Kat slowly began to stir. She stretched out, trying her best not to wake Poe up. Yesterday had been an emotional roller coaster and they still didn't talk about what started it all, not really. But they had finally confessed their feelings and fell into bed a tangled, happy mess. She really didn't know why she found it far easier to express her love for him, or even hear him say he loved her in return. Even with that type of reassurance, moving in with him, actually creating a life with him, made her nervous even though that's exactly what she wanted. She wanted a life with Poe. She didn't want anyone else by her side as they faced this new challenge. She was just so scared that something was going to happen and she would be on her own, again, like it always seemed to happen when things were going well.
His arm laid over her waist and just before she could move out from under the covers to get ready for the day, he pulled her to him. Chuckling at the squeak she made, Poe buried his nose into her neck. He had felt her start to move around and he certainly wasn't ready to let her go yet. Poe had subtly checked the time and seeing that they still had a couple of hours before they had to be anywhere, he would hold onto her for as long as she would let him. They still had to pack after all.
"We've got plenty of time, don't get up yet." He murmured into her skin, lips brushing against her. His voice was still a little groggy from just waking up.
"I need to meet with Connix to see who's going with who." She tried to argue but even to her own ears, it sounded half-assed.
He shook his head, his curls tickling her neck. "Nope. Not yet you don't." He was going to win this one, he just knew it.
Kat sighed and finally relaxed against him, causing Poe to grin victoriously. "Oh, alright, a few more minutes."
In response, Poe placed a few kisses on her shoulder before returning to being practically wrapped around her.
A comfortable silence fell back over them as they just held each other. Every once in a while Poe would place kisses wherever he could reach while Kat ran her nails lightly along his arms, tracing patterns and shapes. Now that she was settled again, she really didn't feel like moving and Poe didn't either. They knew that once they left this room they wouldn't see each other until their missions were finished. Surely they would cross paths sometimes though, or at least they hoped.
"I want you to take BeeBee with you," Poe said as his mind began to wander to what was awaiting them outside their door.
"I was already planning on taking Threepio and Artoo." She turned so she could face him. "I can't take your droid."
"I'll take Artoo. You take BeeBee." He said, reaching up to tuck some hair behind her ear.
"Poe, I'll be fine. I'm not the one that's going into potential new battles."
"Why do you have to be so kriffing stubborn?" He asked, leaning his forehead against hers. "Please just take them. If I can't be there with you…"
"Okay, okay, okay," Kat said, interrupting him, before giving him a kiss. "I'll take BeeBee."
Smiling, he pulled her in for a kiss, moving so he now hovered over her. Her fingers delved into his hair, pulling him closer to her. "Thank you." He whispered in between kisses.
"But you're taking the Falcon too in exchange." She said, giving him a pointed look.
Poe's smile grew as he chuckled a bit. "You don't have to tell me twice." He teased her.
She rolled her eyes. "And try not to catch it on fire this time?"
"I didn't when we were looking for the wavefinder."
"Yeah, but you also did a crash landing so just try to take care of her, hm?"
He rolled his eyes as he started to kiss along her neck. "I will take care of the Falcon."
"Good." She breathed out as she arched into him when he started sucking at her pulse point. Her fingers found his hair again, pulling him back towards her.
"Wow, everyone decided to come early. I'm impressed." Poe said, knowing full well that he and Kat were late to the briefing. Their last escapade pushed them to rush to pack but once they were ready, they shared in another passionate embrace that caused them to be noticeably late.
Completely ignoring the smirks sent their way by Rose and Finn, Kat looked to Connix to get everything started. "Has everyone signed up with you?"
"Yes, sir," Connix answered.
Kat nodded. "Before you do a roll call there have been a few changes. Artoo and BB-8 will be switching places. General Dameron's team will be taking the Millenium Falcon while those coming with me will be taking the other light freighter. After Connix completes roll call, we will be leaving so I hope you're packed and ready." She then turned to look at Connix and gave a small nod indicating for the Lieutenant to start.
Connix described each of the missions once more and even explained that Lando would be staying behind to help keep Ben in check. Kat was a little surprised at the news but was grateful for the help. People were still iffy about his situation so to have someone so trusted looking after him while they were gone would help in putting everyone at ease.
Once the recap in the missions was complete, Connix started going through the roster of each team. Going with Finn and Poe was Jannah, Jessika, Chewbacca, Rey, and a few others. When Rey's name was called, Kat whipped her head towards the Jedi and glared at her. "Has Kalonia cleared you for active duty?"
Rey couldn't help but be reminded of Leia's own protective stare. Although she supposed instead of it coming naturally due to being a mother it was coming from a place of sisterly care. "I've been cleared." She confirmed, even nodding to emphasize her answer.
