After The Helmet Comes Off

Ch 16

Drowsily, you make your way into the fresher. Washing your face and brushing your teeth before stepping back to look at your reflection in the mirror. The fresher's mirror runs down the wall by the door. You admire yourself in the mirror, yawning as you step back to look at your torso. Smoothing out Din's shirt (stealing his shirts at night had recently become something you did) over your abdomen, you see the tiniest swell in your stomach. A grin spreads over your lips. That little bump was your baby.

You skip into the kitchen where Din is feeding Kou his breakfast.

"Look!" you smooth the fabric over your small bump, "I finally have a visible bump!"

Din looks up from feeding Kou, "Wow, look at that, cyar'ika." He spreads his hand across the tiny bump, his hand making it look smaller, "You can see and feel it."

You place your hand on top of his, "I know! I'm so excited." Sitting down next to Kou, you continue talking, "I know it's premature, but can we talk about baby names?"

"What were you thinking?" He feeds another bite to Kou.

You feel your cheeks heat up, "I know it's odd... but do you remember my dream a few nights ago?"

He nods, "Your future dream."

"Yes, that one," you rest your hand on your belly, "I liked the names from my dream." You feel silly admitting this.

"Which are?" he sets Kou on the ground to play.

You think for a second, "Jak, Noa, and Mari... what do you think?"

He looks thoughtfully for a moment, "Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl?"

"I don't know. What do you want?"

He cups your cheek, "I want a healthy baby. Gender doesn't matter."

You smile, leaning forward to kiss him, "I feel the same way." You think of Jak in your dream. He had had Din's warm brown eyes, and the same dimple Din had on his cheek. "But imagine a little boy who looks just like his daddy. Following you around all day, wanting to be just like his dad..."

"Or a girl who looks like her mom. (y/e/c) eyes, beautiful smile."

"Even if it's a girl," you lean towards him, kissing his cheek, "I still want them to resemble you." Mari had had your eyes, but everything about the little girl had traces of Din, from her matching dimple to her dark, messy hair. The children from your dream continue to haunt you. You strangely long to see their bright eyes and hear their chatter.

Maybe someday your dream will become a reality.

He looks down at his hands, clearly embarrassed "(y/n)..."

"No, listen to me, Din," you grab his hand, "you're kind and good, you work hard at everything you do, and you are very handsome. I want our children to inherit everything that is you, Din. This baby is fortunate that you are its father." You place your hand back on your tummy.

He stares down at the swell of your tummy, "I don't know what I did to deserve this life with you."

You smile, "I think that whatever force is in control, saw that you needed Kou and me and this little baby. You always deserved this life, Din Djarin."