Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the amazing characters!

Chapter 25:

After being intimate with Rey, Kylo couldn't keep his hands off of her and he felt more like Ben Solo than he ever had in his life. They still went their separate ways during the daylight hours but as soon as the sun began to set Kylo was on his way back to the hut. Dinner was always eaten with Rey on his lap. It was the best part of his day and he knew it was her favorite too.

After a week or so he began sitting in on Rey's lessons with the group of Padawan so to speak. They clearly weren't ready to be around him in person, so he used their bond to watch them. Rey was still teaching them to feel the Force, find peace, lift rocks and it brought him back to his time at the old fool's temple.

The other kids were always so angry and jealous of Ben Solo because the Force came as naturally to him as breathing. So while Luke was fostering their connection to the Force, Ben was deepening his understanding of all things in the Force. It came as a surprise to no one when Ben graduated from Padawan to Jedi Knight before the others.

It seemed that Rey was an exception to the rule as well. She had trained even less than Luke had with Yoda and yet she was powerful enough to fight the Praetorian Guard with him and win. Not that he was surprised, a regular novice couldn't have taken him down but Rey was an anomaly, just as he had been.

For someone who claimed they didn't want to be a Jedi, Rey sure thought and taught like a Jedi. Apparently Luke had rubbed off on her more than either of them had realized. The only reason that he didn't comment on it was because the Padawan seemed okay with only learning about one side of the Force. It was after the last one could easily feel and manipulate the Force at will that Kylo deiced to ask Rey if she needed any pointers.

"I think you should come with me today," Rey said while pulling on her clothes.

Kylo lay back in their bed watching her with an amused look on his face. He didn't respond because he didn't think she was serious. She cleared her throat causing him to focus on her face and what she was saying more than all of that gloriously tanned flesh she was currently covering.

"I don't think that is a good idea," Kylo said swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Why not? I think they could really benefit from your tutorage. Plus no one else in the Galaxy knows as much about the Force and wielding both sides as you do. I think Zer-o and Gear in particular would thrive under you," Rey explained.

Kylo shot her an unfriendly look.

"And why is that," he asked. "Because they already have an affinity for both sides. Gear was even trained under Snoke before you came along," Rey explained with a smile. "From what I was able to discern, they all hate me because of the things the First Order did before I even got there. I doubt they would wat to learn from me, Rey. Your students already made their mind up about me before we even got back here," Kylo said seriously. "You don't know that," Rey started.

Kylo pinned her with a hard look.

"I do know that. You don't think I haven't seen the looks of distrust, fear and hate on their faces whenever I am around? You don't think I recognize it in their eyes? I see it everywhere around here. And me teaching them to control their abilities isn't going to change that because they won't let me teach them anything," he snapped.

Rey took a step back from him, the look in her eyes said that he was being silly.

"You haven't even given them a chance, so how can you expect them to give you a chance," she asked.

And that was how Kylo ended up trekking though the humid jungle with her to her meeting spot. When they got there all 5 students were waiting. The two females appeared to be sunning themselves while the three males goofed around.

When he and Rey stepped through the trees, everyone froze. Kylo watched as 5 pairs of eyes hardened as soon as they landed on him. Kylo felt his darkness rising to shield him and fill his head with negativity.

He could almost hear Snoke saying how worthless he was and how there was no way these people would ever want to be friends with him or learn from him. For a moment he felt like a child again hearing his parents discuss their fear of him. Kylo became angry.

"Good morning, everyone," Rey called, waving to her new friends. "Morning, Rey," the two women called. "What's he doing here," the Zabrak called.

Rey glanced back at Kylo who hadn't moved forward through the trees.

"He's here to help with our training," Rey said simply. "I don't need his help," the Shistavanen replied. "That's funny because your anger and hatred are what prevents you from fully grasping the Force. You two too," Rey said and pointed to the other two males.

The Shistavanen growled at Kylo and Kylo's hand came up and the male's feet rose from the ground. The three other padawan gasped and the Zabrak moved toward Kylo. Kylo pushed him back with the Force.

"I'm only here because the woman I love thought maybe you imbeciles could learn something from me but I can see now that it was a mistake," Kylo said in a low tone.

