Chapter 44

-conversation-

After he'd put Winta to bed, Din found his wife in the—what was to his mind obscenely opulent—fresher attached to their suite. She sat on a stool, her robe hanging half open exposing one of her beautiful swollen breasts to him as he watched her from the doorway. Scented steam filled the room from the sunken pool of heated water a few feet to her right, fogging the mirrors and beading on his beskar.

"Would you join me for a bath, Din?"

A small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, he watched her intently and began removing his armor.

"Did you have a nice time on the ship?"

He nodded, only taking his eyes from hers to unhook his back plate. "Mmhhmm. It's a nice ship. Catch up with Leia?"

"Yes… she's had an exciting decade, but I've had an excellent year." His smirk widened at that.

"Is that so?"

She pulled at the tie keeping her robe closed and it fell the rest of the way open and down her shoulders. "Yep. I met the best man this side of the galaxy and I married him. Now I have a growing family and a very sexy man to share my bed..." Her eyes flicked to the steaming water for half a moment. "Or my bath."

Beskar off and piled on the floor, he jerked down the zip on his flight suit and tugged his arms free, letting it slide down his hips to the floor. Her eyes darkened as she watched him slip his thumbs under the waistband of his compression pants to pull those off too.

Naked, he crossed the tiled floor to stand in front of her. She put her hands in his when he held them out to her and he pulled her to her feet.

"Gar cuyir ner kar'ta bal ner runi, Omera. Bal ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, ner ka'ra."

Her smile was tender and her eyes held all her love for him as she slid a hand up his neck and pulled him down. "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum balyc, ner yaim."

A small gasp of surprise escaped between his lips before she kissed him. Din knew she had been learning Mando'a too, he'd been the one mostly teaching her, but she rarely used it. He was her home and if anyone had asked him, he'd say that she was his too. One hand cupped her jaw, the other traced down the side of her stomach as he deepened the kiss.

Suddenly she winced and pulled away, the hand that had been carding through his steam dampened hair now rubbing her back. Frowning in sympathy, Din brushed a lock of hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear.

"Are you ok?"

Sighing heavily, Omera nodded and took his hand, leading him to the edge of the tub. "I will be." He followed her down the steps into the hot water and this time her sigh was one of pleasure. "Oh, this feels wonderful."

Din smiled and stepped up behind her and ran his hands where he knew it usually hurt, the water relieving his tense muscles as well. "Is it getting worse?" He pushed her braid over her shoulder and kissed her neck.

"Yes. I was wrong Din, it won't be two weeks…"

His hands stilled where they were digging into the tense skin along her lower spine. "No?" Pressing himself against her, he slid his hands around until he was covering her own at the base of her stomach. "How long?"

She leaned her head back against his shoulder and hummed. "A few days at the most. I've been having mild contractions off and on all evening but they could last a couple of days more. With Hannah's last baby she went through days before he finally came."

"Will you make it through the next two days?" They were spending the day tomorrow with Grogu, then Leia had invited a few handfuls of senators and representatives around for dinner. Apparently she had hinted at their visit to those she thought would be the most receptive and they were keen to meet them. Omera and Leia had both agreed that it would be beneficial to meet with them prior to speaking before the Senate the following morning.

"I should be fine. Don't worry Din, I'll let you know if anything changes. For right now they're faint and not constant and I have been on my feet a lot today. I'll be with you for this until I can't."

He definitely needed her for this but he didn't like the idea of her going into labor on the senate floor. "Well… if you're sure."

"I am." She hissed and peeked up at him from where she rested against him. "Rub my back some more?"

Smiling, he kissed her and pulled back to do as she asked. After massaging her until she was leaning against the side of the pool a groaning mess, he sat on the edge and helped her wash her hair. She could have done it herself, but he wanted to take care of her while he still could.

None of them knew an exact date, but they would likely be moving fast once they left Chandrila. He would have to leave her, not fully recovered and with a newborn, to fight battles so they would have a home. Even if she didn't make it through the day tomorrow, he was glad it wouldn't be another two weeks. The sooner she gave birth the longer he would have with them.

"Din, I'm glad we're seeing Grogu again for the first time in the morning, while I'm still pregnant."

That made him pause, hands halfway through rinsing her hair. "Why do you say that?"

