*insert the things writers say when they work on a chapter for too long* I was a busy bean and this chapter was annoying to write! I still get a little nervous about my trio/Ben interactions and I'm trying to find my groove again. Notes at the end! Happy Reading!


Rey opened her eyes slowly, her sight adjusting to the darkness of the room quickly. As she took in her unfamiliar new surroundings she noticed two things. She was cold. She was also alone. "Ben." Rey sat up with a gasp as she poked at the empty pillow beside her. "Ben!" The ensuite fresher door slid open suddenly, his presence washing over her.

"I'm here." He poked his head out and smiled at her. His hair was wet again, with a towel hanging over his bare shoulders. Rey squinted at him as her eyes continued to adjust. "Sorry..." Rey pushed herself up and stretched her arms over her head. She groaned softly as Ben turned a lamp on and cast the room in a warm glow. Rey's eyes widened as could sweep her gaze over him. This newfound ability to admire his physique without feeling any form of guilt was becoming better every second.

He smirked at her, ignoring her loud thoughts as he crossed the room and picked up his shirt. "How did you sleep?" Rey pulled at her hair as she pondered her answer. "Fine...it was...peaceful..." They shared a smile as Ben sat on the edge of the bed. His memory of lying beside her as she slept soundly grazed her mind. He didn't sleep...

"Rose stopped by about an hour ago. She's rewiring one of the house droids to make us some dinner." "They had to be rewired?" "Their menus were a little outdated." Ben shrugs as he pulls on his shirt and begins to put it over his head. He struggled slightly with a huff as the tight fabric strained over his arms and chest. As he grumbled to himself, Rey inched closer to him and pulled at the hem of the tight garment. Her mind ran in circles as she imagined tugging it back off. He tensed slightly under her touch as her fingers made contact with his skin.

"Rey..." His tone was cautious as he smirked down at her. "Ben..." Rey batted her eyes innocently. Their staring contest was short lived as Ben broke her stare and chuckled softly at her. "Dinner will be ready soon." Rey can tell she visibly pouts as he stands and strolls back towards the fresher to return his towel. Rey slid towards the edge of the bed and kicked her legs over the edge, her feet making contact with her boots.

Her thoughts take a dark turn as she considers how unexciting her last twelve hours have been. All you've done is sleep and kiss a little - not that you know what to do otherwise-, it's no wonder he's gotten bored of you already. He'll get over this and find someone else to excite him. Rey focuses on keeping her thoughts out of the bond as she tugs her boots back on. She scrunches her nose as she watches Ben's shadow grow closer to her. As she lifts her head Ben leans down and meets her with a firm kiss. Rey kisses him back stiffly at first, but melts into his touch until he pulls away.

"I...will never...never...be bored of you. Or desire someone else..." He touches her cheek softly. "I am just keeping myself from making a bad decision. And by bad I mean one that will upset your friends who so kindly didn't throw me in a jail cell at your request..." Rey bit her lip as she pictured Rose - or worse - Finn and Poe walking in on them. That...would be bad.

Rey allows herself to smile as he searches her eyes for understanding. "Well at least one of us is using our heads..." Her stomach growls loudly. "What was that you were saying about dinner?" Ben chuckles at her. "We should get going." Rey finishes pulling her hair back as Ben grabs his own boots.

As they make their way back to the entrance of the house, they can hear Finn and Poe bickering with 3po. "I told you I tried that already!" "Well ask him again!" "I'm sorry General, but it seems their programming does not allow them to open any unauthorized storage compartments. Mistress Rey! Master Solo! It is a pleasure to see you."

"Oh!" Finn whipped around. "Maybe it'll work if Ben tries it! That worked last time." "I don't know..."

"What am I trying exactly...?" Ben pulled out the stool on the counter island so Rey could sit. His hand immediately slides to rest against her lower back.

"Do not get him involved in your teenage antics!" Rose appeared from around the corner, carrying a large tray of cheese and meats. She placed the tray in front of Rey with a wink. Finn groaned. "We're not! We're just looking for some delectable wine to go with the food!"

Rey looked up at Ben as he grabbed his own serving of the appetizer. "Do you remember your parents having a wine cellar?" He shakes his head. "I'd have to think about it." "Maybe Chewie knows something we don't again-" Poe grumbled.

"Would you stop complaining? The food is almost ready go sit down!" Rose shooed them all out and gestured for Rey to take the snack tray with her. The couples escaped to the sitting room and the house droids began buzzing back into the kitchen. Finn and Poe collapse on a couch together. Rey sets the tray down and sits opposite them, watching Ben as he looks around the room.

