Rey sat on the couch next to Poe, her fingers intwined with his, as she listened to Dr. Krennic explain the procedure a second time for Poe's benefit. Her heart was racing and her whole body was thrumming with excitement. Only in her wildest dreams during her darkest times had she imagined something like this. It had to be a miracle that this man had developed this treatment less than a year after she was blinded.

"It's basically laser therapy," the doctor was saying. "It helps stimulate and encourage damaged tissue to repair itself. It's been used externally for years, but I've developed a computer program that makes it much safer to use internally, as in the brain."

"Much safer?" she heard Poe comment. "How safe?"

"Well, as with any kind of brain surgery, there is risk, and this procedure is still experimental," Dr. Krennic explained. "But I have had complete success with three patients so far, and the odds will only improve the more experience I have." She heard him sigh. "I know it doesn't sound like great odds, but that's why I'm seeking out volunteers privately, and not advertising, yet."

Poe asked a few more basic questions, making Rey's nerves spark even though she knew they were necessary. If she could, she would say 'yes' right now, but she knew she needed to at least pretend to think about it. Eventually, Dr. Krennic took his leave and Rey comfortably escorted him to the door, letting him know she would call with her answer as soon as possible.

She turned back toward the living room, where the most important people in her life sat.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "I want to do it."

"We know you do, Rey," she heard Leia say softly. "But let's get all the facts, first."

"We got all the facts from him," Rey argued, waving her hand back toward the door where Krennic had exited.

"All the positive facts," Dr. Kanata added.

Rey rolled her eyes. "I know there are some negatives, but if I can have even the slightest chance of being able to see again…" She walked back toward the couch, reaching out. Poe's hand met hers and directed her to sit back down next to him.

"Rey, as soon as he called me asking about you, I did my research," Maz told her. "I knew you needed to meet him and learn about what he was doing, despite what I found."

"What did you find?" Her father's voice was rough.

"The procedure has merit," Maz continued. "But as he said, it's risky. Playing around with the brain is always risky." She took a deep breath. "So far, fifteen people have undergone the surgery, and only three have been successful."

"So, the odds aren't good," Rey interrupted. "But it's still worth the risk."

"You haven't let me tell you about the other twelve patients," Maz said, her voice soft but firm.

Rey swallowed and cleared her throat. "Okay."

"Four of them had no effects from the surgery, either good or bad. No change in their eyesight, but no trouble, either. Three regained partial sight." She stopped and sighed heavily. "The other five were not so fortunate. Three suffered partial loss of memory, speech, and balance. They are currently relearning how to do it all, with no recovery of their vision. One recovered her vision, but had complete loss of memory and coordination, and the last had no vision improvement and is now completely paralyzed and unable to speak. They are awake but not aware. Both will spend the rest of their lives in care units."

Rey felt Poe's fingers grip her hand tighter, and she herself felt a moment of panic, but then the memory of riding through the cypress trees watching a sunset flowed through her brain. Squeezing Poe's fingers back, she said firmly, "I still think it's worth the risk."

"Worth the risk?!" her father practically shouted. "With odds like that? Rey, think of what you would be giving up if this surgery doesn't work! You might not be able to ride again, to walk, to talk!" She heard him stand and start pacing the room.

"Luke," Leia said, trying to calm her brother.

Rey became defensive. "You don't know what it's been like for me not being able to see, Daddy!" she argued. "This is my decision, not yours! My life, not yours!"

"It may not be my life, but it will affect my life!" he countered. "It will affect all our lives!" She heard him stop in the middle of the room. "How do you think we'll feel watching you become a vegetable, huh? You worried about being a burden when you lost your vision. What about when you can't even move by yourself?"

"Luke!" Leia's voice was sharp now.

Rey felt anger flow through her. "It's worth the risk!" she snapped.

"Argh!" Luke groaned. "Leia, do you think it's worth the risk?"

There was silence for a moment as her aunt contemplated the question. "Personally, no, I don't think it is, but…" she paused as Rey huffed. "Maybe you should sleep on it?"

"Well, I think it's crazy," Han interjected for the first time, always unafraid to offer his opinion. "You're not some test animal, Rey. If this surgery is so miraculous, then wait a few years until you see more results and hopefully there will be less risk."

"That's not a bad idea," Leia agreed.

"I don't want to wait!" Rey pushed, knowing deep down she was letting her emotional desire to be healed control her actions right now. Logic had flown out the window the moment Krennic had told her he could help her see. "The Olympics are less than two years away. If I want any chance, I need to start being competitive now!"

"Oh, God, Rey!" her father groused. "You're young enough there will be plenty of Olympics for you in the future."

"Not for Bee!" Rey countered.

"Oh, Jesus!" Luke swore, and Rey could just envision him running his hand over his face. "Poe, you're the only one she'll listen to apparently. What are your thoughts on this?"

Rey suddenly realized that, though he had been holding her hand this entire time, Poe had remained silent. She tensed, knowing her father was right. Poe's opinion was the only one that really mattered to her.

"I think," he said slowly, "that this should be Rey's decision and Rey's decision alone. I will back her on whatever she decides."

Rey felt overwhelming gratitude roar through her. Finally, someone on her side. Poe knew her better than anyone, so she shouldn't have been surprised. He knew how much being able to see and compete normally again meant to her.

Luke wasn't as grateful. "Of course, you will," he said sarcastically. "You want her to compete in the Olympics just as much as she does. You want her to win you the Individual Gold medal that you didn't."

Rey gasped. "That's not fair!" she cried, immediately defensive. "Poe has never pushed me beyond what he knew I was capable of! If he'd just wanted medals out of me, he would have made me get a new horse like all the other trainers I've worked with wanted to do. He wants me to be happy and he knows being able to see again will make me happy!"

Suddenly, Maz spoke. "Let's table this discussion for today, shall we?" Rey heard the small woman stand. "There's a lot of emotion in this room right now, and what Rey needs is a chance to center herself and think about her options. Like Leia said, I think she needs to sleep on it." She paused. "In the end, it is indeed her decision, and none of us can make it for her."

With no small amount of grumbling, Rey's father, aunt and uncle, and Maz all exited the house, leaving Rey and Poe alone.

After a moment, Rey turned toward Poe. "Are you hungry?" she asked. "I haven't eaten yet tonight and I think I'm too excited to right now, but I can warm something up for you."

"No," he answered. "I'm not hungry." He paused. "It's a lot to take in," he told her. "It's exhausting just thinking about."

"Yeah," she said softly. "Maybe sleeping on it is a good thing."

"Yeah," Poe answered, touching her face softly with his hand. "Let's go to bed."

But Rey knew she was far too wired to sleep quite yet. However, there were other things to do in the bedroom.

XXXXXX