A Star Wars Reylo AU: The Taming of the Professor

Twenty

October moved into November. The election happened, and Leia Organa won by a respectable margin. Rey didn't vote, because she hadn't registered yet. Nobody seemed surprised by the results. The paper didn't ask for any more articles, and she was glad.

The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Maz stopped by the bar after their shift.

"What are your holiday plans?" said the tiny woman.

"We're driving Nana to her sister's," said Rose.

Rey shrugged. "I'll probably just hang out in my apartment and read. I'll keep myself busy."

"Nonsense," said Maz. "You'll come to my house for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm alone too, you know, so I invite friends. It won't be fancy, but I'm a decent cook."

Maz scribbled her address on a drink napkin. "We close on Tuesday and don't open again until next Sunday. The kids all go home and it's not worth keeping the place open."

Though she would miss the money, Rey was glad for an extended break.

"Is your dinner party a dressy occasion?" asked Rey.

"Ha!" said Maz. "Wear whatever you want. It's as fancy as I am."

Rey was glad for the invitation. As an undergrad, it had been hard for her to watch excited students return home to their families during the holidays. She was used to being alone now, but it was nice to be invited.

When Thanksgiving arrived, she pulled on a pair of comfortable jeans and a warm sweater, and hiked to Maz's house. She didn't have anything else to do.

The street was empty, and she wondered if she was early. She knocked on the front door, and Maz answered, wearing a bright pink apron.

"Oh good. I need help with the turkey. You know how to cook a turkey, right?"

"No. I can make you something to drink with Wild Turkey if you like." 

She followed Maz in and joined her in the kitchen. It was around noon, and the turkey was still sitting in a pot of brine water.

"Pull that thing out of there and let's get it cooking," directed Maz.

Rey frowned at the pot. She pulled off her sweater, not wanting to get nasty, raw poultry water all over herself. Maz's kitchen was already steamy and warm. Her worn t-shirt clung to her skin. She was glad to see that she had gained a little bit of weight. She actually had some breast tissue for once, and her pants weren't falling down around her hips.

"I'm a vegetarian, you know," said Maz.

"Then why are you cooking a turkey?" Rey laughed.

"I tried to serve a tofurky a few years ago. No one was impressed."

"Did you like it?"

"It was terrible."

"Well, this might not be done by dinnertime."

Rey read the directions in the open cookbook. She started the oven, and found a pan big enough to fit the bird.

Maz had all kinds of jobs for her. She peeled and cooked potatoes, sliced vegetables, made deviled eggs, and cleaned an endless stream of dishes. Maz didn't talk much, but she wasn't shy about barking orders. Rey enjoyed the work. It was a good distraction. When the pot of potatoes boiled over, she flipped off the burner and slid the pot off.

The doorbell rang.

"Oh good, they've decided to grace us with their presence after all." Maz hurried toward the door.

Rey hadn't bothered to ask who else was coming.

She was scrubbing the stove top before the starch from the boiled over potatoes burned on when a familiar voice greet her from the kitchen door.

"Hello, sweetheart. I didn't know you'd be here. What a nice surprise."

Rey whipped around and found the football coach leaning against the doorway, arms crossed and smiling.

"It's Rey, sir. If you don't mind." She was proud of herself for confronting him.

"Yes, ma'am. I'll try to remember. Glad to see Maz welcoming her employees for the holiday." He winked and backed out of the doorway, allowing Maz through.

"Han, you man the door. Keep them out of the kitchen. We're busy."

"Sure thing," said the coach, and bent to kiss her on the cheek.

"He's a good boy," said Maz. Rey wasn't so sure, but she didn't argue.

They tested the turkey three times, and Maz finally declared that it was good enough, even though the thermometer hadn't reached the required temperature. Rey stood in front of a box fan on the counter, trying to cool off.

"You don't have to put that heavy sweater back on," said Maz. "It's warm in here."

Rey was glad. Maz kept her house at a toasty temperature, and the kitchen was nearly a sauna.

"Who else is here?" asked Rey, as they removed plates from the cabinet.

"My friends," said Maz. "Actually, go grab one of those men and have them carry these plates to the table. Are you willing to tend the bar?"

That was a task she was confident in doing. She followed the narrow hallway out toward the dinning room, and collided with someone much bigger than her. Large hands closed around her waist, steadying her. She reached up and brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes, and found herself face to face with Dr. Solo. 

"Sorry, Dr. Solo!" she said. "Maz sent me to find someone to carry a heavy stack of plates. I was in a hurry."

His fingers pressed into her back, and he looked down at her. The hallway was dim, and she couldn't make out his expression.

"You're here?" His voice revealed his confusion. He released her. "Happy Thanksgiving."

"Happy Thanksgiving," she repeated, and stepped around him and continued on her way. It was disorienting to run into him here. Literally. So if the Coach was here, and his son . . .

She stopped short in the doorway of the dining room. Master Luke was there, too. And the new Mayor, Ms. Organa, who she had interviewed last month. Dr. Solo came up behind her, and she moved to allow him to pass with the plates. Maz joined her, pink apron still tied around her waist.

"I think we're all here," said Maz. "You men go carry those dishes in from the kitchen and we'll eat. Han says he wants to catch a game after dinner."

Rey allowed Maz to lead her to a chair beside where Master Luke was sitting. She greeted him quietly as he moved toward the kitchen, and placed a napkin on her lap. Then she remembered her bar tending duties, and hopped back up to take orders.