Force Dyad

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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Forty-Eight-Hurt

Over the next few days Rey spent time discreetly observing the other courting couples on the base, carefully analysing how they interacted with each other. While she did so, she made notes. Lots and lots of them. She could often be seen, datapad in hand, wandering around the base, her fingers flying over the screen, jotting down everything she saw and heard. When questioned by others about what she was doing, she merely smiled, telling them she was doing a special inventory at General Organa's request.

Rey felt like a spy sent on an undercover mission. It takes a strange person to become a spy, she thought, but she was strange though. She realised that because normal people were strange to her. She found most of them charming and kind yet stupid and, more often than not, completely underwhelming. Some of the pick-up lines Rey overheard were absolutely excruciating. She couldn't believe their chosen target actually fell for them; she could only assume they were so enamoured by their suitor that they were willing to overlook their lack of subtlety.

Poe Dameron remained the absolute worst. He flirted shamelessly with anyone he came across, no matter what the species. He just couldn't seem to help himself; it was like an in-built reflex action. He was on a mission to charm everyone. As much as she tried to avoid his annoying presence, he seemed to be everywhere she went. Rey was beginning to suspect he was following her, probably purposefully trying to find out what she was really up to. He hadn't swallowed her excuse about doing an inventory like all the others had.

Rey was half hidden behind a console, quietly watching Kaydel Ko Connix-a sensor ops officer-flirting with Rose's older sister, Paige. She saw Kaydel look coyly up at Paige from under her long lashes, gently winding one finger in a strand of her golden hair. Rey noticed that Paige was mirroring Kaydel's actions when she saw the gunner's fingers had fluttered to her own hair. She had learned that potential couples often did this when they were attracted to each other. Rey imagined herself doing the same thing the girls were doing with Ben instead. She became so lost in the pretty picture that it painted in her mind, that she didn't realise that Poe had crept up on her.

"And what is my little Rey of sunshine up to I wonder?"

His loud voice disturbed Rey's pleasant daydream and she scowled at him. "Go away, Poe!"

Poe grinned at her, not at all put off by her surly attitude. He glanced over at Kaydel and Paige, their heads were close together, Kaydel whispered something and Paige giggled. "Aren't they just adorable?" He crooned.

"Ugh, you shouldn't be spying on them!" Rey snapped; she felt her face heating up because that was exactly what she had been doing.

"Your flushed face gives you away." Poe pointed out in amusement. "Are they part of the 'inventory' you're supposed to be doing?"

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Rey said primly, she held her datapad close to her chest so that Dameron couldn't see the screen.

"You're looking a bit hot under the collar there, my little ball of sunshine." Poe responded playfully. "I asked General Organa about this so called 'inventory' of yours and she seemed to have no idea what I was talking about. Funny that."

"She's hardly going to confide such important information to a hot-shot pilot like you." Rey snapped.

"So…. you think I'm hot?" Poe drawled.

Rey made an aggravated noise in the back of her throat, before storming off in the opposite direction with the sound of Poe's laughter ringing in her ears.


"So damn arrogant!" Rey muttered over and over under her breath. Poe had shaken her up considerably. She knew he suspected she was up to something, though he didn't know exactly what. How she despised Dameron and his interfering ways. He got on her last nerve.

Rey was so het up that she didn't watch where she was going. She ended up inadvertently bumping into Han. She rebounded off him, the datapad clattering to floor. "Oh no!" She cried, ducking down in order to retrieve it.

"You alright there, kid?" Han asked in concern.

"Not really." Rey pushed herself back onto her feet and stared miserably at the smashed screen on the datapad. It had gone completely blank. She just hoped the memory was still intact and hadn't wiped off all her hard work.

"What's wrong, kid?" Han peered at her troubled face.

"Its nothing, just ignore me." Rey mustered up a fake smile for Han's benefit. "Were you looking for me?"

"I was." Han's answering smile lit up his eyes. "How would you feel about getting away from the base for a few days? I need a co-pilot. Chewie's been in contact. He's ready to join us. I'm taking the Falcon to Kashyyyk to pick him up."

A real smile blossomed on Rey's face this time, like a spring flower kissed by first light. "I'd love to!" She chirped. Like Han, she had been suffering with cabin fever, being trapped on the base for weeks on end was making her restless and was not good for her mental health. "I've missed that Wookie! I can't wait to tell Ben."

Han shook his head vigorously, putting a finger to his lips, indicating he wanted her to lower her voice. "Don't tell him."

"Why not?" Rey asked in confusion.

