Just because I had to keep looking at my notes!
Leia-Lala
Han-Papa
Amilyn-Meemee
Tobias-Pop-pop
These are their grandparent names.
Thank you again for coming back! This is a sweet chapter, so lots of family fluff! I know you might be wondering, now that they are married where does the story go from here?
Lots of places. I just started chapter 12! And… I'm working on a medieval one because… well I think we all know ;) hopefully I'll get that story where I want it, and can start posting soon! I learned a long time ago that I can do ok with two stories being posted, but my life is more chaotic these days and well I want to spend more time with these stories. Plots change and it's easier to do that while it's still mine than try to cover what I did in later chapters. Then… there's an anthology I want to be part of and that story is due in November and while I've gotten that mostly figured out, I need to work on it too!
Anyways… thank you for coming back and reading my words. I appreciate you more than you realize and I hope that this fluff helps you smile today. (not that that isn't a foreshadowing of what's to come… *evil laugh*)
"Mama and Tobias just texted. They're leaving Poe's now."
"Mom and Dad haven't left yet."
Rey sets down her cell and grins. "So, we have time for a quickie then?"
She loves it when his face flushes red like it is now. "Sweetheart, we've already done it twice today."
"Is he tired then?" She teases as she steps into his arms.
He chuckles with her. "He could probably be persuaded to perform." Their mouths inch towards each other and just when their lips are about to touch…
The doorbell rings.
He scowls and she furrows her brow in confusion.
"Who could that be?" Rey asks.
"I have no idea—" Ben opens the door to a huge bouquet of roses, daisies and lilies.
"Ben?" A sweet little voice that they both love so much asks. "Where are you, Son?"
Rey rushes to take the flowers from her and is rewarded with her bright smile. "Nana Padme! What are you doing here?" Rey asks before she kisses her on the cheek.
"I was on the way—" she pauses as Ben kisses her other cheek and then helps her over the threshold. "To see Leia and Han and my boys—" Rey loves how he flushes pink to hear Nana say that. "When I called to say that I'm on the way, Leia said to come here."
"I might be eighty-five," she begins as she looks between Ben and Rey, "but there is something going on—"
"Did you drive yourself, Nana?" Rey asks. Ben nods, understanding Rey's efforts to redirect Nana's question about what they did.
"Of course, I did. I might be old but I can still drive on these mountain roads."
"Isn't it a beautiful drive? I love how you're on the four-lane then poof, woods," Rey chatters. "Why don't you sit down? I made some tea earlier."
Nana starts to pull out a chair, but Ben stops her to do it for her. "Son, I can still pull out my own chair."
"But I want to do it for you," he says.
"Go fix me a cup of tea, not a glass." Rey grew up going to the Solo's all her life. And even she knows that Nana wants a cup, not a glass of tea.
She has to chuckle when her and Ben both reach for the delicate cups. "Do you have these just in case Nana comes by?"
"He does," Nana answers from the table.
"Well, I'm glad that you finally made it," he replies. "This is the first time she's been to visit."
"I told you on the weekends I have bingo and my ladies meeting. You know I can't miss those."
He brings her the loose tea and honey. Rey sits down at the table with Nana. "No matter how many times I've seen you do this, I still love to see you fix tea."
"You know, Dear, you can come see me too." Ben is back ready to pour the hot, almost boiling water into her cup. "You're one of mine, too."
"You're one of mine, too," Rey echoes back as she blinks back tears. Nana doesn't say anything, but fishes one of her lace handkerchiefs out of her pocket to give to her.
Nana takes a sip, and as she sets the cup back on its saucer, she asks, "Now, what did you two do?" Rey meet's Ben's eyes and she loves the smile that matches Nana's that appears on his face. "You two ran off and got married, didn't you?"
Rey's gasp is soft, but she still covers her mouth with her hands. But Ben answers, "We did."
"You two—" this time it's Nana who has tears in her eyes. "I do wish you would have waited, but I'm so happy for you two. You know Anakin and I eloped."
"You did?" Rey answers and Ben nods.
"We did. Anakin was going to war and I wanted to wait, but he wanted to." She quiet for a moment then adds, "The hardest part was not being able to talk to him every day. But I'm glad we did it."
"Where did you elope to?" Ben asks.
"That little white chapel in Gatlinburg," Nana says.
