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Episode 7

Title: "The Wedding (No, Not That One)"

Chapter 1

Genre: BoDin, CaraMed, slow burn romance, hurt/comfort, humor, drama, angst, fluff, family vibes

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Hi folks! Here's the latest episode of this series. The title is me having a bit of fun because I knew that giving a chapter a title like "The Wedding" to a series about Bo and Din's relationship might make some think it's their wedding. But alas it is not. We're not there yet but we will get there, I promise!

As I said at the end of the last episode, expect to see both couples go through some emotional moments in this story. Though there will also be a bit of action and even some hurt/comfort, so this story will have some variety to it.

Enjoy!

-Moki

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After an exchange of brief vows, the couple leaned in and pressed their helmeted heads together. Silence reigned over the crowd for a few moments, then a thunderous cheer of approval echoed in the large cavern.

The first Mandalorian wedding since retaking Mandalore was now official, and everyone was ready to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Sitting on his father's lap, Grogu jumped up and down excitedly, making Din smile under his helmet at his literal bouncing baby boy. Though he didn't know either of them well, Din had been happy to hear that the first couple to be married on Mandalore would be two Children of the Watch.

As the newly joined husband and wife headed past them to the sounds of loud applause, Grogu stood on Din's cuisse, holding onto his father's pauldron for balance. Din put out an arm automatically when he felt Grogu sway on the uneven surface.

"You like that, kid? Yeah, it's pretty great, isn't it?"

"It is."

Din looked up to find Bo smiling down at them. Grogu squealed happily, signing Bo's name and raising his arms to be picked up. The princess complied as she sat down next to them.

"Someone is happy to see you," Din remarked with a chuckle.

"I'm happy to see you, too, little one," she said, giving Grogu a hug and rubbing his ears. "Beautiful ceremony," she remarked to the child's father.

"Beautiful," Din agreed with a nod.

Bo was thoughtful, looking up at the Great Forge in front of them. The fires had been lowered, so as not to be too warm for the ceremony. But they still glowed, casting flickering light around the cavern.

Din had a feeling there was something on Bo's mind, and he suspected what it might be about. But he stayed silent, waiting to see if she would actually come out and say it.

Finally, the Mand'alor sighed.

"But never to see each other's faces, I don't know how your people do that."

Yep, that's what I figured.

"It's what we know," Din responded with a shrug.

He didn't add that marriages hadn't been common in his clan, that his people had always concentrated more on training and raising the foundlings. For years they'd just survived. Hell, his covert had gone so far as to hide in the sewers on Nevarro. Weddings hadn't exactly been a priority.

But now they had a home again, their own planet, and were free to explore the idea of living more typical lives. A couple deciding to pledge themselves to each other was just part of that. Though it was something Din hadn't seen in a long while amongst his clan.

Still silent, they both watched as Grogu leaped off Bo's lap and ran down the aisle to visit with some children. Ragnar was among them and the older boy knelt down to say hello to his small friend. Din had been saddened by the news of Paz's death. He and the other Mandalorian had had a tumultuous friendship through the years, but Din still missed the big man.

Finding out that Axe had taken Paz's son under his wing had initially surprised Din, remembering how the two men had been at odds. But it just showed how different things were now, and Din was glad Ragnar had someone looking out for him with his adopted father gone.

"Your clan can't even socialize when you eat," Bo continued once the child was off playing with his friends. "I know there are partitions now, but Med said you didn't have those when you were younger. You just went off to be alone during meals."

"We socialized," Din defended. "When we were in the covert on Nevarro our people spent all day together, sparring and training. Then we'd spend evenings by the fire telling stories to the foundlings. We live in shared quarters as children and even in the adult quarters we were only separated by curtains. Compared to other clans and tribes, I'd say the members of the Children of the Watch spend much more time together than most."

He could see Bo's brow furrow with thought, and he continued. "Besides, meals were always quick and the only time we got to ourselves. I started to crave that time alone when I was in the covert."

He saw Bo open her mouth to argue further, but he kept going.

"What fascinates me is that it fascinates you so much. Especially now that you've been around us for a while. To me, it's second nature. It's my life. I don't see it as any different than other reasons someone would need to be alone. Do you put this much thought and worry into finding a way to slip out to use the fresher? No. Because it's innate. You've been doing that your whole life and it means nothing. It's not worth troubling over because it's no trouble. Eating and drinking, it's the same for me. I don't think about it, and I always make it happen."

"Unless you're busy or you put your son's needs first. Don't think I haven't noticed that," Bo couldn't help but point out.

