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---It’s Christmas Eve and Rey is practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, excitement bubbling in her belly as she clasps her hands together in front of her mouth. She could just squee. Or even pee with excitement. Ben is almost there.The tannoy had just announced that the 16.40 train from Paris Gare du Nord was pulling into the platform. Rey had bolted out of her seat and practically sprinted toward the arrival gates, nearly colliding with two or three people on her way.She can’t wait to see him. She knows it’s only been four weeks since their emotional and tear strewn parting in Paris, but it had felt like a lifetime. Far too long. She’s no idea how she’s going to cope once he leaves until June when she heads to the Big Apple. New York - who would ever have thought that she Rey Niima would live in New York and with her boyfriend no less.During their time apart they’d spoken three or four times a day. They’d also Skyped, e-mailed, What’s App-ed almost every minute of the day too. They’d learnt so much about one another over those weeks.Rey had insisted that Ben spend Christmas in London with her. It was one of two conditions she’d given him after she’d agreed to move to New York with him.1 - they spend Christmas together at her flat2 - she finish the academic year in LondonBen had agreed to them in an instant. Still in shock over her agreement to go. At that moment he’d have agreed to anything. Anything at all.After he’d gotten over his awe, while lying breathless in bed after sealing their deal with a hurried yet passionate entanglement, he explained why he was moving to New York.To be S.L. Snoke’s apprentice.Snoke is the CEO, founder, and owner of First Order Enterprise. The company Ben is a bike courier for.Rey was baffled by his explanation. None of what he said sounded like the Ben she’d fallen so quickly in love with. The dreamer. The free spirit. The budding writer.She gently questioned his decision, pointing out that she never took him for a suit wearing yes man. He told her that it was time for him to grow up. To stop living in a fanciful daydream and take some responsibility. To put to good use the education his parents - and he - had paid for.She didn’t question him again.But an idea had formed as they wandered the streets of Paris later that morning, heading firstly to her hotel to change and then to collect his bike.If he was going to turn his back on what he so aspired to be, then she’d just have to show him that dreams really can come true. And that his could too.Christmas in London is going to be somewhat of a story tale, or perhaps a fairytale. She’s not entirely sure yet.---People stream past her through the arrival gates, and Rey stands on her tiptoes in order to get a better view, even though Ben towers over most people so it’s really rather silly. But she can’t spot him. He’s not there.Dread pools hot and fast in her stomach. Memories of Joe standing her up at this very station a month ago floods her mind. But Ben wouldn’t stand her up. He just wouldn’t. He wouldn’t hurt her like that.She does a 360, worried that she missed him - or he’d missed her in the crowd.Suddenly a shiver runs down her spine as all light disappears in an instant. She gasps, feeling palms covering her eyes.
‘Bonjour sweetheart.’ A whisper in her ear.
‘Ben!’ She exhales breathlessly, spinning around, a huge grin on her face.
‘Hello beautiful.’ Ben smiles down at her.She throws herself at him, practically climbing him like a tree. She doesn’t care if they’re making a scene, or if she’s making a fool of herself. Not when he’s there. Ben hoists her up, his bag discarded at their feet as she wraps her legs around his waist and arms around his neck.
‘Gods I’ve missed you.’ He smiles, pressing an almost chaste kiss to her lips.Rey lets out a sigh, eyes drifting close as she rests her forehead against his.
‘I love you.’ She murmurs.
‘I love you right back.’ He whispers, breathing her in, and a smile creeps across her face before she attacks his lips with her own, wanting to give him a little taste of just how much she’s missed him.---Eventually Ben lowers her to her feet, muttering in her ear as he does. ‘I can’t wait to get you alone.’Heat pools in her belly at the low timbre of his voice and the suggestiveness of his tone. Not to mention the wicked glint in his eyes and the pouting smirk on his full lips.He winks at her as he offers her his hand, which she instantly takes and they head toward The Arcade. As they walk the tinkling of a piano can be heard, and Ben’s brows knit together as he strains to hear the tune above the din of the crowd.
