Rey stopped in front of her old cafe and stared at the open sign. There were no clients inside and the windows were still decorated for Christmas even two months later. The new owner must have just returned from the long vacation. She gathered all her courage and stepped inside, the bell sounding, oh, so familiar. And even more familiar was the inside of the cafe. The mixture of industrial and rustic elements seemed picked by her own hand. And it most likely was her work. She could have sworn she had painted those lamps herself, and the food-themed proverbs written on the walls had the same loops her cursive handwriting had.

It's no use crying over spilt milk.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

If those words didn't describe her life and marriage perfectly, nothing else would.

She passed by the window seats, approaching the counter, then looked at what they were serving. Different types of coffee, tea and fresh juices. Some sandwiches with grilled chicken and pesto and dried tomatoes, or with schnitzels, honey mustard sauce and pickles. For dessert, there were only chocolate and mint cookies and some cranberry cookies, as well as lemon cupcakes, blueberry muffins and even a strawberry cheesecake. Actually, there were plenty. But she could imagine some cheddar, squash and onion foldovers. Or instead of something so bland like a strawberry cheesecake, maybe a pear tart with wine poached pears and frangipane or a pumpkin caramel tart with candied walnuts, though in February there was not much point in serving any pumpkin flavoured foods.

"Sorry, may I help you?"

Rey turned to face the new owner of her cafe, whose face she knew only from her flashbacks. The young woman's soft smile vanished and her eyes grew wider. She covered her mouth and her eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Oh my! Are you ghost? Or is it really you?"

Rey looked behind her, then once again at the girl and shrugged. She stretched her arm, inviting her to shake hands, though her awkward smile was not very convincing. And as expected, Rose was hesitant, perhaps wondering whether the Rey she saw in front of her was indeed a spectre or merely a figure of her imagination.

"I'm Rey Kan… Solo. You're Rose, right? Mrs Leia's nurse."

Rose squinted her eyes. What was wrong with this Rey? Was she indeed a hallucination? A ghost from the past?

"Rose Tico," she uttered shaking her hand. The tip of her fingers were cold, but the rest was warm. She was no ghoul, spectre or hallucination. She was very real.

"Oh, my goodness, Rey…" she whimpered. "It's you. It's really you."

"Yes," she nodded awkwardly. It was just like when she met Ben. She knew him somehow but felt nothing. Now she could remember Rose a little, but once again felt nothing. Not joy, not happiness, not sadness, not melancholy, not… anything.

"Where have you been?"

"I don't know. At the supermarket?"

Rey and Rose looked at her bags. Rose came from behind the counter and invited Rey to sit at a table. The girl put some of her bags on a chair and the others down, on the floor, then pulled a chair for herself and sat exhausted from all the shopping.

"Is this… was this my cafe?" she asked still looking at the proverbs.

"Yes," confirmed Rose. "Ben sold it to me after you went missing. I've tried to make it work, but it wasn't the same without you. I didn't have your recipes and what I could remember was not exactly the same. Besides, the stigma had already done too much damage."

Rose was talking so fast and so much, but it was finally an improvement. Someone was finally being honest and giving her the answers she wanted.

"What do you mean?" she asked massaging her cold fingers.

"People were curious at first, but the cafe was mostly closed all the time. Then, the accusations came," she blabbed.

"What accusations?"

Oh! The clock had its hands shaped like some sort of neon swords.

"That Ben killed you."

Rey stopped from admiring the walls and looked at Rose. She had heard something like that before, but never truly paid any attention.

"He didn't , obviously."

"Now we all can see it, but back then, there was no body, no proof. Ben was investigated for a long time and only his uncle leaked some information to him to keep him from going insane. Then, without any piece of evidence to keep blaming him, people started assuming that you'd run away with some other man or maybe even drowned."

"Yeah… I've been told this," pursed Rey her lips.

"Either way, people started avoiding this place as much as they could. Even with me as the owner and with a new name, I can barely cover expenses. Most of the time, I keep it closed and mind my old job. I've returned to the nursing home and when I am not too tired, I make some extra cash by taking care of old people or children."

