Ezra pulled open the front door, panting from his work out. He glanced around the area before hearing voices in the kitchen. Walking in, he drew the attention of Hera and Zeb who were discussing school. Ezra looked between the two before saying, "Hey I just got back. I'll hurry up and change to help. Do you mind if I take a quick shower?"

Hera smiled at the sweaty teen before saying with a smirk, "Oh you can take all the time you need in the shower. I don't need you stinking up the kitchen."
Ezra chuckled before running out leaving the two adults alone. "Where wa' he?" Zeb questioned puzzled. Hera absentmindedly answered, "He went on a run." The boy shrugged and walked up the stairs, deciding not to question the kids tactics.

10 minutes later, Ezra walked into the kitchen dressed in sweatpants and a blue t shirt. He causally pulled his hair up while walking over to Hera, seeing what she was preparing. He hummed and nodded, "Chicken wings and mashed potatoes. Nice choice."
Hera smiled from the praise and said distractedly, "How was your run?"
Ezra nodded and turned around to wash his hands, "Fine, I think I got a good 5 miles in." The women's eyes widened but didn't let it show, "Really? If you like running so much, you should join track."
The teen shook his head disapproving, "I don't run for the school because I don't really want to and they also don't let 'special' kids join." Hera's eye twitched "That's stupid." Ezra let out a chuckle as he started to boil the pot of peeled potatoes. "I agree but no one really cares because no handicapped child has wanted the joy of running at school or at least since I've been there."
Hera nodded but said but, continuing the debate, "But the kids should still have that option open to them. It's not fair that a child with no handicaps has the ability to sign up and participate in any club while the other child has a limited choice of where to go."
Ezra smiled softly at the women as she sighed exasperated.
"Hera, the kids don't fight back because a gymnasium right by the school has classes for disabled kids like basketball for wheelers, track for prosthetics, volleyball for prosthetics, and many more. I myself went there for a while to get out of the house. Not a lot of kids go but at least that's there. Plus who wants to do sports in front of the other kids. That leads to bullies and everyone knows that." Hera paused from marinating the chicken and said confused, "What? But that's even more stupid. High school sure has changed since Kanan and I went."
The blue haired boy looked down and the granite, "Yep, more biased kids, harder classes, more doped kids, and teachers who chose which student is better then everyone."

The next day went on like every other school day, get up, eat breakfast, bring backpacks/bags, load into the truck, get out at school, and become separate people. But after-school everything went down hill.
Sabine and Zeb were waiting outside in the front against the truck, growing anxious very moment. Finally after what seemed like eternity to Sabine, Zeb called it and they both entered the High School intent with finding their brother. The two teens suddenly paused as they heard a deep voice vibrate through the halls and glanced at each other, making up their decision instantly. They ran off taking a left and a right before stopping with wide eyes at the scene before them.

With papers thrown everywhere, Ezra was leaning against the lockers with a smirk as the leader of the football team, trash talked Ezra poorly as he was getting on his nerves.
"You worthless, piece of shit. Nobody will ever like you so forget loving. So since nobody is ever going to care, I'm going to use you as my worthless punch bag, k?" Sabine and Zeb silently cringed as they thought of soooooo many ways to fix his 'trash talk' but gave up as they heard the voice of who they were looking for.
"You know you tell me I'm worthless about seven times a school day and we have about 170 school days so 170 x 7 = 1,190. So I am told that I'm worthless 1,190 times a year at least but the funny thing is, is I still don't believe it." He gave a humorlessly chuckle as he stood up with the help of the lockers before he gave a smirk.
Ezra suddenly lounged at the boy and swung his fist, instantly hitting his unexpected target. Sabine and Zeb's eyes widened as they heard the skin hitting skin and the heavy boy fell with dazed eyes to his back. He groaned as he rolled on the floor with his hands cupped to his face. Ezra stood up proudly and looked at the other two with a nonchalant face, "Do you want the same privilege?" The two shorter bullies that were just watching shook their heads furiously and instantly grabbed their leader and hauled him up. As the idiots ran or tried to run off, Ezra slumped against the lockers with a groan and his false act came down. Only as he reached the floor from sliding, only then did they siblings trance break and rush towards the teen.
Ezra chuckled weakly as they crouched and frowned at his face which adorned a black eye, split lip, and bruised cheek. "Hey, sorry I was late and that you had to see that." Sabine ignored his comment and said sadly as she heard Zeb scurrying around to gather his papers, "Why didn't you tell us, Ezzy? Why not let us help you?" Ezra weakly coughed as he irritated his ribs from sitting up straighter, "Because, why get you worried over something as dumb and stupid as name calling? Something's in life are your battles and only yours and this was one of them. I will admit though it's nice to have someone to help me up." He smiled at her as his blue eyes glazed over, making her worry. She lightly tapped his face making him look up at her with half lidded eyes.
Zeb kneeled down beside them with Ezra's bag in hand, the papers thrown inside from hurrying. He slowly passed it to the teen beside him and traded Sabines hand with his own. "I'm going to pick you up now, ok? We need to get you home." He said sincerely with a grimace.
Ezra weakly smiled at the buff man and said softly, "Home. Such a foreign word but is a nice one to finally say." Zeb smiled back softly, as he gently slid his arms under his knees and shoulders. A hiss escaped Ezra's grasp as his ribs were moved and groaned in pain as his head leaned against Zeb's chest. He looked over at Sabine, "Yeah I think it's time for me to get some sleep." And his head dropped. The two conscious teens glance a worry look before rushing out of the building to the truck.

