Chapter 4: Not Built For Gowns

It was a quiet morning in one of the finest bridal shops on all of Coruscant. Rose Tico, Larma D'Acy and Dr. Harter Kalonia were all lounging about, flipping through magazines and admiring the other dresses in the shop window. Maz Kanata held court before the bridal party, having agreed to serve as chaperone.

"Is she coming out?" D'Acy asked. "This is the third one she's tried."

"And third time's the charm, as they say," Kalonia pointed out optimistically. "Let's hope this is the one." Turning a page in the shop catalog absently, she pondered, "I wonder what's keeping Kaydel and Rey? Our dresses match; it was the first thing we decided on..."

"Patience, ladies," Maz chided.

Just then, a curtain two stalls down drew back, and out stomped Zorii. A gasp of admiration went up from the gathered women, but the future bride didn't appear to notice as she scowled at herself in the floor-length mirror.

"I'm not built for gowns!" the bounty hunter huffed. Even when upset, she looked stunningly beautiful, and her ensemble only added to the picturesque image. Zorii looked as exquisite as a swan, in a strapless white gown, with a thin, see-through veil. Her brown hair was sleek and shiny, cascading in curls down her back.

"You look very alluring," Rose encouraged.

Zorii just snorted. "I think the word you're searching for is alarming, Rosie. Poe's going to run when he sees me..."

"That's a load of bantha fodder, and you know it," the Secretary of Energy tutted. "If I know your honey, he's going to want to throw you down over the altar and ravish you..."

"Rosie!" Zorii yelped, flushing furiously. She fiddled with her tresses. "At any rate, I don't see why I can't just get married in my armor and have done with it."

"So, why don't you?" Rose smiled kindly. "It's your day, Zorii. This should be about what you want."

"Oh, no!" D'Acy moaned. "But we'll have come all this way for nothing!"

"Yeah. And besides, I do want Poe to be bowled over when he sees me," Zorii admitted, her cheeks turning pink. "If that means I have to step out of my comfort zone a little bit, so be it. I'd do anything for him."

"Awww..." the other girls chorused. Zorii frowned at them all in turn, bemused.

Just then, Kaydel Kol Connix came prancing out of a changing stall at the end of the line. "Zorii, I need your help!"

"What's wrong? Your dress is a perfect fit, from where I'm standing," Zorii blinked.

"It's not me; it's Rey! She won't come out of her changing stall!"

Zorii frowned. "Let me talk to her..."

"Tell that girl to get her rear out here!" Maz admonished. "The Maid of Honor reveal is just as important as the bride's!"

Ripping back the curtain, Zorii had to scan a little bit to find Rey.

"See? There's no point in me coming out," the Jedi whimpered from a darkened corner of the stall. "I could never be as a beautiful as you; you look like a vision..."

"Bull," Zorii scoffed. "Come on, honey, what's this really about?"

Slowly, Rey came into the light. Her chestnut hair was in plaits running down her back, a string of pearls around her neck. The periwinkle dress fit snugly to her frame, accentuating lovely curves that had been built up through more than a year of good eating with the Resistance and great Ahch-To island cooking in the time since. No longer was Rey the skinny waif who had fled Jakku.

Zorii's eyes went big and she smiled proudly. "Why, Ms. Skywalker... look at you... you're beautiful."

Rey flushed, her eyes filling with tears. "Thank you," she got out meekly. "It's just that... do you think Ben and I would be married by now?"

Zorii shrugged, thrown a little by the question. "I imagine so, no matter if Poe and Finn approved or not. Why do you ask?"

"I wish that it was me trying on the white dresses!" Rey cried, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I wish it was me checking myself in the mirror and imagining what Ben would think!"

"I know," Zorii murmured sympathetically. "But there are others who will appreciate how you look in your dress. Take Finn, for example."

Rey's smile and cheeks both grew warm at this. Zorii held out her hand. "Come on. All the bridesmaids are anxious to see what their leader will look like."

