Chapter Text
It started with a warm day on a planet with three moons.
Ben solo was a small child then, not fully aware of his power just yet. His mother and father were having a small get together outside their home, his uncle Luke and his uncle Lando were visiting, chatting with his father as his mother allowed him to wander in their expansive yard.
He was content with the day, they had all played cards together at lunch while his uncle Luke spoke of the success of his young padawans. Ben thought at the time it would be fun to be a Jedi like his uncle but he had no such desire to leave his home and his mother just yet.
He was growing bored digging a hole with a stick, the lack of attention was getting to him, maybe he could convince Chewie to play for a little while-
Ben's attention was caught by a rustling in the trees. The small thicket behind his home was forbidden territory for the young Solo unless accompanied, but everyone looked too preoccupied.
Ben didn't step out of line often, he was going to ignore it until the rustling came back and his curiousity got the best of him.
His mother's attention was on Luke so Ben took this time to make his getaway.
A certain Wookie noticed the young Solo wandering away and made his way over to see what had him rushing off.
“Grgaah?”
Ben noticed he had company as he started on a path into the woods
“There's something in here, I wanna see it.”
“Grhnnah!”
“Well maybe it won't be so dangerous if you come with me.”
Chewie knew there was no way of stopping a Solo once they got their mind set on something, so he agreed, and the two were off to investigate.
The light shone through the spaces in the trees, the further they went they began to hear more rustling and children's laughter.
Ben felt nervous at the thought of other kids showing up, he never had many friends since his mother was a public dignitary and his father being a smuggler he never had a lot of time to make that sort of bond.
He'd seen some of these kids before when his mother had taken him into town, he felt nervous as he and the wookie approached, seeing them play.
The eight year old's eyes trailed to one of the smaller figures, they didn't seem to be having as much fun as the older children. He watched you call out to an older boy.
“Jonas, I want to go home!”
The boy who he suspected was your brother groaned in annoyance as he broke off from his friends.
“(Y/n) you begged to come out with us.”
“You told mom you were going to the fountains, I'm gonna tell, you know we're not supposed to play here!”
The older kids snickered at your whining, Jonas blushed with embarrassment, this called for a little persuasion
“Are you a baby (Y/n)?”
You sniffed and shook your head
“No, you're a big kid right?”
You nodded
“Well if you're a big kid and you wanna play with the big kids that means you can't whine and tell on us, got it?”
“Okay..”
“Okay, now why don't you go pick some of those flowers, you'd like that wouldn't you?”
You nodded and Ben watched you wander away, he and Chewie were still out of sight, they both knew people shouldn't be here as this was private property but he wanted to try being social for once.
Chewie thought Ben would flock to the older boys but Ben made a beeline towards you.
You were busy picking flowers into a little bouquet, he wasn't sure how to start talking to you.
“H-hi..”
You squeaked in surprise as a boy appeared from the brush.
You felt like you'd seen him before but you weren't quite sure, he looked a little older than you but not quite the same age as your brother.
Usually you would have ran to Jonas, you tended to be afraid of new people, but something about this boy's expression said ‘I mean no harm’.
“Hi..who are you?”
He sat down and watched you begin weaving the flowers together before answering you.
“I'm Ben, what are you doing with those millaflowers?”
You smiled as you presented your unfinished work
“I'm making a flower crown, I like to make them because my grammy taught me how.”
He nodded as he watched you continue, your small fingers were clumsy but the crown was coming along nicely.
“So why are you in the woods Ben?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
You giggled and he couldn't help but smile at you.
He knew Chewie was probably watching, his mother was likely beginning to notice their absence. He would've gotten up and headed home, but you were talking and he wasn't quite ready to leave yet.
“My brother said he'd take me to the fountains, it's like this super pretty place with bunches of flowers and plants, I know there's a lot already but it's also got these water fountains.”
You huffed
“But he took me to the woods instead.”
He felt bad that you'd been disappointed, you looked really excited talking about the place
“I'm sorry you didn't get to go.”
You smiled at him and his ears felt hot
“You're nice Ben, the other older kids usually don't like to talk to me.”
“Well that's I don't see why.”
You blushed at that, as you finished your flower crown your brother noticed your new companion.
“Hey kid! Who are you? (Y/n) get over here!”
Your eyes widened in surprise, Ben didn't want you to go.
“I'll see you later Ben...here! You can have this, I think it would look really pretty on you.”
You placed the crown upon his head of dark curls and scurried away with your brother looking warily back at him.
Ben's mother wasn't too happy with him for wandering off, there would be no dessert after dinner for him tonight, but he couldn't help but smile as he saw the wreath of flowers upon his head as his reflection caught in the window.
A friend had given him these, and he hoped to see you again.