Hey!

I'm so glad that you came back to read! And so grateful that you're liking this mafia, not a secret baby anymore, somehow we need to get that baby's parents back together but not too soon because we still have to destroy Snoke, story. Lolololol! I still have no idea how long it's going to be, but I am trying to finish up the Black Knight's Bride and add a Thanksgiving chapter to The Adventures of Snow White and Kylo Ren. Hopefully that will be posted tomorrow!

And Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate! Everyone else, I hope you have an amazing week!

"He's so sweet. I don't think Ben was ever this precious," Leia coos.

Rey chuckles. She's in a surprisingly decent mood considering everything that's happened over the past twenty-four hours. "He is sweet." Rey watches her son's grandmother cuddle him. "Have you decided what your grandmother name is going to be?"

"Well considering everyone will be calling me that, I think I like Lala. Han has already said that he wanted to be called Papa."

"I like it and it will be easy for Jonathan to say when he's little. Not that he's that little now." Her son is definitely not typical. He's ten pounds, three ounces. He still has the baby-blue eyes they all have but what she loves is Jonathan's hair. It's already at least two inches long and lays just like Ben's does when he hasn't fixed it yet.

After they rolled Rey into a room, the baby nurse tried to put a newborn diaper on him. After she told her how much her chunk of a son weighed, they had to go to the children's part of the hospital to get a pack of diapers.

"No, he's not. But he's still Lala's little man," Leia coos, "How are you feeling, dear?"

"Besides the fact that every time I move, I hurt," Rey says unable to take her eyes off her son. "I didn't think I'd ever love someone this much."

"It is amazing how much you can love these little guys. That's why it hurts so much when they grow up and while they try to save the world from the bad guys, but they end up hurting their entire family instead—"

"I know what you mean." Rey huffs. "What do we do now?"

"Unless you have something that will incriminate Snoke—I don't think we can do anything."

"This will take years, wont it?" Rey whispers.

"By the grace of God, I hope not."

Brbrbrbrbr

"We were under the impression that you were eager to sell." He finds that after staying up all night, waiting for this son—he has a sonnowwhatinthehellishestilldoingworkingforsnoke—sounding bored is easy today.

"The owner is, she's just wondering if this is the right move for the community. You have to remember that even though this part of Western North Carolina sees a lot of tourists, it's still basically a small town," Peter Cabe, the lawyer volunteers. "Her children want her to retire, and they want to protect their inheritance."

"How about an extra fifty thousand if your client signs today. Before lunch would be preferrable."

By the way Peter's eyes light up, Ben knows that he just finished the deal.

Brbrbrbr

"Rey?"

"Mama?" She isn't sure why, but hearing her mama's voice after everything makes tears come to her eyes. "Where are you?"

"Somewhere in the Sudan," Amilyn says. "How are you?"

"He's here," Rey says with tears in her eyes as she looks over at the sleeping baby beside her. She wasn't adopted until she was ten but she still got close to her mom, Amilyn. Mama has been in Africa for the past year, making this the longest they've been apart since Rey was ten.

And she misses her terribly. Especially now since she has a son of her own.

"I can't wait to meet him," she says.

"He was ten pounds three—" the disconnect is loud in her ear as the call drops. "Well, crap." There's been enough dropped calls over the past year that Rey knows by now that it will be a day or two before Mama can call back.

A knock on the door before it creaks open.

"Rey?" Ben appears at the foot of her bed and she wonders when her heart will stop speeding up every time she sees him. He's dressed like he did in New York after a day in court or at the office, tie loosened, designer suit that cost more than anything else she owned.

Maybe she should offer him the Burberry and Tom Ford ones still out in the barn before he goes back home. Having some of his things close has made her feel like they weren't truly over.

"Ben." Even the way she says his name, all soft and breathy makes her cringe. One part of her wants to jump up, not that she could because she was just cut open to deliver his ten-pound baby—that part of her wants to make him feel as bad as he made her feel.

Then the other part of her wants him to take her in his arms and to tell her all the things to make the past several months just fade away. To tell her that he's here now and he'll take care of everything.

Instead, she meets his eyes and says, "How are you?"

"I-I-I brought you and him something—" he stammers.

That's when she notices that he has two gift bags. "You got me something too?" She whispers ignoring how her heart wants to rejoice. He's here-he's here-he's here.