He wished he was wearing his helmet. Not to intimidate the newbies but to keep them from seeing any vulnerability in his eyes. He didn't do well with rejection of any kind.

"Kylo, put him down," Rey said in a stern voice and Kylo let the wolf man drop to the ground. "He's a monster, Rey," the Zabrak said in a menacing tone. "I'm sure many people have said the same thing about you two over the years. Kylo is here to help us all, me included. Now you can either stay for today's lesson or you can skip it and risk being even further behind everyone else," Rey said seriously.

She moved to take Kylo's hand and lead him over to where she usually sat when teaching lessons and Kylo let her. He sat on the stone and pulled Rey onto his lap. Kylo hid his face in Rey's hair as they waited for her students to make their decision on whether they were willing to learn from him or not. Rey lovingly ran her fingers over his hands almost absentmindedly.

I'm sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn't have attacked them like that, Kylo said through their bond. It's fine. None of this would have happened if I hadn't pushed you to come here with me, Rey said back.

While the couple silently communicated, the Curian plopped down on the grass in front of them. The Twi'lek joined her soon after. Then, surprisingly, came the Arkanian. Soon only the Zabrak and the Shistavanen were standing away from the group.

"Eshreal, Gear, I can't believe you two would actually want to learn from him," the Zabrak snapped. "Zer, if Rey trusts him, who are we to question that? We accepted Gear onto our crew even though he had a fairly strong connection to Snoke," the Curian, Eshreal said.

Kylo looked at the Arkanian/Sephi hybrid who was doing his best to study the blade of grass he held in his large hand. He couldn't believe this young male was Snoke's first apprentice. Sure he was physically intimidating but he barely even made a ripple in the Force. He seemed too weak to peek Snoke's interest enough to actually train him but when Kylo tried to feel for the male's mind he could feel Snoke's taint on him like a stain on white carpet.

Kylo looked at the two males that were still standing staring at him and Rey. The Zabrak turned to the Shistavanen.

"Do whatever you want, Cade, I'm outta here," Zer-o said and left through the trees. "What about you, Cade," Rey asked. "Whatever it takes to get stronger," the male growled and plopped down next to Gear.

4 out of 5 isn't bad, Rey said cheerfully. We'll see, Rey. Now where did you leave off, Kylo asked. Finding and maintaining a meditative state to access the Force, Rey explained.

"You all know what to do, get to it. You too Rey, your training isn't complete. You have one more trial to complete," Kylo said releasing his hold on her.

Rey's students seemed surprised.

Rey just shrugged and said, "I told you all that I wasn't qualified to teach you all. If you want to learn the three applications of the Force, Kylo is the one to learn from."

Rey stood and moved to do a handstand. The rest of the group looked confused.

"Rey is much further in her training. Watch her carefully because at some point you will be doing that too," Kylo said and Rey smiled. "Right now I want you all to show Kylo how well you can maintain your meditation while he tried to distract you," Rey said as she settled into her own meditation. "I assume none of you has any formal schooling either," Kylo asked. "I did," Gear sad in his gruff voice. "And what about your friend that stormed off," Kylo asked. "Gear is the only one," Rey explained.

Kylo let out a sigh. This was going to be more work then he'd imagined.

"Fine. we will have academic lessons in the morning. Lessons on the Force in the afternoons. I would suggest you all try to convince your friend to come back if you are all serious about being trained. I guarantee he won't like being left behind. Also, Gear was it? I'd like you to help me plan some of the academic lessons," Kylo said and everyone nodded in agreement.

It took Cade, Eshreal, Taliki, and Gear a whole week to get Zer-o to agree to come back to lessons now that Kylo was the one leading them. He was angry and Rey thought he was going to try to fight Kylo when he showed up for his first lesson. Instead he took a seat at the large conference table in the room that Leia had allowed them to use as a class room.

Kylo was an excellent teacher when he stopped focusing on what people were saying about him and started focusing on all the knowledge that he could pass on. Once word got out that someone was teaching basic lessons, former slaves, and children began showing up for his lessons. Soon they needed a bigger room to hold the lessons in.

