AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well technically it would authors' notes. That is, if we were going to be technical. If you're trying to figure out which sister is writing this, I'll make it easier for you. You're talking to the thorn of the duo, Kanthro. Nethys, who is the rose, and I have agreed that I will type this up and post it. Anyways, the general idea of this collection, as said in the summary, is to create oneshots based on pictures of Ahsoka and/or Luxsoka. If you would like to know what picture we used, don't be afraid to ask us. PM us and tell us which chapter you would like the picture for, and we'll do our best to help you find it. Anywhooo! This collection is written by both my sister and I together, so you should see a slight deviation in writing style here and there, but I think those deviations give it character and a rebellious quality. And I am always the rebel so it fits me just fine. If you want to challenge yourself, try to find where one of our contributions stops and the other's begins. Here's a hint, we shared contributions back and forth, taking turns. An even greater challenge is to try and guess who said what. If you can guess a segment that I wrote, you can have a preview to one of my stories. If you can guess a segment that Nethys wrote, you can have a preview to one of the stories on this account. Anywhooo, on with the story!

FIREWORKS

It was a day of celebration. She knew it was, and she tried to be merry and happy for the people of Onderon for their acquired freedom and for their joining of the Republic. She was happy for them, but the merriness was temporarily escaping her grasp as she thought over the past week or two. They had lost so much, so many people, including Steela who she had tried desperately to save but who had died despite her efforts. She still grieved over her failure, remembering the look of devastation and loss on Saw's and Lux's faces.

She sighed as she looked out across the city and watched the fireworks bursting in the air, flashing brilliant blues, reds, greens, and yellows. She would allow the city to celebrate in peace without her presence possibly darkening the joyous atmosphere. The tips of her montrals strained as a familiar Force signature filled her senses, and she didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. She looked at the fireworks again and commented, "Lux, why are you up here? You should be down there celebrating with everyone else."

"So should you, Ahsoka."

Ahsoka sighed, placing a hand over her injured shoulder. Figures she had to get shot with a high-powered blast…the shot had gone right through her shoulder. Her fingers traveled to the IV that was connected to her collar bone, administering pain killers until she could get back to the temple and have proper surgery.

Anakin had told her she would be fine, and she knew she would be, but she still had a feeling she would end up with an artificial collar bone in her left shoulder. She looked down at the people below her. There were hundreds of them, celebrating their new freedom as well as their new senator. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I think my case is a bit different than yours. I don't think the people of Onderon should have to be around the Jedi who failed to save the leader of the rebellion."

Lux walked over to her and placed a gentle hand on her injured shoulder, his eyes flashing with sorry and an unspoken apology when she winced slightly at his touch. However, he was proving a point with his actions so he left his hand there as he glanced down at her wound, rubbing it gently with his thumb as he replied, "Your attempt was not without personal cost, Ahsoka. The people recognize and appreciate that."

Ahsoka removed Lux's hand from her shoulder. She knew he was trying to comfort her, but her shoulder was aching from the inside out, and she didn't really want anyone touching it. "A shoulder wound in exchange for a life? Hardly seems like a fair trade, and I think the people would agree."

Lux sat down next to her, his feet dangling over the side of the building alongside hers. He looked up at the explosions in the sky, beautiful eruptions that blazed with glory and color, chaos, and shimmering fire.

His presence was soothing to her. It relaxed her body and calmed her mind. However, she knew he should be down there celebrating with the others. It was practically a party thrown for him, in his honor, after all. She sighed and looked up at him as she commented, "Lux, you should go back down and enjoy the party."

Lux only smiled at that as he looked at her and replied, "No, I shouldn't. Why would I go back down when the person I want to celebrate it with is up here?"

She narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly to the left. "What do you mean?"

Lux shrugged and leaned back on his hands as he looked up at the sky. "Can you be more specific?"

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she folded her hands in her hands in her lap. "Why do you want to celebrate with me, "Lux?"

Lux closed his eyes for a few seconds, listening to the beating rhythm of the fireworks above them. "Why wouldn't I? You're my best friend. I've known you for two years."

Ahsoka glanced at him and felt her heart flutter a little bit, but she was a Jedi, and the only insecurity she felt at the moment was whether or not he meant what she thought he meant. And being unaccustomed to insecurities, she was unsure of how she should react to them as she looked up at him, into his bright green eyes that now reflected the colors of the fireworks that exploded in front of them. She decided to take a leap of faith, trying to be as bold as her master and as she usually was as she asked, "Just your best friend?"

Lux was a bit surprised at the question. Just best friends? What did that mean? He sat up straight and looked her in the eyes, and for a split second it was like he could see all of the emotions she had bottled up over the past few days in her eyes. Then she blinked, and it was gone. "What do you mean, Ahsoka?"

Ahsoka took a deep breath and looked away as she replied, "You know what I mean, Lux…" Lux swallowed. Was she implying what he thought she was? Could she possibly be implying that? He reached out and turned her head gently as he asked, "You mean, like…Carlac?"

She pulled her head free of his hand. The gesture was sweet, but she didn't like it when people touched her face. She found it irritating. She let out a sigh, her eyes darting to the ground. She didn't want to look at the bright fireworks above them, since their cheerful vibe did not match her current mood. "Of course Carlac, Lux...Why else would I have brought it up when I first got here? I wanted you to remember."

