A few hours later on their journey to Naboo, Kylo Ren entered a quick code on the console in front of him, letting the ship shift into a cruise position, allowing him to finally unbuckle from his seat and find Rey.

It was a very quiet ride thus far, neither of them speaking as Kylo tried to organize his plan, and Rey trying to reach out to Flora through the force. The energy she was attempting to muster was, in the end, just exhausting her more. But she grew desperate.

Amongst the stars that Flora seemed to touch, left behind a ghost that trailed off into the wind, leaving nothing behind.

Eventually, she wordlessly left the cockpit, taking a quick walk down the small halls of the ship, wishing so deeply that she was instead walking the halls of the Falcon.

Jaw clenched, Kylo slowly made his way to the comm unit at the center of the ship, finding Rey sitting on the ground in front of it, streaks of tears staining her face as she looked up at him as he approached, his hand forming a hesitant fist as he tried to determine what to do next.

He didn't like seeing her this way...

He could feel it in himself, how much he truly hated it...

When she had left the cockpit earlier, he was thankful for it, finally able to clear his own mind after trying to find her friend himself, grabbing the face of a memory Rey was thinking of to channel his own force, and still, he came to nothing.

As Rey had continued her search, Kylo knew fully well she would not hold off or hold back on trying to find Flora, and if he were to try and advise her to save her strength, in the end, she'd refuse.

So, instead, he let her be.

And her exhaustion was beginning to make him sick, his head throbbing and bones beginning to ache, making him dizzy as he piloted the ship, their bond more alive than ever even as they sat next to each other on the small ship.

Sighing, he stood in front of her now, head still throbbing though the dizziness faded. Through their bond, he could feel the anxiety taking its toll, her mind was heavy with thought and worry.

Hesitantly, he reached a hand down to her, a moment of fear coursed through him since the last time he held an open palm to her, she rejected him...

To his relief, she reached for it, allowing him to help her up as she wiped at her tear stained cheek with the back of her free hand.

"I'm sorry... I just can't feel her anywhere. Or Chewie." Rey whispered brokenly, shaking her head as she glanced down to Kylo's boots while she stood in front of him. With a quick idea, her eyes shot up to his, though he already knew what she was going to ask. "Do you think you'd be-"

"I tried. Nothing." he muttered, his thumb mindlessly caressing the back of her hand before cupping her cheek, taking note that she turned into his palm slightly, a peaceful calm washing over her slowly.

"Thank you... thank you for trying." she said, nodding once as she turned her face up to meet his eyes.

She saw a flash of concern cross his eyes before he blinked, returning back to his blank, studying gaze.

"You shouldn't worry too much. She's with the wookie, and Hux won't strike again until the Resistance makes a move, or shows him their cards." Kylo said, his tone was low, low but certain.

Rey looked at him doubtfully.

"How do you know? How are you so sure? We didn't think he'd attack now, and he did."

Kylo was already shaking his head as he looked down at her, and her up at him.

"It's a strategic game to him. I know his way of thinking, I've trained with him, I've lived with him. He's disciplined, but naïve. We have time, and your friends escaped..." Kylo did his best to assure Rey.

It was all true, every bit of it. He knew Hux more than he wanted to, more than he needed. After years of serving Snoke side by side, it was hard not to pick up on habits and the other's train of thought.

With his plan, he only hoped it would turn out in his favor.

"What is your plan anyway?" Rey asked, sniffling.

Kylo shot her a testing glare, to which Rey shrugged, offering a thin smile.

He took pity on her, masking his annoyance because of the struggle he saw her go through just to give him the smile, if that's what you'd like to call it.

"It's best if you don't know. Naboo is... It's changed. When we get there, I'll have to do all of the talking. I mean it Rey, all of it. We must be careful-"

Rey was already nodding, pulling away from him as she began to pace while nibbling at her thumb. "If we want to get out alive?" she finished, stopping her pacing to glance at him.

Wordlessly, Kylo nodded.

"And you're hoping to get allies out of this?" she questioned, eyes intent on his face.

"Yes." he answered confidently.

Rey glanced down to the ground before her, letting silence settle before her gaze slowly crept up to his face, unsure of the question she wanted answered.

