As soon as Poe logged off after the communication with Leia, he discussed with both Rey and Kes what needed to be done. He was quite sure the First Order wouldn't send a large force right away; they would want to be sure of the information first. Rey and Poe determined that they could take care of the person or persons sent, either dispatching them and faking a message back to the First Order that the information was false, or luring them away from Yavin IV before taking care of them so the First Order wouldn't send in anyone else to the moon. But, in case either plan didn't work, Poe went into the village to inform the leader of the local militia of what might be coming.

While he was gone, Rey tried burning up her nervous energy by practicing with Luke's lightsaber. She was so absorbed with her maneuvers that she didn't hear or see Dar pull up to the house in his speeder.

Rey lunged, then feinted, then twirled the blade around as she let her mind focus on what to do next.

"That is kriffing amazing," Dar said from a few yards behind her.

She turned, surprised he had essentially snuck up on her, but then reminded herself that she had not only become extremely comfortable here on the Dameron property, feeling protected and sheltered, but that she was lacking sleep; sharing a bed with Poe Dameron wasn't the best idea when one needed rest.

"Dar," she said, acknowledging him while she shut down the saber.

"Have you ever actually had to fight anyone with one of those?" he asked, his expression open and curious.

Rey took a deep breath, her thoughts going back to the two times she had actually used this blade in serious, life-threatening situations. "Yes," she nodded. "I have."

"And you're still here," Dar said with a smile. "So, you must know what you're doing."

Rey snorted a laugh. "I'm still not so sure of that." She walked up to him. "What are you doing here?"

He looked a bit embarrassed. "I wanted to come check on you. I've been hearing rumors in the village and I wanted to make sure that if they were true that everything is okay."

"Rumors?"

"About you and Poe," Dar continued.

Rey felt her face heat and she looked away from Dar for a moment. Looking back at him, she nodded. "They aren't rumors. And everything is very okay."

Dar grinned. "I knew it! He was jealous that night, wasn't he?"

She smiled back. "And I was jealous of Saramia, so we were both being fools."

"Well, I'm glad you both worked it out," Dar continue. "Poe is a very lucky man."

"That remains to be seen," Rey said with a roll of her eyes. "Both Poe and I are rather hot-headed, and I somehow doubt being in a relationship with each other is going to mean we see eye-to-eye on everything."

Dar shrugged. "At least now you know how to make up after a fight." He winked.

Rey felt her face heat even more as she laughed. The sound of a speeder caught her attention, and they both looked to see Poe pulling up next to Dar's speeder. Dar looked back at Rey. "Are you two going to be staying much longer?" he asked.

Suddenly reminded about the threat they were under, Rey shrugged nonchalantly. "Probably not. We've got work to do."

Dar nodded, then looked at Poe as the older man walked up to them. His expression was pleasant, but there was a bit of wariness in his eyes as he looked at Dar.

"Hey," he said as he walked up to Rey, not so casually putting his arm around her.

"Hey," Dar responded with a smile. "I gotta get back to the Temple, but I guess I should say goodbye in case I don't see you again before you leave."

"Goodbye, Dar," Rey said as she slipped her own arm around Poe's back. "And thank you."

He winked at her again. "Don't be a stranger, Dameron," he told Poe, then turned back toward his speeder.

As they watched him drive off, Rey rested her head on Poe's shoulder. "Do you think we should have told him what's going on?"

Poe shook his head. "We don't want to start a panic," he said. "The Yavin patrol authorities agreed with me. They said most families, especially those that live outside the town limits, are still comfortable with weapons, so they'll be able to defend themselves if a broad alert is announced. But hopefully they won't need to."

Rey lifted her head and looked at his furrowed brow. "We can handle it," she said softly.

Swallowing, Poe nodded sharply. Together, they headed back into the house.

Later that night, after a subdued meal with Kes, they lay naked together in the little bed in the guest room, the sweat from their lovemaking slowly drying as they came down from their Force-laden high. Rey's head was pillowed on Poe's shoulder, and he was gently stroking her upper arm. Up. Down. Up. Down.

Rey didn't think she would be able to sleep, but Poe's repetitive movement lulled her under. She wasn't sure how long she slept, however, when she was awakened by a familiar and unwanted presence.

She sat up slowly, glancing down to make sure Poe was still sleeping, then she grabbed his shirt from the foot of the bed, pulling it on before sliding out from under the covers. She was unsurprised to see a man sitting on the other side of the room, his expression dark, his obsidian eyes glowing red, as if lights from a cockpit display were being reflected in them.

Kylo Ren

His gaze met hers. The combined anger and desire that filled them sent a shiver of fear up Rey's spine, but she didn't look away.

"I haven't seen you this clearly since before Crait," Ren said, his voice low. "What's changed?"

Rey shrugged, trying for nonchalance. "I was distracted."

Ren's eyes raked her up and down. "Sharing someone's bed, no doubt."

Rey lifted her chin, but didn't answer. She knew Poe's shirt, though larger than her own, still barely covered the essentials.

"You've changed," Ren said softly. "I can feel it. More confident. More mature. You're not a little girl anymore."

"I've never been a little girl," Rey growled. "You know that better than anybody."

He cocked his head. "Where are you?"

Rey smirked. "You really think I'll tell you that?" She paused. "Where are you?"

"On my way to a place I haven't been since I was a child," he said, his voice conversational now. "I was told by someone who is desperately trying to earn my approval that you were there. I didn't want to believe him, if only because I didn't want to go back. But this won't be the first time I've gone against my better judgement because of you."

Rey stayed silent.

"It was one of my parent's favorite places to visit. A cute little house surrounded by jungle. A koyo orchard. A Uneti tree."

Rey felt herself tense. She couldn't help it.

"Is that where you are?" Ren asked, almost purring. He looked behind her. She knew he couldn't see her surroundings, but she felt herself stand straighter, ready to defend. Ren looked back at her. "Is that whose bed you came from? The pilot? Young Dameron?" He gave her a mocking pout. "Rey, I'm so disappointed. He's so boring. So weak."

Rey suddenly felt a surge of energy flow through her, a swelling of the Force. Poe was awake. Almost immediately, the fear and tension she had been fighting disappeared. She smiled at Ren. "You don't really believe that," she said, her voice soft but full of venom. "You've been in his head. You know just what he's capable of." She took a step forward, toward the man of her nightmares. "Just as you know what I'm capable of. Imagine what we can accomplish together."

"You think he can give you more than I can?"

"I know he can."

Ren was silent for a while. "I can't wait to prove you wrong."

"I can't wait for you to try." With that, Rey lifted her hand, pushing with the Force, and Ren disappeared.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to look behind her. Poe was sitting up in the bed, his eyes wide. She saw both fear and awe in his gaze. She knew he hadn't seen Ren, but that he knew exactly who she had been talking to. Rey licked her lips.

"He's almost here," she said. "And I think he's alone."

XXXXXX