A/N: Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas everyone! As there isn't really Christmas in the Star Wars universe I have taken the liberty to play around with Life Day which I see as the closest equivalent to Christmas in the Star Wars universe.

Mando's Lessons to Parenting Special

The Gift

Summary: Life Day is closing in and Eva is determined to get both The Child and Din the perfect gifts. The little one's gift is easy enough but the closer the holiday comes the more frustrated she grows as she can't figure out a gift that would be good enough for Mando. But in the end Din Djarin might just give Eva the best gift yet.

"A hundred!?"

"Yes."

"For, for this piece of scrap?!"

The salesperson glared at her at that comment. "Listen, you aren't happy with my prices-", they yanked the metallic item out of her hands with more force than necessary, "take yourself elsewhere. You're ruining my good day."

Eva narrowed her eyes and grit her teeth. She had to close her eyes, take a deep breath and force herself to turn around from the booth - which declared itself as the perfect gift shop - to stop herself from entering a shouting match with the salesperson.

How was she ever going to buy a gift for Din Djarin when it seemed every single salesperson in this town had such upscale prices for little pieces of junk?! She didn't have that much money on her as it was and the last thing she wanted to do was borrow credits from Din. It would have been just plain wrong to use Din's own money to buy him a gift for Life Day.

"Ugh", Eva groaned and kicked a rock out of her path. Why was this so hard now? She had had no trouble finding a gift for the little green monster that she had claimed as her brother. Why was Din's gift so difficult? It seemed that every single thing that she even considered was either too expensive for her or just wasn't the right gift.

The sound of something shattering made the young girl look up, eyes widening. Seeing that the stone she had kicked had hit a clay pot in front of a home, she halted, and then groaned.

She thought about turning around. It didn't seem like anyone had noticed she had kicked the rock. She could just turn around, run from the scene and continue her gift searching.

But she couldn't do it; even if it wasn't for the hands that suddenly landed on her shoulders she most likely would have gone up to the house and apologize to its owner for breaking their property.

"I hope you didn't do that on purpose, kid."

Eva craned her neck backwards to look up at Cara Dune whose hands gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.

"I didn't", she answered honestly, although there was an underlying tone of bitterness that Cara caught on.

The former mercenary turned sheriff frowned. "Alright, kid, we are gonna go up there and pay for the damage in a moment, but first you are going to tell me what's going on with you."

The woman lifted a finger as Eva opened her mouth protest. "Ah-ah, before you tell me that 'nothing' is going on, I suggest you take into consideration that I know you kid and this is not you."

Eva huffed, and crossed her arms. "Fine." She said. "I can't find a gift good enough for him."

"Who, Mando?"

"Yeah", Eva nodded. "Everything I even consider ends up being way too over-prized! I will never find a gift for him in time for Life Day by this rate!"

Cara patted her head. "You take this thing way too seriously kid; have you considered that perhaps the best gift to our friend from you would be something self-made?"

"...self-made?" Eva repeated, seemingly dumbstruck.

How come she hadn't thought about that? Making something to Din would indeed be a perfect gift! What else could be both affordable and show how much the man meant to her?

Suddenly Eva grinned and was quick to hug Cara around the waist. "Thank you! You gave me the perfect idea, Cara!"

The former stormtrooper grabbed Eva by the scruff of her neck when she tried to dash away from her. "Kid, as glad as I am to help you, we had a deal, remember?"

Eva looked up at her sheepishly. "Sorry. I will go and apologize for breaking the vase."

•-•-•-•-•-•

The Mandalorian had never really celebrated Life Day. Never had any reason to do so.

Now he found himself indulging his two charges and especially the older one. He barely admitted it to himself (he certainly was not going soft) but Din quite enjoyed seeing the way Eva's face lit up when she got the permission to hang up some light strips around the Razor Crest's living area along with some other ornaments she and the kid had managed to dig up from somewhere.

Wanting to give the kids something better on this day that so clearly meant a lot to Eva, Din had made an effort to buy them a more festive meal. It was no tip-yip but it was the best substitute he could afford. Of course, he would only watch Eva and the kid eat and would help himself for whatever his two little troublemakers left for him after they would fall asleep.

"Wow! This is so good!" Eva exclaimed once they were seated around the table on Life Day eating the meal Din had gotten for them. The child across from the girl made happy, agreeing noises as he munched his own food.

"I'm glad you like it, kids."

"Are you kidding, Mando? This's gotta be the best meal I have had for a while", Eva said. "You gotta try this!" She insisted, pushing a plate towards the Mandalorian.

Behind the cover of his helmet, Din Djarin grimaced.

He knew that the girl had not meant anything malicious with those words but it struck him right to his heart for two reasons. One, because he was trying to do his best by both of the kids who had managed to sneak their way into his heart but initially he knew that the life he had to offer them was far from the best Eva and The Child could have with someone else. Two: Eva jested to him about his helmet most of the time but lately the jabs meant to be light had only managed to make Din feel bad.

