a/n: heavily inspired by one of the best rom com films ever made: pretty woman. argue with the wall.


"But your eyes are flying saucers from another planet/ Now I'm all for you like Janet/ Could this be a real thing? Can it?/[…] You wanting me, tonight feels impossible."-Snow On the Beach, Taylor Swift & Lana Del Rey


Chapter 13

Shortly before the meeting on the mission to Coruscant, my mother left me in the meeting room we would use to oversee some work in the communications department. I didn't notice any bulky humans or Wookies being assigned to guard me, so the news of my semi-pardon must be in full effect. And spreading around the base.

My heart was overflowing with a sense of pure amazement at Rey. She was so clever, so steadfast, so caring...and I deserved none of it. My...love for her was only growing by the day, if that was even possible. I was so unused to this feeling, almost afraid of it, as I knew there was no way in hell she could ever feel the same about me. I could look and love from afar, though. I'd be anything she wanted me to be.

I was left in the somewhat drab room to stare at the ceiling, when Maz came in, quite casually.

"So," she began. "You must have a few words you'd like to share with me, perhaps a 'thank you' is in order?" She quirked an eyebrow up at me. I smiled lightly.

"Yes, thank you, Maz," I told her. "I mean it. If it weren't for you, I'd be being carted off to somewhere on Maker only knows what planet." She hopped up on a chair a few feet from me, her feet dangling from the end.

"Well, you're welcome, child, but don't thank me, thank your girl." My girl? Did she mean Rey?

I must have made a telling expression, because she laughed at me.

"Don't try to dissuade me, child," she waved me off. "I know the look of love when I see it. And I saw it in your eyes." So much for trying not to seem obvious.

"I-I don't-" I started, not wanting to embarrass Rey or have Maz making misconceptions.

"It's alright, you know. She has something in her eyes too, when I look at her. Only a woman with some strong emotion would do what she has done for you. I think she's just afraid." The mention of Rey feeling something, anything for me made my heart skip.

"What is she afraid of?" I asked, hoping the answer would not be me.

"I think she's afraid to get attached to anyone, especially to someone as erratic as you, for lack of a better word."

"I am being sent to exile eventually, so it's probably best not to get attached to someone who she'll never see again." I reasoned, but Maz frowned at me.

"That girl will follow you where ever you may go," she said it with such surety. Only someone like Maz could be this true. The idea had me edging on the feeling of hope. "She needs you, and she can't be without you. Not just because of the dyad bond, but something stronger...I can't call it 'love' just yet, for she has fears she must overcome before I could make that claim." I nodded slowly, realizing what Maz meant. Rey could love me. Even if she didn't love me right now, she still needed me.

"I don't understand how," my own fears were surfacing now. Maz looked at me with a gentle expression.

"I know it is hard for you, young Ben Solo," she spoke with care. "To have done what you have, to have escaped it. But I was not lying in that council meeting. You are different now, Ben. You are free. You fought for this freedom, and Rey sees that. She knows your soul better than I can try to, better than you do. She sees you for what you've done, and needs you anyway." It was difficult to accept this, that she could truly find any room in her heart for me after everything Kylo Ren had done.

"I don't know if I agree with you on the matters of what I've earned," I admitted. "However, I do thank you, Maz. For this talk, for the trial. It...it gives me more time with her. To maybe help her overcome her fears."

"I hope so, child. She needs it. You must treat her with care-she's a treasure, that one, and I won't be pleased to see her tarnished at your hand." She warned me, and it was easy to understand why people wanted to protect Rey. She was precious, after all.

"Don't worry, Maz," I assured her. "I could never."

"I know, young Solo," she smiled at me warmly. "I've seen it in your eyes." She got up to move, and walked toward the door.

"You should tell her how you feel, you know," she called over her shoulder. "Coruscant is a very romantic place, and Rey may need a little nudging to take that leap of faith." Then, she turned her head to wink at me. I chuckled, and she was gone, leaving me alone to consider everything she had just said. The monumental meaning of the mere possibility that Rey could love me. I felt giddy at the thought.

I didn't have too long to contemplate, though, as crew members started to file into the room. I recognized all of them, as they were Rey's friends.

"So," Poe Dameron looked me up and down. "We heard Rey saved your ass, again." He crossed his arms over his chest. I did the same.

"Yes, she did." I admitted freely. No shame here.

"And now we have to bring you along with us." Finn said it like a question.

"Apparently so," I shrugged. The men sat in chairs across the room, deciding to mumble amongst themselves for now. A few seconds later, Chewie and the BB unit arrived. Chewie greeted me respectfully, and the BB unit whirred by to sit in front of Poe. His owner, I recalled. The two of them spoke to each other heatedly, but I could not care about their conversation, because Rey arrived, looking sweaty and covered in grime from the hangar, flanked by my mother.

