Chapter 20: All In

Escorting Rey into Rogue One felt almost like bringing a girl back home after a date — if your girl had an angry father and two overprotective uncles. Cassian left the back bar to come over to him, eyes hard while Baze and Chirrut stood, as if waiting for the owner to land a punch to Kylo's jaw. Had that been Cassian's intention, Kylo would have allowed it, more for Rey than her boss's satisfaction. Luckily, assaulting him was not what Andor had in mind.

"Glad you made the right choice," he told Kylo in a hushed tone, as he patted him on the back. Rey couldn't hear him, oblivious to the exchange as she joined Jyn to stack clean glasses. Cassian watched, giving Kylo another pat, which reminded Kylo of his own father. Even so, Andor's pat was rather hard for being a friendly exchange. Kylo felt the wordless threat there. Rey was as much theirs as she was his.

Chirrut and Baze greeted him with a less intimidating tactic — silent nods — and Jyn hugged him, telling him she was glad to have her best customer back. He scoffed at that, knowing he only ever ordered one drink when he was there. When he was driving Rey, he would never partake in any more than the one. Her safety came before all else.

His sandy-haired friend was polishing the bar when he sat down in his usual seat. "You're back." It was more of a monotone statement than a question, but Kylo nodded. "Good."

It was all Kaytoo bothered to say that evening, but as Kylo left to teach his round of classes, he noticed the bartender watching him closely.

"I'll be back for you, sweetheart." Kylo told Rey, leaning down to kiss her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping him pulled down to her level. "Promise?"

"I promise." He grinned, before ducking down to steal another kiss. Then he was off.

Luke was no longer in his office when Kylo returned to Ahch-To. Figures, he thought, agitatedly. Now that Rey was at work, there was no need for his uncle to stand guard and play the card of virtue.

With a huff, Kylo entered the studio and began stretching. His body had been on edge all day. Even lunch had been a temptation. Rey had been all smiles and cheer, holding his hand, calling him her boyfriend. It was everything he had wanted. He felt terrible for allowing his physical desire overshadow it.

Their afternoon nap was the worst trial. Rey had slunk under the sheets with a yawn, her body used to the routine and recognizing the time of day as an opportunity to power down. Kylo had gone stiff at the sight of her snuggled under the covers, remembering vividly how he had grinned against her that morning and heard her ask him for… actually, he wasn't sure what she had been about to ask him. He had assumed it was to keep going, but considering the fact they were both new to this, he realized he shouldn't have assumed anything.

There was a chance Rey had been about to ask him to stop. A chill had run down his spine, as he considered how close they had come twice in one day. What if she felt pressured? Was he making her feel as though she had to have sex with him? It had been those thoughts which had swirled in his mind all afternoon while she slept soundly curled up next to him.

To distract himself, he had rubbed her back and run his fingers through her loose hair. While it kept her in a state of comfort and relaxation, it had done little to quell the unease he had felt at the prospect of him forcing her to make a decision she may or may not be ready for. Hadn't he been the one to tell her he was afraid of scaring her off?

Way to go, Ren. You lasted less than twelve hours before you jumped the girl.

Shaking his head, he stretched out his hamstrings, while he reviewed his playlist on the teachers counter. It would be a Breaking Benjamin kind of night. He found the appropriate playlist and started the heavy rock vibe, as his students trickled onto the studio floor.

He didn't need to instruct them to stretch. At this level they knew how to take care of their bodies before and after training, something he could appreciate. He saw how much time Rey had to waste on the padawans. Usually they were still hyper from their daily outings to calm down for the first five or ten minutes. She had patience. He didn't.

Kylo paired off the students, glad they had an even number tonight. He hated having to participate. It meant he had to hold back to ensure he didn't hurt a lesser opponent.

"Let's start tonight with practicing those chokeholds from last class. Make sure to maintain the correct positioning of your are the attacker. For those being attacked, remember to tap out. We don't need anyone going unconscious on us tonight."

There was a round of chuckles from the all male class and then they began.

For a Monday, Rogue One was busy. Rey was hustling to dodge both Cassian and Jyn as she weaved around the taps and top-shelf liquor to get her drink orders in fast enough. It was the final push of summer, people trying to get in their nights out before the fall schedules picked up with extracurriculars for the kids and school obligations. The only consolation was the increasing wealth pooling up in their tip jar.

