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The galaxy was a big place with numerous planets. So many that no one had been to them all, not even long-lived species like Grogu's kind. So it didn't surprise Din Djarin that there were planets out there that not only had he and Grogu not been to but ones that were uncharted. Like the one they had stumbled onto. It had been quite and adventure.
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It had started off as a simple mission. Din Djarin & Grogu had met up with a friend of Bo Katan's named Hera. She had been very nice, even allowed Grogu to play with her son Jacen under the watchful eye of her droid Chopper while she and Din Djarin discussed the mission. She was pretty, too, though twi'lek never interested him all that much despite his respect for them. (Though he had to admit she was easily ten times prettier than Xi'an had been.) The job was to deliver supplies to a small settlement in the Outer Rim.
"Thank you for doing this," Hera said as she helped Din Djarin load the supplies. "I'd do it myself but I promised my father that Jacen & I would be on Ryloth for the holidays this year."
"How long has it been since you've been home?" Din Djarin asked.
"A year before the Battle for Yavan. The rebellion kept me pretty busy & my father was busy liberating Ryloth."
"Your father is Cham Syndulla, right?"
He had heard about General Syndulla but had never met him.
"Yes. Have you met him?" Hera said.
Cham rarely left Ryloth but she knew that Din Djarin traveled the galaxy.
"I never had the pleasure. But I have heard of him."
"Well, he can be a little stubborn but I'm like that, too. Thankfully, Jacen seems to take after his father."
Din Djarin didn't ask about Jacen's father. He could tell that it was a delicate subject. Ahsoka had told him that he had died before Jacen was born; sacrificing himself to save Hera, Sabine, and Ezra. He would gladly sacrifice himself for Grogu. The supplies loaded, it was time to gather up Grogu and head out.
"Come on, kid," he said picking Grogu up. "We have to deliver these supplies."
Grogu looked over at Jacen as if he didn't want to leave his friend.
"We'll stop at Ryloth on the way home and you can play some more with your new friend."
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The trip was uneventful. They dropped off the supplies and discovered another, smaller shipment for a nearby planet. Landing the ship on a mountain with many houses built from the summit to the base, Din Djarin got out only to be greeted by an angry looking lurac hound.
"Nice doggie," he said backing up slightly.
Five kids from five different races ran up the path.
"Batcher, no," said the togruta. "Aunt Hera commed Mom and told her he was coming."
"Come on, Batcher, back off," said the trandoshian trying to push their pet back as the togruta, a twi'lek, a nautolan, and a rodian tried to help him.
"Batcher, heel!" said a woman.
Batcher immediately relaxed.
"Hunter. Wrecker. Echo. Tech. Crosshair. Take Batcher and go play," the woman said walking up to them.
All five kids headed back down the path.
"We could have gotten Batcher to obey, Mom," the rodian said.
"I know, Crosshair. Now go play with your brothers."
The woman looked towards Din Djarin.
"Sorry about that. Batcher used to be a guard dog."
"Hi, Omega. How's Boba doing?"
"Last I heard fine. He was hoping to come visit me and the boys for Christmas, but something came up and he had to cancel. He said he try to make it for New Years and, if not, we plan to visit him for Easter. Would you like to come in?"
"Give me a moment," Din Djarin said getting Grogu out of the ship.
Omega smiled.
"Hi, cutie," she said.
"Mom," the twi'lek said, "Crosshair's not playing the game right."
"I'll have a talk with him," Omega said. "In the meantime, why don't you and your brothers show Grogu around?"
Din Djarin passed Grogu to the twi'lek as the other four joined them.
"Be careful," he told the boys. "He's still a baby."
"We'll take good care of him," the togruta said.
"That's Hunter, my oldest and first baby," Omega said as the boys carefully made their way down the path followed by Batcher. "He's very responsible. So are Echo and Tech."
Din Djarin knew he could trust her. She knew her sons. But it was hard. He just wasn't used to Grogu not being with him since they were reunited.
"Can I get you something to drink?" Omega asked as they entered the walled in patio.
"I appreciate the offer but I only just regained the privilege to wear my helmet."
