Lysa lay awake, staring up at the dark ceiling. The starlight outside casting a pale blue sheen over the sleeper.

It was a warm and humid night, and Lysa had long-since thrown off the sheets, lying there in just her undergarments.

Her mind on Din Djarin.

Longing for him now, in the early hours of the morning, when the planet around her felt so still and quiet.

Her mind on how it had felt to have him pressed up against her, his strong and lean form pinning her to the counter in their playful exchange.

Lysa knew full well that had it not been for Grogu's interruption, a line would likely have been crossed. With both adults practically aching for one another during the brief moments before Din had left for Mandalore.

But doubt seemed to linger in the forefront of her mind now as she lay on the bed, unable to sleep.

With Din unable to remove his helmet, Lysa wasn't even sure he would be happy to delve into a physical relationship.

Surely a travelled man like him would not be celibate? Likely having his fair share of women over the years. But Lysa's heart seemed to hurt now- thinking on Din with another. For she knew she was too far gone for that. Jealousy having cut it's way into her, when he had spoken with such reverence about the leader of Mandalore - Bo Katan.

Lysa had briefly heard him mention her name before, but on this occasion a hollow feeling had settled in the pit of her stomach. Presuming that there was something more between Bo and Din.

Jealousy could be an foul thing to feel at any time. But when doubt was in play, Lysa found it a terribly difficult thing to swallow.

But Din had thankfully reassured Lysa that this was not the case, and she had been happy with that, sensing that his heart may reside with someone a little more close to home. And Lysa had not been able to help the smile that had drifted across her face and the feelings that swarmed inside of her at that.

If Din felt even an ounce of the affection she felt for him in return. Then she knew that they were both done for.

Din Djarin had truly changed her life.

He had saved her when she had thought she was long past saving.

And each moment she spent with him now, Lysa felt herself falling for him. Not that she hadnt already been caught in his spell from the first moment she had met him.

Din had been a breath of fresh air, in amongst the pain and the suffering that she endured every day.

And he had shown her that there was someone out there who could treat her far better than she had ever been treated by any man.

Lysa had spent so many years living in the shadows. And yet now, with Din, she felt as though he had helped her step out of the darkness and into the sun's warming rays once more.

She adored him. And as the days had slipped by, that adoration seemed to be turning into something far more desperate and yearning.

Lysa wanted him, aching for his touch.

Even now, lying here, still, she could smell his heady scent clinging to the sheets below her, like ocean water and burning driftwood. Intoxicating her.

Lysa closed her eyes, taking in a deep moaning breath, perspiration beading at the nape of her neck as she thought of him now.

Imagining what it would feel to have him hovering over her, strong arms pinning her to the mattress below, possessive and wanting.

And it took all of Lysa's strength not to slide her hand down her smooth body and touch herself. Soaked at just the very thought of him.

But giving a hard swallow, she refrained, feeling all of a sudden guilty, her eyes snapping open once more.

Although she was almost certain that Din felt the same, she still couldn't help but feel a sudden pang of shame and worry.

What if it was too soon? It had only been a week or so since she'd left Crix. What if it seemed, to an outsider, far too soon for Lysa to be moving from one man to another?

But surely this was not not akin to a normal relationship at all? This was not a rebound, or an affair. And Lysa knew that, what she now had with Din, she had not felt with Crix in years.

There had not been love there for a long time.

But with Din…

Lysa's heart ached now, knowing full well how she felt about Din Djarin.

And as a cloud drifted across the starlit sky above, she wondered whether Din, on Mandalore, was thinking of her, just like she was thinking of him.

Din Djarin sat poised on a flat sandy rock, his armoured-body turned out towards the expansive landscape before him.

His trusted Amban phase-pulse blaster rested in one hand, and every few moments Din would lift the long-range weapon and peer through the scope.

He, Grogu and Bo-Katan had been keeping watch on an open patch of airspace near to the point where the TIE-fighter had last been spotted. But so far none of them had had any luck in tracking the rogue ship.

Din's mind had been firmly on Lysa for the past few hours since he had arrived on Mandalore. Even the distraction of the hunt, not enough to take his mind off the blonde woman even for a moment. Unable to shake the desperation he felt for her, his mind going back over their teasing flirtation, and how close he had felt to giving in to every single primal urge when he was around her.

Somehow Lysa seemed to do something to him.

The sheer euphoria he felt when he was with her, something he had never experienced with another.

His brief encounters with women over the years, just did not compare to the longing and arousal he felt when he was close to Lysa.

With her, he felt drunk on her scent, her touch, longing to taste her now…to press kisses to every single inch of her skin. Soothing every mark ever left on her by Crix Val'shif.

