A/N: So... what did you think of Part 1? Okay, this second half contains Ben and Rey's deepest conversation in the story. Pay attention! Or not, it's up to you lol Enjoy!

~XX. Gala Weekend Pt 2~

~i. A Walk In the Garden~

As the evening matured the liveliness of the crowd was only getting stronger. After their success with gambling, Rey and Ben mingled with her coworkers and other guests. They spent quite a long time talking to some of Rey's benefactors who congratulated and praised her efforts for this lucrative event. Ben, being the gentleman that he was, stayed by her side and helped her in between discussions by singing praises of his wife as well. While Rey appreciated the recognition, it was taxing to have to converse with so many people throughout the night.

When he came back from the restroom after their last chat with one of her colleagues, Ben found Rey sitting alone at a table happily people-watching as the guests around her were having a good time. Her eyes eventually wandered to his and they both smiled. She was exhausted from all the conversations that evening, but somehow Ben's presence made her feel electric.

"It's getting pretty spirited in here," Ben said when he walked up to her. The DJ showed up about a half hour ago dedicating the rest of the evening to dancing, casino games and an open bar.

"Yep, and it's only just getting started," she chuckled.

As much as he wanted to stick around and have a fun time with Rey, Ben had other ideas. Ones that included just the two of them and no one else.

"Take a walk with me," he offered. He held out his hand for her.

"A walk actually sounds perfect," she said. Rey could really use some fresh air and a break from all the mingling.

She let him help her to stand up but instead of holding on to her like they usually did -they noticed that alright - he let go of her hand. This time he offered his arm.

She felt giddy at his chivalrous gesture and linked her arm around his as he escorted her away from the boisterous affair in the ballroom.

They strolled outside the building towards a garden that wrapped around the golf course. A relaxing silence had blanketed between them, each pleased with their weekend so far. For a moment, Rey rested her head on his shoulder, while they were still linked together. The exhaustion was catching up to her, but she wanted to stay awake so she could spend more time with Ben.

They were walking along a cobble path and Rey couldn't help but smile to herself, catching Ben's attention and spreading her infectious grin on his face. She started to giggle, prompting Ben again to mirror her actions and snicker as well.

"What's up?" he wanted to know the reason for her smile.

"Nothing, I'm just thinking," she sighed happily.

"About?"

"It's just," she looked down and played with her dress. "Life's been so busy lately that I haven't had a chance to catch my breath. Right now, I just feel… calm. You know?" she glimpsed at him.

"Yeah I do," he genuinely smiled, agreeing with her.

He let Rey's arm free as she tiptoed along the stone path, twirling lightly and enjoying the freedom outside and away from the noise. Ben couldn't help but smile at her naiveté. Sure, he was the less mature one between the two of them most of the time, but when Rey had her moments, it was innocently adorable. They continued walking in pleasurable silence when Ben decided to break into conversation.

"When was the last time you were really happy? No worries about anything, just enjoying yourself and living in the moment," he asked Rey. "And please don't say Vegas because if you do, I'd have to kick myself for ruining that for you," he half-heartedly joked.

Rey snickered at the last part. She had to think about his question for a minute. When was the last time she was happy? She found a bench nearby and prompted them both to sit. Staring at the night sky, she found her answer.

"It was probably my first semester break at the university," she began. "I was still very new to America and I wanted to do something adventurous. So, I took a day trip - about an hour and a half north of Santa Monica. There was this lighthouse… It was such a beautiful lone structure that towered over everything around it; the grass, the rocks, the water…"

"That's the photo in the frame," Ben realized.

She turned to him and smiled. Then she went back to her thoughts and the night sky.

"I spent nearly the entire day there, until the last shuttle to go home. I sat along the rocks, just listening to the waves crash, watching the sunset. I was by myself, but I preferred it that way. There was no one to please, nothing to plan. I didn't worry about the next day. I just didn't think, you know? I was happy. Really happy because I felt like myself," She smiled to herself. That memory was so long ago. "That was a great day."

Rey didn't realize how much she was sharing and how open she had been. She had felt so relaxed, so… happy that evening just talking with Ben. She turned to him and an expression on his face that she couldn't say she's seen before stared back at her. She lightly giggled, which snapped him awake and he returned the gesture.

"What is it about you and lighthouses?" he wondered. "I mean they're pretty cool, don't get me wrong. But I'm sure you've got a reason."

"I don't know," Rey fiddled with the polish on her nails. "I guess I just like the meaning behind it all."

