Author's note: Oh my gosh! So I've seen Rise of Skywalker twice now. All I've really been able to think about since I saw it was Poe and Rey. I loved their interactions in the movie and just had to write something! This is a post Rise of Skywalker story. THERE ARE SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE. If you have not seen the movie, run now. I am treating the movie as it was shown, so we will be dealing with the aftermath of *that* kiss. I know, I know. Bear with me, this is a Damerey story. But I wanted to give the right weight to everything the pair had been through. Right now, I'm thinking 2-3 chapters for this. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: If I owned Lucasfilm, things would have been very different.
Chapter 1
Of all the planets in the galaxy, this was the last place he ever expected to be. Tatooine. The home planet of Luke kriffing Skywalker. Sand stretched ahead of them as far as the eye could see; Poe never expected to see this much sand ever again. Not after Pasaana. Not after Jakku.
He glanced away from the window. Just thinking about that place still made him uneasy. Even now, over a year later, there were still nights he woke up in a cold sweat, the memory of Kylo Ren's invasion of his mind fresh and sharp. It happened less and less these days; he doubted it would ever disappear completely. That didn't mean he was keen to relive it.
Rey saw her companion glance away from the window, his brow knitted in a frown. She resisted the urge to reach out; she could feel Poe's mood change slightly. Not upset exactly, just wary. She wasn't sure why; she was a bit afraid to ask. They were friends, true. Good friends. Indeed, Poe was probably her best friend, aside from Finn. But they frequently drove each other crazy. She didn't understand him sometimes. They could be having a perfectly normal conversation one minute, then be at each other's throats the next. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. Indeed, she'd been shocked that he offered her to accompany her on this mission; she'd fully expected to be alone. But the moment BB-8 volunteered, Poe was right there, offering to co-pilot the Falcon. It seemed beneath the General who'd just won the war.
"Are you kidding, Sunshine?" he'd replied with a grin when she questioned him. "It'll be an adventure."
Now, she was wondering if he was having second thoughts. Surely, he had better things to do.
"This shouldn't take long," she murmured, shutting down the engine. She ran quickly through the Falcon's shutdown procedures, not looking at him.
"Take Beebee-Ate," Poe said. "I'll watch the ship." Given the little he knew about her reasons for coming to this place, he assumed she wanted to be alone. However, if he wasn't going, then sending his droid was the next best thing.
Rey nodded. "Okay." She slipped past him, calling for the droid. Poe watched her go, wondering what the hells he'd been thinking, offering to join her. Things had been off between them since Exegol. Granted, their relationship was often prickly, yet this was different. They were both strong willed, didn't hesitate to take chances others wouldn't, and cared deeply about their friends. After everything he'd been through, her abilities should have scared the shit out of him, but the exact opposite was true. From the moment he saw her standing outside the cave on Crait, he'd been fascinated by her. At first, their mutual friendship with Finn was their only connection, but gradually, that changed. She called him difficult; he called her reckless. If he was being honest with himself, half the time he picked a fight just to see the green flecks in her hazel eyes shine. She was one of the few people who didn't take his shit; how could he not want to be around her?
Now that the war was over, he had no idea what would happen, and it terrified him more than he wanted to admit. There were still pockets of First Order sympathizers to be rooted out; there was no real functioning government. Winning the war was simply the first step. There was more to be done, but Poe didn't have the slightest idea how to proceed. Everyone kept looking to him for answers and he just…didn't know.
Maybe that was why he jumped at the chance to follow Rey. He needed a break. Finn was already off planet, seeking answers from the First Order's vast database. Not only answers for himself, but for all the kidnapped children that regime had pressed into service. He'd taken his new friend Jannah with him; Poe suspected there was something going on there, though he hadn't mentioned it.
Chewie had taken Leia's death hard; Poe didn't blame him for needing some time alone. He'd lost nearly everyone he cared about in this war; Lando was looking after him. How did Leia do it? How did she look after all these people and do it with a smile on her face? Poe missed her deeply; she'd been almost a mother to him the last few years. He'd spent the last year regaining her trust after what happened on the Raddus; it floored him that she'd made him acting General. He still didn't feel ready and the war was already over!
Poe rose from his seat; he needed a change of scenery. The Falcon was an old bird; he was sure something needed to be fixed. His instincts were right on the money; a few of the couplings in the lower gun turret were fried. He climbed down, hydrospanner between his teeth, and pried off the access panel. He only paused long enough to drop a pair of goggles over his eyes; he didn't need another lecture about taking care of himself from their resident Jedi.
Poe ducked into his room, yanking down the zipper of his flight suit. He winced as he eased the sling off his arm and shrugged out of the sleeve. His arm still hurt like a bitch from getting shot; rattling around in an X-wing hadn't helped. He was pretty sure he tore something in his shoulder when was trying to get his ship back under control during the battle, but he'd had worse. He'd given orders that the most severely injured be given priority by the med staff; he was fine with waiting his turn.
He sat heavily on his bunk, running his good hand through his hair. He was exhausted. Bone tired in a way he'd never really experienced. It was over. It felt too good to be true. All the toil and pain and loss. It was finally over! And somehow, he'd survived. Poe leaned back against the durasteel headboard, a laugh caught in his throat. He survived! He half expected this was a dream, or a hallucination. He'd been so sure that going to Exegol was a suicide mission, not that he'd ever admit it. The odds were so long, almost impossible, yet here they were. He was alive, his dearest friends were alive.
What had he done to get so lucky?
A soft knock got his attention. He'd forgotten to shut the door! Rey stood in the open space, her head cocked to the side and a frown on her lips. "Poe? Are you…okay? I heard…"
Poe hurried to straighten up, which jostled his injured shoulder. He tried to smother his groan, but he could tell by the look on her face that he wasn't successful. "I'm good, Sunshine," he muttered, half hoping she would go away, half hoping she wouldn't. He didn't want her to see him like this; he was terrible at hiding his emotions from her. "Just a scratch."
Rey's frown deepened. She still had some blood along her hairline; her usually tightly bound hair fell in tendrils around her face. Poe thought she'd never been more beautiful.
