Chapter 25.

Four days after speaking with Leia, Rey was aboard the Millenium Flacon, joined by Chewie, BB-8, Flora, Kai, Finn and Rose as they traveled to their new home, Pyron.

Rey guessed it was only another hour away before they landed, and as a headache reached her temples, her patience was thinning. Sighing, Rey excused herself from the cockpit, walking down the long halls of the famous ship until she reached a maintenance closet she had cleaned up to give herself some breathing room.

Shutting the door behind her, Rey glanced around the small room, satisfied that it was empty. Her back to the door, she slid down it until she sat, bringing her knees to her chest.

Her injuries were still giving her trouble, the bruising in her ribs were making it harder to breath, especially after pushing herself so hard to assist with moving the base and everyone's belongings.

Leia had mentioned not letting anyone know of what happened with Kylo, only letting the details of Sano's tirade and escape out. Rey was grateful, but guilt still pegged at her nerves, weighing her mind down to the point that Chewie had to pilot the Falcon every other hour so Rey could clear her head.

On top of it all, she hadn't seen Kylo since he left her with the kyber crystal.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Rey fought against the urge to roll her eyes.

After her conversation with Leia, Rey was coming to terms that she was caring from this man, deeper than she ever cared for anyone before.

"This is absurd..." she muttered, softly hitting her head back against the door. She crossed her arms over her knees and placed her forehead on them, hiding her face. She wanted desperately to sleep, yet her mind and body refused it, restless with the want and need to see him, to ensure that he was okay.

Her mind still struggled with the fact that he was, indeed, still loyal to the First Order, however her heart recognized that his loyalty was recoiling, and his actions showed just as much.

Rey wondered if her ruling by his side was still something he desired, and just as quickly as the question left her mind, the familiar buzz settled like dust around her, connecting her to the very man she was thinking about.

Slowly, she lifted her head from arms, peering up at Kylo as he stood only a few feet from her in the small closet.

Kylo blinked a couple times as he glanced around his room before his eyes settled on Rey, sitting on the floor. For a moment, he felt himself freeze as he looked her over, making sure she was not hurt.

Silently, they stared at one another, unsure of what they wanted to say, where to start.

Kylo swallowed, tearing his gaze away from hers as he decided he would be the first to speak.

"How's the ribs?" he asked, glancing down to her abdomen. Rey noticed his eyes linger on her a bit longer than needed, making her cheeks warm.

Clearing her throat, Rey stood up, leaning against the door to help her as she wobbled. "Better, still a little pain though." she answered, her eyes widening as she watched his face. Now that she was getting a handle on her feelings, even just a little bit, she as able to see him in a new light now, his features standing out to her in a way they never had before.

Questions beckoned her mind, but she knew she had to filter through them to find the most important one.

"When we last spoke, things were a bit...hectic, still. I remember you giving me the shot... And we talked for a little while... But things are till hazy." she trailed off as she began to slowly pace the small room.

Kylo watched her, eager for whatever point she was trying to get to. He nodded as he watched her walk back and forth.

'She's so... Intriguing.' He thought. Life before Rey was mute, with only one goal in mind every single moment of the day, to end the resistance and to rule. And now, the scavenger girl that paced in front of him shook that very priority, she took the galaxy from him and has made him question absolutely everything.

Kylo shook his head and glanced down to his boots, and back to Rey to see her standing only a foot away from him, her eyes wide and curious, yet stunningly soft and inviting.

"Just be honest. Will you?" She asked, her eyes claiming his attention.

Kylo tentatively nodded.

"You've said I'm nothing to you, out of anger. Things change. That was a lie, wasn't it?"

The question took him off guard, but he knew the answer before he had to think about it.

Again, he nodded, refusing to give any vocal confirmation as if others could hear, and in turn use that information against him.

Rey nodded in return, her gaze falling away to his chest, trying to come up with the courage to continue.

"So... What... am I to you?" Her eyes hesitantly moved up to meet his again. Kylo's breathing hitched for only a second, his face giving the regular, near blank look before his eyes moved over her face, admiring every inch of it.

His gloved hand slowly reached up to lightly touch the spot of her cheek he was looking at, feeling the warmth melt through his glove. Kylo's eyes met hers once more.

"Everything..." He muttered, so softly that Rey almost missed it.

