Author's Note: It's late on a Sunday night and I'm posting because... I'm really excited how close we are to the end, but also it's bittersweet because... that means I won't get to write for your guys anymore.
But, we have a lot of ground to cover in the upcoming chapters, such as Ben Solo fighting for his sanity still. Ash promising to save his soul. We learn more about prophecy and... things are gonna get crazy.
Thank you guys so much for your reviews, seriously, they do not go unappreciated. I love reading your thoughts and comments, they have always put a smile on my face, so don't forget to review! I want to hear from you! Long, short, medium length, I don't care! I love hearing from you!
Reviews:
Kuppcake: Tensions are high, people get mad over silly things. We'll probably find out why in this chapter!
Adawnsong103: Thank you! (I'm sure it's very noticeable that 'indubitably' is my favorite word ever haha)
SoulSpeak: I actually have not read the Thrawn books yet! It's on my list! I'm finishing Bloodline right now and I cannot recommend it enough!
QueSarahSarah: First, adorable name. Second, yes! She can finally use her stone and now has to deal with even more ridiculousness stuff haha! And I feel like I just owe Hux and Phasma something positive at this point lol
Ellipse27: Exactly! Where's the fun without a little crippling anxiety and all this? Lol
Booklover2098: Oh shit indeed!
LoveFiction2018: Thank you!
EmberLex: I really, really, really, really appreciate hearing that. I'm so happy for you to start writing your own OC story! That is FANTASTIC news! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Alexiz Tutsi: Muchas gracias mi amiga!
An obvious and apparent shift was noticed immediately as the next few days rolled out. Rey was barely speaking to Ash and Ash was barely speaking to Kylo Ren. Kylo Ren was just as angry as ever over all of it and things were falling apart. They were so close to the finish line, why did this need to come down now, of all times?
Luke Skywalker was at a loss when it came to his nephew and the two other Force Users. In their training sessions, everything seemed so chaotic and ripping from the seams. No one was focused; the trio were in shambles trying to find the balance that Ash had been trying so desperately to give them. It showed, Ash was trying. But, it was becoming a lost cause in Luke's eyes. No matter how hard Ashlyn tried, even if it was with the best intentions, it did nothing if the three of them couldn't keep their act together.
After each session, Kylo Ren would storm off and head back to the Destroyer. Rey would disappear to her room on Crait or find Finn to hang out with; leaving Ash to not know where to turn any longer. Time was running out and it weighed heavily on everyone.
While it was affecting everyone different; Kylo Ren had been taking it surprisingly the hardest. But, that was perhaps due to the fact that Ash was hiding from him, his plan was falling apart, oh, and the fact that Ben Solo was trying to regain control of the power that was corrupting him. Ben Solo wanted Ashlyn happy, Ben Solo wanted to stop Snoke for the right reasons, Ben Solo was on the dark side but was ultimately a good person. The Eye of the Sun wanted to corrupt that. It saw the weakness within him and ran with it. It overtook him. And yet, Ben Solo was still in there somewhere, kicking and screaming because he knew if he had no control, Ash would be in trouble. All of this would fail if he could not come to terms with Ben Solo and Kylo Ren being one in the same with similar goals. However, that was proving impossible considering Kylo Ren wanted power and domination. At least, they had one thing to motivate them… they both wanted Ash in the end.
The night of their second day training, Kylo Ren was a man of desperation; he was so desperate that he did the only thing he could think of. He went to Luke.
"I'm surprised you're still down here." Luke mused as Kylo Ren stumbled upon him in the salt mines. "You seem to scatter back to the destroyer the moment we're through training." He was meditating on a large salt rock. His eyes closed, yet his brow quirking upward as he waited for his nephew to say something.
"I need your guidance." He said with a reluctant huff.
Luke opened one eye to look at him, noticing the torn expression on his nephew's face before closing it again. "You need my guidance? What changed?"
"I know you can sense the darkness from the stone; the power it's giving me." He explained. "I almost killed Rey."
"And your wife stopped you." Luke reminded him gently, opening both eyes now. "The Grey Guardian prevented you from destroying the Light, as she was meant to do." He stared with such an intensity at his nephew. A part of him wanting nothing more than to provide the help he seemed desperate to have. And yet another part remembering the dark potential that was lurking within him. "You're playing with dangerous stuff, Ben." He flinched slightly at the name. "You must harness the power from the stone, but you can't let it consume you."
Ren frowned. "How?"
