Author's note: I'll just say this now, I don't know if this fic will have an end. By that I mean that I will continue to add to it as long as I come up with ideas for angst, fluff, shenanigans and crazy adventures that Luke, Ezra and Company can get into. I will forever and always be disappointed that Luke Skywalker and Ezra Bridger never met in Canon. I mean come on! He met one twin, and Ezra was right there on Tatooine! Those two would have gotten along so well! *Proceeds to cry*

Not sure yet how dark this will get, so rating teen for safety.

[Soundtrack for this chapter: Where the Light Is - Edited by Puggy, King by Lauren Aquilnia.]

Season 1, Episode 1: Don't Look Back

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

He'd lost the boy.

Luke was alive. That much Obi-wan knew.

He'd been too late to save Owen and Beru. He'd felt the danger, felt the imperial goons moving towards the humble homestead and moved to intercept them before they could reach it.

But he'd been caught off guard. He'd been knocked down the canyon, hit his head and fallen unconscious. When he'd come to, he'd rushed to the Lars, but knew he was already too late.

The homestead was burning, Owen and Beru were dead, and young Luke Skywalker was nowhere to be found.

Breathing heavily, Luke ran through the crowded streets of Mos Eisley SpacePort. He dodged and weaved around people who would have otherwise trampled him without even noticing, small as he was for a thirteen-year-old.

Mos Eisley was a diverse town, where smugglers, crooks and bounty hunters alike swarmed for one conniving, illegal purpose or another. The Imperial occupation was virtually non-existent, and what little there was was so corrupt, that there was scant law enforcement, making it a wild kind of haven for criminals everywhere, as long as they minded own business and kept an eye out for trouble. None of them noticed or cared about the scrawny teen making his way quickly through the streets.

When he felt he'd been running long enough and made enough twists and turns, he slowed his pace but kept moving. That was survival 101. If you think you're being pursued, and don't have a place to hide, always keep moving.

Luke really didn't know where he was going. He knew his best option at this point might be to simply leave the planet. After what he'd done, whatever it was that he'd done, he was sure he'd be searched for.

And it wasn't as if there was anything left for him here anymore.

But how would he manage to leave? He had nothing, certainly not enough credits to buy passage on a ship.

Maybe he could barter his skills as a mechanic. Aunt Beru had said Luke had a magic touch and Uncle Owen said he was already a better mechanic than most people on this planet.(High praise coming from his uncle who didn't complement much, though Luke rather thought it was an exaggeration.) Thinking of his family brought back the still very fresh ache in his heart. He tried not to let the images, the sounds come to mind. He tried to focus on walking. On where his feet were carrying him and blocking out all else.

Don't look back!

Biting his lip and holding back tears he shook himself. He could grieve later. Right now he had to figure out how to get out of here. Because he still didn't know!

He thought of what his guardians would tell him.

Uncle Owen would clap his shoulder, tell him to keep his chin up and keep moving forward.

Aunt Beru would smooth back his hair and tell him to have courage and use his head.

He took a deep breath and made a decision. He would find the shipyard first and foremost. He would figure it out from there.

After asking for directions from a less threatening-looking individual, Luke found the shipyard without too much difficulty. His next challenge was actually finding a pilot who would take him aboard.

He tried offering to do repairs, but everyone he asked told him to beat it. After hours of asking and being rejected he settled down in one corner of a landing pad and cried silently.

He stayed still. Watching the hustle and bustle around him that was dying down somewhat as the day got later. The suns were setting now, bathing the shipyard in dim, warm light, and casting long shadows.

Should he steal aboard a ship? He didn't like the thought of being so sneaky and getting a ride for free. His aunt and uncle had always taught him to do everything honestly. Only cowards and bums tried to steal and cheat, living off the labor of others. That was what his uncle had always taught him.

But still, what options were left to him? He could stay here and try to find work. Try to earn enough to for passage off world. But he was in danger here, something told him. Deep down, he knew he had to leave, and soon.

One way or another.

Only cowards, bums and desperate people. Maybe he was a coward, but he wasn't a bum. He was willing to work his way out but no one would give him a chance. More than anything though, he was desperate, he thought as his eyes landed on an old freighter with its hatch open.

He could make out two figures loading cargo of some kind aboard. Luke had always loved ships, and this one looked fairly big with plenty of nooks and crannies for a small teen to hide. And if those two were,(hopefully) the only crew members, keeping out of sight would be easier.

Making up his mind, Luke crept towards the ship and ducked behind some crates waiting to be loaded. He saw the two people- crewmembers?- clearly now as he peeked over the crates. One was much larger than the other-...was...was that a wookie? Luke had never seen one in the flesh before! The other was a young human man, obviously a foreigner, maybe in his early twenties, with brown hair.

