Happy holidays everyone! I hope you all had some fun times, and please enjoy!

He had overpowered her defenses back on Ryloth, but they eventually rebounded by the time he had her in the cage. He was itching to feel her bond once again, and now that she opened back up to him, willingly at that, he was in a predicament. He knew his heart ached for her, he knew he wanted so dearly to embrace her. But there's another side to him that just...Won't let him. He wanted to hurt her. The dark side in him demanded retribution for her misdeeds against him. It would only be fair!

You wouldn't dare, Ben. Rey warned, finally she is the one on the receiving end of unwanted thoughts being leaked.

Ren didn't respond as he entered the room she was in, swiftly moving to her cage. He just stopped awkwardly in front of her, standing there.

"How can...How can we fix this? All of this?" He eventually asked, glad he could hide behind his mask.

Rey gave him a look, before rolling those hazel eyes of her's.

"Well, first off, Kylo Ren, take off your damn helmet and release me!" She ordered him, still clearly annoyed by all of this.

He hesitated, clearly something bothering him. He didn't wish to take the helmet off.

"Are you...Afraid?" She asked, shocked really. She could sense the unease about him, his fear.

He didn't answer, rather he used the Force to open the cage door. She swiftly walked out of it, and turned around, waving with her hands to get the cuffs off.

Ren slowly reached to her wrists and grabbed the cuffs, and stopped. Those small hands, he couldn't help himself. He missed her touch. He gently grabbed her hand, his thumb sliding across her skin. He unlocked the cuffs and they fell to the floor.

"Good. Now, Ben...Speak to me. Why can't you take the helmet off? I've seen you without it before, Vader wannabe." She tried to tease.

He didn't reply, just looking down to her face. He felt like a cornered animal with no options, no escape. Rey simply placed her hands on his mask and slowly lifted up.

Ben's face came into view, and it was pale. Very pale. He had a hint of a golden hue in his dark eyes, they appeared sinister in nature. His hair was sweaty, and stuck to his head in clumps. How long has he been wearing that thing?!

"How long have you been in there, Ben?" She asked worriedly, her hand touching his cheek lightly.

He closed his eyes as he felt her touch, it was too long. He embraced her tightly to him, shoving his face into her shoulder.

She was taken aback, this man always found ways to surprise her, really. She thought he was going to kill her, and now he is turning into the galaxy's darkest teddy bear. She gently broke the embrace to his dismay. She sat on the ground, crossing her legs.

"Sit." She ordered, pointing in front of her. "How about I teach you something for a change?"

He didn't know why, but he just listened to that beautiful scavenger girl's commands, sitting across from her. He just felt so tormented, that he was willing to do anything to just rid himself of these emotions.

Rey took the darksider's hand and closed her eyes, sighing uneasily as she felt his emotions wash over her. "Clear your mind..." She said softly.

His breaths were ragged as he tried the task, but waves of raw emotions and memories flooded his mind. This was his first time back with his Rey in quite awhile, and he didn't know what to do.

Rey could feel her bond mate's distress, just how torn he was over her. She felt awful, partly because of such raw negative emotions pulsating from him, but also that she caused this to him. No...No he did this to himself, but she still felt bad that he missed her to this extent. She was taken aback by the amount of suffering he was under, and they both replayed a memory of his.

Kylo was in his personal chambers. A large window looked out to the vastness of space. In front of the window was a pedestal, and upon it was his grandfather's helmet, the dark lord of the sith, Darth Vader.

He was kneeling in front of it, eyes staring at his reflection from the helmet. "Grandfather, please. I need your guidance...More than ever." He choked out to the helmet, desperately wanting some sort of response. And like always, there was silence. His heart ached as he threw his own helmet across his room, screaming in anguish.

Rey frowned, grunting in a disapproving manner. He was lost, that was for sure. Worse than ever before, and she didn't really know what to do.

"He won't speak to you...Because he is a sith. You aren't, Ben." She told him, opening her eyes.

