Chapter Text
It started with a make-out session in the middle of the day.
Rey had just returned from her training in the woods, sweat glistening on her skin.
The bond had miraculous timing.
Instead of talking about important things, like they both said, they resorted to just fucking and touching each other every chance they got. Rey had touched Kylo's shoulder while he was in a meeting once, and could see a perfectly good table to take advantage of. Even better, no one could see her.
He got back at her the next day for her mischief.
Today was middle of the afternoon, and as much Rey wanted to fuck Kylo Ren, she didn't want to risk getting caught naked in her small bunk.
So it was just kissing, a lot of kissing.
Kylo's hands—covered in that sinful leather she likes so much—caressed her neck while he devoured her mouth. His hands trailed down her back and around her waist, reaching back up to massage her breasts.
Yet something was off with the sensation. It was as if she was more sensitive than usual. As soon as his hands touched her, he broke the kiss.
"Are you okay?" Kylo asked, looking over her face and down at her chest.
Damn him for being such an attentive lover. Why couldn't he make it easier to not want? Why did this bond just make it far, far too easy for Kylo to see into her head and notice everything? She could do the same right back of course, which is how she discovered he has an affinity for her freckles.
Rey nodded, wincing when he pulled his hand away. "I just feel sore here."
"Your monthly, right?"
That seemed logical.
"Mmhm. But I would rather not talk about that." She reached up and their kissing resumed, but she noticed he was being much more gentle with her now. His hands massaged her breasts and tugged her closer to his body.
In hindsight, she should have noticed that her breasts being extra tender was not a usual side effect of her cycle.
Far, far from it.
Something was up with Rey, Kylo decided. It nagged at him to no end. There was something just off about her in the Force and he couldn't quite pin it down.
The sex was great. But being with her in general was the best thing. For three weeks this was their arrangement, devouring each other every chance they got. He knew her body so well, he had practically mastered it, even if they weren’t constantly doing it.
Yet it didn't change much. They were still at war. Rey locked away her location from him, but he had left the information of his current flagship's location wide open in his mind. It was reckless but he dared to hope that she would one day change her mind.
Still, something was off about Rey.
His fingers tapped on his armrest as he let General Hux ramble off more bureaucratic nonsense as he did every day, hoping to slide in suggestions for galaxy-wide destruction and hostile takeovers before Kylo fully rejected the notion. Just because he was less on edge now that he finally got some didn't mean he was a fucking pushover.
Kylo had mastered the art of indifference by now.
Out of the corner of his eye, the bond opened up again. Rey looked absolutely green while lying on her bed, causing Kylo's panic to spike. Her usually rosy cheeks were pale and sickly and her eyes were red-rimmed.
Hux was still rambling. Damn this man for going on and on.
"...And we found where the Resistance might be," Hux ended his report.
The sight of Rey's appearance threw him off already, but knowing that they found the Resistance's hideout made his indifferent facade fall right off his face. His intense glare returned in its stead.
"And where is it?" Kylo asked.
Hux looked like he would be smug if it wasn't for the fact last time Kylo had this look he was Force-choked. "A jungle moon in the outer rim, Ajan Kloss. I shall have the report sent to you post haste. How do we want to initially proceed?"
"Let them think we're still searching."
Hux narrowed his eyes. "Supreme Leader if they get suspicious we should strike now before—" he stopped as soon as he saw Kylo Ren raise his hand up in an all familiar twitch of his fingers.
"Are you questioning me again, General?"
"No sir—"
"Then leave. This discussion is over."
As Hux turned to leave, the bond closed. Full panic settled into Kylo's mind. Something was wrong with Rey.
Kylo made brisk strides to his private quarters, only making nods at his Knights of Ren in passing.
His anxiety did not ease once upon seeing Rey on his bed, looking so sickly up close. He sat down next to her and brushed aside a stray hair. "Rey?"
The simple touch through the bond opened up her mind to his. She had emptied the contents of lunch into a bin.
Shit, was she getting some sort of virus? A jungle planet was full of pests that could carry a variety of diseases. Who knows what Rey picked up there.
"Your thoughts are so loud," she bemoaned. "I had a bad lunch. I am fine, just sleepy."
It wasn't even registering in her mind that he knew where she was. Kylo took his glove off and felt her cheek with his knuckle. She wasn't running a fever.
He picked her up in his arms, leaning her boneless body against his.
"I can't help but worry about you," he said, kissing her hair.
"Hmm…" She hummed against his chest. "And here I thought you just liked the sex," she teased.
