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The sun hadn’t even risen yet. Yet Rey begrudgingly did, due to the morning sickness caused by her pregnancy.
She was heaving into the toilet as Ben held her waist and kept her hair back. Rey was always impressed and endeared by the fact he always got up when she did to comfort her.
”Deep breaths, sweetheart” he whispered as her hurling concluded for the moment.
Rey lied her head on his shoulder as he checked her forehead to make sure she wasn’t too heated. She naturally put a hand on her midsection to find it was a bit round.
She shot up to once again feel herself a bit better.
”Wait, Ben” she says and turns to her husband who still held her.
”Yea, Rey?” He asked, surprised by her mood change.
”I-I think I have a bump..”
”Really?” Ben didn’t wanna say it out loud, but she was only three weeks along. They didn’t even tell anyone yet- well, Rey told BB-8 but that was different.
She didn’t stand, but Rey moved a bit from him and lifted her top. There was indeed a small tummy forming.
“Oh my, you’re right!” Ben says amused, leaning down and putting both hands on the new bump.
”It looks adorable, Rey! Awe, our baby’s in there! We can see you’re carrying our little baby!”
Rey hesitates a bit at her slightly altered form. She didn’t anticipate her showing to start so soon.
“It’s a bit weird I already have a belly poking out when we haven’t even known for a month yet…”
“Mom said some show sooner than others, it’s quite common.” He explains while snuggling her new tummy and smiling adoringly.
“I’m just saying, they should be the size of a pine head and this ‘bump’ looks more like a tiny avocado. What if it’s just all the bread I’ve been gobbling up..”
Ben looks up at his wife all admiring. “Don’t overthink it, Rey. There’s a clear difference between a tummy that had too much bread and a tummy that has a baby in it.”
“Well, this kind of sucks because now we have to tell others sooner than we wanted. They’re all gonna notice I’m bigger.”
”I don’t think so. The bump existent yet very small, I think we can hide it for another month.”
“We’ll see…” Rey speaks hesitantly, lightly patting the slight bump.
Ben picks up on the fact that she’s not as excited as he is. He figures she’s just exhausted and over everything, so he lifts her off her feet and carries her to bed the way he carried her to his ship years ago.
Rey is a bit jumpy but not too phased by it, seeing she’s naturally comfortable around her husband.
”Let’s go rest, beautiful.”
Rey tries to enjoy this moment, because her body is making it very clear she’s not gonna experience it for a very long time after a few short months.
…
Rey was finally at the start of her second trimester. Four months in, and she and Ben found out they were having twins. (They felt it in the force)
Even if they weren’t force sensitive, Rey thought it was still obvious- she looked six months instead of four. Her belly stood out noticeably, so baggier outfits weren’t cutting it anymore, her waist was non existent, and she could’ve sworn at least one of her pants were getting tighter by the week.
That morning, she stared at the long mirror cringing. Her face was rounder too, so it was clear she wasn’t just gaining in her belly. Sadly.
She sighs and starts to change into her clothes for the day when she notices something new.
There was a faint purple line on the lower part of her bump. At first Rey thought she was just seeing things, so she stepped closer to the mirror only to find it was true.
She had a stretch mark.
Ben walks into the room casually only to look up and see his naked wife. Not an issue though. Quite the opposite.
“Well I’m officially having the best morning ever.”
Rey jumps and squeaks a bit, surprised by the view of her husband in the mirror. Typically, she wouldn’t care but seeing she was just moping about her body change and new stretch mark, she wasn’t feeling especially hot at the moment.
She quickly gets her clothes on, much to the dismay of Ben.
”Heyyyy, what was that for!?!” He responds in a playfully disappointed tone.(okay, maybe some of that disappointment was real.)
“What are you talking about?”
” I was enjoying the veiwwww…” he whines in a funny voice that makes his wife smirk for a brief moment.
”You were enjoying my round belly and chubby face?”
“I was enjoying my flawless wife who’s rocking pregnancy glow.” Ben sees a tear leak from her eye, and all of the sudden he snaps out of his flirty tone.
His voice goes soft and concerned. “Hey, what’s wrong? Your feet bugging you again?” He walks over prepared to give her another massage.
”No, I looked in the mirror and saw a stretch mark on my belly!” She says followed by mild wails. Rey sits on the bed and covers her face.
Ben rubs her shoulder soothingly. He didn’t really notice the purple stripe but saying that wouldn’t help matters.
”Oh sweetie,” he says as he kisses her cheek. “That’s normal for pregnancy, and most women in general. My mom got stretch marks when she had me, they’re normal and okay! Plus it’ll fade…”
“We were using oil every night to prevent this, I don’t get it!”
“It doesn’t always work, love. It’s alright, I’m sure it’ll fade after the babies come.”
“It better…”
…
Three months later, Rey finally hit her third trimester. She was couldn’t see her feet, it hurt to get changed every morning, in public random strangers would rub her belly (to which annoyed her to no end) and her feet swell easily.
The two were getting ready for bed. Ben walked in to find her starting at the mirror with a tilted head and frown.