"That's where we got married!" Rey says. "I love it." Before she says anything else, her phone chimes then Ben's. "They're on the way."
"Ben, sweetie," Nana coos. "There's some snacks in the car, can you go get them? Rey, you might have to help too."
"Nana," Ben grunts as he pinches the space between his eyes at the top of his nose. "What did you do?"
"I had to bring some cake for the kids." Nana smiles in her cup. "Just get all the food."
Rey follows Ben out to Nana's BMW. He pops the trunk where several of her reusable grocery bags are full. "Look in the backseat," Ben whispers.
She opens the back and there on the seat is a cake box from the local grocery store in town and more bags. "Bless her," Rey whispers, unable to talk because of her tears.
"It's not too much, is it?" Nana asks as they carry in the bags.
"You didn't have to do this," Ben says.
"But I want to," she says. "You know I have to feed everyone."
Rey's unpacking the food, and she's speechless as she unpacks the steaks and chicken. There's enough here to feed everyone who's coming plus several more. She washes her hands to ready the food when Nana comes to stand beside her.
"Leia told me what you asked for them to bring. Oh, sweet one. Hamburgers and hot dogs are no wedding feast. Come now, I will show you how to fix the best barbeque chicken and steaks so perfectly seared but still-melt-in-your -mouth-good." She looks around then calls, "Ben!"
He was outside checking the grill when come back in, "Yes Ma'am?"
"You forgot the Jack Daniels. It's under the front seat. I need it for the steaks."
Ben's smile along with Rey's giggles make Nana Padme grin.
"They must have left at the same time," Rey whispers to Ben.
"You know they did," he murmurs back.
They stay on the porch until the trucks and SUVs park. Then it's a mad-dash-confusion of her girls, his boys, her parents and his parents spilling out of vehicles.
Wyatt and Jack run up on the porch with hugs and kisses for Rey and Ben both. Juniper and Greer are a little slower, but not to be undone by the boys, they have kisses for their mom and shy hugs for her friend.
"Where's Mom?" Leia asks.
"Getting food ready—" Leia starts to say something, but Ben continues, "We've been helping her."
Leia goes on in. Han passes Rey and gives her a hug before he leans back. He looks from her to Ben then back to her. His grin matches the one Ben's been sporting since last night. He winks at her, then smacks Ben on the shoulder. "It's about time, kid."
"He knows," she whispers.
"I know."
Now it's her stepdad, or Pop-pop as he's called these days who stops. He takes her in, then Ben. The smirk that appears… "Dad—" Rey begins.
He pulls her in for a hug. "I know."
"I know you know."
"Does he make you happy?"
"Happier than I've ever been," she murmurs in his ear.
"As long as he takes care of my girls," Tobias says loud enough for Ben to hear.
"I will," Ben says.
Papa winks at Rey and goes into the lake house. Mama is the last one on the porch. Amilyn looks so frazzled that she pauses long enough for Rey to kiss her cheek, then she follows her husband into the house.
"That was weird," Rey comments.
"She seems more—" Ben begins.
"Out there? I wonder if something happened."
He lingers and she stops beside him. He pulls her to his side in what looks like a friendly hug. "After Nana's reaction, people might get upset."
She nods.
"No matter what is said, I don't regret anything we've done in the last twenty-four hours."
"I don't either."
"Let's go?" he asks.
"Together," she agrees. They walk in. The dads are talking near the glass doors leading outside. Leia and Amilyn are talking to Nana Padme. The kids…
"Where are the kids?" Rey asks.
"Out on the deck," Amilyn says. "This is a beautiful house, Leia. It looks like you made a good investment."
"I'll get the kids," she mutters leaving Ben talking to their mothers.
She steps out onto the deck and she has to smile. Wyatt is showing everyone the jars they used to catch lightening bugs. Greer is talking over him, telling him of her own adventures of hunting. Juniper and Jack are trying to look bored, but she knows her daughter and is getting to know Jack. They are excited too.
"Hey guys, can you come in for just a minute? We want to tell you something." Four sets of eyes land on her. She sees everything from curiosity, wonder, questions and confusion. "Come on, Nana bought cake!"
"Cake!" Wyatt shouts and Greer giggles. Rey has to smile as she sees the two of them becoming fast friends. It might take a little longer for Juniper and Jack to warm up. That's ok, they have time.
"First," she giggles. "Let's go see what Ben or Dad has to say."
