Author's Note: So this chapter is a little different. It's going to be split into two parts and you'll understand why after you read. So without further ado...enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not and nor have I ever owned Star Wars. I simply play in their world.

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Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away...

Rey

I sipped lightly at my drink, trying hard not to show my disgust as the bitter, green liquid hit my tongue.

Tammorian juice, the only thing this bar sold that wasn't laced with alcohol or drugs.

I was here because I was chasing down the last component I needed to fix Luke's broken saber.

A dealer named Praksis was suppose to meet me here. He sold unusual parts that he collected from all corners of the galaxy, but was damn hard to find.

Mainly because most of the stuff he sold was illegal and had a tendency not to stick around one spot for too long.

The only reason I found him was because of Maz Kanata.

I take another sip of the bitter liquid as the memory of that particular meeting replay's itself in my head.

"So what does Rey of Jakku want with this old woman?"

I had secured a holofeed so we could talk, but I had to make this short. Maz was still on Empheria and I was taking a chance that this channel wasn't being hacked right now by the First Oder or those who were on their side.

I held up a single, detailed drawing.

"I need this piece. Do you know someone who has it?"

"Hmm," I see her put on her goggles as she stares at the paper I hold, "a kyber crystal holder if I'm not mistaken."

It shouldn't surprise me that she knows what this is, but it does. She gives me a chuckle and leans back.

"Yeah, I know someone who might have the piece. Why?"

"Maz," desperation in my voice, "I don't have time for twenty questions. Can you help me or not?"

She sighs as she pulls off her goggles and takes a drink of some beverage in her hand. "Young people these days, no manners at all."

I grit my teeth and remember how difficult it can be to get a straight answer out of her. "Maz, I'm sorry. I'm trying to repair Master Skywalker's lightsaber. This is the last piece."

"Is that so? Well the person you're looking for is called Praksis. A shifty drydil if ever I saw one. Deals mostly in the hard-to-find, often illegal, parts."

"Great, where can I find him?"

"Never in one spot for long, but last I heard he was on Pralis Six."

Maz puts down her beverage and gives me an enigmatic smile.

"First Order world, that one. Go to a bar named Kemora's Secret, order a drink of tammorian juice."

"Why?"

"Thought you didn't have time for questions?"

I count to ten and let out a breath. "Right. Pralis Six, tammorian juice. Dealer named Praksis. Anything else I should know?"

"Be careful there Rey," she tells me with a gleam in her dark eyes, "you may find more than what you seek."

I swirled my drink, wondering how long I could pretend to sit here waiting for this dealer to show up.

"Hey little beauty, buy you another drink?"

It takes me a second to realize that rough voice is talking to me. I turn to see a male, human, sliding into the seat next to me.

I have never seen a human with hair so pale it was nearly white. It was a shock against the dark tan of his skin, especially with the stubble around his jaw. He was smiling at me with an ease that told me he was used to dealing with women.

Too bad that smile didn't reach his exotic, golden eyes. He was dressed in a faded blue shirt, pushed back from his arms to reveal twin black cuffs around his wrists.

"No." I tell him, taking a deliberate sip from the glass, just to show I already have a drink.

"Too bad. But I guess it takes a certain kind of person to drink tammorian juice."

I put the cup down slowly. There was no way he could know what I was drinking...unless someone had told him.

"Praksis?"

A smile that reveals very white teeth.

"One of but many names I choose to go by. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name beautiful one?"

The charm in his voice might have worked on other women, but it just made me grit my teeth in annoyance.

"Rey."

"A last name to go with that?"

"No," I tell him shortly, "just Rey."

"Delighted to make your acquaintance. Maz didn't mention that my contact would be so stunning a creature."

I roll my eyes and take another sip, just to give myself a minute so I don't do something stupid.

Like punch him.

"You know Maz?"

He waves a hand at me and takes his drink, a pale gold liquid, from the bar tender.

"Does anyone really know someone? But yes," he adds when I just glare him, "let us say that I know her."

"Did she tell you why I'm here?"

"Oh I already know why you're here."

I give him a sharp look and he gives me that charming smile that still leaves his eyes cold.

