Rey and Kylo get a chance to actually talk and decide what they're going to do with this connection. A Heart to heart scenario with whole lot of hope. (Next Chapter possibility: smut)

His fingertips brush against her skin, impossibly close yet barely applying any pressure.

Rey's breath leaves her lungs and she's frozen, unable to move, think, even blink. And while all she is aware of is his skin against her own, her eyes stayed trained on his. She can feel his touch, but can't bear to look at it. Looking at it might…ruin…whatever this is. But shouldn't she want that? To end this madness? This unexplainable and completely wrong connection they have?

"Rey," Her name floats from between his lips, so low she isn't sure if he actually said it.

Their hands remain mid air, neither sure what to do beyond this moment.

Rey didn't think it would feel like this.

She hated this man. At least, she use to hate him. But then this connection started and things weren't so black or white anymore. They were closer, damn it all, and Rey's resentment towards him was waning everyday. And now this. She didn't think it would feel like this. Touching him. The connection between their minds was overwhelming as is, but to now connect to him physically?

And they were only doing it by fingertip.

The bond between them burned ferociously, hot and tangible and strong enough to suffocate. It was too much. Rey had never felt something so-so consuming in her whole life.

Kylo must have saw-or felt-the fear crawling up her spine because his hand splayed out and grasped her own before she could pull away.

More skin. More contact. More fire.

"Don't" He begged.

Begged. Kylo Ren begging.

"What is this?" Rey asked, already knowing he had no answer to give.

Kylo's eyes shifted down to their hands, transfixed at the sight of them. When was the last time he had touched someone? Really touched them? Not to inflict pain or terror either. Rey's question came to the forefront of her mind, and she felt Kylo consider it.

"I don't know." He said softly into the silence of the hut. "I can't…." His words died suddenly on his lips. Then the memory played in his head and Rey saw it as clear as day. She didn't even need him to remember. She was there.

The lightsaber, red and angry, being pulled out of Han Solo's body. His whole figure swaying, the last bits of life draining from it. And right before the fall, as Rey tears fall and fall and fall, she sees the man who she grew so quickly attached to lift his hand up. Han cups his son's cheek before he dies and Rey couldn't fathom such a thing.

But now she's not high above the scene-the murder. Now she's standing right before Han, in the oppressing figure of Kylo Ren. Up close, the way Han's skin pales is more sickening, the darkening of his eyes more horrific, and Rey's heart is breaking all over again. But her feelings get pushed to the side for the moment. Now, she is getting a firsthand account of what was going on in Kylo's head.

Rey remembers Kylo barely reacting to kill his father. His face only contorted with emotion when Chewie had shot him with the bowcaster. But she's feeling everything but indifference. Kylo's heart is in turmoil. There is the desire to be satisfied, to be at peace-even triumphant-over what he's done. But there is guilt. Oh, so much guilt. Pain, anger, confusion. And the waves of self loathing makes Rey gasp outloud.

Then Han's palm presses against Kylo's cheek and everything goes silent. For a brief moment, the madness within falls away and Rey feel's want-so strong and pure-burst inside. Kylo wants it to be this easy, to be a son loved by his father, to be a son who does not hate his father, to be anyone but him. Kylo Ren. Rey feels, without any shadow of a doubt, the want to be Ben Solo.

And then Han falls and everything comes crashing back.

They're back in the hut and Rey isn't sure what to say or think.

"That's the last time." Kylo says. "Before that, I can't remember."

Somehow, Rey was now the one squeezing his hand. Compassion is flowing out of her, without any thought to reason. "It doesn't have to be like this." She says insistently. "I feel it, inside of you. The conflict. Ben,"

His true name feels odd but not wrong on her tongue and the way his eyes darken makes her believe he feels the same.

"I see it," As she says the words, the images flit through her mind. Ben, not Kylo Ren, by her side, forsaking the darkness, turning to the light. The pictures are quick, but strong, and Rey sends them through the bond so he can see just as well as she does. "Ben, you'll turn."

"I see things too," He replies and then she is the one on the receiving end of the bond. The images are similar but different, Rey next to Ben, the two of them in the heat of battle with lightsabers in hand. They look regal. They look vicious. They look untouchable. "Perhaps you're the one who will turn."

Rey is leaning forward, pulling him closer as she does. Ben lets her, helpless to the vortex that is them. Rey is just as powerless.

