This one is short but fluffy. I think it ties up loose ends from To Atone, but it depends on how you see it.

Summary: Ezra is slowly getting stronger each day. So was Kanan and everyone else. Even when change happens, family stays the same no matter what.

Slowly but surely, Ezra recovered. Two weeks after he woke up, the brace came off. His voice was still scratchy and he needed medication to soothe the pain in his neck due to the bruising, but he had gotten used to his new windpipe. While he was quieter, he was speaking again, and that was all that mattered to Kanan.

One day, Kanan was eating in the common room when Ezra entered and sat next to him.

"Hera told me your hair was getting longer," Kanan said, trying to start a conversation.

"Yeah," Ezra replied, his voice rough, as if he had a nasty cold. "I-" Ezra's voice temporarily gave out and he quickly cleared his throat to restart it. "I noticed it's at my shoulders now. It's kind...of getting in my way."

"Are you going to cut it?"

"Haven't decided yet. I might pull it back. Who knows?"

"So once again, you're copying me. First the lightsaber move, now the hair."

Ezra didn't laugh despite Kanan's joke. Instead, he just replied, "Well, I always stole from the best." He sounded flat, almost lifeless.

Kanan frowned. Ezra didn't laugh. Last time Kanan made that joke was during their practice duel, and Ezra cracked a smile. This time, there was no emotional response.

"Are you alright?" Kanan asked. This couldn't be right. He knew Malachor had changed Ezra, but was he really that broken?

"I'm fine," Ezra replied. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Kanan nodded. "Just...just making sure."

"He's talking," Kanan reminded himself. "At least he's talking. Three weeks ago he couldn't do that."

Kanan refused to believe that the old Ezra was dead, and it was starting to look that way for a while. However, there was still a chance.

Ezra was getting stronger everyday.

After dinner that night, Kanan and Ezra sat silently in Kanan's cabin. There was no conversation. They had just finished meditating and were silently contemplating on what to do next. Suddenly, Kanan felt a slight pressure on his left shoulder. He knew exactly where that pressure was coming from and wrapped his arm around Ezra's shoulders. He felt Ezra relax physically and through the Force and smiled. The fact that Ezra felt safe with him gave him a warm feeling; a feeling some would call fatherly.

Kanan scratched his chin, noticing the facial hair growing there. He had contemplated on whether or not to have Hera shave it, but that didn't matter at the moment. It was time to break the silence.

"I know this is kind of out of the blue," Kanan began, "but how are you really?"

"Well, my neck kinda hurts from time to time and I still feel a little scratchy but-" Kanan gently cut him off.

"No, I meant, how are you really doing, you know, emotionally?"

"To be honest," Ezra replied. "Better than I was. I never did thank you properly. You kicked Maul out for good. Having him in there was terrifying. I didn't know why he kept coming until you told me."

"When you first woke up you said something," Kanan said taking a deep breath. He was dreading the answer to the incoming question but he had to ask it. "You wanted to know why I didn't let you die. I don't think I asked you this then, but was that honestly what you wanted? Do you still want that?"

Ezra was silent for a moment before speaking. "At the time I did. I thought that was the only way I could make up for my mistakes. Now, I honestly don't know what I want. I know I said I would try to live and I'm trying to move past what happened, but I feel confused..."

Kanan stiffened. "Do you remember when we had pie together a few months before Malachor?"

Ezra nodded.

"We made a promise that day. We made a promise that we would look after each other and that we would live. Do you not remember that?"

Ezra nodded slowly. "I do... I remember that... Kanan, I'm sorry. I nearly broke that promise..."

Kanan wrapped his other arm around Ezra and held him close. "I'm just glad you're still alive."

Ezra teared up slightly upon sensing the fear, affection, and relief coming from his master. He returned the embrace, gripping Kanan's shirt.

They stayed like that for a few minutes before Ezra pulled away. When he did, he felt stronger and more grounded. He still wasn't back to normal, but it was a start.

"You should probably get some sleep," Kanan pointed out.

Ezra nodded. "Probably not a bad idea."

Ezra got off Kanan's bed and climbed up to his own. "Good night."

Kanan laid down and smiled.

"Good night, buddy."

Yes, Ezra was not quite back to normal, nor would he probably ever be, but it was a start.

Recovery was a long process but now the light was visible.

If you guys didn't catch the reference about the promise, it's from my other oneshot "The Cherry Pie Promise."

I honestly didn't like how this one turned out. I couldn't think of anything better so...

On another note, we hit two big milestones last week. Nightfall hit 200 reviews and 100 followers last week! Thank you so much! It makes me happy knowing people are invested in this story.

Furthermore, we got a premiere date for Season 3! September 24!

Better news...well for you anyway...is that Nightfall was designed for an October release date and I still fully intend to wrap up this series after the premiere. What that means is there will probably be weeks with two updates. I can't make any promises on that, as there is still the possibility of going past the premiere, but I am doing my best. I am almost done writing for this series. I have five oneshots left to write, plus the ending one after the premiere, then I am finished! Very bittersweet, I know.