All the breath suddenly got pulled from Din Djarin's lungs, his dark eyes widening behind his beskar helmet, as Crix Val'shif pointed his blaster at Lysa and fired.

It happened so fast, that Din didn't even have time to reach for the gun at his own belt.

In fact, he didn't even have time to move.

Having dealt with the gang outside, Din had seen Lysa's speeder heading towards the cabin, knowing exactly why she would go there.

He had followed her of course, fearful of what Crix was capable of doing. But Din had lingered in the shadows…mindful of what Bo Katan had told him. That this was not his fight. It was Lysa's.

And Din wanted to give her the chance to stand up to Crix. For her to see him for the monster he truly was.

But Din had never wanted this.

He and Lysa both visibly flinched at the sound of the blaster, a look of horror crossing Lysa's beautiful, distraught features, as the gun was fired directly towards her heart.

And Din could only watch in horror.

Watching as the only other thing he cared for in this galaxy got torn from him.

But suddenly…

…it was as if everything stopped.

The world around them, standing eerily still.

No…

…wait…

…not the world…

Din parted his lips, his eyes wide, staring in disbelief, as the red blaster shot, that had been fired from Crix's gun, now hovered in the air in front of Lysa.

He could hear it humming.

Thrumming in the air, desperate to land where it should have…

…yet something was holding it back.

Something…or someone?

Din's eyes travelled slowly down to his feet…

…to see Grogu stood there between his legs, tiny arms flung out, eyes almost closed…

…holding the blaster shot in place.

Using…what had Ashoka Tano called it? The force?

Well whatever it was, both Lysa and Crix Val'shif stared in wonder and utter disbelief at the shot…just hanging there.

Din saw Lysa's eyes look first to the red blast and then to Grogu…her eyes wide and bewildered looking. Suddenly seeing Grogu for the powerful being he was…not just the small and weak child everyone presumed him to be.

But before any of them could make a move, the beam suddenly shot backwards on itself…

…hitting the blaster it had been fired from with an almighty bang.

Crix Val'shif let out another crying yell of pain, dropping the now-blackened and destroyed gun.

Lysa, who, with the sound, had covered her face with her arms. Lowered them slowly now, visibly shaking, as she staggered backwards, her legs hitting the table behind her. Before letting out an uncontrollable sob.

Din swallowed hard. Moving to her instantly and pulling her close to him.

Enveloping her within his arms.

And as Din held her tightly, he couldn't help but let out the breath that he felt he had been holding for several long minutes.

She was safe.

Lysa was safe.

But he could tell she was in shock, trembling hard beneath his embrace. As, sobbing, she pressed herself into him, tucking her head into his neck, instantly soaking his tunic with tears that were now coming thick and fast.

In the distance Din could hear sirens now, having alerted the new Marshal to the situation a moment or two before the fight had broken out between him and the gang. Yet it still surprised Din that they had made it here so soon.

The Mandalorian chanced a glance over at Crix, who was still writhing about on the floor in agony, now clutching at his hand, which was pouring with blood, the same as his shoulder.

Din was sorry that neither he or Lysa had finished the job, but even so, he would be glad to see Crix rot on a New Republic prison ship for the rest of his life, as punishment for what he had done to her.

But not wanting Lysa anywhere near the thug any longer, Din pulled back from her a little and placed a gloved hand to her spine, leading her carefully outside.

Grogu followed them, as Din threw his son a look of appreciation, knowing that despite wearing his helmet, Grogu would know what that look meant.

Had it not been for Grogu, Lysa may not be here alive with them now.

And for that Din would forever be grateful to him.

Din led Lysa down the steps of the porch.

Coming to stop at the bottom, he turned to her.

"Wait here, I'll be back in just a moment-" he uttered in a gentle voice through his modulator.

But Lysa stared up into his masked-face, her own - fearful. She shook her head quickly, her eyes round and terrified looking.

"No…" she sobbed, her breath hitching in her throat, sounding worried, as she grasped quickly for Din's forearm. "...no, please…

It was obvious she was in shock.

Horrified at the trauma of what had happened. Of what Crix had tried to do.

