I honestly had a lot of fun with this chapter :D Anyways, sorry for the long time with no updates, just had so much trouble getting passed my writer's block and it honestly felt like nobody really cared about this story much anymore anyways (considering this is probably the first time where I haven't updated a story that I have yet to receive any messages or anything asking, begging or demanding for a new update it doesn't seem like I was to far off with that feeling) that it was hard to find motivation to sit my butt down and write for this story. But then than Rebels reached its end and all the feels have been going through me and have started reigniting the fire to write. I can't promise I will stay on top of this, life is crazy hectic right now and showing no signs of slowing down, but know I have a lot of things with this story I can't wait to share with you!
Ezra entered his old Master's chamber and waited for the door to close behind him before he asked "You wanted to see me Master?" "Yes, thanks for coming Ezra, have a seat." Caleb said. "Is this about a mission?" Ezra questioned. "No, this is something personal, something I need for you to keep secret." Caleb said, pacing in front of his former student. "Is it about Hera?" Ezra asked. At the quick look of surprise his Master darted at him, Ezra chuckled a bit and said "I have eyes Master, plus I have known you pretty much all my life and I know you pretty well. So what are you going to do about it?"
Caleb sighed and said "I don't know Ezra. A part of me wants to leave here and be with her, the other part feels like I would be abandoning the Jedi in their time of need. "Why not do both? You know, like Anakin and Padmé." "I thought about it. The Council would be furious if they found out." Caleb said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Why don't you go by another name? Hera already calls you Kanan all the time anyways and I don't think anyone, at least who would report you to the Council, knows that you used that name before. Why not become Kanan Jarrus when you are with here and stay Caleb Dume when you are with the Jedi?" Ezra replied.
"You think it could work?" asked Caleb in a hopeful tone, "I mean since Anakin came forward with having done it, I worry that the Council and others would be keeping an eye out for anyone else who may be doing so." "Oh it can work all right." Ezra said with such certainty that Caleb stared long and hard at him before asking "You know someone else who is doing so?" "I won't say who, but yes and they have been doing it for years without anyone the wiser. Though if you want, I can ask them to talk about it to you."
Caleb hesitated before nodding and saying "Please do. I have to be heading out now, but if they are available tonight, have them meet me here." "Will do Master." Ezra said as they both exited Caleb's room. Obi-Wan had arrived back from Mandalore the night before so Ezra went in search of him, finding him out in the gardens meditating. "Master, I have something to ask of you." He said as he settled in next to Obi-Wan. "What is it Ezra?" Obi-Wan replied without opening his eyes.
"Someone else I know wants to do what you are doing with Satine, but they don't know if its possible. They are struggling with the same feelings of not wanting to abandon the Order at its time of need and wanting to be with the one they love. I told them I would ask you, without saying who you were, if you mind talking to them about it and they said to bring you to their quarters tonight if you were available and willing to do so." Ezra said watching as Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at him while he was talking.
When he had finished Obi-Wan said with a smile "I see you are good at protecting their identity in this matter as you have been while protecting mine. I would be happy to talk to them. I'll meet you here at dusk so you can take me to them." "Thank you Master."
XXX
As the sun was setting, Ezra met Obi-Wan in the same spot in the gardens as he had found him earlier and proceeded to lead him to Caleb's room. Ezra knocked on the door and said "Master we are here." noting the look of surprise on Obi-Wan's face at who Ezra had led him to as he did so. "Come in." came Caleb's voice from beyond the door. As the door slid open Caleb turned towards them and his surprised look matched Obi-Wan's as he said "You are the one Ezra told me about?!"
As the door slid closed, Obi-Wan nodded and said "I am. For the past five years I have been married to Satine Kryze, Duchess of Mandalore, and we have a daughter named Sundi." "And you are able to juggle all of that? Being a Jedi, husband and father?" Caleb questioned, "And how are you married to someone so well-known without the rest of the Council finding out?" "I admit it's not always easy, but it is definitely worth it. As for how the Council hasn't found out, I use another name when I am there and, counting you, there are only twelve people who know who and what I really am, all of whom are either relatives or like relatives of Satine and I or happened to be there at the right time, though also well trusted."
"Who knows, if I may ask. It might be easier to have at least some people I can be open with." Caleb replied. Obi-Wan nodded and said "I felt the same. Well there's Bo-Katan Kryze, Sabine Kryze, Korkie Kryza, Ursa Wren, Alrich Wren, Anakin, Padmé, Luke, Ezra and the one who married us, Hera Syndulla." Caleb's eyes practically bugged out of his head as he said "Hera married you five years ago and she never told me!?" "Ah, so that is who you love." Obi-Wan said, causing Caleb to stare at him with his mouth hanging. Obi-Wan laughed and explained "Anakin would react the same way when I mentioned Padmé doing something before he told us they were married and I probably do the same thing if Satine or Sundi is mentioned."
