Hello readers! It is I, VinVenture12, back with another story that you may or may not like. Hope you all loved my previous one! If you haven't read it and are new here, go check it out. It takes place after The Force Awakens and is, of course, a Reylo story.

Well I am here today to bring you a Reylo AU. It's not the one I originally planned on writing; that one is still in the outline stage. But I decided to get back into writing by writing a more simple and short story. If any of you have seen the movie Return To Me, then you'll understand where I am going with this story. If not, I highly recommend you go watch it. It's sooooooo good!

Anywho, for the beginning of this story, I relied heavily on the movie and script, but am going to be changing up a few things. I do not own this story, and all credit is given to Bonnie Hunt and Donald Lake, who wrote the screenplay, and all others involved in making the film happen. Some dialogue is taken straight from the movie, other dialogue is my own. As the story progresses, I'll be veering away from some of the plot points in the movie to bring about my own ideas.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter One: Beginnings

Looking out over the bustling city of Chicago, Rey was warmed by the glow of the setting sun. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply, listening to the distant sounds of car horns intermingling with the construction below.

Rey reveled in the soreness of her muscles and the weight of her tired bones, but she wouldn't have it any other way. Being an architectural engineer and owning her own company at 29, she was accustomed to working hard and pushing her body beyond the point of exhaustion.

If she didn't feel the fatigue down to her marrow, had she really accomplished anything that day? Plus, she saved a pretty penny by not wasting it on a gym membership. The labor-intensive work she performed on the daily kept her lean and strong, her arms and abdominals like something out of a sculpture.

She was lucky, blessed with health and a well-paying job. Growing up hadn't been easy, and getting to this point had taken grit, but she was here. And she was thankful.

Rey opened her eyes, squinting as she gazed up at the orange tendrils stretching across the blue sky. "Shame we have to put roof's on 'em," she muttered to herself.

A year ago, Rey had won the bid to build a high-rise that would house condos and businesses. With only the steel framework and floors installed, the project was still months from completion. But it was all coming together, and Rey was miraculously staying on schedule.

Knock on wood. Or steel, as was the case.

She walked along the high beams with ease as she made her way to the service elevator.

"It's looking good, Snap," she yelled to the guy on one of the lower beams. "I'm outta here!"

Snap glanced up, keeping hold of his hard hat so it stayed in place. "Okay, Rey. Have fun tonight."

She gave him a quick wave. "Always do."

()()()()()

The Lincoln Park Zoo was usually a cacophony of noise, a tumult of hoots, roars and screeches. Animals paced up and down in their enclosures, and people always crowded the tiger's den to watch it attack the rump of a cow thrown in at feeding time.

But at 4:15 in the afternoon, fifteen minutes past closing, all the visitors had left, the zoo now mostly void of humans. Only the employees remained. One of them in particular stood in front of a paned glass enclosure in the primate section, his dark brown eyes watching the 300 pound gorilla as it played on the jungle gym. Grabbing his phone from his lab coat pocket, Dr. Poe Dameron checked the time, knowing he was running behind.

He texted Rey that he would be leaving in twenty minutes, reminding her to pick up his tux from the dry cleaners on her way home.

When Poe looked back up, he saw that Shara had made her way over to him. Poe used sign language and pointed at the assortment of food below, encouraging her to eat. But she just sat, watching him.

Hurried footsteps came from the end of the hall. Dr. Kaydel Connix was jogging through the Primate House, her white doctors coat flourishing behind her.

She slowed and came to a stop once she got closer. "I had a suspicion I'd find you here," she said in between breaths. Kay turned and waved at the inquisitive gorilla. "Hey Shara." Shara waved in greeting. Kaydel turned her attention back to Poe. "I need your signature to change the Polar's diet," she explained as she handed the clipboard over. "And it's almost 4:30, I'll check on the calf. You just go home and get ready and let me take care of the final rounds."

"But I was going to –"

"No," Kaydel cut him off and pointed to the exit. "Leave and show off that pretty face of yours to some rich people so we can get some donations rolling into this place."

Poe gave a half-hearted solute. "Aye aye, Connix." He scribbled his signature along the appropriate line and gave the paperwork back to her. But he couldn't leave without one last look at Shara.

