AN: Have some fluffy drama!

Chapter 12

"This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen," Rey whispered as she stepped over the threshold of the lakefront villa.

For a young woman who had spent almost the entirety of her life living in the hollowed-out hull of a derelict AT-AT in the middle of a desert, she found herself completely overwhelmed by the splendor that surrounded her. She glanced over and could tell that the feeling was mutual among many of her companions.

A protocol droid awaited them just past the foyer and large flower arrangements gave off a bright and welcoming scent. Rey had slung a pack over her shoulder with a few changes of clothes from the Falcon and she carried it through with her, careful not to set it down on anything for fear that she might tarnish any of the beautiful decors.

She passed through the room and exited onto a patio that overlooked the water, a beautiful island rising from its depths across from her. Rey dropped her bag on the ground and hopped into a seated position on the sculpted permacrete railings that lined the space. She knew she'd be leaving this place as soon as she could, but let herself imagine for a moment what it might be like to stay there forever.

It wasn't long until she heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Poe. He stood at her side and leaned against the railing, his arms crossed beneath him as his head hung for a moment.

"You're leaving," he said. "Aren't you?"

Poe brought his eyes up to meet Rey's and she tensed.

"Did Finn tell you?" She asked.

He laughed. "No, you've just got that 'there's something I need to do,' look in your eyes. I assume you'll be taking the Falcon?"

She nodded. "And Chewie, if he'll come along."

Poe sucked his teeth and looked out at the water. "I want you to take Finn with you, too."

Her brows furrowed as she hopped down from her perch. "Are you over him that quickly, then?"

He shook his head. "That's not it and I hope you know me better than that, Rey. It's because he told me about what you said; that you can train him. I think going with you would be better for him than sitting around here buried in bureaucracy."

"You make a good point," Rey said, turning to him with a smile. "Good thing he's already told me he's coming along."

Poe gave her a look of incredulity as a smirk spread across her face.

"I just wanted to see what you said about him leaving," she teased.

Rey's arms crossed across her body, following the lines of her wrap. There was a slight chill to the air as the sun disappeared behind the peak of the island and she fought off a shiver.

"Should I ask where you're going?" Poe asked

"I'm not sure yet. Wherever the Force wills, I suppose," she told him. "If Ben is out there, I've got to find him."

He shook his head, placing his hands firmly on her slight shoulders. "Rey, he's not out there. You said yourself that you watched him die."

"That's the thing," Rey countered. "I don't think he is. I can feel him in the Force. For now, that means there's still hope."

Poe sighed and ran the fingers of one hand through his thick curls, his other hand planted firmly on his hip. He spun away from Rey and then back to face her.

"What happens if you find him, Rey?" He asked, his voice serious. "You think he's just going to come back here with you as if nothing happened?"

"Poe, please," Rey whispered, her voice heavy with emotion.

"I know he gave his life to save you, I know he's Leia's son; that doesn't mean he didn't commit atrocities across the galaxy. The Hosnian System? Remember that? Kijimi? He saved you but he's murdered billions."

Poe was shouting by then and tears were streaking down Rey's face. She knew that he was right and the weight of it was crushing her as if a rock had been planted on her chest. She composed herself, then.

"I'll come back alone or not at all," she told Poe, walking away without waiting for a response.

Poe searched high and low for Rey, hoping to apologize, but she was nowhere to be found. He deserved to feel the way that he did about how he had chastised her. He had a right to be upset, though; he'd lost friends on the worlds that the First Order had destroyed and in combat against their forces. He'd lost Leia, and she was the closest thing that he'd had left to family.

He knew that Rey had told him that Kyle Ren had been used by Snoke and Palpatine much in the same way that Finn had. He'd been corrupted since his youth and shown that those who served the Dark cared more about him than his own family did. When Luke had betrayed him, he knew exactly where to turn.

He sat outside drinking some liquor that he'd raided from the bar. The golden liquid was smooth and warm as he took a long swig from the ornate glass in his hand.

A hand rested then on Poe's waist and drew him near in an embrace, catching him by surprise. He turned to see Finn. Finn's head dropped to meet Poe's in a brief kiss before they rested their foreheads together.

"She's devastated, you know," Finn told him, softly.

Poe nodded. "I know. I've been trying to find her. I wanted to apologize."

His partner shook his head. "No use. The feelings you have towards him are real and valid, just like the ones I have. Now, though, we have to trust Rey and trust in the Force."

Poe's shoulders slouched as he let out a long sigh. "I know they are, but everything we know about him is eclipsed by what Rey said, isn't it?"

"For now, at least. If we find him and he is what she says, we can give him a chance. It's what you did for me." Finn said, his hand gripping Poe's bicep.

"You were different. You defected, Finn. You saved me," Poe was looking into his eyes now and both of them were fighting the urge to shed tears.

Finn smiled. "So did he, and he saved Rey. Maybe we're not that different after all."

"I hate it when you're right, you know that?" Poe replied with a soft smile on his lips.

"I know," Finn laughed, pulling Poe in for another kiss, deeper this time.

"Be safe, Finn," Poe told him.

Finn raised an eyebrow. "Like I'm ever not?"

Poe stabbed a finger into Finn's chest. "You're going to give me grey hair, you know that? Both of you. I mean it. Whatever you find out there, you'd better come back here to tell me about it."

"I will," Finn told him, grasping Poe's hands. "I promise."