A/N - Welcome back to the story! I am so overwhelmed by the amount of support I have received from you guys! I always try to respond to all the reviews, and will continue to do so as thanks for taking the time to give me feedback!

Thefemalearrow - I'm glad you liked it!

Samantha - Thanks! When I read the Captive series, I knew it was a great fit for Ben and Rey's relationship.

RangerFox - I'm happy you were able to catch up! And I guess we'll see ;)

GuestCT - No worries! I try to mention all my reviewers! We'll see what Ben decides to do...

.xo - I'm glad you liked the moment with Rey and Leia! I really enjoyed writing that scene.

SkywalkerSince1980 - I know, the story is long! And it might be a while longer before I end it!

ldsrsc - Thank you! I'm excited to see what Ben does too!

Guest - It might be a while before you get that conclusion, but I promise I'm not ditching this story!

oldestj1 - I'm glad you're enjoying the story so much!

cdknelson - Thanks! I thought this type of storyline would really let us get to know the characters better, so I'm glad you enjoy this take!

FranQuel - Estou feliz que você tenha gostado da minha história. Lamento que você não goste do conflito entre Finn e Ben. Espero que eles se tornem amigos. Me desculpe pelo meu mau português.

Aliassaiori - I'm happy you like my writing! That means a lot :)

Guest - Your wish has been granted!

"Do you ever do what you're told?"

Rey didn't bother to open her eyes as she was abruptly pulled from her meditation by the sound of Finn's voice.

"Not usually."

"You know you're supposed to stay close to the base."

She glanced up at Finn as he stopped at her side. His shadow fell across her, blocking out the sun.

"I'm close."

"Within eyesight, Rey," he said brusquely.

Rey fought to maintain her patience. She hated being ordered about, hated his high handed demeanor, but most of all she hated the fact that he felt he had any say over what she did, or didn't, do.

"I have my lightsaber," She reminded him.

"That will do a lot of good against a group of stormtroopers with long-range blasters."

Rey rolled her eyes as she rose to her feet.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"So capable that you were caught once already."

Rey heaved an impatient sigh, and tried to ignore the tugging waves of guilt crashing through her. She didn't think she would ever forgive herself for what had been done to Finn, but she couldn't continue to live under the weight of that guilt.

She also couldn't allow him to continue thinking there was any hope for them. Even if she gave Ben up, she wouldn't choose Finn.

"I'm fine, Finn."

"I understand you want to be alone, Rey, I do, but you have to understand that I'm only concerned about your safety."

"I know."

She was only agreeing with him in the hope that he would back off. Rey jumped in surprise when he seized hold of her chin. She frowned fiercely at him, trying to keep her temper.

"I know you think this attack is a bad idea. I know you think he treated you kindly, but-"

"Finn, I can only tell you so many times that I was treated kindly. I know you had an awful time, I know that, but you have to believe me when I tell you I didn't." She implored him. "This attack isn't just a bad idea, it's a horrible idea. I know you want revenge, but risking innocent lives isn't the way to get it."

He glared at her. Leia thought that Finn was in love with her, but at the moment she felt he might actually hate her more.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Rey. What they did to you in there, it confused you."

Rey wanted to argue with him further, but it was useless, and something else had caught her attention. She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she focused her senses on her surroundings.

Something wasn't right.

"One day you'll realize-"

Rey slipped her hand over Finn's mouth and placed a finger to her lips, motioning for him to be silent. He frowned at her, but she'd stopped paying attention to him. She could sense a threat out there, she just didn't know where it was or from which way it would come. She tilted her head back, glancing into the high branches of the tree.

She pointed up as she took her hand away from his mouth. Moving silently, Rey grasped hold of the lowest limp and easily scooted her way up through the branches. Finn was not as quick as she was, but he followed her. Rey climbed higher, burying herself within the thick foliage. She searched the forest but still saw no cause for the odd silence that had descended over it.

She bent down to grasp hold of Finn's hand to help pull him onto her branch. He looked as if he were about to throw up. He had always hated heights, but they didn't have many options right now. He opened his mouth to speak but she shook her head vigorously at him. She still couldn't find the danger hidden within the shadows.

And then she saw them. They had come from behind the tree, and were underneath it before she knew what had happened. She plastered herself against the trunk of the tree, grabbing hold of it as Finn pressed against her. Rey was shaking. If they looked up…

If they looked up, she and Finn were dead. Finn couldn't move through the trees like she did, and even she couldn't outmaneuver a group of stormtroopers forever. They would catch her eventually. Her heart was thumping so loudly that she was certain they would hear it, certain that they would look up and spot them within the foliage of the tree.

Rey's breath caught in her throat, and she could barely breathe as Hux appeared beneath them, moving leisurely behind the six soldiers before him. His head moved constantly as he searched the woods. The excitement strumming through his body was nearly palpable.

Her legs were trembling so bad that she could barely stand anymore. If Hux was here then only bad things could follow.

Rey froze, her mouth dropped as Ben stepped into view behind Hux. Longing erupted through her, she almost called out to him, almost flung herself from the tree, and into his arms. And if it hadn't been for Hux mere feet before him, she probably would have.

It had been a week since she had last seen him, a torturous week that had been filled with uncertainty, trepidation, and a desperate yearning that was shaking her thoroughly now. She had gone two months without him, had spent two months trying to forget him, but this past week had been far more grueling.

There was no hatred and anger within her to fall back on now when she craved his touch. Her fingers twitched, but she remained motionless, frozen with the dread that had locked her muscles into place.

Ben stopped, his head turned from side to side, and then tilted back. Even with his mask, she knew the minute that his eyes locked onto them. Finn took a small step closer to her. She could barely breathe as she was squished against the trunk of the tree.

Ben showed no sign that he had seen them, turning away and moving onward from the forest as the small troop disappeared. Finn relaxed against her as he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Guess he can't see right through that mask."

Rey was fighting against tears and the need to scream in frustration. She ached to tell Finn that Ben had seen them, that he knew they were there, and that he would keep them safe. But she couldn't bring the words to leave her throat.

"We have to warn the Resistance," Rey whispered. "We have to get off this planet."

Finn nodded, moving away from her as he began to gingerly make his way from the tree. Rey hesitated as she searched for any sign of Ben and the others. They had moved on.

She descended rapidly, dropping silently to the ground beside Finn. They moved swiftly through the forest toward the campsite they had left behind.

A/N - So close, yet so far away! 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)