Maia tucks her red hair behind her pointed ear, tilting her head. "Ezra, what are you doing?"

"What's it look like? I'm trying to perfect my form." He replies, turning off his training saber. He returns it to his hip, watching his peers spar with each other. Buzzes and crackles fill the room along with shouts of glee. Lightsaber dueling is easily everyone's favorite class of the day.

Ezra sighs, quickly noticing how many of them already have their padawan braids. He touches his shoulder, reaching for where his braid should be. He is still hasn't been chosen yet.

Maia, one of his closest friends, fiddles with her robes as she studies his face. She and Ezra have always gotten along. She's quiet and kind. Ezra usually does all of the talking while she patiently listens and inputs when she feels like it. She's pretty shy, but that didn't stop Ezra from becoming her friend back when they were younglings. Ever since that faithful day, they've been almost inseparable.

Keyword: almost.

Now Maia, like many of their peers, spends most of her day with her master. Ezra doesn't blame her for this, of course, but he's frustrated that he is one of the few left who hasn't been chosen. Every day, he trains and works hard to try to impress any of the masters, but none seem to even care.

"Maia, how did you get your master to notice you?" Ezra softly asks.

This strikes her. Ezra is not himself. He seems downcast and so worried lately. Even when he is sad, dueling lessons always bring a smile to his face. He's always been confident in himself and bold when speaking. Secretly, Maia is jealous of him for these traits. It takes everything in her to speak at a normal volume to people she hardly knows while he can chatter with just about everyone in the Temple.

What has happened to Ezra that is making him act like her?

"Maia?" He repeats, looking back at her. "What did you do to get your master's attention?"

"I don't know." She shrugs. She bites on the inside of her cheek, thinking back to that day. "Master Allie just pulled me aside one day and told me that she felt that the Force was calling her to me. I don't think I did anything special if that's what you're asking."

Ezra doesn't respond, a gentle pout on his face.

Maia gives him a comforting smile. "Don't beat yourself up. There's still plenty of masters out there looking for padawans. I'm sure someone will see you and jump at the chance to train you."

"Thanks for the encouragement, Maia," Ezra replies, but his gaze is on the floor. "But I don't think the masters feel the way you think they do about me."

"Ezra." She quietly says, touching his shoulder. He slightly glares, upset with his situation. "Just be patient. A master will choose you, I know it." She continues, giving him a sympathetic smile.

But it does nothing to calm the anxiety of not being chosen inside of him. "I think I'm going to go meditate for a while." He says, lowering his head. "I'll meet you for supper, okay?"

"Okay." She agrees, watching him exit the room. She tugs at her padawan braid, hope filling in her heart for her best friend. She knows that today he'll find his master. She can feel it, the electricity in the Force around Ezra. He just needs to be patient.

xxx

Ezra grumbles, sitting on bench out in the gardens. Usually, the sound of the bubbling fountain puts him into an easy meditative state. Today, it's distracting. He can't stop watching the way the waves send ripples through the pond, making the lily pads bounce around. He pouts, using the Force to sending them bobbing into each other.

"Hello there, young one. Mind if I join you?"

Ezra looks up, a soft smile on his face. "Of course not, Master Kenobi." He says. He scoots over, making plenty of room for the older master. Gently, Obi-Wan sits beside the youngling on the cold concrete bench.

"What are you doing out here? I would think someone as energic as you would be learning new lightsaber tricks." Master Kenobi teases, breaking the silence between them. Ezra has had a few classes with the great Jedi master, most of them before he can remember. He usually spends most of his time teaching either the really young younglings or the fresh knights, so Ezra has not spent a lot of time with him.

"I'm just feeling a little down right now," Ezra replies, sitting up to show his respect to the master.

"What's troubling you?"

Ezra slightly frowns. "It's going to sound really selfish, but I'm jealous of all of my friends. All of them have masters and I still haven't been picked yet. I haven't even had a master show any interest in me!" He exclaims, getting a few short chuckles from Master Kenobi. He crosses his arms, looking at the master through the corners of his eyes.

"Oh, yes. I remember those days very well. Don't worry, I'm sure it's not as bad as you think it is. Soon, you'll long for the days when you didn't have someone constantly watching over you and correcting everything you do." Master Kenobi says, relaxing his arms into his sleeves.

"I'm sure you never had any trouble finding a master." Ezra mumbles, resting his head in his hand. What would Master Kenobi know? He's one of the best Jedi this Order has ever seen. Everyone knows all about the work he did during the Clone Wars. But most importantly, he's known as the Master who trained Anakin Skywalker. He's the Chosen One who ended the Sith. Anakin couldn't have been ready for the fight against Darth Sidious if he wasn't trained by Master Kenobi.

