Chapter Text
The fact that it was Christmas Eve was not lost on Ben Solo. After all, he had left the office that day at 3 PM, a highly unusual move, and was not planning to work the following day, if only because none of his colleagues would be in and his clients would be annoyed if he called them.
He certainly hadn’t missed some of the festive red and green decorations on his assistant’s desk, and had even remembered to get her a gift - without her assistance. The week before, he had dutifully made an appearance at the firm holiday party and had stayed a good half hour after bonuses were handed out.
He had given a sizable donation to a homeless charity that one of his colleagues was associated with and had gone as far as to purchase a toy train and dump it in the Toys for Tots bin in the lobby of their office building.
He wasn’t a Scrooge. He just didn’t really have any reason to celebrate Christmas.
He wasn’t religious. He didn’t have kids, or a wife, or even a girlfriend. He knew his parents, still living in his childhood home in the next town over, would love to have him come by for Christmas, but he had gotten out of the habit since joining his firm.
Christmas was a day to unwind, to get away from the stress of his constant billable hours, and hanging out with his parents was the worst way to destress.
So when his mother had called him that morning asking again if he wanted to come over that evening, Ben had unapologetically told her that he was still at the office. He allowed her a few minutes to bemoan the fact that she was the only woman in her Bridge group with no grandkids to buy gifts for or take to visit Santa before he briskly wished her and his dad a merry Christmas and hung up the phone.
The evening had been as stress-free as Ben could hope for. With no one working, he could put away his laptop and simply exist. He watched some basketball, hit the gym, and took a long, indulgent shower after just because he could.
Now in his comfiest pajama pants and hoodie, he settled under his down comforter and flipped through Netflix on his phone. He saw a couple Christmas movies on the homepage under “Now Trending” and briefly considered watching one. It wouldn’t hurt him to feel a little bit of Christmas spirit.
That idea was quickly squashed when he figured out that all of Netflix’s Christmas offerings were either children’s movies or contrived love stories, neither of which he was interested in. He scrolled down to television dramas but his phone screen changed to incoming call.
The area code was from his parents’ town, but it wasn’t either of their numbers, so he decided to pick up.
“Ben Solo,” he chirped, a little confused as to who would be calling him at 10 PM on Christmas Eve.
“Hey, Son,” came an all-too-familiar voice.
“Dad? Whose number is this?”
“So, uh, that’s the thing…” His voice got cut off by another louder, shriller voice. There was some kind of a scuffle and his father got replaced on the line.
“Benjamin, darling.” His mother Leia’s voice was syrupy and slurred. “We need you to come pick us up.”
“Where? What is going on?”
“We’ve just had a bit of a misunderstanding.” There was another muffled set of noises, and then his father, Han, came back on.
“We got arrested, kid.”
“It’s just a misunderstanding,” insisted his mother again from the background.
“Wait, what?” Ben sat up straighter in his bed. “Dad, stop talking now. And tell Mom to shut up. Have you talked to a lawyer?”
“I’m on the phone with him.”
“No, Dad.” Ben slapped his hand against his forehead. “I am an estate attorney. I have not as much as read a criminal statute since the bar exam. You need to hang up with me and call an actual criminal attorney.”
“You’re making way too much of a deal out of this,” said his father, far too flippantly for Ben’s liking. “Cops are letting us go. We just need you to drive us home.”
“Fine, I’ll come,” said Ben, climbing out of bed. “What did they bring you guys in on?”
“‘Public intoxication,’” Han quoted sardonically. “Bunch of bologna if you ask me.”
“Well, no one did.”
In the background, Ben could hear Leia yell, “If having fun is a crime, then I’m an anarchist!”
“Mom!” Ben was sure she couldn’t hear him, but he still scolded, “Don’t piss off the people who have power over you right now.”
“I’ll handle your mother,” said Han.
“Uh, are you capable of handling yourself right now?”
“Are you accusing your old man of not being able to hold his liquor?” His words were sloshed, making Ben wonder just how much liquor he had had.
