face, guiding her mouth after his, but the other one slid down to her waist, feeling her tense and pulling her closer, until no space tore them apart. It felt pleasant and strange at the same time, to be so close to her, to feel her so vividly, without even a thin sheet between them.

   It took him by surprise when she placed a hand flat on the ground and lifted herself up so she was sitting in his lap. Yet he didn't break the kiss, but held her closer in response, his face leaning up to hers.

   Their hearts were dancing together on the song the Force of their union made.

   Through passion, I gain focus, they heard a voice whisper. One they've heard before, st three is cave.

   They stopped a moment to stare within each other's eyes, before his lips claimed hers again.

   Her presence against him was shredding all his concerns. He never thought their love would come to this. He had never thought he would ever have someone to love like this. Deep inside, he was rooting for it. But he knew how unworthy he was.

   Slowly and steadily, his lips left hers, and trailed a path of kisses down to her chin. His hand was supporting the back of her head as she leaned away to give him further acces to her skin.

   His lips nuzzled beneath her chin, and he felt her hold tighten on him. Her fingers were wandering through his hair, pulling him closer, guiding him to the places where she wanted to be kissed. And he gave her all that she wanted. With the cold night around them, his breath was warm against her skin as he nibbled at her neck, while she tenderly kissed his forehead, tousling his hair back.

   "I love you, too..." She kept whispering. But the sweet song of her voice was slowly drowned out by her erratic heartbeats as his kisses reached her collarbone, almost between her breasts...

   Taking her hand in his, he leaned down on his back, with her on his chest. And the sudden fall made their noses brush.

   Still holding and slightly rubbing her hand draped across his chest, he searched her eyes as he eased her on her back on the thick cloak that covered the ground. With one arm he held her to him protectively, and the other hand gently caressed her belly, where the long scar of the dagger glimmered in the moonlight.

   She was exposed beneath him, paralysed. And she was too stunned by his touch on her skin to move. So stunned, in fact, she forgot to breathe as her gaze reflected a fear of something new. His fear. Yet his eyes remained trained on her face, the part that led straight to her soul he loved.
   As his hand slid up from her stomach to her face, his thumb accidentally grazed her right breast in its way and she flinched. The back of his fingers touched her jaw, the mere brush of it against her skin.

   He would not do anything next. Not without her permission. And no words were needed as the force spoke from him to her, as his eyes waited full of patience for her to take her time.

   Do you want this? He asked her.

   And a shy, yet convinced nod was what he received. And she took his hand in hers and placed a kiss inside it. And propping herself up on one elbow, she began to kiss his shoulder, and every scar that draped his skin.

   And he held her tighter as he felt a shiver run through her, and their lips collided once again, their legs entwined.

   She was numb. Yet somehow, her hand found its way down to unlace the belt at her pants. And never breaking the kiss, he came in her help.

   But she could feel him hesitate. And she knew just too well what it was, what restrained him, as his fingers trembled on her waist, the emotion of it too much to swallow all at once. The fear that he could hurt her in any way.
   So her fingers clenched firlmy around his wrist, holding him in place, and their lips parted, the tips of their noses still connecting them.

   "Sorry..." he rambled as he was making to retreat his hand.

   "Ben," She began, her eyes boring into his, placing his palm flat against her heated skin, "Love me tonight, please. And I don't want you to be gentle. Please, leave all your fears aside." and her nose nudged his as his hand rubbed her back up and down. "For I want to feel you."
  
    Her innocent eyes melted down into his warm, loving ones, as his fingers slowly unbuckled her belt, and flung it aside on the heap made by their tunics, deftly passing to the buttons of her pants, undoing them one by one, and helping her out of her clothes. Their heartbeats were quickening, and his mouth kissed her skin, neck and shoulders and chest as she clung to him and let him make her his.

Finn
   His gaze was lost in the distance, past the dark sleeping world. It was quiet, but the resistance base was roaming.
   Midnight had long passed, and no sign of Rey anywhere. And no sign of Ben, either.
   Perspiration dripped down Finn's body, drenched the tunic beneath the vest, but he hardly noticed. His eyes were for the forest, for that barely glimmer of the water beyond the sea of trees.

   It must be that they are somewhere together, he thought, turning around and slapping his forehead in anger.

   "What have you done, Rey?" he kept whispering more to himself as he went to his table and reached for the lantern. "What have you done?"

   A cold sweat was pouring down his face, and his hands were trembling almost uncontrollably. What if he was doing something horrible to her right now? What if he was preparing to kill her?
   One thing he knew; he could not let this happen, he had to find out where Rey was.

   Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he strapped the blaster to his belt, and with the lantern in his hand stormed out of the room and into the lit corridor.

