It's date night!

It was shortly after four P.M. on Saturday when Rey began panicking.

She had spent the last twenty hours in a blissful daze, oftentimes finding herself rubbing her lips and staring off into space, remembering the sensations from Poe's kisses the night before. So, it wasn't until she started thinking about getting ready for her date with him that a certain realization hit. She had no clue how to get ready without her vision, and she sure as heck wasn't going to ask her dad, who had been less than enthusiastic after witnessing her and Poe making out in a parked pickup in front of the house, to help.

She needed a female friend, and unfortunately, she was sadly lacking in them. While she could name several women who she showed with, and others that she worked with or knew from her night classes, they could only be classified as acquaintances. A handful of them had sent cards or flowers to her hospital room after her accident, but not one had followed up to see how she was doing since. She wasn't showing, or working, or going to classes anymore, so she was of no consequence to them. Even Rose, who she adored, was only a 'barn friend,' not someone whom she had ever spent time with away from Yavin Stables.

But Rose was the only one she could think to call for help, and bless her heart, she responded without hesitation, showing up at Luke's house within fifteen minutes of Rey's call. Luke had grudgingly showed Rose to Rey's room, where the smaller woman began to excitedly chatter about the upcoming evening.

"Oh, my God, Rey!" she said as she started setting up. "Do you know how long Finn and I have been waiting for this? I know you don't know, but Finn has been pushing Poe to ask you out since before your accident! I am so stoked this is happening!"

"Really?" Rey asked, flabbergasted. "I had no idea he looked at me that way, even back then." She knew, after Poe's reason for not wanting to take her on as a student again, why he had not made a move all those months ago, but it was still thrilling to think that he had been as attracted to her as she had been to him. And it was also somewhat comforting knowing that his interest hadn't started because he felt sorry for her after her accident.

"Okay, so you need help with makeup," Rose started, settling down to the business at hand. "And how do you want your hair? Oooh! Maybe we should get you dressed, first." Rey heard her move over to the closet. "What do you want to wear?"

Rey had put some thought into this one. "There's a dark green sundress in there," she told Rose. "I don't think I ever had a chance to wear it in public. It's nice without being too formal."

She heard Rose sort through the clothing hanging in her closet, most of which Rey hadn't worn since before the accident. She usually settled for shorts and camis at home, changing into breeches to ride and a skirt to go out with her father. Dresses, suits, and fancy footwear had been ignored. "There's a pair of low-heeled black sandals in there, too." She winced. "Maybe not those. I can't imagine what my toes look like."

"Do you want me to paint your nails?" Rose inquired. "It won't take long."

"I…I couldn't ask that of you," Rey stuttered.

"Why not?" Rose demanded. "We've got time for me to do your fingers, too! Rey, we are going all out, here. Not that Poe needs to see you all gussied up; I think he thinks you're pretty spectacular covered in horse slobber."

Rey giggled.

"But let's knock his socks off, shall we?"

After a moment, Rey nodded. "Okay."

The next hour was probably one of the most amazing hours of Rey's life. She had never had a girl friend to really open up to, and by the time Rose had painted her fingers and toes (Rose told her she had chosen a dark purple color for both), helped her dress, and did her makeup ("please keep it simple," Rey had told her), the two of them had shared several stories about the men in their lives, good and bad.

"I never expected to find Finn," Rose was saying as she brushed Rey's hair. "He's just… I don't know how to describe it. He just gets me."

Rey smiled. "I know what you mean," she said softly. "I've felt that about Poe from day one. I was so nervous to meet him, having watched him compete for years, and he was just so… real. I didn't see 'Poe Dameron the Olympic medalist,' I just saw Poe, a normal guy and fellow horse lover." She shrugged. "I never believed he would see me as more than a groupie with an Olympic dream."

"Oh, he always saw more than that," Rose told her. "Though I do think that dream was his, too. He was always saying how you and BeeBee were the real deal and he wanted to see you both get there." Rey heard her sigh. "I'm so sorry you won't."

