Chapter 58 – Vizma

Author's Note: In which Marr and Bo-Katan have a child. :')

To Guest (1): Yeah, Theseus better be careful about revealing himself as a Jedi. That wouldn't be good, would it? *evil laughter*
And the subject of Theseus' further training will be addressed soon. :)

To Guest (2): You'll have to wait and see what will happen with Theseus and Vader, because we don't want to give any spoilers. :)
But fyi, we don't write with Legends or Fanon Vader, only the way he's shown in the movies, and this Vader is quite different even from the canon. But we do plan to address both Vader's lighter and darker sides, which are often quite mis-portrayed by the fandom.
You'll find out what Theseus will do on Mandalore soon. ;)

To Jayden: About BoMarr marrying so fast, exactly. Yes, it may have been a couple years since the war ended, but the effects of it have not been forgotten by either of them. :P
Oh yeah, all hell will be breaking loose soon enough. 😉
And there are a total of 100 chapters (including the epilogue) so we still have a ways to go. :D Once we finish this fic, we're planning to start another one which will be Ahsoka/OC, and I kinda really like that OC because he's rather... not good. Lol.

Thank you all so, so much for reading and reviewing! 💖💖

~ Amina Gila

He can't say when the change happened, but it was not long after their wedding that he realized he's been automatically going by the name Marr. It feels right. Theseus is... a part of his past, now. It hurts all the time, but Bo, Anastasia, Satine, Korkie, Ursa, Sabine... everyone in his newfound Mandalorian family gives him something else to look to, another place to belong. It's strange how he wanted this for so long, and now he's getting it despite long having believed it impossible.

Nightmares still haunt him. When he closes his eyes, he'll still see the boys – 212th and 501st, mainly – falling around him. Sometimes his master or his mother, or Anakin and Ahsoka. He'll see fire and smoke and crashing ships, and the destroyed landscapes of so many planets he fought on, the names of which he often no longer remembers. And of course, he'll see himself and Ahsoka being chased by the clones and see the faces of those long gone. There are brief moments he wishes he'd never wake up, because he could be there with his family, but that would be selfish. He has another, and though it can't and won't replace the one he used to have in any form, he loves them all the same.

Theseus is the past, part of his past, now. Maybe, someday, it'll be time for him to retake the role of a Jedi, but he turned his back on their teachings to find his own path in the galaxy, and it led him home. Maybe Mandalore always has been home, and he never knew.

Sometimes, he'll look to the stars and wonder where Rex and Ahsoka are. If they're okay. Wonders what happened to Maul, if he's still alive and if he'll come back to haunt them. Wonders what happened on Utapau to Obi-Wan, if he survived when Cody turned on him, and if Cody survived it. He wonders if Anakin is still alive, or if he died at the Temple. Wonders if Master Yoda and Windu and the other Council members were able to escape it if he and Ahsoka could.

It comes and goes, Marr supposes, but he knows that despite the chaos he was surrounded by in the Clone Wars, it will forever remain in his mind as the best part of his life, and he can only wish he'd taken better advantage of it.

Something feels different about Bo. She acts the same, but Marr notices a very subtle shift in her Force presence. He didn't think anything of it – assumed it's just that she was happier now that they were married, because he could say the same – until one day.

"Marr," she says, breathlessly, a mix of fear, excitement, wariness, and too many other things to name clear on her face and in the Force. "I'm pregnant."

All his thoughts screech to a halt. Marr knew the possibility of having a child was high, and he wants to, because it's important to all Mandalorians. Family, children are important. That doesn't mean he's ready to be a father yet. He has no idea what to do or how to do it, or what he's supposed to do. He never had parents – not really – and he never had experience with taking care of children. Ahsoka did, and now he wishes he had, too.

He has no idea what to do, or how to react.

