She had not expected that to happen or at least not yet. That morning, Rey had left the house with the orders for that day wearing nothing but a pair of jeans, a black KISS T-shirt from the flea market and her old sneakers. The weather had been too hot for that time of the year for so long that no one expected it to change so drastically last minute. Once she dropped her last order, she felt the cold wind giving her the most unpleasant chills. They reminded her of the beautiful warm spring days that eventually turned into rather cold evenings and even colder nights, but also of something else. Something she didn't want to remember. The sky was already dark and cloudy, and as she was getting closer to her town, a flash of lightning followed by a thunder announced the beginning of a terrible thunderstorm. She hit the gas hoping that she would get home before ending up not being able to even see the road, but twenty minutes later, it felt as if she were driving through a waterfall. However, she was not that crazy to risk her life in that weather, so she pulled over, waiting for the rain to stop. But typically unlucky her, as time was passing and it was getting darker outside, the storm was getting even worse.

"Wait!" she got out of the car hastily and ran to the policemen blocking the road. "What's going on?"

They looked at her already soaking wet child-like figure and shrugged.

"Everything is flooded and trees have fallen. There's nowhere to go."

Rey inhaled deeply and exhaled watching a cloud forming under her nose. She was cold and was beginning to panic.

"And… where do I go? I can't get home. I can't even drive to the other road to my town so late and in this weather."

"It would be pointless anyway, miss, as most roads are blocked. There is a motel for truckers ten minutes away from here. You need to go back and pay attention to the red sign. It marks the road to the motel."

It was not exactly the most ideal suggestion, yet Rey nodded and ran back to her car. She wiped the water off her forehead and cheeks and turned on the heating system, despite the fact it wasn't of much help, though it kept her from trembling all the way to the motel. It was a rather scary place and she had never seen a motel for truckers so hidden from the main road, but without much choice, it was almost like home. She parked her car and ran inside trembling only to find the place empty, without a soul in the lobby. It was still quite early, so maybe that was the reason why there didn't seem to be too many people if any, yet she was not sure which possibility going through her mind was scarier and taken out of a slasher horror film. She massaged her chest and looked once more behind the empty front desk, then took her phone out of her old messenger bag. Her fingers were trembling in such a manner that she was barely able to press any of the buttons, whereas her entire body was too frozen to even stand anymore. So she sat in an armchair from the waiting room, bringing her knees to the chest and hugging them like when back when she was a distressed child. Not that she was feeling any more different than when she was an actual child.

"May I help you?"

She flinched waking up from her sleep and barely got up, each muscle hurting like hell. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the concierge, who wasn't even talking to her. No, he was talking to that tall dark-haired prince of hers.

"Ben!" she jumped out of the armchair.

He turned to her and his face relaxed, unlike the concierge, who gave her a rather disgusted look.

"Sorry for calling you here on this weather, but I was so scared."

"Don't worry," he said gently, caressing her damp hair. "I'm here now."

His hair was dripping water, she noticed. And one water drop lingered on his cheek till it dropped on his upper lip. She lifted her hand and wiped it with the tip of her finger.

"Excuse me," cleared his throat the concierge. " May I help you?"

Ben gave Rey a soothing smile, then turned to speak to the other man, while she waited patiently, though very uncomfortable in those clothes. She sniffed feeling her nose rather stuffy and approached Ben who now had a key in his hand.

"We can stay here tonight. Room 118."

Rey furrowed for a moment, then chuckled.

"What?" he asked climbing the stairs to the first floor.

"It's 118. When we first kissed, we stayed in room 811."

"Oh, yeah," he said with a false cheerful tone and no actual enthusiasm, making Rey's smile vanish.

She cleared her throat and grabbed him by the wrist.

"Did I… have I caused you any trouble at work?"

"Oh, no," he shook his head. "I was actually not far from here when you called me. I would have probably ended sleeping at the hotel again, had I known earlier that the roads were blocked."

He forced the white door until it finally opened with a long creaking sound. The entire motel was rather old fashioned and it definitely lacked the style and comfort of the hotel where Ben was working. But it was better than just sitting in the car for the rest of the night. She shuddered letting out a whimper, making Ben turn to her.

"Go take a hot shower. You're trembling like an angry chihuahua."

