Sunlight illuminated the curtains, casting a soft, warm glow over the guest room. Turning to lay on her back, Rey stared at the ceiling, eyes bleary from lack of sleep. She would be going back home to Jakku later that day, and after all the fun and excitement the day before, she found that having to leave Hannah and Ben made her feel hollow. They had filled a hole in her heart that she never thought would be filled. With them, she felt at home.
But Coruscant wasn't her home. Jakku was, whether she liked it or not. She couldn't leave even if she wanted to. But oh, she had been sorely tempted to accept Chewie's job offer. She had been daydreaming about what could happen if she did take it. She would be able to visit Hannah and Ben all the time. She could go to Hannah's school events and meet the friends she had been telling her about. She could physically be there to help Hannah with her homework. She could cook for both Hannah and Ben, maybe even tuck Hannah into bed before heading back to an apartment she could finally afford.
She sighed. There was no use dwelling on what ifs. She had made her peace with the life she was leading, and she considered herself fortunate to even have a fraction of happiness from having Hannah and Ben in her life.
She turned to her side again and watched her daughter's chest rise and fall with her breaths, Mr. Jingles tucked in one arm. Two nights of sleeping beside this little girl on a large bed that seemed to be made out of clouds was going to make sleeping alone in her creaky, single bed that much harder. But she would have to acclimate herself back to her old life, at least until they met again, though she didn't know when that would be.
Perhaps she should talk to Ben about it, she thought. Surely, he would agree that they should meet again soon. He had fun yesterday too, right? He looked genuinely happy. And he was smiling. A lot. Well, except after their walk in the park. He had seemed withdrawn when she returned to his side with Hannah, but she had chucked it off to exhaustion, and she couldn't blame him. Time may have flown fast yesterday, but it had still been quite a long day.
Leaning down to kiss Hannah's cheek, Rey carefully got out of bed and padded out of the room in her borrowed robe and slippers. She was going to cook breakfast for them again. It was the least she could do for their hospitality.
She bounded down the stairs, hoping that Ben was already in the kitchen, sipping coffee and surfing on his phone. She had enjoyed his company in the kitchen the day before, and maybe they can start talking about plans to meet again in the near future.
She entered the kitchen, and the smile she had been wearing wilted. Ben wasn't there. She was the only one awake in the house.
Trying to shake away her disappointment, she opened the refrigerator and began searching through its contents before heading to the pantry to get the rest of the ingredients for the chicken and waffles she planned to make. This was another thing she would have to get used to once she returned to Jakku: cooking alone. Still, she was glad she wouldn't be eating breakfast alone this morning, but it would have been nice to have Ben around like yesterday, even if his close proximity to her was distracting.
She rolled the chicken around in the batter and began frying. Perhaps Ben was just trying to be extra friendly. He was certainly comfortable enough to stand so close to her, and comfortable enough with her to hold her hand, even though she herself wasn't. It wasn't that she didn't like it. She actually liked it far more than what was appropriate between friends, and that was more than enough reason to be uneasy. It wasn't Ben; it was her. Her and all these inexplicable emotions churning inside her with his every touch, every smile, with every kind word that came out of his lips. And when they had sung together on that stage, she had felt that he wasn't just singing to the crowd, but to her.
She shook her head and turned the chicken over. No, no, she was just imagining things. Ben was just being friendly, and she was so starved for affection that her heart was blowing things way out of proportion. She shouldn't be putting meaning behind Ben's actions. Besides, that way led to complications she didn't want in their relationship. She was happy with the dynamic they had now, and she would do everything and anything to keep it that way, if only to keep him and Hannah in her life.
After she was done cooking and distributing food on the plates, she decided to go up and wake the house before the food got cold. She checked on Hannah first, but just like last time, she couldn't bear to wake the girl up from a sound sleep. Might as well wake up Ben then.
She turned to the door across the hall and knocked softly. "Ben? Breakfast is ready."
She waited for Ben to answer, and when he didn't, she knocked again. It took a couple more tries before he opened the door, tying his robe as he did. His hair was mussed and his glasses were lopsided on the bridge of his nose.
