A/N: Leia, as always, knows what's up.

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Poe was just shutting down his computer and setting aside a file to look at Monday when Leia stepped into the open door of his office.

"Why are you still here?" she demanded. "It's Friday!"

"I'm just getting ready to leave," he told her, standing up from his chair and grabbing his suit jacket. "Besides, I could ask the same of you."

She shrugged. "I don't have plans tonight," she said. "You do."

Pulling his jacket on and grabbing his worn messenger bag, he moved toward the door and Leia. "Just dinner with the crew," he confirmed. When he wasn't 'looking for a new almost wife,' as Rey called it, Poe always spent his free time with her, Finn, and Rose. The four of them had been best friends since High School, and tried to have dinner with each other every Friday. "You're welcome to join us, you know."

Leia gave him a soft smile, but shook her head as the two walked together to the elevator. "Thank you, but no. I've had a bit of an upset stomach all afternoon. Dinner is the last thing on my mind."

Poe immediately became concerned. "You okay?"

She nodded. "Of course, I am. Probably just a little stressed from the last couple of weeks." She nudged him on the arm. "No thanks to you." They entered the elevator and Poe pressed the L button.

Poe grimaced. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Finn promised to lock me up the next time I start obsessing over some woman I just met."

Leia gave a bit of a laugh. "Maybe you should start looking at what you already have, Poe."

He tilted his head at her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I can't help but notice that you have a type." She cocked an eyebrow. "Every woman you have almost married is a tall, athletic brunette." She paused. "Sound familiar?"

Poe was struck dumb for a moment. "What are you implying?"

Leia gave him a soft smile and shook her head. "I'm not implying anything. Just trying to get you to open your eyes." The elevator door opened and they stepped out, heading for the front doors.

Poe shook his head, his heart racing. "Nope. I'm not going to go there." He knew without a shadow of a doubt she meant Rey. Poe had admitted to himself long ago that he compared every woman he had a relationship with to his lifelong friend, if only because she was his ideal. But she was too perfect for him, not to mention that she looked on him as a brother. Romance was out of the question.

Leia shook her head again, this time in exasperation. "Poe, you need to settle down. And not with some gold digger whose only positive attribute is that she's good in bed." She suddenly covered her mouth over a yawn.

"You better get home," Poe told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Good thing it's Friday."

"Oh, I haven't looked forward to a weekend since Han died," she told him softly. "But Ben is bringing Kaydell to lunch with him on Sunday, so that's something to look forward to."

"How are they working out?" Poe asked, glad for the change in subject.

"So far, so good," Leia answered. "They are much better suited to each other than he and Rey were." Rey had started dating Ben shortly after she came back to Aldera after college. Poe had been the recipient of several tearful rants from Rey for the next three years as she and Ben worked through a tumultuous relationship. When they finally broke up, everyone had been relieved. "They were always more like siblings than lovers."

"Rey is everyone's little sister," Poe grinned. "Ben, Finn, me."

"Oh, I think the dynamic between you and Rey is much different," Leia argued. "Despite the fact that you've known each other the longest."

She stifled another yawn, and Poe smiled at her. "Go home," he told her, leaning down to kiss her softly on the cheek. "Rest."

"Goodnight, Poe," she told him, then pointed her index finger at him. "Remember what I said. Settle down. I'm not going to hand this business over to a heartbreaker."

"Yes, mom," he told her sarcastically as they separated and headed to their vehicles. "Goodnight."

XXX

While Rey and Poe had been friends since they were toddlers, Finn and Rose had entered their lives during High School. Finn had moved to Aldera with his dad during their freshman year, and Rose had come with her big sister Paige after their parents had died in a car accident during their junior year. They had all gone to different colleges after graduating High School together, but they had all found their way back to Aldera afterwards. Finn worked as a counselor for Social Services, Rose as a medical tech at the regional hospital, and Rey was a physical therapist at a clinic connected to that same hospital. Within five years of their High School graduation, Rose and Finn had connected again with Rey and Poe (who had never lost touch during their college years) and were now even closer than they had been in school.

The only downside Poe could see in this group friendship was the fact that in the past few months it had become apparent that Finn and Rose had become more than friends. Poe was very worried about how this would change the dynamic of their foursome, but he tried not to show it, and since Finn and Rose were doing their best to be discreet, he would just continue to hope for the best.

They were just finishing up their meal, listening to Rose as she told a funny story about a coworker, when Poe's cell vibrated. He pulled it out and gave it a glance. The name confused him, and he frowned. Giving his friends an apologetic glance, he answered. "Ben?"

Silence greeted him. He glanced up at Rey, who was tilting her head at him, and as he did so he heard a loud sigh. Then, someone cleared their throat.

"What's going on?" he asked, assuming it was Ben on the other end.

"Mom had a heart attack tonight," Ben finally said, his deep voice monotone.

"What?!" Poe demanded. "I just saw her a few hours ago!" His mind instantly recalled his boss's fatigue and yawning.

"She collapsed right after she got home," Ben continued, his voice still dull. "Her housekeeper called 911 and they got her to the hospital." Silence.

"Ben?"

"She's gone."

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