Chapter 13 - Unwanted Visitors (Obi-Wan)

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. We only own the characters we have invented from Earth. =)

Author's Note: I'm happy to announce that I've officially made a Discord server where all my sisters and I can share teasers, spoilers, bloopers, and other things from our fanfics and other original stories. If you're interested in joining, the link is: discord . gg / nqSxuz2

Please delete all spaces. :P I really hope that some of you enjoy our fanfics enough to join. :D

~ Amina Gila

I watch silently as Ariana hesitantly steps into her grandmother's office. "Grandma?" she ventures quietly. Her grandmother looks up and nods, a warm smile on her face. "We can go to the store since Obi-Wan is here," Ariana rushes to explain. "We need a ton of things from there for tonight and just in general."

Her grandmother frowns slightly, but finally she nods. "That would be good," she concedes. "We need some things there, and I won't be able to go for a few days. Besides, I have a conference call in half an hour."

The sisters seem unusually chipper as they pile into the car. I slide into the driver's seat, starting the car and pulling out of the driveway. Ramona, who is sitting in the middle in the back, leans forward to program the GPS. We sit in silence for a few minutes while I pull onto the highway, driving towards the nearest Costco.

"Sometimes I get the feeling that Grandma uses you and Anakin as our babysitters," Teagan comments reflectively as she stares out the window.

"It does seem that way," Ariana agrees, resting her chin on her palm, elbow on the car door.

"It's beginning to seem so," Ramona echoes, nodding.

"Well, you can't blame her for wanting to keep you safe," I remind them, a half-smile on my face, and speaking of safe, I have yet to try mind tricks on Earth. Hopefully, if we ever get stopped, I'll be able to mind trick the police officers, so we don't get in trouble because I don't have a license. If that time ever comes, I sincerely hope Anakin isn't here. I'll never live it down.

Thankfully, we reach Costco without any difficulties. I try to ignore my unusual Earthly attire as I follow the sisters into the store. I've never been to places like this, so I can only hope they know where to go. Ariana mumbles something under her breath as she scans an aisle of cereal. "That one I think," Teagan offers helpfully, grabbing three boxes.

"Thanks," Ramona murmurs, placing them into the cart which I'm pushing.

Suddenly, Ariana freezes, and I can sense her reach out with the Force. "I sense a presence I have not felt since... well, I don't know actually. All I know is that I don't want to see her." Her expression is stony.

Ramona reaches out also and scowls. "Oh. Oh no."

I give them a confused look. "Who is it?" I didn't realize that they would encounter someone they clearly dislike, or I would have suggested we wait until later.

"The witch, our not-cousin," Ariana explains, waves of distaste radiating into the Force.

"Let's just hurry and hope she doesn't see us," mumbles Teagan, walking towards the next aisle.

"Canned food," Ramona states, looking around. "What do we need here?" In response, Ariana shoves the list – which is on her phone – at her and picks up a few cans, adding them to the cart.

I hear the footsteps approaching at the same time as the sisters because they all stiffen. "Look who's here!" a female voice sings out, with obviously fake cheeriness. "I haven't seen you in a long time." I turn to see a scantily clad woman approaching. Force, if she's the kind of person I think she is, no wonder the sisters hate her. She seems fake and shallow at first glance.

Teagan clenches her jaw, giving her an icy glare before pointedly turning back to her sisters and picking up a few more items. They're clearly planning to pretend that she's not there.

"It looks like the next thing is all the way on the other side of the store," Ariana remarks, studying the list with exaggerated interest as she presumably crosses off a few items.

"Oh dear," Ramona sighs sarcastically. "It looks like we'd better set out."

"At least we're almost done," Teagan chimes in. They're trying to talk on top of the newcomer, who's unhappiness and irritation is practically being screamed into the Force. She has no shielding whatsoever. I carefully reinforce my own shielding, so I don't accidentally pick up stray thoughts or emotions. I really don't want to know what's going on in her mind.

"There's actually almost half the list left," Ariana replies, holding out her phone as evidence.

"It's still getting there," Teagan retorts cheerfully.

"I don't think we've ever met before, but you look familiar," the woman states. I spare her a glance. Her hazel eyes are fixed on me, and she's playing with a lock of blonde hair which has pink highlights. Pink? Seriously? I'm again grateful that few people in our universe are as depraved as they are here. I wouldn't be able to stand it.

"Thank goodness," Ramona mutters, in a fake whisper.

"We haven't," I assure her. "I would remember if we had." She had better not be planning to attempt anything inappropriate, but I'll keep my distance just in case.