But. He's going to have a child. He's never taken care of other children before, but he's going to have a child. A child of his own flesh and blood, and... It's thrilling and terrifying at once, because they only have one chance at this, to do it right. It doesn't help how Theseus has no idea what to do, because he had a mother, but they were Jedi which changed things, so he doesn't know what a family is supposed to be like. He doesn't think Bo had parents, either. He never asked. It's not something they talk about. All he knows is that his father took care of her from when she was young.

"That's –" He doesn't know what to say. It's what he's always wanted but at the same time, he doesn't know that he's ready, either. "I... don't know what to say." Okay, that was probably the stupidest reaction he could have. "I can't believe – We're going to be parents."

It's jarring to hear it stated out loud like that. He can hardly believe this is really happening.

"I know," Bo murmurs, taking his hand. "I can't believe this either."

This is one of the happiest days of his life, but he doesn't have a clue how to even react. "I wasn't expecting this so soon," he says, excitement and nervousness clear in his voice.

"I wasn't either, but we still have a long time," Bo replies.

"Good, because we'll need it."

They have to prepare for this, and... His mind is already whirling through all the very few things he knows about raising children.

And that's when another thought hits him, with sudden growing fear. There is... only one slight complication. If his daughter is Force-sensitive, it could bring the Empire down on them. He doesn't even want to think about that right now, to let it ruin the moment, but it's important.

"We might have a small problem," Marr declares, though he's loath to bring it up right now when they should be happy, "If our child is Force-sensitive, that could be a problem."

Bo's expression instantly goes grim. "We'll – We'll figure it out. We'll make sure they don't find out."

"Of course," Marr agrees. No matter what happens, they'll do everything they can to keep their child safe from the Empire.

**w**

The word gets everywhere quickly enough. "I heard the news," Satine tells him, "Congratulations."

He's not sure if that's the right word to describe the situation. He's torn between nervousness and excitement, and he hardly knows how to feel. "I don't even know how to do this," Marr blurts, "Be a father, I mean."

He's not fully sure how to be a father, and he didn't exactly have the best role models. He's certainly not planning on being like his biological one, and Obi-Wan... Well, for as much as Marr will always care for him, he had his problems, ones that Marr has no desire to repeat on his own children.

"Trust yourself," Satine advises, "You aren't jumping into the middle of it. You'll have time."

"I know, but..." That doesn't mean he isn't nervous.

"And I'll be around to help, if you need it," Satine promises.

"What's this about needing help?" Anastasia chirps, materializing out of practically nowhere. How does she always do that? Even an entire year after living around her, he has yet to figure it out.

"If you didn't know, you wouldn't be asking," Marr retorts.

"What are you so nervous about?"

"Maybe you'll understand whenever you are about to have a child," he shoots back.

"That would be never," Anastasia retaliates. "And really, what were you expecting? I mean I hope you know that's kind of a natural part of marriage."

Does she have to put everything like that?! "I know that, and that is completely beside the point."

"Just saying you should have known to be prepared for this."

"I'm pretty sure this is something everybody has to learn on the fly," Marr grumbles. How do masters at the Temple manage it, just jumping in and taking care of a child when they're already in their teens? Satine is right, because at least he'll learn how to take care of one from the start.

"Well, you've always been good at flying," Anastasia teases.

"Something tells me learning how to use jetpacks is not the most important part of parenting."

"I'm pretty sure it starts by dealing with lots of crying and diaper changing. I hope you're excited for that, because I think Bo will make you deal with most of it."

"That's actually going to be the easy part," Marr replies. His concerns are more in terms of when his child starts to get older. The beginning will be easier. Maybe.

"Glad you think so," Anastasia chirps, "But I'll be happy to help with his training once he's older."

"Who said it's gonna be a 'he'?" He has no idea what he prefers. It doesn't matter anyway. It will be his child, regardless.

"It was a guess. Because if it's a 'she', you'll be afraid of her turning out just like me." ... what is the connection?

"In fact, I am. I'll have to make sure that doesn't happen," he retaliates.

"Don't lose too much sleep over it."

