So, I am actually (quite a bit) farther ahead in writing this story than in posting, and I uploaded the wrong chapter. Actually. :O I kind of can't believe I did that, but I'm so sorry-but hey, now you get two chapters today!

"But I saw him." Ben gasps as if fighting a cry of pain as Rey spreads more ointment on his back.

"Well, if you did, that doesn't really help my opinion of your grandfather. I don't like him very much." Red gashes, some still beading blood droplets, crisscross Ben's back in a sickening sort of pattern.

"I really thought they were going to kill you," she admits, voice catching.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. "Will you still—will we still be able to leave?"

"I hope so." Rey dabs more of the cloudy salve onto his wounds. "I'm sorry, I didn't have enough to buy bandages. The lady said that this ointment would prevent infection, though." She screws the cap back on. "Also, there's no dinner tonight. I traded our gruel for the medicine."

As she gets up, Ben's hand grasps her wrists. He pulls himself upright. Rey's eyes linger on the purple scar stretched across his side—from Chewie's bowcaster, no doubt. "But you'll be hungry."

"I've been hungry most of my life."

He looks to the ointment, to her face. "Thank you."

"Thank me by never doing that again, no matter whose ghost you see," she retorts. Something uncomfortable stirs within her—she feels warm, something like excitement is bubbling up, and it's strange and she doesn't want to let these feelings claim her. "You scared me."

Ben's eyes soften, and he bites his lip before asking: "Why?"

Rey doesn't know why she does it. She's certainly never done anything like it before. But she leans in and presses her lips against his—briefly, for the smallest of seconds, before pulling away.

What did I just do?

Ben fumbles for words. "Why—Rey—why did you do that?"

"I wanted to." Beyond that, she doesn't know. This man killed his father. This man stormed through her mind. This man took her, tried to bring her to Snoke…

But she sees the Light reflecting off his face, and it's intoxicating. She leans in again, and this time he kisses her back, his hands clutching her hair and her arms around his neck.

Until her hand falls to his back, and he gasps in pain.

Rey pulls away. He still stares at her as if she's the strangest thing he's ever seen, which can't be true given the events of the day. "Is—is your back okay?" she manages to ask.

He nods. "I'm—so sorry, Rey."

"I kissed you."

"No—for—for all of it. I shouldn't have let you."

"You don't have to let me do anything. I kissed you because—because I care about you."

"Weeks ago you hated me."

"I didn't hate you. Well, on the starkiller… yeah, I guess I hated you. But not since then. And I like you now, when you're not consumed with the Dark Side."

Ben's fingers trace his lips. He looks at her like he's never heard someone say that before, and it makes Rey want to kiss him again.

"Don't you see?" she asks. "This—the Light Side—that's where you're supposed to be."

He shakes his head. "I want to believe that, Rey. But there's still—the Dark Side; it's always been there. It's not going to magically vanish because you love me or—"

"You're jumping ahead of yourself there," she snaps. "It was just a kiss."

He raises his eyebrows.

"Fine. Several." Rey exhales. "Did you ever think for a minute, Ben, that maybe the Dark and the Light are meant to coexist inside you, and the only reason it's tearing you apart is because you keep trying to purge yourself of one or the other?"

"You want there to be darkness?"

"I think you should accept that there's going to be Dark, and there's going to be Light, and choose to serve the Light."

"How? Through you?"

She shrugs. "If that's what motivates you, fine."

His voice comes out naked and vulnerable. "What if you're not there?"

She leans in again, and Ben jerks away, wincing.

"I'll go work on the ship," Rey says, getting to her feet. Disappointment tugs at her as her face flushes. This doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense, she argues with herself.

But she feels it nonetheless. "Just so you know," she says as she ducks into the engine hatch. "I've never kissed anyone before."

Ben doesn't respond, and Rey tries to channel her anger into productivity. It's better than letting her tears flow.

Kylo pretends to be asleep when Rey finally emerges from the hatch. As if he could sleep with the whip marks on his back smarting.

