Rey closed her eyes and moaned. She worked her hips as fast as she could, the sensations sending ripples of pleasure up her spine. Her dress had been pulled down to her midriff so that her breasts and shoulders were visible. He liked it that way, as evidenced by the red marks she was covered with from his bites.

Hands grasped tightly at her hips and fingers dug themselves desperately into her skin. She grinned and ran her hands down the chest of the man beneath her. He emitted a small groan at the touch. Leaning down, she put her lips right next to his ear.

"You like it when I ride your cock this hard, don't you Ben?" she whispered huskily to him.

"Yeah," he replied, his grip tightening on her as she continued her relentless movements. He then closed his eyes and let out a cry that Rey was all too familiar with. Holding her in place on top of him, he thrust slowly upward into her a few more times as his orgasm played out. Then his arms fell to his sides and he lay there panting from the activity.

Rey sat back up on top of him and folded her arms across her chest. "Really?" she huffed. "I was so close to finishing."

His eyes opened and he gave her a smirk that only made her want more. "You know what whispering dirty things in my ear does. I take no responsibility for that one."

"What am I to do then?" she asked him, giving him a pointed look. "I feel cheated."

She gave a small yelp as, in one swift motion, she found herself thrown down onto her back with Ben above her. Before she could teasingly ask if he had used the Force to do that, his face was between her legs. She gasped as he went to work on pleasuring her without another word on the matter. He didn't seem to care that he was tasting himself as he slipped his tongue inside of her.

Rey's hand entwined itself into his hair while the other covered her mouth to stifle her moans. She wasn't sure why she bothered trying to keep quiet anymore. Ben clearly didn't care if anyone heard them and it wasn't like the entire New Order were blind to the affair.

As if he could read what was on her mind, which he may or may not have actually done given his power to do so, Ben reached up and pulled her hand away from her mouth. "Don't hold back," he told her breathlessly as he paused from his work to look up at her. "I want to hear you."

Now free to let her moans out, Rey did not disappoint. When he plugged two of his fingers into her, the moans escalated to screams. It wasn't long before her body shook. She grasped his hair tightly as her orgasm exploded forth.

"Thanks," she panted as he slid his fingers out of her. He grinned up at her from between her legs and stuck the two fingers into his mouth to lick them clean.

She watched as he then strode, fully naked and still partially erect, across the room to his desk. He checked the monitor there and sighed heavily upon seeing something on the screen.

"Damn. I have to meet with the senator of Naboo in five minutes," he called back to her. "Think you could see yourself back to your ship?"

Rey sighed too and sat up on the bed. "Always work with you, isn't it?" she accused as she pulled her dress back up over her shoulders.

"I'm the Supreme Leader of the galaxy," he replied, walking back over to the bed to retrieve his discarded clothes. "Have to keep the New Order running smoothly, you know?"

He paused beside the bed and stroked her face, gazing at her with those dark eyes that always managed to draw her in. Then he smiled, not a smirk but one that was warm and gentle. "How did I get so lucky?" he murmured.

Rey leaned into his touch and pressed her lips into the palm of his hand. "Don't keep your senator waiting," she replied.

Ben kissed her lips deeply before, with one last lingering look at her sitting on his bed, he finished dressing and departed.

When he was gone, Rey contemplated his words: How did I get so lucky? She thought back to three months ago, before their affair started. She knew exactly when it had started, but why? How had two people who had been so against each other become what they were now? Rey replayed the events in her mind, trying to pinpoint how things had changed between them.

It had been an entire year since the Battle of Crait. The remaining Resistance members had escaped with Rey on the Millennium Falcon and made for the planet of Novalis. Leia said there was a small group of allies who had a base there. It was a long shot but they might take them in. They were among those the Resistance had sent distress calls out to on Crait but had received no response from.

Rey had hoped they would take them in. There had been too much damage, too much loss over the past few weeks. They needed a spot of good luck. And if the allies on Novalis did not accept them, Rey had no idea what they would do then.

