Epilogue:

1 year later…

Rey stared at her freshly showered reflection in the mirror. Today was the day. After a successful senior year, it was finally time for her senior performance in the glorious state music hall. Sure, there were several bumps along the way. Like the semester she met her boyfriend, now fiancé, she took an incomplete because everything that happened. Thankfully she was able to correct those incomplete class over the summer semester so she could graduate on time. Despite every challenge thrown at her from her terrible father to Ben's, no Ben's, past, she was here now. Everything she ever dreamed of came true She fought for this, for herself and for her mother's memory. She had love, friends and at tomorrows graduation she would have a diploma. She even had a job lined up to be part of Americas greatest symphony orchestra. Picking up the blow dryer she began to fix her appearance, the recital was in a few hours and she was anxious to get ready.

Ben paced nervously in the bedroom, eyes flickering to the closed bathroom door. Today was a very special day for his fiancé, for both of them really. This was the night she had looked forward to for a very long time and he wanted everything to go perfect for her. She had been through so much; this was everything to her. After what had happened this time last year and he suggested she stay a little while. A little while turned into forever, she never left. And the past year living together was pure bliss. Every day she would practice on the piano to curate her own music for her senior recital. He would listen from the corner seat with such admiration for her talent. The way she would blush under his compliments, his heart swelled every time.

After they got engaged the talk of a wedding was put on a back burner. Rey was so focused on finishing her education strong and the new direction of the company occupied a lot of his time. But they had all the time in the world. Life for them was changing so rapidly. Now that Rey had this job, they talked about moving to the suburbs. Sometimes ben caught himself daydreaming about having kids. That was a conversation they haven't had yet, but whatever she wanted, he wanted. His love for her was deep and un wielding.

"Ben? Can you get my dress?" Rey called out from the bathroom. He had offered to get her a new dress for tonight, but she insisted on the red one from last years charity.

"Yes darling." He replied. He was already dressed in his tux, this was a black tie event.

Having finished her hair and makeup, she slipped on the bathrobe ben had bought her a long time ago. When she opened the door, she gasped in awe her eyes wide. Laying over the edge of the bed wasn't the red dress. Instead it was a familiar ivory satin ballgown that she had almost forgotten about.

"Ben what is going on?" her heart was thundering in her veins as she reached out and ran her fingers over the soft fabric.

"When I saw you in that dress last year and when I saw how much you loved it, I bought it. It's been in the spare closet this whole time." He took a step towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.

"Wow, thank you. But isn't it a bit much for the music hall?" instinctively she placed a hand over his, her engagement ring that she never took off since he put it on her finger, glinting in the light.

He pressed his lips to the top of her head. "Maybe, but it's perfect for a wedding don't you think?"

Rey spun around in his arms looking at him with excitement in her big brown eyes.

"What are you saying?" she was breathless.

"I made an appointment at the courthouse. Let's get married. Tonight, before your performance." A smile full of dimples spread over his face as his arms tightened around her.

"Oh Ben…" she reached up cupping his face in her small hands. This man was perfect, he was everything to her.

"Come on, say yes. Everyone I would want to attend is right here in my arms and downstairs." Her eyes widened even more, tears of joy threatening to spill.

"Yes!" she pulled him down into a kiss. She didn't want a big ceremony anyway, this was perfect. They both murmured I love you's into the kiss, but Rey pushed him back. "What if I don't fit in the dress?"

He rolled his eyes and pulled at the bathrobe. "Rey you haven't changed at all, you will fit. Now let's get you in it before we are late."

She blushed chewing her lip. So he hadn't noticed then.

The robe fell at her feet and Bens breath faltered. He never tired of seeing her naked. There was no time to fool around. After though he was definitely going to ruin her in this dress. All smiles and faint kisses he got her into the dress, slowly doing up the laces in the back taking his time to admire her. The beautiful woman she is. He brushed her hair aside and kissed her bare shoulder.

"A perfect fit. Stunning." He whispered and he watched the blush erupt on her skin. It pleased him to know that even after all this time he still had this affect on her. He took a step back, careful not to trip over her skirts. For so long he itched to call her his girlfriend, then fiancé and soon his wife.

Rey giggled watching him, he was basically drooling. "We should get going." He swallowed nervously and reached out taking her hand. His grip was tight as was hers. They were both anxious for whatever comes next. He led her out of the bedroom, down the hall and to the glass staircase. Looking below she saw Leia, and Finn. Rey blushed more hearing them gasp and she quickly found herself in Finns arms.