Instead, he replays Rey's kiss again and again. Why me? If she's truly never kissed anyone before, why did she kiss him?

She deserves better.

He cares about her. But now that she's kissed him, his mind gallops ahead to more kisses, to more of her—and he can't let that happen. She's supposed to become a Jedi. He won't stand in her way. He can't bring her any more harm. Because all he does is kill and destroy. The academy, his father, so many villages…

I won't destroy her future.

Rey needs to become a Jedi. And as for him, if he's to ever find his way back to the Light… he remembers the story of Anakin and Queen Amidala.

In the morning, Rey asks after his back.

"It's fine."

She sighs. "I need to put more ointment on it. If it gets infected, we're stuck."

"I can do it."

"You can reach all over your back? Don't be ridiculous." She places her hand on his shoulder and he settles back down, feels her fingers against his bare skin and the way the ointment burns against the gashes.

"Don't ever kiss me again," he says coldly.

"Fine."

Their scavenging and delivery is ghost-free, and Kylo can tell Rey's relieved. He prepares their nightly gruel while Rey works on the ship.

Of course Han Solo felt like the father she'd never had. She is so much like him, spirited and a talented pilot. Father must have really cared about her. Because under Han's gruff exterior, Ben knows his father's heart was soft.

For everyone except you, Kylo reminds him.

Kylo or Snoke?

Are you sure you were an exception?

Will you help me?

Anything.

Han's fingers, telling him in his last moments that he loved his son, that he was sincere.

Maybe he had given up on Ben in moments past. But in those last moments,, the ones that counted most, he hadn't.

Kylo hits his side again, slaps his hands against his back, feeling the gashes explode. He can't tolerate this. He kicks a loose rock and sends it slamming into a nearby ship. Half expecting someone to run out and drag him to the sarlacc, he waits, gulping the sticky air.

"Stop hurting yourself," Rey's voice growls from behind him.

He turns back to her. You're pathetic, Kylo Ren. "I'm sorry."

"Then don't do it, Ben." She nods at the gruel. "Is it ready?"

"It should be."

"You know," she says as she lifts the bowl to her lips. "Punishing yourself isn't going to help you heal. In any way."

The concern in her hazel eyes… no, it's not there, except it is there, but I don't deserve it—why, Rey, why? "I know. I'm sorry."

They finish in silence. Rey jumps back down the hatch. Within moments, Kylo hears hissing and crunching.

"Rey?"

No response. Steam rises.

"Rey!"

She pops out her head out, grinning. "I did it!"

"What?"

"It's fixed! It's fixed!" She pulls herself out and claps her hands in delight.

Hope sparks. "Are you sure?"

She smirks. "Do you doubt my piloting skills?"

"Not at all. You—"

"We can get out of here! Tomorrow! We'll have to break in and get our lightsabers, of course, but we'll be able to escape! We'll be free! No more King Prana!" Her giddiness is contagious, and Kylo surrenders to it, laughing.

Who cares if that means he'll be heading back to the Resistance base? She'll be with him, he'll be okay—he can escape Snoke there, make this right.

"We can actually do this!" Rey exults.

"We can!" he echoes, gasping as she throws her arms around him in joy.

"Oops, sorry," she mumbles, pulling back. "I forgot—your back—"

"It's all right, Rey. You—you did good—I can't believe you fixed—you're amazing—" Ben's thumb brushes against her cheek. She looks up at him, and he's not sure who kisses whom first, but he knows that he's kissing her and she's kissing him and it's all happening with an intensity he never realized existed. He forgets that he ever was Kylo Ren as she breathes his name—"Ben."

She pulls away. "I thought you said not to do this again."

"I—" Ben struggles to remember why. Oh, right. "Did Luke ever tell you what happened between my grandfather and my grandmother?"

She nods. "Padmé Amidala. The Senator. And Queen. He loved her."

"And it led him to the Dark Side."

"So… you're afraid I'll lead you to the Dark Side?" Ire constricts her voice.

