Author's note: I'm back! I'm really happy with how this turned out, so I hope you enjoy! Comments feed the muse! Also, I've included a reference to my favorite 80s rom com. If you spot it and get it right, message me and I'll write a Damerey one shot of your choice!

Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Chapter 12

"Yeah, Chewie, I see it," Poe murmured as they came out of hyperspace. He curled his fingers around the yoke and eased the Falcon into position for those scans. When he'd suggested this, he never expected that Rey would let him do the flying. This was her ship, after all, and he'd made a promise. He'd made the mistake once of questioning her flying skills (though to be fair, he'd just met her) and he'd regretted that ever since. When they left Naboo, he hadn't said a word, simply settling in the seat behind Chewie like he had on their mission to Pasaana.

After they got to hyperspace, their small crew dispersed, leaving him, Rey and Chewie alone in the cockpit. Eventually, she got up and stretched. "You wanna watch her for a while?"

He stared at her for a long minute, wondering what she was up to. It wasn't like her to just hand over her ship. "Um, yeah, sure, Sunshine," he said, getting up. She'd kissed him briefly as she passed, leaving him alone with Chewie for the rest of the journey. He was still no closer to divining why she'd done it, but he had to admit he felt better once he was in the pilot seat.

Okay, so maybe he had a little bit of a control problem.

But just when it came to flying. That was his story and he was sticking to it.

Hours later, they could finally take those scans. Finn and Jannah were manning the guns, just in case there was trouble. They were far enough away that there shouldn't be trouble; it would take longer for a ship to reach them than it would take them to run away—but prudence was the name of this mission.

"Anything yet?" Rey asked, slipping into the seat that Poe vacated earlier.

"Just got started," he confirmed, glancing at the data. "It's gonna take a little time."

One of the warning lights started to flash; Chewie switched it off with an annoyed roar and got up. Before Rey or Poe could ask what was wrong, the Wookie had stomped out of the cockpit. "What's gotten into him?" Poe asked.

"Dunno," Rey said as she moved into the now empty seat. "Still nothing on the scanners?"

"Nope. It's quiet." It was so quiet that he was tempted to move closer to the system, but he didn't. Rey and Finn were right. This wasn't the time to get reckless. He had to think like a general and not a man who feared losing the most important person in his life.

Rey sensed his unease. "This is the right decision, Poe," she said softly, reaching over to cover his hand with hers. "Even if it doesn't feel like it right now."

He squeezed her fingers. "Yeah, I know. I've never been good at just waiting around though."

She smiled. "We'll teach you patience yet, flyboy."

He arched a brow at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Only if you're the one giving the lesson, sweetheart."

Rey rolled her eyes, but that didn't mean she was opposed to his insinuation. She leaned back in her seat, staring out at the stars. They were quiet for a long time, the silence not uncomfortable; they just enjoyed each other's company while the Falcon completed the scans. She'd made the right choice, giving him a chance to fly for a while. So much was happening at once, he needed something familiar to hang on to. Plus, Poe was the only person she knew who loved flying more than she did. It was a part of who he was, as vital as his kindness and his heart. Flying was one the first things they bonded over. After leaving Crait behind, Poe often joined her in the cockpit of the Falcon, offering to fly. She sensed that he didn't fully trust her skills; later, when she confronted him, he'd apologized. After that, they talked about flying a lot. She knew how much he missed it, especially now that he had all these other responsibilities. Giving him some time in the pilot's seat was something nice that she could do for the man who'd given her so much.

"I was thinking," Poe said, breaking the silence.

"About what?"

Poe ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, it's gonna take us a few days to reach Coruscant, even in this old girl." The Falcon's hyperdrive wasn't the standard issue on this type of ship; years ago, Han and Lando had made modifications, boasting the Falcon was the fastest ship in the galaxy. Poe didn't know for sure if that was true, but so far, he'd seen no reason to doubt it. They'd gotten out of plenty of tight spots thanks to those modifications.

"We probably shouldn't spend days in hyperspace either," Rey said thoughtfully. It was easy to lose track of things if you stayed in hyperspace too long.

"I was thinking we'd change course, hop into a few of the lesser used lanes, just in case." Just because he wasn't crazy about this plan didn't mean he wasn't going to give it his best effort. Especially with what was at stake.

"Good idea."

"If we do that, it's going to add to our transit time." Less than a handful of people knew their true destination or their mission; they couldn't risk losing their small advantage.

"Still a good idea."

"Of course, that means you, me and Chewie are the only qualified pilots." He'd been teaching Finn some of the basics, but it wouldn't be enough if they got into real trouble.

"Three pilots, two seats."

"Exactly."

"We'll have to take turns."

"Only when we're jumping in and out of hyperspace," Poe said, flipping a few switches for the scans.

Rey knew he was right, but disappointment curled in her belly anyway. They wouldn't get to spend as much time together if they were taking turns flying. "Sure you're not just angling for more time in that seat?" she teased.

Poe grinned. "Sweetheart, you gave this up willingly. I didn't even ask."

"Just don't forget this is my ship."

He made a show of saluting her. "Aye, Master Jedi."

Rey made a face. "Glad to see someone's in a better mood."

"I had a lot of time to think as the stars zoomed past."

Rey glanced away, reminded once again of the fantasy she'd had. This was far from the time to tell him about it. Too many potential interruptions. "What did the general conclude?"

"He concluded that he still has a lot to learn about being in charge." A series of beeps got his attention. "Scan's complete." He punched in several commands into the computer; Rey leaned over his shoulder. They examined the data as it poured in. "Huh."

"What?"

"Well, Finn will be relieved it's not a black hole."

"Poe."

"I know, I know. Anyway, Rose was right. According to this, there is definitely a star with orbiting planets. It looks like the signal was traced to one of the moons." He scrolled back up. "Oh, for Force sake."

"What?"

"The climate is about the worst you can imagine."

"I grew up on Jakku. You know, a desert?"

"Ever been to an ice planet?"

"Does Starkiller Base count?"

Poe blinked. "Right. Sorry." That was where Rey had fought Kylo Ren in the snow; how could he have forgotten that?

"I'd never seen snow before. Didn't even really know what it was. But it was cold." It had been chilly on Kijimi too, but not like that. That kind of cold seeped into your bones and tried to drag you under. She hated the cold.

"The Rebellion used to have a base on Hoth. From what Leia said, it sounds a bit like this. We'll need to get some supplies when we get to Coruscant."

"I'll bet the old Imperial Palace will have what we need."

Poe tilted his head up to look at her. "Rey, you're sure about this? You don't have to keep torturing yourself with your grandfather's crimes. You're not like him. You're not."

