The war is over, and it's time to start living for the future they had fought so hard for.
Damerey Challenge – Ficlet
Prompt: Campfire
The small crowd of people around the campfire began to disperse. It had been a lovely evening full of laughter and shared stories, both heartfelt and funny, but everyone was tired. Kes left first, telling everyone that breakfast would be at eight-hundred hours sharp and anyone who wanted to eat better not be late. Rose and Finn left next, slyly eyeing each other as Rose left just a few seconds before Finn, as if that would hide the fact that they were going to end up in the same bed tonight. Beau and Kaydell and Janah and Junior all kind of wandered off together, chatting as they went to their separate beds. Chewie was nodding off where he sat until Poe poked him, making him jerk upright growling. With a grumble, he stood and shuffled off to his own bed on the Falcon. Even BB-8 gave a soft tootle and rolled back toward the house, D-O following as always, intent on charging up for the night.
This left Rey and Poe alone.
Rey had been very aware of Poe’s stares in her direction all evening. More than once, she had glanced across the fire to see him watching her, his eyes intent, the firelight making them glow, but not in a scary way. She had been planning on heading back to the Falcon herself for the night, but something made her stay. She wanted to make sure her host’s son knew she would not be opposed to sleeping somewhere else tonight. Or not sleeping.
It had been a long five months. The war hadn’t completely ended after the Battle of Exegol. Many First Order survivors fought on, despite their lack of leadership, and the ‘mop up’ had taken some time. But they had all made it through, and the small but focused group of ‘rebels’ that had joined up with surviving Republic senators were taking their first steps toward a new government. Rey was pleased that Larma D’Acy had been chosen to be a part of that group.
Poe had been asked to be a part, as well. He had not given an answer right away. He told them he wanted to go home, see his father, and take some time to just be for a while. He had invited several of his friends to come with him and so Kes had welcomed the small group of survivors to Yavin IV with open arms.
Tonight was the last night before the friends would disperse, set on their own futures now, with no war to slow them down. It might be the last time most would see each other for a long time.
Rey knew that Poe was going to say ‘yes.’ He was going to become a part of this new government. He was going to do his best to make Leia proud. Rey knew that she would also become a part by default. It was now her obligation to continue the Jedi tradition. She already knew, after long talks with both Finn and Poe, what she was going to do different, and the challenge ahead of her was frightening but also exciting. While Poe wanted to make Leia proud, Rey wanted to make Luke proud.
Despite knowing she and Poe would be in each other’s lives in the weeks and months ahead, she still felt a certain desperation in this last night on Yavin. She felt that if something didn’t happen between them tonight, then it never would, and while she would be more than happy to remain ‘just a friend’ with the General, she wanted so much more. And she thought… she hoped… he felt the same.
If the looks he had been giving her tonight were any indication, he did.
Taking a deep breath, she stood. She smoothed her hands down the front of the soft oversized tunic she had taken to wearing when she wasn’t training, then licked her lips as she looked at Poe. He was still sitting, still staring at her, his body tense.
“I… I should probably get to bed,” she said softly, then turned slowly in the direction of the Falcon.
“You’re going the wrong way,” Poe’s voice rumbled softly.
Rey couldn’t stop her lips from curving up at his words. Biting her lower lip to keep it from becoming a full smile, she turned and without looking at him headed for the house. She felt more than heard him follow her.
Having visited the house several times over the last few days, Rey knew exactly where she was going. As she crossed the kitchen area, she heard Poe talking softly to one of his father’s droids and knew he was sending it out to ensure the fire was doused appropriately; apparently, it was a common chore for the droid.
She moved down the short hall on the west side of the building, briefly thinking how glad she was that Kes slept on the other side of the house, then she walked into Poe’s bedroom. She heard him enter behind her, and as she turned, he closed the door.
“BB-8 saw you,” he said, a smirk on his face. “This will never be a secret now.”
“Do we need it to be?” she asked softly.
Poe shook his head. “I don’t care if the whole galaxy knows,” he told her, moving into her space. “But I’m not sure what you want.”
Placing her hands on his chest, she smiled at him. “I want the whole Universe to know,” she said.
Poe’s responding smile was bright and his eyes crinkled with joy, then he moved in to kiss her, his hands immediately sweeping up her back under her tunic, his callused fingers making her shiver as they caressed her skin.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she parted her lips, inviting him inside.
The war was over, and it was time to start living for the future they had fought so hard for.
THE END
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