"So," Finn drawled, sinking into the swaying hammock in the corner of the room he and Rey shared. "tell me about Ben."

Rey, who had been sitting on the bottom bunk of the bed, sipping on iced tea and scrolling through her phone, jerked her head up, inadvertently choking on her drink. She coughed roughly for a few moments, and then cleared her throat, attempting to adopt an indifferent expression. "What about him?" she inquired, voice even, turning back to her phone. Her cheeks blazed bright red.

"That tells me about all I need to know," a smug smile spread across his face. "I knew it. You do like him."

"Shhhh! Keep your voice down!" she hushed him urgently, swatting at him. "Of course I like him. He's my friend." She couldn't meet his eyes.

"Rey." Finn got up and moved to sit with her, taking her hand in his. "Be honest." His eyes shone, concerned and earnest.

"I—" her words caught in her throat, her voice thick. She glanced up at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. A gentle breeze floated in from the open window, causing strands of her hair to swirl up across her face. "I can't. If I do, it'll be real." Rey whispered softly, her gaze directed at the shag carpet beneath them. "I'm scared," she confessed, voice wavering. "that this could actually work. I don't know if I—if I deserve something like this. He's so perfect, and amazing, and sweet and honest. He should have someone better than me." She laughed weakly. "I'm a wreck, Finn. I know I hide it behind layers of confidence and bravado, but I'm really, really messed up. Growing up the way we did, it knocked my sense of self-worth all out of whack. To be so desperate for love, and to be rejected at every turn…" she trailed off, finally raising her head to look at him. "I don't know if I can do that to myself again. Not with him. It would hurt too much."

They sat there together for several long moments, before Finn opened his mouth to speak. "I know I've told you this a thousand times before, but here it is once more: you are infinitely precious." He smiled slightly, gripping her hand tightly as tears slid down the bridge of her nose onto the linen bedspread. "Rey, you are worth more than all the money in the whole damn world, and you deserve to be with someone who knows that. Yes, deserve. The people who you wanted to be loved by all your life, they didn't know how to love anyone but themselves. That's not your fault. That's not an indication of how much you're worth." He paused, wondering how angry Ben would be at him after this conversation. He decided he didn't care. "Ben loves you, Rey. I can see it with my own two eyes. Poe can see it. Hell, even Rose asked if you guys were together. And when I say love, I don't mean infatuation, I don't mean lust. He wants you, because he loves you. He wants you to be happy, and I know he would give anything for you."

Rey sniffled, wiped at her nose, and inhaled deeply. "How do you know?" she asked quietly.

"Because he told me." Finn grinned at her shocked expression. "Yeah, girl, we've talked about it. Remember when we were all sick and you walked in on us in his room, and it looked like we had been crying? We had been. After talking about you. And how much he loves you."

"I don't—are you for real?"

"Hell yeah."

She leaped up, swiping at her cheeks to clear away the tears. "Well, then what the heck am I doing in here with you? I have to talk to him!" she dragged a hand through her hair, attempting to smooth it down. "How do I look?"

Finn smiled, shaking his head at his friend's eagerness. "You look beautiful. Ben's out in the sunroom, by the way." She disappeared through the door a moment later. "Go get 'im, girl," he whispered softly, a tear slipping out as he smirked to himself. "It's about damn time."

_SW_

Rey entered the sunroom quietly, the warm, balmy air embracing her immediately. She looked around and saw him, sitting on criss-cross on the salt-washed wood, glasses perched on the edge of his nose, reading a book with a cover so worn the title was no longer legible. She stood there in the doorway for a moment, simply watching him. The sound of crashing waves filtered through the thin walls, along with the brass twinkling of a wind chime. Ocean wind swept across the room, stirring the dust in the air and ruffling Ben's already-unruly hair. Sunshine beamed through the screen windows, casting hazy shadows around the room. For the first time in a long time, Rey felt something akin to peace.

"Ben," she murmured, smiling as he spun around to face her.

"Rey! I didn't see you there! Sorry, otherwise I would have—" he peered more intently at her face, standing and moving toward her. "Have you been crying?"

She scratched at her forehead, looking away sheepishly. "Uh, yeah. A little."

"Is everything alright?" he studied her eyes, searching for something that would reveal her thoughts. "Are you hurt or anything?" he placed a hand on her shoulder, rubbing small circles across her skin.

Rey nodded, unable to tear her gaze from his beautiful amber-colored eyes. "I just figured something out that I've been ignoring for a while. Something that actually makes a little sense for the first time."

"And that is?" he questioned, a slight smile quirking up the corner of his mouth. He stiffened in surprise as she took a step forward and closed her arms around him tightly, holding him close. He relaxed and hugged her back, wondering what on earth was happening, but enjoying it nonetheless.

She took a deep breath, and asked, "Can I be honest?" She pulled back a little so she could look at his face.

"Yeah, of course,"

Rey paused, gathering up courage to speak. "I think—" she searched his eyes, and saw concern, worry, confusion, and something that made her heart swell. "I think I love you," she blurted, her cheeks flushing bright red. "and I was kind of hoping you felt the same way."

Ben stared at her, his jaw slack, his mind struggling to process her words. "Actually?" as she nodded, he felt as if his face might split in half, he was smiling so wide. "Rey, in case you haven't noticed, I've been in love with you for the past year and a half."

"Really?" her nose scrunched up as she beamed brightly at him. "Huh. Fancy that."

He rolled his eyes as he picked her up and swung her around, her laughter joining in with his. He set her down after a moment, still holding her close. His eyes flicked up to meet hers, and he felt his face turn red. "Can I kiss you?"

A grin played at her lips. "I thought you'd never ask." She moved closer, and pressed her mouth to his.

Rey didn't believe in magic, not until that moment. The air smelled of salt water and he smelled like mint and it all mingled together and she wished she could bottle up the scent to remember this for years. His arms slid around her waist, keeping her close. She felt him smile against her lips. She felt like she was floating.

They broke apart after a moment, breathless, their faces flushed and their eyes bright. "That was.." he began, trailing off, still staring at her.

"Yeah," she agreed, giggling, a hand covering her mouth. She rested her forehead against his chest. She listened to his heartbeat as they swayed in place, loving the feeling of his arms wrapped around her.

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses," Ben remarked, tilting his chin to look at her. "Took you long enough."

Rey scoffed and rolled her eyes, glaring back at him. "Oh, shut up." she kissed him again, a smirk spreading across her face. "I'm glad I finally got my act together, though. Kissing you is a lot of fun."

"Oh, that's it, huh? That's the only reason you're here? I knew it!" he reached down and tickled the sides of her stomach.

She squealed and retaliated, knocking him down to the floor and tickling him back. "Concede!" she shouted as she ran her hands across his sides.

"Fine, fine! I give up!" he held his hands out in surrender. He couldn't help but stare at her, with her frizzy hair and flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. "I love you."

"I know."