Here is a super long chapter. I do hope you guys enjoy it. 

Flashback

NPOV

Ezra laughed as he came bounding in his father's room.

"Papa!"

Kanan jerked awake with a yelp as his son's weight hit him.

"Ezra," the man groaned covering his face with a pillow.

"Come on," the teen laughed. "It's my birthday! I'm eighteen!"

Kanan uncovered his face for a moment to gaze at his boy before plopping the pillow back on his face.

"Don't remind me," Kanan groaned. "You make me an old man."

"Come on, Mama won't let me eat until you're awake," Ezra pouted snatching the pillow off his father's face.

Kanan grinned slightly, pushing himself up.

"Oh, is that so?"

Ezra seemed to understand what Kanan had in mind and scrambled to get off.

"No Papa!" He yelled as Kanan began to tickle him. "Paapa cut..cutt..stophaha!"

"Nope, it's my Baby Boy's birthday and he deserves a present," the man said as he continued to tickle his son mercilessly.

After five minutes of tickling Kanan let his son go.

"I love you and happy birthday," he said placing a kiss on the teen's head.

Ezra smiled brightly before getting up.

"I think this is going to be the best birthday ever."

Kanan smiled back and got out of bed.

"I think so too."

Present 

Kanan POV

I yawned before taking a sip of coffee.

"What's the matter Dad? Mom won't let you sleep," a deep chuckle came from the doorway

I glared over my cup at my eighteen year-old son.

"No, more like you won't let me sleep," I snapped sitting the drink down a little harder than I should have.

He cocked his head to the side.

"What did I do?"

"You left me," I mumbled looking down at the table.

I heard him sigh before the common room doors slid open.

"Kanan?" Hera asked coming in.

"I'm fine Hera," I said taking another drink.

"Are you sure? I mean, that it's the day," she said sitting down in front of me.

My hands tightened on the glass as I thought back on the event that shattered my entire world.

TWO Years AGO

NPOV

Shortly after going on a supply run, Ezra had sent a distress signal. 

"Come on Son, where are you?" Kanan sent over their bond as he frantically searched the crowded market place. 

The teen's response was weak but it was enough to track. After a few more minutes of searching Kanan found his boy laying in a pool of blood. Kanan sucked in a sharp breath at the sight.

"Ezra!"

Kanan POV

No, no, NO! I tried to ignore all the blood as I shakily dropped to my knees beside him and felt for a pulse.

"EJ? Son? Please answer me," I begged finding a very weak pulse.

"Dad," he whimpered.

I rolled him onto his back and immediately regretted it. He had several blaster shots to the chest and stomach plus three deep gashes.

"Hang on Son, you'll be okay," I promised taking my shirt off.

"It hurts," he rasped. 

"EJ  what happened?" I asked pressing the fabric to the gashes.

"Troopers...they...they grabbed me and...and beat me up," he gasped.

"Easy Son, easy," I soothed reaching for my comm.

"Papa? Please don't do anything stupid."

I looked down to see something in his face that would haunt me for the rest of my life. Acceptance, Ezra was giving up.

"EJ keep fighting, Mom will be here in a few minutes and we will get you patched up. Don't leave me," I whimpered gathering him in my arms.

"I...."

"Shh...easy save your strength," I soothed, kissing his forehead.

"Spector Two!" I yelled grabbing my comm.

"Kanan thank goodness, did you find him?" Hera asked.

"Yes but he's hurt critically; gonna need a fast pick up," I said glancing over my shoulder.

"I'm on my way," she said and the line went dead.

I replaced the device and looked down at my son. His eyes were closed and he seemed even paler.

"Please Son, stay awake, I can't lose you. Come on it's your birthday, you should be wondering what you might get," I told him.

"How about a new gun," he chuckled softly.

"The very latest, just for you," I promised.

"Papa?"

"Yes Little Light?" I said trying to keep him awake.

"I'm scared," he whimpered as the tears began to fall. "I don't want to die." 

"I know it's okay," I soothed holding him closer. "I'm here now and you are going to be okay."

He buried his head into my chest crying. I looked up to see the Phantom coming into view and land. Carefully I stood up and ran onto the ship.

Present

"Kanan? Kanan?" Hera called snapping me from my thoughts.

"What?" I asked taking another sip of coffee.

She smiled trying to make me feel better.

"Want to go into town for the celebration?"

"No," I said.

"Come on, now that the Empire is defeated, there's a reason to enjoy 'Empire Day,'" she reasoned.

"I said no Hera."

She sighed hanging her head.

"Kanan I get why today is so hard, believe me I do, but he would want you to be happy."

I eyed her critically not able to stop the anger I felt.

"Happy? How can I be happy? He died and there is nothing I can do to bring him back."

My voice broke at the end.

"Kanan," my wife whispered as she got up and put her arms around me.

"She's right you know," Ezra said still standing by the door. "Dad, it wasn't your fault."

I looked up at him to see the light blue mist that surrounded his form.

"Yes it is, if I had gone with you, you would still be here, celebrating your twentieth birthday," I whispered holding back my tears.

Ezra just shrugged his shoulders.

"Ehh...my birthdays weren't always that great."

I snorted at that.

"Besides you have to remember all the good times," he said. "Go. Make peace."

I shook my head, I knew he was right but I still didn't want his presence to leave me.

