What's this? Another chapter before the end of the year?! What kind of insanity is this!

But yeah, thankfully I didn't have much writers block with this chapter, so I was able to get it down pretty quick! It's not as big as the last one (damn that one was ENORMOUS), and all future chapters will probably return to regular sizes like this one. Hope that's alright! I really enjoyed writing this one and how everyone responded to Sabine's departure, and hopefully it's as entertaining for you as it was for me! Next one will be a biggie, because Plan Alpha is finally getting set in motion!

So I hope you're ready everyone, and of course, may the fourth be with you, always!

-Superherotiger

…

Notes with my Spectres

Guest- So glad you liked it! And don't worry, I'm taking this chapter to show how Sabine joining the Spirits affects everyone in the family. Hope you enjoy!

Guest- All good my friend! Sorry it took so long!

Midnight Luna and Inner Fangirl- Aww thanks! And don't worry, my inner fangirl still bursts into tears at random times thanks to that finale. Dude of course I will! After all you're already a Spirit in my books! No sweat either, I'm still debating whether I should keep doing Super Bombs or just update whenever I can, we'll see. And dude that's hilarious about the squirrel suit! And don't worry Inner Fangirl *Pulls you into a hug and starts stroking your head* We'll get through this together… Love you too Luna, and may the force be with you, always!

Guest101- Yay I'm glad you enjoyed it! We'll just have to wait and see if the poor Ghost family will ever be reunited. And yeah that finale was crazy!

All Things Animated- Thanks for reading. If there are any mistakes could you please point out where so I can improve for next time? Thanks!

Guest- I'm so glad it was worth the wait!

Azuazu- Will do!

Lau-SR- Aw thank you! I'm glad to know people still enjoy reading my stories after such a long hiatus. And I'm so glad you liked it! Things will only get more intense from now on!

Stiltsrosko- Welcome aboard my friend! I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed the story so far! Things are starting to heat up so get ready for a wild ride!

…

Zeb's POV

"Wake up sleepy head…"

A groan slipped through my teeth as a familiar voice drew me from my slumber. I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder but shrugged it off begrudgingly, grunting "Five more minutes…"

"Zeb." This voice was deeper than the first one, a sharpness in its tone.

Groggily, I forced my eyelids open and gazed up into my parent's steady eyes, Hera's face beaming in the warm sunlight while Kanan stared down at me with an unimpressed glimmer in his eye. Rubbing the crust from my eyes as I stretched across my bed and moaned "What's the rush?"

"It's almost midday," Kanan replied with an arched brow. "I think it's fair to say you should be awake by now."

"But it's the weekend," I grumbled, dragging the sheets back over my face to block out the sunlight.

I expected my adopted father to order me out of the bed, but to my surprise, a gentle touch rested over my shoulder, Hera's voice cooing softly "It's Sabine's farewell today, Zeb. I think she'd like you to say goodbye, don't you?"

Reluctantly, I pulled the blankets back until I could gaze into the woman's emerald orbs, exchanging a pained glance. She was perched beside the bed as Kanan made his way over to Ezra, who was practically hanging off the bed in the depths of unconsciousness. For a moment I thought I could see guilt flash across Hera's expression as she offered a weary smile.

"I can't believe she's leaving…" I murmured after a few moments of silence. "The Ghost won't be the same without her."

She nodded in sympathy, replying "She's moving on to a new family though. She'll have a good life in Naboo, with everything she needs."

A grimace twisted my face as I ran a hand through my dishevelled hair. "But is it the one she wants?" I muttered, thinking back to Ezra's cryptic words the day he had cloaked me as a Spirit. The kid had been right. Sabine had been acting strange ever since she found out about the adoption, though I knew she wouldn't admit it to anyone.

I glanced back at Hera and jumped to see concern in her green gaze, asking "Has she said something to you?"

Shaking my head, I replied "No, no, it's just… she's just been acting weird don't you think?"

Hera tilted her head in confusion. Obviously she hadn't picked up on Sabine's subtle changes as Ezra had. Heck! Even I hadn't seen them until he'd pointed them out. But Sabine was an artist, and she knew exactly what face to paint to those around her. Even last night, as she excitedly described her day at school, I had noticed the cracks in her façade, the dullness in her eyes. It made me wonder how I hadn't seen it sooner.

But realising that Hera was awaiting an answer, I mumbled awkwardly "Well… she hasn't been painting, and… she hasn't been eatin' much at dinner…"

Hera's brow creased in thought. "I didn't notice…" she trailed away, as if she couldn't quite believe she had missed the cues.

But my attention was torn away from the woman as I saw Kanan reach out to Ezra's resting form, alarm flaring in my chest as I barked "Kanan no!"

Too late to hear my call, the man had rested his hand on the boy's shoulder, and just as I'd predicted Ezra had whipped around with a snarl, ready to throw fists at his unseen attacker. To my shock though Kanan had been prepared and caught the boy's wrists to keep him still, his gaze gentle as he soothed "It's just me Ezra. It's Kanan."

Blue eyes blazed in a wild anger, as if he couldn't even recognise the officer before him.

"It's alright," the man repeated softly. "You're safe…"

There was a tense pause, Ezra's hands still balled into fists as Kanan calmly returned his stare. Until finally, the boy's shoulders slackened as he rested his head back on the pillow, a clarity returning to his ocean gaze. "Damn Corporal," Ezra groaned as he sleepily took in the situation. "Don't scare me like that."

"Sorry kid," Kanan murmured with a smile as he released Ezra's wrists.

"You betta be," he slurred, his eyes sliding shut as he snuggled back into his blankets.

"Hey, come on, no going back to sleep," Kanan said with a gentle shake of his shoulder.

The kid swatted his hand away with a growl, muttering "Five more minutes…"

Hera suppressed a giggle as Kanan shot me a dull glare, calling "I blame you for this, Zeb."

