There were more miles to cover the next day. She didn't know how her Angel of Death had the energy to be able to keep going after staying up all through the night. Maybe there was something supernatural about him.

She'd offered to drive the AT again, but he declined and said that the roads were about to get tricky winding around the mountains.

Rey had never been on a trip like this cross country journey with Kylo Ren. As much as she would have loved to enjoy all the new places she was seeing, her mind was more occupied with staying alert and staying alive.

She was worried about Kylo.

She knew he needed to rest, but she also knew there was nothing she could do to really help with that, so she stayed vigilant. She employed her budding powers of observation.

In late afternoon, they slowed near the top of a mountain. A glittering dark green lake spread out in many directions taking up vast spreads of valley land. She couldn't help but marvel at its beauty.

He eventually veered off the winding mountain road and followed a narrow passage surrounded by dense trees. It circled up to a breathtaking vista with a house overlooking the valley lake below.

He idled the AT by a garage that had three closed bay doors. He slipped from the vehicle, shoulders broad and tensed, and tapped a code into a keypad by the farthest bay door from the house. When he returned, he drove the AT into the empty, darkened garage bay. They both sat in silence after the engine rumbled to a halt.

Once her eyes adjusted to the low light, Rey could make out two other vehicles parked in the garage.

"Is this your house?"

"In a sense."

He got out and flipped a switch on the wall. The space was particularly well kept; organized tools lined a wall above a worktable, various types of leisure equipment lay stacked in a corner. This wasn't an impersonal hidey hole like the first shack in the desert.

"Hey, thanks for clearing that up for me," she sniped under her breath. "No need to tell me anything," she continued grumbling to herself. "I like being kept in the dark."

The farthest vehicle in the garage was a pickup truck. The one in the middle was a classic sports car. Rey really wanted to get a closer look at it; a gorgeous red thing with sleek panels and thick white racing stripes sloping down the roof and hood.

After securing the bay door, Kylo led the way into the house and Rey was impressed by how beautifully rustic it was. There were a couple of bedrooms off to the side of one large A-frame living area that had an outdoors view of everything from the lake to the rolling blue-tinged mountains to endless azure skies. A deck lay beyond the windows, jutting out into the scenic view. To the back side of the house, there was an open kitchen made for cozy family gatherings at meal times. Rey smiled at the thought of a large happy family coming together. She'd never had the chance to experience a meal with a loving family.

The bedroom she picked even had a gorgeous view. She set her rolling case aside and admired it. But her admiration was marred by the thought of possible danger lurking. She recalled what Kylo had said about someone hiding behind anything. The scenic beauty dulled with those thoughts and worries. She opened her eyes and examined everything. She also inspected the closet and the bathing room for hiding intruders. She probably looked stupid peeking around the corners.

"Hey."

Rey squeaked and jolted off her feet in fright. She covered her racing heart with her hand before turning to face Kylo.

"Did you see a spider?" He narrowed his eyes at her from the threshold of her room.

"Nope. Just you."

He frowned even more at that. "Let's head down the mountain to the shops. We need food and supplies for the next several days."

Maz Kanata was a private arms dealer. The tiny, aged woman had been a contact of Kylo's for many years. Her prices were steep, but she had always kept her inventory cutting edge. The armory she owned and sold her product from was like a fortress. Only a select few knew about Maz's passion for weapons. Everyone else visiting or living on Lake Nymeve believed she operated a sporting goods outlet. Beneath the fortress and the sporting goods store was a labyrinth of weapons technology that could arm a battalion of troops.

Kylo scoped out all the patrons on the upper level of the store, curious if there were any of his colleagues present. Maz didn't tolerate official Order business on her property, and her staff were always present to keep the peace. He was sure Rey would be safe there on her own shopping for essentials while he conducted a few deals with Maz Kanata herself in the catacombs below.

"Pick out anything you think you need here. Get some new street clothes and some you can exercise in. Then choose what you'd want to eat for the next few days over in the general section. I've got to go speak with the owner," he told her. "I may be gone a while, so take your time."

Rey looked around and back at him with uncertainty. "Anything I need?"

"Yeah. I'll settle the bill when I get back."

"Oh. Okay." Her brow was drawn over her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

She took a deep breath and hesitantly began. "You've already done so much for me. You got all those new things for me back in Coruscant. I don't feel right just picking out anything. "

He frowned, thinking back to the state of her clothes when they first met. The boots she'd been wearing didn't even fit her and they had been falling apart. He supposed shopping hadn't ever been a luxury for her.

"How about you just go ahead and get what you need and let me worry about the rest?"

"But…"

"Rey." He scowled down at her. "Get what you want. I've got it." He turned away before she could respond and went to the owner's office.

The door was littered with different pictures and posters of fluffy dogs and cats and bunny rabbits. Maz had peculiar quirks. She loved nothing better than baby animals and big guns.

Kylo knocked three times, his knuckles tapping against the image of a bug-eyed porg.

A large eye blinked at him through a crack that manifested. "Are you working?" the guard asked.

"I'm buying," he replied. The guard let the door swing wide and he stepped inside the office.

