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Chapter 29

~X~

"Sometimes it's not what you say, but how cool you look not saying it."

~Boba Fett~

Din had been reluctant to leave Ravana's side, especially now that they had worked things out between them…to their mutual satisfaction, he had to admit. But he needed to prep the ship for takeoff and set a course to Arvala-7, heading back to the place this had all started.

So, with one final look at her beautiful smiling face, he headed for the cockpit, seating himself in the captain's chair as he began to flip switches and engage the engines. Having run into the very Jedi they'd been on their way to find had been quite fortuitous, though setting them on another path entirely. Din had found he respected the young Luke Skywalker, as well as his sister, Leia. He wasn't too sure about her husband, Han Solo, however – nor the Wookie, Chewbacca.

He'd heard of the famous smuggler turned Rebel leader and had even considered accepting a puck on him a time or two…but something had always held him back. The bounty hadn't been the issue, for the credits offered for his capture had been more than tempting. Still…something had always just rubbed him the wrong way about the job, especially since it was the Hutts who'd been the ones to offer the reward. Din had purposefully avoided doing any work for that infamous group, preferring to take more smaller jobs than one big one they might offer. For it was widely known that should you fail to deliver, that syndicate was not the forgiving sort…and suddenly you found yourself being the one with the price on your head.

And now that he'd met the man in person, Din decided he'd been right all along. For with friends like Han's - a Jedi and a vengeful Wookie - that would have been the last thing he would have wanted to be mixed up in. It did however make him wonder exactly who it was they had mistaken him for when they first met. They hadn't used any names; however Din had a pretty good idea.

Boba Fett.

He was a renowned bounty hunter, wore Mandalorian armor, and would have had no qualms about taking on such a high value target as Han Solo. Din had been mistaken a time or two for the man in the past, so it really shouldn't have been that surprising this time. Rumors had circulated like wildfire through the clans when it became known that Fett had been working with the Empire, and some even claimed that he was no Mandalorian at all. Yet others insisted that the Fett clan had originated from Concord Dawn and had once been highly respected. However, none of that really mattered now, not with the Great Purge wiping out most of the Mandalorians, and from what he'd last heard…Boba Fett was rumored to have been killed on Tatooine. Still, it was only a rumor, and life had a funny way of taking what you thought you knew and turning it on its ear.

Take him for instance. Here he was setting the Razor Crest on a course that could possibly lead them directly to a former Imperial officer, one who had some secret, nefarious plans for the kid. A kid he'd sworn to protect, causing him to set all other plans aside, until his mission was complete. He also had a zaktan on board - one who might have a bit of timing issues when it came to dumping his load, but on a whole wasn't that bad. And then there was Ravana, his beautiful space-angel. Now she was one unexpected surprise he would never regret running into. If he'd thought the kid had changed his whole life, he could only imagine what she was about to do to it. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, thinking of all the amazing adventures, and trouble, in store for the two of them.

And Mando couldn't wait.

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Ravana had spent a few minutes returning her clothes to their place, all the while unable to wipe the smile off her face.

Din loved her!

What that meant for them she had no idea, but she was only too happy to stick around and find out. He wanted to marry her, that much at least had been clear. And not in a civil ceremony like they'd been through on Katella…no, but instead by Mandalorian custom. Something that truly meant a great deal to him - and now to her as well. She would be able to see him at last, to know what the man she loved looked like! Ravana found herself nearly giddy with excitement.

But first, they had to solve the issue with Gideon, to find a way to get him off their backs and off the kid's scent. For until they dealt with him, none of them would be safe.

"We'll figure out a way to protect you, String-bean," she told the child, scooping him up in her arms and holding him close to her. "And then we can all be a true family. Father, Mother, son…and Zax the wonder pet!"

Apparently, this idea pleased the kid, who gurgled and squeaked happily, making Ravana smile all the more.

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The rest of the day went well, with Din having plotted a course directly to Arvalla-7, which would allow them to arrive the following day. He was highly motivated to see their mission complete…and Gideon out of their lives once and for all.

And yet…as much as he wanted to see the man lying dead at his feet, Din had been giving the situation a lot of thought. Ravana was being accused of a murder that Gideon had committed, not her. And the only way he could think to prove her innocence was to bring the true killer to justice. Thus…they would have to capture him alive…if at all possible.

Still, Din knew he could not hope to apprehend the former Imperial officer alone, and he owed it to Paz to contact him if he could, in order to seek his own retribution and retrieve the Dark Saber. The idea of calling for his old friend's aid soothed that part of Din that still worried about Ravana and the kid. He would not risk their safety, not for anything.

