Chapter Five

Reluctantly she agreed just not on the place where she would take this nap of hers. He had insisted on being in the back with the bed, she had insisted on being in the co pilot sleep next to him. She had won. She wanted to be close in case something were to happen. He had told her how he was once the top general in a very organized military organization. She had responded with two simple words with her arms crossed. "My ship." He had gotten the point and had relented while mumbling under his breath something about her not expecting to win every argument. She smiled at that. That's what he thought. In truth he had a soft spot for her and would let her win just about every argument. So now about an hour later she sat curled up in the co pilots seat with a blanket that he had placed over her watching as she slept. She seemed so at peace and looked so much younger than he originally thought. He really looked at her then. Her dark auburn hair tumbling around her shoulders and her cute little button nose. He never believed that it was possible for him to ever find someone to ever hold his attention like this. Something he intended to hold on to for all its worth. He knew she second guess her every move but he had hoped that as of this point he had convinced her other wise. If not well then he would have to continue convincing her. He smirked when he had remembered how he had done it the first time. Yes he was definitely up for more convincing. He had two more hours before they reached their destination. Two more hours to watch over, the first of many he had no doubt. Two more hours to wonder. He knew he wanted her with him what he couldn't figure out was why she would want him with her. He had done terrible things, some he regretted and others he did not. Why would someone so sweet, innocent and kind want someone like him? She had been reluctant to tell him what she was thinking and it had been the opposite of what he had thought. He had thought she didn't want him around when in her mind she was afraid he hadn't wanted her. Something else he intended to discover. He had found her and he had every intention to keep her.

She woke to someone shaking her shoulder. It was gentle at first and she tried to swat away the hand only to hear a chuckle with a bit of a more forceful shake. He name was spoken a few times before she finally groaned and slowly opened her eyes to see a very smug former general looking down on her. She blinked a few times and stretched slightly rubbing a particular sore spot from her neck.

"I told you to sleep in the bed where it would be more comfortable." He stated with a slight frown noticing her slight discomfort. So it was apparent that she wasn't going to be able to keep anything from him. He watched with such intensity it was like he could read her every thought. It was slightly unnerving but nice. Nice that someone noticed her. She didn't respond to his concern just rose to her feet in front of him, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as she passed him on her way to the bathroom. She heard him sputter slightly being caught off guard at her response. She couldn't help but smirk that it was his turn to be left flustered.

She was only in there for about ten minutes when she emerged a bit more freshened up and more awake. Hux, however hadn't moved from his spot, still clutching her blanket and staring at her with an undefined look. She looked at him curiously as she approached him. His eyes never left hers as she invaded his space a bit to try and sweep past him to get to her pilots seat. She noticed that they were nearly to their destination. When she squeezed passed him however he grabbed her by the arms again pulling her to him tightly. She was having a hard time believing that her one little kiss on the cheek would render him so. It made her feel a bit more in control and she would be lying if she said she wasn't enjoying it slightly.

"You really are a little minx aren't you?" He asked as his eyes narrowed at her dangerously. She smirked up at him placing her hand on his chest lightly drawing a deep breath from him.

"Why general, I don't know what you are talking about." She winked at him and pulled away to sit in her seat. He tightened his grip slightly before letting her pull away although reluctantly and not before he bent down to whisper in her ear.

"Someone is certainly feisty and maybe later we can put that to the test." Oh my. It was her turn to be caught off guard. She felt her blush heat her face as she shook her head. She was in trouble and if the chuckle behind her was any indication he knew exactly what he was doing and what she was thinking.

It was silent for a minute as she went about planing their decent. She wanted to make sure that the Sanctuary was still in operation and that it was safe, mainly for him. This was another worry for her. If he was recognized as being the former leader of the first order she had a feeling that it would be shoot first. She knew he had done terrible things, he had told her as much but she also knew who he was now and keeping him alive was her first priority. She scanned the surface finding the location and surprisingly it was a flurry of activity. This both excited her and worried her. He must have sensed her inner turmoil because he spoke her name softly from where he was now sitting in her co pilots seat.

"What is it love? You suddenly seemed lost again." She looked over at him giving him a bit of a reassuring smile trying to deflect her worry.

"Its nothing just checking to see what is going on down there." She indicated with a nod of her head.

"Your worried about something."

"I'm always worried about something. Its kinda my thing."

"Then tell me. Karis you shouldn't carry these burdens alone." She went to wave him off, tell him its fine, nothing really but he caught her hand mid wave and wrapped his strong sure hands around it. Bringing it to his lips he kissed it. Once, twice a third time. She felt her breath hitch just slightly. He was definitely going to be the end of her and from the mischievous look in his eyes he knew exactly that. He smirked at her yet again but asked it that quiet voice of his. "Tell me dove what has you so worried. What are you thinking in that pretty little head of yours?" This teasing game they had going back and forth was making her heart beat just a little too fast. She sighed as she tried to pull away from his grip but he held it still causing her to look at him. His eyes were serious this time and he kissed her fingers once more for encouragement. "Karis, please tell me. What has you so worried?"

"I'm worried about what we might find down there. It's been a while and even though the sanctuary is just that a sanctuary but things are different now. What if your recognized? Your still recovering from some nasty wounds. What if you get hurt again? What if…?" He silenced her when he leaned over a gave her a gentle yet lingering kiss on her worried lips.

"You do tend to worry a bit much my darling. " He said as he pulled back leaving her breathless once again. "We have survived this far. We can make this a quick trip, get in, get what we need and get out. I'll even wear something that covers up who I am. The chances of me being recognized…"

"Are very very high. Look I just worry that if someone finds you here in light of recent events then this may not exactly be a sanctuary that you would be safe at. I can make it a quick in and out. No more than 4 hours to get what we need."

