A/N: Well, here it is, folks, the final chapter of a story that I started last August! Sorry for the gape in updates. Had a family reunion to go to and this year was bittersweet as we had a recent death in the family. In the last chapter, Zeb had to make a decision about who he wanted to be with: Keesha or LyTara. His "vision quest" he went on helped. In turn, Zeb became ill with the same illness that nearly wiped out the humans and half-human members of the family and tribe. Don't worry, our favorite space family will be getting home.

Chapter 34 Homeward Bound Part 2

Garazeb Orrelios lay burning up with fever inside the tribal hogan. Telluria, his apprentice shaman, fussed over him hoping that she could remember everything he had taught her...so far. Keesha sat beside his makeshift bed of thick animal-fur blankets holding his hand and caressing his feverish brow ridges.

"Will he die?" Keesha asked her eyes full of tears. The native woman was tired and also pregnant making her feel more fatigued.

"I don't know, Keesha," the younger native woman said, "He's very sick and the lesions are all over his body. Only the Great Spirit and his own strength of will can heal him now. Begadi-Zeb is very weak and if he were like you and I would make it easier to take care of him. Being a Le-sat makes it harder. I've done all I can for him...but he is slipping away."

"No!" Keesha said harshly, "He will not die! I won't let him!"

Later on, Hera and Kanan came in to help Keesha out and saw how tired she was. The native woman hadn't told them of being pregnant, but Kanan sensed it through the Force.

"Keesha, you need to rest," Kanan said as he layed a hand on her shoulder, "After all, you are carrying Zeb's child."

Hera's eyes widened and she smiled but was worried seeing how tired Keesha was. She watched as Kanan layed his hands on Zeb's chest and a blue glow appeared as he began to try to heal Zeb with the Force. After a few minutes he pulled his hands away, eyes reflecting the fatigue.

"He's slipping away," was all he said and turned to Hera, "He's in a coma now."

"Kanan...no," Hera said seeing Keesha put her hands over her face.

"I'll have Ezra and Ahsoka help me in the Jedi healing, but I think it's a lost cause. Zeb is losing the will to live. Just like he did when Tirawa died, but he wasn't as sick as he is now.

That night, unknown to Hera and Kanan, little Arie crawled out of the family tipi and made his way to the hogan. He crawled inside and curled up next to Zeb laying his little hands on his father's side. He closed his eyes and with his infantile Force abilities, began a healing trance.

Deep down inside Zeb's body, the healing Force touch began to heal the Lasat's infected tissues...

Two months passed and Zeb remained in a coma. Keesha's pregancy progressed and the woman showed signs of having a problem. Kanan and Hera knew it was because of her age. At fifty-four, most women were past child-bearing age, but the native women seemed to be fertile at any age, and a Lasat male was fertile much longer than a human male, thus making it possible for Keesha's pregnancy. Kanan and Hera kept an eye on her seeing she was more tired than usual and they had a hard time getting her away from Zeb's side.

On a sunny day in the late summer, Keesha was laying next to Zeb and dozing a bit when he opened his eyes. Hera was sitting on a blanket nearby dozing herself when she heard the Lasat sigh. She opened her eyes and saw him moving his head towards Keesha and that his big green eyes were open.

"Keesha! Wake up!" she called and went over to the woman and her Lasat husband.

"Huh?" Keesha muttered and then moved her head to see Zeb's eyes looking at her, "Begadi-Zeb! Oh...my keorara!"

Hera ran out to get Kanan and the rest of the family. They came running in and saw Keesha hugging Zeb close his eyes partly open and a small smile on his face. It was strange to see the purple fur with lesions on it but they were fading some.

"Zeb," Kanan said as he bent down to put a hand on the Lasat's face, "Can you hear me? Do you understand me? Nod your head if you do."

The big green eyes blinked for a moment and then he nodded his head.

The whole family let out a sigh and tears began to flow, but not as much as Keesha.

"Zeb," Kanan said bringing over Totonga, Ashla, Arie and Tayana to see their father, "Do you know who I am?"

Another nod and the Lasat opened his mouth to speak. All that came out was a stuttering croak.

"K...Ka...nan."

"Hera, hand me the med scanner."

