Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or anything that relates to Star Wars.

Summary: Rey gets a call for help from the most unlikely person. Ben is up to his ears in trouble of the puppy persuasion.

Pairing: Rey x Kylo Ren/Ben Solo [Reylo] [ReyBen]

Continuity: Modern AU

A/N: This drabble is dedicated to lovethemfiercely over on Tumblr. The prompt was "Where did all these puppies come from?" Enjoy!

Special Thanks: I like pandas and stuff (x10!) / Laxargames / ToughSpirit (x17!) / Fangirltopia1013 / mandorakat / amalina899 (x4!) / ArkhamAnnie / Gummybear1178

After Hours

By: sushigirlali

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

"Oh, come on," Rey grumbled as her cell phone sounded from the back pocket of her off the rack gray slacks. "Seriously?"

The ringtone was basic, probably factory setting, so the caller was most likely someone from the office. "It's Friday for goodness sake!" she complained to no one. "And I've already worked my fair share of overtime this week!"

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

"Dammit." Juggling her coffee thermos, briefcase, purse, and jacket, Rey briefly debated heading back inside to take the call. It was already well after seven, though, so the idea didn't thrill her. "You know what? Screw it. I'll work at home if I have to."

Hurrying the rest of the way across the deserted parking lot, Rey reached her vehicle a few minutes later. Leaning against the dusty door, she struggled to retrieve her keys from the depths of her enormous handbag without dropping anything. Her old Camry didn't have one of those fancy key fobs, so she had to open the door the old-fashioned way.

"There we go!" Rey exclaimed once she'd succeeded. Using her hip to hold the door open while she unceremoniously dumped her possessions onto the passenger seat, she shut and locked the door behind her.

The ancient flip phone had stopped ringing by now, so she leaned forward and yanked it out of her pocket to check the missed call log. If Hux is trying to get out of doing his own work again, I'll...

But it wasn't Hux, it was... "Ben?" she said in disbelief, holding the phone away like it had bit her.

Ben Solo was the boss' son and a bit of a firebrand in the courtroom. While they had crossed paths several times since she'd come to work for Leia last year, they weren't exactly friends. Not that I mind, but I didn't even know he had my number. Why is he calling me?

Having only a cursory knowledge of how the upper-class lived, Ben was a bit of an enigma to her. He was handsome, successful, wealthy, and, somehow, terminally single. Something Leia likes to point out several times a week, I'm told.

In actuality, all she really knew about Ben was that he was an amazing defense attorney who rarely lost a case and that he looked damn fine in a black suit.

"Down girl." Rey fanned her face, willing herself not to go down that road. Her Ben Solo court room fantasies could wait until tonight. Right now, she had a call to make. Punching the recall button before she got distracted again, Rey was surprised when he picked up on the first ring.

"Miss Nimma? Rey?" Ben sounded harried.

"Yes?" she answered cautiously.

"I—I need you," he stammered. "Can you come over?"

"You—what?" she replied, nonplused.

"I need your help. I found some—oh shit! Don't do that!" he said impatiently.

"Don't do what?"

"What? Oh, no, not you. It's these devils I—dammit!" Rey heard a crash in the background.

"Ben! What happened? Are you alright?" she said anxiously.

"I'm fine, I—actually, no. I'm not fine. I'm in way over my head," he admitted. "Can you come to my place? Now?"

"I—I suppose," Rey said hesitantly. "But I don't know your address."

"I can send my chauffeur," he offered.

"That's not necessary," she protested. "I worked late, so I actually just got to my car. Just text me the address and I'll stop by. For a few minutes, at least."

"Okay, Rey, whatever you want," he said easily. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she said breathily. Clearing her throat, Rey ended the call before she made a fool of herself. "Um, bye, Ben. I'll see you shortly."

"Bye, Rey."

Less than ten seconds later, Ben's name lit up her phone once again. Logan Circle, huh? Wow, that's a nice area. Jamming her keys into the ignition, Rey tried not to wonder how Ben's fancy neighbors would react to seeing her old beater parked out front.

