The days slipped easily by, with Lysa back to making her daily deliveries to the residents of Nevarro.
Din had so far held off on going off-planet and taking up any work, making excuses about not needing the credits, and wanting to give Grogu a rest from long journeys in the N-1. When in reality, the real reason for his reluctance to leave had more to do with Lysa, and the sinfully enjoyable nights they spent together once the shutters were down and Grogu was fast asleep.
But it wasn't only the sex that was keeping Din here like a magnet. But the fact that his small cabin was almost constantly filled with the sweet smell of baked goods. That now Lysa's possessions littered his home, mingled with his. And that, when he saw her each morning after she woke, and each evening after she got home, her smile alone seemed to brighten Din's life. Like the warm sun breaking through the clouds on a stormy day.
He felt happier than he had in a long, long time. And Grogu seemed to be happier too. Enjoying the company of someone far more emotionally open that Din could ever be. Lysa trying to involve Grogu in all she could, despite her long hours out there on her speeder.
Din could tell that she was often exhausted, but she still put on a smile, giggled with Grogu, bantered with Din. Until finally bed time would come, and Din and Lysa would dance around going to the Sleeper. Both knowing they wanted the intimacy of the shutters closed, bodies pressed together, sweat beading along collarbones and hot moans escaping swollen and much-kissed lips. But still, they flirted and played it as cool as they could during the daylight hours. Mainly due to Din's helmet, barely allowing them the capacity to be intimate in anything more than a few lingering touches and looks.
Din was infatuated. Knowing now that this was not a passing fancy, or just sex.
To him it felt like so much more.
Din's feelings for Lysa mounting with every day that passed.
And this evening was no different.
Lysa, having finished her deliveries slightly early, had told Din that she was making dinner. And had proceeded to cook a delicious meal of Ronto meat, fresh vegetables and flatbread.
Just seeing her behind the counter, cooking away. A long pale belted tunic dress covering her slender figure. Blonde hair tied up neatly, and an absent-minded smile gracing her lips. Din had felt an ache in his heart he had never felt with another, as long as he had lived.
It had been a quick meal for Din, irritated with the inconvenience of going outside to eat in private. Wanting nothing more than to enjoy a meal with Lysa and Grogu in person.
But the Creed still called his name. And in spite of his indiscretion when it came to removing his helmet in the dark, when Lysa was still not able to see his face. He knew that removing it in front of her during a meal would be an insult to his very religion. Something he was not happy to do without a very good reason.
He had thought on his reasoning for removing his helmet at night with the shutters down. Knowing that it broke every rule he had fought so hard to abide by his entire life. But meeting Lysa- it was as though his priorities had changed. His need for her, overriding Mandalorian rule.
He burned for her. Every fibre of his being set alight by her touch, her kiss, her smile.
Sometimes he caught himself worrying what would have happened if their paths had never crossed.
What if Lysa had been trapped by Crix for the rest of her days, coming home to violence and abuse for the entirety of her life?
But each time, he shook himself, reminding himself that she was here. Safe. With him.
And Din knew he would never do anything to hurt her. To mark her skin like Crix Val'shif had.
To him it was as though Lysa was heaven-sent. Far too good for a rough old Mandalorian like him. But he would enjoy it while she chose to remain close to him.
His heart hers. Despite him still not being able to muster up the courage to tell her that yet.
It was that reason that he knew one day he would likely lose her to another, who could give her so much more than Din ever could. Someone who could press his lips to hers at any time. Someone who didn't have to worry about keeping on a beskar helmet and keeping to the code.
Now it was late, and Din had just put Grogu to bed. The small child, fighting off sleep for at least the last hour.
Emerging from the now-closed Sleeper, the tall Mandalorian approached Lysa who was stood behind the large kitchen sink, doing the last of the washing up.
She quirked an eyebrow up at him as he approached.
"You gonna help me with these dishes?" she asked with a smirk, placing a rinsed dish onto the side.
But Din, a grin dancing over his lips, gave a shrug. "Y'know….I've had kind of a long day," he muttered in a sarcastic tone, knowing full-well he was goading Lysa into a reaction.
And at once he saw her give a playful scowl, the irony of his grumble not lost on her.
"You're on drying duty, Djarin," she shot back at him, tossing him a dishtowel, which he caught easily, letting out a low chuckle.
He moved around the counter to come to stand beside her, leaning easily against the worktop next to the sink, facing her as she passed him a clean cup, ready to dry.
Din gazed over, marvelling at her.
The way that smirk lingered over her perfect pink lips.
The way her eyes looked tired, but happy.
And the way that familiar frown-line sat deep between her brows, despite their being no frown over her face at all.
If he was put on the spot, Din would have to to admit that that single frown line was his favourite thing about her. But then again, he could have listed a million things he could claim were his favourite thing about the beautiful woman stood before him.
Lysa glanced up at him now.
"So how about Corellia?" she asked.
The question was part of an ongoing conversation between the pair about what planets Din had and hadn't travelled to. The consensus was that there were very few habitable places Din had never been to, especially within the Outer Rm.
He gave an easy shrug.
"I've probably been to Corellia more times than Coruscant," he commented in an easy voice, causing Lysa to frown with interest, "-easier to park," he explained.
Lysa nodded, smiling down at the soapy water before her.