Rey caught my eye immediately, and smiled in greeting. I smiled back for a second. My mother moved to the front of the room, so all of us could face her. The man and his droid stopped talking.

"Hello," my mother greeted everyone. "As you all know, you've been called to convene here to discuss an impending mission to Coruscant, where a gala is going to be held in two nights' time. The gala is being hosted by Senate members, to celebrate the end of the war and raise funds via auction for rebuilding costs, but there is reportedly going to be First Order survivors in attendance as well." She looked around the room to ensure everyone was listening and understood. We all did.

"This team is going to infiltrate the gala to covertly arrest these Order members and bring them to Commander Igoia, who will be in Coruscant awaiting their arrival, in the city hall." Igoia was the bothan who had been present at my trial. "Chewie and BB-8 will stay on the ship to ensure security on that end and to provide technical support. Poe, Finn, Rey, and Ben will be attending the gala undercover." Poe's hand went up, nonchalantly. My mother looked at him pointedly.

"How are any of us going to be undercover? Doesn't everyone in the galaxy know our faces? Particularly the two in this room that, uh, defeated Palpatine?" He made a point.

"By 'undercover,' I mean you will be staying as low profile as possible. Ben's face is not widely know, as he's been hidden by a cowl for over ten years. Rey will look a bit different than she usually does, so her appearance may not be recognized. As for you two boys, just don't draw attention to yourselves. Besides, we have no enemies there, we're simply locating ex-enemies." My mother retorted, and I wondered what she meant by Rey looking different at this event. Everyone chewed on this thought, and seemed to agree with its sensibility.

"Great," my mother moved on in her official-sounding voice she reserved for meetings like these. "So. Roles. Finn and Poe, you're going to be in charge of locating the targets and keeping track of them during the evening. Towards the end of the event, you are to herd them to the exit nearest where the ship will be parked. Ben and Rey, you will be playing the parts of a married pair of debut socialites related to the Holfan family. Distant relation, that is, but new money. You will serve as a distraction as Finn and Poe do their work, and once they signal that they are ready to get the targets to the ship, you will make the arrest with them and then, if and when all goes smoothly, you will take them to Senator Igoia and come back to base within the night."

This plan was straightforward and all, but there was one thing that made my stomach drop, my heart pick up, my cheeks to flush, and the energy around me to spike in anxiety.

I was going to have to pretend to be married to Rey. Rey and I would have to look like a couple. Together. At this event. I was supposed to, somehow, handle this situation totally fine. I was supposed to handle pretending to be married to the woman I love. No big deal.

"Any problems so far?" My mother asked, but I'd wait to share my problems with her later.

"Besides him having to come with us, no, I don't have any problems at all." Poe nodded his head toward me, but didn't look at me. My mother ignored his comment.

"I would like to reiterate that you are all to work together, to collaborate, and if there is any reason I think any of you will fail at this, or if any of you do fail at this, I will personally ensure that you have a difficult few weeks back here on base." My mother spoke sternly. Everyone seemed to be in agreement: we would work together.

"You'll be taking the Zafir ship, to fit in, and you will enter as pairs: first, Ben and Rey, to catch attention, and then Finn and Poe, to slide under the radar. In the morning, you'll be going to Zeltros where a friend of mine will be outfitting you for the trip. Then, you'll be going straight to Coruscant where you will be staying in a luxury hotel-" Finn pumped a fist in the air at this, pleased. "And attend the gala the next evening. The hangar and communications team will prepare the ship and ensure you have all the equipment you need. Unless you have any questions, meeting adjourned." Finn raised his hand like a schoolboy, like a stormtrooper. I felt like wincing.

"Yes, Finn," my mother acknowledged him.

"One question," he began. "Does this luxury hotel have amenities? Like a spa, or a pool, or a really nice bar?" Everyone either rolled their eyes in jest or chuckled. I stayed silent.

"The hotel has all of those things, Finn," my mother assured him. "I'm glad to know you're priorities are in order."

"We have a full evening and day before the gala, and I am in desperate need of some downtime." Finn nudged Poe's arm, and the two shared a smile. Chewie raised his paw. My mother nodded up at him.

"Will the ship be communicating with the team whilst they are at the gala?"

"No, there should be no issues, really, so you'll just be waiting on them in the cockpit to then take them to the city hall." Chewie nodded and sat back in his chair, which he was really too big for.

"Anything more?" My mother asked. I eyed Rey, who was looking at the floor, blank.

