Chapter Text
She’s humming a jaunty tune as she steps into the elevator of her apartment building, her smile wide and bright when she looks at herself in the mirror at the back of the elevator.
It’s Friday, the weather is finally changing for the better, and she has an entire bottle of Moscato and a Netflix true crime docuseries waiting for her.
She also has tests to grade but that’s neither here nor there.
Her high spirits are dampened considerably however, when she steps off onto her floor only to be met with the majority of her neighbors crowding in front of her door.
They turn to look at her almost in unison, panic on their faces, and Rey feels anxiety settle into her bones.
“Rey!” Rose Tico - her best friend of almost three years and the reason she’s living in this swanky building in the first place, cries out, rushing over to her.
“Rose?”
“Holy shit Rey!” The petite woman clamps down on her forearm - her grip surprisingly strong for a Beta - and drags her into the crowd. “You’ll never guess what happened!”
She doesn’t have to guess though, because she has eyes , even though she can’t quite believe what she’s seeing.
“That’s a baby.” Rey says blankly, staring at the tiny sleeping body in a car seat, nestled in soft yellow and blue blankets with a periwinkle cap adorning a dark head of hair. “A baby. ”
“Shh.” Rose’s flatmate and coworker Finn Trooper puts a finger to his lips, eyeing the child - a boy - warily and with something else that Rey can’t quite place. “You’ll wake him up.”
“How long has he been here?” Rey asks, feeling a bit faint. She wants to reach up and press her fingers into the gland on her neck in an effort to soothe herself, but that’s something that absolutely shouldn’t be done in public according to most of the world.
“We don’t know.” Another neighbor - a burly Alpha named Snap sighs, wrapping one arm around his mate Kaydel to pull her in closer. “Me and Kay found him about fifteen minutes ago and called the others to see what we should do.”
“No one saw who dropped him off and we haven’t gotten permission to view the security camera footage.” Kaydel adds morosely.
“There was a note.” Rose procures a badly folded piece of paper out of her pocket and hands it to Rey.
She’s not quite sure why her hands are trembling as she takes it and begins to read.
Poe,
I can’t do it anymore. I never wanted this. I never wanted him. I just wanted you.
His name is Temiri and he just turned seven months yesterday.
Good luck.
That was it. There’s no signature, no sign of emotion at all in these impersonal words.
She knows she’s shaking, knows that anger is coursing in her veins as furiously as blood is, knows that she wants to find the person who had abandoned this sweet baby boy and throttle her until she saw sense.
How could anyone, how could any mother do this to their child?
Well...she knew how. Her own parents had done it to her after all.
“Hey.” Rose’s soothing voice is in her ear, one hand patting her back comfortingly. “It’s okay.” Her friend whispers. “It’s going to be okay.”
“How could they just leave him here?” Rey snarls, making sure to keep her voice low. “He’s just a baby! What if….” She trails off on a half sob, unable to even complete her sentence.
Memories of a little girl wailing in front of a police station in the dead of a London winter hit her like a double decker, making her want to bend over and dry heave.
“Fucking Dameron.” Maz Kanata, a retired TV chef and a delightful lady with a slight potty mouth shakes her head with disappointment. “Always knew how to make trouble, that boy did.”
“Is it even Poe’s fault?” Finn pipes up with a frown. “I mean, he clearly doesn’t know the baby exists, and the kid’s mom didn’t know that he moved so maybe whatever was between them wasn’t that serious?”
She doesn’t know Poe Dameron all that well - at all really. But he used to live in her apartment, and from what Rose has told her, took the stereotype of what a rich, attractive, unattached Alpha did to heart.
Poe the hoe , Rose had called him drunkenly, even before Rey had moved in.
If Rey had been in a more sound state of mind, then maybe she would have picked up on the defensive cadence to Finn’s tone and called him out on it.
But luckily for him, the baby chooses that moment to let out a soft gurgle and blink sleepily until Rey finds herself staring into the most beautiful shade of hazel that she’s ever seen.
And that’s when Rey Johnson falls in love for the first time in her almost twenty-six years of life.
The baby yawns, and she’s certain that she hears the soft coos that everyone - even Snap who refers to himself as an Alpha’s Alpha on more than one occasion makes. His head moves around from person to person, lips trembling ever so slightly as those expressive eyes suddenly fill with liquid.
