A/N: This is the last chapter in Las Vegas. Hope you're ready for all the stuff that happens when they get back to Los Angeles!

~VIII. Wine And Good Conversation~

~i. Couch Discussion~

After a good lesson of learning the best odds and of course bluffing, Rose and Hux wanted to try their luck at the poker tables in the casino downstairs. Poe was eager to leave the room to have one last hurrah before everyone had to leave the next morning, so he was game. Phasma declined, as did Ben Finn and Rey, the latter group deciding to stay in and take it easy for the rest of the night.

When the newly formed gambling group happily departed, the girls sat on one end of the couch while the boys sat at another. Rey and Ben cautiously sat the furthest away from one another at either end of the couch. After their earlier conversations with their two friends instigating any 'chemistry' between them, they felt the need to make it a point that they weren't interested in a relationship. They settled in watching one of the Avengers movies, Ben's absolute favorite series – or as Phasma teased, his 'geeky fanboy side'. There were so many of those movies released that Rey wasn't sure which one they were watching since over the course of the years so many other superheroes made appearances in multiple movies (for the record, it was the first Avengers movie). When the movie finished, Finn got up to head to the kitchen.

"Anyone want a beer?"

"Sure, I'll take one," Phasma requested.

"Coming up!" Finn said. "Anyone else?"

"No thanks, Finn. I'm done with alcohol for the weekend," Ben politely declined.

"Wow, shocker coming from the guy who drank all of Hux's beer two nights ago," Phasma teased.

"What about you, Peanut?"

"No more alcohol for me either," she hollered at her friend.

Finn walked back with two beers in hand, taking a gulp of his before handing the other to Phasma.

"Come on you guys, one bottle of beer isn't even going to give you a light buzz," Phasma said.

"I'm not taking my chances," Ben and Rey chuckled.

"Oh boo," Finn teased them.

"Let's give them a break, Finn," Phasma said. "One beer might turn into ten then before you know it, you'll wake up married," she smirked. This made Finn laugh and the said married couple grow red in embarrassment.

"Ha ha. Okay, let's get it out of our system and move on," Ben tried to ease the conversation.

When the teasing ended – for now - the foursome engaged in a delighted conversation.

"So, Finn, I have a question for you," Phasma said.

"Shoot," he welcomed the discussion.

"How long have you and Rose been together?"

"Too long," Rey blurted, making Ben and Phasma laugh.

"Almost nine years," Finn answered before throwing a pillow at his best friend.

"And how old are you guys?" she asked the two.

"We're all 25," Finn and Rey answered together.

"Except Poe, he's almost 30," Finn said.

"That's why Poe swears he's our 'big brother', even though we are way more mature than he is," Rey chuckled.

"I can personally attest to that," Ben chimed in.

"Oh my god, why haven't you put a ring on that poor girl's finger?" Phasma was surprised with what Finn shared. "Have you guys ever talked about it?"

"Believe me, Rose is not subtle when it comes to it!" Rey smirked.

"Peanut, will you let me tell my own story?!" Finn glared at her jokingly.

"I'm sorry Finn but I've known you two for seven years, I'm practically part of your relationship. And Rose is my best girl friend you oaf! She tells me everything."

Ben and Phasma chuckled at the two friends' banter. Rey shot back and tossed a couple throw pillows towards Finn. Truth be told, Ben was also a part of Phasma and Hux's relationship due to the many years of friendship among them. Their friendship was clearly as close as that of Finn and Rey's.

"Okay no need to kill the man," Ben tried to help. "Finn, you were saying…"

"Ah yeah, Rose and I have talked about it a lot. We are definitely on the same page. But she told me that she'd only agree to marry me if I learned to speak Vietnamese so I can ask her father formally," he explained.

"Aw well that's kind of sweet," Phasma replied. "But what's taking so long? You don't want to do it?"

"Finn's been trying to learn the language for almost two years," Rey shared ever so fervently. "He knows French and Japanese but still can't speak a coherent word of Vietnamese!"

"You're going to pay for that, woman!" Finn lobbed the remaining throw pillows at her.

"What about you and Hux?" Rey asked after Finn was finished assaulting her with the velvet cushions.

"Have you two talked about it?" Ben was actually curious. He was close to his best friends, but even he knew there were boundaries and one of them was to not pry too much in their relationship unless it concerned him or if it escalated too far. Then again, knowing Phasma's strength, he would probably step in to protect Hux from her assaults.