It was insane. He couldn't have a crush on her. She was a Jedi, for one. Younger than him. They fought like children half the time! It made no sense. So what if his heart thudded in his chest every time she challenged him? So what if he told stupid jokes just to see her smile? It didn't mean anything. They were friends. That was it.
Get a grip, Dameron, he thought as she entered the room uninvited. "Seriously, Rey, I'm fine. I've had worse."
"You don't look fine." She narrowed her eyes at him, her hands resting on slender hips. "You look like shit."
"Thanks for that," he said dryly. "You really know how to stroke a guy's ego, Jedi."
She rolled her eyed at him but stepped closer anyway. "Don't you have your old…friend for that?" she shot back.
What? It took Poe a second to realize who she meant. "Zorii?" He laughed. "Nah, we were never…I mean…" Kriff, what did he mean? And why was she asking? Her hazel eyes stared at him intently; it was unnerving. "I was young," he said lamely. "When I first knew her. Younger than you are now, actually." Great job, he scolded himself. Remind her just how much older you are! Really smooth, Dameron.
"So?"
"What do you mean, so? You asked!"
"And you didn't answer!" she countered, her cheeks heating. What was that about?
"There's nothing to say!" he replied, with more heat than he intended. "I had a stupid crush and she shot me down. Repeatedly. Go ahead, Jedi. Laugh."
Rey's reaction was nothing like he expected. She didn't laugh. She didn't even smirk. Instead, her smile warmed him all the way to his toes. "That's nothing to be ashamed of, Poe."
He chuckled. "Don't let it get around. I've got a reputation, apparently."
"Your secret is safe with me." She looked him over critically, her gaze settling on his left arm. "How bad is that? Be honest."
"Bad enough," he said begrudgingly. "Got shot on the Star Destroyer. I think I wrenched something during the battle. It's not bleeding anymore, so I'll live."
Her face softened. She was genuinely concerned about him. Gingerly, she reached for the makeshift bandage on his arm. "May I?"
Poe nodded. He remained as still as he could while she examined his wound. It didn't hurt that much anymore, but that might have been the adrenaline talking. Rey deftly unwound the fabric—a torn piece of his scarf—and circled the affected skin with her fingertips. The emotion that flickered in her hazel eyes was unfathomable. "Remember when we were in the cave?"
Poe swallowed. "Um, yeah?" Their eyes locked and suddenly he caught her meaning. The snake. She healed it with the Force. He'd never seen anything like it, nor anything like her. "So, you're saying wanna…?"
She nodded. "If that's okay?"
"I'm certainly not going to say no to a beautiful woman touching me," he quipped. Almost instantly, he cringed. "Sorry, force of habit."
Rey's cheeks grew even pinker, but she said nothing. Instead, she laid her hand delicately over his wound and closed her eyes. He couldn't take his eyes off her as she focused, mesmerized by her concern for his well-being. She seemed like she wanted to punch him half the time, yet here she was using her extraordinary power to make him feel better. It was such a strange sensation; he could feel the skin knitting itself back together. Warmth and peace flowed from her to him; all his little aches and pains gradually disappeared.
Poe couldn't help himself; before she could open her eyes, he laid his right hand over hers, holding her in place. "Thank you, Rey," he said softly, hoping she could feel his sincerity.
Her eyes popped open; she swallowed. She didn't fight him as he tightened his fingers around hers; her eyes flickered from their joined hands and his eyes. They'd held hands only once before, but that was much different. Finn was always their buffer, always stepping in before things got too out of hand. Poe hadn't realized how significant that was until now as the air seemed to crackle around them.
Rey looked away abruptly and stood. "You're welcome," she said briskly. She looked like she wanted to say something else, then thought better of it. Before he could question her, she was gone.
Poe sighed as he yanked out the ruined coupling. Something happened between them that night, he could feel it. Something changed. He didn't know what it was, but he knew he wanted to explore it. It seemed however, that Rey hadn't felt the same. When he went to find her the next morning, Connix informed him that she'd already gone. She took Red 5 and disappeared. He only found out later from Finn that she'd gone in search of a new kyber crystal so she could construct a lightsaber of her own.
Part of him wondered if she was ever coming back.
When Rey did return, things were different. They still argued, but neither of their hearts were in it. With Rey as the last of her kind, she carried a weight that Poe could only imagine. Did she rebuild the Order? Could she? Poe was certain there were others like her out there—including Finn. Poe finally got that morsel out of his friend. When Rey left, Finn spilled the beans. He'd told Rey while Poe was in a meeting with representatives from a few of the Core systems, attempting to figure out the best way to clean up the mess. Poe ground his teeth at missing it, wondering why the hells Finn felt like Poe wouldn't want to know something like that. Did he think that poorly of him?
Poe knew he was jealous. It was just one more thing that Finn and Rey shared that he was left out of. It bothered him more than he wanted to admit. They were his best friends, but already he could feel them both slipping away.
And that was the real reason he'd offered to accompany Rey on this mission. At the end of the day, he didn't want to lose her.
He heard the distinctive sound of BB-8 rolling up the gangway of the Falcon. Poe shoved the hydrospanner back into his mouth so he could climb the ladder. His hands were covered in oil and grease; he hurried over to the fresher to clean up. He hadn't expected her back so soon.
"Poe?"
"Crew quarters!" he yelled. BB-8 must have known where he was; his droid came rolling into the room just as he stepped out. "Hey buddy." Poe knelt down, brushing sand off his shell. "You're gonna need an oil bath."
"He's perfectly fine." Rey stood in the doorway, her expression defiant.
"I hardly need to tell you that sand is corrosive," Poe shot back, standing up.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" she growled, hands on her hips. "You practically demanded he go with me!"
"Because you obviously wanted to be alone! I didn't know you would be traveling halfway across this godsforsaken planet!" He didn't even know why they were yelling at each other. BB-8 was fine.
"It wasn't halfway across anything!"
"So, you do want to be alone," he muttered, pushing past her. "Typical."
Rey frowned, confused. How did he jump to that conclusion? Annoyed, she grabbed his arm before he could take another step. "Poe, what is the matter with you? You've been…off ever since Exegol."
