"Did the seat click?" Rey asks from the wheelchair.

"It did." Ben tugs on the infant seat that he put in the middle of the back seat. "Do you want to sit-"

"Yeah, your truck is really tall. I might need you-" she doesn't even get to finish her sentence when Ben is sweeping her up into his arms. This is the first time she's let him touch her and damn it he feels so good. She hasn't forgotten what it's like for him to hold her, well maybe she has because this is amazing.

The pain slicing her in half distracts her from the fantasy of being in his arms again. "Are you hurting?" he murmurs as he sets her on the seat. The truck he'd bought on a whim, has a spacious back seat. Now he knows why he bought this one.

"Yeah, but I suspect that I will be for several weeks." She looks down at Jonathan who is still fast asleep. "I don't think he's moved since we put him in the carrier."

Ben pauses, looking over at their son and she's entranced by the look on his face. She's caught him looking at her almost the same way, but never like this. Love, longing, peace- it's all there on his face. "I've never seen that look before-"

"I've never had a son before." He murmurs and even though they spent the past year apart, she can tell that he's just as in love with the boy as she is.

"Let's go home."

"I have to confess something," he whispers and ducks his head.

"What's wrong?" The words make her more afraid that she wants to admit.

"I was here over Christmas."

"Here? In Asheville? Why?"

"Snoke is buying a ski lodge in Madison County. And I followed Mom and Dad."

"You followed- what does that mean?" She whispers.

"Can I get you and Jonathan home?" he asks. She wants him to tell her everything-

"Yeah, let's go." She looks up and her green eyes meet his whiskey-colored ones. They've reached some kind of unspoken truce for now, it feels like even though a part of her wants to collapse in his arms and let him promise her that everything is going to be alright- instead she's thankful that her son- their son grunts as if he picked up on how his parents are feeling.

"Is he alright?" Ben asks.

Both parents watch his face scrunch as he tries to stretch but the shoulder straps hold him down. His resulting cry makes both of his parents watch him with eyes full of concern. His big still-newborn-blue-eyes blink open. "What's the matter baby?" Jonathan's mewl pierces her heart. She wants to pick him up, but she also wants to go home. "Let's go home, alright?"

He blinks at her again and she can't help but to smile as she falls in love with her newborn all over again.

Ben clears his throat beside her, and she meets his eyes. "Are you two ready?"

"I think so," she utters.

"Thank you-"

"For what?"

"Letting me be here." She has to blink away her sudden tears. Thankfully he closes the door for her and walks around to the driver's side. In moments the truck is running, the heat is flowing and he's pulling out onto the road.

"Do you know how to get to the house?" She asks.

Their eyes meet in the rearview mirror. The look in his eyes, she's only seen it once before. She can't remember all of it in her post I-just-had-a-baby-fog going on inside her brain right now, but he nods.

And she's not sure how to feel about that.

She waits for him to turn onto the four-lane heading out of town before she asks, "Can we talk and not worry about being overheard in here?"

"We can. I bought this truck the last time I was in town. Snoke has no idea that I own it. I still let Bazine rent vehicles when I come into town, and he looks for them to find me."

"A truck though? I never pictured you owning a truck," she chuckles. Their eyes meet again in the rear-view mirror and her heart thumps faster when she sees his sparkle back at her.

"What the big New York City hot-shot lawyer can't own a truck? It has a lot more legroom than those sport cars I used to own."

"You don't have your Porsche anymore?"

"It's sitting in the parking garage at the office. I'm never in town but maybe once a week anymore and when I am, I'm staying at the apartment."

"The apartment?" she whispers. "Our old apartment? Ben-" she doesn't say anything else because he's taking the exit that leads to her side of town. "Did you-"

"I couldn't stay away. You were already gone when I finally went back. When Plutt demanded for me to leave or pay, I wrote a check. Snoke furnished an apartment for me closer to work, but the apartment-"

"I'm not going back. This is home now."

"I can see that. It's much nicer here than in the city," he agrees. "It will be a good place for Jonathan."

He turns onto the two-lane road that her house is on. "You really do know-"

"Are you upset with me?" He asks as he turns in her driveway.

She waits for him to pull to a stop beside her Jeep. No one else is home since it's eleven o'clock in the morning on a Wednesday. "No, just confused."

"Makes sense." He hurries to the passenger side of the truck and opens the door for her. She turns to face him and out of habit and maybe the need to exit his truck as painless as possible, she puts her hands on his shoulders. Green meets amber as he admits, "Rey, I'm going to spend the rest of my life making up for the shit-storm I've turned our lives into. I know it's foolish for me to ask you to forgive me, but I probably will, every day for the rest of our lives. If you want me to go, I'll do that today, and wait with the phone by my side for you to call. But I am so very sorry that I hurt you and our son."

