Ahsoka had taken care of the remaining raiders. Weapons scattered across the snow in front of the village. Those who retreated were now staggering away into the woods. The villagers were looking at the white-cloaked Togruta in awe as she stood guard watching the raiders leave. She held an ignited lightsaber in one hand and her staff in the other. Her expression softened as she watched Ezra and Sabine approach.

'Ahsoka!' Ezra greeted her. 'It's been a while.'

She smiled, deactivating her lightsaber. 'It wasn't easy tracking you down, but I'm glad you're all in one piece.' She put a hand on his shoulder. Then, she added, 'Sabine was especially.'

Ezra chuckled. Then, he said, 'Thank you, both of you, for coming all the way out here. I know how difficult it is to travel across this part of the galaxy.'

'Hey, I did say I'll come find you,' Ahsoka replied.

Ezra nodded again in thanks, remembering Ahsoka's parting words in the mysterious world inside the Lothal Jedi temple before disappearing back to Malachor.

'I see you got yourself an upgrade,' Ezra noted, looking at her white staff and cloak.

'Just something I picked up from my travels,' Ahsoka said modestly.

'You should have seen her in action,' Sabine chimed in. 'She was quite intimidating.'

'So were you, as I recall,' Ahsoka returned. 'But we can tell Ezra all about that later.' Turning to him, she said, 'I believe there's something you wanted to do first?'

'Yeah,' he said. 'I wanted to address them before I leave, to say a few parting words. It probably won't take too long.'

It didn't. Sabine and Ahsoka watched as Ezra said farewell to them. Some kids went up to give him parting gifts of wooden figurines or tokens. Finally one of the elders came over with Ezra and bowed towards the two. They both returned the gesture.

'On behalf of our village, we thank you for rescuing us from those thieves. We are forever in your debt,' the elder said gratefully.

'No problem,' Ahsoka replied. 'It is our duty to help those in need.'

'And you need not worry too much about them,' Ezra said. 'We've wounded a lot of their best fighters. They won't be able to hurt you in a long time. And you have a lot more weapons now. If your warriors keep up their preparation, you'll be able to handle more raids like this. They are cruel and vicious, but they also respect strength. If they cannot conquer you, they'll back down.'

The elder thanked them again, then returned to help the others with the recovery. Ezra, Sabine and Ahsoka lingered for another moment, then started the long walk back to their shuttle.

…

…

…

During the way to the ship, the three slowly filled each other in about their adventures of the past few years. Ezra heard about the two Death Stars, the decisive battles of Yavin, Hoth, Endor and Jakku, as well as the heroics of Wedge Antilles, Princess Leia, Han Solo and Mon Mothma. He also learned of Luke Skywalker – his role in defeating Darth Vader and the Emperor as well as his new Jedi academy. Ezra told them about his travels with Thrawn, encounters with the Grysk, of worlds deep in unknown space and creatures beyond their imagination, and of his exile after Thrawn decided to get involved with the Imperial remnant. He spoke about connecting to wildlife, trying to maintain balance for the worlds he visited, being protector of natives threatened by other tribes and surviving in harsh environments. Sabine and Ahsoka also regaled him with their adventures during the search.

Many stories were exchanged. There were laughs, tears and moments of silence, as they remember those who have fallen or when speaking about heavy events such as the Mandalorian Purge or Operation Cinder. Sabine and Ezra also reminisced about their time on the Ghost, reminding each other of the fun they've had and the bonding they've shared. Ezra enjoyed each moment with Sabine. They were honest, intimate and it felt right just being at her side. Ezra couldn't help but wish for something more for them. He thought about his childish crush all those years ago. It had blossomed into an unbreakable friendship built on trust and understanding, but deep inside, he still harbored feelings for her. Every moment with Sabine reminded him of that.