"Is that alright?" He whispers. "Can we talk—"

He doesn't get to finish because her phone rings again. She glances down and sees that it's her mom. It's Mama. Can you hang on for a second? I haven't talked to her since Christmas." He nods and she answers, "Hey can you hear me?"

"Rey! I'm glad I got through. I'll probably lose signal here in a minute though. Are you and the baby alright?"

"We are. are you still coming home in February?"

"I think so. I'll email you soon when I find out. I've got to go, I love you and kiss that baby for me?"

"Love you—" and the phone drops the call again. "Damn it."

"Dropped call?" he asks.

"You know how it is in Africa." She doesn't want to look at him; but she does anyway. all she can see is the dark circles under his eyes. How long his hair has gotten. Or even how much weight he's lost.

Has he been missing her as much as she's been missing him?

"You can put the bags—" she starts. He instead puts them on the bed beside her.

"Go ahead, while he's asleep," he utters.

"Alright." She reaches for the blue bag with the curly bow. At first, she pulls out tissue paper, then reaches back in she lets herself smile when she pulls out a soft and extra cuddly teddy bear. "Thank you, Ben. I'm sure it will be his favorite when he gets big enough to have a favorite toy." She looks up in time to watch his cheeks flush pink.

"What did you name him?" Ben mutters.

"Jonathan Benjamin Holdo," She answers.

"That's a strong name. is the Benjamin after your grandfather?" She doesn't miss how his voice breaks at the end.

"Yes, and maybe a little part of you?" She utters back.

"Rey—" he starts but then he stops himself as he motions to the other gift bag. "Open yours."

This one she looks in before she just reaches in. She sees something but can't make out what it is. So, she dumps the contents of the bag in her lap. "You remembered—" scattered across the bed is all of her favorite things. The gum she'll hunt down before she chews another kind. Her favorite brand of chocolate. Her favorite chips. Her favorite tea. Her favorite hot chocolate. "You remembered—" she repeats.

"I remember everything about you."

"Ben—" more damn tears. "I'm still not sure why or even how you're here—" he starts to say something, but she says, "I'm still tired. Like I-just-had-major-surgery-tired. I know we need to talk, and we will. But for now, would you like to hold him?"

"Can I?" she doesn't miss the hopeful look on his face.

"Yeah, hang on," she says as she scoops the snacks back into the bag. The shift nurse gave her the ok to get up as she felt like it just that morning. She scoots to the edge of the bed. "Push his bassinette over here."

"Can you get up?" He asks with his worried look on his face.

She can't help but to giggle. "You used to get that look whenever I wanted to fix something in the apartment."

"Well plumbing is one thing, trying to fix faulty wiring is another and he's something else."

"There was no trying, I did fix it. Besides, I was tired of not having lights in the bathroom." Her chuckle fades when she meets his eyes. She doesn't want to see his pain because she knows that the same pain is in hers. Instead, she uncovers her legs as tries to move. "Don't ever get a c-section, they hurt like a bitch."

"Let me—"

Just like he always did when she needed him most, except for the breakup last year, he's there. He moves her until her feet are on the floor and then he simply holds out his hands. She's not even sure why she hesitates, after all he just wants to help her, right?

She looks up. Her hazel-green eyes meet those stupid whiskey-colored ones that still make her heartbeat fast. In his eyes she sees so many things: shame, love, desire, even fear. But most of all she sees hope.

That hope is what makes her accept his help.

She stands while he keeps her from slipping. "Where are we going?" He asks.

"The rocking chair? Then you can sit in the other chair over there."

"All the way in the corner? Have I been bad?" There's the teasing Ben. She missed him.

"We're not going to talk about that right now." Rey exhales against the pain.

"But we will, right?" he reassures them.

"We will," she whispers.

"Alright, pivot." He holds her hands until she sits. "Better?"

"Much, that has to be the hardest bed I've ever been in." She looks up at him. "Alright, roll him over here." She knows she has a huge grin on her face. "isn't he beautiful?"

"He's amazing," he agrees.

"Go get the other chair?"

"Right—" he quickly slides it over.

"Ok, come get him before you sit." Rey says as she slides her hands under the newborn. He does that cute baby stretch that curls his back into a C as she sneaks some kisses on his chubby cheeks. "Aw, good stretch, baby."

She looks up at Ben who is watching the both of them wide-eyed.

"Come get him?" she whispers. "Remember, support his head and butt."

