A/N - Welcome back to the story!
ldsrsc - Well, this is a Reylo story... but maybe we'll throw in some Finn/Poe... guess we'll just have to see! ;)
oldestj1 - Hmm, I don't know... but this chapter might give you a hint!
SirCJ - ¡Guau, debes leer muy rápido! ¡Estoy feliz de que te guste!
Ludo - You'll just have to read and find out!
In True Meanings - I'm glad you noticed the contrast! I really wanted to emphasize that Rey and Ben are a new generation of Force-users who won't be held to the oppressive rules of the old Jedi order.
Guest - I am happy to find someone who also loved the Captive series, but saddened that you feel that way about my story. I know the worlds of Star Wars and the Captive series are different, but I felt the characters were very in line with each other. I kept much of the original dialogue and descriptions not to try to copy the captive series, but out of respect for it. I love the captive series, and only wanted to put my own twist on it every so often, not rewrite the entire thing. If you ever decide to keep reading, I really hope that you enjoy it!
The celebration of the defeat of the First Order was far larger than she'd expected. People from all corners of the galaxy descended upon Coruscant to mark the beginning of a new era of peace and prosperity.
Rey was overwhelmed. Everyone was desperate to talk to her, and complete strangers seemed to know her life story. Not to mention there was more food here than she'd ever seen in her life, including a giant cake that she couldn't tear her eyes away from. Her mouth watered every time she looked at the elaborately decorated thing, and all she craved was a giant piece of it.
"I think I'm jealous of the cake."
"Huh?" Rey blinked, tearing her faze away from the massive creation of sugary goodness in the middle of the table.
Ben laughed as he slid his arm around her waist.
"I'm jealous of the cake. You can't take your eyes off it."
"I've never seen anything like it," she admitted. "It's amazing."
"Even more so than me?" He teased, and Rey simply rolled her eyes. "Would you like a piece?"
"Aren't we supposed to eat dinner first and socialize with guests and do other future emperor-and-empress things?"
"As future emperor-and-empress, I'd say we can do whatever we want."
Rey watched Ben's deft hands as he slid the knife through the cake, cutting her a generous slice. She became more fascinated with those hands than she had been with the cake. Strong and brutal when they had to be, and yet so achingly tender and loving when they slid over her.
Rey mentally shook herself from her thoughts before they wandered to things that were far from appropriate here.
"Can the future emperor-and-empress get their trusty sidekicks a slice too?"
Rey turned to find that Poe had sauntered up to them, Finn following close behind. With a smile, Ben cut two more pieces before bringing them over.
Poe didn't hesitate before digging into his piece.
"Delicious," He sighed, and Rey laughed as she began to eat hers.
"Amazing," she agreed.
Ben was watching her with a raised eyebrow and a small smile on his face.
"Hopefully you'll like our wedding cake just as much."
Rey choked on her cake. Finn froze with his first bite halfway to his mouth.
"Excuse me?" she managed to get out around Poe's solid thumps on her back.
Ben just grinned back at her.
"You heard me."
Rey glanced at her friends, not sure she was actually understanding him right. Marriage wasn't something she'd ever really thought about before, but then how else did someone become Empress?
She realized she'd never put a whole lot of thought into it, but it would be marriage that solidified her position. When he'd told her that he wanted her as his Empress, he'd also been saying that he planned to marry her.
Rey felt like an idiot.
But she also couldn't think of anything better than marrying Ben Solo.
"I'll give you away, Rey," Finn offered.
"We both will," Poe interjected forcefully.
"Between the three of you, at least one of you would end up falling over on your way down the aisle," Ben pointed out.
Poe and Finn laughed as they poked each other and snickered at her. She rolled her eyes at them as she fought the urge to hit them. Ben took the empty plate from her hand and slid his arm around her waist.
She was a little confused as she stared up at him. Had she just been proposed to, or was he only teasing? She didn't have time to ponder it as he swept her off her feet and actually twirled her out to the dance floor.
Rey was laughing as he eased her back down.
"I don't know how to dance."
"I'll teach you."
She glanced up at him suspiciously.
"You know how to dance?"
"Don't act so surprised," He replied. "I was raised by Leia Organa, after all."
Rey glanced over to the side of the room, where she saw Luke and Leia watching them with identical wistful smiles. The rest of the room's attention was focused on them as well, just like it had been the entire night. She didn't blame them - they were going to be their rulers, after all - but it was still uncomfortable.
With a gentle touch, Ben turned her head back to look at him.
"Don't mind them," He told her softly. "It's just us."
He pulled her close against him, wrapping one arm around her waist as he took hold of her hand and pressed it to his chest.
"Isn't there supposed to be some room between us?" Rey asked.
"That's what they say, but I don't agree," Ben replied.
"That's good." She rested her head against his chest. "Everyone is very curious about us."
"They are."
"They don't understand us."
"They don't," He confirmed. "But it doesn't matter. We do, and eventually they will too. I have a surprise for you later."
Rey lifted her head to look up at him.
"What is it?" She asked warily.
"It's not a surprise if I tell you," He reminded her. "I won't make you wait long, I promise."
She was going to hold him to that promise.
"A bigger surprise than talk of wedding cakes?"
"I meant it too," he informed her. "I'm going to marry you."
"Aren't you supposed to ask me first?" Rey teased.
"I thought that would be redundant."
"So you just assumed I would say yes."
"Of course."
Well, how the hell was she supposed to argue with that, especially with him grinning down at her like that, and a happy sparkle in his vivid eyes.
"You're arrogant."
"Hmm." He simply shrugged as his hands stroked over her back. "And you love it."
Eventually, they returned to where Poe and Finn stood, now accompanied by Rose.
"I'll be right back." Ben kissed the top of her head and left the room.
She watched him go before leaning against the table.
"Where did Luke and Leia go?" Rey asked nervously. A cold chill crept down her spine; Ben had handled her revelation well, but she knew Ben had been furious when she'd told him about their plan. "I'll be right back."
Poe stepped in front of her.
"We were told to keep you here, something about a surprise."
Was it really a surprise or was he going to confront his family? She glanced nervously from Poe to the door Ben had disappeared through.
"Poe…"
"It's fine, Rey. Really."
"I hope so," she muttered.
"It's been over a week since you told him," Rose reminded her. "Don't you think he would have done something by now if he was going to?"
"Or he's just let the anger fester."
"Finn." Poe scolded him, but her friend just shrugged, before shoveling more food in his mouth. Rey twisted her hands before her as she shifted from foot to foot and watched the door.
"So," Rose started with a sly smile. "Getting married soon?"
Rey couldn't help but return it.
"I think so," she admitted, and her friend squealed in delight.
"I know those two will fight over which one gets to give you away," Rose told her, waving a hand dismissively at Finn and Poe. "But you'll need a bridesmaid, and that's something neither of them can do!"
"Wanna bet?" Poe interjected.
Rey managed a small laugh as she tried to relax with her friends, her gaze always drifting back to the door.
A/N - Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)