Chapter Text
“Ben, I promise, I’m fine,” Rey is nearly borderline exasperated at this point. “You need to quit worrying so much.”
“I’ll always be worried about you, baby. Now, for the love of all that is holy, please put some clothes on. I’m doing this for you, Rey…”
It could barely be considered actual surgery.
Compared to what she’d felt before she had it done, she would go under the knife a million times more.
After her periods spontaneously became much heavier and a hell of a lot more painful, Rey’s doctor had suggested that a laparoscopic surgery might be the best treatment. She likely still had a lot of scar tissue that had built up and was causing her pain. This would not only give her doctor a more clear picture of what was going on in Rey’s body, but it would also give her doctor the opportunity to do some correcting.
It worked like a dream. There was mild pain and nausea after she woke up three hours later, but other than that, Rey was perfectly fine.
If you asked Ben, however, she’d been on her death bed.
He’d protested her insistence on going back to classes the week after the surgery, but she wasn’t about to let him get her behind during her last semester of college. She’d scheduled the surgery for the Friday before her spring break so she’d have plenty of time to recuperate. She barely needed it. A few days later, she felt totally back to normal.
A week later, she was at her wits’ end.
She hadn’t even bothered getting dressed after her shower, deciding to waltz right into Ben’s office and not take another ‘no’ for an answer.
It didn’t start off so well.
“Ben, this is ridiculous. I would tell you if I wasn’t fine! Don’t we trust each other by now? We’ve been together nearly four years. We’re getting married in a few months. Are you planning on remaining celibate for our honeymoon, too?”
“Rey…”
“Ben, please…” Rey’s voice is barely hanging on to any sense of composure. “I’m not as fragile as you think I am. It’s been nearly six years since it happened. Hell, forget me… we both know you would know even before I would if something hurt me. You know me better than I know myself. You know I’m not gonna get hurt. But I am gonna go crazy if you don’t touch me, Ben.”
She wedges herself between him and his desk, sitting on the edge. He continues to wordlessly stare at her, and she can just see the gears turning in his brain. The hint of a smirk just barely plays on his face before he sighs.
“You don’t think you’re up to the task yourself?”
She debates on smacking him, but she decides to change tactics.
“I could,” Rey pouts. “But you do it so much better.”
Ben’s eyebrows raise momentarily before a lazy smile spreads on his face and he leans in to kiss her stomach.
“You could talk a billionaire out of every last cent he owned.”
“You’re acting like I’ve convinced you to commit murder,” Rey snorts as he lifts her from the edge of the desk, carrying her out of his office. “When it’s really just sex with your soon-to-be wife.”
A sweet smile blooms onto Ben’s face.
“My wife,” he repeats. “Three more months and you’re all mine.”
“I already am,” Rey reminds him. “Now, take me to bed and fuck me or I’ll pre-divorce you.”
Ben frowns before playfully smacking her ass. But Rey just squeals in laughter the entire way to their bedroom.
Breathe, breathe, breathe. Just breathe.
Rey was on hour number three of hyperventilating.
She’d been so elated before today. Marrying Ben Solo was a dream come true. She’d never want anything but him, and she considered herself the luckiest person in the world that he wanted to be with her, too.
A wedding, though…
She hadn’t known just what all weddings entailed. The planning started two years ago. That’s when she had to decide on the venue and the photographer, and then all of the more menial tasks followed suit.
There were arrangements for a caterer, the DJ, the seating rentals, the floral arrangements… she even had to pick out custom napkins.
Napkins.
All while she completed her senior year of college.
She was lucky that Kaydel was dating a jack-of-all-trades business major.
Jannah had volunteered to help Rey and Ben out with the wedding planning. She’d arranged everything as if it was no trouble at all. She fixed the seating arrangements for the reception, hired a crew for setup for both the ceremony and reception, scheduled Rey’s dress fittings, booked stylists for hair and makeup, and had even handled helping friends and family who had to travel secure their hotel rooms.
All Rey had to do was show up and ‘look pretty’.
It wasn’t that she was unhappy or anything… it was just totally out of the ordinary for her.
The smooth, crisp white satin that clung to her body was definitely something she wasn’t used to. Neither was the bronzer or the mascara or the deep red lipstick on her lips.
