When Kai wakes up she is in a white room, lying flat on her back on some sort of metal table. Kai tries to prop herself up, but she finds that she can't move. Her arms are restrained, and so are her legs.

But there's no feeling in her left leg, it's like..

Like it's not there.

Panic snaps at Kai's young mind and she thrashes, trying to break free as the tears roll down her face. As she panics she catches a glimpse at the leg that is not her own, a new appendage that comes up to her knee. It is silver, lined with black.

Kai doesn't remember what has happened. All Kai wants to do is scream and cry, and then she remembers Mother and Brother are dead and it is only Kai.

Kai jolted awake, her hands shaking, as she whipped her head around; the memories were coming more fluidly now, mostly when she's asleep. She was in the Falcon, and Rey was stirring awake.

Kai must've screamed.

"Kai.. what's wrong?" Came Rey's groggy voice.

"Nothing," Kai lied, lying back down on the bed she had made for herself on the floor.

"Kai," Rey said, more sternly, as she pushed herself onto her feet and slowly walked to Kai's side, sitting down on the makeshift bed. "What's wrong?"

Kai sighed, looking up at Rey. "I remember."

"Remember what?" Rey asked gently, lying down and sidling up against Kai, Rey's back to Kai's chest. Kai draped an arm across Rey's waist, pulling her closer.

"Bits and pieces of the past," Kai whispers, resting her head where Rey's shoulder and neck connected, her breath warm in Rey's ear.

"Good or bad?" Rey asked gently, gently pressing one of her hands against the one of Kai's that rested on Rey's stomach.

"Both." Kai replied, "But mostly the bad. There's a lot of bad."

"What did you remember this time?" Rey's voice was soft, encouraging. Kai trusted Rey and loved Rey with all of her being, but Kai still had not learned that she could tell Rey anything. Rey didn't know too much of Kai's past, but she felt it was best to not pry. The ex-Sith had been through numerous terrors that Kai probably didn't want to relive.

"I remembered waking up and realizing I didn't have a leg anymore." Kai murmured. The words were sad, and even now Kai was reminded of the sleek, metal appendage that was now her leg. Rey wasn't sure how to respond. Sure, Rey had had her fair share of hardships- but Kai's life had not been a hardship. Kai's life had been a straight shot of terror and massacres. Rey understood, now, that Kai had been forced into the Darkness as a child, and that was all she knew. Yet Kai also had refused all she had ever known for Rey. Kai had known that she'd be punished for helping- or even loving- Rey. And Rey admired Kai for all of that.

"Kai?" Rey asked softly.

"Hm?" Kai responded.

"I love you. So much," Rey said quietly.

"And I love you." Kai responded softly. After that they were quiet, and they were together.

•••

Kai remembers seeing him for the first time.

'He' is a thin boy maybe four years older than Kai herself, with jet black hair darker than Kai's and a sharp, hatchet-like face. He looks angry, and as they get older Kai learns that anger is all he, Kylo Ren, has. Kylo is the one that enters the white room first. He stares at Kai like she is a strange animal in a zoo and he is a tourist.

"Did it hurt?" He asks her.

"Did what hurt?" Kai asks.

"Your leg. Did it hurt to lose it?"

Kai nods. "Will you let me out of these?"

"Can you walk?" Is Kylo's response.

"I.. I don't know." Kai responds.

So he lets her out, and Kai stares down at her mismatching legs. She eases herself onto a weak leg and a leg she,d never used before. And, as all first tries go, Kai fell. But he catches her, and he smiles.

"I won't let you fall."

When Kai awoke the second time Rey is sitting beside her, gently brushing loose strands of hair from Kai's face.

"Morning, you." Kai grumbled, managing a groggy smile.

"Morning." Rey responded, bending to press a kiss to Kai's forehead. "Feeling better?"

"I feel fine." Kai told her, not bothering to elaborate. The two were connected, and if she lied Rey would know. But Rey accepted the answer, and she pressed a kiss to Kai's lips.

"Do you think Skywalker would miss us for a few moments?" Rey ponders, pushing Kai onto her back and gently lying on top of her. Kai chuckled softly, wrapping her arms around Rey's slender waist.