She'd only been a couple weeks old when she arrived at the zoo, sick and malnourished, unable to fend for herself. Poe had been assigned her case and basically lived at the medical center during those first few weeks. Everyone thought she wouldn't make it, that she was too close to death. But not Poe. Something in the primate's eyes reminded him of his mother when she'd gone through breast cancer. There was strength and defiance in both their souls, which was why Poe named the gorilla after her.

It was never a part of the plan for Shara to stay at the zoo permanently. Lincoln Park prided itself in not just being a zoo, but also a rehabilitation center, placing around 80% of the animals they received back into the wild. But after a certain amount of time, there were those rare cases where if put back in their natural habitat, the animal wouldn't have the capability to survive. They became too acclimated to humans taking care of them.

Shara was one of those animals. But even though this place had become her home, her hefty size had quickly outgrown the tight space.

"Look at her, Kay," Poe said with a disapproving shake of his head. "We'd go nuts in a place this small."

"I know, but we're getting there." Kay put her hand on Poe's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Pour on the guilt in your speech, show the pictures. I'm sure that will tug on a few of their heart strings."

"And hopefully their wallets."

Before leaving, Poe signed to Shara to eat her food and that he'd see her tomorrow. He put his hands on the glass, and Shara jumped up so she could mirror the gesture.

As Kay and Poe walked down the corridor, he asked, "So, who you bringing tonight?"

She shrugged. "Haven't decided yet. Still got two hours."

Poe stopped. "Wait. You still don't have a date? Who's going to go with you on such short notice?"

Kaydel's smile was slow and mischievous. "I have a few men on speed dial."

"And they'd drop everything for you?" Poe eyed her skeptically.

"Only the ones who want to have a good time tonight."

Poe rolled his eyes and continued walking, pushing the double doors open for them to get outside. "Please, spare me the details."

Kay chuckled softly. "Hey, whatever happened to that one guy who was interviewing to be in charge of the Lion House? We could sure use more help around here."

"I offered him the job, but he had to decline. Something to do with his health."

"You gonna hire someone else?"

"I don't know. He was the only one who had the proper schooling to handle it. But it's driving me nuts being this understaffed."

Kay nudged him with her shoulder. "Just think how more money would help solve that problem."

"Which is why my smile will be on full display tonight. Promise."

()()()()()

Unlocking the deadbolt, Rey quickly stepped into the quaint entryway, an orange-white Pomeranian darting inside. Both her and the small dog were soaking wet, the weather channel having said nothing about a thunderstorm hitting the city.

Rey undid the leash and told BB to eat the food she'd put into his bowl before their walk. But BB plopped down by the door, eyes fixated on the entrance, not even attempting to saunter over to the kitchen.

Whatever.

BB was Poe's dog anyway.

Taking off her boots toe to heel, Rey stripped off her cardigan and socks, leaving the wet mess behind. She skittered across the hardwood floors barefoot, hitting the staircase at a jog.

Inspecting her hair in the bathroom, she prayed that a quick blow-dry would help bring it back to life. She had thirty minutes to make herself presentable.

And where the hell was Poe? This was his charitable gala he was taking her to. When would her brother learn to be on time to anything?

Five minutes later and her hair now as poofy and ratchet as Selma Bouvier from the Simpsons, Rey heard the front door open downstairs, Poe giving out a string of curses.

"Rey?"

"Up here," she yelled down to him.

Taking the straightener to her hair, Rey listened to her brother's hurried footsteps. She looked at his reflection as he stood in the doorway.

"Did you –"

"Your tux is hanging in your closet."

Relief flooded his face. "Oh, thank god."

He disappeared, hurrying to his room that was situated next to hers. "Uh, thank me, you disorganized asshole," she called after him.

"Have I told you lately how you're the best sister ever?" he yelled back.

"No."

"Well, you're the best!"

Some light foundation, blush, eyeliner, and a couple of coats of mascara later, and Rey finally looked decent enough to be out in public. Her flattened hair was styled half up, half down, nothing special or ornate. It was all she had time to do.

Poe walked into her bathroom, looking at himself in the mirror as he went through the intricacies of tying a bowtie. "I thought you'd be ready by now," he said, noticing the jeans and shirt she still had on.

"You told me to take BB on a walk," Rey countered accusingly. "And then it started pouring on our way home, hence why I had to re-do my hair and makeup."

"You look fine like that. You don't need anything else."

Rey rolled her eyes and muttered, "Spoken like a true man."