‘Is that-- is that a piano?’ He asks, looking down at his girlfriend.Rey nods. ‘Yeah. There are a few public pianos dotted about. Anyone can play them. Even Elton John has played here.’They arrive at one of the pianos and find there’s a small crowd of people forming a rough circle around the player. Rey recognises the song that the pianist has just finishing - City of Stars from La La Land. Rey had gone to the cinema with her friends to watch it and Poe had cried at the ending.Ben lets her go and steps over to the man behind the keys, leaving Rey standing there looking at him with confusion. She cocks her head to the side as he talks to the man in hushed voices, casting a glance in her direction and winking teasingly as she quirks an eyebrow, a suspicious smile on her face.
‘What are you up to?’ She questions as Ben walks back over to her.But he doesn’t say a word a he pulls the strap of his heavy looking bag over his head, adjusting his bag on his back, and grasps her around the waist, a knowing smile pulling at his lips as the pianist starts playing. Rey recognises the song as she rests her hands on Ben’s shoulders, shaking her head at his grin.Empire State of Mind part II by Alicia Keys.
‘Just getting you in the mood for the big move.’ He chuckles as they start to sway to the beat, moving along the floor as the crowd steps back watching with happy expressions as Ben lowly sings into her ear.
‘You’re a bad man Ben Solo.’ Rey quips with a chuckle as he spins her out, then back in and then back out again, and she giggles with delight seeing the crowd smiling at them.
‘Utterly terrible.’ He whispers into her ear after he pulls her back in so her back is pressed to his chest, and a shiver runs down her spine, nerve endings setting alight.
‘You’re going to love New York. There are so many places to dance.’ He smirks and Rey playfully rolls her eyes as he twirls her back out, a wolfish grin on his full lips.
‘You do know I can’t dance.’ she laughs, spinning back into his chest, completely out of sync with the song, but clearly Ben doesn’t care.
‘You’re dancing now.’
‘You really are terrible aren’t you.’ Rey whispers, her body coming even more alive beneath his hungry gaze as she presses against him, hands on his shoulders and their breath mingling as they stare into one another’s eyes.
‘The worst.’ He replies wickedly.
‘Just what am I going to do with you?’ She adds boldly.
‘What would you like to do to me?’ He purrs seductively, and she lets out a shuddering breath.Rey flounders, not used to this intense kind of flirting and her face turns crimson, her eyes darting everywhere.Ben takes pity on her, smiling softly as he gives her waist a reassuring squeeze.
‘You don’t have to do anything. I was only messing. I’m sorry.’ He apologises, but Rey can see the dark glint in his eyes, not entirely convinced that he was just messing.
‘Okay.’ She nods, letting out a breath, nerves bubbling in her stomach.They continue to dance and Ben resumes singing softly to her, he knows every word. It feels like the world has emptied to just the two of them. Eventually the song comes to an end and people around them clap, and someone throws in a couple of wolf whistles, causing them both to chuckle as they look around at the smiling crowd, also noticing that a few other people had sort of joined in dancing.
‘Let’s get out of here. You did promise to show me London.’ He grins and she can’t help but smile back.
‘That I did. Although I think I might need a lie down first.’ Rey quips saucily, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the underground entrance.
