"See ya guys!" Rey called over her shoulder to the Saturday team as she punched her time card and finally got to leave the stuffy garage. She hadn't been that excited to clock out since, well, yesterday. Today's shift had felt painfully slow despite its limited hours. She could blame it on her long workweek, the fact that she wasn't with her usual coworkers, her heightened anxiety when Plutt stopped by, or the annoying stream of customers she helped, but she knew it boiled down to her eagerness to see Ben.

As she boarded the bus, she thought for the millionth time about his large hands stroking her back, barely fitting against his steering wheel as she had kissed him silly in his car. The very distracting thought had lingered throughout the day as she dazedly fixed tires and changed oil. Last night she had jumped him in his car like a high schooler both at the restaurant and then again when he dropped her off, but it was driven by more than just hormones. She craved his attention, his warmth, his soft lips. In his arms, she felt safe. She felt needed. He kissed her like he meant it, and she couldn't get enough.

She had been almost nervous the evening before, getting ready for her date. After a few days of not being able to physically see or touch Ben, she had started to wonder if it had all been some ridiculous daydream she had floated in for the past couple weeks. Why on earth should a sweet, powerful, rich, thoughtful, sexy man want her, a nobody with a truckload of baggage?

She had nearly spilled all of her insecurities to Lando over the phone on Thursday night when she casually asked if their phone calls cost money too. Lando, clearly having explained this to people time and time again, clinically recited the way he billed clients, in six-minute increments. Six minutes! That meant that just a six-minute phone call was one tenth of his hourly rate, a number she didn't know exactly but knew it to be in the hundreds. It made her head spin to think of so much money being spent on her behalf.

Lando easily read her silence following his explanation. Gently, he said, "Rey, first of all let me say – it's been a while since I've interacted much with the Solo-Organa family, but I can say this – there's a lot of money there. So don't you go worrying about that. Second, I know you and Ben haven't been involved for very long, but I spent just a few minutes with the two of you and I saw immediately how smitten that boy is. Believe me, there is nothing he wouldn't do for you."

Rey almost whispered back. "How do you know?"

Lando chuckled. "Because I've seen that face before. He looks at you like his dad used to look at his mom. There was never anyone more far-gone than that man. Oh, those two fought like cats and dogs, but when Han thought no one was looking, he was like a little puppy."

Rey tried to imagine the suave man she had met at the garage as a lovesick young man and could only laugh at the thought. But she couldn't deny that the whole exchange made her feel warm and fuzzy.

"So anyway," Lando had continued. "Just keep your head down. You're doing a great job. The DA's office has their eye on both Plutt and his buddy Sam, and they're slowly building a case. You know who to call the second you feel like you're in any danger. I'll be in touch soon."

That conversation with Lando had assuaged some of her relationship anxiety, but it wasn't until she saw Ben in the flesh the next day, waiting for her at the ridiculous covert meeting spot she had selected, that she felt confident it all wasn't a dream. His entire face had lit up when she came around the corner into his sight and she began to believe that maybe he was as happy to see her as she was to see him. He had climbed out of his car, pulled her against him, kissed her on the forehead, and whispered how much he had missed her and how perfect she looked.

Then she had to share him with Finn and Rose.

But tonight – tonight, he was all hers.

For days he had refused to tell her what he was planning for their evening. She knew tonight was significant to him, because it was their first real date where neither he nor she had to put on some façade. This was the real deal – Rey Niima, mechanic and orphan, and Benjamin Organa Solo, businessman and heir to the Organa and Solo fortunes. He knew more about her background than anyone, save only for Lando, and he still wanted to go out with her.

She still didn't know what she was going to wear.

Ben knew she was nervous about mixing with people of society. He had promised her they wouldn't go to some restaurant where she would spend the entire evening worried about how she looked or how she fit in. Eventually, she knew that if they lasted longer-term (and oh, she was beginning to hope they would) she'd have to get over her insecurities and mingle with the upper class, but she wasn't ready. Ben seemed to recognize her hesitation, willing to respect her boundaries and ease her into his world. Sweet, thoughtful, awkward, kinda stuffy Ben. She automatically smiled at every thought of him.

