This was it! Reports across the base indicated Rey was landing now. Finn slicked his hair back for some reason and ran out to the courtyard. Already many groups of soldiers were waiting, he had to push and nudge his way through to the front. He scanned the crowd until he saw the familiar faces of Poe and Chewy, running over to them.

"This is it!" Finn excitedly yelled, hugging Poe tightly.

Poe scoffed, shoving him off.

"Jeez, not in front of the guys." Poe joked.

"What ship will she be in?" Finn ignored, asking as he looked into the sky, searching for a ship.

"Not sure... We will see soon enough." Poe replied also looking up.

"Arrrghhh!" The wookie yelled behind them, placing his paws on both of their shoulders.

"Yes, yes Chewy! She can help you on the falcon!" Poe exclaimed, rolling his eyes to himself. "I know you don't like me on it anyway..." He muttered.

A murmur went through the crowd as they saw the ship slowly approach. Was that...?

"Isn't that... Ren's ship?" Fin quietly asked to Poe, nudging him with his elbow.

"... It is... Maybe she had to use it to escape?" Poe tried to explain, not really knowing how she got it in the first place. Was she in captivity all these weeks and just now able to escape? If they would've known, they could've tried to save her!

The ship landed, and even though people were shocked about the ship, they still began to cheer once they saw that lithe female walk down the path. She looked just like how Finn remembered. He couldn't wait to get to finally talk to her again, but something caught his eye. It caught everyone's eyes. A dark figure trailed her, fists clenched. It was... It was Kylo Ren. What the kriff is going on?! Did Rey capture Kylo? Did she turn on them? No, no way. He knew Rey, she wouldn't. So why the hell was Kylo Ren here?!

General Ackbar looked shocked as two of his guards raised their rifles to the approaching couple, even at Rey.

"Rey! What's the meaning of this?!" The General yelled, pointing to a more and more frustrated Kylo Ren. Many of the soldiers around them were now starting to raise their weapons on Ren, holding him at gunpoint.

"Wait!" A voice yelled loudly, and an older woman came running. It was Leia. Kylo was blind-sided, he wasn't expecting to see her the moment he got off the ship. They made eye contact and the world seemed to melt. Even Rey seemed to disappear. His mother. He was staring at her, in person, for the first time in years. She seemed... Tired. Weary, her face wrinkled, hair grayed from stress and age. But her voice. It sounded so... Soothing to him.

"Ben! Ben, make sure you're packed!" Leia called out to him.

Ben groaned at his mom, holding his duffel bags.

"Mom, I don't want to go with Uncle Luke. I want to stay here! I don't wanna go!" He whined to his mother, stomping his feet.

"Oh baby I know. But we're not going anywhere... If you ever need to talk to us, we'll be here." Leia soothed, leaning down to kiss her teenage son's head. Han placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"You'll be fine, kid. Luke is a great friend." Han tried to reassure his kid.

"We love you. Good luck." Leia hugged him tightly, wiping the tears from his young face.

Kylo shook his head, trying to clear the painful memories from his mind.

"He's here to... Negotiate a ceasefire." Leia announced to the Resistance around her, never taking her eyes off her son. He has grown so much, and his face. He was a man now, and she could see in those dark eyes of his all the pain and torment he was in. His skin was pale, like he didn't see sunlight too often, and there was that scar across his face. His hair was black and surprisingly long and messy. She could see Han's face in his, his nose and jawline really reminded her of him.

"Leia, are you sure it is safe? That's the Supreme Leader of the First Order! What if he runs and tells his cronies our location?! We'll be doomed!" Finn butted in, running to them, glaring at the dark-sider. Poe tried to run after him, but silently cursed himself for not being able to stop the man before his interruption.

Rey tried to let others speak, but she knew what had to be done. What their mission was and who she was with. She figured they wouldn't have taken too kindly to Kylo Ren at their base, but he's changing. Slowly, but Ben was coming out more and more. She turned to Finn, offering him a small smile and a reassuring hug.

"It's okay. You trust me, right?" She asked her friend.

"I... But Rey..." He tried to protest, but looking at her eyes, he knew she was completely honest, and was trying to get him on her side. He wouldn't be here without her, and at the end of the day, she was his best friend. Thus, he nodded.

"Okay, I trust you." Finn answered.

