Chapter 13: A Good Birthday

Ezra woke up to someone lightly shaking his shoulder. Street instincts told him to panic, but something else said not to. He focused his eyes on the person who's arm had been shaking him.

"Hm, morning Kanan." Ezra greeted.

"Morning birthday boy." Kanan smiled.

"Oh yeah, it's my birthday, isn't?" Ezra asked.

"Well it is October 6th." Kanan replied. "Remember Hera is having us over tonight."

"You and your girlfriend," Ezra joked. "When are you just going to propose?"

"We've only been dating for like a month." Kanan blushed.

"I've heard stories of shorter than that." Ezra muttered getting off the hide-a-bed before making it, and folding it back into the couch.

"Where did you hear those?" Kanan asked walking towards the kitchen to make breakfast.

"This one play I read at the library." Ezra answered. "Romeo and Juliet by William something or other."

"Shakespeare," Kanan provided.

"Yeah, interesting guy." Ezra said. "Pretty good stories."

"If memory serves, their love story didn't turn out to well." Kanan laughed.

"Cause they were idiot kids." Ezra brushed off. "Juliet was only like 14, far too long for some pampered girl to be making life changing decisions."

Kanan laughed at that.

"You and Hera are older and wiser and won't make stupid decisions with your relationship hopefully." Ezra added.

"Kid just sit down while I finish breakfast." Kanan said.

There was a small silence.

"This is the first birthday in a while I won't be spending alone on the streets." Ezra muttered softly. "I spent eight birthdays alone."

"Well you won't be alone anymore." Kanan smiled, setting the bowl of oatmeal in front of his foster son.

"I know," Ezra returned the smiled. He started to eat the oatmeal.

There was only light conversation here and there as the two ate their breakfast.

"Well you better get ready to go." Kanan said as he started to clean up breakfast.

"Yeah," Ezra agreed. He headed to the bathroom after grabbing some clothes and got changed. After getting back to the main room he packed his bag with his book and deck of cards.

"Ready to go?" Kanan asked, coming into the room in uniform.

"Yup," Ezra smiled.

"Alright let's go." Kanan said.

They walked towards the station. "Be good," Kanan said in the lot of the station. He hugged his foster son before heading into his patrol car.

Ezra walked into the station.

"Hey kid," Sabine greeted.

"Hi Sabine." Ezra replied. "Hey Zeb,"

"Hey, catch." Sabine said before tossing something at Ezra.

Ezra yelped, pretty pathetically, before managing to catch the rather large object had thrown at him. "What's this?" he squeaked.

"Your present." Sabine smiled. "It's your birthday isn't?"

"Thanks," Ezra replied sitting down. He opened it and found it to be a book. "This my favorite author."

"Yup, new series, came out two days ago." Sabine replied. "It's from Ketsu and me."

"Well thanks." Ezra smiled.

"Here," Zeb said, placing an item on Ezra's book. It was a Rubix Cube with a bow on it. The jerkish move was that it was already messed up. "Figured you would like a challenge." he laughed.

Ezra rolled his eyes and started on the cube.

"Ha!" Ezra triumphally announced an hour later., "Got it." He proudly showed it to Zeb and Sabine.

"You really solved it?" Sabine asked coming over. "I can never get these." She took it out of his hand and smirked. She quickly messed it up.

"Sabine," Ezra protested.

"Let's see you solve it again hotshot." Sabine laughed handing it back to him and ruffled his hair.

Ezra grumbled before restarting his task.

Every time Ezra solved the cube one of the officers would just take it from him and mess it up again. By the fourth time it was about time for lunch.

"What should we get for lunch?" Zeb asked.

"You two order, Ketsu packed me something." Sabine replied, pulling out a lunch box from under her desk.

"Wacca want kid?" Zeb asked. "We can order Pizza, Chinese, Sushi."

"Not sushi." Ezra replied.

"Why not?" Zeb asked.

"Kid's allergic to fish remember?"Sabine called over. "I'm pretty sure Kanan would kill you if you put his kid in the hospital."

"Right, best not anger the dad." Zeb said. "So no sushi, in fact, Chinese could even be dangerous. Even if we don't order fish they cook it."

"There's a sub shop down the street the delivers." Sabine suggested as she started to eat what seemed to be left over chicken. "Ketsu says is pretty good."

"Sure." Zeb said. "What kind do you want kid?"

"What do you suggest Sabine?" Ezra asked.

"I wouldn't know." Sabine replied. "Can't eat sandwiches, I have a gluten allergy."

Ezra wasn't sure what the hell gluten was so he turned to Zeb. "So what do you suggest?"

"I think you would like the ham melt." Zeb replied.

"Okay," Ezra shrugged.

After lunch Ezra read, mostly to avoid having to do the cube four more times because Zeb would probably keep messing it up.

The doors to the station opened and Ezra smiled as Kanan and Hera walked in.

"Happy Birthday," Hera greeted him.

"Thanks." Ezra replied.

"I hope you like spaghetti." Hera smiled.

"It's been a while since I had it." Ezra answered.

"Oh, you'll like it." Zeb said as he headed towards the door. "Hera makes the best sauce. Well I'm out."

"How was your day?" Kanan asked, taking a seat by Ezra.

"Ok," Ezra responded. "Zeb gave me a Rubix cube, but every time I solved it, he or Sabine would take it and mess it up again."

"You can actually solve those things?" Kanan asked. "Depa gave me one but I could never solve the darn thing."

"You just gotta be smart and patient." Ezra replied with a smirk.

"Oh ha ha." Kanan sarcastically laughed.

There was light conversation while the three of them waited for Kanan and Hera's shift to be over.

"Okay," Kanan smiled. "We're going to walk back over to the apartment and get the car. We'll meet you at your house."

