A/N: In this chapter, Keesha and Ahsoka will be having more children, so the GHOST family will be getting bigger. Also Ezra and Sabine will grow closer to their two future spouses. Sorry for the slow updates. I've been fighting one of those blasted flu bugs that I can't seem to shake! Warning for some mature content.

Chapter 21 More Additions to the Family

Ahsoka Tano was beaming when she came out of the hogan followed by Sisiutl, with Hera and Kanan following behind. She ran to Rex and gave him a big kiss on the mouth.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"I'm pregnant!" the Togrutan woman said hugging him tighter, "In about eight months, we'll be welcoming a new addition to the family!"

Rex's response was a relieved smile and a chuckle that hid the tears that threatened to fall. He embraced Ahsoka even more giving her a very passionate kiss on the lips.

The rest of the family came out to congratulate the soon-to-be parents and vowed to help them in any way. Keesha watched her former lover just glow with excitement and she felt sad touching her flat stomach through her long native dress. Sucking in her breath, she looked over to see Zeb playing with the children and she yearned for a child of her own. Nothing seemed to be happening even with the numerous times that the couple mated. Keesha figured it wasn't the Great Spirit's intention for her to have a child of her own, since she had miscarried the baby that she intended to have with Ahsoka.

Her yearnings would not go unnoticed...

Two months after Ahsoka announced her pregnancy, Keesha paid a visit to the shaman. The big native woman had been having some cramping and a little bleeding worrying Zeb and the rest of the family. The Lasat hoped he wasn't about to lose someone else he loved. Keesha dying would be the last thing he wanted to endure. He paced back and forth outside the hogan and nearly drove Hera and Kanan crazy with his nervous energy. They finally got him to sit down with Ezra and Sabine knowing the two young people had a way of getting through to him. Finally, Keesha walked out her head up and a smile on her face. She walked over and sat down next to Zeb leaned over and put her head on his shoulder.

"Keesha," he whispered hoping it wasn't bad news.

"Begadi-Zeb," she said giving him a kiss on the cheek, "We have...baby."

Zeb's mouth hung open and he felt tears in his eyes.

"When?"

Hera answered for Keesha, "In about seven months. Zeb, Keesha has to take it easy for it could be a difficult time for her. Because she suffered a miscarriage before and her age, makes it harder on her and she has to be more careful. You and the children will have to help her more. Kanan and I have talked, and we want to move you, Keesha and the children back into the family tipi so we can help you with her. She has to remain in bed for the first month and possibly more, but we'll see how she does."

Zeb looked down at his wife and put an arm around her shoulders to pull her into a gentle hug.

"Keesha...my keorara..." he said nuzzling his face to hers, "I'll take care of you. I love you. Nothing will happen to you as long as I'm around."

"That's what we wanted to hear," Kanan said motioning to Rex, Ezra, Sabine and Hera to help with getting the family's belongings moved to the large tipi shelter.

Keesha was made comfortable on a large bed of furred blankets and given a potion to help her sleep. Zeb made sure the children left her alone for awhile and was thankful that his younger "siblings" would keep the children occupied so he could care for Keesha. He chose to lay beside her and hold her close as she slept. Even in her sleep, Keesha was aware of her Lasat husband laying next to her. Heaving a loud sigh, she cuddled closer to him.

While the two women waited for the upcoming births, their children continued to grow and mature. Much to Rex's and Zeb's discomfort, Cody and Totonga wanted to learn how to use a bow and arrow. Totonga even wanted to learn how to use Zeb's bo-rifle, which he was told he could when he got older. In the Lasat tradition, the eldest child in a Lasat family would inherit the father's bo-rifle, so it would go to Totonga when he reached a certain age. Ashla chose to be a typical little girl who was half Lasat and at times acted like a little Lasat female, but she acted alot like a human child, since she was around so many humans. Jacen grew and since he was Force sensitive, Kanan and Ezra worked with the little boy to teach him how to use his abilities. Arie, even though he couldn't walk like a normal Lasat toddler of his age, got around in his walker or crawled all over. The little Lasat showed his growing Force abilities and being brain-damaged made it harder for Kanan to teach him. However, the little boy did learn as best as he could. His favorite thing was to levitate his toys and his big sister Ashla, which she wasn't too keen on.

Towards winter, Ahsoka went into labor and delivered twin girls, much to the surprise of Rex and the rest of the family. The little half Togrutan children would have the names Padme and Sola after the late Nabooian senator and her sister. Both women had been close friends with Ahsoka and the rest of the Jedi. Rex was beside himself with happiness and couldn't get enough of his two little girls. Cody loved being a big brother and began to spoil his younger siblings. It took awhile for Ahsoka to recover as twins were rare for Togrutan females, especially a set of mixed-species ones. Much to Ahsoka's and Rex's surprise, the babies weren't Force-sensitive but that could change. The twin girls were healthy and were doted on by not only their parents, but the GHOST family and the natives.

