—— Ben ——

Rey was within his grasp now. This wasn't his intention when he had entered her hut. It wasn't even a thought that had crossed his mind. But as he opened himself up to vulnerability he felt the longing to be close to her stir.

Her body was tense. He had caught her off guard. Fear swelled in his mind begging for her not to reject him. How could she feel anything towards a monster? She had called him that herself. She had branded the very word into the side of his face.

The thought suddenly made him angry. His body sweating. His lips still locked into hers. She hadn't reciprocated and a new mix of emotions boiled in his veins. His Saber was easily within reach. His fingers twitched with the very thought of how easy it would be to end it all.

He suddenly flinched. He was confused as Reys arms wrapped around his neck. Her hands twisted in his jet black hair, tugging him gently. She pushed her lips into his and his fingers relaxed. She had returned his desires.

He didn't hesitated. Their mouths tangled together in passionate waves. His mind was racing, his body grew warm. He needed more.

His hand slipped from her chin down to her waist. He pulled her in against him until he could outline every inch of her body with his, but still he wanted more. Before he knew it his hand was beneath her tunic. Soft skin brushed his finger tips as he felt the rise and fall of her stomach.

Her lips parted with a small gasp.

"Wait!" She cried out in a whisper. Her voice reading fear. Ben was taken back by the sudden change and request. He removed his hand from her shirt and stared at her confused. He couldn't read her her face.

She quickly pushed his hands away and adjusted her tunic, she refused to meet his eyes again afterwards. "Ben... I.."

"No" Ben interjected.

Rey felt a shock throughout her body. His tone was sharp edged and swift. It frightened her more. What did he mean by no? She had barely spoken.

"I know what you're going to say" he continued, his voice monotone now.

"If you know, then why haven't you struck me yet?" She challenged his knowledge.

"Is that all you think of me?!" Ben snarled.

"What?,.. that's not what I..." she stammered realizing what she had just said. It wasn't how she intended it to come out. She wasn't sure exactly what she wanted to say in it's place, but now it was too late to take back.

"I get it. I'll never be anything more to you than the monster who killed his father." Ben whirled around angrily and stormed out the door.

"Ben!" She cried. She quickly grabbed her blaster and tucked it into her tunic before taking off after him. She ran outside only to be blasted with a sheet of rain. She shielded her face from the cold onslaught and searched for Ben. Through the mist she quickly spotted him headed towards the trees. "Wait,... please" She darted in his direction. She gained on him. Almost there. She reached her hand out to grab his cloak when her foot slipped on a branch sticking out from the ground. Pain spread over her forehead and she sat their stunned. She looked up and Ben was gone.

——Poe——

The air was damp with the sudden rainfall. It poured against the roof of the hut forbidding sleep. Poe rolled to his side restlessly unable to get comfortable. His legs hung over the end of the bed that was clearly not made to fit his size. It wasn't the only thing that fed his mind awake that night.

His temples throbbed with an incredible weight as he thought about the day, while the rest of him felt like he was suffocating in guilt.

After leaving Bright tree village he had traveled back to the Falcon with Rey and Leia. Parting ways with them he carried out Leia's orders to relay to the crew what had been decided. He ran into Finn along the way. His friend remained in the same place he had been all afternoon, standing tirelessly by Roses side as she rested.

"How's she doing?" Poe asked, taking a step forward towards him.

Without taking his eyes off rose Finn briefly explained that she was expected to make a full recovery, but it would take quiet some time before then. He made it very apparent that he wasn't to keen on having a conversation at the moment.

Poe understood and felt relieved. He placed a comforting hand on Finns shoulder before he turned to leave. He made a final glance back at Rose, admiring the courage she showed earlier. He felt thankful, until his eyes rested upon her hand. Between her thumb and index finger cupped against her chest, He recognized the small half moon shaped pendant hanging from her neck. He was painfully reminded of his fatal mistake that cost the life of her sister, and many others. He left feeling broken.

Poe rolled on his back trying to shift his mind of the memory but it was even more uncomfortable than his side. He couldn't shake the fact that the victory against the dreadnaught seemed so insignificant now. He had cost the resistance more than they could afford to lose, half the fleet including Paige, Roses sister. In the process he had also deliberately disobeyed General Organa, not only costing him his rank but Leia's respect.

"This is ridiculous" Poe sat upright frustrated. His chest heaved with rapid breathing as he tried to calm himself down. A gentle scatter of beeps emited from the corner of the room as the orange and white Droid rolled into the center and of the room facing him.

"Yeah, I'm alright Beebee-ate. Thanks" He replied to his companion. The orange and white droid had been with him since he was the commander of Rapier Squadron for the New Republic and he always seemed to have a way of sensing Poe's distress.

"Doesn't look like I'll be getting any sleep tonight" he shrugged heavily before standing up. He brushed off the loose straw clinging to his tan shirt, and combed his fingers through his hair. BB8 followed him as he pushed his way out of the small hut into night.

He gratefully let the rain soak him to the core. It felt like he was being cleansed of all the terrible things that had happened that day. He was fully aware of his shortage of clothing, but he didn't care. All he wanted was the pain to be washed away with the storm.

BB8 cooed softly but Poe hushed him sternly. "We don't want to wake anyone" He scolded. His eyes wandered around the small village the Ewoks had generously offered them.

No more than a moment passes when BB8 senses movement in the distance. The droid began to beep in distress.

"Beebee-ate I thought I told you to be..." His eyes caught the movement as well. Someone was running towards the woods.

Poe immediately crouched down placing his hand against BB8s spherical frame. He whispered a silencing static to the droid and the both watched quietly. Suddenly the figure dropped. As if someone had fallen.

Unhooking the blaster Poe still carried on his belt he motioned BB8 to follow him forward, but to remain alert. Sloshing across the wet earth they take caution as they near were the figure fell. It was a person.

"Alright now, nice and steady.. put your hands up" Poe commanded to who ever sat in front of him. The figure moaned. "I said put your hands up!" Poe called again. "Beebee-ate Wait!.." he called to his droid as it rolled over to the person.

BB8 immediately beeped with concern. Poe lowered his weapon embarrassed. "Rey.. Rey are you alright?" He ran over to her frantic. Her hand was against her forbead. "Are you hurt, what happened?, what are you doing out here?"

Rey just looked up and started into the woods once more. Poe noticed a trickle of blood running past her eye. "Alight, come on let's go." He wrapped his arm underneath her shoulder and helped pull her to her feet. She was obviously in no state to talk and he needed to get her out of the rain. With haste he helped her back into her hut and sat her on the bed. She stared at him dazed.

"Okay, you don't need to tell me what happened but at least let me take a look at that cut" Poe stated firmly.

She touched her forehead where it throbbed with pain. Her fingers were coated with a hot sticky substance. "Ow" she winced.

"Well it's going to hurt if you touch it" Poe grinned.

Rey nodded to him. "Alright, let me see" He cupped her face in his hands and pulled it close to him. Brushing a stray piece of hair from her forehead he examined the cut thoroughly making sure it wasn't deep. His fingers were cold against her skin but his breath burned hot against her forehead. She took a deep breath as he gently dabbed the sleeve of his cotton shirt against the wound. His scent was familiar. Freshly turned dirt mixed with sweat, oil and this time a slight trace of ale, just like his jacket. She felt comforted once again by it.

"It doesn't look too deep" he said relieved cracking a smile. "So are you going to tell me what you were doing outside alone in the rain?"

"What made you join the resistance?" Rey finally spoke. The question took Poe off guard.