"And what's that?"

"See that's the beauty of it," she adjusted her body to turn and speak more intimately to him. "In that book I like, the lighthouse means something different to each person. It represents the thing you want most in life."

"Have you found that yet?" Ben wondered.

"I thought I did," she said softly. "With Hobbie. But I was wrong. I guess that's why I still have the photo… To remind me that my lighthouse is still out there, guiding me with its light, giving me hope."

Ben looked down at his shiny black dress shoes and shuffled his feet. He didn't want to ask the next question, but he also desperately wanted to know the truth.

"Do you miss him?"

A brief silence passed between them.

"Not really, no," she shook her head. She slowly turned her attention back to the stars in the sky. "But sometimes I miss the stability. Even though Hobbie pretty much controlled my life, he promised me a stable future. And that was something in short supply for me growing up."

"Oh." Ben had a somber tone in his speech, Rey could've sworn by it.

"Hobbie wasn't good," she felt like she needed to assure him. "I tried for so long to see past his snobbish upbringing, that maybe there was a decent guy somewhere inside him. But he was as genuine a scumbag as he was inside and out. I just couldn't win with him," Rey confessed.

She had never admitted that to anyone, not even to Rose. But here she was, purging her heart clean of a failed relationship to a man whom she didn't even know where her heart stood.

"It's stupid, I know," she sulked her head in shame. "I'm just that kind of person who always tries to give people chances – whether they deserve it or not."

"You can't get mad at yourself for being a good person. It's what I like most about you," he said openly.

Rey was startled, to say the least, at what he said. She glanced at him, his eyes nervously focusing on his black dress shoes. She briefly smiled to herself, hoping his words meant a bit more than the surface.

"Thanks," she barely whispered.

It was her turn not to look at him as he turned to her and she focused her attention this time to her own feet – her suede nude pumps digging into the gravel beneath her.

"It's a curse sometimes, but I'll admit I like that about myself too," she shared. "Being the one who discovers the beauty behind the mask. That underneath all the bullshit even the toughest guy can have another side, a soft side even. And he chooses to share it with you. Finding the good in someone… that's catnip for sappy tools like me."

Rey sadly chuckled to herself. As much as she wanted a reaction from Ben, she was content with his silence. She had never been so vulnerable around him, and yet she has never been more comfortable.

He stared at her for as long as he was allowed before being caught. Though they were talking about Hobbie, Ben wondered if she had ever thought of him in that light. He thought of himself too and how much he's shared with her these past several months. Could she have found this other side of Ben that even he didn't know existed? What did that mean for them? More importantly, Ben thought, does that mean he was falling for her? Could she be falling for him too?

"Do you miss Baz?"

He looked at her surprisingly. That was surely not the direction he thought their conversation would go. She's met Baz; she was there in the middle of that whole fiasco, literally. Why would she ask him if he missed his crazy ex? But, given the depth of this conversation, maybe Ben really had to think if there were any bits of longing left for Baz in his mind. Especially when moments ago, he was contemplating his own feelings for the woman sitting next to him.

"I miss… being wanted. Feeling wanted," he confessed.

Nothing Ben has ever said or done, not even the poker night incident, had crushed Rey more than what he just said at that moment. It broke her to think he felt that way. That he wasn't wanted.

"I guess that's why I honestly stayed with Baz for so long. Even though she was toxic, she wanted to be with me," he shared. "Albeit for the wrong reasons of course."

They both chuckled at that last part.

"After being in a relationship for five years, it takes some getting used to being on your own again. But it's fine. I'm used to being alone. Sometimes I miss the feeling though…"

He kicked the gravel beneath his feet, feeling ashamed that he was only to blame for five years of unhappiness. Just because he wanted to feel needed.

"You're not alone, Ben."

She gazed at him, hoping he knew she was being genuine. She promised herself at that moment to make sure Ben would never feel neglected. She knew all about being abandoned. She never wanted him to feel that way.

"Neither are you," he stared back at her.

He meant it. Rey probably had many people making empty promises to her growing up, but he hoped she believed him too and that this promise was real.

"What about you?" Rey reverted back to their conversation. Her face was getting warm and she didn't want Ben to see her blush for some reason.

"What about me?" he smiled again. He couldn't help with his smiling that night. He may have looked like a crazy person, but he didn't care because he was with Rey.

"Have you found what you're looking for?"

"I'm not really sure what I'm looking for," he lightly shrugged.