Once again, it was all about money. And about her messing with people's life. Now she expected it anytime for someone to pop up and say how her disappearance is behind someone's death.

Rey blinked visibly upset and licked her lips.

"Now tell me about you," said Rose with enthusiasm and grabbed her by the wrist. "Where you've been? Where are you staying?"

Rey shook her head.

"The doctors said that I must have been exposed to something really traumatic and I can't remember much. In fact, when I first returned weeks ago, I couldn't remember the past five or six years. Now I remember a couple of details, though not everything."

Rose tilted her head and looked at her with compassion. Maybe it was a good thing that Ben had been rather cold, as all that compassion was making her feel uncomfortable and even more frustrated.

"How are things with Ben?"

Rey sighed.

"Umm… Fine, I guess? We've been arguing, but things are decent now."

Rose didn't seem too convinced. But instead of questioning her again, she went behind the counter and poured some tea and put a sandwich, a cookie and a muffin on a plate, then all on a tray and brought it to Rey. Rey took a bite out of the sandwich, immediately noticing the lack of the right amount of spices and the dry chicken. And only by looking at them, she could notice that the cookie was not crunchy enough and the muffin had too much fruit inside it, making the dough rather raw on the inside, despite being overbaked on the outside. Even the tea was an ordinary blend.

She swallowed her food and looked at her bags, then at her new old friend.

"Rose?"

"Yes?" the young woman said returning to the table with a cup of coffee.

"I was asked to cook something for someone, a certain Kaydel and I-"

"Poe's ex?"

Rey blinked.

"You know her too."

Her words sounded more like an accusation rather than a mere observation.

"Yeah, she's cool."

Of course she was cool. Rey shook her head and ignored her sudden urge to strangle Kaydel on her own birthday.

"Aaanyway. I need to cook both the food and the dessert and I was wondering if you-"

"Yes! Oh, my goodness! Yes!"

Rey smiled as Rose hugged her. It didn't feel awkward at all and after all the drama with Ben, and with Finn away, and her still holding a grudge against him… both of them, she was in need of a friend. She hugged Rose back and then she showed her the bags. Rose took her into the small kitchen and showed her around. According to her friend, she used to work there when the cafe was really crowded but usually spent her days in her own kitchen at home, or in the basement, where she had all the large appliances and supplies.

"How do you know Kaydel?" she asked observing an appliance apparently meant to knead a very large quantity of dough.

"Well, she used to date Poe and we hanged out together a couple of times."

" We ?"

"Finn and I."

Rey jaw dropped as she stared in shock.

"You and Finn used to date?"

Rose laughed and put on the counter two packs of sugar.

"Girl, you have so much to catch up with."

Hours later, Rey finished packing all the food and sweets and Rose finished serving the last client, finally turning the closed sign. She washed her hands one more time and undressed the white robe and the apron. The kitchen was clean, the food was ready, the cake was just about to have its candles put on it, and the sweets were delicious. According to the clock on the wall, it was late afternoon. She hadn't worked as fast as she used to, but it was ok for the first time in years, and all thanks to Rose. She looked at the boxes and trays, then at Rose, who was calculating what she had earned and whatever was she supposed to do when owning a cafe. And to think that she had told both Kaydel and Finn to get her the cafe back. It was obvious that Rose was better at managing it, even if not better at actual cooking and baking. She pursed her lips feeling slightly guilty for conspiring against Rose, behind her back… and for using her… but maybe her part of her inheritance was going to help both of them. Rose seemed so comfortable and happy, just like she did in the flashbacks, so maybe she would agree to have half of it re-bought by her. And the other half could help Ben with the expenses for a while.

Oh, Ben!

Rey ran to her coat and searched for her phone. She prayed for Ben to have been too busy to notice her absence, but no luck. Over thirty calls and over seventy messages. She did not even dare to open them, but as she was tapping on the screen, she accidentally answered the phone as Ben was calling her once again.

