Umm. sorry for not updating this sooner? Please don't kill me! 'Ducks down'. Seriously though, I really don't have a excuse for not posting this sooner except that I got distracted. Anyhow, this idea was requested by DarkShadows1999.

This story will be the last chapter of Simple Moments. Sorry :(

Kanan was stunned.

Who was this small figure before him, wearing dark clothing and with pure anger and hurt in his eyes? Who was this person, welding a lightsaber in the darkest crimson? Who was this child, with glowing red eyes filled with anger?

Who was this child that looked so like his own padawan?

Kanan managed to recover enough from his shock just in time to block the blow Ezra sent his way. It took almost all his strength just to hold the weapon back. He could feel the darkness surrounding the teen, fueled by anger and hatred and hurt. He couldn't understand it.

"Ezra, what happened to you?"

The boy snarled, sending another swipe his way.

"You left me, that what. You abandoned me."

"Kid, what are you talking about? We never left you." Kanan blocked another swing.

"Liar. You left me on the star destroyer. You left me to the empire!"

"No we didn't Ezra. We were captured too. We just escaped. Hera's waiting right now with our transport.."

"You're lying!" Ezra flipped himself over Kanan's head and landed lightly on his feet. The man just barely turned to block the next blow.

"No I'm not."

"Yeah right! You never cared, to you I was just a tool, just some kid who you found useful! Well I don't need any of you!" He swung again.

They were in the engine room of the starship. Kanan's back was to the ledge and with every blow sent him another step closer. Just a few more and he would be knocked over into its fatal machinery.

He blocked another swing that was sent in his direction, the strength of it forcing him back another step.

"No, I don't know what they did to you kid, but I promise, we've never left you. You know we wouldn't."

Ezra snarled, swinging the lightsaber at him with a cry of anger.

"I don't know anything anymore. And don't call me kid!" Another swing, another block, another step backwards. Just a few more steps and Kanan would be sent over the edge

"Ezra please, listen to me." The man pleaded one more time as he managed to push the youth away.

Ezra rose back up onto his feet. A angry glint shone in his red eyes. Eyes that used to be cheerful and full of life. Now they were only filled with hurt.

What had happened to the teen?

"No," Ezra hissed as he approached. He stopped within a few feet of the man, glaring at him definitely.

"I used to listen to you. I trusted you. I thought you would be different. I thought that you actually cared. I was wrong." His hand gripping the weapon trembled.

"I'm not falling for that mistake again."

Kanan thought fast.

"Isn't there some way to convince you?"

"No." Ezra shook his head. He lifted his weapon, pointing it straight at the Jedi's face. "If you want to leave here alive, you'll have to kill me first."

Kanan looked at him, green meeting red as their eyes locked. He sighed.

"I guess I'm not getting out alive then." He then surprised the teen by switching off his lightsaber. The weapon clattered against the stone floor as he threw it to the side.

Kanan spread his arms. "I would rather die, than hurt the one that I see as my son."

Ezra froze. Shock was plain on his face as he tried to process what Kanan. Then his eyes grew blank. The grip on his lightsaber tightened.

Kanan closed his eyes, expecting to feel the hot sensation of the crimson weapon entering his chest.

It never came.

Instead the man heard something that sounded mysteriously like a sob. Something fell heavily to the ground.

He opened his eyes to find Ezra on his knees. His lightsaber laid on the ground next to him as the boy trembled violently.

"No, what have I…no!" Ezra wrapped his arms around himself. His dark hair worked as a veil to hide his face.

Kanan knelt in front of him, trying to lift the smaller face up to meet his. Ezra jerked away before he could, falling backwards and scrambling away.

"No, don't touch me! I almost..I al…." A sob choked off his words.

Kanan simply moved closer, this time actually managing to gather the padawan into his arms. Ezra struggled against the hold.

"No, let me go, please!" He didn't feel like he deserved the comfort that his mentor was offering him. Kanan should be pushing him away, refusing to come near him. Not this.