"Okay, sure," Din admitted. "I've definitely skipped a meal or two in the heat of a hunt or if I get hyper-focused on a mission. After Gideon's Dark Troopers took Grogu and I had to hunt for him, I don't think I ate for days, except a few bites here and there. By the time Grogu went with the Jedi, all my adrenaline was gone, and I nearly passed out."

"Is that why you left the bridge so fast? I always assumed it was because you were… heartbroken. Even then, when you had the Darksaber and I was so mad I could spit, I still remember feeling bad for you. I never wanted to see you hurt, even if I was angry about what happened with Gideon."

"I know," he assured her. "And yes, that's part of why I went off by myself. Between the lack of meals and the loss of Grogu, I couldn't stand up much longer. I barely made it to another section of the ship – one where there no cameras – and dropped."

Bo frowned at that as Din went on.

"But you can't tell me you haven't done the same thing. I know you too well, Bo. Let's not forget that I've already seen it happen with my own eyes, and I have a feeling those weren't completely isolated incidents. I'd bet my life you've forgotten to eat plenty of other times, to the point where your body basically gives you an ultimatum that you'd better feed it, or it will simply refuse to keep going."

Bo knew that feeling, and Din's voice told her he did, too.

"You can't blame that on the helmet," Din pointed out. "You're able to take yours off anytime you want."

Bo knew Din had a point, but how could she tell him that she kept bringing it up because a part of her was slowly starting to hate the fact that she was never going to see his face? How awful was it that she nitpicked at a man's beliefs for a reason as selfish as that?

Though she'd grown closer to all the Children of the Watch and had learned more about their beliefs, her frustration with the helmet rule only continued to grow. In fact, it seemed that it was becoming more of a problem the longer she knew Din. Which only made it more annoying.

Bo worked with the Armorer and others of Din's clan day in and day out, never looking upon their faces and knowing she never would. She had no issue with that when dealing with any of them.

Except Din.

It was different with him. Din had become a true friend, a confidante the likes of which Bo hadn't had in a while. She and Axe were close, but even their relationship hadn't reached the levels that hers and Din's had. On Life Day, after Din nearly died, he'd told her she was like family, and she was coming to realize she felt the same way about him.

"So, you'll be okay when you get married, never being able to see your wife's face?"

Still unable to admit her true feelings, Bo kept pushing because she didn't know what else to do. Her pride would not let her drop it, even when her gut told her she was completely in the wrong.

"As I said, it's what I know."

Din almost let it go at that, but something compelled him to keep speaking, wanting to change the topic away from the helmet rule. Truthfully, he wasn't in the mood to defend it any longer, but he didn't want to confront why that could be. So, he chose to talk about something else, though no less difficult or complex.

"Not that I've really thought about it," he clarified further. "I never let myself because there were always too many dangers. When I was younger, we went into hiding. Then I went out on my own as a bounty hunter to help take care of the clan and the foundlings. That was my duty, and I had no time to think about any kind of relationship."

"So, you never had someone in your life?" Bo turned to regard him, her annoyance dissipating with this intriguing new topic, one she'd never thought the reserved Mandalorian would want to discuss with anyone, barring except for his brother… and possibly Cara. Bo wondered, had the two talked of such things during their travels? Was it something Din did once he got to know someone and became good friends with them?

"Um…not like that." Din coughed and Bo picked up on what he was leaving unsaid.

No relationships didn't mean no experience.

"Oh."

"Recklessness of youth," Din said with a shrug.

It was a partial truth. An overly simple explanation for something that was anything but. Those experiences weren't born of recklessness, but rather as an attempt to fill a void caused by one too many losses.

"I bet you had to beat them back with a stick when you were younger." Bo's voice broke through Din's musings, and he pulled himself out of his bleak thoughts to see her teasing smile.

"But not now?"

Bo could feel a single eyebrow raise playfully under the helmet as Din tipped his head sideways at her.

"I didn't mean it like that, and you know it," she gave a light punch to his pauldron. "So, there are people who have no problem with the helmet, I take it."

"Yeah…," Din sounded as if even he was surprised.

"I bet," she said with a grin.

Once again, Din felt the need to keep speaking. It was strange, even to him, as it was a subject he'd rarely spoken about, and not for many years.

"But in a way I wish I never has those… encounters. I may have seen their faces but there was never any connection, and not just because they couldn't see my face. If my future wife were walking The Way, we would have a deeper connection than I had with any of those… others."