Fortunately, the allies turned out to be very welcoming. They apologized heartily to Leia for being unable to come to their aid. While the Battle of Crait had been going on, the allies had been fending off their own attack on Novalis. They had tried to get ships out to help but the First Order forces blocked them in. By the time they fought them off and got to Crait, they saw the battle was over and retreated.

No longer in danger for the time being, the remaining members took this time to rest and recuperate. Finn tended to a still unconscious Rose, Leia spoke with the leader of the Novalis allies in their control room, and Poe worked on helping repair some of the ships on base. This left Rey to retreat to her room and quietly contemplate everything that had happened.

Over the next few months, they began to turn the Novalis base into a refuge of sorts. They would send out calls all over the galaxy, looking for groups who wanted to be free of the First Order, now called the New Order by their Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.

Leia had been the one who suggested the plan. All the losses had taken their toll on the general to the point where she wanted to conserve lives rather than continue to lose them. She had the idea of creating a place that could be free of the New Order's rule. If they got enough people to join, they could slowly build up the base and even create their own community. It was a shaky plan but their safest option given the current situation of the Resistance.

"I don't like it," Finn had confided to Rey after the meeting. "I feel like we're just giving up the fight—saving ourselves rather than the galaxy."

Rey shrugged, fiddling with a thread on her tunic. "We're not giving up on them though. Leia said we'll be sending out word to find those who want to be free. We are going to save lives, just maybe not all of them."

It was a risky plan and many of the Resistance members felt the same way Finn did. Surprisingly, Poe supported General Leia's idea. He rallied the nay-sayers together, giving them a long speech about how saving the galaxy did not mean leading a suicide mission to wipe the New Order out. Rather, they had to take the time to rebuild the Resistance and create a strong group of individuals. And then, someday, they could then defeat the Order.

"This is about preservation of life right now," he told them. "We're nowhere near ready to take on the New Order. We have to build up our numbers again, become bigger than them. Once we do that, we can bring them down just like we've been trying to. Please, trust the General. She knows what she's doing."

Rey wanted to believe in Leia. Outwardly, she supported the idea. She went obediently on the missions to help transport allies from their planets to Novalis. However, like Finn many of the other remaining Resistance members, she didn't want to wait. She wanted to go straight to the New Order ships and take them all out.

It was Kylo Ren's fault that she felt this way. He had turned away from everything Rey had offered him to start the New Order. It hurt her, not only because she'd believed in him but because of Leia. Kylo had the chance to go back to his mother and he threw that chance away for power. For the second time, he had given up the love of a parent which was something Rey had so desperately craved her entire life.

She wanted to confront him again, bring him to his knees and stop him from continuing to be Supreme Leader. However, Rey did not want to kill him. She was unsure if she even could kill him. She did want him to answer to her and the Resistance for what he'd done though. What form that would take, she was still unsure. It looked like she would have plenty of time to decide with the new plan being set into motion.

The venture was not an easy or a safe one. While they were building their new community, the New Order tried to intercept the transports coming in with new arrivals. Fortunately, the losses were minimal. The attacks, in Rey's opinion, didn't seem to be as relentless as they could have been. She wondered if this was Kylo's way of possibly going easy on them, or maybe he wasn't as good a tactician as he thought. Either way, their community was growing and the New Order didn't seem to be doing as much as they could to stop it.

Still, the continued attacks had Leia worried. And, as a year went by with their community becoming larger and starting to build on to their base, she grew concerned with drawing their attention.

"I think the New Order has allowed us to continue on because we're not a threat," she told them during a meeting on the one year anniversary of the Battle of Crait. "However, in the past year we've grown bigger than we were before. If we get too big, they're going to take notice. They'll destroy us in a heartbeat once they see what we've become."

"So what do we do?" asked Finn. "We're greater in numbers now, we could fight them."

"That wouldn't do any good," put in Poe. "We'd lose too many if we took them on now. We're going to have to find another way to take their attention away from us."

