A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 22

"Very true," Hux agreed, nodding. "She's obsessed with getting grandkids you know," he added softly, making Rey turn crimson and fidget from the comment, coughing a little as she swallowed her food.

"I'm only partially kidding," Hux laughed, raising his eyebrows in amusement. "Okay," he nodded again, wiping off his hands. "I'll see what I can do. Shouldn't take long. I'll be tactful and efficient."

"Sure you will," Kylo sneered as Hux disappeared again, this time in a dark red cloud with pink swirls. Kylo got up, then, making his way to a flustered Rey that was still hiding behind the counter.

"He might be an ass, but he's really loyal - as both a lesser demon and as my brother-in-law... and I guess, also as my friend," Kylo shrugged, reaching out for Rey's hand when he got to the kitchen.

Rey took his hand, pulling Kylo into her arms. Her cheeks were pink and she had some crumbs on her mouth, hair haphazardly still in her towel and her skin soft where he could touch it under her comfortable daywear, shorts and a tank top. Kylo brushed some of the crumbs from her mouth with a fond smile, grabbing another mini quiche and feeding it to her, already feeling more soother by the situation in the comfort of her arms.

***

Rey accepted the quiche happily, knowing that Kylo probably picked up on her stress and was trying to provide some relief from it the best way he knew how - feeding her and giving her attention.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. He'll get us an audience with Leia, and if not, I'm sure she'll come sniffing around. Like I said, she loves gossip and I know she would be very excited to meet you, especially after all the tales her spies have probably told her," Kylo assured, brushing a stray piece of hair from her face.

"Her spies?"

"Yes, I'm sure she's had a few sniffing around us ever since she found out I was even slightly happier than I have been in decades," Kylo shrugged, leaning down to nudge his nose against Rey's and pulling her a little closer.

Rey scrunched her nose up and pursed her lips, thinking for a moment before answering. "Kind of crazy to think that she'd rather send spies than talk to you herself. Especially if she misses you. You're her son. Her only son."

"That's just the way she is, Little One. Stubborn to the core, and always willing to put a lesson above her other motherly duties."

Rey hummed in response, not wanting to say anything that could be misconstrued as offensive but feeling her heart go out to Kylo. She couldn't imagine having been obviously ignored by a family member for decades just for a lesson and knowing that the forced isolation she was experiencing was also because of that family member. Poor Kylo.

"I can feel your sympathy, Rey, and I promise I don't need it. I've been fine thus far and I'm used to it. Plus, I have you now and I would never have met you if it hadn't been for her ridiculous policies and ideas."

Rey nodded, feeling happy that she could now provide a family of sorts to the man (demon?) in front of her. When all of this was sorted out, Rey would resolve herself to showing Kylo everything he had been missing, beyond just fun holiday traditions. She would give him the family experience and care he had been missing for decades.

***

The two migrated to the couch, cuddling and eating the product of Rey's anxious cooking while they watched a movie. After relaxing and feeling better in each other's presence, Rey decided it was time to tell Rose as much of the whole truth of what was happening as possible.

She went to her bedroom to call Rose and inform her that she was back with Kylo, ignoring her friend's incredulous cries and questions of how this had happened when Rey had been so heartbroken only a day or so before. Rey pleaded with Rose to hear her out, explaining as much of the situation as she could without giving away Kylo's big secret, citing family drama as the reason that Kylo had needed his space and had been so secretive.

She finished her tale by telling Rose that because it was Kylo's personal information that she couldn't tell her every dirty detail, to which Rose pouted but promised that she understood and that trusted that Rey would know what was best for herself. They stayed on the phone and caught up on some more of the things that had happened in their short time apart.

Rey squealed loud enough to have Kylo burst into the door with concern when Rose mentioned that Vicrul had shown up to her house on New Year's and that they had spent the evening together, going out to brunch the next morning. Rey shooed Kylo away, mouthing that she would tell him later, turning and giggling into the phone as he retreated, getting all of the juicy details.

When Rey finished her phone call, she joined Kylo again on the couch, feeding him finger foods as she told him about everything that had happened in their absence. Kylo nodded and smiled, saying he was happy for Rose and that she deserved to have somebody that cared for her romantically in her life.

"I didn't know you were team Vicrul and Rose," Rey teased, tugging at Kylo's shirt.

Kylo chuckled and shrugged. "I am pro whatever makes you happy and a happy Rose means a happy Rey which means a happy Kylo."

Rey beamed at Kylo, crawling onto his lap and giving him a hug. "Thank you, babe, I appreciate it and Rose appreciates it. She really likes you, you know. Well - maybe not so much in the last few days... but generally she's a big fan of yours."

"That's nice to hear," Kylo laughed, lacing his fingers around Rey's waist. "I'll just have to convince her that I'm still worth it even after all this."

"Oh, she's already convinced. She's back on your side. I told her we're back together. I was worried she would put up more of a fight but she was understanding and trusts that I would make the right decision for myself. Rose also mentioned something about buying her drinks some night... but that's a discussion for another time," Rey smiled, leaning up to give Kylo a kiss. "For now all that matters is that we are all on team Reylo again."

"Reylo?"

"Yes, that's our ship name. What Poe and Finn decided would be our couple's name, at least."

"I don't hate it."

"Neither do I," Rey grinned, cupping Kylo's face and pressing her lips to his. "Neither do I."

***

It was almost time for bed when Hux appeared again, finding Kylo and Rey getting ready to sleep after having passed out in front of the couch with various treats all around them. He approached them, startling Rey who hadn't heard his arrival, a quiet apparition as opposed to his more commonplace dramatics.

"She said yes," Hux announced, his usual love for build up gone. "She said yes and she wants to see you... right now. Best not to keep her waiting, then" he continued, looking at each in turn before turning away and throwing his hands in the air. "Chop chop, love birds. Time to meet God herself!"