Rey chuckled and went to check the other door in the room. The bathroom was about the size of her pantry from Maz's old home. It didn't even have a bathtub or a shower cabin, just the head. She shook her head reminding herself that it was just one night, so she took off her clothes and turned on the water. At least it was warm. Not hot, but warm enough to cast away those shivers. Once finished, she wrapped herself in the towel and tiptoed outside.

"You ca-"

Her eyes grew wider and she gulped at the sight of Ben's wide shoulders. She stood there staring at each muscle, mole and scar on his back, fighting the urge to go to him and touch him, kiss him, lick every…

"Are you ok? Your face is red."

"Oh…"

Her first instinct was to nod and not make him feel uncomfortable for her behaviour, but now that he was facing her, she could not take her eyes off his chest.

"The water is that hot, isn't it?" he smiled obliviously passing by her and brushing his arm against hers. Rey's heart seemed to skip a bit for a moment until she exhaled and cupped her cheeks. She let herself fall on the bed with a long sigh. They were going to sleep in the same room, same bed, with no clothes covering their bodies.

"Ugh, Rey?" she heard him call from the bathroom, interrupting her daydreaming.

"Yeah?" she cringed at the sound of her own flustered voice.

"Is there any bathrobe?"

She got up and looked around. Nothing. Then she opened the small wardrobe, but there were only blankets and a pillow inside.

"Nope!"

"Great…" she heard him mumble before getting out of the bathroom wearing nothing but the tiniest towel wrapped around his waist. Rey smiled licking her lips.

"You think this is funny?" teased her playfully. "Maybe I should take your towel."

"Maybe you should."

They stared at each other for a while, then Rey put her palms on his face and brushed gently her thumbs against the corners of his mouth. She had so many questions about their relationship. Was it mere flirting between two lonely people or maybe, just maybe…

Ben leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.

"Ben?"

"Yes?" he smiled melting her heart.

"Would you… would you like to make love to me?"

His face changed showing a gentle, yet pitiful look. One that made Rey's enthusiasm and bravery deflate like a balloon in the sun.

"I'm sorry, Rey."

" Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow !"

Rey and children started to sprinkle coconut flakes, white chocolate flakes and white sugar sprinkles all over the cookies. She had baked them the entire morning as the orphanage was still in ruins and the retirement home was still without electricity and heating. She wanted to keep the children occupied, as well as some of the elders, and it worked. The tiny bland cookies were now cute little boys and girls wearing colourful clothes decorated by the sticky skilful hands of her little apprentices. She had even learned the kids' names as their genuine kindness and warmth had made her feel at home and a little bit like a child once again. Maybe grown-up Rey saw her years in the system as horrible and her early years in Maz's home has equally tragic, but there had been nice moments. The children were reminding her that she was an orphan herself, but they were also comforting her and making those tiny frozen parts of her heart accept each aspect of her life. She needn't be a bitter woman who kept a stiff upper lip all the time. She could be the old nice Rey and the mature Mrs Solo at the same time.

"You do know it's February?"

Rey lifted her head and smiled at her husband.

"Ben!"

"Ben's here!"

"Beeen!"

The other seven children ran to him and hugged him, making that adorable grumpy Mr Solo laugh. Rey put down the little girl and let her go to him as well. She put her hands up in the air and jumped until he lifted her in his arms. His wife watched him mesmerized as he didn't mind the little girl putting her sticky palms on his face, covering his cheeks in sprinkles and sugar.

"I think she's trying to steal your heart," joked Rey getting up and taking back the little girl before returning to the table. "The kids have made something for you."

Ben approached her as the children went back to their seats and looked at the cookies. One was shaped like a man and had black hair, a beard, a dark red shirt and black pants and shoes. And a huge nose.

"Is that me?" he chuckled.

"Yeah!" applauded Liam his own work. "And Josh and Christine made these."

The boy showed Ben three heart-shaped cookies spelling his name. The letters were not exactly perfect, but those tiny humans had done that for him, to show him their appreciation and gratitude for having read them stories and brought them pencils and coloured pens. His lips thinned in a firm line and by now Rey already knew that it was his way of hiding his emotions.

"Lerrit no!" clapped the little girl.

Rey giggled and moved her on her other knee before singing once again.

" Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow !"

They repeated the part where they sprinkled, though the cookies were rather now shapeless from all that sweet white mass covering them.