She was touched by his concern. "Poe, it has the answers we need. It has answers I need." She touched her belt; one of the pouches contained the precious data card Beaumont had sent. "According to this, there could be thousands of repositories of Jedi history there. Research on the Force. All contained in something called holocrons." All the knowledge she could ever want about the Jedi! She couldn't say no to that. She'd planned on visiting the old temple eventually; this just moved things up a bit.

Poe slipped his arm around her waist; she was so brave, his Jedi. "Jedi history, huh?"

"Yeah." She ran her fingers through his hair; she adored his soft curls. "Have you ever been to Coruscant?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I trained there, but it's not my favorite place."

"Why?"

"It's nothing but city. Metal and glass and stone." He didn't mention the seedy underbelly of the city-planet; Rey would see for herself soon enough.

"No trees to climb," she teased gently.

Poe smiled. "Something like that." Kes taught him survival skills from the time he was young; it had been grueling sometimes, but he was at heart, a fan of the outdoors. Fortunately, Rey loved all things green and growing.

"Trees are easier to climb than abandoned Imperial wrecks."

Poe arched a brow at her. "Is that a challenge, darling?"

"Hmmm, maybe."

"Competitive. I like it."

"You won't when you lose."

"If I lose. We'll just need to make the prize worth it."

"Prize for what?"

Poe let go of Rey instantly; she turned, feeling her cheeks heat up. She didn't know why she was so flustered; it's not like they'd been caught kissing. Or worse. There was a charge to the air when she and Poe were alone; it crashed the moment they were interrupted. "Nothing," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Finn glanced from one to the other; why did they look guilty? He hadn't meant to interrupt whatever private moment they were having. He just wasn't used to this casual intimacy his friends shared now. "Scans?"

"Scans, right," Poe said, trying to get his mind back into gear. It was hard to think sometimes with Rey so close. "The good news is, it's not a black hole."

Finn sighed in relief. "Wait. Good news implies there's bad news."

Poe nodded. "If Rose's calculations are right, it's an ice planet. To even land, we're gonna need some supplies and modifications to the ship."

"Soooo, I was right." It wasn't the worst case scenario he'd feared, but Finn had been right to be cautious.

Poe rolled his eyes. "Yes. You were right. Are you happy now?"

Finn clapped Poe on the shoulder. "Some humility is good for you, man." He turned to Rey. "What's the plan?"

Rey explained Poe's idea of jumping hyperspace lanes to keep any potential pursuers at bay. It wasn't likely, but they'd learned the hard way to be cautious. While she talked, Jannah and Chewie also arrived. They debated the path to take, where to jump to, when to jump, and who would be flying for what felt like hours. Finn offered to take some time watching the ship during the longer stretches in hyperspace so their three pilots could sleep. Truthfully, there weren't enough sleeping quarters for all five of them at once anyway, even with Poe and Rey sharing the captain's quarters.

"So, who's taking first shift?" Poe asked.

"I am," Rey said immediately. "Me and Chewie."

"Why?"

"Are you guys really gonna do this now?" Finn asked, sensing another one of their "debates" brewing. He'd refereed too many of them in the last year; he knew the signs.

"What?" Poe and Rey said together.

Finn groaned. If they kept this up, it would be a long trip to Coruscant. "Can't you just draw straws or something?"

"But that's completely random!" Poe protested.

Finn gave them both a look. "Rey, you take first shift. Poe, you should get some sleep. You look like crap." Before either of them could argue, he nodded at Jannah, who left with him.

"I don't look like crap. Do I, Sunshine?"

Rey smiled and looked down at her fiancé. As handsome as ever, but he did seem tired. It lingered at the corner of his eyes and the set of his shoulders. "As if you ever could," she said softly, kissing his cheek. "But I still think you should get some sleep."

Poe took her hand in his. He didn't want to admit it, but he was feeling a bit tired. Probably from being so anxious about this mission. "Okay, just…stay out of trouble?"

"We'll be fine."

Poe stood and kissed her. "Love you."

"Love you too."


"All clear," Rey said, leaning back in her seat.

"That was close," Poe replied, his heart still racing. TIE fighters had chased them across three systems; he'd been forced to lightspeed skip again. Rey, of course, protested, but as he was in the pilot's seat, there wasn't anything she could do about it.

"I can't believe you did that. Again." She sounded…angry? Awed? A mixture of both?

"You say that like I had a choice," he snapped. "They were going to kill us!"

Rey pushed herself up, her hazel eyes flashing. "You could have gotten us killed! What if you came out of lightspeed inside a star or something, Poe?"

"But I didn't," He sat up, leaning over the arm of the chair. "I've done this plenty of times; I know what I'm doing!"

"Are you implying I don't?"

"You learned how to fly in a simulator, sweetheart. I've been doing this since I was kid!"

"Don't patronize me, Poe Dameron," she growled. "Arrogant bastard."

"You like it." He smirked at her; as angry as she was, he felt something else too. She couldn't hide, not from him. "I can feel how much you like it, Rey."

"Ugh." She got up, but he caught her wrist before she could walk away. His touch was like an electric shock; her heart pounded in her chest. Soft lips kissed the pads of her fingers, sending a shiver down her spine. "Poe…"

He said nothing, a gentle tug of her arm calling her back. He grinned as she climbed into his lap, fusing her lips to his. The kiss wasn't gentle or sweet; it was filled with passion and frustration. Poe cupped her ass as she rocked against him, her desire overwhelming his senses. "There's my girl."

"Shut up and kiss me, flyboy."

"Yes, ma'am." She moaned into his kiss; their tongues wrapped together in a sensual dance. He could feel the heat building in her core as she ground her hips against his; another close call fueled their mutual need. Her nimble fingers tugged on his shirt, pulling the tails from his trousers. Poe wasn't idle, tugging the fabric of her leggings over her hips. She let out a little needy gasp as he stroked her aching nub. "Hmmm, maybe I should piss you off more often, Sunshine," he growled as more arousal coated his fingers.

Rey bit her lip, her eyes falling shut as her lover touched her. "You're so full of yourself," she replied, trying to sound annoyed but failing completely. She needed more.

"You want to be full of me, sweetheart," he purred in her ear. "I can feel it."

Rey shuddered; as much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She needed him. Right here. Right now. "Get your pants down," she hissed. "Now."

Poe hastened to obey her as she stood in the tiny space between his legs. Somehow, she managed to get her boots and leggings off, tossing them in the seat next to her. Before he could say another word, she was back in his lap, kissing him deeply as she sank onto his stiff cock. They both groaned; they were probably being too loud, but Poe didn't care. Knowing they could get caught only made things more exciting. Stars zoomed by them as the ship careened through hyperspace; Poe bucked up into her. Rey mewled, lost in her need. "Yes, yes," she breathed. "Kriff, more, Poe."