"Is it a chance you want to risk?" Kai questioned as Rey pressed her lips to Kai's. Kai felt Rey smile against her lips, and when Rey pulls away she gave Kai one answer.

"Yep,"

•••

They end it as they always do, pressed against each other- skin against skin. Rey's skin is surprisingly soft for one who had grown up in the desert, whereas Kai's skin is rough and scarred. Rey was resting on top of her, Rey's head resting in the hollow of Kai's throat and Kai's chin on the top of Rey's head. Rey planted a gentle kiss against Kai's jugular, and Kai gently nuzzled her face against Rey's hair.

"I still believe you're the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on," Kai murmured lovingly.

"You're still on that?" Rey asked with a grin.

"Of course I am, beautiful." Kai grinned. "I think-"

But Kai never finished that sentence, because the ship's holographic system beeped and flashed on, a message was coming from the Resistance. Rey murmured a curse and gently pushed herself off of Kai, scrambling to toss Kai's cloak over her shoulders and pulling it close over her skin to cover up her bare form.

Kai pulled on her tunic, her hurry much slower than her lover's, and meandered towards the holograph table. An image fizzed to life, the sound crackling at first. The image was Poe, and he was grinning.

"Hey, Poe!" Rey said with a grin.

"Hey, Rey." Poe responds. "Someone wants to talk to you."

The image fizzed again, shifting, and soon it is Finn staring at Rey.

"Finn!" Rey's voice was ecstatic, and she grinned happily. "Kai, he's awake." Kai nodded slowly, smiling.

"What're things like out there?" Finn asks.

Kai decided she didn't like how Finn looked at Rey.

"It's so beautiful, Finn." Rey says, her voice filled with awe. "There's an ocean, and the feel of the wind.."

Kai's mouth formed a straight line, and she bit down on her lip.

"I, uh, I'm gonna get some fresh air." Kai spoke up, walking up behind Rey and pressing a kiss to her temple. "I want my cloak back when you're finished."

Kai wanted Finn to know Rey was hers, that the young Jedi was not available. Kai felt the heat rising in Rey's cheek and felt Rey's... embarrassment, surprise? One of the two, maybe both. Finn didn't know about Kai and Rey, he'd slipped into his coma before Kai and Rey had really 'gotten together'. Kai had felt Finn's love for Rey, and it was not like the love Rey shared for him. No, Finn loved Rey as Kai did, and Kai didn't want any competition. Kai's action caused Rey to become flustered, and Kai heard Finn's voice as she walked towards the ramp.

"Are you.. and her...?"

"Yeah, I really care about her, Finn. I love her," Rey said brightly. Rey's words made Kai smile. Perhaps.. perhaps there was no competition, as she had had with Kylo. Maybe Rey really didn't love anyone else, and Finn was nothing to her. Kai sat on a rock amidst the grass, feeling the wind against her bare arms, Rey was right- the wind did feel nice against her skin. Kai smiled to herself, and a few moments later she peered up to see Rey approaching her. Rey had dressed herself and carried Kai's cloak in her arms.

"Hey, you," Rey smiled, pressing a loving kiss to Kai's lips.

"Hey," Kai responded, smiling, as Rey draped the cloak around Kai's shoulders.

"So.. Finn.. does he approve?" Kai asked, glancing at Rey, who nodded happily.

"He seemed.. sad, at first. But he approves." Rey said. "Leia has also ordered us to try and convince Skywalker to return to the Resistance. There's word Kylo and Snoke are plotting something."

Kai nodded. "Go get the old man, I'll go make sure everything's in the Falcon."

•••

"It's been many a year that I've been on this ship," Luke said quietly. The old man was nervous, Kai sensed it. She was beginning to understand that she was connected to many living beings, though the closest bond she shared with any of these living things was Rey.

"Don't worry, Rey's a great pilot." Kai said. Luke was in the co-pilot chair, and Kai sat on the bed Rey had occupied the previous night.