"Me? I've been off? I'm not the one who ran away, Sunshine!"
"I didn't…I needed a lightsaber, Poe. My own. I can't do this by living in the past!"
"Do what?"
"I don't know!" she cried. She stepped away, wringing her hands in frustration. "I don't know what comes next! I was so focused on ending the war, on finding my family. I didn't think there would be an after."
Poe closed the gap between them, gently resting his hand on her shoulder. "You didn't need to look for anything, sweetheart. Your family was here all the time. Finn and Rose and Chewie and…me. If you'd have us, that is."
She looked so hopeful, yet something else lingered in her eyes that he couldn't put his finger on. "You've never called me that before," she observed.
He shrugged. "Well, you hardly let me get a word in edgewise sometimes, Jedi."
"Only when you're being stubborn. Which is always."
"Hey!"
She smiled, the first genuine smile he'd seen from her in days. It lit up her whole face. "Got a problem with the truth, General?"
Poe shook his head. "Yeah, I don't feel much like a general."
Unexpectedly, she laid her hand on his arm. "She's proud of you, Poe."
He blinked at her, stunned. "What did you say?"
"Leia. She's proud of you, of all us."
"H-h-how do you know that?"
Rey glanced away; she hadn't expected the emotion in his voice. Sometimes she forgot that she wasn't the only one who loved Leia like a mother. "I can feel it. She's one with the Force, Poe. She's at peace. She's with Luke." And Ben, she thought. Rey didn't think it was prudent to mention that to Poe, however. She hadn't told anyone what really happened on Exegol; she didn't know if she could even explain it to herself. She was still trying to untangle her feelings; she wasn't sure what was real and what was the product of the Dyad.
All she was sure of was that if she told Poe that she kissed the man who'd tortured him, Poe would never speak to her again. Right now, she really needed someone who cared about her in her life, even if that person frequently drove her crazy.
Tears stung his eyes, but Poe blinked them away. "That's good. That's really good, Rey. She deserves to be happy." So do you, he thought. They all did, but Rey more than most. She'd suffered so much; he wanted to be the person who made her smile and laugh, crazy as it was. It may never happen, but he was selfish enough to want just a bit more time with her. He had a flash of inspiration. "There's someplace I wanna take you."
She arched a brow, confused. "Where? Why?"
"Just…because. Do I need a reason?"
"Are you messing with me again?"
Poe looked affronted. "Not messing. I don't want to fight anymore, Sunshine. I wanna show you one of the most special places in the whole galaxy before we figure out what the hells we're supposed to do now."
She still looked skeptical, but he willed her to believe him. "Alright," she agreed.
"You realize this means are gonna have to let me do the flying, right?"
"No way!"
"It's not an adventure if you know where we're going!"
"The last time I let you fly my ship, she wound up on fire!"
"That was one time!"
"Before that, you ruined the exhaust system!"
"That wasn't my fault! How was I supposed to know that gas was toxic?"
"You would have if you actually paid attention to the briefing!" she cried, her jaw set stubbornly. "You can't just do whatever you want! People depend on you, flyboy!"
Poe blinked. She'd never called him that before. She'd never used a nickname for him, period. Normally, he hated that moniker, but coming from her? It wasn't so bad. "By people, do you mean you?"
She threw up her hands. "You're impossible. You know what I meant. The Resistance. All of us, you arrogant ass."
"Not the Resistance anymore," he pointed out with a grin. "We won."
She ignored him. "I'm still not letting you fly the Falcon." She crossed her arms over her chest, determined not to give in.
"Come on, Sunshine. Just one more time. I promise I'll never ask to fly the Falcon again. Let me do this one thing for you."
Rey sighed. She hated when he did that. He could be charming; she thought that the very first time she met him. He seemed to know who she was without being told; she'd been flattered. It wasn't until later that she realized how annoying he could be! He seemed to delight in needling her, just because he could. He was right about one thing. She, too, was tired of fighting. She was tired of the constant push and pull between them. It was as much exhausting as it was exhilarating.
"Fine," she conceded. "One time."
Poe let out a pleased shout, beaming at her. "You won't regret it!" To her shock, he grabbed her hand and practically dragged her toward the cockpit. He was still smiling as he slipped into the left seat, flipping switches and toggles like he owned the ship. Rey tried to be put out—she'd come to think of the Falcon as home—but even she had to admit Poe was adorable like this. His enthusiasm was almost childlike; he kept stealing glances her away.
The Falcon lifted off, sand swirling under the old freighter. Poe pulled back on the stick; it only took a minute or so for them to break atmo. Rey flipped a few switches on her side of the console as Poe made the calculations for hyperspace. "Not even a hint?" she asked innocently.
Poe laughed. "You're not getting it out of me that easily, sweetheart. And don't even think about using the Force."
Rey opened her mouth, then promptly closed it. She knew all about Poe's torture, of course she did. It was something they had in common, after all. "Poe, you know I wouldn't…you do, right? I would never do that to you."
His smile was surprisingly sweet. "Yeah, I know. I trust you, Rey."
Relief bloomed in her chest. She never wanted those she cared about to be afraid of her. She didn't like keeping secrets from them, but until she could sort things out for herself, she didn't feel comfortable talking about it. She and Poe seemed to be reaching some sort of truce; it would be shattered by the truth, she was sure of it. His feelings on Kylo Ren were well known and not without good reason. He'd suffered at Kylo's hands. People he cared about were killed. Just because Ben Solo had come back to the light didn't absolve him from all the terrible things he'd done.
She knew that, and yet…she'd kissed him. Why? She couldn't explain it even to herself. Gratitude? He had just brought her back to life; she felt it. She was dead. Then she wasn't. Ben risked everything to come to her aid against her…grandfather. Rey glanced down at her hands; it was still hard to believe that she was related to the most hated man in the galaxy. The vision she had on the Death Star, the one of her as Empress Palpatine…gods, that had almost come true. If Ben hadn't returned when he did…
She'd only agreed to save her friends. Her true family. She could feel them up there, Finn, Rose, Chewie…Poe. They were going to die; she could feel it. If she could save them, then she would, no matter the cost to herself. Ben's arrival changed everything. He saved her, in more ways than one.