He captured her lips in another hot messy kiss, his high coiling at the base of his spine. Rey leaned back abruptly, hands braced on the instrument panel as she rode him, frantic, desperate to fall over the edge. Her walls fluttered around him, she was almost there and so was he. So close, so close…

Poe woke with a gasp, the chrono blaring at him. He groaned softly, his pants painfully tight. His neck hurt from sleeping sitting up, or rather, sprawled out in the pilot's seat, asleep. He huffed and righted himself, trying to surreptitiously adjust himself in his pants. That dream had felt so real, like she was actually there with him. She wasn't, of course.

He counted to fifty, willing his body to calm down. He missed her, that was all. With them taking different shifts in the pilot's seat, they hadn't seen much of each other the last few days. When they did get to spend some time together, they hung out with Finn and Jannah, trying to entertain themselves. They played holochess and sabacc. Chewie beat them all at chess; Rey came closest to toppling the reigning champ, once or twice. The only time Poe won was when he played against Jannah, mostly because she'd only learned to play during this mission.

The worst part was that he and Rey kept almost opposing hours; he would be sliding into their bed to sleep just before she woke up for her shift. When she wasn't flying or sleeping or playing games, she'd disappear into the Falcon's innards, fixing something or other. She and Finn did some Jedi training too; he occasionally heard the crash and Finn's curses as they practiced.

He missed her. Once, two nights ago, they found themselves alone. Finn and Jannah were asleep, Chewie manned the cockpit. They played a game of chess, or at least, they tried too. Rey fell asleep before they got very far. Poe wound up carrying her back to their quarters and tucking her in; it was the only time they'd shared the same bed for more than an hour or so.

Heavy footfalls got his attention. Chewie appeared, roaring softly. "Everything's quiet," Poe assured him. "Next jump isn't for hours yet." Chewie nodded. "I'm gonna go get some sleep. Rey'll be here later, okay?"

He let Chewie get settled before rising himself. It was early in the morning, at least according to the chrono. Taking every third shift was messing with his sleep patterns; no wonder he was so exhausted. Not having Rey with him didn't make it better. He heard a faint humming sound; it took him a moment to realize it was a lightsaber. What was Rey doing up at this hour?

He headed for the common room. Rey stood in the middle of the space, blindfold across her eyes, saber lit. A remote blast droid hovered near her; Rey's blade flowed it as it moved. How could she see it if she was blindfolded? Poe watched, fascinated. The remote shot at her in varying intervals; Rey deflected them all with ease. Her movements were fluid, graceful; she held the saber like it was an extension of her arm. The yellow beam cast a warm glow over her features; it suited her. Why yellow? What determined the color? He could still recall the angry spitting red of Kylo Ren's saber, the color of malevolence and evil. The yellow was warm and inviting, like sunshine.

Appropriate for the woman he loved so much.

Rey deactivated her saber; she sensed she wasn't alone. The presence was familiar; she'd know Poe's bright light anywhere. When she tugged the blindfold down, she found him standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest and looking quite pleased with himself. "Hey."

"Hello stranger." Poe smiled as he entered the room, reaching out to cup her cheek. Rey sighed as he pressed a kiss to her lips; she missed him. "Am I interrupting?"

She shook her head. "No, I was just…I couldn't sleep," she confessed. Truthfully, she was going a bit stir crazy. She kept herself as occupied as she could, but this wasn't like any of those other missions they'd gone on together. Her relationship with Poe had changed dramatically since the last time they found themselves cooped up in the Falcon together. She could tinker and meditate and play chess and train, but it wasn't a substitute for Poe's hugs and warm smile.

Poe smiled. "Don't yell at me, but I drifted off back there," he said, jerking his thumb toward the cockpit. "Dreaming about you."

"Me?"

He chuckled. "It was definitely you. No one else yells at me for my flying."

Rey curled her fingers in his shirt, tugging him closer. "Well, you are a bit reckless," she murmured, lips hovering over his. She kissed him languidly, sighing as his arms slipped around her waist.

"So are you," he replied, biting back a groan as she ran her fingers through his hair. Since it was so late, she was only dressed in a tunic, leggings and boots; she was warm and soft against him. As she pressed closer, the hilt of her saber dug into his hip. "Hmm, careful with that thing, Sunshine."

"What? Oh." She shoved at her belt, sliding her saber over a few inches. Poe's lips descended on hers again; she mewled as he backed her toward the holochess table. "Must have been some dream," she murmured as he pressed more kisses to her throat.

Poe chuckled. "It featured my two favorite things, so yeah."

"What was the other one?" She hooked her legs around his, trying to hold him as close to her as she could. His rough hands slid under her shirt; she shivered. Other than a few stolen heated kisses, they hadn't been together in days.

Poe nosed the collar of her tunic aside; his lips caressed her collarbone. "Why don't you guess?"

She didn't really need to guess, but she decided to humor him. Besides, she liked where this was headed. "Holochess?"

He chuckled. "Nope. Try again."

She gasped and gripped his biceps as he kissed that spot under her ear that drove her crazy. "Ugh, shooting enemy fighters?"

"Hmm, better guess, but no." He kissed her deeply, pressing her harder against the table. She could feel him between her legs; she tried to rock against him. "I'll give you a hint." He waited until her lust filled hazel eyes found his. "I'm good at only two things, sweetheart. And flying's the other one."

She bit her lip and smoothed her hands over his chest. "Maybe you better give me a demonstration, flyboy. Just to sure. That's an awfully big boast. Even for you."

He smiled that heartmelting sexy grin that she couldn't resist. "I think that can be arranged." Before she could reply, he scooped her up, holding her against his chest with her legs around his waist as he walked them to the captain's quarters. The moment the door hissed shut, Poe pressed her against it, their lips locked in a heated kiss. "Kriff, I've missed you," he growled as she tugged his hair.

Rey angled her head to give him better access as he nibbled and sucked on her pulse. "Me too," she breathed. It was the wee hours of the morning, they should be sleeping, but they needed this. His day old scruff scratched and burned her perfectly; she'd bear the marks later, she was sure of it. She dug her heels into his lower back, arching off the metal door. "Poe, kriff, I need you."

"I know." The fabric of her blindfold tickled his nose; suddenly, he had an idea. "You trust me?"

"Of course."

"Good." He gently set her on her feet, then he tugged the blindfold loose.

"What are you doing?"

"Why do you train blindfolded, Sunshine?"

"Because I don't need my eyes to see, not with the Force." She looked from his face to the blindfold, realization lighting up her face. "Oh."

"Are you…okay with trying that?"

She didn't even hesitate. "Yes."

