To everyone reading this story-

Oh my gosh.

I leave for three days, and you AMAZING people bring my read count to 2K! This is way more than I could have ever anticipated or hoped for, and I love you all! :D

Sorry that I didn't update this week... School stinks, and with swim team on top of it, I simply did not have the luxury of time to write... which really stinks, I felt so guilty every day for not updating. :/

So from this point on, I will update during the week when I can, but for sure a couple of times on the weekends. I intend on finishing this story, and I shall not give up!

Thanks again!

NOW ONTO THE STORY.

***

"Jyn, wake up." Cassian whispers, pulling me out of a peaceful slumber. I groan. It is much too early to be getting up.

"Nooooo." I protest feebly, snuggling into his warm chest.

"Come on, the Empire is going to be on our trail if we don't get moving here." he points out.

I groan again. I am not a morning person. "But it's too early..." I yawn. I need to convince him to stay here. "Can't we stay here a little longer?" I look up at him, my eyes full of pleading, trying to look as innocent and helpless as possible. Which is seriously difficult.

Cassian looks at me, laughing. "Don't give me that look. You're not innocent."

I decide to go a more familiar route instead. "Okay, then. You try to move or move me, I shall-" I start, but Cassian puts his hand up.

"Okay, okay. I don't need threats. I won't move." Cassian says hurriedly.

I grin. "That's what I like to hear."

"So, I'm changing the subject. I know you said you liked me last night... Do you like me, or do you like like me?" he asks, his eyes glinting with playfulness.

"Well, of course I like like you! What kind of question is that?!" I laugh. "Why would I kiss you if I didn't like you a lot?"

Cassian nods his head in approval. "That is a very good point."

We sit in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company. That's all we need right now. The air smells of burning wreckage and saltwater. Most likely because of the base I blew up last night. Which instantly alerts me to another issue.

"How's your shoulder?" I ask immediately.

"It's fine. I'll live." he waves me off again.

"Stop doing that! I know that you're in pain. What can I do to help?"

He shakes his head. "I'm fine."

I grin. "Do you need a kiss to make it all better?"

Cassian chuckles. "That might help."

I slowly kiss his shoulder, careful not to further damage it.

"Oh man. The corner of my lip just started hurting. Can you kiss that too?" he asks, laughing.

I roll my eyes, pulling him into me for a kiss.  This may be for him, but to be honest, I probably enjoy it more than he does.  My heart flutters wildly when his soft lips touch mine for the second time, filling me with an ineffable emotion. I love holding him close, being with him, being held by him, even being carried by him.  Although I would never tell him that.  I'm an independent woman, not a helpless princess.

Several soft and tender kisses ensue, the ocean's waves crashing into the shore behind us.  I haven't been this tranquil since I was a child, living carefree and happy with my parents.  I was so happy back then, not having a care in the world.  Before the dark times.  Before the Empire.  When I was six, all of my ignorance disappeared due to General Krennic and his darktroopers.  I lived on my own, worked on my own, up until the time I was arrested.  Happiness was even harder to find at the Imperial camp.  But now that I'm with Cassian, all the bliss and joy that I never had is coming to me, stronger than ever.

When Cassian finally pulls away from me, he looks me dead in the eye.

"I need to ask you a question." he says, still staring right into my eyes.

"Okay, what?" I ask uncertainly.

"How long have you had that crystal?" he asks, gesturing to the kyber crystal around my neck.

I sigh. "I've had it since I was six. My mother gave it to me right before she was killed."

He purses his lips, staring off into space. "That doesn't really explain how you managed to trick those officers or stop a freaking bullet in midair." he mutters.

"I don't know. Weird stuff happens when I get really afraid or angry." I say.

Cassian looks confused, but determined to figure this out. After a short period of time, his eyes light up. "Jyn, it's the Force."

"What?" I laugh. "I'm not force sensitive."

"Yes, you totally are. You said kyber crystals need something to channel their energy. What if you are channeling the energy?"

"I dunno. That's a little far out there."

"That's how we survived the Death Star blast. That's how you sensed those stormtroopers miles away. That's how you tricked those officers. That's how you stopped a bullet in midair. When you feel intense emotions, you channel the power of your kyber crystal to keep you alive. Although you're not formally trained, the kyber crystal amplifies your force sensitivity." Cassian proposes.

"Well, that's a possibility." I answer.

"Well, dang. That's a helpful skill to have." Cassian grins. "So now you're a super badass feminist Jedi who can kill men with a single stare!"

I roll my eyes again. "Whatever you say." I stand up, helping Cassian to his feet. "I don't think it's too early to travel anymore. Let's go."

"Well, I'm glad you approve of evading capture now." he replies smartly.

We walk along the shore, talking about nothing in particular. The conversation drags until I decide that I should ask him something that I kind of want to know.

"So, you said that you lost family when you were young as well. I'd like to know... what happened?" I ask softly, not trying to hurt him.

