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Xanthe had hugged her parents as she flew away into the sky with the new x wing her Uncles Poe and Finn got her for her birthday.
She was headed to teach younglings from less fortunate planets how do read and do basic math. Xanthe made clear that her first actions away from home were to help younglings. (oh, the irony)
Rey sniffed as Ben held her waist; it was never easy watching her babies leave. All four of them were her and Ben’s pride and joy, their biggest joy in life stemmed from caring for all of them, yet Xanthe leaving made both their eyes a bit more moist and their throats slightly more swollen.
It has nothing to do with her alone, though. For their love was distributed in large, equal amounts amongst their kids- can they even call them that now?
“That’s it,” Rey croaked, ignoring the gray streak of hair briefly in her eyes from the wind.
She was used to Ben holding her on windy days; only difference it was a chocolate colored streak that would block her vision as she watched her babies play.
“She was our last one. Now they’re all gone….” She swallowed as Ben kissed her cheek.
“Yea, now we don’t have extra mouths to feed,” he giggled into her ear, smiling on Rey’s neck.
“Ben!”
“Whattt? It’s like our honeymoon- only we never leave!” He reminds her of their sightly trip to Naboo all those years ago. All the places, food, clothes, weather, each other…..
“Only we’re not on that beautiful planet with all the lakes and grass cites.” She snuggles into his chest, slightly damping his top.
“Well, we can go, sweetheart. Why don’t we leave tomorrow?” He pets the back of her head, kissing the top.
“Maybe. Why are you so calm? We don’t have our babies anymore….” Rey smuggled into her husband’s embrace, shocked at his ease.
“That’s not true, we’ll see them all the time.”
“You literally cried over every milestone, I always thought I’d be the one comforting you.”
He lifts her face and smiles. Her eyes are still hazel and her lips are still pink. Her cheeks even obtain their blush.
“I’m happy. Sad they’re all gone, yet happy that they all got to leave on their own terms. Fearless, self assured, prepared to take on the world. When we agreed to have kids, we swore to give them the childhood neither of us got. That’s exactly what we succeeded in. I’m gonna miss raising them, but I’m glad they’re all happy and well- because of us.”
Rey smiles a bit as she tilts her head.
“What’s up, sweetheart? Admiring your awesome hubby?” Ben teases, still possessing that irresistible charm- only reserved for her.
“Yea, I feel like I’m 24 again,” she taps his cheek, followed by a peck on the nose.
“Shall I make dinner?” He goes after her, opening the door of their now empty home.
“That sounds delicious, you still have that catfish?”
“Yes, would you like some?”
“For sure,” she responds, headed towards their bedroom.
She stared into the mirror; her hair was still coffee colored, only with a few minor streaks that where hardly there, her skin barely wrinkled, only having enhanced eye bags, and her figure was still intact, with notable abs and tight legs.
Late forties didn’t exactly turn her to dust. Yet Rey took note of every slight imperfection.
“Oh, hey you,” Ben interrupted, coming to archive his sweater.
He looks to see her gazing into the mirror with anything but glee. Ben takes note of her expression and approaches her.
“All is fine, right my love?” He whispers into her ear, caressing her shoulders.
“I’m getting so old….” She says begrudgingly, rolling her eyes.
“Um? Excuse me?” Ben exaggerates, letting one hand go as he wraps his arm around her shoulders. He puts the now free hand on his hip, slightly sticking it out.
“If you’re old, what am I?” Ben’s graying was more apparent and he had a few more wrinkles than she. Anticipated though, considering the ten year gap.
“The sexiest man alive,” she says in a lowered voice, turning around to rub his neck.
“Ughhhh, don’t you get me weak!” He dramatically exclaims, dropping to the ground.
When Ben expects laughter, he receives an anxious cry.
“Ben!!!” Rey drops with him, checking his pulse and wiping the nonexistent sweat off his forehead.
“Oh my, baby-“
“Rey, I’m fine!” He chuckles, pinching her cheek. She tilts her head and drops her mouth a bit.
