There she is.

Fiddling with my water bottle, I watch the two plain clothes Temple Guards guide Aubrey towards the security checkpoint.

Empty pockets, then into the scanner.

The Guards behind the table appear to explain just that, and Aubrey complies by handing over her phone and small bag she brought with her.

It's not a purse, it's not a backpack. I don't know what it is really.

Even though I'm not surprised she doesn't have a huge purse. She doesn't seem like the type.

The guard begins rifling through the small satchel while Aubrey looks on before turning towards the scanner and lighting up.

Yeah. I'm here.

The scanner rotates into position, followed by Aubrey moving to stand in the middle. The Guards activate it, the scanner's cylindrical bars rotate around her before coming to a halt and allowing her to exit.

"You're here."

"Told you I would be." I smirk at her. "How are you?"

Aubrey gives me a noncommittal shrug. "I want my stuff back."

"They can't do that right now." I begin to explain before one of the Guards stationed approaches us.

"Your badge miss. Temple Policy for guests requires you to wear that badge at all times as well as staying within eyesight of your host at all times."

Aubrey nods in understanding while taking the paper badge with her name on it.

Aubrey Morris.

I almost forgot that's her last name.

She's always just been Aubrey to me.

"Can I get that back?" She asks the Guard, gesturing to her stuff.

"I'm afraid we cannot do that." The Guard replies, body language not giving any indication of sympathy or regret.

Aubrey nods solemnly, then sticks her badge on the left side of her green dress. "You look nice."

That sounded super lame.

"Thanks." She smiles thinly. "I figured a dress might work out better for me than showing up in casual attire."

"It'll go a long way." I confirm for her before slowly beginning to lead her into the Temple.

Aubrey follows before commenting. "If we're going off attire, yours is different."

"Different good or different bad?"

"Good." She smiles. "The darker tones look good on you. I'd just never pictured you in robes instead of body armor."

I can't help but laugh. "Little more comfortable."

"I'd always pictured Jedi in like white or tan robes though. Like how they're classically portrayed."

I'd look like a dork in those colors.

"I copied the look off one of the Masters here." I inform her. "Not totally my idea."

Aubrey smiles before concluding "Still though."

Together we take a few steps before I probe out with the Force again. "You're nervous."

"Well yeah." She blurts out. "Never been inside a Jedi Temple before. Did you know they had my Uber followed the whole way here?"

"Doesn't surprise me." I answer. "They take security seriously. You can't just walk in here."

"I can tell." Is her sarcastic reply before we continue walking and reach the area where the Temple really opens up into the atrium.

Aubrey slows slightly, turning to take in the sight. "I didn't know this place was so…big."

"I don't know how they do it really." I confess. "But it's a pretty big place. Not the famous New York or London Temples but it does the job."

"You're not stacked on each other like Keebler Elves." She cracks. "Are all the hallways this big?"

I take a quick look around before shaking my head. "They're only so big in case we have to move big equipment. A lot of the more trafficked areas are more normally sized."

"Big equipment like statues?" She points to the statue nearest us, towering over fifty feet into the air an completely coated in Bronzium.

"Things like that."

Aubrey returns my smile before we continue walking.

"Do you know what they're going to ask me about?"

Still nervous.

"No." I shake my head. "I know they have questions about life back home. Questions about my parents, maybe to verify my answers to them."

"They don't believe you?" She questions.

Maintaining an even expression, we keep walking. "They like to check on everything. It's in the nature of a Jedi."

"Sounds exhausting."

"It can be, but they're modernizing. And in my case I can't really complain."

Aubrey makes an understanding expression. "From how you described them, I'm kind of surprised they're letting you escort me…wherever I'm going. And that nobody's come to yell at you yet."

"It's gotten better recently." I reveal. "That dueling tournament I told you about?"

"Where you messed that up?" She nods, pointing to my knee.

I nod once. "The reception at first was pretty hostile. But I think I finally proved myself to them. At least a little bit."

"Or that you could kick their ass if they mouthed off."

That too.

"You said you messed up your knee and were having surgery." Aubrey restates. "Like soon."