Kylo felt something within him as he broke his eye contact with his mother and witnessed Rey hugging the traitor. It was jealousy. He didn't want anyone hugging his Rey like that, she was his. Only his. He immediately felt like wanting to choke that ex-stormtrooper to death.

Relax, Kylo. Rey warned inwardly to him in their bond.

"She is trustworthy. And I know my son. He will not betray us like you think. Ackbar, prepare the meeting room for our... Guest. Get our other officers in there, the end of the war is near." Leia ordered in a commanding tone, and Ackbar swiftly bowed.

"Of course, your highness." He said cheekily as the orders were relayed, and the crowd slowly dissipated.

Poe now approached Rey, holding his hand out to her. She shook it firmly.

"Good to see you again. Glad you're back." Poe commented, eyes flicking to Kylo.

"It's good to see you too. Where's the droids?" She asked taking a quick look around.

"Recharging... So..." Poe said, rubbing the back of his head as Chewy approached, everyone around her staring at Kylo. Leia had left to the meeting room, leaving just this small group.

Kylo glared back at Poe, feeling the eyes on him. These buffoons, he would give them something to look at if he had his saber. He could kill them all right now with the Force if he wanted. Which he wanted, but he couldn't.

"I guess we probably should... Ahem... Stop walking around the Rancor in the room." Rey explained awkwardly. She continued, "He's here because he wants peace. He wants the war to end and... Uh... He wants to come home."

Finn and Poe looked to each other while Chewy yelled angrily, snarling at the dark sider behind her.

Kylo understood what the wookie said, it was something about him killing Han. He did feel guilty over it, but every time it was brought up he couldn't stop thinking about that event. His father's face and gentle caress as he plunged his saber deep into him. It made him have many sleepless nights, still does actually.

"Chewy is right. How could we let that monster stay here after all he did? After he killed Han?" Poe asked now. "He tortured me."

"I saw what he did, Rey... I was there." Finn said knowingly as a stormtrooper.

"Kylo Ren has done many things. To everyone, even to me. But he... He's not Kylo Ren. He's Ben Solo now, and he wants to redeem himself." Rey tried to explain on his behalf, sensing her bond mate's frustration growing.

"I remember." Kylo simply said, taking a step forward.

"What?" Poe asked, surprised he was actually talking. He sounded... Different without his mask.

"I remember torturing you. It wasn't hard. I can do it again. Want to try? And don't get me started, FN-2187!" He warned, clenching his fists.

Rey frowned, gripping his arm and pulling it towards her. She leaned up and whispered into his ear.

"What'd I say?! Play nice, come on!" Rey chastised him, causing a groan from the larger male.

"He didn't mean that. Right?" Rey said, glaring up at him.

"... Sorry." Kylo muttered, looking away from the men in front of him. He felt embarrassed and belittled to be there, being forced to apologize like that.

"Uh-huh..." Poe said, eyeing the dark sider. "He listened to you well... How did you manage that? Jedi mind trick?" Poe asked.

"Yeah, why is he listening to you, Rey? You got dirt on him? Blackmail?" Finn asked, revelling in the situation.

Rey didn't know what to say. She didn't really want to disclose their current relationship to her friends, they already were smacked with the news of Ben being here, she wouldn't want them also now having to realize that he is also her boyfriend, her bond mate, and her lover.

Kylo smirked to himself, the opportunity presented itself to get a little power over the situation.

"Oh she didn't tell you?" Kylo sarcastically asked, looking down to Rey, placing an arm around her waist. "We're a thing." He gloated, now his smirk larger as he glared at the two men, holding his prize.

Poe, Finn, and Chewy stood there in silence, shocked expressions all over their faces.

"Rey, what?" Finn eventually got out. She was with him? Like... They were... A thing? How?! Was Rey crazy? Did Kylo seduce her to the dark? Was she being mind controlled by him? This had to be a trick.

Rey felt the embarrassment pouring off of her as her cheeks turned a deep red, and she pried his arm off of her. She wanted to punch him so bad right now, he was trying to embarrass her. She didn't know what to say to her bewildered friends, so she grabbed Kylo by his wrist.

"We'll talk later... About everything. I promise, we have a meeting to go to!" Rey yelled to her friends as she dragged Kylo away, running towards the main building of the base. Her friends stood there, still in shock.

