AUTHOR'S COMMENTS:

1) Sorry for a later update than the last two chapters. Work was annoying this week. Ugh.

2) This is my reviewers' response corner!

vana9 You're welcome! Thanks for reading!
DarkFay I will definitely continue. Woot woot! Awww, glad you like the FinnxRey stuff and the bro and sis scene. I am excited to write about more of Rey's Jedi abilities as well!
disneybrony Daww, you are too kind. Thanks for saying something so sweet! Here's more to read!
tsk91 Yes...Yes it is. Haha.
Jhutch10 Thanks for liking the chapter. I hope you enjoy this one, too!

Chapter 3- Two Separate Missions

Most everyone else involved with the Resistance were either in the ship hangar, meeting rooms, or had gone to bed already since it was getting later into the night.

Because of this, the hallways were empty and quiet. Finn and Rey decided to sit down together on the floor of one of those empty corridors, their backs comfortably slouched against the wall.

"I first of all want to say...thank you," Finn wanted to speak up right away.

"Hmmm?" she looked at him quizically, "What for?"

"Back at Starkiller Base while we were fighting Kylo Ren. The others told me you were the one who fought him after I passed out, and that you and Chewy got me to safety just in the nick of time. So...you know...thanks."

Rey gave a soft smile, "You're welcome," but then her smile faded slightly, "It was a little scary, though, I'll admit. I had no idea what I was doing."

That made Finn laugh a bit. He remembered how clumsy he was trying to use the lightsaber against someone who was an expert, "I guess I didn't really, either."

"It was strange. At one point in the battle I suddenly knew what to do. I felt power, confidence. It's like a feeling when you know you can possibly win, no matter how unfair the odds are."

"You mean...you felt the Force?" Finn asked. He wasn't sure he could make sense of everything she'd been through, but he was at least trying.

"Something like that," Rey agreed, "I am just glad Master Luke is here. I would have been nervous without him. I still sometimes don't know a lot, and I know I can learn so much more."

"Is training going well so far, then?"

"Sort of," she answered, "Even though there are times I don't feel I'm working to my potential, Luke always tries to cheer me up. He is a very good teacher, and very encouraging."

"He sounds nice. I talked with him on our way back here, and he seemed fond of you as his student. He must really care about you."

"It's weird," Rey's nose wrinkled in thought, "Not only him, but many others have become friends of mine. It's so different than my past. I was used to being alone, but now..." she looked at Finn seriously, "I can't imagine not being around someone. You must understand, right?"

He knew all too well how it felt, "Yeah. I mean, back when I was a trooper, I had acquaintances who trained with me. But...they didn't really try to get to know me as a person. It was just normal routine together. So, with me, it's the same, but in a different way. I had lots of company. However, it didn't really feel like it."

"Well, now be both get a lot of company," Rey contradicted, "Speaking of that, are you really good friends with Poe?"

Oh...this again..."I'm not sure how to put it," Finn contemplated, getting the other thought out first, "When I rescued him, we suddenly became like brothers. We got along well and we helped each other. It was simple. It was instant," he shrugged, "I don't know how else to explain it."

"I know what that's like," Rey responded.

"Hmm?"

"Sure, it wasn't right away, but almost," she contemplated the past, "I think BB-8 had something to do with that."

Finn realized what she was talking about now. It was when they first met on Jakku. BB-8 had mistaken Finn for stealing Poe's jacket, sending Rey off to pursue and confront him.

Rey gave him a weird smirk, one eye closed, "Is it too late to apologize for smacking you with my staff?" she had no choice but to let out a snicker.

Finn tried to hold in his own laughs, but to no avail, letting them come out, "Ohhhh, now you decide to say you're sorry."

She teasingly punched him on the shoulder with her fist, "Stop it!"

After another couple bursts of laughter, the friends settled down again.

"Seriously, though," Rey spoke matter-of-factly, "Thanks."

"...For?"

"You know..." she tilted her head at him, "Do I need to spell it out for you?"

"Apparently," Finn chuckled again. His guffaw was cut off quickly when he felt something rest on his hand.

It was Rey's hand.

"You're the reason I started being friends with others. You were my first friend, after all," she gave him a full-on grin, "Can't I say thanks for that?"

After being taken aback for a second or two, Finn replied, "Of course," he smiled back, "Thanks for saying that. It means a lot."

Suddenly, he saw Rey's eyes tear up.

"Hey-" Finn was worried now, and his expression showed it, "What's wrong?"

"Oh!" Rey had startled her own self, since she had done it involuntarily. She withdrew her hand, using her fingers to excessively try and wipe moisture off her face, "I-I'm sorry. I was just grateful..." she breathed in some choppy, uneven breaths, "Grateful you're still alive a-after...after everything."

He really didn't know how to reply to that right away, so it was quiet between them for a while.