"I'm sure you'll do just fine, Marr," Satine assures, "It's a... major responsibility, in some ways even harder than ruling a planet." A look of mild amusement crosses her face for a moment, and Marr gets the feeling she's thinking about when she was trying to raise Korkie. "But you won't have to do it alone."

**w**

"Have you thought about names?" Bo wonders one afternoon.

"We don't even know if it's going to be a boy or girl," Marr points out. He still can't believe that he's going to be a father.

"We can still talk about it."

"If it's a girl, we should definitely name her Satine."

"Only if we're naming the next one Anastasia."

"We wouldn't want to make her ego any bigger," Marr deadpans.

"That, I agree with."

Marr leans back in seat, staring out the window, abruptly feeling nervous again. "How do people do this?" he asks flatly, "Come up with names for someone that they're going to carry their whole life?" How do they even raise a child in the first place? It's the biggest responsibility he's ever had to deal with before, in many ways far more frightening than fighting on the battlefield. Someone's entire life is depending on him. Or maybe he's just overreacting. He has no idea.

"I don't know any more than you," Bo replies, "Although I do have a few name ideas if it's a girl. Real ideas."

"Let's hear them," Marr advises.

All of Bo's suggestions are Mandalorian names, not as if that's a surprise. It takes a while, but they do settle on one finally, that they both think will fit best. It rings strangely right in the Force, in a way none of the others did.

"If it's a boy," Marr comments after a moment of silence, "What would you say to naming him Anakin?"

In truth, that's the only name idea he did have. It just felt... strangely appropriate. It's been so long since they last saw each other. Longer now than they knew each other in the first place, but that doesn't mean his feelings towards his brother have changed.

He knew it from within the first couple months after meeting Anakin that no matter where he went or what happened, getting to know him would shape his own life forever. That it would and always will affect him, even if they're never together again.

Bo blinks, seeming caught off guard. "I... don't know," she admits, "It's certainly better than naming him Obi-Wan."

Marr laughs. "I actually did think about that, and then realized I have no idea who thought that was a baby name."

Bo chuckles. "It's not that bad of a for a baby name, but it certainly won't fit ours."

"It's the name of an adult only," Marr says stubbornly, or maybe it's just that the thought of Obi-Wan being anything other than an adult is mentally scarring.

"I'll... think about your suggestion," Bo decides.

"Imagine if we gave Satine a nephew named after her not-boyfriend," Marr laughs, "I almost want to see the look on her face now."

"And you call me a terrorist."

He laughs. "It would almost be worth it, just to see. Even if I'd be labeled a terrorist ever afterwards, too." Joking about the fact that Bo used to be one isn't exactly funny, but still. It's the best word that could possibly be used to describe such a... prank. Well, naming one's child something just to get a reaction out of someone is hardly appropriate, but now he can't fully banish the idea. Still, if he had to pick, he'd definitely name his son 'Anakin' first.

They thankfully still have months to figure this out, which is good because he isn't nearly ready. They have a lot of preparing to do.

**w**

Any attempt in his mind of forming a single coherent thought abandoned him a long time ago. Marr he can't believe this moment has finally come, and there's no way he's ready for this, and he's never been more excited for anything in his life, or at least not that he remembers.

"It's a girl," the healer announces, just as the crying of a baby fills the air.

Marr immediately moves forwards to take the baby from the healer, looking down at her.

His daughter, his very own child.

The tiniest bit of hair she has is red, like her parent's. She opens her blue eyes, staring up at him curiously. And she's so tiny.

"Vizma," he breaths, the surge of adoration rushing through him in that moment more intense than anything he's ever felt for anyone. She's his own child, and he's waiting so long for this moment, to hold her in his arms, and ... He may only have technically known her in-person for a few seconds, but he already knows he'd do anything to protect her. He doesn't know what he expected about being a father, but the overwhelming protectiveness catches him off-guard.

He wonders, for a fleeting moment, if this is anything like how his parents felt when he and his sister were born. It was shortly after that their relationship had fallen apart, and... He can't imagine how either of them were feeling when they both lost one of their children. Now is hardly the time to think about that, though.