The Jedi ran the scanner over Zeb's body and a look of relief came over his face.

"There's no trauma to his brain. He's just a little out of it. He should get better. Let's let him get some rest..."

More time went by and Keesha delivered a healthy half-human, half-Lasat boy who Keesha named Tuwanasavi which meant "center of the world" in the native tongue. Zeb slowly recovered and his speech improved with help from his own children. Totonga and Ashla with a little help from Tayana taught their father to speak again. Life was returning to normal within the native village...

Three years passed...

One day the probe returned with some good news. The ship that would go through the wormhole, was ready to leave Lothol and bring them home. Kanan and Hera gathered Ezra, Zeb and Sabine together telling them the good news. The three crewmembers were happy at finally being able to return to their galaxy, but they had mixed emotions at leaving the planet and their friends in the tribe. To make matters worse, Keesha, Ishta-Thuda and Wabanaki were afraid to leave the planet. Kanan sat everyone down to have a talk with them.

"Zeb, since you are the oldest, I want your take on going home."

The Lasat frowned and looked over at Keesha who was holding little Savi as they called him. The hybrid toddler had the sniffles and was a little fussy.

"I...don't know. We've been here ten years...ten happy years and it will be hard to leave. If Keesha doesn't want to go, I won't go. She's my lifemate and I won't leave her or the children behind. If I have to live out the rest of my life here, so be it."

"Ezra, what do you think about going home?" Kanan asked seeing Hera looking a bit sad at the possibility of the family breaking up.

"I...want to go home knowing that my homeworld is now free from the Empire but..."

"You don't want to leave Wabanaki behind."

"Right."

"I'm staying with Ishta-Thuda if he doesn't want to leave," Sabine added, "If it means staying here for the rest of my life, fine!"

"You guys think on it," Kanan said seeing Hera go over to gather their friends close. The Twi'lek looked on the verge of tears. She couldn't bear to be losing the three people that at times she thought were her "children".

Kanan, Rex and Ahsoka went to the ship to activate the probe's program for the instructions on getting home.

For the next week, Kanan and Hera with help from Zeb, Ezra, Sabine, Rex and Ahsoka, readied the GHOST for the trip to the planet where the star destroyer would be waiting to take them home.

"Kanan," Hera said as she huddled under a console in the cockpit, "There's too much damage to the ship. She'll never make a trip to that planet that Wolffe told us about. Besides that, there's not enough fuel to get us there."

Kanan knealt down to where she was brandishing a wrench.

"Hera, can we salvage any parts from the PHANTOM II? Maybe parts for the hyperdrive or the hull?"

Hera frowned as she thought of what he was saying. Her eyes widened as an idea came to mind.

"Kanan, we can do it...but we'll have to completely scrap the PHANTOM II. She has enough fuel aboard if we are careful and we can use her components and the metal skin on her hull."

"Sounds good," he answered, "Let me get the kids and Rex to help. You and Ahsoka can help Chopper with the engines. We can do this..."

Keesha, Ishta-Thuda and Wabanaki along with others of the tribe watched as their spouses and friends worked on the big metallic tipi and felt bad at seeing the smaller tipi being taken apart. Sabine was removing the hyperdrive and watched Ezra and Zeb peeling away the painted hull. Her eyes grew teary at the "death" of the Sheathipede shuttle that had saved their lives more than once. Zeb put an arm on her shoulder seeing her tears.

"We'll get another one," the Lasat said hoping to cheer her up. Sabine wiped her eyes and continued with the removal of the hyperdrive.

"Maybe we'll get a faster one," Ezra added and got a punch to the shoulder from both Sabine and Zeb. Kanan watched them feeling the sibling bond grow between the three crewmembers. Maybe everything would be all right.

Finally the day came for the GHOST to leave and rendezvouz with the star destroyer that Dr. Phykr had christened the STAR OF HOPE. The GHOST crew wasn't looking forward to saying goodbye to Tatanaka and the rest of the tribe that they felt were part of the family. The past couple of days, Wabanaki, Keesha and Ishta-Thuda decided to leave with their spouses. Ezra, Zeb and Sabine were happy that they wanted to go with them but felt a bit guilty at them leaving the only life they ever knew. Their children were frightened of the idea of flying on the ship and away from the planet and their friends.