Poe kissed her swiftly. "Alright. If you want me to take it off, you just say the word, okay?" She nodded. He felt her curiosity and desire through their connection; he loved her all the more for being willing to try this.

Rey closed her eyes as he tied the cloth carefully around her eyes. "Good? No peaking now."

"It's good." The room had been dimly lit when they entered; she was now in total darkness. But she wasn't afraid. She trusted Poe, trusted him more than anyone in her life. He took her hands and walked them over to the bed. Rey perched on the edge, humming as her lover's lips descended on hers. The darkness allowed her to focus on other things, like the softness of his lips, the little puffs of warm air on her skin every time he paused to breathe, the urgency of his hands on her body. Poe peeled off her tunic, careful not to disturb the blindfold. Rey braced her hands behind her on the bunk as he kissed a path down her sternum, his scruff leaving marks on her pale skin. The metal floor creaked as Poe knelt between her legs, slipping off her boots and peeling the leggings down.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured as he kissed her inner thigh. She smelled heavenly; her sex was already glistening in the low light. He pressed her knees wider apart, licking a stripe over her slit with the flat of his tongue. Rey moaned softly; it felt even better that usual. She kept one hand braced on the bed; with the other, she threaded her fingers into his hair. Poe obeyed her silent command, devouring her. She rocked against his face as he lapped at her arousal, his tongue dipping inside her.

"Poe, oh Force," she panted. "Don't stop. Please." Her head fell back; she felt like she was melting from the inside out. It always felt good, but without her sight, she could only focus on the sensations. Heat pooled in her belly; sparks seemed to flit across her skin. She climbed higher and higher, trying desperately to hold him against her. Yet he backed off before she could climax, leaving her body screaming in frustration. "Poe!"

"Shhh," he chided. "We don't want to wake anyone, sweetheart." It reminded him of his dream, the idea of them getting caught. The door was locked, but it wasn't soundproof.

"Now you're just being mean," she whined.

He kissed her swollen clit. "Patience, mi amor, patience." He stood and started to disrobe as he moved toward the small galley. They hadn't stocked it with this in mind, but he wasn't going to complain. He filled a bowl with the things he needed, then returned to the bed. He set the bowl aside and pulled her in for a kiss. Rey gasped in surprise; she could taste her arousal on his tongue. When she braced her hands on his chest, she realized he was naked.

"Now this is better," she breathed between kisses.

Poe chuckled. "Yeah? You can't see me, sweetheart."

She ran her blunt nails down his chest, earning her a groan. "Don't need to, flyboy," she murmured. Her hands wandered as they kissed languidly; it was like she was learning his body all over again. She traced broad shoulders with her fingertips, skimmed his abdominals, feeling triumphant every time she found a new place that made him moan softly.

"Who's seducing who, sweetheart?" he groaned as she gave his ass a firm squeeze.

"Doesn't matter." She hitched her leg over his hip, using the leverage to grind against his hot firm erection. "Missed you."

It would be so easy to push inside her and give them the relief they so badly needed, but Poe restrained himself. "Lay back for me."

"Why?" She could sense his desire; he wanted her as badly as she wanted him.

"Because you are far too tempting, and I'm not done with you yet."

Reluctantly, she did as he asked. She heard the clank of the ceramic bowl, then something very cold slid down her torso. She cursed, the cold sharp against her overheated skin. It took her a moment to place what it was. "Ice?"

"Mmhmm." He circled her areola with the cube; Rey squirmed and moaned as her nipples tightened painfully. "Too much, darling?"

It was such a strange sensation, hot and cold, but arousal flooded her core. "No. Oh gods."

He smiled, dragging another cube over her flat belly. Water pooled in her navel; he bent over and sucked it off her skin. Rey continued to squirm and writhe, as he licked more water, that clever tongue of his swirling around her nipples. Her hips bucked off the bed as he sucked them, one after the other; she clung to the pillow under her head to stop from simply floating away. She never imagined anything like this; it was intoxicating.

Poe climbed up in the bunk with her, perched between her splayed thighs. She was gorgeous like this, skin flushed and wet, her lips swollen from his kisses, her muscles quivering with anticipation. He plucked one final cube from the bowl; it was cold, but he knew this would be worth it. He dragged it down her inner thighs; Rey gasped and squirmed. "I've got you, mi amor," he promised with a kiss to her belly. "I've got you."

She opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but only a desperate cry came out. The biting cold slid over her hot aching sex; she gripped the pillow so hard it shredded like tissue. Moans and curses tumbled from her lips as she tried to wriggle away, but Poe kept a firm hand on her belly. As swiftly as it came, the cold was gone, replaced by her lover's lips and tongue. Rey climaxed on the spot; the blackness of her blindfold replaced by bright white light. The bowl tumbled to the floor with a crash, but Poe didn't stop, lapping at her until she went limp in his arms.

Rey panted for air; euphoria still rushing through her veins. She whimpered as Poe kissed his way up her body, murmuring praise into her skin. When he reached her lips, she was still breathless and shaking. "Let's take this off," he whispered, tugging on her blindfold. It unraveled easily; her beautiful hazel eyes were glassy with pleasure. "There's my girl."

She ran her hands down his back. "That was…"

"Good, I hope?"

"Mmhmm." She smiled as she kissed him, hooking one leg over his hip. "Now I want you."

"Sure?"

"Yes, please."

Poe rolled her so she laid on her right side, the remains of the ruined pillow still tucked under her head. She knew what he wanted without a word, smiling as she spread her legs. Poe sank into her with a soft moan, her left leg curled around his waist. Rey sighed in pleasure, her world righting itself as he rocked into her. There was no rush, no urgency now; they were two people reveling in the moment. She couldn't stop touching him, running her hands over every bit of golden skin she could reach. Poe shivered, drawn to the adoration he saw in her eyes. He didn't deserve her, but he would do whatever he had to make sure she kept looking at him like that.

He shifted the angle of his hips slightly; Rey arched as he hit her sweet spot. "Oh," she breathed. "Right there. So good."

Poe did as she bid, eager to please her. She clawed at his shoulders, needy whimpers tumbling from her lips. She felt so good around him; he'd missed her terribly the last few days. Not being with her was a kind of torture he wanted to experience as little as possible. Rey tugged him down for a hungry kiss as she rolled onto her back. She locked her ankles at the base of his spine, holding him inside her, forcing him deeper, harder, his thrusts almost frantic as they chased completion. Poe got there first, her name a prayer on his lips as he stiffened inside her, cock pulsing and throbbing. Rey followed, a cry caught in her throat. Poe collapsed on top of her, his heart threatening to pound right out of his ribcage. Rey made no protest, her own heart still racing in tandem with his. She stroked his damp curls as she held him close, utterly content for the first time in days.