"Alright, then, meeting adjourned." Everyone began to shuffle out, and I noticed Rey's energy was all over the place. Mostly nervous, with a hint of hesitation. No doubt thanks to my mother's plan.

Once everyone had left, I turned to my mother, who was already looking at me.

"You're welcome," she said.

"For what? For putting me in a horribly awkward situation?" I asked, taken aback at how she was viewing this situation.

"You know, you really need to get over yourself. You like her, she likes you, you two need to talk it out. What better way than forced proximity."

"Yeah, or she hates the idea and you've got this all wrong." My mother cackled at me.

"Ben, I don't have any of this wrong. It is so obvious the feelings between you two that I'm surprised you guys haven't noticed." I felt warmth flood my neck.

"Be appreciative of your dear mother for helping you out, and use this opportunity. Coruscant's a nice place." She was encouraging me. "It's actually where I told your father I loved him for the first time." I knew the story, of course, but she looked down, smiling with bittersweetness at the memory. I used my cane to stand up, and walked gingerly over to her. I put an arm around her.

"Okay," I breathed out, as she hugged me fully. It was still so awkward, for me, to be hugged by a parent. "Thank you. I'll try my best." I tried to be as vague as possible, so I could end this conversation quickly.

"You're welcome," she stepped back. "Now, go to the med bay and get some bacta. You've got a bed there, too. I'll see you in the morning before you're off." I did as she said, and left her in the meeting room. In the cover of night, no one noticed me on the short walk to the med bay, which I remembered from this morning. The entire time, and the rest of the night, I couldn't help but imagine just how nice it would be to pretend that Rey loved me. Even for a little bit.

Maybe it wouldn't be pretend sometime.


I left the meeting feeling quite ill, and slept fitfully. How was I supposed to pretend to be married to Ben, for kriff's sake? Without letting it slip my true feelings for him. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

In the morning, we congregated outside of a sleek, shiny ship that General Organa had called the Zafir, and boarded it. We each had small packs with us, full of things we would need that wouldn't be given to us on Zeltros. I had never been to this planet, and I was excited.

On the ship, Chewie seemed pleased with all of the equipment that had been provided, and after Leia and Ben spoke quietly for a moment, we were off.

And I slept the entire flight, laying on a bench right outside of the cockpit, while Chewie and BB-8 flew. Finn and Poe had taken to exploring the ship, and Ben had sought out his sleeping quarters. I probably had my own sleeping quarter, in hindsight, but I wasn't used to just being given things. Besides, the bench was fine. Better than the sand floors of Jakku.

Ben and I had not spoken since yesterday, after the trial. I bet it was because he was mortified at the idea of having to pretend to be married to me. I tried not to let that thought poison my mind. So, instead, I focused on thinking of nothing important at all as I drifted off to sleep, as I had not gotten much last night, tossing and turning, thinking of how I probably needed to apologize to Ben, that I didn't know his mum had planned this. Or maybe I shouldn't talk to him at all, maybe he wanted distance, especially after my surprise attack of a hug yesterday.

The ship jolted when we landed on Zeltros, and the city looked stunning. All glass and light, surrounded by palm trees and glittering waters. I sat up groggily, but excited.

"Have you ever been to this planet before?" Ben's voice made me jump. He was sitting on a bench at the back of the little lobby area, and had obviously just been reading on a Holopad. I tried to nonchalantly smooth my hair down and readjust my wrappings.

"No," I told him. And that was that. We didn't speak. Had he been in here the whole time while I was sleeping?

"Guys, this planet looks incredible. The amount of bars I've already seen flying in-we're set," Finn was obviously excited, as he and Poe walked in.

"It is pretty cool," Poe admitted, with his sparkling grin.

"Too bad you guys are here with responsibilities," Chewie walked in. "Go ahead and go to the shop. You're to meet with a Madame Lefant, and Poe, here are the coordinates," he threw a small data chip at Poe, who caught it expertly, and inserted it into the side of his commlink.

"Be back in a couple of Standard hours, okay? We have a job to do." Chewie reminded us.

"Oh, Chewie, come on, can't we just-" Finn begged.

"No, you can't. I've got orders from Leia, and we're all going to follow them. Now, go." With Chewie's final words, the four of us were out.

It was warm, but not hot, like on Ajan Kloss, but less humid. It actually felt quite nice, and I was glad when Poe informed us it would be a twelve-Standard-minute walk to the shop. Poe and Finn walked ahead of Ben and I, talking animatedly, pointing out wondrous parts of the city. Ben and I walked in silence, but it was okay-I was too enamoured looking around at the stunning place. It was so high-end, and there were all sorts of species roaming the streets, obviously going to jobs or on holiday. The sun and the breeze made it feel paradisical.

