Rey had wondered what it would be like to see Ben again. It was hard to reconcile the man from the garden with the tales of ruthless soon to be King Kylo Ren.

As soon as she entered the palace, his scent stood out even above all the other Alphas who were present. He smelled like garden Ben and her heart flipped.

She didn't know what to think.

Then she watched his coronation from the congregation and he did look emotionless. The more she looked however the more tired and like a person going through the motions he seemed. That was when she recognised that King Kylo was a front. That whatever he had done, inside there was Ben, the human being. Given all that she had heard about how he had been manipulated and groomed from an early age, she could sympathise, to a point.

Greeting him face to face was a different situation all together. If his scent over a crowd had made her heart flip, up close, close enough to see the slight nuances in his facial expressions, was overwhelming.

He really was an open book. He looked stunned at first, conflicted, guilty, longing.

All the more reason for their next conversation to be in private. Rey knew from her grandfather that half of Kylo's household were in his pocket, weaving his webs. Of course , Rey was all too aware that she was part of the web also.

In the end, at early evening, she asked Kylo to take her for a spontaneous walk around the garden.

"You asked me earlier if I hated you. The answer is not now. At first I couldn't understand what you were doing, how a person could want to kill their own kin. And then your mother sent me a message. It made me realise how much you can want to see a member of your own family dead."

Kylo stopped in his tracks. "My mother?"

"Yes." Rey turned towards him. "Leia Organa. Goodness knows how she managed. She told me the truth about my parents."

"Your grandfather had them killed as traitors."

Rey gave a stunted nod of her head. "He tells a different story, but it didn't ring true. His manipulation had been working on me until that point. He saved me from the living hell I was in with Plutt. The more I think about it it's his fault I was there in the first place. He killed my parents for disobeying him. I know he'll kill me too if I don't at least appear to be doing what he wants me to.

"That's when I saw what a monster he really is. When Leia told me how she feels about you, I knew I was pregnant by then. Only someone evil could kill their own child." Rey patted her bump. "This baby could be a tyrant, but I'd never give up on them. I'll be there for them, trying to put them back on the right course."

Rey held Kylo's gaze. "That's what your mother wants for you. Allow her back, Ben. She loves you."

Kylo's eyes looked watery. "It's too late. I've done too much. I killed her husband, her brother."

"Your father and your uncle. I can tell in your face it keeps you up at night. There's still good in you. You're not as far gone as my grandfather. Your mother knows this too. She knows everyone has been trying to mould you since birth into being what they want you to be. Including my grandfather. And trust me, he's a master manipulator."

Ben was thoughtful. "How do I know you're not manipulating me?"

"You don't. In a way I guess I'm trying to push you a certain way, but at least I'm being open about it."

They walked together in silence for a while. "I think my grandfather wanted me to hate you so much that after we were married I would kill you for him."

Kylo stopped. "Do you still want to kill me?"

"No. I was angry but I never wanted that. I want Ben."

They began walking again. "So will you marry me?"

"Yes, and not just because that's exactly what my grandfather wants. I want to help you, Ben. I liked you that night, too. Before I knew about any of this. But I have conditions."

"Conditions?"

"Your mother needs to be on the Council. We're going to need help to stop my grandfather."

Kylo seemed conflicted, but nodded.

"And I have a list of people you need to subtly push out of the inner circle. There's one or two you need to keep close so my grandfather still thinks he's in control, but who you need to be aware of." Rey took a deep breath. "Your mother suggested it. I'm not exactly comfortable with it myself because surely that paints a target on her head. He needs to think it's your mother's influence, otherwise I'm dead."