"You really don't have to sit here, Poe," I said, casting the pilot a look from over my shoulder. "You have got to be exhausted."

He was sitting on an overturned crate, chin propped in one hand as he watched me work. A crooked grin tugged at one side of his mouth. "What? And leave my baby all alone with you?"

I rolled my eyes at his teasing, but as I turned back to his ship, a small smile was on my own lips. "Honestly, your "baby" might be better off in my hands than yours. Considering all the pain you've caused it." I shined my light into the fuselage, double checking my work.

"Low blow!" he countered from behind me. "If you recall, I was getting shot at."

"Come on, you know I'm teasing." I chuckled, stepping back away from the ship and wiping my greasy hands on the back of my pants. I turned back around to face him and moved closer until I was standing in front of him. Poe automatically wrapped his arms around my waist to prevent me from moving away. "You came back in one piece. That's what I care about," I added, running one hand though his hair as he nuzzled his face into my stomach.

"You're stuck with me forever. Remember?" he said, his voice muffled in the front of my shirt.

I laughed, trying to ignore the skip of my heart at his words. Poe and I were friends. Just friends. We had been for years, though we were both very much aware of the bets going around the base about when we would finally get together. I always rolled my eyes and scoffed, but I knew from an outsider's perspective, we probably didn't seem like just friends.

It was in the way he slung his arm around my shoulders as we walked to the mess hall for meals, or the way my hand always seemed to find his whenever we sat next to one another at briefings or gatherings. It was in the way that I was always the first person he searched for after returning from a mission, his eyes filling with relief when he found me before pulling me into a strong, warm hug. Then there were the nights spent together, curled up side by side, neither of us wanting to sleep alone. We'd talk for hours before falling asleep, his head resting on my stomach, or my body pressed against his chest. It had never gone any farther than the lingering touch or kiss to the forehead.

Though sometimes when he looked at me, I'd wondered if he'd ever thought about it. It had crossed my mind more than once...the idea of him and I as something more. It was never something I acted on, though. There was too much risk involved, too much uncertainty. The idea of not having Poe in my life, even as just a friend, hurt me almost as much as the thought him not returning from a fight.

"I know," I murmured, letting my hand drag through his hair a second time, the thick locks sliding in-between my fingers. I tried to step away but he tightened his hold on me.

"No, not yet," he grunted, peering up at me with a mischievous smile. Easily making me melt. He knew he had that effect on me, there was no way he couldn't see it.

I laughed. "I'm almost done...just a couple more minutes. Then we need to get you to bed."

He let out an exaggerated sigh of defeat but released his hold on me. Still smiling, I turned back to the ship to finish up. I hummed under my breath, my body still zinging a little from the electricity of his touch. It wasn't just my body he affected either, but my entire mood. I could feel his dark eyes on me, following me around as I replaced some of the singed wires before closing the hatch on the fuselage.

"Think she's all good," I said, surveying the ship with my hands on my hips. When Poe didn't answer right away, I turned around. He was still watching me, looking almost...conflicted. "What are you looking at me like that?"

He hesitated a moment before shaking his head. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

I snorted with laughter. "Oh come on, that's not fair! What's on your mind, Dameron?"

We locked eyes and I stared back expectantly, knowing he would give in. It took him a moment longer than I expected before he let out a resigned sigh and pushed a hand through his messy hair.

"You really wanna know?" he asked, perking a dark eyebrow. I really did want to know, but something about the way he said those four words made me feel suddenly nervous. We always told one another everything, no matter what. At least most things anyways.

I pretended to look unconcerned. "Just spit it out."

One side of his mouth quirked into a small smile. "Alright, fine. But remember you asked for it..." his voice had a teasing edge to it. "Every single time I watch you fix my ship, I have to battle the urge to kiss the hell out of you."

The flashlight clattered from my hand and rolled to a stop at his feet. Poe looked down at it in amusement before glancing back at me. I felt momentarily frozen, eyes wide and tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. He watched me patiently, waiting for the surprise to ebb away.

My mouth felt dry and I swallowed hard. "What?"

"You heard me," he said calmly, that same adorable smile still tugging at his mouth. "Although to be fair it's not just when you're fixing my ship. It's actually all the time. I figured you knew that."

I was still stuck in place, staring at him. I could feel my cheeks turning a deep shade of pink. "You..you want to kiss me," I repeated, voice almost a whisper. "Really?"

"Yeah, really. Haven't you ever thought about it before? We'd be good together," he said earnestly, voice growing a little more serious.

My knees suddenly felt wobbly. I dropped down next to him, using an overturned bucket as a seat. "Are you being completely serious right now?" I asked, though even as I said it I knew he was. I could tell by his expression, by the hope in his dark eyes and nervous drum of his fingers against his knee.

"Very."

My head was reeling at the unexpected turn in the conversation. "Why haven't you ever brought it up before?"

At this he paused, pulling his lower lip in-between his teeth as he thought. The gesture was entirely too distracting. Finally, he let out a breath. "I don't know...I didn't know if you felt the same. But I think you do. I can't be the only one who feels this."

He was right. He wasn't.

I was gripping the edges of the bucket so hard that my knuckles had gone white. I looked back at Poe just in time to see his eyes flickering to my lips. My heart jumped. He shifted on the crate so he was facing me, eyes never leaving mine. I felt suddenly powerless beneath the intensity of his gaze, my stomach fluttering uncontrollably. He moved closer, dipping his head toward me. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my lips. At the last second, my nerves won over the anticipation and I turned my head.

