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- Apr 8, 2019
While the Organa-Solos had upgraded their vehicle (multiple times, most likely) since he had been in high school, the nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach seemed to follow him no matter what, having him squirming like the teenager he felt like as nerves overtook him. Thankfully, the elder Organa-Solos, Han driving and Leia playing the dutiful passenger, seemed to be more excited to chat amongst themselves than to include their only son, so he was able to stare contemplatively out the window as he considered what would be better: going through with their plan, or throwing himself from the back door and into the flow of traffic on the highway. The former won, but only slightly – and only because he doubted he could unlock the door with the car in motion.
Sadly, he wouldn't be able to escape conversation for the entire ride, clocking at just over an hour from Han and Leia's compound in rural Montana to the Bozeman Yellowstone airport.
"When's your girl landing again, Ben?" called Han from the front seat, barely looking towards the rearview mirror before focusing his eyes on the road again. It seemed he had never kicked the habit Leia had drilled into him when they'd had their son, forcing him out of his dangerous driving maneuvers and into being a 'hands on ten and two' man. It seemed he had kept another habit, as well, calling his son by his given name and not his professional – and legal – preferred moniker of Kylo Ren. Kylo didn't bother to correct him, knowing it would only cause another argument, and he didn't have the mental energy to devote to anything that wasn't keeping him from having a panic attack.
"Just after ten," Kylo mumbled in return, barely able to be heard over the lowly droning Eagles song on the radio. He vaguely recognized it as one of Han's favorites, one that had played in the car stereo on his way home from school when he was younger.
Looking at her cell phone, Leia sighed with contentment. "We'll be there in time to pick up coffee before she lands," she remarked. "I hope your girlfriend likes Starbucks."
Kylo only hummed in response, resuming his previous activity of hoping the passing trees on the side of the highway calmed him. It didn't work, of course, but he could hope, at least.
At long last, they pulled into the pick-up area of the airport, Leia paying for closer short-term parking so they wouldn't have long to walk upon retrieving Rey. It was only then that Kylo thought to warn her about his parents coming along; he'd been so nervous climbing into the car that he'd forgotten his phone existed, let alone to text her.
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My parents have invited themselves along to pick you up from the airport. I'm so, so sorry – just play along. This is going to have to be convincing if we want them to believe us. I'll add more to your check, I promise.
He winced as he sent the quick message, knowing that he would likely have to add to the payment he'd promised her if he expected her to break the basic terms they'd laid out. It had been clinical, emails back and forth with edits to the basic contract he'd drawn up, for both of their protection – he didn't want her suddenly taking him hostage for more money without him offering, and he was sure she didn't want him to end up expecting more from her than he'd initially proposed. After all, physical affection had only been included in the terms because he'd known his mother wouldn't rest until she saw them kiss a few times, and it had been included on a need-to basis. At the airport within a minute of them first seeing one another had not been in the original terms, but he had a feeling they would be improvising more than they'd expected to.
It was typical, for things to not turn out as expected, especially for him.
The automatic doors opened with a 'whoosh', allowing the rag-tag group of Organa-Solos to enter and make their way toward Rey's terminal. Han, leading the pack, in jeans that looked like they were purchased at Wal-Mart (and probably were, if his father's thrifty tendencies despite being a billionaire hadn't changed) and a tucked-in shirt that Kylo thought he remembered him having when he was a child, leather jacket tucked under his arm as soon as they were out of the cold; Leia, glasses on and braided hair pinned up behind her ears, long faux-fur coat nearly hitting the floor, eyes squinting to try and find the nearest caffeine fix; and Kylo, taller than both of them by a foot, in a jacket much like his father's only in black and pants to match, scowling as he trailed behind them. Slipping inside the nearest Starbucks, he managed to stay silent until it came time to order.
The orders came: "Large coffee, nothing in it," from Han; a festive "large peppermint white chocolate mocha, please" from Leia; and a "large Americano, extra shot" from Kylo, and then a poignant pause.
"Aren't you going to order for Rey, as well?" nudged Leia, giving her son a pointed look.
Momentarily panicking, he couldn't think if they'd ever discussed any sort of preferences, but he managed to sputter out: "large English breakfast tea". She'd mentioned she was British – or at least, that she had a British accent – so he figured it was a safe bet. If she didn't like it, he was confident she could make up an excuse as to why it went untouched.
The barista nodded, writing names given on the cups as they moved to the pick-up counter to wait. "Tea, huh? Not a coffee drinker?" Han asked.
"She's English," Kylo responded, hoping that was actually the case and that she hadn't said that just to mess with him. It would be nearly impossible to explain why his English girlfriend didn't have an accent. Thankfully, the drinks were out in record time, allowing Kylo to bypass further conversation by sipping the caffeinated beverage.
Making their way outside Rey's terminal to wait, he watched the board of flight announcements, staring at the blinking 'en route' next to her flight number and feeling his heart pound faster as it changed to 'deboarding'. Passengers began making their way off the plane, and as he watched each pass, he only grew more jittery, the caffeine combining with his nerves. When she finally appeared, instantly recognizable from the basic selfies they'd exchanged so they could recognize one another, he felt his heart jump to his throat as he walked towards her, doing his best to look excited, even if all he felt was terrified.
No time to whisper to find out if she had received the text, he approached her and kissed her, her body dipping back slowly in his arms as he counted seconds in his head. Once he was satisfied it would be long enough to placate his parents – who had told him not to hold back on their account in the car, spending a good few minutes pushing the issue – he pulled back, trying to convey with his eyes that he was sorry she'd had to go through that.
Thankfully, Han saved him, laughing loudly as he and Leia came to join them. "Jeez, save some time for introducing us, okay, son?" he ribbed him, clapping his son on the back as Kylo pulled away from Rey. Han wasted no time, reaching out to shake Rey's hand before Leia moved in for a hug. "Welcome to the family, kid. I'm Han, and this is Leia. Now, c'mon, let's get your bags and get out of here before we embarrass Ben enough to hop on the next plane."
Kylo rolled his eyes as his parents separated, already beginning to lead them towards baggage claim. He hung back, handing one of the cups to Rey. "Got you tea," he said simply as he sipped his own drink, hoping that he wouldn't finish it too quickly so he could cling to his excuse to be short with words.
