Beg, Borrow, or Steal - Part 3 (Part one)

After their successful heist on Kalee, Rey and Poe travel to Poe's home planet of Yavin IV, where they are encouraged to spend some 'downtime,' resulting in miscommunication, jealousy, and a special connection neither of them expected.

Rated NC-17 for one chapter of intense sexual content. It is recommended that Parts 1 and 2 be read before reading this story.

When The Chronicler exited hyperspace and the giant orange ball of Yavin appeared in the viewscreen, Poe Dameron felt his whole body relax in a way it rarely ever did. He may be a natural born pilot, more comfortable in space than with his feet on the ground, but this place would always be the exception to the rule.

He was home.

He looked over at his companion who sat in the co-pilot’s seat next to him, smiling a bit at her expression. Rey was staring at the gas giant in awe, her large expressive eyes wide and her lips parted in astonishment. She blinked suddenly and licked her lips, then shook her head slightly.

“It’s huge,” she breathed. “Does it ever get dark on your world with that thing in the sky?”

Poe chuckled at her question. “Yes, we have a handful of nights every month where we can’t see her,” he said. “We call those nights Tinieblas. Those are the nights kids tend to find trouble to get into. A lot of babies are conceived on those nights, too.”

Rey glanced at him, a hint of color appearing in her cheeks at his words, but she looked away when he grinned. Her eyes focused on the tiny green moon they were heading towards. Her eyes grew wide again, this time in joy, and the corner of her mouth curled up in a small smile.

Poe turned his attention on the planet beneath them, his heart speeding up at the prospect of showing this amazing young woman his home. He had told her she would love it because of all the green, but as they got closer, he hoped he was right; he wasn’t sure why it was so important to him that she like this place, but it was.

“Do you still have family here?” Rey asked suddenly.

He glanced at her again as he checked the coordinates for the Grand Temple. “My dad,” he said. “He’s rarely left since he settled here after the war.” Poe shrugged as he noticed her curious look. “He’s the only family I have left.”

“Leia has mentioned him,” she said. “How long has it been since you’ve seen him?”

“Since I joined the Resistance,” he told her. His father hadn’t been happy when Poe left the New Republic Defense Force and had been even more unhappy when he had joined Leia and her Resistance, but he understood Poe’s need to fight the growing tyranny of the First Order. Their last conversation had been over comm, and Kes’ last words to Poe were “Come home when you can.”

“Does he know we’re coming?”

Poe flipped a couple of switches as the ship descended into the atmosphere of Yavin’s fourth moon. “I’m not sure. I know Leia was going to inform the director of the Temple Museum, Darkurr Naughtstrum, we were coming. Dar might have told my dad.” He gave her another grin. “Either way, he’ll know we’re here by this evening.”

The communicator on the control panel began blinking and Rey reached forward to read the notice that came up. “It’s a coded message from the Resistance,” she said, glancing at him.

Poe nodded. “Play it once we touch down. It’s probably from Leia.”

It only took a few moments for the Grand Temple to come into view. Again, Poe smiled at Rey’s awed expression. He never tired of seeing her reactions to new experiences and places. There was so much to see in this galaxy, and she had only been exposed to a tiny part of it in this past year. He couldn’t help but feel obligated to show her as much as he could whenever possible.

He focused on landing Beau’s small cruiser on the pad behind the Grand Temple, then he motioned to Rey to start playing the message as he began shut down procedures. Rey nodded at him and pressed the de-scramble button. A few seconds later, General Leia Organa’s face appeared in a hologram in front of them.

“I’m going to assume that you’ve reached your destination by now,” the older woman said with a soft smile on her face. “I want to not only congratulate you on the success of your mission, but also inform you that Zandav Perolle and Reilgin Shonarr are now quite famous. Dhilnaen jai Sheelal and the government of Kalee are absolutely livid and there are quite substantial rewards out for their capture and the safe return of the treasures they stole. Their pictures are being shared near and far, and I know it won’t take long for someone to recognize you two.” She laughed softly and shook her head. “I had no idea he would put up this much of a fuss over fifteen lightsabers. Anyway, I think it’s best you two stay where you are for a while, just until things settle down a bit. We’re going to do the same here; I’m not sending out anyone on any missions for the time being. I’m sure any bounty hunters that take on the job of trying to find you two will be watched closely by First Order spies and we don’t need to slip up when there are that many eyes looking for us.” She tilted her head. “In the meantime, why don’t you consider this a vacation of sorts. You could both use the downtime.” Again, she smiled, and this time the look was sly. “I’ll let you both know when you can head back to base. Say ‘hello’ to Kes for me!” Her holo disappeared.

Poe stared at the space his General’s image had just been, stunned. He looked over at Rey, only to see her expression just as bewildered. She looked back at him, her brows furrowed.

Movement out the cockpit window caught their attention, and Poe looked out to see Dar, the director of the future Alliance to Restore the Republic Museum, standing outside, hands on his hips, a curious expression on his face.

“Who’s that?” Rey asked, her voice a bit breathy.

Poe glanced at her, then back at the younger man waiting for them. “That’s Darkurr Naughtstrum,” he told her. Poe had known Dar for years, their father’s having been friends, but the last time Poe had seen him, Dar had still been a teen. Now in his early twenties, the boy Poe had known was an almost two-meter-tall man, with long black hair pulled back in a ponytail, a tawny complexion, and a fit, muscled physique .

He was hot.

“He’s…” Rey stopped, and Poe looked at her, his face heating. He knew exactly what Rey was thinking. “He’s… very attractive,” Rey finally finished diplomatically.

“Yeah,” Poe sighed. “Welcome to Yavin Four.”

******

Rey was about half way down the cruiser’s ramp when she stopped suddenly, closing her eyes and breathing in deep. The smell of the jungle around her was intoxicating, and the sounds coming from it were almost hypnotic. The dampness of the air, the songs from various birds and insects, the combined feeling of peace and wildness… it was perfect. She opened her eyes to see Poe smiling at her, his eyes softer than she had ever seen them.

“I knew you’d love it here,” he said, his voice almost tender.

Rey was speechless. She didn’t have words for how she felt, but she realized that she didn’t need them. He understood.

“Poe!”

The shout seemed to jerk them both out of the quiet connection that was occurring between them, and Rey looked over at the man she had seen waiting for them next to the landing pad. Poe was moving off the ramp and heading toward his friend, and as they embraced, Rey couldn’t help but smile at the contrast between the two. Poe was dwarfed by the huge man!

Darkurr Naughtstrum was not only very tall, but well-built. His sleeveless shirt revealed muscled arms and his handsome face was framed by thick, black dreads that were pulled back into a queue. His dark eyes flashed with humor and his smile was genuine as he hugged Poe. He was downright beautiful, she thought.

Almost as beautiful as Poe.

She pushed back that thought as the men separated and turned to face her. “Rey, this is Dar. He’s the one in charge of the almost museum they are going to put in the temple.” He looked back at Dar. “This is my associate, Rey.”

Dar’s eyes were focused on her intently now, and his smile was soft. “Nice to meet you, Rey,” he said, his voice rich and deep. “I never expected Dameron to bring a beautiful woman with him when he finally came home.”

Rey felt her face heat. It wasn’t the first time in the last several days she had been complimented on her looks, but she didn’t think she would ever get used to it. She decided to change the subject. “What do you mean almost museum?”

“They’ve been planning a museum dedicated to the history of the Rebel Alliance here for years,” Poe explained. “But after the Hosnian Cataclysm, those plans halted. Hopefully temporarily.”

“I will forever be grateful we never advertised what we were doing here,” Dar added. “Else I fear the First Order would have destroyed the temple by now. As it is, we have all the artifacts stored in the bunkers, so they should be safe if there is ever a surface attack.”

Poe nodded. “Well, we have something new for you to keep safe until the war is over,” he said, then he looked at Rey, nodding.

Rey stepped forward, slipping the strap of the bag she had over her shoulder down so she could open it, letting Dar look inside.

The man’s eyes widened. “Whoa!” he breathed. “Are those real?”

“They’re all in working order,” Rey told him. “I tested all fifteen on the way here.”

Dar glanced at Poe, then back at Rey. “You tested them?”

“She’s well versed in lightsabers,” Poe said with a smile. “She just rebuilt one herself.”

Dar’s eyes widened even more. “You’re… you’re a Jedi?”

Rey shook her head, immediately protesting. “No…”

“She will be,” Poe interrupted her. “She’s in training, but has already done amazing things.”

Rey glanced at him, surprised by the obvious pride in his voice.

“That’s so wizard!” Dar said, grinning. “Does she know about the tree?”

“Not yet,” Poe said. “I hope to introduce them on the way home.”

“Tree?” Rey asked.

Instead of answering her, Poe looked back at Dar. “Speaking of which, did you tell my dad I was coming?”

Dar shook his head. “I wasn’t sure how long you would be able to stay. The General just said you would be dropping off some important items for the museum.”

“Well, it looks like we’ll be here a while,” Poe said, glancing at Rey and reminding her about Leia’s cryptic message asking them to ‘lay low.’ “Do you happen to have some transport we can use, or do we need to hoof it?”

“I got a speeder you can use for as long as you need,” Dar confirmed. He looked at Rey, giving her another smile. “And I can’t say I’m upset to hear you’ll be staying.”

Once more, Rey felt a strange warmth flow through her at his scrutiny. It was unfamiliar, but it wasn’t unpleasant. She knew he was flirting, as she had seen others tease this way back on base, but no one had ever done it to her before. It felt… nice.

She heard Poe clear his throat and Dar smiled, directing them toward an older model speeder parked in the shade of the temple. Rey handed the bag of lightsabers over to the tall man, then gave him a shy smile as she followed Poe toward the speeder. As she slid into the passenger seat, she saw Poe shake his head.

