Kylo's hair clung to his forehead. The training had been hard on him, but it was exactly what he had needed. The Knights of Ren didn't say a word, but they seemed to be sensitive enough to leave him space.

Him. A father. It seemed impossible and yet it made sense. All those last weeks, he had known something was off about her. How could he miss something so obvious?

Kylo pulled the shirt above his head, ready to shower, when he saw someone laying on his bed. Instinctively, he pulled out the lightsaber, igniting it at once. Then he recognized the familiar figure. Athena.

Again, he wondered how this connection was even possible. Whatever caused it had to be incredibly powerful.

"Rey, I'm not up for…" Athena started, then turn around. "Oh."

She was snuggled into a simple linen blanket, her hair failing on her shoulders in an undone manner. Her softly curved lips parted as she stared at him in surprise.

Like the last time, he could see her lack of sleep and rest on her face, yet still, she was radiant. Like someone had put on a light under her skin.

"What do you want?" she hissed, squinting her eyes at him.

A part of him liked her like this, awoke the part of him that longed for her. But he knew there was still too much resentment from her side. Apparently, Athena assumed he had known about the pregnancy and wanted her dead because of it. A part of him was almost disappointed she thought him capable of that kind of atrocity. On the other hand, he couldn't blame her.

"You need to get the Outer Rim in line. Karelai stalled the inevitable, but not for long. Come back to me, bring me Skywalker. All will be forgiven. Let us start again," he urged.

"So that Snoke can wait to kill me until I produced his new little force progeny?" she scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. She stood up, letting the blanket fall to the ground. As always, she had to look up to the much taller man he was. With satisfaction, he noticed how she avoided to look at his muscular chest. She only wore a simple black long shirt, leaving her legs bare.

"I can't see your surroundings," he simply answered. "Can you see mine?"

Athena shook her head.

"Will you attack me again?" he asked.
"You'd certainly deserve it", she huffed, her eyes still looking everywhere but at the bare skin of his chest.

"I didn't know, Athena," he whispered, softly placing a hand on her cheek. She didn't flinch. A good sign, Kylo decided.
"I tried to save you. I'd rather have you hurt and hating me, than dead."

"Is that the best you can do for an apology?" The countess raised her eyebrows at him mockingly, but he could still see the pain in her purple eyes.

Athena of Serenno was probably the only person who ever got some sort of apology from him.

"Read my thoughts," he offered, placing his other hand on her cheek, and closing his eyes. Instantly, he could feel her presence in his mind, a soft tingly feeling though the back of his head. She wasn't searching for answers specifically, but instead let him show her he was telling the truth. Then he showed her how he felt when she told him that he was to become a father.

Afraid. But also hopeful. No one would be a fiercer protector of that child than him.

"Fair enough," Athena stated. He could feel that she was only slightly appeased.

"How do you feel about it?" he asked, anxious of her answer. She seemed protective already, but that didn't mean she felt positive about this pregnancy. Maybe she didn't even want it at all. Kylo felt oddly insecure.

Athena took a deep breath.
"I will love this child with all I have. I always will."
This time, her eyes met his with confidence. "But I have not forgiven you."

"Do you think I need your forgiveness? I only saved your life because I believed in your potential to serve me. Yet you're still just an incredibly nuisance to me." he snapped. Athena was not supposed to believe that he was softer now. He was still a Knight of Ren, still the Commander of the First Order, a raw force of nature. His moment of insecurity was gone. This woman was still the biggest threat he faced and it was time she was reminded of his power.

"What a pathetic lie," Athena sneered, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Again, she spoke to him like no one ever dared to, igniting the familiar feeling of frustration and desire.

"Be a man and own up to what you feel. Was it real or not?" her eyes sparkled with defiance.

It was truly time she was reminded she belonged to him.

Soft yet demanding, he placed his lips on her. When Athena kissed him back, he put his arms around her waist, pushing her close to his chest. His breath accelerated as he intensified the kiss, tainted by remorse, tasting her lips, as sweet as only the feeling of coming home could taste.

His kisses trailed to her ear, as he softly nibbed it, then trailed down to her neck, still holding her close. He breathed in her perfume. He was holding back, relishing every moment. She moaned softly and placed her hands on his warm muscles of his upper body, her nails digging into his flesh. He grabbed her hair, pulling her head back to access her collarbone, kissing and softly biting his way down.

