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“We did it,” Finn said, grinning. “I still can’t believe we did it.”
Rey nodded, staring into the fire, her grief for Ben cutting some of the joy at their victory and at Ben’s redemption for her.
Poe squeezed her shoulder before returning Finn’s grin. “The worst of it’s over. The rest?” He swiped his arm in a circular gesture, as though he were polishing his x-wing. “Clean up. Easy.”
“Here’s hoping,” Finn said, raising the mug of spiced caf he was holding. “You’ll be staying in the fighting proper, then?”
Poe nodded. “Will you?”
Finn shook his head. “I want to help with the relocation efforts. There’ll probably still be some fighting in that, too, but…”
Poe’s nodded in understanding.
Rey looked up from the fire, then, and smiled, the least strained smile they’d seen on her since coming back from the fight with Palpatine. “You’ll be good at that,” she said. “Especially with any troopers we can get, but the civilians, too. And you can start moving on with them.” She reached out and squeezed his hand.
Finn nodded. “I wouldn’t change things for the world, especially since it let me meet you, but…”
“Combat life isn’t for everyone,” Poe said gently, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t change anything either, and you’ve done so much good for us, Finn; everyday I’m grateful you joined our side, for the Resistance’s sake and for mine, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only, or even the best, good you could be doing. Especially now that what the galaxy needs is shifting.”
Rey hummed her agreement. “I have to start rebuilding the Order,” she said. “So I’ll be out of the main fight too, for a while, at least. And I’d like to start an academy when I can. Not just for the Force-sensitive, either, for anyone who wants to learn about the Force, or the Jedi, or even the histories they played a part in. We can’t risk all of the teachings dying again just because there weren’t enough Force-sensitives around to preserve them.”
“That’s smart,” Finn said. He shot Rey a sly smile. “Not that I expected anything less.”
Rey went to cuff him on the shoulder, but Finn's hand tightened around hers, so she stuck her tongue out at him instead.
“The galaxy needs that, too,” Poe said, nodding to Rey. “Do you know where you’ll start?”
“I’m going to go see Maz,” Rey said. “She still owes me that story about how she wound up with Master Skywalker’s saber, and I’m sure she has other stories to tell. But after that…?” She shrugged. “I don’t know, travelling probably. The Force will guide me, I think, and even in the places I don’t find candidates, I can leave the knowledge I have. Make sure people know what to do with a Force-sensitive kid, if they have one. Maybe I can get some resources onto the holonet, too.”
“Something to keep you busy on long hyperspace flights,” Poe mused.
“Let me know when they’re up and I’ll make sure any of the settlements I help can find them,” Finn promised.
“Let me know if you find anyone interested in a personal teacher,” Rey said.
“And let me know if either of you need anything,” Poe said. “Escorts, guards, supplies, devilishly handsome pilots--”
Finn let go of Rey’s hand so she could smack Poe on the arm.
“How do you know you’ll have that last one in supply?” Finn asked slyly. “I mean, sure, odds are good some of the new recruits might be, but if you ask me that’s counting your mynocks before they split--”
Rey laughed as Poe aimed a swat at Finn, who dodged it.
Poe scowled at them both, but it was only a moment before his face softened. “I’ll miss you both,” he said quietly.
“I’ll miss you too,” they both murmured.
“It’s not like we’ll never see each other, though,” Rey pointed out. “It’s just…a longer mission than we’re used to.”
“I like that,” Finn said, nodding thoughtfully. “And even if our paths don’t cross much during, we’ll keep in touch.”
“And we should come back,” Rey said. “In a year, maybe? Here or somewhere else, we should plan on it.”
“Not here,” Poe said, giving an exaggerated little shudder. “But I agree, somewhere.”
Finn was struck by an idea, though he hesitated. “What about Jakku?” he asked after a moment. “I know you two didn’t meet until later, but I met you both there, or just about. Unless it’s too…” he trailed off, shooting a soft look at Rey.
There was a bittersweetness to her smile, but she shook her head. “I don’t mind,” she said. “And you’re right, it’s a good spot for us, where so much started.”
“It’s a deal then?” Poe asked. “Wherever our missions take us, we’ll all meet up, the three of us, on Jakku in a year?” There was an indignant trill from around their feet, and Poe snorted as Rey giggled. “All four of us,” Poe corrected himself, looking down fondly at BB-8, who trilled happily as Rey reached down to pat him.
“It’s a deal,” Rey said, sticking her hand, palm down, out into the space between them.
“Deal,” Finn said, sticking his hand on top of hers.
Poe beamed at them both. “Then here’s to the next year,” he said, adding his own hand. “May the Force be with us all.”