I raised my hands innocently and replied "Hey, I had no part in that."

But as Kanan cautiously tried to stop Ezra from falling back into slumber, I found myself gazing at the boy's sleeping form in concern. After living with the teen for a few weeks now I knew he was a light sleeper, easily disturbed and easily shaken. He was always so alert that it surprised me to see him slip back to sleep so quickly, even as Kanan, a police officer, sat right beside him. It's not that he didn't trust the man I just knew he had trouble sleeping when others were watching.

But when Ezra wearily turned to look up at Kanan, I noticed the dark rings hanging beneath his tired eyes. He looked completely exhausted. For a moment I wondered if he had snuck out to the Spirits during the night but the window was still securely shut, and I'm sure he would have given me a heads up if he planned on visiting the Safe Haven. But if he hadn't left, why was he so tired? It was strange…

"Alright, better get dressed boys," Hera chimed as she rose to her feet. "Clean yourselves up and we'll have some breakfast okay?"

"Sure," I replied through an experimental stretch of my arms. "Be down in a sec."

Hera nodded warmly and made her way to Kanan's side, running her hand gently through Ezra's scruffy hair which he returned with a smile. And with a final goodbye the woman began ushering her partner away with a wave. The two adults shut the door behind them, leaving the room silent once more.

Reluctantly, I shoved my sheets and blankets aside and forced myself to my elbows. "You right kid?" I murmured lightly.

He was staring up at the roof with his indigo eyes, lost in a trance.

Deciding it better not to disturb his train of thought I instead clambered out of bed and started rummaging through my clothes for a suitable outfit. Hm… too small. Dirty. Itchy. Yikes! Definitely not that shirt!

And just as I thought I'd never find a suitable shirt to wear Ezra's voice cut through the air like a knife, turning in surprise as he said "Zeb…"

The boy was sitting at the edge of his bed, his shoulders tense as he stared at the floor with a blank expression. There was a seriousness in his gaze, his voice unusually quiet. I recognised his posture as that of the Phantom and cautiously made my way to sit beside the reserved boy. If he was acting like this at the Ghost there must have been something important to say, and I could guarantee he wouldn't want to shout it across the room when Detective Jarrus was still within the vicinity.

"What is it?" I asked softly.

To my surprise there was a sorrow in his gaze as he murmured "I did something last night… I don't know if it was the right thing to do…"

A chill ran up my spine at his ominous words, prying "What happened?"

He broke his gaze from the floor, turning to face me with a haunted expression. A mixture of emotions flashed across his eyes at once, I almost couldn't pin point what it was. Guilt? Regret? Uncertainty?

"Zeb…" he spoke, his voice shaking slightly. "I-"

"Sabine? Are you awake?"

Hera's voice drew both of our gazes to the door, shocked to hear the calls from the hallway. Weird. Usually Sabine was the first up out of us three kids, constantly ripping into me about sleeping so long. I could even recall a few times where she jokingly called me a human sloth.

"Is everything alright Sabine?" Kanan's voice asked this time, only sending my nerves that further on edge.

When only silence ensued I rose to my feet, picking up on the adults nervous whispers from the other side of the door. There was a rattle of a handle, before Kanan called again "Sabine? Are you okay?"

Again, no answer.

I shot a glance over my shoulder and froze to see Ezra's expression unusually calm, staring back at me evenly. "Ezra," I murmured tersely. "What happened last night?"

He shifted for a moment, his voice subdued as he replied softly "I gave her a choice…"

Before I could even register his words a pair of footsteps trekked down the hall as Kanan continued to call out to his foster child. Feeling anxiety prickle at my skin I made my way to the door and peered into the hallway, tensing as I noticed the officer trying to open Sabine's door but to no avail. "Is everything alright?" I asked, drawing his teal gaze towards me.

His face was etched with concern but he simply nodded, replying "I'm sure it's nothing."

Something about the way his tone remained flat told me there was something more racing through his mind, but it was Hera's fast steps that caught my attention as she paced back down the hall, a key in hand. "This should do it," she murmured, as if trying to convince herself it was true.

Kanan wasn't as sold, muttering as she came near "She wouldn't have had the key to lock it…"

"It's either locked or jammed," she whispered before sliding the key into the handle. She twisted it a few times, trying the handle now and then, but when the door remained firmly shut the two gazed at each other anxiously.

There was a pause, before Kanan turned his blank gaze to mine and asked "Zeb, can I have your help?"

"Of course," I replied immediately, taking my place beside him as I pried "Is it stuck?"

"Maybe…" he said faintly before turning his gaze back to the door. "On three we'll push, alright?"

Picking up on his plan I took my position with my side pressed against the door, waiting for his cue. He copied my stance and readied to break through the stubborn panel, ordering "One. Two… Three."

At his signal we both slammed our weight into the wooden door, the walls shaking as we took another go at the still shut doorway. We rammed it again. And again. And again. Until finally, the wood splintered and finally flung open, rocking on its metal hinges. I stumbled at first but managed to regain my bearings to find myself in Sabine's colourfully painted rooms, surrounded with swirls of fluorescent shades and hues. The sunlight poured through the window across the room and enlightened the murals across every wall, making them shimmer with each sway of the curtains.

But though it was a beautiful sight, what really caught my eye was the fact the window was open. Due to the increased crime rate around town Hera and Kanan had been strict about the windows being locked at night, and the keys were in one of Hera's many drawers in her room, far out of reach. I stared at the shifting curtains blankly for a few moments and turned to see if the others had noticed the strange fact.

But I froze in surprise to see their faces as blank as slate, a piece of paper clutched in Kanan's hands as they stood beside Sabine's vacant bed.

Fear shooting through my spine I immediately quizzed "What is it?"

Hera tore her gaze away from the page in shock, as if she couldn't even bare to read it. I nervously paced over to them and pressed "What does it say?"