Rey blinked fast, pushing back the tears that still came so easily. "Me, too," she whispered. "But, I'm riding again. And loving it. And I'm about to go out on a date with the most handsome man I've ever known."

"Lord, he is sexy, isn't he?" Rose giggled.

"Rose!" Rey exclaimed, laughing. "You are taken!"

"Hey, just because I'm committed to someone else, doesn't mean I can't look." They giggled again. "Hair up or down?" Rose asked.

"Down," Rey said without hesitation. "I never wear it down at the barn."

Just as Rose set down the hairbrush Rey heard the doorbell ring. She stiffened and her heart started racing. "Is it six?"

"Almost," Rose said. "He's early as usual," she grumbled good naturedly.

Rey took a deep breath, trying to slow her pulse the same way she did before she rode a test at a horse show. "I don't know why I'm so nervous," she whispered. "It's not like I haven't known him for over a year." She stood, realizing with some amusement that even the low heels she was wearing made her feel off balance. "How do I look?"

"Amazing," Rose told her softly. "Has he ever seen you dressed up?"

Rey shrugged. "Well, I used to wear sundresses to the competitor parties," she answered. "And there was Suralinda's wedding." Suralinda was a fellow dressage rider who used to train with Poe. "But I never stayed long and I don't think he even looked at me."

Rose snorted. "I'm sure he did," she said. "He just made sure no one saw him looking at you." She touched Rey on the elbow. "Let's go."

Nodding, Rey headed for the door to her bedroom, grabbing her folded cane from its spot on the dresser next to the door. She heard Rose follow behind her.

As Rey descended the stairs, she didn't hear any voices, and she wondered if maybe they had been wrong and it wasn't Poe at the door. But then she heard movement and the scent of Poe's soap and aftershave reached her, stronger than normal. For once, there was no smell of horse. She couldn't help but smile; it appeared he had cleaned up for her as much as she had cleaned up for him.

"Rey," she heard him say, his voice breathy. Then, with a little more firmness, "Hey, Rose." There was a bit of a question in his greeting.

"Hey," Rose answered from behind her.

Rey reached the bottom of the stairs. "Rose helped me get ready," she explained.

"Well, thank you," Poe said to the other woman. "You did a great job, Rose," he continued. "You look stunning, Rey."

Rey's heart started racing again. "Thank you."

"Okay, get out of here," Luke suddenly said. While Rey had been aware of his familiar presence, she had pretty much forgotten he was there. "You guys are making me sick." Though he sounded gruff, Rey recognized humor in his voice, and she was grateful; she really didn't want her father to be against this relationship.

"Should I have her back by a certain time, Mr. Skywalker?" Poe's voice held more than a little sarcasm.

"You know what, I should probably say 'yes'," Luke griped. "But no." Then he amended, "Just so it's before dawn."

"It will be," Poe answered immediately. "This time," he added quietly.

Rey felt her face heat as she heard Rose giggle madly behind her.

Luke grumbled and Rey heard him turn away back toward the living room. She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud and turned toward Rose. "Thanks again, Rose."

"Any time," the woman answered, a smile in her voice.

She felt Poe grasp her right hand gently and he lifted it to tuck it under his elbow. "Ready?" he asked, his voice soft and deeper than normal.

She nodded, unable to speak. Every time he had helped guide her in the past, he would take her elbow, leading her that way. But this time he let her take his arm, just as a woman who could see would do if he proffered it. It made her feel feminine and protected without feeling like she was being directed. He wore a long-sleeved shirt of some soft material she loved to touch, and she could feel the heat of his body underneath it. She leaned into him, allowing her breast to press lightly against his arm, and almost immediately she felt his lips close to her ear. "Let's go," he said softly, and he started walking. She noticed right away that she couldn't hear his cane. She followed, keeping her own folded cane in her left hand, knowing she probably wouldn't need it much tonight. She had a feeling Poe wasn't going to let her go until he absolutely had to.

Her heart was racing again, but she felt a difference from what it had been doing before. Her nervousness had been replaced by excitement.

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