Chapter 6: Learn to Love Again

It was several weeks later, and the Calrissians had invited Kira and the Damerons over for supper. Beaumont Kin had also been asked to join them.

Following the meal, the blended family sat around in the sitting room and competed in a game of charades. On bedrest, with the baby due in a matter of weeks, Jannah had wisely chosen to sit this one out, lounging on the couch and blurting out guesses to the silly motions her husband was making alongside Zorri. Poe and Kira, forming another team and having become closer than ever following heartfelt apologies from them both, were laughing at Finn and Zorri's struggles.

"Beaumont, get in here!" Jannah hollered in the direction of the washroom the Force scholar had disappeared to. "You've got the help me guess! We're losing!"

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door. "I'll get it," Finn offered. He got up, crossed to the door and opened it... and after a moment of frozen shock, pulled the new arrival into a fierce hug. His strangled cry made the others glance towards the foyer to see what was the matter.

That is when Kira saw her as her godfather stepped back. "MOMMY!" She leapt from the couch and sprinted into Rey's arms, who was crouching down to welcome Kira into a warm embrace. The Jedi kissed her baby on her cheeks, her lips, her hair, everywhere.

"I knew you'd come back!" Kira cried in relief.

Rey moved into the apartment as the others crowded around, reaching for her and all talking at once. Poe was surprised when Rey actually hugged him.

"Hey, Lady Skywalker," he rumbled. He felt Rey smirk against him before whispering in his ear:

"Whatever things I may have said, know that I am so sorry for them." She must have sensed some of his thoughts regarding what Kira had told him in their fight, surfacing back with her appearance. Leaning back, Rey cupped his cheek. "Thank you. For my daughter."

"Don't be silly," Poe dismissed with a smile.

Then, it was Zorri's turn, the bounty hunter approaching the Jedi awkwardly.

"Hi, you probably don't remember me..."

"Zorri!" Rey laughed, embracing her genuinely. "I trust you're keeping Dameron on his toes... I felt terrible that I couldn't make the wedding..."

Zorri looked flummoxed by Rey's warmth, and it made the older woman think that maybe the Jedi wasn't so bad after all.

Rey now drifted over towards her best friend's wife, gazing at Jannah's pregnant stomach. Jannah just smiled welcomingly.

"You can touch, Jedi girl. It's all right." Rey slowly placed a hand on Jannah's belly, marveling that Finn's child would soon be in the world. "We had always hoped that you would be the godmother..." Still stranded on the sleep couch, Jannah bellowed towards the washroom: "BEAUMONT, COME QUICKLY! IT'S REY!"

"I'm coming..." Beaumont's voice came echoing down the hall, followed by the rest of him. He skidded to a stop, eyes going to the striking woman in front of him. "Rey? Is that really...?"

"Beaumont Kin!" Rey chuckled, pulling him too into a hug. She recalled fondly the Force scholar who had helped her read the Jedi texts following the Battle of Crait.

Beaumont smiled, glancing her up and down. "It's been a while."

"It sure has," Rey grinned back.

"Well..." and Beaumont bashfully rubbed at the back of his neck, feeling quite warm. "You grew up gorgeous."

Rey's eyes widened only the tiniest bit, but then she smiled softly, almost as if she was... pleased. Off to one side, Poe and Finn gaped in shock at the comment that had seemingly come out of nowhere.

"Beaumont Kin knows how to flirt?" Poe breathed.

"I now owe you credits," whispered a mortified Finn.

The whole group spent the night at the Calrissians' place. In the middle of the night, Kira woke up and padded downstairs to get a drink of water. Pausing in the shadows of the landing when she heard voices, she peered around the corner to find her mother and Beaumont sitting on the couch, pouring over the Jedi texts and talking and laughing.

"I forgot how much you know..." Rey was effusive in her compliments. "If Kira is who you believe this prophecy tells about, it will really inform me of how to handle her training when the time comes..."

"When do you think you'll bring the Order back?" Beaumont wanted to know.

"Soon," Rey expressed. "I... I was emotionally fragile... for a long time... missing Kira's father... and raising her... I've needed time to come to terms with who I am. Grieve my husband. Do right by our family. Being in exile on Ahch-To... has given me clarity. I now know what I have to do and have the strength to do it." She didn't notice how Beaumont was glancing sidelong at her, his gaze filled with admiration. She turned to him, her eyes bright with an idea. "Say: I could really use your help with something."