"I am not letting you go in alone. Not after the last time."

"Ari…"

"Karis." She sighed in defeat knowing that this battle was something she would not win and in truth she would need the help. Finally she relented.

"Okay, fine but we have to hide you somehow and I don't have much to work with." She shook her head when he smiled at her. She had a bad feeling about it but maybe together it would be better. She turned back to face front to try and find a secluded landing spot. As she entered the atmosphere of the planet she glanced down at the surface to notice that things looked relatively calm. So far so good. She felt him squeeze her shoulder and place a kiss on the crown of her head. It did make her feel better.

"It will be fine." He added as he too sat down. As they neared the surface she noticed the outpost that served as the sanctuary. It was basically like a tent city market place but it was surrounded by a rather large wall. When people passed through that wall they were protected. Which didn't seem to be the case anymore. Usually guards would be seen not only along the top of the wall but also among the trees and now there was nothing. A sick thought settled into the bottom of her stomach. It was just like the last place she was at. The people seemed to have vanished out of thin air.

"Something is not right." She mumbled mostly to herself but he glanced over at her and nodded in agreement.

"It's your call Karis. What do you want to do?'

"We do need more supplies, enough to get us the hell out of this system." She settled the ship down among the trees and ran a plan through her head. The odd thing was there was no hustle or bustle like normal and no one seemed to be about.

"I think we need to at least have a look see. Maybe wait until dusk, less chance of being recognized when its almost dark out. Its just odd that the last two planets we have been to have no people. Its like everyone has disappeared." She found that very unnerving.

"They are hiding from something or someone. Maybe the end of the first order brought something more?" Hux pointed out and she tended to agree with that but she also had another theory.

"Or something else." She added and he watched her curiously.

"Such as?" He asked noticing not for the first time how highly intelligent she seemed to be. He also doubted she realized just how smart she was. It was one of the things that drew him to her. She was intuitive and observant able to put pieces of a puzzle together rather quickly. It was very evident by how she had used the security upgrade he had given her and made it work for her ship. It was genius what she had accomplished and in the past she would have made an excellent addition to the first order. He had planned on bringing her with him once they had finally won this one last war. But things were not as they seemed and he had made a decision. A decision that had nearly ended with his death and in that moment he only thought of one person, Karis. She was his bright light, his salvation and somehow, some driving force had brought him too her. It had been a gamble that she wouldn't be there. He knew of several people who where seen as first order supporters had simple disappeared, unsure on what would happen now that the resistance had won. He knew he had to find her and he had. He had felt a need to protect her and that was something he was still trying to figure out. He had ever only thought of his own self preservation, which was why he had done some of the things he had done. It wasn't until he had meet Karis that he began to wonder how worth it, it really was.

"Well this place is meant for those who need to disappear or need to lay low, former resistance that no longer need to hide or first order who now have a bounty on their head."

"You think the resistance would do that?" He asked

"You think they wouldn't? Which is why it wouldn't be safe for you out there."

"Do you think its any safer for you?" She just shrugged her shoulders slightly.

"I'm small fish, I never officially pledged my loyalty to either side and just did my job. A job that yes fitted both sides." He was quiet for a moment taking in what she had just said and then he asked a question that told her what his insecurities were.

"And what was I? Just a job?" He said it so quietly she almost didn't hear it. She had shut off the engines to her ship and turned around to face him.

"No." She said just as quietly. "No you were different. You were always different. I had heard all these stories about the great and scary general of the first order. But to me you were none of that" He smirked and chuckled just then.

"The great and scary general?"

"Oh yeah, did you know you are terrifying to those under you? I used to listen to the storm troopers that used to come were ranked up there pretty high with all the other caries."

"Other scaries?" He asked looking at her with an amused look.

"Yeah you know, the emperor, a rancor, Poe Dameron's mouth…"

"You know Dameron?" He suddenly seemed concerned, maybe jealous.

"Know him? No. Know of him? Yes. He tried to recruit me once and he wasn't the first."

"And were you…tempted by this?" Oh from the sound of his voice he was most definitely jealous.

"Tempted? Well I mean he has that ego, that hair and you know…that mouth." She screeched suddenly when with a growl he took hold a hold of her hand and yanked her hard so that she came crashing into his lap.

"I'll show you who can be tempted by who's mouth." And then he preceded to do just that. He kissed her fiercely and with such vigor that her heart just about bounced out of her chest. Oh he was showing her alright at it became more heated and involved. She lost all coherent thought and the only thing keeping her grounded was the arm wrapped around her waist in a vice like grip. His other hand was at the base of her neck tipping her head back slightly so that he could deepen the kiss. When they finally pulled away to catch their breath she still couldn't make any coherent thought because he had moved his plan of attack on to the column of her throat. Leaving a trail from her shoulder up her neck and then at her ear. His breath whispered across her skin leaving goosebumps in its wake."You are such a tease my little dove but rest assured you are mine. Mine and no one else's. I will make it my mission for you to never be tempted by anyone's lips, anyone's mouth, anyone's hands but mine." Each phrase was accent by a kiss to her over heated skin. Then just as suddenly as it had started it was stopped. She whimpered in protest and and had a hard time focusing as he firmly stood her on her feet and he himself got up.

"What…where? Where are you going?" She asked more in a whine than anything. He was purposely leaving her hanging. He disappeared to the rear compartment but called over his shoulder.

"You are not the only tease here my darling. Now lets get ready to head out. Its almost dusk. The sooner we get what we need the sooner we can leave and finish this conversation."

"Ewoks." She mumbled to herself.

"What was that dear?"

"Ewoks. Ewoks are scarier than you."