Chapter 17

Rey dressed in her white tunic and pants and headed towards the forest to train with her staff. As she crossed a clearing near the living quarters building, she caught sight of Finn. Finn looked startled and then ran toward her. Rey slowed down to stop because of the look on his face. When he reached her, he gently took her by the arm and pulled beside the building.

"Rey," he whispered, "Why did Poe just ask me if I was in your quarters last night?"

"What?" Rey rolled her eyes. "Poe…," she growled.

She started walking toward the forest again. Finn followed her. "Rey, why is Poe asking that? Because I was in my own quarters last night after we got home."

"When I see Poe, he is going to get a piece of my mind!" she said through gritted teeth.

"Whoa Rey! Let's not get too hasty." Finn pulled her to a stop.

Rey's anger faded as she looked at him and sighed. "Because someone was in my quarters last night."

Finn stared at her. "So? Why is that such a big deal to Poe?"

Rey looked at him and she saw a thought finally cross Finn's face. "Ohhhh….," was all he said.

Rey began to walk again.

"Hold up Rey!" Finn called as he caught up to her. "You mean to say that you and …someone were…." Finn's face lit up. "Rey! Can I ask who it is?"

She stomped her foot frustrated. "I really can't talk about it yet Finn. I don't know what to say or how to say it."

"It's okay Rey." Finn placed his hands on her shoulders. "He is just worried about you. He cares for you, you know. I do too."

Rey hugged Finn. She took a deep breath. "I know."

"I am so happy for you. You deserve to be loved. Just like all of us do. Look, when you are ready to talk, I am here for you." He gave her a good squeeze. "Always."

Rey could always count on Finn. "Thank you, Finn."

"Besides, if they ever hurt you, not only would Poe and I be trouble for them, but they will have to look out for you! "Finn said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Rey gave him a sharp look then smiled. "Look as much as I would love to continue the conversation about my love life," she said sarcastically. "I do have to have training so… I'll be off." She began to walk backwards away from him toward the forest.

Finn winked at her. "Got it…. See ya around." He turned and walked back toward the docking area.

Rey turned and quickly walked to the clearing where she liked to use her staff. Several dummies were set up as well as other obstacles.

It felt good to have her staff in her hand. The weight of it was balanced and familiar. She spun it in her hands and set up to make passes against a nearby dummy. As she executed her routine, the motions brought her to be more focused. Her breathing slowed and her mind cleared. She could feel the life all around her. She felt herself reach out further with the Force. She felt peace and tranquility. Then, she felt a strange sensation and she looked down at her staff in her hands. Yet they were not her hands and staff. They were Ben's hands. She was startled and drop her staff and her vision returned to normal. She felt his confusion mixed with hers. Then even that sensation passed.

She felt him as he spoke softly, "What just happened?" He was standing there in his pants and boots with his staff in his hands again. Sweat made his chest and arms shine. He was breathing hard.

'I don't know," was all she could say. Her pulse began to race and her desire rose in her body.

He swallowed hard and dropped his staff. Swiftly, he was in front of her, pulling her into his arms. His lips crushed hers and he picked her up. Her legs easily wrapped around him as she continued to kiss him. She broke away from his lips. "We can't …," she gasped, "not now. I'm outside. Anyone could walk up…"

He panted as he thought. He searched her eyes and put her down. He kissed her and disappeared, leaving her relieved and disappointed.

"Great…" She could feel his frustration. She shared it. She bent down and picked up her staff. She spun it, turned around, and threw it at a dummy, piercing it halfway through the chest.

Why does it have to be so difficult? she thought as she yanked the staff out. Anger rose inside her. Why does Ben have to be so difficult? And Poe!

She reached out with the Force and pushed the dummy crashing into a far tree. She was pleased at the sight of the damaged dummy in pieces. Her anger dissipated as she leaned on her staff.

Rey sighed. She decided that she would head back to eat. She needed to think.

Rey walked toward the common building. People were working on unloading supplies from a new transport that had just arrived. More people had arrived to the base in the last week. But it still was not enough. The First Order seemed to have unlimited ships and Stormtroopers. Destroy one and three took its place. Hope was what they had. Hope is what set them apart from the First Order.

What happened earlier made her feel considered. If she could see what Ben was doing, he probably could see what she was doing. This could be a problem. She had to be careful. Mostly of what she had been doing is training but sometimes she attended meetings with Leia and the Resistance Command. She needed to build a wall in her mind during those times.

"Rey!" she heard a voice in the distance call her, breaking her out of her train of thought. She paused to look around to see who the voice was. That's when she saw him wave as he hurried toward her – it was Poe.

She rolled her eyes and continued into the mess hall, grabbing some rations. She saw him heading through the crowd of people and boxes and she headed to her quarters.

"Hey! Wait up Rey!" Poe called to her.

She could hear him running now. Rey stopped and turned to face him.

"Hey there!" Poe panted as he tried to catch his breath. "Glad I caught you." He waited for her to speak but Rey only crossed her arms across her chest. "Okay. So I see you are mad at me," he said quickly. "And yes, I should have not said anything to Finn." Poe ran his hand through his hair. He looked at her in the eyes. "I was just worried. If it wasn't Finn, I was hoping Finn would know."

He cautiously put his hands on her shoulders. "Forgive me?"

Rey rolled her eyes, relaxed, and playfully punched him in the chest. "Maybe…"

He pulled her into a hug. Rey melted into his arms.

"Whew!" he said breathily. "I thought I had really pissed you off."

"Ask the training dummy in the clearing," Rey joked.

He released his hug on her. "Ouch… just taking a guess that a new training dummy is needed?" Poe cringed jokingly.

"Obliterated."

"Thought so," he said firmly as he nodded his head. "We good?"

"Yes," she smiled.

He smiled. "Catch you later then?"

"If you're lucky," Rey teased. And with one last look, Poe headed back toward the shuttle.

Rey entered her quarters shortly afterwards. She sat down on her couch and took off her boots. She ran her toes over the carpet, enjoying the feel under her feet. She sighed and took down her hair. She was glad to make peace with Poe. Now if I could figure out this thing with Ben.

She decided to change out of her training clothes into more comfortable ones. She pulled off her pants, unhooked her tunic, and headed to her dresser. She could sense him before she saw him in the mirror. He looked lost. Their eyes met as she turned toward him. He was still in his pants and boots. She could feel the desire in herself and him rising to a breaking point. Within a few steps, he was there, picking her up and putting her on the dresser. His lips crushed hers. His hand touched her sides and moved up her back under her tunic. They became lost in each other. She felt him fumble with the front of his pants. She gasped in pleasure as she felt him slide home. She pulled him closer and felt his pace quicken. In their excitement, the ecstasy came quickly. They panted as they gazed into each other's eyes. "Don't do that to me again," he said softly and he kissed her.

"Do what?" she asked surprised at his response.

"Make me wait," he growled playfully as he nibbled on her ear.

She pushed on his chest. "It's hard for me too."

He stepped back and fastened his pants. He helped her off the dresser. Rey grabbed some fresh clothes and put them on.

He crossed his arms over his bare chest as he watched her. She looked at him as she finished fastening her full legged pants. "Enjoying the show?"

"Very much," he nodded wistfully. He huffed. "I've business to do." He smiled and vanished.