Early the next morning, Tra'ka knocked on the armorer's door. She answered it not long after, her beskar fully in place.

"Tra'ka," she said in Mando'a, "I was just about to run some training exercises. Do you wish to join me?"

He shook his head, moving aside from the door so she could exit. "No, mother, I just came to speak to you about Din."

She nodded, heading down the path leading to the mountains. "What do you wish to say?"

"I'm worried."

She sighed. "You are not usually one to worry."

"I know. But there's been talk."

"About?" Her tone was patient.

"About Din, and the outsider."

"She has a name," the armorer gently chided.

"Cara then," he said, "You know the laws. I know Din thinks they're unnecessary but many people in the tribe do not agree."

"And what do you think?" she asked mildly, as they passed the final building before entering the meadow.

He hesitated. "I know Din has always been more of a loner. And it is good to see him with a companion. If it were just up to me, I would have no quarrel with it."

She spread her hands out. "Then what is the issue?"

"I am not the only one in the tribe. And our clan's views are the minority." He sighed deeply and looked ahead. "Din may deny it, but they are obviously closer than he lets on."

The armorer looked at him curiously. "What makes you say that?"

"When I went with him to see Cara in the infirmary yesterday, Din actually took her hand. I was not the only one who observed the touch either. The doctor was obviously in full witness, as well as her assistant."

"And yet," the armorer said slowly, "we are not forbidden from touching outsiders, or anyone for that matter."

"No."

She waited for him to continue.

"Last night," he continued, "I was walking with Drakin soon after Din and Cara left. We both observed them embracing."

The armorer was silent for a long moment, only the wind and their footsteps breaking the silence. "Was his helmet removed?"

No, of course not."

"Then I fail to see how this is a problem, my son."

Tra'ka sighed. "I want Din to have companionship, but many in the tribe do not feel the same way. It's going to cause problems for him with the tribe."

"Don't you think Din can defend himself? He has already told me he's removed his armor with her." She said mildly.

Tra'ka stopped walking, looking at his mother. She stopped and turned, cocking her head to the side.

"Then he is involved with her? Why would he lie?"

"I do not know in what way they are involved. The only thing he told me was that he has removed his armor but never his helmet. I can tell you nothing else."

Walking forward a step, she placed a hand on each of Tra'ka's arms.

"My son," she began, "Din needs to make his own choices. The creed is sacred to him. He would not break it. And if he does, I trust his conscience will not allow him to put on his helmet again."

Tra'ka sighed deeply and then nodded curtly. "I will trust you mother. But sometimes I feel Din has been gone so often and for so long, he forgets the Mandalorian way."

"He could never forget it," she said firmly, "It's been forged into him through fire and training, just as it has all of us."

Releasing his arms, she continued forward. "Don't worry about Din, he can take care of himself. Now, will you be joining me on my training?"

Tra'ka hesitated a moment, and then followed his mother. "I don't know, the last time I trained with you I was sore for a week."

"Your age is showing," she teased.

"All right, I'm coming," he gave in.

oOoOoOoOo

Someone was knocking on his door.

He glanced quickly at his chronometer and noticed it was much later than he expected. Getting up quickly, he shoved his helmet on his head and moved towards the door.

"Who is it?" He said from inside.

"Corvin!" the person responded loudly.

He opened the door slightly so his brother could slip inside, and the kid squealed loudly from his arms.

Din smiled beneath his helmet. "Hey kid." He reached out to take the child and he immediately cuddled into his chest.

"It appears you just got up," Corvin said in Mando'a, motioning to his lack of armor.

Din shrugged. "Yesterday was a long day."

Nodding, Corvin looked around Din's house. "So, what do you think of this new place?" he asked, responding in basic.

"I'm grateful for it," he said. "I should have been here to help build it."

Walking over to the kitchen, he grabbed a few things from the cupboard and started getting the kids some food.

"Has he eaten?" he asked his brother.

"Naw," Corvin laughed. "He didn't seem interested in food. He was more interested in watching the other foundlings and causing a general ruckus!"

"We're you good?" he asked, looking at the child. The kid gurgled at him and Din laughed lightly.

"The other children enjoyed his presence. They want him to stay with us again," Corvin said. "I assume he will be attending school while he's here?"

