One month later…
'I declare the new and improved and newly named 'Chapters and Pages' open!' Rose announced as she cut the ribbon fixed across the doorway of her beloved store.
Everyone clapped and cheered and Armitage leaned down and kissed her forehead. They walked hand and hand into the store and looked around. Rose gasped. It was all so very beautiful.
Gorgeous dark wood shelving, a dedicated reading corner with a huge comfortable armchair and many, many multi coloured cushions scattered on the plush carpet. Ben himself had drawn a beautiful tree on the wall with cherry blossom hanging from the branches and butterflies delicately placed around the walls. There was a soft play area which Rose had always wanted to incorporate and now could thanks to Ben's brilliant use of the small space.
Rose sighed as she looked around the room. Armitage was by her side with an arm over her shoulder. Ben and Rey appeared beside them hand in hand.
'So, what do you think?' Rey asked.
'I think your fiancé is an absolute genius,' Rose said.
Rey looked up at Ben lovingly.
'Yes, he is, and he's my husband now.'
'What?' Rose asked with surprise.
Rey grinned and wiggled her ring finger at Rose which now held two rings, a plain band now joining the huge diamond Ben had presented her with a few weeks previously.
'When?' Rose asked.
'We eloped at the weekend,' Rey replied.
Ben looked down at Rey with a loving expression.
'I just couldn't wait any longer,' he murmured, reaching down to place a soft kiss on her lips.
Rose giggled.
'Shall we tell them?' She asked Armitage.
He smiled down at her.
'You make the decisions, remember darling?'
'Tell us what?' Rey asked.
'That great minds think alike,' Rose said wiggling her hand at Rey and showing her wedding finger now sporting a similar plain band alongside her sparkling engagement ring.
'Oh my god!' Rey exclaimed, enveloping Rose in a huge bear hug.
Ben and Hux shook hands and congratulated one another.
'So, you're not disappointed you weren't a bridesmaid?' Rose asked.
'Disappointed are you kidding me? I'm thrilled for you both!' Rey said as she pulled away and wiped at her tear-filled eyes.
'Although Finn is going to kill us! I think he was planning some sort of double wedding extravaganza!'
Rose thought for a moment, then smiled.
'Well maybe we can have a joint blessing?' Rose offered. Rey took her friend's hand.
'I would love that,' she said with a soft look in her eyes.
Ben groaned and shook his head.
'Geez, is one wedding not enough for you girls?' he asked.
'No!' Rose and Rey answered in unison and then laughed.
'What do you think of all this?' Ben asked Hux.
Armitage put his hands up in mock surrender.
'I don't fight with Rose. I promised her she can have whatever she wants from now on and I meant it,' he said looking down at his precious wife.
'Maybe I married the wrong guy?' Rey said playfully.
Ben growled at her and grabbed her around the waist as Rey dissolved into a fit of giggles.
More customers and friends filtered into the store and congratulated Rose on her reopening.
Rose brimmed with pride and enjoyed introducing Hux as her new husband to all of their guests.
Once everyone had left, Rose, Hux, Rey, Ben, Finn and Poe shared a champagne toast together in the centre of the store.
Finn was already excitedly planning the double blessing and Poe was gushing about the choice of fabrics used on the store's soft furnishings.
Rey and Ben were whispering gently to each other and sneaking soft kisses when they thought no one was looking.
'So how does it feel to be the biggest success in town?' Armitage asked his beloved wife.
Rose snorted.
`We've only been re-open a day, darling. Only time will tell if we will be a success or not.'
'I think we already are a success story,' he murmured leaning down to kiss her gently.
Rose smiled back at him.
'And hopefully there are many more chapters to our tale,' she said beaming up at him as he lovingly caressed her cheek.
THE END