The next week flew by, which Rey was incredibly thankful for. Work was extremely busy, with most of their legal team working nonstop, meaning Rey was able to avoid a follow-up with Dryden. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about him.

Her omega screamed that a different Alpha, a better Alpha, was right in front of her.

Her terrified heart and self-conscious brain weren't so sure.

A busy Dryden meant no talking, which Rey appreciated immensely. Work kept her just as busy, and before she knew it, Friday had rolled around.

Earlier in the week, she had swung by the lab that Cassian had referred her to, letting some unnamed technician swipe the inside of her cheek, leaving her to wonder if some spit and bits of her gum would really tell her if this man was her father. And, despite her wishful thinking, the results weren't ready before her departure for Chandrila.

So, she and Ben stuck to their original plan. Ben swung by at exactly 6pm on the dot, welcoming Rey into his cozy car with one of his signature looks of indifference. He rarely smiled, but Rey could tell by the light in his eyes that he was in a good mood.

His scent indicated it too, if the spike of cinnamon deliciousness the moment she entered the car was any indication.

Things between her and Ben had been…

Tense.

She wasn't sure how else to describe it. Her busy work schedule and fixation on the upcoming trip certainly took her focus away from Ben, leaving them limited time to discuss their fight and their…

Well…

Kiss.

Because they had kissed.

She knew what Ben tasted like. She knew how his scent shifted when their mouths went to war.

What she didn't know, however, was why Ben kissed her.

Had he done it because he wanted to? Had he done it to prove a point? To rub his scent all over her, making her date unbearably uncomfortable?

Was it out of sheer curiosity? A hormone-driven lapse in judgement? A deep-seeded Alpha power move?

Rey didn't know.

She never would know at the rate she was going.

Mainly because she refused to talk to Ben.

"Work go ok?" Ben asked, breaking through the soft music playing in his car, "Your team meet that deadline?"

Rey watched as he pulled into the parking lot of her favorite Mexican joint, her stomach growling in a clear Pavlovian response. "We did. Barely. Let's just say I'm thrilled for the weekend, even if I'm scared to death," She explained, her voice faltering as she remembered what exactly their road trip was for.

Ben parked in record time, quickly jumping out of the car and opening the passenger door. Once Rey was out of the car, he led her inside, his hand nestled on her lower back.

"It's okay to be scared," He explained, as he pulled the door of the tiny restaurant open, allowing Rey through, "But now we'll finally get you answers, even if they're not what you want to hear."

She considered his words and settled into the line, nibbling nervously on her lip. "Should I have waited for the results to come in?" She asked wearily, her voice small.

But Ben merely shrugged. "Maybe. But now, at least you get a weekend trip to Chandrila."

Rey snorted. "There's not really much to do there."

"Hey, I happened to find a nice B&B for us to stay at. And, they're known for good Mexican food," He retorted, a small smile growing on his lips, "So at the very least, we'll get you some more burritos."

She grinned. "Right. I'll take a burrito now."

Her best friend didn't need to be told again.

-x-x-x-

After their quick dinner, which mainly consisted of Ben enjoying a salad and Rey scarfing down a burrito so fast that she nearly choked, they hit the road. Coruscant was about five hours away from Chandrila on a good day, and given the off season, Ben prayed things would go smoothly.

They didn't.

Ben was beginning to wonder what he had done to piss off god, or the universe, or whoever the hell was pulling the strings and calling the shots.

Because it was currently hour five, and they were maybe, if he was being optimistic (and a bit generous), three hours outside of Chandrila.

Five hours of sitting with his legs cramping from driving wasn't ideal. It wasn't fun, but he could handle it. But five hours of sitting in an enclosed space with Rey's scent?

He was slowly dying. Or, maybe it was simply all the blood in his head going south, leaving him with a semi for virtually the entire drive.

Rey had gone in and out of sleep, occasionally speaking softly to him about her concerns about Cassian, or her job, or her grandfather's health. But, mostly, she entertained herself with the radio or Instagram, occasionally showing Ben questionable photos of their mutual acquaintances.

It was during hour two that they hit the major slowdown. They sat in a virtual standstill on the highway for what seemed like a solid hour and a half, Google Maps only helping with a simple "Slow-down Ahead" message blinking across his phone.

