For the next three days, they trained on the biggest patch of flat land they could find. They would rise with the sun and they would spar, Ben teaching Rey about proper techniques, stances, and forms. His feelings for her did not make him go easier on her, but he was a patient teacher. She was a quick learner, often surprising him with the natural way the skill came to her. On a couple of occasions, she would get the best of him in practice. As soon as she did, she would disengage her lightsaber with a smug grin. He would roll his eyes and plant a peck on her lips. "Very good, my Padawan," he would say sarcastically. "Again."

Once the afternoon hunger hit them, Rey would catch some fish or find some berries, enough for lunch and dinner. They would work together to make food, eat, and go back to the field. In the afternoons, they would meditate. Rey would teach Ben to focus on his breath and clear his mind, rather than focusing his rage as he would normally during meditation. When she could sense his impatience or his struggle to stay focused, she would coach him through it gently and patiently. When he finally would break his concentration, he would often open his eyes to see her in meditation, hovering over the ground. He was sure he had never seen something so beautiful.

After meditation, they would spar again, but this time Ben wouldn't coach Rey through it. She had become quite good, he thought. Every night, she pushed him back harder and harder. When darkness crept over them they would trek back to their hut, sweaty and exhausted. They would eat, take turns going to the shore to wash, and collapse into sleep together. It was decided, painfully, that the night after day three of training would be the last night they would spend together on Ahch-To.

"Just because I'm going back doesn't mean that training stops entirely, you know." Ben said as they were finishing their dinner. "We still have the bond."

A melancholy smile spread on Rey's face. "It's not the same, but I'm glad that I'll still get to see you."

"If we didn't have the bond, I wouldn't leave you know." he said quietly. "I can't do this without your help."

"If we didn't have the bond, I don't think you would have come in the first place." her voice was sad, quiet. It pulled at his heart.

He draped an arm over her and kissed the top of her head. "Do you wish that I had stayed away?"

"No," she said quickly. "I couldn't have gone on fighting with you in my head every damn day. This is harder in some ways, but better."

He pulled her close to him, his heart starting to fracture at the reality of him leaving her behind. He didn't ask her to come with him. She couldn't yet, and he wouldn't be able to handle her rejection, even though he understood. She kissed him softly, brushing his cheek with her thumb, wiping a tear he hadn't realized had fallen. He kissed her back, but more deeply, trying to say all of the words that he didn't know how to.

She stood up slowly and kissed his forehead. "I'm going to go wash off on the beach. I'll be right back."

As she left, he stood to shed his outer clothes. Their hut was pleasantly warm from the fire that Rey had so diligently kept aflame. He stripped to his training pants, removing his undershirt. He had slept shirtless for the last few nights with Rey's permission. He sat against the wall where their bed was and he played with the fabric of a blanket absently.

Alone with his thoughts, he thought about the things we wanted to accomplish when he returned to the Order. To start, he wanted to slowly let planets take over their industries, but with First Order regulations and supervision to ensure efficiency and safety. Order, but also justice, would be his priorities. He needed to create something different that Rey could be proud of.

At the thought of her, she appeared in the doorway. She was dressed in a thin white tunic and her hair was styled in a long braid. Her face was glowing from the light of the fire. Ben took her in with a sharp breath. This was not her usual dress for sleeping. She quickly entered the hut and shoved her dirty clothes in her bag, keeping her head down. He could feel the nerves and uncertainty washing over him.

"Rey," he whispered. "Talk to me."

She looked up at him startled, as if he had interrupted her thoughts. She took a deep breath. "What if I'm afraid to talk?" She approached him then, meeting his gaze with something unfamiliar but raw. That causes something stirred in him. He tried everything in his power to not notice the way the thin tunic clung to her. His mouth went dry and she flushed. He wasn't guarding his thoughts very well.

She was on his knees in front of him now, not touching him. Slowly she leaned toward him and kissed him softly. "Please." she whispered, offering him a hand.

He took it.

They woke up together, bare to the world and tangled together among the blankets. Today was the day that they went on their separate ways. Rey had wanted to memorize every inch of Ben before that happened. Neither of them knew how long they would have to rely on their force bond to ease the pain of separation.

She nuzzled his chest and tightened her arm around his torso to wake him. He stirred and stretched before looking down at her with a sleepy smile. He pulled her on top of him and buried his face in her hair, hugging her tightly.

After a while, he let go, kissing her fully before letting her get up to dress. He followed before long, a heaviness starting to fall over the room as they packed up their hut. Rey had decided that she would return to the resistance base today too. She couldn't bear to be where they were without him here.

"Can we take a walk before we go?" she asked him, blinking tears away.

"Of course," he said, taking her hand and kissing her palm.

She tightened her belt and tossed her pack over her shoulders. Ben adjusted his traditional First Order garb, and took her hand. Together, they walked in silence along the trail that circled their Island. They stopped at their training field and Ben laid in the thin grass, looking up at the clear sky. Rey took off her pack and laid next to him, her head on his chest.

"Rey, I need to say something." he said, breaking the silence.

She sat up and looked at him, her eyes sad but warm. "Yes?"

He took a deep breath. Before he could get the words out, a First Order shuttle cracked into the sky above them. His eyes went wide in surprise, then fear as he looked at Rey's inquisitive and concerned expression.

Rey, HIDE