Kanan only held him tighter and buried his face in the boy's hair.

"I'm not letting you go kid." He whispered.

"Not now, not ever."

Finally Ezra gave up struggling and fell limply against the man with a knew there was no use trying to get away. He shivered, feeling the cold seeping into his bones.

Kanan tried to once again lift the boy's head. This time he succeeded, brushing back dark hair to reveal tearful blue eyes. He smiled with relief.

"Welcome back. Kid." He hugged the boy tighter. Ezra buried his face into his mentors shoulder, his hot tears soaking the man's neck. But Kanan didn't care. All that mattered was that it was Ezra, safe in his arms again. All that mattered was that his child was here, alive.

"I'm sorry." Ezra sobbed.

"I didn't mean…I'm so sorry!"

"Shhh. It's okay." Kanan lifted the boy's face slightly, his thumb wiping at the tear tracks.

"It's all over now. Now shush, it's fine."

Ezra shook his head and sniffled. "No, its not. I could have killed you. I shouldn't be your padawan. I"

"Ezra, stop right there." He framed the boy's face, trying to get him to look up at him. Ezra averted his eyes, trying to look anywhere but his master's face. Kanan ducked his head to catch his gaze.

"I don't care what you've done, you are my padawan, my family. I never want to hear you say that again, because it's not true."

"Yeah but…."

"No buts." Kanan stroked his face gently. He then stood, holding his hand out to the boy still on the floor.

"Now come on, lets go home."

Ezra hesitated. But he finally gripped the man's hand, allowing him to pull him off the cold floor. Kanan draped his arms across his shoulders. As they left the engine room Kanan switched on his commlink.

"Spector two, get ready to take off. I found him."

Ezra waited for him to say something about his fall to the darkness, but it never came. Kanan switched his com off and met the teen's surprised gaze with a smile. He seemed to know what the kid was thinking.

"I won't tell them unless you want me too. Its up to you, kid."

Ezra pressed against the Jedi's was hard to walk with the boy up near him, but Kanan didn't say anything, he needed the contact just as much, if not more so, then Ezra did.

...

It took them some time to reach the Ghost. Distracted though they were, troopers were scattered around the destroyers and to avoid raising a alarm, Master and Padawan had to sneak past every indivual one.

When they reached the hanger, they found the ship still there. Sabine and Zeb waited on the ramp, weapons raised in case of oncoming bucketheads. The mandalorians shoulders slumped in relief when she saw them. Despite his attempts to hide it, a small grin crossed Zeb's face.

"Finally got done sight-seeing, Lothrat?"

Ezra glared, but did not bother to dignify the comment with a reply. He hesitated at the bottom of the ramp. But then, with Kanan's hand pressing against the small of his back, entered the ship. As soon as they were on board the ramp closed behind them, and the ship took off.

The moment they entered hyperspace Sabine turned to Ezra and surprised him by hugging him. Then she stepped back, punching his arm. Hard.

"Ow! Was was that for?" He demanded, rubbing the tender area.

"For scaring us." She said simply as she crossed her arms. Despite her stern look, a small grin tugged at her lips. He was about to make a retort when they were interupted.

"Ezra?" The soft voice came from above them. Ezra slowly turned, looking up.

Hera was standing above them, hands gripping the rail tightly. Her emerald eyes were filled with relief.

"Oh Ezra." She moved and swiftly slid down the ladder.

The teen was already there by the time her feet hit the ground, throwing his arms around her waist as he buried his head in her shoulder. He breathed in the smell of her clothes, the lingering scent of oil and machinery and soap calming his nerves.

He felt her hug him back, resting her chin on his head.

"I love you." She spoke softly in his ear as she held him closer. He cuddled in closer.

"I love you too." He whispered back. And he meant it. After almost eight lonely years, he had found his own family. Mismatched, true, but it was his

He had found home.