There were murmurs in the room at that. Many of those present seemed to side with Finn, thinking that a fight was the best way to go.

"We have good weapons," said Rose. "We could launch a sneak attack on them so we have the advantage."

Leia sighed and walked to the middle of the room. "I have an idea but I know you're all not going to like it." There were more murmurs but Leia held up her hand for silence. "You've all trusted me so many times before. I ask you to trust me again, at least one more time."

"Let's hear it," said Rey, the first words she'd spoken in a meeting in quite some time. She was interested to hear what Leia had decided to do about the New Order.

The General gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Rey. What I propose is that we sign a treaty with the New Order."

Instead of murmurs, this time cries of outrage filled the room. How could they make peace with the New Order? They were brutes led by an even more brutal man. This was not right.

"Stop," Rey said loudly, and the room quieted down. "Let the General explain herself before you start arguing with her."

"If we sign a treaty, they will stop their attacks," Leia went on when the room was quiet. "I know many of you would rather die than make peace with them but believe me when I say it's our best chance."

"If they see a Resistance ship coming then the one flying it is dead before they can even board," Rose pointed out.

"You can send a transmission beforehand," said Rey. "Let them know what you want. They may be brutal but they'll respect a parlay."

Poe nodded in agreement. "Especially if it's just one ship. They'll hear us out at least."

"What if they don't?" Finn asked. "What if they shoot whoever goes just to send a message to us that they don't want peace?"

"Then it's a risk we'll just have to take," said Leia. "Besides, I've already decided—I'll be the one to go."

There was silence after that. Everyone in the room stared at their General in shock. They all wanted to argue but knew it was futile. Leia was stubborn in her ways and when she set her mind to something, she saw it through. Only one person dared to speak up after her bold statement.

"No," said Rey, and everyone in the room turned to look at her. She stood up from her chair and moved towards Leia. "I'll go."

"Rey, you—" Leia started but Rey cut her off.

"I need to confront him, General," she said to her earnestly. "You know I do. I have to face him."

Leia massaged her temple. "We don't want him dead. We just want him to sign the peace treaty. You won't get to fight him."

"I don't want to fight him," Rey insisted. "But he will hear me out. He won't have me killed."

"He won't have me killed either," Leia said confidently. "I know he won't."

"Leia, please."

The two women looked at each other for a long time, so long that the other people in the room began to wonder if they should speak up or let the silence play out.

Through the Force, Rey was showing Leia all that had transpired between her and Kylo Ren during the time she spent with Luke on Ach-To. She had not disclosed this information to anyone over the past year. However, Leia had to understand why she needed to confront him, and to do that she told her in the only way that would keep it from the rest of the room.

"Very well," Leia said when she finished explaining herself. "Rey will be the one to go."

The entire room was shocked at these words, including Rey. She had been certain that Leia would continue to be firm on her point even after she showed her what had happened. The older woman severed their connection and turned to face the rest of the room.

"Rey will deliver the treaty to the New Order," she repeated. "Any arguments?"

No one in the room argued with her or Rey though they looked like they wanted to. This time, that word was the final one. With no more to say on the matter, Leia dismissed the meeting.

Leia spent the next day writing up the treaty and coaching Rey on what to do when she approached the New Order fleet. Rey assured her countless times that she would be successful. She felt guilty, taking away Leia's opportunity to see her son again. If she accomplished her goal though, there was a good chance that she would be able to reunite them under safer circumstances.

Something about Leia's resolve had changed after Rey had shown her the interactions she'd had with Kylo Ren. At first she'd argued with Rey but as soon as she saw them she gave in. Rey couldn't help but wonder what had changed her mind and she asked her while prepping for her dangerous mission.

"You're the only one equal to him left," she explained patiently. "He was intrigued by you—he still is. I don't think he wants you out of the picture just yet."

Rey felt there was more Leia wasn't telling her on the matter but she let it go. Leia was the only one who supported her going. Even Poe had expressed his concerns about her facing Kylo Ren alone. She did not let herself be dissuaded by anyone. Her mind had been made up long ago.