"Damn it, Ben. I didn't want to cry today," she fusses as their tears stream down both of their cheeks. "Let's go in, it's cold."

He's silent as he lifts her out of the truck. His hands linger on her hips and even she tells herself that he's only doing that so she won't fall. Once she's steady, he reaches for the car seat.

Jonathan is still wide awake as he blinks up at his father. "Come on you two." Rey walks towards the house. She hears Ben's footsteps in the gravel behind her.

She steps onto the porch and reaches for the knob. "Wait-" Ben starts.

"We haven't locked the doors in months."

"All of you might want to start doing that." He follows her into the farmhouse.

It's a lot different than what he's used to, but it's home. And then she hears him answer, "No, but I like it,"

"I said that out loud, didn't I?" She asks.

"You did." He's still standing there in their kitchen holding Jonathan and her hospital bag. "Where-"

"In here," she offers, leading him to her bedroom. He follows her in and sets the bag and the baby on her bed.

That's when it hits her. Benjamin Solo is here. At her house, in her room falling in love with their son, just like she is. Not sure what else to do and honestly to keep her from falling into his arms especially with what he just said outside, she starts unbuckling the baby.

"This feels like a dream," she says as he reaches in for the baby after she has the straps loose.

"It does for me too," he whispers. She just loves how small and perfect Jonathan looks in Ben's hands and how he just naturally cuddles their son close.

"Your hair and his are the same color." she smiles. "I wonder if he'll have your eyes or mine."

"I hope he has yours."

"Oh here, we can put him in his bassinet. I bet he'll hate it."

"Maybe not-" Ben lays him down so gently, Rey has to blink back tears.

Both of his parents freeze, not sure what to do, but the baby yawns, and closes his eyes. They are all still for a moment and Rey is the first to move. She tiptoes to the door, checking her phone as she does.

Ben follows her out and stops beside the dining room table that happens to be right outside her room. "Rey?"

She's still typing, and says, "Hang on, everyone is wondering where I'm at and if I'm alright. Evidently Hux didn't tell them that he was sending me home today." She keeps typing and says, "Yes, we're fine. Ben brought us home. Little bit is asleep. Yes, I know all of you will be home soon, we'll be ok."

She looks up and their eyes meet. "We need to talk. But first, I want some tea since I can't have coffee. Do you want any?"

"Can I have coffee?"

"Yes, you can even use Finn's fancy coffee maker since it used to be yours." Something that feels a lot like shame creeps up her back leaving her cold and crestfallen. "I guess I should have left your stuff-"

"No, it's probably a good thing you did take it, Plutt would have taken all of it to the pawn shop."

"That's true. If you want it, you can have it back-"

"Another time, right now I want to see you and hold my son." He follows her into the kitchen part of the huge room. She fills the kettle, while he starts checking the machine.

Before, when he would make coffee in their Brooklyn apartment, it was almost a holy experience to watch. Yes, it was the best she's ever tasted and after almost a year, Finn can make a pot that's almost as good as Ben's.

But now, she can tell the changes in him. While he still moves with a purpose, it's to make coffee, and not the religious experience it once was.

Her kettle whistles, and he glances at her and gives her the same look he did in the past. The, I'vegothisyousitandrelax look. She accepts his silent command with a nod and goes to the table.

He joins her with her tea and his coffee.

If she didn't hurt every time she moved, this would almost feel normal. But she has questions, lots of them. And just when she opens her mouth to ask—his phone rings. She doesn't miss that it's the nicer and newer one and not the cheap one.

His breath is harsh, and she wants to hug him, touch him. but he's not hers. Not anymore. She nods and whispers, "Go ahead."

"Ren," he barks into the phone. Her heart speeds up. That's why she couldn't find him. Snoke made him change his name. "Where are you now?" The silence is loud in the normally busy house. "Alright, I'll see you when you get back in town. Meet me at the ski lodge. Yes, we completed the sale. It's Snoke's now. Text me when you cross the state line." He doesn't say bye, see you later or f-you.

He just simply hangs up.

"Well, if it helps, they were almost caught by Luke. Somehow they got away."

"That sucks."

"It does, more than—" he looks over at her and their eyes meet. "No, I guess you do know."

She has to ask, even though it feels like her heart is breaking again to say the words out loud. And she's not even sure what's worse, asking the question or waiting to hear what his answer will be.

"What happens now?"

He lets go of the coffee cup that he was holding on to like a lifeline. And at first, he reaches for her, but stops before he touches her. It's her that closes the last couple of inches between them. She knows that if Rose were here there would be—she's not even sure anymore. Her friends know how miserable she's been and if nothing else, this man is the father of her child. If everything goes according to what he has planned, she will see him at least once a week for the rest of her life or at least for the next eighteen years.