‘But you’re not getting anywhere without an Oyster card.’ She tells him over her shoulder as Ben lets her drag him off to her lair, a naughty smirk on his lips.---
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Rey and Ben left the high ceilings of the main atrium and entered the wide, squat foyer of the Kings Cross St Pancras tube station.Ben looked around him, seeming lost, a small wrinkle of consternation along his forehead. Rey guided him into a corner and asked him what was wrong, shoulders suddenly tensing, looking searchingly up into his face. Was he regretting his decision to visit her already? Had she disappointed him already?“What’s wrong, Ben? How can I help?” Rey asked, trying to hide the panic from her voice.Ben paused, looking sheepish. “I thought we were near Kings Cross. I was kind of hoping to see Platform 9 and 3/4”Rey hadn’t realised she’d been holding her breath, and snorted in relief and amusement “Yeah it’s about five minutes’ walk from here, but I have to warn you it’s a bit disappointing. JK Rowling was picturing Paddington station, but got the names mixed up. We can go if you want, but we’ve got all week to do touristy stuff and…” she paused, smiling and fluttering her eyelashes at him mock-coquettishly “I have other things planned for this evening”.Ben raised his eyebrows and grinned back at her “is that so? Well, lay on MacDuff!” turning her round and pulling her into his chest, smattering kisses behind her ear and into her neck.“Shakespeare now, is it?” replied Rey, springing away from him and tugging him in the direction of the ticket office. He got points for using the correct quote, (not “lead on”) but still with the incorrect meaning (the line being one Macbeth used to goad MacDuff into a fight, not, as often thought, as an invitation to lead the way). Rey might correct him later, but for now she wanted to focus on getting him home. She was hoping they would do things to each other that would make them forget how to speak, let alone quote 17th century plays.Oyster card bought, Rey was all set to lead him towards the ticket barriers, when Ben stopped in front of a giant map of the underground. “The Metro is nothing compared to this. Absolument rien!” he sighed. Rey snuggled into his chest, indulging him despite being desperate to get him back to Walthamstow, and the privacy of her little flat. “See this line here?” she pointed to the light blue one “this is the one we’ll be using to get home”, bringing her arms round his thick waist and squeezing for emphasis. Ben didn’t seem to get the hint, staring in wonder “Tot-ten-ham? Dals-ton Kings-land? High-bury and… I-sling-ton?” His eyes darted further up the map “Arse-nal? Isn’t that British for butt?” Rey buried her face further into his thick coat, huffing warm laughs at his American English bungling. She had missed him so much. She felt him lean further back to look at the very top of the map, followed by a gurgling in his chest, turning into a giggle “Cockfosters? That’s a joke, right?” He looks down at her, eyes sparkling and crinkled at the sides. “Nope” replied Rey, and pointed at various other places “there’s Elephant and Castle, Mudchute, and Shepherd’s Bush, and, and St John’s Wood – ooh, here’s a fun fact for you… did you know that this is the only station in London that doesn’t have any letters from the word Mackerel in it?” she finished, breathlessly, with a theatrical flourish of her hand.“Wow” said Ben, impressed and aroused in equal measures “you’ve got a strong nerd game there”“I know” she wrinkled her nose and cocked her head to the side “I have so much to show you, Ben”“I do very much hope so, sweetheart” Ben whispered as he leaned down and planted a gentle kiss at the side of Rey’s mouth. She hummed, contentedly, relishing the plush warmth of his lips. They stayed holding each other like that, the flow of fellow travellers parting around them like a stream around a rock. After what could have been hours, they broke away from each other. It felt like the first time they embraced all those weeks ago in Paris…Rey blinked, and took a moment to get her bearings, before leading Ben towards the ticket barriers and onto the Northbound Victoria Line. Down the steep escalators they went (“you have to stand on the right so that people in a hurry can go past you on the left” Rey pointed out) and through the long, white-tiled tunnels, until they reached the platform. The rush of warm, stale air touched their faces, indicating an oncoming train, humming to a stop before they were reminded in clipped tones to “Mind the Gap Please” by the automated warning message.The train, as usual, was packed with commuters, jostling to get on and find a space to sit or stand. Ben instinctively shielded Rey from the shoulders and elbows. