"So, this is the little girlfriend, huh kid?"

The both spring to their feet and Rey has gone strangely pale, as if she'd seen a ghost. Her eyes shine with unshed tears.

Ignoring his father, he rubs her back and soothes, "Shhh, don't be so nervous."

Rey swallows hard and shakes her head, her expression clearing. She smiles, her strange bearing gone in an instant.

"Hey, Dad," Ben acknowledges, refocusing on his father.

"You really put your foot in it with Luke," Han observes raking his hand through his graying hair.

Ben's eyes flit around and he rubs the back of his neck. "Yeah."

"Did the other guy deserve it?"

"Yes," Ben hisses and Rey looks at him with recrimination.

"Good. Never start a fight if you aren't prepared to end it."

Rey rolls her eyes but she's smiling again.

Ben searches for words. How do you introduce your reason for living to your father? "Uh, Rey, this is my dad, Han Solo. And Dad, this is Rey," he says proudly.

Tentatively, she steps towards his father and holds her hand out. "It's so good to se—meet you, sir."

He shakes her hand and steps back, looking her up and down. "You too," he says gruffly. "Never thought I'd see the day. Thought Jedi frowned on this stuff."

Ben takes her hand, very obviously and holds his father's eyes with intent. "I don't care."

Han's eyebrows rise. "Like that, is it?"

"Yes," Ben responds confidently.

"Huh. Well, say your goodbyes, I promised your mother we'd be back by morning."

"Rey's coming with us."

Now his father's eyebrows crawl to his hairline. "Oh, she is, is she?"

"If you want me to set one foot on the Falcon, yes." He can feel the defiance burning in his eyes.

"I dunno. Your mom was pretty clear that the girl stays behind."

"Her name is Rey," Ben growls.

Rey herself stays silent, eyes darting back and forth between father and son.

Han sighs and jerks his head over to the edge of the clearing where they'd built the fire pit so many years ago.

Stiffly, Ben follows his father away from Rey's hearing.

"Look, kid, I know you think the suns rise and set on this girl, but you're young."

"It's not like that," Ben says.

"Sure, sure. I lost my head over a girl when I was your age. I remember. But let me tell you, I was a helluva lot older and wiser when I got my ass handed to me by your mom. Real love comes later."

At first Ben wants to just yell at his father, make him understand that this is different. But then he remembers something. "Mom wasn't much older than I am when she met you," he points out.

"Women are smarter, they don't act like idiots over us like we do over them."

"Then trust Rey," Ben pleads.

"Ben, I don't even know her," his father says with exasperation.

"Get to know her. You'll like her. She's looking forward to seeing the legendary Millennium Falcon …" he says enticingly.

Han makes an appreciative nod. "Girl knows her stuff."

"She's amazing. I've never felt anything like this. It's not … it's not some crush. This is real," Ben presses.

"Your mom won't like it."

"When did that ever stop you?" Ben challenges.

Han gives him a speculative look then chuckles. "Yeah, yeah."

Ben reins in his desire to argue and can only show his need for Rey. "Please."

"She means that much to you?" Han asks, peering at Ben with curiosity.

"I love her," Ben declares. Then gets a bit sheepish. "But don't say anything, I haven't told her yet."

"I ever tell you how I told your mother?" Han asks, clearly about to launch into a story.

Ben rolls his eyes. "Yes, about a million times. I love you, I know, blah blah blah."

"Hey! I thought I was gonna die!" Han sputters.

"I know, I was this close to being there." Ben had been conceived a few months later.

"Watch it, kid."

Ben's pretty sure he's won his dad over, but he has to be sure. "So it's okay? She can come?"

His father huffs out a breath. "I'm gonna be sleeping in the Falcon for this."

"Won't be the first time."

Han nods. "Not the last, either. Yeah, okay. Bring your girl. But once we get to Hosnian Prime, you're on your own."

Ben can't help it, he's so happy he hugs his father tightly. "Thanks, Dad."

"Okay, okay," he grumbles, awkwardly patting Ben's back.


"Oh …" Rey breathes out as the ship comes into view. "She's so beautiful."

Privately, Ben thinks she's laying it on a little thick, but his dad is positively beaming, so maybe not.

"Fastest ship in the galaxy."

"I've heard so many stories. Is it really true she led the fight at Endor?"

"Yup. My girl here as seen a lot of action."

"She's gorgeous," Rey enthuses.

Han leans over to Ben and says in a loud whisper, "I like her."