But Kanan's teal orbs were transfixed to the page, flickering back and worth rapidly as he scrolled through the note. "This can't be right…" he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

"What's happened?" I asked nervously as I helped guide Hera towards Sabine's neat but empty bed, urging her to sit in fear of her fainting. "Where is Sabine?"

Finally, the officer glanced up from the page, his eyes wide with shock as he murmured "She ran away…"

My heart fell into my stomach. "She what?!"

He shook his head as if to rid the thought and handed me the note wordlessly. I snatched it from his grasp and quickly glazed over the page, feeling the colour drain from my skin with each passing sentence. The note read:

…

Dear Kanan, Hera, Zeb, Ezra and Chopper,

I'm sorry that I won't be able to say this to you in person, but I know you would have stopped me if I told you what I was going to do, what I'm sure you already realised I've done by now. But I also know I would never be able to live with myself if I didn't say goodbye. Goodbye, and thank you.

Thank you for taking me in when no one else did, and giving me the life and family I had always wished for. There's nothing I could say that could make you understand how much I love you all. The thought of not being with you was worse than anything I had ever been through in my life, and it's only taken until tonight to realise it. I apologise for lying, and for letting you down. But I also know now that a life without all of you wouldn't be much of a life at all. And for that reason, I have decided to leave.

Please don't look for me, I assure you I am safe and with people who will look out for me for a long time to come.

At least, until the day we meet again, I hope.

Thank you, for everything.

~Sabine

…

I almost couldn't believe my eyes. Sabine… she couldn't have…!

"This… this can't be real!" I exclaimed fiercely, glancing over at Kanan in the hopes to find some kind of reassurance.

But his face was set in a firm concentration, staring at the open window with a piercing gaze. He slowly made his way towards the wall and ran his fingers along the edge of the frame, before pushing the glass back down until it clicked again. "Forced open…" he murmured, half to himself. "…But not from the outside…" He slid his hand beneath a small gap between the window and the wall as if he was searching for something, before with a sudden jolt he forced the locked window back open, sliding effortlessly back to its position. "From the inside…"

My anxiety building with each passing second I called "Kanan! This has to be fake right? Sabine wouldn't have left like this, not with the adoption today!"

His back turned, I noticed the tension coiling in his shoulders as he stared out at the city in the distance. "She did," he answered softly.

"B-But how!" I stammered. "What if she's been taken or somethin' and this was just a way to cover it up!"

Finally turning back to us he explained sharply "The window was locked, but she managed to open it from the inside. The handwriting is hers even down to the way she signs her name. It was definitely her."

I shook my head in distress, asking "But why would she run away?"

"She said it in her note," Hera murmured warily. "She didn't want to leave."

I gazed over at the woman with a mixture of confusion and frustration. "She stopped herself from leaving… by leaving?" I snapped.

"She left first," Kanan replied sharply, his gaze scanning the colourful murals with concern. "She went before she could be taken away… on her terms…"

A growl rumbled in my throat as I muttered "Damn Mandalorians. They always make things more difficult than they have to be."

"It's too late to worry about that now," Kanan conceded as he made his way to the door. "We'll start by calling her friends, see if she told anyone she was leaving. I'll call the school."

Determination welled in Hera's crystal eyes as she rose back to her feet and nodded sternly. "Right, I'll call Ketsu's parents, she might have slept over at their house," the woman replied as she exited the room behind Kanan. I remained frozen in place, until Hera peered back through the door with a comforting smile and spoke "Don't worry Zeb, we'll find her."

I glanced back down at the note with a grimace. Her words… they were so vulnerable, so lost… I wanted to tell myself she had just hunkered down for the night at a friend's house but something told me it was deeper than that. She was being serious, and when Sabine was determined to do something, she always went through with it.

But glancing up at Hera I offered a weak smile and replied, "I know you will."

With a gentle nod the woman disappeared behind the door as Kanan's voice echoed from downstairs, calling close friends of my lost foster sister. Turning, I gazed out the window with sorrow as a cold realisation set in my gut. I pulled the paper back to my face and scanned over an odd line, my brows furrowing tightly as I read it again.

Please don't look for me, I assure you I am safe and with people who will look out for me for a long time to come…

Something about the verse stood out as I raked my brain to figure out why. She had run away, but not with someone, with a group of people. People who would take care of her for a long time she said. But who? Who did she know that had the ability to take her in without any of us knowing? Sabine was usually so open about who she talked to and who she hung out with, it seemed strange that she would disappear without another word.

But as I glanced up through the window again, Lothal's towering city shadowed in the distance, a lightning bolt stuck through my core as I immediately sped back into my room and slammed the door shut.

The walls shook at the impact, causing Ezra to snap his gaze to me with concern as I hissed "What happened to Sabine?!"

"Is everything alright up there?" Hera's voice called from downstairs.

"Everything's fine," I yelled back, and after a few moments of silence had passed, I returned my attention back to the boy and whispered "I know you had something to do with this. Tell me what happened, right now!"

Despite my impatience his gaze was calm. He glanced back at me as sunlight shimmered on his tan skin, his eyes flickering with electricity as he murmured "She's safe Zeb, I promise."

"That's not the point," I grumbled, approaching the bed with a shake of my head. "The point is she isn't here. So where did she go?"

His brow tightening, Ezra quickly rose to his feet and replied softly "I can't tell you here. We have to go somewhere… safer."

Immediately catching his hint I released a strained sigh and nodded. I knew exactly what the kid had in mind, but finding an excuse to leave the house right now might be a problem. However, it seemed the kid had been prepared for this as he threw on a worn outfit and made his way to the door, urging me to join him. I rolled my eyes but followed him nonetheless as we paced down the stairs, Kanan and Hera's concerned words echoing through the hallway.

"And you're absolutely sure she never said anything? Nothing about leaving, or going away?" Kanan quizzed through his phone nervously.

