A/N: *Obi-wan Kenobi voice* Hello there.

Wow, so I haven't written anything in a long, long time. I'm a little rusty, so go easy on me, okay? I have a vague idea of where I'm going with this story, so patience, my friends.

It should be mentioned that this story is a little inspired by XeroSanity, another Fanfiction writer, whose fic A Mysterious Connection gave me the final push I needed to write my own Reylo fic. I totally recommend checking out that fic, it's pretty good. I do plan on this story getting a little smutty later, so be prepared for that. The rating will change when that comes, so that will give you a bit of a heads up.

All the sex puns.

As always, I do not share any views expressed by any characters in this story. And I own nothing in this story.

Okay, please read, review, and enjoy!

Update: Hey guys, if you started reading this story before (10/27), please reread this chapter! I almost forgot about the scene where Kylo Ren talks to Darth Vader's helmet, and decided to go back and add it in. I hope you guys like this added little detail!

Kylo Ren dragged Lieutenant Mitaka by his throat, using only the Force, hauling the man in front of him. He continued to hold the man there, choking him a little less now. Even with the helmet masking his face, Ren was visibly angry. "What girl?"

He loosened his grip more, allowing the lieutenant to speak. "I-I don't know, sir! A girl- from Jakku- a pilot!" Ren's eyes widened, and he released the soldier, who fell to his knees. Gasping, holding his throat, he added, "That-that's all...that's all I know, sir."

Ren turned away, his hands resting at his sides, trembling a bit. "Leave," he mumbled. The soldier scrambled to his feet, dusted himself off, then left - still walking, but quickly. Ren waited until the man had gone, then removed his helmet, struggling for air as if he'd been the one to be choked. It couldn't be. Could it? No.

He shook his head, dark eyes darting around the floor. His mind was a blur of memories and possibilities. What if it was her? Was this fate? Ren could feel something warm rising in his chest, creeping up his neck. The light - he could feel it, slowly prying open his ribs in an effort to get to his soul. Feebly, he pushed against it, closing his eyes. He wouldn't allow himself to feel hope, not yet. If this pilot was Rey, he would make sure that she would join him. Only then would he permit himself to yearn for her as he had in the past.

"There's been an awakening. Have you felt it?"

Even now, Ren's mind still wandered. Attempting to rein in his thoughts, he answered with a quiet, "Yes." But his answer was honest. Amidst everything, Ren had felt something - a fluctuation in the Force. This wasn't a disturbance, necessarily, but he felt it in his core, and that disturbed him. The invasion of light that had first begun when he heard of the female from Jakku had grown, until now it weighed him down, and he felt tired.

Supreme Leader Snoke pointed a bony finger at the dark, young man, his gravelly voice quietly reverberating off the walls. "There's something more. The droid we seek is aboard the Millennium Falcon. In the hands of your father...Han Solo."

Ren was taken aback by this. First the girl, and now... He was glad for his helmet, that it covered his surprised expression. "He means nothing to me," Ren stated, his voice faltering slightly. Thinking of his father, after all these years, it was strange. His insides quivered, but outwardly, he remained still as a statue.

"Even you, master of the Knights of Ren, have never faced such a test," Snoke told him. Ren knew that the supreme leader could sense his true feelings, but the the dark figure's master kept his own thoughts on the situation to himself.

Ren thought of Rey, and his heart foundered once more. He pictured her brown eyes, her smile, her giggle as she called out that name that had been lost to him for so long. His gaze didn't stray from his master, as he struggled to regain his composure. "By the grace of your training, I will not be seduced," was his reply, attempting to clear his mind and stay true to his word.

As if sensing his internal conflict, Snoke retorted, "We shall see." He paused, leaning forward in his throne. "We shall see," he repeated, the hologram fading away until he was gone.

"Forgive me." Ren stared to the floor, sitting in a chair with his shoulders slumped in defeat. He took deep breaths. "I feel it again." He was reluctant to look up, but did. "The pull to the light."

Rey. He thought about Rey. He imagined her sitting in the long grass, it brushing past her with the breeze. She was meditating, taking even breaths, just as he was now. Her long eyelashes laid against her rosy cheeks, and there was a slight curve to her mouth. Peace... Ren felt so much peace, picturing her in his mind like that.

He was pulled from his reverie, looking at the floor in shame. All the things he'd done, the people he'd killed, and still, the light called to him through this girl. He looked back up at Vader's deformed mask. "Supreme Leader senses it." He took another deep breath. "Show me again, the power of the darkness...and I will let nothing stand in our way." The image of Rey in his mind was swallowed up by darkness, and a rumble that could've been a whisper, or breathing. The darkness overtaking him again, Ren felt relieved, but also a bit saddened. Desperate, he asked, "Show me...Grandfather..." Yes, now there was nothing but the darkness and the quiet voice. "And I will finish...what you started."

His heart no longer heavy, Ren stood and left his chambers, then paused. Without Vader's presence, he was left again with that picture of Rey, meditating. Except now, she cracked open an eye, peeking at him, then giggled.

Immediately, he turned back to his room, going back inside. He looked to Vader's melted helmet, but didn't feel the pull of the darkness. Instead, he could hear Rey, calling to him. "I can't focus with you staring at me like that," she said in his mind.

Ren finally broke. He groaned, rubbing a hand over his eyes, his helmet in his other hand. He dropped it to the floor with a loud thud, and collapsed onto his bed, head in his hands.

Rey called out to him, her grin wide, but no sound escaped her mouth. Even so, Ren knew the name that she was using - a name he'd long since abandoned. The sunshine lit stray hairs on her head like strands of gold, and in the glow of the afternoon, Rey's eyes looked like raw honey. She stopped running through the tall grass to reach back for him, her smile growing as she called out his name again. "Take my hand!" she demanded sweetly.

He was powerless to resist. All these years later, she still had so much control over him. He'd always been a pushover around her, and he began to fear that he would always be putty in her hands. Her warm, petite hands that beckoned to him now. "Let's go swimming!" she called, laughing and lacing their fingers together.

A tear streaked down Ren's face, and he quickly swept it away, as if afraid for anyone to see. How weak she made him feel, how much he missed her, how much she called to him, even now. Rey was a goddess of light, that called to him in his dark loneliness, but he had to resist. If he gave in to her, everything he'd worked for would be gone.

Unless.

Unless he could get her to join them. To let him teach her in the ways of the Force. Like he once had. If she joined the dark side, they could be together without any consequences. But, if he were being honest with himself, could he really see Rey killing traitors and spies? She was sunshine personified, and to extinguish that light would be an unforgivable crime. Still, it was the only way that they could be together.

If that was even something she would want.

Would she recognize him? Remember him?

The intercom beeped. "Sir, an update."

Ren remained still for a moment before walking to the console in his room, pressing the intercom button. "Go ahead."

"Sir, we have received word from a mercenary named Netal that the droid we seek is on Takodana, in the hands of a Resistance supporter named Maz Kanata."

Without hesitation, Ren asked, "Who was accompanying the droid? Kanata and who else?" Was Rey still with them? Knowing her, she'd be determined to see this through to the end.

There was a pause on the other side, before the soldier replied, "The two fugitives - FN-2187 and the female pilot from Jakku - along with two known smugglers - a man named Solo and a Wookie."

So she was still with them. "Thank you, lieutenant," Ren buzzed back. "Prepare my ship for departure to Takodana." He sighed, walking over to where he had left his helmet, and bent down, picking it up off the smooth, black floor. He stared at it for a moment before pulling it on over his head.