So a little shorter Chapter this time with only a little bit more development, but...it was needed.

To all who keep up the comments and support...THANK YOU! As a side note, I do try to take a moment to send each response a message, so have a look as you won't get alerts for those.

And, because I don't need to upset the powers that be...I own nothing, all rights to Disney.

Chapter 23

Rey was already gone when Ben finally woke up and stretched his arm out in search of her warmth. He felt like he hadn't gotten hardly any sleep and his body was sore still from their efforts to contain the darkness the night before.

He sat up, looking around the hut, as he wiped his eyes trying to focus. The fire was crackling low with the kettle off to the side and a pot that smelled like porridge was steaming on the edge of the ring of the hearth.

He was able to get a better look at the state of their hut after the power they had expended seemed to ricochet out of them. The bricks of the hut itself were obviously loose, a few missing in places. The door was hanging ajar in the frame, the top hinge dangling off the one side of it while their various items had all been pushed against the outer walls, some items still laying on the floor under the furniture.

He got up to go wash as Rey came through the door, propping it back into place with a slight struggle as she mumbled to herself.

Rey looked up to see Ben smirking at her as she muttered about the door, "Morning," She said sheepishly and glanced back at the door, "I'm sure they are going to blame me for that." She said referring to the Lanai's dislike for her.

Ben just raised an eyebrow at her and moved to their supplies and grabbed some tools. Minimal swearing and a few minutes later the door was back in place on its hinges properly and closing like it should.

Ben put the tools back and headed out to wash up while Rey got the rest of their breakfast sorted and settled by the fire, already tired from just doing a few chores. Her thoughts drifted to the power they had drawn upon during the night and something clicked in her mind and she rushed over to where the Jedi texts were. She frantically flipped through the books trying to find what she had seen. As she flipped the pages, she saw Ben come back in, hair dripping and he shot her a curious look.

"Something caught in my memory from last night." She said, head down as her page flipping slowed. She stopped, her finger running down the page before she stood, thrusting the book at him.

"Here. Right here. This is what I remembered." And tapped her finger on the paged quickly with her excitement.

Ben picked the book out of her hands and read through it, his eyes narrowing as he did, then read it again out loud in his deep tone, "First comes the day, then comes the night. After the darkness shines through the light. The difference, they say, is only made right by the resolving of gray through refined Jedi sight." He lifted his eyes, a look of deep thought creasing his brow.

Rey waited as he thought the puzzle of the words through, feeling his mind churning on it, and examining it from all sides.

"If the night is the darkness..." Ben stared slowly, voicing his thoughts as he paced, "the shines through the light could be interpreted a couple ways..." his voice trailed off as his pacing continued.

He continued to mumble to himself as he paced, almost as if he forgot Rey was even standing there, while she followed along through their bond with his thoughts.

"Refined Jedi sight," turning he finally addressed her, "that could be the key to stopping the darkness." He said, a sliver of hope edging through his voice.

Rey nodded with a smile on her face, "That's what I was thinking too as I sat and noticed the pattern of the power we seemed to repel off of our bond last night."

"We could have a real answer here, but I'm worried, even that small amount we used last night nearly drained us both." He said, his mind working on another problem, puzzling it through slowly as he started to pace again.

Rey sat on her chair, her head falling to rest her chin in her hands as she thought about it, "What about the army that the holocron spoke of, the one that defeated the darkness?" Rey said, eyes staring at the fire.

Ben stopped in the middle of his pacing and turned slowly towards her, "What if..." He began and then shook his head, pacing again slower, "What if, we could channel the strength of others?" He said quietly and turned to look at her, his head cocking to the side with the idea.

Rey looked at his questioningly, "Channel? Like, pull from everyone's power through us? Like when I almost killed you?" her voice was almost incredulous as if he was suggesting they sacrifice an army for the power to stop the darkness.

Ben rushed over and knelt, taking her hands in his, "Yes...but, no." He said frowning with how it was coming across as he followed her thoughts, "If we channel enough people, we wouldn't have that risk, right?" He said as if looking for support to his idea.

Rey shook her head, blinking, trying to wrap her mind around the idea, "I don't know. Our bond has only been between the two of us."