Hera was doing the same thing, pacing back and forth as she spoke to someone else through her mobile. "I see," she hummed thoughtfully. "That's alright, thank you anyway."

Seeing a break in their speech Ezra called "Zeb and I are going to go around town and ask if anyone has seen Sabine. Is that alright?"

"Good idea kid," Kanan's replied firmly. "Give us a ring if you find anything."

"Will do," Ezra answered casually as he opened the front door, waving me through with a smug grin.

I arched my brow and ruffled his hair on the way past, receiving a disgruntled yelp from the boy as he closed the door behind us. He was sneaky that kid, a little too sneaky for his own good. It's no wonder he'd managed to keep his secret identity hidden for so long. The boy could lie through his teeth without breaking a sweat! But whether that was necessarily a good or bad thing I couldn't tell yet…

Making the way to my motorcycle I threw Ezra his helmet wordlessly as we mounted the bike, immediately setting off with a roar of the engine. We didn't speak throughout the journey, taking in the blissful morning to distract from the situation at hand. I was almost tempted to pry some answered out of the kid but decided against it, figuring he was bound to tell me once we were out of earshot of our resident detective and journalist.

Warm rays of sunlight cut through the streets of Lothal, illuminating the arching structures as small shops and cafés bustled with activity. The town felt like a beehive as streams of people crossed streets and zipped into stores like busy workers. They were so wrapped up in their own lives that they didn't even notice the darkness lurking in the city, the same darkness that approached as we turned a corner towards the border. Noticing the distinctive dull buildings at the next intersection I pulled my bike into a small alley, parking it securely behind a local pub. It was closed now, which meant no one would be coming around while Ezra and I made our trek into the dark side. We quickly collected our coats from a storage compartment in the bike and set off.

Again, there was only silence as we walked, the patter of our steps reverberating in the suddenly vacant city.

I shot a glance at the boy but he's eyes were fixed ahead, lost in a world of his own. We made our way through the maze of abandoned buildings and half shattered skyscrapers without ever losing our path. What was once a confusing mess of turns and bends had now become as familiar as the layout of the Ghost, the shifting shadows and silhouettes no longer threatening in my eyes. Even as I squinted to see the rooves above I noticed a cloak or two fluttering in the wind, like paper adrift in the breeze. Though the figures they belonged to always disappeared before I could get a proper look at their faces.

Finally making it to a familiar dumpster I felt my shoulders slacken with relief as the cheerful sounds of banter and laughter echoed from the other side of the barbed fence. Ezra, as always, slid through the opening with ease while I had to wriggle a bit more to squeeze through. But once on the other side I smiled to see warm sunlight piecing through a nearby alley, bathing the Safe Haven in its lively glow. The Spirits were out this morning, playing innocent games of hopscotch or chatting to their friends. The Spectres on the other hand were running around preparing a round of food for their fellow Spirits, setting up crates and organising lines with muddled instructions from the Founding Spectres.

Two prominent figures stood atop an empty crate, both interrupting the other as the crowd glanced back and forth between their leaders, unsure who to follow. Byte told them to go one way while Tales swiftly corrected him which only caused more confusion as the Spectres watched the two bicker before them, squawking like crows battling over a scrap of bread.

But as if to calm the storm a familiar figure burst between the two, calling sharply "Shut it! Wolves, get those crates to the left side of the Safe Haven, while you Foxes make sure everyone gets an even share."

The Spectres all sighed a breath of relief, and with clear orders now, they set off to work again.

"Geez," the Ghoul huffed at his fellow Founders. "You'd think I was working with children!"

"We are children," Tales pointed out bitterly.

"No," he replied, grabbing the two by their shoulders and snapping "You're leaders that are acting like children!" He pushed them away with a distasteful grunt before catching sight of Ezra and I, his aquamarine orbs immediately lighting up. "Phantom! Hotshot!" He cried with a grin.

Ezra offered a weak smile as Byte and Tales also noticed their leader, running up with cheerful gazes as he said, "Glad to see you're all working together huh?"

Tales rubbed her neck awkwardly and mumbled "Sorry… We didn't mean to cause a scene."

"It was nothin' serious though, just a bit of… playful clashing," Byte defended himself bashfully.

But Ezra's gaze remained softened towards his friends as he replied warmly "You'll get there, I'm sure."

A weary sigh escaped Tales' lips as she admitted "I don't know how you do it. You always make being leader seem so easy!"

"You're doing fine," the boy assured. "Both of you."

"Now that is debatable," the Ghoul scoffed, standing between the two founders with a smirk. His eyes beamed at the sight of his young friend. "Back so soon kid? I'll never get rid of ya at this rate," he teased.

Ezra rolled his eyes light-heartedly and began to pace towards the Safe Haven, the Founders falling at our sides as we walked. Byte, who had taken his place beside me, spoke warmly "How you doin' Hotshot?"

"Alright I guess," I smiled, trying to mask the anxiety bubbling within. "Just got a lot on my mind."

"Fair enough, what with winter around the corner," the teen replied with a shrug. "Though I still don't understand why you don't hang around more. We've got plenty of beds." His lip tilted into a mischievous smirk as he added "Unless of course you have a better place you're hiding from us?"

I stiffened at his words, feeling my eyes grow wide. The other Spirits didn't know why I wasn't a permanent resident to the Safe Haven as Ezra had simply excused my absence for being a bit of a loner still. Of course, I wasn't the only one who drifted in and out, but Spectres were fiercely loyal and had grown curious as to my story. I couldn't tell them that I actually lived in a two-story house with adopted parents who loved and supported me throughout most of my life. No, instead I told them a tale of abandonment and survival, retelling stories of my home country before escaping to Lothal. They had all been astounded and took the story without question, but my facade still had cracks, and every time I showed up with clean hair or new clothes I feared they would begin to see through my lies.

