some dark stuff occurred in our previous chapter, lets see how the crew is doing. Who knows we might learn something.

Kanan was in a deep slumber when he felt a negative change in the force as waves of pain and hurt rolled through it. The waves of fear were so strong that it stirred him awake. Kanan was unsure of the reason sensing such turmoil until he sensed it coming from down the hall. Kanan than heard Ezra shrieking out like he was in pain, and his screams were echoing through the Ghost. The sound of terror coming from his padawan sent Kanan into action leaving his bed and tossing a shirt and pants on.

"Kanan?" asked Hera groggily as she woke up with Kanan's movement in the bed. The twi'lek however soon woke up as she heard the crying of their youngest member. This caused Hera as well to shoot out of bed, grab her nightdress, and race towards the distressful noise.

The two specter's raced to Zeb and Ezra's cabin where the saw Zeb standing by Ezra's bed side, trying to shake the child awake, but to no avail.

"Come on kid, wake up," Zeb pleaded he tried to sooth Ezra by rubbing the kid's back.

The kid though tossing in turning as his eyes remained closed (showing the poor thing was still in deep stressful slumber), face sweating as anxiety began to take its toll.

"No, no! Inquisitor... mom... dad... hurt!" Ezra sobbed through gasps of panic.

The Lasat's panicked eyes relaxed as Kanan and Hera rushed in; Sabine as well came in right after them in her night shirt.

"Kid just started screaming!" Zeb exclaimed with concern, "I tried waking him, but nothing is working."

Kanan gently pushed Zeb to the side as he placed his gentle hand on Ezra's forehead. Ezra moved away and got into another fit; nearly hitting Kanan's face as he tried to help the poor boy. Kanan could sense the pure terror in his mind, and sensed the image that would haunt the child till the day the monster is taken down once and for all.

Kanan took a calming breath before he focused his energy on waking up Ezra. So once more Kanan placed a hand on the boy's head, this time Ezra did not push away. Kanan took his chance.

"It's alright Ezra," Kanan assured Ezra through their bond, "You are on the Ghost and you are safe with us."

Kanan could sense Ezra calming doing. This made Kanan's own mind ease; as this used to take quite a bit longer.

"You are going to wake up in your cabin, and with me right next to you."

Kanan opened his own eyes, and saw Ezra's breathing even out. Shortly after, Ezra's tear stained eyes opened up.

"Ezra?" Kanan questioned as he saw some sort of confusion in his eyes, "Do you know-,"

Before Kanan could ask though, Ezra shot up and wrapped his arms around Kanan neck, desperate to cling onto the man. Ezra sobbed into the man's shoulder with no control of it.

"Shh it's okay Ezra" Kanan assured the Ezra as the kid leaned on him.

"Take it easy, deep breaths" Kanan told Ezra while rubbing his back.

Ezra finally calmed down and set up on the bed as Kanan held onto the boy's shoulders.

"What was the nightmare about?" Kanan asked.

"The Inquisitor's, my parents" Ezra whispered with tears in his eyes.

Kana could see he would not get anywhere asking about this and he gently hugged Ezra who still sobbed a bit. Kanan knew this was a possible vision and he would have to figure it out; but right now, Ezra was too upset to talk about it.

Kanan looked up at Hera, who knew exactly what he was thinking and nodded with a gentle smile.

"Ezra how about you sleep with Hera and me. That way we are there if you get another nightmare."

Ezra looked hopeful at Kanan and nodded holding on to him.

Kanan lifted Ezra up gently from his bed so the man could carry him to his cabin.

"You guys try to get some sleep, we've got this," Hera told Sabine and Zeb, who knew the happy couple would be able to help Ezra. Zeb and Sabine nodded as they head down the hall.

SWR

Zeb and Sabine, instead of going to bed, did what they normally did when they couldn't sleep; made tea and a snack. It was a night ritual they started when one of them found the other unable to sleep as well. It was peaceful for them.

As the water boiled, Sabine got the tea while Zeb finished the sandwiches.

"Wish these nightmare's would stop for the poor kid." Zeb admitted at the two sat down.

Sabine nodded as she took a sip of her tea, "It sucks. Kid has been with us for months now and yet it still feels like we just saved him from the Empire."