Opening her eyes, she looked up at him. "It's just, this is the first time you've seen him in a year and now we're married and he isn't your only child anymore. I didn't want the first time he saw you to be after. I don't want him to feel like you've replaced him or… like you have another family now without a place for him. Because you haven't but… well you remember how Winta was and she's had you this whole time and is a bit… not really older but maybe mentally?"

Continuing with her hair, Din hummed thoughtfully. Honestly he was so excited to see his son that he hadn't given it much thought. But the more he did, he realized she had a point. Would he be jealous? Would he care that Din wasn't just his anymore? Not that Grogu was, nor would he be living with them possibly ever again like before. He had chosen to leave to train as a Jedi and Din had let him go. Grogu would always be his son, but they would likely have separate lives.

"I think he understands more than we think he does. Ashoka, she could communicate with him and I bet Skywalker can too… I hadn't really thought about it but maybe you're right."

Done with her hair, she stood and turned around to face him as he slid back into the water. "Do you want Winta and I to give you two some time together first?"

Tracing a finger along her jaw, he hardly had to think about her offer. "No. We're a family, all five of us. I want you there."

She smiled fondly and kissed him once. "Alright, if you're sure Din."

"I am."

Din had just finished fastening the last of his beskar when there was a knock at their door. Winta shrieked with glee and dashed past him. "Winta." She winced and apologized as she opened the door.

"Sorry, Dad."

Leia was waiting with Ben who was smiling up at Winta gleefully.

"My Uncle Luke's here! And Grogu! He's so excited to see you!"

Winta turned to Din with a brilliant smile he couldn't help but return. "Go and tell your mother."

"Ok, Daddy!"

She raced past him and into their room as Din turned back to Leia.

"We were just going out for a bit to give you all some time together. They're just in the main room."

Din nodded, nervous tension suddenly tightening his chest as she smiled and tugged her son along behind her. Running a hand through his hair, he looked back to see Winta coming out of their room.

"Momma said to go, she'll get dressed and join us in a few minutes. Come on Dad let's go!"

"Alright."

She paused halfway out the door and cocked her head to the side, eyes darting around his face. "Are you ok, Dad?"

He nodded and huffed out the nervous energy with a tense breath. "Ya. Ya I'm ok. Let's go."

Smiling again, she took his hand and they headed down the hall. When the door to the main room hissed open and they stepped through, a familiar little green head whipped around to face him. His ears perked up and he trilled loudly as he slid from the sofa. Din's throat felt thick and his eyes stung and he didn't move for a long moment until Winta dropped his hand and gave him a push. In two long strides he was across the room and kneeling down to catch his son up into his hands.

"Hey buddy…" His voice broke and he ignored the wetness on his face as Grogu's fuzzy head burrowed against his neck and cheek. "I missed you."

Suddenly he was hit with overwhelming feelings of love and contentment. In his head, the impression of thoughts and images rushed in as if whoever they belonged to was too excited to think one at a time.

I missed you too… father… FATHER.

Images of himself, before when they'd been together, when they had said goodbye, when they'd been on Sorgan, all flashed rapidly through his mind. Home… missed you too… learned so much… new friends… love you father… C3PO… the droid Skywalker had brought with him whistled and beeped around before Sorgan and the cockpit of the Crest replaced him in rapid succession. Home... the force… Master Luke… the two of them sitting together and training, increasingly large objects levitating between them before Din saw himself as he must have looked to Grogu as he had walked away almost a year ago. Father! Sister… family? Winta and Omera sitting with them in the woods near the village. I missed you too father… more emotions, sadness and loneliness swept through him before relief and joy and love replaced it again.

It was so much that Din took a step back and looked down at his son in confused wonder. "What…"

"He is speaking to you through the force. We've been working on that daily, he wanted to be able to communicate when he saw you again."

Skywalker was sitting on one of the sofas, looking much more relaxed than when he'd first met him. Hands folded behind his head, he was smiling across the room at them. Din nodded at the other man and looked back down at Grogu.

"That's amazing, Grogu."

Proud of me? I missed you… An intense question he desperately wanted a positive response to, the desire for praise. I'm learning so much… father! Proud? Family? Din and Omera and Winta and Grogu all together before the images cleared. Missed you father.

Huffing a short, watery laugh, Din smiled at him. "Ya, buddy… I am proud of you." He looked up at him with his wide brown eyes and smiled too before nuzzling back against his cheek. Patting his back, he sighed, voice almost a whisper. "I missed you too, so much…"

"What's he saying Dad?"

