Rey was gone. The sensation of her life fading almost lead Ben to lose his grip as he forced himself out of the chasm he had been so carelessly thrown into.

Ben

His mother's voice gave him the final strength he needed to pull himself up. Disoriented with the pain all over his body, his gaze rested upon the body. The body of the girl who had, up until very recently, been his enemy. The girl who left the large scar across his face from their first battle. The girl who, no matter what, had kept her faith that Ben Solo would return. He owed her everything, but it was too late.

Come home, Ben.

He looked up at the sky as if he expected to see her there. He wished he could, and he wished he could go home. There was nothing there for him now except rejection. Who could ever accept the man who called himself Kylo Ren?

Every step sent sharp agony screaming up his leg, sometimes giving way entirely leaving him tumbling to the rock floor, but he pressed on until he collapsed beside Rey. She stared blankly up at the night sky, much calmer now the battle was won, her skin sickly pale and with a chill that sent a shiver through Ben as he reached to cradle her in his arms. He had so much to say to her and now no chance to say it.

Take her home, Ben. Come home.

"But you're gone," he choked out, his grip on Rey tightening, "She's gone."

She doesn't have to be.

"I'm not strong enough," he looked up again, desperate to see Leia just one more time.

You have enough. Enough to get you both back to Ajan Kloss. They can help you.

"You say that like I can go there without-"

I always prepared people for your return. I never lost hope that my son would find his way back.

"Mother, I-"

The Force is with you, Ben. I'm with you.

The voice faded away, the feeling of isolation falling so heavily on Solo it began to suffocate him. He looked to Rey, her lifeless expression, he couldn't let her go. The Force flowed through Ben as he placed his hand upon her abdomen, his own strength dwindling as it passed into her. She took a breath, her warmth radiating into Ben as she stirred in his arms. Rey was weak, her presence much fainter than usual but she was there. It was enough.

He had to move, he had to get them out of there.

The walk to his uncle's X-Wing felt like an eternity. His broken leg buckled under his and Rey's weight the wound in his side throbbing constantly as he slowly pushed through. Rey was drifting in and out of consciousness, but Ben couldn't bring himself to try and get her to walk. After all she had done for him, the galaxy, the least he could do was carry her home.

The fond memories of Red Five resurfaced in Ben the moment he saw it. He remembered his Uncle letting him sit in it as a child, wear the helmet that was way too big for him. Back then, the idea of being a pilot was an aspiration for him. He begged his parents for his very own X-Wing when he was older. The most he got was the promise of the Falcon. Now, neither Red Five nor the Falcon belonged to him.

"Ben?"

Ajan Kloss wasn't far now. Red Five's capacity for a sole pilot proved to be a difficulty but Ben had no other choice. The journey was painful, the pair crushed into one pilot space, but it wouldn't be much longer. Help wasn't far away now.

"I'm here," Ben kept his eyes locked ahead, preparing their descent onto the jungle moon. Rey, half curled up on his knee, shifted uncomfortably, pressing her weight further onto his wound. He grunted in pain but pressed on, counting down the seconds until they touched down.

Finn hadn't slept, the memory of Rey's life disappearing and him feeling it was too strong in her mind. He felt the impact of her body collapse to the floor. She was gone. He insisted he find her, at least take her body back to the base rather than leave her abandoned in the unknown regions. She didn't deserve the hidden world of the Sith to be her final resting place. It was too dangerous, Lando had insisted. Everything was collapsing, it would be suicide. Chewie tried to argue Finn's case, determined that his friend get the honour she deserved, but Lando stated he wasn't losing anyone else today. Finn watched in despair as Exegol disappeared from sight, angry that someone so significant in the victory of this mission was being left behind. That was, until he felt the flicker in the Force. Rey was back, only just it seemed, but she was there.

He watched for Red Five to appear on the tracking the moment he got back. She was alive, she had to come home. He vowed to try and rescue her if she hadn't made an appearance within the day.

"They are holding a memorial for Rey at sundown," Chewie growled softly, sitting down beside the General. Finn looked at the Wookiee, who's piercing blue eyes glistened with sadness, "She is with Leia now. And Luke."

"She's alive, Chewie," Finn mumbled, "I felt it."

"But you said…"

Before Finn could explain, the tracking system alerted to an aircraft in their atmosphere. Red Five was making it's descent onto the planet.

"Rey!" Chewie roared triumphantly, and he and Finn scrambled up in an instant to greet her as she landed.

Luke's famous X-Wing lowered to the ground amongst the brush and woodland, Finn and Chewie watching alongside Poe, Rose, and several others. Something wasn't right. Rey was there, her life energy flickering through the force, but she wasn't alone. There were two inside that ship.

Everyone waited in anticipation for their heroine to emerge from Red Five, Chewie and Finn stepped forward to help her if she needed it. Everyone took a step back at the sight of the shock of black hair that emerged. With a cry of rage, General Poe raised his blaster, several others following suit. The man they believed to be Kylo Ren raised his free hand in surrender. His other arm supported Rey, ghostly pale and clearly disoriented.

"Don't shoot," Ben said through gritted teeth, the pain in his body reaching unbearable, "I need your help."