Hello all! I know, second story published in less than two weeks after two-three years of radio silence — surely the sky must be falling, right?

Well, this is only a drabble series, though, nothing big. Nonetheless, I hope you'll all enjoy it...and that you share my opinion that Ja'far is one of the coolest characters in Magi and really doesn't get enough love! I mean, my OTP for this fandom, SinJa, is far more popular than I'd expected for a pairing involving two secondary characters, but all the same, stories that focus on developing Ja'far's character instead of his relationship with Sinbad or Kouen are disappointingly rare; not to say that I don't enjoy such fics, but, well, I still have yet to find anything resembling what I'd really like to read, so I decided to simply write it myself. Yep. Well, here goes!

Word count: 669

Warning(s): family fluff galore, perhaps a degree of OOC-ness despite my best efforts...and that's it really. This chapter, for one, is definitely rated K.

Disclaimer: I disclaim.

Within days of his return to Sindria, Sinbad quickly and effortlessly becomes a father figure to Alibaba, Aladdin and Morgiana.

As endlessly busy as he is — either actually working or trying his very best to escape Ja'far's eagle eye and run off into town for a drink (or ten) — he always manages to find at least a little time for the three of them, offering them understanding and guidance with surprising wisdom for such a seemingly flighty man. Sinbad treats Morgiana like a beloved daughter, coddling her outrageously even though he was shown handily, what feels like a lifetime ago in Balbadd, that the Fanalis girl is quite capable of taking care of herself. Aladdin, he seems to see as the baby of the family, spoiling him rotten even as he does his best to bring out the magi's full potential, both magical and intellectual. Lastly, Alibaba, for his part, seems to have taken on the role of Sinbad's eldest son, the trust the King holds in both Alibaba's courage and his potential as a warrior spurring the young Dungeon Capturer to stand tall and hold his chin up high, to believe in himself as much as Sinbad believes in him.

Ja'far, by contrast, is like a particularly doting mother. It's not like the deceptively slight man doesn't encourage all three of them to better themselves and hone their combat abilities – but all the same he's always there for them at the end of their long days of training, fussing over them at the dinner table every night before he firmly shoos them off to bathe and sleep, even readily brushing Aladdin and Morgiana's freshly washed hair for them whenever they ask.

Ja'far, despite his bloody past, is patience, and warmth, and kindness. Aladdin loves spending the occasional afternoon dozing on the man's lap while Ja'far diligently works his way through the seemingly never-decreasing mountain of paperwork that occupies his writing desk; Morgiana comes out of every reading lesson the ex-assassin imparts on her with bright, happy eyes and a timid but delighted smile on her face, delighted to have been the object of Ja'far's undivided, indulgent attention for a whole two hours. Ja'far is the one Alibaba always goes to when his nightmares of Kassim's demise become too much to bear, and the Sindrian official has even offered Alibaba a literal shoulder to cry on more than once, gently carding his fingers through the ex-prince's golden hair in an incredibly soothing motion the whole while until Alibaba falls asleep once more.

Sinbad is their father, wise and worldly and always, always accepting and approving; Ja'far is their mother, sweet and loving and always ready with a warm pat on the head and a kind word if ever they need it (but that doesn't mean Ja'far isn't still stubborn, naggy and terrifying enough to keep them all in line if ever the need to do so should arise). The rest of the Eight Generals have taken on the role of their older siblings, aunts and uncles, but in the end it's the King and his head Advisor that all three children feel closest to, even moreso than Yamuraiha or Sharrkan or Masrur.

Alibaba, Aladdin and Morgiana will never be able to feel happy about the outcome of the Balbaddian monarchy's downfall – poverty, illness, violence, Kassim's fall into depravity, Ugo's disappearance, the Kou Empire's takeover.

But all the same, every time they find themselves breaking bread at a long, narrow table alongside nine adults whom they can trust, who love and care for them unconditionally, and watching with weary amusement as Ja'far tries – unsuccessfully – to nag an unrepentant Sinbad into submission for skiving off yet again when there was work to be done, fussily piling more food onto Aladdin's plate in the same breath…The three young heroes can't help but feel grateful that fate saw fit to grant them this: a warm home to come home to, a purpose, and most importantly of all, a family to call their own.

-o.O.o.-

Magi isn't a very popular fandom compared to KnB or KHR so I'm not expecting much, but reviews make me smile, so if you readers can find it within your hearts to drop me a kind (or incendiary, though I'm warning you, I will cry) word on your way out, you would make my day a little bit brighter.

Saggezza out.