Ren reclined and watched as Rey prepared for bed, she left her hair in the braid. "Are you a clanswoman now?" He teased quietly. She grinned as she turned to him and slipped under the woven blankets. She smelled of the herbal soap they used earlier, Ren found himself enjoying the clean scent. "When we were bathing today, the other women were admiring you." She watched her hand trace over his chest and arm.

Ren was initially surprised, and tried to keep the smugness out of his voice "I thought they didn't care for men. What happened?"

Rey gave him a wry look, then continued "They care about men, they just do not want them in positions of power. They feel they may be prone to violence and rash decisions. Neya told them that you belonged and bonded to me. Which led me to ask if they meant two different things. I remember her grandmother saying the same yesterday. And they do." Rey took a deep breath and sighed. "It's something I'm not entirely positive I want to do. I can see the benefit of it but also it makes me wary." She looked into his eyes. "By being in each others mind when we love each other, it will form a presence in each other's mind. It will let you know my condition in addition to my emotions."

Ren immediately thought it would be good idea, but after looking into her eyes he stopped "Rey..."

"There won't be anything between us that isn't our own. You will know how I'm feeling, immediately." Her brows furrowed.

"I think... despite that, there are enough reasons to do this. You can never sense me since I am hiding my presence from everyone. But this way, we'll know if we're safe. Remember back on Yavin, you thought I was dead. What if you knew that I was just hurt but I was concentrating. You could have figured out that I was going to do something. You almost fell Rey, in your fear." His arms tightened around her as if to protect her from the Dark Side. Rey's eyes softened and closed from the memory.

Rey didn't move for several minutes, her breath brushing his skin. He knew she needed to think this through, he wouldn't pressure her to do this. She spoke quietly "You're right. I would rather want to know... that you're safe and hale than have that happen again." She moved under the covers to be on top of him, her warm skin and breasts pressing on his chest and abdomen. Rey was inches away from his face, her hand resting near his head and entwining his hair. She stared into his eyes, his face. She kissed him softly, her brown eyes closing and then opening to look into his again. Her head nodded and he gingerly went into her mind. He could feel her enter his, almost as subtly. Although she gave her consent on the matter, there was a small piece of worry in her mind. He was about to ask if she wanted to think it though more, but she prevented it by kissing him aggressively, and after a few moments shifting her body against his. He felt himself respond to her movement, reacting to her pressure on him, and his hands held on to her hips. Her mind became determined, her worry evaporating in her resolve.

And somehow the experience developed into something more intimate than he could imagine. He could sense what she liked, and he pushed her hips down with his hands. A soft moan resonated in her throat, and knowing she received pleasure from the gesture made him desire more, and his hands pushed her down again on him. "Ren..." she said faintly, breath catching.

Their emotions fed into each others minds...

Poe watched as Finn left the General's office aboard the head Resistance ship Bravura. General Organa had called on them, her eyes full of concern. "R2-D2 has found some pressing information that will need to be investigated. That shuttle's last destination was not Dathomir as we thought. It is a stop, a first among many stops to reach what I am assuming is Ossus. Ren mentioned that the First Order had a small effort to establish a base there, but that wouldn't be a reason for a Dathomiri witch to go. As much as I know about the planet, it is almost devoid of life. The calamity of the nearby star systems nearly destroyed everything from radiation millennia ago." The general pulled up a hologram display on her handheld, and focused in on the universe where Ossus was located. Nearby, she illuminated a specific area. "This is the Cron Drift. There used to be the Cron star system here, however the parent star went supernovae. Not only is the area filled with the remnants of that system, but higher than normal concentrations of radiation and gasses left over from the planet star. As such, you cannot directly jump into hyperspace to Ossus, you must go around in several jumps." She motioned for BB8 to come over and obtain the coordinates and route to take. "I need you to scout the area- no more than that Poe." She said sternly. "If there is no First Order fleet, permission granted to scout the planet." She dismissed them, they would leave tomorrow.

