A/N: LAST CHAPTER
It takes Cody 2 days to work up the courage to go see Ben and his family. It takes him 2 days too long, if you ask him.
So, on Thursday at 1 o'clock, Cody stands in front of Ben's door with shaking hands and a pounding heart. Rex's warmth radiates behind him and he leans into the invisible strength his twin lends him.
It only takes a few knocks before the door opens. Cody looks down to see Anakin's glaring eyes. The child looks furious, and he has every right to be.
"Is your dad here?" Cody asks, his voice quiet and lacking the strength he wished it had. Anakin stares him down a while longer until another voice calls to him.
"Anakin? Who's at the door?"
Rex flinches a little behind Cody.
A woman with blonde hair and fierce eyes enters Cody's vision. She freezes upon seeing them and her face sets into a harsh frown.
"What do you want?"
Cody winces at the dull tone.
"I'm here to apologize." He replies, his eyes downcast as his heart still pounds in his chest at the thought of seeing Ben again.
"I've only ever seen Ben cry like he did that night one other time." The woman says, her voice low but carrying kind undertones. "When his husband died." She states.
Cody flinches at the knowledge that he made Ben cry like that.
It wasn't my fault.
"Please, I want to fix this." Cody lifts his eyes and he sees the woman soften at the pleading words. "I want to explain everything."
Anakin still has his glare and it takes a few minutes before a decision is made.
"Alright." The woman says, nodding her head at the twins. "If you make him cry again though..." The threat is left unfinished as she ushers the two into the home.
Ben is on the couch with his leg propped up, glasses on and a book in his hand.
He's as beautiful as the day Cody first saw him.
"Ben." Cody mutters.
Ben's frame tightens a little. He lets out a shuddering breath, closes his eyes, closes his book, then opens his eyes and meets Cody's gaze.
"Cody." His voice is flat and tired and Cody aches at the sound. "What can I do for you?"
Cody stands there for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. A shove from his brother has him tumbling towards the man on the couch.
"Talk. I'll be in the kitchen with Satine and the kids." Rex says, eyeing the two carefully. "If you need anything, please call for us." With that, Rex drags Satine and Anakin into the kitchen where Ahsoka is waiting patiently for lunch.
The silence that sits between Cody and Ben is unbearable. Cody shifts on his feet where he stands and Ben doesn't take his eyes off him.
"Was it all a lie?" Ben finally asks, his voice no longer dull but soft and full of hurt.
"No." Cody says harshly. "It wasn't. I loved you, Ben." He says, keeping eye contact with the red-head on the couch. "I still do."
Ben pats the seat next to him in an unspoken order of Please, sit.
Cody wipes sweaty palms on his pants and makes his way to the couch. He sinks into the cushion and turns his body to face Ben. He looks exhausted and the lines around his eyes are sharp. The bags under his blue-grey eyes do nothing to help his appearance either.
Cody still thinks he's the most beautiful man in the world.
"I'm sorry." Cody begins, tapping a finger on his leg. His eyes lower when Ben's gaze doesn't seem to move. "What you saw was…" Where did he begin? What could he say? "Asajj Ventress." Cody states, raising his head to find Ben's eyebrows beetled in confusion. "She's my ex. She's…"
"Crazy?" Ben asks and Cody laughs and allows a tiny smile onto his face.
It's an odd feeling. He hasn't smiled in a while.
"You could say that. She came to my house a while back and said some….unsavory things about, well, you." Cody hates the feeling in his gut when Ben flinches. "I hadn't seen her in two years and the first thing she does when she sees me is…" Cody shakes his head. "I won't tell you what she said, but it made me angry. I don't know why she sought me out. I don't know why she decided to do it now…"
"She heard you had someone new." Ben observes, finding the story in what Cody wasn't saying. "She wanted to know who your new love was. She wanted to hear about the competition." Ben's lips turn into a sad smile.
"Yeah, I guess so." Cody swallows thickly before he continues. "Her visiting sent something through me. I knew something was going to happen. She wouldn't have just shone up without reason." Cody shakes his head and lowers his eyes once more. "I should have known what she would do."
Ben doesn't say anything. For his part, he watches Cody with a faint curling of love in his eyes. He never stopped loving Cody, even if that love hurt him deeply. He didn't want to stop loving him.
"I don't know how she found me that night." Cody continues, hands rubbing together as he finishes the tale. "I was waiting for you in the park and she just...showed up." Cody releases a shaky breath that pulls his body further down towards his clasped hands. "It happened far too quickly. I swear I didn't know she was going to do that. I swear I didn't want that."
"You didn't stop." Ben states, remembering the sight from two nights ago. "She just kept-"
"I couldn't stop it." Cody cuts in, lifting his head to meet Ben's eyes. The tears brimming in Cody's eyes makes Ben's figure a little difficult to see, but he can see the sorrow radiating from the man. "She wouldn't let me go. I couldn't break out of her grip." Cody sniffs as tears gather further in his eyes. "I saw you there and I wanted nothing more than to break out of her grip and run to you. I just...couldn't. I don't know-"
"You don't know why you couldn't bring yourself to do it." Ben says with raw understanding in his voice.
"I never meant to hurt you." Cody pushes as much truth and honesty as he can into the words. "I love you. I will never stop loving you."
Ben's cheeks flush a deep red at the pure love in Cody's confession.
"I've loved you always, Cody." Ben says, lifting a hand to Cody's face. "You will always be my heart."
"Cyar'ika?" Cody questions, unsure of where this conversation is leading.
Ben's soft smile sends so much warmth throughout Cody's body. He lifts a hand to grasp Ben's hand that sits against his cheek.
"Shall we try this again, dear one?" Ben asks, tears in his eyes. Cody's laugh is wet and hoarse as he nods.
"Yes. Yes, let's do that."
And they do.
Epilogue
It's not all fixed quickly. Time is important to heal wounds that were left out of misunderstandings. Love always wins.
It takes 2 years after their meeting for Cody to propose. It takes Ben all of five seconds to realize what's happening. Through blurred visions caused by tears, a muffled "yes" escapes Ben's mouth.
It takes a few months after that for the wedding to occur. Ben still aches from the loss of his first husband. He thought it would take longer for him to get through the ache of loss. He knows Quin would want this for him. He knows Quin wouldn't want Ben to remain alone. Ben knows he's watching, a constant companion through the rest of his life.
Tears of joy flow down both Cody and Ben's cheeks as they say their vows. The kiss that seals their love is careful and filled with smiles from the newly wedded couple.
Years pass.
They grow old together in the house Quin bought for Ben. They watch Anakin and Ahsoka grow and have families of their own.
Somehow, when they go, they go together. Fate has an odd way of working out like that.
Life has its challenges, but love?
Love is precious and comes out ahead every time.
Mando'a Translation: Cyar'ika: sweetheart, darling
