A few days have passed and things are tense between the brothers. The three want to make amends but aren't sure how. Then there are the two shinnies the other two seemed to have adopted.
With the girls…
"I'm worried about them. They seem to be having trouble connecting." Nora frowns as she thinks about how the guys have been acting.
"Why don't they have a guys night? All of them going off and having a good time with each other. No armor, COs, or us. Just them figuring out how to be around each other again." Ariel ponders.
"Yeah but they're also awkward around each other so leaving them alone might not be the best idea." Nora adds, frowning.
"Hmm… that does make it harder." Ariel ponders.
"Sight, what could they do that's fun and force them to communicate." Nora ponders as well.
"The kids show!" The two say at the same time.
It would be at the park and the guys could work on the sets together. Get to know each other again. Be silly and reconnect.
A day later…..
The guys where all standing at the park looking at the set supplies. The girls smiling as they told them what they needed help with.
"So you girls just want us to make a set. Sounds easy enough." Cutup shrugs.
"I don't know, why are we doing this?" Hevy raises a brow.
"Because the kids are having a show and we need all the help we can get." Nora begs.
"Please~ they've been working hard on this." Ariel pleads with big eyes.
The guys flinch at that 'Those looks aren't fair.' At that they all give.
They sigh and say "Fine."
Fives and Echo chuckle knowing there was no use fighting those looks.
Then they heard "Fives, Echo." They all turned to see Tup and Dogma coming over.
"What are they doing here?" Hevy pouts.
Fives and Echo glared at him as if reminding him 'Be nice.'
"We asked them to come. We need all the help we can get." Nora explains huffing.
"And a part of the team so be nice." Ariel warns.
Hevy just looks away still not happy. The girls sighed, second guessing their plan.
As the two came up Tup said "I've never been to something like this. What are the generals exactly trying to do?" He looks around curiously.
"The kids are going to put on a show. It's a recreational activity. Like our art class." Nora smiles.
"It's so the kids can interact with others out of the temple and have time with their families." Ariel smiles a bit sadly at the last bit.
"That makes sense." Dogma nods "Oh by the ways ma'ams. I finished the painting from class. I'll bring it to our next session." Dogma nods.
"That's great to hear Dogma. Oh you and Echo can help paint the stage props with Hevy. We need as many hands as we can to help get those done." Nora nods.
"And please call us by our names Dogma." Ariel smiles softly.
"Will do ma… I mean Nora and Ariel." Dogma flushes still not used to that.
"Okay you boys have fun. We have to get going." Nora waves.
"Wait where are you girls going?" Echo panics slightly.
"Aren't you helping?" Fives looks nervous.
"We are helping, but with the costumes and with the kids' lines." Ariel waves heading off.
With that the girls head off, hoping this would work. The guys just stood around not sure what to do, everything was getting awkward till…
As the girls left Lock came up and said "Ah, there you boys are. Glad to see you all helping. Here I'll show you all where to start." With that he led them off to work.
"Can you two hold this wall up while I nail them in place?" Fives looks at Cutup and Tup.
The two kinda glance at one another then nod. They do as asked, quietly. The other group pretty much the same.
'Normally I'm against this but…' Lock sighs using the force to knock a paint can over the three working on the set on the stage.
Blue paint splattered them. The three freezing a bit at that. The others painting the stairs chuckling a bit at that.
"That must have been knocked loose. I'll get towels for you three." Lock heads off hoping that'll break the ice a bit.
"W-why so blue?" Dogma chuckles.
"Oh you're a jokester huh?" Cutup splashes some paint on the stage.
"Now that's a good look shiny." Hevy chuckles.
"You think so?" Tup takes the half full can.
"Tup w-" Fives tries to stop him.
Too late. The others are splattered. The three on the stage laughing at them.
Echo wipes the blue out of his face and then glares taking a paint brush in hand "This means war!"
With the girls…
"What if papa and mama don't come?" A Pantoran girl sniffles a bit.
"Hey. Hey. A lot of parents are flying from very far to see their babies again. I'm sure they'll be there to see their princess on stage." Ariel wipes her tears as she bends down to her level. "And you'll know because your papa will be shouting 'No not my princess's first dance.'" She does an impression of an over reactive dad making the girl giggle.
"You're funny." She giggles.
"Now that our Ariel is smiling again, why don't we try on that ball gown huh?" Ariel winks holding her hand out for hers.
