Kylo ran down his apartment steps and barely kept from flying off by holding onto the rails. He had been to Alderaan before, so he knew that it was just outside of Takodana in downtown D'Qar.

It was his mother's favorite coffee shop, and they would go whenever he was back from boarding school. Alderaan had always been their place free of arguing because it was a truce that his mother had made with him. Even though the coffee shop was a place of peace, that didn't mean everywhere else was, too. His steps faltered at the memory of their constant arguing. That was over now because he always refused contact with Leia, except for last night. It was an impulsive moment to text her, but he was waiting for the consequence of his mother's insistence to talk to him increase because of it.

As he reached the bottom of the steps and started to walk towards his car directly outside, a man with carefully combed over red hair brushed past him.

"Ren, what happened to your car?" He snickered at Kylo's misfortune. Kylo, however, was in no mood to talk with this insufferable man.

"None of your business, Hux. Now if you'll excuse me." Hux's annoying smirk started to dip down at Kylo not taking the bait. Kylo silently thanked his fortune of being able to escape the situation before the redhead could retort back.

He walked over to his car and saw the damage from the previous night. It honestly wasn't that bad. There was a small dent in the front and a few scratches down the side of it, but besides that, it seemed Rey had taken most of the damage. His insurance would cover the repairs. He wondered how much Rey's would cost to be fixed and if it was even in any condition to drive again. I guess they would discuss that in about... he looked at his watch.

7:12

33 minutes from now. D'Qar wasn't far from where he lived, but it was in a lot worse of a place in town.

• • •

Rey locked the front door to her apartment before she headed down the stairs. It was a Saturday, so most of her neighbors were still asleep, and no one disturbed her.

The bus station was only a short walk away, and she made it there just in time to see the bus pull up and open for her. It had been a while since she had needed to take the bus, but it was a comfort to resort back to something familiar before she bought her car. She stepped onto the bus and settled into the nearest open seat on the left. The seat was a dulled orange that stood out in contrast against the white walls. It reminded her of all the times she had run away from foster homes and seen these same colors. The colors symbolized her childhood independence in a way, but ironically now it symbolized her dependence on someone else because her car was gone.

The bus ride to downtown was quick. She hopped out of the bus and made her way to the sidewalk. She glanced down at her watch.

7:35

There was just enough time to make it to the coffee shop. She knew the way by heart because Leia would often hold some staff events for the Resistance that she would go to there. When asked about it, Leia said it reminded her of someone special and would leave it at that. Rey never wanted to push it because she knew what it felt like to have a sentimental place.

That was what the Jakku school was for her. It was where her parents had left her as a kid. In the front office, where a administrator had found her and dumped her at the nearest orphanage. The flashback was interrupted by a ping from her phone.

I'm here. I'm sitting at the table in the left back corner when you walk in.

KR

Huh. That was the table that Leia would talk to Rey in at the Resistance events. It just happened to be a weird coincidence, so Rey thought nothing more of it.

Okay, I'm almost there.

RJ

Rey rounded the block and saw the coffee shop.

She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders as she started walking down towards it. When she was at the door she looked at the time.

7:44

Right on time. She took another deep breath and shoved her feelings down as she opened the door and saw Kylo sitting in the corner of the shop. Looking as handsome as ever she might add. No, she promised herself she wouldn't think about him like that.