Finn had sat in front of the tracking computer all morning, monitoring Rey's location as the little red dot blinked across the navigational chart. He was nervous, his emotions on fire as he ran through scenarios in his head from worst case to best case.

When the Falcon finally reached the Chandrila air space, Finn had nearly tossed his chair across the room when he scooted out of it. Poe followed briskly behind, who had used his pirating skills to disable all other navigational computers in Hanna City from detecting the Falcon's entry.

He hated keeping her arrival a secret, but it was for her own safety. The man who accompanied her, on the other hand, could burn in hell for all he cared. But, he meant something to Rey so that meant he had to keep him safe too, for her sake.

The air was warm and dry as they stepped out of the hanger, the sun beaming down on them pleasantly and reflecting off the tan concrete of the landing platform. The city was quiet, especially in this hidden area, the only sound from their footsteps which echoed off the tall walls surrounding them.

Finn took a deep breath as he walked through the Chandrila air, eyes straight ahead and blinking rapidly to adjust to the sunlight. Poe walked silently by his side as they emerged together out of the hanger bay and onto the landing platform.

First, he spotted the Falcon and his stomach dropped, both from nerves and excitement. It was a confirmation that she was really here, and safe, but also that he was here too.

How in the world has it come to this? We're about to accept the former Supreme Leader into our new capital...

Then, he spotted the two figures as they emerged from the Falcon. His eyes immediately gravitated to the taller form, eyes narrowing on him. They stopped just outside the Falcon and Rey looked about as she searched the hanger bay. Her head stopped swiveling as she landed on him and Poe, advancing closer.

As they approached, Finn was now able to make out the details of their features.

She stood with her staff, as she usually did, in her royal white tunic and wrappings, just as she had the last time he saw her. Her hair was fastened back into her usual three, closely worn buns and her lightsaber and blaster were hooked tightly on the leather belt around her waist.

Then he took in the shape of the tall, dark man standing next to her. Finn ground his teeth together and tasted the adrenaline that coursed through him as his eyes narrowed on Kylo Ren.

He certainly appeared no different than Kylo Ren, but somehow he did look like a different man.

How is that possible?

He stood tall over Rey, dressed from head to toe in his usual dark colors. But his outfit was new, unique to anything Finn had seen him wear before. He wore a loose fitting, dark grey tunic with a v-neck that exposed more of his pale skin than Finn had ever seen.

Huh - so he's not all machine.

He wore black pants, and black leather boots, clearly recognizable to Finn as his First Order pair. His flowing, dark black hair was the same, pushed back from his face and worn in long waves that barely grazed his broad shoulders.

His sharp, striking face was stoic, serious, and brooding, as it always had been, yet was glowing with a softness Finn had never seen Kylo Ren wear.

He looked...human.

Finn's eyes caught a reflection of light on Ren's hip - a lightsaber. As they drew closer, Finn recognized it as Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber. The same one this man had nearly killed him with a year prior.

The contrast of the pair standing next to each other churned a strange conflict in Finn's core. Rey was peace, light, and happiness, while Ren was...no longer Kylo Ren, but just a man, wearing the shell of the Supreme Leader he once loathed and feared.

Still, Finn couldn't help the rising anger and resentment for the man that boiled in his veins.

Finn and Poe stopped just a few yards in front of them, close enough to reach out touch their skin if they took one giant step closer. He had the unbelievable urge to grab Rey and spin her around in a hug, but he couldn't escape the tinge of fear and uneasiness he felt radiating from the man next to her.

Not only that, but he had been conditioned to fear this man. His stormtrooper "training" had been more like torture and mind control, forcing him into obendiency and submissiveness.

They were awkwardly silent for a few moments. Finn inhaled sharply, and sighed as he let out a huff of air. His eyes flitted between the two of them and the corner of his vision caught a cautious Poe slowly moving a hand to his blaster. Ren carried a large duffle bag and Finn realized that it was the bag Rey had stuffed full before she left Ajan Kloss.

Rey was first to move. She looked at Ren, then stepped forward.

"Finn," she managed a smile, breaking the silence. She stepped towards him, slinging her staff across her back. She threw her arms around him and he pulled her to him, never taking his eyes off the man looming behind her.

He noticed Ren's jaw clench and weight shift uneasily as he watched them embrace.

"Hey, Rey." Finn whispered in her ear as they hugged. He pulled her away, keeping his hands on her shoulders as he examined her.

"You ok?" He asked.

Rey nodded, grinning her beaming smile at him.

Oh how I've missed that smile.

She turned to Poe and her smile faded as her eyes sunk to the hand on his blaster.

Poe didn't look at her as he greeted her, "Hey there, Rey."

His voice shook with intensity and his jaw clenched as he ground his teeth together.

She took a careful step towards Poe and placed her hand on his, covering the blaster.

"Poe. There's no need for that." Her voice was calm and smooth like silk, nearly a whisper.