Rey waved at two of her regulars as they crammed their way into the corner of the bar. Ivano and Mashra Troade were a young couple only a few years older than her. They had introduced themselves one evening about a week ago after seeing her as a cemented bartender at their favorite watering hole. The two were also originally from Jakku, which gave them lots to discuss in between drink orders. Tonight, however, there would be no time for chatting. Rey grabbed a pair of Coronas for them, before giving them an apologetic smile and going to her next customer.

A couple of hours later, the crowd had shifted to the dance floor, the patrons now sufficiently buzzed and enjoying the local DJ. Rey leaned back against the POS counter, taking a moment to catch her breath. Working here had become more of a marathon than a sprint.

"Rough night?"

Her face broke into a happy grin as she heard Ben's voice. She turned to find him in his usual seat, already accompanied by a glass of whiskey.

"I see Kaytoo got you." She gestured to the rocks glass. He nodded, as she leaned up to kiss him. "Hey."

"Hey," he responded back.

"How were your classes?"

"Jiu-jitsu was fine," he replied. "The guys are picking up the new grappling work fairly quickly. If they continue at this rate, I'd like to advance them into some head locks before the end of the month."

"And Hapkido?"

"They are still struggling with new staff combination." Rey knew which one Ben was referring to. Luke had taught it to her when she had first started. It was a long pass, sixteen counts, but when mastered, it had a beautiful rhythm and flow to it. It was a piece of moving artwork.

"Have you tried setting it to music?" She asked.

Ben paused, clearly thinking on her suggestion. "I have music playing in the background."

"Heavy metal?" She teased, knowingly.

"What else?"

She shook her head, noticing a new customer off to the side. "Try smooth jazz. The counts are slower until they can pick up their pace." She could almost feel his grimace as she walked away.

Rey couldn't imagine him listening to jazz of any kind, but she recognized the soothing quality of the genre would lend itself to the rhythmic counts of the combination he was trying to teach. It was not how he learned or liked to practice, but it would benefit his students. In the end, he'd have to decide what he'd rather be frustrated about — the music selection or their lack of progress. She was hoping he'd chose the former.

Another hour or so went by and Rey kept the bar stocked, running to the back room for extra napkins, limes, and anything else they were running low on. As closing time approached, the crowd returned to the bar to close out their tabs. While she was ringing out one of her last customers, she noticed Cassian and Jyn at the end of the bar talking to Ben.

Cassian's face was set and, as always, his expression was hard to read. Jyn, on the other hand, was grinning mischievously. Rey continued to stare, her hand hovered over the screen as she watched them. Cassian and Jyn normally did not stop during their shift unless there was something important to discuss, so what was Ben conversing with them about?

"Have you experienced a brain aneurysm?" Rey jumped at the sound of Kaytoo's voice, startled he had snuck up on her and embarrassed she had been caught staring. "There are still people waiting to pay, you know."

"Sorry." She quickly finished her transaction, grabbing the printed recipes, and returning to the opposite end of the bar. While she smiled pleasantly at her customer, her mind was wondering what was going on behind her.

The end of the night rapidly followed once they had finished closing out all the customer tabs. Kaytoo seemed less snarky than usual, which tipped Rey off that something was going on. It led her to pull the blonde bartender aside.

"What's with you?"

"Excuse me?"

Rey put her hands on her hips and stared at him. "Normally you make me count my register three times before taking it out. You only made me count it twice."

"Normally you are more inept, so I have to triple check your work."

"When has my register ever been off?"

"There is a high probability it will be off at some point. I'd rather not lose out on my tips because of your inadequacy."

Rey rolled her eyes. She had asked for it by pushing Kaytoo's buttons. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Ben was still in conversation with both her managers. With the club goers clearing out, Chirrut had pulled up a chair and taken a seat next to her boyfriend.

What was going on?

She started putting away the last of the glasses for the evening, trying to speed up her pace to give her a reason to walk by them. As she grabbed the tray, the four disbanded, almost as if they knew her intentions.

"Need some help?" Cassian asked, as she lifted the heavy tray.

"Nope." Rey had hauled heavier cargo before. A few dozens glasses were hardly worth needing assistance.

Sauntering past Ben, she smiled at him. He smiled back and she noticed a twinkle to his eyes. The gaze he sent her went straight to her core, like lightning. She flushed and tried to look away before he noticed. It had her stumbling and nearly dropping the tray.

