A/N: So, you think that one 'little' kiss is going to get these two to open up to each other? Have you forgotten how stubborn they are? They're going to need another push. I have two words for you: One Bed
XXXXXXX
Holy fucking hell! She kissed him! She kissed him! Granted, he hadn't hesitated to respond, but she had initiated it.
Even though it had been several minutes since Rey had high-tailed it back to her room, her face beet red, Poe was still having trouble bringing his traitorous body under control. Judging by her embarrassment, she had not planned what had happened, nor was she happy about it. Poe didn't know what to make of it.
He had arrived home, grumpy and full of anxiety after a rather treacherous drive, to find Rey bouncing about the living room, dancing and singing to his favorite music. He hadn't seen her so carefree since they were children, and the sight immediately filled him with joy. When she had pulled him further into the room, encouraging him to dance with her, he couldn't refuse, laughing and singing along with her. But then something amazing happened. She had moved in closer, and before he knew it, their energic hopping turned into full-on dirty dancing. He had no defense against Rey's warm, supple body pressed against him, and he had become aroused shockingly fast.
The kiss… the kiss had been more than he had ever dreamed of.
Why had she done it? It had to have been an accident… well, as accidental as a passionate kiss could be. She was young, healthy, and knowing she took physical intimacy seriously, he doubted she had had sex since Ben. God, that was something he didn't want to think about.
Rubbing his hands over his face, he determined that he would follow her lead on how to act from here on out. He was almost positive she would pretend nothing had happened, and if that was the case, he would do his best to do the same. But oh, how he hoped she would open up to him. Maybe, just maybe, she was starting to think of him as more than just a friend. Maybe, just maybe, they could quit with this make believe and turn this marriage into the real deal.
And maybe, just maybe, hell would freeze over.
The next morning, as he expected, Rey acted as if nothing unusual had happened the night before. Poe watched her carefully for any nervousness or continued embarrassment, but other than not making eye contact with him, she acted perfectly normal. His heart aching more than a little bit, he followed suit. Even the movie that night was 'normal,' although Poe was pretty sure it wasn't his imagination that Rey was leaning slightly away from him through most of it.
The rest of the weekend was quiet, with Rey spending most of the bitterly cold days in her room. Poe watched her with concerned eyes whenever she emerged for sustenance, but he said nothing.
And he hated himself for it.
Life carried on. Work slowed down during the colder months, but he found that this gave him more time to do what he loved to do best: design. He drew out plans for single family homes for the low-income sector, as well as professional buildings. He also toyed with an addition to the cabin; the idea that it was too small for a family played in the back of his mind, but he wouldn't let himself think too hard about why that should bother him.
Easter came, and Poe found himself going to mass for the first time in ages, sitting uncomfortably between Rey and his father. Rey's father, who also looked a bit put-out, was on her other side. The four of them had brunch afterwards at the Golden Heritage, one of the local country clubs. It was a much more pleasant experience than Poe had been anticipating, and as he had at Christmas when the two older men had come over for dinner, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace. This was his family, and he loved it. He never wanted it to change.
It was two weeks later, when spring finally started to make its presence known, that near tragedy struck.
Poe woke to his cell ringing at around one in the morning. He jerked awake, grabbing it up and looking at it with blurred eyes. It was an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Poe?"
"Dad?" He sat up. Beebee, who was sleeping at the foot of the bed, also sat up, glaring at him. "What's wrong? Why are you calling in the middle of the night?"
There was a pause. "Poe, there was a fire…"
Poe jerked his legs to the side, making Beebee jump off the bed. "What?!"
"I'm okay!" Kes rushed to say. "I'm okay. But they won't let me back into the house. Something about checking for structural damage first, and they can't do that until morning."
Poe was out of bed and grabbing up his clothes. "God, Dad! What happened?"
"They said it was the space heater, that the outlet I had it plugged into wasn't good."
"Okay, I'm on my way!" Poe told him.
"Oh, no, Mijo," Kes told him. "You don't need to come. I'll get a ride to a motel."
Poe scoffed. "Absolutely not! You're coming home with me!" He was shaking. Just the thought of losing his father… "Just wait for me!"
He rushed out of the bedroom, turning on the hall light. Rey was in her doorway wrapping a silky robe around herself. Despite Poe's urgency, he couldn't help but think how sexy she looked. Her eyes were huge. "What's wrong?"