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she could take care of herself, and besides, it was nice not to have to think about it, just for a minute. Rey spotted a seat, but then realised it was hemmed in by two man-spreaders and rolled her eyes. Ben caught the expression on her face, and handed her his bag. “Hold this for me a second, sweetheart” he whispered, and with a grace no-one would expect of a man his size, he swung his way over to the seat, glowered at the men with their legs akimbo, and wedged himself in-between them. He looked over at Rey, smirked triumphantly and patted his knees, inviting her to sit. She swelled with pride and amusement. Men (and no, not all of them, but enough that it was the bane of most femme passengers lives) who chose to sit on public transport with their legs akimbo, as if their balls needed their own light and air source, rarely got their comeuppance. The choice, if you were sat next to one of these fine specimens, was between touching their legs with your own, (risking the impression you were inviting physical intimacy) or clamping your knees together. Rey had been about to tell him it wasn’t worth sitting down as it was only a couple of stops away, but the draw of proximity to this particular man’s body overruled her Londoner lady-logic. She squealed as his strong arms pulled her into his lap. Ben nuzzled his face into her neck, happily inhaling her warm scent. Rey, emboldened by his actions and a sense of restoring justice to the world, tube seat by tube seat, curled her legs up and into Ben’s body, closing her eyes and ignoring the pointed stares of the men she squished on either side.The train jolted, and Rey’s hip involuntarily rubbed against Ben’s crotch, causing a huff of air to escape from his mouth to tickle her neck. Rey squeaked, and then with a wicked grin, wiggled her backside more deliberately into his lap. Ben emitted a strangled noise, and shifted his hand from her knee to her waist, searching for skin above the top of her jeans. Rey brought her fingers to his neck, running them towards his ear and lingering there, fondling the lobe, stroking up the helix, before pushing her hand into his soft, thick hair. Ben nudged his face toward hers, and Rey bent to meet his mouth, ignoring how awkwardly she had to twist. She deepened the kiss immediately. Ben leaned forward too, sharing in the feelings of gratified longing she was wordlessly communicating with her tongue, lips, teeth, hands. An announcement came through the tannoy that the next stop would be Highbury and Islington. The man-spreader on Ben’s left got up suddenly, and shuffled towards the exit doors. The movement caused them to break the kiss.
A little disappointed, Ben imitated the tannoy “Hi-bree and Is-lingt’n? That’s how it’s pronounced?” Rey laughed “I preferred the way you pronounced it” and gave him a peck on the nose. She slid into the vacated seat next to him, but stayed burrowed into the side of his body for the next four stops.“End of the line” she told Ben, leading him off the train, hugging him round the waist as they stood on the escalators, through the ticket barriers and into the recently dusky light of Walthamstow Central station. She was torn between wanting to show him her neighbourhood, and getting him into her bed. She decided there was plenty of time to give him a proper tour, and so she grabbed his hand, leading him hurriedly through the park, down High Street, with the sound of market stall holders roaring into the cold air about their produce, the prices reduced this time of day for a quick sale. Rey motioned down a wide-arched alleyway into a red bricked courtyard. “This is us” she stated breathlessly, scrabbling in her bag for the door keys. “The Yoga Studio?” Ben asked incredulously. “No silly, we just share the hallway”Rey brandished her keys triumphantly “Now, let’s get in and warm ourselves up, shall we?” and winked at him.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
---Rey has barely placed a foot on the top step of the stairs to her flat when Ben is on her. Hands gripping her waist and lips hot on her cold neck - this is exactly why she forgoed a scarf. For moments like this. To feel his lips.
‘Ben.’ She groans, managing to climb the step and walk forward a little, his hands gripping her tightly as he presses hot wet kisses to her neck.
‘Rey?’ He teases, teeth nipping her earlobe before swiping his tongue over the skin, soothing the sting.
‘I've been waiting ages to get my hands on you like this.’ He murmurs lowly, fingers popping open the button of her jeans before lowering the zip.
‘Ben!’ She gasps breathlessly, heart racing at the brazenness of his behaviour.She's never seen him like this. So desperate and wanting. So open and frankly horny. Before it was more her that chased him, that made her lust known. Apart from in the bedroom, he was far more dominant but so adoringly patient and caring of her.She likes this. His hunger.But while she's enjoying his clear desire - given that his erection is pressing into her lower back as he holds her against the door to her shared flat - this is really not the place for his hand to be shoved down of the front of her knickers, no matter how much she's relishing the feel of his cold fingertips brushing over her clit.She scrambles to put the key in the lock, breathing hard and trying to keep her focus, and her resolve. She is not the kind of woman to fuck about in a stairwell. She's not.
