AN: I would like to thank you all for the great reviews!! I am glad you know you all enjoy the story so much. And now, without further ado…
Ari jumped back slightly at her reaction and felt herself lifted off the ground just a split second later by two massive furry arms. One tight around her waist and the other starting to go around her neck.
With a short strangled cry, Ari kicked at her captor, knowing it was the Wookie, who must have seen her right before this other woman had. She tossed her head back, flailing wildly.
"Let me go," she shouted
"Princess, are you okay?" Ari heard Luke's voice as he and Han rushed into the room, the latter holding his blaster up and pointed at her while Luke went over to see if the woman was okay.
"I saw the cape and thought it was Vader for a moment," she told him, a bit shakily.
"Well, this isn't the man in black himself but it could be one of his spies," Han answered and Ari finally stopped struggling enough to glare at him, opening her mouth to retort but was cut off by Luke.
"Ari?!" His eyes went wide as he walked over to where Chewie still held her off the ground.
"You know her?" Han asked a bit shocked.
"She is my best friend from Tatooine," Luke answered over his shoulder. Han looked a bit confused but nodded at Chewie to let her go, and he did so unceremoniously, Ari falling the two feet to the floor, landing in a heap.
She looked up at Luke who was standing over her from her spot on the floor. She got to her feet, rubbing her back slightly turning to glare slightly at Chewie.
"ARIANNA SABE NARABE!" Luke's voice was sharp as he almost shouted her name. Ari flinched slightly at it as she turned back and saw his blazing eyes. Past him, Han had reholstered his blaster but was still wary and the woman stood, still a bit white but better.
Ari started to open her mouth to speak, not knowing what to say for sure, but Luke shook his head.
"I can't believe you followed me! How could you? I told you to stay on Tatooine," he told her, almost rambling as he paced in front of her, his movements animated by his shock and anger.
"Luke…" Ari started but was cut off again.
"No. Arianna, this is no place for you. You should be at home with your family. Not here hiding and sneaking around ships. Do you realize you could have gotten shot?!"
"Luke…" Ari tried again, tears starting to form and she fought them back. She didn't think he would be happy but this was worse than she imagined.
"Why would you do such a thing?" Luke continued, not giving more than a glance to her. "Your parents will kill me! They must be worried sick about you! How could you do this to them? Do you know what I would give to have my family back?!"
Ari felt the tears burn her eyes as one escaped, rolling down her cheek, leaving a salty trail as it fell to the floor.
"Luke…" the other woman started, seeing Ari's reaction. Luke waved his hand to stop her.
"You sneak aboard this ship, hide from us somehow. Then you put yourself in danger through it all doing blazes knows what when we are on that space station. If something had happened it would have been my fault! What do you have to say for yourself?!" he asked, finally turning to her, seeing her almost as if for the first time since she had appeared on the ship..
Ari held back a small sob as she looked up at him, eyes glazed with unshed tears. In that single moment no words were spoken aloud, but a thousand were said through just one look. Luke softened slightly as he saw this, anger starting to leave him.
"Luke…" Ari whimpered. "Luke…" she chocked out again, eyes never leaving his, hers pleading for understanding, for help, for him.
He paused and looked at her, his anger dissipating as he looked at her. Her small shaking form, eyes letting him see into her soul that was tormented with demons.
"The Empire destroyed my life. They killed them all. My mother, father, Jett, Saber. Burned the homestead." She turned as two more tears escaped, voice catching, hurting. "I couldn't even get to them. I couldn't do a thing."
"Oh Ari…" Luke whispered as he opened his arms to embrace her tightly. Ari felt her legs about to give way as she almost fell against him, the weariness and exhaustion taking over as she let herself collapse into his arms, the only safe place for her to be, she fitting into his arms perfectly, as if it was only natural she was meant to be there. Carefully he led her to a seat so that she was almost sitting in his lap.
Taking their cue to leave, the woman, Han and Chewie slipped away silently.
Ari buried her face into the shoulder of Luke's soft tunic as a chocked sob racked her smaller frame. Then the tears fell, relentlessly, from deep within her soul, soaking into Luke's tunic.
Luke held her tight with one hand, the other soothingly stroking back her hair as he rested his head on hers slightly. "Shh…It's ok Ari. It's all going to be okay…" he kept whispering comfortingly, as his fingers ran through her silken tresses lightly, as he rocked her ever so slightly back and forth.
Ari gripped onto him as if he were her lifeline as the tears continued to violently shake her body. "It's not fair," she cried. "Not fair…" she cried again though softer as the tears overtook any more words she had.
Luke just held her tight his hand moving down to her neck and shoulders rubbing them gently before moving his hand back through her golden hair.
The sobs started to subside after a time and Ari let out a deep shuddered sigh, letting her forehead rest against Luke's chest as he continued to rock her. His fingers were so gentle, more than she would have expected, as he ran them through her hair, sometimes rubbing a few strands between his forefinger and thumb.
Ari took another deep breath and could the scent of Luke washed over her. It was a pleasant mix of the very things that seemed to make him who he was. His shampoo, his clothes, everything. It was calming, soothing. His touch, his smell, his very presence seemed to be what she needed more than anything else.
Ari relaxed her hold on him, just a bit, as she closed her eyes tiredly for a moment, letting herself fall deeper into his arms as the rocking continued. His voice was soft and low as he whispered in her ear, little sounds and words of comfort, his warm breath on her ear and side of her neck, and Ari had to hold back a shiver.
She could just stay there forever in his arms, her haven of safety among the chaos and mayhem that seemed to plague them. His hold was firm and touch soft as his fingers gently brushed her cheek questioningly.
"Arianna," he whispered ever so lightly, her name like music upon his lips, and she wanted to hear him say it again. Forever for the rest of their lives, loving how it sounded from him. That thought scared her for a moment but she let it pass as he whispered it again, almost to himself it sounded, like a prayer.
Ari slowly raised her head to look at him, blue eyes now a blue-green color from her tears, her cheeks flushed slightly when she looked up at him, having started as he had spoken her name, yet they were still wet from her tears.
Luke gently brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear softly. He then looked down into her eyes and she knew she could just lose herself in the sky blue orbs that seemed to radiate concern, concern for her.
"I will never let anything bad happen to you. I promise," he whispered, voice low as his eyes stayed on hers, bonding him to the promise he had just made.
Then, very slowly he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the forehead, just a soft brief whisper of his lips on her skin. It was still enough for Ari to feel a warmth run through her blood and seem to radiate from her skin.
'He kissed me…' her mind registered in shock as her eyes stayed on his.
Luke smiled slightly down at her and helped her slide off his lap so he could stand. Ari felt a stab of disappointment but said nothing as Luke then turned and reached out his hands to help her up.
She took them and he pulled her up and she winced.
"Ari?" he asked concerned, then turned her hands, palms up and he looked back at her, as one finger gingerly traced one of the cuts.
"Come on, you can tell me about what happened while we get these taken care of," he told her as he wrapped one arm around her waist to support her, as she was still shaky, as they slowly made their way down the hall.
AN: Talk about a reunion. Please Read and Review! Brit asked about Ari in ESB and ROTJ…oh you better believe it! And a few things between those. So everyone, R&R!! J