By the time the boys had gotten back, Din Djarin had told Omega everything from when he had first met Grogu and Omega had told him about her life on Kamino, her adventures with her brothers, growing up on Pabu, and her time in the Rebellion.
"Mom," Wrecker said, "can Grogu and his dad stay the night?"
"I'm afraid we can't," Din Djarin said. "We need to get back to Mandalore. We stopped by here to deliver your aunt's package."
The boys started to argue but Omega stopped them.
"Boys, who's watching?" she asked.
"Santa," they said together.
"That's right. And, if you want him to bring you presents, you have to be good."
"We'll be good, Mom. We promise," Tech said.
"That's all I ask. Now go set the table. Dinner's almost ready."
Her boys hurried into the house.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Omega asked Din Djarin. "I can keep the kids outside while you eat."
"Please stay," the boys said looking out the window.
"You don't really have a choice now," Omega said with a smile. "They can be very persistent."
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"Have a safe trip," Omega said.
She, her sons, and Batcher had gone to the top of Pabu with Grogu and Din Djarin to see them off.
"Come back and visit soon," Wrecker said.
"Before we forget," Tech said holding out two wrapped boxes.
"Thank you," Djarin said taking both boxes.
"They're each a little something from our beach," Echo said.
"They boys love to go to the beach," Omega said. "They're always bringing things back; especially after a storm."
"That's when all the best stuff washes ashore," Crosshair said.
"They're Christmas presents," Hunter said.
"I'll make sure that Grogu doesn't open them. Come on, kid. Time to head home."
The trip was uneventful until they suddenly dropped out of hyperspace and were forced to land on a snow-covered planet.
"Yeah, it's a blown capacitor," Din Djarin said after checking the ship.
The sound of snow crunching caused him to turn around. There stood a snow white wookiee.
"Problems with your ship?" it said. "Perhaps my friends can help."
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The ship had been pulled to a quant little village by eight snow white banthas where a small team of snow white ewoks went to work on it. Din Djarin also couldn't help but notice that the other ewoks were making toys.
"I appreciate this," he said to the wookiee. "Everyone seems busy."
"This is our busy time of year but we'll make sure you get home."
Grogu tossed snow into the air and watched it fall. He had seen snow before but it always fascinated him. Several smaller Ewoks (children Din Djarin assumed) played with him. Grogu rarely got a chance to play with other kids so Din Djarin let him be. The village was actually very quaint and, despite everyone being busy, quiet. It reminded him of their home except covered in snow and ice instead of sand and lava.
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While the Ewoks worked on his ship, Din Djarin walked around the village. He had been to many hidden villages before but none like this. It was so quaint. It was beyond peaceful. He couldn’t live here but it was a nice place to visit.
“There you are,” the Wookie said coming up to him. “The Ewoks should have your ship ready soon.”
“That’s good,” Din Djarin said.
He couldn’t explain it but he was actually looking forward to Christmas this year.
“Can’t have you missing your first Christmas together.”
Din Djarin looked at him. How had he known?
“I have my ways,” the Wookiee said as if reading his mind.
An ewok came up talking excitedly.
“It seems your ship is ready.
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The trip back home was uneventful. Along the way, Din Djarin made some mental plans for the holidays. He had no idea if Grogu had celebrated Christmas before and wanted to make this one special. The people of Nevarro had decorated the village in anticipation of the holiday. Even Din Djarin and Grogu’s home was brightly decorated. Grogu was very excited. The other children had been telling him about Christmas for weeks.
When Christmas morning dawned, Grogu woke his dad eager to open his presents. And there were quite a few. Their friends from the village had sent gifts as had their enclave and Bo Katan and their friend Ahsoka Tano and her apprentice Sabine Wren and Sabine’s husband Ezra Bridger. Hera and Jacen had sent presents along with the ones they had received from Omega and her boys. Even Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Peli Motto, and the Duchess of Plazir-15 and her husband had sent gifts. But there were several that Din Djarin hadn’t noticed until now. He remembered the children of the village talking about some being they called Santa Claus. Is that who he and Grogu met? Grogu pulled one of the presents towards him. Like any little kid, he was eager to get to the presents. Din Djarin watched as his young charge began ripping the paper. Their first Christmas together was turning out perfect.