Din curled his fists around his rifle, his body so tense that a single movement could have snapped him. The child beside him, floating in the bassinet, gave a concerned squeal and perked his long ears as a long, pained groan emitted from the Razor Crest.

Din tried counting womp rats, sand dunes, seconds… anything to take his mind off of his wife who was in intense pain on the ship.

The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and Din whirled around, his blaster in his hand.

"Whoa there," Cara Dune held up her hands, approaching with caution. "I know this sucks, but don't shoot the messenger!"

The Mandalorian holstered his blaster but strode towards his friend eagerly, worriedly,

"Any news?"

Cara winced as Din's gaze shot past her, the sound of Aria's agonized moans making his muscles taut.

"Just that the midwife said to stay away a few hours longer."

"A few hours?" The bounty hunter thought he would suffocate from worry by then. "Cara, I don't know if I can do this."

"I know." The shock trooper admitted, glancing over her shoulder at the Razor Crest's lowered ramp. "I feel so helpless." She put her hand against The Mandalorian's chest as he moved involuntarily, listening as Aria let out a tortured cry.

"Tell me what to do!" Din shouted, spinning around, turning, stomping.

"Just wait." Cara knew the words didn't bring much comfort. "It'll all be over soon and you'll be holding that baby in your arms."

"I want her." Din said simply and his friend immediately understood.

"I know." She repeated gently.

Din's head snapped towards his ship as Aria called for him, her voice strained as she implored and begged for him.

"I'm going in."

"Mando-"

"She needs me." Din replied sharply before stalking up the ramp and flinging the curtain back.

The midwife leapt back, her eyes fiery as she began to usher The Mandalorian out of the ship,

"She can't see you right now."

"My wife was calling for me."

"She doesn't know what she's saying." The midwife insisted but Cara stood in the doorway, menacing and saying nothing. "Alright, you can stay. But she stays out!"

Din threw a grateful look at Cara who nodded, looking relieved as she stepped back outside.

He dropped to his knees by the side of their bed, taking off his gloves and brushing the sweat from his wife's forehead as her eyes fluttered.

"Din?" She whispered, her lips parting as his heart throbbed. Din's gaze wandered to her protruding stomach, her lower half covered by a sterile blanket.

"I'm here, honey."

Aria looked into his eyes, for somehow she knew where they always were under the helmet. She was speaking with an effort, breathing heavily and he had to lean closer to her.

"Turn-turn back the pages." She panted, "This chapter sucks."Din let out a half laugh, half sob as he held her hand. Her fingers tightened around his as her head leaned back, her eyes screwing shut as another pained groan drew out from her mouth. Din could only watch, letting her fingers make his hand numb as he wished he could take all this pain upon himself.

"Almost, almost!" The midwife exclaimed and Aria turned, tears falling on the sheet, each one that splashed sent bullets through Din's heart.

"There we are!" The midwife said triumphantly as cries pierced the ship. She wrapped the child, cleaning the little body as the baby wailed.

"You have a son, Mandalorian! Here!" She thrust the baby into Din's waiting arms before hurrying back to Aria. "I have to catch the other one."

"There's two?!" Aria moaned, still hanging onto her husband's free hand as she bit back a scream. "Yeah, of course there is."

Din turned his wet eyes back to his wife, so incredibly proud and full of love as she panted,

"When you do a job, you do it well, don't you?"

He laughed and kissed her damp cheeks as she pushed again, pain radiating off of her in waves.

"Here we are!" The midwife shouted, "One more, one more!"

"I can't." Aria looked beyond exhausted, looking up at Din with dim eyes. "I can't do it anymore."

"Yes you can." Din replied confidently, "Aria, I know you can."

She studied him for a moment before taking a deep breath and concentrating, the moment long and suspenseful until…

"You have a daughter!"

Aria let out a sob as she and Din watched the midwife scurry about. She held out her arms as the midwife lowered the baby into them.

"You have twins."

Din tore his eyes away from his little family to look at the midwife in gratitude.

"Thank you."

The woman nodded and stepped away, giving them their privacy.

"We have twins." Aria breathed as Din slipped into bed beside her, cradling the little boy like a precious gem. "Oh Din."

The Mandalorian peeped into his wife's arms, startled at the dark eyes that met his gaze.

"She has my eyes." He heard himself saying. Aria bent and kissed the little nose before reaching to pull the strip of fabric away from his neck, kissing him in her usual spot.

"I love them."

Din focused on the little fist waving in his own arms, his heart beating faster as familiar emerald eyes gazed up at him. His son had Aria's eyes. Oh man was he in trouble.