"We have," she said. "But, and Ben knows this, we were on and off for almost eight years. Also, with both of us coming from military families who moved around a lot, we want to see where our careers that takes us first before settling down. He's got tenure now, so signs are looking good. Though I told him if he waits 'til I'm 40 I'm dumping him," she joked.

"I'll probably junk punch him if he doesn't ask you sooner," Ben smirked at his best friend.

"Oh my god that's what we say!" Finn and Rey exclaimed. This brought on a roar of laughter among the four.

"So Ben, what's your love life like? You know, aside from the one-night stand slash elopement with my best friend and all?" Finn smugly added. This earned a laugh from Phasma and a gasp from Rey.

"FINN!"

"Payback Peanut," he smirked at her coloring face.

"Uh…" Ben muttered, super embarrassed and uncomfortable with the current topic.

"Come on you guys, we're all adults here," Phasma explained. "And it seems to me that Finn and I are the more mature of our groups so believe us when we say that what's your business is your business. We know you two didn't mean to get hitched, and we all know what it's like to get drunk and hook up." She said this as if it was the most casual thing in the world.

"Well said, milady," Finn clinked bottles with Phasma.

"Ben, you really don't have to answer Finn, he's already going to get a beating when this is all over," Rey said the last part through gritted teeth, making sure her painful jab was understood by Finn. He didn't fret at all.

"No, it's alright. We're adults, like they said," Ben said, blushing a bit. "Not currently in a relationship right now."

"More like 'it's complicated', but sure we'll go with that," Phasma said, sipping her wine.

"But pretty much single, Phas!" Ben scowled at her.

"Alright, I won't budge," she said nonchalantly, as if Ben ever scared her.

"Well, I recently got dumped, so it's not that much complicated for me," Rey tried to lighten the mood, careful to have her emotions in check. She didn't like seeing Ben uncomfortable, but she didn't even second guess herself if she'd break down by bringing up her personal life. The thought never passed her.

"Oh, that sucks," Phasma said, she reached beside her and kindly touched Rey's arm, trying to comfort her. "Was it serious?"

"We were engaged," Rey said in the bravest face. Oddly, she didn't feel like crying.

The men nodded, since they knew that. Finn's peripheral caught sight of Ben's nod, even the way he was looking at her in a gentle manner. Whoa, he thought. had she told Ben about her relationship with Hobbie? She never talked about her love life, let alone heart break to anyone outside their circle. She must really trust this guy, Finn thought.

"Aw what an ass," Phasma said, this time hugging Rey.

"No, I'm actually alright," Rey assured. "Finn and them, they took me here to just forget about him and I'd like to say I'm actually doing better. Haven't really thought about him unless someone brings him up," she said smiling, showing everyone that she was genuinely alright.

"Well we won't talk about him anymore, promise," Phasma smiled at her. Rey just met her, but she could tell that Phasma was a good person and was happy to know Ben had that kind of friend, just like she had one in Finn.

"Yeah well alcohol, gambling, tons of food... Those make for a recipe to forget my jerk of an ex," Rey said. "And hooking up with your friend didn't hurt either," for the first time Rey had joked about the situation she was in to people other than Ben. And it felt good. Seeing that Ben was chuckling, she was relieved not to get dirty looks from him feeling that she overstepped.

"Well I aim to please," Ben added to the cause.

There was something between the expressions Ben and Rey exchanged with one another at that moment and Finn and Phasma could have sworn they saw a spark. Nevertheless, they let their two friends share this brief moment.

"I sure hope so, man. Rey needed to get laid. It had been quite some time since her last one," Finn blurted. "Hob wasn't exactly on the cover of a magazine as a 'Sexiest Man Alive' kind of guy." He was going to get in trouble for that.

"I'm going to kill you now, Finn!" Rey cried out before jumping out of her seat and charging towards her friend, who in turn knew exactly how she would react as he jumped up immediately and ran away from her.

While Rey attempted to chase and attack Finn, Phasma decided to call it an evening and head to bed. She got up and was about to walk to her room before turning to Ben.

"She helped you too, you know," she winked.

"Goodnight, Phasma," Ben said through gritted teeth, trying really hard not to blush.

~ii. And Then There Were Two~

After running around the kitchen island, Rey managed to jump on Finn's back and smack him so hard he collapsed to the floor and winced in pain. She reprimanded him as if he were a puppy who chewed up her favorite shoes. He begged for mercy as she had his arm at a twist hold and the two laughed it off before he decided to hit the gym before it got late. When Finn left, Rey went back over to the couch and plopped down where Phasma had sat, a cushion or two from Ben. He had enjoyed watching them wrestle and just relaxed on the couch once Phasma left, taking a breather from an eventful weekend.

