HI. so. 2 things. first a lot of you have mentioned that you like the slow burn romance they have going on. I hope I'm not about to torpedo that too badly. I don't want to spend 15 chapters on the next 6 months having them slowly fall in love and get together for real. I don't think that is believable for the characters and the story I have set up so far and there is a lot of plot to get to so. I hope the way I have done the rest of this section of this story isn't a huge turn off.

2nd thing. I hate that I have to say this but I'm no taking Cara out of my story. I have 70k words written already and she is a pretty important part of it. great thing about reading is you can imagine characters however you want. If this turns you off my fic, sorry. No matter what you think of the actress, the character is a hilarious, strong, independent female and the show will be less for her loss. A recast would be a little weird but I hope they take that route.

Chapter 11

-future-

The low hum of conversation and children's laughter filtered in with the morning light between the slats in the window over Din's head. Blinking slowly, it took him a moment to remember where he was. Then Omera's voice sounded from the other side of the curtained doorway, a harsh whisper as though she didn't want to disturb him.

"Hush, Winta. Get to lessons. He will be here when you get back, sweetheart. Let him sleep."

Omera. He had come back to Sorgan, to her. Relaxing back into the bed, more comfortable than he'd slept in for years, relief filled him as he rubbed a hand across his eyes. Winta's grumbled reply was too low for him to hear but he didn't miss the rapid beat of her footsteps as she raced out of the house. Realizing how late he'd slept, Din felt bad for missing her but he had been exhausted.

Deciding he had slept long enough, he rolled to the edge of the bed and sat up. All he owned in the world were the things he'd been carrying when he'd stepped off Fett's ship. His spare clothes, limited in style though they were, had been destroyed with his ship so he had slept in the tight, thin pants he wore under his flight-suit. Looking at the piled besker, Din sighed in frustration. It didn't feel right to put it back on, not now that he'd decided to stay. He didn't know how to be anything but a bounty hunter, but he wanted to try.

A soft rap on the doorframe pulled him from his thoughts. Omera called out to him.

"Are you awake, Din?"

A slow smile worked its way up his face and he told her to come in. She entered with a basket on her hip, and started to greet him.

"Good morning… Din…"

The rest was forgotten as a blush colored her cheeks and her eyes widened slightly. A look he couldn't quite bring himself to name flashed across her face as she took him in and Din remembered he'd slept half naked.

"Um.. sorry I… well here." She was looking determinedly at the basket in her arms. "Hannah, the gossip, must have told everyone you're back at dinner last night and well… I've got some things for you to wear. I know you hadn't brought anything else this time, what with your ship and…" Her eyes flicked back to him and her blush intensified. He was sure that he was as red as she was by now. "Unless you wanted to wear your besker. I'll just leave this here for you."

Before he could manage anything to say in reply, she flashed him an embarrassed smile and slid back out through the curtain. Breathing out a laugh, Din looked down at himself. Scars, some silver with age others pinker and more fresh, cut across his bare torso. Glancing up to where Omera had just been, he wondered if the look he'd seen in her eyes had been disgust. Idly, he scratched one of the newer ones on his bicep.

She hadn't looked disgusted. Heat crept up his neck as he pictured the way she'd looked at him. At least, in the moment he hadn't thought so. But surely that would be the correct response. Looking over at the basket of borrowed clothes he decided not to worry about it just then. He hoped he looked alright in green.

After he'd dressed and pulled on his boots, Din ventured out into the main room. Omera was standing at her counter facing away from him but she turned when she heard his heavy steps. Her smile filled with humor when she saw him. Leaning back against the counter, her hand covered her mouth to hold in a laugh. He tugged awkwardly at the wide, round collar and smiled self-deprecatingly.

"I look ridiculous, don't I?"

She shook her head and walked towards him.

"No, Din. It's just strange to see you in normal clothes, that's all. Here.." reaching up to adjust the collar, Omera pressed her hands against his chest. Warm even through the thick fabric, he hardly moved as she smoothed the rumpled bit down, afraid she would pull away if he did. But the blush from earlier returned as her hands stilled, and Din was certain she must be able to feel how his heart raced.

Hands still flat against his chest, she looked up and met his gaze. She was looking at him the same way she had when she'd come into his room earlier. Definitely not disgust. Heat spread across his skin from where she touched him and Din wanted to kiss her again. It was a bit embarrassing how such an innocuous touch made him feel like this but just then he didn't care. Not when she was looking at him like she felt the same.

His hands came up to grip her waist, pulling her just a little bit closer as hers slid up to caress either side of his neck, trailing heat in their wake. Eyes dropping to her mouth, he leaned in. Like the night before, the brush of her soft lips against his sent shivers racing across his skin and blood rushing to his groin. And just like the night before, Din felt increasingly lightheaded and overwhelmed. He wanted more, he wanted to slow down, he wanted everything.

When Omera gasped softly against him, she pulled back far enough that he could see the lust darkening her eyes. Din realized abruptly how much thinner the new pants were compared to his beskar laiden flight-suit. Heat crept up his neck as he strained against her hip. He dropped his forehead to hers and let out a shuddering breath. The friction was almost more than he could handle.

