A/N: Hello and thank you to the new followers and the reviewers! I appreciate each and everyone of you! So we've come to the end of season 2 but do not despair! I have a couple more chapters planned for sure though after that I'm not sure. Hopefully season 3 started production on time! Let me know what you think!

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RedRat: For now I do not plan on touching on what came with the sequels more than what I've done here (though there's no telling where season 3 and beyond will take us).

8ball: Oh I bawled, too! I still do and I've watched it a zillion times.

multy: Lol. Sometimes there just has to be a cliffhanger. :) I hated seeing Grogu leave but I am sure he will show back up. I hope you like what I do for now. :)

joey: I usually have music from the movies/show on while I'm writing, too. Hope you like the chapter.

Mariah: This chapter will answer those questions.

Love: Read on. :)

Guest1: Her upbringing has not made her think anything of the sort and her thought process is, I hope, fleshed out well in the beginning of this chapter. There is always more than one thing to consider when making big decisions.

Guest2: Thank you for your review and here's your update! I hope you like it!

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I can't claim any of this except Alés and what I've created for the story.

Alés found herself unable to speak for several minutes as a range of emotions rushed over her. Surprise. Hope. Doubt. Confusion. It all swirled around inside and it took some time to quiet them all enough to think straight. Once she could think clearly she focused on Luke and the question he'd just posed to her. There was something different, something special about this young man. She may have been young but she remembered the rumors about how his father had been considered special, had been The Chosen One. While she had never truly learned what that was supposed to have meant or what Anakin Skywalker was supposed to have actually done there was no denying the amazing strength Luke had in the Force, his mastery of it. And now to learn he was planning to rebuild the Order? For a moment her heart soared at the thought. To see Jedi once again helping to keep peace in the galaxy? To see the Temple reestablished? How wonderful would it be to be able to have a conversation with someone about the intricacies of the Force? For a moment – a brief moment – Alés thought she could take him up on his offer. Then reality settled back in.

No matter what he did the past could not be recreated – should not be recreated.

The Jedi had made a lot of mistakes and the only way to avoid making them again would be to create a new Order that, while retaining some similarities to its predecessor, had new methods, new rules, just a whole new way of thinking. No matter what he did, though, it couldn't give her back the life she'd lost, the people she'd lost. It would always be 'different.' She would always be 'different' and always chasing after the shadows of the past. So could she go with him? Could she step back into a world she'd left a lifetime ago? She tried to still her thoughts again, calm her emotions in order to hear the Force, to hear where it was directing her. The answer was quick in coming.

If Luke wanted to rebuild the Order, to create a new one he had to avoid the pitfalls that had brought down the old one … and someone brought up and taught in the old ways would end up being a hindrance. He needed to create a completely new generation of Jedi without feeling like he should cling to the ways of the past. She would be glad – eager even – to offer support, advice, help if and when it was needed but she did not need to be a major part in this endeavor.

But besides all that … she glanced at Din, saw the panic in his gaze, and knew where she needed - and wanted - to be.

Things suddenly made sense, as if a final piece had been fitted into a puzzle.

She had fallen in love with this man and, even though she might be of some small help to Luke, Din needed her more. While she couldn't be completely sure of his feelings she knew he cared for her at least a bit – he had come for her – and wanted to discover if there could be more there. If it turned out there wasn't … well then she could join Luke and the new Jedi. The whole situation with Mandalore presented its own difficulties and possibilities; it might end up being handy to have them available to call upon if trouble arose in the galaxy. Considering what she'd seen and felt in her visions Alés knew that the trouble was most likely just starting.

"I thank you for the offer, Master Skywalker. I would be happy to help in any way I can but I have no desire to step so fully back into that world. My presence, I feel, would end up being a hindrance to your rebuilding. Your future students need to look to you for guidance without a figment from the past lingering nearby. My place is with Din as long as he wants me here. If you need anything, though, you know how to find me." Once the words were free she felt lighter, content. She could feel a slight bit of sadness but knew it was more from the realization that nothing could bring back the past; the things she'd lost were truly gone.

Luke's gaze flitted between the two of them then he smiled.

"I certainly will."

"One bit of advice I can give you now before you go: do not deny Grogu his feelings and emotions. Teach him, and all of your students, how to manage them and learn from them but don't make him believe Jedi are to have none. Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes the Order made in their training was denying basic connections with others, teaching children that attachments, emotions were wrong and would lead them to the Dark Side. In the end many in the galaxy felt the Jedi had become very disconnected with everyone and everything else." She glanced at Din. "The Child's love for this Mandalorian is true and pure as any child loves a parent. Do not try to wipe that away. Love and compassion are a Jedi's greatest strengths."

