Chapter: 1

The light saber sat heavily in Kanan's hand.

He had sworn not to pick it up again. Not after Order 66. Kanan's fingers clenched around his weapon. What would his Master say?

Run!

Master Billaba's last word to him echoed painfully in his mind. He was so underqualified! What was he thinking when he took the kid in as his Padawan? Kanan let his head hang in defeat for a moment. Yet even with all of his hesitance in training the child, Kanan couldn't just leave him on Lothal. Ezra has become a part of the crew, a part of their family, and throwing him back on the streets would be like losing his parents all over again to him. Even if it would be safer for Ezra if he was back in his tower. Kanan rubbed his face, he was bringing a child into a war. He was the lowest of the low.

Knock Knock

"Master?" Kanan huffed a silent laugh, speak of the devil…

"Yes Ezra?" his bedroom door slid open to reveal the blue haired teen. He stood awkwardly in the doorway, not yet taking a step in but at the same time looking like he had something he wanted to say. "Why don't you come in?"

The orphan took a single step, just enough for the door to hiss close behind him. Ezra didn't meet his Master's eyes, instead the electric blues were glued to the floor. Kanan allowed the tense silence to continue, Ezra would ask his questions when he was ready there was no need to rush his Padawan.

"Could I…" Ezra bit his lip and shuffled his feet, "Could I ask you something?" he finally blurted out.

"Technically you just did, but sure!" Kanan tried to break the tenseness of the air with some light-heatedness but as soon as he made his comment he knew it was the wrong choice. Ezra's stance went rigid and he made a half step backwards.

"Th-that's alright never mind! I-I-It wasn't something-."

"No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have said it like that." Kanan half rose from his bed, "Ezra please ask your question, I'll answer it to the best of my abilities."

Ezra hesitated in his retreat, his eyebrows furrowing with indecision before swallowing down his fear and turning back to him. "D-Do…umm…do you think they'd be proud?" his voice was so low that Kanan had to strain his ears to be able to just barely hear him.

"Who?" he asked back, keeping his tone soft as to not frighten the boy away.

"M-My parents." Ezra's frigid stance went completely limp and the boy looked as if he barely had the strength to stand.

"Oh Ezra come here." Kanan ordered softly. Ezra shuffled over and plopped down beside him. "Of course they'd be proud. You've been so brave and been through so much. Anyone'd be proud of that."

"How could you know?" broken watery blue eyes stared up at him, searching his stormy green eyes as if they had all of the answers.

Ezra's eyes.

That had been the real reason why Kanan gave chase to the thief of their thievery. The electric blue eyes of the street rat triggering a memory from only months ago. It was the only thing that stood out clearly from his latest vision, of course he could remember other pieces of information but none of it was as memorable as the color. The electric blue eyes that were filled with mischievousness and wonder yet had an underlying tone of hurt and suffering.

Now those same eyes were locked on him, Ezra's complete trust in him had his guilt come back ten-fold. He was only fifteen, yet here Ezra was joining a Rebel team and fighting alongside them in life threatening battles.

"Because I am proud of you." Kanan replied, never breaking his Padawan's engaged eye contact. Ezra's eyes widened before he ducked his head, cobalt bangs falling into place blocking Kanan's view of his expression. It wasn't until the Jedi saw the minute trembling in the orphan's shoulders did he realize that he was crying. Not saying a word Kanan simply slid an arm around him and pulled him into a comforting hug.

He may not be the best teacher for Ezra, but he refused to give up on the boy because of it. Ezra deserved the best and that meant that he had to man up and take on the responsibilities of guiding a Padawan. Kanan vowed there and then that Ezra would have a family again, in every sense of the word except blood. He knew the others would say the same, and looking down to the now dazed child in his lap Kanan knew exactly why his Master chose to train him.

No one so young deserved to have such a past and only a bleak future to look forward to.

A/N: I figured I'd put my two bits into the Star Wars: Rebels fanfiction base. I love this series and was seriously surprised to see the amount of fanfiction on it is so small. While writing this I kept thinking how cliché and sappy this was, but since this fandom is severely lacking I decided that I'd do my best in providing what readers would like to read, but not have to write for themselves…if that makes sense….shhh it does! So if you have any requests feel free to say so! For those of you who bother to actually read A/Ns, I tend to reply to reviewers so if you do review and don't want a response, just say so and I won't. That's all for now~!

I do not own Star Wars: Rebels, see you guys in the next chapter with more fluff or angst!