Eventually, Poe moved, rolling onto his back. The bed wasn't that big, so Rey had to snuggle into his side, not that she was complaining. She could listen to his heart as it slowed; it was one of her favorite sounds.

"Probably shouldn't fall asleep until we've cleaned up," Poe murmured. He was properly tired now; he had a feeling he would sleep better than he had since they left Naboo.

"Who made the mess?" she teased gently, her finger drawing nonsense on his stomach.

He chuckled. "I'm not sorry though." Poe kissed the top of her head. "Worth it."

Rey kissed the underside of his jaw, then she pushed herself up. "Be right back." She swung her legs out of the bed and padded over to the fresher on shaky legs. Poe smiled to himself; she was one of the strongest, fiercest women in the galaxy, yet he had the power to reduce her to a shaky mess. Gods, he loved her.

Rey ignored the little puddles of water on her way back. The bowl was halfway across the room; she righted it with a wave of her hand and guided it back to the kitchen. "Show off," Poe muttered as she joined him in the bed.

"Don't get all grumpy on me now," she said, resting her head on his chest.

"Why would I be grumpy? I think this was a very good morning."

She giggled. "It is morning, isn't it?"

"Unfortunately."

"How long do we have?"

He tightened his grip on her. "Not long enough."

"Maybe they'll let us sleep until lunch."

"We can hope."

Rey tugged the blanket over them; her eyelids were getting heavy. "Better than your dream?"

"Hmmm?"

"I asked if that was better than your dream."

"Ah. Well, the dream was pretty specific." She poked him. "Ow. Reality is always better, sweetheart. I've missed you. Missed holding you."

She understood exactly how he felt, even without their unique connection. This was home. "We'll be there soon," she reminded him.

"I hope we find what we're looking for." Everything that Poe did now was for one goal: make the galaxy stable enough so he and Rey could start their life together. He wanted to take her away from all this and just live for a little while. He hadn't been kidding when he suggested they take the Falcon and just go. After years and death and destruction, he thought they deserved it. He'd give her anything she asked for.

"We will." Rey had a feeling. Coruscant had answers; she was certain of it. It wasn't a place she ever expected to go; then again, until a year ago, she never expected to leave Jakku. She no longer counted the days since her parents left. She didn't even count the days Poe declared his love for her on Yavin. She had everything she needed right in front of her.


"You're in a better mood," Finn said as he tried to move one of the large storage cubes from one corner of the bay to the other, using only the Force.

Rey brushed dirt from the old oscillator housing; she was hoping to salvage it. They needed all the spare parts they could get. "Hmmm?"

Finn turned, dropping the cube with a thud. He winced. "You," he repeated. "You're less…cranky today."

"We should be at Coruscant in a few hours," she pointed out. She didn't look Finn in the eye; she couldn't. There was one very good reason for her improved mood, but she didn't want to discuss it with Finn. That would be weird.

Finn crossed his arms over his chest. "Poe seemed chipper too," he said suspiciously.

Rey put down her work. "You don't really want to know, do you?"

"Probably not."

"Good." She smiled to herself as Finn returned to his task; she'd go check on Poe in a little bit. She'd relieved Chewie right after lunch, leaving Poe to play another round of chess with Finn. Jannah joined her for a little while; they talked about the possibility of finding more information about the stolen children. The former Jedi temple was a relic of the Empire, so it was a long shot. But Rey could see how badly Jannah wanted to know where she came from. Rey understood that.

Though she didn't have the heart to tell her new friend to be wary about what she wished for.

Not all stories had to be like hers. Jannah probably had a family out there who missed her and spent years wondering what happened to her. It wasn't likely that she was descended from the most evil man in the galaxy.

You're not like him. Rey stared at her hand; if she thought about it too much, she could almost feel the lightening that emerged from her fingertips. She'd done that. That power resided within her. She couldn't will it away any more than she could the color of her hair. It was a part of her. The light and the dark. Confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi. She thought Master Luke was talking about confronting Palpatine, but perhaps it was deeper than that. The fear that she could lose control and hurt someone—especially someone she cared about—was with her, every day. For several agonizing hours she thought she'd killed Chewbacca. By accident, but that didn't matter.

She didn't ever want her vision to come true.

Poe frowned; unease settled in his chest. Their course was fine, as was their fuel consumption. The scopes were clear of threats. So, if it wasn't here then…Rey. It had to be. He looked down at his hand, wondering what was going on in that head of hers. She was supposed to be training with Finn; maybe he could take a break, go check on her? He switched control to the co-pilot. "Be back soon, Chewie. Yell if there's trouble." Chewie wailed in acknowledgement as Poe left.

He passed Jannah and BB-8 in the common area; they were scouring more of the data they'd acquired from the Star Destroyer on Naboo for information on the stolen children. He waved as he passed, heading toward engineering. He heard a crash coming from the one of the cargo holds, then a frustrated curse. When he reached the open doorway, Rey was righting a heavy cube with a wave of her hand. "Let the Force do the work," she said. "You're just directing it, Finn. You're in control."

"Doesn't feel like it."

"It didn't for me at first either. It takes practice."

Finn rolled his shoulders, his jaw set. "Alright. I've got this."

"Am I interrupting?" Poe asked, stepping into the hold.

Both turned, Rey's smile immediately easing the tension in his chest. "Hi."

"Everything, uh, okay?" He didn't know how to tell her that he'd felt her less than happy feelings with Finn standing right there.

She nodded, but she directed her next words to Finn. "Hey, I'll be back in a minute. You good?"

"I'll have this thing across the room by the time you get back. Go."

Rey nodded gratefully, then she brushed past Poe. He followed her out, wondering where she was taking them. There weren't that many hiding places on the Falcon. Well, none that weren't supposed to be used for smuggling. They passed engineering, headed toward the other, smaller hold. "Rey…" But before he could ask his question, she wrapped herself around him. "Hey, it's okay," he murmured into her hair. "I'm here."

Rey let herself relax into the safety his arms offered. If he was here, then he must have felt her anxiety. It crept up on her when she least expected it; she was afraid she would never be free of it entirely. The revelations about her past, her vision on the Death Star, confronting her grandfather, the power that resided with in her…she didn't know if she was the right person to hold so much power. Almost everyone she knew like her had turned evil or rejected it.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Poe asked softly. He rubbed soothing circles into her shoulder blades; Rey buried her nose in his chest. As much as he hated seeing her doubt herself like this, he was grateful that he was the person she felt safe with.

"It's nothing. Silly, really."

"Not if you're upset like this. It's your grandfather again?"

"I'm not upset. Just…Poe, you saw what I did. What I can do. That lightening, the darkness. It's a part of me. I have so much power. Because I'm related to him."