"I want it to be a surprise." Han revealed. "You know how much Ben loves his uncle Chewie. And it's his birthday in a few days. What a better day for the big reveal, huh?"

"I guess." Rey said doubtfully. "I'm not sure how I'm going to keep it from him, though. He'll know."

The little rise at the corner of Han's mouth warned Rey his familiar smirk was on the way. "My son may be strong with the Force, kid, but I don't think even he can read your mind if you don't want him to. You'll manage."

Rey wasn't so sure about that. She supposed she would just have to do her best. She kind of liked the idea of Chewie making his appearance on Ben's special day. Usually, Ben avoided celebrating his birthday at all costs. To him it was just another day, but Rey thought he would make an exception this year if Chewie was involved. "I'll find a way." She promised Han.

"Thanks, kid." Han said. "Do you have time to help me do a maintenance check on the Falcon?"

"Of course, I do." Rey agreed. As she walked toward the hangar bay with Han, she decided now was an opportune time to ask his opinion about his flirting technique. She imagined he must be pretty good if he had attracted an actual princess. He and Leia seemed so different, but somehow, those differences worked for them, mostly.

"Why do you want to know?" Han asked with interest.

"Just curious."

"I knew this day would come." Han teased. "Have you got your eye on someone, kid?"

"No!" Rey protested, her flushed cheeks giving her away again.

Han decided to go easy on her. He was quite touched that she had come to him for some fatherly advice. "Alright, kid. Were do you want me to start?"

"I don't know." Rey pondered for a minute. "Um…. were you the one who took the lead?"

"Nope." Han denied. "That was Leia. She did all the chasing. You see, she may have been a princess, but she had a thing for scoundrels. This one in particular." He continued smugly. "She used to run around after me, trying to rile me up to get my attention."

"Like Rose and Armitage." Rey murmured.

"What?"

"Nothing." Rey cleared her throat. "Please continue."

"Okay, there was this one time on Hoth when…."


"Where have you been all day?" Ben complained irritably when he met up with Rey later. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Working on the Falcon with Han." Rey said as she pulled her hair out of its tight braid and allowed it to fall in shiny waves around her slim shoulders. She combed her fingers through the fine strands, trying to work through the snarls.

Ben found himself completely mesmerised. It wasn't often Rey let her hair down. There was a warmth her glossy brunette hair brought to her features, a simple frame for her lovely smile and eyes that held more beauty than could be put into mere words. The hue altered as the strands curled and moved, he found himself wanting to touch it and had to force his hands to stay by his sides.

"It will only be for a few days." Rey said.

"What?" Ben shook his head to clear it. He had seen her mouth moving but had been too distracted to hear the actual words coming out of it.

Rey frowned. "Didn't you hear what I said?"

"Something about a few days." Ben mumbled.

"Yeah, Han said it'll be a week at the most."

"What's Han got to do with it?"

Rey sighed impatiently. "The trip on the Falcon. He said no more than a week."

"I could use a break from here." Ben carded his fingers through his own hair. Since coming back from Naboo, he was feeling stifled by his mother. She was still on a mission to mould him into the perfect jedi, no matter how much he renounced the title. Tensions were running high between them. Escaping on the Millennium Falcon for a few days with Rey couldn't have come at a more opportune time. "When do we go?"

"We?" Rey looked at him uneasily. "Um…its just going to be me and Han. He needed a co-pilot and I said I'd fill in."

"You…you're going without me?" Ben questioned bleakly.

Rey was well aware of the hurt in his voice, he wasn't even making an effort to disguise it. She cast her eyes down to the floor before he had a chance to see the guilt shining in them. "Um…. you've only just come back from Naboo. I didn't think you'd want to leave again so soon. And I've been stuck here for so long…"

"Is this because you couldn't come with me to Naboo? That wasn't my choice. You know that." Ben implored. She was lying about the real reason she was going without him. He knew it, but couldn't understand why.

"This has nothing to do with Naboo." Rey protested. "And do you really think I'd be that petty."

"You're hiding something. I can sense it. You're a terrible liar. What's really going on?" Ben demanded. "Tell me."

Rey felt her breathing quicken. This confrontation was exactly what she had hoped to avoid. She had warned Han this might happen. She wanted to tell Ben the truth, but didn't want to break her promise to his father and ruin the surprise. "You have no right to interrogate me, Ben. Maybe I am hiding something, but that is my business and not yours. I don't have to tell you everything that's going on in my life."

Ben cast his gaze onto the ground and his eyes darkened with hurt. After a minute spent composing himself, he glanced back up at Rey. "I see." His voice sounded more pained than anything. "Enjoy your trip." He muttered before striding away.

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.