Skywalker Rises

The Best Problem

"Finn!" said Rey, joining him and Poe where they sat overlooking the sea. "I told you he wasn't Kylo Ren anymore. Why did you freak out?"

BB-8 was sitting with Poe, having quite the conversation. The droid's opinion of the Mandalorian could not be higher, and he wasn't shy in sharing it.

"Sorry," said Finn. "I forgot. He was standing there, all frowning and arms crossed. He looked kind of scary."

"You're a GENERAL," said Rey. "You're not allowed to be scared of phantasms. And you've seen Obi-Wan and Yoda before."

"Obi-Wan and Yoda don't appear in my nightmares and try to kill me, either," said Finn.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. "Not that I mind the company."

"We missed you and wanted to visit," said Poe.

Finn coughed into his hand and turned the cough into, "Liar."

Poe shot him a withering look. "We said we'd visit."

"This has nothing to do with that diplomat's daughter who keeps popping up everywhere you go?" said Finn. "Talking on and on...and on about how single she is?"

Poe groaned. "I wanted to see Rey, and it seemed like a good time."

Rey smiled at them both. She missed this friendly banter between them, which often sounded like bickering to those who didn't know them well.

"Still holding out for Zorii?" Rey asked Poe quietly.

He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. She'd seen the exact same face on Ben. Hope and recognition of how foolish it was, all at once.

"She might come around," said Finn.

"Not while I'm in Coruscant," said Poe. "She hates it."

"So," said Poe. "There's some weird stuff going on here."

"I don't know," said Rey. "I'm used to it. You all made quite an entry."

"He's a legendary bounty hunter," said Poe, nodding at the Razor Crest. 

"How do you know?" said Rey. "He always wears that helmet."

"The armor," said Poe. "He's walking around with a fortune strapped to his body. They all wear armor, but not like that."

"He's nice enough," said Rey. "I agree with BB-8. He spars with me, and he's a great father."

"So about that kid," said Finn. "He looks an awful lot like Yoda."

Rey hadn't gotten a straight answer out of Big Yoda. She had asked him as politely as she could if Little Yoda was his biological child, but Yoda had answered that question the same way he answered any other of import she asked. He hadn't. 

"He does," said Rey. "But I don't know any more than you do about that. I asked. I mean, what if you were one of the few humans in the galaxy, at least known to the rest of its residents, and a human kid showed up. They'd all be pointing at you and asking if it was yours. Maybe there's another galaxy in this universe chock-full of Yodas. For all we know, every other galaxy is full of them. What if they all use the Force? Maybe this one got lost." 

"And the other weird thing?" said Finn.

"You mean Ben," said Rey, flatly. 

"Hey," said Finn, holding up his hands to ward her off. "Is he really Ben? How can you know for sure?"

"I know," said Rey. "And we've been through this. If you don't trust me, trust Obi-Wan and Yoda."

"What do you do all day?" said Poe. He was always good for a conversation change if the current one got tense.

"Translate the Jedi texts," said Rey. "Spar with Mando, work with Little Yoda on using the Force. As you saw, he's strong already. I run and try to figure out how to communicate with the Caretakers." 

They still hadn't forgiven her for her previous mistake. And Luke's. She hadn't burned down that tree, after all. They were much quieter about it now, but they still didn't seem eager to teach her their language.

"That sounds busy," said Poe.

Rey shrugged. It was busy. She had missed them, but with the Mandalorian and Little Yoda, and the visits from Yoda and Ben, she hadn't been lonely. 

"So Rey," said Finn. "What about Rose?"

She looked at him, puzzled. Rose? She couldn't figure out what he meant.

"Yeah," said Finn. "You want me to come here and train to be a Jedi. Rose wants to get married."

Oh. 

"Well," said Rey. "I haven't had a chance to talk to Yoda about it. Based on tradition, the answer is no romantic relationships."

"I choose Rose," said Finn. Just like that. She envied him the option of a choice.

"I'd like to change things," said Rey. "Would Rose come here and live with you?"

"Are you kidding?" said Finn. "She'd love it! You're her second favorite person, after me."

"You would forgo a relationship like that?" said Poe. "For this?" He motioned to Ahch-To. 

"It's not a choice I have to make," she said.

"But what if it becomes one?" pressed Poe. "What if you fall in love with the Mandalorian?"

"What if he actually looks like Ackbar?" said Finn, a wide grin on his face.

"Stop it," said Rey. She had wondered what the Mandalorian looked like, but Ackbar had never occurred to her. Now she'd probably giggle when she saw him next and make a fool out of herself. "You're right. I need to think about it. Little Yoda might grow up and go find another Yoda some day. It's not like we have plenty of Force users to fall back on if someone goes off and falls in love."

"I say love and let love," said Finn.

"I, for once, agree with Finn," said Poe.

They glowered at each other, and then burst out laughing.

Maybe she'd ask Ben about it. Though she had a pretty good idea what he'd say.

She had to make the decision. She knew that. Much of the reshaping of the Jedi fell to her, whether she was capable or not. She had to pretend like she had a lover she would lose and what she would do if the choice came down to leaving the Jedi or leaving the relationship. 

She hoped she'd have that choice some day. It sounded like the best problem in the world to her.