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The breese was soft, cool enough to contrast the suns’ warmth but not enough to chill. Overhead the soft rustle of the brilliant red, dark purple and yellow danced in the Lira San breese. Black thinning tree branches wove like veins playfully about to make it appear like a stained glass ceiling. The soft crunch of the leaves under his toes, the warmth of his friend beside him. Zeb smiled fondly forward watching Jacen, Chopper and Kelana dash ahead, the half tw’ilec boy slipping a little in the soft muddy puddle where the ground had dipped letting it drain from the reflective gold pond to their right.
“Eh! Be careful up there!! It’s slic-” Zeb couldn’t finish, his right foot sliding forward, nearly pulling the large Lasat to the ground. Wild flayals of his arms were the only thing that truly saved him before his friend was able to catch him.
That laugh was beautiful and wonderful to hear “You should take your own advice Zeb!” Kanan grinned. “Nice save by the way.”
Zeb gave a huffed growl, ears flicking at his long time best friend’s chiding “still got it, got … cat-like reflexes.” that dad grin plastered on his face at his own pun. Kanan gave a light laugh shaking his head.
“Papa! Come look at this!” A small female child’s voice called out.
Zeb’s ears perked, a flicker of panic unable to see the kids or the astro mech, he strode forward quickly leaving Kanan behind. Beside them to the left was the Wshrawi river, unpredictable at times, here it was more of a quick moving undertow but the surface was glassy and this time of the year reflected the leaves and gold sky. However, for ones as small as Jacen and Kelana that might be trouble. The path had dipped, and the dark muddy path broke through the bank of the river making it slick and he-almost- slipped once more. His heart sighed at the sight.
Jacen was crouched beside the river’s edge, Chopper hovering protectively near, next to them, Kelana, a small Lasat girl, gray hair pulled back in two long braids in her blue legging and white wrap top. The little girl looked up, one eye gold, the other green as she pointed to the water. Zeb was cautious to get near, so as not to slip. He saw a flashy red and black fin fish swimming in circles, letting its long tail and fins drag like festival streamers behind it, scales flashing in the speckled light of the water.
“Oh, well…” Zeb was momentarily surprised having been away from Jedi just long enough to forget the strange things that could happen.
“Jacen.” Kanan stood on the higher and dry ground away from the mud and water’s entrance, turned his closed eyes towards the four, his voice was amused but still held that note of discipline.
Jacen grinned sheepishly, his green freckles and ear tips turning a slightly darker color with a blush “Sorry father.”
When Jacen let the fish go, in a flash of fire and fins the fish swam away into the depths, the sight making Kelana gasp and chipped happily turning from the river’s edge to practically dance in front of Kanan “It was Beautiful! I promise he wasn’t hurting anything!”
“I know.” Kanan put a hand on her head and patted lightly before putting his finger to his lips “shh, Jedi stuff.”
Kelana chirped out a small Lasat giggle before waving to Jacen “Race you to the big tree!”
“Ok!” Jacen was up and running after Kelana laughing. “Can’t catch me!”
How either child did not slip, Zeb wasn’t sure as he had to pick his footing carefully in the thick and oozing mud between his toes. Distracted, Chopper took the moment to wheel past Zeb so the Lasat had to move out of the way.”CHOPPER!” Zeb snarled, feet sliding together, then apart as he fought for purchase, a few more fancy foot moves and gravity won. Zeb fell straight back on the ground with a ‘woolf’ turned growl “CHOPPER! Ya useless rust bucket!” Zeb half turned, but pulled back as Chopper circled about Zeb once just out of reach, laughing loudly at the growling Lasat before taking off after his charge.
“Are you ok?” Kanan- was not holding back his laughter.
“Yeah… fine…” Zeb got to his feet with the help of a sapling and tried to survey the damage before he nearly slipped thrice more and clung to the tree wide eyed.
The Jedi earned a glower from Zeb as he continued to laugh.“Some things never change!”
“Yeah well….” Zeb finds purchase and once on solid ground looks back to survey the damage wincing “Alex is gonna kill me…” from what he could see the whole backside was smeared in mud, leaves and other forest debris.
“Come on, or the kids will leave us behind, then what will Alex say?” Kanan still had a smirk on his lips walking with his hands in his pockets in the direction of laughing kids who-as all do, found the perfect two sticks to play lightsabers with, making sounds and all.
“Oh blimey I know exactly what he’ll say! Least I’m sure not ta be the only one coming back dirty.” He spoke watching the kids and kids will do what every kid does. “Surprised Mon Mothra let Hera go on ….holiday” wiggling his fingers like that was indeed a spooky word.
