One more chapter of newborn baby Jon-Jon… and I don't know how to make the texting things. I wish I did.

This is an intense chapter. I don't want to give away too much… I hope you like it! And thank you Sparklingstella for reading! I heart you love! And thank you for coming back to read my crazy little story. And it's a nice long chapter for you!

"You're here, you're really here!" She gushes as she opens the door. Ben looks—well tired. Maybe as worn out as she is. But there's joy in his eyes that says things neither one of them can right now. A cold wind blows in making them both shiver, and the baby in her arms wiggle in protest. "Come in, come in," she almost pleads.

Breakfast dishes are still on the table that her roommates left after she told them to. "I know it's a mess, normally we all just grab something quick but this morning I wanted biscuits and gravy, so Finn and I cooked. And of course, I'd forgotten they all had early meetings and even Hux was called to go in to deliver a baby—" she around to face him again. "Do you—"

He's standing there staring at her. Then, he holds his arms open for her. Tired of not doing what her heart tells her, she steps into his embrace. Her arm goes around his middle, while his goes over her shoulders but he leaves enough space between them so he can look down at the baby. She could swear that she feels his lips somewhere on her head which makes her heart do silly things like remind her that this might work out after all and that this man that she hopes is still hers could still love her after all the crap they've put each other through.

She's not sure how long they stand there holding each other, but it's not until Jonathan lets out a grunt and a wiggle that they even move. Ben's arm drops from her and she instantly misses his warmth. But she has to smile when he holds out his hands for his son.

They gently transfer the bundle from one parent to another and Rey hates to admit it, but she can finally feel like she can breathe again with him here. "Are you hungry?" Is what she says though not ready to tell him how she feels about him.

"Yes, they didn't have food on the plane."

"I thought you were flying your dad's down?"

"No private planes were flying out, only commercial. So, it was flying commercial today or waiting a week. I didn't want to wait."

"Well, I'm glad you're here." She walks over to the stove and fixes him a plate. When she returns, he's sitting where she usually does. he moves her now empty plate and she sets down the full one. His raises her brows at her in silent question. "Finn made the biscuits, I made the gravy. Try it. I think you'll like it."

"How do I eat it?" he asks, truly wondering and not being a smartass.

She plucks his fork out of his hand and cuts him a bite out of the split biscuit drenched in the white sausage gravy. These feelings of love and tenderness come rushing back as she holds the bite of food up to his mouth. Plus, when he looks at her like she hung the moon just for him, which if he keeps on looking at her like that, she might try—she just wants him in her arms.

He accepts the bite. She's not sure what he'd think of the definite southern breakfast dish, but when he hums, in what she hopes is appreciation, she leans down and after smoothing his inky waves out of the way, she kisses his forehead.

They both freeze.

"Rey—" he's the first one to speak.

But she's tired. "I should be sorry, but I'm not. If you don't want me like I still want you, but then you've been telling me that you do then you welcome my touch and kisses. I know we're not where we were before last year happened, but I hope we get back to something better than where we were—"

He jumps up, and gently takes the baby from her, buckling him up in the bouncy on the table. then he gathers her in his arms. His whiskey-colored eyes meet her green-hazel ones. "Are you sure about this? I'm not giving you up, ever again. We'll leave the country first before we do that." She nods. Then his lips are on hers.

Over the past several months of them being apart, she never would have imagined that it would be his kisses that she would miss the most. But with his lips on hers again after all this time—his arms are around her as they pull her impossibly closer—she knows this is what home feels like.

"Before we do anything—" she begins before they start something they can't finish. "I'm still healing down there."

"I was wondering about that. How long—"

"Hux said about six, seven weeks. Jonathan is only three weeks."

"Rey," he murmurs as he cups her cheeks and tilts her head. He runs the tip of his nose along hers. "I'm perfectly fine to wait until you're ready for what comes next. As for now, I want to just be in the same room with you, talk to you," he pauses while he lightly steals a kiss. "Kiss you whenever I want."

"I like that idea too," she agrees. "So, dating, dating? With a newborn? But I guess it makes sense, we haven't done anything else in order, so why this?"

"Just remember, everything I do, it's to keep you two safe."