"I had it." I nod.

"Then how are you walking?"

I smile and keep going. "Today's the first day without the crutches. I had to come in early today for an examination and evaluation. Still got Physical Therapy I have to do, exercises. And there's a big brace underneath all this." I gesture at my voluminous robes.

"You should still be on crutches. For like months." She states.

I nod. "The Jedi have made advancements in medicine that they haven't entirely shared with the public."

"I can tell."

Picking up on her tone, I press on. "But the knee feels a lot better. More stable than before."

"Your friend made it sound like you were gutting it out." She says as we begin to approach the lifts.

"It wasn't that bad." I wave away the idea. "I just couldn't move from side to side—"

"Oh that's not important at all."

"—and I had some fluid in the knee. So it's nice that is gone now."

Aubrey smiles before I take a right and push the button for the elevator. "How scared should I be?"

"How scared?" I parrot her. "Not really. Just be honest with them and you'll be okay."

"Honest."

"They invited you." I remind her. "Cayle got your number and they contacted you and set all this up. You'll be fine."

The doors open and I gesture for her to take the lead. "I'm not exactly reassured."

"They're not the monsters my Dad made them out to be. Really, they're more like monks. They prefer nonviolent, peaceful actions more than anything."

"Nothing gets done nonviolently. "Aubrey scowls. "Don't tell me you believe that?"

I smile and let myself laugh once while punching the button for the Council antechamber. "They're trying to beat it into me."

"That's not how the world works. Money, power, influence. With a side of sex and bribery."

I know.

"Which is where you come in." I smile at her just before the doors open.

The hallway is opulently decorated with statues on either side, paintings along the walls and the normal pristine carpet. "Well that's a tonal shift." Aubrey comments.

The Door's closed.

Approaching the two Guards protecting the door, I ask "Are they still in session?"

"Indeed." One of them replies.

"The Council asks that you and your Guest wait outside, Padawan Bridger." The other instructs me.

I nod in understanding, then lead Aubrey a few steps away from the door.

"Padawan Bridger." She smiles. "That's new."

"It's not that big of a deal."

"Sounds like a big deal to me." She counters, still smiling. "I thought they didn't like you."

"They don't." I counter. "They tolerate me."

Aubrey rolls her eyes at me before moving to lean up against the wall. "Yeah, sure they do. Giving you a title, letting you go to college…"

Thankfully, my phone vibrates in my pocket, giving me a distraction.

Sabine Wren – New iMessage

"Hey, just leaving your place to go train with the girls. When do you think you'll be back today? Hope you're having a great day Ezra!"

The fake enthusiasm.

"That your girl?" Aubrey asks, leaning over to eye my phone.

I slip my phone back into my pocket without responding to Sabine. "Definitely not my girl."

"Oh I know you like her."

"You saw her." I counter.

"Not really." She shakes her head. "All I saw was a girl making poor decisions due to alcohol. You wouldn't go back to see her."

"Because who wants to see that?" I hiss at her.

Nobody!

"Not somebody who can't bring himself to admitting that he likes her."

"I…can't. I'm me, and the Order has rules."

"Word in the underworld suggests that the Jedi have loosened their rules on attachment. I think that's partially why they're letting you keep my number."

They are doing that.

"I'm still me."

"Doesn't mean you can't be happy." She reasons with me before the Council's door suddenly open.

"Young Bridger, Miss Morris…" Master Skywalker stands in the doorway.

Immediately Aubrey goes still before I impulsively decide to lead the way.

That was planned by them. It's common knowledge that Skywalker is the one who took my father down.

Master Skywalker stands aside as I approach, allowing me to lead Aubrey right into the Council's chambers.

Once the doors close behind us as Master Skywalker is seated once again, I incline my head to the Council. "Masters."

"Thank you, young Bridger. "Master Windu nods.

Accepting the nod, I slip off to the side before taking in the sight of the Council.

It's the High Council alright. They've even patched in Masters Dooku and Jinn via hologram.

"Please state your full name for the Council." Windu begins.

"Aubrey Marie Morris." She recites, voice quaking at the end.