"It feels like Christmas," said another girl, whose name Rey could not remember. The irony was that she was even wearing a reindeer sweater. All of them had new clothes… well, new for them as they had been brought by the visitors from the previous day, along with entire boxes full of toys and art and crafts supplies. There was plenty of food as well that would last for weeks, even months, but that didn't stop Rey from cooking them a fresh meal that afternoon. She was beginning to wonder whether it was her duty to continue Maz's legacy and start working there or at least volunteer as often as she could. And she could bring Ben too as he seemed more than happy to be surrounded by children in the absence of one of their own.

He caught her staring and winked at her, making those pale cheeks of hers turn red. They had returned home rather late, so they only took a shower, separately, drank a cup of hot chocolate, then went to bed, where Ben refused to let go of her hand. Not that she minded sleeping on his chest or having his huge body cover hers, whispering 'I love you' every now and then and moaning in his sleep. However, she had been afraid of his reaction in the morning, so once fully awaken, left a note on her pillow to make sure that he would not have another meltdown. And thankfully, he didn't. He woke up after her and got dressed, then went downstairs to grab a cup of coffee and something to eat before going back to work in his study. When it came to going back to the elders and the children, Rey tried her best to convince him to let her go on her own, but he refused, so the taxi dropped her in front of the retirement home and left only after she had entered the building, to drop Ben at the hospital. He was still wearing his cast, remarked Rey with sadness. But at least he was now having fun with the children drawing on it.

"Hey, Ben, what's your favourite day?" asked Christine's younger sister.

He looked at his wife and Rey wondered for a moment if it had anything to do with her.

"Uh… Christmas, I guess?"

"Why?"

Rey snorted. That was going to be a fun ride, but Ben himself was full of surprises.

"Beeecause I love Christmas trees and when I was about your age, I got a cat as a gift. It was the best cat ever."

Except it was evil , smiled Rey.

"Oh, man. We can't have pets in here, but I used to have three dogs and a rabbit farm before dad and mom went to jail," said Victor, a boy no older than seven and with not too many teeth. All of them had been separated from their families. Liam and Josh at least were siblings and had their grandmother in the retirement home, and Christine had her two sisters, but Victor, the other older girl and the toddler sitting on her knee were all on their own.

"I keep asking Santa for my grandpa. When I came here, they told me that he was too old to take care of me. Maybe Santa will make him less old or at least give my mom a plane ticket to come back for me."

Rey wiped her tear before letting anyone see it and turned to look at the little girl playing dolls with two cookies.

"What do you want from Santa?" she asked completely aware of how ridiculous it was to ask such thing in February.

"Mommy."

Oh ! Oh, she knew perfectly how it was like to wish for mommy.

Rey cleared her throat and asked her once again.

"Where is your mommy?"

"Mommy sky," she pointed at the ceiling.

"Her mommy died in the hospital and her daddy threw her in the trash can when she was just a baby," said the eldest girl. Rey blinked nervously, completely outraged and her husband seemed to share her indignation. She cleared her throat again and caressed the little girl's chestnut curls.

"You know… you haven't told me your name. Wanna tell me your name?"

"Mmmno?"

Rey heard her husband chuckle, but she was still too upset about what she had learned about the girl's past.

"She doesn't have a name, but we all decided to call her Holly Hobbie."

"That's cute," murmured Ben. "Did Holly get her nap-nap today?"

"Nap-nap?"

Holly couldn't have seemed more excited not even by giving her a huge stuffed animal. Well… she had rejected all the toys and preferred wandering all over the house with the tiny elephant Rey had given to her.

Rey watched Ben take Holly and the other children upstairs to wash hands and go to bed, while the knot in her stomach was seconds away from making her have her own meltdown. Suddenly, the idea of adopting wasn't that bad anymore. Perhaps even a bunch of morons like them could be better parents than… well… nothing.

"Why are you so distressed?" asked Rose taking another batch of freshly baked cookies and placing them carefully on the plate. Her old friend had baked the entire afternoon and everything had sold out as soon as they put them up for sale. And with the clock announcing the time when most people were supposed to finish their work for the day and take their children from the afternoon classes, they would sell even more. It was just like back then when the Solos were the owners.

Rose wrote on the blackboard the available products:

- double banana white chocolate chip cookies

- strawberry white chocolate chip cookies

- strawberry chocolate chip cookies

- toffee and butterscotch chip cookies

- chocolate chunk cookies

- mint chocolate chip cookies

The quiches were still in the oven and Rey was preparing the sandwiches. She was pampering all the customers with those goodies and she was slowly beginning to save the cafe. If only she were able to save her own self from her problems.

