9 ABY (Present Day)
Planet Dantooine

As the sun rises the next morning, Kia wakes up entangled with Din on the mattress inside her bedroom. They had fallen asleep after taking a shower together, their clothes discarded on the floor by their bed. It was a hot day as their bedsheets were scattered all over. Her forehead pressed firmly into his warm and beating chest, his arms are wrapped around her body, his calloused hands are softly resting on her back, the hairs across his bust are tickling her nose, and his chin resting on the top of her head.

She lies awake while listening to his slow, steady breaths flowing through her hair, and her hands tenderly explores his upper body. She likes to hear his light snoring as he slept next to her. He was so soft and warm, and she didn't want to move. She didn't want this moment to end. How his gentle hug made her feel calm and protected. How such a notoriously terrifying bounty hunter is peacefully asleep next to her. Remembering the activities of the previous night puts a smile on her face.

They have completely melted into each other's arms. Then she feels him shift and yawn, then pulls her even closer towards him, tilted his head down to kiss her forehead, "Good morning, mesh'la."

With a huge smile she responds softly, "Good morning, cyar'ika."

He's holding her tight, as if he's afraid she may fly away. He hums as she gives him soft kisses along his collarbone and sternum. Since the kid hasn't interrupted them yet, she took the opportunity to nestle deep into his chest. She luxuriated in the feeling of his hands on her. As her palms travel tentatively from their place on his chest, moving upwards towards his stubbled cheeks, and into his wavy hair, damp with sweat from the heat of their bodies.

She wove her hands under his jaw and behind his ears and tilts her head up towards him. He kissed her slowly, and she could feel the edges of his mouth turn up. This wasn't a gesture of physical need or sexual desire, this was something else entirely. It felt differently. They were making love. She smiled back into him and whimpered, "Din."

He moaned low in his throat and swiped his tongue along her mouth, begging for entrance. She immediately welcomed him and parted her lips as he stuck his tongue inside. He deepened the kiss, savoring how their mouths fit, how soft she was, pressed together so closely. He was in no hurry, no rush, and no bounties to catch. Just the two of them in the quietness of their room, as their bodies are coiled around each other in a loving embrace.

"Are we an us?" He asked sincerely between kisses, his lips and mustache brushing against hers as he spoke. But his voice had a dreamlike quality to it. He sounded like he didn't mean for her to hear it. She traced her fingers along his Adam's apple, feeling his voice rumble as he spoke.

"I think we already are," she kissed him back and held onto the back of his neck.

"Isn't this forbidden for a Jedi?" He asked, moving to bury his forehead into the crook of her neck.

"Not to me," she whispered as she melts into his neck and speaks into his ear. "Do you want to be an us?"

"I..." he hesitated briefly, "I would like that."

She exhales and melt into his neck, "We," she repeated back to him.

"Mhm," he hummed in agreement. "Us."

"You know, people are already saying we are together," she says into the crook of his neck. Her voice came out small, she felt a little awkward to have brought it up. But he wasn't embarrassed, his light chuckle jostled her body in response to her words.

"Good," his deep husky voice vibrated into her ear.

Not wanting to spoil a tender moment, yet she felt her stomach start to grumble, "Your buddy Fett came through for us yesterday. Are you hungry?"

He did not respond. After a moment went by in silence, Kia could sense that something was on his mind, "What are you thinking about?"

"I want to..." he began to say but paused to take a deep breath, the hot air from his breath brushed against her neck. "I want to go to Mandalore."

"Ok, I will go with you. But I'm afraid there might not be much left. However, I think we should drop the kid off on Krownest with Mia and Vax's daughter. It'll be too dangerous for him to come along."

"Hm," he hummed in acknowledgment but didn't speak. It was as if his mind was on another star system, she sensed he was lost and his mind drifting off into another dimension.

Just then, the kid started crying and Kia felt Grogu's mind enter hers, which he does quite often. Especially whenever he wanted something that he wasn't able to express with words or body language.

"Din," she whispered.

"Hm?"

"The kid is awake."

Without saying a word, he wraps his arms and legs around in a vise grip and rolls over on his back, which means she's now on top of him, "No."

Kia laughed, "Din, your son is hungry."

"Five more minutes," he murmured softly, prolonging this moment for as long as possible.

The hours went by so fast. Before they knew it, they've spent half the morning in their cabin, separated from the rest of the covert. After getting dressed and making sure the baby was well-fed, they gather up their belongings and exit the cottage. Kia stifles a gasp as they walk out into the grassy fields of her clan's settlement, Din was helmetless and was still dressed in his regular clothes as they approach his house where is armor was kept.

"Not going to cover your face today?" She eventually asked while Din carried the baby.

