+ THE MEMORIES OF A FATHER +
(V)(V)(V)
"See You Again"
By: Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
It's been a long day without you, my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
We've come a long way from where we began
Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again
Damn, who knew?
All the planes we flew
Good things we've been through
That I'll be standing right here talking to you
'Bout another path
I know we loved to hit the road and laugh
But something told me that it wouldn't last
Had to switch up
Look at things different, see the bigger picture
Those were the days
Hard work forever pays
Now I see you in a better place (see you in a better place)
How can we not talk about family when family's all that we got?
Everything I went through you were standing there by my side
And now you gon' be with me for the last ride
First you both go out your way
And the vibe is feeling strong
And what's small turn to a friendship
A friendship turn to a bond
And that bond will never be broken
The love will never get lost (and the love will never get lost)
And when brotherhood come first
Then the line will never be crossed
Established it on our own
When that line had to be drawn
And that line is what we reach
So remember me when I'm gone (remember me when I'm gone)
So let the light guide your way, yeah
Hold every memory as you go
And every road you take, will always lead you home, home
It's been a long day without you, my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
We've come a long way from where we began
Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again
When I see you again
See you again
When I see you again
(V)(V)(V)
Rating: K.
Genre: Family/Hurt/Comfort.
Summary: A Jedi Master visits his father. A Mandalore speaks with his son. Adult Grogu. Oneshot.
Disclaimer: This story is pure fanfiction. I don't own any of the recognizable characters from Star Wars / Disney.
Author's Note: Welcome, my lovely readers! This is my fourth Mandalorian fanfic. If you haven't checked out my other Mandalorian fics, they're titled "The Redeemer", "The Protector", "The Captive", and "The Sins of the Past". The idea for this oneshot came to me in the wake of the Season 2 finale, when emotions were running very high! It wouldn't leave me alone, so I decided to just write something down. Thank you for all of your support for over the past 18 years. xx IFHD
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A sole starfighter smoothly touched down on the grey-brown surface of Mandalore, the expert landing cycle a testament to the skills of its primary pilot. The billowing clouds of earth and sand eventually settled, blanketing the small vessel in its entirety. The ship hissed as it powered down, the cockpit canopy slowly rising, opening. Though it was clear to move, the helmeted pilot merely sat on the seat for a few moments, still in contemplation. As tumultuous feelings threatened to seep into him, he closed his eyes, feeling the Force as he cleared his mind.
He turned to the blue and white astromech droid that was perched patiently on the wing to his left. "I'll be back, R2. Just wait here."
The droid flashed and chittered in reply.
The pilot knocked on the durasteel door of the modest home. The shelter, boasting a fusion of steel and stone, was at the center of a bucolic setting; a testament to the advancements of the Mandalorian people, but also indicative of the man who it housed. It emanated an aura of serenity. A feeling of hope that the peace upon the planet would remain unbroken.
The pilot waited patiently for a few more moments, listening with intent. He didn't receive an answer. However, given the times that he had visited the planet over the years, he knew precisely where to go next.
He set off on foot, true north, his shadow dancing upon the ground as the sun began to gradually set. Fallen leaves crunched beneath his booted feet as he progressed, knowing the winding path by heart. As he drew closer to the destination, the light sounds of a running brook graced his ears. He wasn't far now.
A sole being sat upon the bank, a lone headstone keeping him company at his side. His long, white hair tousled delicately in the wind, framing his comely countenance.
He seemed...tired.
"Hey, kid," the deep voice called out. Din twisted his head as the footsteps neared, a small smile gracing his wrinkled face. "Long time."
Grogu removed his helmet, his large, green ears extending from the sides of his head. Back at the Jedi Temple and here on Mandalore, it had always been one of his most endearing qualities growing up.
A pang of guilt surged through Grogu at the sight of his father. He regretted not coming home more often. Over the years, he should have come home more often. To spend time with his parents. To let them know that he was alright.
But the path that he had chosen - and the paths that his parents had chosen - had put service, duty, and honour over the considerations of self and family. Their familial life was far from normal to begin with. Then, the villainy that ravaged the galaxy over the years had kept them all busy.
Grogu approached with steady steps and took a seat beside Din, crossing his legs and resting his arms upon his thighs in an almost meditative pose. Though he forced a smile, he felt unsettled. "I miss mom," he admitted, fondly eyeing the headstone at their side.
