Darkness Within

Voices

The wind picks up her cloak, blowing it out around her and making it hard for her to fight against it.

"Mommy," a small voice says and Rey runs forward, trying to follow the direction that it came from.

"Mommy," a different voice says from her left, the opposite direction from the first. She turns towards it, her eyes scanning the trees frantically in search of the child it must belong to.

A twig snaps behind her followed by a small giggle and she spins, trying to see it just in time to see a bush shake a little. Closing the gap instantly, she rifles through the leafy green bush, just to find it empty.

"Mommy, catch us," the second voice giggles, mixing in with the giggles of the first voice.

Rey places her hands to her forehead and presses into her temples out of stress, becoming overwhelmed as she tries and fails to locate these two voices.

"Rey," a voice says in the distance and she drops to her knees, listening to the giggles getting further away but the more mature voice getting closer. "Rey!" It says louder and tears start to stream down her cheeks as she comes to rest on her heels and pulls the cloak tight around her to keep out the chill pushing its way in. "Kriff Rey wake up!"

Her eyes fly open, scanning the ceiling which is illuminated by the lamp resting on the bedside table, sweat dripping down her face, and her breathing rapid. "It's okay," Bens calming voice comes from next to her and she turns her head to look at him leaning over her a touch. "You were just dreaming," he strokes her hair softly and looks up to the door. "Sorry to wake you Vale, everything is okay."

"I'll make you some camomile tea ma'am," Vale says politely from the door and Rey looks over at her as she leaves the room.

Ben helps her up to a seated position, supporting her back with one of his arms and pulling her up with the other. Rey slowly steadies her breathing, focusing on a spot at the end of their bed and the sensation of his handing running soothing tracks up and down her back.

"What was it?" Ben whispers and leans his head against hers, his cool forehead freezing cold against her hot skin.

"I-" Rey pauses and looks down at her stomach, running her hand up and around the prominent curve and letting it rest on the top with the other caressing on the bottom. "I was hearing two voices in my dream. Both of them the voices of children, and both of them calling me mommy."

"Two?"

Rey nods, still looking at her stomach. "What if it's twins Ben? What if that's the reason my stomach is so large?"

"It runs in my family, so it wouldn't be surprising," he agrees, resting his hand on the front of her stomach. A small thump comes from the inside of her stomach and kicks against his hand, followed immediately by a steady pressure as if the baby is trying to press its hand against his.

"She likes you," Rey says with a smile and looks back up at Ben whose face is lit up with excitement.

"You don't know it's a girl," he argues gently, still watching her belly which is twitching from in response to the movement inside.

"It's a feeling."

"We should send for a med droid to help with the birth," Ben mumbles as he lays her head on Rey's stomach and rubs it gently. "Vale is confident you're getting close and if it's really twins, we want to make sure we have all the tools we need."

"That's a scary thought," Rey laughs a little, feeling the baby inside shift a little in response to his even closer proximity.

"But exciting at the same time," he mumbles, his eyes closing as he takes a content sigh.