He was irritable, tired, hungry, and worst of all, suffocating in Rey's delicious omega scent.

Surely, this was his own personal type of hell.

"Ben?" Rey whimpered, stirring out of her third cat-nap. She leaned over the dash, glancing at the directions on Ben's phone, and practically recoiled at the "2 hours and forty-two minutes to destination" header, "How are we still three hours out?"

He snorted and gripped the steering wheel. "Hell, if I know. It looked like an overturned semi but I'm not sure."

Rey frowned and looked out the window. "Maybe we should find a hotel. Stop for the night."

"No. I got us a nice room at the B&B in Chandrila. Besides, then we'd have to leave at the ass crack of dawn to get to Chandrila in the morning to meet your dad," He explained, trying to keep his voice relaxed, "I rather push through the night."

She began to play with her hair, watching as they drove through the darkness. "He's not my dad. At least, we don't know," She muttered, before grabbing her half-empty drink from dinner, "And fine, up to you driver. But that means we're not getting there until—"

Ben grumbled. "3am, I know," He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "It's fine. I rather sleep there and roll out of bed to meet him than drive in the morning."

Rey nodded, accepting his point. "Let me know if you want me to drive."

"In your dreams, Rey," He practically laughed, sparing a glance in her direction, "I don't need a repeat of our trip last Christmas."

At his response, she scoffed and crossed her arms. "Hey! You know roads were slick!"

He chuckled. "Still. I'll stick to driving."

"Fine. But I'm hungry. I want a cheeseburger."

Ben simply laughed and took off for the next exit.

Even if he was in hell, he was still having fun.

-x-x-x-

Thankfully, the rest of the drive went relatively smoothly. Ben stopped at the next fast food restaurant he saw, unable to stop himself from joining Rey's descent into cholesterol hell and added his own order to Rey's midnight dinner.

They drove off, laughing between bites of cheeseburgers and French fries, Ben enjoying his first soda in nearly three years. Rey tormented him by dipping her French fries into a vanilla milkshake—

"It's good if you would just try it Ben!"

-she had whined incessantly, but just as content to eat the food herself.

Ben, however, stuck to the safety of his favorite childhood meal.

Whenever he'd go out riding on Han's motorcycle—something he loved dearly but always drove his mother insane—they ended up at that same fast food restaurant, ordering practically one of everything on the menu.

But thinking about his dad reminded Ben of their recent conversation.

About his father's instant attraction to his mother.

His thoughts were spared, however, when they finally pulled into the parking lot of the cute bed and breakfast, he had found through Trip Advisor, his phone indicating it was five minutes after 3am.

They jumped out of the car, their limbs stiff, and headed into the beautiful Victorian home, Ben trailing behind with the bags under his arms. Rey immediately seemed enamored with the glimpses of the gorgeous landscaping, the blooming flowers and willowy trees visible even in the darkness of the night.

She would probably kill him if she knew how expensive a night at this place was.

Ben wanted, no, needed to do something nice for her. It wasn't even about their fight. He knew this meeting would either fill a deep void in her heart or absolutely destroy her.

Good job protecting Omega. You're a good, Alpha.

Unfortunately, check-in took a solid ten minutes, given the small coziness of the inn. Ben and Rey had to literally wait for the manager to get out of bed and give them their keys, which was frustrating for the exhausted pair, if not understandable.

By the time they got to their room, Ben knew they were past the point of pleasantries. Rey had some pretty gnarly moods—hangry normally being her worst—but her deathly exhausted was a close second. As soon as they opened the door, she practically barreled through him to get to the bathroom, clearly desperate to get into her pajamas and into bed.

That allowed Ben to settle a bit, making sure to pick the bed closest to the window, knowing Rey would want to be as far away from any natural light as impossible. He'd shower in the morning, as usual, so he quickly stripped into a pair of sweat pants.

A few minutes passed before Rey emerged from the bathroom, her hair wet, and dressed in a ridiculously large sweatshirt.

Ben sat on the edge of his bed, watching her closely.

"Is that mine?" He couldn't help but ask, recognizing the Coruscant University sweater.