"You're here because you want something that is hard to obtain, probably illegal, and I'm the best there is at getting such items of value."

"Uh huh," I tell him, sounding bored. I didn't want him to know just how badly I needed this part. "Have you seen this before?"

I pull out the drawing I have and let him get a look at it.

"Hmmm, well this is a bit of a relic...very hard to obtain."

"So you've seen one. Do you have it?"

"Perhaps."

I'm about to ask him what he means by that, but something was stirring up the crowd.

Rain coated in ice...the caress of darkness, a trail of fire in its wake...

My fingers clench around the glass, the wash of heat making my skin burn and my mouth go dry. Butterflies take wing in my blood as adrenaline kicks in.

Only one person has the ability to touch me like this.

"Looks like a Corellian."

"Looks like trouble to me."

I turn in my seat and the breath slams out of me.

For a moment I thought I was looking at Han Solo...but it wasn't.

It was Ren.

But he didn't look like the Kylo Ren I knew. He was dressed in a gray shirt pushes up to the elbows and tucked into black leather pants. The slightly scuffled boots he wore came to just below his knees. The black vest he wore open showed the blaster strapped to the left side of his hip.

His dark, raven hair was pushed back off of his face in roguish disarray and I could practically feel the energy coming from him as his eyes swept the room, a bored look on his face. He walked down the few steps as though he owned the place.

"I'm looking for Praksis."

A whisper of darkness in his voice, violence and power with more than a touch of arrogance in it.

There wasn't a single face that didn't turn in the direction of his voice.

I saw the hungry glances in the women as they stared at him, the males narrowed their eyes and begin to wonder who he was...and how they could take him down.

"Someone you know?"

I blinked, having forgotten Praksis completely, my attention held by Ren.

"What makes you say that?" I ask him, keeping my word cool.

"The look in your eyes. Ex-boyfriend or something like that?"

"Something like that."

I could feel the tension in Praksis and knew he was ready to bolt because of Ren.

Since I didn't know yet if he had the part I was looking for, I needed to do something quick.

Well since he already suspects I know Ren...

I turn my attention back to Ren, I don't think he's seen me yet.

"Well, well look what the Rathan dragged in." I pitch my voice to carry and see his head snap in my direction.

I slide off of my seat and move towards his direction, weaving through the tables until I am only a few inches from him.

I let the scarf I was wearing earlier slide down to my neck so he can get a good look at me.

"Hello Ben."

"Rey?"

Confusion in his voice and I lift an eyebrow at him.

"Oh good, you do remember me."

His eyes darken at my sweet tone just before I haul back and slap him hard across the face.

The resounding crack snaps his head back and the silence in the room is so quiet I could hear the mice scurrying across the floor.

"Didn't think I would remember did you? That's for that stunt you pulled on Darvis Four."

His hand lifts to his face, the red mark I left quite vivid.

I put my hands on my hips and lift my chin to him.

I prayed he knew me as well I hoped he did and would realize what I was about.

"Still mad about that after all this time?"

Purring darkness in his voice that turns my blood to honey even as I give him my most aggrieved stare.

"Yes I am. What's it to you?"

His arm catches me around my waist, pulling me hard up against him.

"Ben!" I shove at his chest, "You can't talk your way out of this, not this time!"

"So I won't."

His mouth is on mine and there is nothing feigned about my response as his tongue tangles with mine, his fingers digging into my hips.

I moan, softly, into his mouth as my fingers tangle in hair. I break away, up on the tip of my toes as I run my lips over the side of his jaw.

"What are you doing here?" I whisper harshly into his ear, keeping his head next to mine.

"I could ask the same of you." He whispers back, taking a sharp nip on my ear.

Lightning in my veins, delicious heat that pools low in my body.

I let go of him, shoving at his chest lightly and he releases his hold on me.

There are more than few sounds of laughter at our 'reunion' and the people turn away from us, just as I hoped they would.

He folds his arms across his chest, a smug look in his eyes at he stares down at me.

"Still angry with me?" he purrs at me and I fuss with my scarf and bite my lip, watching the people around us. Still a few curious stares, mostly from the women, but not much else.