“I’m not accusing you of anything that actual police officers haven’t already accused you of.” Ben tugged on a pair of jeans and sneakers and slipped out the door. “Where are you guys?”
“The Chandrila police station on 5th.”
“Just so you know, this is not how I intended to spend my Christmas.”
“And how do you spend it? We’re always dying to know.”
“Not getting arrested, for starters.” He grumpily turned on his car. “K, Dad, I’m driving. I need to hang up so I can look up your freaking jail on Google Maps. Please keep Mom from pissing off every cop in the county until I can get there. Remember you have the right to remain silent. And those poor cops have the right to your silence.”
“Got it, Son!”
Ben hung up before he blew up any further over his father’s cheery tone. Google Maps estimated a thirty-nine minute drive, so he put on an old favorite playlist to distract him from the fact that his evening had veered wildly off-course.
--
Before this evening, Ben wouldn’t have believed that Christmas decorations could look any sadder than they did at First Order Law, but seeing a lopsided wreath hanging on a jail intake desk made him think that his office looked downright cheery.
A cop was slouched in the chair behind the desk, absorbed in a phone game.
Ben coughed a little.
“Excuse me,” he said. The cop looked up, surprised to see anyone there. “I’m, uh, here for Han and Leia Solo?”
He had no idea if that was the right way to spring his parents out of jail, but the cop nodded.
“Ah, yes,” he said. “They’ve been a delight around here tonight.” His tone indicated otherwise.
“I’m sorry,” said Ben automatically. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“Couple of beat cops responded to a call from a restaurant owner, complaining that some drunks were causing a ruckus in the street. So they picked up the three of them and brought them here to be our problem.”
“Three of them?”
“Hey, excuse me.”
Both Ben and the cop turned to a young woman’s voice that came from behind Ben.
“I’m here because I got a phone call from Luke Skywalker that I need to pick him up,” she said.
Ben frowned. “Luke is here?”
The woman’s head jerked up to meet his gaze, as if noticing him for the first time. “Who are you?” she asked.
“Who are you?” he said right back.
The cop stood up, his chair screeching across the floor loud enough to draw their attention. “I’ll head back,” he said. “Wait here.”
He disappeared, and the woman started complaining. “I can’t believe Luke calls me on Christmas Eve and makes me come down here, and he already has someone here for him.”
“What?” said Ben. “You mean me? I’m not here for Luke.”
“Oh.” She gave him another discerning glance. “Why are you here then?”
“I’m here for my parents. My mom is Luke’s sister. They must have all been together tonight.”
“Oh!” she said again, suddenly enthused. “That means Luke actually went to be with his family. I’ve been encouraging him to for so long.”
“I’m sorry, how do you know Luke?”
“I’m his neighbor.”
“I didn’t think he had any neighbors. Or, like, knew any people at all.”
She smiled, a giant, bright thing that begged for his attention. He hadn’t really taken in her face before that, but now he noticed that she was very pretty, with sparkling eyes that made his heart stutter.
He didn’t do great with pretty girls.
“He doesn’t, really,” she agreed. “And ‘neighbor’ is a stretch I guess. His house is way down the lane from mine, but our mailboxes are next to each other. It took him a good long while to respond to me, but I’d try to talk to him everyday anyway. And now we’re sort of friends?”
Ben huffed. “You’re a saint.”
“Why?”
“No one is friends with Luke.”
“Maybe you’re not,” she said stuffily. “No wonder he hides from his family.”
“You don’t know a thing about our family.”
She made a weird face and gave side-eye back to where the cop had disappeared into a hallway. “I can see that it’s Christmas Eve and your parents are back there and you’re here.”
“So?”
“So you weren’t with them?”
“Why should I have been?”
“Because.” She waved her arm dramatically. “It’s Christmas Eve and that’s a time for family.”
He leaned in to her and crossed his arms. “Maybe we don’t celebrate Christmas. Maybe we’re Jewish.”
She shrank back. “Oh,” she stuttered. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think.”
Grinning, he said, “We’re not Jewish. We do celebrate Christmas, or I mean, we don’t not celebrate it.”
