A Million Petals • Reylo AU (on hold)

Chapter 9

"The one and only," she managed a small smile before stepping slowly through the doorway. Her eyes wandered down sheepishly as she caught the awestruck expression of Ben.

"W-what are you doing here?" He breathed out, his voice hoarse and quiet.

"I came for a visit," Rey twisted her lips into a wide grin. She caught brief eyes with Ben who sported an extremely skeptical look.

"Well the girl was nice enough to visit. Benjamin, let her in," the older man smiled at her and held out his hand. "I'm Han Solo by the way."

"Rey," she took his hand and shook it.

"Firm handshake...Ben she's a keeper."

He didn't reply to his father's comment, instead he reluctantly beckoned towards Rey for her to follow him up the stairs. A couple steps and awkward glances later, they made it safely to Ben's room.

"Now tell me, why exactly are you here?"

"Like I said before, I'm here to visit."

He didn't answer, instead he continued to glare at her until she broke down.

"If you really want to know, I'm here because of this..." Rey reached into her back pocket and pulled out a slightly crumbled rose petal with an engraving of an "I". "I saw that it said 'I' and not 'D' so I came to visit you to see how you were doing..." she looked down at her feet. "Also did I scare you away the first time we talked about the petals?"

"What are you talking about?"

Rey stepped closer towards Ren, her arms limp at her sides.

"A few days ago I tried to see you again...and apparently there is some sort of visiting list, that I wasn't on...did I really freak you out that bad or something?" Her eyes suddenly started to water, and Rey blinked several times to try to keep the tears from falling once again.

For a few mere moments all was silent in the room, and both stared down at their feet in a deafening quietness. Soon enough Ren stepped a few steps closer to the distraught Rey, not using any words he reaches forward and ever so gently wipes slowly at the gathered tears under her eyes.

Shocked by the small gesture Rey looked up to face him with a look of utter confusion on her face. In response Ren simply moves his fingers in order to cup one side of her cheek in a way of comfort.

"It's a lot to take in, you know..."

She nods slightly at his words, careful to not break away from his touch.

"To think there is someone out there that knows you as much as you know yourself...it's just a lot," Ren admits, slowly moving his palm from Rey's cheek towards her limp hand. He grips at it ever so slightly and the two just stand there, in silence, providing comfort through the quiet.

"We'll figure this out together, okay?"

"Okay."

After muttering those words Rey couldn't help but burst into a wide grin, a contagious one in fact that seemed to finally manage to make Ren smile for the first time in a while.

•{•}•

The next day at work Rey seemed to be in a good mood and everyone else has noticed it as well. From twirling around the kitchen to singing cliche songs as she stacked coffee cups, it was no secret that she was actually happy.

"Rey?"

"..well you done done me and you bet that I felt it...I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted..." After singing those few words Rey hummed the rest of the tune, ignoring Finn's calls.

"Rey? Rey!"

She turned around sharply to face him, stopping her mini concert.

"What is it?"

"I'm worried about you peanut."

Rey furrowed her brows in confusion for a moment then burst into loud laughter. In response Finn frowned and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"If something is up Rey, you know you can tell me...I just want to know if you are okay."

She smiled at her friend once again, "I am fine, Finn. There's nothing to worry about."

"Then what's with your mood today?"

"I finally found him."