"Hmm. Kylo Ren," an accented voice intoned. "How may I be of service to you this day?"

Maz Kanata peered up at him through thick-lensed glasses. A long-haired white feline was perched in her lap, and two others lounged on the floor beside her desk.

"I'm in the market for some of your finest."

Maz regarded him for a few moments.

"I hear talk of you, Ren. Someone in the Order is looking for you. For you and a girl." Her enlarged eyes narrowed as she tilted her head. Her voice dropped almost to a whisper. "They are coming for you."

He clenched his jaw, somewhat dismayed that the news had traveled so fast. If he was a target as well, the both of them wouldn't be safe together any longer. He supposed he had Hux to thank for that.

"I'm not going down without a fight."

Maz chuckled. "I am glad to hear it." She shooed the cat from her lap and stood to her full height of nearly four feet. "I have some new merchandise to show you." She pressed a button and the wall behind her opened a hidden doorway.

He followed her down two flights of worn stone steps. Spotlights lit up overhead one by one in a line that led farther and deeper into the cavernous underground lair. Heavy duty shelves stocked with weapons stood in countless rows, crates stacked on crates, heavy artillery, tanks, even a whirly bird sat beneath the fortress.

Maz signaled her specialist to bring out a selection Kylo was interested in. He hefted each weapon, looking down the sights over the barrels. He set aside two that felt good in his hands. He ordered extra mags and several cases of ammunition once he made his decision.

"I also need to purchase a gun for a friend. Something for a small grip, a first handgun. What do you suggest?"

The smile that split Maz's wrinkled face hid more secrets than it gave away. Another quick laugh. "Always full of surprises, Mr. Ren." She turned and shook a gnarled finger in the air. "I have just the thing!"

The next evening after the sun sank behind the smoky hills and after almost a full day of much needed rest, Kylo squared off with Rey in the basement of the mountain cabin.

As rustic as the outside design appeared, it was all a farce, because it was a fortified bunker below ground. The concrete room was furnished with exercise equipment and large mats. It was the perfect place to hide out for a few days and to introduce Rey to the violent delights of self-defense.

They were both similarly attired after visiting the outdoor supply store for clothes and other items, in joggers and tanks that would allow them to move freely.

He took note of how small she was, and reminded himself to be gentle. Kylo had never thought of himself as a gentle man.

"When you look at me, where do you see weakness?" he began.

From about three feet away, Rey nervously picked at a fingernail, tentatively glancing up and down his form.

"You don't look weak at all," she murmured, fingers tangling together.

"Look harder."

Confusion marred her brow. Her eyes finally landed on his, at a loss.

Kylo pointed to his own eyes. "Eyes are a weak spot. Thumbs, elbows, sand or dirt, all are damaging to the eyes. If you find yourself too close to an opponent, don't be afraid to go for the eyes."

He pointed to his throat next. "Here. If you can get a clean shot at the throat, you can take someone down easily. You can even kill them, because the windpipe is fragile to the right amount of force."

Rey blinked, covering her own throat.

"Smacking your forehead against someone's nose, or even an elbow or knee to the nose, that move will knock someone off you long enough for you to get away. Unless the situation calls for you to maim or kill, the goal is always going to be to run."

Kylo raised his arm, and grabbed the flesh at the back of his upper arm with his other hand. "A vicious pinch here is going to distract an opponent." He lowered his arm. "You've got good teeth. Bite the hell out of someone."

He then bent slightly at the waist and brought her attention to his groin. "It's a cheap shot," he said. "But if you're tangling with a man who is out to hurt you, it's a power play. A quick blow to the choobies will lay him out flat."

He turned and looked at her over a broad shoulder. "From behind, the back of the knees is the sweet spot. A swift kick, a swing of a bat, any kind of force to the back of the knees can easily bring someone down. Just be sure you know what to do with them once you have them on their knees. Sometimes a solid hit to the back of the neck can work to your advantage. But that is a move you would have to be prepared to deliver."

He faced her and put his hands on his hips, checking her reaction. She was overwhelmed already, but he knew she could do this. He'd make certain she knew it as well.

"If you're comfortable with me trying some holds on you, I'll teach you how to get out of them." He dropped his hands to his sides, flexed them.

Be gentle, Ren.

She dropped her hands from her nervous fidgeting and squared her shoulders. "I don't know what that means, but, okay."

"Just like I told you earlier, be aware of your surroundings and the people near you. Don't let them get too close. If you're moving around someplace, know where each body is in relation to yours. If someone gets close, make eye contact, read their intent. Keep your distance, note their intent. It's not easy. But nothing comes easy. "

They circled one another. She kept her distance, he slowly stalked around her. He let her gain a little ground, but then he threw her for a loop by softening his eyes and smiling down at her.

She took the bait and let him too close.

He burst into her space and grabbed her above the wrist. Her sharp intake of breath told him she wasn't expecting him to do that. He held her and dragged her towards him. Letting her go after a moment, he allowed her to step back and catch her breath.

"What did you do wrong?" he asked.

"I allowed you to get too close. I… I misread your intent." Her big eyes stared up at him, more wary now.