I tugged my cloak over my chest nervously as I stared at Byte with a blank gaze. Until suddenly, the wolf burst out in laughter and patted my back harshly, musing "I'm just messin' with ya, stop being so serious."

There was a moment of hesitation, before I awkwardly chuckled along with him.

Byte scoffed and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, announcing "But you know, if you did decide to hang around more often, you'd make a great member of the pack."

"You want me to join your faction?" I asked in surprise.

"Course! With a bit of trainin', you could be a big help to the team!" the leader grinned, revealing his sharpened teeth. "We could use some more muscles what with winter coming up!"

"It's already here!" Tales called from the other side of Ezra, her orange hair turning to a fiery red in the sunlight. "Didn't you see the snow last night?"

"Didn't need to see it, I could feel it," Byte replied with a disgruntled flick of his hair. "Snow this early in the season? It's madness!"

"We'd better start rationing supplies soon," Tales conceded as she cast a glance at the Spirits who had lined up for their lunch. "And we better get on patching up those rafters. The drafts will be a killer this year."

Holding himself proudly Ezra spoke "Don't worry, once plan Alpha is finished, we'll be set for the entire winter!"

"We're gonna need a lot a luck for it to work though," Byte replied.

"Why would we need luck when you've got me?" the Ghoul cut in with a cocky smirk.

Byte rolled his eyes and muttered "God help us now…"

I watched the exchange with a light smile but found my brows creasing as I thought back to the mysterious plan Alpha. Of course, I had been left in the dark as to what the scheme really entailed but I knew it had something to do with the ambush the police had set up for a few nights ahead. They had planned to trap the Spirits and in return the Spirits had planned to trap them. A chill ran up my spine as I realised Kanan would most likely be there too…

But my attention was recaptured by the sharp cheering to my right, turning in surprise as three figures bolted past in a blur. A crowd of Spectres had amassed around them as they sped across the length of the courtyard, a ball held in a lithe girl's arms. Tucked into a puffy jacket I could barely see her face as she ran towards a bent hoop hanging from one of the nearby windows.

She was almost there until a Spectre swooped beside her and snatched the ball from her arms.

"Nutmeg!" the girl snapped, her blue eyes blazing. "You're going to pay for that!"

"Come and get it from me then," the boy snickered as he made his way for the hoop.

Too late for the girl to catch up he made the throw, a destined score if not for the new figure that leapt ahead and smacked the ball away. She landed on her feet gracefully and pounced on the ball, just managing to evade the Spectre's chase before throwing it herself. It rolled around the edge of the metal hoop before falling in with a triumphant cheer from the audience.

I was about to turn away again, my attention wavering, until I caught sight of the third stranger. As soon as the sunlight hit her features I was struck with a sudden realisation. Those hazel eyes. The mischievous smile. The navy and orange dyed hair!

It could only be-

"Sabine!" I cried, suddenly forgetting the world around me.

Her eyes flickered up at my call and her face immediately broke into a grin, bolting forward as the Spectres watched on silently. Relief made my body numb as I pelted forward and caught her in my arms, squeezing her in a bone-crushing embrace. "Sabine! Damnit you had me so worried!" I exclaimed fiercely.

"I'm so glad you came!" she replied warmly, her voice so painfully familiar. Lowering her tone she murmured "Ezra told me everything, it's alright…"

"I didn't want to believe it," I muttered into her jacket. "Kanan and Hera are so worried!"

Her shoulder's tensed and her voice grew strained. "They are?"

"Of course they are! They're in a frenzy trying to find you," I replied.

There was a moment of silence, and in concern for my sister I pulled away and was surprised to find guilt welling in her amber gaze. "I wish there had been another option…" she murmured softly.

"But there is," I said firmly, my hands resting on her shoulders encouragingly. "You can come back to the Ghost."

Her gaze grew vacant, her voice cold as she answered "You wouldn't understand…"

"What wouldn't I understand?" I asked sharply, a little upset she thought she couldn't talk to me.

But blinking suddenly she shook her head, glancing at the curious Spectres that had amassed with a nervous glint in her eyes. "Not here," she whispered before gazing up at me with a weary smile. "Later, I promise…"

I wanted to object but held my tongue, forcing myself to nod as she turned to face the two Spectres she had been playing with earlier. There would be time to speak again, I knew that. For now it was more important to kept our façade up so not to doom her new future. Or mine for that matter.

"Good shot Sabine!" the girl exclaimed with an ecstatic grin. "Though, it would've been mine if not for Nutmeg!"

"Hey, you snooze you lose," the boy, affectionately named Nutmeg throughout the Spectres, replied. His curly locks swayed as he turned to Sabine with an admiring gleam in his eyes. "You did great! But I bet you couldn't beat me next round," he chided cockily.

I couldn't help but smile to see my sister's face brighten with a smirk, shooting back "I wouldn't be so sure about that." The two shared a teasing glare, and I smiled to see that Sabine had practically been welcomed as one of their own by now.

Suddenly I jumped when I felt an unusual tug on my cloak, turning wide-eyed to face the strange girl who was inspecting the fiery red trim of my cape with glee. Noticing her puffy jacket and electric blue eyes, I realised she was the same girl who had been playing with Sabine and Nutmeg earlier. Was she also a friend of Sabine's?

I opened my mouth to greet myself when she suddenly exclaimed "Wow I love your cloak! It's so cool! Where can I get one?"

Shifting awkwardly under her barrage of excitement I replied softly "Don't you have a cloak of your own?"

She glanced down at the brown cape hanging from her shoulders as if she had only just noticed it and crumbled in delight. "That's right! I have one too! I'm just like you!" she said, pacing in a circle as she explained "Sorry, sorry! I'm still getting used to all this. I'm new here."

I chuckled. "I can see that."

