"What do you mean? What is the problem?" Kylo's voice was low and dangerous. He stood behind the control panels. Several of his crew were seated before him, their backs stiff with fear. The one closest to him answered.

"We lost them, but only for a moment. The signal was down for about a minute, but we were able to pick it right back up again. Only when we did, they were moving in completely different direction."

He narrowed his eyes at the screen and spoke under his breath. "What is she doing?"

"What could have been the reason for it?" he snapped.

"We aren't sure."

His fury flared up again. With a single hand sweep he threw the man backwards out of his chair and against the wall. He spoke through gritted teeth. "I highly suggest you find out."

He let the man fall and marched away. What was she doing? He knew she had a plan, but what it was he had no idea. It had been a week since he had seen her, lying in his bed. He had tried to reach out to her, again and again, but he hadn't been able to make contact. Was she blocking him out? Or was their connection fading? Either option made his stomach twist. He stormed into the throne room, his rage and confusion boiling up inside him. Hux had stationed several storm troopers around the room, and he could feel all their eyes on him.

Why was she ignoring him? She had agreed to allow them to have this, had she changed her mind? Or was she only toying with him. Was she manipulating his emotions so that he would be distracted while she found a way to escape? Of course, why hadn't he realized? His fury boiled over. He flicked his light saber on in one movement. With a cry of rage, he slashed at the throne. Bits of metal flew in every direction. The storm troopers all took a step back, not wanting to be the next object of his anger.

"What the hell are you doing?"

He froze, his saber still raised above his head. Her voice come from behind him. He spun around, his eyes still full of hatred and fury. She stood about ten feet away, her eyes wide and confused. He lowered his saber slowly, though he didn't lose his look of rage. He turned to the storm troopers.

"Get out!" he screamed. They didn't hesitate to do as he ordered. Once they were alone, he turned back to her. "What do you want?"

She frowned. "What's wrong?"

He scoffed, a sneer forming on his face. She seemed taken aback by the sudden cruelness that she saw directed at her. He took a few steps towards her. "I've figured out what you're doing."

Fear flashed across her face. "What do you mean?"

He shook his head and turned away. "Who do you think I am? Do you think I'm just some idiot who can be manipulated and tricked? I know that you only told me what I wanted to hear. You have no real interest in me."

He glanced back and saw she looked completely confused. She began to walk towards him, but he held out a hand, using the force to keep her at a distance. "Don't."

She shook her head. "Kylo, I don't know what you're talking about. Why did you get these ideas in your head? What have I done to make you think I was lying?"

"I've been trying to get back in contact for a week. Yet every time I try to connect with you, I get pushed back. Are you going to try to tell me that wasn't you?"

"Kylo, I don't know what you are talking about. I've tried to reach out to you as well, but I haven't been able to. We can't control this."

Kylo turned away once more. He wanted to believe her, but how could he? "How do I know you are telling the truth?"

Rey walked briskly towards him and then around him so that they were facing each other. "Even if I was lying, and even if I had been keeping you away, that does not warrant this response. You do not own or control me! I agreed to this, yes, but on my terms. You can't throw a fit every time you can't reach me!"

He lowered his eyes from her face. Guilt and shame washed over him. He knew that he shouldn't have reacted so harshly, but he didn't know any other way. "I'm- I'm sorry. It's just… everyone else who I have ever cared for has either betrayed me or abandoned me."

She nodded. "I know. And I want to help you." She got a curious look on her face then. "I want to try something." She began to lift her hand to his face. "Just, hold still."

He did as she said, watching as she placed her hand palm down against his forehead. Then, in a flash, he saw it. He was looking at himself, in the dark. He leaned down and pressed his lips to the neck, and a sense of euphoria rushed through him. He snapped out of it a moment later.

"That was… the other night. From your memory?"

She nodded. "I wanted you to see you the way I saw you. No tricks."

He gave her the smallest of smiles, before lifting his own hand to her forehead. The memory was of the two of them, standing nearly in the same place they stood now. The last of the Praetorian guard fell to Kylo's hand and he straightened up, looking at her. He knew she was feeling the same feelings he had felt on the night. Passion, trust, and hope. When she smiled at him, he knew everything would work out.

He removed his hand from her head. "You see? That is what you represent for me. Even if this will never truly work, I want to hold onto it for as I can."

"As do I," she agreed. "But this will only work if you trust me."

He let out a sigh. "I can't make any promises, but I will try. Rey, can I try something else?"

She raised her eyebrows. "What is it?"

In one step he closed the distance between them. He took her face in his hand and lowered his mouth to hers. The moment their lips touched, it felt like every bit of the force rushed through them at once. As though they were the conductors of electricity, white hot power filled him. He had never felt anything so intense, so blinding, so… powerful. He didn't know how long they were there, connected. It could have been years or seconds. When they pulled apart, Kylo felt himself fall. His feet hit the ground with a jolt. He looked down at her, and he face mirrored his own shock.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The sound of Hux's voice should have been enough to make him look away, but Kylo didn't want to release her. She seemed to be of the same mind, her eyes just as transfixed on him as his were on her. It wasn't until Hux spoke again that he looked away.

"What are you doing?"

He felt her fade from him. Hux's eyes were wide, looking where Rey had been only a second ago. "You? And that girl? What have you done?"

Normally, Kylo would have slammed him into the floor for his insubordinate tone, but his head still felt light. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw you." Hux spat. "You were… kissing her. The leader of the resistance!"

Kylo composed himself, pushing her hair from his face. "She is the key to taking down the resistance. I am being tactical."

"So, what? You are manipulating her?"

Kylo did look at him as he bushed past him. "Exactly."