A Family to Fall Back On

Surprise Visit

           It was another peaceful day on the secluded island I had learned to call home. After a couple months of hut building and resource collecting, it was starting to seem like a mini jedi academy. Sure, there were overgrown plants everywhere and too many native birds to count, but it was a nice change from Tatooine.

There I sat early morning, with the suns still rising and the scent of morning dew and withered flowers dancing around my nose as I patiently watched my pupil Grogu. As Grogu played with some rocks, lifting them up gracefully with the force and making them dance in the air I smiled. It had only been a couple months and he was still the only student I had, but he was excelling brilliantly. I knew in time he would surpass me, and hopefully want to help me with my Jedi restoration mission. He placed the rocks back into their original positions and turned to me with a smile. "Eh?" he squealed. "Yes, very good Gro--"

I was cut off mid sentence as I felt something approaching the island. Grogu seemed to notice it too. I quickly walked over to him and bent down, allowing him to thrust his small body onto my back. "Let's go check that out, shall we?" I asked, running off. I'd gotten into the habit of letting him on my back whenever we needed to move fastly, instead of carrying him like a baby or forcing him to run. This seemed to be a happy medium for now, and having him on my back really reminded me of my training days with Yoda, especially since he and Grogu were the same species. It was quite bittersweet.

We approached the shore of our island cautiously, hiding behind a large bush. I could see the ship I had sensed off in the distance quickly becoming closer. The only visitors we had on this island were Han and Leia, occasionally Lando, so of course I was a little nervous. Once I was able to make out that it was a beaten up Razor Crest, Grogu started to cheer loudly with happiness, immediately crawling off of my back. "What, what is it?" I asked as the ship landed, holding Grogu down from trying to run towards it. "They could be dangerous." I whispered as the ship door opened. I held my breath, heart beat picking up.

A mandalorian stepped out, and I immediately recognized him. I quickly let go of Grogu, allowing him to run down to the beach to be reunited with his father. I was in total shock. Yes, it was the man that I had been thinking about ever since I saw him. When he first took his helmet off I froze, unable to say much. He was just so... everything. Cool, cute, manly, caring, warm, mysterious and beautiful. And I got all that from only seeing him once! At the time I wanted to tell him more about where I was taking Grogu, but I got way too flustered. And now, here he was again. And, he was approaching me with Grogu in his hands. Shit. The gay panic I was experiencing was imesaurable! Did I look ok? Did I still have bed hair?

"H-hi," I smiled while stepping away from the bush. I put out my hand, to which he grasped firmly and shook with great force. I didn't want to let go. "Hello." He replied in a deep voice through the thick helmet he wore. He looked a little uncomfortable. "I hope it's ok for me to be here." he said with the same mellow voice. "Why wouldn't it be, Grogu would always be happy to see you." I said nonchalantly, subtly looking him up and down. The mandalorian tilted his head. "I thought if I was here it would disrupt his training because of our preexisting bond, or whatever. That's why I havent come up until now." he explained. I quickly raised my eyebrows. "Wait, who told you that?"

"This lady, Ahsoka Tano? She's a Jedi we met while trying to find Grogu a master."

"Oh, well that's a VERY old jedi teaching that I don't agree with and will not be enforcing onto my pupils. And you'll have to tell me more about this Tano woman, I should try to get in touch with her."

The mandalorian fell silent. He looked at Grogu and then back at me. "All this damn time I thought..." He hugged Grogu tightly, even patting his head before putting him back onto the ground. I blushed, the dedication this man had to his son was purely selfless, and more or less completely adorable to me. Grogu eagerly hugged his leg. "Oh, you're taller than my boot now." The mandalorian chuckled, to which I smiled. They definitely needed a moment. "Well, Mr..." "Din." "Mr Din, my family is actually visiting today so i'll go help them make breakfast, you're welcome to join us whenever you and Grogu are ready." "Thank you." I turned to walk back onto the mainland, still a little shocked by Din's presence. "Wait," Din called. I turned around to meet his glare. "I didn't get your name." "Luke." "Thank you, Luke." He said. I could only muster an awkward half smile in return before facing away, mentally punishing myself. "You gay idiot." I whispered under my voice.

Din stayed for a while. He of course came to breakfast with us, but didn't seem pleased about being teased by Han while Leia fawned over Grogu. The next couple days he spent on and off of his ship, sometimes watching me train Grogu from a distance, other times fixing his ship or cleaning weapons and equipment. Most nights he would come for dinner, even though it was more awkward with just the three of us now. He informed me that he had other stuff to do and would be going soon, so I requested before he went he take me to meet Miss Ahsoka Tano. She was amazing and was actually padawan to my father! The world feels so small sometimes. We really got along and she even agreed to help with jedi classes once I had more students. I knew next time I would have to introduce her to Leia, and hopefully she would tell us more about our parents.

Now, Din comes and goes. Usually a couple times a month he'll stop by and stay for a day or two. Most of the time I won't sense his ship and i'll just turn around and there he is, proudly watching Grogu. Eventually we've managed to become friends, seeming to slip into conversation more easily and being totally comfortable with silence between us. I did however notice that he never takes his helmet off, and I feel like it's too late for me to ask why. The first time I saw him he had it off, and the first couple times he came back with it on I just assumed he had a cold or something. I guess I'll ask one day when we've had too much Ardees. He hasn't been back for a while though, and I'm starting to wonder if he's ok.