So I feel like I just dropped that bomb on you guys but I forgot to let you know the next part would help make it better and that was cruel of me and I'm sorry :(
JustDreamAboutIt - I'm sorry! I'm sorry! (hides) (offers peace offering of part 2)
NicoleR85 - Thank you so much!
Souffl3Girl - Kelly was tickled when I said one of my reviewers agrees with her! I'm glad I took her advice, and I absolutely agree with your notion that there should be some fluff to go with the sad! I've got at least three TFA and post-TFA chapters planned, but I was hoping to keep this relatively chronological. If The Force Awakens happens 30 years after Return of the Jedi, that makes Poe and Ry roughly 32 when the film (and my initial one-shot) occurs. In my personal headcanon they graduate the Naval Academy at 21 and defect to the Resistance at 27, which is 9 years from this chapter. I think those 9 years will take roughly 3 chapters to get through, then hopefully I'll be diving into the assault on Starkiller Base! I hope you keep enjoying in the meantime! The website is starwars dot namegeneratorfun dot com, it's awesome! I've been looking up the planets and systems it names so I can characterize appropriately :) I'm so excited for your story - while I think the Poe/OC stories currently available are all incredibly creative and unique in their own ways, I definitely agree that the OCs themselves tend to be pilots and mechanics more often than not. I can't wait to read a fresh take! Thank you so much for being such a sweet and dedicated reader and reviewer, I appreciate it so much!
In the spirit of fluff in the face of hardship, this chapter is dedicated to Souffl3Girl!
I forgot to put this in Part 1, but I don't own Star Wars. Consider yourself disclaimed.
Part 2.
YAVIN-4
18 YEARS OLD
Rymer never let go of her grip on his hand in the transport shuttle, but she still hadn't cried as they dropped out of hyperspeed over their forested home. Poe was beginning to have more than a passing concern about her stoicism.
He slung both of their bags over his shoulder, still not letting go of her hand, still watching her intently as the door hissed open. He finally tore his gaze away as they began to disembark, feeling the first spark of happiness in hours when he saw their small family waiting outside their homes.
Rymer halted next to him, and when he looked down her mask had begun to crack. Her bottom lip quivered as she took in a shuddering breath, before her hand finally slipped from his and she ran down the ramp.
Delu ran forward to meet her, catching her daughter and sinking to the ground as the girl finally began to wail. Davlon was close behind, sliding easily into the embrace as Poe moved forward to greet his father. After a long, tight hug, he looked up from Kes's shoulder to see Delu watching him. She reached one hand toward him.
"Come here, son." Poe began to cry in earnest as well as he sank to his knees, holding his last remaining mother figure as though he'd never let go.
Delu found Poe alone that night on the porch, shortly after Rymer excused herself to bed. Kes was washing the dishes and Davlon had long since fallen asleep on the couch, his family content to leave him be.
She sat down next to him, wrapping her shawl tightly around the both of them and wondering when he'd gotten so big. "How are you, little starfighter?"
He glanced at her as he gave a weak chuckle at the old nickname. "I'm alright."
She watched him carefully, seeing the same sad little boy she'd known ten years ago. But there was something...more. "No you're not."
He sighed, leaning further into her side. "No I'm not."
"What's on your mind, little love?"
He swallowed heavily. "A long time ago, a few years after my mom died, Tali...told me something."
"Oh?"
"She...she told me I could call you both Mama if I wanted to, that you both loved me like your own son."
"She was right. Why is that bothering you?"
"Because I never did. It felt like I was replacing my mom, and I didn't want to do that."
"Neither did we, Poe."
He sighed again, wrapping his arm around her this time and holding her close. "I know that, I do. I've done some really stupid things in my life, but there's not a lot that I'll regret more than not calling her Mama when I had the chance. Because you are, Mama Delu. Both of you."
Delu smiled and pressed a kiss to his temple, hugging him tightly. "She knew, son, I promise."
They watched the stars in silence for a long time, before Poe sighed. "I think I'm ready for bed." He pulled away to stretch before turning to her. "Can I-"
"Of course you can, Poe." He asked for permission every time, and it was always given. He smiled and kissed her cheek, before entering the house again and making his way back to Rymer's bedroom, hugging his father on the way. He slipped into the room, closing the door and leaning back tiredly against it for a moment before he began to strip down to his underclothes.