She’s moving before little Temiri can even let out a cry, deftly scooping him out of his car seat and into her arms, instinctively soothing the child by rocking back and forth on her heels, one hand cupping his head protectively.
Immediately, the baby quiets down, sniffling into her neck, gripping her shirt with tiny fists.
She doesn’t gasp out loud when Temiri’s small mouth finds her gland, doesn’t even react when he suckles it as if drinking milk. Rey knows enough about biology to know that children of Alphas or Omegas scent their parents as a way to calm themselves down.
It is a bit surprising however, that the baby would do this to her…..a stranger.
“Wow.” Rose gapes at them with a touch of incredulity. “You’re a natural!”
“She’s an Omega.” Maz snorts. “Of course she’s a natural.”
While normally she chafes at her designation being used as an excuse or explanation for any number of things, she knows Maz is right.
Omega rights have progressed tremendously over the past hundred years, but their role in society as the steady guiding hand behind powerful Alphas, as nurturing parents who will raze hell onto anyone who dares touch their offspring haven’t.
It’s in her nature to fall into the role of caretaker to a helpless child, whether she likes it or not.
Society will expect an Omega to have an Alpha by her side to raise the child as well. Rey has never been one to follow stereotypes though. If she does find a partner in the future, designation would only play a minor role.
She wants someone who is understanding and gentle - a trait rare in Alpha’s or men in general for that matter.
And besides, if she’s being really honest with herself, there’s only one Alpha -
“Is everything alright?”
Fuck.
She lets out a shuddering breath, willing her traitorous body to not react to the rumbling baritone from behind her.
But damn is it hard not to shiver at the mere presence of the owner of the voice that’s been a star of her nightly dreams ever since she moved in.
“Ben!” Maz heads over to the man, the Alpha behind her, and smacks his arm by the sound of it.
She turns despite herself, keeping a firm hold on the baby in her arms, inhaling his clean scent to calm herself.
It’s all for naught though, as her gaze collides with the honeyed stare of the man who towers above her, dark eyes boring straight into her, through her, as she fights to keep her composure.
He's a striking man. Rey knows this, has seen him many times over the past six months and yet each time feels like the first. She wants to trace his beauty marks with her lips, feel that plush mouth massaging hers, run her hands through that impossibly soft looking hair.
She's not one to describe a man as beautiful, but that's what Ben Solo is.
He’s wearing black slacks and a grey dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up that does absolutely nothing to hide just how broad he is. She’s sure that his forearm is more than double the size of hers.
And those fingers...
Rey watches as his attention shifts to Temiri, still happily gurgling away, eyes widening and nostrils flaring for just a brief moment before they go back to neutral detachment.
Maz shoves the note into Ben’s hand almost gleefully, and Rey has the distinct pleasure in seeing the switch in him, watching him go from aloof to enraged in a matter of moments.
He’s on blockers, strong ones no doubt as she can’t really get a handle on his scent, but somehow she can sense that it shifts as he grows more and more agitated.
“ What!” He crushes the paper in his massive hands.
Ben runs agitated fingers through his already tousled hair and Rey is this close to doing something very embarrassing regardless of the baby she’s holding or the people around her.
“I’ll kill him.” Comes the flat statement that shouldn’t spark anything within Rey. And yet it does.
“You’ll do no such thing.” Maz swats him again, a grin curling up on her lips. “Do you know where he is right now?”
“Uruguay.” Finn squeaks as the attention turns to him. Her friend can’t meet anyone’s eyes, and he’s definitely blushing a bit and the cogs start to shift into motion in Rey’s head. “I mean, that’s what he told me before he left…”
“He’s not in Uruguay. He was for about a week, but that’s it.” Ben rolls his eyes, either ignoring or dismissing the expression on Finn’s face.
Finn has always had an odd dislike for Ben Solo while the rest of their floor-mates simply are curious about him.
Some more than others.
She doesn’t know what he does, just that he keeps regimented hours and never seems to have a social life. Clearly he’s wealthy enough to live in this building judging by the quality of his clothes and that sleek car he drives. Rey knows that he’s lived for a whole year longer than she has, but no one on their floor has exchanged more than a few words with him.
