So…

In case you didn't catch it, Hux and Ben's little conversation last chapter changed the entire journey of this story. changed it. I had so many different plans. But nooooooo…. They changed it. I just hope I can write and make what they're telling me good, though I'd settle for alright lol. So, thank you Greenumbrella03 for helping!

And thank you for coming back. I hope you're enjoying my mess. Oh and I really need to finish up a Christmas story for my publisher, so I might be late with the next chapter next week. But I have started it, so we'll just have to see how the words come to me. Think happy thoughts of me please! Lololol…

"What's the code?"

"What code—oh that code. There's not a code."

"There's not a code to ride the elevator to the penthouse apartments?" Ben asks. "That doesn't sound right."

"Oh, that code. Yeah, it's 1942."

"Alright, now it's working." Ben pushes and the silver doors open. Just like theirs, the only floor this elevator reaches is the one with the penthouses. Because of that, it only takes a moment to reach the high floor. The doors open and the men walk out together. "Which one is hers?"

"This one is Rose's—" Hux says as he knocks on it. Before Ben can even figure out what to say to whoever opens the door, the door flies open.

"Hux?" Rose whispers. "What are you doing here?" That's when she notices Ben standing behind him. With a trademark scowl, she adds, "And should you be here?"

"I need to speak to her, please. I need her, I love her." He blinks fast as his tears start to gather.

Rose doesn't immediately say anything, but she does reach behind her to what must be where she keeps her keys. Because she produces a key with a key chain that's a big R. "She probably won't answer the door. I'm going to let you in. If you hurt one hair on her head, so help me baby Jesus, I'll come and burn Skywalker tower down." She twirls so that her sweet brown eyes meet his. "I'm serious. Don't hurt her."

"I won't, I promise." And he does. from the bottom of his heart would rather do anything else on the face of the earth besides hurt her.

"She's going to kill me for this, but Threepio has already gone home—hell. Hux go in there, and don't leave." As she commands him in her Morosis domme voice she nods behind her towards her apartment. "You." She points to Ben. "Follow me."

She leads him to the door she just said was Rey's. The door swings open and for the first time, he walks into a place that is totally hers. Not a place that she grew up in. Or a place that she spends her spare time at. But a place that is all hers.

It's classic like a fifth avenue apartment would be. But if he looks, he can see little bits that are all her. Pieces of art line the walls that makes him wonder if she might have painted them. little mementos of adventures with her friends. There's a shelf in the living room that Rose leads him through that has little bits and pieces of their times together.

There's even a piece of the rope he used the first time he tied her.

"Come on," Rose hisses at the end of a hall. "I want to get back to Hux."

He quickly catches up to her. The room they are standing in the doorway of is dark but for a light that's on, on the other side of the room. Rose enters like she knows where she's going and he's glad that she came with him now.

"Rey?" She whispers. "Are you asleep?"

"No—" her whisper tears right through him. He can hear the tears in her voice as he goes to Rose's side. "Who's that?"

"Don't be mad Kitten—"

"Kylo—Ben?" A bedside lamp comes on casting a soft light on the room. "Rose?"

"I've got to go. Hux is at my place. Ben if you hurt her—"

"I'm not."

"Rey, give him a chance?" Rose mutters before she kisses her friend on the head before she quickly exits. He waits until he hears the front door close before he turns his attention back to the love of his life.

His heart clenches as their eyes meet. Her hair is rumpled from laying down, and she's still wearing the pink blouse she had on when he first saw her. Which brings back what happened this morning.

"Why are you here?" She murmurs.

"I had to see you, to talk to you." She doesn't say anything but she does keep her eyes on him, wide and teary. "can I hold you?" he murmurs.

"I don't know. why do you hate me?" She wipes her tears on the sleeve of her blouse.

"kitten—I don't hate you. I could never do that."

"but—"

"what I didn't, well still don't is what your grandfather did. I still can't believe that you're related to him," he admits.

"Well, I can't either."

"Don't make me laugh." She shakes her head as she throws a little pillow at him. Then she takes a deep breath then pats the bed beside her. He takes it as an encouraging sign as he slips off his shoes before he takes her up on her offer.

"You looked so beautiful today. When I came in that room and saw you sitting there—I knew then that while I wanted it to be anyone but you—but then in a weird way, glad that it was." She gives him that look she gives him when he's trying to explain something to her, but she doesn't quite understand what he's talking about. He continues, "I was glad because we finally knew who each other was. No more hiding. I was and continue to be an idiot. I know better than to say stuff like that—Nonna would beat me—"

"Your grandmother? She's still alive?" She sounds hopeful almost at the thought.

"She is. She lives with my parents in North Carolina."

