A/N: So first and foremost, I have to apologize for how long it has taken me to update this fic. This is my baby and it means the world to me, which is why it was so difficult for me to update. I had terrible writer's block and I refused to post a chapter that was half-assed, so here's the result of a nearly two month drought of inspiration for this fic. Hope you enjoy!

Second, I'm not an engineering expert. All the details within this chapter are from research I conducted, but I do not pretend to know what I'm talking about when it comes to machines.

Third, for my readers who choose not to read the smut parts - Fair warning: There is smut in this chapter. If you aren't interested in reading it, please skip from "Little Minx" to the next section break.

Chapter 26: Someone You Like

The Vanquish sped down the highway leading out of Corellia towards Bespin. As Kylo gripped the wheel, his mind replayed their fight over and over again. He was slowly torturing himself with each mile they drove. For all his talk of letting Rey chose how to love her life and being better for her, he had irrevocably fucked up...again.

Han showing up unannounced had triggered him. His old wounds tore open along with his former walls. Kylo had shut down and shutting down meant shutting people out — not Rey, just everyone who wasn't Rey — which meant his old man.

Raising his voice to her was the act which caused him to cringe the most. He couldn't forget how shocked she looked or how she had flinched away from him, as if she was afraid he'd hurt her. As if he ever could. But he remembered that Rey had her scars too. Violence was a trigger for her and he had thoughtlessly turned on her, unleashing all his pent up emotions onto the only person he loved.

Idiot, he cursed himself.

Kylo peeked over at her, as they left Corellia city limits. She was leaning back against the headrest, staring out the window taking in all the scenery. There wasn't much to see outside the city beyond the desert sand and a random bush here or there, but she remained focused on anything but what was inside the vehicle.

He couldn't blame her.

"Rey," he quietly said her name, afraid to scare her any more than he already had.

"Yeah?" she turned to him, a grin on her face when she took him in, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

He sighed, feeling worse than before. His girl needed to smile always. She was light and joy and freedom. She wasn't meant to be sad — not now, not ever.

As Rey had predicted, Han did call Leia and RSVP'ed before Kylo managed to intercept him. The end result being that Kylo was now on the official guest list for the charity ball, along with Rey. This resulted in Han being uninvited from their trip to Cloud City.

"I'm sorry about Han," he apologized. "I overreacted," he continued before she could tell him it was fine. They both knew it wasn't. "I wasn't prepared to see him. I wanted today to be perfect for you and he showed up and I just lost it."

She was watching him, eyes locked on his, seeing beyond the physical and diving right into his soul.

"I'm sorry," he repeated.

"I know," Rey reached over, placing her hand to his cheek, lightly. "It's f-."

"Don't say it's fine," he cut her off. "If you're upset, I understand. Just don't...just don't lie to me."

"I'm not, Ben," Rey insisted.

And he believed her.

The way she was staring at him was not disappointment or resentment, as he had been expecting. She seemed almost ashamed.

"Then what's bothering you, sweetheart?"

She bit her bottom lip, not answering.

"Rey?"

When she answered him, her voice was so small he nearly missed it, "I don't have a dress for the ball."

As Kylo continued to drive Rey out towards his uncle's business, he placed his hand on her thigh. Relief soaked through him at her response. "I'll take you shopping this week," he offered.

"It's alright," Rey waved him off. "I'm sure I can borrow a gown from Jess."

Kylo had seen how excited Rey was at the prospect of meeting his mother, another family member of his whom she admired. But he had also seen how concerned she was by the dress code. She didn't have anything black tie worthy in her wardrobe.

He knew she already felt guilty about the dress she had purchased the night they reconnected and the lingerie which she had surprised him with. Kylo had offered to pay for them, which only served to upset Rey further. He didn't want her worrying over money — not when he had plenty for both of them.

There was another option, though he was hesitant to take it.

His mother had connections all across Corellia. She was on a first name basis with several well-recognized designers and even a few up and coming ones — or at least she had been according to the last magazine article he had read on her. It was the most communication they had. Unlike a normal family who spoke on the phone or had Sunday dinners, the Organa-Solo clan tended to use media to come up to speed on the latest and greatest in each other's lives.