Get a hold of yourself! She mentally scolded her lack of clarity. That man did things to her brain.

When she returned from the kitchen, he was leaning against the bar, whiskey gone. "Ready to go?"

Rey bid goodnight to everyone, then took his hand as they went out to the car. No sooner than he had slid into the driver's seat, she was interrogating him.

"What were you all chatting about? Looked secretive."

"Just discussing business."

"Business?"

"Yeah. They were asking me about some of the clubs I've been to while traveling — what makes them successful, why did I choose to go there, would I go back — that kind of thing."

Even though his body language gave no indication he was lying, something felt off about his response. Rey fidgeted in her seat wondering why he would lie to her. Ben had never lied to her before — at least not that she knew of. What cause did he have for hiding something from her now? And why would Jyn and Cassian help him hide it?

Her stomach churned. They had had such a nice day together. What had happened in the course of the last several hours to make him keep something from her? Was he upset about not being able to have sex? Was he regretting staying at her place because his uncle kept interrupting them?

If that was the issue then why would he be talking to the Rogue One staff about it? She doubted he'd ask them for sex advice, especially Cassian. She couldn't imagine Ben asking him for anything resembling sex advice. The man was just as intimidating as her boyfriend. So then what was it?

"Are they having financial trouble?" She asked, suddenly concerned about her job.

"No." He caught her concerned look and reached over to hold one of her hands. He gave it a squeeze. "What's wrong?"

"I… " Rey paused. She didn't want to get into another fight with him. If she was wrong and he was telling the truth, she'd be telling him she didn't trust him. She didn't want to go back to being alone in her apartment, not after his nice it had been to have him with her most of the day. "It's nothing. Just tired."

Ben's expression told her he didn't buy her excuse. "Rey?"

"Y-you wouldn't lie to me, Ben, would you?"

His grip on her hand tightened. He tilted his head in her direction, without taking his eyes off the road. "If it's a white lie, does it count?"

"Like a good lie?"

"Yeah."

"I guess not."

"If it upsets you, I'll tell you, but I was hoping to wait until I can give you good news." She stared up into his eyes, finding nothing but fierce adoration for her in them. "Do you want me to tell you?"

"No," she relented, immediately, squeezing his hand back.

She felt better. The unease which had been gnawing at her gut had slipped back. Whatever he was working on was nothing to worry about. Perhaps he was helping Jyn and Cassian open another location in Corellia, where it would be closer for him. He could certainly provide them insights to get up and running as well as advice on where to open another club. Whatever it was, Ben had said he'd tell her when the time came.

She trusted he would.

Kylo woke to the vibrations of his phone going off in his pocket. He had set the alarm early so he could sneak out of bed to procure Rey's tea. He reached down to silence the phone before it woke his girlfriend.

Girlfriend. He smiled at the term. He was still getting used to the fact Rey was his.

Opening his eyes, he found her tucked into his side, her back flush against his chest and her arms wrapped around one of his, as she clutched it to her chest in her dreamless sleep. His smile widened at the sight, not caring if his arm was asleep because of the way she had it trapped. He'd gladly deal with the pins and needles, as long as she cared to cling to him.

He placed a kiss to the back of her head, gently, so as not to stir her. It took more effort to dislodge himself from her. With stealth that would have rivaled Indiana Jones's, he slid it of bed, at the same time sliding his pillow in place of his body, to provide support for her back. Rey murmured something unintelligible, then nestled her head against the mattress before her breathing became shallow once more.

Kylo let out a relieved sigh and quietly made his way downstairs. He had a full agenda this morning and he was already missing being in bed. Regardless, the sooner he finished his errands the sooner he could come back. He wanted to get through it all before lunchtime, so he'd still have his afternoon with Rey.

He got to Kanata Kaffeine in under ten minutes, going right for Rose at the counter. "You're early this morning," she remarked by way of greeting him.

"I need your help." He blurted it out before he could even order Rey's tea.

Rose's eyes widened at first, but then she relaxed. "This is about her birthday, isn't it?"

"Yes. I need you girls to go to the club for the night."

"The club?"

"Rogue One, where she works," he confirmed. "I am planning out the entire weekend and I spoke to her managers last night. They are on board. Rey won't have to pull her normal shift on Saturday night."

"Wow. You work fast!"

"I want this to be perfect," he told her, unsure why he was admitting that. Rose was Rey's friend. She had always been nice to him, but then again, she was kind to everyone. It didn't make him special.

