Summary: A baby shower, LeiaPoe style
A/N: This chapter really blew up on me. But in a twitter poll folks said they'd rather have the monster chapter than split it, so here you go — a beefy big chapter full of silliness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:
All's Fair in Suburban Warfare
Leia Skywalker Organa Solo never did anything by half.
The baby shower she threw for her son and his secret wife was, by nobody's definition, an ordinary baby shower. In the first place, it wasn't exclusively for her daughter-in-law and woman friends, but a co-ed affair where the father as well as the mother of the impending arrival was as much a part of things as anyone else. And in the second place, the whole thing really had more of an elegant garden party atmosphere.
Ben was entirely familiar with these kinds of events. The serene, well-dressed, demurely smiling guests milled around his parents' lawn, beneath canopies and between tables, holding delicate little drinks from an open bar and listening to soft orchestral music played by live musicians. He'd grown up with this exact scene all his life — minus the pink ribbons and centerpieces featuring overt hints that the baby being showered with gifts here was, in fact, a girl.
His mother's version of his sixteenth birthday had been a lot like this. He'd been bored out of his mind, surrounded by adult professionals in a myriad of fields who came at the behest of a woman they either admired or owed a great deal. They made congratulatory noises at him and talked about how he was becoming a man. Ben didn't feel like a man at sixteen. He felt restless and angry and no matter what cleansing regime he used, the occasional acne wouldn't leave him alone. Luckily Poe had been in attendance, and halfway through the evening he'd kidnapped Ben and taken him back to his house for weed and video games with the tiny handful of classmates Ben actually liked.
That had been way better than the fancy party.
Ben kept his eye on Poe now, watching him mill around and make effortless conversation with the distinguished guests. He was one of those fancy adult professionals now, Ben mused with a degree of disappointment. Honestly, an hour into this thing and Ben could use a distraction.
But for as bored as he felt, he tolerated the scene with mild amusement. Rey had no such experience, and for as politely as she smiled and made conversation with their well-wishers, Ben could tell she was one held breath away from climbing the nearest tree just to get a break.
Not that she'd get very far with that.
"This is way fancier than I thought it would be," she hissed after another of Leia's friends drifted away from them, leaving his congratulations behind.
"Why did you think she wanted to get you another new dress?" he chuckled, glancing down at the dip of her neckline just barely teasing the new fullness of her breasts. The dress was a shade of blue that really edged more towards teal, he thought, and the color brought out the effortless warmth of her skin. She tanned so easily. One hint of sunshine and she went all toasty golden. Not like Ben. His pasty pale hide could really only sport a sunburn for so long before he ever gave up trying to get any color.
In any case, he really did like this dress. It flattered her, and her bump — which an annoying amount of people felt at liberty to touch without her permission. It seemed like half the guests would greet her with a hand reaching out to cup her there. It made him feel territorial. He couldn't even imagine how offensive she found it. He knew it bothered her by the way her smile tightened a little and she deftly moved away while still managing to be cordial in her response.
"I don't know what I thought," she sighed. "Your mother seems to think any occasion is an excuse to go out shopping again. It really didn't hint to me that she was going to throw something like this."
He dropped a kiss onto the top of her head. "This is her way of showing her love. It sounds weird, I know. But inviting every person she's ever known to come celebrate you is very much my mother's love language."
"I prefer the version of her love that supports a secret elopement and a funny, completely informal ceremony before we run away and shag ourselves sore."
Ben laughed. "I prefer that too."
"I can't believe you grew up this way." She motioned to the splendor around them. "It's so…"
"I know."
Her glance darted up to him, gaze flashing mischievously. "Wait a minute. You're a rich, pretty-boy douchebag, aren't you?"
"The jig is up. You figured it out," he sighed in wistful regret. "But at least you think I'm pretty."
That won him a smile, and then a laugh. She leaned her head against him. "I love your mom, but I don't want to be this kind of mom myself. If Olive ever has a baby shower, we're doing something far more relaxed."
Ben blanched at the thought. "Okay, never talk about that again."
She giggled.
He took her hand and tugged her over to the nearest table. "Here, you should sit. I'm going to go find you some food. You haven't eaten anything this whole time."
Rey wrinkled her nose. "I don't know if it's because my stomach is compressed into a pancake or if a little bit of nausea is starting to come back but I don't have much of an appetite."
"Still, you need something. Wait here, and if anyone tries to make you stand up again, tell them to buzz off."
"You come tell these senators and ivy league professors to buzz off!"
"Don't tempt me," he chuckled, bending to kiss her one more time. "Or I will."
Ben could feel the eyes of some of the guests on him whenever he interacted with Rey — probably curiosity, he guessed. Many of them had known him when he'd been that difficult, angsty teenager, giving his parents trouble. They were too polite to say the things on their minds, but Ben had no trouble guessing at them anyway.
Things about how surprising it was that he'd turned into a (relatively) well-adjusted adult. That he had a career, and a fiancee, and had done well for himself.
Things about how it wasn't all that surprising that he'd gotten a girl pregnant outside of wedlock.
What he didn't expect to hear, though, was the half-muttered conversation among a group of wealthy neighbors, discussing how they'd heard she was trash, a nobody from Nowhere England, a freelance writer, who had anchored herself to wealth by trapping Ben with a baby. They clucked their disapproval and pity.
Ben was so shocked he actually stopped dead in his tracks and turned his head towards them, anger flaring white-hot. His fists clenched, and he was about to stomp towards them and give him a piece of his mind when suddenly his mother appeared between them, smiling an acidic little smile.
"I'm so grateful for your concern, Maureen," Leia said, her voice like thick syrup. "But as it so happens, Rey is resourceful and resilient, and we've approved of the pair since the Wexley wedding. I'm very proud of my daughter-in-law, which is more than I think you can say. Didn't I last hear that your son's wife was caught canoodling the pool boy? Such a shame. So much for her good pedigree."
Maureen, the neighbor leading the gossip, flushed a deep crimson, cleared her throat and after an awkward beat, excused herself.
Leia glanced around at the others, her eyes fierce and fiery. "I know Maureen was merely an outlier. The rest of you only think good things about Ben's lovely bride, don't you?"
