Disclaimer: This is a work of pure fiction I do not own Halo and it's characters. All rights belong to Bungie and 343 Industries and its affiliates.

This is my fourth story. I appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

Author's Note: I haven't read the books this is going purely off the games and movies so things will be different then you are expecting and I apologize for that.

Chapter 5: Family Bonding

Time: 15 minutes later after John found Aala.

Location: Requiem Forest

Aala frowned in thought as she followed after her uncle. She didn't know what to expect from him and that bothered her deeply. How indoctrinated and conditioned was he that he wasn't even asking her questions about his sister and family.

"So…" they both said at the same time. "No you first." They said again at the same time. Before finally Aala couldn't take it anymore and started laughing at the stupidity of the situation. Even though she couldn't see his face she bet he was giving her a what the fuck look.

"Sorry… Sorry." She said huffing as she finally managed to calm down. "I know you haven't had any real social interactions much except with your fire team and other Spartans but like I said let's just take it one step at a time." Aala said as she took a stop next to John who had stopped stunned by what she said.

"Yeah…" John said in a strained voice. This was probably the most difficult thing he ever had done. He could take down covenant armandas, take down brute chieftains with his bare hands and stop the halo rings from firing but getting to know his neice who was probably his last link to his family except his mother's wedding ring she had given him which he now wore around his neck beneath his undersuit so it wouldn't get lost. He had so many questions. All of them competing to get out left him tongue tied.

Seeing John seeming so lost and frustrated caused Aala to sigh before she grabbed his clenched fist by his side. Looking at her he was stunned as she pulled his fingers until they stopped clenching. Gripping his hand in hers she tried to look at him to see the boy that was hiding inside the man that stood in front of her.

"John" Aala said in a soft voice that caused his eyes to widen, it was the same voice his mother used when ever he got hurt and tried to pretend like it didn't. "I can't imagine what you've been through and are going through right now. If I had to guess I bet you have so many questions that you don't know what the right question is to ask first. Thinking that you will upset me. I'll tell you this though family at least true family is thicker then blood and there are no wrong questions or answers because we love each other so deeply that we will do anything to see each other happy. That's the legacy you gave us John." Aala said softly trying to coax John out of his shell gently, patiently waiting for him to open up. "I'm never leaving your side. I promise and from what grandmother said about your promises was that you always kept them. So I promise to never leave your side. I'll die first before I lose you ever again." Aala said clenching John's hand into her hand trying to make him feel her resolve and strength to be his pillar if he ever needed her.

John nodded his head in agreement his hand tightening against hers. "My mother and sister… How are they?" John finally asked as they let each other's hands go before continuing on their route to the others that Cortana was tracking.

"Your mother, I can't really tell you. It's a secret not a bad one. It's actually a really good one but I swore to my mom/your sister that she would be the one to tell you and show you to yalls's mom and her dad." Aala answered. John simply hummed in acknowledgment though his shoulders seemed lower to the ground. Aala sighed seeing he was a bit upset at that. She decided to change the subject. "Your sister's name is Dolores." Aala told him. "She is a very strong and willful woman that deeply loves you. She always dreamed about becoming a spartan and finding you either on the battlefield or rescuing you from those that took you." It's how she became the only other spartan besides you to be registered as Hyper Lethal." Aala told him trying to create a image in John's mind of his sister. John merely let out a whistle. "I can't wait to meet her." John said growing excited about how amazing his family seemed to be.

Aala merely frowned though. "Your sister isn't exactly the same as she once was…" Aala said remorsefully. "What do you mean? What happened?" John asked in confusion and concern. "Remember how I told you she was serverly wounded on Reach?" Aala asked. Getting a nod from him. "Well when my mother woke up from her coma and found out how close she had been to seeing you. That you were actually on the Pillar of Autum and she didn't get a chance to see you… She took it very personally. It didn't help that she is now stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of her life since the zealot elites she was fighting to the death managed to cut her with their energy swords and cauterize her leg nerves preventing her from ever walking again. She could get robot legs and return to active duty but since she missed her chance in seeing you it killed a part of her and she shut herself off from everyone but our family." Aala said emotionally.

Looking over at John. "I'm sure you hear and know about being humanity's savior and all that but John your literally the beating heart of our family. If I don't get you back to them so they can show you how much they miss and love you then our family is either going to go crazy with grief or die out." Aala said as she let out a couple of sobs. As she remembered seeing how broken her grandmother was and how much her mother beat herself up for missing her chance to reunite with her brother. "I actually have insomnia and nightmares of chasing after you in my dreams and you either disappearing in front of me or looking at me like a stranger and walking off." Aala said chokingly. Shocking John with her depth of devotion she had to him. Turning around he quickly pulled Aala into his arms and rubbed her back as she tried to calm down. "I'm never disappearing on you and i'll never look at you like a stranger. I promise but first we have to defeat Didact and his new army he's indoctrinated or he will wipe humanity out." John said as Aala nodded into his shoulder before pulling away and rubbing her arms. "Right, let's go kick the newest bad guy that wants to destroy everything and take his place as ruler." Aala said smartly causing John to let out a chuckle before nodding in agreement and both of them feeling like the air was lighter between them started making their way to the huddled IFFs Cortana had on his hud faster than before. Time was of the essence now that their bond wasn't as fragile as it was before.