The girl nods heading off to find her pretty pink dress.
Nora was helping get the last touches on the prince's outfit and said "Okay Caleb. How does it look?" Nora asks the young green eyed boy.
Caleb looks himself in the mirror and says "Wow it's actually pretty cool. I thought I look all dorky." Caleb shrugs.
"Told you I knew what I was doing. Now do you need any help with your lines."
"I think I get the gist of it, meat mermaid, fall in love, evil witch puts me under cruse, break out of it and after we defeat the witch, get married." Caleb shrugs.
Nora chuckles at the boy and says "Yes just about. Just remember to make your expressions big enough so everyone can see them."
"Got it." Caleb thumbs up at that and then runs off. Nora shaking her head as she smiles at the brash boy.
"Wow everyone is looking good." Lock peeks in to see them all.
"Thank you." The kids cheer smiling.
"Wait if you're here… who's with the guys?" Ariel looks a bit nervous.
"Relax I just came to get towels after some paint fell on some of them. What could happen in twenty minutes?" Lock shows the towels in hand.
"Can we see the stage? Yeah! We wanna see!" The kids cheer.
The girls sigh, unable to win against all those big eyes. It might help some of the kids nerves to see it.
When they arrive the stage is painted in a crazy wave like design. It just wasn't the only thing painted. The brothers were finishing up their work, acting like they aren't covered in paint themselves.
"What happened here?" Ariel laughs seeing them.
"What?" They say playing dumb.
"Seriously guys. It was just a paint job." Nora tries to calm her laughter.
"Look sea monsters." The kids laugh pointing at the brothers.
"Sea monsters huh?" They jump down chasing the kids around.
The kids laugh as they run around with the paint covered monsters after them. After a bit the kids went on the dry stage to practice their lines.
"Here." Ariel giggles, handing Fives a towel.
"Thanks." Fives starts cleaning off his hands and face.
"So how did your little war start?" Nora raises a brow.
"They started it." Both groups pointing at one another then laugh at the messes they still are.
'At least we know they'll get along from now on.' Ariel smiles at that.
'It's a step in the right direction.' Nora chuckles as she shakes her head.
Once cleaned up they watched the kids practice for a bit. Then headed back for lunch. The brothers seeming to be in a much better place now.
A week later it was time for the play. The kids from the temple getting to hug their parents after a long time apart. All of them grateful the Jedi were starting to change their ways.
"If only~" Some kids sings.
"That's our princess! Look at our little prince. Keep going sweetie!" A few parents cheer clapping.
The kids flush but smile at this. The girls behind the stage smiling at everything.
"And they lived happily ever after." A kid looks out as the wedding scene finishes.
All the adults standing and clapping at the performance. The kids taking a bow. Then a few head backstage tugging the guys and girls out.
"They helped with the stage and customs." They pipe.
"Take a bow." A few whisper a bit loudly to them.
The adults laughing as the helpers do as instructed.
"Drinks and snacks are over this way for everyone." A Jedi leads them to a place for everyone to mingle.
The kids sticking close to their parents and shaking off their costumes. The parents taking as many photos as they can.
At the Dominos house…
"Here's to a job well done!" Ariel holds up a glass of citer.
"And a successful show!" Nora clinks her glass with hers.
"This is a nice nest love birds." Cutup teases looking around the apartment.
"Tease all you like, I'm still the one that got the mermaid." Fives smirks sipping his drink. "And I didn't need to sell my voice to be a part of her world."
"You…" Ariel hits his arm playfully.
"Why did you decided to move out of here Nora?" Tup looked over at the said woman.
"I wanted them to have they're space after everything." Nora replies sitting close to Echo.
"Pluss it gave us more chances to see each other." Echo snuggles Nora close.
"So any plans for guppies?" Hevy smirks looking at the married couple.
The two flushing at that. Fives almost choking on his drink.
"W-what brought that on?" Fives looks at him bright red.
"Well you have a place, an extra room, and you didn't wait long to marry so I was just wondering what the wait was for." Hevy teases.
"I think we're going to wait a while for that one." Ariel flushes playing with her desert a bit.
"Oh come on, we want a niece to spoil." Bait and Cutup pipe at once.
"Why not a boy?" Nora raises a brow.
"We have enough brothers. Let's get a girl in the family." They shrug.
"It's not happening so stop it." Fives says bright red.
"I don't know, the royal family did say you two where they're best bet." Echo chuckles.
