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Little Star

by Kristen Elizabeth

"Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time." – Maya Angelou

No two days were the same for Dr. Harter Kalonia and it was one of the many things she loved about her job, really, her life's work. Just that morning, she'd set a broken bone for six year old girl who wanted to fly so badly that she'd jumped off the roof of her home, treated two burn victims from an accident at the space yard, and used the latest sonic equipment to break up an older man's kidney stones.

But it was the second to the last appointment of the morning that she was looking forward to the most.

As one of the oldest surviving members of the original Rebellion, Harter had seen so many relationships come out of war and defeat and victory. Some had lasted the test of time, some had been tragically cut short by accident or illness, and some had burned bright, only to fade away through time and circumstance.

There was no way to tell what the ending would be for the couple waiting for her in the medical centre, but she had a gut instinct that they were in it for the long haul.

"Rey? Poe?" Harter gestured them into her exam area. With the practiced eye of a doctor, she watched them as they stood up; Poe had a hold of Rey's arm to steady her, not something she would have thought a Jedi would need, but Rey was letting him, although she did roll her eyes. And, Harter noticed, she was a little unsteady on her feet, probably due to the small, but unfamiliar swelling in her belly.

Closing the door behind them, Harter gestured to the exam table. "Go ahead and lie down, Rey."

She had to smirk as Rey fended off her husband's help. Clearly, Poe was going to be one of the overprotective types-it was good to know that for when it came time to deliver. She liked to be prepared, to give those dads something to do so they wouldn't drive their partners crazy when they needed to be focused.

Once Rey was situated, Harter picked up her scanning device. "So, five months now?" She ran the scanner up and down Rey's body. "It goes fast, doesn't it?"

Rey shook her head. "I don't know. The first three months felt like three years."

"Yes, you mentioned the morning sickness. Has that passed?"

"Mostly," Poe replied. "Depends on what she eats." Rey threw him a deadly look.

Harter bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling as she asked, "What are you eating these days?"

"Everything."

Rey protested, "Hey! I couldn't keep anything down for three months! I think I've earned it!"

"Keep on doing what you're doing in that regard," the doctor told her. "You've gained the right amount of weight for this stage." Rey's look was triumphant; Poe just grinned and held up his hands in surrender. "I'm happy to report..." Harter began, as she studied the readings from her scanner. "That the baby is healthy and thriving." She looked up at them. "Do you want to know the sex?"

"Actually, Doc, we already know it," Poe said.

Harter nodded. "Of course. Yes. You would, wouldn't you? You're not the first pregnant Jedi I've examined."

Just then, the communicator attached to Poe's utility belt went off. He looked at Rey who nodded for him to answer. "Go ahead," he said, whipping the device up to his mouth.

A staticky voice replied, "Sorry, General. But we've got a situation down at the yard."

Poe frowned. "I trust you can handle it, Malcolm."

"Think we need someone higher up than me to sort it, sir."

With a sigh, Poe ran his free hand through his hair. "Fine! I'll be there in ten." Closing the channel, he looked at his wife with apology all over his face. "Rey..."

"Go," she urged him. "Everything's fine here. Right?"

Harter looked up from the notes she was scribbling down when she realized they were waiting for an answer. "Yes. Absolutely."

"Okay," Poe gave in. "I'll see you at home," he said after giving Rey a kiss. To the rounded curve of her belly, he added, "Love you both."

"Be safe," she called out to him as he left the room.

Once he was gone, Harter set aside her scanner. Technology was useful, but it couldn't tell her everything, especially with a pregnancy. "Can you lift up your shirt a little, Rey?"

When she did, Harter began pressing her fingers at various points, trying to suss out any painful spots or odd lumps. "How are you feeling overall?"

"Fine," Rey replied. "Now that I can eat again."

Harter smiled. "Have you been training?"

Her patient hesitated, but finally confessed, "Yes. Just a bit, though, in the last couple of days. And not with a light saber." She rolled her eyes. "He won't let me."

"Good," Harter said. "I'm sure you already know that being able to sense the baby's life force can be disorientating. It will only get more so, the closer you get to your due date."

Although she nodded her head, Rey's forehead crinkled, like she had a question coming. Harter waited patiently until it came out. "What you said earlier...about a pregnant Jedi..." Rey paused. "Who did you..."

"Leia," Harter answered before she finished the question. "I treated Leia when she was pregnant."

The younger woman was quiet again for a long moment while Harter busied herself by taking Rey's pulse. It was slightly elevated. Harter only realized why when Rey asked, "Did you deliver Ben?"

Setting Rey's wrist back down, Harter replied, her voice calm and even after years of practice. "I did."

Although Rey said nothing, her expression screamed for her to go on. Now it was the doctor's turn to hesitate. She knew a bit about how the First Order had fallen, including the fact that Rey had been with Leia's son when he died. Maybe it was only natural that Rey wanted to know more about the child who had become Kylo Ren, the man who had nearly killed her and her friends.

"Seven pounds, eight ounces." Harter reached back into her memories, sifting past the painful ones to recall that happy day. "Full cap of dark hair, right from birth." One corner of her mouth twisted up in a half-smile. "We all agreed he needed a wash and a haircut, but still...such a beautiful baby." Her voice quivered ever so slightly. "He was so loved. His parents...there were such high hopes for him. Maybe too high." Harter's tone became harder. "He broke all our hearts."

Without realizing it, Rey had cupped her hands around her baby bump, as if protecting the child.

Harter shook her head, focusing on her patient. "I'm sorry. That's the problem with old soldiers-once you get them talking about the past, they can't stop."

Rey attempted a smile. "It's fine. I wanted to know."

Clearing her throat, Harter indicated that she could pull her shirt back down. "You are good to go, with just two pieces of advice. First, jogan fruit."

"Jogan fruit?"

"Loaded with pretty much every nutrient you need heading into the third trimester. You can't eat enough of it," the doctor said.

"And second?"

Harter smiled. "Let your gorgeous husband spoil you, Rey. I've seen a lot of expectant fathers in my time. Trust me, Poe is a man who will take to parenthood like a fish to water. Indulge him." Rey opened her mouth, but the doctor continued, "Even when you think he is being ridiculous."

Giving in with a smile, Rey slid off the bed. "Thank you, Dr. Kalonia."

The doctor returned the smile. "I'll see you back here in four weeks."

When she was alone again, Harter rubbed her forehead for a moment, composing herself. Talking about Leia, Han and the night their son had been born-it had taken more out of her than she'd realized.

There were such obvious similarities between her long-lost friends and the couple whose baby she would deliver in a few months. A hot-headed pilot. A powerful Jedi. Could they create another Kylo Ren? Would history repeat itself again?

No one could say. So, she decided not to waste any time on trying to answer the question. There was too much work to be done in the present.

Straightening her shoulders, Harter walked to the door and called, "Next?"

TBC