Keesha followed giving birth a month later and hers was an easier one, regardless that she gave birth to a Lasat kit and not a hybrid of Lasat and human. This Lasat kit was female and had purple fur the same as Zeb's with one exception, the stripes were a medium shade of copper color like Keesha's skin, not the deep purple like Zeb had. Her eyes were a shade of a greenish blue that almost looked like Kanan's eye color. She possessed a full head of dark brown human hair. The baby was named Tayana after Keesha's grandmother who had been a medicine woman many years before. Totonga and Ashla loved to dote on their baby sister and Arie liked to stroke her soft hair and give her kisses on her furry little face.

As winter approached, the village and the GHOST family readied for another round of cold and snow. The past few winters had been hard on everyone and the natives lost some family members to the extreme cold. The shelters were reinforced with thicker animal skins and it was decided that all the families would spend the coldest parts of the winter together in the main shelter that stayed the warmest. Food was gathered and a couple of bears, elk and deer were killed to supply the tribe with meat. The women with the exception of Ahsoka and Keesha, gathered greens, vegetables, nuts, and mushrooms. The GHOST family children would give everyone a scare when they went wandering off one day when the weather began to grow colder.

Totonga, Jacen and Cody were building up their skills as hunters and Totonga's siblings went with them. They weren't allowed to go far from the village since they were still quite young. Arie rode in a carrier on Totonga's back as the boy had grown alot taller the past year. He now was taller than Cody who had been the tallest of the children for quite awhile. Jacen had grown and looked more like Kanan everyday with the exception of his forming lekku and green hair. Ashla followed carrying a small pack on her back. The Lasat/human girl showed she was a skilled hunter and gatherer, learning from both Tirawa and Keesha. Not realizing that they had wandered off too far, snow began to fall and the air grew colder.

"We better get home," Ashla said as she shivered under her thick animal skin coat, "Papa and Mama will get worried; so will Uncle Kanan, Aunt Hera and Cody's parents."

"Just a little longer," Totonga said and brandished his bow and arrow ready to get a rabbit that was sniffing nearby for roots.

"Just a little longer," echoed Jacen as he readied to help his older cousin.

Cody beat Totonga to the rabbit and gave out a loud native whoop.

"Hey! No fair! I was ready to get it!" Totonga said as a pout formed on his face making him look like a younger version of Zeb, even with his human characteristics.

"Hey, Tonga," Cody said giving his younger cousin a punch to the shoulder, "You can get the next one."

"Okay," was Totonga's reply and he gave Cody a punch back.

"Guys, we need to get home," Ashla said, "It's getting colder and it's starting to snow."

"Do you know the way back?" Jacen said not recognizing where they were.

The two older children looked around and swallowed hard.

"I...uh don't know," Totonga said as he rubbed the back of his neck just like Zeb. Arie was whimpering on his back and buried his face against Totonga's back.

"Well...this is just great!" Ashla said putting hands on her hips in a gesture like Tirawa's. She resembled her late mother more every day not only in her gestures and personality, but her facial features were more human than Totonga's.

Totonga's pointed ears drooped and he hung his head.

"Hey, don't worry," Cody added hoping to defuse the situation, "We can find shelter and wait the storm out. We do have supplies with us."

Totonga nodded and looked back at Arie who was whimpering more.

The snow beginning to fall harder, the five children walked hoping that they were going in the right direction for the village and their families. After awhile, they realized that they were lost and fear began to gnaw at them. Ashla began to cry and her tears got Arie and Jacen started. Cody and Totonga knew that they had to do something before the others panicked too much. They found a cave in a nearby hillside that would serve as shelter to wait out the storm that they didn't realize was turning into a blizzard.

They went inside the cave and Cody got a fire started after finding some dry sticks and some wood deeper in the cave. Ashla sat sniffling hugging Arie and Jacen close the two younger children still crying.

Back at the village Ahsoka looked around not seeing her oldest child.

"Kanan," she said to the Jedi, "Have you seen Cody? He was supposed to be back an hour ago."

"No, I haven't and now that you mention it, I haven't seen Jacen, Totonga, Ashla or Arie either," he answered.

Keesha got up from the rocker where she was nursing Tayana and stood near Zeb who was looking worried as well.

"Where are they?" she asked and leaned against Zeb's arm.

"That Totonga is gonna drive me crazy with his wandering off!" Zeb said a frown forming but his eyes reflected the fear he was really feeling.

"Zeb, I'm sure they are okay," Hera said, "You know how kids like to explore. I bet you gave your mother fits when you were Totonga's age."

The Lasat's cheeks blushed with embarrassment at the memory of what he put his own mother through.

"Yeah...I gave her a few frights and it's a wonder her fur never turned gray over night!"

