Chapter 123

AN: Thank you everyone for your kind reviews.

Time passed, though Ari did not know how long. There was not way to tell by positioning of a sun or star. Nor did she wear a chrono on her wrist like some did. She found them uncomfortable, preferring just her bracelet on her wrist.

She glanced at it, touching it gently, watching as the light reflected off of it, casting some of the light onto her nearby surroundings. One small flick of her wrist caused the light to move.

Tearing her eyes away from the light, she looked at the closed door. She had not heard anything from the room, nor had anyone come in or left. She felt torn. She didn't want to intrude on them, yet Ari did not want to leave without saying something to Taylor. So, shifting to get more comfortable, she was resigned to waiting.

The back of her hand brushed against her eyes, her lashes now clumped together after shedding a few tears. She had cried a little, but found it easier to deal with than when her family had died. Siri had been ready and everyone had been able to say goodbye. She still wished she had been given that chance with her parents and Jett. There was so much she had wanted to say.

She would have apologized to her father. He thought he was doing what was best for her. He wanted to keep his family safe. She hadn't fully understood that until joining the Rebellion. She would have also thanked him. While he sometimes seemed stern, she would not have been able to continue on if she was not used to hard work and persevering, even when things seemed hopeless.

Ari wanted to ask her mother so many questions. Mostly about her training and her life. The journal helped, but it could only hold a certain amount of words and information. She would like to ask her mother questions and have her mother be able to answer. She also found herself wishing that her mother could be there to hug her at that moment, something she had often wished for during the war.

Then there was Jett. Her little brother would have been nearly an adult now. He had so much potential that had been destroyed. His life had ended when it had barely begun. She wished she could take back every fight and tell him how much she did love him. She wanted to tell all of them that. She hoped that they watched over her and that they were proud of all she had done, as well as happy that the civil war was now over.

Ari's thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of a door opening. She glanced up and saw Taylor. The woman's eyes were red and evidence of crying was easy to see on her still splotched face. Yet, she had a strange air about her. Almost peaceful.

"Taylor?" Ari spoke up as she got to her feet. She realized that either she had been sitting longer than she thought, or the floor was extremely cold since her legs and back felt slightly numb.

Taylor offered a small smile in return. "I had worried that you had already left," she remarked.

"I didn't want to leave until I could talk to you. And I did not want to rush it," Ari added.

"You're a good friend, Arianna. I thank you for it. Siri thought well of you too. We were going to help you with the Academy, once it got started. I would still like to help, if you don't mind."

"Both Luke and I would welcome that help, I can assure you. Siri gave me a few more disks, but I have a feeling there is a lot you could help us with."

"Not all of it is for Jedi training though. Some of it might help you with questions you might have about other parts of life."

"Is that what Siri meant about me being more than a Jedi?" Ari asked.

Taylor gave her another small smile. "Yes. You can be a Jedi Knight, but that there will be other roles you will play in your life. I know you have other questions, but I can't give you all the answers. You will have to figure those out for yourself. However, in terms of being a Jedi, there is one with a small dot on it. You should look at that first."

"Thank you. I am sorry about Siri, but I am happy about your marriage."

"Siri is happy now. She is one with the Force and has finally been reunited with Obi-Wan. She has missed him terribly. And thank you. After her funeral, Eean and I will most likely have a honeymoon and then settle somewhere."

"Do you know where yet?" Ari asked.

Taylor shook her head. "Not yet. Alderaan was destroyed and we were there for quite a bit. So I am not certain. It will be nice though, to have a place to call home instead of a ship. I used to love to pilot. I still do. I just don't want to continue living in a ship," she smiled and Ari couldn't help but return it.

"So what are you going to do?" Taylor asked her.

"I have considered going to Bakura, but I have a feeling that Luke is supposed to be the Jedi there. If I went, it might cause more damage then good."

"Is that what the Force is telling you?"

Ari paused, and then nodded. "Yes."

"Well, you can't tell the Force what to do. You should listen to what it tells you though."

"I will," the blonde haired woman smiled. "It has yet to lead me astray."

"And it never will, not if you listen to it and let it control you, instead of you controlling it."

"It is difficult though," Ari admitted. "I want to go join them so badly. I personally feel I could help. Yet, the Force is telling me I must be patient," she sighed.

"Patience is one of the most difficult virtues."

Ari nodded in reply. "I agree." There was a moment of silence before she spoke. "Will she have a traditional Jedi funeral?"

"Yes," Taylor replied. "I would have a proper funeral, but she told me she wanted it to be like her wedding, small and simple. You are welcome to join us."

Ari thought it over for a moment and then shook her head. "Thank you, but no. It should be something for just you and Eean."

Taylor nodded. "Then I guess this is goodbye." She held out her hand, and Ari took it, giving it a shake.

"Not goodbye though. I will see you soon," Ari remarked. Then, on impulse, she hugged the older woman, who hugged her back.

"I will see you soon. I am sure of it."

"As am I. May the Force be with you, Taylor."

"And may it be with you too," Taylor told her, offering a small smile. She then patted R4 on the head. "And I will see you soon as well." The droid beeped, pleased by this. With one last glance, Taylor turned and went back into the room.

There was a moment of silence and then R4 made a sad sound. Ari glanced at the droid, curious. Was it possible that R4 might prefer to be with Taylor and Eean? The thought hurt, but she would not stop the droid from going if that was R4 wanted.

"Would you rather go with Taylor?" she asked the droid once she had the translator in her hand. She wanted to be sure she could understand the chirps and beeps.

The droid was quick to answer in a string of beeps and chirps. R4's answer made her smile.

"Of course I don't want you to go. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to stay if you would rather go with her. I'm glad you want to stay," she smiled and gave the droid a small hug. She was glad. While she never forgot R4 was a droid, she considered him as good a friend as she would consider a living, breathing being.

Then, she straightened up. "We had better get going," she told the droid, shouldering her bag once more.

R4 beeped a question to her and she smiled slightly, holding up the discs in one hand. "We have some studying and training to do."