A/N: Thank you guys for all the comments, faves and follows, you are awesome :) Here's another chapter! I re-wrote it three times, but, hopefully, the end effect is worth the effort. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: None of the recognizable characters and locations are my property - they belong to their respective owner. I only own the plot.

Chapter 008 - Lost and Found

Rey lost the count of how many times she had not gotten what she'd wanted from life. It was worse than that – she wouldn't even be able to tell when she had stopped expecting good things from life.

Good things did not happen to Rey.

For a very long time nothing at all happened to her, each day exactly the same as the others, a mark made on the wall of an abandoned At-At that was her home – an empty gesture, when there is no real hope.

Then, with the arrival of a small BB-unit, things started happening – and fast. But even that was all bittersweet. Rey had seen the beauty beyond her imagination, but she had also seen the destruction beyond any measure. She had learnt to unleash the great power that had been asleep inside her, but she'd paid a hefty price for that.

It really shouldn't surprise her at this point. Everything comes at a price, the one thing that the ruthless reality of being a scavenger from Jakku had taught her.

So, why did it still hurt so much to know she'd have to pay for every good thing?

Rey had him close at hand, literally. Closer than that, in fact. His dark eyes were warm and calm; everything around them was calm. And everything inside her was singing. With relief. And impatience.

And, naturally, there was a bittersweet note to her song, too. There had to be. She knew it. Why did she hate it so much, then?

He walked up to her and took her blaster away. They weren't going to fight tonight. Or maybe just not with blasters.

She lost breath when his hand touched hers. He wasn't wearing his leather gloves and Rey wondered whether he'd simply forgotten about them, or had chosen not to wear them. She hoped it was the latter. She managed to stutter a silly statement: "You're really here." This only made him smile, which, in turn made her want to die - of joy, torment, anticipation, a bit of everything.

"It was high time, wasn't it?" he asked. Rey just nodded in response. They weren't in a rush to fill the space between them with words, talking was like a walk through a mine field, there was so much that could hurt and, by Gods, they were so good at hurting each other. Finally, they had opportunity to do so in reality. No, it was better not to speak.

Besides, it wasn't conversation Rey craved. She wanted his lips on hers, hungry and unquenchable. She wanted to feel the heat of his body on hers. She wanted it all. Now.

And yet, neither of them made a move. They stood perfectly still, just looking at each other, like two predators regarding one another, trying to foretell which one of them will become the prey. They were danger to each other, they knew it all too well.

"Why did you come here?" Rey finally asked, after what seemed like a very long time. She could barely recognize her own voice, it was hoarse and laced with longing so intense it scared her.

"I told you, I needed to see you," Ben answered.

"Well," Rey's voice dropped to a whisper, "Here I am. Is this enough for you?"

Something in the air shifted, became heavier, as if the Force was weighing on them, on everything. Or maybe just lust. When their lips met, Rey felt almost an electric charge surge through her. With that came an understanding of why she had wanted it despite all reason. She leaned into Ben, who, in response wrapped his arms around her, pulling her even closer.

As their breaths became quicker and the kiss hungrier, more desperate, Rey felt – no, it was more than a feeling, it was absolute certainty – that nothing will ever measure up to this moment. This - right here, in his arms, was where she belonged. It could be very well her last kiss, she'd die happy.

Maybe I will, she thought, and, before she could register what was happening, they were backing away from each other, still basically breathless, but the Force at each side already waiting to attack. To kill.

Rey didn't understand why – and how? – their instincts took over, and judging from Ben's bewildered look, he didn't either. She still felt her lips tingling, her head was spinning, the last thing she wanted was to fight. And here they were, the Supreme Leader and the Last Jedi. Gods, they really played themselves into a corner!

"When did you get here?" Rey asked just to put off the inevitable.

"Quay sent me the initial report two days ago," Ben said and Rey took pleasure in hearing how he was still out of breath a little, "So I made sure my ship was nearby. I landed in the city the moment I heard about the…incident in the cantina."

"So when we spoke before you were already in the city?"

"I was right here, in this building."

"I – I don't understand." Rey whispered. It couldn't be.

"Yes, you do." Ben said, but when she didn't answer, he continued, "It was you who found me here, Rey."

"I wasn't looking for you!" Was it possible that Force had guided here to the exact place where he was waiting? Was she just a puppet on a string? Or was the Force essentially fed up with them just wanting each other and decided to took the matters in her (Rey liked to think the Force was a she) supernatural hands?

"And yet, here we are." Ben said and took another step back.

"Is this an…. official trip, Supreme Leader?" Rey arched an eyebrow at him. He had been right about one thing; she surely did not need the blaster.

"Depends on the outcome." Ben answered smiling and Rey knew this was the time to attack.

Clearly, so did Ben, because they unleashed the Force at each other in the same exact moment, sending all their surroundings flying and crushing against the walls of the building. Rey didn't know how she was doing it – just like she hadn't had a clue back there in the Throne Room – but it felt natural. Having that unimaginable power within her felt perfect.

Almost as perfect as their kiss.

The injustice of it all and the cruel fairness of it made her scream in frustration and gave her a moment of dominance over Ben who was struggling to stand on his feet, but quickly made up for it and it was Rey's turn to fight back. She closed her eyes and allowed the Force to completely take over.

She didn't even hear the explosion.

When she opened her eyes, the warehouse they were in was no longer there. She looked around astonished. The walls were brought down by the explosion she caused. Or was it something they both managed to do?

Ben stood a few meters away from her, just as taken aback as she was.

"So, what is the outcome of your visit to Sullust?" Rey asked. The sound of multiple alarms set of by the explosion was deafening, but she knew he would hear her all too well. Somewhere in the distance sirens of approaching military were blasting.

Instead of answering, Ben closed the distance between them and, before Rey could do anything, he kissed her gently on the lips. The kiss was bittersweet and made the whole world go black.

When Rey woke up, she was no longer in the wrecked warehouse. Instead, she was lying on a bed in some non-descript, dirty room with not much light and terrible stench. Her head was aching and her mouth was dry. She could hear the voices of First Order soldiers outside searching the area. It seemed like she was not too far from the explosion site.

And she was all alone.

A/N: PLEASE let me know your thoughts! And, again, thank you for taking time to read this crazy little story! I really hope you like it!

Stay tuned for more xx