“What?” She smacked his arm. “You asshole, using someone else’s religion just to make me feel bad.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“I’ll bet you have.”
“So what were you doing when you heard from the drunken Luke?” he asked, unaffected by her bitter tone. “You better have been with family.”
Immediately, Ben knew that he had said something wrong. All of her feisty spirit that he had been enjoying seemed to vanish in a poof of air. However, the moment was gone as quickly as it had appeared, and she threw on a sneer.
“None of your damn business, that’s what,” she snarled.
“Okay, geez,” he said, holding out his hands in a placating gesture. “Just trying to be polite.”
“That’s polite?”
Something about her completely flummoxed expression shook something inside him, and for the first time since he had answered his father’s phone call, Ben found the whole situation they were in very funny.
“Why are you laughing?” she said. She tried to look angry, but he could see a smile tugging at her lips.
“I’m sorry.” He wiped at his eyes, overcome with his mirth. “I don’t know, this is all so stupid. I’m picking up my parents from a holding cell at ten PM on Christmas Eve, arguing with a girl who has somehow managed to befriend Luke Skywalker. I don’t even know; it’s all very surreal.”
“You’re kind of weird.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I guess I am.”
“That’s okay.” She gave him a big smile again, and he realized how much he had already missed it. “I kind of am, too.”
“Maybe we should start over.” He held out his hand for her to shake. “I’m Ben, son to the two biggest idiots in the galaxy.”
Her smile grew, if that was possible. “I’m Rey, neighbor to an equally idiotic idiot.”
“Nice to meet you, under the strangest circumstances I never could have predicted.”
“Likewise.” She let go of his hand and stuck it into her jacket pocket. “So what were you doing tonight if not getting sloshed with your folks? With the girlfriend’s family instead?”
Was she...? Ben tried to play it cool even as his brain spun in a million directions.
“Just, uh, catching up on Netflix since I had the evening off work,” he said lightly, as if that was something cool and not something to be mildly ashamed of.
“Ah,” she said. “That sounds like my Christmas tradition. Was it complete with Chinese take-out?”
He shook his head. “Not even that fancy. I had a Lean Cuisine.”
“No you didn’t.”
“I did.”
She laughed and patted his stomach. “There is no way a Lean Cuisine is enough for you. Those things are like, 200 calories.”
“I am a little hungry,” he admitted.
“There’s a vending machine over there,” she said, pointing. “It’s Christmas. Get yourself a candy bar. It won’t kill you.”
“I don’t have any cash.”
“The machine takes Apple Pay,” said the cop, returning to the desk. “I came out here to let you know that they’ll be out in a couple minutes. We’re just finishing up some paperwork.” He looked significantly at Ben. “Your mom’s a real piece of work.”
Ben winced. “Yeah, sorry.”
“Look, between you and me, all three of them are getting off really easy tonight. None of them have any priors, but we could still technically keep them all night.” He made a face. “But honestly, it’s a low-level enough misdemeanor that we have a bit of say, and none of us want to be here right now on Christmas Eve, and we really don’t want to deal with any inmates. So that’s why we’re handing them over.”
Ben nodded gratefully at the cop, who returned to the hallway.
“Apple Pay, huh?” said Rey, returning her eyes to the vending machine. “So the sky’s the limit. You could buy yourself the whole lot.”
He bought two Snickers bars and brought one back for Rey.
“Ooh, thanks,” she said. “He can be polite!”
Rey was right about him needing the candy bar. He took a bite and relished the instant carb-load high it brought him. Swallowing, he said, “So, Rey, what do you do?”
“I stamp jewelry.”
“You what?”
“I make hand-stamped jewelry,” she said. She pulled on her necklace to show him. It had a little pendant with a tiny indented heart. “I have my own company, Made by Rey.”
He was confused. “And that’s...I mean, you can live on that?”
She dropped her hand, looking offended. “I can live on that, and also pay all of my employees.”
“Sorry,” he said, meaning it. “I don’t know much about the, er, jewelry stamping world.”
