"Hey, Ezra, you've got a transmission." Zeb would only say it once; he wasn't in the habit of repeating himself unless there was food, or danger involved. The person contacting the kid was impressive, but fancy titles and the homage that was expected to be paid didn't impress him. She was a good person, and was a fierce warrior, which did impress him, so he tacked on, "From experience you know she doesn't like to be kept waiting."

A she? Now how many she's did he know in the galaxy, aside from the ones of his Ghost family and the odd females he sort of knew could he readily count on one hand? Yeah, not that many. And not ones who had handy or reliable access to communication devices. "Who is she?" he eagerly questioned the Lasat; the warrior grunted, his voice echoed from far away.

"Answer and you'll find out."

So he dropped into the seat, having run all the way to the console, and did as Zeb suggested. "Hello?"

"Hey, Ezra, it's good to hear your voice, which means you're staying alive. One of the most valuable things to the Rebellion."

"Princess?" Ezra exclaimed, a surge of acceptance bathing him as his smile lit up his face. At that precise moment, Sabine turned up, stopping on her heels when she'd heard him squeal the title. The dignitary from Alderran was one tough cookie. And like a cookie, she had her sweet side. Or was that bittersweet? She was a true beauty, Sabine considered, all kinds of curious about why she would be contacting Ezra. A sneaking suspicion she had about that, had her stomach lurching.

No, not possible, she told herself, but couldn't drop it. Was it possible? Had hard-nosed, silver-tongued Leia taken a liking to her spunky puppy dog?

Sabine strained to hear what more was said…

"You sound surprised," Leia imposed with a sizeable kick in her authoritative voice.

His pulse racing, Ezra faltered, ruing his lack of poise and presence. Collecting his wits, he controlled his breathing, then made himself light up like his saber. "It's great hearing from you too. How goes the Rebellion at your end?"

She decided she'd banter with him a touch, answering to his high-pitched, inflected awe. "I wanted to expand some on that talk we had in the gunnery. Remember? You're such a good listener."

Remember? How could he forget? Despite her stature, she had spoken to him like an equal, like someone who understood exactly how he felt over the loss of his parents. She'd been genuine, through and through. Empathetic, with her kind expressions. Ezra settled, feeling more sure of himself. "Yeah. Sure, of course I do. I like what you said."

"Well, here's a bit more. We have something that affects you deeply in common, Ezra." Following her heavy, emotional sigh, she admitted with a sincerity that caught in her throat, "I lost my parents too. When I was just a baby."

"Huh? W-what? When you were just a baby?" Not understanding to the extent he needed to, Ezra, confused, voiced, "B-but, I thought Bail and Queen Breha Antilles-Organa are your parents."

After sighing heavily, Leia continued, "They are my adoptive parents. They took me in during the Clone Wars." The war that shredded the galaxy, changing it forever. "A Jedi by the name of Obi-Wan Kenobi brought me to them. I could never have wanted better, more loving people as parents, but my real parents died. I'll never know who they were."

Deeper sadness embedded itself in Ezra's heart, it growing heavier. "I-I'm sorry, Princess, so sorry," the young, keen-minded orphan stammered, feeling her loss as much as he felt his all over again. "You never get over it," he said, misery staining each word. He longed for her being here with him right this moment. So he could, what? Wrap his arms around her to somehow comfort her in person? Have her feel just how much he felt sorry for her. He physically reacted, thudding in his seat. What a crazy thought, he thought, still wishing she were here.

The princess awed him. He couldn't explain it, but they had something, for lack of a better word, a bond? Not the kind he shared with Kanan, and certainly not Sabine, but something unalterable he didn't fully understand conjoined them. He had an idea that their cause was partly responsible, but there was more to it. Of that he felt sure. Just as he was sure Leia wouldn't warm to his pitying her, even if he convinced himself that she might be sympathetic.

"No, never. But, at least you knew yours some. I never knew mine." Much space separated them physically. Sounding distant in a figurative sense, she spilled, "I only have a beautiful, shadowy woman, whose sorrowful sighs, sobbing and constant outcries, haunt my torturing dreams. You're doing the right thing, Ezra, doing what they would be proud of. They live through you, being close to you, for what you fight for." Something kindred within Ezra had roiled as she related this amazing bit. Moving past their pain her poignant revelation brought on, this strong, compelling leader forged on. "Two things," she dangled, leaving Ezra hanging, bent on putting what she had on her mind just right.

"Yeah?"

"You never really came out and said you and Kanan are Jedi."

Hedging, Ezra admitted, "Uh, no. I know. We don't go around saying so right off. He's a real one. I'm just learning to be one. Couldn't you guess when you saw me mess up? If you hadn't blasted, I might have ended up gone, in one way or another." He unpretentiously added, "Kanan swears I have potential." Although, Ezra was having serious doubts when things went wrong at his end and he needed saving.

"Kanan judges correctly." Leia lavished honest praise on the skeptical teen. "You did great. You're fearless, resourceful, not one to be intimidated." Her voice took on an even more respectful tone. "Which leads me to hope that you'll grant me this humble request."

Sabine held her breath, willing her hearing to be superhuman.

"Physically join us, full-time, once we've officially established a Rebel base on a world we've yet to locate. One that will strategically and logistically serve our needs."

Dumbfounded, Ezra was at the profoundest loss of his young life. Royalty was asking him to do her a favor. Never would he have ever thought such a thing could happen. Woozy, Sabine shut her troubled eyes, irked at Leia and what her extended invitation might mean. Was this really happening? Why Ezra? Why not all of them? She tried not to feel the least bit jealous because feeling that way wasn't who she was. Ezra and she were close, but were they truly in love? Judging by the way she was feeling right now…maybe she had begun to feel about Ezra the way he felt about her. Did he still feel the same?

Lay off, Leia…Sabine grumbled internally.

Clearing his throat, he still couldn't answer. Being stunned usually had this effect on him. When he finally had words, Ezra purposely wanted to sound like the man he was trying so hard to become. A man exactly like his mentor. "I'll need some time to think your offer over, if that's okay, Princess. Can I get back to you?"

Not the answer she had hoped for, Leia frowned, but spoke gently over the link: "I realize it's a big decision. I'm asking if you'd leave your new family. Take all the time you need, Ezra. Thanks for even considering it." As she smiled, light years away, she unveiled, "May the Force be with you."

He nodded as he ran both hands through his long, shiny hair the color of ripe blueberries, found on Polfrun.

"And you as well," Ezra wished, bestowing his allegiance as well, before they signed off simultaneously.

Not a fluke, considering who and what they were, which Leia did not know about herself.

Before Ezra spied her, Sabine, dazed, dashed from the communications site, out of sight. Bent on getting to her quarters, she nearly gagged on the bile that had risen up, overpowering her. Its sharp sting swept into her tightening throat, as she ran blindly.

Would he leave her?