“Even Generals need time off. Also two new kids? Of course we had to come say hello…. And I may have had a hand in her getting time off.” The Jedi grinned in that mischievous way.
“Oh ya didn’t…” Zeb sounded a little shocked assuming he knew what Kanan meant by that.
“Oh I did; Brought Jacen along to puppy dog eye her, I think it worked.”Kanan’s grin grew as Zeb laughed and swatted Kanan on the shoulder.
“And how is it… two children, playing in the forest mind you, are spotless. Then there’s you, great Captain Orrelios.” Kallus’s hair had grown out, it looked like a few of the locks braided up by some young Kelana pulled into a partly messy bun away from the kit he had slung in his arms, his bangs doing nothing to hide the golden glare.
Zeb’s shoulders hunched rubbing at the back of his head before pointing to Chopper “Was his fault! Knocked me down!”
Chopper besides Hera rolled back with a sound that sounded rather indignant and warbbled back.
Hera sat on Chopper’s side of the couch with the other kit swaddled in her arms and shushed Chopper “What did I say about language!” Only getting low wants and warbleds before the Astromech decided to find the other two.
Kallus just shook his head “Go change Garazeb.” The movement woke the kit in his arms, getting small chips and mewls, a little gray tiny clawed hand reaching up for his face but only snagging the sharp claws in his tunic. To a human it may have sounded like a “tut” but the soft look on his face meant a soothing sound rather than correcting. A light brush of his chin on the Kits forehead and it settled, claws still clinging and missing his husband’s exit “Any word on Ezra?”
Hera was smiling down at the Kit in her arms as Kanan came to sit beside her and brushed his fingers over the kit’s head, getting little protest growls, the small thing stirring only a little. “Sabine, Rex and Ahsoka are looking for a way to bring him home.”
“I see…” His brows furrowed, a frown framed between his facial hair looking at Kanan “No fancy Jedi tricks?”
Kanan’s head tilted for a moment and then with a smirk “None that i’ve used.” He touched Hera lightly on the knee and smiled, almost laughing.
Hera’s brow raised, a twitch at the corner of her lips giving something away. “So life here on Lira San has been pretty kind to you both I see.” she glanced about the place, the vaulted ceilings, hard wood floors. A large ancient tree, like a centerpiece, lived in the middle of the house just to the right of the open kitchen, walls supported by large branches, wide windows… It really felt like a home. At Kallus’s hum of affirmation she continued, that smirk pulling at her lips seeing the new father enamored with the little gray kit in his arms. “Zeb told us you cook for an army.”
Kallus paused and took in a deep breath and let it out in one long softly annoyed sound as he looked up to Hera, squinting a little at seeing her expression “indeed, I’ve yet to learn how to cook for just the three of us. Thanks to Garazeb’s social nature, we feed the neighbor and his household of 8 quite often.”
A sparkle in those gold eyes had Hera suspecting Kallus did it intentionally, out of good will, to get Zeb out to talk to other Lasats or perhaps both. Hera’s com beeps and that smile breaks free, green eyes dazzling “Well, we have a surprise for you both…”
“MWAHHAHAA yer tricks won’t save ya now Jedi!” Zeb exploded into the main room by way of the tree’s trunk climbing face down, Jacen under his left arm much the way he used to carry Kanan. The kid was laughing and flailing loudly.
“I’LL SAVE YOU!! RAWL!” Kelana lept from the railing, a good 10 feet away and to her father onto his back pulling at his facial hair and one ear. Zeb’s response was a half laughed growl as he grinned trying to descend with two kids now on his person.
Kallus took a deep breath and put his fingers on the bridge of his nose, kit no longer in his arms showing off his red tunic with the gold and blue embellishments. “Karabast she scares the life out of me each time she does that.” and indeed the human looked tense “Garazeb, Your attendance for a moment.” He called for order from his Husband- partly so he did not rile the children up too much before supper.
Zeb laughed, still being clung to by the kids, he looked up –and just stopped. Stopped breathing, blinking, anything.
“I see you’re still a big kid.” The voice was missed, older, deeper. The facial hair distorts the identity but those eyes and those two scars on his cheek….
“Ezra” his voice was as fragile as the moment. The two children paused in their ruckus to look at the four newcomers. Zeb didn’t let the kids go, just bolted forward, smashing the right Jacen-less side into the young man and arm about his shoulder holding him tightly “EZRA! EZRA!” his mind was lost for words he laughed with a small shaky kreening sound, a Lasat cry. He clung tightly as if afraid Ezra would vanish once more if he let go.