Ben moved, releasing her hands and sitting in his chair, "I know. I'm hoping that Tsaro and the counsel will be able to help with that part." He watched the flames flicker, as his mind turned the whole thing over and over.

Rey rose and served up the breakfast she had prepared and poured them some tea, "Here. Eat. We need to make sure we keep our strength up." She stated, digging into her own food.

Ben nodded a thanks and ate as well, immediately missing some of the variety they had while on Malastare, but deciding her shouldn't complain since she had made it while he slept.

By mid afternoon Tsaro still hadn't shown up and Rey was getting antsy as she tried to find things to do in the hut, especially since Ben seemed content to scower the text again for anything else that might help them since they finally had a small clue.

Finally with a frustrated huff she left the hut with her saber and headed to the outcrop to work out some of her pent up tension. Taking a breath she ignited the saber with a small smile, moving lithely as she listened to the sound of the saber cut the air, her body calming and centering with each pass of the golden blade.

It didn't take long for her body to be warm and a sheen of sweat that cover her face and neck as she moved, letting the force flow through her as she went through the light saber patterns. She came to a finish of the last pattern, her breathing hard and her heart pounding, feeling like she had finally managed to work through everything that had been trapped inside.

The sky had filled with clouds, darkening the early evening further than it usually was and she sighed, catching her breath looking at the angry clouds above her. She felt like they were heavy with rain and she thought if she climbed to the peak, she could probably reach out and touch them.

She walked up the hill, her legs heavy and well worked to find the hut area quiet and calm with the impending storm. Instead of heading to the hut she went to wash first, finding fresh cloths and towels laid out for her. The water felt like it was only a few degrees above freezing, but it was good on her skin as she washed, and scrubbed until her skin was tingling.

By the time she got back into the hut, she figured Tsaro would be cross with her for being so late as the wind had picked up and the first drops of rain had started to fall. Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance as she walked, head down the short distance back to her hut.

Closing the door she turned to see Ben, still in the same spot, papers and writing littered around him and a smear of ink on his cheek and she smirked at the sight.

"Where you like this when you studied?" She asked breaking his wrapt attention on what he was looking at.

"Oh, is it really dark out already?" He asked surprised and sitting up, papers crumpling as he sifted to clean up.

Rey frowned for a moment and looked around, "Tsaro didn't come?" she asked, a tone of worry in her voice.

Ben frowned with the realization of how late it was, "No, she didn't." he said reflecting the same worry.

Rey paused, and looked back at the door wondering if she should go out and try to find her when it sounded like the clouds ripped open, letting loose the rain in a torrential down pour and she frowned turning back to Ben.

"She's not coming in this." Rey said with a frown as a clap of thunder shook the walls of the hut and she turned to get herself some water.

Ben got up and moved to the window, opening it slightly to peer out into the storm, "Looks like there are lights in the caretaker's huts, we could head over to find her." He commented as three bright flashes lit his face up followed shortly by an earth vibrating clap of thunder.

He looked back at Rey for a moment, his lips tight and she shook her head slowly, "Let's let this pass for the night. If she's not here first thing, we will go find her?" She suggested finally as more flashes reflected around the frames and thunder boomed.

Ben nodded and moved back to his bed cleaning up the papers that were scattered, closing the books and putting them back in the pack Rey had kept them.

"Did you find anything further?" Rey asked eyeing him as he cleaned up.

Ben shrugged a little, "Nothing more than what we got, I didn't understand any of this," He said holding up a text with a carving that looked kind of like an eye on the cover, "But I thought there was something about a battle in it from what I remember from Luke's training, I had forgotten about it until I pulled out the book and saw the cover." He tucked the book in the pack as well, gently with all the others and closed the flap over them.

Rey looked up at his serious face and quickly covered her mouth as she laughed at him. He had ink smeared from his cheek up to his temple in a few places as if he had been moving his hair out of his face.

"What?" he grumped with a dark scowl at her.

Rey grabbed a cloth, still laughing and reached up as he tensed for a moment, "Here, please." she said a little more gently and wiped the ink off, showing him the rag.

Ben's brow furrowed as he looked at the blackened rag and he lifted his hand, his right hand covered in smudges as well, "Thanks." He mumbled taking the rag from her and cleaning his hands.

Rey tried to keep her laughter contained as he continued to scowl, "Were you hungry?" she asked a sudden clap of thunder making her jump. "I don't think I will ever get used to that." She said under her breath.