After hesitating for one more moment, Luke slipped silently up the gangplank and ducked inside. He tried not to let himself become distracted by his fascination and curiosity. He'd never been on another ship besides his skyhopper!

Keeping an eye out for any other crew members, though some instinct told him there were none, He crept through the passenger area and found the cargo hold which was already mostly full with the crates and whatever else these...smugglers? ...were hauling. He found an open space towards the back, well out of sight where he could hunker down. Just in time too as he heard the two people approaching. He listened to them coming back and forth, settling the rest of their cargo in the hold beyond his hiding place. And after what felt like an eternity to Luke, they stopped coming. Then eventually Luke heard one of his favorite sounds; the telltale whirring that meant the ship was starting up, and then they were lifting off, and luke let out a sigh of relief mixed excitement.

Don't look back.

Alarm began to swell within Obi-wan. Luke's presence was fading from his senses. He could hardly feel the boy now. That could only mean one of two things, either he was getting too far away for Obi-wan to sense him...or he was dying. His breathing quickened at the thought but another, fiercer probe at Luke eased that fear. Luke's Force presence was as vibrant and strong as ever. And he felt no pain coming off him. Some apprehension, but no pain. It was just growing distant. Was Luke even on Tatooine now? The child had always been resourceful, had he found passage off world somehow? If that were the case his job would very quickly become a great deal more difficult and he felt his heart sinking and he urged his legs to an even faster pace.

He would complete his search to confirm Luke was no longer on the world before he risked contacting Bail.

Han Solo sat back in the pilots seat, allowing his copilot to take over for a while. It had been a good haul this month. They'd had a number of relatively smooth runs, though of course relatively smooth for them meant only a few shootouts, a few tussles and a few double-crossings, and they had a fair amount of credits building up in their bank account. It was nothing sensational, but enough for them to be comfortable for a while, and Han was content-

Something went bang somewhere in the ship.

….figures.

With a groan, Han got up from his seat just as beside him, Chewie growled a question. "Naw, you keep flying, Buddy, I'll have a look.

It sounded like the loose compartment had fallen out again...or the stabilizer...or the radiator...He sighed, his old girl was in desperate need of repairs. He and Chewie rarely had enough time and manpower to give the Falcon the proper attention. Maybe they should take advantage of their currently stable situation and take a few days to see to their ship.

His train of thought was abruptly cut off by a bolt being blown out a gasket, hitting Han in the face and making him yelp.

Yeah, they definitely needed to give this old girl some attention. He thought ruefully as he rubbed his head.

Luke could hear shouting coming from elsewhere in the ship.

"Chewie! Where's the hydrospanner?" Luke heard a responding roar and could only wonder what was happening. "It is not in the toolbox! I looked there already! You were the last to use it!"

Should he reveal himself now? Maybe he could make amends for sneaking aboard by helping them out somehow. It wasn't as if they could boot him off the shop now. ...Or could they? He didn't know what kind of people these transporters were. If they were the kind to space a kid for stowing away. It would probably be wiser to stay hidden and sneak off when they reached another planet.

"Ah, kriff!" Han scowled at as the stabilizer popped up again.

He was crouched in the engine room, trying to get the forward engines to stabilize.

He yelled over his shoulder. "Chewie! Hey Chewie! Put her on autopilot and come here for a second, will ya?" Han idly wondered if they ought to look for a mechanic as an addition to the crew. But the idea of a stranger putting their mitts all over his precious Falcon made him want to shudder.

Naw, he and Chewie had managed so far, they'd manage now.

He heard a rustling behind him. "That you Chewie? About time, ya furball. Find me that hydrospanner! I know you were the last to use it."

He heard rummaging sounds and the hydrospanner was thrust in front of his face. He took it gratefully. "Thanks. Next grab that new circuit box, huh? And make it fast."

He heard a soft clunk beside him and looked to see the circuit box had been placed beside him. He began attaching it and found himself in an awkward position trying to hold a wire in place while welding.

"Hey, just hold this here for me." Two smaller human hands reached out and held the wire in place.

"Thanks." He said.

Han did a double-take.

Then he leapt up a little too quickly, banging his head on the fuel line, and he let out a string of curses from between clenched teeth.

"Who- ...what- ...Where the karking hell did you spring from kid?!"

Because there was a- a- a kid squatting beside him! A kid who now looked up at him rather fearfully. He stood up slowly. His mouth opened and closed as if struggling to get sound to come out.

Shaking himself, Han whipped out his blaster and pointed it at the kid, whose eyes widened and he threw up his hands.

