The Visit

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Cordelia takes a deep breath before leading the way towards the house in the distance. Din follows behind her, keeping an eye on their surroundings. 

"Cory? Is that you?" A voice calls up ahead. Cordelia smiles and quickens her pace.

"Hi, Leia." She says, reaching the woman. Din watches as they hug, holding tightly onto each other. The woman pulls away and smacks Cordelia's arm. glaring at her.

"Where have you been?! It's been three years, Cory, we've been worried sick!" She says, hands on her hips. 

"It's a long story. Are Han and Chewie inside? I'd like to tell it once if I can." She replies, a sad look on her face. Leia's expression softens and she links their arms.

"They're in the back. Come on." She says, starting to turn. She pauses, spotting Din. "Who is that?" She asks. 

"Another long story." Cordelia sighs, knowing Han and Chewie are not going to react well. Leia laughs and leads the way to the backyard. They head through the gate and spot Han and Chewie near the large tree in the back. Chewie lifts Han in the air as he collects the fruit hanging from the branches into a basket. Leia smiles, knowing the fruits are Ben's favorite.

Chewie glances over at the sound of the gate latching behind them. He spots Cordelia and roars loudly, dropping Han and rushing towards them. Chewie scoops her into a tight hug, lifting her off the ground. She laughs, hugging him back just as tight.

"Hey!" Han yells. He gets up and brushes the dirt off his clothes, ignoring the basket and spilled fruit. "What the hell was that Chewie?" He calls, making his way towards them. Chewie sets Cordelia down and steps to the side. "Bug?"

"Did you hit your head so hard you don't recognize your own sister?" She teases, fighting tears. Han ignores her and wraps her in a hug so tight she can barely breathe.

"Don't you ever disappear like that again." He tells her. 

"I won't." She says. She pulls away at the clearing of a throat. Cordelia turns and spots Chewie standing threateningly over Din. She rolls her eyes. "Leave him alone, Chewie." She scolds. He growls but steps back, not liking that a stranger is near his family.

"Who the hell are you?" Han asks. She groans and looks to Leia for help.

"Why don't we all head inside for lunch." She suggests. 

Han looks between his sister and Din suspiciously before turning and walking towards the door. Chewie follows and Leia loops her arm with Cordelia's again. Din brings up the rear, closing the door behind them. He quietly slips off his helmet, setting it on the table near the door.

"Ben, let that go right now!" Leia scolds. Ben drops his hand, the cookie jar that had been hovering in the air shattering on the floor. She sighs. "Should've thought that through." She mutters, leaving the room to get the broom. Han pulls Ben away from the sharp pieces on the floor, setting him on the counter.

"Aunt Lia?" Ben says, tilting his head as he looks at her. She smiles, stepping closer to him.

"You remember me?" She asks. He nods, holding his arms out towards her. She steps into his hug, relieved that he knows who she is. 

"I remember. Mommy and Daddy told me lots of stories too." He responds. He spots Din over her shoulder and pulls away. "Who's that?" Cordelia sighs as she moves to stand in front of him, knowing there's no more delaying the explanation. Leia re-enters the room, broom in hand. Cordelia snatches the broom from her.

"He's my husband." She answers. Han and Chewie both move forward, shouting their anger. She swats at them with the broom, keeping them away. "Quit being idiots for one minute and let me explain!" She yells over their shouts. 

"Couch. Now." Leia orders, glaring at the two. Ben giggles from his seat on the counter.

"Mommy and Daddy are mad." He says. 

Han and Chewie sit on opposite sides of the couch, leaving room for Leia in the middle. She joins them after cleaning up the kitchen. Cordelia and Din take the loveseat nearby. 

"Explain." Han says, glaring at the couple. Cordelia rolls her eyes but does, beginning with his friend tricking her, and ending with her and Din getting married in the Crest. When she finishes, Ben leaves his spot on the counter and climbs into her lap. 

"I'm going to ki-" Han starts.

"Why can't you be more romantic?" Leia asks, distracting him so he doesn't start swearing in front of their son. They start arguing and Cordelia rolls her eyes, shifting to lean into Din's side. He wraps his arm around her shoulder, kissing the top of her head.

"Why are your clothes so shiny?" Ben asks, reaching his hand out to touch Din's armor. He chuckles and pops his pauldron off, handing it to him. He runs his fingers over the metal as Din explains being a Mandalorian and the armor they wear. "That's cool." He mumbles.

Cordelia chuckles quietly as he leans further into her, his eyes fluttering as he fights sleep. She strokes his hair, and he loses his battle, holding Din's pauldron to his chest as he falls asleep.

"You would make great parents. Have you thought about having kids?" Leia asks, having watched them interacting with her son. Cordelia looks away, her heart aching. Din pulls her closer and squeezes her shoulder. She leans into him and rests her head on his chest.

"We did have a kid." He tells her. He explains how they found Grogu and their adventures, finishing up with him leaving with Luke.

"I'm sorry, Bug." Han says. She smiles weakly at him. 

They spend the rest of the afternoon catching up, Chewie and Han slowly warming up to Din as they listen to his stories and watch him take care of their sister. 

"Hey, Ben." Cordelia whispers, gently shaking her nephew. He opens his eyes and looks at her with a confused expression on his face. She chuckles. "It's dinnertime." He jumps up and runs to the kitchen.

During dinner, Ben refuses to leave Cordelia's lap and she smiles, remembering that even as a toddler, he had always stuck close to her when she visited. 

***

After spending the week with her family, Cordelia and Din decided that they need to get back to work.

"I promise we'll be back." Cordelia tells them as they approach the front door. She hugs each of her brothers and her sister-in-law before she kneels in front of Ben. "I'll be back before you know it, Ben." 

"Come back soon, Aunt Lia." He says, hugging her. She chuckles, rubbing his back.

"I will. I love you." She tells him. He pulls back and smiles at her.

"Love you too." He says. She kisses the top of his head before standing. Din ruffles Ben's hair.

"See you soon, kid." He says before putting his helmet back on. Ben smiles at them both before running over to his mom. Leia lifts him into her arms and the group follows them out the door, waving as they leave.

Din wraps his arm around Cordelia as they walk towards the city, knowing that she already misses her family.

"We'll go back soon." He tells her. She nods, leaning into his side.

As their shuttle leaves Chandrila, she can't help but wonder what Grogu and Luke are doing.

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