Normally Din shied away from allowing himself to give in to such sexual longing. But he found himself frustrated…in more ways than one.

"Here," came a sudden voice from behind and Din turned to see Bo Katan approach.

She handed him a small metal cup full of steaming hot caf, before coming to sit on a smooth patch of rock opposite him.

Grogu, who had been busying himself with Bo Katan, waddled up to Din now, hopping up beside him, before trying to position himself on his father's knee with great difficulty.

"Thanks," replied Din curtly, gazing through the scope of his rifle for a moment before lowering it again.

"You seem like you have a lot on your mind," Bo Katan commented. She had her helmet off, a wry smile crossing her lips.

Din gave a huff.

"I just really want to get back to Nevarro," he uttered in a serious tone.

"I never thought you'd be the kind of man who was happy to be settled in one place for so long," said the red-head, eyeing him.

"I just…I have something I need to get back to," Din sighed, gazing out at the exposed expanse of land over the crest of the mountain they were sat on.

From the corner of his eye, Din noticed Bo Katan raise her eyebrows looking suddenly interested.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with the woman you mentioned the last time I saw you, would it?" she asked in a taunting voice, offering Din a smirk.

Din turned his head to look at his friend, but didn't answer immediately.

Dank. Was he really that transparent?

"Her name is Lysa." Din said after a moment. "She's staying at our cabin, just until…"

But he trailed off, unable to finish. There really was no apparent reason for Lysa to still be staying with him now that Crix was confirmed to be off-planet. Apart from the fact that Din wanted her there with him…close by, where she was safe.

"You like her," said Bo Katan with a look of realisation, her grin widening.

Din gave a huff at her words as Grogu chirped up at him, but he knew he couldn't deny it.

He wasn't even sure 'like' was a strong enough word for how he felt about Lysa.

He remained quiet for a long few seconds, before finally speaking.

"I don't think I've ever felt this way about someone before," he said in a voice full of honesty. "I just…I…"

Din swallowed, his eyes falling to his son for a brief second, before looking up once more to Bo Katan.

"...I'm not sure I can-"

But he stopped suddenly, reddening beneath his beskar-helmet, and letting out a long steadying breath through his nose.

At this, Bo Katan's grin slipped into a softer smile, far more sympathetic than before.

"You're not sure how much of yourself you can give to her…" Bo Katan offered, giving a blink. "...without removing your helmet?"

Din huffed out another breath full of angst. His silence enough to confirm Bo's words as truth.

It was something he had pondered for a long time. Long before he had met Lysa.

What would he do if someone so important came into his life, that he felt the desperate yearning need to show them his face?

And that moment had of course occurred with Grogu. His love for his son so strong, it had broken down all the barriers he was taught he needed.

But since regaining his place amongst the Mandalorians and bathing in the waters , Din had vowed it would never happen again. That he would never stray from the path. And never again remove his helmet in front of another.

Then why did it feel so hard to follow in the rules, as he had done his entire life, now that Lysa was here?

What made her so different?

Why did his heart ache so much while in her company?

What was it about her that made him want to fling off his beskar and reveal himself to her. No longer wanting to be Din Djarin, the Mandalorian bounty hunter, in her presence. But instead wishing to be the man who would be there to wipe her tears, to hold her when the nightmares came, and to love her, so unconditionally, she would never want for anything more in her life.

For Din Djarin would bring her every single star in the sky if she so wished for them.

Bo Katan stared at Din for a long moment, before finally speaking again. Her voice calm and understanding.

"Din, I know that your loyalty to the Creed is important to you," she said, leaning in a little and giving a small shake of her head. "But if your time with Grogu has taught you anything, surely it's that if you find something in this Galaxy that truly makes you happy, then you should hold onto it."

Din felt a lump appear in his throat which he swallowed down with difficulty.

"Don't let your pride and your loyalty stand in the way of you finding something good in this universe," she finished, staring meaningfully at him and pursing her lips.

Din stared back at Bo Katan, appreciating her honesty and friendship at this very moment. Feeling lucky to have confidants he could trust.

And opening his mouth to speak, Din was ready to thank her, when suddenly there came the recognisable screaming war-cry of a TIE-fighter overhead.

Their conversation immediately over…but certainly not forgotten.

Thanks so much to HipCheckChick, MsRosePetal, PG233456, GraysonGirl13, chipiam and MakaylaCO for reviewing the last chapter. I honestly appreciate every single comment you guys leave.

Well I for one can't wait for the next chapter... *squeal*

Please review! :)