Vanee knows what is going on. He's not stupid. But he is far too discreet to say anything. The old servant just excuses himself as soon as Kylo arrives off to Vader's old medical wing where he has lived quietly for decades. Giving he and Rey complete privacy until morning.
They take full advantage of it. Sometimes the romance kindles over dinner. Or snuggled together on the couch. But rarely do they end up in her room. It's almost always in his. Kylo brings Rey to a peak once, twice, sometimes even three times a night. He basks in the fleeting reconciliation with the Light that it brings. And then savors their connection in the afterglow. Stroking Rey's back and fingering her soft hair as she dozes at his side. There they sleep in Darth Vader's bed under the averted gaze of his long dead grandmother dressed as a bride.
In the morning, Kylo wakes early. Rey is almost always still asleep. Softly snoring sometimes if she's especially tired. Kylo lays in bed beside her with his datapads getting a start on the day. He's unwilling to leave her side and the homey comfort of their shared bed. He has so little time with her. With the war heating up, Kylo is lucky if he's home to Mustafar more than twice a week. Usually, it's just for the night.
It is wonderful and it is awful. Because it's all based on a lie.
Well, maybe it's more of a half-truth than a lie. He is Ben Solo technically. Maybe even legally still—who knows? But long ago he ceased to consider himself to be the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo. Those people no longer have any meaning for him. They belong to a past he has left behind in a river of blood. It is a strange irony that Kylo hides his face and his family from the galaxy. But with Rey, he bares his face and shares his secrets, but he hides Kylo Ren.
He can't even argue to Rey that his lie was well intentioned because it was not. Like most lies, it was convenient at the time. I am Ben Solo avoided the messy complicated truth that underlies the fiction. Truths he hadn't wanted to tell and Rey hadn't yet been ready to hear. That is his only explanation. And it is weak.
Kylo understands more than ever why his parents had repeated to him the easy lie Ben Kenobi told his gullible young uncle long ago. Darth Vader betrayed and murdered your father. The words were true, from a certain point of view. Just like I am Ben Solo is true in a way. But the intent to mislead is the same. And so the boy Ben Solo who was lied to by people he trusted becomes Kylo Ren who in turn does the lying to someone who trusts him. Like so many other aspects of his family, it feels like a cycle that repeats.
One morning early, Vanee is walking him out to the castle landing platform and they are alone. He and Rey have said their goodbyes in private. Vanee gives him a searching look and then he dives right in with the confidence of a longstanding retainer.
"Are you ever going to tell her?"
Kylo looks away. He doesn't want to have this conversation. But he's not about to shut down old Vanee with a caustic remark the way he would an ordinary underling. He has far too much respect for his grandfather's trusted valet. "Yes," Kylo says gruffly with a sigh. "Eventually."
Vanee presses his point. "It won't get any easier the longer you wait."
No, it won't. As usual, astute old Vanee is right. But things are too good now to mess up. If he tells Rey that he is Kylo Ren, Commander of the First Order, she might hate him. Both for the truth of the matter and for the lie that he has told her. And then, he might lose her.
Lately, he mulls over this risk more than he mulls over his war.
None of this was supposed to happen. Rey was supposed to die in a cell. Maybe by his own hand. One more victim to add to his growing tally. But instead, he had brought her home.
But even then, Kylo had other plans initially. He was never supposed to fall for this girl. He was never supposed to care what she thought of him. He was going to use her for proximity to the Light under the guise of teaching. She was to be a small discreet project who he could manipulate and control. Stashing her forever at his castle to be his personal therapy whenever the need arose.
But then her attraction had become more than just her Light. And then her Light had become more than just her presence. Now her Light is her pleasure and her body is his for the asking. And now he is so wrapped up in this scavenger waif with her girlish giggle and her eyes that crinkle up when she smiles. He can't wait to return to Mustafar to feel her Light on his mind and her body beneath his. She bewitches him even as she renews him. She is his confidante and his friend. And Kylo Ren can't get enough.
Plus, ever since he took Rey to Coruscant and he was reminded of Nestor's happy domestic setup, Kylo has been wondering if he should marry Rey. Because if Rey is important enough that he doesn't want to lose her, then maybe he should make a commitment to keep her. His intentions might not have been honorable at the beginning, but they certainly are now.
No, Kylo thinks glumly, this was never supposed to happen. He even says it aloud to Vanee. "This was never supposed to happen."
