The Foundling Chapter Three
Summary: As the Liberation Festival takes off, Satine finally gets a family.
Satine was grounded for two whole weeks when she came back to the Tribe, although she had a feeling that it was more out of Bo being more protective than her actually being in trouble. She wasn't confined to her room but had to constantly help with jobs for the tribe under the watchful eye of members of the covert.
Ahsoka had been interested to learn that she had made a connection with the Griffins, and before she had left for a mission to seek out more Mandalorians and a connection to someone named Thrawn, she had told her about Ezra. A boy who found his family and who could understand the force and creatures like she could.
Satine liked that story. She liked learning about how Ezra had lost his parents like her and that he wasn't alone. She hoped one day she could meet him, but Ahsoka said he was a long way from home.
The Armorer was less than pleased, but she tended to her cuts and gently reminded her that she couldn't wander off like that again. Because what would they do if they lost her?
Satine didn't have any answers for that, but she hugged the Armorer anyway, and thanked her for being so kind to her even though she was mad.
"We are family Ad'ika. I care about you." The Armorer replied and sent Satine on her way. It wasn't until the end of those two weeks that the Armorer sought out Bo when she was alone. She had been gone for a week already with Din, and it wasn't something she wanted to bring up on a holo-call.
Bo put her helmet down and sighed as she sat in their quarters. The Armorer removed her helmet as well, and sat next to Bo on their bed, looking at her expectantly.
Bo caught her eye and smiled before leaning in so she could kiss her wife. "I missed you too, my love."
The Armorer wrapped an arm around her, and Bo sighed. "Is something wrong?" She asked, wondering why she was being so quiet.
"I was thinking about Satine." The Armorer replied. "Her training is going well."
"It is." Bo replied. "Ahsoka's teaching her to be quite the force weilding maniac."
"She is, though." Bo grinned.
"She needs a family." The Armorer said pointedly. "Satine needs to be adopted, Bo. And I think -"
"Then I will adopt her." Bo explains, interrupting. "We both will." She looks at the Armorer and pulls her in for another kiss. When they part, the Armorer is smiling.
"She would make a fine heir. But Satine needs all the love and support a parent can give" She answers and puts a hand on Bo's back. "Is she still grounded?"
Bo shook her head. "No. She's with Paz and Ragnar right now. Learning how to repair blast doors."
"We should take her to the festival tonight that Greef Karga is hosting."
"She has been working hard. The liberation festival, right?" Bo asked, curious. She had little time to pay much attention to what new party Greef was running every week.
"The Bendu festival the children are calling it." The Armorer slipped her helmet back on. "We should go find our daughter."
Bo nodded, her heart warming at the thought of that. She hadn't been around too much, but Satine almost getting killed had softened her, just a bit. She didn't want anyone else looking after Satine. No when they could do a better job themselves. And Bo thought, she was blood. She needed to be there for her. She needed to show how much she cared.
They found Satine watching Paz work with Ragnar, both paying attention the best way children could. By not paying much attention at all. Bo watched as Ragnar punched Satine in the arm, and then Satine hit him back just as hard.
"Did. I saw you staring at that village girl." Ragnar whispered to Satine. "You couldn't even talk when she said hello."
"Yes I did." Satine fought back.
"No you said something that sounded like a word, but I thought maybe you got stung by a bug." Ragnar laughed, and Paz turned to look at them, standing up.
"I'll ground you both next if you don't start paying attention." Paz told them. He looked at Satine. "Next time you go to the village, stop stalling and talk to her. Mandalorians do not shy away from courting." He looked up at Bo and the Armorer. "But I think we are finished for today."
Satine turned and let out a cry of joy before she threw herself at Bo. "You're home!"
"I wasn't gone that long, Satine." Bo laughed and steadied her with her hands on her shoulders. "We came to pick you up."
Satine looked at Ragnar. "For a mission?"
"You don't have beskar yet." The Armorer looked at Bo.
"Rats." Satine whispered.
"We're taking you to the festival. Consider yourself ungrounded, little warrior." Bo explained.
"Yes!" Satine cheered. She pumped her fist in the air. "Thank you!"
Bo nodded. She looked at Paz and Ragnar. "Thank you for watching her today."
"You are welcome Mand'alor." Paz dipped his head and put a hand on Ragnar to lead him away. "We need to go ourselves son."
Ragnar nodded. "Okay, dad. Bye, Satine." He waved as he was led away, and Satine returned it before looking back up at the Armorer and Bo. "Can we go now? Please?"
"Calm down. You need to change and wash your face. And then we can go Ad'ika." The Armorer watched as Satine ran off, and they waited until she came back with a fresh tunic and pants, and a red kerchief around her neck that Din had insisted Grogu had picked out for her.
Satine held out her arms. "See. I'm all clean now."
"Let's go then." Bo replied, amused.
