The last one! Well, maybe. I have a question I need you to answer at the end…
I need to thank Sohypothetically and Notanislander for all of their help! They know the right questions to ask to help me when I need them.
I need to thank you for reading! I hope you've enjoyed this little story. I love stories with kids in them. And as a parent, I've tried to write these guys as well, as little people who love fiercely like their parents. And I love them so much. But thank you for coming back and trying out a new Reylo author. I'm just happy to have words again!
Warnings for this chapter… there is a death… there's no graphic descriptions or anything like that. if you want to skip it, but you might not it's a big nod to canon, then when you get to Ben answering the door.
And lots of mentions of Rey's current state of being pregnant. They have their first doctor's appointment! And we find out lots of things… anyway… please answer the question at the end! And thank you again! I wish I could hug all of you!
"Dr. Oliver, this is my husband, Ben Solo- err Doctor-"
"Yes, I've actually talked to you several times when you were admitting my patients. Welcome to Asheville." Dr. Oliver has been Rey's doctor since Mama made her first appointment, way-back-when. He's the one who brought Juniper and Greer both into the world. "I understand that you were in that awful wreck several weeks ago?"
"Yeah, the truck hit on my side and I ended up having to have my spleen removed. Ben wanted us to come on in and make sure we were alright." She didn't want to add, before we get attached, but the sentiment hangs in the air like a force ghost they don't want to acknowledge.
"When was your last period?"
"Betsy said that my due date is February first."
"Oh ok, so you're about eight weeks." Dr. Oliver turns on the monitor beside the exam table. He looks down and smiles when he sees her bottom half wrapped in a sheet. "Feet up in the stirrups, dear."
"Giddy-up," Rey says as she scoots into position.
Dr. Oliver chuckles and Ben looks at her like she just made the funniest joke. "You're a dork," he says.
She pulls the sheet tighter around her hips. "Yes, but I'm your dork."
"That's right, you are." He shakes his head with a smile and kisses her forehead. They look up at the same time to see Dr. Oliver putting a condom on the ultrasound wand. "Oh, look honey, if we'd remembered those things, we wouldn't be here now," she quips.
"But there's nowhere else I'd rather be." Ben looks at her like she hung the moon.
"Is this your first child, Dr. Solo?" Dr. Oliver asks as he applies the green gel on the end of it.
"No, I have two boys from a previous relationship."
"And Rey has her girls. Is everyone excited about the new baby?" While he's talking, he's sitting on the stool with wheels and takes his place at the end of the exam table. "Are you ready?"
"Go ahead," Rey answers.
Dr. Oliver inserts the wand and Ben grabs Rey's hand. They both hold their breath until they see the image on the screen.
"Is that?"
"Am I really seeing that? T-T-There's-" Ben stutters.
"Congratulations Mom and Dad," the doctor chuckles. "You're having twins."
"Twins?" They echo at the same time. Tears stream down her cheeks and he says, "Are they alright? The wreck- the surgery-"
Dr. Oliver reaches over and turns a knob. The gentle swish of a heartbeat fills the room. "There's one baby-" the wand moves a little, and more swish fills the room. "And there's the other one."
"Twins," she breathes. "Twins. Our moms are going to flip."
"No one knows yet," Ben tells Dr. Oliver. "I wanted to see them and hear them to make sure-"
"We will of course follow up with frequent ultrasounds and a target one when you're twenty weeks." He stands and pats her knee. "Betsy will get your appointments all setup." He shakes Ben's hand who still looks stunned. "It was nice to meet you Dr. Solo, Rey as always, a joy. Oh, I'll send Alice in to print off the pictures. Just stay put."
"Thank you, Dr. Oliver." Rey meets Ben's eyes. "I guess this is real?"
He looks at the screen that still has what looks like licorice jelly beans floating in grey stuff. "It looks pretty real to me."
"Are you ok?" she squeezes his hand until their eyes meet again. "Tell me the truth. Are you really-"
He doesn't let her finish her question because his lips are on hers. He stops long enough to murmur against her lips, "This is all I've ever wanted. You in my life. My kids and your kids and now two babies? I think I'm the happiest man in the universe."
