A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 22

Rey finished up and washed her hands, finding Kylo already rolled over and snoring again, cuddled around a pillow. Not at all the scary image that Rey would have associated with the devil. How could all of human history have gotten it so wrong?

She admired him for a little longer before going to the kitchen and getting breakfast started, bagel sandwiches and coffee for the both of them with extra meat on the side for Kylo. She worked quietly, humming to herself for some time before turning on some music and moving and dancing around the kitchen - somewhere she had always felt comfortable.

Rey was just about to put the sandwiches together when she felt as if someone was looking at her, whirling around to find Kylo staring at her from her bedroom, leaning against the doorframe and looking smug. "Took you long enough to notice, sweetheart."

"Creeper," she answered, rolling her eyes and hiding her smirk.

"Maybe, but I'm your creeper," Kylo smiled, stalking his way over to her and wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Smells delicious. Breakfast and coffee by the time I wake up? You're a dream come true."

"We need our energy. It's a big day," Rey replied, chewing on her lip as she assembled the sandwiches.

She took a big breath, putting the knife down and turning around to face Kylo. "I'm sure you already know this because if what you've explained is still happening then I'm sure you've felt it, but I'm really nervous. This isn't just an intimidating meet the parents situation. There's a lot more involved here than just meeting your mom," she started, looking down and fidgeting with her shirt.

Kylo brought his hand to her chin angling her face up so she was forced to meet his eyes. "I know, Little One, but we're going to figure this out. If you really don't want to meet her then I can go by myself. Honestly, you've already met Hux and I'd say they're about equals when it comes to being thorns in my side."

Rey shook her head, feeling that it was important to face this by Kylo's side. "No. No, we'll go together. I'm just overthinking it. Everything will be fine."

"Everything will be fine," Kylo affirmed, nodding. "I'll get Hux over here so we can plan after breakfast - hopefully he'll make his way here by then. The sooner we start planning and get this over with the better. It'll be less stressful than sitting around all day and waiting. Is there anything I can do in the meantime to help or make you feel better?"

"No, thank you, Kylo. Just need some food in my stomach and some coffee and everything will already be much better after that," Rey answered with a smile, always feeling better when there was some food in her system.

Kylo smiled back, pressing a kiss to her cheek before pulling away, telling her that he was going to try to summon Hux and that it would work better if he wasn't distracted. Rey gave him a little wave and turned back to her breakfast making, secretly pleased that she was a distraction to Kylo, even in her just-woken-up mess.

***

Kylo made his way back to Rey's room, settling himself among her nest of pillows and leaning back on the headboard. He needed his brother-in-law's help if this was going to work. Hux was the only one who ever came when needed, who ever visited him. Lilith was always too busy and Leia was always too stubborn.

He closed his eyes and evened out his breathing, tuning out the noise around him and tried to tune into the force. Leia had dampened his force connections from others but the technique helped him to concentrate, even if it came up mostly empty because others didn't want to, or rather because they were forced not to, communicate with him in his time of exile.