"Welcome Miss Morris." Windu greets her. "There is no need to be so nervous."

"I apologize sir."

I see Kenobi's eyes flash towards me for a moment before he says "We've been looking for you for quite a long time. Were you aware of that?"

"Ezra mentioned it, yes sir." Aubrey answers, turning in his direction.

She's stiff as a board.

"Long five years it's been. Hmm?" Yoda speaks up.

Aubrey's face twitches. "Yes."

"Speak funny, I do. But feel your thoughts, I can."

He can.

"My apologies sir. I meant no offense."

Master Jinn speaks up. "It's not necessary to say 'sir' every time, Miss Morris."

"I just don't want to show a lack of respect. I don't know of another way to call you."

"As a shorthand, the term 'Master' will suffice. " Master Mundi comments. "If you wish."

"Yes Master." Aubrey nods her head.

"Five years and some, hmm?" Yoda diverts.

Because she was kicked out.

Aubrey nods. "Five years and four months. Plus a handful of days."

"You know the days." Windu reads into it.

"Ezra's father kicked me out during our Fall Break, so as to prevent the school system to not have any strange questions." She answers him.

"The school system in Lothal, Texas."

Yes.

"Yes Master." Aubrey nods.

Master Plo shifts in his seat. "Our records seem to indicate that you have not reached out to speak to your parents. Is that so?"

"Yes." Aubrey nods stiffly.

"Why is that?"

"Because they chose to follow Ezra's father and stay in that subdivision rather than choose me." Aubrey's tone becomes quite bitter. "Their own daughter."

"They left shortly after." Master Skywalker informs her.

"Went looking for you, they did." Yoda adds.

Aubrey gives an indifferent shrug. "Alright?"

"When young Bridger over there turned himself into us and we arrested his father, we were contacted by the federal government. Your parents turned over every rock they could. Some very high up in government." Master Kenobi reveals.

I didn't know that.

"I'll be honest." Aubrey's tone doesn't move. "I don't really care."

"You don't care."

"They chose a sociopath cult leader who they'd known for years over their own daughter. They allowed a thirteen year old to walk out, nothing to her name." Aubrey scowls. "As far as I'm concerned, they can go to hell."

Multiple Masters appear shocked before they shift in their seats. "I'm very sorry to hear that." Master Dooku states.

The room falls silent before Master Tano speaks up. "You highlighted the subdivision specifically. Why is that?"

"Well." Aubrey shifts around. "Everyone in that subdivision knew Ezra's father for years on end. My parents met him at a wellness convention, looking for meditation techniques. Got a lot more than they bargained for. He chose them for that place, it wasn't just some motley crew just thrown together."

Oh.

"Are you sure of that?" Master Kenobi adds.

Aubrey nods. "Reasonably. Why?"

"Young Bridger?" Master Windu turns to me.

Quickly, I straighten up as Aubrey turns back to me. "After everything was raided and all the evidence was taken, the government paid for every family in our subdivision to move."

"So as to prevent any lingering humiliation for the families still there." Master Mundi muses.

Aubrey shakes her head. "Yeah, well that didn't work."

"So you're aware that they've completely remodeled the entire neighborhood." Master Skywalker reads into her behavior.

"I keep up with everything I can regarding my past." Is Aubrey's reply.

Makes sense.

"Anger." Master Yoda chimes in. "Hate, resent. These emotions no good, do they. In your new life, hmm?"

"I try not to think about it too much." Aubrey almost snaps back, a thin smile on her face. "All the happy memories."

"There's no need to be combative." Master Jinn assuages her.

Aubrey crosses her arms. "I'm not being combative."

"You try not to think about it too much, yet you keep up with everything. That's a contradiction." Master Plo points out.

Oh come on now.

"Is that not allowed?" Aubrey asks hotly before putting her hands on her hips. "I'm sorry I'm not perfect. This is why—" She spins to eye the Council fully. "—I didn't want to come in!"

"We have no desire to arrest you. Just to ask a few questions." Master Windu speaks softly.

Aubrey only crosses her arms again. "Ask away then."

She's running hot.