"Like I said, I make no attempt to keep anything from you."
Maybe it was just fluke food poisoning. Nothing else.
Well, until Rey muttered something as she fell asleep on his chest. "My cycle is late."
Kylo Ren had very little experience with symptoms of pregnancy; he had never seen a pregnant woman except once as a child, but he did know that the timing matched up perfectly. They first started their little arrangement weeks ago in fits of anger and duress. And if fucking once wasn't enough, then doing it several times in several positions for several days would do the job.
With a tentative hand, Ben Solo felt Rey's abdomen, the Force humming as he searched for confirmation.
It was there. A tiny speck in the Force.
Fuck.
The bond was silent for a week.
It tore Rey apart. She missed Kylo more than she cared to admit to herself. She got so used to the fleeting physical touches, her last memory of him cradling her in his arms as she fell asleep after feeling sick to her stomach.
She wanted that, to wake up every morning in his arms. Kiss him whenever she wanted to, and not when the universe was merciful enough to grant her the chance.
Rey felt like she was just a little bit in love with Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.
Which, she supposed was always true, but it was certainly one thing to lust after him and another to love him.
Her sickness continued on throughout the week. Most of the time she couldn’t even train, she just felt too weak and miserable to do anything. Some days she was fine, and the next she would just get nauseous all over again.
On day four, Rey realized her cycle was still late. Perhaps just stress.
Perhaps.
On day five of this, Rose dragged Rey against her will to the medbay and told the medical droids to run tests on her.
“You’ve been sick for too long Rey, I highly doubt this is just fluke food-poisoning,” Rose said, leaving zero room to debate. “Finn is worried about you too. He’ll be by with food.”
Rose left, and the droids were left to run standard medical procedures.
“Symptoms of the patient indicate pregnancy,” the droid said in a monotone voice, making Rey seize up with dread. “Running testing procedure to determine final diagnosis.”
Rey hadn’t even considered pregnancy being in the realm of possibilities. She wasn’t on her cycle when she was taken over and over by Kylo.
“Test complete. Diagnosis: Positive.”
Rey’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Patient appears to be early into pregnancy. Symptoms and tests come back with a 95.6% positive diagnosis.”
Rey asked for the test to be run again. Positive.
There were a few things that went through Rey’s jumbled thought process:
One, she was pregnant by some stretch of a miracle. (They had only done it five times. Five times off of ovulation wasn’t supposed to do it, right?)
Two, she had no idea she could even get pregnant through their lascivious activities across the Force-bond.
Three, she was with, of all people, Kylo Ren’s child.
Finn arrived with a tray of food to find a ghostly pale and panicked Rey.
“Hey Rey,” he said, placing the tray next to her medical bed. “Everything alright?”
She forced her lips up into a smile. “I’m fine. The tests said nothing is wrong as far as they can tell.”
Rey hated lying through her teeth. It was easy to not mention anything about the Supreme Leader of the First Order, but this was straight up giving a falsehood to her friend.
It wasn‘t the right time. Far from the right time.
“Are you feeling better?” Finn asked.
No, she wanted to say. I am carrying the child of Kylo Ren.
Rey was left for two days agonizing over the news, keeping to herself. She wanted to tell Kylo first before anyone else.
If the Force would only have mercy on her.
Rey found herself awakening in the middle of the night to a soft hand on her cheek. She sat up and inspected Kylo—no, Ben, red-eyed and looking like he hadn’t slept in days.
He swallowed visibly. “Rey.”
She sat up and crossed her arms. “I’m pregnant,” she stated as clear as day.
He sat back on his knees, his hand never leaving her collarbone. “I know. When you said your cycle was late…”
Since when did she say that? “And you figured it out, just like that?”
“I’ve been wanting to tell you,” Ben said, looking down. “But as you know…” He pulled her in for a hug. “I missed you.”
She didn’t deserve this lovable man. This large, passionate, lovable man.
Rey leaned into his touch. “I missed you too.”
His fingers entangled into her hair, caressing her head with a soft touch.
“What are we going to do?” Rey asked. “Pretty sure we should have talked about this sooner…”
Ben’s chuckle was empty. “No kidding.”
“The Resistance will ask questions. A lot of questions,” Rey looked up into his intense eyes. His brow was tight in thought, considering their options before them.
“We should…” Rey began, stopping before she could finish the thought.
“Tell me,” Ben said.
Tell your mother.
He averted his gaze. “Rey…”
I can’t.
Rey poked his chest with her finger. “Yes, you can.”
