Baby, this is your kingdom [Reylo]

7 - Trust

'What a day,' Rey thought as she let herself collapse onto the bed, the warmth of covers welcoming her. Hundreds of images ran through her mind as her brain was still processing the events that had happened overnight. With closed eyes she was re-living the whole speech, grateful that she didn't mess up. She felt the sleep taking over her, but a silent beep interrupted her.

"Kylo Ren couldn't have picked a prettier Empress."

"What did you just say?" Rey asked and sat up, her eyes scanning the room for Ninee's presence.

"Nothing. I've just read the main headline of Galaxy Today."

Rey grasped the sheets and breathed deeply, laying back to the bed.

"Galaxy Today? You mean the biggest holo-site, with galaxy wide audience?"

"Yes, my lady." The small black droid rolled closer towards Rey's bed and displayed the headline for her to see.

"Maker, that's –" Rey rolled onto her belly, facing the little droid. What was in the article? What was their impression of her? What did they write about her?

She noticed that below the headline there was a photo of her and Ben embracing each other, exchanging a warm look and a shy smile. Of course they would choose that moment of the speech. Is this how the galaxy viewed her now? Not as their leader but as their leader's pretty girl? And what's worse, this is how the Resistance would find out about what actually happened to her – if Chewie hadn't told them already.

"This- this means anyone with access to holo-net can read this," she muttered mostly for herself. Knowing it was most likely to happen sometime soon anyways, Rey didn't feel so good about the Resistance finding out. What would they think of her? She imagined Finn's betrayed face looking at the holo. Rey bit her lip hard and let her head drop to the welcoming sheets.

Suddenly she was flooded with regret and doubt. Was she doing the right thing? Or was she blinded by power and affection towards Ben?

"Well, do you want to read what they have to say?" Ninee beeped and didn't wait for an answer and decided for the Empress, letting her flip through the paragraphs. Rey was almost finished with the article when someone knocked on the door to her suite.

"It's me," she heard Ben's voice and glanced at BB-9E, telling it to turn off the projection. A few seconds later the Emperor entered the room.

"Hey," she greeted him and smiled, tapping her hand on the bed as an invitation for him to join and sit with her.

"Hi," he replied and noticed his droid behind her. It noticed him as well and quickly rolled towards his feet, bumping into them over and over, demanding his attention.

"Cut it!" he hissed, but Ninee didn't seem to bother with that. The corners of Rey's mouth twitched, as the whole scene seemed hilarious to her. She felt Ben's annoyance and embarrassment rising through their bond and chuckled as she noticed the light blush on Ben's cheeks.

"Come to me instead, I'll pat you since Ben here is too shy," she said and with its dome shaped head crouching down, the black droid powered off as a sign of protest.

"I see, like master like droid," Rey said and playfully poked Ben with her elbow.

"I am not in the mood for games," he retorted and pushed her hand aside.

"What a surprise." Rey sighed and the desire to tease him even more faded. After shooting a few glances at Ben, she felt something was bothering him – more than usual. Something was definitely going on.

"I need to leave Coruscant tonight," he confessed and finally locked his eyes with hers.

"Why?" Rey was confused. Their coronation was scheduled soon, together with the big party they were throwing for Snoke's sacrifice, or as she put it, a ceremonial to thank the Force for his death.

"I can't tell you that, at least not right now." As he finished the sentence, the tension between the two rose with every second, until the Emperor decided to speak again.

"I've summoned the Knights of Ren. They shall obey you as their master, but you need to promise me that you will let them accompany you." He hoped she would trust him and not dig much deeper into this, and more so he begged the Force that she would accept the Knights of Ren as her personal guards.

"I think I can handle myself," Rey replied, offended that Ben didn't trust her with something she has been doing since she could remember. She handled the thugs and low-lives at Jakku, what would make Coruscant any different?

"I need to have someone look out for you, to keep you safe when I won't be able to do so. Do you trust me?" Ben asked, piercing her with his gaze. He was looking for an answer in her eyes, but wasn't successful at all.

Rey pressed her lips together and looked down to the floor. Did she? A few days ago she would laugh at herself, at even considering trusting him. But now, after all that's happened...

Ben noticed as she broke off the eye contact. He should have known – of course she did not trust him, how could he be so foolish to think that she ever might.

"I do trust you, Ben." Rey's whisper put a stop to all of his angry thoughts. Her palm grasped his and he squeezed her hand firmly in return. He did not voice his thoughts, but hoped she knew that he trusted her as well.

"But you're the only one I trust. I am not sure I can trust the knights," Rey said and remembered the scary vision she had back at Maz's castle at Takodana. Something about them didn't feel right.

After more moments of quiet, this time with less suspense filling the room, Rey spoke again.

"Are you taking any of them with you?"

"No. I am going alone," Ben replied firmly. The things he had to do had to be done discreetly, without any witnesses and evidence left behind. The less people knew about it the better. He wished he could have let Rey know about his plans, but that would put her in a dangerous situation and bring unnecessary risks. If he could avoid it, he would, even with the cost of losing her trust. He'd much rather have her angry at him, but alive.

"Then why do I have to have them watching me? You think you're better than me? If you don't need them, neither do I," Rey scoffed and stood up, breaking the contact with Ben and stormed out of the room towards the balcony.

"Why do you have to make this so difficult, scavenger," he muttered and clenched his fists. He needed to channel his anger, use it for something - destroy something. Unfortunately, this room didn't have anything he could demolish so he had to settle down with kicking the still powered off BB-9E.

"Sorry, my friend," he then apologized, sighing. His droid wasn't the only one he should be apologizing to. Looking at the balcony he saw Rey pressed against the column, facing the view of never-resting city. With her arms crossed she studied the many vehicles rushing in the traffic of the air-lanes.

"Rey, I –"

"Not now Ben. I need to think. Goodnight," she said and turned away from him, sinking into her own thoughts.

Author's note: No, I am not dead! It's just that real life happened and I've been busy. I am not abandoning this fic, don't worry :) Yes, this is shorter than the other chapters but it felt good to stop it here (kinda cruel tho, hehe), but don't worry another update should be up soon.

I have not proof-read this much closely because I was so excited to post it, so if anything doesn't make sense or if it's just rubbish let me know :D

MERRY SITHMAS LOVELIES AND REMEMBER, IN LESS THAN 365 DAYS WE'LL GET TO SEE OUR BABIES AGAIN *_*

Feedback is always appreciated, you guys keep me going! Ily

Naty