Even that didn't change anything. It wasn't like Ben Solo and Kylo Ren were two distinct entities. They were the same. When he passed into the Force, she'd felt…glad? Not that he'd given his life for hers, but that he'd finally found peace. She felt that when she kissed him. His conflict was resolved. For his sake, she was happy for him, but it didn't magically undo all the terrible atrocities he'd committed. Against Rey. His father. His mother. People Rey loved. Innocents.
She tried to look at it logically, but she couldn't figure it out. She cared about Ben, not the monster Kylo Ren. When he showed her what happened with Luke, she sympathized with him. She realized now that the vision wasn't the whole truth; it was just another manipulation. He manipulated her right up until those final moments in the wreckage of the Death Star! Palpatine called them a Dyad, two halves of a whole. That was a disturbing thought.
The only thing she was sure about was that she didn't feel sad. If she (gulp) had loved Ben, she should feel sad. She cared, yes, but because she empathized with his conflict. It was the same conflict she felt sometimes. When they connected in the Force, she thought he was the only person who could understand what she was going through.
But was he? She glanced at the man beside her. She'd learned things about Poe recently that she would never have expected. He'd fallen in with some shady characters at a young age. How young, he hadn't said. A teenager, if she had to guess. He'd done things he wasn't proud of; it was why he hadn't wanted to take them to Kijimi. He didn't want his friends to think less of him for the man he used to be. She wished she knew what changed his mind, how he got involved with the Resistance. She'd never even asked; it felt like an oversight. There was much she didn't know about him; she found that she wanted to know.
He wasn't so bad to have around when he wasn't being a nerfherder.
Poe caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Rey was…smirking? She was definitely glancing in his direction, which made him a little self-conscious. Did he have grease on his face? He knew he should have been more careful with those couplings!
"Is something funny?" he asked at last, unable to stand the silence.
"Why would something be funny?"
"I don't know." A pause. "There's nothing on my face, right?"
Rey laughed. "No. There's nothing on your face. Why would you think that? What were you doing while I was gone?"
"I was trying to fix a few fried couplings in the gun turret, if you must know."
Rey blinked. She knew Poe was a fair mechanic in his own right; most pilots were because mechanics were scarce. Yet she never expected him to help out…just because. "Oh. Well, thanks." Now that he'd made a fuss, she found herself looking at his face. Really looking. He was certainly handsome; she'd noticed that straightaway. Dark messy curls, dark eyes filled with mirth and mischief. His smile was the feature she liked best; it had the power to irk her and thrill her at the same time. Almost everywhere she went, she heard whispers. It seemed half the Resistance had a crush on the dashing pilot.
Unbidden, her mind went to that moment they had in his room. She caught him disappearing out of the corner of her eye during the celebrations; something made her follow him. They bickered—naturally—but once she realized how badly he was injured, she wanted to help. What was the point of the power she had if she didn't use it? What she didn't anticipate was his reaction. Did he always look at her like that? Like she was the center of the galaxy? His hand on hers was too much; her emotions were jumbled and confused. It was too soon. She practically bolted, like a frightened womp rat.
Not wanting to unpack all that, she did the only other thing she could. She ran. Poe wasn't wrong about that. She sought refuge in the desire for a saber of her own. The twins' sabers carried too many memories; she wanted to start fresh, unburdened by the past.
She was shocked when he offered to accompany her to Tatooine; why would he do that? Why did he want to take her to this mysterious place? Surely, he had more important things to do. He was the leader of the Resistance now, chosen by Leia specifically.
"It'll be a little while before we get there," Poe said, leaning back in his chair. "If you wanted to take a nap or something."
"I'm not sleepy."
"Suit yourself." He propped his boots up on the console and leaned back, his eyes falling shut.
"Really?"
"What?"
"You can't sleep in here!"
"Why not? It's unlikely we'll run into trouble, but one of us should be here if we do. It wouldn't be the first time I fell asleep in a cockpit."
"It's a wonder you survived this long," she snarked.
"Not for lack of trying, sweetheart."
She blinked. "That's not funny, Poe." They'd lost too many already; she didn't want to lose him too, no matter how infuriating he could be.
"Nice to know you care."
She huffed in annoyance. "Can you take anything seriously? Of course, I care! You and Finn are my best friends!"
"And yet there are some things that you two try to keep from me," he accused. "Doesn't sound like friendship to me." Finn's words from Kef Bir echoed in his head. That he couldn't understand what Rey was facing, the darkness inside. Just because he didn't feel the Force the way they did. It hurt, but they'd had bigger problems. Now it felt like a wedge trying to drive them apart.
Rey frowned. "What? I don't understand."
"Finn. He's…like you. With the Force and all that. And I'm…not. I'm just a guy who happens to be really good at flying things."
The concern on her face surprised him. "Does it bother you that much?"
Poe sighed. "I don't know if bother is the word I would use." He didn't want to spoil his surprise, so he evaded. "I wouldn't change either of you. I'm glad you're not alone, Rey. You shouldn't ever be alone again."
The conviction and ache in his voice made her stomach flip flop. Instinctively, she reached out, taking his hand in hers. "I'm not alone. Not with you. Family, remember?"
He turned his hand over, so they were palm to palm. His fingers threaded with hers and he squeezed gently. After this little side trip, everything would change, he knew that. One way or another. Until then, he was going to savor every moment he got with extraordinary woman beside him. "Family."
"What is this place?" Rey asked, her hazel eyes wide with wonder. Until a year ago, she'd never seen green before. Takadona was her introduction to the wider galaxy. Since then, she'd been on several similar planets. On each one she was obsessed with things that grew; it was all so different from Jakku.
Poe grinned. "This, Sunshine, is Yavin IV. Welcome home."
"Home?"
"This is where I grew up."
"This is your homeworld?"
"Yep."
"It's beautiful." She couldn't stop staring as Poe brought them in; the landing pad was barely big enough for the old freighter. It hadn't really been designed for such a large craft, but they fit. Barely. Rey wasn't paying much attention; Poe smiled to himself as he completed the shutdown procedures. He was well aware of her fascination with nature; Yavin IV was perfect for her. Unlike some of the other planets they'd visited, Yavin was a jungle, with more wildlife and fauna than one could imagine. He was excited to share it with her.