"What about you then? Are you and Nora going to wait?" Dogma looks at them.
"Oh yes. Please, are you going to wait?" Fives smirks, happy the table has turned.
At that Nora and Echo froze, where they going to have kids.
"Sorry didn't mean to upset you two." Dogma looks worried.
"It's not that Dogma, we just, haven't really talk about it is all." Nora looks at Echo trying to get his feelings on this.
"It be nice. I just, don't know if we be ready for that." Echo seems to fidget.
The two flushed, did they want kids, and when.
Despite the teasing they had a nice time. Just getting to know each other better and getting along.
At the temple….
Nora and Echo where still a bit in a haze about a certain question. So they went to the library to talk.
"Echo, do you want kids?" Nora plays with her necklace.
"Yes I would love kids but…. With war going on, should we?" Echo looks uncertain.
"That came to my mind too. And with Dooku around. Would it even be fair?" Nora frowns.
"Hey we are not going to let Dooku control our lives. Nora if you want a child, I'm all for it. I'd love to have children with you. But if you're not ready or feel uncertain, I'll never force you into anything." Echo looks at her lovingly as he caresses her cheek.
Nora smiles at him and says "Thank you, maybe a little one would be nice. It's just, I get baby fever easily." Nora flushes.
"Baby fever?" Echo says confused.
"Um basically when someone wants a child really badly. Men can get it as well from what I read but it's really when a woman feels she wants to have a child. Though sometimes it's not always the best time. And with how crazy I get around little ones…" Nora starts to ramble.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. It's a big step and we'll figure it out when the time comes. For now, let's just enjoy the ride." Echo smiles at her.
Nora smiles back and nods as they got back to their rooms, they would have read but were too exhausted.
Back at the Domino's…
After everyone left for the night Ariel and Fives fell asleep pretty quickly. Tired from the week of set up and the play.
Asleep, Ariel found herself in that endless water again. Looking around she saw her mom.
'Mo-' Ariel starts.
'Ariel listen to me, time is short.' Aqua grabs her arms lightly. 'I'm not a dream or memory. I'm real. I've been trapped in the trail temple. You have to get me out, please.'
'How do I know this isn't a dream? Or a trick?' Ariel looks at her with shaking eyes.
'Luminara will tell you when those boys remember. But if that's not enough tell your father… tell him I still wear the flower in my hair.' Aqua begins to fade at that.
"Mom!" Ariel pops awake.
"Ariel? Are you okay?" Fives hugs her, startled awake by her.
"No. No, we have to go to the temple now." Ariel gets out of bed ready to go.
"Ariel…" Fives starts.
"Fives, I know this will sound crazy to everyone, but I have to know now." Ariel starts out of the room.
"I was just going to say you might want to change out of your nightgown." Fives looks at her in her blue nighty.
Flushed she turns back to change. Fives watching her a bit worried as they go.
At the temple…
"I'm sorry. I know you just got back but…" Ariel look at the green woman with shaky eyes.
"You need answers. I understand." Luminara smiles softly at the girl.
"And you guys?" Fives looks at his brothers hopeful.
"Let's do this." They nod.
"Wait, will this hurt them at all?" Echo looks on worriedly.
"They'll be a bit dizzy afterwards. But no, it will not hurt them." Luminara assures him. "Now close your eyes boys and open up your minds to me." She instructs.
The guys do as told. Luminara closing her own as she reaches a hand out to guide their thoughts.
Ariel felt like she was frozen. What if it wasn't her mother? What if it was? Her mind was spinning.
"Hey we're here for you." Nora whispers holding her friend's hand.
The guys' minds swirled. Images coming to them in pieces and then finally it snapped into place. Them hurt and her treating them, explaining they were ported to her while she was trying to escape. Then them trying to free her by breaking a large crystal and another flash happening and waking up on that planet with no memories.
"It can't be." Luminara gasps as the images come to her as well.
"What? What is it?" Kenobi, wanting to know the fate of his old master once and for all, looks at her curiously.
"A-Aqua… s-she's alive. She's been alive all this time." Luminara has tears streaming down her face.
"No. No that's not possible." Kit shakes his head.
"Actually it is. It would explain so much; in that part of the temple we wouldn't be able to sense her and it would give her everything to sustain her. And…" Mace starts to explain.
"No! It's not real. It can't be." Kit looks away in pain and shock.
