Author's note: I know it's been a couple of weeks, but I wanted to update this before I went on vacation. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 22

Poe tapped his finger on the conference table; he didn't know what was taking so long. They'd requested the meeting over an hour ago. Hours of planning were ready to be put into motion. Several fighter squadrons were already on their way to the Tushus system from Yavin. They were due at the rendezvous in less than two days time. It was finally time to take this fight to Operation Python; Poe was anxious to get going.

The sooner those assassins were eliminated, the better.

However, before they could leave, Poe needed to apprise the Council of his departure. There weren't enough security droids in the galaxy that would get him to divulge their destination or the precise nature of their mission. He wasn't a fool. Operation Python had been one step ahead of them the whole time; that had to end. The galaxy was depending on the success of this mission.

Rey curled her fingers around his, stopping his tapping. "You're making me anxious," she whispered.

"Sorry," he murmured. He raised their entwined hands to his lips, brushing her knuckles. "I never liked just sitting around."

"I know." She knew how important the success of this mission was to Poe. It was important to her too. It was yet another wrong of her grandfather's that she could—in some small way—make right. They couldn't bring anyone back, but they could prevent any more senseless deaths.

"You gonna let me fly?" he asked casually.

She snorted. "You wish."

"I've never flown a First Order shuttle."

"Neither have I."

"But I've flown a TIE fighter."

"Didn't you crash?"

"We didn't crash." He retreated a bit at Finn's huff. "Okay, but any landing you survive is a good one."

"Can we not do this now?" Finn groaned. "You're making me want to fly with Chewie." Chewie arrived with the First Order shuttle the day before, along with Jannah. The plan was for Chewie to pilot the Falcon while Poe, Rey and a small crew took the shuttle.

"That might not be a bad idea," Rey said. "The Falcon can always use a co-pilot."

"Always?" Poe said, a knowing smirk on his lips.

Rey rolled her eyes, even as she blushed. Truthfully, she and Poe were probably the only people who could pilot the old freighter alone. That wasn't why she thought Finn flying with Chewie was a good idea though. Not that she'd ever tell him that.

"That's it. I'm definitely flying with Chewie."

Poe chuckled. He didn't care one bit that they made others nauseous with their happiness. Poe had waited all his life to feel like this; he certainly wasn't going to hide it. Not even from his best friend. He leaned over. "Looks like you and I will have that cockpit all to ourselves," he whispered.

"You're impossible."

"But you love me for it, Sunshine."

"Hmm, maybe."

Poe was about to retort when Has started to call the meeting to order. "it seems that everyone has assembled. Shall we begin? I believe you have a report for us, General?"

Poe stood. Now that it was time, he was all business. He would have to lie; fortunately, there was a reason Leia chose him for clandestine spy missions all over the galaxy. "We've received reports of an attempt by First Order stragglers to rendezvous. I don't need to tell you how detrimental to our cause this would be if they succeed. It is imperative that we stop this attempt before it begins." He paused. "General Finn, Master Skywalker and I will be leading this attack personally."

Instantly, a dozen voices started to argue. Most were in the room; three were attending their first meeting via holo. "General Dameron," one of them called, trying to make themselves heard. "Are you sure that's wise?"

"This is a military matter, Vellu. Who else would you suggest?"

Has spoke up. "I believe I can speak for several members here, General. We suffered an enormous loss when General Organa passed. The Resistance is one of the few things holding us together. Losing you—or worse, all of you—would be a severe blow that I am afraid we may not survive."

"We survived this long," Finn countered. "Against worse odds than this."

"I mean no disrespect."

"Funny, it doesn't sound like that."

Poe held up his hand. "This is not up for debate. Our forces are already in motion. I'm telling you this as a courtesy. That's all."

"Where are you going? Don't we at least deserve to know that?"

Poe shook his head. "We can't risk a leak. No offense to anyone, but the fewer beings that know the better."

"And what about these assassins? Are we just supposed to wait until they attack again?"

"I propose that after the meeting adjourns, all of you return to more secure locations. Commander Connix can help if you would like Resistance assistance."

"We get no say in this, do we?"

Rey stood, her lightsaber clearly visible. "We don't like this secrecy any more than you," she said softly but firmly. "However, until the situation is more stable, we must do the best we can. First Order sympathizers could be anywhere."

Poe pressed his hands to the table and leaned forward. "You have given me your trust by asking me to remain in command. All I'm asking for is a little bit more."

Has looked around the room; it was quiet. There were a few that didn't look pleased, but Poe had a feeling that Has knew about important this mission was, even without knowing its precise nature. His eyes lingered on Poe's for a long minute. "Very well. You will advise us when the mission is complete?"

"Of course."

The meeting ended soon after. Poe and Rey headed to the Falcon to get some of their things to move over to the shuttle. Rey went to their quarters while Poe went back to the hold. There, he gave his blaster a thorough cleaning and loaded his bandolier with more firepower. He might not have a lightsaber, but he could still fight. If the last few weeks had taught him anything, it was that he and Rey were a good team. He wasn't letting her out of his sight.

He heard pounding feet in the distance, coming up the ramp. "Chewie?" he called. "Is that you, buddy? Might need a hand back here!"

There was no answering roar from the Wookie. Poe poked his head around the corner, his hand on his blaster. He was stunned to see Hera rushing toward him, her son on her heels. Her face looked thunderous; Poe shrank back a little. "Hera?"

"Why didn't you tell me TIE Defenders attacked the Falcon?"

"We didn't…"

Hera cut him off. "You're going after them, right? I'm coming."

Poe held his hands up. "Hera, slow down." He didn't like lying to Hera, but he tried anyway. "We're headed to stop the First Order…"

"That's a load of bantha shit, Poe Dameron," she snapped. "I expected better of you."

Poe glared at Jacen. "How did you even know?"

"Hey, I just sketched the ship when she asked. She figured the rest out herself."

"You've fought one?"

Hera nodded. "During an attack on Lothal. That's where the factory was."

Poe blinked. "Was?"

Hera's gaze flickered to Jacen. "Our mission was to destroy the factory. We knew that ship was no match for us. If it had gone into mass production…" She paused, lost in the memory. "I led Phoenix Squadron on a raid to open the Imperial blockade, so our bombers could destroy the factory. Kanan, Ezra, Sabine and Zeb were to lead the ground assault. One of those ships nearly shot me down, but I managed to destroy it first, with a little help from the Empire."