"What the hell?! Why would you do that?!" Rey yelled at him once they were out of earshot. She let him go, crossing her arms as she stood in front of him.

"Don't act so innocent, scavenger. You're the one who acted like I was a child back there." He accused, pointing down at her.

"What?! Maybe if you didn't act like a child, I wouldn't have to treat you like one!" She angrily retorted.

"It doesn't matter. Why are you so embarrassed about our relationship? Is it something you're not happy about?" He seethed, glaring at her fiery eyes.

"I'm not embarrassed!" She lied. "I just wanted to ease them into knowing that my kriffing boyfriend is Kylo Ren! You know, the monster in a mask that has done many, many evil things to a lot of people here?!"

"Whatever. Just take me to that meeting." He rolled his eyes, not wanting to deal with her. Her words stung, but they were true. He did do a lot of things to a lot of people in this base, and usually he would be fine with it. But ever since he met this desert fox in front of him, he found his guilt over his actions rising every day.

"No! I'm not a stormtrooper you can order around. Apologize!" She barked at him.

He scoffed at her, placing his hands on his hips as he walked a few paces from her. He turned sharply and got close to her, pointing downwards again. Rey didn't move an inch at all, she really was a bold one. He didn't know what to say, she wasn't backing down. They glared at each other until he finally groaned, rubbing his face.

"Fine, fine. I'm sorry I tried to embarrass you back there." He said lowly.

Rey eventually reached forward, grabbing his hand.

"I'm sorry I treated you like a kid. Just... Please try to... Not be Kylo Ren right now." She pleaded.

Kylo nodded, and with that they made their way to the meeting room.

"This is insanity, your highness!" Ackbar proclaimed. "Supreme Leader Kylo Ren now knows our base location! If the negotiations fall through, he will bring the First Order armada here and destroy us! Our ships aren't ready for a full out assault by their navy!"

"I have to agree with the General, Leia. It's too risky. How could we even trust his word? Kylo Ren is a known deceiver, he could have an ulterior motive." A Commander spoke, rubbing her temples.

Leia sat in silence as her officers and her general all argued with each other, most of them in agreement that it was too dangerous to have Kylo Ren here, and they should prepare an immediate evacuation of the base and begin the search for a new location.

"Enough!" Leia yelled, quieting the room instantly. "Are you all forgetting how he came here? He didn't show up alone. Rey, our one and only Jedi, brought him here."

"So? She probably has been tricked by Kylo Ren!" The officer angrily yelled back. "He killed my brother!"

"He killed my friend!" Another piped up.

"The First Order butchered my family!" Another one.

"We should execute him publicly!" An officer yelled.

"Agreed!" A different officer bellowed.

Leia knew the shouting was intense, but everyone was on edge. She raised her hands, quieting the room again.

"He killed my husband, Han Solo." She announced. "He tried to kill my son, Ben Solo. But he's back, Ben is here. I want to set that straight, Kylo Ren and Ben Solo are two different people. While Kylo Ren and the First Order may have done heinous acts against us all, we will not be stooping to their level to reciprocate such actions. We do not torture. We do not execute unfairly without trial. We do not use slavery. If we are to continue the New Republic after all of this, we must be morally responsible." She explained to her officers.

"So, we will listen to what Ben, not Kylo, to what Ben has to say." She angrily yelled to her subordinates. "Is that understood?!"

A low murmur erupted, with heads nodding.

"Yes, your highness. We will listen and try everything in our power to end this war." Ackbar spoke for the rest of the group. The door slid open and two figures walked in. Rey and Kylo Ren sat down at the end of the table. Kylo had sat directly across from his mother and the general of the Resistance. The two heads, he could easily end the war right now... But he just didn't feel right, he couldn't bring himself to do such an act.

There was an awkward silence, and Poe joined into the room, standing at the door with a blaster. Ackbar cleared his throat, standing up.

"Welcome to the negotiations... Supreme Leader. As you know, I am General Ackbar, leader of all armed forces of the New Republic. We are-" He was suddenly cut off by Kylo, who chirped in.

"Resistance. Not Republic, you are the Resistance." He corrected, glaring back to the general.

Ackbar didn't know how to respond, so he slowly sat back down.