Din sat down on the floor and put the kid down too. Corvin joined them, holding his knees with his arms.

"Yes," Din replied. "And I'd like to help with whatever needs doing while I'm here."

"This is the way," Corvin agreed. "And there is much to be done. I'll let you confer with Maytra'k about that. I'm mostly involved with the school but she's been leading the effort to replenish the food stores before what we assume will be a brutal winter."

"Assume?" Din asked, watching the kid dig into his food.

"Mmmm," he agreed. "Planetary tilt suggests a drastic change in weather that will last for several months. There are many species of animal here currently, but we've noticed that many of them are already leaving. When the winter comes, we believe it will come suddenly, in full force."

"Do we have the supplies and shelter for that?" Din asked.

"I believe so," he agreed. "And we have many tribe members who will come and go, like yourself, so we will not be without help for long."

"Should I stay through the winter to help?"

Corvin shook his head. "No brother. You are much more valuable to us bringing supplies and news of the galaxy."

They were silent for a long moment, watching the child eat hungrily.

"You know, I like Cara," Corvin commented. Din's head whipped up to look at him.

"I'm glad," he said after a moment. Corvin seemed to want to say more, and Din sighed.

"If you have something to say, just say it Corvin."

"I do not know the nature of your relationship but," he held up a hand to forestall any arguments, "But I think you are well suited to each other. And I don't care what anyone else says about it."

Din swallowed hard, nodding curtly and looking down to watch the child again. It seemed that everyone had an opinion about him and Cara. Even though they weren't actually in a relationship, many people thought they were. It was also possible that in the near future, the whispers about them would become accusations.

"Do I need to be concerned about the tribe's response to Cara?" He asked, looking back at Corvin.

"It is possible brother," Corvin admitted. "But I believe, if they see you and Cara helping in the covert and pulling your weight, continuing to follow the way, they will come around."

Din nodded, thinking. "I'm going to see Cara this morning. Do you know where Maytra'k will be this morning? I have something else I want to ask her about."

"Of course. I believe she will be helping organize a hunt, or possibly out doing a hunt."

The child gurgled beside him and look questioningly up at him.

"Sorry kid, you're too little. You get to spend the day at school again. Remember school?" Din looked at him.

The child's ears fell slightly, but he cooed again at the mention of school.

oOoOoOoOo

When Din arrived at the medical house after dropping the kid off at school, the sun was almost to it's zenith.

"Djarin, she has been discharged," the doctor told him, speaking Mando'a.

"Is she completely healed?" he asked.

"She is well on her way," she responded. "Her lungs are back at full strength, her heart is mending, and her leg is almost completely healed. She needs to take precautions for the next day or two, no training, no hard labor, minimal beskar-

She stopped, realizing her mistake.

"Of course, she doesn't wear beskar. But in any case, she will need to take it easy. You must make sure she does, Djarin. Many times, she does not seem to listen well."

Din nodded, giving a sigh. "She's as stubborn as I am."

The doctor cocked her head to the side. "Well in that case, I think I should have kept her here for two more days."

Laughing slightly, Din shook his head. "I'll keep an eye on her."

Treking back out into the bright light, Din looked around, wondering where she could have gone. He had just arrived at the outskirts of the village when he spotted her, sitting on one of the many large rocks in the meadow. He approached and she heard him coming, whirling quickly and reaching for her blaster that wasn't there.

"Din," she said, relaxing.

"Cara," he responded, coming to stand next to her. "The doctor tells me you're feeling better and should be completely healed in two days."

Cara rolled her eyes. "Yeah, she wants me to take it easy for two days…"

"You need to," Din said firmly, "Or you'll end up right back in the infirmary."

Sighing, she nodded. "I know, you're right. I'm just sick of sitting around. I want to help."

Din nodded, looking out at the mountains in the distance. "I know the tribe will appreciate that. They need help restocking the food stores for the winter. There are many hunting parties going out daily."

"Sign me up," Cara said quickly.

"When you're better," Din said decisively.

They stood in silence for a long moment, the wind blowing slightly. Cara sat on the rock again and Din joined her, their arms and shoulders brushing.