‘You're so wet.’ He whispers, voice ragged, a finger dipping between her folds and Rey can't help the moan from falling from her lips.Okay maybe she is the kind of girl who fucks about in a stairwell.
‘Ben.’ She groans wantonly, instinctively pressing back against him, eyes fluttering shut, hands gripping the keys in the lock and frame respectively.
‘Tell me what you want sweetheart.’ He mutters between licks and kisses of her ear, his free hand fumbling beneath her coat and knitted jumper and squeezing her breast through her vest and bra.
‘You. But not here. Not like this.’ She tells him, voice husky. Clinging to those last threads of resolve to not have their reunion fuck against the door to her flat.He takes a deep breath, fingers stilling in her knickers but not removed.
‘I need to be able to walk.’ She snickers, face burning red.
‘I'm not stopping you.‘ He quips playfully, hand moving slightly so his fingers still brush over her clit, his hand indecently sticking out the top of her knickers.Rey huffs, but there's a smile on her face as she turns the key in the lock, the door opening.
‘Ben!’ Rey giggles as they stumble forward awkwardly together into her flat, Ben kicking it close.
‘What? It’s not my fault my girlfriend is a bonafide one in a million. And that I love the sound of my name on her lips.’ He snickers against the side of her neck as Rey swats at his arm.Rey turns round to face him, a soft look in her eyes. She quickly closes the distance and pulls him down by the collar of his coat to kiss him. Ben willingly goes, hands once again settling on her waist as he walks her backwards further into the flat.She breaks the kiss with a few pecks before taking his hand and leading him toward her bedroom, closing the door behind them.Ben looks around the small yet homely bedroom. He notes the stack of engineering, science and physics books that take over most of her three-shelf bookcase - the top shelf is reserved for a small collection of novels, and a tourist guide of London - hmm so Rey has been doing her homework on her hometown. It makes him smile as Rey steps over to the bed, draws the curtains and switches on multi-coloured fairy lights that cover her ceiling.His gaze drops down to look at her, illuminated by the different twinkling colours and he feels a rush of love and warmth as he gives her a crooked smile.
‘Hi.’ He whispers, and it feels almost silly given that his hand was down the front of her jeans only moments ago.
‘Hey.’ Rey answers, blushing as he tucks a few strands of hair behind her ear, a gentle smile on her lips.Ben tugs his bag strap over his head, dumping it on the floor in front of the build in closet before removing his coat. Rey has taken her own off and reaches for his and hangs them one on top of the other on the back of the beat-up looking swivel chair in front of her desk.Together they close the distance, falling into a kiss, hands touching and exploring, before pulling and discarding the other’s clothes.Soon there’s a jumbled up pile of their clothes in the centre of the floor as they climb onto her single bed, Ben looms over his beautiful girlfriend. He holds himself up by his hands, simply staring down at her, an almost wistful smile on his lips.Rey is brushing her hands up and down his forearms, holding his intense gaze until he leans down and starts trailing hot kisses along her jaw and chin, pausing for a brief caress of her lips then moving down her throat.They’ve both waited for this moment for what feels like forever. Gods knows how they’re going to cope until June when she moves to New York. They’ll be ravenous by then.Ben licks, nips and kisses her fluttering pulse point, her collarbone and the valley of her breasts, as Rey snakes her fingers through his dark hair, letting out a relieved groan at feeling it again between her fingers, tugging slightly and making him grunt softly, and nip at her ribs.He works his way down her navel before pausing right above the small patch of curls. Rey gulps heavily, as she looks down the length of her body to find him staring up at her, lips so achingly close to where she needs his mouth, feeling his little puffs of breath cooling her slickness.Rey shudders with anticipation, desire and want as he grips her hips and she lets out a ragged breath through her nose, chest heaving as her lips part.