The children didn't judge Kylo, in fact most of them were fascinated by him and would trail behind him as he walked around the base asking him all kinds of questions about the First Order, Snoke, being a Jedi, the Force and growing up with Han Solo and Leia Organa. Whenever he did get them to leave him alone they would be running to their parents or caretakers telling them all about General Leia's son or Mr. Teacher as the younger kids referred to him.

Rey thought it was cute. It wasn't long before some of the kids won their parents and caretakers over and Kylo had guardians coming up to him asking about their child. He was an amazing teacher who could tell you the strengths and weaknesses of each student without having to be reminded who they were. The base was becoming a friendlier place little by little.

The members of the Last Hope were also doing well under Kylo's guidance. They had gone from barely being able to keep their hold on the Force to keeping 3 rocks a piece floating around them as Rey and Kylo tried to distract them with different things. They were shaping up well enough that Kylo wanted to start reinforcing some of the simpler Force techniques such as Force speed, Force Stealth, Force Sight, Farseeing, Force Empathy, Telepathy, Telekinesis, Force Jump, and Force Pull/Push.

Once they got passed that Kylo wanted to start with combat training and Rey was fine with that. Her students had officially become their students though Cade and Zer-o tried to spend the least amount of time around Kylo as possible. Eshreal and Taliki didn't seem to mind her Dark Knight as much. They were also very dedicated to learning and not just about the Force and the Jedi. Kylo agreed to train those that already had their lightsabers and Rey would work with the two who didn't have lightsabers.

That left Rey with more free time to help work on the ships in the hanger. But once those were done, Rey found herself missing her friends. She hadn't seen much of them since she got back and even less once she started teaching. They avoided the two huts near the back of the base like a plague.

One day when she had some free time she went to find Finn. It made sense that she would make things right with him first since he was her very first friend, well very first human friend. BB-8 had been her first friend and though the little droid was wary of Kylo he still came around every now and then to chat with Rey, so they were good.

She found Finn and Rose down in the lower levels of the base working on some pipes. Neither of them acknowledged Rey when she walked up. Rey stood around and watched them work for a while. She was about to fall asleep on her perch near the wall when one of the heavier pipes fell. Before Finn or Rose could react, Rey caught the pipe with the Force.

"Thank you, Rey," Finn said shooting a look to Rose who shrugged. "Like I was just going to sit here and let a giant pipe fall on my favorite couple," Rey said with an easy smile.

She held it while Rose and Finn welded it back into place. When they were done Finn took off his work gear and came over to hug Rey. Rose hesitated for a moment and then she hugged Rey too.

"I've missed you guys so much," Rey said and her voice broke. "I know we've been distant lately but it's been tough accepting the fact that you are dating the enemy," Finn said and Rose nodded in agreement. "Even though big bad Kylo Ren spends most of his time teaching kids and former slaves," Rey muttered. "That is a step in the right direction but it doesn't make up for all the bad that he's done," Rose argued. "Everyone deserves a second chance. Especially those who felt they were never given one in the first place," Rey said and looked at Finn, who had the grace to look embarrassed.

Rey turned to Rose.

"Did your boyfriend over there ever tell you about how we met," Rey asked and Finn shook his head and tried to move Rose away from Rey. "No," Rose said suspiciously. "He told me he was with the Resistance, not that he was a defector of the First Order. By your logic, Finn and I should have never become friends because he used to be a Stormtrooper," Rey explained. "So if he would have told you the truth right away, you wouldn't have been mad at him," Rose asked.

Rey shrugged.

"Can't say because he lied about who he was and I didn't find out who he really was until after he almost died defending me," Rey said with a smirk.

Rose narrowed her eyes as she looked at Finn. He was staring at Rey like he couldn't decide between hugging her again and kicking her in the shin for telling all that to Rose. After a moment Rose smiled again.

"Either way we all ended up here together, I guess it doesn't matter how we all got here," she said with a smile.

Rey threw her arms around Rose.

"That doesn't mean I'm ready to give him a chance. It just means that I won't hold it against you," she said. "I would say thank you but I need you all to understand that I love Ben Solo even while he still calls himself Kylo Ren and besides death, there is no way to separate us. The Force brought us together and only something stronger than the Force could ever separate us," she said sternly. "We get that Rey, really. But as someone who is not force sensitive, that's like telling a non-believer that some God said you were destined to be together," Finn said.

