Visions and Loyalty:

Sabine woke up gradually to the sensation of smooth movement, feeling very safe and loved. It was a feeling she had rarely ever felt, bringing back vague memories from her early childhood of being carried to bed by her father after he had let her stay up way too late painting with him.

Her eyes fluttered open as her arms tightened reflexively around Ezra's neck and she realized she actually was being carried. Ever stronger than I thought, if he can carry me so effortlessly. He's not breathing hard or anything. She had to admit it felt incredibly nice, but it wasn't in her nature to be carried anywhere. "Ezra," she murmured.

He glanced down at her and his teeth flashed in the dark as he smiled at her. "Down?"

Sabine nodded slightly, rubbing her cheek against his jacket just because. Soft over hard. Yum. But later. "This is nice and all, but I have legs and they work just fine."

Ezra chuckled lightly and so did Kanan, which made Sabine tense, because she hadn't realized they weren't alone. She craned her neck around, seeing the older Jedi walking beside Ezra on her blind side, and her cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. Curse him and his silent Jedi feet. Now she really wanted down. "Ezra," she said warningly as she wiggled and his arms held her tighter teasingly.

I can't help myself. I really can't. Ezra's eyes shone with mirth as he came to a stop, swooped down and kissed her warm cheek and then let her down. Slowly. Sliding her down his front as much as possible.

Sabine gave him her best glare, which just made him smile wider. Come on, you like it, admit it.

Her glare somehow intensified. Or not.

Ezra looked at Kanan. "You let a girl sit on you for hours till your legs go to sleep and then you carry her for a kilometre or two and this is the thanks you get?"

Kanan shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Females. There's just no pleasing them sometimes. Get used to it."

Sabine huffed at the two males who where blatantly making fun of her while she stood right there. "Di'kute," she muttered and started marching in the direction of the camp that was much closer than before. Actually, it was close enough that the guard probably could have seen her being carried like a child. That just wasn't acceptable at all. Thank the Force I woke up. She was going to have to talk to Ezra about making sure her status as a badass was never questioned. A warrior Countess does NOT get carried unless they were unconscious and had two broken legs.

She called back over her shoulder at the men who were chuckling over her stomping figure. "Don't think I won't tell Hera what you just said, Kanan Jarrus. I'm sure she won't appreciate it. And Ezra, if you think there's going to be any more cuddling in the near future, you might want to hold your breath waiting for it." The chuckling came to an immediate end, making Sabine smirk to herself.

Ach! What have I done? Ezra jogged to catch up, then matched his strides to hers. His eyes were wide in fear and remorse as he gazed at her. "Please don't say that. I was just teasing. I've waited forever for cuddling privileges; you wouldn't take them away already, would you?"

Sabine glanced at him and her lips twitched before she snorted with suppressed laughter. He actually believed me. He's already better trained than I thought. Taking pity on him, she laced her fingers with his and squeezed lightly. "Ezra, you're not the only one who can tease, you know."

He blinked a couple times and then he looked vastly relieved, shaking his head at himself. "I can't believe I fell for that."

Sabine grinned. "I can."

Kanan grinned at Sabine as he appeared on Ezra's other side. "So can I."

Sabine smiled at her second father conspiratorially. "He is incredibly gullible, isn't he?" She ignored Ezra's, 'Hey!' and continued talking to Kanan. "But I wasn't kidding about telling Hera. Us girls have to stick together when it comes to keeping the menfolk in line."

Now Ezra and Kanan both said, "Hey!"

Sabine grinned at them, let go of Ezra's hand, and marched up to and past the guard like she owned the world, happy she couldn't see his face to know if he was smirking at her or not. If he was smart though, he'd keep quiet about seeing her being carried. She memorized the markings on his armour just in case rumours started flying around the camp about her so she knew who to beat up for it.

After a quick stop at the portable refresher facilities, she walked briskly to their borrowed tent, attached her armour and strapped on her second belt.

Ezra more or less followed Sabine, but Kanan broke off to join Fenn and Alrich when he spotted them.

The young Jedi waited just inside the doorway of their tent while he watched Sabine finish getting dressed in less than a minute flat with practiced ease. Even this simple act turned him on. Who am I kidding? Just watching her breathe turns me on. He was envisioning her doing the opposite of adding layers when she walked up to him with a raised brow, her helmet tucked under her arm.

"What's got that look in your eyes this time?" Sabine asked with a knowing smirk, noting his slightly increased inhalations and the hint of dilation in his pupils.

Ezra snaked an arm around her waist and kissed her nose playfully. "Just picturing you removing your armour instead."

She rested her hand against his chest, laughing softly as she looked up at him with amused eyes. "And everything else as well?" She deliberately leaned her hips into his and wasn't surprised at all to feel the bulge in his trousers twitch against her. Later for that too, big boy.