“Oh… good… you remember my name…” Ezra choked out breathlessly and thudded a fist on Zeb’s chest a few times “remember, gotta breathe too!”
Jacen hangs almost limp in the left arm staring, Kelana clinging slightly fluffed to her father’s back, both kids staring at the man. The two had been forgotten for the moment as Zeb let him go, putting his clawed hand on Ezra’s shoulder, kreening a little with a smile and watery eyes “Took ya long ‘nough!”
“Hey, had Jedi things to do.” He shrugged and gave a smile to Kelana-who immediately hid behind her father’s head.
“Surprise.” another familiar voice as Zeb turned to see Sabine. “Ah Zeb, you might want to let the children go.”
Zeb’s face went from elated to self realization and looked down to Jacen before lowering the kid to his feet. He glanced back at Kelana who quickly shook her head and hid, arms about his neck to hide from the four new people. “Sabine, Rex and Ahsoka….how’d ya… how’d ya get here? What…how…”
Ahsoka smirked and eased back on her hips, Rex just chuckled but Kanan responded “Fancy Jedi tricks.”
Kallus stood from the sofa seat walking past Zeb to pluck their daughter from his back and gave Zeb a slight push “Well go hug them while I get refreshments.” He was chuckling, putting Kelana on his hip, the Lasat girl almost too big to be carried in a manner. The little Lasat girl curled against her human father’s shoulder, toes clinging onto his belt.
Sabine gave a laugh and was enveloped in Zeb’s arms.After a moment he let her go, smirking at her new hair and brushing through it with the back of his claws. “Great ta see ya Sabine.”
“What? No hug for an old Clone?” Rex sounded put out, but with a twitch of his white hair covered lips turned into a joke.
Zeb gave a smirk “Ah… wanna Lasat hug?”
“Lay it on me big fellow!” Rex put his arms out and Zeb with ease still able to lift the muscle bound clone up and hugged him tightly.
“Oh! Oh you popped my back! Oh criminy that feels so much better!” He was set down and with a glance “nice digs Captain.” Rex saluted.
Zeb saluted back and looked to Ahsoka who stood quietly to one side, arms still crossed but her smile soft and eyes dancing with joy “Ya want one too?”
“Just a hug captain, I don't need a spine realignment” she smiled and hugged the Lasat.
Zeb stood back and looked around at everyone, that happy kreen deep in his throat, eyes settling on Hera and Kanan who held the two kits “Ya… ya do this?”
“Well, we had no idea what to get you two for a Lasat baby shower, so brought your family instead.” Hera smiled, the small Lasat twisting with an angered chip, prehensile little toes gripping through the blanket to pinch Hera’s arm before kicking her with the other foot.
Zeb’s ears perked and he turned, a hand out, but couldn't move fast enough before the most girly sound left Sabine’s lips. He looked at the Mando like she was crazy.
“Oh! She is awake! Can I hold her? Um… is it a her?” hands reached out for the kit to take her from Hera. Hera smiles and instinctively holds the back of the writing Kit’s head. Dressed in a small little tunic to match Kallus’s red. She stared with wide eyes and brought the kit close a finger out for one of the little flaying gripping clawed hands, rocking and cooing at her much as she did Jacen. The Kit took her finger, claws digging in sharply. She opened her eyes, a baby gray-blue, staring back at the face above.
“This is Arsh’Rah, She is father’s little girl usually but I can see she likes ya.” Zeb stepped forward and put his claw out for the small claws to grip onto “Kit’s cant control their claws, strength or feet till two more months so watch out.”
Returning from the kitchen with a small platter of a few drinks and snacks, one little Kelana followed carrying the two bottles in hand, wrapped in a towel, right at her father’s feet. Kallus offered a drink out for Ezra, who starts drinking immediately “Yes, i wonder who could have taught them that.”
Ezra half snorts his drink, Rex letting out a deep belly laugh, Zeb shooting a look at Kallus ears pulling to the side “Nature, nature taught them that! Karabast…!”
Kallus shoots a sharp look at Zeb at the profanity, Kelana giggled “Swear jar!” She offered both bottles to Kanan.
Hera leaned over and picked up the two bottles with a smile of thanks giving one to Kanan but also helping him place the bottle right The sleepy kit growling angrily and then both sharp clawed hands gripping at the bottle, growling as he drank eagerly.