"Then cake?" Greer asks, her little grin making Rey's world already so much brighter.
"We'll have to ask Nana."
Wyatt grabs Greer's hand and leads her into the house. "Nana! When can we have cake?" Wyatt calls out.
She ruffles his inky hair. "Daddy wants to make an announcement first." She clears her throat. when the other adults in the room keep talking, she shouts, "Hey!"
Immediate silence.
Rey goes to Ben's side. He gives her one of his smiles that lights up his entire face as their fingers intertwine. Her touch steadies him as he announces: "Last night we left the reunion early and—" he pauses and looks into her eyes and his arm pulls her into his side. "We went to Gatlinburg last night instead of staying for the reunion. And we got married."
For the first time in his entire life, that he can remember anyway, he has rendered his mother speechless. And Aunt Ami too. His dad looks at her then at him, his eyes crinkled at the corners that he has learned since moving back home that Han Solo is trying not to laugh.
Rey's stepdad is trying not to laugh either and Nana, well she's positively glowing.
The kids… Jack is scowling, Juniper is, wait is she crying? Wyatt and Greer are watching the adults.
"Does this mean that Greer and me get to hunt for lightening bugs all the time now?" Wyatt asks while Greer nods yes.
"Some evenings," Rey answers him.
He looks at each kid, and sees a mix of emotions on each face. "Hey kids, let's talk?"
Jack grunts, Juniper looks nervous while Wyatt and Greer grin.
"Follow me," Rey whispers as she waves them into their room.
"We'll be—" ben begins
"You're fine. Go make sure Juniper is alright," Han says.
He can hear them as he walks down the hallway to their bedroom. The same grin that he's been sporting since they said I will yesterday appears.
He pauses in the doorway as he takes in everyone. Rey is sitting on her side of the bed, her back against the headboard. The older ones are unsure what to do as they watch the younger ones wrestle and are about to tumble off the bed…
He catches Greer before she hits the floor.
"Wyatt," he warns.
"Sorry, Greer," Wyatt mutters.
"Is, ok," she offers all gentle smiles for her new stepbrother.
He sits down on his side of the bed with Greer in his lap. Wyatt watches her and climbs onto Rey's.
That leaves Jack and Juniper looking more than a little lost. Rey scoots and he scrunches leaving room for the eight and seven-year-old.
He might be holding Greer, but Juniper scooches right next to her mama. He knows how much Jackson has grown attached to Rey but he tries to hide his disappointment. So, he grabs his boy and tucks him next to him.
"Is Greer my sister, now?" Wyatt asks.
"Yeah, she is," he answers.
"Is Dad going to be mad?" Juniper murmurs.
"Why? Because I married Ben?" Rey asks. The way her voice wavers he can tell she's trying to keep it steady. "No, he won't be."
"My dad is a good dad too," Jack defends him.
"My dad is a good dad too," Juniper echoes back.
"Easy now," Rey says. "This is not a contest of who is the better parent. Jack, Wyatt, your dad still loves you. Juniper, Greer, your dad still loves you. Kids, you know by now that families don't always look the same. What matters is the love. And we save what we love. So even though you don't know one another yet, still try to do everything with love."
"Very well said, Mrs. Solo," he whispers.
"Are you Mrs. Solo now?" Juniper asks. Jack watches closely to hear her answer.
"I will be. But I will still be your mom. That doesn't change. And your last name won't change. You and Greer are still Juniper Dameron and Greer Dameron."
"Are you our new mom?" Jack asks. Ben's heart breaks as his son tries to shrink into himself.
"You can call me Rey. Or if you want to, when you're ready, mom." She pauses and smiles when Jack straightens. "Did you know that I was adopted?"
"What's adopted?" Greer and Wyatt ask at the same time. Ben can already tell that those two are going to be a handful.
"I didn't know where my parents were when I was little—"
"Were they losted?" Greer asks.
"Kinda. Meemee was my teacher in the fourth grade, she decided that she was going to be my foster mom. After a month, she decided to adopt me." He wipes the tears running down her cheeks. ''For a little bit, I called her Ms. Holdo. Then after a month and when school got out for summer, I called her Ami. Then we moved here. That's when I was finally comfortable enough to call her mama." Rey tries to hug all the kids together. Wyatt and Greer giggle, while Juniper and Jack relax for the first time.
