Sorry for the long wait, here's a new one!
"Wake up, Bo."
The Mand'alore groaned, willing her eyes to open as she fluttered awake. When she finally opened her eyes, she realized she was not in the Memorial Shrine anymore.
Bo-Katan Kryze found herself in a serene landscape, the skies painted with hues of twilight. Mandalore's rugged terrain softened in this dreamscape, a rare moment of peace in a life marred by conflict. She stood there, armoured, yet vulnerable, gazing into the horizon.
Suddenly, a familiar figure emerged from the soft glow of the dream, walking gracefully towards her. She was wearing her usual delicate Mandalore dress.
It was Satine, her sister, lost to the tides of time and war, yet here she appeared, as radiant and poised as in life.
"Satine," Bo-Katan whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of joy and sorrow.
"Bo-Katan," Satine replied, her voice as soothing as a gentle breeze. "It's been too long."
The sisters embraced, a reunion transcending reality. As they parted, Bo-Katan's eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
"I've missed you," Bo-Katan said, her voice breaking. "I've missed you. Buir, Korkie. It's hard, Satine, so hard without you all." Her heart panged with loneliness and the burden she had been with since all her family died.
"I know, little sister," Satine said, her hand reaching out to gently touch Bo-Katan's cheek. "But you are stronger, stronger than you realize. Mandalore could not ask for a more devoted protector."
"But the burden, Satine," Bo-Katan sighed, looking away. "Leading Mandalore, it's more challenging than I ever imagined. The people, the politics... I fear I'm not doing enough, not being enough."
"You are enough, Bo-Katan. You always have been," Satine reassured her. "Mandalore needs a leader who can understand its people, who can feel their pain and their hopes. You have the heart of a true Mandalorian, fierce and compassionate."
Bo-Katan gazed into her sister's eyes, finding solace in her words. "I just wish you were here, to guide me, to stand with me."
"In a way, I am always with you," Satine smiled softly. "In your heart, in your memories, and in the legacy you continue to build."
Bo-Katan pursed her lips, not sure what to say about it.
"And…," her sister added, "Your Mandalorian, Din Djarin, and his adorable son are with you, accompanying you through every struggle."
Bo-Katan's cheeks flushed with a hint of surprise and embarrassment at the mention of the two people she cared about the most. "How do you know about Din and Grogu?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and astonishment.
Satine's smile broadened, taking on a cheeky quality. Looking at her sideways, "There are ways I know things, even from beyond," she said playfully. "You have quite a taste, my sister. He is quite handsome, I must say."
She scoffed, "I suppose."
"You like him being with you?" her sister pried again.
Bo-Katan looked thoughtful, her mind racing with the implications of Satine's words. "I never expected to find such... companionship, in this path I've chosen," she admitted softly. "Din, he's unlike any Mandalorian I've known. And Grogu, he's just..."
"Adorable?" Satine offered with a gentle laugh. "I can see it, even here. They have brought something to your life, haven't they? A sense of family, perhaps?"
"Yes, they have," Bo-Katan confessed, a warm smile spreading across her face. From all her time being alone, after being with them, she forgot what it was like to be a loner. When they were away, she was struggling without them. She can't handle it if Din will be gone on missions again, "They've become a part of my world in ways I never anticipated. It's... comforting, to have them by my side."
Satine nodded, her expression filled with sisterly affection. "Embrace that comfort, Bo-Katan. The path of a leader can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be. I wish I was like that with my Obi-Wan."
Bo-Katan looked at Satine curiously. When she saw Obi-Wan for the first time, she knew there was something special about him that this Jedi was willing to crash in to save her sister. But hearing coming from her is another story entirely.
Her sister smiled, "When I was with Obi-Wan, there were moments, chances, that I let slip away because of duty, because of the paths we had chosen," she confessed. "I loved him, and I knew he shared the same feeling as me. Yet I held back, bound by the responsibilities of my position and the complexities of our separate lives. Well, we were both bound by duty, with his Jedi code and all."
"Of course," Bo-Katan had heard about the Jedi code, Grogu had to choose between his father and his Jedi way.
And in the end, the child chose his father.
She reached out, her hand hovering near Bo-Katan's heart. "You have a chance, a choice I never fully embraced. Din Djarin's adorable son did, I expect that you might want to follow the little one's steps too. They are better together. After all, Mandalorians are stronger together."
Bo-Katan shuddered at the words she had used probably a million times. She can't believe Satine too knew it. Then again, Satine is also always full of surprises. "Yes, yes we are."