I felt Ben looking down at me. I turned to look up at him, and felt my heart do it's typical thud looking at his face.

"What?" I asked, squinting in the light. He smiled at me.

"Nothing," he shrugged. "You look...happy, here." I shrugged.

"I've always wanted to travel the galaxy. I'd be happy going anywhere." As long as it's with you. I walked a few steps ahead quickly, to avoid having to confront just how awkward I was around him, and instead focused on the sights around me. I felt his eyes on me the entire walk, though.

The building we approached shortly afterward did not have signage to let us know we were in the right place, but Poe assured us this was it. It was shiny just like the rest of the buildings, in a part of town surrounded by luxurious shops, expensive hotels with impressive speeders in front (which I wanted to inspect more closely), and apartments fit with glamourous balconies. The walls of the shop looked like glass, but upon closer look, were more reflective, like a mirror, but I could still see inside past my reflection.

Everything here made me feel so inferior, so much like the Jakku filth Unkar Plutt had always told me I was. My palms began to sweat, and the energy around me prickled. I tried to hide behind the men as we walked in.

The inside made me gulp.

It was so massive. It was two storeys tall, with grand staircases on both walls leading up. There were no customers inside, I noticed. Probably something Leia had requested, so we wouldn't be noticed right away. The racks of clothing were velvet and gold, the carpeting and tiling red and marble, the walls complete with huge mirrors reflecting the fabulousness back. I scanned as much as I could see: shoes, jewellery, clothing, there was even a salon in the back it seemed. It all reminded me of old Holodramas I had scavenged off of some old ships back on Jakku. I could imagine just how regal the actors would look in a setting like this.

A humanoid woman with bright blue skin stood behind a counter, a few feet from inside the entrance. Maker, they even had a chandelier in here.

"Welcome," the woman greeted us in Standard with a big smile. "You must be friends of Madame Lefant-we've reserved the shop for you this morning." The men nodded, while I stayed behind them, peeking over Finn's shoulder. How were they all so relaxed? Didn't this place make them feel so...less than?

"Yes, we are," Poe flashed his smile. "We were told we'd be meeting with Madame Lefant?" The woman looked slightly nervous now, like she was about to become the bearer of bad news.

"I'm so sorry to inform you, Madame Lefant is on emergency business at the moment-she sends her deepest apologies for the inconvenience. However, our team here is excellently prepared to help outfit you today." So, yes, she was bearing bad news. Poe and Finn mulled this over for a moment, furrowing their brows momentarily. With a couple of thrown glances at each other, they seemed decided.

"That's okay, miss-?" Poe asked politely.

"Oh, I'm Miss Alanti," she filled in.

"Miss Alanti, thank you. Is everything still in order, though?" I didn't really know what he meant by this, because I was growing ever more nervous.

"Of course, sir, if you'd like to begin your selection, the men's clothing is on your right, the women's on the left." She gestured with her blue hands.

Selections? As in, we had to pick out our own clothes? I began to panic internally.

The men seemed not to notice, because they walked to the right immediately. Poe and Finn looked around together, holding up different items to their frames, asking each other questions, visibly excited. Ben gravitated, naturally, toward the darker colors of the wardrobe. They were oblivious to my crisis.

"Do you need help, madame?" Miss Alanti asked when she noticed I was staring after my mates, wide-eyed. I whirled toward her, and threw on a slapstick smile, trying and failing to look totally capable.

"I'm good, no, I'm all good, thank you, though!" I practically threw the words at her. I turned on my heels and began to rifle through items.

Everything felt too fine. How in the hell were the boys paying fo their things? I'd have to stop somewhere else, if Madame Lefant was not here to cover costs...

I plucked up a couple of items that may have been too small for me, and burst into the curtained area meant for trying items on. I sat on the little bench at the back, and put my head in my hands. It was too embarrassing: not only did I have no idea what I was doing, I also had no way to pay for anything in this store. Maker, I should have just stayed on base.

It was a few minutes before I could even allow myself the humiliation of walking back out, items still in hand, to put back on the racks, untouched. By the spotless white counter where Miss Alanti was now writing in a planner of some sort, I noticed three trunks of about the same size were in line in front. The boys had managed to not only find clothing, but bags to put them in. I heard the whirring of air and the splash of water in a sink, and figured the men were now in the salon in the back. I felt hot tears prick the back of my eyes.

I curled my hands into fists, letting my fingernails dig into the flesh there, and started to march toward the counter to ask if Miss Alanti could direct me to a lower end store, and to apologize for having the gall to come here in the first place.