"Mom…" Jacen murmured, his hand on her shoulder.

"No, you need to hear this." She looked at Poe, then fixed her eyes on a point over his shoulder. "Once we broke atmo, more TIEs attacked. I lost my whole squadron. I crashed in the capital, but eventually, I was captured. They wanted me alive. Kanan, Ezra and Sabine infiltrated the base to rescue me." Hera's shoulders shook; she turned to her son. "We almost made it out. Your father…he rescued me from Governor Price's office, along with my kalikori."

"The kalikori? I thought you got it from Grandpa."

"Thrawn stole it from our family on Ryloth."

"Why didn't I know any of this? I thought you told me everything!"

Jacen turned away, clearly upset. Poe saw Rey appear in the doorway, concern all over her face.

"Jacen…" Hera sighed. "Kanan and I managed to get to the fuel depot, but they pursued us on walkers. We were waiting for Sabine and Ezra to pick us up when the firing started. I had just gotten onboard the transport when the fuel pod suffered a direct hit. Kanan…" A tear slid down her cheek. "He held the fireball back with the Force. I'd never seen anything like it. I tried to go after him, but he shoved me back onto the transport. For just a moment, his eyes…I could see them again, the startling green. Then he was gone."

Rey wrapped her arm across Hera's shoulders. "He knew he had to save you and Jacen."

"I know. But it still hurts." She released a shuddering breath, but otherwise she was calm. "The explosion destroyed the factory's ability to produce the Defender. Kanan didn't just save me and our son. He saved hundreds of pilots from facing that machine."

"Maybe even my mom," Poe said quietly.

Hera nodded. "If that ship is back, I need to be a part of this. I won't let Kanan's sacrifice become meaningless."

Poe shared a look with Rey. She nodded. "Alright. But I'm in command, okay? You get an order from me, Finn or Rey, you obey it. Understood?"

Hera nodded. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Good."

"So, what's the plan?"

Poe started to brief Hera on the mission while Rey went to find Jacen. She could feel his turmoil, his grief over the father he never really knew. She found him in the hold of the Ghost. "Are you okay?"

Jacen was digging in one of the storage containers; he didn't look up until he found what he was looking for. Rey had never seen anything like it; it was made of wood, the main part in shape of a T with smaller wooden pieces dangling from the ends. It was clearly old, bits of it were worn, but it was a beautiful piece of art as well.

"It's a kalikori," Jacen murmured quietly, kneeling on the metal floor. He'd moved into a Jedi meditation pose without realizing it. "Mom says it's been in our family for decades, passed down from parent to child."

"It's beautiful," Rey said, mimicking him on the floor. She didn't get too close, but she wanted him to know she was there. It felt like he needed a friend.

"See this part here?" he asked, fingering an upside down pyramid. It was painted a blueish green with lightning bolts etched on it. "Mom added this for Dad after he…" He swallowed heavily. "It was the closest they got to getting married."

Rey felt a tear slide down her cheek. And she felt guilty. She and Poe were living the life that Kanan had wanted with Hera. It wasn't fair. "Jacen…"

"I know I'm being stupid," he confessed. "I don't blame her for not telling me the whole truth. Knowing he died a hero was enough."

"He's proud of you, Jacen. You know that."

"Seeing his…ghost or whatever…sometimes I still wonder if that was real."

"It was. Kanan's not the first Force ghost I've met. I'm glad you got to see him."

"Me too." He ran his fingers over the family heirloom. "We went to Ryloth for a time when I was young. I always felt like an outsider because I didn't look like a Twi'lek. Grandpa loved me regardless; he told me all about his adventures as a freedom fighter. But I didn't have many other friends."

"I'm sorry, Jacen."

"You know no one would believe me when I said my dad was a Jedi?" He laughed mirthlessly. "Eventually, I gave up. When it became obvious I was like Dad, we left. I didn't figure that part out until later." He knew his mother was trying to protect him. She still was, even though he was all grown up. He never considered a place in the galaxy other than by her side, piloting the Ghost. But now…he wondered if there was another path for him. His father's path. Kanan had clearly ignored the Jedi Code; his existence was proof that that. Rey was a new kind of Jedi; she didn't hide from her feelings. Jacen admired that about her.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do," he confessed. "I don't know what my path is."

Rey reached forward and covered his hand with hers. "We'll figure it out."

"Maybe my connection to the Force has faded." He made a conscious effort to not tap into it; partly because he was afraid it. Being a Jedi killed his father.

"There's only one way to find out." Rey gently took the kalikori from him and placed it on the ground between them. "Raise it with the Force."

"Rey, I don't know…"

"I've felt you use the Force," she said quietly. "You use it every time you fly, whether you realize it or not. Now go on."

Jacen looked at her skeptically, but he decided to do as she asked. Or try. He wasn't sure this would work. He spent so long ignoring his connection to the Force; it felt like an ill-fitting flight suit. He took a deep breath and reached out his hand the way Hera described whenever she told him about Kanan. He tried to picture his father, the Jedi Knight, as he was in life. Guide me, Dad, he thought. Please.

Rey watched as the kalikori twitched a few times. "You're doing great," she murmured. Once again, she found herself in the role of teacher; she hoped she didn't screw it up.

You can do this, Jacen.

Jacen's eyes snapped open; his heart raced. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"I think…I think I just heard my dad."

Instead of thinking he was insane, Rey smiled. "You probably did. He's always with you, Jacen."

It was going to take him a long time to get used to this Jedi stuff. "Okay, I'm gonna try again." He centered himself, eyes closed, and reached out. He felt something flicker across his fingertips, featherlight. He focused on it, letting that feeling flow through him. The Force binds the galaxy together, Kanan's voice intoned. Bend it to your will.

Rey watched as the kalikori rose tentatively off the ground. In seconds, it rose higher and higher and higher until it was at eye level. "Jacen," she whispered. "Open your eyes."

Jacen did so, nearly dropping the family heirloom in shock. "I did it!"

Rey grinned. "You did."

"Well, well, well," a familiar voice said from behind them. "Isn't this interesting?"

