Thank you everyone who's been reading! And welcome to the new ones who wait until a fic is finished before you start! I'm one of those so I understand!
But really, thank you for reading and leaving likes and kudos. I've been gone from any kind of fandom writing but it feels good to just write. In fact, I have three other stories already started and plotted out. and maybe a fourth, but it's almost entirely written, it was for an anthology I ended up stepping down from contributing to, so I figured I'd finish it for Reylo.
Oh, Reylo. How I've fallen hard for you… so many wonderful stories in the fandom, I have to make myself stop reading so I can write that these characters are saying in my head. I'm ok, it's a writer thing lol. I just do what the voices in my head tell me to and everything is a lot better lol…
And thank you again to Sohypothetically, Notanislander and Cole. And Alliswell! I love you!
Oh! And I'm posting my other new fic today too. It's called Lightening Bugs and well you'll see why by the third chapter. I think you'll love these little guys as much as I do!
"Your parents have a beautiful house," Rey whispers.
"It was my grandparents. My mom got it if she promised to take care of Nana."
"Why are you talking about me, Benjamin?" Rey squeaks and Ben jumps.
"Nana!" They turn at the same time. "I thought you were at Luke's."
Rey has to smile when she sees Ben's little grandmother. Still beautiful, with white hair done in an elaborate braided style. Ben's same whiskey colored eyes blink back at her. She's dressed like Jackie O would be if she was still alive in a simple baby pink dress with classic lines adorned with what could only be her favorite pearls.
She's dressed like she's ready to battle the dragons out on the front lawn for her family.
"I had a feeling I was needed at home." She winks at Ben then turns her attention to Rey. "This must be the girl who owns the garage."
"Nana, this is Rey, Rey this is my nana."
"She's beautiful, Benjamin. You can call me Nana."
Rey can feel tears gather in her eyes. Ben pulls her to his side. "She is. And she's smart too."
"Smart and beautiful grandbabies? Good. I need more grandbabies around here." Nana Padme walks down the hallway that leads from the front of the house. When she realizes that they aren't following her, she says over her shoulder, "Come along you two. I know a much better place to watch the circus out on the front lawn than that window. Besides, Leia is getting ready to start."
The house is laid out like a L, with the bottom part of the L being the garage while the backside is the rest of the colonial. Ben and Rey arrived just a little while ago, but parked in the back in an effort to hide from the gathering press.
Nana Padme doesn't go far, just around the corner to the garage. She stops in front of a wall to ceiling window and smiles. "This was my idea, look they can't see us."
Rey looks out the tinted window. Several members of the press are here, and more are showing up by the minute.
"Nana?" Ben asks and she hums her answer. "Are you disappointed?"
"In what, dear?"
"In me making Mom quit the election even before she could decide to run."
"Of doing your private bedroom stuff out where anyone could watch?" Rey wants to hide when a wave of shame washes over her. Nana's exhale is loud. "I ended up regretting my time in the Senate. Then when your mother went into politics instead of staying home to raise you, I cried." She grabs Ben's hand. "My little Cheese Bun. I'm so glad that you didn't go into politics, too." She grabs Rey's hand. "Now you can stay home and have your own babies."
Rey doesn't know what to say but she knows that her face is as pink as Ben's.
"You two stay here, I'm going to go find your mother." Nana opens the door beside them.
Members of the press turn and Rey can see the lights of the cameras flashing as Nana Padme walks out. "Will she be alright?" Rey asks.
"They know better than to mess with her. Their bosses will fire them and Mom won't talk to them."
"Is there a way we can hear what's going on?" Rey asks.
"Oh yeah," Ben answers while he flips a switch. Voices from the gathered press talking to one another can be heard in the garage.
"That's a good idea," Rey says, looking around for the speakers. "I might have to do that."
"Chewy and Dad did it one day. I fell—"
"You fell? How old were you?"
"Sixteen."
"Sixteen? What did you fall off of?" she asks, having to keep herself from laughing.
"The roof," he looks sheepish as he tells her.
"Why were you on the roof?"
"Baseball. Hux hit the ball on the roof."
"Well that makes sense. And you lived."
"Yeah, thank goodness. But we hollered and no one in the house heard us. Hux was afraid to leave me. So, Nana had Dad and Chewy extended the intercom to the outside."
"Was there blood?"
"Yeah I broke my arm and had to get stitches."
"I didn't realize that you've known Hux that long—"
A squeal echoes through the garage making them both jump in surprise. Rey looks out the window. "That's Kaydel, she's Mom's personal assistant."
