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Ezra's smirk had evaporated as he processed Sabine's last words. "Sabine...I..." He tried to say, not knowing exactly what he was trying to say.

Sabine looked at him, sudden embarrassment washing over her as she also processed what she had said. She really hadn't meant for this to happen. For it all to come out like this, and in front of the rest of her adopted family no less. Sabine had never been comfortable wearing her heart on her sleeve. No, she prefered her new Mandalorian vambraces over feelings any day.

If she had time to look back, she might have guessed something like this would have happened. Her and Ezra had started out as...enemies? Competitors? Fighting for the same Imperial crates on Lothal, each trying to out-steal the other. But after he had shown his long dormant selfless side during their mission to save the captive Wookies, and accepted Kanan's subsequent offer to teach him the ways of the Force, over time she had grown to accept his presence, tolerate him, then appreciate him. They had gone on many missions since, living together in their tiny capsule of breathable air in the vastness of space, both having come to think of the Ghost as their home. He had grown, in more ways than one.

She knew from day one, 'literally', that he had feelings beyond simple friendship for her. His oafish attempts at flirting from the moment she met him was evidence enough of that. But whether from time, Kanan's teachings, or the tough experience of growing up during a war, Ezra had indeed grown. Gone were his obvious attempts at flirting and bragging, except for a few moments here and there when the old Ezra showed himself. The silly, short, and obnoxious boy had been replaced with a taller, serious, and mature man.

And his selflessness had only grown as well. She thought often of the time he had sealed the door between her and the Inquisitors, leaving himself to face them alone so she would live. She thought of him staying behind at the Imperial Academy to try to save fellow cadets from a short life under the Empire's thumb. She remembered their recent trip to Concord Dawn where he had fought side by side with her against Gar Saxon, never hesitating to stand by her. And again on Krownest where he had given her his own lightsaber so she could finally defeat Saxon and his band of collaborators. Time and again Ezra had shown he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe. And there had been other moments they shared, moments on which their relationship had been built. Painting the stolen TIE, long chats sitting on top of the Ghost or during a long hyperspace jump in the Phantom, and while learning to wield the Darksaber with Kanan. Moments she had dwelled on more often than she would admit during her time away from her adopted family, while back with her biological family. True, she had missed them all. Kanan's wise advice, Hera's leadership, even Zeb's dependable "big brother" attitude, and even Chopper's practical jokes. But more often than not, her mind had returned to Ezra.

And she had just nearly killed him herself. Those were her explosives he had just ran through. Made by her, set by her, detonated by her. Explosives she had been certain had killed the boy, the man, she now looked at from across the bay. The man she lov... 'No, Sabine, you will not break down like that again' she admonished herself, wishing to the universe she had not removed her damn helmet before digging herself into this hole.

"Sabine?" Ezra said once more, pulling her out of her thoughts and into the moment. She noticed his smirk was gone too. Replaced with a look of worry and concern. He took a tentative step toward her, taking her silence as permission to continue.

"You're right...I didn't think of that. Any of that. I just...didn't want to fail."

He knew it sounded like an excuse. In light of what she had just said, he knew any explanation would ring hollow, and for good reason. The fact was, she was right. He hadn't thought of her, or anyone else. He was caught up in the moment, saw something needed doing, and did it. 'Live in the moment' as the Jedi teachings went. But Jedi teachings didn't have much to say about what living in the moment might do to those who cared for you. Maybe that was one of the reasons Jedi teachings also taught to avoid having those who care for you in the first place. But that was then, this is now. Those Jedi are long gone. He and Kanan were right here, right now. The last remnants of the old Order, just trying to survive another day at a time. And they did have people who cared for them. One of them was looking at him right now, pain etched on her face.

And the sight made him want to wretch. The sudden realization of what he had done came flooding into him. That face, the one he had spent many days thinking about and many more nights dreaming about. The girl, no the woman, he had grown to care for more than any person in the galaxy. The woman who had been at his side through it all. The woman who had given him the holo-disc of his family, his last connection to his lost parents, when no one else had thought to. The woman who had left her family to come back with him to Atollon, to certain death, to rescue their friends. The woman he loved more than life itself. He caused that pain. His actions made those tears. His choices has brought those words, and their implications, on himself.

He took another step, now standing only a meter away as she returned his gaze.

"Sabine...I'm sorry". He knew it wasn't really enough.

She had to do something. Put the walls back up. Say something to steer this conversation away from what she was certain was uncharted territory for them both and towards something more familiar.

"Yeah, well next time just...think Ezra. A data chip isn't worth your life, no matter how much Draven says he needs it" Sabine replied, as the mask of impassivity covered her face once more. "Besides, without you, Zeb gets the room all to himself. And that would make him too happy" she quickly followed up, using an awkward attempt at humor to erase the obvious tension that still laid between them.

"Yeah" Ezra said with a forced chuckle "Can't let him get too comfortable" He sensed there was more that she wanted to say, and knew there was much more he wanted, but he knew this wasn't the time for that conversation, so he let her bad joke pass and played along.

"Well umm anyways I should.." Ezra started to say

"Yeah I have to go fix my uh..helmet" Sabine spoke over him. "Those explosions did a number on my sensors" as she quickly put her helmet back on, unseen relief and embarrassment washing over her face from behind her trusty face-mask.

"Well, I'll uhh see you..when we uh..." Ezra trailed off, fumbling his own words and wishing he had just kept his own shut. 'smooth, real smooth' he thought with a wince.

"Yeah, I'll see you then" Sabine replied while turning to rush off to her room, leaving Ezra standing alone in the cargo bay.

Well, here's the second chapter. I guess I'm really gonna go through with this. Thanks for the kind words and Kudos to those who read the first part. I think I'm getting a little more comfortable writing and I have a better idea of the general path I want this to take. And as always, any corrections, advice, or criticism is always welcome.

And Draven is one of the Rebellion Generals that was with the Alliance during Rogue One. I don't actually know if he is part of the Rebellion at this point in time, but I decided to include him anyways.