:Chapter One:
"I was thinking about coming home," she said softly into the phone, glancing around the large space swarming with bodies.
"What? Why? Why would you do that?" his voice shouted into her ear.
"You don't need to yell, Finn. I'm just thinking about it," she growled defensively.
"What happened? Who do I have to hurt this time?"
She sighed, for someone who didn't have a true family, her foster brother certainly made up for it all.
"Nothing happened. I'm just…" she whispered.
"It's that fucken' guy you're seeing. That Armie guy."
She sighed again. "No, Finn, I broke up with Armie Hux months ago. I haven't been dating. I'm working. I've been texting you from location for weeks now."
"Hmph, you'd think you were some famous movie star the way you're all pissy about me not knowing where you are or who you're with. Like I'm supposed to keep up with your work schedule and love life."
"Um, you're my brother, and you do keep tabs on me. Or at least you always have."
"Okay, I've been a bit preoccupied lately. With Grandad sick and mom helping at the shop, I've been having to cover homework and food schedules and all the other crap, adults need to handle when they have kids."
"I'm sorry, Finn. I should be there to help you. I feel terrible about it." She ducked her head.
"Reagan Niima, stop it." his voice raised again.
"Don't you dare use that tone with me, Finnigan Niima! I'm your big sister and I should be the one taking care of all the kids while mom is helping out Granddad."
"Come on, Rey. Stop it. You got out. You did exactly what you said you would. You made a name for yourself and you're living the life you've always wanted. And besides, you may be older, but you haven't been my 'big' sister since I was 10, Peanut."
She chuckled. He had always towered over her slight frame.
"I know, but you were there for me, every time I was rejected or told I was too young or too old, or too female, or whatever. You and mom were there for me. Telling me to ignore them and to keep going to auditions. I owe you, and mom. Besides I miss home."
"Miss home? It's small town America here. You're living in LA. What's there to miss?"
"You, Mom… The fresh air. Trees."
"Seriously, Rey. Mom and I were just out there to visit you 4 weeks ago. If you want fresh air and trees, then go to the park. Be honest, what's going on?"
Another sigh. "I just need a break. I've been working nonstop since I got out here. One movie after they other. Press, photo shoots, agents, directors, interviews, I can't breathe without someone in my face offering me a water, or a massage, or a date with this one or that one. I've been out here for 4 years, living the life I thought I wanted and I need a break, Finn." She hiccuped slightly.
"Okay. It's alright, Peanut. Breathe. Deep Breath. Come home. When do you stop shooting?"
Taking a deep breath, Rey swallowed sob. "I'm done tomorrow. I have my last scene in the morning. I can be on a plane and home by tomorrow night."
"I'll be at the airport to pick you up." Finn agreed.
She shook her head and then realized he couldn't see her. "No, I don't want to put anyone out. I'l just rent a car and drive. I can do that you know."
He chuckled. "Wasn't sure if you forgot how out in La La Land."
"Brat," she sniffled.
"The worst. Be ready! I have two years to make up for, Peanut."
"Rey, we're ready for you!" a voice yelled from somewhere in the large warehouse studio she sat in.
"I've got to go now, Finn. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Love you, Peanut. I'll let Mom know you're coming."
"NO! No, let's surprise her. Don't tell anyone I'm coming home."
"Calling Reagan Niima to set," a voice blared over the intercom.
"Okay, gotta run. Love you, bye."
.
She had gotten into the airport at 8:30 and slid behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Beetle convertible rental car shortly after. She thought finally getting out of LA would relieve the tension and anxiousness she had been feeling for a while now. But she could still feel her heart racing and her fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel. Taking a breath she rolled down the window and headed down the miles of highway between the airport and her home.
Exiting the city, she found herself finally able to take a deep breath for the first time in weeks. The night was dark and the mountain air was cool coming through her windows. Pulling over, she pressed the button and watched as the roof collapsed back and the star lit sky was revealed above her. Turning up the radio, she pulled back onto the highway and continued home.
