A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews/favorites/follows! I really enjoyed writing this and hope you all enjoyed reading it! (there is a longer, NSFW conclusion on AO3, but I've never posted that kind of thing on here, so let me know if you'd like me to).

Rita Skeeter: Aww, thank you! That's wonderful to hear! Omg, good point - that's just my profile pic because he's my fave (and I'm going to see Seb this weekend!), but I changed the pic for this story, just for you :D Enjoy!

Getting married was… complicated. Getting married to someone above your station more so. And getting married to someone by whom everyone you know felt betrayed was possibly the greatest of complications. It was an uphill battle, but Rey was prepared. The most important thing to do was bring many of the family secrets to light.

The first of these were somewhat clumsy, accomplished on the day Ben proposed. Whether they would have ever left the library without prompting, Rey didn't know, but eventually they were interrupted by a knock. It was hardly a surprise to find Finn, Master Dameron, and B.B. waiting. With some awkwardness, the five of them settled in the morning room, Ben sitting in the empty chair nearest Rey.

"Perhaps you want to tell us about your stay at Luke's," Master Dameron said levelly.

Flushing, she briefly regaled them with the truth of her experiences there and reasons for leaving. Ben was silent, though he held her hand tightly throughout.

When she finished, Ben rose and stood before Master Dameron. "I cannot express the depth of my regret for what happened seven years ago," he said formally.

"What were you doing?" Master Dameron asked quietly, assessing him.

"I… Snoke told me of a plot to reveal my mother's true parentage and destroy her reputation. He claimed that, with my help, we could prevent it. But my assistance came at a higher price than Luke was willing to accept and we fought. I didn't… I didn't know anyone else was in the building," he added quietly, looking away.

"And you still chose to serve Snoke after that?" Finn wanted to know.

Ben glanced at him sharply. "He… He claimed to have proof of my innocence. And… it wasn't as though I was welcome anywhere else." The last sentence hinted at bitterness but he squared his shoulders and continued. "I may have been wrong," he conceded. "In any case, I have done what I can to make amends, small though I know they are compared to your loss."

Master Dameron gave a short nod, all the concession he was willing to give at the moment. Though he didn't forgive Ben right away, he did allow the man into his home every day to visit his fiancée and slowly accepted that the friend he had known so many years ago might still be there.

It was fortunate that Finn and B.B. were easier to win over. B.B. easiest of all, as she knew little about him, and was terribly fond of Rey. And therefore willing to be accept whatever made Rey happy. Finn had, as he said, apparently turned from one side to the other when he had saved Master Dameron's life upon their meeting. Rey couldn't get the exact story from him, but he was sympathetic to Ben's circumstances. Not that he quite so easily forgave the slight upon him caused when they had fought at the inn, but he came around.

On that first day, Rey accompanied Ben to the door when it was time for him to leave. In what was perhaps not strictly acceptable propriety, he kissed her gently. "When are we getting married?" he murmured, dark eyes boring into hers with the promise of future kisses and much more.

"Soon," she breathed, afraid she might not be able to wait that long if he was going to look at her like that. With a slight smile and a nod, he turned away. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she headed down to the stables to see Rose.

Mr. Bacca was standing outside in the drive, likely having watched Ben go. When he noticed her, he smiled broadly. "You did it, lass," he told her as he patted her on the shoulder then headed back to work. She thought he might have wiped away a tear but couldn't be certain.

"So, I hear you had a visitor," Rose greeted her almost as soon as Rey reached the stable door.

"Yes," she admitted, letting the smile and the blush she'd been suppressing since she and Ben had left the library return.

Rose grinned at her. "A pleasant visit, I take it?"

"I am betrothed," Rey told her happily.

Raising an eyebrow, Rose gave a low whistle. "Well, that's great, Rey, it really is. How'd the men upstairs take it?"

Sobering slightly, Rey shrugged. "They'll accept it, I think. Ben apologized to Master Dameron for his part in Mistress Dameron's death."

"That was honorable of him."

Rey nodded.

"I suppose that means you'll be moving out soon, then."

The blandness in Rose's tone was at odds with the concern and maybe sorrow on her face. Not having considered that, Rey felt her stomach drop. "Oh. I suppose."

A slight smile tugged at Rose's mouth. "Were you thinking he'd just move in here with you?"

Rey snorted. "No! I mean, I didn't give it much thought."

"I see. Well, I'll be sad to see you go, but perhaps you can come visit often."

Moving forward to embrace her friend, Rey nodded, resolving to do just that.

Every day, Ben came to see her. They spent the time in the morning room, sometimes alone, sometimes with others, or on walks through the neighborhood. Neither of them were talkative people, so they spent much of these visits in companionable silence with hands clasped. After a few, days, though, Rey needed to ask him some questions. It was after dinner, and they were walking through the pleasant evening air. Her hand rested on his arm and she pressed down to halt him.

"Ben."

"Rey," he replied, looking at her curiously.

Her eyes flickered to his lips but she forced herself to focus. For now. "Where are we going to live?"

Surprise briefly crossed his face. "I have a house in town. We can stay there. Or return to my estate in the country. Or something else. Do you… Do you want to go back to where you grew up?" he asked gently.

She shook her head emphatically. "No, not at all."

He smiled – a rare sight that made her knees weak. "Good. We can live where ever you like, Rey."