Meanwhile, he also had some sparring sessions with Ahsoka in order to get back in shape for lightsaber combat. While he had dispatched the raiders with relative ease, he found it difficult to keep up with Ahsoka. After all, she was an experienced duelist, having faced many prominent lightsaber wielders such as Darth Vader, Maul, Grievous, Asajj Ventress and more, while Ezra had only fought Inquisitors in his youth, plus narrow escapes from Darth Vader on Lothal and Malachor. Ahsoka was a rigorous teacher, often pushing Ezra to act quickly or think outside of the box. He remembered an early lesson with her, when Ezra was still with the crew of the Ghost. Ahsoka had taken the kyber crystal from his lightsaber, and he had to find a way to retrieve it while she attacked him. Ahsoka still taught with the same challenging methods and easy personality, but her movements now are more precise, deliberate, and not as energetic, a product of her growing age.

…

…

…

'There,' Sabine said, putting away her scissors. 'See for yourself.'

Ezra looked in the mirror and marveled at his new look. His hair was trimmed neatly, a bit longer than when he had first disappeared with the purgill on Lothal, but it was nonetheless good-looking and tidy. His beard was also significantly reduced, so he could see his face more clearly but still having enough hair to look manly and distinguished. He looked like his father Ephraim more than ever: the tanned skin, immaculate beard and gentle eyes.

They were currently in the common area of Ahsoka's Jedi shuttle, travelling in lightspeed. Ahsoka had estimated it would take a week or so to navigate back towards known space. Sabine had brought with her some hair accessories for the journey, so it is here that she convinced Ezra to let her cut his hair.

Ezra turned his face in front of the mirror, admiring Sabine's handiwork.

'Wow,' he said finally.

'I take it you approve?' Sabine asked playfully, looking a little smug.

'Yeah,' Ezra said, a little amazed. 'Looks great. Thank you, Sabine.'

'Well, I can't take all the credit,' she said, smiling sweetly. 'After all, you do have a nice complexion. It wasn't hard to work on it.'

Ezra blushed slightly at her compliment. He found himself wondering whether Sabine had given him praises like this in the past. He hardly remembered any instance when she had paid so much attention to his looks. It felt good, being cared for like this. It made his heart leap and wonder if it is an indication of something else.

He was struggling to come up with a reply when Sabine interrupted his thoughts. 'Besides, I've been painting you and the rest of the family for years,' she continued. 'I know better than anyone how to make you look more presentable. I can't let you walk around looking like a desert rat as you introduce yourself to the others.'

Ezra put down the mirror and raised his hands. 'No complaints here. You know, I might have to let you do this from now on.'

She chuckled. 'Yeah, don't get too used to it. Now, you better go take a shower while I clean up the mess you've made,' she replied, glancing at all the loose hair on the floor.

He took the shower as instructed, and afterwards as the three of them gathered and had another engaging conversation, Ezra felt that his life was once again back on track.

…

…

…

Ezra was meditating one day when Sabine came to get him.

'Come out to the cockpit,' she said, excited. 'We have a surprise for you.'

Ezra followed after her, intrigued. Ahsoka was in the pilot's chair. She smiled as he came in, her expression slightly amused. Ezra looked around him, trying to find anything out of the ordinary. Sabine and Ahsoka just smiled at each other, neither giving any hints as to what the surprise might be.

'Alright,' Ezra said finally. 'What are you two up to?'

'You'll see in a minute,' Ahsoka replied.

A few moments later, a device started beeping, indicating another ship was approaching. Sabine's smile widened. Ezra's mouth fell open on its own as a familiar ship jumped out of hyperspace.

It was the Ghost. The ship that had been his home for five years was now sailing towards them, lining up and preparing to dock with their shuttle. After all these years, the Ghost still looked as impressive as ever.

'We've just entered known space a couple of minutes ago,' Ahsoka explained. 'They've agreed to welcome us as soon as we arrive.'

Ezra was speechless. He didn't think he would be seeing his family so soon, yet here they were. He barely registered the sound of the two ships connecting, and the confirmation beep from the controls, telling them it's safe to head over.