"Oh Jacen!" Hera rushed past Poe; Jacen was careful to set the kalikori down before his mother hugged him.

"You're not mad?"

She shook her head. "I was wrong to keep your father's path from you. I'm so sorry."

"I still don't know if I want to be a Jedi," he warned.

"There's plenty of time to figure that out. I'm so proud of you, son."

Rey stood and stepped into Poe's arms. "Everything okay?"

He kissed her temple. "We talked. The Ghost is coming with us."

Rey squeezed his waist. She understood Hera's desire to come on this mission. "Is the shuttle loaded?"

"Almost." He drew her a few steps away. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Sunshine, but I think you've got yourself another student."

"You heard him. He might not be a Jedi."

"Finn might not be either, but you're still training him to use the abilities he does have." He looked over at Jacen. "I think he will though. Be a Jedi, I mean."

"What makes you say so?"

"The same reason I became a pilot," he replied softly. "Losing a parent like that, knowing some of what made them tick…it's hard to turn away from. Dad spent a lot of time trying to warn me about the dangers, but we both know I didn't listen. Flying's in my blood. Just like being a Jedi is in yours. And his."

"Our kids are going to be terrors, aren't they?" she teased.

Poe laughed. "Probably. And I wouldn't have it any other way." He kissed her tenderly. "I do know they'll have two parents who love them."

Rey hugged him; Poe was always so confident in the future they would have. A home on Yavin, kids running around, traveling. He wanted to be by her side for all of it. Once all this was over, they could do whatever they wanted. That image kept her going through every setback. One day soon, they would be free.

"Did you check the hyperdrive?" Rey asked, pushing a few flashing buttons to reset the ship's systems.

Poe slid into the seat beside her. "Yep. And the comms and the hydraulics, just as you asked, Master Jedi."

Rey smirked at her husband. "You sound like I gave you an order, General."

"I take everything you say very seriously," he teased back. They were alone except for the droids down in the cargo hold. It was nice to be able to flirt so brazenly with her on a mission and not have anyone around to scold them.

"Liar," she shot back.

"Maybe I'll prove it to you later, Mrs. Dameron."

Rey flipped on the beeping comm. "Shuttle 2385," she intoned, not taking her eyes off her husband's handsome face.

"Can you two stop making eyes at each other long enough for us to get under way?" Finn asked.

Rey blushed, even though Finn wasn't there. He'd clearly flown with them enough to know exactly what was happening, even if he wished he didn't. "We're ready," she confirmed, reaching for the panel that fired the engines.

"We'll meet you at the rendezvous in thirty-six hours," Poe added. The channel was open to all the ships about to take off. "Remember, each of us uses a different hyperspace lane. You find trouble, you send a distress call to Yavin base. Do not continue to the rendezvous. Is that understood?"

A chorus of affirmatives came across the channel. One by one the ships rose from the floor of the hangar and climbed through Iutov's atmosphere. Rey fired the engines to the shuttle; it rumbled to life under them. She'd never flown a First Order ship, but all the controls were clearly labeled in Basic. The ship was designed for simple cargo and passenger transport, mostly from ship to ship or ship to planet, but it did have a hyperdrive for long range missions. The yoke was stiff in her hands, but the ship responded when she asked it to. They rose higher and higher, breaking through the clouds and into open space.

"Calculations complete for the jump," Poe said, watching the controls on his side of the console.

"Would you like to do the honors?" she asked.

He shot her a grin. "With pleasure."

The first several hours were uneventful. Rey minded the cockpit while Poe went to check on the droids. C-3PO—once again—complained about space travel. R2 and BB-8 recalibrated their mapping systems with whatever they could find in the First Order's old data banks. D-O hovered around, clearly nervous about something.

"Something the matter, Dio?" Poe asked, kneeling on the grated floor.

"B-b-beebee-Ate says we're headed to the Tushus system?"

"Yeah. Have you heard of it?"

"M-m-my old master sometimes went there."

"Ochi? Why would he go there?"

"T-t-temple."

"A Sith temple?" Judging by the little droid's agitation, Poe knew he was right. It made a certain kind of sense. Ochi was one of Palpatine's Sith accolytes. Sith temples would be a good place to hide for a Jedi hunter. "Dio, do you still have a schematic of the temple?"

"I-I-I think so."

Poe turned to BB-8. "Buddy, how about we help our friend Dio here? Funnel anything you find into the ship's main computer, alright? I want to know everything we can before we get there."

He hadn't even considered that D-O might have useful information; he'd grown accustomed to seeing the tiny droid trail after BB-8 like a child. He'd become a member of their unconventional family; Poe couldn't forget that.

He returned to the cockpit shortly after, sitting in one of the rear seats. Stars still zoomed across the window, but Poe was busy at a console. There was next to no real information on Operation Python in the official records. He wasn't shocked by that, but it was disappointing. There was more information on Tushus; the fifth planet was only one of two that was inhabited in the system. No intelligent lifeforms that he could see; it was mostly filled with wildlife that had adapted to the frequent volcanic eruptions that dotted the planet. It wasn't a fiery hell like Mustafar, but the volcanos fueled the ecosystem. There were very few solid landmasses; it was almost entirely volcanic island chains.

"Reminds me of Ahch-To," Rey said quietly.

"Yeah?" Poe had never been there, but he'd heard Rey describe it numerous times.

"Let's hope there are no weird fish people caretakers."

"Fish people?"

"Don't ask. They did not like me."

"Not like you? I don't believe that."

"It's true. Me shooting one of the walls in the hut they gave me only made things worse."

"You shot the wall of a hut?"

"It was one of the first times Ben and I, ah, connected. In the Force. It scared me."

Poe forced himself to breathe deeply. He knew her bond with Kylo Ren wasn't something she could help; he was dead anyway, so it didn't matter. Poe never wanted her to feel like she needed to walk on eggshells around him. "Would probably scare me too."

Rey rested her hands on her shoulders and leaned down to brush her lips across his scruffy cheek. "It has once or twice, husband."

Her arms slipped around his neck; Poe leaned back against her. "What has?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten that we're connected in the Force."

"Now how could I forget something like that?" He ducked to press a kiss to her skin. "I can always feel you, just at the back of my head."

"You're sure it doesn't bother you? I never meant…"

"I know, sweetheart. If I minded being connected to you, I wouldn't've married you."

