First of all, before you guys began this chapter, I have had several questions on Zeb's age in the story and whether he is adopted or not. Zeb is about 20 in the story, but was adopted by Kanan and Hera when he was about 16. Now that's cleared up..

One of my readers, WoodElfJedi, has started a forum called Prayer. It's a really cool idea and if you guys get a chance, head on over and check it out!

Also, sorry that this chapter is so short. It was a difficult one to write. I already planned out the next chapter, so hopefully the next one will be longer.

Hera had hardly pulled the Ghost into the drive then Zeb had hurried out of the front door, Chopper on his heels.

Zeb greeted Kanan and Hera as they climbed out of the vehicle, then peered through the window at the still sleeping Ezra.

"How is he?"

Hera scooped up the cat that was winding his way around her ankles. Scratching his ears, she walked around the car to both males just as Kanan opened the back door.

Ezra woke instantly at the noise. Rubbing his eyes with his balled up fists, he blinked sleepily at the three. He sat up with a yawn.

"Why don't you ask him for yourself?" Kanan reached in and gently tugged at the teen, smiling as Ezra stared blankly at him.

"Come on kid, we're home."

…

Sabine curled up on her bed. Just outside the closed door, she could hear Zeb guiding Ezra to their room, teasing him on his slow pace.

She didn't know what to do. She knew, deep down, that she would have to tell Ezra the truth eventually. It was inevitable that he would find out. But how could she break the news? And what would he think, to find that the one person responsible for his parents deaths, was under the same roof as him?

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. After a second it cracked open and Hera's head poked through.

"Hey sweetie." The woman said softly. She entered quickly, closing the door behind her so they could have some privacy.

"How're you holding up?"

Sabine sat up, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Honestly, I don't know." She admitted as Hera sat down next to her.

"I'm sorry I didn't come out to say hi when you guys got home, but I needed to think things out first."

"It's okay, I understand." She pulled the girl against her in a tight hug, resting her chin on Sabine's head.

"Ezra was worried when he didn't see you. He thought you had gotten sick too."

Sabine sighed at the mention of the name, relaxing in her mother's arm.

"Oh mom, what am I going to do? I need to tell him, I know I do, but it's just so hard. How can I…."

"Shush." Hera silenced her gently. "It's alright. You don't have to tell him immediately. Take your time. Things will turn out okay, you'll see." She kissed the girl's forehead before standing.

"I'll tell the others you don't feel well and that you need to rest, alright?"She then stood and patted the girl's shoulder before leaving her to her thoughts.

…

It was later that night when Sabine jerked awake with a gasp. Sweat beads ran down her face, mingling with the hot tears streaming from her eyes.

It was that dream- the one she had had every night since Ezra had been put in the hospital. It was always the same one; of the night Ezra's parents were killed.

She sat up. She swung her legs over the side of the bed. She knew from past experience that it was no use going back to sleep after that. Standing and wrapping her housecoat around herself, she headed down to the kitchen. Maybe something hot to drink would help ease the heaviness in her chest.

After several minutes of searching, she found the coca packets. Her hands trembled as she opened one and poured its contents into a mug.

Stupid dream. Stupid life. Why'd she have to run off that day? Why did his parents have to come save her? They had a kid for heaven's sake; didn't they realize the risk in saving a child they didn't even know.

The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. She looked up, only for her breath to hitch in her throat at who it was.

Ezra stood in the doorway, dressed in pajamas that were too big on him, and rubbing his eyes. His hands paused long enough for him to flash a tired grin at her.

"Ezra, what are you doing up so late?" She half whispered, even though there was no risk of waking the others.

"Couldn't sleep. I heard someone go pass our bedroom, so I thought I'd get up and see who it was." Blue eyes blinked at her owlishly as he tried-and failed- to hold back a yawn.

"What about you? Why are you still awake?"

"Just…nothing." She didn't want to go into detail on her dream, especially since it involved his parents.

