"Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day."
—Macbeth in Macbeth


'Well, what did she say?'

Poe was in no mood to be interrogated. Although Birdie knew about the situation, he still felt like bringing this up around General Organa was violating some kind of intimate thing between them. 'She said yes,' he told her quietly.

The General's features eased. They were standing in the sparse reception room of her apartments, overlooking the base and the lake beyond it. If Poe squinted his eyes he could almost see the villa. After a few tries he decided that it was just a trick of the light.

Birdie was well hidden away from the world, and the galaxy beyond it.

'Good,' Organa told him, placing a hand on his shoulder. 'I'm surprised you volunteered yourself for the job, Dameron. She could have picked whomever she wanted, you know. Just as long as… you told her, didn't you?' Organa trailed off.

'Hmm?' Poe asked, turning to face her. He was lost in his own thoughts.

'You told her that she could pick… her partner…'

'Um, yeah,' he answered. He had said that… in so many words. He was sure Birdie knew. He was just providing her with a suggestion after all.

Organa eyed him, narrowing her gaze. 'Good,' she replied, placing her hands behind her back. 'I know what you must think of this… of me,' she said evenly. 'This is war Dameron. We got the Starkiller base, so what? They're going to hit back, even harder. Could be in three weeks… could be in three years. I'm just making sure we have the best chance.'

'Did you… did you and Han have a wedding?' Poe blurted out suddenly.

Leia Organa regarded Poe for a moment, and he thought he saw a ghost of pain gloss her gaze. She set her mouth in a hard line. 'Yes, we did. Small ceremony. Just Luke and a few of our friends were there… but it was nice.' She chuckled to herself, 'I wasn't suggesting marriage as a requirement, Dameron. You must like the girl.'

Poe didn't answer. Instead he asked, 'Am I dismissed?'

'Yes, I suppose you are,' Organa answered.

Poe turned on his heel, before he exited the room, he added: 'I'm sure you'll keep this between us, General.'

'Of course,' she answered, nodding her head. 'But I can't keep it a secret forever, Dameron. Think about what you really want. That's the only advice I can offer you. Belonging to someone changes you.'


'I'm going back to the base, Birdie,' Myron Cage told her, pointing his finger toward the entrance hall.

'Are you sure you're alright to walk?' she questioned. Myron had a badly broken leg that had resulted in some nerve damage. She'd been able to heal most of the impairment, but he'd always walk with a bit of a limp. She made him keep it in a cast in to stabilize it while she worked with him.

'I'm sure, the leg feels real good. It's just because you're overly cautious,' he said, smiling.

'Yeah, well maybe a bit of caution would be good for you! Keep you away from anything that will break your other leg,' she replied, returning his smile.

Myron reached for her hand, lifting it up to his lips, kissing her skin gently. 'It wouldn't be so bad if I had to come back so soon.'

Birdie felt heat in her cheeks, as she unceremoniously yanked her hand from his grasp. He took a step back, blanching, mumbling some kind of excuse about having to be on the base. Birdie winced as she watched him disappear into the dark forest, a few fireflies danced in her line of vision, laughing her. She swatted them away, frustrated.

Was this what it was like between men and women? How was she supposed to be with someone… to make children with someone…?

'Damn it all,' she whispered, clapping a hand over her face.

'That was really awkward.' Birdie recognised the light, airy voice immediately.

'Jess?' she asked, squinting her eyes, trying to see her in the fading light.

Jessika Pava lit up her torch, illuminating the garden and columns, casting a yellow light on everything. Birdie shielded her eyes as Jessika let out a hearty laugh.

'Thanks Jess,' Birdie said, letting out a laugh and batting her torch away. 'What a time to eavesdrop on me.'

Jess pretended to be offended at her presumption. 'Eavesdropping? On the least interesting person in the camp? Please… I came here because I gave myself a nasty cut fixing my X- wing today,' she said, winking at her.

Birdie sighed, motioning for her to follow, 'Okay, come on.'

Jess had stopped her giggling, but Birdie could tell that she was wearing a toothy grin. Jessika, in a lot of ways, was everything that Birdie was not. She was confident, outgoing, brave, and the camp's resident spitfire. But, she'd always been pleasant and gentle with Birdie. Only in the past few weeks had she ventured to poke fun at the healer.

'Sit on the bed,' Birdie told Jessika.

She obliged happily, hoisting herself up so the two of them were at eye level.

'Myron's not only the best looking new pilot; he's pretty damn dashing too, Bird. That's probably the first time I've seen him tongue tied.'

Not wanting to seem out of place Birdie announced: 'I thought so too.'

Jessika cocked an eyebrow at her, 'Really? Did you…really?'

Birdie nodded her head vigorously, distracting herself with work. She wiped some of the dried blood off of Jessika's forearm, working her palms on opposite side of the torn flesh to create a clean stitch of skin.

'It might scar this, Jess,' Birdie murmured as she closed her eyes and allowed the force to flow through her.

'Ah, that feels really nice Bird,' Jess whispered, also closing her eyes and breathing deeply.

In a few moments the wound was closed and Jess readied herself to leave. 'You know it's funny,' she quipped, 'I always thought you and Poe… had a thing.'

'Poe?' Birdie's voice heightened at her suspicion. 'Why would you think that?'

'Because he always comes up here to visit you!' she replied as if it were common knowledge.

'But he must have all the girls in the camp chasing after him. He probably has… I don't know… a reputation…' Birdie cringed again when she was turned away from Jessika, pretending to fold towels. She felt awful saying such things about Poe, as they were never any of her business. But she'd begged Poe to keep his suggestion to her this past morning a secret while she mulled it over.

'Well… don't you sound missish! Poe did have a reputation earlier in his career, but he's pretty much kept his nose clean since coming here, Bird. I'd say he likes you,' she added at the end, mildly. 'After all, people have to grow up sometime.'

Birdie hugged her arms around herself, leaning against the entrance to the healing room. She stared out at the moonlight reflecting off of her beautiful, wild garden.

'Bird… are you okay?' Jessika asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Birdie flinched at the contact and Jessika rapidly stepped back. Birdie immediately felt terrible, 'Sorry Jess. The Storm Troopers used to walk me around the ship like that… with their hands on my-'

'Shhhh, I understand. Honestly Birdie, we've all been through a lot here, you don't have to explain yourself. Unless you want to, of course. Then I'm all ears.'

Birdie nodded, forcing a taught smile.

Jessika narrowed her eyes. 'But I have a feeling something else is going on with you.'

Birdie felt tears threatening. She opened her mouth, and then promptly shut it again, remembering herself. 'I… I'm not sure I can tell you… at least not yet.'

Jessika regarded her for a long moment. 'Okay,' she said slowly. 'I get it. Don't worry Birdie… I'll be here when you want to talk about it.'

Birdie grabbed Jessika's hand, squeezing it. She kissed it like Myron had done.

Jessika's face lit up and she laughed heartily. 'What is it?' Birdie asked, confused.

'Oh nothing! It's just… that hand kissing thing… it's usually reserved for men to do to women, if you get my meaning?'

'Oh… right.' Birdie felt stupid for the umpteenth time tonight.

'Don't worry Bird, I like it! It's better than kissing someone on the cheek, don't you think?' Jessika said, happily taking Birdie's hand and kissing it with a loud, playful smack.

'Looks like I still have a lot to learn,' Birdie sighed.

'When it comes to men, so do I,' Jessika laughed. 'I'm just happy I'm not the only one.'

Me too, Birdie thought, wondering if Jessika new just how much she had to learn, or how quickly she needed to master it.