He was grateful Rey hadn't asked any more questions after making it clear she only saw him as a business partner. At most, no more than a friend.
It was also good he hadn't said anything about how he felt. That would have made this seemingly ill-fated trip even more awkward.
He left shortly after their conversation to take a nap and let AD-83 and Shadowstar's autopilot do their thing, only to find his dreams filled with Rey discovering his feelings, rejecting him, and leaving in disgust.
After the third like this, he abandoned sleep for the night.
Making his way back to the cockpit, he noticed Rey had also gone to take a nap and blew out a sigh of relief. He didn't think he could face her, not yet.
A few hours later, in the sunshine of Naboo, things didn't look so bad. Rey was still here, they were going to attend the gala together, and he would be fine. It would be fine.
Right?
He landed Shadowstar in one of the docks reserved for guests of the gala as Rey emerged from her cabin, grinning.
"I'm so excited!"
"That makes one of us," he chuckled. "We'll need to head to the shopping district first to find you a dress, then we'll be able to freshen up. The gala is always held in the ballroom of the Theed Grand Hotel, and that's where we'll be staying, also."
"What will you wear?"
"My mother brings the outfit she wishes me to wear." He allowed himself an eyeroll. "It's usually something to represent the House of Organa."
"Fancy," he heard her mutter as she turned away to grab her knapsack.
His mother was waiting near the entrance to the docks and her face lit up when she saw them.
"Benjamin!" Leia kissed him on both cheeks before pulling him in for a hug. "I'm so glad you could make it."
"It's good to see you too, Mom," Ben mumbled.
"And you must be Rey!" She extended both hands to his partner. "Ben let me know you were coming."
"Senator, it's such an honor to meet you," Rey stammered before the other woman waved a dismissive hand.
"Call me Leia. There's no need for formalities—I mean, you're practically family!"
"What?" Ben and Rey gasped at the same time.
"You're the first girl Benjamin has brought home in I don't know how long!" Leia was beaming, oblivious to the color draining from Rey's face and flooding into Ben's.
Or, as Ben suspected was more likely the case, she knew exactly what she was doing and was intent on humiliating him in the most obnoxious way possible.
"Tell me about yourself, Rey."
"We really don't have much time to chat," Ben cut in. "Rey needs a dress for the gala, so we're heading to the shopping district right away."
"She could wear one of Padmé's—"
"No, thank you, Mom." He pulled Rey away before his mother could say anything else embarrassing. "We'll see you later!"
"Who is Padmé?" Rey asked once they were out of earshot, AD-83 trailing a little bit behind.
"My mother's mother. Well, biological mother. She—" He paused, then sighed. She would find out eventually. He may as well get it over with. "Her chosen regnal name was Amidala, and that carried over to when she was senator of Naboo, as well."
"That's the same name as the foundation for the charity gala!"
"Yep. It was named in her honor. She was beloved by her people before she died."
"Wait, did you say regnal? As in, a queen?"
"Yep," Ben said again, quietly. "Another one of those famous people." AD-83 whistled and he scowled at the droid. "Never did me any favors," he muttered under his breath in response.
"Okay, but you could have mentioned that you were related to royalty!"
He sighed. "Both of my grandmothers were royalty. My mom's adopted parents were the rulers of Alderaan."
It was another several paces before he realized she was no longer beside him. He glanced back to find her frozen in place, mouth partially open.
"Rey—"
"So you're a prince, too?" Her tone was somewhere between irritated and amazed, and he wasn't quite sure which one to respond to.
"No, I'm not a prince. Alderaan is gone, anyway." Blown out of the galaxy by another one of his stupidly famous relatives. He didn't plan on telling her about that one. Not if he could help it.
"Your family is rich, aren't they?" Her mumbled comment wasn't really a question.
"In a few hours, you'll be brushing shoulders with people who are a lot richer than we are, so it doesn't matter."
"It does matter, Ben! I came from nothing, and you think I fit into any of this?" She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
Reassurances burst into his mind: of course she would fit in, it didn't matter where she came from, she was more beautiful than half the girls and didn't need extravagant products for her to shine. He would be proud to have her on his arm and show her off to the galaxy. Just partners, his mind also reminded him, and he bit the comments back. Well, most of them.
"Of course you will," he murmured. "Now let's get you a dress you deserve."
