Rey comes to a realization, but is she too late?

The next evening found Rey nervously getting ready for this 'dance' Dar had talked her into attending with him. She had never been to one before; in fact, the only social get-togethers she had ever been to were the casual events the Resistance put on for holidays or birthdays or such. And of course, the soiree that she and Poe had just attended on Kalee. When she asked Dar what a dance was, he had told her it was exactly what it sounded like: a party where they danced. There would be live music and lots of food and drinks. When Rey told him she didn't know how to dance, he promised to teach her.

She had gone back to the cruiser for something to wear. While the outfits she had brought for their visit to Kalee, both the day suits and the fabulous evening gown, were far too fancy for what Poe called a 'Yavin Barn Dance,' she thought the dress she had worn to the meeting with Dhilnaen jai Sheelal without the robe and accessories that had accompanied it, was suitable by itself. So, she had slipped into the navy-blue sleeveless sheath, then she took her hair out of its normal tight triple bun style and brushed it, leaving it loose around her shoulders.

When she recognized Dar's voice talking with Kes, she excitedly left the bedroom and practically skipped down the hall. She smiled as she entered the sitting room, and both men turned to her, their eyes wide.

"Rey, you look lovely!" Kes exclaimed. "Not that you didn't before, but that dress suits you."

"Thank you," she said softly, glancing around the room, looking for Poe.

Dar walked up to her, pulling her attention to him. "I am going to be the envy of every person at the dance," he told her with a grin, holding out his hand. Rey let him take hers and watched as he bowed over it and kissed it. Rey felt her face heat. She hadn't realized men were so formal here on Yavin.

"Oh, good grief, Naughtstrum," Poe's voice grumbled. "Laying it on a little thick, aren't we?"

Rey turned her head to see him enter the room from the kitchen. He smirked at her, then looked at Dar.

"A beautiful woman such as this deserves to be recognized," Dar argued.

"Oh, I agree," Poe nodded. "But you don't have to embarrass them when you do." He looked at Rey, his eyes soft. "You do look lovely, Rey," he told her. "I hope you have fun tonight."

Why did his simple compliment make her feel more special than that of the other two men, she wondered? And why did it also make her sad? "You should come, Poe," she said suddenly. While she was excited to spend the evening with Dar, she didn't like the idea of Poe staying here. "You can ask Saramia to come with you."

Poe laughed softly, shaking his head. "Saramia and I never did enjoy these kind of parties, even when we were kids. But you should experience one at least once. I think you'll have a great time, and Dar will take good care of you." He looked at the man, his expression serious. Dar looked back, his expression equally somber, and Rey sensed some sort of private communication between the men.

After a long moment, Dar nodded. "Let's go," he told Rey, then tucked her hand, which he was still holding, under his elbow. "We'll see you both later," he said to Poe and Kes, then turned toward the door. Rey followed, but looked over her shoulder at Poe just before walking out. His expression was hard, almost angry. He made eye contact with her, but then looked away quickly. As if he was ashamed.

More than a little unsettled by all the things that hadn't been said, Rey tried to get comfortable in the passenger seat of Dar's speeder. It was still daylight, but the sun was getting low. Yavin was almost pink in the south, with most of the gas giant visible above the horizon. The sounds of the jungle around her were soothing, and Rey enjoyed the ride back into the village, answering Dar's occasional question.

All too soon, they had arrived. Rey's nerves took over once more as Dar led her from the general parking area and down the main street of the village. She could hear music coming from a large building on the far side of the square, and several people stood just outside the open door, most with drinks in their hands, talking and laughing. Dar stopped and introduced her to a couple of people as they headed for the door, and finally they stepped inside.

The lights were fairly low, but Rey could also feel that the building was artificially cooled, which was a good thing considering the amount of physical activity that was occurring. Dozens of people, mostly human (the majority of Wetyin's Colony's population was human), were coursing on the open floor in the center of the room. There was no real rhyme or reason to their dancing, but they were sure having fun.

Rey looked at Dar. "That's how you dance?"

He laughed. "Well, they do have more organized dances, but they're just letting off some steam right now. Things get a little slower as the evening goes on."

Rey learned that he was correct, as she joined him on the dance floor for the first few rousing jigs, but eventually he brought her into his arms and began to teach her dances with actual steps to them. Rey caught on quickly, and she found herself laughing and breathless in no time. They stopped for snacks and drinks, and Dar introduced her to several of his friends. They were all very curious about her, but Dar didn't elaborate or tell any of them that she was there with Poe.