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Din and Ravana didn't speak of their newfound affections, at least not in front of the child. Though when the kid was not looking Din couldn't help but let his fingers slip into her hair as she passed or placing an eager hand on the small of her back. She would offer him a saucy wink or a heart stopping smile, letting him know that she returned his feelings as well. It wasn't ideal, but it was enough…for now.

Yet, when it was time to go to sleep and Din had closed himself off in his own chambers, that was when he truly felt her absence. How much longer would he be required to remain at a distance when all he wanted to do was have her body molded against him as he slept? Yes, it had been by his request that they wait for anything physical…but Din found he truly longed for the touching and kissing aspect of their relationship to progress.

He'd just turned off the light and removed his helmet, having chosen to sleep in only a loose pair of night trousers, when he heard a knocking at his door. Replacing his head covering first, he flipped on the light and hurried to answer it, there being only one person it could be, and he wasn't about to keep her waiting.

"Umm, hi," was her shy greeting when the metal barrier slid away. "Did I wake you?"

Din couldn't help but notice how her eyes roamed his bare chest, a slight blush to her cheeks making him grin beneath his helmet. He hoped she liked what she saw.

"No, not at all," he responded. "Was there anything you needed?" It was a loaded question, and one he could certainly answer with several salacious ideas of his own.

"Well…I was just thinking," she began, at last tearing her eyes from his bare form and rising to meet his visor. "Since we kind of decided not to…you know…I thought that maybe we could just…cuddle?"

"Cuddle?" the very word made him chuckle, trying to see himself ever using it himself. However, coming from Ravana's lips it not only sounded adorable, it was a pleasing idea as well. "You mean, share a bed for sleeping purposes only?"

"Yeah, and maybe a few kisses as well, if we turned off the lights and you removed your helmet?" she suggested hopefully. "I mean…if you want."

Din didn't hesitate, reaching out and pulling her into his room and shutting the door. He knew the kid and Zax were snug in their own cubical, and he really hoped they would remain there. Hitting the switch that shut off the lights, he quickly removed his helmet, setting it aside before leading Ravana over to his bed. It wasn't very large, and they would indeed need to cuddle if they were to share it for the night, but that was the whole idea, was it not?

"Left or right?" he asked, as he pulled back the blanket.

"What?" came her perplexed reply.

"Do you prefer to sleep on the right or left side?" he explained.

"Oh…I don't know," she laughed. "I've never had to share a bed before and mine has always only fit one…so I don't exactly have a side. What about you?"

"I prefer the right side," he confessed, happy that he wouldn't have to alter his sleeping habits to accommodate her needs. "I'm right-handed, and I keep my weapons on that side…just in case."

"Then left it is," she agreed, hopping in and scooting over, leaving him as much room as she could without falling off the other side.

Din eased himself in as well, propping himself up a bit against the headboard as she snuggled close, putting her head on his chest and her arm around his middle. It felt nice…it felt right.

"Comfortable?" he asked, knowing he never wanted to sleep any other way for the rest of his life.

"Oh, yes," she assured him, letting out an appreciative sigh. "Much better than lying in my own little bed alone." She then raised her head and looked up in his direction. "What about you?"

Din let his actions speak for him, as he leaned down and found her lips in the dark, loving how she instantly melted against him, urging him on with her soft sighs and small hums of pleasure. This was definitely much better than sleeping alone. They kept this up for a while, each one unwilling to break the contact, but eventually they did need to breathe.

"Were you serious when you said you'd never kissed a woman before?" she asked, letting her hand roam over his face once again.

"Like I said, it's rather difficult to engage in such an action while wearing a helmet…and I've never taken it off in front of anyone before," he stated. "Only you."

"You won't get in trouble for that, will you?" was her next question.

"No. You're my wife," he reasoned. "And even if it was not done by Mandalorian customs, that is the one concession given for the removal of my helmet with another. Though I would rather wait until it's official according to my clan before you actually see me."

"I understand," she agreed, laying her head back against him. "And until then, this is very nice."

"Yes…it is," Din decided. "Very nice indeed."

"Can I ask you another question?" Ravana probed, though this time her tone had him a bit worried about what she might wish to know.

"Of course you can," he assured her, though he really hoped it wasn't something too terrible.

"Who was Xi'an…and what did she mean to you?" was the bomb she chose to drop on him.

"Where did you hear that name?" he demanded, though he kept his voice as soft as he could.

"From Paz," she confessed. "He mentioned that you were once…involved with her. Were you?"