Ever since they came from Yavin, Finn had been been wary of seeing Poe unless others were around, and it frustrated Poe to no end. There was something going on and he would find out. BB8 quietly beeped below. "I know you don't like what we're about to do but this is our friend." Quietly they followed Finn to his apartment, where he entered. The door closed and locked behind him. Quickly Poe made his way to the door, and looked at the round droid. BB8 already knew what they were going to do, and started to hack the door's computer mechanism. It opened a few moments later.

Finn turned, he just set his jacket down. He was wearing a tight black shirt and brown pants. His face flushed "Poe!?" The door clicked shut behind Poe.

Poe walked in and stopped a few steps before the former stormtrooper "Finn, I didn't want to do this but you've been avoiding me. I don't like it. What is going on?"

Finn's eyes narrowed "I have a lot on my mind. I just need time to think it all through."

Poe tried to not let his frustration show in his words. "So you've been avoiding me? Is it about me? Can we talk about it?" Finn broke eye contact and looked down. Poe took a breath and said calmly "Finn. You're my friend."

With those few words, Finn's shoulders relaxed and he walked and sat on the bed, and stared at his hands in his lap. Poe took one of the chairs and sat infront of him and waited. Finn inhaled and began. "Poe. You know I was a stormtrooper, for my whole life. And to help the First Order with indoctrination and control, we were drugged. We all were." Finn's words were filled with pain. "They didn't want any distractions, just loyal servitude. I had been reprimanded before for going out of my way in my squadron to help a friend. He'd always fall behind. When he died on Jakku, that's when I knew I couldn't stay there anymore. To the First Order, empathy is the least desirable trait one could have... Now I am here." Finn's dark eyes peered into Poe's. "I had more empathy for people than others in the First Order. And now I'm feeling more emotions than I even know. When I leave you, I come back here and think about them. I am worried about Rey, I care about her so much I want nothing bad to happen to her. I think I love her." Finn frowned.

Poe kept his face still while trying to ignore the icy hand that clenched his heart. But Finn admitted his confusion. Poe's heart beat against the heavy weight dread of possible rejection. He made up his mind, Finn was his friend and he would support him any way he could. "Finn, I care and love her too. Do you love anyone else?"

Finn nodded. "I think I love the people I meet and work with here, the general, and even Ren!" His eyes darted as if searching for an answer, then he closed them tightly.

Poe put his hand on Finn's, the icy grip on his heart had faded away. "Finn, I love them too." Finn opened his eyes. "But that doesn't mean I am in love with them. Rey loves Ren. You know that. And she would be sad if you stepped between them. Not to mention Ren would be upset." Poe bit his tongue to stop from laughing. Upset would be an understatement referring to Ren's reaction.

Finn's brow furrowed. Poe continued "Do you think of kissing Rey?"

Softly Finn responded "No. I understand what you mean. I care and love all of them. I wouldn't want harm to come to them at all."

Poe had subtly expressed his feelings for Finn before, but it may have been misread seeing he was confused now. "Finn." The former stormtrooper looked up. "You know. I care about you. More than just a friend." Poe moved forward on his chair and put his hand on Finn's leg. "I would never want or let anything to happen to you. I promise." Poe backed away, Finn needed to digest this.

"I had thought, maybe that is what you meant a few weeks ago. I wasn't sure. I care about you Poe, you set me free, gave me a name. I became a person." Finn's said quietly.

"You freed me too. You risked your life, because it was the right thing to do. You are brave and always try to do the right thing Finn." Poe stood up. He wanted to let Finn to have more time to think about this.

Finn stood up, and surprisingly embraced Poe. Poe fought with his desire within, but his body had other thoughts. He turned his head and kissed Finn's cheek. Finn looked startled and mouthed "Why..."

"Because you are good. I like being with you, and I want you around always. And you're not a bad shot" Poe murmured smiling. He looked into Finn's eyes and his lips hovered over Finn's mouth. Finn was trembling, his breath irregular... but his hands remained firm on Poe's waist.

"Poe..." he breathed, his lips trembled.

Poe knew. He would have to lead. He tightened his embrace around Finn and kissed him.