Hey guys! First of all, I need to apologize. Usually, I'm much better at updating but this month has been crazy! I planned a huge fundraiser for a non-profit we're a part of and it's been nonstop. the good news is the event is Thursday night. the other good news, the have chapter eleven done and I'm halfway through ch 12. If I don't write everyday, it's like I get itchy in my skin. Lol I know, it's weird.
So, I hope that this one was worth the wait.
For Cassian's parents, I used the couple who helped him in the new Andor show… and as always thank you for coming back! I adore each and everyone of you! *hugs!*
"Promise me that you will be in my office in three days—if I have to come looking for you, it will be bad. I promise," Dr. Kalonia threatens. Rey has to bite back a giggle, this five-foot-and a little extra growling at her husband—is a sight.
Not to mention the way he cowers at that growl is even funnier.
"Don't worry, he'll be at the bakery in our nest until, well, we are both mated, and he healed."
"I like this one, young master Solo," Dr. Kalonia teases. "And don't make me hunt you down either. Now—" she looks down at the tablet in her hands. "You've been cleared to go home. Rey, I'm assuming that you're driving?"
"I am."
"Good. Don't let him drive for several days at least."
"I can drive just fine—" Ben grumbles.
"I'm sure you can—" the doc winks at Rey. "Don't let him drive for at least a week. He just had major surgery."
"Gotcha," Rey answers.
"Ben, listen to your wife. And seriously, no sex. No mating. I don't want to have to cut you open again. understand?"
"I understand," Ben grumbles.
"Thank you. now get out of here. I need this bed for another patient."
Brbrbrbrbr
"You know, when I pictured marrying you, I didn't think it would be you helping me."
"What did you picture?" She whispers, her heart in her throat. he thought about this? His arm is thrown over her shoulders and in his other hand a cane because he's still a little wobbly as she helps him to the back door of the bakery. "Oh crap—my keys—" but before she can find her purse, the door flies open.
"Welcome home you guys!"
It looks and feels like everyone she knows, and loves is crammed into the kitchen of the bakery. First, it's Mom and Dad who wrap their arms around her. Then she's passed to Han and Leia. Then taller than even Ben, Chewy demands his hug. Then of course Maz, who she could easily blame all this on, waits patiently for hers. Finn is there, who demands his hug then whispers in her ear that Poe had to work if not, he'd been here too.
But what warms her heart is how everyone she loves, welcomes him too like he always belonged here too.
A glance up and immediately she notices how pale he is— "Hey guys? Can I get you to help me get Ben here upstairs? He needs to rest."
Even though he protests, Finn and Hux manage to get him up the flight of stairs.
But once up in her apartment, instead of leading him to her nest, her omega takes over and sits him on the couch. She can see his alpha coming through when she leans over to whisper, "It's alright Alpha. When everyone leaves, we'll go to the nest. I've got to keep it safe, after all."
Understanding dawns on Ben's face. "That's my good omega—" he purrs.
His unexpected praise warms her insides.
"Rey, honey," Mama says as she hands her a plate and leads her over to the table where she sits down beside her. Everyone else is mingling and enjoying the last-minute buffet someone organized. "Eat." Her stomach growls and it makes Jyn smile. "I know—you forgot."
She glances at Ben who is talking to their dads, who is also sneaking glances at her. "I just—" she pauses as Leia gives him a plate of food as her omega howls that it should have been them feeding their alpha.
Just as she starts to get up—Mama stops her with a touch. "Let her do it. It's an alpha's way of checking on their children. And this is my way of checking on you."
Suddenly weary from the past several days, she scoots her chair close so she can lay her head on Mama's shoulder. Instead of eating, she utters, "Why did you adopt me?"
"What—" Jyn turns so Rey can meet her eyes. As an omega, Rey is hardwired to know that Omegas do this to touch base with their pups. "We adopted you because we love you." She looks way only for a moment and Rey doesn't even have to turn to know that she looks for Dad. He must be on the way because Mama meets her eyes again. "Did he say something to you?"
