An: Later chapters will have the chance to contain smut, as per the mature rating I set on this fic. They will all have warnings at the top of the chapter. This one has the start of some smut that is shut down.

Her old home was a sight for sore eyes. Quinn quickly let herself into the basement portion, shaking and sick with the effort of holding back the shift in her bones. Here she cried to herself, grieving her parents. Not only had she just learned they were dead but...it had been her own damned fault it happened. So she sobbed; hands and teeth still very sharp. She couldn't get it to go back and it was a fact that only added to her feeling she was a monster.

In the darkness Quinn crouched, holding herself tightly enough her claws penetrated each shoulder in her grip. She cried for the mother and father she didn't know she'd lost. Cried for the brother she abandoned, albeit accidentally. Then, when she was done with all that Quinn was some more; this time for Kanan and Hera. She let go of her mental block, really leaned into him. She called for him, or tried to anyhow. Quinn wasn't a Force sensitive so she could only hope he heard her desperate pleas not to hate her. "Please. Please don't hate me. I don't deserve you two, but kriff...I want you anyway. I was dumb to run. I should've gone to you both, but Ezra was there between us. He saw...he saw them die and it was my fault."

"Q, there's a massive difference between fault and what happened with you and your parents." Kanan stepped slowly from the darkness in the direction of the ladder back up. Quinn felt her tenuous control go taut, pulling back at her as she struggled to hold it. Instead of lunging upon him as she wanted to, Quinn managed to keep it at a snarl. "Easy." He held up his hands. "Are you ready to be helped?"

"Quinn?" Her head snapped back toward the direction of the ladder, nose pulling in the scent of her brother as he also came into view. "This is what you didn't want me to see?" He looked sad. "Big deal. I'll bet Kanan has you handled at any given time. Why are you so scared?"

"Apparently I need to be!" She snapped, taking a few steps closer to her brother on her longer legs. She pictured raising her arm and just...Quinn screamed, trying not to see Ezra's body bleeding out on the floor with those long gashes in his throat. "Got our parents murdered."

"Ezra, I told you to stay on the ship." Kanan spoke with tight lips intended to hide his strain at the new situation. "This is exactly what she's afraid of."

"Neither of you knows how good you smell right now. How much I just want to take a couple bites." Quinn was sweating with the effort of not making what she saw in her head come true.

"But you're a vegetarian." Ezra was confused. "Remember, sis? You can't stand the idea of ending a life to sustain your own when they also just want to live." He paused. Maybe that's your problem. Maybe whatever this is...needs meat. Maybe your diet is different."

"Later, Ezra." Kanan was clearly considering this.

But Ezra was stepping forward, confidently pushing past Kanan and standing in front of Quinn. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to keep in the snarls that threatened to tear free from her throat. "Quinn, I'm not afraid. You aren't going to hurt me." He held out a hand and closed his own eyes and Quinn felt it...the familiar soothing touch of someone with the Force making a friendly connection. "And I'm not going anywhere." Her form began to shrink as all the overwhelming parts of the emotions she felt fled her body and Quinn felt exhausted instead.

"I want Hera."

"I'm here too." Hera had her mouth pressed in a hard line and looked like she was about to launch into a scolding. Before Hera could finish coming out of the dark, Quinn tackled her and was sobbing anew. Hera sighed and began gently combing her fingers through Quinn's newly dyed blue locks. "Oh, I can't stay mad at you, Q. You've had such a hard day. But please...don't break our rules anymore. They protect more than just Kanan." Quinn started crying even harder at the realization she had broken one of the only two rules in their relationship and Hera decided to head her off. "There, there. Let's get back to the Ghost and have a nice hot stay in the refresher. Then I'll get out some of the frozen meiloorun cream I made. I'll even feed it to you. Let's just go."

x

Ezra watched Hera leading his sister back up the ladder with a slight bit of confusion. "I thought-You and my sister-"

"Oh, we are." Kanan said, beginning to follow the other two out. It sounded like there was a smirk in his voice.

"But she and Hera-"

"Yep." Now Kanan was definitely holding back laughter. "Don't forget Hera and me. It's called polyamory, Ezra. Do some research on the holonet." He stopped mid-ladder and called down to the boy. "Oh and when you finally decide you want to learn to control that power, I'm waiting for you, padawan."

x

Quinn felt much better after the refresher and some quality time with Hera. Now they relaxed in the bedroom they shared with Kanan, eating the frozen fruit cream Hera had made, waiting on him. "I'm sorry." Quinn said for the hundredth time.

"Apologize one more time love, and I'll change my mind about letting this one go." Hera was only half kidding with this so Quinn just stopped. "You don't really think what happened to your parents was your fault, do you?"

Quinn hesitated, the emotions from before threatening to overwhelm and choke her all over again. "I do think that way, Hera." She finally admitted. "On one hand if I had stayed home, the empire would've continued making only half-assed efforts to locate my parents. They would've lived. But I wouldn't have met you and Kanan and the others I've come to call my home. On the other hand...they might have kept looking for my family anyway and we'd all be dead right now. Ezra would still be an orphan."

"Q, once you get past a certain amount of ripples in the butterfly effect it's called an indirect effect. It is no longer your fault, just a sad and very distant connection. So distant it doesn't matter and might have even happened on its own." Hera kept offering her spoons of meiloorun cream. Quinn had to admit that made her feel better. Better enough to start thinking of other things. She turned from her seat on the floor in front of Hera, rotating so she sat crouched on her knees. "Q, normally I wouldn't do this. You know I love how skilled your mouth is and the joy you get at making me come unraveled is nice. But love, you should be mourning. Give it a couple days and I'll be eagerly waiting. Until then, I hope these are enough to tide you over."

Hera pressed a kiss to her lips that parted them, allowing their tongues a brief dance together. It was warm and sort of sweet from the frozen cream treat. "Damn. I'd say that definitely tops the one you gave me earlier." Quinn felt a little breathless.

"Aw, are you guys starting things without me?" Kanan snarked lovingly from the doorway. "Hera, you need to set us a course for Vizago's spot. He said he had intel to trade if we got there within the hour." His eyes flicked to Quinn on the floor before Hera. "I'll keep an eye on our resident cat lady. Don't worry." Hera left to do this and Kanan pulled Quinn into the bed. "Come on. Let's have a nap. I sense only trouble waits with this intel." They snuggled into each other, each finally ready for a little rest. When Hera woke them with gentle touches, Quinn yawned and stretched. Then she stood like she was ready to join them on an op.

Hera and Kanan exchanged a glance. "Are you sure, Q?"

"Ezra will be going and he's my brother. Besides...after he did what did at our old home... I feel less afraid for him and more for everyone else. And I can't hide in our lovely room forever." She gave what she hoped looked like a confident smile.

Hera answered back with one of her own. "Let's go get our payday then and see what this intel is. The wookies, maybe." They linked hands and made a chain going down the halls and down the exit ramp where everyone else was already waiting. Unexpectedly, Hera and Kanan each raised the hand of hers that they were holding up over her head. "She rejoins us!" Hera sounded overly pleased.

"Finally!" Sabine said warmly. "I was getting majorly tired of my only partnering options being Zeb and Chopper. They're okay, but I miss you girly."

Zeb huffed in mock offense, but then also shared a smile with Quinn. "I'm glad you're feeling better, rainbow head."

"Yeah yeah, can we get on with this before Chopper shocks me again?" Ezra danced away from Chopper's extended probe as he said this.

"Yes, if you're quite ready for your payment..." This was Vizago. Hera and Kanan approached, letting go of Quinn to do so. Maybe I really will be okay.