Close to Me {Poe Dameron}

twenty-three

"And you think I'm ready for this? When I first joined everyone thought I was some party princess from Naboo who was only here because I had nothing else to do. You even thought the same."

"I was wrong then. Horribly wrong. You came in and kicked ass and took names the moment you stepped foot on base. I was just too blinded to see that in the beginning." He let out a small sigh. "There's got to be a way to stop this."

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"Can I throw in a guess?" Lando said, emerging from where he and Chewbacca were talking further into the cave.

Both heads whipped around to see him step out of the shadows but only Kat hopped up and went to his side. "Uncle Lando, I'm so glad you're here." She said as she hugged him.

He chuckled, wrapping his arms around Kat. "And miss you taking over? Never."

Kat pulled back, shaking her head. "No, I'm not ready for this. I thought I could be but..."

"And you think we were?" Lando asked. "Luke, Han, Leia, me. Who's ever ready?"

"Then how'd you do it?" Poe asked, coming to stand beside Kat. "Defeat an empire with almost nothing."

"We had each other," Lando answered nudging Kat a little closer to Poe. "I've heard all about you two practically since the start of this thing. You wanna know how we won? Relying on each other, especially those we loved."

Poe and Kat slowly looked towards each other. He reached up and tucked a strand of hair that had come out of her braid behind her ear. "I'm gonna go find Finn. Tell him the news then meet back at the command station?"

Kat nodded. "See you there."

Once Poe was gone Lando laughed. "You know, I'm really not all that surprised you wound up with a pilot. Your father has got to be hating every minute of it."

Kat blushed. "Yeah, he wasn't exactly thrilled when he found out that it was a possibility."

"Leia set it up didn't she?"

"One hundred percent." She laughed. "Are you sticking around? We could really use you."

"And miss all this? Not a chance. What's going on in that head of yours?" He asked as he draped an arm around her shoulders as they headed out to the command station.

✧☆✧

"General, we got something," Poe said as he and Finn, along with D-O, approached her.

"As do I, General." She smiled at the two men.

"This first," Finn said, pulling her in for a hug.

Kat laughed a bit as she returned the hug.

"I'm so sorry Kat." He gave her an extra squeeze.

Closing her eyes to keep the tears at bay, she hugged him back just as tight. "While I appreciate the sentiment, I'd rather not cry for the five millionth time today."

Finn chuckled as he pulled away. "Right, sorry."

"Oh, right. Kat, meet your new Army General." Poe said as he motioned towards Finn.

Kat smiled. "You know, I'm really not all surprised. Congratulations, Finn. Now, what was it you two had to say?"

Finn smiled his thanks as Poe motioned to the small cone faced droid in between him and Finn. Kat crouched down to get a good look, smiling softly at the new droid. "Who's this?" She asked.

"I am Dio." The droid said as Poe also introduced them.

"They have information on Exegol. They were going with Ochi of Bestoon." Finn explained.