Chapter Text
Rey falls back on her couch, wincing as the red wine in her glass almost sloshes onto the regrettably light fabric. She gives Rose a look and mutters, "I hate to interrupt girl's night for this, but he needs scolding."
The woman grins, turning on the couch to face Rey, and folds her legs up under her. "Oh, scold away." She pauses and says, "Though you and Ben were kinda asking for something like this. Why didn't you update to the commercial version? He's still super useful. All the utility, none of the nice but creepy matchmaking."
They considered it. It took Ben—with Rose's help—a little over a month to add enough error-handling in Kylo's programming to ensure he couldn't interpret requests in potentially dangerous ways. After months of additional and more widespread beta testing, Kylo was on shelves across the world. Or maybe more accurately, not on shelves, since he's selling out everywhere.
They could have updated. Could have swapped to the new and improved version with just a few button clicks, but maybe it was their sentimental, foolish sides that couldn't bear it. Ben handles regular updates himself, but he's been hesitant to give their Kylo the full commercial update, so they're just a little more careful with their requests.
He's like a genie, Rey likes to think. Kylo can grant them lots of things, but if they don't think of all the little loopholes, all the little ways he could misunderstand… well.
Rey clears her throat. "Hey, Kylo? We need to talk."
"Good evening, Rey," he replies smoothly. It's gotten less weird over time, hearing her boyfriend's voice answer her. Either that, or she's gotten better at separating the two. "Is there something you need?"
Next to her, Rose snorts and tries to hold back a laugh. She knows what Rey's about to scold him for, and Rey quirks an unamused eyebrow at the woman. "You could say that," Rey sighs. "Why don't you explain to me why I'm now subscribed to seven different bridal magazines? And maybe you could also tell me why my email filters are a disaster—did you sign me up for wedding planning emails or something? You're not being subtle, you know."
At that, Rose starts cackling. Full-blown, shoulder-shaking laughter.
Naturally, Kylo answers in his vague, unhelpful way. "I am processing a request."
It's a little like having a brilliant, infuriating child.
"Whose request? And what, exactly, is the request? Word for word."
He doesn't answer right away, but then finally says, "Per your text to Rose Tico on October fifteenth of this year—"
"Kylo! You cannot use my texts like that!"
"—you said you hope to be planning a wedding within a year." He pauses, and when he speaks again, he sounds so pleased with himself. "I decided the magazines would be helpful to you."
Rose's brows are up at her hairline, her grin massive. "He's not wrong, you did say that."
"I didn't realize he'd use that," Rey mutters, probably flushed red. "I keep recycling the damn magazines. Ben and I haven't talked about it… I don't want him to freak out or something. I definitely don't want him to think I'm assuming we'll get married, at least not anytime soon."
The look Rose gives her is doubtful. "Seriously? It took, what, two months for you guys to move in together? Of course he wants to marry you. Not that you need to rush into it or anything, but don't hold back just because you aren't sure what he wants."
She bites at her lip, then sips at her wine, considering it. Quietly, she asks, "You really think he would?"
Rose's expression goes soft. She sets her wine glass down and scoots toward Rey, taking one of Rey's hands in hers. "Look. I work with Ben every day. I've worked with him for a while. Before he met you, I think I was his only friend, so if anyone's qualified to tell you this, it's me." Rey watches, enraptured, as the woman takes in a breath, and smiles. "You could ask him tonight and he'd say yes. Ask in a day, a week, a month, whenever. I mean, hey, your first anniversary's coming up, right? I know he'd say yes."
Her heart pounds as she stares at Rose and replays those words in her mind.
Later that night, she types out a message to her boss, the woman she very much hopes becomes her mother-in-law.
"Mom, I love you but I hope you have a good reason for delaying me," Ben sighs, wiping a hand down his face. "It's Christmas Eve, I shouldn't even be here. Plus, Rey and I have plans. It's been a year, tonight, and I didn't really plan on spending our first anniversary in my office."
His glasses have been off for a few minutes, resting on his desk while he tries to stop the pounding headache he's developed after a long day of meetings. Things have died down a little since their AI tech started being sold world-wide—it's been a hell of an adjustment, suddenly having the sort of money to afford a place that would make his and Rey's house look like a small closet (not that they have any plans to move). Luckily his mother's been the face of everything, taking much of the pressure off him, but things are still a bit crazy.
Frowning at the woman sitting across the desk from him, he asks again, "Mom? What's going on?"
Her smile is… concerning. It's possibly a little wicked. Certainly mischievous. "I've been meaning to give this to you for a couple weeks, but things have been so busy," she says, seeming intent on keeping things vague. After a moment, she grins a bit wider, and sets a small box on the desk between them. "Your grandmother's engagement ring."
It's like all the air has been sucked out of his office.
"How… why…"
"Kylo asked me," she explains, her expression turning gentle. "I told him I'd give it to you. I believe he's under the impression you plan to ask Rey to marry you."
He blinks. It… it's not like it hasn't been on his mind, but unless Kylo can somehow read minds now, Ben's not sure how he knows. Blankly, and while still staring wide-eyed at his mother, he asks, "Hey, Kylo? What's this about?"
The AI replies right away. "Hello, Ben. I contacted your mother for assistance. Per my research, it is customary to present a romantic partner with an offering when one is prepared to legally bind oneself to them."
His mother's grinning, like she's proud of her partner in crime.
"Well, sure," Ben shrugs. "But I didn't ask you to research that, or ask her for a ring. What made you do that?"
"I am processing a request," he answers plainly.
Ben sighs, a little tired with the lack of true answers. "What request?"