She knows who Mama means and not just because she can smell the change in her scent. But when the room grows quiet, as Cassian joins them—she knows there's something else to all this.
"Just tell me?" Rey asks.
"Rey?" Ben says behind her, still where she put him on the couch.
She knows that no matter what they are ready to tell her, she wants to be in his arms when she hears it. She stands and offers a hand to each one of her parents. The ones who raised her and love her. the ones who cried that first birthday she had with them. the ones who helped her practice music and dance for all those recitals. The cried with her at prom and again at her graduation. The ones who gave her money and co-signed the loan to get the building they're all in now.
This is her family no matter what Palpatine says.
"Ben?" she whispers when they reach his side. He must scent the change in her, because Han moves, and Ben holds out his hand for her. A little smile that must tell him how nervous she is because he pulls her close with a kiss on her forehead. With his arms around her, she feels almost ready for what she's about to hear.
Almost…
"I had just met Jyn when I got the call," Cassian begins. "There was a murder of a couple who had a four year old little girl. Long light brown hair, the same color as this new friend, and green eyes I fell in love with you right then."
"I was already a registered foster parent, but only because of my job." Jyn adds. "No one else could take you that night, so of course I said yes. Later when Cassian asked if he could come over—"
"And I never left." Cassian tears his eyes away from Jyn's to meet hers. "It's only after that I found out who you were. And we've worked since then to keep you safe. Somehow all this ended up on your front step anyway."
"Did you know that he was in town?"
"No, an old friend of mine who is still a Marshal would have told us that Sheev was here. He's usually in Miami or New York." Cassian joins his family on the couch. Rey moves closer to her dad, and she hears a low rumble from Ben. She pokes him on the thigh as her dad wraps her in a hug.
"He'll hug you next if you don't calm down." Rey returns his hug while Ben scowls. She knows he's kidding but there's also a note of seriousness in the glare.
Dad kisses the top of her head, and before he lets go, he whispers, "Your mom and I love you so much. I know what that bastard did the other day is low, lower than I ever thought he'd go—"
"So, he is my grandfather?"
"Sheev Palpatine is your grandfather. But so is Galen and Lyra Erso. And Clem and Maarva. Those are the people who love you most. Well, besides this guy here." dad says with a nod towards Ben. "You know they all love you so much. So much so that Abuela and Abuelo and Papa and Mimi are going to be sad to know that they missed your wedding."
"Oh no," she mumbles as hot shame washes over her. "I'll call them soon."
"I'm teasing. But if you'll just slow down and think, we, love you so much more than Palpatine ever did."
"I love you," Rey says as she squeezes him back.
"I know you married him because you felt like you had to—"
"But he's my mate—we just didn't bite yet because of his job," she mutters.
"Alright, as soon as he's able—"
"I know Daddy." A kiss on his cheek but before she can scoot back to Ben's side, there's a loud knocking from downstairs. She looks to Rose who is already on her feet. Three swipes and the app that shows what the outside cameras see, that yes she should have checked the other day when Palpatine took them, she sees him again on her camera.
"Why are they here?" Rose hisses.
"Should we call Poe?"
"No—Rey," Han stands. "Can I?"
That's when Dad, Cassian gets to his feet. "I think I'll join you."
"Leia?" Mama says. "I think we might need to go too. Rey, you stay here with Ben, Rose you too."
As soon as the door down to the bakery closes behind them, it's Rose who first says something. "Should we be worried?"
"I'm not sure?" Rey answers.
"Well Dad was FBI at one time." Ben pulls her back to his side.
"And Dad was a US marshal." Rey adds.
"The cameras?" Hux says. Rey and Rose scramble for their cells.
"How do you turn on the sound?" Rey asks, almost frantic. She needs to hear what's being said.