"Mom said she still wears it. The flower you gave her." Ariel pipes quietly, in shock herself.
"Ariel what are you talking about?" Nora looks curios and worried.
"A flower from my home world. I gave her a clip for her hair after Ariel was… I never told you about that." Kit looks at his daughter with watery eyes.
"Mom's alive." Tears drip from Ariel's eyes.
It didn't take long for them to spring into action.
Everyone got dressed or packed as they headed on a ship to take them to Atlantia.
Kenobi would be informing the Tonn's of why they were coming while everyone else was preparing themselves for what was to come.
In Kit's room….
Kit looked down at a picture of his love from all those years ago. 'Is it true? Are you really alive? Why didn't I know, why can't I sense you?' Kit feels his eyes water at this.
Then the door opened to reveal Mace. He walked in saying "We'll be landing soon my friend." Mace holds his shoulder.
"Why? Why couldn't I sense her?" Kit looks at the photo sadly.
"I'm not certain, but be happy that you have a chance that many don't get to have my friend." Windu looks off into the distance.
"Have you ever thought of trying to go back for her?" Kit looks at Mace a bit sadly.
"No, I made my choice long ago. I live with the consequences of it, I may never see Zyanya again but at least I have Nora. I am at least grateful for that. Be grateful you have this chance my friend." Mace pats his friend's back.
"She's alive. Aqua is alive. What do I say to her?" Kit's eyes water thinking about that.
Mace held his friend then, letting him get out what he needed. He didn't need to let out anything, he had nothing to truly cry for. How could he mourn what he never had? Unknown to him a few tears glassed his eyes.
With the team…
"Thanks for doing this." Ariel looks at them with shaky eyes.
"Hey we're glad we can help, and your mom saved us." Hevy nods.
"Yeah we owe her big time. If she hadn't of done what she did, we wouldn't be here with our brothers." Cutup smiles.
"We're here for you Ariel." Fives pecks her cheek.
"H-how are we going to get her out of there?" Ariel's voice shakes.
"We'll get her back Ariel. Just have faith." Nora pats her friend's back.
"We should be landing soon. The Tonn's will have questions when we land." Echo explains to them.
"Yeah." Ariel clears her throat at that.
With that they headed off to get ready to land…
As they landed the Tonn's rushed up to ask several questions.
"Is it true? Is my Aqua alive?" Kida is crying.
"From what we know, yes." Kit replies, trying to stay calm.
"What can we do to help?" Ceil looks determined.
"Unfortunately this will have to be a Jedi mission. We're not certain of what we are facing and can't guarantee your safety." Mace shakes his head.
"I'll still go. I am a guard and that's my sister in there." Milo glares.
"We could use someone native to the land and who knows of Atlantean background intensively if the temple decides to challenge us." Kit looks at Mace.
Mace sighs and gives saying "Fine but we have to hurry. Everyone into your suites."
Everyone nodded at this and got into their regular scuba suits accept Ariel, not wanting to waste time heading all the way to the palace. Soon they dived and Ariel helped lead them to the temple. They were all amazed at the sheer structure of the place and its size.
"Ariel do you know where to go?" Mace asks.
"Yeah. This way." Ariel motions to where she last saw her mom.
Soon they headed to the last place Ariel saw her mother.
'Mom.' Ariel looks at the wall with misty eyes.
"Hey, we're here for you." Fives holds her hand.
"Thanks." Ariel looks at him with a sad smile.
"How do we open the door? Knock? Say Open Sesame?" Cutup looks at the wall.
"Not exactly." Kit swims to the wall placing his hand on it.
Ariel does the same thing. Mace and Nora do the same. Soon the wall glows and they all enter. Opening their eyes,' they see an endless field.
"I guess we don't need these." Tup takes off his helmet.
The others doing the same and Ariel changing back to her legs. Taking clothes out of her bag putting them on over her swimsuit.
"Where is she?" Nora looks around at the room. The strange energy all around making her feel something strange.
Kit, feeling a pull, heads off in a sprint. Ariel ready to run herself but Mace holds her back a bit.
"You've waited to meet her. But give them a moment." Mace pleads for his friend.
"Kay." Ariel nods.
"We can walk." Fives takes her hand.
A bit of a ways off…
Kit ran with all his might. Slowing as he came to a library, yet his heart felt like it would jump out at any moment. Entering he finds a long orange haired woman with a white flower with a purple center clipped in her hair reaching for something.
