Ideas by jujufox6_X0X0 , FireNoxLaea , and Medpride

P.S.: This book will probably end in a couple of chapters after I'm done with the requests. I've been losing interest in writing this and still have other things to get writing and published.

I've recently published a new book called It All Started with a Fight. Yes, it's a SWR AU, so go and check it out!

Enjoy!!!

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Hera's P.O.V

I woke up to a slight pain in my stomach before it grumbles. I didn't eat much during the day since my schedule was packed tight with little breaks. At the end of the day, I didn't think twice once my head hit the pillow. I was out like a light, forgetting that I still had to eat.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I threw my legs over the side of my bed and stood up. My legs were a bit wobbly from just waking up but managed to walk towards the kitchen.

I opened the door to the common room to pass through the room to the other door. Instead, I paused in surprise to see Ezra sitting at the table with a bowl of fruit. He was blankly staring at the wall, lost in deep thought.

"Ezra," I quietly, questioned. The boy didn't flinch and kept staring down the wall. That's when I noticed the dark bags under his eyes and a tired outline structuring his face.

   I got closer and laid a hand on his shoulder, gently shaking him.

   "Ezra," I said, again and he jumped back, staring at me in shock. His hand was placed over his heart and breathed heavily as if he ran a marathon.

   "You gave me a heart attack," he said.

   "Sorry, but you weren't responding," I replied, worried.

   Then asked, "What's wrong? Can't sleep?"

   He fidgeted with his fingers and eyes drawn towards the tables surface. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Something like that."

   A memory a couple days back came along in my mind. The day Ezra came back from the academy along with his friend, Jai.

Flashback

   "Understand?" I asked Jai.

   I just got done telling Jai how he and his mother were going to have to go into hiding. He nodded, reluctantly still trying to process this new life style now. It was going to be hard but the rebels will do their best to keep him and his family safe.

   I was about to lead him into the ship when he grabbed my wrist. I thought he was going to betray us but his grip loosened and look of worry spread across his face.

   "Is there something wrong?" I asked.

   "Um...has Ezra been having nightmares lately?" He asked, reluctantly. I was taken back by the question and gave him my full attention.

   I crossed my arms and replied, "Not that I know of."

   "Lately, I've seen him wake up and breathing heavily. Then leaves but he's always back by morning when I wake up," he explained. This was news to me.

  Did Kanan know about this? Why hasn't Ezra brought up the matter?

  That's when I realized that he probably had to deal with them on his own. No one would have thought twice to stop and help a poor child through a nightmare. He was alone for most of his life...but not anymore.

   I gave Jai a small smile.

   "Thank you for telling me this."

End of Flashback

   "What was it about?" I asked, sitting on the other side of the table. Ezra seemed confused then glanced to his side.

   "What are you talking about?" He asked, nervously but hide it well. Just not well enough.

   "You know very well what I'm asking," I said.

Ezra's P.O.V

   What was I supposed to tell her?!

   I had some stupid nightmare because I get scared easily! Pathetic! Why won't she just leave it be and go back to bed?

   I'll admit. It was a bad nightmare, though.

Flashback

   We were thrown in a cell.

   It wasn't an Imperial but it was definitely old looking, wet, and cold

   We've been here for days, chained to the wall and beaten bloody with scrapes, scratches, and bruises. She was worse than me. The guy that captured was red with black tattoos all over his body. When he walked, there was always a clank in every other step.

   He was a crazy sith that wanted to train me for the dark side, using her as an 'influence.'

   He walked in, talking under his breathe.

  That's when the torture began for both of us.

   I had to watch and beg for him to stop as he tortured her slowly and painfully. Her skin was pale from blood loss and life painstakingly dripping away until there was nothing.

   Until she would disappear.

   Her last breathe.

   Last scream.

   Forever in peace in mind.

   While I lost all peace of mind when she was gone.

   Hera was gone.

   Forever.

   The sith stood over the bloody corpse with the only light coming from his red light saber, illuminating the room.

   I yelled at the sith. Anger building up.

   Darkness consuming me bit by bit. Grain by grain. The cold covered me like a blanket. Yet, there was no warmth or comfort.

   Only despair and fear.

   "You are mine."

   I woke up.

End of Flashback

   The memory of the nightmare sent a shiver down my spine.

Hera's P.O.V

   "Ezra..."

   I didn't think my concern for the padawan would get any higher than it has. I was wrong. He was so still, frozen in place and seemed to pale. His hands clenched his arms and bit down on his lip to the point where it started to bleed.

   I moved until I was sitting right next to him.

   "Ezra, snap out of it and look at me," I ordered, gently. He shook his head no and his breathing increased to the point I thought he was panicking.

   I calmed my nerves, shakily breathing in and out. I can't panic when he's the one that's in trouble. I lifted my hand and started to comb my fingers through his hair. It was out of my character and a little awkward for my part.

   What kind of crew member comforts another by petting there head?

   Yet, he was still young and has endured through more than my childhood. He was strong just like his master.

    But even the strongest people have a breaking point. This was Ezra's and I had to do something similar that his parents may have done to calm him.

   Ezra doesn't talk about his parents much. Sometimes, when the moment was right, he would let out few details. I happen to remember quite a few for some reason. Now, I'm using what I learned to help.

   "Hun, whatever is going on, you can always tell me or Kanan," I spoke, gently. Ezra seemed to relax a little by little with my words and touch.

   "I-I know," he stuttered.

   "It's just-"

   "-you haven't had someone to talk to in a long time. So you can protect yourself by keeping it to yourself. I know it's not easy but you're not alone anymore. You can come to us anytime you need to talk or seek comfort. We're here for you," I explained. Ezra seemed mystified by my speech, speechless even.

   He looked away for a moment before looking back at me with a small grin. I smiled a bit and brushed a few strands of hair out from his face before sliding an arm around his shoulders.

   He leaned in and laid his head on my shoulder. I kept my fingers going through his locks of hair.

   I was about to suggest that we should go to bed when soft snoring invaded the air. My eyes glanced down to see Ezra sound asleep. A smile graced my lips again before pressing them onto his forehead.

   "Night, Ez."

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