In Time Gone By...

~ 28 ~

"She kept it?" Hux read through the file that Ren had had an officer prepare for him on Rose's removal. The apprentice had resumed his usual position in the office on the sofa to the side, not particularly listening. "The security footage?" 

"Yes. On a data stick retrieved from her quarters," Ren replied, throwing and catching some kind of ball. "Wanted everything to die down before she got rid of it. Not how I would have done it, although she hid the thing very well." 

"Thank you for your enlightening perspective," the general muttered, walking around his desk to sit down. "What do I do with her..." 

Ren raised his hand a little mockingly to answer the question. "I can, y'know-" He slit his throat with his finger with an accompanying sound effect. 

"That concerns me, politically. Her family would be...a problem, though she was coercing with criminals. Prison planet perhaps, long and drawn out... Not a nice one either. We could wash our hands of her then." 

"As we could with killing her." 

"I'll put it to the Supreme leader perhaps. I've not got time for Axos, I've more pressing matters at hand." 

"Boring..." 

The door opened just as he said this and Bailee shuffled in, offering them both a small smile. She had been making some good progress and moving about a little on her own which was nice to see. 

She pulled her cardigan around her further as the general stood to meet her. "Good afternoon..." She looked to Ren for a brief second. "Sir..." 

"Latt..." the general said while Ren eyed them curiously. "How are you feeling?" 

"Okay today, yesterday not so much... I was just on a little walk around, thought I might drop by." 

"Of course... Do you want to sit? Sorry..." He gestured to the chair opposite his desk while Ren stood to leave. She lowered herself down with a wince. 

"Nice to see you up," the commander said then cleared his throat. "I've got some stuff to get on with..." 

"See you later..." 

"So then," Hux said after he had left, sitting opposite her. "How is everything?" 

"Not bad, could be worse in the grand scheme of things." She shrugged then let a little grin appear. "How are you managing without your wonderful assistant?"

He laughed a little in response. "Badly. Things are piling up...so..." 

She nodded, the two of them falling quiet. Somehow, even after all that had happened, they felt...distant. And it was showing. 

Until, at the same time: 

"I'd like you to come back-" 

"I want to come back-"

They looked up at each other with slightly shocked smiles then laughed gently. 

"You want me back?" 

"You want to come back is more the question."

She nodded. "I do...if that's okay. If you haven't already replaced me." 

He looked around the place, a complete state. "I have not." He tapped a pen thoughtfully. "I've been putting it off, to be honest... Why the sudden change of heart?" 

"Well, I suppose I can now do my job without being interrupted but...mostly, I never really wanted to go. I've uh..." She chewed her cheek for a moment. "I've missed you too much. That sounds insane but..."