Poe reached for her right hand, pressing his palm against it. Rey watched as he threaded their fingers together, his handsome features calm and unafraid. "Rey, you're not powerful because of who you're related to. The Force chose you. Not because of him. It chose you for your heart, your compassion and your strength. And I know that because those are the exact qualities that I love about you. I saw what happened on Pasaana. I know it was an accident."

"I lost control. What if…"

"If we worried constantly about 'what ifs' we'd never get out there and live, sweetheart," he said gently. He spoke from experience; it was one of the painful lessons of war. "You deserve to have the best life, Rey. One that I am so incredibly lucky to share with you."

Rey bit her lip, glancing from those brown eyes she loved so much to their joined hands. Anakin told her to bring balance back to the Force. Ending the Sith wouldn't banish evil from the galaxy; she knew that. Perhaps she needed to find the balance within herself. Only then could she pass on the legacy of the Jedi. "I love you," she said, squeezing his hand.

He brushed a kiss to her forehead. "Love you, too. You don't have to do this by yourself, Rey. Not anymore."

She hugged him tight, grateful for his support. Poe wasn't afraid of her or the power she held. He loved her with his whole heart; they were partners. She'd never had one before, someone who loved her so unconditionally. She hoped she made him as happy as he made her. "We should probably get back."

Poe smiled. "Yeah, probably." They would be arriving soon, then the mission could really begin. He pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. "I assume you'll want your seat back?"

She grinned. "You'd assume correctly, General."

They held hands as they walked back toward engineering. "Thanks for letting me fly, Sunshine."

"I wouldn't trust her to anyone else. Except Chewie, of course."

Poe laughed. "So far neither of you have yelled at me, so I'll consider that a compliment."

"You really should." She kissed his cheek. "I'll be there soon, okay?"

"Take your time." She rolled her eyes at him and he laughed again. She might think he was ridiculous, but if it made her happy, then he was fine with that.


Rey's eyes widened as they broke atmo. She'd never seen anything like this. She watched a few holovids about the former Republic and Imperial capital, but they couldn't capture the scope of the real thing. The entire planet was a city. Bright neon lights flashed in various districts; speeders zipped along the traffic lanes. Highrise buildings were like tall spikes against the sky. There were almost no green spaces; the few she did see dotted the homes of the rich and well connected. They passed the old Senate building; Poe pointed out a few of the more obscure sights. It was evening on Coruscant; artificial light illuminated the streets.

"The temple shouldn't be far from the old Senate building," Poe said from his seat. "Let's get this over with." This place didn't hold the best memories for him, but he knew it would be harder on Rey. She seemed better since their talk, but they would be in the heart of the old Empire. She would be bombarded with all the horrible memories that building held.

Rey turned, flashing him a grateful smile. "Chewie, let's put her down over there." There was a clearing near the old former temple; it looked like it used to be a park of some kind. The old stone building loomed ahead of them, abandoned and gloomy. The four pillars for the founders of the Jedi Oder still stood, but this was not a calm place of mediation and learning. She could sense that from here.

"What is that?" Finn asked.

"Ghosts," Rey replied.

"Let's hope that's not all we find here," Poe said, darkly. He recalled the malevolence he'd felt in the old Palpatine homestead on Naboo; this was eerily similar.

Once the Falcon was safely on the ground, the group ventured out, Chewie leading the way. As far as anyone knew the old palace was empty, but they were all armed. Rey pulled up the old schematic Beaumont had given them. "The entrance should be that way."

The city hummed around them, but this area seemed to be deserted. No one wants to be reminded of the old Empire, Rey thought as she and Poe followed Chewie. BB-8 was right behind them, with Finn and Jannah bringing up the rear. And why would they? It turned a beacon of hope into something twisted and evil.

"I've never seen anything like this," Jannah murmured, the awe evident in her voice.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Finn said quietly.

Poe didn't want to admit it, but he did too. "Let's just get our answers and get out."

"We'll have to split up," Rey said, studying the schematic again. "There's a lot of ground to cover."

They paired off, Finn and Jannah heading to the lower levels of the complex to look for the holographic maps, while Rey and Poe headed for upper part of the ziggurat. Chewie and BB-8 prowled the grounds—Chewie with his bowcaster and BB-8 with his scanners—watching for trouble.

"What are we hoping to find?" Poe asked as they passed into the darkened former palace. Rey ignited her lightsaber, dousing them in its warm yellow glow.

"The Holocron Vault and the Jedi Archives are supposed to be here," she replied.

"Do you really think Palpatine held on to all that stuff?"

"Know your enemy. If there was one thing my grandfather was good at, it was knowing everything there was to know about his enemies."

"But the Jedi were gone. You said he had them all massacred."

"There were some survivors. Master Kenobi and Master Yoda. Jacen's father, Kanan. I don't know how many others. But Leia told me that the Emperor sent Vader out to hunt down any rogue Jedi he could find."

"All while he put out propaganda about how the how the Jedi were evil traitors." He did remember that from his studies.

"Exactly. Even now, there are people who believe it," Rey said sadly. The Jedi were far from perfect; Anakin's fall was proof of that. Even a Jedi as wise as Master Yoda lost his way. But that didn't mean they were evil. Simply flawed. Like any other institution created by sentient beings. Rey's effort to rebuild might be not be perfect either, but she knew she had to try.

"Do you think there are any more survivors out there?"

A thousand generations live in you now. That was what Luke had told her. She was the last Jedi. Or was she? People like Jacen and Finn were proof that there were others like her, beings that were strong with the Force. That didn't just stop because her grandfather tried to wipe out the Jedi. How many had suffered during the years of the Empire, hiding their true selves for fear of discovery? Kanan survived from the time he was young, still only a padawan when Order 66 happened. There had to be others.

"I don't know. Maybe." It was almost too much to hope for, someone to help her shoulder the burden of rebuilding. She glanced at Poe; he walked a little ahead of her, his hand on his blaster. She wasn't alone. She had Poe beside her, supporting her. He didn't believe he possessed much affinity for the Force, but she knew better. He'd proved that just a few hours ago when he came to her on the Falcon. They shared a unique connection, but from some of the things he'd told her, he felt the Force long before they met. He just didn't know what it was.

She'd find a way to show him. Soon.

"So, where do we go from here?"

Rey handed Poe her saber so she could consult the schematic. "According to this, we have to go up." He looked over her shoulder as she indicated the route.

"What's that?"

Rey squinted. "It used to be the Hall of Knighthood. Not sure what it is now." It looked like a bright well lit space; she had to admit to being curious. "It's on our way, so I guess we'll find out."

Poe handed the saber back to her. "Lead on, Master Jedi."

