Chapter 125: From One Spark To The Horizon Wide

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Rey's heart beat heavily in her chest as she manned the boarding ramp of the Falcon. She had just seen the last of the resistance survivors onto the ship and was reaching for the button to close the ramp when she felt it - the now familiar tremor in the force, the tugging sensation that preceded the connection to him. This is a dream.

He was crouched down, his cape settled in a pool on the ground around him as he stared up at her, as if in supplication. She found it hard to reconcile this man to the one who had just attempted to wipe out the Resistance, her friends, his own mother... the man who had ordered the Falcon shot down with she and Chewie in it.

But that was who he was, who he had chosen to be. This is a dream.

There were no words of hers that could change him; she didn't think she could hate him now, not after he took Snoke's life instead of her own, not after their previous connections, and despite his most recent actions, she refused to believe that Snoke had been as instrumental in their contact as he claimed.

She had laid her cards on the table, as had he. They were on opposing sides of a war. She had to let the idea of saving him go. There were people on the Falcon that needed her now, and if she tarried any longer it may be the death of them all.

She pushed the button, keeping her expression even, right up until it shut him out and cut the connection. This is a dream.

The encounter left her raw, as if she wasn't already by the loss of Luke, and so many others.

It was a relief when the Falcon lurched into the sky and she went to help the survivors settle in. Where they would go now and what they would do, she had no idea, but she knew she had made the right decision in leaving Ben, no matter how much it hurt her.

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Kylo found himself in an underground cavern of colossal proportions, it had clearly been some sort of mine in the past, but the equipment inside it looked like it hadn't been used in a long time. Rather than explore further, he felt a tug pulling him into the control room. He flicked his fingers so his stormtroopers didn't follow him, two turning to guard the doorway as the rest searched for the remaining resistance. This is a dream.

The room was empty, the dust barely disturbed by the resistance's brief occupation, but something caught his eye on the floor. That was what had called to him.

He knelt, gloved fingers closing around golden dice linked by chain, the sort used for luck by pilots all over the galaxy, yet he knew these ones intimately.

First Luke, now this, it was as if the Force was mocking him. This is a dream.

Then, to add insult to injury, he felt the unmistakable pull of the forcebond. He schooled his face as much as was possible, as he looked up to where Rey was now standing.

There was still blood on her shoulder from their fight in the throne room, she was breathing deeply, as if she had just been running. Apparently she was as good at running as she was at waiting, she had run from him, left him there in the throne room, unconscious and vulnerable.

Their connection only lasted a few seconds, just long enough for her to see him, and then to dismiss him. Somehow that hurt more than her hatred had. This is a dream.

He kept his face as still as he could as she disappeared, as she purposely severed their connection.

Leaving him alone once more.

The dice, his father's dice, faded too, and he did his best to forget.

It was time to let old things die.

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Rey spilled into the Inbetween and the darkness only seemed to amplify her sadness. While she was relieved that their mirror-selves were still alive, they clearly were back to being enemies, or at least, not what they had been. Their burgeoning familiarity had been cut off before it could bloom, and she couldn't help feeling afraid about what would happen next.

A light in the darkness ignited and she surged towards it, Kylo?

Rey, he sounded like she felt, subdued over what they had just seen, despite their defeat of Snoke in their reality.

They wrapped around each other, content to just exist together, as if attempting to make up for what their mirrors were missing.

After a while, being there made her remember how she had received her new weapon, By the way, I sort of met Yoda on my way to find you, but it wasn't in a dream or here, and he somehow gave me my sword.

How is that possible? Kylo sent incredulously and she imagined his mouth dropping open.

I have no idea, I think the Force guided me to this weird glade thing, and-

A vergence, it is called, young Rey, Yoda interrupted her, suddenly just there, Or nexus point. Yes, hmmm, a place where the force flows the most freely, a concentrated wellspring of energy, more easily harnessed by those sensitive to its power, it can be. Hmmmmmm. Glad I am to see you once again, young Solo. Made it through the fire, you both have, yes.

What of our mirrors? Do you know what will happen to them? Kylo asked, clearly troubled.

Hmmm, difficult, it is to see. Always in motion is the future, yes. But restored, here at least the balance is.

Thank you, for the sword, Rey sent, feeling ashamed that she hadn't said so before, I think it saved my life.

Herh herh herh, perhaps, young Rey, but make not the mistake of using a weapon before wisdom. Use the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack. Learn well, this lesson, for just begun, your journey has, your first steps, these are, yes, hmmm. Leave you, I must now. May the force be with you, younglings…

The strange presence faded as abruptly as it had appeared.