The old man nods his understanding. "Love always happens when you least expect it. When you're not looking for it. That's why it's so disarming. It is hard to predict and precious when you find it. Be careful, my boy, not to ruin it."
Love? Is that what this is? He's not sure, but he worries that Vanee is right. And that's a mistake because he knows his Master would counsel him that love is for ordinary people. It's not for a Sith. Because a Sith's first love is power. It can never be a woman.
And that's part of what makes this situation so frustrating. Not only is it all of his own making, but it is a testament to his weakness. And that's humiliating. Kylo tells himself that Rey is a means to manage his call to the Light. But part of him worries that she is the problem and not the cure. Because time with Rey is downright addicting. Lately, the more Light he gets, the more Light he wants.
Vanee speaks up again in his quiet, non-confrontational way. "If someone tells her first, you may lose her."
This warning is wise, Kylo knows from bitter personal experience. Because there can be no love where there is no trust. And there is no trust where there are lies. But it's more than that, he worries. For he fears that Ben Solo may be loveable but Kylo Ren is not. And he's not sure what that means for he and Rey.
"No one knows she is here," Kylo reminds them both. "I will wait until the time is right."
Vanee just nods. He looks both concerned and unconvinced.
Kylo is back at Mustafar later that week and he decides to take Rey to Chandrila. The trip to Coruscant had gone so well that he wants to show Rey more of the galaxy. One day soon, he may even give her the galaxy.
Chandrila is newly subjugated under First Order rule and that victory had been sweet. It's a Core world with a long history of left leaning consensus governments dating from before old Senator Mon Mothma. As a staunch New Republic ally with broad and deep connections to the Resistance, Chandrila has long been a thorn in his side.
Predictably, the First Order invasion had been greeted with nonviolent protests. Kylo had solved that problem by turning his stormtroopers loose on a few crowds. All you have to do is roll in the tanks and shoot a few people and then the crowds magically disperse. And so despite all its righteous sanctimony, Chandrila proves to be an easy world to occupy. Underneath all the heated rhetoric, this world is scared of him.
And so Kylo can't wait to wander Chandrila incognito just for the sheer irony of it all.
There are no protest crowds today as he and Rey stroll through the largely deserted central city area. Rey looks a bit uneasy at the sight of all the First Order troops who patrol the streets but she's handling it okay. She's still so afraid of his army. That's partly why he has brought her here. To get her a bit more comfortable with the First Order. If he can just get her to have a more neutral view, it might be easier for her to accept him as Kylo Ren.
"What's that?" Rey points to a majestic columned building that is an obvious landmark.
"It's their law courts," Kylo explains. "Chandrila is famed for its lawyers and its law courts. The rule of law is big on this world."
"There is no law on Jakku," Rey tells him. "I don't think we even had a court system. It was mostly eye for an eye type revenge. Disputes were settled with a blaster or a vibroblade."
"That sounds like most of the Rim," Kylo tells her with a sigh. "That's why the First Order wants to bring law and order to its worlds. Because without law and order, crime thrives instead of business. And without business, there is no opportunity. Rey, the Rim will only begin to develop once big business feels comfortable investing money. And they will only invest money on worlds where contracts are enforceable and local government exists to protect private property and to defend citizens."
"I never thought of it like that," Rey admits. "Mostly, I think of the First Order as killing people."
"Well, they do that too," Kylo has to concede. "There is a war going on."
Rey runs up the building steps and he follows. Inside are elaborate murals dating far back into the Old Republic days. "Oh, how pretty," she says.
It is pretty. And stereotypically Chandrilan. The murals depict Jedi peacekeepers, legislators and judges saving small children in the name of justice. Kylo represses a snort. His mother would love this sort of symbolic syrupy art.
After they have stood there a few minutes, a voice interrupts. "Are you two lost?" They turn around to find a clerk of the court standing behind them. The clerk looks them over for a moment before informing them, "Marriage licenses are down the hall on the left. Congratulations." Then he hurries on his way.
Rey giggles at this. "He thinks we're here to get married. Isn't that hilarious?"
Is it a joke? Suddenly, Kylo doesn't think so. He turns to Rey. "Let's do it," he decides in the moment. "Let's get married."
"Married? Here? Now?" Rey looks askance at him. "Are you serious? You are serious!" she accuses. And that's not a good start to his impromptu proposal speech.
"Why not?" he asks.