"Very wise words."

"Oh and Luke? If you want to know more about your father search out Ahsoka Tano." She grinned at him. "She was his Padawan."

Surprise and then gratitude flashed across his face before he gave her a respectful bow of the head. "May the Force be with you."

"May the Force be with you."

With those parting words he strode out of the bridge with the droid close at his heels. They were able to get a last, lingering look at Grogu before the turbo lift closed and a heavy silence filled the room.

Din turned to watch their progress on the security cams, his hands clinched at his sides. She had seen the tears in his eyes and tried to give him space to grieve though she desperately wanted to comfort him. He had stood there so silently, watching as his kid was taken away, and her heart ached for him and what he was feeling. Behind her Cara and Bo-Katan began discussing what to do with the still unconscious Gideon (she envied Cara getting to punch the bastard) while Fennec contacted Fett to let him know it was safe for him to return for them. Knowing she could be of no assistance in either case she returned to Din's side, watching as Luke and his droid companion boarded his X-wing. Once it had exited Gideon's ship they watched it out the windows until it made the jump to hyperspace … and that was when Din's composure broke. His whole body slumped and he braced himself against the security station in front of them.

Throwing caution to the wind Alés stepped up right next to him, covering one of his hands with one of her own while wrapping her other arm around his waist, leaning against him in the hopes that it would let him know he was not alone. She desperately wanted him to know he was not alone. The response she got was completely unexpected. He turned, his motions jerky and somewhat desperate, and enfolded her in his arms, burying his face in her hair. They stood there for several moments, Din – for the first time since he was a child - accepting the comfort that was offered and Alés relieved that she had been there to give it. Grief, along with relief, were flowing from the man in her arms. She understood the grief but the reason for the relief was a mystery to her.

"It's going to be alright. You will see him again," she finally whispered, wrapping both of her arms around his waist.

"How can you be sure?"

"You promised him, didn't you? I've never known you to break your word … and I can just feel it."

He took a deep, shuddering breath and raised his head though he wouldn't look down at her. "He's where he belongs now. Skywalker is strong and will be able to protect him much better than I can."

Placing her hands on both sides of his face she made him look at her. "You are the strongest man I know, Din Djarin. It takes unimaginable strength to let go of one you care about so deeply. That is the ultimate expression of love: being able to let go. And Luke can't take care of him better than you, just different than you."

A very small smile lifted the corners of his lips and it was at that moment she realized she was looking at him, not his helmet. The same realization seemed to hit him at the same moment. His gaze was riveted on her as her eyes scanned his face taking in every detail … and things around them began to fade away. She dimly heard Bo ask a question and Cara tell her to leave them alone. It was obvious he was uncomfortable being so exposed but he didn't reach for his helmet, allowing her the time to really see him.

"Who would've suspected such a handsome man was hiding under that beskar," she said quietly while daring to reach up and run her fingers through his hair. Though his cheeks flushed slightly there was a brief flicker of surprise in his eyes. She supposed someone who had kept his face hidden since he was a child might be a bit anxious about how others saw him. But there was nothing to complain about as far as she was concerned: soft brown eyes that she imagined would spark with fire when he was angry, the tousled brown hair she'd caught a glimpse of on Jedah, strong jaw line, a surprisingly well kept mustache. The rugged handsomeness now revealed to her easily fit with what she already could see and knew about him.

"You stayed … with me."

The vulnerability in his voice cut her to the core. He'd been alone most of his life. Yes, he'd been taken in by the Mandalorians and they had become a type of family but she had a suspicion he hadn't really allowed himself to care for anyone as deeply as he'd come to care about the child since his parents had been killed. And now – now Grogu was gone.

"Why would you think I would leave you?"

"You are a Jedi like Skywalker. I heard what he said about rebuilding the Jedi Order; you would be a great asset to him."

"Like I told him: I have no desire to step back into that world. I'm a bit too old to try and recreate my past. I don't think anything would be able to live up to what I once knew; I'd always be comparing it to what once was. He needs to build a new Order without feeling fettered to the ghosts of the old one."

He reached up and took her hands and held them against his chest.

"I thought I had lost you. I had no idea what Gideon might do to you."

"I had accepted the fact that I probably wasn't going to make it off this ship alive though I can't deny I did feel some relief when I knew you had come."

