(A/N So, remember back in chapter 7 when I said I thought we'd reached the halfway point? Yeah, I was wrong. lol

I hope you enjoy!)

Teena was staying. Din tried to breathe a bit easier knowing that, but it felt as if his chest was constricting, his Beskar too heavy as the oxygen left his body.

She knew he was the Mand'alor, and she accepted that. That was good. Teena would not accept just anyone, so maybe he could actually lead his adate. But he'd also learned her heritage. She was a trueborn of a leading clan. She was made to be a taylir gehaat'ik. It was no wonder she lead her ship so well when she was a Duchess by bloodright. [story keeper]

He arrived at the barracks and wondered back to his walk. He didn't remember taking any of the turns that brought him to his destination, but was glad his body had led him well.

The inspection of his room only took a minute. It was empty and the same as when he'd seen it before leaving with Boba Fett for Tatooine. Din hadn't slept in it then, too disturbed to even contemplate calling this ship home, even for a short time.

Idly, he wondered how Fett and Shand were doing.

Now he sat on the bed and wondered what to do with so much space. In the covert he had his bunk and a turn in the cycle to eat in privacy. On the Razor Crest he slept in the pilot's seat. Omera's entire home was the size of these quarters.

Recalling Teena's captain's quarters, he compared her small cozy space to this large sterile one.

Din sighed.

He was home. He was among his people. The little family he had become reluctantly attached to was staying. He should be happy, but this weight wouldn't leave him.

It wasn't his reluctance to lead, he'd accepted that. Though he still had any number of doubts.

It wasn't his adherence, or lack thereof, to his Creed. The Armorer's word was final and she had determined he could pave a new Way.

Sighing again, he left the bed to strip his armor and clean up in the refresher. He had his own- it felt so wasteful. Returning to the overly soft bed, he thought about what he might have changed during the day. So much had happened. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he talked to Na'sara about her and Dev taking the Creed without Teena. But now Teena was staying.

Bringing his hands to his face he realized where the weight was coming from. He'd asked her to join Clan Mudhorn. He was a clan of one, but this was an opportunity for that to change. It wouldn't just be her; she would bring Na'sara and Dev with her. He had already planned to absorb Nala into his clan, but somehow Teena was the one he asked first. Why?

He closed his eyes, determining that it was not an issue worth dwelling on. She would speak with her ade and they would craft their armor. A smile tugged at his lips as he recalled her ire where her children were concerned. It was even more amusing when he thought about the kids themselves and how they were perfectly capable young adults. Teena would never see them as the independent fighters they were though, and that was okay with him.

He could feel himself drifting to sleep and it occurred to him that he had more pressing things to think about than Teena, but sleep overtook him before he could consider them further.

.

It took a little time, but when Nala finally led the pair back to the ship Teena was waiting for them. They wore sheepish expressions, but she was glad they'd so obviously enjoyed their time about the ship.

"Are you mad?" Dev asked.

"I'm a lot of things," she sighed. "And I have countless reasons to be each one. Just head on in. Meet me in the cockpit," she nodded up the ramp. The two seemed to deflate a little and 'Sara looked like she was having an internal debate. Eventually she indicated she'd run the pre-flight systems while they waited. "No need. We're docking here for the night." Both sets of eyes set on her in shock and confusion. She shooed them up the ramp again and turned to Nala.

"They are strong," Nala commented.

"More than they know," Teena agreed. "More than I'm willing to admit."

"Na'sara is an odd in between in your aliit."

"I know I should think of her as a vod, but she came to me when I was transitioning to adulthood and she needed so much care. I still see her like that," Teena admitted.

"You are young. Would you be so insulted if I thought of you in the same manner?"

"No. I would be honored you'd choose to care for me so deeply."

Nala chuckled a little at the picture Teena painted and offered a farewell.

"Nala?" She turned to face the ship again. "You'll be at the forge tomorrow?"

"I will."

Teena nodded, but didn't offer any more inquiry or explanation. She didn't have much explanation to give yet.

Making her way to the cockpit she felt the day weighing on her. Rolling her shoulders back she considered that intensifying the sparring match may not have been the best idea. She could hear her ade were waiting for her, as she'd told them to. She caught the tail end of a discussion that halted as they heard her footsteps approach. Her heart felt all the heavier wondering what they didn't want to tell her.

With a solidifying breath she pulled herself together and activated the door.