"I won't leave you, as long as you have your memories, you'll never loose me," he said before vanishing.

"Hera," I sighed looking at her.

"Yes Dear," she whispered.

"Let's go to the celebration."

Later that night

Hera POV

I couldn't believe the amount of people that filled the town square. Everyone was happy and I felt a sense of pride knowing that I was one of the reasons they were free. I looked over to Kanan to find him deep in thought.

"Credit for your thoughts Hun?" I asked.

He looked at me before grinning slightly.

"I was just thinking about Ezra. He would have loved to seen all of this. I know how much he hated having to leave here," he said quietly.

I smiled remembering that night that seemed so long ago.

"You're right," I smiled.

We continued to walk enjoying the celebration when Kanan suddenly stopped short.

"Kanan? What is it?" I asked turning to him.

He nodded his head forward. I turned to see a small family. A mother, father and a little boy no older than seven. A family that was once like us.

"Feel old yet?" Kanan joked.

"I do, but you know what else I feel?" I asked turning back to him.

"What?" He said confusion on his face.

"Pride," I answered. "Pride, knowing that I am one of the reasons that, that family can live in peace. That little boy can grow up without fear and not have to grow up in a war."

Kanan's eyes saddened for a moment before looking up and widening.

"We're close," he whispered before ducking into an alley.

Kanan POV

Seeing the small family reminded me so much of Ezra. The fact that he wasn't here to help celebrate the Empire's defeat made the pain in my heart increase. Looking off to the side I saw the alley.

"We're close," I whispered walking into the alley with Hera close behind.

After a few turns, we arrived at the spot.

"Kanan?"

I turned to my wife trying to stop the tears that were welling up in my eyes.

"This is where I found him."

She didn't need to hear anymore. Quickly Hera wrapped her arms around me, holding me close.

"Ezra knew that he was going to die," I whispered. "I shouldn't have let him go by himself."

"But you did because he was a strong man; a strong man that was caught off guard. Kanan, he doesn't blame you for what happened, so it's time for you to forgive yourself," Hera said pulling back.

I sighed before kneeling just like I had two years ago.

Flashback

Once I got onto the Phantom I yelled at Hera to get going.

"How is he?" She yelled yanking on the controls.

"He needs the med-bay now!" I yelled getting down on my knees afraid that I would drop my precious load.

Ezra moaned in pain; his eyes fluttering open.

"Dad," he whispered.

"We're on the Phantom, it's okay," I said shifting him slightly.

"I'm sleepy," he whimpered.

That made my heart race.

"No, don't fall asleep," I said clutching him tighter. "Hang on a little more, then you can."

I felt the ship speed up. Soon we made it back to the Ghost and I was running the second the door opened. Ezra moaned in agony as I laid him down.

"Hang on Son, you're going to be alright," I told him.

While Hera hooked him up I gathered the supplies. Turning back to them I saw a heart breaking sight. The screens showed a slowing heart rate and a low blood pressure. Hera turned to me, tears in her eyes.

"Kanan, it's too late," she whispered gripping our son's hand. "We can't save him."

I growled pushing her out of the way and went to work. Even after a few minutes I could see that it was a lost cause.

"Ezra I'm so sorry," I whimpered gripping his hand tight.

He turned his head, eyes unfocused.

"Papa, I love you," his voice soft.

"EJ please," I begged. "Baby please don't leave me."

He turned his head to Hera.

"Mama, I love you."

"I love you too Baby, so much," she whimpered kissing his forehead tenderly.

The monitor was getting slower.

"EJ."

His turned to me.

"Baby Boy I love you so so much," I took a deep breath and kissed his forehead hard.

As the monitor flatlined...I broke.

Present

Silent tears fell down my face. Looking up I saw Ezra's spirit appear.

"I am so sorry. This was all my fault."

He shook his head and smiled.

"It is wasn't your fault. It was the Empire's, you avenged my death when you defeated them. It's time to move on," he said to me.

"But I miss you so much," I whimpered.

"I miss you too, but I'm okay," he reassured and kneeled in front of me.

"Papa, let me go," he smiled.

Hera knelt down beside me.

"He's here, isn't he?" She whispered in my ear.

"He is," I answered.

Ezra's smile broadened seeing his mother.

"Mom that battle was awesome!"

I chuckled glad to know he still had his antics.

"He says, that battle was awesome," I told Hera.

"I knew I felt him in the cockpit during all of that," she smiled. "Baby I love and miss you."

"I love you too," my boy said.

"He says he loves you too," I relayed.

Hera nodded before looking at me. As much as I didn't want his presence to leave I knew that I was ready to move on.

"For two years I have grieved for you Son. For two years I have thought of nothing but taking down the Empire. Making them pay for what they did to you, but now that they have been defeated...sigh...I'm ready to move on. I know now that as long as I have my memories you will always be around." 

Ezra smiled as he slowly started to fade. 

"It's okay, we're going to be okay," I said watching him fade completely away. 

"Kanan?" Hera question after a few minutes. 

"He's gone, but I'm alright," I said looking at her. 

She smiled as I got to my feet. 

"Let's go enjoy the celebration," I said feeling lighter than I had in years. 

Hera took my hand and together we did just that. 

I hope ya'll enjoyed. Please let me know what ya'll thought and have a great day.