Ezra was making a huge try not to sigh as he reread the note.

Sorry, need to go. First day at work. Early shift. There's food on the fridge. Don't stay up waiting for me. 

-Love,
Dad

Ezra had hoped that for once his dad would be able to rest. Kanan told him that things would be different but nothing has changed. Not really. He sat on the couch and looked around on the small apartment. What was his dad expecting him to do in an empty apartment, with barely any furniture, all alone? Well, at least they didn't have to sleep in the car anymore.

He still was at a loss of what to do. He opened the fridge, there were a couple pancakes on a plastic plate. Dad must have ordered them. What time did he wake up anyway? he thought. Not too early he hoped. Kanan needed his sleep. He took the pancakes and put them in the microwave (which they had to buy themselves since the apartment only had two beds, a couch, a kriffing plastic table and a dusty fridge).

Ezra rested his chin on his hands as he watched the microwave heating his breakfast. When it was ready, he took it out and sat on the plastic table. Wait a second, did the even have forks? Ezra made a mental note to tell Kanan when he got back. If he was even awake by the time he got back. He finished his breakfast in complete silence. It was not something unusual. It was actually part of their routine. Ever since Ezra was old enough to take care of himself, Kanan spent way more time at work. Which resulted on the boy barely seeing his foster father. It made him sad and Ezra hated that it did. He knew Kanan was working hard because of him. If it weren't for him, Kanan would have enough money to settle down somewhere nice and built a family, a real family.

Ezra sat up and threw the plastic plate in the plastic bag they used as a trashcan. He looked around again. He could be good, he could be useful.

He looked around the house for any cleaning supplies. Nothing. He groaned. Something else, he needed to to something else. He went back to his room and picked his books from the floor. Kana always liked when Ezra studied. He always did well at school and Kanan was always proud and relieved about it.

When Ezra was younger he couldn't understand why. He figured that parents were always happy when their kids did well at school and since Kanan is his parent he was happy as well. Now, Ezra knew the real reason behind Kanan's relief and happiness that came with Ezra's good grades. Kanan was hoping Ezra would have a better life than him. Good grades would get him a scholarship, which would get him to college and college would get him a good, stable job, a good, stable life. Something he and Kanan never had.

Ezra did want a better life. But not for him, for his dad. Ever since he were old enough to understand how the world actually worked he had made a promise to himself. He would study hard, he would get good grades, he would get a scholarship, he would do good in college and he would find a good job, so his dad wouldn't have to work ever again.

He spread the books on his bed. He picked chemistry first. Schools would not start by the beginning of next month, but it wouldn't hurt to review the material from last year.

He opened the book and flipped the pages to the first chapter.

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Kanan mopped the floor harder but the yellow-brown stain still hadn't faded. The toilet was just there. Why the hell would someone pee on the floor?

Kanan sighed momentarily leaning on the mop. He had barely gotten any sleep last night. Just four hours was not enough sleep to keep him going for the rest of the day. He needed coffee. He shook his head. He didn't have time to buy coffee and even if he had coffee back home, they didn't have a coffee machine.

He rubbed his eyes and looked at the stain. He had hoped it wouldn't come to this but, he had to do this manually. He took a brush and a big amount of soap, which he spilled over the stain and started scrubbing.

Eventually, the stain started to loose it's color and actually fade away. He sighed in relief. A little bit more scrubbing and the stain was finally gone.

Kanan sighed in relief. He got up with a groan and threw the brush in the bucket with water on the floor and picked it up along with the mop.

He opened the bathroom door and walked it the small coffee shop again.

"Hey look! It's the cleaning lady" a man said from one of the tables and his friends laughed.

Kanan chuckled and shook his head as he emptied the water in the sink. He took his gloves off and washed them after he placed the cleaning supplies back on their drawer.

"Hey" he looked behind his shoulder to spot Hera cleaning some mugs.

"Hey" he replied taking some of the plates, placing them on the sink and starting to wash them.

"Just ignore them" she said. Kanan raised an eyebrow. He turned to look at her. Seeing his confusion she motioned to the guys still laughing hard in their table.

Kanan shook his head again. He turned to Hera again, leaning against the counter.

