I know, I know… but the Christmas/holiday story is done and sent to betas and editors!
Word of advice to the other writers, don't volunteer six short stories to be included in different anthologies unless they're already done. Or you have a home life that lets you write in quiet when you need to. anyways…
I'm glad and thankful for your patience with me the past couple of weeks. I have one more to write (dark mafia—I know! I hope I can write what's in my head) then all my attention will return to this. Thank you for coming back to read!
She's still not sure what made her do what the old man told her. After all, moving to the east coast with the guys was her declaration to the world that she was ready to start over, to take control, to do something for her, for once.
But when Snoke offered her even more money than what Ben was paying her, she couldn't turn it down. She knows what it's like to dig for change to buy ramen plus it wasn't hard at first to ignore that tinge of guilt that tried to scream at her— it's easy to block that out with new shoes and a drink. Besides, it's just for a couple of weeks. That turned into months. And now, it's been three years and while she's still feeding the old man tid-bits about what Ben and Hux is doing—she tries not to think about why in the world Snoke wants to know about the guy's dating lives—it feels like every month he wants more. More of the financials. What new businesses have decided to work with Skywalker. Even what Ben's parents are doing.
Then the first month came where she knows Skywalker brought in more money than Snoke's.
She's just glad that she was in New York and not in LA when she admitted it to Snoke.
But meeting Beaumont Kin that night at the seedy New York bar that was so cliché that she loved it was truly a stroke of luck. Then when he admitted that he worked for Palpatine, she actually kissed him.
And that's how this weird and odd relationship started.
Even now as the little fucker thrusts against her, he starts to hit that spot that always makes her toes curl—she threads her fingers through his hair that she demanded he grow out months ago just so she can do this—she tightens her fist and jerks his head back. He knows that's an unspoken command to speed up.
And just like the good boy he is, Beaumont kin, Rey Johnson's personal PA does what he's told.
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An older version of Mas—Ben. He's Ben. Stands at the door. This version has blue eyes but the same inky waves and can she be the first one to admit that she loves how the silver dusts the waves? And she hopes that she gets to see Ben's salt and pepper. And just by meeting his eyes, Rey can see that while he's snarky as hell, there's kindness and even love that comes with the snark.
"Han, let them in," Rey hears from behind this older version of Ben. Instead of nudging her husband out of the way, a petite lady, well it seems like she just appears between them all. "Move you nerf herder. Come in, you two."
She loves the way his hand goes to the small of her back as he guides her into his parent's house. they stop in the foyer. Rey takes it as an opportunity to glance around while his parents ask him questions.
It's not until she hears, "Now, tell us Ben. Who is this?" That she meets his mom's stare.
"Mom, this is Rey Johnson. Rey these are my parents, Leia Solo and my dad, Han Solo," Ben introduces everyone.
But before they can say anything, Rey hears a faint, but strong voice call out, "—is that Ben I hear?"
"She's on the porch, son," Leia says as he grabs Rey's hand to lead her through the house.
"Is that—" she says as Ben opens the french doors that lead to the back porch.
"Nonna—" he breathes as he tugs her along after him. As they walk, Rey steals a glance around them, and it's another breathless view of the mountains. But what makes her smile is Ben, her Ben, tall and wide and so strong, he bends to his knees in front of who could only be his Nonna. Not as frail as she first imagined, rich brown hair woven with lots of silver. The kindest eyes Rey's seen, smile at her. "This is Rey."
"Rey, like the sunshine," Nonna says as she holds out her hands to her. Rey takes them, and smiles when the old lady kisses her on the cheeks. "Sit, sit. Ben you silly boy, sit."
Rey accepts the seat on one side while Ben claims the other. It seems like they got comfortable when Han and Leia joins them with trays of sweet tea, cake and cookies. Once everyone has something to drink and at least a cookie in their hand, Leia asks, "Alright, what brings you two out of the City and to the mountains and why in the world are you wearing matching Welcome to Vegas t-shirts?"
The question breaks the heaviness that threatens to dull the gathering as her and Ben chuckle. She meets those whiskey-colored eyes of his and nods, trusting him to tell his family the PG version of their history instead of the reality…
And he does. As she sits there, listening to him tell them the highlights of their relationship, she remembers along with him.