"Good morning, Ben," Rey greeted, though she was immediately hit with concern. "I'm sorry, did I wake you up too early?"
"No, it's fine," he mumbled. She was quick to notice how he wouldn't meet her eyes, and he was rubbing his neck and shoulders while grimacing. "I just didn't sleep well, that's all."
"Me too," Rey admitted.
Ben lifted his head to finally meet her gaze. "Why?"
"I just had a lot of things on my mind, that's all." Rey shrugged before hastily breaking eye contact. It was irrational, but she was afraid that if he looked deeper into her eyes, he would find out he was one of the reasons she was restless all night. "Anyway, we should all head down for breakfast before the food gets cold.
Breakfast was quieter this time around compared to yesterday. Hannah was still the chatterbox, talking up a storm about the musical and all the things they did, but Ben was a lot more subdued. She tried to get him to join in, but he would only talk briefly before lapsing into silence again. She also noticed how he would keep rubbing his neck and shoulders.
"We should go to the park!" Hannah declared, still continuing the conversation, even though Rey had become distracted by Ben's demeanour. "It's a lot prettier during the daytime. Maybe all three of us can ride bikes. You know how to ride a bike, right Rey?"
"Yes, I do." Rey nodded and turned back to Ben across the table. "What do you say, Ben? Should we go to the park?"
"You two can go," Ben said, eyes lowered to his empty plate, one hand behind his neck. "I think I'm just going to rest here at home for a while."
"Why, Daddy?" Hannah's voice was laced with concern, and Rey felt the same. "Are you sick?"
"I just have aches and pains, that's all." Ben winced. He really did look like he was in pain. "I think I just need to rest, that's all."
Rey chewed on her lower lip for a moment before she turned to Hannah. "Sweetie, I think we should stay home today, too. Can't have your Daddy be lonely without us."
"Rey, really, it's fine," Ben protested and dropped his hands. Rey could see he was trying to put on a brave front, but he was still grimacing. "You two go to the park. Just be sure to be back before lunch."
"It's alright, Daddy. We can stay home with you," Hannah said. "I know! Let's watch a movie and play video games."
"That's nice, sweetheart, but Daddy needs to rest." Ben stood up from the table, rolling his shoulders as he did. "You girls go on ahead and do whatever you like. Just call me when it's lunch time."
Rey felt a lump form in her throat, and she swallowed as Ben nodded at them and wordlessly took his leave. She stopped herself from chewing on her lip by biting on her thumbnail instead.
"Something's wrong with Daddy," Hannah observed out loud, and Rey looked down at the little girl sitting beside her.
"You noticed too, huh?"
"Yeah. And he was so happy yesterday, too. I wonder what happened." Hannah grew quiet, her brows knitting together. Rey could practically see the cogwheels turning in her daughter's head. "Rey, why don't you check up on Daddy? I'll go get Netflix and popcorn ready."
Before Rey could utter another word, Hannah got off the stool and ran out of the kitchen, leaving her alone and feeling empty again.
She shook her head. No, she wasn't alone. She had to remind herself that until she got back to Jakku, she was still with Hannah and Ben. And she was going to make sure that her last day with them was still going to be memorable.
She would start by checking up on Ben, like Hannah suggested she should. Maybe she could help him feel better, enough for him to come down and join them for movies and video games.
After putting the plates in the dishwasher, she exited the kitchen and rose up the stairs towards Ben's room and knocked. "Ben, can I come in?"
There was a moment of silence before Ben's voice rang from behind the door. "Come in, Rey."
Rey let herself in, her eyes darting all over the room. It was a large room in monochromatic colors, with a tv, a desk, a small bookcase and a king-sized bed. She could see a family picture frame on the desk but she refocused her attention in Ben, who was sitting on the side of the bed, one hand massaging the back of his neck.
"Hannah asked me to check up on you." She stepped further into the room until she was standing beside him. "Shoulders and neck still hurting?"
"Yeah. I was tossing and turning last night and I definitely slept wrong." He frowned, then looked up at Rey. "Don't worry about me. This is nothing a little painkiller can't fix."
"Or a massage," Rey suggested, then found herself warming to the idea. "I could give you a massage if you want."