"I've dealt with worse" he said crossing his arms, smiling a little. Hera smiled too, placing a mug down and picking another.

"I know how that is" she said and she did know. Being a female bartender was...not the safest choice of career, thought this was not her choice.

"What's up with you hair by the way?"

Hera run a hand through her hair and smiled. Kanan was obviously talking about the green highlights.

"It's my daughters doing" she said turning her attention to the mugs once more, still smiling.

"Well, thankfully I don't have to worry about something like that with my boy" Kanan said turning his attention to the dishes.

Kanan took one last look at the woman. He  met her just this morning and still, he almost felt as if he had known her his whole life. He placed the now clean plate aside. Things were definitely getting better.

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Ezra sighed as he closed the geometry book and set it aside. He leaned back on the bed and it made a cracking sound. He pressed his forehead with his hand hoping to stop the oncoming head ache.

The ringing sound coming from his nightstand startled him and set him to motion. It was the phone. He reached to take it. It used to be Kanan's phone but he gave it to Ezra so he would be able to contact him at work in case of an emergency. Or the opposite.

Ezra picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey bud"

"Dad" Ezra said smiling, sitting a little straighter, his head ache long forgotten.

"Did you eat your breakfast?"

"Yeah, I-"

"Hey coffee guy where's me refill?!"

"Hera?!"

"I'm making milkshakes can't you handle it?!"

"I'm a little preoccupied at the moment!"

Ezra didn't have to keep the phone next to his ear to hear the conversation. He sighed as he heard the sound of glass shattering and Kanan cursing under his breath.

He hang up and placed the phone back on the nightstand. He wouldn't be a reason for his father to get fired...again.

He picked the biology book. Better, he had to be better. He had to do better. The phone started ringing again but, Ezra was determined not to answer. He wouldn't distract Kanan, he wouldn't get him fired again, he would do better.

The phone kept ringing bit it soon faded away in Ezra's mind. His now undivided attention was on biology and only biology. He would learn everything, he would be good and Kanan would be happy. And it would all be worth it. Right?

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Kanan wasn't happy. His head was killing him and so was his back.

"I'm too young to be this stiff" he thought as he stretched a little.

He was mopping the floor while Hera cleaned the tables. A few minutes later the both sighed in relief and placed the cleaning supplies back on the small closet.

Kanan took a look at his watch. The glass was cracked but Kanan could still see the time. A quarter past midnight. Great.

He hoped Ezra would be asleep by now but knowing the boy, he doubted it. He would probably be up waiting for him like he always did. At least he ate his breakfast and-wait. Did he ate anything else? Kanan groaned and hit his forehead.

"You okay?" Hera asked eyeing him carefully. Kanan sat down on one of the sits and hid his face on his hands. How could he be so careless? And it's not like Ezra could order food either, they had no money at home.

"Kanan?" Hera sat down next to him and placed a hand on his back.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"I kriffed up. Hera, I-how can he not hate me? This is not even the first time this happens"

"You are talking about your son?"

Kanan nodded. "I forgot to sent him something to eat. He only ate a couple of pancakes today. I-I kriffed up, again"

"Hey, it's not too late. Just grab some food to go and-"

"How am I supposed to find anything open at midnight?"

Hera though for a second. Taking a man she just met to her house didn't seem like a good idea. She knew that. That's why she was surprised by the words that left her mouth a second later.

"My house is not too far away from here. I have some left overs if you want them"

Kanan looked up at her with hope written all over his face.

"Really? You sure?"

"Yeah, sure" she said sitting up. Kanan sat up too hugging her almost aggressively.

"Thank you so much! You're a lifesaver!" Kanan squeezed her even more if possible. Hera slowly wrapped his arms around him and smiled. It just felt so right. Like she belonged in Kanan's arms.

Kanan let go and cleared his throat.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have hugged like that"

"It's fine" she said and shook her head trying to regain her focus. She looked up at Kanan and gave him a playful smile.

"Just don't do it again" she said punching him lightly in the shoulder.

"Now come on!" she said grabbing his hand and dragged him along.

"Wow!" Kanan said and ran along with the woman. Not like he could do otherwise.