But then Nonna interrupts, "But Benjamin—why does Rey look so familiar to me?"
That's when Ben stands but instead of walking and pacing, he claims his spot beside Rey on the patio couch. He holds out his hand and without thinking, she places hers in his. A squeeze and a lean, he begins. "Nonna, this is Rey Johnson. Her grandfather is Sheev Palpatine."
She doesn't miss the sharp inhale and the quiet gasp from his parents. Still, she doesn't turn to see them because she watches Ben's sweet little Nonna. Not a word is spoken as she opens her arms as she's seen Ben do so many times for her.
Her knees hit the wood of the porch as she gets down on Nonna's level so she can lean into her hug. But it's not until Nonna kisses her forehead and wipes her cheeks that she realizes that she's crying.
"Dearest—you can't pick your family, but you can pick your nose and your friends." through her tears, Rey giggles, Nonna joins her along with the rest of the Solos.
"Ben does that," Rey says.
"Good. I tried to teach him to be happy even when it was hard. I learned that from Anakin." Nonna pats Rey's cheek and gives her a wistful smile. "Sit up there beside Ben. That porch is too hard." She waits for Rey to rejoin him on the couch. "When I heard that happened to your parents, I cried. I cried for them, and my heart broke for you. Was he good to you, at least as much as he could be?"
"Honestly, he ignored me unless it was a holiday or I did well at school. The rest of the time it was my friend Rose and her family who took care of me."
"I would have come and got you if I could have. I know you never knew her, but your grandmother was one of my best friends."
"She was? I never knew—"
"I know. She was a good friend and a beautiful soul despite- once she passed, I heard through the grapevine that Sheev threw away everything that belonged to her." Nonna looks behind Rey and Ben. "Leia? Can you go fetch the wooden box in the top of my closet? One of your father's maids, she was there during the end. And from what that young lady said, are you sure you want me to tell you? This might be upsetting—"
"No please. I don't know anything about her just that she was sick and that was when my parents left New York." Leia's back and silently, gives the box to her mom.
"I was the one who helped them. They were living in one of the little houses Anakin had bought to diversity his portfolio or something like that. That's why I let Lor take over Skywalker until Leia could."
"You helped—" Rey stands then leans over so she can hug Nonna again. "Thank you. do you still have—"
"No dear it was sold years ago. I know you'll think of more things you'll want to ask and anytime you do just call me. Leia got me one of those cell phones years ago and I know how to use it. I don't like texting though, so you'll have to call me."
"Alright, I will," Rey says with a laugh as she sits back down beside Ben. But then she turns to him and asks, "But why did you want to buy Palpatine?"
"Ben, I told you that you couldn't do that," Leia fusses. "The board doesn't agree with your—"
"Mom, we're not here to talk about that stuff, believe it or not. I knew that Nonna had things that she wanted to say to Rey and that's why we're here. now that I know Rey, I'm not going to buy her company anymore."
Oh.
More than a little confused, Rey turns her attention back to Nonna. Who is currently shaking her head at her family. "Things need to happen but not today and not on the weekend. And not without lawyers."
"I'm not sure if it will help," Rey begins. "But I found all the shady business stuff Grandfather was doing. I've spent the last couple of years trying to clean up his mess. It's actually my vice presidents Finn, Poe and Rose who has been running the day-to-day stuff."
"You are so much like your grandmother. She would be so proud of you. I dare say your parents would be too. Now, like I was saying before they all started talking shop, a maid who was there helping your grandmother called me before she passed. I tried, I really did to get in to see her one last time."
"And he wouldn't let you?" Rey adds.
"He wouldn't let me. The maid called me again and said that she had stuff for me. She came over and gave me several things including this—" Nonna opens the box and turns it so Rey can see too. She can't stop the gasp that follows. It's full of so many different colors of gemstones from diamonds to topaz to garnets to pink and blue sapphires. "Your mother was already pregnant with you when your grandmother died. She also knew that Sheev might not let your parents have this to give to you later. So, she begged the maid to bring it to me. But, something you might want even more than the contents of her jewelry box—" Nonna taps the bottom of the box and a secret compartment opens. She pulls out a packet of envelopes. "These are letters from your grandma. You know, before the internet and cell phones, we would write letters."
