All was quite in the ghost that night of Life Day Eve, save it be for a Twi'lek and a Jedi knight, quietly making their way off the ship though the side hatches, fearing the sound of the main ramp would wake the others up.
Slowly they lowered themselves down onto the mix of grass and snow. And made their way towards the small town.
Despite it being so late at night the stores were still open, Life Day Revelers were in the streets telling stories and singing songs of Life Day's past.
Hera pulled a list from her coat pocket. "Alright, Ezra wants new pajamas and an air practice rifle, Zeb wants some weights and a new armor set, Sabine wants the latest model airbrush, and a new jacket, and lastly chopper wants a new lens and a new holoprojector.
"Well that's presents down, what about the Tip Yip?" Kanan Cheerfully added.
"I was thinking more of a Puffer Pig roast." Hera calmly argued.
Kanan shrugged. "Why not both?"
Hera chuckled. "Alright, but you'll be handling the Tip Yip."
The two continued walking though the street, tucking their hoods down as patrols of stormtroopers passed. They made their way though each store, gathering gifts and things they needed to prepare for tomorrow.
They began to leave the town, but something caught their eye, a local was having a problem with a group of stormtroopers next to an un-lit Life Day Tree. They got in closer to see if they could listen in on what was happening.
"But its life day!" the citizen cried out.
"Imperial Regulation GR-1NC4 states that large public displays such as this life day tree you have set up are prohibited, and we are obligated to take it down. Stand down or we'll detain you for breach of peace."
Hera and Kanan could hear the stormtroopers prime their blasters.
Without hesitation, Kanan lowered the bags of food and gifts and stood in between the stormtrooper and the local. He raised and waved his hand. "It's okay for him to keep the tree up."
"It's okay for you to keep the tree up." The stormtrooper repeated.
"You may continue with your night." Said Kanan.
"You may continue with your night." The stormtrooper repeated.
"Happy Life Day." Said Kanan.
"Happy Life Day." Replied the trooper, he motioned for his squad to fall in and follow him out of the dispute.
The local scratched his head. "What just happened?"
Kanan shrugged. "Some people say I'm quite a persuasive guy."
Hera rolled her eyes but came to his side.
"Well, thank you for helping me." The local gestured, he reached for two cables on the ground and held them up to Hera and Kanan. "Would you care to do the honors, as a token of my appreciation?"
Hera took one end of the cable, and Kanan took the other, in unison, they put the two ends together, the lights on the tree filled the street. Kids and parents came out of their homes to look at the tree.
A few of the Life Day Revelers came close, and began to sing, one by one, some of the citizens began to join in on the song. Kanan and Hera stayed for a few moments, before picking their bags back up and making their way back to the Ghost.
Once they made their silent return to the Ghost, and stocked all the groceries away, they made their way to a quiet place to prep the gifts to put under a makeshift tree.
Kanan could not wrap a gift to save his life, giving a dead giveaway of who the gift was from.
Hera leaned in to see how he was doing. He wrapped the airbrush for Sabine as a large ball of wrapping.
Hera tried to refrain herself from laughing to loudly, she came up from behind Kanan, took each of his hands and begin to guide them through the wrapping steps.
Kanan was a bit embarrassed to have Hera guide his hands to wrap a good gift, but soon the airbrush was properly wrapped.
She passed Kanan the box of the air rifle Ezra wanted. "Alright, you try."
Kanan began to mimic the motions Hera had led him though, and by the end, it was his best wrapping job he has done.
He slid the present under the tree with the rest the other specters got over the week.
Hera filled the stocking with sweets and other smaller gifts while Kanan was setting up the cargo bay to look more like the commons room, only more comfortable, he had set up some boxes with cushion and disguised them to look like couches, rolled up a carpet Hera had in storage, and set a holoprojector in a false fireplace.
All was set for tomorrow morning, all they needed to do now was go to bed and wait for the others to wake them up in the morning.
The night went on without a hitch, morning only came when the ghost awoke, with the sounds of fists knocking on their doors.
"Its Life Day!" the others exclaimed. Kanan and Hera left their rooms, putting on some throw-on's and made their way down to the Cargo bay.
The others already beat them down there, looking at all the gifts under the tree and dealing the gifts out when they found the names on them.
Chopper then came down, carrying a tray of fresh Lava Rolls.
They began to take some Lava Rolls and take their first bites, before unwrapping their gifts.
Each member cheered in joy once they could clearly see what they got. Some gifts they got to over excited over, they almost forgot they had other gifts.
Soon after all the gifts had been unwrapped, and the wrapping paper disposed of, Hera and Kanan made their way to the kitchen, prepping the dinner. Kanan examined his Tip Yip, while Hera began to apply a dry rub her Puffer Pig Roast.
Kanan was thinking either frying or roasting his as well. But given the size of Hera's roast, he had to resort to frying, he put one of the large pots on the range, and filled it with frying oil, after seasoning the Tip Yip, he began to slowly lower it in. He knew this step was a bit tricky and was ready to use the force to save the Tip Yip and the entire ghost if it would go up in flames. Luckily, it went off without a hitch.
The others were in the commons room, still playing with all their new gifts, while being serenaded with all the aromas coming from the kitchen.
In just an hour, Hera and Kanan finally plated up all the dishes and brought them out to the table in the Commons room.
Everyone was in awe at the sheer beauty and size of the feast Hera and Kanan made.
"Alright, so, Hera made the puffer pig roast, and I made the fried Tip Yip. Let's see who made the best."
They carved the meat and served everyone a good starting portion. After everyone had a chance to taste the entries, they leaned towards each other, whispering their votes. Ezra the pointed to Hera. "The Puffer Pig Roast wins."
Kanan simply nodded his head and started clapping, Hera felt like a celebrity as everyone showered her with praise.
They continued on with the feast, sharing jokes, life day stories, and their resolution for the year to come.
After the dinner, they got a blanket and stayed in the Commons room to watch a life day film, laughing, crying, or making fun of moments as they happened.
Before the sun set on Lothal, they went out and built snowmen Ezra used the force to make sure his was higher, Sabine added some colors to her with her airbrush, Zeb was making one, but decided to use it as a massive projectile to hit Ezra with, while Hera and Kanan watched from the ramp with a nice warm cup of caf.
Little did they know, Chopper was sneaking up behind them, mistletoe handing from his manipulator.
Kanan and Hera saw the thing hovering over them, they looked at each other for a good moment, leant in, and gave each other a soft kiss.
"Happy Life Day." Hera whispered.
"Happy Life Day." Kanan replied.