She was so nervous that she was afraid she’d be sick.
“You’re alright, kiddo,” Chewie laces his arm with hers as they wait for their cue. The sound of the string quartet does little to calm Rey’s frantic heartbeat. “You can always make a run for it.”
Rey laughs loudly, which only brings tears to her eyes.
“I love you, Dad.”
Rey takes a deep breath and feels Chewie lean down to kiss the top of her head.
“Love you more, sweet pea.”
Rey can’t even properly take in just how beautiful her surroundings are in the moment. Her eyes immediately find Ben’s and stay attached until she’s letting him take her hands from her father. Ben looks at Rey and it’s like he’s seeing the world in color for the first time.
She feels Chewie lean in to kiss her cheek, and it tears her away from Ben long enough for her to hug him.
Rey nearly jumps when she hears her name. She’d not really been paying much attention to the officiant.
“Rey Kanata, do you take this man to be you lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
Ben’s eyes are brighter than any star in any solar system. Brighter than the sun. A couple of rogue tears fall down his cheeks.
“Benjamin Solo, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Rey feels Ben’s hands tighten around hers, his thumbs tracing the back of her hands.
“I do.”
An exuberant voice starts celebrating in Rey’s mind.
He’s my husband, now.
Rey’s nearly caught off guard by Ben’s kiss. He holds her close and doesn’t let go before lifting her off the ground and spinning her around.
A lively procession and a million photos later, and Rey hears the words she’d been dying to hear since the moment she fell in love with him.
“Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Solo!”
Ben sweeps Rey off to the dance floor, and when she hears the song that begins playing, a fresh wave of tears threatens her eyes.
“Ben…”
“Figured you’d remember.” He smiles, leaning in for what has to be the millionth kiss since saying ‘I do’.
The song that was playing was the song that had played from the speakers of Rey’s old decrepit iPhone four years prior at the beach. It was the night before they were set to return home… the night before they were set to change both of their lives. Ben had drug Rey out to the warm sand and danced with her under the moonlit sky to try and calm her.
Anxiousness, fear, and trepidation had been in the back of Rey’s mind when they danced to it the first time. She didn’t want to lose the best thing that ever happened to her.
Now, she was dancing with him again, and they were married.
Her name was now Rey Solo, and she was dancing with her husband to ‘Landslide’.
To anyone else, it wasn’t exactly a love song.
Not in the general sense.
But it was a love song to Rey.
From herself.
To herself.
A love song that Ben recognized was all about the highs and lows Rey had experienced so far in her life, the storms she’d likely weather beside him, and the love she’d strive to have for herself no matter what happened in the future.
It didn’t matter what life had in store for the two of them. Eventually, the inevitable would occur. They’d both grow old and their bodies would return to the earth.
Ashes to ashes…
Dust to dust.
And that was fine.
But for whatever time this world gave her, Rey would be happy—more than happy—with the life she’d been given.
She’d managed to love the woman she had grown into, and she’d gotten the chance to love the man that loved her just as much as she loved him.
Ben lifts Rey’s bare feet off of the dance floor and sits them on his, so she can follow his footsteps.
“Feels like I’m floating.” Rey whispers against his chest, nuzzling even closer.
Ben leans his cheek against the top of her head just as Stevie Nicks sings metaphors about sailing through changing ocean tides and handling the seasons of her life.
“I’ll always be your life raft,” he reminds her. “I mean, you’re doing great on your own, but in case your arms ever get tired… You can float on me any time you want, Mrs. Solo.”
Rey just smiles and nods, and they both finish out the song with a kiss.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Rey’s neck cranes out of the taxi that was taking her and Ben to their destination. “This is incredible.”
Ben had insisted on the honeymoon destination being a surprise.
Rey was hesitant about the decision at first, but now…
He could plan their vacations any time.
Malindi was breathtaking. The coast of Kenya was a fairly humid location, but with the seasons being different from what Ben and Rey were used to in July in the northern hemisphere, it wasn’t as stifling as Rey would’ve imagined.
It was the slow season for the southern hemisphere, so Ben and Rey nearly had the entire villa to themselves.