"When we're… After, will I still be B.B.'s governess?" The thought that she would soon be married, and to him, was still too shocking to state out loud.

Considering, he looked at her carefully. "If that's what you want," he said at last.

"What do you want?"

"Just you."

Her hand trembled as she reached for his. "That sounds like it might require all of my time," she murmured.

He lifted her hand reverently to his lips. "I will gratefully accept whatever time you will give me."

She loved teaching B.B. She loved living at Master Dameron's house with her friends. But… It wasn't enough. Having Ben, and a family of her own – that would be enough. Standing on her toes, she kissed him, not caring who might see. "I want to be with you," she told him and he smiled again.

"How soon are we getting married?"

"Soon," she promised.

The Princess certainly already knew of her son's betrothal, but it was some time before Rey saw her again. When she did, it was without warning. She was in the morning room with B.B. when a knock came. Expecting it to be Ben, she had gone herself to answer it.

"What, no butler? Am I not giving my ward enough of an allowance?" the Princess questioned.

Taken aback, Rey didn't answer, just stepped aside to allow the woman to enter.

"Grandmama!" B.B. called and ran over for a hug.

The Princess smiled, indulging in the child's action before extricating herself gently. "Run along, my dear. I must talk to your governess."

Rey watched B.B. leave and tried to quiet the pounding in her heart. "It is always a pleasure to see you, Ma'am," she said formally.

Waving her hand, the Princess settled into one of the chairs and looked Rey up and down carefully. "So. It seems you were holding out on me all this time. I understand," she forestalled Rey's protest with a wave. "And now my son intends to marry you."

Swallowing, Rey nodded.

"Do you love him?"

Blinking in surprise at the forwardness of the question, Rey nodded again. The Princess regarded her and opened her mouth to speak. Thankfully, there was another knock at the door and Rey was glad to answer it, if only to forestall the Princess' line of questions. Ben took one look at her face and strode purposefully into the house, halting when he saw who her guest was.

"Mother," he said, bowing, glancing at Rey. She gave a rueful smile. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"I have something I need to ask your fiancée, but, since you're here, I'll ask you, too," the Princess said, resettling herself and looking at them intently.

Ben frowned slightly as he moved closer to take Rey's hand. "About what?"

"How soon can I expect grandchildren?"

Ben choked and Rey's cheeks burned as she looked away quickly. "Mother," he muttered, unable to finish his thought.

"Ah. Soon, then, I take it."

"Not so soon," Rey managed to correct, and the Princess laughed, a surprising sound.

"As soon as would be proper," she amended, laughing again. "Well, I can see I'm not doing myself any favors being here, so I will see you at the wedding."

Ben recovered himself enough to escort her dutifully to the door. When he returned, he paused before approaching Rey hesitantly. "I'm sorry about that," he murmured.

"It's alright," she assured him, smiling slightly.

"Do… do you want children?" he asked, moving closer.

She bit her lip and glanced at the floor as she considered what to say.

"After… Jakku and… and everything?" he clarified, clumsily referring to the struggles each of them had gone through in their own childhoods and how they were still affected by them.

She looked up at him and smiled at the uncertain look at his face. "If they're yours."

Ben pulled her to him and kissed her passionately, apparently not caring that they were near an open window and his mother might not have gotten that far away. Soon Rey didn't care, either.

"Maybe not right now," she managed to say as he made his way down her throat. He growled, but relented, releasing her and stepping back.

"How soon will we be married?" he wanted to know.

"Soon."

And, finally, they were. It was a simple wedding. Rey invited all of her friends but had no relations to attend. Ben's relations were her friends and he did not choose to invite those with whom he'd worked the last six years. Thus, it was a small affair, which was fine by her. It sped by fast enough, and she was conscious of little besides the way Ben looked at her, as though nothing else existed.

She must have said what she was supposed to when prompted because suddenly Ben was kissing her and people were cheering. Perhaps disliking the audience, Ben broke away all too quickly, but took her hand instead. She smiled at her friends, now her family, and squeezed Ben's hand, thinking how she would never need to be alone again.

"I love you," she murmured to him as they stepped off of the altar.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I love you, my beautiful wife. But now we must endure well-wishers at my mother's house for far too long."

She giggled as they were hurried along to the waiting carriage outside. It was touching that the Princess would host the event – usually it was the responsibility of the bride's family. But it also meant that many of the guests would be friends of the Princess, or Master Dameron, or even Ben, and Rey would know few of them. She was not looking forward to the endless receiving line and trying to remember everyone's names.

Ben helped her into the carriage, kissing her as soon as the door was closed. It was not as chaste as the one in the church, and she was blushing before he was done.

"It won't take that long, will it?" she asked.

"Far too long," he repeated resolutely. "It will be torturous, all that smiling and shaking hands."

She nodded sagely. "Yes. It sounds terrible. But then we can… go home."

His arm tightened around her waist and he looked at her intently. "Yes. Then we can go home."

His tone made her blush again, and it was almost a relief that the carriage drew to a halt. She reached for the door and he caught her hand, pressing it to his lips.

"Thank you, Rey."

"For what?"

"Believing in me."

Feeling tears threaten, she nodded, too overcome to speak. He kissed her forehead again and took a deep breath.

"Are you ready, Lady Solo?"

"Yes, husband," she answered with a grin. With him by her side, she was ready for anything.

Returning her smile, he helped her from the carriage and into her future.