He smiles sadly. "I never knew my mother. She died when I was very young, and I barely knew my father. I was about five or six when he was killed in a protest against the expansion of the Imperial army. So I lived on my own. I didn't even have a single person to guide me, but I hoped that someone would help me someday. But I knew I was against the Empire's cause. So in my first battle, I threw rocks and bottles at stormtroopers and Imperial walkers. I just lived on my own, and I was okay with that. I can't remember exactly when I ran into the Rebellion.  But Mon Mothma brought me to the rebel base, and I worked for them up until now. But I guess I can still call myself part of the Rebellion."

"Absolutely. The second we find a ship, we're going back to Yavin IV and meeting up with them." I say, deep in thought. Cassian's life has been way more difficult than mine. Living on your own since you were five, no help getting food or anything, just waiting for someone to come and help you? It sounds miserable.

"Sounds good to me." Cassian replies, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"They're going to need all the help they can get destroying the Death Star."

"Can you fly a starship?" Cassian asks, surprised.

"Uh, yeah. Duh." I laugh.

"I didn't know that."

"You'll find that I'm full of surprises."

He laughs. "Okay then, mi estrella." he leans down and gives me a quick peck on the cheek.

"I need a nickname for you." I look up at him. "Can I call you mi luna?"

He smiles really wide. "Of course. My moon. I like it! I didn't know you spoke Spanish."

"I don't." I laugh. "I only know like three words."

"And they are...?"

"Luna, estrella and cabrón."

His eyes widen. "That last one isn't a very nice word."

"I kind of assumed that. Some guy called me that a while back."

"What the heck did you do?!"

"I... actually don't remember." I say, intrigued. "But it must've been pretty bad."

As we continue to walk, I become more and more exhausted in the intense heat. The ocean looks so appealing right now. It sparkles, beckoning me with its effervescence and cool feeling. Cassian seems to notice me staring at the water, and stops.

"I know. I want to swim too. Let's go." Cassian grins.

I take off my shirt, leaving my sports bra on underneath. Cassian glances at me, slightly surprised, but then averts his eyes. I roll my own eyes, laughing.

"Cassian, I don't have a problem with you seeing me." I laugh. "But thank you for being a gentleman." I stand on my tiptoes, kissing him on the cheek. "Last one in is a rotten tauntaun!"

"Hey!" he complains, taking off his shoes.

Ripping my socks and shoes off of my feet, I sprint towards the water, my body feeling perfect the second I go underwater. I can't swim very well, but the water isn't deep here. My hair is wet and soft, and I honestly feel so much better now. I slick back my wet hair, reveling in the beautiful ocean.

Cassian comes in after me, wearing pants but nothing on his chest again. Honestly, is this going to become a regular thing? Not that I'm complaining about it.

"So do you want me to teach you how to swim?" he asks.

"Yeah, that would be great!" I reply enthusiastically, ready to learn anything.

"Okay, I think we'll start with freestyle." he decides.

It's very hard work, but Cassian slowly begins to teach me how to swim. He holds me in a front float, his soft hands guiding my bare arms in the way I should be moving them. After a while, I feel kind of guilty for putting the poor guy through this kind of torture.

"You're getting close, just try not to turn your whole body when you take a breath." he grins.

"I'm so sorry, I'm a really slow learner." I say, apologizing.

"That's alright. You can do it. I know you can." he encourages me. "Now, I'm going to show you how to breathe on your side again, okay?"

I nod, watching him swim through the water like a shark. He's so good. He's basically a fish, whereas I'm a stupid bird who can't swim at all. He stands up, his wet body distracting me from what he's saying.

"Let's try it again, okay? You're so close to getting it."

I try to mimic what he did, attempting to move my arms in the way he showed me. I'm not nearly as fast as him, but I can practice more. When I come up, Cassian is beaming.

"That's it! You've got it!" he laughs, hugging me. "It's not that hard now, is it?"

"No." I admit. "Thanks for teaching me!"

"Oh, no problem. I like doing it! I can teach you the other strokes sometime if you want." he offers.

"That would be great." I say, smiling. "We should try and find a spot to sleep for the night."

He nods, and we get out of the water, refreshed and content. My pants are soaked, but at least my shirt is nice and dry. I squeeze out my wet hair, but the water from my hair still soaks the back of my shirt.

"Oh man, that felt great." Cassian sighs. "I love swimming. And now I smell like saltwater!" he says happily.

"Where the heck did you learn how to swim?"

"The Rebellion. Some colleagues taught me, and then I started beating them in races. I have a feeling that you're going to be faster than me soon."

I laugh. "Probably not. But okay, then. If you think so."

"I'm sure you will." he smiles, beginning to walk. "You're awfully competitive."

"That's me." I laugh.

We sit on the beach, waiting for night to come. Cassian has made a fire again, and we eat coconuts for like the tenth time in four days.

"I should try and catch some fish tomorrow for breakfast." Cassian says. "I'm getting slightly sick of coconuts."

"So I guess you aren't cocoNUTS for them?" I laugh. Cassian slaps his forehead.

"JYN!" he laughs. "Your puns are awful!"

Our laughter rings out into the night, compassion in the air for the first time that I can remember. And I absolutely love it.