Ariana makes an exasperated noise. "Since you're so insistent upon knowing," she grumbles, "This is Ben." Ironic that I'm using that alias now. "He's a friend. Sort of like an uncle." With that, she turns and marches away to the fresh produce section of the store. Just as I'd predicted, their cousin – I think she's their cousin anyways – trails along after.

"Are you British?" she asks curiously, standing far too close to me. Of course. My accent.

I intentionally step back and cross my arms, raising an eyebrow. "I could be," I answer vaguely, glancing at the sisters to check their progress. They're quietly browsing through fruit and collecting the best ones.

"I'm Chelsea," she tells me with a far too bright smile.

I don't want to talk to her. She's what? Twenty? I don't need to touch her mind to know that she's wondering something which is highly inappropriate. Her expression says it all. I turn away from her. "That one," I suggest, picking up a fruit. I think it's a mango.

Chelsea seems very put out that we're ignoring her, but whatever she did, I'm sure she deserved it. From the way the sisters opened up to me and Anakin almost immediately, I know they aren't cold. They don't hold grudges either. She sighs audibly, mumbling something under her breath, her annoyance flaring.

"Why can't you just forgive me?" she whines. "It's in the past."

"Look, I'll forgive you when our mother does." Ariana's voice is colder than the ice on Hoth. Something in her tone seems to warn Chelsea to shut up, but she doesn't take the hint to leave. Instead, she continues trailing us in a sullen silence. I debate trying to mind trick her into leaving and forgetting that she saw us but decide better of it. If I'm seen, the consequences won't be good. I know little about security on Earth, so I'd better not risk it.

"How's Grandma?" Chelsea ventures a few minutes later.

Ariana glowers at her. "I don't know who your grandmother is," she bites out. "Why don't you tell me?" She gives her a sharp smile, turning to pick up another item. The cart is almost full, so we should be done with the shopping and not a moment too soon. Chelsea is beginning to irritate me, much as I try to hide it.

"You know you don't have to be like that," Chelsea retorts, tone wounded.

"If you care so much, you could always ask her," Ariana hisses, before smirking. "I suppose that's probably why you sent letters every other week and visited us once a month." I know for a fact that I never want to be on the receiving end of her sarcasm. It can hurt.

"I know you're upset about what happened, but we're family," Chelsea argues, trying to placate them to no avail.

I see anger flash through Ramona's eyes as she whirls to face her. "Upset is an understatement!"

"Some family you are," Teagan agrees bitterly.

"Family is made by choice," Ariana points out, "And you chose not to be our family. You are not my family." Those words are in stark contrast to what she said earlier about me being like an uncle. The implication is obvious. They consider me family, but not her.

"How are the Logans?" she persists, apparently shrugging off Ariana's words.

"Why don't you ask them yourself?" Ariana grumbles.

"I did," Chelsea affirms.

"Then why are you asking us?" mutters Teagan. I can't hold back a smile at her words. I don't fail to notice that Ariana is taking the primary position when talking, though she doesn't seem any more desirous than the others.

"Who did you talk to and when?" Ariana demands, narrowing her eyes. I catch a hint of worry, before she hides it.

Chelsea hums thoughtfully, tapping her foot on the floor. "Mark," she says at last. "I think it was Mark. Several months ago." Ariana visibly inhales to maintain her calm, a stab of resentment rushing through her. I send her a soothing feeling through our bond. I know she has feelings for Mark, but she doesn't appear to want to talk to him about it.

"Shouldn't you know who you talked to?" Ramona mumbles, giving her an incredulous look.

"And what did he tell you?" Ariana's tone is stiff.

"He said that he's doing fine," Chelsea shrugs.

"Well, then he was obviously just answering your questions to be polite, because he's not 'just fine,'" Ariana declares triumphantly. "We talk to him at least once a week, so I would know." Now, she's simply bragging, but I don't say anything. Since I don't really understand the situation, I'd rather not get involved. Besides, I'm wary of drawing too much attention because it's not like I'm completely unrecognizable.

"Can I come to your house sometime?" Chelsea asks hopefully.

"Why don't you ask my grandmother that?" Ariana responds.

Chelsea heaves a long sigh, moving until she's blocking their path. "I don't like the way things are between us," she confesses, expression pleading. If I couldn't feel her lack of true emotion, I would have believed that she's sincere.

"I didn't either, once," Ramona informs her, coolly.

"You don't know what you're missing," Chelsea insists desperately.

"We aren't missing anything," Teagan murmurs dryly. When Chelsea's gaze turns to Ariana, Teagan glances at me, meeting my eyes, and I understand her meaning.

"What we have now, we'd never give up for anything in the universe," Ramona insists passionately. I find myself unusually touched by her words. I've always known they care for Anakin and me very strongly but hearing it aloud shows how much they've grown used to our presences. They wouldn't have said something like that when they were still in our dimension.