"On December third of this year, you said, 'I wish I could be this happy for the rest of my life,'" Kylo states. "As you said this while at home, with Rey Niima, I extrapolated data and concluded you were requesting assistance."
As his mother studies him, she crosses her arms. Ben blanches, replying a little shyly, "Kylo, that wasn't a request."
Just as Kylo's about to reply, his mother interrupts, "Kylo, give my son and I a minute? Just the two of us?"
"Of course, Ms. Organa."
For a minute, the room is silent. She seems to be waiting for him to say something, so he admits, "I'm not sure she's ready for me to ask. Of course I want to marry her. I would have gone to a courthouse months ago. I'm just nervous she'll say it's too soon—I know it's been a year, but lots of couples wait longer, and…"
"Ask her whenever you're ready," his mother says. She reaches out, her hand brushing over the little box before she takes his hand and squeezes it. "Ben, I've never seen you so happy, and I can say the same for Rey. There's no need to rush, but if you want to marry her, ask her."
She stands, and turns to leave his office, only pausing to smile and add, "Happy Anniversary. I think we can safely assume you'll have many more."
His eyes flick down to the box.
He takes in a shaky breath, and smiles.
She can't stop pacing. It's silly to be so nervous, but it's impossible not to be. The wedding bands have been hidden away in her nightstand for a little over a week now, handed over to her by a thrilled Leia over one of their weekly lunches, and now she's got them in a little box, clutched in one hand.
Ben should be home by now. Now that things have quieted down a little on the AI-front, he's been home by 6 PM on most nights, but it's half an hour past that and there's no sign of him.
They don't have much planned for tonight. Not officially. Sure, it's their anniversary, but save for the silk sheets, candles, and rose petals she cheekily filled their bedroom with, they're not doing much. No fancy night out, no dinner and dancing—they're just taking an evening all to themselves. It sounds like heaven.
Or, at least, it did sound like heaven, until she decided it was the perfect night to propose. Now she's just a bundle of nerves, counting the seconds until—
Rey almost jumps out of her skin when the front door opens, and when she hears his voice call out, "Rey? Hey, sorry I'm late, I needed to meet with my mother on something."
In a panicked rush, she tries to shove the box into her pocket, only to be reminded that pockets in women's pants are never substantial. It won't fit, and since she's lost her mind, she keeps trying to shove it in rather than hiding it or something.
His voice gets closer. "Rey? Sweetheart?"
She yelps as he comes up behind her, much closer than she realized, and at the last second, she manages to drop the ring box.
Rey watches in horror as it falls to the floor, and as Ben frowns and leans down to snatch it up.
"What's this?"
"I—uh—"
He tilts his head, looking curious. When she doesn't answer him, his brows furrow, and—and he opens the box. Rey starts cursing silently herself. She had a plan, one that didn't involve dropping the rings and one that involved saying sweet things and telling him how much she loves him.
His voice comes out in a whisper. "Rey?" When his gaze flicks from the rings to her face, his eyes are wide and swimming with something soft and hopeful. "Rey, are these wedding bands?"
She swallows, managing a nod. "Your grandparent's. I uh… I was hoping you'd… uh." She sucks in a breath, and blurts, "Would you marry me?"
"Oh," he breathes. "Wow."
Silence falls between them as he stares at her, and after a long, agonizing moment, the corner of his mouth tilts up in that charming way of his. He hums, as if he's amused by something, and then sets the box down on a little table next to them. She watches, confused, as he digs something out of his pocket.
When he holds it out to her, her mouth falls open.
It's a little box, identical to the one Leia gave her.
As she takes it, and slowly opens it up, Ben clears his throat and says, "Hey, Kylo, can you repeat what I said to make you request this ring from my mother?"
What?
That's when Rey remembers what Leia texted. Kylo's been making a habit of texting me.
"Of course, Ben," Kylo replies. "This is the request I am currently processing. On December third of this year, you said, 'I wish I could be this happy for the rest of my life.' As you said this while at home, with Rey Niima, I—"
"That's probably enough. Thanks, Kylo," he whispers, gazing down at her fondly, as she starts tearing up. Ben sniffs, wiping at an eye, and tells her, "I remember that morning. Nothing special happened, really. I just woke up next to you, wrapped around you, and you looked so happy, and… and I don't know, it wasn't any big revelation or anything. I just knew that was how I wanted to wake up every morning."
Rey starts crying in earnest then, and lets him pull her into a hug. Her tears probably soak through his dark blue button-up, but he holds her close, even as she nods against him.
She murmurs the word against his chest. "Yes"
Ben kisses her forehead, saying softly, "It's a yes from me, too."
They stay there, in each other's arms for a few minutes, until Kylo interrupts the silence to say, "Per your family calendar, today is marked as your anniversary. Please let me offer congratulations for the event."
She huffs, grinning up at the man whose arms she's in. "What do you think the legalities are of an AI performing a wedding ceremony?"
Ben's eyebrow quirks. "I think we should find out."
She laughs at that, relief that he's said yes filling her—the sweetest reality comes crashing down and it hits her, that this, this moment, is everything she's ever wanted. He leans down to kiss her, his mouth sliding over hers in that perfect, brilliant way that makes her heart pound, makes something in her chest flutter, and he holds her close.
Against her mouth, he murmurs, "You really want to marry me?"
Rey nods, pulling away just far enough to smile at him.
"Good. Uh… hey Kylo?" Ben asks, his lips shaped into the most beautiful grin she's seen. "That request you're processing?"
He cups her face and takes in a long breath before adding softly, "Consider it complete."