They all gathered around the large table as dinner was served. It was the first time Ben and Hux had had anyone to eat with other than each other. They were both grateful for the company.

Luke raised his glass. "To my lovely hostess," he said smiling at Rey.

Ben lifted his glass. "Then, to my... wife."

Rey smiled shyly and a warm smile spread over Ben's face.

"So, how did you two meet?" Luke asked.

Rey and Ben exchanged nervous glances.

"You tell it sweetheart," said Ben.

"No, you tell it so much better than I do," she answered.

Ben looked at his plate and scratched his brow nervously. Then he made a decision. "I met Rey when she got a job working at the castle. She didn't know it, but I would watch her as she worked sometimes. She kept worrying that I would fire her for the smallest mistake." He smiled and locked eyes with Rey. "She didn't know that I never would because I always liked her. I was just afraid to talk to her because I thought that she would hate me like everyone else did. One day, she smacked right into me as she was leaving. She was so afraid that she would get in trouble, but I liked the opportunity just to be close to her for just a moment."

He could see that she was blushing now. "We talked more and soon we fell in love. And I suppose you know how the story ended."

"How romantic," said Luke. "But why didn't you invite me and your parents to the wedding?"

"I didn't think you would approve of me marrying a servant. I love Rey and I didn't want my parents to forbid us to be wed. Besides, none of you ever send me a letter or a note or come to visit. Why would you want to come to my wedding?"

The room fell into an awkward silence. The hurt was obvious in Ben's voice and Luke was looking at the floor shamefully.

"Well you're here now, that's what matters," said Rey.

Ben and Luke both nodded, grateful that the awkward silence had been broken.

Rey looked over at Temiri. "Temiri it's getting late, I think it's time that you said..."

"...goodnight," Ben finished. "Good idea."

Hux laughed forcefully. "Typical married couple, always finishing each other's sentences."

Ben nodded.

"Goodnight, Uncle Luke," Temiri said, hugging him. He went over to Ben. "Goodnight... daddy." He hugged him and Ben's eyes widened in surprise.

Rey stood and took Temiri's hand, then led him upstairs to his room.

"She seems like a wonderful girl," Luke commented.

"She is," Ben answered. So far, he added silently. Though what he had said was true, he had always admired her, but he hadn't tried to talk to her because he was worried that she hated him like all of the other servants, and because he was afraid that his parents wouldn't approve. But mostly because he was afraid that he would be a terrible husband and father.

~*~

As Ben climbed up the stairs to go to his room, he found his uncle browsing the library that sat just outside of his bedroom door.

"You've got a nice collection," Luke commented.

"Thank you. Books have become an escape for me in my banishment. Feel free to look around, take a book to bed."

"Thank you, I think I'll stay up for a bit," Luke replied.

"Alright, goodnight uncle."

"Goodnight," he replied.

Ben turned to head to his room when he saw Rey coming out of Temiri's room. She was about to walk into her own room. Ben ran over and wrapped his arm around her, then led her towards his room. He couldn't let his uncle catch them sleeping in separate rooms, there's no telling what he would think.

He nodded towards Luke then closed the door.

"That was a good save," she whispered.

"I know. My uncle was watching," Ben answered, awkwardly.

They stood there, looking at each other for a long moment.

"Did you mean those things you said?" she asked.

He nodded.

They were both silent for a moment.

"Rey can I ask you something a little personal?"

She nodded hesitantly.

"Where's the boy's father?"

"He left us," Rey whispered.

"I'm sorry," Ben answered, doing a good job of sounding sincere and hiding how happy he was that she was available. "Why does Temiri call you Rey sometimes?"

"Because he's not my son, he's my brother."

"Then why does he call you mum sometimes?"

"Our parents left us when he was three. He just needs a mother figure."

"He needs a father figure too," Ben pointed out.

Rey didn't notice the hint. "Yes and I've had to be both," she sighed.

"That must be hard."

Rey nodded. "I just wish that our parents would come back."

"How long have they been gone?" Ben asked.

"Three years," Rey answered.

"And they haven't checked on you two at all?"

Rey shook her head.

"So they just left without explanation?"