Rey was also not sure why she was crying so much, This isn't going well. Why can't I stop? What is he thinking about, seeing me like this? Talk about awkward.

Finn knew it might not be enough to stop her sobbing, but he thought it would help, "Come here," he simply stated, gently placing a hand behind her head and his other arm around her back, bringing them into a hug. He figured she wouldn't retort, since they had hugged before.

It was true. Rey was more than accepting of the comfort.

To her it felt...warm.

Inviting.

She took a moment to let it all sink in. It had been a whole month since they had even seen each other in person...or even knew if the other was okay. She wondered if Finn had also felt it. Maybe he just didn't show it in the same way she was at that particular moment, by crying buckets of tears.

Or...maybe what he was doing, embracing her in such a manner...was his way of affirming it?

"Are you okay?" Finn's voice resonated in her ears after a few minutes.

Rey simply murmured, "Mmm," resting against him, crying more softly into the night until she finally let her mouth form a contentful smile.

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The next afternoon, the meetings had started. Everyone from the base was occuppied in some way or another. In the room where Rey, Finn, and Poe stood in were also General Leia, many officers, and pilots...

...along with Luke.

"Master," Rey went over to talk to him briefly before the start of the meeting, "You're here, too?"

"Yes. My sister insisted I come. She says I could be of great help with you on your mission."

Rey's eyebrows perked up, "M-My mission?"

"Welcome, everyone," General Leia's voice stood out from the crowd, grabbing their attention all at once.

She continued, "First and foremost, most of you know about our base relocation. Is everything ready to be moved out?" she turned toward an officer.

"Yes, General!" he replied.

Relocation? Rey was concerned, Why would there be a need to relocate? Unless...

"For those who don't know about this plan, it has been set in motion ever since Starkiller Base was destroyed. The First Order knows our location, and that is why we can't stay here much longer," Leia explained, "Now that we've heard they are on the move again, we need to do so as well. All transports and equipment are ready to go at any time."

She looked at Rey, "Rey, you will help lead a scouting party to Tatooine."

"Tatooine?" Luke questioned, giving his sister a very sly smile, "I'm assuming that's why you wanted me here?"

"Please, Luke," she pleaded, "Rey will be there since she grew up in a desert area, but you know the planet best. You are more than just needed by me. The entire Resistance needs your knowledge."

"Does this mean we need to find a location on the planet that will best serve the base?" Rey had guessed.

"Correct. Then you will report back to us as we start out towards Tatooine close behind you. We will leave only two days later."

It didn't seem too complicated. Besides, Luke was coming along, so she could still train during her mission. Rey couldn't refuse, "That will be fine. I can do it."

Luke glanced over, "Deciding so quickly?"

Rey looked at her Master with sincerity, "If there is anything I can do to help them, I gladly will. You are coming, too...aren't you?" she pestered him, a childish and joking tone eminating from her throat.

It would be hard to say no to her reply, and he was already going to agree, "I am."

"It's settled then," she turned towards Leia, "When do we need to leave?"

"As soon as you can," Leia replied with urgency.

Rey looked at Luke, "Tonight?"

He crossed his arms in a relaxed pose, "Alright, then."

"Very well," the general moved on to the next topic, "As for the other mission, it is a bit more serious."

All ears were listening intently.

"This has been kept top secret for a reason. I have only spoken with a few people in the past month," she craned her neck to Poe, "Please, explain more to them."

Poe stood at once, "Gladly, General."

He went to the front of the room, igniting a small, lit up screen on the wall.

"As you can see here, we have acquired two enemy TIE fighters from a nearby planet. It was not an easy task for our ground forces there, but it was accomplished, nonetheless. Luckily, they didn't need to encounter the enemies in combat, and fled in the ships unharmed."

Finn was more than eager to find out how they had pulled it off, but knew he better ask at a later time. Instead, he kept on listening.

"The reason I am speaking up here is because I am leading this mission. We will be infiltrating a First Order Star Destroyer, disguised as enemy TIE fighter pilots."

Now all Finn thought at this point was, Are they crazy?! What is so important to risk doing that for? Then it hit him like a brick, I must be going...I'm going back there, aren't I? Sweat already began to form on his brow, That's why I'm here at the meeting.

Sure enough, Poe began talking with him, "Finn, you are the most familiar with how the First Order runs. It is imperative that you help us."

All eyes were on him, and he knew he couldn't run anymore.

Running?

That was all behind him, anyways. He didn't want to run. Now that things had changed, Finn wanted to fight back.

"On one condition," he spoke, "Exactly why are we going there?"

"Don't worry, I'll tell you," Poe promised.

"We can't bring it up, here," Leia insisted, "The less people who know about it until we complete this, the better."

Finn didn't want to argue about it, and had a feeling they had a good reason. He nodded.

After very few specifics on other things, like assigning people to more relocation duties, Poe immediately took Finn aside.