"I'm sorry."

She was breathing heavily too. "No.. don't be." Breathing out a soft laugh, she turned to nuzzle the side of her face against his and press a kiss to the corner of his jaw. "It's ok, Din. I'm… glad it's not just me."

He took a few deep breaths, nose buried in her hair and tried to get a hold of himself. Knowing she was as affected as he felt was decidedly unhelpful.

"Omera, I don't… I've never had anything like this before. Every time you touch me I feel like… "

Drawing back slightly so she could look him in the eyes, Omera stroked his cheek and he hissed out a sharp breath between his teeth. She started to pull her hand away but he stopped her, keeping her there.

"No, don't stop. Please don't ever stop, Omera. I didn't know… I never realized how much I needed this." He reached for her other hand and brought it up to his face too. "It's just…" When he released a long, shuddering sigh, the look she wore told him she understood.

"We'll go slow, Din. It's been a long time for me too." She leaned up and kissed him chastely on the lips but before she could release him completely a knock from the front door drew their attention. Thankfully Din was facing away from the door when Hannah slipped her head in around the heavy curtain.

"Omera, are you busy? We need…" Din and Omera both looked over his shoulder at her and he paled, looking away when she smirked.

"Well. I'm glad to see you found something to wear, Mr. Mandalorian. Those trousers fit you very nicely."

Omera scoffed and stepped around him.

"Oh, go ogle your own husband, Hannah."

The other woman chuckled to herself but didn't come any further in. "Oh I intend to, ogle him and then some." Din finally turned to face her, ears burning, to see Omera walking towards her friend, shaking her head and wearing an exasperated smile.

"I apologize if I interrupted, Omera but we were wondering what your plans were for the day. There's not much to be done as you know, but some of us were thinking we should do something special to mark the end of the season considering how the year went and…" She looked to Din. "to welcome you. We're all glad you've decided to stay."

Her smile was knowing and exceedingly pleased as she looked between them. Still partially stuck on his and Omera's previous conversation, Din couldn't think of anything to say to that and looked to Omera for help. She glanced back at him apologetically before responding to her friend.

"That sounds great, Hannah. I'll join you later to help, ok?"

Nodding, Hannah turned to go, flashing Omera a smug grin. Before she was gone, Din thought of something to say and cleared his throat loud enough to get her attention. When she looked back at him expectantly, he momentarily missed his helmet.

"My name is, Din." Her eyes widened minutely and flicked briefly to Omera. "Since I'm staying, I thought… you should know."

A less smug, more genuine smile split her face as she nodded again. "Thank you, Din. Like I said, we're all glad you're back."

When she was gone and they were alone again, Din met Omera's eye across the room. They were dancing with mirth and he released a tense breath as she walked back to stand in front of him.

"I'm sorry about Hannah. She…" she laughed. "We've been friends since I came to Sorgan."

After spending so much time with Cara and especially some of their recent conversations, he thought he understood. It was a new feeling for him—having people that cared about his happiness—but it was welcome.

DO

Working alongside the other women in the village to prepare for dinner was not as distracting as Omera would have thought. After Hannah's interruption earlier that morning, Din had joined some of the other men to work in the brew huts. They had come by not long after and claimed they needed to teach him how to brew spotchka if he was going to be staying. Personally, she wondered how much actual instruction there would be if they were behaving anything like the women.

"Hannah wouldn't tell us anything after she stopped by to check on you this morning, Omera. He is staying with you, properly this time." When she didn't respond to the questioning glances with more than a blush and a badly hidden smile, the other women collectively groaned.

"Omera, come on. Does this mean what we think it means?"

Another woman scoffed. "Oh please, of course it does. Tell us, Omera. How was it? Hannah wouldn't say but she was all smugness when she came back from yours."

Thankful for her friend's discretion, Omera flashed her a pleading look. Hannah shook her head, chuckling. "Honestly, Omera. I don't know why you're surprised. The mysterious warrior that's twice visited our village, spending more time in your company every day he was here suddenly turns up again, handsome face revealed and staying in your house. What did you think would happen? Of course everyone's curious."

At Omera's exasperated but good humored sigh, several of the women laughed but Hannah looked to her seriously and continued.

"You've lived here almost eight years, Omera and been alone besides your daughter that whole time. Other single men have come and gone during the harvest but no ones ever caught your eye. Now one has and it does seem very serious. And if we're being honest, he captured your heart before you even knew what he looked like. Although, with an ass like his, I'm not sure I would have been bothered about his face."

Omera blushed deeply and glared half heartedly at her friend. "Hannah!"

She only scoffed. "Don't act like I didn't catch you staring at it the last time he was here. Look, I suppose it's really none of our business but you are our friend and we love you. Is it as serious as it seems? He came back, gave up his creed and is staying in your house. Should we be planning for another celebration feast?"

Collapsing back onto a bench and covering her face with her hands, Omera sighed. What did it mean?

"We haven't actually had a chance to talk about it. But…" A wide smile lit up her face. "I think.. it is quite serious."

