Her fingers flew over the keyboard of her laptop as the car took a sharp turn. She grunted as her shoulder collided with the side window and sent a glare to her driver next to her.

"Apologies, Miss Kenobi."

"It's fine, Ren."

Rey returned to her work and ignored the intense car chase that her car was currently immersed in. Honestly, she understood that she was the daughter of a wealthy businessman and that her head itself was worth millions of credits but even she was getting tired of the constant attempts being made at her life. She gripped her laptop as the car swivelled around and made an abrupt stop. Her bodyguard, Kylo Ren, the man who had been assigned to her ever since she was a child, pulled his automatic gun and riddled the opposing vehicle with bullets. There was a satisfying crunch of glass as the dead bodies fell motionless in their car seat. He let a satisfied smile spread on his face before turning to her.

"Okay?"

She gave a quick thumbs up before returning to her screen. They had been driving back from university when Kylo noticed that they were being tailed and when bullets started to fly towards them, it didn't take long for his training to take over.

Once they were in the safe confines of the large mansion and the gates were securely locked, Rey let out a sigh before closing her laptop with a click. Kylo came around to her side and opened her door, taking her laptop and bag from her hands. She pouted. "You know I can carry that stuff myself. I'm not totally helpless."

"Forgive me but your father is home and would frown upon it."

Rey fixed him with a level stare before pushing past him and up the stairs. He trailed behind her at the appropriate distance and they both entered her room. He set down her belongings on her desk and moved towards the door.

"Thank you for today. Your services are no longer needed." Kylo gave a small nod before closing her door softly.

Rey collapsed in her chair and opened her drawer. She rummaged through her drawer before she found what she was looking for, holding the old creased photo at eye level. It was taken a year after Kylo started working for her family. She smiled at the scrawny boy who held up his hands in defence as a smaller girl regarded him with determination, her hands clutching a long stick, in offensive mode.

Being born into such a wealthy family meant more security as well as self-defence. It was within a few weeks of meeting Kylo that her father insisted on him teaching her some moves that would benefit her on the off chance that he wasn't around. Over ten years had passed since she began her lessons and had hit the point where she and Kylo would frequently spar and train with each other. It occupied her mind and kept her busy since she didn't have many friends. Actually, she didn't have any throughout her childhood or even now at university. The only people she could even come close to a friend would be the bodyguards stationed throughout the mansion.

Other than Kylo, there were two others that she was close with. However, Finn and Poe weren't assigned to her but was part of her father's detail so she didn't see them as much as she did with Kylo, not that she minded. Kylo didn't seem to get along with the other bodyguards much, the angry scar running across his face sticking out like a sore thumb. Rey was extremely apologetic when it happened.

It was during one of their training sessions when it happened. She had become advanced with the staff and wanted to try with a spear. Foolishly enough, Kylo had been distracted that day and let his defences down momentarily that the blade sliced through his skin like butter. Rey had been in hysterics the moment she realised what she had done. She was screaming for help, angry tears running down her cheeks as pulled her tunic over her head to stench the blood that was gushing from his face. Her father and his bodyguards came rushing in and froze at the sight. Who could blame them? There Rey was with blood smeared over her skin, her upper body exposed with only her banding covering her modesty, and her bodyguard breathing heavily as his blood soaked into the carpet.

Her father had chastised her afterwards but not as harshly as he was to Kylo. After that, his training regime became intense as to not let it happen again. After all, if Rey, a teenager only training for a few years, was able to best him in a sparring match, then Kylo was obviously not up to scratch. To prove his worth, his skill increased to the point where Rey could confidentially say that he was the fiercest and strongest out of the bodyguards. This pleased her father.

Sometimes, Rey wondered if he would have had the decency to teach her fighting techniques if her father hadn't mentioned it to him. She was well into her twenties and it had been a few years since the dull throb started. At first, she didn't think anything of it and thought she was getting sick. When it was obvious that she was not ill, dread came over her when she realised the source.

She had fallen in love with her bodyguard. A bodyguard that seemed to only be there out of obligation. She didn't know the specifics but she knew there was a lot of money that was being given to have them stationed at the mansion constantly.

After living with the heartache for a few years, she got used to it and accepted that it would truly be nothing more. However, having lack of friends besides bodyguards made it hard for her to move on. Maybe when she graduated and found a job, she could move away to a place where no one knew her and she could move on with her life.

Rey snorted at the conversation that would have to take place with her father. Since she was his only child, he was extremely protective of her, especially since her mother had been killed and was left to him to raise her. She could never talk to him about her affection for Kylo, it seemed like a talk that would be had with her mother, or at least, another female. The closest she could think of would be her great-aunt, Maz, but her visits to the mansion were far and sparse. She suppose her grandfather could have offered her some advice but she just couldn't picture it.

So she continued her life as if nothing had changed between herself and Kylo. She was pretty sure he didn't return her feelings anyways. It wasn't until the discussion of marriage with her father during dinner that made her go stone cold inside.

"You need to find a man who will protect you, Rey."

She bristled angrily at her father. "I don't need protecting and why do I need to even get married? Wouldn't it be more dangerous if people found out that discussions of my possible marriage have started?" Rey stated sarcastically as she stabbed the steak in front of her.

"Now, now, I'm not going to be around forever and I need to know that you'll be safe when I'm gone. Don't you agree, Ren?"

She felt Kylo stiffen behind her, obviously not wanting to get involved in family matters. "Whatever you wish is best, my lord."

Rey rolled her eyes and stood up. "Of course, whatever my father says, goes, doesn't it?" she sneered at Kylo angrily. Kylo merely stayed silent and looked just past her to avoid her angry stare. She excused herself and retired to her room with an air of frustration.