"Be stronger than it. You know you are. Absolute power is a tantalizing concept, one that all Force Users face and must learn to fight it's tempting ways. Some fail, but only the strongest can succeed in fighting it. If you can't keep your head above water, you'll drown." Luke's expression was stone as he asked. "You haven't begun sinking yet, have you?"
"No." Ren all but snapped at that conclusion. "I'm concerned for the safety of not just Rey, but Ash as well. I almost lost control." That was quite the understatement. While killing Rey wasn't exactly his biggest concern, that dormant part that was still Ben Solo wanted to protect Ash above all.
Luke nodded, sitting back a little as he contemplated what his nephew was saying, while still trying to find insight on what he was sensing. However, he couldn't sense much from his nephew. An odd thing, really. Why was he trying to hide so hard? "The stones energy's contradict one another. The Eye of the Sun and the Heart of the Universe will consistently try to destroy one another. It was a reaction from within, the two of you were unable to stop it. Now you know-" Luke explained. "But, I wonder in knowing this now, will it keep you from letting it consume you?"
Kylo Ren's arms crossed over his chest. "It won't consume me."
"I'm afraid it already has." Luke challenged, frowning slightly. He wasn't stupid, he was better at sensing these things than Ash and Rey. He had years of experience. Of course, he would detect it. Yet, he knew he couldn't interfere. He needed his nephew to do it on his own. They all did. Otherwise, things would not work how they were supposed to. "There's hope." Luke added. "You're a hard soul to save; stubborn and set in your ways. But, there's always hope."
"If you believe that I've been consumed by it, why haven't you tried to stop me? Why didn't you keep me from fighting with Rey and Ash? They could have been killed." Ren's voice raised as he accused his uncle. If he had already known, why wasn't he outed?
"Because I'm not the hope you need, Ben." Luke said. "The sooner you understand that, the sooner you'll accept the help when it comes knocking."
A part of him understood; the very same part that wanted to regain control. "And what if I kill her?" He asked abruptly, receiving a strange look from his Uncle. "What if I kill her because I don't want her to stop me?"
"I've heard there are many outcomes to this." Luke began. "Everything from the three of you dying, to Rey ending you, you ending Ash… they all end in death. At least, the ones you seem so certain of. There's always a way, but this is something only you three can face. No one else can help you now."
Ren glared at his uncle. "This has been a complete waste of time."
"Because I didn't give you the answer you wanted?"
"Because this thing is taking over me and you're not doing anything to stop it!" He shouted; stopping himself as he let Ben Solo slip out for the briefest of moments. A last desperate attempt to regain control. Luke had been honest, this wasn't his fight. His fight was years ago. It was up to him now to change the course of the future. A future the darkness would not so easily give up.
Luke removed himself from the rock and walked over to his nephew. He didn't let the young man's anger intimidate him as he gently placed his hand on Ren's shoulder. "I failed you. I know that. I was never meant to be the one to bring you back from all of this. To protect you. I wish I were and in trying to be, I caused this. I caused this divide within you; this hatred and anger. You were meant for the dark side, I was foolish to let my fears get in the way of helping my nephew grow. Now, it's all up to you. You and the two girls who came from nothing and hold everything. I can't interfere with the future and what the Force has planned. In doing so, it will only make things worse." Luke couldn't remember the last time he spoke to his nephew like this; like an Uncle, a caring family member that wanted nothing but the best for him. It seemed so long ago. "Trust in the girls now. Trust that Ash can bring you back."
His lips parted slightly, a feeling of dread taking over as he finally asked. "At what cost to her?"
"Whatever it takes." Luke replied sadly. "Destiny is cruel, but it's the results that follow that make it all worth it."
No, he wouldn't allow it to come to that. He wouldn't allow Ash to be hurt by whatever this was taking over him. He was going to keep her safe. He was going to stop whatever destiny had in store for them and make his own. Of that, he was certain. Angrily, he pulled away from Luke and stormed out of the cave.
Luckily for Ashlyn, the destroyer was large enough to hide on. Sure, she would leave with Kylo Ren to head down for training and return with him. Yet, she didn't stay in their apartment with him. He understood why she was pulling away. Ash needed to find that balance and she needed to keep it. She couldn't be swayed by Dark or Light. However, it was safe to say that Ashlyn Solo was really bummed out over recent events.
