A/N: Alright! This chapter came to me quickly. And I'm excited. I think things are starting to fall into place. The feel of where the story is going is starting to come. Again, I'm super pumped. As always

Reviews are always welcomed. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 4: The in Between

He could see her breath staggering. Rey felt all air dissipate from her lungs. He was staring right at her.

He was here. Or there.

Rey noticed how small he seemed, even though his height towered over her. There were dark bags under his eyes. His shoulders tense, hands in a balled fists. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she realized he was shirtless again. Her eyes tried not to waver from his. But she couldn't resist examining at the scar she had given him. The divot of a scar that started above his right eye, down his collarbone, and to his chest. Rey's eyes shifted to his left shoulder where she noticed the star-shaped scar in which Chewie had given him. She realized they weren't the only pale-colored markings on his already pale skin.

Rey's eyes began to swell with tears as she fought hard to hold them back. As she didn't want to alert the people around her. After she discreetly wiped the evidence of them, she turned to face him again.

He was gone.

Kylo's feet were glued to the spot where he stood. He wasn't dreaming. He felt her this time. Stronger than the last. He could feel her Light, her loneliness, her sorrow... her guilt.

'What could be she guilty about?' He thought to himself. Snoke had lied to him, again. Manipulated him once again. This bond was still here. Maybe it was always there.

Kylo screamed out. A dark energy pulsed through him. With one swift motion, Kylo's saber was in hand. One click, another swift, his saber was being slashed and gashed against the corridor walls. He raised his hand towards a charging droid and with the squeeze of his hand the BB unit caved in on itself. Crushed. All that was left was tiny sparks of electricity and a muffled whirring noise. Beads of sweat formed between his brows from the outburst.

Beep … Beep... the comlink on his nightstand lit up.

"Astar to Ren... Astar to Ren." a voice called out "Are you awake, sir?" Keir's voice sounded urgent.

"Sir, we have spotted a YT-1300F light freighter, believed to be the one of the Resistance." Kylo picked up the com.

"Where?" His tone even

"Sir, they were seen leaving Gamorr" she affirmed

"What is your current status, Keir?" He asked her. 'Are they that desperate for help?'

"We're keeping our distance as to stay off their radar, sir" Keir stated

"Good. Keep me updated. And by all means, do not engage with them." He ordered. "Let them continue the belief that they are out of harm's way."

"Yes, sir," Keir replied.

"And Keir, send your troops back to the Finalizer. This has become a reconnaissance and an as-need-to-know mission." Keir repeated her last statement. Com went silent

'Gamorr? The General is desperate for allies.' He reassured himself.

Kylo turned his heels and returned to his previous aim and walked to the 'fresher. Before he stripped himself of his sleeping pants, he turned to look into the mirror. Kylo's hand touched the scar she had given him on Starkiller Base.

Was it odd he saw this scar as a gift? As something he deserved? For being a monster? For someone who had just murdered his own father?

Kylo cupped his face in hands and groaned as he tried to rub those thoughts away.

'Let the past die, kill it if you have to.' He reminded himself as he stepped into the 'fresher. There was a heaviness he felt as the steaming water splashed against the width of his back.

'Too soon' Thinking they were about to be reconnected.

Out of habit, he pushed back his hair under the water. Kylo looked down to realize the source of his heaviness. He forgot to relieve himself of his sleeping pants.

"Not again" he sighed audibly.

"Rey?" Rose nudged her arm. "hey, Rey?" she continued to prod.

"Yea!" Rey snapped back into reality.

"You ok?" the curious girl asked.

"Yea.. yea.. I'm fine." Rey lied

"But you're crying," Rose whispered to her closely.

"Swelling with joy, Rose." she lied again with a small smile as she rubbed her eyes.

"Ok. I'll let you slide this time. I know you may not know me as well as Finn, but if you ever need to talk." Rose offered and patted Rey's hand.

"Thank you, Rose," Rey reassured the doubting girl. "I think I'm gonna go to lay down for a bit. Didn't sleep well."

"Completely understood." Rose smiled back

Rey felt guilty she had lied to her. But he was here. She saw him. How could she tell someone this? How could they understand? Especially when she couldn't understand it herself. They saw each other as they were if they filled the same space. She couldn't get the memory of his face out of her mind. The feeling of longing vibrated through their bond.

Rey opened her cabin door to find that some porgs decided her bunk made a perfect nest. They were awfully adorable. But awfully annoying at the same time.

"No..No not again." Frustrated, Rey hustled her bed. "No! Come on. Why do you only chew my linens? I don't understand." As Rey tried swatting the porgs off her bed they nipped at her.

"Don't you dare" Rey scolded them with a pointed finger. "Now go! I have no patience for you today."

Rey pointed her finger at the door and the pudgy birds squawked as they listened to her command. She lifted her sheet wide above her to see newly chewed holes all over the blanket.

"You are bloody annoying" she rolled her eyes as she laid her head on her pillow. The comfort of her bunk quickly swallowed her to sleep.

The world around her was fuzzy and bright. Slightly wobbly as if she just finished spinning in circles. There was a shadowy blur of a figure in the distance. A loud thumping filled her ears. It was her heart pumping loudly as if trying to escape the cage that held it within. The obscure outline was floating towards her. Becoming taller and clearer. With curiosity, Rey walked closer to the specter.

The closer it came her heart began to calm. She paid no attention to her slowing pace. Rey felt at peace. A peace she's never felt.

Balance.

In what felt like forever, the presence finally became known.

Ben

Without hesitation, his hand cupped her face and thumbed her cheek as he reached her. His dark eyes were full and fierce but filled with compassion. There was a small of a smile on his face. But there was something else about him that she couldn't seem to place.

His mouth was moving. But no words or a hint of sound came.

The world shifted around them as they were stilled in their position. The world darkened as if the light never existed.

Ben's expression had quickly changed. It was filled with pure undiluted malice. Rey could hear the sputters of his saber coming to life. His mouth was moving again. Nothing. Only the echoes of her hitched breath and heart beating filled her ears.

Kylo's hand shifted from her face to her shoulder. His grip tight. The red glow of his saber illuminated the frenzied smirk on his face. With an agile and smooth motion, Kylo plunged his saber into her abdomen. Terror filled her entire being. Rey felt tears running down her face as her hands hovered over the saber that was still running through her.

Rey jolted out of her bunk, falling to the floor. Her chewed up blanket still wrapped around her. As Rey sat up on the floor, she lifted her shirt to see where the saber had entered her. Nothing. She brought her knees to her chest as she was overcome with emotion.