They spent three hours in the shopping district, during which Ben was mostly relegated to bag-holder and telling Rey that "yes, that looks lovely," but they still hadn't found a dress, and not for lack of trying.
All that was before she emerged from a dressing room in a gauzy green wonder, iridescent shimmersilk catching the light and morphing into a handful of colors depending which way she turned. Ben's mouth went dry.
"Well, what about this one?" She angled in front of the mirror.
"I like that one the best." It brought out all the green and gold in her eyes. It was perfect for her. She was radiant. "I think you should go with that one."
"Do you?" She turned to another angle, before smiling at her reflection. "I like it too. I think you're right." She reached for the price tag but he lunged and tugged her wrist before she could see it.
"I'll take care of it."
Since they'd paid off all their debts for the time being, he wanted to make sure she got something truly special.
And this dress made her look like a queen.
AD-83 beeped quietly as Rey went to change and Ben looked down. "I'm not going to say that."
Two beeps and a low whine.
"Absolutely not. You heard what she said last night. I'm not going to say anything that will mess that up."
The droid whistled again and Ben rolled his eyes. "Thanks for your vote of confidence."
At that moment, Rey reemerged into the waiting area and handed Ben the dress. "Thank you. It's lovely."
"It is," he agreed. So are you, came to mind unbidden, but he pushed it away. He shot a sharp look to AD-83 that he hoped communicated to keep his droid thoughts to himself before heading to the front of the shop to make the purchase.
When they made it back to the hotel, one of his mother's aides met them near the entrance. "I will show you to your rooms, Mr. Organa and Ms. Niima. Once you are settled, Senator Organa requested to see you both in her suite."
"Ms. Niima," Rey chuckled behind her hand as the attendant led the way. "It sounds strange."
Her comment surprised him, and he opened his mouth to respond before considering it a moment longer. For someone used to only having one name, being referred to by their second name would sound strange. Especially when it wasn't truly her name. He offered her a small smile. "You get used to it."
Rey was shown to a room on the third floor, and he was shown to a room on the fourth, where he left AD-83. Afterwards, they met up again in the hallway outside his mother's rooms.
As a senator, his mother had a generously appointed suite, about twice the size of his three floors below. She greeted both of them with a hug and a kiss to each cheek, and Ben caught the tail end of uncertainty on Rey's face. He wished he could reassure her.
"I trust your shopping venture was successful?" Leia directed the question to Rey.
"Yes, we found a beautiful green dress!" Rey exclaimed, before describing the dress in detail.
Leia smiled. "It sounds stunning, dear. And it should go nicely with Benjamin's outfit for the gala." She waved a hand and an assistant retrieved the suit, still wrapped in a protective cover. "Do you have any jewelry to go with it?"
Jewelry! He hadn't even though of that.
"Uh…" Rey glanced at him and gave him a helpless shrug.
"No, we weren't able to get any," Ben answered. How could he have forgotten it?
"No matter, I have some that should complement the dress." Leia crossed to a small box on a table in the common area.
Rey mouthed something to him that looked like, "What is she doing?"
"I don't know," he mouthed back with a shrug.
"Here!" Leia returned with a smile and handed Rey a pair of gold earrings with green gems and a matching bracelet. "They hook around your ear like so. See?"
"Oh, Senat—I mean Leia, I couldn't possibly—"
"Nonsense. I won't be using them this evening and they would look perfect on you. Now, that's settled. I'm sure you would both like to get ready for this evening. I'll see you in a few hours!"
Then they both found themselves back in the hallway.
"Wow."
"I'm sorry. I know my mother is…a lot."
"She is certainly efficient. And doesn't take no for an answer." Rey squinted down at the jewelry in her palm. "They're absolutely gorgeous. I've never worn anything like it."
"She doesn't really give you time to say no." He followed her gaze. "She is right, though, they would suit you and they would go well with the dress."
Rey smiled up at him. It wasn't her bright, brilliant grin or the sarcastic smirk he loved. This was softer, smaller. His heart skipped a beat.
"Thanks," she murmured.
He cleared his throat and looked away. Just partners. "The gala will be held in the ballroom. Do you want me to show you so you know where we're meeting?"
"I think I'll be able to find it. If nothing else, I'll follow the crowd."
—
Rey had never seen such extravagance.
Not in all their travels so far could she have imagined the beauty that was Naboo and the Theed Grand Hotel and the shops that dripped with expensive things.