Others. More than one. Bo filed that information away, noting the sadness in Din's voice when he spoke of them.

"Then you have thought about it. Having a wife, I mean."

"Not seriously. Mostly at times like these, when others are committing themselves to each other. I didn't see it often in my covert, but sometimes I'd be around such ceremonies during my travels. I won't pretend it didn't make me think about the future."

"The future," Bo repeated quietly, her own thoughts going that direction.

"I don't even know how that would work though," Din shook his head, his eyes automatically finding his son, running and giggling with the other children. "I've got an apprentice now, a son. My entire life is about getting him out to see and learn as much as possible while he's maturing. The job I've taken on is better than bounty hunting, but it's still dangerous work. My priority is keeping both of us alive while teaching Grogu everything I can. I can't think about anything but him right now, so yes, it's way out in the future – if it's meant to happen at all."

Din turned to Bo.

"What about you? Do you ever think about marriage? You're settled here now, there are definitely plenty of prospects." He waved a hand around, indicating Mandalore and the many Mandalorians who had come out of hiding to return home.

There were so many, in fact, that space was running out. Bo had teams working almost around the clock to construct temporary berths until more permanent housing could be built. But after so many years of being in exile, having all the clans scattered around the galaxy, it was a good problem to have.

"I guess," she agreed noncommittally. "But I'm like you, I feel like I still have a lot to do. Mandalore has a long way to go to be reestablished and I can't even think about anything else right now."

"But you're a princess, isn't it part of your duty to marry? Have heirs? All of that?"

"This isn't a fairy tale, and I am no maiden controlled by her evil father. I have no sacred duty to marry or produce offspring like some breeding animal." Bo bristled a bit at Din's unintended implication.

Din held up a hand when he heard the anger in her voice and saw her eyes turn to steel as she glared at him.

"I apologize, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant if you wanted it, there is nothing to stop you. As in, your job doesn't preclude you from having a family."

"Oh," Bo relaxed, her shoulders dropping. "True. Though, technically neither does yours."

"Agree to disagree." Din huffed a soft laugh. "Having my son who is also my apprentice, which allows me to keep traveling and basically do the same job I've always done, is one thing. Having a wife, possibly more children…that's something else entirely. As I said, that's something for the future, if it ever happens."

"Right," she agreed. "The future."

"Exactly."

They both went back to watching Grogu and the other younglings. The little ones were playing a rousing game of tag through the aisles of seating which had been put up especially for the ceremony. As they were being careful to stay away from the fires of the Great Forge, the adults let them have their fun.

The children were a welcome distraction. The short conversation had gotten Bo and Din thinking of things neither had put any thought into in quite some time.

Din couldn't imagine anyone wanting him as a husband. He hadn't gone into the details with Bo, but his past experiences with women made him feel a bit… broken. Perhaps because of that, he'd long ago let go of the idea of such a life for himself.

Adopting a son had been a surprise, something Din never thought he'd have or want. Being a father was already more than he could ask for, and he didn't need anything beyond that. Besides, he couldn't imagine bringing someone else into his complicated life. Who would want to be tied to a battle-hardened warrior who struggled to understand how to be a father, let alone a husband?

Grogu had chosen him, and their relationship – as parent and child – worked. His son had seen his face once and that had to be enough for both of them to accept. Though sometimes Din felt a soft pang in his heart when he saw other parents – those outside his clan – sharing moments with their children without their helmets.

Din's memories of his own parents were of their faces, their smiles, their looks of love. Could he raise his son without ever showing him his face again? He mentally shook his head for even questioning. It wasn't up for debate. He'd have to do it because it was the life he had chosen, and he took his vows very seriously.

Din couldn't imagine going back to being bare-faced all the time. He'd come to depend on his helmet, and not just because it assisted him in his work. It gave him anonymity when he needed it and privacy when he wanted to be left alone. The discipline of being a Child of the Watch was ingrained in him. It was part of his life, and he knew it always would be.

Bo's thoughts also wandered into the subject of relationships and what that would mean in her life. Din hadn't been far off when he'd suggested there were plenty of "prospects" now that so many had returned to their homeworld.

Already, a few Mandalorians had made their interest in her known. She'd even had one or two outright marriage proposals from men off-world, during her negotiations to once again include Mandalore in the trade routes of nearby systems. Not that those men had actually been interested in her. She wasn't naïve. They'd just wanted to be part of the power that went with being attached to the Mand'alor, the leader of a planet and an entire system.

