The Secret

Rey has been hiding a secret, but when Leia uncovers it, she finds more than she expected.

This story was inspired by a scene in the fic United in Pain by fallintothegrey. It was a story I regretted reading because of the depressing ending, but it was so well written, beautiful, and emotional, I have never forgotten it.

Week five of the 2021 Damerey Fic Challenge, the Ficlet.

Prompt: Telling others about their relationship

General Leia Organa watched as Kalonia turned and left her office space. She took a deep breath and looked at her hands, which she had folded on top of the desk. It wasn’t the first time Kalonia had come to her to tell her news like this; Leia had made it mandatory that she be told, privately, if anyone came to the infirmary with certain conditions. But she had not expected this particular person to be one.

With another sigh, she got up from her chair, grabbing her cane as she did so, and headed for the side of the cave complex where a set of stairs would take her to the person in question. She had no doubt the young woman would be there; she had just left the infirmary when Kalonia came to Leia with her news.

She made her way slowly up the wooden staircase, turning the corner to see Rey sitting silently on the edge of her bed. The woman’s eyes turned to Leia, wide and scared, then she looked down quickly at her lap. She was twisting her fingers together, obviously distressed. Leia moved to sit down next to her, letting their shoulders touch. Rey thrived on touch.

“Am I to assume from your expression that the test was positive?” Leia asked softly.

Rey swallowed, then nodded, keeping her eyes down.

After a moment, Leia asked the hard question first. “Rey, you weren’t coerced, were you?”

“Oh, kriff, no!” Rey said, turning toward her Master in surprise. “No!” Suddenly, her look turned shy. “It’s a committed relationship,” she said softly. “I guess we just got a little forgetful.” She looked down again, then she whispered, “I don’t know what to do.”

Leia cleared her throat. “There is a procedure that will terminate…” she started.

“No!” Rey shook her head violently. “I couldn’t do that!” The look she gave Leia was intense.

Leia nodded, admittedly relieved at Rey’s answer. “Well, here are your options if you want to carry to term. You can keep the baby with us, but you know that will put him or her in danger. You can adopt the child out after it’s born. You can leave us, and find a quiet place elsewhere to raise the baby, leaving the war behind.” That option scared Leia the most. “Or you can find someone you trust to take the baby until the war is over. That’s what Commander Dameron’s parents did with him.” She looked at Rey who was watching her with a slightly overwhelmed expression. “The good news is, you don’t need to decide right now. Right now, you need to concentrate on keeping healthy and letting that baby grow strong enough to handle whatever comes next. Just know that I am here to support you through it all.”

Rey nodded and looked back down at her hands.

“Rey?” Leia continued. “I have to admit, I was very surprised by this news. I didn’t know you were even interested in anyone, much less in a committed relationship.”

“That was by design,” Rey told her, her expression a bit more relaxed, now. “We weren’t sure how you would take it.”

“We?” Leia pushed.

Taking a deep breath, Rey pulled out a chain that had been hidden from view by the collar of her tunic. On the end hung the silver ring that had once belonged to Shara Bey.

“How?” Leia gasped. “How did I not know?” She shook her head, giving Rey a wry smile. “I really must be getting old.”

Rey laughed softly, her fingers toying with the ring. “Only Finn knows,” she said. “And BB-8, of course.” She looked apprehensive again. “You’re not mad?”

“Mad?” Leia scoffed. “You couldn’t have chosen a better man,” she told the woman she already looked on as a daughter. “And he certainly couldn’t have chosen a better woman.”

Quick footsteps suddenly sounded on the stairs. “Rey?” Poe Dameron’s voice sounded panicked. He appeared around the corner. “Rey? Are you okay?” He stopped short when he saw Leia. He glanced at Rey, then noticed the ring she was still fingering. He looked at Leia again with more than a little guilt.

Leia stood, giving Rey’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll let you two talk.” She moved toward the door, but as she passed Poe, she stopped. “I hear there’s a bet going around base, started by someone from Black Squadron.” Poe looked at her, his eyes wide. “They know their Commander is having sex, they just don’t know with whom.” She was more than a little gratified by the blush that appeared on his cheeks. She heard Rey snort a laugh behind her.

Leia looked back at her Jedi. “I don’t even think you were an option, Rey,” she said with a smirk. “If I were you, I’d demand the whole pot.” She turned back to Poe, patting him on the shoulder. “Make sure I’m in the mess before you guys show up together, huh?” Then she continued on around the corner and down the stairs, already imagining Poe’s reaction to Rey’s news. He would be scared and anxious, no doubt. But she could almost guarantee he would be thrilled, too. He was going to be an amazing father.

Poe and Rey did indeed make sure Leia was in the mess when they arrived together for dinner, Poe’s necklace no longer hidden. She watched as Rey demanded payment from Suralinda, indicating that Rey had not been one of the half-dozen men and women that people had been betting on. And she smiled as she saw Poe standing behind Rey, arms wrapped around her, a huge grin on his face, one hand already resting protectively on Rey’s abdomen.

The road ahead would be rough for them. Having a baby during the midst of war was no easy task. But the hope this couple and their child created would be worth it.