She sat in the maintenance hub, her head resting on the work bench as she idly tinkered with some spare parts. She was upset for a number of reasons; how she treated Phasma, how upset Rey was at her. Kylo Ren was also a big factor in all this. Yet, she didn't know what to do. She had no idea how to bring everything together peacefully without it blowing up in her face, as it typically seemed to do.
"Before you say anything about destiny, what I have to do, and all of that other nonsense-" She grumbled to the no longer empty room. "I've been trying."
"Have you?" Ash lifted her head to see the smirking Anakin Skywalker sitting across from her. What was with the Skywalker men and that stupid, smug smirk? "You seem torn."
Ash scoffed, sitting upright then. "No kidding. My husband is battling with the darkness and losing. Rey hates me for lying to her; Phasma hates me for threatening her… oh and we are running out of time." She sighed, resting her elbows on the table and putting her head in her hands. "But, I did learn what my ability is. So, hey, silver lining and all that..."
"That's a positive thing." Anakin nodded. "You can create a shield."
"It's a bubble." She retorted.
"A protective bubble." Anakin somewhat teased. "You're the Guardian, Ash. It's not easy to protect the ones you love. And in trying to take the entire burden for yourself, you will only set yourself up for failure. You have to learn to juggle and give and take when the time comes."
She frowned into her hands. "And how do you propose I do that?"
"Start by forgiving. Forgive yourself, forgive him and apologize to those who you've wronged. Once you let go, you can start from square one again. Bring hope to those who need it most, by putting your faith in them too. It's not so one sided. You're part of a triangle, each point has to be strong for themselves and for the other. Don't forget that."
Ash lifted her head again, looking at Anakin. "You said you were hoping for one of the outcomes. That it was your favorite. How close are we to achieving it?"
"You know I can't tell you that-"
"Please…" Ash sighed in defeat. "I just need something… anything to go on right now."
He pursed his lips; he was going to get in a whole lot of trouble. Granted, Master Yoda always played dirty when it came to the Force and messing with it. He clearly wasn't the worst Force Ghost by comparison. "I'd say you're on your way." She sat back, slouching slightly in the chair as her arms falling limp at her sides. It was such a vague answer, but at least, it had some weight to it. "Keep fighting, Ash. It's not over yet."
Even as Anakin disappeared, that positive weight remained. Perhaps there was something to this hope-mumbo-jumbo. She needed to set the example for Ren and Rey. They couldn't do this without her and Ash most certainly couldn't do this without them either. It was a triangle, she had to remember that. And most importantly, she had to keep fighting.
The door to the maintenance room opened, and Ash felt that blip again. That familiar sensation of the man she fell in love with. It was twisted, it was different, but a part of him was still there. Unknowing to her, it was a part that was trying to fight back. He swiftly walked to the maintenance bench where Ash sat. He was holding something, and with a loud thud, he dropped it onto the table.
Her eyes lit up as she stared at the familiar, old and tattered book. "You found it?" She asked incredulously as she opened the book to see the planets she had missed. For a brief moment, she forgot her stress, her troubles and her anger. For a brief moment, she found serenity. She found the missing piece that was Ben Solo again.
"I haven't had a chance to give it to you since I returned." He explained, sitting across from her. "Things have been-" He tried to find the word for it.
"Chaotic?" Ash finished his sentence, looking up at him as her fingers gently touched the pages of the book of planets. He said nothing, he didn't have to. Ash understood as she looked back down at the book, skimming through it to see if she could find any of the planets they had visited.
For the first time since he returned, Kylo Ren felt at peace. He felt it as he watched his wife flip through pages excitedly. It reminded him of a time that felt like ages ago when they used to sit in his apartment on StarKiller and learn about planets together. He had loved her then and was falling in love with her all over again as she read. "I thought I had it under control." Ren finally admitted. "It keeps pushing its way forward; forcing itself to be the one in charge. I don't know if I can stop it."
Ash looked at him, closing the book gently as she reached across the table for his hands. "You can." She reminded him hopefully. "You just need to cut the crap about keeping all these secrets. All these lies and tricks; they're not helping. Let me in, let me help."
He frowned. "And how do you plan on helping?"
Her expression dropped as she thought for a moment. "I really don't know…" She said. "That doesn't mean I can't try." His lips quirked upward ever-so-slightly. Stars, she had a way of making him feel like everything could be okay in this awful galaxy. Even if it was mostly due to naivety. "But you can start by not lying and manipulating your way to get what you want." She added quickly. "You're running out of loyal people who will continue to back up your shit. And I'm still really ticked off at you."