"Allies... for the Resistance? … Or for the First Order?" she asked.

Rey hated to ask, but she needed to know. She was grateful, yes, that he was willing to help at all, and the fact that he so willingly chose to escort her here for the hope of new alliances made her wonder if his choice was made...

… But deep down, she knew it wasn't, not for certain anyway.

Her eyes glued to Kylo's, she watched as he took a slow, deliberate step towards her, his dark eyes never leaving hers as he answered.

"For you."

His voice was soft, the slight rough edge coming through at the end. The look he gave Rey, so intensely beautiful, made her almost tear up.

Turning on his heel, he slowly made his way back to the pilot's seat, leaving Rey behind to ponder, and in the end, accept his answer.

( X )

"Docking name?"

"BlackStar."

Silence.

They had arrived.

Rey sat nervously in the co-pilot's seat as she listened to the exchange between security on Naboo and Kylo as he sat next to her, leaning forward in his seat as he waited for the bridge to lower, awaiting passage into the docking stations.

Silence.

The comm was quiet as they waited for their approval.

Rey began fidgeting with her buckle, her teeth gnawing at the inside of her cheek. She quickly stopped when Kylo tossed her a glance, silently ordering her to calm down.

"Temporary docking permit approved, follow the directions on the holopad. You are not granted city entrance yet." The guardsmen spoke into the comm before the channel went silent, static filling the cockpit of their ship.

Kylo's jaw clenched as he turned the comm unit off with a bit more force than intended, causing Rey to glance his way now.

"Is this normal?" she asked him, her eyes on his face as his own gaze was staring down at the drawbridge that remained closed.

"For security measures, it can be."

"Will they alert the First Order?" she questioned, a worried expression glued to her face.

Kylo shook his head just as the holopad that lay between them lit up, providing detailed instruction to fly to the east of the drawbridge.

"No. They'll want to see what we have to offer first."

Rey slowly nodded, settling back into her seat. Tension was high between the pair, so much that their bond only seemed to ignite with every passing breath, their minds on one channel now as their attention turned towards an abandoned castle that the holo led them to.

Rey's brow furrowed. "Is this right? It seems..."

"Dead." Kylo finished, glancing down to the pad to ensure the directions were correct.

He sighed, frustrated as he guided their ship down to the landing platform.

In all of his years, he had never needed to follow such protocol, instead, it was usually the other way around with either him or Snoke giving such orders.

He would never tell Rey, not now at least. He did his best to wash it away from his thoughts so that Rey could not catch on that this was indeed, not normal.

As they readied, he pushed the exit button near the rear of the ship, the tail lowering itself to create a rail that lead them down to the ground.

Fastening his cape, Kylo looked towards Rey, eyeing her outfit. She was still dressed in the black garb that MOX had made for her, the thin wraps lacing around her arms and across her midsection, emphasizing her curves.

He had to give it to the droid.

It knew what it was doing.

Watching as Rey fastened her own cape around her shoulders, Kylo stepped forward to assist, readjusting it so it fell over her shoulder, and as he did this, his eye caught glimpse of the monarch pin he gifted her, resting right over her breast.

Rey looked to Kylo, following his gaze down to the pin. She feared he would tell her to leave it on the ship, in fact, she thought it would be a better idea to do so, but everything in her refused it, refused to part with the gift that laid truth to his feelings for her.

A shaky sigh of relief escaped from her lips as he moved the cape over it, hiding it well beneath the fabric before his thumb and index finger caught her chin, tugging her attention to his face.

"It will be okay." he assured her, his jaw tight.

She did nothing but nod, her eyes unable to tear themselves away.

"I do the talking." he stated.

Again, she nodded.

A sense of calm and complete focus filled her, and she knew exactly what was happening as he released his hold on her chin.

Her brows furrowed angrily at him, her tone raising, demanding to give him a piece of her mind.

"Ben Solo, do not think for a moment that you can mind tric-"

Before she could finish, he pressed an eager and firm kiss to her mouth, more urgent than ever before, as if he himself needed to know it would all be okay.

She felt it then, that he too was unsure, and he needed the same confidence that he was giving her.

