Kay Connix left as quickly as possible, leaving behind some rations that were probably older than Kylo himself. They ate them in an awkward silence. Neither of them referred to the kiss that had been interrupted.

Rey finally stood up. "I need to go talk to Leia. She'll want to know you're awake. She wants to talk to you, Ben."

She touched his cheek and left.

Kylo felt a stab of pain at the thought of seeing his mother once more. After all he had done, how could he face her? How could she look at him and not see the murderer of her husband?

It'll be all right, Kylo, Dex told him in a soothing tone of voice. We've gotten this far. If she had wanted to hurt you she would have had plenty of time while we were unconscious.

Or else she wanted me to suffer, Kylo replied gloomily.

Were you always this optimistic? Dex asked him in amusement.

Always. Kylo sighed. Rey regrets kissing me.

I don't think so, Dex replied. You guys pretty much curled each other's toes. For a first kiss, that was epic.

You think so? Kylo asked hopefully. Force! I'm pathetic!

You're in love. Same difference.

Dex? It felt strange to say a name- any name other than Rey's- without rancor, spite, or dislike. Did you ever kiss your Amy?

She was never really mine, but yeah. I did. Once- no wait, twice. The second time was just a kiss on her forehead. Nothing to compare to the make out session between you and Rey.

But your first one?

Dexter smiled in the nothingness that was his existence now. It was a bittersweet smile. It was … something.

Tell me. No- show me.

Show you? How?

You're in my mind. Your memories are part of me now. Just think about it and I will be able to see your memories.

Think about Amy. Think about that kiss …

It wasn't a terribly hard thing to do, after all.

..**..

New Year's Eve, and he was in bed. Alone. Trying to get to sleep because he had to go in to work tomorrow.

And then he got the text. He would have left it to be checked another day except for one thing: it was Amy's tone. She had told him that she thought that Isaac was going to propose to her tonight, and that she would text him if that happened.

It … bothered him to admit that he didn't exactly want to hear that. He had nothing against Isaac- he was a nice guy in that way that some impossibly good looking guys can be. Friendly, too … even when most of the guys that Amy had dated hadn't liked the fact that she still kept him around: "Dex is my best friend; if you can't stand him I can't stand you."

They enjoyed so many of the same things. They watched the same movies. Read the same books. They almost never argued about anything. He'd known her since his freshman year at college and he couldn't imagine a life without her.

But it was Amy, and he knew that she would be hurt if she didn't hear from him, so he picked up his phone and read:

Dex. I need you.

Where? He texted back as he fumbled for his clothes.

At the Cantina.

The Cantina was a local nerd bar. It was filled with movie posters, toys, props. Amy loved the place, and so did he. New Year's Eve was always a great party there.

I'm on my way.

He made it there just a few minutes before midnight. I'm here.

The bar.

She was sitting at the bar wearing her Supergirl outfit. She was holding a drink in her hands. Her eyes were wet with tears, and she was all alone.

"Amy," he whispered.

"Dex," she placed her on the bar with an unsteady hand and practically fell into his embrace.

"Are you drunk? Did someone give you something?" Even in a place like this that was a risk. "Amy, what's wrong?"

"I'm not drunk. If I were drunk I'd ask you go to go home with me."

(It was only later- after he had time to think about it- that sentence began to haunt him.)

"What's wrong?" He stroked her hair and looked into her eyes.

"Ike and I broke up."

"I'm sorry." And he was. He wanted her to be happy more than anything else. "What happened? Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," she whispered. "I just didn't want to be alone on New Year's Eve. I wanted you with me. You'll always be with me, won't you, Dex?"

"Always and forever," he promised.

"Dance with me." She pulled him out onto the dance floor. It was crowded, but people moved aside to allow them the space to dance. "Dance with me, Dex. Hold me."

He didn't recognize the song when it started, but later he hunted until he found it: In Another Lifetime by Zoe Sky Jordan. He lost track of how many times he played it to himself in the days that followed. He thought of Amy's eyes … the way she had looked at him that night as if he was the only other person in the world. As if he was all that mattered.

As if he were all she wanted.

And when the song was over, she lingered in his arms. And when the ball fell, her lips brushed his for the first time. "Happy New Year, Dex."

"Happy New Year, Amy." He brushed the hair back from her face and smiled at her. Oh hell. I'm in love with Amy.

"Take me home, Dex."

And he did. He took her home. Helped her get into her pajamas and then tucked her into her bed. And then he crashed on her couch until she woke up in the morning and gave her a hasty goodbye hug before he headed off to work.

By the time his shift was over, Amy and Isaac had reconciled.

She showed him the engagement ring Isaac had given her, and he hugged her and told her he was happy for her.

His heart broke into a million pieces.

And they never spoke about the kiss.

..**..

I'm sorry, Dex, Kylo whispered. And much to his surprise, he was.

It's okay. It's probably better this is the way it turned out. My life- my story- is done, Kylo. I'm okay with that. Yours is still being written.

Dex? Kylo said after a few more moments of silence.

Yes?

Call me Ben.