Audi alteram partem: "hear the other side" - Refers to the idea that one cannot be fairly judged unless the cases for and against them have been heard.
"Now I'm not sure if Ben has told you our schedule at all," Leia started as they joined the men downstairs, "but we thought we'd give you the rest of today to get settled, and then if you were up for it, maybe we could have brunch and go shopping tomorrow."
"Shopping?" Rey asked, peeking at the gifts under the heavily decorated tree. "For more gifts?"
Leia stopped, then both she and Han looked at Kylo.
"You didn't tell her?"
Kylo frowned at the attention. "Tell her what?"
"I bet he didn't bring a monkey suit either," Han commented with a smirk.
"Why would I bring a-" He froze, then his face twisted angrily as he muttered, "Son of a… I am not going."
"I was about to say," Leia continued in a rebuking tone, "that you and Rey are of course under no obligation to go, but I thought that decision was best made by the both of you."
She eyed Rey significantly, who was still glancing between everyone as Kylo let out a resentful sigh.
"No obligation to go where?" Rey asked cautiously, surreptitiously checking for any dishware that Kylo might try to throw at the wall.
"To this pompous, pretentious, ridiculous dinner full of stuffed shirts and-"
"It's a charity gala that my campaign sponsors every year on Christmas night," Leia corrected pointedly. "And it is not pretentious."
Kylo rolled his eyes at the exact moment Han shrugged and held up his fingers in the universal gesture of 'just a little bit'. Both men blinked in surprise, then looked oddly uncomfortable at their accidental agreement as Rey tried very hard not to laugh.
"But as I said, you two are more than welcome to stay here, if you like."
"A gala, like… a ball?" Rey asked with hesitant hope.
Leia smiled. "Well, there's a distinct lack of horse-drawn carriages and princes, but yes, something like a ball."
"Though there may be some lost footwear, depending on how much Neena has to drink," Han commented with a sly wink.
After shooting her husband a look, Leia turned back to them, "As I said, you two can decide what you'd like to do. Rey and I can go shopping tomorrow no matter what you choose. Now, dinner is at six, so feel free to relax until then."
Kylo muttered something about unpacking, then hauled his suitcase upstairs, Rey trailing behind with a grateful wave towards Han and Leia. As he marched to his room, scowling at the house in general, Rey followed him, then leaned against the doorframe as he dropped his suitcase on the bed.
In consideration of his mood, Rey waited a few moments, then tried her very best not to sound like a little girl when she asked, "So… what's this ball like?"
"Boring." He growled as he sorted through his shirts. "Stupid and pointless and a thousand times longer than it needs to be."
"Oh."
"And everyone there is a snobby, conceited dick who only cares about who you're related to and how many houses or horses or yachts you own. But you still have to listen to them because they gave obscene amounts of money so everyone gets to hear their awful speeches that go on forever and are completely hypocritical."
When he got no response to his rant, Kylo looked up to see Rey scuffing her toes on the floor, attempting not to look disappointed.
As he silently cursed whatever power she had over him, he reluctantly conceded, "But the food isn't bad."
Rey's head snapped up. "Yeah?"
He scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah. And there's an open bar, so there's that."
"That's always good." She agreed cautiously.
Ignoring how gleeful his internal voice was, he found himself offering, "So, I guess we could… if it's only a few hours… maybe it wouldn't be as awful."
Rey tried to make sense of that, then asked, "So… we can go?"
Kylo sighed. "Yes. We can go."
Squeeing loudly, Rey ran in and hugged him. "You're the best! You hear that Wicket?" She picked up the bear and kissed him on the top of his head. "I'm going to a ball!"
"It's a dinner, not a- Nevermind." Kylo gave up as Rey ran excited out of his room, glad she didn't see the warm blush coming over his face.
Rey gasped loudly as she and Leia entered the dress shop. "They're all so beautiful!"
An accented voice came from behind a the desk, and Rey saw an elegant older woman come around to greet them, "And we are to help you find the one who matches the beauty in you."
"Mia," Leia smiled in welcome as they women exchanged kisses on the cheek. "Mia, this is Rey, one of Ben's friends, and she needs something to wear to the gala tomorrow."
"Hmm." Mia narrowed her eyes and slowly circled Rey, who was suddenly aware of every flyaway hair and her complete lack of make-up.
"We will start with the chartreuse." She declared firmly, and Rey peeked at Leia, who gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Four gowns later ("The chartreuse will not do," Mia had announced the second Rey put it on), Rey was enjoying spinning in a dark navy corseted dress with stars on it.
"I know it's silly, but twirling in spinny dresses is so much fun," Rey confided in Leia as Mia marched off to find another candidate ("It is both too much and not enough!").
Leia tilted her head. "Why do you think it's silly?"
Rey swished a little bit, then shrugged. "I don't know. Doesn't it… set back feminism, or something?"
(Mia returned and herded Rey back into the room, "I have found the one! It is... as it should be. Now go!")
Laughing kindly, Leia shook her head. "Let me tell you something my mother told me. Fashion is a tool. And like tools, different ones accomplish separate purposes. Now, the purposes can range from comfort, or practicality, to exuding power, or authority."
She paused as Rey emerged timidly, trying not to step on the hem, then finished with a soft, glowing smile, "Or to draw every eye in the room."
"Wow." Rey breathed as she stared in the mirror, watching the chiffon dress shift from emerald green to a shimmering blue as she turned.
"Wow indeed. It was commissioned to me from one of those starlets, but she betrayed me for a hideous disaster from her paramour instead, so it has been exiled to sit in shame. But now, now you have redeemed it!" Mia stated dramatically.