"Here—" Ben eases the phone from her hand and finds the mute button. Rose finds hers too, and the sounds from the back alley fill the living room.
"Where is she?" Palpatine demands.
"When she thinks you need to know, then she'll tell you." Jyn stands up to him. "For now, you need to go."
"You're the one—the bleeding heart who adopted my pitiful and unwanted granddaughter." Even Rey can hear the mockery in his voice over the speakers from there to the alley. Palpatine closes the space between he and Mama and Rey has to choke back a sob when she hears, "You hid her from me."
"She's not a piece of property," Cassian says.
"She's my granddaughter." Palpatine's voice gets louder.
"She's my daughter," Cassian states. "You aren't wanted here."
Then, on the little screens of their cells, Rey sees the moment Palpatine sees the Solos. A cold chill dances down her back from the look he gives Leia and Han. "Mr. and Mrs. Solo. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company? Perhaps your son is close. You know, I'd finally like to meet him."
"I really do hate to deny you anything, Sheev, but Ben is not here. Now if you'll excuse me—" Leia says as her and Han turn away and disappear into the bakery.
Cassian and Jyn go to follow but before they can reenter the bakery, Sheev says, "Send her out."
"Go ahead love," Cassian whispers to Jyn. Rey can see the look they exchange—and they both turn to answer Palpatine's demand. "Rey is resting. She's had a long week. She'll be in touch."
"Send her out." his order is firmer than before.
"No. Now, if you don't leave, I'll have to make some phone calls. And you won't like who shows up."
"Are you threatening me, Mr. Andor?" She hears Palpatine ask.
"You can take that however you want. Right now, you're on private property. You're trespassing."
"That's fine. You tell her that I'll be back." Rey's heart sinks as Palpatine stomps out the immediate range of the cameras. A swipe and Rose's camera changes and the rest of them watches as he gets into the black Suburban while she buries her head in Ben's chest.
"It will be ok—Poe can do something, he knows all kinds of people after all—"
"No, Finn—" Rose begins. "We have to wait—"
"And keep your mouth shut." Hux almost growls. "We can't—"
The door swings open and Han growls, "Enough." All eyes in the room turn to him. They watch Leia as she enters the room behind him, with Cassian and Jyn right behind them. Rey squeezes Ben before she rushes over to her parents who both sweep her up in a hug like they always do. "Not a word to anyone outside of this room. People's lives are on the line, and I really don't like it with people that I care about die. Let's sit down and eat a wedding supper with the happy couple, and then we need to get the boy into his nest. That's where Alphas heal best after all."
Brbrbrbrbr
"Now call if you or Ben needs anything—" Leia says.
"And don't let him move out of that nest except to go to the bathroom—" Han adds.
"I'm a grown man, I can take care of myself!" Ben shouts from Rey's bedroom.
Leia walks back to the doorway and peeks in. "We're old and we worry. I'll call you later."
"Bye, Mom. Dad—"
Han has joined his family for one last word, "Bye Kiddo. Call us."
"Will do."
"I'll be right back—" Rey says as she follows his parents out of the room.
"Hurry back—" Ben says. the way he looks at her—she almost bends to give him a kiss, but—ah hell. She gives him a quick peck. He stops her with a touch and those amber eyes of his.
"I need to go lock the bakery door."
"I know." He, in turn, steals a kiss of his own.
"I'll be right back, I promise. I'm not leaving." She grabs her cell off the bed and opens the camera app. "Now you can watch." While he's fangaling with the app, she rushes out the door.
Brbrbrbrbr
Go after her.
She'll be right back.
But what about Snoke and Palpatine?
They're gone.
They might be, but someone is still watching.
I know that. He moves the camera someone had put on the outside back corner of the building. Since the bakery is at the end of Main Street, instead of other businesses or even homes, there's woods. It's part of the park that bleeds into the parkway—but even as he moves the camera—there he is.