"Yes he is still so easy to scare and is afraid we will punish him for the smallest things, Zeb said sadly as he went on. "I mean most boys his age would have gotten into mischief or trouble at least once by now but he thinks we will beat him if he does anything we don't approve off. Ezra is still so thin despite him being fed regularly now. It is not as bad as when we got him but look at him, he looks like he has been starved for days. When we eat he looks like he is not sure the food is meant for him and eats it like we would steal it out of the hands from him if he is not fast enough. Not to mention those awful nightmares also seem to get worse. I tried to wake him up when he started to toss and turn there was nothing I could do."

"I know Zeb, we all try to help him but it is not easy with what the Empire did to him. Ezra went through a lot in the hands of the Inquisitor and undoing the damage will be difficult." Sabine pointed out.

Sabine was in deep thought when she asked Zeb, "Was I this frustrating after you guy's found me?"

Zeb chuckled at the memory, "Oh you were, but in a totally different way."

Sabine was puzzled as Zeb went on, "You had an issue with trusting us. But seeing as you were in the academy and on the run from everyone you ever knew…. it was expected."

Sabine sat their as she nursed her cup as she recalled those last memories. Sabine knew exactly what Zeb was talking about.

It was almost two years ago when she found the crew, or more or less they found her. When she first joined the crew it was under what she had dubbed "a temporary trial partnership".

Sabine had spend the first few months in her room, only coming out for meals and missions. Hera and Kanan would check in on her but she would give quick answers. It made her feel so awful now that as she thought of how she acted with them.

It was not until one occasion after a mission where she had gotten a nasty burn that the whole crew showed such care for her. From Kanan being able to tell she got hurt without Sabine saying a word, to Hera taking care of it. Zeb and Chopper had even cheered her up by get her some frozen treats.

Sabine laughed at the fond memory.

Zeb chuckled at her laugh, "What?"

Sabine then smiled, "When I got burned on that trip in northern lothal, I remember you got a frozen treat from the fridge but chopper took it. So you ran after him and when you finally caught him he tased you and and you fell onto Kanan." Sabine couldn't help but to laugh as she recalled Kanan complaining how he couldn't feel his lungs.

Even Zeb smiled at the memory, "That was the first time we saw you smile since you joined us."

Sabine admitted, "I still kind of fell like an ass with how i gave you guys the cold shoulder when we met. Now with Ezra though, at least know I didn't freak out like that."

Sabine and Zeb thought about how hard it had been for Ezra how far he had come, and how far he still had to go.

Zeb then perked up, "Hey, at least the kid with us now. Plus Kanan and Hera have been great with 'parenting' him."

Sabine grinned at the comment, "They do make pretty good parents huh?"

Zeb shrugged his shoulders, "I guess."

Sabine eyes bugged out, "'You guess'? They are so the mom and dad of the ship. They make sure we are okay, that we are all set for missions. they are amazing!"

Zeb chuckled at how Sabine defended her 'honorary parents."

"Sabine I like Hera and Kanan too but I don't see them as my parents. They are my family, but how we meet and such is just too different from them being my parents" Zeb said.

Sabine looked curious at Zeb.

"How did you meet? You never talk about it" Sabine asked curiously.

Zeb sighed it was not something he liked to remember. But Sabine looked so curious and eager to hear the tale, Zeb did not have the heart to tell her no.

"It was Kanan who found me, he was out visiting the same bar as I was in, trying to drown my sorrows away. Kanan … well he didn't really say much; he just sat down opposite to me and looked at me with knowing eyes. Kanan then bought me another drink and told me he pay my tab if I would hear him out once I was done. It was like he knew I did not want to talk with anyone, that I just needed time to wallow in my own despair for a while longer. That sneaky force user. So, he just kept me company quietly. After I finished my drinks I asked him what he wanted, he offered me to join the Ghost crew and a chance to fight back against the Empire. It was like he knew I did not want pity, Kanan could tell i just wanted a another chance to have a purpose again. Now I do." Zeb said with bitter content.

Zeb felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I am sorry Zeb" Sabine sympathized.

"Don't be, it's not your fault and besides Kanan really helped me out. I have a new life thanks to Kanan and the rebellion. I will always be grateful for that." Zeb said.