Ren looked down at both of their hands, rearranging their position so he was now in control. It was a complex; a need to be in charge as he gently began touching the tops of her hands and working his way to her palms. "And how can I get you not so ticked off at me and continue to back up my shit? As you so eloquently put it."
Ash's eyes narrowed. "For one, don't mock me."
"Don't be so easy to mock then." Ash tried to pull her hands away then, he was faster and gripped them just a little tighter, preventing her from pulling back fully. "You promised me that you were going to be by my side through all of it." He said. "Did you really mean it?"
She didn't hesitate. "Yes."
"And if this consumes me?"
"It won't-"
He interrupted her. "If it already has."
She thought back on her conversation with Hux. If Ren was already corrupted; who was going to stop him? It almost seemed like even her husband was asking her to. The pressure was growing heavier and heavier as she realized she may not have a choice in the matter. "I won't let it keep you."
His golden orbs stared back at her, a thick tension taking over the room as they silently battled. The darkness within him wanted to challenge her; fight her until her own will was broken. Kylo Ren was not going to give up Ashlyn without a fight, the darkness would count for that little fact. She, like anyone else, could be swayed. At least, in his mind. "So, how do I fix this?" Ren finally asked. Conflicting parts of him wanted to keep causing chaos and yet also wanted to make his wife happy. She deserved that and so much more at this point. Hell, he'd get her her own fucking planet when he became Supreme Leader if it meant she would forgive him.
"I'm not sure, but-" Ash shook her head, relaxing slightly into his grip as she shrugged her shoulders. "I have to talk to Rey. She's angry with me."
Ren's frown deepened. "Why? You didn't try to kill her."
"But you did." Ash sighed in frustration. "I don't think you understand how this whole marriage thing works, Ben." There it was, that name again. When she said it, it didn't sound so disgusting. "When you do something awful, as you typically tend to do, I get blamed for it too. Regardless if I was defending you or not. She's upset with me because I immediately went to defend your actions and not side with her. I'm done being forced to choose sides. I'm in the middle for a reason and yet I keep getting pulled in by both of you."
His eyes darted over to the mess of parts that were sprawled over the workbench. "These for the droid too?" His tone sarcastic.
"Don't change the subject, but yes."
Ren exhaled deeply. "Fine. Let's talk to Rey and sort this mess out since clearly you women need to talk about your feelings."
Ashlyn wasn't so easily baited into the fight he wanted to start. Instead, she triumphantly managed to slip her hands from his grasp and sat back in the chair. "Maybe that's why you always seem to get yourself into trouble, because you can't talk about yours."
He smirked wickedly at her jab. "I have other methods of taking out my aggressions, Starshine. You should know that."
She played right back. "And you should know I have ways of continuing to avoid you so you can't."
Kylo Ren simpered, sitting back in his chair now to match her position. "You're cute when you're mad."
"And you're insufferable always." She smirked; something told her that she was winning this game of theirs. She was proven right when he rolled his eyes and grinned.
"Let's go grovel for forgiveness then."
Ash's smirk dropped as her brows knitted together. "Not if you're going to be insincere."
A scoff left him as he removed himself from the chair. "I promise you, I will make this all worth it. Now grab your little toys for the droid and let's go to Crait before it gets too late."
Ash grabbed at his wrist, forcing him to stop moving to the door and now looking down at her. "Ben…" Her tone was pleading; an unmistakable plea in her voice that was begging him to behave. When she got like that, it was hard to ignore. With another exasperated sigh, he nodded at his wife before leaning down and kissing the top of her head lovingly and longingly.
"I promise…" He said again; this time he meant it. And while it felt as though nothing and yet everything was beginning to fall into place. Ash did the only thing she could do right then and there, like she had always been forced to do. She accepted that this was his attempt at trying and would have to trust him.
Yet, there was that other promise that was now lingering between them. The promise that Ashlyn Solo would stop him at any cost should the time ever come. A promise she didn't want to ever be reminded of, not then and not ever again.
Brass and Poe were not-so-secretly becoming fast friends, or rather "frenemies" as Brass had so lovingly stated. It was their love of competition that had brought them together, and in that passion created an unusual companionship that not only eased the minds of Resistance and Ascension members alike, but made a less hostile arrangement on Crait. Their consistent friendly gambles brought everyone at ease and showed that it was possible for both sides to work together. If they could, perhaps peace in the Galaxy was possible.