There were a few shifting feet and then enthusiastic, "Of course, Leia," and "She seems wonderful," platitudes.
Ben moved on, annoyed but simultaneously satisfied that his mother had the situation well in hand. The word would percolate among the less genuine guests that they'd better be careful of how they spoke of Leia's future daughter-in-law, or else Leia would come after them with all their dirty laundry. Even if they held their tongues out of fear more than respect, Ben could be content with this scenario. He and Rey didn't run in these circles. They didn't need the approval of his mother's peers. But he enjoyed knowing that she flogged them into having better manners about it anyway.
He was smirking a little to himself as he loaded up a little plate of finger foods for Rey when Gwen appeared beside him.
"Hey," she said softly. "Did you hear back about your offer?"
Ben didn't glance up. "They accepted."
"Congratulations," she said with a note of real delight. "That's fantastic."
He smiled a little, straightening with his plate of offerings. "I think so too. I'm trying to accelerate the timeline, see if we can close before Rey delivers, but we'll see."
"If anyone can make that happen, I've no doubt you can." Gwen followed as he threaded his way through the guests back towards Rey. Hux and Rose had found her and were sitting next to her, the three of them laughing about something.
"You said Poe had plans," Ben mentioned. "Why hasn't he put them into action yet? This party could use a little Poe flair."
"Who says he hasn't?" Gwen chuckled. "He's already started."
"What does that mean?"
"You'll see soon enough."
So cryptic. Ben glanced over the heads of several guests to see Poe still networking, Finn on his arm now, breezing around like he owned the place. Poe's parents were here too, but he didn't seem to pay them much attention. Ben wondered if some of the mutual acquaintances of the Solos and the Damerons were scandalized by Poe's various affairs, or if they were used to it by now. Either way, Poe didn't seem to care, happily introducing Finn as easily as he had introduced his various girlfriends in the past. But then, Ben had never known anyone as completely comfortable with his own sexuality as Poe Dameron.
He didn't need charming and friendly Poe, though. He needed mischievous and distracting Poe.
"Ben," Rose said excitedly when he pushed a plate in front of Rey. "Your secretary is delightful! All this time and you've never invited her to come to any of our parties?"
"Ah," said Ben. "You met Kaydel."
"Yes, we did. She's hanging out with Jannah and Jess now. She's hilarious!"
Ben shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. I never talk to her outside the context of work."
Hux laughed at that. "Of course you don't. Because you're a stick in the mud."
Gwen sat next to her brother, giving him a bemused look. "I don't talk to my assistant outside of work either."
"I've met your assistant," Hux replied. "He's more boring than vanilla ice cream. Kaydel isn't like that, and you've both known all this time that she'd fit right in with us and never said a word."
Rey swiveled on her chair, scanning over the crowd trying to find the person in question. "I just said hi to her when she arrived, and then Leia wanted to introduce us to some people, so now I feel like I need to really meet this woman."
Ben spotted his mother making her way towards them now. "I can facilitate that any time you want," he assured Rey. "In the meantime, incoming."
Gwen, Hux, and Rose all saw what Ben saw and hurried away, scattering like birds at the sight of a cat. Not that Ben's mother meant them any harm. Still, this wasn't their baby shower, so it wasn't their obligation to exchange niceties with all the guests.
This time, though, the woman heading towards them beside Leia was someone they already knew quite well. Doctor Holdo, still of lilac hair and wearing slacks and a flowy top — strangely casual compared to her usual work attire.
Ben and Rey exchanged an amused glance. Somehow, they'd managed to go all this time without telling Leia that her old friend was their doctor. She hadn't asked, and they hadn't thought about it. Ben wondered if they could get all the way to delivery without his mother finding out. Not that it really mattered, but it might be fun to try.
Rey struggled to rise when they got to the table, but Leia put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her.
"No, no, dear, you don't have to get up. You've been on your feet this whole time. Relax. You two remember my friend Amilyn from the Tico wedding?"
Rey settled back in her seat and smiled. "I remember. The doctor."
So she was on board for the game too. Ben grinned and produced his hand for a shake. "Good to see you again."
Holdo shook it, eyes sparkling with amusement. "My sincere congratulations to the both of you. Leia tells me you're getting married in the spring?"
"We are," Rey confirmed.
"No doubt you'll be invited," Ben added, darting a glance at his mother.
"Of course she will." Leia waved her hand, swiping away the topic in favor another. "Amilyn, do you do pediatrics? Any chance you'd be the doctor for this little one?"
"I don't do peds," Amilyn said with a soft smile. "But I have some great recommendations if they need them."
"Well, perhaps when she gets old enough for women's health, then. They're having a girl." Leia practically beamed with pride. "Isn't that sweet?"
"Yes, your invitation indicated as much. I know you always hoped to have a granddaughter to dote on and share your mother's clothes with. I'm happy for you."
This was a side of their doctor that neither Ben nor Rey had ever really seen before. She looked positively affectionate when she addressed Leia.
"I'm happy too," Leia sighed. "And Rey is lovely. Fits right in with the family, don't you, dear?"
Rey smiled shyly. "You're all very easy to love."
Ben snorted in derision. "She's obviously still getting to know us."
Holdo and Rey both laughed while Leia gave her son a harmless, reprimanding smack. He pretended to wince.
Talking to Holdo was more interesting than talking to some of the other guests, mostly because they knew her and she knew them — and they were all three disguising that fact from Leia. She politely asked about their jobs and where they were living. Leia excitedly told her about the house they were under contract to buy. Holdo said she knew the neighborhood well and confirmed it was indeed very family friendly and inclusive.
It was around that time when Ben felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see his father had finally decided to join the party. He'd squirreled himself away inside the house this whole time, stubbornly protesting Leia's insistence that he attend. When Ben and Rey arrived that afternoon, he'd been pontificating about the nuisance of the North American baby shower, and how other cultures function just fine by using another method of welcoming a new life and preparing the prospective parents. Leia ceded to none of his arguments and told him he lived in her world, so he would play by her cultural norms.
Ben hadn't seen him until now.
He wore a jacket, but instead of the nice button-up shirt Leia had set out for him, he'd picked a graphic tee with grandpa scrolled across the front in a handful of languages and colors.
"Amy!" he said cheerfully. Fancy seeing you here."