Pulling back the blankets, Poe eased himself onto the bed that was technically too small for the two of them now, but neither of them minded. Rymer turned to face him, sliding against the wall until he was comfortable, before settling herself into his arms.
"I didn't think you'd still be awake."
"I couldn't sleep."
He kissed her forehead, smoothing his hand along her spine through her sleepshirt. "I don't think I will either."
"It's not fair," she whispered against his neck. "I want her back."
Remembering her own comfort for him ten years ago, he held her more tightly.
"I want my mama back."
The burial service was held two days later, a colony-wide event. The dinner after was raucous, as was Yavin-4 tradition, a whirlwind of music and dancing as the somber mood began to lift and life was celebrated in the face of death. Poe and Delu led the crowd in a round of Tali's favorite drinking song, while Rymer danced in wide, stomping circles with Davlon, who had horrified her by growing to exactly her height in their four month separation.
It was a late night that saw Davlon going to bed shortly after his first mouthful of ale, leaving the rest of his amused family sitting comfortably in the grass, sharing drinks and stories of Tali's life.
"I never let her cut my hair again," Poe finished with a shudder, Rymer nearly crying into his shoulder with laughter as Kes and Delu howled.
"Oh, she was a prankster, that woman," Delu managed as their chuckles trailed off. "Kriff, that house'll be quiet without her."
"About that..." Kes trailed off, looking at her questioningly. She nodded, and he turned to their children. "We've been talking with Dav, and the three of us have made a decision. After you guys head back to the Naval Academy, I'm going to be moving into Rymer's bedroom. We all think it's silly to live in two large houses when it's just the three of us now."
"And besides, it'll be nice to have company when Davlon's off to the Academy as well," Delu added. Poe and Rymer could only agree - they both knew their parents would consider themselves married to their respective spouses for the rest of their lives, and nothing would be better for them than to have a dear friend to spend those years with.
"But what about when we come home from school?" Rymer asked. "Should I get an apartment on Coruscant?"
"No need," Kes told her. "I'm giving my house to you and Poe."
Both of the young pilots' jaws dropped as Rymer spilled her ale. "You're what?!"
"Look," Delu started as she and Kes chuckled. "You've finished your basic schooling, you're adults now. We all know you're both in this for the long haul." The young couple blushed. "Oh stop it, you're both obvious. You need a home where you can start to build your life together. This way, when you're off saving the galaxy, we'll know we always get to see you when you go home."
"Thank you, Dad," Poe breathed, starting to smile.
"It's exactly what your mothers would have wanted," Kes said.
It was at that moment Rymer yawned hugely, blushing as she sagged a little against Poe. "I think it's time for bed."
"I agree," Poe murmured against her hair, before turning to Delu. "Can I-"
"Really, Poe, after the conversation we just had? You can stop asking now."
He only smiled. "Yeah, well, we don't have our own house just yet."
The Damerons, gentlemen as always, helped Delu and Rymer to their feet, and the parents exchanged hugs with their children.
"Goodnight, Mama Delu," Poe said, kissing her cheek.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Rymer pulled away from Kes to see her mother and boyfriend, looking between the two of them accusingly. "'Mama'?" She looked at Kes now, a smile growing on her face. "I get to call you Dad then, right?"
The other three laughed as Kes cupped her cheeks in his hands, kissing her forehead. "Beautiful girl, it would be my honor."
Poe and Rymer were still smiling when they boarded the transport shuttle after what seemed like far too few days. They strapped themselves in for takeoff and the jump to hyperspeed, fingers entwined and sitting in peaceful silence.
Rymer was the first to speak. "It's strange, not saying goodbye to her when we leave."
"Yeah. Every time we said goodbye she would hug me for a few extra seconds and tell me it was from my mom."
She looked at him, surprised. "You never told me that."
He smirked. "It was a private ritual between two mothers and their son."
She rolled her eyes at him playfully. "You know what else is strange?"
"What?"
"The next time we come home we'll actually be living together."
Poe laughed and kissed her once before settling back in his chair, closing his eyes to nap for the few hours it would take them to reach Coruscant. "We've been living together since we were four, we've just been sharing two houses."
Work is busy right now guys, so I may not have more out until the weekend. I'll do my best to have something up as quickly as possible!