"Oh, so you think that everything just came easy to me, huh?" Master Kenobi says, gently elbowing Ezra. The boy looks up, fully facing him now. "I'll have you know that I was actually sent to the AgriCorps. My master and I met there and he decided to take me on."

"You were sent to the AgriCorps?" Ezra exclaims, his blue eyes widening. "But you're one of the best Jedi! How could you not have been the first one picked?"

"The Force works in mysterious ways, Ezra Bridger." He replies, smiling at him.

"No kidding. It always seems to change once I think I've discovered how it might work." Ezra says, making the older master hum in agreement.

"You'll find your maaster soon enough." Master Kenobi encourages.

Ezra turns with a playful smirk on his face. "You wouldn't happen to be in the market for a padawan now, are you?"

A loud laugh comes from the master.

"I trained one padawan and he was enough. Do you see what he's done to my hair?" He asks, pointing to his head. Ezra peeks up, then shakes his head. "He's turned every last hair gray. The next padawan I take on will probably put me in the grave."

Ezra smirks, cocking his head to the side with a shrug. "It was worth a shot."

Master Kenobi laughs again, tossing his head back. "You are something special." He says. Slowly, his laughs die down and he pats Ezra's back. "Don't worry, Ezra. Very soon, your master will be revealed to you. You just need patience."

"That's what Maia said." He groans.

"She's a smart girl. You should listen to her." Master Kenobi points out. He rises to his feet looking down at Ezra. "Thank you for this lovely chat. We will need to have another one very soon. That's the hardest I've laughed in a very long time."

"I've got plenty more jokes where that came from." Ezra grins, making him laugh again.

"You will make a great Jedi someday, Ezra. Be patient and trust in the Force. Everything will work out." Master Kenobi says, parting from the boy. Ezra watches him go, grateful for his time with the legendary master.

It's not every day he gets to have a private conversation with one of the coolest Jedi.

xxx

Depa Billaba slowly walks towards her padawan.

Well, former padawan.

Caleb Dume has not accompanied her on a mission as her padawan for a few years now. He's spent many years a knight, traveling wherever Master Yoda and the Council members felt it was necessary for him to be. He's accomplished many great things and has quickly proven his status as an independent knight.

He's just been very hesitant to move forward with his training.

"Watching the padawans, again, Caleb?" Depa asks as she stands beside him.

He lets out a chuckle, shrugging his shoulder. "Thought I would at least humor your suggestion."

She smiles, looking over the edge. The younglings are cheering and shouting as they battle each other below. Many of them already sport padawan braids, their masters also watching them from above, calling out advice. "See any you like?" Depa smiles.

Caleb furrows his eyebrows. "I don't know."

She faces him, arching an eyebrow. "You don't know?"

He shakes his head. "They're alright, I guess. Hard to know them by just watching."

"I see." She replies, looking back at the younglings. "Then why don't you go down there and meet some of them? I'm sure they'd love to have the presence of a real knight with them."

"What? I don't want to go there. It'll disrupt their lesson."

"Oh, Caleb. You and I both know that they won't mind. Besides, is it really interrupting a lesson if you teach them a move or two?"

Caleb narrows his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. "You're really pushing this padawan thing, Master." He playfully accuses.

"Well, your grandmaster has been bugging me about how you haven't taken anyone on yet. He wants to know who will be next in our lineage before he passes on." She teases as she turns back to him.

Caleb laughs, tossing back his head. "Nice cover. I'm pretty sure it's you who wants me to have a padawan so you can spoil them rotten."

"Of course. You're the one who has to be firm and strict with them." She says, leading him away from the balcony. "I'm the one who gets to show them all the fun tricks."

He shakes his head, following her into the quiet hallway. She pats his shoulder, the mood changing from playfulness to seriousness. "Caleb, I get the feeling that you're worried about taking on a padawan."

"Worried? Who told you that?"

"I should say afraid." She cuts off, raising a finger. "If you want to advance as a Jedi, part of that journey involves teaching someone and showing them what you know."

Caleb sighs, dropping his head. His master is right, as usual. The idea of having to watch over and care for someone is frightening. He feels like he's still a padawan himself. There's so much that he still doesn't know. How can he possibly take on a padawan with the little knowledge he has?

She lifts his chin so that his eyes met her. "Sometimes, you learn more as a master. Your student doesn't care about how much you know. They want someone to lead them and guide them. It's what you'll learn together that will form the unbreakable bond."

He softly smiles. "Sometimes, I wish that you would be wrong."

She turns around and begins to walk away. "Caleb Dume, after all of these years, you know that I am never wrong." She teases.

