Chapter 7- The Morning

Cara woke slightly bleary eyed the next morning to bright morning sun streaming through the window into the bedroom. She sighed, blinking her eyes and staring up at the bare wood ceiling, suddenly feeling a small body in the crook of her arm. Looking down, she noticed the kid's green head buried in the space between her body and arm. A smile tugged at her lips.

A delicious scent wafted into the bedroom and she took a deep breath, turning and noticing that Din's cot was empty. She tried to carefully slip her body out from under the kid, but it was futile and he started to stir. A moment later, large eyes blinked up at her.

"Hey kid," she said, smiling at him.

"Garmew?" He gurgled.

"Thanks for keeping my company," she replied. "But you should probably stay in your own bed, or Din might feel jealous."

He mewed again and grasped her around the arm in a hug. She returned it.

"Thanks buddy." Sitting up, she pried the kid off her arm and patted him on the head. "Shall we go see what that great smell is?"

He nodded and made more noises as he climbed off the cot. Cara followed, raking a hand through her hair and straightening her clothes.

They entered the main room and turned the corner to the kitchen where Din was standing at the food prep station, delicious smells of cooking food wafting towards them.

"That smells great," Cara commented as the kid waddled his way to Din's leg and latched on. Din turned to look at Cara and nodded, then reached down to pick up the kid.

"I see you decided to sleep with Cara again," he said to the kid. "Traitor."

Cara smiled, hearing the light tone Din was using. "Well, what can I say. He prefers warm skin to steel."

"Probably," Din agreed.

Walking over, Cara stood next to Din, peering into the pan. "What are you making? And when can we eat it?"

"Patience, Dune," he seemed to smile at her. Her arm brushed his and she allowed their bodies to stand in close proximity for a long moment.

"Well," she said, "I'll use the 'fresher while this is finished up. Don't start without me."

He turned his helmeted head to look right at her, their bodies close.

"Sounds good," he said.

She took a deep breath, noticing chest hair escaping from his tunic, noticing the tanned color of his skin, seeing his chest rise and fall under his black shirt. She could see his larynx bob down as he swallowed. Light filtered through the window and she could see the shadow of an outline behind his visor.

Clearing her throat suddenly, she moved away to walk towards the refresher.

oOoOoOoOo

Cara and the kid ate breakfast, while Din slipped into the bedroom to consume his food. Din had just joined them at the table when there was a knock on the door. The kid's head snapped up from his food, gurgling and looking expectantly at the door. Din rose from his seat.

"Who is it?" he asked loudly.

"It's your mother," came a muted voice from the other side.

Din opened the door quickly, and his mother stepped inside. The kid gurgled loudly and held up his hands to the armorer.

"Hello little one!" she said. "Good morning Cara."

Cara nodded at her from her spot at the table.

"I was wondering if you would like to train this morning Din," she asked, looking at her son.

He looked at his mother curiously. "Of course, mother. But usually when you ask someone to train individually it's because you want to discuss something."

She inclined her head graciously. "You know me too well my son. It is true that I have some matters to discuss with you. But I also wish to spend time with you. It has been a long time since we last trained together."

Nodding in agreement, he turned to Cara. "Can you drop off the kid today?"

She looked at the green child and smiled. "Of course. Then I'll go see the doctor and hopefully she'll tell me I can join some hunting parties today."

Din eyed her warily, knowing her propensity for doing too much too quickly, but didn't say anything. "I'll just put my armor on," he said, moving into the other room to retrieve his armor.

He listened to them from his spot in the bedroom as they talked, the kid interjecting now and again with gurgles. They discussed the weather and then Cara inquired about the usual training exercises. They were just discussing the common hand to hand fighting technique when Din emerged, fully clothed.

"I see you two have a lot to talk about," he said.

His mother turned to him. "It's true. Cara has much knowledge about fighting techniques and training philosophies. You would have made a good Mandalorian if you had come to us younger."

Cara's eyebrows rose and she looked appreciative, if surprised. "That means a lot coming from you. Thank you."

Din looked between his mother and Cara, thinking about their conversation the night before that had been cut short. They would have to revisit it again soon, but he wasn't entirely sure what he would say when they did. Maybe he should mention the idea to his mother…

Sighing heavily caused both women to look at him and the kid to gurgle.

"You good?" Cara asked with a frown.

"Fine," he said quickly. "Shall we?" he asked his mother, motioning to the door.

She nodded and opened the door, light streaming into the cabin.

"I'll see you both later," Din said, following his mother into the bright morning.

oOoOoOo

They stopped at his mother's house to grab a few supplies and water, shouldering the small packs and making their way towards the mountains. At first they trekked in silence, his mother keeping up a good pace. The weather was gorgeous, with the sun twinkling and the birds making a racket all around them. Din often didn't have time to notice beauty, but being home with the covert had reminded him how much he missed it.