Rey merely shrugged and sat on the empty bed, her eyes droopy. "I stole it during my heat, and it was too comfy to return."

Omega likes scent. Omega is protected. GOOD JOB!

"Right. So…Breakfast is served between 8 and 10. We're meeting your dad—" at the look Rey gave him, he cleared his throat, "Potential father at 11 for brunch. Did you still want to eat?"

Rey's look could have murdered him.

He cleared his throat. "Of course. Breakfast first. So…Maybe we go down at 8—"

This piercing look made him chuckle. "Right, right, ok. We'll go down at the absolute latest time?"

Rey hummed and climbed into her bed. "The café Cassian is meeting us at is about 15 minutes away. So we'll leave at 10:45. Which means I'll go down for breakfast at 10:30. Which means I'll wake up at 10:15."

Ben rubbed at his eyes, still unable to understand how Rey survived with her "as late as possible" mentality. "I'll let you sleep but I'll probably—"

"Wake up and work out." Rey hummed, snuggling under the large comforter on her bed, "You ate a cheeseburger and we know you gained eighty pounds from that, so, duh. No days off."

He rolled his eyes and turned the lights off, climbing into his own bed. "You mock me, but I have to stay in shape somehow."

From the bed beside him, Rey snorted. "Well I eat a ton and I never work out."

Ben shut his eyes and hummed. "You're like some reverse gremlin thing. You eat and never gain weight. But your metabolism could change one day."

"Would you still be my best friend if I weighed eight thousand pounds?" She asked, her voice soft, drowsy.

Even in the darkness, he smiled. "I don't care how big or small you are. You'll always be my best friend."

Silence filled the room for a few moments, only the soft hum of the air conditioner cutting through the air. Ben was nearly there—nearly asleep—until he heard the sniffle.

"Ben?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

He immediately turned in the bed, looking towards where she laid, even if the darkness prevented him from seeing her. "Yes, Rey? Are you okay?"

She sniffled again. "Not really. I just—what if he is my dad?" She stuttered out, her voice breaking, "I went almost three decades without him. I don't think I even want him."

"Then you don't have to have him," Ben explained, his voice cautious, "We don't even have to go tomorrow. We'll hang out here. Just look at the flowers and eat burritos."

He wasn't sure, given the purr of the air conditioner, but he thought she laughed.

"But what if this is my only chance?"

Ben frowned, wishing she was beside him, snuggled into his arms. Her scent was spiking with fear and anxiety and it drove him absolutely mad.

"You can decide in the morning. We can go and you can find out. And even if he is your father, you don't have to stay in contact with him. That's entirely up to you."

The room grew silent again, sans Rey's soft sniffles.

He listened as she shifted in the bed. After a few minutes of silence, he finally drifted slowly into sleep.

"Thank you for coming with me, Alpha," a voice whispered into the darkness.

Or so he thought.

He was so tired, he simply wasn't sure.

-x-x-x-

The following morning went exactly as Ben expected. He was up and out of bed by 9am, a nice and late start given their short vacation, and out the door in only a few minutes. He took a relaxing run around the property, reveling in the gorgeous trees and blooming flowers surrounding the home.

He was showered and watching Chandrila's local morning news when Rey bolted up, her obnoxious phone alarm ringing beside her. He couldn't help but laugh as she silenced the phone, turning over, and returning back to sleep.

Ben wasn't sure why he was surprised that she didn't climb out of bed until 10:25. Similarly, he wasn't sure why he was shocked she managed to get ready in five minutes. With one frantic wave, he followed her out the door, listening to her babble on about breakfast at the facilities.

The next day, when they had more time to enjoy the breakfast portion of "bed and breakfast", he knew he'd enjoy a freshly made omelet and some of their famous French toast. However, in their fifteen-minute window, he was left just to enjoy some scrambled eggs and toast, which was enough.

Even he was nervous, his stomach in knots. He was worried to death about Rey, unsure of which outcome was better. He knew she'd be devastated if this man wasn't her father. Equally, she'd be devastated if he was and she hated him.

And what happened if he was her father and they did get along?

How would her life change then?