"About your father," Rey started, capturing his attention instantly, "he told me he wanted to make amends."

Kylo scoffed. Of course Han Solo would tell Rey some sob story as a way to weasel back into his life. As much as he was prepared to lash out again, he controlled his anger and calmly questioned her about his father's conversation, "Did he ask you to talk to me?"

"No," Rey wrapped her hand around his, "actually, I think what he told me was in confidence, but… "

His gaze flickered from the road to her face for a moment. She was pensive, biting her bottom lip again and staring at her lap.

"Hey," he gave her hand a squeeze, "I'm sorry if I'm coming off like an asshole. Ha- my father and I don't have the best relationship."

"Why?"

He swallowed. Kylo understood at some point she was going to ask this question. It was only natural.

"After I got emancipated, my father and I stopped talking altogether," he told her. "My mother at least tried, but Han… well he never forgave me for taking them to court and choosing to change my name."

"Was it really that awful?" Rey questioned.

Normally if someone brought up his past, Kylo got defensive and shut-down, but this was Rey. He wanted a life with her. If he shut down again or acted as irrationally as he had back at his apartment, there was no chance of a future for them together. They had already wasted so much time. He couldn't waste anymore on his rage.

"To me, it was," he admitted, thinking back on the techniques Dr. Connix had taught him. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I never got along with my peers. I was constantly targeted, always alone. When I would come home after school, I expected to be in a safe place. It was safe," he clarified, "but it was lonely. My mother was off trying to save the world and my father… well, he was hell bent on proving all the naysayers wrong."

"Naysayers?"

"When my parents got married, there was a lot of churn in the media about my mother's choice for a husband."

"Because he was a smuggler," Rey supplied.

Kylo nodded. "Originally the rumors were that he had gotten her pregnant, but when it didn't pan out, the media took a more vicious turn with their stories. My mother weathered the storm but my father… he struggled with it."

Rey made a humming sound. "He sounds an awful lot like you."

Her comment gave Kylo pause. Had he been in the same position with Rey as his parents had been, there was no doubt in his mind he'd do whatever he had to in order to clear her name. He would never allow anyone to speak ill of her.

Next to him, she squeezed his hand. "Ben," she turned to look at him, despite the fact he had to keep his eyes on the road instead of her lovely face. "I'm not saying I understand what you went through, because I don't. It would be unfair of me to say I did."

"But?" He knew there was a 'but' coming.

"But," her cheeks dimples as she smiled, "I think this is a second chance… for both of you. I don't want you to miss it."

Kylo nodded, bringing her hand up and across the gear shift to his mouth. He pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles.

"I love you," he told her, returning her hand to her thigh, never letting go.

"Mmmm," Rey wrapped both her arms around his arm, hugging him. "I know."

Cloud City was located at 327 Platform Drive in Bespin. The compound was designed in a circular fashion with the main building at the center and the surrounding facilities clustered in rings around it.

Rey had never seen the impressive campus up close. When she had researched it on her phone, the pictures had been beautiful but seeing it in real life was something else entirely. The lawns were well manicured with flowers in full bloom and perfectly sculpted shrubs to decorate the various intersections.

Ben chose a spot in visitor parking and they proceeded toward the entrance of the main building.

She found it odd there was no one in the lobby to meet them. Even though it was Sunday, she had expected someone to be working. With an international company as large as Cloud City, it seemed they would have staff working around the clock.

Just as she was about to ask Ben if he had gotten the day of their tour correct, a voice called out to them.

"Benny boy!"

Rey couldn't help the laugh which escaped, as she saw Ben's face contort into a grimace. He glanced over at her and she mouthed, 'Benny boy?'

"Don't ask," he muttered in a hushed voice too soft for their approaching host to hear.

"Ah," the man — who Rey recognized instantly as the owner, Lando Calrissian — came to stop in front of them, plucking her hand out of Ben's. "You must be Rey," he smiled, drawing up her hand to kiss it.

Ben snatched her back before he could. Lando just laughed.

"I see you took after your father, then," Lando commented with a chuckle. "Han always was the jealous type."

"Try to be professional, please," Ben grumbled.

"I was only making introductions," Lando insisted, feigning innocence.