"I think...now I might be wrong..." Ben runs his hand over the empty bar and cabinets. "There must be a- here!" He flicks a switch underneath the cabinet and steps back. The device clicks and groans as the shelves rotate and reveal an entire collection of different liquors and wines. Poe and Finn jump back to their feet in excitement. "WHOA!"

Ben steps back as they begin to browse all their choices like a pair of excited children. Rey grins at him. "You've done it now." "My father did appreciate his collections, even the ones he didn't want everyone to see." Ben smiled softly and sat beside her on the edge of the couch. Rey wraps her hand over his as flashes of the late Solo flicker between them. Ben masks his frown poorly as Poe gets his attention. "What are you drinking then? Solo?"

"Corellian Whiskey. Neat." Ben answered shortly.

"Reallllllly?" Poe grabbed one of the many amber bottles from a higher shelf. "I take it this was a Solo favorite?" "If there was one thing I had to learn before piloting a ship it was pouring my uncle and Dad their favorite drink." Ben shrugged as the general handed him his glass. Ben stepped around the couch to sit beside Rey.

Finn continued browsing. "Rey? You want to try something?" She shook her head. "I wouldn't know where to start..."

"Come on Finn you know the Jedi don't drink hard liquor." Poe teased. Finn shook his head maniacally. "Then I don't know what Jedi I'll be because I'm not giving up my Tatooine Sunsets anytime soon."

This made Ben laugh suddenly, surprising Rey and the pair of generals. "S-Sorry...I just would give about 6 billion credits for you to say that in front of my uncle." "Skywalker?" Poe handed Rey a glass of blue liquid and took his seat beside Finn. Rey nodded eagerly. "He taught the old ways of the Jedi...I read about it in the texts." "It's incredibly old fashioned..." Ben added.

Poe took a long sip of his drink. "Now what about the other side? What made that so special?" Rey blinked as she turned to Ben, awaiting his answer. To her own surprise, he scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You'd think it would be the opposite...but it was just as archaic. I went from self-discipline centered around a pure soul to self-discipline centered around when my master needed me to do their dirty work. The darkness in the force feeds on your emotions...and uses that against you..." Ben took a long sip of his drink. "It never fully made sense to me...which is probably why I was unable to finish my training." He winked at Rey, feeling her tension bubble through the bond.

Finn and Poe seemed even more confused by his answer. Before they could ask further questions, Rose appeared in the doorway. "Hey astro-mechs I need help carrying all this food if you want to eat in here! Hop to it!" The generals nearly dropped their drinks as they jumped up and chased after her.

Rey snuggled closer to Ben as they disappeared around the corner. She took a sip of her mysterious drink and flinched. "This is awful!" "Let me try..." Ben leaned forward and sipped the brim of her glass. He went through a series of painful expressions before sticking out his tongue. "That is vile. It's so sweet." "I've never had a good drink...save for that wine we'd smuggle at the base." "You might like this," He offered her his glass. "it's strong but I think you can handle it." Ben slung his arm over her shoulders and tilted the glass at her lips so she could try the drink. Rey wrinkled her nose but didn't flinch. "Mmmmm! That's much better!" "A Solo through and through..." Ben smiled brightly at her.

A vague image flashed between them in an instant, causing Rey to freeze up in his embrace. Ben tensed himself, embarrassment and regret rolling off of him. "I-" "Don't apologize." Rey put her finger to his lips to silence him. Ben stared down at her, reopening his mind to her as their thoughts weaved together. Rey indulged herself in his vague visions of their future. It all went by so fast, but what stuck between them both was a little child - a child with Ben's hair and Rey's rose. I've never felt this way before... Ben ran his hand along her cheek as her spoke in her mind. Rey stuttered a response aloud. "I-...I haven't either...Ben...I-"

"Whoa-" Rey and Ben flinched apart as the trio reappeared with a variety of dinner trays. Poe made a show of stepping across them as he set his tray on the table. "That's still kinda gross!" He bounced back into his seat and took a long swig of his cocktail. Finn stood before them a moment longer with a confused expression.

"Did you just...have a conversation...with your mind?"

Rey winced. "Sort of-" Ben said nothing as he finished his whiskey in on gulp. He reached out and summoned the open bottle off the bar to give himself a refill. I can't believe we're about to do this... - Consider it already done. I've told them about the bond. Rey snapped back.

"That is so freaky." Finn shook his head as he sat and dug into his dinner. Rose made a point to roll her eyes at the generals and took her place beside Ben. "I think it's sweet. Here, dig in you two I don't want to deal with any leftovers!"