Rey, however, didn't seem deterred, and managed to stuff her face with enough sausage and bits of muffin to put her second dinner yesterday evening to shame. In fact, at 10:45, he nearly had to pull her out of the inn, knowing they had to hit the road.

And so they did, sitting only in silence.

It was only when they parked at the café that he smelled her fear.

-x-x-x-

The car smelled like Ben. Like sandalwood and fresh rain and comfort and home.

But even being practically engulfed in his smell couldn't calm her anxiety.

"We don't have to go in," He explained, shifting his body to face her, "We passed a fancy candle shop. We can go there. I'll buy you some candles. We'll get some overpriced, artisan ice cream. We can watch some Netflix back in the room."

Rey nibbled nervously on her lip, staring at the cutesy hipster café that her father was potentially sitting inside. She took a deep breath, letting Ben's delicious scent balm at her nerves, and opened the car door.

"No. I have to do this," Rey admitted, partially to him, but mostly to herself.

Ben simply smiled. "Ok. Then let's go meet him."

-x-x-x-

Thinking back, Rey would have sworn they were moving in slow motion. She barely noticed the quirky chairs in the café, each rustic and clearly repurposed from their first lives. She barely noticed the deep scent of fresh coffee and sweet maple syrup, permeating around the entire café. She barely noticed the movement of the other customers, or the servers, or the friendly barista who carefully decorated the top of a latte with whip cream.

But she noticed him, carefully tucked away in a table in the back, staring out the window with a sort of longing Rey had never seen but had most certainly felt.

She couldn't breathe when his eyes met hers.

They were the same eyes that she looked into every morning while brushing her teeth.

He was so handsome—golden skin, with a full beard, only a touch of grey streaked through his dark hair. His big brown eyes stared into her own and she just knew.

Her thoughts were only confirmed when she neared the table and his scent hit her.

Alpha.

His smell felt like home in a way that no one else's ever had. There was a calming note to it that reminded her of her grandfather. It felt like being wrapped in a warm embrace, or her favorite cozy sweater, or like a full tummy of sweet hot coco.

Cassian jumped to his feet. "Rey," He began, his eyes sweeping over her in awe, "You came. You actually came."

Rey swallowed, shaking slightly. Ben appeared behind her and pressed a warm hand into her back, immediately helping to calm her.

"I said I would," She choked out, staring at him with the same surprised eyes, "So…Here I am."

He cleared his throat and nodded, before awkwardly sticking out his hand. "Cassian Andor. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Rey cautiously took his hand, before stepping aside to let Ben do the same. The way his scent spiked with possessiveness nearly drove her mad.

"Ben Solo," He grumbled out, shaking Cassian's hand with a watchful eye.

Cassian looked between the pair, a soft smile growing across his face. "I didn't know you had a mate, Rey," He focused on Ben, sizing the other Alpha up, "I do hope he's taking care of you."

While his words shocked her, momentarily striking her speechless, Ben was quick to clarify the situation while prompting her to sit down.

"We're not mated," Ben explained, before sitting beside her, "Just have been best friends for years. My parents and her grandfather are close friends."

Cassian sat down and nodded slowly. "I see. I just…assumed. You uh, smelled like each other so…" He shook his head, quickly changing the subject, "I'm just so happy you came, Rey."

Rey bit her lip and looked down. "I um. I don't mean to be rude but I just…Do you have the lab results?"

From across the table, the older man shifted and let out a laugh. "I see. No time for small talk?"

She pursed her lips. "I just…Is there a purpose of us doing this if the results come back negative?"

Cassian chuckled again and pulled an envelope out of his jacket. He slid it across the table, watching Rey with careful eyes. "I understand. I picked it up this morning. Still sealed and everything. So…We'll find out together."

Rey grabbed it, her hands shaking as she ripped into the thick orange envelope. As she moved to pull the paper out, Cassian's voice halted her movements.

"I just wanted to say that—" He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, "No matter what, you look so much like Jyn—your mother—she was so beautiful. I see her in you. And I'm sorry you had to grow up without a father, whether it is me or someone else."

She nodded slowly, staring at the folded sheet of white paper, the surely life-changing text hidden. As she moved to open it, Ben placed a hand on her knee. Even at a moment as intense as that, she couldn't help but pause and glance at where their skin touched—reveling in his gigantic hand nearly wrapped around her entire knee and thigh.

