A/N - Second of two chappies tonight!!  Enjoy!  The really good stuff is just around the corner.....

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Kylo contacted the command crew on the Finalizer and let them know that he would be returning sometime tomorrow.  Hux would probably have a field day with that, but he'd deal with him when he returned.  First, he needed to get Rey's leg set, and take her to the new Resistance base.  He sighed.  They're going to love that.

His head snapped up.   Unless Chewie came back for her later today.  He needed to ask her.  They hadn't really been together in months, and he felt like he was going to be robbed of this opportunity.  He ran his hands through his hair.  Would she want that?  He thought she might, but his doubts began to creep in....

No, he would not be deprived of her presence.  He would simply tell her to ask Chewie not to come back until tomorrow.  She'd want that too, wouldn't she?  That would give them a little time together.  Did she have her communicator?  Or did she leave it in the rubble?  Then he remembered – the box with the Jedi texts.  He decided to go back and get it before it got dark. Finding it easily, he returned to the ship with it in short order.   He didn't find a communicator, and so assumed Rey still had it.

Wanting to be more comfortable, he went to his quarters and changed out of his battle clothing. Then went back to the med-bay to check on Rey.

She was now sitting up on the table, with her legs dangling over the side.  One of her pant legs had been cut, and there was an odd looking sleeve on her right leg.  The droid began updating him as soon as he walked in. "Sir, the patient is a 21 year old female, in good health.  Vitals are stable.   She has a minor fracture in the lower right fibula, which has been stabilized.  Patient has been given a dose of bone-mend to reduce pain and speed the healing process."

Rey looked over at him and rolled her eyes. "See, I told you I was fine.  It's almost nothing."

"Yes, but without treatment, could you have walked on that nothing?"  He said, poking back at her.

"I probably could have managed with enough time."  She grumbled.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Rey, is Chewie coming back for you tonight?"

"I'm not sure."  She waited before asking hesitantly.   "Should he?"

He looked at her, and tried to keep any emotion from his face, replying in a neutral tone.  "It's up to you.  I told the crew that I'd return tomorrow."

She looked down at the floor and bit her lip.  He tried not to focus on that lip.   He wanted to suck on it.  He closed his eyes and tried to calm his suddenly erratic breathing.  She looked back up at him shyly, and quietly asked.   "Do you want me to stay?"

He let out the breath that he hadn't realized he was holding.  "More than anything."

She smiled at him and held out her arms.  "Can you help me down?"  He gently lifted her down off the table, but didn't take his arms from around her.   He gazed down at her, and she stared back at him. "I need to contact Chewie so he knows I'm okay, and not to come back till tomorrow."  He didn't move. "And if you have any food, that would be great because I'm starving.  I kind of forgot to eat today, with everything going on.....".

He was still caught in her eyes, and simply couldn't wait any longer.  He leaned down and kissed her gently.  She quickly wound her arms around his neck, and pressed herself against him.  It was almost as if fire ignited between them.   Everything seemed more intense now that they were actually in the same place, and didn't have to worry about the bond ending unexpectedly. Every touch, every kiss, every sound.  It wasn't long before they were frantic for each other – nipping at each other's lips and neck, tugging at each other's hair.  His erection was already throbbing, and he pressed it against her, causing her to shiver, and him to moan.  Her teeth scraped along his neck, and he moaned again.

Suddenly Ben broke away, and rested his head on her forehead.  "You'd better go call Chewie, and I'll find something for us to eat."

She just nodded at him, and he helped her over to the small lounge and kitchen area.   He noted with a great amount of satisfaction that she seemed to be in a daze.   He smiled to himself.  Good.  She wanted him just as badly.  He thought he had better try to snap her out of it though, if she had to have a conversation with Chewie.  If the Wookiee even suspected that she was alone with him, he'd probably show up in a heartbeat.  "Do you have your communicator?"

She still seemed to be somewhere else.  "Hmmm?"

He leaned down, close to her face, with a huge grin on his.   "Your communicator?  You know, that thing you use to call your friends.  Like Uncle Chewie?"

That seemed to snap her out of it.   "What?  Yes, of course.  Wait?  Uncle Chewie?"

Aww shit.  That had just slipped out.  He looked down at the floor and quietly grumbled.  "I was often with him more than my parents.  He's been Uncle Chewie for as long as I can remember. Although he'd probably kill me now if he got the chance."  This last part was said so quietly she almost didn't hear it, and it nearly made her cry.

"Ben..."

He shook his head and stopped her. "Don't.  Please just drop it, okay?"

She looked at him with a sad smile.  "Okay."

**

She contacted "Uncle Chewie" to let him know that she was okay, and not to return until mid-day tomorrow.  He grumbled at her, but told him to trust her – she'd let him know if she wasn't fine.  He begrudgingly agreed, and told her he'd see her tomorrow.

She was sitting in the lounge, which had a small table and bench-type seat, while Ben put together a makeshift meal with the on-board provisions.  He told her she could use the 'fresher if she wanted – if her sleeve cast allowed.  She was still covered in dust from the collapsed hanger, and thought a shower would feel great.   Nodding, she headed to the small 'fresher room.  Before she went in, Ben handed her a towel, and what looked like one of his sleeveless tunics. She looked up him, eyebrows raised.  "You want me to wear this?"

He didn't meet her eyes and shrugged.  "You can wear your grimy clothes if you want, but I just thought you'd like to be more comfortable."

She held up the tunic in front of her and smiled.  It came to her mid-thigh.  Her legs would be bare.  "Definitely better than my grimy clothes.  Thanks."