To be fair, not all the interest had been of that nature, but she'd politely turned down the others as well. It was almost worse when the interest came from someone not looking for power. To be married to a man who wasn't used to the duties of a royal would make her feel like a burden. Who would want to be stuck with a warrior princess who'd been raised in a castle, and was now leading an entire planet that was just starting to get back on its feet?

Bo had accepted that having a family was probably something that would never happen for her. So, she'd decided she would be happy with her friends, and with having an entire planet as her family, her "children".

"Hello, Lady Kryze."

The voice broke Din and Bo out of their musings and they looked up to see a human man standing before them, dressed in elegant robes. He bowed his head at Bo, who dipped hers in return.

"I just wanted to say it was a beautiful ceremony and to thank you for inviting me and my wife. We have to leave now unfortunately, but we are both very happy to have been part of such an auspicious occasion."

"You're very welcome, Ambassador Talon. I'm pleased you were both able to make it. Please give your wife my regards."

"I will, of course."

Din stayed silent as he watched the exchange, admiring Bo's smoothness and obvious comfort dealing with the diplomat.

"And this must be the famous Lord Djarin I've heard so much about. Greetings to you as well, my lord."

Bo felt Din's body go deathly still next to her.

"Hello," Din managed to croak out, giving a slight nod before the other man dipped his head one final time.

"Good day to you both, I look forward to our next trade meeting Your Highness."

"Ambassador."

They watched the man walk away in silence. As soon as Din was certain he was out of earshot, his gaze flew to Bo. She felt the intensity straight through the beskar on his head, which made her sit back instinctively.

"You said you weren't going to tell anyone about my title." Din's anger flared up fast, feeling betrayed by someone he'd come to trust more than almost anyone else in his life.

His voice was practically a snarl, and it made Bo put up her hands defensively. Though he hadn't moved, Din suddenly felt bigger to her, his fury radiating in the small space between them. It reminded her of that Mandalorian who had growled at her about changing their deal, back on the bridge of the cargo freighter on Trask.

"I swear, Din, I never mentioned your title to anyone. I saw how it made you feel, and I knew you didn't want to share it, so I didn't."

"Then how…?"

"I'm not sure, but I would imagine High Magistrate Karga has mentioned it. Don't forget he also put it into the charter for Nevarro so it's somewhat public knowledge now," Bo said soothingly.

"Oh…right," Din sighed, his shoulders dropping a bit as his hands loosening from the fists he'd balled them into on his lap.

Bo sensed his anger at her easing, though his discomfort over the title was still very evident.

"I'm sorry it makes you uncomfortable," she kept her voice low, still trying to calm him down after the sudden (if small) outburst. "I know I said it was more of a duty than a title, but that doesn't mean…"

"No, it's not that. It's just… I don't want that title. At all."

Din bit out the words, though she took it as a good sign that he was opening up about it.

"Why not?" Bo hoped if she got to the bottom of Din's reasons, she might be able to help him. Whatever it was ran deep, that much was certain.

"It's not even the 'Lord' part, though that does make me… cringe."

"Then what is it?"

"It's the Djarin part."

"What?" Bo was puzzled. "I don't understand."

Din blew out a breath. Now that his anger had eased off, he realized he was burdening Bo with something she didn't need to worry about. She already had a tough job. What right did he have to add to her burdens as Mand'alor?

"I'm sorry, it's… complicated. I don't want to bore you with all the details."

He'd said the wrong thing. Din knew it the moment he looked back up at Bo and saw the hurt written across her features.

"Bore me?" It was a rasp, laced with shock. "How… how can you think that anything you'd say would bore me? After all we've been through, I thought we were friends…. I…" she faltered, making Din wish he had his amban rifle so he could shoot himself into a puff of smoke rather than face the pain in his friend's eyes right then.

"Bo, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. Of course you're my friend. But even friends can get bored by each other."

He said it to try and lighten the mood, but she shook her head, not falling for it.

"Not about something like this. I know this is important to you, which is why I haven't pressed you about it. And if you don't wish to tell me, I will continue to give you space. But please don't think for one moment that I don't want to know more about why this title business bothers you so much."

"You're right. Again, I'm sorry. I think I was avoiding talking about it because I was hoping that if I didn't acknowledge it, it would just go away. But I see now that's not going to happen."

Din was still hesitant, and Bo felt an unexpected urge to reach out and place a reassuring hand on his arm. Unsure if it was appropriate or if he'd welcome the gesture, she hesitated. But then something compelled her to do it anyway. She pressed her fingers gently but firmly between his vambrace and pauldron, applying just enough pressure for him to feel through the heavy fabric.