“Well, I hope you’re as impressed with the tree as you were with Dar,” he grumbled.

Rey frowned at him. “What is this tree you’re talking about?” she asked. “I see hundreds, if not thousands of trees. Why is this one so special?”

Poe smirked. “You’ll see.”

Rey glared at him for a while, then focused on her surroundings. Force, this place was beautiful, she thought to herself again. She would never not think forests and jungles and green, grassy plains were beautiful. And this particular environment was full of animal life, as well. She could feel so much energy in the Force all around her. It made her skin tingle, as if she was standing too close to an electrical field, only it was a much more pleasant sensation.

And it was getting stronger.

She looked at Poe, only to see him glance at her, his eyebrows arched high.

“Wha-?” she started, then turned her head sharply ahead of them once more as the feeling seemed to surge. It was very similar to what she had felt on Ach-To so many months ago. The day she had found the Jedi Texts in the old dead tree.

Poe slowed the speeder as a large tree, very different from the others in the surrounding jungle, came into view. He stopped and without hesitating Rey slid out and walked toward the tree. She looked up at the grey/green leaves, then at the light brown bark of the trunk. She realized this was the same kind of tree that had housed the Sacred Texts, only this one was alive.

She reached out to stroke the smooth bark. “A Uneti Tree,” she whispered. “I didn’t think they existed anymore.”

“You know about them, then?” She turned, surprised to see Poe standing directly behind her. She had been so focused on the tree, she hadn’t heard him follow her.

“They are mentioned in one of the texts, and I gathered that the ancient tree on Ach-To was one.” She looked back at the tree. She could almost feel a pulsing coming from the trunk, as if it had a beating heart. “The books never said where they were from originally or where any living ones could be found.” She looked back at Poe. “How?”

“Luke Skywalker,” Poe said with a smile. “That’s how.”

Rey tilted her head at him. “Explain.”

Poe laughed. “My mom helped Luke ‘rescue’ two saplings from the Empire just after the war ended,” he told her. “They were all that was left of the tree that used to grow in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He gave one of the saplings to her, and she planted it here.”

Rey looked back at the tree in wonder. “So, you’ve known about this tree your whole life?”

He shrugged. “Well, most of it.”

“What did Luke do with the other one?” she asked, looking at him once more.

His face fell. “I believe he planted it on Ossus.” He took a deep breath. “But if he did, it was destroyed with the temple. I’ve been there, and there’s…” he paused. “There’s nothing left.”

Rey felt sorrow creep in, slowly overtaking the wonder she had been feeling.

“Ren.”

******

Poe watched Rey’s expressive face as she realized he was talking about the destruction Ben Solo did to Luke’s temple on Ossus. Her wonder and joy upon seeing the tree disappeared and a dark expression crossed her face. It happened every time the man was mentioned.

He wasn’t surprised she used the name Ren, however; he did the same thing. In his mind, Ben Solo was long gone, and he knew Rey was coming to the same understanding. He was aware that Rey had done her best to bring Leia’s son back to the light side while she had been aboard the Supremacy, and from what he understood she had almost succeeded. In the end, however, the Skywalker heir had chosen a path that Rey hadn’t followed. Thank the Force.

“Poe?”

A familiar and beloved voice called from the edge of the clearing, and the melancholia that Poe had fallen into while thinking of his old friend lifted immediately. He turned to the man calling with a smile.

“Papa!”

He glanced at Rey, who was watching them with raised eyebrows, then headed for his father, who was already making his way toward him. He embraced the ever-so-slightly taller man hard, feeling himself squeezed just as tightly in return. He closed his eyes, perfectly content to just stay like this for as long as his father would let him. Kriff, he had missed Kes!

Finally, he felt his father pull back, and Poe reluctantly let him go. His eyes searched the older man’s face, noting a bit more grey in his hair, a few more wrinkles on his face. But his dark eyes were still bright, his body still lean and fit. And at the moment, his smile was ecstatic.

“Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?” Kes demanded with a delighted laugh. He shook his head. “Never mind. I’m sure you don’t broadcast your comings and goings these days.”

Poe laughed in return. “Well, Dar did know we were coming, but we weren’t sure how long I could stay, so he didn’t let you know.”

He saw Kes’ eyebrows go up and his gaze moved past Poe at the mention of ‘we.’ Poe turned as well, smiling at Rey as she slowly moved toward them, her expression slightly nervous. “Papa, I’d like to introduce you to Rey.”

Poe didn’t need to elaborate. “Rey,” Kes nodded, his expression becoming soft as he reached out a hand to the young woman. Rey reached back, and as Kes took her hand, he brought his other hand up to cup hers as he gently shook it. “It is an honor and a pleasure to meet you, Rey,” he said, smiling warmly at her. “I have heard some impressive things about you.”

Rey looked embarrassed as she glanced at Poe. “Well, don’t believe everything you hear,” she said with a self-depreciating grin. “I’ve heard a bit about you, too, Sergeant.”

“Oh, please,” Kes shook his head. “Either call me Kes, or if you must, just Dameron. I haven’t gone by my rank in years.”

Rey nodded. “Kes, then.”

Kes nodded back, then looked at Poe once more. “So, how long can you stay? Please don’t tell me you’re leaving right away?”

Poe shrugged. “We were just supposed to drop off some rescued artifacts for the museum," Poe told his father. "But we were notified by the General that we are to ‘lay low’ here for an indeterminant amount of time.”

Kes cocked his head. “Do I need to know why?”

Poe glanced at Rey, who gave him an amused look in return. “Well, let’s just say that we’re going to have more than the First Order looking for us for a while. The artifacts we rescued we stole.” Poe had long ago learned that it was best to never lie to his father.

Kes looked back and forth between Poe and Rey for a moment, then he burst out laughing. “Why am I not surprised? At least you’ll be safe here. The folks on Yavin IV have no love for the First Order or bounty hunters.” He looked at his chrono. “It’s almost time for dinner, so why don’t we get you two fed, then you can get your stuff from your ship and get settled.”

Poe nodded, then as Kes turned back toward the edge of the clearing, he gestured for Rey to follow. Her expression curious, Rey did so. The jungle path Kes led them on was short, and soon the house Poe had grown up in stood before them. It was a simple structure, but sturdy and comfortable. A wild riot of colorful flowers surrounded the building, and a garden with various types of fruits and vegetables grew in the lot next to the house. While Poe saw a few small changes, for the most part it didn’t look much different than it had when he had been a child. And for that, he was glad.

Rey followed Kes into the house, and after looking around once more, Poe entered after them. He watched Rey as she looked about her, her expression curious, a small smile on her face. She looked pleased. She followed Kes into the kitchen, taking a long look at the holos on the mantle of the fireplace as she did so. Holos of Poe as a child, Poe in his Republic uniform in front of an X-Wing, and Poe with his mother, Shara.

“Rey, sit down,” Kes instructed her when they entered the kitchen. “Poe, why don’t you help me whip up some hot Runyip sandwiches.”

Poe’s stomach grumbled at the mention of one of his favorite meals. “Oh, hell, yeah,” he said with a grin, pulling off his jacket and hanging it over the back of the chair next to the one Rey sat in. He washed his hands, and within minutes was helping his father fry Runip patties and topato wedges. All the while, the two men chattered, Kes telling Rey stories from Poe’s childhood, and Poe playfully countering or agreeing with what his father was saying. Rey sat at the table with a delighted grin on her face, often giggling at what was being said. By the time the food was done and Poe and Kes sat down at the table ready to eat, they were all breathless from laughter.

They quieted as they ate, but Poe continued to focus on Rey, giving his father a conspiratorial smile when Rey's eyes widened after her first bite of the hot sandwich.

“This is amazing!” she said once she had finished chewing.

Poe tried to temper his reaction to her joy by reminding himself that Rey, in general, just loved food. She had grown up with so little variety that almost everything new she tried she loved. But he couldn’t help the surge of satisfaction running through him. His father gave him a raised eyebrow, and Poe realized he had best be careful. While making the people he cared about happy made him happy, this determination to help Rey find joy in all things was bordering on obsession.

It was about mid-meal when Rey finally slowed down in her eating enough to talk. “Do you run your farm by yourself, Kes?”

“Most of the year, yes,” his father answered. “But I hire on help during harvest, and Saramia helps out from time to time.”

That name got Poe’s immediate attention. “Saramia Fennden?” Poe had been very, very close to Saramia back in the day.

“Yes,” Kes nodded. “You probably hadn’t heard. Her husband passed a couple of years ago. She’s done a few odd jobs off and on since then, to get by. She doesn’t want to leave Yavin, but there isn’t a whole lot for a woman of her talents to do here.”

Her talents, Poe knew, included translating rare languages and archaeology. She had been all about studying the Massassi back when they had been young lovers, and she had gone on to the University on Hosnia Prime about the same time that Poe headed to the flight Academy. While there, she had met and married author and historian Wil Laugton, and they had both come to settle here on Yavin IV.

“She could have joined the Resistance,” Poe said softly. She could easily learn how to be a code-breaker.

“Well…” Kes smirked. “She does take jobs with the Koyo barges every once in a while,” he said. Yavin shipped out several tons of Koyo to various ports around the galaxy every month. “When she’s in port, she listens. Carefully.” He cocked his head. “Some of the things she hears, she passes on.”

“You mean, she’s spying?” Rey asked. There was approval in her voice.

Kes shrugged. “As I said, she doesn’t want to leave Yavin. But she does want to help where she can.”

Poe nodded, carefully considering his father’s words. Help could come from anywhere, and every little bit counted. “I’ll have to thank her,” he said softly.

“I know she’d love to see you again, Poe."

