Chapter Text
He knew her by sight. He had seen her on quite a few journeys over the past month. He had caught her staring at him more than once and now she was talking to him.
Ben looked around at his fellow commuters to see if they were seeing this too, but as always they were too absorbed by what was on their phones to notice. He wished he had the sense to do the same but he couldn’t just ignore her, this Rey. She was beside him, pushed right up against him.
“Why are you talking to me?” he said at last.
“Well I’m in a good mood and I’m fed up of being surrounded by strangers and wanted to make a friend.” she said with a kind, pretty smile.
“And you chose me because?...”
“I see you a lot and what’s the point of a friend you never see?” He looked at her sceptically. They had to move to let people on and off but he could see that she thought he was backing away from her.
“I’m not a stalker.” Rey blurted out. “I just know that you work somewhere near where I do and have the same hours as me.” Then she mumbled something he couldn’t hear over the screeching of the tracks.
“Do you ever feel lonely even though you’re surrounded by people?” she asked more earnestly.
Of course he did. Ben knew exactly what she meant but he was terrible with people and had built a hard shell around himself to avoid getting hurt. Rey had denied being a stalker, and he believed her, but he couldn’t be too careful. Sometimes he wished he could be part of a normal family, that he wasn’t the son of an actor and a princess. Things would be a lot simpler and he was sure he would have been a lot happier growing up.
But this girl seemed genuine enough and people were always telling him to put himself out there more and make friends his own age, though she did seem quite a bit younger than him.
Ben sighed. “Fine. If you’re that desperate to make a friend that you chose me, I’ll allow you to ask me one question a day. You’ll soon get bored.”
“Fine.” Rey said accepting his challenge. “What’s your name?”
“Ben.” There was no need for him to tell her he was a Solo, that would lead to too many questions he didn’t want to answer.
“So Ben, where do you -” she started to ask but he cut her off.
“Ah ah ah. One question Rey.” He tried to hide his smile as the train came to a stop at his station. This was going to be fun, she was either going to end up hating him or she would keep persisting until they got somewhere.
***
Ben had just finished the washing up when he got a phone call from his Uncle Chewie. He generally hated getting phone calls outside of work as it was his time to be alone, but he would always make time for Chewie. He had been there for him when almost everyone else wasn’t.
“Hey Uncle Chewie. How are you?”
“I’m good my boy.” Chewie’s voice was deep and gruff thanks to years of heavy smoking and his time with the heavy metal band Wookie Collective. He had given them both up for a more peaceful and natural life in wildlife conservation, specifically porgs.
“I’ve been asked to do all this press for Porg Island and I was wondering if you’d like to do it with me.” Chewie said.
Porg Island was the name of the children’s television show they had been working on to help teach children about the endangered species, the environment, family and friendship, just in a cute way to make it appealing. After two years of hard work, it was finally ready and would be released at the end of the month.
“No it’s Ok Uncle Chewie.” Ben said. “You’re the big name draw here, I’m no one.”
“But it was your idea,” Chewie argued. “You funded a large part of it and you’re the son of -”
“Yes I am the son of, but until I can be known as myself rather than the son of, I’d prefer to stay in the background, thank you.”
“Very well.” Chewie conceded. “Should I mention your involvement at all?”
“Just be vague. You can take most of the credit. We are trying to save your porgs after all.”
“Thank you Ben. Some of the merchandise is on its way to you, just so you know.”
“And I know just who to give it to.”
***
Ben had been aware that Rey was following him as soon as he got underground. He thought it was strange that he could sense her but decided not to think about that too much. She was the one who had sorted him out so he would let her come to him if she wanted to.
To his surprise she did and she was making the extra effort to shuffle her way through the carriage towards him. He tried his hardest not to roll his eyes.
“So Ben, where do you work?” she asked with a forced smile, she must have seen his reaction.
“First Order Financial.”
“Ok, I work at Resistance Business Solutions, see.” She held up her bright orange lanyard. He wondered how he had missed that before now.
And of course she had to work for that company. Why couldn’t she have worked somewhere that didn’t have a connection to him or his family?
