Chapter 45

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"He's so tiny! Even smaller than Grogu."

Omera laughed and wrapped an arm around her daughter. Winta sat beside her on the bed holding her new brother. She had rolled her eyes and laughed when Din had told her it was a boy but had been eager to see him anyways. Grogu watched, still unsure, from Din's arms where they sat beside them on the bed.

"What are we gonna call him?"

Giving Din a tender smile, she nodded once for him to answer. Watching Winta and the baby carefully, he smiled down at them.

"I thought we could name him after my father, my buir." Winta looked up expectantly. "His name was Cuyan."

Pursing her lips and cocking her head to the side, Winta tested the name. "Hmmm… Cuyan. Cuyan Djarin. Winta, Grogu and Cuyan." She peered down into his face and he stared, wide eyed back up at her. "He kind of looks like a Cuyan, for a baby."

Din laughed softly. "Well I'm glad you approve."

"Alright little Cuyan, I'm your big sister, Winta. And this," she shifted him slightly in her arms so he faced Grogu. "Is your older brother, Grogu. I didn't say big because he's not much bigger than you and you're gonna grow real fast compared to him. But he is older than even Dad. Mister Luke says someday he'll be bigger and talk and everything but it might take years."

The day before, Commander Skywalker, though she supposed it was Master Skywalker now, had told them about his own master. Yoda had been 900 when he died and the only other creature like Grogu anyone had ever seen. Din recalled Ashoka mentioning having known another like him too. He had wondered aloud if the ancient Jedi that trained Skywalker had been the same person she had known. With such a long lifespan, it wasn't surprising Grogu was still so 'young'. They had all been curious what that would mean for him and his training.

"He doesn't get to live with us because he's training to be a Jedi. But he will visit sometimes. Mister Luke said so. We are Mandalorians, like Dad. When you're big enough he'll train you like he's training me, and we'll grow up and wear armor and helmets and be awesome too."

Resting her cheek against the top of Winta's head, Omera smiled across the bed at her husband. She was positive he'd never looked so happy and content in his life. Sitting there beside her, with all of his children, all five of them safe for the moment. Omera was happy too.

So far, Grogu had only watched. He hadn't 'said' anything or moved from Din's lap. Omera thought he might have looked nervous but it was hard to tell. Honestly, she was nervous. She wanted this to go well. Finally, his ears perked up and a wave of tentative curiosity followed by—so small, baby… little brother Cuyan.

"Do you want a closer look, Grogu?" He looked up at her and a definite yes flashed in her mind. Din met her eye for a moment before setting Grogu on the bed beside himself.

"Here, let me hold him, Winta." She handed him over and Din shifted so Cuyan lay along his left arm and the tops of his thighs, his little head nestled in his cupped hand. "Come here, Grogu." Slowly, he leaned over Din's arm until he was nearly nose to nose with the baby. They hardly moved for several moments as Omera caught bits and pieces of thoughts and feelings, but they were too fast and too faint to interpret.

"What do you think they're talking about, Momma?"

Omera breathed a laugh. "Who knows, sweetheart. I can't imagine Cuyan has very much to say just yet."

Apparently finished with his interview, Grogu sat back and reached a clawed hand out to pat him gently. Family. Brother… Father loves family… warmth and love and contentment. I do too.

Eyes burning, Omera met Din's. He smiled at her and rubbed Grogu's head with his free hand. "That's great buddy. We love you too."

DO

Winta and Grogu were curled up beside Omera, all three of them asleep. He watched them from a gliding chair Leia had sent up, sleeping infant tucked in his arms. For the first time since before their lives on Sorgan had been interrupted, Din felt content. His whole family was here together and he would savor every moment until Grogu had to leave again and he had to go to war.

Starting to feel tired himself, Din considered tucking Cuyan beside Omera how she'd shown him and climbing in with them when there was a knock at the door. Frowning, he stood and crossed to the door, careful not to jostle the sleeping baby as he moved. It wasn't technically late, but he couldn't think who would be bothering them just then. He was more than a little surprised to see Skywalker waiting on the other side of the door.

"Evening. Ah…" He peaked around Din to see the sleeping tableau behind him and smiled a little sheepishly. "I'm sorry to bother you. Were you asleep as well?"

Sighing but still managing a half smile, Din shook his head. "No. Just…" unsure how to finish, the intuitive Jedi finished his thought.

"Enjoying a peaceful moment?"

"I… ya I guess."

Skywalker nodded, giving his sleeping family an odd but pleased look before turning back to Din and smiling down at Cuyan. "Congratulations. I'm sorry to disturb you but I wondered if we could talk. It's… not terribly urgent but it is important."

Glancing down at the sleeping child in his arms, he nodded. "Sure. Let me just…" He gestured to Cuyan and back to the bed. The Jedi nodded and excused himself to the small sitting room in their suite. Omera stirred slightly when he tucked their son beside her but with a kiss and reassurance that he'd be back she was asleep again. Taking another moment to enjoy the picture they made, Din sighed and left the room.

Skywalker stood, hands clasped behind his back, looking out the window at the city below. Hearing the door, he glanced over his shoulder. When he looked back to the city, Din made his way across the room and stood beside him.

"I'm glad you and Omera found each other. She deserves to be this happy."

Din didn't know what he had originally wanted to talk about but he was pretty sure it wasn't this. Picking up on his confusion, he briefly met his eye again.

"I didn't really know her that well but Tauren was… a good friend. I don't know how much she's told you about that part of her life." He sighed heavily and shook his head. "He would have been bantha shit as a father… if he would have even bothered. He was furious when she told him. I never understood why. Well… we were practically kids and we were in the middle of a war but… I think he was having too much fun flying and killing stormtroopers."