"Let's go see if we can help Nana Padme finish dinner?" Ben asks
"What do we call her?" Greer asks.
"Nana," Wyatt answers for him. "She's everybody's nana."
"That she is," Ben adds.
"You can call my Meemee and Pop-pop, Meemee and Pop-pop," Juniper offers.
"You can call my Lala and Papa, Lala and Papa," Jack offers back. Rey and Ben's eyes meet and they have to smile at their little negotiators.
Rey kisses both Juniper and Jack on the cheek. Ben says, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry."
"I'm hungry," Rey answers. And a chorus of 'me too's' chimes in.
"Well let's go help Nana then." Ben is the first one off the bed, with the kids following him and Rey brings up the rear.
When they round the corner to the kitchen, Ben stops and all the children run into the back of his legs. Rey comes around and stops beside him. Nana sits, as she commands the other adults. Han and Tobias stand at the sink peeling something, Leia is seasoning chicken and Amilyn is making coleslaw.
"Ah man, they're doing it already," Jack says.
"No, Jack, come help me," Amilyn offers. Leia, then Han and Tobias echo their need of help.
Since everyone is busy, Ben takes her hand, and leads her outside. He slowly shuts the door, and Rey wraps her arms around him, her front to his back. He begins, "Let me turn—"
He feels her shake her head against his spine. "Let me say this. If I look at you, I'll cry."
"Rey," he murmurs, laying his hands-on top of hers.
"Today, you've given me so much. I never would have imagined that I could have this much love and family in my life. Thank you," she whispers into his shirt.
"Are you sure we aren't too much?" He asks as he turns in her arms.
"Never," she whispers as she goes up on her toes for a kiss. Just when his lips meet hers…
The click of the doorknob interrupts them. "Hey you two," Tobias says, "turn on the grill, will ya'''?"
"We will Dad," Rey answers as her face heats up. She waits until the door clicks shut before she whispers, "Why did we invite everyone?"
"Because we love our families?" He steps away to start turning the knobs. They're quiet until the familiar whoosh of the gas being ignited and the slight smell of the propane lets them know that the grill is lit.
"Yeah I guess we do." She leans back against the railing that goes around the deck and watches the activity going on in his kitchen. "It's been too long since all of us have gotten together."
"Mom would call all the time asking me to come home for one thing or another—"
"Hush Doctor Ben solo. You've been a little busy the past several years. You were missed but you're here now. That's what matters."
"If you say so," he quips even though she can see the tears in his eyes.
"I'm your wife, so you have to listen to me now." She loves that she can still make him smile at her like the way he is now. "And I do say so." She tugs him close to her. "Besides, I can't stop touching you—when are we going on a honeymoon?"
He steps into her hug and wraps his arms around her. "When school gets out? We should take the kids to the beach?"
"That sounds nice."
The door clicks open again, and Han and Tobias walk out with arms full of food. "Rey? There's more—" Tobias begins.
"I got it Daddy," she answers as she goes back into the house.
The door clicks behind her, and Han and Tobias both turn to Ben.
"Where is everyone going to live?" Han asks.
"Are the kids ready for this? Are you? I love my granddaughters but they are—well girls. Not that girls are bad, but you're used to boys. Are you ready for that?" Tobias adds.
"What about Artoo? I've gotten used to him—" Han continues.
"Are you keeping my dog?" Ben manages to get in. He can't help but to smile at their questions. "I'm not sure where we're living yet, hell, we might spend all summer out here and then think about that. And I know they're girls. I'm sure they aren't used to the boys either. Greer and Wyatt are already friends, we might have to help Jack and Juniper."
"Juniper—" Tobias chuckles, "can be stubborn if something's not her idea."
"I wonder where she got that from?" Han quips.
"Mom?" Ben answers. "That sounds like her." They're quiet while Tobias begins to get the grill ready for food since it's hot by now. "How often would you see Rey and the girls, Dad?"
"At least once a month?" Han guesses. "Your mom or Amilyn were still having their monthly dinners. You know, one month everyone would come to the house, the next, we'd go to theirs." Ben must let more of his emotion show than he realizes when his dad continues, "It's ok, Son. You were working in Durham and trying to figure out—well the situation."
"Yeah, I'm glad that's over with," Ben says.
"Is the situation what I think it is?" Tobias asks.