Knowing he was not a man of words, she stepped closer to him, kissing him back slowly, her mouth pressed hard against his.

Stepping away, he grasped her hand that rested against his chest, giving it a light squeeze before letting it go, and made his way down the railing, Rey following right behind him.

The sky was crisp blue, the air smelling of lilac and water, green vines covering the tall, rusted castles that were aligned with gold trimming.

The place itself, seemed royal.

Watching Kylo make his way to the doors of the rotting yet beautiful castle, Rey couldn't help but feel as though Kylo belonged here, amongst the royalty and beauty, the gold and the blue.

Who was she, to try and take that away from him?

Stopping at the large, gold barred doors to the castle, Kylo glanced to Rey, the pair sharing a quick, confirmative nod before Kylo turned to push the gates open that led to another pair of wooden doors, however the doors opened themselves, exposing a dark, black room.

'Stay close.' Kylo spoke to her mind, and she stepped closer behind him as they made their way inside.

The air seemed colder than it was outside, and as the doors closed behind them, Rey quickly turned to see no one in sight. Picking up on the energy within the room, Rey could feel there were several strangers here, awaiting their arrival.

Sensing the same thing, Kylo slowly made his way down the dark corridor, leading into a larger area a few feet away.

Without warning, bright lights flickered on, and Rey's hand immediately went to her lightsaber that hung beneath her cape, however to her shock, Kylo remained still, his gaze set forward.

Looking around her nervously, Rey spotted at least ten guards dressed in all white uniforms, their weapons all pointed at her and Kylo, surrounding them and blocking the door they had just entered.

Turning her attention back to Kylo, she looked to read any available expression on his face, only to find it blank, almost as if he were caught off guard...

With Kylo standing motionless, Rey followed his gaze to see a tall, dark man sitting at the head of a long dining table, sporting a grin on his flawless, bearded face, exposing a set of white teeth.

The strange man's eyes never left Kylo's, and something in his eyes seemed both haunting and luring.

"Of all the things I expected to see here today, you," the man pointed a long, slim finger at Kylo. "Were not one of them."

Kylo's jaw seemed to clench, his chin lifting ever so slightly as his chest rose and fell with every breath.

Rey glanced between the two, confused and worried about the reaction this man was pulling from Kylo, obviously striking some distant chord that Kylo seemed to have forgotten.

Trying to release tension from his jaw and shoulders, Kylo gulped as he again lifted his chin into the air.

"What are you doing here?" he questioned.

The older man softly chuckled, though the same amusement did not seem to reach his eyes.

"You were always a curious little one, weren't you?" the man snickered. Looking towards the guards, he waived them all off before standing form his chair.

Rey still kept her hand at her saber, watching as the guards slowly made their way out of the room, the last one closing the door behind them.

Rey's confusion grew before she turned her eyes back to the man as he approached Kylo, his own gaze still never faltering.

"I thought you took up base in Cloud City. Bit far away, aren't you?" Kylo tested.

"And I thought you were busy ruling the galaxy, Supreme Leader?" the older man bit back.

For a long moment, Rey watched the two as they glared at one another.

The energy between the two men seemed familiar to Rey, obviously holding some history between them as she watched their encounter. She could easily see, without a doubt, that there was a certain hostility there, but between it, was love.

Love and pain.

Her heart began to beat faster.

A part of Ben's past? She thought.

Afraid of losing both time and the possibility of this man helping, Rey stepped out from behind Kylo, speaking for the first time.

"Hello... I'm Rey." she introduced herself, Kylo's head quickly whipping to glare at her, and Rey instantly knew she messed up by not allowing him to do the talking, but she was beginning to grow impatient.

The older man's eyes didn't leave Kylo's face for a long moment before he glanced down to Rey, a smile already spreading across his face.

"Ah, my apologies." His hand shot out towards Rey for a shake, and after hesitating awkwardly, she placed her hand in his before he turned it over, bending to press a soft kiss to the back of her hand. "It's a rare sight to have a stranger here on Naboo, even more rare for that stranger to be as beautiful as you." he grinned.

Rey couldn't help the hot blush that crept along her cheeks as she smiled back at him while he released her hand. To her side, Kylo scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"My name is Lando Calrissian, pleasure to meet you Rey." he smiled down at her, winking.

