Hera walked into the kitchen of the Ghost. Zeb and Sabine had already fixed themselves some breakfast. Chopper rolled in from the cockpit beeping about some prank he was going to pull on Zeb. Two of her crew members were missing though.
"Kanan already left?" she asked pretty much knowing his new routine since he lost his sight. He never stayed on the ship. He just went out to meditate alone as he dealt with his disability.
"He was gone before I got up." Sabine answered with a sad look.
"And Ezra?" Hera hesitated to ask Zeb. Normally the kid was up already. Especially since the incident. Ezra had been throwing himself into his chores and missions lately. It was like he was trying to prove something to someone. He hadn't been the same in the past three months.
"In our cabin refusing to leave. I took him breakfast, but you know how he is about today." Zeb replied with waffles still in his mouth.
"It's Empire Day already?" She sighed. Zeb and Sabine just nodded. "Well that explains a lot."
"You know honestly I don't either one of them. This week is rough on both of them considering what happened." Zeb remarked after swallowing a bite.
"Yeah but it's Ezra's birthday. He shouldn't think it's always a bad day." Sabine replied pushing her food away. "If only something bad didn't happen every year on it."
"Sharing your birthday with the Empire when your a rebel is bad enough. It's also the first anniversary of his parents death and the tenth of the last time he saw them." Hera said sadly. "He doesn't even remember what happened on his 15th birthday."
"So who goes to who first?" Sabine asked looking up at Hera.
"I have a plan to make today a little better. I need the three of you to go on a quick supply run while I talk to Ezra." the twi lek said handing Zeb a list of party supplies.
"We'll get it all." Zeb said looking at the list.
"Then we'll decorate while you get Kanan." Sabine volunteers. "Come on Chopper. You can help."
Chopper rolled after the two rebels as Hera headed to Ezra and Zeb's cabin to talk to Ezra. She was surprised to hear Ezra singing to a song that was playing. She put her ear to the door and listened.
(Play song here)
🎶Where is the moment we needed the most🎶
🎶You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost🎶
🎶They tell me your blue skies fade to grey🎶
🎶They tell me your passion's gone away🎶
🎶And I don't need no carryin' on🎶
🎶You stand in the line just to hit a new low🎶
🎶You're faking a smile with the coffee to go🎶
🎶You tell me your life's been way off line🎶
🎶You're falling to pieces every time🎶
🎶And I don't need no carryin' on🎶
🎶'Cause you had a bad day🎶
🎶You're taking one down🎶
🎶You sing a sad song just to turn it around🎶
🎶You say you don't know🎶
🎶You tell me don't lie🎶
🎶You work at a smile and you go for a ride🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶The camera don't lie🎶
🎶You're coming back down and you really don't mind🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶Well, you need a blue sky holiday🎶
🎶The point is they laugh at what you say🎶
🎶And I don't need no carryin' on🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶You're taking one down🎶
🎶You sing a sad song just to turn it around🎶
🎶You say you don't know🎶
🎶You tell me don't lie🎶
🎶You work at a smile and you go for a ride🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶The camera don't lie🎶
🎶You're coming back down and you really don't mind🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶(oh, on a holiday)🎶
🎶Sometimes the system goes on the blink🎶
🎶And the whole thing turns out wrong🎶
🎶You might not make it back and you know🎶
🎶That you could be well, oh, that strong🎶
🎶And I'm not wrong🎶
🎶(yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)🎶
🎶So where is the passion when you need it the most🎶
🎶Oh, you and I🎶
🎶You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost🎶
🎶'Cause you had a bad day🎶
🎶You're taking one down🎶
🎶You sing a sad song just to turn it around🎶
🎶You say you don't know🎶
🎶You tell me don't lie🎶
🎶You work at a smile and you go for a ride🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶You've seen what you like🎶
🎶And how does it feel for one more time🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶You had a bad day🎶
🎶Had a bad day🎶
🎶Had a bad day🎶
🎶Had a bad day🎶
🎶Had a bad day🎶
🎶Had a bad day🎶
"You can come in Hera. I know you're listening." Ezra said once he finished the song and hid the brush he was singing into.
"Well that certainly wasn't a birthday song." Hera said opening the door.
"Why would I listen to a birthday song when I hate my birthday?" Ezra asked sliding down the ladder.
"Because it's something worth celebrating." she replied taking a seat on Zeb's bed and inviting him to join her.
"Hump, yeah right. With my luck lately the Ghost would probably blow up today." the birthday boy mumbled under his breath. He sat down next to her.
"Ezra, sweetheart, I know today's a hard day for you. I mean not only is it empire day, but the anniversary of your parents death and the day they were taken." Hera wrapped her arm around pulling him into a side hug. "But it's still your birthday. Just being alive another year is enough to celebrate Ezra. Just think about it for me. Ok?"
"How much thinking about it?"
"About two hours will do. You should handle that." Hera nudged him.
"Are you suggesting that the force wants me to celebrate my birthday?" Ezra gave her an "I doubt it" look.
Hera mimicked his sly grin as she got up.
"Maybe it does. Why don't you check?" she said leaving the room. "Oh if you need me I'll be talking some sense into someone."
To be continued ...
