The Force Bond tingled to life. Rey raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she felt weight settle in the small bed next to her. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Ben's scent swirled around her as his arm curled around her waist. When his lips were pressed urgently against the back of her neck, she fought back a moan and sat up abruptly. She ignored the shiver the bond sent through her at the absence of his touch. This wasn't going to be fun after a day of training and Falcon repairs, but she took a deep breath. "I can't keep doing this."

Ben sat up just as quickly as she had. "What do you mean?"

"This." Rey turned on a light and buried her face in her hands. When she looked up, Ben was staring at her, concern burning in his gaze. "This," she said, exasperated. "Whatever this is."

They'd had conversations that tip toed around the subject, but each time they fell into bed through the Force bond, they were no closer to a healthy compromise. The standoff continued, Ben trying to fully immerse himself in the Dark, and Rey desperately clinging to the Light.

Ben squinted into the light. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want this. Not with you." Rey crossed her arms over her chest and stared determinedly at the blanket on her lap. "Not Kylo Ren. I can't."

Ben sighed and flopped back down into bed. "I'll go. Just say the word."

Rey paused. It was no good lying to him. "I didn't say that."

"Fine. Good night." He rolled over to face the wall, his huge frame barely fitting in her bed.

"I mean it. We can't just keep doing this. You're – you're my enemy. How do you – how do you know I won't kill you in your sleep?"

He scoffed and sat back up. "You're right. You have tried to kill me." He jabbed a finger at the long scar on his face. "I didn't do this while shaving, sweetheart."

Rey groaned in frustration. "Fine. Fine! Then here it is: I need you to be Ben Solo or I need you to get out of my bed. And stay out," she added. "Those are your choices."

"It's not that easy."

"I want Ben."

He threw the blanket back. "Fine. I'm sure one of your rebel traitors would be more than willing to warm your bed and listen to you screaming at 3 A.M. because of your nightmares."

The bond slammed shut between them.

Rey rolled back over, pressed the pillow against her face, and cried out in anger.

"Have you heard it?"

Rey jerked awake. The bond was vibrating anxiously. Ben loomed in front of her. Clad in his usual blacks, he looked every bit the Supreme Leader. It was a harsh reminder of last night's argument. It was obvious put-together Kylo Ren hadn't stayed the night. When Ben woke up with her, his hair was mussed and he had a smirk on his face. "What?" she sleepily grumbled, rolling over and wiping drool from her face.

"You haven't heard it." Almost bemused, Ben stared as she blinked herself awake. He reached out. Rey took his gloved hand. Instead of grasping hers, he pressed a holocron into her palm. "Play it," he ordered.

Rey did so, yawning and stretching as the image projected. A sinister voice growled a warning. It wasn't anything that hadn't been happening since she left Jakku in the Falcon. It was war, after all. Rey was more interested in the unease on Ben's face as the recording played. He wouldn't have come back so soon after their argument if it wasn't something important. Solo men were famous for their stubbornness. "Why do you look like that?" she asked. "What is this?"

"You have no idea what this is. What this means." There was no question in his voice. He sat on the edge of her bed. "Palpatine."

The name barely rang a bell. "The Emperor? He's dead." She hesitated. "Luke killed him."

"Vader killed him." Ben ran a hand over his face. Dark circles under his eyes seemed black against his pale face.

"Haven't you slept?" Rey asked. "You look awful." She brushed hair away from his forehead. "How long have you been worrying about this? Why didn't you say anything last night?"

He didn't react to her touch, although it sent the slightest shudder through the bond. "If Palpatine is back, none of this matters." Finally he looked up at her. "I need you."

Rey's breath caught in her chest. "I knew it." Zapped wide awake, she flung herself at Ben. His chest was solid as she crashed into him and nearly knocked him off the bed. "I knew you'd realize the good left in you! Every time we touch, I-"

"That's not it," Ben cut her off. "Dark side. Light side. Does it really matter?" He caught her hands and clasped them between his. "I need you." His eyes blazed with intensity. "Fuck the First Order. I need you. At any cost. Please."

Of course it was about some mission and not Ben Solo. Crestfallen, she snatched her hands away. Ignoring his plea, Rey padded out of bed to her modest dresser. She shimmied out of yesterday's training clothes and pulled on a grey tunic. Ben's gaze was hot on her back; the usually passionate heat now burned angrily.

Ben stood and took a few steps toward her. "With Palpatine back-"

She cut him off. "You're so committed to the First Order? Use them to handle it. Or the Knights of Ren. I'm not some pawn in Kylo Ren's games." Throwing her full attention to her reflection in a small mirror, she fussed with her hair. "I'm nothing."

"Rey!" a voice from outside the tent came. "New intel from the mole! You're gonna wanna hear it!"