She closed her eyes and answered:

"Hello?"

She heard Ben sighing loudly, with huge relief. He seemed to not be able to say anything and Rey was beginning to wonder whether he was just trying to hold back his anger.

"Ben," she began. "Look, I'm sorry for not answering, but I've be-"

"Where . Are. You?"

His voice sounded demonic and quite frightening. She bit her lip and inhaled deeply.

"I'm with Rose Tico."

Ben said nothing and the silence was breaking her heart. Was he thinking that she had left him again , but this time to go live with Rose? Not that it was a bad idea, considering that Kaydel was doing her best to get rid of her and her house.

"See you in about forty minutes," she added and then tapped the red button.

It took them less to finish packing the boxes in Rose's work van and to get home, but she still found Ben sitting at the bottom of the stairs, with his hair clutched in his huge fist. Rey looked at his notebook laying open, with the money for the following weeks missing, as she had taken it, then back at him. He was now staring at her and he was both furious and glad to see her. He stood up and Rey noticed his red nose and eyes and the dried tears on his cheeks.

"Ben?" she uttered unsure of his reaction. He clenched his fist and let out a sob.

"Can you be more responsible and not scare the shit out of me!?"

Rey blinked and took a step back.

"I'll give you back your money, don't worry."

"It's not about the fucking money, Rey! You can't just leave like this! I was worried sick! Why did you even take you fucking phone with you if you don't have your GPS on or answer it?"

He intended to spy on her? Well, she had taken his money without permission and left without saying a word, but she was still so pissed off after the previous evening that she did not even think about his feelings or trauma. She avoided his gaze and those dried tears she wanted to lick and kiss so much and looked to her right. She had left the kitchen clean and in a perfect state, but now there were appliances, huge bowls, her shopping bags from the previous day and all sort of things she would have needed, had she cooked Kaydel's food at home. He made all the arrangements for her, to help her and her stupid memory.

She parted her lips and threw her arms around his neck.

"I'm so sorry, Ben," she said, then kissed him on the cheek. "Rose helped me and I couldn't have done it without her. I just didn't want to bother you and I knew you wouldn't have agreed to let me leave the house on my own."

She did lie, but those were the type of lies that made Ben soften and hug her back.

"Did she bring you here?"

"Yeah, she is outside in the van with the food. I must change my clothes and get the address."

Ben pursed his lips, chewing on the inside of his cheek and nodded. Rey followed him upstairs, into the master bedroom, she went into the walk-in closet. She looked at all the beautiful dresses, wondering if it was a good idea to be petty. She put back the champagne coloured short satin dress and pulled out a black velvet one. She was putting on a pair of black silk stockings when she noticed a long white dress hanging in the back of the closet.

"What's that?" she asked Ben later, as he approached her wearing a black shirt, black pants and a blue tartan blazer. He was so hot… Rey blinked and gulped, then pointed at the dress.

"That's not my wedding dress," she remarked.

"Oh, yeah… you got to keep it after a fashion show. You went there with a wedding-themed buffet, but ended up replacing one of the models."

That made no sense. Why would she keep another wedding dress if she already had hers? And why was that dress on the bed the night she found the master bedroom all a mess? Was that really her dress or…

"Do you need help?"

Before she got to respond, Ben had already pulled her hair up, letting it fall on one shoulder. Rey licked her lips feeling his breath on her nape, then gasped once his fingers brushed against her skin as he was pulling up the zipper.

"It's a little bit tight," she remarked as the velvet was starting to press uncomfortably against her chest, and Ben was struggling with the zipper.

"It used to be rather large. Are your breasts bigger now?"

Rey looked down at her chest and touched it, cupping her breasts. The bra was a simple lace vintage style one, so there was nothing there to make them bigger. Maybe they truly were bigger. After all, she was no longer the girl he had fallen in love with, but a woman.

"You can touch them and see for yourself," she provoked him apathetic.