Din shut his eyes and gave a heavy sigh, one of pure irritation at Paz. Why had he gone and told Ravana about Xi'an? What had he been thinking? The last thing he wanted to do was discuss her, or any other woman he'd ever been with, especially with Ravana! Still, the damage was done, and though he'd exact his revenge on Paz later, there was no getting out of the conversation now.

"I…I don't know if involved would quite be the correct way to describe things between us," he told her with a sigh of resignation. "We worked together for a bit, along with several others, including her brother. And I won't lie to you and say that things didn't become physical between us, but that's as far as it went. I never had any true feelings for her if that's what you are asking. It was a time in my life that I'm not proud of, nor would I ever wish to run with such a band again. But I was young…and very foolish."

"And Xi'an?" she pressed, apparently wanting to hear more. "What was she like?"

"She was…wild." It was the best word he could come up with to describe the Twi'lek woman. "At first, I thought she was exciting, but all too soon I came to see it only meant she had no limits, no moral code, and nothing to stop her from doing anything she wanted. Unfortunately, what she wanted was to wreak havoc on anything and anyone in her line of sight…including me."

"She didn't hurt you, did she?" Ravana sounded truly concerned over this, and it touched Din greatly that she cared.

"She did end up shooting me over a misunderstanding we had," he admitted. "That's where the burn mark on my shoulder came from. Though in all fairness, I don't think she was actually trying to kill me. Still, it was enough of a wake-up call for me to end things and get the hell out of that mess for good."

"And did she ever try to rekindle things between you?" she asked.

"No. I did run into her again, but only for the purpose of doing a job…one that didn't end up well for her, her brother, or any of the others, I might add," Din told her with a snort of disgust.

"Is she…dead?" this time Ravana's tone was a mixture of shock and something else…perhaps hope?

"No, but the last time I saw her I was locking her in a cell on a Republic Prison Barge…she and the rest of the double-crossing gang she ran with." Din was surprised to recall how easy it had been for him to leave her there, spitting and screaming at him over his treachery. However, knowing that she and the others had always meant to do the same to him, left Din with little to no guilt over his actions. They all got what they deserved. "I don't think we'll run into them any time soon. And I personally never want to see her again. Ever."

"Is it wrong of me to hope we don't either?" Ravana questioned. "You once said you were not the type who shared…well, turns out, neither am I." She then let out a short laugh. "It feels so strange to say something like that, especially since we've known each other for such a short time…but I do love you, Din. I love you with all I have and I'm not afraid to say it either."

"A trait I find very appealing in you, my little Ana," Din smiled, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "And if I'm being honest as well, I can guarantee that I would fight the entire galaxy to see that you remain only mine."

"So…are there any other women in your past I should worry about?" Ravana enquired.

"None that should ever concern you," he assured her. "When one chooses to walk the way of the Mandalore, beskar isn't the only armor one wears. Our whole way of life is a barrier, keeping us separate from others, both physically and emotionally. I'm not saying I was never tempted, and occasionally did let down my guard, so to speak, but you are the only one who ever got past the armor around my heart, Ravana. Only you."

"That's good to hear," she said with a happy sigh. "And you've already met my one and only potential suitor, and you know exactly what I felt for him…nothing!"

"Tannor? Yes, I recall the shab well," Din grumbled. "But at least Gideon saved me the trouble of having to hunt him down and kill him myself for the way he turned on you." He then wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "It pains me to think of what Gideon did to you, as well as what might have happened if the kid hadn't stolen Zax the way he did. If I hadn't come back…" Din found he couldn't even speak the words.

"But you did come back," she reminded him. "You and the kid saved both me and Zax. So, there's no sense in dwelling on what could have happened. I'm alive, I'm here…and I couldn't be happier about it. Honestly."

"Me as well," Din assured her. "Though…at first I was sure you were going to drive me crazy. You are one hard-headed woman, did you know that?"

"It takes a hard-headed woman to deal with a thick-skulled Mandalorian," she laughed. "So, it's a good thing I'm up to the task."

"That you are," he agreed with a smile. "Now…how about we get to the cuddling and some sleep. Zax and the kid won't stay that way for long and we'll be arriving on Arvala-7 soon. We best get our rest while we can."

"You'll get no argument from me," Ravana stated, snuggling against his side. "I'm right where I want to be."

"And right where you belong," Din agreed, leaning down once more to place a kiss on the top of her head. "Good night, Ravana."

"Good night, Din," was her sleepy reply.

Din remained awake just long enough for her breathing to become regular and he was sure she was asleep, before allowing himself to drift off as well, a very pleased smile on his face.