They looked out the shelter and saw the snow beginning to fall and the wind picking up.

"Storm's brewing," Rex said as he came up to console Ahsoka and help her with Padme and Sola who were fussy. Kanan nodded and closed his eyes to reach out with the Force to connect with his son and possibly Arie or Cody.

"I'm hungry," Totonga said as he wrapped his arms around himself to keep warm. Ashla was holding Arie close and wrapped her coat around her smaller brother to keep him warm. The Lasat toddler was whimpering and sucked his thumb.

"Good thing I packed some jerky," Cody said and went to his pack to bring out the pieces of dried deer meat, "Got enough here for a few days."

"Mama! Papa!" Arie cried snuggling closer to Ashla. His tears got her crying and she buried her face in the collar of her coat. Jacen who was sitting near her cuddled closer and his tears were added to hers until he felt a stirring in the Force. Cody also felt it too.

"Papa!" he called out and saw that Arie felt Kanan's Force touch as well.

"You can hear him?" Totonga asked looking confused.

"No...I felt him through the Force."

"Oh...one of those Jedi things," Totonga answered.

"Are they coming to get us?" Ashla asked.

"No...It's snowing too hard for them to find us," Cody answered for Jacen, "Jacen, let's let Uncle Kanan know we're okay."

Both boys closed their eyes and through the Force let Kanan know that they were all right and in a cave waiting out the storm.

Kanan felt his son and nephew's Force touches and smiled.

"They are okay and waiting out the storm in a cave, and are staying warm. Zeb, it's a good thing you and Rex taught those kids survival techniques and they have alot of jerky with them to eat. Let's just hope this storm won't last long."

Keesha felt her eyes well up with tears knowing her three adopted children were out in the storm. She loved them as much as if they were her own. She held Tayana closer the Lasat kit a calming influence for her.

That night would be the longest they ever experienced since landing on the planet almost six years ago. Hera nearly cried knowing her son was outside in the snow and lay in Kanan's arms praying to a Twi'lek god. Ahsoka held onto Rex and tried not to cry knowing her son was a skilled outdoorsman for a five year old. Rex was worried as much as she was. Keesha cried and Zeb had a hard time calming her down. Ezra and Sabine who were on a trapping expedition with Wabanaki and Ishta-Thuda, didn't know what was going on. Little did the family know, that the four young adults would find the children before they would.

"Karabast, it's cold," Sabine said as she pulled her coat closer. Ishta-Thuda put an arm around her shoulder to keep her warmer. Sabine loved to feel him close and lately wanted to get closer to the tall handsome native man. Wabanaki in turn, liked being around Ezra more and the young man showed her alot of affection, also wanting to get closer. The growing passions the past few months were nearly too much for the couples and they wanted to do something about it. Maybe this was the time.

"Let's find us some shelter," Ezra suggested, "Before we freeze our butts off!"

They managed to find a huge tree with overhanging low branches and set up a temporary tipi underneath to protect them from the wind. The shelter was big enough for all four of them to stretch out to sleep and cuddle closer if needed. After eating some jerky and getting a fire built to keep them warm, they settled in for the night, Wabanaki and Ezra on one side, Ishta-Thuda and Sabine on the other. Ezra and Wabanaki cuddled together under a thick blanket and began to kiss feeling the growing passions. They began touching and that lead to unlacing clothing. They pulled apart before it went too far, but it was hard not to. The warmth of their close bodies was nearly too much! Sabine cuddled close to Ishta-Thuda and felt her body grow warm with desire. The native man felt her warmth and started to respond to it. He reached over to cup her face in his hands to give her a kiss on the lips which Sabine enjoyed and under the thick blanket she began to unlace her winter dress. Ishta-Thuda saw what she was doing and responded by loosening his tunic and pants. Sabine swallowed hard knowing what was about to happen.

She was going to make love...for the first time and she wasn't afraid. She was looking forward to the experience in more ways than one.

Ishta-Thuda took over unlacing her dress to where he pulled the material apart to expose her breasts that now had a sheen of sweat on them. He felt his chest getting sweaty as well and then opened his tunic so Sabine could caress his chest like she did many times and he liked it.

"Touch me," she whispered her face flushed, her breathing quickening.

He placed his hands on her breasts feeling them respond to the growing arousal and that did it for Sabine. She pulled her dress down off her shoulders and then removed it completely. Ishta-Thuda pulled off his tunic and pants and felt both of their heartbeats getting faster. The native man looked at the naked body of his lady love and pulled her close. Sabine bit her lip as she felt him press his ready body to her. She let out a low groan as the two came together as one. The love-making was tender and Sabine hoped that Ezra and Wabanaki couldn't hear them.