Winta was standing beside them, watching the pair of them closely. At the sound of her voice, Grogu peeked down at her and trilled again.

Winta! Friend… The voice and the images were faint with Grogu's attention on Winta, but he saw Sorgan again and the pair of them off alone, one of the many times they had wandered off to play. Best friend… play? Sister? Ben said… Ben jumping up and down talking about Winta and a family. Father, sister, family… missed you too Winta!

"Oh wow!" Her eyes were wide as she stared at Grogu. "That's so weird! I missed you too, Grogu!"

In his arms, Grogu wriggled and reached for Winta. Laughing softly, he handed him to her.

"Guess what! Momma and Dad got married! That means you're really my brother now!"

Momma… Dad? Something Din hadn't known Grogu had seen. Din—from Grogu's perspective—watching Omera walking past with a beautiful smile for him. My sister… missed you! Sister! Play? Dad, Momma… where's Omera? Omera, one of the many times she had scooped him up and cuddled him mixed with feelings of love and safety. Where's Momma? Sister Winta, so happy. Can we play?

Winta giggled. "Momma's coming. You're here earlier than we expected and she's been having trouble getting up in the morning."

His ears sagged and he looked up at Din.

Trouble? OK? Concern and fear. Is she OK?

Din gently scratched along his head in what he hoped was a comforting manner and nodded. He had been right, Grogu really did understand more than they thought. Before he could respond Luke had straightened and was asking Grogu's question out loud just as the door hissed open again.

"Is Omera alright?"

"I'm fine, just extremely pregnant."

Omera joined them, crossing to stand beside Din. He slid his hand to her back as she watched Winta and Grogu with a misty eyed smile. "Hello sweetheart, oh my…" She wiped a stray tear. And sat down on the seat beside them. "Has he grown? I think he's grown."

Grogu looked at Omera, his little smile bright as Winta passed him over. "Oh we've missed you so much, sweetheart." She kissed the top of his head and opened her mouth to say something when Grogu beat her to it.

Momma… family… A memory of one of the nights he had slept with Winta and of Omera tucking them in and kissing them both. I missed you too! Father married Momma… Sister Winta… family, Another image—not a memory because it hadn't happened yet—the four of them together happy and smiling. My family… home… missed you. You're OK? Another brush of concern laced with the love and safety as he reached up to touch Omera's face.

"Oh… what… Din, did you hear that? See that?"

He laughed and leaned down to kiss her temple. "Yes. It's something he learned. It wasn't as clear for me when he was focused on you but ya…"

"Oh…" More tears slipped free as Grogu hugged her. "Oh, sweetheart I'm alright I promise."

When he pulled back, he was practically standing on her stomach. He looked down at it, tipping his head this way and that as he tried to make sense of it. Finally he looked up to Din, his question obvious without him having to ask.

Tired? What's pregnant? Omera's voice a few minutes before as she'd said she was 'extremely pregnant' Two beings… The slow, rhythmic beat of Omera's heart followed by another much faster and then so much peaceful, warm happiness and... mother that Din had to sit down. Father, why is Momma two beings? Is she ok?

Din was so stunned he wasn't sure what to say. "Was that..." Omera was watching Grogu with an awed expression that slowly became a smile.

"Grogu, that other being is a baby. He'll be born in a few days, your little brother. Like Winta, only new and small."

Grogu didn't say anything else for a minute as he wiggled down into her lap and pressed a clawed little hand to her stomach. His eyes fluttered closed and his ears twitched. When the baby kicked, Grogu's eyes snapped open in surprise and he looked back to Din.

Baby?

Din smiled at his son and reached over to rub his head. "Yes Grogu, that was the baby."

Turning his wide, curious eyes back, he waited a moment for another kick, and another.

Baby… father loves baby?

"I do."

His ears twitched but he didn't look away.

Father loves Winta?

Din smiled up at her where she stood beside him. "Yes I do, very much." Stepping between his knees, Winta sat on his leg and leaned against him.

Father… loves Grogu?

"Yes, Grogu. I love you too. "

A/N

Mando'a

Gar cuyir ner kar'ta bal ner runi, Omera. Bal ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, ner ka'ra. - You are my heart and soul, Omera. And I love you, my stars.

Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum balyc, ner yaim - I love you too, my home.