Hello! I finally got around to updating this story. I hope you enjoy!

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It was getting harder to keep the secret.

Ezra was now five years old, and he was getting curious. Mira wanted to tell him so badly, but she knew that she could not. I was for his own good that he was kept away from the answers. Every day was torture for having to lie to her son. He would look at her with his bright blue eyes, asking questions that could get him killed. But he was too young to understand this.

"Why can't I play with the other kids?" Ezra asked, bringing Mira back from her thoughts. She looked down from her seat at the table at her son. He pursed his lips and tilted his head, studying her movements, always observant. Mira put her mug down, and picked Ezra up. She sat him on her lap, his legs hanging off of the side of her legs, and she wrapped her arms around him.

"Ezra, I can't answer that." She rested her head on top of his own, and he shifted closer.

"Why not?"

"Ezra, you won't understand." It was torture to prohibit Ezra from doing something so normal, but they could not risk it. One slip up, and Ezra would die at the hands of the Empire.

"Yes I will. I'm five now." Mira let out a soft laugh.

"I know, honey. But you're still not old enough." Ezra paused, soaking in the information. Mira was amazed that he was able to do so at such a young age. He was always ahead of the game in intelligence and behavior. Mira sighed at the fact that this just affirmed he was force-sensitive.

It was a dangerous world now that the Empire had taken over. Ephraim and she had grown up in a time of war, but the end of their suffering after the war brought more than before.

People were persecuted for something that they could not control.

"When will I be old enough?" Ezra questioned.

"Ezra…" Mira stopped, not knowing how to respond. She knew that she could not tell Ezra what he was, or why he is a target to the Empire. The front door slid shut, and she looked up at her husband's face. Ezra jumped from her lap, slightly startling her, and ran to Ephraim.

"Hey, kiddo." He smiled and picked Ezra up, who squealed with joy. He put him back down as Ezra began talking.

"Dad, come play with me! Please!" Ezra shouted, tugging on his hand. Ephraim ruffled his dark hair with his free hand.

"Sorry, Ezra. I have to talk with mom for a few minutes. I'll join you shortly." Ezra raced off into his room, eager to play with his father. Ephraim sighed and took a seat next to Mira.

"Why are we doing this?" Mira asked, already knowing the answer.

"We need to keep him safe. For all we know, he could be the last of the Je-" Ephraim paused and lowered his voice. "He could be the last of them."

"No, there has to be someone."

"Mira, they killed all of them. And even if there still people out there, the Empire would know about it, and would hunt them down." Mira sighed, and took another sip from her mug.

"Just like they'll come for us," Mira said, placing the mug down. Ephraim looked back at her, and their gaze met. "Honey, they will come for us. Don't get me wrong; I don't regret the podcasts, and I know what's at stake." She took a breath. "But we need to prepare him for when we're gone."

Ephraim slumped back into his chair, knowing that what Mira said was true.

"I know."

A knock on the door echoed through the room. The couple turned towards each other. Mira nodded to Ephraim, and they both stood up. She crept into the kitchen and eased open the drawer, pulling out her blaster. Ephraim pulled his own out of his pocket, and they crept towards the door.

He stepped in front while Mira edged along the side. The knock was heard again, this time louder and quicker. Mira glanced out the window that was beside the door, but she was unable to identify the figure. She nodded to her husband. Walking towards the door, he raised his gun, and opened the door.

Mira heard the figure gasp in surprise, and Ephraim lowered his weapon.

"Come in, Tseebo." Mira lowered her gun and went to put it back into the kitchen drawer. She heard the door slide shut once more, and she closed the drawer, concealing the weapon. She turned around, facing the Rodian, and leaned against the counter.

"Any news?" she asked.

"Zeebo has heard the Empire has a lead on the podcast speakers. They say the Empire is looking into it."

Mira and Ephraim looked at each other. "Tseebo must suggest Mira and Ephraim stop before it is too late." Mira shook her head.

"We can't stop now. That's just what the Empire wants."

"The Empire wants the Bridger's dead," Tseebo said.

"Tseebo, we can't stop now. We have to do this." Mira walked and stood next to her husband, both facing Tseebo. He sighed.

"The risk you Bridger's take. Tseebo say you must think of your son."

"He's all we think about. We're teaching Ezra to stand up for people in need," Ephraim said, and Mira nodded in agreement.

"We're fighting for our son's freedom." Tseebo shook his head at them, looking at the floor.

"Tseebo not fight battle Tseebo know cannot be won." He walked back towards the door, but stopped. He turned back around and looked at them. "Neither should Bridger's." Tseebo turned and walked out of the door, converging with the steady flow of people. The doors slid shut behind him, leaving Mira and Ephraim alone in their thoughts. They both knew Tseebo was right, but they could not stop the podcasts. They had already come too far.

They both knew that they would not be able to protect Ezra forever. They just hoped that he would not die at the hands of the Empire. Mira and Ephraim wanted to make a safer galaxy for their son to live in. Their podcasts were inspiring people, and that was the only thing that they could do.

If what Tseebo said was true, they did not have long until the Empire caught up with them. And when it did, they would die knowing that they had helped their son. It may not have made a difference in the long run, but they had done something.

"Mom?" said a soft voice, drawing Mira and Ephraim out of their thoughts of death and back to the present. Ezra stood with his head peeking around the corner, his eyes wide and filled with sadness. He was still so small, barely at the height of their hips. His messy hair was all over the place, and Ezra tucked a small piece behind his ear, still half hidden behind the wall.

"Oh, Ezra," Mira said, rushing over to their son. She picked him up and buried him into her shoulder, brushing his hair with her hand. She turned back and sat down on the white couch in the living room, and Ephraim sat down next to her.

"Ezra," Ephraim said, and a shaky Ezra looked up. "Son, it's going to be okay."

"No it's not. Tseebo said the Empire's gonna get you," Ezra said, on the verge of tears. Mira looked to Ephraim, and he continued.

"Ezra, do you know why we're doing this? Why the Empire doesn't like us?" Ezra shook his head and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

"Ezra, we have to stand up for people in need. Especially those in trouble with the Empire." Their son nodded, following Ephraim's words to the letter. "The Empire is corrupt, Ezra. They are not here to help. We're doing this so you can have a better future."

Mira hugged their son closer. The Empire was catching up to them, and their time with their son was limited. But she would enjoy every precious moment with him.

This was their sacrifice to him. They were giving their lives to make the world a better place for Ezra. And it would hurt them all. Mira and Ephraim would be captured and certainly be put to death, while Ezra would live without love and without the understanding of their sacrifice to him.

"Ezra," Mira said. "We love you so much."

And Mira hoped that Ezra would remember they would never stop loving them. That was all they could hold on to.

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R & R

~ Kavella ~