Rey and her ravenous stomach happily obliged. Before any more force questions could arise, Rose took the helm on a more comfortable conversation as Chewie and the droids joined them. She had obviously been the only one considering what they needed to prepare for the senate meetings that week and she wasn't afraid to show it. In an effort to include Ben, Rose also began asking questions about the house. Only Rey could sense his discomfort as he shared an short anecdote about the few times he visited. The Solos would visit Naboo in the summertime cycles - what was meant to be a vacation from all their Galactic Senate business. Rey could tell he wasn't comfortable sharing much more and found a way to interject.

"That reminds me, I saw some wonderful training equipment we could use to teach Finn with." "What kind of training?" Poe gaped. "I think Ben would be an excellent form teacher for Finn's saber training!"

"Whoa whoa whoa Rey I don't know if lightsaber training is a good idea yet-" Finn sputtered. "You'd rather spend years learning how to meditate?" Ben snarked. "N-No. I just have seen what you can do with a saber and don't have plans to get my ass beat...again!"

Poe shook his head and raised his hand. "Now that's a load of crap, it's just swordplay! Didn't Rey kick your ass at Starkiller base? With no prior training?"

Rey gaped at her friend's boldness. "P-Poe." I've got this. Ben whispered to her through the bond. "She did...she did best me...and it was also her first time fighting with a saber." "So even I could figure it out!" Poe grinned as Rey istantly rolled her eyes. "You'll cut off your own hand before you even get a hit in." "Hey!"

They all laughed as Poe continued to argue how he'd be an excellent 'saber wielder'- as he called it. Ben took the commentary in stride and, to Rey's surprise, ensured Poe that he'd be invited whenever Finn wanted to start his lightsaber training. A few strong drinks later, Poe somehow wrangled Ben back into a new conversation regarding his former allegiance.

"N-Now there is one thing I've been dying to ask about. You, you know you, your supremely leader ness-" Poe pointed at Ben. "And it's about General Hugs." Ben rolled his eyes so hard they nearly popped out of his skull, causing Finn and Poe to erupt in laughter. "OH NO!" Finn slapped his partner's chest. "That's so much more than I ever expected!"

Ben... Rey cautioned through the bond. Her own drink was making her anxious. They're drunk. - I know. He winked at her and nodded at the generals. "What would you like to know?"

"Uhm- everything! You had to work with the guy I'm sure you've got stories." Finn chuckled.

Ben took a long sip of his drink - only his second but no one but Rey had noticed - and sighed. "Hux was...a formidable general...I can say that. However ostentatious his plans were I was sure there had to be some rhyme to his reason...for hating me." Poe and Finn's excitement visibly deflated as Ben took another drink. Rey caught him smirking into his glass as he shrugged. "Who am I kidding he's a kriffing ass and I hope whatever backwater town he's hiding in is treating him well."

"Ben!" Rey gasped as she slapped his arm, making the generals laugh even harder. He was the-

"So is this a good time or a bad time to tell you he was the Resistance spy?" Finn slapped his own knee as Poe wheezed softly. Ben's face flickered from confusion to downright surprise as he processed this news. "You're joking?" "I am not! He is the reason we escaped on Kajimi!"

Ben looked down at Rey as she confirmed the notion with a nod. He shook his head in disbelief. "What a... kriffing nerf-herder."

"You didn't know?!" Rose interjected as Ben continued to stare at Rey. "I was...distracted...what-what with Palpatine constantly in my head I had to make sure he didn't...that I didn't..."

Rey put a hand to her mouth, stifling her own laughter as she watched Ben go slightly red in the face. You're so cute when you're angry. Her kind words pulled him out of his darker thoughts in an instant. Recovering with a smile, Ben rolled his shoulders and raised his glass at the generals. "Well...a toast to General Hugs. A proper scoundrel til the end." "If he's dead-" Finn raised his glass. "Which for all our sakes he should be-" Poe slurred and knocked his drink back.

Although the conversation was in good spirits, the possibility of Hux - or any First Order general - still being alive poked at the back of Rey's mind. There was an entire galaxy that needed mending and surely there were people that wanted the order back. People who might want Ben dead. Tension rolled off of her in waves as Rey watched Rose convince the slurring heroes to go to bed. Despite their protesting, Chewie grabbed them both by the collar and hoisted them out of the room. 3po tottered off with the other droids to power down in the generator room.

Ben stood up and began helping Rose collect all the dishes. "Oh you don't have-" "Let me - please. I feel like I'm part of the reason they drank so much." Rey nearly melted as she watched him smile warmly at her friend, who couldn't hide her own blush. "Sure thing Solo." Rose handed him the remainder of the plates and sat back down next to Rey.

She waited until he was gone before leaning close to Rey and whispering. "Holy. Hoth. Hairballs. Has he always been that dreamy?" Rey choked on the last of her drink and laughed. "What?!"