"I didn't think this many people would show up."
"Mom was a popular Senator. A lot of people wanted her to run."
She doesn't miss how his voice cracks. "Stop it."
He doesn't answer but steps behind her. Just when she thinks he's going to leave, he wraps his arms around her.
"Thank you for coming today on such short notice," Kaydel begins behind the podium. "The Senator will be speaking in a moment. She will only be taking a few questions since it is Sunday morning and we are at her home, after all."
"Will Senator Amidala be speaking today also?"
Rey has to smile when Nana grins from behind Kaydel where she's standing. "She loves it," Rey whispers.
"She does."
"That remains to be seen," Kaydel replies.
The front door opens and Han steps out holding Leia's hand. She doesn't let go of him as they both step forward to the podium.
"Good morning everyone." Nana must have picked out Leia's clothes because they match but just in different colors. Where Nana wears pink, Leia wears white. Even Rey can tell that the dresses probably cost more than her whole entire wardrobe.
It's like a bucket of ice water is dumped on her head.
She doesn't belong here.
Not in this house, not with their golden son, not in this life.
This is not hers. Not an abandoned brat that was left by the people—the family-
"Rey?" He turns her around. "What?"
He pulls her into his arms but she struggles in an effort to get away. "No Ben, let me go."
"What's wrong, Rey?" Her hands are over her eyes but he eases her hands away from her eyes gently, so as not to hurt her. "Talk to me, please."
"I shouldn't be here."
"Well, let's go. We'll have to sneak—"
"No, you stay here. You need someone who is—" she looks down at the t-shirt and jean shorts she threw on before they left his house. "Someone who knows how to dress. Someone who is more put together than me. Not someone who still has a little bit of grease under their nails no matter how hard they scrub. Someone who—"
"Rey." He gives her a little shake. "I love you."
"What?" she looks up to meet his eyes. Those damn whiskey colored eyes that she just wants to curl up in. "You love me?"
"I love you. I would actually get on my knees right now to beg you to marry me, but you'll probably run away. Instead I'll beg you to never leave because I think you're about to run—"
"You love me?" her voice cracks on the last syllable. "I'll never be like your mom and nana—"
"I don't want you to be like them. I want you to be you. Fix cars, fix trucks, fix airplanes, fix me. I don't care, just let me be a part of your life. Love me and cuddle with me at night. And let me tie you up when the need arises."
He wipes her tears. "Are you sure?" She murmurs.
"Rey, sweetheart, I worry that I'm not enough for you," he whispers. "You are amazing! You have your own business. You own your house! The only reason I have my house is because Nana gave it to me. All I've ever done is get kicked out of the Marines and embarrass my family so badly, my mom has to retire from politics." He pauses. "Damn that sounds bad."
"Remember what Hux said? You have to live your life."
"I do and I want to do it with you. One day I want to marry you. Have babies with you."
"Babies and bondage? I can do both?"
Their eyes meet and he touches the tip of his nose to hers. "As long as it's with me, we can do anything."
"Are you sure?"
"Rey?"
"Yes, Ben?"
He doesn't say anything, but pulls her tighter. "I love you."
Christmas or six months later
"Merry Christmas!" Finn wraps her in a hug.
"Merry Christmas! Are you going to go out with Poe?"
Her oldest friend besides Rose, grins and winks. "It took him long enough, didn't it?"
"But he did finally ask," Ben adds. Finn's grin grows.
"If you had anything to do with making that happen sooner rather than later, thank you." Finn says as he joins Poe. They walk down Ben's walkway to their vehicles.
"Should we tell him?" Ben whispers in her ear even though it's only the two of them. Rose and Hux left just a couple of minutes ago and Han, Leia and Chewy left an hour ago. It's their first Christmas Eve together and Rey wants to be surrounded by everyone she loves. Even if she's seeing them all tomorrow.
Mostly Ben.
"Nah," she murmurs. "Let them wonder how it happened."
Truth was, neither one of them really did anything. After the press found out about Ben and his kinky hobby, he decided to stay home. American accepted his request for extended leave. So, he, along with a plane or two from Han's collection of planes, started offering charters. Then Galen Erso called from Asheville Regional airport. Several students were looking for teachers. Because of Ben's flight hours and status as a commercial pilot, it only took a week and he was teaching people how to fly.
But the best part if you asked Rey, and he would agree, was that he's home every night for dinner and cuddles. And now, they each have clothes at each other's houses, so that it doesn't matter where they sleep. Half of the time it's at hers, the rest at his.