Spraying her hair with extra strength hairspray, she moved onto the next step of getting into her dress. It was a white, mid length dress with an uneven hem and double-lined fabric. It hugged her in all the right places, and Poe let out a whistle as she put on her matching white pumps.

"You look gorgeous," he complimented. "I'm gonna have to play guard duty against all the men that'll no doubt hit on you."

"Ha. Ha. You don't look too bad yourself." Poe grinned, but it didn't quite make it to his eyes. Rey stepped up to him, adjusting his bowtie. "Nervous?"

"Nervous? Why would I be nervous about talking in front of hundreds of people, asking them for donations while trying not to outright beg for their money?"

She brushed at his shoulders and jacket, evening out any creases. "You're gonna do fine. Not a single person has ever been able to resist your charm. Which reminds me, you should go use it to get BB to eat. He won't listen to me."

They glanced down at the dog that was basically Poe's shadow whenever he was home. "BB, honey. Eat."

BB darted out of the room and headed to the kitchen. Rey narrowed her eyes at Poe. He gave her a sheepish shrug. "He's used to me, that's all."

"He hates me."

"I spend all day with an Ape and I'm a veterinarian. What else can I say? Animals just love me."

()()()()()

On a large projector screen at the International Ambassador Hotel, slide after slide was shown of Shara, one of them being her eating a large dish of pasta, leaving a mess all over her black fur.

The audience – clothed in black and white tuxes and elegant dresses – laughed politely at the images. Most were giving their undivided attention to the presentation, being respectful. Acting like mature adults. But some were incapable of leaving their food alone for more than five minutes just to pay attention. Then there were the ones whose faces were illuminated by the screen of their phones, probably perusing social media.

The annual Animal Rights to Survive – ARTS, for short – had once again attracted Chicago's upper crust and young hopefuls. Typical of some rich people, they were only here for show, their impatience more than noticeable.

Rey wanted to wring their necks for not giving Poe the deference he deserved.

"As you can see in this photo of Shara, she is sometimes too much like humans," Poe joked about the mess Shara had made of her food.

The occupants of the ballroom laughed, charmed by her brother's charisma. Rey smiled, feeling proud of how far her brother had come.

In the beginning, after Poe's parents Shara and Kess had adopted her from a London orphanage, Rey's life had been everything she dreamed of. Parents who doted on her, who chose her and made her want for nothing. She didn't need to worry about fighting other kids for more food, or throwing punches whenever someone stole her one and only blanket. She didn't have to wake up knowing that no one had wanted her.

Because now, someone did.

She had met Shara first. Even though Rey was a quiet, skinny little thing, Shara was instantly drawn to her. Rey never understood why, even when Shara tried to explain that Rey felt like hers the instant she laid eyes on her. At the time, Rey didn't really care why Shara and Kess wanted to adopt her. She just didn't want to be an orphan anymore.

Rey was given her forever home at the age of six. It had been the best day of her life.

Getting used to Poe had been a little difficult, though.

He was ten years older than her, which meant they had very little in common. At first, he'd been distant, not understanding why his parents were so driven to adopt some random girl in a country he didn't particularly like. But one night, two weeks after she moved in with them, she joined him in watching "The Breakfast Club". From there, they binged watched one John Hughes movie after another, bonding over pop culture and films.

It was then she was blessed with an older brother.

The next picture appeared, this time of Rey and Shara. Rey's eyes grew wide. Poe hadn't told her she would be in his presentation.

"Over the last ten years, Shara has become part of the family. Here, she's showing her flash cards to my sister. My sister is the one on the left."

More laughter. Rey sunk down in her chair and crossed her arms, staring daggers at the brother she was now preparing to disown. Poe gave her a quick smile. Rey stuck out her tongue.

"Tonight I was hoping I'd be able to announce that we've reached our financial goals for the expansion we so desperately need, but unfortunately, we were not awarded the grant."

Murmurs of disgust and disappointment went through the crowd.

"But with one more year of fundraising, along with the money we've raised tonight, Lincoln Park Zoo will soon be able to expand Primate House to triple its size." Poe paused, waiting for the applause to dissipate. "And I assure you my dear friend Shara and her family are very excited for construction to begin."

The next picture on the screen was of a group of gorillas, all wearing hard hats. The attendees gave out a mixture of 'ahhhhs' and chuckles.

"Thank you all for your tremendous support. Enjoy the evening."

