A/N: Alright, friends, this chapter is short, but the next one is almost twice as long. Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think.

It was their last night in Cloud City and Lando was giving a banquet in their honor. Rey stood staring in consternation at the dress Lando had given her. It was beautiful, no doubt about that. It was made of a light blue, floaty material Leia had called "chiffon," with silver beading around the waist, thin straps at the shoulders, and a plunging line in both the front and back. She had also been given a pair of strappy sandals with silver beads to match the dress. Rey had never worn a dress in her life, or anything other than boots. Leia told her the banquet would be formal and that she must wear the dress. Rey sighed and stripped off her familiar, comfortable clothing. She managed to wriggle into the dress without ripping it. The material fanned out on the floor around her. She slipped the sandals on, thanking the Force that the overlong dress would prevent anyone from seeing her callused feet.

There was a knock at the door and Leia entered holding a box.

"You look lovely. I thought you might need some help with your hair."

Leia opened the box to reveal hair styling equipment and make-up.

Rey nodded. "Unless you think my usual three buns would suffice."

Leia smiled and led her to a chair. The older woman brushed and braided her hair in separate braids on each side then joined the two in the back. She left the back of her hair down, using a wand to create loose curls. Rey imagined that this is what it would have been like to have a mother who loved her, a mother who would have gently brushed and styled her hair and told her she looked beautiful. She swallowed a lump in her throat as an old familiar longing welled up inside. Leia moved around her and took her hand.

"You are the daughter I never had, Rey. Strong, brave, and kind. You have a family now, people who love and value you."

"Were my feelings that obvious?" Rey asked, a little embarrassed.

"You were practically screaming through the Force."

"Oh."

"You don't have to feel ashamed of anything around me. Just remember, that's not your life anymore."

Rey smiled. "Thank you, Leia."

The older woman patted her cheek. "Now let's do the finishing touches."

Leia applied light color to Rey's eyes, cheeks, and lips. She fastened a silver necklace of alternating dark blue and white gems around her neck and a matching bracelet on her wrist.

"Perfect. You're a vision. I've got to get going and get myself ready. Your friends will come get you when it's time to go down."

Leia left and Rey stood staring at herself in the mirror. Some otherworldly creature looked back, a creature of ethereal beauty and grace. Certainly no one Rey had ever encountered. As she considered this stranger in the mirror, she felt the bond open.

"Wow," Ben whispered.

She turned to face him and watched his eyes drink her in.

"Just...wow. You look amazing."

"But nothing like Rey of Jakku."

"I love Rey of Jakku just as she is. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate the delectable sight before me."

He moved towards her, his desire pouring through the bond in heady waves. It took all Rey's willpower to step back and put her hand on his chest.

"Careful, if you mess me up your mother will kill us both."

Ben stuck his bottom lip out in a very alluring pout. "Can I come back and mess you up later?"

Stars, why did his lips have to be so perfectly kissable? Rey's stomach fluttered. "Maybe."

"What's the occasion anyway?"

"Lando is giving a banquet for our last night."

"Stars, I wish I could be there to escort you."

"Me, too."

Ben took her by the arms and turned her around.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't worry, I won't undo any of my mother's hard work. I'm just going to ensure that you spend the evening thinking of me, the way I'm going to spend it thinking of you."

He brushed his fingers up from her bare lower back to her shoulders then bent to press his lips to her tender skin, tracing a line up her spine to the base of her neck. His hands wandered down to her bodice and his fingers teased along the top of it. Rey's eyes fluttered shut as one strong hand slid down to her abdomen and pulled her back against Ben's chest. He brushed her hair aside to nip at her neck. He spun her around and the burning look in his eyes drew a gasp from her. One hand went to the small of her back to hold her against him. He kissed his way across her collarbone and up her neck.

There was a knock at the door.

Ben continued to kiss along her jaw till his lips were at her ear. He whispered, his voice dark and silky, as his feelings of possession poured through the bond, "Just remember tonight when every man in the room is currying your favor, you belong to me.

He gave her one last heated look, then closed the bond.

Rey took several moments to allow her frantic heart to slow to its normal rhythm then went to the door.