"Din," she said his name softly, not pushing, just letting him know she was there for him, much as he'd done when she'd needed to talk about the rebel Mandalorians.

Din looked down at her hand on his arm but didn't pull away. Neither did she. After a few moments, Bo felt his muscles relax as he let out a massive sigh.

"That's just it."

"What's it, Din?"

"That's… not my name."

"What?"

Bo's hand left his arm as she sat back in surprise. What did he mean that wasn't his name? Was this man not the person she'd thought he was? Was he… not even a Mandalorian?

Before her thoughts reeled any further, Din started to explain.

"When I was rescued as a child, the Mandalorians asked me my name. Between my native language, not speaking Mando'a and only knowing a little Basic from school, things were lost in translation."

Bo frowned curiously but didn't interrupt as he continued.

"In my culture, our family name comes first, to honor our ancestors. I was born Din Djarin, son of Din Pedjron and Din Riera."

Din saw surprise then understanding cross Bo's features.

"So, Djarin… that's your first name?"

"Technically."

Bo looked up thoughtfully, her eyes seeking out Grogu, who was still in his game of tag with the other children.

"Din Grogu," she whispered. The words the Armorer had said at the adoption made sense now. It never occurred to her to question why she'd called Grogu that, writing it off as perhaps part of the adoption ceremony for Children of the Watch.

"Yes. The Armorer knows my true name, so she called Grogu that at the ceremony. I don't think anyone really noticed though. Most people assume he's Grogu Djarin, which I've never felt the need to correct."

"But I still don't understand what that has to do with your title."

"The last people who called me…. Djarin…"

Bo saw Din's neck move and heard the hard swallow after he said the name. He'd never had trouble introducing himself with his full name, but she'd never heard him say just Djarin alone and was surprised by the sadness she could detect when he did so now.

"The last people?" she urged gently.

"My parents."

Bo's stomach dropped, knowing a bit about Din's tragic history.

"It was when they were carrying me, trying to look for any place to hide from the battle droids. They were yelling at each other, saying they needed to find someplace to keep me safe. They found an underground storage space and were going to put me inside…"

At that moment, Grogu appeared out of nowhere, jumping into his father's lap with a worried coo. Bo knew the child must have sensed his father's distress. Din looked down briefly, rubbing the boy's back absently, before turning back to her.

"It was chaos around us…" Din paused, and she heard the anguish in his voice when he continued. Her eyes began to fill with tears, but she ignored them.

"People screaming, blasters being fired, explosions. Yet in those moments – which I didn't know would be our final ones – all I heard were their voices."

"Oh, Din," Bo whispered, tears falling freely now as her chin trembled. From Din's lap, Grogu warbled sadly and cuddled into his father's chest armor. Bo had a momentary wish she could offer some sort of comfort too, but she didn't move.

Din's words were hoarse as he went on. "My father told me I needed to be brave and not to be afraid, before he kissed my head and told me he loved me. My mother said that I was going to be a great man someday and that they would always be in my heart, that they would always love me, then she kissed me too."

Bo clenched her hands, pressing her lips together to keep from fully losing control of her emotions.

"It was only a few seconds," Din said quietly. "But I'll never forget it as long as I live. The way my name… that name… sounded on their lips as they said goodbye. At the time I still hadn't quite figured it out. I knew it was scary, but I thought they'd come with me and that we'd all be safe together. It wasn't until they put me inside and started closing the door that I knew. That's when I realized those would be the last words I'd ever hear from them."

The final words were so quiet, Bo almost didn't hear him, and she trembled, tears continuing to fall as she looked upon her friend.

"Din, I had no idea. I can't even begin to imagine…"

"That's why I never wanted to hear that name and why I had no problem with people calling me Din when I was younger, and then Mando when I began hunting. Now it just feels wrong that I should have a title with Djarin when no one calls me that. No one since my parents."

"I understand now, why it must be hard to hear that name."

"But it's not just that. I also feel like that title, 'Lord Djarin,' is disrespectful of my parents."

"How?"

"As I said, our family names came first. So, my family name is really Din. I'm used to being called that, it's my first name now, but titles like that are said with a family name."

"I'm sure if you asked High Magistrate Karga, he would change it. Then you could be known as Lord Din," Bo suggested.

Din shook his head. "No, that's worse. It would sound strange, since everyone thinks Din is my first name. Think about it, you're not Lady Bo. You're Lady Kryze."

"I get it. I do." Bo sighed in sympathy for Din's dilemma.

