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CHAPTER TEN 

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ARTEMIS woke up first, something that rarely happened. She felt Din's arm around her waist and she enjoyed the small moment of total happiness, knowing it could be over soon. However, the kid had other plans. Before it could wake up Din, Artemis stood up, still blindfolded mind you, and made her way towards his crib. She picked him up and carried him outside.

The sun had just begun to rise as Artemis sat down in front of their hut, pulling the blindfold off. The kid cooed and looked up at her.

"Yeah, that's a sunrise," Artemis told him quietly. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

The kid raised its hands, as if to touch it, making Artemis chuckle.

"No, you don't want to hold it," she told him. "Suns are hot. They'll burn right through you and we don't want that, do we?"

He tilted his head and looked up at her as if not understanding what she had just told him. Artemis picked him up and placed him on her lap, eying him intensely as she tried to contect her mind with his.

A strong Force surrounded his mind, one that Artemis had only felt with Master Yoda before. When her Force met his, they clashed.

"It's me," Artemis whispered to Grogu. "It's me, Grogu."

The barrier disappeared and Artemis made her way into his mind, but not too far, though. He had granted her access and she would not break his trust.

She showed him the sun again and after that the feeling she got when she burned herself by accident.

Grogu's ears moved backwards and Artemis smiled. "See? Sun is hot," she said, pulling back from his mind. "Don't touch it."

Two arms made their way around her as Din sat down behind her. "You're up early," he quietly told her.

"I know, right," Artemis said, tilting her head back so she could smile at him. "Didn't expect that either."

She leaned into him and noticed that he had already put on his armor. Together, the three of them watched the sun rise.

When the kids woke up and came outside to play, Artemis put Grogu down and let him run towards them.

"So what do we do now?" Din questioned her, as she still laid against him.

"Now, we live."

⋆⋆⋆

SOMETHING was off.

Artemis, Din, Cara and Grogu had stayed with the villagers for almost two weeks and it wasn't until now that a feeling of darkness crept up to Artemis.

Something or someone was coming.

"I'm going for a walk," she told Din, as they were standing next to their hut. "Stay with the kid."

Din, who had obviously noticed the tenseness in her voice, glanced at her.

"What is it?"

Artemis green eyes darted over the edge of the forest. "That's what I am about to find out. Watch the kid."

With that, she walked out of the village into the forest, letting the Force guide her. She silently made her way through the woods, her eyes flashing to spot the intruder.

Artemis eventually found him laying on his stomach and looking through his riffle that was pointed at the village. In less than a second, she grabbed her blaster and shot him.

Yells came from the village, but Artemis ignored them as she kneeled down next to the man and turned him around. It was a Kubaz bounty hunter, she noticed, before her eyes darted to the tracking fob that laid next to him.

"Artie!" Din's voice came, as he and Cara hurried towards her. They looked down at the body.

"He was here for the kid," Artemis said, showing them the tracking fob. "They know it's here which means they will keep coming."

Din looked at her, before destroying the fob by stepping on it, and Artemis knew their peaceful life was over.

⋆⋆⋆

ARTEMIS and Din were filling the speeder with their stuff as the villages watched them in sadness.

"Are you sure you don't want an escort?" Cara asked, coming up to the two of them.

"We appreciate the offer, but we're gonna bypass the town and head right to the Razor Crest," Din said.

"Well then, until our paths cross," Cara said, holding out her arm for him to take it.

"Until our paths cross," Din repeated, taking her arm.

"Take care of him," Cara said, turning to look at Artemis.

"Don't worry," she said, her eyes flashing towards the Mandalorian. "He'll be safe with me."

"It was an honor, General," Cara said, as the two clasped each other's arms. "I hope we meet again."

"Don't worry," Artemis said, smiling. "We will."

Winta then dashed forwards and engulfed Grogu in a tight hug.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," Artemis could hear her say.

"Thank you," Omera told Din and Artemis.

Din nodded while Artemis smiled. "You're welcome."

The two then sat onto the speeder and watched the village disappear.

"I'll miss it," Artemis admitted, leaning her head against Din's shoulder. "We had a good life here."

"Yes," Din said, putting his arm around her shoulder. "But we had no other choice."

"I know," Artemis sighed, looking over his shoulder to see the kid looking at her. "C'mere," she said, helping the kid up her lap. "I know you'll miss them, too."

He snuggled into her side as Artemis pulled him closer. She caressed his head soothingly while placing her head once more on Din's shoulder.

As long at they were together, everything'd be all right.

⋆⋆⋆

BY the time they were back in space, the kid was already fast asleep. Artemis placed him in his compartment, covered him in blankets before closing the door.

"Sweet dreams, little man."

She then made her way to the cockpit, where Din was already setting the coordinates to get them out of there. Artemis let herself fall onto the passenger seat and glanced outside, watching Sorgan disappear.

"Is the little one asleep?" Din asked her, turning in his seat to look at her.

Artemis nodded. "Yeah, playing with the other children for days really tired him out."

"We should get some sleep, too," Din said. "Who knows when we'll sleep next time."

Artemis nodded and climbed down the ladder before making her way towards her room. She laid onto her bed and stared up at the ceiling, feeling surprisingly lonely. She had shared a bed with Din on Sorgan and it was weird to sleep all alone again.

Get your shit together, Artie.

Artemis rolled onto her side, kicked her boots off and pulled the blanket up until it reached her chin. However, how hard she tried, sleep wouldn't come to her. And then, just she was about to give up, a knock came from her door.

"Yeah?" Artemis said, sitting up.

Din opened the door. "Can I sleep here?"