Before Miss Alanti looked up at me, I felt warm fingers curl around my waist, and the unmistakable, towering form of Ben was now at my side, pulling me into him. My heart thudded.

Don't worry, he assured me through the bond. I could only look up at him, stunned. What was he doing?

Looking up at him had been a total mistake, because his hair had been slightly combed back, to look a bit more elegant than it had when we arrived. I was glad he hadn't gotten it cut, I adored his longer locks. My heart thudded even more, and heat crawled up my neck into my face. I forced myself to look back at Miss Alanti.

"My apologies for interrupting you," Ben began politely. "My wife is in need of a new wardrobe for our trip, but we want to find things that are up to her standards, and it may take all day to look through the entire section. Would you mind assisting us?" Did he just call me his wife? I stopped breathing all completely, so utterly dumbfounded. He doesn't want to talk to me, but then he calls me his wife and holds me like...this.

Miss Alanti nodded and hurried from behind the counter. "Of course, of course." She led me by the arm to a section of the women's side where there was a row of cozy chairs, and a small platform in front. She directed me to stand on top of the platform, and Ben sat on one of the chairs, looking up at me, perfectly calm. I could only keep looking at him wide-eyed, confused.

"What is the occasion, may I ask?" Miss Alanti pointed the question to Ben, which I was a bit irked about, but at the same time thankful, because the less talking I had to do right now, the better.

"A political gala tomorrow evening. Something elegant. She needs a travelling outfit to wear when we leave here, something for dining tonight in the city. She needs sleepwear. She needs something to wear tomorrow before the event, more casual." Kriffing Prince. Of course he knew how to handle this. He's probably been doing it his whole life.

Miss Alanti only nodded, and scurried off to find clothing. I closed my eyes, trying to remain calm, to slow my heart, to calculate just how I could barter for these items or steal them in the very realistic event that I would not be able to afford them.

"What's wrong?" Ben asked, a hint of concern in his voice. I didn't open my eyes.

"I don't know what I'm doing," I bit out, trying to focus on my space of calm.

"Well, that much is obvious," I could tell he was smirking at me. I opened my eyes to glare down at him, the only time I really ever got to, as he was so kriffing tall.

"I can't do this," I hissed.

"What do you mean?"

I huffed. I lowered my eyes. Here comes another embarrassing part of this whole shameful morning. "I don't have any credits," I whispered. "I can't pay for this. I don't even know why I'm here. I should go back, or go shop somewhere else, or-" Ben held up a hand, assuring.

"It's covered. The Resistance wired credit information to Madame Lefant. You don't have to worry about paying for anything." He wasn't mocking me. In fact, he was doing quite the opposite. He was empathizing. I looked up at him. He looked very handsome, I hated to admit. He was in a casual, but refined suit of fitting black, his hair combed back just so. I felt the heat return to my face, so I smiled softly, muttered a quick 'thank you,' and closed my eyes again.

Miss Alanti returned, and directed me into a changing room, where I was dressed by two sets of hands, hers and another workers. I kept my eyes closed, and I was glad they said nothing about it. They removed my arms bands, which I wanted to stop them from doing, but told myself not to worry. The scars on my arms were so faded, anyways, and I couldn't wear arms bands to the gala, so I'd just have to bite my tongue and get over it.

When the primping and preening was done, I was brought out to get Ben's opinion on outfit number one. I also got to see myself in the mirror in this dress for the first time-my first time ever wearing a dress.

It was a midnight hued crushed velvet, with thin straps over my shoulder and flowed all the way down to my feet. A large, sparkling light blue bow hung at the end of a plunging back. It wasn't tight, but wasn't too loose-fitting, either. Perfect. I could move around in this.

I turned from the mirror to look at Ben for his approval, and he looked stunned now. He sat back in the chair, his legs crossed, his hand up to hold his chin, a couple of fingers over his lips in relaxation. But his eyes were wide, looking me up and down. The energy around him was much like it had been when Finn had visited me in the med bay back on Ajan Kloss. Did he hate the dress? Did I look that bad? I looked down at myself, trying to find flaws in this beautiful dress. It wasn't the dress, I concluded. It was me. He just didn't like me in it.

"Will this be good for the gala?" Miss Alanti asked Ben. He didn't take his eyes off of me, I could feel.