And indeed, there is someone there. Vicrul if his guess is correct. Sitting in his truck in a makeshift parking lot on this side of the park.
He needs to tell Hux—when he hears her light footsteps as she climbs the stairs. The squeak of the door and then her deadbolt as she locks them in. Then his heart, and his alpha purrs in delight as she rounds the corner.
"You're so cute," he admits. "Come here."
"I know you like the nest—but we, I can move it to the bed?"
"Move your nest?"
"Yeah, to make it more comfortable."
"I can help?"
"Do you feel like it?"
He flexes his shoulder. "I can." he starts to get up, but Rey—his omega—his mate has to help him. "Alright, I think the bed would be better." he glances at her face and his heart falls. "are you sad? don't be sad—" he murmurs as it looks like her bottom lips quivers in an effort not to cry. He pushes to his feet and pulls her into a hug even though he can feel the stiches pull.
"It's just I know it's better for you. At least then you can get up by yourself. But she's screaming that we can't keep you safe up here, you know something might be under the bed or if they do manage to get in, the bed will be the first place they look, not the nest of blankets and pillows on the floor."
He doesn't kiss but pulls her tighter and rests his lips on top of her head. He's more than a little proud that the longer he holds her, the more she relaxes.
"I love your nest. How about if we leave it?"
"But we need more blankets—and pillows—"
"Where's my phone?" He asks.
"In here—" she disappears into the living room to return with his phone.
He starts to type and is able to use both hands. "Just as I thought."
"What?" Those brilliant green eyes of hers look up to him.
"You, my little omega, are speeding up my healing. When was the last time you took your blockers?"
"Oh no. oh crap, oh fuck! I'll be going into heat soon." She steps away from him and goes back into the rest of her apartment. "I'm so sorry, Alpha. This is supposed to be healing for you, not dealing with me going into heat. You can't even lift your arms above your head."
"Rey—omega." He follows her back into the living room. "Come here."
He meets her back in front of the couch and together they sit. "There's this amazing Alpha and Omega study some scientists in England have been conducting. And aspect of it is the effects Alphas and Omegas have on their wounded or sick mates."
"Really?"
"Really. One of the studies suggests that when one is hurt just being with the other speeds healing." He hopes that she understands what he's trying to say. Sure, he's had a lot of psy courses in his years, but nothing to prepare him for talking to your omega. He just knows how he feels—he likes her a lot. Like a lot, a lot. And the way he feels when she's not there, the desperate need, the want—he thinks that he loves her. But can you love someone in the gentle early morning kisses way and then want to slam them up, gently though can't hurt their omega, against the wall and make her come until her slick covers both of you and then you get to knot her all night long…
"And even better—I have a confession to make. When I moved into the duplex, I didn't unpack everything," he tells her.
"But why not?"
"Sometimes I do that if I'm only going to be in one place for a couple of months. But I got Hux to do us a favor."
"What kind of favor?" she asks.
"Do you see the box in the extra bedroom?" he smiles, ready to see her surprise.
"When—" she stands and rushes to the room. "Blankets," he hears her say then look back at him. But when she comes back to join him on the couch with the box in her arms holding it like it's the most precious thing—"is this?"
"It is. I had an idea that you might like that."
"Stay right here—don't move." She bounces on the balls of her feet, and he returns her grin.
"I'm not going anywhere, Omega—" his alpha purrs. The human part of him wants to go help but the alpha, the part of him that's so close to taking over tells him to be still. So, he waits.
It doesn't take her long to come back. Shyer than before, he knows that he has to get this right. It's their wedding night after all, even if he can't make her officially his—yet.
A gentle tug and he lets her help him to his feet. Then to the bedroom that smells so much like the both of them, it almost sends him into a rut. And there on the bed is a mix of her and him. The blankets he provided with a couple from their old nest. He doesn't lie when he says, "That's perfect Rey—Omega. Absolutely perfect."