"The crazy ex?" Ben asks. Tobias nods, Ben continues, "Yes that's the situation. We've gotten used to calling it that when the boys are around.'' Wyatt crying the other night reminds him, "Tobias. It's ok if it's a conflict of interest but could you talk to Wyatt and Jack about their mom?"
"You mean in a professional capacity? No. But as their new Pop-pop I can help you deal with issues." The door clicks open and Rey comes back with all four kids following her like she's the pied piper of children. "We'll talk later."
"You'll talk about what later?" She asks as she sets down the platter of food she has.
"I'll tell you later," Ben mutters with a wink.
"Oh man!" Wyatt grunts. "I hate it when adults do that!"
Greer's little brow wrinkles in confusion. "What? What did they do? Mama?"
"Sometimes adult conversations are not for little ears," Rey reminds Greer.
"That's a good one," Ben says with a grin. "I'll be using that one from now on."
"I don't like it when Mama says that to me." Juniper looks mad enough to stomp her foot. "I'm almost grown."
"You're eight dear," Rey reminds her.
"Come here my June-bug," her Pop-Pop Tobias coos. He's standing and when Juniper gets close enough, he throws his arm over her shoulders. "Yes, you are almost grown, after all you're eight going on twenty-four, isn't it?"
"No," Greer pipes up. Not to be left out, she goes to her Pop-pop's other side. "She's just eight."
"Oh, and what are you? six going on thirty?" he teases her. Rey giggles remembering this game and Ben smiles seeing how much Rey's family loves her girls.
"But I'm five," Wyatt volunteers. "Are you my Pop-pop, now too?"
Ben sees what Uncle Tobias is wanting to do, so he pulls a rocking chair over to him. The older man nods his thanks, then sits so he's on eye level with the kids. Greer claims one knee, and Juniper the other. But Wyatt's content to stand, not sure what to do. Jack, not to be left out, but not sure what is happening, comes and stands by his dad.
"Do you want me to be your Pop-pop?" Tobias asks.
Greer nods then in a loud whisper, "He's the best."
"As long as Papa can still be my Papa," Wyatt answers as solemn as a five-year-old can.
Han sits in the other rocking chair and Jack hurries to his lap. Han kisses Jack on the temple, and says, "Yes Wyatt, I will always be your Papa. No matter what, no matter where you go, I will always be here."
The door clicks open and Amilyn comes through the door. She looks at grandkids on laps and a teary Ben and Rey. "You two, put the food on the grill," she says to Rey and Ben. "Alright, Pop-pop and Papa, why are you hogging the grandbabies? I hope you left some hugs for me!"
And just like that, bonds form and new family is made.
"Can I have some more mac n'cheese?" Juniper asks her mom.
Ben hands Rey the bowl who helps Juniper get a spoonful. While she's doing that, Rey looks around the table. Since the grandkids are here, Leia and mom aren't sitting by each other. Instead there's a grand, then a grandkid. She has Juniper on her left, Ben on her right, then Ben has Jack on his right.
"I never would have guessed that this table would have a place for everyone," Rey comments.
"I think Mom did that on purpose. There's actually another leaf."
"Oh," Rey remembers as she fishes out her phone. "We need pictures of our wedding feast."
Ben then stands and the room grows silent. "I need everyone who has a phone, to take it out. now take lots of pictures," he pauses and looks down at Rey. "My wife loves pictures and she needs a lot of pictures today."
Leia and Amilyn are teary, Han and Tobias have grins.
Maybe their eyes are watery too.
Nana Padme slowly stands. "I remember then these two would come over to my farm. They would play all day and collapse on my couch like a couple of puppies, all wrapped up in one another," she pauses because the adults chuckle. "Even then, if you saw the way Rey would watch Ben, and then the way the boy would watch her, I just knew that there was something special there, between the two of them. And yes, I'm like everyone else who wishes you would have had a wedding, but you two have always done things the way you wanted to from playing in the creek to building that God-forsaken tree house— Han, Tobias, did you ever tell them that you'd go behind them to renail the boards together so it wouldn't fall out of the tree?" Ben and Rey watch their dad's faces turn red as Ben chuckles and Rey gets even more teary.
"But live your life, love those precious babies and of course come see me so I can spoil my new and old great-grandbabies—" Nana winks at Rey and whispers, "Anakin would have loved you."
"To new family," Amilyn toasts.
Even the kids hold up their milk glasses as everyone repeats, "To new family."