See, there's more! I have up to chapter seven written because I need to work on this and some other things for NaNoWriMo next month…
And thank you for coming back! and the comments and the kudos! You have blessed me so much and I want to hug everyone of you! I hope y'all have a wonderful day and week!
This story has taken on a life of its own. it really has. Secret baby is one of my favorite troupes and I love to write it, but this is the first one that, is well, doing this. And I love it! And there's a bit of a time jump. Rey's twenty weeks pregnant.
So, enjoy! And please let me know what you think!
"Do you still think it's a girl?" Rey asks. She's twenty weeks exactly and just wants to hear and see her baby. School started two weeks ago for Weaverville's newest kindergarten teacher, but she has Monday off for Labor Day.
It doesn't help that she feels like something bad happened to Ben.
"Of course, my little sweetheart is a girl," Poe says.
"I still think he's a boy," Rose offers.
"As long as they're happy and healthy," Finn gushes.
The ultrasound technician chuckles at them. "Is this your first baby?"
"It is," Rey says. As much as she appreciates her little family being here, she can't help but to wish that he was here too.
"Who's dad?" She asks innocently.
"He's-" Rey pauses to blink way the tears.
"Oh honey," she says, offering Rey the Kleenex box. "I'm sorry to bring up bad stuff." She pats her hand before she reaches for the bottle of gel. "Do you want to find out if you're having a boy or a girl?"
"Yes please?"
"We can do that." She shakes up the bottle. "Now we just got the warmers in, and it makes this part so much better." A liberal amount of gel goes on her bump. The baby started moving two weeks ago and since then it has feels like they move all the time. Her stomach 'popped' a month ago, as if it's announcing to the world that she is indeed pregnant and didn't eat too much at lunch.
Even her kindergarteners have been taking turns talking to the bump.
She's just glad that her bedroom is on the first floor and Rose, Finn or Poe can't hear her cry after she tells them how tired she is and goes to bed by herself.
The technician takes the paddle and swirls it around the gel. "Hey, mister tall, dark and handsome by the light switch?" Rey chuckles when Finn looks around surprised that she's talking to him. "Yes you, turn off the overhead light please?"
"Sure," he replies as he hits the switch. The tech pushes several buttons, then smiles. She turns the monitor so everyone else can see what she sees. Then she turns a knob. The familiar swish that Rey loves so very much fills the room.
"There's the heartbeat," Rey whispers. She looks up at her friends. Rose has been coming with her when she can, while this is the guys first time here. Finn has tears and it looks like Poe might have them too.
Rey looks back at the monitor. She's been watching the techs measure her baby enough, she can pick out what parts she's measuring.
"Alright! I got what I needed." she whirls the paddle around her stomach again and asks, "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yes," Rey affirms.
"It's a-" she pauses and clicks some pictures that Rey can't make out. "There is his little penis! It's a boy!"
"A boy?" More tears as she wishes again for her boy's father.
The tech helps her wipe the gel off and then gives her a hand up. "I think Dr. Hux is going to check you if you want to tell your friends to go wait in the waiting room."
"Thank you. Yes, they don't need to see that part of me."
"And neither do we want to," Poe affirms. "Come on guys, let's go wait for Rey."
Rey and the tech wait for them to file out of the room before she leads Rey to another room. "I'll let them know that you're waiting."
"Thank you."
Rey doesn't have to wait long when Dr. Hux and his nurse, Kaydel knock on the door. "Hello Rey, how are you?"
"I'm alright. How are you?"
"Where's your friend, Rose?"
"She's in the waiting room? Do you want me to go get her?"
"No, I was just concerned that you didn't have anyone with you." Rey doesn't miss the look Kay gives him.
"Is everything ok?" she asks as both of her hands cradle her little boy.
"Oh yes, I'm sorry I'm scaring you and I didn't mean to. I was just going to remind you to start on your birth plan, at least who is going to be in the labor room with you. And not that I think we'll need to, but who's going to be with you if you have to have a c-section."
"Oh yeah, good idea."
"Also, I know that we've talked about this before, but have you at least thought about telling the baby's grandparents even if no one can find the ex-boyfriend?"
She follows her friends out to Rose's SUV, and they take her home. She quietly goes into her room and shuts the door. Not for the first time, she takes the card that Leia gave her months ago and stares at it, like she's waiting for it to say something.
But it never does.
Just this time, she knows that she needs to just go ahead and call. Who knows, maybe the bad feeling she had earlier was for nothing and he's doing the normal stuff he always did.