He grinned even as he flushed, pupils expanding further. Tease. "Oh yeah." He swooped down and stole her mouth in a brief but very thorough kiss that had her purring again.

When he pulled back, Ezra was pleased to see her eyes had gone much darker than normal. At least I'm not alone in my misery now. He swept an arm towards the door. "Shall we get this over with?"

Sabine took a deep breath to control her suddenly raging hormones and then inclined her head regally. "We shall." She swept out of the tent with squared shoulders and a bounce to her step.

Ezra smiled to himself as he bounded after her, catching her free hand with his own and lacing their fingers together, grateful there was no one around to see his flustered state.

Sabine looked down at their joined hands, and then smiled up at him. Kriff it. I don't care if people see that I'm with him. They can all go take a leap out of an airlock if they don't like my adorable, loyal, and handsome Jedi.

They walked to the command tent in companionable silence, not exactly in a hurry as they kept glancing at each other and smiling dopily.

Alrich rushed through the halls of their Krownest stronghold, excitement making his heart pound in his chest. He practically bounced down the steps to the training gym in the basement and then slid to a stop once he was in sight of the clan who were all in the midst of their morning workout.

"Ursa!" he cried, spotting his wife sparring with Tristan.

She, and every other warrior in the gym, came to a sudden stop and looked at him. "Are they here?"

Alrich nodded quickly, beaming. "They are! Come on!"

Ursa smiled and tossed her staff to Tristan who hung them both up on the wall and then followed her. "Finally," she said as she made an attempt at walking calmly up to Alrich, but the extra energy in her stride was clear for all to see. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back up the stairs. "I was starting to think that Sabine was deliberately making me wait weeks to see our grandchild."

Alrich was in full agreement with the statement. The little Wren-Bridger had been born nearly twelve days ago; Sabine was definitely taking her time coming home to show off the new addition to the Wren dynasty.

Alrich and Ursa stopped once they made it outside to the front deck, waiting for the couple already walking through the snow to reach them. Tristan quietly slid into a spot on Alrich's other side, smiling just as widely as his parents.

Alrich turned his head and drank in his wife's joyful features, still just as beautiful as when he'd met her as a teenager, the tiny lines at the corners of her eyes and the grey in her pitch black hair making her more interesting, not less.

Then he looked the other way and cast his eyes upwards to his son who topped him by more than a head, huge and confident in appearance. He could never be called a boy again, not now that he'd reached the grand old age of twenty-one just a few days ago. Tristan wore the mantle of Heir well. Ursa was even considering stepping down soon, so that she could relax for the last third of her life.

Alrich was all for it. Let the young ones do the hard work.

He then turned his gaze to his daughter. He hadn't seen her in a couple months, so he wasn't surprised that she'd changed her hair again. The long teal and pink hair was gathered up in a tail on top of her head with side swept bangs that almost covered one eye, as usual. Her arm was linked through Ezra's and they glanced at each other lovingly, also like usual.

The young man had filled out over the years into something that looked practically warrior like, much to Ursa's relief. And he'd let his dark blue hair grow down to his shoulders in shaggy waves, at Sabine's wishes. For the current occasion, he'd restrained it back much like Kanan used to. In Ezra's other hand, he carefully cradled a little bundle in the crook of his arm.

They walked up the steps and stopped in front of Alrich. After giving Ezra a brief but warm nod of greeting, he smiled at his daughter. "Sabine."

"Father," she replied, eyes warm, stepping forward to give him a hug. Then she moved on to Ursa. "Mother." Ursa hugged their daughter back, smiling over her shoulder at Alrich. It was beyond nice to see their relationship restored to the same easy love they had when Sabine was just a child. It had taken years, but the two likeminded females had finally come to an understanding. Sabine then moved back over to Tristan and gave him a friendly punch in the shoulder in greeting. "Tristan."

"Sabine."

"Keeping out of trouble?"

Tristan chuckled. "Maybe."

"Find a girl yet?"

"Maybe," he said evasively.

Her eyes widened. "Ooooo. Tell me."

"Later," Ursa interrupted. "I want to meet my granddaughter."

Ezra chuckled and handed over the baby in what had to be a practiced move by now. "Countess Wren, I present to you Mira Ursicha Wren-Bridger."

Alrich crowded into Ursa's side and joined her in admiring the tiny girl with a shock of dark blue hair and wide, curious amber eyes. "She's beautiful."

Ursa's tore her eyes off the cooing infant and raised a brow at Ezra. "Ursicha?"

The young Jedi shrugged, flushing lightly.

"Your idea or Sabine's?" Alrich asked kindly.

"Mine," Ezra said, flushing a little darker and rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Mira is for my mother, but Ursicha… I just… wanted to do something to thank you, both of you, for… for making me feel welcome in your family. For making me feel like I'm wanted. For not despising me for basically stealing your daughter away from her heritage."