"I know. I don't know many who would do that." Before Rey can add to what she's already said, their bundle of joy grunts from his bouncy. "Have you ever given a baby a bath?"

"A bath?" he echoes. "Are you sure—"

"Yes, it's time you learned how to give your son a bath."

"I was going to feed you fancy food and buy you pretty things," he says with a hopeful smile.

"Right now, the way to my heart is a clean baby boy. Come on Solo, let me show you how it's done."

Brbrbrbrbr

He supposes that he should be feeling a certain way after helping Rey, but instead, he's even more head over heels in love with his son. His sweet little smile that he still wore even when Rey drippled water on those inky strands that look so much like his.

But when she sits down on their old bed to feed Jonathan, that's when everything catches up with him. "It's not even ten and you're going back to sleep?" Rey teases as his eyes flutter shut.

"I don't think I slept since I left the other day," he admits mid-yawn.

"When do you have to go back?" She whispers as she looks away as if she's too nervous about his answer to hear what he'll say.

"Not for a while, I think. The knights can't leave New York until their trial, I have to get the ski lodge renovations started, plus hire a Tennessee lawyer for the Knights."

He watches his girlfriend, his one-true-love, burp their son. "You are so beautiful when you mother our son," he whispers. she meets his eyes with wide eyes. "Did I say that out loud?"

"You did."

"I'm just speaking the truth." This time he can't bite back his yawn. But even before he's finished, she hands him the baby. "What—"

"Let's take a nap?"

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me, you need it. Besides, he cuddles better than even you do. Here, lean back and scoot down."

"I know how to lay down—"

"I know you do. But you haven't done it with the baby."

"Fine—you know there are other things I need to do—"

"Nope. You need to bond with your son. I'm going to clean the kitchen."

"You'll be right back?" He calls out, trying not to sound as nervous as he feels.

"You'll be fine, Solo."

"Rey—" he begins but she's already gone. Sure, he can hear her as she moves around just in the next room. That's when his son grunts. "What—" he whispers as Jonathan squishes his face and stretches then stills. "Alright, let's nap then." Somehow, he manages to shift the baby around to where they are laying chest to chest. He leans back like she told him to moments ago and tucks the baby blanket around the baby. His eyes close as soon as his head hits his old pillow.

Brbrbrbrbr

In the months since she left him, waking up has been the hardest. What is a man supposed to do when he wakes up crying when he realizes that he's alone and the one he loves the most is gone?

But today—a once thought familiar weight is lying on him. He opens his eyes with a huff, remembering the baby—

"He's in his bed." She—his Rey of Sunshine looks up at him with a crooked smile on her lips. "You looked so cozy, I had to join you."

His arms tighten around her. "Really? Are you real?"

"Why do you say that?" She sits up much to his dismay, but still meets his stare.

"For many months—now I'm not telling you this to make you feel guilty or anything—but I would dream that you were still there with me in New York. But then I would wake up and you were gone. So, to quote a famous baker, is this real or not real?"

"It's real for me."

"It's real for me, too." He grabs her hand and tugs her back to his side. "Then get back here. I'm not done holding you."

"I hope that you're not done for a long time," she giggles. "That sounded weird."

He hugs her and kisses her forehead. "I understood. I hope I'm not done for a long time, too." He pauses as an idea comes to him. "Can you leave the house? Or does Hux have you on bed rest because of the c-section?"

"No, I can leave. Just not overdo it."

"Would you and Jonathan like to go see this ski lodge?"

"Really?" she answers as she meets his gaze. "Snoke won't be there?"

"Hardly. The knights can't leave New York and he's there trying to keep everything running. I wonder why—"

"This lodge must be pretty important then."

"Why do you say that?" He asks as he steals a kiss.

"Ben, you know as well as I do, that if he could, Snoke would keep you with him all the time." she sits up and scoots to the edge of the bed.

"Where are you going?" He rumbles as he reaches for her.

she dances out of his reach. "Shower. I get to leave the house and I need a shower." A quick glance at the clock tells him that it's almost one. "Ben—why are you looking at me like that?"

"it's nothing, I just miss you."

Her eyes widen like she's a deer caught in headlights. "Are you wanting to shower with me?" she whispers while a look of horror haunts her features.