"Ok, you coward, just call-" the beeps are loud in the quiet of her room.
She puts the phone up to her ear. "Hello?" A voice that she hopes is leia answers.
"Leia?"
"Yes, this is her."
"This is Rey," she exhales her stomach in knots.
"Rey! How are you?" Rey doesn't miss how Leia's voice changes from what must be her politician's voice to her worried mom one. At least that's what she hopes she hears.
"I know this is going to sound weird and in a way, I wish I was there but I'm a poor school teacher and yeah," she says trying to crack a joke but neither one of them laughs. She rambles on, "Could we Facetime? This is important. And is Han there?" She knows that his parents like or at least liked her, and she knows that his dad loves her. Maybe this will be easier if she tells the both of them at the same time?
"Rey? What's wrong?"
"I know, I'm not making sense, but please?"
"Alright, he's out in the garage. Call back in five minutes?"
"Ok."
"Bye Rey."
"Bye."
She tosses her phone like it's burned her and jumps up. She hurries to her little bathroom and vomits. "I thought we were done with that." A quick look in the mirror and a moment to brush her teeth, she goes back to her phone.
The phone rings once, then a concerned Leia appears. Over her shoulder, Han tries to smile, but she can tell that he's apprehensive also.
"Well, you're looking well," Han says as he sits down by his wife. "How are you?"
She looks down, unwilling to meet their eyes even over a six-inch screen. "I still have good days and bad. Have you two heard from him?"
Han shakes his head but defers to leia. "We haven't dear. Not since before that Monday I saw you."
"Has he done anything like this before?" Rey asks.
"No," Han answers. "Maybe over a weekend, but then he would at least text."
"Oh, so it is bad then." She takes a deep breath and mutters, "may as well rip the Band-Aid off." And stands up. She turns sideways so they can see her entire profile. Well as much of her baby bump she can fit on the screen. "I'm twenty weeks pregnant with your grandson."
Silence.
She's heard quiet before but nothing like this. The screen is dark, but she can't hear anything. Did the call disconnect? She touches the screen as she sits back down on her bed, no, it's still connected. They muted themselves and blacked the screen too?
Was this the reason for the bad feeling she had earlier?
Years ago, she had an allergic reaction to shrimp. Throat closed off and all that. Almost drank an entire bottle of children's Benadryl before she could breathe normally again.
This feeling creeps over her feels like that. Cold chills and she can't catch her breath and right when she's ready to disconnect the call and go find Rose and confess what she just did…
"Rey? Are you still there?" Han asks.
The phone faces away from her so all they see is her room. And for a moment she's tempted to hang up and change her number and all that. After all, they just know that she's around Asheville, not their mailing address.
But something else, maybe it's her little boy, makes her turn the phone to where she can see his grandparents again.
"I'm here."
"Oh good, I was worried the internet went out. Congratulations! Do you need anything?" Han rumbles.
"I'm ok. I don't need anything, and what I want- well it doesn't matter what I want. I can't have it."
Han nods. "Would it be alright if we came to visit? I know Leia will want to come back after the baby is born, but could we come now?"
"I guess?" She's not sure what to say. "I mean if you're visiting Asheville, I can always meet you somewhere."
"Alright, we'll do that." She hears who could only be Leia talking but she doesn't come back on the screen. "We'll make arrangement and let you know when we'll be in town?"
"Alright," she says not sure what is going on. She wants to see them, but then she can't let herself get upset. The last time she did that, she had Braxton hicks contractions for an hour.
"Bye Rey," Han offers. "Thank you for calling and telling us. It really does mean a lot."
"Bye."
"Crap," Rey swears.
She walks into the living room where she knows everyone is. Rose scoots over to make room for her on the sectional. Her heart melts when Finn pats his lap. Since she really started showing, Finn or Poe have rubbed her feet every night much to her delight.
Poe hands Finn the lotion and he starts rubbing.
Her eyes drift shut, and she mutters, "I did a bad thing."
"It can't be that bad," Poe chuckles.
"I called Leia and told her and Han over facetime."
The silence in the room seems like it extends over the entire farm. Even the couple of cows they've gotten are quiet.
"Have they seen Ben?"
"Not since Leia came by when we were leaving. The bad part? They are coming to visit." Her eyes fly open. "Don't worry I didn't invite them to stay."
Finn keeps rubbing her feet so her eyes close as soon as she's done talking. She doesn't see the look her three friend's exchange.
Somehow, Poe is the one who gets nominated to talk. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't it?" she asks as she opens one eye. "You don't think they'd try to take the baby away, do you?"