Once she was done, she came back out, drying her still-damp, unbound hair with the towel.  She was surprised that her leg didn't hurt.  Whatever shot the droid gave her was definitely working.

Ben was still moving around in the small kitchen.   "Food's ready."  He said.  He turned around with two plates in his hands, and froze when he saw her.  His eyes travelled from her damp hair to her bare legs, and back up again.  His gaze was hungry when she met his eyes.

She walked toward him slowly and took one of the plates, leaned up on her tip toes and brushed her lips over his before sauntering over to the table and sitting down to eat.  His gaze never left her.  She looked up at him.  He still hadn't moved from where he stood.  "Are you going to come and eat?"  she asked, a saucy smile on her face.   She wasn't sure why he seemed so interested in what she was wearing – or rather, wasn't.  Her sleeping outfit from a few weeks ago revealed far more skin.

She tucked into her food, and after a few bites exclaimed.  "This is quite good!"

That snapped Kylo out of his momentary trance.  When she had walked by him, everything about her stunned him.  Her hair was damp, she smelled so good, and looked so.....soft.  She was wearing his tunic, and he was imagining what she had on underneath it.  Then she brazenly walked right up to him and kissed him lightly.   If he hadn't been holding the plates he would have grabbed her and dragged her into his sleeping quarters right then and there.  Instead, he wandered over to the small table and sat down next to her.   "Growing up, I got used to eating really good food, so unless I want to eat tasteless nutrition pucks and protein gel I try to make sure that the kitchen is stocked with real food as much as possible."

"Mmm."  She said with her mouth full.  "I can't cook at all.  I'll happily eat nutrition pucks, protein gel, or rehydrated portions, but definitely appreciate a good meal."

They ate the rest of their meal in relative silence.  Rey noticed Ben surreptitiously glancing at her every so often.  In particular, his gaze seemed to keep straying to her relatively bare thigh next to his.

Rey ate quickly – a habit she picked up on Jakku, that she seemed unable to break.  Kylo noticed her empty plate and nudged his plate closer to hers, silently offering to share the remainder of his food.  She grinned at him and began stealing morsels off of his plate.  Another habit she couldn't seem to break – she never said no to more food.  But she tried not to steal too much off his plate, since given his size he probably had a much bigger appetite than her.

When she was done she sat back and sighed contentedly. "Thanks.  That was great!  I was absolutely starving!"  Ben just nodded.

She started to get up, intending to take the plates away, but he covered her hand and said gently,  "Sit. Stay off of the leg."  She watched him take the plates and tidy the kitchen, a bit surprised that he would do that.

He returned a few minutes later, and sat back down on the bench.   They were both silent, and the moment felt awkward.  Ben sat quietly and looked down at his hands.   Rey reached over and took one of his hands in hers, entwining their fingers.  At this, Ben looked up her, and drew her hand to his mouth, kissing her knuckles gently.

Rey scooted closer to him, looking directly into his eyes, before asking,  "Ben....what are we?"

He knew what she was asking.  The problem was, he didn't know the answer himself.  He closed his eyes.  "I'm not entirely sure."

Rey simply nodded, and waited to see if he'd continue.  After a minute or so, he did.  "At first, I could only feel this draw...this pull.... toward you.  And the connection. I couldn't figure out why. I mean, you have the Force, so that seems like a logical explanation.  But I've been around other Force users in my life and never felt anything like what I first felt toward you.   I mean – why you? And I don't want to get into this again so please do not mistake my words this time – but, you were an untrained scavenger from a shithole planet."  Her eyes narrowed at him. "You know I am not saying this to upset you – so don't go there!"  He sighed.  Her gaze softened once again, and he continued. "It pissed me off.  A lot.  Snoke was still in my head, and I had a feeling of superiority over almost all other beings –"

Rey interrupted, snarkily retorting with her eyebrows raised.  "And you think that's gone, do you?"

He simply glared at her and went on.  "As I was trying to say, at the time, I didn't feel that you were worthy of a connection to me."  Again, Rey's expression became a smirk.

"Don't!"  He sniped.

"I didn't say a thing."  She said innocently.

He growled. "It especially pissed me off, given that you seemed to absolutely loathe me, and considered me to be your worst enemy."  He paused. "I had also seen inside of your head, and so felt like I sort of knew you – that we were similar.  Add the connection and the draw – essentially what we now know is the bond – to that, and well...it scared the shit out of me."

"Really?"  She asked.  He nodded in response.  "Me too."  She said.

His hand squeezed hers a bit more tightly, and then he went on. "But now...now..."  He wasn't sure how to say this. "We've continued to connect.  Gotten to know each other.   It was hard those first few times after Crait.  I was really, really angry with you.....and felt.....rejected.   I couldn't understand how you wouldn't want to rule with me, to join the Dark Side.  My head was still cloudy... but... as it cleared, I could see you.  Just you.  Who you really are.   Your strength. Your stubbornness.  Your beauty.  Your compassion.  Your Light."  He stopped and took a deep breath. "I don't know what the future holds, but I know that I can't imagine being without this connection.  Without you in my head.  Without being able to see you. To talk to you.  To touch you...Rey,..you are absolutely everything to me.....without you, I am nothing."  With that, he took a deep breath, blinked away the slight sheen of moisture from his eyes, and hoped he didn't just make a complete fool of himself.

Her eyes were shining with tears, and her heart was frozen in her chest.  Then it began to pound, as a feeling of joy washed through her.  She didn't think he'd ever be able to say the actual words, but everything in what he'd just said told her he loved her. Everything she felt through the bond while he was telling her, said he loved her.

"Oh Ben..."  She whispered, and literally threw herself into his arms and fastened her lips to his.