Kylo stood in the main conference room on the Finalizer, overlooking the marshalling bay, watching several hundred troops prepare to depart.  His lips thinned into a line.  Another day, another invasion.  Hux lives for this he thought.  Their purpose?  Total galactic domination.

He sighed, deep in thought.   Is that what he really wanted?  When they achieved that, then what?  Keep fighting annoying little skirmishes with the Resistance, or some other similar ad-hoc organization who decided to rise against the First Order?  Against the domination?  He let out a long exhale. There had to be more.

As he continued watching, an idea he'd had for awhile began to take form.  Could he do it?  he thought.   It would take time, and buy in from many others.  He wondered what Rey would think about it.

He thought back to their most recent connections and felt warmth spread throughout his body, starting in his chest.  Taking a deep breath he admitted to himself how badly he had wanted – needed - to see and connect with her again.  He'd buried that desire under a mountain of anger and resentment to keep the thoughts of her at bay.  However, that was now disappearing, and their conversations were becoming real again – like they were before....

He couldn't explain it.  After Crait, he had been so angry with her.  Because of his vision, he had expected her to join him, and when she refused to do so, he was....crushed.  Maybe his expectations had been too high, but they were so alike, in so many ways.  He'd never been good at telling people how he felt – usually he didn't want them to know – after all its why he used to wear the mask – and often wished he still had it.  But after they had fought the Praetorian guard there were such intense feelings flowing through him – all for her.  And when he had extended his hand to her, in his mind he could see everything he wanted - everything they could be together, but then he opened his mouth and uttered the wrong things, completely screwing it up.  Thinking back to some of the things his grandfather had said, maybe this really was his second chance to get it right.

Next time he saw her he vowed he would tell her about his ideas.

**

It was a week later, and Rey was just finishing up breakfast with her friends in the canteen.  Poe was beside her, his arm thrown over the back of her chair, as he regaled the small group with one of his amusing tales from their most recent mission to pick up some donated supplies from Bespin.  Rey had gotten to meet the infamous Lando Calrissian, who was even more of a charmer and flirt than Poe – and that was saying a lot.  He taught Rey to play, and cheat at, Sabacc.  By the end of the evening, she had been able to out-cheat both Lando and Poe.  As they all laughed over the story, Poe put his hand on the top of her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.  It was at this moment Rey realized that Ben was standing behind one of the tables, staring daggers at her.  Her heart stopped for a second before she quickly excused herself and started walking back to her room.  Ben turned and followed.

The others exchanged uneasy glances as she walked away, unsure of what caused her sudden need to leave.  Finn looked over at Poe, who was still staring after Rey's departing form.  He liked Poe, but it was obvious to anyone – except Rey – that he had a thing for her.  It would be great if the two of them could get together, but somehow, he didn't think that Poe was the right guy for Rey.  But he couldn't blame a guy for trying.

Kylo followed behind Rey, trying to control his emotions. The filthy pilot had his hands on her! She was supposed to be his dammit!  The Force had given her to him!  He clenched his fists, breathing deeply, hoping to expel the knot of anger from his chest.

Rey walked back to her quarters with Ben following not far behind.   A spark of anger flitted to her through the bond before it disappeared suddenly.  She held the door open for him once they got there.  Upon entering her room, he looked around briefly, saying nothing.  Turning away she dropped her pack in the corner.  When she turned back around he was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at the floor.  Hmmm.  Its usually never good when he can't meet her eyes. She could sense he was annoyed at something.

"You were with the pilot."  He said, his voice neutral, but Rey thought she could detect a hint of anger.

"I was with my friends.  That includes Poe."  She told him, not sure where he was going with this. "Wait – you could see Poe?"

Nodding, he told her  "At first I could only see you, and some of your surroundings.  But then he touched you somehow and suddenly I could see him too."  His voice sounded strained.   He was silent for a minute, before he looked up, his eyes boring into her.  "Is it normal for your friends to touch you, and put their arms around you?"

Rey's breath caught in her throat.  Was he jealous?  Of Poe?  She burst out laughing. "Yes, actually, its very common!"  Her face was alight with laughter.

Kylo was taken aback by her reaction, feeling foolish.  Looking back down at the floor, he grumbled.  "Didn't look that way."

A flash of annoyance flitted through her.   "My friends here are my new family.  They're all I have, so if we seem close its because we are."  She crossed her arms and waited, but was met with continued silence.