He chuckles, watching her round the corner. As he starts to really think about her advice, a youngling comes bolting past him. He narrows his eyebrows as the wind from the kid rustles his hair.

"Hey!" He shouts out, making the child skid to a halt. "Get back here."

The boy groans and marches back to him. "Yes, master?"

"What's your name, kid?"

"Ezra Bridger."

Caleb crosses his arms over his chest. "Should you be running in the halls, Ezra Bridger?"

"No. But I'm late." The boy replies, gesturing to the dueling room. "I want to get to class before there's no one left for me to duel."

"Why were you late? Don't you know what time your dueling class starts?"

Ezra holds back a groan and eye roll. "I was with Master Kenobi in the garden."

"Master Kenobi?"

"Yes."

"He's in a class right now."

"Then he must have been late too," Ezra replies, getting snippy. Caleb's face scrunches and Ezra quickly realizes his mistake. "I'm sorry, master. I promise. Master Kenobi can vouch for me. I've been stressed out and he was guiding me."

Caleb hums, maintaining his angry look.

"Can I go now?" Ezra ask, pointing down the hall.

"Alright, but no running."

"Thank you, master." Ezra cheers, speedwalking to his class. Caleb can't help but to chuckle at the sight. As angry as he acted, he really didn't care. He's got image to maintain, that's all.

He can't look like he might actually enjoy working with younglings, not with Master Billaba possibly hiding around the corner.

xxx

Maia's green blade presses down onto Ezra's blue one. "So?" She asks as he shoves her away. "Have you gotten any closer to discovering your master?"

It's been about a week since Ezra had his chat with Master Kenobi. He knows he should be patient, but he's starting to get antsier. "No, not yet. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get one." He replies. 

"I'm sure you will," Maia replies as she swiftly dodges his attack. "More masters have been showing up to practice."

"Really?" Ezra asks, barely ducking in time. He glances up, seeing all of them gathered around. As he quickly scans the crowd, he spots a familiar face . "Hey! There's that angry Jedi I was telling you about."

"Angry Jedi?"

"Yeah. He was super grumpy when I was running in the halls." Ezra says, hoping to clarify for her. "Look, he's wearing a brown robe."

"They're all wearing brown robes, Ezra."

"Oh, right." He bashfully smiles. He glances back up. "He's in the front. Four people from the right."

"Caleb Dume?" She asks, tilting her head.

"That's his name?"

She nods his head. "Yeah. He was Master Billaba's."

"How do you know?"

Maia groans as she slightly trips over her feet. She quickly regains her balance. "Master Allie and Master Billaba are good friends. She comes over for tea twice a week." She smiles as she attempts to knock Ezra's lightsaber from his hand.

But Ezra knows her too well. He is able to fight off her attack, keeping his saber in his hand. "Does she say what he's like?"

Maia shrugs. "Kind of. I've listened in to their conversation once or twice." She answers as she parries. "Master Billaba said that she's trying to talk him into taking a padawan. She mentioned that he acts stubborn but will hopefully take her advice. Maybe you could be his padawan!"

Ezra scoffs, rolling his eyes. "I doubt it. He didn't seem to like me very much."

"Well, did you annoy him like usual?"

"Very funny, Maia. I almost forgot to laugh." He sarcastically says as she attempts to hide her blush. Ezra looks back, hope filling in his heart. Maybe Caleb could be his master. After all, he doesn't look that strict. And at this point, Ezra is debating about asking even some of the older masters to take him. Caleb Dume could be the one.

xxx

Depa walks over to Caleb, trying not to seem too eager. "I see the one I like." She says, resting her head in her hand.

"Oh, really? Which one?"

She gently points down below. "That boy with the long, blueish hair. He's got a charm that reminds me of younger you."

Caleb smiles as he tugs on his goatee. "You're gesturing to Ezra Bridger."

"Oh? So you've met him." She playfully smirks.

"Well, not met him. We've only spoken." He says. He looks over, seeing her growing more excited. "Once. In passing." He quickly corrects, raising his eyebrows.

She shrugs her shoulders. "That's enough for me."

"Huh?"

"You seem like you've forgetten how we met, Caleb." She scolds. She playfully shakes her head while tsking before saying, "We didn't even speak to each other. I was in a bacta tank and you were a youngling with a cut from a training saber."

He chuckles as he rolls his eyes. "Yes, I remember."

"Then you know that you've already done more with Ezra than I did with you." She says, looking back out at the younglings. "I believe that you should try to go and speak with the boy."

"No, Master. I don't think--"

"I've seen you watching him, Caleb." She says, her words becoming clipped and sharp. "You haven't been observing the other padawans. This entire week, your attention has been on that boy." She says as she points down to Ezra, who just made a winning strike.