Now Lux knew for certain what she meant, and a smile quickly carved into his face as he briefly lifted her chin, not allowing his hand to linger for very long based on her previous reaction. The moment she saw his smile, she couldn't look away as he took her hand and replied, "I will always remember, Ahsoka. It's a little hard to forget the time you were betrothed to a beautiful girl."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Excuse me? I believe I'm the one who came up with that, Mr. Bonteri."

He was now concerned, since she appeared to be sad. "Ahsoka? What's really going on?"

Ahsoka twisted her lips to the side and cleared her throat. "Lux…it feels like you led me on, and I don't appreciate it. The way you acted on Carlac…when you kissed me…it gave me the crazy idea that you liked me."

"Well, if it's a crazy idea, then I must be insane," Lux replied with a smile as he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "I never meant to hurt you, Ahsoka. But that crazy idea of yours isn't that crazy. It's true."

Ahsoka was doubtful. "If you like me, then what was going on with Steela? She kissed you, and you certainly looked happier than you did when we kissed."

Lux bit his lip and looked down. That hurt her? Yes, it was true he had feelings for Steela, but it was for good reason. Ahsoka was a Jedi, forbidden to form attachments and forbidden to love. Steela…she wasn't restricted by and rules, and she had been so similar to Ahsoka. They were both strong, both kind, both beautiful.

The moment Ahsoka showed up, he knew the agony of having feelings for two women, but he did know that his heart would always belong to Ahsoka. For a woman of authority, she was a very good thief, having stolen his heart almost since the moment they met.

He didn't quite know how to say that to her, though. How did he explain his imperfections to a woman who was perfect in every way? Ahsoka was bothered by his silence, and she leaned back and pulled her hand free. "I know you think this is ridiculous…I shouldn't have these feelings. I'm a Jedi. I'm not supposed to get attached to anyone. I just wonder why I had to fall for someone who doesn't even return my feelings."

Lux's heart broke by the breaking of her heart that he could hear in her voice as he reached out took her hand and replied, "Ahsoka, I never said I didn't."

Ahsoka took her hand back again. "You didn't have to. I was able to figure it out by the way you acted with Steela." She sighed and turned her gaze away from his. "By the way she talked to me…the looks she gave me told me enough."

Lux frowned as his eyes hardened, and he asked, "She mistreated you?" Ahsoka was surprised by the anger she felt pulsing off of him in waves as she looked up at him, and his hand tightened on her hand absentmindedly. If Lux had known Steela was mistreating Ahsoka, he would have quickly put a stop to that. He would have made sure Steela knew of how he wanted Ahsoka to be treated and how she deserved to be treated.

Ahsoka was surprised. "Mistreated is a strong word, Lux. Let's just say she wasn't the nicest to me. Especially when you weren't around. She didn't seem to think that I deserved your respect. Don't be angry with her. She sacrificed everything for your planet."

Lux only shook his head and wrapped an arm around her waist, wanting to show her how sorry he was. He sighed and replied, "I am appreciative for what she's done for my planet, but for what she did to you…" He simply shook his head.

Ahsoka was stunned. He was touching her waist…his arm was around her waist. She had never been touched like that before…at least, not in her memory. It felt odd…but good, at the same time. Did that make any sense? She didn't know whether to stay there or pull away. "Lux, it…it's fine."

Lux simply sighed and leaned his head against the top of hers as he laced his fingers with hers. How had he not seen the strain between the two girls? How had he not seen the pain in Ahsoka's eyes earlier? Why hadn't she told him?

The whole situation felt bizarre to Ahsoka. Her brain was telling her this wasn't right, but her heart was telling her it was. The Jedi listened to logic and reason…but Anakin had taught her to listen to and follow her own heart. What was she supposed to do now?

Lux thought that there was only one way he could prove to her how much he cared for her, so with a deep breath to calm his nerves, he said her name softly. He waited for her to look up at him as he took her face into his hands, ignoring the slight lift of her nose in displeasure when he touched her face, but the look in his eyes kept her from pulling away or complaining. He stroked her cheek gently and commented, "I do care for you, Ahsoka…I really do…I really do like you…and I can prove it…" He then pressed his lips to hers.

Ahsoka widened her eyes as her breath hitched. He was kissing her. For the second time, he was kissing her, and this time, there was meaning behind it. She didn't know how to respond, though. The last time they had kissed, she had fought to get him off of her. But this time…well, she couldn't deny that she was secretly hoping he would kiss her ever since she arrived on Onderon.

Ahsoka hummed softly to herself as she placed her hands on his shoulders and pulled him closer.

They pulled away, and they both blushed and averted their gazes. They were both embarrassed and weren't quite sure of what to say. Lux had had to speak after their first kiss, but now he didn't know what to say. Ahsoka looked up at the fireworks, surprised that she felt a little better than she did when she first came up to the roof.

Lux may not have known what to say, but a smile soon spread into his face as he pulled her into his arms.

They bother turned and looked up at the fireworks, listening to the loud cheering of the people below them. He had an arm around her while she had an arm around him. Ahsoka now felt calm and happy, the beautiful light of the eruptions in the sky washing over them. The two loves enjoyed each other's company, and as the fireworks marked a new chapter in Onderon's history, they also marked a new chapter in the lives of the young Jedi and Senator.

AUTHORS' NOTES: Alright-y then! That's the end of the first one shot! I hope you enjoyed it! I think Nethys is in agreement with that as well. Also, another hint for the challenge: I say, "Her eyes widened in surprise," and Nethys says, "She widened her eyes in surprise." I hope that helps you out! Reviews are always welcomed!