"You're the one who's missing something. I'm perfectly satisfied with what I have now." Ariana's voice is calm, but there's an unmistakable hint of pride.

"I just want to spend more time with you," Chelsea explains.

"I might not mind if you actually cared about someone other than yourself." Ariana doesn't give her a chance to reply, pushing past and moving towards the end of the aisle.

Chelsea stares after them, finally scowling and turning towards me. Oh. Now I guess it's my turn to entertain her. "How did you end up meeting the sisters?" I sense genuine interest in her tone, but there's a hint of suspicion as well. "I know their father is very particular about who they spend time with." Is that an insinuation that they aren't allowed to spend time with me?

"Their grandmother knew I was trustworthy after I saved them," I reply honestly. It's the truth from a certain point of view.

"How did you meet?" she presses. At least there's nothing malicious in her question. She's only radiating curiosity, but I'm not sure whether it pertains to me or the sisters.

"They happened to appear at the worst time." Again, I'm careful to relate the truth. Even if she's not Force sensitive, she may be able to tell if I outright lie.

She giggles. "That sounds like them. We used to get into all kinds of mischief when we were little." So, they were close when they were younger.

"I find that easy to imagine," I say wryly. They might be well-behaved now, but I can see hints of how they used to act when children. I'm almost glad that I didn't meet them at that point. If I had, I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Anakin would have joined their antics.

"I'd really like to get to know you," she tells me earnestly. "Any friend of the sisters is also a friend of mine." She ventures a small smile, but the glint in her eyes warns me that she's up to something else.

"Oh yes, I'm sure," Ramona mumbles sarcastically.

"What's your phone number?" Chelsea asks me. "Maybe I can call you later."

I narrow my eyes. Clearly, a distant politeness isn't getting the point across. I need to take a different approach. "I haven't got a phone number to give you. I think people like you should have more important things to do than talk to strangers." I don't try to conceal the recrimination in my voice.

I sense a flood frustration mingled with hurt, though Chelsea's expression doesn't change. She pulls out her phone and frowns down at it before sighing melodramatically. "My boyfriend is calling me," she explains loftily. "I need to go, but I'll get in touch with you later." She strides away rapidly, and we watch her go with relief.

"About time," sighs Teagan, visibly relaxing.

"He's probably wondering if you snuck off with someone else," Ariana mutters under her breath as soon as Chelsea is too far away to hear anymore. Her sisters snicker.

"She was lying," I state flatly, frowning.

"What?" they chorus in confusion.

"When she said her boyfriend was calling, she was lying," I explain. Not only did I feel the lie in the Force, but also, I caught a glimpse of her phone. She didn't even turn it on.

"Oh, I'm sure," Ariana agrees a hint of bitterness in her tone. "That's always what she does. When things go south, she finds an excuse and takes off."

"Are we done here yet?" Ramona sounds tired, and I expect we could all do with a break. Leaving here as fast as possible would be good. After collecting the final item, we move to the checkout line which doesn't take long.

"Do you want to tell me more about your history with Chelsea?" I question as we pull out of the Costco parking lot and head back to their home. I have the feeling that they need to unburden themselves.

"There isn't much to say," Ariana says reflectively. "We were very close, but after everything that happened with our mother, we stopped talking to her."

"What happened?"

The sisters exchange a look, and I'm about to tell them they don't need to talk about it, when Ramona starts telling me the story. "Our mother was a doctor, and over time, she learned how corrupt the medical industry is. She tried to reform it, and eventually started her own company to sell health products."

"Her work angered the establishment, and there was an assassination attempt which failed," Ariana continues sadly. Something in her voice tells me it was a lot more complex than that, but she doesn't elaborate. "A few months later, she was arrested on numerous charges pertaining to the company including money laundering. They – they illegally kept her imprisoned without offering bail for months while the trials were going on."

She swallows hard, staring down at the floor of the car. "Chelsea's parents testified against her during the trials. She was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment. She was only there for a couple years, when our father was called in the middle of night with the report that she'd collapsed and been rushed to the hospital. To this day, we don't any conclusive answers about what happened, but I think they killed her intentionally, because the state supreme court had just accepted the case to be reviewed. With her death, it no longer mattered, and the case was dropped."

"Chelsea and her siblings turned against us. They were far more concerned with what their friends thought of them than us," adds Teagan quietly.

I don't really understand how their legal system works, but I definitely get the gist of what she's saying. I sense them a wave of support and understanding through the Force, feeling their gratitude as we lapse into silence. This has given me plenty to consider about Earth, and I can fully understand why the sisters prefer my universe over their own.