Ren met her gaze, unsure of her intentions. The petite angel in front of him took off the necklace he gave her, and he feared she was about to reject him completely this time. He screwed up, didn't he? She must've had enough of him.

"You gave this to me. Remember? You. Not Kylo Ren, but you. Ben Solo. Yes you struggle with the darkness within you, but don't let it win. Remember what you told me? Don't let it consume you." She implored him, silently praying she was getting through to him.

His dark eyes stared at her, simply nodding his confirmation. She was right...Yes, he gave that to her. But was it...Ben? No, he was dead. It was only Kylo Ren, and will always be Kylo Ren. She just didn't realize it, she kept claiming to see light in him. Like that fool Skywalker. But she's wrong!

Rey rubbed her face as he barely acknowledged her, still struggling with his own mind. She could sense his frustration still. This wasn't working, there had to be another way to get him to relax and open his eyes. She leaned forward, grabbing the sides of his head, and pressing her soft lips against his in a slow, deliberate act of passion.

It instantly sparked between them, he felt the surge of the Force flow through him. She felt so good, it has been too long. It felt like the first time again and he reached out and gripped her waist, pulling her closer to him. Oh how he missed this damned girl. This scavenger girl that was bonded to him by the Force, this was meant to be. It had to be, the Force willed it. He could get lost in this girl forever, at this moment, he didn't care about anything. Not the First Order, not the Resistance, his mother, anything. It all melted away, being replaced by fiery passion for this sole woman.

Rey couldn't lie to herself, it felt so nice to have his hands back on her, for him to passionately return her advances, for him to relax. She could sense his emotions calming, and perhaps that was a step in the right direction. She felt that slight tingly sensation beginning to spread down her lower stomach, her cheeks flushed as she pulled herself from the kiss. They needed to take it slow, she wasn't ready to throw herself back into that pit...Not yet.

An involuntary groan left his mouth as her delicate lips left his, and he stared hungrily into her bright eyes, and at that moment, he felt like he could forgive her. Himself. He could forgive himself.

"Rey...I- I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." He claimed, holding his hand out to her as he stood up.

Rey looked from his eyes to his hand, then back up. She took it, helping herself up.

"Good...Now before we can talk more, you need a shower." She joked, a smirk coming across her face.

Kylo seemed to realize something, touching his matted, sweaty hair, and actually let out a chuckle. That wasn't something he's done in quite awhile. To feel joy.

"I see what you mean...Why don't you join me?" He asked, now the smirk on his face.

She blushed harder, while a shower with Ben right now wouldn't be too bad, there were more pressing matters to attend to. She leaned up, pecking him on his cheek.

"Go on. I guess I'll wait here for you." She assured, folding her arms.

Sia exited the ship, stretching her lithe form, joints popping.

"I hate those kriffing fighters." She muttered, as she scanned the environment in front of them. The planet was an orange red, dust and sand covering miles. If she was a gambling woman, she would've bet that it would've been hot as hell. Oddly, the planet felt cold, it was strange. Unnatural. Uncomfortable.

"Where is the temple?" Vestillio questioned as he hopped off the Tie fighter, dusting his robes off.

She turned to Vestillio, who strangely had his helmet off. It wasn't like him to do that, he was like Kylo, they usually left those stupid things on. Vestillio was in his mid thirties like her, he had blonde hair, and dark green eyes. He had a finely kept dirty blonde beard. If she cared at all about romance, she would call him cute.

"Across these plains. We can't fly the ship through this dust storm, so we need to go on foot. Turn your saber on so we don't lose track of each other." She confirmed to him, placing her helmet back on. "I would also put that mask on, unless you enjoy eating sand."