"I obviously never took a moment to think about how handsome Kylo Ren could be- being the son of Han Solo and all...but dang Rey..."

Rey could tell she was blushing from more than just her alcohol. "You should see him shirtless." The joke escaped her before she could stop herself and she swore she could hear Ben snort from across the house. Of course...he was listening.

"REY!" Rose nearly jumped on her. "I can't believe you! Did it happen during your force transmitting thing?! SPILL!" Rey realized at that moment her friend had had quite a bit to drink herself and there was no escaping her curiosity. She set down her glass and leaned in.

"Well..." Rey mused. "There was one time...on Ach-too-" "No way." "I had come back from an upsetting day of training and...we connected. I could barely get a word out...oh it was a little embarrassing-" Rey put her face in her hands as Rose grinned her. "Oh my- You totally had a crush on him. Didn't you?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean-" Rey rolled her eyes as Rose giggled. "You did! You totally did! Oh, what a scandal that would've been-" Alcohol muddled thoughts beside her, Rey was filled with instant happiness as she considered the possibilities of being able to discuss her romance with Rose. The young girl had been through so much and never let her judgments stop her support for her friends. She recalled the story Finn had told her about the battle of Crait - how Rose had stopped him from sacrificing himself. That's how we're gonna win. Not fighting what we hate, saving what we love.

The phrase instantly reminded Rey of Ben, and his sacifice for her. Does that mean...Ben...could he already feel that way about me?

"What was that you said about girl time?" Rey changed the subject to distract herself. "Oh! We should totally do that tonight! I found all these crazy spa things in my fresher that I'm dying to try out. We are having a girl's night. Would Ben be alright with that?"

"Of course he would." Rey smiled. "I'll let him know and meet you at your room?" "Okay! I'll see you in a bit!"

Rey picked up the remaining discarded glasses and brought them to the kitchen. Ben turned to her with a smile as he set the dinner plates into the sink. He did a terrible job of convincing Rey he hadn't been listening to her conversation. They didn't say a word to each other as Rey set the glasses on the counter and slid closer to him, taking his hand. "I was thinking..." Ben leaned into her touch as he spoke softly. "We could go exploring in my mother's vault once everyone is asleep." "Exploring?" "There must be something important down there...and I take it you're up for a scavenger challenge?"

"I am...so long as you're always with me." Rey felt her cheeks flush as her words tumbled out. What are you thinking?! Saying something like that?! Ben only chuckled as he leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss. I would give my life all over again for you to say that to me every day...

Rey pulled away from him as his sweet words washed over her. "Ben..." "Rey...?" He smirked down at her - the Solo in him was ever-present the more he teased her this way. Rey pursed her lips and stepped away from him. "Why do I have the feeling Leia would chide you for acting like your father right now?" Ben merely shrugged and kissed her forehead, his hands sliding to rest on her waist as he held her. His touch sent another familiar shudder through Rey and she forced down her more reckless thoughts as she stepped out of his embrace entirely. Your turn to use your head...

"I won't keep Rose waiting...I'll see you later tonight?"

"You'll know where to find me."


This chapter being edited and revised was brought to you by me crying over how cute the novelization leak was. I love that for them - and no I'm unaffected by the "gratitude" line/hate because everything else about their "incredible oneness" & "I will always be with you" cleared my skin and watered my animal crossing plants. A few thoughts moving forward:

This chapter in a word. WOOF. This chapter bothered me to no end. I don't know why I spent so much time on segments only to dumb it down to what it was, but that's just your average imposter syndrome when you try to write something with your OTP. I am going to definitely lean on that simplicity concept - skipping over things rather than inserting clunky forced dialogue. I want my own story to feel authetic to me and I struggle with forcing out cringey conversations. Again. Solid imposter syndrome working it's magic. If you see me jumping a scene it's not because I want to ignore those characters it's just I don't write good transitions and this is just where I end up. I rewrote some of these scenes 3-4 times only to bounce back to my original outline. It was a time.

I'm playing with the idea of bringing Hux back? I really fell for his charms as a character with some recent TLJ rewatches and - and please don't beat me up - I lowkey love the idea of some implied Hux/Rose. I saw it in not one but TWO fics that I follow and it was cute as all heck. So fingers crossed my imposter syndrome doesn't get in the way of bringing some Hux to the table. Of course he's not dead we know General Pryde was as bad a shot as his characterization.

My next chapter is going to venture into this mysterious vault that keeps being mentioned. I want it to be done with love so it may take me awhile but I will try try try my hardest to update soon. Lots of love! Thank you so much for reading! While you're waiting, tell me your favorite thing about Reylo! I love to hear why people love them as much as I do!