Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Rey assembled her new lightsaber according to Ben's instructions, beside her on his knees.

Neither Finn, Rose, nor Poe and BB-8 came to see her yesterday in the Medical Ward. Once General Organa explained that they were all gone on a supply run, Rey didn't feel so hurt from their no-show.

But now she didn't mind their absence—she had the freedom to spend time with Ben and speak with him openly without fear of being overheard.

They had already discussed going to see Leia after she finished crafting her lightsaber. Ben seemed unfazed about seeing his mother for the first time in years. He hid his emotions well; Rey had to focus hard to feel the slight waver in his nerves.

Completely finished, Rey pressed the button to unsheathe the lightsaber. The purple light shot out of both ends of the double-bladed hilt and lit the room. Rey stood to whirl the staff-like lightsaber around.

It felt completely natural in her hands, much more than Master Luke's single-bladed lightsaber she had been using. Not everyone could pick up a staff and use it effectively. Since she had grown up with using her staff, the movements required to fight with such a weapon were muscle-memory. Keeping her hands on the hilt so the energy beams wouldn't cut off a limb wasn't hard; Rey wouldn't have to train at all to learn how to wield the lightsaber.

Rey stopped to admire the purple double-bladed lightsaber. At first, she had been worried about the color—she feared she wouldn't like it. Trivial, yes, but the color of a lightsaber gave an immediate impression of the wielder's soul. Red represented anger and blue, calmness; being a combination of the two colors meant she embraced both, like a Gray Jedi is supposed to do. And, plus, it invoked a sense of serenity.

So, not only did the double-bladed lightsaber feel perfect, but the color also fit her as well. She sheathed the lightsaber with a smile.

"You wield it beautifully," Ben said when she sat back down beside him.

"Are you trying to give me a compliment, Ben?" she asked with a cheeky grin.

"Trying, implies I'm not sure—I am giving you a compliment. A well-deserved one, at that."

She turned her red face down to look at the sheathed lightsaber in her lap. "Thanks."

"You're spoiling me with all these thanks. It's starting to make me feel like a good person."

"You are a good person, Ben. As Kylo Ren, you weren't, but you're Ben Solo now. You're different; you see things differently. You've changed for the better."

Ben didn't say anything, contemplating her words.

"And get ready; I'm going to spoil you again. Thank you for helping me in crafting the saber."

He shrugged. "My enemy needs a weapon."

Rey turned to him. "Are we still enemies?"

Ben looked at her. "We're supposed to be, right?"

His question threw her. If he had answered with a definite yes or no, she would've gone with it. But him asking her what she thought meant that he was confused, too. "I don't know any more either."

Their faces were so close she felt the heat of his breath. A flurry of emotions flashed through his eyes as they drifted down to her lips.

Rey's pulse skyrocketed. Ben was supposed to be her enemy; someone everyone hated, including her at one time. But ever since she had gotten to know him on Ahch-To and more here as he trained her, her view of him had changed. Her feelings of hate and disgust had transformed. It was hard to believe that she had fallen in love with her rival.

Honestly, it wasn't that hard. Ben Solo was human, and so was she. Love was a natural emotion; one that couldn't be ignored.

A hand came up to touch her face as he leaned in. His lips lightly brushed against hers; her eyes fluttered close.

Then the door sliding open followed by Poe exclaiming her name jolted Rey from Ben.

She looked up to see the fighter pilot rushing in, clearly happy and relieved to see her. Rey got to her feet to greet him, and hopefully send him away soon so she could get back to kissing Ben. There was also the issue with him not liking Poe, and him oblivious to interrupting them didn't help the pilot.

"Poe, I—" Rey began.

He cut her off by wrapping his arms around her. "Thank the Force, you're okay! When Sujux found me and told me what had happened, I didn't believe him. I couldn't believe you had gotten hurt, but you had. You just seemed asleep when I took you to the Medical Ward.

"I wanted to stay, but the General needed supplies for our upcoming attack on the First Order. I could barely focus to fly. I'll admit it: I was frantic to get back." He pulled her back to face her. "You didn't leave my thoughts for a second."

What happened next stunned her: Poe's lips latched onto hers for a desperate kiss.

Rey wasn't able to process that Poe had kissed her before he went flying through the air. His collision into the wall thudded loudly.

Anger made it smothering. Recognizing the Darkness thickening the air, she whipped around to see Ben on his feet and moving toward the downed-pilot with a hand reaching for the lightsaber clipped on his belt. Murder twisted his features.

Rey threw out a hand to stop him as she also jumped in between him and Poe. Ben, no!

Fortunately, he stopped.

"What the hell, Rey?" Poe's angry question brought her head around. The fighter pilot grimaced as he pushed himself up to his feet. "It was just a kiss. If you didn't like it, you could've just told me! You didn't have to use the Force!" He sounded so hurt.

Rey took a step toward him. "Poe, let me explain—"

He raised a hand to stop her. "No need. You want me to leave you alone—message received." Without another look, Poe stormed out.

She hesitated only a second before marching over to the door, shutting it, and turning to give Ben a piece of her mind.

But as she turned, Ben was there and pushed her back against the door. Hands on both sides had her trapped. His aggressiveness alarmed her. Rey began to use the Force to shove him back when Ben's mouth pressed against hers.

Rey forgot what she had meant to say. Her simmering anger cooled. She kissed him back just as hungrily. Needing more of him, Rey pressed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck to hold him closer. Ben's hands skimmed down her back, forcing her harder against him. She melted under his touch.

Their fervent crave for each other accelerated as passion grew. Heat increased as their kisses became wilder, and hands roamed over bodies. Things began to rattle, and books hit the floor because of their combined lack of control of the Force.

So, to not destroy the room, they broke apart from each other but remained entwined—Rey held up against the door by Ben and her legs wrapped around his back. Forehead against forehead, his breath warmed her skin as he panted.

Not wanting the bliss to end, Rey didn't open her eyes. She wanted to remain in the senses of her imaginations. Reality would diminish those emotions, the ghost of his hands on her body, the pressure of his lips on hers; keeping her eyes shut helped her relive the sensations. His nuzzling her neck sent pleasure coursing through her; she arched her neck.

"You're mine, Rey," he breathed into her ear. His assertive words shot a delicious thrill from her head to her toes—she was his and he was hers.

"I know I am," she panted. Sense came back to her foggy brain; along with it came her anger. "But you didn't have to attack Poe like that."

He smirked. "Is there a better way of showing him that his advances are unwelcomed? He needed to know that you aren't interested. I can revert to my original plan, if you want."

"Which is?"

Ben gave a wicked grin. "Killing him."

Rey leaned back to glare at him. "You are not killing Poe, do you hear me, Ben?"

He killed her with his chuckle. "I hear you. He's only still alive because his death would hurt you."

After breathing a sigh of relief, she kissed him. "Thank you for caring."

"What did I tell you? You need to stop thanking me; I'm feeling spoiled."

"More than likely now, they'll be followed by my lips."

"Mmmm," Ben sounded as she repeatedly pecked his lips. "I could get used to that. The thank yous doesn't sound too bad now."

She was kissing up his jaw when Ben suddenly stiffened, and his neck muscles turned as he looked at something to her right. Before she could ask what was wrong, he disappeared. Ben had been holding her up against the door, so Rey plopped down to her butt.

Rey hadn't sensed anything and he would've warned her before vanishing like that. Rubbing her back, she focused on their Force Bond and searched for him. Usually, it wasn't this dark; almost like the Force Bond was gone... for good.

Ben?

He didn't answer, nor could she find him.