"Hmm…" Rey said, as if she were thinking for him, helping him find an answer.

Ben thought to himself as well. Has he found what he wanted? What exactly did he want? Six months ago he had a girlfriend, a job, and a carefree life. Then he dumped his girl for cheating on him, his father fired him, and he wound up drunk and married on a court order. In retrospect, it looked bad. But the more Ben though about it, wasn't that always how life treated him? He never had anything good come his way.

"I guess I'm not really looking," he shared.

"Everyone's always looking for something," she said to him.

His once bright smile suddenly faltered.

"Not me…" He mumbled as he rested his hands on the bench, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"Why is that?" she tilted her head to the side, wanting to know what was on his mind.

Ben gripped on the wooden planks for a moment, organizing his thoughts. These were thoughts he swore he'd never tell anyone, his deepest feelings. But right now he wanted to tell Rey. For no other reason except he knew she'd understand. When his grip loosened from the seat, he was ready to speak.

"I've been dealt with horrible cards ever since I can remember," he slowly began. "You can only fail so much until you get tired of losing… So, I took myself out of the game. Took the easy way out so as to not get disappointed or not get hurt anymore. Never did the pilot's license thing. Fell into poisonous relationships. Took on a meaningless job, which I got fired from no less. I stopped taking chances on myself..."

Ben let out an exasperated sigh. It was the cold truth.

"If you stop betting, you never have to lose."

He realized that he just admitted aloud that he simply gave up. It was nothing to be proud of, but this was Ben, the real Ben. The lone wolf. It was something he wished he could change about himself. He was about to fall into this dark abyss in his mind, where his deepest darkest fears resided, when he felt a warm touch grace the top of his hand. He glanced at the connection and his eyes followed the arm whom the hand belonged to up until he met face to face with a smiling Rey.

"I'd bet on you, Ben."

The day he met her she had said that to him. In fact, she did take a chance. She trusted the stranger in her hotel room to give him a chance not to harm her, and he didn't. And again, that same night she trusted him, a total stranger, to show her a good time. While the nuptials were a wild card, she admitted enjoying her time with him anyway. The third time she bet on him was earlier that evening when she trusted he'd win for her. Again, her risk with him was successful as they came up with lots of winnings. To anyone else, he would think it was a polite sentiment to say. But Rey… she meant it all the time. And each time she was right.

Because of her, lately he was beginning to wonder if he really was worth it.

~ii. Sleeping Arrangements~

Ben and Rey decided to call it a night and make their way back to their hotel room after their peaceful stroll in the garden and their heart to heart conversation. The night wasn't chilly at all, but it was mild enough for Ben to offer up his suit jacket, to which Rey happily accepted.

"I feel like a midget," she giggled when Ben placed his coat over her shoulders. She slid her arms down the sleeve, her fingers barely reaching the ends of the garment.

"You're already small to me," he jabbed back.

"That's rude!" she feigned hurt. "Because of that, you're not getting this blazer back any time soon!" she stuck her tongue at him.

"I don't mind, it looks good on you," he smirked.

She smiled back and looked away from him. This open forwardness came out of nowhere. One minute they were having a heart to heart, then the next they were flirting between this casual and romantic tête-à-tête.

Rey patted his blazer and smoothed out the creases, getting a whiff of his cologne and natural musky scent on the fabric hugging her body. It was a tantalizing aroma that made her insides feel fuzzy. Pull yourself together, woman!

"Well I have to admit, you do clean up pretty well," she said of his attire. Oh yeah, he looked mighty fine in a suit, Rey thought. "I would have never guessed a man-child like you would look so grown up when he's dressed to the nines!" she teased.

"Speak for yourself," he tried hiding his blush. "You're the one who turned lots of heads tonight. What with your goddess like radiance in that dress. You made every guy in the room absolutely swoon."

Whoa, when did he become so forward? Ben wasn't sure where this newfound confidence came from, but he was rolling with it so long as it got Rey to smile. And smile she did.

They made their way back to the resort and waited at the lobby for their elevator to take them to their floor. The event supposedly had come to an end. They didn't realize how long they stayed out until they were piled in a stuffed elevator with several other guests retiring for the evening.

Not thinking any more people could fit inside this small domain, before the doors shut a hand stopped it and revealed four more bodies wanting to squeeze themselves into the elevator shaft. People shuffled around, making room for the newcomers, as they all just wanted to head to their rooms and sleep. As they hobbled to fit, Ben found himself face to face with Rey, the two pressed against each other at a corner in the elevator. She looked up at him, biting her lip nervously at this very close, very intimate position and shyly grinned.