Rey rolled her eyes.

"We are one soul with two bodies. We are more soulmates than any normal couple could ever hope to be. No offense," Rey said. "None taken. As long as you know Kylo Ren didn't trick you into loving him, I can't say anything. Besides the guy can't be all bad if he came from Han and Leia," Finn reasoned and that earned him an unfriendly look from his girlfriend. "What?"

She just rolled her eyes.

"I'll give him a chance when Poe gives him a chance," Rose said with a grimace. "Rose," Finn said shocked. "Paige died fighting the First Order after watching her friends be blown up by them. My sister's blood is on his hands, Rey. I can't just forgive him and be friends the next day. Let him prove that all our sacrifices are worth letting him walk around happy and free. With you no less! I understand why Poe is so furious," Rose cried.

Rey and Poe shared a look. Rey could see where she was coming from. It was hard to wrap her head around it sometimes too. She didn't understand how she could love someone so much after hating them more than anything.

"I don't expect you to be his friend Rose. Just mine. I miss you guys. I never knew how lonely I was until I lost my friends," Rey said. "I…"

Rose didn't know what to say to that. She thought Rey was there to try to force Kylo Ren into their group as she had with the other Force users. Now that she knew that wasn't the case she felt a lot better.

"I'm sorry Rey. I just get really worked up about my sister. She was the only family I had left," Rose said sounding close to tears. "I'm sorry Rose. I didn't know about your sister," Rey said truthfully. "I probably should have told you, there just hasn't been time between our work, your students and this whole Ren thing," Finn said with a sad smile. "I understand," Rey said nodding.

Rey talked with Rose and Finn for a while longer before going to look for Leia and Kaydel. They were in Leia's office as usual. Kaydel greeted Rey with a brief hug before rushing out to do some task for the General. Leia barely looked at Rey. Rey figured the older woman was upset with her.

"Well Rey, it's about time you came to see me," Leia said. "I…didn't know what to say to you and I was afraid that I had upset you in some way," Rey said truthfully. "Upset me, dear no. You did exactly what I asked you to; you brought my son home. Now whether you have saved him from his darkness remains to be seen," Leia said finally looking up. "Are you gonna talk to him?"

She looked back down. Rey stood there in the awkward silence.

"I'm only saying this because I care about both of you deeply and I wish I had a mother to have fights with, but you need to fix things. You are his parent and Ben Solo is stubborn because of you. He would come to you, but he's so scared you're going to reject and abandon him all over again. And when you do he'll probably be all angry and moody, but you can't let that deter you," Rey said. "Does he know you're talking to me," Leia asked.

Rey thought about it. The bond wasn't closed but it wasn't wide open either. Now that she was thinking about him she could feel him outside taking on Cade, Zer, and Essie at the same time. It was like seeing him behind her eyelids. It seemed that they were putting up a pretty good fight because Kylo was on the defensive. She didn't want to bother him, so she pulled away returning to her own mind and body.

"Probably," Rey said. "Won't he be upset with you for coming to me," Leia asked suspiciously. "Probably but Kylo Ren doesn't scare me anymore," Rey said with a smile. "I'll think on what you said Rey, but I won't make any promises," Leia said with a sad smile of her own.

Poe was the last one that Rey went to look for. She figured their conversation would be the hardest and take the longest. Rey walked around the whole base and didn't find Poe. It seemed that he was avoiding her. If Poe wasn't ready to talk she wouldn't force him but she did miss the cocky pilot.

It's almost dinner time sweetheart, Kylo's deep voice appeared in her head. I know. I am heading to the dining hall now, Rey said back with a smile.

With a sigh Rey turned toward the dining hall. She got three trays of food and used the Force to balance them as she walked back to the huts. On the way she ran into Eshreal, Cade and Zer-o who all looked bruised and exhausted. They nodded in Rey's direction and kept moving.