Ben chuckled and forced the zipper to go all the way up, accidentally pinching Rey's skin. She pulled away and massaged her skin, giving him a resentful look. Though, it was quite difficult to resist his charm, especially wearing those clothes and with his hair brushed like that.

"Why are you all dressed up?" she furrowed.

"I'm coming with you."

"But I'm going with Rose and all I'll be doing is serve food and get paid. You're dressed for a party."

He said nothing, leaving Rey to draw the conclusions.

"Kaydel had invited you long before she asked me to cook for her, right?"

Ben nodded and Rey rolled her eyes annoyed.

"Did you even get her a gift?"

"A perfume."

Oh, so now he suddenly knew her favourite perfumes and which scent suited her skin best.

"There's one for you too," he pointed at the box on the nightstand. Rey passed by him and almost ran to get the box. She opened it hastily and perfumed herself, smiling at the pleasant aroma. It smelled like baby powder and gardenia.

Versace? Wasn't that a little bit out of their budget?

She turned to look at Ben, ready to tell him that he shouldn't have, but he was so incredibly handsome and the face he had while sitting on the stairs was still haunting her…

"Thank you. I love it."

Ben nodded cordially.

"It was my pleasure. Now let's go."

It was rather funny to go to a party all dressed up in fancy clothes, but arrive there in a van. Even funnier was the awkward tension between everyone in the van, as, despite Rose's efforts of entertaining them with small talk and questions, the two were mostly silent or grumpy.

"I have to wake up at five tomorrow, so will you two mind if I leave?"

Rey stopped gazing at the tall buildings and city light and looked at Rose, who was struggling with a box. She ran to her and picked up the trays with no effort. She had experience. After all, she was the one doing most of the work when Maz was still alive, but not capable of driving anymore.

Though, she was now wondering how was she supposed to get back home given that she had no car. Besides, she didn't even know that town and she was quite unsure about going back home with Ben, especially given their tensed relationship. In fact, she was not yet certain whether he was willing to come back with her anyway or spend the night at Kaydel's. Or with Kaydel.

"Can you help us?" she ordered Ben, who was already struggling with some heavy bags and a broken arm. He went to the intercom and waited until the front door was unlocked, then pushed the door wide open with his leg and held it like that until the girls came in. The elevator took them up to the eighth floor, where out of the three dark brown metal doors, the one decorated with silver and bright pink balloons was a giveaway.

Rey inhaled deeply as she waited for the door to open. She was wondering if she was capable of throwing all those trays at Kaydel and beat her like a vicious animal. But Maz had raised her better. So she put on a fake smile and held in the most desperate scream as Kaydel opened the door and invited them in with the most gorgeous smile ever. She was wearing a similar black velvet dress, similar over-the-knee black leather boots, except Kaydel's were not flat and made her look taller, and, oh! She was wearing her hair in a high ponytail and had on the best makeup she had ever seen. Rey sighed bitterly. She could have at least put on some lipstick.

"Everyone, this is my best friend, Ben, and his wife, who is going to feed our drunken bellies tonight!" she yelled at her friends, who did not seem to hear her anyway as the music was too loud. "Come. The kitchen is there."

Rey let Ben step in first, then followed him with Rose behind her. The apartment had the same vibe as their living room with the heavy dark furniture and silver accents, except Kaydel's had more futuristic elements. How was even such a young woman doing so well in terms of career and lifestyle? She was rich, gorgeous and in love with her job. Her only flaw was probably her need for stealing someone else's boyfriend… husband.

"Mmm! That smells delicious!" said Kaydel once they all put the trays and boxes on the kitchen counter. "I thought you would never get here."

"I must go now," smiled Rose embarrassed. "We'll talk later, Rey, ok?"

Rey nodded and mouthed a 'thank you'.

"Bye, everyone! And happy birthday, Kaydel!"

"Thanks, bye!" she waved her hand, then turned to Ben once Rose closed the door behind her. "I do know her, right?"

Rey looked at the young woman barely standing and moving her hands chaotically, spilling the content of her glass a couple of times, before drinking it in one sip.

