Ben practically went everywhere with Rey; the only places he wouldn't go were the Mess Hall—because he wouldn't stand being in the same room as the traitorous ex-Stormtrooper and the fighter pilot—and the War Room because of his mother. No matter how much she begged him, he wouldn't relent. With both of them striving to become Gray Jedi, she couldn't force him to get rid of his Dark qualities or there'd be no balance. So Rey let him hold on to his hate and didn't look down on him because of it.

Eventually, she became glad he wouldn't go with her, for Finn suddenly grew inquisitive of what she was doing in her room. The way he emphasized 'alone' meant that he knew she wasn't truly alone. Frantic, Rey quickly read his mind to know he had heard a male voice, but he didn't know it was Ben.

She also learned why he was being vague—not boldly asking her up front: he didn't want to hurt Poe's feelings if her being in love with someone else was true because the fighter pilot liked her. That was quite a shock to her; she had thought he was just being friendly.

But now that she thought about their past interactions, Poe had been flirty. If Ben found out, he would kill the pilot.

Maybe that was why he refused to come: he already knew. Even though jealous, Ben was protecting Poe by staying away—if the fighter pilot was killed because of him, it would hurt her. She hid her smile in her cup.

Rey couldn't deny it any longer: she had fallen in love with Ben Solo—her supposed enemy. And it seemed like he felt the same for her, especially since he didn't want to hurt her. How would any of her friends take that?

Not well, she decided. Not well at all.

So, she would just continue to keep it from them.

***

Because of what she had learned by reading Finn's mind—Rey didn't tell Ben about Poe liking her—she suggested that they go to his room when they discussed the Sacred Jedi Texts, practiced abilities, or just talked. By her not being in her room so Finn couldn't hear talking, she hoped he would stop eavesdropping.

Along with the Light abilities Ben helped her hone, he also taught her Dark abilities like Force Choke or Lightning. As Rey focused on learning, Ben focused on restraining his temper; quite a few times, he shut himself off in meditation. Because of his endeavor, the Darkness gradually lessened around him.

To be a Gray Jedi, they couldn't refrain from emotions or adhere solely to the Light Side, but neither could they allow the Dark Side to corrupt them. It was a balancing act of itself. One they were learning to do together.

On the third day, after Rey had admitted to herself that she was in love with Ben, reality came crashing back in.

They were walking back to her room from the Training Room when Ben suddenly stiffened; she felt another presence too. He vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving her awfully empty.

"Rey," Leia said.

Hoping her disappointment in Ben ending the Force Bond was hidden, Rey casually turned toward the hallway the General was walking down. For her to surprise them, General Organa must've been walking the halls in search of her. Hopefully, Ben had disappeared before his mother had rounded that corner.

Rey inclined her head in greeting. "General."

When the older woman finally reached her, her eyes glanced to Rey's right—where Ben had been standing seconds ago—and back. It was obvious from the suspicion on her face that Leia had seen Rey with someone but didn't know that someone had been her son. Rey mentally sighed in relief.

"How have you been?" she asked. "Training going well?"

Better than well, she thought. "Well, to both."

Leia nodded. "That's good to hear. Because of our low supplies, few resources, and little manpower, we're drawing nearer to what may be our last attack on the First Order. It will take place on their new flagship, the Sovereign. We've scheduled it to happen within a week."

The news struck her hard. Rey had been so obsessed with becoming a Gray Jedi—and spending time with Ben—that she had forgotten about the outside world—the actual war with the First Order. Everyone believed she had been training for the upcoming battle with Ben. How could she possibly do that now? What does she do? Could she convince Ben to go somewhere when they attack so they wouldn't have to fight?

"We will need you at the front lines, Rey," the General stated. "The Resistance—no... The Galaxy will need you."

"This... this seems so soon," Rey said, stunned.

Leia put a hand on her arm for comfort. "I know. Knowing a battle is approaching is sometimes harder than an unexpected one."

She lifted her eyes. "But your son..."

Her eyes dropped as she nodded sadly. "I know. He's the leader of the First Order. If you cannot reach him when we go to them, as much as it pains me to say..." She twisted her cane in unease while grimacing. "Ben has to fall with his command."

"But I have reached him!" Rey blurted. She hadn't intended to tell Leia now, but she panicked.

The General looked at her in question. "What are you talking about?"

Rey glanced up and down the hall, then decided it best if they go to her room. Knowing Finn hadn't given up eavesdropping, she shut her and Leia up in her bathroom and explained everything in a whisper.

Leia listened with wide eyes. Like Rey had hoped, she wasn't angry or disappointed but overjoyed at hearing that her son had now transitioned from the Dark Side into a Gray Jedi, one in the middle. She had almost squealed when Rey told her that they were in love, even though neither had admitted it to the other yet.

"I just knew something was happening from the way I could always sense him around you," Leia said with a grin.

Rey chuckled. "At first, I was scared of you finding out. I'm glad you know now—at least I don't have to keep it hidden from one person now."

Leia's eyes shone with hope. "Can you connect with him now?"

She hesitated about what to tell; she wasn't going to say how Ben viewed her—he had only said that in anger; he couldn't truly believe that. Leia was still his mother. "I can, but he probably won't open the connection from sensing you."

There was a pause. "He doesn't want to see me..." She sounded heartbroken.

"He doesn't think you would be... receptive of him being here."

The General turned to her. "I just want to see him. Can you tell him that?"

Rey nodded.

"Thank you." Leia shifted so her hip could prop against the counter and grabbed her hands with both hands. "And thank you so much for holding on to your promise of not giving up on Ben." Tears twinkled in her eyes.

Rey smiled and hugged the older woman. "Actually, it wasn't that hard."