"Is there a time we need to be there by?"

"Before midnight," he replied, thinking over his plan. He wanted to tell Rey about his plans for Sunday before her birthday officially ended, but he wanted it to be a surprise.

"That shouldn't be difficult," Rose laughed. "Jess had been dying to go there and she keeps pestering Rey about getting us in for free."

Kylo waved his hand. "There won't be a cover charge for any of you," he promised. "I already took care of it."

"You're serious?"

"Of course. You're the ones doing me the favor."

Rose cocked a brow at him. "Wait! Why aren't you taking her?"

"I need to take care of a few things once you get her out of the apartment and to the club, but I'll see you there."

"Alright, Casanova."

"Hardly," he murmured, suddenly wondering if his status as a virgin would turn Rey off. Would she be disappointed? Maybe she expected him to know what to do since he was older than her. She was going to be in for a real surprise, if that was the case.

"Here." Rose slid two to-go cups across the counter. "On the house." She added, pushing his hand away when he attempted to pay. He hadn't even ordered, but it seemed she had memorized heir orders. Maybe he was special.

"Thank you, Rose."

"I'm glad you two found each other."

"Me too."

It was early when Rey felt Ben get out of bed. She felt him slowly move off her mattress before quietly tiptoeing across the floor. She decided he must be going to the bathroom and fell asleep again.

When she woke up the second time, it was to the smell of green tea and honey. Cracking her eyes opened, she was met with Ben's smiling face staring down at her as he held out a steaming to-go cup from Kanata Kaffeine.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

"Morning," she replied, sitting up so she could accept the tea. As Rey shifted back to rest against the wall, she noticed Ben was fully dressed. "How long have you been up?"

"About an hour," he told her.

Rey panicked, thinking she had overslept. She reached over to grab her cell from the bedside table, sighing with relief when she noticed the time. She hadn't missed anything.

Ben leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep. I just came by to drop off your tea."

"Where are you going?" She asked, curious what was so important for him to be up this early.

"I have some things in the city I need to take care of."

"Now?" She asked, placing her tea down to reach for his hand. "You could come back to bed with me." She pulled on him for emphasis.

There it was — the same heated gaze he had given her yesterday when they had almost defined the studio. Rey swallowed, no longer interested in her tea or actually sleeping. Ben knelt on the edge of her bed, bringing both his hands down to her face, kissing her.

She returned the kiss, biting on his bottom lip to gain entrance into his mouth. Ben's right hand gripped at her loose hair, while his left trailed down her back to hold her close.

"You'll be the death of me," he sighed against her, before he pulled back.

Rey grinned up at him, trying to look as alluring as possible. Regardless he backed away from the bed. She flipped back down with a groan, already missing his warmth.

"I'll be back for lunch," he promised. He made a move to kiss her goodbye again, then thought better of it, and left. Rey watched as he went, a plan forming in her head.

Since she was already up and caffeinated, she figured she'd do some errands of her own. With her tea in one hand and her cell in the other, she checked the store hours for Echo Base, then considering the sizable tips she had collected the night prior, decided to look up the nearest mall. It was a bit of a drive, but by the time she got there, they would be opened.

Mind made up, Rey got changed and went off in search of the perfect way to end Ben Solo.

His first stop was Dr. Connix. As he walked into the office, he was greeted by Billie the receptionist he had spoken to the day prior.

"Good morning, Mr. Ren. How are you today?"

"Fine, thank you. How are you?"

"Wonderful," she beamed. "Thank you for asking."

As she responded, he realized he had never acknowledged her before, usually too moody to bother because he was annoyed he had been forced to attend these sessions. He recognized how rude it was to have not greeted her in the past. She seemed nice enough. Rey would be appalled by his manners if she knew. He imagined how her face would comfort and how she'd probably elbow him until he behaved better. Had she really changed him that much in only a couple short weeks?

There was a buzz at Billie's desk and she smiled over the counter at him. "Dr. Connix will see you now." He made a point to thank her as he walked by her desk into Kaydel's office.

"Mr. Solo, you are early this week." Dr. Connix was seated in her normal chair, her blonde hair twisted high up on the top of her head in a tight bun.

"I needed to speak with you on a matter," he informed her, taking the chair across from her.

"One of urgency, I assume?"

"Yes. Rey's birthday is Saturday."