"It's ok," said Din in a reassuring voice, wishing he could take away all the pain and the hurt that Lysa was currently going lifted his hand and cupped her smooth cheek tenderly. "He can't hurt you now."

Lysa stared up into Din's beskar-covered face with worry, tilting her head to the side, as the breeze caught in her hair behind her.

And it was in that moment, Din knew that there was nowhere he wanted to be more than with her. With Lysa Kane, protecting her until the day that he died.

But their moment was suddenly broken by a large, noisy flashing landspeeder approaching the cabin to their left, shining its headlights into both their eyes, as they turned away, shielding their faces slightly from its glare.

"We have had communication of a crime taking place," came the loud, monotone and robotic voice of IG-11. "Please lower your weapons and-"

But Din gave a frown, pulling his hand away from Lysa and turning to face the enormous landspeeder as it came to stop just a few feet away.

"The man you're looking for is inside," he interrupted, in a loud voice, as the Marshal and two Nevarro peacekeepers carrying blasters hopped out of the large vehicle. Followed by two more peacekeepers on speeder bikes. "He's set up an explosive detonator inside the wall. It will need to be deactivated."

IG-11, who recognised Din, gave a swivel of his head. "As he instructed," came his command to his men, as three of them ran inside.

"There are also the bodies of several wanted men on the lava flats," Din said matter-of-factly to the droid. "They came here to kill us…so I defended my family."

At his words, Din felt Lysa glance his way.

"Your loyalty to the High Magistrate and the City of Nevarro has been noted," IG-11 said promptly as he strode off into the cabin with the remaining peacekeeper, leaving Din and Lysa alone with just Grogu, who was stood at their feet staring up at the two of them

The masked Mandalorian looked back to Lysa who was still tearful. An anxious look painted across her features.

"I'm so sorry…about everything," she said in a quick and shaky voice, full of anguish. "If you'd never have met me, then all this-"

She shook her head again and gave a swallow, as another couple of tears slipped slowly down her cheek. Din could just feel the exhaustion and the emotion pouring from her at this very second.

But he cut across her, giving a frown behind his beskar and gazing at her beautiful face.

"If I'd never met you…" said Din Djarin in a meaningful voice full of honesty, staring at Lysa - his shining light in the darkness of this world."... I'd be a poorer man."

He swallowed, his brown eyes obscured by his helmet, warm and imploring.

Lysa parted her lips, staring up at him, a light frown of disbelief grazing her own brow, her chest rising and falling hard beneath her tunic dress.

And Din, so caught in the moment, gazing down at her, feeling like there was so much more he wanted to say…

…barely registered the yell that came from inside the cabin behind him, and the commotion that followed, as the men and IG-11 all exited the small abode, guns raised.

"He's gone," came the robotic voice of the Marshal breaking Din and Lysa from their moment.

Din turned immediately, breathing hard.

"What do you mean he's gone?" he said in a hard tone, instantly leaving Lysa's side and making for the steps of the porch climbing them two at a time on his long legs.

He was inside in a second or two, turning the corner only to see a large pool of blood where Crix Val'shif had been a mere five minutes before.

He swung around, noticing that two of his blasters and a knife were missing from the table behind him where he had been cleaning them just a few short hours ago.

There was a large streak of blood that led through the kitchen area of Din's home. Leading out past the Refresher, and out of a small door to the rear of the cabin, that was now ajar.

Din crossed the room in just a few long strides and shoved open the door with his gloved hand staring out at the blackness of the darkened lava flats beyond.

He cursed himself for not tying Crix up immediately, but with his injuries as bad as they were, Din had not given it a real thought.

Lysa had been the only thing on his mind at that moment in time.

Hearing a movement behind him, Din swung around only to see Lysa standing there, trembling hand clasped over her mouth as she looked down at the place where Crix had been lying.

She gave a sob, shaking her head.

"No, no, no ,no…" she wailed, in a terrified tone.

And a split second later Din was with her again, pulling her into his strong arms.

"We'll find him," he uttered firmly, pressing his chin carefully to the top of her head, as he held her close, hearing her sobs ring out into the night. "We'll find him."

Thanks to MsRosePetal, J-James, chipiam, ReRe00, smichale, HipCheckChick and Guest for reviewing. I really appreciate you taking the time out to read and review.

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