And Poe would love to see her again. He glanced at Rey, who was watching him, her large eyes seeing more than he really wanted her to see. She looked away, blinking rapidly, her expression almost sad. Poe tried not to imagine why.

He looked back at the food on his plate, realizing that this little ‘vacation’ was going to be a lot more complicated than he had imagined.

******

It didn’t take long at all for Rey to fall in love with Yavin IV.

Of course, you could say she fell for the planet before they had even landed; seeing all that green made her so happy. The atmosphere as soon as she stepped off the ship had only increased her affection, the Uneti tree had amazed and humbled her, the food was amazing, and Kes Dameron was as charming as his son. All these things together made this place an absolute joy.

But as with all good things, that joy couldn’t last forever.

Kes had settled her into the guest room of his little house not long after their meal ended, and Rey quickly realized she had never slept in such comfort before. Even the short stays in hostels and guest houses when on missions were never this nice and inviting. The bedroom had a large window that looked out onto Kes’ garden, and though the bed was small, it was the coziest bed she had ever slept on. Much better than the cot she used when she was on base.

She slept well that first night, feeling safe and secure, which was a rare thing for her. But as soon as she opened her eyes the next morning, her mind began to swirl with remembered incidences from the day before. Dar and his obvious flirting with her. Kes’ mention of Saramia and Poe’s reaction to her. The holos she had stopped to take a closer look at when they came back to the house after getting their belongings from the ship, especially the ones with a beautiful young woman with Poe’s thick, curly hair. His mother.

While she felt at home here in the Dameron household, there was more than a bit of discomfort at the knowledge that she was in essence invading Poe’s personal life, however inadvertently. It was obvious to her that he had a history with this Saramia, and that while he was friends with Dar, he had seemed uncomfortable with the man’s attention toward her. Or maybe she was just imagining things? The idea that Poe Dameron could be jealous of another man flirting with her was… well, she couldn’t say it didn’t appeal to her, but it was also very unlikely. The fact was, she sort of felt like she had walked into someone else’s drama without any advance warning, and she wasn’t completely sure she wanted any part of it.

She cared for Poe, no doubt about it, but her friendship with him had always had a strange formality to it. He treated her a lot like he treated Leia, with an air of respectful affection. She wasn’t sure if it was because of her status as an almost-Jedi or something else. While she accepted that they would never be best buddies like he and Finn were, some days she would see him with Finn or the pilots under his command and envy their closeness with him. The way he joked with them, laughed with them, touched them. His fondness for his friends was obvious and he was a very tactile person.

He was never like that with her.

Now here she was, staying in his father’s house with him, having already met one of his old friends and most likely would meet more, not to mention the odds of meeting his ex-girlfriend… She wasn’t sure why that last prospect unnerved her so much. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have any ex-lovers back on base. Or at least she had always assumed there were, though she couldn’t say who they might be. While Poe was warm and loving to all his friends, he never seemed to focus on any one person more than any other. And she needed to stop thinking about him like that.

Rey pulled herself out of the comfy bed and got dressed, already hearing activity in the main part of the house. She left the bedroom and headed down the hall, through the living room, and into the kitchen. Both Dameron men were moving around the small space, conversing and working together as if they hadn’t been apart for the last several years. Rey stopped in the doorway and watched them quietly for some time, enjoying their playful banter. As they continued to prepare the morning meal, she noted the similarities between them, as well as the differences.

Poe glanced at her at one point, a small smirk on his face, letting her know that he knew she was there, but he didn’t say anything. Eventually, she moved all the way in and sat at the table. The room smelled amazing, and Rey gave a brief thought that if they stayed too long, both she and Poe were liable to gain too much weight.

“Good morning, Rey, my dear!” Kes sang out as he poured her a cup of caf. She couldn’t help but grin at his attentions. Eventually, both men settled at the table with her, their plates laden with Ikopi sausage, scrambled Tip-yip eggs, and hot cakes. It was by far the best breakfast Rey had ever had.

“Do you eat like this every day, or is this just because I’m here?” she asked them.

“Guaranteed he wouldn’t have cooked like this just for me,” Poe said, essentially answering her question.

They all ate silently for a while, with Rey’s mind wandering as she began to think about the days ahead of her. Finally, she had to ask. “So, what are we supposed to do on this ‘vacation’?”

Poe shrugged. “Well, I plan to take advantage of it and sleep as much as possible. Catch up on some reading. Hang out at Clint’s.”

“Clint’s?”

Kes snorted. “Poe’s favorite cantina in the village,” he answered Rey. “The best and the worst place around here.”

“Best and worst, huh?” Rey smiled.

“It’s a great place to meet with friends and have a good time, but it can get a little rowdy on occasion,” Poe explained. “Do they still have live music?” he asked his father.

“Most of the time,” Kes nodded.

“I’ll have to take Rey on a night they do,” he said with a smile. “She loves music.”

Rey felt her face heat. The fact that he knew that about her made her wonder what other personal things he knew. It made her feel a bit awkward, but also excited. She wasn’t going to think about why. Instead, she swallowed the bite of food she had just taken and looked at Kes.

“I don’t think I’ll be very good at doing nothing. Do you have any jobs I can do around here?”

Kes laughed. “I am not putting you to work, Rey. But I will show you around the property after breakfast.”

Kes was true to his word and gave Rey the grand tour of the Dameron farm. Rey met the few animals Kes kept around, all of whom were essentially pets, though the Nuvu cow did give him milk on a regular basis. She met the handful of droids that Kes kept on hand; none of them seemed to be programed to do more than Kes himself did, and Kes explained to her that he preferred to do most of the work himself. At the end of the tour, she got to partake in a freshly picked Koyo fruit. It was amazing.

Just one more thing to add to her list of why she loved Yavin IV.

She tried to settle in and relax, watching Poe as he spent a great deal of the next couple of days reclined on a hammock out in the yard, reading and sleeping. Doing exactly what he said he wanted to do. But Rey just couldn’t be lazy like that. She enjoyed reading, but she couldn’t do it for too long before she had the almost panicked urge to do something physical. She practiced with Luke’s newly repaired lightsaber. She tried to meditate by the Uneti tree. And finally, during the late morning on their third day, she walked to the Grand Temple.

It was while she was walking around the base of the impressive monolithic stone building that Darkurr Naughtstrum found her.

“Hey!” he smiled. “I was hoping to see you again.”

“You were?” Rey wasn’t really sure how to respond to the man.

Instead of answering, he asked, “Do you want a tour?”

Glancing at the temple, then back at the handsome man before her, Rey nodded.

“Yes. Yes, I would.”

******

It was almost time for the mid-day meal when Poe started worrying about Rey.

He had been doing his best to not interfere with whatever she wanted to do during their forced vacation, but he had kept his eye on her. He knew she was getting frustrated with their lack of activity, and he wondered if he should just let it be until she found out how to relax or if he should volunteer to help find things to keep her busy. When she didn’t show up at the house for the meal (she never missed a meal!), he started to panic. The last he had seen of her had been around mid-morning when she had wandered back from the direction of the Uneti tree.

When asked, his dad simply shrugged. “She’s bored,” he said. “Maybe she walked into town.”

Poe ate in a rush, then jumped in the speeder, intent on finding her. He knew he had no reason to worry about her here, and that even if she were to run into trouble, she was more than capable of taking care of herself, but worry he did. This was his home and he was supposed to be her host.

He wasn’t even off the property before he turned the speeder in another direction. He would check the Grand Temple first. Not only was it closer, but he knew Rey knew of the importance that the Temple and the surrounding area had in the previous war, and he bet she would be curious to know more.

It was quiet around the Temple as he pulled up, but an older woman walked out of the front area, where the entrance to the museum would be if and when they ever got it going. He recognized her as a long-time resident of the village, but he had never known her well. Fiona Joshen, he believed her name was. She smiled as she recognized him.

“Hello, Poe!” she called out as he exited the speeder. “Nice to have you back for a while. I bet your father is ecstatic!”

He gave her a tight smile. “Yeah, he’s pretty happy about it.”

“Not staying long, I’m assuming,” the woman continued. “Much more important things to do, I’m sure.” She gave him a soft smile. They all recognized he was wanted by the First Order here on Yavin IV. But he knew no one here would give him up. This whole area had been settled by Rebel survivors like his father; it’s why Leia knew they would be safe and hidden here.

Poe nodded. “You haven’t seen my friend, Rey, have you?”

“Oh, yes!” Fiona smiled. “Lovely girl. It’s hard to believe she’s a Jedi, but then I have only known one.” Poe was pretty sure she was talking about Luke Skywalker. “Dar gave her a tour, let her see all the artifacts. She was fascinated.”

Dar. “Are they still here?” he asked.

“Oh, no,” she shook her head. “He took her into the village for lunch almost an hour ago.”

“Thank you, Fiona,” he told her with a smile. Then turned back toward the speeder. “Have a beautiful day!”

“And you!” she said, waving before heading back into the Temple.

Poe tried not to rush as he continued on to the village. He trusted Dar, and once more he reminded himself that Rey could take care of herself. It’s not like she was in any danger. But something still made him hurry. He parked just behind the Plaza, which was one of the largest buildings in the colony and housed several different shops. Most of the traffic in the village was foot traffic, with the occasional draft animal, so most speeders were parked outside the center of town.

He walked quickly toward the square, knowing the most popular diners were in that area, and wondered which one Dar would take Rey. He reached the large open park-like area that was surrounded by eateries and specialty shops and decided to try the closest first. It was a popular bistro called Cotogna. The door was open as was common and Poe was able to look inside casually. It didn’t take but a moment for him to find who he was looking for.