That was fine with them.
Especially with Ben.
Rey had managed to drink enough wine to make her resistant to wearing clothes in general. She didn’t put on more than a bikini or a robe for the entire first week.
Not to mention, there were the questionable places they’d decided to consummate their marriage…
Again and again.
And again.
By week two, however, Rey was forced to clothe herself when they had to make a trip to the local clinic. As she suspected, the changing climate and her own arguably faulty immune system had made way for an annoying sinus infection.
The doctors gave her antibiotics and antihistamines without any preamble, and Rey was back to normal in time to enjoy the last few days of their honeymoon.
After dinner on one of the last evenings in Malindi, Rey had carefully watched the housekeeper make it a safe distance away before pulling Ben’s pajama pants and underwear down in one swift move.
Right in the middle of the kitchen.
“Babe…” Ben’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline before he could recuperate and lace his fingers through her damp hair to hold her as he kissed her.
They’d spent most of the day by the water, and Ben could still smell the saltwater in her hair.
“We haven’t here,” Rey explains, feeling a bit woozy as she sinks to her knees quickly. “Seems only right that we defile the entire property.”
“Is that so? What if I’m against inappropriate conduct in the kitchen?” Ben smirks, but falters once her lips close around his cock.
“I’ll just have to suck your dick somewhere else, I suppose.” She pulls her mouth away long enough to tease him.
She swirls her tongue around the head of his cock before plunging him into her mouth as far as she can. She slowly pulls her lips back up and off of him with a loud pop.
“It’d be such a shame to waste all of that time walking to the bedroom, though, don’t you think?”
“A horrible waste, baby,” he concurs. “Fuck, I love it when you put those pretty lips around me.”
Even though she’d have been perfectly happy to have him come in her mouth, she’s only more excited when he gently tugs her upward and lifts her onto the kitchen counter.
“I’m gonna eat your pretty pussy until you scream,” He casually announces. “And then I’m gonna fill you with my cock. Is that what you want, Mrs. Solo?”
“Please, Ben…”
And he keeps his word.
He licks her and fucks her with his fingers until she sees stars. And when he doesn’t relent, she has to beg him to fuck her.
He quickly picks her up and flips her around so that her front is leaning on the kitchen counter.
She feels him rub at her entrance from behind as his breath fans over her ear.
“Tell me what you want, baby girl.”
“Fuck me, Ben… Please.”
Without another word, he slams into her and immediately sets a punishing pace.
So punishing that it’s mere minutes before Rey shatters again, begging Ben to come inside of her.
She’s surprised when he pulls out almost instantly after coming, but she’s so dazed she can’t even manage to squeal when he promptly lifts her and carries her back to the bedroom.
Ben lays her on the bed before moving to lay his head against her stomach, spreading her legs after.
She feels him push his fingers back inside of her.
“Making sure you don’t lose any,” He explains and he lazily kisses her stomach. “This is where my come is supposed to be… Every last drop.”
Even though she’s overly sated, Rey clenches around his fingers.
“I’ll fuck you again before we go to bed, baby, I promise,” He removes his fingers with a chuckle, seemingly satisfied that none of his come would spill. “Rest for now.”
“M’kay.” Rey nods, then pauses for a moment before turning to face Ben with a smirk.
“We forgot the bathroom downstairs.”
“So, tell me what’s been going on. I heard you got married! Congratulations to the both of you.”
Dr. Collins smiles at Ben and Rey, moving to stand by the monitor for the ultrasound.
Rey was due for a check-up regarding the surgery she’d had eight months ago. She’d had a check-up shortly before her wedding, and while there was still a significant amount of scarring present, she’d made considerable progress.
Rey was thrilled that there was any positive change at all.
“Thank you,” Rey smiles, moving back to lay against the exam table while Dr. Collins reaches for the horribly cold gel. “Everything’s been pretty good. My periods keep getting lighter and lighter. Other than a tiny little sinus infection during my honeymoon, I’ve been great. I was sick a couple weeks ago, but it went away pretty quickly. I either had food poisoning or got a stomach bug of some sort.”
Dr. Collins nods, typing a few things into her laptop before bringing the gel over to Rey’s stomach.
