Ben Solo awoke to alarms blaring overhead, but he didn't open his eyes. He squeezed them shut against the throbbing in his head and the aching in his heart.

Snoke was dead.

The First Order all but annihilated.

He had felt the Universe right itself.

Why am I still here?

His throat began to tighten, the threat of tears a real one against the utter despair he was feeling.

"Someone turn that bloody. Thing. OFF!"

The voice was right by his ear, and with it came a shifting weight against his side.

After a stuttered apology and some shuffling, the alarms stopped.

Ben opened his eyes and gasped.

Then he sobbed.

The weight against him shifted, and the voice spoke again.

"Ben? Oh god, Ben. Hey. Hey look at me…"

A warm hand was on his face, another smoothing back his hair. His heart pounded frantically.

"Ben, it's okay."

"Rey?!" He choked, blinking away tears and trying to refocus on his surroundings. He turned his head toward the voice to feel hot breath and cool lips against his cheek.

"Yes. Can you see me? Calm down, you're alright. It's all over, love, you did it."

He reached for her, arms sneaking around her small frame and dragging her close against his chest. A dull ache sang through his bones, but he ignored it, swallowing another sob.

"You're still hurt, be careful!" She laughed breathily against his neck.

"What happened? How? The ship-"

He felt her fingers pressed against his lips, gently silencing him.

"The ship fell apart, only a few sections managed to self-destruct. Luke and I were able to clear the lift doors and pull you back in. We got into the escape pod and now we're on your mother's ship."

This drew another sob from him.

"My mother?"

Rey moved again, pulling herself higher up on the cot and drawing him down against her, cradling his head to her chest. He clung to her.

"Breathe. You need to breathe. It was hard for me, too. You've been asleep for days… but I've been too scared to even close my eyes. But…"

She pressed a kiss against his head.

"It's over. Your parents are here. Luke is here. The fleet has captured the remains of the First Order, Hux is on trial right now."

Ben swallowed thickly.

"What happens now?"

Delicate fingers carded through his hair, as a warm hand rubbed gentle circles between his shoulders.

"There might be a trial for you… but everyone knows what you did. A lot of people are saying that you'd been an rebel infiltrator all this time… working your way up to take down Snoke."

"That's not true."

"It is and it isn't. Let the people believe what they want to, Ben. They need this victory. If they think you're a hero… and you are… then it's all the better for it. You've died a hundred painful deaths trying to stop Snoke. You know it and I know it. And right now, that's all that matters."

Ben turned his head to look at her and when she leaned in, he met her halfway, catching her lips against his own in a clumsy, desperate kiss.

She laughed lightly against his mouth, but curled her hand around his head to draw him ever closer.

They broke apart, noses bumping awkwardly as their brows pressed together.

It took a few moments for Ben to recover his voice, his thoughts racing through everything he'd experienced since the first time he woke up next to Rey.

"I love you…" he said suddenly, his voice still hoarse from tears and disuse.

Rey tilted her chin up, nuzzling her nose against his.

"I know."

~ end