She giggled, a welcome sound. “Here.” She pulled out her phone and showed him her company’s Instagram page. She had hundreds of thousands of followers, a feat that Ben assumed was very impressive.
“I love making things that have so much meaning to people,” she explained. “I love getting their comments, finding out why they picked what design for themselves or for others. Like this?” She grabbed at the pendant again. “This is my most popular design. People have me put significant dates on the back, like the day they got married or met the love of their life or had a baby, or whatnot.”
“What date is on yours?” He was almost afraid to ask.
“I put on the date I sold my first piece.” She bit her lip and released it. “For now, my company is my love and my baby.”
“That’s amazing, Rey,” he said. “You should be really proud.”
“Thanks,” she said, smiling. “And what do you do?”
“I’m a lawyer.” He shrugged. “Not as exciting, I’m afraid.”
“No, that’s great! You can help me navigate this process here.”
“Why does everyone assume I know anything about petty crime? I’m an estate attorney. I do wills and trusts.”
“Okay, fine, fine. Why’d you choose that?”
“Because the firm had an opening.” He was kind of embarrassed. Rey’s company was clearly her heart and soul, and he sounded a little pathetic in comparison.
“Makes sense to me,” she said. “Before my company took off, I was a waitress for years. Same thing. A restaurant had an opening so I took it. And if I had been making lawyer money, I’d probably still be there.”
“It’s not always boring,” said Ben, hoping to make Rey laugh again. “I once had this eccentric old super-rich client who made her grandkids’ inheritances contingent upon them naming a child after her. A year ago, she passed away and the grandkids tried to sue me for malpractice. I was able to get the case dismissed easily, as they didn’t have a legal leg to stand on. But I just found out that the oldest grandchild just had her first daughter and guess what? She’s named after the old woman!”
Ben had used up the only good story he had from almost five years of lawyering, but it was worth it to see Rey’s face glow as she laughed happily.
“I’m going to assume that they’re planning to call the baby by her middle name,” said Rey.
“That’s my assumption as well.”
“What’s going to happen when every little girl or even boy in that family has the same name?”
Ben chuckled. “Part of me wants to know, but the other part wants nothing more to do with this crazy family.”
The sound of the heavy metal door leading to the holding cell slamming open made them both jump. It was a painful reminder to Ben that they were here for a reason. Somehow, while the cop had been away, his time chatting with Rey and eating candy had begun to feel like a date. Possibly the best date Ben had been on in years.
A date that was ruined by the sight of his father, in a woebegone outfit of crumpled slacks and a sweater.
“Well, look who showed up to our family’s Christmas,” said Han jubilantly. “It only took us getting arrested to pull it off.”
“These are the kind of Christmas festivities you offer, and you wonder why I skip out.”
“Benjamin!” His mother emerged, her normally perfectly braided hair falling from its bun, graying pieces sticking in every direction. “I knew you’d come!”
“Yes, I told you I would. Your faith in me is inspiring.”
“Um, ma’am,” interrupted the cop, holding out a clipboard to Leia. “We need one more thing.”
“Give it to my lawyer.” She pointed at Ben. “He knows what to do.”
“Do you two have any idea what I do all day?” said Ben petulantly.
Rey stepped up to them. “Where’s Luke?”
“He passed out back there,” explained the cop. “My partner is trying to get him up.”
Rey put her hand over her eyes wearily.
“He always was a lightweight,” said Leia. Han nodded grimly.
“I don’t think you two have the high ground right now,” said Ben, waggling his finger at them like naughty children. “Mind telling me how we all ended up hanging out at a jail on Christmas Eve?”
“It’s been ages since Luke came by,” said Han. “So we went to the old cantina. One shot led to another…”
“Yeah, I know how getting drunk works,” said Ben impatiently. “How did you end up in jail?”
“We were minding our own business, singing in the street,” said Leia.
“Singing?”
“Yeah, our old college fight song,” she continued. Then she broke into her loud, warbly singing voice. “Gooo, Rebels, fight on Rebels…”
The way the cop winced led Ben to believe that it wasn’t the first time he had heard her sing it that night.
