A/N - Welcome back to the story!

Rey woke to the sound of muffled voices. Pulling herself into a sitting position, she noticed that Ben was no longer beside her. She could just make out his figure in the dim light pouring into the cave as the sun emerged.

Wrapping his cloak around herself, she walked toward him. He was standing by the cave entrance, his back to her. She frowned, uncertain what he was doing there.

His head turned toward her, and his gaze was dark and stormy as he spotted her. She hesitated, confused by his obvious distress. They'd been fine when they'd fallen asleep.

Better than fine, even. She'd never felt so content and happy in her life, never felt so close to someone else.

And now it seemed as if the sight of her was enough to send him into a rage. Rey began to shake, pulling the cloak tighter around her. What was going on?

His eyes narrowed severely, and then his hand slammed into the cave wall, making Rey jump. Her heart leapt in surprise, but she still didn't feel any fear. He wouldn't harm her, she knew that, she just didn't understand what was wrong with him right now.

Ben turned away from her, his back ramrod straight, muscles quivering beneath the thin fabric of his shirt. Rey looked away from his rigid back, and her eyes widened when she spotted Poe.

He was standing outside the cave entrance, staring at her. There was surprise in his features, but there was also confusion and a resonating sadness that shook her.

It was then that she realized their wonderful world of bliss had been forever shattered once more.

"Rey," Poe greeted.

She itched to reach out to Ben, but her hands remained frozen. She didn't know what to say or what to do. She was in a cave, wrapped in the cloak of her enemy.

Rey knew what it looked like, and she didn't care. What she cared about was the fact that Poe had found them. That he had come here to ruin their brief time together, again.

Irritation shot through her. They'd had so little time together as it was, especially as equals, and now it was over.

She glared at him, her hands fisting at her sides. Poe quirked an eyebrow as he studied her questioningly.

"I'm assuming you didn't force her here," he stated flatly.

"No," Rey responded, when Ben didn't. Poe turned his attention to her.

"What are you doing, Rey?" Poe muttered.

Ben's body remained rigid but the arm that slammed into the wall shook as his knuckles turned white. Rey knew it was more than just Poe being here that was shaking him, but also the fact that their time together was over.

They both knew Poe was here to take her back, and there was nothing that either of them could do to stop it. She had to go back to her world, just as Ben had to return to his.

"That's none of your business," Ben growled.

Poe's eyes flashed in annoyance, and he turned to Ben.

"It is my business. She's a young girl, you have no right-"

"I'm not a child!" Rey interrupted sharply. "And you are not in charge of me!"

Poe's gaze was remorseless.

"You're right. Leia is, and she would be appalled to find you like this with the man who murdered her husband."

Rey recoiled from his harsh words, feeling like she'd been slapped.

"Don't," Ben snarled. "Don't talk to her like that."

"And what about Chewie?" Poe continued as if Ben had never spoken. "Or Finn, who he nearly killed. Or Luke kriffing Skywalker, whose temple he destroyed. You should know better, Rey! What are you doing?"

"Like he said," Rey told him angrily. "It's none of your business."

Poe's upper lip curled as his eye did some twitching that would have been amusing if this wasn't so awful.

"How did he even find you?"

"We have… a bond," She admitted. "The Force connects us. That's how he found me."

"And you didn't tell anyone?" He exploded. "You put us all in jeopardy!"

"I'm not going to tell you again to watch how you talk to her!" Ben growled.

Rey grasped hold of his arm as she sensed his rapidly unraveling control. He was nearing a volatile snapping point.

"It's okay, Ben." He relaxed somewhat, but a tremor remained in his muscles, and she wasn't fooled into thinking that he wouldn't attack at a moment's notice. "I didn't know about the bond. I didn't keep it from you on purpose. I'm sorry, Poe."

"Don't apologize to him," Ben told her.

"We could've been killed," Poe scolded.

Rey stepped closer to Ben, needing his touch to ease her raw nerves. He glanced back at her, his eyes softening as he took her in. She stared up at him for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart.

He finally released his hold on the wall to pull her against him, and move her behind him a little to try to block her from Poe's scrutiny.

"Why don't you go get dressed, Rey." He suggested, and she became acutely aware that she was wearing next to nothing under his cloak.

She felt very vulnerable at the moment and would love to retreat into the cave to put on some clothes, but she was unwilling to leave the two of them alone together.

"No, Ben."

He grunted impatiently and she could sense his frustration with her, but she was not leaving here if there was even the smallest chance that they were going to attack each other.

"Go, Rey." Poe told her.

Rey rolled her eyes.

"Poe, we may be friends, but you have to stop treating me like a child. Both of you." She added as Poe's brows lifted in surprise, before turning her attention back to Ben. "I'm not as old as you, but I survived a lifetime alone on Jakku, and have had experiences beyond what you could possibly imagine. So no, I am not leaving here until I am certain that you will not kill each other."

Ben's jaw clenched in annoyance while Poe's mouth quirked in sardonic amusement.

"You mean, you're disobeying the mighty future Supreme Leader?" Poe drawled. "Are you going to stand at his side, as he destroys us all? Maybe his empress? Oh, but you could never be an empress, because you're just a scavenger."

Rey flinched from the sharp reminder that she was nobody, that she never would be. Her fingers dug tighter into Ben, and she labored to breathe through the anguish constricting her chest.

"That's enough!" Ben bellowed. "You say one more word and I'll tear your tongue out, do you understand me?"

"One more word of the truth?" Poe demanded.

Rey held on to Ben as he tried to pull away, tried to lunge at Poe.

"Stop, Ben, please. Just stop, both of you, stop!" Ben tried to shake her free, but she somehow managed to insert herself between the two of them. "Stop!"

Rey was breathing heavily, terrified that she was about to witness Ben slaughter Poe for insulting her. She didn't realize that the cloak had slipped down to expose her shoulder until Ben grabbed hold of her.

Pulling her back, he yanked the cloak up to cover her skin, and the dark mark upon it. It was too late though; Poe hadn't missed the love bite marring her skin.

He stared at her covered shoulder, before finally lifting his startled gaze to hers.

"I told you, I'm here willingly," Rey informed him.

A/N - Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!

~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)