"Ezra," Sabine said softly, touching his arm. They exchanged a look that Alrich couldn't even begin to interpret, but he thought she was trying to tell him it was all right.

Alrich reached over and clasped the young man's shoulder. "We love the name and we love you like a son, and always will, Ezra. You don't have to feel guilty about anything."

"We're just happy that Sabine has found her place," Ursa added, cuddling Mira close to her heart. "And even happier with this little one." She looked down at the baby again, her whole face lighting up like Alrich hadn't seen since Tristan was born. "You're going to be the first Mandalorian Jedi in centuries, little one. The galaxy better watch out."

Ezra barked out a surprised laugh. "Oh, Force. I never thought of that."

Sabine smirked, elbowing her husband. "I did."

As the sun rose over the mountains, the stone deck of the stronghold echoed with harmonious laughter.

"Alrich. Wake up."

Alrich frowned in disappointment as he was ripped from his wonderful dream by a hand shaking his shoulder. He grunted and pried his eyes open, thinking that three hours of sleep was definitely not long enough.

"Ah, he lives," Fenn said, smirking at him, already fully armoured again except for his helmet which was tucked under his arm.

Alrich groaned as he sat up and swung his legs off the bed, scrubbing his tired eyes with the heels of his hands. Then he rolled his head on his shoulders and looked around the tent. "Where's everyone else?"

Fenn grinned. "Kanan's gone to get the kids and we're all meeting at the Command Tent.

"Ah," Alrich said, reaching down for his outer tunic to pull on. He paused with only his arms in the garment. "Wait. Where are the kids?"

Fenn laughed outright. "They left a couple hours ago. I think they've been canoodling."

Alrich raised a brow before putting on his tunic the rest of the way and then stepping into his boots. "Normally, as the father of the female teenager, I'd be worried about that, but Sabine can take care of herself and I have a feeling that Ezra would never be the initiator in any 'canoodling'."

Fenn laughed again, leading the way out of the tent. "I think you're right."

They walked in silence for a few steps before Alrich suddenly asked. "Hey. You've known Ezra for a while, right?"

Fenn gave him a curious look. "Yeah. Why?"

"Do you happen to know Ezra's mother's name?"

Fenn blinked at the strange question but wracked his memory anyway. He came up with an overheard conversation between Ezra and Sabine from at least a year ago. "Uhhhh. Mira, I think. Why?"

Alrich actually stopped moving from the shock, causing Fenn to look at him in surprise and stop as well. "What? What is it?"

Alrich, looking rather pale, said quietly, "Because I dreamed it. I dreamed about my first grandchild and her name was Mira." He didn't bother to mention the other impossible things in his dream; like Ursa and Tristan still being alive and well in the future.

Fenn basically gawked at the other man. "Whoa. That's freaky." Then he chuckled and clapped Alrich on the back. "Maybe you're a little bit Jedi, old man, having visions like Ezra."

Alrich laughed, shaking his head as they resumed walking, joining a crowd of people also making their way to the other side of the camp. "I seriously doubt that, Fenn Rau. And who you calling old? I'm pretty sure I'm younger than you."

Fenn smirked. "Possibly. But I don't have any kids yet, and I definitely don't have dreams about grandchildren. That makes you the older one by default."

Alrich rolled his eyes, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I might have to give you that one."

Kanan appeared beside Alrich like magic. "Give him what one?"

Fenn looked over the shorter man's head at the masked Jedi, as their little group paused to let others enter the tent. "Alrich and I were just discussing who was actually older and if the fact that he's dreaming about grandkids is a deciding factor."

Kanan crossed his arms over his chest, raised a brow behind his mask, and his mouth twitched upwards with amusement. "That is a good question... If you're old fogeys."

Fenn and Alrich shot him nearly identical looks of pretend disgust. "Who you calling old, Jedi?" Fenn snarled in mock anger, his ice blue eyes sparkling with humour.

"No one, really. You said it yourself," Kanan teased. "Bickering over age… Grandkids… Sounds like a fogey to me."

The men snorted derisively.

"I take offense even at the mere idea that I'm washed up," Fenn said with a sniff.

"As do I. There are many more years left in me," Alrich said firmly.

Kanan smirked at Sabine's father. "Years in which to play with the grandkids?"

The older men rolled their eyes, giving up.

Fenn spotted Bo approaching the command tent and he immediately abandoned his companions to go meet her.

"I think I envy him," Alrich mused quietly, watching the couple lean toward each other as they made their greetings.

"Why's that?" Kanan asked, curious.