"I am… I don't know. Sometimes it's all going so well and I think I'm doing great, but then…"

"Ben again?"

Rey pursed her lips and looked at the black knife handle reminding her of his dark hair and eyes. After forgetting about him entirely, it was rather funny how everything reminded her of him when they were not together. She took the butter knife and shrugged.

"Mno… well… maybe him too. He adores me and I love him too. We're finally making some progress, but he doesn't want to… you know."

Rose giggled and put the blackboard back on the wall and the chalk in the drawer.

"You? You two? There were nights when I had to put on earbuds to not hear you. Good thing the other Mrs Solo had always slept too deeply to hear you."

"Oh!" blushed Rey. "Well, if you need a place to stay, you can stay in the bedroom next to ours and listen to our very boring conversations. Perhaps we will help you fall asleep in less than a minute."

She now put down the butter knife and shook her head.

"I'm being mean right now. Don't get me wrong. I love every second spent by his side. Sometimes it feels as if he is the air that I breathe, but I just want him to pay more attention to me. I know it's too soon, but the way he rejects me… Each time he does it, it's like a snowball growing bigger and dragging the avalanche with it."

"Have you tried seducing him?"

Rey took a slice of cucumber and shoved it in her mouth.

"I freaking sleep naked next to him! Besides… we've discussed a little the possibility of having children."

"That's good, isn't it?"

The young woman looked at her friend with a frustrated look on her face.

"Adoption. And I don't really have a problem with adoption, but why doesn't even want to… you know… try ?"

Rose took a pack of napkins a ripped the thin wrapping, placing them in the wooden box next to the cash register.

"Maybe he thinks that it's like the normal thing for you two to do as you're both adopted."

"Yeah, most likely. And I somehow agree, but… I need my carrot, Rose!"

Euphemisms had never been more welcome. None of them even heard the bell, only the man clearing his throat. They looked at the family of five and smiled awkwardly as they approached the counter. They looked at the three blackboards and the products under the bell jars then kept on mumbling.

"We'd like five tzatziki and salmon bagels and five garlic knot chicken parmesan sandwiches."

"Sure," smiled Rose and almost pushed Rey away, who furrowed before noticing the signs she was making behind her back. By the time she finally understood them, it was too late.

"Aren't you the girl who went missing three years ago?" asked the lady wearing a huge fur hat. "The owner of this place?"

She didn't know what to answer, but it was quite obvious that the lady had never expected her to say anything. The woman just smiled full of confidence and rather smugly, then turned to one of her children, whispered something and the three children went to a table and sat there.

"I've heard of what you've done for the retirement home and orphanage."

Rey shrugged feeling rather uncomfortable. The way that woman spoke was similar to a snake trying to charm its prey.

"Are you back for good?"

The young women looked at each other and Rey could have sworn that her friend was trying to convince her to make the big step and run in the kitchen. But she had already been seduced by the snake and couldn't move.

"Yes," she uttered besotted. "Unless my husband wants to move out."

The woman's eyes grew wider and Rey guessed that she knew all about the harassment and accusations he had endured.

"Maybe you'll stay. We all missed your goodies."

"Rey, go check on the quiches, please."

Rey flinched and nodded to Rose's order before going back into the kitchen. She took out the tray and replaced it with another one full of leek brie and ham mini-quiches, then stood there confused and more lost than ever.

"Can you believe that witch?" stormed Rose angrily much later. "She had the guts to come here!"

"Who was that?" exhaled Rey overwhelmed.

"Phasma is the ultimate queen bee of the parents' committee. She is so rich that she has nothing else to do when her kids are at school, so she started her own blog, where she played Nancy Drew by blaming Ben for your disappearance and inventing the most atrocious shit about you two and your relationship."

Rey stared at her friend who didn't even seem to breathe while speaking about their latest customer.

"And why did her opinion matter so much?"

"Because every parent in this town does and thinks what she wants and she used her status as one of our best clients to lie about you two being best friends."

"I don't even know her." laughed Rey nervously.

"Trust me. It's better this way. But maybe… at least she could bring back our old clients."

Rey went to her friend and grabbed her hand.

"We don't need her, Rose. We've had plenty of customers today."

"Unfortunately, we do need her, Rey. She ruined this business once, she can do it again."

