CHAPTER 21
When the Solos arrive, the restaurant is packed. And it's loud. Maybe going out in public after a concussion wasn't a great idea, because Ben's starting to get a headache. They've only been waiting for fifteen minutes, but frankly it feels like an hour. People are talking loudly. Dishes are clinking. Music is playing. His head is pounding.
"Little love, can you ask the nice man at the bar for a glass of water for your dad?," Rey asks the child in her lap.
"Ok, mommy," she says sweetly, hopping to the floor. "Don't worry daddy. I'll be back." She gives his knee a quick pat before bouncing off.
Rey chuckles as Padme tries to get the bartender's attention. She has to stand on her tiptoes just to slap her hand on the top of the bar.
"Hey, Mister!," she yells. The man looks around confused. "I'm down here." When he looks down at her he smiles. They can't hear the rest of the exchange, but Padme manages to come back with not only a water, but also some sort of candy. "Here you go, mommy," she says with her mouth full.
"Thank you. You are being so helpful." Rey says, bringing her daughter close so she can kiss her forehead. The child beams. "Hey, Ben," Rey says softly, nudging his shoulder. "Here." She hands him the glass of water and also some of his pain meds. Of course she'd known.
"You're a mind reader," he moans, swallowing the pills down quickly. Just knowing that pain relief is on its way makes him feel better.
"If this is too much, we can leave and just grab something on our way home. It's up to you. Doesn't matter to me either way." Rey makes him lean forward so she can massage his neck. Her cool hand feels good on his skin. It helps.
"But, mommy. What about the ice pops?" Padme whispers, a frown appearing on her face. Her mother shushes her.
"No, it's fine. We're here and I'm hungry. I'll be fine," he reassures her. She nods.
Five minutes later they're seated at a small table in the back corner of the restaurant. It's somewhat secluded from the rest of the guests which is nice and Ben is more relaxed. However, Padme seems to be getting antsy.
"Mommy, I'm ready," she says, waving her menu around. Ben can knows what's going to happen before it does. With a clumsy flop of the menu, Padme takes out the large cup of water sitting in front of her and sends it flying. Rey manages to halt the cup before it hits one of the passing waiters, but the contents of the cup is now all over the table and floor.
"Karking hell," Rey says under her breath.
Padme turns to her parents, her wide brown eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry... I made everything all wet," she cries. She reaches her arms out and Rey pulls her onto her lap. Ben starts using the cloth napkins to sop up some of the mess.
"Hey, hey, little love. No more tears. Accidents happen. Do you remember what we do when accidents happen?" The child nods, rubbing at her eyes with both first. "What do we do?"
Padme sniffs loudly. "We clean them up."
"That's right. I'm going to go ask someone for some napkins and then you and I will clean this up together, okay?" Padme nods in agreement and Rey uses her thumb to clear some of the child's tears. "No more tears, okay? This is not worth crying over. No one is mad." She sets the child back on the floor and set out on her quest for napkins. Padme eyes Ben warily.
"Daddy, are you mad at me?," she asks quietly.
"Of course not," he said. Padme scrunches her face. Apparently, she was looking for a more detailed answer.
"Can I have a hug?," she questions, taking a few steps closer to him.
"Uh..sure," he says, but before he's finished speaking, she's in his lap. She reaches her little arms arms around him as far as they'll go. He awkwardly returns the action, secretly hoping it will end soon. The frequent hugs are taking time to get used to. In the midst of this exchange, the waitress arrives at the table.
"Well, isn't she darling. She is your spitting image," the older woman gushes. "What's your name, doll?"
"Padme Hope Solo," she says proudly, unwrapping herself from around her father. "This is my daddy. His name is Ben."
"Well, Padme and Ben...have you decided what you'll be having?" At this time, Rey has returned to the table with a large pile of napkins. She hands them to Padme who hops off Ben's lap and begins sloppily cleaning up the mess.
"Hello," she says the the waitress slightly out of breath. "He will take the Alderaan Stew," she states pointing at Ben. "Trust me," she mouths. "Padme, what would you like?"
"Mommy, I want red soup," she says confidently and Rey sighs.
"Love, remember last time you got the red gourd soup you didn't like it," she says.
"I'm going to like it this time. Promise," she says sweetly.
"Fine," Rey says sharply. "She'll take the red gourd soup. I will have nerf sausage, light on the seasoning, and plain Corellian buckwheat noodles," Rey says, handing all the menus to the waitress and going to help Padme clean the rest of her mess. Once all the saturated napkins are gathered up, she directs Padme to the nearest waste can.