He frowned at her, obviously able to tell that she was hiding something. But he didn't push it. He then noticed the box of coca on the counter and his eyes brightened.

"Can I join you please?" He said shyly, clearly not wanting to intrude on her.

She looked into his eyes and sighed. She pulled another mug out of the cabinet and set it beside hers.

"Come on, you can heat the water up." She really didn't want him there, but she didn't have the heart to tell him no.

Soon they were both sitting at the table, each nursing their individual cups of the sweet drink. Ezra sipped at his, than sighed in contentment. He stared down into the steamy depths of his mug.

"You know, I remember when you guys first took me in, I had a nightmare-well, I guess you remember that-and that Kanan had stayed up with me, making me some hot chocolate." He let out a small laugh at the memory.

"I remember that I couldn't stop thinking 'why is he doing this? Why is he being nice to me?'" He shook his head.

"It felt so strange. Nobody had ever done anything like that for me before I met you all. I kept wondering if I was dreaming, if I would wake up and still find myself on the streets, or still living with Trevor." He looked up at her with a sheepish grin, face flushing red slightly.

"Sorry, I guess you didn't want to hear all that."

Sabine's heart was tugged. She made as if to reach across the table toward him, but hesitated.

"No, its fine. I know what you mean. And I prefer hearing you talk then the silence." And she meant it

Ezra looked up with another smile.

"Yeah, me too." His expression then changed slightly and he quickly lowered his eyes down to his cup.

" 'Bine, can I ask you something?"

She placed both elbows on the table, forcing herself to look fully at him.

"Name it."

Ezra squirmed in his chair under her gaze. Finally he began to speak in a soft, hesitating voice.

"It's just…don't get mad at me… but you didn't come visit me a lot while I was in the hospital, and I haven't seen you a lot since I've gotten home. Did I do something wrong?"

Sabine froze at the question. She mentally berated herself. She had gotten so wrapped up in her own guilt she didn't think how it was affecting the younger boy, how he would have seen it.

"No kid. It wasn't anything you did." ' It was what I did.'

He frowned at her. "Are you sick? You look kinda pale." He made as if to feel her head. She grabbed his hand before he made contact, squeezing it lightly.

"I'm not sick, Ezra."

"What is it then?" The younger of the two persisted.

"I can't talk about it." She dropped his hand as if was burning her, looking away. She felt his fingers rest hesitantly on her shoulder.

"Why can't you?"

"I just can't, okay!" Sabine suddenly snapped under his persistance, shoving him away. She realized what she had done just as she pushed him, but it was already too late.

Ezra stumbled back a few steps before he regained his balance. He stared at her wide-eyed, trying to comprehend her sudden moodiness.

Sabine gasped in horror, clamping her hand over her mouth.

"Ezra, I didn't mean to. I…" She couldn't finish. She ducked her head, trying to force back the lump in her throat and the burning sensation in her eyes. Guilt tore through her chest.

After a moment she heard someone move closer. A pair of socked feet came into her vision and a small hand touched her arm. Looking up, she found Ezra standing in front of her. He looked both guilty and sad.

"Please don't cry, Sabine, please." He whispered softly.

"I didn't mean to make you upset. I'm sorry. Please don't cry."

A hysterical laugh bubbled in her throat. She shook her head in disbelief.

"You're really something, you know kid?" She hiccupped.

"Here I am, pushing you around, and you still take all the blame and put it on yourself, even when I'm the one at fault. After all I've done to hurt you, you still….you're really something."

"You've hurt me?" Now Ezra looked puzzled.

"You didn't push me that hard "Bine. I'm fine, see?" He stepped back and held out his arms out to prove his statement, his face a picture of a mixture of concern, confusion, and innocence all at once.

Sabine felt tears spring to her eyes again. She pushed them back, staring at him sadly. She had no choice; he had to know the truth and she had to tell him now, before she lost his nerve.

"Ezra, sit down. There's something I need to tell you..."