"Tell me again why I have to be here?" Ben groaned in frustration.
Gwendolyn Phasma, his personal assistant, rolls her eyes and briefly considers kicking his shin.
"Because it's your party, idiot. This is all about "company moral" and "team building". Your mother had her secretary send me memos every day for a week to remind me to get you to this shindig. So suck it up, Buttercup and play nice with the little people."
Gwen grabs his arm and begins to drag him off the elevator and into the moving stream of people heading to the ballroom.
"Since when did you start caring about my mother's memos? I ignore them regularly."
Brushing some dust off her costume, Gwen quirked her eye at him replying, "I'm aware. She threatened to transfer me to Mr Hux's team, and I do not want to work for that self satisfied prig. He hollers if his latte is the wrong temperature."
Ben nodded while handing his invitation to the assistant at the entrance to the masquerade. Armitage Hux was a capable accountant but a miserable co-worker to be around. Every time they met ended with Ben fighting the urge to knock Hux's ego down a peg. "Can't say I blame you. If only to help you out I will make nice tonight. You are the only person in the office who doesn't see it as their life's personal mission to change my marital status."
Gwen laughed, "I'd feel responsible for you having to sleep on a couch that was to small for you."
"How so?"
"Sir, you do have a bit of a temper and wives have a notorious dislike for being yelled at."
Chuckling softly he agreed that would be uncomfortable. He paused in the doorway to admire his mother's handiwork.
Every year the Skywalker Corporation held a Valentine's Day Ball for the employees. It was a chance to decompress from their high stress jobs and combat mid-winter blues in upstate New York. This year's theme was the 'Mystery of Love' masquerade. If there was one thing Ben hated more than a crowd it was being forced to join a crowd in a costume. At least Gwen had picked one that allowed him to dress most like himself. No flashy colors or superhero costumes for him. He preferred dark suits with classic lines, contrary to the current fashions, and all he'd needed to purchase was a cravat and cape. With a shudder at the thought of being dressed like the Joker to his left, he silently thanked the HR rep who'd hired Gwen. Instead, Ben gave off the rather sinister appearance of the Phantom of the Opera. Beside him Gwen looked intimidating in a Galaxy Wars stormtrooper costume.
"How do you plan to dance in that get up anyway?" He questioned her.
With a quick glance to her left Gwen replied, "I don't. Dancing isn't my thing. I'm going to mingle and help the barkeeper earn his pay," and with a smirk she siddled off and left him alone to his fate.
Inside the ballroom the party was already in full swing. The dance floor was crowded and the buzz of many conversations could be heard over the music. The band was playing Moondance up front, as the couples swayed.
Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies
Rey looked across the room and sighed. It was a dreamscape. The ballroom, with its' antique chandeliers and ornate crown molding, made a lovely venue. Round tables were scattered along the west side of the room leaving the east side for the dance floor and food. Each table had a tall silver epergne on it filled with arrangements of violet colored roses and peacock feathers. Candlelight enhanced the romantic nature of the night and Rey had to admit that even she felt swept up in the magic of it all.
Sitting with her around a table near the back were her friends and coworkers. Poe and his girlfriend Zorii had come as Superman and Lois Lane. Finn and Rose had come as Jake & Amara from their favorite movie, Pacific Rim Uprising. Rey had chosen Christine Daae, the female lead from her favorite Broadway play, The Phantom of the Opera. She had the soundtrack memorized and often sang her heart out in the shower, her favorite audience.
Rose had spent several hours that afternoon doing Rey's hair and makeup...
Rey held up her hands in an attempt to deflect as much of the glitter body spray that Rose swore was necessary for the right look. "Don't you think it's a little overkill?" She dodged to the right.
"Rey... honey, sometimes you need to live a little. Get out of your comfort zone and break a few hearts! Just let me doll you up. If you hate it we can always take it off," she replied with a pout. "Pleeeeeeeeeease?!"
"Fine. Have your way! Tease, curl and bedazzle me. Promise me I won't look like Queen Amidala in Phantom Menace when you're through?"