They'll be able to read her like a book.

"When you spoke to Ezra, you mentioned a job. Who do you work for?" Master Tano asks.

"I work for me." She states.

"As…?" Master Shaak Ti prompts her.

"I use the skills Lord Sidious taught me as a Bounty Hunter."

The Council pretends this is new news and shifts around.

Oh you knew this. I told you all this back when I saw her. Cayle thinks she worked for Blackwater and their army of mercs.

"Bounty Hunter, are you a member in the Guild?" Master Skywalker asks.

"I am." She nods.

"Who do you work for inside the Guild?" Master Kenobi takes the opportunity.

"I work for me." Aubrey answers again.

Finally, Kanan speaks for the first time. "So you just use the Guild for jobs. I assume, to pay for living and expenses?"

"Yes."

Short answer.

"You answer to no one." Master Windu presses.

Aubrey smirks. "Not if I do my job right. If I don't, I answer to the Hutts."

The Hutts?

"The Notorious crime family, the Hutts." Master Yoda comments.

"Their forward facing enterprises appear to be clean." Master Unduli remarks.

Aubrey nods once. "Well yeah, that's the point. To keep away from prying eyes."

"And the Hutts have no leverage on you." Ahsoka presses her.

"No. Only my dues, which I'm sure you know are paid yearly."

"Your skills must be quite impressive." Master Skywalker compliments her.

This time, Aubrey squirms. "I just do the job."

"You mentioned you were taught by Lord Sidious?" Windu seizes the opening.

"I was. Along with many others under the guise of 'protection'." Aubrey gives the last word air quotes. "I know now that Ezra's father wished to create a small army of loyal subjects, with Ezra and Elias at the helm."

That was the idea.

All completely legal on the surface, citizens, clean records. But all controlled by the Sith Empire.

"Yet he took a risk by casting you out." Kanan points out.

"It was either risk Ezra being tempted towards loving me, and the light, or pitching us both into the darkness." Aubrey points out. "Wasn't much of a choice for him."

Discard the girl, throwing me into a tizzy. Which is exactly what happened.

I became even worse after she left, acting out in school. My legendary fight that got caught on camera with Elias, nearly exposing everything.

And capped it all off by betraying him.

It was an eventful final four months.

"As I am sure you are aware by Master Tano's apprentice bringing it up, this Council would like to hire you out. Due to your expertise, experience and discretion." Master Windu informs her.

Aubrey however, only smirks. "I'm not cheap."

"We aren't expecting you to be." Master Unduli fires right back.

"Bounty Hunting is an effective, yet costly means." Shaak Ti adds.

"In more ways than one?" Aubrey questions her.

She knows what she meant. She caught that veiled barb.

"Of course." Master Ti answers her.

"Do we have a deal?" Master Windu asks Aubrey.

Aubrey turns back to him. "I'm sure you heard my minimum for a job."

"Indeed we did." Windu confirms. "But we can negotiate later. We only have a few more questions for you."

"Alright."

I think we're winding down.

"Earlier, you mentioned love and young Bridger. Tell us…do you still love him?"

Oh no.

Well yeah, obviously. I mean she did come find me and—

"No." Aubrey answers him.

Wait—

NO?!

"No?" Master Kenobi parrots my thoughts as I feel multiple eyes fall on me.

NO?!

"No. I don't love him anymore." Aubrey repeats herself.

"Why not?" Master Tano asks as a pit seems to form in my stomach.

Aubrey shifts, then lets out a deep breath. "Because I had to. I never would have been kicked out and have my life get ruined if not for him. In order for me to move on and survive, and thrive like I'm doing right now? I had to bury him."

…

Bury me?

"But…you sought him out. As far as we are aware." Master Kenobi states simply.

"That is true." Aubrey confirms.

"Why?" Yoda asks.

Aubrey gulps, then continues. "Because like I said, I kept up. I knew that it was Ezra who gave up the location of the Compound to you. I found out about his mother. I know exactly who his father and brother are."