'Come on, Ezra,' Sabine said, getting up. 'They've been waiting to see you.'

In a daze, Ezra followed them to the Ghost. The layout was just as he had remembered, yet he found himself shaking slightly as he beheld everything: the common area, the pantry, the hallway to the bedrooms…He was just about to ask where everybody is when suddenly the door to the cockpit opened. Standing in front, arms crossed and her expression cold, was Hera.

'Hera!' Ezra broke into a grin. 'It's good to see you!'

'I'm sure you are,' she answered crossly.

Ezra's grin faded. Bewildered, he looked and saw Sabine and Ahsoka already backed away from him. Hera uncrossed her arms and stalked towards him, a furious expression on her face.

Taking a few steps back, Ezra stuttered. 'What…what do you mean, Hera?'

'What do I mean? I gave you a direct order and you disobeyed me!'

Ezra was confused. He racked his brain, thinking about what he might have done to cause her sudden anger. Then it came to him: the day when he disappeared with the purgill on Lothal. Hera had called Ezra via comlink, and had told him, 'Ezra, get out of there right now! That's an order!' And he had replied, 'Hera, I have to see this through to the end.'

Ezra laughed nervously. 'Hera, look,' he began. 'You can't be serious…'

Suddenly someone shoved him from behind. Ezra turned to see Zeb towering over him.

'Zeb!' He started, but noting the glowering expression he wore, his next words died in his throat.

Zeb raised his fist, and Ezra, panicking, ducked underneath as he threw his punch.

'Zeb! Wait…' he tried to say. Zeb growled and tried to hit him again. Ezra fled, sliding down the ladder from the cockpit to the cargo area. Hera stood expressionless as she watched him go.

A mechanical whirr came from below as Ezra descended down the ladder. Chopper, arms outstretched, came in for an attack. Ezra dodged, and the two weaved around in a dangerous dance as he tried to avoid Chopper's spark projector.

'Chopper! Hey! Let me explain…'

The game ended when Zeb came behind Ezra and wrestled him to the floor. Chopper gave Ezra a brief shock, and Zeb pinned Ezra on the floor as he curled into a ball protecting himself from the big guy's fists.

'Alright,' Sabine's voice sounded to the side. 'I think that should be enough. Let him up, Zeb.'

Zeb grabbed Ezra's shoulders and hauled him up from the floor. For a moment, Ezra just stood there panting, recovering from the beating he'd gotten. As he looked at his surrogate family: Zeb stone-faced, Hera's stern look, Sabine's amused expression, Ezra started smiling. Then, he burst into laughter. After a while, the others also gave up their half-hearted anger, and soon they were all hysterically laughing. Zeb wrapped Ezra in a tight embrace, followed soon by Hera. A moment later they were all locked up in a group hug. Even Chopper joined in, bumping around their legs, tugging on their clothes with his mechanical arms.

As the hug ended, Ezra still couldn't contain his happiness. He felt complete, being among them once again.

'Sorry kid,' Zeb said with a huge grin. 'We've decided to punish you a bit for the emotional pain you've put us through for the last ten years. Didn't think you'd leave us like that.'

'Guys,' Ezra tried to say. 'I'm sorry. I never should have left like that, I know. Believe me. But…'

'But, because of you, Lothal is safe.' Hera interrupted. 'You did what none of us could. We never blamed you, Ezra. We were just messing with you earlier.'

'Yeah,' Zeb agreed. 'Lothal wouldn't be the same without you.' Chopper grunted in agreement.

'It's good to have you back,' Hera said, putting a hand on Ezra's shoulder. Then, turning to Sabine, she said, 'A job well done, spectre 5.' Sabine nodded in thanks.

Hera looked up at Ahsoka, who was watching their reunion at the porch above. 'You too, Ahsoka,' she said. 'Thanks for bringing him back.'

'No problem, Hera,' Ahsoka returned.

'Mommy!' A child's voice called out.