"Hey mum, can you do something for me?" Sabine asked over the phone. Hera furrowed her eyebrows as she watered the plants in the front of the house with the phone squished between her shoulder. "Sure, what do you need, Love?" "Um, could you get out the first aid for when we come home in about 5 minutes?" Her eyes widened as her hurried inside after dropping the water canteen. "What happened and don't bother lying." Looking under the kitchen sink, she could hear a sigh, "We were waiting outside for Ezra when he didn't show up so we went inside to find him. We then see these kids trash talking him or at least trying to and then Ezra punched the guy and they all ran off. Zeb and I ran to him only for him to pass out a few minutes later. We don't know all his injuries but he has a black eye, bruised cheek, and split lip. Zeb also heard him hiss in pain when he picked him up so maybe some bruises on his stomach."
Hera paused in her movements from setting out the supplies and leaned against the granite with her hands. She sighed and despair and said softly, "So that's what he meant last night. I should have known."
A car in the driveway drew her attention away from her guilt and she raced to the front door, placing the phone on the counter. Opening it open, her heart clenched when she saw Zeb carry the limp kid up to her. Rushing inside with the child, Zeb quickly raced to the kitchen and laid him across the island. The overprotective women quickly got to work, ordering them to work to remove his clothes. The teens sat him up to remove his hoodie and Hera on unbuttoning his jeans.

Finally with him in boxers, they could finally felt the guilt weigh on their shoulders as they stared at his bruised stomach and sides. "No wonder he was groaning in pain and passed out." Zeb whispered sadly. Hera ignored them and quickly went back to under the sink for the bigger first aid kit. Dropping the red bag on the counter, she dug around before pulling out a big ball of wrapping.
Hera quickly went around the counter to get closer to check his ribs and quickly found out his ribs were just bruised instead of broken, thankfully.
She grabbed both of his wrist, pulling him into a sitting position, wrapping his ribs with the bandages. After finishing the entire wrap that covered his entire chest and torso, she went to his face, just adding some ointment and then an ice pack for the swelling.

Hera nodded to the teens and watched as they carefully scoped him up and took him upstairs. She sighed regretfully and pulled out her phone, hitting speed-dial to the only person who she could think to call.

Kanan quickly answered his personal phone as he knew Hera wouldn't be calling unless it was an emergency. "Hey Honey, what's wrong?" He could hear shaking breaths on the other line and sat up straighter in his seat, "Honey?" "Kanan, I can't believe I didn't realize sooner." He frowned as he could practically hear the tears running down her face, wanting nothing more than to reach through the phone and wipe them. "Believe what, Honey?" "Sabine and Zeb brought home Ezra who was beaten by some older kids and last night, he told me about some bullies and handicap problems at school. I should have seen the connection early, Kanan. I should have done something earlier." A sob sounded over the device and Kanan's heart broke.
"Honey, he probably didn't tell you directly because he didn't want you to know. Don't blame this on yourself, it was not your fault. And if you still think it is, then help him now to make up for it. Now, I'm going to try and get off early so I can come home and check up on you all. Now I have to go but remember what I said. Goodbye Honey." He could faintly heard his wife say before hanging up, "And they call me the overprotective one."
The ponytailed man stood from his chair and stuffed his phone into his pocket before walking over to the glass doored office that belonged to his boss. He knocked and received a 'come in' before entering. Kanan took in the appearance of her.
The tan skin, sky blue eyes and royal blue hair with a beaded headband. She smiled and said softly, "What could I do for you, Mr. Jarrus?" He smiled back, "Um, I was wondering if I could leave a little early today, if that's alright?" The boss furrowed her eyebrows, "May I ask why?" Kanan sighed and said sadly, "My wife just called and told that our new foster kid was beaten at school and is freaking out. Just want to make sure the family's alright." She stood up from the news and said a little fearfully, "Is Ezra alright?"
Kanan in reply furrowed his own brows and asked curiously, "How did you know his name?" She smiled sadly, "I was working his case. I was the only person he would allow to touch him after his parents were killed. I wasn't allowed to take him in though, it was against the rules at the time sadly." Kanan frowned, "Sorry to hear that. I'll tell him you said hi and maybe bring him by sometime if you want." She smiled back, "If you could that would be wonderful and to answer your question from earlier, you may leave now if you wish." Kanan nodded and thanked her.

Driving home, Kanan sat in his car and thought about his family and what to say to Hera. But as his thoughts moved to their new member, he couldn't help but think, 'It's one small world. Almost everyone knows Ezra, even my boss, Ahsoka. That reminds me, I've got to tell him she says hi.' 

Hello Peeps!!!!! I'm sorry for not updating sooner, I've had a lot of studying and testing as it is that time of year. I hope you are also enjoying this book and I can't forget to say Happy Mothers Day!!! I wish you all a happy day and don't forget to comment and vote. Bye bye!!☺️☺️

-Momo