Author's Notes…

Here we are, at the end! It's been a short, wonderful journey with all of you! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Here is a list of the Christmas tracks that I listened to/referenced in the story:

Sleigh Ride – Relient K

Silver Bells – Alice Smith

O Holy Night – Clark Anthony

Deck the Halls – Nat King Cole

Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms

White Christmas – Meghan Trainor

A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives

Winter Wonderland – Kate Havnevik

The Christmas Song – Catherine Feeny

Do You hear What I Hear? – Bing Crosby

I'll Be Home for Christmas – Holly Conlan

All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee

Winter Song – Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson

Angels We Have Heard on High – Lindsey Stirling

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – She & Him

Ding Dong! Merrily on High – Choir of Clare College

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Michael Bublé

Carol of the Bells – Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych, John Williams

Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) – Gene Autry

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! – Frank Sinatra, B. Swanson Quartet

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Red Baron Remix) – Berliner Symphoniker, Red Baron

How to Save a Life

Chapter Ten

The Parents

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,

In the lane, snow is glistening,

A beautiful sight,

We're happy tonight,

Walking in a winter wonderland

December 24

"Your parents' house is enormous," Rey whispered as they stood before the front door of the mansion.

Ben grunted.

The thing was planted on an estate, on the outskirts of Coruscant, nestled in an offshoot of the Appalachian Mountains. The road to get there had been two miles after the initial gate, which had the letter S twined through it. When she'd asked Ben if it stood for Solo, he mumbled something about Skywalker being his mother's maiden name. Part of it.

By no means boring, the path was lined with evergreens coated in snow. They had taken Ben's personal car, and Rey thought it might be for a quick getaway should things go south. She hoped it wouldn't come to that, however.

Rey shivered in the cold. The sun was beginning to set, early in this hemisphere. A light layer of snow coated their persons. She wanted to get inside, preferring not to freeze into an icicle.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

A second grunt.

She wet her lips and debated on saying anything more. Then she couldn't help herself. It was too damned cold! "They know we're here. They had to allow us in through all the gates." There had been four in total. Complete and total overkill, but she wasn't a billionaire, so what did she know.

Ben said nothing.

Unable to take it a second longer, Rey grasped the iron knocker, thankful her hand was gloved, and banged it twice against the front door. There was a doorbell—the knocker was much more fascinating. She could hear it resounding through the mansion.

"No, no, I've got it," a woman said a few moments later. Rey recognized the voice as belonging to Ben's mother. "I want to greet them myself. Go get Han."

Her fiancé went rigid at the mention of his father. Rey slipped her hand around his elbow, keeping close. He shot her a grateful look.

The door opened, revealing a petite woman from whom Ben had inherited his jawline. That, and the steely glint to her brown eyes. Her hair was wound into an elaborate crown braid. Designer clothes garbed her along with the priceless diamonds dangling from her ears.

Rey would have felt extremely underdressed if Ben hadn't insisted they get her a new wardrobe for the trip. Still… Leia had that wealthy bearing to her posture that Rey would never be able to replicate. She probably looked like a pauper dressed in a princess' clothing.

The woman in question dragged Rey into a sudden hug. She yanked Ben into her arms shortly after. Rey's breath was stolen by the tightness of the embrace, but she hugged her future mother-in-law back. Ben did so almost reluctantly.

Leia pulled away to cup Ben's cheeks in her hands. "I'm so glad you're here," she said. She smiled at Rey. "And you, too."

A man appeared over Leia's shoulder, and Rey could see that Ben had gotten a mixture of both of their looks.

Han's hair was gray all over, and he wore a suit that matched Ben's. The two sized one another up, their expressions as frosty as the outdoors.

"Let's get inside," Leia said. "It's cold." She ushered everyone in, and a maid shut the door behind them. "I don't know if Ben told you, Rey, but we generally celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve."

"Oh?" Rey asked. The same maid was taking their coats and the bag of gifts they'd brought with them. "I guess the better to relax on Christmas, then."