The room is silent before she continues. "I was on the lookout for years for signs of him. Because like it or not there aren't many people out there that care about him anymore. His mom's dead, brother is god knows where and his dad's in prison. He has a massive death mark on his head that I see every single time I go to a Hutt Palace." She emphasizes strongly. "I might not love him anymore, but I'm always going to look out for him. Because he's a good person who deserves better, who deserves every chance you've given him."

…

"This Council, and the Order as a whole, only want what is best for him." Master Windu tells her. "Our intention is to nurture and care for him, turning him into a Jedi."

"Good." Aubrey nods curtly. "He deserves that chance. He's never, ever been able to make a decision for himself. I'm sure you know that. Out there, in the real world?" She points out the window. "He's doing all of this for the first time. And his true self is shining through, despite the fact that he has no clue what he's really doing."

Now that's true.

I flew by the seat of my pants last semester.

"He's excelling in a manner none of us thought possible." Dooku comments.

"Well all I ask is that you continue to give him that opportunity. He deserves that at least." Aubrey tells the Council. "It's what his mother would want."

"You knew her?" Master Tano asks gently.

Aubrey nods. "She was a kind, gentle, loving woman. Who loved me like her own and deserved better than what she got. She's why Ezra even has a chance to redeem if you ask me. She carved out the light that he found and escaped through."

She's right about that.

"Well said Miss Morris." Master Kenobi nods solemnly.

The fading light of the sunset reflects off of my rearview mirror as I continue turning into my subdivision.

I think they'll have to fan out. Find every single person who was living in my neighborhood that they moved and investigate them.

I didn't know Dad built our neighborhood too.

Explains why he had no problem with me running around like I was normal.

Ii wasn't allowed to just go out into Lothal proper. But I could ride my bike around the neighborhood, go to friends' houses…

Normal stuff.

Stuff Jacen does now.

Taking the final turn, I pull into my designated parking space and spot Sabine's hulking SUV in the guest parking.

She's back.

She doesn't really care about me.

Neither does Aubrey.

Nor should they.

You're Lord Vader. Ezra's a façade. The front of a bad person who is getting far more than he deserves.

But is still getting treated exactly as he should.

Matt and JJ and Trey are wrong.

I don't deserve the chance to know Sabine. Let alone be her friend.

Whatever she wants, I should just…go along with.

I mean, I don't know why she's here.

Popped back by the day after I went to JJ's. Been using my apartment as her home base while going to practice with soccer.

Move.

Shifting my car into park, I scoop up my belongings and my crutches and begin slowly making my way to my apartment, throwing in a Probe along the way.

She's waiting for me.

Arriving at my door, I set my crutches aside and wave open my door, then pretend to stuff my keys back into my pocket before the door swings open.

"Ezra!"

Sabine.

"Hey." I smile at her while scooping up my crutches—

"What the hell." She starts as I walk in. "You shouldn't be—"

I wave away her concern and shut the door behind me. "I can't tell you. Jedi business. I'm fine though."

"You shouldn't be walking." She restates.

And yet I am.

Deliberately, I walk past her and set my crutches behind my recliner. "Physical therapy went long, sorry I couldn't text you back. Thought back to it when I was on the road."

"That's fine." Sabine answers as I probe out again and detect her apprehension about my knee.

Faking out a laugh, I turn back and smirk at her. "I'm fine. I'm on a different painkiller now, the doctor cleared me. I'll be okay. Just can't go run a marathon."

What's that smell?

Smells nice.

"You're cooking something?"

Sabine immediately smiles and nods. "Wait here. Just one second."

Oh boy.

"I had to go buy some stuff for your kitchen. It's rather…Spartan you know?"

"Spartan?" I call after her while moving to sit.

I would like to get off my feet. My legs are tired.

"Bare necessities and nothing else. I had to go get Pyrex bowls, a whisk, a spatula…" Sabine rattles off before I hear multiple small clicks.

That sounds like my lighter for the grill.

The Force echoes with her nerves before I hear her start making her way to me.

Oh—

Sabine slowly inches her way to me, plate filled with what looks like cupcakes with candles stuck into the top of them and sets it onto the coffee table. "Make a wish."

A wish.