The day of her meeting, Leia led her to a small storage room that turned out to be full of elegant dresses. Rey was confused until Leia pulled down a golden one and handed it to her.

"You want me to wear this?" she asked incredulously. Rey had never seen such fine material before. She felt she wasn't good enough to deserve something so beautiful.

"It was my mother's," Leia told her. "All these dresses were. She was queen of Naboo for a number of years before being made a senator there. From what I hear, her political skills were a sight to behold. I think it's good luck if you wear one today."

Rey's face felt hot. "I don't know…" She trailed off as her fingers stroked the smooth material.

"It's not a display of weakness, you know. It's a sign of confidence. You show up looking like a princess and they'll kneel before you."

Rey was unsure if she wanted anyone kneeling before her but she trusted Leia's judgement. Leia was still a princess herself, even if the planet she had been princess of was long since gone. She took the dress to her quarters and put it on as she was told.

It was an odd feeling, wearing a dress for the first time. Rey walked around the room several times in it. She marveled at how it felt to have her bare legs move against each other and the way the golden dress swayed about her lower half. She didn't have a mirror to look at herself in but she felt beautiful.

The majority of the Resistance had gathered to see Rey off. There was much resting on her shoulders and she couldn't help but feel a pit of anxiety in her stomach. Hundreds of eyes looked to her at that moment, all filled with hope that the peace treaty would be signed and honored.

Finn, Chewie, Rose, and Poe all hugged Rey tightly before she boarded her ship. Leia held her longest of all and Rey felt herself tear up. It felt like a mother's hug and she savored the warmth it brought to her heart. When they parted, Leia reached up and tugged Rey's hair loose from the bun she had put it in. Rey opened her mouth to protest but Leia held up her hand.

"Down looks better with that dress, trust me," she told her in a low voice. "Good luck Rey, and may the Force be with you."

Rey was alone on the ship that would take her to the New Order. It was best that she went alone in case the plan did not work or the New Order decided to turn on her. Rey was sure she could fight her way out if need be but having another life to save would make things more difficult.

She wished someone was with her though—Finn, Chewie, anybody. It was maddening for her, taking that trip across the galaxy by herself and not knowing what lay ahead. She was going with the sole hope that they would not shoot her down. Would Kylo Ren allow it? Rey was uncertain. All she could do was pray that he had not changed his mind about her during their year apart.

It had also not been decided what she was going to do if and when she came face to face with him. A year ago, if she had seen him she would have punched him in the stomach and dragged him back to the Resistance to receive their justice. Now, she still thought that was a promising idea although not a smart one. There had to be another way she could take him out and bring him back with her.

Leia was counting on her to deliver this treaty though. That was the plan that she believed would save the Resistance. As much as Rey wanted to go against it and do what her heart told her she should do, it was not a good idea. If she went against the General it was no small transgression. Kylo Ren would not be the only answering to the Resistance when she returned. Gritting her teeth, Rey pushed away her desire to do the mission her way and continued on.

Eventually, she dropped out of light speed and her heart sank when she saw the New Order fleet. Soon it would be decided what her fate was—either shot out of the sky or allowed on their ship and brought before the Supreme Leader. Rey couldn't decide which one sounded worse.

Approaching the ship, she swallowed hard and sent her transmission to them: "This is Rey of the Resistance, sent by General Leia Organa to deliver a treaty of peace to the New Order."

There was a pregnant silence over the intercom. Then, "Switch off your ship's shields."

She swallowed again. "Why?" she asked, unable to contain her defiance.

"We're going to lock onto your ship and scan for other life forms besides you."

Rey took a deep breath. If she lowered the shields there was a good chance they would not scan but instead shoot her down. She had to think quickly and calmly in order to avoid such a fate.

"I am here to speak with Supreme Leader Kylo Ren," she explained in a level tone. "Tell him I am here and waiting for his approval to board."

The man on the New Order end laughed at her. "The Supreme Leader? Yes, of course."

