(Takes place mid 35ABY)

The First Order would not be taking Ithor, the Grey Knights of Ren would make sure of it. They're normal mission was settling civil wars and stabilizing individual worlds, however this was personal. Kylo knew what was at stake if Ithor was taken. Rey had only found her family a couple weeks previous, he had never seen her so happy, so the only way Hux was getting this planet was over there dead bodies.

The Knights has split up into two groups, most of them, including Kylo were in the air, fighting the thousands of TIEs and the monstrous Star Destroyer, while Rey and the Pantoran Knight Chi Ren were on the ground protecting the people from ground forces.

When they had heard that Ithor was under attack hours previous Rey had stormed into Kylo's ship expecting to have to beg to get his help, but the second she said it was her family's world he summoned all the Knights to rendezvous at Ithor and to prepare for battle.

They had been fighting for over six hours now. They had taken down over a thousand TIEs and Kylo alone had nearly crippled the Star Destroyer when he noticed a platoon was diving towards Cloud-Mother.

"Rey!"

He dived after them and tried to send a communication to Rey.

"Kira Ren, come in, there is a whole platoon of ships heading your way, where are you?"

"I'm defending the shelter in the centre of the city. I can handle the troops but I'll need help with the TIEs."

"I'm on route."

He started firing at the TIEs bellow him, but when they exploded to his horror he saw that there explosions were three times the regular size of a TIE explosion.

"Kira! They're carrying armed bombs!"

"You got to take them out, I'm not sure how many explosions this shelter can take."

This refilled his determination. He shot down TIE after TIE as he continued to dive. The ground was getting closer and closer. He continued to fire and shoot as many as he could. Then to his horror five of the remaining TIEs released there load.

As he shot the ship's down he breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that Rey was using the force to keep the bombs in the air.

"I'm going to lift these as high as I can and then I want you to blast-"

She was cut off by the bombs exploding in unison, the must have had a timer program into them as well as regular detention upon impact. Having already been using the force on them, Kylo watched as she tried to surprise the blast and push it back with the force, not all of the explosion was diverted and he watched helplessly as she was flung back.

Desperate he landed his ship and exited in a hurry. The air was full smoke and ash, so using the force he pushed all the debris in the air out of the way, making it possible to now see the limp body of Rey. He could feel through the force that she was alive, but just barely.

Gently he picked her up and started heading for his ship when Chi came running towards him.

"Chi!" He yelled, "Make sure her people are safe and then drive the remaining ground forces off world. Kira needs immediate medical attention!"

Chi nodded and turned and ran back towards the battle. Kylo got to his ship and lay Rey down on the med bed. He activated the station which sprouted robotic arms and started scanning her, as it did its job Kylo took to the pilots seat and got them air born and set coordinates for a part of the planet not currently under fire.

After a few minutes he set the autopilot to keep them hovering in that location and when to check on her. The holographic version of the 2-1B medical droid relayed its news.

"I have sealed her wounds and have her hooked up to oxygen and medicine rich fluids, but she suffered severe cranial damage and seems to have slipped into a coma. The next few hours will show how severe her injuries are. The recommendations treatment I prescribe that'll with 100% certainty cause a full recovery is a bacta submersion."

"There isn't one on board, and the medical station on this planet that's guaranteed to have one is unmanned as everyone is in a shelter. The closest two planets that definitely have tanks are several sectors away, and Mandolore might not even let us land because of me."

The hologram said his opinion. "If she doesn't get proper medical treatment her condition will likely get worse, I suggest you set course for the other planet."

He nodded and left the hologram on to monitor her condition and took the helm. He opened a com-link to his fellow Grey Knights.

"Kira Ren is seriously hurt, I am making an emergency trip to Dantooine. Continue to secure Ithor and then rendezvous at Ahch-To. I will make contact within the day."

Kylo then set a course around the battle in the sky, evading the last of the remaining TIE Fighters. Then punched in the coordinates for Dantooine and entered hyperspace. As always the starlight passing by was stunning, but he had more on his mind than star gazing. He left the helm and took a seat next to where Rey lay.

The robotic arms where using the light bacta they had to treat her more superficial injuries, the gashes and burns were quickly sealing. If she survived she wouldn't even need stitches. Kylo watched as her chest rose and fell, it was just about the only comfort he get at the moment, watch her breath evenly.

He kept telling himself he couldn't lose her, she was one of the last things in his life he carried about, and certainly the only thing left he loved, no matter how hard he tried not too. Their original connection was simply through the force, but as they started having force visions of one another and started fighting side by side another connection had grown. A romantic one.

He considered in the beginning confessing his feelings and if she'd have him they'd enter a relationship, but quickly he changed his mind. Rey was so young, and full of light, where he was over a decade older and full of darkness. He knew they worked well as partners and would be the ones to lead the knights to save the galaxy, but he knew if they became something more he might not be able to control his emotions, he could hurt her, or worse.

