Kylo was frowning angrily at his phone, a deep furrow between his brows.

"Everything okay?" Rey asked, placing his mug of tea on the table.

He huffed, setting his phone down a little harder than necessary. "Fucking Hux is coming here. He wants to meet and talk about this book deal, I guess there's news about it or some shit."

She arched an eyebrow at his aggravated tone. He had made it more than clear how he felt about his editor but this reaction seemed a little uncalled for.

"Is there a problem with him coming here?"

"He's a dick," he said bluntly. "I don't want him around you."

Rey let out a laugh. "I think I can handle your grumpy editor. I am a big girl, I know how to deal with jerks."

Kylo didn't look convinced but kept his opinion to himself. "Just remember, I warned you. He'll be here in a few minutes."

As it turned out, she noticed immediately when he walked through the door.

Slender, ginger-haired and wrapped in a black wool coat, he strode through the door, looking like he smelled something bad. The expression only intensified as he looked around.

Rey fought back a grin. Somehow, he was exactly how she had imagined.

He spotted Kylo at the back table and made his way over. She gave them a minute to catch up and sit down before heading over.

"Who's that with lover boy?" Poe asked, giving Hux an appraising look.

"Don't even think about checking him out," Rey said forcefully. "Trust me on this on this one."

Hux had taken his jacket off and sat down, so Rey hurried over, fleeing Poe's presence.

She didn't know if Kylo had mentioned her to Hux or told him they were together, so she just decided to be professional at first.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" she asked him politely, meeting Kylo's eyes for a second and having to bite her lip to avoid grinning. Hux didn't miss the look they gave each other.

He glanced at them, then stared at her silently for a second, before sighing insufferably.

"Really, Kylo? I'm assuming this is the girl who's been distracting you so much lately. With how you've been acting, I thought she'd be prettier."

Rey felt her hackles raise. He was talking like she wasn't standing right here. She recognized his attitude though, he was clearly someone who liked to put other people down and make them feel stupid so he could tell himself he was superior.

Suddenly, she understood why Kylo hated him but respected him as an editor. Work was probably all Hux had going for him so he undoubtedly gave it his complete focus.

Kylo's face turned dangerous. "I'll throw you out of here if you can't stop being a prick for more than two seconds. Apologize."

Hux ignored him completely, turning back to Rey. He looked confused that she was still standing there. "I'm sorry, I apparently wasn't clear enough. No, I don't want whatever sludge you no doubt pass off as coffee here. You're dismissed back to your grimy little kitchen."

Rey couldn't help it, she burst into laughter.

Hux looked confused and appalled.

"Holy fuck, you weren't kidding," she told Kylo once she'd stopped laughing.

Turning to Hux, she cleared her throat. "Listen, I get that you're obviously trying really hard to intimidate me with your superior intellect since you look like a little ginger weasel, but it's not going to work. I've seen your type before and I'm not impressed, let alone intimidated."

His cheeks turned scarlet and he opened his mouth to interrupt but Rey kept going.

"You don't have to like me, that's fine since I sure as hell don't like you. But maybe, if you sit there like a good little boy and keep your unpleasant opinions to yourself, I can scrounge something to help you with that giant stick up your ass."

He blinked twice, like she'd punched him in the face.

"Good start," she told him, turning back to Kylo, who was looking at her with a peculiar expression. The heat in his eyes could be anger from Hux's earlier comment, but it made her shiver in a deliciously familiar way.

"I'll get you more tea," she said, a bit thrown by his look.

Back at the counter, she could see that Hux was ranting, looking pissed. He gestured in her direction a few times and Rey bit her lip, feeling instantly regretful. He was Kylo's editor, an important person when it came to getting his book published, and she hadn't managed to be nice for more than two seconds. Sure, he started it, but she should have know better.

Kylo leaned back in his chair, looking exasperated but slightly amused. He said something and after a second, Hux shook his head then reached into his shoulder bag to pull out some papers.

They spoke for a few minutes and strangely enough, Kylo glanced over at her a few times, rather unhappily. Oh hell, had she really messed something up?

She waited anxiously until Hux got up to leave, stopping at the counter first.

"I'll have you know," he told Rey imperiously. "Ren has been impossible to work with lately and I completely blame you. You're making my job hell."

Rey just stared at him, not feeling that he deserved a response.

He just huffed and left, letting the door shut loudly behind him.

She took Kylo's new mug of tea over to him, joining him at the table, taking the seat Hux had vacated. He looked lost in thought, fingers drumming on the flat surface.