By the time they got to the town in Navarro, the festival was in full swing with people dancing and colorful lanterns hung up everywhere. Satine danced beside them a bit, excited and Bo watched her carefully.
"This is the first festival I've ever been to." Satine told them. She patted her pocket. The Armorer had given her a few credits to spend like her parents had once done for her. Bo had teased her, warning her not to spend ot all in one place. And Satine felt like she was their child. Only parents did that kind of stuff, right?
Satine sighed and looked up at the colorful lanterns before she felt a slight pull on the force. She looked around and then spotted an old lady sitting down. She didn't know why, but Satine wanted to talk to her.
"I'll be right back." Satine looked up at the Armorer and Bo. "I need to do something." She walked off before they could say anything, and Bo sighed.
"Don't act like that, isn't your Clan Kryze impulsiveness coming out." The Armorer watched Satine, and scolded Bo.
"It must be a Jedi thing." Bo counters, and they follow Satine, one cautious, and the other curious.
She stared and watched the old lady sitting on the step, before she approached her.
"Hi. I'm Satine." Satine greeted her. "Why are you sitting down? Are you hurt?" She asked. The old woman turned to look at her with a smile.
"Not hurt child, just resting before I go and see the stalls." The old woman paused. "And I'm waiting for my granddaughter."
"Oh." Satine nodded thoughtfully.
"She's about your age." The old woman replied.
"Maybe I could come back sometime and be her friend." Satine offered.
"Yes, perhaps. Her name is Lyraetha. " The old woman shifted, amused. Satine smiled and looked over at the stalls, before her hand dropped to her pocket. Her hands grasped the credits as Ahsoka's voice came to mind.
A Jedi's worth is not measured in their actions but by their heart.
"Here." Satine said as she took out the credits, "I don't need it." Satine pushed the credits into her hand. "You should treat yourself and Lyra to something nice."
The Armorer put a hand on Bo's back as they approached after watching the conversation from afar.
"Thank you, child." The old woman smiled, looking less weary. She turned her head to look at the Armorer and Bo and inclined her head before they nodded back in acknowledgment.
"Who are these? You're bodyguards?" The old woman teased.
"No. That's my mother-" Satine pointed to Bo, "And that's my Buir." She motioned to the Armorer. "This is my very first festival." She said proudly.
The old lady smiled and looked at them. "It's nice to see parents taking an interest in their children these days." She patted Satine on the head gently and smiled. "Have fun with your parents child, thank you for helping me."
Satine stepped back and bowed her head, smiling. "Let me know if you need anything else. I was happy to help." She turned to Bo and the Armorer and took one of their hands in each of hers so she was in the middle; looking up expectantly.
"I'm glad our daughter was able to assist you." The Armorer nodded and Bo gave the woman a small smile. "Please take care of yourself." She added, before Satine started to pull them away. They walked for a ways, toward some of the stalls, when Satine looked up at them curiously.
"Do you think I did the right thing?"
"I think you did a wonderful thing." Bo says softly. She squeezes Satine's hand. "You're very kind hearted, Satine. Don't lose that."
"I won't." Satine promises. "Can we go and get ice cream?"
The Armorer laughs and looks at Bo. "Well can we?"
"I...yes." She looked at the Armorer, and asked, "Do you really think of us as your parents Satine?"
"Mhmm. Yes." Satine looks up at them. "You take care of me and care about me. That's what parents do." She thinks briefly about Ahsoka. "I have three parents though. Both of you and Ahsoka too." Satine smiles at them. "Do you think she would mind if I called her mom?"
Bo blinked. "Well that might be something you need to ask her when she gets back."
"Okay!" Satine smiled at Bo, and there was a brief moment where Bo felt like she was looking at her sister again. When she was happy. "You know something mother?"
Bo let out a sharp breath. "What is it little warrior?"
"I'm glad I have a family again." Satine told them thoughtfully. The armorer and Bo looked at each other, and the Armorer tilted her head.
"We're glad to be your family Satine. There's something I've been meaning to ask you." Bo stopped Satine and knelt down so she was on her level. "How would you like it if The Armorer and I adopted you? Formally?"
Satine swallowed hard. "Really?"
"Really." The Armorer said from above them. She put her hands on Satine's shoulders and squeezed them.
"I'd like that. Very much." Satine said softly and Bo took one of her hands.
"Ni kar'tayl gai sa'ad." Bo said as she looked at the Armorer. She heard her take in a slight breath, before she repeated the words as well,
I now know your name as my child.
"Now you are Satine Kryze, heir to the throne. And Princess of Mandalore and its systems." The Armorer said, and they could hear the smile in her voice.
Bo hugged Satine tightly, and Satine tucked her head into Bo's shoulder. "I'm so happy we found you."
Satine felt the force sing, and grasped onto it as she hugged Bo back. As the Armorer watched over them both, knowing that this was the right decision.
And that the force had led her way home.