Holdo's smile twisted into something a little sharper. "Han. How are you?"
"Why do you call her that? She hates that. Her name isn't Amy," Leia said, frowning.
"Oh, sorry," Han said, not sounding all that sorry. "I'm great, Amilyn. How are you?"
"I'm doing well, thank you."
"Nice shirt," Ben remarked, drawing everyone's attention to it. Leia's eyebrows lifted practically to her hairline.
"Well," she said disapprovingly, "don't you look...comfortable."
"I am, honey, thanks."
Leia glanced around at all the nicely dressed guests, most of them in collared shirts or delicate sundresses. "Do you think you fit in with our friends?"
"Hey," he defended, "this is a baby shower, not a cocktail party. Babies aren't fancy, they're fun. So I chose fun. I really don't give a damn if I fit in. They all know me anyway."
"I like it," Rey told him, grinning. "You look great."
Han gave her a high five. "And that's why you're my favorite."
"Don't encourage him, Rey," Leia said with a resigned expression and a roll of her eyes. She tried to reel the conversation back in, turning to Holdo instead. "Rey is due in about a month. Do you have any advice for her? It's been so long for me, I don't remember a lot."
"I'm sure her doctor has her well-informed of what's to come," Holdo laughed. Her glance flicked to Ben. "And something tells me Big Papa here liked to be informed too, so I'd be willing to bet they're already pretty prepared."
"As prepared as you can be," Han muttered. "You can know it all in your head and still not be ready for the emotional train that hits you the second that baby is in your arms."
"Well," Holdo said with a soft smile, "that's true."
Han picked a pancetta, pear, and pecan puff off of Rey's plate and glanced around. His attention caught on the gift table and his eyes widened into saucers. "Holy smokes, Ben! Have you seen the treasure trove over there? You two are going to make out like bandits!"
Ben had seen. Each new guest that arrived brought a gift that Rey had either opened in front of them, or been explained about if it was too big to carry. Then each of the gifts had gone off to the gift table when Leia inevitably whisked the new arrival away.
The benefit of having a mother well integrated into the wealthy climes of society meant that her people didn't bat an eye at providing really overpriced gifts at any celebratory function to which they were invited. Rey had already balked at the expense of the things they'd received, but Ben didn't share her dismay. He didn't share her discomfort either — especially after the rude comments he'd overheard a few minutes ago. He felt no guilt at all parting these people from their excess cash in the way of things they hadn't yet bought for Olive.
Everything they could ever need was piled there, including a crib from Pottery Barn (which Ben knew from a little previous research was absurdly overpriced.) There was a fancy baby swing, a portable bassinet, a co-sleeper bed attachment, a top of the line car seat and travel system, a changing table, a bottle warming machine, a wipes warming machine, a diaper disposal tower, a couple different brands of wraps and body carriers, nursing pillows, nursing covers, a portable breast pump, little chairs to help baby learn how to sit, play mats, video monitors, sound monitors, baby books, pacifiers, toys, diapers, wipes, postpartum recovery supplies, bottles, and mountains and mountains of clothes. Those same tiny clothes that always sent Ben's head into a tailspin.
He knew there was a certain audacity in the buying of such things as furniture items without knowing the specific taste of the couple, but then, audacity came included with the kind of wealth these people had. Not that it really mattered anyway. Ben and Rey would use these things whether or not it suited their taste, because they'd dicked around so much this whole summer they'd never really figured out what their specific taste regarding parentings things should be. And since these people were happy to provide the expensive essentials and non-essentials, that left more money that they could use to put towards the house. Assuming everything worked out.
"It's a lot," Rey agreed. She glanced at Leia and said quickly, "but we're obviously very grateful."
"My assistant is cataloguing everything you get, and when this is all done I'll have the thank-you notes sent out so you don't have to worry about it," Leia said helpfully.
"Jeez," Han muttered, looking around. "I need a drink. Preferably something stronger than this sparkling wine I see going around. You did say it was an open bar, didn't you?"
Leia frowned. "Cocktails and seltzers only, Han. I don't need anyone getting drunk today."
"I won't get drunk, but I'm going to need something more than a rhubarb martini if you want me to survive this crowd."
"I invited some of your colleagues too," she sniffed. "Go talk to them, if the rest of our friends are too much for you."
Poe had finally made the rounds and was now close enough to overhear. He spun sharply on his heel and slid up next to Ben.
"You can't be ready to duck out now, old man," he chimed in, teasing Han. "There's so much more fun to be had!"
Finn was there too, exchanging a look with Rey. She smiled. She always looked a little relieved when their friends emerged from the mix. Ben knew the feeling. Familiar faces were a comfort in situations like this.
"That's right," Leia agreed. "We've got a raffle later, and a cake to cut."
"A cake to cut?" Han sputtered. "This isn't a wedding, Leia. I thought that was in a few months."
"My idea," Poe said, patting him. He noticed Holdo and stuck out his hand. "Hi, I don't remember if we've met. I'm Poe Dameron."
She shook it with a neutral, polite smile. "Doctor Amilyn Holdo."
"Poe is Shara's son," Leia explained.
Holdo's face suddenly flickered with recognition. "Oh...that's right. I remember. Shara couldn't get him to keep his pants on."
A delighted laugh burst from Rey. "What? He was a little flasher?"
"Oh, all the time," Leia confirmed. "Dropping his trousers to show everyone his tiny goods. So proud of what he discovered down there. It embarrassed poor Shara so much."
Poe blushed a deep crimson. "Har har. Make fun of the little kid."
Ben clapped him on the shoulder, smirking. "Looks like things don't really change that much, do they?"
Poe shrugged him off, turning to Han to pointedly end that line of conversation. "Hey, doc, settle a bet for me? Finn here doesn't believe me that you can play piano on rocks. Do you still have that primitive instrument thing? Those rocks you bang on?"
"Course I do!" Han lit up like Christmas. "Come on, it's over here. I keep it by the yew trees. Leia never lets me show anybody. Only lets me play it when no one's around. But those other guys are playing loud enough, I doubt anyone will hear me. I'll show you."
The three of them started off. Leia ran after them with a horrified look. "Han, no! You can't!"
Rey laughed, Ben grinned, and Hux started waving frantically at them from over near the buffet table.
