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Ezra hadn’t cried when reuniting with Sabine, but stars, he was fighting back tears the moment he saw Hera. New getup but looking practically the same, she called out to him with open arms, and Ezra pretty much jumped at her. Through the Force he felt her initial shock at the difference in height — he was somehow taller than when he’d left — then the mess of grief-happiness-relief that seemed to coat her aura. Ezra sniffed as they pulled apart.
“Ezra,” Hera smiled with a little disbelief, “You grew a beard?”
Ezra chuckled a bit. “Yeah, the beard, hah,” he ran his hand over it, “I mean there wasn’t really an easy way to shave, even with all that time, uh…” Hera’s smile seemed to twist into something sadder.
“Almost ten standard years, Ezra.” Ezra’s mind did all the math. He’s atleast 27, maybe 28, more specific dates needed. Hera seemed to gather herself before smiling again.
“Actually, while we’re here, there's some people I’d like you to meet,” Hera shifted to the side to gesture to a familiar droid and a small boy Ezra hadn’t noticed before. “Of course you already know Chopper, he won’t admit it but he missed you a bit, and then there’s my son, Jacen.” Ezra might have gaped a little but felt a pang of heartache when he saw the slope of Kanan’s nose on the child, his jawline, Hera’s cheekbones, the strangely green-tipped ears. Jacen was nervous, hiding behind Chopper, but his excitement was visible, staring at Ezra in amazement. Chopper screeched out several curses at Ezra in binary before warbling out a quick threat to never leave again, rolling up to him to try run over his toes. Jacen jogged after the droid and stopped next to his mother, still staring at Ezra.
“You’re Ezra, right? From Mom’s stories, you went away with space whale to save everyone.” Ezra’s eyes snapped to meet Hera’s. She smiled almost proudly at him. Ezra scrunched up his face a bit in mock offense, “Kid, you’ve got the wrong guy, I’m actually Jabba the Hutt.” Hera huffed out a laugh while Jacen looked at him doubtfully.
“Uhm, no, Mom called you Ezra and I recognise you from pictures. Plus, Jabba the Hutt is dead.”
Ezra was flabbergasted, to say the least. He turned back to Hera and asked: “Is that… correct???”
Hera sighed before muttering: “I really need to stop letting Han Solo talk to my kid, but yeah, Jabba the Hutt was killed a while ago.”
“By who?”
“Leia Organa.”
Ezra’s jaw somehow dropped even further. “Like, Leia? Princess Leia? From that one supply thingo mission on Lothal? Wait, when I think about it, yeah it makes sense, but I just… Wow ok.”
Hera smiled. “There’s a lot you need to catch up on, Ezra, some bits more… shocking than others.” Her face had hardened by the end but soften when she looked down at Jacen. Ezra looked down at the kid and then kneeled infront of him, holding out his hand.
“Welp, you got me, Jacen. I’m Ezra Bridger. It’s nice to meet you.”
Later, Hera left Sabine and Ahsoka, still discussing the recent events, in search of caff. She walked through the hallways, stopping as she passed one of the break rooms. Inside she could see a small gathering, mostly older rebellion members who had been close to Ezra, but also kids and teens, Jacen included. Some, mostly younger ones, were enthralled by the variety of objects somersaulting through the air, while others were chatting with Ezra — who had somehow found a new bright orange jumpsuit to wear under his worn clothes. ‘What is his addiction to that colour?’ Hera mused — like he’d never even left.
Hera gave a small smile, watching her sons for only a second longer, before continuing her hunt for caff.