***
“What do you do at First Order Financial?” Rey asked the next day. He had almost jumped when he looked down and found her standing next to him, like she had appeared out of nowhere.
“Accounts.” he said. It wasn’t strictly true, it was where he had started but he had risen up pretty high and he just didn’t feel comfortable telling people just how high.
“I’m a data analyst, at least I’m training to be. How long have you -”
Ben cut her off by raising his index finger signalling the one question limit.
***
“As I was saying yesterday, how long have you been working there?” Ben couldn’t believe it, for the fourth day in a row Rey was standing next to him on the train asking him, in his opinion, really boring questions.
“Six years.”
“I’ve just been there a month. Do you like your job?”
Ben slowly turned his head to face her properly, knowing that she would know what he was about to say.
“I know, I know one question.” She sighed and stood there with a cute little pout on her face for the rest of the journey.
***
Friday night saw no sign of Rey and Ben couldn’t work out if he felt relieved or disappointed, but he would take talking to Rey over a conversation with his mother any day. She had called him after dinner.
“Hello Ben,”
“Hello Mother,” he said settling into his sofa so he could at least be comfortable while ignoring whatever she had to say.
“I’ve had an interview request from Alderaan Life magazine.”
“That’s nice Mother.” Alderaan Life was a premium lifestyle magazine from his home country, and it took particular interest in his mother Leia as she would have been head of state if they hadn’t abolished the monarchy. It was no surprise to him that they wanted to do yet another interview with her.
“The interview request was for you.” Leia said.
“What?” Ben sat up. “Why would they want to interview me?”
“Because you’re my son and you’re turning thirty and they want to commemorate the occasion.”
“There’s nothing special about turning thirty.”
“You get full control of your trust fund. You won’t have to come to me or the trustees again if you want any money.”
The trust fund had been set up when he was born, the sole heir to four family fortunes. By having it it technically meant that he didn’t have to work but nothing good happened when he didn’t have anything to do. He had only really accessed it twice. Once so he could buy his apartment and the second time so he could help Chewie finance Porg Island.
“Yeah, I’m not doing it.” Ben said.
“Why not?”
“Because it’ll just turn into some eligible bachelor bullshit and I can’t be bothered with that.”
“First of all, language.” Leia scolded. “Secondly, you do have some public responsibility to -”
“No I don’t. I live and work in Coruscant. I would if you were Queen or whatever but you’re not, so I don’t want to do it. Why don’t you do it instead? Tell them how you were in labour for three days and the damage I did to your body, I bet they’ll love that.”
“Ben.” Leia said sternly.
“Bye Mother.” Ben hung up and lay back down.
Stupid people of Alderaan. Why did they have to abolish the monarchy but still be really interested in them? It made no sense.
At least they mainly left him alone in Coruscant to live his normal, boring, predictable, lonely life.
***
The Porg Island merchandise arrived at the weekend and it was a lot more than Ben was expecting. He had planned on giving it all to his Godchildren but he wasn’t sure their parents would appreciate him giving them a whole load of new toys all at once. Maybe he’d save some for Christmas.
He picked out a plushie of the three main characters; Percy, Penny and Pip, to give to his Godchildren; Bertie, Alice and Alfie. They were partially the inspiration for the series and he was going to tell them about it and give them a sneak preview.
Ben had been friends with Hux and Gwen for years before they got married and had kids so naturally Ben became their Godfather and they saw each other regularly. They were pretty much his only friends.
“Uncle Ben!” Bertie and Alice cheered in their high pitched voices when he got there.
“Hi guys.” He knelt on the floor so they could give him a hug. They were five and three so were still small, but they were going to be tall if their parents were anything to go by.
“Did you bring presents?” Alice asked noticing the bag he had brought with him.
“Only if you’ve been good.” Ben said shooting a glance at Bertie who frowned and crossed his arms, he knew he hadn’t been good.
Usually such a well behaved boy, he had been having some problems since he’d moved up a year at school. “I don’t like Ms Tano. I want Mr Bridger back.” he said.
“I know you do.” Ben said. “But we’ve talked about this. Mr Bridger teaches the small children but you’re a big boy now so you have to go to Ms Tano’s class.”