“Sweetie, I was playing around. I didn’t actually fall, promise.” He gets them both up on their feet, brushing her shoulder a bit.
“That wasn’t funny! I thought you were actually hurt!”
“I wasn’t pretending to be hurt-“
“Yea, I got that.” Rey deadpanned with an eye roll.
“I’m just so old now, aren’t I?” He teases once more, causing her to smile a bit.
“You know-“
“It’s alright, hon. Also,” he walks over, licking his lips.
“You’re such a babe, always have been. And you’ll stay that way, even when you’re actually old,” he speaks as he strokes her hair.
“We both know I don’t look like I did-“
“Oh nonsense, you’ve hardly changed.” Ben couldn’t even notice her streaks most days! By the time he was seventeen, Leia and Han were both fully gray.
“Hardly, huh-“
“You look nothing like the other moms at graduation-“
“Bullshit.”
“You still work out and eat well, you’re gonna be immortal.”
“I’m not as fast or strong though. My hair is changing too, and my tummy is starting to poke out.”
Ben tickled her very flat midsection. She couldn’t help but giggle.
“What tummy?!? Now you’re just imagining things!”
“Ben-“
“Grow out of those leggings and get more than a sliver strand, then we can talk about you ‘getting old’.” He kissed her lovingly as he exited their reserved suite in their cozy nest.
Slow with a tummy sticking out. Most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in a while…
“Cordè was only one who said ‘Mama’ first!” Rey exclaimed, receiving laughs from Ben.
“Yes she was, you were so excited.” He shakes his head with a teeth flash.
“Her studies seem to be going well, I’m glad she’s thriving.” Ben adds;
Their middle daughter Cordè was studying to either go into politics or advocacy, specifically towards animal cruelty. She just couldn’t chose which one!
“For sure. I hope she’s okay, poor thing seemed really upset after breaking up with Rowan.” Rey sighs with glum.
“Yea, I miss him. Great guy, but they just wanted different things in life. Mom would be so proud of her, though. All of them.”
Ben eyes Rey’s finger, sporting Leia’s ring. To this day he still thinks of his parents often.
“Well, no one’s ever really gone,” Rey smiles at him lovingly, blowing a kiss.
“That you’re right about.” They continue to chew and sip peacefully.
“You know, I remember our… quieter meals, so to speak. Like the first time you cooked for me…” Ben smirked a little, looking down at the table.
“And I burned the fish! Oh, I was so upset.”
“I thought it was so sweet you wanted to surprise me.”
“I thought everything you did for me was so sweet, I wanted to repay you.”
“Rey, you saved me from the World Between Worlds, that’s more than enough.”
“You deserve more than enough.”
Ben walked across from the table, moved some hair out of her face, held her cheek, and kissed her with ease.
Rey sighed happily into the kiss. All these years later and he’s still got her like that. Ben motions Rey up into his arms as he whispers into her ear.
“You deserve everything great about this whole galaxy.” Ben muttered softly, admiring her eyes.
“Do you remember our first dance?” He adds, rubbing her neck.
“How couldn’t I?” Rey sighs happily as she feels her husband start to sway her.
“How I held you and sang into your ear.”
“You were as warm as you are now.”
“I never wanted to let go.”
“You never did.”
His hips go back and fourth has he pets her hair, smelling the top of her head.
She snuggled into his chest, resting her cheek on his muscles. She proceeded to lift her hand to his head, stroking his dark mane.
“See? We’re gonna be just fine together in this empty home.” Ben coos to her, smiling into her ear.
“Nothing could ever be empty with you in it, love.” Rey adds softy.
Ben lifts her chin to kiss her everywhere- lips, cheek, forehead, nose. For his lips craved her very surface.
Change is never easy. But it’s life. Ten year olds turn twenty and thirty year olds turn forty.
The one thing that’ll never change, however, is the flame burning deeply that is the Dyad’s love.