“Isn’t that the way it goes? The one time you get sick, and it’s your honeymoon.”
“Thankfully, there were some great doctors in Malindi. They got her some antibiotics and other medications, and she was back to normal in no time.” Ben adds.
Dr. Collins pauses for a moment before resuming spreading the gel over Rey’s skin.
“And when were you ill with the GI bug?” She asks Rey.
“Um… like two weeks ago?” Rey shrugs.
“And you’ve been feeling fine since?”
Dr. Collins moves the prove under Rey’s belly button, pressing torturously into her bladder. Rey only drank the amount of water required, but felt worse than she had during previous appointments.
She felt like she was about to bust.
“Pretty much, yeah,” Rey nods. “Just a little… off after traveling. Not exactly nauseous, but my appetite has been all over the place.”
Dr. Collins nods, and Rey watches as her eyes narrow, glancing at different areas of the screen that was facing away from her and Ben. She seems to find what she’s looking for before her facial features relax and her eyebrows raise.
“There we are,” She chuckles. “Well, we can rule out a GI bug or travel sickness.”
Rey raises an eyebrow before Dr. Collins spins the monitor around.
“You’re pregnant, Rey.”
Rey’s mouth pops open and she stares at the black and white screen.
“She’s… are you sure?” Ben chokes.
“Very much so,” Dr. Collins laughs. “There’s a perfectly implanted fetus growing in there. Not scar tissue.”
Rey bursts into tears and Ben leans over to kiss her.
“Is… is it okay?” Rey finally speaks, unable to quit sobbing.
“Everything looks great, Rey. Heartbeat is strong. Would you like to hear it?”
“Yes! Yes, please,” Rey laughs and cries at the same time, watching the jellybean shaped blob wiggle its tiny arms and legs. When the hummingbird paced heartbeat sounds out, she cries again, and she feels Ben’s hand shaking in her own. “Ben… please tell me I’m not dreaming. Tell me you’re seeing this, too… Hearing it… That’s our baby.”
“I know, baby, I know,” Ben manages a laugh through his tears. “Can… can you tell how far along she is?”
“She seems to be about twelve weeks along,” Dr. Collins answers. “I think I may be correct in assuming that when you took the antibiotic on your honeymoon that you didn’t use a backup contraceptive?”
“Um, no,” Rey’s face flushes. “I didn’t think… with the scarring, I figured it was pointless.”
Rey’s never been happier to have made a wrong assumption.
Dr. Collins confirms Rey’s last period that was noticeable and the dates she took the antibiotic before estimating her at 12 weeks, 3 days pregnant.
“Well, at least this seems to be a happy accident.” Dr. Collins smiles.
“Very happy. Elated.” Ben laughs before leaning over to kiss Rey again.
A series of informational packets and prenatal vitamin recommendations later and Ben’s driving them both home—one hand on the steering wheel, and the other on Rey’s belly.
Rey was sure she was in for it.
Ben was already overprotective (and that was putting it lightly) of her. Now, there was another factor to add in.
His child.
His child that was currently growing inside of her.
Their child.
The tears start again before they even make it a mile away from the hospital.
“You okay, baby?”
Rey responds with a laugh.
“You’re gonna have to get a new nickname for me.”
“Why’s that?” Ben smiles, his fingers gently skimming back and forth over her stomach.
“We’ll have to call the baby ‘baby’, won’t we?”
“Sure… but you’re both ‘baby’ to me. Even this baby,” he softly pats Rey’s belly. “Rey, I can’t tell you what this means to me. I’m so, so in awe of you. I will never be able to explain to you just how happy you’ve made me. How amazing it is that you’re going to be the mother of my child.”
Rey places her hand over Ben’s, looking down at her stomach.
“And you’re gonna be a dad, old man.”
Ben laughs loudly.
“Can’t be that old… I got you pregnant easily enough, didn’t I?”
“Fuck off.” Rey giggles, playfully smacking the back of his hand.
“Language, momma,” He sarcastically gasps, placing a hair more pressure on her stomach, as if he’s shielding the baby’s ears. “Let’s hope this baby doesn’t have your mouth.”
“I’m not that bad.”
Ben raises an eyebrow, smirking.