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"That's it," Din informed Ravana as they approached Arvala-7 the following day. "This is where I found the kid."

"Doesn't look very hospitable, if you ask me," she remarked, surveying the landscape as the Razor Crest flew over the rocky hills and dry arid plains.

"It's not," he agreed. "But this is where I was sent to locate him, though not at all knowing what to expect." Here he turned and let his eyes fall on the happy little green child, sitting in his activity seat Din had crafted for him. Once more he was flipping switches and pulling on levers, acting as if he were the one flying the ship. And perhaps in his mind, he was.

"What do you think the chances are we'll find some information that's useful?" she asked, rising from her seat and standing next to his, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Luke was right, if the Nikto were the ones Gideon hired to abduct the kid, maybe there's something here that will lead us to him," he reasoned, loving the feel of her touch. It was quickly becoming a necessity, much like air to him.

"Then let's hope no one's come along to mess things up and destroy any clues," she huffed.

"Jawas!" Din growled. "If anyone's made a mess of things, it'll be those blasted Jawas." He couldn't help but feel the anger welling up inside of him as he recalled the way they'd stripped the Razor Crest the last time. If it hadn't been for Kuiil…here he stopped, not wishing to think about the kindly Ugnaught that had died aiding him and the kid. It was best that he cease that line of thought, for if he allowed himself to dwell on it, he knew he was bound to be distracted, and when going into an unknown situation, that was the last thing he wanted.

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Thankfully, it wasn't long before the abandoned mercenary encampment came into view, with Din setting the ship down not far away. There would be no need to cross the plains on those surly Blurrgs this time, for with all the Nikto dead, there was no one left to sneak up on.

Once the ship was down and the ramp lowered, the four of them stepped out cautiously, with Zax on high alert, sniffing the air and both his ears perked up, listening for danger.

"Wow…you made quite a mess," Ravana remarked as she eyed the blast marks and holes in quite a number of the buildings. Thankfully, the scavenger beasts of the planet had carried off any remains of the Nikto mercenaries, something Din had been a bit concerned over.

"IG-11 is partially to blame," he said in his defense, recalling just how helpful the hunter droid had been to him even back then. "This way," he urged, pointing to the large opening in the blast door they'd created. "We found the kid in here."

Inside, Ravana set the squirming child down, whereupon Zax immediately took up a defensive position beside his friend, intent on keeping him out of trouble. The place was deserted, with piles of sand and dust everywhere, the elements having only added to the deplorable conditions the Nikto had been living in.

"Over here is where I first discovered him," Din said, indicating a corner of the room with several crates and boxes stacked around. "The tracking fob led me right to him."

"What was he doing here?" Ravana asked, looking around in disgust. "This is no place for a child! Were they even taking care of him?"

Din saw her staring down at the kid with a look of motherly protectiveness, certain that she would have taken out all the mercenaries by herself if she'd had an inkling they'd been mistreating him. Though they must have cared for him somehow, for he had looked no worse for wear in Din's eyes. It did make him cringe a bit as he recalled that he'd not bothered to feed the kid anything until that evening, when he'd devoured his first frog right in front of him. Still…he'd not exactly been in a position to offer much at that point, what with his ship completely ransacked by the Jawas. If it hadn't been for Kuiil – No! He'd told himself that he wasn't going to dwell on such memories. Not now.

"I assume they would have taken care of him as best they could, after all, he was worth a lot to them," Din told her, hoping it would soothe her ruffled feathers. He then turned and began looking for the main control center, hoping some of the equipment might still be in working order. It didn't take long for him to locate what he'd been searching for, and sitting down in one of the dusty chairs, he attempted to get the core computer working again.

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Ravana was still not happy about how she suspected those who'd taken the kid had treated him. At worst, they'd been cruel to their little captive…and at best they'd simply ignored him. Both scenarios had her blood boiling, and she made a promise to herself that he would never have to worry about such things ever again. She would protect him with her life, and she knew that Din would do the same.

Figuring that Din had things under control, and didn't need her help, she began to walk around, poking her head in one room after the next. The place was sparse of any furniture, and what they had was old and dilapidated. She wasn't sure if it was due to lack of use or if it had always been that way. Ravana had no idea what a Nikto looked like, but from the way Din had talked, she didn't think she'd want to meet any of them in a dark alley.

Keeping a close eye on Zax and the kid, she trailed behind them as the zaktan began to sniff at something, his nose to the ground as he followed an interesting scent. The String-bean was equally curious and waddled along at his heels. There were places and corners where she couldn't see, but most of the time there was no need for a light source due to the numerous blast holes in the walls, courtesy of Din and IG-11 she assumed.