Her inner fight was obvious, as Athena seemed to be holding back as well, desperately trying to keep her composure.

"Come back to me. I'll protect you both."
Athena's hands travelled back down, slowly over his abdomen, making his body tense in anticipation and then –

A sharp object pressed against his thigh.

"A dagger?" he mocked, grabbing a fistful of her hair to keep her head in place.

"It worked against one of your knights. What's his name again? You could bleed out quite quickly," Athena whispered, batting her eyelashes at him.

"If that's what you want," Kylo answered, pulling her closer to him. The dagger cut through the fabric of his trousers as she was trapped in his arms, one hand her hair and the other behind her back.

"Don't you think I'm capable of it?" Athena teased.

"You're my apprentice. You are capable of many things," his lips caressed her ear.

"You may lose this war to me, Ren. How does that feel?" Athena gloated breathlessly, trying to keep some kind of control.

Kylo turned around, pushing her against the wall so that her back hit the cold marble. Her dagger still pressed against his thigh. Their embrace didn't feel like a lover's embrace, but like a test how far the other would go. If one of them killed the other, the fate of the galaxy could turn forever. As always, the stakes seemed crushingly high. But just like they were holding each other and threatening each other at the same time, it seemed they were stuck in a bond without escape.

"You could become my wife. The First Order will take over the galaxy and you can do everything you ever dreamt of. Deliver me the scavenger and Snoke will grant you your live this time. I know you want to end this war, Athena. Our child will be safe," Kylo urged, his hand slipping under her shirt. Leather touched her soft skin, but he only grazed it every so softly, letting the anticipation grow.

"Tell me this isn't real…" his fingers slowly reached her panties, only tugging them lightly.

With a sudden noise, the dagger fell to the floor. Athena took his face into her hands, crushing her lips against his in desperation. Her body pressed against his, almost as if it was molded to fit to his, his hard muscles against her soft breasts. Carelessly, he ripped her shirt apart, the thin tissue ripping immediately. She was more beautiful than ever. Again, he pulled her closer, kissing her, biting her lip, feeling every inch of her skin with his hands.

Then he felt the Force shift again.

He backed away, only to take her appearance in again. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips still wet, her hair tousled.

"You are still mine, Athena," he promised.

"Next time, I'll remind you."

OoOoO

"You saw him in your room?" Rey echoed warily, as if she feared Athena was losing her mind.
"Not just there. At the beach too. But listen, he wasn't there."
"And you attacked him?"

Athena shrugged. The first time, yes. The second time, her walls crumbled much quicker than she'd hoped for. But Rey didn't need to know that.
"Did he say something?" Rey asked, but still sounded like she was doubting Athena wasn't seeing things.

"He wants me to come back to him and be his wife," Athena summed up. The two women sat on a bench looking towards the grey sea. Skywalker was somewhere on the island and still rather cold towards Rey. Athena had decided not to tell anything about the encounter with Kylo to Luke. In her opinion, that prick owed her an apology anyways.

Rey smiled with amusement. "Has he met you?"

Athena shook her head, giggling. "Men can be delusional."

"Maybe we should go. He has changed, obviously. We can turn him to the good side and together with him, we can easily destroy the First Order. I believe in Ben."

Athena raised her eyebrows at her. "Snoke would put me in a cage until I give birth to the next Skywalker child. He'll probably give me the best medical care in the galaxy, though," she laughed sarcastically.

Rey nodded slowly.
"Still, Ben wants you at his side. The true threat is Snoke."

Athena gave Rey a glance from the side. "You are the one who can truly beat him. All my live, I had visions of the past. Of Padmé Amidala, the woman who married Anakin Skywalker who then turned to be Darth Vader. My mother thought it was the Force guiding me to become a politician just like her. Without her, there would not have been a rebellion. But without her, Anakin might never have turned. But after I met Kylo, I started to think it might guide me to something different. I had visions of my grandfather, too. Dooku told me that I would never be able to defeat you or Kylo Ren," Athena's neck felt tensed. It was all too confusing. Was it what Count Dooku meant? For her to be the catalyst in Kylo Ren's story? Somehow, it didn't seem to fit together. Nothing did.

Rey softly took her hand. "Maybe you're supposed to bring him back to the light side. You just have to trust yourself. And me. I will be at your side, the whole time. Let's end this, Athena."

Getting close to the final chapters!

Again, I am so grateful for your reviews!