"Your parents." He nods. "Is there anyway that I could meet her? Your Nonna that is. I'm not going to do anything crazy, I would just like to apologize and give her some flowers." She pauses and looks like she's in deep thought. "Could we do tomorrow? We can take my jet."

"I think that can be arranged. And I can fly us, remember?"

She nods and her familiar little smile that he loves so much appears. "Do we want to talk about this now—"

"Please don't think I'm an awful person for not wanting to right now. But I thought, hell I still might lose you today. Can I just hold you for a little while?"

"Only if we can do it naked." Her smile is weak and still small, but it's still there.

"Come here," he mutters. She stands on her knees and crosses the bed until their knees touch. Unspoken commands pass between them as they both reach for buttons. One-by-one they ease each one out of its place.

Before she slips her blouse off, he grabs her hand and brings it up to his lips. Even as he flips it over to kiss her palm. She cups his cheek as he nuzzles her hand. He looks up and their eyes meet. "I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I don't want to lose you. You might think that I'm only saying this because of what just happened, but I do love you so very much."

"Ben—" she whispers because even he can hear how hoarse because she's been crying and he promises himself that soon, he'll do anything for her not to cry another tear.

Unless it's a good one.

"I've known since we signed the club contract that I was in love with you. But spending time together in Vegas just made me sure of it. I just wish we could somehow do the past year and a half over again but this time with our real names," she wishes as she runs her fingers through his hair.

He nuzzles into her palm, and presses another kiss before he says, "Honestly, I wouldn't have given you a second look, well maybe a second look but not a good one if I'd known who you were. So maybe things are working out just like they are supposed to."

"As long as that's in your arms, then I like that." He can feel her as she watches him. "Are you sure—"

"Yes. I will spend the rest of my life making my stupid mistakes up to you. Can I start tonight?"

"How?" she mutters.

"Before I kiss you all over, I forgot to give you something in Vegas. I found something in a little store in LA that afternoon I had to fly out there—remember?" He waits for her to nod before he pulls the ring box out of his pocket. He keeps his eyes cast down at the navy-blue box. This moment feels bigger than it should, but he knows that if she accepts this ring, there's no turning back. at least for him there isn't. So, he decides to tell her. "This is—" he pauses for a moment. "This is a promise and for some reason this feels really big." He makes himself look up into her watery eyes. "And for me, if you accept this ring, then I'm yours, for as long as you'll have me. I love you, Kitten."

"I love you—" she says through her tears as she launches herself at him.

Her lips land on his as he squeaks, "I love you too." And as much as he doesn't want to—she feels really good in his arms—he pulls away but only to add, "The ring. See if you like it?"

"Alright," she murmurs as she sits back on her heels. Her blouse is still on, but since he unbuttoned it moments ago, it's hanging off one shoulder. His breath catches in his throat as he takes her in. She looks so beautiful. But then she blinks at him breaking the spell that's wrapped its self around him.

He undoes the latch and opens both sides of the box revealing the pink sapphire and diamond flower ring. When he saw it in the display case at Harry Winston's, he knew that he had to buy it for her.

"OhmygoodnessIloveit!" she gushes. She starts to hold out her left hand, but quickly changes it for her right. "Put it on me?"

It comes easily out of the box and slides on her finger where it fits her perfectly. "I love it!" she wraps him a hug again. "I never would have guessed that today of all days would have ended up like this."

"Like what?" suddenly nervous of her answer even though she's still smiling and still has her arms wrapped around him.

"Don't be nervous," she fusses.

"I'm not nervous—" he starts when it hits him. She knows him that well that she can tell—the revelation leaves him breathless.

And even more in love than he already was.

"—tell me," he says.

"I never would have guessed that you would be here in my apartment of all places." Her exhale is heavy, but her smile is brilliant. "I'm glad that I don't have to keep that from you anymore. That was really tiring, you know?"

He pulls her close and kisses her forehead as she snuggles into his lap. In moments, it's a mess of limbs, clothes and sheets as they undress one another. As the last sock, his, hits the dresser and her panties shortly lands on top of the lone sock, he nudges her legs apart.

Breathless from a giggle, she looks up at him and he knows that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. But for right now, he's happy with right now. Lips on hers, he sheaths himself in her softness. Her moan is music to his ears as he thrusts—and just as she begins to shake under him like she does when she's coming, he lets himself follow.

She guides him to lay on top of her like she sometimes does while they catch their breath. More kisses after they both share her huge bathroom to clean up while they cuddle under her covers. His arms around her he sleeps like only he can with her close, all night long.

Brbrbrbrbr

"Good morning, beautiful," he murmurs in her ear. She stretches and smiles.

"Good morning." Her eyes open slowly, and that's when she sees that they aren't in Vegas anymore—she looks at him, Kylo—master and that's when everything comes rushing back. He's Ben Solo and he knows that she's Rey Johnson but he came up here to find her and not let her go. The sun is starting to rise so that means it's around six— "you're here?"

