A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 3

Poe knew that Rey deserved someone who would take care of her and protect her, someone to make her laugh and someone she could start a life with. He knew she was happy for now with her two babies, Chewie and the First Order (oh, and all her plants, of course), but also was privy to the fact that Rey had always wanted to start a family of her own and as time passed on the need only intensified (Rey was now 25). Sure, that didn't have to happen any time soon but Poe wasn't oblivious to the fact that his sister wasn't above settling (or at least what he would consider outright settling and she would consider "lowering her standards to fit her current needs") if it meant she could have a family, and that would break his heart and eventually break hers.

As if on cue, Rey let out a long sigh from the other end of the couch as Alex confessed his love to Gigi in a particularly dramatic fashion. "You okay there, Rey?" Poe gently pried, giving Rey an out to rant her feelings.

"Ugh, yes. It's just... how are they so perfect? I know they had a rough start but the whole thing is so... so... romantic. I mean, obviously, because romcom, duh. But also - where is my Alex? Who's gonna come sweep me off my feet?" Rey began to unload, adding in a whisper, "Who would want an old future spinster like me?"

Poe took a deep breath and looked behind him at the now sleeping Finn (wine always knocked the boy out). He stilled himself and thought about how he would comfort his wine drunk sister before she continued to spiral. He didn't want the night to turn into a total sob fest. No men were worth Rey's tears. "Rey. You know that one day you're going to find the man of your dreams and he's going to be your perfect partner. Sometimes it just takes time, but also the wait is going to make it so worth it when you find your man." he finally said, attempting to console Rey while also painfully aware of how cliche everything he said was.

He knew his carefully selected words were falling on deaf ears when Rey let out a huff and responded, "Easy for you to say. You found Finn the second you left college and you've been together for years. Hell, you've even moved in together recently! And I know you've talked about spending the rest of your lives together." Her sorrowful protests turned into whispers near the end, as she grew mindful of the sleeping Finn even in her alcohol addled state. "I just want what you have, but like... my own."

Poe knew that Rey wasn't one for self pity and drowning in her misery, but he also knew that sometimes the best thing was to let her rant without interruption. So he did just that. Rey continued to drink her wine and lament what she labeled her "striking single-ness" and "abysmal dating life" as Poe listened like the dutiful brother he was, adding "mhms" and "yeahs" where needed. He could tell Rey had been holding this up for a while and had been ready to burst. Poe was just glad he could offer what minimal support he could through his presence and threw out into the world a plea for his sister's partner to hurry the fuck up.

***

Kylo Ren listened to all of Rey's heartaches with an ever deepening frown on his face. He hated to see her so unhappy. She was visibly upset, having taken over the conversation with her brother completely as she mumbled through her woes.

Kylo Ren could sympathize. Even though he was the devil and the human world painted him as a player womanizer, he had never been with anyone or been in a relationship. He had just never found anyone tempting or interesting enough or anyone who could compare with the thrill of good old fashioned pranks and misconduct. And so in the end he had remained alone by choice and, after his punishment, by force. He had never had too much of a problem with this before (except during the last few years in the thrift store where he began to feel socially isolated for the first time in his life) and had felt decently content as he settled into that solitary lifestyle.

He had never even befriended many beings or demons while he had been free, choosing to remain close to his sister Lilith instead as his one true friend, who had taken over his job as keeper of unfortunate souls while he endured his punishment. Kylo reflected on his "friendship" with his sister and realized he had never even felt as strongly and emotionally towards her as he had towards Rey, and Lilith was his sister, his blood.

And now here he was, wanting to reach out and soothe the woman next to him, to take her into his arms and run one hand through her hair while the other, he imagined, would rub small circles on her back. Kylo Ren was secretly glad that even though he could tell she had fought back tears several times throughout her rant, that she hadn't shed any of them. He was pretty sure his heart might actually break if he saw her cry.

While Kylo resisted his urges to tackle Rey into a warm embrace (touching her would break the concealment spell he had casted as she would feel him which would give him away) he secretly vowed to watch more of these "romcoms" and to figure out how to "sweep her off her feet". As he pondered how to woo his Rey, he vaguely observed as the night approached a close near midnight and Rey ushered a sleepy Finn and a now sober Poe out the door with pleas that they message her when they arrived home safely. He was deep in thought as to how he would become the "Alex" that Rey wanted from the movie as he watched her tidy up the house before she retreated into her bedroom. Rey came out again to use the bathroom before she finally retired for the night, closing the door and turning off the lights. Kylo wished he could go lay next to her and even considered it for a moment before he turned his thoughts back to how he would spend his day tomorrow doing some "research". He would need to 1) up his game and 2) speed up his game if he wanted to successfully win over his Rey.

***

Rey woke up late the next morning with the knowledge that she didn't have to be at work until noon and knowing full well that she would be nursing a slight wine hangover before heading out. She took a cold shower to try to clear her head and nursed a cup of coffee as she sat at her table and looked out the window. She didn't have much in terms of a view but she did enjoy looking out at what few trees peeked out at her. The fall colors were in full swing as it was already October and Rey felt at peace as she took in the sight and contemplated silently on the previous night. Last night had been a much needed venting session and she was thankful to Poe for taking it like a champ.

Rose was usually the person she turned to for her self-pity and wallowing talks, as she considered this more "girl talk" territory, but the wine and the movie and the mood had been set just right yesterday and she had found she couldn't contain herself. She would probably broach the subject again for her girl's night with Rose but was glad that she wouldn't have nearly as much of a mental breakdown in public about it after having released much of her built up frustration on Poe the other night. She quietly wondered if Rose would try to push dating apps and websites on her again.

Rey knew that Rose was having fun entertaining herself on those platforms but she had always felt so weird and impersonal starting conversations with strangers online. Maybe it was time, though. The times were changing and Rey was falling behind. In this respect she was not being a very good millennial, and she knew that her reluctance to join the online dating world was probably hindering her at this point in her life. But was a girl really to blame if a life full of romcoms and bad television had ruined something as impersonal as online dating for her? Was it so bad to want that perfect "meet-cute"?

As she meditated on this, Rey pushed herself off from her dining table and walked over to put food in Chewie's bowl. He was laying in a patch of sun by her plants, completely content to live his solitary lifestyle as long as he had Rey's love and attention (and maybe sometimes her friends'). Rey envied Chewie sometimes. His life was so simple and he was always eager to please and easily satisfied. Rey had occasionally considered getting another pet to satisfy her need to mother and take her of something, as well as to give Chewie someone to hang out with while she was at work. But in the end Finn had tempted her with the ways of botany and beautiful plants and she had settled for dozens of those instead. Rey knew Chewie wouldn't mind anyway.

Rey finished up fixing Chewie's food and then went on to get ready for her day. Her shift wasn't too long today as she only worked from noon to five, and she knew the day would pass by quickly as she looked forward to her girls night with Rose. Since yesterday had turned into an emotional rant kind of night, she was hoping today would be more about letting loose with her best friend and maybe, just maybe joining the online dating world.