Ben accepts his son and at first, he has a look of pure fear come over him. More tears as she watches her ex-that-she's-still-in-love-with pick up their not-so-little-newborn.

He freezes when he sees her wet cheeks. He swallows hard. "Why—"

"Leftover hormones? And you and him—I'm a mess." He sinks into the chair beside her. "Why Ben? I know I know I wasn't going to ask you now, but why? Why did you break us?"

"Rey—" he shifts the baby on his lap but instead of meeting her eyes, his eyes are on the new life in his hands. "I found it."

"You found what?" She whispers suddenly afraid of what he's going to say.

"What he—Snoke is doing. I had to try to save them. All those kids—" Ben shakes his head like he's trying to dislodge a bad memory.

"What is he doing?" Rey is breathless as she asks.

"Well besides the normal bad guy stuff like drugs and laundering money, he's—he's oh shit, Rey. I shouldn't tell you."

She remembers when they were still living together and how he couldn't tell her everything. "I understand. I remember how it was."

"It's not like that at all. if I tell you, someone will use it against us one day. Trust me, no more secrets. Just let me destroy him first."

"I like that. Do you have enough evidence to convict?"

"I'm not sure. Every time I talk to Luke—"

"Luke? Your Uncle Luke? What does he have to do with this?"

"He's the one who asked me to turn state's witness."

"What?" she shrieks. It echoes in the hospital room, but Jonathan Benjamin sleeps on. "How could he ask you do to that?"

"I'm the only one who could get him the information he needs to even talk to a judge."

"D-d-d-do you still love me?" she sobs.

"I never stopped." She looks up to see his tears streaming down his cheeks. "Do you still love me?"

Her chuckle is harsh. "Yes, even though I didn't want to. What are we going to do now?"

"I'm not sure. I do know that I can't go back to not seeing or talking to you. I'll pack us up and go to Nana's villa in Italy."

"Will we be together?"

"We will."

"When can we leave?"

"Soon, sweetheart, soon." She knows that they are just dreaming of a different future, but after everything, it sounds perfect to her. besides, what's wrong with a little dreaming?

Brbrbrbrbr

He waits until the cover of night to leave the hospital. He also turned in his rental and is now using a truck he bought on a whim from a used car dealership on the side of the two lane in a little town north of Asheville on the way to the ski lodge.

A text chimes on the burner phone as he turns towards the hotel he was in last night. He doesn't mind Snoke knowing that he's here. He just doesn't want him knowing about Rey and Jonathan.

Instead of going up to his room, he reads the text again that leads him to the hidden room. As soon as he steps out of the elevator, his Uncle Luke is waiting.

The old man meets his eyes and shakes his head. Ben rolls his eyes but still follows him down the hall. Neither one speaks until the door is shut and locked. "What the hell, Ben? What are you doing here? You are putting all of your hard work plus the lives of Rey and the baby at risk!"

He turns from his uncle and runs both hands through his inky waves. He knows Luke is right. He has no right to be here. To hold his little Jonathan. That he can't even give him his last name much less sign his birth certificate because of Snoke. He can't take his Rey home, to their home because as soon she enters the state of New York. She's going to have a target painted on her back.

The only reason she doesn't have it now is Snoke really does believe that he not talking to anyone in his family.

"I know," his whisper is harsh even to his ears. "I had to see him once before I go back into that den of snakes." He turns and meets his uncle's eyes. "Do you have enough evidence yet?"

"I think they want to know what he has planned for the ski lodge. When do you sign the papers?"

"We tried for today, but it's been moved back to tomorrow at noon. We're meeting downtown at their lawyer's office."

"Is your bug still working?" In an effort to collect evidence, Luke got a judge to sign the warrant allowing them to record all meeting Snoke has with Ben. He also thought that there was enough by now, but if they want the ski lodge, then he has to do this longer.

And Ben is hoping that while he's still undercover, he'll find out more about the children.

"On my end it is."

Luke nods. "Is Snoke moving you to Asheville?"

"Honestly, I think so. On one hand, this means that he trusts me, or he wants me out of New York. It might be a little bit of both."

"It might be," Luke agrees. "What about the knights?"

Ben fishes his work phone out of his pocket. He turned it off before he landed and hasn't checked it since. Even though he can't get a signal in the room, he turns it on anyway. Once it's powered on and he can see the first picture he took of Rey on their first date, he steps outside into the hallway.