Ben's eyes widened, his jaw slack for a moment before he shook his head. "No, Rey. I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?" Rey tilted her head, genuinely perplexed. "A good massage always helps. I used to do it for my grandpa all the time."
For the first time that day, Ben smiled a little. "Are you saying I'm that old?"
Rey felt a little offended, at the same time horrified by what she could have implied. "Of course not! Come on, Ben. Don't twist my words. You know that's not what I meant."
Ben still wouldn't stop smiling, even if it did look strained. "I'm just kidding."
Rey huffed and crossed her arms. "Do you want a massage or not?"
"Fine." Ben waved a hand and slowly began to turn. With a grin, Rey climbed up the bed and knelt behind Ben, which seemed to startle him. "What are you doing?"
"Finding a comfortable spot where I can massage you. What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Yes, but...you're on my bed."
"Yeah. So?" She waited for him to speak, but he simply turned and faced the wall. Rey twisted her lips before shrugging to herself and started folding her sleeves up her elbows when Ben started taking off his robe. "Wait, what are you doing?"
"Giving you better access to my shoulders and neck. What does it look like I'm doing?" he said, mimicking her tone of voice earlier and setting his robe on the bed.
Rey swallowed at the sight of the broad expanse of his back, her eyes tracing the contours of his muscles and the moles dotting his pale skin. He was toned, but not like the male models in magazines she had seen, which had bulging muscles for days stretching over oiled, spray-tanned skin that she never did find attractive. Ben...he looked strong, clearly a man who worked out and exercised regularly, and as with yesterday when she first saw him shirtless, it sent her heart racing to the point that she found it hard to breathe.
Ben must've noticed that she had gone still, because he turned his head a little, as much as his stiff neck would allow. "Rey? Massage?"
"R-right!" Rey breathed out, then slowly put her hands on Ben's shoulders, kneading the tension away from his muscles. His skin felt warm to the touch, but she didn't know whether it was because he really was warm or if her hands were just cold.
"Fuck," Ben groaned, and Rey stopped immediately.
"I'm sorry, Ben. Does it hurt?"
"No, no. It felt good. Really good. Keep going."
Rey nodded and commenced massaging him, remembering what she had learned all those years ago and pressing her fingers and palms into his flesh.
Ben groaned loudly, and Rey felt heat bloom in her cheeks. Those weren't the groans of a man in pain, but a man seemingly in the throes of pleasure. He sounded borderline obscene, and it was doing things to her; made her feel things that she hadn't felt in a long, long time.
Her breaths came out fast and shallow as Ben continued to moan and grunt with every one of her ministrations. Her mind screamed for her to stop, that she was already squirming where she knelt, that her hands were already trembling as it continued to slide and squeeze his muscles, but she couldn't stop. The noises Ben was making were egging her on, making her want to hear more.
"Uh...ah...fuck, Rey," he hissed, drawing another ragged breath from Rey. "Fuck, you're so...fucking...good at this…"
She knew she shouldn't be thinking it, but out of context, his words sounded like...like he was...that she...that they were..
Rey turned her face away, even though she knew he couldn't see her. The instinct to hide the blush she knew was tinting her cheeks was too strong.
Then, she felt fingers move over hers, and when she looked, she saw Ben reaching behind his back, grabbing hold of her hand and guiding her to a spot at the back of his neck.
"There…" he breathed, bowing his head a little to make it easier for her. She massaged him where he wanted, but he still didn't let go of her hand. "Yes, yes there...ah...so good. You're so good at this, Rey…"
"Grandpa said I'm really talented with my hands," Rey said in a tone that gave her pause. Her voice had sounded silken. Seductive almost, and beads of sweat began forming on her forehead. She hadn't meant to sound like that at all.
"Talented hands indeed," Ben agreed, his voice deeper than she had ever heard it, and it made her stomach do somersaults especially when he let out a prolonged moan. "Actually, magic fingers is more like it."
Magic fingers. Ben said she had magic fingers, and she was suddenly lost in thought as she watched the muscles between his neck and shoulders reshape in her hands. Yes, she could show him how magical her fingers could be. She could run them down his arms, over his shoulders and down his lower back, maybe even have him turn around so she could run them across his smooth, well-defined chest, to the hard planes of his abdomen, going even lower, and lower until-
Oh God.