"You are kinda stuck with me now, flyboy."

He smiled; he couldn't imagine a better way for his life to be. "My only regret is that I didn't tell you how I felt sooner."

"And why's that?"

"Because I get to do this." He spun the chair around and tugged her into his lap. Rey couldn't stop the giggle that fell from her lips as Poe's brushed against hers. She kissed him back enthusiastically; it felt like it had been ages since she was in his arms though it had only been a few hours.

"This is why married people…shouldn't go on missions…together," Rey murmured between lazy kisses.

"That sounds like a made up rule," Poe replied. "Since I'm the commanding general, I'm against made up rules."

"You don't command me, General," she reminded. "Jedi, remember?"

"Oh, I can think of a few situations where I've commanded you, Master Jedi," he teased, his gaze heated. "Shall I remind you?"

"Hmm, I have a better idea."

"Oh really?"

"You did promise," she said, nodding toward the pilots' seats. "When we took off?"

"So I did." He set her on her feet reluctantly. "Let's make sure no one's going to sneak up on us, then you can play, wife." They were in the middle of a mission, one that would be dangerous once they got where they were going. That fact alone made him want to hold on to his wife, enjoy every moment they had together. He refused to believe that they wouldn't get to have many, many years together, but the memory of Kes after Shara's death was rarely far from his thoughts. Until this threat was taken care of, he planned on showing Rey how much he loved her.

"Looks like we're clear," she said, lowering the lights in the front part of the cabin. "The droids secure down in the hold?"

Poe nodded. "Yeah. I've got Beebee-Ate getting any information Dio has on the temple."

"He's been there?"

"Yep, poor guy." Poe ran his fingers through his curls; he didn't understand why people would mistreat their droids. His parents instilled in him a respect for all beings from the time he was young. BB-8 was the first droid he'd considered his, but they'd been partners in crime for years now.

Rey wrapped her arms around his waist. "I told you he'd like you eventually."

Poe chuckled. "In the middle of all this, we acquired a family of droids."

"Better than no family."

Poe kissed her brow, cradling her head as she hugged him tight. "Best family ever," he agreed.

Rey could have remained in his arms for hours, but she knew these hours with him were finite. All too soon, they'd going marching into another battle, side by side. She hoped it was the last one. So much had changed for her in the last year; she hardly had a chance to breathe. These hours with Poe were an oasis in the storm that raged around them.

"Do you trust me?"

Poe was surprised by her question; after everything they'd been through, he trusted her implicitly. "You know I do. What's going on in the head of yours, Sunshine?"

"I was wondering…I've been thinking about what Maz said about our Force bond."

Poe cut her off. "Whatever you want, I'm game," he promised her.

"Really?"

He cupped her cheek. "Remember that little talk we had about firsts? This is definitely a first. There's no one I'd rather have with me than you."

Rey leaned in and pressed a fervent kiss to his lips. "I love you."

"I know."

Rey hurried over to the corner where they'd left some of their things. They'd brought a couple of pallets for sleeping, just in case. Rey hadn't thought they'd use them—she was just as comfortable sleeping in the pilot's seat honestly. But she wasn't going to pass up this time with her husband.

She shook out the pallets and laid them side by side. She felt Poe watching her, a bemused smile on his face. "Stop that."

"You might have to make me, Jedi."

Rey put her hands on her hips and arched a brow at him. His teasing smirk and warm brown eyes made her belly flip flop. He was unfairly handsome, she decided. Moreover, she couldn't understand why he'd want someone like her, let alone want her forever. She looked him over. "You might regret that."

"I try not to have regrets, sweetheart."

Rey undid her belt and laid it aside. She also shucked her boots for good measure. "Lose the blaster and boots."

Poe grinned. "Yes, ma'am." Her eyes lit up when he said that; he could tell Rey liked being in control. So much of her life had been out of her control; if she wanted to explore being in control, he could give that to her. Rey knelt at one end of the pallet; Poe copied her, a brow arched curiously.

Rey licked her lips as she took him in. It meant a lot to her that he was trusting her like this. "Hold out your hands."

"Like this?" Poe held out his hands, palms toward her. Rey nodded approvingly. She scooted a bit closer until their knees were touching. Rey covered his palms with hers.

"Close your eyes." She waited until he obeyed her. Once he did, she followed suit. The last time they were like this, Rey had shown him her Force signature. That had been difficult, but less than it should have been. Their connection in the Force was even stronger now; she could see him clearly even without her sight. Poe was one of the brightest lights she knew; it was no wonder he inspired so much love and loyalty in so many people. Somehow, she knew that was Shara's light. She lived on in her son.

"Rey?"

"Just relax, okay? This won't hurt."

"It kinda tickles actually."

She smiled. "We haven't even started yet."

"You know I've never done…whatever this is, right?"

"Sure you have. You just didn't know what it was." She moved her hands a fraction, allowing their fingers to entwine. "Just do what I do. Deep steady breaths."

"Okay." Their breathing slowly fell in sync; Poe felt a bit stupid at first, but he did trust her. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to be feeling, aside from Rey. He'd grown so accustomed to that small echo of her in his mind; he rarely noticed it anymore. Once Maz explained what was happening, it just felt natural. The way he felt about Rey was unlike the way he'd felt about anyone else. Perhaps that was because he'd finally discovered the Force's path for him. Beside his Jedi.

Rey gasped as she felt him, more strongly than she ever had. They'd connected like this before, but she had always initiated it. But this wasn't her. This was all Poe. "Hey there," she whispered.

Poe's fingers flinched in hers. "What is that?"

"That's you," she replied. "That's all you."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Why not?"

"I'm not a Jedi."

"But you do have the Force. Weren't you just telling me that teaching Finn and Jacen is still important, even if they don't take the Jedi path? Why would that be different for you, husband?"

He'd never considered that. He was still getting used to even having a connection to the Force. It might not be like Rey's, but it was there. He felt it, especially like this. "What do I do?"

Rey squeezed his fingers gently. "Right now, just relax. Stay right here in this moment with me."

"That's never difficult, Sunshine." This was the only place he ever wanted to be.

