Halo

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A/N-thank you to everyone who kindly reviewed the last chapter on this story.

Chapter Seven-Breakthrough

Rey breathed slowly, her chest rising and falling with the sedative qualities of a lullaby. It was so quiet that Kylo could hear each breath with ease. His own breath stuttered as she drew closer to him, the warmth emanating from her body doing indescribable things to his. Kylo tried to get his own breathing to return to normal, but it hitched again when he felt Rey's shoulder accidentally graze the material of his tunic as she shifted around to get more comfortable. What was she doing to him?

"You need to keep still." He warned her in a harsh whisper.

"I don't feel comfortable hiding." Rey whispered back. "What if your father can't talk his way out of trouble?"

"Believe me Han Solo has blagged his way out of tighter spots then this." Kylo revealed reluctantly.

Kylo was no more then a silhouette in front of her. She had only his black fluid outline from which to guess his emotions. His voice sounded strained, probably as a result of being confronted with his estranged parent, she guessed. Rey had no idea that she was the real source of his tension. She wondered how long he had been at odds with his father.

"This could be a good thing." She said in a low voice.

"What?" Kylo asked impatiently. He was trying to focus on what was unfolding above them. He could hear the muffled sounds of his father's voice in the distance and the gang leader's response, but he was having trouble making out the words.

"This reunion with your father. It could give you a chance to reconnect again. I'm sure if…"

"You are so naïve!" Kylo cut in bitingly. "You have no idea…."

"All I know is, if I had a chance to reconnect with my parents, I would put aside all of my negative emotions and memories, and simply forgive." Rey interrupted him sadly. "Life is too short."

She sounded so despondent that it silenced Kylo. It was the first time Rey had mentioned her parents and it suddenly made him realise what all the scratches on the wall of the walker signified. He heard Rey let out a softly deflating sigh beside him; it was as if a tension had lifted yet left her with a melancholy instead of relief. He felt utterly selfish.

"How long have your parents been gone, Rey?" He asked gently.

"They'll come back for me." She said stoutly. Kylo could imagine her lips quiver as she spoke. "I know it."

"Rey…" Kylo murmured as he felt a wave of pity consume him. He knew she was deluding herself, but could tell she wasn't ready to accept the truth that her parents had simply abandoned her.

"They'll be back." Rey insisted. "I heard one of them say so…. I think it was a man's voice. It had to be my father…. he called me sweetheart."

Pity turned to compassion as Kylo reached out and let his hand hover near her shoulder. He had a strong urge to comfort her, but wasn't sure she would welcome his pathetic attempt to make her feel better. His hand slowly dropped back to his side. Kylo could barely make out her face in the darkness, but he saw the outline of her hand as she raised it wipe away a tear. There was an aching loneliness about her that touched his troubled soul. He knew all about that feeling.

Then all hell broke loose.

The sound of blaster fire coming from above, followed by a gaggle of raised voices, jolted Kylo into action. He warned Rey to remain quiet and stay with the droid while he went to investigate.

"I'm coming with you." Rey insisted as she captured his arm in a vain attempt to stop him leaving.

"You've got no weapon, Rey. What are you going to defend yourself with?" Kylo snapped impatiently.

"I've got my staff." She continued stubbornly.

"Which is great for close combat but useless against blaster bolts. Just please stay here where it's safe." Kylo pleaded.

"You haven't got a weapon, either." Rey challenged him. "How is that any different?"

Kylo didn't want to point out that his weapon had been clipped to his belt all along. When Rey had nursed him through his fever, she hadn't taken much notice of what he carried with him. The cylindrical object attached to his belt hadn't held much significance for her, she had been too busy looking after him. "I'm trained for this." He told her. "I'll be alright."

"But what if you get hurt?" Rey couldn't hide the tremor in her voice.

"You're actually worried about me?" Kylo said in surprise. He couldn't remember the last time anyone showed any concern if he lived or died. It set off a strange ripple of elation through him, knowing that someone actually cared.

