CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Rey felt like she was finally in a good place after her breakup with Andrew. She was better able to concentrate on her school work and focus on Satine a lot better. That's not to say that things had been easy after the breakup, on the contrary, there had been a few complications. The first one being that Kylo had to visit the hospital the next morning to have his nose reset properly, he has done it wrong after she left apparently. Then later that same day Andrew had come to Rey begging for her forgiveness and to take him back. Rey of course had said no and then blatantly ignored his texts after that. Today was a good day though, it was Halloween and Rey was busy preparing her costume for the campus Halloween party later that night.
"Nice Costume" Phasma said as she looked over Rey's costume approvingly. "You're going to make a wonderful Cat Woman."
Rey blushed at her praise. "Thank you, I put a lot of thought into this costume so I hope I look okay." She was silent for a moment then said "I love the costume you picked too. You make a wonderful knight."
Phasma looked self conscious at Rey's praise. "You think so? I'm worried that I made the wrong choice. I've always been a bit of a tomboy though so that's why I picked this."
Jessica spoke up hearing Phasma's words. "Who cares what anyone else thinks? You're going to rock that costume tonight and that's all there is to it. I applaud you for being different and staying true to yourself at the same time." She then turned to her two friends. "Now be honest, what do you think of my costume?"
Phasma and Rey studied Jessica's costume appraisingly before answering they're friends question.
"Only you could pull off a video game character" Rey answered her friend honestly.
"I agree with Rey" Phasma replied. "What video game character are you again?"
Jessica sighed. Her friends were definitely not gamers, this would be the third time she had told them who she was today. "I'm 2B from the NieR Automata series. She's the kickass female android from the game. I love her!"
"You truly do look great, Finn will love you in that costume. Now help me finish getting Satine ready, we have to be there soon."
Satine was going to be a little mouse for her first Halloween. It was so she could be the mouse to Rey's cat woman costume. Rey thought she looked adorable, she hoped Kylo would too. She had forgotten to ask his input on a costume after the chaos of the past few days. After putting the finishing touches on their costumes the girls left Rey and Jessica's dorm and headed for the party. It was already in full swing when they arrived. Music was blaring from the speakers, there was spooky decorations and haunted sounds outside, and when they stepped inside there was an area set up for bobbing for apples.
"Here comes Hux" Jessica said elbowing Phasma.
"I hope he likes my costume" Phasma said worryingly.
Hux walked over to them and smiled when he saw Phasma. "You look wonderful in that costume Gwen. Being a knight suits you. I hope you like my werewolf costume, I actually spent a lot of time on this to make sure I look spooky. I want to win the costume contest after all." It was obvious he had spent a lot of time on his costume, he stood a very good chance of winning the contest. "Shall we go test the punch? I brought a bit of alcohol to make it taste better."
Phasma waved goodbye to her friends as she walked off with Hux to get some punch. The two friends were left alone for a bit but made polite conversation with some of the other people at the party.
"Ooh look!" Jessica exclaimed. "Here comes Finn, doesn't he look awesome in his costume?!"
Rey turned around and saw Finn heading towards them with a huge grin on his face. Rey had to admit he looked great in his costume, too bad she didn't know who he was dressed as.
"You ladies look awesome" he told them as he kissed Jessica on the cheek in greeting. He then leaned down to kiss Satine as well. "And how is my little niece enjoying her first Halloween? You are the cutest mouse ever! And Rey you are the prettiest cat woman I have ever seen. They should cast you in a cat woman movie someday."
Rey blushed red at Finn's words. "Thanks Finn, but it's really not necessary to say that, you're embarrassing me" Rey told him still red in the face. "Satine is having fun I think, she hasn't cried yet so I take that as a good sign. I hope you don't mind me asking but who are you?"
Jessica groaned while Finn just shook his head with a grin. "I forget that your not into video games like me and Jessica are. I'm Commander Adam from NieR Automata."
"Oh right, of course. Sorry about that. "Are Poe and Jyn here? I haven't seen them yet."
Finn shook his head. "I haven't seen Jyn around, but I did see Poe awhile ago. He's dressed as a vampire, looks pretty cool actually." Finn bit his lip for a moment before broaching a potentially touchy subject with Rey. "Rey, about Andrew, if I had known what a creep he was going to be, I never would have set you up with him. I'm so sorry, can you forgive me?"
Rey hugged Finn tight in response. "We've been best friends for too long to let something like this come between us. It wasn't your fault so of course I forgive you. But let's not talk or think about that tonight. I came here to have fun and then have more fun with my daughter so let's do that okay?"
The friends then got involved in the various games and other spooky things at the party. Rey was enjoying some time with Satine by snapping some selfies of them when Kylo came over to her.