“Do I need to remind you why we are in this position in the first place?” Ben grumbled. “I can’t go back.”
“No,” Rey stated firmly. “None of that. I left you because you offered me power.”
“Because that’s all I’m—”
Rey rolled her eyes. “No.”
He huffed in frustration. “Will you let me—”
“Nope.” she reached up to cup his face in her hands. “I don’t care about power. I don’t care about what you have to offer besides yourself. I love you Ben Solo. It killed me leaving you.”
Ben let out a genuine laugh. “And here I thought you liked me for my body.”
Rey smiled with another roll of her eyes. “Your body is just a bonus.”
“Well, now we have that squared away…” Ben reached his hand down to her abdomen. “This is our new issue.”
“Then you will have no problems with me telling Leia,” Rey said.
He sighed. “Rey…”
“You honestly think your own mother wouldn’t care about her future grandchild? Believe me, you’re hopeless when it comes to planning. I’d rather consult an outside source on this.”
“I hope you have a good enough explanation for how you got pregnant in the first place. And I am offended. I can plan.”
Rey raised an eyebrow. “Then what was that proposal and taking over the galaxy coming from?”
Ben’s cheeks flushed.
Rey made her way to the general’s quarters. Thankfully it was the evening and there was no one else around.
She knocked and Leia answered.
“Hello Rey,” Leia greeted.
“Hi General Leia. I need to talk to you about something… Privately.”
“Of course.” Leia invited her in, getting a cup of caf and asking C-3PO and R2 to give them some privacy.
Rey sat down on the small chair across from Leia. “I…” She cleared her throat, observing Leia raising her cup to her lips. “I’m pregnant.”
“I didn’t expect that,” Leia said after an agonizing pause. “Who is the father?”
Rey swallowed. “Your son.”
She had never seen the general so stunned in her life. For a good few minutes Leia just regarded her with a wide-eyed expression melting into confusion, then her eyes misted over.
“Oh Rey…” Leia placed a hand on Rey’s shoulder. “Does my son know?”
Rey nodded. “He knows. He figured it out first.”
Oops.
“So how are you speaking to him and should I be concerned?”
Rey laid out the Force bond that began since she went to Ahch-To all the way to it persisting after Snoke’s demise and continuing on almost daily, leaving out the part where they were unbearably lusting after each other.
Leia took it all in stride. “You do realize this will be… Difficult to explain once you start showing. And what of Ben?”
“He wants to be there for the baby.”
“Of course he does, I know my son. But does he have any plan for it?”
“No.”
Leia rubbed her temple. “He’s also his father’s son.”
Rey considered telling one other person, Rose Tico. She was fond of Rose and it was nice having a friend like her. She would understand more than anything what she was going through and keep it discreet until she started to show.
“How is everything?” Rose asked her when she returned to her bunk. “Finn said you looked like you saw a ghost.”
Rey shook her head. “I’m… I’m fine, just pregnant.”
Rose’s jaw dropped. “What? You’re pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Who is the father?” Rose asked, sitting down. “Or do I want to know?”
“It’s complicated so I was hoping you would keep this quiet for as long as possible?” Rey said. “Until I show?”
Rose nodded. “Of course. Thank you for telling me, Rey.”
Rey smiled at her friend, and maybe this might just go alright.
Kylo considered many things while he ignored Hux’s rambling. In a way he was very giddy and excited—Rey, his precious Rey, was carrying his child. He was going to be a father, and Rey loved him. She wanted him in her life and the baby’s.
Now if only he didn’t have a problem in the form of the First Order standing in the way of his lover and his child.
He plotted and schemed as he sat upon his throne. He could dismantle the First Order, poke holes in it until it collapsed on itself. That could take too long for his liking. Ben was impulsive but patient, but patience only ran so much. He had nine months. Nine. Months. Or was it even less than that?
Either way, he had a limited timespan to do something about the First Order.
“Bring me the stormtrooper program, General Hux,” Kylo ordered. “Now.”
Hux’s eye twitched. Examining his mind, Kylo saw various degrees of irritation and loathing and something about General Pryde scheming to take over the First Order via assassination. Well, that certainly wouldn’t do.
“Of course,” Hux said, his voice stiff in his tone. “Supreme Leader.”
He made his way out of the throne room as Kylo added one more order.
“And tell General Pryde I wish to speak with him.”
Hux paused for just one moment in his step before leaving through the turbolift.
General Pryde was an elder Empire-sympathizer, wanting for the old days of his youth when the Empire reigned and he was in a position of power. Once he stepped inside the throne room, he remained calm and collected as always.
