Rey inhaled sharply as she felt Kylo's hands frame her face. She knew she had to concentrate, but she couldn't help but lean into his touch. His closeness was intoxicating.

As their foreheads touched, she felt his consciousness brush against hers hesitantly. Concern sang across their bond as she felt something brewing in the connection between them.

He was worried.

She started to speak, wanting to ease his fear with some soothing words. Instead, all that came out of her mouth was a gasp as his consciousness enveloped her every thought, and Rey suddenly felt as though she was falling.

She tumbled, her stomach churning and swooping as her thoughts were directed in a thousand different directions. With a heavy thud she landed in an unfamiliar landscape, her head spinning as she looked around.

Logically, she knew she hadn't physically moved. She was still dimly aware of her corporeal body sitting cross-legged in her room. She could even feel the heat from Kylo's forehead, still pressed against hers. But mentally she was somewhere else. She was in a throne room, watching as another version of Kylo held a sheet of parchment out in front of him.

'Her documents start at age 5. Why not before? Where was she born?' she heard him demand, disgust clear in his voice as he scanned the paper.

'We're not sure, sir.' A quivering voice from near the floor made Rey stare at the small creature that was shaking before Kylo Ren.

I know that person, she thought. A Kyuzo... I haven't seen one since…

Her thoughts trailed off as she watched the creature cower before Kylo Ren.

You haven't seen one since Jakku, right?

Shock darted through Rey as she heard Kylo's voice whisper through her mind.

Don't panic. You're in my thoughts, a visitor in my mind. I can hear everything you're thinking, and feeling.

He's called Zuvio, isn't he? He worked with Unkar Plutt. I recognise him.

The realisation dawned in Rey's mind as she watched the Kyuzo's panic. It stammered a reply back to Kylo Ren.

Then... who is that? She asked, staring at the seated version of Kylo as he scanned the parchment.

My past self. I… want to warn you. This memory doesn't end well.

Kylo's voice was suddenly full of regret as the scene continued to unfold in Rey's mind. To her horror, she watched as Kylo started to squeeze the life out of Zuvio, demanding the answers the creature was unwilling to give.

'They were just humans. They kept to themselves,' Zuvio cried, his hands uselessly trying to free the invisible hand that was wrapped around his throat.

Rey felt a jolt of panic tear through her mind. The Kyuzo was talking about her parents, and Kylo was killing him. Didn't he realise how important this information was to her?

The memory began darkening in the corners; everything was starting to fade. The recollection was drawing to a close. It would be over soon, and she wouldn't know anything else!

All the feelings of rejection and terror that she associated with her parents came flooding back to her. Since Kylo had told her about Naboo, she had felt completely lost. Everything she knew or dreamt about her parents had been thrown into chaos. She had spent so long imagining who they were that having the smallest grain of truth offered to her scared her.

But she wanted more. It was like a drug. And here Rey was, witnessing a memory that she wouldn't have ever seen about the parents she had long dreamed of, and a wave of possessiveness stormed through her.

Rey? Kylo's warning moved through her thoughts, but she pushed him to the side.

This isn't fair. They are my parents! This should be my memory, my knowledge! Rey stormed against Kylo, her anger blinding her thoughts. She could hear him call through her mind, urging her to relax and calm down, but she refused to take it in.

Didn't he realise how unfair it was?

He may not like to admit it, but she knew that in his mind, he had dozens of memories spent with Han and Leia. She had nothing. Nothing that properly reminded her of her family, apart from the hazy recollection of a struggling young girl, calling out for her parents as she watched a ship disappear into the sky above her.

This was new. This recollection was too important to simply disappear into the sands of time. She had to make this memory hers. And hers alone.

With supreme effort, Rey focussed on the Kyuzo, his body twisting in the air as he begged for mercy, spewing out tidbits of precious information. An overwhelming need flew through her consciousness, and with all her power she felt herself tug at Kylo's memory, drawing and pulling it back to her mind.

Kylo's panic and anger battled against her pulling, disbelief flowing through their bond as he felt Rey desperately tried to force the memory into her mind.

