Hello again, faithful readers of old and new beginners! Welcome... to an attempt at romance.

Warning. This story's not your typical 'x loves y and they kiss' sort of thing. It's entirely from Hera's perspective, seeing how the addition of each member of the crew affects Kanan, with the romance-y bits coming at the end. Just to clear up confusion before it starts. :p

If you have read 'A New Dawn', ignore this- if you haven't, the first few paragraphs lightly go over when Hera first meets Kanan, which includes Gorse (the planet they met on) and the name Okadiah (Kanan's 'fatherley' figure). They don't play major roles in the story, so do not be alarmed- all is well. And I highly recommend the book, it's awesome.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: See, you can tell I don't own Rebels, because Disney pulls off Hera's relationship with Kanan flawlessly, while I flounder aimlessly over here in the corner.

She'd seen it in his eyes when they first met, on Gorse. He hadn't exactly been the most eloquent at the time, nor the most able to communicate, but Hera had still managed to grasp the concept that followed her even now.

It hadn't been an instantaneous revelation from the moment she'd met him, because the only thing she'd obviously picked up on then was a flummoxed man trying to find the words he needed to speak. But the longer she'd spent with him, the more she was exposed to his mannerisms and who he was...

Hera had seen it in how cautious he'd been. In the way he'd always hesitate before agreeing to follow the plans they'd made. In how he hadn't been able to leave the old man, Okadiah, in the mines until he had died. In how he had been unsure about permanently joining her one moment, and the next so enthusiastic he'd turned twelve for a second.

Kanan had been alone.

He had been alone, and had been reluctant to fill his life with people once more in the fear of having them ripped away.

Of course, when he'd revealed his Force-sensitivity, her theory made even more sense. After all, there were barely any survivors from the Jedi Order of old, and if he was one of them, then nearly everyone he knew was either dead or in hiding where he couldn't find them. If he had been a part of their Order, everyone he would have known and made connections with would have been ripped away from him, and an event like that would be impossible not to leave scars.

So, it was a logical deduction to say that Kanan Jarrus was very much so alone in his life, too afraid to make deep connections for fear of being wounded by them.

Now, Hera was a compassionate person. Feisty and willful, most definitely, but compassionate was another one of her core traits. It hadn't exactly been a surprise to find that she was so ready to help out this man, especially when she'd worked together with him so well and had already started a friendship with him.

What had been a surprise was when she'd built up an entire crew with him, a crew so tightly knitted together that a better describing word would be family. Hera hadn't even considered forging those bonds until her fight in the Rebellion was long over...

But when Hera had decided to help Kanan with his loneliness, it seemed that he had set out to help hers as well.

It had started, of course, with just the two of them. There had been a little awkwardness as they sorted out their boundaries- they weren't just partners in crime or friends, they were... complicated.

It was obvious he had soft spot for her. Whether or not she had one for him, Hera hadn't really given herself the opportunity to think on, because they were part of something much bigger than themselves. It was because of that bigger involvement that they'd gotten together in the first place, and Hera never let herself forget that. There were more important things out there than a single relationship, and until their fight was over, she wouldn't allow herself to be distracted.

It had taken a little while for Kanan to accept that, though. He'd never openly flirt, but from his mannerisms and conversation, Hera knew he hadn't given up. He never invaded any boundaries, and for that, Hera was grateful.

Eventually, though, the open- ish -attempts at romance were downgraded severely, and Hera felt that it had something to do with the introduction of Chopper. Not majorly, of course, it wasn't like the astromech played a huge part in their relationship, but instead he served as a reminder that they were, indeed, fighting the bigger fight. That and the addition of a spunky droid meant they were no longer completely alone on the Ghost.

The signs were still there, though. Hera didn't miss the few times when Kanan would look at her for just a second longer than was wont, or the thoughtful gestures that only a true friend would know. But they weren't romantic gestures: the two of them were generally so close as friends that they just enjoyed being around one another. He was no longer trying to 'woo' her, he had just buried his soft spot enough so he could concentrate on the bigger fight.

And Hera knew that was a good thing. Because she'd been able to provide Kanan with a lasting bond, without romance involved- without completely ruining him.

Because that could have been a problem. A major one. If Kanan hadn't let go of his 'soft spot,' things would have only taken a turn for the worse. She would never let herself lose focus on the goal at hand, meaning if he had been adamant on pursuing a relationship... eventually, she would have had to let him go. And that would probably have ensured that he would never open up to anyone again, something Hera would never wish upon anyone.

Now, though, she was no longer entirely sure of where they stood together. They knew one another inside and out, they fought together, risked their lives together, laughed together... she could feel the bond between them strengthening every successful (and not so successful) op they ran together, and while before she had been happy just for Kanan, now she could no longer say their deepening friendship only made him happy. It didn't really matter to Chopper either way.

And so, as Hera had introduced the first lasting two bonds that Kanan would form to him, so too had he introduced the first two family members to her.

Because if there was one word that could accurately describe her relationship to Kanan without needing further explanation, it was family.