Tonight's game was Dejarik; the two having worn out Sabacc (and actually banned by Leia for taking too many credits from other players), now they could only ruin each other's bank accounts.
The base was quieting down as night covered the salt planet. Brass and Poe sitting near a fire, considering night time was particularly cold on Crait, along with Rey and Finn. Rey seemed particularly quiet; an obvious change in her mood that Finn saw right through as the duo watched the Dejarik game before them.
"I don't like seeing you like this." Finn mentioned quietly, leaning over to the Light User. "Maybe you should talk to her."
Rey exhaled sharply, resting her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand. "I'm tired of lies and secrets and her constantly defending him for his actions. I expect the deceit from Kylo Ren, but not Ash." She sighed. "I feel so close with her and at times she's like a sister. And other times I feel like I don't know who she is anymore."
Finn frowned, contemplatively as he tried to understand what Rey was feeling. It was hard for him, considering he was left out of the Force loop. Ash and Rey had a friendship and a bond that he couldn't quite understand; no one really could except for the girls. "But, isn't that what she's supposed to do? She's not like your or Kylo Ren, she's in the middle."
Rey's lips quirked up slightly as she looked at Finn. "She is." She was somewhat proud that Finn was catching on, even if it was a very bare minimum, to what was going on around them. "That doesn't make it any less hard."
"So, if you get upset when she sides with Ren, does he get upset when she sides with you?"
Rey sat up straight then, something clicking in her mind as she realized how much sense that actually made. "I suppose you're right." She looked at Finn; something in her eyes and the way she looked at him, a way that had gone unnoticed by the two of them in their own blissful ignorance. "And I suppose it's hard for her too. She has to be a balance between us and Ren doesn't make it easy." She grimaced slightly. "I haven't been making it easy for her either."
Finn reached over, taking her hand in his and giving it a loving squeeze. "You don't mean to make it hard for her. I'm sure, as awful as he is, he doesn't either. From what you've told me, it seems like a lot of what happens is out of your control."
"Doesn't mean I can't try and prevent it."
"That's all anyone can ask for." Finn smiled sincerely.
Rey felt it then, that sincere and complete feeling she had always wanted. The companionship of someone on a different level than what she had with Ash. A more intimate connection with someone. That person was Finn, it had always been Finn. As her cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink, a reaction she'd deny and say the fire was to blame, she realized just how much Finn meant to her. She could also sense that he was feeling a very similar emotion as Rey's other hand rested gently on top of his as he continued to hold her hand.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Brass shouted to them, causing Finn and Rey to jump slightly; their hands immediately separating as they looked over to the smirking Brass and Poe. "We got company." He nodded to the entrance of the base as the familiar, dark transporter landed and the two other Force Users began to descend down the ramp together.
Finn rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he tried to regain some composure for the moment before. "You should, uh-" He tried. "You should go talk to her."
Rey smiled, leaning over and pecking his cheek. "Thank you." She said softly before getting up. Finn felt his stomach tie in knots as he was left speechless; watching Rey walk away from the group.
Immediately, Poe and Brass began a chorus of 'Ooooo's' at him, Finn glared. "Oh, shut up!" He yelled defensively as the Commander of the Resistance and the Lieutenant of the Ascension laughed heartily.
Kylo Ren and Ash stopped moving forward as they saw Rey coming over to them. He felt Ash suddenly grow restless and ultimately losing her nerves, before reaching over to her and taking her hand in his. "You okay?" He asked.
Ash gulped down a rather large and shaky breath as she nodded. "Yeah." She laughed nervously, squeezing his hand gently before reluctantly breaking away. "We can do this." She looked up at him reassuringly. "Together."
He rolled his eyes, sighing a small chuckle. "Together." He agreed as Rey caught up to them.
"Hey." Ash blurted out anxiously.
Rey looked at her, then to Ren, then back. "Hey."
"We um-" Ash tried to find the words, finding herself rendering almost useless as she did. How did they begin this? What did they talk about?
"We need to talk about what's been going on. The stones, the prophecy; all of it." Ren filled in the blanks for her; shockingly.
Both girls stood almost dumbfounded, neither one expecting him to be so forward in wanting to talk. However, grateful that someone said it as Rey nodded. "Let's go somewhere private."
