Ben heard Rey begin to cry. He hesitated outside the door. Part of him wanted to go back inside and tell her everything would be fine, to take her in his arms and carry her to the bedroom, he imagined the sex would be desperate and emotional. The connection they both needed so badly could perhaps be the key to him truly knowing if Rey was his future, but another part of him was too hurt and betrayed to allow that behaviour.

He got back into the hired limo, but he didn't feel like going back to the yacht yet, so instead he instructed the driver to take him to the diner where Rey worked.

He entered the diner and took a seat at one of the small tables eying the laminated menu's with suspicion. A few hours ago, he wouldn't have thought twice about whether or not the beef was of good quality or how long the coffee had been percolating for. Was he a better person for worrying about these details now? Ben didn't know.

'You're Ben, aren't you?' enquired a kind looking older waitress brandishing a coffee pot.

'I am,' Ben confirmed, 'But I'm probably not the Ben you think I am.'

'Oh, so she finally told you the truth! I'm so glad! I was against this whole thing from the start you know, and to be honest, lying didn't suit Rey one bit. I could tell its been eating her up inside.'

'Rey didn't tell me the truth, she waited until I stumbled upon it myself. I doubt she would ever willing give up her cabana boy.' Ben said angrily.

Leia looked sympathetically at him and sat down as she poured him a cup of coffee.

'You meant a lot more to her than that and you know it,' she said then she squinted at Ben, 'You do know it don't you? That's the problem. You're in love with her, and that's why this hurts so much more. Oh, I'm so sorry hunny.'

Ben bristled, 'You don't know anything about me.'

'That's true, but I've always been somewhat naturally intuitive around certain folk.' Leia paused, 'She loves you too you know.'

Ben's head snapped up from his coffee cup.

Leia smiled, 'So what are you going to do now?'

'Go home and rebuild my old life.' Ben shrugged.

'Is that what you want?'

'I don't know. My father wants me to return.'

Leia regarded Ben for a few moments then spoke again, 'Maybe it's about time you stopped listening to that voice in your head and asked yourself what you want, in here.' She pointed a finger at Ben's chest.

Ben ran a hand through his hair and groaned.

'Trust me Ben, the high ground is over rated…I made a decision once to save face, in order to protect myself, and it was the worst decision I ever made. I regret it every day.'

'What did you do?' Ben asked with curiosity.

'That doesn't matter, what matters is the lesson I learned. Hold onto the things that are important to you. Don't let others dictate how you should live your life, and above all, remember that love trumps everything.'

Ben smiled then, 'Thank You Leia.'

'Anytime.' Leia said with a matching smile standing up and returning to her place behind the counter.

Ben sat for sometime thinking about what Leia had said. He did love Rey. That was painfully obvious to him, but did she love him? Could Leia be right? And if she was, would that change things? Could he forgive her actions, if she truly loved him?

It was late when Ben headed back to the yacht that night. They were meant to set sail early in the morning, but Ben was conflicted about the decision. He stood on the deck looking out over the moonlit water below.

'Where have you been?' Phasma asked, appearing on the deck in a floaty dressing gown with a martini glass in hand.

'Nowhere.' Ben replied.

'Bullshit. You're not sure you want to leave, are you? You went to see that girl, didn't you? What's so special about her?'

Ben felt his chest grow hot with anger, 'Leave it Phasma…' He growled.

'Come on Ben! Sure, she's pretty, I'll allow that, but she'd be a dime a dozen back home!'

'Don't talk about her like that…'

'You see! She has got under your skin, hasn't she? Poor little Benny Wenny has gone and falling in love with his…with his kidnapper! Its all too delicious!'

Phasma threw back her head and laughed heartily putting a delicate long hand to her throat.

Ben's hands clenched into fists.

'Don't worry Ben, you go on back to the little wifey. I can handle things on this end. You really don't need to be here.' Phasma taunted.

Something clicked in Ben's head and suddenly his emotions were mute. He turned to Phasma with a cold expression.

'If that's true why are you here looking for me? Could it be because father didn't want you to be in-charge of things?'

Phasma was quiet. Ben smiled and walked towards her.

'You see Phasma, you'll always be second best in his eyes. That's why I have to come back. He'll never relinquish his power to you.'

'He's just blinded by his own misogyny,' Phasma grumbled.

'Or maybe he just sees the same weakness in you that I saw every time I bested you during our childhood Karate practises. You don't have what it takes to get the job done, Phasma, accept it.'

'Oh, and you do?' Phasma shot back.

'You have no idea what I'm capable of.' Ben replied.

Phasma looked afraid as Ben loomed over her. She took a step back.

'I wasn't sure at first…' She said wearily, 'But now I see that you are back. All of you.'

'Yes, I am.' Ben said sternly, 'Get used to it.'

'You talked to Ben last night? Ben, Ben? My Ben?' Rey asked incredulously.

'Yes, that Ben. I talked to that Ben last night.' Leia confirmed again while she set the tables. Rey followed her around the diner in a state of panic.

'Tell me everything he said.'

'Not much to tell, he was sad, poor thing. I told him that he needed to make a choice for himself, not for anyone else and…I think he's in love with you.'

Rey gasped and put a hand over her heart.

'Oh, don't act so surprised, I know you love him too.'

'He asked me that.'

'What?'

'He asked me if I loved him last night. He came to see me right before he came here and he asked me if I loved him.'

'And what did you say?'

'I said I liked him a lot.'

Leia sighed and rolled her eyes, 'You two are as stupid as each other.'

Rey rubbed her face with her hands, 'What should I do?'

'Why don't you go see him?'

'I don't think he wants to see me.' Rey said miserably.

'He's going to leave, Rey. You might never get the chance to tell him how you really feel, do you want to regret that for the rest of your life?'

'No, but…'

'No buts! You should tell him while you still have the chance!'

'Even if he does love me, how can he forgive me after what I did to him?' Rey cried.

'Yes, it was awful what you did to him, taking him in when no one else would, teaching him to appreciate money, showing him that kindness goes a long way, giving him a family and a loving wife…'

Rey's eyes jumped to Leia's. Leia gave her a knowing look and put her hand on her hip.

'Go on.' She urged.

Rey kissed Leia on the cheek and bolted out of the diner.

Leia watched her go with a wistful smile.

'Good luck darlin.' She whispered before returning to her task of wiping down the diner tables.