With a deep breath, she unfolded the paper, her eyes carefully reading the lab results. At the percentage listed, her heart skipped a beat.

"Well?" Cassian asked, studying her, unsure of what her wide eyes indicated.

Rey cleared her throat. "Probability of Paternity is listed at 99.9995 percent," she explained softly, before sliding the paper over for him to view, "So I guess that answers that."

Truthfully, she wasn't sure how to react. Her emotions were all over the place—relief that she had an answer, thrilled that her dad was there, distraught that she grew up without both parents when this man was very much alive and normal—so how the hell was she supposed to react?

But while she was torn between elation and defeat, Cassian most certainly wasn't.

Rey stared, nearly paralyzed, as the older man sitting across from her broke into tears. Fat tears dripped down his cheeks as he let out haggard breaths, his lips quivering with silent words that he couldn't seem to force out.

Unsure of what to do, she relaxed as Ben grabbed her hand and offered her a comforting squeeze, the pair simply watching Cassian in silence.

After a few deep breaths, Cassian seemed to come to, quickly swiping the tears from his red cheeks. He immediately redirected his attention to Rey, his eyes filled with a tenderness that momentarily stole her breath away.

"Should we order?" Cassian asked, his voice tinged with glee, "I think we'll be here awhile."

Even in that moment, Rey still couldn't turn down food.

And when she and Cassian both ordered a breakfast burrito with extra salsa and bacon on the side, she once again wondered what she had missed out on in life without this man with her.

-x-x-x-

"I suppose you have a lot of questions," Cassian began, nervously shifting the coffee mug sitting in front of him, "Then again, I do as well."

Rey nodded slowly and glanced at Ben, immediately blushing under his intense gaze. Ben gave her hand another comforting squeeze, smartly deciding to keep himself quiet during the father and daughter reunion.

"I taught Latin at Scarif University for quite a bit," He began, watching Rey with soft eyes, "but the Latin professor at Stewjon was going on maternity leave and the college needed a professor for the spring. I ended up on the shortlist and decided I'd go. It was temporary so, no harm in that, right?"

Cassian chuckled and sipped his coffee, his smile sad, "Your Grandfather ran the classics department. Since I was new and he had the space, he was kind enough to let me stay in his guest room. He had mentioned his daughter Jyn—she was attending Stewjon, taking a few classes while working part time—but I didn't think much of it."

Rey watched him speak, practically hypnotized by his words. She wanted to know every detail of their love affair that created her—even if it would ultimately end in heart break.

"Well, clearly I was wrong," he continued, a chuckle escaping his lips, "I met her, and I was just blown away by her beauty, her charm, her vigor," his voice dropped, a sadness overcoming his features, "I tried so hard to ignore our connection. I felt so guilty being attracted to her, especially when her father offered me his home. And she was so young, so innocent."

She leaned forward, captivated. "But you couldn't ignore her?"

Cassian smiled, his wrinkles not detracting from his handsome features. "No. I couldn't. She was just…everything I could have wanted and needed."

Rey nodded. "So why did you leave?"

He shifted, his gaze dropping to the table. "My semester at the school ended. I was due back at Scarif. And despite how much I cared for your mother, I couldn't be what she needed. I was nearly thirteen years older than her. She was still in college—not even 21."

"If you knew she was pregnant, would you have stayed?" Rey asked, hating how her voice caught as she spoke.

His response was quick, instant almost. "Yes. I would have done anything to be there for my child—you—and your mother as well."

Rey almost jerked back as Cassian reached forward, grabbing her free hand and giving her a soft squeeze. Immediately, her heart warmed.

One hand was engulfed in Ben's ginormous one, his delicious scent wrapping itself around her body like a straight jacket. Her other hand sat in Cassian's, the man offering her a new type of a home she spent years longing for.

She had never felt so content in her life.

"I never spoke to your mother again," He whispered sadly, his eyes locked on hers, "I didn't know of her passing until I met your grandfather last week." He cleared his throat and looked away. "I was back at Stewjon for a short conference and ran into him. He invited me back to his home for coffee."