Again, Rey blushed and smiled at him.

"Why are you here? What's happened to Berenko?" Kylo demanded, his hand balled into a fist as his own cheeks began to turn red from frustration.

The man named Lando turned a quick, narrowed look at him as he spoke. "In short, the house of Berenko fell, Caleo is now dictator over Naboo."

Kylo's brows grew together, caught off guard by the news.

"Caleo has no lineage-" Kylo began, before Lando held a hand up, silencing him.

"Don't worry, Starfighter. You still hold lineage here, your mother made sure of that before you went to train with Luke. Caleo is stubborn, but law is law. Even the people here still recognize that."

Rey looked between the two, utterly confused, hoping that she caught on to at least a bit of what they were hinting at.

"So... So, you're a ruler of Naboo?" she asked.

Lando tossed an amused glance her way.

"By line of Princess Amidala, yes, Starfighter would have the right to the throne." Lando shrugged as Kylo looked on, anger filling his vision though Rey was unsure why. "Leia made sure of that. I'm sure with some negotiating, Caleo would easily forfi-"

"Enough!" Kylo demanded.

Lando snickered, and Rey knew instantly that would only add to Kylo's growing annoyance. What threw her off, however, was that this would have already pushed him past the point of no return when it came to his anger...

She knew that all too well...

However, sensing his energy, she could see that he wasn't even holding back... He just simply was not angry with this man.

Still confused, Rey sighed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes as the two men studied one another again, though Kylo's gaze was faltering...

Who was this man to him? Rey wondered.

Never taking his eyes off of Kylo, Lando spoke to Rey.

"Rey, love, will you please excuse me and Starfighter?" He asked of her.

Rey looked towards Kylo's face, still blank.

Starfighter? She asked herself...

Lando continued. "Me and my nephew need a moment to talk."

Rey's eyes shot from Lando back to Kylo, who remained looking on, refusing to confirm nor deny that this man was his uncle, or any relation to him. Instead, his silence answered it for him, and as his eyes glanced down, Rey noticed a quick, single nod telling her to go.

As if on cue, two guards came in to gently escort Rey out, her eyes still on the pair as the doors closed.

( X )

With the lights now on throughout the castle, Rey was able to look around the main hall near the entrance, spotting vine covered portraits of forgotten faces, dust painted over every inch of the staircase, and the molding dirt that lay across the broken steps.

Yes, it was indeed, oddly beautiful to her.

Having been a child and woman that only saw sand for years of her life, anything looked beautiful in comparison.

Sighing, she walked past several guards at the front doors, one of them stepping in front of her to open the door.

Awkwardly, she thanked him, her hand still hidden beneath her cape, placed lightly over her lightsaber, the edge and worry still there as she was surrounded by strangers.

She did not like having to leave Kylo back there, even if the man was of some relation to him.

It just wasn't part of the plan.

Cursing into the wind, Rey walked to the stone railing that led back to the docking platform that their ship sat at, looking over the ledge and into the ocean below.

Mindlessly, she tried to reach out to Flora and Chewie...

Silence.

Rey's jaw clenched as she picked up a small pebble and tossed it into the sea.

There was no bigger frustration than no-

"S-Strangers do-don't make good friends." a voice stuttered from behind her.

Jumping, Rey quickly turned to face him, her grip on her saber growing tighter.

His brows raised at her as he gave a lazy shrug, sucking at his teeth as he leaned against the ledge next to her.

Silence washed over them as Rey studied the man, and he watched her as if he was waiting for her to continue some washed up conversation.

Clearing her throat, Rey's brows drew together. "And... You are?" she awkwardly asked.

The man shrugged again. "A stranger, I suppose."

Biting the inside of her cheek, Rey tried her best not to lost her patience with this man, though it beginning to wear quite thin.

Shaking her head at him, she turned her gaze back to the sea. "Well, if you don't mind..."

"Oh, yes, the ocean v-view! Quite n-n-nice." he exclaimed, turning his attention to the sea just as Rey did. She looked at him from the corner of her eye, half intrigued and mostly annoyed.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked after a while.