As they ran Kanan couldn't help but smile while looking at the woman in front of him. She was smiling as she dragged him along, the lights of the town shops and traffic lights lightning her face. Her green eyes shined with happiness and her dark brown hair with the green highlights moved in the wind.

Kanan could almost hear his heart beating so fast inside his chest. And he knew it were not because he was running.

The reached a small building with only five or six floors. The run up the stairs and stopped on the third floor. Hera took her keys out and opened the door.

She turned around and motioned for Kanan to be quiet. They walked in and the lights were out. Hera led Kanan to the kitchen. She seemed to know exactly where she was going. Like she had done this thousands of time. She opened the fridge and pulled out a plastic container and put it in a plastic bag she grabbed from the drawer.

"Here" she whispered handing the food to Kanan.

"Thanks" Kanan whispered back. "Why are we whispering again?"

"My daughter's sleeping" she whispered back again. "I remember to feed my own child" she said trying to tease Kanan. She regretted it when she saw the hurt look in Kanan's face "Hey, hey, I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that" she said placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It's the truth" Kanan said shaking his hand off. "Thanks for the food. I owe you one" he said offering her one smile before he made his way outside and closed the door behind him.

He kept looking at the plastic bag on his hands as he walked home. What would he even say? Just sorry seemed too little. "Sorry I'm a useless father?", "Sorry I almost starved you to death again?"

By the time he had reached the building he felt as if the walls were closing around him. He took the elevator to get to the  12th floor. He pulled his keys out of his pocket and opened the door to their small apartment. The lights were out in the living room and the kitchen but, eventually at the door Kanan could see the light coming out of Ezra's room.

He sighed taking his shoes off and setting them aside. He placed the plastic bag on the plastic table and took the food out. Soup. Hera had given him chicken soup. Kanan sighed and put it in the microwave.

Then he made his way to Ezra's room. He was about to knock on the door but his hand froze just inches from it. He sighed again. Ezra had never been angry at him before about anything. This time though he was afraid he had reached him to his limits. A part of Kanan wished Ezra would be furious. Because he had every right to be. Another part feared Ezra's anger. He didn't want to see his son in pain.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Nothing. He reached for the handle slowly and opened it. Ezra was asleep, holding one of his books. With a closer look, Kanan spotted tears, almost dry by now on his face.

He wiped them away with his hand as he hugged Ezra tightly. A moment later he felt the boy move.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, it's me" Kanan said tightening his grip. "I'm so, so sorry Ezra".

Ezra pulled back. "About what?"

"I left you here with no food whatsoever, except a couple of pancakes" Kanan explain, a little worried Ezra hadn't realized something was wrong.

"Oh. That's okay"

Kanan sighed. Not again.

"No, it's not okay. Ezra, it's okay to be angry. I messed up"

Ezra smiled as he moved a little closer to Kanan. "It's not the first time I haven't eaten anything for almost a day"

His smiled dropped as Kanan cringed. Ezra looked down. He hadn't meant to upset Kanan. But his step father shook his head and smiled. He messed with Ezra's hair making Ezra chuckle and sat up.

"Come on. I brought you some homemade food for a change"

Kanan led Ezra out of his room, flipping the lights off. He put his arm around his shoulders as Ezra looked up.

"Where did you even find homemade food?"

"My new friend gave it to me"

Ezra smiled.

"Is it a girl friend?"

"Does it matter?"

"It's a girl, isn't it?"

"It's way too late and I'm way too tired to have this conversation"

Ezra laughed and Kanan hand him the soup. He went to grab a spoon and realized they didn't have any. Kanan facepalmed and groaned as he sat in the chair next to Ezra.

"I forgot to tell you, we don't have any spoons. Or knifes. Or forks" Ezra said picking the plate and slurping the soup.

"Yeah, I noticed" Kanan said as he leaned back on his chair.

"What are you gonna eat?" Ezra asked as he eyed Kanan carefully. That's right. Kanan hadn't eaten anything today. Not that he noticed.

"I grabbed something at work" he lied, and thankfully Ezra believed him. He always did.

Kanan was exhausted, hungry and feeling like a complete failure as a father. But as he looked at Ezra, slowly all those negative feelings turned into something else. Something bigger, more powerful. Love.

It's going to be okay. Kanan thought. Everything is going to be okay.