Chapter Text
"Leia, you can not be serious." Luke said, eyes wide as he sat across from his sister.
"Look, I know it sounds ridiculous, but you said your new Jedi order isn't gonna have those rules, so you can get married." Leia explained, taking a long slow sip of her drink.
"Just because I can doesn't mean I want to!" Luke exclaimed. "Especially not to some stranger." He hissed. "Besides, I've got my first padawan and we just started training!" He gestured across the room to where Grogu was minding his own business, playing with a small silver ball. Luke didn't know where he kept finding them, and at this point he wasn't asking.
"I know, I know, but whoever it would be would know this too." Leia suggested. "Depending on who it is they might not even have that many on planet responsibilities, like a figurehead. And you don't really have a place set up to train him yet." She shrugged.
Luke groaned. "Why don't you do it?" He demanded. "I mean, former princess of Alderaan, general of the republic, half trained Jedi. You'd be more valuable than me."
"Yes, they were originally yelling at me about getting married, but that's…" She bit her lip, looking away. "Not really an option anymore?" She said awkwardly.
"What did you do?" Luke demanded with a huff.
“More like who did she do.” Han barked out a laugh, coming into the kitchen with a towel around his waist.
Luke made a face. Of course he’d thought of it once or twice, but to have acted on it. “Really Leia?”
”Like you haven’t made questionable decisions!” Leia exclaimed.
”Not that questionable.” Luke retorted.
”I can hear you two.” Han said with a frown, grabbing a drink from the fridge. “And I want you to know that my feelings are hurt very badly.”
”Get out of here, Solo!” Luke exclaimed, wanting to throw something, but not wanting to set a bad example for the child.
Han stuck his tongue out at Luke, going back to the room he came from.
”Luke,” Leia reached over, placing her hand over her brother’s to get his attention. “Tell me you’ll think about it. That’s all I’m asking.”
Leia was giving him her best puppy dog eyes. Luke rolled his eyes fondly. “Of course I’ll think about it, Leia. And then I’ll elope right before you make me do anything. Just like you.” He smiled.
Leia scoffed. “Who are you eloping with? The Mandalorian dilf?”
”Leia Organa!” Luke gasped, scandalized. “There is a child right there!” Luke pointed to Grogu, who made a happy humming noise as he looked up. “Do not talk about his father in such a way.”
”Are you a Jedi?” She mimicked having a deeper voice.
”Not everyone is well versed with Jedi history.” Luke responded.
”You're right. There is something dumber than that. You not getting his name or anyway to contact him to let him know his kid is safe.” Leia raised an eyebrow challengingly.
Luke narrowed his eyes, glaring at her. “The things I would say if there weren’t a child in this room.”
Din had hoped that returning the stupid sword would be easier than finding someone to take Grogu. For starters, he didn’t actually give too much of a shit about the sword. Also at least he knew where the sword was supposed to be. However, the problem with Grogu was that everyone wanted him, the problem with the sword was that no one wanted it. Well it wasn’t that no one wanted it. It’s just that they wouldn’t take it.
”You guys are already ruling the planet.” Din said to the Mandalorian counsel. “Why can’t I just give you the dark saber and call it a day?”
”That’s not how it works!” A Mandalorian in blue armor with her helmet off exclaimed. She had matching blue hair and dark skin. “The saber can only be won through combat.”
”Okay. Well, what counts as combat?” Din asked. “Can I lose it in a game of rock, droid, saber?” He asked.
“Mr Djarin,” A smooth talking man with a sickly grayish blue skin and pale grey armor said, stepping between Din and the clearly exasperated woman. “You do not need to worry. These days the Manda’lor, well it’s really more of a figurehead position. Of course we’ll seek your approval on any major legislation–“
“I don’t know anything about laws.” Din said flatly.
The man paused. “Right…” He cleared his throat. “One of us will explain it to you as clearly as possible.” He glanced over at the other woman who rolled her eyes. He looked back to Din. “Otherwise the duties are mainly ceremonial in nature. You are free to do as you please.”
”Do I need to take on bounties?” Din asked.
The man’s eyes widened. The woman smiled. “He’s a hunter, not a politician.” She quirked a brow at the man.
“If you chose you may, but there is a small stipend provided.” The man said. “Enough for you and any foundlings–“
”There are none.” Din’s hand clenched into a fist. He missed Grogu. “My tribe, can they–“
”Space will be found for them.” The man said.
”There’s plenty of space to be found.” The woman replied with a roll of her eyes.
“I’ll go inform them–“ Din started to turn.
”Wait!” The man exclaimed. He cleared his throat again as Din stopped and turned back around. “There’s just ah… one more thing of importance we need to discuss.”
”What?”
”We’ve been trying to form an alliance with the New Republic.” The man continued.
”Why?” Din asked.
“If we want any trade, any assistance, anything to do with anything, we need their help.” The woman explained, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t love it either, but we need help if we want to survive.”
Din nodded. “How can I help?”
“It’s a… it’s a heavy request. It’s not necessary, but we’re asking you to consider…” He glanced at the woman for help.
”Spit it out Anto! You lost the bet.” She huffed, exasperated.
Anto glared at her. “It was suggested that an alliance be formed through marriage.”
”Marriage?” Din asked, dumbstruck. “Like… I’ll be married to…”
”To someone with strong ties to the New Republic. A representative or general, or something along those lines.” The woman said. “You don’t have to do it.” She assured him. “It’s just an option we were asked to consider.”
Din hesitated for a minute, before nodding. ”I’ll think about it.”