He sucked at his teeth again, the sound causing goosebumps to rise on Rey's skin at how disgusting he made it appear.

"Well, since you ask-k. I c-c-c-could use a ride." he suggested, scratching at the back of his head.

Rey looked at him baffled and amused. "You think I'd give a stranger a ride? Never. Besides, I'm not traveling at the moment." she stated, shrugging him and his suggestion off.

The man made a small grunt before shrugging. "You'll need me. No one leaves Naboo unscathe-d-d these d-d-d-days."

At this, Rey froze, her heartbeat quickening. She could see he was watching her now, studying her for any sign of acknowledgment. She tried her best to resume a relaxed demeanor, but it felt it may have been too late.

"Unscathed? Why is that?" she asked, attempting to sound uninterested.

"They like p-p-pawns. You look like a p-p-pawn. A piece to be used and m-m-moved around. All part of the g-g-game."

Rey glanced at him, meeting his gaze. He shrugged once more.

"And... and what game is that?" she carefully asked, watching the sun begin to set in the distance.

For a moment, he shifted from one foot to the other, looking unsure if he wanted to say what he needed to, as if he didn't want to break a little child's heart.

"War." he stated.

Rey stared at him, and for the first time, he didn't look nervous or anxious, like what he stated was the only reality he knew.

"War?... And what side of that are you on?" she asked.

His eyes squinted at her, and for moment, he looked as though he may laugh.

"B-b-both? N-n-neither."

His answer equally confused and annoyed her. Just when Rey was going to demand his name, his eyes landed on the door a few feet behind her that was beginning to open. Turning to see if it was Kylo, Rey was abruptly stopped, having been grasped by the arm from the man she was speaking with.

He quickly bent close to her ear, and whispered, "Don't trust Caleo."

With that he shoved her so hard that she spun to face the doors, nearly falling on her knees as she tumbled forward before she caught herself on the balls of her feet.

Furious, she turned to meet him, unsure if she would knock him out before she got an answer from him, however when she turned, he was nowhere in sight.

Absolutely baffled, Rey ran to the railing, looking over the edge to see if the strange man possibly jumped off since there was no other explanation, however, there was no one, and she was left there to think of his warning until Kylo returned.

( X )

Kylo watched Rey leave the dining room with Lando's guards, one of them closing the door behind her as they left.

He couldn't help the tension that seemed to come and go, part of it from having Rey in the room as he was dealing with what seemed to be demons from his past, and the other part was him having his questions go unanswered.

"When did Caleo take over Naboo?" Kylo asked, placing his open palms on the table.

"Almost a year ago. Bought his way to the top, eventually he started getting cities in order, cleaning them up, taking care of the poor..." Lando trailed off.

The way he said it though, warned Kylo.

"Taking care of the poor?"

Lando eyed him, crossing his arms as he began to pace.

"If you walk the streets, there are no more beggars." Lando nodded, hoping Kylo would catch on.

With a raised eyebrow, Kylo turned a stubborn look to him. "None at all? How?"

Lando shrugged, picking up an apple from the bowl of fruit he brought with him that lay on the table. "No idea. But his staff sure has increased."

Standing up straight now, Kylo licked at his lips before running a gloved hand down his face. "Slaves?"

Tossing the apple from hand to hand, Lando nodded before taking a bite from the fruit.

"Which means-" Kylo began before he was cut off.

"Which means more birdies in the big castle." Lando smiled, taking a seat at the head of the table again, kicking his feet up and crossing them on the table as he relaxed back into his chair.

"And that's why you met us...here." Kylo figured out loud.

"Sure did. Though I did not know you had..." Lando trailed off, waiving his hand in the air as he grinned. "a lady friend with you."

Kylo's thoughts went to Rey, and he quickly made sure she was okay, feeling her energy from outside the castle... she seemed... annoyed.

Shaking his head, he wasn't sure there was a time when she wasn't.

At the thought, a smile threatened the corner of his mouth.

"She's...an acquaintance." Kylo muttered.

Lando roared with laughter, shaking his head before turning his gaze to meet Kylo's confused one.

"You're not fooling anybody, your father used to say the same thing about your mother." he chuckled.