"Nonna—" Rey whispers as she gathers the papers to her chest. More tears and a glance up, and Rey can see everyone else, including Ben are watery eyed. "No one has ever given me a better present than this. Thank you."
"And know this, sweet girl, she loved you more than anything already. But the cancer was too far gone by the time they'd found it. She so wanted to see you. Did you know that she named you? When your mom told her that you were coming, she started calling you her little ray of sunshine. She passed not too long after that and Sheev kicked them out."
"Do you know why?" Rey asks.
"No. The maid didn't go back and in fact, Lor gave her a job at Skywalker. But your parents did come to me. I gave your dad a job in another state—"
"Georgia."
"Yes, I sent them to Georgia." Nonna gives her a wink. "And they were there until the accident. Then you went to Sheev."
By now, she's crying, Nonna's crying, Rey doesn't even have to look to see Ben crying. And by the way his soft, "Damn it," sounds, Han Solo is crying too. Even Leia's cheeks are wet.
"And I just came here to—Ben where are the flowers?" Rey looks around them as she wipes her eyes. Her eyes meet his and without thinking, she reaches out to wipe his tears.
"See—" he whispers. "I told you."
"Yeah—" she barks a laugh in amongst her tears, "you did."
"You love him," Nonna says.
"I do—" Rey says. "With everything I have I love him."
"Well at least we don't have to worry about her being after your business. Hers is as big as Skywalker," Han teases. Rey shakes her head but with a smile on her face. Ben gives his dad a look while Leia smacks his leg and Nonna rolls her eyes. "What? Was it too soon?"
"Perhaps, Dad. She doesn't know you guys that well," Ben says.
"He's right," Rey teases as she bumps his shoulder.
"Are you two staying the night?" Leia asks.
"No, we didn't bring a change of clothes." Ben bumps Rey's shoulder back.
"Ben," Leia fusses. "The both of you are more than welcome anytime. You know that."
"Yes, Mom. Just the way everything happened—"
"What happened?" Nonna asks.
"Well—" Rey looks to Ben for something before she continues. A slow wink and a nod, and she knows she can continue. "We've already been seeing each other for a while—but didn't realize who, well our real identities—"
"You two are going to have to explain that one day," Han adds. Rey has to duck her head because she just knows that her cheeks are turning a violent shade of pink.
"Anyway—I didn't know she was Rey Johnson and she didn't know I was Ben Solo. She finally agreed to a meeting."
"It's hard to believe that was just yesterday," she murmurs. "It feels like it happened in a another life or something."
"It does," Ben agrees.
"Alright you two. How about we feed you before you fly back?" Han says.
"I could eat," Rey says.
"You can always eat." Ben stands and holds out his hand to help her up.
"Yes, that's true." Rey steps out of the way and both of them help Nonna up. She has to blink back tears when she tucks her hand into Ben's elbow and he escorts her in.
"Come on then, I can feed you leftovers I suppose." Leia walks ahead of them only to hold the door open for all of them. Rey is the last one and Leia adds, "Just promise me that you'll come back and let me cook or the next time I'm in New York you meet me for supper."
"There's the neatest little diner—"
"Maz and Chewy's?" Han answers.
"Yes, do you know it?" Rey gushes.
"That's where I know you from. You worked for Maz." Han grins like he figured out a great secret.
"I did. She became like a second Mom. When she couldn't afford the payments anymore—"
"Why didn't she call us?" Leia asks.
"Probably because I already bought it," Rey says as Ben helps Nonna into what must be her chair.
Rey pauses as she meets the stares of Leia and Han. Han looks proud while Leia says to Ben, "You better marry this one, son. I like her."
"I do too," Ben agrees.
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"Your family is nice." She picks up her head from his shoulder. They're on the way back to the airport and while part of her is ready to get back to NYC, she also wants to stay here. Here they are just Ben and Rey, not COOs of major corporate organizations.
"Your grandmother sounded amazing. I wish I could have met her."
"Yeah, me too. I still can't believe your Nonna gave me their letters."
"That's an amazing gift." He turns into the airport.
