The Mandalorian's Bounties | Din Djarin

Chapter 18 | The Mines of Mandalore (Part 1)

"Whoo-hoo! You hear that? She's purring like a nuzzle shrew." Peli tells Din as he climbs out of the ship. He takes Pandora as Grogu jumps into Peli's arms so Cordelia can climb down.

"No complaints. Still faster than I know what to do with." He tells her.

"Well, I'll tune her up, just the same." She replies. She turns her attention to Grogu. "Now who taught you how to leap like a Lurmen, huh?" He babbles in response and Peli gasps. "Was that his first word? I think he's talking to me. Did you hear that? He said Peli."

"Dada!" Pandora squeals, kicking her legs and chewing on her fist.

"Way to steal my thunder, kiddo." Peli jokes, tapping Pandora's nose and making her giggle.

"We're here on business." Din interrupts, wanting to get the business out of the way so they can relax before they have to leave.

"Oh, are the Hutts back? Are you takin' out Boba Fett?" She asks. Cordelia shudders at the mention of the Hutts and Din wraps his arm around her, knowing of her past with Jabba.

"We need a droid part." He clarifies.

"Ugh. Boring!" She complains. She turns to speak to her droids. "Hey, get the Jawas back in here before they hit the cantina." She looks back at the couple. "You know how Mos Eisley gets during Boonta week." She mimes drinking and Cordelia chuckles.

"We're looking for a replacement memory circuit." He tells her.

"Oh. Hey, grandpa. They haven't made those for a while." Peli teases. Cordelia chuckles and Din elbows her, knowing he's only seven years older than her. She looks up at him and blows him a kiss, taking Pandora as she leans towards her.

Peli talks to the returning Jawas before turning back to Din and Cordelia.

"Sorry, pal, no chance cubes." She says.

"They can't find the part?" He asks.

"Nope." She answers.

"We need my droid fixed now." Din tells her.

"Do you know anywhere else we could get the part?" Cordelia asks, adjusting Pandora on her hip as she reaches for her brother. Peli passes him back to his mom and he cuddles up into her side, taking Pandora's outstretched hand. The two quickly fall asleep, feeling safe with their family and always sleeping better when the other is near.

"No. Which is why I think you should buy this beauty here." She replies, patting R5. His panel begins sparking and she removes her hand.

"I can't use an astromech. We need a droid that's rated for spelunking." Din says.

"Spelunking? What are you spelunking?" She asks.

"We're going to Mandalore. We need a droid that can explore ahead of us and test the atmosphere, make sure it's safe to breathe." He explains. R5 beeps nervously and begins backing away. 

"Uh-uh-uh-uh. Hey! Get right back here. Right back here, scaredy droid. Come on now, you gotta shine." Peli scolds. She chuckles before turning back to them. "This R5 astromech is built for adventure." He protests and she sighs. "Of course you are. You're supposed to be piloting starfighters across the galaxy and fighting tyranny."

"It's falling apart, and besides, we got no room for it on the N-1." He says.

"Nonsense. R5-D4 is as good as the day it came back from serving in the Rebellion. And I'll reinstall your droid port. This little baby here can even co-pilot, and I'll move things around, so your family all fits together." R5 protests again and Peli glares at him. "Hey, if you don't settle your bolts, I'll sell you back to the Jawas." She laughs as she turns back. "And because it's Boonta, what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna give you this for half the price and throw in a free oil bath."

"Peli, what a very kind offer. We'll take it." Cordelia says before Din can argue.

"Perfect! You can take my office while I work, have some family time. I'll knock when it's ready." She says, moving towards her tools. 

"Thank you, Peli." Din tells her, pressing the button on his vambrace to retrieve the pram. It follows them into the office and Cordelia sets their sleeping children inside as Din closes the blinds and shuts the door.

He sighs and drops into the office chair, removing his armor. Cordelia joins him once he's done, settling on his lap and resting her head on his chest. He wraps his arms around her and kisses the top of her head, content to rest together.

"I missed this." She sighs, sliding her cold hands under his shirt. He chuckles and runs his fingers through her hair, resting his head on hers.

"Me too, Mesh'la." He replies, pulling her closer and letting his eyes close. He falls asleep dreaming of them getting a house of their own to raise their family.

***

Din wakes to the sound of his children giggling happily. He smiles, spotting them sitting with Cordelia. 

"And then your Aunt Leia swooped in and saved Uncle Han from getting himself in some serious trouble. She's a badass, and I hope both of you get some of her fire when you're older." She tells the two as they sit on the blanket in front of her. 

"I hope they grow up to be just like you, Delia." Din says as he sits next to her. Grogu babbles happily at him but continues eating his snack. 

"Dada!" Pandora squeals, quickly crawling into his lap. She wobbles as she stands on his leg, pressing her hands to his cheeks. He chuckles and takes her hands, kissing each of them before leaning down and kissing her forehead. She coos and sits down, leaning into him as she grabs her wookiee doll.

"It wasn't enough that she looks just like you, huh? You have to be her favorite?" Cordelia teases as she watches them. He chuckles and pulls her into his side, kissing her deeply.

"I can't help that I'm so lovable." He jokes as Grogu climbs onto Pandora's lap, shoving the last of his snack in his mouth. The kids begin babbling to each other and Cordelia rests her head on Din's shoulder. "And you can't say that I'm the favorite. Dada wasn't her first word." He argues.

"I can't believe her first word was Ben!" She replies, laughing. "Do you remember what he told us the last time we visited?" She asks. He laughs and looks down at Pandora, who happily babbles to her brother as he listens intently.

"He said we have to keep an eye on his future best friend." He answers, pulling his family closer, wishing they could see Han and Leia's family more often considering how busy the both of them are. 

They watch their children as the babble and play, cuddling and sneaking kisses while they soak up the privacy they'll have for a little while. 

***

"Oh, come on now, don't be a coward. You're an astromech, act like one." Peli scolds R5. She stands next to the cockpit, where Cordelia sits just in front of Din, holding their kids in her lap.

He reaches around her to use the controls, having to adjust with R5 taking her usual spot. He definitely won't complain about having his wife and kids so close to him. He'd hated the metal separating them but hadn't wanted to complain after Peli helped them find a new ship.

"I wouldn't rely too much on this one. Its circuitry is a little fragile." She adds.

"I thought you said it was built for adventure." Din says. Peli closes the canopy before he can argue with her.

"What? Sorry, I can't hear you!" She yells over the sound of the ship. Cordelia chuckles at her antics, watching as she backs away. She waves as the ship raises into the air and Din takes off through the fireworks.

"All right, kids. You ready for an adventure?" He says as they both look at the colorful explosions around them, babbling happily.