Saving the Monster

Chapter 15

Rey stood for a moment, staring at the bolted door, her heart thumping wildly, had that just happened? Had Kylo Ren just let her go?

"Can't sleep?"

Rey spun around to find Finn standing there, blinking sleepily in the dimly lit room.

"No" she said quietly, her mind still running at one hundred miles an hour, desparetely trying to process what had just happened.

Finn reached out his hand to her and she hesitated, before letting him lead her to the makeshift bed next to his. She half smiled at him as she climbed under the covers.

She wished that she could tell her friend the truth, tell him everything but she couldn't, he'd never understand, no one would.

Finn lay down next to her and their eyes met as they lay in silence, Finns eyes swivelling, taking in Rey's face, his expression serious as he leaned closer to her, his voice low so as not to wake the others.

"Rey I know you say that no one knows you, and maybe I don't, but I care about you, I want to see you happy......if there's anything at all.....anything". Finn broke off, looking emotional.

Rey reached over and squeezed his hand, smiling warmly now, her heart and spirits lifted by his kind words, "Thank you for being such a wonderful friend, I know you would do anything for me, and I would for you, but there are some things that I need to work out on my own" Rey whispered, leaning over and kissing his cheek.

"Sleep well" Rey said softly, pulling her blankets up around her neck.

"You too" Finn responded, yawning as he closed his eyes.

Rey watched her friends expression relax as he slid back into sleep and she sighed, sleep was not going to come so easily for her, not after what had happened. She had a lot to think about.

                                     *************************************

The next morning Rey was woken by the sound of metal clanking and she opened her eyes slowly, looking around. 

Zorri and Poe were on the far side of the workshop, squabbling about something whilst Finn and Chewbacca carried what looked like spare engine parts from one side of the room to the other. 

Rey closed her eyes and rubbed them, and when she opened them a new set of eyes were staring at her, small and round. Startled, Rey scooted backwards with a gasp. A little creature with big eyes, a squashed nose and wiry, white hairs spouting from its face stood in front of her, no bigger than a foot tall.

"I am Babu Frik"

Rey's eyes flicked over to where her friends were working and then back to the funny little creature in front of her.  It was still staring at her and now that Rey had time to observe it more closely she realised that it was wearing a leather hood which came down to its shoulders and a wielding mask propped up on its head.

It said something in a language Rey hadn't heard before and then chuckled softly.

Rey, remembering herself straightened, "Hello, I'm Rey".

The little creature laughed again just as Finn came over smiling broadly,

"It's ok, he's with us. Did we wake you?"

Rey, her eyes still on the creature, stood up slowly and stretched,

"Yes, but it doesn't matter, sorry, I should have been up helping you"

"Right we need to get going, Zorri says that the First Order usually set up check points on the city walls after nine, we leave now, we'll make it" Poe said as he marched over to them purposefully. His eyes landed on Rey, "Hey"

Rey nodded once at Poe and bent to fold her bedding. The sheets were knotted and tangled and Rey tussled with them, shaking them out, only making them worse, her patience fraught as her friends packed up bags with the spare parts that they had collected.

A gloved hand on Rey's wrist and her eyes turned upwards. Zorri stood, hunched slightly so that she could reach Rey. Her visor was open and her green eyes were mesmerising as they took Rey in.

"Want a hand? " Zorri asked, her voice clear despite her helmet

Rey nodded, "Thank you"

Zorri helped her fold the sheets, both women working together to pull the fabric taught.

"Right, we're heading out. Zorri, have you reconsidered my offer? Wanna join us?" Poe said from near the door. Rey studied his wide, hopeful eyes and again she was moved by what she saw there, this woman meant a lot to him.

Zorri sighed, her eyes roaming around the workshop and coming to rest on Babu Frik who said something in Anzellan, his little arms waving about animatedly. Zorri laughed dryly and then turned her gaze to Poe,

"Babu's right, we need a change of scenery"

Poe straightened, his eyes becoming wide, "My god is that a yes?"

Zorri reached up and pulled off her helmet, to reveal a pretty face, much softer than Rey expected, and long brown hair,

"Seems like you're stuck with us, got room for two more?"

Poe punched the sky and they embraced, his face turning into the crook of her neck, whispering something there that Rey couldn't hear.

Finns hand on Rey's back startled her from watching the still alien concept of love between two people, but it didn't stop her thoughts, thoughts of him, of his smell, his hair, his eyes.....

And as they left the workshop by the back door Rey's eyes travelled down to the dusty snow and there she saw two sets of prints in the snow, hers and his.