A/N - Hello again Lovelies!  I'm going to try to post two updates for you tonight.  I'm having so much fun writing this - I hope you enjoy!  Please don't forget to vote and please don't hesitate to add any comments, thoughts, reactions, etc.  You've all be so awesome so far!  Thanks so much to all of you who have been reading and staying with this story!

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Early the next morning, Rey sat watching Ben browsing through his holopad as they ate their morning meal in the small kitchen area of his quarters.   Hers consisted of a variety of different breads, cheeses and fruits, whereas his was some type of meat and starchy vegetables.

"How can you eat that so early?"  She shuddered, her stomach doing a bit of a flip at the thought.   She was unaccustomed to eating so heavily in the mornings.   Even the smell of it this early in the day was putting her off a bit.

He flicked his gaze up at her.  "What?  This?"  He smirked as he held a chunk of meat up on his fork, before popping it into his mouth.  "Its tasty.   And I'm hungry.  Besides it'll be a long and busy day – starting with training – so maybe you should eat something more substantial."

She shuddered again.  "Ugh, no thank you.  If I eat that before training I feel like I'd be sick all over you...".

He gave her a horrified look.  "Okay, let's not do that then please."  She gave him a smirk in return.

They were both dressed in training attire – hers, a short-sleeved cropped tank and stretch capri pants - having been delivered to the quarters just this morning.  When they arrived at the training room, Rey was intrigued by both its size and the set up, as well as the vast assortment of training weapons that adorned the walls.  There were large, open areas designed for unrestricted hand to hand combat, as well as smaller ones with various obstacles and platforms to be used to jump up on, and build agility.  She absolutely loved it.

"Wow!"  She said, turning to him with wide eyes.  "This could be fun!"

His brow raised as he tossed her a stave.  "Why do you think I like training so much?"

"I think I'm beginning to see.... But are you sure you're up to this?"  There was concern in her voice.

Rolling his eyes, he responded.  "Rey, I'm fine.  I need to move – to get the muscles in the leg and the arm working so they stretch around the scars and the pins.  Don't worry about me.  And don't take it easy on me!  I certainly won't be taking it easy on you."  He told her with a grin.  "If it makes you feel any better I'll put some battle armour on my left arm to give it some protection.   I'd suggest you do the same – I'd hate to leave any bruises on that beautiful skin." 

She narrowed her gaze at him, as they began to don the protective gear.  "Fine.  But when you're sore and aching, and limping later, don't say I didn't warn you."

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a sardonic grin.  "Sweetheart, I like being sore and aching.   It makes me feel alive."

Filing that bit of information away in her brain to address another day, she got into battle position and smiled back sweetly.  "Bring it on then."

They started slowly. Kylo testing out his range of motion and agility of his healing injuries, as well as each of them feeling each other out – to see how hard or how far they were willing to go.   Eventually both of their competitive natures won out over any tentativeness and soon they were striking at each other in full force – Rey using her natural agility to jump, dodge and roll away from his strikes, and him using his amazingly long reach, sheer strength and power to try to overcome her.

After awhile, they injected a bit of playfulness into their sparring.  Mid strike, Rey decided to Force freeze him, and ran over to the area with the obstructions, turning to saucily stick out her tongue at him as she released her hold.

"Hey!"  He called after her.  "Oh, so you want to play dirty, do you?"  As he ran over to her.

Rey had jumped up onto a narrow ledge and was crouched there, a mischievous grin on her face.  "Why is it dirty when we both can do it?"  She launched herself off of the perch and flipped over him in the air, landing behind him.   Anticipating the move, he spun around to her and froze her in place as soon as she landed.  Stalking closer to her, he gave her an unapologetic grin before kissing her sensually, then moving his lips to her neck and up to her ear to whisper.  "Do you know what I'm going to do to you when we get out of here."

Her breath huffed out of her as desire flooded her veins.  "Now who's not playing fair..."  She whispered back huskily, causing heat to flood through Kylo as well.  He wrapped his arms around her as he released his hold, and kissed her hungrily.  Rey responded in kind, pressing herself against him and nipping at his bottom lip, eliciting a deep groan from him, before using the Force to shove him back as she playfully danced away from him.

Growling at her, his mind sharpened into a battle trance, and focused on catching her as he gave chase around the pillars, but she was too quick footed for him.   He began using the Force to try to sense her movements in advance, and when she jumped up and swung herself around a beam however, he saw his chance and adrenaline rushed through his blood.  As she swung down, he swept her feet out from under her, knocking her ankle, and causing her to land hard on her tailbone.

"Ow!"  She cried out, snapping him out of it, as she looked up at him sheepishly.   "Okay, I think we're done here."

His eyes widened as remorse filled him, and he crouched down to her.   "Gods, Rey – I'm sorry!   Are you okay?  I.. I'm not sure what came over me...I just... wanted to catch you, and..."

She held up her hand to stop him.   "Its fine – I'll be fine."  Grinning, she looked up into his eyes.   "Hey, we said we weren't going to take it easy on each other.  And that was an important lesson for me for next time.  I have a feeling that you go into some kind of "zone" when you're in battle.   So while I'll be a bit sore for awhile, its really okay."

He stood, and held out his hand to help her up.  "Ow."  She said, testing her weight on the ankle.  "I'm sure I'll have a nice bruise on the ankle bone though – as well as my butt."