Do you think we'll see him or the mirror-reality again? Kylo sent, Or now that our Snoke is gone, do you think that will be it?

Rey tried to shrug then remembered she didn't have shoulders here, I don't know, but, well, their story hasn't really been resolved , has it?

I guess not… whatever happens, whatever the bloody weather is doing tonight, we are sleeping together. I don't think I'll be ready to let you go for a while.

Rey dissolved a little, melding more with Kylo's essence, Agreed. Come hell or high water… do you think we'll be allowed a day off school tomorrow? I feel like I need to sleep for a week. I thought the van was bad, but that was the longest twelve hours of my life.

Kylo tightened his hold on her, till she was cocooned within him, warm and safe, I'll talk to my mother, if she says no we can find a cupboard to hide in.

If we can find one you'll fit in, you bloody giant.

They remained in the darkness for a while, there were many things they needed to discuss, but both of them silently agreed that they could wait - this bubble of calm wouldn't last.

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Kylo was woken by his mother gently patting his cheek, he groaned and tried to shift away from her, but she was persistent and Rey's body nestled against him left him with not far to move.

"Come on, Ben, we're back at school. I know you're all tired but there is a meal waiting for you, in the teachers lounge so you don't have to worry about being mobbed by the other students."

Food did sound like a good idea, but moving did not and he tried to bat her hand away. Leia gave an impatient noise and he heard a car door opening before a large wet nose was shoving at his face. Chewie whined loudly and excitedly, the sound of his tail hitting the dashboard loud.

Rey jerked against him and abruptly sat up, a knife in her hand before her eyes were properly open.

"You'll need to give that to me, Rey," Leia said firmly.

Kylo hid a grin over the scowl that elicited, and sat up too, then followed Rey out of the car only to be knocked sideways by Chewie, who was extremely glad to see him.

"Gah! Chewie, quit it!

There was a giggle from Rey, which only served to make her a target too, though she wisely leaned against the falcon so she couldn't be knocked flying.

Eventually Han called him off and they arrived in the teachers lounge. Hux was already there, being examined by the same doctor that had seen him on Thursday. He looked pale and a little shell shocked, but was clearly alive and to Kylo's surprise, he was relieved. Without Hux, things would be very different, if he were honest, Rey would probably be dead. They weren't ever going to be friends, but he no longer wanted to kill Hux… much, anyway. He frowned at the way Hux's eyes had instantly gone to Rey, an odd expression on his pinched features, a softening.

"How are you feeling?" Rey asked as she crossed the room to him.

Hux's lips twisted slightly before his eyes darted to where the doctor was looking at his stomach, "I'll live… thank you for helping."

Rey snorted, "No, thank you, for, well, you know."

All three of them exchanged a loaded nod, before Kylo and Rey sat down to eat. As usual his mother had gone overboard with how much food there was, but he and Rey put a healthy dent in it, and once the doctor was done with him, Hux applied himself too.

You should show her your shoulder, he sent as he watched the doctor speak with Leia as she packed up her things.

With a shrug, Rey sent, I'm fine. I'll clean it later.

With a roll of his eyes, he interrupted the conversation, "Rey, um, hurt her shoulder, I think she has some other cuts as well."

If looks could kill, he'd be dead and buried, too, with the way she glared at him as Leia started fussing. Traitor!

Blood poisoning is no joke, love.

Her death stare eased a little as Leia and the doctor led her to another room for privacy and he and Hux were joined by Luke.

With a weary sigh, his uncle sat down on the sofa with Kylo, "It's only been a week, perhaps we can make this the last time you runaway from school?" he asked mildly as he helped himself to a chocolate trifle, "And definitely the last time you steal a vehicle."

Kylo didn't dignify that with an answer and neither did Hux.

"And I very much want to know where you got the guns and especially those swords." He paused to chew and sighed happily, "Han usually steals these and I get left with doughnuts."

With that in mind, Kylo grabbed a trifle for he and Rey each because he heard the sound of wolfhound claws on tile and knew Chewie was incoming.

"Can we talk about this another time? When we're done here I want to go and check in with the Knights."

"They'll be fine with waiting a little longer," Han responded, as he followed Chewie in and went straight to the table of food, "Get out of it Chew, you know you're not allowed."

There was an indignant huff and the huge animal came to lovingly rest his heavy head on Kylo's knee, coincidently that was also where Kylo's plate was. He moved it just in time, but slipped Chewie some chicken skin to make up for it.

"You need to tell us what happened, Kylo," Luke said seriously.

Hux's eyes flashed a little, "All you need to know is that you need to advertise for a new head," he smirked, "Master."

