Note: Slight bonus chapter in the POV of Dara
Dara lay in the warmest, most comfortable bed in the galaxy, with simulated sun light brightening the room. She felt well rested. She wriggled down into the blankets, letting them brush her face. She turned over, feeling a little sleepy, but she saw Poe lying next to her. It took her by surprise for a second, but she watched Poe breathing steadily. His wavy hair was sticking up at all angles, and his face was relaxed and handsome. He was like a sculpture sleeping in her warm bed. His skin looked as smooth as polished stone. She felt those butterflies absolutely battering her stomach. They had been waging war on her insides since the first time she'd seen him. Poe liked to hug the blanket to his face when he slept, and Dara thought it was the most adorable thing she'd ever seen. He mumbled a little in his sleep. Dara thought about the first time she had seen Poe. She realised, rather sentimentally that seeing Poe had changed her life entirely. Poe had changed her. Knowing him. And she wouldn't change that for the world.
Dara remembered that after a particularly stressful meeting with representatives from the Naboo, she had gone to the most beautiful park on Coruscant that nobody knew about. She had been fuming on the claims from the Naboo that their current Queen wanted to damn the memory of her grandmother Padme Amidala. It had been a personal matter that they had taken up in her private offices, as she was a living descendant of Padme. It seemed the rest of the Naboo did not agree with this decision, but since it had come to light that she had had the children of Darth Vader, her career had been overshadowed. It had been a very personal insult to Dara. Even thinking about it now made her feel sick with anger. She took a breath in the bed she shared with Poe. She had been sitting under a cherry blossom tree trying very hard to forget her hurt feelings. She spotted someone walking by the fish pond, his hands stuffed into a leather jacket. A handsome man, with thick dark hair, and the kind of face with great character. Her eye just caught on him immediately. He sat by a bench and watched the cool water for a time, under a different cherry blossom tree. The setting was surreal. He looked like a good spirit who had appeared just to brighten her day. She watched him for the entirety of the time he was there. She drank in every detail she could see of him. His dark, warm eyes, his pretty lips, the delightful curve of his nose, his relaxed posture, and his watchful, easy gaze.
It came time for Dara to leave. She was sad that she would never see this man again. Coruscant was a big planet. But she did see him again. She sat in a large public library getting frustrated over the dotty records of Alderan. She heard slow footsteps walk right past her. There he was again. He strode right past her, gazing around him, a slight sense of wonder on his face as he looked at the beautiful building. She had felt that fluttering in her stomach and forgot about the big gap in history around the time when her mother Leia was born. The man sat in a seat in the library, picking through a random book, but watching the people. Dara made for one of the nearby shelves opposite him, hoping he'd look at her. Hoping he'd be just as enthralled by him as she was. Poe gave a snore as he rolled over in his sleep, which made Dara start. Poe hadn't seen her in the library. She looked at Poe's back, wishing she could cuddle into it.
When Dara had seen Poe in her favourite restaurant, sticking out like a sore thumb, still looking, she started to get suspicious. Maybe he was looking for her. Well he wasn't doing a very good job. Or maybe he was following her. She waited for him to finish up his food and leave the restaurant before she decided to follow him. She needed to know she was safe from the handsome man. She stayed behind him the whole way back to his hotel, making sure to keep people between them. Ever since she had run away from her uncle Luke, she had been determined to never use the Force again. So she would have to find out who this man was on her own. He was in a decent enough hotel. Not the sort of place an ambassador or Princess would be caught dead in. She hung back as he collected his key for his room.
"Poe Dameron, room 625." he said. His voice was pleasant and warm. She couldn't help the butterflies fluttering again. Why was Poe Dameron suddenly appearing in her life in all the places she liked to frequent. She told herself she was being paranoid. It was just a strange coincidence, and it would never happen again. But then she had seen him at her favourite bar. Then she had spoken to him. Then she could never have gone back.
She looked across at him in the early morning light, seeping in through the windows. His shoulders heaved with every breath. She counted every freckle on his back. She wished so very much she could tell him everything that was in her heart. How her heart sped up when he was near. How her thoughts raced when they were alone together.
"Poe…" she whispered, forlornly. She wished that they could be together. She hadn't ever felt these things. She knew that emotional attachment could ruin her. It could tip the scales in the wrong way. Her first priority would be him and not the good of the galaxy. How long before it got that way? How long before she did the wrong thing because of her feelings for him? Should she distance herself from him, yet again? She was very afraid of how she was feeling. There was a reason Jedi forsook being in romantic relationships. It clouded their judgement. But she couldn't do it again. Dara had pushed Poe away enough times already. One more time and she feared it would be the last. He would surely abandon her forever. He was surprised he had not left her be before now. Poe had the best soul she had seen. She had seen within him. He was determined to do right by everyone. She only hoped she could do right by him. Dara leaned up and gave Poe a light kiss on the cheek, which caused him to mutter and to turn over.
"I love you." she whispered so lightly, making sure that no matter what, he wouldn't hear her.