"Mama," Cody asked as he helped Ahsoka with loading some supplies for the voyage, "I'm scared. What if something happens to us!"

"It'll be okay, sweetheart," she said hugging the boy who was now as tall as Rex.

Totonga, Ashla, Tayana, Padme, Sola and Arie were afraid of being on the GHOST as well. The younger children understood that something was going on, but still felt uneasy. Kanan and Hera got all of them together to explain what would happen on the journey. Arie began to cry and held onto B'Lora. Zeb and Keesha took the disabled boy into their arms to calm him as best as they could.

The GHOST family went over the instructions and directions for the journey to the planet where the star destroyer was orbiting. It was going to be a tough trip for them all, but they were getting excited for the journey home to their galaxy.

"Uh...Hera," Zeb began to say, "Do you remember how bad my ears were affected by the wormhole when we first went through it? My ears hurt for days! I have five children, one of them a young kit that could be harmed from that!"

Hera smiled at her big Lasat friend.

"Zeb, you don't have to worry. Kanan and I explained to Dr. Phykr about how Lasats were affected by passing through the wormhole. He told us it's because Lasat ears are larger and more sensitive to sound than human ears. Even your hybrid children could be affected and a solution has been found. You, Totonga, Ashla, Arie, Tayana and little Savi will be wearing special headgear to block the sounds, and yes, Zeb, they have one big enough for you."

"That's a relief," he muttered making Hera and Kanan smile. At times, he seemed alot younger than he really was. He was aging well for a Lasat that was forty-six dust seasons old. In fact, since living on the strange planet he appeared younger in his looks.

Two days later, the repairs and refit of the GHOST were finished. Everything was loaded on board for the journey to the planet where the STAR OF HOPE waited for them. The whole family plus their spouses and children stood at the base of the cargo ramp. It was time to say goodbye.

"Tatanaka, thank you and your whole village for what you have done for us since our landing here ten years ago," Kanan said shaking the chief's hand, "Your friendship has been important not to just Hera and I, but to our whole family. Goodbye, my good and trusted friend. May the Force be with you and your Great Spirit take care of all your people and the ones yet to come. Hopefully, we'll meet each other again...someday."

The chief drew the Jedi into a hug and patted his back.

Hera was being hugged by T'Keesa and was given a necklace of bright colored stones for good luck.

"This will protect you on your long journey," she said hugging her again and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Telluria," Zeb said to the new shaman of the tribe, "Remember everything Sisiutl and I taught you. You will be a great shaman for the tribe. Goodbye...maybe Ashla willing, we'll see each other again."

The tall native woman began to cry as she hugged the big Lasat and Keesha goodbye. She blessed all five of the couple's children and turned to bless the rest of the GHOST family with a chant of farewell and good fortune for their future.

Wabanaki was crying as she hugged her parents goodbye, but was excited for the journey she was about to embark on.

"Goodbye, child," Tatanaka said as he gave her a kiss on the forehead, "The Great Spirit will guide you on your long journey to a new world and I know you will do well. You are my daughter...and I love you."

Wabanaki sobbed and hugged her father even more. T'Keesa embraced Wabanaki in the only way a mother could. She kissed her goodbye and hugged Ezra and the children too.

"Ezra, take care of my daughter and those two little ones," she said embracing them one more time, "May the Great Spirit care for you and guide you home."

The young Jedi nearly broke down at those words and blinked his tear-filled eyes.

Tatanaka and T'Keesa also embraced the rest of the family wishing them well. Ishta-Thuda was reduced to tears when he said goodbye to his uncle, the only surviving member of his tribal family.

"Take care of yourself, son, and that beautiful wife and those two precious children."

"I will."

After a few more goodbyes, the GHOST family went aboard the ship. Hera went to the cockpit followed by Kanan. Zeb, Ezra and Sabine, along with their families stayed in the common area. Ahsoka and Rex were down in the cargo bay monitoring the engines from the instrument panel on the wall watching for any anomalies that could occur in transit.

"Well, this is it," Hera said to Kanan as she fired up the GHOST's main engines. Thankfully they did.

"It'll be all right," Kanan answered and layed a hand on her arm. Hera reached over to plant a kiss on his cheek.

