A/N: Thank you for taking a minute to read my story. I've been thinking about this story for weeks now. This follows the ending of TLJ. Spoiler warning.

Rey's hands tightened around the hilt of her lightsaber. A combination of slick cold metal and textured coils against her callused palms and fingertips. She flipped the switch and the weapon hummed to life. Rey began work through the forms she had learned from the Sacred Jedi Texts she acquired on Ahch-To. As sweat trickled down her temples, she tried to stay focused and ignore the pull of the cord the Force had linked to Ben Solo, or rather Kylo Ren. She scoffed and shook her head. I do not want to see you. She allowed the thought to spill out through the cord. She closed her eyes wishing for silence. But instead the hairs on her neck raised. She knew he was in front of her, but refused to open her eyes. His response whispered in her mind. We need to talk.

Her eyes shot open, "We have nothing to talk about!" She nearly spat at him. Emotions flooded her, hurt, fury, betrayal. He was just a couple of paces in front of her. So close she could reach out and nearly touch him. Her heartbeat increased, her breathing picked up, and she wanted so badly to bury her weapon into his chest.

Kylo simply stood there studying her face. His hands clasped behind his back. Rey waited for him to respond, but all he did was stare. She huffed and turned her back to him. "If you want to talk, you can at least tell me why?" she asked, her tone softening.

"That is the same question I have for you." He answered. "I saved you. I killed my master for you. All I wanted in return was you by my side. I practically begged you to take my hand and stay with me. And you ran! Tell me, did you even check to see if I was still alive before you stole that escape pod?" Kylo's anger rose with every word.

"Of course, I knew you were alive before I left. The impact merely knocked you unconscious. I could still feel our con…" She trailed off, not wanting to speak of the cord that bound them together through the Force, even after Snoke's death.

He finished for her, "Our connection. Yes. Obviously still intact. And why do you think that might be?" Kylo asked.

Rey took a deep breath, whenever she let her mind begin to wonder she reflected on this answer even though she refused to consciously ask herself. She decided to change the subject. "You want to know why I didn't take your hand? You don't even know me if you have to ask."

Kylo shook his head, "No, you are not allowed to side step this. You came to me knowing who and what I am! I have never once lied to you. I have been clear from the beginning. I only want to bring order to the galaxy. And I only need you by my side to do so. The Force has been striving for balance for so long, don't you see?"

Then she said the only thing Kylo feared, "I would have taken Ben's hand, but never the hand of Kylo Ren."

Kylo clinched his fists and closed his eyes. She was impossible. Rey could feel the hurt she inflicted on him with her words. That hurt could only come from Ben Solo. Feeling a twang of hope, she added, "I still would you know." She completed her sentence in thought, take Ben's hand…

As the words trickled into his mind, Kylo ended the connection and disappeared. Rey vanished from his eyes and he was alone in his chambers. He walked to the nearest wall and slammed his fist into it repeatedly yelling, "THAT SCAVENGER IS JUST IMPOSSIBLE!"

While Rey could no longer see Kylo, she could feel dissonance in the Force and knew he was furious with her. She looked around the vacant cargo bay, wishing she still felt like working on her lightsaber forms. Her determination to master the Force and become a true Jedi ebbed slightly and she felt a twang of regret. Though she was still furious with Kylo Ren, it was nice to see him. Or rather, the face of Ben Solo. It was months ago, but she could still see the shape of the vision they shared back in that tiny cold hut on Ahch-To.

Peace, she felt peace. No hatred or anger. Ben Solo standing in front of her smiling. He looked at her with such caring eyes. It warmed her heart and she felt a desire to fall into his arms in an embrace. She felt love. Not just her love for him, but his love for her in return.

This time as the vision ended, she wondered if she simply assumed Ben would chose the light based on the feelings the vision invoked. She didn't know much about the Dark Side of the Force, but she did know it was enrooted in fear, hate, and anger. She thought any creature that would so fully embrace that side would be incapable of love. But, then she remembered the way he looked at her in the Supreme Leader's throne room, his hand reaching for hers. She saw softness and longing. Then he spoke of letting the past die…letting everything she cared about die. Rey may not have known much about the Light side or the Dark side of the Force, but she did know she protected those she cared for. Anything less was contrary to her nature.

Rey felt as if she was being pulled apart. Just like she couldn't turn her back on the resistance she did not want to give up on Ben. Kylo Ren's desire to have her by his side must come from Ben, she was sure of it. As it dawned on her what she must do to save both the resistance and Ben Solo a chill ran down her spine, what if she accepted his offer? He said he never lied to her. He offered her a partnership. If he truly wants her by his side, to be his partner in his vision of a new galaxy, that would mean he would heed her counsel. She could be his conscience and guide him back to the light. She bit her bottom lip as she made up her mind. She let out a slow breath and closed her eyes, reaching out to him through their bond.

When she opened her eyes, she saw him slumped against the wall. The room was in utter disarray. A bed turned over, First Order tapestries in shreds on the ground, holes in the walls. While he felt her presence, he did not look up at her, his head resting against his crossed arms that held his legs close to his chest. "Surely you did not have enough time to do all of this in the few moments since we spoke?" she jabbed.

Kylo Ren scoffed, "I guess you are ready to talk now?" he asked, ignoring her slight.

She took a hesitant breath and summoned back her resolve, knowing she was treading on dangerous ground. "If…If I were to take your hand now, be your partner in your vision of order. Would I truly be your partner?"

Kylo blinked wondering if he heard her right. He looked up at her and thought, why are you asking this? Rey could feel his confusion, hesitance to let himself become vulnerable again, and an odd feeling of hope…and then something else she couldn't quiet name. It was a raw feeling. A warmth that she felt deep inside. Rey decided to be more specific, "If I am your partner does that mean we make joint decision regarding how to handle things? Like, the Resistance? Does it mean you could compromise if we did not agree on how to handle something?"

He tilted his head back against the wall and responded with a question, "Could you truly embrace the dark? If you can embrace the dark side, you would be my closest advisor."

She thought on his question for a moment, sitting on the ground in front of him. "I will embrace the dark, if you embrace the light." She held her hand out to him. "You say we will bring balance to the Force and order to the universe. I think there has been enough fighting. If I embrace the dark side, could you truly let the light back in?"

He furrowed his brow and stared it her hand. He thought on how this conversation would play out hundreds of times. In nearly all of the scenarios she had outright rejected him. In a handful, the least realistic, she threw herself whole heartedly to the darkness. But, he never imagined this. He reached out and grabbed her hand, looking up and into her eyes, "I think I started letting the light back in when I first saw you on Takondana."

To be continued…