“And that is B’Kera, he’s usually sweet but he gets rather hangry.” Kallus finished the drinks and gestured for people who hadn't to take a seat. “So I must ask…. Thrawn?” he left the name in the air, a sour taste in his mouth for merely speaking it.
Ezra, flopping down as if he was still a teenager into a sofa seat grinned “Left, wherever the purgle had taken us before.”
“The New Republic has been taking steps to implement protocol and procedures just in case someone like Thrawn were to appear again.” Hera gave that ‘General Syndulla’ smile to try to reassure Kallus.
“Heh, even here we’ve been working to help Lira San’s High Honor Guard to deal with a siege and protect what’s ours, just ya know, in case.” Zeb spoke almost plainly gesturing about with his clawed hand, a smile to his husband.
“If they can even get through the star cluster.” Sabine grumbled as if there had been some issues coming to Lira San.
“Doesn’t matter, that's only the first line of defense. Lasan will *Never* happen again.” Kallus spoke sternly.
The room was silenced for a breath before Zeb slapped the edge of the chair he was in and stood abruptly “Anyhow, it’s the Gratitude festival! Sasha the Hurashajk ready yet? That scent has been making m’starve! Lets eat!”
“Hurashajk?” Ezra questioned, where accustomed to eating odd things he would still like an idea of what he was putting into his mouth.
“A large foul with tender meat, much like a turkey, and no not yet. And Love explain the festival.”
“Oh well, thats um… do I have to?” Zeb whined.
Ezra burst into laughter “Oh good you haven’t changed! Figured being a married man would have made you more mature.”
“Oh don't make me laugh.” Kallus rolled his eyes. “The Gratitude festival is a celebration of when the ‘Found’, or Lasan survivors, came home to Lira San.”
Zeb was hiding his face by rubbing his forehead and mumbles ”toldja, embarrassing.”
“Ah I get it now, on Shili we have the baby shower before the baby comes, so you two must have waited just for this day.” Ahsoka spoke up.
“Gotta lot ta be thankful for.” Zeb says softly looking at Arash’Rah before being pounced on by Kelana to sit in her father’s lap giving her a small headbutt. “Ya know, surprised at how calm ya are about all this Ezra.”
“Some of us grow up you know!”
“HA! Ok so no he had a complete melt down when we told him where you two were and up to!” Sabine laughed
“Did not!”
“Oh there were some colorful words used if my memory serves me right…and a paper bag to breathe into for a good twenty minutes.” Rex also outed Ezra took a sip from his drink to hide the not so subtle smirk.
Ezra shrunk into the chair being the one to sulk now.
“HA! Thanks fer taking the pressure off mate.” Zeb ruefully grinned.
“Oh you dont get away that easy Garazeb Orrelios! If this is something you were a part in shouldn’t there be a speech?” Hera leaned back on the couch “I expect a speech.” Zeb thankfully did not have to answer as Chopper warble a laugh.
“By the Armer did you two just AGREE?!”
“Ok now i need that paper bag again.”
“Garazeb thought it was best to focus on everyone and to record their stories so they are not forgotten. It’s on the holonet. I declined but Zeb’s is up there.” Kallus explained.
Kanan hummed “Records can always be forgotten or…lost. Happened with the Jedi.”
“The point is to try” Zeb retorted.
“Well I think that is a noble thing you’ve done. Have you watched them yet?” Ahsoka asked with a tilt of her head.
“No way, lived it once.”
“I’m going to…Well Dinner is ready, shall we talk of better things, like what we are grateful for.” Kallus rose quickly to pull the focus off of Zeb, as it were the kits needed to be put down for sleep.
Dinner was full of the usual Ghost crew antics as if no one had been apart at all. Jacen and Kelana finished early and went outside to play so the adults could have their usual chats. Really it was Zeb teasing Ezra about his beard, Kanan and Ahsoka both lamenting their ‘student’ and Ezra teasing Sabine for it before Rex brings up some stories of the past. The conversations went till dusk, all laughs, memories old and new.
“PAPA! The firesworks are starting!” Kelana burst through the door before exiting just as quickly as she came.
“Don’t slam…the door” Kallus couldn’t catch her fast enough, the small half kreening crys from the other room has him wincing.
“Ya all go, I’ll get them” Zeb grins. Doesn’t take long before Zeb is back with the Kits, the fireworks already in the sky. Jacen, Kelana, Sabine and Ezra all running about with sparklers as the world lights up with a rainbow of hues.
“You know what I’m grateful for?” Hera speaks into the brilliant night sky “Hope. we got here through hope.” and she leans into Kanan’s hand on her shoulder.