Almost instantly, Rey took her hands off Ben as if she had been burned. Ben was quick to turn around to look at her, his eyes wide and his lips slightly parted.
"I-I n-need to go," Rey stammered and clambered off the bed, not daring to look him. "Hannah's waiting for me downstairs. Just take painkillers if you're still in pain and you'll be fine."
Ben didn't reply, and she took that opportunity to walk briskly out of his room and into the hallway, closing the door behind her.
She pressed her back against the door and willed her breathing to slow, but it was no use. Not when her mind still ran amok, filling her head with images so inappropriate, she had to bury her face in her palms. Why in the world had those thoughts even crossed her mind? This was Ben, for crying out loud! Her friend, one of the few constants in her life, for the moment at least. She shouldn't be thinking about him this way and yet...
She shook her head. No, just no. This was nothing. Nothing but an overactive imagination and a sudden surge of hormones. She should let this out of her system, she thought. Maybe all she needed was to...to get intimate with someone, but the thought of sleeping with other men didn't appeal to her at all, and she wasn't sure why.
Or maybe she did know. She just didn't want to think about it. Those thoughts were far too dangerous, and there was only one course of action to take: ignore her feelings, just as she always had, regardless of how much it clamored for her attention. She could only hope she would succeed.
Ben paced in his room, one hand on his hip, the other running across his jaw and rubbing his lips. His bare feet complained from the roughness of the carpet, his skin from the chill of the morning even as the sun began to ride higher in the sky. He was too lost in thought to think of something so trivial as discomfort. Sure, his shoulders and neck still hurt a little, but Rey's massage and the painkillers he took had turned it into a dull ache.
Rey's massage…
He put both hands on his hips and lowered his head. He could still feel Rey's hands all over him, her fingers nimbly pressing and squeezing his tense muscles, her palms kneading his shoulders and neck. It had felt so damned good, he had forgotten he was depressed over the things she had said the night before, and all he had wanted was to remain in that moment, when she was so close and practically breathing on his neck. A shiver ran down his spine at the memory, and he had to sit back down on the bed, in the exact spot where Rey had massaged him.
He stared at his feet, and ran a hand across his dark hair. That massage had been the most intimate experience he'd had in years. He had his fair share of women of course, but never with one he was so connected to that every single touch from her exuded intimacy. But it had gone beyond that. The massage had turned sensual, at least in his mind, and his blood had rushed through his body until he felt himself grow hard.
His eyes widened. Was that why Rey abruptly ended the massage and practically fled his room? Did she see? No, she couldn't have. He had his back turned the entire time. Still, the thought of her bearing witness to his arousal ate away at him, gnawing at his insides until he felt sick in the stomach. He was her friend. She had made that perfectly clear the night before and had drawn a line between them. Yet, he couldn't stop being attracted to her. Couldn't stop loving her.
And now, sexual feelings were in the mix.
This could only end well, he thought wryly.
He let out a sharp breath and put on his robe. He'd stayed in his room long enough. It was time to check on the girls.
He put on his bedroom slippers and hurried down to the living room, where Rey and Hannah sat on the couch, staring at the wall-mounted flat screen TV above the mantle. They were watching 'The Parent Trap', if he wasn't mistaken, the one starring Lindsay Lohan. It was an old movie, but Hannah still loved it.
Hannah was the first to notice him standing nearby. "Daddy! How are you feeling?"
Rey looked up too, though she was quick to avoid his eyes.
He swallowed and turned his attention to his daughter. "I'm feeling better, thanks to Rey and some painkillers." He paused for a moment, before thanking Rey.
"You're welcome," Rey said. Her body seemed rigid, and her voice stiff.
"Daddy, you missed half of the movie already," Hannah whined through her mouth full of popcorn.
Ben smiled. "I've seen this movie far too many times. I'm not missing much." He strode towards the couch, and after a moment's hesitation, sat down, not next to Hannah like he usually did, but right next to Rey. She instantly straightened from her slouched position, her eyes still trained on the screen, though she didn't move away, despite the fact that they were separated by only inches.