His brought her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to it. "He told me about Jyn dying so young, which was absolutely heartbreaking. But then I saw your photo. It was your senior portrait," He explained, smiling at the thought, "And you had these big brown eyes, and golden skin, and this ginormous smile and as soon as he told me your age, I just…" He shook his head, "I just knew."

"She died when I was six," Rey explained, glancing at Ben, knowing his soft eyes would offer some support, "She overdosed. She had issues with drugs and alcohol."

Cassian squeezed her hand again. "I'm so sorry you had to grow up without both of your parents."

Rey shrugged and looked away. "It sucked. But I'm lucky I have such a great grandpa."

"I'm forever in his debt," Cassian explained, staring at her with loving eyes, "and it would mean the world to me if you allowed me to get to know you and become a part of your life."

It only took a half hour, but the tears did finally come for Rey. At his words, she couldn't help but break down, letting twenty-six years of sadness escape her.

"I want that too," She cried out, her voice breaking, "More than anything."

In a fury of movements, Cassian was out of his seat and pulling her into his arms, holding her close.

She just cried and cried and cried.

-x-x-x-

After their brunch, they went on a walk in the city center, catching up on their interests and lives and everything in-between. Ben was always a few steps behind, clearly trying to give the father and daughter their space. In fact, when the topic of dinner came up, he actually made the rather difficult decision to go back to their B&B to leave their pair alone.

All Ben ever wanted was to support Rey and be by her side, but he knew this journey was her own. She needed to get to know her father on her own terms, not with her moody Alpha best friend lurking behind her.

So, despite the possessive side of him that desperately wanted to be by her side screaming, he enjoyed his evening, content to appreciate their B&B. He dined on homemade meat loaf and mashed potatoes, a meal that reminded him of dinner with his own grandparents.

When Rey returned later that evening, smelling like her father, Ben didn't find himself angry. It was a first too—since she grew up as a Beta, she never smelled like her grandfather. In fact, with her father's scent on her, Ben found himself oddly…relaxed.

Once they were showered and changed, they rested on their respective beds, staring at each other. Ben kept quiet, waiting for updates on Rey's evening.

"He's so smart. So interesting." She explained, her voice soft, "He speaks six languages—nearly all the Romance languages!" she sniffled, evidently emotional over the day, "His mom was British. His dad's parents were from Mexico. That means I'm a quarter Mexican!"

Ben chuckled, watching her smiley form. "Yeah? That might explain why your spicy food tolerance is so high."

Rey rolled her eyes, despite her grin. "It's not that high. You just have white boy taste buds. Pico de gallo makes your eyes water."

He rolled his eyes. "What now?" Ben asked, changing the subject to the more serious questions, "He goes back to Scarif and you go back to Coruscant."

She shifted and nodded. "Well, it's June. So. He's not in session. He said he'd um…" She smiled softly, her words excited, "He said he'd come stay in Coruscant for a few weeks. Spend time with me. And we need to talk to my Grandpa."

Ben immediately flinched, thinking about how Old Man Kenobi would react to this development. "You think he'll take it well?"

Rey leaned back in the bed, considering his words. "I'm not sure. I think he'll take it well. With my mom gone, I think he'll be happy to know my father didn't abandon me. That now, despite the circumstances, I can get to know him."

"You deserve that, Rey. Truly." He whispered, staring at her intensely, "I'm so happy you agreed to meet him. And that everything worked out."

She sniffled and nodded, hugging a pillow to her chest. "I'm happy too. But part of me still resents that I'm meeting him so late. That I had to grow up without him."

Ben rose to his feet and walked towards her bed, only stopping when he stood beside her sitting form. "It does suck, Rey. It sucks so much. But you have him now. That's better than nothing."

He staggered back, only for a moment, as Rey jumped into his arms. He held her close, burying his face in her hair, slowly realizing that her scent was all he wanted and needed. They stood in the middle of their hotel room, entwined with their arms and legs, practically one giant lump.

"Thank you for being here with me, Ben," She practically sobbed out, clutching onto his shirt, "For always being there for me."

Ben kissed her cheek and wiped away a few tears, his smile soft. "You're my best friend. I'm not going anywhere."