"I'll burn down the rebellion and the First Order if that's what it takes for you to see," Ben snarled as he let the bond close between them.

A week went by before Kylo Ren considered reaching back out to Rey. He raged in search of Palpatine, but the clues were slow to populate. The hunt may not have been easier with her, but he knew what was in store would be impossible without her. He closed his eyes and thought of reaching out through the bond, but he huffed and let the idea drop. She was the one who owed him an apology. Let her come to him.

Kylo Ren stalked into the board room in an astoundingly bad mood he had no idea was about to get worse.

"Late as usual," General Hux purred. "Supreme Leader. Have a seat."

The Knights of Ren, not usually present at meetings, stepped forward in unison, forming a semi circle behind Kylo Ren, forcing him deeper into the room. The officers in their black uniforms sat at attention around the long table. Their faces were solemn and fixed on him.

Kylo stared back at the general. "What is this?"

Hux revealed a holocron. "Security recordings of our mole."

"Good. Who is it?"

With a small smirk, Hux projected the recording. Kylo Ren was perplexed to see his own image projection bath the room in blue light. The scene that played all but damned him. There he was, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, pleading with someone out of sight. "I'll burn down the First Order if that's what it takes."

Kylo's skin prickled. Secret recordings. He was a fool for not sweeping his quarters more regularly. What else did Hux have? This was probably the least condemning recording the bastard could have shown. Fraternizing with the enemy, the most dangerous rebel at that, was enough to remove Kylo Ren from power for good. The frequency and nature of his meetings with Rey? He gritted his teeth. At least Rey was only visible to him through their bond. There would be no risque recordings involving her, at least. He cringed at the thought of the treasure trove of material in Hux's archives.

The officers in the room shifted uncomfortably as the clip looped, but Hux never stopped smiling. His teeth were bared in a wolfish grin. "He's speaking to the rebel scavenger," he roared triumphantly. "I always knew the Supreme Leader would betray the First Order for the likes of her. Remove him!" he called. "Take this traitor away."

A unit of elite troopers flooded in through the door. The knights drew their weapons. Something in the air felt more dangerous. The knights were suddenly masterless and completely unrestrained.

Cloak drawn tight and hood low, Ben moved silently through the trees. He was sore. He was bleeding. He was exhausted. Surely he was being hunted. It didn't matter. Truly. Only one mission did: he must finish what his grandfather started. Something was alive in him now, a caged animal howling at some unknown thing in the dark. It was all wrong. Until Palpatine was destroyed once and for all, Ben would never be able to rest.

Ben heard the camp before he saw it. Rebels were chatting and eating, training and drinking. The familiar sounds put a pang in through his very soul. Childhood memories of stories around the campfires and bounding through the rebels on Chewie's shoulders had this soundtrack. The First Order was quiet and joyless. The chaos here felt like home.

The realization made Ben's eyes water. Home. What did that word even mean anymore? A sparkle in the Force caught his attention. Rey was close. Ben moved along the outer edge, following the warmth in his chest.

The determined joy was quickly extinguished.

"That mother fucker didn't know what hit him," Poe Dameron drawled, a half empty bottle of liquor in his hand. A group of rebels tittered along with his drunken tale. "But I did!" he roared, clinking his bottle to someone's tankard.

Tempted, Ben moved on. This was no time to cause a scene by teaching the cocky pilot a lesson. The way life was currently going, he might be in camp for a long time. There'd be another chance.

A tent at the edge of camp was thrumming with life. Rey. He crossed to it quickly and threw the flap back without hesitation.

Rey blinked up at him, but only briefly. "Nice cloak. On a secret mission somewhere?" she asked boredly. She wet the tip of her finger and turned a page of the ancient text she was perusing.

Ben nearly snorted. They were pseudo together so often she didn't even realize he was present in the flesh. Flipping his hood back, he cocked his head. "So secret not even the powerful Force user on base sensed my approach. I'd almost worry about their defenses."

Still oblivious, Rey cast him a sidelong glance. "Still mad? Doesn't feel like it."

"You were mad," Ben snapped. "You threw me out in the middle of the night."

"Threw you out? It's not like you actually had to go anywhere. And I haven't changed my mind." She raised an eyebrow. "What can I do for you, Supreme Leader?"

Ben smirked. "Thought I'd borrow this." He picked one of the Jedi texts up from her desk and held it in his hand. Rey stumbled off of her stool in shock. The way the bond worked, they could interact and interact with things the other was touching. The only way he could have independently picked up an object was if he was truly in her tent.

"Ben," she said, her voice low. "How long do we have?" She lunged for her staff. "Call them off. I beg you. Call off your ships!"

He casually took his saber from his belt and set it on her desk. Rey quickly snatched it and clipped it onto her own belt. He held his hands aloft. "You'll be thrilled. The Order doesn't follow my command anymore."