The crowd of younglings cheer Ezra on, proud of his accomplishment. Rather than bask in all of the glory, he takes his partner's hand to help her up. She's a young girl with striking red hair and a gentle smile.

 "You need to take the first step." Master Billaba softly instructs, bringing him back.

He pauses, biting the inside of his cheek. She's right. He has been only watching Ezra. There's something about the boy that he can't quite explain. There's a connection between them that hasn't been allowed a chance to form yet.

Because he's been afraid.

Afraid that it might lead to a master and padawan relationship, something he's not ready for.

"If you won't take the first step," Depa says, poking his chest. "Then I will."

"What? Master!"

"Ezra Bridger!" She calls out. All of the younglings stop, looking for who called out their peer's name. Depa waves her hand, grabbing the boy's attention. "Come! Meet me in the hallway."

Ezra looks to Maia, who eagerly shoos him to go. Again, she feels it. There's electricity in the air surrounding Ezra. Something is happening to him, something good! She knows it.

Ezra jogs out to the hallway to meet Master Billaba.

And following right behind her is Caleb Dume.

Ezra forces himself not to smile too wide. "Master Billaba." He greets with a short bow.

"Ezra, this is my former padawan, Caleb Dume." She introduces, cueing for him to come forward. Caleb follows her lead, stepping towards the young boy so that he is in the front.

"We've met before," Ezra says with a shrug. "He yelled at me for running in the hallways last week."

"Did he?" She asks as she looks at Caleb.

His cheeks turn a tint pink. "Yelling is exaggerating." He says, turning over his shoulder to glance at her. "I was just reminding him of the rules to keep us safe."

"No. You definitely--"

"Besides, I think we can put that whole thing behind us. Right?" Caleb cuts off. He sends the boy a wink and Ezra gets the picture. He wants to continue to mess with him, but he doesn't want to tick off the Jedi who might actually pick him for a padawan.

"Right." He nods with a smile.

"Yes." Master Billaba says as she folds her hands into her sleeves. She's no fool. She knows her padawan and understands that Ezra is covering for him. Rather than acknowledge it, she moves back to the matter at hand. "What I called you out here for, Ezra, is very important. I believe that Caleb should be the one to ask though."

Ezra looks up to him, folding his arms behind his back like all good padawans should.

Caleb can feel the exciting energy pulsing through the boy. Already, he can sense the connection wanting to form. Being around Ezra is thrilling and he can tell that the future will be packed with stories no one will ever believe.

But he has to take that scary, first step.

"Ezra, I'm looking for someone to take as my padawan." He begins. Already, a smile grows on the young boy's face. "I would like to maybe pursue that relationship with you."

"I accept!"

"It's not official yet. Just a few classes together until I'm sure." Caleb quickly says, not wanting the boy to jump too quickly to conclusions.

"Okay!"

"So don't get your hopes too high. Because I might not take a padawan this year." He adds, his shoulders slightly dropping. Already, he knows that he's fighting a losing battle. He knows how this will all end.

"I don't care! This'll be fun, even for a few days!"

Caleb sighs, a soft smile on his face as Ezra attempts to restrain himself from jumping in glee. Though he said that he just wants to test it out, he already knows it'll end with a yes. How can he deny the boy after asking him to practice being his padawan?

Besides, as his master said, Ezra has caught his attention since day one. Why should he try and stop the Force from pulling them together?

Caleb looks back at Master Billaba, who innocently shrugs her shoulders with a smile. "I'll leave the two of you to get to know each other." She says, walking off.

Ezra hops to Caleb's side, already invading his personal space. "What do we do first?"

"I don't know. You tell me, kid." He says. He lets the boy drag him to every one of his classes. With each second around Ezra, Caleb finds himself growing more attached. By the end of the day, he assures Ezra that he will, in fact, chose him as his padawan.

The testing period is shorter than Mace and Depa expected. Ezra rubbed off on Caleb like a stray loth-cat. He couldn't turn the boy away, not after how well they bonded throughout the day.

Ezra, giddy with excitement, shares his news with Master Kenobi. He tells the story of how it all started and how their first day went together. "All I had to do was be patient." Ezra says, sitting beside the older Jedi. His padawan braid lightly swings against his cheek, reminding him that he has been chosen.

"And you trusted in the Force." Master Kenobi says. "I believe that you two were meant to be together. Sometimes, it seems like the Force knows who needs to be together. No matter the situation."

Ezra grins, nodding his head. He's always been grateful to have the Force on his side. But he's never been more happy with who the Force granted him for a master. 

~~~~~~~~~~

I love the idea thata no matter what, Ezra and Kanan/Caleb would be paired together as master and padawan. I feel like somehow and in some way the two of them would meet and be together. It just seems right. :)