And with one final almighty tug, Rey felt the memory rip, a snippet ricocheting into her mind as she was forced out of Kylo's thoughts and back into the shocking light of her room.

Rey fell back against the bed, her head throbbing as she clutched her skull. She closed her eyes, playing out the stolen memory in the forefront of her mind.

'They spoke with accents. From Naboo, I think. But I can't be sure. Please, stop my lord.'

A leather gloved hand flexed in front of her, making the Zuvio shriek and beg. She ignored the cries. A deep feeling of satisfaction moved through her system. Finally she was getting somewhere.

Rey gasped, her eyes opening up and looking down at her own bare arm.

Did I just see something through Kylo's eyes? she thought, feeling the memory tug at her attention once more. It made her stomach flip in a nauseating way, but she also could feel a deep desire to return back to it.

'How did you do that?!'

Kylo's strained voice made her open her eyes. She had almost forgotten he was there. Annoyance flowed through her.

'Do what?' Rey asked, frustrated. She wanted Kylo to go. The stolen memory was making her head spin, but she was craving to replay it more than she could ever admit.

'You stole part of my memory. I can feel that something's missing. But I can't remember what...

'It wasn't your right to have it anyway. I just took what I deserve,' Rey snapped, sitting up and glaring at Kylo. The man before her was shaken, his eyes not leaving hers as he met her anger with disbelief.

'And how does it feel, to have my memory in your mind?' he asked.

Rey shifted uncomfortably. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew that something was wrong. It was as though there was a sore, or a sickness in her mind. She knew the memory wasn't meant to be there.

'It feels fine,' she lied, wincing as the stolen recollection throbbed in her mind once more.

'You're lying to me,' he accused. 'It's not meant to be there, so it hurts, doesn't it?'

'It's mine,' Rey snarled back. 'It doesn't matter how it feels.'

She felt the memory pound in her mind once more, and knew that Kylo would be able to feel and see through her lie in an instant. She expected anger from him, but instead was surprised as she saw pity cross his face.

'Rey. Of course it matters,' he said, his voice low as he studied her face.

Rey sighed, rubbing her forehead as she broke their eye contact. She could feel the sorrow and worry through their bond, and didn't need to see it in his face as well. She closed her eyes, the ache in her head intensifying as she replayed the memory over and over again.

For the first time since taking his memory, Rey felt a stab of panic jolt through her system. What if she had damaged herself in doing so? She had never heard of someone doing something so extreme before, and couldn't believe it would be approved by the Jedi - was this a taste of the dark side of the Force?

'You're scared. I can tell,' Kylo's voice was soft as he spoke to her. She could hear him shifting closer, but she didn't dare to open her eyes.

'Here... let me help,' Kylo said.

Rey jumped as she felt his fingertips brush against her forehead. His consciousness nudged hers again, pressing against the memory firmly. She winced at the contact. It was like someone holding down a fresh bruise for far too long.

But with one final push, the pain disappeared. Rey inhaled sharply at the sudden lack of feeling. Had he erased the memory? Where had it gone?

'I've locked it away. Don't worry, it's easily accessible if you know where to look,' Kylo said gently. 'To make it easier for you, it's best if you imagine a never-ending wall, and a door,' Kylo said, his fingertips moving along her forehead. 'The door is locked, the memory trapped behind it. But all you have to do is twist the handle, and will it open. But for this to work, you'll have to really want to see it.'

'How can you put walls and memories in my mind?' Rey asked, trying desperately to ignore the soft sensation of his skin brushing against hers. His hand was slowly moving, stroking down her temple to linger on the side of her face.

'You were in pain, and you needed it to stop. Your mind accepted my intrusion with open arms, Rey. You knew I could help,' Kylo said.

'And what's stopping me from just freeing this memory again?' Rey said. 'If I can release the memory if I simply 'will' it?'

'You could. But you won't. As you know deep down, the pain will start again,' Kylo said simply.

Rey frowned beneath his touch, opening her eyes and meeting his gaze. His fingertips stilled at her cheek. He was closer than she thought, but she couldn't let herself get distracted.