"Jess! Jessika!" She called out as she walked into her apartment. "You home?"

"Hey girl!" Jessika's cheery voice came in from the kitchen. "C'mere, you got something today."

Confused, Rey walked into their kitchen to find Jessika fluffing an enormous bouquet in a large glass vase.

"This came a couple hours ago," said Jessika, handing Rey a small card with her name on front. Mouth agape, Rey pulled a note card out of the tiny envelope and read the message.

I tried to find an arrangement as bright and beautiful as your smile. Turns out it was impossible. Counting down the minutes until I can see the real thing.

Jessika took a step back and stood next to Rey so they could both admire the flowers, in full bloom and containing every color of the rainbow.

"Damn, girl," said Jessika. "An arrangement like this seriously sets a boy back."

"No one's ever bought me flowers before," whispered Rey. Practically, she knew that flowers were a silly expense. They weren't cheap, they didn't serve any real purpose, and they died quickly. But staring at those flowers, knowing that Ben had picked them out and had them delivered for her, for no other reason than to make her smile, filled her with a delicious warmth that she was beginning to associate with Ben.

"Well, that's quite a bouquet for your first go," said Jessika, whistling appreciatively. "Everything you ever get after this is going to hurt by comparison. I can't wait until Finch gets here and sees this. I don't even remember the last time he got me flowers."

Rey laughed. "You're evil."

"I sure am. You still want to raid my closet? Apparently we gotta get to work making you look 'thanks for the enormous bouquet' good."

"Yes! I've already worn through my cutest stuff with him. I'm all out."

Jessika linked her arm with Rey's. "Then let's go!"

Rey waited outside the laundromat with a lovely, white, floral-print sundress on her body and butterflies in her stomach. Jessika had helped her with her hair and makeup, but she still worried she wouldn't measure up. She desperately tried to tamp down the feelings, reminding herself that Ben had started liking her when she was in her work uniform and covered with grease.

But then his shiny Mercedes pulled up. The Mercedes that Rey had lusted over not more than one week before. The Mercedes she never expected to see again in her life after that day. Rey self-consciously smoothed out her skirt automatically.

The back door opened and Ben stepped out. Ben, dressed to the nines in a white oxford shirt rolled to his elbows, tucked into perfectly fitting blue Chino pants with some kind of expensive looking boat shoes. Ben, peeling off Wayfarer sunglasses that probably cost her monthly rent. Ben, looking like a million bucks. Ben, smiling at her and looking her up and down.

Ben, her boyfriend.

How was this her life?

She sauntered up to him and he took both of her hands and pulled her in for a soft, tender kiss.

"You look stunning," he whispered into her ear, making her shiver.

"You sure look handsome yourself." She gave him a little shove. "And you were going to let me wear my work clothes."

He chuckled. "That's because you look beautiful no matter what."

"Speaking of beautiful, thank you for the flowers," she said. "They made my day."

"I'm glad you liked them." He kissed her on her nose. "Come, we have to get going and you need to meet Mitaka."

Rey climbed into the roomy, luxurious leather backseat and made eye contact with the dark haired driver, who turned around in his seat to greet her.

"Technically we've already met, but I'm Mitaka, Ben's driver and sometimes personal assistant."

"Good to meet you again," said Rey. "You know, I totally made fun of Ben that day for having a driver, even though I didn't know it at the time."

Mitaka chuckled. "Just don't make fun of him too much, or then I might be out of a job." He turned back around to begin driving.

"And you!" She cried out lovingly and pretended to hug the inside of the car. "It's good to see you again, too." She stroked the seats, window, and doorframe.

Ben pulled her into his side. "I'm beginning to think you like me for my car," he muttered playfully.

"Oh, you figured me out!" said Rey. "You better upgrade soon, before I lose interest."