Rey's hands clenched angrily at her sides. "I assure you, he will hear me out when you tell him Rey is here to see him."

Still sounding skeptical, the man replied that he would deliver her message. More silence followed after this. She almost feared they had not taken her seriously and were simply going to ignore her.

Finally, the voice came back on. It no longer sounded amused and skeptical when it said "The Supreme Leader has granted your request to board. Approach loading bay nine and disembark there. Know that you have hundreds of guns trained on you and your ship. Any foul play will be dealt with swiftly and without mercy."

She breathed a sigh of relief and cautiously moved her ship forward. As she approached the loading bay, she noticed a section of their shield was lowered momentarily to let her through. When she looked back after passing through it, she saw that it had closed up once again behind her. The sight gave her a sick feeling in her stomach. She had a bad feeling about this.

The loading bay door opened to allow her entry and she carefully docked her ship in a spot where six Stormtroopers were signaling to her. It was strange, getting in to the New Order this easily. Rey couldn't help but wonder if she were walking right into a trap. She supposed it was too late to worry about that now.

She opened the ship's door and exited, only to be met by about a dozen blasters being pointed right at her. The Stormtroopers formed a U-shape before her. All of them looked ready to shoot if she put even one toe out of line. However, Rey had no time to be intimidated. She had a job to do.

Rey held her head up high. She remembered what Leia had said: "Show up looking like a princess and they'll kneel before you."

"Take me to Supreme Leader Kylo Ren," she demanded, her voice sounding stronger than she felt. Rey had no idea how a princess was meant to act but if Leia's behavior was anything to go on then she had an idea.

The Stormtroopers kept their guns trained on her while they lead her out of the loading bay. Behind her, she could hear several more of them boarding her ship to search it. Rey kept up her act of confidence as they took her through the dark hallways of the ship. She had made it this far—there was no way she was going to show weakness now.

Stormtroopers and other New Order members turned their heads to follow her as she went. At first Rey thought it was her confidence that caught their attention but then she heard a whisper that told her what it really was:

"That's the girl who killed Supreme Leader Snoke."

Rey felt a stab of anger shoot through her. So Kylo had blamed her for the death of his master. She couldn't say she was surprised, but she was hurt. How could he pin his deed on her? To save himself from the wrath of the Order? It was just one more thing he would have to answer to when she faced him again.

When they got to a tall set of doors, the Stormtroopers told her to wait outside. Four of them stayed outside to guard her while two of them went through the doors. Rey peered into the room but did not see any sign of Kylo Ren in there before they closed again. So she waited patiently, wondering if she really was being taken to him or walking into the trap she'd been dreading.

The doors opened again and the two Stormtroopers barked at her to enter. It was a big room, all black with only a few lights lining the dark walls. A chair which looked like a throne stood at the end of the room atop a dais but it was empty. Rey looked around her as she walked. They seemed to be the only ones in this room. Was it supposed to be a throne room? If so, why was he not there?

The escort stopped before the chair. Again, Rey was told to wait but this time none of the Stormtroopers stayed to guard her. All of them turned and walked back out of the room through the doors they had come in. Rey watched them go, confusion seeping in. Was this it? Was this where they were going to kill her? She was unsure of what exactly was going on.

Left alone, Rey explored the room. She walked up the steps of the dais to examine the throne. It had a straight back to it and no cushioning. Overall it did not look very comfortable to sit on. She wondered if he used it at all or if it was just for show. She couldn't help but smirk. That sounded like Kylo Ren—doing something only for show.

She ran her fingers along the back of the chair and down its arm. So this was what he gave up his chance with her for. Rey wondered if he was happy, living this new life as ruler of the galaxy. From what she had seen of the ship and his throne room it didn't seem like a happy life. Still, maybe he got some satisfaction from it.

"Rey," she heard a voice behind her say. She stiffened, her hand retreating from the chair and falling slowly to her side. It was a soft voice, a low one, and one she had not expected to hear ever again.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she turned around. "Hello, Kylo Ren."