Rey lead the group to the debriefing area, thankfully no one had been in there as they sat around the table. Ash took charge of the conversation then. "First, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to you-" She looked at Rey then to Kylo Ren. "Both of you. I learned that I was to bring us all together; balance us, and I've been so focused on how I have to do and been trying to do it on my own that I've failed to see in doing so I've torn us apart." She explained. "We have to work together, bringing balance isn't something I can do on my own. It's something we all have to do and in order to do that, we need to understand each other better. We need to lift each other up when it comes to our strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses."
The trio sat in silence for a moment as they let Ash's words sink in. It was never about using their abilities to be the strongest, to be able to feel things differently or protect on their own. It was always about using their abilities together. That was how they could balance; only by working together could they win. If they kept trying to lone wolf everything and use their abilities in a more selfish way, they were destined to lose.
He let his guard down then; everything that Luke had said to him, everything he had learned up until this point, it suddenly make sense. They were going to lose if he didn't fight against the darkness and use the power for them, not just for himself. It was then, Ben Solo broke through again to take control. The darkness allowed it and that should have worried him more than it did.
"The power is consuming me; the darkness is too much if I try to harness it alone." Ren looked at Ash for reassurance, receiving it with a nod as he looked back at Rey. "I almost killed you." He said; the girls suddenly able to feel him again. They sensed him, they sensed his remorse. It was like a sudden wave of emotion bursting through the room. While, they didn't understand what it meant, it was a relief on Kylo Ren. "Ash is right, we can only do this if we work together. I can only do this with your help; we complete one another, we balance. If the three of us can work together, we can balance with our stones and we can defeat Snoke."
Rey took his words in, letting the weight of them sit there on her shoulders as she felt the energy radiating from him. The darkness, it was back and she could actually feel it this time. It had seemed to subside when he returned, but now here it was and it was raging within him. However, she could feel Light. She could feel the Grey from across the table. They were combating it, they were balancing it. It was then, Rey realized, this could undoubtedly work. She needed to give up her hatred of Kylo Ren, she needed to not hold onto Ash so tightly. They had to become one, they had to work together and she needed to forgive them. "And we will help you." Rey finally said, looking at Kylo Ren. "Both of us. We're in this together. But, I need to know you're going to let us in and that you want the same thing we do."
He frowned slightly, as though that were so obvious. "Of course I do."
Ash sighed with a hesitant relief as she smiled. "We can do this." She said optimistically. "We can do this and we will do this."
"We can." Rey agreed with an airy chuckle. "It only took us nearly killing each other to realize it."
Surprisingly, Kylo Ren smirked at the little quip. "It took a few times of us nearly killing each other."
Ash laughed with relief then, feeling peace between them as they sat there. For the first time since their search for the stones, Ash felt something between them. She felt the balance. "Luke is going to be pleasantly surprised that we finally figured it out."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, starshine." Ren finally said. "We still need to train and actually make it work. What we feel now might change by morning."
Ash frowned. "But we are fine now."
"No, he's right." Rey reluctantly said. "We have to keep pushing for this, it's not something that we can just let settle. We have to keep the fight going; tomorrow morning and every morning after that."
"So-" Ash began. "Let's fight for tomorrow." She beamed as she stood from her seat, placing her hand in the center of the table and looking at Rey and Kylo Ren. Rey barely hesitated as she stood and placed her hand on top of Ash's. The two girls looking at Kylo Ren expectantly.
He looked at both of them; gawking at how absurd this was. "You're joking."
"Teamwork makes the dream work, Ben." Ash reminded him playfully.
"You said you'd work with us." Rey added.
Ren glared then. "I said I would, but this is ridiculous." They didn't give in, instead, they patiently waited with their hands in the middle, ready for him to join. When he realized they weren't going to back down from this demand, he groaned. Ren begrudgingly stood and put his hand on top of the girls' hands. Rey and Ash were grinning brightly, not just over the fact that the team was coming together, but because they actually got him to do it. And with a silent count of three, they raised their hands, except for Kylo Ren. He just mockingly said 'Go team' before regretting every life decision up until this point. He wasn't into this whole feelings and hugging it out thing, as Ash and Rey were now doing. Even if it made him relax in the long run watching them bond.
Ash and Rey were hugging each other tightly, happy that their fight was a thing of the past now, a new sense of determination was forming within the group as Ash then realized, she had something else to share. "So…" She began, still holding Rey in place as she grinned mischievously. "You and Finn, huh?"
Rey quickly pulled away, her face bright red as she stared at Ash wide eyed. Her jaw slack as she stumbled for words. Okay, now Kylo Ren was interested as he smirked. "Looks like we're not the only ones with secrets anymore."