"Exactly." Leia's eyes caught sight of the ring on Rey's fingers and widened. She stepped toward her slowly, as though Rey were a wild creature that would flee at any moment. "Is that what I think it is…?"

"Er…" Rey said, unsure of how this would be received.

But Leia smiled so broadly there were tears swimming in her eyes.

"No one tells me anything," Han grumbled.

"Oh, hush! I just found out myself," Leia said, still misty-eyed.

Ben's gaze roved over the mansion. He'd told her he hadn't been here in a very long time. He looked like he was taking in all the differences. He strode toward the grandfather clock in the grand foyer, his fingertips caressing mahogany.

"You have to tell us everything," Leia said. "But over dinner. It's ready." She walked to her son and took his arm as Rey had minutes ago. "I'm so glad you came, Ben."

He averted his eyes.

Han and Rey fell into step behind them, exchanging an awkward smile. Rey wasn't sure how to feel about him. The vision she'd had that had ultimately led to Ben's suicide wasn't going to go away anytime soon. But she knew there were two sides to every story, and she knew that Ben was difficult.

Leia kept up a steady chatter as they moved from one grandiose room into another. There were antiques placed everywhere, centuries old. Persian rugs, paintings—tapestries that made Rey wonder if they were hiding doors or safes. She was almost afraid to step anywhere, though there was plenty of hardwood to guide her.

"Um… your place is… nice," Rey said.

Han rolled his eyes. "It's over the top, is what it is. Inherited it from Leia's side." He cleared his throat. "Listen, I'm very bad at small talk—"

"It's all right," Rey assured him, reminded of how Ben had told her the same thing. She had to suppress a laugh. "We can talk about the weather, if you'd like."

"God, no," Han said with a shudder.

"Not a fan, I take it?"

"Who is?" Han raised his eyebrows.

"Meteorologists," Rey replied.

Ben's father considered her for a moment. She watched him back until he gave a gruff chuckle.

"All right," he said. "I'll give you that one." He pointed a finger at her. "So long as you know that meteorologists don't know what the hell they're talking about."

"The weather is unpredictable," Rey agreed.

They passed beneath a magnificent chandelier.

"If this is all from Leia's side, how is it that your company is called Solo Industries?" she asked curiously.

He waved a dismissive hand. "The company was already there. Leia thought it'd give me a sense of independence if it had my name on it."

"Did it?"

What came next was a shrug and the universal noise of, "Meh."

He likes it, Rey thought. But he'll never admit it.

"I work for the company, actually," Rey said.

"Is that how you met?" Han replied.

"No," she said. "I was at a friend's party. Ben was there, too."

"Ben?" His brows furrowed deeply. His disbelief was evident. "A party?"

"He was there for the woman who works on his cars—who also is engaged to my friend who held the party."

"Interesting…" Han rubbed at the scruff on his face.

They entered the dining room to find it laid out with food and candlesticks that could pay Rey's rent for a year. A festive tablecloth ran the length of the table, and cloth napkins had equally festive rings around them. Everything was done up in red and green. There was even a Christmas tree in the corner. That made five that Rey had spotted so far—they were in every room at a window facing toward the property.

"He were are," Han rumbled. "There's usually Leia's brother here, but he's off, gallivanting somewhere in Finland."

"Finland," Rey repeated. "My."

Han gave her a knowing look. "I agree. Long ways away."

The table was very long, but the place settings were in the middle of it. Leia and her husband sat on one side, Ben and Rey directly across from them. Rey unfolded her napkin and laid it neatly on her lap.

"Rey was telling me that she met Ben at a party," Han said, that disbelief still on his face.

"A party?" Leia repeated with a laugh. "You've really changed, Ben."

"I'm… trying," he said to his plate. He glanced quickly at his father and then away again.

"How long have you known each other?" his mother asked.

Rey and Ben hesitated.

Leia's brows shot up.