Kylo laid his hand lightly on her shoulder, and instead of the flinch he was expecting, she actually seemed to be soothed by his touch. He left his hand there and spoke with such a soft voice Rey felt his words calming her more by the way they were said than the actual words. It felt as if she was wrapped in a blanket of his caring. It made her consider her actions now, now that she could see how profoundly they affected him too.

"I'll stay here." She promised.

"Good. I'll come back for you." Kylo said as he reluctantly took his leave.

Rey's eyes glazed with tears as she watched him go. She realised if he had just added the endearment 'sweetheart' at the end of his vow then it would have matched the exact words she believed her father had said to her before he had left her alone on Jakku.

The Eravana had been boarded by both the Guavian Death Gang and Kanjiklub, two criminal organizations that Han Solo had swindled into loaning him money so he could smuggle rathtars to King Prana. Han had unsuccessfully tried to talk his way out of the situation. It had all gone south very quickly and only got worse when Chewie had the bright idea of to shut all of the doors between him and Han and the two gangs. Unfortunately, he accessed the wrong door controls, however, and accidentally unleashed the monstrous rathtars, which ran loose across the ship. Chaos ensued as the separate gangs drew their blasters in an attempt to defend themselves from the raging creatures. Han and Chewie had taken the opportunity to take refuge on the Falcon. When Kylo encountered them, they were simultaneously firing on the gang members and the rathtars.

"Typical." Kylo mumbled under his breath as he drew his lightsaber and ignited it. The red plasma blade shot out, hissing and crackling like a swarm of angry vipers, much like Kylo himself as he strode determinedly past his shocked parent and the awed Wookie.

Han had never seen his son fight and was soon completely transfixed. The sheer size of Kylo, along with his intimidating presence, soon had the two gangs scurrying away like a horde of cowardly womprats. Kylo's unique weapon was too legendary for them not to realise who was coming for them. Han watched his son's choreographed dance of destruction as he tore into the rathars, chopping off their long tentacles with quick even strokes of his crossguarded saber.

It didn't take long for Kylo to dispatch the rathars. His tall frame shuddered with each consumed breath as he surveyed the monsters charred remains. His heart beat violently in his chest. It pounded like it was going to crack one of his ribs. His senses were on high alert. Every colour was brighter, every noise louder, every stranger a cause to make his heart beat more fiercely still. It was always like that in the aftermath of battle. His adrenaline would continue to surge long afterwards, heightening each sense to remarkable levels as the Force coursed through him.

"Ben." Han's gruff voice came from behind him. Kylo revolved slowly until he was facing his father, the red blade of his saber continued to vibrate beside him as he refused to shut it down.

"Ben." Han said again as he took a cautious step in his direction.

Kylo looked at Han bitterly, noting the fear in his father's eyes. Nothing had changed. Han still thought of him as a monster. "You're still afraid. You still see me as a monster."

"What are you talking about? I've never said that." Han refuted as he took another step forward.

"You don't have to. I see it in your eyes." Kylo continued in the same dull tone. He finally shut down his weapon and held it in both hands.

"You're wrong." Han retorted as he closed the gap and stood in front of his son. He grabbed hold of the saber and the two of them remained in a silent standoff. Chewie remained close by, observing them quietly.

Kylo remembered what Rey had said to him, that if she had a chance to reconnect with her parents, she would put aside all negative emotions and memories, and simply forgive. He wanted to quell the hammering in his chest, but there was no way that would happen now. He looked into Han's eyes, his chin quivering with emotion. "I'm being torn apart." He admitted desolately. "I want to be free of this pain. And I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I have the strength to do it. Will you help me?"

Han's eyes showed the kind of gentle concern that Kylo had always longed for. He breathed deeply as his father reached out and placed his hand on the side of his face in a simple gesture of love. Every person needs a harbour, a secure attachment of love - for without one we are in such pain, so lost, shutting down. Han wasn't great at expressing himself, his actions always spoke louder than words and he let them speak for him now.

Chewie, watching them, couldn't remain a silent observer any longer. He let out a small whine as he loped over to his best friend and surrogate nephew and engulfed them in a bear hug.

A/N-thanks for reading. Please review.