Rey reached out for him in the Force, strengthening the connection between them. Their deep steady breaths were the only sounds in the cabin. They'd never connected quite like this for an extended period; Rey wasn't sure what would happen. She saw flashes of memories, mainly from Poe's childhood. Most were happy from when he was very young, before Shara passed.

"Is this okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah." Poe sucked in a shuddering breath as other memories surfaced, things he'd half forgotten. But nothing prepared him for what happened next. He got a glimpse of some of Rey's memories. Little Rey screaming desperately for her parents, growing up on Jakku, doing whatever was necessary to survive. She'd told him some things about her past, but it was nothing like seeing it. "Rey, I…"

"It's okay."

It wasn't okay, but nothing could change the past. Surviving that hellish environment molded Rey into the woman before him. The one he loved more than anything in the galaxy. "Stay with me," she scolded softly.

"Sorry."

The mental connection faded; Poe missed it immediately. It was very intimate, but he knew he was safe with her. She'd never do to him what Kylo Ren had done. He opened his mouth to protest again, but Rey pressed a finger to his lips. "Let's try something else." He'd surprised her with his ability to initiate their connection; it had completely thrown off her plan. "How do you feel about being blindfolded?"

Poe blinked. "Blindfolded? You don't want to try and shoot one of those training remotes, do you? We might set this place on fire."

"No, nothing like that. I was thinking something a little more…fun."

"Now, I'm intrigued."

She smirked. "I thought you might." She reached for the bag that held their spare supplies. She extracted Poe's blue scarf. Twisting it around her hands, she rose on her knees. "Let me know if it's too tight."

Poe closed his eyes obediently and ducked forward a little so she could tie the material around his head. She'd folded it over several times; once it was secure, his vision was completely black. If it were anyone else, he'd have been nervous, but it was Rey. Her lips brushed his cheek, the edge of his jaw, and finally, his lips. He leaned into her, trying to chase her mouth before she could pull away. When the kiss finally broke, they were both panting.

"Stop trying to rush me," Rey scolded.

"What can I say? I love kissing you."

"You're not bad."

He huffed. "Not bad? You're kidding, right?"

"Am I?" As adorable as his pout was, she had other plans for him. She leaned closer, her lips hovering his. "Maybe you should prove it, flyboy."

Poe didn't hesitate; her warm breath brushing his lips told him exactly where she was. He closed the miniscule gap, kissing her firmly. Her lips were soft and sweet; Poe caught her face in his hands to keep her right where he wanted her. It built slowly, almost like they were trying to memorize how the other felt. Rey held onto his collar as they swayed, both thoroughly lost in the moment.

Even with the pallets, the floor was hard. Rey gave her husband a gentle push. Her lips never left his as they stretched out on the floor. Poe tugged her on top of him, his hands wandering. Rey nipped at his bottom lip as she started to work the fastenings on his shirt.

"I see what your plan is now, wife," he breathed, tugging the ties from her hair.

"Oh, you do?"

"Though I'm not sure why you wanted me blindfolded."

"So you can experience this in a whole new way," she whispered in his ear. "If that's okay?"

"You can do anything you want to me," he promised.

Rey pressed another kiss to his lips; this time he didn't let her get away. He bent his leg so it rested between hers; he could feel the heat there. Rey rolled her hips against him as she peeled his shirt from his body and tossed it aside. His skin was golden in the soft light, marred by the occasional scar. She knew them all by heart now, but that didn't stop her from caressing and kissing each one. No one had even known him the way Rey did; this is what he'd been searching for all those years.

"Hmm, I think I like undressing you," she commented, tugging a bit on the belt of his pants.

"I like it too." The lack of sight heightened his other senses; he felt every brush of her skin against his in a whole new way. It wasn't just physical; he couldn't describe it. Almost like she was touching his soul as well as his body. Poe groaned as she loosened his pants and dragged them down his legs, underwear and all, leaving him naked aside from the blindfold. "I can't see you, but I know you're still dressed," he complained. "That's not fair."

"Who said this was fair?"

"I can yank this off at any time, sweetheart."

"But you won't." He heard some metal creak and fabric rustling. Once he heard the distinctive flick of the clasp that held her breast band in place, he grinned. Rey smiled too, pleased he was so willing to enjoy the little game she'd concocted. She stretched out beside him and guided his hand to her hip. "Better?"

"Hmm, much." Poe rolled on his side and found her lips. He couldn't see her, but he still seemed to know exactly where she was. Like he felt her on a whole other level. He slid his hands over her curves; it was heady, relearning her body this way.

"Poe," she breathed, arching into his touch as he skimmed her breast.

"I think it's my turn now," he murmured. He ducked down and sucked her nipple between his lips; Rey cried out as heat flooded her core. She felt him, flicking on the edge of her awareness, just as she had before. Only now he was using that connection to bring her toe-curling pleasure. Poe eased her on her back, his mouth hot on her skin. "Gods, I can't get enough of you," he growled against her skin.

"I know…ugh…how that feels," she panted, hooking her leg over his hip. She used the blindfold to drag his lips back to hers; she really wanted to run her fingers through his curls, but that meant removing the blindfold. She was enjoying this too much for that. He made her feel things she could never have imagined before that fateful trip to Yavin.

Poe groaned, his hand sliding down her back until he could cup her ass. "Don't be too loud," he murmured. "We wouldn't want to droids to get the wrong idea, hmmm?"

Before Rey could ask what he meant, Poe was sliding down into the space between her legs. The cool air of the cabin hit the swollen soaked flesh of her sex causing her skin to pebble all over. Her lover buried his face between her legs, his scruff rubbing deliciously against her skin. Rey bit her lip at the first swipe of his tongue, suppressing a loud moan. Her head thrashed as he pleasured her with that wicked tongue. A few whines and whimpers escaped her lips; she couldn't keep completely silent as he made her see stars. Somewhere along the way, she'd lost control of this, but she didn't care. She couldn't care about anything as he kept her hovering on the edge of bliss.

"Poe, kriff…oh…oh gods," she breathed, her hips rocking into his touch. Somehow him doing this with the blindfold on was only more intense; he didn't need to see her to bring her pleasure.

"After all this is over, I am taking you far, far away from all this," he promised, kissing her swollen clit. Two fingers slipped inside her, pumping slow and steady. Rey sucked down air as she hung so close to the edge. "Somewhere where it's just you and me, no droids, no comms, no worries. Would you like that, Master Jedi?"