He clings to her hand as if she's his personal Jesus, there to save him. Perhaps if what she's heard about Snoke is true, maybe she is there to lead him away from the evil. His touch warms the parts of her that have been too cold for far too long.

"Hopefully Snoke goes to jail this year and I can see you and our son whenever I want and need to."

"That's a good goal," she whispers because if she speaks any louder, she's going to start crying, and it hurts too much to cry. "Alright, let's think about this like any other goal. How are you going to accomplish it?"

He squeezes her hand. "Right now, I need to keep tabs on him. From what I understand, he's giving me the ski lodge. So that means that I'll no longer have daily access to him to keep tabs on him, you know what I mean?"

"Do you need to find a way to get back to New York full time?" It hurts her more than she realizes it would to say that.

"I'm not sure. I just mostly have to make sure that I keep track of everything I can that's illegal. But then there's the knights."

"The who?"

"Snoke calls them the Knights of Ren. Which is the new name he gave me. That's probably why you couldn't find me."

"What name are you using?"

"Kylo Ren."

"He's called you that before. Did he make you change your name?"

"He tried. I just mostly use it at work." He asks, "Are you teaching?"

"I was. Poe and Finn and Rose bought a brewery. They asked me to be their secretary and paperwork person. It's mostly to keep me working but I get to stay with Jonathan instead of putting him in daycare."

"When they are talking to me again, remind me to thank them."

"Yeah, that might take a little bit. But they started on the house."

"What house?" His voice sounds a little weird. She chooses to ignore it. "Your parents offered to build Jonathan and I a house. Rose, Finn and Poe were gracious enough to sell them an acre," she points towards the kitchen. "Several hundred feet that way. I figure that we'll start getting in the way soon. Jonathan and I will be separate but close."

"When this is all over, I could take you back to New York."

"Wow. I haven't thought about that at all. Let's see what happens. I kinda like it here." She's not going to talk about the future with him right now. He might get everything he needs on Snoke next week. It might take him years. She absently rubs her chest at that thought. It hurts more than it should to think about that. But still, she decides to say it anyway— "Maybe you will too?"

A ringing from his pocket echoes through the house. It must be louder than it seems because her son begins to cry. They don't say anything to one another, but he answers, "Hello—" while she stands.

She shuffles as fast as she can into her bedroom. Wide eyes blink up at her as he tries to kick the swaddling off. "Are you hungry? I bet you're wet too." With a hand behind his head and one under his bottom, she scoops him up.

It still amazes her how right he feels in her arms. Reluctantly, she lays him down on the changing table. It doesn't take her long to change his diaper— "Thank you Mrs. Tekka for letting me babysit, way back when." And then she walks over to the rocking chair. She sinks down into the seat before she realizes— "Ben? Help!"

"Hey Mom, hang on—" she hears as he comes to her door. "What's wrong?"

"Hand me a pillow?" Jonathan hears his father and starts to fuss again.

"Just come on over," he says. "Let me help Rey. Alright. Love you, bye." He throws the phone on her bed and walks the pillow over. "Across your lap?"

"Yes, please." He gently puts the pillow down and she lays Jonathan on top of it, but he wiggles, and fusses and it scares her that he's going to fall off her lap. "Can you grab him? I thought I was ready—" He scoops their son up, and just like that, he stops fussing. "I see how it's going to be."

Ben's face turns a bright shade of pink as he looks around. "What?"

"You're going to be the fun parent. He's already more excited to see you than me, and I carried him for ten years." She's trying to crack a joke, but as her words sink in, she just wants to cry. Then add to that everything that's happened with birthing Jonathan, Ben! He's here! Then her friends are still working or whatever they're doing. Even Han and Leia can't be found.

Overwhelmed, she can't stop her tears.

"Rey, sweetheart, why are you crying?" Even through her tears, she doesn't miss how he looks around, almost frantic.

"I don't know," she admits, not wanting to tell him the real reason why she's upset.

"Can you sit on the bed? It might be more comfortable and I can help you more?" He sounds defeated when he asks. Silently, she stands and settles herself so she can lean against the head of the bed. "Get comfortable."

"I am." That's when Jonathan reminds his parents that he is indeed hungry. At his cry, Rey can feel what the nurse called let-down. With unpracticed hands, Ben and Rey manage to get Jonathan to eat.

"Now, tell me why you're crying."

"It's nothing. Silly hormones probably—" her damn tears start again.

"Except, maybe it's not." he looks around and somehow, she knows what he's looking for.