After a time, Hannah got off the couch and presented her empty bowl. "I'm going to get some more popcorn."
"I'm coming with you," Rey quickly offered, but Hannah shook her head vigorously.
"Just stay here and watch the movie with Daddy, Rey. You're going to miss the best parts." She grinned and hurried to the direction of the kitchen. "I'll be right back."
Ben stared after his daughter until she disappeared down the hall. He was alone with Rey. Good. He needed to talk to her. To clear the air between them.
He licked his lips and mustered the courage to speak. "Rey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Ben," Rey said tersely, which chafed at him.
"You say you're fine, but you won't even look at me," he muttered under his breath.
"I'm trying to watch the movie," she shot back, a tad bit more annoyed than Ben would've liked. "I haven't seen this in a long time."
He sighed deeply, grabbed the remote and paused the movie. Rey was quick to turn to him, brows meeting and looking indignant.
"I was watching that," she protested.
"And I was talking to you," he replied flatly, putting the remote back on the coffee table before facing Rey again. "Rey, what's wrong? Did I do anything, say anything to make you uncomfortable?"
She scowled. "What makes you think I'm uncomfortable?"
"For one thing, you didn't finish the massage and practically ran out of my room," Ben pointed out. "For another, you're quite snappish at me. Why?"
Rey opened her mouth before clamping her lips shut and looking away. Ben waited for her to speak, but when it was clear she wasn't going to be forthcoming, he let out a breath and leaned against the couch.
It was a while before he spoke. "Rey...I don't have that many friends. You're one of the few that I have and I don't want anything to come between us." Getting those words out was like pulling teeth, but he had to accept that friends were all they ever could be, and that would start with him acknowledging it. Besides, he truly didn't want to have any rift between them. "So please. If you could just tell me what I did wrong…"
He let the silence stretch on as he waited for Rey's response. Her shoulders gradually relaxed along with her expression, and she mumbled something he couldn't hear.
"I'm sorry, Rey, what was that?"
"It was...you made noises that uhm...made me uncomfortable," Rey finally admitted, her face and ears blooming red.
"Noises?" Ben echoed. "What noises?"
"All the moaning and grunting you…" Rey looked like she wanted to shrink and disappear. She shook her head and gave him a weak smile. "I'm probably reading too much into it. I shouldn't have brought it up. I'm sorry."
That gave Ben a pause. So did that mean she was affected? That his moans had some kind of effect on her?
A smile slowly crept up his lips. He should be mortified, but instead, he was growing more and more devious by the minute.
He shifted closer and put an arm on the backrest behind Rey. "You mean this noise?" He took in a breath and let out a long and exaggerated moan.
Rey gasped. "S-Stop it!"
Her panicked expression amused him far more than he had expected, and instead of stopping, he decided to push his luck. "Or maybe you mean this? Ooooh…fuuuuuck...so good..."
"Ben, stop!" This time, Rey grabbed a throw pillow and pounded his head with it, but he was far from offended. He liked how she felt safe enough to do that without fear of retaliation, and he felt even more elated when he heard her laugh, albeit nervously. "Just stop! Hannah might hear!"
"Okay, I'll stop." He chuckled and gave her the widest smile. "I'm just teasing you, Rey. Friends tease each other, right?"
She glared at him for a moment before her features softened. "You're impossible."
"And you're still cute when you scowl," he said, and he found it adorable when she pouted even more. "If this was one of our complimenting games, you'd still lose."
"So we have a game now?"
"Of course we do. That will be our signature game as friends." Ben did his best to hold his smile. He knew he was stressing their friendship so much to the point of being repetitive, but Rey seemed to loosen up with each reminder of their relationship status. It still stung, but it was better than having her act all weird around him. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Rey. But I couldn't help it. You're really good at massages. Is there even anything you can't do?"
Rey's pout turned into a sheepish smile, and Ben was glad she seemed to finally get over the awkwardness from earlier. "There is one thing. I uhm...can't swim."
"No. Really?"
"Yes, really. Both Tatooine County and Jakku are desert towns. There isn't a body of water for miles."