She was just about to tell the two of them it was time to go back, when Zax froze in place, the hair on his back standing on end and a low growl emanating from his throat. Ravana halted as well, her hand reaching for the blaster that Din had insisted she now carry at all times, though she couldn't see anything to indicate where any danger might be coming from. However, the threatening voice that seemed to emanate from some dark area up ahead had Ravana leaping into action.

"Throw down your weapon and remain where you are!" came a metallic voice, one that sounded as if it was being spoken through a translator of some sort.

Of course, Ravana didn't obey, and instead fired a shot directly at whomever it was hiding in the shadows. When the blast was somehow deflected, the bolt then ricocheting a few times before striking the stone wall, Ravana barked out her own order.

"Zax! Take the kid and find Din…NOW!" Ravana yelled, squeezing off a few more shots at the unseen enemy.

Thankfully, the animal instantly obeyed, spinning around and grabbing his green friend by the back of his collar with his teeth and scampering off at lightning speed. This left Ravana alone, pitted against an opponent that seemed impervious to laser fire. Her first thought was perhaps it was a Mandalorian, his beskar armor protecting him in much the same way it did Din.

But when a towering creature with greyish-green skin and deep grooves around his orange eyes - not mention wearing the strangest metal disk-shaped hat she'd ever seen - stepped out into the light, Ravana knew for a fact that this was no Mandalorian.

Oh great...they've run into ANOTHER problem! Who would have guessed? ha ha.

I'll give a free snippet of Monday's chapter to anyone who can guess who this new 'problem' is by my description of him. (but remember, I can only send these out to those who have accounts and have their PM function turned on)

Did you enjoy Din and Ravana cuddling? And her asking about Xi'an? A girl has to size up her competition, you know. NOT that Ravana has ANY competition in Din's eyes.

Thanks for all your kind reviews.

Guest Reviews:

Phantom Guest: They did indeed say it...and kissed. A LOT. ha ha. They were rather desperate. Both in him wanting to protect her, and him wanting to kiss her, and her wanting him to do just that...yep, desperate is a good word. I think waiting until it's official by Mandalorian standards will make it all the more special for them. So wait they will. And he did indeed get to touch her hair, andhe loved it. Glad you were well entertained while you waited. Thanks. T.O.W.G.

Lilais: That was a really nice song! I will try and learn the words and see if it motivates me. ha ha. But I can only give out bonus chapters if I was able to keep far enough ahead in my writing...and sadly, this week was NOT good for that. Maybe next time. Glad you liked the cameo of Luke and Leia...I had fun with that. You just go as crazy as you like...I don't mind. And I'm happy you like my story that much. I pity the people who don't like to read...they miss out on such a wonderful form of entertainment. Again, you are doing fine with you English, and even if a word or two is not understood, I get the meaning through context, and I love every one you send...even if you forget to put your name on them. ha ha. Thanks so much. T.O.W.G.

Guest 17: Ha ha, I hate waiting till I get off work to read stories too! That clock won't tick-tock fast enough, right? I hope your happiness lasted until Friday at least. That was indeed Din's first kiss. I think it was both their first kiss. She did want to be able to picture him a bit more now that she could feel his face and hair. Glad you loved every minute of it...I know Din sure did. ha ha. There is indeed MUCH more to look forward to. I'm currently writing chapter 41 and I'm not quite done yet. See you next time. T.O.W.G.

Guest: Yes, they kissed. And Din did indeed say he loved her...out loud. (too loud in fact. ha ha) Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!

Zenrobbins0021: Thanks for loving my story, I appreciate you saying so. And it only took me 28 chapters, but yep, they smooched! I had no idea there even was a place called Quotev. Never heard of it! But yes, I popped over and read the first few chapters of your story. I enjoyed it very much and plan to finish it after I'm done with mine. I try hard not to read any other similar stories while writing my own, it tends to distract me from writing, and if I see someone using an idea I had, it makes me sad and then I don't want to write it. So I've put on Mando blinders, you might say. But the first few chapters I did read were very well written, no mistakes that I saw (bravo there!) and your premise was very entertaining...can't wait to see how long it takes YOUR characters to finally kiss. ha ha. Is it all finished or will I need to wait for chapters when I get back to it? Also, I was going to leave reviews, but it appears you have to be a member to do so. And you have your PM function turned off here on FF, so this is the only way I can communicate with you. Good job on what I read. T.O.W.G.