"You got three seconds to explain what the kriff you are doing on my ship."

Luke didn't know what to do. He'd risked coming out of hiding. He'd wanted to see what was going on. He mentally cursed his insatiable curiosity.

The man had mistook him for the wookie crewmember. He'd asked for a hydrospanner, and Luke...Luke wasn't sure what had come over him. His sixth sense had told him the hydrospanner was underneath a compartment where it had slid at some point. Presumably that was why the man couldn't find it.

Now the man was pointing a blaster in his face.

Luke backed up slowly, his hands still raised in front of him. He kept backing up- right into something big and furry.

A roar, one that he was sure was of surprise and anger, sounded above him. Instinctively, he tried to duck away, but he was just a moment too late as two huge furry arms grabbed him, lifting him off the ground.

He turned his head to look into the dark eyes of the wookie.

"Please!" He finally managed to say. "I don't mean any harm, I just- just-"

"Just thought you'd hitch a free ride?" The man in front of him said, his dark eyes narrowed dangerously, and Luke looked away in shame.

"I'm sorry. I- I didn't want to stow away, but- but ...I tried to get someone to take me, and I could work in exchange, but no one would help me!"

Han was still mad, but he was starting to calm down as he gradually realized this boy was no threat. He lowered his blaster but didn't put it away.

Han took a moment to inspect their little stow-away.

It wasn't hard to guess that they had picked him up on Tatooine. He wore the traditional garb of a Tatooine farmer or shop owner. He was scrawny, not uncommon for Tatooine peasants, and looked to be in his early teens or so. He had a mop of sun bleached blond hair, heavily tanned skin, and startlingly blue eyes.

Han also noted the bruising on his face and smudged blood on his chin. Whatever situation he had escaped from, it more than likely hadn't been a good one.

Chewie growled a question directed at the boy, though not harshly. He too was beginning to understand the boy, whatever he had done, really had meant no harm. He lowered the boy to the floor again, but kept a firm hold on him.

Han leaned forward to look the kid in the face and arched an eyebrow as he translated Chewie's question. "What kind of work, Kid?"

The boy relaxed slightly. "I- I can fix things." He glanced around. "I could help you with your ship. It obviously needs a lot of work."

Han felt a flare of annoyance at the indication. "And how could you help?" He snapped.

"Like I said, I can fix it up." The kid seemed to gain a little more confidence. "I'm good with machinery, I can fix anything."

Han raised a skeptical eyebrow at the last statement, but considered. The kid was here, there was no changing that. He looked at Chewie to see if he had an opinion. The wookie looked him in the eye. "Let's give the cub a chance."

But Han hadn't survived this long by being stupid. There was a time to mind your own business, and there was a time to ask questions... Like when a random kid appeared on your ship who was obviously running from something.

He leaned forward again. "One question, runt. Why exactly were you so keen on getting off Tatooine?"

The kid visibly swallowed. "Well, who wouldn't be?"

Fair point. Few people stuck around on that dustball if they didn't have to.

But Han knew a dodge when he heard one. The kid may not be a threat in himself, but if he was going to bring them trouble…

He raised his blaster and pointed it in the kid's face again, making him stiffen and eyes widen again.

"Tell me the truth, runt. Someone's after you, aren't they? Are you a runaway? A thief? What?"

"I- I-."

"Spit it out!"

"The Imperials! They're after me!" The kid shouted.

"Kark." Han muttered. "Kark, what'd you do to tick off the Imps, kid?"

"I don't know! They killed my family, but I don't know why!"

Han sighed. Great. An orphan on the run from the Empire. Just what they didn't need right now. He had to admit though, the kid looked pretty pathetic and miserable. He was either a darn good actor, or he was just what he seemed to be: a desperate, scared kid with nowhere to go. His cynical survivor side told him the former. But his gut said it was the latter. He sighed again.

"Alright kid, alright. I believe you." He saw hope fill the boy's eyes.

"Now don't look at me like that, you're not staying, not a minute longer than you have to. We'll let you off on the next planet we come to."

The boy's face fell a little, but he nodded gratefully anyway.

Han glanced at his copilot. "Might as well go back to the cockpit, Chewie." Chewie yowled and Han raised an eyebrow. "I think I can handle one kid if he starts acting up."

Then he looked the kid directly in the face. "But that won't be necessary. Right, Kiddo?"

"Right. " He said quickly.

Han breathed out heavily and glanced between the kid and the tools on the ground. "Well. Since you're here, might as well take you up on your offer . Starting with helping me attach this here." He said gesturing.

The boy perked up a little and nodded eagerly. Chewie watched with some amusement as the kid moved forward again. Then the wookie turned and strode out the engine room.