"Sorry I'm so late, I was on the phone with my mother and almost forgot about the party." He looked her up and down and smiled, though Rey noticed a bit of lust in his eyes as well. "You look spectacular in that costume Rey. I don't think I've ever seen a more prettier cat woman." He smirked at her then took Satine in his arms and twirled her around. "And you are the most adorable little mouse I've ever seen. I'll have to take lots of pictures of you to send to your grandma, she'll love you in this. What do you think of my costume?" He asked Rey.
"You are the most dashing pirate I have ever seen. You might be cast in a pirate's movie someday, you look real convincing as one."
"Aye, and you'll be the treasure in after" he told her with a grin. His smile turned into a frown when he saw Andrew walk in a few minutes later. Rey saw where he was looking and grabbed his wrist to stop him from going to confront him.
"Don't, this is Satine's first Halloween, I don't want her memory of it to be her father punching the living daylights out of her ex boyfriend. He and I are through and he knows it. Let's just enjoy the party for a little while then we can go do our own thing with Satine afterwards okay?"
Kylo gritted his teeth in anger but nodded in agreement at Rey's words. She was right after all. Why cause a scene when things were already over between her and Andrew, it would just make him look like the bad guy and Kylo was trying to avoid that at all costs. "You're right, I'll behave myself, as long as he does."
"Good" she told him. "I see our friends over there, let's go join them." They then joined up with Finn and Jessica, and Poe and Jyn. "I love your costume Jyn" Rey told her friend. "Thanks, I love yours too Rey. Jyn was dressed as Rizzo from Grease the musical. Poe wrapped his arms around her and pretended to bite her neck.
"She's going to be my victim tonight" Poe told them in a Transylvanian accent. He then frowned at something behind them. "What do you want Andrew?" He asked with a warning note in his voice.
Kylo clenched his fists in anger, as did Finn. Rey held out both her arms to stop them from doing something foolish. "Yes Andrew, what do you want? I believe we've said everything we've needed to each other already. I just want to have fun with my friends tonight, so if you'd kindly leave..."
"Rey, I'm truly sorry for what I did, you don't know how much I regret it. It would mean a lot to me if you could find it in your heart to give me another chance. We were good together and you know it." Kylo growled in anger at those words and Rey had to hold him back physically. Andrew shot a look of pure hatred at Kylo. "You ruined everything, of it wasn't for you I'd still be with her right now."
"That's enough!" Rey snapped at him. "You ruined things yourself, don't go blaming him for your inability to keep it in your pants."
Andrew flushed crimson at Rey's words and opened his mouth to say something when Kylo stopped him.
"I suggest that you keep your mouth shut, before you say something you'll regret. I won't be responsible for my actions if you speak another word to her."
"Yeah" Finn agreed. "Run along and have a nice Halloween now."
"Have a nice Halloween" Andrew told them through gritted teeth. As a parting shot he said "and I hope your concussion clears up soon Kylo, wouldn't want your studies to be affected by it." Whistling to himself, he walked away with a smirk on his face.
Rey turned to Kylo in surprise. "A concussion? Why didn't you tell me you had a concussion? You told me that they just had to reset your nose at the hospital. "How bad is it?" While Rey was asking a million questions Poe and Finn kissed their dates and took off. Jessica went bobbing for apples and Jyn went to play a Halloween drinking game.
Kylo shrugged his shoulders in defeat. "It's not that bad. I've had a few minor symptoms that have caused me to miss a couple of classes but I should be fully recovered soon. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry, you have enough going on without having to deal with my problems too. Now can we enjoy the rest of the party? They are going to announce the winners of the costume contest soon." He then kissed her forehead in the hopes of calming her down. "You can play nurse this weekend if it makes you feel better."
She was frowning at first but his last words made her blush a little bit. "Fine, but don't keep a secret like that from me again. You don't know how worried I am about you, and how badly I want to hurt Andrew." Anything else she had wanted to say was halted by the announcement of the female winner of the costume contest.
"It was a close vote, but by a hair our winner of best female for the costume contest is... Rey Kenobi!" Rey looked astonished and didn't move until Kylo gently nudged her arm.
"Go collect your prize" he urged her. "I'll get a picture of you so Satine can see it later." The little girl was starting to get cranky as it was well past her bedtime. Rey went to collect her prize and have her photo taken for the college newspaper then quickly walked back to Kylo.
"Let's go" she told him as she started pushing Satine's stroller out of there.
Kylo had to jog a bit to keep up with her, when he did, he noticed she was frowning about something. "What's the matter? I thought you'd be in a better mood since you won the costume contest."
"Oh I'm happy about that, and I'm glad Satine got to experience her first little bit of Halloween, I'm just angry about what happened to you."
