Chapter Twenty-Four: Hope

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing, as per the usual. I've been going through a funk on top of school work, so forgive me for letting you guys think I wasn't gonna finish this one. I will, and we're almost there, but it's still gonna be a couple of chapters. Once again, thank you guys for the support, reads and comments, I wish I could hug each of you.

Love is a constant process of tuning in, connecting, missing and misreading cues, disconnecting, repairing, and finding deeper connection. It is a dance of meeting and parting and finding each other again. Minute to minute and day to day. - Dr. Sue Johnson

Rey had fallen asleep on the flight, rendering her unable to tell how much time had passed. When she opened her eyes, Kylo was making the jump out of hyperspace, causing the shuttle to shake a bit. She smiled inward as she realized he probably didn't have to pilot very much on his own, making his skills fall more toward the rusty side. Kylo felt her wake and looked at her, his eyes growing softer than they had been for the last few days. "Did you have a nice nap?" His tone was a gentle tease.

"It was okay, are we there yet?" Where was there, anyway?

"Almost, we're starting the descent momentarily." Her eyes focused on the planet in front of their ship, a picture of green and water from a distance. "I have a feeling that you're going to like where we're headed, it's going to be warm and sunny."

"Will you be wearing your usual attire?" The ride side of his mouth turned up into a sideways smile, her favorite.

"It will be too hot, and I would like to fly under the radar, so no. You'll see when we land." Kylo began to buckle himself in for the landing, and Rey followed suit. Sun and warmth sounded like appealing options after so much cold and dark.

This was a horrible idea, possibly the worst he had manifested to date. There were so many things that could, probably would, go wrong. The little voice in the back of his mind told him that the penalty for getting caught would be death. But was that really so bad at this point?

Finn had rolled the thought back and forth across his mind, and he had two options. Either stay and endure all that he would continue to be subjected to, or escape. While it was true that he had nowhere to go, he would have to find somewhere else. The worst thing that could happen is that he'd be caught, but then he wouldn't have to worry about anything else.

This was a death wish.

These were his options.

What's a man to do when he's left alone to think about a fate that he hadn't chosen?

There were so many brunettes here, but none of them fit the bill. The only one that came close had too large a nose, but if he paid no mind to that smaller detail, this could work. Swallowing his liquid courage and breathing out through his nostrils, ignoring the cinnamon afterburn, Hux began to close the distance between himself and the prospective girl.

She must have felt him coming, eyes wide as she took in the sight of a decorated general making his way toward her. He could have thrown up in his mouth at the thought. But you're not much else than that, are you? Shutting down those counterproductive thoughts, he put on his best smirk and stood up straight. The girl smiled back in a shy way, maybe her way of acknowledging him.

"Can I buy you a drink?" One of the blessings of drinking off-base was that there was no opportunity for group gossip. He could be anonymous on this world; he didn't even remember its name. The name of some backwater planet wasn't important, and that point still stood. The mission at hand was his sole focus.

"If you'd like, although I'm not sure I'm the girl you're looking for."

"You can be tonight, if you'd like." He watched as her mouth opened slightly in surprise, but twisted upward in a small smile. The sides of her eyes crinkled just like Rey's did when she smiled too. Yes, she could fill the gap for tonight.

Kylo couldn't stop smiling; he must have lost his mind. Rey looked like she was glowing in the sun of Bal'Demnic's beaches, radiating happiness. The change in scenery had done wonders to clear his head as well. He could now bear to think without that insufferable weight of Snoke on his brain. It also helped to know that he would have Rey to himself.

"Is it okay to leave your ship here on the shoreline?"

"Everyone knows to keep to themselves here, so no one will bother us." Past encounters taught the villagers to mind their own business, and he had been told by the intelligence department that no one would bother them here. Considering the First Order occupation that was currently in effect to mine cortosis ore, there was no worry about a surprise raid, not at least with the war leaning in the favor of the Order.

"Have you ever been here before?" Rey turned her attention from the ocean waves to read the answer on Kylo's face. He didn't try to shield the bittersweet expression from his face.

"It's been years now. I was still a boy then." The first time he'd come here was when he'd first met the Supreme Leader in person. He was running from Luke Skywalker, a child fleeing certain death. So much blood had dripped from his hands, and his nerves couldn't be settled.

Snoke had sent him here until he was useful again, which took a surprisingly small amount of time. Kylo had driven himself stir-crazy in that little hut, not knowing if he was being hunted. He was torn between exhaustion and drive, the latter winning out the war. He must have been drowning in the past for quite some time, Rey's voice sounded concerned.

"Kylo, are you okay?" He locked eyes with her, finding himself somewhat lighter.

"Taking a mental inventory of how far I've come, that's all. Would you like to see where we'll be staying?" She nodded with a grin, running toward him as he picked up their bags and began to work his way up the beach.

The girl was more than adequate, Hux had decided, after his fifth drink. She was matching him shot for shot, taking the cinnamon liquid down with a grimace, raising his appreciation for her point by point. Her laugh was soft and infectious, but still not quite Rey's. That was okay, he was here to forget her. Well, kind of.

"You still haven't asked my name."

"Likewise, my lady." Her cheeks flushed and she giggled at the politeness.

"I don't think I've been called a lady since my adolescent years, but I appreciate it all the same. My name is Nadia, if you'd like to know." She leaned forward and whispered in Hux's ear quietly. "I know who you are, General, but I'll keep it our little secret."

Leaning back, he caught a glimpse of the mischief in Nadia's green eyes as she winked at him. She really was a lovely creature, especially here in the dimmed light. "Nadia," he repeated to himself. She smiled warmly, then stood up.

"I have to go for now, but if you'd like, we can see each other again. I had quite a good time with you."

"How would I know where to find you?" Nadia rummaged around her purse, finding a slip of paper and a pen. She jotted down a series of numbers and placed the paper in his palm, holding onto his wrist loosely.

"This is my comm channel, send me a message when you want to find me." She caressed the inside of his wrist for a few seconds while holding his eye contact, then walked toward the door. Hux found himself in stunned silence as he watched her leave. Taking a closer look at the digits in his hand, he found himself smirking at the thought of a second meeting.

"This is the house?"

"It is." Rey couldn't believe that the First Order would own a building with such a basic architectural look. The home was a modest, white-washed one story with tile roofing, one that did not speak of flair or expense. Two wooden doors opened inward into a large multi-use room, and a singular extra door appeared to lead into a fresher. A window was placed on each side of the entrance, allowing natural light to enter. "What do you think," Kylo asked from behind her.

"I was expecting something more..."

"Ostentatious." Rey nodded her affirmation.

"I told you, we're not here to draw attention. The First Order's priorities are to operate in at least a bit of secrecy, and this location is no different."

"I can see how you were able to hide from Luke here." Kylo placed the luggage in the middle of the floor and stretched. "How long are we staying here?" He shrugged his shoulders in response, making Rey's eyes go wide.

"I hadn't really settled on a number of days, but the Supreme Leader will be expecting us back in about a week. It depends on what you want though." Rey looked out the window and watched the ocean waves caress the shoreline.

"It'll probably take us a few days to see everything here, so you might as well make it count." Kylo smiled and came up behind her, placing his hands on her hips.

"I intend on it." A shiver ran down Rey's spine. She hoped and prayed that this excursion wouldn't turn out to be a mistake.