"It's not Rey's piloting skills I'm worrying of," Luke said grimly, to which Kai did not respond. They sit in silence for a while, until Luke's voice filled the air again. "I can't help but notice you two are... close."

Kai can feel Rey's small squeeze of panic.

"Rey saved my life," Kai piped up. "I got hit by a blaster and damaged my leg, Rey fixed me up."

"Kai rescued me from the Starkiller Base," Rey counters, and Kai felt a playful competitiveness building up which caused Kai to grin. "Kai battled the Dark side, and let the Light in."

"Thanks to you," Kai added, grinning at Rey.

Her beautiful Rey.

Kai felt Rey's happiness, and it warmed Kai's stomach like the feeling one gets after drinking or eating something warm. It was a beautiful feeling, a loving feeling.

Luke felt it, too.

"You know.. there is a law against the Jedi being able to feel emotion. Many spend years learning to ignore... urges."

"What can possibly come from love that is bad?" Rey asked with a child-like wonder.

"Darth Vader, for one." Is all Luke responded with.

•••

Surprises are often common in life, Kai had figured that much out. Rey was a surprise, a good surprise albeit. And the surprise waiting back for the trio at the Resistance's base was good, too. Finn was up and had walked around quite a bit, with the help of Poe. According to Leia, the fighter pilot had never left the ex-trooper's side. The moment Kai, Rey, and Luke left the Falcon there was applause. Rey grinned, Kai smiled meekly. Luke seemed wary until Leia welcomed him home, hugging her twin.

The hellos were intense, and Kai found herself wanting to get away from it all. Kai was not a people person, and preferred to stay away from large crowds. Her fingers found Rey's hand, and Kai gave Rey's hand a gentle squeeze.

Kai also found herself trying something new.

Can we go somewhere private? Please? Kai directed her thoughts towards Rey, who looked surprised and glanced over at Kai. After a moment, Rey gave a small nod.

To where? Was Rey's response, and Kai gave a small grin.

This meant that their bond was strong, Kai believed.

Can we go back to the bunker? It's too loud here. I don't like all of the people. Kai spoke mentally, and Rey nodded her consent.

The walk was not long and as the crowd was left behind Kai felt her anxiety drifting away.

"How'd you do that? The telepathy?" Rey asked with a grin.

"Same way you did," Kai murmured with a shrug, "I just directed what I wanted to say towards you."

"This is a good thing, right?" Rey asked with an enthused grin. Rey was always proud to gain or learn a new ability, sort of like a child impressed with a sketch they'd done.

"I believe so." Kai responded, smiling, as she let herself and Rey into their small, cozy bunker. It looked different now, however, and the two soon discovered that Leia had had the room rearranged. Instead of the two small beds there was now one larger bed for the couple to share.

"Kai, I didn't see Poe or Finn when we were up with the crowd." Rey suddenly remembered, frowning.

"Don't worry," Kai said gently, "Maybe you just missed them."

Rey seemed to consider that for a while before she looked over at Kai.

"Can I try something?" Rey asked as she sat cross-legged on the ground and motioned for Kai to sit across from her. Kai, curious, gave a small nod and did as Rey asked, folding her legs slightly. Rey leaned forwards so their foreheads were touching, and she gently pressed her fingers on Kai's temples as the two both closed their eyes. Kai knew what Rey was trying to do, that Rey was trying to use Kylo's mind trick, once she felt Rey's consciousness touch her own; causing Kai and Rey to shiver.

At this moment, they were one; one mind, one being, as Rey began to look through Kai's memories. Kai didn't stop Rey, and found this would be an easier way to let Rey figure out Kai's delicate, horrifying past. As soon as Kai's consciousness gave way to Rey's; Rey felt the immense, crushing pain that was Kai's past. It was like a storm cloud, large and dark, but Rey was not so easily turned from figuring Kai out. Rey saw the memories Kai had told her of, but there is more to come.

He is there for her throughout her entire recovery, holding her hand and helping Kai learn to walk again. Walking on the leg that has no feeling is difficult for Kai, and Kylo seems to respect her limitations. Kai is, after all, a child. Kylo tells Kai everything, as if she is a sister; although Kylo preaches hate to the girl. Kai finds herself beginning to feel something for the misunderstood boy.