He knew how much he meant to the girl. For crying out loud, she had accidentally called him dad a while ago - not that she seemed to remember and he wasn't about to remind her even if he sort of wanted to.

These two little rascals had come to mean the world to him, so why couldn't he take his helmet off in front of them?

"Okay!" Eva's voice interrupted the Mandalorian's train of thought. She sounded both excited and nervous as she pushed her now empty plate away from her. "It's time for the gifts!"

Gifts?!

Dank farrik, I forgot about the presents!

Eva proceeded to take out two messily wrapped boxes from under the table, one being significantly smaller in size than the other.

The Child tilted his head curiously as Eva passed him the smaller one. "Happy Life Day, baby brother", she wished and then helped him unwrap the gift.

It revealed a small metallic ball, much similar to the one from the cockpit that The Child loved to play with, Din noticed. And if the happy babbling noises The Child made indicated anything, he enjoyed his gift.

"And uh… this is for you, Din", Eva said next, obviously nervous and pushed the larger of the gifts towards the Mandalorian.

His hands automatically wrapped around the package but he didn't open it yet, instead looking at the kid. "Eva…" he began, somewhat hesitating. What if the kid got mad at him for not having a gift in return? "I'm sorry but I forgot about the gifts - I don't have one for you."

"...oh", Eva said and Din didn't like the fact that he couldn't make out if it was a disappointed 'oh' or a neutral one. But then a small smile appeared on the girl's face. "It's okay, I- you agreeing to celebrate today with us is a gift enough for me."

No it is not. It shouldn't be, Din thought but said nothing and only bobbed his head slowly.

"Well, aren't you going to open it?" Eva asked with a frown.

The Child also looked at the Mandalorian with a questioning, almost demanding look. Din Djarin let out a chuckle, slightly altered by his voice modulator. "Alright, kids, I'll open it," he relented.

What the wrapping revealed made Din Djarin's eyes sting and his vision blurred a bit. It was not the best artwork he had seen in his life but at the same time it definitely was the most beautiful one.

The girl had excelled herself this time. He wondered how long it had taken her to make this.

From behind his visor Din looked at three self-made figurines with blurry eyes. They were standing on a small round pedestal made of moss and small rocks. The tallest figure wore an armor resembling his beskar one and was holding a bundle of green with one arm as the other was wrapped around the shoulders of a figurine of a little girl.

On the bottom edge of the rock pedestal was carved one word, a word that Din didn't even know Eva knew; Aliit.

Family in Mando'a.

Was this the kid's way of telling him that this was how she saw Din? How she saw the three of them?

Suddenly Din realised that both of the children were looking at him. There had been a smile on Eva's face but as the seconds dragged by and Din hadn't said anything the smile faded.

"I- I can make you a new one if you don't-"

"No!" Din said, maybe a bit more louder than was necessary, startling both of the kids as they jumped slightly in their seats. "No, Eva", he said next, in a more gentler tone. "... it's…" he tried to search for a word that would convey how much this gift had managed to move something inside him but he didn't know such word, and he cursed himself for it. Instead he reached out and took Eva's hand ins his, squeezing it. "Thank you, kid."

The smile returned to the girl's face and Din felt relief wash over him.

This was how it was supposed to be: his kids were supposed to be happy.

Din carefully lifted the group of figurines from the table. "I know the perfect place for it."

"Yeah, what is that?" Eva asked, now curious.

"You'll just have to wait and see, kid", Din said, his voice having a playful edge to it.

•-•-•-•-•-•

"Thank you, Din."

The Mandalorian pushed Eva's hair behind her ear. It was nighttime, and the Child had already fallen asleep in the middle of playing with his new toy. After all these months, Din Djarin still marveled at how it had become a mundane routine for him to tuck the kids in their beds before laying down himself.

"I should be thanking you, kiddo."

Eva frowned. "For what?"

For giving me a family I didn't know I needed, he thought, but couldn't make himself to say it. "For showing me the meaning of Life Day."

"Oh", Eva said. She pat his armor-covered arm a few times. "You're welcome."

No, this didn't cut it, Din thought. He should be able to give this girl something. Something that she would - could - hold valuable. But she would fall asleep soon and the moment would be gone.

Then it struck him.

He could give Eva the perfect Life Day gift after all. Something that the girl had wanted as long as she had known him.

"Hey kiddo?" Eva hummed in response as she had already closed her eyes. "Don't go to sleep yet. I have something for you."

"Wh-what?" the girl mumbled, drowsily opening her eyes again. She pushed herself to sit and let her eyes fall on the Mandalorian.

For a few seconds Din Djarin hesitated but then his hands moved to the sides of his helmet.

Eva's eyes widened as she understood what he was about to do.

And Din Djarin removed his helmet for the first time in front of Eva, letting her see the face that she had so long been begging to see.

"Happy Life Day, kid", he said softly.

Eva teared up as all she could do was to stare at him in the eyes she had dreamed to see on so many occasions.