There’s theories of course.
The Mafia (which is not that unlikely in Takodana), disgraced tech mogul, undercover cop, spy….the list goes on, each suggestion more improbable than the next.
“How do you know?” Finn presses.
“Because he’s been living in Chandrila for the past six months with his new mate in their brand new two story house.” Ben says bluntly. “They got married right before he moved out and went to Uruguay for their honeymoon. I was at the wedding.”
He doesn’t seem too happy about it.
“Oh.” Finn swallows, fingers curling into fists. “He’s mated?” His voice cracks on the last word. “To an Omega?”
Ben grunts in affirmation.
For a moment, no one speaks. Rey still rocks the baby in her arms as he lets out tiny giggles that she knows will turn into cries soon enough.
Whoever this child’s mother was, she hadn’t bothered packing bottles or diapers or even toys for her son.
“So what do we do?” Kaydel frowns. “I mean, I can we could call social services or - “
“No.”
Rey isn’t surprised to hear her voice, but she can’t help but raise a brow at Ben who's spoken at the same time.
He meets her eyes evenly though she can tell he’s agitated.
“May I?” He murmurs, holding out his hands to her.
She blanks out for a full thirty seconds before understanding his request and awkwardly transfers the baby into his arms.
Her throat dries considerably as she’s treated to the sight of this ridiculously large Alpha who definitely could kill someone with his bare hands cradle that tiny baby like he’s the most precious thing in the world.
“Well damn.” Rose whispers in awe from behind her.
Damn doesn’t even begin to cover it.
“Hi there little guy.” Ben bounces Temiri in the same way Rey had, eliciting a squeal of delight from the young one. One of his fingers ends up in Temiri’s mouth, a deep chuckle rumbling through the air as the baby bites down with the small teeth he has.
Rey can’t claim to know much about Ben, but the harsh lines and perpetual pensive expression he usually carries vanish as he keeps talking to the baby, making him seem younger and far less lethal.
Until he glances down at her, and whatever softness he had vanishes in the blink of an eye, replaced by something that Rey doesn’t know how to describe.
Her insides still flutter at that look though.
“Here.” She automatically holds out her hands as he gives the baby to her, bending down to reach into the duffel bag by his feet to pull out….a stethoscope?
Ben lopes it around himself in a practiced motion and moves closer to her until she can feel his heat seeping into her, making her light-headed.
“Sorry pup.” He unbuttons the onesie that Temiri is wearing and places the cold flat end of the device on the baby’s chest, earning a whine of discomfort.
Ben moves the stethoscope around a few times before asking her to turn Temiri over and repeats the motion on the baby’s back.
He nods to himself and steps away only to come back with a small flashlight that he shines in Temiri’s eyes.
“He seems to be in good condition.” Ben says decisively. “I’ll take him to the clinic tomorrow to make sure, but in the meantime he needs formula and diapers.”
“You’re a doctor.” It comes out more surprised than Rey would have liked. Though this does explain why he has no scent. Healthcare professionals are always given the most expensive blockers and suppressants.
He nods, one side of his mouth ticking up in amusement. “Not what you expected?”
“We were thinking under-the-table hit-man.” Snap grins unapologetically. “But that’s what you get for never showing up to our Floor parties. Though I suppose with your profession it’s a bit hard to have a social life.”
“I usually work twelve hours a day. By the time I get home I’m too exhausted to do anything but eat and sleep. I think this is the first time I’ve left the clinic at five o’clock in months.” Ben lets out a breath of amusement.
“Where will he stay tonight?” Rose asks worriedly. “None of us have kids or anything that’s suitable for a baby. I mean, the only one who really has any experience with kids is Rey and that’s because she’s a teacher.”
“With teenagers.” Rey snorts. “I teach European and World History.” She clarifies when Ben looks at her quizzically. “Mostly ninth, tenth and eleventh graders.”
“Ah.” He gives her what she thinks is a half-smile but could be a wince too.
“He’ll stay with me.” The words are out her mouth before she can really think about what she’s committed to. She’s nothing if not resolute though, and one look at the baby in her arms has her stiffening her spine and daring anyone to refute her.
No one does. Dare she say it, it even looks like they - Ben especially - are all looking at her with something akin to admiration.