"Yeah Kanan really takes care of all of us. When the Inquisitor had him, it was so empty on the ship. It just wasn't the same having to look at his empty cabin and know he was out there in the hands of people torturing him. The worst part was not knowing if he was still alive. I could not stop myself from thinking everyday of what torture he was enduring while I walked around and did nothing to find him" Sabine stated with guilt in her voice.

Zeb gave her a gently nudge.

"It was hard for all of us Sabine. I missed a good friend who saved me more times than I can count. I felt so dejected to think Kanan was in the hand of the Grand Inquisitor. The Pau'un is a cruel monster. Yet I can see you were taking it more harshly than me. After all you and Kanan have a special bond; even though it has been pushed a little to the side since Ezra has gotten here." Zeb admitted.

Sabine nodded that Zeb was right, "It's okay," Sabine admitted, "Like Kanan and I are still close, and he takes the time to check up on me, but Ezra needs him more for a while. I know that Ezra needs help controlling the force. I guess I can share Kanan with the kid so he can get better." Sabine said this last part with a funny remark.

Zeb smiled to her.

"Kanan will always care for you Sabine, he would do just about anything to keep you safe. Same for all of us. That's exactly why he pushed us out of the cave while he stayed behind, and even though the month was a true nightmare for him, something tells me he don't regret his choice. If Kanan had never been captured, than we wouldn't have Ezra and he..." Zeb than went silent. Neither Mandalorian or Lasat wanted to think of what could of happened to Ezra if Kanan hadn't showed up.

It was quite for a bit until Sabine spoke up again.

"I still feel terrible for how I treated Hera over the whole thing" Sabine admitted.

"Hera understands Sabine. After all she was pretty upset herself. I don't think she felt any better than you did when she told us to stop looking" Zeb stated.

Sabine looked at him and then smiled to him.

"I am glad he survived the clone wars, the crew would not be the same without him … Zeb do you know how he survived?" Sabine asked.

Zeb shook his head "No he never talks about it. What I do know is that it is a very painful topic and that the issue is worst on Empire Day. Long before we meet you, Hera had send me out to get supplies but due to Empire Day everyone was at the parade so I returned rather quickly. I found Hera holding Kanan comforting him as he held that cube you sometimes see Ezra with and his lightsaber. There was such pain in Kanan's eyes, even though he didn't cry, I can't help but imagine that whatever he went through must have been really awful. I mean how can it not? Back then everyone was looking for jedi's; they were the most hunted people in the galaxy, still are. It happened so fast overnight the jedi were killed and the galaxy was told they were criminals and those few people which disagreed and defended the jedi disappeared overnight too. The message to the galaxy was clear; help a jedi and you will be next while those who sympathized with the jedi was made quiet in one way or another." Zeb mentioned with despair.

"So basically the whole galaxy was after the jedi?" Sabine asked as her eyes widened.

"More or less, which is why so few of them are left. Even if they survived they were wanted everywhere. There were executions of jedi broadcasted on Empire Day the first few years" Zeb explained.

Sabine nearly froze when she realized that it meant Kanan had been forced to watch people he knew being shot while knowing he would be next if they found him.

"I knew it was bad, but not like that. I mean I was just a small kid at the time. I was mainly just with my mother and father. I recall asking a few times what they were doing, but they said it was topics better left forgotten. But that was before … everything fell apart" Sabine said.

This time it was Sabine that got a supporting hand on her shoulder.

"You must miss them" Zeb said softly.

"I do; but then I really feel like Hera is my second mother, one that takes better care of me than my biological mother sometimes did." Sabine stated.

Zeb smiled at that.

"I often wonder why Hera would leave her homeworld and go work for the rebellion" Sabine mused.

"I don't know all I know is that she was involved in the rebellion long before the rest of us" Zeb said.

"That sounds about right" Sabine chuckled.

"Yes it does, Hera has always been very determined; in fact it was a problem when I first came aboard" Zeb said.

Sabine looked surprised at Zeb "How?" she asked.

