Chapter 2

"NAT!"

Scrambling from her seat, Jess launched herself across the commissary to tackle her friend as she entered the room, earning a few entertained looks as she did. Nat was prepared however, not budging an inch when Jess collided with her. "Hello," She laughed.

"Two days! You've been back for two days, and I'm only seeing you now?! What the hell!" Jess protested after letting go.

"Sorry, it's gotten busy." Nat apologized sheepishly.

"I know, I'm just teasing." Jess said, nudging the other woman as they walked towards the table Black Squadron had taken over.

"Hey! Welcome back, Amidala!" Bastian gave her a quick hug.

"Thanks," She smiled. "Good to see you all again.

"Nat, you haven't gotten to meet her yet, this is Karé Kun." Snap gestured to the woman he had his arm slung around.

"Your girlfriend?" Nat teased. "Didn't think you had it in you, Wexley."

Laughing, Karé slipped out from under Snap's arm to go shake hands with the new General. "Nice to finally meet you." She said. "They haven't shut up about you."

"Good to know I have them trained well." Nat gave a wicked grin.

Grinning widely, Karé nodded in approval. "I definitely like you." She confirmed.

"Well, how could you not?" Nat drawled teasingly as she sat down at the table.

"Wow, no ego there." Poe noted as he joined the group, yawning slightly as he rested his elbows on the tabletop.

"About as big as an ego as you've got." She shot back with a bright smile.

"Oh, that hurts, Amidala." He slapped his chest, feigning pain.

Taking a tray of food from R3, she put on the table before reaching for the cup. "You'll live." She muttered as she took a drink. Her eyes snapped up however when caught Karé giving Jess a look. Although the two other women knew they had been caught, they were somewhat surprised when the red head said nothing in response.

"So, Nat. You'll never guess what you missed while you were gone." Bastian said, leaning across the table with a grin.

Earning a smile in response, Nat leaned forwards with interest as Bastian told his tale, with the rest of the squadron butting in with jokes or corrections periodically. A smile of his own forming as Nat laughed at something Nein had said, Poe felt himself begin to relax as he relished in the light and laughter surrounding him.

"General!"

Turning in the direction of the voice, Nat rolled her eyes, however smiled nonetheless when she saw Karé and Jess run up to her. "Just Nat is fine, Karé. Please." She insisted. "I don't want any formality when we're not working."

"That's fair." Karé agreed. "In that case, you won't mind my saying that's a rather interesting relationship you have with our lovely commander."

"He's finally met his match, of course things are gonna side ways." Nat crossed her arms.

"Sideways?" Jess repeated, raising her eyebrow in amusement. "More like explode in flames."

"I agree, there's definitely more going on there." Karé noted.

"And what would you define it as?" Nat challenged with a smirk.

The two members of Black Squadron looked at each other before back to the General and nodded. "Sexual tension." They said in unison.

"Hilarious." Nat rolled her eyes as she turned away.

"You can't deny what you feel inside!" Jess called after her as she walked away.

"Of course I can!" Nat called back. "I have a lifetime of practice under my belt!"

"I've travelled too far, and seen too much to ignore the despair in the galaxy. Without the Jedi, there can be no balance in the Force."

Opening his eyes, he saw Nat standing above him, her brow furrowed in concern. "This is the fourth time this week." She noted.

Sighing, he rubbed his face, letting his hand slide down it. "I know, I'm sorry. This takes away from your sleep too."

"Well, like you said," She pointed out, climbing over him to lay next to him, slipping her legs under the covers. They moved at the same time to embrace each other. "I'm a cuddler."

"You know, I think I am too." He said, pulling her to him gratefully.

"I've been thinking. You didn't have as many nightmares when we were home. I think the Force Tree really helped you." She said thoughtfully, stroking his curls as he buried his face in her neck.

"So do you." He mumbled as he tried to relax. "Help me, I mean."

At this she hummed. "I'm here for you, Poe." She promised. "Now sleep."

All morning as he worked, Lor San Tekka's words continued to ring in Poe's mind, about the balance in the Force. Right now in the galaxy, the scale had been dramatically shifted, with the First Order and the Dark Side in power. While there was hope for Luke Skywalker's return, there was one thing he was struggling to wrap his mind around. Glancing at the small woman next to him from the corner of his eye, he crossed his arms before he made the decision to speak. "General Organa, can I ask you a question?" He turned from the holotable to face her.

"Is something troubling you, Poe?" Leia switched the holotable off to give him her full attention.

"It's not so much troubling me as much as I'd just like to understand." His brow furrowed as he shook his head slightly. "Why didn't you call Nat- uh, General Amidala earlier once we knew where Master Skywalker was? Now don't get me wrong, Rey is a nice girl, she basically saved the Resistance, but why send her and not General Amidala," Here is voiced lowered. "Who is a trained Jedi.

"I believe you answered your question yourself, Commander." She smiled slightly.

His frown deepening, he shifted his weight uncertainly. "I don't understand."

"Rey is Force Sensitive, she's unsure of this new path. Natasha grew up learning the ways of the Jedi, she finished her training. If anyone needs Luke right now, it's Rey." She said.

"We could all use him right now." He muttered in response.

Seeing the conflict in his eyes, the General put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you ask Natasha?" She suggested. "See it from her perspective." With that she patted his shoulder before walking to where many of the other leaders where they stood in a collective. Pursing his lips in thought, he turned to look at Nat where she stood across the room. Standing with C-3PO, she looked between a star chart and a datapad in her hand, occasionally lifting her other hand towards the holo where another planet would appear.

"Ask how?" He asked himself, returning to his own work.

At her own table, Nat glanced at Poe from the corner of her eye, her mouth pulling down slightly.