"Oh, geez, I didn't even introduce myself did I!" the girl replied, rubbing her neck sheepishly. She recovered from her embarrassment swiftly though and held out her hand, stating "I'm Skye! What's your name?"

A smile crossing my lips, I took her hand and replied warmly "Zeb."

"Or Hotshot!" the Ghoul's teasing voice called from somewhere behind me.

I rolled my eyes, not even bothering to cast the teen a glance before saying to Skye "Ignore him, he's an idiot."

Though I'm sure the Spirit would have shot back a retort I couldn't heard him under the flood of questions that flowed from the girl's mouth. "You're friends with the Ghoul aren't you! Oh wow! Are you friends with the Phantom too?! Are you a Faction leader?! Oh no, you're a Founder aren't you! I can't believe I've been acting so-"

"Alright now Skye, try not to drown him under your questions," Sabine cut in much to my relief. She threw her arm over the girl's shoulder encouragingly and said "And to answer your question, no, he's not a leader. So you can relax now."

Skye's shoulders slacked in relief, shifting from foot to foot as she shot me an apologetic look. "Sorry Zeb, I just get so caught up in my own thoughts sometimes!"

"Don't be sorry, it's fine, really," I assured the girl. She perked up at my words and offered a gentle smile in return. Though she was rather energetic compared to the other Spirits, I was used to meeting a wide variety of personalities here in the Safe Haven. The Spirits were a strange mix of people, ranging anywhere from quiet and reserved to charismatic and loud. It was impossible to guess who you'd meet next, and despite her overwhelming positivity, I found it nice to see someone with such unfiltered joy. I barely saw that in my own life let alone here in the damp and darkened alleys of town, so it was a nice change of pace.

Nutmeg stepped forward however and glanced over me with his sharp sky-blue eyes. "So, how do you two know each other?" the boy asked Sabine curiously.

I shot a panicked glance to Sabine but her hazel eyes were clear and steady, as if she had been waiting for this moment. "Well, I crossed paths with Zeb back in Garel. We tried to steal the same tray of pastries remember?" she said with a light chuckle.

Playing along, I replied "Yeah, how could I forget…"

Gazing up at Nutmeg Sabine continued proudly "I almost had it, but then the baker came out and almost got the both of us!"

"Wow! How did you get away?" Skye asked, completely enraptured by her tale.

"Zeb here took the tray and hit the baker right in the face!" Sabine exclaimed as she pretended to hit Nutmeg with an invisible tray. By now a small crowd had built around behind her, listening to her story with curiosity and wonder. "Then when he wasn't looking I snagged all the pastries and made a run for it! You should have seen Zeb's face when he realised I'd made off with all the food!"

Laughter passed through the audience before Sabine added on more sincerely "I felt bad for leaving the poor guy in the dust though and tracked him down later that afternoon. He was sitting in an alley and…" She turned her gaze to meet mine, and though before I had only seen a façade, I realised she was looking at me with genuine fondness as she added "I sat next to you, and we shared the pastries, remember?"

It was just a story. A lie. I knew that.

And yet, I couldn't help but smile at the kindness in her gaze. Whether the story was a lie or not, the excitement and pride in her gaze was true. That I was sure of.

"Some of the best pastries I've ever had…" I murmured softly.

Nutmeg dipped his head with a smile while Skye was practically melting under the pureness of the story. "That's so amazing! Did you stick together after that?" the girl asked warmly.

Suddenly, Sabine's smile faltered, her eyes never leaving mine as she replied "No… we had to go our separate ways, didn't we?"

Surprise caused me to hesitate. That wasn't exactly where I was expecting the story to go, but I realised this was more than our fake past. It was what was really happening, right now…

"You… didn't want to stay in Garel," I murmured awkwardly, unsure how to continue under so many watchful eyes. "I didn't understand why…"

Her shoulders tensed at my words. "The cops were on my tail. They were going to drag me away anyway if I didn't leave first," she conceded with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I'd prefer to leave on my own terms."

"You left without saying goodbye," I pointed out, my tone sharper than I had intended.

This time she flinched. When she returned her eyes to mine I realised there was guilt hidden in the depths of her gaze, as if she had only just realised the impact her actions had around her. "I'm sorry…" she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "I.. I didn't think you'd-"

"What, care?" I muttered harshly. "Well… I did…"

A tense silence settled between us, my chest constricting under the pressure. Would she be mad at me for my sharp words? Once, I used to think I could read Sabine's emotions as clear as day, but even now I couldn't pinpoint her thoughts in the conflict of her eyes. I had missed every sign that lead her to this place, every small hint that something was wrong. I'd fallen for her façade while Ezra had been left to forge a new path, and staring at her now, her expression torn and weary with exhaustion, I felt a twinge of guilt for not noticing sooner.

Before suddenly, the girl stepped forward and threw her arms around my neck in a tight hug. "I'm sorry…" she mumbled into my cloak. "I should have told you…"

I blinked in surprise but found myself naturally returning the hug, like I had done so many times before. She was still the spunky teenage rebel I had always known, and it felt wrong that a rift had been opened between us. Regardless of whether we were fighting or not I would always have her back, and she would always have mine. The idea of losing that connection with her was frightening…

But, if this was really what she wanted to do, then I sure as hell was going to help her through it.

Squeezing her fiercely in my embrace I whispered, "I may not understand but… I've got your back kid."

Her shoulders rose in a soft chuckle. "And I've got yours."

"Just don't become a stranger 'kay?" I spoke, trying to stop my voice from wavering.

Sabine pulled back, her amber eyes gleaming as she assured "Never in a million years."

My face softened into a smile. Things would be… different between us now. But it didn't have to a bad thing. Maybe we'd even become closer than we were before… maybe next time I'd notice her silent cries for help…

"Well, this has been sweet and all," Nutmeg's voice cut through my train of thought. He flashed a smug grin as he added "But I'm ready to smash you all in a game of ball! What do you say?"