"Did you know what he was up to?" she jokingly accused finn pointing a finger at his chest.

"Most definitely." He beamed and went to hug Ben. Next Rey received a hug from Leia.

"Oh, my sweet girl. You look absolutely beautiful." Tears were welling in both their eyes. Leia was the closest thing she had to a mother figure. Rey could only mumble a thankyou as she tried to stop the tears from falling. This day was absolutely perfect. She looked over at ben and Finn was patting him on the back.

"You did good kid."

"Thanks man. We really need to get going though!" with that he grabbed Rey and they all crammed into the elevator. Her dress swarming everyone's legs. It was all smiles and laughter as they rushed to the limo waiting out front. Once sitting down, she couldn't see over her dress, but she didn't care. She knew everyone was happy and smiling being able to share this moment with each other. They pulled up to the courthouse and getting Rey out the limo door was practically impossible. They ran in together holding hands because it was in 5 minutes. They got there just in time and sat on the benches out of breath as Rey struggled to put on her shoes. Images of the last time they sat in a courtroom filtered through Bens mind while they waited.

"Ben is the most kindhearted man I know. He showed me how to trust and how to live. He only deserves kindness and whatever love the world has to offer him."

Ben eyes were glued to her face as he remembered what she had said.

"My life is ruined, and my heart is broken!"

"And you don't think mine is broken too?"

Things had changed so much since then. His love, his heart, his life it was all hers. Rey felt his gaze on her, she slowly turned her head as her eyes met his. He was looking at her with such a deep longing, a look he gave her all the time. He really loved her. with a few more couples ahead of them she took the time to reflect on her moments with him.

He reached up and pushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Can I kiss you, Rey?"

"Oh. Well its true right? You are my girlfriend?"

"Of course, darling." He raised her hand and kissed her knuckles

"Marry me. Join me for the rest of my life"

Suddenly their names were called, it was time.

"You ready?" Ben asked her squeezing her hand. She couldn't help it as one tear escaped, he reached out brushing it away.

"Yes." It was all she could say as she rose from the bench pulling her fiancé with her. All four approached the officiator, Leia beaming as she stood and Finn grinning like an idiot next to Rey. As the proceeding went on Ben and Rey couldn't stop staring at each other. For a long time, most of their lives, they each wondered if they would ever fall in love. They skipped over the vows because they didn't need to say anything else to each other, they already knew their love was boundless.

"Then you may kiss the bride!"

Rey turned to face him completely. "Kiss me, Ben Solo." She said voice breaking because if he stared at her a second longer like that she would burst into tears.

He grinned and pulled her closer by her waist. "Anything for you."

Be bowed down, his hair brushing her checks as his lips encased hers. She saw stars behind her eyes when he kissed her. Now she saw everything with him. Anything was possible now that she was Rey Solo.

Xxx

They made it to her recital just in time. She was relieved to see other seniors were in ball gowns too. But none of them would know that this was Reys wedding dress. It was like a secret and she felt so elated. It was her turn to take the stage and she walked out listening to Ben shout. "That's my wife!" very distinguishable amongst the mild clapping. She blushed once she saw him briefly through the stage lights. Rey adjusted her skirts as she sat at the piano bench and she hovered her hands over the keys, her wedding band added to her engagement ring sparkling under the bright stage lights. Taking a deep breath her fingers began to dance across the keys playing their song, Yellow.

Ben watched in awe from the 2nd row. The piano riffed on with the song and the glint of her ring blinded him. This was her moment and he was here to support her. This is where he was meant to be. his hands were shaking as the song came to an end and he stood up clapping the loudest out of everyone there. Rey stood from the bench and bowed as people cheered. She waved walked off stage tears staining her checks. Ben jumped out of the aisle rushing to go meet her. He needed to kiss her, tell her he loved her, never let her go. Rey was also rushing to meet him and they collided in the hallway outside the auditorium. His arms wrapped around her and swung her around kissing every inch of her face.

"That was amazing, dear god I love you." he sat her down but didn't stop kissing her, his fingers threading in her hair.

She pulled away putting a hand on his chest to stop him from devouring her in another kiss.

"Ben. Do you know why I was worried about the dress not fitting?" there was no time like now to tell him. when it was just them in this empty hallway, with only the sound of their breathing.

"No, it fit fine. Why?" he looked at her so confused.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her forehead on his. They stared into each other's eyes with all the love in the world.

"Ben, I'm pregnant."