This is a little Aari/Acorna one-shot that I just had to write.

The Joy Of Togetherness

Aari slowly opened his eyes, his beloved lifemate's stirring pulling him out of a most wonderful dream.

Looking into her sleeping face, his heart felt content for the first time for many ghaanyi. He had missed her so, so much, and finally they were back together again.

Tenderly, lovingly, he brushed a strand of hair out of her face, smiling as she pressed herself deeper into his embrace. He rested his head against hers, thankful that she was safe in his arms.

He vividly remembered the cold feeling that had settled in his stomach, threatening to take over, as he realized the danger Acorna was in. How he had felt so helpless seeing the white dot that represented her on the time charts surrounded by the green dots of the Khleevi. He would rather get recaptured a dozen times by the Khleevi than to let them have her. He loved her too much than to allow anything to harm her.

As he looked at her, he realized the suffering his disappearance must have caused her, her frustration at not being able to come after him. And how had she felt when she thought he had returned, but the only way it was him was in appearance?

Now, more than ever, he deeply regretted allowing Grimalkin to learn so much about his life. Most of all, he regretted telling him so much about Acorna. He should have known that after hearing Aari constantly talk about her, he would want to claim her for himself, at least just once!

Sensing Acorna's emotions, he felt how happy she was at his return. Not Aari Whole-Horn, who was the shape-shifter Grimalkin, the one who told her that to save his brother he had to give up his memories of their life together, and they could just make new memories. He felt how happy she was that the real Aari, her Aari, had returned. The one who cherished their memories and life together as much as she did.

Aari felt an uncharacteristic burst of anger towards Grimalkin for the suffering he had put Acorna through. How hurt she must have been because of him! He wondered how he would feel if Acorna would throw their life together away. It was a feeling he couldn't bear to imagine.

He would never give up his memories of Acorna; they were too precious to him. Not for anything in the world. Well, maybe one thing. Acorna. He would give up anything for her. And besides, what would be the point of letting her perish just to keep his memories of her?

Pulling himself out of that trail of thought, he stood up, picking Acorna up with him. He tightened his arms around her, she, in her sleep, resting her head against his shoulder. He carried her back to the pavilion, leaving their shipsuits behind.

He went inside the pavilion, finding the large sleeping mat inside. Laying her upon it, he started to pull away so he could lie down beside her, but her strong arms stayed around his neck, pulling him into her embrace once more.

(Yaazi, I am so glad you are finally home. Now I need you to come all the way home to me. All the way home.)

He was only too happy to oblige.

: The thought speak is directly out of Acorna's Triumph. I saw absolutely no reason to change it, since I love it the way it is.

AN 2: Thanks to the wonderful world of bomb threats to my school, we had no school today, therefore giving me the time to type this little story. And to work on my others, which are, unfortunately, not ready to be updated yet.

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