‘Ben!’ She moans breathlessly, back arching up off the bed as he slowly runs his tongue up her folds, eyes still fixed on her face.It’s not long before Rey is a panting mess, heels pressed hard into the mattress, hand gripping his hair probably painfully and her eyes scrunched shut, coming down from her orgasm.Slowly Ben crawls back up her body, wiping his slick covered mouth, nose and chin on her belly, earning himself a startled giggle as he smiles wolfishly. He presses a few sloppy kisses to her breasts, pecking at her hard nipples, maybe a little too harshly as Rey lets out a yelp. But he soothes them with a swipe of his tongue, before continuing upwards and colliding with her lips, his erection brushing over her sex.
‘You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’ Ben smiles softly, genuine love and warmth in his beautiful eyes.Rey brings her hand up to brush her thumb over his cheek, returning his smile with her own. ‘Same. I love you so much.’He surges forward, capturing her lips with his own, kissing her desperately. Rey’s hand drifts down between their bodies, fingers brushing over his erection and drawing a throaty moan from her boyfriend.
‘Are you sure?’ He whispers, pulling back.Rey nods. Once she’d returned from Paris she’d gone to see her doctor to get an implant and excitedly told Ben that night before engaging in a spot of phone sex. But now with his cock in her hand, she’s all about the actual sex as she guides him to her entrance.---
‘We should really get ready.’ Rey murmurs from her position wrapped up in Ben’s strong arms, her back pressed against his chest.He hums, pressing featherlight kisses along her shoulder and up the back of her neck, making her toes curl in a rush of arousal. ‘Are you sure?’ He smirks against her flush skin and Rey bites her lips together.
‘I guess we can be fashionably late.’ She giggles, wriggling as he playfully bites the side of her neck.They’re meant to be meeting up for Christmas Eve drinks with her friends at a bar in the city centre in just under two hours and while Rey can’t wait for Ben to meet her family, they’re just going to have to wait.---
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“REEEEEEY!” Finn bellowed, slightly muffled by the large chunk of food he’d stuffed into his mouth just a moment ago. Squeals and further hollering ensued as the others spotted the pair too. Paige was the first to bound over and jump on Rey, smothering her face in kisses and poppy seeds from one of the pretzels they were all sharing. After Rey had stopped giggling and pushed her off playfully, Paige turned to Ben, announced “we’re huggers in this family”, and proceeded to wrap her arms round his middle. Ben looked a little shocked, and patted her on the back tentatively. He was relieved to be receiving such a warm welcome. Paige caught Rey’s eye and mouthed “wow” before leading them both by the hands to the bench where the others were huddled round, devouring their bready snacks and hot spicy drinks.Poe jovially slapped Ben on the back while stating “Aha, monsieur le Benjamin, the guy who’s stealing our Rey away!”A beat passed. Ben winced, Rey caught Poe in the beginnings of a Paddington Hard Stare…“Mate, come here” Finn intervened, brushing the crumbs off his hand and offering Ben a warm handshake-turned bro-hug, Poe sheepishly going for a handshake and continental cheek kiss. Rose stepped forward, hand offered to Ben to shake, telling him “It’s great to meet you. We heard a lot about you!”“I’ve heard a lot about you too, Rose” replied Ben, before she pulled his hand down to give him a tight hug. With everyone else it became a flurry of those uniquely British embraces where one of you is going for a cheek kiss and the other is going for a hug, ending up with mouths making loud smacking noises in people’s ears.“We weren’t sure you were going to come!” declared Rose, to which Poe and Finn sniggered.“but that’s exactly what made them late, right Rey? Eh, eh?” they continued sniggering “I bet there’s major sex-hair going on underneath those hats of yours!”