Fifteen minutes later, and Din was stood near to the last stall of the Bazaar, as Lysa chatted easily to the vendor, looking radiant and happy. As if none of yesterday's events had even happened.

She looked content now. At ease. Her golden hair shining brightly in the sun, illuminating her face like a golden halo of light.

Din's heart was still thundering in his ribs, as it so often did when she was near.

With anyone else, Din was reserved, short, cutting, at times. But with her, everything felt easy.

Like he didn't even have to try.

Grogu who was floating in his pram quite happily at their side, cooed up at Lysa as he helped her choose a punnet of some fresh orange berries.

Lysa smiled, making for her pocket to pull out payment. But before she could do so, Din had reached over, depositing two credit chips into the hand of the grey-haired human vendor.

At this, Lysa smiled up at him warmly.

"You didn't have to pay for everything today, y'know," she uttered gently, turning to him as they walked from the market. "I wanted to make you dinner."

But Din, glancing down at her beside him, gave a short and playful huff. And before Lysa could say another word, Din had pulled the now-heavy basket from her hand, placing it under one arm and carrying it with ease.

"I was expecting bread too. But if you've already changed your mind…" he taunted, tilting his head to the side.

Lysa beamed at his words, grasping at his bicep and giving it a friendly squeeze with her hand, bumping her hip gently into his.

"I just didn't know bounty hunters were such gentlemen," she swiped back teasingly, holding gently onto his the crook of his elbow as they walked

Din who was grinning beneath his mask gave a shrug.

"Not all of us," he replied simply, watching out of the corner of his eye as Lysa gazed up at him, her eyes almost twinkling with delight.

Din felt his heart swell at the sight of her.

His light amongst the never-ending darkness of this galaxy.

And for a moment, he thought about how it would feel to do this for the rest of his life. Just being with her.

He was certain that today they had felt closer than ever. Her body lingering just that little bit closer to his. Her hands gently grazing his own gloved ones.

And just the way they spoke…that repertoire they seemed to share. Like a bond had been set. All tensions that had, before, kept them apart- gone.

Leaving only a closeness now that Din had yearned for since the first day he'd met her.

He longed to truly touch her now…to feel her body pressed against his. The heat of her skin, grazing his own.

But he knew that that was likely impossible.

Lysa Kane was too good for Din. A mere bounty hunter. A man that never removed his helmet in front of, even his own kin.

But like when he had shown his face to Grogu, Din was desperate to let her face see his. His true face, and not just the beskar that covered it.

But he knew that his Creed forbade it. To bathe in the waters of Mandalore, to redeem himself for a second time, would be an insult to his religion.

And what woman would ever want to be with a man literally as closed off as Din?

And yet still now she stared up at him, with those beautiful marsh-coloured eyes. And a smile that was so bright, so inviting. Din couldn't help but feel a tug at his heart. A hope.

Suddenly there was a loud humming to their left as they walked across the city square and north towards the residential quarter.

And Din, just about turned his helmet-covered head in time, to see a speeder bike flying towards them with a couple of youths at the wheel.

Instantly and without thought, Din grasped for Lysa's waist with his free hand, tugging her around and into him protectively…

…just in time to see the bike whizz past, almost clipping the pair of them as it went.

Din stared after the teenagers angrily, as Grogu, safe in his pram a few feet away, gave a growl.

But it was only when Din turned back to Lysa did he see her staring up at him with a curious expression across her features, her beautiful eyes searching his through his beskar.

His hand was still wrapped around her waist, her body pulled flush with his.

And from here Din could see the rise and fall of her chest beneath the bodice of her dress, and her lips, slightly parted…

…almost aching to be kissed…

"Mando!"

Din swallowed hard, as the sound of someone calling his name, broke the pair from their moment.

He immediately saw a flush grace Lysa's face and chest, as she took a step away from him, brushing herself down.

Din turned to see Greef Karga strolling towards the trio, flanked by a Peacekeeper holding a gun.

"Karga," nodded Din in a gruff tone, far removed from the casual and playful voice he had used with Lysa just a moment ago.

Irritably, he watched as a grinning Karga, with his eyebrows raised in interest, came to stop at their side.

Lysa quickly grasped up her skirts, giving a small curtsy, bowing her head in reverence.

"I heard you've been causing trouble out on the lava flats," Karga said promptly, looking at Din. "Four men dead. Doesn't look good, Mando."

But Din scowled at his words.

"Those men were out to kill us," he uttered in an icy tone. "If I hadn't-"

But Karga merely slapped him hard on his back, causing Grogu to flinch.