"Hi," he whispered, his cheeks tinting pink. His gaze trailed from her eyes to her lips.

"Hi," she whispered back, the heat from her neck rising to her face.

She could have sworn at that moment he was leaning in. Was he going to kiss her?

The moment was lost when they quickly reached their floor and had to maneuver themselves out of the sardine can. When the door shut and they made it to their floor's lobby, the two of them looked at each other and laughed a bit from being in the ridiculously full elevator cart they were just in.

The door dinged again, and they were surprised to see Rey's boss and his wife step out of the elevator.

"Andor, there you are! You disappeared at the end of the night," he mentioned.

"Sorry sir. That's on me. I just wanted to have some alone time with the missus," Ben winked at Rey.

Swoon.

"Ah well, to be young again," Lando and his wife chuckled. "You two should definitely take advantage of the resort tomorrow. We had a successful event and you deserve to wind down, Rey."

"I will sir. Thank you," she said to her boss.

"I'll see you both in the morning. Ben, give my regards to your parents. Tell your father I can't wait to take his money," Lando joked.

"And he can't wait to take yours," Ben jabbed back.

The two men laughed and heartily shook hands.

"You two have a pleasant evening," Lando's wife said and started towards the hall with her husband.

"You too. Good night, Lando, Mrs. Calrissian," Rey said.

"Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Solo," Lando smirked as he and his wife walked down the corridor to their hotel room.

Mr. and Mrs. Solo.

Those words blindsided them. They weren't sure if their muddled thoughts were good or confusing or every emotion they could think of. All they knew was that the words seem to sound good to them at that moment. Mr. and Mrs. Solo. They smiled at each other allowing their faces to color before they laughed it off.

They continued to giggle about the most random things as they walked down the hall to their hotel room. Though the moment they stepped inside their shared space, their blissful high had drowned into an anxious buzz.

Sharing a one-bedroom loft apartment was one thing because there was about 1300 square feet of space between them. Sharing a hotel room that was a fraction of the size, situated in a picturesque location, and occurring after enjoying a very pleasant (and sober) evening together – this was uncharted territory for these two.

Rey could have sworn they shared a moment. When she touched his hand to comfort him at the bench. Or even that possible lean in when they were in the elevator. Hell, there were plenty of moments that night. Ben was trying to decipher if their conversations had double meaning and if they may have confessed their feelings. On top of that, he was trying to make sense of what their close proximity in the elevator earlier meant when they were both clearly blushing at each other. Neither Ben nor Rey knew if they should believe themselves that there was something there. Which was why this current situation of sharing a lovely hotel room made them both all the more nervous. The last time they shared a room – well, unintentionally – was the night they apparently consummated their marriage in Vegas. Oh boy…

"Nice room," Ben safely commented.

"Yeah it better be by the amount we're paying," Rey kidded. She knew they got it comped because she planned the event. It was the least her company could do for all her hard work.

They walked further into the room and looked around the space. It was a reasonable size, a bit smaller than the master bedroom they had at the loft. There was a pillowtop bed, a sizeable couch, a small vanity and dresser, and a door to the bathroom.

Just like at home, they both thought. So why was this situation nerve-wracking?

"So… I'll take the couch," he pointed at the plush sofa at the foot of the bed.

"No, Ben. I'd feel terrible."

"It's no problem, really."

"Oh…" she said almost sounding disappointed. "Why don't you take the bed and I'll take the couch this time? That way you get a chance to sleep on a bed for once," Rey suggested.

"Then you'll make me feel terrible for not being a gentleman and offering you the bed," he joked. "Really Rey. You take the bed. This event was all you. You deserve a reward."

"I guess… Thank you," she softly smiled at him.

He plopped onto the sofa and happily sighed.

"I-is it comfortable enough for you?" she asked nervously.

"I've slept in a lot worse," he tried to joke.

"Dammit, now you have to take the bed!" Rey insisted. "You've been sleeping on the couch back at the loft for months. We can switch too when we get back. It's the least I can do."

"Rey, I was kidding!" Ben tried to calm her. "Really, I'm sorry," he chuckled, showing her no seriousness of his earlier remark. "It was just a horrible timing for a joke."

"Are you sure?" she was still feeling awful.

"Positive," he smiled at her.