They watch Finn's tail lights disappear around the corner. "That was fun," she says with a melancholy smile.
"What's wrong?" he asks.
"I'm ok," she exhales. "I'm just trying to forget the bad Christmases."
He stops her and cups her cheeks. Instead of the kiss she thinks he's going to give her, he presses one on her forehead. "Come with me," he whispers.
She follows him to what she has started calling their room. On every surface there are either Rose petals, a vase of roses, or a candle burning in the winter's night.
There's even a heart made out of petals on their bed. "Oh, Ben," she starts.
"—is it ok?"
"Ben, it's so corny and amazing and wonderful," she giggles as she turns in his arms. There's tears streaming down her cheeks as they kiss. "I love it. I need a hundred pictures of it."
He let's go, but before she can say anything, he's down on one knee. "It's not a picture, not yet anyway, but how about a ring and a promise?"
"I had a thousand different ways I wanted to ask this—hell I have a trip to Naboo planned just so I can do this. But here, right now, at Christmas with it just you and me, I know this was the right time. I was so many things before I met you. And now I'm a million times better because you're here and you let me love you. I'm nowhere near the perfection you deserve, but you love me anyway." He looks up and sees that she's still crying. "You're still crying—"
"These are happy tears, I promise."
"That makes me feel a little better." He holds out his hands and she reaches for him. "Let's get married."
"Ok," she answers with a small smile.
"Ok? that's all you're going to say?"
"Ok," she giggles. "I love you and yes I'll marry you." She pulls him up and he comes in for a kiss, but she backs up. "What's this about Naboo?"
Late spring…
"Sand, I hate sand," Ben growls.
"It's the beach, it doesn't count. Besides, it's worth it, I promise," Hux whispers as Rose scowls at them.
"I think so too," Ben answers as the music changes. The sun just touches the horizon when he hears the old wooden stairs creak above him.
Rose waits on the other side of Ben who can't stop watching her Hux. But that's alright, Ben can't stop watching his Rey. She's coming down the stairs and his heart swells when he hears his mom and nana as they whisper when they see her too.
She stops at the bottom of the steps where Chewy waits. He greets her with a kiss on the cheek and when she nods, they begin the walk to him.
Only a couple of others are here besides his mom and nana. His dad is between them, listening to them talk. Then there's Poe and Finn who are clearly into each other like he knew they would be. Even Effie made it with her date, a blond man she introduced as Haymitch Abernathy.
He supposes they should have had the big to-do at home, but Nana said it was sweet and romantic if they eloped. So, they did. To her beach house on the North Carolina coast in a little town called Naboo.
Can he admit that he loves how his family and her friends had to come too once they heard what they were doing?
The sun casts its golden glow on her as she gets closer. It's a simple dress, and for a moment, he wonders if it was the one she found in the back of Nana's closet. She just had to wear it because of all the little knots that made up the lace.
Reminding him of how they met.
Her smile is brighter than the sun. When Chewy and her stop beside him, Chewy rumbles at him before kissing Rey on the cheek. She then takes his hand and they turn to face Lando. More than one of them present has tears on their cheeks as Ben and Rey promise each other forever.
Nana's cheers were the loudest.
And not because Rey slipped and told her last week that she's pregnant. Well, maybe they were but Ben likes to think that Nana likes Rey.
When they all gather at the top of the stairs at the house surrounded by the ones who love them most, Ben feels like his heart is going to explode with happiness. And by the way Rey looks at him, he thinks she feels the same.
They eat their favorite foods from pizza to orange chicken. Rose and Rey made the cake earlier, decorating it with the shells they found on the beach.
After they washed them, of course.
Because Nana insisted on it, Ben took off Rey's garter with his teeth, then threw it at Poe and Finn who both caught it. Then Effie caught the bouquet but only because Rose didn't try to catch it because she and Hux got married the month before.
After everyone leaves, Ben and Rey are still out on the make-shift dance floor on the deck that faces the ocean, under the moonlight. "Love me like you do, love me like you do—" she sings along while he holds her. "I love you, Ben Solo. For the rest of my life, I'm going to love and adore you."
His lips brush hers, making her want him. "And I'm going to love you- and the one who decided that now was the right time to show up- for the rest of my life."
"Are you ok—"
"Nothing else could make me happier. You changed your name today plus a baby? I'm a happy man."
"I love you," she whispers against his lips.
"I love you," he echoes back.