"So, how badly did I mess that up?" she asked, already bracing herself for his response.

"What?" He pulled himself away from his thoughts, looking confused.

"Hux? You kept giving me this look, like you were mad." She twisted her fingers together nervously. If she had to, she'd chase Hux down in the street and get down on her knees an apologize. Surely that would appeal to his giant ego.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry, it wasn't that. Hux was fine, he loves to bitch but I think he actually likes you."

Rey doubted that. "You aren't upset I was rude to your editor?"

Kylo chuckled. "No, he deserved that. Plus, it was kind of hot to watch you verbally stomp him like that." He gave her a lingering look.

She felt herself blush. That explained the heat in his eyes then.

Clearing her throat, she changed the subject. "What did you look so upset about then? Is everything going okay with the book deal?"

He nodded slowly. "Everything's great actually. They want to fly me over to New York next week to go over some stuff with them. I'd be gone for a few days, maybe a week."

"Oh." Rey felt her expression turn sour and forced into back to neutral. She wasn't some goddamn teenager, she could survive a few days without her boyfriend. Maybe some time apart would be good, they'd been seeing each other nearly every day.

She didn't feel very convinced.

"That's great," she told him. "I'm really excited for you." And she meant it, this was obviously a big deal. He'd been working for years to get this book published.

He watched her carefully. "You're okay if I go?"

Rey laughed. "You don't have to ask my permission to do things, I'm not your master."

Kylo visibly flinched at the word.

Shit. Fucking smooth.

"What I mean," she said quickly, reaching across the table to grab his hand. "Is that, of course, I'm fine with it. You'd be crazy to not go."

Nodding silently, he looked away.

Rey felt like she should say something more. That she'd miss him like crazy, that he had to go but she didn't want him to. But the words got stuck in her throat. She didn't want to be that sort of girlfriend, acting all clingy and making him feel bad.

So they just sat there silently for a second as she searched for something to say. The quiet felt awkward, something she hadn't felt in a while.

"I guess I'll go then," Kylo finally said, and Rey couldn't help but feel like she'd messed up somewhere in there.

...

They tried to make the most of the few days they had before he left.

Rey had never lived next door to someone she was seeing and it there was definitely a learning curve. How was she supposed to not constantly spend time with Kylo when he was literally just on the other side of the wall? And it was so strange to say goodnight to him, go get in bed, and listen to him do the same.

But they both seemed to understand that even if it felt silly and forced, it was good to have some time away from each other. No matter how much Rey loathed it.

At least she had BB to keep her company though. He instantly made himself comfortable in her little apartment and loved to curl up at the foot of her bed at night, like he was watching over her in her sleep.

Two nights before he was supposed to leave, Rey woke up suddenly, her heart pounding.

BB's golden eyes were staring at her, ears pricked up.

A deep, pained sounding moan came through the wall.

Rey sighed, sitting up. It had been a while since she'd had to listen to this. A self-centered part of her had hoped that she'd been making a difference, helping drive the nightmares away. Things were never that easy though, were they?

Kylo cried out and her heart felt like it was going to rip its way from her chest.

She pushed herself from bed, grabbing her robe and throwing it on. She wasn't going to sit here and listen to this. Not anymore.

Rey made it all the way to his apartment door then stopped, biting her lip uncertainly. Should she just knock and hope it woke him up? Or should she go back for her phone and try to call him?

Out of all the things they'd been through, this shouldn't be making her feel uncomfortable but it was. There wasn't any sort of etiquette for this situation.

She knocked loudly, listening intently.

Silence.

Shit. She hated to even think it but she knew how to pick locks. It was one of the necessary skills she'd taught herself in foster care. But picking his lock and coming into his apartment uninvited had to be crossing some sort of line, even if she was trying to help, right?

Thankfully, before she could decide, she heard Kylo stumbling to the door.

"Rey? What is it?" He was red-eyed, messy-haired and shirtless. She could see on his face that he knew he'd been having nightmares, maybe part of him still stuck there since she'd yanked him from his sleep.

"Come to bed with me," she told him kindly, holding out her hand. She couldn't bear the thought of him crawling back to his room bed, alone with his thoughts and memories. She wanted to hold him and know that he was resting peacefully next to her. She needed to be here for him right now.

He nodded slowly, taking her hand and letting her lead him back to her place.

BB was waiting for them anxiously at the door, rubbing against Kylo's ankles when they headed to her room.

Rey guided him into her bed, then turned the hallway light on and cracked the door.

When she turned back around, he looked like a small child, blankets pulled to his chin. Her heart gave an affection throb at the sight.