"I love you," she whispers.
"I love you," he mutters back.
"When are we going to tell everyone? The babies," she pauses as the ever-present butterflies do gymnastics in her stomach. Two babies. "Are nine weeks."
"I want to go shout it from the rooftops, but I'm going to let you make that decision. If you want to wait until you start showing, that's fine." Ben squeezes her hand. It's been a week since they found out. "It's just been really hard keeping this secret," he admits.
"It's been kind of nice too." Leia offered to babysit that Saturday afternoon so they could have a date. Rey still thinks that it was her mom's idea because she and Tobias were headed over to sit by the pool all afternoon. Ben and her just finished a late lunch at their favorite diner but instead of going to the movies, they sit and talk. Just the two of them. "I guess we should have gone to the lake house this weekend but I've been so sleepy."
"Don't forget you've had morning sickness everyday too."
"Don't remind me," she moans but has to smile too. If he wasn't at work, he was right there with her or distracting the kids to keep the questions at bay. "Thank you." His brows furrow in question. "Every moment you could, you were there for me."
He doesn't immediately answer but stands, grabs the bill off the table and holds out his hand for her. She lets him help her up and quips, "Soon, you'll have to help me up all the time."
"I look forward to every moment." He leads her to the cash register. After they pay, they go out to her Jeep. Before he opens the door for her, he pulls her into his arms. A quick kiss to her nose he suggests, "Let's go car shopping."
"Really?" she asks. "But we can't spend too much."
He opens the Jeep door for her. "We need something safe. And with plenty of room."
She climbs in and he shuts the door. Once he's in his seat, she continues, "But we need to find a house too."
"We'll be alright. Trust me."
"I can't believe he bought the biggest SUV he could find," she mutters as she buckles up.
"It seats nine, Rey!" His voice comes through her window.
"I know, when the babies get here I'll love it." And she will. It's a huge Infiniti Q-something or other. She doesn't remember the rest because pregnancy brain has officially set in; or she can't remember crap. It's black, with black leather everything and even he had to chuckle when she compared it to Kylo Ren's TIE Silencer from their favorite movie.
When it was time to haggle the price, she chose to ignore Ben and the saleswoman. She still doesn't know how much they finally agreed to, she just knows that he wrote a check and the saleswoman flushed a bright shade of red before she ran out of the office. Then he quietly explained that he had just deposited the check for the totaled Land Rover.
Yeah, they haven't combined their finances yet.
It doesn't take long for them to arrive back at Han and Leia's.
Of course, everyone piles out of the house to see who's here. What Rey doesn't expect is the calculated looks from her mom and Leia.
Or how they wait until Tobias and Han herd the children back to the pool.
She doesn't miss how Mom looks in her eyes. Or how Leia looks at Ben like he ate the cookies she was saving for a meeting. Which they did, when they were twelve.
"We might as well tell them." He shrugs.
"Let's go get the dad's too."
He waits for Mom and Amilyn to walk back into the house to take her hand. "Are we ready for this?"
"Yeah, let's go ahead. So much for wanting to do something sweet and cute."
"We still can?" He asks but then a part of him, the part that wants to shout it from the rooftops wants to go ahead and tell people.
"Nah, I'm tired of keeping secrets. I'm not that good at it."
They chuckle as they enter the house. It's pretty much empty but he can hear the kids playing through the patio door.
The kids are back in the pool but their parents are circled. And waiting. "Let me get the kids." Rey offers before he can volunteer. He's met by four pairs of eyes ranging from nervous, excited, happy, and teary.
When his beautiful bride is back at his side with dripping kids. He begins, "Well, we bought a new SUV-"
"We need it Dad, not all of us can fit in Rey's Jeep," Jack says.
"True, this one seats nine people-" he begins again.
"Oh good, then we can take Josie with us too!" Juniper adds.
"Yes-" he starts.
"We can even take Lala and Papa with us!" Wyatt proclaims.
"Or Meemee and Pop-pop," Greer interjects.