Now she understood why he'd been reluctant to talk about it. This situation was more complex than she'd ever imagined. But she had an idea, a way that he could look at it that might help, especially as he was a father himself now.

"Maybe you shouldn't see it as a dishonor. I know the last people who called you Djarin were your parents. But now people will be able to call you Djarin again, and with honor, because it's a title you've truly earned."

He glanced at her in silence, still unconvinced.

"I don't think your parents would be upset with you being known as Lord Djarin. After all, their name, the family name of Din, is used for you every day. It's also carried by your son, their grandson."

That got Din's attention. For some odd reason, he'd never thought of his parents as Grogu's grandparents. Yet of course they were. Even if they weren't here in the physical world with them, they were still his son's grandparents.

"If you're anything like your parents – and I'm betting you are – then I'm certain they were good people who wouldn't be concerned about something like that. Think about it, would you care if Grogu earned a title and was called Lord Din or Lord Grogu or whatever? Would that really matter to you?"

"No, of course not," Din answered without hesitating.

"Then don't sell your parents short, Din. Don't think that they loved you any less than you love your son. That they wouldn't feel the same way about your title that you would for Grogu."

Bo let Din ponder what she'd said. Finally, he sighed, nodding slowly. "You're right. Thank you."

They had a few minutes of comfortable silence before another guest came up to greet them. Din was more prepared this time, but it was still hard, knowing that they were likely going to address him as Lord Djarin.

They stood to greet the dignitary who was eager to say hello to the Mand'alor, as well as to the Mandalorian who had helped defeat Moff Gideon. Grogu settled into the crook of Din's left arm, looking on curiously.

"Lord Djarin, I'm so happy to make your acquaintance." The female Nagai bowed slightly.

Bo sensed Din's body tensing. She wasn't even sure how she sensed it, maybe because she'd spent so much time with him. He didn't do anything that was visible, but it emanated from him like heat from the desert.

Something instinctive made her reach for Din's elbow again, purposely hiding the gesture beneath his cloak so as not to be seen by their companion. When she touched him, she found she was right. Din's arm was rigid, the muscles as unyielding as the beskar he wore on his body. But at her touch, she felt him soften slightly, then heard him inhale deeply.

"Good day to you," Din politely said to the Nagai. "I hope you enjoy your time here on Mandalore."

"Thank you, I'm sure I will."

The dignitary walked away, and Bo dropped her hand, but she stayed close to Din.

"Well done," she told him.

"Thank you."

She nodded as they headed to the area set aside for the celebration.

"That was the perfect thing to say to her, by the way," Bo remarked as they walked together. "I couldn't have done better myself. I'm sure even my father would've been proud of you."

Something about that idea made Din relax a little and he smiled to himself.

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course. You managed that like you'd been trained your whole life to speak with dignitaries."

He snorted lightly. "I highly doubt that."

"No really, you did. My father always said that it was best to keep things simple. That people don't need a long, drawn-out speech – well, unless you've been summoned to deliver a speech. But when you're just greeting people, he always said 'be polite, be kind, but keep it simple'. You did that perfectly."

"Thank you, I appreciate that. I never expected to become a spokesperson for Mandalore."

"And in case you're wondering," Bo added, "I don't think anyone will be taken aback or ruffled by your new title. I think everyone who has heard of you knows you would've earned it. I'm sure even our own people will feel the same way, once news of it makes it here."

Din felt reassured by her words. He had wondered if other Mandalorians would think he'd asked for it, or demand to be called by Lord Djarin from now on.

"Do you think people will seek me out now, as some sort of representative of Mandalore during events here?"

"I do, so I hope you're prepared," Bo said with a sideways smile.

Din sighed. "I'll try to be."

"Just remember what I said about your parents." Bo touched his arm, confident that it would help deliver her point and once again felt the slightest release of tension when she did it. She wasn't even sure if Din was registering the touch, but it was having an effect on him all the same.

"I'm sure they're watching over you and don't care what you call yourself, because they only think of you with one title."

He turned to her questioningly.

"As their son."

"Thank you, my lady." Din's voice was soft when he dropped his head in gratitude.

"You're welcome… my lord."

Bo couldn't see it, but she felt Din's small smile in return.

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Hi folks! Okay there's the first chapter and I'm already working on the second one, which will see the return of Cara and Med.

For anyone interested in another bit of behind-the-scenes, I thought I'd mention how I came up with Din's parents' names. Obviously, Din's father's name (Pedjron) is based off of Pedro. Din's mother's name (Riera) came from Pedro's father.