Satine gave her a warm smile, "Be with your family, Bo. You'll find that you won't be as alone as you think."
Bo-Katan sighed, drinking in the sight of her sister, "I don't want to leave you again."
"You won't," She gave her a warm smile and pulled her to a hug, "I'll be here waiting when the time comes, until then, be with Din Djarin and his son. They need you more than I do."
"Bo?" a soft coo sounded beside her.
Bo-Katan shifted her head, feeling somewhat disoriented. She felt her tongue dry like sandpaper, her head pounding like the hammering of beskar hammer. Where is she? What just happened?
When she slowly opened her eyes, she was met with a dim light hanging above her. The smell of bacta and steady beeping noises surrounded her, and there were small murmurs from somewhere.
She's in a clinic in New Sundari. She's so glad she had that rebuilt first in case of any injuries that need a quick check, their ships are not ideal places for operations or rest.
"Bo?" A gentler voice called her this time, she turned her head to the side slowly. Her eyes are met with the familiar visor of Din Djarin, and right beside her is the face of his adorable kid, looking at her with anxiety.
"Patu," the kid cooed.
"What happened," She croaked, her mouth felt so dry.
As if on instinct, Din quickly reached beside her bed and swiped something from the table. There is a glass of water in his hand now, "Here, drink this."
Bo slowly sat up, her bones felt like creaking with every move she made. How long has she been here? She took the glass from him and drank, feeling a lot more refreshed than before. "What happened?" she softly asked.
"You collapsed," he said, "The med said you had a fatigue."
"Oh," she rubbed her head, it felt like a speeder ran over her, and it took a while until the headache was subsidised and relieved. "How long was I out?"
"About 13 hours," he answered, "You were exhausted."
She laid back, "I still feel like that," she murmured, it's a miracle that she was able to still function when they were at Ming Po. The fatigue must've just kicked in now.
"You've been pushing yourself too hard, overworking yourself," Din said beside her from his chair, he took her hand and gently squeezed it, "Perhaps your trip to Nevarro is overdue."
She scoffed, "Me? On a holiday? While my people are still in need?"
"Bo, we've talked about this," he grunted in a rather firm way, she had heard him using it when Grogu was on his way to start a ruckus that he would regret, "If we're going to have you function properly, you're going to need a rest. Let the Armorer, Axe, and Koska take over for a while. You need a break. From all of this."
She looked up, thinking of all the tasks she had done for Mandalore. Yet it's either still not enough or not fast enough. Will she ever be able to bring her home planet to its former glory? After what the Empire did, her home planet was barely recognizable. Sure, there is already progress, but the projects are not fast enough for most of her people to inhibit yet.
She sighed, "There's so much to be done."
"And we will always have work to be done," he said gently, "But you are not alone on this. I will be with you."
She turned to the side, looking at him thoughtfully. He said 'we', as if he wanted to be a part of whatever hectic things she's been after. He looked around first like a wolf, then he depressurized his helmet and removed it. She can now see his warm brown eyes that she had come to adore so much.
Bo lifted her hand and let her palm slowly snake to his cheek, "You know it's a crime that you have to hide this handsome face of yours," she said, "I bet many ladies would keel over you."
He chuckled before taking the hand on his cheek and giving it a quick kiss, "Then I'm grateful for the helmet," he said, "Even with my armour, you were the only one who could see me for all I'm worth. Even for a lowly foundling like me."
"Don't say that, Din," she frowned.
He shrugged, "Just pointing it out," he said just like the time when they were in Plazir-15.
"Foundling or not, you are worth more than the Beskars you wore," she told him, "To think that we fought so much back in Trask…."
He chuckled, "Well, we were blowing steam on each other," he said, "I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. But I'm glad I've met you."
"So do I," she said.
He continued to hold her hand, using his thumb to delicately smooth the back of her hand, "So, ready for another trip to Nevaro?"
She nodded, "Once I'm out of here, sure."
He sighed, "You scared me back there, let's not make it a habit. Okay?"
"Duly noted," she sheepishly said. With Din, she always felt safe and protected. He had, after all, pledged himself to her, but to an extent that she never thought that he'd go to. "Thank you for always keeping me safe, Din."
He gave her a warm smile, then he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead, "I'll do anything for you, Cyare."
Bo blinked, pulling away from him a little to see if he was serious or if he slipped the word he just called her. "Din?"
"Hmm?" he tilted his head as if he was still wearing his helmet.