"Aqua?" Kit almost whispers.
All the books that were in her hands drop as she turns to him. She sees his relief pain and love.
"Kit." Aqua runs hugging him. "Oh, tell me you're real." She nuzzles into his chest.
"Funny I was going to say the same thing." Kit holds her close taking in her sea breeze scent.
"Mom?" Ariel pipes from behind.
Both turn to see her standing there. The others agreeing to wait outside.
Aqua looks at her standing there, tears weld up in her eyes at seeing her baby all grown up. Ariel, playing with her braid, stays in her spot a bit afraid to get closer.
"Ariel, my… my baby." Aqua walks over to her unsure what to do herself. "Oh how I dreamt of this moment." She hugs her crying.
'Don't let me wake up. Don't let this be a dream.' Ariel hugs her back crying.
With the others…
They were sitting outside. Waiting for them to finish with their reunion.
At this point Echo noticed Fives being fidgety and asked "Fives are you okay? You haven't been able to stand still for a while."
"What if she doesn't approve of me?" Fives whispers nervous.
"I think she'll approve when she knows how much you love her. And you two are kind of already married so not much that can change." Echo shrugs patting his brother's shoulder.
Soon they heard the three coming out. Fives standing at attention as he sees Aqua.
"Aqua…" Mace smiles at her.
"Hi there." Aqua smiles at him.
"Aqua." Kenobi hugs her.
"Last time I saw you, you were shorter than me." Aqua laughs with a small choke in her tone hugging back.
"Oh how I've missed you." Kenobi holds her close.
"My turn." Milo pulls her into a hug.
"Hi guppy." Aqua chuckles hugging him back.
"You can call me that every day after we get out of here." Milo has a few tears in his eyes.
"Um hi. It's nice to finally meat you. I'm Ariel's friend." Nora waves, not entirely sure what to say.
"Hi there." Aqua clears her throat, rubbing the tears away. "Thank you for taking care of my guppy." She smiles at her.
"We took care of each other." Nora smiles.
"I'm sorry I couldn't have been of more help over the last few months. I can only do so much in here." Aqua looks around sadly.
"How come you haven't been able to leave?" Echo looks on confused. 'What holding her back?'
"I think we've all been wondering that." Mace looks at her curious.
"During the fight he got my side." Aqua holds her left side where a scar is. "I was able to get to the temple and in here then passed out. When I woke up an avatar was looking after me saying I could stay IF I gave my DNA signature becoming the new guardian of here." She explains.
"And you agreed?" Kit looks hurt at that.
"Aqua…" Milo has the same look.
"I… I thought our baby… I couldn't face that reality. I couldn't." Aqua looks at Kit with misty eyes.
Kit looks away letting her go. Knowing she chose this made it hurt more.
"What about when we tried to look for you. Did you not see us?" Mace looks on confused.
"I saw everyone one looking for me and I tried to leave. But I couldn't." Aqua shakes her head. "I started looking for a way out. But no matter how hard I looked or how hard I called out…"
"You couldn't reach anyone." Kenobi finishes, Aqua nods.
"I tried. For years I tried. And then I started studying and found I could influence dreams or move about the temple. But only for short periods of time." Aqua explains looking at Kit longingly, but he just looks to the side, too hurt at the moment.
"What about our brothers, how did they end up here and then out again?" Echo look on shocked.
"That was a happy accident. I was trying to port out but instead I brought them in. They tried to help but got blasted back and the AI erased their memories and sent them off." Aqua looks at them sadly. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Ma'am." They nod.
"I deactivated the AI after that and started trying to get out again. And well the rest you know." Aqua explains the last of it.
"Why the crystal? Why attack that?" Ariel looks curious.
"The crystal is tied to me. My DNA is in it, keeping me trapped but I can't break it." Aqua explains looking at where the light is coming from.
"We could get near it but not touch it." Hevy sighs.
"To be fair maybe ramming at it wasn't a good idea." Cutup rubs the back of his head.
"Hey that was the tenth attempt." Bait sighs heavily.
"I appreciate the attempts." Aqua smiles at them softly.
"You guys did your best. But what can we do know to help shut it down?" Nora glares at the crystal.
"Maybe we can do it. We're Jedi so we can get close." Ariel suggests.
"Or… short circuit it." Milo looks at an old trident being held on a side rack.
"What are you thinking?" Aqua looks at him curiously.
