A/N: I'm so happy everyone was happy with the previous chapter. So when I think of Poe as a romantic, I think of Noah from The Notebook. I picture him kinda just one of those guys who know love when they see it. Also an important note; Kylo was 23 when he joined the Dark Side, Isabelle is 3 years younger than him so she was 20 at the time, she was away with Kylo for about 3 years making her now 23. Around the time TFA begins, she will be 26. There will be flashbacks to fill in the empty spaces.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Star Wars or any characters, only my own.
~xXx~
Throughout the rest of the work day Isabelle was no longer able to pay focus to her new duties, she just continued to feel horrible about how she had treated Poe. He had only asked about her recent admission into the resistance, not even her past, and she became quite defensive. He seemed like a sweet man only trying to be friendly and she had snapped at him, which normally she wouldn't do. I should at least apologize to the man, she thought to herself. But would he even want to speak with her after how she had acted? She had let her fear of her past with Kylo Ren get to her.
"Hello? Isabelle, are you okay?" She was pulled from her thoughts by Charlotte who stood in front of the her, waving her hand. "You've been really quiet since Poe left."
"I'm fine." She said, straightening her back.
"It seems we're done for the day." Charlotte pulled out a small device from her pocket. "This is for you, it's a communicator. If we have an emergency of any kind involving the medical staff, we'll alert you."
Isabelle nodded, taking the small device in her own hand. "Thanks,"
"Did anyone show you to your sleeping quarters yet?"
The blonde shook her head but before she could answer audibly, there was knock at the door. Both women turned to see General Organa herself standing at the door, a small smile on her face. Her gray hair pulled up in that familiar braided bun and still wearing her worn green jumpsuit and violet vest.
"Evening, I just wanted to see how Isabelle's first day has gone." Leia said, stepping into the room.
Charlotte smiled at the General. "She did absolutely amazing, General. I think Isabelle will make a great addition here."
"I'm glad to hear that. Pretty soon you'll be providing medical aid during missions." Leia noticed Isabelle's eyes widen at that. "Not too soon, no worries. I actually would like for you to come with me, Isabelle. There are a few others I would like for you to meet."
"Of course," Isabelle stood, facing Charlotte. "Thank you for today, Charlotte. I think I'll like working here."
"For the last time, Caspian. You can call me Charlie."
She smiled at the other woman before joining Leia out in the hall. She began to follow the older woman as she led her towards the same building where she had been first brought into. Once inside, she recognized it as the main control room. Leia continued to lead the younger woman through the crowd of resistance fighters who were running back and forth from the screens to another. Isabelle did her best to keep out of their way, avoiding the looks she was receiving from others. They had seemed so friendly and accepting earlier, now they seemed more judging.
They finally stopped at their destination, a room. When Leia opened the door to this room, Isabelle was met by an almost empty conference room. The room itself didn't seem as alive as the control room. It was quiet and less busy. There were at least no more than six people in the room. She immediately noticed two officers discussing things in hushed tones near the center table and four others with their attention on their work in the back. Leia ushered Isabelle inside and gestured to the main table which contained holograms of the First Order ships and the two officers. Isabelle slowly approached the table and was acknowledged by the officers.
"Isabelle, I want you to meet two of our senior officers, Admiral Ackbar and Admiral Statura." Leia addressed the two as they nodded. "I understand and believe that what you've told me about the First Order are true, however-"
"We still have a few questions," One of the officers said. He was human with grey hair and a worn expression. She could only guess that he was Admiral Statura while the Mon Calamari being was Admiral Ackbar.
Isabelle immediately felt her stomach twist into a knot. She knew there would be more to just finding a new home.
Admiral Statura continued. "You were held by The first Order for three years. In any of those years, did you by any chance see any sort of weapon or anything we should be aware of that could cause an attack?"
"No."
"Nothing? Not a thing?"
She shook her head. "No."
"I'm sorry, but it's a little hard to believe you didn't notice anything that would be of great importance to the resistance. You must have information on something." Admiral Ackbar sounded a bit irritated.
In this moment, Isabelle immediately felt an instant panic. Trying her best, she tried to think of something that could be useful information to them. Nothing in particular came to her accept the conversation she heard between the first order officers before she escaped. She felt a pair of hands on her shoulders, looking up she found Leia looking at her with a look hopefulness.
"When I escaped, it was aboard a shuttle in which they were using to aid their followers with supplies. Now I don't know exactly what the supplies was, they were delivering it on Tokadana. Behind Maz Kanata's castle." She spoke low.