"Perfect," he replied in a raspy voice. He cleared his throat. "It'll be perfect." He simply didn't want to disrespect the woman. I understood. I was wheeled back in to the room, and tried on three more outfits: one for tomorrow during the day, a simple pair of grey slack and a peasant-type white blouse with a somewhat plunging neckline. An outfit for dinner tonight, a diaphanous flowing gown of petal pink, with sheer gold to make it dazzle in the light. Finally, an outfit for leaving Zeltros: a simple black, long-sleeved dress that was off-the-shoulder and reached down to my thighs. This is supposed to be for travelling? I thought to myself with sarcasm. With all of these outfits, I was given various shoes that each looked menacing in one way or another. I had no idea how I was going to walk in any of them, except for the black flats I had been given to wear with this dress.

And with every reveal to Ben, he gave the same tight-lipped responses. His energy in the Force still felt as strange as it had when he saw me in the first dress. He really did not like having to do this, did he? This made the entire ordeal even more embarrassing.

Miss Alanti brought me to the side, behind a rack away from Ben, while her co-worker packed my new things in a nice white bag. I looked at her puzzlingly.

"He said you needed sleepwear," she told me in answer to my unspoken question. Then, she proceeded to show me a couple of silk and lace dresses that she explained to me were for sleeping, along with some slightly complicated-looking basics that were much different than the regular plain cotton ones I wore on Ajan Kloss. I simply nodded, letting her take them to be packed. Being rich seemed sort of exhausting, having to wear such strange things all of the time. I guess being dirt poor (literally) had its silver linings.

The trio of men were waiting in front of the counter with their bags when mine was added, and Miss Alanti moved me toward them. I thought we were going to finally get to leave, but instead, she walked me past them, to the salon. I shot Finn an apologetic glance for this taking so much time. This embarrassment of a day would never end, would it?

I was sat in a comfortable leather chair when another woman came to wash my hair, which smelled of roses and vanilla, and then trimmed it ever so slightly-"Just getting rid of dead ends," she assured me, whatever those were-and dried it with a tool I had never seen before, but it made my hair look so...pretty. I hated to admit it, to sound so childish, but it did. It bounced when I walked, and it looked nicer than it ever had. I felt a bit giddy returning to the boys, looking very dolled up. That, and slightly ridiculous.

"Woah, Rey, you look fine as hell," Poe said when I approached. I blushed deep crimson and giggled. Ben was still emitting that strange, uncomfortable pulse around himself. Finn whistled at me, and I laughed.

"Okay, boys, enough, enough," I was still blushing. I was glad they thought I looked nice, though. It was so disorienting to be in this...state, but something about it was also fun. I had heard of the concept of kids playing 'dress-up' before, and I had to admit, it did make me feel cool. I kept quiet and hid behind the boys again as they collected the bags to leave. I thanked Miss Alanti dearly for her help, and she replied courteous as ever.

On our way back to the Zafir, I noticed people that walked by us on the street took notice of us. Well, not really us, more so our clothing. Ben's bizarre energy spiked when a pair of men walked by us, ogling our finery. I could only wonder why he was still so bloody weird about this whole thing.

He didn't like me, I got it. Having to pretend to be my husband was the biggest chore of his life, I understood. I knew now just how much he hated this mission, apparently. I wanted to tell him that as much as this was paining him, it was paining me one hundred times more.


It was a special kind of hell having to be presented by Rey looking delectable in those outfits. Seeing her look so, heart wrenchingly breath-taking, while I sat knowing this was all a pretence. She didn't want me, I knew that. I had felt her apprehension when I had held her waist, her fear at my touch. I wanted her so badly, to touch her, to kiss her, to tell her just how astonishing she looked, always looked. To reassure her a thousand times over when admitted, in unreasonable shame, that she couldn't afford the clothes. I'd buy her the whole damned store to show her just how much he deserved, but it still wouldn't be enough.

Poe and Finn were admiring themselves the entire flight to Coruscant, meanwhile Rey sat silently on the bench she had slept on on the ride over to Zeltros. I simply sat and tried not to watch her, which was impossible. She was stunning, and how could I deny myself such an intoxicating beauty?

Getting to Coruscant was easy, and we gracefully landed on the landing pad outside of our luxury hotel. Chewie and BB-8 were staying in the quarters on the ship. Rey looked adorable as she scanned the area, the view of the city, the hotel itself. Her eyes sparkled and I should have reminded her to keep her mouth closed, to not gawk, but it simply added to her preciousness. Once we were checked in, we moved to the center of the very glamourous lobby, and Finn was immediately asking the important questions.

"We're here a bit early so...team? Anyone down for some poolside drinks in about a Standard hour?" Finn asked, looking at Rey and Poe, doing a little dance/shimmy thing with his shoulders.

"Obviously, man," Poe clapped him on the shoulder, looking at him lovingly.

