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Poe's eyes opened to wake up in a darkened room on the Bowie. Chirps come from the floor as his droid rolls up next to the cot.

"Hey, buddy." Poe sighed, touching BB-8's head, his mind still racing and being bombarded by stress. Steadying his breathing as sweat slid down the sides of his face, staring off until his droid questioned his late-night startle.

"I don't know what I'm going to do about Ava." He said, keeping his eyes on the wall for a second longer before looking at his droid. BB-8 whirred with a suggestion that crossed Poe's mind before. "Trust me, buddy, I want to bring her back with us. but I can't make her leave her family."

As Poe wiped the sweat off his brow with his forearm, soft taps put a pause in his spiral. "Come in," He called out, careful not to wake up the whole ship but loud enough for the person on the other side to hear.

The door slid open, revealing the blonde-haired girl who was in his dream. "Hi." She sighed deeply and closed the door behind her. She ran a hand through her messy hair. Ava's eyes were groggy but managed to see the distress in Poe as he was wide awake.

"Couldn't sleep either I'm guessing?" He asked.

"Not really," Ava said before a yawn stretched her mouth wide open, rubbing a hand over her face. Her fingers lingered on her cheekbone, dragging on the bags of her eyelids. "It's why I came here. Thought I could come stay with you."

Poe nodded with a grin. "Of course, blondie."

Ava smiled as he began to move over, making room as she laid down next to him on her side. She rested her head on Poe's shoulder while he wrapped his arm around her back and rested his hand on her shoulder. The two snuggled together like two peas in a pod in the limited space on the cot.

"Anything on your mind?" Poe asked after a minute or two of silence, looking at the ceiling above with faded glow-in-the-dark star stickers, in courtesy of Ava and Peter.

She fidgeted with his white tank top, occasionally drawing obscure lines as she took a deep breath. "A lot." Ava replied.

He huffed, allowing his hand to rub on her arm. "That makes two of us."

"You have no idea." Ava said. "It's been on my mind since we left the Collectors."

"That long?" Poe asked in shock.

Ava nodded against him as she spoke. "Technically since I left earth a few months before I met you." She clarified. "But it's all changed since then."

"Let's hear it then." Poe said.

She swallowed before she began to explain. "I've been having dreams."

That triggered a crease in Poe's eyebrows as he was determined to listen attentively.

"At first it was Tony, Natasha, Carol, and my Mother. Next, it would be Peter and sometimes the Guardians." Ava went on. "I would see all of them, but then they'd all disappear."

The pattern was clear as Poe heard her list off the people she lost from death or simply was separated from. It made him think of the painful losses he experienced during the war. All his friends who fought fearlessly in battle. Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, General and other heroes he looked up to since he was little. But there was no better hero than his mother and a General who ended up filling that role. It was because of her he never gave up on his dream to become a pilot.

"Then," Ava said. "I find myself failing. And each time I fall, an unknown person would catch me." She continued to describe the dream she had since the fight they had with Space Pirates. After getting Poe's droid and Groot back.

"What happened next?" He asked, becoming more intrigued.

"I don't know." She said. "The dream always cuts off there or I wake up before I can find out."

After a moment of searching for what he should say. His fingers stroked her hair every so often as he contemplated. "Why are you telling me?" He asked.

The question was followed up by a silence. Quiet enough to hear Drax's snoring on the other side of the ship. Ava pondered as she felt the rise and fall of Poe's chest, finding comfort in his arms. When she angled her head up towards him, he moved to be able to meet her eyes in the dim lighting.

"Because you haven't shown up in the dream yet." Ava answered.

This time, it was Poe's turn to be quiet. It did make sense. If everyone else she knew disappeared in her dream and he wasn't there, there was a possibility that fate truly didn't want them together. A part of him wanted to curse the strict unfairness of that idea, not interested in it.

Unless.

"Maybe," He started. "I'm the one catching you." The words rolled off his tongue as he remembered what she said to him.

"You think?" She asked with a curious frown.

Poe shrugged. "I did catch you, didn't I? That day we escaped those pirates."

Ava thought about back to that moment she swore she would have fallen to her sudden death. If not by the ground, then definitely by suffocating in space. "I suppose you're right."

"I always am." He stated, earning a jab to his side. "I'm kidding blondie, I'm kidding."

She rolled her eyes as she propped herself up with her elbows. "Like that's new, Dameron."

The two shared a light chuckle. Feeling the vibrations through Poe's chest and his breath fanning her face while Ava shook her head bashfully. He leaned closer to her as he whispered. "Whatever the case is, sweetheart, I do know this."

The butterflies made their return as she heard the term of endearment -one she used to despise when it came out of Poe's mouth.

"That I'm never going to let you fall."

Ava grinned. "You said that already. The night we danced?"

"And I'm saying it again because I mean it."

She was grateful for the darkness. Knowing it could keep him from seeing her cheeks. They were probably a shade of magenta as his voice soothed her worries.

"I know you're blushing." He said.

"Don't be a hypocrite, Dameron. I know you're worse than me."

He chuckled, pulling her in as she pressed her lips on his with a truthful kiss. Ava let out a sigh of content as she moved her hand from his chest to his shoulder.

He truly meant it. Poe was never going to let her slip through his fingers.