“So, Pretzels! What’s good?” Ben asked quickly, hoping to change the subject and looking towards the busy kiosk. Poe pointed at two paper bags on the table “two cheese and two cinnamon, plus a shot of Jaeger each to get you caught up with the rest of us”They ate their pretzels, whilst attending to the excited Christmas greetings, questions about how his journey was, (“fine, no, no I didn’t see any fish out of the tunnel window”) what did he think of London (“as busy as I remember, but with more bikes and coffee chains”) and what he was going to do whilst he was here, apart from the obvious, nudge, wink ha ha, no, you two are adorable together, so happy for you, etc.When they’d finished, Kaydel started rounding people up to go to the fun house, which appeared to all intents and purposes to be a Halloween fun house with Santa hats perched on the creepy characters depicted outside. She was meeting a bit of resistance on account of how unsettling it was when Rey and Jess screamed in unison, in a key so close to the other it sounded like the roar of some unearthly being.Exasperated, Kaydel reminded everyone “it’s either this or the Waltzers” in a sing-song voice “and we know what happened to Jess last year”“you mean what happened to me and everyone in the surrounding area” Paige butted in, shuddering theatrically.Jess pouted, “look, the man was spinning us around really, really fast, and I when I asked him to slow down, he sped up instead, so really it was his fault he got covered in…“How about the big wheel?” Rey butted in. “Ben can get a good view of Hyde Park that way”“I don’t mind, really” replied Ben “we could all go on what we want and then meet back?”The group all looked at each other wanly, simultaneously commenting and nodding in agreement. “Big Wheel? Big Wheel. Let’s do it. Yeah, fuck the scary stuff. Let’s stay together, more fun that way”As they started off in the vague direction of the large, brightly lit structure, Rey explained “we tried separating and meeting up again one year, we never saw each other again and all had to make our ways home alone. We stay together, even if it’s like herding kittens”“One by one” Finn interrupted “That’s how you herd kittens. Just pick each one and put them in the cat box, shut the gate and go for the next one. It’s the only way you can mop the floor all in one go”“Did you have a lot of pets growing up, Finn?” asked Ben.“No, used to volunteer in a cat shelter” Finn replied“Oh, the kitten room. Both a blessing and a curse” Poe chimed in, sharing a soppy look with Finn, who grinned back, bumping shoulders. “our eyes met over a crowded litter box, didn’t they, love?”“Hey, how come you never told me that story?” Rey chimed in.“You never asked, Peanut” Finn replied “and Ben is obviously a man who appreciates a romantic story”“hmmm, cleaning up tiny cat poops, worthy of a movie adaptation, that” Rey grumbled“Anyway, keeping everyone in the group from going astray, well it’s tricky, but worth it” Poe summed up.The queue was long, but with the good conversation and group snuggles, everyone enjoyed themselves. Once they were in their seats and moving, Rey looked up from where she was wedged comfortably in Ben’s arm and asked “do you remember the last time we were on one of these?” Ben chuckled and kissed the side of Rey’s head “indeed I do” and they both grinned, remembering their first passionate, earth shifting kiss months ago.“but last time we got interrupted”“we did. Am I going to miss any important landmarks if I kiss you now?”“nah, it’s dark” Rey whispered, before pouncing on him.They did manage to admire the twinkling lights of the London skyline, but only because all of her friends shouted “get a roooooom!” “put her down, Ben, you don’t know where she’s bee-eeeen”, loudly pointing out landmarks such as the Gherkin and Big Ben, remarking on St Paul’s dome, asking each other if they’d ever been to the Globe theatre, and causing Ben to snigger into Rey’s mouth as they held each other close.When the ride stopped, and everyone met back up, Rey looked at her friends sternly and said “some of those double-entendres were really reaching, weren’t they?”“You didn’t even mention Cockfosters” Ben added, inwardly high-fiving himself for remembering it from earlier.“oh, we could have gone much worse and you know it, Rey. We didn’t even get to any cockney rhyming slang!”