A/N: Oh. My. God. I am so sorry for the long wait on this chapter! This was a beast and did not want to be written. So far all of my chapters have basically written themselves. This chapter had other ideas apparently. And honestly I don't know how I feel about it. But with that being said, I also want to thank you ALL for your comments. Each one of them makes me smile if not laugh. And each reminds me why I LOVE writing. To hear how happy this simple story has made you all is everything to me. With the world turned upside down out there, this is like a little haven to get away from it all. And I hope it stays that way. For you and me!

Now I can't promise that the chapters will be every two days as they have been, but I will try my best to get them out to you as soon as possible. And remember comments + kudos = LOVE! Kiss, Kiss XOXO

:Chapter Fourteen - :

She fell asleep against his side, to the soft rumblings of his voice. He had been patient with her, while she asked questions, trying to understand the absolutes of the Jedi way of thinking. He didn't think he was the best person to explain the inner workings of the Jedi mind set, since he had never understood it himself. Yet, he tried his best to answer her. And when her questions had slowly dwindled, and she breathed deeply against his side, he continued to study, trying to make sense of the writing, and reconcile them in his own heart.

For years he had questions about the texts his uncle had used to teach him and the other Padawan at his Jedi Academy. Yet, when he had voiced those questions he had been admonished, and told to put them from his mind. They had been the path to the Dark Side. He had been told to follow blindly and not question those who knew better. And yet, he always wondered who determined which beings knew better.

When he came to the end of the first book, he closed it and leaned his head against the stone wall. Tucking her in close to him, he closed his eyes, and tried to rest his mind. With her so close, he found it hard to relax, but eventually he was able to steady his heart rate and fall into a meditative state.

She woke in the early dawn, feeling as if she were sleeping in the desert sun of Jakku. It took her a moment to realize she was tucked up against Ben, and his body heat radiated off of him like a sun. She loathed having to move, but her body was dripping with sweat and she needed some cool air. Sliding from his embrace, she slowly exited the hut, her blanket wrapped around her to ward off the morning chill, and took a deep cleansing breath. The early morning air was brisk and damp, and the glow of the two suns was just breaching the horizon. Determining he wouldn't wake for another hour or two she headed off to the other side of the island.

There she entered a small valley that was sheltered from the strong winds that tended to whip across the islands. At the base were a series of tiered fresh water pools, one emptying into another, that a dense fog sat over. She had found the hot springs by accident when she had been here with Luke all those months ago, and reveled in the hot water she could wash in without being interrupted by the Caretakers, Luke or the island's native wildlife.

Stripping down to nothing, she stepped into the lowest pool. The water reached her hips, yet the dense fog that rested over the water afforded her some privacy. From whom, she thought, shaking her head. Ben would never find this place. Stepping over to the small waterfall, she ducked her head beneath and let the hot water pour over her. It felt wonderful. Bending down, she grabbed fists full of sand from the bottom of the pool and methodically scrubbed her entire body.

By the time she was done, her body was a blush pink and it felt heavenly. Lying back, she concentrated on remembering Ben's instructions on how to float. As her ears were submerged, a soft silence enveloped her, closing her eyes she stretched out her arms and ran her hands through the water. It was a sensual feeling, something she was not used to but found enticing. She reached out into the Force, opening herself up to the world around her.

He woke with a start. Feeling her power slide against his skin. Twisting, he searched for her in the hut, but found she was gone. His first reaction was panic. She had left him again. And then sanity settled in and he realized she was still on the island. But where had she gone? Not to fish again. He swore under his breath as he reached out with his power to find her.

And there she was. He brushed up against her power. He couldn't see her, but it was enough to be able to feel her safe and there right now. Settling back against the wall, he let his power remain close to her, enjoying the happiness she found in even such a mundane task as washing. He had lost that somewhere early in his life. Being with her reminded him of so many things he had forgotten, be it by time or intent.

He stayed with her while she explored her power, playing with it, enjoying it. She let if flow through her testing and teasing. And slowly it began to change. The playfulness slowly morphing into something darker, something sensual. He felt it deep inside of him, as if a string had been pulled taunt and plucked. He could feel her need, her wantonness, and he started to slid into it. To let it overwhelm him and pull him into its embrace.