Han eyed the boy with distrust. "Don't you dare touch anything if I don't tell you to, you got it?"

"Okay." He responded, kneeling and awaited instructions dutifully.

The two got to work, Han directing him, and the kid handled everything like a seasoned mechanic. Never needing clarification or advice. Even making suggestions that Han begrudgingly admitted made sense. He worked nimbly and efficiently, and they worked at more than twice the rate that Han would have alone. Despite himself, Han was rather impressed, and he found himself wondering what else the kid could do. Soon enough, they'd completed all the immediate repairs. Then the boy cleared his throat.

"Um, my name is-"

"I don't wanna know." Han said quickly and a little sharper than he meant to. The kid shrank back, and Han softened his tone slightly.

"It's best for both our sakes, Kid." He explained. "If you're running from the Empire, I don't want to know any more about you than I already do. And vice versa. That way neither of us can sell out the other, see?"

The kid nodded, eyes down. "Yeah, okay. That makes sense." He looked down, rubbing the toe of his shoe into the floor. "...Sorry by the way, for sneaking on board. I really didn't want to cause any trouble."

"It may already be too late for that, Kid." Han grumbled, as he rummaged through a junk box. "But I appreciate it, I guess." He then pulled out a busted comm. unit he'd given up on months ago and tossed it to the kid, who caught it deftly.

"See what you can do with that, eh?" He wanted to know the extent of the kid's ability.

The boy's eyes brightened and he nodded enthusiastically as he settled down and got to work, and Han chuckled to himself, striding out of the engine room.

His eagerness was sort of endearing Han realized, then he swiftly scolded himself. The kid wasn't staying for long, he reminded himself. They had to get rid of him as soon as possible.

The last thing you need is to get attached, Solo.

"For the last time, Chewie, we are not letting that kid stay! We can't go around taking in every stray with a sob story! We're not running an orphanage here!"

"You said yourself, he has already proved more than useful."

"I said he has skills, yeah! That's the good part! With that kind of gift he should have no problem getting work at a scrap or repair shop or something."

"He could help keep the ship running properly, and as a result we would be much more efficient with our business."

Han sighed exasperatedly. "Look. Just cause he's not half bad at repairs, doesn't mean he's cut out for this kind of life. If he stays with us, becomes a member of our crew, he'll be facing dangers of all kinds. Thieves and bandits, bounty hunters and imperials. ...Which reminds me, let's not forget the little detail of him being on the run from the Empire."

"I doubt the Empire is going to waste much of its resources looking for one child, regardless of who he is or what he might have done."

"Erg." Han pushed his hands over his face and through his hair.

...He didn't want this. He didn't want to do this again. Chewie was enough for him. Chewie was all he needed. He didn't want to put that much trust in someone again.

He swore to himself that day…

"No."

Chewie gazed at him knowingly and sympathetically, but he let it go. At least for the moment.

They sat in heavy silence for several minutes before Han cleared his throat.

"Better finish our run before dropping the kid off."

Chewie yowled his agreement. They were already late thanks to the Falcon malfunctioning, and their client, a devaronian by the name of Deeko, wasn't a patient being.

They landed smoothly and Han looked at the boy, who had slunk out of the passenger area and was standing at the entrance to the cockpit.

"Stay in here and out of sight. We're making our dropoff, then we'll take off again to find someplace safe to leave you."

He pointed a finger in his face. "Don't touch anything, don't do anything, and most of all stay put, or you'll regret it. Understand?"

The boy pressed his lips together, but nodded resolutely.

Han turned on his heel to follow Chewie.

Minutes later they were striding down the gangplank, both pushing hovercrates down onto the turf.

"Deeko." Han greeted the devaronian, sliding easily into his cocky, swaggering, roguish, persona.

The devaronian turned to face his workers and jerked his head in the direction of the ship. Obediently, they walked past Han and Deeko to continue unloading the cargo.

"Solo." Deeko clipped, promising his usual, sour, conniving mood. He was a little short for devaronian male, brown skinned with the usual dark, shifty eyes common for his species. He wore trophies from a number of creatures. Teeth, claws and bones. He enjoyed collecting such things. Anything he couldn't wear, he kept in what he called a gallery on board his ship, the Ravager.

"You're late. You were due here at 0800. Deeko has been waiting nearly two hours for you and your pathetic scrap-pile of a ship."

Han had to coax down the swell of irritation. If one more person insulted his ship today-

"Just a little delay, Deeko. Won't happen again, you have my word."

The slimey devil barked out a laugh. "Your word? Your word is worth as much as mine. Nothing."