"I think Hux wants something," Ben said.
Rey laboriously got to her feet. "Thanks for playing along," she told Holdo, who was watching them with a funny little smile. "Do you mind if we scoot off?"
"Not at all. But before you go — do you ever intend on telling Leia?"
"Sure," Rey said, grinning. "Some time. Of course we will. But don't you think it's easier? You know Leia. She'd ask you things you can't tell her, wouldn't she? So it makes it easier for you this way. She'll find out eventually."
"Mm-hmm," Holdo didn't sound like she believed it. Still, she turned and sauntered off anyway, merely a cheeky glance and an arched brow thrown over her thin shoulder.
Ben's hand found the small of Rey's back, getting her attention again. Hux was not-so-casually wandering off in the direction of the gazebo, at the far edge of the party.
"So what's going on?" she asked excitedly. "Feels like something's up."
"With any luck, it'll get us away from this for a bit." He took her hand, lacing his fingers between hers, and tugged her away from what looked like another set of approaching well-wishers. They'd had quite enough of that for the time being. If Gwen's foreshadowing yesterday was any indication, there was definitely something afoot here that his mother wouldn't approve of.
The music from the main party was quieter over here, fading into the background as they drew away from the party towards the little white gazebo. The same place where they'd bound themselves to one another through emotional vows, in front of only two equally emotional witnesses. It couldn't have held a more different scene now, with most of their friends gathered around in it, leaning against the railing or sitting on it.
Someone had dragged a table into the middle of the gazebo and put some chairs around it, though no one sat there now.
"I wasn't sure it was going to work," Hux admitted with a grin when they got there. "We got nervous when your father wasn't showing up."
"Was he in on your plan?" Ben asked.
"No," Hux replied. "But we knew he'd be good for the distraction anyway."
"A distraction for what, exactly?" asked Rey.
Rose slipped her arm through Rey's free one, hooking her to her side. "A distraction so Leia didn't see us steal you away from all her guests for a few silly games."
"Games?" Rey sounded appalled and already tired when she asked it, which made a few of the friends laugh.
"Yeah," Rose said, grinning a wide, dimpled grin. "Baby showers usually have games. But Leia squashed all of Poe's ideas when they joined forces for this thing."
Hardly surprising. Ben had purposely denied Poe's plan of having two separate showers, pushing him to collaborate with Leia instead so they didn't have to endure two of these things. But it was always inevitable that Poe would get steamrolled by Leia's idea of what a good shower would look like. Ben knew his mother was a force of nature.
Poe, however, was well-practiced dealing with such forces. He could be subversive.
"Don't worry," Jess assured Rey, grinning. "Nobody's gonna make you run an obstacle course. The games are simple."
"For example," said Rose, "Poe's been going around soliciting any of the guests who seem agreeable to guess the weight of your little peanut when she's born."
"It's really more of a pool," Hux eagerly corrected. "People are putting money down."
This surprised Ben a little. He glanced back the partygoers, wondering which of his mother's friends had been game for a little betting. There were a few wildcards among the stuffy traditionalists. Wedge, probably. Mara, definitely, as long as Luke didn't find out — he was staunchly against gambling of any kind, even in a low-stakes pool like this. Certainly not Mothma or Ackbar. But any acquaintances of his father would definitely jump at the chance.
"What have they been guessing?" Rey asked curiously.
Tallie laughed, motioned at Ben, and said with an apologetic grin. "Big, darling. Very big. Look at the stud. No kid from his genes is going to be small, let's face it."
"How big?"
"Eight, nine pounds. Some bigger than that, but I don't want to scare you."
Rey gave her this funny little smile. She didn't seem as alarmed as Ben thought this news would make her. "Can I join the pool?"
"No," Hux objected immediately. "You've got the doctor every week telling you how big or small she is. So no. Neither can Solo."
"As it so happens," chimed in Jannah, sitting next to Kaydel who watched the proceedings with bright, keen eyes, "only one person has guessed small. That friend of Leia's you were just talking to. She guessed six pounds even."
Ben and Rey exchanged a glance. The balls on Holdo, surreptitiously joining a betting pool where she alone had insider information. In hindsight, the purple hair really should have been an indicator that she didn't play by the rules, but still — it surprised Ben. Rey too, by the look on her face.
Poe and Finn finally joined them again, faces flushed, grins huge.
"The wrath of your mother, Solo," Finn panted when they stepped up into the gazebo — they must have run from the yew garden, "is nothing to contend with."
"You think this is news to me?" Ben asked mildly.
Poe shook his head. "Listen, your poor dad. I told him to come over in a few minutes so he could play a drinking game with us. That guy seriously needs a beer."
"A drinking game!" Rey bristled. "Leia's put together this really nice thing. I don't want you lot getting smashed and ruining this for her."
"Trust me," Poe laughed, "I don't even think it's possible to get smashed the way I plan for us to do it."
He very quickly got everyone organized, bidding Rey to sit at the table while Jess ran around to pull a previously hidden cooler out from behind the bushes. Everyone else assembled on the railing of the gazebo, awaiting Poe's order like some kind of mismatched motley orchestra. Ben stood nearest to Rey, slightly behind her, leaning on one of the support posts with his arms folded over his chest. He was a little skeptical of whatever was about to go down. Not that he was complaining, of course. This was exactly what he'd been hoping for.
But still. He knew Poe could be a little...enthusiastic.
"Okay," announced his oldest friend rather loudly. Ben thought he saw a few heads swivel their direction from the rest of the party guests. "We've gathered here together by Leia's invitation, to properly shower our love — and gifts — on these two soon-to-be parents. In the spirit of the occasion, Finn and I have prepared some themed competitions. The first is a test of perception. We're pitting all of you against our resident super-sniffer and favorite bump fashion icon, Mama Rey. To win, you'll have to match or exceed her correct guesses."
"This is a smelling challenge?" Rey asked, a slight grin curling at the corner of her mouth.
"Indeed it is," said Poe grandly. He turned to the cooler behind him and withdrew a box. He set that box on the table. "Now, this is how the game will go."
Ben noticed a few other people wandering over, curious about the commotion. Mara was among them. He decided to ignore the spectators and focus back on Poe, who had withdrawn from his basket a bundled up diaper.
