Chapter 8: The Next Solo

"OK, let's go over this one more time..." Rey begins.

She and Ben are staring down at the overnight bag they have just completed packing. The zipper is still open, allowing them a clear view of all the supplies they will need when Rey goes into labor.

Ben recites the plan out loud. "When you go into labor, I will immediately fetch this bag from the closet. I will then notify Finn and Poe by hologram. I will carry you to the med ward..."

"... where the doctors will take care of the rest," Rey finishes.

Ben shrugs. "Doesn't seem so bad."

"It's not, when you say it. Actually doing it is going to be... OH!" Rey suddenly clutches at her seven and a half month pregnant stomach. Looking down, Ben sees a clear liquid pooling at her feet.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry! Did you get cut short? I'll help you to the bathroom..."

"No," Rey gets out through gritted teeth. "It's time."

"Oh... oh!" And Ben springs to zip up the overnight bag that he is so thankful they just finished packing. But Rey is starting to panic.

"No... no... it's too early... it's too early... AHHHHH!" Rey's body suddenly seizes up as a wave of debilitating contractions hit. Her body keels over and Ben only catches her just in time, scooping her into a bridal carry.

"Rey... REY!" But his wife is unresponsive. She has fallen unconscious. Even as he takes off at a sprint for the med ward, Ben begins to despair:

It's happening... just like my grandmother... history is repeating itself... I could lose Rey and there might be nothing I can do to stop it...

As everything falls apart, Ben neglects to contact Finn and Poe. Fortunately, he doesn't have to. The sight of him running an unconscious and now bleeding Rey to the med ward sends the rumors flying like wildfire. Doesn't matter if the information is accurate or not; it is enough to get Rey's loved ones there. Because no matter what information has been shared, the situation is clearly dire.

The doctors are now working feverishly to staunch the heavy bleeding from Rey's abdomen, and to safely deliver the baby. Finn is pacing next to Rey's sickbed, waiting for Rose to show up from where she has been performing some repairs in the hangar bay. Poe is seated in one corner, his head in his hands. Ben is kneeling at the top of the bed, his wife's head in his lap, sobbing over her and praying to whatever Maker is listening, that she be delivered safely and alive back into her husband's hands.

"Please... please, please, please..." he begs. His tears fall on her upturned face as he nuzzles his nose to hers. He plants a fierce kiss to Rey's forehead.

Finn turns abruptly on his heel, so that his boots squeak into the tiles. Barely holding back tears himself, he points a shaking finger at Ben.

"If she dies... I am holding you personally responsible!" he snaps. Ben does not even make any motion to indicate he heard the damnation.

"All right, I can see the head crowning!" a nurse calls. They induce labor, using a machine to help the un-moving Rey to push. It takes one, two, three tries before at last, an infant's wails shriek into being. "It's a girl!" the nurse announces.

Joy now laces Ben's tears along with the panicked grief that has still not fully abated. Hannah...

He now presses his forehead into Rey's, reaching into their Force Bond as a last-ditch attempt to bring her back. "Please don't leave me," he whispers. "You belong with me... you belong with me..." And he kisses her lips.

It is almost like the old fairytales his mother used to tell him when he was small. It is as if his kiss - or maybe it was the opening of the Force Bond - awakens her. Rey's eyes fly open and she intakes a shuddering gasp of air. And the first word she speaks is:

"Ben..."

Ben cackles with relieved glee, even as the tears flow anew, and he covers his wife's face with kisses. Finn and Poe nearly tackle the bed to hug Rey, and Ben has to almost throw them back, so they avoid crushing her still-frail form.

"Where am I?"

In answer to Rey's question, the nurse places baby Hannah in Rey's arms. Instantly, she falls in love. She has most of her own facial features, but Ben's gorgeous brown eyes and jet-black hair. And now, the namesake of her grandfather...

"Hannah. Hannah Solo."

Ben and Rey stand over the crib with pride as their baby daughter drifts off to sleep.

"I knew you could carry a tune," Rey praises her husband's tentative lullaby that he just finished performing.

Ben just snorts, a little self-conscious. "Finn and Poe say I can't."

"Oh, don't listen to them," Rey laughs, as she and her husband pull back the coverlets on their bed to crawl in together. Nestling into each other's arms, they give one last, loving look at their child in the bassinet at the foot of their bed.

"Good night, my Rey of light."

"Good night, my sweet Ben."

For about fifteen minutes, there is silence. And then:

"WAHHHHHH!"

Ben huffs, and halts his wife from getting back out of bed. "I got it." And he goes to check on their daughter.