"No—" he answers. He does, he's missed her more than anything, but he remembers too that she's nowhere near healed. "Go wash, I'll watch Jonathan."

"Thank you, Ben." He doesn't miss the look of relief as she almost runs to her shower. He does feel like a cad for feeling this way.

Wanting to make it up to her, he looks around for his phone. not seeing it, he walks into the kitchen. There on the table is his work one and the burner. "I should go get a new phone while I'm here. That way I'll have a North Carolina number and all that." He checks the work phone first and rolls his eyes when he sees how many times Snoke has called. "I'll call you back after while." He smiles. A year ago he never would have been this flippant with him. "I need to message Luke and see how Baz is, too."

He sets that phone aside when swipes his burner on. Continuing to swipe to his calls received, he touches the space named "Mom".

"Hello—" she answers on the first ring as if she's expecting his call. "What's up buttercup?"

"You're in a good mood."

"Yes, I am." He can hear her grin through the phone. "How's my beautiful grandson?"

"Sleeping. Rey's in the shower. I have a question, what's Rey's favorite restaurant here?"

Brbrbrbrbr

"Are you sure it's ok to leave the house?" She hates the worry that makes her voice more pitchy than her normal tone.

"We don't have to go anywhere," Ben answers. He freezes on the porch and doesn't take another step. "We can go—"

"Let's go," she exhales then takes a deep one. Already she can feel herself feeling a little better. "It will be good. I have diapers," she giggles as she gives a wiggle, "and the milk. How far away is the lodge?"

"Twenty minutes?" he guesses.

"We can do that, can't we Son?" She asks the sleeping boy in the carrier. "Did you—"

He takes the carrier from her and smiles. "Finn helped me to install the base." Ben opens the passenger door. Rey watches as he clicks the carrier in, and then he turns to her. His grin is wide, but before she can ask, his hands are around her waist as he picks her up.

"I could have made it," she says, mirroring his smile.

"I know, but I like helping you," he admits with a faint blush on his cheeks.

"I like it when you do," she says before he shuts the door. Then she waits for him to climb in before she asks, "Where to first?"

"Sit back and relax. We'll be there soon." He pulls out onto the blacktop two lane road.

"Do you see that farmhouse? It looks almost like Poe's?" She offers as they pass the first neighbor's house. "It was built by the same family that built his. They have a hundred goats."

"A hundred? Literally a hundred?" he asks.

She giggles as she watches him look for the goats as they pass by. "They're in another field. Billy Earl, one of the bucks likes to get out and climb on top of houses." Her giggle has turned into a full-on laugh. "When I first moved in, I head this man hollering, 'Billy Earl, get your fool ass down from there.' I came out and there's this huge man, he's even bigger than you, talking to the house. I turn and look and this goat in on top of the house. Just standing there like it did it every day." A quick glance tells her that he's focused on the road but laughing along with her.

"Billy Earl? That's a crazy name for a goat."

"They have boring ones too, like Sue and Jill. Then there's the one he named after Rose, Ellen Rose Mayberry. Then Poe has one and even Finn." As what happens with her sometimes, there is a disconnect from the part of her brain that filters what she says. "Stick around long enough and you might get one named after you." Oh crap. "Oh crap. I'm not sure why I said that that way." She watches him drive and doesn't miss how he clenches his jaw or tightens his grip on the steering wheel. "Ben? I'm sorry."

There's a little pull over spot just before the stop sign at the end of their road. As he rolls the truck to a stop, Rey's reaching for him, the new mother part of her wants to soothe the pain she just caused. Those whiskey-colored eyes of his meet her green ones as she reaches across the console that's between them. Her heart jumps for joy when his hand meets her on the hard plastic.

"I'm so—"

"Stop apologizing."

"I hurt you—"

"Rey—I hurt you. But from now on, I'm hoping that we'll be better than we were."

"I hope we can do that too. As I come out of this pregnancy brain fog, I'll stop saying whatever comes to mind." She murmurs.

"I kinda like it, at least I'll always know what you're thinking."