He paused, and eyed Han, reminding him unnervingly of a vulture assessing a possible meal. "The more important thing is how you are going to make up for wasting Deeko's time."

Han had a suspicious feeling in his gut. All of this felt off, but he couldn't put his finger on exactly what. As Chewie came up behind him, Han discreetly inched his hand closer to the blaster on his hip, but otherwise tried to appear unfazed. If he showed any uncertainty it was as good as over.

'What are you suggesting?" He growled.

Deeko raised his eyes innocently upwards, rubbing his chin. "Oh, I think, four thousand off our original deal is reasonable."

Han choked. "Four-four thousand? The original deal was for six thousand!"

Deeko pretended to look thoughtful still. "Was it?"

Han's mind zipped from one thought to the next, anxiously searching for the best way to resolve this.

Apparently he hesitated too long, for Deeko narrowed his eyes and signaled to his henchmen, who raised their blasters threateningly.

Han was about to tell Deeko not to be hasty then try and negotiate when-

The unimaginable happened.

The turrets on the Falcon sprang to life. Han heard them cock- and fire on the loading bay.

Some goons dove or ran for cover as others were shot and/or blown to bits.

Han for his part, simply dashed for the Falcon, weaving through smoke and debris, and shouting for Chewie as he went.

They tore through the ship, throwing out any remaining henchmen of Deeko's and Han burst into the cockpit. He found the boy where he had left him, except he was at the guns, still firing them on the docks.

"What the Kriff are you doing, kid!" Han bellowed as he seized the boy's collar and dragged him away from the controls, throwing him behind him and sitting in the pilot's chair. He barely waited for Chewie to find his seat as he began the take-off.

"Saving your skins!" The boy shouted back.

Deeko and his remaining crew were firing their blasters on the ship, but they pulled up and zipped away before too much damage was done.

Han irritably wondered what had happened to the shields, before he remembered that the shield generator had been malfunctioning this week.

The moment they were free of the atmosphere, Han rushed through pre-flight checks and then punching hyperspace coordinates(more carefully), and soon enough they were away.

Han slumped back in his chair grumbling.

"We won't be able to come back here for a while, that's for sure."

"Better than being dead." The kid muttered.

Han jerked around to glare at him, breathing heavily through his nose.

"Look Junior! I had everything under control! How would you know they were gonna kill us? You trigger-happy little runt!"

"Because- Look!"

The kid tossed something into his lap. Han frowned and picked it up, then sucked in a breath.

It was a remote operated thermal detonator.

"One of those guys that came aboard stuck it on one of the interior walls. I figured out what it was and disarmed it. Then I went up to the cockpit again to see them turn their blasters on you two. Those guys were always gonna kill you."

Han realized it was true. Deeko had most likely planned to blow up their ship as soon as the cargo was completely unloaded, if he didn't just shoot them, or they managed to get away somehow.

Han was silent for a long time. The kid had saved their lives…

"Y'know…" He began. "I told ya to stay put."

He looked up with a glare at the kid.

The kid glared right back.

Neither one broke it off.

Then, inexplicably, Han began laughing.

Maybe it was the adrenaline from the chaotic life or death situation they'd just escaped from, but Han laughed. Long, hard and loud as the boy blinked and both he and Chewie stared at Han like he'd gone nuts.

Heck, maybe he had. But if this was what it felt like, maybe he wouldn't mind it so much.

At some point he calmed down enough to speak.

"You got guts, kid." He said, clapping him on the shoulder.

He looked over at Chewie, and he knew they were thinking the same thing.

"Listen." He started hesitantly.

"We'll take you wherever ya want, but… if you've got nowhere else to go, which I've a feeling you don't, how'd you like to... stay here and work for us? At least for a while I mean?"

The boy gaped at him, his big blue eyes wide, and pitiful looking and...Kriff it, someone needed to look out for this kid. "You… mean it? I can really stay here with you?"

Han resisted the urge to snort. "Wouldn't be asking if I didn't mean it, kid, trust me."

"Yes!" He shouted. And Han winced.

"I'm Han Solo. This is Chewbacca, or Chewie for short, and this here is the Millenium Falcon. What's your name, kid?"

The boy grinned for the first time.

"Luke. Luke Skywalker."

A/N I don't know if every chapter will be this long, I don't know if this is going to stretch into the Original Trilogy, I don't know how often I'll update… I just don't know… period.

Also, I know absolutely positively nothing of Star Wars ship mechanics or mechanics in general, so I just basically threw random terms where they seemed like they fit best. Please just bear with me. I mean, it you want to. You don't have to.

Thanks for reading! Art for this fic can be found on my tumblr page under Coleroz.