Bertie nodded.
“Ok then. I do have something to show you, so let’s go into the sitting room.”
“Is everything alright with Bertie?” Ben whispered to Gwen as the children ran on ahead.
“They didn’t call me in this week, so I think we’re getting somewhere but we’ll see.” she whispered back, then glanced at the bag he’d brought. “How much did you bring?”
Ben looked at the bag as well, he didn’t think it was that big. “They’re getting the rest for Christmas.”
Gwen rolled her eyes and Ben smiled. What else was a rich childless uncle to do except spoil the children?
Six month old Alfie was laying on his playmat trying to catch the various things dangling from the mobile floating above him.
Ben sat on the black leather sofa and took the plushies out of the bag. That immediately got Alice’s attention especially because they were porgs. She always liked seeing them at the zoo.
“Ok Bertie, this one’s for you. His name is Percy.” He handed him the porg with the orange feathers. “Alice, this is Penny.” Alice got the one with a little bow holding up a turf of hair, leaving Ben with a fluff ball. “And this is Pip. It would be for Alfie but he’s busy right now.”
“Why couldn’t we name them?” asked Alice.
“Because these three are characters in a new TV show that comes out next week in time for half term.”
“What show?”
“It’s called Porg Island and it’s all about Percy and Penny’s adventures.” Ben said. “Do you notice anything about the toys I’ve given you?”
“There’s three of them?” Bertie said.
“Just like us!” said Alice.
“That’s right and Percy, Penny and Pip are brothers and sister too.”
“Uncle Ben, are we porgs?” asked Bertie.
“In a way.” Ben said. “I helped make the show and I based some of the characters on you guys.”
“You made us a TV show!?”
“Yes but it’s for everyone, not just you. Although I do have an episode for you to watch early if you’d like.”
They cheered and scrambled onto the sofa so they could watch. They loved it.
“That was really sweet.” Gwen said later when the grown ups were on their own having coffee, apart from Alfie who was having his bottle.
“I still don’t like the fact that you’ve turned me into a stubby little bird.” grumbled Hux. “And why is Daddy Porg so grumpy? Am I that grumpy?”
“Yes.” Gwen and Ben said together, then she added. “But you make a cute little grumpy bird.”
Ben turned to look out the window while they made lovey faces at each other.
“Anyway Ben.” Hux said when they were finished. “Did you put yourself in the show?”
“Yep.” Ben smiled into his coffee mug. He was something more awesome than a porg.
***
“What’s your favourite colour?” Rey asked when she’d once again found a spot next to him on the train. Ben was glad her question was not about work.
“Red.” he said.
“Red?” she repeated. He knew she would be surprised. After all, she had only ever seen him wear black.
“Yes. Red.”
***
“What’s your favourite food?” Rey asked the next day. Really, he thought, how do we keep bumping into each other?
“Cereal.” he said sticking to his usual short answer.
“Oh come on. That is such a broad statement.” she exclaimed. “I mean do you like the boring multigrain kind or the brightly coloured, covered in sugar stuff that children have? Do you have milk, no milk, what type of milk? Do you put fruit on it or a boat load of sugar? You’ve got to give me something.”
Several people had turned around to stare at Rey while she ranted about cereal.
Ben got off the train smirking, enjoying that fact he had broken her.
***
“What’s your favourite place in Coruscant? Where should I go this weekend?” Rey asked.
“That’s two questions.” Ben said. He was honestly surprised she was still talking to him after her cereal rant.
“They’re the same question.” Rey argued back.
“No they’re not. My answer for one would not be an appropriate answer to the other.”
His favourite place was his bed and she’d probably punch him if he said that, she looked like the type.
“Natural History Museum's cool I guess. They have dinosaurs.” He always liked going there with Bertie, it was nice watching the kid have fun.
“See that wasn’t so difficult. We’ve almost had a conversation.”
“Don’t get used to it. I’ll be back to being a dick next time.” he said trying to hide a smile.
“Your words not mine.” Ben heard Rey mutter.
***
Ben took Alice and Bertie to the zoo at the weekend to give their parents some respite. It was very busy. Not only was it the weekend but it was also the start of the half term holidays.