"Um, sure, but maybe just one for me. I'm still a bit tired from, you know, saving the galaxy," Rey said sarcastically, pretending to wipe sweat from her brow. The duo of men in front of me rolled their eyes dramatically.

"We get it, we get it, you're the chosen one and whatever," Poe joked with mock annoyance. "When will ever get to stop praising you for that feat?"

"Hmmm," Rey pretended to think in deep seriousness. "I think, never, actually," the three of them grinned at each other.

"Okay, okay, fine. So, drinks and then dinner?" Finn looked around for nods. Rey and Poe both nodded. Finn clapped. "Sounds good. Now, let me take my devilishly good-looking boyfriend to get all fancied up for this dinner, which we all know is about to smack, and we'll see you guys in a bit. Look sharp!" And with that, Finn and Poe were walking to the lifts to go to their room, which was on the floor below my room.

Which reminded me. I was sharing a room with Rey.

It was supposed to be two beds, but still. Sharing a room with Rey. Not like we hadn't done it before-we had spent that time in the med bay, after wall. But still. Now seemed different, that we weren't being forced into the same space. Rey probably disliked this idea as much as I was nervous about.

We stood in awkward silence in the lobby, neither of us looking at each other.

"Um, if, you, uh," I began, mumbling, which I rarely did. "If you want to be ready for drinks with your friends, you need to probably go ahead and start getting ready." She looked up at me in confusion.

"'You?' No, 'we' are going to need to go get ready, so we can go have drinks." She started toward the lifts. It didn't take me many strides to catch up with her.

"I really shouldn't, you know," I said in the lift. "They don't like me, and I think you would prefer it with them."

"No, I want you to join us, so that's final," She quipped, sounding light-hearted, and oh how I wish she really meant that, and wasn't just being polite. I could only flash her a crooked grin and shrugged.

"Whatever you say, dear wife," I muttered in his silky voice, and I felt the energy around her grow tangibly warm. Great, I had probably just upset her at saying such stupid words. I didn't need to remind her of this arrangement any more than I had to.

Keeping my shit together whilst getting ready proved more difficult than I had expected. First, the room only had one bed.

"I'll call and rearrange this," I told Rey as I reached for the Holo pad.

"No, no, it's okay," Rey told me quickly. "I mean, if it's okay with you. Better to keep up appearances for the mission, you know?" She looked at her hands and wrung them a bit. With my hand hovering over the key pad, looking at her, I could tell just how uncomfortable she was with this. I stood up straight.

"I won't do anything that makes you feel anything less than safe, Rey," I said with complete certainty. She looked up at me, her hands going still.

"I do feel safe." She told me like she didn't understand. Maybe she didn't.

"If you don't want to...sleep with me...in the same bed...I understand. I can fix this. It's okay, you can tell me." Saying the words was actually physically painful.

"No, no, it's not that, it's fine," she assured me with a smile. "It'll be fine. I'll take...this side." She plopped her bag down on the right side of the bed, closest to the door to our little living parlor area. I nodded once, and accepted this brand new form of torture. Maker, was everything in this life a test?

I got ready in the bedroom while Rey did the same in the very large restroom, which was probably obscenely huge. It reminded me of the types of rooms I had stayed in as a child, accompanying my mother on her work trips. I had always disliked the pomp and circumstance. Rey, however, marvelled at it. I could tolerate it if she could look at it with such whimsy.

I waited for her in the living parlor, and when she walked, on uncertain feet, into the room, I felt my heart drop into my stomach.

She was wearing the high collard, sleeveless pink dress she had tried on only a few hours ago. She looked dazzling. Actually, there was no word in any language to convey Rey's beauty. The magnitude of it was too great. She was wearing heels, I could tell, because she walked gingerly over to me.

"Are you ready?" She asked, and it took everything in me not to gawk at her.

"Yes," I rasped out. Seeing just how unsteady she was, I lifted my arm out to her, in question. She saw the gesture and raised an eyebrow at me, then smiled, and took my arm to steady herself. Her hand was so small compared to my arm, and her touch so light yet so firm, I wanted her to hug me like she had after my trial.

Getting down to the bar was easy enough, and we were quiet the whole way. Finn and Poe were already down there, getting considerably wasted, I assumed. I allowed Rey to get herself up onto the golden bar stool before seating myself next to her, while Finn was on her other side, Poe on the farthest side next to him.

"Reeeeeeeyyyyy," Finn held a glass up of whiskey. "You look gorge, darling. What're you having?" Rey glanced quickly over the liquor bottles that glistened behind the bar, while a man in a red velvet suit was taking orders and delivering drinks in a smooth manner.