Caleb rubbed the back of his neck again and said "Yeah, she is amazing and I have had feelings for her ever since I first met her. At first I tried to ignore them, after all they aren't the Jedi way, but lately… It's just gotten harder and harder to ignore the feelings and its caused me to question things about the Jedi and our ways." He blushed at the last part, as if he had said to much, worried that Obi-Wan wouldn't quite be that understanding, but was relieved when Obi-Wan nodded and said "I know what you mean. I don't think love is an emotion that was meant to be blocked off, nor connections a thing that we were supposed to steer away from."
Ezra, whom had been silent since they had entered the room spoke up and said "How can we properly help someone or understand them if we have never felt all the emotions that they have." The older Jedi agreed with him and then Obi-Wan said "This is enough talk for tonight, we can't risk being overheard talking this way in the temple. If you ever need to talk about what you are going to do with your situation with Hera, I and those who I mentioned will always have a listening ear ready for you. And of course Satine too." He ended with a chuckle and then a good night before exiting Caleb's quarters.
After he had left, Ezra turned to his former Master and asked "So when are you going to talk to Hera about this?" "Right now, if she is here on Coruscant. I can't let another day pass without her knowing how I feel, I've put it off for too long." "Mind if I tag along?" Ezra asked. Caleb paused to look at his former student, thinking how hard it was to believe that Ezra was already twenty-seven year old. He put his hand on Ezra's shoulder and said "Wouldn't have it any other way."
The two rushed out of the temple, heading to the spaceport hoping that they would soon catch sight of the Ghost. Ezra was the first to spot it and shouted out "She's here!" Caleb's heart pounded harder as he walked aboard it after Ezra, would Hera return his feelings? Or would she turn away from him? He almost let out a groan before he suddenly caught sight of her and it stuck in his throat. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, Twi'lek or otherwise.
He cleared his throat and said "Hello Hera." Hera gasped and turned around, hand to her heart as she said "Oh Kanan, Ezra, I didn't hear you come aboard." "Sorry for scaring you." Caleb said as Ezra slinked around the corner, out of sight but not out of hearing range. Sabine greeted him but he shushed her and motioned for her to listen and they were quickly joined by Zeb and Chopper. Caleb cleared his throat again and started tripping over his words so he wasn't making any sense.
They heard Hera tell him to take a breath, though they didn't see that she had stopped his ramblings with a finger to his lips. A finger that he kissed, causing her eyes to widen as he said "I'm sorry, I want to tell you everything, how you make me feel, my hopes for the future, a future with you in it. But they keep getting stuck in my throat and the ones that do make it out aren't making much sense I know. So I hope that shows you what is in my heart, what I am hoping for. Well that and this."
With that, he kissed her this time on the lips, a kiss that surprised Hera more than the one on her finger, but one she quickly started to return. When they finally stopped so they could breathe for a minute, she asked softly, "But what about the Jedi? Won't you get in trouble for this?" Kanan chuckled as he gently rubbed a finger down one of her lekku, earning a soft groan from her before replying, "I think you know of another Jedi who was willing to take a chance for the one he loved. I want to do that too."
Hera's eyes widened in surprise, "Who told you about him?" "He did, though Ezra acted as our go between until we both said we were fine with the other one knowing who we were. Anyways, what do you say Hera? When I am with you I will always be Kanan Jarrus, even when we aren't on missions. Caleb Dume will be who I am when I am with the Jedi and anyone who might run into me when I'm with the Jedi." "I say, what took you so long?" Hera replied with a smirk. Kanan let out a laugh and kissed her once more, and with this the eavesdroppers walked away to give them some privacy.
Sabine, once they were out of earshot squealed and said "Finally! They finally got together. I was beginning to wonder if they ever would." "I know what you mean, they always were making googly eyes at the other." Zeb said, laughing a bit at all the memories that came to mind. "You're telling me! Kanan was practically moping every time we left the Ghost." Ezra said with a smile. The three of them and Chopper continued to discuss the lovebirds until Caleb came to tell Ezra it was time to head back to the Temple for the night.
Hera had promised him that she would stick around until he got sent out on another mission so they could spend some time together without having to worry about getting caught. As they walked back towards the Temple, Caleb practically floated, his mind on the time he had spent with Hera so far and the dreams he had for their future, so while he was quiet the whole way back, it gave Ezra time to think some more. What if the Jedi were wrong about connections? Was it possible to change the way things had been done since the founding of the Order so long ago? Or were those who decided to give love and other emotions forbidden by the Jedi a chance doomed to either have to sneak around or give up the job of protecting the galaxy they loved?
Ah Hera and Kanan, my OTP 3 Anyways, from now on whenever Caleb/Kanan is with Hera I will write his name as Kanan (thank goodness, practically every time during this story where I have written his name I have to change it over to Caleb XD) to signify that's who he is when he is with Hera and all the rest he will still be Caleb. I honestly had not planned this chapter at all, but feels from Rebels had me doing this so yay for you guys XD Let me know what you think and what your predictions are for not only what we just covered, but for this story in its entirety! I want to see how close you can get to what I have planned ;) When this story is completely done, I might do a bonus content chapter so you can see all the crazy notes I have kept for this trilogy of stories XD