“I knew I liked you.” Maz’s smile is soft. “It’s not going to be easy, mind you. He might keep you up half the night.”
“I don’t mind.” She tickles the baby’s cheek, earning a gummy smile. “His cuteness will make up for it.”
“Is that even legal?” Snap asks, wincing when Kaydel smacks his chest with the back of her hand. “Look I’m all for you taking the little one, but this might become long term Rey.”
Rey knows this. She shouldn’t be this attached to Temiri, but something in her screams that she has to do this.
“We’ll figure it out tomorrow.” She gives Snap a tired look. “Right now the most important thing is getting him fed and cleaned. Which means formula and diapers.”
“On it!” Maz crows, loping an arm through Ben’s. “Let’s go Benny-boy! I haven’t taken you out shopping since you were my height! It’ll be fun!”
Ben’s face says the opposite.
“You two know each other?” Finn glances between them skeptically.
“He’s my darling nephew.” Maz crows at their dumbfounded looks. “Not by blood, but in all the ways that matter.”
The fond exasperation on her nephew’s face tells the whole story.
“Formula, diapers, some clothes, and toys.” Ben rattles off a list. “He’s seven months old, so he should be eating solids by now.”
Those intense whiskey colored eyes crinkle at the corners when he looks at her. “Do you need anything?”
You.
“Maybe some dinner if that’s alright?” Rey shrugs weakly. “I was going to get some pizza but if you’re going out anyway…”
“Got it.” Ben smiles and it feels as though Rey’s whole world just got rearranged because the man’s smile is nothing short of mind-blowing.
He has dimples.
“We’ll see both of you soon.” He reaches out a hand toward the baby, both of them startled when Temiri all but throws himself at Ben, babbling happily in the man’s arms.
His eyes grow impossibly wide as the baby latches on to his gland just as he had Rey’s, a small huff of surprise escaping those impossibly plush lips.
“What…”
“Well look at that.” Maz smirks, a knowing glint in her eyes. “He did that to Rey too. I wonder what that means.”
Ben coughs, once, then twice, pink subtly appearing on the bridge of his nose.
“It’s for comfort, right?” Rey asks - not really sure what the big deal is. Scenting is natural.
No one answers her but Ben does hastily pat Temiri on the back and put him back in her arms.
Maz guffaws wildly, grabbing hold of Ben’s hand to pull him to the elevator.
The last thing she hears before the doors close is Maz saying “Your mother is going to be over the fucking moon. ”
“Well,” Rey shifts Temiri to her other arm. “I guess I’ll be taking this one inside now.”
“You’re literally an angel, Rey.” Kaydel reaches out to stroke Temiri’s cheek. The baby shies away and hides his face in Rey’s neck. “Now I know what they mean by ‘baby soft skin’. ”
“It’s nothing.” Rey says, looking away. “It’s just - “
“Rey, most people don’t volunteer to take in kids left at their doorstep.” Rose tells her gently. “I don’t think you understand how awesome you are.”
Her cheeks flame from the quiet praise. She thanks them haltingly, not sure how to deal with being appreciated for something she sees as the right thing to do.
Rose unlocks her door for her with Finn carrying the car seat, and Rey takes a deep breath and steps over the threshold with her new companion.
The apartment is palatial - two bedrooms, a huge kitchen and living area, more closets than she knows what to do with, and plenty of windows which would be awesome but she lives in Takodana where overcast skies are the norm more often than not.
She’s not used to having money, never had it as a child certainly. The reveal on her twenty-first birthday almost five years ago that her grandfather had been one of the most infamous British politicians in history had come as an unwelcome surprise, though the inheritance that she’d received blunted the truth of her lineage somewhat.
Rey doesn’t have to work for the rest of her life if she doesn’t want to, but teaching gives her a purpose.
She quickly places Temiri down on her living room carpet, creating a barricade of pillows around the baby who takes in his new surroundings with unusual enthusiasm.
“He’s adorable.” Rose comments, putting on a pot of coffee before Rey can even ask. “Like seriously. I understand why Aunties and Grandmas want to eat babies up. Look at those edible cheeks!”
“Please never say that again.” Finn grimaces. “Ever.” He lets out a sigh and stares up at the ceiling. “You know I hated Ben Solo?” He says after a moment.