Rey nodded. "I woke up in the middle of the night because I heard them. They just said they were leaving, and that they would be back. Then they just left and they didn't come back."

"And they didn't say goodbye?"

Rey shook her head.

"I know a little bit about how that feels, my parents haven't came to see me in six years. They told me goodbye, but they were so ashamed they wouldn't even look at me, and they barely spoke."

"Why did they banish you?" she whispered.

"I don't want to talk about it right now," he answered. "Maybe later."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," she replied.

"No it's fine. I will tell you later, I promise," he responded.

"I'm sorry, it's not the kind of question I should have asked please forgive me, your highness."

"There's nothing to forgive, I asked you some pretty personal questions," he answered. "You were honest with me, so I should be honest with you. I just don't like talking about it is all." He sighed. "Hux came up with a plan to send a fake letter to one of Naboo's enemies claiming it was from my parents as a prank, but it almost caused a war. I know it was a pretty stupid decision, I do regret it. At the time the letter seemed funny, it was nothing meant to be insulting. In fact I hoped deep down that the lighthearted letter would bring the two kingdoms to better terms, but the king took offense. All of the fighting, the blood of those who died is on my hands."

"Everyone makes mistakes," she answered. "And you had good intentions."

"You're the first person not to treat me like a villain because of it," he answered.

"Well I know what it's like to be separated from your family," she answered.

They were both silent for several moments.

"Um, can I go to my room now?"

"Yes, of course," he answered stepping aside so that she could leave.

Rey opened the door but quickly closed it as she saw Luke sitting there.

"He's still there," she whispered.

"What?" Ben asked. He cracked the door and peeked out. There was his uncle sitting on the couch reading. "Okay, you'll have to sleep here tonight."

"What?" Rey asked.

"You can sleep in my bed, I'll sleep on the couch."

Rey shook her head.

"Trust me, the bed is more comfortable," he said.

"I can't share a bedroom with you," she answered.

"You don't trust me?" he asked.

"Well I don't know you very well, and we're not married."

"I know that, I don't expect you to sleep in the bed with me. I'll be over there," he pointed to a couch on the other side of the room.

"What if my brother comes in here? I can't let him find us together, I have to be a good example. He's already had a bad enough example from our parents. I don't want him to grow up believing that he can just share a bedroom with a girl that he just met, then leave her to raise a child alone like our parents did to me the moment I was old enough to take care of Temiri."

Ben sighed, he could understand her side about it. But he could also see that she had a lot of issues with trust and he didn't want her to get the wrong impression about him. "Then where exactly should I sleep?"

"In there," Rey pointed to an open door.

"In the dressing room. That's fine," he said in mock enthusiasm. He wasn't at all happy about having to sleep on the floor, but he would do it for her.

"I can sleep in the dressing room. You can have your bed," she offered. She slept on the ground every night, the carpeted floor would be an improvement for her. Even better, it was warm and dry. But she doubted that he would get much sleep.

"No, no. I'm too much of a gentleman for that," he answered.

"But I..." she began.

"I'll be fine, Rey," he interrupted.

"Okay," she said. She stepped towards the bathroom, but he stopped her.

"I want to get in there while it's still night," he said.

"Can I at least have something to sleep in? All of my things are in my room."

Ben went to the dressing room and took out one of his nightshirts. He passed it to her then went into the bathroom.

~*~

Ben waited for Rey to get done using the bathroom.

The door opened and he couldn't stop himself from gaping at her slightly as he saw her in his nightshirt. He could see her smooth legs all the way up to her thighs, and her left shoulder was exposed as the shirt was too big on her.

He looked away quickly trying to be respectful. He turned around so that she could climb into his bed without him watching her.

"You can turn around now," she said when she was under the covers.

"Can I have my pillow?" he asked her, becoming shy again.

"Of course," she answered. She grabbed one of the pillows beside her and passed it to him.

He turned and went into the dressing room. With a sigh he grabbed his cloak to use as a blanket then laid down on the floor.

Rey could hear him groaning as he struggled to find a comfortable position.

"Are you okay in there?" she called softly.

"Yeah. Is my bed comfortable enough for you?"

"Very," she answered. "Goodnight."

"Yeah," he said knowing that his night would be anything but good.