"Hera and Kanan were not a couple back then, Hera was too focused on the rebellion for such things, but Kanan had other ideas. Oh he flirted shamelessly with her, not to mention glared at her like she was some sort of goddess. I never seen a bigger fool in love and Hera was completely blind to it. I had to ask Hera to sort it out with him and at least give the poor guy a clear answer, it was that bad." Zeb said and chuckled.

"Then how come they tried to hide it from us?" Sabine questioned.

"Because Kanan stopped flirting and first I thought nothing had come of it but then I saw Kanan kiss Hera one late night after I had went to bed; but I woke up needing to go to the bathroom. I figured they did not want me to know until it was on a more steady footing, So i didn't call them out on it." Zeb explained.

"So that is why they kept pretending when I came aboard" Sabine pondered, and Zeb nodded in confirmation.

Sabine smiled and then sighed.

"What is it?" Zeb asked.

"I just recalled how I treated Kanan when I found out he was a jedi and all because I was a Mandalorian" Sabine recalled.

"You know Kanan doesn't blame you for that right?" Zeb said.

"I know, but I still feel like I was a real bitch then. When he told me he was a jedi I blew it big time. I threatened to leave the crew and I even considered telling empire everything. All because I always had been told that the jedi had waged war against Mandalore and was a pest for the Galaxy. I must have scared Kanan considering the high bounty he has on his head. I can't thank you enough for you and Hera talking me out of it" Sabine said.

"Well you were not easy to persuade about staying but you were pretty easy on the part of not telling the Empire. You agreed pretty much with us that no one deserved to end up in the hands of the Empire and I am glad Hera and I thought that as well. I owed it to Kanan" Zeb said.

"What do you mean?" Sabine asked.

"The way I found out Kanan was a jedi was when we were on a mission. We had blown up a factory and was running for the randevu point. The troopers was on our heels and we ran into the mountains to hide. One of the troopers shots missed and hit some stones above us and made a small avalanche. The troopers fleed and we did too but one of the stones hit me and my foot was nearly crushed under it, I was stuck. Kanan tried to get the stone off me but wasn't strong enough to lift it off on his own, and he could hear the troopers come for us. I told Kanan to run, but he got a rather serious face and and before I knew it he used the force to raise the stone off my foot. Kanan had to force push the troopers so we could escape with him supporting me. I wouldn't be alive without him and his connection to the force." Zeb told her.

"Wow" Sabine expressed in astonishment, Zeb smiled at her wonderment of what he told her.

"Now we better try to get some sleep before the 'parents' comes and find us still up." Zeb chuckled.

Sabine smiled and both of then headed back to bed.

SWR

As Kanan carried Ezra, who was hiccuping from his sobs, Hera smiled fondly at both male humans as they reached Kanan's cabin. Once inside, Hera got into the bed first so Ezra could be laid between Kanan and her. As Ezra laid down he quickly curled into a tiny ball.

"Is it really okay that I stay with you guy's," Ezra whimpered as Kanan got into the bed.

Kanan chuckled as Hera ran her hands through Ezra's hair.

"Of course it is," Hera stated affectionately to the boy.

Kanan assured Ezra, "We're always going to help you, in anyway we can. Are you comfortable?"

Ezra smiled as he nodded his head. This motion though seemed to lull the boy to near slumber. Hera's gentle hands over Ezra's head quickly sent Ezra to a peaceful night's rest. As he rested, Ezra curled up a little closer to Kanan, with the man wrapping one arm around the boy's tiny form as he placed his other arm around Hera so he could feel her warm shoulders. The two adults moved closer to one another without squishing Ezra. Making the cutest of family snuggle times. After all, family was more than blood.

SWR

Kanan woke up the next morning totally relaxed. his body was content to stay where he was. As he opened his eyes, he couldn't help but to smile at the child he was so fond of, and the woman he loved. Life seemed to have given him a rare peaceful moment with those that meant the most to him. It was something Kanan would never stop charising for as long as he lived. When he had been with the Inquisitor he had thought he would never do such things again. Now we was grateful he did have such a chance to enjoy such a peaceful moment in time.

Careful not to disrupt their peaceful slumber, he got up slowly and made sure the covers were over the two. gazing at them one more time, he made his way to the kitchen to start breakfast.

The waffle mix was stirred when the force told him he would have company soon. Kanan smiled as he recognized the signature and got an extra plate. Just as the first of the waffles finished up cooking, Kanan heard the footsteps and smiled as his guest and his breakfast was finished.