BB-8 rolled into the cockpit, beeping excitedly. "Yeah, buddy. We're home." The droid beeped again. "Yeah, I bet he will be." Poe hadn't sent word ahead; his father had no idea they were coming.
"Who will be what?" Rey asked.
Poe rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous gesture. "Uh, my dad. This is our farm."
"You grew up on a farm?"
"Yeah?" He wasn't sure why he was posing it as a question; her eyes were huge, trying to take it all in.
"Why would you ever want to leave this place?"
He hadn't expected that question. "It's, um, a long story. Boring, really," he dodged. She looked at him skeptically, but he ignored her gaze. "Come on. I'm sure Papa heard us land." He got up, not waiting for her to follow. She did though, with their droid on her heels. As the Falcon's gangway lowered, he spotted booted feet hurrying toward the ship. Poe practically ran down, meeting his father only a few steps away. They didn't even pause to take each other in, the Dameron men hugging fiercely.
"I can't believe it," Kes murmured into Poe's neck. "I can't believe it."
Rey stood by awkwardly; she couldn't shake the feeling that she was intruding on a private moment. It was clear Poe and his father were close; she could sense their joy at being reunited. How long had it been? She knew Poe had been in the New Republic fleet before he joined the Resistance, but she got the sense it had been a long time since father and son had seen each other.
BB-8 nudged her leg, expressing his joy at being back. She smiled. "Yes, Beebee, it's a beautiful place."
Kes raised his head, surprised at his son's companion. He held Poe at arm's length, nodding at Rey. "And who's this, mijo?"
Poe flushed. He released his dad and stepped to the side, gesturing to Rey. "Papa, I'd like you to meet my friend R…"
Rey cut him off, extending her hand. "Rey Skywalker," she finished, smiling hopefully. Now that she got a better look, she could see how much Poe favored his father. The elder Dameron was grayer, slightly taller, but with the same smile. He exuded warmth and friendliness, just like his son.
Poe's brows shot up in surprise as he watched his father pull Rey into a hug. She was stiff for a moment, clearly surprised, but she relaxed, hugging him back. Skywalker? Where had that come from? It certainly wasn't bad; Poe thought it suited her. She had saved the galaxy, after all. Had she discovered her family? Had she gotten the answers she so desperately wanted? Poe burned with curiosity, but he didn't want to pry. He hoped she could confide in him when she was ready.
"Skywalker, huh?" Kes said. "Knew a Skywalker, many years ago."
"My master," Rey confirmed, stepping back. "Well, for a little while." More like two days, but who was counting?
"My parents were in the Rebellion," Poe supplied, noticing Rey's confusion. "It's why they settled here."
"You have a beautiful home," Rey said to their host. "Sorry about just dropping in. Poe insisted on it being a surprise."
Kes glanced at his son, a question in his eyes. Poe glanced away; he was sure his father saw right through him. "That sounds like him."
Poe stepped forward. "We won, Papa. It's over."
Kes rested his hands on his son's shoulders. While he supported Poe's choices, he couldn't stop the lingering fear that he'd never see him again. "I'm so proud of you, mijo."
Poe's ears heated in embarrassment. "Papa…"
Kes chuckled. "Come on. You two can tell me all about your adventures over some Corellian ale."
Rey followed the Damerons toward the house. It looked like a home should, in her opinion. Warm and inviting with plenty of windows. They settled in the kitchen around a roughly hewn wooden table; Kes poured them all a drink. Rey mostly stayed quiet, letting Poe tell his stories. Kes seemed to sense her reluctance to talk; he didn't press her for details when she answered questions vaguely. Not so for Poe. She could feel his curiosity, though not in a malicious way. He was curious because he was her friend. Part of her wanted to tell him—wanted to tell someone—but given his history, she knew he wouldn't understand. She didn't want to lose his friendship. She didn't want him to look at her differently.
"So, how long are you staying? I imagine you have some pretty heavy responsibilities…General," Kes said, still shaking his head in disbelief. "My son, a general."
"Hey!" Poe cried. "I think I did alright."
Kes laughed. "I know you did, mijo. You're still here, aren't you?"
Poe decided to change the subject by answering his father's question. "I'll have to holo the base, but I think we can spare a few days. Rey?"
She still wasn't sure why Poe wanted to bring her here but leaving meant trying to figure the next steps. She wasn't ready for that. She loved exploring new places though. "Sure."
His face lit up in the smile she secretly loved best. "Fantastic! Papa, do we still have that spare room?"
"I can sleep on the Falcon," Rey said quickly. "It's fine."
"Nonsense, dear," Kes said. "You're my guest. Guests don't sleep on their ships. Here, I'll take you."
Poe watched as his father and Rey disappeared down the hallway. He couldn't help but feel a little put out. He's been looking forward to giving Rey the tour of his childhood home. He should have known she'd have his dad wrapped around her finger without even trying. She just drew people to her. He could check on her later. He hadn't been kidding about contacting the base. They weren't supposed to be gone that long.
With a sigh, he reached for his holo, wondering just how badly Connix would chew his ass for this.
Rey woke early the next morning, stretching her arms over her head. Kes had been generous with his time and resources; she found herself becoming very fond of him. The bed was probably the most comfortable she'd ever experienced; the room was cozy. A peak out the window told her just how early it was; it was still mostly dark. But she was used to waking with the sun. This was a sun on a whole new world!
Inspired, she got out of bed as softly as she could. Poe's room was just down the hall; she didn't want to wake anyone. She changed out of her sleep clothes, forgoing the wraps and hood. A tunic and leggings would be good enough to watch the sunrise, surely. After tugging on her boots, she gingerly opened the door, tiptoeing from the room and down the hall. She paused outside Poe's door, thinking. He'd been nothing but nice since their argument on the Falcon; she wasn't sure what to make if it. Without that familiar combativeness, she was unsure how to proceed. Best to let him sleep.