"Of course." His brow wrinkles in unmistakable concern. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just letting my brain catch up." She pulls the covers close and moves to sit up. Yep, still naked. "Just to be sure, we love each other, and it's a brand-new day?"

"Yes," he chuckles. "And today, we're going to see my Nonna."

Now she remembers. She remembers how it felt to have the man that she adores say what he did. But then she remembers that he's the only one who ever came back after her.

Even when she had to leave her parents' house and go live with grandfather, it was—she stills as the memory runs through her head like it does almost weekly but as a nightmare.

"Kira—hell, Rey? kitten? What's wrong?" He sounds worried as he asks.

"You're the only one who's come back for me. Even when my parents died, it was Lor who came and got me," she pauses for a moment, not sure how to ask what she needs to know. So, she just asks, "Are you sure?"

"Sure, about what?"

"Me, you, us. This thing that we're doing. What are we doing? Do you really love me? I know I love you—what about your family? What will they think of me and how he was—"

His arms as they come around her are the sweetest thing she's ever felt. A kiss and a hug as he pulls her close. "Come on, let's get ready. I'll just have to show you."

Brbrbrbrbr

If you would have told her, well any time before this that she'd be going to Skywalker tower, she would have laughed.

But here she is, following him—Kylo Ren. Master. Ben Solo into his private elevator.

"It looks a lot like mine. By the way, how did you get to my apartment?" Rey asks.

"Hux has a crazy knack for remembering numbers."

"Oh yeah, Rose brought him over," she says without thinking.

"You remember when she did that?" he asks as the doors open. She hangs back just a little so he could go first. She's more than surprised when he grabs her hand and tugs her along behind him.

"It was one of the nights I met you at Morosis without everyone else being there." The hall looks plain like a typical hallway, looks like the one in Vegas actually. "Who lives here with you?"

"It looks like we have the same arrangement—Hux lives there," he pauses as they walk past a door. On the wall before it, it was a shiny bronze number one. "Phasma lives here," he adds as they walk past the second door. Then there was a third door. This is the one he leads her to.

He opens the door but instead of entering first, he steps aside. "After you."

"Alright," she murmurs as she enters into a space that is entirely his. "I've never done this—" she stops in the foyer so she can look around. It's simple but elegant.

"You've never done what?"

"Gone home with someone I met at Morosis." She continues to look. It's a beautiful apartment, but in true guy fashion, there's not any personal touches.

"That's good, isn't it?"

"I think so."

"Come on—" he says as he gives her a goofy smile. "Since we already showered—" and man did they. The time they spent in there reminded her of all those showers in Vegas. "I'll hurry and change clothes so we can go."

"Alright," she murmurs as she follows him into his bedroom. Not sure what she was expecting, it wasn't this. Where the rest of the apartment is all white and sterilized, this is the heart of his home. A huge California king sits in the middle of the room, with a beautiful what looks like a handmade quilt on it. It's a rainbow of bright and vibrant colors. Then a dresser and a chest of drawers that while neither piece of furniture is shabby, she can tell that each one has been used for years and not by him.

"it's amazing, isn't it?" he asks.

"I love it. who made it?"

"Nonna. The bed is mine, even Papa wasn't that tall. But everything else in here was Nonna's. When Mom told her that I was moving back to New York she had Dad bring all this up."

"Up?" She asks.

"From North Carolina. Nonna visited once and had to move there as soon as possible. Always said that it reminded her of her favorite places in Scotland."

"You mentioned that. And that's where we're going? Today?" She asks.

"Yes, let me change clothes." He opens a door, and a glance tells her that it's his closet. She knows she could follow him in, but instead she looks around some more. Photographs litter the walls, interspersed with watercolor and what looks like acrylic paintings. There are several pictures of the same women, a beautiful brunette with long curls and in other pictures, intricate braids. Then another one with black hair that looks like Ben's. Same as the brunette, some pictures her hair is down and loose or up, in fancy braids. Several more pictures of Ben with a man who looks a lot like him. that must be his dad.

"Rey?" She hears him coming up behind her but doesn't turn around. Hands start on her waist then embrace her. A kiss on her temple as he pulls her close. "That's one of our fishing trips. Dad and I both caught so many fish. But since we did catch and release, I think we just caught the same three fish over and over."

"Will I meet him too?"

"Yes, because Nonna lives with him and Mom." He steals another kiss before he asks, "Are you ready to go?"

She turns in his arms and has to smile. He's wearing the welcome to las vegas t-shirt, the same one she wears. "That's what you're wearing?"

"I have to match my Kitten, or we could spend the day in my bed, naked—"

"Tomorrow—" she promises as she presses a kiss to his lips. "At least we match."