"No. Not like that. It's just—I've already been to the Dark Side. What if—what if—if Snoke were to ever find out—"

"Ben," Rey says, her arm around his neck. "We're getting out of here. Tomorrow. We're going to D'Qar. We're going to be okay."

She believes it, and Ben believes her. He kisses her again.

"Are you sure?" she finally asks.

"I've changed my mind." And it feels so free, so light.

"Because I fixed a ship?" She's teasing, and it's been so long since someone teased him, spoke to him with that lilt in their voice, eyes twinkling.

"Because you're Rey." And because I might love you, and I'm afraid of it and I hope for it all at once. And instead of tearing me apart, it's knitting me back together.

She kisses him again, her hands traveling down his chest, under his shirt. Ben freezes.

"Are you okay?" she asks.

He nods.

She fumbles for his hand, pressing it against her chest. Heat surges through him.

"Rey—there's something—I've never—"

"What?" She's so close, her forehead leaning against his, one hand clinging to his hair.

"I've never been with a girl before." Snoke offered opportunities, but Kylo never took him up on any of them. He'd had too much on his mind for such distractions. But Rey isn't a distraction.

"We can figure it out together, then," she suggests, and giggles. "I have no idea what I'm doing either." She pulls him against her. "Don't be afraid."

Ben leans in again, and they're on the floor, and she's slipping off his shirt, mindful of the whip marks, and all he can think and say is how beautiful she is, and in her eyes he sees that she knows he means it, she trusts him, she knows who he is and she loves him anyways.

When they finish, she takes his head in her hands and kisses him on the top of his hair.

There's no going back. Not now. Not with Rey.

Kylo Ren is dead.

"I love you," he whispers.

She presses into his mind, and it doesn't hurt. Peace like he's always craved floods through his soul, and he hears her answer: I know.

"What is so important?" rants the silver man. "You two are trying my—"

"You'll forget this ever happened," Rey tells him placidly. "But you will first tell us where we can find the lightsabers you stole from us."

"I gave them to King Prana. I don't know what he did with them," the silver man replies with disconcerting ease.

"You will take us to King Prana immediately," Rey says, glancing at Ben, who nods.

Her cheeks warm as she remembers last night. She never thought she would meet someone, fall for them, and certainly if she had thought it would happen, she never would have imagined Ben. But he loves her, and she loves him.

He's so much more than just the Dark, and she prays he continues to believe it.

"I will take you to King Prana."

Are you ready for this? His voice, in her mind. Gentle, unassuming.

Are you? she taunts.

I still have years of training on you.

Then it's good to know you've got my back.

"The scavengers?" King Prana marches towards them, glowering at the silver man, who keeps staring back at them as if he doesn't remember why he's done what he's done. "I tire of your shenanigans—"

"You will tell us where you stored our lightsabers."

"I will not."

"You will tell us where you stored out lightsabers," Rey repeats, more forcefully this time. She sees Ben's hand twitch. If this doesn't work, look into his mind, she tells him.

One more time, he insists. Please, Rey. I don't want to…

"You will tell us where you stored our lightsabers."

Prana's face melts from fury to placid acceptance. "I keep them on me."

"You will give them to us," Rey says. "And you will order your men not to fire at us when we leave here."

"I will order my men not to fire at you." Prana digs into his robes, bringing out the two metal hilts and handing them over. Rey tosses Ben's to him.

"Let's go." She grabs his arm as they walk back towards the ship. It takes every ounce of self-control not to break into a run.

"Hey!" a voice shouts behind them. "Where are they going? Why'd you give them back their swords?"

"You are not to fire on them," comes Prana's voice.

"But—that—"

Rey sneaks a peek over her shoulder. The Twi'leks. "Shit."

"Stop them!"

Blaster shots echo through the air.

"Now run!" Rey shrieks. A sickening crack echoes behind them.

"Don't look back!" Ben shouts.

Howls and snarls echo behind her. Rey doesn't even want to know what pet of Prana's has escaped.

