So you all may have been wondering exactly where I have been since writing the last chapter of "What Changes Shall Remain" well I've been here writing this story that randomly popped into my head late one night. And I'm not kidding when I said that this is all I've been writing about this the past entire month. This concept has been stuck inside my head and it won't leave me alone until I am finished with it. And now here we are, 17,543 words later and I am ready to post this story. Because yes, I actually was able to finish a multi chapter story before posting it!

I hope you all enjoy what I've written, because I am actually very proud of this.

Life has a funny way of presenting itself, sometimes it's calm and reassuring and sometimes it's just not, meaning that sometimes it hits so fast and so hard that it's like a punch to the groin. And for Kanan, it was unfortunately the latter. Having just recently got into an argument with some fellow at Lothal's local cantina, he whipped the blood dripped from his nose, absentmindedly. Only to wince from pain a few seconds later when he realized that his nose was probably broken, chalk that up to his damaged hearing aid and Kanan was having the absolute shittiest day ever.

Why did I come to Lothal? He thought to himself annoyingly, such a backwater planet on the edge of the galaxy. All coming here caused more trouble then he needed, and for what? A "simple" job for a few measly credits that will only last him a couple of days before he ran out again? What was the point? The point in any of this, in his life? If he just suddenly passed on, gave up and went to be with Master Billaba, the world, the entire galaxy would still continue to go on, in fact it wouldn't even blink if he faded away. So with that knowledge what was the point in fighting? 10 years he's been nothing but a wanderer, taking odd jobs and accepting credits whenever they were given to him. Ten years tends to take it's toll on a person, especially with the life and the trauma that Kanan has faced.

And as he lay on his back, in the dirt, as rain started falling all around him, soaking him to the bone, Kanan decided right then that he didn't want to fight anymore. He was tired and he just wanted some peace for a damn change. He thinks that after all he's gone through, he deserves it. Or maybe he didn't... maybe that was also a sign that he was a horrible person.

Taking out his blaster from his holster, Kanan studied it, his arm held it above his head. Flipping it over in his hand as if he was the first time he had seen such a thing. He watched as the rain water accumulated on it, how the liquid pooled and then dripped off the gun and fell on his face, mixing with his tears. Taking in a slow breathe Kanan brought it closer to himself—

Only for a loud buzzing to erupt within his ears. Gasping out loud, the sudden noised caused his body to jump and the gun fell from his hand and hit him square on his broken nose, and fell to the ground. He moaned loudly, "Dammit.." And before he had time to register what had actually happened—

A scream suddenly rang out but what Kanan found odd, haunting even was that it wasn't coming from down the alleyway or within the streets of Lothal. But within Kanan's own mind. The scream itself was packed with so much force that if he had been standing, would have knocked him to his knees. It was so raw, frantic and broken, that Kanan felt it hit him straight in the heart, left him shaking.

He froze with that thought. Because he realized what was happening. This was the work of the Force or more so this was someone who was a force sensitive here on Lothal and in some very deep trouble. Clinching his jaw, Kanan stood up, picking up his blaster and shoving it into his holster. Anger rose within his bitter heart, after all this time, after suppressing it for literally ten years— after all he lost, why would he put his trust in the Force now? The anger dissipated into sadness and his heart ached. Oh, how disappointed Master Billaba would be in him, thinking such things. Because a Jedi's purpose in life was to protect, to help people when they needed it and to keep the balance in all things. I'm not a Jedi, just a coward. He thought, whoever needed his help would probably be better off on their own—

Then among his dark feelings, something seemed to grab onto his metaphorical thread that connected him to the Force, Kanan felt small hands cling to him. And in a flash, he realized that the person calling out, the person who was force sensitive, was a kid.

The kid's desperate pleas echoed through his mind before disappearing completely, leaving Kanan a trembling mess as he leaned against the wall, his heart beating faster then a TIE fighter engine. He was at a complete loss at what to do, his mind going numb as he leaned against the wall.

Then abruptly, he remember something Billaba had told him once; a vision that she had before the events of Order 66, "Sometime in the future, Caleb I sense dark and difficult time ahead. Soon we all, including you and I must choose between what is right and what is easy. Walking away from this child that needed his help would be easy, his one way out of never having to do anything with the Force ever again.

Going to help this kid, was the right choice, however. One that all his Master's, including Billaba, would encourage and proceed. But Kanan also knew that by doing so meant he would have to deal with the Force one last time, something he was still very bitter against after all this time.

Then a broken cry rang out within his mind again, going straight to his heart once more. Clinging his teeth together, hands curling into fists. Kanan ran out of the alleyway and into the streets of Lothal, it wasn't as packed as it had been that morning before but it was still pretty crowded, with everyone celebrating Empire Day, a local tradition, the local bartender said to him, or more so the Empire's tradition that they forced them to celebrate. Pushing past various people, to where things were a bit more quiet and away from the festivities, Kanan listened for the sound of any crying, refusing to use the Force if only when he had no choice. But just when he was about to give up, he heard it. A scream that for the first time wasn't in his head. But echoed down an alleyway, a sound that no one seemed to notice at all. Turning right, Kanan's heart pounded in his chest, knowing that he was getting closer and closer to the kid that was calling out for help. He could actually feel the kid's emotions.

Fear

Pain

Desperation

Feeling everything this kid experiencing made Kanan run all the faster.