Rey ducks her head and Ben begins to think it really might be okay.


Ben looks up on Uncle Chewie, preparing himself for the giant hug he knows is coming his way. The wookiee howls and Ben smiles.

"I missed you too, Uncle Chewie," he says, wrapped up in long shaggy arms before Chewie lets him go.

There's another quiet roar and Rey steps forward. "Oh, my name is Rey … I'm Ben's … uhm …"

Ben wants to say intended, but he decides 'Ben's' is about right. "She's my girl," Ben explains.

Tromping up the ramp behind them, Han calls out, "Chewie, prep the Falcon for hyperspace. Time to get this show on the road."


Once they're in hyperspace, Ben settles in next to Rey on the bench around dejarik table, hoping for some quality cuddle time, but then there's a loud alarm and he sighs. This ship is held together through sheer force of will.

He's surprised when Rey jumps up and goes to a panel, slamming it twice then flipping a switch. The blaring stops just as his father comes around the corner.

"How'd you know to do that?" his father asks, his hands on his hips, looking utterly perplexed.

"Oh, uhm. I've read about the YTs. The power relay is known to be finicky."

"Huh." Then Han winks at Ben. "You better keep this one."

"I plan to," Ben says with pride.


Han pulls Ben aside and says, "So, sleeping arrangements."

Ben's face falls. "I'll just bunk down in the main cabin." There's only one extra private berth.

"Look, I don't care. Just don't make any new little Solos. One Falcon baby is enough."

"Dad!" Ben exclaims.

Han rolls his eyes. "I was young once, too."

Ben's cheeks flame and he doesn't want his father thinking he'd be so … so casual with Rey. "It's not like that," he mumbles.

"Really don't want to know details. Do what you want, but just be safe."

"No, it really … we haven't …" His hands flail.

"What are you waiting for?" Han asks with a baffled expression.

"How long was it before you even kissed Mom?" Ben asks pointedly.

Han glowers. "Your mother talks too much."

"Uh huh," Ben says to his father's retreating back.


"You're being silly," Rey says. "You can … you can sleep with me." Her eyes grow shy, but she gives him a small smile.

"I don't … I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"We slept next to each other last night and it was the best I've ever slept."

"Me, too," he sighs out. He never sleeps through the night, yet he'd managed to sleep the whole night through with her in his arms.

"Come on, then," she says, taking his hand and tugging him towards the extra berth.

He's too excited to wrap himself around her again to question how she knew which way to go.


Figuring out how to fit his large frame and hers in the bunk he'd always thought of as his had been a bit awkward, but now they're snuggly ensconced in each other, her head once again on his chest. He loves holding her, having her completely protected by his embrace.

Because he has a deep need to keep her safe. It's not like there's even any danger, but something ancient stirs in his blood when he's with Rey.

Rey is fidgeting with his tunic, however, so he asks, "Is everything alright?"

"I'm nervous about meeting your mother," she says in a quiet voice.

Ben sighs. His mother is formidable, and he's never brought a girl home. He never had a reason to, and he has to admit, he's nervous, too. "Don't worry, Rey. Together, remember?"

He can feel her smile against his chest. "I remember. Together."

Then she surprises him when she cranes her neck up and places the softest kiss on his cheek. The feel of her lips against him goes straight to his core and he desperately hopes she doesn't notice that he's started to harden. He doesn't want to press her in any way.

"You mean so much to me," she murmurs.

Stroking her back, he says in a low voice, "Oh, Rey, I don't know how to explain how much I care about you."

He's decided he's not going to tell her he loves her until she's ready for kissing, again. He won't overwhelm her with his devotion or his desire.

Rey makes a contented noise and rubs her cheek against him. In the dark he smiles broadly. This is more than enough for him. For now.


Ben startles awake to the sound of his dad rapping on the door to the extra quarters and his muffled voice brings him fully alert.

"Hey kids, time to get decent. We're about to touch down."

Rey's sleepy eyes fly to his and she's blushing.

Dammit, Dad … "Rey, I told him that we aren't … that … that …"

"It's okay. I know it's kind of strange that we aren't … you know."

He sits up swiftly, almost thunking his head on the durasteel. "Don't ever think that. What's between us is up to us."

"It's not that I don't want to, but—"

"Slow, I remember."

Then she's getting out of bed and she looks around the small room. Ben immediately sees her predicament. "I'll just go to the main cabin so you can change." They'd both slept in their clothes.