   His paces thundered across the corridor as he ran toward Poe's office. He did not care that the people were looking at him as if he were a madman. He did not care that they flinched as his voice echoed off the walls when he yelled for Poe. All his eyes saw now, was Rey. Rey beaten and raped. Her face covered in blood, a mask of terror.
  
   He could not remember ever being this afraid. Not even when he had escaped the First order, and thought he will be put to death. Not even in the battle of Exegol.

   "Poe..." he said when he slammed the doors aside, and burst into the room. His words were meant to be a yell, but they shattered as soon as he tried to speak.

   The dark haired man's head turned in the direction of the sound, a surprised look on his face.

   "Finn! Any sign of Rey?"

   Finn's eyes slowly rose to his friend. With guilt and anger and fear. He shook his head in denial, before barely whispering, "No."

   The next second he crossed the room, and passed Finn by. "We need to find her. Come with me."

   And with a flick of his hand, he urged Finn to follow.

   "Wait!" Lieutenant Connix jogged up to him.

   Poe stopped in his tracks, and his worn gaze met that of the girl. His brows were furrowed, and for a moment he stared at her as if he didn't know what she wanted.

   "That murderer is out there." She stated firmly. "Do you think it wise that you go alone?"

   Poe ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "We'll take Chewie. And that's enough." turning on his heels, his gaze snapped back to Finn.
   His friend nodded, ready to break into a run at any time.

   But as he made to step, the sensation of falling blew the air out of his lungs. He never noticed when a pair of thin arms have wrapped around his legs, holding on to him.
 
   Only when the shock passed did he realize that, in fact, it was little Anni that had threatened to trip him. He looked down for the split of a second, at first angry. But then realized how it had to be for the little girl to hear such horrible news.

   Finn and Connix watched as Poe reached down and lifted the crying child in his arms.

   "It's alright, it's alright..." he shushed her. "We'll find her. I promise you, we'll find her."

   But she kept burying her head in the crook of his neck and balling his shirt in her little fists as he patted her head.

   "I know you love Rey." Poe continued. "And we won't let that monster touch her in any way." he whispered in her ear. But then his gaze rose to the forest ahead, lost in a distant imagery. "And if he does..." he almost spat. "...We'll kill him right away."

   But Annika's reaction surprised him. And suddenly she was not the frightened child anymore, but a strong young girl.

   She leaned back so she could look into his eyes, and Poe couldn't avert his gaze for long.

   "He would never touch her in any way she wouldn't want." she stated with such conviction, it shook all three resistance members.

   Poe had to blink a few times. And all the affection he had felt for the child, seemed to have vanished in a moment.

   "Look," he began, his patience waning. "that man, he's not who you think he is. He's a murderer, not some master you see."

   He set her down slowly, and crouched so he could be at the same level. "I need you to stay here, with Lieutenant Connix and Rose."

   "No!" she protested, but Rose gently grabbed her shoulder.

   "Nothing will happen, I promise." She told her. "I'll make sure of that." and her eyes rose to Finn and Poe, scolding them for the lack of understanding. "I'm coming with you."

    Finn and Poe exchanged a glance, but in the end agreed with it.

   "Fine." Rose nodded. "What are we waiting for, then?"

  
    Rey
   She drew the leather tunic up against her body as he rested his chin on her chest, eyes gazing up at her in admiration. Her arm went about him, her other hand cupped his cheek. He had held her like this so many times, now it was her turn to protect him. But she hardly felt his weight on her after the amazing experience he had given her.

   She grasped the hem of the cloak that had fallen to his waist, and drew it up to his neck, to shield him against the cold. If only she could shield him so easily against anything...

    Her fingers reached up, and tenderly began to stroke his face, brushing soft dark hair out of his eyes. Ben closed his eyes as her knuckles brushed against his jaw, as her steady breath stirred his hair. And his lips nuzzled the top of her breasts that itched from beneath the cover in return. She felt his thumb gently rubbing her waist as his arm was wrapped around her.

   Her hand cupped his cheek, and slightly nudged his head up so their gazes met.
   She loved it, how his eyes caught the starshine and turned it into an endless love, all for her. And she believed in him, and had chosen him the one to give her greatest gift.

   Bringing her face closer, she placed a kiss on his forehead. Her lips were swollen and numb from his kisses, yet they remained there, against his skin. He then rested his head against her chest covered with his tunic as a coverlet, right beneath her chin.

   Rey closed her eyes, sleep finally threatening to take her to the land of dreams, while her fingers were still absentmindedly stroking Ben's face, his thumb stroking her belly.

   But as she finally buried her face in his hair, a different sound than that of the forest arose her. Her drowsy eyes flashed open, the tiredness suddenly gone. And her hand had stopped, numb on Ben's cheek.
   He must have felt her tension, for he tilted his chin up to look at her face.

