A/N: I have to be honest, this chapter was supposed to be more smut. However, the Powers That Be (i.e. Rey and Poe) decided they wanted to go in a different direction. Knowing there is plenty of time for more sexy stuff later on, I let them have at it.

I apologize in advance.

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The rest of that afternoon and evening felt almost surreal to Rey.

After removing her cami, which had still been bunched up above her breasts, she had wrapped herself toga style in the blanket. Poe had also made a sort of skirt out one of his blankets so he could remove his boxers. A part of Rey wondered why they were trying to be so modest after what they had just done, but the other part was glad for it. Poe's bare chest was distracting enough; she didn't need any other exposed body parts from either of them to make her more flustered.

They set out, using the last of the camp soap, to scrub out the mud and sweat from their clothing, laughing and jostling each other at the water's edge as they did so. Soon, their garments were scattered throughout the clearing to dry, laying over rocks and branches, and Poe was making another fire. They sat, shoulder to shoulder, as the stew heated; the routine meal was starting to get a bit boring, but Rey wasn't about to complain. It was hot and it was filling.

Rey's mind began to go into overdrive as she ate, the blessed peace she had achieved after Poe's amazing ministrations earlier fading as she began to worry once more about what lay ahead. She kept looking up at the top of the waterfall, where Poe had told her the trail to Ajara began. What waited for them there?

She finally broke the comfortable stillness that had settled between them.

"So, what's your plan when we get to Ajara?"

He was silent for a moment. "Well, we'll have to be extra careful hiking in. We know Dominguez will have men in town, probably watching the outskirts. But Ricardo's men will probably be further out, hoping to catch us first." He looked at her intently. "I want you to carry that gun close to you. Maybe wear your blouse around your waist and tuck it in there."

She nodded. "From what you said, they'll kill you on sight and 'rescue' me, right?"

He grimaced. "Don't be fooled. They're more loathsome than Dominguez' men. I wouldn't put it past them to kill me, rape and beat you, then bring you to the authorities half dead, telling them they found you that way and blame me for it." He leaned into her. "Please, do not be afraid to use that gun," he whispered.

"Okay," she said softly back.

"Maz' place is right on the edge of town," he continued. "But I'm sure it's being watched. She's well known as a person who helps anyone in trouble. Hopefully she'll have some of her people on the lookout for us. We find one of them first and she'll figure out a way to get us inside unseen."

Rey nodded, then leaned against him, dropping her head on his shoulder. He responded by bringing his arm up and around her, holding her with a firm grip. She closed her eyes and tried to empty her brain; her head was already starting to hurt from the anxiety that was building. Hiking through the jungle had been nothing compared to the thought of the men waiting for them once they reached civilization once more.

Poe gave her shoulder a squeeze, then said, "Let's get some sleep."

She nodded again, but knew that sleep would be difficult. They arranged themselves in what had become their preferred position, both facing the fire, Poe's front to her back, only this time Poe didn't hesitate to wrap his arm around her. She reached for his hand, and he gently grasped hers, squeezing it slightly. It almost felt as if he had squeezed her heart instead of her hand, and with tears forming in her eyes she admitted the truth she had been ignoring for some time now.

She was in love with Poe Dameron.

She had told herself it wasn't possible: She had just met him - Their situation brought about high emotions that couldn't be trusted - He could never love her back. There were so many reasons to deny it, but as she lay there, in what was most likely their last night in the jungle, she couldn't refute the truth. There was no way she would have let him touch her the way he had if she didn't love him. She knew herself well enough to know that. She had waited too long for this man, and most likely it was too late, as well.

"Tell me about the women," she said suddenly. "The two you knew here in Ajan Kloss." She wanted to know what they were like, and why he had allowed himself to become close to them.

She felt him tense.

"Did they know who you really were?"

"No," he said softly. "They knew me only as José Dominguez. Only my handler and the guys on the SEAL team know my real name." He paused. "And you."

He was silent for a while, and Rey was debating on whether or not she should let it go, when he started talking. "Murren was a housekeeper in the Dominguez estate. She was young and beautiful, like all the women Dominguez hired. But she was different in that she was a mother. She had a young son, Deo. The other women were rough on her, and the men accosted her more than the others; they called her a whore because she had a child out of wedlock." She felt his arm tighten around her a bit. "I staked a claim on her, in order to keep her safe. No one would mess with El Halcón's woman. I made sure she got her fair wages, and when she had saved enough, I had Maz help get her and her boy out of the country. Last I heard, she was working for a good, honest family in Yavin."

Rey smiled softly. Of course, one of his lovers would be a woman in need, someone for him to take care of. "And the other?"

He laughed a bit. "Zorii," he said. "Zorii was one my informants. She was beautiful, mean, a bit crazy, but smart and creative. She knew her way around the dark side of this country and had an 'in' with almost every cartel and criminal organization within five hundred miles. She was also an addict." His voice turned sad. "Heroin, mostly. She kept telling me she wanted to quit, but she never really tried." He paused. "She was the one that made sure I had Percocet at all times. She was also the reason I got myself off of it."

"What happened to her?" Rey asked when Poe didn't continue.

"I haven't seen or heard from her in almost nine months," he said softly.

Rey knew what that most probably meant. "I'm sorry." Quietly, she asked, "Did you love them?"

He sighed. "I desired them. I cared about their well-being. But love?" She felt him shake his head. "No. I don't even think I'm capable of that emotion. It's why I can do what I do."

Immediately, Rey became defensive. "I don't believe that!" She turned her head back to look at him. "I think it's the opposite. I think your heart is so big and so full of love for everything and everyone, that you feel like you have to take care of us all. That is why you can do what you do."

Poe's eyes widened at her claim, and he opened his mouth as if to contradict her, but she wouldn't let him. She turned in his arms so she was facing him. "Promise me something, Poe Dameron."

He took a deep breath, but closed his mouth and drew back from her a bit, eyes wary now.

She pushed on. "Promise me that when we get home, you won't forget me." Her voice caught on a sob, but she swallowed and pushed it back.

"Never," Poe growled without hesitation. His hand came up to cup her face. "I could never forget you!"

Rey couldn't stop a tear from escaping, and she nodded, biting her lip. Poe moved in, kissing the tear away.

"Never," he whispered again.

They simply held each other, not speaking, well into the night. It was a long time before either of them slept.

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