"They hurt you," he said, brushing fingers gently down her cheek.

She shrugged with a smirk. "Well, you can't really blame them. I might not have been able to use the Force because of those shackles but that didn't keep me from being able to kick and hit and bite. It didn't seal my mouth either. I'm pretty sure I got under Gideon's skin a time or two."

"Did he hit you?"

"The split lip and bruised cheek are his handiwork but I think what I said to him hurt worse," she replied flippantly.

Squeezing her hands he pulled her closer to him. "I'm sorry I wasn't here."

"You got here when you could. Do not beat yourself up for things you couldn't control and are now in the past."

"I promise I won't let anyone hurt you again."

His words, spoken in that wonderful voice, wrapped themselves around her. Her breath hitched a bit and her heart beat a bit irregularly for a moment. There was more he wanted to say, she could sense it, but was afraid or nervous to do so. Something in his eyes changed and as she gazed into them she knew she'd made the right decision.

Alés wasn't sure how long they stood there like that but they finally became aware of the heated discussion between Cara and Bo-Katan. With a bit of a sigh Din leaned down, snagging up his helmet while taking her hand, and they crossed the bridge to where the two women were standing over a still unconscious Gideon.

"You should let us deal with him; he's dangerous."

"He has knowledge about these Imperial Remnants that could be vital to the New Republic. They need to get any information possible out of him."

"Why is that so important? The Empire is gone. These are just small pockets of officers too stubborn to admit defeat."

"No. There is more going on out here."

"What do you mean?" Bo's voice and gaze were sharp.

"All these incidents in the Outer Rim involving these remnants are not separate, random occurrences. They're connected in some way. However the new government isn't convinced and only some clear evidence will sway them. He," Cara nudged Gideon's leg with her boot, "may be the best chance at finding out what they're up to."

"He did say that whatever it is they are planning, whatever it is he wanted the kid for, would bring order back to the galaxy," Din spoke up, finally joining the discussion.

"We've heard that before."

Cara nodded at Bo. "Which is why he has to be taken in for interrogation."

"She's right."

The others fell silent at her words. She'd been focusing on the Force around her, listening to it, ever since Cara had mentioned something going on in the Outer Rim. It made sense.

"There is something going on out here, something those in the Core don't want to see and it involves more than just Imperial remnants. If they acknowledge what is happening now the victory five or six years ago is almost rendered useless. I had a vision of sorts several weeks ago. The darkness is still here, waiting for someone to use it again."

"What darkness?" Fennec asked.

"The Dark Side, possibly even the Sith. I had thought that was what Gideon wanted Grogu for but I think it may be something worse."

"Like what?"

She shook her head at Fennec's second question. "I don't know but it goes beyond politics. All I could see in that vision was impenetrable darkness and then it attacked me."

"It attacked you?" The disbelief was clear in the woman's voice.

Din nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes. She was choking to death while sitting all alone."

They were all quiet as each took stock of what was now before them and what they needed to do next. An idea had started to form in Alés's mind, taking her a bit by surprise, and she wondered if it was at all possible.

"I will take Gideon back to the Core," Cara said firmly. "The sooner he's in their hands the better I'll feel."

Alés saw Bo open her mouth and knew she was going to protest again. "You have no reason to hang on to him now. He no longer has the Darksaber."

She frowned and her eyes slid to Din.

"Alright. I'll relinquish control of the Moff to Marshall Dune but he's coming with me."

"No." Her voice cut through the sudden tension she felt between Bo and Din. Everyone stared at her. "He's coming with me for a rest."

Bo's lips pressed together tightly. "There are things to discuss, to plan. He has the Darksaber and there are things -"

"Yes, he does, and just like Gideon planned."

Alés waited patiently while the other woman attempted to reign in her frustration and come up with another argument to sway Din's decision.

"Mandalore -"

"Mandalore can wait a bit longer. He just had to let his child go. He needs some time. We will contact you when we're ready to discuss what comes next." She could feel Din's surprised gaze on her but he didn't object to her suggestion.

"You are planning on coming with him then?" Bo asked with a raised eyebrow.

"My place is by his side until he no longer wants me there." At those words the man at her side calmly reached out and took her hand, pulling her a bit closer to her side. She looked up at him and couldn't keep the smile off her face when she saw the happiness in his eyes.

Bo watched them wordlessly then a smirk lifted the corners of her lips.

"Well, having a Jedi on our side will no doubt be helpful."