“you’re all little dustbins” Rey replied “where to next?”The group all looked around at each other, not wanting the night to end. Paige looked at Rose, and declared “OK, my sibs from other cribs, I’m calling it. I’m assuming me and Rose are the same shade of red, so…”Rose nodded in agreement “when the Tico sisters glow, it’s time to go!”Finn and Poe groaned in unison “yeah we know, the Vietnamese flush means home-time for us”Kaydel put her arms round the sisters “I for one value the warning system. You are adorable booze canaries, and I love you for it”“aww, we love you too, you wonderful… candy floss… dolphin” Rose cooed, pinching Kaydel on the nose.“So we’re agreed then? Back to yours?” Poe winked in the direction of the sisters.“Alright, because it’s Christmas, but if you stay over you have to do yoga with us in the morning” piped up Rey, as they all started sidling towards the tube station.“No promises. Can we get halloumi fries?” asked Finn excitedly. Walthamstowe was gentrifying at an alarming rate, but whilst disastrous for house prices and the local populace, it did make late night food choices pretty cool.“OK, but go easy on Irish-ing our hot chocolates!” warned Jess.Two hours later, they were all bundled up variously on the sofa, the floor, cushions, blankets, each other. Last Holiday was on the TV in the background. It was an honorary Christmas movie due to the snow and twinkly lights, featuring Queen Latifah, LL Cool J and Gerard Depardieu.“so, I have to ask” Ben burp-talked, wincing a little as the whisky and sweet taste stung at his throat. “what’s a booze-canary?”Everyone giggled, and then took turns explaining their in-jokes. Kaydel, having been brought up in a small mining village in Yorkshire, explained that back in the day, canaries were used down coal mines, as their little lungs were more sensitive to any poisonous gases that might have harmed the miners.“So you see, Paige and Rose are more sensitive to alcohol due to their Asian-persuasion, can I say that?” Kaydel shot a quick look to the sisters“we’ll allow it” Rose pronounced with a faux-stern tone her voice, still pink-faced.“and they’ve saved us from many a two-day hangover by warning us all that it’s time to get out of the pub, er, mine” Kaydel finished, waving her hand in a mock flourish.“poor canaries” sighed Paige“I’ve seen the way you eat roast chicken, Paige” teased Jess“It’s the best way of honouring the life of the animal, nose to tail” she pouted “and I bet nobody ate the canaries”“how would you like your poultry prepared this evening, madam? Marinated in poisonous mine gases?” Jess giggled, blowing kisses at Paige “love you, caring, er, crumpet, badger?”Paige rolled her eyes, and mimed catching all the kisses and planting them all over her cheeks“too bad we won’t be escaping the poisonous gases tonight, eh Finn?” Poe nudged his boyfriend, who was laid on the floor on his back, looking serene.“I love cheese, but it does not love me back” wailed Finn, his eyes closed “I only had one portion of fries tonight, because that’s how much I care”“Finn gets a bit windy after too much dairy” Rey whispered to Ben, who was enjoying having his head in Rey’s lap. Rey was enjoying it too, as it gave her prime access to play with Ben’s lovely dark hair.The cockney rhyming slang was explained (dustbins – dustbin lid – kid. Dustbins were like trash cans, but nobody had those anymore as they’d been replaced by wheelie bins) and the candy floss dolphin/crumpet badger (Jenna Marbles’ formula for pet names – nice adjective – yummy food or drink – cute animal) plus a segue into what crumpets were and how they were best served.“I think you’re a lovely churros puppy” Rey told Ben, smoothing his hair away from his face.“well I think you’re a gorgeous croissant bear” Ben replied, tickling her knees“Ben!” Rey gasped “You’re a sexy… mince pie… hamster” squirming out of his grasp, but then somehow ending up falling head first into his crotch.“Rey, Ben, you literally have a room just there that you can go to” Kaydel kicked them gently.“Just keep it down for the first…” she scanned the room “thirty-five, forty five minutes, I think we’ll all have passed out by then”Rey huffed a warm breath onto Ben’s thigh, and rolled off the sofa, taking his hand and pulling him up to standing “well, we’ll see you in the morning then beautiful people, thanks for a lovely night”They were met with a chorus of friendly love yous and na-nights and a good to meet you Bens, before stepping over various legs and cushions to get to Rey’s room. Door shut firmly, Rey and Ben looked at each other, shimmied their jeans off and rolled into bed.