“Why?” Rey questions, recalling the animosity Finn had for the other man.
“He saw me one day….coming out of Poe’s apartment.” Finn swallows heavily, his jaw moving. “And he just gave me this look that - I dunno - made me so angry .” Finn smiles without warmth. “Looking back, I think he was pitying me. But he told me that it wouldn’t work out, to end it….that I was just wasting my time and I kind of couldn’t stand him after that. I thought he was being all stereotypically Alpha, thinking that an Alpha couldn’t be with a Beta or something like that.”
“He was trying to help you.” Rose snorts, handing them each a cup of coffee. “I mean, he could have been a bit less blunt, but his heart was in the right place.” The petite woman frowns. “I knew that Poe was a douche, but if he’s mated and married right now that means - “
“I was the other “woman”.” Finn shakes his head, blinking furiously. “I thought that we had something, that he cared.”
“You’ll find someone else, Finn.” Rey reaches over to pat him on the hand, sympathy running through her. “I know you will.”
It’s silent for a while as they stare at the baby who is happily chomping away on a pillow. He seems content, but unless he has something in his stomach, that’s going to change.
Sure enough, she hears Temiri’s cries as soon as she steps out of the shower - her little fifteen minutes of alone time before she comes to grips for what she’s signed up for.
Steeling herself, she towel dries her hair as fast as she can and forgoes a bra in favor of dressing quickly.
The doorbell rings as soon as she leaves her room, forcing her to move even faster.
She hears Rose open the door, and the baby's wails immediately taper off as a low baritone drifts towards her, murmuring soothing coos at the little baby.
Her heart is beating out of her chest as she makes her way to the living room, the organ stopping momentarily when she sees Ben holding Temiri close to his chest, stroking the baby’s soft dark curls.
Alpha. Pup. Safe.
Her hind brain is overloading at the scene in front of her, at seeing Ben… Alpha in her space with Temiri as if he belongs there.
He does. Her brain whispers. Him and pup belong to us.
Ben whirls around before she can stop her thoughts, eyes dark and wide, nostrils flaring.
She sees him inhale deeply before he swallows audibly, her eyes tracking the movement of his throat with hunter-like precision.
“Right, we’re gonna go now.” Rey doesn’t see the sly look her best friend shoots her way.
“Bye-bye little one.” Rose tickles Temiri’s cheek and pulls Finn out of the apartment with a waggle of her brows.
“Hi.” She says a little breathlessly after her friends leave.
“Hi.” His nose twitches as his eyes flit over her form. That’s when she remembers she’s not wearing a bra, and sure enough her nipples firm up from the attention.
“Hi.” Maz’s wry voice causes both of them to jump. “Still here kids.” The older woman is holding a bottle full of milk and standing in front of what must be half of Babies R Us.
“Ben!” Rey exclaims, taking inventory of what all the man has bought. “This is too much!”
The bassinet she understands, the stroller too, same with the diapers even though there were way too many. But there has to be three bags worth of clothes on the ground! Plus what looks like ridiculously expensive baby foods with vegetables she doesn’t even buy for herself.
Not to mention a bouncer, some sort of bathtub plus shampoo, a large box with a picture indicating it was a high chair, and two baby monitors with 1080p resolution.
“I...uh…” He scratches his ear endearingly. “I may have gone overboard.”
“You think?” Rey bites her lip as she smiles, spying four pizza pies resting on her counter.
She might fall in love twice in one day when she sees he’s somehow managed to get her favorite toppings.
Maz takes Temiri, sitting on the couch to feed him. The baby gulps down his bottle as they eat.
She can’t help but be fascinated by this man. At first glance he is intimidating, unapproachable even, but there is an inherent kindness in him that she has not seen in Alphas like him before.
You picked a good one . She tells her overactive hormones. A really good one.
Rey manages to change Temiri’s diaper and clothes while Ben and Maz set up the bassinet next to her bed.
She tries not to think of what they think of her bedroom, and she definitely doesn’t want to think of what Ben’s presence in her room does to her.
(Rey will have to change her underwear right after he leaves).
“Hey.” Ben shifts from foot to foot, chewing on the inside of his cheek after both of them bid Maz goodnight and thank her for putting the baby to sleep.
“Hey.”
