True to his word, Kylo Ren appeared several times in the following days. Sometimes, the Force would teleport Rey to his room; other times, it would be the opposite. Regardless of who went where, she continued to learn under his guidance, and she was relieved Kylo never once drifted her teaching toward the Dark Side.

Astounding herself, Rey looked forward to training with the dark knight. It was her own secret, and she was determined to keep it that way. If anyone learned of the meetings, she would probably never be left alone again in the prevention of her reaching out to Kylo. Her source of knowledge of the Force in him would be taken away; how could she improve if that happened? That was the reason she kept it hidden, not her growing attraction to just speaking with him whenever they halted training.

"I don't understand something," Rey began one evening when they read the Sacred Jedi Texts instead of practicing abilities. "Everything I've read says Force Sensitivity is passed down through genetics. My parents were nobodies—they weren't Jedi, or I would've heard tales about them, and I don't think I would've been left alone on Jakku." She looked up at Kylo. "So, how am I a Jedi?"

It had taken him a while to get used to sitting on the floor like her instead of the chair. But now he immediately sat cross-legged on the rug with her instead of complaining. He remained silent for a while; she could see him thinking something over. Eventually, Kylo sighed. "What I said about your parents being no one is true... but not your grandfather."

Since he had known the truth about her parents, she honestly wasn't surprised he knew about her grandfather. "He wasn't?"

"He is the reason you are Force Sensitive."

"Who was he?"

Kylo didn't immediately answer. Again, his eyes shot around on the Text he held open in his lap as he thought. "I don't think I should tell you. I'll let you figure it out on your own."

"Oh, come on, Ben. Please?"

He looked up at her. "Knowledge imparted holds less significance than self-realization. I'm surprised Skywalker didn't drill that into your head—he did me." The corner of his full lips lifted ever so slightly in humor. "And besides, it will be more amusing for me to watch you flounder for the answer."

She scowled. "How are you certain I will discover who my grandfather is if I do not have a starting point?"

"We share a Force Bond. There is a voice in your head that you cannot identify. I recognize it from my own grandfather's memories of your grandfather. He will reveal himself when you are ready."

Rey had never done it before, but she used an old feminine weapon: charm. "You won't just tell me? It would be so much easier."

Kylo cracked a smile as his eyes turned back down to the book. "You can stop with the pitiful eyes; it's not going to work."

She gave a rueful smile. "It was worth a try."

***

The next day, Rey was strolling through the palace absentmindedly when Kylo suddenly appeared beside her. She about fell over.

"Ben! What are you doing? Someone could see you!" she whispered harshly. She glanced up and down the hallway for anyone.

"Highly doubtful," he answered. "Only those Force-Sensitive could see me, which would only be my mother. I will leave if I sense her presence."

Rey just looked at him. "You don't want to see her?"

Kylo looked down at her. "Are you so naïve to believe she will be open to seeing me among her precious Resistance?"

"She might."

He scoffed as he turned away. "She abandoned me; threw me away, for she feared my power. You do not know what it is like. I never wish to see her again."

"Actually, I do," Rey stated. "I was abandoned on Jakku; I was forced to survive on my own on that desert planet. My parents abandoned me; yours sent you away for your safety. You at least knew the love of a family at one time." She marched on ahead of him.

Him chuckling just infuriated her more. "You're growing closer to the Dark Side, Rey, and you're doing it on your own."

"I believe I am allowed to feel emotions as long as I don't act upon it, like someone I know."

"Am I to feel hurt by your jab?" he cruelly mocked. "Do you wish for an apology?"

She whipped around with tears in her eyes. "You are inconsiderate of others, Ben. That is your problem!"

Either the moisture in her eyes, the emotion quivering in her voice, or her words struck him. Kylo didn't immediately retort like she had expected. Confusion washed over the dark knight's face, replaced by remorse.

Kylo began to speak when something over her shoulder drew his attention. His jaw tightened; the sorrow in his eyes vanished as they steeled, and his lips thinned as he looked upon whomever with anger. She could feel the Darkness intensifying around him. Rey worried his anger would transfer over to her side and destroy something around her.

"Hey, Rey! Talking to walls again?"

She turned to see Poe walking up to her. He had a beaming smile on his face, delighted to see her. She gave him a sheepish smile.

"Hey, Poe. I seem to be making a habit of it."

"I was headed to the Medical Ward when I saw you and, whoa—" He jerked back when he approached her. "There's some major heat around you like you're angry. You okay?"

She waved away his concern. "I'm alright. I'm still learning to control my emotions." Rey shot Kylo a look over her shoulder. "Something just insulted me."

Poe hesitated. "Uh-huh... Anyway, Rose is awake and doing good." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "I was headed to go see her and Finn. Want to join me?"

"Sure. I think that's a good idea." Anything to get away from Kylo right now.

Rey didn't bother to look back at him as she walked off with Poe. She didn't sense him following either, so he must've ended the connection by shutting off from her, but not before she felt his rage stemming from jealousy.

So, it was him she felt in the hangar when she and Poe returned from flying to the Ga'hini. But he was jealous of Poe? Why?

Probably because he saw him as taking her away from training. Poe provided her a chance to remain in the Light and not go to the Dark like Kylo wanted. The fighter pilot wasn't bad looking either—to be honest, Ben was too in a dark, more sinister way—so could he be jealous of her being with an attractive guy? Rey scoffed. Such a boy.

In another hallway they found the Medical Ward and went in. Since Rose had been the only one seriously injured at Crait, she and Finn were the only ones in there other than technicians.

Finn lit up at the sight of Rey. After greeting Poe, he hugged her, then introduced Rose.

Rose Tico was a cute girl with slightly slanted eyes and short black hair pinned back with pieces framing her face. Her mouth hung open for a while as she stared at Rey after the introductions were done.

"You're Rey... the last Jedi. Oh wow, I can't believe I'm meeting a Jedi!"

Rey smiled. "I'm just a Jedi-in-training; there's nothing special about me."

Finn and Poe shot her looks of disbelief.

"Really, Rey? Look at what you did at Starkiller Base! You resisted Kylo Ren's interrogation, and you fought and defeated him in a lightsaber duel!" Finn said.

"Not to mention a fantastic pilot," Poe added.

"You found and trained under Luke Skywalker! Then you fought with Kylo Ren to kill seven Elite Praetorian Guards, refused him—again!—then saved us all at Crait!" Rose finished. "Finn has told me all about it. You really are heroic!"

Them mentioning Ben had her feeling like crap. She used to see him like they did: Kylo Ren—a despicable murderer; evil; the enemy. Now, she saw him as Ben Solo from seeing more of him at Ahch-To and him willingly teaching her here. He wasn't the villain; he was just conflicted; had been manipulated by Snoke.

But what he said a while ago and how he had laughed... Her hands clenched as her anger rose. That hadn't been the quiet Ben Solo, but the callous Kylo Ren. She needed to remember that.

Rey had to get the focus off her before she lost control of her emotions. "That was pretty brave of yourself, Rose: flying into Finn and saving him. Both of you could've so easily died."

Rose's eyes turned to the floor as she blushed. "Well..."

Finn grabbed her hand. "It's like you said: 'We're not going to win by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love.'"

She returned his squeeze with a shy smile.

If what Rose had said was true... Rey's stomach dropped. She was trying to save Ben Solo... Did that mean—

No. She couldn't possibly be in love with Ben.

Could she?