It was around 10 pm when she found herself at the town limit and slowed the car to the posted speed. She had made good time, and found herself wanting to see how much everything had changed in the time she was gone. Finn had been keeping her up to date on over all town changes, but her best friends Rose and Paige kept her posted on the town gossip. She knew on a Friday night, they would be hanging out together at Maz Kanata's bar, Takodana. It had been a staple in the town since before she could remember. Her mother and father had met at the bar, and her uncles had regaled her with stories about their exploits there. Coming up to the turn off, she slowed the car, and turned onto the gravel drive that would bring her to Takodana.
It was an out of the way place, that catered to locals. Mostly because only locals knew how to find it. As she pulled up in front of the bar, light spilled from the long windows and music floated on the cool night air. The hum of voices and the occasional loud laugh could be heard from outside. Parking, she shot off a text to Finn to let him know where she was and an invitation to meet her and dropped it in her jacket pocket. Grabbing her credit card from her purse, she stuffed a number of bills into the back pocket of her lived in skinny jeans.
She looked like a mess, but she didn't care. She would have never gotten away with this outfit in LA, but here no one would blink twice at her worn Chuck Taylors, pristine white tee and fitted black leather jacket from high school. Checking her hair quickly in the rear view mirror, she pulled the hair tie she had put it up in for the drive and ran her fingers through it to fluff the waves she still had from this morning. With a little lick of her middle finger she flattened a few flyaways and ran her index fingers under her hazel eyes to wipe the dark smear of mascara that was there from her nap on the plane. Pinching her cheeks, and biting down on her lips she got out of the car and headed up the steps of the porch and pulled the door open.
Bodies were packed in tight. Rey could glimpse the live band back in the corner that must have been the big draw. They were playing a familiar song, that she couldn't immediately place, but she had other things on her mind just then. Squeezing her way between the patrons, she stood on her tiptoes to try and find Rose and Paige. And it was no small feat. While Rey stood at a respectable 5'7", Rose was lucky she hit the 5'2' mark and Paige was only slightly taller than that. The only thing that was going to help was that Rose had a habit of dying her gorgeously thick black hair, the brightest colors.
Luck was on her side tonight, as she spotted Rose, across the room, sitting up on a round bar table, Paige swaying to the music next to her, and their friend Poe having a heated conversation with Phasma 'Phey' Christie, who towered over almost everyone in the bar. Both gestured emphatically while holding their drinks. Rey couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as she watched them from afar. And then suddenly, Rose turned and her eyes found Rey, burrowed in the middle of all the sweaty bodies in the bar.
Her chocolate eyes widened and a smile lit up her round face. "REAGAN NIIMA! Holy shit, you're here!"
Rey watched as Rose plunged herself off of the table that was chest height for her, and elbow her way across the room to pull her into a huge hug. She didn't know how Rose did it but she always felt enveloped by the diminutive woman's hugs. Rey hugged her back tightly, the pressure she had felt in her chest for some time now releasing. Grabbing her hand, Rose dragged her back through the crowd to the table and once again, Rey was engulfed in friendly arms, and the smell of citrus beer and the sweet concoction that Rose always drank.
"Oh my God, Rey! I can't believe you're really hear!" Paige hugged her a second time, pressing her cheek to Rey's.
"Honestly, I can't believe it either. I called Finn yesterday and told him I was coming home today. I wanted it to be a surprise."
"It's a great surprise!" Phey leaned in, pressing her cheek to Rey's in an air kiss.
"Wait, Finn knew you were coming home and didn't tell me?" Rose spun suddenly, her drink sloshing over the edge of the glass.
Rey jumped back, to avoid wearing the sickly pink colored mixture on her favorite shoes and jeans.
"Woah! Rose!" Poe lifted the glass deftly from her hands over everyone's heads and placed it on the table.
"We decided we wanted to surprise Mom, and I told him to keep it a secret from everyone." Rey shrugged.
"Well, then I guess I can't be mad at him." Rose shrugged, "But you need a drink. Poe, Rey need a drink!"
It was quite obvious that Rose had reached her limit of Cosmopolitans for the evening, as she stepped toward Rey swaying slightly. Again Rey stepped back, taking Rose's hand. She walked backwards with Poe guiding her arm, as she listened to Rose, gush about seeing her.
"Seriously, Rey. It feels like forever. I'm so glad you're home!" Rose moved closer and hugged her again.