"Despite the fact that it took him till his fifties to find his cyar'ika, he now has the second half of his life to enjoy with her. Assuming neither of them get themselves killed, he'll get to retire with her and grow old with her. I, on the other hand, found my cyar'ika early in life and had more than three decades to love her. But they were war filled times through most of it and it was a rare day indeed that we spent just enjoying life."

"Would you rather you'd never met Ursa?"

Alrich shot Kanan a disbelieving look. What kind of stupid question was that? "Of course not! The years we did have will sustain me in memories for the rest of my li… Oh."

Kanan smiled gently. "Yes, oh. You have no need to envy Fenn. Your wife lives on in you and Sabine and your future grandchildren. She may be in the Force now, but eventually, so will you, and you'll be reunited, never to be torn apart again. That is something that should drive all thought of envy from your mind. Instead, we'll rejoice for Fenn in his good fortune."

"And tease him at every possible opportunity?" Alrich asked with a knowing smirk.

Kanan inclined his head, mouth curling up into a grin. "That too."

Alrich sighed in contentment, feeling better than he had since the tragedy yesterday. "Thank you, Kanan."

"You're welcome."

"You know, you're awfully wise for one so young."

Kanan chuckled. "Comes with the territory, and more life experience than I care to think about most times." They both laughed morosely at that sad little fact of life. "And for the record, I'm thirty-one."

"Hunh. You don't look it," Alrich peered closer at what he could see of the Jedi's face and found no evidence of his age on his unblemished skin. Must be a Jedi thing. Maybe that's why he wears the beard; to look older.

I should ask him about my dream. He would know if it means anything or was just the wishful thinking of my subconscious.

Their conversation paused as Fenn and Bo-Katan finally joined them.

Bo's heart did a little skip of joy when she saw Fenn all but bound over to meet her. She stopped where she was to give them a little privacy. "Good morning, Lord Rau," she said as he took the last two steps before her. "Did you sleep well?"

Fenn stopped a fraction closer than was strictly necessary, unable to resist being as close to her as possible. How does she look so radiant on only three hours of sleep? "As well as can be expected," he said evasively. As in, barely at all. Dozing with one's eyes closed doesn't really count. "I thought of you," he murmured huskily, "like I said I would."

Bo leaned a little closer, looking up at his handsome face like his glowing blue eyes were magnets for her own. She felt a flush of pleasure sweep over her from head to toe at his words. "I admit that I also spent more time than I should have thinking over our first day together."

Fenn closed the distance even more, bending his head down towards hers. He blindly reached for her hand and found her wrist. Sliding down, he gently grasped her fingers in his gloved hand and raised her hand to his mouth without losing his contact with her enchanting emerald eyes. Pressing a kiss to her knuckles, he murmured against them, "This pleases me greatly to hear, My Lady Bo. I would wish to feature in your dreams if it be permitted."

Bo felt her face flushing from the heat swirling through her. She found herself fluttering her eyelashes like a simpering girl and couldn't find it within herself to care that her Badass Card was going to get revoked if anyone saw. "There is no one to say who I can or cannot dream about aside from myself, and I'm officially giving myself permission to dream about a certain Protector as of right now," she whispered rather huskily back. I can't believe I'm flirting like a teenager with this man. Have I lost my mind?

Fenn's face lit up from within and his eyes seemed to glow even brighter as years fell off his face and he seemed almost childlike in his joy at her words. Bo felt her jaded heart melt. Frag it, let the insanity commence.

"Thank you," the enamoured warrior breathed, squeezing her hand before releasing it reluctantly. Tearing his eyes form hers, he glanced around them and found the area deserted except for Kanan and Alrich waiting by the door of the Command Tent. "We should go in. The clans will be waiting for their instructions."

"Yes, we should," Bo acknowledged.

But neither moved. Neither wanted to. Every instinct was screaming for more connection; to touch and taste and caress and learn the other to the point of becoming two beings with only one soul. But propriety and a reluctance to be hurt held them back from actually making that first move that would trigger everything. Despite this, or because of it, their eyes were locked and their breaths practically mingled, their faces were so close together. If they couldn't say it out loud yet with words or gestures, then their eyes could speak for them.

She lost track of how much time elapsed while she searched for the answers to all the questions in the universe within the crystal depths of his beautiful eyes, but eventually, Bo found the willpower to tear her gaze away and take a half step in the direction of where her duty lay. "Right. To the meeting."

Fenn nodded and stayed close to her side. "Yes. Meeting. Battle. Defeat the Empire. But after that…?"

She glanced up at him, a pleased smile curling up her lips. "After that, Fenn Rau, I might be inclined towards taking some personal time to get better 'acquainted' with a certain Protector in more than my dreams."

Fenn very nearly made a little leap of joy. His heart certainly did, amongst other body parts. "I look forward to it," he said with every ounce of sincerity he could pack into his tone, as they came to a stop at the tent door.