"The food is almost done Ahsoka please take a seat" Kanan said with his back to her.

"How do you do that every single time?" Ahsoka asked.

While Ahsoka was more skilled in many jedi skills, there was one thing she could never beat Kanan at. The rogue jedi was impossible to sneak up on even when she tried to with her shields up and signature hidden, Kanan always can tell when she was approaching.

Kanan chuckled before he replied more seriously, "You may have more training as a jedi than I do, but living on the streets and fending for myself helped to perfect my abilities."

Ahsoka gave the man a sympathetic look, while she too had her troubles with the fall of the jedi, it had to hit him far harder. Ahsoka was told Kanan's story by Hera, about how he didn't sleep for weeks and barely ate when the order first fell. How Kanan had met a man named Kasmir, who without his 'teaching', Kanan may of died long ago.

Ahsoka also suspected that the month Kanan had spent in captivity had only further heightened the mans focus on everything around him. Kanan had been very tense ever since; especially the first month after his rescue he had been checking everyone around him, not that Ahsoka blamed him after what he went through.

"I'm guessing you came here to talk" Kanan speculated as he sat down.

"Indeed. I could sense Ezra's distress from the other side of the base. Whatever scared him must of been horrifying." Ahsoka said.

"Ezra was having another nightmare, or a possible vision. I wanted to ask him what it was about, but he was too shaken up, he could barely breathe when asked about it." Kanan explained.

"So he didn't tell you anything?" Ahsoka questioned, shocked because normally Ezra told Kanan everything.

"Ezra could only muster the words 'Inquisitor's', 'parents' and 'hurt'. Ahsoka I don't think that this was just another one of nightmares. The kid was so terrified, and he can normally tell me what torture he relieved in his nightmare. Ezra didn't seem to comprehend what it was that scared him. Ezra doesn't understand or even know that he can have visions. I think the force is trying to tell us something, I fear something or someone is plotting something on the dark side of the force" Kanan said.

Ashoka thought of what Kanan told her, her eyes squinted in deep thought before she admitted, "I think you are right."

Kanan sighed as he looked down at his breakfast, unable to eat now that Ahsoka practically confirmed his fears.

"I just want to protect him." Kanan stated, "But how can I do that when I don't know when or even if he is in danger. You know how visons can be skewed, or sometimes never actually occur."

Ahsoka nodded as she explained, "That is true, history is full of times where Jedi relied on their visions coming true, only for the vision to never happen. For Ezra and your sake; I do hope this is vision, whatever it is, does not come true."

Kanan though still seemed stressed by the whole matter, and Ahsoka could easily tell that was the case.

Ahsoka smiled gently to the man as she assured Kanan, "But, you and Ezra have been preparing for such an occasion. Plus with the crew and you guys keep your profile low, you will be safe on the base."

"But we can't stay like that forever. The force wants us back out in the galaxy or at least I think so with these vision's occurring.

Ahsoka send comfort through the force to Kanan as she assured, "If that day ever comes, then I know you will be ready; you and Ezra have grown since the last time you saw him."

Kanan weakly smiled at the reassurance Ahsoka gave him. Ahsoka though still sensed some trouble on his mind and reminded Kanan of something that was taught to both of them a long time ago.

"Kanan remember what the Jedi taught us? 'To worry about tomorrow will make you forget to live today.' Seems that is exactly what you are doing now."

Kanan smiled at the logic Ahsoka just gave him.

"Kanan there is more about Ezra we need to discuss" Ahsoka said.

Kanan nodded having a good idea of what their conversation would be about.

"The warm gentle feeling that we all seem to get during Ezra's celebration," Ahsoka mentioned.

"Yes it was nice but strange because it seemed to come from him, but that is not possible. Force sensitive can sense other emotions not project them neither to force sensitive nor to non force sensitive." Kanan said.

"You think it was Ezra?" Ahsoka asked.

"I know it was him, I sensed it through our bond. But such an outward projection shouldn't be possible Kanan said.

"I must admit I have read about it, but the skill is extraordinary." Ahsoka said.

"What do you mean?" Kanan questioned.