"There was a fire at the house," Poe told her. "Dad's okay, but they won't let him back in. I don't know how bad it is, yet."
"Oh, my God!"
"I'm going to get him and bring him here." He headed for the front door but then his words came into focus. He turned and looked at Rey. "If I'm bringing him here…"
Rey immediately turned back into her room. "I'll get things ready," she told him. He followed her and watched as she started stripping her bedsheets. As she turned to the closet to grab a fresh set, she looked at him. "Go!" she said. "Get your dad!"
With a nod, he turned and headed out once more. It was a ten-minute drive from downtown to the quiet neighborhood Poe had grown up in. The flashing lights from the fire trucks were still lighting up the street, and he quickly found his father next to one of the paramedic vehicles, a blanket around his shoulders. Poe parked as close as he could and jogged over to them. Without thought, he hugged his father close.
"Oh, Mijo," Kes whispered. "I'm okay."
Poe leaned back, noting that his father was still in his pajamas. "I've already called Servpro," Poe told him. "They'll be here within the hour to let us know when you can get back in." He paused. "Dad, why did you have the space heater on while you were sleeping? You know those things are dangerous!"
Kes shrugged. "The furnace hasn't been working right for a while. It was cold tonight."
"Why didn't you tell me about the furnace?"
"I was going to take care of it," Kes told him as they began to walk toward Poe's car. "These things cost money."
"Dad, I can pay for it…"
"I'm not taking charity!"
Poe stopped and stared at his father. "It's not charity. It's taking care of my family."
Kes closed his eyes and sighed. "I know. I'm sorry." They continued their walk.
As Poe drove his father to the condo, he glanced at him nervously. He knew Kes was a proud man, and that he was proud of his job at the Plantsmyth, one of the local greenhouses where he had worked as a Master Gardener for the last thirty years. But Poe was also aware that the job barely paid a living wage. He knew he needed to make sure his father knew that Poe was ready and willing to help with anything Kes couldn't afford.
When they reached the condo, Kes could barely keep his eyes open. He was shivering slightly, even though Poe had turned the heat up high in his car. The night wasn't winter cold, but the 45-degree temp wasn't warm, either.
Poe led his father into the building and toward the elevator. "I don't have any clothes," the older man mumbled.
"You can wear mine until they get yours cleaned," Poe told him with a smile. They were similar in height and build.
As soon as they entered the condo. Rey rushed toward Kes, wrapping her arms around him.
Kes held on to her just as tight. "It's okay, Mija," he told her. "I'm okay."
Rey backed out of his embrace. "Do you need anything? Something to eat? Drink?"
Kes shook his head. "Just a warm bed would be a blessing."
Rey smiled. "We got one," she said, and immediately led him to her bedroom.
Poe smiled as he watched them, loving how comfortable they were with each other, how protective Rey was of Kes. Then the thought he had had briefly before leaving to get Kes hit again: with his father sleeping in Rey's bed…
He locked up and started turning off lights. It wasn't even three AM yet. There was still time to sleep. He walked into his bedroom and glared at Beebee, who had made himself comfortable on Poe's pillow. "Nope," he told the cat. "You sleep at the foot of the bed." He pushed the big marmalade cat toward the bottom of the bed, and with a little growl Beebee finally moved. Poe slipped off his shoes and the t-shirt he had pulled on before heading out.
Rey walked in, biting her lip. She glanced at Poe's bare chest, then quickly looked away.
"I can sleep on the couch," he told her.
She shook her head. "Your dad doesn't need any more stress worrying about us." She walked around the foot of the bed, reaching over to scratch Beebee as she went by him. "I take it you sleep on that side?" She pulled back the covers on the opposite side and slid under them.
It was a big bed, Poe thought. This won't be an issue. They had slept together before. As kids. Camping. With others in the tent with them.
He was doomed.
Taking a deep breath, he slid out of his jeans and crawled back into the bed in just his boxer briefs, reaching over to turn off the light. "Goodnight," he said. "Or… good morning? Whatever."
Rey giggled. "Whatever." Beebee started purring loudly, as if he was happy to have his two people finally sleeping in the same bed.
But Poe didn't sleep. When his alarm went off at six, he jumped out of the bed as if it was on fire. He swore he could feel Rey's eyes on him as he grabbed up his sweats and headed toward the bathroom to get ready for his run.
XXXXXX
