A/N: I do not own Star Wars, the original idea of these characters and the universe they live in. Again, it's just another thought in my mind.
Wow, it's been a minute huh?
I was bored waiting for something to finish at work and I had the sudden fixation on the word "Waiting". Figured I could write a short one-shot with it. Part way through, I had a different thought, so this has a small twist to it. Don't worry, it's still Reylo!
I didn't have much time to work on this because like I said, I wrote this on the fly in between work. Hope you enjoy!
Waiting
He knew all about waiting.
Nothing was ever given to him easily.
At a very young age he was already waiting for things to happen.
An ongoing war forced him to wait for peace in the galaxy. His parents were part of the republic's effort to take down the enemies of the fractured empire. His father in particular fought with his best friend, who in turn had a son that became his best friend. Both inherited the skills of a pilot like their fathers before them. Both gained the skills of courage and confidence of true rebels. Both had to learn at an early age what it meant to wait.
Waiting.
He knew all about waiting.
~.~.~.~
A child could only wait so much and for so long before it would take a heavy toll on them.
Even after the war, when there was a moment of peace, his parents stayed with their alliance to ensure the people would be protected. This meant they stayed busy. Stayed prioritizing their work over their son. A sudden fear of neglect took space in his mind, leading him to a path of questionable choices. He got into trouble many times. Even fled home after he was sent to live with another relative for schooling and better guardianship. He took the term "rebellion" into a different direction.
Eventually, he came to the righteous path. It just took a great deal of effort from everyone - his best friend, his parents, and his community. He was welcomed with open arms of course, but still a few people here and there were weary of his loyalty. His best friend assured him that eventually everyone would come around. He would just have to wait. Of course.
After returning home he met and made lots of new friends.
He even grew close to a newcomer - an outsider, an orphan.
Actually, this person was a big reason why he was swayed back to the alliance.
To say he fell in love with the orphan was an understatement.
But life had other plans and with his newest role as a leader of their alliance after the elders had stepped down took a toll on his personal life. His love life. So, they agreed to wait. Wait for the right time to start back up again.
Waiting.
He knew all about waiting.
~.~.~.~
He hated the hospital.
Almost every memory he had inside that brighter than white A/C blasted building was uncomfortable.
Aside from always being there whenever a member of his parents' battle group was wounded, his memories were more personal - and more painful.
When his mother died unexpectedly of a wound that got infected, he was restricted to the waiting room. Told he was too young to be in the operating room or anywhere else beyond the swinging doors.
Again, he was at the hospital when his father died. Though he didn't have the best relationship with him in his adolescent years, as of late he worked hard to rebuild it. His father went on faster than his mother did.
Losing two people he loved dearly, he didn't know if he'd ever feel whole again.
He guessed that he had to wait and see.
Waiting.
He knew all - you get it.
~.~.~.~
Presently, he's back at the hospital.
Waiting…
His best friend this time on the other side of the door.
Again, they wouldn't let him in. This time he was nervous.
A different kind of nervousness.
A nervous he accepted.
He and his crew sat anxiously in the waiting room for their friend to emerge from the doors, hopefully with good news instead of the opposite.
Even his former flame was present, sat beside him, intertwined fingers and squeezed his calloused hand for support.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine. They'll both be fine."
Usually, when people would say these empty sentiments, he didn't believe it. The nurse telling him his mother would be fine. His father telling him the pain he felt days before he met his fate was just fine.
But this time was different.
He really was… fine.
This whole situation was fine.
He had been waiting since his parents died for that moment when his life would turn back around and he felt like today was it.
It just had to be.
He just felt it.
A sudden swoosh of the double swinging doors opened up and out walked a doctor clad in green scrubs from head to toe.
The congregation turned their attention to the doctor, a collective breath held in anticipating news.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared beside the doctor, a haggard, pale face though with a shaky smile of relief.
"We're good. She's good," he shared. "It's a girl."
Suddenly all their friends cheered, high fiving one another, hugging the new father and thanking the doctor who delivered the child.
"Mom and baby are doing great. She'll be able to have visitors in a bit," the doctor informed the crowd before leaving the new parent to celebrate with his comrades.
"When can we see her?"
"What's the baby's name?"
"Who does she look more like?"
So many questions were being thrown, but the father was just too happy and exhausted to answer it all.
"I'll let Rey tell you all when you see her and the baby, I promise," he chuckled. "She's resting so just give her a bit. Before she gets transferred to another room, I can maybe bring one or two of you right now while she's in recovery."
"Move! She's MY best friend!"
"Well, she's my roommate!"
"Hello, she married my cousin! I'm a blood aunt! Ben, I swear to God if you don't let me go first, I will kill you!"
"Okay, okay," Bed said to his cousin. "Kaydel can go first. And…"
Ben did a quick scan in the room and locked eyes with him. His oldest friend.
"Poe, you gotta come too," the new father instructed.
"Me?"
Did he hear that right? His friend wanted him, out of everyone else in the room, to visit his wife and new baby first?
Slowly, he stood up, unlinking his hand from Finn's supportive grip. He walked over to his friend and smiled.
"Yup," Ben heartily smacked his best friend on the back. "Baby girl's gotta meet her god parents first."
Kaydel excitedly hugged Ben and tugged on Poe's sleeve, ushering both men quickly through the swing doors.
Finally, he made it to the other side of the doors.
This time to something good awaiting him.
This time to a brighter future. For him. For his god daughter.
"I cannot wait to see ReyRey and the baby!" Kaydel squealed.
Ben turned to his friend. It was fate that their fathers were best friends, introducing these two rambunctious little boys to each other, starting a lifelong friendship as well. Ben was the only person to truly understand how his life had been up until now. Especially since Ben endured a similar grim past. But now he had Rey, the love of his life. And a baby. Poe hoped that one day he could have something like this. With Finn.
"You good, buddy?" Ben nudged his shoulder.
"You know what," Poe smiled, "I am."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Poe felt like things were good.
The two friends chuckled in agreement, rushing to catch up with a very impatient Kaydel.
"There's only one working elevator and we're 11 floors up so we might have to wait a while," Ben said, pushing the button to go up.
"That's fine, we can wait," Kaydel said. "Me, Poe, Finn and Rose have been here since 5 A.M. so we've been waiting practically the whole day."
"Rey and I appreciate you guys waiting for us and the baby," Ben said as the elevator door finally dinged for the trio to step in. "But the wait for you two is almost over! Shall we?"
Waiting.
He knew all about waiting.
This time, though, the wait was worth it.
The End.
A/N: Okay, so the twist may not have been a big "aha!" moment, but it was unique to me to write it in someone else's point of view. I also binged watched Moon Knight again last night so that's probably why writing it in Poe's point of view happened.
I cannot believe this is the first thing I posted this year... I'm so bad at this and I'm sorry! Another thing, I know this site is reaching its end of life but this place means a lot to me in more ways than one. So until they kick us out and wipe the server clean, I'll be posting on here first and foremost... then eventually maybe move compeltely to ao3 and twitter text-fics. So, stay will me 'til the end, yeah?
I keep making the excuse that this year was busy, and it's no different this time. Moved homes so that took a while for me to get settled. But, I'm always reading, always thinking of new stuff, and yes, I'm writing - just not keeping up with posting things. Don't care how many years it's been, I'm still a Reylo now and forever! Thank you for your continued support and patience :)
As always, thank you for reading!
-ThoughtsInMyMind