"We did discuss a Ferrari, did we not?"

"Mmm, now you're talking." She leaned up and kissed him. After a few minutes of backseat kisses and cuddles, Rey was revising her opinion on the necessity of having a driver. She didn't even care that they weren't alone. Every time Ben pulled back to look at her with a dazed expression, she lost her mind and went in for more.

After a while, she finally became self-conscious that they were sharing a car with another human being. She straightened up and looked into the rearview mirror.

"So Mitaka," she said, and he looked up. "How long have you been driving Ben around?"

"Oh, um, I guess it's been about three years now."

Pulling herself forward, she leaned in through the two front seats. "Do you have any good stories about him?" Behind her, Ben groaned, and she flashed him a mischievous smile.

"Hmm." Mitaka looked thoughtful. "Honestly, Miss Rey, all of my best stories about Ben have come in the past couple weeks, since he started at your garage. You've, uh, put him out of his element, that's for sure."

She grinned back at Ben, who put his face in his hands.

"You know what, here's one," continued Mitaka. "Once, back in Corellia, Ben and I had to pick up a very important client to go to some event. Ben was terrified and wanted to impress him, so he made me clean the inside of the car again and again. We had to have fine wine for the drive in these crystal goblets. Ben had all these demands."

"So what happened?"

"This super powerful, rich guy got into the car and asked why they didn't just take the subway. The look on Ben's face was priceless. It turned out the guy was completely opposed to the idea of cars in the city and spent the rest of the drive lecturing a horrified Ben. I nearly dropped my phone last week when Ben texted me he was going to take the bus."

Rey laughed and turned to her embarrassed boyfriend. "Well I'm glad I could introduce you to the wonderful Coruscant Transit Authority, for a short while anyway. But I guess I can't blame you. This is much nicer."

Rey wanted to hear more stories, but Ben shut her up by kissing her again. It was a completely unfair move, but she acquiesced soon enough. After a little bit, they were interrupted by Mitaka nervously clearing his throat.

"Ah, here we are," said Ben. He climbed out and helped out Rey. Mitaka waved and drove off.

"I've never seen Mitaka so chatty before," said Ben, rubbing his neck. "You really know how to put people at ease, Rey. Of course it was all at my expense."

"I guess everyone likes to make fun of their boss. Easiest conversation topic in the world." She gave him a quick kiss. "Where are we?" She turned around and took in their surroundings. They were near the ocean, but she couldn't make sense of the parking lot they were in.

Ben didn't hear her, as he was on the phone. He hung up and said, "Chewie will be here in just a sec."

"Chewie?"

"Yeah, my dad's best friend. You met him at the garage last week."

She thought for a moment. "The tall one?"

"Yep."

A red Range Rover pulled up to where they were waiting and a giant bearded man lumbered out of the driver's seat. He walked right towards Rey with his hand outstretched.

"Rey, we meet again."

From behind her, Ben said, "Rey this is Charles Bacca, but everyone calls him Chewie. He was my dad's mechanic back in his Nascar days and has been his business partner and best friend ever since. He's like an uncle to me."

"It's great to meet you, again," said Rey.

"We've been talking about you a lot back at corporate. You made an impression, and not just because Benny here was obviously nursing a crush."

She grinned madly as she peeked back at Ben, who was scowling like a child.

"But apparently he's finally learned to talk to a pretty girl," continued Chewie. "There was one time when he was about fourteen…"

"No," cut in Ben.

Rey was delighted. "Oh please keep going," she begged. Ben turned away petulantly.

"We all went on a ski trip to Aspen and there was this New Years Eve party at our resort. Leia of course dragged him out in this monkey suit. We were seated with another family that had a girl about Ben's age. We all enjoyed watching her try to talk to him all evening. Then she asked him to dance and he threw up right there on the spot. Some of it got on her shoes."

