A Good Thing

-Epilogue 3-

Epilogue 3

-Cara and Paz-

It had surprised no one when Winta had so impressed the elders during her verd'goten. Cara had witnessed a handful of the ceremonies in the two years since retaking Mandalore but even to her untrained eye, the girl had been exceptional. Watching Din fight back tears of pride as they watched her made her glad—not for the first time—that she'd talked him into going back to Sorgan after the fight with Gideon.

Omera, Cuyan and baby Rinah had been there to witness her coming of age too, but it had been to Din that Winta had run first. He'd hugged her back fiercely and told her how proud he was to be her Dad. Their bond, despite not sharing blood, was undeniable. It was in moments like that that Cara wondered if she wanted kids of her own.

After Din's announcement of their big population push, she and Paz had had a serious conversation about their relationship. Thanks to an old injury, Cara couldn't have children of her own, and if she was honest she wasn't sure she wanted to take care of a baby. An older kid maybe. Paz hadn't cared. He was a Mandalorian after all and families were found more often than born.

Maybe they'd find a kid or three along the way someday or not, but he knew he wanted her in his life forever if she would have him. And after some reflection on what she wanted out of the rest of her life, she told him she would. A few months after Migs and Asta had shipped off, Cara and Paz traded vows too. She had drunk Din under the table and kept her new riduur up the rest of the night.

Then Asta had come back with a six year old and another on the way. He'd not said anything, but Cara had seen a change in Paz. They had chosen and trained the honor guard months ago. Maybe it would be ok if they left for a while. After Winta's verd'goten nine months later, Cara realized she was on the same page as Paz.

"Babe."

Paz looked up from where he was focused intently on their dinner. "Ya?"

Cara leaned against the counter beside him and looked up into his open face.

"Let's take a tour with the Outer Rim patrol."

He arched a brow in question before huffing a laugh and setting down the knife in his hand. "Ya? You think Din will let us leave?"

Scoffing, Cara bumped her thigh against his. "Din might be Mand'alor, but he doesn't get to tell me what to do."

Paz gave her an amused, skeptical look.

"Ok, so technically he can but he wouldn't. Not to us, and not if this was something we really wanted."

"You're right." He smirked and turned so he leaned against the counter beside her. "He wouldn't dare say no to you." A thoughtful expression overtook his face and Cara leaned against his shoulder. "Why do you suddenly want to do this? I thought you liked where we are right now?"

It wasn't like Cara to be coy and indirect, so like she always did, she told him exactly what was on her mind. "We need a kid or two around here. And we're not going to stumble across any foundlings on Concord Dawn. Maybe if we take a tour or two, we will. As long as there is violence and death in the galaxy, there will be kids needing family. We can be that, if we're lucky enough to cross paths."

Smirking up at him, she laughed. "Besides, Din says they likely won't repeal the population incentives for generations. It's our civic duty to contribute if we can."

Paz laughed outright at that and settled an arm around her shoulders. "Well I can't argue that. Besides, I've been thinking the same for a while now. We can talk to Din tomorrow." He tipped her chin up, his kiss quickly turning heated. His voice came out in a harsh whisper against her skin when he finally spoke again. "Dinner later?"