Darkness Within

Guest

After electing to stay in Iguazan for the evening, Ben and Rey wake in a small private room in the back of the Cantina featuring a smaller bed than they're used to and a small window high up on the wall leading to the street outside. A hush has fallen over the building, the occasional sound of tenants and workers leaving rooms and making their way down the hall faintly audible through the door.

Rey lays on her back, trying to avoid the need to wake up, with Ben's head resting on her chest, his hand spread out on her stomach. The pillow behind her head provides her little support, causing her neck to ache, but she still doesn't want to move out of pure laziness.

"You know, you have a small bump forming," Ben says quietly, his hands running a circular motion across her lower abdomen.

"It's small, but there," Rey agrees while she runs her fingers around in his hair with her eyes still closed.

"How far along do you think you are?"

"I don't know actually," Rey sighs lightly, Ben's head lifting and lowering with her breath. "I don't have regular periods, never have, so it's hard to know. I'm showing more than I thought it would be already so it has to be longer than I thought."

"Have you had any symptoms?"

"Nausea here and there and I fatigue easily as you know," Rey laughs thinking about all the impromptu naps she has been taking recently.

"I sent a communication to the knights to arrange for a medic to be delivered, I'm sure they'll be able to give us more information when they arrive," Ben assures.

They lay in silence for a while, listening to the sound of conversation and footsteps outside of the room in the early morning. Rey continues running her hand around in Ben's hair, wrapping her fingers up in the strands and then releasing them again. The motion is soothing to both of them, allowing Rey to relax and nearly putting Ben back to sleep.

"Do you think our baby will be force sensitive?" Rey whispers and Ben pulls in a deep breath, giving away the fact that he was dozing off.

"I'm sure they will be," Ben whispers in reply.

"Ben?"

"Mmmm?" He mumbles, the vibration of his adam's apple tickling again her skin.

"What if I'm a bad mom," she asks, tears prickling at the back of her eyes.

Ben props himself on his elbow and looks up at her, his brow scrunched up in concern and confusion. "Now why you would think that?"

"I don't know," she mutters out of embarrassment and curls up on her side, clutching her arms around her stomach. "I never had a good mother figure in my life. I don't know the first thing about raising a child."

Ben can sense the fear in her mixed with the sadness of losing her parents at such a young age. Shifting on the bed so he's right behind her, he pulls her back tight against his stomach and engulfs her in his embrace.

"Don't be silly," he whispers into her neck. "You are so full of love, you will be amazing. Our child will love you."

"You think?"

"I know," he says with a squeeze and he can feel her shudder from tears. "I love you, Rey, you are miraculous. I thought that from the moment I met you." Ben pauses and stares at the wall over her head, running his hand up and down her arm as he thinks. "People kept telling me of 'this girl' and I was fascinated with the idea of you, but then, I encountered you in the forest, and to this day, I don't know what came over me. You consumed my thoughts, my intentions, and my moods from that point forward. I was angry I couldn't have you, embarrassed that I couldn't win against you, and distressed that I knew I was I falling in love with you despite everything I did to stifle that feeling."