RUHLSAR000 Here! For those curious about I Don't Blame You. The next chapter is finished. I still need to edit it and figure out how to upload as I have been having issues for a while. Currently, I have start having issues with cut and paste after 3000 words and crippling issue at 6000. Given the next chapter is about twice that and over forty pages in my word processor, I am either going to have to break it apart or go figure out how to upload. This was just a dabble imagined. There maybe a few sequel ideas coming. Any way, I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS REBELS! IT OWNED BY LORD MICKEY!

He is the most perfect thing ever. He is kind. He is strong. He is so smart. He is the most perfect thing ever. He is quick tempered. He is quicker to forgive. He loves his family to bits and always lends a helping hand. He loves hologames and podracing and is every bit his sire's son, only better.

I don't deserve the title of 'father'. A father is the person who raises you, who helps you to be the best you can be, who puts on a brave face when you need someone to support you.

Holding him in my arms, all those years ago I knew he deserved better than a good-for-nothing dark sider of a father and a couldn't-be-bother-to-give-a-kriff mother. He deserved more. That's why I left him with Kanan and Hera Jarrus, two of the most amazing parents in the galaxy. Now, he has a dad who will support him no matter what, a mom who is the perfect balance of no nonsense and unconditional love. He has an older brother who will pick on him but beat the kriff out of anyone else who'd try to. He has two little siblings who look at him in awe. He has a kick ass aunt who happens to be the Mand'a'lor and an Uncle who is a senator and former honor guard.

My son has an amazing life. It's just a life I can't be apart of. I can't even come close or they could find out. Hera and Kanan don't even know David is my son. What would they do if they knew he was my son?

I can only watch from a distance.

David. That's the name they gave him. I couldn't even name him. Mentally, I'd like for his middle name to be "Caleb". David Caleb Bridger, it has such a nice ring. I repeat to myself every time I need strength. But David Jarrus also has a decent enough ring to it, and that name means he is happier. So, I'll just be happy watching his accomplishments and heartbreaks and life from afar.

And today is certainly a big accomplishment. It's not everyday a kid wins the biggest writing contest in this quadrant. I slide into the back of the auditorium and lean against the wall.

"Sir," An usher comes up to me. I don't bother looking up at him. I took a big risk coming here today. They are all here, in the front row. "You need to take a seat or leave."

Without looking at him I wave my hand dismissively. "I am not here. You do not see me." I recross my arms and focus back on the front row.

The man blinks shaking his hand, "What?" He rushes off to do his duty. The ceremony begins dully as a windbag with funny ears and a really bad hair cut makes a speech that he clearly thought was brilliant but any of the getting awarded kids could have easily written a better speech. This douche bag is making it about him instead of the kids.

I grip my fist, double-checking my mental shields. I take a breath, giving myself time to tell myself, You aren't here to kriff anyone, Ezra. Think about David… Anyone getting hurt would ruin his day… And that is too extreme a reaction…

I breathe again. Finally, the idiot invites the first group of winners and gives them their awards, then the same for the next group, and the next group, until the final group comes out, the five to seven years old. I smile as David walk onto the stage, second to the left. I clap loudly unable to keep a smile off my face. I do manage not to shout out any embarrass him, barely. It's not my place. Though, Zeb does a good job of it. They are without a doubt the loudest family in the room.

As he holds up his framed certificate up in the air, I join the second wave of applause, loudly. He is so amazing. The douche starts his closing speech. My frustration about him doesn't stop my joy at seeing David so happy. His smile is so big as he looks over the crowd. It is my imagination, but he seems to pause in my direction and I can pretend he is smiling at me. He waves at the crowd in his friendly way.

As the speech ends, David all but launches himself into his family, utterly happy instead of taking a final bow. I sigh, smiling sadly, as I push myself off the wall, use the Force to steady myself and exit the auditorium quietly. I walk slowly out of the building and down the street, alone.

The Dark Side. It promised me everything, and cost me just as much. It is a drug. And I am an addict trying to stay clean.

I walk away from the families flooding slowly into the street and out of the more affluent area. The streets become dirtier as I go to my ship. I roll my eyes as I see two guys trying to break in to it. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." I roll my eyes. They aren't worth it.

They both drop to the ground as they get non-lethal electric shock. "I suggest you get out of here." Their eyes widen as they retreat. I open my ship and head to the bedroom.

I sigh, going to the wall with half a dozen pictures I'd been able to take from a distance of them. I pick up the only one I am in, his youngest baby picture. His blue eye clash with my yellow ones, but inspite of how terrify I look, he is smiling up at me.

I close my eyes and sigh. "This certainly brings back memories."

"Yes, it does." Kanan's voice echoes through the room.

He is going to ask me why I was there. Or just demand I stay away. "So, what do you want?" I say, just as I ask almost a decade and a half ago, turning to face him.

"To offer you a choice." Kanan smiles, clearly remembering that day. "You can stay here alone with only pictures as company. Or, you can come home and meet your son." A moment passes, then another. He doesn't vanish this time.

"You knew…" I choke out after several moments.

"I'd like to say we knew immediately. But it did take a few years to figure out. His eyes should have been a dead give away to Hera. Something she kicks herself for to this day." Kanan jokes.

"Kanan, he is happy right now… I'd just mess it up." I sigh.

"Maybe, or you could make him happier, along with Sabine, Zeb, Hera and me." Kanan says. "I won't force you. This is an open invitation, though. And you've worked hard to separate yourself from the Dark Side. You may not have succeeded fully, yet. Or maybe you have." Kanan shrugs. "But even Darth Vader return to the light with the help of his son." With that Kanan turns and walks away.

