Chapter Text
As many times as the story was told, Finn claimed he didn’t remember what happened next, but every other teller of the tale claimed that a thunderous noise built throughout the castle and the floors shook so severely that all but the most sure-footed fell down. Then, Poe and Finn were enveloped in a bright purple light, and all who were witness to it, gasped at its beauty.
While there were those who would later say that it was the magic of the two sorcerers that eventually revived Sir Dameron, most believed that it was the Prince’s kiss and his declaration that finally revived the injured man.
It was true love that saved the day.
# # # #
After Poe awoke, and after Rose, Luke, and several of the guards tried to get Poe and Finn to stop kissing so that Poe could be tended to, Finn surveyed his castle. The damage wasn’t bad and very few of his soldiers had been killed.
He knew that this wasn’t the end of Starkiller, but he also knew that with the death of Ren—and from what he’d learned, the defection of Lady Phasma and Rose stripping Hux of his powers—he felt good about D’Qar’s chances should the war progress.
We can do this, he thought to himself, and he realized he no longer dreaded the prospect of his upcoming rule. He was surrounded by family and friends—people willing to lay down their lives to do what was right. People who fought for love.
# # # #
“Are you well,” Rey asked, wrapping her good arm around Jess.
“I feel I should be asking you that,” Jess said, nodding to Rey’s other arm.
“It’s just a scratch,” Rey said.
Jess rolled her eyes. “Right.” She led them to a secluded spot in the castle garden. She pointed to a bench and they both collapsed on it. “But are you sure that you are…” She sighed. “A lot happened today.”
Rey nodded. Her brow furrowed. “Yes, it did.” She took Jess’ hand. “And I will mourn my brother, but not Kylo Ren.”
Jess nodded.
Han came running out of the castle. He searched the gardens and upon seeing the two of them let out a happy noise. “Do not run away before your father knows you’re well, okay?”
“Sorry,” Rey said, rising and staggering as her father drew her into a huge hug.
“You, too,” he said to Jess, beckoning her to stand. He wrapped his arm around her too. He closed his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re both all right.”
Rey stepped back out of the hug. “I’m happy to see you in one piece too.”
Han shook his head, looking at the two of them. He couldn’t help the pride that swelled in him. “I’ll…let the two of you…” He gave them a vague gesture. “But then, come back inside, okay?”
“Yes, dad,” Rey said.
“Yes, sir,” Jess added.
“It’s Han, now, kid. You’re gonna be one of the family soon enough,” he said with a wink.
# # # #
Poe had been shuttled off to a room where a group of nurses and attendants could fuss over him, and quite honestly, he didn’t remember the first few days after the battle as he healed from his wounds.
By the time he awoke fully, all that really remained was a jagged scar on his back, and Poe was ready to resume his duties. However, both the Prince and the Regent had given strict orders that Poe was not to leave his bed for a week, so he was stuck in an opulently-decorated bedroom that he suspected was right next door to the Prince’s own.
Poe hated that he couldn’t resume his duties, but more than that, he hated that he couldn’t help Finn in overseeing the repairs and the new defensive preparations.
During his forced convalescence, he was visited by most of the guard, and the newly-appointed Court Sorcerer, so that helped. And he couldn’t hide his grin when Princess Rey introduced her new fiancée to him.
“Awww, Jess! I guess this means we’re losing a stable master,” Poe said as the two visited him one afternoon.
“I think you’ll manage without me.”
Poe shook his head and managed to sound sincere as he said, “I don’t know.” He looked up. “Bee is really gonna miss you.”
Jess snorted.
“I am too,” Poe said.
“Well,” Jess said, sitting on the edge of his bed. “When you are better, you’ll just have to come visit.”
“Yes, because the head of the Prince’s Guard always has a reason to travel to Alderaan.”
Rey and Jess shared a knowing look before Rey asked, “And how much longer do you really think you’ll be the head of the Prince’s Guard, Sir Dameron?”
At first, he thought that Finn was going to demote him for some reason, and then it dawned on him.
“Oh,” he said. The full weight of what had happened over the past week sunk in. “Oh,” he said again, looking up at the two of them. “I guess I probably will be able to visit.” He smiled. “If my husband is agreeable.”
Rey and Jess laughed.
# # # #
Finn tried to hide his astonishment when the Regent introduced his oldest and dearest friend as the new Court Sorcerer. “Any other secrets you’re keeping from me?”
Rose thought for a moment and said, “Some day, I’ll tell you about the birds and the frogs.”
Finn laughed. “I had my suspicions about those two incidents.”
“Awwww, really? Jess will be so upset.”
Finn’s laugh grew louder. “Somehow I think she’ll survive.”
“Lots of changes,” Rose said.
“Yes,” Finn said. “But you’re still here and I’m still here. And D’Qar is protected by people who love her.”
“That she is.” Rose looked up at the old grandfather clock in the hall.
She nodded to it and Finn looked up. “Oh! Ummmmm…”
“Go,” Rose said, already trying to shove him down the hall. “And tell him I said hello.”
# # # #
With all of his visitors, Poe’s favorite times of day were when the Prince would sneak away and come visit him. Poe spied the clock on the table next to his bed and tried not to get too excited. Some days, court business meant that the Prince couldn’t keep his late afternoon bedside appointment but…
Poe heard footsteps in the hall and he smiled. Thank goodness.
The Prince came in and surveyed Poe. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better now,” Poe said with a suggestive grin.
Finn laughed and sat down next to his bed.
“How are things in court today, your highness?”