"So what have we got here?" she sang getting closer to Rey, who could now feel the sweet scent of her perfume and also the sour alcohol one. She shook her head reminding herself that Kaydel was her rival and, most importantly, employer for the night. So she began presenting her food.

"I made garlic butter bacon-wrapped chicken, Caprese stuffed chicken breast, herb butter roasted turkey with white wine and citrus, and three different puff pastry strudels with vegetables and cheese. I also cooked different types of potato dishes - we have the classic French fries with a touch of garlic and pesto, fried yams and wedges aaaand also purple potato chips with garlic and rosemary."

Kaydel furrowed and pouted, then turned to look at Ben before looking once again at her.

"What about the seafood, the salmon and the vegetarian dishes?"

It was Rey's time to look at her all confused.

"I dropped by yesterday and gave you a list of suggested dishes. I mean… you were sleeping, so I gave it to Ben."

Rey parted her lips not sure of what she could say. She looked at her husband, who shrugged impassively. For a moment, she felt the urge to lash at him and throw all the food on the floor, but then she remembered how she had found the kitchen. He would have told her, had she given him the opportunity.

"I'm sorry," she said barely believing her own words. "I was so focused on my ideas that Ben did not get to give me your notes. But there are enough vegetables for your vegetarian guests!"

Rey looked at Kaydel, who seemed too drunk to even process the information. The woman looked at her empty glass, then at the dishes and suddenly grabbed a piece of chicken and ate it making strange noises. By the look Ben was giving her, she was supposedly the vegetarian one, not any of her guests.

"What else?" she said licking her fingers.

Rey blinked confused and showed her the boxes.

"I made mini mojito cupcakes, tiramisu brownies, tiramisu biscoff cupcakes, chocolate mocha latte cupcakes, baked coffee doughnuts and dark chocolate and white coffee mousse cake."

"Wow," said Ben visibly impressed and offered the birthday girl one of the cupcakes. He looked at Rey as if trying to send her a silent message.

"Yeah! Wow at everything, Rey! You're amazing!"

Rey felt uncomfortable with her drunk enthusiasm and looked back at Ben. She cleared her throat, then added:

"Can I… umm… can you show me around? Where do you want me to put them and wh-"

"Wherever you want," she sighed. "The whole place is yours. Do as you please."

The Solos once again looked at each other following the awkwardness of Kaydel's behaviour. Rey was no one to judge, as she knew very well the stupid things she had said herself that time she got drunk with Ben in her old bedroom. Therefore, she started unpacking everything and rearranging the sweets, while still listening very carefully to what Ben and she were talking.

"Thanks," she heard her say as she was unpacking her gift. "You shouldn't have. You know you're not doing well financially."

Ben shrugged.

"It's not much. Something to thank you for all the help and support."

"Thanks again," she said smiling and leaned in for a hug before taking a step back. Rey was not sure whether she did it out of respect or fear in what concerned her, or out of concern for Ben's arm.

"You've changed your hair colour," he remarked.

" Did you cut your hair? " said a younger Ben.

" Yeah, don't you like it? It was getting annoying to cook and bake all day and have such long hair. Besides, short bobs are the latest trend. I know you can't pull my hair anymore, but maybe it's time to consider spanking. "

Kaydel grabbed her ponytail and looked at her hair.

"Yeah… it's something like almost dry sand. You know? When sand is wet, but beginning to dry and-"

"Yeah, I am not a fan of sand. But it does remind of the shell of a peanut."

"Peanut?"

"Yeah, you're a peanut."

Kaydel rolled her eyes at him, then laughed, not because he was necessarily funny, but because she was quite tipsy. Still spying on them and vaguely flustered by her flashback, Rey smiled, getting from those two the same vibe she used to have when she was around Finn. Her own peanut.

"Is this gluten-free?"

The young woman jumped startled, almost dropping the trays on her way to the dining table. She looked at the man with a thin moustache, reminding her of a villain from an old black and white French movie. What was even gluten ? She uttered a bored 'yes' and continued listening to Ben and Kaydel, who were now almost hidden behind the fridge and too far away from her anyway.