(Although on that note, seeing as he and his sister were forced to share the same space for a little over seven months or so, maybe that's why all they do is argue with each other... Okay, that got weird.)

Marr steps closer, passing Vizma to Bo.

For a moment, Marr can't help but wonder how everyone in his other family would react to this, if they knew he was a father now. Ahsoka will find out eventually because he knows they'll see each other again. Someday. He has no idea when, and it's easier to not think about it. Even if he had left Odessen and tried to join the rebellion, there's no saying he would've been able to find her.

Obi-Wan's reaction would be... amusing since this almost makes him a grandfather. Or at least a grandmaster. Whatever. However that works. The idea is the same.

And then, of course, there's Anakin. Marr has no idea how he would have reacted but thinking about it abruptly reminds Marr of when they talked about having a family, when Anakin told him that he wanted the same thing. And Padme is dead now. He saw it on the news, not long after he'd gone into hiding on Odessen. He may not have known the Senator well, but it still hurt because he knew how close Anakin was with her, and her dying right after everything fell apart... (If Anakin is still alive, Marr can't imagine how he must be feeling.)

But now isn't the time to get lost in the past.

Vizma gurgles happily in her mother's arms before she falls asleep.

It's shortly thereafter that Satine and Anastasia come in to see the baby. Satine looks as though she was just handed the most adorable thing in the galaxy when she picks her up. "Have you named her yet?" she asks.

They'd decided to keep all their name ideas a secret, until now.

"Vizma," Marr tells her, "That's her name."

"I think it's perfect," she says, giving them a warm smile.

"Can I hold her?" Anastasia inquires hopefully and Marr is mildly surprised that she actually asked. Maybe she's just feeling a little less... annoying than usual because of the situation. She's excited about it too, he can tell.

"Yes, but don't wake her," Marr advises as Satine hands her over, "Hope you're ready to be an aunt."

Anastasia takes her carefully, staring down at her sleeping form. "I don't think there's a whole lot to learn in that regard," she replies, "Although I do wonder what's up with all of you and red heads."

Bo gives her an odd look. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, you know," she says flippantly, "You and Marr both have red hair, and I think Satine might once have been... friends with a certain red head."

"I fail to see how that has any bearing on the situation at hand," Marr deadpans.

"Vizma has red hair too!"

"... And?"

"I feel like I'm the only blonde head around."

"Um... did you forget that Satine does, too?"

Satine clears her throat. "As... entertaining as this conversation might be, I think we should carry it elsewhere, or you are going to wake her up."

Marr couldn't agree more.

**w**

In truth, Marr isn't really surprised when the private midichlorian test done comes back positive. She's strong enough to be trained in the Force, even if it's nothing very remarkable.

"At least this test won't be directly reported to the Empire," Bo states grimly.

"We'll have to be careful to make sure no one finds out," Marr sighs. While he's partly glad that Vizma is Force sensitive, it definitely worries him. He never wants to find out what might happen if the Empire realizes it. There's been rumors that Force sensitive children tend to disappear, and he'd be lying to say he's not scared. Whatever the threat is, it's likely something they'd be able to handle, but still. The thought of Vizma being in any danger frightens him.

"No one will know, unless they see her using the Force," Bo points out.

"Without training, she shouldn't be able to do things visible," Marr murmurs, "But I was thinking, I could train her. If you're okay with that." Bo still isn't terribly fond of Jedi as a whole, even if there's obviously some she's okay with on a personal level.

"I've thought about it," Bo admits, "I think it would be for the best if she was. She would be safer."

The thought is... Really, he doesn't know how to feel thinking about training someone else with the Force, especially his own child.

For one, he'd rather not think about her being old enough for that right now. But other than that, he suddenly realizes that he's hardly sure how to go about such a thing, other than the Jedi way. He's not a Jedi, and he's obviously not raising his daughter in the Jedi beliefs.

No, if he's going to train her and give her proper guidance in the Force and using it in a balanced way, that's something he's going to have to finish figuring out himself.

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