Sliding underneath the blankets, she tucked herself against him, rubbing slow, soothing circles on his chest.

"Go to sleep, you're safe here," she whispered, feeling him take a deep shuttering breath.

"Thank you," he mumbled into the darkness.

There was a soft rustle and Rey lifted her head slightly to see BB had joined them, curling up on Kylo's other side. Apparently, he wasn't only her protector.

Rey held Kylo, stroking him until his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm and he had fallen asleep. Soft light from the sunrise was starting to filter in through the windows, illuminating his peaceful face.

She watched him until her own eyelids grew heavy and she drifted off against his warm body.

...

In the morning, Rey woke up before Kylo. She slipped silently from the bed, getting dressed as quietly as possible, needing to head to the cafe soon. Seeing how serene Kylo looked, she couldn't bear to wake him, not when he needed uninterrupted sleep so desperately.

So she set a glass of water on the bedside table with a note she scribbled quickly and snuck out the front door, shutting it softly behind her.

Yawning, she opened up the cafe, giving Poe a sleepy smile. She was relieved that she was able to help Kylo out in some way, but hated the thought of having to go bang on his apartment door and wake him every time it happened. Would it be too forward of her to offer to spend the nights with him or visa versa? They already ended up sleeping together a few times a week and they lifted next door to each other so it wasn't a stretch. But was that too soon?

Rey sighed, trying to focus on the coffee she was making. Nothing about their relationship was traditional and it was throwing her off. It was definitely too soon to bring up them staying nights at each other's places. He was leaving in a few days, they could talk about it when they got back, she supposed, feeling dissatisfied.

Kylo texted her a few hours later to apologize for oversleeping and to let her know he had fed BB. She grinned at the thought of them hanging out. BB had grown on Kylo, not matter how much he denied it.

Glad you got some sleep, she responded. Sorry about waking you last night. Wasn't quite sure what to do but figured picking your lock wasn't a good idea ;)

She was playing it off as a joke since he had no idea how close she came to doing just that.

It took Kylo a while to respond and Rey kept glancing at her phone nervously, worried that she shouldn't have brought it up.

Finally, it buzzed in her back pocket.

Probably not. I have something I have to do today, can you catch a ride home with Poe?

Yikes. Anxiety churned in her stomach. Was he upset about last night or that she had brought it up over text? She texted him back confirmation that she'd get a ride from Poe, waiting to see if he said anything else. He didn't.

Maybe she had crossed a line that she hadn't realized was there. Perhaps Kylo had been trying to keep his nightmares separate from Rey and she had just barged in and assumed he'd want her help.

So after work, she just went home, ignoring the little voice in her head urging her to go see him. If he wanted space, she'd respect that. She didn't want to make things worse if he was mad or avoiding her.

But around nine, he knocked on her door.

She let him in, noticing his nervous expression as he closed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry about last night." she blurted out, then wanted to hit herself.

He frowned. "What are you apologizing for?"

"I... I thought you might be upset that I bothered you," Rey explained. "You know, waking you up in the middle of the night to come sleep with me. We haven't talked much about your... nightmares, so I wasn't sure if I'd crossed a line."

Kylo looked genuinely perplexed. "No. Rey, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Oh." She felt like an idiot. Of course, she was overthinking things as always. She'd spent all day worrying about something that Kylo obviously hadn't even thought much about.

He took her hand in his. "I'm sorry I made you nervous, I should have said something when I texted you. I just wanted to thank you in person. And I really did have something to do go do." That nervous expression was back on his face.

"Everything okay?" Rey asked, tilting her head back to see him better.

He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "I don't really know anything about being in a relationship. I don't know the right time to wait for things or if I'm moving too fast. I'm just kind of going with what feels right with you." He spoke quickly, the words flying out of his mouth.

"Uh..." Rey wasn't quite sure how she was supposed to respond to that. His obvious nerves were making her nervous.

But he continued before she could respond anyways.

"I just- I wanted to give you this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out something that flashed in the light, pressing it into her hand.

She looked down and a key stared back up at her.

"It's to my apartment. I had one made for you. Obviously," he laughed awkwardly, clearly feeling self conscious. "I just want you to be able to come over if you need or want to, or like last night. Or for anything, whenever. I know I'm about to leave so it's silly but-"

Rey cut him off by looping her arms around his neck and pulling him down so she could kiss him fiercely.

He was giving her more than just a key to his place. Kylo was an intensely personal person and he was giving her a way to come into his home, to get behind his walls whenever she wanted. It showed her just how serious he was about them and how much he valued her. And it was a solution to her problem of wanting to be there for him at night but not able to.

