A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 11

Kylo looked at Rey, his eyes soft and an easy smile forming on his lips. She wants my input. She wants me to take part in her traditions. "Are you sure? This sounds like a big thing." Kylo asked.

Rey nodded enthusiastically. "I want you to! This is an important step in your Halloween education, young padawan."

Kylo wrinkled his nose at the reference to a movie series Rey was obsessed with. He had looked it up and it sounded ridiculous, but he wasn't about to tell her that. Especially when she had told him earlier that week that they could have a weekend marathon some time to watch them all and he wasn't about to let the opportunity of snuggling with Rey for nine straight movies pass him by. He was willing to suffer through plenty of absurd plot lines if it meant he got to be with her. It couldn't be worse than his foray into romantic comedies after all.

"If you say so, Halloween Master Jedi Dameron," Kylo replied with a small bow as Rey laughed and smacked his chest playfully.

Kylo led Rey slowly through the Halloween village aisle, putting his hand comfortingly over hers that were still clutching onto his arm. He took his job of picking out the three new additions seriously, making sure to peruse the whole selection before he made his choice. In the end he settled on a haunted movie theater, a skeleton that was handing out purple and orange balloons to a ghost child with a lollipop, and a zombie couple that was walking out of their mausoleum. He made sure to check with Rey that she didn't have any of the figurines he had picked out at home, to which she assured him that she did not.

"I love them! You did so well, Kylo! I can't wait to set up the village. Especially the zombie couple. It just looks like they're about to take a stroll through the town. Maybe they can even go catch a movie now that there's a movie theater," Rey mused happily, obviously pleased by his choices.

Kylo felt a warm blush come over his face, delighted by her praise and the image of the zombie couple walking around the little village, and before he knew it the words had tumbled from his mouth in a hurried manner, "Willyoubemygirlfriend?"

Rey turned from where she was carefully putting the items into the cart. "What?"

Kylo ran his fingers through his hair before taking a deep breath and repeating more slowly, "Will you be my girlfriend? I want to date you. Be with you. Just you. No one else."

The seconds between his confession and Rey's answer seemed to span days. Kylo felt his throat go dry, his heart stop, and his face flush an even deeper pink before he heard the words that made his heart beat again, "I'd love to, Kylo. I don't want to see anyone else, either."

Kylo breathed a sigh of relief and felt his features morph into a toothy grin as he walked the short length between them and gathered Rey into his arms. He looped his hands around her waist after guiding her hands to grab around his neck, and swooped down to kiss her forehead as he pressed her into a tight embrace. Kylo desperately wanted to kiss her on the lips, but he wasn't sure how comfortable she was with a public display of affection or what level of touchiness she was okay with yet when it came to him. He finally had her all to himself (His. Mine.) and he'd be damned if he ruined it by moving too fast or pushing her to the point where she was uncomfortable. Rey sank into his arms, molding her body to his and letting out a content hum. Kylo was once more overwhelmed with the emotions he felt through the bond, glad that this time they were pleasant and undoubtedly his doing.

He had to stop himself from letting out a noise of protest when she finally untangled herself from his crushing hold, chastising him for distracting her when they apparently still had a long day ahead of them of more shopping and beginning to decorate. Kylo heard her talking but the sound seemed distant, his mind racing with the thought of one word over and over again: mine.