Poe received a generous round of applause as he left the stage, letting the last picture of Shara shine on the swaying screen. The conductor for the evening got up to say a few words before giving the DJ the go ahead to start the evening with some music.

Rey hurried over to the side of the stage, throwing her arms around Poe and congratulating him on the presentation, all thoughts of renouncing him as her brother forgotten.

"Be honest, how bad was I."

"Bad? You had all these people wrapped around your finger. They were laughing at everyth–"

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" suddenly came on over the speakers, and Poe gave Rey a playful look, waggling his brows. "No," Rey protested as Poe grabbed her hand, dragging her to the dance floor.

"Oh, yeah. As a veterinarian, it would be criminal if I didn't at least sway to this song."

"Then sway alone."

Poe jutted out his lower lip, his chin starting to quiver as he somehow made his eyes gloss over. Rey shook her head, trying to fight off the grin that was taking over her mouth.

Sighing, she gave in. "You're impossible."

Poe cheered, and Rey didn't resist as he guided her to the slightly raised dance floor.

()()()()()

On the other side of the city at St. Mary's Hospital, a man lied in a hospital bed, his skin hanging off long bones, his pallor color giving off the inevitability of death. A well cared for flower bloomed on the nightstand to his left, and behind it, a small easel held a half finished watercolor of a lion. Posters of famous European cities and various animals lined the walls, the homeyness of it making it evident to any visitor that he'd been in this room for at least a month or so.

Ben Solo was no stranger to hospitals, but that didn't mean he liked being in one.

Growing up, his early childhood had actually been pretty normal, considering his mother's life in politics and his dad's career as an Air Force pilot. They did everything they could to not have him lead a spoiled life: public schools, sports, an allowance if he finished his chores, and teaching him to cook, clean, and do his own laundry.

But when he was eleven, he collapsed while in the middle of playing a youth football game. Next thing he knew, he was waking up in a white hospital room, tubes sticking out of him, his mother and father at his side.

He'd gone into cardiac arrest.

At the age of eleven.

After a string of tests, he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition that caused the heart muscles to thicken and affect the pumping action of the heart.

He spent his life up until this point on beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and so on. For a long time, they helped alleviate the chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.

At thirteen, he had a myomectomy performed to surgically reduce the obstruction of the left ventricle.

At seventeen, an internal cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was placed in his chest, its job to monitor and deliver a shock to his heart if a life threatening rhythm was detected.

Those years of medications and surgeries forced him to be homeschooled and to give up any modicum of strenuous physical activity.

With nothing else to do but study, he finished high school at sixteen and somehow convinced his parents to let him go to college. His mother bought an apartment close to the University of Illinois where they could live together. She even hired a nurse to be with him whenever he went on campus, which had irked Ben, but he learned to let it go. He knew how much stress being in college put on his mother, that giving up even a modicum of control was out of her nature.

So as long as he got his degree, he'd do whatever she wanted.

"Is it most important that a woman is, A: Polite to your family and friends? B: Can handle finances well? Or C: Will take care of you when you are ill?" Finn, Ben's best friend since they'd met in the pediatrics ward at the age of eleven, tapped the magazine with his pen. "Well, I guess your answer is definitely C." Finn checked a box, and Ben smiled.

The two of them had been inseparable since they met all those years ago. Plagued with leukemia, Finn frequented the hospital more often than Ben had when they were younger. But through their love of drawing and the threat of death just around the corner, they became close. They were like family. Like brothers.

The only difference between them was that Finn got better, while Ben got worse.

"What do you expect most from a relationship? A: Companionship? B: Sex? C: Respect? I'd have to go with B, sex. But let's mark C so we get a higher score. Look at me, being pathetic and cheating on a Cosmopolitan quiz."

"If you want to talk pathetic, I'm laying here pretending to understand why you'd pick B. But seeing how I'm in my thirties and still a virgin –" Ben winced, a sharp pang in his chest causing his breathing to become raspier.

Finn shot to his feet, leaning over the bed so he could hear Ben better. "What? What is it? What d'ya need? Your back? Move the pillow? Your neck?"

Ben took in a deep breath, the pain subsiding with the help of all the meds he was on. "You should… pick B. This quiz is for me, after all."

Finn chuckled through his nose. "Don't worry," he said, getting the water and positioning the straw between Ben's lips. It took a great amount of effort just for Ben to drink. "When you're all better and out of this joint, we'll find you a nice girl to have a good time with." He went back to sitting in his chair, grabbing the magazine. "And since you're the boss, we'll change your answer to B."

