Two days later, everyone was on edge. Rey was awake early that morning and warming up her body in order to be ready for what she was planning. She moved through her practice steps slowly, keeping form in mind before speed. It didn't take long before she felt Leia's arms sliding around her waist and holding her close. She turned and looked down at the older woman. Her hands framed the General's face and brushed her hair away from the beautiful brown eyes she adored.

"Leia," she whispered the name softly, almost like a plea, before leaning down and pressing her mouth against the older woman's.

Leia wasted no time in wrapping her arms around Rey's neck and dragging her back to the bed with her and pulling her down on top of her, straddling her hips. She trusted Rey to tell her when she was ready, but that didn't mean that they couldn't be comfortable for a little while longer. Her fingers tangled in the shoulder length hair and she pressed herself closer, needing to feel the younger woman, knowing without a doubt, that all of their lives were going to be in danger today. A loud groan escaped her throat when Rey's teeth sank into her lower lip and her tongue dragged across the wound, begging for permission to enter. Leia gave it willingly, giving herself over to the feelings of desperation and need that she felt every time Rey kissed her.

Rey knew what she wanted, and this time, she didn't hesitate. Her hands slid under Leia's night shirt and up over the soft curve of her stomach and the the gentle swell of her ribcage. She needed the older woman, needed to feel her skin, knowing that touching her, kissing her, would chase away the uncontrollable terror that was twisting her gut. Dragging her mouth away from the the elder's lips she kissed and bit her way across the strong jaw to the sensitive spot behind her ear. She lingered for a moment, letting her hands slide their way to defined hips and squeezing gently. She felt Leia roll her hips against her thigh in response, and groaned softly.

"I love you, Leia." The younger woman whispered into the shell of the older woman's ear.

Leia froze. Her heart hammering in her ears and joy bubbling up from within her. It spilled out her eyes and dripped into her hair as she stared up at her young love. "Oh Rey." her voice cracked as she spoke. "I love you, too."

"Why the tears?"

"Because even Han never told me he loved me. He always said, 'I know'. I haven't heard those words since my parents died." Leia leaned forward and pressed her face into Rey's shoulder. The younger woman rolled them both over and held the elder until her tears were spent.

"That," she whispered into the long hair of her soon-to-be lover, "will not be the last time you hear me say those words. I promise you that."

This time, it was Leia's turn to straddle the young woman and kiss her within and inch of her life. She needed the younger woman, needed to know that she was there, solid and warm. Her fingers traced the hem of the Jedi's lose shirt and she was shocked when fingers wrapped around her wrist and guided her hand beneath the cloth and over soft flesh, giving her permission to touch, to explore where she wanted. Tongues battled for dominance and teeth bit gently on lips. She caught Rey's tongue as it entered her mouth and sucked, hard. She felt the body beneath her own arch strongly off the bed and hands found her hips again squeezing and releasing rhythmically.

Leia's own hands, seemed to have developed a mind of their own. They traveled the flat expanse of Rey's stomach slowly, leaving trails of fire in their wake, scoring every so often with her nails, and making the young woman groan. She couldn't get enough of how the Jedi responded to her touch and took her time to memorize every curve and swell and all the places that made her move or groan. It took only minutes for Leia to decide that the shirt was decidedly in her way. Without breaking contact with the younger woman, she pulled the both into a seated position, and yanked at the cloth. She wanted it gone, but wouldn't force her.

Not that she needed to. Within seconds Rey had stripped her shirt over her head and reconnected their lips. Leia gasped in surprise when her hands met the bare expanse of Rey's back. Her hands hadn't explored far enough up her front to realize that the young woman's breasts, had been left unbound. She groaned to herself, and laid her back on the bed, coming over her and pulling away to stare down into the bright brown eyes before her, silently asking the question that was floating through her mind.

Yes. was the only response she got.

Much later, they lay entwined on the bed. Lingering touches and gentle kisses to various parts of their cooling bodies kept the outside world from intruding on their silence. Neither had bothered to redress, not wanting to lose the intimate skin to skin contact between them, even though they knew that things were going to happen rapidly in the next couple of hours. It came as no surprise when there was a clang on the metal door.

"General, we have picked up two First Order ships headed this way. Looks like Rey was right after all." Po's voice was muffled slightly by the door, but they both heard him and they both launched into action.

As she pulled her hair back into a braided bun Leia called out, "How far out are they?"

"Two, maybe three hours at the most. We need to get busy. What are your orders?"

Rey was finishing tying her arm bands and grabbed up her lightsaber as she headed to the door, only to be stopped by a hand on her arm.

"My orders are the same as they were two days ago, Dameron. We lay low in the caves and we don't draw attention to ourselves. Hopefully, we can keep them from discovering us. Make sure that everything is moved into the back of the system and that the people stay away from the cave openings. We can't afford to be seen." Leia snapped through the door.

"Of course, General. I will make sure that it is done." Po's voice echoed back.

"Leia, I have to go. We talked about this. I-"

"I know. Just promise me you will be careful. Please, please promise me."

"I will be careful. I love you, Leia. Stay safe, for me." Without waiting for a response she moved out the door and was gone.