"Any ideas what we're going to do about the spice cartel problem?" Cara asked finally.

"I have an idea about that," Din responded. "I'm going to find Maytra'k this morning. She may have leads that could help."

"Good." Cara nodded. "Can we also get my armor from your ship? I feel practically naked all the time! I mean, even the kids wear armor!"

Din nodded appreciatively. "Sure. Let's go there now, and then we can find Maytra'k."

"Great. Also Din," she said as they stood. "I'm starving. Let's get some food."

oOoOoOoOo

After Cara put on the usable parts of her armor, and they both had something to eat, they explored the settlement in a search for Maytra'k. They found her near the tree line, directing several other Mandalorians in the clean up after a hunt.

"It looks like you had a good hunt," Din commented, motioning to several large animals that lay on the ground.

Maytra'k turned and nodded in greeting. "Din, I heard you slept late this morning. I always find that the night after I return home, I have to make up for weeks of fitful rest."

Din sighed in agreement.

"And it's good to see you up and about Cara." Her tone seemed genuinely pleased.

"Thanks," Cara said, "I'm glad to be out of that chair. And I'd like to help with the hunting."

"In a few days," Din reminded her firmly. "The doctor hasn't given you clearance to fight or hunt yet."

Maytra'k inclined her head. "We would be lucky to have you Cara. We need all the help we can get. I assume my brother would also be joining?" She looked at Din.

"As always, of course," he agreed. "We would both like to help prepare the tribe for winter."

"Good," she said.

"There's something else we came to talk to you about, if you have the time," Din told her.

Somehow, behind her beskar she looked curious. "Oh?"

Shifting from one foot to the other, Cara began. "Our last job, the one that went to hell?"

Maytra'k nodded in understanding.

"Well, it went to hell because apparently the spice cartel wants me dead."

"Ah," she said, motioning them both away from the group. "Let us walk for a bit. Then we can talk privately."

They started to walk away from the group, along the tree line.

"So it's a long story," Cara began. "But suffice it to say I used to work for them, was double crossed by my partner, blamed for a huge shipment loss, and barely escaped with my life. That's when this one," she motioned to Din, "found me on a backwater planet hiding out."

Maytra'k nodded slowly. "But didn't Din meet you more than a year ago?"

"Yes," Din agreed from Cara's side. "And the cartel hasn't come after her yet. But she's always been either hidden, in a highly defensible place, or involved in conflict they want no part of. The most recent job I stupidly took was obviously a trap designed to draw her out."

Maytra'k paused in her walk, turning to Din and placing a hand on his upper arm. "I know you feel responsible, but you couldn't have known. Cara is going to be fine. Now you must forgive yourself this misstep and move on."

They stood silent for a long moment until Din finally nodded curtly. Maytra'k pulled her hand back and then hit his arm in a friendly manner, turning to continue their walk.

"So, you need a way to get the spice cartel off your back. Do you know what they want? Is this revenge or do they want payment?"

Cara snorted. "Kriffing Trax probably just wants me dead. Although he's always been a lover of money. But the cartel boss never struck me as someone who would just seek revenge for the sake of it. I would bet the right price could buy him off."

"That is true," Maytra'k agreed. "He is not one to waste resources on petty revenge"

Cara's head whipped around to look at her.

"That's right," Maytra'k said, "I am a hired gun for the cartel, at least most recently that's who I've been working for."

Cara nodded curtly and they continued to walk.

"Perhaps he would be open to a deal," Maytra'k said finally. "It's just a matter of finding something he wants more."

She stopped, turning to the two others. "Let's all think on it and we can discuss it again. For now, I think I need to finish cleaning up from the hunt and organize the next."

"I'd like to join you on the next hunt," Din said.

Maytra'k inclined her head. "You are very welcome."

"What about me?" Cara asked. "I'm going to go stir crazy if I don't do something."

"You-

Maytra'k held up a hand, interrupting Din. "There are plenty of things you can help with Cara that don't involve hunting or fighting."

"Great, sign me up," she said.

oOoOoOoOo

As it turned out, there was a large pile of cloth in need of mending. The pile included flight suits, children's robes, blankets, insulating blankets for the homes, and other various things. Several other mando's were working on it, their gloves discarded in order to do the fine work.