"Mace brings down the barrier with his power and I shoot this in cracking the gem." Milo takes the weapon down seeing the metal is the same that's cracked a few underwater gem rocks.
"I wouldn't be able to hold it open for long." Mace warns.
"Once it's broken we won't have long before this world collapses." Kit looks at the others worried.
"We can head back to the stuff, be near the wall when everything falls down." Fives suggests.
"That could work." Mace nods.
"Are you sure, what if you get stuck." Nora looks at him worried. He was the only family she had out here, she didn't want to lose him.
"I'll keep him safe." Milo assures her.
"Go, I'll be fine." Mace smiles at her softly.
Nora looked over go Milo "I'm holding you to it. But take care of yourself as well." Nora nods.
With that they all head off to the wall. Things quiet between Kit and Aqua, not from the lack of her trying to talk to him.
It didn't take long for the world to start disappearing and shatter. Them all underwater in a matter of minutes.
"Where are they, Mace, Milo!" Nora calls looking for them worriedly. 'What if they were sucked in.' Nora panics. Echo holds her hoping to calm her down.
"We're good Nora." Milo calls with Mace swimming behind him.
Kit bringing over an emergency breather over to Mace. Him taking slow breaths then motions for them all to get going.
On the surface…
The rest of the Tonn family is pacing back and forth on the beach. Worried for all and wondering how their daughter will be. Then they see all the heads poke out of the water. Kida gasping at the site of Aqua.
"Oh my baby!" Kida rushes up to hug her as she comes out of the water.
"I'm so sorry mom. I…" Aqua hugs her.
"Shh. Shh. We can talk about all that later. Are you hungry? Need a warm bath?" Kida looks at her with relief and love.
"A bath would be nice." Aqua takes in the feeling of her mom's warm hands.
Inside Nora's room…
"How are you doing with all this." Nora looks Ariel a bit worried. Her friend hadn't said much since they got back.
"Honestly? I feel like I might wake up and this'll all be a dream." Ariel hugs a pillow with shaking eyes.
"Oh Ariel, it's not a dream. It's not." Nora hugs her friend, hoping to comfort her.
They hear a knock at the door then. Aqua peeking in.
"I have cinnamon rolls and coco. Can I come in?" Aqua looks a bit pleadingly.
"Of course." Nora smiles nodding.
"Those look good." Ariel looks at them with a twinkle in her eyes.
"I needed to keep my hands busy." Aqua sighs sitting on an end of the bed. "Ariel I… I want you to know if I knew you were alive, I wouldn't have… I mean I would have been…" she plays with her braid not sure what to say.
"Would have been looking for me?" Ariel plays with her braid.
Aqua nods.
Nora chuckles as she says "You both play with your hair when nervous."
"Really?" Ariel looks a bit surprised.
Aqua flushes as she says "I guess it's something that was inherited."
"Along with your looks, if you two were the same age I would think you were twins." Nora smiles.
"Yeah, aside from my hair being lighter we look pretty similar." Ariel nods.
"I guess you did get a lot of me. Accept you have your father's skin tone for your tail, and you have his cool skin. It comes from his amphibian side." Aqua chuckles.
"Really?" Ariel feels her cool skin.
"Cool you have two types in your blood." Nora looks curious.
"I guess she does. Oh Ariel I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, that I couldn't…" Aqua starts to cry but.
"Oh mom…" Ariel hugs her.
Nora sees the two need time and decides to go, hoping the two got out what they needed.
"Oh Ariel, my guppy." Aqua strokes her hair a bit. "I wanted so much to be there to watch you grow up. I drew you on your birthday. What I thought you'd look like."
"Really?" Ariel feels tears as she smiles.
"Yes." Aqua nods. "I drew what I thought you'd look like when you walked. What I thought your tail would look like. Basically, anything I could think of."
"Why on my birthday?" Ariel looks at her a bit sadly.
"It was the only time I could bring myself to think of you." Aqua plays with Ariel's hair a bit.
"When we get back aunties and uncle can show you their photo albums, you'll feel like you were there." Ariel smiles at her softly.
"I'd like that." Aqua smiles softly.
With Nora…
Nora walked about the castle a bit, unsure of what to do. Then she saw Mace out in the garden.
She could sense he was somewhat sad. 'I wonder what's wrong?' So she walks over.
Mace senses her and looks up "I thought you were with Ariel."
"I was, but she needed time with her mom." Nora sat next to him on the fountain.