From the ladder came a young boy around ten years old. He had green hair and wore a brown jacket painted with vibrant designs on his left sleeve. He scurried down and looked at everyone with a curious look.

'What's going on?' He asked, wide-eyed. 'What's all this noise about?'

'You aunt Sabine is back,' Hera told him. 'Say hello, Jacen.'

He smiled slightly. 'Hey, aunt Sabine.'

'Hey there, little guy.' Sabine waved.

Putting a hand on Ezra, Hera said, 'Jacen, this is spectre 6, your uncle Ezra. Sabine's just brought him back from the Unknown Regions. Ezra, this is my son, spectre 7, Jacen Syndulla.'

Ezra and Jacen stared at each other. He looked at Hera, noticing her smiling at him wistfully.

'Uh,hi…' Ezra began, wondering how Hera had managed to end up with a child, then it dawned on him. Through the Force, he could feel the presence of his mentor, Kanan Jarrus, in this kid. And those shining blue eyes: he had last seen them on top of the Imperial fuel depot as wave after wave of fire swirled in the air, ready to consume them all. Kanan's eyes had shone with the same confidence he now saw in this boy. He looked again at Hera, and she nodded in confirmation.

'Hi,' the boy half waved, obviously a little shy.

For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Jacen said, 'I've heard a lot about you. You talk to animals and fight Inquisitors with my dad. You crashed the Phantom and fought with Uncle Zeb and Chopper a lot.'

Ezra chuckled. 'Seems like they've been telling you quite a bit,' he said, looking at the other playfully.

'You look different though,' Jacen noted. 'Aunt Sabine always painted you with shorter hair, and you don't have a beard.' He studied his face, then blurted out, 'She misses you a lot. Why didn't you come back sooner?'

Ezra looked down. Sabine started to say, 'Jacen…'

'It's okay, Sabine,' he said. 'I was preoccupied, then I got lost. If I could return sooner, I would. Believe me. I've missed everyone too.'

Jacen eyed him for a moment. After a while, he said, 'Okay. I guess that makes sense. But still, in your message, you said you couldn't wait to come home, so I thought…'

'Alright, Jacen,' Hera stepped forward. 'Let's go prep the Ghost for lightspeed. We'll catch up with Uncle Ezra later. I'll let you pull the switch.'

'Yay!' The boy pumped his fists. Then, he and Hera disappeared up the ladder. Hera gave Ezra another reassuring smile before leaving.

The crew said farewell to Ahsoka, who went back to her shuttle, and wherever her travels would bring her. Sabine and Ezra both shook her hand and gave their thanks once again. Ahsoka promised to reach out if any Jedi business comes up. Then they watched as her ship detach from the Ghost and jump to lightspeed.

'So, where do we go now?' Ezra asked as he entered the cockpit.

'To Lothal,' Hera said gently, punching in the coordinates. 'Your home.'

'You earned it, kid,' Zeb said, patting him in the shoulder.

'Jacen, do the honors,' Hera announced.

In a daze, Ezra watched as Jacen squealed in excitement and pulled the lever, and the Ghost entered hyperspace.

Author's note: Now that the search is over, Sabine and Ezra's relationship will take center stage for the rest of the story. This chapter nudges them a bit further along the way to the final step, which is for them to finally admit their feelings and get together. Writing for them is always a great pleasure, especially imagining them as adults and how their dynamic evolved over years of being apart from each other.

And yes, I went for a 3 Idiots style reunion for Ezra and the Ghost crew. I figured it would be in character for them to mess with Ezra a little upon his arrival to loosen the tension. I've read many versions of Ezra's first meeting with Jacen Syndulla, and what I think would be the most realistic is a sense of cautiousness on Jacen's part. While I think the crew may have regaled him with a lot of Ezra's adventures, he is also not present in his life until now, and a child's first impression would probably be: where were you all this time, if you are as close to my family as they say you are?

Next chapter: Ezra comes home, and more cute moments between Sabine and Ezra. Thanks for reading, and hope you enjoy what's next in store.