"You're being a flirt and you know it," Ben snapped, keeping Rey tucked against his side.

Lando held up both his hands in a sign of surrender. "Alright, alright, Benny boy. Clam down. I was only trying to be friendly." Then to Rey, he added, "It is lovely to meet you, Rey. Ben told me yesterday was your birthday. I hope it was a good one."

"The best!" she gushed, excited to be at Cloud City and speaking to the man in charge of it all. "Ben went overboard."

"Did he now?" Lando smirked over at Ben, whose grip on Rey's waist tightened slightly.

"Yes, but this is by far the present I'm most excited for," she admitted.

"Well then," Lando offered her his arm, "I won't keep a pretty little thing like yourself waiting. Shall we?"

Rey looped her arm around Lando's, ignoring Ben's possessive growl as she did. She was far too interested in seeing what lay behind the doors of Lando's facility. The R&D department alone was worthy of an entire day's exploration. Technology like what Cloud City was developing would change the world and she could barely contain herself as Lando led them through the double doors into the heart of it all.

While the corridors on the other side were standard, Rey was soon inside the core of the company she had dreamed of working for since she had decided she wanted to be an engineer.

Lando escorted them into a testing lab first. The main project within the chamber was a portable clean energy generator. Rey walked away from her guide, scanning the device, as she circled it. Her eyes were honed in on all the mechanisms, while her brain tried to piece together how it operated.

"Are you using a pulley system?" she asked Lando, not even glancing up, as she continued to study the generator with rapt fascination.

"Yeah," Lando chuckled, though he sounded surprised. "How did you know?"

"Electromagnets are going to emit heat. Along with the friction from the pulleys, there is too much strain on the commutator. It will slow down the machine's life the longer it runs," Rey commented, off-handedly. "You'd be better off using twin magnets and parsing them out one on each side. You wouldn't have to worry about it over heating then."

She didn't catch the way Lando turned to Ben, or how Ben wore his 'I-told-you-so' smirk in response.

Rey was in her element. Kylo had never seen her so entranced. She was naturally gifted as a fighter. Her body moved with unhindered grace and she possessed a prowess most trained for years to achieve. However, one look at her in his uncle's lab and he knew this was her true passion.

He very nearly had to drag her from the lab to continue the tour, she was so fascinated by the… whatever it was his uncle's team had constructed. Kylo hadn't been paying attention to their discussion, only the way Rey's face lit up when she asked specific questions and how her brow furrowed when she contemplated the answer. She was precious.

His uncle continued on the tour, taking them through the offices, a handful of other labs (where Kylo almost lost Rey to the machines within) and finally to their Research and Development level.

The second they arrived, Rey beamed. Her pupils dilated so wide, Kylo thought she was experiencing another blackout episode, but then she was grinning — all teeth and dimples and he let her go off with his uncle to inspect all the inventions inside.

It was like watching a child have free reign of a toy store. Rey danced between the desks and models, ping ponging back and forth in rapid movements, barely able to stay still long enough to take in one invention before she was inexplicably drawn to the next. Kylo couldn't keep the smile from his face as he watched her.

He knew he had made the right choice. Regardless of what anyone said, this had been the ultimate birthday gift for Rey. Coming to Cloud City meant more to her than expensive handbags or designer brand jewelry. She only wanted simple things like dinner and drinks with him, seeing her favorite company up close and personal and well the last thing (the thing they had done last night)… that was Kylo's favorite of all three.

"Ben, come look at this!" Rey waved him over, excitedly.

He went to her side instantly, finding her crouching over a rather large engine. To him, it didn't look any different than the engine in his Vanquish, but he didn't have the eyes for this sort of thing the way his girlfriend did.

"You found our prized bull," Lando stayed, appearing behind them. "This is the Lobot. We are planning on announcing it for GA at New Year's."

"That soon?" Rey queried and Kylo sensed (as he had in the car ride over) there was a 'but' coming.

Lando turned his full attention to her. There was a glint of something in his dark orbs. "Why do you say that?"

Kylo watched as Rey proceeded to kneel down, peering up into the engine. She pointed at the center, indicating a part he wasn't familiar with. "The space between the crankshaft and the alternator is too tight. Once this baby gets going, this section here," she moved her finger, indicating the spot she was speaking of, "is going to rub against the alternator and it will eventually wear it down unless the friction causes it to melt first."