"That's not a secret!" Rey exclaimed, realizing what she had said. "I mean-" Now she was in for it as Ash hugged her again. "It's a-"
"I think it's great." Ash reassured her with a quick hug. "You two are cute together."
Before Rey could stumble more words; Kylo Ren cleared his throat. "Are we done with girl talk? It's getting late."
The girls frowned at him, hating he was right over the 'late' part of his grumble. Unenthusiastically, they agreed. A silent promise that tomorrow, maybe things would be different. Maybe, just maybe… this could work after all.
Ash yawned loudly, receiving a knowing look from her husband as the two descended the ramp and set foot onto the destroyer. "I told you it was getting late." Ren muttered, albeit with a slight playfulness as Ash locked her arm with his, her head resting against it.
"It's not exactly a hidden fact that I'm always tired as of late." She gave it right back to him. "It's been an exhausting year."
He chuckled. "The whole year has been?" Ren asked as the two continued on through the launch bay and towards their apartment. The base was quite as the graveyard shift began; there was no Hux or Phasma in sight. Ashlyn was almost certain Brass was secretly just going to live on Crait now. The peace and quiet was a welcomed change as the two Force Users walked.
"Well, yeah." Ash began. "From getting thrown onto StarKiller to work on a super weapon, meeting you and being forced into Force Training-" He gave her a pointed look as she kept her head dead, knowing exactly the kind of look he was giving her. "Sid passing away, Snoke trying to keep us apart, you sending me away, StarKiller blowing up." She continued with another breath. "Sneaking away to keep our relationship hidden, you nearly getting killed by the First Order. Joining with Rey and finding the stones-"
"Okay, okay, okay!" Ren interrupted her with another chuckle. "I get it, it's been a rough year."
Ash frowned as she pulled away from him, the two continuing on. "You didn't let me get to the best part."
He sighed, hesitantly asking her what could possibly be the best part, considering everything else seemed to have more negative moments than positive.. "Go on."
"All this happened and that didn't stop us from being together." She said quickly. "We got married, for crying out loud." She laughed. "The best part of it all is that through all of it, I was able to do it with you." She paused for a moment. "And whatever happens now, whatever it is that is taking over you… I'm going to help you. We're going to stop it together."
Kylo Ren stopped walking then, Ash took a few more steps before realizing he had, and then stopped as well. She looked at him, unsure what he was feeling. He wasn't one to show his emotions on his face. Perhaps she had overstepped her boundaries? Did she say something wrong? As she began to panic, he started to walk again. This time, he walked over to her. His hands cupping her face as he leaned down and kissed her lovingly, deeply; passionately. In the only way he knew he could and still it would never convey the message of how much he loved her. How much she meant to him. And even though the kiss practically made Ashlyn melt as her legs began to shake slightly, it still wasn't enough to him. It wasn't enough to tell her that she was truly his everything.
He pulled back from her, yet still hovering close enough to kiss her again should he so wish to do. His thumb began idly stroking her cheek as he looked down at her. His golden orbs locking with her green ones. Ren's lips quirked upward, a small smile forming as he simply said. "You're my favorite part, too."
She smiled. That smile. Stars, he was losing it. He was absolutely losing it as she did. Whether intended or not from her, she could make him crumble so easily. He groaned in frustration, wasting no time then in bending down and swooping Ash up into his arms. She let out a yelp as her feet left the ground, her body now being carried bridal style as Kylo Ren continued walking down the hall. "I can walk to our apartment myself, thank you very much!"
"I'm faster." Ren smirked devilishly; his brow quirking upward almost suggestively. "Besides, we had a very tense day."
Ash caught on; laughing at his clear want and need form her as their apartment door came into view. "Is that all you ever think of?"
"If I'm always thinking of you, it's bound to come up once in a while." He replied dryly as the apartment door opened.
"That would have been such a romantic sentiment if you weren't hinting at sex at the end." Ash teased, giving in with a sarcastic sigh. "Fine, husband. Take me to bed." Her tone was in obvious jest, knowing it would rile him up.
"That's the plan, Starshine." The door closed behind them.
Final Thought: Maybe Kylo Ren can best the darkness? Maybe Ash can really save him? Maybe all of this can work!? Pfffffft. I like a good dramallama. This is the calm before the storm, friends. Remember to review and See y'all next chapter!