'How can you do that? Simply break into people's minds and manipulate their thoughts?' she asked.

'Years of practice. But my real question is how can you? Stealing memories is a powerful move that only a few Force-sensitive people can do, and that's after decades of training. How did you do that?' he questioned.

Rey sighed. 'I saw what I wanted, and I took it. They were my parents, and I needed to know more.'

Rey bit her lip as she felt his hand cup her cheek.

She was getting into uncharted territory with Kylo, and she didn't know how she was meant to feel. She felt a dangerous question brew in her mind, and she felt almost too afraid to ask it. But something in her heart and her mind pulled the query out of her mouth.

'Why, haven't you ever done that? Seen something that you've wanted so much that you've needed to have it?' she asked.

He inhaled sharply, his fingertips brushing her skin once more as he stared at her. She felt their bond push against each other, something electrifying moving between them as he considered her question.

'Rey…' he whispered her name, and she closed her eyes, the sensation of something deeper than desire moving through her. She didn't know what was going to happen next, but she felt a thrill of anticipation pool in her stomach.

She heard him sigh, and she automatically leant her face closer into his touch.

What was this? Was she going mad, or was this the sanest she had ever felt? She wasn't sure anymore. But the sensation of his callused hand gently holding her face, as though she was something precious and delicate was intoxicating, and one she desperately wanted to continue.

'Rey.' His voice sounded firmer now, and with a swift movement, he pulled his hand from her cheek.

'You should rest. You've done enough for today,' he said. Rey's eyes flew open as she watched him get to his feet. Her cheek still burned from where he had touched her face.

'I… don't…' Rey trailed off as he walked towards her door. She could see the tension in his back as he moved away.

Had she read the situation so wrong? Now she felt stupid.

'I'll get Tee-Cee to bring you some food. I've got to get back to the bridge,' Kylo said.

'Why?' Rey asked. 'I'm not hungry, and I'm sure there's more about the trials you've got to tell me. You can't just leave now,' She could hear the desperation in her voice as she watched him press his hand against the door panel. He was really leaving.

Her cheeks flushed with warmth and embarrassment as she moved her eyes away from his broad back. She had crossed a line, she knew it.

She cursed herself at her own stupidity.

'It'll keep. The Knights have given you a week to heal, so we can pick this conversation up when it's not so late. It's nearing midnight,' Kylo said.

'That's kind of them,' Rey replied sarcastically. 'But surely you need to rest? Aren't you tired?'

'I was earlier, but now I find myself curiously wide awake,' Kylo said, turning to look at her. Rey felt her blush deepen as she caught sight of his eyes. Instead of the careful nonchalance he often wore when he was around her, she felt pleasantly surprised to see that there was a hunger in his gaze that she hadn't seen before.

'Don't forget your kyber crystal is on the table. You don't want that to go missing,' he added.

Rey nodded, standing up, crossing her arms in front of her body as she felt his gaze move from her face down to her bare legs. 'I'll fetch it now. There's probably a bit of work I can do on it.'

'Aren't you tired?' Kylo asked, moving his body closer into the doorframe as Rey passed by. She paused as she reached his body, turning her head to meet his eyes. For a long moment they just stared at each other, tension flowing between them as unspoken and dormant emotions rose in Rey's mind. But she kept them away from their bond, fear taking over as she broke eye contact first.

'I'm very awake too. Goodnight Ben,' she muttered, walking into the living room and taking a deep breath in, feeling like from the moment he had touched her face, she hadn't been breathing properly.

Author's Note: As my editor said, probably one of the most tense scenes I've written so far. So I hope you're enjoying it. I realise that this is a very slow burn, but please keep at it.

As usual, reviews are greatly appreciated and encouraged. Your thoughts mean a great deal to the progression of this story.

Also, thank you to all those who commented who their favourite Knight is. It certainly gave me a lot to think about!

Once again, another huge thank you to my editor 'Across The Stars' - whose love of this story and happiness to talk and brainstorm has helped a great deal.