The morning came much later than expected and this time Rey woke more than happy and utterly satisfied. She stretched her arms and legs, then rubbed her eyes yawning. Her day had ended surprisingly… lovely. She had managed to make love to Ben without him rejecting her or her feeling any fear or disgust. And she had Rose, Finn and even Poe back and, most importantly, she had a truly amazing sister. Indeed, she had lost so much, but maybe she could rebuild her life and make it better than before. All she needed was her strong will and the support and love of her family.

She massaged her stiff neck as her smile slowly faded away feeling a presence in the room. Her eyes moved from watching Bee play with the curtains to the door. Even though she hadn't heard it open, she was sure the cold breeze came from…

Oh no!

She jumped startled and opened her mouth to scream for help, while her hands were reaching for the closest thing she could use to protect herself. But instead of jumping on the bed to grab her and drag her back into that bunker, Kylo Ren lifted his hands without taking any step closer and spoke to her on a patient tone.

"It's ok, Rey. It's me."

Rey relaxed hearing his voice, then put the lamp down as she noticed all the details making him different from his dead doppelganger. It shouldn't have been like that. She wasn't supposed to fear him. Not after the night they had spent together making love over and over again.

"I'm sorry," she whined. "You scared me."

"No worries. May I?" he asked her for permission to sit next to her on the bed. Rey nodded feeling incredibly awkward to have Ben do this, so once he sat on the bed, she jumped in his arms and kissed him on the neck, eager to prove him that she did not fear him .

"Where have you been?" she asked upset about not waking up in his arms. She missed having his possessive hands holding her tight and making it a challenge for her to get up in the morning.

"I had to run some errands with Kaydel."

"Work stuff?" she smiled finally happy that she didn't feel any ounce of jealousy.

Ben kissed her neck making her giggle and gently squeezed her naked thigh.

"Mmmno. It was actually something for you."

"For me?" she looked at him in disbelief.

"Yeah! It's a surprise," he said getting up and stretching his arms, revealing his happy trail. Rey pouted, suddenly having other plans for that morning. However, Ben was having none of it. He grabbed her lifting her in his arms and took her to the bathroom.

"Are you going to make love to me?" she purred playfully biting his earlobe, but Ben only put her down and headed back to the bedroom. That was not part of her plan. Was he really going to take her out to see people judging her and mocking her again? What if someone from Hux's family wanted to get revenge on her for all that mess? Or maybe he was alive and still lurking.

"Wait, Ben!" she begged. "I don't want to get out of the house. Please."

He turned and looked at her with a gaze full of love and compassion, then he licked his lips as if waiting to find the right words.

"I can't go outside and face the people," she insisted. "I know he's dead, but I'm-"

"You will be safe with me. I promise. Now be ready in twenty minutes."

/|\

Twenty-seven minutes later, Rey was wearing a floral dress in pastel shades of blue, snake print boots and a beige light coat. She quietly got in the car and remained silent the entire trip, mostly staring at her fingers and sometimes at the trees. Her mind was empty and only the jazz playing on the radio was filling it every now and then, making her hum.

She inhaled deeply when they reached the big city and lowered her head even more. It felt as if any person on the street was judging her or spying on her for Hux.

"Are we going to meet Kaydel?" she finally asked with her voice trembling. They had discussed opening a new cafe in the city, so maybe they were about to see some commercial spaces for rent.

"Mmmno," mumbled Ben chewing on his bottom lip. "She went to see if she can replace her documents and cards and get a new phone."

"Ok."

She pursed her lips and continued staring at her hands. Maybe she could ask Rose to let her cook from home for a while, while managing the cafe on her own for a while. And with her sister on sick leave, maybe she could ask Kay to come visit her more often. Also, she hadn't asked Ben about his job. He had been locked up in jail for a couple of days and then he was in the hospital. And even though he had been working from home and only part-time, he had barely worked at all! Not that she minded it, though. Maybe they could cook together for Finn's show and for the cafe in general… just like before.