Poe unfolded it, and displayed a sticky, gooey brown center. Several people groaned.
"Finn will give each of you a blank list numbered one through five," Poe explained, "as well as a pen. I will then pass around this little gem. You will open it, sniff the contents, and then write down your guess for what it is. You'll do this for five diapers. Afterwards, we'll have Rey give it a shot and tell us what's in each of them."
Rey laughed. "I'm guessing you didn't have a volunteer baby provide these samples?"
"No," confirmed Poe. "This is not real feces. Nobody puke on me, okay?"
Well that was a relief at least.
Finn passed out the papers and pens. Poe then ceremoniously handed the open diaper over to Rose, who was the first in line. She wrinkled her nose and closed one eye in an obvious show of reluctance, slowly bringing it up to her face and giving a quick, nervous inhale. She blinked, cocked her head, and sniffed again. Then she smiled and passed the diaper on to Hux.
After Hux, Ben got it. One whiff told him it was definitely some kind of melted chocolate. He wrote down Hershey Bar.
Everyone took a turn and then wrote down their guesses. The next diaper came down the line, this one smeared with something that definitely looked like peanut butter. The next was reddish brown and had a spicy, earthy kind of smell. Ben guessed some kind of barbecue sauce. There was another chocolate something or other and the final one, Ben really had no idea at all, but it looked like it had corn in it.
Rey turned to watch them with amusement, but when her turn came she was all concentration. The group watched her, anticipation running high. She took the first diaper and gave it a delicate sniff.
"That's a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup," she said confidently after not even a full second of deliberation.
Poe grinned. "Correct!"
"What!" cried Jess. "No way. That only smelled like chocolate. Where was the peanut butter?"
Poe ignored her and gave Rey the second. She again took a quick smell. "Butterfinger," she announced.
"Right again," Poe crowed.
Everyone groaned. Ben crossed out his guess of peanut butter. He didn't mind being wrong. It was more fun to watch Rey's oversensitive nose be put to funny use.
The third diaper made her wince. "Ancho chili sauce," she said.
"That's it!" said Poe.
She also guessed correctly on the Bounty coconut chocolate bar and the Snickers. Ben thought the peanuts were corn.
About half the group did abysmally bad, like himself. The other half did decently well. Nobody got them all right except for Rey. Ben high-fived her at the end of it.
The next game saw them moving out to the lawn where Poe and Finn spread an oversized Twister mat. They provided each person with a balloon to put under their shirts, and suddenly Rey wasn't the only one sporting a bump. Again Poe had her sit, this time to be the one who called the Twister moves. The rest of them had to try to keep their balloon from popping.
More of Leia's guests wandered over to watch this one, Luke horrified to find that Mara had actually jumped into the game herself this time. Ben stretched his long body to put the appropriate limbs on the right colored circle, trying not to contort in any funny way that would pop his balloon or send it shooting out the bottom of his shirt like Hux's did on one particular crunch. People fell, balloons burst, Rey laughed so hard she had to pause and game and beeline for the bathroom.
The amusement of the spectators made Ben feel a bit like an actor providing entertainment for these elites. But he didn't really care. They could laugh. He was having much more fun doing this than he was talking to all of them.
In the end, Mara was dubbed the champion of the game, and Ben's friends decided she was the coolest aunt ever.
By this point, Han had noticed the gathering and joined them.
"I want in on the next game," he told Poe.
"The proud grandfather joins the challenge!" Poe announced and everyone cheered. "That's great news, old man, because I have just the game for you."
While he rolled his mysterious cooler back over to the group, Ben risked a glance back at the party to see if his mother had noticed that some of her guests had congregated away from the music and food. Her back was to them, talking to Nora and Wedge, and Ben really couldn't tell if she hadn't clued in or if she had but was graciously letting them have their fun.
"I'm pretty sure she knows," said Rey, slipping up beside him.
He slid an arm around her, pressing a kiss into the top of her head. "Are you having a better time now?"
"Definitely," she laughed. "Are you?"
"Yes, I am."
"Okay, lovebirds, break it up," Poe told them when he was ready. "Please take a seat again, Rey. Sorry, but you'll have to sit this one out and serve only in an adjudicatory capacity."
He withdrew a baby bottle filled with amber liquid.
"Kids, this isn't your mama's milk. This here is a local brew from a brewery I represent. If you like it, I can point you their direction. Okay, advertisement over. The goal of this game is to drink this down as quickly as you can. First one to finish wins. Simple as that."
Ben hadn't touched alcohol since Rey told him about her pregnancy. It didn't seem right to him that he should get to drink while she couldn't, all because of something that was arguably his fault. But he'd drink now. Because it was a measly eight ounces. Because this garden party baby shower was ridiculous. And mostly because his father was playing, and Ben never turned down an opportunity to show the old man up. He reached for a bottle.
Poe pushed his hand away. "Oh no. Not for you. I've got a special bottle for you. A particular drink just for daddy dearest, the father of the surprise peanut."
After he passed out the rest of the bottles to those who wanted to participate, he pulled out a final one and gave it to Ben. The liquid inside was wine-dark and had bubbles.
Rey gave it a skeptical look. "Poe, what is that? Are you trying to get him drunk?"
"Now, now, Rey. You've been friends with Ben for a long time. How often have you seen him get drunk?"
"Not very many," Rey admitted.
"It takes a lot to get this guy to lose his footing," Poe laughed, slapping Ben on the back. "We just thought the man of the hour deserved something better than what the common folk drink."
Ben wasn't entirely convinced Poe didn't have nefarious ulterior motives, but he shrugged, willing to drink it anyway. He gave the bottle a sniff, but detected only sweet fruity notes.
Pretty much everyone was participating. Poe, Finn, Hux, Gwen, Rose, Jess, Tallie, Kaydel, Jannah, even Paige and Dallow. Mara took a seat by Rey and gave her a companionable squeeze of the hand.
"I'll leave this one to the young," she laughed.
"Not me," said Han, eagerly taking his bottle in hand and raising it in a toast. "I know I can pound this thing faster than any of you pups."
Luke, among the casual spectators, frowned but did not comment on his disapproval.