“You cussed me out the first Christmas at the cabin, remember?”
“Yes, but you were the one who couldn’t count properly. And I’d hurt my foot.”
“You managed every curse word in the book. At thirteen.”
“And yet you still married me.” Rey smirks.
“And knocked you up.” Ben smirks back.
When they arrive home, Rey grabs Ben’s arm before he can open his door.
“You know this means less alone time,” Rey starts. “Once the baby gets here, I mean.”
Ben narrows his eyes, examining his wife. He raises an eyebrow for her to continue.
“We should get in all the alone time we can now.” She explains with a coy smile.
“Ah,” Ben laughs. “And by alone time you mean…”
“Sex, Ben,” Rey leans over to kiss him. “I don’t care where, but if you want me inside, you better hurry now, or it’s gonna be here.”
Ten minutes later, they finally make it inside.
For round two.
“What’s this?” Rey raises her eyebrows.
Maz grins before lifting the lid and revealing her concoction.
“Before you say anything,” Maz stops her daughter. “It’s dairy-free, stellina.”
“Oh, thank you, mom,” Rey nearly drools over beautiful pumpkin pie in front of her. “I’ve been dying for one since the end of summer and I’ve not been able to have one.”
Maz hears Chewie call her name before she runs off to the dining room.
“Have a what?” Finn walks in, his eyes quickly landing on the pie.
“Don’t even think about it,” Rey’s eyes narrow. “This entire pie… it’s mine. It’s dairy free, and I can finally eat pumpkin pie, and it’s mine.”
“Can’t you just pump?” He asks, genuinely curious.
“Poe,” Rey yells into the living room. “Come get your husband before I murder him.”
“I concede,” Finn holds up his hands in defense. “I promise I won’t touch your pie… But just think… what would your daughter think about her mom’s stingy behavior towards her favorite uncle?”
“Favorite uncle?” Poe asks as he walks into the kitchen. “I hope you’re referring to me.”
“Let’s be reasonable, babe.” Finn laughs.
“Oh, I am,” Poe crosses his arms. “Stella prefers her Uncle Poe. It’s just a fact.”
A tiny cry sounds out, and Ben walks up from behind Finn and Poe with Stella in tow.
No matter how much time she’d spent just staring at every feature on her little girl’s face over the last six months, Rey still found herself in awe of Stella. She was the most beautiful baby Rey had ever laid eyes on.
And that was apart from her maternal bias.
She looked just like her father, but had Rey’s personality. Never fussy and never one to whine unless she was hungry.
She had both of their appetites combined. She could drain Rey of every ounce of milk she could produce and then eat enough solid food for five babies.
Her smile still caught Rey off guard. She’d only recently been able to keep herself from crying when Stella would coo or laugh or show off her copy of her Daddy’s dimples when she smiled.
“Hungry?” Rey asks her husband, glancing down at her baby girl’s pitifully contorted face.
“Dad doesn’t have the goods,” Ben chuckles, carefully handing over his daughter. “I’m afraid you’re all that’s gonna cut it right now.”
“Did you miss Momma?” Rey beams down at Stella, gently slipping her into the sling she already had on around her chest.
A couple covert movements and adjustments later, and Stella is contently filling her belly.
“She’s hidden under that thing and her hair still sticks out of it,” Ben laughs, reaching over to gently trace his thumb against her forehead. Stella turns her head to the side just slightly, looking at her Daddy. Rey still couldn’t get over the resemblance. She had even had the thick, dark curls right after she was born. It seemed they weren’t going anywhere. “You got all Daddy’s hair, didn’t you, baby?”
“Carried her… gave birth to her,” Rey sighs with a grin on her face. “And the kid looks just like you.”
“She’s got your eyes,” Ben shakes his head. “And your ears, thank god.”
“The alternative would’ve been a travesty.” Finn agrees, and Ben smacks him.
Leia and Han make it to the cabin while Rey is still feeding, and she holds in her laugh when she notices Leia just dying to snatch her granddaughter up.
Han, on the other hand, seems to be planning out his quality time with Stella.
“She’s eating,” He explains his hesitance to his wife. “And we all know what happens after that… the kid’s gotta make room for that somehow. After she leaves both her grandmas a present, Chewie and I will take over.”
