Thank you Faith Callaway, TheNappingKoala, starspangledfeels, howlongbeforeyoutalkaboutsand, La Merwaffle, fangirlkitten02, Ivorbeck, Nikkette, Rabitz, and Virte for reviewing! And everyone that gave this story a favorite and/or follow. I really appreciate it. You are all so kind. And, you all inspired me to write more. So, without further ado...

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

"I just...don't know how to respond to it..." She said quietly, avoiding his gaze. "I don't understand it. No one's ever cared for my well-being before, it's...new, to say the least..." she drifted off, leaving her thought incomplete. But he seemed to know what she was thinking, or somehow relate to what she was feeling, because he nodded silently at her, as if in understanding.

Silence enveloped them once again, but it wasn't uncomfortable this time. It was...peaceful, almost. Like for the moment they were actually contented with each other's company. Like they didn't feel bothered or intruded on.

And then he decided to talk again. Be it because he felt awkward, or because another thought had suddenly struck him, she didn't know. But it bewildered her that he was capable of speaking so quietly, given that his voice was relatively deep and his temper often caused him to have trouble controlling his tone.

This time, however, he seemed more gentle. More concerned.

If he ever genuinely was concerned, for that matter. Sometimes it was hard to tell.

"You're scared," he stated more than asked, causing her to feel a bit self-conscious about herself and her feelings. It made her worry as to whether or not she wore her emotions on her sleeve, or if she was able to keep them hidden, but not well enough where he couldn't find them.

"Why?"

She turned over on her side, and looked him in the eyes now. His face was only inches away from hers, and if they were actually lying across from each other, as opposed to being in each other's visions through their connection, she would've felt the subtle fanning of air from his breath as he exhaled in front of her. In fact, she almost swore she could, even now.

"I don't know if I can do this..." she said finally. Though her answer was vague, he knew that she was subtly referring to her training with Luke, and her slow understanding of how to wield The Force.

A strange look crossed his face, one she could not place, and then his eyes lit with what she could only construe as irritation or hostility.

"Then don't." he told her, notably more callous this time.

She flinched briefly in turn, but was quickly embarrassed by her actions. She knew that he wouldn't and couldn't (to the best of her knowledge) hurt her, and felt guilty about responding so poorly. But she couldn't find it in herself apologize to him, due to her pride.

Once Ben had realized what he'd done, and caught the brief look of terror that crossed her face the second he let his temper slip through, he recognized his error, and immediately regretted it.

So, burying his tendency for opposition, he softened his voice the second time around, so as not to scare her, and hastily added; "You don't have to. I'll teach you."

It was a kind offer, she realized, but a misleading one at that. And therefore, she couldn't possibly accept it.

She wouldn't have minded having him for a teacher (he seemed to be able to relate with her on some odd level, and if she were being completely honest with herself she didn't dislike his company entirely), but he was vested in darkness. Even if she did still see light somewhere inside him. And she feared that if she joined him, or allowed herself to be taught by him in his current state, that the darkness would consume her as well. And that, she knew, wouldn't bode well for either of them.

So there was nothing she could do but decline.

"No," she shook her head lightly. "I have to try. I can't give up. I mustn't."

She half expected her refusal to trigger a worse reaction out of Ben. But after his latest outburst's reception from her, his normally quick temper seemed to cease, and quell itself all at once. If not for his lack of energy to argue with someone, then purely for her welfare. Because she couldn't possibly think of another reason.

His eyes searched hers for a moment, as if he was trying to interpret her thoughts. But when he saw nothing but her determination and unwavering faith, he decided to retreat from them.

"What are you hoping to accomplish?" he asked.

"I think I can save y - " His eyes widened slightly at her implication, and she stopped mid-sentence and shook her head.

But he wasn't going to let it go, not now. He had to know for certain.

He had to hear her finish.

"Save what?" he challenged, though not bitterly this time.

"Nevermind, it was foolish of me to think..." she trailed off. But in all truth she didn't believe that. She knew that he could be saved. She felt it.

He nodded slightly in understanding. If she was too embarrassed to say it, that was fine. He wasn't going to press her any further. He knew what she meant, anyhow. And he supposed that was enough for him. For now.

Carefully removing the short half of blanket that he occupied from his person, he sat himself upright on her cot, and turned to face the other way.

"Nobody can save me," he told her calmly, leaning over and looking down at his gloved hands between his knees.

She had to bite her tongue in order to prevent from bursting out; 'That's not true!'. But knowing that he wouldn't listen, or perhaps fearing that she wasn't right, she stayed silent.

"Don't waste your time. It'll be much easier for you if you can accept that. I already have."

And with that he stood, and retreated from her quarters. Leaving in a haze of blurry lines as their connection was abruptly severed.

And she lie there, lost in deep thought, as she tried to mull over what had just occurred.

The cold began to engulf her at of the absence of his body beside hers, and she once again started to shiver.

It didn't make any sense. She shouldn't have been able to feel his warmth. She shouldn't have been able to feel his breath fan against her skin as he exhaled. And yet, she swore she could. She knew she could.

And if she could feel that, all just from their connection; What else could she feel? She wondered.