"No, they wouldn't do that." Finn squeezes her ankle. "We do need to talk to you about something."
"Are you guys breaking up with me too?" She groans, shutting her eyes again and letting her head fall back against the cushions.
"No!" Rose fusses. "Remember I told you that Robert was selling the brewery?" Their bakery sits beside one of the oldest breweries in Western North Carolina. Over the past two years since they've been here, they've gotten to know the owner and the staff.
"He decided to go ahead, that's good though. He needs to be home with his family." Rey moans as Finn hits a nerve and not in a good way.
"We've decided to buy it," Poe adds.
"That's amazing!" She opens her eyes to see her friend's grinning from ear to ear. Poe and Finn have been going over daily to hang out with Robert. She didn't realize that it was turning into them being that interested. "I thought you were going over just to hang out."
"That's what it started as. Here's our proposition. His wife does all of his bookkeeping and is his secretary. Rose still wants to bake; we'll have to hire her some help too. But I know with little man coming, you're already worried about childcare. How about if you come to work for us at the brewery? Now before you say anything, you can be there for all the newborn stuff and then when he gets too big for you to get any work done, there is a nursery for staff."
"Oh yeah there is," she murmurs. "Are you really offering me a job?" She sits up so she can see them all better.
"Yes, we are-" Rey doesn't let Poe finish because she jumps up to hug all of them.
"Should we tell him?"
"No. You know Luke doesn't want us to contact him no matter what. This is part of the no matter what. Besides you know that if he knows, he'll blow his cover and go to her."
"I don't like this. He needs to know."
"I agree with you. But this is something he has to do-"
"Can you believe it though? A grandbaby?"
"I know, I know. It's almost too good to be true."
She knows she shouldn't be checking her cell, but it's not every day that your baby daddy's mother texts you. Especially since he can't seem to be bothered to text either one of you.
Leia: Hey Rey! Han and I talked and would love to come see in two weeks. Will that work with your schedule?
Rey: Sure, that sounds fine.
She has to put the phone down because little Anna Beth just smacked Johnny on the side of the head resulting in loud screams.
"How many days until Poe and Finn take over the brewery?" Rey asks. She has a late afternoon appointment with Dr. Hux, and Rose sits in the exam room too.
"Oh no, what happened at school today?"
"I'm starting to think that they just want to learn how to pit fight instead of how to count to one hundred. And I know, I never should have let them use paste today. But it was raining, and we couldn't go to the gym or outside. So, we cut paper and they ate the paste." Rose is cracking up, tears leaking from her eyes when there's a knock at the door. "Come in," Rey calls.
Dr. Hux comes in. He nods at Rey, then together they watch Rose as she tries to breathe again. "What did I miss?"
"Tell him, please." Rose coughs.
Rey chuckles. "She asked about my day. After I mentioned that the kids are training to be pit fighters, I then explained how every single one of them ate the paste that I set out today."
Dr. Hux doesn't laugh. "Those little creatures are amazing. They come out all cute and sweet. Then they go through years of eating the grossest things they can find. Then they spend all your money."
Rey doesn't laugh. She just wants to protect her little one. But Rose, is still laughing holding her stomach, tears everywhere laughing at her red-head baby doctor. She waits as long as she can, then asks, "Hey you guys! I'm getting hungry here, can we hurry?"
"Hush Rey. You just want the ribs I have in the smoker."
"Ribs? You can cook too?" Hux asks Rose.
"Yeah, it's Friday, I always cook a huge meal. Would you like to come over for supper?"
Rey looks at Rose then at Hux. Did Rose just do what she thinks her bestie did? She tries to ignore how excited Hux is to accept the invite. He's still talking to her friend as he nudges her to lay back. They're quiet as he uses the doppler, and everyone exhales when the familiar swish fills the exam room.
She still lost as Hux helps her back up. He smiles at the both of them and says, "I'll be over in a little bit."
Rey waits until they are both in her Jeep when she asks, "What did you just do?"
Rose grips the steering wheel as she takes her place in traffic. "I'm not sure. I just know that I really like him, but I love Poe and Finn. Don't worry about me. Are you alright?"
After every appointment that's when Rey misses Ben the most. "Oddly enough, I think it was your laughter, but I'm ok." Her phone chimes that she has a new text. Three swipes and she sees:
Leia: Hello dear! I hope you don't have plans for this evening because Han and I have decided to surprise you.
Rey sucks in a deep breath making Rose look over at her with concern. "What?" Rose demands.