Rey chuckles at his side. He drags his fingers through his hair in frustration. "No, that's not it at all." He looks at her, the light in his universe and digs out the pieces of paper-the precious pictures that are everything- he's been carrying around since last week. "Rey's pregnant with twins."
Laughter.
Giggles.
Chuckles.
Gasps of excitement.
Happy tears.
And he isn't too sure, but he thinks all that comes from his mom. He looks up. Han and Tobias are congratulating each other like all this was their idea. Mom and Aunt Ami alter from excited to stunned to tears as they stand silently beside one another, as they watch them.
And thankfully all the kids look excited. Well at least Greer and Wyatt do. Jack and Juniper are whispering about something, no doubt about having little siblings again.
"Hey everyone!" He calls. When their parents meet his eyes, he says, "Don't tell anyone yet. She's nine weeks and we want to wait just a little bit longer before we tell the world."
"What about Daddy? Can I tell him?" Juniper asks.
"Yes, I'll tell him and Rose and Finn. But no one else, alright?" He asks.
They give him a quick nod before they get back to talking.
Everyone is talking to each other but not to him or Rey. He chuckles as he nudges her back into the house. He smirks that smirk that he knows drives her crazy and nods towards the stairs. She rolls her eyes and heads that way anyway.
She enters their bedroom first with him closing the door behind them. He doesn't say a word but pulls her into his arms. He claims her lips, giving her a gentle kiss.
"What was that for?" She murmurs. He loves it when she gives him that sleepy-eyed look that means she wants him. It's too easy for him to wonder if she gave it to him before when she was with Poe and he was doing whatever it was with Bazine.
"Did you ever look at me like that when we were in high school?"
Her cheeks flush red and he grins because she knows exactly what he's talking about. "Probably. I loved you so much even back then." Just when he thought he couldn't love her anymore, she goes and says stuff like this. "I lived for the weekends because I knew that either I was going to be here or you were going to be at my house. You've always been my best friend." She steps closer and he tugs her into his arms.
He doesn't get a chance to say anything because Juniper is knocking and opening. "Mom, Ben! Greer called Daddy. I think he's coming over."
"Of course, he is," Rey whispers against his chest. "I guess we're telling them now too."
He kisses the top of her head. "Let's go celebrate."
"Remind me to take the phone away from Greer."
They walk back downstairs with Juniper before them like a medieval herald announcing, "Greer's in trouble. Mama's taking the phone-"
"Hush," Rey hisses while the grandparents turn to look. "We're about to have some more company-"
And a knock on the door interrupts Rey.
"I'll get it," she volunteers and hurries to the foyer. She doesn't even have to look through the window to know who's there. "Come in Poe, hello Zorii."
Poe comes rushing in. He looks around like he's looking for a fire.
Or one of his daughters.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"What did Greer tell you on the phone?" Ben asks. He followed her to the front door. Rey closes it behind Poe and his wife.
"That I needed to get over here right now. I assumed that it was important but not an emergency."
"I'm hiding all the phones," she growls then takes a deep breath. "Nothing's wrong."
Poe looks from her to Ben then back to her. "Nothing's wrong, but something's different."
"Can I tell him?" Ben whispers in her ear.
She shakes her head but with a smile. "Go ahead."
Ben tugs her to his side, and wraps his arm around her shoulders. "We're pregnant with twins."
She wasn't sure what Poe's reaction would be. She's not sure why it's even a concern. But when he smiles, smacks Ben on the shoulder and hugs Juniper and Greer. Then he looks at her. "Congratulations, Rey."
"Thanks, Poe."
"Congratulations you two," Zorii offers.
"Well come on, you've been invited to the celebration," Ben offers, leading them through the house.
"Mama?" Juniper asks as she crawls in the bed with Rey. Ben is at the hospital working second shift in the ER.
"What is it Juni-bug?"
"When the babies get here, they can sleep in my bed when I'm at Daddy's house."
"Well that's sweet, but they'll have their own cribs." Rey tilts Juniper's head back so she can see her daughter's eyes. "What are you worried about?"
"The babies-"
"What about the babies?"