"Projecting emotions so others can calm and relax is a method advanced masters knew of and could use in stressful times for their wounded and anxiety filled comrades. I read about it in some of the scrolls about ancient Jedi lore that was in the Jedi library before it's destruction. Yet from what I understood it has been centuries since a force sensitive has last been around with that ability. Ezra seems to be able to do so, but with no control or understanding of how he did so.

Kanan was sitting in deep thought over this. Was it possible for Ezra have a skill that could not be taught? One that was so old and rare? How could he help Ezra control a ability he had no understanding of? That was when he sensed it and became concerned. Ezra seemed to be reaching out to him. Right now, Ezra needed him now. Ashoka smiled up at the man as he got up to go check on Ezra.

"Thank for the talk," Kanan said as he left the room.

Ashoka smiled at the man, now able to eat her breakfast.

SWR

Hera slowly woke up to a small whimpering voice called out which sparked her strong urge to help forcing her to wake up. Hera opened her eyes and found that Kanan was gone and only Ezra and she was left in his bed.

"Kanan … Kanan" Ezra whimpered calling out while reaching out for the man that was not there.

Where Kanan would go this early in the morning Hera had no idea and right now she had a more pressing issue. It looked like Ezra was about to be caught up in another nightmare something she would try to prevent.

"Sshh Ezra" Hera said and stroked him gently over the hair and down his back.

Hera hoped it would work and if not she would find Kanan fast for it was clear he was the only one which could really got these night terrors under control. Hera wondered if it was due to the bond or if was the strong fondness the two shared for each other. Ezra had been good for Kanan. Kanan had opened up about his jedi heritage and Ezra on the other hand seemed to have opened up to the crew and become more at ease with using the force. Yet lately it had seemed like the progress was starting to roll backward and it worried her.

"Kanan" Ezra whimpered even more.

Hera carefully scooped Ezra into her arms holding him gently trying to comfort him. It broke her heart to see Ezra being so frightened and worried, he was a boy; he should be having fun and not laying next to her sounding like he was one step away from being heartbroken.

"Ezra you are safe, you are on the Ghost" Hera said while holding the small boy.

Hera began humming the same lullaby that she had used a week back when Ezra had struggled to find rest. Ezra seemed to settle some at the sound of this.

"Mom?" Ezra whispered.

Hera froze with Ezra in her arms unsure what to do, what to say. Hera loved the boy and she saw him like her own son but she was well aware that was not the case. That his real mother was out there and she no doubt was longing to hold her son in her arms again. Hera was worried what this could mean for Ezra if he began thinking of Hera as his mother. Yet at the same time she could not dismiss the warm and proud feeling in her chest. Ezra was her boy and she would always love him.

"Mom?" Ezra asked again.

"It's me Hera, I'm here, now sleep and relax, okay?" Hera spoke gently.

Ezra snuggled closer to Hera and seem to settle much to Hera's relief, but she was unsure what to do about Ezra calling her mom. Yet for now she would hold her boy in her arms waiting for the man she loved to return to them.

Suddenly the door opened and Kanan walked in with worry in his eyes.

"Hun where were you?" Hera whispered.

"Talking with Ahsoka, is Ezra okay? I could sense that he wanted me" Kanan asked worried as he looked over at Ezra.

Hera explained, "Ezra was calling for you. I was able to calm him a little bit, but still seems a bit unnerved."

"Kanan?" Ezra whimpered again reaching out for the man.

Kanan sat on the edge of the bed as ran a hand through the boy's hair. the motions appeared to clam Ezra instantly as his squinted face relaxed, as did his curled up body.

Hera let out a sigh of relief.

"Already saving the day before breakfast." Hera smiled as she pecked Kanan on the cheek.

"Speaking of which, waffle batter is made if you want some," Kanan stated. Kanan then looked down at the peacefully sleeping child and smiled before he told Hera, "you go make some. I'll stay here so Ezra can get some more sleep."

Hera nodded as she got up while Kanan carefully laid down. Hera noticed that Ezra snuggled into Kanan even further and Kanan smiled wildly. It was clear that Kanan needed Ezra just as much as Ezra needed Kanan as they both slept peacefully next to each other.

A/N Is Ezra not the cutest when he snuggles with the family?