I sigh, knowing in my gut what I was going to do instantly, but try to convince my mind. One… You are too dangerous. You haven't killed in three years. Two… You'll attract negative attention. Like a Jedi as a dad wouldn't already do that. Three… He doesn't need you. That doesn't mean he won't want you.

"Karablast!" I say, turning around. "Kanan! Wait!" I rush out the door, opening myself up to sense him. I freeze. I turn around to face the Jedi master, who is leaning against my wall smirk on his face. I open and close my mouth, trying to think of something to say. I roll my eyes, finally, "Lead the way."

The walk back to the others is awkward and silent. "What… What do you think his reaction will be?" I, finally, ask, as we need the building the award ceremony took place in.

"I don't really know… It will take an adjustment, though… Since we told him he was adopted a few months back, he's wondered a lot about you. And admittedly, we didn't know what to say." Kanan says, honestly. I sigh. Kanan puts his hand on my shoulder. "It will be okay."

"What do you think everyone else's reaction?" I ask.

"If someone doesn't tackle you into a hug and then smack you for being an idiot, I'll be very surprised." Kanan smirks.

"But they've forgiven me. After everything I've done…" I say. It sounds like a dream.

"They get the sayings about roads paved with good intentions and you're family. We've all already lost to much family to let grudges separate us further." My master says. I freeze in place, legs shaking. Kanan tilts his head in my direction.

My arms are around him before I even register what I am doing. "Thank you…. For everything." I release him quickly, fearing that I've over step some sort of bounds.

"Kid, I've told you many times, I'll always be there for you." Kanan smiles, patting my shoulder. "Let's go home."

"Yeah." I can't keep the smile off my face, even with my nerves gnawing at my innards.

As we round the corner, I see them all clearly and in person. They look like they have in the news. Sabine looks as strong and capable as she did in her teens. Her hair had grown out and cut it diagonally across her back, a brilliant blue this month. Zeb looked every inch the senator he is, while still maintaining the doting uncle he is with one of the four-year-old twins in his arms. The other twin was in his mother's arms arguing with his twin sister. Hera was looking over the thinning crowds. And Kanan and Hera's oldest is teasing my seven-year-old son about something.

Do I have the right to interrupt this scene of happiness? No, no I don't.

"Hera!" Kanan calls out.

Hera turns immediately to them. "There you are. Where did you van-" Hera freezes midsentence.

I should leave. I should- I see Hera's eyes. I can't move. Without breaking eye contact, she hands her arm full of child into Sabine's shocked arms. The kids are looking between us confused.

Hera crashes into my arms, nearly throwing me off my already unsteady feet. "Ezra. Oh, Ezra." Hera's accent strengthens. "Where have you been?" She pulls back enough to see me but not enough to release me from her strong grasp. I get the distinct feeling that that is to prevent me from bolting.

"Oh, you know, a little here, a little there, a whole lot of nowhere." I shrug, trying to joke.

She puts her hand on my cheek. "You look like the day we pick you up... You haven't been eating properly. And the bags under your eye… Making those blue eyes of yours sparkle less." Even though she is upset at how I've been taking care of myself, she is relieved to see my eyes. I am too, after all the crud I had to go through to return to the light, some of which I will be facing for the rest of my life. She hugs me again, "Welcome home." I can hear the tears in her voice.

"I'm so sorry." I say returning the hug.

"Hehm?" The oldest kid clears his throat. Hera and I break apart to look at him. Sabine and Zeb still look stunned, but the kids look confused. "Who are you?"

I take a deep breath and kneel down to David's eye, trying to figure out what to say. I never thought I get to say anything and there is so much I want to say. I look at David. His golden blond hair goes perfectly with his eyes, my eyes, so they don't stand out as much. He got his mother's high cheekbones and her curls. Poor kid got my nose. He looks so proper in his blue dress shirt and formal black pants. He is wearing a wooden pendant or rather half a pendent, the half I left with him.

With my nerves fraying, I reach for my neck and pull my half from under my orange edged in black shirt. I let it lie against my chest visible. Gasps go through the kids as they recognize the sister pendent, none more prevalent than David's gasp.

"So, what do I call you? I mean, Dad is already, well, Dad." David asks. Then, his face goes white. "You're not going to take me away are you?!"

"No!" I cut him off immediately. "I would never take you away from your family… Our family…" I hesitantly correct my statement, hoping for no harsh reprimand.

"Our family." Hera squeezes my shoulder.

I nod, taking a breath, "My name is Ezra Bridger. As for what you can call me, you can call me what ever you want. I recognize that I am still just a stranger to you… And I… But I'd like to get to know you… But if you don't want to get to know me, that's fine. I don't want you to feel pressured to do anything-"

"Um…" David cuts me off walking closer to me. "You do know I have notice you in the crowd of everything related to me, right? Like there isn't a school play or peewee sport that you haven't missed." He got Hera's wit. YESS! Good for him. "Let see," David says putting his hand to his chin in clearly fake contemplation. "Dad is 'Dad'. Mom is 'Mom'. So, how about my father is called 'Father'?"

I open my mouth in shock, struggling to say anything, my eyes watering. "Yes." My voice cracks. "If that is okay with you. I'd like that a lot."

"Welcome home, Father." David smiles up at me. My emotions get the better of me, and even if my back yells at me tomorrow, I don't care. I scoop him into my arms and carefully hug him.

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