20 straight days of lessons constantly and Kylo was proud of the progress that everyone had made, even Zer-o, the Zabrak who hated Kylo'd guts. Not that the older man minded, if fact Zer-o's darkness is part of what made him such a formidable opponent when it came to hand to hand combat. Eshreal, the Curian was the best at lightsaber combat but Gear had one of the most strategic minds that Kylo had ever come across. It was Cade and Taliki that were the most improved when it came to manipulating the Force.

He was more comfortable with training Rey, Eshreal, Taliki, Cade, Zer-o, and Gear but teaching the former slaves and children was infinitely more fulfilling. He could admit in the recesses of his mind that it felt good to have so many people smiling at him and being grateful toward him. It was slightly unnerving to have half of the people here love him and the other half want him dead.

After Rey had spoken to his mother on his behalf he had expected her to come and talk to him but it had yet to happen. That didn't surprise him at all. For his mother to be so brave, he'd found that she was a terrible coward when it came to owning up to her flaws and mistakes. And he was a compilation of her flaws and mistakes rolled into one being. It was a wonder she had ever loved him at all. Not that he could speak to that; he had laid awake many nights growing up wondering if his parents cared for him. Once he had joined Snoke he had no longer cared. Or at least that's what he told himself.

He was totally unprepared when his mother's assistant Connix appeared in their training field. Kylo was taking on Zer-o and Eshreal while Rey worked with Cade, Gear and Taliki on their meditations. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to the small blonde woman.

"Hey, Kaydel what's up," Rey asked. "Hey, everyone. Leia would like to see you all in her office ASAP," she said in a shy voice.

Kylo noticed that her eyes kept flicking from the group to him to the red crackling energy of his lightsaber. She was so afraid of him that he wanted to yell 'boo' just to see how far she would jump.

That's not nice, Kylo, Rey's voice followed. I wasn't going to do it. Just thinking about it he said and chuckled.

"The general wants to see all of us," Kylo asked out loud.

The small blonde woman nodded rapidly. She truly was afraid of Kylo. It filled him with a sort of dark pride that he could tell Rey disapproved of but she didn't say anything.

"Thank you Kaydel. Tell Leia that we will be there shortly," Rey said and the woman all but ran away.

Zer-o and Cade looked at Kylo disapprovingly and he shrugged.

"I didn't even do anything," he said extinguishing his lightsaber and placed it on his hip. "Apparently you just radiate bad guy," Zer-o said snidely. "It's the black on black with the bright red lightsaber," Cade said with a nod. "They wear all black," Kylo said pointing to the two scantily clad female force users.

Rey, Cade, Zer-o, and Gear looked at Eshreal and Taliki.

Eshreal was wearing a black, backless, sleeveless undershirt, and a pair of tiny black shorts. Taliki was wearing a much more complicated outfit that consisted of a hooded long sleeved fitted black shirt that has a triangle-cut out in the front to show off her breasts and a black skirt that was more of a waistband with front and back panels that leave the entirely of her legs bare. The front panel on the skirt is held in place by thin black strings that wrap around her thighs to connect with silver rings that connect near the apex of her thighs and another strap further down her thigh near her knee. She wore flat black leather boots that came up just below the bend of her knee with knee guards that connect to the front of the boot.

Cade barked out a laugh, "Those two could wear full battle gear and still look harmless next to you. Even without that gods' awful helmet you like to march about in." "Hate to break it to you, love, but they are right," Rey said with a smile. "Well I can't help what I look like," Kylo said his mood darkening quickly. "They aren't making fun of you; just stating a fact. In a war it will be useful to have someone as physically intimidating as you on our side," Eshreal said with a smile. "We were definitely making fun of you," Zer-o said, and Cade laughed again.

Kylo rolled his eyes.

"Let's go see what my mother wants," he said and headed off through the jungle, not caring if the others followed or not as he knew Rey would be right there with him.

When they reached his mother's office she was waiting for them. Kylo leaned against the wall and let Rey sit in front of him. The others fanned out around the room. The silence was thick as everyone waited for someone to say something.

"You wanted to see us, General Leia," Eshreal asked. "Yes. We got a line on a storehouse full of Bacta, on the medical planet Rhinnal in the Darpa sector of the core worlds. They have an abundance of bacta and an inside source was willing to part with enough of the substance that we should be okay for a while, I want your team to go and retrieve if you and him think they are ready," Leia said to Rey but nodded at Kylo.

