A/N: hi everyone, as promised this chapter is focused on Rey and Kylo. I thought of writing in scenes from other parts of the story but I guess since they're both away from the rest of the galaxy on Ahch-To now, it's apt to have their scene be a standalone.

We'll be back to more FO-Resistance action in the upcoming chapters!

Thank you so much to everyone who's been keeping up with this fic. You're the best!

It had been less than two days since they landed the command shuttle on the rocky plains of Ahch-To, and already Kylo Ren was proving extremely frustrating to be with. He was just so...difficult.

Rey wished she could let out a scream, but her companion was seated to the side, wordlessly watching her as she prodded at the giant fish being roasted over an open fire. She refused to glance at him, but she could sense that occasionally, his dark eyes would flicker over to her face. He also kept biting on his lower lip, as if he was dying to say something. Rey ignore it all as she kept her glare on the fish. After their most recent spat, she wasn't particularly keen to start a conversation with him.

With the exception of the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, or the crackling of the fire before her, the island was enveloped in silence. Which meant that when the light breeze carried Kylo's hoarse whisper to her ears, she could hear it very clearly: "You don't have to do this. I can do it."

It sounded so pathetic, she was moved to snort a reply. "You shouldn't. After all, you're a prince."

Kylo winced at her words. He suddenly felt even more uncomfortable sitting on the low rock near the fire. She was clearly still mad at him for what happened earlier in the day.

"I didn't mean -"

Rey barely gave him a chance. She half-hurtled his portion of fish towards him. And then she scooted over to another rock on the other side of the fire with her own portion, facing away from him.

Kylo picked at his fish miserably. It was more burnt than grilled, but if he complained, it might just make things worse. This situation was already distressing enough as it was. To be more exact, ever since they landed on this far-flung island, the two of them found themselves caught in trivial disagreements, one after another. What was it about this island that drove them on edge?

Their latest spat started in the late morning. It had something to do with Kylo's abject horror at being ordered to obtain some disgusting-looking green milk from one of the creatures on the island. He had seen the large, snouted mammal when they landed close to sunset the previous day. The thought of actually milking the thalasiren was repulsive enough, let alone doing it. Rey then mocked him for never having done anything related to basic human survival in his life, and that maybe he should give this one a try. His stubborn response was an exclamation along the lines of, "Rey, I was a prince!"

The girl wasn't too impressed. Her face blanched slightly at his words, and he immediately wished he had kept his mouth shut. Rey however maintained her composure as she coolly shut him down, "Well, now you're a nobody."

Kylo wasn't quite sure how or why, but those words which she meant as an insult had the opposite effect on him. Of course, he had stomped away in protest, but not before staring at her in amazement. Eventually, he did return with bottles of thalasiren milk. But it did little to appease Rey.

For a brief moment, Kylo wondered if he would be forced to sleep outside the hut that night. He almost sighed at the idea of being out in the cold, until he recalled that his command shuttle was parked nearby and had a very comfortable cabin. The only reason he agreed to sleep on the granite floor of the hut the island's Lanai caretakers made him share with Rey last night was because he didn't think it was fair to let her sleep on that unforgiving surface on her own. But perhaps for tonight, he should just return to his cabin.

Maybe this agitation that developed between them had to do with their sleeping arrangement. Apart from the uncomfortable surface, the hut they shared wasn't particularly large, either. It might have accommodated either of them comfortably, but for both of them to be in it together...

On top of that, the island was also making them acutely aware of what the other was feeling. At times, these emotions were overbearing, saturating the Force and threatening to suffocate them both. Being in a small, enclosed space like the hut only made it worse.

But Ahch-To was a Force field after all, so it was little wonder the two of them got into the squabbles they did. Rey let out a quiet sigh as she finally turned around to look at her companion. The dark-haired man was crouched near the fire, warming up a bottle of green milk. When the temperature was right enough, he uncorked the bottle, took a sniff but put it back down on the ground.

Rey bit back a smile. "Is thalasiren milk too much for the Alderaan prince?" she teased as she walked up to him.

He looked up at her, but quickly averted his eyes when she sat down next to him. Rey wasn't sure if his ears really turned red, or if it was the light from the flame. She also wasn't sure if the comforting warmth that she felt came from the fire, or from being beside him.

"You're suddenly very happy," he spoke in a quiet voice. It complemented rather than disrupted the silence around them.

"Am I?"

"I take it you're no longer angry at me," he turned to her, peering into her eyes to ascertain the truth of his statement.

"We're the only two people here on this island," she reminded him. Her voice was shaking but Rey pretended not to notice. "It'll be troublesome if we're going to keep fighting over every little thing."

She caught sight of a smile playing on his lips. It sent a strange thrill through her heart. He should smile more, she thought suddenly, fighting back a temptation to reach out and touch his face. He always carried such a sad, hollow look. What would he look like with a broad smile? Would his eyes look different? Would -

"Rey, sleep in my cabin tonight."

His words took her by surprise. Rey blinked a few times, unsure if she was hearing him right. "What?"

"You're trembling." He murmured, gesturing at her forearm. "It's warmer in my cabin."

Rey looked down to where he was pointing, and noticed the goosebumps along the entire length of her arm. Earlier this morning she had changed into a dress given by the matron. It was too small, so she ripped the sleeves off and wore it as a tunic instead. It was comfortable during the day. But once night fell, she wished she had her woollen grey cape with her.

Unfortunately, it was together with the rest of her things on board the Millennium Falcon, and she had no idea where the ship or the Resistance had gone to by now. All she had now was half of the blue kyber crystal that remained of Luke's lightsaber, dangling from her neck like pendant.

That, and a borrowed hut on Ahch-To, a command shuttle cut off from the rest of the galaxy, and the person crouched in front of her.

"Rey?"

The sudden mention of her name broke her train of thoughts. She lifted her head only to find herself staring back into a pair of eyes that was patiently waiting for her answer.

Again, that swelling sensation in her heart.

There could only be one answer.

It came out as a firm whisper, "Okay."