Okay, here we go!

If Rey had thought she was in love with Poe Dameron before her accident, there was no question she was now. His words and his actions and his singular devotion to not just helping her ride again, but his spending time with her away from the barn, made her seriously consider that he might be looking at her as something other than a student and a friend, something she had never allowed herself to believe before. Fantasize about, yes. But she never really expected it to come true.

As she continued on her journey through blindness, she began to take joy in things other than being at the barn, and while she knew a lot of that was just simply because she was adapting and feeling less fear and pressure, she had to admit a lot of it was thanks to Poe's constant support. While going out to be with him and BeeBee was still the highlight of her day, she found herself spending more time doing things with her father. By nature, both she and Luke Skywalker were introverted people and even before her accident neither of them liked to do much in public. But they began a new tradition of going out to eat together every Thursday night. Part of this new habit was just so Rey could practice being in public in a controlled environment, but it was also a way to just spend time together. Other than watching movies, which Rey couldn't really do anymore, they had no real shared interests. Luke was not a horseman, often bemoaning the fact that Rey got her 'horsiness' from her mother, Mara. Nor did he really like being outdoors, which baffled Rey, because she knew her father had grown up on a farm. Eating out together proved to be an opportune time to just be together and talk about nothing and everything.

Audible became Rey's new favorite site, and when she wasn't at the barn, she was listening to it almost constantly. She still visited with Dr. Kanata once a week, but she was able to bow out of the group sessions. Dr. Kanata had told Rey honestly that she needed to keep up with her 'horseplay,' as she called it, because it was doing far more for her mental wellbeing than anything else in Rey's life. She asked about Poe often, and Rey had finally admitted her crush. "I don't expect anything more," she told the psychologist. "I don't think I could stand to lose his friendship, so I can't expect anything more."

"It sounds to me like more might happen whether you expect it or not," the Doctor said, and Rey could hear the smile in her voice. "I think you should take a chance, Rey," she continued. "Not a big one, but throw out some feelers. It may be he's thinking the exact same thing you are, and won't make a move because he doesn't want to lose you as a friend."

Rey pondered the woman's words. Granted, there had been a lot more touching happening between her and Poe recently, more than was really necessary for him to help her. What if Dr. Kanata was right and Poe wanted more but didn't think Rey did? Or maybe he still thought of Rey as a student, and despite romantic feelings toward her, wouldn't cross that line? How could she let him know she wanted him to make a move, that it wasn't inappropriate?

After their beach visit, Poe let Rey continue to ride BeeBee. Their first two lessons together were on the lunge, which Bee thought was exceedingly boring. He told them so by giving several small bucks, or crow-hops, while cantering. They made Rey laugh out loud. BeeBee often did them in his younger years when he was frustrated with something; to her, BeeBee's actions meant he was back to normal.

Poe moved their lessons into the covered arena on Friday. At first, Rey felt the familiar panic of being asked to do something new, but Bee took care of her. More than once, she felt him swerve in slightly as they traversed a circle, and she knew she had made the circle too big and had come too close to the arena wall. Instead of warning her, Poe would just do a slight cluck with his tongue when Bee ducked in, easily audible to Rey as Poe now wore his wireless microphone. After the third time Bee saved her leg from hitting the wall, she stopped, frustrated.

"Isn't there a way you can tell me I'm circling too big before we almost hit the wall?" she asked Poe, discouragement filling her.

"Nope," he said simply. "You need to learn to feel the distance, Rey. You need to be able to tell from the bend of his body how large that circle is going to be. I can't help you do that, and BeeBee is the only one who can tell you when you're wrong." He paused. "You've ridden twenty-meter circles on horseback since you were a child, and on BeeBee for the last several years. You can feel when it's correct. Stop thinking and worrying about if you're doing everything right. Just ride."

Rey took a deep breath and nodded. She asked Bee to move forward again and they continued on with the lesson. Poe kept them at a walk and trot, not wanting to go too fast on their first lesson free of the lunge, and Rey didn't complain. Despite the fact she had been riding three days a week, she could already feel her body getting tired and sore; the combination of riding and controlling her horse's direction and speed while keeping her body as still as possible was the kind of workout people who didn't ride horses would never understand.

Finally, the hour had come to an end, and both she and Bee were sweating heavily. While the summer was always hot and muggy, the humidity had been extra high today, and thunderstorms had moved through earlier in the afternoon, which left the air feeling fresh but heavy this evening.

Poe walked at BeeBee's head as they left the arena and travelled across the gravel to the barn. He stayed close as Rey dismounted, loosened the saddle girth, then led Bee inside the much cooler barn. All the horses had already been turned out for the evening and the staff had left for the night so it was very quiet. As usual, Poe stayed close as Rey took off Bee's saddle and bridle, then led him to the wash bay to hose the sweat off Bee's body. He never helped, but was always near if she needed it, and that fact comforted her as much as it made her feel guilty. She hosed off Bee, using her free hand to feel where she was spraying the water, and got almost as wet as the horse, but it felt good. She slicked the water off of his body, then nodded in Poe's direction, ready to take him to pasture, knowing Bee would roll as soon as he got out there and get all muddy. But horses needed to be horses; she would just give him an extra good grooming tomorrow.