Dr. Connix smiled, her pen already scratching away across her regular brand of legal pad. "So I take it you two are on speaking terms again?"

"You could say that." Kylo reminded himself he was over thirty and had no reason to blush, but the red color stemmed through his cheeks to the tips of his ears. Dr. Connix, thankfully, did not notice, too concentrated on her writing.

When she lifted her eyes to him, he had forced his face to return to normal. "I'm glad to hear that, but also confused as to why you would need my assistance when you've made such progress on your own."

"Rey and I decided to pursue a romantic relationship together," he informed the doctor. "However when we announced it to her friends they didn't share our… "

"Ah," Kaydel nodded, "I see the problem. You fear their rejection, since you feel you were rejected by everyone in your past."

"No, not exactly." He responded, ignoring his underlying issues. "I don't care what they think of me."

"But Rey does?"

"Yes," he nodded. "And I'd like them there to celebrate her birthday on Saturday, without causing her any more pain."

"Pain?" Dr. Connix's eyes flashed with concern. "Did they hurt her?"

"Her best friend said some hurtful things to her," he admitted, his hands balling into fists as he thought about Plutt, "but he didn't raise a hand to her. Someone else did."

Kaydel raised an eyebrow. "She has physical abuse in her past?"

"That isn't my secret to disclose," Kylo quickly tried to back track.

He watched the doctor place her pad down on the coffee table between them. "Mr. Solo, let me start by saying that while I appreciate the progress you've made, I in no way condone any sort of vigilante or revenge behavior. Violence is a trigger for abuse victims, regardless of the intention." He started a rebuttal, but she silenced him with a hand. "I've read your files and seen your fighting style, Mr. Solo. I can interpret your moves easily. You want to protect this woman. I can understand feeling as though you have the power to do so, seeing your skill in the ring as well as your increased wealth, however, I caution you to what any attempt on her abuser's life would do to your own."

"I don't care."

Dr. Connix gave him a sad smile. "You should, because any action you take now will affect not only your life but Rey's as well."

Kylo felt the tension in his hands increase. He had failed Rey once. He wasn't about to fail her again. She had been left alone and unprotected for too many years. He would not allow for that behavior to continue, not as long as he was able to stand by her. No, there was no room for people like Plutt in the world and certainly not in his new world with Rey.

When Plutt came out of hiding — and he would — Kylo would make sure it was the last time the cretin showed his ugly mug. He would put an end to Rey's suffering by eliminating the garbage who had tortured her. There would be no more reason for her to be afraid, no more nightmares marring her otherwise pleasant sleep. Kylo vowed to put the man into the ground.

"Mr. Solo," Dr. Connix was staring at him, waiting for him to answer her.

"What?"

"I need you to confirm you will not go after the person who harmed your girlfriend. With your prior record, a conviction would not be difficult for the courts to land on."

"I don't care," he growled again.

Dr. Connix let out a frustrated sigh, the first indication she had ever given him to let him know she found him hard to deal with. Usually, she kept her emotions even, barely registering anything other than positive reinforcement for his actions.

"Ben," she tried in a softer tone. "Think through what I'm saying. Say you go after this… it's a man, I assume?"

"A monster."

"Say you go after this man," Dr. Connix continued, ignoring his raw emotion. "And you kill him or at the very least incapacitate him, what do you suppose will happen to you?"

"I'll be back here to complete more mandatory sessions with you."

"No."

"No?"

"I am a last chance when the courts are feeling particularly generous. You won't be back here unless it is of your own choice." She paused for a moment, her pad still sitting on the table between them. "You will go to jail."

Her voice left no room for misinterpretation. She was no joking, nor was she threatening him. She was staring a rather plain and true fact. If he attacked Plutt with the numerous outburst already upon his record, he would be earning himself a one-stop ticket to prison.

"And once that happens, what will become of your relationship with Rey?"

Kylo felt a tightness seize his chest. Rey had been abandoned by her parents. He could not abandon her too. If he was pulled away in handcuffs that would be the end of it — the end of them. Even on good behavior, he was sure he'd be put away for at least a year and a full year without Rey would be far more painful than anything he had experienced before. Would she wait for him? Why would she? If he got taken away it would be due to his own actions.

"How do you think she would react to you beating this man?"

The psychiatrist had mentioned Rey may have an aversion to violence. Considering how rapidly she had adapted at Ahch-To, he wasn't sure if he believed the doctor, but Rey had taken a long time to come out of her nightmare. Plus, there was the week after Plutt had come back into her life when she had waned away, barely recognizable. Perhaps there was more than one side effect from her past.