Rey looked around at their students.

"What do you think, Kylo," Rey asked. "We should be going with them," Kylo said. "No," Leia said. "And why the hell not," Kylo demanded. "Well for one thing the First Order is blasting your face all over the galaxy. And two, you're bound to lose your temper and screw this whole thing to hell," Leia said standing and slamming her hands down on the desk. "If I have a temper it's because of you," Kylo said taking a step forward.

Kylo and Leia stared at each other with fury in their eyes. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Rey put her hand on Kylo's arm forcing him to look at her.

Let them go. We'd finally have some alone time with them gone, she said with a smile that only he could see. Fine but if they get caught or screw it up it's on her, Kylo said. So you don't think they are ready, Rey asked. I don't but I know my opinion will be overridden by everyone here so just drop it, he snapped and turned on his heel to go.

"Poe will fill you guys in on the details of the mission. Rey, Ren can I speak to you two privately," Leia asked then his students fled the room.

It seemed that the room got smaller without the others. Kylo wasn't claustrophobic but it was like his mother was sucking all of the oxygen out of the room. Whatever she had to say Kylo didn't particularly want to hear it. Eshreal closed the door as she walked out to give them privacy.

"What do you want," Kylo asked impatiently.

Leia looked to Rey who looked the other way as if saying that she wasn't in it. Leia sighed and looked up at her only child. She wanted to say that she didn't know where she went wrong but she did.

"I'm sorry I never had time for you, Ben," Leia said in a soft voice. "Only she gets to call me that now," Kylo said with a frown on his face as he pointed to Rey. "Fine. Rey made me realize that all of this isn't just on your shoulders. Most of the blame belongs to the adults who failed you so miserably," Leia said and moved around the desk.

Kylo took a step back when he realized that she was coming toward him.

"That was a long time ago. None of it matters anymore. You got what you want; I'm fighting for your side. We don't need to bond to stop the galaxy from being taken over by something worse than I or Snoke could ever be," Kylo said coldly. "But I am the only family you have left. Luke and Han are gone. We are the last of the Skywalker line," Leia pled.

Kylo rolled his eyes at her.

"Good. Let that tainted line die with us then," Kylo said and Rey looked up at him in surprise.

So I take it you don't ever want kids, she asked in his head and he flinched.

He hadn't been thinking when he said it. He and Rey had only slept together a few times and had never thought to discuss children but he could tell from the disappointment that was radiating down the line of the bond to him that maybe she wanted to have a child.

Can we talk about it later, Kylo asked gently. No need. You made your position clear, Rey said in a hard voice that he'd never heard from her before.

Leia was watching them.

"You two were communication using the Force," Leia asked.

Kylo shot his mother a look that told her to mind her own business. Rey was staring at the ground with a million thoughts racing through her head. Kylo had told her about the implant Snoke had ordered him to get when he first joined the First Order but now he was thinking maybe he should have explained it better.

Sweetheart you can have anything you want. If you want a child I will give you one, Kylo said in a soft tone. But if you don't want kids, how could I ever ask that of you, she said and her voice broke.

"Excuse me, General," Rey said in a much steadier voice as she left the room.

Kylo let out a sigh.

"Now look what you've done," Kylo said in exasperation. "I didn't do anything. You did it with your quick temper. You were so busy trying to hurt me that it back fired. All I wanted to do was apologize for everything you had to go through because your father and I were so self-absorbed but you couldn't let me do that," Leia said in a pleading tone. "I don't have time for this. I need to go find her," Kylo said storming out of the room after Rey, leaving Leia standing there with a distraught look on her face.

If he had to choose between the two he would always choose Rey. He knew that now that he had pushed her away similarly to the way his parents pushed him away. He had to find her and make it up to her, any way that he could…

A/N: The newbies are gaining strength from training with Rey and Kylo. Catch up with them on their mission in Star Wars: The Last Hope every Monday.

And poor Rey was just trying to bring harmony to the Resistance and it kinda worked. Finn and Rose are at least talking to her. Do you think her and Poe will ever be friends again? And what about future children for Kylo and Rey? Will Ben ever forgive Leia or let her make things right? Find out next time