"You already know my answer," Skye replied with a playful shove.

Sabine turned to face the cocky teen with a confident flick of her hair, saying "Get prepared to lose again then."

"We'll see about that," he snickered, before he and Skye both pelted back towards the clearing, bickering along the way.

About to join them, Sabine glanced back at me with a wide smile. There was nothing but joy in her gaze, and that was when I finally understood that this was where she needed to be. This would be her new family now. And, I was okay with that…

"Come join us!" she proclaimed excitedly.

I hesitated at first, before gazing over at Ezra who watched on with the founders standing proudly at his sides. His blue gaze was shrouded in mystery, as they always were, before the morning sunlight hit his features to reveal a small smile. For a moment I thought I saw concern flash across his eyes, but it was gone as soon as it had appeared.

If the kid was worried he'd made the wrong decision about bringing Sabine in, I couldn't help but disagree. A risky decision maybe, but not the wrong one.

I cast him a light smile in the hopes he understood, and to my relief, he dipped his head in agreement and left with the other founders back towards the house, his cloak flowing gracefully behind him. Once they disappeared from sight, I turned back to face my sister and returned her excited gaze. "Alright then, get ready to meet your new champion!" I announced proudly.

Sabine's lip tilted into a mischievous smirk. "Try me, Hotshot."

…Five days later…

Kanan's POV

"What?! You can't drop the case!" I snapped, desperately trying to hold back the fire scorching my throat with each word. "She's out there, we need to find her!"

The Sheriff's face hardened as she stared up at me with her piercing blue eyes. "Detective Jarrus," she spoke, her voice steady but cold. "Though I understand your frustration, I ask that you do not talk to your superior in such a tone."

Cheeks flushing red, embarrassment replaced my fury as I stood there awkwardly like a child being reprimanded by their parent. After a few more moments of silence I sheepishly took the seat across from the Sheriff, unable to meet her disappointed gaze. "I'm sorry, Ahsoka," I murmured quietly.

I waited for a harsh reply; a dismissal even, but only heard a weary sigh.

"Kanan," she spoke softly, only making more guilt swell in my chest. "I understand why you're upset."

Snapping my head up I asked sharply "Then why are you dropping the case?"

Ahsoka stared back at me evenly. "You know why," she replied, gesturing to the papers across her desk as she explained "You're out of leads."

"No, n-no there's still a chance, I just need more time," I stuttered as I ran my hand over the documents.

"You've contacted every living soul who's ever met the girl Kanan," she replied. "We've swept all her online activity, asked every witness, checked every alibi. You acknowledge she wrote the note, and that there was no sign of forced entry. All signs point to the fact that she left on her own accord."

"But that doesn't mean she's safe out there by herself," I growled icily. "She needs to come back to her home, to her family."

A warm hand wrapped over mine, causing me to jump as I stared at the Sheriff in shock. There was nothing but sympathy in her gaze as she squeezed my quivering hand in hers, her tone gentle as she asked, "And what if… Sabine doesn't want to be found, Kanan…?"

My mouth went dry at the mere suggestion. As a detective, I knew it to be true. She'd covered every track and left no trace of her whereabouts. It was almost as if she had disappeared from the face of the planet entirely, which wasn't an accident either. She'd left, and she made sure there was no way anyone could find her. But as her father, I couldn't -no, wouldn't- believe it. She was my child! How could I let this happen? How did I not see the signs?

Every night I would lay in my bed, wide awake, and think about every moment I'd seen her before she'd left. I never suspected anything was wrong, not even a hint. She had been the same cheery girl as always, smiling and laughing and rambling about her day. What had changed? What had I missed? I couldn't stop thinking about that night. Couldn't stop thinking about her. Where had she gone? Would I ever see her again? God, I hoped so. If not, would I ever get to apologise to her for not noticing her turmoil? Not helping her through it, and being the father that she needed…?

I hadn't even noticed the tears blurring my vision until Ahsoka squeezed my hand once more, her gaze soft as she murmured "Kanan… it's okay…"

I couldn't stand the pity in her gaze, instead lowering my eyes back to the many notes and written testimonies on the desk. I felt my whole-body shiver as I carefully took hold of the letter sitting on the top, running my fingers over the cursive writing. "I didn't see it…" I rasped. "How did I not see it…?"

"From what I've been told it seemed no-one saw it coming. You can't blame yourself Kanan," she replied quietly.

I scoffed. "Of course I can. It was my job to look after her, and now…" Biting my lip I turned my head away and rested the letter back on the table. When I'd first read her note, I had been filled with determination. After all, Hera and I had dealt with runaways before, and we always managed to get them back. But as the days had passed on and the trail disappeared, a gnawing worry had settled in the pit of my stomach. It became glaring obvious that this was not like any other unexpected departure we had ever experienced as foster parents. This one felt different… more personal… And I hated that I couldn't figure out why.

"She's got to be out there," I murmured, half to myself. "I just need more time…"

"Time is a luxury we don't have Kanan," Ahsoka replied softly. Moving her hand from my own to the papers, she explained drearily "You know the policy for a runaway child. If there are no viable leads left then all we can do is put them on the missing children list for future reference."

"But what if she's in danger? What if she gets hurt?" I asked with a painfully shaky voice.

The sheriff inhaled sharply, collecting her thoughts as she leant across the table and stared at me with a hardened gaze. "If you were in my position, and a parent of a runaway child sat in front of you asking why we couldn't continue the investigation, what would you say?" she asked, each word careful and calculated.

I couldn't help but tense at the question. I knew what she was doing, but it didn't make me feel any better. But forcing myself to sigh I replied dully "I would tell them there are no solid leads, and hence… they would be put on a missing children list, and investigations would be closed until further notice…"

Though it was the answer she had wanted, I sensed no satisfaction from the Sheriff as she leant back in her chair. "I wish there was more I could do, really," she spoke. "But I'm afraid it's procedure. Even for you."