"I do, too." Din put a hand on Grogu's armoured shoulder, always pleased to see the Mudhorn signet upon his pauldron. It reminded him of his son's oath. Of his loyalty to the clan. "I'm glad you're home."
Grogu's eyes fell to the whispering waters before them, silently watching the fish floating by. He tucked his knees closer to his torso, encircling his arms around his legs. A sigh escaped his lips. "You know...I still think about what happened on Gideon's ship all those years ago."
This garnered Din's attention. He eyed Grogu in curiosity. "What do you mean?"
"Whether I had made the right decision to go with Skywalker."
Din remained pensive, his gaze now in front of him. Orange light illuminated his eyes. "You wouldn't be where you are today if you hadn't. Think of all the lives that you've saved. The Jedi and Mandalorians that you've trained." Din shook his head, his resolve firm. "You should never regret that choice. Ever."
Grogu shifted in his seat. "I did it for you, too, Dad."
"I know, kid. I know."
Grogu couldn't fight the sinking feeling in his stomach anymore. His heart began to constrict, the growing feelings in him threatening to take over once more. He fought with all of his might to calm his mind; to not allow fear and anger to develop. It would be dangerous. "You didn't tell me," he said quietly.
Din lowered his head with a sigh. He should have known better than to try to hide something from his own son. A Mandalorian Jedi. "I didn't want to put another burden on you," he admitted quietly. "I know you're already dealing with so much."
Grogu faced Din entirely. His voice became uneven. "I can heal you."
Din gave a low chuckle. Violent coughs lined the tail end of the sound. "The Force can't cure everything, kid." He greedily gulped air, resting a hand on Grogu's upper back. "You know as well as I do that this is all part of the circle of life. Human life."
Grogu had once thought that the Jedi were not to form attachments, but Luke reminded him that it was not the attachment that led to the Dark Side, but it was the fear of losing that attachment that was dangerous. And Din was right. He did know about the circle of life. That the Way was to treasure those we loved, and rejoice when they returned to the Force.
What they didn't teach you, however, was how difficult that would be.
Din coaxed Grogu to look at him, his voice hopeful. "But you? Well, if Grand Master Yoda lived to be 900 years old, then you're just at the start of your life. You both became Masters at 100. You have centuries left to live. To ensure that peace and prosperity reign throughout the galaxy." Din's gaze became distant, the many memories of his long life flashing through his mind. "I've done my time as Mand'alor. Done everything I could to reunite the clans. To bring this planet back from the brink of destruction."
A small smile appeared on Grogu's face as he gestured to the scenery before them. "You didn't do too bad of a job, either."
Din smirked, nudging him lightly with an elbow. "I couldn't have done it without you."
For a few moments, they merely sat together in silence, reveling in their surroundings and each other's company.
Din reached for something in his trouser pocket. For a few heartbeats, he fondly eyed the circular shifter knob in his weathered hands. The rusting metal around it exhibited its age. In a steady motion, he extended the item to Grogu. "You probably came for this instead of me, anyway."
Grogu's brown eyes widened in surprise as his head tilted to the side. When was the last time that he had seen that favourite toy of his? He didn't even think that he would ever see it again.
Mist began to fill Grogu's eyes as he finally accepted the piece of metal from his father. His tri-fingered hand shook as he enclosed the trinket in his palm. It seemed so much smaller than he remembered; but, then again, he had grown just a little. Rivulets of tears now cascaded freely down his green face, tumbling to the brown collar of the robe beneath his armour.
He wasn't ready for this. He needed more time.
No, no. He needed to be strong.
To remember the Way.
Grogu's voice trembled as he looked up. "Dad?"
"Hey, come on," Din said soothingly, wrapping him in a tight embrace. His own voice wavered. "It's alright, kid. Everything will be alright. I promise."
With a sob, Grogu returned the embrace, holding on to his father's shirt. "I love you, Dad."
Tears began to flow from Din's eyes as he closed them. "I love you, too, son."
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A/N: I definitely became emotional when writing this. It was super painful to imagine. But, ya know, I did it to myself. Hope you all liked it, though! :) Let me know what you think. xx IFHD