"At least around you and the rest of the clan. This was bound to happen eventually," he tells her after the three days he has spent in isolated contemplation.

"Oh. Well, how are you feeling?"

"Great, I haven't felt like this before. What about you?"

"I'm happy for you. We are a family now and we will look after each other. I promise I'll always be here for you and the kid, as well as the rest of our clan."

"I promise too," he says confidently.

His statement and self-assured demeanor made Kia feel quite pleased and worry-free. Like nothing in the universe can separate them. Although, she really should tell Luke of her latest news. Regardless of what the ancient Jedi codes declare regarding attachments, she keeps telling herself that she is a Mandalorian and always will be.

On the other hand, Din has never felt this content and satisfied in his life. This lovable and caring tribe has welcomed him with open arms into their covert. For the first time since Sorgan, he wouldn't mind retiring from bounty hunting and live here with her, the baby, and the rest of the clan for the remainder of their existence.

"I can only imagine how women would treat you after they see you," Kia says seriously.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh come on! I know ladies already found you appealing when you are in your armor. If anyone sees your face now, I know some won't be able to control themselves."

Din furrowed his brows, feeling bewildered, elated, as well as entertained by her words. He's not used to these types of compliments, even from her.

"No one will do anything," he replied very stoically.

"Are you serious? The next ruler of Mandalore, totally encased in beskar, highly skilled, incredibly powerful, and extremely handsome...women would be falling apart from just the sight of you."

"Alongside his advisor and lover, I don't think so."

"I really hope so, because I don't like to share either," she laughed, using his own words against him as they approach the front door to his home. But before they were able to open the door they get interrupted by Mia, and the rest of group slowly began to gather around them.

"So where have you two been all morning?" Mia teased. "Good afternoon, by the way."

"Oh Mia please," Kia laughed back, her face blushing.

"What?! I must say, you did good," Mia says with a sly smile as she winks at Din. However, Din doesn't respond. In fact, he has no idea how to react. After living his whole life in a helmet, he has no ability to hide his facial expressions.

"Good afternoon, sir. It's a pleasure to be able to finally put a face to a name. I know this must not have been an easy decision for you," Vax greeted them as he walked up to stand next to his wife.

"Good afternoon everyone," says Fenn as he comes up from behind them. "Nice to finally meet you, sir," he says as he hold out his hand as the two men share a handshake. It was obvious that Din was still a bit uncomfortable with everyone seeing his face, but he maintained his composure. "We've all been discussing the idea of searching for other coverts," Fenn stated as they released each other's hands.

"We were talking about going to Mandalore, but I suggested that we leave our kid with your daughter on Krownest first," Kia says.

"We'll go with you to Krownest," Vax says.

"Yes, we can introduce you two to the Wren family," Mia says.

"Mandalore is desolate but if that's where you want to go, then I advise you two bring additional respirators just in case. The air is highly toxic," Fenn suggested. "Meanwhile, the rest of us will go to Dxun first. Our goal is to locate if there are any survivors living there and hopefully have them join our cause."

"You mean Clan Wren? Will Sabine be there?" Kia asked, remembering the famous clan that joined Bo-Katan in the resistance against the Empire.

"Not sure. Last time we were there, she was out searching for her friend. Someone by the name of Ezra," Vax clarified.

"Either way, it'll be important for Din to meet with Countess Ursa. Her and the rest of the family will be a valuable ally," Fenn declared.

"I'm not sure I want to accept this title yet," Din says, his voice going soft as he looks down at the ground and not making eye contact.

"At least meet with them, please," Kia begged him.

"Okay, but I'm doing it as a part of this clan and not as the Manda'lore," Din replied as he looked up at the rest of the group.

"That's probably as close to an agreement as we'll get," Kia says. "But we should head into town to get a hovercrib and some more supplies. I also need to contact Master Luke and give him an update."

"Luke?" Mia asked.

"Yes. He's the leader of our order. Another idea I had is to eventually contact his sister, Senator Leia Organa Solo of the New Republic. I have a good relationship with her."

"To have the support of the New Republic would give us an advantage to finally remove the Imperials from our sector once and for all," Fenn says with excitement.

"Alright, but one thing at a time!" Din blurts out, he seemed to still be struggling tremendously with the notion of leading a war against The Empire on Mandalore. His breathing had picked up and he looked like he was about to throw his fists in the air.

"Ok, cyar'ika. Let's grab some breakfast and armor up then head into town," Kia says as she placed her hand gently on his shoulder to calm him down. As part of an arrangement with the New Republic, Kia receives a weekly stipend for being a member of the New Jedi Order. Therefore, she was able to purchase the necessary equipment and supplies needed for their long journey. After Mia offered Din and Kia her gunship, the rest of them use Vax's starfighter as the group head out to meet with the Wren House on Krownest.