Everyone held their breathes in anticipation as the doors took their time sliding open. Everyone, except for me. I stood there, still as a statue, ready…. I was ready to see him again. To be near him….

And there he was: this thin, toned figure coming into view. Both his hands reached up- his real and fake one- to pull down his hood. His eyes clapped immediately onto me, where mine grabbed hold of his. And I smiled… Oh how I smiled at him.

"Hello, Luke."

The Jedi seemed a little taken aback by my initial reaction to his arrival; I don't think he's had anyone smile at him like that in a long time. Not since Leia or Hans Solo I'm sure. His expression was mute and solemn- not at all as I remembered his face being. He emoted a lot more in his old age. His lips which were a thin, straight line opened a tad. "Saiorse Jinn?" This was both a question and confirmation to himself. My grin widened as I nodded my head a single time. Then I remarked rather carelessly "you look so much younger!". It's true- he looked roughly around my age. Maybe a year or two older. His head tilted in such a way as to show non-understanding on his part and I shook mine rapidly. "N-Nothing!" My hand waved in the air as if trying to banish this part of the conversation. "Have we met before?" He inquired in his younger voice. Awe, he even sounded like his older self- a bit. Enough that I could hear it. Of course my smile only expanded in the corners; my eyes lowered softly onto him. "No," well it was half-true anyway; he'd never met me, after all.

"Are you a Jedi?" Mando broke the stunned silence of those behind us. Luke didn't even take his stare off me while answering. "Yes. I've come for Saoirse. Are you hurt?" This was directed to me specifically. "No, I'm fine." Right after I said this, a small domb-headed blue and white droid rolled up beside Luke. It beeped, instantly earning a grin from me. This little guy must be R2-D2; yes, Luke's told me lots about it. The beeping continued as I patted the top of its head with my hand, rubbing it affectionately. Nice to meet you too, little friend.

Luke watched us for a second before breaking the room's stillness once more. "Come, Saoirse. There isn't much time," his hand motioned for me to follow him. I didn't do anything and didn't have to. "Wait!" Mando stretched out his now panicked hand. Both me and Luke gazed back to him; the Jedi blinking with surprise. But I spoke next. "It's alright, Mando," I said before spinning my head back to face Luke.

"I know why you are here. The Force has sent you to me, and I am to go with you- that is the will of the Force, and I will obey. But I can't leave my husband. I married the Mandalorian: he is my husband, and I am his wife." Luke could only blink in astonishment at this. "Jedi cannot marry," he finally told me. My head lightly shook. "I'm not a Jedi; I'm a healer. I was born to heal and bring light…. to a universe that needs balance. But I have attachments which will forever keep me grounded. There is nothing I can do about that now. Mando is my husband…. We are one whether together or apart. We will share everything, and we will raise our children as warriors."

I heard Bo Katan and the other false-Mandalorian lady gasp at this; I don't think they expected me to know the Mandalorian wedding vow. I felt much better saying the last part now knowing that Mando and I would never have children. But Luke also looked to know what it meant, though I'm sure he didn't know the exact words of the pledge. His gaze simply lowered onto me intently. "You love this man?" And my eyes softened entirely. "So, so much."

At this, he peered back at the Mandalorian again, who was still standing anxiously nearby. When he returned his stare to me, he seemed conflicted; I doubt my being married was part of his plan. "But what am I to do then? What can I do for you?" Oh Luke, my smile returned. "If you want to serve me, then be my master and train me. There's still so much I have to learn about the Force, and it would have it that I learn from you. Become my master, Luke, and let Mando and I live with you." Luke ogled me for a moment, showing the first sign of positive expression in his face. It was in his eyes, I think. Eventually however, they lowered again onto me, as if soaking my essence up like a sponge. "I will protect you with my life from this day forward." Obviously, my grin only widened. "I know you will."

Then I turned my attention back to a shellshocked and frazzled Mando. Still grinning ever so tenderly, I walked up to stand right in front of him. My eyes couldn't have possibly been more adoring in that instance. "Come with us, Mando. Come stay with me while I train." "Saoirse!" He gasped. My head gave a small shake. "Please come. I never want to be apart from you for that long again." "It was only three days," the other lady ignorantly remarked. Yeah, for them maybe; but I just spent months without my husband. I'd been apart from him once- I never want to do it again. Never.

I placed my hand over top Mando's breast plate, where his heart resided. My eyes cemented onto where his would be. "We are one, Mando. You are me, and I am you. You'll always be a part of everything I do. And I never wish to be parted from you from this day forward…. So please… Say you'll stay with me."

Mando only gaped down at me for what felt like an entirety and instant. His hand rose up to rest over mine, pushing it into towards his heart. Eventually he breathed…. He breathed so steadily. "I made I promise to you… back on Corvus. I promised you that I would never leave you. I gave you my word…. and I intend to keep it." "Mando," tears were pouring down my cheeks by now. His free hand came out to wipe one away. "I will never let you go. For as long as we both shall live, I will never let you go, Saoirse….. wife."

Then he proceeded to take off his helmet.

The End.