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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

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          "I got you, Mando," Cara said, as she and Din were engaged in a game of armwrestling.

All of them were back in the Razor Crest and Artemis sat down next to the kid, watching Kuiil feed his Blurgs.

"Cara to double the bet?" Din replied, making Artemis smile.

And then Artemis felt the Force shift and she straightened her back, feeling the darkness in it. Cara gasped and went with her hands towards her throat. Artemis turned to Grogu and saw him holding his hand out.

"Grogu!" she exclaimed, jumping up and pushing his hand down. "Stop it! Cara is our friend! We don't use Force chokes on our friends! In fact," she added, looking down at him, "we don't use them at all."

Grogu lowered his ears, feeling ashamed.

"That is not okay!" Cara snapped.

"He's just a kid," Artemis flashed back. "He isn't trained properly."

"Hmm," Kuiil said, eying the kid. "Very curious."

"Curious?" Cara repeated. "It almost killed me!"

"The story you told me of the mudhorn now makes more sense," Kuiil told Din and Artemis.

"What do you know?" Artemis asked Kuiil curiously.

"I presume it is a Jedi, just like you?" Kuiil said, looking up at her. "I've heard rumors of things like this."

"When? When you worked for the Empire?" Cara questioned him.

"When I was sold to the Empire, in indentured servitude," Kuiil said.

"Yet somehow, you walk free," Cara said, standing up.

Artemis could feel the tension that hung between the two of them.

"I bought my freedom through the skill of my hands," Kuiil defended himself, "and the labor of three of your human lifetimes. Do not cast doubt upon that of what I am nor whom I shall serve."

IG-11 had stood up and was now standing next to Kuiil, ready to intervene if needed.

"Tell you what," Din spoke up. "I could really use your craftwork right now. Can you pad this container so the child can sleep better?"

"I shall fabricate a better one," Kuiil promised him. "Then perhaps this Dropper can see how one can win their freedom with the skill of one's hands."

Artemis, Din and Cara made their way towards the cockpit, leaving the kid in the safe hands of Kuiil, and Din settled himself into the pilot seat, entering the coordinates to Nevarro.

"So we're going to Nevarro?" Cara questioned them.

"Have you ever been there?" Din asked, not bothering to look back at her.

"No," Cara replied. "We lost a lot of our forces there. The city's dug in pretty deep. No cover when you drop in. It stayed in Empire control 'till the end of the war."

"The warlord we're taking out was an Imperial officer," Din told her.

"What station?" Cara asked.

"Hard to tell," Din said, turning around to face the two of them. "No insignia anymore. We took out the safehouse when we snatched the kid. More Imps have reinforced since."

"There is something more going on," Cara stated.

"Maybe," Artemis spoke up. "We'll find out more when we land."

IG-11 entered the cockpit. "I have prepared second meal. Would you care to be served here or below?"

"I'll take mine below," Cara said, looking between Artemis and Din. "You can eat here."

The droid turned around and made it's way back down the ladder, Cara following pursuit.

"Under no circumstances does that thing leave the ship," Din told Artemis.

"Kuiil said he rewired it and I trust his abilities," Artemis said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"That droid was designed to kill things," Din flashed back. "I don't care how much wiring he replaced. It goes against its nature."

Artemis didn't reply. Instead, she kneeled down in front of him and placed her hand on his knee. "I can tell this is more than just about IG-11," she quietly told him. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Din looked down at her before placing his hand on hers.

"I grew up in a settlement called Aq Vetina," Din began. "I lived there peacefully with my mother and father until the city fell under attack by Seperatist battle droids. We were caught in a crossfire. They didn't make it."

"Oh, Din," Artemis said, standing up and giving him a hug. "I'm so sorry."

"A Mandalorian found me and took me in a as Foundling," he continued flatly.

IG-11 came back with two meals and Artemis quietly thanked him before closing the cockpit door. The two of them sat down onto the ground and Din removed his helmet, something that still surprised Artemis.

Din smiled when he noticed her watching him. "See something you like?" he asked, amused.

"I see something I love," Artemis corrected him, smiling back.

"Who's the romantic now?" Din asked, chuckling.

"It's only the truth," Artemis said playfully.

"Somehow that's even more romantic."

The two quietly laughed and Din smiled lovingly at her.

"You know, I never thought I'd find someone who actually sticks with me," he said, tilting his head. "But it seems that you have accepted the challenge."

"Accepted and succeeded," Artemis said, grinning. "And I'm not planning on leaving any time soon."

Din smiled. "Thank you."

"That's what girlfriends are for, right?" Artemis said, giving him a wink before continuing her meal.

"Artemis?"

Artemis head snapped up at the fact he used her full name. He never used it. He always called her Artie or — since quite recently — Fury.

". . . Yeah?" she said carefully.

"This could get dangerous," Din quietly said.