Bo gave him a sweet smile full of promise and then opened the door, letting the rumble of hundreds of voices out. "Come on, boys," she said, sweeping her eyes over the warrior, the Jedi, and the artist in amusement at the diverse assortment. "War waits for no one." And with that, she swept into the tent, causing a nearly instant hush of respect from the crowd packed into the space not meant for that many.

She walked with calm assurance to the raised platform the Command Centre sat on while Fenn was left sighing after her like a lovesick boy as Kanan and Alrich joined him. They moved towards the front as well, but stayed on the outside edge of the crowd. Stars, she's magnificent, Fenn thought as her commanding gaze swept over the assembled. The bright lights that lit the tent and the camp in general didn't do most people any favours, but on her, they just made her fair skin look more incandescent and her red hair shine like fire rubies.

Fenn felt like a mere peasant at the feet of a goddess, but he wasn't going to let that stop him from continuing to court her.

Bo held the eyes of every clan leader for a moment before exchanging a quick smile of greeting with Kar. Nearly unbidden, her eyes settled on Fenn, drawing strength she didn't really need from his avid gaze, because it felt nice to be desired like that.

It took her a moment to realize that the most important part of this mission was missing still. Where the frag is Sabine? And the Jedi boy? If they're off somewhere, getting frisky, I'm going to kill them both. Where's her sense of honour and duty?

Pushing her frustration at the Wren girl aside for the moment, Bo addressed the waiting crowd. "As we discussed last night, we're about to embark on what I hope is a turning point in our war against the Empire. Most of you will be attacking the Imperial facilities in Sundari. There is a man in place already to open one of the smaller entrances to the dome to let in your ships. Count Vizsla is in charge of that operation and I wish you all good luck in your battles this morning. Strike swift and hard and may your aim be true. No mercy for the Imperial shabuire!"

She paused for breath as the majority of the crowd roared a battle cry. Once that died down, she continued. "At the same time, a second team will be openly infiltrating Saxon's ISD. This team will be led by Lord Rau of the Protectors and consist of Clan Rook and my own. They will serve as a distraction while our Jedi friends erase all data on the beskar seeking weapon and Countess Wren and I destroy the prototype that the Empire has rebuilt." She smiled wryly. "That is, if Countess Wren deigns to show up."

She paused as the crowd chuckled somewhat uncomfortably. She could see Fenn whispering to Kanan, probably asking where the teenagers were. If the Jedi's reassuring smile while he replied was anything to go by, he wasn't worried, which she took to mean that the young people in question were on their way. Thank the Manda. Still not pleased, though.

Bo took control of the room again. "Now, I have no idea how the Empire is going to retaliate for our attacks this morning, but there are a total of three ISD's around Sundari, so we should expect to have to deal with all of them. There are also five more in orbit, so this could be a long day of warfare. Keep your comms open and listen for new directions as events progress. Most of you have assured me of additional forces if necessary, but I hope we won't need them." Once again meeting everyone's attentive gaze, she finished with, "May the Manda be with you all."

Before the crowd could erupt into more battle cries, the tent door opened again and in strolled Sabine and Ezra as if it was perfectly normal for them to show up five minutes late to a very important meeting. Of course everyone noticed their arrival, since Bo turned her focus on them. The tension in the air ratcheted up ten notches. Bo suppressed the urge to snarl unpleasantly. She could at least look apologetic.

Literally everyone was already there when Sabine and Ezra arrived, making her wince mentally, including the leaders of the various other clans that had come to help with the mission at the front of each group of similarly coloured warriors. They squished their way past way too many judgemental people and joined Kanan, Fenn, and her father right at the front of the crowd.

Bo-Katan raised an imperious brow at Sabine and Ezra. "So glad you decided to join us. We were starting to wonder."

Sabine shrugged slightly, playing it cool. "I couldn't sleep, so Ezra and I took a walk. We went further than planned. I apologize if we kept you waiting."

Bo-Katan's red eyebrows rose further, glancing from her to Ezra, who was, for once, doing a good job of keeping his mouth shut and not fidgeting, but his face was certainly darkening across the cheekbones. "I see," Bo-Katan said, her tone clearly stating that she did, indeed, see.

Sabine sighed internally. If it hadn't been obvious already, she'd basically just confirmed her intention to take Ezra as her husband. One does not simply just go for a 'walk' with a boy in the dark for hours on a desert and then let it be known to everyone unless you intended to follow through with the implications. Not that they hadn't already been open about their relationship at dinner last night, but the whole being alone thing pretty much sealed the deal.