"I-I just want her to be safe."

His answer appeared to pacify Kaydel. She picked up her notepad and pen. "I understand. It is normal for us to feel protective of our loved ones. It's on our nature to want what's best for them. You should know, Ben, there is more than one way to give the best to your significant other. Protecting her is noble, but you can't do this alone. You can't be with her every minute of every day. If you are truly concerned about her well being, I'd suggest going to the authorities."

"We have."

She nodded with a hum, as she continued to write. "I believe you have connections to speed along the process, if you were so inclined."

Did she mean his mother? Obviously she knew who he was related to if she had access to his medical files. Still her blunt recommendation startled him. Dr. Connix seemed to be against him breaking the man's face but breaking his code of silence with his mother was not out of the question.

"I may be inclined to," he replied, "if I can get past my current problem."

"Rey's friend?"

"Best friend. He's practically her brother."

"He?"

"His name is Finn."

She began scribbling away on her pad. "Go on."

"His boyfriend seemed alright with me dating Rey, but he has-."

"Reservations?"

"More like a vendetta," Kylo clarified. "He thinks I'm dangerous because of the media surrounding my past and my time in the ring."

"And what do you think?"

"I think he just doesn't want me around her."

"And Rey? What does she think?"

"She told him off and we left."

"Left?"

"The four of us were supposed to have dinner together."

"I see." The doctor wrote hastily on her paper, flipping over the top sheet when she ran out of room. "I must say, Ben, this is a huge step for you — both of you."

"Excuse me?"

"Victims of abuse tend to have a very small but loyal group of friends. If Rey had defended you to her inner circle she must feel quite strongly about you and her decision to propose a romantic relationship with you. You should not take that lightly."

He hadn't. As wonderful as the last couple of days had been, the memory of the week prior was still fresh in his mind. He never wanted to be without Rey again. He didn't want to give her a reason to push him away. Her brashness at dinner had filled him with overwhelming pride and cemented his feelings about her. It had been more than anyone had done for him before.

She had chosen him.

Him.

Ben Solo. Kylo Ren. The mighty fighter and thirty-something virgin. It almost was laughable considering how the media portrayed him. Thanks to Hux dragging him out all the time, he had earned himself a reputation for late nights, which led to people assuming he was well-versed in the bedroom. It couldn't be further from the truth, but now — now he had a chance to experience all of it with someone he loved, someone he…

Loved?

Kylo turned the word over in his head. He was positive his attraction to Rey had always been leading him down this path, whether he had realized it at first or not, but now the implication of the word was blaring up obvious.

He loved her.

The earlier tightness which had constructed in his chest was gone, replaced by a warming sensation which stretched throughout his entire body. It wasn't the hot-blooded lust he felt when they had been in bed or in the studio. This was something much purer, more long-lasting.

Love.

A vision of Rey moving in with him came to mind. She could stay with him, where he'd have more alone time with her away from the constant interruptions of his uncle. That train of thought led him to other considerations — proposing to Rey while visiting Naboo, getting married to her, getting to see her in a white dress, flowing around her as effortlessly as she flowed through her fighting moves, seeing her smile go even more brilliant as she gazed up at him.

In that moment, his future had never been clearer. He had known for a while he belonged to Rey, had known he cared deeply for her, but he had never felt so fulfilled, so completely content to believe they could have an entire life together starting now. He smiled, as his mind continued to envision possibilities for them, each one more wonderful than the last.

"Mr. Solo?"

"I'm sorry," he shook his head, having momentarily forgetting he was still seated in Dr. Connix's office. "What was the question?"

"Your hour is almost up for the week," she pointed out. "I have a recommendation, if you'd be open to it."

"Sure."

"Talk to Finn. Alone. Sit him down and have a one-on-one conversation with him. It will show him you are serious about Rey and have the commitment to this relationship in the long run. I believe, if he is a reasonable man, he will appreciate the gesture."

Kylo considered the advice for a moment, before nodding in agreement. "Thank you, Doctor."

"Anything else, Ben?"

"No. You've been more than helpful."

"Then best of luck."

