Ezra and Sabine sat side by side in the common area of the Ghost, their faces pale and weary. Sabine had her arms crossed, clearly annoyed, while Ezra leaned back, looking more miserable by the second. They'd both been sick for a couple of days now, but neither wanted to admit it.
Hera, however, wasn't fooled. She watched them from the cockpit, her eyes narrowing as she noticed Sabine's sluggish movements and Ezra's muffled sneezes.
"That's it," Hera muttered to herself, her motherly instincts kicking into overdrive. She stood up and marched into the common room, arms crossed.
"Alright, you two," Hera said firmly, her tone both gentle and commanding, "you're clearly sick, and it's not getting any better with you pretending you're fine. Sabine, Ezra—bed. Now."
Sabine groaned. "I'm fine, Hera. It's just a little cold."
Ezra tried to sit up straighter, but a sneeze betrayed him. "Yeah, we can still help out—ah-choo!"
Hera wasn't having it. "No arguing. You need rest." She waved her hand towards their quarters. "Go."
With a sigh, Sabine stood, albeit wobbly, and Ezra followed, dragging his feet.
Once they were tucked into their bunks, Hera switched into full-on mother hen mode. She hurried to the kitchen, preparing warm soup and finding every blanket she could lay her hands on. She even dug out some old herbal remedies she had stashed away, knowing they'd need all the help they could get to recover quickly.
Just as she was stirring the soup, Kanan walked in. He could sense Hera's concern even before he saw the expression on her face.
"What's going on?" Kanan asked, glancing at the mess of blankets and medicine.
"Sabine and Ezra are sick," Hera replied, not stopping her work. "They've been trying to push through it, but I won't let them anymore. I need you to help me keep an eye on them."
Kanan chuckled softly. "You've got that 'mom' look on your face."
Hera shot him a mock glare. "This crew is a family, Kanan. And I'm not letting them suffer alone."
He smiled, knowing better than to argue when Hera was in this mode. "What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to check on Ezra," Hera said, ladling the soup into bowls. "He's not going to admit it, but he's probably feeling worse than Sabine."
Kanan nodded and headed to Ezra's bunk. Meanwhile, Hera was putting the finishing touches on the soup when Zeb stomped in, oblivious as ever.
"Smells good in here!" Zeb exclaimed, heading towards the soup pot.
Hera blocked him with a firm hand. "It's not for you, Zeb. Sabine and Ezra are sick. I need you to grab more blankets from the storage."
Zeb grunted but didn't argue. "Fine, fine. But don't expect me to nurse them like you."
"I won't," Hera said with a small smile, knowing full well Zeb cared more than he let on.
With everyone in their assigned roles, the ship felt more like a bustling household than a Rebel base. Kanan sat by Ezra's side, making sure the kid drank enough water. Zeb returned with a pile of blankets, tossing them onto Sabine's bunk before retreating awkwardly when she gave him a half-hearted glare.
Hera, though, stayed in the middle of it all, making sure everyone was taken care of. She delivered soup, fluffed pillows, and even brought Sabine some art supplies when she got too restless. It wasn't long before Sabine and Ezra were both settled, their stubborn defenses finally broken by Hera's unyielding care.
As the day went on, the Ghost felt warm and cozy, even in the middle of the cold, empty space. Hera, Kanan, and Zeb took shifts checking on the younger crew members, each contributing in their own way.
By the time evening rolled around, Sabine and Ezra were still sick, but their spirits were much higher. Sabine managed a small smile as Hera tucked the blankets tighter around her, and Ezra, though still sneezing, mumbled a quiet "Thanks" as Hera handed him another cup of tea.
Hera glanced around at her crew—her family—and smiled softly. They weren't just Rebels fighting the Empire. They were something more. And no matter what battles lay ahead, Hera knew they'd face them together, always looking out for each other.
As the ship drifted quietly through hyperspace, the crew of the Ghost slept, knowing they were safe and cared for, just like any family should be.