Lando shot Kylo another baffled. Kylo repressed the urge to bait his uncle. He had warned the man that his girlfriend wasn't the typical arm candy most celebrities kept. Rey was special.

"Anything else?" Lando chuckled, noticing how Rey hadn't moved from her position on the floor.

"Yeah," she continued, without hesitation, "have your engineers told you about the power distribution problem?"

"What?"

Kylo recognized the shock in his uncle's voice. A displeased expression took over Lando's features, as he moved to squat down next to Rey. Obviously, he hadn't thought she'd actually find another opportunity for improvement. Kylo bit the inside of his cheek from laughing.

Oh his lovely, spit-fire of a girl. She had no idea how brilliant she was.

By the time Rey had finished explaining the situation to Lando, Kylo was beginning to feel restless. He took a seat off to the side, while the two conversed and pulled the engine apart. Not wanting to interrupt, he allowed Rey her shining moment while he perused his emails from work.

Marketing and Legal we're finalizing the details of the fight in Canto Bight and Snoke was making the official announcement at the end of the month. Kylo sighed, running a hand through his hair. He hadn't made a decision yet on whether or not he'd renew his contract. Tucking his phone back not his pocket, he ignored the messages. He wasn't ready yet. This was still Rey's birthday weekend. His focus was needed to be all on her. He'd figure out their future starting tomorrow.

"Your girl is a real gem," Lando called to him, as he made his way over to Kylo. The older man was wiping his hands clean on a white rag, while Rey remained digging around in the engine, lost in her own world. "I might have to steal her."

"Excuse me?" Kylo growled, immediately on high-alert. He didn't like anyone saying anything that closely resembled removing Rey from him. Family or not, she was his.

Lando chuckled, holding up his hands in playful surrender. "Down boy. I only mean to say, I'd like to offer her a job," Lando clarified. "Do you think she'd be interested?"

Kylo felt as though he should pinch himself. This was exactly what he had hoped would happened, wasn't it? If Rey got a job at Cloud City, she wouldn't have to work at the bar anymore with all those patrons leering at her and drunken idiots trying to flirt with her. Plus, Ahch-To was too far of a drive so she'd have to move. He'd be only too happy to suggest she forgo the apartment hunting and move in with him.

Apparently his uncle could see the wheels turning in his head. Lando swatted him on the shoulder. "Hey, quit with the daydreams, Benny boy. I asked you a question."

"Huh? Oh, yeah," Kylo found himself nodding. "Her degree is in mechanical engineering. She'd jump at the chance to work here."

"Perfect," Lando cheered. "Let's go to dinner to celebrate. My treat!"

"Actually, my dad is in town so-," Kylo tried to find an excuse to get Rey home alone.

"Even better!" Lando interrupted. "Give him a call. It's been too long since I saw the old scoundrel. He should join us."

Kylo opened his mouth to object, but Lando was already off talking to Rey about his proposal. When Kylo saw the joy burst across her features he knew he couldn't deny her anything.

"Oh my God, Ben!" Rey gushed, throwing her arms around him as they exited the Cloud City facility. "Can you believe Lando Calrissian offered me a job? Me! And he's taking us to dinner! Can you believe it?"

Ben's only response was to hold her close and deposit a kiss on the top of her head. "You deserve it, sweetheart."

"I mean, you don't think I was too pushy with all my feedback, do you?" she asked, as he led her to the Vanquish.

"You? Pushy?" he teased.

She shoved him away playfully, picking up her pace as they approached the car. "Don't you ruin this for me, Ben Solo," Rey warned, jokingly.

"I wouldn't dream of it," he promised, hurrying forward to scoop her up in his arms.

Ben rested her back against the side of his vehicle, his hands positioning her legs around his torso, while he leaned into her. "Did you have a nice time?" he asked, his forehead pressed to hers, as he stared into her eyes.

"Of course," Rey insisted, though her voice came out softer than she intended it to.

"Good," he asserted, before capturing her lips with his own.