"I could teach you," Ben offered. "We have a heated pool in the back."
"I know. Hannah pointed that out to me." Rey twisted her lips a little. "I don't have a swimsuit though."
Ben felt like his brain had short-circuited. The thought of Rey in a swimsuit, of seeing more of her sun-kissed skin was too much for him to process, and saliva pooled in his mouth when he pictured her in a two piece.
"Ben?"
"Oh! Yes. Of course." Ben swallowed, his nerves so jangled, it took all his willpower to appear cool and collected. "I...you could buy one at the mall. Or shop for one online whichever you prefer."
Rey shook her head. "I haven't gotten a handle on online shopping yet. I prefer actually trying on clothes to make sure they fit."
Ben's thoughts took off like a kite with a broken string, carried away to images of Rey in a mall changing room, trying on a variety of swimsuits and modeling them for him. He imagined he'd be terrible at helping her pick because she'd probably look good in all of them.
He kicked himself internally back to his senses and crossed his legs. Focus, Ben Solo, focus! Don't make this weird. "That...that makes sense. We could go to the mall right now. There's still time and I...Hannah can help you pick out a swimsuit."
Rey leaned further back into the couch, her nape and hair touching Ben's arm on the couch's backrest. He dared not move. "Maybe next time, Ben. I don't really feel like learning how to swim right now."
"Oh? What do you feel like doing?" Ben's eyes moved to where Rey's head rested against his arm.
"Watching this movie for one thing." Rey narrowed her eyes at him, as though reprimanding him for his interruption earlier but he could tell she wasn't really mad. She then lifted herself away from the couch, the loss of contact making Ben's shoulders sag. "I think I need to check on Hannah. She's been gone a while."
"Okay. I...need to take a shower." He excused himself from Rey and hurried back up to his room, where he stormed towards the bathroom and quickly discarded his clothes, cursing at the hardness between his legs.
He turned the shower valve to cold, almost shouting when the icy droplets hit his skin, his whole body seizing and his teeth chattering. Still, he didn't turn on the hot water. A cold shower was exactly what he needed to cool down the heat in his body and in his thoughts.
Lunch was a lot more pleasant than breakfast now that she and Ben had cleared that weird vibe between them. He even helped her cook, which Rey thought was nice. Hannah didn't join them for some reason, and was content with waiting for them in the dining room, leaving them both alone in the kitchen. Rey didn't really mind though. She needed to be around Ben some more, to make sure that all was right between them.
And all was right. He laughed. He smiled. He teased and he joked. It seemed to her that he was trying his best to make up for making her feel uncomfortable earlier. And it was working, if not for the memory of his moans that was forever seared in her head, but she could compartmentalize that and just focus on enjoying his company for now, although she knew she wouldn't be able to promise herself that she wouldn't think about it especially during lonely nights, when her thoughts were much louder.
They decided on another round of Mario Kart on Hannah's Switch after lunch. Hannah had conspired with Rey beforehand, so halfway through the game, they surprised Ben by teaming up against him until for the first time, Rey got second place. Hannah was first, while Ben was dead last.
"No fair!" Ben complained, though there was a twinkle in his eyes when he said it. "Since when did you girls learn to gang up on me?"
"You keep winning, Daddy. It's only fair that Rey and I win for once." Hannah turned to Rey and gave her a high five.
They played some more until Rey saw Ben glance up at the clock. It was nearing two in the afternoon.
His face grew somber, and he slowly put away his joystick. "Hannah, I think it's time to end the game. Rey needs to leave soon."
Hannah was quick to stand up from the bean bag, hands trembling. "But Daddy, it's still too early!"
"I know, honey, but I don't want Rey to have to travel at night. It's not safe," Ben explained gently, and Rey felt her heart constrict as she pressed herself further into her bean bag. She understood what Ben was saying, and she appreciated that he was looking after her well-being, but she also understood what Hannah must be feeling. She didn't want to have to leave either.
Rey saw Hannah look at her. The girl's eyes were glassy, and her nose was starting to turn red. Rey quickly got up and pulled her daughter into a hug, Hannah burying her face into Rey's abdomen. "Hey, sweetie. It's okay. We'll see each other again."
