A Good Thing

-solomn-

Chapter 53

-solemn-

Din's latest message had filled Omera with conflicting emotions. It was done. Finally, after two long months of anxiety and waiting for holo calls, always fearing the next would be from someone else with the news that she dreaded, the fighting was over. They had liberated the Mandalorian system of Imperial remnants and struck a massive blow to the many connected remnants throughout the outer rim.

But success hadn't come without cost. Seven more Mandalorians had been lost in the fight for Mandalore, as well as the three men he had sent ahead to scout. Skywalker had reported another three dozen of his own men as dead. It wasn't a large number by any means. The Galactic civil war had cost many times that on a daily basis but that had been a full scale war against the Empire at the height of its power. Still, for a population as small as theirs, sixteen was a lot and Din felt each and every one.

Omera did too. At least those that belonged to the covert on Batuu. Telling their families, consoling their children and sitting with their parents and partners never felt like enough but it was all she could do. In the face of their grief, stoic and honored though it was, she felt almost guilty to be so happy her own husband would be coming back to her.

Almost.

Then there was Asta. She had been severely injured by a small explosion. They had managed to stop the bleeding and she seemed to be in a stable condition, but she had yet to wake up. Din's words had been reassuring but his manner and worried frown told another story.

Worried for their friend and emotionally exhausted after telling three more families about their loved ones, Omera headed towards Migs and Paz's apartment. All three of her children were with Paz for the morning. Winta and Grogu tagging along after lessons, Cuyan in a sling nestled against his breastplate. They would be fine for a while longer with their ba'vodu.

Migs looked surprised to see her at first but the smile he greeted her with faded as fast as it had spread. Frowning, he regarded her cautiously before stepping aside to let her in.

"What's wrong, Omera?"

She sighed and dropped onto the sofa. "I've heard from Din. The fighting's done."

He stood beside her, his frown only deepening at what should have been good news. "You had to visit more families." It wasn't a question: he knew she did this. When she only nodded, he sighed and sat beside her. "What was the damage this time?"

"Migs..." She could barely muster a glare at his callousness but he looked genuinely affected so she wiped the back of her hand across her eyes and sighed. "Ten. Only three from this covert though. The three men he sent ahead were found out and killed, hung out over the city gates like some kind of sick message. The rest fell in battle."

"Is he ok?"

She shrugged. "He will be, but... that's not why I'm here." When her eyes started to mist over, Migs leaned away from her as realization started to dawn.

"No."

"It's Asta."

Shaking his head, Migs stood and turned away from her. "No. No, I don't want to hear it."

"There was an explosion. She's alive Migs but..."

He turned around in a rush, a deep frown attempting to hide his worry. "But what?"

Omera stood too and put a hand on his shoulder. "The medics say she's stable but she hasn't woken up yet. Din seemed worried about her but kept saying that the medics think she'll pull through."