Decision made, she headed down to the first floor. She passed BB-8, locked in his charging station. Everything was quiet; it seemed she was the first one awake. This was one of her favorite times of day, the quiet just before dawn. It felt like anything was possible; there were no expectations. She stepped out behind the house, drinking in the relative quiet. She could hear the faint sounds of the jungle around them; Poe promised to show her some of Yavin's native species before they left.
It was so peaceful; her heart ached. Here there was no Resistance, no First Order, no war, no one demanded anything from her. She could just be. Her past meant nothing here, not if she didn't give it a voice. She could start over as Rey Skywalker, Jedi Knight. Granted, she was still working out what being a Jedi Knight meant. The books she stole from Luke weren't very helpful. Leia told her the Order had become corrupt in the final years of the Republic; Luke had tried to end the Jedi completely. Neither seemed to be a very good example of what to do. She was starting from scratch; she would have to find her own way.
She just hoped she didn't fail.
Poe jerked awake, twisted in the blanket. He scrubbed his hand over his face as he tried to untangle himself. Why was he awake? What time was it? He glanced at the table near by; 0534 shined on his chrono. "Kriffing hell," he groaned. He heard something shuffling outside. What was that? Why would anybody be awake at this hour? After Exegol, he felt like he could sleep for a standard week, not that he got the chance. This was his first night of uninterrupted sleep in…a while. Too long. He wanted to go back to sleep, but there was a rapping on his door.
"Hold on, I'm comin'," he growled. BB-8 was on the other side, beeping rapidly. "Woah, slow down, buddy. Rey's what?" The droid explained again, slower this time. Rey was outside. At this hour? Why? Well, he would be a very poor host if he didn't check on her. First, he needed some caf. He paused long enough to yank on his boots, then he headed for the kitchen. It took him about five minutes to brew two cups, black for him, milk and sugar for her. After living off rations for most of her life, his Jedi had developed a bit of a sweet tooth.
It was a bit of a balancing act to open the door while carrying two cups, but he managed it. Rey stood in the middle of the open grass, staring into the distance. "Sunshine?"
She turned, frowning. "What are you doing up?"
"Beebee-Ate seems to think I was being a bad host," he observed, handing her the steaming cup. "Caf?"
"Thanks." She wrapped her hands carefully around the cup; it wasn't scalding much to her surprise. She took a sip; it was perfect. "You remembered."
"A grumpy Jedi is not something I ever want to face," he said dryly. He stole a glance at her; this was the most…unbound he'd ever seen her. Her dark hair was loose, her Jedi wraps nowhere to be seen. Her tunic and leggings clung to her lithe form; Poe swallowed awkwardly. He'd never seen her in such a state; this was not helping his not-a-crush. Don't stare, he thought. Don't. Stare.
"When am I grumpy?"
Poe chuckled. "I can think of plenty of times, sweetheart. Shall I enumerate them?"
Rey huffed. "Please don't." She took another sip, turning to look at him properly. She quickly realized that was a mistake. He must have rolled right out of bed! Dark curls a mess, square jaw shadowed with an extra night's growth, sleeveless undershirt clinging to his torso. Her eyes lingered on the chain around his neck; she'd seen it before, but she'd never asked about it. It was clearly important to him; he was never without it. She refused to look any lower; she was fairly certain his pants were the thin drawstring variety. Warmth bloomed in her belly; she turned, hoping he didn't notice.
Poe felt her eyes on him; he struggled to keep his face impassive. She wouldn't appreciate it if he called her out. Still, it was nice to know he could affect her that way, even if nothing ever came of it. "Not to be rude, but is there a reason you're up this early? I mean, Papa's not even awake yet."
Rey let out a breath. "I wanted to see the sunrise."
He blinked, surprised. "Would you mind some company?"
She seemed to consider it for a moment, then she nodded. "You can stay."
"Thanks for the permission, Sunshine," he snarked, unable to help himself. "Though this is my house."
"It's Kes' house," she corrected. "You're just visiting."
Poe chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose that's true."
They lapsed into silence, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as Rey expected. She was thankful Poe hadn't teased her about her wandering eyes. She hadn't meant to; she just wasn't used to seeing him so…informally. They'd been on missions together, worked out of the same base. For a year. They'd fought and laughed and saved each other numerous times. But this was the first time she really saw him. The man, not the cocky pilot. She liked the cocky pilot (when he wasn't being an ass), but she just might like the man more.
Poe kept stealing glances at her as they watched the sunrise. The horizon glowed in reds, oranges, yellows, even purple. It had been a long time since he'd watched the sun come up over his home, but he found that it paled in comparison to the woman beside him. Objectively, he'd always known she was beautiful; how could he not? He was pretty sure Finn harbored a crush on their friend, at least at first. They settled into a sibling dynamic over the last few months as Rey focused on her training.
Poe tried. He really did. He tried to settle into that same groove, but he never managed it. They just got under each other's skin; they were constantly butting heads. She was just as passionate as he was, though she tried to hide it. Was that her Jedi training? If so, Poe didn't think very highly of it. Why should she repress who she was in order to be a Jedi? What was the point of that? Her fire was what made her strong; she shined.
The longer they remained there, the more Poe realized just how much trouble he was in. Because now that he had here, he didn't want to let her go. The chain around his neck seemed to be heavier, but he shook the feeling off. Nothing could happen, no matter how much he wanted it to. Best to accept that and move on.
"Poe?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you going to explain exactly what we're doing here?"
His heart sank. "Do you not like it? I can tell Papa…"
She laid a hand on his arm; his eyes instantly locked with hers. "Reneging on your promise, flyboy?"
"Which promise?"
"I was promised a tour."
He grinned to hide his relief. "And I intend to deliver, Sunshine. After breakfast."
Breakfast, as it turned out, took longer than he anticipated. Kes fussed over them, to Poe's embarrassment and Rey's amusement. Poe was thirty-three years old, for kark's sake! He could make his own breakfast, thank you very much. Still, it was all worth it to see the look of pleasure on Rey's face as she indulged in some of the native cuisine. The sun had long since crested the trees by the time they got away.