Ben thought maybe he should have warned Rey about the crowds and children if she was actually going to follow his suggestion and go to the museum. He wondered if she would.
The trip was a moderate success, the only real thing that went wrong was Alice throwing a tantrum when they were about to get ice cream. Ben couldn’t work out why she had done that, usually you’d expect it to be the other way around, and they ended up leaving without any ice cream. The girl on the stand looked just as mortified as he was.
Alice calmed down again once he got her a new porg toy. Bertie got a snake.
***
“So what did you do at the weekend?” Rey asked when she saw him on Monday, because of course she did. She was becoming a constant feature of his evening commute.
“Went to the zoo.” Ben replied.
“That it? A five year old could give me a better answer.” she said when he wasn’t forthcoming with any details.
Ben could help but smirk as she turned around in a huff. It was fun to tease her. But she was right, a five year old could give a better answer, Bertie could give a better answer. He was very friendly with people, apart from Ms Tano, and could talk to anyone. He would probably like Rey.
***
“What’s your favourite sport?” Rey asked but Ben could tell she was clutching at straws, not knowing what to ask him.
“Fencing.” he said. He hadn’t done it in a long time but he was pretty good at it when he was at school. It had piqued Rey’s interest at least.
“See that’s quite an interesting answer. Shame we can’t talk about it some more.” she said.
Jokes on her, thought Ben, reverse psychology doesn’t work on me.
“Yes, such a shame.” he said and pretended to look at his phone.
“Damn you.” Rey grumbled and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
***
Ben was sat in his office getting on with his work when his assistant Mitaka, called through to say he had a visitor.
“Mr Windrider to see you sir.” the mousy young man said over the intercom.
“Who?” The name sounded familiar but Ben could place it.
“Nash Windrider, Alderaan Life magazine.” A tall and elegant man with long hair in the Alderaanian style, announced himself theatrically as he came into the room before Ben could ask him to come in.
“What are you doing here? I declined the interview.” Ben said as Nash sat himself down on a chair on the other side of the desk, again without being invited to.
“I know but I’m here to see if I can change your mind. It’s cutting it close but there’s just enough time to get it out in time for your birthday.”
“No.”
“Come on Ben, can I call you Ben?” Nash asked, all charm.
“No.”
Nash continued unfazed. “But our readers want to know about you Solo. You’re the son of Princess Leia and the actor Han Solo, the most eligible bachelor in Alderaan.”
Ben pointed his finger at Nash just like his father was known to do when he was angry. “See what you said there are all the reasons why I don’t want to do it.”
“Then what would you make it about? What have you done that would interest my readers?”
Ben just stared at him stoney faced. The only thing he had done recently was Porg Island and he was letting Chewie have all the credit. They had done it for the porgs after all.
“I’m not doing it.” Ben said again.
“Wait, what about a financial incentive?” Nash said desperately.
“I don’t need your money.” Ben pushed the button that would call security to his office. “Now get out.”
He grabbed Nash roughly by the arm and dragged him outside just as the security guard arrived.
“Windrider, this is Gregor.” Ben saw him swallow nervously as he took in the size of the man. “He may be big but he’d be the one holding you while I punched you in your perfect teeth.”
He passed the reporter over to Gregor. “Get him out of here.”
Then he turned to Mitaka who was cowering behind his desk. “Don’t ever put anyone in my calendar without telling me first.”
“Yes sir.” his assistant said meekly.
That night he got a rather angry phone call from his mother.
“Ben Solo. What did you do?”
***
“Cats or dogs?” Rey asked. Short and sweet if not a bit random, he liked it.
“Dogs.” he said. It was an easy answer.
“Cool.” she said and went back to looking at her phone. Then she started moving away from him. He stared after her in confusion.
That was it? No follow up questions, no rant, no backstory. It didn’t feel right. He almost called her back so they could do what they normally did, but then he saw that Rey was smiling. It could have been because of whatever was on her phone but he decided to imagine it was because she was teasing him.
***
Ben had just finished his Saturday morning workout when his phone rang. He preferred working out at the weekend as he could take his time and not have to think about rushing out to go to work.
