"Hey, nice hair."

Ezra's eyes were glued to her head. This was some change.

Sabine had told him she had a surprise. Now, Ezra had thought she may be surprising him with, oh, he wasn't exactly sure what the surprise might be. He figured because he'd gotten her some very precious art supplies in that specialty shop when they'd visited Ballol, she was reciprocating. She'd happened to mention that she liked them and when she had left the shop, Ezra had lagged behind. He'd asked the Ballolian, a fuchsia, two-headed biped, how much they were. Ezra's mouth had dropped open and, "Ah!" had escaped him. They were astronomically expensive. The spray paint too, if you could believe that. Well, he'd had enough to get them, and not thinking twice, he'd forked over the credits the supplies cost.

And when he'd given them to Sabine, she had been speechless. She couldn't believe he'd unselfishly thought to get them for her. This was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her, which had earned him a great big hug and one very lingering kiss. Then, at dinner, she'd made a point of sitting next to him, very close, their thighs touching. Something she had never done before. Needless to say, neither of them did much eating.

Ezra reasoned that his grand gifting spelled the turning point in their relationship. He really had the biggest oversized soft spot for the Mandalorian beauty. Her natural beauty, her ability to think so fast on her feet, her quirky sense of humor, it never got old being with her. Ezra figured anything out of the ordinary he did for her could pave the way for convincing Sabine that he was the guy for her. If they really became a couple, she would never be sorry. He'd be hers, all hers, whether they remained with the Ghost crew or set off on their own as an unbreakable team. Not that either she or he planned on leaving this close-knit 'family' anytime soon.

And, not that Ezra was trying to emotionally blackmail her. He just figured how could sweetening his appeal hurt? He was young, had much to learn not only about the Force, but life in general, but he was growing to love her more and more as time passed. It was hard seeing himself with anyone else.

He didn't want to be with anyone else. Look at Hera and Kanan… They belonged together too.

Usually, Sabine wasn't in the habit of seeing things exactly the way Ezra saw them. Oh, she liked him, but that was like in a friendship sort of way. Not exactly as a little brother, who was constantly underfoot, more like a younger guy who was trying so hard to impress her. Sabine had no problem admitting to herself that Ezra was a charmer. His impulsivity and naiveté were endearing. Before joining this crew, she'd been in a serious relationship with a man a number of years older than she. It has often been said that age makes no difference if two people truly are in love. In Sabine's case, her former guy would never let her forget who was older, more experienced, who knew better because he was more savvy about life. He thought her art was juvenile and trite. She should give it up.

His favorite thing to say, to the point of nausea had been: "Sabi, you've got so much to learn. Who better than me to teach you? You'll be better off forgetting all your crazy art. Concentrate on more important things, like…" She had wanted to deck him when he'd finished off: "Being the best mercenary and explosives expert you can be. That means no distractions like this silly doodling."

It had gotten to the point that she was being told what to do about everything. Stuff like that got real old, real fast, so Sabine had backed out, telling the conceited Concordian it was over. She never wanted to see him again, and she'd meant it. She wasn't some flighty girl; she was a woman who knew her own mind, and that mind told her to dump him. Looking back, it so hadn't been a good thing. Her involvement with Minock had reinforced the knowledge that she would never be with a control freak ever again. She was not some clueless woman to be dominated.

What they'd had hadn't been love, more like, 'do what I'm telling you, and I'll be happy. If you're not thrilled, feel free to figure it out for yourself how best to keep on making me happy.'

Fair? Not so much.

How had he dared belittle what she'd been doing since she'd been a child of four? She had the soul of an artist and would continue to follow her imaginative leanings. No one would tell her she couldn't artistically create whenever and wherever she wanted to.

What could make her not want to be respected, appreciated, admired, taking no nonsense from anyone? Did she wish to be loved? Didn't everyone? But, on her terms, not at the expense of who she was. The failed romance and her eventual teaming up with Hera, Kanan, Zeb, Chopper and…in time, Ezra, had made her think twice about jumping into anything serious right away.

Ezra Bridger, what was he to her? What might he become to her? Sabine wasn't sure, but perhaps she'd taken a step in the direction he wanted her to go. What she'd done to herself, could it be considered a first step? Would he take what she'd done that way? It was time to test those waters.

The genuine big smile on his face and his wide eyes had her smiling. She tossed her head, swinging her dyed hair proudly as she stepped farther away from her lavishly-decorated Refresher. She'd given the new paints and brushes, the spray paint especially, Ezra had bestowed a real work-out. Her newly-adorned walls of her refresher exalted her taste, her brilliance. For the most part, these drab, functional space-going ships lacked originality.