"Yeah, sometimes I don't even want to know that." She pauses and then continues, "Let's go—" only to be interrupted by a buzzing in her pocket. "That's Mama." One swipe and she greets, "Hey."

"Oh, good I got you. I won't be able to make until May sometime, Sweetie." Amilyn Holdo says.

"What happened?" Rey answers as worry washes over her.

"Basically, the bad guys have taken over. They now have control over the airports and roads."

"Mama. You just need to come home." Amilyn adopted Rey when she was just seven, and the two of them lived a normal life. Amilyn, was a kid's therapist while raising Rey. When Rey graduated high school, and Amilyn dropped her off at the state university in Virginia, Amilyn signed up for the relief organization of a local organization. Little did Rey know that part of the appeal for her mother was all the travel.

Just she figured it would be in places like Russian and China. Not the northern parts of Africa where so much unrest and suffering is. She knows that her mom is doing good, she just wishes she could do it closer to home.

"I love you, my sweet girl. I have to—" Then silence.

She doesn't realize that there's tears until Ben opens her door. He's there, her rock is there holding her. More tears as everything comes to the surface. "Not even a mile from home and I'm a mess." She leans back but before she can use her sleeve to wipe her eyes, he's offering her a tissue from somewhere and of course he's always prepared.

His chuckle echoes in her ear. "Did I say that out loud?"

"You did."

"I meant it as a compliment," she murmurs as he wipes the tears from her eyes. "Ben?" he hums in response. "Thank you."

He leans in, but instead of kissing her lips, he kisses her on the forehead. "I adore you."

"I know," she says with a small but still cheeky smile.

Brbrbrbrbr

"It's creepy." Rey looks around as Ben stops the truck. "I'm sure it's fine when there are people here—"

"It is. Come inside—"

"You have keys—" she then laughs at herself. "Of course, you have keys. You kinda own the place."

"I do." she really meant to get out of the truck before he came around, but somehow, he's there before she has a chance to even grab the diaper bag. He helps her out, then reaches for Jonathan. "He's asleep. Let's look around out here for a minute then we'll grab him? It's colder here than it was at the house."

And it is. The Top of the Laurels as it's called is situated on top of a mountain and it's ten to twenty degrees colder here year around. The ski lodge is really a huge log cabin on top. Without counting, Rey figures there has to be at least twenty smaller lodges scattered around them. But what takes her breath away is the view.

"You know, Finn brought me up here right after I moved here. I fell in love with these hills then, and I think they're why I stay. It's it amazing?"

"it's beautiful here, it's like we're on top of the world." he nods.

"Now you're quoting movies," she chuckles as a cold wind greets them. "But I'll let you do it, this view calls for it." She pulls her coat tighter around her but then he's there just behind her. His front to her back is the perfect amount of heat she needs, especially when he wraps his arms around her. "The Cherokee called this area, 'Shaconage'. It translates to land of the blue smoke. That's why it's called the Blue Ridge Mountains and it part of the Great Smoky Mountains because of the smoke that appears." She pauses to enjoy his arms and the serenity of the moment. "I'm glad you brought me up here," she whispers. "It's almost holy the way the sky embraces the mountains. It's like the universe chose here to rest."

"When you put it like that, it makes me sad that Snoke of all people owns this."

"What will happen to it if, I mean when he goes to jail?" She murmurs against his cheek as his chin rests on her shoulder. "Does the government get it?"

"I'll have to ask Luke." He straightens, then turns her until their eyes meet. "Come on, let's get the boy and go in."

"I wonder if he's awake?" She asks. He starts walking to the passenger door of his truck.

"Do you need your bag?" he asks.

"No, he should stay asleep," she mutters just behind him making him jump and her giggle.

"Rey," he chuckles with a grin. With the carrier in one hand, he throws his arm around her shoulders, leaving her to shut the truck door. But when they stop at the door, he moves his arm, and she steps out from under it. It only takes him a moment to pull the keys out from his coat pocket and much to her surprise, he hands them to her. "The key is the one with the red thing around it."

"This one?" She holds up the keys. He nods and then with a twist, she lets them in. Inside the lodge is almost as beautiful as the outside. "Wow, this is like a dream house or something."