Poe's jaw clenched harder, then he relaxed and sighed. He cocked his head and smacked his lips, taking his hand of his blaster and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Can't be too careful, Rey. You know that." His eyes flicked to her briefly, then immediately back to Ren.

Rey's expression looked oddly sad and defeated as she nodded and backed up to return to Kylo Ren's side.

Finn hated seeing her so close to him. He knew it would be difficult to see him again, especially after everything that had happened, but this was boiling his nerves hotter than he expected. The last time he had seen Rey with this man, they were trying to kill each other. It just didn't make sense.

But somehow, unbelievably, Finn could sense the sizzling connection that burned between them. They had been like fire and ice, but now they moved in tandem as if they were tethered together by an invisible string.

As Rey retreated to his side, Ren's large body shifted slightly, angling towards her. Rey's eyes met his and his lips curled into a soft, reassuring smile down at her.

Wait. He smiled? He knows how to smile?

Poe spoke next, raising his voice as he spoke with authority, "The people here are good, peaceful people." He said, slowly. "We're all just trying to recover after the war, which you lost, by the way."

Rey flinched. Ren remained frozen at her side, only his hair dancing in black locks around his face from the gentle wind.

"So you do what we say, when we say it." Poe continued.

Finn took a step forward, his voice low. He pierced his eyes into Ren's dark ones as he spoke slowly and precisely. "The only reason you're alive right now is because of what you did for Rey."

"I know." Ren replied simply. He frowned slightly, but his eyes were inexplicably soft.

"And this is for Leia." Poe added. "We haven't forgotten that you're still her son, no matter how much of a monster you were."

Finn noticed Ren's large hand whitened around the duffle bag slung over his shoulder.

Ren's eyes flicked to Poe, "I know." He repeated. "I don't expect you to forget or to forgive what I've done."

Finn shifted his weight, adrenaline and heat ringing in his temples.

"Yep, and one more thing." Finn said as he suddenly lunged forward, letting all the anger inside him explode like a seismic charge.

Ren's eyes flung straight back to Finn just as he landed a sickening punch straight to the man's jaw.

Finn stepped back, breathing hard and shaking out his throbbing hand.

Ren dropped the bag, stumbling back slightly and grunting loudly. Rey rushed forward then, jumping between them.

"Finn! What are you doing?!" She squealed and planted her hands on Finn's shoulders, pushing him backwards.

Finn's eyes burned on Kylo Ren as he only saw red. Satisfaction boiled in him as he watched Ren hunch over and spit blood onto the ground. He stood slowly, rubbing his jaw and moving his eyes to Finn.

"Good hit, traitor." Ren teased, wiping blood from his chin as he nodded approvingly in his direction.

Finn lunged forward again, but Poe was quicker and he seized his arms from behind, pulling him back.

"Finn, buddy, cut it out! Cool it!"

Rey stepped back towards Ren, shaking her head. She placed a hand on her companion's arm and inspected his face. Finn watched as Ren shifted his eyes to meet Rey's, nodding reassuringly.

Then, he placed his large arm in front of Rey and pushed her back to stand in front of her, protectively.

Finn reared, shaking Poe off. He pointed a finger at him and yelled, "You hurt her and I swear you will pay!"

"Finn!" Rey shrieked again, eyes wide and head tilting in disbelief as she peaked behind Ren's broad shoulders.

Ren's mouth dripped blood and he put his hands out to the side, as if patting the air to calm the mood.

"I am not going to hurt her. I wouldn't dream of it. You have my word." He spoke slowly and intently.

"Oh, your word is shit, pal." Finn replied, pacing in front of him, huffing and shaking his head.

Ren sighed and let his arms fall back to his sides, defeated and rolling his eyes.

Who the hell is this man? Kylo Ren would have crushed my throat with the force by now.

Ren continued to speak, his eyes moving between Finn and Poe. "I know you can't forgive me, and likely never will. Hell, I don't think I will ever forgive myself." He paused, working his jaw. "But you called on us for a reason. You need help." He said, knowingly as he nodded his head. "The galaxy is a mess, and that's why you called us here, isn't it-"

"Don't speak for what we need!" Finn stepped forward, pointing a finger in his face.

Ren remained calm as his dark eyes pierced down into Finn's.

"You need our help. Let us help you rebuild...let me correct the mistakes of my past."

Finn let out a breathy, sarcastic laugh. "You'll need millennia for that."

Ren shrugged, "So be it." His eyes grew serious again, "But please...don't forget I'm here because Rey wants me here. Without her, I'd be dead and so would she. But if she wished me away at any moment.." His throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed hard, "I'd leave."

Finn was silent and breathing hard as he stared at Kylo Ren. He tried to find deception in his eyes, but was only met with purpose and truth.

And light.

Ren continued, "Rey is your friend." He nodded between him and Poe. "If you trust her and she trusts me...then maybe...someday you can learn to trust me too."

Finn stepped closer to Ren so his face was only inches from his.

"We'll see." He replied darkly, narrowing his eyes. Finn turned on his heel and headed back towards the capitol.