They were seated off to the side, mostly empty plates still in front of them, and they were talking animatedly to each other. Rey started laughing at something Dar said and the tall man laughed back, his voice booming over the sound of the dozen or so people chatting around them. Rey shook her head, said something in reply, and they both laughed again. Her eyes were bright and her face glowed.

He had never seen her so happy.

Feeling his chest get tight, Poe pulled back out of the room before either of them spotted him. He turned away and walked down the boardwalk a bit, trying to stifle the feeling that was growing inside him. He recognized it for what it was: jealousy. And he also recognized that he had no right to that feeling. Rey was a colleague, a fellow soldier, maybe even a friend of sorts. She had never given any indication that she thought of him in any other way, and in fact seemed to keep him at a distance more than others in the Resistance. There was absolutely no reason that she shouldn’t be having a good time with a handsome, sexy man who was close to her own age and who was obviously attracted to her.

He made her laugh, Poe thought. She deserved to laugh. To have fun. To feel wanted and special and…

“Poe?”

He turned sharply at the sound of his name, the ache in his chest making him jumpy.

The woman who stood before him was familiar and at the moment very welcome.

“Saramia,” he whispered. The woman smiled, her onyx-colored skin vibrant and beautiful.

Saramia had been the teenage love of his life. His friend. His confidant. His first lover. They had grown apart as their interests changed with maturity, but they had always remained friends. He had even come to her wedding, taking leave from the New Republic Navy to do so. After he joined the Resistance, he had left behind any regular contact with his father or friends, so the news that her husband had died had caught him off guard. Immediately, the mish-mash of feelings he had been fighting about Rey eased as his concern for his friend took over.

He stepped forward, opening his arms, and the woman slid right into them.

“I’m so sorry about Wil,” he said softly, kissing her short, almost shaved hair.

He felt her nod in reply, then she slowly backed away, taking his hands in hers. “You’ve had your own losses lately, from what I understand.”

More than a few, Poe thought, but he knew she meant Muran. He had mentioned his fellow pilot to her while visiting with her after her wedding, and he knew Muran’s death near Suraz IV had made Intergalactic news. Saramia had made it known at her wedding that Poe shouldn’t let the fact that he was Muran’s superior prevent him from seeking more than friendship from the man, but Poe had chickened out. Muran had died never knowing Poe’s true feelings, and that regret still haunted him.

“It’s been a long war,” Poe responded, his throat tight.

“That it has,” Saramia agreed. “And somehow I don’t think you’re here hiding out from it.” She raised her eyebrows, her chocolate eyes expressive.

Poe couldn’t help but smile. “No, just laying low waiting for a special little storm to pass,” he told her. “I hear you’ve been helping in your own way.”

She tilted her head and gave him a humble, “I try.”

Poe caught movement out of the corner of his eye and looked over to see Rey and Dar walking toward them. Rey was looking back and forth between him and Saramia, her expression curious. The jealousy he had been feeling earlier roared back as he noticed Dar’s hand on Rey’s lower back. He towered over the young Jedi, making her appear soft and vulnerable. Which Poe knew she was not.

“Hey, Rey,” he started. He looked at Saramia, squeezing her fingers briefly. Then he looked back at Rey, his brain automatically comparing the two women. They were complete opposites, he thought. Skin tone, hair, eyes… However, there was one thing they had in common. They were both drop-dead gorgeous. “This is Saramia Fennden, an old friend.” He glanced at Saramia, dropping one of her hands to gesture toward Rey. “And this is Rey, the Resistance’s secret weapon.”

Rey scoffed. “Oh, Kriff, Poe. Please don’t call me that.” She gave a nervous smile toward Saramia. “Hello.”

Saramia smiled at her and nodded. “Hello, Rey.” She glanced at Poe, then looked back at Rey and Dar, who still had his hand on the young woman. “How are you enjoying Yavin IV so far?”

Rey looked at Poe, then back at Dar, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. “Uh, it’s been nice.”

Dar spoke up. “I’m taking Rey to the KoyoFest dance tomorrow night.”

It was then that Poe knew that any feelings he had for Rey other than friendship would need to remain undisclosed. She deserved to enjoy this time away from the war, and he wasn’t the one she wanted to spend it with. The hurt that surged through him startled him and made him angry. Once more, he reminded himself: He had no right.

It didn’t make him feel any better.

******

The next evening found Rey nervously getting ready for this ‘dance’ Dar had talked her into attending with him. She had never been to one before; in fact, the only social get-togethers she had ever been to were the casual events the Resistance put on for holidays or birthdays or such. And of course, the soiree that she and Poe had just attended on Kalee. When she asked Dar what a dance was, he had told her it was exactly what it sounded like: a party where they danced. There would be live music and lots of food and drinks. When Rey told him she didn’t know how to dance, he promised to teach her.

She had gone back to the cruiser for something to wear. While the outfits she had brought for their visit to Kalee, both the day suits and the fabulous evening gown, were far too fancy for what Poe called a ‘Yavin Barn Dance,’ she thought the dress she had worn to the meeting with Dhilnaen jai Sheelal without the robe and accessories that had accompanied it, was suitable by itself. So, she had slipped into the navy-blue sleeveless sheath, then she took her hair out of its normal tight triple bun style and brushed it, leaving it loose around her shoulders.

When she recognized Dar’s voice talking with Kes, she excitedly left the bedroom and practically skipped down the hall. She smiled as she entered the sitting room, and both men turned to her, their eyes wide.

“Rey, you look lovely!” Kes exclaimed. “Not that you didn’t before, but that dress suits you.”

“Thank you,” she said softly, glancing around the room, looking for Poe.

Dar walked up to her, pulling her attention to him. “I am going to be the envy of every person at the dance,” he told her with a grin, holding out his hand. Rey let him take hers and watched as he bowed over it and kissed it. Rey felt her face heat. She hadn’t realized men were so formal here on Yavin.

“Oh, good grief, Naughtstrum,” Poe’s voice grumbled. “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t we?”

Rey turned her head to see him enter the room from the kitchen. He smirked at her, then looked at Dar.

“A beautiful woman such as this deserves to be recognized,” Dar argued.

“Oh, I agree,” Poe nodded. “But you don’t have to embarrass them when you do.” He looked at Rey, his eyes soft. “You do look lovely, Rey,” he told her. “I hope you have fun tonight.”

Why did his simple compliment make her feel more special than that of the other two men, she wondered? And why did it also make her sad? “You should come, Poe,” she said suddenly. While she was excited to spend the evening with Dar, she didn’t like the idea of Poe staying here. “You can ask Saramia to come with you.”

Poe laughed softly, shaking his head. “Saramia and I never did enjoy these kind of parties, even when we were kids. But you should experience one at least once. I think you’ll have a great time, and Dar will take good care of you.” He looked at the man, his expression serious. Dar looked back, his expression equally somber, and Rey sensed some sort of private communication between the men.

After a long moment, Dar nodded. “Let’s go,” he told Rey, then tucked her hand, which he was still holding, under his elbow. “We’ll see you both later,” he said to Poe and Kes, then turned toward the door. Rey followed, but looked over her shoulder at Poe just before walking out. His expression was hard, almost angry. He made eye contact with her, but then looked away quickly. As if he was ashamed.

More than a little unsettled by all the things that hadn’t been said, Rey tried to get comfortable in the passenger seat of Dar’s speeder. It was still daylight, but the sun was getting low. Yavin was almost pink in the south, with most of the gas giant visible above the horizon. The sounds of the jungle around her were soothing, and Rey enjoyed the ride back into the village, answering Dar’s occasional question.

All too soon, they had arrived. Rey’s nerves took over once more as Dar led her from the general parking area and down the main street of the village. She could hear music coming from a large building on the far side of the square, and several people stood just outside the open door, most with drinks in their hands, talking and laughing. Dar stopped and introduced her to a couple of people as they headed for the door, and finally they stepped inside.

The lights were fairly low, but Rey could also feel that the building was artificially cooled, which was a good thing considering the amount of physical activity that was occurring. Dozens of people, mostly human (the majority of Wetyin’s Colony’s population was human), were coursing on the open floor in the center of the room. There was no real rhyme or reason to their dancing, but they were sure having fun.

Rey looked at Dar. “That’s how you dance?”

He laughed. “Well, they do have more organized dances, but they’re just letting off some steam right now. Things get a little slower as the evening goes on.”

Rey learned that he was correct, as she joined him on the dance floor for the first few rousing jigs, but eventually he brought her into his arms and began to teach her dances with actual steps to them. Rey caught on quickly, and she found herself laughing and breathless in no time. They stopped for snacks and drinks, and Dar introduced her to several of his friends. They were all very curious about her, but Dar didn’t elaborate or tell any of them that she was there with Poe.

As the night wore on, the dancing became slower. At first, she felt more than a little self-conscious dancing close to her partner, but she started to enjoy it. He was so much taller than her, his body strong and powerful, but he was so gentle with her. Despite their activity, he still smelled amazingly good, and his touch was not just enjoyable, it made her feel excited. She was inexperienced sexually, but she wasn’t naive; she knew what she was feeling was mild arousal.

Eventually, the crowd around them began to diminish, and after one more slow song, Dar looked at her, his eyes hooded, his voice deep and rough. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

“Where?” she whispered.

“I have an apartment just a few blocks away,” he told her.

Rey’s heart started beating faster. Should she? There was no reason not to. Nobody back with the Resistance had ever made her feel this way, at least not intentionally. Nobody back at the Resistance had ever made advances toward her. She may be fighting a war, but that was no reason to not take time for herself. To explore. To learn. To love.

She nodded. There was only one other man that had ever made her feel this way, and he would never look at her like Dar was looking at her now. It was time to take a step into new territory. They would leave here soon and she may never see Dar again, but for now she could enjoy what he was offering. There was no one there to tell her no.