Not wanting to make him feel bad, she told him softly  "Poe is just a friend, nothing more.  He's impossible, and flirts with every female on the base."  It was a beautiful, sunny day, he was here, and they were actually talking, so she decided to try to keep it light.  However, she couldn't deny that his obvious jealousy gave her a warm feeling in her belly.

"Why don't we start over for today?  Hmm?  So, hello."  She simply said, smiling softly, happy to be really talking to him again.  That seemed to momentarily snap him out of his trance.

He looked up briefly, nodded and said "Hello",  then looked back down at the floor once again. This was followed by a long silence, and he appeared to be lost in his own thoughts.  As usual, he was completely still, but Rey sensed that he was trying to decide something, and was likely arguing with himself.

Ok, she thought, heavy it is, I guess. She sighed, then walked over and sat down next to him on the bed.  She turned to look at him and waited – something was obviously on his mind.  It didn't take long before he spoke.

"I was thinking, that perhaps, the role of the First Order should be different going forward."  He sat up straight and slowly turned to look at her.  Noticing her surprised expression, his eyebrow quirked up at her.

"Whaaat?"  she gasped "What exactly do you mean?"  Unsure of why he would even tell her this.

"I've had a lot of time to think....about things.... over the past few months."  His eyes flicked back up to her and then down at the floor once again.  She never would have guessed what he was about to say.

"Snoke's rule was one of fear and death."  He said quietly.  "I think....that maybe....I want to change that."

Rey was completely taken aback at his words. "Don't get me wrong – I'm not disagreeing with you... but, why?  I thought you wanted to be 'Supreme Leader of the First Order, ruler of total galactic domination'"  she parroted this last bit in a mocking tone.

He narrowed his gaze and frowned at her. "I do.  But," he stuttered  "I'm rethinking the total galactic domination part."

She just continued looking at him with wide, surprised eyes. "Really??"

"Yes.  I mean, what's the point?  We keep adding more and more planets and systems to our rule, but eventually, someone else will want that power, and if I let my guard down for one minute, they'll kill me and take it for themselves."  He said.

"I know the circumstances were a bit different, but.... Kind of like what you did to Snoke?"  she asked gently.

Thinking about it briefly, he nodded.  "Yes.  I probably would have killed him eventually, but.... that day...that was for you."  he swallowed thickly, his gaze flicking up to her.

"I've never gotten to thank you for that."  She told him softly, letting her emotions show in her eyes.

He swallowed again, throat tight, and simply nodded at her somberly.  It took him a minute before he cleared his throat and began speaking again.  "Of course, we have to deal with all sorts of groups like the Resistance, or others that don't like being ruled, even though sometimes its for their own good!"  he said this last part on a growl.

It was Rey's turn to narrow her eyes at him.  He just shrugged and continued.  "You have no idea what we deal with on some of the planets."

She continued to frown at him, then decided that now was not the time to get into an argument with him over the Resistance and what they stand for.  Trying to change the subject, she began. "Sooooo...what brought on this -"  she was cut off by a knock at the door.

"Rey?  Rey are you in there?  Its Poe."

"Shit."  She muttered quietly, looking over at Ben.

"The pilot again."  His voice was toneless, and his face was once again completely impassive.

Rey sighed as she walked over to the door, speaking through it.

"Hey Poe, yes I'm in here.  What's up?"

She could hear him shuffling on the other side of the door.  "Uh, I just wanted to check on you." he paused  "You left breakfast very suddenly.   Are you okay?"  he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"That's very sweet Poe, but I'm fine.  I just wasn't feeling well for a minute – but its passed now. Thank you for checking on me."  She told him through the door.

"Are you sure? Can you open up?"  he asked, sounding like he didn't believe her.

Quietly growling in frustration she told him. "Sorry, I'm not decent right now.  Let me get dressed and I'll meet you at the hanger in 15 minutes, okay?"

"Oh, okay.  I'll see you there."

Letting out a long exhale, she turned back to Ben, but the room was empty.   The bond had ended, and he was gone.

She walked back over to her bed and plopped down on it, replaying their conversation in her mind.  He was rethinking the total galactic domination part?  Her heart was pounding heavily in her chest. What exactly did that mean?   Did that mean he was going to stop killing and torturing?  Was he going to stop hunting the Resistance?  She certainly hoped so.....

A feeling of excitement bloomed in her chest, and a smile appeared on her face.  She couldn't wait to see him again.