Rey laughed, hugging her back. "Rose, you and Paige were just out to visit me only last May."
"And it's almost April, now. It's been like almost a year since I've seen you, Peanut!" Rose patted her cheek.
As her back hit the bar, Rey took Roses hand from her face and kissed the top, holding it from repeating the same gesture again.
"One pint of Blue Moon," Poe began. "Rey what are you drinking?"
"One Cosmo!" Rose cried, frowning at Poe.
"Sweetie, don't you think you're done?" Rey asked her.
"I'm having a drink with my bestie. Besides, Finn can drive me home when he gets here." Rose was not hearing it.
Rey shrugged. "I'll have a bourbon, straight."
"And a bourbon, straight," Poe yelled again over the din of voices and music.
"Oh Reyn-bow, are you in for a surprise!" Rose giggled wrapping her arms around Rey's waist.
She hadn't heard that childhood nickname in years. But leave it to a drunk Rose to resurrect it. Laughing, she turned to the bar, and the whole world seemed to stop spinning for a moment.
She would know those eyes anywhere. Dark, and deep set, beneath a heavy brow. His angular features, the shaggy black hair he always wore long to cover ears that he hated. He stared back at her, the bourbon clutched in his white knuckled hand. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. He recovered first.
"Well, if it isn't our very own hometown celebrity. Reagan Niima." His deep voice, like rich velvet brushed against the nap, scraped across her nerve endings.
"Ben," was all she could manage, her mind swirling.
"It's good to see you." He placed the drink down on the bar before her.
"I… It's good to see you too." She stumbled over her words.
"Doesn't she look gorgeous, Ben?" Rose gushed, with her head on Rey's arm.
Rey knew her cheeks bloomed with red, as heat rushed to her face. She couldn't pulled her eyes from him, as he studied her face intently.
"She always did," he finally spoke.
Eyes widening, she grabbed her drink, dug in her back pocket, threw some bills on the counter and spun, moving quickly to the safety of her friends. Getting back to the group, Rey reached past Poe to place her drink on the table, pulling back her trembling hand to shove in her pocket.
"Peanut!" her foster brother's voice rang out over the din of the bar.
And then there he was, wrapping her into a bone crushing hug. Pulling her off her feet and spinning suddenly. Still dazed from her abrupt meeting with Ben, she buried her face in Finn's neck and hung on for dear life. When he finally put her down, he grabbed her shoulders and ducked his head to look into her eyes. And his face fell.
"What is it? What happened?"
Rey's mouth dropped open. Seriously could he be so thick? She punched his arm coming away with a sore hand.
"Peanut, what's wrong?" he frowned, rubbing his bicep.
"You didn't tell me Ben Solo was working here!" she growled at him.
Finn looked from Rey to the bar and back again. His face held nothing but confusion.
"I didn't think it was a big deal. Did he say something to you?"
"No," she said immediately.
"He said, she looks gorgeous," Rose drawled, from behind Finn.
Rey shot her a withering look.
Finn looked her up and down, then shrugged. "I've seen you look better, but…"
Rey threw another punch and this time got a hiss out of him.
"Christ, Rey, have you been working out?"
"Why didn't you tell me that my ex-boyfriend was working at this bar?" she yelled at him, barely heard above the sound of the band.
"I did!"
"What? No, you didn't! I would have never showed up here if you had told me that!" she argued.
"Yes, I did! Have you checked your text's? Besides what does it matter? It was 4 years ago! You've moved on. He's moved on."
Rey pulled out her phone and pressed the home button, waking it up, then she suddenly frowned and blinked up at Finn. "He has?"
"Well, yeah. I guess so."
"Oh," was all she could think of to say.
"Come on, Rey! Have a drink. Let's go dance!" Rose pressed Rey's glass into her hand and linked their arms.
Looking from Rose to Finn, she took a deep breath and threw back the bourbon in one shot. Closing her eyes, she winced as it tore down her throat. With a gulp of cool air, she pushed the glass into Finn's hands and pulled another bill from her pocket.
"Get me another, and keep them coming," she ordered as she followed Rose to the small dance floor that was over crowded already.
His brows nearly reaching his hairline, Finn watched the two of them for a moment before turning and heading to the bar.