   "Ben?" she asked. "Did you hear that?"

   His brows furrowed in bewilderment, and he propped himself on one elbow, next to her.

   "Hear what?"

   But as soon as he posed the question, the same sound echoed off the forest. "Reeeyyy!" it rang, Parried by the trees that shielded the two lovers.

   Ben threw her a furtive glance, and read the worry in her eyes. It was the resistance, looking for them.
   She held the cover up to her chest, and made to stand up. But his gentle touch on her arm made her think twice.

   "If we stay quiet, they won't notice us." he whispered. But his breath was hitched, and she could sense he was not so sure on his plans. It was just for her, wordless assurance.

   And she found herself nodding, and lunging back on the ground. But he was afraid as his arms went about her and his palm cupped her head and brought it beneath his chin, as he kissed her hair. He was afraid that those blessed moments will end way too quickly.

   He drew the cloak better upon them, leaving only the top of his head out. And she met the glimmer of his eyes in the dark, the shiver of fear.

   "It will be well, you'll see." She whispered as her fingers touched his chin. And then, with a smile she added. "My friends have never been the best at hide-and-seek."

   But the next yell drew the air out of her lungs.

   "Reeey!" Finn cried, closer to their place.

   Rey's hair rose on her head, and her heart was racing in a chorus with Ben's as their chests were pressed together. She would have leaked on the ground, had Ben not been there to hold her, to let her lungs and heart melt into his embrace.

   Her hands were pressed somewhere between her and Ben, but she could feel his sweating against her skin as he did his best to stay calm.

    "Rey!" they heard a second voice, this time sharper, commanding. But beneath it, there was concern and love. "Where are you???! Reeey!"

   And she felt like she was betraying them again. But they would not have let her spend her time with Ben, have they known her intentions.

    "Reeey!" a third voice rang in the air. Rose's voice.
  
   And as they were drawing nearer, crawling like beasts to their prey, Rey buried her head in Ben's chest to stifle the hitches in her breath. She felt him rub her back in a comforting manner.

   "Reeeyy!" Finn's voice rang across the clearing.

   And when her eyes looked up, the light of his lantern made a golden circle on the tree above them. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest, as she heard the branches crack, the leaves crumble beneath their heavy footfalls.

   They were doomed. Her fingers dug into Ben's skin, and she wanted to kiss him one last time. But he seemed committed to his plan as he shushed her again.

   She could already imagine the surprise on their faces when they would reveal her and Ben beneath the blanket. Could see the bewilderment etched on their faces. But as her eyes closed tight and she was preparing to feel the cold air bit at her skin, the light above them turned back into darkness, the paces sounded in retreat.

   And they waited there, until the last remnants of the "Reeeys" echoed off in the distance, fading in the rumble of leaves.

   Ben stirred next to her, and he made to take the cloak off his face. But as soon as he did that, she gripped his hand and drew the cover back.

   "It's alright, they're gone." he tried to assure her.

   But she kept shaking her head.

   "Let's get out if here. I want to see your face." he added, before revealing her to the moon above. "They are gone now."

   And he was right.

   She would have stayed up all night, talking to him about everything she would never get the chance to. Yet her eyelids were slowly closing. And as Ben wrapped her protectively in his arms and pulled the warm cloak up to her chin to cover her nakedness against the cold, she was one breath away from drifting off to sleep.

   "Sweet Rey of Sunshine," he whispered as he kissed her forehead. He closed his eyes, inhaling her scent, receiving her light. And he felt her nudge him affectionately. "Sweet love of mine." and their noses brushed and her eyes were full of tears as a smile threatened to cross her face.
   But it was the sleep that won in the end, as she snuggled closer into him, the cold finally taking its toll.

   "Sweet dreams..." She began to mumble the phrase against his chest, but never got to finish it.

   Ben smiled as he gave her another kiss. And he dearly would have loved to hear all her words. But that chance was gone now, and maybe when he would wake up, he would realize it had all been just a dream, one to take his mind off the four walls of his cell, one to reflect his greatest desire, his greatest treasure.

   Rey.

~*~

A/N: What fi you think about their anticipation? Did I describe it well?

   I've always seen their relationship as driven by sentiment, by common feelings, and not by lust.

   As you can see, it is her that leads it, and not him. Because here I wanted to focus on the respect he has for her, thing I noticed even from tlj.

   And here, in this chapter, I wanted to mix love with other themes. Yes, passion might be one thing. But is it truly what makes a relationship stand? No, I don't think so. And there was a possibility, that after he was redeemed and he had seen himself good, he might as well own the whole thing. Instead, he admits he would be nowhere without her help, and not only admits, but believes it with his whole heart.