"Grab my wrist," he instructed her. Her hand gripped his arm as best as it could, but it was too small to close the gap around his forearm.

"See where your hold is weakest? Where your thumb and fingers don't meet? That's the path of least resistance." With a quick twist, he snapped his arm up and out of her hold.

"Now you try." He took her wrist in his large hand once again, grip tight. He began to pull against her. "Where is my hold weakest?"

She grunted with effort, throwing her weight against the hold he had on her. She couldn't snap her arm out of the hold.

"There's no weakness," she panted.

"There's always a weakness," he told her, focusing on her face. "If an assailant's grip on you is firm and strong, keep looking. Don't give up. Remember: eyes, nose, throat, groin, back of the knees, even the side of the leg or the ankles.

"Where can you hit me that will hurt me the most?"

He could see the frantic thought going on behind her eyes. He continued to drag her until she surprised him with a pinch to the back of his arm.

Shit.

His grip softened enough until there was a weakness she could take advantage of. She twisted her wrist and snapped her arm free of his hold.

Kylo massaged the flesh on the back of his arm where she'd latched. He nodded at her, pleased.

"Good."

A brilliant smile spread across her face and it warmed him in places that he'd thought had long gone cold. It made him forget the small pain she'd just inflicted.

"Turn around," he told her. "Start walking."

When she obeyed, he came at her from behind and grabbed her arm. Another firm hold that she couldn't break. He dragged her in the same direction she was walking. After a short struggle, he told her again, "Find the weakness.

"The fight isn't where I have a hold on you."

Kylo suddenly went down hard. Rey evaded his grip and danced away. He looked back at her, inadvertently proud. He could feel the sting of where her foot had caught the back of his knee, but it didn't even matter to him. He got to his feet, biting back his own smile.

"Tell me what you did wrong," he asked, resting his hands at his waist.

Her smile faded slowly. "I did something wrong?"

"Only that you didn't give me a reason to stay down. If you flatten an opponent, like you just did, make sure he doesn't get back up. Stomp on his ankle to crush it, or do the same with his head. Go for the weakest point you have access to. But only if you have the opening to do so. If not, you run."

They circled back to the center of the mat. "Remember when I told you to be aware of your surroundings? How you need to maintain space? Let's work on tactics when someone invades. If I go for your wrist, you see how I come right within striking distance? Where do you see a weakness?"

Kylo leaned in quickly, testing her reaction time. She stepped backward.

"Come on, Rey, what do you see?"

He stepped into her again, and she made a stab for his eyes. He deflected, grabbed her wrist. The hold was nigh unbreakable in his large hand. She attacked with her free fist, going right for his throat. She took advantage of his distraction and struck his ankle with her foot.

Kylo went down again. He almost smiled, but her foot was coming right for his face. He caught it before she could smash his nose. He did grin up at her then. Her smile matched his, but her expression turned to surprise when he twisted his hands and sent her tumbling into a heap down on the mat.

He jumped on top of her and caged her in with his body. She squirmed, trying to get away, but he wouldn't let her. After wrestling, she ended up trapped with her arms above her head, his hips between her legs.

Her breath was unsteady as she stared up at Kylo. He gathered both her wrists into one of his hands above her head and pressed down on them.

She was beginning to panic.

"Find the weakness, Rey."

She shook her head, unable to see it. Kylo moved, as if he was going for his belt, shifting his weight slightly. He kept watching her to make sure she was okay. He knew this was an incredibly vulnerable place for her to be.

"Dig your heels into the mat and throw all your force into your hips. Use your hips to knock me off balance. Twist out from under me and shove your heels into my waist. Push me off you."

Her eyes began to water. A threat of tears. "I don't think I can do it."

"Even like this, you still have power. Don't let your opponent make you think otherwise. Look for the weakness."

He finally let go of her wrists and eased back, placing a hand on her neck. She hesitated. The pulse at her neck fluttered beneath his fingertips. Her little hands wrapped his wrist.

He shoved her backward with a powerful thrust of his hips. Her choking gasp nearly made him let her go. But that wouldn't teach her anything. He strengthened his resolve.

"Your elbows are weapons. Your hands are weapons. Your feet are weapons. Use them," he growled.

With an eruption of rage, she slammed her elbow into the crook of his arm, throwing him to the side when the joint gave way. Then she used the same elbow on the side of his head. Hit after hit. Kylo had to back off enough to get out of her striking range. She dug her feet into his gut and pushed him hard. He fell back and she was able to make her escape.

Blood dripped down to the mat from a cut at his brow bone.

Rey paced a distance away, trying to regain her bearings. He knew he'd put her through a tough challenge. He also knew he needed to push her so that she could see what she was capable of.

She was small, she was mighty, she was determined, and she was fierce.

And Kylo… cared for her.

His eyes lit on her as he stood and went to her. His big hands landed on her shoulders and she sheepishly met his eyes in return. Sweaty, hair in disarray, and perfectly lovely.

He swiped a tear off her cheek. "Tell me what you did right," he asked softly.

When she didn't answer, he finally said, "You survived."