He rubbed her arms soothingly. "I'm truly fine, I promise you. It'll take more than a concussion to keep me down" he told her with a cocky grin.
"What are you doing now?" She asked him.
"I was gonna go back to my dorm and watch some lame Halloween movie on tv. Why?"
"Come back to my room and we can watch it together. You can also help me out of this costume." She sighed when she saw the way his eyes darkened at her words. "Not in that way" she admonished him.
"If I do, will you play nurse for me like you promised?" He was grinning a full out grin now. They had arrived back at her dorm now. "Yes, I'll play nurse, but I'm going to be quite serious about it. Luckily my friends all had other plans tonight and aren't around. Jessica and Finn are going to hang out in his dorm playing some games and attacking their candy stash, Poe and Jyn are going to some horror fest at the theatre, and I'm sure Phasma and Hux are together in your guys's dorm."
"Trust me" Kylo told her. "You don't want to know what those two are probably up to. It's rated R for sure." There was a long stretch of silence after Kylo's words. He broke the tension in true Kylo form. "You want me to help you out of that costume?" He paused. "Do you still have that nurses costume from back in high school? You can really be my nurse then. I actually do have a slight headache."
Rey looked alarmed at his words. "I have Tylenol if you need one. I unfortunately for you do not have that costume anymore, you tore it off me that Halloween I wore it remember? Which is why I'll take this costume off myself, I like this one and want to keep it." She stepped into the bathroom. "Lay down and make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back."
Kylo did as she said and laid down on the bed with Satine on his chest. The door to the bathroom opened a few minutes later and an embarrassed looking Rey stepped out.
She stopped in front of the bed and held her hair up as she turned around so her back was to him. "I can't get the zipper down. Do you mind helping me?"
"No problem" Kylo answered her smoothly." He then slowly pulled the zipper down, hands lingering a little longer than necessary on her back. He then gently rubbed his hands up and down her back to calm her down from the evening's events. Rey unintentionally moaned when he rubbed a particularly tense spot on her shoulders. Encouraged, Kylo pressed a kiss to the spot and then left lingering kisses on her neck. Eventually Rey pulled away, slightly breathless.
"Um thanks, I'll be right back with the Tylenol."
Kylo leaned back and repositioned Satine on his chest with a smile on his face. He was very encouraged by Rey's reactions just now, he hoped that it would be a good sign for the future. His musings were interrupted by Rey coming back into the room. Satine stirred as well and smiled a gummy smile seeing her mama. Rey handed Kylo the Tylenol and picked Satine up and peppered her with kisses.
"What are you still doing up? It's time for bedtime you silly girl. Mommy just has to take off your costume and change you, then it's off to sleep." Kylo took one last picture of her in her costume before Rey removed it. Once Satine was laid down to sleep Rey sat down beside Kylo and turned on the tv. They found a movie to watch then settled in to relax.
"I had fun tonight" Kylo told her. "The most fun I've had in awhile. I was glad I got to celebrate Halloween with you, our daughter, and our friends. I'm also looking forward to eating our daughters candy stash tomorrow. Remember how much we pigged out when we were kids?"
Rey laughed. "I do, I always got the worst stomachache's the next day, and you ended up with more cavities then I could count."
"I also seem to remember you on many sugar highs, it was hilarious when you came down from them." He turned serious for a moment. "I believe Halloween in our last year of junior high was when we shared our first kiss." He stared at her lips longingly.
Rey nodded yes to his unspoken question and Kylo leaned in and ever so softly kissed her on the lips. Not wanting to press his luck he pulled away just as quickly as he kissed her and leaned back into her pillows. Rey leaned back as well and wrapped his arms around her.
"Happy Halloween Rey" he told her softly.
"Happy Halloween Kylo" she whispered back. They then watched the movie in a companionable silence, for the first time in a long time in a good place.
To Be Continued...
A/N- Happy Halloween lol. It just felt like it was time to have a fun chapter so I thought why not put Halloween in? I hope everyone liked the direction I went with it.
I know it seems like Kylo & Rey are on the path to a relationship, but they aren't there yet. They are back on the path to friendship however. Rey still wants to be alone for awhile and Kylo will respect her wishes... for now.
And isn't Andrew horrible? I didn't say it outright, but Poe and Finn delivered a powerful message for him to stay away from Rey. He'll be bugging her less in the future, though he would like to maybe be friends at some point.
Once again, thanks to all my readers for reading this and leaving your encouraging thoughts on this story. I'd love to hear what you thought of this one so please leave comments or suggestions below! What do you want to see happen next? It won't be Christmas, though I have TONS of good ideas for that time!
Take care and see you next time!