Hello again fellow readers I the terribly spotty updater have returned! Now before you throw the tomatoes I have many excuses... all of them lame and sort of ish true.

Ack you guys have knifes! I thought rotten vegetables were the usual... Oh right I took so long updating that you guys had the time to buy some weapons, clean them, head to your pilates class, and clean them again, all after doing everything else you usually do. He he...

Alright enough talk let's get down to business! (And remember we're not defeating Huns(Gatz did I just make a disney reference?!)) Sue me. Stole all your damn characters disney! SEE HOW YOU LIKE THAT just go stealing characters! Not like George Lucas needed them anyway!... Man do I need Jesus(Forgive me if I just offended you). Shut up! Shut up you mentally insane fanfic writer! We won't report you if you just write your story!

PS: My authors notes in no way reflect my mental state of being. Ignore the nuttiness (I prefer cashews by the way almonds are evil though) and enjoy the new chapter.

The adults of the crew stood staring at each other floundering in the strange situation they found themselves in. Ezra was who knows where on the ship upset and injured and half of them had just had a shocking discussion about what the other half had been thinking about doing.

"Guys we should split up; start looking for Ezra now"

Every body shook their heads in agreement to Sabine's suggestion. Sabine and Zeb immediately sprang into action but Hera hesitated looking at Kanan. As his teacher and in general as being a Jedi Kanan would be able to feel Ezra, especially since it was a small ship and Ezra was particularly upset.

"Kanan." Hera looked at him wanting to say more. He nodded his head. He would find Ezra and despite his lack of faith he would try to fix this. Hera headed off in a pseudo search while Kanan closed his eyes concentrating on Ezra's presence in the force.

Kanan cringed as he found Ezra. There was a lot of pain there, emotional and some physical. Pain that had stemmed from his own actions and a life that had been destroyed by the presence and greed of the Empire. Sighing Kanan tried to mentally prep himself for helping Ezra, however he felt inadequate. He himself still struggled with his own emotions and with controlling himself. The entire episode was his fault, from the injuries to the failed mission, he had let his fear overwhelm him.

Following the feeling Kanan soon found himself in front of the maintenance closet that nobody ever used anymore. From here he could hear the soft sobs and he felt his heart strain. Originally upon Ezra's entrance into their lives he had looked at the kid with pity and interest. He was used to seeing the victims of the empire and Ezra wasn't an exception. Even upon learning more about the kid's painful living he had hardened his heart; there were plenty of other people that had suffered and Ezra was just another one of them.

Ezra had stayed though and somehow had wormed his way into a part of Kanan's heart that cared immensely. Opening the door Kanan felt even worse when he saw Ezra curled up in the corner of the closet arms wrapped around himself in an attempt for self-comfort. Crouching down Kanan put his hand out gently and slowly. He lightly laid it on Ezra's shoulder. Ezra flinched back from it and Kanan swallowed hard not sure what exactly he should be doing.

"Ezra" He said it soft and quiet. An inquiry without a question. Ezra however was immersed in some other place head buried in himself body turned away from Kanan. Sitting down next to Ezra Kanan again put a hand out this time maintaining contact even as Ezra flinched away and tensed. Gently rubbing small circles on Ezra's back Kanan saw that the kid had broken his stitches and blood was staining the pajamas he was wearing.

Reaching out with the force Kanan tried to calm Ezra. He felt Ezra began to relax, muscles releasing their tension ever so slightly. They stayed that way for a while Ezra still curled in on himself quiet sobs gone and Kanan sitting next to him a hand resting gently on Ezra's back. Sabine suddenly appeared mouth open in an angry question. Her voice died away before it even started as she saw Ezra's form. Kanan looked up at her sending a silent message. Backing away Sabine left quietly.

Kanan moved his other hand forward and began stroking Ezra's hair fingers pulling gently through the blue locks. Ezra shifted for the first time since Kanan had entered the room turning away from the wall head instinctively laying down on Kanan's leg. Kanan adjusted himself to the new position and the arm that had been rubbing Ezra's back looped it's way around the small form. Kanan didn't know when but Ezra at some point fell asleep soft breaths puffing in and out. Kanan managed to slide out from under Ezra and scooped him up.

Walking out from the closet he was confronted by multiple angry and concerned faces all holding their tongue because Ezra was asleep. Kanan just walked on into Ezra's room settling him on the bed. He studied the kid in front of him many things flying about in his head all conflicting with each other. He was unsure what to do now. He was still adamantly sure that the ship wasn't a safe place for Ezra but as the current events were yielding it seemed that removing Ezra wasn't such a great idea. Those were just the most obvious issues on top of it was the understanding of what a relationship should be between a Master and their padawan. Though it was important to know your master well it was also considered bad to be maintaining such a familial tie. A jedi had to be calm and disconnected; their mind a place unaffected by their relationships with others. He, Kanan, was terrible at this.

Kanan was insecure about his own abilities as a jedi let alone the responsibility of training someone. Head spinning with the confliction of what he felt and what he had been taught Kanan stared down at the kid who had managed to topple his deep conviction to the jedi way. Running his fingers through the kids hair Kanan wished Ezra could have his family back. No child should have had to endure what he did. Ezra having wormed his way into his heart was like a son Kanan had never thought possible especially since the jedi way warned at attachments that were like it.

Zeb had entered the room along with Hera while Chopper and Sabine lingered outside the door.

Hera approached Kanan first hand coming to rest on Kanan's shoulder.

"We should fix his stitches."

Kanan looked up and slightly nodded his head in agreement.

"Then." Hera said giving him a significant look.

"Then we need to talk to everyone."

Zeb gave an appraising look, happy that the issue was finally getting dealt with openly. Stepping forward he budged his way between Hera and Kanan.

"I'll bandage the kid up. I did it before."

stepping away both Hera and Kanan acquiesced.

They all now sat around the kitchen table Zeb bearing a general feeling of aggression and tension. He understood that there were some things that were not meant to be shared with everyone but he was angry that Hera and Zeb had been lying about this and making decisions behind their back. Sabine also felt similarly, she hated lies, more so in this way because they could hurt someone she cared about.

Kanan and Hera sat opposite them and were both apprehensive, they could see the underlying anger and frustration.

"We're sorry." Kanan started out. "We lied and made some decisions that we're regretting. Ezra does matter to us and after my lack of judgement with the mission I was starting to think that maybe being on the ship wasn't a safe enough place for Ezra."

Sabine snorted in a derisive laugh.

"Obviously the ship isn't safe Kanan. That's not the problem. It's never been safe, but since when has anywhere been safe for people that aren't on good terms with the Empire?"

"I know. I understand that, it's just Ezra's a kid-"

"And? So what? He's our family! It doesn't matter if here is the safest place or the cleanest. It's the best place! We're his family."

Kanan looked subdued at Sabine's outburst but continued to explain.

"I know that now. I just-I'm trying to help you guys understand what we've been discussing, Hera and I. We were thinking it would be safer to place him with a rebel family but..."

Hera picked up "We thought it would be better."

Zeb glared at the two. "Well it doesn't matter because Ezra's staying here. We're a family which means we help each other to the bitter bloody end."

Hera and Kanan nodded their heads in agreement and silence fell around the table until Chopper made some beeps and soft mechanic chitters. Hera smiled down at the robot.

"Yeah that's right. Ezra is going to stay here."

Alright then readers. Thank you again for sticking it through. I am going to continue the story work on the recovery of Ezra and his eventual understanding that the whole crew loves him. There will be more action at some point and of course more fluffy schmloop. Feel free to review and send me complaints.