"A… few days," Rey admitted. She took Ben's hand underneath the table. She looked beseechingly at his father. "I know I told you I work for the company. But we did genuinely meet at the party." She didn't want to be seen as a gold digger.

"You work for the company?" Leia asked. The food had already been prepared, so she helped herself and told them to, as well.

"Yes," Rey said.

"Not anymore." Ben put a heaping of turkey and ham on his plate.

Rey tried to keep her questioning noise to herself. Not anymore?

"It'd look bad," Ben went on. He added green bean casserole and rolls—a mountain of mashed potatoes, spooned in at the top for the gravy. It was like a miniature volcano. "It's different if she wants to be higher up, or… do something else."

Rey exhaled shakily. She was nearly sweating beneath the chandelier. The way there were ornaments hanging off it in places was very pretty, however. It was also easier to look at.

"This is moving quickly," Han observed.

"It is," Rey said at the same time that Ben challenged his father with an, "And?"

She elbowed him.

He shot her a glare. She gave him a look with pursed lips and wide eyes, subtly jerking her head toward his father.

Ben set his silverware on the table and sighed. "We met quickly. Yeah. But I love her. And she's… helped me more than you can know. We're getting married, and that's all there is to it. If you don't like it, I don't care."

"It's not that, Ben," Leia said as Han was opening his mouth to launch into an angry retort. "We just want to know how it came to be. It's… obvious that Rey has a calming effect on you."

Rey wanted to intercede. It was too late. She leaned back in her seat and hoped this wouldn't be brutal.

"My mother married my father after two weeks," Leia said. "If… you know how you feel, trust your instincts."

"And a prenup, right?" Ben sneered.

"Ben!" Rey said, having had enough. He quieted with a glare, and she wet her lips, turning to his parents. "It is fast. But we love each other. And we want to be close to you." She saw Han rolling his eyes again and puffed up. "Even to you. It's time everyone… talked. You can't go on like this forever."

"I have nothing to say," Han replied. "Sign a prenup, don't sign a prenup, I don't give a damn." He put his napkin on his plate and rose. "Excuse me."

"You can't just go!" Rey cried.

"Let him," Ben growled. "He's good at running away."

Han's eyes flashed. "Now you listen here, boy—"

"ENOUGH!" Leia all but roared. "Han—sit the hell down before I make you. Ben—don't speak to your father that way. Rey—my son has never brought a woman home, let alone planned to marry one. If you two are in love, I believe it, and I don't believe in prenuptials. That's what trust is for."

She glared at the two men. "We will enjoy this meal because we haven't had dinner together in years. Am I understood?"

"Yes," father and son said sullenly.

Leia turned to Rey with a dazzling smile. She should have been in politics. "Please—tell me more about yourself. I feel as though you're family already."

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus,

Right down Santa Claus lane

It was the middle of the night, and Rey was having trouble finding the kitchen. She hadn't been able to eat at dinner—far too nervous—and now her stomach was rebelling. Ben was passed out, a deep sleeper. He hadn't stirred when she'd left the bed.

This isn't your house, she told herself. You can't go and grab food whenever it pleases you.

But Leia had told her to make herself at home, and she was so hungry. So she would—just this once.

She received a surprise upon entering the kitchen. Han was there, the refrigerator open as he pulled out leftovers. Rey made to leave, not wanting to be spotted, but he must have sensed her presence.

"Hey," he said in that gravelly voice of his.

"Hi…" Rey replied uncertainly. "I—er… I'm sorry. I was hungry—"

"Sit, sit." He gestured to the table. "I'm hungry, too. Didn't get a single bite in with that interrogation going on."

Rey grinned. "It was like an interrogation, wasn't it?" Leia had gone over every possible facet of Rey's life. "I didn't mind it so much, though."

"Good," Han grunted. "Because if you're marrying my son, that won't be the last one."

Rey helped Han remove the tops of the tupperware. Stuffing, turkey, ham, casserole… Her stomach rumbled hungrily.

"I know how it feels," Han muttered. "I was thinking a sandwich. How about you?"