"What if they forget me when I'm at Daddy's?" Then her tears start.
"Oh baby, they won't forget you. You'll be their big sister. Don't you know by now how much little sisters adore their big sisters?"
"They do?"
"They do. Think about how badly Greer wants to do whatever you do? That's because you're her big sister. These babies won't forget you, I promise."
Juniper curls into her side and Rey wraps her in a hug. "Where are they going to sleep?"
She kisses the top of her daughter's head. "At this point, only God knows."
Rey: Bazine is still coming to visit on Thursday, right?
Ben: Yes, she said she'd be there at four.
Rey: What can we do afterwards with the boys?
Ben: We'll figure it out. Let's see how it goes.
Rey: Sounds good. I love you. I'll see you when you get home.
Ben: Love you too
"She's supposed to be here at four? Right?"
He doesn't mean to show his frustration, he can feel the boys watching. Rey takes his phone from him, scrolls to his text messages and he can see her nod her head as she reads. "Do you want me to try calling?" He knows she doesn't miss much when it comes to him, but when she whispers, "Take the boys upstairs or outside. I'll call and see what's going on."
"Thanks, Sweetheart." Thankfully Wyatt grabs one hand and Jack the other. Then they drag him outside.
They aren't alone long because Rey follows them. When their eyes meet, she shakes her head. "It goes straight to voicemail."
"Well come on boys. Go get your swim trunks on, we'll go swim." Ben walks towards the stairs.
Leia must have heard him because she comes out of the study. "Is she not coming?"
Ben shakes his head and ushers the boys upstairs. Rey waits for them to stop stomping down the hall to say, "Ben texted, I called, it's going straight to voicemail." A cold chill dances down her spine. "Do you think something happened?"
"I got goosebumps when you said that." Leia shivers.
"I did too," Rey confesses. "I wonder-" the Solo men run down the stairs behind them. Ben slows down to kiss her then follows the boys outside. "Should I try calling again?"
"Nah, let's go watch them play. If she shows up, she shows up. If she doesn't, we'll call Lando."
"She never showed up for visitation."
"That is unfortunate. Did you call?" Lando asks.
"We called, we texted. Nothing." Ben tries not to sound worried, it's not like this is the first time she's done this. Hell, she didn't even act happy to see the boys the last time she was here.
"Since you sound worried, do you want me to try to track her down?"
"Yeah I guess so-" He's currently the only one home when the doorbell rings. Rey is out with the kids and Han and Leia are at the lake house for the week. "Let me see who's at the door." It only takes him a moment to reach the front door. He doesn't even bother looking to see who's there when he opens the door.
A tall, too skinny old man stands there. He has more wrinkles than hair and narrow, beady eyes that catch his. His breath catches in his chest as a cold wave of something washes over him. A bright gold band glitters on his hand and he knows who this man is.
This is George A. Snoke.
Also known as Bazine's husband.
"Let me call you back-" he says to Lando. Not even waiting for Lando to respond, Ben swipes his phone to hang up. "Mr. Snoke, what can I do for you?"
"Can I come in?" His gravelly voice grinds on every nerve in his body.
Why is he home alone right now?
Ben steps aside and the old man hobbles in, leaning heavily on his cane. "Forgive me if I don't offer you a seat-" He pauses trying to think of a good excuse, "-but I just got a call from the ER. they're short staffed tonight."
"That's fine. This will only take a moment. My darling wife didn't show up for her visitation, did she?" Snoke waits for Ben to nod before continuing, "You see, the darling girl was in a horrible accident. It seems that she dropped her phone, then fell into a trash compactor. I know it sounds rather unbelievable, but our neighborhood just had it installed and she wanted to know how it worked. She leaned over just a little too much and that's when she dropped her phone. And if you know my darling Bazine, you know that she can't do without her phone. She fell in after it. Someone accidentally flipped the switch, and no one could get her out in time."
"That's awful." His stomach churns and his heart is broken for his boys. "Thank you for coming by."
Snoke hands Ben a card. "Email me. I'll let you know what the arrangements are. And yes, she had a will. She didn't forget the boys."