"Where'd Phasma go?"

"She's an early bird," Ben explained.

"Ah," she replied.

She was fidgeting with her thumbs, not really knowing what to do. She and Ben hadn't been alone together since the events that unraveled that morning. A part of her wanted to go to her room as to not make things any more awkward, but another part of her wanted to stay and be near him. He seemed to be fighting with the same internal struggle as well.

"I'm not really that tired to be honest." Ben spoke after a couple minutes of silence, which startled Rey.

"Yeah me neither. I've got all this energy from decking Finn," she joked.

"We could watch another movie?" he suggested.

"Yeah sure. Is there another one of those Avenger movies? I love Chris Hemsworth, he's such a dreamy Thor," she ogled.

"Figures. You like the one with the accent," he playfully rolled his eyes.

"Accents are sexy," she declared.

"Are you just saying that because you have a sexy accent too?" he impishly winked.

"Maybe," she trifled back.

This random playfulness sprung out of nowhere and the two were getting caught up in the moment. They were trying to read each other's eyes, seeing if someone would make the next move. Though instead of taking advantage of the moment, they both held back as to not have a repeat of the night before.

"Um, so…" he cleared his throat.

"Right," she came back to reality. "The movie," she said.

Dismissing their sudden toying, Ben queued up the movie and they settled in.

Halfway through the movie they didn't know how it happened, but Rey ended up nuzzling next to Ben's side with his arm wrapped around her shoulder and the two sharing the throw blanket over the couch. Neither had opposed, and neither had questioned. It just happened. Naturally. He was grinning widely above her as he continued his attention to the television screen, hoping she wouldn't look up to see that ridiculous look on his face. He didn't dare to meet her eyes in the fear of blushing. She was in pure bliss radiating in his body's warmth, and content with relaxing next to a man she was treacherously allowing to get close to her.

They were in their own little world holding each other that they didn't even hear the slightest crack of a bedroom door, nor did they notice Phasma tiptoeing towards the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks to take in the view of her best friend sitting extremely close to a woman even she has grown fond of in just a few short days. To which she decided to forgo her desire to warm up a glass of milk before bed and snuck her way back to her room as to not ruin their precious alone time.

There was a scene in the movie where two characters, Natasha and Bruce their non hero names as Rey recalled, were talking privately in a bedroom. She was pouring her heart out to him after failing to seduce him into sharing a bath together. But he, despite reciprocating feelings, was pushing her away, warning her not to fall in love with him.

"I don't get it, why wouldn't he want to get with her? It's Scarlett Johansson for crying out loud!" Rey exclaimed.

Ben, the die-hard Avengers fan, was able to explain it to her. "He does, but he's the Hulk. He has a temper problem. He can't help it sometimes and he fears he'll get mad and accidentally hurt her. He's only trying to protect her."

"I don't get why guys use that as an excuse," she sat up a little. Though she missed his natural body heat on her shoulders, she was somewhat pleased that his arm was still slack around her shoulder. "Don't guys understand that saying you don't want to hurt a girl hurts more than just taking a chance?"

"You're asking the wrong guy," Ben confessed. "Unfortunately, I'm guilty of saying that to a woman," he chuckled.

"Why?" Rey was sincerely curious.

"I-I don't know." He was caught a bit off guard when she asked, even more flustered when he saw the naive look of interest in her eyes. "I mean," he cleared his voice. "I just… I guess I'd rather seem like a jerk to a woman than be someone who could break her heart. It's easier that way, I guess."

Rey let his words sit with her for a moment. She glanced over to the television and watched the characters further interact, thinking if Ben's reasoning was rational; if it would apply to the two characters on screen... and in real life.

"Hmm." As if she wasn't fully accepting his response.

"I know, it's a pathetic answer. But, at least for me... I don't ever want to be a reason for someone's heartbreak."

That note struck her. She felt a sort of deep twinge in her gut. She didn't know if it was instant grief from remembering that Hobbie had broken her heart. Or if it was a subtle way of saying, at least to her, that her tiniest of fantasies of being with him were an idea of pure fiction.

"Even if… there was a chance that that person may be worth it?" she asked in barely a whisper. She had turned back to him and stared directly at his face, doe-eyed, vulnerable, desperate.

Seeing her that way, listening to her words, feeling her vibe, something inside Ben clicked. It was indescribable. He had never felt this wave, this rush of emotions, and couldn't tell if it was good or bad. He stared deep into her hazel eyes, thinking that he wouldn't mind get lost in those magnificent orbs forever.