As the night wore on, the dancing became slower. At first, she felt more than a little self-conscious dancing close to her partner, but she started to enjoy it. He was so much taller than her, his body strong and powerful, but he was so gentle with her. Despite their activity, he still smelled amazingly good, and his touch was not just enjoyable, it made her feel excited. She was inexperienced sexually, but she wasn't naive; she knew what she was feeling was mild arousal.

Eventually, the crowd around them began to diminish, and after one more slow song, Dar looked at her, his eyes hooded, his voice deep and rough. "Are you ready to get out of here?"

"Where?" she whispered.

"I have an apartment just a few blocks away," he told her.

Rey's heart started beating faster. Should she? There was no reason not to. Nobody back with the Resistance had ever made her feel this way, at least not intentionally. Nobody back at the Resistance had ever made advances toward her. She may be fighting a war, but that was no reason to not take time for herself. To explore. To learn. To love.

She nodded. There was only one other man that had ever made her feel this way, and he would never look at her like Dar was looking at her now. It was time to take a step into new territory. They would leave here soon and she may never see Dar again, but for now she could enjoy what he was offering. There was no one there to tell her no.

They left the hall and started walking down the street. It had gotten dark while they had been inside, but the village was well lit, and Yavin was now a bright red and higher in the sky. They walked past shops closed for the night, and a few tapcafes and cantinas that were still open. He led her to one of those cantinas, but he turned down the alley next to it, then up a stairway along the side of the building.

"I'm surprised you don't live at the Temple," she said as he punched his code in.

"Sometimes it feels like I do," he told her with a smile. The door opened and he turned on the interior light, motioning for her to enter. Everything about the situation was inviting. The man, the comfortably furnished room in front of her, the relaxed lethargy that had filled her while she had been dancing. And yet, she hesitated.

Dar seemed to understand. He stepped into her space, gently cupping her face in his big hands. "If you don't want to do this, I understand."

Rey licked her lips. "I do," she said. "But… I've never…"

His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Never?"

Rey shook her head. "I've never wanted to. Until…"

Dar tilted his head at her. "Until?"

Rey blinked at him. "There's one man I've thought about. But he has no interest in me that way."

Dar scoffed. "He's crazy."

Rey shrugged. "I'm just not his type," she said. "Plus, he's my superior, so…"

He cocked his head. "You're talking about Poe, aren't you?"

Rey winced. She hadn't meant to let him know. "I…" She shook her head. "It doesn't matter, does it?"

Dar frowned a bit, but then leaned into her. "Let's find out." He brought his lips close to hers, then stopped.

She completed the connection, leaning up to touch her lips to his. He brought his hands down to her shoulders and stepped closer, increasing the pressure of his lips against hers. She felt his tongue gently touch her, and she parted her lips in response. He continued kissing her, softly, gently, with hypnotic strokes of his tongue. She liked it very much, and she placed her hands on his chest, enjoying the heat of his body.

He pulled back and opened his eyes. Rey looked back at him, feeling an odd disconnection all of a sudden. As if it wasn't really her standing here kissing this man. As if she was watching it happen from a distance. She frowned.

"What's wrong?" he whispered, seeing her expression change.

"I…" She stopped, a strange certainty filling her. "I don't think I'm ready for this." Maybe she never would be, she thought. She gave Dar an apologetic look. "I'm sorry."

Dar swallowed and nodded. "I understand." He stepped back. "Let me take you back to Kes'."

Rey shook her head. "It's not that far. I'd really like to walk."

"Are you sure?"

She smiled. "I think you know I can take care of myself, Dar."

He nodded again, resigned.

"Goodnight, and thank you. I had a lot of fun." She turned to head back down the stairs.

"Rey?" he called out when she was half-way down.

She stopped and looked back up.

"I think you're wrong about Poe. I think he's very interested in you. He was not happy about me taking you out."

Rey stared at him. "What?"

"I don't know why he lets you believe otherwise, but if I were you, I'd push him to tell you the truth." He gave her a sad smile. "You both deserve to be happy, and if you find that with each other, you just might give each other even more incentive to win this war. Goodnight."

Rey watched as he disappeared inside his apartment, then continued down the stairs. She turned in the direction that would lead back to the Dameron farm, her mind a jumble of thoughts after hearing Dar's words. She passed another cantina, and just around the corner stood a couple making out. Rey immediately averted her eyes, wanting to give them privacy, but something made her glance up as she was almost past. She stopped short, realizing she recognized them.

It was Poe and Saramia.

XXXXXX