"Well, ten minutes into dinner and I'm already exhausted," Rey says, sliding into the seat next to him.
"Is it always like this?" he asks, turning his head to watch the child hastily dispose of the soaked napkins.
Rey takes a sip of water before answering his question. "Usually it's at least 30 minutes before she spills something." Ben's eyes widen.
Padme races back to the table and Ben finds he's somewhat relieved. Her never ending stream of chatter means that he has to talk very little. She's talks about everything and anything...friends, Leia, ships, porgs. She doesn't stop until the waiter returns with their meals.
The steaming bowl of stew placed in front of him makes his mouth water. Padme squirms, anxious to dig into the large bowl of soup before her. Rey eyes her carefully, crossing her arms. The child brings a spoonful of the soup to her mouth...and her face immediately scrunches in disgust.
"How's the soup?," Rey asks, her eyes narrowing. "You told me you liked it."
"S'good," Padme says forcing herself to swallow it. Ben notices a lone tear escape down her cheek. She goes for a second bite, but stops before it reaches her mouth. "Hey, mommy..."
"Yes, love."
"The soup is yucky…," she whispers, looking down at her lap. Rey sighs and swiftly switches Padme's plate with her own. The child's face immediately perks up. "Thanks, mommy." Ben suspects that Rey knew this was exactly how the scenario was going to play out. The child eats happily and to his shock, silently, for the next ten minutes. "I'm full. I'm going to go potty," she announces loudly, pointing to the fresher door nearest their table. "I don't need your help, mommy. I'm four." Rey allows the child to go on her own, but she keeps careful watch on the fresher door.
Once she's out of sight, Ben turns to Rey. "You knew she wasn't going to eat the soup."
"There wasn't a chance in hell. She tries it every once in a while because we both like it. Always hates it...," Rey explains.
"Isn't it just spoiling her to just switch out the meals when she repeatedly orders something she doesn't like?," Bens asks, curiously.
Rey raises an eyebrow. "Oh, for sure. Your mother calls us out on it all the time. However, I am exhausted, my back is killing me, and I will do literally anything to avoid her having a meltdown in the middle of this restaurant. So you win some, you lose some. And honestly, she has poor taste, because this soup is fantastic," she says as she shovels more of the creamy liquid in her mouth. "Here, try this." She holds out a spoonful. He eyes her warily before reaching for his own spoon. "Okay, you've been swapping spit with me for years, using my spoon won't kill you." He feels the tips of his ears starting to get red and is immensely thankful for his long hair. He reluctantly takes the utensil from her. She's right. The soup is fantastic. She reclaims her spoon, scooping up some of his stew on the way back.
"Mm. That's good too," she moans. "One of us needs to learn to cook so we can make this...Your mother sends us a case of pre-prepared meals every two weeks."
"I hope she doesn't make them," he says with a grimace, remembering a childhood filled with frequent overcooked or undercooked meals.
"No. Thank the Maker," Rey laughs. "None of us were blessed with culinary skills. Although, you make really good pancakes. I tried to use our kitchen once and almost burnt the place down." The finish their meals in a comfortable silence. Rey's paying the bill when her daughter returns.
"I'm back," Padme shouts popping up beside her mother. "Did you miss me?"
"Of course, love. I always miss you," Rey tells the child. "You ready to go?"
"Yes, mommy. Are we going by the academy?" The academy. Ben had been too afraid to approach this topic before. Padme had mentioned having force sensitive friends. The thought of another Jedi academy made his blood boil. He gets up from the table a little more aggressively than he intended to.
Rey's eyes briefly flash to look at Ben. "Not tonight. We are going to get ice pops remember." She gets up and slides her coat on. Ben follows suit.
"The ice pops place is by the academy," Padme reminds her. Rey sighs and leads her family back outside.
"I do have to pick up some paperwork," Rey says slowly. "You and me will run in real fast, okay. I mean it. Fast." The child's brow furrows.
"Where will daddy go?," she asks, running over the pull on Ben's arm.
"He might want to wait in the speeder and keep it warm for us," Rey answers. Don't feel pressured to come in with us. I will explain everything. The academy...it's not perfect, but it's better. He's not sure if he'll ever get used to the sound of her voice in his mind...but, it's better than Snoke. So much better.
"Daddy," Padme pleads giving him a toothy smile, her eyes wide. "Please come with me." He wonders if the real, fully informed Ben Solo...the one with all his memories is able to say no to this girl. He doubts it.
"Fine."