He didn’t read her mind much anymore, but he really wanted to know what was bugging her and figured she’d brush it off and claim she was just tired.
Ben found out what was bothering her, though he wasn’t that surprised. He walked over and hugged her from behind. He kissed her cheek and shoulder.
“Everything alright, sweetheart?” He asked softly giving Rey his full attention.
“I’m fine.” She attempts to leave the mirror but he holds on tighter.
”Hmm, I don’t think so.”
”Well, I am.”
”Rey, you seem to forget I know everything about you. I know when something’s bugging you, just talk to me.”
She finally lets go and he respects that. Rey sits on the bed with her head down and sighs heavily.
“You can tell me anything. Your feelings are vaild. Just please tell me what’s wrong. I hate seeing you like this.”
“I had a shitty day. Being pregnant fucking sucks, especially when you’re having more than one.”
Ben sits next to his wife and puts an arm around her shoulders.
”Yea? Anything in particular..”
”R2 said I looked like I swallowed an entire watermelon and at the store this random lady told me I should go home because I’m ‘clearly at my due date’.”
Ben turned his head for a second and opened his eyes widely. A part of him wanted to go tell off that droid but then he remembered that R2-D2 is. Well, a droid.
”Ah, it’s just R2, he’s always been sassy but means well. When I was seven and attempted to write my first sentence he said it was neater than my dad’s but that’s not saying much…”
She starts to whimper sadly and he abandons his story to focus his attention on her feelings.
”I’m the size of a house! Nothing fits, not even your moms maternity clothes we got a hold of, I can’t see my feet, I see other pregnant people in public but I’m much bigger than all of them. I’ve got three more months of this, and I don’t even know if it’s possible for me to get any fatter.”
Ben felt his heart break a little. Everyday, he felt himself feel a bit more attraction to his wife. Watching her grow and nurture his own children was the most breathtaking thing he’d ever witnessed. He loved taking care of her on bed rest days, rubbing her feet, doing anything she needed.
“I can’t believe I’m hearing the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known speak so ill about herself.”
Rey’s not an idiot; she sees the looks Ben gives her. How he still touches her, still offered sex when it was an option for her, he made it very clear he was still attracted to her. And she knew he wasn’t doing it out of pity. She could feel it was genuine.
She stares at him as the tears fall down her face.
”I genuinely don’t understand how you still find me remotely attractive. I understand I’m carrying your children, but my belly isn’t even a cute circle type, it’s just this big fat blob. I’m so huge I don’t even think I’ll ever get back to my normal weight. I’m happy we’re gonna be parents but I’m miserable.”
As she speaks, Ben is pretty much massaging her cheeks; well, that’s how it feels because he’s wiping all the tears.
”Oh honey..” He holds her face and looks her in the eyes.
”You’re not fat, that’s all baby weight. Even if you were fat, I don’t care I love you. You get more gorgeous everyday, and I’ve literally never been in such awe. You’re always beautiful, always, but this has been so satisfying to watch. Like, read my mind love if you see everything I’ve thought towards this you’d feel a lot better.”
” I don’t need to, I know how attracted you are to me. And it’s sweet, I love I have the best husband ever who finds me beautiful no matter what, but I still feel bad about myself. You’re my husband and my Dyad, of course you’ll find my attractive no matter what. I hate being so out so shape, I’m not used to it.”
“I understand, but-“
”People stare at me, grab my belly, I think I’m abnormally big even for twins. I just feel like some freak all the time…”
”Okay, that’s it, I can’t take it anymore, I tried.” Ben started to speak sternly, starling Rey.
”Huh-“
”Will you please stop talking about my wife like that, I don’t tolerate this whatsoever.”
”Ben, I am your-“
“ReyRey, my beloved, there’s nothing strange about your body. The nurses said you’re growing at a typical rate for twins, all women in your position go through this. It’s not like you got super lazy and ate too much, your growing two new humans and bringing them to life. You’re not alone, I promise you you’ll feel like yourself again and all of this is temporary. Give it some time.”
“You really think so?”
”I know it. If you were too big, they would’ve said something. You can’t compare yourself to someone who’s having one baby or no baby at all. Not to mention, you’re very active and healthy so I also know you’ll definitely get back into your normal form. Even if you didn’t, like you said I don’t give a damn you’re always the most attractive thing in the galaxy through my eyes. And, ya know- anyone with half a brain.”
This makes her laugh a bit; being pregnant is hard. Gaining weight is hard, especially when you’re not used to it. Rey still has her insecurities like everyone else, but thanks to Ben she definitely feels better now. He’s right; she needs to stop comparing herself to random people and trust her health professionals who know what they’re doing.
“You’re correct. Thank you, Ben. I don’t know what I’d ever do without you.”
She leans in for a kiss and he returns her motions. Rey feels the corners of his lips go up- he almost always smiles when they kiss.
”Of course, sweetheart. Now let’s get some rest.” He gets up to shut the lights off, but not before pecking her for head. The Dyad goes to sleep in comfort of each other’s presence and love.