Not loosening her grip on the staff, she narrowed her eyes. "The Knights?"

"Same." Ben ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "Long story." He unfastened his cloak and tossed it on the foot of her bed. Next he removed his belt and boots. He finally sank down onto the bed he'd gotten so used to sharing with her and heaved a sigh. "Hux recorded us."

Rey's face paled. "What?"

"Not that," Ben scoffed. He thought for a moment. "Well, maybe that. It doesn't matter. They think I'm a mole. He turned everyone against me." A smirk came to his lips. "So here I am. You wanted me to turn."

"I wanted you to turn, not to show up only because you'd been run out of the Order." Rey crossed her arms over her chest. "What, and now you think you just get to come here and get in my bed?"

"You can't be serious."

"Are you Kylo Ren?"

He gritted his teeth. "Is this going to be a thing? I snuck into your camp, threw down my saber, and you're still not happy? Incredible," he snapped. His head throbbed and he briefly massaged his temples. The aftermath of the fight with the knights was hitting him. So was Rey's blatant lack of excitement to see him. Maybe this was a mistake. "I was expecting a different welcome."

Finally lowering her staff, Rey put her hand on her hip. "How do I know this isn't a trap?" She got onto the bed and sat cross legged before extending her hands to him. "Show me."

Ben sucked in a breath and slapped his hands in to his. Stay calm. She's right to be suspicious. "Look at anything you want," he said, closing his eyes and opening his mind to her. "You didn't ask how I knew where you were. I've known for weeks. If I wanted to destroy you and your precious resistance, I would have."

He felt the gentle push of Rey entering his mind. She withdrew fairly quickly. "You're… relieved?" she asked.

"I need you to help me, and if it means losing the Order, fine. Do you trust me?" He stared at her hopefully. He was tired. So tired. Too tired to argue. Too tired to have his heart broken.

"Leia," Rey whispered. "She'll be thrilled."

Ben's heart fell into his stomach and he snatched his hands back from hers. How the hell had he forgotten that she was here? He had been so intent upon finding Rey undetected that he completely blocked out anything else. Including Leia Organa.

"We have to tell her you're back," Rey whispered. Excitement was tingling through her, and Ben credited her that she was trying hard to keep it constrained.

"No. Rey-"

"She's missed you so badly-"

"Can I have some fucking time?" He stared at her in disbelief. "I lost the First Order. The Knights of Ren. You haven't even agreed to help me." He pulled off his tunic and groaned. A blaster burn grazed the length of his shoulders. "Just give me the night. Thanks."

Rey finally paused to really look at him. Burns and bruises dotted his entire torso. His fight to leave the Order hadn't been an easy one.

Taking her silence for anger, Ben sighed. "I know you're upset I didn't turn one day and come back to you. I know this isn't how you wanted it to happen. I'll sleep on the ground. Just – please. I need time. I need… balance. I need to get some fucking sleep." He collapsed into a heap on the floor, yawning deeply.

She knelt on the floor before him. She reached out and touched his swollen cheek. "Ben. Are you okay?" Worry flooded her features. "You should have said you were hurt."

"It's fine. I'm just so fucking tired. I wake up every half hour certain that this is the night Hux sends someone to kill me in my sleep." He sighed and leaned into her caress. "The only place I sleep is with you." His stomach flopped at the admission, but he refused to be embarrassed. If Rey wanted Ben Solo, she was going to get Ben Solo. And Ben Solo could only sleep knowing Rey was there and wouldn't let Hux or one of his cronies kill him without a fight.

Rey stood abruptly. "Get in the bed, Solo." She cocked her head and fought back a smile. "I'm going to take care of you."

For days Ben did nothing but sleep, eat, and meditate to balance himself in the Force. Rey was shocked at how truly exhausted he was. Each day when she returned from half-assedly running the training course mid afternoon, Ben was still deep asleep.

After a week of smothering food out of the mess hall for him, Rey bumped into Leia. An apple fell from her shirt.

Leia raised an eyebrow. "You're not half as sneaky as you think."

Rey cleared her throat. "You got me. Must be a Jakku thing, yeah? Never know when your next meal will be. Sorry, Master. I don't mean to hoard more than my share."

She perched an eyebrow. "Rey." She tugged at Rey's shirt and a small loaf of bread, cheese, and grapes tumbled out of a cloth onto the ground.

Rey scrambled to recover them, but Leia stopped her. "Get a proper meal. No one's going to stop you. And no one else will know he's here," the general said with the quickest wink. Rey's blood ran cold, but Leia smiled knowingly. "You wouldn't have him here if he wasn't doing something for the light." Leia nodded. "I won't come looking. Promise. I've waited years. A few more days won't break me." She hesitated. "Just bring a bag for the extra food next time."