This is another Modern AU, and I had it take place in my home town and includes one of my favorite holiday traditions.

Light(s)

Poe Dameron had never really though much of Christmas.

His mother had been raised Jewish and he father Catholic, but neither practiced their faith much by the time he was born. While he did remember having a decorated tree with presents from Santa under it, that tradition ended after his mother died. As an adult, Christmas was to him just a secular annoyance buoyed by commercialization, the epitome of capitalism. Other than going to his father's house for dinner on Christmas Eve, the holiday was just another day in his world.

But that was before he met Rey Smith.

Though not one of those 'bible thumping' Christians, Rey wasn't afraid to comment on her belief in Jesus. Her parents had instilled in her a strong faith that continued on even after their deaths in a car accident when she was ten. Growing up in various foster homes, she looked forward to Christmas every year, mostly because no matter where she was, it brought back good memories of her real family and gave her hope for a bright future. While she didn't attend church regularly, she always made it to Christmas Eve mass every year.

They had begun dating over the summer, after being introduced by Rey's friend (and foster brother) Finn, who just happened to be dating Poe's childhood friend Rose. Everything about Rey made Poe happy, even her love of Christmas, though he still couldn't understand it. She had invited him to go to mass with her, but she had told him that she wouldn't think less of him if he refused. He told her he'd think about it.

One thing she would not let him get out of, however, was going to Storybook Island to see the lights. Every weekend between Thanksgiving and New Years, the children's theme park, which closed for the winter, dressed itself up in thousands of Christmas lights. Having grown up in Rapid, Poe had vague memories of going to the park as a child, but had not been near it as an adult, and had never seen the lights. Rey was going to make sure he saw them this year.

They went the weekend before Christmas. They had had snow earlier in the week, but the night itself was mild by South Dakota standards, with temps around 20 and no wind. Poe was already enthralled by the colorful display even before they entered the gate to the park, and as he and Rey wandered along the paths, not only was he awed by the lights, but memories of walking these same paths with his mother as a child found their way to the surface of his mind. Cinderella's pumpkin coach, the whale that ate Pinocchio, the Wizard of Oz, the old lady in the shoe… he remembered it all, but almost as if it was all from a dream.

He watched as Rey laughed and grinned and pulled him along to something she was excited to see, never letting go of his hand. He had never seen her so giddy! About half way through the park, it started snowing, which only increased Rey's delight. He stopped her at one point, unable to keep himself from kissing her. She laughingly pushed him away. "Poe, there are kids around!"

"Well, it's not like I'm gonna bend you over and rail you," he joked. "Not here, anyway."

She swatted him playfully, but the glint in her eye told him she was going to remind him he said that later. They eventually made it to the exit, where hot chocolate was being served, and they stood together watching as families with children stopped to see Santa. They also saw more than a few couples like themselves walking hand in hand.

Feeling happier than he had been in a long time, Poe looked at the woman he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. "I wanna make a deal with you," he told her.

She looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "What kind of deal?"

"I'll go with you to this Christmas Eve mass… it's at ten, right?... if you agree to come to my father's for dinner earlier that evening."

Rey's eyes lit up and her beautiful smile grew. "Yeah," she said. "I like that plan."

"That doesn't mean I'm going to go to church with you all the time, though," he added.

She shook her head. "I don't expect you to," she said. "You can't force faith," she told him. "Just like you can't force love. It just happens."

He gave her a steady look. "Yeah, it just happens."

"Merry Christmas, Poe."

"Merry Christmas, Rey."