Ben mentally kicked himself after saying that because he realized that maybe she was trying to offer something. His thoughts were spot on, but he didn't know of course that Rey felt a pang of rejection with his response but hid her reaction from him as well.

"Okay, take as many pillows as you want," she offered. "I want you to be comfortable."

"I'm already comfortable, honest. I mean, I love the couch at home. I chose it myself because it was so plush and I knew I'd be sleeping on a sofa many nights because I watch too much TV," he joked. "But this couch…" he patted the cushions around him. "If I could, I'd take it home with us! They don't give this hotel five stars for nothing!"

She laughed at his remark, finally easing down and accepting their sleeping arrangements for the night. Although if she had it her way, she would have offered them both to share the bed. It was the least she could do since he did accompany her to this event. But this was Rey. She wasn't bold enough to say it. Neither was he.

They proceeded to attend to their bags, taking out the necessary items to change into and get ready for bed.

Ben was sure there was something going on between them. Come on, Solo. He said to himself. Step your game up. Make a move!

This is stupid, Rey thought to herself. There was clearly something happening between them tonight, she was sure of it. Just make a move!

"Ben?"

He shot his head up, almost snapping his neck at how fast he did so.

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind… helping me with my zipper?" she asked boldly, hoping he'd take the bait.

Rey twisted her body and lifted her hair from her back, suggesting he help her undue her dress.

He gulped dryly and nodded, slowly making his way to stand behind her.

Rey bashfully nodded and turned her head to face forward. Ben stepped closer and placed a hand on the crook of her neck, steadying himself and Rey so he could use his other hand to slowly unzip her dress. He undid the zipper down to right above the small of her back, ogling at the naked skin that was visible in front of him. The last time he had seen her this exposed was the morning they woke up from their late night tryst. How he longed to relive just one night like that with her again.

Things weren't easy for Rey at that moment either. The touch of his hand on her shoulder sent a shiver down her spine. She prayed he didn't notice her shaking. The close proximity that he brought when he lowered his face to her back, more specifically behind her neck, was almost agonizing since she could feel his hot breath on the most sensitive parts of her skin. Desperately she wanted him to make a move, any move, so she could show him how much desire she felt inside for him.

To no avail the moment was lost, and Ben retreated his body a step away from her. She held on to her dress against her chest and turned around slowly. Muttering a quick thank you, she made her way towards the bathroom to kick herself for how foolish she was thinking, proceeding to get ready for bed. When the door to the restroom shut, Ben cursed under his breath for being so much of a coward to not take advantage of that moment and take her. He quickly changed out of his suit into a comfortable pair of boxer-briefs and waited for his turn to brush his teeth and wash off the gel from his hair.

Rey emerged from the refresher to the main room in what was the most sensual outfit Ben had ever seen on her or any woman (though he was only thinking about her). A purple lace cami teased her most intimate areas, baring her smooth milky skin in all its glory for Ben to ogle. He wasn't sure if she was making a move or simply teasing him. Either way she won; he was putty. Rey wasn't having it easy either, what with Ben stripped down to nothing but his boxer-briefs, his bare chest there for her to admire.

When Ben didn't immediately react to her when she stepped back into the room, Rey felt so much remorse, she had wished that she never bought this outfit the day before the trip thinking it would please him. Why she was thinking that impulsively? Who knows with her. Her flushed cheeks exposed her embarrassment as she timidly made her way to pass him so she could properly cover herself under the blankets. They played an awkward shuffling dance trying to step opposite sides of one another but always ended up stepping the same direction, until finally they ended on opposite sides. He nervously chuckled and nodded to her before taking his turn to clean up and get ready for bed.

Rey shook her head at how the evening had started great, only to have a sudden awkward night. In one last effort, she turned to him.

"Goodnight Mr. Solo," she said in the softest, sweetest voice.

If when they heard it earlier had the same effect on him as it did to her, then maybe he'd understand just a little bit of her feelings. It was a start.

He turned and looked back at her, smiling at the sentiment.

Though the evening had turned out better than he could have imagined, he felt that he blundered this moment. Still, he wanted to show her that he cared deeply. And with what he felt earlier outside the elevator was any indication to acknowledge his feelings, he had the perfect response.

"Goodnight Mrs. Solo."

A/N: Preview of next chapter: "Almost" Date

"Hux! I need your help."

"Hey Ben. What's going on?"

"I think I'm on a date right now. With Rey."

"You 'think'?" Hux laughed. "I mean, I know it's been a while, but you do remember how dates work, right?"