Vestillio didn't reply, simply putting the helmet on and igniting his crimson blade. They trekked through the desert of this planet, and there was an odd silence about it. Cold and empty. No lifeforms, no ruins, no ships, nothing. It didn't even sound like the wind was making noise, it was just them. Their thoughts sounded as if they were talking. This place is definitely no normal planet. The Force was strong here. It guided them to a large, dilapidated temple. Two hooded statues stood in front of the entrance, underneath an archway.

As they began the long venture up the stairs, Sia caught an unnerving feeling of dread. It was as if they were encroaching on sacred grounds. Whatever it was, they should tread lightly. Not only was she worried about Kylo finding out, but also of the rumors of evil spirits or ghosts still inhabiting this cursed planet.

Vestillio seemed to not care at all, following behind her. He was always an indifferent person, joining the Knights because of his affinity with the Force. He easily became apathetic with life. He was noted for his willingness for any mission, on any target, anywhere. Nothing seemed off the table for him.

The temple was quite hollow on the inside, save for a tomb in the center. Sia approached, sliding her hands across it.

"The ancient tomb of Darth Bane." She exclaimed, scanning over it.

"How did you find out where this was?" He asked, turning his saber off and clipping it to his belt.

"The Force told me. Help me open it!" She barked at him, already shoving the tomb's lid open. Vestillio came to her side, helping push the slab of concrete away, revealing a small, armored mask. It was pointed, and had two empty holes where the eyes are.

"That's it?" Vestillio asked, unimpressed with their find.

As Sia was about to respond, the ground shook underneath them. Suddenly the mask lifted itself into the air, a fiery orange being appearing out of thin air.

"Who dares disturb my slumber?" The voice bellowed, its eyes piercing down on the two dark-siders.

Sia swiftly got on her knees, lowering her head, while Vestillio was hesitant.

"Two worshippers of your teachings, Master!" Sia replied excitedly. This is exactly who she wanted to see. Finally, a sith lord! A practitioner of the ancient Sith religion. To Hell with Kylo and the other Knights of Ren, they didn't know true power! They weren't true dark-side users. Not like the Sith. She wanted that power, to be a sith lord.

"I feel the dark side within you, but you two are too pathetic to be a sith." The voice threatened, hands clenched into fists. Vestillio ignited his saber, pointing it to the ghost.

"How dare you speak to me like tha-" Vestillio was cut off as a burst of lighting shot from the ghost, sending him flying through the air and roughly into the ground.

"I wish to learn the ways of the sith, Master. Darth Vader and Darth Sidious have failed in continuing the religion, and in its place has only been weakness. And the Jedi." She explained, looking up to the ghost now. "Teach me the ways of the sith, and we shall revive them."

The ghost glared down at the being below him, but he knew she was right. The sith are over, unless he had something to say about it.

"Prove to me you are worthy of being a sith. A sith displays no mercy, and a readiness to fulfill the requirements of them. Destruction and passion will be your best friend. Prove to me you are ready: Kill him." The ghost commanded, pointing to Vestillio, who was slowly rising to his feet.

Sia got up, and turned to her once compatriot. She ignited her blade, walking to him.

"You are making a mistake, Sia Ren. You are no match for me!" He yelled to her, charging at her, making a chopping motion towards her chest.

Sia rolled to her right quickly, using the Force to pull him at her. She held her blade forward in a stabbing manner, attempting to pierce it deep within him.

Kylo looked at himself in his mirror. His hair was damp from the refresher as he dried himself with a towel. He slowly reached up to his face, tracing the scar along it. That girl had bested him in their first fight, and from that point on, he was obsessed with her. That girl... What is he going to do? He still had that urge within him to rule the galaxy, and he will be damned to not have his empress with him. Maybe he could play along with her wants, and go see his... Ugh. His mother. And then, after that, when she will undoubtedly ask if he wants to stay with her... Ask her to marry him. Yes, yes...And then she will become his empress. Kylo nodded to himself in the mirror, almost as if needing affirmation if that was the right path to go on.

Thanks for reading! More will be on the way soon! Leave some feedback, I love reading what you guys have to say!