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

Ben immediately pushed the release button on the callbox, admitting Rey into his building without a moment's hesitation. He didn't know her very well, true, but Ben had observed her enough at work and dinner functions to know that she was a good, considerate person. In fact, she had been the very first person that came to mind when he realized he knew nothing about taking care of small things.

"You're lucky you're so cute or I would have tossed the lot of you out on the curb," he told the tricolor demons who'd been ransacking his home for the last three hours. They stared up at him in a way that blatantly said, "We don't believe you."

Looking around at all the destruction, Ben shook his head in amusement, mentally tallying up the cost for repairs. It was time for a new floor and paint job, anyway, I suppose, he sighed.

Ben had purchased and converted the old three-story Edwardian mansion into three separate apartments right after college as a way to get out from under his father's thumb. Luckily, the venture paid off due to his decision to rent out the bottom floors to friends and the odd tenant on Craig's List.

In no time at all, Ben had paid down the loan he'd taken out to furnish the improvements, and his father was forced to admit the wisdom behind his investment. We get along a lot better now that I don't live at home, he thought drolly. I wonder if Rey will appreciate all the work I've put into—

Knock, knock.

Practically tripping over his large feet to let Rey inside, Ben realized his mistake too late. The second he opened the door, half a dozen nosey heads were trying to push their way out of the apartment.

"Where did all these puppies come from?" Rey gaped, looking pretty in her closefitting slacks and cobalt blue sweater set.

"What?" Ben said, struck by the light flush running across her cheeks. Did she run up the stairs? To see me? And if that's the case, is she just worried about me as a college, or something more?

"The dogs," she motioned to the attention seeking animals pawing at her feet. "They're beagles, right?"

"Oh, ah, I think so." Ben scratched the back of his neck. "I found them in a box about a block away from the house."

"And you just brought them in?" Rey was giving him a funny look. She was either pleased with his heroic act or questioning his sanity. It was hard to tell which. "I didn't think you liked animals."

Ah. The latter.

"It's not that I don't like them, I just never had any growing up," he shrugged.

"I didn't either, actually. Not much call for pets at the group home," she said without heat.

"Right. Well, I'm glad that your experience there didn't have an adverse effect on you." Shit. Shit, shit, shit! I did not just say that!

"Excuse me?" Rey laughed. "Wow, Ben, that's some line. I take it you don't invite women into your home very often. Or at least, that's the rumor around the office."

"Hey!"

"What?" she said innocently.

Ben tried to look stern, but almost immediately cracked under her captivating smile. "Okay, I deserved that," he chuckled, relieved that she wasn't upset. Why had they never spoken so candidly before? Her attitude and outlook were beyond refreshing.

"So, are you going to move, or…?"

"Huh?"

"I can't very well enter the apartment with you and your pups in the way." Rey made a shooing motion with her dainty hands.

"Right, yeah, sorry," Ben said sheepishly, scooping up the dogs and carrying them over to the large cardboard box he'd found them in. As soon as he placed them inside, they crowded around their mother, vying for her undivided attention.

"So, why did you call me?" she asked, joining him to watch the sweet scene unfold.

"You're nice," he said simply.

"Oh," she said slowly. "Thanks?"

"I didn't mean—not that there's anything wrong with being nice—but, I didn't mean that in a bad way," he said quickly. "It's just that you're lovely and kind and I couldn't think of anyone else who would—"

"Ben," she laughed, putting an end to his embarrassing ramble, "it's okay. I can work with nice."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," she said shyly. "I think you're nice too."

"Thanks," he grinned. "So, since I don't know anything about dogs and you don't know anything about dogs…"

"Yes?"

"Do you want to maybe get some takeout and help me do some research? I understand if you're tired after working so late—I'll have a talk with my mother about that, by the way, you work hard enough as it is—but, I'd love the chance to—mmph!" Ben froze as Rey leaned up on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss to his lips.

"Yes," she said again, with certainty this time. "It's a date."

A/N: Hope y'all liked this fluffy little piece! Check out my longer stories as well! I'm working on a three-part Regency AU right now, and I'm having a lot of fun with it! Thanks for reading! Please review!