"Cross my heart! Now sit!" she commanded. Rey sat.
True to her word Rose had pulled up Rey's hair in a tumble of curls falling from a series of ponytails. Then she had scattered starburst barrettes throughout the curls. The white dress Rey had rented was an off the shoulder gown with tiny puffed sleeves. Lace accentuated the neckline of the fitted bodice and added an old world feel.
Rey had opted not to wear hoops under the dress, realizing that she'd most likely become a nuisance running into everyone. Instead, she wore a crinoline to give her skirt the poof it needed. The final touch was her white mask covered in pearls and white feathers. She felt like a different person tonight and it was exhilarating. Instead of her mousy self she felt confident, alluring, and feminine.
Her job as one of SC's daycare teachers was less than glamorous. Most days she dressed comfortably, knowing she'd end up covered in sticky fingerprints with glitter in her hair. She loved her job and the children in her class, but it put a real crimp in her dating life. Tonight she was determined to live a little and see if she could find a spark of her own.
Her stomach rumbling quietly reminded her that she hadn't eaten yet, and a hungry Rey was a grumpy Rey. Rising from her seat she said, "The buffet is calling my name! Food before dancing. Who's with me?"
"You're speaking my language! Lead the way." Finn declared.
"Zorii and I are going to dance and mingle first. Leave some scraps for the rest of us you two!" Poe teased as Rey tugged on Finn's arm and the two headed towards the tantalizing array of food.
Across the room, Ben was eyeing the clock and trying to decide just how long he had to stay before sneaking out and going home. Usually his Friday nights were spent curled up on the couch in his sweats with his favorite girl...his four year old daughter, Hope. Fridays were for the triple P's in the Solo house. Pizza, pajamas, and princesses. The idea had been born of desperation while watching Beauty and the Beast for the fifth time in a week. In a flash of brilliance he'd decided once a week he would have a special princess party with Hope and limit movies the rest of the week. Limiting television had also had the effect of encouraging her imaginative play so he was earning a gold start for good parenting too; at least that's what he told himself.
Ben found himself smiling when he remembered her reaction to his costume tonight…
"Daddy, you look like a vampire! Like in Hotel Transylvania!" she had squealed as she jumped on the couch.
"Hopper, do we jump on the sofa?" he gently reminded her as he caught her in flight and threw her over his shoulder.
She hummed while drumming on his back. "Nope! It was a pigment of your 'magination, Daddy. I'm always a good girl."
"Oh are you? Am I imagining this too?!," he asked as he began tickling her toes.
Ben was suddenly pulled back into the present when he was jostled hard from behind. He was able to save the champagne flute but not his suit. Wine dripped down his shirt front and onto the floor as he sighed.
With a gasp a gentle voice cried out, "I am so so sorry! I tripped over my skirt and with my hands full I couldn't stop myself…"
Ben turned around to acknowledge the apology when the words caught in his throat. She was… magnificent. Her dress clung in all the right places and gave her an air of elegance. The mask she wore hid her facial features yet highlighted her lovely hazel eyes. She was like a princess straight out of Hope's fairytale books. While resisting the urge to straighten his tie it dawned on him that she was waiting for him to respond.
"No harm done. I should've chosen a better place to stand people watching."
"But you're… dripping! Here at least take my napkin and dry off your suit," she said apologetically holding out her napkin.
Ben took the proffered linen and distractedly dabbed at his costume. Maybe this was enough to get him out of his promise to his mother. He could go home to change. Or, a little voice whispered in his ear, maybe he should take a chance on serendipity.
"How about a dance? To make up for this," he said, waving at his shirt.
Rey looked up into those honey brown eyes and, ignoring the flutter in her stomach, placed her plate on the nearest table and replied, "As you wish," and followed him onto the dance floor as the band struck up The Way you Look Tonight.
A/N: Thanks for reading! This is my 1st fanfic EvEr! The ending of TRoS was just the catalyst I needed to start writing. I will be posting the first two chapters this weekend, and then weekly until the story is finished! I have the first eight chapters' finished already. A big Wookie-sized Thanks to my beta, Angela! :))))