Making a hard left, Kanan came to a complete stop when he witness a small boy being dangle off the ground, pinned against the wall by a large Shistavanen laughing in the poor kid's face, the Shistavanen threw the kid against the wall, Kanan felt his heart skip a beat when the boy cried out in pain. "HEY!" He called out his brows narrowing, and his eyes dangerous. The Shistavanen stopped what it was doing and looked at Kanan, and even though Kanan had only been here a week, he could immediately tell that this wolf was not local of Lothal.

"Eh? What are you lookin' at? This ain't none of you business." The Shistavanen spoke out his words slurred when he talked, and if the smell was anything to go by, these man was heavily drunk. And by the way it was treating this kid, he was the abusive type of drunk.

"Normally, I would." Kanan began, his hand inching towards his blaster ever so slightly, and thanks to the night of Lothal, the Shistavanen were unaware. Perfect. "However, I am going to make an acceptation because that is a child." He snarled out, barring his teeth, trying to look intimidating.

The wolf simply laughed at him, stepping forward slightly. "You think yerself a hero, eh? You don't know what this kid did, cowboy. I own him."

"No life-form in the galaxy has the right to own another being. And whatever he did doesn't excuse the fact that that—" He gestured towards the boy on the ground, curled into a ball. "Is child abuse."

Shistavanen laughed yet again. "Really? And what are you going to do about it? Fight me? I guarantee you'd lose in a matter of seconds."

Kanan couldn't help but chuckle to himself, boy if this wolf knew he had once been a Padawan, he'd probably singing a different tune. "No, but I do think the Empire would find it interesting that you are here illegally."

And just like that, the wolf's face went from cocky, to shock in second. "How do you know—"

Kanan smirked. "I didn't, but you just told me."

"Why you skinny son of a—" The Shistavanen growled out, barring his sharp teeth, it's yellow eyes turning a deep red, filled with rage.

But just as he was getting ready to pounce, Kanan drew his blaster, pointing it straight at wolf's heart, the wolf's eyes widened in shock, freezing in place. "Now, you are going to slowly, walk away and leave. And if I catch you coming any where near him or any child again, you will regret it."

Giving Kanan one last snarl, the Shistavanen's turned back to their bright yellow and walked away. Once he was sure that the wolf was gone, Kanan let out the breathe he hadn't realized he had been holding and made his way towards the boy. Kneeling on the ground, Kanan's hands hovered, not really knowing what to do next. "Hey kid, are you okay?" Which obviously was a stupid question, of course the boy wasn't okay. Then Kanan had a thought but knew that this probably wasn't the best idea, still, he took a chance anyway, reaching forward only slightly to try and get the kid's attention, the result was exactly as he had been expecting.

Upon sensing his hand drawing near, the boy let out a broken whimper and tried to back further into the stone wall.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you, kiddo." Deciding that this was the best time as any, Kanan did his best to send the kid calming waves of reassurance through the Force. Eventually, after a few moments, the kid lifted his head from underneath his arms and looked up at Kanan, dark blue eyes meeting turquoise. They stared at each other for a minute before Kanan gently reached out his hand the boy to take. Cautiously, the kid slowly reached his hand out, their fingers barely brushing before an electric shock traveled from Kanan's finger tips and straight into his chest. His entire body stiffened at this feeling and by the look of it, the kid was in the same exact state.

Abruptly, as he knelt there on the ground looking at this lost and lonely boy, Kanan had this urge to protect this child, to comfort and reassure that it was all going to be alright, it was an instinct that he never experienced before, and one he didn't know how to deal with.

Then he realized that thought had been a lie, for he had experienced this feeling before, just differently. He then recalled his younger years as a Padawan, how in one of his training sessions with Master Billaba that she gently put her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "Even though you've only been my Padawan for a few weeks, you're progress is astounding. One day I hope I get to see you become a great Jedi and get a Padawan of your own."

"But Master, how will I know? I stumbled upon you by chance."

Depa laughed, shaking her head. "Do you remember when the Jedi Temple went under attack? And I protected you from that Kage Warrior's bombs? Do you recall that there was a moment just a moment where you felt a slight shock? That, dear Caleb is Force Linked bond. A rare find within Master and Padawan but certainly not unheard of. Because of such a bond, the master and Padawan become more then just that, they become family. I believe that one day you will have that with your own Padawan, of that I am sure."

Billaba's words echoed within his mind as he realized just who this kid was to him. This was his Padawan, or was suppose to be his Padawan had he actually been able to make it to Jedi Knight. He also realized what this meant, it meant that he wasn't going to be able to ever distance himself from the Force as he had in the past, because this child was rich within it and he is going to need someone to help him, for his own safety against the Empire.

But right now he couldn't worry about that, right now he needed to get this kid to a doctor for his injuries. Gently, he closed his fingers around the boy's hand, feeling that same electric shock. "My name is Kanan." He introduced himself. "What's yours?"

The kid opened his mouth, only to close it a few seconds later. Using his other hand, Kanan watched as the boy started drawing in the sand with his index finger. When he was done, Kanan noticed that it wasn't a drawing but a word, more so it was a name, a sentence. "I'm Ezra." Two simple words written in the sand, caused Kanan to have the worst kind of feeling, like someone yank his heart out of his chest and stomped on it.

Ezra, this child, his Padawan, couldn't speak.

Originally, this entire concept I had was going to be one huge one-shot. Because I had never written such a lengthy one-shot before in my life that this had been the plan, but then I realized that sometimes my one-shots a crossed the years I've been writing, don't always do that well for some reason. So then I decided that a story would be better fitting for something so long.

Anywoo, thoughts? Reviews are always welcomed and appreciated. And I'll see you all soon!