Kat eased up and nodded. "I still suggest you take it easy and don't strain yourself."
Finn draped his arm around Rey's shoulders and smiled at Kat. "We'll keep a close eye on her." He wasn't exactly fond of her coming along either but he knew there was no stopping her when she put her mind on something.
With that reassurance, Kat indicated for Connix to continue. Teaming up with Kat and Rose were C-3PO, Beaumont, Kare, Connix, and a few others. It was Poe's turn to react to unexpected news. He looked across the console to one of his long-time friends with a raised eyebrow.
Kare just shrugged and gave him a reassuring smile. She needed a change of pace after Snap's death. She couldn't imagine being in the sky without her husband nearby. So she decided to go with Kat, who was planning on a slower pace with the part of rebuilding she was presiding over. Since it was planned to be a little more peaceful she figured Kat would need a few more pilots or soldiers just in case things didn't go to plan. Or at least that's what she told herself to make her feel better about her decision and not like she was running from the fight.
"You know I gotta say, I'm a little surprised. Are you okay?" He asked her when the briefing ended.
"I thought you'd be happy to have one more person looking out for your girl. That is why you're sending BeeBee with us, isn't it?" She teased him instead of answering his question.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I am. It's just gonna be weird without you around."
She placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It'll be just like when I would take my own squadron out for missions. Besides, I'm just teaming up with the unofficial member of Black Squadron this go around."
"When did she earn that title?" He asked, knowing full well that Kat had been claimed as one of theirs, especially after their mission to Coruscant.
"You know damn well." She then thought about it and smirked. "Well, it was a little before you two finally started getting along."
"He trying to take you from me?" Kat asked as she came over to the two friends, wrapping an arm around Kare.
The other woman laughed as she brought her arm around Kat. "Sure was. I'm assuming we're ready to go."
Kat nodded, as she tried to keep a serious face but failed as a large cheeky grin appeared. "Can't leave without the best pilot we have after all."
"You were the one that decided splitting up would be better," Poe said.
"I was talking about Kare."
Poe grabbed Kat and began to tickle her sides as Kare excused herself from the couple in between her own fits of laughter. "Poe! No!" Kat squealed as she squirmed, trying to push away from him.
Chuckling, he stopped his onslaught of tickles so he could hold her close. "You're to come back to me in one piece." He said after a moment, resting his forehead against hers.
"You're to do the same." She replied before kissing him sweetly.
He responded in kind before deepening it. One hand cradled her neck while his other pulled her in so he could feel her body pressed against his. He squeezed her hip when she tugged on his curls to keep him close, her other was fisted in his shirt at his shoulder. He took a step forward in the hopes of finding a console to lean her against but the movement made her pull away, the opposite reaction of what he was hoping for.
"We were late already because we got carried away. We can't be late this time."
Poe let out a sigh. "I hate it when you're right."
Kat smiled at him and gave him another soft kiss. "I love you."
He brought his hand up to cup her face, caressing her cheek before leaning in to give her a sweet, lingering kiss. "I love you."
When he pulled back, Kat brought him back in a tight embrace. "Please be safe."
"You too." He replied, squeezing her close. "And may the force be with you."
She gave him one last squeeze before pulling away. They shared one last, brief kiss before going off in their separate directions.
The roar of the engines was heard even in the exam room Ben was currently staying in. Lando stood, looking out the window as he watched the Falcon take off before the other light freighter. He briefly wondered if Kat had named it yet. Then again he was pretty sure she would have been given the Falcon. His old friend did always have a soft spot for the girl.
"I'm assuming that means they left," Ben spoke up, looking over at his uncle's back. He tried to keep out how hurt he felt by not seeing Kat one last time. Rey at least had the decency to let him know that she was leaving and what they were all planning on doing.
"I wouldn't get too upset with her." Lando turned to face his nephew. "Your sister is running several things all at once while trying to fill your mother's shoes and doing you a favor. That doesn't mean you can't worry about her though." He smirked.
Ben rolled his eyes. "I'm not worried about her." Of course, he was though. He wasn't sure how quiet the remaining First Order members would go. He didn't want to lose her. It would be far too soon if that were to happen. Yet with the subtle reminder of all that she was working through, made him proud. The galaxy was about to see how great his sister was.
"Sure, kid, sure." He chuckled softly. "So, since we've got some time, you remember how to play Sabacc?"
"So I take it that you and Kat made up," Finn smirked over at Poe as he observed the Dejarik table.
