A/N: Guess who's back, back again... ;) I must've rewritten this chapter four times, but I'm finally satisfied with it. Thank you all for the encouragement!

On their flight back to the Finalizer, Ben mulls over what has happened today. He hadn't planned any of it – killing Snoke, accepting Rey's offer, declaring her his Empress…it had all come to him in the moment. Snoke had always told him to follow his first impulse, but this is the first time that doing so has felt right. And it is all because of Rey.

She sits on the leather seat beside him, her back ramrod straight as fidgets with her hands in her lap. Her thoughts are like an ocean, washing over his own and drawing him deeper into the tide of her mind. Though he hadn't been lying when he said that Snoke's death opened their bond further, he can't help but think that they made it even worse themselves when she allowed him to see her memories of the throne room earlier.

Time to take care of that – and to prove himself as the teacher Rey needs.

Ben turns to her. "Close your eyes."

She doesn't. "Why?"

"Your shields."

"Oh."

A memory of hers flickers at the edges of his mind, half-formed and blurred, as if he is watching an old holo. In it, she settles cross-legged on a tall rock, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. Skywalker hovers over her shoulder. Ben has to bite his lip to keep from saying something viscous about his uncle. He means to further endear himself to Rey, not push her away.

Rey copies her actions from the memory, tucking her legs beneath her and breathing deeply as she closes her eyes.

"Good," he says. "Now, feel for me."

Her brow furrows in concentration, but within a few moments, her consciousness pushes against his.

"Do you feel the barrier there?" he asks.

Rey nods. "It's…a wall. A very tall, black wall, and it surrounds a fortress."

"This is my shield. Feel its shape, its strength. Walk around it in your mind." He pauses, allowing her to do just that. "What does your mind look like, Rey?"

She raises an eyebrow but keeps her eyes closed. "You know what it looks like, Ben."

"The island."

"Yes."

"Envision something protecting it. The ocean, a rock wall, a dome of transparasteel – anything that will hold off invaders. Make it sturdy. Fortify your mind. Only you may access your thoughts."

The irony of the exercise is not lost on him. Thankfully, Rey says nothing further about his interrogation of her. Her barrier coalesces quickly, reigning in her thoughts and keeping them separated from his. Ben lets out a breath of relief at the stillness that settles over him. At last – for the first time ever, he realizes – he is alone in his own mind.

It is both terrifying and exhilarating.

Rey opens her eyes. "How is it?"

"Strong." Like you, he thinks. "You did well."

She stares at him, clearly surprised. Then she grins widely. "Maybe you're not so bad a teacher after all."

The corner of Ben's mouth quirks up.

When they dock in the hangar bay, Ben stalls, waiting until only he, Rey, and Hux remain in the command shuttle.

"Rey," he begins, "I need to speak with Hux. Wait for us outside."

Rey bristles at the command. "No."

Ben barely suppresses a growl. Why must she be so stubborn, even in this? "I must speak with him privately."

"If you mean to have me rule at your side, I have to start learning how the First Order operates. Besides, there are can be no secrets between us. We know that now."

Ben holds her gaze, his jaw clenched. She's right, of course. And while part of him thrills at Rey admitting the power of their bond in front of Hux, he is angry that she has defied him so plainly. He is Supreme Leader. Until they are crowned – until they are married, united as equals – she is subject to his rule.

Still, he does not wish for Hux to see them divided. He relents with a nod. Turning towards Hux, he says, "You said it yourself earlier, General; I'm no politician. You are. When Rey and I are crowned, I would have you as our chief advisor. Will you accept the position?"

Hux regards him with thinly-veiled suspicion. "You despise me."

"Yes."

"And surely you must know that I hold only contempt for you."

Ben tilts his head. "Yes."

"Then why offer me this?"

"Because you would be a dangerous enemy," Ben replies. "I know what you're capable of, Hux. We have been vying for Snoke's favor for well over ten years now. I could use someone with your skills on my side." He lets the words sink in. Then, he takes a step forward, pleased when Hux visibly quails at his approach. His voice is low, threatening. "But I assure you, General – I would be a far worse enemy for you than you would be for me. Do we have a deal?"

Hux's gaze darts between Ben and Rey as he assesses the offer in that calculating way of his. Finally, he nods. "Thank you, Supreme Leader. I would be honored to accept the position."

Ben nearly rolls his eyes at the general's pandering tone. Who does he think he is fooling? Even more reason to keep him under close supervision, he thinks.

Turning to Rey, Ben places a hand on her back and guides her down the ramp of his command shuttle, leading her into the Finalizer.

The moment they are out of Hux's earshot, Rey gives him a sidelong glance, grinning. "That was brilliant."

Ben almost stumbles over his own feet in surprise. "What?"

"That was brilliant," she repeats. "He is terrified of you, and it's hilarious."

He...was not expecting her to say that. He had thought that Rey, in all her light, would find his methods of dealing with Hux – and most of the First Order, in all honesty – to be unsavory. Cruel. Too dark for her temperament. But then he remembers the look on her face as she stood over him in the snow, and her ferocity in the fight against Snoke's Praetorian Guard. His affection for her only grows, the warmth of it bleeding through his shields and enveloping her Force signature before he can pull it back.

Aloud, he only says, "Snoke used to call Hux a rabid cur."

Rey snorts. Is it just his imagination, or is she leaning closer to him, her arm brushing his side as they walk? "I might use that sometime."

They come to a stop before Ben's quarters. Keying in the code for the door, he gestures for Rey to go ahead of him into the space. She surveys the room with a critical eye. "What is this place?"

The door hisses shut behind them. "My room," he says, suddenly and inexplicably nervous. They have been alone countless times over the past few days; why should this be any different?

"Your room?" she repeats dubiously. "But it..."

He frowns, instantly defensive. "What?"

"It's so..." She trails off again, waving a hand in the air before her, as if that will clue him into what she means. "Dark," she finishes lamely.

Ben tugs off his gloves, tossing them onto the small table just inside the door. What did she expect? Bright colors? Flowers? Plush furniture and luxurious amenities?

"I'm dark," he says gruffly. He rakes a hand through his hair, feeling just how snarled and dirty it is after the fight today. He could really use the 'fresher right now. But first, he must explain this situation to Rey. Stifling his growing insecurity, he continues, "I need you to stay here while I secure your place within the Order. Until I am certain that they will honor your position as Empress, giving you your own quarters would be too dangerous. I'll have an extra cot brought up in the morning, but for now, you can take mine. I'll sleep on the floor." He glances at the wound on her upper arm. "You can use the 'fresher first. Bacta is in the cabinet over the sink."

Without waiting for her reply, he moves further into the room, heading for the separate chamber that houses his grandfather's melted helmet.

"Ben," Rey says softly, and he freezes in his tracks. She approaches him slowly before placing a hand on his arm, her grip firm yet gentle. "Thank you."

He swallows uncomfortably. Then, hesitantly, he covers her hand with his own, running his thumb along her knuckles. He does not miss the way that Rey takes in a breath at the gesture.

"You're welcome," he murmurs. With that, he slips out of her grip and leaves her.