Paralyzed

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A/N-thank you to everyone who kindly reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Nine-Poe and Ben

The lingering light was obliterated by the rapidly falling night. The once warm blue sky transformed into a vast expanse of jet-black that engulfed the jungle moon. A canopy of luminous stars materialized amongst the ocean of blackness. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence every now and then, but there was an adequate number of shimmering stars to illuminate the dark as Ben made his way toward the tent that housed his mother's body. Her corporeal form still lay beneath the thin pristine white sheet that covered it. Her body had yet to become one with the Force, still lingering in this world as if reluctant to leave it.

Ben paused outside the tent when he heard Dameron's voice coming from inside. "I can't tell you…I don't really know. How to do this. What you did. I'm not ready."

This was the first time that Ben had heard the normally brash starfighter pilot doubting himself. With Leia gone the burden of leading the Resistance had fallen onto his shoulders. Ben knew that Dameron was considered a courageous hero of the Resistance. From the few conversations he'd had with his mother, and what Rey had told him about the guy, though cocksure, Dameron had great charisma and limitless respect for the founders of the Resistance, particularly Leia. Ben had seen as much for himself during his telepathic interrogation of Poe on the Finalizer, when he had forcefully extracted the information about the location of the missing piece of the map to Skywalker from his mind. Leia had confided to Ben before he left that she was sure that Poe would be a great leader one day, but he still had a lot to learn, even if Dameron didn't think so. The guy was clearly thinking along those lines now as the weight of leadership began to make him question everything about himself.

Ben could relate to that. He was reluctant to intrude on Dameron's privacy, but felt he was left with little choice. He took a deep breath to compose himself before parting the tent flaps and stepping inside. Poe was on his feet at once. Ben noted the glimmer of moisture in Dameron's dark eyes before he quickly rearranged his features into an impassive expression.

"I didn't mean to disturb you." Ben apologised hastily.

"You didn't." Poe replied coolly. "I was just leaving."

Ben levelled his gaze to Poe's as he tried to think of the best way to start the difficult conversation. His history with this man had been fraught with tension from the very beginning. Enemies, on opposing sides of an infernal war, the cycle of violence repeated endlessly through the generations, now they faced each other as something else…allies? Ben doubted that Poe would ever consider him that, but right now that was exactly what they had to be.

"I need to talk to you." He said eventually.

"I'm listening." Poe responded warily.

"Rey's pregnant." Ben blurted out. That wasn't what he had meant to say at all. He heard Poe's sharp intake of breath, but to his relief Dameron didn't immediately launch into an interrogation. His surprising confession had completely blindsided the newly anointed Resistance leader.

"She okay?" Poe asked as he rubbed the back of his neck to ease the ache in his shoulders.

"She's shocked just like I am. But happy." Ben was touched that Dameron's first thought was Rey's welfare.

Poe let out another long exhalation. "Wow, you guys don't hang about, do you?"

"It wasn't planned."

"I guessed that. I presume this means whatever plans you were working on have gone up in smoke."

"Yes. Rey can't go back with me. Its too risky. And I can't leave her. She won't endure it." Ben admitted wearily.

"Is her worrying about you the only reason you won't be going back?" Poe questioned astutely. He sensed that there was something more to it then Ben was letting on.

"My mother trusted you." Ben was troubled as he looked Poe straight in the eyes. "I'm going to have to tell you things about myself, about my past that I've only ever shared with Rey. Can I trust you, Dameron?"

Poe regarded Ben thoughtfully for a minute before answering. "I don't think you have a choice. Just like I don't. For better or for worse it appears we're on the same side now."

"It seems so." Ben agreed in a low voice. He was both relieved and grateful that Poe was willing to put aside former hostilities in order to work together towards a common goal. His mother's faith in Dameron's ability to carry on the cause now she was gone hadn't been misplaced. Already Ben could see that Poe was thinking deeply, his mind several moves ahead as he tried to come up with another strategy.

"This sounds like the kind of deep conversation that calls for a drink." Poe suggested with a tired smile. "I've got a bottle of Riosan liqueur in my quarters that I haven't opened yet. Care to share?"

Riosan liqueur was not as strong as Port in a Storm, but was noxious nonetheless. "Just don't tell Rey." Ben said dryly.

"As if I would?" Poe's smile turned into a smirk as he led the way outside.

Finn had just had an unsatisfactory conversation with Rose. He had asked her to join him for dinner. He wanted to talk about his growing concerns for Rey with her, but to his surprise Rose had flatly refused. She had barely been able to look at him as she rushed off. Finn had gotten a glimpse of the tears glistening in her eyes and was about to go after her when he caught sight of Poe and Ren walking towards the former's quarters. They appeared to be deep in conversation about something, which immediately rankled him that he was being kept out of the loop. Considering Poe's animosity toward Ren, he was irked that his friend seemed all buddy buddy with the guy all of a sudden. This didn't sit well with Finn. Determined to find out what was going on he followed them at a distance intending to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"That's vile." Ben complained. His eyes began to water as the Riosan liqueur burned his throat. "How can you drink this stuff?"

"It's an acquired taste." Poe gave Ben a challenging look as he threw his head back and downed his shot in one go.

"You are trying to kill me." Ben muttered, feeling irritated that the fighter pilot didn't seem to be suffering with the same aftereffects of the disgusting liqueur as he did. He took up Poe's challenge and downed the rest of the rancid liquid. He coughed violently, shooting Dameron an annoyed glare when the fighter pilot howled with laughter at his discomfiture. "I'm going to be sicker than Rey after this."

His comment sobered Poe up. He actually looked a little guilty as he poured some water into a glass from a jug on the table in front of him. He pushed the glass toward Ben with an apologetic smile. "Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea. The poor girl has enough to cope with just being pregnant without having to look after your sorry ass in the morning if you get a hangover."

Ben snatched the glass up in his hand and quickly chugged down the water. The cold liquid soothed the burn in his throat and he breathed a sigh of relief. "I appreciate the sentiment, though." He conceded as he put the empty glass back on the table.

Poe was all seriousness now. He leaned forward in his chair, his palms resting on his knees. "So, start talking." He said to Ben.

Ben swallowed. How was he supposed to start this difficult conversation? He didn't have the words, but he knew he needed to find them. He composed himself as he looked directly at Poe. The man was all attentiveness, he showed a kindness and concern that made Ben relax his guard a little more. He could do this, he decided, for Rey's sake and for the sake of his unborn twins he was going to do something he never thought possible-place his trust in another man.

Rey was pregnant!

Finn stumbled away from Poe's quarters and into the dark night. He couldn't bear to listen to anymore. His brain stuttered for a moment as he struggled to absorb what he had just overheard. Every part of him went on pause while he waited for his thoughts to catch up. It was like all his worst fears had been realised.

Rey…sweet, innocent, loving Rey.

It wasn't possible.

It couldn't be true.

Pregnant?

Rey?

His Rey!

Finn wandered around the outskirts of the camp, his brain struggling to compute what his heart was telling him was only too true. Ren had taken advantage of her and now she was suffering the consequences of it. His fists began to clench and his jaw rooted. Gods, he need to calm down if he was going to be any help to Rey in her hour of need….as for Kylo Ren…. Finn left this thought unfinished. He blamed himself. He should have spoken up earlier, shown Rey his true feelings, instead of waiting for her to realise hers for him.

Now this!

Pregnant!

How were they going to get past this?

Finn didn't know, but he resolved, no matter what came in the future, he was going to be there for her every step of the way. Now he just needed to find her.

A/N-thanks for reading! Sorry that this chapter is so short. I didn't have the time to edit the rest. Please review if you have the time.