Rey lifted her head to speak to him, but her lips remained parted as she noticed him enter underground parking. After parking his wife's car carefully, Ben got out with her hesitantly following him to the elevator, which took them up to the lobby of a hospital.

"Are we going to visit Luke?" she grabbed his sleeve and pulled it to show her anxiety. But Ben only shook his head making her even more frustrated.

"Why are we here?" she asked on a tone revealing her still very fragile state of mind. She seemed to be moments away from an emotional meltdown, making Ben realise that indeed, maybe she shouldn't have left the house just yet. The place was very bright and warm and the music playing in the speakers was quite relaxing, but maybe just a little bit annoying, because it made the place look like a clinic. She looked at Ben blinking slowly and letting a tear escape her. He was going to have her hospitalized for a while. She was sure of it. After all, her head was a mess even with her memories back. But perhaps it was better for everyone as she had experienced too many traumas and heartbreaks. At any time, one of her meltdowns could end up in her suicide or her attacking someone else. She was a danger, a walking timebomb.

"Luke and I have done some digging and we found something. Well… someone."

Rey furrowed, his voice pulling her out from the pit of despair and paranoia. If that place was not a hospital, then maybe it was a retirement home. Were they going to meet some distant relatives of hers? But she already knew that no one has ever been interested in meeting her before and Kaydel confirmed it as well, so what was even the point. Besides, by the looks of it, the friendly uniforms worn by the employees, the warm colours and the cartoon themed patterns, it was more like a place for children. A… kids centre?

"Are you ready?" he asked her with a huge smile, revealing how excited and tense he was.

"Why are we here, Ben?" she panicked grabbing his hand as he headed towards the sliding doors. Once inside, Rey looked around at the tiny chairs and the tables covered with colouring books and crayons, the building blocks, the dollhouse, the toy kitchen, the green carpet with dinosaurs and the white wallpaper with pastel letters. She squeezed Ben's hand and whimpered as she heard him sniff, barely holding his tears in.

"Miss, we're here now," his voice was trembling, though he had cleared his throat.

Rey looked at Ben in confusion, then at the nurse in pink scrubs leaving the group of children she was supervising. She passed by another group playing and went to a small child playing all alone with a plushie and a baby blanket. She whispered something, then the child got up, took her hand and, skipping, approached them.

Rey let out a loud gasp and covered her mouth smiling.

"Are we here to adopt li-"

She stopped once her eyes fell on the blanket. She'd seen that blanket before, in her dreams. No! They were not dreams. They were memories. Memories of her touching her swollen belly while holding a pair of knitting needles.

It's almost done, my love , she remembered her own voice soothing the baby after another kick. After the baby calmed down with the kicks, she covered her pregnant belly with the blanket she had knitted. It was not perfect, but she hadn't knitted in years, only sewn, and it was a miracle her abductor had been willing to even provide her with something to keep her mind from going mad. She touched the names written on the blanket and smiled.

I may not know what you are, but I made this for you. And here is your name. If you are a boy, your name will be Benjamin, after your father. Here is also an S for Solo. And if you are a girl, I want you to be named after my favourite character. Well… except your name will not end with an E, but an A.

"She was the only baby brought around the time you were gone," said Ben with a trembling voice. "They thought Benjamin was her last name, but there were too many coincidence and too many similarities. I had nothing to lose, so I filed a request for a paternity test and Kaydel for a DNA test in your absence. They both came back positive."

Rey bit her lip to not let out a loud cry in front of all those children, but her legs were too weak. She fell to her knees just as the child saw them and recognized them.

"Ben! Rey!" she called running to them with the biggest smile.