Rey shook her head, still feeling rather strange after meeting that woman.

"I don't have the time or patience to deal with such people."

"I feel you, but I… I've just hoped she would forget about us and leave us alone."

"You said it yourself. She's just a lady in need of a hobby. I won't be hers. I have other things to worry about."

"Yeah," chuckled Rose. "Ben's carrot."

Rey blinked embarrassed. She shouldn't have said that.

"I am not an expert at all, but I've told you. You should try seducing him."

"Maybe I should…"

Many hours later, Rose was locking the cafe, while Rey was busy staring at the pet shop window across the street. The teen working there had finished mopping the floors and was now checking on the animals. She shoved her hands in the large pockets of her coat and sighed. Slowly and patiently she would feel more at home in that place and perhaps less sad. She looked forward to the day when she was going to go back to her old self.

"Ben told me to take you home."

"Ok," she murmured trying her best not to look upset. She followed her friend to the car parked across the street and waited for her to unlock it. She was chewing on her bottom lip when she heard a meow. She looked around, then at the pet shop window, now completely in dark. She must have imagined it.

Another meow and this time followed by some tiny claws.

Rey flinched and almost fell on her back at the sight of the tiny furry goblin. She squatted next to the kitten and looked at it with curious eyes. It was grey with some brownish stripes and it had green eyes, long legs and an even longer tail for its overall size. Rey smiled and reached for it. Surprisingly, it did not reject her. Instead, it meowed one more time and purred, though it sounded more like a coo.

"Rey?" she heard Rose calling for her on a worried tone.

"I found a kitty," she said with a large smile.

"Awesome," rolled Rose her eyes chuckling, but then her smile faded when she saw Rey getting inside the car with the animal. She did not say anything, however, as she knew her friend was in need of giving and receiving any form of affection.

"The kids told me about the little girl," she said later, after a long silence, while cuddling the animal. "The one they call Holly Hobbie because she has no name."

"Oh," smiled Rose. "Don't listen to all the things they say. Children are usually honest, but they also have a huge imagination. Her name is Anna."

"Anna…" she repeated scratching the kitten behind the ear. "So her mother didn't die and her father didn't abandon her in a trash can?"

Rose shrugged.

"I haven't really spent any time with her and I don't know much about her. It might be true, though."

Rey looked at Rose, then at her kitten. Such a young animal should be by her mom's side as well.

"I've always wondered what happened to my parents. Maz told me that I make my own life and destiny and that blood is not that important, but it still feels like a missing part of my soul."

"Rey," said Rose on a gentle tone, yet pitiful, reminding her of Ben from her latest recovered memory. "Your parents died in a fire, sweetheart. You survived just because you were hiding in the toolshed."

Something broke inside her heart and mind. Somehow, she knew that it was not the first time hearing that, but still, her sense of belonging was shattered. She was indeed all alone. No bonds, no ties to the past. No family. Except for the one she made herself.

"How do you know this?" she asked incredibly calm.

"You told me."

"Do I have anything from them?"

"No…" she shook her head still looking at the road. "Everything burned down and-"

"Do I have any other relatives?" she interrupted her abruptly, too impatient to stand being protected with kind words.

"No, sorry. I mean, you had, but they were either too old or distant relatives and refused taking care of you."

Rey bit her lip and looked outside the window. There was no disappointment, as she had known this before and her body was already immune to the bad news. Besides, what was the point in being sad about not being wanted by some strangers? It was a waste of time and energy to care about anyone who didn't care about you. However, the huge emptiness was persisting.

"Thank you, Rose, and see you tomorrow," she uttered getting out of the car and going to the front door. The lights were on and there was a car parked nearby, which meant that Ben was anything but alone. She got inside trying to make as little noise as she could, and tried to listen to the conversation while taking off her coat and boots. Ben and Kaydel were still chatting, with none of them seeming to have even noticed her presence, so she went into the kitchen. That morning she found a can of tuna and she knew the kitten would enjoy it more than her. She drained the brine and took out two spoons of fish on a plate. Any worries about the kitten not liking it were gone as soon the kitten began devouring the food.

"What name should I give you, little one?" she spoke gently while sitting on the kitchen floor next to her new friend.

The cat turned to her and meowed before devouring the last pieces of tuna.

"You needn't have shoved your entire face in the fish. Now you need a bath… actually, I think you needed it in the first place."