"…Am I worth it though?" he mumbled.

Rey didn't know if he meant his question literally or figuratively. But was he worth it? And was she worth a guy taking a chance on her too?

It didn't matter if she answered him because Ben decided to listen to his gut at that moment and do what he felt was right. Gradually he leaned in, closing the distance between them. Their noses lightly brushed against one another, Ben momentarily delaying the next part. It was his and Rey's last chance to back out before doing this, knowing it would just make things all the more complicated. With no protest from either party and Rey closing her eyes preparing for what came next, Ben raised her chin slightly with his free hand and tilted his head, lowering it and leaning in, intent to bridge their lips together.

Then the main door opened.

In an instant, Ben and Rey jumped ways apart, never making it to their intimate climax. All she had felt was his hot breath moments before their friends woke them up from this hazy fog in their minds.

"Don't tell Finn but I may be addicted to gambling!" Rose said.

"You were having a streak for a moment I'll admit that, Rose," Poe said. "At least you didn't get cocky like Hux and go all in only to lose it moments later."

"Hey blame it on my third Jameson and my $200 pot! I was on fire," Hux defended, not at all sad that he lost money.

"It's called beginner's luck, bro," Poe chuckled.

The trio walked in, heading further inside the hotel room. They were continuing to revel in their amusement when they saw Ben and Rey on the couch, both sitting almost on opposite ends like how they started off earlier in the evening and watching TV.

"Oh hey guys! Didn't know anyone would still be up," Poe said, plopping down on a cushion between the two - the one where Rey had been sitting moments before. She hoped he didn't notice the warmth of the cushion and would figure out that someone had been sitting there recently. With her jumbled mind, she wasn't really in the right mindset for Poe's teasing.

"Phasma went to bed and Finn went to the gym," Ben answered him.

"What did you guys do all night?" Rose asked, setting her purse on the counter as she moseyed over to the kitchen to grab a water bottle.

"We watched a couple Avengers movies, little mini marathon," Rey shared. She wasn't wrong. They watched two movies, though she technically lost track of the current one they were watching. "How was the casino?"

"A learning experience," Poe shared.

"A very expensive one," Hux huffed. Poe and Rose snickered at him. "Anyways, I'm calling it for the night. I'm wrecked. G'night!"

"See you Hux," Rose waved goodbye. "Well, I'll probably grab a shower before Finn gets back. I love the man, but he spends an hour in the shower after a workout and I got to beat him to it before he uses all the hot water," she giggled before heading off to her room. "Night!"

"Yeah I'm off too," Rey decided she needed to keep her distance from Ben before she did anything else risky that night. That, and since their friends were back, she highly doubted she'd have alone time with him. Not that she would admit wanting any more than she has had all weekend. "Poe, do you mind if I crash on the bed?"

"All yours kid. I'm actually going to head back out and meet up with a lady friend, so don't wait up," he winked.

"Ever the lady's man," Rey joked as she got up and hugged her friend.

"You know it," he said, hugging her then headed to the kitchen to grab a water bottle.

Ben had gotten up off the couch, seeing as everyone had been standing and he had been sitting the entire time. After Rey hugged Poe, she idly faced him.

"Um… good night," she shyly spoke. She weakly offered her arms to see if he wanted a hug. Since she had hugged Rose and Poe, it didn't seem too out of the ordinary.

"Oh… yeah," Ben said, walking a couple steps, giving her the quickest of hugs. "Goodnight Rey."

Rey sauntered over to her room this time, and immediately shut the door. She leaned against the back of it and stared blankly at the ceiling, sighing after a moment. Were she and Ben actually about to kiss? What did it mean? No, it's good that it didn't happen. It would complicate things. And she did not want complicated. After tomorrow she was going back to her usual life and Ben would be on his way. No kiss. No feelings. Go take a cold shower, Rey.

She had taken a quick, cooling soak and slipped into a comfortable sleep shirt before settling into bed. Before she closed her eyes and let sleep take over, Rey had inattentively brought a finger to the spot on her lips where she felt Ben's hot breath last. She sighed, the crooks of her lips raising slightly before finally passing out.

A/N: Preview of next chapter: A Courting Disaster

"I am sick and tired of your generation disrespecting the sanctity of marriage. Of commitment, of honesty."

"Your honor, we are in no way trying to disrespect anything."

"If you weren't responsible the first time, why should I even bother to hand out another chance?"

"Goodness of your heart?"

"I'll make you two a deal."