Sabine glanced at the expressions of everyone in the tent at the implied declaration. Only her father, Fenn, and Bo-Katan portrayed actual acceptance. The others all looked either skeptical, were withholding judgment for the time being, or outright displeased. Count Onyo, in particular, looked vaguely murderous, his purple eyes flashing from his dark face. Never did like that bastard. But no one made any moves to draw a blaster, so Sabine considered that a win. She focused on Bo-Katan again. "I'm glad you do. Now. On to the small matter of getting rid of the Duchess once and for all..."

Bo's eyes widened and she stared at Sabine in shock. "Wait. Did you name your weapon after my sister?!"

Sabine winced. Opps, should have kept that to myself. "It was a series of bad decisions that I'm not proud of. We can call it something else if you want?"

Bo was speechless for at least ten seconds as she glared at Sabine. How dare she dishonour Satine like that! I'm going to eviscerate that little brat. She's not going to be able to walk for a week after I'm done pounding some respect into her. How could she insult her own family like that? Okay, sort of family, but still... A touch from Fenn on her arm brought her out of her mental snit. She sucked in a breath and forcibly calmed herself. "There's no point. We're getting rid of that thing and that will be the end of it. I just have to say that Satine was a pacifist until the very end and she would be appalled to find out that a weapon of mass destruction was named after her. I don't know what you were thinking."

Sabine glanced down at her helmet for a moment, deciding. Feeling Ezra lean a fraction closer to her gave her the courage to say her piece. She looked back at the red haired woman, meeting the piercing green eyes steadily. "I was thinking that your sister's pacifist ways led to the fall of Mandalore. She caused a civil war for shab's sake! It was your sister's views on politics that eventually allowed the Imperials to take hold of our planet. She destroyed our people's spirit just as much as any weapon ever has. If she hadn't been a pacifist, there would never have been a need for the Republic to help our people. Maul and Death Watch should never have had the opportunity to take control. Clan Saxon should never have felt the need to ally with the Imperials just so what's left of our people weren't completely subjugated. It was your sister that was the catalyst for everything that is happening now. I don't claim to think that I could ever lead Mandalore better than anyone else, but Mandalore should never have been in the hands of a pacifist. And I know you know it. I know you were part of Death Watch because my mother was as well. I know you didn't believe in your sister's ideals, so you'd be a hypocrite if you said otherwise now." So please don't. That won't go well for either of us.

Everyone in the tent was basically holding their breath as they looked from Sabine to Bo-Katan, waiting for her response. This could go one of two ways. Bo-Katan could be seriously offended and challenge Sabine to a duel to the death or she would agree with Sabine and let her words against her sister slide.

Bo's fists were clenched and she was barely breathing while proverbial steam rose from her. But as she stared into Sabine's steady and resolute eyes, her shoulders dropped ever so slightly and her fists unclenched. Everyone in the room breathed again. "You're right," Bo admitted quietly. "I didn't agree with my sister. It's the reason we hardly ever spoke to each other. We were on two different sides, and in the end, we both lost and the Empire won. It's time to fix that. It's time to return Mandalore to being the home of people who are proud to call themselves Mandalorians. Proud of our warrior heritage. Proud to fight for what we believe in. And we will WIN!" Her voice rang with power and authority at the end and the tent erupted in cheers from the warriors packed within.

Sabine sighed in relief that that had turned out the way she'd hoped. Thank the Manda. Ezra nudged her with his foot and she glanced at him. He winked at her and smiled slightly, glancing down as she fingered the Darksabre hanging off the side of her belt. Should I? she asked with her eyes. He nodded back with his own in agreement and Sabine felt an invisible weight lift from her shoulders.

She'd found the leader she sought.

Sabine had always known it wasn't herself. Bo-Katan was the rightful leader of Mandalore based on heritage. It was gratifying to know the woman lived up to Sabine's expectations.

Sabine stepped forward, holding the Darksabre out to Bo-Katan and the space instantly went silent again. "This belongs to you, My Lady. You are the true Mand'alor. The Mand'alor our people should have had leading us all along. I can't rightfully keep this anymore when I know I don't deserve to wield it. I now know that I found it so that I could pass it on to you."

Bo glanced from the sword hilt to Sabine's eyes and back again, indecision clear upon her face.

"Take it," Fenn said from beside her. "Sabine is right. You are a true leader of people and you uphold the original Mandalorian beliefs. I can think of no one better to be Mand'alor aside from Sabine, despite the fact that she doesn't believe it of herself."

Bo glanced at him, this man she'd barely known for a day but felt so connected to. Seeing the sincerity and belief in his eyes, she reached forward – the tent inhaled in anticipation - and grasped the Darksabre. It instantly felt right in her hand, like a missing piece of her soul had been returned. Bo ignited the dark blade and held it above her head triumphantly, staring at her people. "I accept this sword as vengeance for my sister from the monster who stole her and this blade from us. For my clan. And for all of Mandalore."