"Ok how about Drall," she said, handing him a clean dish.
She threw Din a look, waiting for his reply, scowling as he slowly tilted his beakar-covered head.
"Oh come on!" she said aghast. "I've never met anyone who's been to Drall!"
But Din could only let out a low chuckle.
"Just the once to deliver a….package," he muttered.
"Ooh that sounds ominous," she replied, throwing him a teasing look.
But Din let out a sigh.
"Let's just say I didn't associate myself with the best people back then," he said in a husky tone, placing the now-dried dish onto a stack on a nearby shelf.
He turned back to see Lysa give a shake of her head, smirking.
"I'm really not one to judge," she said conversationally. "When I was a teenager I made my parents life a living hell-"
But Lysa stopped suddenly, mid-sentence, giving a hard swallow, her smile faltering for a split second. As though remembering a far off memory, long-since passed.
But a second or two later the moment was gone, and Lysa's soft smile reappeared reassuringly.
"Dishes are all done," she commented, changing the subject and pulling the plug out of the basin and draining it of its sudsy water. Before wiping her wet hands on a spare dishcloth.
Din's eyes roved across her beautiful face as she looked away.
He could sense now there was something she was holding back, his mind suddenly flitting back to something Crix had said that night that he had come here, seeking revenge.
Your poor parents…they didn't even see it coming.
But Din brushed these thoughts aside as quickly as they had come.
Lysa had openly told him about her parents dying in a fire in their bakery.
And so why would Din ever trust the words of the man who had caused Lysa so much pain and torment?
Surely if there was anything else he needed to know, Lysa would tell him.
Wouldn't she?
But Din's thoughts on this subject were quickly diminished at the sight of Lysa folding the dishcloth neatly onto the side, before reaching up and unpinning her long blonde hair, letting it fall loose, cascading down her back like a waterfall of pure sunlight.
His heart constricted inside his chest at the mere sight of her.
After their conversation earlier this week, Din was set on taking Lysa off-planet the moment he could get his hands on a larger ship, fit for passengers. Wanting so much to give her everything she had ever dreamed.
He knew that for so many years she had been trapped by Crix Val'shif.
And so now, Din wanted just to show her the stars she so desperately yearned for. Not because he wanted to prove that he was a better man than that thug. But to show Lysa that she truly deserved to be cared for. That she deserved to be loved.
Din felt a lump appear in his throat which he swallowed back. Watching as she turned to him and took his hand in hers gently, gazing up at him gently.
"Tonight…" she said in a soft tone, her beautiful green eyes searching his. "...can we just-"
She trailed off, her expression reserved for a moment, before she smiled.
"I'm just exhausted," she explained. "The days this week have felt really long!"
Din gave an understanding nod.
He could see how much being out in the hot sun all day on her landspeeder was taking its toll on her. Especially after the pair of them had been spending their nights wrapped up in one another for hours on end, leaving very little time for deep sleep.
"I get it, you need rest," he uttered in a low voice, grasping her shoulder with his other free hand and spinning her around. Turning her in the direction of his Sleeper.
"Wait! I want to use the Refresher first," she said with a laugh, peeling herself from his grasp, and ducking away from him and heading over to the door at the far end of the living space.
Din, gave a chuckle and watched her go before heading into the Sleeper room, the door sliding open before him.
Easing himself down onto the edge of the bed, he pulled off his boots before removing each piece of beskar one by one.
Several minutes later, he found himself in just his long tunic, unbuttoning it a little from his neck, with his helmet still firmly in place as it had been for the last week until the shutters were firmly down.
He watched through the door, as Lysa entered the living room once more, before walking over to the Sleeper towards Din.
She had stripped down to her thin white slip that was tied loosely at the top of her breasts. Looking just like she had almost a week ago, when Din had first undressed her here in this room for the first time.
It felt as though a lifetime had passed them by since then, with Din now knowing how to navigate every single curve of her body so well, his tongue craving the taste of her skin every moment he was apart from her.
She had changed his life.
Finally feeling whole. Like that missing piece of his puzzle had been found, fitting into his life as though she had always meant to be there.
Lysa smiled at him now as she entered the room, clambering onto the bed beside Din and shifting up it carefully.
"Want me to-" she said in a kind voice, nodding at the button just below the viewport shutters.
"Thanks," replied Din, as she quickly plunged the room into darkness.
A moment later his helmet was off and his unbuttoned tunic, pants and gloves now a crumpled pile on the floor, as he moved up the bed sliding under the covers beside her.
He reached for her and pulled her close, his lips finding hers in the dark.
But tonight, unlike the other nights this past week, this kiss was not spurred on by pure arousal. But instead by something else.
Something far more meaningful, that Din so wished he had the courage to tell her now.
But instead, he felt his lips finally leave hers, with Lysa tucking her head beneath his chin and almost instantly falling to sleep beside him.
And it didn't take long for Din to follow her into that dreamworld. Holding her close to him…
…never wanting to let go.
Thanks so much to chipiam, MsRosePetal, GraysonGirl13, MakaylaCO and WriterMonkey0626 for reviewing the last chapter.
Sorry that was a real filler chapter. I hope it was ok?
Oh and if anyone would like to follow my Din and Lysa page on Tumblr my username is 'DinDjarinandLysaKane' over there.
Please review! :)