"I see. Just a few more months till the wedding. How are you feeling?" Mace asks.
"I haven't had much time to think on it because of all the crazy stuff going on. Echo and I should start planning." Nora sighs.
"You haven't started?" Mace looks surprised.
"I told you things have been crazy." Nora shrugs.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Mace raises a brow.
"Nope. We're getting married no matter how much you want to hunt Echo down." Nora smirks at him.
Mace smirks back and says "I suppose that's true. I have been a little tough on him."
"You tried to kill him." Nora glares.
"Sigh, fair point. But I have done better since I've been talking with master Yoda." Mace smiles.
"You have. You scared me out there. I almost thought I lost you." Nora looks on sadly.
"You shouldn't worry about me. I can take good care of myself and as a Jedi I know the dangers." Mace pats her shoulder.
"But you're my only family in this galaxy and I don't want to lose you." Nora starts to cry.
Mace is shocked by that 'I was always afraid of losing her, I never thought about how she feel if I…' At that Mace held her close and said "I'm not going anywhere for a while. Trust me. I'll be here as long as I can. And let's just say I'm too stubborn to go out easily." Mace chuckles.
"It's not funny." Nora sniffs.
"It's not, I apologize." Mace pats her head and then says "Would you like any help with the wedding? Maybe I can help in some way. I could proceed, or maybe I could help make sure the decorations are done right, perhaps make sure the groom…"
"Will you walk me down the aisle?" At that Mace froze as he looked at Nora with a sad smile. "My dad is in another galaxy and well I was thinking that Obi could proceed the wedding and since you're my only male relative I hope you would do it."
At that Mace smiled as he nodded his head "I'd be honored." Nora hugs him at that and then says "Thanks Mace. Now I better go find Echo. We need to make plans." Nora wipes away her tears as she heads off.
As she does Mace feels his heart swell and falter all at once.
As Nora raced off, she bumped into Milo "Oh Milo, sorry." Nora pulls back. She was still embarrassed around him after her birthday incident.
"It's okay I wasn't paying attention either." Milo shakes his head "You're in a rush."
"Yeah I have a few things to do." Nora nods, she didn't want to upset Milo with her wedding plans, they hadn't told the Tonn's yet with how crazy everything had been.
Milo nodded but then spotted something sparkly and his eyes widened. Milo looked sadly at Nora and said "He's a lucky man." With that he bowed his head and headed off.
Nora sighed at that but headed off. She felt bad for him, but what could she do? For now, she had things to do.
In the boys' room…
"So Echo you'll be leaving us soon huh?" Cutup hits his brother with a pillow.
"What are you talking about Cutup?" Echo glares as he throws the pillow back.
"Your big day is in a few months. You'll be leaving the barracks." Bait frowns a bit sad.
"Oh right. I almost forgot." Echo looks shocked.
"You forgot your wedding day's coming?" Fives chuckles with a lifted brow.
"With everything going on we haven't had time to plan. We don't know if we'll be staying in the temple or finding a new place after we marry though." Echo starts to think.
"You could move into Nora's old room. We could have it cleared out quickly." Fives suggests.
Echo shakes his head and say "No, thanks for the gesture Fives. But there's not enough room for all of us there. Especially if we…" Echo freezes at that flushing.
"Especially if what?" Hevy raises a brow.
"Yeah spill." Fives lifts a brow.
"Um nothing it was just…"
"Spill it bro." Cutup has him in a headlock.
"Ack, okay, okay, Nora and I are thinking about maybe having kids sometime after marriage okay. Now let me breath!" Echo hits his brother's arm.
At that the brothers all looked on shocked, Cutup letting go from surprise.
"Echo as a daddy…" Fives teases pondering how that would look.
"It's all your fault, your little teasing from last night caused us to start thinking and we talked and well we decided to go with what came along okay." Echo rubs his throat, still annoyed at his brothers.
"Woo! Yeah, a niece! Can I be the favorite uncle? No way that's my spot." Cutup and Bait start arguing.
"How do you guys even know it will be a girl?" Echo glares.
"Let them fantasize." Fives shrugs.
Echo rolls his eyes at this and sighs.
Hevy just looked on shocked. He knew Nora and Echo were getting married but the idea of the two planning for kids. It just sort of solidified it a bit. Hevy just looked away not able to really join in the fun.
Nora came in at this and said "Hey what's going on?"