He sighed in his helmet, jogging slightly behind his mother, noticing how the leaves of the trees dappled the light coming through the canopy. His helmet let him know there was some wind; enough to feel a constant breeze. He suddenly longed to feel the breath over his bare face.

Feeling his body relax into a rhythm, he looked around, taking in the scenery, noticing all the things he never had time to notice. He also realized that most places he frequented didn't have a lot of scenery to appreciate. Besides, constantly hunting bounties meant that feeling safe enough to appreciate beauty rarely happened.

"This is such a beautiful planet," his mother commented.

Din smiled slightly. "Yes. I was just appreciating it."

She glanced at him. "You never liked to admit it, but you were always taken by the natural beauty of things."

"We always had so little opportunity to enjoy it," he responded. "The previous locations of the covert have never been in especially beautiful places."

"No," she agreed. "That's because most beautiful places have already been spoken for."

They jogged in silence for a long moment, thinking of their previous homes.

"Cara says it reminds her of Alderaan. From what I remember, I don't disagree," Din said.

The Armorer hummed in response. "Yes, I see the resemblance." She cleared her throat. "Speaking of Cara…"

Din's head turned to look at his mother. Is that why she asked him to train with her? To question him about Cara?

His mother sighed. "I like her. Immensely. But my son, many in the covert are asking questions. Everyone can see how you treat her. She is as beloved to you."

Din sighed. "No, she's not. Not yet."

She glanced at him curiously. "I know we have not discussed this, but I would have thought you were already connected in this way."

"We are not," was his only response.

They ran in silence for a long moment.

"I will defend you my son, if it comes down to it. But I would like to know the full extent of your relationship."

He thought of their relationship, starting with their meeting on Sorgan and how he immediately liked her. That meeting, and the months that ensued had been critical to their relationship developing the way it had. Otherwise, he would have left thinking of her as just another contact in his long line of contacts.

But things had developed and changed. They'd been through a lot together and it was obvious they were both thinking about the future of their relationship.

"We are friends, allies…" he began. "I trust her with my life."

"This I know," she responded. "Or you would not have taken off your armor with her."

He felt his breath slipping in and out of himself as they kept up the good clip towards the top of the mountain.

"We are partners in many ways. But this trip to the covert has… changed our relationship… in some ways."

"This makes sense," his mother agreed. "This is your home, and it's a home you've never shared with anyone outside of the Mandalorians. You take our secrecy very seriously. You do not share this life lightly."

"No," he agreed. "Cara, in turn, has shared some of her life and past with me."

"And now you are at a cross roads," she responded. "What is holding you back?"

He sighed. Leave it to his mother to see right through him. Yes, he was being held back; they both were.

"I do not know," he said. "Perhaps…"

Pausing, he focused on his running and stared at his feet, dodging rocks.

"I believe I fear losing what we have, losing her friendship. I also worry about the logistics of having a relationship. I'm not sure two so independent people can coexist together for long."

His mother let out a short laugh. "That's a fair worry, but one that most Mandalorians have to deal with. Your father and I certainly had to work through that challenge."

"You had your common background as Mandalorians to unite you," he said after a moment. "We are completely different."

The armorer sighed. "Your upbringings may have been vastly different. And if things hadn't changed, Alderaan hadn't been destroyed, or you hadn't become Mandalorian, then you may never have crossed paths and become compatible. But now, believe me when I say that, even without a common background, you are more compatible than most people in the galaxy."

Din looked ahead towards a break in the trees. Maybe she was right. They did have a lot in common now. And he knew he could trust her. When had he ever been able to say that about anyone who wasn't Mandalorian?

"When your father and I became involved, no one was surprised but everyone said we would never marry." She glanced at Din. "People said we were too independently minded; we each wanted our freedom too much.

"As I thought about the idea over several months," she continued. "I realized that committing to marry your father was no different than my commitment to the Mandalorian way. I am not always happy about all the rules I must follow. I do sometimes wish I don't have to wear the armor. It's not always easy to keep my vow to uphold the Mandalorian way. And being a Mandalorian does take away some independence."

She paused, looking over at Din who was deep in thought.

"But, being a Mandalorian means I also gain much. I have found the same to be true with marriage."

"Even though it is forbidden?" he asked lightly.

They continued forward in silence for a long moment and Din noticed the mountain peak towering above the trees. Several large birds squawked at them.

"I too believe the rules are outdated, from a time when we feared outsiders above all else," she began. "Our people have been slaughtered again and again by outsiders. We have a right to be wary of them. But, I do not think Cara is one of those we should fear. And I believe the counsel will come around to your point of view."

Din nodded curtly. Now if only he and Cara could talk about this frankly. It was so difficult for him to express himself, he still hadn't actually told her what was going on with his people.

His mother stopped in front of him and he looked up, seeing a steep wall of rock.