"I wasn't feeling well that night!" protested Ben. Rey could only laugh and turned around to give him a satisfied smirk. "Happened fifteen years ago and I'll never live it down," he said bitterly.

"Oh come on," she said. "We all have embarrassing stories from that age. Course, there's no one around to tell mine so I'm safe." She tried to play it off like a joke, but her voice came dangerously close to cracking at the end.

"Let's, um, let's get going," said Ben quickly, wrapping an arm around Rey. "Chewie?"

"Hop on in."

Rey followed Ben's lead into the SUV, feeling a bit bewildered.

"Dad will be mad that you told that story to Rey before he had a chance to," Ben said to Chewie. "It's one of his favorites."

"Maybe I can just pretend I haven't heard it," suggested Rey.

"Eh, trust me, he's got an arsenal of stories he'll be dying to share," said Ben, rolling his eyes. "Although he'll probably just tell the story again, ridiculously embellished. By the end of his version, there will be vomit all over that girl's dress, in her hair, burning her eyes…"

Chewie's loud laughter filled the car. Rey took that to mean that Ben was probably right.

"Hey Chewie, you didn't tell them where we're going, right?"

Chewie held up three fingers in a salute and looked at Ben in the rearview mirror. "Nope, Scout's honor. I kept my promise. Han and Leia don't even know I'm with you."

"Good," said Ben. He turned to Rey. "I wouldn't it put it past them to come spying."

Chewie pulled off the road and drove on the beach for a minute. Rey had to appreciate the smooth ride of the SUV. She asked Chewie a few questions about the suspension system in the car and he promised he'd give her a chance to take a look sometime. They talked engines for a few more minutes until they came to a stop. She looked out her window and saw a helicopter parked right on the beach.

"What…"

Ben took her hand. "Ready to hit the sky?"

Rey clapped her other hand over her mouth.

Chewie turned around in his seat. "Ben told me you're interested in flight, so he called in a favor. Flying is a hobby of mine. I'll be taking you up in my helicopter." He got out of the car and headed over.

She took a few heaving breaths. Ben tightened his grip.

"Are you nervous? We don't have to do it."

Quickly, she shook her head. "No, I'm…I'm so excited. I can't believe you did this for me."

He looked pleased but attempted to shrug it off. "It was no big deal. Chewie was happy to help."

"He's nice." She lowered her voice and looked out the window. "But, like, where did that nickname come from?"

"I've never asked. Honestly, I don't even want to know." He grimaced and Rey laughed. Then he reached into the front seat and produced a shopping bag, handing it off to Rey. She pulled out a sunglasses case.

"I had my personal shopper pick those out in case you weren't wearing any. It can get kind of bright up there," he explained. "I hope you like them. I don't know anything about women's fashion, well, um, any fashion really."

Rey just stared wide-eyed at the gorgeous sunglasses in her hand. She slipped them on and looked at herself in her phone's reflection, not able to contain her smile. She felt like Aubrey Hepburn. She turned to thank Ben, but then thought of something else.

"Wait, what is a personal shopper?"

She could see Ben's neck turn red even through the tint of the sunglasses. "It's someone who picks out my clothes."

"You pay someone to do your shopping?"

"Um, yeah. I hate shopping. Too many years of enduring long trips out with my mom."

"Wow." She took that in for a moment. Then she remembered herself. "Well, thank you, and tell them thank you. I love them."

"Good." Ben rubbed his neck. "Good. Well, they look great. Should we go?"

Rey followed him to the helicopter. Chewie handed her a headset.

"Ben told me you'd probably want me to explain everything as we go," he said. She nodded enthusiastically. He helped her climb into a seat by his pilot's seat.

She settled in, bursting with anticipation. She hadn't been in anything that flew since her flight to America ten years before. Ben stepped inside and crouched down in front of her.

"Don't forget your co-captain," he said, before handing her another shopping bag.

Curious, she pulled it open. Her heart skipped a full beat when she saw what was inside. Breathing slowly, she pulled out an unopened box containing a pilot Barbie doll, exactly like the one she had gotten as a child.