"So what happened? It's unlike you to get drunk so early. And not to mention how miserable you look."

"I thought I looked fantastic," she mumbled with false disappointment.

"Kay…"

"Fine!"

That last exclamation came with a tremor and even though she could not see her, she guessed correctly that she was about to cry.

"You know that guy I was going on a date with, but then someone had a car accident and I had to cancel it?"

"Yeah?" chuckled Ben.

"Well, we eventually went on a date… three actually or maybe seven if we count the less conventional ones. And he was supposed to be here tonight, but cancelled it last minute."

Ben remained silent for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"I swear you're such an ass!" she yelled.

"I'm sorry, but you're ruining your own birthday party for a guy you've just met. What's not to laugh about?" he kept laughing but stopped out of the sudden. Rey took a step to the right and bent over the table trying to see what was going on.

"I'm all alone, Ben," her voice cracked. " All alone. These people here only came for the free food and drinks and because I help them each time they're in big shit. But I doubt any of them even knows my middle name."

"Korrine."

Rey heard Kaydel finally giggle.

"That's why you're my only true friend. You're still an ass though."

A long silence from those two and Rey was getting uneasy, especially with the guests getting around the table to devour her food and blocking her view entirely. She pushed a guest wearing a purple sequin suit and made her way to the other side of the kitchen, where her husband and rival were sitting on the floor, eating some of her mojito cupcakes.

"I'm telling you. This guy is my Rey," said Kaydel sniffing. "I've never had such a connection with anyone. Not even Poe. It's just like you described your bond thing with your wife."

"I still think you're rushing."

"I'm not getting any younger."

"You're twenty-seven, not in your late hundreds, dumbass."

Rey cleared her throat and the two looked up to her. Part of her wished to throw herself on the floor, next to them. But she had to listen to the more reasonable one.

"I've arranged and rearranged the trays and platters, but your guests are already pretty much devouring everything."

"Of course they do," she rolled her eyes and slammed her hand on the counter to help herself get up. "Please enjoy yourselves."

Rey watched her leave stomping her feet. She giggled and stretched her arm, helping Ben get up.

"How's my little chef?" he asked on a neutral tone. Rey did not take it personally for once, as she guessed that he was just putting on his shield after their passive-aggressive journey. He was obviously waiting for her to attack him or accuse him. Instead, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on his cheek, then pulled back and licked her lips, rubbing the sensitive skin above the upper lip.

Ben gave her a mischievous smile and she furrowed.

"You grew your beard to keep me from kissing your cheek?"

"Yeah, obviously," he said all serious. "This way you can only kiss my lips."

Rey looked at him unsure whether he was toying with her as a mockery or just to provoke her. She had been a fool, a jealous fool and her childish tantrums were now embarrassing to even remember, let alone mention. So yeah, there was nothing between Kaydel and her husband apart from the same nice friendship she used to share with Finn. And if she and Finn managed to be sister and brother despite the cruelty of the other children in Maz's house and despite not sharing a single drop of blood, then it wasn't impossible for those two to be so close, especially having so much in common. But that didn't change the fact that Ben was still cruel and pretty much an oblivious idiot. He didn't deserve a kiss on the lips… at least for now.

She turned her back on him and got out of the kitchen, immediately getting stricken by the lights in the living room and the noise. Too much noise and too many people she didn't even know. She had fulfilled her part of the deal, so was why she even there at that point. Ben could stay for all she cared, but she needed her money and some time alone in her bed, with her diary, new discoveries and nothing to distract her.

"Y'all, shut up!" Kaydel spoke climbed on a tiny stage by the glass wall separating the living room from the terrace where a large number of guests were smoking and laughing. Surprisingly, everyone was suddenly quiet.

"I want to thank you all for joining me on this important evening. I am one year older and the older I get, the more bitter I turn, so thank you once again for not running away from me in these dreadful moments."