"Anna!" she cried opening her arms to hug her. Oh, her sweet smell and the silky chestnut curls and that tiny body that was now a tad bigger than back when she was growing inside her! She was her baby! Her little daughter! She gently pushed her to look at her, cupping her face. She analysed her thick eyelashes, her dark eyes, perfect little mouth and button nose, then looked at Ben, who was carefully kneeling next to her, with a pained face.

"Hi," he whispered with a hoarse voice.

"I missed you," scolded him Anna, while grabbing his thumb with her tiny hand. "You are here for my birthday?" She then looked at Rey and counted on her fingers. "Four cupcake?"

Rey laughed wiping her tears.

"Cupcakes only for Anna, Fufu, Ben and Rey?"

Her daughter nodded.

"No cupcakes for the other kids?"

The little girl pursed her lips, then shrugged.

"Mmmno?"

Ben chuckled recognizing so many of his traits in his little girl, while Rey started crying again. It was too beautiful to be true. She was too beautiful. In fact, she was perfect and more than anything she had imagined while being pregnant.

"Why sad?" asked Anna on a lamenting tone.

"I'm not sad," she smiled and tried to tuck Anna's hair behind her ear, though, being her father's daughter, the curls jumped back where they stood before. "I am actually very happy."

"Let's go, Anna," approached her the nurse once again and the little girl grabbed her hand.

"Where are you taking her?" panicked Rey almost yelling at the woman and throwing herself at her to snatch her daughter back. She wouldn't allow anyone to take her ever again. However, Ben put his arm around her shoulders soothing her and helping her to get up.

"It's ok. She'll go play with the kids while we sign some papers."

But she couldn't leave her! Not even for one moment.

"Can't you sign them and I stay here with her?" she whined breaking his heart to fill it with more love for her. "I've already lost so much time, Ben."

He shook his head and massaged her neck, then turned to the nurse, who was now trying to make Anna leave with her.

"Say bye, Anna."

"But I don't wanna!" protested the fiery youngest Solo and Rey burst into tears knowing that her baby wanted her.

"No, Anna," tried the nurse to calm her down, but she kept pulling back to her parents.

"No, you!" she yelled. "I wanna stay Ben and Rey!"

Acting quickly, Rey kneeled in front of her once more and took her other hand.

"It's ok, Anna. It's ok, my love."

"It's ok," repeated her daughter. She had Ben's angry gaze, but the way she clenched her jaw was just like she did.

"Look," she sniffed caressing her adorable curls. "You go with the nice lady and pack your bags and we'll come to take you when you're ready."

The little girl furrowed just like her dad and kept looking at the three adults.

"Go where?"

"We're going home, my love."

Her eyes grew wider and she looked at her caretaker who nodded, then opened her perfect little mouth and let out an excited squeak.

"Rey home!" she jumped, then stopped and look at her all serious. "Ben come too?"

"Of course! You'll live with us."

Anna squeaked and jumped again making them laugh.

"Now let's go, Miss Benjamin."

"Solo," corrected her Rey and the nurse chuckled nodding.

"Let's go, Miss Anna Solo."

"Wait!" Anna pulled back again and ran to Rey. She hugged her and kissed her on the cheek, then wiped her wet cheeks with her tiny hands. Rey was so overwhelmed that she did not know how to react and just watched her daughter look at all serious before saying one more word.

"Pancakes?"

/|\

The weather was so much warmer in the city, allowing them to sit outside and enjoy their drinks. Rey sniffed staring at a pigeon courting another pigeon on the light pole. She had been crying and stopping to take breaks every couple of minutes. Now it was break time and so it seemed to be for her husband too. She lowered her gaze on his trembling bottom lip as he sipped from his cup of coffee. She took her glass of lemonade but did not feel like drinking and refilling her supplies of water for more tears.

"I don't know how to thank you," she uttered surprised by the fact that she managed to say a word without crying. "I just can't believe she's alive and ours."

Ben checked his phone and handed it to her, showing her an article about a baby being found in a trash can by a hungry stray dog. The howling and barking had alerted the people and she was rescued.