As everyone dissolved into giddy fits as they went back to work, Hannah grabbed her hands and tugged her to her feet and into a hug.

"I am happy for you, Omera."

They pulled back and smiled at each other and Omera opened her mouth to thank her friend when the tittering and chatter died. The sudden silence had the pair looking around in confusion until Hannah nudged Omera, the smug grin back. Omera looked in the direction she indicated and instantly felt heat return to her cheeks. Din stood in the doorway doing an admirable job of looking unbothered by so much attention, but Omera knew better.

He shifted his weight and cleared his throat. "Ladies."

Omera wanted to laugh at the sudden innocent, serious atmosphere as every single one of them smiled and replied almost in unison.

"Din."

A nervous smile tipped the corner of his mouth but his eyes sought hers with a slightly pleading edge. She did laugh then and Hannah pushed her towards him.

"Go on then, we'll manage without you."

Still laughing as she reached Din, Omera took his hand and pulled him away. They were hardly three steps away when laughter and excited chatter erupted again.

"Oh they're terrible." She looked over at him, hoping he wouldn't be offended that the other women had clearly been talking about him. He was blushing but the slight smile was still there as he looked down at her. "There will be something else to gossip about before long."

He huffed an embarrassed laugh and squeezed her hand a little tighter.

"So, what did you think of spotchka brewing?"

"Hmm, what can I say?" He looked up with a mock contemplative frown that turned into a shy smirk when he turned his head to look back to her. "It doesn't seem terribly difficult, but I got the feeling they were trying to tell me something completely unrelated to Spotchka. I'm not quite sure what it was though."

Omera couldn't help her laugh. "Oh no. What did they say?"

The blush hadn't ever truly faded, but it darkened as he worked his jaw and avoided her gaze. "All the varying steps in the process, how much you usually make every standard year, whether or not I've ever taken the besker off before when I wasn't… alone."

Omera gasped and covered her face with her free hand. "They didn't! I'm sorry, Din."

He shook his head and led them to the edge of the village. "It wasn't too bad actually. I think… they were just curious about my people."

Thankful that the men hadn't been so inappropriate as to put him off, Omera hoped he could be happy here. Would being with her be enough to keep a lifelong warrior satisfied brewing Spotchka and farming krill? Sometimes Omera felt restless here and she had Winta to think about. Watching him sidelong as they walked, she wondered if they should have that discussion now. She did believe that whatever this was between them was serious, but what did that mean to him? What would it look like? Did Din want to marry her?

Then there was his new claim to Mandalore. All Omera knew about the planet was that the Empire had committed the same kind of atrocities there as it had so many other places. He seemed to think this Bo-Katan woman would bother them about it at some point. Would she be successful? Should she be? Din claimed not to want anything to do with her or his apparent right to rule but Omera wondered how much he had actually considered it.

Suddenly he was half turned and looking down at her, lips half smiling and eyes questioning.

"What?"

Omera's eyes widened slightly and she turned back to the path ahead of them. She hadn't realized she was staring.

"Sorry. I was just… thinking."

She could hear the smile in his voice as she steadfastly looked ahead.

"I could see that. About anything interesting?"

Nodding slightly, she finally looked up at him and decided now was as good a time as any.

"Din, when you said you wanted to stay here, with us, with me, what did that mean for you?" When he frowned in confusion, she rushed on, pressing a hand flat against his chest. "I think I know what we mean to you, Din, I'm not questioning that." She smiled reassuringly up at him and he seemed to relax. "What do you want, for yourself, for us, for… the future? Do you think you can be happy as a krill farmer? Will I be enough to keep you happy here?"

He looked down at her, eyes intense and focused as he thought through her question. While he thought, he dropped her hand to wrap both of his around her waist, holding her close.

"I will always be a Mandalorian, Omera. It took me a while to understand that that could be true, and that I could be with you at the same time. I think it's just what, who, I am." He let out a shaky sigh. "But I can't go back to the Mandalorians who raised me, if they're even still alive. Not after everything I've learned. And I can't go back to bounty hunting even if I wanted to. Now that I don't have…" He swallowed thickly and blinked rapidly for a moment. "I no longer have responsibilities to my son. I am free to choose my own path for the first time in my life. I came back because I want to be here. With you and Winta. Krill farming or bounty hunting, it's all the same to me as long as I can be with you."

Pausing, he reached up to cup her cheek and a nervous frown bent his brow. Omera felt breathless as she watched his thoughts flicker across his face.

"I want to try to be happy. Here on Sorgan or anywhere if we decide to leave someday but... I want to be with you and I want to… I want to love you, Omera."

Her eyes stung but a painfully wide smile split her face and a happy laugh fell from her lips. Surging forward, she kissed him, pouring everything she felt for him into it. When she pulled back, her voice was a soft whisper.

"Din, I want to love you too."

As he kissed her back, thoughts about their future, about Mandalore and the Darksaber felt less and less important. Someday he would have to face Bo-Katan and his place as Mand'alor but she knew, whatever he chose, they would be together.