"Han and Leia are here. They want to see me."
"Invite them over."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, let them meet Hux, and you know how Finn can read people. Give them the idea that you and the baby are good. Then maybe these silly fears of yours will go away."
"I do like that idea."
Rey isn't sure what she expected when Hux realizes that Rose is with both Finn and Poe. But it's not gentle teasing that's happening between the four of them at the moment. Right when she's ready to go get a bucket of cold water to pour on their heads, there's a knock on the door.
She doesn't recognize the car in the driveway, but she opens the door anyway. "Rey!" she hears before arms surround her. The familiar accent of New York fills her ear as she looks over the person in her arms shoulder to see her husband standing there.
What she hates is her tears that come because Ben looks so much like his dad who is standing on her front porch while his wife squeezes her.
"Leia, let the girl breathe." Han smiles.
Leia relaxes her hold but still touches her. "How are you?" Rey doesn't miss how Leia's gaze roams all over taking in the changes the baby has made.
"I'm not good, but I'm getting there," she whispers. Her eyes widen and she wants to take back those words. "I mean, it was a rough day at school. Evidently it's a nationwide occurrence for them to eat paste as soon as you put it on the craft table."
Han chuckles and Leia smiles. But it doesn't quite reach her eyes. Rey can't name that emotion but it almost looks apologetic.
"Would you two like to come in? We haven't started eating yet. Finn's been cooking all day."
"It smells amazing," Han comments stepping into the kitchen. The farmhouse is simple, probably too simple for the Upper East Side Solo's that are currently in their kitchen, but for the first time in a very long time, she's at home.
"Welcome to North Carolina," Poe says as he comes up behind her.
"Dameron," Han greets, the both of them shaking hands.
"Poe," Leia says as she pulls him into a hug. "Thank you for taking care of them."
She isn't sure why she tears up at Leia's words, but she does. Han pulls her to his side in a side hug. "I'm sorry," she murmurs as she really starts to cry. "I'm a such a mess these days."
"That's to be expected," Leia says.
"I'm glad you two could make it," Poe says. "And like Rey said, please stay for dinner. Finn and Rose have been cooking all day. Between us, I think he wants to open another restaurant besides the bakery."
Leia and Han share a confused look. Rey adds, "They own a bakery with Rose. I'm the newest kindergarten teacher at Shady Grove Elementary School. But they just signed the papers to buy a local-about-to-go-national-brewery."
"That's amazing!" Leia smiles.
"Yeah, this is Finn's way of celebrating and having a dear-God-what-in-the-hell-did-we-just-do moment." Poe chuckles.
"I heard my name," Finn comes walking in from the french doors that lead to the backyard. And where all of grilling and smoking equipment lives.
"Did you ever meet Ben's parents?" Rey asks. Finn gives her that look that he does when she mentions his name. "This is Leia and Han Solo."
"Finn Storm." The three of them shake hands.
"Let me get- don't move," Rey requests but she doesn't have to go far. Rose and Dr. Hux are coming in too. "This is Rose and funny enough, my OB, Dr. Armitage Hux. This is Leia and Han Solo."
She steps back so they can shake hands and murmur hello to one another. Poe retreats to her side, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "You ok, kid?"
Her arm wraps around his waist and she lays her head on his shoulder. "I think so. This feels like a weird dream everyone here like this-"
"Except for him, that is?" Poe whispers.
"Hush," she says not wanting to admit how right he is. "I think it's going to be alright, don't you?"
"Of course, Mi Amor, of course."
"Is there any of that delicious slaw left?" Leia asks. Rey didn't think they had a table big enough to sit everyone at, and they didn't. But what Poe and Hux did was to pull together what tables they do have together. So instead of a long rectangle, it's a more of a rhombus which her five-year-old's would love.
"Here's what Rey didn't finish." Rose smirks.
"Hey, it's not my fault that Finn makes the best slaw and the baby likes Duke's mayonnaise." Rey defends her taste buds with a grin.
"Whatever baby wants-" Finn starts.
"Baby gets," Poe and Rose tease.
She has to blink back tears at their love. Unfortunately, she doesn't get away in time and the entire table of her friends watch as she bursts into tears. Leia is the one who's closest, so it's her who hugs her first. Han is on the other side and he grabs her hand. Rose is on her feet and she hugs Rey from the back.
"I'm sorry, guys," she chokes out the words between her sobs. Rose kisses her temple. "Sometimes I just really miss the asshat and wish that he was here too. And I'm not sorry for calling your son an asshat. If my son ever does what his father is doing to a girl, I'll- well it won't be pretty."