As soon as he stands where he can pick up a signal, his phone starts buzzing with messages and missed calls. Ignoring the ones from Snoke, he opens the ones from the Knights. "They landed early this morning—" Thank goodness they were on a separate flight from him and Han and Leia. "And are on the way to Tennessee."

"Why there?"

"Snoke said there were things to be taken care of—" which they both by now that means that Snoke wants someone or many someones dead. Luke and Tobias have managed to save plenty of them over the past year, but what they both fear, the ones they can't save is exactly what's happening right now.

"Did they say where they were?" Luke asks.

Ben starts swiping through his phone. "Yeah, shit. They are all the way in Nashville."

"How far away is that from here?"

"According to google, at least four hours." Ben shakes his head. "Call the Tennessee SBI?"

"I'm going to have to. You call Tobias."

But before Ben's burner phone rings, Luke is shoving his at Ben. "They have questions—" the uncle and nephew trade phones.

"Hello?" Ben answers.

"Mr. Solo? This is Sergeant Yoda of the Tennessee SBI. Skywalker said that you have some information for me?"

"Yes I have reason to believe that Alexander J. Snoke's men will be in your area shortly, if they aren't already."

"How did you come to this information?" Sergeant Yoda asks.

"I'm not at liberty to say," Ben answers.

"Then why on Earth should I believe you?" Yoda smarts back.

Ben rolls his eyes, wishes he was at the hospital with Rey and Jonathan and hands the phone to Luke. But before Luke talks to Yoda, he says, "Let me know when you leave the hotel."

"Alright?" He pushes the button for the elevator. As he's waiting, he notices how Luke walks to the opposite end of the hallway even though Ben knows everything he's telling the known sergeant.

It still doesn't keep him from wishing that so many things were different.

Brbrbrbrbr

"You can go home today," Hux says with a grin.

"I can?" Rey grins. She looks down at the baby boy who is currently nursing and asks, "Did you hear that, Jon-Jon? We get to go home today." Her eloquent son answers her with a grunt, making both of them chuckle. "I think he's excited."

"It would seem that way. How are you feeling?" Hux asks.

"Oh, you're here on official doctor business. I'm feeling better. I just hope we do this well at home."

"I'm sure you will." Hux drops down into the rocking chair on her side of the bed. "Who's coming to drive you home?"

"I'm not sure? Did any of our roommates mention it? I'm not even sure who has the baby seat. is it still strapped into my jeep?"

"I'll call Finn. I think he's at home. As soon as he's done eating, I need to check your incision. Are the tapes still on?"

"Yes, when can I take those off?"

"Not yet." Hux smiles as she eases Jonathan away. "Can I?"

"Of course," she murmurs as the doctor takes him from her. As Hux cradles her son, her smile is tired. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Just being a good doctor and now a great friend."

She smiles when he flushes as red as his hair. "Well then, let me see your incision." She leans back and pulls up her hospital issued gown. "The mesh panties."

"Yeah well, I don't see you taking Rose a pair home."

"You don't know what I've brought home for Rose and I."

Rey blinks up at him, unsure if he's kidding or telling her the truth. It's not until he winks at her that she grunts, "Hux you're a dork."

"And you my dear, are ready to go home. Who's your ride?"

"I can take her—" his deep baritone rumbles from the door.

"Ben?" she squeaks. "You came back." Stupid tears gather in her eyes seeing him again. "I can't believe you came back."

She's not sure what he has in his hands, but something clanks as it lands on the floor. Then something different lands on the cabinet with a thump before he moves to the opposite side of the bed from where Hux is sitting. "Rey, I'll always come back for you." He picks up her hand and with a deep breath from both of them, he kisses her knuckles. "I love you more than you will ever know, but I promise you, I will always come back for you. It might be immediately, or it might be almost a year."

"But you'll come back," she finishes. She doesn't take her hands out of his, but asks, "You'll take us home? I have no idea where everyone else is."

"I'd love to take you two home." he reaffirms then nods a greeting at Hux, and smiles when he sees who the doctor is cuddling. "Hello, doctor."

"Mr. Solo." Hux looks from Ben to her then back to Ben. "Rey?"

"it's alright, Hux. I might still be mad and upset with Ben, but that doesn't mean he can't be a father. As long as he doesn't do anything stupid like try to take him."

"I'd never do that. Snoke—"

Rey holds up her hand. "Do not ever speak his name in my presence again." she meets Hux's gaze. "Bring the papers, Jonathan is ready to bust out of here!"