One of the problems of trying to keep his feelings for her inside was that fact that Rey was attracted to him in turn. He suspected as such ever since they danced together on Ahch-To, but she made her feelings clear a few months back on their mission to Naboo where they kissed. For a brief moment he let go off his fears and just enjoyed being with her, but he ruined it by raising the walls around his heart and doubled his efforts to solely think of her as just his co-leader of the Knights.

A couple hours pass, Kylo checked the monitors in the cockpit every half hour to make sure everything is alright, but the rest of the time he waited by Rey's side. For awhile her vitals didn't change which Kylo took to mean she was at least stable, but just as they were passing Horuz Rey took a turn for the worst. One of her monitors started going off and the hologram did not sugarcoat the severity.

"Her brain is swelling, most likely caused from her head being injured in the explosion, she needs part of her scalp temporarily removed to allow it to expand. Sadly this vessel is not equipped with the scalpel required to cut bone. If nothing is done she will pass."

Rage and anger boiled fiercely inside of him, he wanted to scream, he wanted to destroy everything in the room, but he looked down at Rey lying so still on the med-table and his emotions changed to sadness and desperation. He knelt down next to Rey and took her hand.

"Kira, my Rey of sunshine, please don't go. There is still so much life left for you too live, oh who am I kidding I can't live without you by my side. Kira you have changed me, you have taken me from my path of pure darkness and set me on a noble course, to lose you might send me back and I don't want to go back. I have been selfish though, I have prioritized my recovery from the darkside over the obvious bond that we share and now I fear it is too late. That kiss at Starlight Falls meant everything to me and I pushed you away. Rey, I promise if you survive this I'll never push you away again, I'll listen to you and work to become whatever it is we will be together. Just stay with me, stay with me Rey."

He kept holding her hand, hoping for a miracle, and he would hate to admit it but tears were coming down his cheeks. Suddenly he felt very weak, as though he were going to faint. He only opened his eyes when the holographic Med-droid spoke.

"Impossible, her swelling is going down, and her more serious injuries are healing themselves, how is this possible?"

But Kylo didn't question it, instead he looked at the monitors and indeed saw all her vitals growing to healthier level. He kept his course for Dantooine just in case, but something inside Kylo told him she was going to be ok. He left the monitor watching her vitals on, but turned off the hologram so that it would just be the two of them.

After another half hour he noticed her eyes start to flutter, until they finally opened. Kylo didn't smile often, but he found himself grinning ear to ear.

"Kira, you are ok. How do you feel?"

"Ben? My head is killing me, do you have any isobutylphenylpropionic acid?"

"What, oh yes."

He went through the compartment containing emergency medications and found a vile of them. He handed her two capsules and she swallowed them. After a moment she spoke.

"Ben, we need to talk, but right now I need to rest. Is that ok?"

"Your alive, anything you say or need is ok. I'm heading to Dantooine to get you fully examined, are you ok with that?"

"Yes, I think I still need to see a doctor." She laid her head back down, but before she closed her eyes she spoke once again. "Ben?"

"Yes Kira?"

"Thank you."

She then passed out from exhaustion, her body had a lot of healing to do. A couple hours later they reached Dantooine and they landed in Tokare Garrison where the doctor analyzed Rey and gave her a couple shots and put her in a bacta tank. About an hour later she was taken out and after getting changed let Kylo into her recovery room.

"How are you feeling now?"

"I feel completely fine, the doctor said I should be dead right now but I am completely fine."

"Yes, something happened on that shuttle, but I think that is a mystery for another time. There was something you wanted to discuss?"

A smile graced her beautiful face.

"Despite my condition I heard every word you said. Ben, I need to know right here and right now if you meant any of it or if it was just desperation talking."

Kylo took her hand in his. "Kira Rey Thaney, I am in love with you, you are the most creative, skilled, beautiful, and witty person I know and you make me a better person. I know that when you are around I feel complete, and that kiss on Naboo made me realize just how deeply I cared. I know I have done horrible things and that you deserve better, but I don't want to waste another second. I love you Kira, will you have me?"

"Yes Ben, of course I will have you."

She grabbed hold of his collar and pulled him into their second kiss. Kylo had been physically intimate with people before, but none of them he had cared for like he did Rey, so as they made out it was like he was experiencing these sensations for the first time.

Eventually they transitioned into a hug, and he was very happy just to hold her in his arms. Rey calmly spoke to him.

"When I was on that bed dying, and you were holding my hand, I could feel myself slipping, but then it was like your life flooded into me. I think you transferred a part of yourself into me and it saved my life. So every breath I now take, every beat of my heart, it is because of you, and I want to spend every heartbeat with you by my side. I love you Ben Solo."

"I love you too Rey."