Kylo Ren felt a low, throbbing pain in his abdomen. It paled in comparison to the heat he felt along the entire length of his body, almost as if he was cocooned in the warm glow of sunlight. In his mind Kylo felt the most extraordinary sensation; peace, which seemed to be manifested into his being and keeping him suspended in a sort of wondrous animation.

Opening his eyes, Kylo turned his head slighty to the side, taking in the vision before him. No, not a vision. It was Rey, resting sweetly next to him, her body pressed flush against him. Kylo stared at her, a bit befuddled, heat rising up his neck and into his cheeks the longer he gazed at her. She looked content, laying next to him as if she was right where she wanted to be.

Was he really here with her? Face contorting in pain, Ren moved the arm Rey wasn't holding, reaching out to brush a piece of hair from Rey's face. At the feel of her skin on his fingertips, Ren felt his face shifting to a sort of awed expression.

Had this peace come from Rey? From them being together without ulterior motives or a threat nearby? Would it always be like this? Could it be?

Taking in the blood dried on her clothing, hands and face, it was easy to deduce that Rey hadn't left his side since his arrival to the island. In fact, Kylo didn't even remember landing the shuttle, which meant he didn't land it. He had probably crashed, making him even more surprised to be relatively unharmed from such an ordeal. Looking over at Rey, Kylo knew he had her to thank for his life. How could he repay her for all she had done for him? The only thing Kylo could think of was staying with her, keeping her from being alone again. Not that he assumed he was a good partner to have in life, but he knew her on a level no one else ever would, as Rey knew him.

Gentling separating himself from Rey's grasp, Kylo sat up with a low grunt, grimacing at the feel of his skin tightening around his mid section as he stood up, stretching to his full height. Taking a hesitant step forward, Kylo took stock of his damage. Abdomen was recently healed, the skin red and angry but no longer bleeding. It appeared some archaic form of stitches covered the wound, piecing it together. Bruises littered his chest, no doubt from the crash, but otherwise he was delightfully whole.

Grabbing his cloak, Ren put it on, securing the front to conceal his massive chest as he exited the tiny hut and took in his surroundings. Rock huts covered the flat patch of land, creatures in white gowns and veils rushing around to complete the days chores. Considering he was Kylo Ren, he expected some sort of fear to be shown on the many faces near him. Instead Kylo found himself being ushered away by a gruff hand. Looking down, Kylo nearly cracked a smile at the little woman who came up to his waist, glaring at him as she pushed him out of the way of her cart, proceeding past with her laundry when he was finally standing away from the small dirt path.

"Not the friendliest lot, are they?" Rey asked from behind him. Ren felt his back straighten, wincing slightly as the wound protested the movement. Coming around his profile, Rey looked up at him, the light from the sun reflecting in her eyes, making the hazel shine at him almost like autumn leaves. "How are you feeling?" For some reason her question threw him off guard, probably because he was used to others not caring for his wellbeing. Knowing she felt differently, that she actually, genuinely cared for him... It made Ren feel as if his world was finally beginning to make sense. Unsure of how to proceed, Ren lacked a certain tact when responding.

"Like I was in a crash."

"You were…" Rey seemed flustered before shaking her head and looking back up to him. "Ben. Here, come see for yourself." With that, Rey led Kylo Ren away from the hut and around the island until he could make out the charred remains of his shuttle. A grim sense of satisfaction filled Kylo with the knowledge that now Hux would never be in his precious vessel again. "You nearly died, Ben. What were you thinking?" Rey questioned vehemently, scowling at him before turning from the wreckage and meandering back up the mountainside.

"I clearly wasn't thinking as I was unconscious," He grumbled, walking briskly behind her until he grabbed her arm, turning her to him. Noting the tears in her eyes, his expression softened, as did the hand that was holding her arm. "Rey, I'm alright. You saved me." Unsure of himself and this strong need to provide comfort, Ren found himself rubbing his thumb up and down her arm, vaguely wondering where his gloves had gone.