And it is. Huge logs hold up the rest of the lodge as stairs lead up to a hidden loft. A cold stone fireplace takes up an entire wall with cozy couches and overstuffed chairs are scattered about on purpose. A counter off to the side with boards for lift tickets and slope conditions dictate the walls around it while on the other is what looks like a little cafeteria area for cookies and hot chocolate.

"This is cute. I'm still confused as to why Snoke would want this. It's not his usual style of black, grey and chrome. Oh and the random dash of red of drama. It's cold in here, they must have forgotten to turn the heat off."

"I hope the pipes aren't frozen," he starts to set Jonathan's carrier down but she takes it from him. As she tucks his blanket around him tighter, after she checks his temperature when she brushes her fingers along his cheek he says, "I'll be right back."

Picture windows face the same mountains they were just admiring and that's where Rey goes. tables and chairs line the glass and that's where she sets him down. She can't help the shiver from the cold that makes her shake. A quick glance tells her that the baby is still asleep, but if she's cold then she knows he might be too. She grabs the carrier and looks around for where Ben might have gone to.

Instead of finding the love of her life, she hears a key in the same front door they just entered in. "Who in the world—" she mutters almost cussing for walking over here and not paying attention to who else might be at the lodge when realization washes over her like a cold wet shower.

"Could it really be Snoke?" She mutters. Not willing to stay here and wait and see, she hurries through a swinging door that has a little window at head level. She stops even though she can't lock it, but she does want to see who's coming in.

"Kylo? Kylo Ren?" An old man calls. He's dressed in a navy three-piece suit of all things with a long pea coat on of all things. In other words, more for a meeting on wall street instead of a ski lodge in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina.

It's also the same old man she saw at the Christmas party Ben took her to in New York that he didn't want to introduce her to.

Her heart moves out of her chest and lodges it's self in her throat. And it's not that she's afraid of Snoke, she's afraid of the men flanking him. "Oh shit, oh fuck."

That's when a grunt comes from the carrier at the end of her arm. "Not now, baby," she whispers as she looks for a way out.

"Kylo?" the old man asks after Ben again. "Alright, boys he's got to be here though I have no idea who's truck that is out front." Rey can still see them through the window as he takes a handkerchief out of his coat pocket like the lodge is the nastiest place he's ever been and covers the lowest part of his face. "Go—"

"Snoke?" Ben appears from a hallway on the other side of the great room. she doesn't miss how he looks around with a frantic look on his face.

She knows that he's looking for her and Jonathan.

"Hello son," Snoke greets. "Show me around the lodge?"

"Fuck," she hisses again as the old man's voice send shivers down her spine again, but this time she knows they are from fear, and not the cold. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." She looks down at her son who is awaking up. as she watches him, wondering what she needs to do, she sees two things. His paci and her phone.

"Thank God." The carrier slides up her arm until it rests in the crook of her elbow. There, she puts the paci in his mouth which causes him to open his eyes and look up at her. "Come on, baby. We have to go hide."

Even having to say those words pisses her off. If her boyfriend's boss wasn't so evil, she wouldn't have to hide like she's a criminal or something, worried about him seeing their baby.

And he wouldn't have had to turn states witness to bring him down.

She turns and looks around. One thing that strikes her as odd is that the hallway has no doorways in it. Closer inspection of the walls and ceiling, shows that its natural pine boards nailed horizontally to the floor. It's almost too much, as her head spins from the vertigo.

But she can see the end of the mysterious hallway and a door that leads outside. The outside beckons her like an old lost friend but when she reaches the end of the hallway, to her right is a flight of stairs. The weight on her arm reminds her that she's not alone. "Let's see what's up here," she says.

Two flights of stairs lead her to another door. This one is more like an exterior house door, steel with a window. Normally, she would have waited on Ben, but something deep inside tells her to hide as soon as possible. The knob turns easily and it opens on silent hinges to what looks like a living room, complete with furniture of all things. A little kitchen and dining room table are on one side with a couch and tv on the other.

Someone must live here—she can't help to think but then she hears the swinging door at the end of the long hallway below her open. She slaps her hand over her mouth when the panic tries to escape as a gasp.

