Disclaimer: Characters contained within do not belong to me.
Notes: Fluff, fluff, everywhere... Enjoy:)
Little Star
by Kristen Elizabeth
"When I saw you, I fell in love, and smiled because you knew."
- Arrigo Boito
"We're not going."
"We are going."
"Rey..." Seated behind his wife, Poe shook his head firmly. "I'm making a command decision. We are not going."
Her eyes narrowed as she looked back at him. "Why do you get to make command decisions?"
"Well...for one thing, I'm older." Poe held up one finger. "Two, he's my father," he continued, adding a second finger.
Before he could think of a third reason, a fresh wave of nausea struck. Poe acted just in time to hold her as she retched over the metal bowl. Rubbing her back slowly, he waited for the moment to pass. Outside the bath's door, BB-8 rolled back and forth, worriedly.
Pale, clammy and shaky, Rey eventually leaned back against his body. "We need to go," she said, her voice raw. "We've already cancelled dinner with him twice."
"I know." Wrapping his arms around her, Poe kissed her temple. "But he will understand. Especially once he knows."
"We can't wait forever to tell him." Rey touched her belly, feeling the small, but firm curve, proof that their baby was thriving. "It won't be long before I can't hide it."
"We will tell him soon," Poe said, covering her hands with his. "But not tonight, love."
She sighed in defeat. "How long is this going to go on?" She indicated the metal bowl with a wave of her hand.
"I don't know," he said, kissing the side of her head again. "I'm so sorry."
Rey nodded. "I should cook dinner for you. Let you get...food poisoning just to...see what it..." The mere mention of food was enough to bring back the nausea and send her hurtling back to the bowl.
Poe shifted in order to kneel behind her again. Helpless to do anything else, he smoothed the damp tendrils of hair off her face and murmured soothing words. When the bout of sickness passed, he looked at BB-8 who extended him a small cloth. After running it under cold water, Poe knelt back down next to her.
She closed her eyes when he gently pressed it to her forehead and her neck. "I really wish you didn't have to see this."
"In sickness and in health," he reminded her of their vows.
Rey leaned back against him again. "I suppose it is your fault."
Poe smiled, rested his chin on the top of her head. "You know, I'm fairly certain that I know when this happened..."
"Oh, are you?"
"Mm-hmm. And as I recall, you were the one who started things that night."
Rey twisted her head to look up and back at him. "You can't possibly know the exact day. I don't know it exactly!"
"I said was fairly certain," he laughed.
"And you think I seduced you?"
Poe kissed her nose. "It wouldn't have taken much," he admitted.
Nestling back into his arms, Rey was quiet for a long moment. He thought she had fallen asleep, which she desperately needed to do, but then she spoke. "We'll tell him tomorrow. No matter what."
He looked down at her face, watching as her eyelids grew heavier until she could no longer keep them open. "Tomorrow," he agreed. Leaning against the wall, his wife curled against his body, Poe settled in for another night on the floor of the bath.
The next day, Rey felt a bit better, although still a bit weak and a bit dehydrated. Water was about the only thing her stomach would accept, so before they walked the half-mile from their new house to Kes's, Poe sent word to his father that they were coming for a visit, not for dinner.
BB-8 rolled beside them, sticking as close to Rey's legs as possible, her protector from the moment they'd told him she was expecting a baby.
Kes greeted them at the door. "Come in, come in." As Rey passed by him, smiling weakly, Kes frowned and looked at his son. Poe quickly followed his wife inside, avoiding his father's eyes.
Rey took a seat on the softest of the couches in the living quarters and Poe perched on the edge next to her, ready to spring up to help her at a moment's notice.
"Can I get you something to drink?" Kes aked. "Rey, I've got that fruit tea you like."
Suddenly even paler than she had been upon their arrival, Rey shook her head. "No." She managed to add a strained, "Thank you."
Poe took a deep breath. "Dad, I'm sorry we had to cancel yesterday."
"It's fine," Kes said, waving away the apology. "I admit, I did like it better when you both lived just on the other side of the property, but I understand."
"See...there's something we need to..."
All of a sudden, Rey stood up. "I'm sorry!"
Poe was on his feet in a heart beat. "Fruit tea?" She nodded, her hand to her mouth. Without another word, she ran from the room, BB-8 hot on her heels.
When she was gone, Poe plunged his fingers into his hair. "So, Dad..." He tried to smile, but there was too much concern in his eyes. "We're having a baby."
The worry lines on his father's forehead relaxed. His chin dropped to his chest in relief. "Of course...I should have guessed." He approached his son and pulled him into a short, tight hug. "Ah, Poe. This is..." Kes couldn't speak for a second. "I wish your mother was here. She'd know what to say."
Drawing back, Poe nodded. "Me, too, Dad."
Kes held onto his son's shoulders and squeezed gently. "This is the best news I've had since the day Shara told me we were expecting you."
Poe swallowed heavily. "Yeah?"
"Hands down."
"Thanks, Dad." Clearing his throat, Poe pointed at the hallway Rey had disappeared down. "I should..."
His father stepped back. "Absolutely." Unable to suppress a grin, he watched his son race off to be his wife.
Sinking into a chair with a sigh, Kes looked up at the ceiling. "You'd say you were too young to be a granny, Shara." He crossed his arms with satisfaction. "But I think I'm just about the right age to be a grandpa."
TBC