"How did you…" Her voice came out as a breathy whisper.

Ben spoke quickly. "I know it's not the real thing, but I couldn't exactly break into your apartment and look for her. I'm sorry, I should have thought… you know what, don't worry about it. I'll just stick her back in the car."

She tightened her grip on the box as Ben reached for it. "You remembered," she said softly. "Captain Raeh." Her face broke out into a smile and Ben looked calmer. "And you wouldn't have found her in my apartment. Plutt threw her out years ago. I left her out one day and he was mad about something, and well…"

She shook her head firmly, keeping her tears at bay. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Thank you Ben. This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever gotten me. But she must have cost a fortune!"

Ben laughed nervously. "Actually, it, um, didn't. No offense, but you're not old enough for toys of your childhood to be worth that much. There were like five of them on eBay."

Rey eagerly tore off the packaging and unwound the stupid little plastic wires that held her in place. She admired the doll as Ben and Chewie finished getting everything ready. Finally, Ben sat next to her and took her hand as Chewie explained all the pre-flight sequences.

Then they were in the air. Rey laughed as her stomach swooped. The feeling was wonderful. She watched as the shoreline got smaller underneath them and she got a bird's eye view of the city she grew up. Chewie took them on a tour of the coastline, pointing out familiar landmarks.

"There's my condo," said Ben, pointing at some indistinguishable high rise in the distance. She nodded along, not admitting that she couldn't tell one building from another. They continued their tour of the city before they crossed the bay for some distance, eventually landing on an offshore island.

"Here's our stop," said Ben. "Thank you Chewie. See you at nine." He helped Rey climb out and duck carefully under the still-spinning rotors.

"Thank you Chewie!" cried out Rey. Once he had lifted up and flown off, she turned and leaped into Ben's arms. "Thank you! That was incredible!"

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and kept her lifted off her feet. "I'm glad you liked it."

"And I'm proud of you."

Ben pulled back a bit and lifted one eyebrow. "Oh?"

"You didn't even throw up!"

Groaning loudly, Ben set her down and pretended to be angry as he shoved her away. "Ugh, you just killed it. Date's over."

"Ben, we were literally helicoptered in. Looks like you're stuck with me for the night," replied Rey, grinning wildly. She didn't know when she would come down from the high she felt from their flight.

He grabbed her hand and tugged her back into him. "Hmm, then I guess I need to make the best of it." He kissed her forehead before turning her in the direction of a dazzling beachside resort not far in the distance.

As they walked towards the resort, Ben told her about the private island they were on.

"My mother's parents had a getaway here that we would sail out to often when I was growing up. That was before they put this resort in. Grandfather was the one who taught me to sail. My dad doesn't like sailing. He's all about things that are motorized, so he sticks to his yacht and ski boats, but I actually liked sailing. There's something about working with the elements that was soothing even as it was stressful."

Rey thought his tone sounded wistful. "Are your grandparents still…with us?" she asked carefully.

"No, they were already older when they adopted my mom and her twin, my uncle Luke. Grandfather passed away when I was fifteen, and Grandmother when I was in college."

"Maybe…maybe we can sail sometime?" She couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness any time she referenced the future.

Ben squeezed her hand. "I'd like that. It's been a very long time since I tried, but maybe it's time to give it another go."

They approached the resort and not thirty seconds after they walked into the ornate doors, a man in a suit came rushing towards them.

"Mr. Solo, welcome. We have arranged everything like you asked."

Rey clutched Ben's hand nervously as they followed the man through the luxurious lobby. Ben had promised they weren't going anywhere fancy and here they were in a far nicer building than she had ever set foot in before. Jessika's dress was cute, but she was certain it was inexpensive.

After winding through more hallways and riding on an elevator, the trio walked onto a rooftop terrace with the most breathtaking view that Rey had ever seen. The host showed them to a solitary table and two chairs surrounded by flowers and greenery that covered every inch of the terrace. Ben pulled out her chair and took the seat across from her. On the table was a bottle of wine on ice that the host immediately uncorked and served to them before promising that someone would be with them shortly and leaving.