They walked through the corridors cautiously; Rey's senses were on high alert. The old temple had been abandoned for decades now; it showed. Some of the stone was chipped and cracked; the few windows on this level were filthy with pollution from the air outside. She sometimes sensed flickers of the past, of young padawans running through this very corridor chased by initiates chosen to tend them. In those days, the temple was a living breathing place, a home to so many.

She turned right; a spiral staircase took them up two more levels. She glanced at the schematic; they seemed to be close to the old Council chamber. Something pulled her that way; she followed the feeling. Poe thought about asking her where they were going, but he thought better of it. She was the Jedi, not him. The hall opened into a circular room high above the city; chairs that were once plush were arranged in the same circle. Rey's breathing hitched; hairs rose on her arms and neck. She moved slowly, Poe right behind. He seemed to sense it too; he held his blaster at the ready. The feeling only increased; she shuddered.

"Rey? You okay?"

She stopped, horror nearly choking her. Children, younglings hiding, the temple under attack, fear. It washed over her in a rush, bombarding her. She extinguished her saber and knelt down, tears in her eyes. "All of them. They trusted him and he just…" She could see one of the young faces, looking up at his hero, Anakin Skywalker. Master Skywalker, the temple's under attack, what do we do? Only to be cut down by a bright blue blade.

Poe was beside her in a flash, holding her as she buried her face in his neck. "Shh, it's okay, mi amor. It's okay." He didn't know what she saw, but he could feel the echo of terror and pain around them. Whatever happened, it was truly evil.

"I used…oh Force, Poe, I used that saber," she sniffed.

"What saber?"

"Luke's. Before it was Luke's, it belonged to his father, Anakin. And he…" She knew the history, but that was different from experiencing it through the Force. "He slaughtered younglings. Right here. They trusted him and just cut them down. Children."

He couldn't bear the pain on her face, illuminated by the city lights. Staying here was only upsetting her more. He gently got her to her feet and coaxed her back into the corridor. "Rey, listen to me. That was Darth Vader. Not you. Didn't you say the saber chose you? Back on Starkiller?" She nodded. "And Anakin, he spoke to you, right?" She nodded again. "What did he say, do you remember?"

Rey took a deep breath; Poe's steady solid presence helped. "He said…he asked me to bring balance to the Force, as he once did. And I thought I did by…destroying the Emperor." She couldn't call him her grandfather; they might be blood kin, but she didn't want to be anything like him. "But sometimes I wonder if it's that simple."

Poe kissed her forehead. "You're right, it's probably not that simple. Remember what I said before, about the Force?"

"When did you become such a believer in the Force?"

"About the time a lovely brunette scavenger walked into my life," he teased with a gentle smile. "My point is, we're not defined by a single act, Rey. We are the sum of all our experiences. Sometimes, we take the wrong path. Sometimes the darkness wins, but we can always come back to the light and atone for those mistakes."

And one act of atonement doesn't wash the slate clean, Rey thought. Anakin saving Luke from the Emperor didn't absolve him, anymore than Ben saving her absolved him. True atonement was a lifelong journey, even if it wasn't perfect. No one was perfect. She could only do her best, just like anyone else. Fortunately, she had people around her who believed in her and loved her. She wouldn't let the darkness win, not when she had so much to live for.

Rey pressed a kiss to his lips. "Thank you."

"Any time, Sunshine."

Rey shook of the past; it was time to move forward. They returned the way they had come, searching for the Archives. When they got to the right floor, they found another long corridor. There was a light ahead, streaming in from what had to be a large window. The corridor served as a bridge over an enormous space. Banners hung from the walls, torn and frayed after so many years. A blood red carpet stretched across the floor, leading to a dais. Atop it lay an inky black throne. Palpatine's throne. The place from which he ruled the galaxy with an iron hand, destroying so many lives, including theirs.

Poe laid a hand on Rey's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Rey stared at the throne for a long minute. She sensed the hatred and cruelty, the violence and malevolence that came from that chair. It horrified her, but her grandfather was gone. He couldn't hurt anyone else; she'd made certain of that. "Yeah," she said softly. "I'll be okay." She offered him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, but he made no comment. "Come on."

They kept moving, pausing occasionally to get their bearings. The ziggurat was huge, far larger than Rey had anticipated. Chewie and BB-8 checked in on the comms; everything was still quiet. She led them left, then right again and up another staircase. "It should be right…here." Her jaw dropped as she took in the scene before her. The room was cavernous, lined with rows upon rows of glass shelving. There were a few tables and holoprojectors; was this a reading area?

"Whoa." Poe holstered his blaster, trying to look everywhere at once.

It was clearly meant to be a warm place, filled with light. The windows were partially blocked with stone and heavy curtains, which were covered in dust and filth. Poe walked over to one and tugged on it; it clattered to the ground. He had to jump out of the way, lest he get buried in cloth. But he accomplished his goal; bright starlight shined across the marble floors.

"This has to be the Jedi Archives," Rey said, her voice barely a whisper. She'd never seen anything like this in her life.

"Where do we start?"

"Honestly? I've no idea." They could spend weeks in here and not find what they were looking for.

"There has to be an index of some kind." He marched over to one of the holoprojector and tried to turn it on. No power. "Maybe I can hot wire it?"

"Can't hurt to try." While Poe did that (she tried not to stare as he laid out on the floor, ripping panels and wiring out), she moved toward the shelves. There were empty pedestals at the end of each one; had they displayed Jedi artifacts? Pieces of history? Had Luke already searched these halls searching for the same answers she did? Is that why he chose to rebuild elsewhere? Was there nothing here to find?

No. She didn't believe that. She couldn't believe that. The shelves near the reading area were empty; whatever they'd held was long gone. So much knowledge was housed in databanks; those were probably long gone or destroyed. But the Jedi didn't have everything on datachips; she knew that. The oldest most sacred texts were back on the Falcon. She just hoped there was more to be found. She moved deeper into the stacks, wrinkling her nose at all the dust. No one had been back here in decades. She headed down another row; this one wasn't empty. She raised her saber to get a better look.

Sabers. Row after row of saber hilts. Each was covered in a fine sheen of dust; some were tagged. The tags were written in Aurebesh; she struggled to translate them. The ink was faded; some of the letters were hard to make out. Alle Veerthol. There were no dates, so she couldn't determine how long ago the Jedi had lived. There were others, too many. She reached out, her hand hovering over one, but she snatched it back quickly. The Jedi's death flashed before her eyes; the being cut down in a hail of blaster fire. Trophies, she thought, horrified.

"Rey! I think I got it!"

She hurried back to Poe, who was looking rather pleased with himself. "Is it working?"

"Yeah. I mean, it's got power at least. Now all we need is one of those holo-things." He pointed to a triangular spot on the tabletop, indicating where the holocron should go.

"Holocron," Rey corrected.