Wabanaki who was awake on the otherside of the tipi, heard the sounds of...smoholla and became aroused. She woke Ezra up and began kissing him in an aggressive way and felt his body react with the growing arousal. Wabanaki felt that Ezra was ready to make love and she pulled her clothes off and saw he was doing the same. He reached for her breasts and cupped both in his hands feeling the arousal grow, a burning in his loins. He kissed her passionately, pulled her close their hands exploring every inch of their now sweating bodies. Soon the two were making love as much as their friends were. They knew they should wait until they were joined in marriage, but they didn't care. The passion won out. Their moans of pleasure joined Ishta-Thuda's and Sabine's.

Ezra held a naked Wabanaki close after they finished and felt the sweat drying on their bodies thinking it would be cold but they felt...warm. Sabine and Ishta-Thuda also had finished and a naked Sabine was sitting up wiping the sweat from her body, Ishta-Thuda caressing her bare buttocks getting a moan from her. Wabanaki chose to run her hands over Ezra's sweaty chest and got him ready for more love. The tipi echoed with the moans of young passion...

During the night, Wabanaki woke up to see Ezra still naked standing by the tipi entrance watching the snow fall. Naked herself, she walked up to put her arms around him. Sabine and Ishta-Thuda were sitting naked around the fire a blanket around them. The two were constantly stealing kisses. Suddenly Ezra flinched feeling a disturbance in the Force.

"Guys, get up and get dressed," he said, "The kids are in trouble."

"What do you mean trouble?" Sabine asked as she wrapped the blanket around her naked body more.

"I felt Kanan reaching out to Cody and Jacen. The kids were supposed to be back from hunting hours ago. They were in an area not far from here."

"Okay, let's go!" Sabine said grabbing Ishta-Thuda's arm.

The five children were huddled around a small fire trying to stay warm. They didn't let on that they were afraid but Jacen felt through the Force that fear was running through the group. Arie was the most frightened and cried constantly. Finally he cried himself to sleep much to their relief.

Sabine and her two native friends followed Ezra through the storm and hoped to stop soon. It was getting colder and harder to see. They approached a thick part of the forest and a cave beckoned at them, a cave where five children were asleep. Sabine was the first to make it inside and saw the slumbering children. Tears fell from her eyes and she ran to them trying to hug them all at the same time.

"You little Loth-rats!" Ezra said as he ran inside seeing Sabine holding the cold children close.

"We're sorry...Uncle Ezra," Cody said past Sabine's bear hug. Ashla, Totonga and Jacen ran to him. Arie crawled over wanting to be picked up.

"C'mere you little fur ball," Ezra said hugging the Lasat kit close. Arie purred with contentment and nuzzled his face against Ezra's chest beginning to fall back asleep. He bent down to embrace the other three children who were now crying with relief.

"Ezra," Sabine said wiping her own tears away. She gestured to Ishta-Thuda who was now holding Jacen and Totonga, "Let Kanan and Hera know we found them."

The young Jedi took out his communicator hoping the signal would get through the storm and he was in luck. If that didn't work, he'd reach out with the Force to connect with Kanan.

"Kanan! Hera! Can you hear me!"

Back at the village, Kanan woke up hearing static from his communicator near the bed. He also felt Ezra's Force touch. The static cleared up revealing the sound of Ezra's excited voice.

"Ezra?" he asked waking up Hera, "Say again? Your signal is weak!"

"We've found the kids! They are with us in a cave about six miles from the village! We'll wait out the storm! Let everyone know the kids are okay, just scared and cold!"

Kanan gestured to Hera to wake up Keesha and Zeb and to go get Rex and Ahsoka. The three sets of parents were relieved that their children were safe and waited for them to come home...

"Okay you guys," Ezra said to the five children, "Get over here by the fire and get warm. We'll go home tomorrow if the weather clears. If not, we'll be here for awhile."

Five tired children climbed into waiting laps and cuddled close. Jacen sat with Ezra, Totonga and Ashla sat with Wabanaki, Cody with Ishta-Thuda, and Sabine cradled a fussy Arie in her arms, the Lasat toddler showing he was overtired. With her rocking him in her arms, he fell asleep and she was relieved. A Lasat toddler that was fussy was a handful! Awhile later, they all cuddled together and fell asleep as the storm raged outside the cave.

The next morning, they all left for home and Ezra was glad that they had brought horses on the trapping expedition. The children rode on the horses while the young adults walked through the snow with their snowshoes on. When they reached the village and the family, the children were nearly smothered in hugs from three sets of relieved parents. Zeb wanted to scold his two older children but didn't have the heart seeing their sad little faces. Arie clung to Keesha crying his little heart out. The big native woman hugged her three adopted children nearly too death! Cody was hugged close and was surprised to see his usually stoic father Rex crying. Jacen ran to Kanan and Hera and clung to them crying.

All was well with the natives and GHOST family...hopefully...