Poe collapsed onto his back and laid still, the only movement he made was his chest rising and falling rapidly as he heaved for oxygen. There were absolutely no thoughts being processed in his brain for several moments, everything lost in the orgasmic bliss he was currently experiencing. All he could do was thank the Maker over and over that life, the Force, Fate—whatever the hell it was—had brought this truly magnificent woman into his life. His heartbeat and breathing were just starting to even out when Rey shot upright in the bunk and he felt his heart sink.

Kriff, he thought. Poe had hoped that they would've been able to get a snuggle—a post-sex act he actually enjoyed—in and maybe a few hours of sleep before the inevitable regret Rey would feel manifested. No such luck, however. He wasn't sure what he could say that would make her feel better, or if there was anything he could say, at the very least not making it worse, but he had to try. Otherwise, this mission was going to be extremely awkward.

"Poe!" Rey practically shouted, "we have to hurry!" She swung her body around so that her feet were on the floor and she bent over to pick up her tunic, not even bothering with her breast band. She was struggling with the garment her hands were shaking so badly. Poe didn't need the Force to know that she was panicking. "If we can get to Doctor Kalonia, maybe she can stop it from happening. I just hope she's not too upset we're waking her up at a late hour for this!"

Poe was sure he'd never been more confused in his life. Harter? What did Harter have to do with anything? he was asking himself. Before he could verbally voice the question, Rey was looking over her shoulder at him, her eyes wide with definite panic. He sat up and touched her shoulder; he was infinitely glad when she didn't flinch at the contact or shrug his hand off. That's something, at least, he thought in relief at knowing she was okay with him still touching her. In that touch, though, he could feel her trembling, and not in a good way, and he became worried why Rey was frantically trying—unsuccessfully—to pull her tunic over her head.

"Rey, please calm down. Tell what's wrong; why do we need to go see Harter?" Poe asked in as soothing a tone as he could manage with his own nerves beginning to rise, her hysteria putting him on edge.

Rey looked at Poe as if he was the dumbest creature in the galaxy. "Poe! We're in the middle of a war, do you really think this is the best environment to create and bring a child into?" she asked, the alarm pitching her voice a couple of octaves higher than normal.

Child? Poe blinked, running the word through his head a few times, trying to make sure he'd heard Rey correctly. Child child child

Realization dawned and the reason for her near-hysteric state finally became obvious. Poe almost laughed out of relief. There was just enough brain power left for him to know this was not the time to laugh, however. He knew she would be embarrassed enough as it was and Poe didn't want her to think that he was laughing at her. Plus, this woman could knock him unconscious—or worse—with a flick of a wrist; it really wasn't in his best interest to give even the slightest impression he was mocking her.

"Rey, Rey, calm down, please," Poe beseeched Rey in a soft tone, lightly touching her arm to gain her attention. It worked; she looked at him, her eyes still wide in panic. "I'm...uh..." Poe ran a hand through his hair, a bit lost for words for the best way to explain. "I have...an implant, and it, uh, it prevents conception," he finished, highly embarrassed at how red he could feel his cheeks were.

Rey's wide eyes slowly returned to normal and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she averted her eyes; the embarrassment unable to be hidden. "I'm sorry I'm so...naive," she whispered, still unable to look at him.

Poe placed his index finger under her chin so he could lift her face, hoping that she would look at him. He was glad when she did so without prompting. "Rey, it's okay. You've led a...different life than I have, so many things that were normal for me weren't things that were necessary for you to even think about. I would never want to change that about you; it makes you who you are. It just means that what we shared is that much more special." It was his turn to look away before he continued. "I'm just sorry that I couldn't return the purity of the gift you just gave me." He looked down, shame coursing through him at how murky his soul was compared to her untainted one.

"Poe." Rey's voice was incredibly soft and tender. It gave him the courage to look at her. "As you've just pointed out, our lives have been vastly different, so there's no need for you to apologize, either." She then smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And from what little knowledge I do have about sex, the first time doesn't always have that outcome for the female."

A laugh rumbled throughout Poe's chest as he asked, "You mean the fact that you enjoyed the 'outcome'?

Rey lightly smacked at his shoulder again, but she laughed, too. "Yes," was all she said, her cheeks blushing a lovely pink.

And just like that Poe witnessed the tension fully leave Rey as she dropped her tunic onto the floor and relaxed back onto the mattress beside him. A happy sort of sleepiness overcame him and he laid down beside her. He surmised that she must've felt the same because she situated herself on her side facing away from him, but wriggling back into him. Poe took the hint and rolled onto his side and draped an arm over her, snuggling her back against his chest. They breathed in unison and Rey was soon asleep. A contentedness swept over Poe that he hadn't felt in a very long time and he quickly joined Rey in peaceful slumber.

I'm so, so sorry this has taken me so long to update. These past few months have been a difficult time emotionally for me. The one year anniversary of my grandma's death was a couple of months ago and I fell into a bit of a depression. I was very close to her my whole life and I'd spent her last year caring for her at home while she was in hospice. I've begun the climb out of the rut I was in and I'm hoping to be able to put more effort into my writing again.

On another note, I realized that I'd made some mistakes in the first chapters in relation to the timeline. I was waiting for The Rise of Skywalker to come out on Disney so I didn't have to rent or buy it elsewhere (I know that makes me a bit of a cheapskate, but what can I say? I don't like to waste money if it can be helped). :) Anyway, now that I've watched the movie again a few times, I need to go back and rework what I'd already had written and that will probably take some time since there's so many small details I want to get perfect. I can't promise the updates will be swift, but hopefully not months in between chapters. I also wanted to get a chapter out before I took the time off. I'm sorry it's so short and only Poe's POV, but it's something. Happy reading!