"Let's go," Poe kept walking out of the room, Finn following.

Rey watched as the two left. They were all going their separate ways to their missions soon.

Would she get to say goodbye to everyone beforehand?

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Thirty minutes had passed since the end of the meeting, and Finn walked directly to his quarters. He closed the automatic door behind him, laying on his back in bed.

He was seriously deep in thought after the news he had heard from Poe. His brain wasn't sure how to take it all in.

Is this seriously happening? he contemplated, I know what we're doing will help, but...it's so risky.

He tossed and turned.

Is it even possible to stop it? To stop the process? We might only make a small dent in their plans. They may already have more back-up files in other ships.

Mind boggled, adrenaline pumping, Finn didn't leave his room for a very long time. He was too restless to sleep, and just lay there, pouring over all the information dozens of times.

-KNOCK KNOCK!-

The noise shocked him so much that he bolted up, "Y-Yes?! Who is it?"

"It's Poe! Get out here!"

Finn sighed, not believing how jumpy he had been, "Alright, alright."

As he pressed a button to open the door, Poe looked at him like he was crazy.

"Look," Poe began, "I know you have many things on your mind after we talked, but..." he couldn't help but frown at him, "...aren't you forgetting something?"

"What are you talking about?"

Poe planted a palm to his forehead in disbelief, "Aren't Rey and Luke leaving for their mission soon?"

Finn turned quickly to look at his clock, now knowing how soon time had passed, "What!?"

Without another word, he ran out of the room, leaving Poe to laugh at his friend's carelessness.

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Rey and Luke were finishing up with packing the final supplies into the Millennium Falcon.

"That should be the last of it," Rey patted her hands together after exiting the ship. She had carried the only remaining parcel inside.

"Okay, then. Ready to go?" Luke asked. Chewbacca also awaited them inside, getting ready for takeoff.

She sighed, but was not fully content, "I believe so."

Coming over to greet them was BB-8, R2-D2 and...

"3PO?" Luke had not seen him in years.

Sure enough, the protocol droid followed closely behind the smaller models.

"Master Luke! How good it is to see you!"

"Likewise."

"I'm sorry we did not get to converse as soon as you had arrived, sir. The maintenance on my left arm was finally getting completed."

Rey noticed it at once. The last time she had seen C-3PO, one of his mechanical arms was an unfitting red hue. Apparently, now, though, it was back to the color it was meant to be.

R2 beeped numerous times at Luke, imploringly.

"What?" Luke questioned.

"R2 insisted that he and I come along with you. I do hope he's not being a bother. However," 3PO agreed, "I would like to also accompany everyone as well."

"It's no bother at all. You are more than welcome," Luke did not hesistate to answer truthfully.

As he and the two droids he had grown fond of over the years boarded the Falcon, Rey stayed behind.

BB-8 let out a quiet, lengthy robotic sigh, his headpiece tilted downward.

"Dont' worry," Rey comforted, "I'm sure we'll see each other soon. You keep an eye on Poe and the others. That's what you're meant to do now."

The tiny figure bleeped silently again, but regretfully turned around very slowly. He rolled away, and wasn't watching very well where he was going. In turn, the machine almost ran directly into a sprinting Finn, coming from the other direction.

"Not again!" he exclaimed, quickly dodging in time.

"Finn?" Rey said his name when he finally stopped in front of her.

He was panting, and took a few deep breaths, bent over slightly, "Uh...h-hi there," he managed to spit out when he stood upright again.

"So, you forgot, huh?" she teased him.

"Nah, how would I forget that you were leaving tonight and-"

Rey gave him a glare.

Finn's mouth hung open only briefly, "Okay, yes, I forgot. But, it was only because-"

"You have a lot on your mind," Rey could read him like a book, "...about your mission?"

He couldn't deny her point, "That's right."

"Can you tell me anything?" she proded.

With no verbal reply, he only shook his head.

"Classified?" Rey assumed.

"Yes, but I can't really tell anyone at this point."

She placed a hand on his shoulder firmly, "Promise you'll tell me all about it when you return, then?"

Finn knew instantly that was Rey's way of questioning, "We'll see each other again for sure, right?"

"I'm sure I can," he smiled to reassure her.

Rey didn't want him to perceive, that behind the smile she made at the moment, was fear in her eyes. She was extremely disquieted. She had already gone through a time where she wasn't sure if Finn was going to be okay. For his mission now, she wasn't sure again that she'd see him alive after this conversation.

Unlucky for her, he still noticed.

"I'll be fine," he grabbed her hand from his shoulder, gently holding it in his, "I mean, Poe will have my back. You have nothing to worry about."

Rey moved her head up and down to respond. Then, her body moved without regret, to give him the tightest hug she'd given him to that day. He returned the favor, his chin rested atop her head.

"Come back safe," she whispered.

"I will."

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END OF CHAPTER 3