"Nora we thought you were with Ariel." Echo asks confused.
"Is she okay?" Fives looks a bit worried.
"She's just talking with her mom. I came to find Echo, we have to start wedding planning. Um, by the way we have one thing done. Mace will be taking me down the aisle." Nora flushes.
The others shiver at this.
"Brave, brave, man." Bait shakes his head.
"We salute you brother." Cutup mock salutes.
"Fare thee well." Fives waves sadly yet smirks.
Echo glares at them but walks off as he says "Least I'll die happy." Echo holds her close and kisses her.
"Echo!" Nora chuckles as she bats him slightly "Don't joke like that. You better not leave me or else." Nora glares.
"Yes ma'am." Echo smiles as they head off.
With that the brothers waved them goodbye as they left for their wedding planning. But as they did that's when they noticed the sour look on Hevy's face.
"Hey. You okay?" Fives looks at him worried.
"I just… I didn't think that…" Hevy looks down sadly.
"Hey, we're here for you. Yeah." The others hug him.
"Thanks." Hevy takes the hugs.
The next morning…
Nora came into the dining room seeing Ariel talking with Kida and Aqua.
"Morning." Nora waved, still a bit tired.
"Why didn't you say you were getting married?" Kida looks at her with sparkling eyes.
"Oh sorry, it's just that with how crazy things have bean we haven't had time to really tell anyone or barely even plan." Nora flushes.
"Well we did plan your perfect wedding so~" Ariel shows her the plan.
"Gasp, you kept it? But Ariel the ideas are so expensive I don't know if Echo and I…." Nora tries to tell her.
"You are not paying for a thing. You brought our granddaughter and daughter back to us. This will be our wedding gift to you." Kida smiles after.
"What no, wait I can't let you do that, and technically that was everyone…." Nora is flushed not able to believe this.
"After marrying you'll be part of the Tonn family so give up. Mom's not backing down." Aqua smiles at her.
"Sigh, okay thanks guys. I really do appreciate this, and I know Echo will as well." Nora hugs them in thanks.
"Speaking of weddings… Will you and Kit be making this official now?" Kida looks hopeful.
"Mom…" Aqua sighs.
"Come on, you could still give me one more grand guppy." Kida pleads.
"Well to get married he'd have to talk to me." Aqua sips her coffee sadly.
"He's still upset isn't he." Nora looks on worried.
"I wish he'd just hear me out." Aqua sighs feeling her warm cup.
"Just give him a bit of time. He'll come around." Ariel tries to assure her.
"Yeah," Aqua sighs. "Enough about that. I want to hear the story of how you and Fives met." She looks at her daughter with a small smile.
"Well…" Ariel flushes as she starts to tell it.
At a swimming pool in the palace, Kit was doing some laps, trying to cool his head a bit.
'How could she? She chose to stay. She chose it!' Kit fumes as he swims.
"You're wasting your time here you know."
"What do you want?" Kit looks up at Mace, still mad at Aqua.
Mace glares as he force hovers him out of the pool and then on to land.
"What the-!" Kit glares at him.
Mace then gets in his face and growls "I told you not to waist this opportunity. And that's exactly what you're doing."
"SHE chose to stay there. She picked it!" Kit fumes.
"She thought she had lost her child Kit and she had just given birth. The bond of mother and child is strong and when it's severed it can lead to the mother becoming ill." Mace glares.
"How would you even now that?" Kit huffs.
Mace looks away and responds "Back when I was lost in time, with Zyanya's people, I saw a mother lose her child at birth. She was so devastated the husband had to keep her from falling into despair."
"Mace I… Mace she chose a cage over me." Kit felt a few tears fall at that.
"It's not that she loved you any less my friend. I believe she just wasn't thinking straight at the moment. Many of us did not make the wisest of choices in our younger years." Mace sits next to Kit and sighs.
"Would you ever go back for her?" Kit looks over at his friend.
"No Kit I can't go back and get her. I don't even know how it happened the first time really, it was random. And Even if I could, I wouldn't." Mace looks down sadly.
"Why?" Kit looks confused at that.
"Cause if I was to do so Nora may have never been born. I can't risk that." Windu shakes his head.
"You're a good man Mace." Kit sighs a bit.
"You should talk to her. Don't waste time. You both made mistakes my friend. And you both paid for them. Don't let your anger keep you from having the family you always wanted." Mace said sadly before walking off.