Somehow, she manages to wait until they are in the plane before the tears start. At first, it's just a couple as she lets Nonna's words sink in. But then the entirety of what was kept from her breaks her heart. It's not until Ben is gently taking the box from her lap and unbuckling her seat belt before he pulls her into his lap that she starts to sob.
He tucks her under his chin, wraps her in his arms and after he kisses her on the forehead where he lets his lips linger and his breath wash over her—she wills herself to relax.
But the sorrow, built up from years of missing her family washes over her. Just she can't help it if it leaks out of her eyes.
Another kiss and he murmurs, "What can I do?"
She loves that he doesn't try to fix it, even though she just knows that he wants to. She takes his hand, the one attached to the arm that crosses her lap and bring it to her mouth. A kiss to her palm but it's he who cups her cheek and holds her even tighter.
"You've already done so much. To think, if we've never—I would've never met your Nonna. And never would have known about mine. And the weird thing that keeps running through my head? What would I have called her? Grandmother? Nana? Mimi? If he killed her, then he took that away from me to." She leans up so she can meet his eyes. "Is that why I feel this way?"
"What way?"
"Like I want to destroy everything he loved which we already know is that stupid company. But he's gone and still manages to hurt me." Her laugh is bitter, even to her ears. "That's why Finn and Poe work for Palpatine. Grandfather saw how much they liked the corporate world and brought them in. Rose likes it too."
"But you don't?"
"But—" she begins as the internal struggle starts. Should she tell him the truth? Should she lay her heart on the line like she was going to when she didn't know who he really was?
"But what?" he answers.
A deep breath and she buries her nose in his neck. "Since I met you—" she pauses when she feels his finger under her chin, tilting her head to where she can meet his eyes. "Please don't use this against me one day—but I love you and ever since I met you and especially after signing the club contract, all I want is you. You, me, babies, white picket fence with pups in the yard—"
"How about a New York City high-rise instead? I can even put a white picket fence around the top floor overlooking the City."
"How about a house in jersey, across the bay from the city?"
"Now that might be a possibility—how about if we move our companies from the city to the mountains?" he asks.
"Don't tease me like that, Solo—"
"No sweetheart. I'd do anything for you, including moving if you wanted to." he smiles.
She's not sure how to answer him, so she cups his cheeks instead as her lips land on his. Their breaths mingle and just as they start to take the kiss deeper, Wedge warns them from the cockpit, "New York is just ahead. You need to buckle up."
Before she slides back into her seat, Ben whispers, "You're coming home with me, aren't you?"
She doesn't even have to think about her yes as it leaves her lips.
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He kisses his way down her neck but before he can get to the parts of her, she leans back so she can push him to his back. She loves how his eyebrows arch in silent question only for his eyes to roll back as she swallows his length.
As he reaches for her, she withdrawals to his tip only to swirl the head of his dick with her tongue. She takes him in again, and her eyes lock on his as he looks at her through his eye lashes.
But what is her undoing is when he reaches out and caresses her cheek like she's the most precious thing in the world. Maybe she is, at least to him, because she knows that he is to her.
"Rey—" his voice is hoarse as he utters her name. "Come here, my pretty Kitten." Even though they haven't been to Morosis in a while, it still makes her hum with desire to hear him call her that. He just about pulls her up to where they are eye and lip level. "Kiss me with that dirty mouth."
She smiles against his lips as they claim hers. Her whimper is loud as he sweeps into her mouth, her tongue meets his, gentling him immediately.
Their clothes long forgotten on the floor, he sinks himself into her depths. He feels so good going in, she can't stop her moan that escapes with a breath. At first his thrusts are wild and erratic as if he's trying to remind both of them of something—
But when she cups his face, and draws his attention to her, her touch gentling him. Another kiss as he slows only of a moment then his thrusts resume their usual pace.
Her pleasure is sudden as it steals her breath and all she can do is cling to him. As her walls flutter around him, that begins his. He shudders above her, she wraps her arms around him, so she can pull him close.
"No—" he moans his protest. "I'll squish you—"
"Yes, I need to feel you—" she says as he allows himself to collapse into her arms. His head lands on her breast and her legs wrap around him like her arms as their breaths mingle.
Her fingers are in his waves, smoothing them away from his forehead. She presses her lips there in a kiss.
"I love you," is a whisper murmured against skin.
"I love you."