She lay on her back, letting the water flow over her and beneath her. Her body grew warm, in the heat of the water. She could feel his power brushing against hers. Not intruding. Simply hovering close, as if he could not be without the touch of her power. Without the touch of her.

The thought filled her, washing through her. If she admitted it, she was beginning to feel the same way. She did not like being without his touch. Did not like reaching out her power and not feeling his meet hers. When she woke this morning, snuggled against his side, she had to fight the urge to snake her hand beneath his robes to touch the warmth of his skin. And he was so warm.

As she thought about her need for him, her hands slid along her skin, not seeking, just reveling in the sensuality of it. She knew he was there, just enough to feel but not enough to bridge the bond. She let her thoughts go, imagining the things she wanted him to do to her naked body. How his large, callused hands would span her torso, run down her sides. How his thumbs would tease her nipples and shape her hip bones, as they moved down to her thighs. How his hands would massage her thighs open and delve into the wet heat he would find there. A small sigh escaped her lips.

He started to pull away, knowing this was something he was intruding on. But as he did, he felt her tug at their bond. As if she was asking him to stay. So he remained, drowning in her thoughts and feelings. Allowing himself to imagine this could actually happen, and was not just a game they were playing. Because if he was honest with himself, whatever this was would never leave the island, and they could not stay here, hidden forever.

The incessant beeping of a com-link, was irritating at the back of his mind. He wanted to ignore it. Wanted to delve himself into her thoughts. But he could not ignore his responsibilities forever.

She felt him pull away. As if he snapped shut the connection she had shared with him. Startled, she sunk beneath the water and came up wiping her face. Had she gone too far? Had she disgusted him with her wanton thoughts? Climbing from the pool, she wrapped her blanket around her and sat on the grass, embarrassment and self loathing rolling off of her. How stupid she had been, thinking that he wanted her for anything more than to slake a need. She was nothing, she was no one. He could take anyone in the entire universe. Why would he want her.

.

Leaving the hut, he answered the small long wave com-link he kept on his person. He didn't use a greeting, he didn't care to speak to anyone outside of the woman he just abruptly left.

"What can be so pressing that you felt the need to disturb me?"

Hux coughed, and began in his whiny voice, "Supreme Leader Ren, I felt the need to update you on our status."

"And this couldn't be sent to me by electronic communique? You felt the need to address me directly?"

"I felt this information should be given to you directly."

"I am headed to my ship now. I will hail you once I am there."

"Very good, Supreme Leader. I will be waiting, at your convenience."

Without a goodbye, he turned off the com-link, as he stalked to his ship. Annoyance rolled off of him. The last thing he wanted to deal with just then was a tug-of-war of power with Hux. He truly didn't care what he had to say. Stomping up the walkway, he made his way to the bridge, and took a deep breath before he hailed Hux on the ships com link.

"Hello, Supreme Leader," Hux answered the com.

"Admiral Hux," he acknowledge the man.

"I am happy to announce that we were able to subdue the Twi'leks of Ryloth. They will no longer be a problem concerning the New Republic or the Resistance," Hux announced proudly.

Ben was silent for a moment, almost disbelieving that Hux would contact him for something so inconsequential. Rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, he tried for patiences.

"You contacted me to tell me that you did your job," his voice was dry and annoyed.

"Yes. Well, no, no, I also have some pressing information that I thought you may need," Hux tried to backtrack.

"And you don't think you should have begun with that information?" he asked.

"Yes, well, we have discovered some information on the small band of Resistance fighters that escaped Crait."

Ben sat up straighter. "What information?"

"We discovered that the fragmented band, headed to a small, uncharted planet on the Outer-Rim called, Arisaig, after escaping Crait."

There was a pause.

"And what have you done with this information, Admiral Hux?"

"I sent a fleet to the planet, but the makeshift base they were occupying was abandoned. From there the trail has gone cold. We interrogated our source, yet it seems that he had no more information to supply us with."

Ben let out an imperceptible breath. "Thank you Admiral Hux. You will keep me informed if you receive anymore information. And you will do it before you make any move to engage or capture them. Do you understand, Admiral Hux?"

"But Supreme Leader, I feel that time is of the essence. If we wait-"

"Do. You. Understand? Admiral." he repeated, his voice brooked no argument.

"I understand, Supreme Leader Ren."

"Very good. Then I will expect to hear from you only if you have discovered any more information that is pertinent to my search."