His face was still full of concern when he asked.  "Can you walk?"

Taking a few tentative steps, she nodded.  "Yes, it's a little sore, but fine."  He looked at her skeptically and took a step toward her, causing her eyes to widen.  "It's fine!  Do not even consider carrying me through this ship!!"

He took a step back and raised both palms in surrender, a mock smile on his face.  "I wouldn't dream of it!"

Shuffling closer to him, she wound her arms around his neck.   "Now, I believe you made some promises about what you'd be doing after we were done here?"  His eyes darkened and his breath came out in a growl as he leaned down to kiss her.

***

Rey lay in bed, watching Ben dress.   She was still nude after their shower, covered only by the thin sheet.  Smiling, she recalled the things they had done, and how good it had felt when, true to his previous promise, he wrapped her around him, leaned her against the shower wall and thrust into her.  She shivered at the memory, and felt herself growing warm again.

"Stop that."  Ben admonished from across the room.

Her gaze flicked up to him and she blushed deep red.  "Sorry."  She bit her lip.  "I couldn't help it."

He growled as he watched her worry her lip, as he strode over to the bed, pinned her with his arms on either side, and leaned down to kiss her hard.  "I am trying to dress, and all I can feel is heat – lust – coming from you over here.  It's exceedingly distracting."

She blushed again, and gave him a sheepish look.  "I am sorry.  I guess I should try to learn how to shut myself off from the bond.  I know you can do it – so I should probably be able to do it too."

He looked at her aghast.  "Why would you want to do that?"

Rolling her eyes, she told him.  "First of all, I feel that we're on a bit of uneven footing since you can do it, and secondly, there are times that I simply don't want you to know not only what I'm thinking – which I now can block, but also what I'm feeling."  He looked a bit hurt, so she continued.   "Hey, you know I love you – but its only fair that I can keep some things to myself!"

"Fair enough."  He said resignedly.  "I'll try to show you how I do it - later."  He kissed her again briefly and went back to finish dressing.

She continued to watch him as bit by bit he donned the persona of Kylo Ren.  Sighing, she didn't think she'd ever get used to it.  The last garment he put on was his cloak, which caused her to ask.   "Ben, why do you wear the cloak when you're on the ship?"

He had just finished clipping his saber to his belt when he flicked his gaze to her, and shrugged.  "Its part of the uniform."

Wrapping the sheet around herself, she got up and wandered over to him, looking up into his eyes.  "Yes, but, while you're on the ship?"

Looking away briefly, he told her.   "I don't always wear it on board."  He sounded hesitant.  "But I've been away for awhile, and...the cloak...it..."

"Makes you seem more intimidating?"  She finished for him, and he looked back at her, nodding.  Lifting her hand to stroke his cheek, she told him.  "You don't need it Ben."  She took a breath.  "I know it makes you feel more comfortable, and if you really think you need to wear it today I won't harass you about it.  But, maybe, consider leaving it behind?"

His eyes continued to look deeply into hers, and she could feel the uncertainty flowing off of him.  "You're right that you've been away, for like, what, a week?  Maybe it's a good thing that they start to see you – their leader - as more of a man – rather than some scary Force wielding being like Snoke.  They know you almost died... I'm sure that's changed how they see you.  But its up to you."

He took a deep breath, still considering.  She could see something flicker in his eyes, before he leaned his shoulder down to her.  "Here, help me take it off."

She smiled softly at him.   "Only if you're sure."

He nodded.  "Yes.  You're right.  Its part of moving the First Order forward."  She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss, and unclipped the cloak from his shoulders.  Taking it from her he hung it back in the closet.

He turned back to her, hesitating.  It was still relatively early, but he needed to leave, as he had many meetings scheduled throughout the day.   He hated to leave her alone, and probably bored, since she was unlikely to venture out on her own.  He knew that any day now she'd have to go back, and he wanted to prolong her stay as much as possible.  The thought of her leaving made his throat close up and his chest to tighten.  How did he get so dependent on her company so quickly?  There was nothing he could do.  He always knew that she would go back.  He took a deep breath, trying to loosen the tightness in his chest.  "I'm sorry Sweetheart, but I need to go.... Will you be okay here today?"

"Of course.  Don't worry about me.   I'm actually having lunch with Amala – General Avanti.  She sent me a message on the holopad you gave me."

His expression flickered briefly to uncertainty, and Rey smirked at him before he caught himself.   "That's Good.   I'll have Lt.Tiga escort you."

"Ben - that won't be necessary.  I'll be fine.  And I'm sure Lt.Tiga has much better things to do than to escort me around the ship."

"No."  He shook his head.   "Tiga will be pleased to do it.  He seems to like you.  And it's an honor for him to be asked."  Pausing, he told her.  "Rey, while most people here seem to like you, there may be some who..."  He let that thought trail off.

Rey realized that he was right, and it probably wasn't exactly prudent for her to be wandering around a First Order ship alone.  "Okay.  That makes sense."  She gave him an eager smile. "Since Tiga will already be engaged, do you think it would be okay if he gave me a tour of the ship?"

He shrugged.  "I don't see why not."  Leaning down, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her thoroughly.  "Now, I really have to go.  I'll see you later."  She nodded and kissed him again, just as thoroughly.  Growling, he set her away from him, turned on his heel, and left, leaving a snickering Rey to watch him depart.  That'll give him a reason to hurry back tonight.