Admiral Statura nodded. "And from there you met Maz, correct? She introduced you to Jessika who brought you here."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Did Maz say anything about this exchange of sorts between the first order and it's followers?"
"As far as I know, she was unaware until I mentioned it. Although, I'm sure she suspected that followers would pass by her establishment every once in a while."
It grew silent before Admiral Ackbar spoke up. "I suppose that is all you know and can tell us?"
Isabelle let her head lower in shame, upset she could be of no help. "Yes, but I swear, if I remember one thing I might have overlooked, I will come running to tell you right away."
She felt Leia pat her shoulders gently. "That's all we could ask for Isabelle, Thank you."
From there, Leia ushered Isabelle from the room and guided her out of the control room. Once again, she kept her head down, trying to ignore the looks from certain individuals in the control room. Leia offered to show Isabelle to her sleeping quarters, of course she insisted. Her quarters were located amongst many others in a slightly smaller building than the medical bay building. The room was small but offered a bed and nightstand along with a bathroom.
"It seems that Charlotte dropped off your uniforms." Leia gestured to the neatly stacked pile of medical tunics on the bed. "I appreciate every bit of information you've given us, however, there has been talk. It seems that the resistance is aware of your arrival and they know of your ties with the First Order."
"I figured, I saw the look on their faces when we entered the main room."
"Don't let that stop you from doing your job, Isabelle. Let them think what they want to think, soon enough they will see your kindness and will be thankful to have you here."
"Thank you, for everything." Isabelle allowed the General to pull her into a hug. Isabelle found solace in Leia's embrace. She truly missed human contact from someone who truly cared and meant it.
~xXx~
"Ben, stop." Isabelle said, shrugging her shoulders. Twenty year old Ben Solo was currently nuzzling into her neck. The two were situated underneath a large tree, the younger woman was sitting between his legs, back to his chest. "I'm trying to finish this."
"How many of your mother's old journals are you going to read?"
"I still have plenty to learn, I can only practice so much first hand. Shouldn't you be training with your uncle?" She felt him tense at the mention of his uncle.
"It's a waste of time," she felt his arms tighten around her waist. "especially mine."
She slowly folded the top corner of the page she was currently on, turned around in his arms and leaned in close, face to face. "You are a very powerful person, Ben. And just like how I have to practice to become a healer, you need to practice with the force. It's for the best, for both you and your uncle. He's just trying to help."
Ben raised his brows, unfazed by her words. "I hate that you actually just spoke to me as if I were a child."
Isabelle smiled at his tone. "Well sometimes it works right?"
"Sure, Isabelle." He rolled his eyes. She leaned away as he stood up, turning to face away from her.
She sighed before standing up, the journal abandoned at her feet. Slowly, she came up from behind his tall frame and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him. "You know I only say it because I care, right?"
"I'm aware," his voice deep in response, turning around and wrapping his arms around her.
Reaching up on her toes, she placed a small kiss on his lips. This caused his lips to curve into a smile, which was rare coming from him these days.
Everything felt peaceful, and Isabelle's heart felt nothing but love in that moment. She was in such a trance, she didn't even notice his right arm moving towards his own waist. Eyes closed, she heard the familiar sound of a lightsaber being ignited. Her eyes shot open, looking between them to find the cross guarded light saber entering through her small frame. Staring up to him in horror, he was no longer in his ordinary robes but in his black robes.
"Ben?" She managed to question his name before she was shoved to the ground. Looking up from where she fell, she found him staring down upon her.
His eyes narrowed. "You cannot hide forever, Isabelle."
Shooting up from her bed, Isabelle was breathing heavily with her hands violently feeling amongst her stomach where she had seen the light saber impale her. It took her exactly one minute before she realized where she was, back on D'Qar. Tears were already building up in her eyes, the memories of Ben Solo had begun to haunt her.
~xXx~
The following morning, Isabelle found herself standing in front of a small mirror which hung behind her door. She was already dressed in her medical tunics, her long curls in a low ponytail, and her pale complexion the same as it was before. She almost couldn't recognize herself, she had lost so much weight. She use to have fuller cheeks, thicker thighs and curvy figure. Now her stomach flatter, waist more straight, and thighs almost not touching. She had changed so much in those three years, but hoped that maybe she could find herself somewhere.