"I almost didn't. When I found you I thought you were dead. You were so cold. Blood was everywhere. I don't know what I would have done… Actually that's not true. I know what I would have done if you'd been killed." Rey's expression darkened and she looked away, prompting Kylo to cup her chin, gently pulling her face back to him. He waited patiently for her to look at him once more. When she finally did, Kylo felt her rage and despair waft around him, nearly choking him in its intensity. "I would have hunted them all down and slaughtered them."

"Rey." Kylo felt her rage through their bond and he took the emotions into himself, sorted them as he was taught from a young age, and let them fall away like a passing breeze. "This pain and anger you're feeling, it isn't you. Focus on your true emotions and face it. That's the only way you'll overcome this."

Rey gasped, choking on a sob. "What if I'd lost you? Ben, you're the only thing in this galaxy that makes sense to me, that's mine. I've never had anything before and what if you'd died? What if I'd been alone again? I can't handle that, I can't. Do you understand?" Gathering her in his arms, Ren felt his heart melting, a warmth encompassing him in the form of Ben Solo.

"You didn't lose me. I'm right here, sweetheart. Even if something did happen, and I did leave this world, always know that I'm with you and I'll always be with you if you'll have me."

"What are you saying, Ben?" Rey's voice hitched as Ben cupped her face, gazing down intently into her eyes.

"I'm saying I will love you for the rest of my days if you'll let me. I can't promise that I'll ever be the Ben Solo you think me to be, but I'm tired of fighting the light I feel within if it means you'll love me too. I'm tired of fighting with you when I know that we belong to each other." Saying the words outlaid, tasting them on his tongue, Ben knew he meant every word. Life since the throne room, since they had separated, had meant little to nothing. He'd found himself irrevocably changed in the matter of moments, strung together with Rey and held on tight with the Force bond that he once considered a blight on his conscious. Finally having someone that was his, that he belonged to, it gave Ben a sense of purpose. A sense of longing and completeness he hadn't known before.

"I don't care how you come to me, only that you do. The First Order, the Resistance, none of it matters to me as much as you do. It took leaving you behind to realize that. But Ben, I can't promise that I won't want to help my friends restore peace and order the galaxy. I know deep down that's what you want to, I just don't know if we can reconcile our differences on this to fight for one cause and to see this through." Ben shook his head, breaking away from their embrace momentarily to sift a large hand through his hair, ignoring the pain in his abdomen as he began to pace back and forth down a dirt path.

"Hux leading the First Order will only throw more chaos and despair into the galaxy. No one wants that, not even me. We'll take it one step at a time as long as we do it together." Rey was quick to stop his pacing, bringing her hands around his neck and pulling him into her embrace.

Standing on her tiptoes, Rey delivered a quick kiss to Ben's lips, nearly startling him before he realized what happened, a small smile pulling at his lips. "Does that mean you love me too, Rey?"

Rey rolled her eyes, smiling happily. "Just shut up and kiss me, Solo."

Ben happily obliged.

For two weeks Rey and Ben healed together on Ahch-To, both in body and in mind. Without the war looming dangerously over their heads, the two enemies became lovers and allies, basking in the warm glow of love in a world filled with despair. The wound healed completely on Ben's abdomen, which left ample opportunity for Rey and Ben to train with the Force, among other far more pleasant things.

True to his word, Ben let the light side pull him further into its embrace, although he didn't completely relinquish his hold on the dark side, feeling a certain sense of rightness as the two sides merged within him as one. He felt stronger, more honed with both sides filling him. He felt balanced and more sure of himself and his skill than he had ever before.

Rey, ever the learner, was meditating next to Ben, the feeling reminiscent of her time training with Luke Skywalker in this very room, the emblem of the Force along a crack in the floor. Eyes shut, Rey inhaled, taking in the Force in its entirety into her being, feeling both the light and the dark culminating within her, the light side's grip still strong within her, just more centered amongst the dark. Upon her exhale, Rey felt the excess dark recede, almost as if she were releasing the parts that were unnecessary for her to bond with.