They left the hall and started walking down the street. It had gotten dark while they had been inside, but the village was well lit, and Yavin was now a bright red and higher in the sky. They walked past shops closed for the night, and a few tapcafes and cantinas that were still open. He led her to one of those cantinas, but he turned down the alley next to it, then up a stairway along the side of the building.

“I’m surprised you don’t live at the Temple,” she said as he punched his code in.

“Sometimes it feels like I do,” he told her with a smile. The door opened and he turned on the interior light, motioning for her to enter. Everything about the situation was inviting. The man, the comfortably furnished room in front of her, the relaxed lethargy that had filled her while she had been dancing. And yet, she hesitated.

Dar seemed to understand. He stepped into her space, gently cupping her face in his big hands. “If you don’t want to do this, I understand.”

Rey licked her lips. “I do,” she said. “But… I’ve never…”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Never?”

Rey shook her head. “I’ve never wanted to. Until…”

Dar tilted his head at her. “Until?”

Rey blinked at him. “There’s one man I’ve thought about. But he has no interest in me that way.”

Dar scoffed. “He’s crazy.”

Rey shrugged. “I’m just not his type,” she said. “Plus, he’s my superior, so…”

He cocked his head. “You’re talking about Poe, aren’t you?”

Rey winced. She hadn’t meant to let him know. “I…” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, does it?”

Dar frowned a bit, but then leaned into her. “Let’s find out.” He brought his lips close to hers, then stopped.

She completed the connection, leaning up to touch her lips to his. He brought his hands down to her shoulders and stepped closer, increasing the pressure of his lips against hers. She felt his tongue gently touch her, and she parted her lips in response. He continued kissing her, softly, gently, with hypnotic strokes of his tongue. She liked it very much, and she placed her hands on his chest, enjoying the heat of his body.

He pulled back and opened his eyes. Rey looked back at him, feeling an odd disconnection all of a sudden. As if it wasn’t really her standing here kissing this man. As if she was watching it happen from a distance. She frowned.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered, seeing her expression change.

“I…” She stopped, a strange certainty filling her. “I don’t think I’m ready for this.” Maybe she never would be, she thought. She gave Dar an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”

Dar swallowed and nodded. “I understand.” He stepped back. “Let me take you back to Kes’.”

Rey shook her head. “It’s not that far. I’d really like to walk.”

“Are you sure?”

She smiled. “I think you know I can take care of myself, Dar.”

He nodded again, resigned.

“Goodnight, and thank you. I had a lot of fun.” She turned to head back down the stairs.

“Rey?” he called out when she was half-way down.

She stopped and looked back up.

“I think you’re wrong about Poe. I think he’s very interested in you. He was not happy about me taking you out.”

Rey stared at him. “What?”

“I don’t know why he lets you believe otherwise, but if I were you, I’d push him to tell you the truth.” He gave her a sad smile. “You both deserve to be happy, and if you find that with each other, you just might give each other even more incentive to win this war. Goodnight.”

Rey watched as he disappeared inside his apartment, then continued down the stairs. She turned in the direction that would lead back to the Dameron farm, her mind a jumble of thoughts after hearing Dar’s words. She passed another cantina, and just around the corner stood a couple making out. Rey immediately averted her eyes, wanting to give them privacy, but something made her glance up as she was almost past. She stopped short, realizing she recognized them.

It was Poe and Saramia.

******

“What are you doing with that girl?”

Poe turned from staring at the door Rey and Dar had just disappeared through and looked at his father in surprise.

“What do you mean?” he gasped.

Kes gestured toward the door. “Sending her off with Dar like that? Like you’re trying to matchmake or something?” He shook his head. “Dar isn’t going to join the Resistance, and Rey sure as hell can’t stay here. So, why are you trying to pair them up?”

Poe frowned. “Papa, they’re just going to a dance! They’re not getting married!” He turned back toward the kitchen, suddenly in dire need of alcohol. “Rey didn’t grow up in a very social environment,” he explained as his father followed him. “I thought the least she could do while she’s stuck here is have fun.”

“Well, then why couldn’t you take her?” Kes asked. “Instead of taking a risk that she’ll fall for Dar and get her heart broken when she leaves.”

Poe swung around to face him. “I can’t take her!” he argued. “She’s under my command,” he said, but even he knew that was a weak argument. Rey wasn’t really part of the military aspect of the Resistance. Just because he had the experience and rank and therefore had been in charge of their mission didn’t really make him her superior. “Besides, she wouldn’t want a man so much older than her.”

Kes folded his arms in front of his chest, raising his eyebrows. “But it’s just a dance,” he said with a smirk.

Poe huffed and turned back toward the cooler. He searched inside, then in the cupboard next to it, while his father continued to watch him silently. “Don’t you have anything to drink around here?”

“I see the way you look at her, Poe,” Kes said softly. “I see how you keep an eye on her at all times, even though you pretend not to.”

“I have to keep an eye on her,” Poe stated. “She’s important to the Resistance, both because of her abilities and because of her reputation. Leia would kill me if anything happened to her.”

Kes nodded, humming in agreement. “Seems to me you’re pretty important to the Resistance, too. Last I heard, your reward for capture was almost as much as hers.” He shrugged. “It makes me wonder why Leia sent her two most valuable soldiers on this mission together.” He paused. “Unless she had something else planned for the two of you.”

Poe glared at him for a moment, then began to move past him, heading out of the kitchen. “I’m going into town to get something to drink.” He heard Kes follow.

“Don’t stop at the auditorium,” the older man said, humor in his voice. “You don’t need to get anymore jealous than you already are.”

Rolling his eyes, Poe turned to him again. “I am not jealous!”

“Yeah, right,” his father snorted. “Tell me you’re not going to be a complete mess if Rey doesn’t come home tonight.”

Poe felt his breath catch. It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought that was a possibility. In fact, he rather expected it. He knew that was how Dar hoped the evening would end. But Kes saying it out loud brought images to Poe’s mind that he would rather not think about. Like how much Dar towered over Rey, and how she had looked more feminine and delicate than he had ever seen her next to the younger man. How she had been very comfortable with Dar touching her. The blush on her cheek when Dar had been kissing her hand. The smile she had given him.

Rey wanted it, too.

He swallowed. “Rey’s a grown woman. She’s smart and savvy and knows what she wants. Dar will respect her wishes, and if her wishes include spending the night with him, then I’m…” he paused, twisting his lips in frustration. “I’m going to go get drunk.” He turned and headed out the door.

The echo of his father’s laughter followed him outside and half-way to the speeder. Of course, he wanted Rey, he thought. And of course, his father could tell. But it would never happen. Rey didn’t look at him that way. Hell, just a short time ago, she had hinted that he looked old enough to be her father thanks to the grey in his beard. He ran a hand over his face, suddenly wishing he had shaved the damn thing off after they left Kalee, but he kind of liked how it made him a bit more invisible here on Yavin. While he trusted that most of the people here would never dream of turning him into the First Order, they were offering a good price for his head, and money was always alluring.

He drove to the village, taking it relatively slow, not wanting to catch up to Dar and Rey. He would prefer not to see either one of them again tonight. Maybe he could get himself so drunk that the hangover tomorrow would hide any reaction he might have to finding out Rey had indeed spent the night with Dar. Kriff, was she even experienced with sex, he wondered? She never seemed abashed or confused when part of sexual conversations with others at the base, and sometimes they got crude enough to make him blush. But that didn’t mean she had any practical experience. It just meant she was familiar with talk like that, and knowing she had grown up in the rough environment of Jakku, he wasn’t surprised. She could have taken lovers before she came to the Resistance. At least, he hoped any experience she had was consensual, although the thought of her willingly selling herself for rations didn’t sit well with him any more than rape did.

It didn’t matter, he told himself. Dar would take care of her. If she decided to have sex with him, Dar would make sure she enjoyed it, whatever her experience.

He pulled into the main parking area outside of the village, making note of Dar’s speeder as he did so, then he quickly made his way in the opposite direction of the auditorium. He could hear the music and laughter from here, but soon the techno music and conversation of Clint’s drowned out the sound of the party down the way. He went right up to the bar and ordered a Red Dwarf.

He wasn’t even half-way through his drink when someone touched his arm. He turned his head to see Saramia smiling at him.

“Hey!” she said. “What are you doing here?”

“Just getting away from my dad for a while,” he told her with a grin. “Force knows I love him, but living with him again…”

Saramia laughed. “Come sit with us,” she said, gesturing toward a table in the back. Three other humans and a couple of Rodians sat there, watching them rather excitedly. “Co-workers,” Saramia said with a wink.

Spies, Poe thought. Helping the Resistance the best way they knew how. And now they were excited to meet the legendary Poe Dameron. He sighed, giving Saramia a exaggerated grimace. Laughing again, she took his arm and led him to the table.

Her group of ‘friends’ turned out to be pretty entertaining. They had all been raised here on Yavin, with parents that had been a part of the Rebel Alliance, and after Hosnian Prime’s destruction, they had set out to do what they could, building a network that spanned the Outer Rim, and answering to one of Leia’s most trusted allies, Garek, a Sullustian spy who had worked for the Rebellion years ago.

Poe enjoyed his time with the group for a couple of hours, drinking and laughing and not thinking about what Dar might be doing to Rey. Well, mostly. Eventually, the party broke up, as most of them were heading off-world the next morning. Theirs was a dangerous hobby, and Poe knew that every time one of them left Yavin IV, they prayed they would be coming back. He thanked them all, then he and Saramia started wandering slowly toward the parking area.

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive home?” Saramia asked him. “I could find a valet droid to drive your speeder back.”

