Headcannon time: When do you think Poe got BB-8? Personally, I'm thinking of a story along the lines of him getting BB-8 for his birthday as a child from his parents, almost like the equivalent of getting a puppy.
I love that idea, letās go with it.
What if BB-8 was a gift from his father and grandpa a year or two after his motherās death? She died in a horrible way when he was too young to understand that things happens and there is nothing we canāt do on that. So he is shocked and non functional after his motherās death and he closes himself in a way no one could even believe right now, no matter he tells the story like if it was a million years ago. So his father is worried sick and so is grandpa, thatās when he comes with the idea, āhe needs a petā. But there is no way Kes is getting him a pet, his son is always on the move and there are places people will not let him in with his pet at his side.
Kes knows his son, he needs a friend who would walk with him on streets and then stay quiet on his piloting classes. So a droid would be. He buys a BB unito and tells Poe it is now his responsibility and that if he does a good job program the droid and taking care of it, he would understand the secret of life. Poe loves challenges so he starts working in the programing of his droid and it distracts him from the loneliness. It also gets him attention from the kids outside who sees him working with the little droid, since itās a really new unit and wow, itās amazing. The thing with this kind of unit is that you can personalize it as you wish, like if you have build it yourself. Poe gives his BB unit a few things that may be necessary for other people, like the lighter, and when Kes asks, Poe tells him is for the days he likes to sit in the rooftop and watch the stars, so he can lit a scent candle and me okay.
It works perfectly when the BB unit is on, it rolls around Poe saying hello and it presents itself as BB-8, Poe adores it since day one. And with the passing days, he discovers he can get to laugh with his friend messing up his own way because he was born just a few days ago. He paints it in white and orange, and tells him he wants to be a pilot one day, so they will use a matching uniform and the droid understands and gets excited for it. Finally, on his teens days, already with a place in the pilots of the Republic before entering the rebellion, he realizes what the secret of life is:
You are not going to stop loving someone that is gone, but you will learn to love the ones that are coming too.