As he's about to leave, she snags his arm, pulling him to stand in front of her. "Thank you," she whispers. Then she pulls his face to hers, kissing him once on the lips, so sweetly. He desperately wants to deepen the kiss, finally give form to his need for her, but he holds himself back.

Instead, he smiles down on her and strokes her cheek once before ducking out.

On his way to the main cabin, he stops in the corridor and it hits him. Rey had kissed him, and he punches the air.

Maybe slow isn't going to be so slow after all.


"Han!" Leia exclaims as she comes out to meet them.

"Yeah?" Han's tone is all innocence.

"You were supposed to get Ben, and only Ben."

"What can I say, I'm a sucker for young love." He smirks with satisfaction.

Chewie snickers and for the first time in his life, Ben is enjoying his parents' combative dynamic.

Looking at Han sternly, Leia commands, "You have to take her back."

Rey is shrinking into his side, and it spurs him into action. "No," Ben says with finality.

HIs mother's head slowly swivels towards him. "No?"

"That's right. Rey stays with me."

"Ben, Luke said it wasn't a good idea, that you need family right now."

Something inside him wants to snap that Rey is his family, but he doesn't know what Rey would think about that, so he says, "I think I know what I need better than you."

"We only want what's best for you. Luke says—"

"Luke kicked me out! His own nephew!"

Leia's lips purse and she huffs out a breath. "Fine. She can stay. Tonight. And don't even think about sneaking her into your room."

Ben doesn't like that. At all. He'd secretly been hoping to make a habit of sleeping with Rey held close, but he won't argue the point. Yet.

Then his mother's attention goes to Rey. "Where are my manners. I'm Leia, dear. I'm sure you're a lovely girl, this is just family business."

"Hello, Senator," Rey says respectfully, but her voice cracks oddly.

"Leia, please," his mother says, patting Rey's arm. "Now, let's all get inside. Breakfast is waiting."

Ben wants to take his mother aside, make it clear that Rey is staying or they're both leaving tomorrow, but he decides to see how the meal plays out.

As they enter the foyer of his mother's building, Leia grumbles to Han, "And you! Don't even think about knocking at my door tonight."

Han gives her a cocky grin, "Wouldn't dream of it, Princess."


"So, Rey is it?" Leia asks as they tuck into breakfast. Ben is touched to find she'd had his favorites prepared, and Rey clearly doesn't know where to begin, staring at the large spread of food.

"Yes."

"Tell me about yourself," Leia nudges.

Rey shrugs. "There's not much to tell."

"Well, where did you grow up?"

"Jakku," she says softly, and Ben's head quickly turns towards her. He'd already figured out that she'd not grown up on Takodana, but he'd never begun to imagine she'd experienced such hardship.

He'd been to Jakku once with his father, when he was a boy. Of course they'd needed a part for the ship and everywhere he looked he'd see half-starved people and a level of poverty he'd never before imagined. Jakku had haunted him. He wonders why he hadn't sensed her, then.

Leia smiles at her sadly. "And your parents?"

"They died when I was very young." Ben takes her hand swiftly, horrified. Why hadn't she told him? The thought of Rey, his precious Rey, growing up on that junkyard an orphan makes him course with impotent anger.

"Oh … I see," Leia says with regret. "I'm sorry, dear."

Rey looks away. "It was a long time ago."

He wants to bundle her away and comfort her, but he can see his mother's diplomatic brain turning, trying to figure out how to speak of happier subjects. "And what brought you to the training temple?"

"Oh, stop interrogating the girl," Han breaks in, and Ben is impossibly relieved. His dad really does seem to want to help.

"I just want to get to know her!" Leia protests.

"She likes ships. She likes Ben. What more is there to know?" Han asks.

"Fine," Leia huffs. "We'll have to have tea together, just the two of us.

Ben and Han share an apprehensive look.

He hadn't considered his mother whisking Rey away for a private chat, and his stomach flips nervously.

"Besides," Leia continues. "I'm sure she'd love to see your baby holos."

"Mom! No!"

But Rey grins and says, "Oh, I'd love that! I bet you were so cute!"

Ben rubs his face with both hands and groans while Han just cackles.


A/N: Thank you, ArtemisBare. I'm convinced you're going to just say 'nope, no more' one of these days.

Thank you, Readers! I didn't think I'd have time to write another chapter, but this one was just too tempting. Thank you all for reading! Space cupcakes for everyone!