“Hi Ben,” It was Gwen. “Could you help me with the kids today? Armie’s thrown his back out again and I need to get them out of the house for a bit.”
“Sure I -”
“Mummy can we go on the train? I want to go on the train.” Ben could hear Bertie in the background.
“No I’m not taking the three of you on the train.” Gwen said moving away from the phone.
“Please? Please, please, please?”
She sighed. “Fine.” then she got back on the phone properly. “Can you meet us in Celebration Park by the cafe in like an hour?”
“Sure you don’t want me to come over and help?” Ben asked.
“No I think we’ll be fine.” Alfie started crying in the background. “Alice leave your brother alone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” she said begrudgingly and hung up.
Looked like he would be going out today after all.
Ben got to the park well before the others which he didn’t really mind as it was a beautiful day. The sun shining on the red and gold leaves in the trees was a brilliant contrast to the bright blue sky.
All around him people were out having fun and making the most of the good weather. It was just about warm enough for him to be out without a coat. His thick red and black flannel shirt was doing a fine job, but he’d have to dig out his big winter coat before too long.
“Uncle Ben!” he heard Bertie and Alice cry as they ran towards him. It had taken them longer than an hour, Gwen was good at corralling her children but not that good.
“Hey guys.” he said, happy to see them, as they ran circles around him. To stop himself and them from getting dizzy, Ben scooped up Alice and easily lifted her up onto his shoulders and she squealed with delight.
“How come you don’t do that to me anymore?” asked Bertie.
“Because you’re getting too big.” Bertie looked a bit sad. “Don’t worry. Alice will be too big soon enough then it’s Alfie’s turn to ride on my shoulders. Ow! Alice don’t pull my hair.”
“Sorry.” she said from above him.
“Come on, let’s go back to Mummy.” Ben held onto Alice’s foot to keep her balanced with one hand and held Bertie’s hand with the other, as they made their way over to the bench where Gwen and baby Alfie were waiting for them. All the while Ben had a feeling that he was being watched.
***
On the way home from work on Monday, something very strange happened. It wasn’t that he found himself standing next to Rey yet again, he had come to terms that that was his normal now, but it was because she hadn’t asked him anything yet or even acknowledged that he was there. He didn’t like it.
He may not have acted like it but he liked talking to her. It was nice to talk to someone new after only interacting with the same few people for so long.
No he didn’t like this at all, so he was going to have to step up for once.
“You’re being awfully quiet this evening.” he said. He could see she was a bit surprised that he had said something to her without being prompted. He could also see that she was debating something with herself, trying to figure out what to say.
“I saw you with your family at the park on Saturday.” Rey said at last.
“My family?” Ben said confused. He hadn’t seen Han and Leia in weeks and there was no way she’d know they were his family.
“Yes I wasn’t following you or anything. It’s just you were there and I was there.” She shrugged not really looking at him while she talked. “I mean your kids looked cute and your wife looked nice and you looked really happy together.”
“Wife? I’m not married.” he said and it dawned on him what she was on about.
“Of course you don’t have to be married to have children, I know that.”
“And those weren’t my children.”
“Oh. Then whose are they?”
“Bertie, Alice and Alfie, who was in the pram, are my Godchildren. They’re my best friend Hux’s children. He’s where they get their red hair from. That was their mother though, Gwen.”
“Oh.” Rey smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t know why I jumped straight to them being your children.”
It wasn’t the first time he had been mistaken for their father, or Gwen’s husband, or even Hux’s partner.
“I mean,” Rey continued. “I wouldn’t have thought any child of yours would have such red hair.”
That amused him she was right of course but it was still amusing that she was thinking about it.
“Not that I’ve thought about what your children would look like.” she said hurriedly. “I mean this is awkward, I’m awkward. Should we just go back to one word answers?”
“Definitely.”
***
“What’s your favourite film?” Rey asked the next time they saw each other.
“The.” Ben said trying oh so hard to hide his smile.
“‘The’? There’s no film called ‘The’.” she said. Ben pressed his lips together really trying not to laugh, waiting to see if she understood what he was doing.