"Anything, Master Jedi," Beaumont offered.

"When I rebuild my Order, it's going to need a Library in the temple. Archives. Beaumont, I want to ask you if you would be the official Archivist and Librarian of the New Jedi Order."

Beaumont looked speechless and delighted. "Me?"

Rey nodded. "No one better."

Beaumont smiled, truly touched. "Thank you," he whispered. Features softening, he reached out a hand and dared to cup Rey's cheek. Her orbs grew big at the intimate gesture, and she sucked in a breath, but she didn't move away. Encouraged, Beaumont leaned in and found Rey's mouth with his. Rey's eyes drifted closed, her head tilting up at the brushing kiss. After a moment, they broke apart with a soft SMACK. Beaumont blushed beet red.

"I'm sorry."

"No... no," Rey smiled gently. "Don't be sorry." Although it had been more than a decade than she had last kissed anyone, on the whole, she had liked it.

Beaumont grinned. "Good. Cause I really don't regret it." And then, taking Rey's face in his hands, he tugged her close and kissed her again, more confidently this time. Eyes fluttering shut, Rey looped her arms lazily about his neck, hands draping down to his shoulders, as she twitched her lips into his to deepen the kiss. Before long, her mouth fell open, pulling his tongue in between the split to play with hers.

Unseen by the adults, Kira let out a gasp at the very grown-up moment she was witnessing. Suddenly, she felt a voice echo in her mind:

Kira Skywalker Solo?

She started. Uncle Finn?

Get back to bed, young lady. Kira had no choice but to obey, and without having ever gotten that drink of water.

Meanwhile, her departure allowed Rey and Beaumont to kiss more passionately in total privacy, until Beaumont's hands ghosted over Rey's hips. Assertively, she pushed him down into the couch cushions as he pulled her onto his lap so that she now straddled his waist. Hands disappearing into his red hair, Rey allowed Beaumont to sultrily undress her. Her fingers drifted down to unclasp his belt buckle and free his throbbing erection.

Slowly, Rey sank down onto Beaumont's member, allowing him to breach her maidenhead and take her virginity proper. Lips peppering his face, she let out a gasp on impact. Bouncing up and down against him, Rey buried her face into his shoulder and neck, so as to conceal her cries and moans as she and her former tutor had sex.

"Uhhhhh... Hmmmm... Mmmm... Uhhhhhhh... Huhhhhhh..."

Rey came hard and long all around him.

Beaumont and Rey's night of making love soon gradually blossomed into a romantic relationship. Before long, Beaumont shyly asked Rey to marry him. Despite knowing a part of her heart would always belong to Ben, Rey happily said Yes. Kira was thrilled that she would be getting a stepfather.

One year later, Beaumont and Rey stood before a ecstatic congregation on Chandrila, where Mon Mothma married them. On being proclaimed husband and wife, Rey let Beaumont shyly kiss her, to great applause.

At the reception, Finn watched Rey in relief as she and her new husband shared their first dance.

"I'm glad she's found happiness. Landed on her feet."

"She's always been a strong one," Jannah observed cheerfully. In her arms was their new baby, Martha. Several faces down in the crowd, she glanced to see Poe and Zorri Dameron embracing, the General's hands cradling a pronounced baby bump and Zorri glowing as she lightly kissed him with a beaming smile. Their first child would be due in the spring.

Kira now came running up to her godfather and aunt, her hair in curls and carrying her empty Flower Girl basket. "Uncle Finn! Auntie Jannah! They've got a chocolate fountain!"

"No way!" Finn pretended to be gobsmacked.

"Way!" Kira squealed.

Finn laughed. "All right, off with you now. Go dance with your mother." Kira happily scampered away, and he watched as Rey - the blushing bride - giddily set her little girl on her toes and waltzed them around the dance floor.

Finn hadn't expected Rey to ever come back into his life again. But she had, bringing with her a wonderful gift - a godchild whom he loved as much as his own child. Their blended, found family would soon be complete, together at last and forever. All was well.