Cara sat awkwardly on a rock and another man, Yartu, sat next to her to instruct her in the sewing methods.

She tried, she really did, but it was not an easy thing and she'd never sewn anything nicely in her life. She knew they didn't really care if it was sloppy, but felt bad anyway.

Yartu shook his head, looking at a thermal blanket she had just completed.

"You're as bad at this as Din," he commented.

"He never could get his head around fine work," a woman commented from the other side of her. Prafon was her name.

Cara sighed, annoyed. "I'm trying my best here!"

Yartu laughed, his slightly shaky voice betraying his age. "We aren't picky about how it looks, as long as it holds fast." He lifted the blanket and tugged at the sewn spot. "It seems strong enough."

Prafon handed over another blanket and Cara started work on it.

"Do you always do mending together like this?" Cara asked.

Yartu nodded. "Many times. There is much to be done and some families, like Corvin and Maytra'k with their seven foundlings, have a bigger load than others. It is good to support the load together," he said, using a Mando'a phrase.

"What does that mean?" Cara asked, not understanding.

"It is a phrase that means to share all work, so everyone has equal work and does what they're good at doing." Prafon said.

"For example, Din was never good at sitting for fine work like this, and he always had difficulty with lessons," Yartu's scratchy voice said.

Snorting slightly, Cara raised her eyebrows. "Don't I know it. Although, he does seem to have a lot of focus and calm when he's cleaning his armor. I don't know how that's different, but it is."

Yartu and Prafon looked at each other pointedly, but Cara didn't notice.

After a moment of silence, Yartu said, "Cleaning armor is a sacred act, one that all warriors are taught to use to their advantage. It takes time to learn the act, to quiet your mind sufficiently and have the patience for it. But it is an important part of being a Mandalorian, an important part of letting go of the battles we have fought."

Cara nodded slowly. "Of course, that makes sense."

"It is an act that is rarely, if ever, shared with an outsider," Prafon commented, and Cara could hear the annoyance in her voice.

"It is sacred to our people and the sharing of it is not to be taken lightly," Yartu said.

Pausing in her sewing, Cara felt her cheeks color. Had she just blabbed something she shouldn't have shared? If so, she had no idea sharing armor cleaning was such a sacred thing. Maybe from Din's perspective, it indicated a deeper commitment in their relationship? Maybe he hadn't told her everything? She felt her insides start to roil with uncertainty.

They passed the rest of the afternoon mostly silent, with Cara mulling over her and Din's relationship.

When Din arrived later in the day Cara practically jumped out of her skin. He cocked his head to the side, looking at her questioningly.

She sighed and then cleared her throat. "Did you come to rescue me? I think I've made some of the mending look worse than before I started."

"It may look worse," Yartu commented. "But it's functionality is much improved."

Cara nodded. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment." She looked up at Din. "You look like you had a good hunt."

Din grunted in response. "We killed several animals. Things got interesting when a herd of deer stampeded over us. But… beskar took the worst of it." He shrugged.

Resisting the urge to laugh, Cara stood. Leave it to Din to downplay being trampled by a herd of four-hooved animals.

"I thought you would want to eat before evening gathering," Din said. "I'm headed back to the house, if you want to join."

She nodded curtly. "I'm starving." Turning suddenly, she looked at Yartu. "If that's all right?"

"Of course," he said, his old voice shaking slightly. "You may do as you wish."

They walked together towards the house on the outskirts of the village, Cara glancing sideways at him.

"So you really got trampled by a herd of deer?" she asked.

Turning his head to look at her, he sighed. "Yes."

This time, Cara couldn't contain her laughter and it bubbled up. Din seemed to glare at her and then look forward again.

"What? I'm sorry, it's just not something I imagine happening to a Mandalorian." Smiling broadly, she heard Din sigh.

"Well," she continued, "you definitely need to do some clean up after that." He was truly caked with mud. His flight suit was still dropping clots of it as they walked and his armor was smeared with mostly dirt, but some blood as well.

"And how was mending?" He asked.

"Oh, boring but fine. I found out I'm just as bad as you are at it."

Din snorted. "Yartu probably told you that?"

"Yep," she said, smiling.

