Disclaimer

I do not own anything or anyone in The Mandolorian series. I only own my OC.

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Chapter 3: The incident

It had been a year since that fateful night on Terra and Mando and Star's relationship has grown tremendously. During the first few months after the incident, Terra served as a home base and safe haven for Mando and he would visit inbetween bounties. That time was spent mostly with Star and her family. In their fourth month together, Star began to go on missions with Mando. They were mostly low key missions at first, but the more Star showed her usefulness, the more missions she was allowed on. By the sixth month mark, Star was spending most of her time on the Razor Crest with Mando.

It was their sixth month anniversary and Star had assumed her favorite position on Mando's lap. Mando's hands rested on her thighs while Star wrapped her arms around his neck. They had just finished a particularly important bounty that offered a big reward and was headed back to the guild. "Din, I have something for you." Star reached down and brought up a satchel. Din took the satchel and looked inside. At first it looked like a black blanket and he tilted his head but Star just smiled. When Din pulled it out, he realized it was a brand new cape. Star beamed, "I noticed that your current cape was starting to fade and had holes at the bottom so I made you a new one." Din ran his hand across the brand new cape and smiled under his helmet, "Thank you."

"Oh Im not done Din-" she paused to reach into her pocket and pulled out a blindfold. "We have been together for six months Din and I want to kiss you. Now, I know your creed says you cant show your face except to lifetime partners or wives. So, I thought why not just blindfold me. I will even turn off the lights Din. I wont see your face and we get to kiss."

Din knew that Star was curious and that this topic would come up, and he really wanted to kiss her. Din brought his hands up and cupped her face and she held his hands. After a moment of hesitation, Din took the blindfold, tied it around her eyes, and held out 3 fingers, "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Star smiled and said, "I cant see your fingers but I would say one finger." Din sighed with relief and Star's smile grew larger as she heard the hiss of Din's helmet being removed. For a moment, everything seemed to pause and the only sound was the hum and beeps of the console. Then Din took Star's hands and slowly guided them to his face and she felt every part, committing it to memory. Din then gently brought Star's face to his and the first kiss was soft, tentative, but as Din grew more comfortable, the kissing soon became passionate. Both only seperating to breath.

Din moved his kisses down her neck and collarbone and left small marks. With every moan, Din explored more. It didnt take long for clothes to practically be ripped off each other and they graduated from just sex to making love.

After that night six months ago, Din had opened up almost completely to Star. He told her more details about his parents and the Mandalorians that took him in. Star appreciated every moment Din opened up because those few tender moments were only meant for her.

It was now their twelth month anniversary and they were at their home base on Terra. Star and Din decided that their one year anniversary should be celebrated among family and friends, well it was more Star's idea. It had been four months since they had been back and they needed a rest after the string of missions they had.

Almost immediately, Star was whisked away by her little brother and Papa, eager to hear about her adventures. Din just shook his head and headed into the center of the town. Din was on the hunt for something in the marketplace, a ring. Din would be a fool if he didnt realize what he had. Star was pretty, smart, patient and understanding, and she was a badass. Star loved him for him, not because of the money he got from bounties or because he looked good in armor, even though Din was sure it helped. Star stayed by him even during the more shady missions. She never pushed him to take his helmet off or complain. Din loved Star and Star love Din.

Din had actually managed to keep this a secret from her and conspired with her father to keep her distracted as he made his way to a jeweler shop towards the end of the road. A couple weeks ago while Star slept, Din had sent a secret transmission to Papa asking for his blessing. It didnt take long for Papa to answer back with a resounding yes and told him he didnt have to hunt for a ring. He could use Star's mother's engagement ring. Papa then stated that he will send it down to the jeweler to fit the ring and to clean it up. All Din had to do was head there, pay the jeweler, and get the ring.