"Did you enjoy your day?" she asked with a smile.

They exchanged uneasy glances and she chuckled. Did they really expect her to react that poorly? Thinking back to when she challenged Din, maybe they were right to worry. But she'd worked out most of her frustration in the sparring room. Or at least enough that she was back in control of herself and not blindly lashing out.

"What do you think of the Mando'ade?"

Na'sara sported a longing smile while Dev's eyes held pure excitement. They didn't actually answer, but she chuckled again at their response.

"Well, you have a choice to make. And you will not make it lightly. If you join these adate it is a lifelong commitment to the life of a warrior. Can you live up to that?"

They took their time coming to terms with the question. Shock was the first emotion to color their expressions, followed by concentration. They knew she was serious, and they had to be sincere in their answers.

"Teena," Dev spoke softly, "it would be amazing to be a Mandalorian-to be a part of something big, instead of just pretending like at the academy-but I can't. I'm not ready to leave my buir. Not forever." He acted ashamed and wouldn't meet her eye. He wasn't a child crying for his mother, but a young man who knew the pain of separation and the strength within a bond. It broke Teena's heart to see him so wise beyond his years, yet she was healed and warmed to hear how he viewed her.

"I…" Na'sara hesitated. "I would like to live by the Creed. I like the protection of the people, the adate, and how much I can learn about crafting here. I said I'm ready to leave, and I hate going, but it's time." She was very obviously holding back tears as she spoke and Teena's heart broke all over again.

Teena could feel the tears running down her face and had to take several breaths before she could speak again. The pair waited, working through their own pains.

"Is-" she had to clear her throat. "Dev, is the only thing holding you back your connection to me?"

He bit his lip and then nodded, still not meeting her eye for any length of time.

She nodded her understanding and then moved to the floor. A small spot, about the size of her thumb, was discolored from frequent contact with the oils of her skin. It was easy enough to spot when she knew it was there. Digging her finger into the discolored floor she dislodged a handle and pulled open a compartment where three cases were stored.

She heard the kids make surprised noises and offer each other 'silent' questions behind her.

Opening the top two cases Mandalorian visors met their gazes. One was a solid pale blue, only accented around the edges in dark green. The other was three toned, the tee-visor lacking a paint and retaining the silver of Beskar while the head and cheeks were an almost-blue green and the faw was a true royal blue. Under each helmet was a full set of armor to match.

Na'sara and Dev knelt down next to her and marveled at the craftsmanship. They reverently touched the cases, but not the Beskar itself.

"Where did you get this," he whispered.

"These are my parents'. Tomorrow you will reforge these as your own," she told them. "I will claim you as my own, if you are willing, and we will thrive here."

Na'sara gasped and threw her arms around Teena while Dev acted like the air had been kicked out of him and lightly caressed the crease on what would become his helm.

"We've got some things to discuss before that though," Teena pulled them back as she pushed 'Sara off her. "Will you accept me as your buir?"

"Of course."

"Obviously."

She chuckled at their quick responses.

"Then we have three options. We can make a clan of our own, or we can join another."

"That's two options," Dev pointed out dryly. She just rolled her eyes.

"I would rather join, if that's okay," Na'sara said cautiously. Teena nodded her understanding.

"I… I don't know if I am welcome in Clan Kryze. My aunt and I… weren't exactly civil when we found each other today, but we parted on… better terms." Teena cringed as she recalled the confrontations.

"What about Din?" 'Sara asked.

"He said he would welcome us to Mudhorn's ranks if Kryze did not accept us."

"So our first option is Kryze?" Dev said with a shrug. "Is that where you want to be, Buir?"

"I… It would be nice. I've missed my aunt." She felt the weight pressing down again. The longing to be home.

"So you talk to your aunt after we remake our armor?" Na'sara said with a nod.

"Not so fast. Tradition has the elders of the clan assist in reforging armor. So, I'll speak with her first and then we'll know what sigil to use."

They nodded their understanding.

"Teena?" Dev caught her attention. "What's this one?" He placed his hand on the unopened case underneath the others.

"That was the armor intended for me by my parents. These bracers are from the set, though I stripped the paint from them."

"What color were they?" 'Sara asked.

"Purple. They had a gold design that ran up and down to match the rest of the set."

"Will you strip the rest?" Dev asked.

"I don't think so. I think it will depend on how tomorrow goes."

They each placed a hand on her shoulders and shared an encouraging smile that she returned.