"Yes, please," Rey said politely. "I wouldn't mind some of that casserole, either."

"Pretty good, isn't it?" Han rummaged around, and soon they were sitting on stools at the island, their meal at hand. He waited until they were done with their sandwiches and moving on to other things before speaking again. "You seem like the type who wants to fix things."

"More the type who doesn't want to overstep," Rey replied.

"Eh…" Han gave another one of his shrugs. "You're in too deep now. Might as well come out with it."

"Come out with what?" she asked.

"Whatever it is you want to ask me. It's something." He drew the tines of his fork through his mashed potatoes. "I can read people, you know."

"Oh, can you?" Rey laughed softly. "All right, then." She pushed the sleeves of her sweater up. For all the new clothes she'd gotten, she preferred her own type of pajamas. It was much more comfortable that way. "I wanted to tell you that Ben… he's really regretful that you don't have a relationship."

Han shook his head. "Ben never wanted one," he said around a bite of casserole.

"…I know what happened," she said tentatively. "He told me."

Han stilled except for the motions of chewing. Then he carefully set his fork on his plate and wiped his mouth with a nearby napkin. Preparing himself for battle?

"Ben is hurting," she whispered. "He wants to feel loved. He wants to know it wasn't his fault. And it wasn't."

"I know it wasn't," Han replied stiffly. "That's not what our feud is about. I was angry with him—he got angry at me. Now all we do is fight and say things we don't mean. Do you think I don't want him back in my life?"

"No," Rey murmured.

"I was orphaned," Han said. He took a sip of the tea he'd poured them. "I had no family. When Leia was pregnant… when we had three children… I didn't think I'd wanted any, but then we had them, and I was… ecstatic. And then…" He trailed off. "Well, you know the rest."

"I was orphaned, too," Rey told him in an attempt to find common ground.

Han raised an eyebrow. "No kidding."

"You actually know my adoptive father. Ben Kenobi."

"Ben Kenobi," Han repeated blankly.

"Ben said he was his uncle's—"

"Oh! Ben Kenobi!" Han chuckled. "Small world, huh?"

"That's what I said," Rey replied.

They sobered.

Rey swallowed. "…Will you try?" she asked.

He wouldn't look at her.

"He's going to try, too," Rey said. "He promised me. He's so alone…"

"He's not—"

"He has marks on his wrists," Rey whispered more urgently. "He's already tried to kill himself before. And I feel like he might again, if this isn't resolved between you. Please, Han. Please try."

Grief passed over Han's face. "…I didn't know."

"No one does," she said. "He keeps his pain inside. Like you. You're a lot alike. Please promise me you'll try?"

"…You're very hard to say no to," Han said.

"I know." She grinned. "It's part of my charm."

"All right," Ben's father grumbled. "But he has to try, too."

"He will," Rey said, relieved.

And they spent the rest of the meal in companionable silence.

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock

Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring

December 25

Five in the morning.

The sun hadn't begun to rise—wouldn't for a few hours yet. Rey snuck into the library she'd discovered with Sitrine's feather in tow. She found a cozy chair in the back of the room. Later, she would peruse the books at her leisure. For now, she had an important conversation waiting for her.

"Sitrine," she breathed into the feather.

The angel appeared, kneeling next to her.

"Did I succeed?" she asked. Her throat was hot and tight. She didn't want to cry. She didn't.

"Yes," he replied. He was glowing more brightly than usual, enough to make Rey squint. Seeing that, he toned it down. "Sorry. I'm happy. Hard to keep a grip on how to appear to humans when I'm not thinking about it."

"You don't look like this normally?" she inquired.

"The human mind isn't capable of comprehending our real form, in all its glory," Sitrine said. "Not until death, that is."

Rey breathed deeply and sank back into the chair.

"I succeeded," she said.

"You did more than that," came a woman's voice.

"Padmé, quit interfering!" Sitrine snapped.

"I am not interfering," Padmé said coolly. "I am merely ensuring my grandson will survive."

