Was it a knock that had woken her? Rey had grown so accustomed to the constant noise of the resistance base that she hardly gave it a thought before rolling over and settling back into the warmth of her bed. If someone really needed her before morning they wouldn't have wasted time knocking. But then she heard it again – a distinct knock coming from… inside her chamber? And this time it was followed what sounded like a man clearing his throat. Rey's eyes flew open as she pushed the blanket she'd just been curled under to the floor. Something was wrong.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." She should have known it would be him. She knew he'd show up sooner or later and he'd always had a knack for showing up when she was most vulnerable. But it had been months since Rey had last seen his face during her hasty departure from Crait and she had started to wonder if their connection had been severed. Apparently not.

"What do you want, Ben?" As Rey exhaled the muscles in her shoulders relaxed. She could not find the energy within herself to be angry with him.

"You think I chose to show up unannounced? It's not like I can control this connection any more than you can."

"True. But you think you could try to shut it off? I could really use some sleep. You know trying to stay alive when you have an army tracking my every move is a bit exhausting." She settled at the head of her bed, leaning her back against the wall.

"Need I remind you that you chose this path for yourself? I offered you freedom, but you turned me down."

"Freedom? Is that what you think you were offering me? Because to me it just sounded like devotion to a new regime."

"Don't you see? You're tied down by bonds and promises and feelings towards people who are holding you back. They're fighting a fight that's already been lost for a cause that died years ago. My uncle is gone. You should've let the Jedi Order die with him. You could be so much more."

"I think I see perfectly well. I just wish you did too. Your mother has mourned the son she once had and I think it's about time I do the same for the friend I thought you could be."

"Don't you dare bring my mother into this! What kind of a mother do you think she was? Caring and devoted? You couldn't be more wrong!" Kylo Ren towered over Rey, his voice growing in intensity. He wanted control of this conversation, but she was not about to let him have it.

"So tell me. Tell me how miserable it was to row up with a mum and dad who loved you enough to stick around. It must have been horrible."

Kylo jerked back as if Rey had slapped him across the face. Though neither would admit it they were both closer to tears than they'd have liked to be – trapped in their own childhood ghosts. It was a long moment before Kylo broke the silence.

"It was, actually. You know my father wasn't much of a dad to me. But at least he was around. Mom was always too busy for me. Sure, I was her son and I suppose she cared for me, but saving the world always came first. I'm sure you know by now how busy that can keep a person." A wry smile crossed his face.

"Yeah. I do," Rey whispered. "I'm sorry." She stood and went to comfort him, but he spoke before she had the chance to get too close.

"I don't need your pity. I've put my past where it belongs – behind me."

"But still, it must hurt. A mother who never had time for you. A father who didn't know how to connect. Getting shipped off to a famous uncle who, well…"

"Don't talk to me of pain. I've inflicted more pain than I've ever allowed others to inflict on me."

"You wear your betrayal like armor. Does it occur to you that maybe someone would stay if you gave them a chance to?"

A cold laugh slipped from Kylo's lips. "You left me. Or have you forgotten?"

"No. But you didn't give me a choice."

"The galaxy is full of choices. And you've made yours."

"But why does it have to be this way? I come from nothing. You and I know that very well. Why does everyone keep trying to make me into something? I'm either a resistance hero or a supreme leader of the galaxy. What if I don't want that life of fame and power and restrictions? You said you were trying to offer me freedom. But can't you see? I would've been just as trapped in the role of your companion as I am in this fight for my life. I don't expect I'll ever know what freedom is."

"At least you would've been safe with me."

"But for how long? Your Order can't last forever, Ben. Someone will bring you down. Maybe not me and maybe not anytime soon, but it will happen." Rey took a breath before continuing in a softer voice, "I haven't given up on you. Just say the word and I'll come to you, wherever you are, and bring you home. Home to your mother, to me, to the life you could've had if you'd taken another path."

"I have no home," he snarled.

Kylo's face blurred back into the darkness before Rey had a chance to respond and so it was to an empty room that she said "Nor do I" as a single tear rolled down her face. A time would come when they would seek solace in each other once more and seek out a home together, but on this night as Rey lay back down in a bed which had grown cold she felt alone in the world.