The ship took off with the natives watching in awe and tears. They waved goodbye with Kanan and Hera waving back. Soon they were leaving the planet's atmosphere and the past ten years of their life. Hera's eyes welled with tears and soon were spilling down her cheeks. Kanan caught her look and offered her some comfort.

"Hera...I know. I feel the same way. We've lived here for the past ten years amongst people that we grew close to. It has been a happy ten years. The happiest I've know in a long time and I know you feel the same way. It will be a major adjustment for all of us, not just me and you."

Hera looked over at him and smiled through her tears. She leaned over and placed her lips against his in a tender kiss.

"Thanks, I needed to hear that."

The GHOST entered hyperspace for her journey to the planet where they would enter the wormhole.

In the common area, Zeb, Ezra and Sabine were calming their spouses and the children. The youngest children were whimpering and wanting mamas to hold them. Jacen held onto B'Lora since Hera and Kanan were busy at the ship's controls. Arie and Tayana were clutching to Zeb as if they were about to die. Saki was crying against Keesha's shoulder, the native woman just as frightened. Zeb put an arm around them. Totonga and Ashla were enjoying the trip along with Cody and kept pestering Zeb to go up to the cockpit. Padme and Sola were clutching onto Sabine and Wabanaki sniffling. Ishta-Thuda was a little afraid but was too busy helping Sabine calm the little ones. Idekia and Ursa were whimpering and looked ready to cry. Ezra had his hands full with a frightened Mira and Cocheena.

"Uncle Zeb?" Cody asked for the umteenth time, "Please can we go up to the cockpit to see what space looks like?"

"Oh...okay, if you'll quite pestering me. Go ahead. You behave yourselves. Let me get ahold of Hera to let her and Kanan know you're coming up..."

Awhile later, the three hybrid children were sitting up in the cockpit watching with wide eyes at the sight outside the viewport. Hera forgot her sadness seeing the kid's amazement at what she took for granted. Kanan closed his eyes and reached out with the Force to sense the rest of the family.

"How are they doing?" Hera asked.

"Just a case of frazzled nerves, but Zeb is keeping them calm. The youngest children are the most frightened..."

"Hera!" came Ahsoka's voice from down below, "Rex and I are detecting a drop in the power levels."

The Twi'lek pilot looked down at the control panel and uttered a curse in the tongue of her native world of Ryloth. The ship suddenly lurched scaring the children more.

"Hera!" Rex called over the com, "Shut the hyperdrive down...now! There's a power surge building up and the ship could very well explode!"

The hyperdrive was shut down and the GHOST came to a halt not even halfway to their destination. With help from Chopper, a new heading was calculated.

"It will take us two days to reach the planet instead of several hours," Hera explained to her extended family, "The hyperdrive, even with the new components from the PHANTOM II, weren't enough with the extra weight on board and the distance to travel."

"Oh well," Sabine said as she smiled at Zeb and Ezra, "We can enjoy each other's company longer."

"We need to turn the cargo hold into a temporary shelter for everyone," Kanan said looking over at the others, "Zeb, Ezra and Sabine, if you want to stay in your cabins, that's fine. Remember it will be crowded with the addition of Keesha, Ishta-Thuda, Wabanaki and the children. Are you willing to put up with that?"

The family agreed to being put out for awhile.

Two days later, they reached the orbit of the ringed planet and everyone stared wide-eyed at the large planet and the wormhole that was far enough away to be seen but was still a safe distance from the GHOST.

"That still looks nasty," Rex muttered and saw Ahsoka close her eyes.

"Ready the struts for touchdown in the landing bay. Don't worry, guys, I've done this lots of times," Hera said giving her family a smile of reassurance.

The GHOST made her way to the open landing bay in the belly of the STAR OF HOPE. The ship came to a gentle landing and everyone on board breathed a sigh of relief. This part of the journey home was over, and the hardest part was yet to come.

"Hey! Who said you could land in our landing bay?" Wolffe and Gregor said as they saw the landing ramp lower.

"Wolffe! Gregor!" Rex cried out as he ran down the ramp to embrace his long-lost brothers.