She enters with Jonathan in the crook of her arm and quickly shuts the door and slides the deadbolt to lock. The door has a curtain over the window. Black might be her new favorite color; she can't see any of the light coming in from the hallway into the little apartment. Her eyes find the furthest corner of the room and that's where she takes her son.

A quick glance around tells her that since it's dark in the corner, she can still see the black curtains. But even more than that, she can see their shadow if they make it to the door.

"Ben!" She murmurs and grabs her phone from the carrier. She swipes the screen on. Quicky going to the last text they send on the messaging app that Snoke can't trace, she types: I'm still here. just up two flights of stairs in a little apartment.

Jonathan grunts that grunt he does when he's been in his seat too long. "I can't get you out yet baby. I might have to get up and run or something stupid like that. Your dad is not evil but we have to pretend that he is. I just hope you're not wet, I don't even have your diaper bag and this will be the last time I do that without even a diaper tucked away somewhere." She looks around the apartment again. "There should be another way out—in case there's a fire or something."

Her phone buzzes.

B: I'm trying to get them to leave. They didn't see the stairs but everywhere else they do want to see. I'll turn on the heat.

R: Thank you. It's cold and I didn't bring in a diaper or anything.

B: I'm at the bottom of the stairs. Does he need a diaper? I can go grab one but I don't want to leave in case they decide to go up and look.

R: I'm alright. Just let me know if I can get him out of the carrier

B: Keep him in for now. Do you want to sneak back down and go? I can call you when they leave and you can come back and get me.

R: What do you think? I'd rather stay in case you need back up. Then at least I can call Luke or Han.

B: Alright. Brb

As she replaces her cell, the windows catch her attention. The person who was here before must have taken the drapes with them but left the hardware. But what makes her smile for the first time since Snoke arrived, is the gold doorknob halfway down the wood frame of a door and not just a window.

"Alright, at least we can leave if we need to."

Jonathan answers with a mewl. "Not now, baby." With one hand she starts to rock the carrier while the other swipes on her phone. she quicky types out—'I need to feed Jonathan. And a diaper if you can somehow get one."

B: I'm trying to get him to leave. You're in the owner's apartment. They'd stay there if it called for a lot of snow

R: It still has furniture. I'm going to turn the heat on.

B: Yes, you need to. I'll try to get the diaper bag. If Snoke only knew what we're texting about.

R: Get him out of here please

B: I'm trying.

R: Where are you?

B: Everyone is here with me and we're walking out to the slopes

R: Let me know when you're heading back

B: ok

"Alright baby let's get you out of there." He answers with a cry, not a full on one, but it's still one of his- I'm not at all happy about this- cries.

Once he's back in her arms, she looks around as she fights the urge to hide. "Can we look around, or are you hungry right now?" She watches him for a moment then says, "You're ok, I think you just wanted out, didn't you?" She chuckles when he gives a gummy smirk. "You Solo men just love to manipulate me, don't you?" She grunts as she stands.

She can't help to stare at the door and that black covered window. No more than a minute must pass before she gasps for a breath from where she was holding hers. "No one's coming, you silly goose," she says trying to keep her voice light even when she feels anything but. "Let's find a way to hide better than we are."

That's when her thoughts are interrupted by Ben's ringtone. "Hey."

"They're gone," he says. She can hear the relief in his voice as it floods her heart.

"Good. Are you coming up here—"

"Yes, I'm coming down the hallway now. Wait for me before you open the door."

He hangs up before she can say anything else. Not even thirty seconds pass when there's a quick knock on the glass. She puts the baby on her shoulder and tip toes over. The air from the air duct moves the fabric just so, and it gives her a chance to see who's outside.

"Thank goodness," she says as she flips the lock, and he bursts through. He wraps his arms around her as she looks behind him to make sure no one else is there.

"Rey! Are you ok?" He's almost frantic as he takes the baby from her and continues to look around. "I am so sorry, I never would have brought you up here if I'd known he was going to show up—"

"I know, shut the door, will you—"

"No. Let's get out of here. I want to get you and Jonathan in the truck in case they do come back, at least then you two can get away."

The look on his face, and the way he utters that sentence tells her more than she could ever guess about everything they are doing. And she also knows that she's here until its done, or one of them is dead.