Finn shook his head. “Poe, how many times am I going to have to ask you to start calling me Finn?”
“It just…” Poe blushed. Years of training were hard to set aside, even for the man he loved.
“How about this,” Finn said. “We haven’t really talked about it yet, and I think it’s important that we get things settled.”
Poe grew worried. This sounded like official business. He tried to sit up straight. “What is it?”
“Well,” Finn said, trying his best to hide his smile. “I’ll allow you to continue to call me highness until just after the coronation, but then, I must insist on another title.”
“Well, of course,” Poe said, “you’ll be King. I’ll be calling you majesty.”
“Only in public,” Finn added with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Only in…” Poe’s brain finally caught up.
“Yes, because the following week, I would very much like to make you my consort.” Finn met Poe’s eyes. “If you’ll have me, that is.”
“If I’ll… Stars, are you asking me to marry you?”
“Yes,” Finn chuckled, “I am.”
“And you really mean it this time?”
Finn rolled his eyes. “A man tries to do one little anti-love spell and you won’t let him forget it, will you?”
“Never,” Poe said.
“So,” Finn said, “is that a yes?”
“Yes! Of course, yes. I…” There were tears in Poe’s eyes. “I love you, your highness.”
“Finn,” Finn insisted.
Poe laughed. “I love you, Finn.”
“I love you too, Poe.” The look of pure happiness on Poe’s face was one that Finn would remember until his dying day.
# # # #
Two months later, D’Qar celebrated Prince Finn’s 25th birthday with a huge celebration and a coronation, and while he was excited to become King, Finn was even more excited by the prospect of what happened next: his marriage to Sir Poe Dameron, now Prince Poe, consort to the King.
The streets were lined with people celebrating their marriage and the air was littered with the smell of flowers as well-wishers threw daisies and dandelions onto the royal couple as they made their way from the cathedral back to the castle.
Finn smiled as he watched his husband interacting with the people of D’Qar and for the first time in years, he looked forward to his reign—he had a good and loyal partner by his side, someone who loved D’Qar as much as he did.
Finn knew he could’ve handled being King on his own, but now, he felt secure in the knowledge that D’Qar had not one, but two people looking out for her. As he turned and surveyed the rest of their entourage—Luke, Rose, Snap, Iolo, Karé, and Bastian—he thought to himself, not just two. A whole alliance ready to stand against the forces of evil.
# # # #
Three months later, the King and his new consort took their first official journey and traveled to Alderaan to witness the wedding of Princess Rey and Lady Jessika.
As the two ladies walked amongst the people of Alderaan, Poe leaned over and nudged his husband, “It gives you hope, doesn’t it?”
Finn nodded. “The kingdoms will be defended and love will take the day.”
Poe laughed. “That sounds like a speech, your majesty.”
Finn chuckled. “Well, it’s true.”
“I’m not saying it’s not true. I’m just saying it might be a bit much for this circumstance.”
“Always the critic,” Finn said, leaning over and indulging himself by nuzzling his husband’s neck.
“Mmmmm,” Poe agreed. “Your harshest critic.” His eyes fell shut and he was vaguely aware that if he and his husband continued in this way, they were going to draw some undo attention. “Ummm, Majesty, ummmm….”
Finn laughed, placing one last kiss on Poe’s neck before moving back. “Sometimes I forget myself.”
“Well, love did take the day, so…”
Finn swatted Poe’s arm. “Behave you.”
“You’re telling me to behave?” He hissed, “You’re the one who nearly sucked my neck off just now.”
A noble lady turned and eyed Poe suspiciously. He then turned to Finn with wide eyes. See what you made me do?
Finn laughed even louder. “Just watch the wedding procession, love.”
Poe sighed and watched Jess and Rey in the streets below, far too happy to let Finn push any more of his buttons.
# # # #
King Finn and Prince Consort Poe ruled for many years. They weathered the storm of Starkiller and eventually, with the help of the members of the Jedha Resistance, they rid the realms of the evil Snoke. And once his dastardly influence was gone, all of the kingdoms (for the most part) lived in peace.
Over the years, the fame of King Finn and his Prince grew, and the people of D’Qar said that no two kinder, nor nobler rulers could be found in any of the kingdoms.
And lest the people of D’Qar worry over a worthy successor, Finn and Poe opened their castle and their hearts to a number of D’Qar’s orphans, and eventually, they were surrounded by nearly a dozen children and dozens more grandchildren.
And for many years, Poe never told anyone what he believed had happened during that fateful battle when Kylo Ren had nearly killed him, because he knew no one would believe him if he did. But, one day, while playing out in the gardens, he told two of his grandchildren.
“It was Finn,” he said.
“You mean Grandda is a sorcerer,” one of them asked.
Poe nodded.
“He is,” the other asked, astonished.
Poe smiled. “I was gone and he brought me back.” He looked over to where Finn was playing with several of the other grandchildren. “I’m not even sure he realizes,” he said. “But I know.” His smile got soft as he added, “It’s how he was able to cast that anti-love spell.” He let out a small laugh. “And break it too.” He sighed, watching Finn burst into a wide smile as he played. “He’s full of magic, your Grandda.”
The children weren’t sure if Grandpa was joking with them or not, and they soon found other ways of being distracted. As they ran off, playing, Poe remembered the faith Baze had in Chirrut, and he smiled.
“You have no doubts?”
“When it comes to him, no.”
Poe watched Finn, the love of his life, his one and only King, and he smiled. No doubts. Not now. Not ever. And then he chuckled to himself, “Love will take the day, indeed.”