How Senator Organa just handed her the jewelry without a thought.
How two maids appeared out of nowhere when she returned to her room, saying they had been sent by the senator to help her prepare.
How high the ceilings were in the ballroom she now stood outside while she waited for Ben, lit gently by chandeliers that sparkled like stars.
The extensive line of people in rich shimmersilk and flashing gems slowly entering as their name was called.
The scavenger in her wanted to grab anything she could reach and run before they realized who she really was.
She took a deep breath. Ben would be disappointed if she ran. She didn't want to disappoint Ben. But while he may be at home here among the elite, she knew she never would be.
Taking another deep breath, she was about to search for him when she heard him call her name and sensed his familiar presence at her side.
"Are you ready to go in?"
She nodded, and they joined the line.
"If anyone asks, I'm a pilot in the New Republic trade fleet," he murmured to her as they waited.
She shot him a sidewise glance. "What does that make me?"
"My partner," he grinned, as though the answer should be obvious.
"I thought those ships were single-pilot."
"Not in the trade fleet."
She processed this for a moment. "That's how you're still invited to the gala. No one knows what you do."
He gave her a one-shoulder shrug. "That's part of it. My mother knows."
"Anyone else?"
"Uh, no," he chuckled, after he glanced around the room as though searching for someone who knew his secret.
"It's because of her career and reputation, isn't it?"
The humor in his expression faded. "Yeah."
"But your father is a smuggler?"
His mouth flattened. "Exactly."
They had reached the front of the line and Ben looked over to the protocol droid announcing names. "Benjamin Organa and guest."
"Very good, sir," the droid replied, before announcing loudly to the room where no one was listening, "Benjamin Naberrie Organa and Rey Niima!"
With this checkpoint cleared, Ben turned to her. "I have some people I have to make nice to. You're welcome to join me, or," he glanced over her shoulder, "you can let me know what's best from the dessert table."
"I can come with you if you want me to." She was excited to try the food but also wanted to be supportive. "Unless you don't want me to," she added after he hesitated to respond.
"I don't not want you to." He smiled ruefully before he dropped his tone. "But it's really boring, and once you start it's hard to stop. I want you to have a good time without being roped into endless discussions of galaxy news and people hoping being nice to me will help them in their standing with my mother."
For the first time, maybe, she appreciated the tediousness of his world. It was all glamor covering up an empty vessel.
She nodded and smiled. "I'll be back soon with recommendations," she said as she started to back away to the tables of food against the far wall.
"I'm counting on it," he returned, watching her until someone tapped him on the shoulder and shook his hand.
—
"Well, well. Look what the loth-cat dragged in." The voice behind him startled him during a short reprieve from all the smiles and nods and polite conversation with senators, dignitaries, and businessmen.
But unfortunately, he knew that voice.
"Bey. I didn't know I'd see you here." Ben worked to keep the disdain out of his tone. Poe Bey had been a thorn in his side since they were kids, one argument at a time. Though Ben maintained that he was the one who won the speeder race that resulted in a month-long ban, and it was definitely Poe's fault they were banned.
"Long time, no see, Solo."
Ben tsked. "Not here. That's Naberrie Organa to you."
"Hiding behind mommy's names so you don't tarnish her reputation?" Poe's smile was laced with steel.
"As if you don't do the same, Dameron," Ben hissed. "Don't think I don't know what you do in your free time."
Poe blanched for the briefest moment before his charming smile returned. "You've seen me race?"
"Yep. Bet against you, too."
"Aw, man, that's just rude."
Ben shrugged. "Or you aren't as good as you think you are." He started to walk away but Poe followed him.
"Hey, I am one of the best swoop racers this side of the Core!"
"Don't say that too loud," Ben chuckled. "The New Republic's star pilot? That would be quite the story."
"Which one did you see?"
"I can't remember."
"Now you're just putting me on."
Ben caught the hint of a whine in Poe's tone and grinned. "Depends. Is it working?"
Poe's undoubtedly sharp retort was interrupted by Rey's reappearance at his side. She had a plate piled with food in one hand and a glass of punch in the other.
"Have you tried these little pastries?" she said around one apparently in her mouth. It was her third reappearance with a new type of food and Ben couldn't help but smile.
"Who's this?"
The smile immediately disappeared at the reminder that Poe was still there, and Ben didn't like the smirk on the other man's face. "Not any—"
"I'm his partner, Rey." She shifted her food plate to the other arm and stuck out a hand.