Rey got up quickly to trip over to Ben and tug him down to her. "Smoke 'em. For me." She gave his cheek a kiss and then flitted away again, back to her chair.
Ben smirked. He intended to do just that.
Poe laughed. "Okay. Rey, count us down!"
"On your mark. Get set." She paused, an eager grin dazzling over her face. "Go!"
At once everybody lifted the baby bottles to their lips, fitting oversized mouths over tiny rubber nipples. The onlookers laughed, and Ben knew that they must look ridiculous — a bunch of grown people furiously sucking on baby bottles.
Ben felt really silly, honestly. His huge hands made the bottle feel even smaller. And he jerked away at the first taste of whatever devil's blood Poe had put into his bottle. It was nauseatingly sweet, but from the fiery burn he knew the alcohol content had to be absurdly high. Still, he was determined to win.
The others expressed their dismay at the frustratingly slow flow through the nipple, laughing or growling about the tiny amount that came out on the first sip.
But after he got over the shock of whatever he was drinking, Ben found familiarity in the flow. The initial draw drew the burning liquid onto his tongue in a thin spurt. It reminded him so much of the recent time he'd discovered Rey's colostrum, and he quickly lost focus on the task at hand in favor of the steamy memory. The mystery booze scorched through his mouth in all the wrong ways. And the nipple wasn't right either. It was too stiff, too narrow, too long. But the motion for getting liquid out was the same, and the feeling of it was familiar enough that he couldn't think of anything else.
Maybe it was a ridiculous way to get through the challenge, but Ben was pulled into it helplessly anyway.
And a moment later, he let the empty bottle drop to his side, shaking his head against the flames licking through his gut and the faint ringing in his ear, dimly aware of some cheering.
"You're already done?" Poe said in dismay, briefly lowering his half-downed bottle.
Rose completely abandoned hers, jumping around next to Ben like an excited child. "That was amazing! You chugged that thing no problem. Do you guys already have a bottle at home? Have you been practicing? How are you so good at this?"
"I don't think practice would help," Han complained, rubbing his jaw. It no doubt ached the way Ben's did from trying madly suction too much liquid out of too small an opening. "You can give it as much technique as you want, doesn't make the flow any faster. These damn things make my whole face hurt."
Rey was off her chair again, barreling her way in between Rose and Ben. "When I told you to win, I didn't realize you'd take it so seriously!" she said, laughing.
Ben was still a little bit feeling the effects of the fantasy that gave him his victory, so his attention drifted from her eyes to her lips and there lingered. He leaned down to catch them with his own, giving her a little taste of the fruity abomination. It didn't really bother him as much as it usually did that there were so many people around. He didn't care if they saw.
"Criminey, Poe, what did you give him?" Rey laughed, breaking away from the kiss with a little lick to her lips. "That tastes like fruit punch."
Ben wasn't quite ready to let her go yet, so his hand slid around her waist and he pulled her in until her bump was pressed in snug against him and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Thanks for the inspiration. And the practice."
When he did let her go and she stepped back, a lovely flush of color had creeped over her cheeks.
Another cheer erupted, distracting Ben from considering how charming the effect of her blush was. They looked to see Kaydel triumphantly brandishing her empty bottle next, throwing Ben a fierce, competitive look — even though he'd already won.
He smiled. Because it was nice to see her participating with everyone, and clearly having a good time. He really didn't know why he'd never thought of inviting her before. Really, it was a terrible oversight of his to have never thought of her at all outside of work. She was a nice person. She would definitely fit right in with Jess and Rose and Jannah and everyone else. Rey too. She'd probably get along famously with Rey.
Eventually Poe took third, and everyone else gave up, laughing and teasing each other just the same. Ben could feel the mystery drink buzzing through his head now, and it really wasn't so bad. He felt so much more charitable towards everyone — even his mother's stuffy guests. And when he saw her marching towards them, face lined with annoyance, he couldn't help but feel a burst of affectionate sympathy for her. She tried so hard to give them nice things, and Ben and his father never really appreciated it.
"I need more of a drink than that," Han sighed, watching his wife storm towards them.
Poe grinned. "If you come quick, we can run away to the other cooler I've got stashed in my car. I've got more in there."
"Grown-up sized this time?"
"Promise," Poe laughed. "Come on, old timer."
He and Han ducked away before Leia got to them. Ben still had enough wits about him to know he definitely shouldn't follow.
Rey frowned. "Poe never told me what he gave you."
"Some kind of sangria, I'd imagine," Ben said mildly. He didn't care as much as she did, apparently. It was almost a kindness, when he thought about it. Poe had given him something to take the edge off, and now this party seemed...maybe pleasant. Which was radical.
Mara intercepted Leia with a genial smile. "Leia! So thoughtful of you to organize a few fun games as a distraction. I know Ben and Rey both had a great time. You're so clever to think of these things."
Leia paused, glancing at the faces of some of her guests. They all wore smiles. "I, uh...I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves. Now that they're over — they are over, right?"
Mara nodded. "All done, I'm pretty sure."
"Well, I need Ben and Rey to come back and meet a few more friends of mine."
Rey took Ben's hand and pulled him away from their friends. "We're right here, Leia. Lead away. We'll follow."
Her hand was soft. Ben glanced down at it, admiring the way they fit together. He liked their size difference. It was kind of a turn on, honestly. Like she was this fragile little thing he could hold in his hands, except there was nothing fragile about her. She was so strong. The way she carried the burden of her past like a backpack she forgot she was wearing. The way she carried the burden of another whole person inside her. The way she held her head up among all these hoity-toit bigwigs who looked at her like some garbage urchin.
"I'm…" Ben struggled to tell her how he was feeling, about the awe coursing through his veins. "Rey, I'm really amazed by you."
She darted a glance back at him as Leia took them towards an elderly couple. "What? Why?"
"You're…just amazing."
"Are you drunk? What did he give you?"
"I'm not drunk," Ben said confidently. But everything looked so shiny. Like it was all covered in a soft focus. Like vaseline over a camera lens, the way they used to do it in old movies. The people looked very grand in their fine garden party clothes. Ben issued a soft, incredulous little laugh. "But I might be a little tipsy."
"I thought it took more than a few ounces to get you there."
"Normally. But I swear he gave me eighty proof."