"I believe it would be wise to discontinue such heavy conversations and focus on our task ahead."

"Agreed," he replied.

oOoOoOoOo

After Din left, Cara and the kid finished eating and cleaned up. Then they made their way into the sunshine, towards his school.

"Mawr, gara!" he exclaimed from Cara's arms, looking around happily. Cara laughed, smiling at him.

"I know how you feel kid. It's a beautiful place isn't it?"

"Gooo," he whistled in agreement.

Golden light filtered through the clouds and bathed everything in a bright morning glow. A slight breeze was blowing, rustling Cara's hair and giving the air a chill. Birds chirped and sang, a few insects buzzed, and the snow-capped peak glistened in the distance. She could definitely get used to this.

"I'm going to be spoiled by the time I leave here," she told the kid. "I won't want to go back to those horrible lava flats on Nevarro."

"Booo," his voice fell at the mention of the planet.

"Yeah, I know," she said, "but it's home for now. And at least there's a school there."

They passed the rest of the short walk in silence. Nodding at the guard standing at the door of the school, they entered and Cara walked around, looking for the kid's classroom.

"Cara!" a jolly voice called.

She turned and smiled at Corvin as he strode towards them from inside the kid's classroom.

"How is the little one this morning?" he asked, reaching out a hand to tickle the child's ear. He gurgled in response.

"He's doing fine. Ready for school, right bud?"

"Mew!" He said.

She put him down and he waddled over quickly to join another child who was playing with blocks.

"Where is my brother this morning?" he asked as they watched the children play.

"Training with your mother," Cara replied, a smile on her lips.

"Ah," he said. "Din could always take it. He doesn't complain and he secretly likes exploring. He's really the best match for mothers training regimes."

"I don't doubt it," Cara replied. "I'd like to go along once I get the all clear."

Corvin nodded. "Also, Maytra'k asked if you would find her today. She has some matters to discuss with you. She'll be helping with the hunts again."

"Of course," Cara nodded.

"I should get back to my class," he said as another child arrived.

"I'll see you at evening gathering," Cara replied.

oOoOoOoOo

Cara left the school and walked with purpose towards the hospital. Hopefully she would get the all clear from the doctor this time and her stint as an invalid could come to an end. It was bad enough not having a helmet, being on restriction because of injuries made her feel like a child. No one had seen her abilities yet; her fighting skills, her own skills at tracking. They all probably thought she was an unworthy outsider who somehow managed to snag a Mandalorian protector.

Sighing, she pulled the door open and walked inside. The doctor looked up from her work and motioned her over.

"Cara," she said, motioning that she should sit, "hopefully this will be your last visit to the hospital while you're here."

Snorting, Cara agreed. "I hope so too. It's killing me to be kept from training or helping with the hunts."

Quietly, the doctor reviewed her body, checking her injuries and scanning her, reviewing the pictures that resulted.

"You went through a very serious ordeal," the doctor commented. "If you hadn't come to us when you did, you would have died within ten minutes. You should have died sooner, but from what Din tells me, the child was able to heal you enough that you could make it here."

"That's true," Cara agreed.

"But, despite how broken your body was, it appears completely healed now. Your scans are clear and indicate a complete recovery." The doctor's tone betrayed her pride in that admission.

"All thanks to you Doc," Cara said, smiling up at her.

"Your body did the hard work of healing," she said, "I gave it the tools to be able to do so."

"Well," Cara said, jumping off the bed. "I'm grateful. I owe you my life."

The Mandalorian inclined her head to Cara. "Many do. It is my job to save life. You don't owe me anything."

She thought for a moment and then nodded curtly. "Maybe now I can finally make myself useful to your people and help you prepare for winter."

"We would appreciate that, Cara Dune. Do you know when you and Djarin may be leaving?"

Cara shrugged. "Not sure. I know Din wants to help out as much as he can before we fly out of here. We both know you have a hard winter coming. It's the least I can do after all your people have given me."

"As I said, you don't-

"I know, I know," she cut off the doctor, "I don't owe you anything. But I want to help. Besides, I still need to experience a Mandalorian training schedule. And I'd like to spar with someone besides Din."

She started to walk towards the door and the doctor followed her.

"Djarin is a worthy opponent, believe me. But if you ever need another, I would be more than happy to oblige."

Cara smiled. "Thanks. Maybe I'll take you up on that."

Notes:

Thank you all so much for reading. I really appreciate the recent comments I've received as well. It's good to see people are still reading, even after my extended absence.

What can I say about my extended leave? It happens to the best of us unfortunately. I had high hopes that I would be able to keep up my rate of posting, but it just didn't work out that way. Lots of things were monopolizing my time; 4 kids, school starting, my season ramping up, foster case commitments, being (forced to be) on the condo board… The list goes on.

But this is a welcome reprieve. There will be another chapter coming next week for sure. It's already written. Thanks!