"You promise?" Hannah sniffled.
"I promise," Rey vowed, then cupped the girls face in her hands and made her look up at her while she did her best to memorize every detail of their shared features. It really was like looking at a miniature version of herself, but Ben's features were there too, and somehow, that made it even harder to have to part with her. "We'll still talk on your daddy's laptop like we always do. We'll have so many video calls that you won't miss me at all."
"I'll never not miss you, Rey," Hannah said, her voice shaking so much that Rey had to hold her again, if only to stop how she was trembling herself.
She wiped the corners of her eyes with the cuff of her sweater and turned to smile weakly at Ben. He smiled back, though it was a small smile that didn't even reach his eyes.
"You and Hannah should go get your bag," he said and quickly turned away. "I'll go get us an Uber so we can get our cars from Uncle Chewie's."
The ride to Chewie's car restoration shop was quiet. Even Hannah was just silently looking out the window, though she did keep her hand laced with Rey's as mother and daughter sat in the backseat, Ben in the passenger's seat with the equally quiet Uber driver. And the closer they got to shop, the more Rey felt Hannah's fingers tighten in hers.
Once they had disembarked from their Uber, Rey readjusted the sling of her duffel bag over her shoulder and walked behind Ben while still holding Hannah with her free hand. Chewie was already there to greet them by the entrance. It was Sunday, so the shop was empty of workers.
"Welcome back!" Chewie exclaimed, and gave each of them a big hug that Rey found herself warming up to. "Here to get your babies back, yes?"
Rey nodded. "I'm really sorry you had to wait for us, Chewie. I know it's probably your day off but-"
Chewie waved a hand to stop her. "No need to be sorry for anything. I'm actually excited to show you your truck. Stay there. I'll drive her out."
Rey's brows met, and she looked at Hannah, who seemed just as lost as she was, although Ben was smiling warmly when she looked at him. She could sense that he knew something was up.
Then she heard the familiar sounds of her Grandpa's old Chevy, though it didn't sputter or make other weird noises like before. She turned to the direction of the engine noises and the truck she saw drive out from behind unfinished vehicles made her drop her bag to the floor.
There, coming towards them, was one of the most beautiful pickups she had ever seen. Silver trimmings polished to mirrors and the body painted in fire engine red, it took several moments of gawking before Rey realized it was her grandfather's truck.
Chewie stopped the truck in front of them, and Rey circled the vehicle, her jaw still hanging open, and she'd had to cover her mouth with both hands. The dents and rusted metal parts were gone, all painted and replaced. The wheels were new, and the visor she had installed over the car window had been removed, replaced by an indoor visor instead, which she saw once she took a peek of the truck's interior. The worn out leather seats with the springs jutting out had been replaced too, and even the dashboard and the steering wheel looked brand new.
"You like it?" Chewie asked from behind her. "It was a helluva restoration project to pull off in 48 hours. Took all the shop's manpower and overtime hours but we did it! It's not as polished as my other projects but-"
"Not as polished?" Rey almost squeaked. "Chewie, this is gorgeous! If you consider this unpolished, I can't even imagine what a full restoration looks like!" Her own words gave her pause, and she swallowed thickly as she looked at the truck again. She was suddenly afraid to touch it. "Chewie...I can't pay for this."
"You don't have to. It's already been paid for."
"By who?"
Instead of answering, Chewie pointed with a thick thumb to Ben, who stood beside him with wide eyes, as though he had been caught doing something he shouldn't.
"Ben!" Rey gasped, then walked towards him, her emotions in such turmoil, she didn't even know what to make of it. "The truck...how...why?"
"I can explain." Ben held his hands up in front of him, lowering them only when Rey managed to even her breathing. "After Chewie did a more thorough checkup on the truck, he found out that it had a host of problems that could compromise your safety. I had him fix all that to ensure that you're safe whenever you go to work, or when you travel from Jakku to Coruscant to visit Hannah and me."