Rey let out a sound, half a whimper, half a whine, as she tried to grind against him, chasing that elusive peak. "Poe…" she whined. "Please…"

"Somewhere that I can have you like this…whenever I want." He stroked her clit with his tongue, his fingers pumping a tiny bit faster. "Hot, wet, desperate for me."

"Oh gods," she gasped, fisting the pallets in both hands. He kept her so, so close to the edge, but he refused to let her fall. It was intoxicating, a buzz in her veins.

Teasing her like this was a double edged sword. Listening to her breathy moans and needy whines was glorious, but feeling her tight sheath grip his fingers made him hard as a rock and hungry to feel her around him, astride him, riding them both into oblivion. He pumped himself a few times to keep his own need in check, but it wouldn't last. He needed her too badly.

"Tell me what you want, mi amor," he whispered into her skin. "I can't see you; you'll have to tell me."

Rey knew perfectly well he didn't need to see her to feel her need. He felt it, just as much as she felt his. She gave him the only words she could comprehend. "You. Need. Inside. Now."

She felt the loss the moment he removed his fingers. She expected him to take her, plunge deeply inside her, but he didn't. Instead, Poe rolled onto his back. She blinked, confused, until he started pumping his cock. It was red, throbbing, and thick; she watched, realizing that she rarely saw him touch himself. It was more erotic than she'd ever imagined.

"You gonna leave a man hanging, sweetheart?"

She curled her hand around his, following the up and down motion. Poe groaned, his hips rocking off the pallet. He groaned louder as she licked the bead of fluid off the tip. "Quiet. The droids," she reminded him.

"Kinda hard to be quiet when you're touching me like that."

"You'll just have to try harder." She finally moved, settling astride his hips, facing away from him. Poe's hands instantly curved against her backside, holding her steady as she hovered over him. She sank down on him slowly, biting hard on her lip to keep from crying out. That first long side was always amazing; she loved the way they fit together. Rey braced her hands in front of her, her hips flush against his as she soaked in the sensation of being full.

"You feel so good," Poe breathed. He couldn't see her, but he was drowning in her. His heart thudded in his chest, overwhelmed by not only how much he loved her, but her love for him. He felt it, almost like he could reach out and touch it. He ran his hands over her back as she rode him steadily, needing to feel as much of her as he could.

"So good," she agreed. She spotted the stars whizzing by out the window and she shivered. It was impossible not to remember her fantasy of her in a similar position, enjoying her husband's attentions in the cockpit of the Falcon. One day soon, she promised herself.

"Come 'ere," Poe pleaded softly. "Wanna hold you."

Reluctantly, she did as he asked. Rey stretched out beside him; Poe hitched her left leg over his hip. Their lips met in another hungry kiss as he searched for just the right angle. Rey let out a hoarse gasp as he pushed inside her again. She clung to his shoulders as he thrust hard and deep inside her, giving her what she needed so badly. Their lips met in another wet kiss; the only other sound was skin smacking together.

Suddenly, she couldn't take it anymore; she needed to see his eyes. She tugged off the blindfold, revealing those brown eyes she loved so much. "Hey there," he said, blinking as he adjusted to the light.

She drew him in for a kiss. "Hey."

He hitched her leg higher, changing the angle slightly. Rey whimpered as he sank even deeper inside her. "Hey, stay with me," he whispered. "Stay with me, sweetheart."

They rolled again until he was on top of her. Poe took both of her hands and pinned them over her head, forcing her to look him in the eye as they moved together. Everything else fell away; it was just them. One in mind, body and spirit. Poe felt her fluttering around him, just on the edge, then she let go. She opened her mouth to cry out, but he silenced her with a kiss. He rode her through her intense high, every ripple of pleasure echoing through him. He quickly followed with a soft moan of her name, his hips stilling as he filled her.

Rey held him close as they both panted for air. Blood still rushed in her ears as she shivered with aftershocks. She brushed her fingers through his curls, still craving that connection with him. "You okay?"

He nodded against her shoulder. "Am I crushing you?"

"Maybe a little."

Poe grunted and rolled, taking her with him. "Better?"

She snuggled into his chest. "Hmm, much."

Poe kissed the crown of her head. "Love you, Rey."

"Love you too." She stayed inside the circle of his arms as long as she could. "I should go…"

"Yeah, get cleaned up. I'll be here." Rey stood, some of the blue and red switched glowed against her pale skin. She grabbed Poe's shirt and shrugged into it, buttoning just enough buttons to be decent. Then she padded off to the tiny fresher the ship had. Poe, meanwhile, tugged on his boxer briefs and went to check their telemetry and course. Everything seemed fine, which was good. They'd talked about sleeping in shifts, but they weren't that far from the controls if anything happened. They'd get proximity alarms if anyone happened by.

Instead, he tried to remake the pallets into something that resembled a bed. He used a couple of their bags for pillows; he found an actual blanket in one of the cabinets. It was almost ready when Rey returned. "What's this?"

"I knew we said we'd sleep in shifts but…" He scratched her back of his neck. "I, uh, thought this would be better."

She gave him that sweet smile she reserved just for him. "Definitely better." She found her underwear in the piles of discarded clothes and set an alert to wake them in a few hours. Poe had their makeshift bed ready by the time she returned. "You know, I doubt the First Order designed this shuttle for this sort of thing."

Poe chuckled. "The galaxy might have been a more peaceful place if they had. A bunch of uptight jerks if you ask me."

The pallets didn't cushion the floor that much, but Rey had slept in worse places. She'd never had a human pillow with her either. As she settled her head on his chest, the gentle thrum of his heart echoed in her ear. "Poe?"

She almost asked him if he was okay—their bond in the Force was unique and still a little frightening—but she knew if he wasn't, he would say so. "Hmmm?" He combed his fingers through her hair absently.

"Nevermind. Go to sleep."

"You first."

"Bossy."

"Me? I'm bossy, Master Jedi?"

She leaned up and brushed her lips to his. "Why do you think I like the uniform so much?" she whispered, smiling mischievously.

Poe groaned. "Are you trying to kill me, wife?"