The kitten meowed again and jumped in her lap, cuddling at her chest.

"You miss your mommy, don't you? But I can be your mommy now. And I shall name you… umm… Bee. Strange name for a cat, isn't it? Bee Solo. It's almost funny. Well, Bee Solo. Let's give you a bath."

When she got out of the kitchen, Ben and Kaydel were still discussing their work things, so she felt like not bothering them. So she snuck upstairs, gave Bee a bath, which went smoothly until it came the time to rinse her fur, then took a shower herself.

"We're gonna sleep together tonight, right? You and I?" she leaned in to allow Bee to tap her nose with her tiny paw. But just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she almost bumped into Kaydel. If it even was Kaydel. With no makeup on and that messy bun, she looked almost just like… her. Apart from her bigger eyes and smaller mouth, they looked almost identical.

"Hey, I didn't know you were home!" said Kaydel with a husky voice, then hugged her.

"Hey… how are you?"

"Oh," she rolled her eyes rather embarrassed. "I'm recovering my voice, I've thrown up like crazy and I can barely remember anything, but I'm good."

"I'm glad," smiled Rey cordially.

"By the way, I've brought you some flowers and a tiny gift to thank you for everything."

"Why?" blinked Rey confused. "You were the one helping me," she said looking for the first time at Ben, who was looking at them somehow bored… or maybe he was just tired.

"Well, my idiot friends loved the party and your food. I've left you a list of people who want to get in contact with you. They're rich spoiled brats, so you can overcharge them."

They both laughed and now Rey was seeing similarities even in the way they smiled. She knew it wasn't healthy to go back there, but still… how come her husband's only friend was a girl who looked so much like her?

"Thanks again and goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Rey looked at Ben, but he was already following Kaydel outside. She sighed and peeked at the large orange roses bouquet and the box next to it. With Bee still in her arms, she took the box and opened it, finding a cute pair of butterfly-shaped earrings.

"Do you want me to throw that towel in the laundry basket?"

Rey turned to face her husband and was surprised by her own apathy. She went from yearning after him to not even caring whether he was there or not in just a couple of hours. What was wrong with her?

"It's not just a towel," she said sitting down in the teal armchair, facing the fireplace. It would have been nice seeing it lit now that it was still snowing and it had that ideal wintery vibe.

"I should have probably asked you before, but I couldn't leave it outside," she said revealing the wet kitten hidden in the towel. "I named it Bee."

She expected Ben to sigh annoyed and maybe lash at her expressing his disappointment, but he was the same guy whose favourite childhood memory was the one of him getting a diabolic cat for Christmas. So it was no surprise that he kneeled in front of her and made a high pitched sound similar to the one kids made when getting excited about something.

"Hi, Bee!"

The cat meowed back at him.

"I think she likes me."

"I like you too and that doesn't get you that excited," said Rey on a playful tone, making Ben stop petting their new pet and look at her.

"You look exhausted," he remarked.

"Yeah… I'm a bit unwell emotionally."

"Oh, the kids?"

She nodded with a miserable smile.

"I felt sad too. Not only for them but for the elders too."

"Yeah, I know. I was like one of those kids and I might also end up like one of the elders. It's unfair how we all end up all alone."

"But you're not alone," he cupped her cheek.

"Neither are you," she said taking his hand and helping him get up before getting up herself. It was not that late, but she still turned off all the lights and took Ben and Bee upstairs, in the main bedroom. They got in bed and laid there in silence. Judging by the adorable snoring, Bee fell asleep before any of them did and even though the entire situation was making her feel comfortable, Rey was slowly feeling swallowed by misery.

"Ben?"

She didn't want him to hear or see her cry, nor did she want him to worry or suffocate her with his overwhelming care.

"Can you hug me?"

"Sure."

That warmth. That hard hot body. That beating heart. She wanted all of it.

As Ben's strong arm was holding her tightly to his body, she snuck her fingers under his pyjama shirt, feeling the texture of his skin and flesh. She was indeed not alone. He was there, alive and breathing, emanating warmth and love only and only for her. But without him, she wasn't sure she was going to feel the same. She couldn't lose him ever.

Rey gasped and lifted her head to look at the shape of his peculiar yet gorgeous face. That was how Ben must have felt. The abandonment, the doubt, the misery and the overwhelming emptiness.

"I love you," she whispered before kissing him gently and taking his hand.

They fell asleep holding hands and feeling loved.