Ben's look softened and he moved to stand behind Rey, wrapping his arms around her, feeling her lean into his chest. She felt so small in his arms like this, but he knew better. She was strong, if not stronger than him. Ben leaned his cheek against her hair as the lightening flashed in a brilliant display for a few brief seconds and the ground vibrated with the almost immediate thunder.

"Let's have some food and take your mind off of it." He murmured into her hair, breathing in the scent of the soap she used.

Rey leaned into the strength that Ben offered for a moment, feeling his breath, warm in her hair and how his voice seemed to reverberate in his chest against her back. The thunder rumbled and she shivered as if felt like it was some kind of ominous omen of something that was coming.

Turning in his arms, she let herself give in to the fear that was edging on her mind and hugged her arms around his middle, just listening to his heart in her ear. She was grateful that he didn't say anything and just held on to her, his head resting on the top of hers lightly.

"I never thought I would wish for the monotony of my scavenging days." Rey mumbled into his shirt and felt him scoff a little.

"But you weren't being chased by a monster in a mask then." He quipped with a soundless chuckle and Rey looked up at him surprised.

Rey grinned as his attempt at humor, "I definitely wasn't expecting this face when you took off the mask." Reaching up she cupped his cheek.

"Hmmm, is that so?" He asked as he raised his eyebrow curiously at her.

Rey couldn't help but blush a little, "I was more than a little shocked to find you attractive." Admitting in a quiet voice.

"And I was trying to be so intimidating." He said, mocking her a little, but secretly flattered at her admission.

Rey slid her hands to his chest, "Oh, you definitely were that. I was terrified by you in that moment," she said watching him frown, "but, I never got the sense you would actually hurt me." She added firmly to ease his guilt.

"I wasn't expecting you either." Ben said trying to get his mind off the negative, "I, uh, had been watching you sleep for a while after I carried you on board."

"Not creepy at all." Rey teased as his ears reddened with her comment. "You know, I knew there was something….more….between us when you told me not to be afraid, that you felt it as well."

Rey reached up and slid her fingers through the curls at the base of his neck and he leaned into her touch, "If I would have known then what I feel now…." He said, his eyes fluttering closed.

Rey slipped her fingers over his lips, "We are here now." She said, watching his hazel eye open and regard her for a moment.

Ben felt the surge of her emotions mixing with his and reached down, cupping the backs of her thighs as he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist. With a couple of quick strides he was at the bed, the rain pouring down with the storm raging to match his growing desire.

Rey was taken completely off guard with his picking her up, but it was short lived as she found herself being laid down on the mattress with incredible gentleness and he rested his weight above her before lowering his head down to place a gentle kiss on her lips.

Rey breathed a happy little huff against his lips just before they connected in anticipation of the spark of their connection. It was like a jolt straight through her to her stomach and between her legs as her body reminded her of their night in Malastare.

Their legs tangled together, Rey's hands coming up to slide into his hair, pulling his head tight against her mouth.

Ben's desire roared to life as her fingers tightened with an ever so slight, painful tug and he tightened his grip around her. He had wanted to just be comforted by her, but now his hands had another idea as they gripped the sides of her shirt working up as his tongue battled with hers.

Rey's body shuddered with the contact of his warm hands on her cool skin of her ribcage and she wanted more. More of him, more contact, more of his heat against hers. She grasped his shirt collar and tugged, pulling the material up until they hit an impasse with both shirts halted at their arms.

Ben huffed a frustrating laugh and finally sat up, bringing her up with him, letting go of her shirt so they could both pull his off. Next was her shirt which had fallen back down all the way and Rey lifted her arms as Ben lifted it over her head and tossed it against the bricks out of the way.

He leaned in to kiss her again, but Rey placed a stopping hand on his chest as she reached behind her and undid her chest wrap, sliding it off with a heated look in her eyes. She dropped it off to the side on her shirt as well before reaching back and trailing her fingers lightly down his bare chest finally allowing him to lean forward, while she laid back down on the bed.

Her skin was liquid fire against his chest, his hand moving reverently across her collar bone to her shoulder, before he ducked his head to kiss down her jaw to the pulse in her neck.