Appreciation shone from her lovely eyes, they expressively thanking him once again for his generous gift.

"So you like?" Sabine asked, her eyes never leaving his.

Ezra came up to her for a closer inspection, maybe one that was hands-on if she let him touch her strands that were a lighter shade of blue than his blue-black hair. The ends of her hair were verdant green.

Immediately, he pictured the sparkling emerald seas of Kendor. The ends of her flowing hair matched those waters' aqueous loveliness.

A moment of silence stirred and passed.

Sabine studied his boyish face, giving anything to know what he really thought. Ezra, lost in her eyes that searched him, went limp, strengthened the connection he felt with Sabine, strong, confident, glorious Sabine.

Gorgeous green, he thought, over and over, toying with the idea of asking if he could finger the ends of her hair. I wonder if I should dye my hair the same color blue.

Boldly, he raised his hand, and ran his fingers through his own hair, losing momentum. He recovered quickly. "You look great!" he unabashedly gushed, berating himself because he'd chickened-out. Where's your nerve, he hissed internally, taking some calming breaths. Okay, here goes…

Hoarsely, he began, "M-mind if I…"

As though she'd read his mind, Sabine obliged, even canting her head at the hand closest to her and invited, "Be my guest."

When he stroked her head, finally, his boldness kicked in, and his fingers combed through. Reaching the ends, he twirled them in and around his fingers with a tickled grin. The feel of silk against the tips of his fingers chased away what little rational thought he possessed. He dragged in a ragged breath and blew it out through loose rounded lips. "Oh, wow, so soft. It's a little shorter too, right?"

"Uh huh. You don't think the color's too…uh…too extreme?"

"No." Ezra, shocked, babbled, "No—no way! It's great! It's perfect." He truncated what had rushed to his lips…like you. She was perfect, in oh so many ways. Perfect for their team. Perfect when they spoke together and she knew exactly what he meant without having to explain till he would run out of things to explain. She was just so perfect for him. "I think I should do the same thing to my hair."

"You do?" She sounded as surprised as she looked. "The color of your hair really suits you. I've always thought so. I wouldn't touch it, I mean...I'd leave it alone."

Ezra ordered himself to, 'Be cool, you, or she'll tell you to calm down, like you're so immature. Stop being such a kid, like she's told you before. If you want her to see you as the man for her, be a man. Not kid-ish, like some brand new Padawan who has never seen a lightsaber. After clearing his dry throat, Ezra said, "It really suits you, y'know. The colors…" What would be the mature compliment? What would convince her that he knew the difference between puppy love and a committed relationship, or something in-between? So much riding on one comment? He gave it his best shot, telling himself to say it with style.

"Go well with your eyes." Was that mature enough? Or too self-serving? Would she see right through him, he buttering her up so she'd give him the chance to make it personal between them? He'd been down this road before, and she had told him to go back the way he had come. If she ever felt differently about him, she would let him know.

That was if ever, as in don't hold your breath…

"You really think so?" Sabine asked, coquettish.

"I really do," Ezra remarked with a rich baritone lilt to his voice. Boy, oh, boy, it had suddenly gotten so warm here, in her quarters. Tatooine heat sparked all over his body. He thought again of Kendor's deep, chilly oceans, those frothy tides bubbling fiercely. Whirlpools churning below the surface drove them. He had always wanted to visit the world. Maybe Sabine might like to go with him, one day, if the Empire was ever toppled, somehow. The planet was one of their resorts where high-ranking personnel vacationed.

His temperature plummeted and he smiled at Sabine, bemused. His feelings tainted and all over the place.

Readily, not being asked, because he certainly had not asked her the reason for the color change, which mirrored the color of his own hair, more or less, she said, "Thanks. That means a lot coming from you." Not hesitating, walking in closer to Ezra, she continued, "I've always liked the hue of your hair. Its pigment is amazing. And…well, I guess I've wanted to make my hair look something like yours, with a little twist, ever since."

"You did it just right," he awarded, noting how close they were standing, toe-to-toe.

"Then…" And not saying anything more, she threw her arms around his neck, giggling. Its sound mesmerizing him. Softly, she breathed, "Goal accomplished." She hung on tighter, hearing Ezra sigh.

His contentment was the dynamic colors of any rainbow, anywhere in this galaxy.