Hey guys! It's a bit of a longer one, but I think you'll enjoy! :D

Q/A's and Reactions:

Ichichi05- Don't worry. I have a plan for how they meet Sabine. ;D

Louisemcmullan- Yeah! Enjoy the chapter!

Spectre 8- I told you all I'd get there… eventually. :D

Rebeakahhniang- Yep! Just thought I'd throw that in there to see how you'd all react. ;D

Azulablue- By popular demand, I've decided to skip a few years to get to the good stuff! :D

ElsaSkywalker- Correct! That was a vision of Sabine. :D

Midnight Luna- I'm glad you guys are cool with that. It just helps the story move along better! :D

Coral Iturbe- Me alegro de que te guste! Disfrute del capítulo!

Four years later…

Ezra's POV

I narrowed my eyes in concentration as I fixed Chopper. He had a few broken parts after our last mission, but it was nothing too serious. My mind was drifting. It was that time of year again.

"You okay?" Chopper beeped.

I looked up from my tools, aware that Kanan and Zeb where sitting on the other side of the room playing holochess. "Yeah, I'm fine," I mumbled.

The droid didn't seem convinced. "By the way, happy birthday!" he chirped quietly.

I frowned. "We've been over this," I whispered so the others couldn't hear. "I don't have a birthday."

He waved his arm dismissively. "That's what you tell everyone, but I know the truth."

I was tempted to yank out his voice chip when Hera walked in. She smiled at us and threw Chopper a power cell. "Here. It's an upgraded version. I thought I'd finally get him one since it's the fourth anniversary of Chopper being on the team," she explained.

"Hera, it's a droid," Kanan pointed out. "It doesn't need a 'birthday'."

Slightly offend, Chopper sent a bolt at Kanan, hitting him in leg. "Chopper!" Kanan yelled as he jumped and twitched. I couldn't resist grinning as Zeb made his move on the holochess. "Check mate! I win!" he chuckled triumphantly.

"No fair! I was distracted," Kanan protested.

Zeb laughed and turned the holonet on instead. I whistled to Chopper. "Come on. We're not finished."

He wheeled over as I continued my work, Kanan grumbling as Hera sat down to watch the broadcast. "And of course today is Empire day, so don't forget to come to the parade," the message rung. I clenched my fists. Empire day. The words were like poison in my mouth. A day that once was full of joy and happiness, was now a day I dreaded every year. I was eleven now, according to my Birthday, but it didn't matter to me. Today just reminded me of everything I once had. Of my parents that once cared. Of the house I used to call home. Of my loth-cat toy, the only connection to my old life that I no longer could hold.

"Nothin' on," Zeb groaned, shutting off the hologram.

"Ezra, let's do some training," Kanan said, standing up.

I used my hair as a veil from my face. "I don't feel like it," I muttered.

"You still have to train whether you feel like it or not," he frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No," I snapped, dropping my tools and standing up.

I was about to walk out the door when a firm hand gripped my shoulder. "Ezra," Kanan said calmly. "You know you can tell me anything."

Sometimes it felt like I couldn't come to him for everything. I didn't know what it was we just seemed… distant from each other now. Like a bond that had once flourished so beautifully took a wrong turn and split us apart. Master and padawan. That's all we were now.

I shrugged from his grasp. "There's nothing to tell," I mumbled, walking out of the common room. I quickly walked to the turret and climbed up the ladder. I just needed to be alone for a little while. Sitting down, I relaxed my tense muscles. The stars were so beautiful to stare at sometimes. While I gazed out at the expanse of space, I thought maybe, just maybe, my parents were still out there. They could have gotten held up, or were stranded on a deserted planet, trying to get to me.

Well, it was nice to imagine it anyways.

Kanan's POV

"What's with 'im?" Zeb asked.

"I don't know," I sighed.

Zeb stretched and walked to the door. "Well, I'll be asleep if anyone needs me," he yawned.

I nodded and sat down, still wondering what was going through Ezra's mind. "I'm sure he'll tell you eventually," Hera smiled reassuringly. I wasn't so certain. "You sure about that? He hardly opens up to anyone anymore. I don't know what to do," I admitted, shaking my head. Something hard ran into my leg as I jumped to see Chopper.

"Chopper, not now," I groaned.

Hera stood up when a high pitched beep sounded from her comlink. "I'm getting a report from Fulcrum soon about our next mission. I'll be back," she said, walking out of the common room.