"We're best friends. I will never leave you," He promises.

But after a while, things are different.

Kai watches him kiss the girl. She is thirteen, he is seventeen. Kylo knows Kai is there, he stares at her with the eyes of a serpent. He knows Kai likes him, yet he kisses the strange woman anyways, she is Phasma; a young member to Hux's patrol. Kylo wants Kai to feel jealous, to let Kai know that Kylo can and will take what he wants. And for a moment, Kai hates him. But soon he is back; apologizing, begging.

"We're best friends, Kai. I'll never leave you. I love you."

Things are different again, they are older now; not too much older, however.

"Kill him!" Kylo yells again. It is Kai's first mission, and Kylo had captured for her Resistance informants. Kai is shaking, and her lightsaber whirs in distress. That's when he hits her for the first time, his hand striking the back of her head. She swings her blade, the tears falling, and finds that her anger towards Kylo makes it easier to kill the rest of the men, too.

And again, things are different.

Kai can walk better, though she still limps and she still kills. Kai cannot find the numbers to add to her body count, and she finds that killing the innocents helps her cope with all the anger. She almost even enjoys it. Kylo is supposed to be training her, yet he provokes her anger with taunts and jives that causes Kai to fight and be beaten every time. This time, however, is different. It ends with a kiss, an angry kiss. And it develops into so much more. This kiss does not stop Kylo's tormenting, but rather encourages it because now he has leverage against Kai.

And Kai finds herself asking why she loves him.

They have sex often, and it is always angry.

It is always Kylo who wants it. Kai thinks she still loves him, but Kylo is losing it. Sometimes he hits her, but she doesn't sit there helpless. Kai always fights back until he has her restrained, his powers increasingly stronger than her own.

She questions many things now, and often wonders why she hasn't left.

Perhaps it is because she feels she does not have a reason.

Things are different, as they are always now, and Kylo is more out of hand than ever. Kai fears he is completely gone when Kylo suggests they travel to Jakku. Destroying the Resistance is all he has on his mind, that and his hatred.

Pain.

Hot, burning pain.

Kylo had struck a storm trooper and it has caused the laser to strike Kai, who is in pursuit of an escaping prisoner.

She falls, and he leaves her.

For a while, all Rey felt is the hurt and pain of Kylo leaving Kai behind; however, soon new memories floated to Rey's consciousness.

Kai wakes in a stranger's bed, her head fuzzy.

Pain is still within her, and she remembers.

There is a girl staring at her, caring for her.

Kai cannot remember the last time anyone cared for her.

Soon the girl leaves, and Kai finds herself alone. Kai also finds some of her belongings are gone and for a moment Kai wants to kill the girl.

She is always alone, even when Kylo was there she was still alone.

But this is different, and Kai finds herself missing the cheeky, dirty scavenger.

Kai decides she likes the girl's voice.

Kai learns the girl's name is Rey, like a ray of Light that begs to be let in. But the Dark is still strong within her.

Leaving the girl was one of the hardest things Kai has ever done, and she finds herself wanting to go back to the comfort of the stranger who had spared and saved her life. But Kylo is waiting and so is his fury.

Kylo allows the troopers to beat her.

Kai decides she really does hate Kylo when she is left alone, and for the first time since she was a child Kai cries.

When Kai finds that Kylo is bringing a scavenger back, she panics. She does not want it to be Rey. But it is, Kai finds, and that's when the Light wins.

The next thing is the Kiss, their Kiss.

Kai likes it, Kai likes Rey. Like wasn't the right word, however, and it turned out Kai could love.

Kai felt Rey's conscious leave hers and Rey's arms around her neck. Rey felt Kai's tears begin to fall, and Kai felt Rey's.

"Kai.." Rey whispered softly, "That was.. terrible.." Rey didn't even know what to say, so instead she pressed her lips against Kai's. Kai returned the kiss, tasting Rey's tears.

"It's better now," Kai said softly. "I have you. I love you."

"And I love you."