Trying to Belong

Chapter 21

Luke had teachery things to do at the school and Rey didn't want to be on her own really. So she went with him even though she had nothing to do there either. As soon as they both stepped on the ground, a big pair of arms wrapped around Rey and she felt herself being squished.

"Knew she'd come back to us." Poe said happily. "Come on."

"What? I have things to do." Rey said and Poe let go, looking sad.

"Go play with your friends. Be a good girl now okay?" Luke told her.

"I'm not five!" Rey muttered but her dad already walking away.

"Awww!" Poe and Fin said at the same time.

"Don't worry!" Finn called after Luke. "We'll take good care of her!"

"Sure!" Luke retorted without looking back.

"So Rey. Whatcha been up to? I hear you been doing the frick frack..." Finn started.

"You know....from fun." Poe finished.

"I read three new books!" Rey stated happily.

"So umm.... if you're Mr Skywalker's daughter.... who's your mum?"

"Her name was Mara Jade..." began Rey.

"Mara Jade? No way! Your mum is so not Mara Jade." stated Finn.

"What do you mean? You know..."

"Come with me." Poe said and took her hand. He led her to the library and to the teacher's private section. Finn and her followed him to the furthest away shelves. Rey watched as he lifted up a piece of carpet to reveal a loose floorboard, lifting it up and others he pull out a big chest. "It's got her name on it. It's got one of those combination padlocks, locking it but Finn and I came across it....when we were umm.... studying here."

"Studying huh." Rey uttered and smiled.

"When's your birthday?"

"It's not going to be the combination lock. This was while she was still at high school. Put in the 6th January."

"Why?" Poe asked.

"My dad's birthday." replied Rey.

Poe did it and it worked. Rey was first to open the chest, getting on her knees and lifting it open. Inside it was diaries mostly, a hairbrush, some trinket boxes... Rey blinked. "Wow." she uttered. There was some photo albums too.

"Wait a minute your mum must have banged your dad while she was..." Finn began and Poe put a hand over Finn's mouth.

"I'm going to take this away and put it in my dad's car which I'm not allowed to drive. He's still teaching.

"Let me help you lift that m'lady." Finn said, ready to help her carry the heavy chest but Rey began to lift it on her own, showing no signs of a struggle. "Or not. Make me feel emasculated."

Poe laughed. "You're always my man." he said and kissed his cheek.

"I am that." he replied and gave him a kiss on the lips.

*

Rey stood between Finn and Poe as she was gathered in a single line. Someone paced in front of that line of people, hands behind their back. "Are you ready to win this battle or die trying?" he shouted.