Ben casually picked up the menu in front of him and flipped through it while sipping his wine, but Rey couldn't take her eyes off of the ocean.

"This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," she said, looking all around until she finally faced Ben, whose expression had settled on her. The intensity in his deep brown eyes made her heart flutter.

"You certainly are," he said, his voice low and his gaze never leaving her face.

She struggled to catch her breath. "Ben Solo, I think you're a bit of a sap," she managed to squeak out. His eyes crinkled and he gave her a tiny half smile before ducking his head and rubbing his neck.

"There's no caviar," said Ben hastily. "And better yet, no people. And I made sure there'd be a burger and fries on the menu, if that's what you want." He glanced down at the menu in front of her and she picked it up, batting her eyelashes over the top.

"Why, that is the most romantic thing you've ever said to me."

After a long, lazy, delicious dinner on the rooftop, Ben wanted to take Rey to explore some of his favorite spots on the island. The resort lent him a little dune buggy that he and and a wildly enthusiastic Rey took turns driving around the coast. He was disappointed to see that a couple of his go-to locations had been knocked out by the construction of the resort, but he was still able to find some fun places. At their final destination, he excitedly tugged Rey along as they explored a hidden cove that he was relieved to see was still as secluded and untouched as it was when he was a kid.

"Aha!" he shouted when he spotted a small waterfall in the distance. Rey looked in the direction he was turned and gasped. The early dusky sky created a purplish glow on the falling water, illuminated by the setting sun hanging low in the sky.

"To think I grew up here and have never seen anything like this," she said. "I think this is the farthest I've traveled from Coruscant Hills since I moved here."

"Do you want to go see it?"

Rey practically ran in the direction of the waterfall, stumbling a bit over some rocks in the path. As the path got more uneven, making her steps tougher in her strappy sandals, he swept her up into his arms and carried her the last portion of the way. She giggled happily and wrapped her arms around his neck, swinging her feet. Once he set her down, she reached out into the waterfall and flicked some water at Ben's face. He jerked back in surprise and she threw her arms around him again, kissing the drops of water right off his face.

"Thank you," she said solemnly, looking up into his eyes. "This has been the most magical evening of my life. It's been the perfect distraction from…everything going on."

He pulled her even closer and looked down into her eyes. "Rey, I'm sorry that you had it tough growing up. I'm sorry that you have to deal with the consequences every day. I'm sorry that it's so unfair that I had so much growing up and you had so little. And I'm sorry that you don't have anyone to tell your childhood stories. That's not fair, and you deserve so much more." He lifted a hand to stroke some hair from her face. "I want to give you so much more. You give me so much."

Tears pooled in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. "I'm worried. All of this feels too good to be true. I like you so much, and I'm so scared that something from my past will ruin everything. We don't know what is going to happen."

He cupped her face with both hands. "Don't be afraid," he whispered, before kissing her gently.

"I've never felt this way about anyone," she murmured as he pulled away. Ben's heart lifted at her words.

"Neither have I," he agreed as he leaned in to kiss her neck.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Hey Ben?"

He hummed in response, still nuzzling at the slender column of her neck. He didn't ever want to stop.

"Tonight has been perfect but you don't need to pull out all the stops every time, you know. I was just as happy eating nachos and swinging."

He pulled away and smiled at her. "I know. And that's what makes you amazing. But thank you for letting me spoil you a bit. And for letting me share a place that's special to me."

She kissed him in earnest now. As he kissed her back, pulling her as tight into him as he could manage, his spirits rose high into the evening sky, higher than the heights they'd hit later with Chewie as they took in the lights of the city. Higher than the first star that was beginning to make itself known far out in the horizon.

He wondered why it was called falling in love, when he didn't feel like he was falling.

He felt like he was flying.