"Now why would I do that? I like you exactly where you are, husband." She giggled as he rolled them slightly, her laugh cut off by his lips on hers. He kissed her breathless, entwining their bodies together. They fell asleep like that, wrapped up together and slightly tangled in the blanket.

"Rey? Rey!"

"I'm here!" Rey looked around, frantic. She could hear Poe, but she couldn't see him. She knew he had to be close, certainly within shouting distance. "Poe! I'm right here!"

She just wished she knew where here was.

The trees around her were tall, but barren. No leaves as far as she could see. A path stretched out ahead of her; she decided to follow it. It seemed to go on forever. Over and over, she heard her husband calling for her, sounding more and more desperate. She reached for their connection in the Force, hoping it would lead her to him. She breathed deeply, trying not to panic. She couldn't help Poe if she panicked.

The landscape changed as she moved; dead trees gave way to brown plains rimmed with floating mountains. She heard echoes of other voices; she thought she knew them, but she couldn't recall who they were. Rey forced herself to shut everything else out; she needed to find Poe. There was something about this place she didn't like. She had a bad feeling. Every time he called for her, her heart clenched. He sounded lost and confused; she felt his fear. "I'm coming, Poe. Just hang on."

A building started to rise on the edge of the horizon. Rey broke into a run; Poe was there. She knew it.

As she got closer, she realized it was ancient. It was made of stone with intricate symbolism etched into the curved surface. It looked almost like…an arena? Rey kept her hand hovering over her saber hilt as she approached. "Poe?"

The ground had three circles etched into it. Two were large; the center one was smaller. She spotted Poe crouched down in one of the large circles, his arms bound behind him. When he spotted her, his eyes flew wide with panic. "Rey, it's a trap! Get out of here!"

"Not without you!" She tried to get to him, but some kind of force field flared around him; Rey bounced off it and landed hard on her ass. She groaned, dazed. She tried to stand, but her head spun. She could feel the power under her fingertips, the power inherent in this place. It was dead now, but it didn't have to be. There was still a spark.

She didn't know how she knew, but that spark was the key to bringing this place back to life.

"You feel it too, don't you?"

Startled out of her wits, Rey jumped up, her hand already on her saber. It ignited in her hand, the yellow beam cutting through the dark. "Who are you? Show yourself!"

Once again, the voice sounded far away. "Is this what the Jedi have become? Emotional and rash?"

Rey gripped her saber, swinging it in what she thought was the location of the voice. Instead, all she hit was air. "There are no more Jedi. There's just me."

"You carry the weapon of a Jedi," the voice replied. "What else does that make you?"

"I'm not in the mood for games! I don't know what you did to Poe, but you're going to return him to me. Now."

"I've taken nothing from you, Jedi."

Rey whirled around, but Poe was gone. There was no force field, no light, no Poe. "But, but…I saw him. He was right here. He warned me…" Rey raised her saber again, her eyes narrowed. "He said this was a trap."

In the distance, thunder cracked. Rey saw more sparks of lightening flicker across the low clouds. "We don't have much time."

"Time for what?"

"For you, Rey Skywalker, to make a choice."

Rey spun around, saber swinging in a high arc. Her blade was stopped by two white blades, one longer than the other. Both sabers were held by a Togruta woman more than twice her age. She didn't wear the robes of a Jedi, but somehow, Rey knew her. Eyes wide with surprise, she lowered her weapon. "I know you."

"You know of me. We've never actually met."

But Rey knew the voices of every Jedi that spoke to her on Exegol. She would never forget any of them. "Ahsoka Tano."

Ahsoka ducked her head in acknowledgement. "Sorry about surprising you. I had to be sure it was you."

"Sure it was me? What's going on? Where's Poe?"

"Surely, you've realized this is dream."

"A dream?"

Ahsoka arched a brow at her. "None of this is real. I believe the Force is directing us to the same place."

"What place?"

"A place from my past. A place I half hoped was a dream."

"That doesn't tell me anything."

Ahsoka gestured all around her. "This is Mortis. Or, rather, what's left of it."

"Mortis?" A chill went down her spine. "Mortis is a myth!"

"I assure you, it's not."

"But the Jedi texts…" She'd read the Mortis myth in one of the oldest scrolls she'd retrieved from Ahch-To. "Mortis can't be real."

"During the Clone War, we found it. Or it found us. My master was never sure. But Anakin, Obi-Wan and I all remember it. What happened to us on Mortis couldn't be forgotten."

"If Mortis is real, why does it look like this?" The Mortis she'd read about was believed to be a well-spring of the Force. A convergence, unique in the galaxy. The place of balance and peace. It was sought by Jedi for many millennia, but eventually the search was abandoned as nothing more than a myth.

"Because of us," Ahsoka said sadly. "There are parts I don't remember well, but Mortis is no paradise. It never was. Powerful forces of light and dark used to dwell here."

"I thought Mortis was all about balance."

"It is. That was why we were brought here. A being called the Father believed Anakin to be the Chosen One."

"Anakin was the Chosen One," Rey said. She'd heard this part from Leia, who'd heard it from Luke. "To quote my master, it just took him a little longer to get there."

Ahsoka smiled. "That does sound like Leia."

"You knew her?"

Ahsoka nodded. "Not well, but yes."

"You know she's Anakin's daughter."

"So many things about her fell into place once I discovered that. She was a lot like him."

"Why was the Father interested in Anakin being the Chosen One?"

"Because he was dying. His daughter was the embodiment of the Light. His son was the Darkness. The constant battle between them sapped his strength. He believed Anakin could take his place."

"But he didn't." She knew the tragic and dark tale of Anakin Skywalker well. In the end, Anakin turned back to the light and saved his son, much like Ben had done for her.

"No, but what happened here on Mortis changed all of us. What happened here rippled throughout the galaxy. Balance disappeared for many years, suffused in darkness. Even after the Rebel victory, the Sith weren't destroyed. You know that."

"But they are now. I ended it."

"And what is to be in their place? I believe we'll find the answer on Mortis."

"But Mortis is gone, you said it yourself."

"But you felt that spark. There is hope here, Rey. A light. You are the last Jedi. This task is yours."

"I've already got plenty to keep me busy." More lightning, more thunder, the clouds appeared closer than ever. If this was a dream, then she had control. She had a job and a life to get back to. She didn't have time to chase myths. "Goodbye, Ahsoka."

