AN: Hey beautiful readers- so if you read my other Fic "Never Alone", then you'll be familiar with what's going on here- it's Poe and the OC he falls in love with in that universe. I had a few requests to expand on their story, and I decided I wanted to explore their romance a little bit too! While you could read this as a stand alone, it 110% is going to make more sense if you've read "Never Alone". It also contains Spoilers for "Never Alone", since it's basically just a shorter fic that explores some key moments in a different relationship than the central one of that story. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
For the last ten years of her life, Eloriah has had nightmares about the death of her mother. Every night, she sees the blast pierce her mother's chest, and the life leaving her eyes. The night aboard the Millennium Falcon is no different.
Leaving with Rey had been an easy choice. She had stayed with the First Order not out of loyalty, but out of necessity. All she had ever wanted was to be a midwife, the way her mother had been, but she'd been stuck mostly setting broken bones and stitches since she'd been sucked into the black hole that was the First Order. She'd seen too many people die, been called in to clean up prisoners multiple times only to have them tortured again and again. Still, after a decade the ships and bases of the order were the only home she had.
"Can't sleep?" She starts, and looks up to see the handsome Pilot from before leaning in the doorway.
"Oh- um, no, I was sleeping for a little while."
"Nightmares?" She's sure she blushes. "It's okay. We all get 'em. You cold? You look cold." He picks up an old gray blanket and drapes it over her shoulders. "How's the knee?"
"It's um, it's fine. Thank you." She smiles.
"Well I may not be a medic, but I'm pretty good at patch up jobs." He smiles at her, and she feels her heart flutter wildly. "Rey told me you were the one who took care of her when she was having Gemma."
"I was."
"Thank you, for that. Rey's pretty important to all of us back in our little home."
"She's important to me too." Eloriah nods.
"Did you ever see the two of them together?" Poe asks after a moment.
"Who? Oh- Rey and Kylo Ren- er- Her Ben? I did. He was with her during her entire labor. He supported her, and cared for her, feared for her." Eloriah's lips twitch into a smile at the memory.
"Does he love her?"
"He does. Very much. And she loves him." Eloriah says softly. "I'm Sorry."
"What for?"
"The two of you, um, cared for eachother once, didn't you?" She stammers awkwardly.
"You could say that I suppose. I was more...a second choice, I guess. But I knew that going in." He shrugs. "It was the right thing to do at the time, and Rey...Rey is something special, but I couldn't say that we were ever, I don't know, destined to be together. And I have to admit they made one damn cute kid."
"Gemma is beautiful. I can't believe how dark her eyes are- and her hair...When I was little, I wished I had dark hair like that." Eloriah admits.
"What? Why?" Poe scoffs.
"Oh, I never much liked being a redhead. People teased me about it a lot when I was a kid." Eloriah shrugged.
"Well, they were idiots. I like your hair. This is going to sound stupid, but it sort of reminds me of my droid."
"BB-8?" Eloriah laughs as he delicately pinches the end of her braid between his fingers before he drops it again.
"Well, he's a custom colored droid. Orange is my favorite. I mean, your hair's a much better color than the paint I found for BB-8, don't get me wrong, but it reminds me of it." He ruffles his hand through his curly hair, and Eloriah feels the heat creeping into her cheeks.
"Thank you, I think?"
"It was definitely supposed to be a compliment." he chuckles. "Sorry, a little off my game I guess. I'm tired."
"Off your game?" She questions.
"Oh, I'm usually much more charming than this." He grins at her and she laughs again. "You have a nice laugh. Bright, cheerful."
"I don't think I've laughed so much in ten years." She admits, and he frowns.
"Then I guess I have my new mission." He says as he cracks his knuckles.
"What might that be?"
"To make you laugh as often as possible." He grins at her.
"I'm sure you have better things to do." She shakes her head. "I'm hardly worth the time."
"I'll be the judge of that, Ellie- oh, sorry- I've been told I should ask before I just give people nicknames."
"I don't mind. My mother actually used to call me that. It's been a very long time since I heard anyone say it." She smiles, and blinks away a few tears that form in her blue eyes.
"Here." Poe hands her a rag, and she brushes away the tears that manage to escape.
"Sorry- it's been… it's been a long day." She admits.
"You probably need to sleep."
"Probably." She sighs.
"But if you don't want to, Chewie is about to take his break to sleep, and I could use some company up in the cockpit."
"I'd like that." She smiles, and he helps her up. She feels herself coloring again when she feels the heat of his skin against hers. To her pleasant surprise, he doesn't let go of her hand as they walk through the ship. They pass a large wookie, who exchanges a few words with Poe, and then he gestures for her to take the co-pilot's chair.
"So tell me Eloriah, how did you find yourself working for the First Order?" Poe asks, glancing at her as he reviews the controls.
"That...is a long story." She frowns.
"Well...If you want to tell it, we have time. I've been told that I'm a good listener, as long as no one's giving me orders." He winks at her and she laughs again. "There it is- that's two for Dameron."
"You're going to keep track?" She scoffs.
"I just might." He grins. "Come on then, what's the story? I mean, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to-"
"No, that's...I mean...I could tell you."