In the gust of relief that was exhaled by nearly everyone, Sabine went down to one knee in front of her, head bowed. "Clan Wren vows loyalty to Duchess Bo-Katan of Clan and House Kryze, our new and rightful Mand'alor."

Fenn Rau sank to a knee as well, looking up adoringly at the woman who had so thoroughly captured his heart. "As the sole remaining Protector, I pledge my loyalty to you and vow to remain in your service for as long as I am of able body and mind like the Protectors originally did for previous Mand'alors."

One by one, the leaders of every clan knelt, their members following suit immediately.

"Clan and House Vizsla vows our loyalty."

"Clan Awuad also vows loyalty."

"Clan Onyo vows loyalty."

"Clan Elder vows loyalty."

"Clan Rook vows loyalty."

And so it continued until every clan leader in the tent had their say.

Bo looked down at all the bowed heads and felt somewhat overwhelmed. The only two people left in the tent not kneeling were the Jedi, but as she glanced at them, they both nodded at her respectfully, even the blind one. How DID he do that? That was good enough, she supposed. Her sister's Jedi, Kenobi, had been a reasonable sort as well. Fenn's example of showing support for the Jedi was something she would follow. Mandalore needed to give up their hatred of the Jedi; especially with so few of them left. Supporting Sabine's choice to marry one would be a good first step.

"I accept your loyalty. Thank you." Bo-Katan's voice rang through the tent and everyone stood as one and cheered again. She slashed the Darksabre through the air, getting their attention before turning it off and hooking it to her belt. "Now is not the time for celebrating. We have a battle to win first and no more time to waste standing here. To your ships!"

There was a mass exodus out of the tent in a vaguely orderly fashion with a feeling of excitement in the air. Sabine, Ezra and Kanan waited patiently for the majority to exit. Bo-Katan swept past them with Fenn Rau at her side. "You three are with me," she said as she passed.

They dutifully followed. Sort of.

Sabine glanced back at her father, who was staying behind, with a few others, keeping an eye on their progress from the Command Center. His eyes were worried. "I will come back, Father. Please believe that."

He smiled wanly. "I believe you will always try your hardest."

Sabine gave him an equally sad smile. "That has ever been the truth." Their identical eyes met for one more heartfelt second before Sabine turned and left the tent.

Ezra was waiting for her just outside. They walked together as they followed in the wake of the others. (Kanan had caught up to Fenn and Bo-Katan.) "I can tell you feel better now, now that you don't have the Darksabre anymore," he said quietly.

Sabine glanced at him and nodded slightly. "I was never comfortable with the thought of ruling the entirety of the Mandalorian people. It's going to be hard enough for me to adjust to the idea that I'm now the ruler of my clan. I know Father will help where he can, but he's not from the Wren line, so, no matter how wise he is, our clan can choose not to follow him. They'll listen to him, but they could disobey a direct order from him if they wished. From me? Not a chance. Unless someone challenges me to take the position. And that's usually a fight to the death."

Ezra gasped. "Please tell me you're kidding this time too."

She shook her head once. "No. I'm afraid not. But I wouldn't worry about it too much. I have no intention of being taken down in a duel."

As they walked up the ramp of Bo-Katan's Kom'rk fighter, Ezra gave her his best disbelieving eyes. "Not worry? Of course I'm going to worry. I always worry about you when you're doing something dangerous."

Sabine laughed softly and patted his cheek as they stopped in front of a closed door. "You're so cute." Since they were the only ones in the cargo hold, she grabbed his jacket with her free hand in a repeat of yesterday's move and pulled him down to her, kissing him hard, finishing with a nip to his lower lip. So much better now that we know what we're doing. Letting him go, she smirked at his wide eyed look. "Don't get yourself killed either, Bridger. It would make me very unhappy."

Ezra nodded dumbly as Sabine hit the button to close the ramp and another button to upon the door and walked through, leaving Ezra floundering on his feet as he tried to follow her. Does she even know how much she rocks my world when she kisses me? And not just a peck either. Her tongue had definitely been in his mouth. And to more or less declare that she worried about him too, but in her own badass way, was enough to send a jolt to his heart and have all of his blood cells diving southwards.

Finally getting his brain to more or less communicate with his lower limbs, Ezra stumbled down the hallway after her, eyes glued to her perfect ass in that skintight bodysuit. She strolled into the common area like nothing was going on. Ezra couldn't say the same; his pants were excessively tight in the crotch area again and he had no desire to go in there looking like that.

As the ship's engines rumbled under his feet as they warmed up, Ezra leaned against a wall for a moment, taking deep breaths to calm himself back down. He started thinking of every non sexy thing he could imagine; death, slime, nerfs, cold showers, Vader.

He glanced down a few seconds later. Yep. We're good to go.

Ezra stepped around the corner and to the doorway, immediately bouncing off of Kanan, who'd just been about to come out.