He doesn't say another word, but waits for Ben to open the door for him and then he exits without another word.
Bazine's dead?
The mother of his boys, is dead?
Not sure what else to do, he swipes up on his phone. He quickly finds the number he needs and dials. When the other person says, "Hello, Ben-"
"I need you to grab Maz and get over here as soon as possible."
"Is Rey-"
"They're fine. But what I have to tell them is not fine."
"We'll be there soon."
When Rey pulls up in the driveway, she's pleasantly surprised that Dad is here.
"Why is Pop-pop here?" Wyatt asks from the back.
"I'm not sure, let's go see." It takes them a minute, but they tumble out and run into the house.
She doesn't begin to worry until she sees Dad, Ben and Maz, Daddy's business partner. "Oh, no," she whispers. "Ben?"
He stands from his place at the couch. She almost runs to him and he catches her in his arms. "Why don't you take the girls upstairs?" He murmurs then kisses her temple.
She doesn't ask the questions she wants to ask but motions for the girls to come with her.
"I need to hug Pop-pop," Greer protests.
"Hurry," Rey says as she watches Ben. When the girls rejoin her on the steps, they go on up to their room. But instead of going into theirs, Rey leads them into hers and Ben's.
When she closes the door quietly behind her, instead of asking all the questions they must be thinking, they go over to sit on the short couch Ben had just gotten for her in an effort for her to have her own space.
With Juniper on one side, and Greer on the other, they use Rey's laptop to find one of their favorite videos on YouTube.
"What are they doing down there?" Greer asks.
"No idea. It must be something serious," Rey says.
"It must be," Juniper agrees.
They sit there for almost an hour, when there's a knock on the door. Juniper jumps up and opens the door. "Pop-pop!" She whispers and throws her arms around his waist. "Can we come out now?"
"Let's give them another minute. Ben wanted me to come up here and go ahead and tell you that Bazine has died."
"What? how?" Rey mutters. "Oh, no the boys-"
"Are alright right now. It might have helped that they haven't seen her in years until last week."
"Who's Bazine?" Juniper asks.
Rey hugs them both tight. "Jack and Wyatt's mother. When Ben was with her, she didn't love Ben anymore. So, she left." She looks up at Daddy. He nods and she tries to continue. "She got married and went far away to live. Ben asked Pop-pop and Ms. Maz to come over. Ben just found out that Bazine has died."
"What's died?" Greer asks, her little voice sounding so unsure of what's going on.
"It's when your body doesn't work anymore. But the inside part of you, what makes you, you still go on." the girls are still so Rey meets Daddy's eyes. "Can we go check on them?"
"Yeah I think Ben wants you to."
The girls jump up and run ahead of their adults. Rey waits for them to be out of earshot, then asks, "Really, though, how are the boys."
"They just sat there."
"Oh no," Rey murmurs before she goes downstairs. When she enters the living room, Wyatt and Jack are both in Ben's lap. When their eyes meet, Ben pats the couch beside him. She goes over to join him, and the girls follow. As soon as she sits, Jack crawls onto her lap, and Greer joins them while Wyatt reaches for Juniper in Ben's lap.
She can feel her tears in the corner of her eyes. But then Jack, her sweet Jack looks into her eyes with those eyes just like his dad's and says, "Rey? Will be my mama now since mine is dead?"
"Oh, my sweet boy." she pulls him close and kisses his forehead as he leans his head against her shoulder. Greer wraps her arms around him. "I am so very sorry that she's gone. And I'm here to stay." Another weight settles on her other shoulder and she doesn't have to look to see that Ben leans against her.
"I love you," she hears from her husband.
"I know."
"Rey," her dad says as he watches them from the other side of the living room. "I'm going to take Maz back to the office and go pick up your mom."
"Alright. Can you stop and get pizza on the way?"
"Oh, please Pop-pop," Jack says and Rey's heart feels like it's going to explode with happiness. As broken as they might have been before, together she knows that one day, they will be whole again.
The end… maybe? You tell me… would you like one more chapter of the babies? And new house stuff? You know, Reylo fluff! Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing them for you.