"You may not think I know the difference," Rey sang softly to herself, walking around the kitchen while trying to put the damn recipe from the family book together. "But I do, but I do, but I do."
Sabé always said her mother sang to her every day since she found out she was pregnant, even on the run, because she was trying to soothe her from whatever was happening around them at the moment.
She was trying to eat healthier now because of the baby, and still hiding it from… well, everyone aside from Rose, Kaydel and her grandmother. And especially hiding it from Ben. It wasn't hard. Her belly hadn't popped out – according to Sabé, both herself and Rey's mother had only started showing later in their pregnancies, around the middle to the end of the 2nd trimester, with her mother being able to conceal her pregnancy with clothing until the 7th month – and her symptoms had eased out.
"You're singing?" Ben asked behind her, making her jump in surprise. "And cooking?"
Rey nodded, feeling her cheeks heating up, and Ben walked to her side, laying a large hand on her back and looking at the two pans she'd been taking care of.
"Smells great. Save me some?" he kissed her temple.
He stepped away before seeing her breathless reaction, and Rey frowned.
"I didn't know you were going out," she said, confused.
Ben put on his jacket.
"Poe convinced me to hit the bar," he rolled his eyes. "Boys' night, I guess? Now that the girls are coming over."
She nodded slowly, and he put his hands in the pocket.
"Do you want me to get wine on my way back?"
"No, not really," she shrugged. "I'm not drinking a lot lately."
That made Ben frown.
"Rey… Is everything okay?" he questioned, and his eyes travelled right behind her, to the pill case. "What's that you're taking, is that medicine?"
She stepped right to the side before he could get close to it, hiding it behind her back.
"No," she answered quickly. "No medicine."
Ben's frown only increased, and he stopped on his tracks, two steps away from her.
"Rey," he said slowly. "You know what? What the fuck is wrong with you? What the hell is happening?"
She shrunk in her spot as he ran a hand over his hair.
"What is going on?" he repeated. "You said there's a lot going on and you won't tell me! I thought I was your friend but apparently years of friendship and living together mean nothing to you? You're not going out with us any more, you seem to have a doctor appointment every single week and you're taking basically half your usual shifts in the hospital, and Luke won't tell me anything! And now you're taking medicine and won't even let me know what it is about!"
Rey stopped with her breath caught in her throat. She'd never seen Ben this nervous, not in years knowing him. His face and ears were red, and he was clearly breathless.
"Are you sick?"
She gritted her teeth for a moment and felt her shoulders sag.
"I found out about something, okay?" she said simply. "And I'm not gonna die from anything but it means that I'm changing my lifestyle and becoming a healthier person for my own good."
He just continued to stare at her in confusion.
"You got high blood pressure or diabetes or something?"
She sighed.
"Kind of."
Ben's posture changed, and he looked at her with fear and despair in his eyes.
"Rey… Do you have cancer or a tumour?" he questioned. "Why didn't you talk to me? I'm a good doctor, I can..."
"No, no," she denied. "Ben, look… I'm okay. I promise. I'm okay. I'm just trying to be healthier, okay? I'm trying not to have take-out and taking vitamins and making my own dinner and not drinking and… I'm just trying to be healthier because of my family history."
Ben averted his eyes from hers and Rey hugged herself.
"Don't be mad at me, Ben," she muttered. "I'm just trying to do better."
He looked away for a moment and then took a breath, wrapping his arms around her and hugging Rey tightly.
"Fine," he whispered. "Just… don't hide important things from me, Rey. Please. You're like family to me. I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to you."
"I won't, "she muttered. "Don't worry."