Suddenly dinner and her job offer were the farthest things from her mind. Rey's body went into overdrive, flooded with the spark of arousal from having Ben's body between her legs. He was so broad and built beneath her fingers.

She ran her hands up his chest, toying with the collar of his shirt before trailing one hand up the back of his neck, leaving the other to cup his jaw. He didn't break the kiss, as her head tilted back. His tongue found entrance to her hot mouth and she couldn't hold back her moan.

"Let's skip dinner," he suggested, breathlessly.

"But your dad and Lando," Rey reminded him, not sure how she was in the right frame of mind to argue.

"They can eat and get drunk and commiserate," he told her, ducking his head to leave hot, wet kisses along her throat. "I just want my girl in my bed."

Oh.

Pleasure rippled through Rey, as she felt her resolve weakening. Surely Lando would understand if she was too tired to join them for dinner, right? It wasn't as if she was standing him up. After all, Han was perfectly good company and they were old friends who hadn't seen one another. They probably had a lot to catch up on.

"Ok," she nodded, grasping Ben's face with both hands. "Take me home."

If it felt perfect to refer to his apartment as home, she blamed it on her aching desire.

The drive from Bespin to Corellia was the longest in Kylo's memory. He couldn't understand why people in the left lane chose to drive exactly the speed limit when that lane was clearly meant for passing. By the time he pulled into the apartment complex garage, he was gripping the gearshift of the Vanquish so tight his hand had gone numb.

"Ben?" He glanced over at Rey who was regarding him with a rather amused expression. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah," Kylo responded, before leaning over to kiss her. "Everything's fine, sweetheart."

"Mmm, you barely said a word the entire time back," she observed. "I thought something was wrong."

"Just thinking," he replied, unbuckling his seat belt and climbing out of the vehicle. About all the things I'm going to do to you.

"Ok," Rey dropped it, happily taking his hand as they walked towards the elevator. There was a bounce in her step, her earlier excitement having returned. "I still can't believe all of this is real."

"It's real," he told her, guiding her into the elevator and selecting the penthouse. The security protocol demanded he punch in his pin and then they were climbing upwards towards his floor.

"I have to think about it," she chewed on her bottom lip.

Wait, what?

"What do you have to think about?"

"Accepting Lando's offer."

"Why?"

"Because I can't just up and leave Master Luke or my students," Rey insisted. "Temiri and the others have come so far. I don't want them to think I've abandoned them."

Of course.

Of course Rey would feel as though she was leaving them behind. She was far too conscious of how abandonment at a young age had affected her. She didn't want to do the same to those in her life. Kylo loved her all the more for her big heart. She was so compassionate.

"I'm sure you can speak to Lando about a start date," he suggested. "Between him and Luke, you can work out a schedule for the transition."

Rey beamed up at him, utter joy sweeping over her. "What did I do to deserve you?" she asked, cupping his face in her hands as she surged up on her toes to kiss him.

The second her lips found his, Kylo felt his need for her increase. He had kept his desires locked down since his father's impromptu visit this morning but now, with Han out to dinner there were no more distractions to keep Kylo from enjoying his girlfriend.

And enjoy her he would.

Above their heads, the elevator dinged, announcing their arrival to his floor. It was as if the chime was the racing bell at the dog track. As soon as it sounded, Kylo was on her. He hoisted her up in his arms and carried her, bridal style to his front door. Part of him — the primal, alpha part — rejoiced in how she gasped at his sudden dominance and strength. The other part of him — the studious bookworm part — found it romantic. This was how he had carried her home after her blackout in the studio, though their current relationship stage was far more evolved than it had been back then.

"Ben!" Rey cried, though her protest was muffled by her own laughter, as he struggled to unlock the door.

"I'm not letting you go," he told her. It wasn't that Kylo didn't think it would be easier to put her down and then get inside, but after an entire afternoon of not having his hands on her, he was desperate to feel her smooth skin against his own. Every second they weren't naked in his bed was driving him to madness.

"Stubborn man," she retorted with a shake of her head.

"Takes one to know one, sweetheart," he returned with a smirk, as he gained access to his apartment.

He carried her over the threshold, kicking the door shut behind him, like the guys did in the movies. The apartment was — thankfully — quiet, which confirmed Han had indeed gone out to dinner with his old friend. Kylo brought Rey into his room, dropping her onto the bed. She landed with a huff, eyeing him as he locked his bedroom door and began stripping down.