The guests laughed amused and Rey herself smiled, but that self-irony was quite sad knowing what she knew. And somehow she could understand her. When she woke up by the frozen lake, she had the mind of a teenager and the body of a young woman, who had gone through too many things. And as her memory was returning, even in fractured pieces, she was beginning to understand her own frustrations and the changes that had occurred in those years absent from her current memory.

"Anyway, I want to celebrate this golden coin in my red velvet age-purse by singing with y'all some of my favourite songs."

The guests applauded as if they were a bunch of synchronized machines.

"And I can't sing without my best friend, so I invite my gorgeous best friend on stage. Ben?"

Rey jumped startled as Ben appeared behind her. He had a terrified look on his face as everyone was watching him and chanting his name to get him on stage. He looked at Rey, seeking her approval or her help to get out of that situation. Either way, she didn't flinch, nor did she give him any suggestion. So Ben sighed and joined Kaydel on the stage, visibly awkward and uncomfortable, while she returned to the buffet to check on the platters and food… or what was left after those sharks pillaged and plundered.

The music started playing and the people cheered as Kaydel sang the first lines.

" Just like the white winged dove … Sing, Solo!" she shoved the microphone in his hand.

"No!" he shook his head desperately.

" Whoo-whoo-whoo ! SING, SOLO!"

Kaydel rolled her eyes and Ben finally brought the microphone to his lips.

" Just like the white winged dove, sings a song sounds like she's singin' ..."

" Whoo-whoo-whoo !"

" And the days go by like a strand in the wind -"

" In the web that is my own I begin . Fuck, Solo! SING!"

His voice was not bad at all noticed Rey. He was no pop star, but he did have an interesting musical-like style. But still, Ben shook his head and laughed all embarrassed. He sought Rey in the crowd and when his eyes finally met hers, she knew she had to encourage him. To make him let it go. So she nodded with a sweet smile and started clapping with the others.

" He was no more ," continued Kaydel.

" He was no mooore than a baby THEN. Well, he seemed broken hearted. Somethin' within him, but the moment that I first laid eyes on him, all alone on the eeedge of seventeeeeen ."

Ben's newly found passion impressed everyone, including Kaydel and Rey, who looked at him with their mouths wide open. The two sang the song accompanied by everyone at the party till the end. They took a bow and enjoyed the cheers. That genuine proud smile of Ben's was making Rey's heart melt with love. And she didn't want to feel that. Not when she was still angry with him and disappointed by his indecision regarding their relationship.

"Thank you," he spoke. "Thank you and happy birthday, Kaydel. Thank you for sharing your spotlight with me. And I also need to thank the person who encouraged me to give such a performance… my own heart, my beautiful wife, Rey."

People turned to Rey, who turned red immediately. She loved attention, but not in that moment and not from those strangers. She gave her husband a resentful look and he chuckled.

"Now it wouldn't be fair for me to enjoy all the attention on my own. Kaydel?"

Kaydel looked at Rey and stretched out her arm.

"Wanna come up and sing something?"

Rey looked at Kaydel with huge perplexed eyes and shook her head, but it was already too late. She was being pushed by the other guests until she woke up on the stage.

And Ben had disappeared from her sight. Of course.

She cursed the entire humiliating situation and did not even pay attention to the song that Kaydel was already singing until she heard her own voice singing.

" Un-breaaaak my heeaaart… say you'll love me agaaain… Undo this hurt you caused when you walked out the door and walked out of my life ."

Her eyes feel on the other corner of the room. Oh, there was Ben, her grumpy dark prince, sitting on the sofa, staring at her, making her feel naked in front of all those strangers. The bloody bastard.

" Un-cry these teeaaars I cried so many nights… Un-break my heart, my he-heart ."

