Sabine woke and stretched, then told herself 'today is going to be a good day,' like she always did. She planted a smile on her face as she pulled her boots on.

Then her smile deflated as she remembered what she had overheard last night. Unbeknowst to Ezra and Ashton, she had been fully awake when Ezra had 'dropped' Ashton off. Sabine looked at the top bunk and sure enough, the blanket was misplaced and the pillow indented. She could also detect a faint whiff of . . . whatever streetrats smell like. Dirt.

She wrinkled her nose and punched the wall, unexplainably frustrated, and for some reason on the verge of tears. She had no idea why, but it felt good to get some of it out. She punched the wall a few more times, until she cut her hand.

"OW!" she yelled. Removing her glove, she saw blood already dripping down her knuckle. Sabine groaned. They was going to be hard to explain to mama Hera. She put her knuckle in her mouth and began looking for bandages, ignoring the emotional tears running freely down her face.

A few minutes later she emerged from her room, headed straight for the kitchen. As soon as they saw her, Kanan and Zeb knew to stay away from the Mando. They had seen her emotional before. They knew to give her room.

*switching to first person: Sabine*

"Hey Hera?" I called after brunch. I was able to keep my voice neutral only from years of expierence.

"Yes Sabine? I'm over here," Hera called from her room. I walked over and peeked in.

"Is their anything you need me to do?" I asked, simply of of politeness and the fact that I did this often.

Hera furrowed her brow, and just when I thought the coast was clear, she snapped her fingers.

"You know what Sabine, I would love it if you would clean the Phantom for me. I was going to, but but I have so much other work right now . . . "

I smiled on the outside and nodded, not trusting myself to say anything.

Clean the Phantom?! That would take hours! I inwardly groaned, but kept the smile on my face as I headed off to 'work'.

***

I was right. It had taken hours. All morning and afternoon! A whole day, wasted. C'mon Kanan, did you have to take it through that dust storm? The stuff clogs everything. Blah.

By the time I wiped my brow for the final time, the sun had begun to set! I quickly put my tools away, yelled I was done, and took a walk.

Now, let me tell you, Lothal is truly a beautiful place at sunset. Today though, it was especially beautiful for some reason. I sighed as I leaned up against a tree. The colors in the sky were so vibrant; it was actually romantic. I unconsciously though of Ezra.

Before I could go anywhere with that thought though, I heard something. Voices.

I quickly ran and hid behind a rock, my heart pounding. 'Who else even knew about this place?' I wondered. Slowly, as the voices grew louder, I peeked over the side of the rock to see . . .

(Guess who)

(Heehee . . . X)

(.......)

. . . Ezra and Ashton, hand in sweet hand, laughing, giggling, smiling. I watched them, with steam coming out of my ears, as the two leaned up against the same tree I was just a minute earlier.

***

Ezra laughed. He put his arm over Ashtons shoulder as they sat, and Ashton put her arm behind his back.

"Wow, it really is beautiful, huh." Ashton said. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and Ezra placed his on hers.

"Mhh," he said. The two stayed next to each other, just enjoying the time they had together. Slowly, they started sliding, and in a minute, they were flat on their backs.

Ezra reached over his body and with his left hand grabbed Ashtons right. He then put his right arm on the ground and she placed her head on it. They relaxed, and didn't say anything as they watched the ceasing of a day occuring.

Then, just as Ezra though he was going to fall asleep, Ashton spoke.

" So, Ezra, how long have you been with the Ghost crew again?" Inwardly the padawan sighed. Not only was he enjoying the peace and quiet, but this was like the third time she had asked. Still, he didn't want to be rude, so he replied.

"5, maybe 6 years." She stayed quiet, so Ezra assumed she was done. He took a deep breath, about to let himself fall asleep, when,

"Hera's the lifesaving pilot, right?" She began again. Ezra sighed and opened his eyes. For the next few minutes he wasted his life repeating asnswers to questions the questiner already knew the answers to.

Finally, she seemed to run out of questions. On the ground still, she lay her head on his shoulder. He rested his on hers. Breath in, breath out. Breath in, breath ou-

"How long have you known Sabine?" Now Ezra was irratated.

"Tonia," he began. "can we please just enjoy each others compa-"

"Ray, please, I'm just curious. You know me, I've always been the curious one." She pleaded with him. Ezra relented.

"I've known her for as long as I've known the others, 5 or 6 years." He said grumpily. She nodded, which in turn moved Ezra's head up and down, but he didn't mind.

She continued, but spoke almost shyly now. "I guess I'm just taking the long way around my real question." She took a deep breath. "I guess what I really want to know is; are you guys like a thing or something?"

"What!?" Ezra asked. He flung his eyes open and moved his head back so he could stare at hers. She pulled hers back, looking at him curiously.