"Whatever. Where are they?"

"Well, the Vault is a part of the Archives, so it should be here somewhere." She and Poe split up, searching for a door or some other access point that would lead to the Vault. Rey, reaching out with the Force, moved toward the edge of the Archives, toward the Second Hall. There between the Second and Fourth lay the remains of a security door. This was it; she could sense it. "Poe! I found it!"

He dashed over to where she stood, slightly out of breath. "Did someone break in here before us?"

Rey held out her hand. A vision floated before her eyes; a figure in a mask and dark cloak destroying the vault's security. "Vader. The Emperor wanted the Jedi's secrets, so Vader broke in."

Poe ran his fingers through his hair. "That's not good."

"It's too late now." She picked her way over the debris, moving into the circular hallway. Poe followed her warily, unsure what they were walking into. Rey ignited her saber again, the only light against the pitch black. Her heart sank as they took in the room. "Oh no."

"What?" Poe asked.

"I was so sure." Her voice cracked slightly. How could she have been so foolish? Luke would have saved the holocrons if they were there to be saved.

Poe picked his way through the destruction. Whatever was housed in this vault was long gone; the place was smashed. His heart broke for Rey; she needed this win so badly. She felt like she was flying blind; he didn't know how to help her. He could almost hear the Emperor's cackle as he devoured the Jedi's secrets, then destroyed them. He picked up a broken piece of shelving, needing something to throw. Before he could even raise his arm, he froze. A cloaked figure in black, blue light illuminating his scarred face. There it was, that laugh again. Poe shivered. What the hell?

"Rey." She kicked at more shattered shelving, feeling sorry for herself. When she didn't reply, he tried again. "Rey. I think…" He caught her arm. "I think, this is gonna sound crazy, but I don't think they were all destroyed."

Rey frowned, confused. "Poe, look at this place. It's a wreck."

"Yeah, I know, but…I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I saw him. Your…the Emperor. He was holding one. A blue sphere kinda thing?"

"How did you know that?" She hadn't shown him what a holocron looked like. There was no way he could know that.

"I told you. I saw it. Just now, when I touched this." He waved the broken shelf. "Rey, why did I see that?"

"I don't know." She squeezed his hand. "But I knew you had an affinity for the Force!" She kissed his cheek. "Tell me exactly what you saw, okay? If you're right, there might still be some holocrons here somewhere!"

She listened as he described what he saw. She handled the shelving too, but she saw nothing. She could feel the discomfort coming off him in waves; she believed he saw something. She looked through the schematic again, trying to find the room that Poe described. After a few minutes, she realized she was looking at this all wrong. Those were schematics of the Jedi Temple, not Palpatine's palace. She had to think like her grandfather. He would keep something as valuable as holocrons close to him. What did he value most? His power. What was the symbol of his power?

"I know where they are."

"You do?"

"I'm pretty sure. Come on!" She dashed off at a sprint, Poe hot on her heels. She retraced their path to the long corridor; rather than waste time with petty inconveniences like stairs, she vaulted over the railing and into the throne room below. She heard Poe curse as she landed on her feet, but she was too excited. He could catch up. She hurried up to the dais, only to hesitate. She was sure they were here, but how did she get to them? Rey closed her eyes, centering herself. She reached out into the Force, praying for guidance. A vision of Palpatine appeared before her; he was seated on the throne. Encouraged, she copied him, her right hand hovering over the touchpad.

"Rey?" A shiver ran down Poe's spine; what the Force was she up to?

"It's okay." She focused on her vision, her hand following her grandfather's movements. The heavy throne shifted under her, revealing a hidden storage compartment. Poe approached it warily, but Rey knelt beside it eagerly.

The blue glow illuminated her face; there were only a handful of the small oddly shaped spheres. Fewer than she hoped, but that made them infinitely more precious. "They were supposed to be all gone." The secrets of the Jedi were supposed to be extinct, but they'd been right here all the time.

Arrogance. That was why her grandfather hadn't destroyed them. As much as he hated the Jedi, he wanted their knowledge for his own. Even Palpatine couldn't learn it all in one lifetime, so he kept the most precious ones for himself.

"These are the holo-what?"

"Holocrons." Rey reached out and picked one up. It hummed in her hand. She held it in her palm, willing it to do…something. To her shock, some of the edges moved around, little triangles, like it was opening.

"Rey, you did it."

She looked at him, her smile lighting up her face. He was happy to see it. "We did it," she corrected. "Not bad for someone who thinks they don't have the Force."

Poe shrugged. He was still a little freaked out, but it led them here. They could figure out what it all meant later. "Now what?"

"Now we just need to see what's on them." If her grandfather thought they were worth keeping, then they had to be important.

They gathered the half dozen holocrons and carried them back to the Archives. Hope surged in her chest as Rey dropped the holocron in the holoprojector carefully. The screen lit up; text appeared. It was working! She started to skim it, eager to discover anything the holocron could tell her.

"I'm never gonna see you now, am I?" Poe joked, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

Rey turned away from the screen and up at her handsome fiancé. "I'm always gonna have time for you, flyboy."

He grinned. "Good." He stacked the holocrons he'd retrieved next to the projector; Rey slid over to make room for him. "What's this one for?"

"I'm not sure." It almost seemed to be written in riddles, which was frustrating. The word prophecy came up a lot though. "Looks like a lot of prophecy talk. Doesn't make sense though."

"Ugh, I hate those kinds of stories."

"Why?"

"Because it implies that we have no free will, no choices are our own."

"But the Force…"

He took her hand in his. After what happened to him today, he was starting to think she was right, that he did have an affinity for the Force. But even if he did, that didn't change the way he felt. "Do I think the Force brought us together? Yeah, I believe that. But the Force didn't make me fall in love with you, Rey. Loving you is a choice I make every day, because I want you in my life. I want to wake up with you in my arms, tell stupid jokes that make you laugh." He tugged gently on the chain around her neck. "I want to keep doing that for the rest of our lives, Sunshine. Together."

Touched by his words, she cupped his cheeks and kissed him. She'd never had anyone choose her before, not like this. To this day, she didn't understand the dyad bond she'd shared with Ben, but she'd never chosen it. He'd never chosen her. He coveted her power, almost until the very end. By saving her, he'd given her a chance at this. To choose who she loved.

"I choose you too," she said quietly. "Always."

They sat there, foreheads pressed together, soaking each other in. Nothing in this entire archive could give her this. Perhaps knowledge was overrated. The moment was broken by Poe's comm.

"Finn? Is that you, buddy?"

"Yeah. We found it, Poe. We found it!"

Poe sat up straighter. "The missing planet? You found it?"

"Yeah, you better get down here. It'll be easier to show you."

"Alright. We'll be right there."