Poe walked with her to the gate to the south pasture, and Rey could hear the unevenness of his gait.

"You're hurting tonight," she said simply.

"A bit," Poe responded.

They reached the gate and Poe opened it for her so she could lead Bee in and take off his halter, then he took her elbow gently to lead her back out and closed it behind her. She heard him snort.

"Is Bee rolling?"

"Yep."

She smiled and was about to ask if there was anything she could do to help his aching back when she heard a car pull onto the property. She turned her head toward the sound as Poe softly hissed, "Great."

"Who is it?" Rey asked.

Poe gently grasped her elbow and turned her back toward the barn. Her cane was in the grooming bay where she left it when she rode. "Zorii Bliss," Poe answered her.

Great, Rey thought, echoing Poe's sentiments. Zorii had started bringing her son to ride with Poe last December. Though she acted pleasant enough, Rey had always felt that the woman didn't like her. She was several years older than Rey, petite, with large green eyes and a girl-next-door countenance that made her seem far more kind than she really was. Though she had never said anything outrightly rude to Rey, she had commented with more than a few subtle insults toward Rey more than once. It didn't help that she was beautiful and funny and rich.

She was perfect for Poe.

"Hi," she heard the woman say brightly as they neared her car. "I… uh… didn't think you gave lessons this late? I didn't realize you were riding again, Rey."

Rey could smell the woman's perfume now, and knew she probably looked as good as she smelled. She didn't hear Bobby, Zorii's son, who was normally a chatty little boy, so she knew the woman was most likely alone. On a Friday night. Her chest suddenly tight, Rey immediately understood why Zorii was here.

Embarrassment washed over her and she became very aware of how she probably looked: old breeches and boots, dirty camisole with no bra, no makeup, her hair pulled back in a messy braid with helmet head, and smelling of horses and sweat.

"Rey's not really a student anymore," she heard Poe tell the woman. "I've been working with her and BeeBee on my own time."

Rey nodded emphatically. "But we're done, now," she said a little too quickly. "And I'm ready to go home."

"Rey?" she heard Poe start. "Don't you want..?"

"In fact, I can call my dad and he can come get me so you can go do whatever," Rey continued.

"That sounds like a great idea," she heard Zorii say, and she could hear the smile in the woman's voice.

There was silence for a moment, then Poe's grip on her elbow tightened. "No," he said firmly. "My plans tonight include driving Rey home, then turning in for the night." He sighed. "I'm sorry, Zorrii. It's been a long week, so if you came out here to see if I wanted to go out, the answer is no. The answer will always be no."

The silence that followed was deafening, and the only thing Rey could hear for a while was her own heartbeat. She was pretty sure Poe could hear it, too.

Finally, Zorii spoke, and there was venom in her voice. "Well, I never took you for someone who went after the younger kind, especially your own students."

Poe's voice became angry, but controlled. "Rey is not a student and she is well above the age of consent, Ms. Bliss, so if you plan on spreading rumors, please remember to include my strict guidelines in regards to minors, which I know you read and signed before bringing Bobby to ride here."

"I would never do that, Poe," Zorii said immediately, and Rey could hear what sounded like true contrition in her voice. "I'm sorry. It's just…" she sighed. "I really like you and…" Another pause. "I'll go now. Both of you have a good night."

Rey stood, slightly stunned as Zorii left. What just happened?

"Do you still want to go home, or do you want to stay and relax for a bit?" Poe's voice was soft.

Still feeling a bit numb, Rey managed to mumble, "I'd like to go home."

"Okay," Poe answered, his own voice almost inaudible. "I'll get your cane."

Within minutes, she was in his pickup and they were on the way back to her father's house. Though she had felt fine after her ride, her head was throbbing now, and she rested it on the cool glass of the passenger side window as Poe silently drove. She could feel the tension coming off of him, but she didn't know what to say to ease it. Had he just been defending his position as a trainer with his words, or had he also been defending a possible relationship with her? How did she ask? Should she ask or should she just pretend nothing had happened? Obviously her first thought that Zorii had come to Poe's house in the evenings before tonight was wrong, but that didn't mean he wasn't seeing someone else. But then why was he always so comfortable having her stay after her lesson on Friday nights? Why had he seemed upset she hadn't wanted to stay tonight?

She felt the truck stop and knew she was home, but she didn't move. And neither did he.

She cleared her throat. "Poe, I really wish you would let me start regular lessons again. I'm sure my dad would be perfectly fine paying for three sessions a week like before, and then you'll have your evenings free again."

"No." His voice was sharp. "I'm not taking you as a student."

Rey rubbed her forehead and frowned at him. "I don't understand. I'm riding in the arena on my own horse again. Why can't it go back to the way it was before?"

"Because, I…" She heard him take a deep breath. "Because if you're my student again, I won't be able to do this."

She heard the seat belt click open and felt him slide across the bench seat toward her. Once more he cupped her cheek with one hand and she felt his face come close, his nose brushing hers. He paused, and Rey held her breath. He was asking for permission, she thought. Swallowing nervously, she nodded.

And then Poe Dameron kissed her.

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