"Partner?" Poe shook her hand with eyebrows raised.
"Yep. We work together."
"So not like—"
"Mm-mmm," Rey hummed with a little shake of her head, and Ben had to remind himself that this is what she wanted. Only partners.
At least, until Poe smiled again, this time with his huge, charming grin. "Then may I interest you in a dance?"
Ben opened his mouth to object—how dare he flirt with her!—but Rey beat him to it.
"I'm good, thanks." Her smile didn't meet her eyes. She lifted her drink in explanation and took a bite of a denta bean bun. "That's delicious."
"If you like those, you should try the five-blossom bread. It isn't as sweet, but it practically melts in your mouth." Five-blossom bread was always something Ben had while staying on Naboo, and it was a family favorite.
Rey grinned at him. "Next on the list!"
"I know when I'm beat," he vaguely heard Poe say behind them. "Good to meet you, Rey. Solo, always a pleasure."
He gave them a jaunty salute before sauntering away, and Ben rolled his eyes, even as he internally rejoiced at the win.
"That was Poe Bey Dameron. Our mothers worked together in the Rebellion so I've had the misfortune to know him most of my life."
"A charmer." Rey shook her head and smiled. "Too pretty for me." He barely had time to give any thought to that before she looked up with a teasing smirk. "Did you want to dance?"
"I'm not much of a dancer," he mumbled, gaze drifting anywhere but her.
"Nonsense! Remember when we finished that bottle of Corellian whiskey and you taught me a dance from Chandrila?"
"I do remember, though I'd hoped you'd forgotten." It really was a wonder he was able to keep any secrets from this woman.
She laughed. "How could I forget?"
"I don't think the galaxy's senate want to be subjected to my poor attempts at dancing. Besides, I thought you wanted to finish your food?"
"That'll only take a minute," she said, before shoving another whole denta bean bun in her mouth.
She was rapidly eliminating all his excuses and unexpected panic crept in at the thought of actually dancing in front of all these people, and with Rey most of all. What if he messed it up? What if she could tell he liked her, just with a touch?
It was too much. He couldn't do it. Mumbling something about being hungry himself, he took the coward's exit.
—
One moment Ben was by her side, the next moment he was gone. She had finished her punch and the plate of small foods she'd never tried before, turned around to invite him to dance again, and he was gone.
She frowned. He'd promised her this gala would have dancing, and she thought that meant they would dance. But she'd barely seen him all night.
She turned another circle before determining that he really was gone.
Sudden tears burned behind her eyes and she blinked them back. It was irrational to get upset. They weren't here as a couple. She spotted Leia and decided to make her way over there, with only a short stop at the table with desserts.
"You're here with Benjamin Organa, aren't you?" The delicate female voice came from behind her while she was filling the plate.
Rey pivoted and found the voice belonged to a young woman with dark makeup that emphasized her big eyes. She was smiling, but there was no kindness there. "That's right."
"I don't think I've seen you before. What's your name?"
"Rey." Her eyes darted between this woman and two more who had joined her. The fact that she didn't have a family name wasn't their business.
"Rey who?"
Rey shifted uncomfortably. "Rey Niima," she said after a pause, hoping they didn't recognize the outpost. "Who are you?"
The woman scoffed, as though Rey should know who she was. "My name is Solé Parnelli. My family is well-known around Theed."
Theed was Naboo's capital city, Ben had informed her. Rey smiled. "Nice to meet you."
"I'm not familiar with this family name. What does your family do?"
Rey was taken aback by her abrupt line of questioning. Evidently, this Solé Parnelli had no desire to hold a casual, friendly conversation. She was digging for information, and Rey resented it. "I don't know that that matters."
Solé laughed, the other women laughing with her. "Of course it matters. It's the only thing that matters at these boring charity events."
Rey thought the gala had been lovely so far, except for Ben ditching her, and said so, which only made the women laugh harder.
"They do this every year, and they try to make it exciting." Solé rolled her eyes. "But it's nothing compared to the parties on Canto Bight." Her eyes narrowed as she looked Rey over again. "If your family isn't important, why are you even here? This party is for the elite, not some backwater planet grifter."
"I'm here with Ben—"
"We know. But it isn't the first time an Organa has made questionable decisions with peasants." Rey's mouth dropped but before she could say anything, Solé continued with a sneer at her dress, "To be honest, I'm surprised they let you in wearing that. Did you actually buy it from a store?"