-|-

"A couple of more jumps and we should be there," Nebula informed.

Rubbing her eyes, with Poe trailing behind, Ava looked at the map. Fair enough, the small icon of the Bowie inched towards their destination. Gamora sat in the co-pilot seat with her sister. The others must have been elsewhere playing card games or bantering.

Nebula then glanced over her shoulder. "Ava, come up here and help us."

Following promptly, Ava took a seat behind the two daughters of Thanos. Looking at the screen and seeing the progress of their traveling.

"In about 10 clicks, a jump will be coming up." Ava said, reading the data.

While she was focused on her responsibility, a set of brown eyes admired her from afar. Poe stood there, thinking about their late-night conversation. His chest feeling like it would crumble every time he imagined his plan for when they got to his base.

Her blue eyes met his, letting out a soft giggle. "Don't just stand there General. You can join us too if you want."

BB-8 whirled as he happily rolled to be next to Ava's feet. Chirping up at her something that made her laugh again and Poe's face was covered in red. Poe's smirk stretched more and he chuckled before taking a step towards the cockpit. But a hand on his shoulder stopped him in his tracks. He looked to see Peter Quill next to him.

"Actually," He said, using his free hand to pat Poe's chest as the other hooked around his neck. "I'm going to steal the General for a moment."

The last thing Poe saw before being led away was Ava's face. Filled with panic as if she were trying to warn him. Or show pity as she mouthed a 'sorry' to him.

Peter took Poe to a spot in the back of the Bowie. Crossing his arms to appear intimidating. And it was working. The guy didn't have biceps like the God of Thunder but he had both the muscles and height to make Poe feel small.

"What are you doing, space-punk?" Peter asked, his eyebrows frowning with concern.

Poe's lips parted as he took a deep breath. "I'm uh. Talking to you. Isn't that what I'm doing?" He said through the exhale.

Peter shook his head with his eyes shut. "Oh don't play dumb with me!" He spat while pointing a finger at the General. "I know you have a thing for Ava."

At this moment, Poe rather be back where he was tied to restraints and being interrogated by the First Order demanding the map of Luke Skywalker. That included the manipulating pain of Kylo Ren's use of the Force. It didn't come close to the fear he was facing now in front of Starlord.

"I do?" Poe asked, trying to get himself out of the situation. That was stupid.

Without warning, Peter snatched Poe's shirt. "I know you two had a spark when you two got separated from us on Easik. I also know you two snuck out that one night and I'm aware of the look you both give each other from across the room. I'm an idiot but I'm not stupid." He chiseled with his protective brother's defense.

Poe stood there flabbergasted. It took all his strength to not pee his pants. He was certain this would be it for him, but he wasn't going to back down. He ripped Peter's hands off of him. "Yeah? Got a problem with that Starlord? That I have fallen in love with your sister?" Poe cocked his head to the side, challenging the leader of the Guardians.

Peter's jaw clenched as he bawled his two fists, wishing he could summon his celestial powers though it was impossible. "If you're going to be a playboy and break her heart then I do." He said.

Poe shook his head. "I'm not."

"Oh, thank goodness! So this isn't just a one-and-done fling?" Peter questioned as he stepped closer and asserted his dominance once again.

"No!"

"Then what are you going to do when you return to your base?"

A lump in his throat captured any further response. The mystery Poe was still trying to figure out without ruining any kind of disruption in Ava's connection to the Guardians. But he didn't want to just forget her.

"I don't know, but maybe-"

"The space pilot doesn't know!?"

Peter mocked Poe with a laugh without a trace of joy. "Yeah, okay" He hissed through his teeth. "I know you're a General and have fought space wars longer than me, but I'm still half god. I won't hesitate to knock you out into next week if I wanted to."

Poe swallowed as he processed the warning of the taller man in front of him. Respecting his protectiveness but didn't let that make him cower. "You can accuse and hate me all you want," He stated in a firm confidence. "But I love Ava, no matter what. Nothing, not even fate itself is going to stop me."

The tension grew as both Starlord and the General held a staring contest. Challenging the other and waiting for one to break. Or to confess a secret to the other.

"Alright," Peter spoke carefully, loosening his grip on Poe's jacket. "Then swear you'll never stop loving her."

"I swear." Poe said, sealing the deal, pushing past Peter who grabbed his arm.

Peter hooked his pinky with his. "Then do whatever it takes to keep her. Because one wrong move means you'll lose her and any restraint from me."

Hearing footsteps, Peter peeked over his shoulder to see Gamora approaching. He looked back at Poe, releasing his arm. "And not every time will you be lucky for a second chance." He said as Gamora leaned on the doorframe.

"Don't let him scare you, Poe," Gamora shook her head. "He gets a little hot-headed sometimes and defensive when he needs to be but is harmless."

"No, I don't!" Peter pouted.

Gamora rolled her eyes as Poe tried not to laugh at the sudden switch of Starlord.

She sighed as she informed. "We are about ready to land."

_________________________________

This book is alive!!

I'm seriously so close to wrapping it up soon! But now we are finally getting to Poe's side of things! Aka the Star Wars universe.

Which if you haven't figured out by now, I'm keeping it in the same universe as the MCU because multiverse stuff hurts my head.

Until next chapter!

- marie xoxo