“Smooth, dad,” Ben rolls his eyes. “Her diapers don’t even smell bad. She’s breastfed.”
“Yes, but she’s just now starting to eat that pureed crap,” Han shakes his head. “That’s when it gets bad. You and your brother nearly killed me.”
“Oh, Rose couldn’t get you on your cell,” Ben remembers, turning to Rey. “They’re about an hour out from the cabin. And she says she doesn’t care who has the baby when she she arrives, but the second they get inside, it’s her turn with Stella.”
Rey laughs.
Since moving to Brooklyn after she and Lane graduated, Rose hadn’t gotten to see much of Rey or baby Stella.
Rey could remember when she’d slipped up and accidentally told Rose the name they’d decided on when they were planning to wait until the baby was born.
Rose was so excited that Rey couldn’t tell what she was saying through the tears.
Of course, Maz had the same reaction.
“Stella? Like—“
“Like ‘stellina’,” Rey nodded, watching tears fall from Maz as she cradled her granddaughter. “Analeia for Han and Leia. Stella Analeia Solo.”
Looking back, Rey wondered just how crazy she was to make the decision to wait until giving birth to learn the gender of the baby.
When she was a newborn, Stella wore a lot of white and yellow and green… Her wardrobe quickly turned into pink and ruffles and bows when everyone else found out.
Stella’s grandparents would visit every day, with a new item of clothing (or ten) in tow.
Finn and Poe, like any good uncles, bought Stella even more gender-neutral clothing since the convention of pink and blue being used as indication of gender was ‘a load of outdated horseshit’.
After Stella finishes eating, Rey reluctantly hands her baby over to Leia before taking the opportunity to enjoy just sitting in the relative calm with her husband by the fire.
Ben had been reading over some finance reports on his laptop, but when Rey burrows into his side, he willingly closes it and pulls her even closer.
“She’s gonna be a lucky little girl,” Rey notes, watching her entire family fawning over Stella while she bounces on Leia’s knee. She was using Han’s finger as a teething ring at the moment. “She has so many people that love her.”
“She’s very lucky,” Ben agrees. “She’s got you for a mom.”
“And you for a dad.”
“We did good, didn’t we?” He grins, leaning over to plant a chaste kiss on Rey’s temple.
“We did.”
True to her word, when Rose arrives, she immediately scoops up baby Stella and hoards her from the rest of her family.
She only agrees to return Stella back to her mom after everyone’s ate Leia’s annual Christmas Eve-Eve dinner and the poor baby girl wants to be fed, too.
“She’s just so perfect, Rey,” Rose glances over at Stella’s sated, now sleeping face, pressed against the skin just below Rey’s shoulder. “I can’t believe she’s real.”
“You’re telling me,” Rey snorts, tearing her eyes away from Stella long enough to look up at Rose and see tears. “Hey… what is it?”
Rose just shakes it off, laughing despite her watery eyes.
“Well… I guess you could say it’s the hormones.”
It takes Rey a second but she sees the grin on Rose’s face and subsequently squeals without any real volume so she doesn’t wake Stella.
“Are you really?!” Rey’s own eyes water.
“We found out a few weeks ago,” Rose nods, wiping at her eyes. “We’re having a girl, too.”
“Oh, my god, Rose!” Rey laughs, carefully leaning over to hug her best friend as best as she can.
Rey could see just how genuinely happy Rose was as she placed her hand over her now slightly noticeable baby bump.
Ben makes his way over, with Lane following close behind him. They both have raised eyebrows—clearly wondering what in the world was wrong with the two women hysterically laughing and crying in the middle of the living room.
“Everything okay, baby?” Ben asks, and Rey can tell by the look on his face that he’s figured it out in the mere seconds it’d taken him to walk the short distance.
Rey looks over at Rose, then down at her daughter, sleeping soundly against her chest. She could vaguely hear Finn, Poe, Han, and Chewie yelling and laughing while playing cards in the Den, and Maz and Leia laughing and loading dishes into the dishwasher in the kitchen.
She looks back up at Ben and smiles, nodding.
“Yeah.”
Everything was perfect.