"Thanks," Ben said on a heavy exhale.

"Should I bill you for my services directly, or just go straight to your mother?"

Ben's laugh was a cross between a weak cough and a hiccup. "Finn, you can go home, ya know."

"To what?" Finn picked up the remote and fired up the TV, pretending to be enamored with an episode of Bones. "I don't have cable, you do."

"What about Rose and the kids?"

"She likes me more when I'm not around. And the kids like me a lot more after they've been alone with Rose." Finn smoothed out a crease in Ben's blanket. "It's good for her to be with the kids when they're coming down from the sugar. She usually fuels 'em up and then they go through detox on my shift."

Having an unconventional family dynamic, Finn stayed home with the three kids while Rose worked as a biomechanical engineer. Both positions worked for them since Finn was naturally more nurturing and Rose was more structured and career driven. They formed a system they liked, but every once in a while, Finn needed a break from fatherly duties. During those times, he'd come hang out with Ben, whether that be at his house or in his hospital room.

The door opened and in walked Dr. Kalonia, Ben's chart in hand. "Gentlemen," she greeted.

"Hey, Doc," Ben offered weakly.

The doctor went to switch places with Finn. He moved out of the way, careful not to knock into any of the I.V. stands or monitors; they've done this dance a million times already.

Dr. Kalonia talked as she scanned over Ben's chart and monitors. "You're about the same, hematocrit 16, SMA 20…. Some things are a bit low, but that's to be expected. We're entering borrowed time. The most important thing now Ben is rest, you need to rest." She tucked the chart under her arm before patting Ben's shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow."

As the doctor went for the exit, Finn said derisively, "Doctor, why don't you give him your heart? You're not using it."

Finn held Dr. Kalonia in a stare off, the air growing tense. Then the doctor smiled, nodded, and said, "Have a good evening."

Ben waited for the doctor to leave before scolding Finn with a harsh syllable of his name.

"What?" Finn argued. "I wish she'd do… something."

"She can't," Ben countered. " Even if a heart's available, they won't give it to me. I just have my mom pressuring them. I have no wife, no kids. I think we all need to accept that I won't be getting a heart."

"Listen, Tin Man, you've got me. I'm pressuring them."

"Thanks, Finn."

"And can't your mom call up some of her connections? She was a senator, for goodness sake."

"I told her no special treatment. Being a former senator's son doesn't make me special."

Finn started fixing Ben's bed sheets again, a habit Ben had come to recognize as Finn being nervous and emotional. How was it he was the one dying and he couldn't even muster up a few tears?

Probably because he always knew his life would eventually lead to this, dying in a hospital bed, hooked up to a catheter and having a nurse clean his bedpan and wipe his ass every time he took a shit.

"You'll get a new heart," Finn said through a tight throat, placing the blanket under Ben's chin, "and before you know it, you'll be back on your patio, painting after long hours of working at the zoo. You'll be getting asked out by the most fantastic girls."

"I'm getting a new heart, not a hundred pounds of muscle."

"My point is, you'll be out doing things you were never able to do, like lifting weights, traveling, cleaning up animal poop. Livin' the dream."

Ben blinked. "It's too late, Finn. I'm too old. I'm thirty-one. My grandmother's heart gave up by twenty-five, a year after having my mom and uncle. I've been sick too long…" Ben's voice cracked, his voice lowering, eyes pleading. "Promise me you'll look after Leia. After the divorce, my dad doesn't come around that much anymore…."

"Thirty-one is not old," Finn lectured. "If it was, then that would mean I'm old, and do you consider me old?"

"Yes."

"Fucker."

"I wish." Finn laughed. Ben didn't. "I guess that's one thing I regret the most, never being healthy enough to have sex. Or, well, being in a relationship. I've never even been on a date." Ben paused as he thought something over. "You know, on second thought, change my answer on the quiz to companionship."

Finn picked up Ben's hand, palming it between his own, getting all serious. "I know you feel like you aren't going to make it. I remember feeling that way too, that there was no hope. But you can't give into that feeling. You have to keep fighting."

"If only there was chemo for a shitty heart."

"There is. It's called a transplant."

A/N

Chapter two should be up in the next couple of days. Let me know if your liking what I'm doing with the story! And this chapter isn't beta-ed. So I apologize for any mistakes.