Kylo's heart froze, his hand gripping the edge of the table at the casual mention of his parents... of his father...

Lando studied the young man's features, the twisted pain coming more alive with each second that he spent in the same room as his best friend's murderer...

Shaking his head, he refused to think that way of Ben... Han wouldn't want that... Which is the only reason Lando intercepted the request for docking approval, and had his own guard direct their ship to the abandoned castle before Caleo could get to him.

He needed no confirmation that it was Ben... He heard it all in his voice...

And now, here they were, only a few feet away as they both thought of the same man that they equally loved and hated.

"You can't blame yourself for what happened. Snoke too-" Lando began.

Kylo roared, his hot, angry eyes flashing to Lando as his hand went to his lightsaber. "Don't!"

Lando's eyes trailed down Kylo's arm, landing on the weapon that the young man wordlessly threatened him with.

Shooting his narrowed eyes at him, Lando moved his cape to the side, exposing his own blaster tucked loosely into his holster. The older man unsheathed it, his finger already wrapped around the trigger as he placed it on the table, pointed directly at Kylo.

Kylo snickered.

"The amount of time it would take you to pull the trigger-"

"Oh, I know, but what I also know is you can't worry about me, and my guards inside, and my guards outside, and the guards surrounding Rey..." Lando stated.

Kylo's grip on the table tightened.

Lando sighed before continuing, "I'm not trying to make things difficult. I'm here to help, as I always have been, as your father would want me to be. He loved you with every breathe he took, and he loved you even in his last, just like your mother will, just like I will, just like Rey will." Lando took another bite of the apple, chewing and swallowing before he continued. "We all know that something dark has latched onto you, digging its claws so deep into that soul of yours that you think you're unable to come back from this, that you're undeserving, that you're destined to bring a new order to our galaxy,"

"But I'll tell you what, I saw the same beliefs in the darkest, most powerful of men, and he came back from it. Just like you will. You can continue fighting it all you want, hell you can die trying to fight it, or you can do justice by Han's death and do something about it."

Lando stood now, slowly making his way to Kylo.

In his eyes, he saw the same young boy that waited for him and his father's return, that waited so eagerly to hear Han's voice, to get a present – a cape that was promised thousands of moons ago.

The older man failed Ben, just as much as the rest of them.

But they can do something about it now... They can fix it...

Ignoring the pain, he set it aside as he pressed a firm hand to Kylo's shoulder, doing his best to put love and forgiveness first.

In Kylo's eyes, Lando saw the young boy that wanted his parents love, solely their love... and now, a man, they appeared dark and desperate, nearly aching for help as they glossed over.

Lando wondered if this is what Han saw...

If he saw his boy again.

To Kylo, the familiarity of having Lando nearby was like having a piece of his father with him, his presence more alive. The day he killed his father... it destroyed him...that act alone tearing him apart as the light roared itself alive within him as if it raised itself in defiance, it's own rebellion, a light that took shelter within Rey...

He didn't deserve this...

Han didn't deserve it...

There could have been another way...

'Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to.'

There was no denying, the dark that resided in him was still there... He could feel it with every thought he had, with every breath he took...

But now, there was light... a light that would shine through the cracks inside of him, that would reach out and help guide him through the force...a coexistence of light and dark, of good and evil... Eventually...

Eventually...

One would win...

But which one?...

"Let me help you." Lando whispered, his own eyes showing a quick gloss, his face stubborn and broken.

After a moment, against every dark demon and every pull from the dark, Kylo timidly nodded, his eyes never leaving his friend, the uncle that was still there for him after everything...

Lando nodded, satisfied as he blinked away the wetness.

"Alright, Starfighter. Tell me what your plan is."

( X )

Author's Notes: Happy new year! Yay for chapter 50! Starting the year off right with a long chapter! :D Hope you all enjoyed, more action on the way, and more Rey and Kylo time, too. Leave me some love?

Also, there was a suggestion of longer chapters? What do you guys think? It's very possible although it may slow down how often I post. Give me some feedback!

Again, thank you all for reading and commenting, being able to write this story for people that actually enjoy it is what made my 2018 so great. I love you all, thank you so much!