The rest of the family came down the ramp and were embraced by the two former troopers. Zeb, Ezra, Sabine, Hera, Kanan and Ahsoka were carrying the smallest children who were scared.

"Can we see the rest of the ship?" Totonga asked hoping they could.

"Of course, kiddo," Gregor asked walking over to the hybrid children. He knew who the parents were.

"You look like Uncle Rex," Ashla said, "And so does he!"

"Don't worry, guys," Rex said trying to save the situation, "Gregor and Wolffe are my brothers. Brothers I haven't seen in ten years."

"Okay."

Soon the GHOST family, their children and spouses went onto the bridge of the huge star destroyer. They met Drs. Phykr and Aden who were operating the systems on the ship.

"Hold on everyone," the older of the two scientists said as he turned to them after the introductions, "Look to your left and you will see the wormhole, our way home."

The children gasped at seeing the monstrosity. Kanan and Hera went to the medbay to get the special headgear for the Lasat and half-Lasat members of the family.

"Karabast!" Zeb grumbled as Sabine adjusted the big earpieces on the headgear, "Feels like my ears are being squeezed too death!"

"Quit being a big baby, you big lug," Sabine said giving him a grin, "Hold still. There! Got the headgear on."

Savi began to cry when he had his headgear put on. Keesha murmured softly to her half-human son, stroking his furry cheek. Arie whimpered but let Ezra put the headgear on. Tayana began to cry as well, but tolerated the headgear placed over her pointed ears.

"Dada, it feels funny!" she wailed, "My ears itch!"

"Gotta keep them on, kiddo," Zeb said holding his daughter close.

"Okay, folks...hold on," Dr. Phykr said as he signaled to the two pilots at the helm to ready the ship to enter the wormhole's event horizon, "We're going in!"

The STAR OF HOPE entered the wormhole and everyone on board, except Chopper and the ship's astromech lost consciousness. Chopper plugged in to the main control console and communicated with the HOPE's main computer. He found the machine to be a bit uppity in it's attitude but listened to it's orders. Between the three machine beings, the ship survived it's wild ride through the wormhole and exited intact near Maridun.

"Hera!" the Twi'lek pilot kept hearing over the ringing of her ears.

It was Kanan and he was bending over her.

"Hera, we're home. Hey everyone! Wake up! We're home!"

The other members of the GHOST family awoke and looked out to see the familiar stars of their own galaxy after ten years. A loud cheering erupted through the bridge and tears fell too.

"Hip," Wolffe said to the pilot and his girlfriend Trudi who were piloting the large craft, "Set a course for Lothol."

"Yes, Commander," Hip said as a huge grin appeared on his face.

On Lothol:

LyTara stood watching the sky for a former Imperial star destroyer to achieve orbit around the planet. She was looking forward to seeing Zeb again and hoped to start up their relationship. She also was worried about Gregor, but a message from the ship made her breathe a sigh of relief. The Lasat female closed her eyes imagining being in Zeb's arms again feeling his warm embrace and gentle caresses of his large hands. She also wanted the feel of Gregor's arms around her too.

She had a big decision to make once her former lover arrived home...

Later that day, the star destroyer arrived in orbit over Lothol. A big cheer went up from the planet's surface from the rebels and their friends. The now Chancellor of Chandrilla, Mon Mothma had made a special trip to Lothol to welcome them home after so long. The now gray-haired woman felt tears on her face and wasn't ashamed to cry in front of anyone.

The GHOST left the ship and landed on the planet's surface to a rousing roar of cheers and applause. Several X-wings were flying sorties through the sky trailing colored smoke behind them. The onlookers watched as the cargo ramp lowered and a group of people dressed in strange clothing walked down. First to leave the GHOST were Kanan, Hera and their children. They were met by hugs from Chancellor Mothma and the other rebels. Ezra, Zeb and Sabine came next with their spouses and children. LyTara saw Zeb walk down and her breath caught in her lungs. The sight of her former lover nearly overwhelmed her! She gazed at his tall and slimmer body only dressed in a tight pair of what looked like animal-skin pants and he wore a strange amulet around his bare furry chest. She felt her heartbeat quicken and a feeling of lust come over her. She walked over to him.

"Garazeb," she whispered as she walked up to greet the one person she thought long dead, "Garazeb..."