"Oh Rey, I had no idea that you-" Leia says while Han squeezes her hand. "Can we go talk, somewhere private?"
"Yeah, I guess?" Rey says as her heart drops. She glances up at Poe, who doesn't look as worried as she thought he would. Rose helps her to scoot back, and she leads his parents back into the house.
They go back to the kitchen where Rey is half tempted to start cleaning just so she doesn't have to meet their eyes. But then, she reasons, they're here. Let's get whatever this is over with.
Han hands her a handkerchief and she has to smile. "I didn't think men still carried these."
"Some of us do Sweetheart," he murmurs.
She couldn't stop her tears if she wanted to when she hears that endearment again. It doesn't help that he's the picture of who Ben will be in thirty years.
"Everything's going to be alright," he says.
"No, nothing's going to be ok anymore. Hell, they didn't want me to call you and tell you about the baby because they're worried that you were going to come in and try to take him." She turns so she can meet their eyes. Han looks shocked and Leia is shaking her head.
"Never would we do that. Babies belong with their mama's and that's the best place for them," Leia says. "Unless mama can't take care of them. You forget, Dear. I'm the senator that fought for families when I was still serving." She tucks a strand of hair behind Rey's ear. "You were worried about that?" Rey nods. "No, we would never do that. Now, babysitting, anytime you need us, we'll be there."
"I might take you up on that."
"We did talk about it on the way here." Han gets her a glass of water which she accepts gratefully. "Since our son is an idiot, we are prepared to do what he should in this situation." Rey gives them both a confused look. "Can we buy you a house? For you and the baby?" She sputters and he continues, "You don't have to accept it now, and what you and your friends have here looks sweet. You have them to take care of you and baby. But one day, and it might be five years from now, it might be too cramped. Then you'll need to move."
"Thank you? I've actually been offered a new job at the brewery. Finn and Poe want me to come help them. And when the baby is born, I can keep him with me and they plan on opening a nursery for the parents who work for them and he can go there."
"That's amazing," Han murmurs while Leia nods.
"I'm glad that you've got them."
"Me too," Rey says with more tears in her eyes. "But I do know that day will come, when I'll want to move out." She looks down kitchen counter as if she's gathering up her courage before she meets their eyes again. "And I'll probably take you up on that offer."
"I've been meaning to ask, is Amilyn still in Africa?" Leia asks as they walk into the big box baby store.
"Yep, still in the Sudan helping the refugees. She's hoping to be able to come home in February." Leia smiles but Han looks confused. "That's when I'm due," she adds for him.
He grins. "I guess we better find us some place to stay then too. I'm not missing my grandson coming into the world."
Rey has to blink fast as she grabs a buggy. Since his parents have been here, all she's done is cry it feels like. "That will be nice."
"Han quit making her cry," Leia fusses. "This is supposed to be a happy trip, I've got to buy my grandson his first teddy bear." She walks over to a display of other baby toys. "And his first rattle, his first teething ring-"
"Leia, you don't have to-"
"Just let her," Han interrupts. "She's Jewish and she feels guilty. Let her. You can always bring it back later," he whispers in her ear.
"Alright." she knows that she won't.
This is the first time she's let herself to start looking at the baby stuff she and little bit are going to need. It's not that was denying he was coming, but she's still grieving for ben that she's just now starting to feel like she's even human.
At least once a day, she finds herself wondering what he is doing…
"What do you mean he's not here?" He growls before he plants his fist in the guy's face who then crumples at Kylo's feet. "Search the building," he commands his men. "He's here, I just know it."
He's gotten better at his poker face over the past several months. When he agreed to all this, he figured he'd still be in his office at Snoke and Palpatine hiding millions in bogus accounts. Not this, an enforcer for the family as they call them.
He's just glad that he hasn't been ordered to kill anyone.
Snoke likes to use him as a hound dog. Kylo has an uncanny knack for finding the ones who don't want to be found. Whether it's in the exclusive country clubs or at the latest raves, he can find who he's looking for.
Some days he's back in the office, mostly for looks though. He hasn't been in court in months.
But when he's done for the day, he doesn't go to the penthouse apartment Snoke insisted he buy. He goes to the last place he considered home, the two-room apartment in Brooklyn. He managed to find a table like their last one. The mismatched chairs were the easy part. A new TV to fill the silence when it got to be overwhelming and a big, lonely bed. His suits are back in the closet, but only half. He leaves room for her; in case she decides to come back home.