The house wasn't much to look at, just four wooden walls and a roof, with a few windows thrown in. But it was functional.

They walked into the house together and Din gestured around.

"Kitchen," he pointed. "There's food if you want. Sleeping area in the back. And a small 'fresher."

Nodding, Cara walked into the kitchen, rummaging around to find some food. When she had a sufficiently full plate, she walked back into the main area and looked around.

"No chairs huh?"

"Yeah, minimal furnishings. We could get some from the Razor Crest."

Cara shrugged and sat on the floor, leaning against one of the walls. When she looked up, she realized Din was removing his armor. One thigh plate already lay on the floor next to him, and the other joined it shortly. It brought all her questions from earlier rushing back.

She watched him start removing his gloves and felt heat rush to her center. Taking a deep breath, she blew it out. What was wrong with her? The last time he removed his armor, she hadn't had this reaction. But oh that's right, the last time she'd been half dead from blaster burns. Apparently, her body was feeling better.

Feeling slightly uncomfortable but unable to look away, she watched as he unclipped his vambrance and laid them carefully on the floor, removing his pauldron, and then pulling open the vest that connected his back and chest plates and slipping it off as well.

Breathing deeply, Cara chided herself. She seriously needed to calm down. She didn't even know if Mandalorians were allowed to have relationships with outsiders. She was setting herself up to be disappointed.

But her body definitely had other ideas.

He slipped off his waist belt and then sat down, carefully removing his boots and all the weapons that were stored inside them. Then he reached up to his neck and unzipped his flight suit. Feeling like her heart was going to pound out of her chest, Cara realized she hadn't eaten a bit of her food.

Standing, he pulled his flight suit down revealing a light black tunic underneath that left little to the imagination. She couldn't see through it outright, but she didn't have to imagine hard to see the solid mass that made up his torso. His neck was laid bare, and she could see chest chair poking out of the scooped neck of the tunic.

"Cara?" His scratchy voice made her jump, and he paused. "That's the second time you've done that today. Are you alright?"

"Yes!" she said hurriedly. "I am all good."

He looked at her for a long moment. "You haven't eaten any of your food."

"Hmm?" she said and then looked down at her plate. Well damn. "Right." She felt like she had to gasp for breath. And Din wasn't even touching her, he was just taking off his armor. What was wrong with her?

He looked at her from his spot about five feet away, his helmet betraying nothing. They looked at each other for a long moment, a moment that seemed to stretch on forever.

Then suddenly Din cleared his throat. "Um, I'm going to take a shower."

"Right," Cara said, shaking herself. "I'll just be here, eating."

"Right," he said and turned abruptly, disappearing behind the 'fresher door a moment later.

What was wrong with her? She was not sixteen! If she was that interested in Din, she should tell him. But it just didn't feel that simple. Din had claimed her as family by bringing her to his clan. He was more than just some one-night stand. Besides which, his people had strict rules about relationships and physical intimacy. She didn't want to make any missteps that couldn't be taken back.

Taking a deep breath, she blew it out slowly.

Things were certainly getting complicated.

oOoOoOoOo

Din turned around in the shower, cleaning his mud caked flight suit and washing his skin. What was going on with Cara? Was it the meds? Was she feeling uncomfortable among his people? He shook his head. He had gotten such a strong sexual feeling from her while he was taking off his armor. That hadn't happened the last time.

But she had been half dead from blaster burns…

Right.

His own body had started responding, seemingly of its own volition. Somehow just knowing she wanted him was enough. She'd never shown any interest before and he vaguely wondered what changed. Maybe removing his armor made her remember he was actually human, and not made of beskar? Maybe it was the intimacy of being here. Maybe she'd always been attracted to him and he'd failed to notice.

Not likely.

Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. He could admit to himself that he wanted her. But she wasn't just some one night stand he could have sex with, fully clad in his armor. No, he had opened parts of himself to her that he hadn't opened to anyone except his Mandalorian family. It wasn't that simple.

And he didn't want to lose her.

Sighing deeply, he tried to let go of that lingering lust. It was odd for him. He usually just made his wishes known and, if the other person was amenable, engaged in the act without a second thought. But he couldn't do that with Cara. He couldn't.

And that complicated things.

A lot.