"Ummm, well why?" she counters.
Kylo makes his case. "Because you're mine, Rey, and I want to make it official. You will belong to me and I will belong to you. Legally in all systems of the galaxy."
"Does that matter to you?" Rey asks. Her skeptical face tells him it doesn't matter to her. "No one actually got married on Jakku. They just shacked up together and they were considered married until they broke up." Rey thinks a moment and realizes, "I guess we might be considered to be married by now if we lived on Jakku."
And that just proves his point, Kylo thinks. "Marriage is the universal norm, Rey. And I like law and order. Remember?"
"You sound like the First Order," she teases.
"I sound like your husband-to-be," he counters. "Come on, let's do it," Kylo cajoles. "I want to do it. You can think of this as just a piece of paper if that helps." And this is sort of true, because it's not like they would be Sith married forever in the Force. He couldn't ask Rey to do that without telling her that he is Kylo Ren. That will have to wait for the future. But he'll settle for this civil marriage for now. And maybe, he reasons, this commitment will help if she balks whenever he gets around to his big reveal.
"You really want to do this?" Rey asks in a small voice. "I'm just a scavenger, Ben. And you're-you're-much more than that," she finishes lamely. She looks down. "You don't have to do this. Shouldn't you marry some Sith queen or some girl like your grandmother?"
He hears her insecurities talking now and suddenly Kylo has a new reason why he wants to do this. "I don't care about that. You are the only woman in the galaxy who is my peer. And I'm crazy for you, Rey. So, will you marry me, Padawan?"
She's still unconvinced. "Aren't you supposed to be in love to get married?" She looks at him plainly and raises one eyebrow. "Ben, you don't love me."
Well, he kinda sorta does love her. Maybe. But that's beside the point. "My parents were in love when they married and look how well that turned out. Maybe it's best to be deeply in like with one another," he reasons. Kylo's eyes narrow as he cross-examines her. "You do like me, Rey, right?"
She grins. "I deeply like you."
"So, will you marry me, Padawan?"
She hesitates. And now, he pulls out all the stops and drops to one knee. He can't quite believe he's doing this. But here goes. "Will you marry me, Rey? Will you be mine officially?"
Rey thinks a long moment. She looks very serious as she gazes down at him. "This really matters to you, doesn't it?"
"Yes." Somehow it matters very much to him that Rey will affirmatively choose him.
Rey's face softens and she gives in. "Well, okay. Then yes. I will marry you, Ben."
Kylo grabs her hand before she changes her mind and pulls her down the hall and to the left to present them both to an elderly clerk. He asks them lots questions.
"Your names please."
"Ben Solo."
"Rey R-E-Y . . . uh . . ."
"Yes, miss?" the clerk prompts her.
"Rey Desert," she decides. He snort-laughs over that response and now Kylo attempts unsuccessfully to turn his reaction into a coughing fit. Rey keeps a straight face but just barely.
The clerk is suspicious. "Young man, marriage is a serious business not to be undertaken lightly," he glares at Kylo. "I will assume that outburst is because you are nervous." Then the dignified clerk resumes his questions. "Are you two related by blood?"
"No," Rey announces.
But Kylo can't resist adding, "You never know in my family."
Again, he is on the receiving end of the clerk's glare. "So, is that a no?"
"Yes, that's a no." Kylo dutifully replies.
"Has either of you ever been married before?"
"No," he and Rey answer in unison.
"What is your birthdate?"
Kylo gives his and decides right then and there that the first thing he will do when he rules the galaxy is get rid of the "ABY" dating convention. It annoys him to reference anything about the Rebellion.
Rey turns to him to whisper, "You're 31?" She says this like he's as ancient as his Muun Master. "Wow. You're really 31?"
Yes, he is. "How old are you?" Kylo wants to know.
"19. I think."
"Then, we're legal," he assures Rey. Only she doesn't know her actual birthday. Just make it up, Rey Desert, he whispers. And she does.
The clerk tells them that they have a three-day waiting period before they can come back and he will perform the marriage ceremony. Rey looks a bit relieved at this news but Kylo is ready to do this. He waves his hand slightly and concentrates in the Force.
We don't need any waiting period.
You don't need any waiting period.
You will marry us right now.
I will marry you right now.
And then the clerk launches right into the vows. "Rey Desert, do you take Ben Solo to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?"