"You know it's wrong. Snoke, the First Order, all of it. Ben, let me help you."

Something of a gasp or sigh escapes him at her words. She feels the doubt clouding his judgment, that what she is offering is too good to be true. Or worse, a straight out lie. She feels him recall his mother, father, and uncle. People meant to love him who ultimately failed him.

"It won't be like that," Rey assures. "I'm not them."

Ben shrinks slightly. "I'm a monster, remember."

"No one is beyond saving."

Rey is tugged forward and then she and Ben are face to face, nothing but the width of a breath separating them. She can count his moles and can see his own eyes scanning the planes of her face. "You mean it," He says slowly and in awe. "You really…mean it."

Their bond is buzzing with electricity. So many emotions. So many possibilities. It's tugging at them, begging for them to be closer, to be one. It's right there. All they have to do is reach out and grasp it.

"Ben…"

"Let go," Ben demands. "I feel it in you. This need for your family. For answers. It's holding you back. Our visions will never become true if you hold onto them."

If his hang-ups are open to discussion, it's only fair hers are as well.

"You already know, don't you?" Ben tilts his head to the side. "About your parents."

Rey doesn't answer him. She can't. Saying it out loud makes it real. Makes the pain even worse.

"Say it."

"I can't-"

"Say it, Rey."

"They're no one," She blurts out, her heart hurtling to the floor as she does. Now there was no hiding. No more denial. No more hope. Her body trembles and she feels his hand shake along with it. "They were…no one."

"They were filthy junk traders who sold you off for drinking money. They're dead, in a paupers' grave in the Jakku desert."

Tears spring to Rey's eyes.

"You come from nothing. You're no one. But not to me."

He means it. The words are harsh, even cruel, but there is honesty behind them.

"Rey"

She meets his gaze and wills herself to be stronger. She is stronger than this. This-she won't let this break her. She can't.

"You won't," He intones.

"What do we do?" Rey asks, eyeing the dark hut. She was here and he was…who knew. And Luke was outside. The Resistance was waiting on her. The First Order was waiting on him. The world, it seemed, was holding bated breaths for what they would do.

What they could do.

"Come to me," Ben says softly. This new (hidden?) side of him; gentle, low, and warm, still makes Rey a bit dizzy. Confused, but in a good way. In a way that she can't wait to learn more. "We can figure it out then."

"But Snoke…"

She doesn't voice her suspicions because it would seem unfair to, but Rey can't possibly hide her feelings. That this could be a trap echoes through her mind and into his and makes their bond shake with uncertainty. Ben, however, doesn't seem offended by it. He smiles almost indulgently, and his thumb strokes the back of her hand. "I won't give you to him."

"I'm sure he'll be fine with that sentiment."

"Trust me."

"Another tall order."

"Rey, look, am I trying to lie to you?"

From what she sees, and more importantly feels, no-Ben is not trying to sell her some pretty lines. He is oozing with sincerity and-even more tantalizing-hope. She sees because he doesn't try to hide. Ben hopes of so much from this exchange. For another chance. For her. For what they could be together.

It scares Rey but stirs something in her as well.

"Besides, haven't you wasted enough time wherever the hell this is?"

It only now occurs to Rey that Ben can finally see where she is since they are now physically touching. She turns the tables, just to test it, and is suddenly in his room. Plain, unassuming, devoid of anything personal or with a flair of personality. She doesn't like the idea of being in this First order ship, even if it is his room, and switches their attention back to her hut. Her head is in enough of a daze, it would help to have at least familiar ground. Ben doesn't seem to mind. He isn't even try to take advantage of finally being able to see where she is. No work or thought to Skywalker at all.

But as Rey thinks of the old Master, so does Ben.

"He's not important…right now."

"Ben-" Rey says warningly because it didn't matter if they talked about Luke now or later. She would never indulge his desire to destroy his Uncle. Even with the sins Luke had committed against him.

"Just come, please. I'm not asking to come to you so I can actually face him, am I?"

He does have a point.

"Fine, I'll come." Rey sighs and shoulders off the blanket from her now dry body. It's raining outside, so she's only going to get wet all over again. When a particular loud sound of thunder booms, Rey prays that isn't some sign.

Elation and anticipation makes the bond hum as Ben watches her rise.

"Well, I suppose I'll see you soon."