And with that, he disconnected the link, and sat back in his chair trying to wrap his mind around the betrayal. So they had let her go and then run themselves. Such faith they had in their hero. Such hope in their 'last Jedi', that the moment she left, they had gathered what was left of them, and ran. Leaving her alone, in his clutches. He wondered if she knew, or if this was done, as he suspected, without her knowledge.

Scrubbing his face with his hands, he sat in his chair on the bridge a few minutes longer. He needed to bring his heart rate back within normal range before he went to find her. When Hux had said he had information on the Resistance, he had stopped breathing. When Hux had said that he had sent a fleet to find them, his heart had stopped beating.

He hadn't seen his mother since she had sent him away, but he didn't want Hux to be the one that found her now. That was for him. And even before he had discovered his bond with Rey, he was not sure how he truly felt about his mother. Although she had been the one who had stayed, when his father was always running, she had been consumed with her duties as a Senator, and he had always taken a back seat to them. But he had memories. Memories, of a softness, of a melody in the dark, of a press of lips against his forehead. They were distant, and foggy, but he still associated them with her.

Shaking himself from his mauldin thoughts, he rose to leave. He needed to find Rey. He needed the calm he found with her. The ease in his own skin, he felt with her near. She was like a salve for his dark soul. And yet, she did nothing. She just was. It was he who found himself wanting to be different for her. Because of her.

He found her sitting before the fire in her hut. Her hair cascading damply down her back, curled in some blankets, with a book on her lap. She was intent on what she was reading, and looked up surprised when he entered. Catching her eyes, he saw her face flame and she quickly glanced away. Closing his eyes, he felt the heat rise to his cheeks as he remembered earlier that morning and his abrupt departure from their link.

Opening his eyes, he studied her, not sure what to say. "Rey, I-"

"Don't," she interrupted him.

"Don't?"

"Don't say anything. You tend to muck it up. And besides, I don't care to embarrass myself again."

"Muck it up? Embarrass yourself? Is that what you think?"

"I opened myself up to you, and you…" she couldn't finish her tirade.

"Rey…"

"Don't think that using my name, is going to change anything."

"You are seriously trying my patience, woman. I did not leave you by choice this morning. And if you'd let me get a word in, I would explain myself."

She blinked up at him, but remained silent.

"I would have stayed there with you forever. I did not think you wanted me there when it all first started. But when I tried to withdraw, and you tugged at the bridge between us, as if you wanted me there, I couldn't leave. I know I should have. I know it was wrong to remain, but I was helpless. Because as much as I wanted to be there, the thought that you wanted me there was overwhelming. Rey, I would not have willingly left."

He had moved to her, ducking down to be eye level with her. She still had to lift her face to meet his eyes.

"I thought… I thought you were…" Again she couldn't say the words.

"No. Gods, Rey, I've told you, you are beautiful." He brushed a tendril of hair from her cheek.

"Then what?"

He took a deep breath before he spoke. "I had an urgent communique from Hux."

He saw her physically stiffen at his name. Her flushed cheeks paled.

"Is it about the Resistance?" she asked softly.

"Partially yes." He still hadn't decided how much to tell her.

Her face was stoic as she waited for him.

"My forces, were sent to subdue some of the Resistance planets what were still problems. Ryloth was one of those planets. On Ryloth they discovered some information that led them to Arisaig." He paused waiting for her reaction.

She remained silent but looked resigned.

"When my fleet arrived on Arisaig, the temporary base that the fugitives occupied was abandoned. The trail from there was cold."

Her face did not change. She simply look away from him to the fire crackling cheerily in the hearth.

"You do not look surprised at the news. Did you know?" he pushed gently.

She shook her head, but did not turn to look at him. "Did I know? No, I didn't. But I had a feeling. You're mother knew where I was going. She knows about the bond we share. She felt the shift in the Force when I opened it back up on Arisaig.

"She is too much a General to risk what is left of her people. She made a choice. One any good general would have. The life of one for the life of many."

He felt the anger rising in him. "So you were the blood sacrifice? You were the life they sacrificed for the good of the rest?"

"It was my choice. No one pushed me to this."

"Were you not worth her protection too?" he growled.

"She knew I did not need her protection any longer."

"And why not?!" It was almost a shout.

"Because she was sending me to you."