Kylo slouched on his throne, giving off an air of indifference as per usual.
Time for step one of his improv-grandmaster-plan to take effect.
When Kylo Ren retired to his chambers for the evening, all that remained was a man on the ground for the Knights of Ren to clean up with a lightsaber wound in the back.
“This… This is your plan?” Rey rubbed her temples. “Hostile new policies of the First Order, then a treaty with the Resistance, then take over the galaxy?”
Ben huffed, slightly offended. “Did you trust those idiots in the New Republic? Because I didn’t.”
“I didn’t even know them. But Leia spoke of them… They didn’t listen to her or trust her.”
“Exactly Rey. As much as I would love to have the First Order collapse in on itself, the Republic hasn’t exactly done a very good job in the first place, and quite frankly I’d rather not have another Star Killer or Empire Wannabe pop up because of idiocy.” He reached for her abdomen and pressed his forehead against hers. “I don’t want our child to grow up in a world of uncertainty.”
Rey reached for his hand. “I know but… You do realize you’re asking something of me that is very hard to swallow. I refused for a reason, other than that whole “Kylo Ren” business.”
In truth, ruling a galaxy with him was very, very appealing once she thought about it. To make sure no child went hungry, to see all the planets and systems out there, to make sure no one would suffer as she did. To make changes that Leia and Rose and other Resistance members spoke of.
Ben held her close, feeling for their child in her belly.
“I know Rey… But you and I can do so much. When I saw what your parents did to you, I couldn’t… I couldn’t bear to live in a galaxy that allows that.”
Rey’s heart melted. “Ben…”
She lunged forward and kissed his sinful lips, pushing him down onto the bed with all of her weight. She nibbled on his mouth, caressed his tongue, and rubbed her core over his erection forming in his pants.
Breaking away for air, Ben looked dazed and flushed with arousal.
“Will you,” he cleared his throat, wrapping his arms around her, the leather of his gloves caressing her bare arms and letting the hair on the back of her neck rise. “Will you be my empress, Rey? Please? I’ll be at your side, I’ll protect our child no matter the cost…”
Rey felt tears sting her eyes. “Yes, Ben.” She pecked his lips. “But…”
His brow tightened and she could practically feel his anxiety rise in the Force. “But?”
“You have to thoroughly ravish me first, then tell your mother your plans—” He rolled his eyes at that second part, “—And then I will be your empress.”
He reached up and squeezed her tender breasts through her robes. “That is a tall order, Empress Rey.”
Rey bit her lip to stifle a moan. “I expect to be satisfied.”
Ben pulled her down on top of him and rolled over to pin her down. “You won’t be able to walk once I’m done with you.”
“This plan is a terrible idea.” Leia rubbed her temples with her fingers.
“He is your son,” Rey said, trying not to shift too much due to how sore she was between her legs.
“He’s Han Solo’s son at the moment.” Leia took a sip of her caf.
“General,” C-3PO said. “The chances of this plan succeeding is one in seven-hundred million two thousand and fourteen according to my calculations.”
Leia sighed. “Don’t tell me the odds. I don’t like the idea of the First Order ruling; I don’t like the people not having a voice, but…” She squeezed her eyes shut in contemplation. “I love my son. I want to see him again and I love my future grandchild already.”
“Ben said he wants to get rid of the stormtrooper program first. He wants to dismantle the First Order’s worst qualities and put them back together, but in order for that to work he needs to be in power,” Rey explained. “He is at the top right now, already removing the older Empire zealots.”
“Well, that’s a start. At least he has some of his wit about him.” Leia took Rey’s hands into hers. “Rey, it will be hard to get through this. Trying to convince the Resistance after just rebuilding, helping cripple the First Order only to instill my son as a ruler of the galaxy, going against everything I have stood for… I’m willing to, because I never put him first, and that is perhaps my greatest regret in life, and Han’s. I won’t put you second either, or my grandchild’s.” She sat back with a smile. “Who knows, perhaps one day we can instill a government that isn’t total control.”
Rey liked the sound of that. “Thank you, Leia.”
The day came when Rey’s robes began to feel a bit tighter and her nausea increased ten-fold.
Finn brought her some water one day after she spent all afternoon in bed, secretly being held by the Supreme Leader of the First Order.
The connection ended when Rey sat up in her bunk and took the water from Finn.
“Thank you, Finn,” she said, taking small sips with a hoarse throat.