Ezra almost fell over.

Kanan caught him with the Force in a swift move that no would ever see, and then handed his Padawan his helmet and jetpack that he'd left in the ship yesterday as if Ezra hadn't almost just fallen right back out of the common room.

"Thanks. I'm a klutz today."

"No problem. I can tell you're a little preoccupied."

"Understatement. That girl is driving me nuts."

"You'll learn to think past it. Eventually." Kanan smirked at him knowingly.

"Thanks," Ezra said, mentally rolling his eyes. He lifted the jetpack over his head and settled it onto his shoulders with an uncomfortable roll.

They moved further into the common room, to join the large group of warriors wearing blue and silver. Fenn fit right in. Sabine stood out like a sore thumb in both outlandish colours and lack of height. Ezra loved it. Perfect, beautiful girl.

As they walked, Kanan pointed with a thumb over his shoulder at the jetpack already sitting on his back. "You have any tips for me?" he asked glibly. "It looks like I get to wear one now too."

Ezra felt the ship take off, engines still sounding not quite right, but someone obviously thought they would do for now. (Hera would be appalled.) He grinned at Kanan, eyes twinkling for the benefit of their now listening audience of Mandos. "My only advice is to use the Force to steer. I don't know how they do it without. These things should be classified as suicide attempts."

Kanan snorted, bumping him with his shoulder. "I'll keep that in mind."

Sabine bumped him from the other side as he stopped beside her. The corner of her mouth was drawn up into an amused smirk. "Hey. We're just more talented than you," she said with a teasing wiggle of her brows.

Ezra smirked back, looking at Sabine's artistic armour pointedly. "That is very true. I can barely draw a stick person."

It only took a few seconds for everyone to be laughing to the point of tears, grateful for the little bit of humour in a time of way too much seriousness.

Of course, ten minutes later, when everyone but the pilot on Bo-Katan's ship jumped out of the cargo hold, Kanan flew straight and true in his jetpack. Ezra growled in disgust. "Why do I always look like a bumbling idiot compared to everyone else?" he muttered under his breath. Sabine and Chopper heard him, of course, since she'd linked them via the comms in their helmets.

Chopper beeped something along the lines of, "Because you're a foolish meatbag too pathetic to figure anything out?"

Ezra tried not to take that one too much to heart, since Chopper had been insulting him for years, but it still hurt.

"Leave him alone, Chopper, or I'll take you apart and toss something vital out an airlock," Sabine warned.

The droid grumbled out a, "Fine. Sorry, Sabine."

How come he only listens to the girls? Ezra whined to himself.

But then her next words brought his mood up drastically and the annoying astromech from who-knew-which of the seven hells was forgotten.

"I think your occasional awkwardness is cute, babe. Don't stress over it. You're graceful when you really need to be. Have you seen yourself with a lightsabre lately? It's kriffin' hot."

Ezra flushed with pleasure while Chopper made the equivalent of gagging noises. Ezra turned off the link to the droid menace and just basked in the pleasure of Sabine's words. "Thank you, Sabine. If you were trying to make me love you more, you just succeeded."

Not really, but I'll take it. Now Sabine was feeling all warm and glowy inside. "You keep talking like that, Ezra, and you're going to find yourself a very happy boy next time we get some alone time."

Ezra gulped, about a hundred different fantasies of him and Sabine doing naughty things all trying to take precedence at once and his pants getting rather tight yet again. At least this time, he'd remembered to keep his shields up between him and Kanan. With a little effort, he consciously lowered his voice to something he hoped sounded sexy. "Everyone knows a true gentleman takes care of the lady first. It would be my greatest pleasure to do so."

Sabine blinked as his rumbled words set all of her nerve endings to tingling madly and she practically trembled with desire to fly over there and jump on him. Holy nerfherders, who would have thought a day ago that Ezra could do that to me? She cleared her throat. "Maybe we should shelve this conversation for later. We're almost at Saxon's Star Destroyer anyway."

Ezra glanced at the ISD that was dwarfed by the massive dome surrounding the city of Sundari, before looking back at Sabine, who flew just ahead of him. Her slender figure was much more pleasant to look at, hands down. He could stare at her for hours and be perfectly content. (He'd actually done so while she was painting or sketching and not paying attention to him, so he knew this for a fact.) "Sure, cyar'ika. But there's no way I'm forgetting to take this up where we left off when I get the chance."

Sabine smiled like a very satisfied tooka inside her helmet. Neither am I. Now that she'd decided she wanted Ezra, the young woman didn't see any reason to take it slow. If the last four years hadn't been enough of a test of the strength of their friendship, then nothing was. "I'm holding you to that, Bridger."

The words were like a fortifying promise between them as they flew the last few metres to their next, possibly deadly, mission.