Skywalker shrugged and finally faced Din fully. Suddenly he remembered the hint of apprehension Omera had had when she told him she was pregnant and it finally made sense. He felt angry and more than a little protective on Winta's behalf. She was such a wonderful, precious little girl. How could her first father not have wanted her?

Then a nagging voice that sounded like Xi'an reminded him who he had been ten years ago. The man he was back then… well he wouldn't have abandoned her. Family was the most important thing to Mandalorians after all and he would have done his best by her. But he would have been shit too. He was too angry, too violent, she wouldn't have had a very happy childhood if she had been his then either.

"Regardless, she went through a lot before he died and I imagine even more after. Knowing how happy they both are, how much they're loved and cared for… it's a good thing." Nodding again, he clapped Din on the shoulder and headed for a chair.

Unsure how to feel about the other man's comments, Din ran a hand through his hair and sat too. Whoever he had been as a younger man, he wouldn't trade away any of the hardships he'd endured before for the life he had now. If it was so obvious how much he loved his family, then he never had to worry that they would doubt him.

"I apologize. That wasn't why I interrupted your evening. Leia received preliminary confirmation that the senate will vote to help you. Enough systems are worried about the Imperial remnants to work with the formidable Mandalorians it would seem. She would have told you herself but she'll be busy for a while still tonight."

Din let out a relieved breath. It wasn't final but it was still promising news. Hopefully nothing would change over night. When he met the other man's eye again he could see he had more to say. Was he taking Grogu in the morning? Did the New Republic want to send them on their way to fight right away?

"That's good to know." He crossed his arms and frowned thoughtfully. "What else? That could have waited until tomorrow, surely."

Folding his hands in his lap, Skywalker nodded. "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to come too. My current mission, besides training your son, is more or less at a stand still for the time being. And…" He closed his eyes while he paused and seemed to be concentrating on something. "I have a very strong feeling that I'm supposed to go to Mandalore."

Frowning deeper, Din leaned forward over his knees. "Why?"

He only shrugged. "No idea. Maybe you'll need my help? Would the Mand'alor accept the help of a Jedi?"

Sitting back in his chair, he scrubbed his hands down his face and sighed. All things being equal, having the powerful Jedi along could be helpful. Moff Gideon might not be the only remnant officer with those deadly droids. But… he was a Jedi. Their two peoples had a long history of enmity. What would his people say if he brought him along? Would they see it as a betrayal?

But Grogu, his son, was a Jedi too. No matter what any of his people said he would never deny him. He didn't know how often he would be able to visit or what his life would be like once he was fully trained, but he hoped that Grogu would stay in his siblings' lives to some extent even after Din was gone. For that to be possible, some mending of the relationship between Mandalorians and the Jedi was necessary. Maybe helping them win their home back would do that.

"Some of my people won't be happy to see you. But, I don't care. We'll need all the help we can get. Besides…" He arched a brow and smirked. "I'd hate to waste the lives of my people if we run into more of those Dark Trooper droids. You might be helpful."

Skywalker huffed a laugh. "It was harder than it looked but… if I can help I will."

"What about, Grogu?"

He shrugged again. "I can train him anywhere. And when we go to Concord Dawn and wherever else, he can stay with your family. I'm assuming you won't have them with you?"

Sighing, he glanced across the room to the door to their bedroom where they all slept. "No. We have no idea if the various groups are in contact or not. They could call in reinforcements or another light cruiser… I won't risk having my family somewhere they could be ambushed. We have a safe place…" He just might not get to see them for longer than he'd like. Honestly it could take months depending on how large a presence there was in their sector, but Din desperately hoped it wouldn't. Being away from his family for that long made him want to abandon the whole endeavor and take them all back to Sorgan.

"Good. Grogu can stay with them. He has grown much stronger in the last year, a few weeks or so won't hurt him."

Having Grogu with them would make him feel slightly better. The covert on Batuu was safe and hidden and they wouldn't be left completely unprotected there but what Grogu could do… Besides, this way they'd be together. How they belonged.

"Alright. I don't plan to linger here after things are decided but I'm not ready to fly off to battle yet either. My son is all of a day old and Omera… I don't want to leave her yet. Hopefully they won't decide tomorrow that they want to get started right away but I realize they won't be put off for long."

The Jedi was nodding along as if he agreed, so Din continued. "I want to take them home and stay with them as long as I can. Will you come with the New Republic forces?"

"Yes. I am still a Commander. I will tell Leia that I volunteer to be in charge of any forces they send. I will leave Grogu with you and meet you in orbit around Concord Dawn."

Din nodded and stood, extending his hand. "Good. Thank you for your help, and for letting Grogu stay with us for now."

Skywalker shook his hand and smiled. "I'll let you get back to your family. Goodnight."

When he was alone again, Din went back to his room. Omera was awake, lying on her side and feeding Cuyan, and looked up when he stepped through.

"Is everything alright?"

Kicking his boots off, Din nodded and sat down on the bed beside her. "Yes. Skywalker wanted to talk."

"Oh? What about?"

He sighed as he lay down beside her, tucking her against his chest. "He's going to come with us, when we start clearing the remnants. Says he 'feels' like he's supposed to be there. Couldn't tell me why but, Grogu is going to be with us for a while."

She had turned back to watch Cuyan once he had lay down but twisted around to smile widely at him again at that news. "Really? That's wonderful, Din."

"Ya." He kissed her cheek. "I thought so too. Goodnight, ner ka'ra."

"Goodnight, ner yaim."

Smiling to himself at the endearment, Din closed his eyes and fell asleep, content and happy.

A/N So a huge thank you to everyone that suggested names. L_of_the_Stars on Ao3 came up with Cuyan. It's Mando'a for Survivor. I hope everyone liked this sweet chapter!