"Damn him." She slowed her step and murmured a hasty, "Keep it together, okay?"
To show her he could do it, Ben smiled brightly when his mother introduced the couple. Something about him being department chair. Ben missed their names, but he wasn't sure he really needed them.
"It's nice to meet you," he said pleasantly. "Thanks for coming."
The old woman's face brightened when she looked down at Rey's bump, a hand coming out to touch. "Oh, you just look adorable," she cooed. "Like you're ready, too. When are you due?"
While Rey politely gave her an answer, Ben looked at the husband with contemplative regard. "Isn't it weird that people feel like they can touch her stomach just because there's a baby in there? I think she should reciprocate by touching theirs. That would definitely get them to stop."
"Ben," his mother hissed. "They're not trying to be rude."
The man chuckled. "It's alright, Leia. It is kind of weird, now that you mention it."
Encouraged by this reply, Ben opened up, asking the couple about their careers and their family. When they said they had three children, he asked their advice. It was actually really nice talking to them. He couldn't remember why he'd thought this so tedious and boring before.
When they eventually wandered off, he struck up conversations with others. He networked. He talked business. He talked about his personal life, about the house he was under contract for, about how nervous he was to become a father. And the biggest surprise was how nice most everyone was when he talked to them. They were supportive and kind, and interested and eager. He told Luke about some of the business networking he'd done.
"Are you sure these are solid leads, Ben?" Luke asked skeptically. "I don't know what the Dameron kid gave you but you seem a little buzzed."
"They're solid," Ben told him. "Follow up, if you want. I've been texting them to you, the names of the people interested in our help."
Luke didn't argue, so Ben left him to his instruction and wandered away again. Eventually Rey found him and pulled him to a table.
"I need to sit down," she told him. "I'm so tired."
The wild urge to sweep her up off her feet and storm around until he found a suitably soft chair rose up in him like a mad impulse. Thankfully he wasn't drunk enough to think that she would appreciate something like that in a setting like this. So instead he sat down next to her at a table and signaled one of the hired servers to bring them some water.
"You've become Mister Social," she observed with a little smile. "I lost track of you there for a minute. Suddenly these people you've resented all night became your best friends."
"Not all of them," Ben said darkly, thinking of Maureen and the gaggle of gossipy neighbors. "Not the ones who don't like us, but are only here for the social scene."
Rey laughed. "Who comes to a baby shower for the social scene?"
"Busybodies," Ben said.
He kept glancing at her. At the way the sunlight caught in her hair, igniting some of her nutmeg brown into blazing gold. The way it turned her complex hazel eyes into dazzling, sparkling pools of mercury. The way her mouth, that adorable, kissable little mouth pursed a tad in disapproval when she watched Poe and Han come back, big grins on their faces and two bottles in hand.
Kaydel came and sat down next to Rey, striking up a conversation about how weird it was to see her prickly, serious boss in this casual setting. Rey laughed. Ben had heard her laugh a thousand times before, but it sounded positively musical now. His eyes widened and he leaned forward a little, waiting for her to do it again.
Rey gave him a funny look.
Kaydel smirked. "I'm surprised he's holding up this well, actually. I saw that Poe guy putting some of that capriccio sangria into the bottle, and that stuff will get you messy-drunk in no time."
"Fuck him, I knew it was something like that," Rey groaned.
Ben laughed. "It's fine. Honestly. Poe's always messing with me like that. Ever since we were kids."
"He's trying to make you embarrass yourself in front of your mom's friends." Rey sounded — protective. A shiver of delight ran down Ben's spine. She was worried about him, and she didn't like that someone was trying to humiliate him. God, he loved her so much.
"I won't," he promised her.
Kaydel laughed. Her laugh was nice, Ben thought, but not like Rey's. He was fixating, he knew, but he couldn't help it. This woman carrying his child, she was captivating. She always had been, but especially now. With a little nudge from the capriccio, he was definitely appreciating her anew.
Like the first time. When he saw her in the bar with her friends.
Only this was different because he knew everything about her now. And this time he knew she loved him back.
It was enough to take his breath away.
Before he knew it, the table had filled up with Rose, Hux, Finn, and Poe. Everybody was in a good mood. Ben appreciated their company, but he made sure to stand and greet whichever of his mother's guests came by to congratulate them.
"It's been a while since we've seen this side of him," Rose giggled. "I forgot how social he gets."
"Our favorite misanthrope becomes suddenly enamored with the world," Poe said proudly.
Ben ignored them. He was stuck on Rey again, marveling at her bump, at the way her body had adjusted so naturally to accommodate it. She was stunning.
"Baby," he said softly, leaning over the table so she knew he was talking to her. "You're honest-to-God to prettiest girl I've ever seen. Woman, the prettiest woman."
Rey wrinkled her nose, even as a blush stole over her cheeks. "Ben."
He glanced at the others at the table. "Isn't she? They weren't kidding about the glow. She's radiant."
They laughed. He frowned, not really understanding why they didn't immediately agree with him. Everybody here at the table was good-looking, even weasely, pasty Hux. They didn't need to be petty and jealous. It occurred to Ben that he might never have thought of Hux as beautiful before.
He shook his head and returned his attention to the only person that mattered.
"I'm serious. You're gorgeous. I always thought so. Nobody has ever compared to you. But you're especially pretty today. Like you were when we were here last month."
"Why's that, buddy?" Poe asked, grinning. "Is it because you knocked her up and you think that's hot?"
Maybe. A primal thing inside him definitely thought it was hot. Evolution speaking its approval through his ancestral DNA, probably. He had fulfilled the mandate of every living thing to propagate, to pass on his genetic material. He'd participated in the great wheel of life, and so could arguably be considered an evolutionary success. Which was more than any of the rest of their friends could say. Their genetic material wasted by the roadside. Ben and Rey's would go on.
He shook his head, dragging himself back from the weeds he'd gotten lost in. Probably some kinky part of him thought it was hot that he'd finished in an unprotected womb and it had taken. That was maybe a component to his wonder too.
Also the sangria.
But mostly—
"No, Poe. She's a literal goddess. What have you ever made in your life but a giant turd after a burrito? She's creating life. A whole new person. And she bears it so well. Look at her. So strong. So pretty."