Poe hadn’t drunk as much as he had been planning to on his arrival here tonight, so his head was still clear. “I’m good,” he told her. “I’ll go slow so if I run into a tree, I won’t get hurt too bad.”

“You’re not funny, Dameron,” Saramia grumbled.

He chuckled. “You do remember what I do for a living, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do,” she sighed, stopping to look up at him. “You’re just living to die, aren’t you?”

He shook his head. “Not until the war is won,” he said softly. “And then I hope I’ve found something to live for past that.”

“You still haven’t found anybody?” she whispered, her eyes sad.

He shook his head. “Not like you did,” he said, raising a hand up to touch her smooth cheek. “Was it worth the pain?” he asked as she nuzzled into his hand. “Was the love worth the loss?”

She looked him in the eye. “My pain would say otherwise,” she told him honestly. “But when I remember the time we had, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. So, yes. It was worth it.” She took the hand that was still touching her cheek in both of hers. “Come stay with me tonight.”

In answer, Poe leaned in. Saramia responded as he hoped, meeting his lips with her own. She was soft and sweet and familiar, and he could feel himself start to harden. If Rey was getting lucky tonight, he thought caustically, then why shouldn’t he? Saramia’s arms came up around his neck and he pulled her close, letting his tongue dance with hers, letting the alcohol and the arousal take control of his senses.

Suddenly, she pulled back. He opened his eyes sluggishly, finding himself surprised and disturbed that he had expected to see Rey in his arms. Kriff, he must be more drunk than he thought. Saramia was looking past him, smiling slightly. She looked back at him. “Someone was watching us,” she said with a chuckle. “Maybe we should take this to my place?”

Poe turned to glance at where she had been looking, but whoever she had been talking about was gone. He frowned, then looked back at Saramia. “Who was it?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t really see,” she said. “A woman. Why?”

Poe shook his head, the dizzy feeling inside increasing. “I… I don’t know. I just…” He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I should probably go home,” he said regretfully. He looked back down toward the auditorium, which was much quieter than it had been.

Saramia cocked her head at him. “You’re worried about your friend, aren’t you?”

Poe looked at her, startled.

“Dar’s a good guy. He won’t hurt her.”

Poe felt a smile form, and his head cleared a bit. “I know that.”

“Then it’s something else that has you worried about her?”

Poe stared at her for a long moment before shaking his head slightly. “It doesn’t matter. Only the war matters.”

“That’s not true,” Saramia told him. “Love is the reason we’re fighting the First Order,” she said. “In the end, love is all that matters.” She stepped back. “Go home, Dameron. And maybe think about not taking anything, including the people you care about, for granted. Life is too short. Find that person that will make you want to live beyond this war. And don’t let her go.”

******

When Rey woke the next morning, the sun was already fairly high. Despite sleeping in later than normal, she still felt exhausted. After witnessing Poe and his ex-girlfriend kissing the night before, she had high-tailed it out of town, taking a trail that she knew would lead her to the Uneti tree. The light of Yavin was enough for her to see by, and the tree itself called to her. She spent the next couple of hours trying to meditate, but she kept thinking about them. Poe and the lovely Saramia. They looked so good together, Rey thought. Both so beautiful. Both so brave. She could imagine that sex between them was amazing, both experienced not only in the act of making love, but knowing each other well enough to know what the other liked.

After struggling to not think about Saramia’s naked limbs wrapped around an equally naked Poe, Rey realized she had tears in her eyes. Dammit, she thought. She should have just gone back to Dar’s. He would have been thrilled to invite her inside once more. And he would have taken care of her, she knew. He would have made her feel wonderful. He would have made her forget about… Poe.

She had eventually made her way back to Kes’. The speeder parked at the house surprised her, until she thought that maybe Poe had walked to the village or had been picked up by Saramia. She was quite sure he wasn’t the kind of lover to just do the act and leave, so he had to still be with the other woman. She snuck into the house quietly and made her way to her bedroom, but even then, it took a long time for her to fall asleep.

Now, as she lay there trying to find the desire to get out of bed, she dreaded seeing Poe. Knowing where he had been last night. What he had been doing. How could she look him in the eye without letting him see how… jealous she was. Yep. She was going to admit it. She was jealous.

Eventually, she pulled herself out of the bed and dressed. When she made her way tentatively to the kitchen, she was surprised to see Kes there alone, reading a datapad, a cup of caf in front of him. He looked up and smiled at her. “Poe was convinced you hadn’t come home last night, but I thought I heard you sneak in around 0100.”

“Poe thought I didn’t come home?” she asked, confused. “Where did he think I was?”

Kes shrugged with one shoulder. “Well, he was sure you spent the night with Dar.”

Rey was speechless for a moment. “Really?” she finally mumbled. “When did he get back?”

“Oh, before I went to bed,” he said. “Around 2200, I guess?”

Rey was startled. That wasn’t long after she had seen him with Saramia. Meaning…

“What’s wrong?” Kes asked, putting the datapad down.

Rey sat down opposite him, shrugging. “I… I saw him with Saramia last night,” she said softly. “I assumed he was going to spend the night with her.”

“You saw him with Saramia?” Kes frowned. “When?”

“As I was leaving town,” she told him. “I walked. Spent some time at the Force tree.”

“You walked?” Kes exclaimed. “Why? Did Dar do something?” He looked as if he was starting to get angry.

"No, no!” Rey shook her head. “He didn’t do anything wrong!” She took a deep breath. “He invited me to stay the night and I declined. He offered to drive me back, but I told him I wanted to walk. I needed to think.” She looked down. “That’s when I saw Poe and Saramia.”

Kes was silent a moment. “And you thought he was going to spend the night with her.” It wasn’t a question.

Rey nodded.

“And he thought you spent the night with Dar.” Kes suddenly dropped his face into his hands. “Awwww Kriff,” she heard him swear, his voice muffled.

“What’s wrong?” Rey asked.

When Kes brought his hands away from his face, he was smiling. “You two,” he answered. “That’s what’s wrong! I have never met two people so completely oblivious in my life!” He sighed, his expression becoming serious once more. “Rey, do you care for my son?”

“Of course!” Rey answered immediately. “He’s my…” She stopped. What was Poe to her, exactly? “He’s my friend,” she finished weakly.

“Do the two of you ever actually… talk?” Kes continued. “About things other than the war and whatever mission you’re currently on?”

Rey sat silent. She remembered conversations where they had both talked of personal things, but those exchanges had taken place while they were with other friends like Finn, Rose, Jess, and C’ai. Never had they had intimate conversations with each other one on one. She shook her head, sad all of a sudden. “No.”

“Maybe you should start,” Kes said, his own expression sincere now. “I think you two have a lot that needs to be said to each other.”

Rey’s mind began to race. “Dar thinks…” She took a deep breath. “Dar thinks Poe was jealous last night. Do you think that’s true?”

Kes nodded, giving her a sad smile. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s true.”

“Then why hasn’t he said anything to me?”

“Have you ever given him any reason to believe you think of him as more than a friend?” Kes asked. “My son is a very confident man,” he continued. “But he was taught long ago to revere Jedi, and I think he’s very confused by his feelings for you. He wants to be your friend, but he doesn’t think he deserves to be anything more than that.”

Rey huffed softly and shook her head. “Sometimes I think Poe knows more about the Force than I ever will," she said softly. “He’s more than worthy.”

“Maybe you should tell him that,” Kes responded with a soft smile. “He went out to the groves. To think.”

Rey nodded. “I feel like taking a walk,” she said, standing. “Fresh koyo straight from the tree sounds like a wonderful breakfast.”

She could still hear Kes’ laughter as she left the house.

******

Poe had been wandering aimlessly through the Koyo orchard for over an hour now, and he still hadn’t come up with a solution to his problem. How could he? A person couldn’t just make themselves fall out of love, even when they knew their feelings would never be reciprocated. The only way to fix this was to tell Rey the truth, and then deal with the aftermath, whatever that might be. Whatever friendship they had would most likely be destroyed, but hopefully it wouldn’t make her so uncomfortable that she wouldn’t work with him anymore.

He turned down at the end of the row and noticed a person standing not too far away, leaning against one of the trees. He recognized the familiar off-white tunic and grey trousers that Rey preferred immediately, and all the tension that he managed to release on his walk roared back. Kriff, he wasn’t ready to face her, yet. He didn’t want to see her sparkling eyes or glowing skin or beard burn, or any other aftereffect of good sex.

He saw the figure straighten and knew she had seen him, so there was no way he could turn the other way and pretend he hadn’t seen her. Taking a deep breath, he continued around the corner and headed her way.

She had a koyo in her hand and when she saw him, she squatted down and used a vibroblade to quarter it. She smiled at him as she returned the knife to her belt, then stood and handed him one of the pieces as he got close.

He took it, confused. “What’s this for?”

“Peace offering,” she answered. She started to eat from the quarter that she had kept.

Poe watched her for a moment, trying his best to not think about licking off the juice that was currently running down her chin. As he expected, her eyes were bright and her skin was glowing, but she also looked a bit… nervous. He cleared his throat and took a bite of his own piece of fruit.

When he felt like he had gathered his wits, he asked, “Did we have a fight I don’t remember?”

She smiled. “Call it a preventative,” she said, cocking her head. “For the fights I’m sure we’ll have.” Her smile turned teasing.

Was she flirting with him? Or was he just imagining things?

“So,” she began. “How come you didn’t stay with Saramia last night?” She looked away as she said this, uneasiness returning to her expression.

“How..?” He felt shock roll through him. “Did you talk to her this morning?” That was the only way he could fathom she knew he had even been to town last night.

Rey shook her head. “No. I saw the two of you outside one of the cantinas last night.” She paused and looked at him. He realized she looked as exhausted as he felt. “Your dad said you came home shortly after that.”