Rey hesitates. "Uh . . ." She looks to Kylo and squeaks, "For as long as we live?" Clearly, the concept of forever scares her. And now Kylo is certain that it's a good thing he put off the whole Sith marriage business. Luckily, the old clerk intercedes. Technically Chandrila permits no-fault divorce, the old clerk explains, telling Rey he leaves that part out of the ceremony because it's not romantic.
"Okay, then yes," Rey decides.
And now it's his turn. "Ben Solo, do you take Rey Desert to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?"
"Yes."
The clerk now reaches to read from what is apparently a newly revised script. "By the power vested in me by the sovereign world of Chandrila and by the authority of the First Order to Restore the Galactic Empire, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The old clerk beams, Rey looks a bit scared and Kylo feels satisfied as he gives his new scavenger wifey a big kiss.
As they walk back to the ship holding hands, he tells Rey, "Darth Vader would be proud that I finally made an honest woman of you. If he's watching us in the Force, no doubt he's been scandalized."
"He married a queen and a Senator, remember? Grandpa probably thinks you're slumming with me," Rey says softly.
"He was a slave, Rey. Remember? I'm sure he would have loved you."
And that seems to reassure her somewhat. But she changes the topic. "What did you do to the clerk," Rey asks. "I felt you summon the Force."
And now, he has his first teachable moment for his new Padawan wife. "The Force can have a strong influence on the weak minded. Highly suggestible people can be led through the Force. The Jedi called it a mind trick. If we had someone weak minded on Mustafar, I would teach you. But between me and Vanee, you're out of luck."
Mention of the old Sith servant must prompt Rey to suggest, "Maybe we shouldn't tell Vanee about this marriage. You know—keep it to ourselves for a while."
Kylo can tell that Rey is still getting used to the idea. But he sees no reason to hide anything from Vanee. "Rey, Vanee would be relieved. He's probably been lying awake nights worrying that I'm going to get you pregnant."
She stops and whirls at this. "You think he knows? Does he know?"
Kylo chuckles at her reaction. "Of course, he knows, Rey. That old man isn't blind. And he's seen a few things through the years, I'm sure."
Rey frowns and looks embarrassed. "I don't think he knows," she announces in a tone of voice that indicates that she's unconvinced herself.
Kylo leans over to whisper, "You left your panties under the dining room table last week."
Rey's hand flies to her mouth and her eyes widen. Her face flushes bright red. "Oh, Gods, did I?"
Kylo shouts with sly laughter. "Nah. I'm just teasing you. But I'm pretty sure there are at least a couple pairs stashed under my bed by now."
Rey just gives him a glare. She's grumpy and he knows it's because he sprang the impromptu wedding on her. But he keeps needling her because he's so pleased with himself. "I warn you that I'm going to buy you a great big tacky wedding ring, Mrs. Solo. That way everyone will know that you're taken. We Sith are the jealous and possessive type."
She shoots him some side eye. "I live with an old man and a dozen droids and I still hide on delivery day when the First Order comes. Just who are you worried about stealing me away, Ben?"
"We won't always live on Mustafar, Rey. I want to live on Coruscant, remember? And things are always big and flashy on Coruscant."
She brightens a little at this. "Oh, yes," she slants him a teasing look. "I forgot—we'll be moving when you become Emperor Ben."
He nods. "Precisely."
Rey giggles. "You can't have a Jakku Empress, Ben. You need a Core World wife for an Empress. Only the First Order would have an Outer Rim Empress."
And now it's his turn to tease her. "I am backing the First Order in the war, remember?"
"Doesn't the Supreme Leader get to be the Emperor if they win? Or Kylo Ren? Or maybe that screaming redheaded guy?"
"Brendol Hux will not be Emperor of the galaxy," Ben growls.
"Yes, well, whatever. My point is that it's not going to be you, Ben. No matter how much money you are giving them. Anyhow, this is silly. Why are we even discussing this?" They are at the ship now and Rey plops down in the co-pilot seat as usual. She starts warming the engines and doing the standard pre-flight checks.
Kylo reaches over to cover her hand with his. "Rey, don't let this wedding upset you. I never intended to upset you." She nods but doesn't look at him. Yes, she's upset. "Thank you for making it official. We're a family now."
Rey still looks less than enthused. "I don't know about this whole marriage thing," she tells him honestly. "But I'm all for a honeymoon."
Yeah? So is he. "Name the system, Rey, and I'll take you."