After she had arrived at the mall, Rey had immediately navigated herself to Gatalenta Garters and Gifts. The lingerie shop was empty besides one sales associate, not unusual for how early Rey had arrived. The middle-aged woman was paging through a trashy magazine and barely uttered a hello. Being alone in the store, had relieved some of her nerves. She had never done anything like this before, but she was tired of waiting. She wanted to send Ben a sign she was ready, one he couldn't ignore due to errands. A sexy ensemble seemed to be the best way to go.

There were at least a half dozen types of underwear on display and while she was familiar with the standard cut versus a thong, some of the other styles made her question the purpose of such a design. One was barely a collection of strings. It looked more like dental floss a fashion design student had turned into a wearable pair than actual panties, but perhaps that was the point. She couldn't tell and she was far too embarrassed to ask.

Feeling slightly ridiculous about being in the store, she started walking towards the back of the shop. She realized she should have waited until she could have come with Rose and Jess before making such a rash decision to do this on her own. She had no idea what to buy or what would look good on her form.

Biting her lip, she wondered if she should leave and come back, but she had already driven out here and spent gas money, so she decided to stay. Grabbing her phone out of her pocket, she dialed Jess.

"Hey!"

"Hey, Jess."

"What's up?"

"I need help," Rey told her, hating how her voice wavered with her unease.

"With what? Are you ok?"

"I'm in Gatalenta Garters," she cupped her hand over her phone as she whispered.

"What? Where?"

"The lingerie store," Rey hissed, attempting to his behind a rack of silk kimonos. She was sure the sales associate thought she was insane.

"Why are you in a lingerie store, Rey?" Jess chuckled, sarcastically.

"Because I want Ben to… " She stopped, her face fully flushed now. God, why couldn't she just say it? She was acting like the inexperienced virgin she was.

"To bang you?" Jess clarified in her blunt, no holding back way.

"Yes."

"Ahhhhh!" Jess screamed so loudly, Rey had to hold her phone away from her ear. At the front of the store, the sales associate gave Rey a bored look before returning to her magazine.

"Jess!"

"Sorry, but damn, girl, he's going to wreck you! You better call off work tomorrow. I don't think you'll be walking."

Rey's flush extended further. "He didn't seem all that interested this morning."

"Oh, girl, he is," Jess promised her. "Believe me, he is."

"Still, I want to get something for him."

"Well," Jess took a deep breath, "if you ask me, you don't need it. The boy is clearly in love with you, but if you want to have some fun with him, why don't you go for a cute little baby doll?"

"A what?"

On the other end, Jess let out a groan. "Seriously, Rey, we need another girl's night in. You have so much to learn."

"Ok."

"There should be a section apart from the bras and panty separates where the sets are. Why don't you check out some of them and see what you like?"

"Alright. Thanks, Jess."

"Go get 'em, tiger."

Tucking her phone away, Rey located the area Jess had mentioned. She started perusing the options, not sure what would be best and deciding since she had time, to try them all.

Rey had never considered spending the type of money she was about to hand over for the items in her arms. There was an assortment of lace, silk, and satin, as well as an array of colors from classical white and black to a more daring shade of fire red. Before she bought anything, she was going to try them on.

It took nearly an hour, but after a nerve-wrecking and confusing bout in the dressing room, Rey had selected a collared black lace teddy and an off-white baby doll. She took her selections up to the register, trying not to cringe when she saw the total amount flash across the screen. It would be worth it to see the look on Ben's face when he came back from his errands.

Rey had mentioned Finn worked with food. Kylo had assumed that meant as a waiter or line cook. He was surprised to discover Finn was actually a food scientist. When he walked into D'Qar Discovery he hadn't been expecting all the white lab coats and researchers who moved with clinical precision about the building.

He greeted the receptionist as politely as he could before asking to see Rey's friend. "I'm here to see Mr. Finn Storm, please."

The woman behind the lobby counter gave him a curt nod, before picking up jet phone and dialing an extension. There was a moment of pause before she turned to peer up at him. "Your name, Sir?"

"Kylo Ren."

She made no fuss over the information and he guessed she was not a fan of MMA matches, though her eyes did hover over his form a bit longer than they should have.

"He will meet you in the lobby, Mr. Ren. It will be about ten minutes."

"Thank you."

Kylo spent the time in the lobby checking his messages. While he had been at Rogue One last night, he had followed up on the second part of Rey's birthday surprise. It had taken some added work on his end. He knew she had a degree in mechanical engineering, but it had been some time since he had been in contact with the man who could make her dream a reality.