“Yeah, I got it, Mom.” Ben chanced a look at Rey, who was clearly amused.
“We weren’t going to hurt anyone,” insisted Leia.
“Except yourself, Princess,” piped in Han. To Ben, he said, “When the cops came, she had climbed to the top of the old Palpatine statue.”
“Sounds like a fun night,” said Ben drily. “Sure am sad I missed it. You see, Rey, maybe it’s time you stop encouraging Luke to visit his family.”
As if he summoned him, Ben heard Luke’s gruff voice coming through the door as he barked at the cop to get off him.
“Hello, Luke,” said Rey sternly when the man had made his appearance, his eyes bloodshot. “They’re letting you come home with me, you lucky bastard. Looks like the cops are sick of your old mug, and who can blame them, lest I’d let you rot in here for a couple more days.”
“Yeah, yeah,” grumbled Luke, rubbing his head.
“You two keep these three out of trouble until they sober up, you got it?” asked the officer who had dragged Luke in. “Don’t make us regret letting them off the hook.”
“We will,” promised Rey and Ben, before wishing the cops a merry Christmas and leading the Three Stooges out the door into the chilly night.
They each unlocked their cars and helped their respective law-breakers in.
Rey closed her passenger door behind Luke and came up to Ben.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry your Christmas was spoiled,” she said.
“Don’t apologize. You got the worst end of the stick, here. You’re not even related to Luke. My family is my burden to bear. You should have been left out of it.”
“It ended up being an okay night,” she said, giving Ben a tiny smile that warmed him up faster than his car heater would.
Ben was desperate to hold onto her somehow.
“You shouldn’t have to babysit that old curmudgeon alone,” he said. “Why don’t you bring him to my parents’, and you can just dump him there. I’ll watch over him. His car is probably at their house anyway.”
“Yeah, okay.” Rey nodded. She reached out and touched his arm. “But you shouldn’t have to be alone, either. I could help?”
“You can’t possibly want to spend Christmas with me and my hungover family.”
She frowned at him. “I don’t know how much clearer I could have been in there. I don’t have family and I don’t have plans.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s how Luke knew he could call me.” She paused and then spoke all in a rush. “But I mean, I don’t want to intrude.”
“I’d be really happy if you were there,” said Ben, taking her hand in an unusual act of boldness. “I was enjoying talking to you.”
Rey broke into a smile and looked down at their hands. “Me too.”
“Okay,” said Ben, returning her smile. “Let’s get these idiots to bed. Follow me.”
Leia woke up on Christmas morning to a pounding headache and her mouth as dry as cotton. She rubbed her eyes trying to piece together the events that had led her to this condition. Taking in her outfit, she was in her favorite red Christmas sweater, but it was worse for wear.
Next to her, Han was snoring like a sawmill, also in his Christmas sweater.
She needed water, and an aspirin, so she painstakingly pulled herself to a standing position and closed her eyes until her rush of vertigo passed.
She stumbled down the hallway, where she noticed someone in their guest room. Had Ben come home for Christmas? She poked her head in, and saw Luke on his side, also in his clothes.
The Cantina.
Leia managed to extract a memory of the three of them resurrecting an old shot competition they had done in college. It probably hadn’t been the wisest thing they had ever done. They certainly weren’t twenty anymore.
Closing Luke’s door, she slipped out and came into the living room.
She nearly gasped when she saw Ben, fast asleep on the couch, with a cute brunette girl curled up against his chest. His arms were around her protectively, and Leia smiled at the sight.
So Ben had come home after all. And he had brought a girl. Leia cursed herself for not being a better hostess, off drinking the night before instead of setting up the guest room for the two of them.
Let Luke sleep on the couch.
Despite her shame, Leia couldn’t wipe off her smile as she took in the two young people.
The night before was a blur, but today she swore she’d shake off her raging hangover and be the perfect Christmas mother.
And really, how bad could the night before have been, anyway?