Flying back to the tribe gave Din time to think. Marriage. That was a lot to ask for. What would his potential partner expect from him? If they were married they could see his face when they were alone. But would they want… more than that? Or would they want to arrange something so they could both have others? Not that Din got around much, but that was aside from the point.
He would’ve liked to raise some foundlings some day, sure. But would he be expected to have children with this partner? Would they be some royal from some planet that needed heirs?
His mind drifted to Grogu and he felt a deep emptiness settle in his chest as he glanced back to where his bed used to be. He had known he would miss the kid, but he hadn’t realized just how much. And the worst part was that he had no idea how he was doing. He got so distracted by that Jedi and everything that happened with Gideon beforehand that he didn’t even think about asking for a planet where they’d be. Of course he could track them, he’d found Grogu so many times before, but he had wanted to get rid of the stupid glowing sword first.
And now he was being offered up to marriage. He decided he would tell Cara after he got in touch with the tribe. She would be sure to find this absolutely hilarious. And maybe she’d be able to offer some advice or something. Although part of his mind was made up.
There’d be no harm in meeting this person. He could ask his questions. Figure out what the situation would be like. Then if it didn’t work, it didn’t work. No harm in meeting them.
”Okay, Leia.” Luke rolled his eyes at the holographic version of his sister, holding Grogu on his hip. “I decided that there’s no harm in meeting the guy.” He smiled at the child, who was holding onto his finger and shaking it.
”That’s fantastic news!” Leia exclaimed, grinning. “Thank you so much, Luke.”
“I mean, it is a guy right?” Luke asked, glancing at his sister with a quirked brow.
”Yes.” Leia rolled her eyes. “We’ve been talking to the Mandalorian Counsel.”
Grogu’s ears perked up and he looked at Leia’s image curiously. “The Mandalorian Counsel?” Luke asked, pushing away the images of Grogu’s father that the boy was sending through the force. “Yes, Grogu, I know.” Luke murmured. “So I’m marrying how many people?” He turned his attention back to Leia.
”One.” She said letting out a breath. “They’ve recently come into the possession of a new king.” She explained.
”Ba!” Grogu said excitedly, hitting Luke’s arm.
”Rude.” Luke scolded, putting the child down and once again trying to ignore the images of the strong, rugged, and apparently extremely caring Mandalorian that had been taking care of Grogu. “A new king?”
“It’s a figurehead position really. They’ll only need him there for ceremonies and big decisions, which means he can stay with you on Yavin Four if you prefer.” Leia explained.
“Hmm…” Luke looked down at Grogu, who was tugging excitedly at his leg and trying to get his attention, continuing to send across thoughts of his father through the force. “What’s he like?” Luke asked.
”You’ll have to tell me.” Leia shrugged. “He’s arranged to meet you to see if you’ll make a good match.”
”Excitable guy, I guess.” Luke said, letting a breath out through his teeth.
“No take backs.” Leia said quickly.
Luke stuck his tongue out at her, rolling his eyes. “Well, I’m excited to meet him too then.” Luke decided. “Who knows, maybe we’ll somehow be a perfect match.”
”We can dream.” Leia smiled. “Thank you, Luke.”
”I’m still not promising to marry him!” Luke exclaimed as Leia hung up on him. He rolled his eyes, looking down to the floor for Grogu. He wasn’t by his legs anymore. Shit.
”You agreed to marry some guy you’ve never met?” Cara demanded, slamming her mug down on the table, beer sloshing over the rim as she looked at Din like he was crazy. “Are you crazy?”
“I’ve seen you get into some messes before but this…” Greef trailed off, shaking his head.
”I did not agree to marry anyone yet. I told them I’d meet the guy.” Din shrugged. “There’s no harm in meeting someone.”
“Someone that your planet wants you to marry.” Cara emphasized.
”Yes, but I don’t have to.” Din responded.
”Why are you even considering this, Mando?” Greef asked, shaking his head as he brought a mug to his lips.
”It’s my planet. My people. I have to help them if I can.” Din said, his brow furrowing slightly, though of course they couldn’t see the frustration on his face.
“But marriage, Mando?” Cara asked. “What about falling in love?”
”I never pegged you for a romantic.” Din retorted, Greef snorting out a laugh.
”I’m not!” Cara exclaimed, face flushing slightly as she slammed a hand on the table. “I just think… I think you should have the opportunity to fall in love.”
“I don’t know if I really care about that.” Din said. “I never thought I’d be able to…” He paused, not knowing how to word it. How do you ask someone to stay with a man whose face they can’t see, whose name they can’t know, whose life is spent in secret or moving from place to place? It’s too much to ask from someone. But if he can skip the courting, the hiding, the moving… “I don’t care about falling in love.” He lied. Cara let out a huff, rolling her eyes.
”Well, what about the kid?” Greef asked.
”The kid?” Din furrowed his brow. “What about him? He’s with his own kind now.”
“Yeah, but that’s not the end of it.” Greef insisted. “We– I mean, you’ve gotta be able to visit him.”
”Figuring out where he is is on my to do list.” Din responded with a sigh. “But first I needed to inform and move my tribe. Now I have to meet up with this guy because I promised.”
”You better find him.” Greef said.
”Who’s gone soft now?” Cara scoffed, nudging Greef.
He rolled his eyes. “You can’t tell me you’re not worried about the kid too.”
”Of course, I’m worried–“
They began bantering as Din watched in silence, his mind once again worrying about Grogu. Din was sure that he was in good hands, he wasn’t sure how he knew, just a gut feeling. But he couldn’t help but be worried about him. Was he eating alright? Getting enough sleep? Was he comfortable and happy? Did he miss Din?