He was pleased to see an email in his inbox, offering a personal contact number and available times for a meeting. It was all coming together. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride that he was going to be able to pull this off. He could hardly wait to see the look on Rey's face.

"What are you doing here?"

She was sure to look more pleased than her friend, who was currently glaring down at him as if he was gum on the bottom of his shoe. Kylo rose to his feet, extending a hand to shake, but Finn merely looked at his open palm and crossed his arms over his chest, defensively. Was that where Rey got it from?

"I came to speak with you."

"At my work? Couldn't you have waited until after hours?"

"Rey doesn't know I'm here," Kylo admitted, as if that explained his reasoning.

"So you're keeping secrets from her now. Well that's just great," he drawled, sarcastically.

"I don't intend to keep it for very long," Kylo replied, "just until her birthday. I'm arranging a party for you. I came to ask you in person if you and Poe would please be there."

Finn continued to glare at him and Kylo could sense what the man was thinking. It was obvious his reservations ran deep. Changing his mind would not be easy. As Dr. Connix had suggested, he didn't need Finn to alter his opinion of Kylo, only his decision whether or not to be there for his friend.

"It's not for me. It's for Rey. I understand you don't care for me. I can live with that, but Saturday is all about her and I want it to be special. You are her best friend. If you aren't there, she'll miss you. It will give you a chance to celebrate since we weren't able to last weekend."

The shorter man dropped his arms, his brain working over what Kylo had proposed.

After a pause of uncomfortable silence, he asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"I want Rey to have a real birthday for once."

"Right," Finn nodded, "but you have money and connections. You could take her anywhere — do anything — to celebrate. Why insist on me being there?"

"Like I said, it's not about me. It's about her and what makes her happy."

"You care that much about her being happy?"

"Yes."

"But you barely know her!" Finn insisted, though Kylo could see his frustration was not directed entirely at him.

"I've been with her every day for over a month. I know more about her than most. She's told me about Plutt and what happened before. I was there when she fell. I stayed with her all day. I never once left her."

There was disappointment in his tone and an unspoken judgement, which Finn clearly picked up on. Kylo let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He ran a hand through his hair, telling himself to calm down. He was not there to pick a fight with the man. It would only serve to prove Finn's point.

"I want what's best for her. I never want to see her like that again."

"Me too," Finn agreed, quietly. "I should have known she'd need me when he came after her. She told me not to come. She knew about the promotion and-." He stopped speaking, his face changing. "Thank you for being there."

Kylo hadn't anticipated an apology, if that's what this was. He had hardly held onto any hope Finn would agree to his idea for Saturday night. He hadn't officially, but their conversation had taken an unexpected turn, leaving Kylo more confident about his ask.

"I'd like for you to go to dinner together. I won't be there, if that makes a difference. I've already taken care of the arrangements."

"Dinner?"

"Rey cares about her friends — you and Poe — and the ones she's made in Tatooine. I thought she'd enjoy a night out with all of you."

"And what about you? You aren't spending time with her on Saturday?"

"I plan on doing it afterwards. I figured my attendance at dinner would hinder any conversation you may want to have. I won't spoil it with my presence. This is Rey's time with you. I want her to make the most of it."

Finn spoke his head, a bewildered expression on his face. "Why?"

"I love her."

It was the first time he had said the words out loud. His confession served to startle not only Finn, but himself as well. The answer had just come out. He hadn't meant to say it to this man, the one person he could see standing between himself and a future with Rey. If he planned on saying it to anyone he wanted to say it to Rey.

"You do, don't you?" Kylo opened his mouth to respond, but Finn cut him off when he extended his hand. The two men shook hands. "This doesn't mean we are friends. I still don't like you," the dark-skinned man reminded him.

"I can live with that."

"We'll be there," Finn promised, as he took a step back. "Just give us the place and time."

The two exchanged contact information for the sole purpose of coordinating the evening, before parting ways. Kylo felt victorious. He kept his phone out to update the dinner reservation, as he exited D'Qar.

It was time to go back home.

A/N: There will be smut in the next chapter. It's mostly written, so fair warning for those who are concerned about that level of content.

Thank you shortystarrose for suggesting Matthew West's songs for Reylo. I started listening to him on my Spotify and when I heard this song, it was perfect for Kylo's development this chapter.

A HUGE thank you for my constantly there for me beta abyssalspark. Even though she's taking summer classes, she took the time to read through and edit this.