"Yes, well. Whatever you want to call us, we are your enemies in this conflict. However, it is time for negotiations to begin. We want this to end peacefully, with the restoration of the New Republic and its territories. " Ackbar explained.

Kylo's eyes shifted from the mon-cala general to his mother, whose eyes have been staring at him the whole time. He felt so horrible at the moment, and he began to sweat. His nerves was getting to him, his stomach was in knots. There was so much he wanted to say to his mother. He didn't know what to do with his hands, he placed them on his knees, his feet now tapping anxiously.

"Supreme Leader, did you hear me?" Akbar asked.

Kylo shook himself from his mother, and looked back to the general.

"No... No, repeat what you said." Ben shakily replied, he felt like his face was getting pale.

Rey bit her lip nervously, slowly placing her hand on one of his, gently squeezing it. She leaned closer, whispering to him.

"Relax, it's okay."

"What did your side want from the end of the war?" Ackbar asked again.

"My side?... Uh..." Kylo really seemed to not be there at the moment. His mind was racing and his heart was pounding in his chest. It was pounding so hard he thought it would explode. He couldn't hear the others over the persistent beating of his heart, he could barely feel Rey's gentle caress on his hand.

"Mister... Solo, are you feeling alright?" The general asked, everyone whispering to each other now. Poe cocked an eyebrow at the display in front of him.

"I'm fine!" He quickly said, but he wasn't. Was there two generals? He felt dizzy. His throat was dry. "Do..." He coughed, clearing his throat. "Do you have any water?" He asked, his voice becoming hoarse. Get a grip, come on Kylo!

The general slowly nodded, before beckoning his hand over. A small astromech rolled in with a tray on attached to its front. There were multiple cups and a pitcher of water. Kylo didn't even bother waiting for the droid to come to him, he used the Force and pulled the pitcher to him. He gripped the jug, not taking a cup, and chugged from it.

Everyone was bewildered from the scene, and Leia couldn't help a small smile that came across her face. She could tell her son was sitting across from her, not Kylo Ren. He wasn't yelling and screaming, he was just a nervous boy, trying to keep it together.

Rey leaned in, whispering again.

"You're not looking so good. I can talk for you, Ben. If you need me too, of course."

Kylo didn't look fully to her, just shaking his head as he gasped for air after drinking so much water.

"General... The First Order... How do I say this... They don't know I'm here. I'm telling you all now, including you Rey, that I didn't tell anyone about my mission. They will not give in, even if I try negotiating a surrender on their behalf." He admitted to the group, wiping his forehead.

"What?" Ackbar quickly stood up. "What?! You're telling me, as the Supreme Leader, that you cannot get the First Order to surrender, even if you gave the order?"

"What I'm saying is there's a new threat to the Galaxy at large." Kylo replied, leaning back in the chair. "Once that threat knows I'm trying to negotiate for peace, they'll swoop in and take control of the First Order."

Ackbar sat back down, looking to his officers.

One of them, a woman, raised her hand.

"Commander Typhan, go ahead." Ackbar confirmed.

"Who could be a bigger danger than you, Kylo Ren?" She asked, glaring at the pale man at the end of the table.

"A Sith lord." Kylo replied, and the room erupted into gasps and panicked murmur.

Leia frowned, eyeing Ben with intrigue.

"Quiet!" Leia yelled, leaning forward and placing her chin on her hands. "What Sith lord?"

Ossel stared at the Sith in front of him, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. They wanted not just a few ships, they wanted his whole fleet. They wanted to outfit them with weapons and improved shielding, and they wanted it all for free?! They had to be crazy!

"I cannot accept that for no payment, it would bankrupt the entire Trade Federation!" Ossel complained.

"When the New Order takes over the galaxy, you will receive your compensation and then some. Think of it like a loan, you give us your fleet, and when we're done, we will give you planets." The Sith allured, knowing full well how money-hungry the Neimoidians were.

"Planets?" He asked, surprised. That would make him and the rest of the Federation filthy rich. They could tax the locals, tax the imports and exports, tax on materials from the planets, they would make a fortune.

"You have a deal, Darth Mortim." Ossel finally reletend, holding his grubby hand out to her.

Thanks for reading guys. Really means a lot to me! Expect more chapters soon! And... Expect a different surprise very soon! :D