Rey was still laughing as they left the house. Poe's embarrassment was oddly endearing; she couldn't resist teasing him when Kes wasn't looking. She had no idea where they were going; Poe marched determinedly toward what looked like a shed of some kind. "Poe? I didn't mean it. Don't be mad."
"I'm not mad, Sunshine," he said, his cheeks still pink. "I'm glad I amuse you."
She grabbed his arm. "It's…nice. Seeing you with your dad. I didn't even remember mine, not until recently."
Sympathy colored his handsome features. "So, you got your answers? I know how important it was to you."
She sighed. "Yeah." She hoped he didn't want her to elaborate; she didn't think she could. She didn't want to break this…thing between them. This was the most free she'd felt in years; it still surprised her that it was Poe Dameron who'd brought it out in her. She loved Finn like the brother she never had, but with Poe it was always different.
Poe turned away, ignoring the disappointment that curled in his belly. Why wouldn't she tell him? He knew she didn't owe him anything, certainly not her secrets, whatever they were. Weren't they friends? Best friends? Then again, he'd hidden his past. He wasn't proud of it, but he'd done it. Perhaps it was the same for Rey? What could she have to be ashamed of? She was light and hope and everything good in the galaxy.
He wanted her trust; he would do whatever it took to earn it.
Rey winced inwardly. She hated hurting him. He didn't deserve it. Here he was sharing a part of himself that she'd never expected, and she was keeping things from him. Things she hadn't told a soul, not even Finn. Before she could think, her mouth opened to speak, though no sound came out. Ahead of her, Poe was picking his way through some twisted metal and cloth, clearly looking for something.
"Poe, what is all this?"
"When I was a kid, I used to build microgliders," he replied. "Crashed more than once too." He'd broken his left arm microgliding; his mother hadn't been very happy about it. "But it's one of the best ways to explore the jungle."
"How young were you?"
He shrugged. "Five, six. Mom took me up in her old A-wing when I was small. Guess I caught the bug."
"Your mother was a pilot?"
"Yep. She died when I was eight though."
"I'm sorry."
They shared a look; Poe's fingers itched. The chain weighed heavily around his neck, like it was trying to tell him something. "I think there's enough here for us to fix up, if you're up to it."
Rey grinned. "Best glider gets to pilot the Falcon back?"
"I promised I wouldn't fly the Falcon anymore, remember?"
"You're not asking. This is a bet. Now, are you in or out?"
His grin sent shivers down her spine. "Definitely in, sweetheart."
They spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon working. Kes brought them snacks at one point; both refused to come in for lunch. It was like they were two children, each trying to outdo the other. Rey had never built a microglider, which put her at a slight disadvantage. But how hard could it be? She was a scavenger; she could repurpose just about anything.
They kept stealing looks at each other; Poe could pretend it was to check on the competition, but deep down he knew better. He didn't even care about piloting the Falcon; this was the most fun he'd had in years. He told her more stories from his youth, his early days in the fleet. He avoided talking about his time with the spice runners; he didn't want to think about it. He'd only flirted with Zorii because he thought whatever he felt for Rey was hopeless. He saw that now. But was it? There were moments when he caught her looking…there was something. He was certain of it. But it had to be her choice. She was the one with a future meant to bring peace to the galaxy. He was just a simple pilot.
Rey flipped up her goggles; once the solder cooled, her glider would be ready. Poe was adding the finishing touches to his own glider; it looked like it had a few more bells and whistles than hers. Typical. He just had to show off. "So where are we going?"
"I have a few ideas. How adventurous do you want to be, Jedi?"
"How adventurous can we be?"
He grinned. "I knew there was a reason I liked you." He scrambled up, lifting the lightweight glider easily. "Need a hand?"
"Nope." Rey held out her hand and focused; the glider lifted off the ground and hovered in front of her.
Oh right. The Force. Poe pushed past her, carrying his glider to his dad's old skimmer. Rey followed, her glider next to her. They loaded the gliders aboard, then Poe lit the engine. "There's an old Massassi temple not far from here. Shouldn't take long."
"Sounds good." Rey sat nearby, content to watch the scenery go by as Poe maneuvered the skimmer. It was nice to be able to enjoy this; the last time they boarded a similar craft, they were being chased by the First Order. "Poe?"
"Yeah, Sunshine?"
She wasn't sure what she wanted to ask; she just didn't like the silence. But his reply sparked a question. "Why do you call me that?"
Poe tilted his head, frowning. "I can stop."
"I didn't say I wanted you to stop. I just wondered…why?"
"Oh. Well…" He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "Just something I thought of when I first saw you. You were standing there, your hand outstretched. I was certain we were all dead, that I'd led us all into a trap. And there you were. The sun was behind you; it was almost like you were glowing, like a ray of sunshine. I guess it stuck."
Rey scooted over, resting her hand on his. "Thank you. I like it."
"Well, you're welcome." Their eyes caught and held for a long beat. Poe resisted the urge to touch her with his free hand, though he did squeeze her fingers. She didn't move or let go, which only confused him. He knew better than to hope, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't deny it any longer, not to himself. He had feelings for her. Big, scary feelings.
What was he supposed to do now?
Things were quiet again as they approached the top of the temple. Poe brought the skimmer in for a gentle landing near the top of the tiered pyramid. Rey used the Force to unload both gliders; Poe huffed. "Show off."
"You got us up here; I was trying to help!"
"I know, I know. I'm messing with you, Sunshine." She rolled her eyes, hands back on her hips. Whatever moment they'd had was over; this was familiar territory. Poe maneuvered his glider to where he wanted it. "Okay. We'll take things slow at first, since you're new at this."
She scoffed. "You don't have to coddle me, flyboy."
"Suit yourself." Couldn't she just follow his lead for once? "And you say I'm the difficult one."
"Hey!"
The temple wasn't the tallest on Yavin, but it was tall enough for what he had in mind. "The farm's that way," he said, gesturing to his left. "First one back there flies us home."
"I thought this was a sightseeing excursion?" It was beautiful, way up there. A canopy of green stretched out in front of them; she could feel all the life around her.
"You're the one who made this a bet, sweetheart," he countered, grinning. "Unless you want to forfeit?"