Din arrived at the jeweler and the elderly ugnaught brought the ring out in a red satin ring box. The ring band was a braided silver and at the center of the ring there was a crimson red rose made of red sapphire. The ring wasnt flashy but it was intricate and beautiful. Din went to pay but the jeweler held up his hand, "Star has done so much for me. When my lovely wife fell ill, Star was there to help her and made my wife's last days comfortable and enjoyable. She even helped plan the burial and kept me company in those early days. This is the least I could do."Din would have insisted if the ugnaught had not said an affirmed "I have spoken." Din hid the small red box in his sack and made his way to the tavern.

When Din arrived, Star was mixing her father a drink and had three piping hot plates of food and one bowl of soup on the bar counter. Once her eyes fell upon Din, her mood immediately soared. Star was a little annoyed at the fact that her Papa and brother had whisked her away from Din on their one year anniversary. So when Din arrived, Star's annoyance was replaced with joy at the sight of seeing her lover. No matter how much they spent together, Star was always happy when she saw Din, even when he annoyed her.

Din took a seat at the bar and Star pushed a bowl of grainger broth towards him that had a straw in it. Din took the bowl and then took out the ring box. Din wasnt one for theatrics and everyone who needed to be here was here and the tavern was currently "closed due to repairs." Keeping the box hidden, he came around the counter earning him a very confused look from Star. When Din dropped to one knee, Star had to hold on to the counter to keep herself up. Din took out the ring box, opened it, and said, "Star, will you marry me?"

Star stood there shocked, here was Din, a badass bounty hunter, proposing to her. Then shock soon changed to tear filled joy as Star let out a resounding Yes and practically pounced on Din. Papa let out a cheer and Mando placed the ring on her finger. Everything was going right, but everything that goes up must come down eventually.

The weeks following Mando's proposal was filled with celebrations. Marriage was a big deal in this town especially when it involved their favorite girl and the man that saved the town. Outside of this small inconspicuous town on this small inconspicuous planet, the Empire was drawing closer. Rumors of Star and Mando's adventures had peaked the interest of a high ranking imperial officer. The officer had learned of the pair from overhearing one of his storm troopers talking about them. He then decided to look into the history of the pair and he was surprised when he noticed that Star had two files. Why did a bartender on a small insignificant planet have a file, much less two?As he dived in he made an incredible discovery that would work in his benefit. After a few weeks of gathering information, the officer made his move.

That Friday had started normal and even ended normally as Mando sat in his favorite corner of the crowded tavern. Mando likes this particular seat because it gave him a good view of the room and of Star but kept him mostly hidden. It had became a routine for Mando, plus as long as Mando was present, no one caused trouble or made passes at his fiance. Star was busy mixing drinks along with another bartender when a woman came busting into the tavern, fear written all over face. The woman made a beeline straight to Star, Mando watched as Star tensed as the woman came closer. "Whats wrong Adrina? Whats going on?"

The woman named Adrina tried to catch her breath and then said frantically, "The Empire is here. We just saw a star destroyer enter into our orbit and a ship carrying storm troopers has just landed! Star they were coming this way!" Star immediately looked at Din, here eyes filled with absolute fear. Star quickly pushed through the crowd til she reached Mando, "Mando you have to hide, if they find you here." Star's eyes brimmed with tears, "I dont know what they'll do to you."

Mando took Star's hand into his own, "I will not leave you. I will not cower and I will not surrender." Star looked at him but she knew the argument was mute and she took a deep breath and exhaled, "Okay, but if something happens you stay out of it unless absolutely neccessary." Mando gave her a nod and Star went back to the bar.

Five minutes later storm troopers filled into the tavern surrounding the bar, half dragging everyone off the bar and against the wall. A few minutes later four storm troopers dressed in black marched in, laser rifles at the ready to gun down anyone brave enough to make a move. Next an imperial officer of the ISB branch walked in and walked right to the bar. The officer looked directly at Star, "Hmm so the rumors are true. There is a beautiful bartender who runs a busy tavern on some backwater scughole." The way his eyes traveled up and down her body sent chills down Star's spine. It took every once of Mando's self control not to disintegrate the bastard. "One spotchka please. Oh, and tell that Mandalorian boyfriend of yours that if he makes a move, Ill kill one of the villagers." Star nearly dropped the drink and Mando stiffened.

