A/N: Hey guys! I hope all of you had a merry Christmas! Sorry for not updating this story in almost six months but here we are again! And I also hope to update another chapter before the year ends and trust me, it will the chapter everyone is waiting for! (At least I hope you do).

I hope you enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review, follow and subscribe. I always love to read/hear what you think!


Chapter 59: That's What Makes Us Family.

It had been six months since the shooting and slowly, Kanan had returned to his daily activities; there were things he still couldn't do but was happy to go back to work even if it was paperwork. He was also happy because, even though he was restricted to a desk until he spoke to the department psychologist, his hours were part-time and could spend more time with his son.

Kanan smiled as he watched Ezra play with the other kids and wished he could be as carefree as his son was.

The bell rang and all the kids ran back into the classroom to pick up their things; a few moments later, the door opened and the kids ran to their parents.

"Daddy!" Ezra said when he saw Kanan.

"Hey, bud!" Kanan said and lifted Ezra up. "Did you have a good day at school?" He asked.

"I did, daddy!" The little boy answered excitedly. "I learned a new word!"

"Really? What is it?" The detective asked as they walked to his car.

"Allergic! That something that makes you sneeze like this: Ah-Choo!" Ezra said. "Or makes you really itchy."

"Wow! That's amazing, bud." Kanan said as he opened the passenger door and buckled Ezra into his car seat, he closed the door and got into the driver's seat, then, he headed home.


Later, that day, Kanan was finishing an overdue report when Ezra walked into the study.

"Daddy?" He asked shyly.

"Hey, bud." Kanan said. "I'm almost done with this report." He said. "We can watch a movie later, what do you say?" He gave him a smile but noticed Ezra was hiding something.

"Are you okay, bud?" The detective asked.

The little boy nodded and Kanan sighed.

"Come here, bud." He said and Ezra walked closer to his father.

The young man lifted his son up and sat him on his lap. "You know you can tell me anything, right bud?"

"Yes." Ezra said softly.

Kanan smiled. "Good." He said. "Now, tell me. What's wrong?"

"Why I don't have a mommy?" The little boy asked.

Kanan was taken aback by Ezra's question but he couldn't blame him, Ezra was still a kid and by nature, he had a lot of questions, especially if he saw that all his friends had moms except him.

The young man sighed, he knew this day would come. He always knew that he would have this conversation with Ezra but he always thought that he would have it when Ezra was older. He also knew that it was only a matter of time until some child told Ezra he was adopted and if Ezra found out that way, maybe it would be more difficult for Kanan to explain the truth behind Ezra's adoption.

The detective took a deep breath. "You do have a mommy, bud." He said.

"But why she doesn't want to see me? She doesn't love me?" Ezra asked with tears in his eyes.

"What? No!" Kanan said. "Bud, your mommy loved you very much." He said.

"But I have never seen her." The five-year old said.

"It's complicated." Kanan sighed. He needed to tell Ezra the truth, a simple 'She couldn't take care of you' wasn't enough and he knew Ezra was quite smart for his age.

"Listen, bud. What do you think if instead of watching a movie, I show you some pictures and tell you a story?" He asked.

"Okay." The little boy said.

The detective smiled and kissed Ezra on top of his head. "C'mon. Let's make dinner." He said.

"Can we have grilled cheesy samiches?" The raven-haired boy asked.

"Of course, bud." Kanan answered and went to the kitchen.


After having dinner, father and son were in the TV room. Ezra was sitting on the couch while Kanan walked to the closet and took out a box and his old photo albums.

"What's that?" Ezra asked when he saw the big books and the box.

"These are my old photo albums, bud." Kanan answered as he sat down beside his son. "And in this box, there are some photos I want to show you." He said and opened the box, then, he took a photo and showed it to Ezra.

The little boy looked at the photo and saw a young woman with tan skin, black hair and purple eyes that was smiling at the camera.

"Who's that?" Ezra asked.

"That's your mommy, bud." The detective said.

"That's my mommy?" Ezra asked.

"Yes, bud." Kanan answered with a soft smile on his face.

"She was pretty!" The little boy said.

Kanan took another photo and showed it to Ezra.

Ezra looked at the photo but this time, his mother was with a man that had black-raven hair, blue eyes – just like his – and tan copper kin.

"Who's this?" He asked.

Kanan took a deep breath. "That's your daddy, bud." He said.

Ezra frowned. "But you're my daddy." He said confused.

The detective sighed. "Yes, bud. I am but he's your real father." He said.

However, he still could see Ezra's confusion on his face and decided to explain it to him in a way he knew Ezra would understand.

"Do you remember when I told you that your Nana is not my real mommy?" Kanan asked and the little boy nodded.

"You said someone hurt Nanny Cole and she couldn't take care of you anymore." Ezra answered.

"That's right, bud. And then, your Nana adopted me." Kanan said.

"What does 'adopted' mean?" The five-year old asked.

"It means that someone becomes responsible for another person when their parents can't take care of them." Kanan said.

Ezra stayed quiet processing Kanan's words. "You adopted me?" He asked.

"Yes, bud. I did." Kanan answered. "When you were a baby, someone hurt your parents and they couldn't take care of you anymore but I know they loved you very much." He said.

"Really?" The raven-haired boy asked.

"Yes, bud and I'm sure they are happy I'm your daddy." Kanan answered.

"I'm happy you're my daddy too!" Ezra said and hugged his father.

"I love you, bud." The detective said and kissed him on top of his head.

"I love you too!" The little boy said.

Kanan smiled softly and placed another kiss on top of his head.

"Daddy?" Ezra asked a couple of minutes later.

"Yes, bud?"

"You miss your mommy?" The five-year-old asked.

"I do, bud. Everyday. But she's in my heart." Kanan said. "And it's okay to miss your parents and feel sad, okay?" He said and his son nodded.

"Even if I no 'member them?" The boy asked.

"Yes, bud." The detective answered. "Even if you don't remember them. They will always be in your heart." He said and looked at the photos of Ezra's parents.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, bud?"

"Even if you aren't my real daddy, you do what a daddy does." The raven-haired boy said.

"Oh, really?" Kanan asked and Ezra nodded. "What do I do?"

"You cook for me, read me stories and play with me." Ezra answered. "You also take care of me and make me eat my veggies even if I don't like them."

Kanan chuckled. "That's right, bud. And do you know what I do that?" He asked.

Ezra shook his head. "No."

"It's because I love so, so much, bud." Kanan answered.

"I love you too, daddy!" Ezra said happily and hugged his father again.

"Listen, bud. If you ever want to see these photos again, you can and I promise I will never get mad." Kanan said.

"Really?" The five-year old asked and his father nodded.

"With my heart." The dark-haired man said placing his hand over his heart.

"Can we finish watchin' the pictures?" Ezra asked.

"Of course, bud." Kanan said and sat him on his lap.

They spent the rest of the night looking at the rest of the photos and albums.

Kanan smiled and sighed inwardly when he felt that a weight had been lifted off his shoulders by telling Ezra the truth about his parents. He knew Ezra was still young to fully understand what had happened with his parents but Kanan hoped Ezra would never forget how much he loves him and how much his parents loved him.