"No, no-o . . . " he stuttered, internally freaking out as heat rushed up his neck. She smiled, but Ezra had no idea what emotion led her to do that.

"So you don't like her?" She pushed. Ezra answered what all boys would answer in this situation (no offense men:).

"No, no way, like her?" He said weakly.

"She's a Mandalorian. Jedi and Mandalorians can never be together." He continued, keeping his sadness and mixed emotions concealed.

Ashton thought for a moment, and the answer seemed to satisy her. She then smiled up at him adorably. With the sun moments from setting compleatly, she poised her last question of the night.

"Do you like anyone, Ray?"

Ezra blinked, then opened his mouth, then closed it. Before he could continue with whatever it was he was doing, he felt it.

Soft, like a young Loth cats tail, was how he would describe them. It lasted only a moment, but when they pulled back, he realized he had just had his first ever kiss. Literally. He had never even kissed his parents before. He placed his head back on the ground and squeezed her hand, smiling.

"Ya know, I might have just developed a crush on a certain someone, Tonia."

***
*Sabines POV*

I couldn't believe what I was watching. I watched as they pulled apart, and it just broke my heart. I couldn't take it anymore.

I quietly ran behind a boulder 100 years away, covered my mouth, and commenced to scream. I screamed and screamed until my voice was hoarse and my throat raw. Tears rolled down my face. I thought about what he said.

"Jedi's and Mandalorians can never be together."

'Was he right?' I thought. 'Is it true?' And when I thought about it, the answer to both was 'yes'. My family, once we found them, would kill me and Ezra if we even showed signs of liking each other! Never mind if we were together. It re-broke my heart. I couldn't take this.

I ran to the Ghost, up the ramp, and stopped at the ladder. I looked out over what I could of Lothal from the ramp. I saw Ashton and Ezra walking back here, laughing, and I ran up that ladder like my life depended on it.

Even though it wasn't that late, I went to my room, skipping dinner. I just couldn't have anyone see me right now. They were so used to me being the emotionless, strong, kick-butt warrior. I refused for them to see me as the weak, crying baby.

I threw my face in my pillow, wishing I had someone to hug and talk to. I was also wishing that I wasn't always so strong, and portraying myself as untouchable, because I wasn't. But I didn't let them know that. I couldn't. I just continued keeping my pain to myself.

Until I heard my door open. I almost had a heart attack. I speed dried my tears and pretended I was asleep.

"Sabine, I know your awake, don't try to get out of it now."

Hera. The first and last person I wanted to see right now. How would she react to me like this? Would she slap me for my weakness? Pity me? I couldn't believe it was happening.

(Third person POV)

Hera walked over and sat on Sabines bed. She rubbed the teens back, feeling her shoulders shaking.

'Poor thing,' Hera thought. She knew Sabine's emotions over Ezra were complicated. She just didn't know how complicated. But she did know that Ashton coming years n right now was playing on Sabine's feelings.

She continued rubbing her space daughter's back, murmuring words of love and comfort. Finally, Sabine took a huge breath, and sat up, facing the wall, away from Hera. She hiccuped, but tried and failed at disguising it as a cough.

"I'm . . F-fine . . Hera. P-please go a-a-away." Sabine refused to turn around and confirm to Hera that she had been crying, even though she knew it was too late. She folded her arms around and hugged herself.

Suddenly she felt two more arm around her! Sabine started freaking out. She pushed and shoved against the arms.

"Hera w-what are you d-doing?! Let me go! L-let me g-go!" She cried. She tried to continue fighing, but it wasn't working. She broke down and covered her face, bawwling her eyes out. She leaned into Hera's embrace.

"Oh Hera," she began, sobbing. "I'm s-so sorry, its just I was watching the sunset, a-and Ezra and Ashton came, a-and they were all laughing a-and joking, and they kissed! and Ezra said he didn't like me, and that w-we can never b-be t-together, oh Hera!" The girl cried.

Hera felt her heart go out to her. Dealing with a secret crush, and then being totally shut out? Hera didn't know how to help her, other than to just be there for her.

"I'm so sorry Sabine. Always know though, that I will always be here for you, ok?" Sabine nodded, sniffing. The two stayed cuddled for a while. Then, inevitably, they fell asleep, putting the that behind them.

O H M Y G O S H!!!!
"What just happened!?!?!?" ~Mel B.
1800 words!?! That's what just happened! I had only planned for 1000 of those words too! Like, how did that happen? I was just writing along, and then I decided to-
Oh, wait, you guys want to know what just happen with ASHRA, huh. Well, I can't just tell you what going to happen! You'll just have to wait and see for yourself . . . *grins and chuckles evilly*
Oh hey, which do you like better: Sabezra or Ashra (Ashton and Ezra(duh))
Let me know in the comments!
Until next time, rebels!
Bye!

~Me