My shoulders sagged in defeat. "I know…"

Ahsoka didn't speak immediately, instead collecting the pages of evidence and pictures and finally, Sabine's handwritten goodbye, into a neat pile. "If anything relating to her case is discovered, you'll be the first to know," she assured quietly as she placed the stack of papers into a secure box, just like the dozens of other unsolved cases sitting in the archives. I stared at it with dread for a few tense seconds before tearing my gaze away with a weary sigh. Five days of interviews and restless nights and this was all I got in reward. A cardboard box, collecting dust in the backroom of the precinct.

The thought sent a chill down my spine.

"You should go get some rest," Ahsoka spoke as she glanced out the window behind her, shrouded in darkness. "It's late. I'm sure your family will be wondering where you are."

The urge to protest rose in my throat but I pushed it down. She had already made the decision, and what Ahsoka said was final. Besides, I wasn't sure I had the energy to argue anyway.

So collecting my jacket from the back of the seat I left the office without another word, not even a goodbye. The hallways were quiet besides the soft typing from nearby workers on their computers, and even then there were a scarce number of officers about, what with it rolling close to midnight now. The days seemed to pass by so agonisingly slow now I often found myself losing track of time, sometimes falling asleep at my desk or arriving home at some ungodly hour in the morning.

Hera wasn't happy about the unhealthy routine I had found myself in. Even now as I checked my phone I noticed a message from the woman asking if I was going to be home tonight. Stepping into the elevator I texted her back my apologies and assured her I'd be back soon, before turning the phone to silent and enjoying the solitude of the lift.

I was growing tired of the questions, both from others and from myself. A chance to be alone and think of absolutely nothing was a luxury that had become increasingly rare in the past week, though by the time the elevator hit the ground floor I was relieved to be clocking off for the night.

When the doors opened however I was surprised to be faced with my grouchy co-worker, his amber eyes gazing upon me with an unseen emotion. With everything that had been going on with Sabine's disappearance I'd barely spoken to Kallus over the past week, our conversations short and fleeting. I couldn't find the energy to greet him though and went to walk past the officer, before even more surprisingly he tapped my shoulder and murmured "Here."

I turned, about to snap at him for dumping more paperwork on me this late at night, until I realised it wasn't some kind of new evidence or report he was offering me, but a hot coffee instead. I stared at the drink in shock, as if I couldn't quite believe that my stubborn, abrasive partner was actually being nice for once.

But taking a bit too long to reply for his liking Kallus rolled his eyes and muttered "It's just coffee Jarrus. If you don't want it I'll have it."

"No, no," I said with a shake of my head, taking the hot cup from his grasp as I replied "Thank you. How much do I owe you?"

He stepped into the elevator with his usual uninterested expression, taking a sip of his own steaming coffee as he grumbled "Don't worry 'bout it." And with that, the doors slid shut, leaving me to stare at them with a shocked gaze.

Normally I would have been confused, maybe even questioned him, but right now all I could really manage was tiredly clocking out of my shift and getting into my car. Thanks to the caffeine the exhaustion couldn't hit me during the drive back to the Ghost, but despite the soothing warmth of the drink I couldn't rid the cold emptiness in my gut. Sadly, I don't think anything could vanquish the guilt from within me.

When I finally pulled into the driveway, I made my way to the Ghost and as silently as possible tried to open the door. Everyone seemed to be asleep as the house was eerily quiet when I stepped inside, and though I should have gone to my room to join them in slumber, I found myself stumbling into the kitchen instead and staring out the window. It was almost pitch-black outside, the moon shrouded by a thick blanket of clouds that rolled above. From the looks of it there would probably be more snow by the morning, which only caused my anxiety to spike that much further for Sabine. I wondered for a moment if she was even in Lothal still… would she be daring enough to escape to a new town…?

"Kanan?" a soft voice spoke, breaking my train of thought.

Glancing over my shoulder, I sighed a breath of relief to see Hera standing in the doorway, wrapped up in a bright green dressing gown. Her face was softened into a weak smile as she came closer, saying "I'm glad to see you're back dear."

"I told you I would be," I replied softly before turning my gaze back to the window. "Sorry I couldn't be back for dinner."

"It's alright, I had a feeling you would be late tonight," she said, though I thought I could sense a hint of disappointment in her tone.

Forcing the last bit of coffee down my throat I rasped "They're closing the case."

At that Hera placed her hand on my shoulder, her voice wavering as she asked, "What does that mean?"

"It means they won't be actively looking for her," I explained coldly. "They won't even let me try…"

"But you have been trying," Hera cooed with her usual motherly-tone. "You've been doing everything you can Kanan."

"And it's still not enough," I growled, finally glancing at the woman but hesitating as I noticed the shattered expression in her crystal gaze. She looked as exhausted as I felt, and anxious lines creased her face as she stared at me with concern. My expression softened like butter as I took a breath and murmured "Sorry… didn't mean to snap…"

She offered a weak smile and leant into my side, replying gently "It's late, dear."

"My mind is wide awake," I replied hoarsely.

"But your body is not," she spoke, entwining her fingers with mine with a comforting squeeze. "Come to bed…"

I released a tense breath, admitting drearily "I can never sleep."

Gazing up at me with her caring yet worn eyes, Hera spoke gently "Neither can I…"

I stared at her with sorrow, her pain and anxiety perfectly reflecting my own turmoil in the dull glow of moonlight. So with a resigned sigh I wrapped my arm over her shoulder and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "Okay…" I whispered faintly. "Let's go to bed then…"

Resting her head on my shoulder she mumbled into my jacket "Tomorrow will be better…"

My chest constricting once more, I forced my eyelids shut to block out the tears that always threaten to rise.

"I really hope so, Hera… I hope so…"