She was angry. Angry at her father and his misplaced warmth. Angry at Kylo for taking her father's side again.

And angry at herself that she couldn't forget about the painful clench at the base of her throat.

An hour had passed before a tentative knock sounded at her door. She yanked the door open, knowing only one person who could have the guts to speak to her at that time of night. "What?"

Kylo stood stiffly with his hands folded behind his back. "I didn't feel good with how things were left back there."

"Well that's not your decision, now is it?"

"Rey, please let me in so we can talk?" She knew he must be truly apologetic when she hears him use her name. Begrudgingly, she steps aside and let him in.

She only let him take a few steps in before she instantly regretted it. "You know your father is only looking out for you."

"Does that mean you don't have an opinion? That you're unable to think for yourself? You trained me, you know I can protect myself!"

"As good as you are with a spear and a staff, it doesn't guarantee happiness. You father just wants you to be happy."

Rey looked at him solemnly. "Why does it have to change? Can't I just have you guys around forever?" God, even she could tell she was being a touch whiney when she wishes for things to be forever.

"You'll always have us Rey but we're not appropriate companion material. You need someone you can travel with, have adventures with and know that at the end of the day, you both could do nothing all day and be totally content." Kylo looked pleadingly at her. "Please understand."

She looked at him as his words echoed in her head. She couldn't believe how dense he was being. Surely he knew what he just insinuated. When it was apparent that he was forever oblivious, she continued to stare at him, hoping he would at least take the hint to leave. Eventually, he left her standing alone in her room.

They didn't speak to each other for a long time after that. Besides to occasional nod of acknowledgement, they didn't exchange any words, both of them being too acclimated to her routine to use words. Her father assumed that she was still angry about their conversation so didn't take notice of the frosty divide between her and Kylo.

Almost two months after their altercation, she met Jaran. They were paired together for an assignment that held the bulk of their final grade. He seemed harmless enough, he knew about her status and that finding new friends was not her forte; so he led most of their conversations. He had a charming smile and seemed relaxed that Rey felt herself following his example.

He had even made the transition of friendship to the point where he frequently visited Rey at her home. Her father was ecstatic, hoping that Rey was finally meeting new people and expanding her social circle so that it was more than just the people that occupied the mansion. Kylo, however, hated him instantly.

He saw what was happening. When Rey was in class, Kylo would wait around until she was finished before driving and escorting her home. He had seen the friendly touches and the caresses between Jaran and Rey. Well, he was convinced that it was mostly all Jaran. Kylo didn't trust him with an inch of his life and stalked the couple more intensely than required.

Rey obviously saw what Kylo was doing and ignored it. He had wanted her to make new friends and maybe look for potential partners so she was doing what they so desperately desired. One time when Jaran was staying over the weekend to work on their assignment, Kylo cornered Rey to voice his opinions of the other man. "I don't trust him. It's not safe to invite him here so casually."

Rolling her eyes, Rey pushed past him. "You have got to chill. I'm making friends like you all want. Just let me be."

As Kylo fumed, Jaran appeared around the corner and tilted his head questioningly at the tall bodyguard. "Is something the matter?"

Kylo grabbed Jaran's collar and pulled him close to his face, breathing heavily onto the smaller man. "I don't know what you're planning but don't get comfortable. This 'arrangement' you have with Rey? It's temporary."

Fear danced across Jaran's face before a nasty grin twisted in its place. "Oh, I see how this is. You see me as competition." He inched closer to Kylo, an evil glint in his eyes. "Well, it's so very disappointing that I can't seem to take you as a challenge. She's much suited with me anyways, remember that. You've been nothing but a burden to her."

Jaran left Kylo standing still in the hallway, frozen with his mind running at lightspeed. I thought she was happy with me.

This was how Finn and Poe found him later that day, still in the hallway, brooding. By that time, he had slid down to the floor but he was still in a foul mood. The pair tried to rouse him out of his stupor but was unsuccessful after a few attempts. Seeing that there was nothing that could be done, they left him in the hallway, bathed in darkness.

Time flew by with the rift between Rey and Kylo growing by the day until it was the day of her final exams. He was waiting by the car as per their usual arrangement, leaning on the passenger's side and observing the students excitedly chatting to each other. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed in frustration. She was late.

He checked the time and noted that her last exam finished almost half an hour ago. Even if she had stayed to the end - not that she needed it, she usually breezes through them - she would usually call him if she was running late. Another ten minutes passed before he pushed himself off the car and strode towards the exam hall. He did a quick survey and realised there was no one in sight.

Panic started to seize him as he started to search the campus. Thankfully, it wasn't a big campus so it was an easy search but he still came up with nothing. He tried asking a few students that were still lingering but none were able to help. Just as he pulled his phone out to call in his mistake, a professor that he recognised from Rey's orientation day caught his eye.

Quickly, he grabbed the old man by the shoulders, desperation bleeding into his voice. "Do you know where she went?"

The professor looked at him in shock. There was no need to clarify who Kylo was referring to, there was only one student that required a bodyguard. "I heard that some students were planning on going to the pub down the road for celebratory drinks."

Kylo gritted out a quick thank you before getting in the car and speeding down the street. If Rey was fine and actually at the pub, he wasn't sure if he would be more relieved or stressed from all the worry she put him through. Unfortunately when he arrived, it was apparent that she wasn't there. The sun had set a while ago and bathed the streets in darkness. He checked his phone and already saw five missed calls from Rey's father and another two messages from Finn and Poe. He didn't know what to do. If he had been present when she was taken, maybe he would have been able to prevent it or at least had some clues to work from. For now, he just sank onto his knees outside the pub, mind racing through all the scenarios that he could have prevented.

cont...

Was meant to be a short fluffy one shot but it got out of control.