Chapter 59.

2 DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING.

It was still a dark, empty void.

She had never really blamed the force for anything until now, never even muttered a curse towards it until this very day.

But Rey felt defeated, beaten at a game that didn't even exist as she tried to find Flora once more through the force, channeling every good and ill feeling she could muster and hoped that it'd find its way to her friend, yet all that returned, was absolute silence.

With a frustrated growl, Rey rose from the floor of the suite, tugging her hair out of her three signature buns and tossing away the bands. She was grateful that Kylo allowed them to skip training for the day when she had asked, however he proposed that they meditate together instead.

From the ground, Kylo inhaled deeply as he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze landing on Rey as she began to pace a few feet in front of him.

"You were supposed to remain calm." his deep voice mused.

"I can't. It's like I'm being blocked off from her specifically. I swear... I swear I can feel her somewhere out there, as though I'm being soothed, like the force is giving me just enough to know she's alive and refusing me anything else." Rey sneered, coming to a halt as she glared at the ground with her arms crossed.

Kylo looked at her with a blank expression, moving to stretch his legs out in front of him and lean back against his hands. He couldn't exactly relate to her needing her friend, but he did understand the frantic need to ensure her friend was okay.

The memory of Rey lying in his room, bleeding and her force signature wavering in and out as her life dimmed on Excora made his blood chill.

With a shake of his head, he rammed the memory out of his mind as he stood.

"I'm sure she's fine." He muttered to her, raking a large hand down his face.

Rey turned to him, rolling her eyes and grumbled, "You can't know that."

Feeling the heat roll to his face, Kylo clenched his jaw.

He didn't want to fight with Rey, in fact, he had been trying very hard to avoid this certain attitude of hers by trying to meditate together. Her impatience and worry were clashing against one another, and the frustration was beginning to reach a new peak, something he could easily pick up on with or without the bond.

His own annoyance was growing as well, and though it was new to him, he tried his absolute best to suppress it with a light hope that maybe Rey would understand in the long run.

Standing tall, Kylo squared his shoulders and slowly made his way to Rey, who was watching him warily with an annoyed look, arms still crossed.

Still with his blank expression, he held out his open palm to her, a silent plea for her hand and her cooperation.

Feeling defeated, Rey softly sighed and let her smaller hand slide into his waiting one, following him as he led her to the large window in the living area, their reflection staring back at them as Naboo carried on beneath them.

Kylo stood directly behind Rey, his hand never leaving hers as his other found its way to rest on her hip. Mindlessly, Rey leaned back against his hard chest, watching her reflection move in the sunlight.

"Do you ever think about it?" he softly asked after a while, his breath hitting her earlobe.

"Think about what?" Rey questioned, her brows lightly creasing.

Kylo remained silent for a while longer as he thought of the words forming on the tip of his tongue.

"Joining me in the first place."

Rey's heart seemed to freeze momentarily, her breath catching in her throat as she felt the wave of anticipation roll into her from Kylo.

She'd be lying if she were to say she didn't, though in the end, she never would have because of her friends. Rey knew this for a fact, and so did he.

"What happened to letting the past die?" she asked, only half teasing.

Rey moved to face him, though as she turned half way, Kylo quickly caught her wrist and forced her back, his grip on her waist hardened as he kept her there.

The amusement and brief sorrow she previously felt fell away.

"Do you know why I wanted you to join me? Because you're destined for greatness. Your strength is never ending, your drive is relentless, and the force calls to you so easily because it itself knows."

Kylo peered down into her, meeting her eyes in the reflection of the window as he continued.

"I'm not meant to rule the galaxy, Ben." Rey whispered, her eyes wide. She hated that they needed to have the conversation again, but she understood. They were both fighting for what they believed was right.

"No... You aren't, I suppose. But you are meant to be a leader. You're a fighter, a warrior. I saw it the first time we met on Takodana, and I relived it again when we defeated Snoke and his guards. The amount of training you combed yourself with to fight Viccar and his guards next was... It's unthinkable."

Kylo gently released Rey's hip, his fingers lightly skimming the flesh there before his other hand released her, taking a step back so that Rey only saw her reflection in the window, Naboo shining bright in the background.

He continued, "You don't need anyone to rule with, Rey. You alone are capable of so much more."

With that, Kylo turned on his heel and left the room, already sensing someone at the door before they knocked, leaving Rey to herself as she let out a shaky breath.

Rey recognized the very few times that Kylo had allowed himself to open up, and she knew that this moment would be one of those times as she replayed his soft-spoken words over and over again in her mind.

Her eyes sought out the strength he saw in her, as if her reflection would reveal the answers she wanted. She never considered herself to be the things he described of her, the acts she made had all been by pure instinct; to protect, fiercely at that.

Is that what made a good leader? She wondered as Kylo let in a couple guests.

Giving her reflection one last stern look, she raised her chin and squared her shoulders, something she had witnessed Kylo do so many times, and turned around to see who he let in.

Once she saw, she immediately froze, her chin in the air as she focused blanking her expression, her eyes casting a fixed look on their guests and back to Kylo.

In the dining area of the suite stood Hidiya, one of Caleo's servants that Rey had previously encountered when she was administered the contraceptive, though this was not who caught Rey off guard.

To Hidiya's left stood DJ, dressed in the normal Naboo servant garb as he held a black garment out to Kylo. His eyes flashed to Rey with a knowing look before returning to Kylo as Hidiya spoke.

"Master Ren, Lady Rey." she acknowledged with a quick bow of her head. "Caleo has sent us with your outfits for the wedding, any alterations will be handled by me personally. This here is... Oh, um... I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name?" Hidiya blinked furiously as she blushed, glancing from the ground back to DJ's face.