She must have been the person Saramia saw. No wonder he had been thinking about Rey during the kiss. He had always been able to somehow ‘feel’ her presence. He took a deep breath. “Were you and Dar heading to his place?” His voice sounded weak even to his own ears.

She shook her head. “No, I had just said goodnight to Dar and was heading back here.”

“Wait, what?” That had been about the time the dance would have ended. “You didn’t..?” He couldn’t finish, but Rey seemed to know what he was asking.

“No, I didn’t spend the night with Dar,” she said softly. “He asked. And a part of me really wanted to say yes.” She took a deep breath, as if bolstering herself. “But I couldn’t stop thinking of you.”

Her eyes were huge as she looked at him, fear competing with hope in her gaze. Poe felt his breath catch and his heart began to race. “Rey…”

But she wouldn’t let him continue. “I think about you a lot, Poe,” she told him, her voice breathy. “I think about how much you care about everyone back at the Resistance. How you care about everyone here on Yavin IV. I think about how protective you are of Leia, and how much you’re trying to make up for the mistakes you made last year, mistakes that only happened because you were trying your best to do what was right. I think about how brave and reckless you are when you fly, and how much I worry when you’re gone, more than any of the other pilots. I think about how affectionate you are with all your friends and why don’t you ever treat me like that? What do I have to do to make you care for me like that? And most of all, I think about what it would be like to be held by you, kissed by you. Loved by you.” She stopped, breathing hard, and looked down, blinking tears out of her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, then dropped the koyo and turned away from him.

Poe dropped his piece as well, then reached out to grasp her arm. He tugged her gently back around to face him, then he brought both of his hands up to cup her face. “Saramia wanted me to stay with her last night,” he told her, his voice rough. As she focused on him, he wiped a tear away with his thumb. “Do you know why I didn’t?”

She shook her head ever so slightly.

“She wasn’t you,” Poe whispered harshly, then he brought his lips to hers.

With a soft cry, Rey met him eagerly. He brought one of his hands down around her waist, pulling her close as he used the other hand to cup the back of her head. He opened his mouth and invited her inside. She accepted the invitation with her tongue, and he met it with his, tasting the koyo she had just been enjoying. Her hands came up to grab the shirt over his chest, gripping it tightly in her fingers.

They kissed for a long while, with Poe only leaving her lips to lick along her chin and jaw, fulfilling the fantasy he had been trying not to focus on earlier. He returned to her lips, smiling as he saw the dazed look on her face. She brought her arms up around his neck and he dropped his other hand down to the small of her back. He wrapped his arms tight around her, pulling her flush up against him. They were of similar height, but her form was so thin (too thin, he often thought) that she seemed so much smaller than him. He shoved his hips against her without thinking, feeling his growing arousal push against her pelvis. She responded with a hitch of her own hips upward, letting herself slide back down against him.

They both moaned.

The sound grounded Poe for a brief moment, and he pulled his head back. “Rey, maybe we shouldn’t rush things.”

“We’ve been dancing around each other for so long,” she argued. “How is this rushing?” She buried her fingers in his hair as she looked at him. “Make love to me, Poe. Please?”

His heart nearly beating out of his chest now, Poe looked around. While the koyo orchard was fairly private, and they really only had to worry about his father coming upon them, he knew of a much better place to give in to her request. “Not here,” he gasped out. He backed away from her, but grasped her hand as he did so, turning and pulling her along with him.

“Where are we going?” she breathed, her eyes excited and glowing in the sunlight.

“Where do you think?” he told her with a grin. “The Uneti tree.”

******

Rey’s heart continued to race as she let Poe tow her along through the koyo grove, his hand gripping hers firmly. The arousal she was feeling was already much stronger than anything she had felt with Dar last night, and it was only growing as she realized Poe was absolutely serious about where they were going and what he planned to do to her there.

As they exited the orchard, Poe made a stop at the maintenance shed. He let go of Rey’s hand just long enough to grab a couple of old blankets off the top shelf. Rey smiled as two of Kes’ droids asked if he needed any assistance and he gruffly replied, “Absolutely not.” Taking her hand once more, he winked at her and headed into the jungle, not following any path that Rey could see.

His sense of direction was unerring, and soon the Uneti tree was in front of them. Poe let her go once more, taking the blankets he had tucked under his arm and laying them on the grass in the shade of the tree. Rey looked about the small clearing, facing the direction she knew the house was. Poe saw where her focus was and also glanced at the path. It was broad daylight, but they were on Dameron property. The only one they should have to worry about was Kes, and Rey was quite sure he wasn’t going to come looking for them, knowing that Rey had set out to find Poe and… talk.

She looked at him as he let out a shaky sigh. His chocolate eyes met hers.

“If you don’t want to do this…”

Rey smiled. “I want to do this.” She couldn’t deny she was nervous, but she wasn’t about to let this moment, or this man, slip away.

Poe’s eyes turned soft and he stepped up close to her. He leaned in to kiss her and she met him halfway. Arms wrapped around each other once more, they continued to kiss, and Rey could feel her arousal jump. She brought her hands down in between them so she could tug at his shirt, pulling it out of his pants.

He pulled back. “Rey…”

“What?” she responded, her tone challenging.

He looked at her a moment, his expression serious, but then a small smile appeared on his lips and he lifted his arms up. Rey continued to pull his shirt up and off of him, revealing his naked chest. She tossed his shirt on the ground and looked at him, her eye immediately catching the flash of the ring he wore on a chain around his neck. His chest was hairless, his pectorals firm and toned without being overly muscled. She knew he worked as hard physically as anyone else on the base, and it had paid off with a fit body. He was beautiful.

She realized he was tugging gently at her shirt now, so she looked up and focused on him once more. “Keep up, Rey,” he told her, his eyes flashing. She grinned and raised her arms as he pulled her tunic off. She bit her bottom lip as she saw him study the breast band she wore underneath. His fingers moved to the fasteners along the front of it, deftly undoing them. The strap fell away, exposing her bare chest to him. She felt her face heat as he examined her just as thoroughly as she had examined him. “Beautiful,” she heard him murmur.

Rey stepped into him once more, bringing her arms around his neck and pressing her breasts against his chest. He moaned and began kissing her again, his hands running along her bare back. She shivered at the feel of his rough fingers on her heated skin. After a moment, she pushed away, panting, and reached for the buckle of her belt. Poe mirrored her. Neither had worn their weapons much while here, so there was less to remove than there would have been had they been back on base, and within seconds they were both naked, dropping to their knees on top of the blankets and facing each other.

Rey wanted to take her time to peruse the naked man in front of her, but she wanted to touch him even more, so she found herself once more plastered up against him, her arms tight around his neck, her mouth on his. She felt a surge of wetness between her legs and knew exactly what that meant: her body was preparing for his.

She had often worried in the past whether she would be able to feel complete sexual arousal. She had spent her whole life avoiding any kind of sexual contact, hiding from rapists and refusing any and all offers to sell her body in that way, even when she was desperate to eat. A strange sort of disassociation always occurred when confronted with the activity, whether it be witnessing others or just being part of a conversation about sex, and that detachment had made itself known just last night while she had been kissing Dar. She had liked it, had been curious to see where it led, but she had not been physically invested in the act.

This was completely different. It was as if her whole body was crying for Poe to take her, to penetrate her, both physically and spiritually. Being with him here, under this Force sensitive tree, only compounded what she was feeling, letting her know that somehow, someway, the Force approved.

So much for lack of attachment.

Poe began to push against her, gently but firmly, and she laid back on the blankets he had spread out. He immediately followed, bracing himself on one elbow as he lay mostly on top of her, one leg between hers. He watched her carefully as he lowered his face toward hers, and she gave him a small smile to let him know she was completely and utterly on the same page. As he began to kiss her, he brought his free hand up to stroke her body. It roamed over her, first her breasts, then down the curve of her hip, back up to her abdomen, then back down to her thigh, barely touching her mound as he did so. She arched her hips up, wanting him there, but he continued to tease her, touching her everywhere but there. His lips were on her throat now, his tongue sweeping along under her jaw, his beard brushing against her skin roughly.

“Poe!” she breathed, excited and frustrated at the same time. “Please,” she begged, arching her hips up once more.

“Greedy,” he whispered against her neck, but she could feel the smile on his lips. His fingers finally found her core just as he lowered himself down to her breasts.

Rey couldn’t help the squeal that emanated from her as a long, thick finger delved into her folds at the same moment his mouth enveloped her tit. She felt another gush of slick flow from her pussy, and she felt as well as heard Poe’s approving groan as he continued to suck on her breast. She started to wriggle her hips, needing more. More stimulation. More contact. More something. “Please. Please. Please,” she panted.

Poe lifted his head to look at her. “I wanted to make this last, Rey,” he growled.

“Next time,” she shot out.

He smiled, as if he was pleased she was acknowledging that there would be a next time. “And the time after that,” he added as he moved his body back up and over hers, bringing his other leg between hers. “And the time after that.”

Rey nodded vigorously. “Yes!” she gasped. She spread her legs wide as he grasped his cock in his hand and lined it up with her entrance. She looked closely at his erection for the first time, making note that she would have to become better acquainted with that part of his anatomy next time, too. She licked her lips as she watched him push the tip into her. He groaned, and she looked up to find him watching her, his eyes black and intense.

Once he was firmly seated inside her, he brought his other arm up to brace that elbow on the ground, essentially caging her underneath him. Yet, she never once felt trapped or helpless. She brought her hands up to stroke his back, reveling in the tightness of his muscles as he held himself taut above her, slowly sinking into her inch by inch, watching her expression carefully. The pressure of his welcome invasion increased and she spread her legs more, bringing her knees up.