Good.

"Yes," I reply giving him a slow smile, "but since I already have what you're looking for, I'm starting to feel better."

I turn and walk away knowing that he'll have to follow me after that bit of information I threw his way.

I move back to Praksis who was watching our little drama with interested eyes.

"So, where were we?" I ask as I slide back into my seat and look at my drink and take a delicate sniff before pushing it away.

"First, tell me what that was about."

I shrug my shoulders, his eyes leaving my face to glance at my chest, before returning. There is a gleam in his eyes that I do not like.

"Old business that needed to be resolved."

"Quite dramatically I might add. Just what did he do to you?"

"Nothing that warrants retelling. So I'm going to ask one more time; where were we?"

His eyes roam my face before that oh-so-charming smile returns to his lips.

"I believe we were coming to a deal fair one."

"Were we? I don't recall you telling me what I wanted to hear."

"I may have acquired the piece your looking for."

All of this dancing around was giving me headache but I had given myself a part to play and now I needed to stick with it.

"How much to take it off of your hands?"

His hand slides along my leg and I stiffen, ice coating my blood.

"Perhaps we can discuss terms...elsewhere. Not everything I sell needs to be bought with credits."

Before I can tell where he can shove that particular offer, his hand is pulled off of me and shoved behind his back.

Praksis is cursing with vivid creativity before the pain cuts off his ability to speak momentarily.

"She doesn't like to be touched."

I look up at Ren, his scent drowning me as he glares at Praksis.

I can hear his bones grinding beneath the cuffs he wears.

"Ow! Ow! My mistake!"

I touch Ren's arm, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my hand.

"You can let him go, I don't need you to protect me. I can do that myself."

Both men look at me and I glance down.

A dark smile comes to Ren's eyes as he see's the blaster I have leveled at Praksis stomach from beneath the ledge of the bar.

"Just who are you?" Praksis asks as he rubs the wrist Ren just released.

"Praksis, Ben. Ben, Praksis. Introductions done."

"Ben? Just Ben?" Praksis sighs and orders another drink, "what is it with people and no last names these days?"

Ren shoots me a dark look but I just lean back in my chair, giving him a cool smile.

"Now that's over with, can we get down to serious business. I have other places I would rather be than here."

"Oh as you wish, though it pains me to me to be denied your sweet company."

A soft, near inaudible growl from Ren who hasn't left my side.

That soft, feminine part of me is delighted with his anger and I holster my weapon, knowing that Ren will rip Praksis in two if he so much as looks at me wrong.

"Do you have the piece or not?"

"Yes, hard to come by as it is."

"No doubt. Two hundred credits."

"Perhaps I was wrong about the piece if that's the price your offering. Eight hundred credits. I'm being generous."

I give a soft snort of laughter at his words.

"As you said, it's a relic. Two hundred and fifty."

"Which makes it valuable because of its age. Seven hundred and sixty."

"Yes but as you said, hard to come by, which means it can't be used by many. Three hundred and twenty."

"Ah but the right person would be very interested in it's use. Six hundred and forty."

"What does he have that is of interest to you Rey."

I see the smile slip from Praksis as Ren cuts into our bargaining. I look up at him, the bored look on his face not fooling me for a moment.

"Why should I tell you?" I ask lightly as though this entire exchange means nothing to me.

"Humor me."

"Convince me and I might tell you."

He lifts a raven eyebrow at me and I give him a wicked smile.

His fingers are already tilting my chin up and I open my mouth beneath his, breathing his air, letting him set my blood afire.

He pulls away and I can feel my lips curving.

"Not bad," I murmur as I lift the paper from the small pouch at my waist, "though I'm still not certain you deserve to see this."

He pulls the paper from my fingers and studies it. I order another drink from the bar tender, still the damn juice.

I sip at it, promising myself a cold glass of water when all of this was done just so I could rid myself of the taste.

Or maybe, I study Ren beneath my lowered lids, I'll just kiss Ren again. I'd rather taste him than this stuff.

"You're wasting your time," he tells me handing me back the paper, "he's either lying or it's in bad shape. You were always too trusting Rey."