"You're not dressed appropriately for this, Niima," he chided, playfully, once he was down to only his boxers.

"What are you going to do about it, Solo?"

Rey shrieked when his answer turned out to be him grabbing her by the ankles and dragging her down to the edge of his bed. He parted her legs, kneeling between them as they dangled off the mattress. He removed her shoes, then slid his hands up her toned calves to her thighs and finally over her center to where her zipper was. As soon as Kylo had removed them, the last lingering threads of his control vanished. Rey had forgone panties and lay completely bare from the waist down.

"Fuck," he hissed, as the scent of her arousal hit him. He made quick work of the remainder of her clothing.

"Now who is overdressed?" Rey taunted him.

Little minx.

Kylo tore off his clothes. He clambered over her, pinning down her arms while she thrashed about, laughing and trying to break free of his grip. "Ben!" She giggled uncontrollably. Kylo wrapped one hand around both her wrists, freeing his other for one sole purpose.

He couldn't keep the knowing smirk off his face, as he trailed one hand down along her side, ever so lightly. Rey jerked beneath him. Ticklish. He chuckled, dipping his head down to nuzzle at her pulse point. The next time she called out to him, her voice was quieter and heady.

"Ben."

"Yes, sweetheart?"

Her back arched when his teeth grazed over her neck, hips raising up to meet his. "Please," she panted, all teasing long forgotten under the haze of her desire.

God, he would never tire of hearing her ask for him.

With his free hand, he guided himself to her, stroking her clit with his head. Rey whined, trying in vain to grab at him, but he kept her pinned down. Just as he was about to drive home, his brain caught up to him.

"Shit."

"What?" Rey's eyes flew open and she tensed up underneath him.

"Condom," he groaned, already backing off of her to retrieve one.

"Wait," she seized his wrist, keeping him in place. "Leave it. I want to feel you — all of you."

Fuck.

If he hadn't been hard before, hearing her say those words and seeing her look at him with those pleading eyes would have done the trick.

"You're sure?" he asked, needing confirmation. He didn't want her having any regrets once the passion-filled haze dissipated.

Rey nodded. "Please, Ben."

Kylo settled over her, one hand on her hip and one hand holding himself. He felt his hands tremble slightly in anticipation. And then he sheathed himself inside, indulging in being wrapped in her slick heat.

He choked back a moan while Rey keened. It felt nothing like before. There was no barrier between them, nothing keeping him from her. Skin to skin was the most delicious feeling he had ever experienced. Rey was all around him, her body pulling him in deeper. It was too much and not enough all at once. The overstimulation was pleasurable torture and he reminded himself to go slow to prolong the experience.

When he didn't move, her hands came up to his shoulders. "Ben."

All it took was his name leaving her lips and Kylo was grounded. He rolled his hips, loving how responsive she was. Each movement he made, incited a reaction from her. When he canted his hips, she sighed and gripped him tighter. If he gyrated against her, her head fell back and her mouth parted. And when he picked up his pace, thrusting into her with unbridled need, she cried out his name.

He liked that best of all.

Hearing her call out for him stoked his primal side. The spark she had lit earlier grew into a raging inferno, which threatened to consume him as it burned throughout his entire body.

With each cry, he felt the fire flare to life a little more, filling him with pleasure and reassurance. He chased the feeling, driving into her faster and harder with each thrust until he was upon the brink of release.

Somehow he managed to form a coherent thought and pulled out. Rey whimpered in protest, too far gone to think rationally. "Ben," she begged, her voice strained.

"Shhhh, sweetheart, I've got you," he whispered, as his hand slide down her hip.

Kylo rose up to his knees, keeping one hand on her. He ran his digits over her swollen lips, before sinking two fingers into her. Rey gasped then pleaded, "More."

Carefully, he inserted a third finger, while taking himself in hand. He pumped his shaft roughly, attempting to match the rigorous pace he had set previously. Watching Rey come undone as she writhed beneath him sent him careening over. Ropes of spend shot across her flat stomach and decorated her pert breasts.

