Arani Jakal was not prepared to be stranded on an unfamiliar planet, causing her whole life to change. But in the chaos, a friend or two popped up - seemingly from nowhere - wishing to help. Ari gladly accepted and quickly became part of a small tow...
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DIN SHIFTED, STILL STANDING on the front steps of Ari's family home. After years of trying to track the man down, he had finally found Fadil. After his surrogate niece was pronounced dead, Fadil retreated from the eye of society, rarely answering messages or calls.
Which was why Din had been surprised when the older man responded. He had explained vaguely that he had found something very important to the Lord, and after much convincing, Fadil had given him the address of his house.
As Fadil enveloped Ari in a tight embrace, he met Din's gaze and nodded his thanks, coming to an understanding that the cargo the Mandalorian had brought him was indeed very important.
Footsteps echoed in the domed room, and Din could just make out four individuals. Two looked just like Ari, and he knew that they were her siblings. The other men must have been Adhara's husband and her nephew.
Ari immediately removed herself from her uncle's side upon seeing the rest of her family, and Din smiled as she hugged Arros, who was no longer five years old but a young man.
Fadil turned to him with a wave of his hand. "Come in, come in."
Before the man could continue speaking, Din stepped inside and quickly glanced about. He felt very out of place.
The marble floor had been polished so much that his reflection could be seen in it, the warm light of lamps that could only be powered by a large enough plasma resource. Two doors on either side of the round entryway led to what appeared to be a sitting room and a dining hall. A double staircase made of the same marble wrapped around the edge of the room where Ari and her siblings were talking.
Din knew that Ari had come from a well-off family; she had been a senator for Force's sake, but it didn't hit him how different their lives had truly been until now. A hand was placed on his shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts, training back on Fadil.
"Thank you for returning her. You have no idea how much this means to us."
"I've some idea. It wasn't long ago that I thought I'd lost her forever, too."
A gleam of recognition passed over the man's bright eyes. "You know I was quite confused as to why she was with a Mandalorian, but then it dawned on me: you're a bounty hunter, you bring people in . . . for the right price."
"I don't want-"
"I know, I figured that out when you didn't demand a payment. You care for my niece, don't you?"
Din could laugh. If only Fadil could feel the emotions he had when simply looking at Ari. But he figured it was better to cut to the chase. "Well, I did marry her."
A grin broke out on the man's face, the joy radiating off him almost infectious. "You're kidding, never thought I'd see the day. Ever sence she was a little girl, she didn't want anything to do with men; she was too busy studying to care. How long have you been together?"
"Three years." He didn't want to go into the details that, technically, theirmarriagehadlasteda daysofar.
Fadil barked out a laugh. "I would have expected her to finally acknowledge you after three years." He glanced back at Ari. "She's changed, hasn't she?" He asked rhetorically, Din not knowing exactly what she was like before Tatooine. Fadil was about to say something else when Ari's conversation with her brother became heated.
"-We thought you were dead," snapped Ehsan. "And now you show up at our doorstep. You've at least sent us a message." Shaking his head, he fled up the stairs behind him.
"Ehsan, wait!" Ari shouted, following him, but Kaidan grabbed her arm. She turned to him, eyes pleading and knuckles white as she gripped the railing.
"Leave him be," said Kaidan, voice almost hollow. It was clear this was not the first outburst they dealt with, brought about by Ari's disappearance.
But Ari wasn't having it. Shaking her head furiously, she stormed up the stairs, knowing where to go as if she had never gone. Din didn't blame her; if anyone knew how to calm Ehsan, it would be her. They had been inseparable as kids, for 20 years, he had been her best friend.
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ARI KNOCKED CALMLY on Ehsan's door, calling his name and waiting patiently for an answer. When there was no response, she sighed but wasn't surprised that he had not changed. It was like they were teenagers again, arguing over the most insignificant thing, each wanting to be in the right. Ari had to smile; the littlest things brought back so many memories that it was almost overwhelming.
"Sani, it wasn't my intention to hurt you. I know I promised you that I would return, then didn't, and I'm so sorry for doing that. But for five years I forgot you existed-"
"How can someone forget their family?" he snapped, words muffled.
"Because when my ship crashed, I lost all my memories!" Ari shouted back, frustration boiling in her veins. Rubbing her temple, she took a few deep breaths, trying to keep herself together. "I couldn't remember who I was, let alone five other people. I really am sorry that I didn't come home sooner, but I was scared that you would turn me away. And then a bunch of shit went down, and I had to blow up a couple of Imperial bases . . . Eventually, it just seemed pointless to try to explain why I was missing for a decade, I see now that I was wrong. I was so scared when Din brought me here-"
"Din?"
"My husband."
The door flung open, and Ari jumped back, wide eyes taking in the excitement plastered on Ehsan's face. "You got married? To the Mandalorian downstairs?" She nodded. "Force, Ani, you've been busy. And the kid?"
Arani flushed, knowing what he was hinting at. "He's adopted."
"Thank the Maker," huffed her brother with a hand over his heart. "Imagine if your type was 'green', I think I'd throw myself into the river."
"Ehsan!"
He ignored her, shrugging. "But the whole 'helmet' thing makes sense, adds an air of mystery. No one was of interest to you because they were all an open book; nothing got past you. I mean, you don't have to look at him if you don't want to; that's a plus if you're angry with him."
Ari could only roll her eyes. "I'm going to assume you're feeling better?"
Ehsan's mischievous gaze softened into sympathy. "I should be the apologising, Ani. It must've been terrifying not knowing anything about yourself or where you came from. I was quick to anger, I'm sorry."
She held her arms out to him, and he slumped closer, resting his forehead on her shoulder. "Sani, it's okay. No one is at fault. What happened happened, all we can do now is move forward."
"There's so much we need to catch up on. I hope you stay."
Ari's chest tightened, restricting her lungs. She wished she could, but deep down she knew this was no longer her home. While she loved visiting Naboo, something was different about it. She didn't need a grand house or a dotting maid; she was content with the cabin Greef had gifted them. She enjoyed her adventures with Din - she wanted excitement over comfort, she now realized.