"Not a chance." She clamored aboard her own glider, following his lead.
Poe caught her eyes, his face serious for a moment. "You'll do great." He didn't tell her to be careful or anything like that. He knew she could take care of herself. "See you on the flip side." Then, before she could blink, he was gone.
"Poe!" she cried, searching for him frantically. His glider appeared a second later, its pilot grinning like a fool. "Kriff." Annoyed at him, she hastened to follow, using the Force to give her an extra push as she took off.
"That's cheating!" Poe yelled, as she sailed past him.
She didn't reply; she simply laughed. She may have gotten ahead by "cheating" but he had all the experience. The wind rushed in her ears as he moved ahead, just a bit, tilting the single wing to the left. The sun glinted off the metal of both gliders; little gusts of wind tried to tug them off course. The valley stretched out below them, green and rich; Rey could understand why Poe would do this as a child. It was gorgeous and exhilarating.
"Rey!" Poe called. "Look!"
She glanced in the direction he pointed; a flock of…where they birds? They were unlike any birds she'd ever seen, brilliant yellow plumage shining in the sun, wings almost paper thin with long tails stretching out behind them. They were utterly silent in flight, aside from a low cry. They seemed to think that she and Poe were a part of their flock; they twisted and swerved to match them. Rey was just about to ask what species they were when she saw a couple latch on to Poe's glider.
"POE!" she screamed. "Watch out!"
He must have felt the extra weight on his glider; he tried leaning from side to side to get them off. But they were stronger than they looked and the tree tops were coming up fast. Rey watched in horror as the glider tipped over completely and crashed into the canopy. She reached out with the Force, trying to slow down Poe's fall. She nearly lost control of her own glider; she had to resort to her own controlled crash, quickly untangling herself from the twisted metal and fabric. She jumped for the nearest branch she thought would support her weight, cursing the fact that she didn't have her lightsaber. It was back in her room.
Using all her skills, she maneuvered from tree to tree until she reached the one Poe landed in. He had some cuts on his face, the arm she'd healed lay at an awkward angle. "Poe, it's me, it's Rey," she murmured, trying to figure out how to stabilize him and get them out of the trees. "Wake up."
He stirred for a second, his eyelids fluttering. She shook him again, but he remained unconscious. Had he hit his head on a branch? All he'd wanted was to show her his home and look what happened! She regretted every snarky or rude thing she'd ever said to him. "Okay, Rey, focus." She could heal him, then they could get down. Simple.
He'd probably laugh at her for worrying so much.
On impulse, she leaned over and brushed her lips across his forehead. "You're gonna be fine. I promise." It took her a moment to get her balance in the tree, but once she was settled, she laid her hands across his brow and shoulder. She summoned the Force, using it to transfer a bit of her life force into him. It started working almost immediately, the cuts closing, his breathing evening out.
Poe's eyes fluttered open; there was something sharp digging into his back. He tried to move, but he was stopped almost immediately by Rey. "Careful."
"What happened?"
"You crashed."
"I gathered that. Why are we in a tree?"
"You remember those birds?"
"The whisper birds?" His eyes went wide as he remembered. "How hard did I hit?"
"I tried to slow you down," she said, taking his hand in hers. "Not sure how successful I was."
Poe leaned over, looking down to the ground below. It was farther than he wanted to admit. "I'd say you were pretty successful. Thanks."
"I think you dislocated your shoulder again. How does it feel?"
Poe rolled his left arm experimentally; he didn't feel any pain. "You do your Jedi magic on me again?"
"It's not magic," she huffed.
Carefully, he brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. "Whatever it is, that's the second time you've used it on me. Thanks, Sunshine."
Her skin tingled where he kissed her. Once again, their eyes caught and held. Rey's heart pounded in her chest. Would he kiss her? Did she want him to? Her feelings were all over the place; all she was sure of was that she cared about him. A lot. She hated seeing him hurt. And yet…she'd been so wrong before. If Poe knew how wrong she was, he'd never look at her like this again.
"Any idea how we get down?" she asked softly, breaking the moment.
Poe ignored the way his heart clenched. This wasn't the time or the place to dump his feelings on her. Feelings she might not return. Though the lingering fear in her hazel eyes was pretty telling. She'd been terrified for him. It gave him hope that just maybe they could figure things out between them. He would just have to be patient.
"Uh, carefully?"
She rolled her eyes. "Not very helpful, flyboy."
"I grew up climbing these trees," he boasted. "Just follow my lead." He looked down again, trying to gauge his footing. Bark rubbed his palms as he eased himself down to the next branch; it was going to be a long climb. Slowly, he slithered from one branch to the next, the handholds and branches getting sturdier the lower he went. He looked up periodically to make sure she was following him; he needn't have worried. She hadn't spent fourteen years scavenging wrecks for nothing. She caught up just before Poe jumped the final few feet, landing gracefully beside him. "See? Easy."
"How far do you think it is to the farm?"
"We were pretty close. Should be just over that rise." He paused. "We never finished our bet."
"You nearly get killed by some birds and that's what you're worried about?" she snapped.
"Nearly nothing. You were right there. I'm fine."
"Because I healed you! Again!"
"I've had closer calls than that in my X-wing!" he shouted. He didn't know why she was being so touchy about this. "And I didn't ask you to heal me, sweetheart!"
"Fine! I won't do it again!"
"Does this happen every time you have fun or is it just with me?"
"Does what happen?"
"You, with all the drama," he snarked. "You're acting like I died or something!"
She stepped back; her hands balled into fists. "Don't. Don't ever joke about that, Poe Dameron. Not ever." Why was he so infuriating? Why was he so cavalier about his death? He didn't see what she saw. He didn't see the way he tumbled from the sky. Hadn't they lost enough friends? What gave him the right?
Before Poe could even formulate an apology, Rey turned on her heel and marched off in the direction of the farm. He didn't need to be attuned to the Force to know that she was furious. Furious and scared. Scared of what, he wasn't sure. Of him? Of losing him? That made sense. What happened to her on Exegol? What had that bastard done to her?
Poe had no clue, but until he did, they'd never be able to move forward.