She was born on a beautiful summer's day.
He had no idea the commotion she would cause.
Ben was a mere two year old when he was introduced to the tiny baby in the pink casket. She had dark hazel eyes that felt as though they were piercing into Ben's soul. She was wrapped up in a dark navy baby blanket and she was staring at him, gurgling. He had met the baby's parents once before but he couldn't recall their names, or even if they were related to him.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and his head turned to face his uncle Luke looking down at him. He didn't understand much of what his parents were saying, it was all jumbled up words to his young two year old self, but he did catch on to one word. Betrothed, and when Ben was older he would understand exactly what that word meant, and how much it would impact his future.
As his uncle Luke lead him from the room and back to his own bedroom he caught his mother say the baby's name out loud.
Rey.
He never seen the baby called Rey again until he was four, and by then, the baby was no longer a...baby. She was a two year old, mischievous, pain in his side. She followed him around everywhere he went, asking him questions about everything and anything.
She was just someone that Ben couldn't deal with. He wanted to run around and play heroes with his best friend Poe. Not babysit a girl two years younger than him.
It was then that his mind cast back to when she was a baby, and the words being spoken. Betrothal. What did that even mean? He was jolted out of his thoughts again when a pair of arms wrapped around his legs. He sighed loudly and looked down at the bright eyes of Rey. Great.
It was a yearly thing. Rey and her family would stay for a few months, then leave again. When Ben was eight, he was old enough to understand more than what he used to. As he got older he was discovered to be gifted with the force, much to the delight of his Uncle Luke. He was soon being trained in the ways of the force by his uncle Luke, and he was finding himself to have exceptional powers.
When he returned from his training, he was called to the main hall where his parents stood with three familiar faces. Rey and her family. He was called to the front and the girl curtsied before him, his mother motioning for him to be polite and show his manners. He resisted rolling his eyes as he bowed in front of her and took her hand in his, kissing the top of it. The gesture made him grimace and the look on her face told him she was no longer the two year old, wide eyed girl. She wore a face of as much annoyance as him. Maybe she'd leave him alone this year.
She is also force sensitive, he realises as he is shoved up against the wall.
She also had no idea, as he watches her face widen in horror before he falls to the floor.
Before he can say anything to her, she is gone.
Great.
After that they start playing pranks on each other. After Uncle Luke explained what was happening to her, and that she was force sensitive, he got her parents in contact with someone who could help teach her when she wasn't here for Luke to teach her himself.
When she became more familiar with her powers and what they could do, that was when the fun really began.
It started off with the movement of objects that they were using. Then they started to trip each other up and mess with each others hair.
He was thirteen and she was eleven.
It wasn't until he was sixteen and she was fourteen that he started to see her as a little more than an annoying thorn in his side. Gone was the baby faced child he was used to and there was this young, amazing teenager who was open to giving him space when he needed it most. She also knew when he needed to have some company, even if he would never admit it to her, or anyone.
She had arrived a few days ago, and had been there to witness the growing, heated argument between his father and him. He had stormed off during dinner, leaving the guests and his family in an awkward silence.
She found him in the corridor a few hours later. "Go away" he muttered. He had never specifically told her to leave even if he wanted to, but he really wasn't up for dealing with her right now.
"No" was her firm response, causing him to look up at her and really look at her. "You need someone who's not going to judge you, and that's me" she said. "Your father shouldn't have said that Ben. He was out of order and someone should have stood up for you"
He scoffed, "Like who? You?" he spat and immediately regretted it. This was the girl he was supposed to marry, he couldn't be seeing being rude to her.
"Yes, like me." she snapped back, un-fazed, "You need someone who can keep up with you, who can challenge you. I can do that. If you want, maybe we can be friends?" she offered, holding out her hand.
Ben stared at her hand, in shock, contemplating her offer. Here was this girl who he thought he found incredibly annoying, being nice to him and offering him her friendship. When he met her eyes, he suddenly felt this connection, the same connection he vaguely remembered feeling when he saw her for the first time as a baby. He coughed and accepted her hand, "If you stop messing with my hair" he muttered and Rey let out a laugh.
"Deal"