Rey's eyes snapped open; she blinked, trying to get her bearings. That dream had felt so real. Ahsoka? Mortis? Some grand task? Rey groaned, her head falling onto the makeshift pillow Poe made her. She didn't have the time or energy for more riddles. But there was no teacher, no manual to help her navigate strange Force dreams and mysteries. Poe rolled closer to her, drawing her against his chest. "It's not time to get up yet."

"How do you know?"

"Just do." He buried his nose in her hair; Rey tried to relax. For days, dreams had haunted her sleep; she was heartily tired of it. She was even more tired of feeling like a pawn. She was a Jedi, but she took on that mantle on her terms. The old ways were gone. She wanted to spend time with her husband. She wanted to study so she could open a training temple. She wanted to help the others like her, so that no one felt the way she had. Lost and confused and wondering about their place in the galaxy.

Rey had finally figured out where she was supposed to be. She wasn't giving that up for anything.

"Another bad dream?" Poe asked, yawning.

"Not bad exactly, just…cryptic."

"Sounds like fun."

"It wasn't." As much as she wanted to stay with him, she knew she wasn't going to get anymore sleep. "I think I'm gonna go sit up front."

Poe huffed in complaint. "Or you could stay here with your husband."

She brushed a kiss to his brow. "I'll only disturb you. You rest."

Poe opened his eyes. "And let you brood alone? No way."

"I don't brood."

He searched her face in the low light of the cabin. "Something was different about this one."

"How did you know?"

"You. You feel…different. I can't put my finger on it."

She laced her fingers with his. "I'm just glad you're here."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Her first instinct was to say no, but Poe had been in her dream. He'd been trapped, warning her that it was a trap. Was he somehow a part of whatever plan the Force had for her? She couldn't see how he couldn't be. They were Force bound, mated. She was the first Jedi to find her mate in thousands of years. Poe was important, not just to her. Maz said the Force helped Poe stay alive; it was still helping him stay alive. The galaxy needed him, just as much as she did.

"Um, maybe we should get dressed before we talk."

"Okay." Poe was a little worried about her. She didn't seem rattled by the dream, more like…resigned? He didn't know what was giving her these dreams, but he was frustrated for her. She gave so much; he thought she was entitled to a little peace. He desperately wanted to provide that for her, a sanctuary away from galaxy spinning around them. What more could the Force possibly ask of her?

Once they were dressed, they moved back into the main part of the cockpit. Rey took her seat on the left, distracting herself with some of the dials and switches. Poe kept quiet; focusing on flying calmed his nerves too. He knew she'd talk when she was ready.

"Have you ever heard of Mortis?" Rey asked suddenly.

"Mortis? Nope."

"It's an old legend. Or, according to my dreams lately, not so much of a legend." She realized that now. She thought about everything she could remember from her dreams lately. They all lead back to Mortis. She could still see Anakin and Obi-Wan as Ahsoka must have known them. It hadn't made sense before, but it did now.

"It's a Force thing?"

"It's a convergence in the Force." She stared out at the stars, searching for the right words. She wasn't really good with words, so she described her dreams as best she could. And he listened. Poe reached over and twined his fingers with hers, but otherwise, he didn't interrupt. He just let her talk. She loved him so much for that. He wasn't asking anything of her that she wasn't willing to give. If the Force truly had brought them together, this was why. She needed him in her life. If she was going to succeed in restoring the Jedi, then she needed him beside her. She needed that anchor as everything swirled around them.

"Wait, so you're saying that Ahsoka, that Jedi that was searching for Ezra, was in your dream?"

"She's not a Jedi anymore."

"She has lightsabers, right? That's enough for me."

Rey actually laughed. "I didn't know you were so easily impressed."

"I'm not. But I've seen you do your Jedi thing, Sunshine. It's something else."

She smiled. "Flatterer."

He grinned. "There's that smile. Knew I'd get one."

Rey squeezed his hand. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For putting up with all this. I know it's not easy."

"I did have some idea of what I was signing on for when I married you."

"You were in my dream too, you know. Well, sort of."

Poe looked surprised. "Me?"

"I think maybe…you're a part of this somehow? You've been in some of the others too."

Poe looked skeptical. "I don't know about that, Rey."

"Why would that be so surprising? And don't say it's because you're not a Jedi, because we both know better."

Poe sighed. She did have a point. He just couldn't fathom what a guy like him brought to all this. Light and dark, Cosmic Force, Living Force, it all sounded so grand and important. Epic, even. Rey was a part of a long tradition that he couldn't even imagine until he met her. Knowing the Force existed and seeing it in action were entirely different things. Rey was the most powerful person he knew. Yet, here she was, telling him he had a part to play. "Well, if we need something blown up, I'm your guy."

Rey stood up and edged over to his seat, settling in his lap. "You always do that."

"What?"

"Make a joke when we talk about you and the Force."

Her fingers combed through the curls at the nape of his neck; Poe felt himself relax. He shrugged. "It still feels a bit surreal," he said honestly. "I know what I've seen. What I've felt." He returned her soft smile. "Rey, when I had that vision, back on Coruscant, I didn't know what to think. I see the things you do and that's…not me. I'm a pilot, a soldier. The idea of meditating for hours makes my skin crawl. Yet, part of me wishes I were more like you, so that you don't have to shoulder this burden alone."

"But I'm not alone," she reminded him. "And I'm not talking about Ezra or Jacen. I'm talking about you. I'd be way more frightened about doing everything wrong if I didn't have you. I'm not expecting you to be a Jedi, Poe. If you'd never had that vision, I'd still love you. I loved you before that. Because of who you are in here." She pointed at his chest. "We're partners; we belong together."

She curled against his chest, tucking her head under his chin. He could just make out their reflection in the windscreen against the stars zooming by. Force, he loved her. He loved her so much his chest hurt. Rey was skeptical about this Mortis thing, but if her path did indeed lead there, he knew he would be by her side. He'd follow her anywhere. Perhaps that was his place in all this.

But they could only deal with one problem at a time. The chrono told him they'd be at the rendezvous in a few hours. This quiet time in a stolen shuttle was finite. Poe rubbed her lower back soothingly until he felt her breathing even out and her body relaxed. He held her against him, content for her to get some rest. She would need it.