"Hm," she thought this over. "I'll have a Mustafar Mule, please," she asked the bartender. I ordered a simple scotch.

I then proceeded to watch Rey get drunk.


Drinking with the lads had been a nice time. Ben stayed quiet, only speaking when I spoke to him, but Finn, Poe and I were having a ball. We deserved the break, didn't we?

At the beginning of the evening I felt nervous. That I was making Ben uncomfortable, that he hated being around me, that I looked ridiculous. But by my sixth drink, I no longer had any worries.

"Oh, my Maker!" I snorted after a particularly naughty joke Poe had made. We were being loud, and some people in the bar were shooting us looks, but who cared? I wanted to call to them, We saved the entire bloody galaxy, let us have a nice time and bugger off!

"Okay, Rey, I think we need to get you back to the room," Ben told me when I had nearly fallen off of the too-nice barstool. I waved him off dramatically.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," I assured him, but he caught my wrist.

"I think we all better get to bed, actually. I've asked the bartender to have the waitstaff send our dinner up to our rooms." He looked at the three of us, and we each felt like children.

"But we're just having a good time, mate," Finn tried to plead. Ben shook his head.

"You two can stay out, but I think it's time Rey and I turned in for the evening," he spoke with clarity and certainty, obviously not under the influence. Finn sighed in dramatic exasperation.

"Actually, Finnie, Ren's got a point," Poe looked wrecked. "We should go." I looked up at Ben with a scorn.

"We were just having a nice time." I complained to him as he guided me to the lifts, while Poe and Finn drunkenly stumbled over each other, following behind us.

"I know," Ben chuckled at me, holding me gently but strong enough to where I actually didn't have to do much walking. It felt nice, being held so firmly. Felt safe. "But we are technically on a job, so maybe let's save the fun until we're done?" I nodded through my grimace.

Once Poe and Finn had shoved themselves messily into a lift, Ben and I were going up ourselves. He guided me into the room, where a table with a white cloth hung over it, and on top were covered silver trays of things that smelled amazing. While Ben rustled about in the bedroom, I stood and used a fork to eat some sort of meat and leafy side that had been under the first cover I picked up. I ate it and stood, keeping one arm crossed around me. It was cold in the room.

Ben came into the room, shirtless, in black loose-fitting sleep trousers. Maker, he looked so much like he had when the Force had brought us together not that long ago, when I had asked him in girlish humiliation to find a shirt to put on. Now, however, I stared as much as I pleased at his marble form.

"Rey, you need to get dressed," he held his hand out. I rolled my eyes, basically threw my fork down on the table, and walked past him into the room. I knelt to my bag and pulled out the first night dress I laid my hands on: a black one that looked like it wouldn't actually be covering much, upon closer inspection.

I stood up, nearly toppling over, and held my arms out to hold onto the wardrobe in front of me. Ben wasn't in the room, and I heard the rustle of silverware in the living parlor. Good, I thought. He's finally eating.

After changing and dealing with my evening ablutions, neatly hanging my dress up on a hook behind the door, I walked back into the living parlor. I guess I had taken a few more minutes than usual, thanks to my drunkenness, because Ben was in bed, reading. He turned to look at me.

His energy sparked like it had earlier today, when he saw me trying on all of those outfits in the shop. I rolled my eyes and turned the lights off in the restroom. I padded over to the very large, very fluffy bed, and crawled into position on my side. Even though the quilt was thick, it still really wasn't enough to stop my shivering. Damned lacy dress-who wore a dress to bed, anyways?

Ben was still staring down at me, one slender digit keeping his place in the book he was reading. I looked up at him as I got comfortable under the covers.

"What?" I asked grumpily, tired of him staring at me wordlessly all the damn time.

"Um," he cleared his throat. "Nothing. Are you comfortable?" He put his book on the night stand next to his side of the bed. I considered this. Before either of us really registered it, I snuggled into his warm side, his arm accidentally but perfectly falling around my shoulders to hold my back. I brought one leg up to hook onto his, to ensure he would not push me from this warmth.

"There," I declared as I closed my eyes. "Now I am." I nestled my head into his shoulder, using it as a pillow. He was frozen in shock, I guess, because he didn't move or speak until right before I was asleep. The energy of the Force around him was at an all time high.

"Well, then," I though I felt something graze the top of my temple, right at my hairline. Did he kiss me? How drunk was I? "I am, too." He shimmied further down the bed, making both of us more cozy, and I drifted off into the best sleep of my life.

So far, I heard the deep timbre of his voice in my mind as I drifted off, perfectly happy and comfortable in the hesitant arms of the man I adored.