Kylo gave Luke a meaningful look, hoping that his uncle would leave it alone for now, while Hux was still there to listen.

"Where's the trifle?" Han asked suspiciously, "I know Leia brought some in."

Luke's resulting grin was incredibly boyish, "Dough, or doughnut, there is no trifle." Then for some reason started to laugh.

Han snorted derisively, "How long have you been sitting on that one?"

"A while," Luke admitted, not looking ashamed at all.

Kylo had no idea what was going on.

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To Rey's surprise, Doctor Kalonia didn't ask any questions about what had caused her wounds or why some of them looked so much older than they were. It was handy, because Rey had absolutely no idea what she would have said to such questions. The dried blood was cleansed from her skin and the new scars were treated with bacta and covered in dressings and she was given painkillers and a course of antibiotics. As she thanked the doctor, she mentioned that Kylo had some wounds too, he hadn't been shot, but she knew she'd cut him and he'd had no healing at all. Plus he'd dropped her in it, so she was just returning the favour.

Kylo was not impressed and she didn't hide her smug smirk as he was led in by Leia and told to strip down to his boxers. Of course she'd heal him later, but it was a matter of principle.

It was strange, being back at school again, and this time, they'd gone without their friends and it occurred to her that some of them would see this as a betrayal, would be hurt that they'd been left behind, that she'd taken Hux but no one else with her. How she was going to justify that, she didn't know, they wouldn't really understand and she doubted anyone who hadn't been inside her head ever would. Hopefully she would be forgiven with time.

Leia suggested that their absence be explained as survival skills workshop, following on from the course last week. That was fine for the general student body, but their friends?

Still, it was over now, done, ended. No one was coming after her, she wasn't on anyone's hitlist, no one but her friends cared if she existed or not. They would go back to being just normal teenagers, well, normal-ish anyway, they still had a bond and the Force, but other than that? Normal.

Once they were debriefed by Leia and Luke, which took quite a while and was intensely uncomfortable, they were allowed to go back to their dorm.

They didn't make it though, they were mobbed by their friends as soon as they stepped outside. The girls were crying, Finn and Poe looked watery eyed and the Knights all bundled onto Kylo in a tight group embrace that looked painful. Everyone looked like hell and Rey's guilt intensified.

While they didn't give specifics, knowing that it was finally over, seemed to soak up some of their friends hurt - that they no longer had to fear for their friends safety and could be ordinary kids again went a long way to making things okay.

Of course they filled in the Operation Peanut Team later, they'd been to Tatooine, they deserved to know, but only the Knights knew Snoke was dead.

The Knights and Hux.

The rumour mill remained silent on Snoke's demise, so apparently Hux hadn't told anyone. It was merely announced that he had to suddenly step down due to health issues and would not be returning to school.

Leia was named interim Head until a replacement could be found, and the scruffy substitute from critical thinking class came back to cover Snoke's lessons.

It was clear to her now (and she didn't know how she had missed it before), without Snoke, the campus felt different, there had been a persistent nagging at her mind telling her something was wrong, but she had always excused it, or pushed it aside. Now, she felt safe, her shoulders looser, her reflexes no longer on alert.

That evening, when she said goodnight to a happy but still emotional Jess, Maritan and Kenjad and skipped across the roof to Kylo's room, despite the things that had happened, she felt lighter somehow.

It felt like a beginning.

The stars greeted her from a clear, rainless sky and she paused for a moment to turn her face up to them, bathing in their precious light as she silently thanked them for watching over her, even when the sky veiled her from their sight.

Life was good.

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There was a slight sound at Kylo's window and he watched as Rey dropped lightly down from the roof and lifted the window to slip inside.

She looked beautiful, her cheeks pink from the cold air and her eyes bright, she gave an awkward little wave to the Knights as she pulled off her boots and joined them on the floor.

Javiell crossed his arms and gave her a flat look and he felt guilt lance through the bond.

"Um," her eyes darted towards him and then back to Javiell, "I'm sorry about the whole knocking you out thing."

Javiell raised an eyebrow and the others frowned a little.

"I didn't have time to explain and if you'd come with us… well, you don't have our abilities and I didn't know what we'd be walking into."
"If there is a next time," Javiell rolled his shoulders, then leaned forwards, "Next time, you give me a choice."

"There won't be a next," Rey said quietly. It wasn't lost on them that she hadn't agreed.

"I, or rather we, want your word," Javiell insisted and the other Knights nodded.

Rey's expression went somewhat flat, "You would have slowed me down and been a distraction. I know you guys can handle yourselves, but in that situation you would have been dead weight."

Kylo winced.

