My instinct was to take a defensive stance in front of my mate, ignite my saber, and protect what was mine from the man in front of us.

But, I didn't.

Through the swirl of emotions that she sent down the Bond, I knew, at least, that she knew he wouldnt hurt her.

She took three steps forward when he came near, and let him pull her into a tight hug.

He gave me a furious gaze over her shoulder before he pulled away. "Are you hurt?" He demanded.

She shook her head. "I'm fine."

He sighed and pulled her into another hug. "I was so worried." He said, his voice muffled agaisnt her shoulder. "When you didn't come back to base after Hoth, I thought the worst." He pulled away, still holding on to her forearms. "Then, I heard that he-" FN-2187 gave a quick nod in my direction. "Was missing, too, I knew it wasnt a coincidence. And, I came to save you."

Save her. From me. Or, from who he thought I still was, at least.

She gave him a sad smile. "I knew you would." She said. "Which is why I sent the message to Leia."

He shook his head. "Yeah, but you didnt mean that."

She frowned. "Yes, I did."

His face tightened. "Rey, I came to take you home."

Home.

Yes, I suppose the Base was the closest thing that Rey had to a home. And, Fn-2187 was her best friend. He, my mother, and a tiny woman called Rose had become Rey's family, and I wasn't oblivious to how much it hurt her to leave them.

I felt her desire to go with him flood the Bond, and my heart broke so completely, I'm sure they heard the crack.

I still hadnt told her the truth. The Bond between us was just a ghost of what it could be, and, with the only exception of what she'd admitted to me but moments ago, nothing had changed.

She could go back with him. She could go home.

It would utterly destroy me.

And, I'd have to find a way to be ok with it.

Because this wasnt my decision.

It was hers.

I shoved my own feelings aside, and sent all the reassurance I could muster to her, the Bond practically glowing with it, and watched as some tension between her shoulders eased.

He turned to go back the way he came. "C'mon, let's go-"

"No." She told him, and my heart stuttered to a stop, as we both looked at her in shock.

Though the word had been whispered, it was strong, and firm.

A declaration. A choice.

And, a glimmer of hope that took root in my battered soul. My look of shock melted into one of awe. Because it was also confirmation that she felt something for me. Not hatred, not disgust. I knew in that moment, that she didnt think I was a monster, because she'd chosen to stay with me.

And, I could barely hold myself upright as relief washed over me.

Fn-2187 didnt want to believe it.

"You belong with us." He told her.

"And, what about Poe?' She asked.

His face fell. "Look, what Poe did was wrong. He's sorry." He offered Rey his hand, as if Poe being sorry and knowing he was wrong fixed everything, and had made her change her mind about coming with him.

She just stared at his hand miserably. "I'm not going back, Finn."

He studied her, his eyebrows pulled together, then lowered his hand, balling it into a fist at his side.

I tensed, my hand reflexively tightening on the hilt of my lightsaber.

"Because of Poe or because of him?" He demanded through clenched teeth. He looked at me, his eyes burning with hatred. "What have you done to her?"

He took a threatening step forward, but before I could react, Rey thrust herself between us, putting both of her hands on his shoulders, stopping him. "Nothing." She said, calmly. "He hasn't done anything to me."

That was another declaration that FN-2187 didn't believe.

"He's using The Force." He told her, and from where I stood, I could see his eyes glisten. "He's controlling your mind."

Rey shook her head. "No, he isnt."

"He's making you say-" His face hardened. "What else does he make you do?"

I couldnt help the snarl that escaped my throat at his implication, and he looked up, his unshielded mind throwing image after image of the disgusting things he thought I was making her do.

I charged forward, and Rey held her hand up, stopping me in my tracks.

I'll handle this. She assured me, through the Bond.

I took a breath, and stepped back, watching her.

"Finn, look at me." Rey commanded, softly. "Look at me."

He obeyed, tearing his gaze from me to look at her.

"He's not controlling me." She said. "And, he hasn't made me do anything."

He scoffed.

"Finn." Rey called, and he met her gaze again. "I swear to you, that he hasn't so much as laid a hand on me."

His eyes slipped to me, considered for a moment, and I knew that he didn't believe a word of it.

Because he'd seen me do far worse.

And, to him, I'd never be anything more than the monster who'd ordered him to open fire on an entire village of innocent people on Jakku.

Even with his best friend insisting otherwise.

I looked down, unable to meet his gaze.

"Rey, please." He begged. "They need you, I need you to come home."

She pulled him into another hug, and he squeezed his eyes shut, holding her. But, she gave him a quick kiss on his cheek and whispered "Goodbye, Finn."

His eyes snapped open, watching her as she stepped several paces back to stand in front of me.

"Rey-" He breathed, staring at her in disbelief.

"Go back to Base." She told him. "And, tell them that I left of my own free will. That I'm safe, and cared for, and that I'm not coming back."

FN-2187 set his jaw as he stared at us, funneling every bit of his rage at me.

I stared at him, unblinking. I could take his anger, but, judging from the way the Bond trembled, Rey couldnt.

He pointed at me. "I will find a way to break her free of your control." He vowed. "And, when I do, I'll be seeing you again."

I didn't miss the threat in his voice.

He turned, and vanished into the forest.

I put a hand on Rey's shoulder, not knowing what to say, and she put a hand over mine, pulling it off of her. "I'm fine." She said, turning to hike back down to the house.