Rey bit down on her lower lip as she automatically lifted her chin to allow him better access to that sensitive spot. Her hands gripping his waist band tightly, pulling his hips flush with hers creating a delicious presser when she arched against him with each kiss.

Rey lifted against him a forth time with a rumble of thunder as his mouth closed on her right shoulder and he groaned, moving his hands to pin her hips to the mattress and keeping her from moving again.

Ben rested his forehead on her shoulder he just kissed and panted out, "You need to go slow with that." In a low, dangerous growl, the room lighting up for a sharp moment.

Rey's breathing was coming just as hard as his and her body didn't want to be held still as it writhed against his force in pent up energy and the force of the storm all around them. "Mmmm, okay." She whispered, and her mind worked on another sensation it wanted to feel again.

Reaching up she tangled her fingers through his hair again and gently pushed his head just a little lower, the stubble of his days growth on his chin scraping a path to where she wanted his mouth.

Ben's lip curled in a feral smile at her insistence as he took note of glow the flashes reflected off her perfect skin, but he offered no resistance to her urging. He only paused for only a moment to flick a look back up at her arousal flushed cheeks, and kiss swollen lips before he inched his chin over the sensitive nub.

Rey's chest arched involuntary with the sensation of his stubble followed by his soft lips and hot tongue. His hand releasing there presser on her hip to slide up her ribcage again, more thunder rumbling over their panting breaths.

Ben shifted his weight between her legs, feeling the damp heat sear through the light material of her pants against his stomach and the desire spiked to a new high in him. He instantly hardened as his pulse jumped and he dragged his teeth over the peek he had made, causing Rey to breath out a moan.

The thunder crashed as he closed his mouth around her other nipple, the lightening picking up its pace almost in time with their passion. Ben wrapped his arms around her chest, lifting her into his lap as he sat up on his heals and he kissed her again, relishing in the way she moved.

Rey opened her mind to him, their thoughts and feelings melding into a hazy blur of pure sensation. Her hands becoming his, his mouth becoming hers. She felt the tight constriction of his aching erection and the wet heat of hers all at the same time, her mind losing all ability to distinguish herself from him.

Ben almost whimpered as Rey took his lip gently between her teeth and shifted her hips forward with a blinding force of pure need, causing him to slide a hand down her back, into her pants to cup her tail bone and continue the pressure rubbing him.

Rey's need, took on a life of its own as he slipped a hand in her pants, "To many clothes." She complained as he nodded quickly in agreement, the wind howling as more thunder shook the hut to the very base.

Ben laid her back on the bed, and nearly ripped the ties apart as he rushed to get he pants and under coverings off of her legs and needlessly tossing them on the floor, and rose up on his knees to shuck his, dropping them on the floor with hers.

Rey watched his body in as the lightening flashed, giving her moments of brilliant flashes of his striking power refracting in her memory, followed by the crashing of its paired thunder as he lowered himself over her, his body screaming at the restraint he was forcing on it.

He dragged himself over her wetness, her hands gripping the curls at his neck as she watched him move. Her mouth opened slightly with the action, her eye on fire as he watched her, his arms bracing his chest above her.

Ben froze his actions, caught in the intensity of their shared desire and her arousal as he took in her beauty, sharing his thoughts and feelings that flowed in his mind, "I want to have this picture of you in my mind forever." He whispered, the intensity bringing shocking tears to his eyes causing him to blink them back.

Rey shifted herself to place him at her opening and wrapped her arms around his neck while tilting her hips up, driving him forward into her, eye focused on his. The sensation of heat, hardness, softness, and pressure overwhelmed her and she dropped her head back, a low moan reaching her ears.

The storm raged, thunder clapping with every thrust Ben made, before he lifted her into his lap once more, keeping them coupled as he did. Rey braced her elbows on his shoulder and they moved, feeling the force build with their connection as they teetered on the peak.

Ben felt Rey on the edge, her body tightening around him and he clung to her, and pushing into her again, took her up and over the edge.

Rey shattered, her eyes squeezing shut with the sheer force of the intensity, stars, exploding behind her lids and she moaned his name, the lightening following her explosions and the thunder muting her cries.

Ben felt her fall he gripped her, two flashes of lightening playing off her skin as he thrust another time, following her over the edge, his bliss burning through him as the thunder followed him into the unknown of his orgasm.