"Maybe that's how you used to roll in Jakku, but we're a team," Ingalan said evenly, "You need to get used to it because if something like this does happen again, I promise you we will not let you down," he looked at Kylo, "Either of you."

"Deal with it," Leonmar added.

"You can't knock all of us out," Zainmar tacked on the end, somewhat smuggly.

With an arched eyebrow, Rey answered, "You sure about that?"

Zainmar gave her a sunny smile, "Pretty sure, not at the same time anyway."

The considering look on Rey's face had Kylo leaning forward to pull her against him, "No you don't, not tonight anyway." You've spent most of your life alone, love, maybe it's time you learn how to be a part of something, rather than apart.

Her fingers squeezed his painfully hard for a second and she cleared her throat, "Fine."

It was rather begrudging, but they took it, the Knights leaving shortly afterwards.

Almost as soon as the door shut Rey leaned away from him with a serious and oddly nervous expression. "There is something you need to know and you aren't going to like it."

Oh, light, what now? He had thought they were okay, he glanced anxiously towards the window but Rey's hand on his knee had him turning back.

"It's something that has happened already, nothing sinister," she swallowed then took a deep breath, "I got past the barrier in Hux's head by kissing him."

Suddenly his ears became very hot and he could almost hear the blood rushing in them, he blinked slowly as he looked at her anxious, guilty expression. "You kissed… Hux?"

"Yes."

Kylo blinked again and clenched his fists at his sides, "Why?"

She bit her lip before replying, "He told me that Boba had escaped and I needed to know if he was telling me the truth, because you hadn't… I don't know why I thought it would work, I just did and then it did work and I had bigger things to worry about."

"You kissed Hux. On purpose."

"Yes."

Her side of the bond was anguished but not regretful, it made sense, he supposed, after all if she hadn't, they may not have found out for a long time, Snoke may have done more to them than just mind-trick them, Rey was nothing if not pragmatic. Still is stung, well, burned more like. Mine, the beast muttered, caged once more, Ours, he reminded it.

He took a breath in, held it then let it out again, "Okay," he thought about Hux's expression from the break room and flexed his fists again, "Okay."

It was done. That was it.

Suddenly he felt the violent urge to erase any memory she had of kissing Hux, not with the Force, but with his own lips, he wanted her to forget what Hux had felt like, tasted like.

Surging forwards, he grabbed her, perhaps a little roughly, by the shoulders and crashed his lips down to hers, slipping his tongue past her lips as they opened in surprise.

He had been tired, weary and ready to cuddle down with Rey and get some sleep, but that was all forgotten in his need to remind her what they were to each other.

After her initial shock, Rey's hands wound around his neck as she climbed onto his lap, her mouth as hungry as his. You don't hate me?

Never, he growled as her fingers pulled his hair and she nipped at his bottom lip, sucking it into her mouth.

His hands slid under her t-shirt to stoke her skin, running his fingertips along her ribs as she shivered, I love you.

I know, she broke from his mouth to snort with laughter, eyes wide in the dim light and he took the opportunity to pull her t-shirt up and over her head and her hands went to undo his jeans.

They quickly divested each other of the rest of their clothing and tumbled into bed. He had planned on this being tender and worshipful, but apparently both of them needed this heated and urgent.

Rey's skin was hot, silky against his own, her slender legs wrapped around his waist as they kissed and he tipped her backwards until he was hovering over her. Her back arched as he pressed his rock hard cock between her legs and he let out a gravelly moan as he felt how wet she was…

"Fuck," he swore, "Hold on, I just need a, ah, need a condom."

She let out an adorably needy little whine but released him and he stumbled to his feet to ransack his drawers until he found one, taking a deep breath so his hands were steady as he rolled it on.

When he turned back around, Rey was lying on her side, the light of the moon through the window illuminating her made her ethereal and otherworldly. His cock throbbed and he hurried back to the bed, pressing her down again and pulling one of her legs over his hip as he lined himself up.

"You ready?" he whispered, gazing at her face as she stared up at him.

"Yessssss," the word turned into a hiss as he pressed inside her but she canted her hips when he paused and he carried on.

Little whimpers, pleasurable ones, fell from her perfect lips as he slid inside her and bottomed out.

It felt like coming home.

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Kylo shuddered slightly and groaned as he filled her up, her body was already clenching around him, her skin on fire, her nipples hard little buds which he spotted and mercilessly mouthed at as he started to move.

Rey rocked with him, angling her hips up to meet his, trying her best to be quiet, then trying not to cry as it hit her that she had almost lost him, she had almost lost him.

A sob escaped her before she could hide it, then another and she had to cover her face as her eyes overflowed over and she was overwhelmed.