Once she was gone, Chopper beeped furiously at me. "What?" I asked.

I wasn't an expert at binary, but I did know the basics. "How can you guys not realise?!" he whirled in a frustrated tone.

"Realise what?"

He made a grumbling noise before replying "It's Ezra's Birthday today. That's why he's upset."

I closed my eyes and sighed. How had I not realised? He was always like this at this time of year, and now I knew why. "Thank you Chop. And even though I don't say it, you're a great help around here."

The droid didn't respond at first. When he replied, he seemed actually shocked. "Thanks. Coming from you… that means a lot."

I rolled my eyes and stood up, walking for the door. I could sense Ezra in deep thought so I went to his favourite place in the Ghost. The turret. Before I could call out to him, the intercom went off. "Boys, we have our new mission. Everyone to the cockpit," Hera's voice rang. Ezra slid down the ladder, avoiding eye contact with me. I sighed. This would have to wait till later.

When everyone made it to the cockpit, Hera explained the mission. "It's a simple grab and go. Take the crates of food to Tarkin town and sell the others to Vizago." It seemed simple enough. But things never went smoothly for us. "Now, these crates are being transferred to speeder bikes at this intersection here," she said, pointing to a hologram of Capital City that Chopper was displaying. "We need someone to make a distraction while the other two take the crates. Chopper and I will be manning the Ghost."

"I can," Ezra suggested.

"I don't know. Maybe Zeb should do it," I said uncertainly.

"Come on," Ezra groaned, slumping back in his seat. "How am I ever going to improve if you don't give me opportunities for experiences?"

"He's got a point love," Hera said. "This will be good for him."

I sighed and leaned back. "Fine," I muttered.

Zeb and Ezra left to get ready as the Ghost jumped into hyperspace. Once it was just me and Hera in the cockpit, she said with a smirk "You know, even if you don't show it as much anymore, you still have a protective side."

I folded my arms and swivelled in my seat. "I can't help it," I protested. "You know what he's like."

"Yeah," she smiled, her attention completely on the controls. "He's just like you."

For once, I didn't have a witty comeback…

I was leaning up against a wall, the speederbikes at the next intersection. As well as a squad of guards protecting the precious cargo. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I pushed it down and gave the signal to Ezra who was waiting in the shadows. He slyly strolled up to the two commanders, acting like a lowly street rat. "A spare yogan sir?" he asked, looking down so they couldn't see his face.

"Move along loth rat," one spat.

"Sorry, sorry. Not looking for trouble," he said, swiping the Imperial's comlink and walking away.

In spite of myself, I smirked. He was learning well. "Attention. All units report to the south gate. This is a code red emergency," the second commander's comlink reported. The commanders signalled the troops to join them as they left the cargo with their riders. I patted my holster and walked towards the two troopers discretely as Zeb approached from the other side.

Once close enough, Zeb knocked them out, their bodies falling limp to the ground. "Told ya I could do it," Ezra smirked, walking out of the shadows.

"I stand corrected," I smiled.

A blur of colour flashed in our faces as a female mandalorian jumped onto one of the bikes. "Thanks for the help boys," she laughed, speeding into an alley, the cargo along with it. Ezra was the first to react, running towards the second speeder. "Take the cargo to the Ghost," he shouted, detaching the crates. "I'm getting what we came for!"

"Ezra wait!" I called, but it was too late. Dust kicked up into our faces as he raced after the mandalorian thief.

"What now?" Zeb coughed.

I sighed and shook my head. "Let's get these crates back to the Ghost. If he has some sense, he'll meet us at the rendezvous point."

"And what's the possibility of that?" Zeb snickered, grabbing one of the crates. I grabbed the second one as we ran through the side alleys, avoiding any unnecessary Imperial attention. 'I'm sure he's fine," I thought, trying to convince myself he'd be okay. But there was still that nagging thought in the back of my mind. What if he wasn't…?

Hey guys! Sorry for the delay. I had writers block for this chapter, but I like how it turned out now. :D And yes, Sabine is finally getting involved. I know a lot of you wanted to see her, so I thought 'heck, why not'. Hopefully you enjoyed and if you have any suggestions for what everyone will get up to when Sabine joins, go ahead and tell me! :D Have a great day and may the force be with you, always!

-Superherotiger