Rey blinked in confusion, then ventured, "Thank you?"
"It's perfect, Mia." Leia agreed, standing next to Rey. "What would you recommend for shoes?"
Mia frowned in concentration, analyzing the amount of fabric touching the floor. "Four inches. Perhaps four point five, but no more."
"Four inch heels?" Rey squeaked.
"You go to Carter's. They are very good about the heels with enough comfort."
"Enough comfort for what?"
Mia glanced at her as if it were obvious. "For the night." Fluttering her hand, she told Leia, "Now, go, go. I will do what needs done and it will be delivered tomorrow first thing."
"You're the best, Mia." Leia smiled as they exchanged farewell kisses, Rey unexpectedly getting pulled in for some as well.
"I know, darling. I know."
Rey was still trying to wrap her head around what the entire afternoon must have cost when they returned to the house that afternoon.
(Leia had firmly halted any protests from Rey. "I invited you to a party with no notice dear. It's the least I could do. Besides," she added when Rey opened her mouth again, "I have one son who has no tolerance for fashion, so it's a rarity I get to spend an entire morning picking out beautiful dresses for a delightful young woman. Indulge me.")
"We're back!" Leia called out in the foyer as they put away their coats.
"Took you long enough." Han commented as he came in. "I thought Mia had finally convinced you to hold the government hostage until they all wore her label."
"I'm still considering her proposal," Leia rejoined with a smirk as he dropped a kiss on her forehead, Kylo rolling his eyes as he entered the room.
"Well, now that you're done with the girly stuff, I've got to go check on the shop. Chewie's a big ole softy and gave the crew the next couple days off, which means more work for me. Whaddya say kid, up for a road trip?"
"Oh, well I should probably help with-"
"Luke brought in his T-65 X."
"What?" Rey's eyes widened. "A 65? How does he keep it running?"
"He doesn't." Han pointed a thumb at his chest. "I do. The thing can barely turn on without something breaking, and then you need four different parts for the three different systems, none of which are sold anymore."
"Oh I can imagine. How do you run diagnostics without interfering with the-"
"Ahem." Kylo coughed pointedly. "Rey and I should probably go over our final argument."
Han narrowed his eyes. "Your finals are finished. What do you need to study for?"
Stiffening, Kylo answered, "A review of any case one has litigated is standard practice-"
"C'mon, you get her the rest of the year. I'm sure you can share her for a few days." Han raised a challenging eyebrow, then added, "or you come come with us. You used to love the shop."
The phrase 'used to' hung heavy in the air, Kylo clenching his fist as Rey felt the tension in the room rise.
"Now, someone needs to stay and help me with dinner," Leai, ever the diplomat, stepped between them and laid her hand on her husband's arm.
"So, what'll it be, Ben?" Han asked despite Leia's warning grip.
There was a long moment, then he muttered, "I'll stay," and walked outside.
"I'll be right back," Rey told them after a beat as she followed him out, Leia's glare promising Han a long and pointed conversation.
She trailed after Kylo as he marched to his car, her eyes full of concern. He paced around the car a few times, then finally sat on the hood and spat out, "I hate that old man."
Rey gingerly sat next to him as he shook his head angrily. "Can't believe he brought up the shop. Just can't let the past die, can he?"
Without looking at her, he explained, "He spent every day either with his planes, his car or that damn shop. Tried to drag me down there as much as he could. Always ignored me when I told him I had homework or a life, or that I didn't care about any of it. Not that he ever listened. About anything."
Biting her lip a few times, Rey eventually offered, "Maybe it's his way of connecting with you."
Kylo rolled eyes and snorted. "That's one way to see it."
"It's the kindest way."
He glanced at her, then answered softly, "It's your way."
"I just think that if that shop is really important to him, maybe trying to share it with you is his way of saying you're important too."
He fiddled with his jacket. "That's what you'd do, huh?"
She peeked up at him and shrugged, "If something was special to me, I'd want to share it with the people I cared about."
Staring at her for a long moment, he glanced up at the sky, then rubbed his face. "Go."
"What? No, no, I'll stay and help with d-"
"Go." He told her firmly. "Let him prattle on about machines for hours. Better you than me."
Rey stood, then furrowed her brows a little. "You going to be okay?"
He met her gaze, a trace of something soft and gentle flitting through his eyes before Rey could understand it. "Yeah. It'll give me some air."
She paused, as if deciding whether or not she believed him, then touched his arm with a small smile and walked back into the house.
Kylo waited until the Millenium Falcon flew out of the driveway before coming inside.
"There you are, dear. Can you chop some garlic for the green beans?" Leia called out, for all the world like all of this (his father driving off with Rey, him returning from a shouting match, him being here at all) was a normal occurrence.
Dutifully, he started peeling garlic as he heard tires screech on the road.
Leia laughed softly. "Well, your father has certainly taken to her."
He started chopping cloves, then replied, "Pity. She was starting to become tolerable."
Shaking her head fondly, Leia tilted her head to watch her son, then added, "I'm glad you look out for her."
Kylo nearly took off part of his finger at that non-sequitur. "I… I don't know what you-"
"I'm sure she's glad too." She continued, calmly slicing potatoes with a mandolin.
Shifting his weight awkwardly, he finished prepping the garlic, and starting trimming the green beans. "She doesn't need anyone to look out for her," he said, half under his breath.
Leia studied him before replying, "Everyone needs someone, sweetheart." She took the potato gratin over to the oven, then patted his shoulder. "Even you."
His eyes followed her as she opened the oven door, then flicked over to the window, where the treadmarks on the road were still visible.
He then thought that perhaps, she was not wrong.