"Rey?" Kylo's worried voice asked softly.

She shook her head, she was being ridiculous, stupid, she was ruining this, but she couldn't seem to stop and she coudln't get the breath to explain, even mentally.

But Kylo was there, in her head, she didn't have to explain.

Gathering her into his arms, he rocked her against him, stroking her hair and face, kissing her salty cheeks and nose.

"Shhh, I'm here, love, I'm here."

He sat up a bit and gasped as he moved inside her, somehow her body was able to sob and clench around him. He throbbed in response and they both whimpered.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she mumbled against his chest, "I… I just… I almost lost you and I can't… I can't..."

"It's okay, Rey, it's okay, I've got you, sweetheart, I've got you."

The turmoil inside her slowly eased, but was replaced by embarrassment and awkwardness once she became aware that their bodies were no longer joined.

Moving them so his back was leaning against the wall, Kylo adjusted her legs wrapped around his hips again and gently eased inside her.

Eyelids fluttering at how deeply this filled her, Rey forgot any concerns she had as his hands dropped to her hips and guided them to roll with his slow thrusts. It was deep and the position rubbed against her clit, her hands held onto his shoulders as they moved and she could feel something big begin to tighten and coil inside her and shuddered just thinking about it.

Their lips met, kissing but mostly gasping into each others mouths until the damn burst and Rey had to hold in a scream as her whole body jerked and spasmed, for a moment blind, overpowered by pleasure as Kylo followed her, breath hissing between his teeth, fingers digging into her hips as his own stuttered before going still as he held her so he was as deep as was possible.

Power hummed over their skin, raising hairs and goosebumps as the air scintillated around them, sparks gold and silver and luminous…

There was a harsh knock on the wall and Rey opened her eyes to see Kylo flinch then snigger slightly before tapping back.

"Think we woke Zain," he whispered, a smirk firmly in place despite some wetness glistening on his own cheeks.

Rey blushed furiously and groaned, letting her head fall on his shoulder.

Kylo chuckled, "Don't feel too sorry for him, he's been sleeping fine while the rest of us suffered."

"That doesn't make this any less embarrassing," Rey huffed.

He just grinned and shrugged, completely unbothered.

After cleaning up, Rey nestled down in Kylo's arms, content and sleepy and safe.

"I love you, Rey White," Kylo murmured drowsily, one hand trailing lazily over her stomach.

Rey smiled, "I know, Kylo Ren."

"Little scavenger."

"Bloody Giant."

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"Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future, the past. Old friends long gone."

~Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

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EPILOGUE

At the centre of the universe, in a galaxy

far, far away, hope is balanced upon the

edge of a knife, and the ripples are sent

Through the veil of time and space,

expanding into the layers beneath, the

places where other realities exist.

What happens in each of these other

places, could affect what happens in the

centre, could tip the scales, and the

ripples sent out, return as waves...

'

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We touch and you're afraid of me

And we burn and now I'm at your feet

High speed, but you know you're in safe hands

Oh, in the dark we make a brighter light

From one spark to the horizon wide

We trust, and together we tame the land,

Oh you'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming

But we're working night and day to make a dream come true,

Everything I do is driven by you

Oh well it's tough to make a journey through

The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me

And you know we still got time

Whoo, hold on tight to the driving wheel

This ride is really out of line

Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime

Inner children lost their way

Now they know the price you pay

I'm holding on to life with you

'Cause life without you just won't do

Yeah everything I do is driven by you

~ Driven By You by Queen

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AN: So, err, out with a bang then...

And there you go guys, over a year later than it should have been, super giant sorry for that.

I would like to say MASSIVE thank yous to Autonomee, who betaed so much of this and was so supportive.

To Akashne who betaed quite a few chapters, including the last eight, as well as helped me sort out some of my ideas and was so encouraging when the words weren't coming and I was doubting myself so much.

Thanks also to forbloodysummer who betaed a few chapters and helped me out with bits and pieces.

And thank you, dear readers, especially Aspenleaf, taichigirl, Kkmonkey, White Demon Feathers and everyone else who made it this far, it would not have been written without you it's been a ridiculously long road, but we made it. I really hope the ending doesn't disappoint you, and if you have any questions I haven't addressed, please do ask - comment here, shout at me on twitter, dm on or on discord.

I have written other fics, mostly Reylo, if you fancy having a look, most of them are fairly short and none of them are longer than 45,000 words.

Once again, my humble thanks for reading, kudosing, commenting and sharing, you guys are awesome

P.s. I have a full track list for this fic, would people like me to add it in as notes? It's quite long so would need a post of its own, lol.