Chapter 3
Poe watched his love from the window outside the medical room Everly was placed in. Leia was by her bedside holding her hand. She still had not regained consciousness. It had only been 20 minutes since they landed back on D'Qar but it felt like a lifetime to Poe. Everly had been assessed by the medical team and they couldn't find anything physically wrong with her. Poe knew she needed to rest after using so much energy but he would do anything to see her hazel eyes right now.
The attack on her ship scared him. It scared him a lot. He didn't think that she would ever be targeted like she had. Maybe he had been naïve but he genuinely thought that her Title would keep her safe from the darkness of the universe. Now he couldn't bear the thought of Everly leaving back for Naboo after what had just occurred- he needed to protect her. He wanted her to stay with him so he could keep her safe.
Leia realised that Poe was still standing outside; she could feel his gaze on her sleeping daughter. Leia smiled at her sleeping daughter. Leia didn't know why Everly and Poe decided to keep their relationship a secret but due to the way Poe was hovering outside, it wasn't because of a lack of seriousness. Leia sighed as she gave her daughters hand a squeeze. She wished Everly would have been honest with her about her feelings for the X-wing commander. Leia began to sense Poe's impatience and realised it would be best to leave her daughter in Poe's loving hands. She still had to figure out why her daughter's ship was attacked.
Leia rose up from her seat and gave her daughter's forehead one last kiss before walking out of the medical room. Leia paused at the door and continued to hold it open.
"Poe, would you watch over my daughter for a while? I need to talk to my contacts and figure out why her ship was attacked." Leia threw him a bone. Poe immediately nodded and moved to enter her room through the door Leia held open.
"Poe?" Leia said causing Poe to stop and look over his shoulder at his General. "Thank you for bringing her home." Leia said gratefully with a small smile. Poe nodded in acknowledgement with a strained smile before reaching Everly's bedside and immediately taking her hand in his. Poe was too engrossed in watching Everly for signs of movement that he didn't notice Leia watching him interact with her daughter with a smile. Leia could feel the love for her daughter projecting off of him. It brought back memories of her and Han.
Leia was in conference with different planet leaders for hours while Poe sat by Everly's bedside, hoping to see even a little bit of movement to reassure him that she will be fine. The fourth hour had passed by with some of Poe's squadron teammates popping in to see if he wanted anything such as food but Poe refused. His hand never left Everly's.
Poe eyes were starting to shut in exhaustion, mentally and physically, when he felt a squeeze of Everly's hand in his. Poe's eyes immediately sprang open to find Everly's eyes fluttering, trying to open.
"Everly!" Poe exclaimed, trying to focus her on him. Poe reached with the hand not holding hers to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear while caressing her face softly before bringing it back down.
"Poe." Everly whispered softly, her eyes partially open focusing on Poe's face.
"I'm here sweetheart." Poe softly told her, unable to stop himself from caressing her face gently with his finger. Everly grip on Poe's hand became stronger, showing her strength being returned.
Poe didn't even look behind him before he got up from his chair to lay a gentle kiss on Everly's forehead.
"You scared me." Poe whispered as he sat back down again but moved his chair closer to Everly's bed.
"Sorry." Everly replied with a weak smile. Poe shook his head and smiled back, he never thought he would see her smile again and he couldn't help but stare at her face a while longer.
"I should let your mother know-"Poe started to say rising from his chair but was cut off when Everly pulled him back to her.
"Not yet, I just want to lay here with you a while longer." Everly told him, pulling back a side of the blanket for him to join her.
"Ever…" Poe trailed off hesitantly while looking around at the empty room.
"Please Poe." Everly begged with sad eyes. Poe melted instantly and forgot about everything else but cuddling with Everly. Poe slid in the bed next to Everly and Everly instantly curled up to Poe with her head resting on his shoulder.
"10 minutes Ever." Poe told her. Everly nodded in agreement and started running her fingers through Poe's hair, knowing he loved it and it relaxed him. Poe's eyes closed and Everly's soon followed.
Leia stood a few feet from Everly's bed watching her best pilot and only daughter sleeping peacefully. She reluctantly didn't want to wake them up as she knew they needed to rest but she needed to speak to them.
"Poe." Leia said, trying to gently wake him. He twitched in his sleep but didn't waken.
"Poe." Leia repeated louder and he startled all of a sudden, saw Leia and quicker rolled off the bed and onto the floor, jostling Everly who sleepily half opened her eyes.
"Poe." Everly whispered, laying her arm out where Poe was resting beside her.
"General Organa." Poe greeted hesitantly, standing up from the floor while running a hand through his messy dark curls. Everly shot up in bed at hearing her mother's name.