"You have to name them." Din and Aria looked up to see Cara Dune lingering in the doorway, a huge smile on her face. Aria glanced at Din and he gave her a slight nod, reading her mind in an instant.

"We'd like to name the girl after you, if that's alright." Aria said softly. The shock trooper's eyes widened and she shot a look at The Mandalorian who was watching her intently.

"I-" For the first time in her life, Cara didn't know what to say. "Aria…"

"You're a part of the family." Aria continued, "I trust you more than any woman on the planet. Please, Cara."

Cara's gaze leveled and she straightened almost proudly.

"It would be an honor for that precious child to share my name."

"There's the girl." Din spoke, "Cara Djarin."

"What about this little guy?" Aria pushed the blanket back to get a good look at her son.

"I was thinking about Kaiden." Din said, "It's a strong family name. My mother's brother was named Kaiden; he was an honorable man."

"Then Kaiden it is." Aria agreed, "Kaiden and Cara Djarin."

"They're beautiful." Cara peeped into their arms, grinning. "You two are gonna be busy."

Aria

My eyes popped open instinctively, my hand reaching for Din but coming into contact with a warm spot in the sheets. The bassinet was still floating by our bedside, the green kid snoring gently as I wrapped a blanket around the little brown tunic. I got up and padded my way to the other curtained section of the Razor Crest, slowing as I saw the familiar silhouette of The Mandalorian bending over the cribs.

In the dim light, I could see Din's dark hair slightly rumpled over his head and I felt a soft smile on my lips as he swayed back and forth, a baby in each arm.

"You're beautiful, little Cara." He murmured, looking down into his right arm. "Just like your momma. So incredibly gorgeous." Din's voice was smooth and tender, the sound emphasized without passing through his helmet. "But I snuck in there and gave you my eyes, huh? I hope I didn't pass along my bad temper."

I bit back a laugh as his head turned to peer down into his left arm.

"And you, my son." Din lowered his head and I heard the familiar sound of his lips pressing against soft, baby skin. "You will grow up to be a million times better than your father… wiser. Gentler. No suffering will happen at your little hands, dearest."

I slipped under the curtain, making Din's head turn slightly and I knew he was looking at me.

"Hey." I whispered and I caught the faint glimmer of his teeth as he smiled down at me. I put my hands on his bare forearms, lowering them slightly to peep into the wide eyes of my children. "They're listening to you."

"Do you really think so?" My husband sounded hopeful.

"Of course." I replied, "They're not making a sound… just listening to their father's voice."

"Cara woke up." Din explained, "She started crying and I was afraid she was going to wake Kai.

When I looked into his crib, I saw his little eyes just peering up at me."

"And you couldn't resist, could you?" I teased and Din lowered his head, straining to catch my mouth with his as he carefully cradled the twins in his arms.

"I can never say no to those eyes." He admitted. Din shifted to the cribs again, gently lowering each child in their own little beds and I watched as his fingertips brushed their chubby cheeks with tenderness.

The Mandalorian pulled me close, keeping his eyes on me as he lifted his hand to my face, tucking my hair behind my ear and flicking it over my shoulder in a practiced movement.

"You feeling ok?"

"Yes. Not as tired."

Din hummed, still staring down at me in deep thought. I reached up, my thumbs caressing his cheeks and jaw, his stubble rough against my hands. He let me trace his lips gently before speaking,

"I want you to live in a home." He looked around the belly of the Razor Crest, "Not in this pile of junk."

I placed my hand on the metal side of his ship, feigning shock,

"You're gonna hurt her feelings!" I exclaimed and The Mandalorian chuckled, drawing me back to him.

"I'm serious, Aria. This is no place to raise foundlings." Din glanced meaningfully at his arsenal and the cargo strewn around the floor.

"I know." I replied, winding my arms around his neck the way he liked it. "But I don't want to make things more complicated for you."

"Aria, you're my wife." Din pointed to the cribs, "Those are my babies. I have enough saved to buy a small house on Navarro."

I looked up at him, his familiar silhouette close to me as I realized what he was saying.

"You've really thought this through, haven't you." I murmured, thinking about the weight of his words.

"Cara and Greef will be nearby, in case you can't reach me or-"

"Don't say it."

"Honey, I have to face the reality of my line of work."

"Don't you dare say it."

Din sighs but obeys my frantic plea, his hands rubbing up and down my bare arms.

"All I'm saying is that I want to provide a safe place for you and the kids, all three of them."

"I know," I bring him close to me, embracing him and wishing it could be like this forever. "And I'm so grateful for you."

The Mandalorian kissed me tenderly, his hands heavy on my hips as he took his time.

"We can talk about it in the morning." He promised and I nodded, letting him lead me back to our bed and reassure me with his body for hours that everything was going to be ok.