"Well I trusted you," I tell him with sweet venom, "and look where that got me."

"The part is real and in working order," Praksis tells me, the charm no longer in his voice, "I should know. I've handled it."

"Then you'll also note it's illegal to sell on any world under the First Order's rule."

Ren's voice, cold and ruthless, a dark glitter in his eyes as he looks at the now slightly pale Praksis.

He leans over, plucking the glass from my hands and takes a sip.

I give him a sour look when he doesn't even so much as twitch an eyebrow at the taste of it.

"Well, yes, there is that consideration."

Considering all the stormtroopers I saw in the city finding my way here, I am amazed he showed up at all.

I see the sweat gather on Praksis brow and he turns to be with a slightly more benign look on his face.

"Since you seem to be willing to...ah...carry such an item I suppose I have no choice but to sell it to you. Four hundred, last offer."

I pretend to think about it and look at Ren, who is still holding my juice.

A slight tip of his head as he hands it back to me.

"Fine, four hundred credits. Where's the part?"

"Where's the money?"

I dig into my pouch and lift out four credits, each marked with a one hundred symbol.

I see the greed in his eyes as reaches for the money. I snatch my hand back, closing a fist around it.

"While my associate," I tip my head to Ren, "may think I'm too trusting, I'm not foolish. You'll get your money when I get my part."

He downs his drink and sets it back on the table.

"Yes, yes, alright. Meet me in the warehouse district just after the seventh bell. You'll get your part then."

"Why the wait?" I demand, wondering if he's somehow trying to deceive me, "why not go there now?"

"Because," he tells me with a lofty sigh, "that's when I'll have it. So you can either wait for the seventh bell...or go find yourself another dealer who can get you the part."

Since it had taken me a month, and Maz's connection, to get me this one I had no choice.

"Fine," I reply in bored tone, "Seventh bell. You had better be there."

A nod of his head before he turns his attention to the male at my side.

"So...Ben was it? What invaluable item can I offer you today."

"Not an item. Information."

I look at Ren, trying hard not to be curious, but the pointed look he gives me tells me it's not working.

So I turn back to Parksis, who doesn't seem surprised by the request.

"You sell information?"

"For the right price, I can sell you anything you desire."

I ignore the innuendo in his voice, not in the least bit attracted to him.

Not with Ren standing right next to me.

I take another sip of my juice, not because I like the damn stuff...but because Ren sipped from it and I cover my mouth over the same spot he used.

A stolen kiss, as the saying goes.

Both men are silent and I wonder why...until I realize they're both looking at me.

Ren with exasperation in his obsidian eyes and Parksis with bored amusement in his golden ones.

"What?" I look up at Ren and give him an indolent smile, "don't trust me with your secrets?"

"I still remember the last secret I gave you. It didn't stay secret long."

I give a theatrical sigh but his tone tells me that he isn't going to say anything about why he is here until I leave.

"One slip of the tongue and you hold it against me." I grouse even as I toss a single credit on the table for the drink.

I slide off of my chair but Ren refuses to move and I have brush past him, the heat of his body a sensual kiss to my own.

The look in his eyes tells me he knows exactly what he's doing to me.

I trail a single finger over his jawline and leave a parting shot.

"Try not to rip out his tongue, Ben, if he makes you mad like the last one. I still have business with him."

I look over my shoulder to see the whites of Parksis's eyes as give him a wicked smile.

Serves him right for the way he talked to me earlier.

"Wait for me. This won't take long."

I flick my gaze back to Ren and give him a jaunty smile.

"Maybe." I tell him and move towards the exit.

I can feel Ren's burning gaze on the back of my neck and I can't stop the sway of my hips as I walk away.

The women give me envious, hate-filled looks as the men quickly pull their legs out of my path as I gently keep my finger on the release of my blaster.

I make it out of the bar and turn down the alley, my legs shaking as I try to get my nerves back under control.

I just flirted outrageously with Kylo Ren and I still had several more hours to go before I could leave this planet.

Maz was right. I found more that what I originally sought...and I was in way over my head with him.

To be continued...