He was saying that he wanted her to be there for him.

Kylo's arms wrapped around her, lifting her up onto the tips of her toes. A pleased sound rumbled in the back of his throat when her hand that wasn't clutching the key slipped up to twist in his thick, dark hair.

"You've gotta stop showing me up," she muttered against his mouth. "First BB and now this. I haven't given you anything."

"You know that's not true," he said, putting a few inches of space between their faces so he could look her in the eyes. "You have to know that."

Rey bit her lip. She didn't like to think about her insecurities but there was no denying that this relationship was a little uneven. He was a gorgeous, soon to be author and a politician's son, who cooked for her, gave her gifts and pleasured her like it was his single purpose in life. She was just a boring barista at a small cafe with trust and abandonment issues.

Though those thoughts invaded her mind sometimes, she didn't let them affect their relationship. Her and Kylo were a good match somehow, she could feel it.

So she pushed those insecurities down and grinned up at him. "Yes, you're very lucky to have me," she teased. "Someone so generous and so giving."

"Don't forget humble," he added with a smirk.

She laughed, letting him pull her back in for another kiss.

...

The day that Kylo had to leave came up too quickly. Poe gave her the morning off so she could spend it with him and say goodbye.

She had spent the night at his place, and he woke her up in the morning with his mouth between her thighs under the blankets. She'd tried to return the favor in the shower, sinking to her knees, but only a minute into it, he'd lifted her up and taken her against the shower wall.

Though he would be gone less than a week and Rey prided herself on being strong and independent, she was still upset he was leaving. She knew she should take the time to catch up with Finn and Poe, and indulge in some time just to herself, but Kylo had become such a huge part of her life.

She knew she grew attached easily and let people wiggle their way into her heart against her better judgement but knowing didn't make her feel any less strongly. The days were going to be so slow and lonely without him to look forward to.

A giant part of her also worried that he might start to rethink things after getting some space from her. She knew that it was her fear of abandonment just coming to hang over her head like a dark cloud and tried to ignore it. But she couldn't help but think that it was inevitable for him to leave and think about her. What if those thoughts led to him realizing he'd made a mistake?

Rey laid on his bed and watched him pack. He was anxious, though he tried to hide it, and she felt for him. He wasn't very good with people or social interactions and pressures, and here he was, flying to New York to meet with a huge publishing company.

"I'm forgetting something, I know I'm forgetting something," he muttered, whirling around.

"Hey." Rey caught his hand, pulling him over to her. "You're going to be fine. Next to Hux, you're going to look like the most personable angel ever."

Kylo sighed. "What if they hate me and decide not to publish my book? I could lose it because I don't know how to talk to people."

Rey gave him an exasperated look. "They obviously love your writing, selling your book has nothing to do with you as a person. Besides, your awkwardness just adds to your charm. You'll be fine, I promise."

He grimaced, obviously not believing her, and went back to packing.

Finally, it was time to say goodbye. She walked him out to his car, watching as he loaded his bags into the trunk, then turned to face her.

There were so many things she wanted to say. Most of them were needy and embarrassing and she didn't want to send him away with that thought in his head, not when she was already nervous about him rethinking things between them.

So she just hugged him fiercely, inhaling his masculine scent deeply, a smell that had come to comfort and soothe her.

"Good luck," Rey said softly. "You'll do great."

Kylo ducked his head down, pressing his face into her hair. "Would it be too much if I called you a few times while I'm there?"

Her heart lifted. She'd been thinking of a way to ask him the same thing for the last two days.

"Not at all," she told him with a grin. "You can text, you can call, anytime you want. You know what time I'm off."

"I'm going to miss you," he muttered into her neck, arms tightening briefly.

"I'll miss you too," she whispered back, her throat tight. Jesus, she wasn't going to cry, she refused to let a single tear slip out. She would see him in less than a week, it wasn't like he was going off to war.

Without letting go, Kylo kissed her, mouth warm in the chilly morning air. His kiss tasted bittersweet and she knew that he was feeling the same as her.

Then he was gone, climbing into his car and giving her one last look before pulling out of his spot and out onto the street.

Rey watched, arms wrapped around herself, until his car took a turn and disappeared.

Awh, Kylo's gone. Our poor angsty babies don't want to be separated. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, though our favorite couple is cute, I still have to address the fact that they are both not very good at being with other people and still have issues. There's bound to be a few hiccups and misunderstandings for them. Thanks everyone!