At the unexpected and loving answer, Rey's heart beat harder inside her chest as her shoulders fell, melting away the tension. Never in her life did she ever believe for a second that she would mean anything, to anyone, and yet here she is with the Supreme Leader himself.

Rey's mind stopped itself at the thought.

'No. Not Kylo... This is Ben. My Ben...' She thought, her hand slowly reaching up to his cheek, bushing the imperfect flesh of his scar with the back of her hand. She felt him shudder at her touch, and it made a small jolt of heat run through her.

She softly pressed her cheek into his hand and he cradled her face, moving his thumb along her jaw. He watched as Rey closed her eyes for a moment.

The affection was new to both of them, a shock to their own systems, making them equal parts of curious and nearly shy.

Rey's eyes slowly opened, dark and a hint of sadness peering up at him.

"This will end badly, won't it?" She whispered.

Wordlessly, Kylo nodded once more, knowing that there would not be a universe where they both got what they wanted.

After a moment longer, Rey sighed, stepping back so that she could look at him clearly. His hand fell back to his side and he stood straight, taking his usual brooding stance.

Rey watched as Kylo took over Ben, and her eyes softened with disappointment.

"Why did you give me the kyber back? Why now?" She asked.

He stuck his chin out, a glint of amusement and pride in his eye. "Because, you were not properly protected when someone tried to take over your base. I will not be running to you every single time this happens..." He said, and through the force, Rey picked up that he was lying, making her want to smile, but she hid it very well.

Kylo continued. "Besides, before you appeared to me, when you were shot, there was a shift in the force."

Rey looked at him confused. "What do you mean a shift in the force?"

"Did you not feel it?" He asked, eyeing her carefully.

Rey thought for a long moment, her arms crossed over herself. She remembered the plan with Finn, and then waiting until nightfall to return, and how nerve-racking it was just sitting in her room, so she meditated...

Her eyes widened and she looked back at Kylo. "I did! I was meditating... and then it felt like a tremor, I almost fell over. What does it mean?" She asked eagerly.

The corner of his mouth twitched, wanting to smile at her reaction. "The shift, it was an awakening. The last time it happened, you showed up with that BB-8 unit, causing such havoc." His eyes met hers with such intensity that her knees felt weak. Silently, they both remembered the events that followed that lea them here.

"An awakening with me?" Rey asked quietly.

Kylo nodded, sighing. "You're becoming stronger, your choice has been made."

Rey eyed him, her brows furrowed as she tried to think what her choice was.

"You mean, with the light or dark side of the force?" She questioned.

He quietly stared at her for a moment, so long that Rey wondered if she would get an answer, but right then he spoke again, glancing away.

"The force is stronger than anyone or any being. It is strength and knowledge itself. It'll know the options and decisions before you do. I can only guess, " his eyes met hers again, pinning her where she stood, and the tone of his voice changed to something almost...hopeful. "But whatever choice it was must have been an important one."

Rey blinked a few times, unsure of what to think now. She wasn't sure if he meant choices between the sides of the force, or the choice it came to his character, if she should remain hopeful for him...

Rey turned her back to him, needing to break away from his heated gaze. Picking at her fingernail, she shook her head and turned back.

"When I was...gone... I had this vision... But, it wasn't a dream, or a vision actually... It felt as though I was actually there. It was my island, the island I escaped to in my mind when I was on Jakku, but it was more beautiful, more vivid. I wasn't alone there." She paused, remembering their faces. Kylo waited for her to continue. "Obi-Wan Kenobi and your grandfather, Anakin. They were there to help me-"

Abruptly, Kylo stepped closer to her, and Rey felt the atmosphere change, his energy almost angry and envious.

"Anakin? You spoke with him?" Kylo dipped his head to stare at her full on, and right then, she felt him in her mind.

Rey immediately put up her block and gave a quick shove from her mind to his, making him retreat quickly.

"Stay out of my head!" She hissed.

Kylo scoffed, turning his back to her.

Huffing, Rey did the same, the pair trying to control their own tempers.

Biting her lip, Rey closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply, and let it out slowly. Rolling her eyes, she turned back to him, wanting to move pass this and discuss her experience, in hopes that he knew something of what she had dealt with, but when she turned, he was gone, and the connection was broken.

Sighing, Rey fell back against the door and slid down as she had done before, frustrated at being torn from him once more, and that it ended the way it did.

'Yes, this will end terribly indeed...' She thought to herself, and unknowingly, she was holding her cheek just as he had only moments ago.