"Here we go!" Poe lowers the Millennium Falcon to the swampy surface. Chewie bellows in disgust as sludge spews over the windshield.

"Hey BB-8," says Finn. "Can you clean that while we're gone?"

The droid bleeps and turns to Poe.

"Sorry buddy. But we're gonna need to see. And you've got tethers."

BB-8 rolls away in disgust.

Luke clutches at the ramp as they climb off.

"Humidity too much for you?" Finn tries to joke. Poe smiles. Luke doesn't.

"No. I just—I feel something in the Force."

Finn freezes. "Something like—bad? Like Rey's—hurt, or—hurt—bad?"

"No. Nothing like that. Something else entirely." Luke shakes his head, muttering to himself about the temple and how he'll have to ask Obi-Wan…

"Well, we've got a mission to complete," Poe announces. "And we've all got to survive it. You too, R2. Blasters ready?"

Chewie cocks his in response.

"Good."

A scream echoes from the field of fighter jets, X-Wings, and other ships. Many of which appear to be hollowed, blackened shells. What happened here? Finn wonders. A fire?

A Twi'lek rushes past, almost tripping over its absurdly long tentacles.

"What the hell is going on?" Poe hollers.

"The beasts! They're out! The scavengers broke them out!" he squeaks.

"Rey!" Finn shouts. "It's got to be her! Poe, Luke, Chewie—"

A ferocious yowl echoes through the hanger. R2 wheels behind Chewie, who looks about as disconcerted as Finn's ever seen the Wookiee.

"What was that?" Poe wonders.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Luke says grimly.

"Well, while you all debate, I'm going to find Rey!" Finn races forward, skittering to a stop as a giant, cat-like creature with fangs lets out a snarl.

The nexu leaps past Finn, bounding over a blackened hull and pouncing on a glinting man who looks like he's made of silver, tearing him in two. Blood smeared across its jaws, the beast turns around, locking its gaze on Finn.

A blaster shoots in front of him as Poe grabs Finn by the shoulders, dragging him around the other side of a ship.

"Luke—Chewie—" He can't find them. Can't see them. All he hears are screams and roars and the sickening crunch of metal. The air boils in the sun's rays.

And saliva drips down on them.

"Poe!" Finn screams, grabbing his friend and running, shooting his blaster. The nexu's claws fly out, catching Poe and throwing him against another ship—a functional one. Or, at least it was functional, until the nexu crushes it and throws it in the air, growling as it leers over Poe.

"Don't touch him!" Finn fires shot after shot, hitting the creature in its shoulders. It shrieks, a sound so shrill Finn fears his ears will bleed.

And, inexplicably, the nexu leaps away from Poe, chasing after some other unfortunate soul.

"Poe!" Finn drops to his knees. His friend's face is smeared with blood, and his leg sticks out at an odd angle. "C'mon. We've gotta move." Clutching Poe's arm, he slings him over his shoulder, struggling to his feet.

"Finn! Poe!" Luke charges towards them. "It seems the Force works on that beast. Chewie?"

Chewie grabs Poe, who grimaces in pain.

"Finn?" Poe asks.

But Finn's eyes are glued to a small figure, draped in beige robes and clutching a familiar glowing blue stick, fleeing from the very same nexu.

Hundreds of meters away.

"Rey!" he screams, but the nexu's howl drowns out his cry.

She's at the edge of another ship, a soot-covered silver one, when she ducks to avoid the beast's claws. As she tumbles to the ground, her lightsaber flies out of her hand.

The nexu rears up on its legs, screeching in pain as it turns and charges frenetically in another direction.

And a tall figure, head coated in thick black hair, reaches down to grasp Rey's lightsaber, to take Rey. Kylo Ren hauls her in the ship by her waist, red lightsaber blazing, and Finn's screaming like he did on Takodana, chasing, hoping even though that voice, the voice that haunts him, General Hux's voice—not general, just Hux, he's not your general—whispers "futile."

The ship powers up, soaring into the sky.

"REY!"

Finn turns to Luke, who looks as if someone's punched him in the stomach.