"LyTara, you look...beautiful," Zeb stammered out and pulled her into an embrace. She held on tight to him and began to nuzzle her face against his.

While the two Lasat got reaquainted, the rest of the family met Chancellor Mothma and the other rebels. The children were in awe of seeing this strange world that was different from the planet they were born on. Ezra, Sabine, Ahsoka and Rex were greeted by the other rebels and enjoyed seeing the wide eyes of their children in their new home.

Finally after a busy day, the GHOST family was settled into a building that alot of the rebels had made into homes. The crewmembers felt uncomfortable being inside a building, having gotten used to living a more simple life. The hustle of the city's streets was a bit of a distraction for them. While everyone was settling in, Zeb went to visit with LyTara again. Keesha saw him leave and knew who he was meeting with. Zeb wouldn't admit that when he embraced LyTara after twenty-five years, he still remembered how lucious her fur felt under his fingers. Keesha hoped that she wasn't losing her Lasat husband that she loved with all her heart and soul. She watched them walk hand in hand to the park that was near the building everyone was housed in.

"Oh, Garazeb," LyTara whispered as they leaned against a tree in the city park, "It feels good to be in your arms again."

"I missed you," he answered, "More than you realize."

"Let's go somewhere more...private," she said as she breathed into his ear making him cringe with a feeling of desire.

"Where?" he asked.

"I know just the place..."

LyTara lead Zeb to the abandoned lab/storage area and hoped for more than kissing. She was becoming very aroused and he could smell it on her. She lead him into the main lab room and luckily it wasn't occupied at the moment. LyTara took him by the hand and lead him over to a pile of blankets that were set up like a makeshift bed. His eyes widened at what she wanted to do, because he wanted the same thing.

"Garazeb...mate with me," she whispered and began to remove her clothing much to Zeb's delight. She lay down on the blankets, her naked body tempting him to remove his too. He lay next to her and caressed her face feeling the fur becoming sweaty with arousal. Taking a deep breath, he pulled her close and began to kiss her on her open mouth, his tongue exploring the inside of it. Her breathing quickened and she wrapped her legs around him ready to feel his highly aroused state result of him entering her...but he pulled away.

"No..." he said and took a deep breath, "LyTara, this is wrong. We are joined to others that we love. We can't do this."

LyTara's green eyes widened and she too felt that mating was...wrong.

"You're right, this is wrong. I'm sorry, Garazeb, if I lead you on."

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I...uh...just got caught up in the moment seeing you after so long...and that holomessage you sent me."

"Oh...Karabast," she said as a grin appeared, "I forgot about that. I...uh...wasn't exactly in a right mind when I did that."

"I enjoyed it," Zeb answered as he put his clothes back on and was relieved to see her doing the same.

"You would...you big furry..."

He gave her a punch on the shoulder and helped her to her feet.

"Let's get back to our families before they think something happened. I know Keesha will wonder."

"She's a beautiful human female," LyTara said, "I know why you love her so much. Gregor is very handsome...for a human male."

"Yeah...he's a great guy."

"Let's get back..."

A week went by and the GHOST family tried to readjust to living amongst other people besides their own children and spouses and realized that the noise and bustle of Capital City was too much for them.

"Kanan, I don't like living here," Hera said to him, "It's too...busy."

"I know," he answered, "Zeb, Ezra, Sabine, Rex and Ahsoka said the same thing to me just a few hours ago. I can feel that Wabanaki, Keesha and Ishta-Thuda are very uncomfortable living in such a structure. I feel the same way. How about finding us someplace else to live?"

"Somewhere out away from the city? I like that idea. Let's get the kid's opinion on moving away from the city. Kanan, I don't want the family to split up. We've been through too much together these past ten years. Living in a city isn't right for us."

The rest of the family were thrilled at leaving the city and building a new village away from the noise and people.

Early the next morning, they loaded the GHOST with all the supplies they'd need to build themselves new tipi homes. They would still keep in touch with the other rebels and help when needed but they knew they'd be alot happier on their own again.

"Okay, GHOST family...let's go home..." Hera said as she started the GHOST's engines. Down in the cargo bay, the others were smiling and hugging each other. For the first time in a long time...they were truely home...