Rey's eyes had fallen closed and the siren call of sleep came for Kylo as well. Despite the seductive pull, he got up from the bed, going into the bathroom to fetch a washcloth. He dampened it with warm water and returned to Rey's side. She barely moved as he cleaned her up. When he settled in next to her, she was already snoring softly.

Unable to resist the call any longer, Kylo fell asleep.

He woke to the sound of a light rapping on the door. Immediately, Kylo glanced over at Rey, who was sleeping sounding curled up aside of him. He kissed her forehead gently, wrapping her up in the sheets before he tugged on his boxers and unlocked his bedroom door.

"What?" he whispered harshly, as he flung the door open.

"I knew you weren't sick," Han grumbled, taking in Kylo's disbelief appearance.

"No, but you are piss-drunk," Kylo huffed. "You smell like a distillery."

His father shrugged, "Lando was buying."

"Is that so?" Kylo asked, watching as his father staggered toward the guest bedroom. He was reminded of what Rey had mentioned during the car ride earlier. Rolling his eyes, Kylo went to his old man, ducking under one of Han's arms so he could help him. "Jeez Dad, do you think you could learn to lay off the booze?"

"Y-your mother won't… " his dad wheezed, practically falling through the doorway.

"Won't what, Dad?"

"You're mother won't let me come home," Han finally choked out, as he collapsed into bed.

Kylo regarded the older man for a moment, unsure how to digest this news. He hadn't been close with anyone in his family since he had joined the First Order. There were rumors in the media surrounding his parents all the time, but he hadn't given it much thought until now.

If Han was here and Leia wasn't permitting him to stay with her things were worse than he had assumed. Given the amount of time they had spent fighting when he was younger, he wasn't sure what constituted as bad in their opinion but he could see how much pain his old man was in. If it had been Rey to kick him out — which she had done before — he knew how he'd be holding up.

He wouldn't.

So he threw his father a bone.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, kid?"

"I decided to take Rey to the gala next weekend," he informed him, keeping his voice level. "I think she deserves a night out and she really wants to meet Lei- mom."

"Yeah?" Han instantly looked less likely to self-destruct.

"Yeah," Kylo nodded. "I'll have to take her shopping for a dress but-."

"No, no," Han started shaking his head. "Don't give your mother a reason to be mad at you too. Let her take Rey out. She always wanted a daughter."

Kylo tried not to let the words burrow into his heart and leave another scar. Of course his perfect mother would have wanted a daughter instead of a son. A daughter who would have been like her. A daughter whom she could have controlled. Not the hot/headed, angsty teenager she had been burdened with. Not him.

No one wanted him.

Rey.

Rey wanted him.

And that was enough.

Kylo shook his head, ridding himself of the toxic thoughts. He yanked his father's shoes off of his feet, before drawing the covers up around him. "Get some sleep, Dad."

"Hey," Han caught his wrist, just as Kylo stepped back. "You turned out good, Ben. You're a good man. I know you didn't get that from me and I'm proud of you, kid. I..." Their gazes locked as Han's words fell away. Kylo could have sworn his father was about to say something that would make both of them uncomfortable. In the end, he changed his mind, telling Kylo about the visitors who had come looking for him.

"Your friends," Han clarified, "the stuck up redhead and the giant blonde lady. Kinda an odd couple but-."

"They aren't a couple," Kylo cut him off, "and they aren't my friends."

"Well they stopped by. I told them you were out with Rey," Han yawned. "They said they stopped by to pick up something, so I let 'em in, then they left a couple minutes later."

"Thanks, Dad. Now get some sleep," Kylo ordered. "I'll bring you a glass of water."

He slipped out of the guest bedroom, hearing his father's deep snores fill the air before he even had the door shut.

Kylo went to his office. As soon as Han had mentioned Hux and Phasma, he had gotten a bad feeling about their unannounced visit. Switching on the light, he hunched over his desk, hand trembling as he opened the top drawer. Just as he had suspected, it was empty.

Rey's file was gone.

A/N: Thank you to my beta abyssalspark for sticking it out despite my radio silence. She always has the best comments and suggestions. Thank you! This chapter's title is from the song by the same name by The Girl and the Dreamcatcher. It had the perfect vibe.