"You aren't allowed to—"

"I'm sorry, would you like me to go to Him and explain what happened?" Padmé cocked an eyebrow. She was very regal in that moment.

"No," Sitrine grouched.

Rey sniffled.

"Why are you crying?" Padmé asked, concerned.

"I'm happy," Rey said. "I'm happy that he's safe. But I'm also wondering… how will I keep this a secret, everything that happened?"

"You won't have to," Sitrine said.

Rey sniffled again, a tear dripping off her chin. "What do you mean?" She wiped her face clean—or tried to. The tears wouldn't let up.

Padmé smiled kindly and touched her hand. "In a moment, you won't remember us."

"What?" Rey gasped. "But—"

"Everything will still be in place," Sitrine said perkily. "The only memory you'll lose will be of us. Your mind will fill in the rest. It'll be as if we never existed." He winked at Rey. "Come, now. Don't pretend you're not glad to be rid of me."

Rey stood up and hugged him.

It was one of the greatest sensations in the world. Safety, security—from a heavenly plane—enfolded her. Padmé took her hand, and Rey wasn't sure she ever wanted to leave. It was so… good here, a haven from pandora's box.

"Thank you," she whispered.

And then they were gone, taking Rey's memories of them with them.

She found herself alone in the library and blinked.

"What was I doing?" she murmured.

Epilogue

One Year Later…

Rey soothed imaginary wrinkles out of her wedding gown as she peered at her reflection. Leia's tiara from her wedding instead of a veil—something borrowed. Check. Lacy blue panties beneath the layers of tulle—something blue. Check. Her off-the-shoulder, lacy dress: new, so check. The pearl necklace Padmé had worn at her wedding… something old. Check.

"Oh, you're so beautiful!" Rose was at her side with a glass of bubbly. The red gown Rey had chosen for her went well with her tanned skin. "Normally, I would think a Christmas wedding was cheesy, but it's just right for the two of you!"

"Easy on the champagne," Rey laughed.

"I'm just so happy!"

Before Rey could reply, the door to her room opened. Han stuck his head around it. In a moment, his eyes were suspiciously wet.

"…We're ready to begin," he said roughly.

Then he was gone.

"Awh, he was going to cry," Rose said, placing a hand over her heart and echoing Rey's sentiments. "That's so sweet."

"It was," Rey agreed.

It had been a good year. Ben and Han's relationship was still rocky and would be for some time, but they'd slowly and steadily made progress. Ben was in therapy, and Rey always went with him at his request.

She had quit her job to focus on school. At first, she hadn't liked the feeling of relying on someone to take care of her. But Ben had made it clear that he wanted to, and that if she really pressed, he'd let her work. So they stayed at his place in Coruscant, and she had the luxury of going on campus for school during the day.

Leia had formed a strong relationship with Rey, as had Han. Even with the difficulties between father and son, Ben and Rey visited his parents frequently. Rey would even dare say that Leia had become one of her best friends.

It was nice to finally have a mother.

Her bridesmaids left the room one by one, Rose first, as she was the maid of honor. The other bridesmaids were girls she'd grown friends with in her classes and at visiting functions with Leia. Rey found that she really liked charity work.

As Rey came around the corner, her father was there.

"You look dashing," Rey said, kissing his cheek.

The church had Christmas decorations pouring out of it. Lights were strung up everywhere for the evening ceremony. Flowers hung from every pew—occupied vases all over the building. Everywhere someone turned, there was the sense of the Christmas spirit and the wedding that was about to transpire.

"You look beautiful," her father replied.

She placed her hand around his elbow. As they entered the nave, everyone stood and looked at her. The piano began to play.

"Thank you, Daddy," she said.

He leaned in to whisper into her ear. "It's the last moment to change your mind. Is this really what you want?"

Ben fidgeted where he stood at the altar. At her presence, he straightened, his eyes full of awe and love.

Rey smiled because there was no other answer than,

"Yes."