Hesitating for a beat, I lean forward and blow out all of the candles, leaving Sabine beaming at me. "It's not my birthday." I smile.

"When is your birthday? I don't think you've ever told me." She continues smiling softly at me.

"Early June." I answer. "You made these?"

Sabine nods, smile on her face growing. "Yeah. Do you like them?"

I'm more partial to brownies than cupcakes.

"Yeah, I like cupcakes. You didn't have to do this though."

"I wanted to." She tells me, then sits next to me on the couch. "I, uhm…"

She wants to say something.

"I…We haven't really talked about…things."

Pointedly, I grab a cupcake and remove the candle. "We're fine."

"No we're not. I—" She pauses, tone bitter before regathering herself. "I just wanted to say, and to tell you, how sorry I am that I messed all this up. Last week when I went out to practice and you left for work, it wasn't my plan to go get so drunk and act so stupid."

Yeah.

"And I definitely didn't mean to lose my phone. Otherwise I would have seen all your calls and texts, and gotten my shit together. But I had to burn the entire next day looking for my phone, talking to my Dad to convince him to get me a new phone—" She waves her new iPhone at me.

It's the white one instead of the black one.

"—all that." She says heavily, then sighs.

"But you got it." I point out.

Sabine counters "Yeah, but you didn't hear me get yelled at. That wasn't great. And I wouldn't blame you either if you wanted to yell at me either. I know I said a lot of stuff, talked a big game then screwed up again."

Again, yeah.

"But—" her voice suddenly shakes as she reaches out and grabs my knee. "That's not me Ezra. I promise, I swear that's not me. The crazy party girl who goes off and sleeps with anything that walks. I know that's what it looks like and what everybody seems to think but it's not. Promise."

Promise.

"I—uhm." She swallows as I intentionally take a bite of cupcake. "I forgive you for what you said back at JJ's. You were right, and had every right to ignore me and say what you said. I could tell even by your tone how mad you are at me, and I—I understand that."

"Mhmm." I mumble out, mouth full to fill for her as she continues on.

Sabine's hand visibly shakes before she grips her own palms, eyes falling back to the floor. "I—" She starts before her voice tightens up and she sniffles. "I'm just really sorry. I blew it big time, as big as ever. You didn't deserve me doing that to you, even though I didn't mean it. I started to have just a really bad feeling that next day, even before I went to go get my new phone. That you were hurt, or injured, or dead and that something terrible had happened and I couldn't be there—"

"—and I was right. You needed me, invited me into your world, which like you said isn't something you do for just anyone. And I completely botched it, screwed it up and made a mess of everything. And I'm so sorry…" She sniffles, a tear escaping from her eyes and starting down her cheek before she wipes it away.

"I just—" She swallows thickly again, looking miserable. "I'm a mess. And you said that I'm your best friend here, and you deserve way more than me going off and doing crazy shit like that. You're such a great person, and thoughtful and sweet and loving, and I'm so sorry that you had to see me like that again. And that I let you down."

"I…" Her voice shakes again before she lets out a breath. "I, uhm, I made those, and texted you, and did all of that just to start so I could start proving to you that I'm not that girl. I'm really the girl after Halloween last semester, hanging out, listening to music and all that and not some…I don't know." She shrugs heavily.

"I know."

"But I'll prove it." She says strongly, moving to grab my knee.

OW!

"—while I was out, I bought some stuff for dinner tonight. I figured that I'd cook, hang out, listen to some stuff, watch some Netflix or a movie and call it a night." Her expression softens towards me. "Boring, yeah. But you need to rest and let yourself heal—"

Oh that's rich.

"—and I'll let my actions speak for me. Because…you know what I said. About Christmas and me retreating, and B'ret and all that. But words don't mean anything, what I do next does. Okay?"

"Okay." I nod.

I probably should have expected that speech.

Sabine gives me a huge smile, then squeezes my leg again. "I'll give you a hug later. Sorry I cried, I…"

"You're fine." I cut off her rambling.

"Like I said, I'm a mess." She giggles, then wipes away another stray tear. "Anyway…how was your day?"