Rey's breathing shuddered as she felt his release, her heart still hammering with each aftershock that ripped through them, the storm continuing to rage, headless of the fact that they had finally calmed their own storm. Rey went limp, her arms around his neck, hands still cradling the back of his head his head resting over her shoulder while their consciousness floated back apart, her own bodies sensations coming back to awareness.

Ben tried to slow his body down as he felt himself still cradled inside of her and his head held tenderly in her hands, fingers threading through his sweat dampened waves. He raised up, lifting her with him, his body spent, but his feet going numb in his position. Laying her down and shifting to slide out of her with an, "Mmmm," at the loss of her warmth around him, he settled beside her.

Rey curled into him as he laid down, eyes closing as he pulled the blanket over them both. She felt fluid, melting against his body, shifting her knee over his legs and an arm across his chest as she was tucked into his side.

The rain pounded on the roof and the lightening continue to flash while the claps of thunder didn't follow until later and later. Ben's eyes drifted shut as he listened to all the sounds of the storm around him, and the feel of her body against him.

"I never thought…." Rey started quietly, her voice rousing Ben from his relaxed state.

"Hmmm?" He rumbled, not sure what she had said.

"I never thought….I could…I would feel this way." She finished, struggling for the words to explain her feelings.

Ben shifted his head to place a light kiss on the top, "I understand." His voice vibrated in his chest, not quite as articulate as he usually was.

Rey shifted her head, she kissed his bare chest as some thunder clapped again, softer and seemingly more off in the distance, followed by her stomach rumbling loudly.

Ben's chest shook her head with his chuckles, "We didn't eat supper." He commented and smoothed her hair off her cheek.

"I'm okay with that, but my stomach has other ideas." Rey grumped with a slight pout and Ben smiled at her behavior.

He hauled himself out of bed with a groan and searched for his pants before pulling them on and turning back to Rey with a mock bow, "Food for my lady."

Rey laughed at his lightness and watched him move with a refined grace as he prepared them a simple meal of some cured meats, cheese and the last of her fruit after the okay from her.

Rey searched through the clothes and found her shirt and under bottoms, pulling them on before he finished the food and crawled back on the bed with their feast. She eagerly dug into the food, forgoing any conversation until she had eaten a good helping of each item.

"Mmmm, thank you." Rey said around a mouthful of fruit, licking her fingers carefully.

Ben just smiled, enjoying how they lounged in bed with the food before commenting thoughtfully, "I've never done this."

Rey frowned, "Never done what?" She asked, her mind going to their earlier activities.

Ben blushed catching her thoughts, "That either," he said shyly then added, "I was meaning eating in bed."

Rey's eyes widened at him and she ducked her face for a moment, embarrassed that she assumed he had been referring to earlier, "I used to eat in bed during the cold season. But, not like this." She said glancing back up at him.

Her mind got the better of her as they ate for the next few moments in silence and she decided to ask before he felt the question, "Weren't you ever interested in anyone?" She asked quietly.

Ben coughed on his piece of fruit in surprise at her question, "Um, no. There wasn't ever….anyone." He stumbled out awkwardly.

She felt bolder with her curiosity, "Were there other girls that trained with you at Luke's temple? Or women on the ship?" She didn't know why all of a sudden this was important for her to know, but somehow it was.

Ben set his food down and frowned a little, "There were girls training, yes." He started slowly, reluctantly, "There was one I trained with a lot, Voe. But we were more adversaries than anything."

Rey could feel a darkness surrounding the mention of her name, and knew there was more to the story, but she didn't push as he moved on.

"Then on the ship, well, it wasn't acceptable for someone in my position. Besides, my Sith training kept me on a singular focus." He finished with a bit of a shrug and Rey regretted pushing the question.

"What about you?" Ben said, shifting the question back at her, trying to lighten his dark thoughts.

Rey huffed a bit with a humorless breath, "You saw the kind of men that were around me, and boys, well, they were to busy being put to work till they became those horrid men." She shuddered at the thought for a moment and picked at the piece of cured meat in her hand.

Ben watched her for a moment until she dropped the meat on her plate and dusted off her fingers. He leaned over the food and kissed her temple, lingering for a moment before he whispered, "You just needed to find a really wrong man who needed the right woman."