"Can't sleep either?"

"No."

"Come in," Artemis said, shuffling aside to make room for him. "I'll just take my blindfold —"

"That won't be necessary," Din said, before turning off the light. "Can you see me?"

It was pitch black. "No," Artemis asked truthfully.

The familiar click of Din removing his helmet was heard and shortly after that, Artemis could feel him lay down next to her. She laid down, too, and faced him.

An arm slipped around her waist and Din pulled her closer to him. Their noses were almost touching, making Artemis smile.

"I love you," she quietly said.

"I love you, too," he murmured, pressing his lips against hers. His hands went down, removing her belt.

"Be careful that you don't accidentally turn on my lightsabers," Artemis said, amused, as Din placed her belt onto the floor.

"Is that even possible?" he asked, sounding a bit nervous.

"Everything is possible," Artemis said, grinning.

Din leaned over her, kissing her softly before his lips trailed off to her neck.

"I thought you said we needed to sleep?"

"Maybe I was wrong," Din replied, slipping his hand under her shirt and caressing her bare stomach, making Artemis shiver. She hadn't been this intimate with anyone before, but she had to admit she quite liked it.

Artemis went with her hands towards his shirt and pulled it up. Din stopped kissing her neck as she pulled the shirt over his head. She threw it on the floor before her hands trailed down his chest towards his pants. Din's breath stocked, but before either one of them could do something, the ship shocked, making both of them fall off the bed.

"You've got to be kidding me," Din said, pulling Artemis up with him. "What now?"

Artemis handed him his shirt before taking his helmet from the floor. "We better go and have a look."

She could hear Din pulling his shirt on, placing on last kiss on her lips before putting his helmet on and opening the door.

He dashed towards the cockpit while Artemis took her belt and adjusted it around her waist, making sure her lightsabers were still safely secured to it. Then she climbed the ladder and stood behind the pilot seat, her hand on Din's shoulder.

"What is it?"

"A bounty hunter," Din said, gritting his teeth as he tried to shake it off. "It's been shooting at us."

"Hand over the child and the Jedi, Mando," the bounty hunter's voice came from through the comlink. "And I might let you live."

"I'm going to get the kid," Artemis breathed before jumping down into the main area and opening the door to the kid's small compartment. He looked up at her in fear and Artemis picked him up.

"Don't be afraid," she murmured. "Remember, fear leads to the dark side."

The kid cooed and Artemis climbed the ladder and entered the cockpit. She strapped the kid into his cradle before strapping herself in onto the passenger seat.

Shots hit the ships and alarms started going off, telling Artemis they weren't doing well.

"Hold on," Din told them, before spinning the Razor Crest and Artemis was glad she had strapped herself in.

"Come on," Din muttered to his ship.

"I can bring you in warm or I can bring you in cold."

Artemis rolled her eyes, knowing that was a sentence Din used a lot.

Din pulled the ship back so that the starfighter flew passed them.

"That's my line," Din said, before shooting the starfighter down.

"Great shot," Artemis complimented him.

"Thanks."

"We're losing fuel," Artemis added, looking at the screens.

"I know," Din said, switching off the power, before starting up the emergency power.

Artemis leaned onto the dashboard as she watched Tatooine appear.

"It's been a while," she muttered.

"What?" Din asked, still flicking on switches.

"Tatooine. I haven't been there in years."

Din's hand hovered over the last switch as he detected the nostalgic in her voice.

"What's on Tatooine?" he asked her curiously, glancing at her as he flicked the last switch on.

"I've lived on Tatooine for many years," Artemis said, her green eyes still glued on the planet, "and it's where we met," she added, smiling at him.

"I remember," Din said, glancing at her and placing one of his hands on hers.

"This is Mos Eisley Tower. We are tracking you. Head for bay three-five, over."

"Copy that," Din said. "Locked in for three-five."

Artemis sunk back onto the passenger seat. Somehow she was excited to be back on Tatooine — not that there was much to be excited about. The planet was just one big sand ball, but maybe she could convince Din to visit her old house. They'd be safe there for a while. Even Darth Vader didn't find it.

"How long did you live here?" Din questioned, as they flew through the atmosphere.

"Nineteen years."

"You lived on this sand ball for nineteen years?" Din exclaimed.

Artemis hummed. "Trust me, it is worse than it sounds."

"One question; why?"

"Because we needed to look out for Luke."

"Still, why?"

Artemis pursed her lips. Not many people knew who Darth Vader really was and they tried to keep it like that. However, she knew she could trust Din with the truth.

"So . . . remember Kuiil asking me how I was able to fix the ship?"

"Yeah."

"And I told him that my older brother taught me that?"

". . . Yeah."

"And do you remember Anakin from my memories? I called him Skyguy."

Artemis could sense Din's confuse. "Yes."

"They are all Darth Vader," Artemis explained. "Anakin is Darth Vader and I considered Anakin to be my older brother." She sighed and casted her eyes down. "He turned to the Dark Side. He killed my master. Our master. Our friend." She closed her eyes and the memory flashed in front of her eyes.

Din took her hands and gave it a gentle squeeze. Artemis smiled sadly before opening her eyes once more.

"He did turn back to the light, though. His love for his son was greater than his pull to the dark side, but he died."

"I'm so sorry, Artie."

"It's okay, I lost Anakin a long time ago," Artemis said. "I always hoped he'd come back, though, and in the end, he did." She smiled. "Anyway, let's land and see what Mos Eisley has to offer us!"

Word count: 2208

And another chapter is finished! I hope you liked it! :)

Published: 01.03.2021