Rey had left her last therapy session quite abruptly. Dr. Kanata had insisted that she needed to talk to Ben about what had happened and that by initiating sex with him everytime he even hinted at starting a serious conversation, Rey just kept on feeding her trauma.

Only a couple days later, in between sobs and hiccups, Rey would share the story she had locked deep within for almost twenty years.

"My mom always picked me up from kindergarten. That day, a lady I knew from dad's work showed up before she did. The bitch's name was Phoebe" Rey closed her eyes and bit her lip in fury at the memory "She said my mommy had asked her to pick me up because he had a surprise for daddy… so I went with her"

"Rey, those idiots at pre-school should not have let you leave without your parents or a guardian"

She sighed shaking her head "I called her Aunt Phoebe, Ben. I chose to go with her. She took me for ice cream and I only realized I was in danger when she pointed a gun at me to scare my mom into getting in the car" Her face twisted in anger and her eyes blazed with hate. "The moment we got to that goddamn warehouse, Plutt's henchmen had the three of us bound and gagged. They used us to lure my dad into a trap."

"Do you… Do you remember what happened to your dad?"

"Oh Ben, he never stood a chance. He came alone and… the bastards had me and my mom pinned to the floor threatening to hurt us, so he dropped his gun" She took several racy breaths forcing herself to continue. "My mom told me to look down but I saw them raining kicks and punches down on him… God, they beat him up so bad! But then we were surrounded by the cops, and Plutt… he shot my dad in the heart. The bastard was shot as well but he still took my dad down with him!"

Ben could no longer refrain himself from holding her tightly as sobs wracked her body.

"I'm sorry, Rey. I'm so sorry. I never knew…"

"That day in the yacht.. it all came back to me" She looked up at him with anguish in her face "It was the same nightmare all over again... But it was you, being murdered in front of me! Because of me!"

"Rey, it wasn't your fault. None of it. I was in field duty"

"Snoke found out who you were only because I was his target! And I was powerless to stop him. I…"

"Shhh… it's me who failed to protect you Rey, not the other way around"

Rey sighed, shaking her head before speaking again.

"You don't get it Ben. You can protect me just as much as I can protect you"

Realization hit him like a ton of bricks. She was right.

"Ben, can we…leave it for now? Can you just hold me?"

He kissed her longingly, and wrapped his arms around Rey once again. After wiping the tears and snot from her face, he did as she requested, gently tucking her head under his chin, pretending he could shield her from the evils in the world and the demons in her mind.