Hours later, some couples were still dancing, chatting, drinking and smoking on the terrace, whereas the living room was full of drunk and possible drugged people, all passed out on the sofa, in the armchairs and even on the floor. Some of Rey's goodies were on the sun-shaped mirror, as someone felt the need to use them like darts. She looked at them disgusted with those shallow people, who knew nothing about poverty and how much each spoon of sugar and glass of water mattered. She looked at the thick stack of money in her hand and put it inside her coat. A very drunk Kaydel with messy hair and smudged makeup had given it to her before entering her bedroom just to change her dress. She never returned. Not that she cared, as all she wanted was to go back home or at least leave that place. It had been fun singing and even dancing a bit, as it was a welcomed change from that dreadful solitude, but she was still not comfortable among strangers. But at least no one knew her or her story as told by those eager to accuse her of the worst things.

"Here you are!" she heard Ben behind her. She turned around and found him wearing his coat and large scarf.

"Promise me you're never ever going to make me sing again," she whined.

"As long as I don't have to go through that again, I promise," he chuckled. "Ready to go?"

Rey nodded and followed him outside, where the air was clearer and the buzzing noise from the stereo speakers was far away from them.

"I wanted to say goodbye to Kay, but I couldn't find her," said Ben and Rey wondered if he was actually talking to himself or just trying to make small talk.

"I think she went to bed."

Ben grimaced and held the door for her. As Rey passed by, she felt his tempting scent tainted by the disgusting smell of cigarettes and tacky perfumes. She stopped in front of him and looked at him, even if he was busy looking at his shoes, avoiding her.

"Do you want to go grab a bite? I've noticed you haven't eaten anything and I swear right now I would give up a kidney for a burger and some fries."

Ben smiled.

"Are you asking me on a date?"

Rey rolled her eyes.

"Eating out is not a true date."

She pursed her lips and grabbed the tip of one of his dark locks, playing with it.

"So? What do you say? I have money now."

They both laughed.

It was beginning to snow and the city lights were giving the impression that they had run away up in the sky only to later fall on people.

"Do you remember that cinema in our old town, where we used to go watch movies whenever we wanted?"

There were only seven more passengers in that late-night train and they were far enough to not hear them talk or see them stuff their mouths with fries. Rey had her head rested on Ben's shoulder and was staring outside the window at the sea of trees and buildings. It was still snowing and she knew that by the time the got home, it would be impossible to walk on the streets.

"No," she muttered chewing on a jalapeno mozzarella stick.

Taking her by surprise, Ben made no other remark regarding her current state and just continued his story.

"It's this place my mom used to go when she was a teen. They play movies all day and all night. It became famous during the power outages when it was the only place still working on a generator. We should go there… like… right now."

Rey lifted her head and stared at him with the jalapeno mozzarella stick still in her mouth.

"We can buy another ticket from the ticket inspector. It's not as if the train is full and we're stealing someone's seats."

"Wait… are you asking me on a date?"

Ben smiled and tilted his head as if telling her 'going to the movies is not a true date' just to prove a point. Instead, he shrugged and took a large bite out of his spicy burger.

"Yes," he admitted. "I'm asking you on a date. You have time to say no."

"Too bad. I want to go on a date with you."

He swallowed the last bite and folded the wrap neatly.

"You know…" she said watching his every move. "Today I realised that after all, I still don't really know you. There are only things I thought I knew about you based on my few memories. But I am still not the Rey who knew you best."

He put the wrap back in the paper bag and took out another burger.

"Well… I guess you'll get to know me in time."

"Yeah, I suppose. But at least I am sure of one thing."

"And that is…"

He had some crumbs in his beard and a little ketchup on his upper lip. But as funny as he looked like that, his dark eyes and piercing gaze were much more distracting. She was not certain about the possibility of him having any mind-reading powers, but in case he did, she held his gaze as she leaned in and approached his face.

"I love you, Ben Solo. And I'm never letting you go."

The kiss was so short that it seemed like a product of his imagination, yet with Rey leaning against the window and having something of his wife in her and of his sweet young girlfriend, Ben accepted the reality. Memory or no memory, that was his wife and she was not going anywhere.

"Oh, and please keep the burger wrap with the doughnuts and the unicorns. It's cute and I want to put it in my scrapbook," she winked at him and giggled seeing him flustered.