"You just called me 'Cyare'…." She didn't dare to say it, afraid that she might still be delusional or she just imagined it all.
"Yeah," he answered for her, his face suddenly turned a little bright red, "Sorry…I didn't mean to…." He stuttered in a rather adorable way that made him look like a child who was caught red-handed.
"No, no," she reassured him, laughing at how shy he had become. "I like it."
Din broke from his stammering and looked back at her, "You do?"
She nodded, her knight in shining armour is just as adorable as his son. Just in his way. "Yes, Cyare," she said softly to him, calling him the same.
"Okay," she can hear him sigh in relief, all the tensions leaving his rigid posture. She knew Din wasn't good with words when he showed his care for the people he cared for, but when he did, it was sweet. Especially coming from a deadly hunter.
Wanting to make him feel less uncomfortable, she scooted away a little to give more space for him, and extended her arm to him, "Come here," she said.
Din obeyed, slowly, he walked towards her bed and carefully sat on her bed, careful with all the wires. Grogu squeaked happily, seeing her and him together closely. Bo can feel him still rigid and careful, "Is this okay?"
"Yeah," she reassured him, placing her cheek on his strong arm, "I just need to feel you close to me."
"Okay," she felt his body relax, and now with a lot more courage, he placed his arm around her shoulder, "If I'm hurting you, let me know."
She shook her head with reassurance, "You won't," she said to him, "I trust you."
"You have too much confidence in me, Lady Kryze," he chuckled as he placed his lips on her head, "But I'm honoured."
Her lips curled upwards, feeling content with how he was so gentle to her. Grogu snuggled to her chest, and looked at his father, "Buir!"
Bo placed her hand on the child, stroking his cheek. Grogu purred in contentment and closed his eyes, giving her satisfied babblings before he extended his talon and placed it on her hand. Immediately, she felt a wave of comfort and warmth through her body, soothing and calming her. Whatever dizziness she felt before began to melt away. Bo knew that Jedis was a special kind, and she could see why now with this adorable kid in front of her. "You're getting stronger, Adhika."
Grogu opened his eyes and looked at her, "Baaa," as if thanking her compliments.
She smiled, "He's going to be the first Mandalorian Jedi we ever had since the Dark Saber was first made."
"Hmm, I never noticed," Din hummed as he picked his son's hand in his, "All I wanted was to keep him safe."
"And to think he's the reason how we met too," Bo remembered their first encounter where he was desperate to save the child and trying to find others of his kind. Only for the kid to come back to him. "I guess he's too Mandalorian to stay with the Jedis."
"I suppose so," he said with immense pride in his voice, "Just need a couple of training more and grow him up, he'll be a fine warrior someday."
At the mention of his son's training, Bo wondered about another thing that she has been dreading. He had completed his task here with her. No doubt he'll go back to take his son to his journey again, and she won't know when he'll be back.
She'll be alone again.
Bo-Katan had been on her own before, even to the point of going a lone wolf. Yet now, the thought of Din Djarin and his son leaving her sounds dreadful. She didn't know how she was able to function without him, and now, she's genuinely terrified.
Grogu chirped at her as if sensing her uneasiness as he let out a sad coo. His long ears drooped, and he was crawling up to look at her face, tilting his head the way his father does when he's confused.
Bo tried to do her best to smile, "I'm okay, kid," she tried to reassure her.
But the kid only whined, he didn't seem to buy her lie. He snuggled back to her chest, "Bo," he whimpered.
"Din?" she finally asked, not wanting to beat around the bush anymore.
"Hmm?" he was busy stroking her hair in a way that likes, almost making her lull to sleep.
"I suppose, after this….after Nevarro," she corrected before bracing for the real question, "You're going to have to leave Mandalore," she asked in a whisper, trying to hide her sadness.
Din stopped stroking her hair, staying silent for a while. The tension is there again, and she can feel his hesitancy. This means he must go, Bo dreaded it.
"Yes," He finally answered under his breath.
She pursed her lips, biting her inner cheek. She's trying hard not to cry, she can't be weak in front of him. She must be happy for him and Grogu as the kid is taking his first steps toward becoming a Mandalorian just like his father. She only nodded. "Okay."
"Bo?" this time, he asked.
"Hmmm?" she gave him the same response, not because she was being cheeky. But she doesn't trust her voice that might crack in front of him.
"Let's get married."
Sorry if it's shorter, but I feel that it's more appropriate to end like this. Next should be longer.
Hope you like it!
Claire