Star finished his drink and passed to him. When she went to pull her hand away, he gripped her wrist, holding her in place. "I have a proposition Star. If you leave with me and be my wife, I wont capture, torture, and remove your Mandalorian's helmet so that he gets a full view of the township being executed for treason." He nodded his head and next thing Star knew a group of storm trooper brought Mando to the front of the store. Star bristled and glared at him, "Treason? The Empire hasnt stepped foot on Terra for 30 years. What have we done thats treasonous."

The officer took a sip of his drink and made a hand gesture. One of the stormtroopers grabbed a random citizen and brought his gun to the back of his head and shot him. There was screams and gasps of horror at the senseless act. "Talk back to me again, next time I will kill two innocents." Star looked at him with wide eyes and she looked between the now dead man, Mando, and the officer. "You and your people have harbored a fugitive person." The officer aimed his rifle at Mando. "By doing so, you have committed treason. Now, I dont want to spill anymore blood but I will. I can forget this little transgression if you go with me. Ill even let the Mando live." Now, Mando could have easily taken down the storm troopers but if he even looked like he would make a move, everyone would die. Mando would lose everything, so he behaved for now.

Star looked around the room at how frightened everyone was and the weight of having their lives hang on her decision hit like a boulder. Star couldnt bring herself to look in Mando's direction, so she looked the officer in the eye: "Ill go with you, but you have to promise to not harm anyone on this planet or destroy this planet. That you will leave Mando alone. I want it in writing." Star stood firm and the officer smirked and stood from his seat. He pulled out a datapad and wrote up the agreement and handed it over to Star to sign. Star read it over and signed it, and with a signature, Mando's life came crashing down.

Only when Star was beside the officer, did the officer lower his blaster from Din's head. The officer had only lowered the gun to shoot Mando in the abdomen. "NOOO!" Star screamed as she ran to Mando's side only to be stopped by two of the black storm troopers and a syringe lodged into her neck. Star yelled out to Mando till she succumbed to the anesthetic drug. As Star was carried out, the officer turned and looked at his squadron, "Kill them all.

Mando could feel the cold creeping in as he laid sprawled out on the tavern floor, trying and failing to keep himself from bleeding out. He could faintly hear the screams and shots being fired as Mando fell into unconsciousness.

Star smiled as she held her engagement ring out in front of her. They had just got done making love and now were cuddling in their bed. "I cant believe you kept this a secret from me. You might not know this Mando but you are a horrible liar."Mando tilted his head to look at her, "It wasnt easy. Your father isnt that good at keeping secrets."Star placed her head on his chest and pressed her ear against his heart, "Din.""

"Yes."

"I love you." Star heard his heart skip a beat.

"I love tou too."

Mando awoke suddenly and sat up, quickly regretting it the moment pain pierced his head. "Whoa easy there Mando. Papa said as he gently pushed Mando back down onto the hospital bed.

Mando looked around through drowsy eyes and Papa must have noticed:"Your at the clinic, you have been in a coma for the past week or so." Mando snapped his attention to Papa, had it really been a week, "What happened to Star"

Papa looked away from him, "They took her away Mando. Star's gone.

Once Mando received the all clear a few days later, he went out to look for any sign of Star. But everytime there seemed to be a lead, it would lead to nothing, it was as if Star never existed.

Author's note: So, I was listening to "Dangerously in Love" by Destiny's Child while writing this chapter. I know that was random but I was just thinking of how this song kinda reflects their love.So here it is, the incident that pulled them apart. I wonder if I was too cruel but dont worry Baby Yoda is in the next chapter to cheer us up.