Chapter Two

Rey had only recently discovered the process of shopping. Leia was very generous and so were the people she helped, earning her much more than she ever dreamed of having. But the shop in Naboo, she wasn't prepared.

"You have a beautiful figure." The shop attendant smiled warmly at Rey as she measured her for a dress. "You must be so hot in all these layers."

"I admit I have been." Rey chuckled and watched the young girl at work. "I had no idea that Naboo was such a hub for summer clothing."

"I could tell you were a foreigner as soon as you stepped in."

"Do most women shop here?" Rey wondered, curious about the culture of the planet.

"Those who can afford it." The girl replied. "The gentleman that paid for your dress was very wealthy."

"He should have let me pay for it." Rey murmured to herself as she thought of Kylo handing over the currency without a thought, then making a quick escape to a craftsman's shop down the road. "What's your name?" Rey asked, suddenly returning to the moment.

"Larin." The girl finished writing down the last measurement.

"Do you come from around here?"

"No. I come from Coruscant. This is my summer job."

"A very nice job." Rey admired. "I could stay here forever."

"I'll be back with the correct fabric. If you step behind the screen and undress, we'll make sure we fit everything right." Larin motioned to the changing screen.

"Oh! Of course!" Rey nodded and stepped behind the screen. She was still in awe at the fact that a year ago she had been in Jakku, scavenging for her food and now she was in Naboo, a galaxy luxury, being fitted for her first dress. She wondered what it would feel like to wear….what was the fabric Larin had described? Satin? Or was it silk? She giggled to herself. She must seem so clueless to the natives. She had so much left to learn about the rest of the galaxy and she knew this was just the beginning.

"Here we are." Larin slipped the wine-colored fabric over the screen to Rey. Rey gasped.

"It's so soft!"

"It's satin." Larin explained as Rey struggled to put it on. "It's very lightweight so you can keep cool in the sun."

"I think I've figured it out." Rey announced, determined to get it right.

"Let me help you button it." Larin called Rey out. "Oh my." Larin looked over the woman in front of her. "He was right. Wine is the perfect shade for you."

"Pardon?" Rey raised her eyebrows.

"He specifically asked for a red dress for you. Wine to be specific. He was smart. It goes so well with your hair." Larin slipped behind Rey to button the two buttons at her lower back. The dress was long and flowing, it crossed in the front, leaving her abdomen bare. The back was open and hooked around the neck. She stepped up to the mirror to see herself.

"I never imagined I would wear a dress." She mumbled.

"You look wonderful. Like you belong on Naboo." Larin smiled.

"I feel as though I do." Rey blinked a few times. She had never shown so much skin in public before. If she had worn this on Jakku, her skin would have been worn straight to the bone in an hour. She turned back to Larin. "Thank you so much for your help!"

"Of course." Larin nodded. "Please come back anytime. If you need anything while you're here…don't hesitate to ask."

"I won't." Rey promised. She took the bag that held her tunic and exited the shop. Just as she began to look for Kylo, her holo-pod beeped. She checked for a message. It was from Kylo Ren. He had gone back to the suite. She turned in that direction and walked slightly faster than usual. He had specifically requested she wear this color? She wanted to see what he thought. Even as she hurried down the cobblestones, she got more looks of appreciation than oddity. Some people even nodded to her as if she was from the neighborhood. She laughed to herself and hugged her bag close to her stomach.

00000000000000000000000000000000

"You don't understand. I'm not done here." Kylo snapped at Hux. "It is not your job to decide when and where I go. I am sticking to my original itinerary of three days in Coruscant. If you need something, don't contact me!" he growled and ended the holo. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He heard the front door close.

"Ben?" a voice called and for a second he swore it was his mother. "Are you here?"

"Did everything go ok?" he called and made his way down the hallway to the foyer. "Did you find a dress that you-" he stopped when he saw her standing at the large windows, framed by the setting sun. She turned. He lost his breath.

"I don't look much like I did on Jakku." She smiled shyly.

"Far from it." Was his hoarse reply. He couldn't move. He was scared she would disappear, this vision of his dreams.

"Do you hate it?" she asked slowly. "Is it too much? She assured me this was modest for Naboo." He took in the skin of her stomach, the open back, her shoulder blades, her hair down and ruffled by the wind. "I can always return it. Besides, I heard you paid a lot for it." She added quietly, looking down. He stalked toward her and grabbed her shoulders, making her look up at him.

"Don't you dare return it." He husked, eyes wandering over her chest and neck. With that he kissed her deeply, pulling her face up to his and capturing her lips as if he would never have them again. She gasped in surprise, then grabbed his shoulders to steady herself as she melted into the kiss. He pulled away slowly, letting his fingertips dance down her exposed arms. Her eyes remained closed as he held her slightly away from his, as if she was still tasting his lips. "The perfect color."

"You've dreamt of this before." She realized, eyes opening as the bond showed her his deep longings.

"I want to be the one to show you everything you are capable of. Everything you can see, can do, can become." He admitted. She didn't reply, merely let his words wash over her. Both of them knew the words couldn't be acted upon, but neither would bring that to the light at the moment.

"I could stay in this forever." She sighed and twirled lightly for him. "I never knew I could feel so light in clothes. I feel as though I could fly."

"You like it then?"

"I love it!" she cried. "I would wear it on the coldest planet if I could."

"Good." He nodded. "Unfortunately, I can't rip it off of you like your other things." He stared at her analytically and she blushed. "So we should start tonight."

"Start what?"

"Start practicing taking it off." He smirked.