Kylo was dumbstruck for a moment.
"You're alive."
"Yes."
He could do nothing but struggle to comprehend. "You're a Palpatine."
Rey nodded. "I didn't know myself until after...we met."
Kylo's gaze dropped and fixed on her blooming stomach. "Is the baby...mine."
"Yes. There's only ever been you'."
An awkward silence fell. Kylo noted eyes upon Vader and Palpatine's grandchildren talking and felt restricted in what further he could say whilst greeting a foreign dignitary. "I'd very much like to discuss matters later."
Rey almost cracked a smile. "I think it's unavoidable in the circumstances. Until later." She gave a tilt of her head and joined the festivities. Kylo paused to watch her go.
He noticed the way others reacted to her. They gawked. They were curious. Some looked concerned. Others clearly considered how they could curry favour. They were reactions he knew all too well. Rey seemed not to care as she perused the buffet fit for a king.
The rest of his guests were a blur and the moment he was released from greeting guests, he tried to make a beeline for Rey but was waylaid by various persons. Every time he looked over Rey was smiling politely at some sycophant or nibbling on some morsel or another.
She was feeding his baby. His inner Alpha preened. He was the one to make his Omega's belly big and round. Their progeny would be big and strong.
Eventually he managed to join her. The glower Kylo gave wilted the courage of the minor noble sucking up to the future Empress, who swiftly bolted, leaving them to talk in peace.
"So did your grandfather set up our meeting that night or was it really just fate?"
Rey pressed her lips into a thin line before responding. "I think that was the plan from the moment I was dropped off with Plutt as a baby, but things went wrong. I was meant to be raised as Plutt's daughter, not his servant, and who my real family was wasn't meant to come out until we were married. Plutt messed things up and Snoke killed him."
Kylo took a moment to swallow down the confirmation about his lifelong mentor. "Snoke."
"Yes, he seemed to have been involved from the beginning. When the Council wouldn't let you marry me, he said his plan had changed and sent me off to my grandfather."
Kylo couldn't resist the urge to grab her hand and clasp it between two of his own. "I would have married you regardless of what my uncle decided. I rode to your house but it was burned down. I tried to keep my promise."
"I didn't know who you were. I thought you were a palace guard."
"I know."
Rey looked sheepish. "Are you mad at me for being who I am? You know my grandfather is using me. He wants Alderaan. He'll stop at nothing."
"How could I be mad at you? You didn't know yourself." Kylo swallowed. "I do have to ask...why did you run away that night? Why didn't you send word that you were alive?"
Rey took a mouthful of her fruit juice. "At first, it took some time to get my head around the changes. When I first arrived at Exogol I was in heat."
"I'm sorry. I should have been there."
Rey looked down at her drink. "If Plutt had treated me like a normal human being you would have been. And your family would be still alive, at least until my grandfather decided otherwise."
This time Kylo took a large gulp of his wine. He couldn't find anything to say in response.
"And then I was told what had happened. That there was a civil war. I had heard your reputation before we met and what happened seemed to fit more with that than the man I met in the garden. My grandfather took great pleasure in updating me, telling me what you were doing, and in my name. I would ask you if you know what it's like having all that death on you conscience but I guess you know better than anyone."
Kylo felt the reproach in Rey's tone.
"I guess he wanted me to hate you as much as he hates you and the rest of your family. You see I couldn't get my head around how anyone could kill their own father, their uncle, go to war over someone they barely know."
"Do you hate me?"
Rey finished her drink. "We should talk later. Now isn't the time."
Kylo could only watch as she walked away from him again.