"Mum!" Everly exclaimed, while holding the sheet to her chest to keep warm.
"Hey sweetheart." Leia addressed her daughter, coming forward to run her hand through her hair in a caress before pulling her into a hug while Poe stood on the other side of her bed awkwardly, not knowing whether to leave or not.
"Mum…" Everly tried to speak before trailing off while looking at Poe in uncertainty. Leia saw the quiet communication from Everly to Poe and she chuckled heartily.
"Oh please, I have known about you two for a while." Leia told them with a smile.
"You did?" Poe questioned surprised.
"You two aren't exactly subtle." Leia told them with a grin, happy that they found a romantic connection between them. Poe shrugged when Everly shot Poe a raised eyebrow look.
"Well um…" Poe awkwardly started talking before trailing off, not knowing what to say now.
"I'm happy for you both." Leia told them, trying to defuse the awkwardness. Everly smiled and squeezed her mother's hand in thanks while smiling lovingly at Poe. "That wasn't actually my reason for waking you two up," Leia said, watching as Poe walked back to Everly's other side and sat gingerly on the side of the bed while taking her free hand.
"I've spoken to a number of my contacts and it looks like the attack on your ship was not a mistake but targeted. There have been reports that your residence has been overrun by stormtroopers looking for you. Looks like Ben wants to find you." Leia told her daughter. Poe squeezed her hand, trying to comfort Everly who tensed up at the name of her older brother.
"It's not safe for you on Naboo anymore. I want you to stay on base with me Everly." Her mother told her softly while Everly furrowed her brows.
"I thought you said it was too dangerous for me here." Everly countered confused.
"Nowhere is safe anymore Ever. The First Order's influence over the galaxy is growing in number by the day and I'd rather have you here where I can watch over you," Leia told her with a sad smile before glancing briefly at Poe who looked relieved. "Plus I'm sure Commander Dameron wouldn't mind you staying here." Leia teased with a wicked smile, Poe's cheeks turning a light red when he met Leia's eyes. Everly smiled up at Poe and gently circled her thumb on the back of Poe's tanned hand.
"I would like to stay mum." Everly told her confidently while sharing a longing look with Poe. Leia smiled at their interaction before backing away from the bed.
"Then it's settled, I'm needed back in the control room but I'm sure Poe would be more than willing to show you around base once you have been discharged from the medical centre." Leia told them before leaving the room.
Everly and Poe barely acknowledged Leia's parting words, too focused on the other. Poe cradled Everly's face in his hands before leaning down to plant a soft gentle kiss on her lips, not caring anymore about being caught.
"No more leaving me now." Poe told her softly.
"Never." Everly promised with a shake of her head. Poe rested his forehead against Everly's and they both closed their eyes as they revel in the others presence and the fact that they are both together and safe.
"Marry me." Poe told her bluntly, not really wording it like a question. Everly's eyes popped open in surprise and pulled back to read Poe's face.
"What?" Everly questioned in surprise. Poe lifted the ring on the chain still around Everly's neck off her and proceeds to kneel on one knee.
"Everly Solo, will you marry me?" Poe asked her again more formally, hope shining bright in his eyes. Everly lifted a hand to her mouth before quickly nodding her head.
"Yes of course Poe!" Everly replied. Poe grinned ecstatically and got up off the floor to gently push his mother's ring onto Everly's hand. Everly admired the ring on her hand for a moment before eagerly capturing Poe's lips with hers. Both of them couldn't stop smiling as they shared gentle loving kisses.
The moment was soon interrupted by a medic informing them that Everly was allowed to leave the medical ward and Poe promptly led her back to his quarters for the evening to rest- not wanting her out of his sight.
They laid together that night, Everly's head resting on Poe's bare shoulder with their fingers and legs entwined.
"Goodnight Mr Dameron." Everly told him sleepily as she continued to stare at his handsome face.
"Goodnight Mrs Dameron." Poe countered with a giant smile which Everly mimicked at hearing those words. Poe brought their entwined hands up to lips to place a soft kiss on her hand which now carried her engagement ring.
The galaxy was still a mess, the First Order was still rising in power and influence but none of that mattered as the Princess and her Pilot were gently lulled to sleep happily in the knowledge that they were together again and nothing was going to break them apart without a fight.
Hello! May the 4th be with you! :)
Okay so that is now the end of this really short story and as you can probably guess the events of The Force Awakens happens next where obviously some details would be different due to the inclusion of my OC character Everly. I'm not sure if I should just leave this as a short story or carry on writing a full story following the story of the films up to The Rise of Skywalker with my character Everly. I really like my OC character but I'm not sure if you guys would be interested in a full story with my OC character. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!