"I understand that, but...you didn't have to give it a makeover." Rey looked at the truck again, gleaming in all its newly-painted glory. She knew the Chevy had issues, and she was going to deal with those issues herself when she had the time and resources to do so. But now Ben had stepped in to help and she was torn between gratefulness and shame. "This is too much, Ben. Please. Let me pay you back. I'll-"
He put a gentle hand on her shoulder, and she instantly fell silent. "Rey, there's no need to pay me back. In fact, I should be doing more, especially after everything you've done for me and Hannah. You've been a great mother to her, a good friend to me, and you've helped mend my relationship with my daughter. So please. Let me do this one thing for you."
She looked deep into his warm brown eyes and found nothing but sincerity in them, plus something else she couldn't define. She looked away to stare at the truck once more, before looking at Ben again, still unsure of what to say.
Then, he said, "I know how much this truck means to you Rey, and that's another reason why I'm helping you preserve it. Your grandfather would've loved this, I think."
The tension in Rey's shoulders finally disappeared, and without thinking, she flung her arms around Ben, pressing the side of her face against his chest, the softness of his sweater caressing her cheek. The shame was gone now, and all that remained was gratitude as she clung on to Ben, tightening her embrace when she felt him wrap his arms around her in return. Warmth bubbled up from somewhere inside of her, and she wished nothing more than to freeze this moment in time so it would last a little longer.
She didn't stop hugging Ben until she heard the click of a camera, and she lifted her head to find Hannah, holding up her phone to them and grinning from ear-to-ear. Rey sighed and slowly extricated herself from Ben. As with the last few days, the girl had been taking as many photos and videos as she could of her parents.
"Aww, this is all too sweet." Chewie laughed and held his hand out for Hannah's phone. "Give me your phone, princess. Then go to Mommy and Daddy so I can take a shot of all three of you by the truck."
Hannah eagerly handed over her phone and stood between Rey and Ben, making peace signs with her hands while Chewie took photo after photo. Rey did her best to smile, keeping it together even though she was close to crying from sheer happiness. It helped that Ben was close, that he had one arm over her shoulder, and she leaned into him, grateful for his presence, for his gift and for his friendship.
Once they were done taking photos, Ben looked at his wristwatch, his smile disappearing. "It's almost three. If you leave now, you can still be back in Jakku before sun down."
Rey nodded then knelt down to hug Hannah once again, swaying the little girl in her arms as she did. "I'll call you when I get home, okay Sweetie?"
"Okay, Rey. I look forward to it." Hannah let go of her, and she stood up to thank Chewie and give him a hug too.
"Just doing my job," Chewie chuckled, then let her go and pointed at Ben. "He's the one you should be thanking. Not me."
"Of course." Rey turned to Ben, her cheeks actually starting to hurt from smiling so much. She once again pulled Ben into a tight hug, kissing his cheek as she did. This time, he didn't pull away. "Thank you, Ben. I'll never forget this."
Ben buried her face into her hair as he held her tighter against him, and Rey allowed herself to be swept up by the warmth that seemed to pass between them until she felt his lips on her cheek.
She pulled back to look at him, but he was staring at her with such softness, whatever alarm she may have felt at his unexpected kiss melted away, and she was back to smiling again.
"You two need a room," Chewie remarked, and Rey immediately let go of Ben, tucking her hair behind her ear as she lowered her head.
"When will I see you again?" Ben asked. His choice of words made her look up at him, and he quickly corrected, "Me and Hannah. When will we see you again? Would next weekend be too soon, or..."
"I'd love to come back next weekend," Rey said, a little more enthusiastically than she had intended, and she quickly dialed back her excitement. "I mean, if you guys will still have me."
"We'll still have you, Rey!" Hannah exclaimed, jumping up and down for a bit before holding Rey's hand with both of hers. "We'll have you forever! Right Daddy?"
Ben beamed and patted his daughter on the head before looking at Rey again. "Would it be too much to ask that we see each other every weekend?"
Rey's answer was immediate. "No. It's not too much at all."
The brightness in Ben and Hannah's faces could've lit up the entire building, Rey thought, Ben's especially. And it was in that moment that she realized she wanted this man to be happy. He deserved to be happy and if she could be a small part in bringing him this much joy, then she would do everything in her power to see it happen.