I heard him let out a tiny groan of frustration as his lips met my cheek. I stood up, desperately needing space. Yet at the same time, I also wanted to be as close to him as possible. I paced a few steps away, wrapping my arms around my middle. I willed my heartbeat to slow, but it seemed content to just keep racing inside my chest.

"I'm sorry, I'm an idiot." I fumbled through the apology. "I just...I don't know. Is this a good idea?" I turned to face him and the look on his face made my stomach drop. A complicated mixture of want, amusement, and a tiny bit of frustration.

He smiled softly at me through it all. "Why wouldn't it be? We already act like we're together...it wouldn't take much more to actually get there," he said. "What are you so afraid of?"

"Losing you. You're the most important person in my life, Poe. You're all I have. If we do this and it doesn't work out—"

He stood up suddenly. "Then you'll still have me. You're stuck with me, remember? Whether you like it or not."

I looked at him uncertainly, hope growing inside me, but my nerves were still in control. Poe Dameron, my best friend. Poe Dameron, the best pilot in the galaxy. Poe Dameron, who wanted...me. Of all people. "You're sure? I mean absolutely 100% sure, because—"

"Would it help if I told you I love you?" he interrupted, and once again did that unavoidably sexy thing where he pulled his lip in-between his teeth. "That I'm in love with you?" he corrected himself a beat later.

My mouth moved wordlessly for a moment. He looked so...honest. Standing there, telling me he loved me. My heart was hammering against my ribcage as I finally found my voice. "I...I'm in love with you too. It's just that it's been a while, you know, since I...well since I've done this."

He came toward me another step. "Done what?" he asked with a cheeky grin. "Had your best friend confess to being in love with you and then give him the cheek when he tried to kiss you?"

"I'm being serious! The whole relationship thing...the everything. I don't even remember the last time I...I kissed someone," I said, feeling ridiculous.

His smile grew affectionate, his eyes teasing. "I can fix that."

It became suddenly hard to breath as he closed the space between us, his eyes smoldering. I felt his hands on my hips, guiding me backwards until I bumped gently into the X-Wing. One of his hands braced against the side of the ship, near my head, the other tilting my chin back as he leaned in. A quiet, surprised gasp escaped me as I felt his lips against my neck. His mouth moved slowly across my skin, burning against me, as he trailed a path up to my jaw.

I whimpered as his mouth grazed my earlobe, my head falling back against the ship as my eyes fluttered shut.

"This is the reaction I was looking for," he murmured against the column of my throat, and I could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Don't get cocky just yet. You haven't even kissed me yet," I said. However, the breathlessness in my voice gave away just how prominent his effect on me was.

"Is that permission?"

I nodded and the warmth of his mouth vanished as he pulled away for a moment. I opened my eyes again, dazed, and found myself looking into his deep brown eyes.

"Not just to kiss you...but to call you my girl?" he asked softly.

I blushed, a smile flashing across my face. "Yes."

He smiled back at me, looking more perfect than ever, the way his eyes were lighting up. He took my hands in his, lifting my arms to lock around his neck. I curled my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling myself up against him and rising onto my tippy toes. Poe leaned his forehead against mine as we exchanged a secret smile. Then I felt his lips, soft and warm, as they pressed against my own. It was sweet and feathery, a sigh of contentment escaping him. I smiled into his mouth and crushed myself against him, happiness rushing through me and assuring me that this was right. Even if everything else in the world was wrong, Poe was right.

His hands were warm and solid on my hips as he pressed me back into the ship, his body flush against mine as if he couldn't get close enough. The kiss grew hungry and a little bit frantic, years of pent up feeling and want finally escaping. I was attempting to push my hands up his shirt when a low whistle met my ears. My stomach dropped and I tried to push him away.

"Go away," Poe muttered to whoever it was, attempting to capture my lips against his again.

I pressed my finger to his lips, stalling him, and turned to see Jess standing there, a smug grin on her face. I turned five shades of red and pressed my face into Poe's chest. "Oh no."

"I hope you two know you just made me a little bit richer." I heard her say, sounding smug.

Poe's arms came around me, pulling me into him. A laugh vibrated through his broad chest. I kept my face hidden, not yet ready to face her knowing expression. Although I knew by this time the next day, I'd be facing everyone's.

"Glad we could help." And then his lips brushing against the top of my head, causing me to smile into his shirt. It would be worth it, I suddenly thought. All of it, the teasing and everything. To be with Poe, anything was worth it.

I didn't pull away until I heard her footsteps retreating, tilting my head back to meet Poe's eyes, shining with mirth. He grinned at me and my heart fluttered as I grinned right back.

"I hope you know I'm not done with you yet," he murmured, stealing the air from my lungs yet again.

I leaned forward and kissed him. "I hope that's a promise, Dameron." I murmured against his mouth.

His grip tightened on my waist and I threaded my fingers through his hair. Things were beginning to heat up all over again when Jess's voice cut through the silence once more.

"Also, it's about damn time!" she yelled just before there was the sound of a door sliding shut.

Poe grinned against my lips, before pressing me back against the ship, and I couldn't help but think he had been worth the wait.