Her friends laughed and Rey felt her cheeks heat. She would not give them the satisfaction of seeing they'd hurt her. "What a joyless life you must have," she managed through clenched teeth, before turning on her heel and weaving her way through the crowd to get away from them and their cruel comments.
She glimpsed Ben near the exit but dodged him as well, heading for the balcony, desperate for some fresh air and a place to be alone.
She found a spot in the corner of the balcony that was empty, and leaned against the railing as she tried to catch her breath and stave off the tears.
No doubt Ben would be looking for her soon. But for now, she would enjoy the silence.
She heard him before she saw him, calling her name softly as he came around the corner.
"Rey? What happened?"
She swiped a hand over her eyes and hoped he didn't notice. What did it matter what those women said? They didn't know her. But their words cut deep, and Rey couldn't forget them so easily.
"Rey." He caught her hand before she could make another pass over her eyes. "Talk to me."
"It was nothing."
"Clearly not, since you're out here and practically ran away from me."
She was about to make a comment about how he'd disappeared on her earlier, when she saw the concern spread across his face and instead huffed a sigh. "I was talking with one of the women and they were asking questions about my family and my background. Then, when I couldn't answer, she laughed in my face and basically told me I had no business being here at the gala."
Concern morphed into anger as she spoke. His jaw tightened and his eyes burned. "Which woman?"
"I don't remember her name." That wasn't true. But she knew that anger didn't bode well and, for all the woman's pettiness, Rey didn't think she deserved that.
"Then describe her to me."
"Ben, leave it." She placed a hand on his arm. "You asked why I was out here. I just needed to clear my head."
The anger didn't completely disappear, but his expression softened and he moved to stand against the rail, looking out over the city.
"It's a beautiful city. A beautiful planet."
"Naboo has always been one of my favorite planets to visit. I used to come here a lot as a kid with my mom. She—well, her family has a house out in the Lake Country."
"The family that's royalty?" she couldn't help but tease, frustration melting away in the calm of his presence.
He let out a breathy laugh and shook his head. "Only my grandmother was royalty, since she was elected queen. The rest of the family isn't."
"They still live here?"
He nodded, continuing to stare out at the city lights. "I have a few cousins who live here in Theed, then another cousin who takes care of the house in the Lake Country. Every once in a while my mother gets all of us together for a family reunion out there." He angled to face her and smiled. "Maybe we could pay them a visit while we're here so you can see the house."
It sounded amazing, really; almost too good to be true. But she must have waited too long to respond, because his expression flickered and his smile wilted.
"If you want, of course," he said in a rush. "I don't want to—"
"I want to," she laughed, more at his hurry to do damage control than anything else. "It sounds lovely."
"It is." His grin was back where it belonged. He took a step closer and his smile softened. "I wish I could show you every beautiful thing in this galaxy, Rey."
She had come outside to cool off, get some fresh air. None of that seemed to matter now, her face burning as his eyes swept over her and his jaw worked. The look in his eyes was one she'd caught before, but never understood.
She thought she was beginning to understand it now.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you are this evening?" His voice was low and liquid like the night sky. She shook her head. "That's a shame." He leaned in and brought one hand up to cup her cheek. "Because not even the most beautiful thing in this galaxy could compare to you."
Then he kissed her.
It was a soft, simple thing, just a brush of his lips against hers, but she felt her breath catch and her heart thud into an erratic beat. She could barely wrap her head around the fact that this was Ben, he was kissing her, and maybe everything she had thought about their relationship was completely wrong and also entirely correct, before he broke the kiss and stayed there, forehead pressed against hers.
Her eyes had fluttered closed and she slowly opened them with a grin. She was both elated and also a little confused, because they had been traveling together for nearly six months and he hadn't once bothered to mention interest in her.
But the only thing she could think to say, with no small amount of amusement, was, "Just partners, right?"
He stumbled back so fast she might have burned him, eyes wide and expression cycling rapidly through three stages of horror.
"I'm sorry." He ran a hand over his mouth. "I'm so sorry."
Why was he sorry? "Ben—" she started, reaching out a hand, but he had already staggered back another step before turning and disappearing in the direction of the ballroom.
A/N: The kiss has arrived! Don't worry, I won't leave these two in angst for long :)