“Rey, what’s going on?” Finn sat down next to her. “You’ve been sick a lot lately, you’ve been acting strange a lot, and I know Rose isn’t exactly telling the entire truth.”
Rey breathed in and out, glad that Ben wasn’t listening in on her half of the conversation. “I’m pregnant.”
Finn’s eyes widened and he stood right up in shock. “What?!”
“I am pregnant.”
She could see the wires and wheels firing and turning in his brain.
Finn pointed a finger at her. “You’re pregnant.”
Rey nodded. “Yes.”
“Who is the father? Wait, how did you… No, I don’t think I want to know. But, who is it?”
Rey swallowed, choking down the truth, temporarily. The plan was set into motion already, but if Finn wasn’t trustworthy then she would have to let him find out months down the road. “Well um, promise me, you have to really promise me, Finn, that you will not tell a single soul. Not even Poe, not even BB-8 or the porgs on the Falcon. ”
Finn nodded, sincerity in his voice and his eyes. “Of course Rey. I’m here for you.”
Rey glanced down at her own hands. “Okay then, the father is Kylo Ren.”
Finn gaped at her. “What?”
“Kylo Ren is the father of my child.”
She could see the gears churning in his brain. Confusion then horror crossed his face.
“Kylo Supreme Asshole Ren?”
Well, Rey could hardly blame Finn for having that reaction. “Yes. That one.”
“The same one who attacked you and kidnapped you?”
Rey nodded and did not hesitate. “Yes.”
“The one who every time we mentioned him you would get all storm-cloudy about?”
“Yes.”
Finn took another moment, his horror and outrage still on his face, melting away to concern and fear.
“Did he… hurt you?”
“No, he didn’t.”
Rey felt a beam of pride for Ben, knowing deep in her soul he would never hurt her. And she was grateful that Finn cared enough to be concerned about her safety.
“I still don’t get it, Rey,” Finn finally spoke again, putting a hand on her shoulder. “For one I don’t know how you could have ever spoken to Ren in the last two months, much less be in close enough proximity…”
“It’s the Force,” Rey said, hoping that would be a satisfactory answer. Leia did mention something about how Ben’s grandfather had no father. Rey herself wasn’t sure how that happened other than Force interference.
Finn sighed. “I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that. Do you need anything?”
Rey shook her head. “No, I’m fine Finn. Just tired.”
Finn hugged her and gave her a wry smile. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
“Thank you, Finn. For understanding.”
When Rey began to show, rumors flew around the base about how finally she got some that’s how her temper went down, betting pools on who the father is—names like Matt and Randy flew around—and even one person joked it was Kylo Ren and that’s why they were under a ceasefire negotiation. How absurd.
Rey took a stroll one day through the woods, armed with her lightsaber and enjoying the stretch and the walk.
By her side was her future-Emperor-husband, leaning down to caress her swollen belly and kiss it before continuing their leisurely stroll.
“How is well, taking over the Order and changing it?” Rey asked.
Ben pressed a kiss to her temple before answering. “The Resistance needs better negotiators besides my mother. They crumpled under just one glance from me.”
Rey rolled her eyes. “You can probably ease off the intimidation tactics.”
“Once I get rid of General Hux, maybe,” he said with a sly grin. She elbowed him in the ribs.
“Why did I fuck you again?”
“Because,” he leaned forward and kissed the skin beneath her ear. “We both know you wanted to.” He hand slid off her belly and down into her leggings, his gloved hand teasing her sensitive nub. “You kissed me first after all.”
She moaned, leaning against a nearby tree. “You’re so cocky, Ben Solo.”
He continued to nip at her neck while rubbing slow circles over her cilt. She clutched at his shoulders as she found her release, burying her head against his chest.
Her face was fully flushed and a hint of satisfaction thrummed in their bond.
I cannot wait to see you in the flesh, she thought to him.
His arms came around her, hugging her closer to her body. I feel the same.
With that, Rey pulled back and tilted her head up. Caressing her neck with his knuckles, Ben leaned down and kissed her, making heat simmer in her blood.
I love you, they thought in unison.
Everything was going to be fine. She felt it in the Force.
Later on, Poe found out everything in the following order:
- Kylo Ren was now Emperor of a new order and got rid of the worst parts of the First Order including the stormtrooper reconditioning program and forbid the making of any more Death Star-like superweapons.
- Kylo Ren was Leia Organa’s son.
- Rey was Empress of the galaxy.
- Her newborn baby was in fact, the child of Kylo Ren.
- And Poe was out four-hundred credits against Rose Tico, who had her suspicions the entire time.