Rey and Ben had discussed it, and among reading some of the Jedi texts, had found several mentions of true balance among the Force, practicing both the light and the dark sides to truly inhabit their bodies to become one with the Force. Rey had been hesitant at first, worried that the darkness within her would take hold and manifest itself to be stronger than her light side. However, the truth was vastly different, the light and dark resting peacefully within her, almost as peacefully than her and Ben had been together the past few weeks.

Rey nearly smirked, but managed to keep her face blank while she came out of her meditation. Who knew that Kylo Ren and Ben Solo could be so similar in nature? He was kind hearted with her, but almost always annoyed with any other creature within the vicinity, almost as if he couldn't bear for anything to come between them. Rey might have found herself worried about such behavior, but honestly, she was happy he felt so protective of their bond. It didn't make her as crazy to think she was just as possessive of him as he was of her.

Perhaps it wasn't the best trait to have in a relationship? Rey didn't know as she'd never been in one, neither had Ben. It would be something they would experience and grow from together though, of that she was certain.

Precious minutes later Rey's eyes opened, fixating on Ben's form in front of her, his eyes slowly opening as well. His small smile causing an equal smile to appear on Rey's face as she stood and crossed over to him, plopping herself ungracefully into Ben's lap.

His slight 'oomph' was all Rey needed before she clasped her hands behind his neck and gave him a deep kiss, pressing her body into his. Ben wrapped on arm around her waist and the other gripped the back of her neck, pulling her tightly into him, almost as if he could bring her into his body like he could with the Force. Rey moaned at the contact, moving her legs hurriedly to straddle his lap, feeling as if they had no time. Her sense of urgency mirrored Ben's own, their tongues dueling, hips moving in sync, the low thrum of pleasure echoing across their minds.

Before Ben could do more than tug at her clothes, his movements stilled. Sensing something, he turned from her kiss, his breath panting along her cheek. "Someone's coming. Do you feel it?"

Rey stopped her groping, eyes rounding as she looked up at the ceiling as if she could see the sky above them. "It's Chewy!" Jumping up, Rey winced in sympathy as she kneed Ben's groin region, issuing a quick apology before she rushed towards the entrance of the cave. Turning, Rey ran back toward Ben, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet. When Ben stood but failed to follow her out, Rey paused and really looked at him. His shoulders were slightly hunched, head ducked down, almost as if he were worried. Despite his age, his posture reminded Rey of a teenager about to endure a scolding.

"Ben, don't be nervous. It'll be okay. Chewy will be happy to see you." Her voice was low, her gentle tone helping to dislodge the ache in the pit of Ben's stomach.

"It's not just Chewy I'm worried about, but the others he's brought with him." Ben nearly growled, feeling threatened that his time with Rey was about to change. Sensing his issue, Rey smiled before grabbing him in a fierce hug. His arms locked around her waist protectively, his larger framer bending into her, almost as if he could attach himself to her.

"You know you mean more to me than anything. These are my friends, Ben. They'll be yours too, if you let them." She felt herself mostly sure, anyway. Thinking back on their reactions when last she spoke, Rey felt a brief moment of hesitation. Had it really only been 2 to 3 weeks ago? It seemed ages had passed since she departed the Resistance and created something new with Ben. Rey ran her hands up and down his back in a soothing gesture, hoping her friends wouldn't come for her unless they were willing to accept Kylo Ren as well.

She hoped.

"Lets not forget I tortured and nearly killed your friends," Ben muttered, wrapping his arms more closely around Rey and lowering his head to her neck, inhaling her scent as he buried his head into her shoulder.

"Wallowing in self-pity is a Kylo Ren move. Trust me, please?"

"You know I trust you, sweetheart."

"Then let's go. It's time to start making amends and building bridges. As much as I've loved our time here, I want to explore the galaxy with you. Every new experience I have, I want to share it with you. There's a life out there waiting for us, I believe that."

Ben kissed Rey's neck softly before standing tall and grabbing her hand in his. "I want that too."

"Then we start here. Let me share my friends with you. Not rebel scum, not the enemy, but my friends."

With a deep sigh, Ben nodded his head, allowing this slip of a woman to lead him out by the hand and into the unknown.