Before It All Began

Chapter 7

Ever since the explosive argument, Ezra has returned to life on the streets for the past three years; he was fifteen. He hadn't completely forgotten the force and trained every now and then, mainly to keep control. Now though, he does his own thing, helping people and fighting against the Empire as much as he could. The boy had grown up quite a bit, only trusting himself, as well as only stealing from the Empire; he did miss the Ghost crew though, a lot actually. He wanted to return to the ship, to see the people he once called his family...but every time that thought came to mind, he shook it off, remembering that Kanan wanted him gone!! That his life was better off without the kid...he needed to accept that. Right now, Ezra was in the middle of a self assigned mission; he was secretly on board a star destroyer to retrieve some information about a new weapon that the Empire was hoping to build. He had the information and was now crawling through the vents; he kicked the vent off of the wall and jumped down onto the ground, easily landing on his feet. Looking around, Ezra came to realize that he was in a cell...with the Ghost crew?! "You have got to be kidding me?!" he sighed as the four people stared back in disbelief "Ezra?! Is...is it really you?!" Kanan asked as he approached the kid who nodded and took step back "yeah..it's me". Remembering where exactly they were, Ezra smirked "I'll take it you guys need a rescue??" he asked earning four nods "we were attacked whilst on Lothal, now we're here....where have you been all this time??" Hera explained before asking the question they were all wondering. "I've been on the streets, where else??" he had a point "give my five minutes and I'll have you all out of here, can one of you give me a boost??" Zeb stepped forth and raised the boy back up into the vents. 

Now they waited. The teen returned to crawling until he reached the control room; he opened the cell door, found where the Ghost could be located before entering the self destruction code - could you believe it was 1234?! Now that was done, Ezra did something that he hadn't done it a long time; contacted Kanan through the force. 'Get to bay twelve, the Ghost is there' damn that felt strange to do 'you got it kid' he heard which was even stranger 'oh, and Kanan, you guys have two minutes before this whole place goes caboosh!!' there was a pause before he heard 'em...okay'.  Now that was done, Ezra needed to get himself out. Kanan told the others of their predicament, making them rush even faster; they arrived at the ship within thirty seconds. Hera hurried to the cockpit so that she could turn everything on and make a quick exit once everyone was on. Zeb sat himself at the nose gun, just in case. 

Kanan decided to wait on the ramp for the kid when Sabine, who was sat at the other gun, exclaimed "we only have one minute left!!" over the com link; they were all worried sick for the missing boy. All of a sudden, Kanan noticed a red glow coming from the distance; he focused his gaze to realize that...it was an Inquisitor!! Following Ezra who was running towards them full force!! The man began to panic "run Ezra!! Run!!" he yelled before grabbing his com link "Hera!! Take off!!" he ordered; neither need to be told twice. The boy ran for dear life, although he was rather confused as he could clearly hear concern in Kanan's voice; he shook it off as he focused on running and not getting killed. The fifteen year old saw the Ghost prepare to leave, except the Jedi was stood on the still open ramp; Ezra was just close enough to force jump so....he took the risk and did. To their dismay, the teen was just out of reach; Kanan quickly saw this and used to force to lift the kid up until he could wrap his arms around him. "I got you" the man reassured, calming the startled boy who eventually wrapped his own arms around his old guardian "I...I thought you were going to leave me or let me fall" he admitted before pulling away and entering the ship. Kanan sighed before following, closing the ramp before entering the living area; Hera managed to get them away and into hyperspace.

They all joined on another in the common room; Hera instantly pulled Ezra into a tight embrace, followed by Sabine. Zeb playfully punched his arm whilst Chopper rammed into his leg in an affectionate way. "It's so good to see you again Ezra" the woman stated as she sat down "yeah kid, we've missed you so much" the multiple colored haired girl informed before Zeb who added that now the boy was back, things could go back to normal. They all watched as Ezra sighed "one, I found you guys" he reminded earning four smirks "and two...you guys can drop me off on Lothal, preferably out side of Capital City" all eyes widened "what?! But Ezra...you can stay, you don't have to return to the streets" Hera stated with a sad voice; they all nodded in agreement but the teen just shook his head "no...I can't" he once again sighed "I left three years ago because...because someone I cared for and loved told me that they'd be better off without me and wanted me to leave" he reminded "I even asked him if he really wanted me gone and he still said yes...so no, I won't be staying".

Seeing that Ezra had tears in his eyes broke everyone's hearts; Kanan felt more guilty then ever as they all knew the boy was talking about him. The man knelt down so that he and the kid were both eye level "Ezra...everything I said three years ago...it was all a mistake" he began "I didn't mean any of it...please stay, we need you" he paused for a moment "I need you Ez". The sixteen year old was clearly listening but wasn't convinced "when I met you all those years ago...when I met that little six year old who had pick pocketed an Imperial agent to retrieve my credits, and took you in...my life complete changed for the better" he stated, complete truth and honesty in his voice "I've always seen you as my own Ezra, as the son I never had...I love you Ezra...please don't leave". They all watched as tears began to fall down the boys face before jumping at the Jedi, wrapping his arms tightly around him in a hug "I love you too dad...I wanna come home!!" he cried as Kanan returned the action, holding him "I love you too son". Hera joined the embrace, followed by Sabine, Zeb and Chopper; they were back together, as a crew, as a family...a family that couldn't be broken, not even by the damn Empire.

The End.