Rey smiled, leaning over on her chair to place a kiss on his cheek. "You're sweet, my tipsy Ben."
"I've never seen this version of him," Kaydel laughed. "It's delightful."
But Ben didn't pay her any attention because a surge of emotion had suddenly caught in his throat and his vision grew misty. "I can't believe —" he swallowed hard and tried again. "I can't believe you're my wife."
A ripple of laughter echoed around him, and Hux waved him down. "Hey, come back from orbit, Solo. She's not your wife yet."
"Yes," Ben said with a frown. "Yes she is."
"She's your fiancée right now, buddy," said Poe. "She'll be your wife soon. Just a few months."
That...wasn't right. Ben opened his mouth to protest again but Rey caught his attention with a touch to his hand.
"Hey," she said, and he closed his mouth again. "You need to chill. And I need to get you some food so help soak up some of that poison Poe gave you."
"I haven't eaten," Ben acknowledged. Food sounded great right now.
"I'll get you some," she said with a smile.
"No, no, you don't need to do it," said Hux, getting up. "I'll make him a plate."
"No funny business," Rey warned him.
"I wouldn't do that to you," Hux agreed.
"He's a good sport, that Armitage," Ben said appreciatively. "I think I give him a hard time. But he's always good to you, Rey. Compatriots. Siblings from another land. Except Gwen is his sibling. But he's decent to Rose too. So I should really give him respect. He's a good egg."
Rose laughed. "Poe, I think the capriccio was a mistake."
Poe lifted his hands defensively. "Look, I didn't know he was going to gulp it down like that. The game was supposed to be hard."
"Do you know why I was good at it?" Ben said conspiratorially. They should know the secret of his victory. He liked them. He could give them this gem of knowledge.
Rey lunged forward as best as her body allowed and she clapped her warm, soft hands over his mouth, cheeks a lovely pink, eyes wide, laughing an incredulous, embarrassed laugh.
"Ben, don't. Poe, I'm gonna kill you."
Poe laughed. Ben took her wrist and held her hand against his mouth, kissing into her palm. His other hand trailed over her distended stomach.
"Wow," said Finn. "He's not shy about the PDA is he? That's new. I don't remember him being like this the last time he got drunk."
Rey pulled her arm out of his grasp. "Yeah, well, things are a little different now."
"I have a wife now," Ben agreed, shooting a gloating glance at the others. "And a daughter on the way. Which is more than any of you can say."
"A fiancée," Poe corrected again with obvious delight.
"Right," said Ben, even though he still thought that didn't make much sense. He motioned at Rose. "Hey, but we don't have to be the only ones. Hux would marry you in a heartbeat. Why won't you marry him?"
Rose blushed as brightly as Rey had done a moment ago, and Ben really appreciated whatever biological mechanism it was that made people get all pink when they got flustered. It was such a nice effect.
"Not our business, Ben," Rey reminded him mildly, but the little grin teasing at the corner of her lovely, magnetic mouth told him she enjoyed the question anyway.
"I mean, she obviously loves him," Ben insisted. "I don't get it."
"Not everyone wants to be married, boss," Kaydel observed.
"Bull," said Ben. "We might tell ourselves that, but deep down inside we all want someone to promise themselves to us forever. It's a basic human urge, to find that one great, committed love."
Hux came back with the plate of food right about then, and Rose jumped to her feet.
"Hey, babe, look at the time! We should get going. Party's gonna end soon anyway and we wanted to catch that movie, remember? Let's go."
Hux looked around in surprise. "Now?"
"Yep!" She turned, seizing him by the arm and practically dragging him away.
"Eat," Rey said, pushing the plate in front of him. "Not that this Ben isn't a funny Ben, but I need you to have a little bit more control over that mouth of yours."
"You like my mouth," Ben said distractedly as he picked up one of those fancy pear pancetta puffs. "Why does she do this? Why does she always get these fancy-weird foods. I could go for some corn on the cob and little smokies. You know. Those itty bitty hot dogs?"
"Wah, my family is too rich. Why do we have to be so rich? I don't want nice things," Rey mocked, her tone lightly teasing and affectionate. Ben replied by popping the puff into his mouth.
Poe laughed. "You just described Ben's whole life. That's what I've had to listen to since we were kids. I'd tell him all the time to embrace his privilege. Enjoy the goodlife you've got."
"I didn't earn it," Ben rebutted, finding the old familiar argument still perfectly preserved inside him. "It's not mine."
"It's good to stay grounded," Rey said warmly, brushing her fingers through his hair. Ben practically purred with pleasure. "But it's also silly to resent what you have."
"We'll never be this rich," Ben told her, pausing before taking a bite of some prosciutto on a seven grain cracker with caprese salsa drizzled over top. "Is that okay? I promise I'll take care of you. I promise we'll be comfortable. And Olive, she'll have a good life. A happy life. But we'll never be this rich."
"Olive, huh?" Poe said, eyebrows lifting.
Rey smiled. "It's okay, Ben. That's all I want. And you're not doing it alone either. I'll help you."
He really wanted to kiss her again, but as he leaned forward to do it, she snatched the cracker out of his hand and popped it into his mouth.
"I like it," Finn decided after a minute. "You don't hear it anymore, but it's still classic."
"Olivia might have been better…" Poe said thoughtfully. "But hey, it's your kid."
"Olivia is way too common," Kaydel shot back with a little grin. "It's everywhere. Super trendy. Olive is edgy. I love it."
"Cuz all of your opinions matter so much," Ben muttered, focusing in on the food in earnest now.
They laughed.
The food helped curb the edge off Ben's buzz, but it didn't diminish it completely, which was welcome. He enjoyed himself for the rest of the time, raffle and silly cake-cutting included, and based on the way Rey was laughing at almost everything he did, he suspected he helped her get through it too. By the time she drove him back to their condo that evening, they both concluded that it had ended much better than it started. And Han was right. They did make out like bandits. The only thing they didn't have was the baby herself.
But she would arrive soon enough.
A/N: Next up: Big Things Happen
ALSO I HAVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TO SHOW ALL OF YOU AND I'M SO EXCITED and I thiiiiiink I can show you next chapter, depending on how it works out. Also I might have to put a link to it in my bio since FF won't let me put links here.