"The bathroom is through there." She points out. He disappears behind the door but soon comes back with her box of tissues in his hand. He simply sets them on the bedside table then walks out towards the kitchen.

She lays her head back and lets her eyes close. As much as she loves Ben being here, this their son tucked up against her, his little hand resting on her breast is all she needs.

Ben comes back with her still hot cup of tea and her favorite cookies that he must have found in the pantry. Then he claims the rocking chair.

He's content to watch her and his son, while she struggles to keep her eyes open.

About the time Jonathan is finishing, there's a knock on the door. "That's Mom and Dad. Can I let them in?"

"Yeah, that's fine. Let me burp him and cover up. Then we'll be out."

"Rey?" She looks up and their eyes meet. "Thank you for letting me be here. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

He goes to answer the door but not before he pulls the door shut behind him. She's not sure why, but his words make her feel—well like maybe everything is going to be alright after all.

Brbrbrbrbr

Yes, her roommates, the same people that at one time he called them friends too, give him you're not welcome vibes. Which is to be expected. If they didn't, he would have moved Rey and Jonathan out within the week.

It's the middle of the afternoon and while his parents are here along with the missing roommates, he feels like a third—or even the eighth wheel or whatever. Basically, he doesn't feel welcome. The only reason he's still here is right now, he just wants to be where Rey and Jonathan are. And if he has to deal with the current rejection, that's fine.

He'll do anything for those two.

What he dreads is the phone call he gets at three. He answers it on the other side of the yard as if not to let such evil near his son. "Ren."

"There's a situation," Ushar begins. "State trooper got us five miles from the state line. They took us back to Nashville to the federal courthouse."

"They took you back to Nashville?" Ben asks.

"Yep, there wasn't room at the one in Knoxville."

"Damn it. Let me make some phone calls. Let one of the other guys call me back in thirty minutes."

"Yes, sir." The click of the police phone disconnecting is loud.

He doesn't even wait for the phone to go black before he pulls out the burner phone. three swipes and the phone rings. "Ben, where are you?" Luke answers.

"I'm still in Asheville. Are you in Nashville?"

"I am. I'm standing here watching your knights freak out because I finally caught them."

"You'll have to send me a picture," Ben can't help but chuckle. "When do I need to head your way?"

"I guess soon. I'd hate for them to call Snoke."

"I don't think they would—that would mean that they did something wrong."

"True. Don't be in a big hurry but do come soon. I'm trying to find something that sticks besides the assault charge while I have them here."

"Yeah, I'd like to get this over with, sooner rather than later."

"Be here sometime in the morning. I'll go tell them that I can't get a federal judge here before ten a.m. tomorrow."

That means he gets to spend more time with Jonathan and Rey—"That works. I'll be there in the morning."

The click from his burner isn't as loud as his other phone. He pockets both of them and turns to go back into the house. But before he can open the front door Poe joins him on the porch.

"Ben."

"Poe."

"Can I talk to you for a moment?"

He knows he shouldn't feel this way. After all, if the situation was reversed he probably wouldn't let anyone talk to Rey, much less an ex who treated her the way he did. He ducks his head and mutters, "Yeah, man."

"I never liked you. Not even when I realized who your parents were, I still didn't. Then you met Rey. Then of course because her and Finn are so damned close, we all started spending too much time together. And you made me change my mind about you." Ben looks up in something akin to shock at Poe's admission. "Yeah, I know, it surprised me too. In fact, the day Rey and I left New York—"

"You're the one who did this?"

"Now listen—" Poe holds up his hands. "This sudden move was her idea. I was in town visiting Mom. But the day we left, I asked her again if she really wanted to do this. She climbed into the driver's seat and we left.

"Do you know how mad we were—still are at you? You didn't hear her cry herself to sleep every night. You didn't hear Hux fuss at her because she was crying so much, she almost developed preeclampsia. We could have lost both of them and well here you are again." Poe takes a step closer and Ben wills himself not to move even though Poe is getting really close. "If you hurt her again, I'll kill you myself. And that's not a threat, that's a promise. That little boy in there is one of the most precious humans I've ever met. And I'll be damned if his ass of a father—"

"I'm not going to. I'd rather die than to hurt either one of them again." Ben meets his eyes. "And everything I do from now on, will be in an effort to prove myself worthy of being able to love them."

"Just don't hurt them." Poe pauses, and then admits, "What you're doing though, trying to bring down one of the biggest organized branches of crime in years, that's brave, dude. And just remember, while you're out taking them down, we'll be here protecting Rey and Jonathan."

Ben isn't sure why he gets teary eyed, but he does. "That's what I'm counting on. Do you still have your US Marshall connections?"

"I do," is all Poe volunteers.

"Good. We might need them too."