"She was found covered only by her blanket," she sighed. "She was only a few hours old long, premature, hungry and cold. But she fought like a warrior and now look at her how feisty she is. She's… wonderful. Perfect."

Rey smiled with teary eyes, feeling so happy that Ben loved their baby girl as much as she did. She couldn't believe that she had ever doubted his beautiful heart and blamed him of not caring.

"She was so close," she whispered. "We held her in our arms and I swear I felt something inside me, but I thought it was just my need for a baby, not that it was my blood calling hers. Remember that I wanted to adopt her?"

"Yeah," he said biting his finger. "To be honest, we were lucky that no one else took her. It would have been a nightmare to fight in court over her. Kaydel already pulled enough strings to let us take her home."

"What do you mean?" she furrowed anxiously at any suggestion that her daughter could not return in her arms.

Ben took another sip and scratched his chin suddenly missing his beard.

"Well… we were not supposed to just take her with us so soon, but until we're getting our parental rights back, we have her in our care."

Rey bit her lip as she broke with only one push of the finger the wooden stick used for mixing the honey and mint puree with the lemonade.

"I won't allow anyone to take her away from me, Ben. She's mine ."

"I know, don't worry," he calmed her brushing his thumb against her wrist.

"Here is your order!" startled them a very cheerful waitress as she put on the table a styrofoam casserole dish and the bill. Ben pulled out his wallet and paid the young girl who smiled, grateful for the large tip.

"Let's go!" he told Rey pointing at the dish. "Our daughter demanded pancakes and we must deliver them."

Rey smiled taking his hand and let him guide her outside.

"Do you think she'll grow to love us?" she asked while they were crossing the street.

"Well… I am still surprised you love me and I fell for you at the first mischievous smirk, but, unlike us, Anna is too clever. We might have to bribe her."

Rey chuckled and pulled his hand to kiss him on the cheek. She was the happiest and she couldn't believe that it was all real. She squeezed his hand fearing that it was all just a dream and that she would wake up only to find herself Kylo Ren's prisoner once again.

"The gifts…" she found herself saying before entering the centre. "You knew . I mean… they were for Anna."

"Yeah," he admitted smiling shyly. "You were not supposed to see them, but I grabbed them all at once. I'm sorry for keeping the secret, but with the Easter and spring break, the offices were closed and I know you would have insisted to go see her right away. At least we didn't have to wait much."

"Just three years," sighed Rey with sadness and Ben took her hand and kissed it. It was all going to be fine. He couldn't wait to tell Luke that they've done it. They did not only find Rey, but they also found Anna. Maybe the old man was grumpier and less active than he used to be thirty-five years before, but he was sure he would adore her and see her as his granddaughter now that neither Rey or he had living parents. And if Rey managed to rekindle her relationship with her adopted brother and long lost sister, he could rekindle his relationship with Luke too. Maybe help him with his drinking problem and get him to hang out together more. Maybe eat together a couple of times per week and ask him to teach Anna how to ride horses. He could also tell Anna all sorts of stories and train her bright mind with puzzles and mysteries, while Rey and he enjoyed a date night. They were going to be a big happy family.

"Rey! Ben!" waved Anna at them holding her toy elephant and carrying a Tweety Bird backpack. Rey let him go and ran to her, lifting her in her arms and twirling together. His heart grew watching the two laugh, but for some reason, he was suddenly feeling dizzy and very sad. His heart was hurting. He lifted his gaze and watched his daughter call for him as Rey's face turned slightly worried as if asking him what was wrong. He kept pressing his palm on his chest and with the other hand he pulled out his phone from his jacket. He had a couple of missed calls, but as soon as he checked the numbers, his phone rang again. The voice echoed in his entire body as he looked at Rey with a desperate gaze, calling her silently to come by his side. She did run back to him, holding Anna and grabbed his hand once his phone fell on the ground.

"He died, Rey. My uncle died."