“You think you’re so funny don’t you?” she said when she realised he was taking their previous conversation literally.
“A little bit yes.”
“Whatever. My favourite film series, because I can’t choose, is Space Wars.”
Ben rolled his eyes. Of course she would like Space Wars. Everyone loved Space Wars it seemed, apart from him.
“What was that for?” Rey had caught him.
“I’m going to need a lot more than one word to explain my feelings about Space Wars.”
“I’m not stopping you.” Rey said and it almost sounded to him like she actually wanted to hear what he had to say.
The train pulled into his station. “Another time. Way, way, way down the road.”
As Ben stood in the crowded lift that took him from the platform to the ticket hall, he wondered why he had said that. Did he actually want to tell Rey the truth or did he just want to keep talking to her?
***
“Are you sure it’s ok for me to be here?” Ben asked Hux.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Hux said as they walked out the tube station. It was dark and drizzling, not the best type of weather to be out in. “It’s not like you’re walking into a random primary school uninvited.”
After listening to the concerns of the parents, Bertie’s primary school was hosting a Halloween party where the children could dress up and have a fun and safe evening.
Some of the teachers and members of the PTA were sitting behind the facades of houses in the school hall and out into the playground handing out treats to the children and there were some games and a hot food truck.
Ben thought it was a very good idea.
Gwen had somehow ended up on the PTA. She said that it was something to do after having Alfie but she didn’t really enjoy it. She used to work at a veterans charity and was looking forward to going back once Alfie could start nursery. That meant she was sat in one of the little houses handing out fruit gummies. All three of the children were with her but Alice and Bertie were getting restless as they had been made to wait for their dad before they could go trick or treating.
They cheered when Ben and Hux finally found them.
“Look at my little pumpkins.” Hux said proudly looking at his children. Gwen had decided to dress all three of them as pumpkins as it suited their hair and they looked really cute altogether.
“Have fun and don’t let them eat anything.” Gwen said the last part aimed at Hux and Ben. The children moaned. “Don’t give me that, you’re staying up past your bedtime as it is, I don’t want you all hyped up as well.”
“Uncle Ben.” Bertie asked. “What would you dress as?”
“I am dressed up.” Ben said. “I am the scariest thing, your future as a nine to five office worker.”
That got a chuckle out of Hux but Bertie didn’t get it.
“Alright I’d be the invisible man.”
“But if you were invisibubble, how would we know you were there?”
“Exactly.” Ben said confusing Bertie even more. Ben smiled. He was a sweet kid but he knew it was all a ploy to distract him while Alice sneakily ate some sweets. She would do the same in a bit so Bertie could have some sweets as well, and Ben wasn’t going to stop them.
They stopped a while at the booth where Mr Bridger, Bertie’s favourite teacher, was dressed as a pirate while Bertie talked animatedly about nothing in particular, he was just happy to see Mr Bridger again.
Bertie tried to make them walk straight past where Ms Tano was but Alice wanted all the sweets.
“Good evening Bertie.” she said cheerfully but he just grumbled in response.
“Come on Bertie. I thought you were doing better now.” Hux told his son.
“He is.” Ms Tano said. “He’s done some really good work in the last couple of weeks.”
“Trick or treat.” Alice said to Ms Tano to get some attention on her.
“Yes of course. You must be Alice.” Ms Tano said putting some sherbet lemons into her bag. “And you must be Uncle Ben. So nice to put a face to the drawing.”
“I’m sorry?” Ben laughed because that sounded ridiculous.
“Here.” She gave him a piece of Bertie’s class work all about their trip to the zoo, complete with a picture. There was no mistaking that the lanky over stretched figure completely in black was him.
“Some of the other children thought he was drawing some sort of bogeyman.”
“I can see that,” Ben said lightly. The picture was a bit scary. Maybe he should wear a bit more colour.
Some more people had turned up at the booth behind them so it was time to move on.
“Well it was nice to meet you.” Ms Tano said. “Alice, what’s wrong. Why are you scowling?”
Alice said nothing and lifted her arms up to Ben, gesturing for him to pick her up.