"I know," Artemis said, putting her plate on the ground and shuffling closer to him.

"If something happens to me —"

"Nothing is going to happen to you, Din, I won't allow it," Artemis assured him.

Din touched her cheek. "I won't let anything happen to you, Fury, even if I have to give my own life to do that."

"I won't allow it," Artemis said, placing her hand over his. "You're not going to give your life to save mine, Din. Besides, I'm a Jedi, I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve. We'll be fine as long as we stay together."

"Just know that I love you, okay?" Din said, placing his forehead against hers.

"I love you, too," Artemis told him, closing her eyes. "We'll be fine, I promise."

Din put his plate away, too, and pulled her onto his lap, hugging her tightly. Artemis didn't need the Force to tell her that he was still worried.

"I'm not that easy to kill," she quietly told him. "I mean, I survived the Clone Wars, Order 66, the Battle of Yavin, Hoth and Endor."

Din pulled back so that he could look her in the eye. "Someday you'll have to tell me all about it."

"And I will," Artemis assured him. "When we're somewhere safe, I'll tell you my whole life story if you like."

"I'm looking forward to it," Din said, smiling, before kissing her.

His lips were soft on hers as she kissed him back, entangling her fingers with his hair.

"Marry me," Din muttered against her lips, making Artemis pull back to look at him.

"What?"

"Marry me," Din said, louder this time. "Will you do me the honor of marrying you, Artemis Bryce?"

"Din, if you're doing this because you think we'll all die —"

"I am not," Din said, looking at her. "I do it because I love you."

"You have the worst timing in history," Artemis said.

"Is that a yes?"

Artemis grinned but was interrupted by Cara banging on the door. As quick as she could, she grabbed Din's helmet and slipped it back over his head.

"Are you done?" Cara questioned. "Can I come in? I don't think I can be around that Ugnaught for any longer."

"That's the worst timing in history," Din pointed out, making Artemis laugh.

"I'm coming in!" Cara exclaimed and the door slid open, revealing a rather irritated Cara. "I don't understand why you don't mind him being here," she added falling down on a passenger seat and looking at Artemis. "I mean, he worked with the Empire!"

"Against his will," Artemis reminded her. "Anyway, I'm heading towards my room. There is something I need to do."

She then walked out of the cockpit and jumped down into the main area. She headed into her room and closed the door behind her. She then opened the small cabinet that held her clothes, and took out her bag that she had taken with her from Tatooine.

Apart from the clothes, she had also taken the armor she had worn during the Clone Wars. It was something she couldn't bare to get rid off. Obi-Wan had let it made for her somewhere near the end of the war and if she adjusted the straps, it would certainly fit once more.

It was white, just as his had been, and the symbol of the Jedi Order was still clearly visibly on the shoulders.

It was modified Clone Trooper armor and meant to be worn over her regular Jedi robes. Artemis took a pair of her robes and was about to take her clothes off when there was a knock on the door.

"Yeah?"

Din opened the door and let himself in, closing it behind her.

"We'll be arriving shortly," he informed her, before shuffling awkwardly. Artemis smiled.

"Yes," she said.

"Yes what?" he asked, his voice raising a couple of octaves.

"Yes I want to marry you."

For a moment, neither one of them moved. Then, Din pulled his helmet of and looked at her with bright eyes and a giant smile plastered on his face.

"Really?"

"Yes!" Artemis said, laughing.

He threw his helmet onto her bed before cupping her face and kissing her fiercely.

"I love you." He kissed her. "I love you." Another kiss. "I love you."

Artemis smiled. "I love you, too."

Din brushed a straw of red hair out of her eyes before his eyes fell on the armor that laid on her bed.

"What's that?"

"You're not the only one with armor," Artemis said, before exchanged her regular clothes for her Jedi robes. She then proceeded to pull on her armor. "I haven't worn this since the Clone Wars."

"It reminds me of a stormtrooper," Din said, brushing with his hand over her chest plate.

"Yeah, I'm thinking of giving it a new color," Artemis said, adjusting her shoulder plate and dusting it off.

"It somehow suites you," Din said as Artemis started to braid her hair, using his helmet to see her reflection.

"Thanks," she said, not looking up. "It's very lightweighted, too. I could never wear your beskar."

Artemis took both of her lightsabers and attached them to her belt before taking her blaster and its holster and tying it around her upper leg.

When she looked down at herself, she got a feeling of deja vu.

"Well, how do I look?" Artemis asked Din, twirling around.

"Stunning as always," Din said, smiling.

Artemis rolled her eyes before taking his helmet from the bed and handing it towards him.

"Let's see what Greef has in store for us."

Word count: 1867

This is probably my favorite chapter yet!

AND they're getting married!! I thought I might as well add it into the story since they might as well be married (even Burg said so ;)) and I also see Din as the marrying type.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and tell me what you think of it!! :)

Published: 09.03.2021