They stood for a few moments, just holding each other. Ben knew his reassuring scent would help calm Rey down, especially with how much her own scent was spiking. Unable to help himself, he licked at her gland, relaxing the moment he felt her loosen.

She clutched onto him tighter. "Can you hold me tonight?" She whispered, her breath hot on his neck, "I don't want to be alone."

Ben swallowed and nodded. "Yeah. Okay. Anything you want."

Rey pulled away and notably climbed into his bed, not her own, and looked at him expectantly. It rooted him to the ground, just for a few seconds, before he finally climbed into bed. She immediately rolled into his arms, happily curling into his heat.

It wasn't the first time they shared a bed. They had been best friends for two decades. Ben can still remember the trauma of waking up with a boner at age sixteen, trapped beside her on the sofa bed of his Uncle's beach home, Rey's grandfather snoring in a cot beside them.

But this was…different.

For starters, they were adults.

And he was an Alpha.

She was an Omega.

In typical Rey fashion, she was asleep in mere minutes, leaving Ben to obsess about what they were doing. To obsess about her delicious scent that made his heart beat out of his chest.

To obsess about her tantalizing glands, still fresh and pink and so very close to his face.

But for not the first time since she presented, he wasn't merely hypnotized by her scent gland.

It was her mating gland that caught his attention.

Rey was one step closer to having a true family.

Ben was beginning to realize something important.

All he wanted was to be the one that finished that dream for her.

-x-x-x-

Sunday went by in a blur. Rey and Ben finally got to enjoy the perks of their B&B and Chandrila. They had a delicious breakfast in the dining room, before spending the early afternoon wandering around the grounds, enjoying the flowers and the calm summer air. Ben went for a run. Rey snoozed under the sun.

Eventually, they joined Cassian in the city center, stopping at a highly recommended Mexican restaurant. Rey got another burrito and a chance to converse with her father in Spanish.

Well, Rey blabbered through what little she remembered from high school Spanish. It was more of Ben conversing.

Apparently, a semester in Madrid during college had paid off.

By the early evening, they had to head back to Coruscant, both with work in the morning. Ben stood to the side to watch Rey and her father share an emotional goodbye, despite knowing Cassian would return to Coruscant the following week.

But Ben knew Rey. She was always scared that a goodbye would be the final goodbye.

He made it his mission to keep her smiling.

Which meant on the ride home, he stopped at two scenic overlooks and a roadside snowball stand. But, even after a cup of flavored ice bigger than her head, she still seemed out of it.

"You're really torn about leaving him, aren't you?" Ben asked, merging his way onto the highway, "You seem down."

Rey rubbed at her eyes and glanced at Ben, not her usual smiley self. "No, no, I'm fine. I'm sad to leave but…I don't know. I'm just feeling a bit under the weather."

Ben smirked and began to fiddle with the radio. "Do we think it was that one-pound burrito you ate? The four snowballs? Maybe those mints you found in my glove compartment?"

She grumbled and rolled her eyes. "I think our stupid intern got me sick. Did I tell you on Thursday he sneezed directly onto me? I almost vomited."

"God, that's gross," Ben responded, unable to hold back his laugh, "We'll be home soon enough. Get you to bed."

Rey smiled and nudged him. "Thanks, mom."

They drove in silence for almost an hour, until Rey spoke out of nowhere.

"Thank you, Ben. For everything."

He smiled softly and glanced at her. "You're welcome. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Anything to make you happy. Make you smile."

"I'm always smiling!" She retorted.

He shrugged. "You weren't earlier. You're sick."

Rey rolled her eyes. "I'm not sick!"

And they were back to their usual playful arguing for the rest of their drive home.

-x-x-x-

As it turned out, Rey wasn't sick. But Ben was.

At least that was how he explained waking up hot, achy, and with a pounding headache.

When he stumbled into the kitchen, in search of water and ibuprofen, all he wanted to do was return back to bed.

Until he smelled it.

Smelled her.

OMEGA.

Rey appeared before him, still in her pajamas, her lips trembling. Her hair stuck to her head in a sweaty mess.

"Alpha?" she choked out, staring at him with wide eyes.

To be continued…