“So your bedroom and my bedroom share a wall.” He starts, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. “And I was thinking that I could set up a baby monitor in my room? Just so that you can have another set of eyes. In case.”
“Oh.” Rey sucks in a breath, hoping that the wall is thick. Otherwise there’s no way he hasn’t heard her shout his name over the whirring of a vibrator several times a week.
“I understand if it’s too much!” He backtracks immediately. “Since Temiri will be sleeping in your bedroom and you - “
“Ben.” Rey cuts off what she realizes is nervous rambling with a hand to his shoulder.
Both of them stiffen at the contact, a jolt running down her arm at the feeling of firm muscle under her fingers.
“It’s alright.” She manages to say without her voice cracking, retracting her hand. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done today. You didn’t have to do any of it. And you really didn’t have to pay for everything.” Rey gives him a look of admonishment. “But I don’t mind the camera. As long as you’re okay with it.”
“I am.” His tone is low, earnest. “I want to help.” Ben steps closer to her. “Please.”
I’ll do anything you want Alpha!
Her gland itches furiously even though she can’t scent him at all.
“Okay.” She whispers, leaning in ever so slightly.
“Okay.” Ben inhales, his eyes closing and throat convulsing. She’s definitely not imagining the slight rumble that comes from him, or the way his hands fist at his sides as though he’s controlling himself. He shakes his head once, and gives her a smile before waving goodbye and all but running out the door.
Rey stands there, a bit dumbfounded at this odd turn.
She’d thought that maybe…
“Keep dreaming Johnson.” Rey scoffs to herself, finally giving in to the urge of massaging her gland as she enters her bedroom.
Temiri is still sleeping soundly, snuggled under the blankets from his car seat as well as one that Ben had gotten him with little owls on it. The boy is practically angelic, she decides, staring at him until her heart can bear it no longer.
And mine. Her feral hind brain snarls. Mine!
“Mine.” She voices aloud, something in her snapping in place. Her gaze falls to the wall that is shared with Ben’s bedroom, resolution seeping through her veins.
“All mine.”
“Ooh boy.” Maz cackles the second Ben steps outside of Rey’s apartment, taking deep gulps of fresh air in a vain effort to get her scent - lilac and vanilla - out of his system. He can’t. It’s impossible for him to not smell her or Temiri for that matter.
He is truly and utterly fucked. He knows he has been ever since Rey moved in, since her scent has been invading his system until he can think of nothing else. But with that beautiful baby thrown in...the way she’d acted with him….he knows there can never be anyone else except her.
She’s a goddamn angel.
His angel.
His gland throbs.
“Please don’t.” Ben sinks against his door, sitting atop his doormat with his hands in his hair.
“You’re in trouble, kiddo.” Maz’s voice is soft, but teasing. “Big trouble.”
“They’re perfect.” Ben chokes out, feeling the need to sob for the first time in his thirty-one years of life. “ Perfect.”
“I suppose you won’t be telling your mother that she’s gained a daughter-in-law and grandson in the span of a few hours?” Maz raises a brow.
“I - “
“Don’t worry about Temiri.” Maz smiles at him gently. “I have a feeling everything's going to work out just fine.”
“But - “
“Mate her soon, or you’ll go insane. I haven’t seen or smelled this level of compatibility since your parents. Tell her before you do something you regret.” She imparts that final tidbit of wisdom on him before going to her own door.
He regrets several things when it comes to Rey.
Like not stepping in between her legs on the first day she moved in and sinking his teeth into her gland while slipping his knot inside what he’s sure is the perfect little cunt.
Or being so tongue tied around her that he hadn’t even held a proper conversation with her.
And especially jerking off to her more times than he can count.
But he’s not going to regret anything else.
He’s going to make her see that he’s her ideal mate, that he can take care of her and Temiri - because he won’t give that pup up even if it kills him.
Poe doesn’t deserve him.
Ben knows biology in and out, but he still couldn’t explain his intrinsic need to protect the second he’d laid eyes on the pup. Something in him shouted mine , and it hadn’t quieted until Temiri had scented him.
The pup is his.
Rey is his.
And nothing can ever change that.
Nothing.
Mine. He thinks, glancing at Rey’s door, eyes flashing with dark absolution.
All mine.