There was a moment of resistance from her body, and Poe stopped suddenly, his eyes wide, but then he nodded slightly, as if she had just confirmed what he had already suspected. A tiny smile appeared on his face as he lowered his head to kiss her softly, then he lifted it again to watch her as he continued to push past her natural barrier, stretching her. There was no pain as her body continued to invite him in, but the intensity of his penetration made her legs shake and she gripped his back, moaning.

Poe buried his face in the crook of her neck when he could push in no more, muttering, “Kriff,” vehemently. “You’re so tight.”

Licking her lips, Rey whispered, “Is that bad?”

He chuckled, and the subtle movement of his body sent a shot of pleasure through hers. He lifted his head again, looking at her. Though his eyes were still dark with arousal, there was a gentleness there that made Rey’s chest ache. “It feels amazing for me,” he explained. “But does it feel good to you? That’s the important question.”

Rey shifted her hips slightly, focusing on the myriad of sensations bombarding her. All of them were good. She looked back at him, meeting his eyes with her own, and smiled. “It feels like home.”

Poe squeezed his eyes shut, whispering, “Fuck,” with heavy emotion. Then he opened them again and gazed at her with a mix of passion and adoration.

Rey had never felt so loved in her life. She felt tears form in her eyes, but before they could fall Poe began to move. The exhilaration that flowed through her was powerful, and she lifted her legs, instinctively wrapping them around his waist, intent on keeping him inside her as he began to thrust his hips, slow at first, but then faster. Harder.

Her arousal grew so fast that she felt a brief moment of fear. Her body shuddered suddenly, her legs tremoring. “Kriff!” she swore sharply as her body started convulsing in earnest. Her legs tightened and her vision blurred. She closed her eyes, gripping Poe hard with her fingers, holding him close, fearing that if she let him go, she would slip away from him on this wave of euphoria. She felt his smile against her cheek as he kissed her, his beard tickling her oversensitive skin.

“That’s it,” he muttered, slowing his thrusts for a bit, letting her catch her breath. When she opened her eyes to look at him, he asked her, “Did you like that?”

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Rey nodded. “Yeah,” she gasped. That was an understatement.

“Then do it again,” Poe said, his voice deeper than she had ever heard it. His hips began driving his cock hard and fast once more, and his expression became almost severe. “I’m gonna come in you, Rey,” he told her. “I’m gonna make you mine.”

Rey’s breath caught as she felt her whole body respond, not only to his actions but to his words. She nodded, wanting more than anything to be claimed by this man. Never in her life had she felt like this. Not just the pleasure, but the emotions. She loved Finn. Just as she loved Leia and Chewie. But this man… this was more. This wasn’t just love or lust. This was trust and faith and something indescribable. This was a connection of which she had never imagined.

“You’re gonna come with me, Rey,” he told her, his voice rough. She could see how his cheeks were flushed, how his body was so tense it looked ready to snap. His eyes met hers once more, and there was an almost crazed look in his. “Come with me!” he demanded.

And she did.

Once more, her vision blurred and her body convulsed. She tightened her legs and her arms around him as she felt him stiffen. A warmth infused her womb and she cried out, “Yes! Please, yes!” She felt her whole body start to tingle, the way it did when she was using the Force to do something difficult. She tried to focus on the man above her and for a moment their eyes met one more time. The awe she saw in his filled her with joy; he was feeling it, too, she thought. This was more than two people having sex together, taking pleasure from each other’s bodies.

This was a bonding through the Force.

******

Somehow, after coming to his senses, Poe had managed to roll over onto his side, taking Rey with him. She had kept one of her legs wrapped around him, keeping his cock inside her, and they lay facing each other, foreheads touching, their panting breaths slowly falling back to normal.

Lethargic and energized at the same time, Poe stared into Rey’s eyes, still feeling the pulse of what almost felt like electricity flowing through him. He had never felt anything like it in his life and he was positive it was coming from her. His skin tingled and the explosive pleasure he had just felt astounded him. No doubt, he had always enjoyed sex, but this had been far more than that.

Finally, he found the wherewithal to speak. “What…” he stopped to clear his throat. “What was that?”

Rey bit her lower lip and looked away, looking almost embarrassed. She shrugged. “I’m not sure,” she whispered. She met his gaze once more. “I think it was the Force.”

Poe felt his brow furrow. “How come I felt it?”

She smiled. “You’ve always felt this tree, haven’t you?” she asked softly. “Felt Leia’s presence? Me?”

He nodded ever so slightly.

“And you never questioned it.” It wasn’t a question. It was an observation.

Poe thought for a long moment, but then he felt his heart race a bit more. “I’m not like you, Rey.” If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that he was not Force sensitive like the Jedi were.

“No,” she agreed. “But every living creature has some sense of the Force, some stronger than others. You’ve always had an affinity for it. Whether you were born that way or because you grew up alongside this tree, you have it. Stronger than you know.” She paused. “It’s what makes you such an amazing pilot. It’s why you have so much empathy for others. And now…” she stopped, looking away once more.

“Now what?” Poe asked, both terrified and elated by her words.

She looked back at him, her expression nervous. “Now, I think we’ve bonded. Through the Force. I think that’s what that was.”

Poe felt confusion flow through him. “Bonded?”

“It’s like… I don’t know,” she paused. “It’s like we’re connected now. Not just physically or emotionally, but in the Force.”

Poe felt panic sweep through him. “How do you know?”

Rey shook her head. “Just a feeling.” Her eyes narrowed, and he knew she had recognized his tension. His fear. She pulled away suddenly, bringing her leg off of his hip, and he hissed as his cock slid from her. She sat up, turning her back on him ever so slightly. “That wasn’t a marriage proposal, Poe,” she gasped. “It doesn’t mean you have to pretend to want me beyond this moment.” She swallowed. “It’s okay.”

But it wasn’t okay. She was hurt by his reaction to her words. He sat up and scooched closer to her. Taking a deep breath, he kissed the back of her shoulder. “What happened to next time?” he asked softly. “And the time after that?”

She had drawn her knees up to her chest in what he recognized as a protective gesture. “If you don’t want me, then I’m not going to…”

“Not want you?” Poe interrupted. “Where were you just now?” he asked, his voice hard.

Rey looked at him over her shoulder. “You’re scared of me,” she accused.

Poe wanted to laugh, but he knew she was right; he was scared. However, she was also scared. Scared of rejection. Scared she had found something amazing, only to discover she was alone in that feeling. He had to let her know she wasn’t alone.

“I’m not scared of you, Rey,” he told her firmly. “But you’re a Jedi. I can’t even contemplate how much power you have at your fingertips. What scares me is that you think I am capable of sharing that power.”

She was watching him, her big hazel eyes shining with moisture.

“If the Force has connected us in some way,” he continued. “Then yeah, that’s scary.” He frowned, not sure he was ready to let the Force guide him to some unknown future. “But if that’s what the Force wills…”

Rey turned to face him once more. “It’s not the Force’s choice,” she told him vehemently. “It’s our choice. Just because we’re linked somehow doesn’t mean you need to be my mate. That’s my choice. Our choice.” She took a deep breath and looked away. “Maybe if I had stayed with Dar last night, he would have had the same connection with me.”

Poe felt anger and jealousy surge. “Oh, okay!” he said, letting his hurt flow. “I get it, now. It’s not the person, it’s the sex. And you can have that with anybody.” He stood suddenly, his own eyes becoming blurred by tears now, looking for his pants. “I don’t understand why you didn’t sleep with him,” he continued. “He’s perfect for you. He’s closer to your age, his knowledge of the Jedi is expert level, he’s gorgeous.” He found his trousers and reached for them.

“Poe!” He heard Rey stand up behind him. She reached for his arm, grabbing it with both hands. He tried to pull himself away from her grip, but she hung on tight. “Look at me! Please!”

He stilled, his pants in his hands. He took a deep breath and blinked away the moisture in his eyes, then turned to face her.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks. “I didn’t mean it,” she told him. “About Dar. I didn’t feel anything with him. I’ve never felt like this with anyone but you.” She blinked and wiped her face with her hand. “I just don’t want you to think you’re obliged to… stay with me.”

Dropping the trousers, Poe reached up to cup her face in his hands. “And what if I want to stay with you?” he asked, taking a chance. “What if I… what if I think I love you?”

Rey’s mouth opened in astonishment, her eyes widening. An ever so slight smile appeared on her lips. “I’d say you’re crazy,” she said softly. “But since… since I think I love you, then what just happened makes perfect sense.”

“Oh, Kriff!” Poe exclaimed, then he pulled Rey into his arms. They held each other tight for a long moment, then Poe pulled back, taking a deep breath. “Leia’s gonna kill us.”

Rey giggled, wiping her still damp face again. “What makes you think she doesn’t already know?”

Poe frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Do you really think I was the best choice for this mission?” she asked, reaching for Poe’s hands and twining her fingers with his. “And do you really think we need to ‘lay low’ here at your home for this long?”

Poe considered her words. He had thought it a bit odd that someone with more experience in undercover work hadn’t been chosen as his partner in the recovery of the lightsabers, but he had figured Rey had been chosen because of her familiarity with the weapons. And the ‘laying low’ thing had always bothered him. “You think she’s matchmaking?”

Rey shrugged. “I do think we’ve been getting on everyone’s nerves with our bickering. Maybe she just wanted us to hash it out.”

Trying not to smile, Poe asked, “So, you want to hash it out some more?” He pumped his eyebrows suggestively.

Rey stepped up close to him, her eyes glowing now, a smile of her own on her lips. “I think we probably should.”

The leaves of the Uneti tree seemed to dance for joy in the wind above them as they once more settled on the blankets in its shade.

This time, they made it last.

******

Part Two