Dinner went off without a hitch. Ben didn't seem nervous and he already fits in with Cody's family. His family seemed to love him just as much as Cody did.
Then, Boba asked a question Cody knew he told him not to ask.
"You don't like cars?" An immediate silence falls over the table as everyone from Boba's family sends him glares, whilst Ben's children look at their father with concern.
For his part, Ben meets Boba's eyes and doesn't back down from the question. However, Cody beats him in his endeavor to speak.
"I thought we talked about this." He mutters to his brother. Boba's face flushes and he ducks his head.
"It's alright." Ben's quiet voice breaks in, cutting the tension softly. "No, I'm not overly fond of them."
Boba looks back up at Ben and nods. He opens his mouth to speak, but Cody slaps a hand over his brother's mouth.
"Not another word." He growls at the young boy. "I told you not to ask him about it."
Ben's soft laughter fills the air and the soft smile of his face makes Cody's heart melt.
"It's alright." He repeats, catching Cody's eye. "Children are curious." Ben sends a knowing look at his son and Anakin has the decency to lower his head as his cheeks warm. Ben's attention goes back to Boba. "I'm sure Cody told you what happened, but if you want to hear it from me, I don't mind."
Boba chews on his lip from a moment before nodding his head.
It takes all of Cody's strength to not whack his brother on his head. The pleading and apologetic look Cody sends his cyare makes the man's face brighten.
"In short, a car accident took the life of my husband and caused very serious injuries to myself," Ben explains and Boba listens with intent. "My right knee was shattered and is still on the mend." He points to the cane resting on the floor by the couch. "I have to use that cane most days, but I have a brace that helps as well." Next, he lifts his left hand in all its trembling glory. "My left hand was seriously injured as well and developed a tremor." He looks at Kix with a soft smile. "Physical Therapy was prescribed, but I've been told the tremor won't go away and I'll most likely always have a limp." Looking back to Boba, he finishes his tale. "I'm terrified to drive. I had a friend of mine drive us here, but it was the most terrifying moment of my life. It's been a month, but I don't know that I'll ever get over it."
"Do you miss him?" Boba asks, ignoring the looks thrown at him by his family. Jango even glares at his son as he knows the boy was there when Cody told them what they should and shouldn't talk about.
Ben's face falls, but a sad smile stays on his face. His eyes fall and he eyes his empty plate before nodding.
"Every day."
Cody can hear his family's hearts break at the soft utterance of Ben's confession. Ben's head rises and his eyes are shiny with tears.
"I don't think I'll ever stop missing him," He throws an apologetic look at Cody. "But that doesn't mean I love your brother any less."
The pure love and warmth in the statement makes Cody's eyes water. Wet sniffing from next to him makes Cody flick his eyes over to his twin.
"You two make me sick." Rex's eyes are filled with tears that he tries desperately to wipe away.
"Apologies," Ben says with the laughter that makes Cody's head go faint. "We can stop if you'd like."
"Please." Rex's voice is watery and it makes those around the table laugh.
The rest of the meal is passed in friendly, warm conversation.
"Let me help," Ben says once dinner ends, and things are being cleared from the table to prepare for the dessert that Ben brought. He's halfway out of his seat with a plate in his hand when his knee buckles. A whine catches in his throat as arms hold him up and someone else catches the plate. "Or not." He forces out through the stab of pain.
He's lifted gently by Kix and he can't stop the sounds of pain as his leg is straightened out after being bent for so long.
"Let's get that brace off." Kix's voice is close to his ear and Ben nods at the command. He registers his body moving and being set gently onto some cushions. The sight of a coffee table with a pillow resting on it makes him laugh lightly when he notices Cody's red cheeks.
"Seems familiar?" Cody asks as Kix lifts Ben's leg up and his foot to rest on the pillow.
"Unfortunately."
Anakin rushes up with pain killers in one hand and a glass of water in another. His father takes the pills into his left hand and the water in his right before muttering his thanks to his son. Anakin has a smug smile on his face that Ben rolls his eyes at jokingly.
"I'm sorry-"
"Don't." Jango cuts Ben off and Ben flinches at the sudden sound of the father of his love's voice. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault."
Ben can easily fight that, but he chooses not to.
"Right now, we have a lovely dessert to eat that you made." Jango continues, smiling at the red-haired man on his couch. "I don't see why we can't eat it in here."
So, dessert is eaten in the living room with Ben on the couch in between Cody and Kix, Rex on the floor with Ahsoka on his lap, Anakin and Boba not far from the couch speaking to each other in hushed voices, and Jango on a chair watching the rest of them.
Time seems to pass quicker than the adults seem to realize.
In less than 2 hours, the children are fast asleep and Ben has fallen into the soft atmosphere as well. His head is leaning on Cody's shoulder and his plate is getting dangerously close to falling out of his limp fingers. Kix is next to him watching his face for any signs that the man might be waking up, and Cody's eyeing him with so much adoration it makes Jango's heart ache.
"They're cute, aren't they?" Rex asks from his spot on the floor.
"Yeah," Jango says, eyes trained on the couple on the couch. "They are."