"Sounds good." Hera replied, giving Kanan a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Come on kid, we don't want to be late." Kanan said and led Ezra out the door.

They drove on in silence until they finally reached Hera's house.

Kanan rang the doorbell.

"Perfect time you two." Hera smiled as she opened the door. "I think we should start with presents."

"Presents?" Ezra asked.

"Yes, it is your birthday after all." Kanan smiled. "Mine are in the trunk, I'll go get them real quick."

Kanan had wrapped the gifts late last night after Ezra had gone to sleep before putting them in the trunk.

"Mine is in my room." Hera said. "Go sit on the couch while I got get it."

Ezra did so. Kanan came in a few seconds later holding two small packages.

"Ezra close your eyes." Hera called.

"Why?" Ezra replied.

"Just do it." Hera answered.

"Okay," Ezra said.

He heard Hera's foot steps approach before something small was placed on his lap. Was it moving?

He opened his eyes and saw on his lap was a kitten.

"Is, is this the kitten from yesterday?" Ezra asked gently picking her up.

"Yes," Hera smiled.

"I get to keep her?" Ezra asked, tears of joy coming to his eyes.

"Yeah," Kanan answered. "The apartment allows small pets as long as they don't cause damage."

"And I have all the stuff you need to take care of her in my room as well." Hera added.

"Thank you. Thank you so much!" Ezra smiled. He set the kitten back on his lap and started petting her, she collapsed in his lap and started purring.

"Here open this one first." Kanan instructed, handing him the slightly larger package.

He opened it, and found it to be a cell phone box.

"A cell phone?" Ezra asked.

"Yes," Kanan answered. "In case you ever need me while I'm at work, or need to contact me or Hera. It will also be nice when you start school."

"Thanks," Ezra said. "I don't know what to say." And he truly didn't.

"Here's the other one." Kanan softly spoke.

Ezra opened it and tears sprang to his eyes. It was a photo frame, and in the frame was a old family picture. It showed Ezra when he was about six and a half on his mother's back as his father stood next to her.

"Where did you get this?" Ezra said through his tears.

"Ahsoka gave me your old address. The people who live there now kept some of your family's old stuff in a box in the attic." Kanan explained.

"Thank you." Ezra choked out. "Thank you so much." He gently set the frame on the coffee table and took the kitten off his lap, gently setting her on the couch before embracing Kanan. "You have no idea, how much this means to me.

"It's nothing." Kanan soothed, returning the hug, running his fingers through the boy's hair.

"No, it's not." Ezra replied. "It's everything."

The kitten sensed her new friend's emotions and hopped off the couch and rubbed her head against Ezra's leg trying in her own way to comfort him.

Ezra laughed and picked her up, holding her close, which was easy since she was so small.

"I'll get supper ready." Hera said, stepping into the kitchen.

"Now what am I going to name you little girl?" Ezra asked, sitting on the floor with the kitten in his lap, stroking her fur gently.

"How about Cosette?" Hera suggested from the kitchen.

"Isn't that a character in a book where nearly everyone dies?" Ezra asked.

Hera laughed. "Yeah she's a character in the book Les Miserables."

Kanan briefly wondered why in the world Ezra had read that book.

"But it's French for little pet." Hera continued.

"You know French?" Kanan asked.

"I am French." Hera replied somewhat angrily, her accent slipping through.

"Dang Kanan, you didn't know your girlfriend was French?" Ezra asked.

"It never came up." Kanan defended.

"Anyways, I think Cosette is a perfect name." Ezra smiled.

Cosette walked slowly up Ezra's lap, closer to his chest and managed to worm her way into his hoodie pocket. She stuck her head out the other side. Ezra laughed.

Kanan took out his cell phone and managed to get a picture. "I'll send that to you later."

"Thanks." Ezra smiled. "Thanks for everything." He grabbed the photo frame. "This is the best birthday I've had in a while."

Kanan smiled.

"All right boys, supper is ready." Hera called.

Ezra stood up and hugged Kanan. Cosette gave a small mewl in protest as she was slightly squished in between the two—as she was still in the hoodie pocket.

"Sorry girl," Ezra apologized as he tore himself away from Kanan.

During dinner Cosette squirmed her way out of the pocket. Ezra didn't want her to get hurt so he gently placed her on the ground. She started pouncing on Ezra's loose shoe lace making him laugh once again.

"She certainly is a ball of energy." Kanan said.

"Yeah," Ezra agreed.

After dinner Kanan, Hera and Ezra placed the stuff Hera had gotten Ezra to help take care of Cosette in the back of the car, namely, a litter box and cat litter and the stuff to clean it. A food and water bowl and a small back of food, and lastly a scratching post that had a small platform on top that she could lay down on.

"Do you think Cosette is going to like the apartment?" Ezra asked.

"I'm sure she'll like it fine." Kanan answered as they arrived back.

They decided quickly that the litter box would probably be best in the bathroom. Then they put the food and water in the corner of the kitchen, and the scratching post right by the couch.

"You think she'll sleep with me?" Ezra asked.

"She seems to love you." Kanan answered. "I'm sure she'll spend part of the night with you."

After Ezra got ready for bed he hugged Kanan one last time. "Thanks for the great birthday."

"Anything for you." Kanan replied.

Ezra set the photo of his parents on the side table and climbed into bed. Cosette mewed in protest as she couldn't jump quite high enough to reach the bed. Ezra laughed and picked her up setting her next to him.

"Night Cosette." Ezra softly said, petting her. She purred and arched up into his hand.

Cosette walked up to Ezra and curled up in the crook of his shoulder and neck, her fur slightly tickling him. He gave a gently laugh, remembering some of the stray cats on the streets doing the same, before closing his eyes and falling asleep.