"That was the idea—that way everyone would know that you belong to me."

"I like the sound of that."

Brbrbrbrbr

"My jet is bigger than yours," she teases.

"This is my small jet," he says with a smirk as he sits beside her.

"You have a bigger one?"

"I share it with my parents but yes, we have a bigger jet."

Before he can say any more, Wedge interrupts from the cockpit, "Buckle up you two. And you picked the wrong plane to join the mile high club in."

"Did he—" she mutters as she covers her face. "How long is this flight?"

"Couple of hours. We'll be there soon."

Brbrbrbrbr

As promised, his dad's truck, the falcon he affectionally calls the old chevy two tone classic, waits for them in the hangar. "It will be after supper—" Ben says to his pilot.

"That's fine. I'm expected at Luke's. Just call me when you're ready to go."

"Will do—" Ben answers as he reaches for her hand. "Your chariot, my love."

"I love it, I think Daddy had that same truck but it was white and not two colors." He doesn't say anything because he's opening the passenger door and helps her in. "We need flowers."

He waits until they run into the first grocery store to grab snacks and flowers for him mom and Nonna before he asks, "Tell me about your parents."

"What?" She squeaks, not quite sure what he means.

He must be able to read her mind, because he adds, "Before the accident. Tell me what you remember about them?"

"It's not anything specific, really. I remember the last Christmas with them. I got several things but the only things I still have is a teddy bear Daddy won for me at a winter carnival thing at school."

"How old were you when they passed?" Ben asks as he reaches for her—but before she can take it, he unbuckles her seatbelt, then pats the bench seat beside him. She quickly scoots over and that's when he puts his hand between her thighs and steals a kiss.

Somehow, that makes her feel that she's not alone anymore.

"Five—" she says after she lays her head on his shoulder.

He doesn't ask her anymore about her early life—thank goodness. They ride in silence for a little bit longer, leaving her a chance to look around them. "These mountains are amazing."

"I was surprised when Nonna moved here after a business trip at a winery. She bought half of the winery and a cabin as close as she could get to the Great Smoky Mountain State Park."

"It sounds beautiful. I can't wait to see it." she pauses for a minute as bad thoughts flood her head. "Why did you bring me here?"

"Honestly, because I want Nonna to meet you. I have for a while now. But I think once you have a chance to talk to her—well she might be able to provide you with a little bit of what you need."

"I hope it's good, whatever it is." Ben doesn't answer, but squeezes her thigh again about the same time he takes an exit off the interstate. After watching the mountains and the little country houses whoosh by, she remarks, "Are you sure you're not taking me somewhere to leave me."

"Nonna might want to keep you, but not that. Unless you're ready to run away from New York City."

"I guess you're not ready to tell me why you wanted to buy my company?"

"Not yet. let's wait for Nonna—" he's slowing the truck down before he pulls onto a gravel road. "Watch, this is amazing."

Both sides of the mountain road is lined with trees on both sides. They continue to ride in silence while she looks for the something amazing when it's like someone opened a book, a magical book to a far-away land.

From New York City to the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, it does feel like a storybook especially when the sun shines down on a range of mountains as far as she can see. "It's still June," he whispers as he takes in the view too. "The azaleas and the rhododendrons are still blooming."

And they are. Deep rich greens bleed into the pinks of the rhododendrons then the white and reds of the azaleas greet her like a long-lost friend. "I've never seen so much green and pink and red and white in my whole entire life."

"It's amazing, isn't it?" he murmurs as he stops the truck.

"And they live here?"

"Look over there," he says as he points towards a cabin a little ways away. "Mom and Dad live there, then Nonna has a house on the other side. You can't see it from here."

"This is amazing. I have new life goals now," she whispers in awe.

"Come on," he chuckles as he puts the truck back in drive. "lLt's go meet people."

She's quiet the last hundred or so feet to the next place he stops the truck which ends up being in-between two huge log cabins.

He turns the truck off. But before he can open his door, she squeezes her already tight grip on his forearm. "Do I look alright?" she knows that she should have asked this question back home but it really does help that he's wearing the welcome to Las Vegas shirt that she picked up for him in the hotel gift shop that matches hers.

"You look beautiful. Come on, they're relatively nice people. Haven't killed anyone in years." He teases. But it takes her a moment and when she does, she lightly slaps his arm. He lets himself out and reaches for her. She lets him slide her to the end of the bench seat and with hands on her waist, he helps her down.

The door creaks as he shuts it as she slides her hand into his. His goofy grin is back and they walk beside the truck. Some steps that lead to the front door but before he can turn this knob, it opens and the same lady with black hair but with silver interwoven through the lengths smiles at them.

"Hello son, I'm so glad that you're here. Who's this?"