Grabbing her communicator, she exited the room and made her way down the hall. After leaving the building and heading towards the medical bay, she passed by the hangars. She found herself looking in the direction of the X-wings and immediately thought of Poe and her rude behavior. He probably already found out about herself and the First Order and she really did want the others to see her as her and not some trader.
Without skipping a beat, she changed direction and entered the hangar. It didn't seem too busy, just a few pilots and mechanics wandering about. She didn't see the commander anywhere, which made her believe that maybe he wasn't out here yet.
"You look lost." Said a familiar voice. Isabelle turned around to find the mechanic from the other day, Hector, sitting by a nearby x-wing.
"Maybe just a little," she smiled. "How's your hand?"
"Not bad, a little sore." He showed her the bandage. "But not bad, thanks to you."
"That's good to hear. I'm looking for Commander Dameron. Do you know if he's out here yet or-"
Hector nodded. "He's working on his X-wing."
She followed his gesture to the black and orange starfighter towards the end of the hangar. Thanking Hector, she made her way towards the X-wing. She didn't see the Commander at first until she noticed his familiar orange jumpsuit underneath the X-wing. When she came to a stop in front of the ship, she found herself fidgeting with her hands. Before she could speak, an orange and white sphere shaped droid rolled itself at her feet. It's small dome head looked up to her and beeped in curiosity. Quickly it rolled towards the pilot, whose top half was still covered by his ship. Beeping again, it rolled towards the pilot.
"Tell them to wait, I'm almost done." Poe's voice was raspy, as if he had just woken up.
The small droid still beeped at him, as if it were arguing with him.
"Okay, tell her to wait."
Isabelle raised her eyebrows in turn of his voice. Had the droid mentioned who she was or corrected his term in her gender? Either way, she was beginning to wonder if now was a bad time, he sounded a bit irritated.
"If this is a bad time, I can just come back later." She spoke softly, trying not to break any concentration he may have had.
The sound of tools tinkering within the ship stopped and sound of feet shuffling filled their place. Poe carefully ducked his head while exiting the bottom of his X-wing and when he did lift it, he was somewhat shocked to see the blonde from the medical bay standing anxiously three feet away from him.
"Commander," She addressed him, her fidgeting hand now behind her back.
"Isabelle, right?"
"Yes. I'm sorry if I came at a bad time, you seem busy."
Poe took a second to turn around and gesture towards his ship. "No, no I was just- ah," he chuckled, scratching the back if his head. "I'm sorry if I sounded rude."
"Anyway, I just came by to apologize for the way I spoke to you yesterday. You were just being polite and asking a normal question and I just lashed out. I'm sorry." While she spoke, she noticed his arms crossed over his chest, his mouth in a straight line. Was he not accepting the apology?
Poe nodded his head. "That's alright. I mean, it was your first day here and you were probably already overwhelmed. I shouldn't have pushed my luck with getting to know you too soon. You uh, you came from the First Order, right?"
Of course he already knew. "Yes, I uh-"
"You don't have to talk about it, I know that must have been pretty rough. From what I hear, they're pretty intense."
"I hope that my behavior from yesterday doesn't affect the way you see me."
Poe chuckled. "Of course not. And look, all they do is gossip around here. I'm sure once they take the time to know you, that'll all go away. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would like to get to know you."
"Oh yeah? Like who?"
"Like me."
Her plump lips curved into a small smile and his heart instantly melted. And as it grew quiet between the two, it was soon interrupted by the small droid rolling into Poe's leg and beeping at him frequently.
Poe smiled in embaressment before gesturing towards the droid. "This is Beebee ate. Little guy likes to think he's funny."
Her features twisted into confusion, Poe then realized that she didn't understand Binary. He was somewhat grateful that she didn't understand Beebee ate's comment referring to herself.
"Well, I was actually going to grab breakfast once I finished up here, would you like to-"
"Thank you but I need to head over to the Medical bay."
Poe nodded. "Another time then,"
Nodding, Isabelle waved good bye and headed on her way out the hangar. Poe watched until she was completely gone and turned to look down at the droid.
"You know, I'm very glad she couldn't understand you." He said to his small friend.
Beebee ate beeped again.
"No, it's not a crush. It's called an admiration. And I've only mentioned her once!"
The small droid argued back.
"Okay, twice."
~xXx~
A/N: Once again, I apologize for not updating for so long. I recently moved to a new state and received a new job so I've been super busy. I will try my best to update more, I promise. Thank you as well for all the lovely reviews this story has received as well! Please leave more!