And smiling weakly, Rey allowed the bride to guide her out of the changing stall.

Daydream

Rey Solo firmly held her husband's head in place and readied her comb. Both the fine head of silky black locks and the man attached to them were refusing to be tamed, but she was not to be trifled with.

"Benjamin Chewbacca Organa Solo, enough of this nonsense!" Rey scolded. "Now let me finish your hair!"

Ben Solo scowled into the mirror as his wife began to run the comb through his tangles. "I could just cut it, you know. Saves us both the trouble..."

"I forbid it!" Rey sniffed. "You know how much I adore your hair long! We just need to straighten these strands. Best do it now after your shower; we won't have time in the morning..."

"Speaking of which, maybe I should just save everyone the trouble and send my regrets," Ben grumbled.

"What are you talking about?" Rey laughed, pausing mid-stroke to stoop and kiss his cheek.

Ben frowned. "You know as well as I do that the only reason I'm being asked to attend this thing is because it would have been rude for Dameron and Zorii to just invite you. Neither one of them... even likes me."

"Yes, they do," Rey chided, looping her arms around his shoulder and admiring their joint reflection in the mirror.

"They like you. They tolerate me. Remember at our wedding, when Finn looked like he wanted to tackle me during the reception? Probably wanted to defend your honor or something."

"Noble Finny," Rey shook her head. She gave one last pull on the brush and stepped back to admire her work.

"Do you think anyone will try to assassinate me at the ceremony?" Ben asked melodramatically.

Rey frowned. "They do, and they'll have to deal with me protecting my husband." Turning his face to hers, she kissed his lips sweetly. "My saber will be hidden in my garter, just in case."

"Smart move," Ben smirked cheekily against her mouth. Rey leaned in for another kiss, longer this time, when her comm buzzed in her pocket. Checking the message, she sighed, "It's from Rosie. Zorii's freaking out again." She furrowed her brow, deep in thought. "Was I that nervous at our wedding?"

Ben laid a hand over his wife's. "Worse," he smiled.

Rey gawked out a laugh. "Ben!"

He stood and kissed her quickly. "You were inspiring," he crooned.

Rey shook her head of the beautiful vision in her mind as she dragged herself back into her hotel room on Coruscant. Throwing herself down on the bed, she stared up at the ceiling for many minutes, trying to will herself to fall asleep. If she could dream of Ben like that when awake, she could only imagine how wonderful the fantasies would be once asleep.

The Jedi was just about to drift off when a buzz from her holo comm shook her from her reverie. Sighing, she sat up and answered it. A holographic rendering of Finn popped up before her.

"Rey! Glad I caught you! Did the dress shopping go well?" There was a strange sort of bobble to his voice.

"Yeah," Rey shrugged. "Zorii is going to look amazing! She has good taste. I hope you like the color periwinkle."

Finn grinned. "You'll look beautiful no matter what color your dress is."

She smiled tenderly, her face growing hot. "Thanks."

A small, awkward pause.

"Oh! The reason I called," Finn blasted out abruptly before she could hang up. "I, uh... I was wondering if, you know, you and I... could go to the wedding together?"

Rey peered at him, amused. "Why Mr. Stormbreaker, are you asking me out? On a date?"

"It doesn't have to be a date!" Finn rambled quickly. "It's just... you know, you being Maid of Honor and me being Best Man... it's kind of natural for us to go together. We'll be paired off in the wedding party anyway..."

"Well, now I just feel insulted," Rey teased dryly. At Finn's horrified expression, she laughed and sent him an easy smile. "I'm kidding." Her heart fluttered. "Yes, I'd be honored to attend on your arm... Commandant."

Finn deflated in relief. "All right, all right, enough of the formal talk... Grandmaster Jedi." He winked, and Rey trilled out a laugh. "Good night, Rey. See you in the morning."

"Good night, Finny," she murmured. The hologram winked off.