Poe glanced up briefly at his friend, waving a finger in his direction. "Ah, I know what you're doing. You're trying to distract me, but it's not going to work." He focused back on the game before finally making a move, knocking out one of Finn's pieces.
"And you can say that. We didn't get around to actually talking about the whole living together thing but she knows how I feel about her and I know how she feels about me so it'll work out eventually." He finally answered his friend's question.
Finn grumbled as he tried to figure out his next move. "Thank goodness. I don't think the base would have been ready if you two hadn't."
Poe shrugged. "They've been through worse. Don't forget you've only seen us argue after we started being friendlier towards each other. Now are you gonna move or what?"
"I'm going, I'm going." He rolled his eyes and moved his piece. Poe smirked and quickly made his move, winning the game.
"Are you serious? You totally cheated." Finn motioned towards the board.
"You're gonna have to get better at your distraction techniques cause I think they distracted the wrong person." Poe laughed.
Finn rolled his eyes and turned off the board. "Whatever. We're about to land anyway."
Poe raised an eyebrow when he heard the telltale signs of the Falcon exiting lightspeed. "How's your Jedi training going anyway?"
"I'm more in tune with it than I was but that's about it. I'm hoping that after this is all done Rey'll show me how to use it more than just have feelings about things."
He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and gave a squeeze. "I'm sure she will. You're gonna make a great Jedi."
Finn smiled, clasping Poe's arm and giving it an appreciative squeeze.
"Okay, you're killing me here. I need all the details of what's been going on with you for the past cycle." Rose said, looking over at Kat.
"Now, Rose, you can't be that surprised. You've been dealing with their back and forth just as long if not longer than I have." Kare said from the jump seat behind the co-pilot chair which Rose was sitting in.
Kat laughed, shaking her head. The only people missing from this gossip session were Jessika, Rey, and Connix. While on Ajan Kloss the group of women had grown close and when they needed a break from the testosterone that surrounded them, they usually met in the mess hall or sometimes in Kat's room for a girl's night.
"That doesn't mean that I don't want to know what happened," Rose argued back. "So what stupid thing did Dameron do?"
All three women laughed at Rose's question, knowing that that was usually the case when Kat would get angry at him. "I think it was actually more my fault this time," Kat confessed.
Both women gasped, focusing on their friend who was sitting in the pilot's seat.
"In a roundabout way, he asked if I would move in with him and I kinda freaked out a bit. Then we confessed our feelings in an argument and things were fine but ya know, still haven't really talked about the living situation after we get back from our missions."
Kare chuckled. "Why am I not surprised that you two finally said I love you while in an argument."
Rose looked at Kat in shock. "You guys really said the L word?"
Kat nodded. "Yeah, I told him I loved him."
"You were so nervous about that!" Her best friend squealed, excited over the fact that things were progressing for her.
"It just came so naturally. He said it first but after that, out it came like I had said it a thousand times before. Then the thought of moving in with him, I'm all 'pump the brakes'."
"I can't really say anything cause Temmin and I married pretty quickly. But also, if you know, you know."
"He may be a laser-brained flyboy but he's not going to leave you, Kat. There's not going to be another shoe that drops. As soon as we return to Ajan Kloss and move wherever we're setting up the capitol, he's not going to leave you alone," Rose said.
Kare nodded. "She's right, ya know. I've only ever seen him look at one other person the way he looks at you and it didn't end well. He's going to hold on as tight as he can. You guys are stuck together, meant to be, soulmates, whatever you wanna call it."
A series of beeps made everyone turn to face BB-8 who had rolled in behind the pilot seat. "When do you get in here?" Rose asked.
"I'm to be your other parent?" Kat said, eyes wide in shock.
Kare just laughed. "Seems like BB-8 here has either figured some things out or a certain someone's been talkative."
The orange and white astromech chirped causing Kat to shake her head in exasperation. "Well then yes since he said it was okay and made sure you asked me first, I'll be your other parent. Rey might be a little upset though."
BB-8 let out a soft beep which made the three women laugh. "Yes, she is a cool aunt." Kat then turned around in her seat to look at the droid. "This doesn't get back to Poe, okay? Girl talk remains a secret."
The droid beeped in affirmation before rolling off.
"Well, there you have it. Confirmation from practically the source himself." Kare said.
"That was really cute. They used to hate you." Rose said, chuckling.
Kat laughed. "Yeah, we've come a long way from the days of them accidentally rolling over my foot."
The alarm set for nearing their location blared throughout the cockpit then. Kat and Rose turned back to face the controls as they turned off the autopilot and brought themselves out of lightspeed. "Alright, ladies. Here we go. The start at rebuilding the galaxy." Kat smiled as the planet they were headed for came into view.