"I'm kidding, Mando. Lighten up," he said, cutting across him. "I heard from the Marshal what happened. You know I trust your instincts. Just a shame they haven't caught that Val'shif guy yet. But they will."

Din glanced at Lysa who he could see was chewing on her lip, her face filled with worry and concern once more.

She looked so very lost that Din just wanted to reach out and tug her into his arms. But he held back, letting a long breath escape his nostrils, before turning back to Karga.

"IG-11 knows to contact me if he finds him," the Mandalorian said in a serious tone.

But Karga just smiled easily.

"Well if he doesn't, I'll know who to give the bounty tracking fob to," he said with a chuckle, which Din did not appreciate.

"Was there anything you actually wanted?" Din retorted coldly.

At this, Karga raised both his eyebrows, and his hands simultaneously.

"Easy now, Mando," replied Karga, giving another chuckle, but this time it sounded slightly more ruffled. "I just wanted to check you were ok. Both of you."

Greef Karga turned to Lysa.

"Rest assured the Marshal will do all he can to make sure Val'shif is found," he said, addressing her in a softer tone. "And if you need a place to stay until he is, we have a safe house you can stay in, in the Magistrate building. It's heavily guarded. You'll be safe there."

Immediately Din noticed Lysa look to him worriedly.

"I…um…" was all she could manage through gently parted lips.

But Din took a reassuring step closer to her, his gloved fingers at his side reaching for her palm, which he grasped gently.

"She'll be safe with me," Din uttered firmly. "I have R5 keeping a constant watch on the perimeter of the cabin. Nothing is getting in or out without my knowledge."

For a moment Din watched as Karga's eyes flitted back and forth between the pair of them knowingly, before he gave a smirk.

"Well, offer still stands if you change your mind," he said, nodding to Lysa in a jovial manner, before turning back to Din one final time. "Be seeing you, Mando. Oh and next time you decide to kill a bunch of men, make sure it's when I've taken a vacation day off planet."

He chuckled to himself before brushing past the pair. The Peacekeeper following after him obediently.

Din gave an audible huff, as Lysa turned to him, her hand still clutched within his.

"I can stay at the safe house...if you'd prefer?" she said in a voice far quieter than before.

Din looked to see her facing him, with a look of nervousness painted over her beautiful features. The tops of her cheeks pink again.

She visibly swallowed, drawing Din's eyes to her tanned and gorgeous collarbone and the bounty that lay below for the briefest of seconds, But quickly he glanced up again, his own cheeks turning the slightest shade of red beneath his helmet.

"It wasn't your fault you were dragged into all this," she continued, talking quickly, looking thoroughly embarrassed. "And you've already been so kind to let me stay last night-"

A sudden lump appeared in Din's throat, as he realised what she was saying.

"You'd….prefer to stay at the safe house?" he uttered in a questioning tone, wondering if he'd misinterpreted the situation, speaking for Lysa when she hadn't needed him to. Was he any different to Crix for doing that?

Din's heart thudded.

Dank farrik.

What if Lysa wanted now to stay elsewhere?

What if she didn't want his company any longer?

Why had he been so stupid to just presume?

"No, I want to stay!" said Lysa suddenly, her breathing coming fast, her eyes wide and worried-looking…

…as her fingers clenched around his gloved ones tightly, giving them a squeeze.

"I…"

She trailed off, her cheeks almost scarlet now.

"I…feel safe with you…I…I want to stay…..with you."

She blinked, breathing hard, staring meaningfully up at him.

Beneath his beskar, Din gave a lick of his lips, feeling a pull in his stomach the likes of which he didn't think he had ever felt before.

An all encompassing feeling.

A feeling so intense, Din both hoped it would never end, and yet knew that if it did, it would break him from the inside out.

He clenched his jaw for a brief moment, before opening his mouth to speak.

"You can stay with me and Grogu as long as you need," he said in a low voice, staring down at her…

…before it was Din's turn to let his fingers squeeze hers.

A simple gesture that he hoped she would understand.

And it seemed that she did, as she gave a warm smile, turning on her heel and coming to walk at Din's side as the pair turned and began to head in the direction of Lysa's home once more.

Simultaneously they dropped their hand from one another's. But they seemed now to linger far closer than before. A subtle smile gracing both their lips as they went.

I hope you guys don't mind the slow burn. But I promise - fun things are coming.

Thanks to MsRosePetal, smichale, GraysonGirl13, J-James and chipiam for reviewing the last chapter.

I've got a busy week but I'll post more as soon as I get another chapter written up.

Please review! :)