Chapter Text
Poe’s head was nestled in Finn’s shoulder. His wayward curls tickled Finn’s neck and his stubble was a cat’s tongue on Finn’s skin. The sensation sent shivers of amazement and warmth through Finn. Poe pressed a kiss to Finn’s velvet skin and was met with a metal link.
Lifting his head, Poe’s mouth dropped open.
Missing the snuggle, Finn said, “What’s wrong?”
Not quite able to articulate words, Poe brought his hand up to Finn’s chest. Slowly he traced the chain, Poe’s chain, which was now around Finn’s neck. Poe’s calloused fingers followed the chain around Finn’s neck, down the other side of his chest, ending at Finn’s center in a ring, Poe’s mother’s wedding ring.
“How did you – “ Poe murmured in confusion and awe.
Finn was staring at the ring aghast. He hadn’t noticed it until Poe sketched it on Finn’s body. Finn had noticed it before on Poe. The ring always hung around Poe’s neck, a reminder of Shara’s love, his parents' love, and the promise that one day Poe would give it to the being that he wanted to spend his life with. Finn had twirled it with his tongue when he was showering Poe with all he had to give. However, he would never ever take it like this.
He gasped in a combination of horror and fear at the way Poe might react.
“I didn’t – I don’t think – I didn’t mean – I’m sorry.”
Finn reached up hurriedly to pull it off.
Poe stilled his hand and regarded Finn, mesmerized and happy.
“Keep it,” Poe echoed.
Then he added,
“It was always yours.”
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Jannah inched nervously down the path. She probably would be moving at an even slower pace were it not for the fact that Rose was vibrating alongside her, their hands entwined. Eventually though, Jannah tugged Rose to a halt. Jannah pondered the ferns at their feet, while Rose waited patiently taking Jannah’s other hand.
“I don’t know...” Jannah paused searching for the right words. “..where I am.”
“You’re here with us,” Rose assured, “where you belong.”
Jannah smiled and breathed in the smell of grease, hay, cinnamon, and self-assurance that was Rose. She leaned in and kissed Rose so deeply that it made them both dizzy.
“You make me feel like I belong,” Jannah whispered.
Rose’s dizziness shifted to electricity. She wanted to pull Jannah into the trees and show her how much she belonged. But Rose shook it off. She had a mission.
“So then,” Rose asked, “what’s wrong?”
“I’m just not sure I belong – with them,” Jannah made a vague gesture down the path. “I’m not – I was – “ and she turned her head away.
Jannah's cheeks burned with shame, and even though it wasn’t visible, Rose knew.
“A stormtrooper,” Rose finished.
Jannah nodded miserably.
“Finn was too,” Rose reminded her.
“Yeah, but he’s a hero,” Jannah insisted.
“When I met him,” Rose divulged, “he was running away.”
“What??”
“People grow, sweetie,” and Rose’s face lit up with the delight of being able to express her affection. “And you’re a hero too.”
Jannah shook her head, but she was smiling.
“And Rey wouldn’t invite you, if she didn’t think you belonged.”
“Maybe…” Jannah trailed off, unsure.
“You can just see how it feels,” Rose cajoled.
“You don’t have to commit if it doesn’t feel right, or you’re not ready.
Rose’s voice wavered a little and Jannah knew that Rose was no longer only referring to Jedi training.
Jannah moved closer, wrapping her arms tight around her little firecracker, and promised,
“You, I’m sure of.”
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Rey was alone.
Soon she wouldn’t be.
She twisted the ring on her finger. She had thought about removing it, putting it back in it's velvet case, storing it with her other Jedi items. After all, it called up forbidden love, complicated love. Yet also, it called up infinite love, and redemption.
So, she kept it.
Opening her heart, turning into the Force, she called,
“Be with me.”
_________________________________________
Jannah and Finn entered the clearing at the same time. Rey was floating in mid-air meditating. Jannah peeped at Finn with saucer eyes.
“Don’t worry,” Finn grinned. “She does this all the time.”
Rey kicked our her legs spinning in a circle and lowering to the ground as graceful as a Kaminoan.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she bathed them both with joy. Finn whooped with enthusiasm and Jannah’s tension eased.
Following Rey's lead, Finn and Jannah sat down, crossed their legs, closed their eyes, and placed their fingers in the dark soil of the earth.
“Breathe,” Rey said. “Just breathe….Reach out with your feelings….What do you see?”
“Life, death and decay…”
“…that feeds new life…”
“Warmth…
“…cold…”
“…Peace…”
“…ferocity…”
“…love…”
“…change…”
“…symmetry…”
“…entropy…”
“…destruction…”
“…creation…”
“And between it all?”
“…balance…”
“…energy…”
“…a force…”